AIDS Walking

On Sunday, it was AIDS Walk here in Vancouver. The spectacular 10K route, which took Aids Walkers around the Stanley Park sea wall, was rivaled by the beautiful day. It was warm--75 degrees [insert: laughter from Arizona friends]--and sunny.

The perfect day for a stroll along the ocean. Along the path were many AIDS Walk cheerleaders and several GLBT choirs, one of which I shot a little video of singing "What a Wonderful World." At that moment in time, it truly was.

A permanent fixture on the Stanley Park sea wall is the man pictured here. Kent Avery, who spends his weekend days balancing rocks on another for passersby.

Despite the incredible advances medicine has made around HIV/AIDS, it's still so important to support our brothers and sisters who've contracted this rabid disease and the researchers who are trying to cure it.

Art for Life

Last night, Patty and I got all gussied up (in hers and hers Italian dresses) and hit the town. Even though we weren't able to partake in the big protests for Prop 8 in the states, we did give back to our community this weekend.

Art for Life is an annual gala held each year to raise money for Friends for Life Society. But last night was extra special because our friend, Sheree Mitchell, was being honored for her generous and exhaustive support and work for the people living with HIV and AIDS through Friends for Life.

The night really kicked into high gear when the live auction started. Patty and I had our eye on one painting in particular -- Dreamer by Cybele Ironside -- and stuck our heels in the ground when t the bidding began. Patty let me hold the paddle and I nearly had a heart attack when the live auctioneer called out its name. Patty, the seasoned auction biatch that she is, told me when to make the first bid. And before we knew it, we were in a bidding war with a fag across the room. Until finally, we WON!

The piece is amazing and this little thumbnail doesn't do it justice (click on it to see it bigger). It's oil on panel.

Patty's beautiful and amazing daughter, Sarah, joined us (see photo with Dreamer and Sarah), as well as Patty's other pseudo daughter, Pamela (say it like Borat), who is equally as beautiful and amazing. The four of us laughed all night and bonded like the yaya sisterhood. We made nachos when we got home, the new painting leaning against the wall nearby, and relished in the the night and the huge rush of adrenalin we all felt during the auction.