Coyote Escapes Death

This is such a crazy story and if there weren't photos to prove it, I'd think it was a fish story. Here is the story (not in my words):

Meet the wiliest of all coyotes: Hit by a car at 75mph, embedded in the fender, rode for 600 miles - and SURVIVED!

When a brother and sister struck a coyote at 75mph they assumed they had killed the animal and drove on. They didn't realize this was the toughest creature ever to survive a hit-and-run. Eight hours, two fuel stops, and 600 miles later they found the wild animal embedded in their front fender - and very much alive.

Daniel and Tevyn East were driving at night along Interstate 80 near the Nevada-Utah border when they noticed a pack of coyotes near the roadside on October 12. When one of the animals ran in front of the car, the impact sounded fatal so the siblings thought there no point in stopping.

'Right off the bat, we knew it was bad,' Daniel explained. 'We thought the story was over.' After the incident around 1am, they continued their 600 mile drive to North San Juan - even stopping for fuel at least twice. But it was only when they finally reached their destination at 9am did they take time to examine what damage they may have sustained.

At first it looked as though it was going to be quite gruesome. '[Daniel] saw fur and the body inside the grill,' Tevyn East said. 'I was trying to keep some distance. Our assumption was it was part of the coyote - it didn't register it was the whole animal.' Daniel East got a broom to try and pry the remains out of the bumper and got the shock of his life. 'It flinched,' Tevyn East said. 'It was a huge surprise - he got a little freaked out.'

UPDATE: I don't know any updates of the survivor, but I trust he was just fine.

Who Would You Give Your Kidney To?

I saw a Special Report last week on the CBS Evening News that moved me to tears. I thought I'd post it here because the media doesn't tell enough of these heartwarming stories. It's about a man who is giving his kidney to a woman. It reminds me of my cousin Mikey, who needed a kidney about six years ago. His wife, LeAnn, gave him hers and he's been doing great ever since. That is a true testament of love and I always smile when I think of their story.

Anyway, may this remind you that there are still a lot of good people out there:


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You Are Beautiful

I heard about this from our friend, fellow Curve photographer, Kina Williams. The idea behind Operation Beautiful is that you post an encouraging note for other women to find. When I heard about it, I decided to post a note near the scale at my gym.

It's now been over a month and the little post it note is still there. It made me smile to see it still there. I hope all the women stepping on the scale feel the same way.

Here's a little music video the girls from Operation Beautiful put together:

Ashes + Snow

A couple years ago, a friend told me about an absolutely mind blowing art exhibit she'd seen called Ashes and Snow. Unfortunately, it's on tour around the world and it's next stop is in Brazil, so it might be some time before any of us get to see it first-hand. You can, however, have quite the visceral experience through their website. If your computer is able, click on the "Enter the Enhanced Experience."

To go along with this, I thought I'd also share a moving elephant story my sister-in-law sent me:

In 1972, Joe Miller was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Tulsa Junior College. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Joe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephant’s foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.

As carefully and as gently as he could, Joe worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to Joe, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Joe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Joe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Thirty years later, Joe was walking through the Tulsa Zoo with his family. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Joe and his family were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Joe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1972, Joe could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. Joe summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Joe's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

Dykes Love Dogs

Since we all love our furry friends so much, I thought I'd give you all a smile this morning. Enjoy...

CLICK HERE

Inspired

The other day a columnist for our local paper told the story of a high school girls basketball team that not only lost every game, often by more than 30 points, but hardly had any support from fans or family. The school is in a low income neighborhood and there were many obstacles parents had to overcome to be able to make it to a game. Some of the girls even had to quit the team to get jobs. 

When I heard about the story, I wanted to go and watch the Roosevelt Girls final game and support them. I was bummed when I learned it was taking place at the same time as a family birthday celebration that I couldn't get out of.  

I wasn't able to be there, but 1600 other people crowded into the high school gym to cheer for the Roosevelt Roughriders. 

I was inspired this morning  to learn not just that people came to support a disadvantaged girl's athletic team, but that the words of one writer could move them to do so.

Check it out:

Roosevelt girls triumph

E. Lynn Harris

Last night my favorite gay boyfriend and I went to see New York Times best selling author E. Lynn Harris at Powell's Books.  I was expecting Harris to read from his new book, Basketball Jones, about a closeted NBA player. Instead, Harris announced that he didn't read from his books at stores like that because there were often children wandering around and his books were too salty. I was disappointed at first, but as he started talking, I realized it was a gift to hear a very successful writer talk about his life and his craft. I was inspired. 

He described one of his first readings, which was at a gay bookstore. He had picked a juicy section to read for that crowd. But just as he was about to read, he noticed his mom was in the audience. He had to quick pick a new section to read.

In another tale, he spoke about meeting one of his favorite actresses after a Broadway play. She came out the stage door and he was there waiting, along with a bunch of other people.  After talking with everyone except Harris, and signing everyone's autograph's, she quickly hurried down the street. He stood there dejected.  

She was halfway down the block, when she turned on her heels, came back and asked him, "Were you waiting for me?"  He said he never forgot that moment and has since made sure he always makes time to talk to fans. 

With those two stories in mind, I approached him at the table where he was signing books and told him how I too struggled to find some appropriate content to read when my parents came to our book reading. (We read from the section on "Chores" and even had to edit that somewhat!) 

E. Lynn Harris held my hand and looked me in the eye while asking about my book. He smiled when I told him the name and said he's often been told he needs to have a lesbian character in his books. We chatted about Alyson Books and its new editor Don Weise. 

I said I wished I had brought a copy of our book for him. "No," he said, "I'm going to go online and buy it."  Wow, what a great ending to a great night. 

I Heart Creative People

Last night was awesome. I met up with a few friends at Portland's Q Literati event, where LGBT writers come to read and listen to established and up-and-coming literary types read from their works. There were some funny essays, an intro to a mystery, a scary erotic piece and a few short stories. But the highlight of the evening for me was hearing Tom Spanbauer read from his book Now is the Hour.  

Tom Spanbauer is an amazing gay writer, who has the ability to transport you from where ever you are into the heart, head and body of his characters. His command of storytelling and the rhythm of language is inspirational. I urge you to check him out, if you're not already a fan. 

My friends and I were standing outside The Q Center, shivering and saying goodbye when  I heard a train coming.   I groaned, knowing it was going to block access to my car and I would have to wait for it to pass. But instead of getting upset, my friend Elizabeth got inspired. She raced toward the train, camera in hand and directed me where to stand. The result was this awesome photo.

Yeah, I need to hang out with people like this more often.




_{© Photo by Elizabeth Taylor}

My Olympic Obsession

I admit it, I'm a total Olympic nerd. Since the opening ceremonies on Friday, I've been glued to the TV. 

I love it all. The swimming, the track, the basketball, the gymnastics, the stories of overcoming hardship, the medal ceremonies.  But mostly I love one woman: Dara Torres. 

At age 41 she is swimming faster then she ever has in her life, and faster than kids half her age. She's quite an inspiration to an aging jock like me.  Actually, I had a crush on Dara way back in 1984,  when I was on the swim team at Syracuse University and she was in her first Olympics. I hoped then (and still do) that she's a dyke. But, alas, I don't think it's so. 

My Olympic obsession didn't start with Dara. No, flashback to a 10-year-old Dipstick in 1976. Unlike most girls my age, who were tu-tuing around like Nadia Comaneci, young Dipstick wanted to be Bruce Jenner. 

The summer of '76 was filled with me throwing hand carved javelins, shotputting big round rocks and setting up chairs to hurdle over.  I even got my hair cut just like his.  

There's just something about the Olympics. Every time I go to confess my obsession to one of my friends, I get a confession back. How about you? You watching too? 

Melissa Etheridge's Comeback

In case there are any of you out there who didn't see this live (there was a lot of buzz around it at the time), a reader just sent me this link (thanks for always thinking of us Cory!). It's so kick ass and has so much powerful healing energy in it. For all of you out there dealing with cancer, either inside your own body or in someone's you love, I hope you find this hopeful.

Dykes Love Their Dogs

So, I thought you'd all enjoy this adorable video. I knew all you "bitches" would love it because lesbians and dogs go together like Laverne & Shirley. Enjoy Dominic, the wonder dog, who refuses to let anything get in his way from living his life to the fullest--even losing two of his legs. Checkit.

For All of You Still In the Closet

A little inspiration.

Meet Loraine Barr.

And read her essay: "The Love That Will Finally Speak Its Name"

This woman, an 88-year-old retired school teacher and probation officer (so gay), lived in the closet for 44 years with her lover, who died 9 years ago.

Here's a great article about her story.

Don't let your life slip away. Be strong and be proud. Stand in the truth of who you are!