A Final Salute to Kyle Daggett

Our dear family friends took these photos of my cousin Kyle Daggett's headstone this weekend and I wanted to share them here. In celebration of Obama's victory, let's also take a moment to remember those who have given their life (no matter how you feel about the war) and thank the universe that soon no more American lives will be lost in Iraq.

A memorial fund has been set up (click on pages of brochure below to enlarge) in Kyle's honor to help wounded soldiers.


"There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America." - Obama

A Message about Love

Spread this message, Keith Olberman nailed it on the head...

More Fun with Alison Bechdel

After meeting Alison Bechdel on Saturday, my friend Elizabeth thought it would be fun to do a little interview us on Sunday. Here she is asking us "What inspires you?"

Oceans + Bubbles

Have you ever seen someone saber off a champagne cork? Me neither -- until last night. See the video below to watch this man (who was half in the bag, BTW) saber off the top of a Pommery bottle. It was amazing and -- in hindsight -- so totally dangerous. The sliced top of the bottle actually landed on Patty's chair. See for yourself as the crazy pony explains what happened...

Anyhoo, we had FUN last night at Araxi's Oceans + Bubbles party. On our way to the party in the cab, Patty and I joked that we hadn't left the house to go out at 10:00pm for ages. The party, which started at 10:30pm and went until sunrise (no doubt), was held at a wonderful restaurant known for its seafood and raw bar called Araxi. It's a sexy little spot we've eaten at before, but the Cornucopia Festival transformed it from intimate dinner spot to lavishly sexy champagne lounge with endless waiters serving spoonfuls of seared ahi and asparagus, skewered braised short ribs and an all-you-can-eat sushi bar where signature rolls kept on coming in mass quantity until you, too, turned into a little roll yourself. Wake up, little sushi, wake up.

It was delicious and superfun and we met lots of hipsters from all over. We'll be back for more Cornholing next year!

Wordstock is Wonderful!

I met my friend Elizabeth down at Portland’s homage to books known as Wordstock. It’s a huge two day affair at the convention center. We were all excited to see Alison Bechdel --the most amazing creator of Dykes to Watch Out For and author of the exquisite graphic memoir Fun Home. She was speaking on a panel about comics and politics.

I’ve been a huge fan of Alison’s since I was a baby dyke in college.

Alison was great on the panel, when she could get a word in. The two men on stage with her kind of took over. After it was over Elizabeth wanted to go up and say hello. “I don’t know,” I said. “I’m not good at these things.”

Just then Alison walked by us and Elizabeth stuck out her hand and started to tell her how much she enjoyed her work. Alison said thanks, then looked at me and said, “Don’t I know you?” I stuck my hand out, “Kathy Belge,” I said. “Dipstick!” she exclaimed. “I love your column.”

Can a cooler thing than that happen to me, ever? I don’t think so.

Nudies, Foodies + Me

Cheers from Whistler's Cornucopia! Patty and I are up here in Whistler partaking in their annual Cornucopia Food and Wine Festival this week. We arrived to snow, a huge surprise since the forecast said rain on the valley floor. All the locals were thrilled as it was the first accumulation and the perfect welcome for us; the pine trees looked like they'd been dipped in powdered sugar as we crawled up the Sea to Sky highway.

Last night we attended out first events--the Ultra Lounge Reception and the Uber sexy Burlesque show. And YEOWZA! We were sorry we forgot our riding crops, as they sure would have come in handy at this party. Assolina and Bootiola would have been right at home as there were plenty of asses to slap--some clothed and some not--and so many crazy party animals dressed up and ready to tear up Whistler Village.

We snapped some pics at the event and for some reason I'm not really smiling in any of them--perhaps it was the oyster I just shot or the sunchoke bisque I just drank from a tiny ceramic shooter, or maybe these are just my sexy seductress eyes, but I was having a really fantastic time. Who wouldn't being surrounded by all the scantily clad ladies, including the hottest one of them all: Pattycake?

More to come after tonight's Ocean + Bubbles event at Araxi...

Refuse to Pay Your Taxes

The revolution starts now! For years I've been saying gays and lesbians should refuse to pay taxes until we are treated as full and equal citizens of this country. Well, yesterday, Melissa Etheridge announced that she is going to do just that.

I've always been a Melissa fan, but now I'm a Melissa follower. Here's what she said:

Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

You're right Melissa. And I also thought that civil rights were never to be put up for a popular vote. 

For years War Resisters have refused to pay taxes to fund wars that they believe are unconscionable. I and fully support them. But I also believe refusing same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples is unconscionable. I'm seriously considering it. Anyone care to join me?