More pix from the wedding (e:paul,58511) wrote about. We had a great time and when I sent the bride & groom a thank you note for inviting us, they both said that we were a lot of fun.

It was my first formal event ever and (e:Dianne)'s first tux-wearing opportunity. She looked great, didn't she? The boys looked incredibly handsome. I swooned for all three of them.

Since this was new to all of us, I read up on the details of proper "black tie" attire and the rules are pretty simple: Men must all strictly conform and not stand out; women have a lot of flexibility in what they can wear but sparkly seems to be key. As (e:Terry) observed, "That's very sexist."

The gender role expectations are very strong and so we knew that it would be disruptive that she was wearing a tux... but it kinda wasn't because she completely passed. We weren't really intending that either - D's very happy to be a woman and to be understood as a woman. One young woman had to sit for a moment when she realized that D was a woman... an older man was insistent that she use the men's room and she finally had to explain her gender to him. While we were eating dinner, the man next to D referred to her as "he" a couple times, she got up to take a smoke break, and then someone asked how we knew the bride & groom and each other, so I explained "They are my & Terry's clients, this is Terry my business partner, DIANNE is my fiancee, and Paul is Terry's husband". He continued to refer to Dianne as "he". (Another case of "why did that man's parents name him 'Dianne'?" )

So my thinking for next time we have a black tie event... if women have flexibility in their formal wear, and D won't wear a dress/wants to wear a tux, and we don't want to her to pass as a man... then she can wear a tux and do all the flamboyant things that I wouldn't let (e:Paul) do. She'll have purple suspenders or a vest and lovely purple ascot or whatever else her sweet heart desires to flag her as female while not violating her butchness.

All in all a very thought-provoking and fun event.

we had a lot of fun!

I'm still a tad weirded out by (e:Terry)'s lack of facial hair. I was surprised yesterday when his beard hadn't grown back - he's at the office, he's supposed to have facial hair, right?


My love and I spent some quality time in the 24 attic. Took this selfie Saturday morning to honor our 1st anniversary :-) <3



I took some selfies in the new bathroom. When I first saw the teal/brown paint, I was disappointed because it nowhere near matched the picture that had been developing in my head after nearly six months of conversation and their hard work. Now that I've had a chance to let go of the picture, I really like it. It's a striking combination and of course, the bathroom is fucking gorgeous. I love the heated floor mostest.

The selfie suprised me - I don't wear body-revealing clothes often and almost never take full-length selfies. I've lost around 25 lbs in the past year (kinda accidentally, I wasn't trying) and this is the first time I've seen what that looks like. I really need new clothes - my current wardrobe hangs off me. That pink sequin gown I wore last year would be way too big now.



After family dinner Saturday afternoon ((e:Paul,58225) - I LOVE this photo!) the kids brought out the video games. (e:Dianne) hasn't played since before her accident in February (she had a broken wrist too) and she hasn't stopped scheming how to play more. We dug around the attic to find her PS3, but couldn't find of her games. Now she wants Street Fighter ps3 controllers.



And then last night we all went to Griffis Sculpture Park for the Night Lights show. It was cool and I can't wait to see (e:Joe)'s pix.

happy birthday, (e:Mike)! I loved your decorations. (e:Paul) - unicorn bicycle is definitely one of the coolest gifts ever.

please note what (e:yesthatcasey) is doing with (e:Dianne)'s shoulder TWICE! the shoulder with two big caution signs!

Huge gratitude and appreciation for everyone who helped us move (e:Dianne)'s stuff out of her apartment last Sunday. It was a super quick move because she and Suzanne packed everything before her surgery, so many people helped at the spur of the moment, and she doesn't have much stuff. Thank you to (e:paul), (e:terry), (e:bluevelvetjack), (e:puddlediving), (e:yesthatcasey) (who scooted out before I could grab a pic), (e:mike), (e:libertad), Michele, April, Rachael, Jess, Jen & Karen.

Edit: Additional gratitude

• Suzanne and Michael, who helped (e:Dianne) pack, and provided food and care in the initial days after the surgery.
• (e:bluevelvetjack) for the recliner and providing me with constant support
• (e:yesthatcasey) for help moving the cat-infested recliner out of my apartment, the traded futon to (e:bluevelvetjack)'s and the new-to-us recliner up our stairs.
• (e:puddlediving) for just general support, errands and that awesome queso.

no photos from Allegheny national first but it was awesome sharing the fireflies with (e:Dianne). brushwood was interesting... (e:puddlediving) and I had made a camping meetup, 12 queer women plus (e:terry) and (e:paul). Terry made the fire pit all neat and tidy, Paul and Dianne pulled down a tree for firewood. gorgeous moon, beautiful weather, great bonfire, lovely ladies dancing around it.

the most amazing moon rise tonight...

{edited to remove drunkese}

Photos from yesterday

Dark Star Orchestra. It was (e:dianne)'s first Grateful Dead anything, she had no idea what to expect, and she loved it. We had sooo much fun!


Our pride guide ad :-) We stopped at Roxy's on our way home from the show.


I'm glad I captured these flowers before they got mowed down in the afternoon.






Irises about to bloom on Cottage St.


Lyra the neighbor poodle.


More of Sparky's work at Taza. If you look close, you can see Sparky's reflection in the window.

(e:thechefsky) visited the office looking classy Friday.

the meetup group took a hike at deer lick out by gowanda today. (e:Dianne) woke me up at some ridiculous hour to make it on time. we had fun, it was a beautiful day although i was worried that is be too cold. :-) seven women went, which was about five people too many for me. the women who rode with us asked how we had gotten together, Dianne mumbled something about beer club and a friend's Halloween party... i couldn't get socially appropriate words together quick enough, although i did show off a pic of my Halloween costume. one of the women later commented how quiet i am. i chatter all the time with people I'm close with, so it seems weird to hear.

it was the first time Dianne and i have hiked together, and this weekend is the last big piece of time we're going to have together until my birthday at the end of May :-( I'm going to Pa this week, her best friend is visiting this coming weekend, then she's in Jersey for a week, then her mom comes for three weeks, then she's in Jersey again for a week. boo.

I'm grateful for the beautiful day.

From another part of Zoar Valley


Butches skipping rocks




Deer Lick