Episode # 212 - August 28th, 2007

Just CLICK on the episode image, at left, to view it at FULL SIZE.

(Don't try reading it at this size, you'll miss out on all the detail!). Click on the pic!

And THANK YOU to everyone who wrote with congratulations about the Lambda Legal contest win, and the article about it in the Advocate! It's been an exciting couple of weeks, and I'm so grateful for your good wishes & support, (I never would've won without your votes!).

Vermont in August

What a great thing, to get away to Vermont for a few days during the heat of summer on Long Island. As is often the case, it was cooler, breezier, and oh-so enticing in it's green mountain-loveliness. This pic above, (you can click on it to view it full size), was taken just outside of Johnson, VT, which is well north into the state, perhaps only about 20 miles or so from the Canadian border.

As you may know from previous posts, I travel up to Vermont pretty regularly. I do hope to relocate there someday in the hopefully not-too-distant future. For now, I've been traveling to various parts of the state, to get more familiar with the various regions, (yes, there are a number of distinct regions of Vermont, despite the fact that it is a relatively small state). I've focused a lot of attention on northern Vermont, especially around Burlington. Though I wouldn't want to live right in Burlington, it's a super-cool city, and a great place to live nearby, to have access to all of the culture it is brimming with.

However, after this most recent trip, I'm thinking that I need to start focusing on southern Vermont on my next few trips. Specifically, the southwestern region, which is a particularly gorgeous, mountain-filled area. So many times over the past few years, Ive blown through southwestern Vermont on my way up to Burlington. I usually stop for a quick break around Arlington, (former home of Norman Rockwell, one of my artistic heroes!), and this time, I was absolutely floored by the beauty of the area. I suppose I have avoided actually staying there on any of my trips because of the notorious nearby Manchester Center, which is well-known as "shopping outlet center", and crawling with tourists. But I have to say, that is one very tiny part of the whole area, and to write off greater Manchester, Arlington and the surrounding area seems like a big mistake. So, I plan to correct that! Next time I go to Vermont, it'll be for the SW VT experience!

By the way, I'm wondering what the gay population is like in that area. Again, Burlington seems to have the largest concentration of gay people in the state, from what I've seen so far. But I can't imagine southwestern Vermont doesn't have it's own gay contingent, what with the various art galleries, B&Bs, and general Vermont loveliness in the air. So.... if you're from that area of Vermont, or know someone who is, please write & tell me all about it. I'd love to hear your story!

Episode # 211 - August 14th, 2007

Just CLICK on the episode image, at left, to view it at FULL SIZE.

(Don't try reading it at this size, you'll miss out on all the detail!). Click on the pic!

OH, and about that Lambda Legal Cartoon Contest I was a finalist in? Well, to find out who the grand-prize winner is , just scroll on down to the next post....

And the Winner is....ME!!!

Wow! It’s official! I WON the Lambda Legal cartoon contest! How totally freakin’ cool is THAT?!

The results have been published today in the latest issue of the Advocate, along with the cartoon itself, (I haven’t seen the article yet, but I hope to this week when the magazine arrives on newsstands here in Northport. I’ve already received a whole bunch of congratulatory e-mails from folks who are subscribers to the Advocate, who received the issue in the mail a few days earlier than the newsstands).

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who voted for me! I have the best, most supportive readers in the whole world, and I appreciate everyone who took the time to vote for me at the Lambda Legal website! And, aside from all of this celebration chatter, I hope everyone gets a chance to become familiar with Lambda Legal and the important work they do to protect civil rights for LGBT people. (In fact, if you want to see the winning comic strip, you can go to their website to view it). While the cartoon I submitted deals with the subject of "Life Without Fair Courts" in a humorous manner, the fact is that this is a deadly serious topic that deserves all of our attention. And it is to our great benefit that we have a vital organization like Lambda Legal that is fighting for our civil rights.

So, what did I win besides all of this adulation and good cheer? Well… I won a free plane ticket to anywhere in the the USA, (48 states), or in Canada, that I choose to go! How awesome! I’m not even sure where I should go yet, (probably someplace far, just to make the most of it). If you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know! (I wanted to go to Alaska, actually, but that’s not within the 48 states. I’m also considering Calgary, Alberta, so I can check out those gorgeous Canadian Rockies. Or Oregon, as that’s one state I’ve never been to, and have heard great things about).

I also want to give a salute to the other 4 finalists in the contest: Matt Bors, Jennifer Cruté, Astrid Lydia Johanssen, and Ted Rall. I think they all did some great work, and it’s an honor to be in their company. And the fact that I’m the grand-prize winner, well… that’s just such an incredible thrill for me! Thank you to the Advocate and to Prism Comics, (co-sponsors of the contest. If you’re not familiar with Prism Comics, they are a nonprofit organization that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) comics, creators, and readers, and they have been hugely supportive of my work through the years. Check them out, if you haven’t already!)

Thank you, everyone! This totally ROCKS!!!!!!