memorial day 2011..

dude....


memorial day is a united states federal holiday observed on the last monday of may.. formerly known as decoration day, it commemorates u.s. service members who died while in the military service.. first enacted by formerly enslaved african-americans to honor union soldiers of the american civil war – it was extended after world war one to honor americans who have died in all wars..
~ wikipedia

four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal..

now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.. we are met on a great battle-field of that war.. we have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live.. it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this..

but, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground.. the brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.. the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.. it is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.. it is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under god, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth..

~ Abraham Lincoln

for all those american service members who have died in the service of our country, i thank you... i honor you... always..

i pray for all those still at war... i pray that we find a way to end war, before it ends all of us... 

i pray.. i... i.. sing...

ahem.. just sing.. 

just sing something..

you mother fuckers youll sing someday..

boys.dont.cry..

sing for the peace of the world... 

~ cheers... david

always know where your towel is...

dude...

the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy has this to say about towels....

do you know where your towel is? 


~ cheers... david

in vancouver, the twins came out to play..

dude....

~ cheers... david

derek boogaard - the boogyman...

dude...
i never knew derek boogaard... but i do know that 28 is way to young to die... 
ive lost too many friends even younger than him, and although the death of a friend, lover, family member, hero, or brother in the amazing world that is ice hockey always hurts; the death hurts more and stays with me longer when the dead guy is just a kid... 


derek - the boogyman - boogaard was a kid.. maybe not on the ice where he was every bit the man ive always aspired to be.. off the ice, i read that he was a big kid at heart..  genuine, kind, funny, generous with his time and treasure, a big-ol-teddy bear of a guy as it were.. standing 6' 7", 265, big just doesnt really describe his stature as a hockey player and human being..
regaardless..  at my advanced age of forty six, 28 is still a kid to me...

DEREK BOOGAARD          

LEFT WING  - NYR

NUMBER: 94

HEIGHT: 6' 7"

WEIGHT: 265

SHOOTS: LEFT

BIRTHDATE: JUN 23, 1982  (AGE 28)

BIRTHPLACE: SASKATOON, SK, CANADA

DRAFTED: MIN / 2001 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

ROUND: 7TH  (202ND OVERALL)

heres a link to  russos rants...http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/121826023.html, a really well written tribute to derek by his friend mike russo, sports journalist and blogger for the minneapolis star tribune... 
kinder, more inspired (affectionate really), heartfelt words have yet been writ...


rest in peace derek boogaard... my heart and prayers go out to your family, friends, and teammates.. but most  especially for your brothers and your mom..


boys. dont. cry..


~ peace be with you.... david

*update... 
"the hennepin county medical examiner announced derek boogaard’s cause of death friday may 13, 2011 was an accident, due to a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkiller oxycodone.  a statement his family issued through the national hockey league players’ association (nhlpa) indicated the 6-foot-7 boogaard had been struggling with pain and addiction." the full article is here from yahoo! sports..

an open letter to sean avery..

dude...

thanks for all your support... recently..

we in the gay sports community appreciate it.. its because of open-minded tough guys like you that we all can breathe easier, sleep better at night, and be taken seriously as players and teammates.. really.. no really.. all that horse shit about dustin browns lisp was just trash talk, right? even if you were on the same team.. wait, what?

now.. come out already.. dont wait to be outed as someones sloppy seconds... dont hide your love of playing with dolls and playing dress up behind your love of fashion and "i have gay friends".. of course you do.. theres safety in numbers..

you lived in west hollywood.. and soho.. now chelsea... youre not fooling anyone hiding your big gay face behind those fasho glasses...

... The Rangers benched hockey player Sean Avery for game five of their seven-game defeat of the Caps. In his short time off, he did fashion-y things like smoke cigarettes while walking around the meatpacking district. His nocturnal journeys brought him to Daphne Guinness's birthday party for Steven Klein at the Standard Hotel. "He was wearing a tight black shirt, thick glasses and wide-legged swishy black pants," notes an observer. "He looked ridiculous." [NYP]

brendan burkes and his familys commitment to making sports, especially hockey a safe place for us, lgbt athletes, can only benefit from a big tough s.o.b. like you being out....

be that guy.. have the courage that brendan had.. that brian and patrick burke have.. that i had when i played beer league hockey with my straight teammates..

come on... come out already.. ill stand by you... ill kick anyones ass that gives you any shit for it..

~ cheers... david

p.s.. this video, (not mine, sigh) prolly made tongue in cheek, really sums it all up.... you make the call..