"Why didn't you tell me your Aunt was literate?"

--Little Glory Upson, the ditzy blonde, upon publication of "Live! Live! Live! by Mame Dennis Burnside


library.osu.edu

A number of months ago, Phillip called to tell me that he was applying for his dream job -- Health and Fitness Editor for PlanetOut. I told him he shouldn't have told me, because it was my dream job, too.

Before the BA in Chemistry, the PhD, and the MD, I was thinking about a career in journalism. I edited my grade school newspaper, my high school newspaper, news-letters at summer programs, and wrote and edited copy for a couple of the newspapers at JHU. I always enjoyed it, but it got pushed to the side on the quest to get to medical school, then residency. It made me a good science writer during my PhD years, but that was about all I did with my experience.

I never lost the bug, though. One of the reasons I started this blog was to get back to writing. It's was also one of the reasons I wanted to get back to an academic position, even if it meant moving to San Diego. I didn't sit down and think about how much I missed it, though, until I heard about the PlanetOut job. Especially since it offered the chance to be involved in the LGBT community in a positive way.

Phillip agreed I should apply, and I did, after some back door info gathering. In doing so, I realized that I probably wouldn't hire me for my writing, since I hadn't written anything other than "hard science" in over 10 years. I needed what my father called "some clippings". While I waited to hear back from PlanetOut, I e-mailed the editor of one of the new local community magazines, and asked if I could write a column.

I'm still waiting to hear from PlanetOut. But I'm celebrating my first column in the November issue of Rage.

No, I didnt' get to meet him. But the artwork in the magazine is INCREDIBLE! They've asked me for something for December, so I'm off to write it. But I wanted to take a minute to thank my various muses:

-- My Dad, the journalist and editor, who has been willing to read and edit everything I've written, and has been unbelievably encouraging.
-- Chad Fox, who got me to start this blog, which was definitely the first step. I miss your blog, and you, sweetheart.
-- Phillip, who told me about the job, got me started, and has been sending the good wishes ever since.
-- DanNation, who encourages every crazy idea I have. I hope I get around to more of them.
-- Jimmi, who's been a great friend since I guest starred on my first Variety Cast.
-- Renie, who's been telling me to get back into writing and politics since I've known her. (Added bonus to Renie -- I'm also involved in the emerging San Diego HRC community).
-- Sue (of Sue and Bob fame) whose been a blog supporter since I let it slip, and who has agreed to be my female BFF.
-- JC and his ex, who helped me get things off to PlanetOut.
-- The folks at Rage who are giving me a chance.

"Life's a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!"
-- Auntie Mame

Not me, I'm having a great time. Thanks, folks.

Good Choice, Good Riddance

www.cbc.ca

The day after a Red Sox sweep of the World Series will never be easy for a Yankee fan. Fortunately, a couple of annoucements made it a little easier to bear.

First, the Yankees have picked Joe Girardi to be their new manager. Good choice. While I stand by my assertion that LaRussa would have given the Yanks the best chance to win next year, Girardi is definitely the best choice for the long haul.

Second, Scott Boras announced that A-Rod's as big a narcissistic twit as we all thought. OK, actually he announced that Rodriguez would opt out of the last 3 years of his contract with the Yankees, but when you do it in the middle of the final game of the World Series (even when it's Boston), it amounts to the same thing. The Yankees claim they won't pursue A-Rod as a free agent, and I hope they don't. I think he's a great player, but the Yankees probably need to put that money elsewhere. Plus, my impression is that Girardi is a big "team" kind of guy, and I don't think he would have much tolerance for A-Rod's ego.


So next year, the Yankees will be without A-Rod, their highest profile hitter. Last year they lost Randy Johnson, a high profile pitcher. I'm cautiously optimistic. After 1998, Randy Johnson left the Mariners for the Diamondbacks. In 2000, A-Rod left the Mariners for the Texas Rangers. How did the Mariners do in 2001? They tied the regular season record with 116 wins. The Yankees just need to find their Ichiro.

One final sports note -- I hope the Patriots lose, and soon. Preferably to the Steelers. But this whining about how they "ran-up the score" on Washington? Tough. These aren't college kids with potentially fragile egos playing (allegedly) for fun. These are people making millions of dollars to compete. I agree with Ditka -- if you don't want to be scored on, shut up and play better D. Keeping Brady in a game when you're up by 40, however, is a questionable decision.

Lines of the Week

Thanks to all who checked in to see if the fires were affecting me. I've been fine here in Hillcrest. The hospitals are full and I signed up to volunteer, but I haven't been called in to either. The worst that happened to me was that Prison Break got delayed Monday and all the places I wanted to hit in the mall today were closed.

1) Since it relates to the fires, I'll start with the best thing I've heard this week. One of my friends works with a lesbian who was part of a voluntary evacuation. When asked if she needed a place to stay, she apparently said:

"I'm at my house, and I have beer and a hose. I'm not going anywhere."

Ya gotta love the image of a middle aged lesbian on her deck with a beer and hose ready to tackle a fire. I see her in flannel and jeans. I also submit that it's the rare lesbian who would risk her life on her ability to operate a "hose".

2) Bon Jovi made a surprise appearance on my iPod Shuffle with Bed of Roses, where Jon gets up to "French kiss the morning". I French kissed the morning myself today -- with all the fires, it tasted like a chain smoker.

3) Dumbledore is/was gay. I think it's great, and it doesn't upset me that it wasn't made clear in the books. I consider it like the question "Are you out at work?" It's an incredibly rare event that makes my sexuality relevant at work. I don't hide it, but I don't walk in and say "Hi, I'll be your GAY doctor today!" I've read all seven books more than once, and I'm not sure where Dumbledore's orientation should have come up. It just sounds to me like JK Rowling is a tolerant person, using her book to promote tolerance. With regard to the script change story, I don't really care if she decided Dumbledore was gay last year or last week.

4) Dumbledore is gay, therefore there IS a gay plot to use entertainment to expose children to homosexuality, therefore Tinkie Winkie was gay. I'm already lost, and we haven't even gotten to the part where it all means that Jerry Falwell was right and misunderstood.

5) On "The Chris Matthews Show" it was mentioned that Senator Larry Craig is not stepping down. Someone asked, after expressing incredulity that he was actually saying it, "Is he STALLING?"

Damn Yankees!

www.framehuggers.com

I'm a Yankees fan. Why? The short version is this: most people in Erie, PA were Cleveland Indians' fans, my grandfather didn't like those people and wanted to piss them off, and he decreed we would be New York Yankee fans.

I vaguely remember the championship season in 1978. Then I remember a lot of lean years in the 80's and early 90's, when it wasn't easy to root for the "most storied franchise in sports".

www.msnbc.msn.com

Then George spent a bunch of money on Joe Torre and free agents. By 2000, I had to constantly prove I wasn't a wagon jumper. It's been a little harder to root for the Yankees since then, but I wouldn't describe 12 consecutive play-off appearances as more "lean years". But rooting for the Yankees got a lot harder recently -- because I'd rather root for Joe Torre.

Torre's departure from the Yankees was discussed from 2 very different viewpoints on cnnsi.com. If you read them, you'll quickly see where I come down.

Let's be clear -- Joe Torre did NOT turn down the Yankees. They tried to find a line to walk where they could pretend he decided to leave so they could move on with no "blood on their hands". I agree with Verducci -- it didn't work.

First of all, the Yankees made a monumentally stupid decision. The management claims that their goal is to win the World Series annually. If I were a Vegas odds-maker, I give the Yanks the best odds to win next year if Torre is still their manager. They have some high profile replacements in the mix, but it's folly to suggest any of them could step in and be more likely to win next year than Torre.

Don't get me wrong -- I don't see Torre through rose-colored glasses. He's probably not the best tactical manager in baseball. I don't think he could ever have done what Girardi did with the Marlins. He wasn't a winning manager before, and he may never be again. But he's the best fit for the Yankees. The job of Yankees' manager is not about calling the suicide squeeze to "manufacture" a run. It's about juggling $200 million worth of egos. It's about turning A-Rod into a 3rd baseman and having him win another MVP (or two) there. It's about making a team come together around a future hall of fame pitcher who's going to make more than everyone else for 2/3 of a season of average pitching. Torre did it well.

I'll give the Yankees a little credit for at least realizing they couldn't fire Torre. They had to offer him something -- but it should have been reasonable -- a short contract with a very modest raise. Instead, they insulted him. A one year contract with a pay cut and incentives (which they previously said was a bad idea) -- puh-leeasse. Who takes a 25% pay cut after 12 years? And let's face it -- he made the playoffs this year, making him arguably one of the top 8 managers by performance. Given that his team was the only one not to get swept in the division series, he's already #5. You don't take a pay cut when you've performed in the top 20%.

Obviously, they were hoping to find a way to ditch Torre while maintaining his supporters. I, like Verducci, thought they'd failed when I saw the offer Torre refused. His comments tonight ended any delusion that he was OK with it. The saddest/funniest thing is that the extra dollars they will probably have to pay to keep Posada and Rivera in Torre's absence will far outweigh the cost of keeping Torre with a raise. (More proof they were looking to ditch him.)

As to Torre's successor, I'm split. In my heart, I want Girardi.

news.cbc.co.uk

The guy has an engineering degree from Northwestern, and he's brilliant. Also, he has a great relationship with Greg Maddux from his Cubbie days. Can you imagine a better pitching coach? I'm not sure he would juggle egos as well as Torre, but if there's rebuilding to be done, I think Girardi's the guy. (And yeah, I think he's ruggedly HOT!) Donnie Baseball is a great emotional choice for a Yankee fan, but he hasn't proven anything. And then there's LaRussa.

Honestly, if I want my boyz to win next year, I take LaRussa. The job is still going to be an ego juggling act, best done by a conciliator used to high salaries. LaRussa is the closest thing to Torre -- old enough to demand respect and a proven, steady hand.

Things have changed since Grandpa's time and since I left Erie. The Red Sox, not the Indians, are clearly the hated nemesis, so I'm rooting for The Tribe for the next game or two. Then I'm all about the feel good Rockies. After which I'm taking a break from baseball, and focusing on a way for Penn State to make the Rose Bowl. And Go Steelers!

In April, I'll be rooting for at least two teams: my Cubbies, managed by X-Yankee player/manager Lou Pinella; and whoever hires Joe. Even if it's the ESPN broadcast team. And we'll see about the Yankees.

Joe, thanks for a great 12 years. You deserved better.

Mere Mortals

I usually take my lunch break in my office, check e-mail, and buzz cnn.com.

Today, I got floored. On the front page of cnnsi.com, I saw this headline: Kessler, 40, dies after heart attack.


www.ebaptisthealthcare.org

In case you didn't follow the link, let me tell you about this guy. He was a star for the University of Georgia basketball team. He was a 1st Round NBA draft pick (Miami Heat). Before he was picked, though, he applied to Emory Medical School, and was given a deferment. He got a phat contract and played for 4 years. Then he came back and went to medical school. With me.

It's hard to miss someone who's 6'7" during orientation, and the whispers started immediately. By the end of the first day, I think everyone knew we had a celebrity in our class -- with the possible exception of Alec. He could have taught Superman humility. He never brought up his basketball days, but was willing to discuss them if you wanted to. [He even played for our intramural team when the rest of us cut out for Mardi Gras.] He laughed along when we showed a slide of his basketball card in a lecture. He was always quietly near the top of the class, and willing to help anyone who asked. When he probably could have stood aloof, he came to most of the happy hours and parties with us, often accompanied by his fireball wife, Rhea, who was taking on City Hall to build a gazebo.

We ran in different crowds, but I consider him a good person and counted him as a friend. I see death everyday, and I've had family members die, but I don't think I've ever read the obituary of a friend. It's a little unsettling. Medical students are notorious for feeling immortal. I wasn't sure I was indestructible, but I would have bet Alec was. I've also been in CA 5 years, and felt like I could always catch up with my friends from medical school later. Guess I was wrong.

If anyone else from Emory happens to find this blog, send me something -- if you don't, I'll probably be tracking you down soon.

Trust me -- the world just lost a great doctor and a great guy. My sympathies to his wife and kids. Alec, may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead.

In the Top Ten

I got out of work early Saturday and came home to watch Penn State vs. Wisconsin. Once my Lions had won, I switched over to the marathon Kentucky/LSU game. Through the drama, I must admit I was struck by Kentucky's sophomore place kicker. Good still face shot (which is rare), cute close-ups after his kicks, and an earring in each ear. (Seen here from scoreboards.aol.com)



I wasn't the only one who noticed him -- the national TV announcers made a comment. Something about how rare it was that a game saving kicker in the SEC would have both ears pierced. Note that many huge, manly running backs and wide receivers wear tons of jewelry. But a slight young kicker? That's news.

I don't know if my kicker is gay, straight, metro, or trying to be fashionable. And I don't think it matters. I'm not thrilled the announcers were so shocked by his appearance. But on national TV, for the first time I've heard, they basically said that your talent might be important to a football team even if you're perceived as less than macho. I think it's progress.

Kentucky's win vaulted them into the Top Ten and the national spotlight. Maybe a baby-faced kicker with two piercings brought some tolerance along for the ride.