Richard Norway

OMG. Thanks guys. I really appreciate the feedback. He now has reading that will take him tilt he's 21.

Hi guys and gals, As most of you know, David and I are foster parents. We have a new placement that is a young boy that will turn 15 in less than 2 weeks, He loves to read and I want to encourage that in him. I mentioned to him that I do a lot of reading online of free and new fiction. He knew that David and I are a gay couple well before he was placed and is straight. Tonight he asked me if I could give him some sites that he could go to to read in the evening. Well, I told him that I mostly read gay themed fiction and said that I wasn't sure if those are the sites he's looking for. He said, "Ah, not really." Do any of you know of any sites that feature appropriate writing for straight teenagers? Richard

Luggie wants highlights, so here goes... I don't think I want to drive that many miles in two days each way with a 9 year boy and and two dogs again. But it was fun. Ray was remarkable. i only heard, "Are we there yet?" once in the two days up there and then again once on the way back. We had brought plenty of things for him to do...toys, snacks, a portable DVD player so he could watch movies, and of course plenty of rest stops. On the second day, Shilow (our 12 year old border collie) started whining, and I figured that he needed to go pee, so I started looking for a rest stop. Ray was asleep in the back of the minivan under a blanket when Shilow had had enough waiting and went and pooped on top of the blanket. Well, that sure woke Ray up. LOL Entering North Dakota, I saw black smoke rising to my right. I thought it was Luggie sending smoke signals as he said and thought it must have been him as the radio said it was an auto repair shop that had caught on fire. But Mi was too far away. The room at the casino in Minnesota was HUGE with a fireplace and balcony. Ray, of course, had to pick his bed first off right next to the balcony. Once there, Ray met his cousin (my 9 year old grandson :D ) and they hit it off. It took my daughter and I half an hour to drag them out of the water park in the hotel. The wedding was held outdoors at the bride's parents farm. Of course I followed my brothers directions on how to find the farm and was 30 min late so we missed the ceremony. But everyone was there only for the typical huge party afterwards, so we didn't miss much. Ray hasn't been on a farm before and was fascinated. He and his cousin, along with 4 or 5 other boys, eventually found the paths through the woods behind the house leading to the plowed fields where they scrounged wood, hey and brush to build a fort in the trees and brush at the edge of the field. Ray was so proud that he sought me out to bring me there to show it to me. The nest day (Sunday) I took Ray (along with my daughter and grandson) to my brother's other daughter's farm. She married a guy who's father was killed in a car accident about 4 years ago and they inherited their 5,000 + acre farm. First Ray and Joseph) (my grandson :D ) went to the hay barn and climbed hay bales stacked up to the rafters. Since it's a farm, one of the kids there (10 y/0) took the gang of kids on a 4 wheel tour of the farm. Ray got in the cab of a huge combine and got to sit in the drivers seat. Later on we took him to the horse barn where he got to feed hay to the horses in their stalls. I have videos of his excitement. Now this is something that I disagree with but must follow their rules. CFP here in New Mexico won't let me show you pics or videos of Ray for confidentiality reasons. Anyway, we didn't have time to go fishing on Lake Of The Woods, but my brother fired up his pontoon boat and we took Ray fishing on the Thief River that runs through town. Ray was the only one that got a strike, but it was gone by the time he reeled in his line. My brother put Ray in the drivers seat and showed him how to steer the boat for awhile. What a determined look he had on his face driving that boat down the river at 9 years old. We even stopped to watch 5 turtles sunning themselves on a tree branch on the bank of the river. We left the next morning (Monday) and headed for the Black Hills of South Dakota. After we checked into the motel outside of Sioux Falls, Ray and I went to the market to get snacks for the night. When we returned we found that our 7 month old puppy (Teddy) had pooped on the carpet. Oh well, it wasn't soupy so easy to clean up. When Ray saw the 4 president's faces on the mountain for the first time, he stopped, starred at them and his only word was, "Awesome." We took the audio tour of the park with a hand held virtual tour guide. We drove the whole way from the Black Hills to Las Cruces, NM the next day. Needless to say, we slept immediately upon returning. It was a wonderful trip. Blame Luggie if this turned into a long post. :D Richard

Don't know why I'm writing this now as I should be in bed getting some much needed sleep. You see, tomorrow I'm going to pack my minivan, get Ray up (he's my 9 year old foster boy) and hit I-25. We're heading for Northern Minnesota. He's so excited that he even had a temper tantrum tonight about getting his things packed (lots of toys, of course). What an adventure! You see, my nephew (my brother's boy) is getting married, and my daughter is driving up from Michigan, and she has a 9 year old son (my grandson :D ), and Ray so wants to meet them and play with Joseph (my grandson :D ). Now here's the kicker. My dad is 91 (and is still planning on going hunting again this Fall, and as all retired people, he has a lot of free time on his hands, so he goes to the casino 2-3 times a week (and never seems to loose, the creep). He has enough points built up that he has purchased us a room at the casino hotel. Now, Ray is not excited about that, but he is excited that the casino hotel has an indoor water park. We'll be staying in a hotel in Nebraska the first night. and then on to Northern Minnesota the second day. I've already been promised a fishing trip for Walleye on Lake Of The Woods and even a fishing trip on a pontoon boat on the Thief River. Ray's going be loving it. On the way back to Las Cruces, NM, we're going to stop at Mount Rushmore, SD...blow the kid's mind. I've contacted Ray's teachers and now have a full set of lessons for him to complete on the drive up and back. The hardest part was getting the judge to agree to my transporting him across state lines. He is a ward of the state, but that came through today. They took their sweet time! So, now I'm off to bed. Richard

I'm a foster parent and most of the kids that I've been involved with have been abused and neglected. Of course they lie, but they lie to 1) get attention that they have lacked, 2) make their lives more normal so they believe that they live in the world of their peers and 3) protect themselves from the abuse of their past. But, the kids that I'm referring to are not the kids of Colin's world. I can't say enough about what great parents he has from looking at the way he has learned and developed. And I don't believe that Colin has never lied to his parents. That's just not normal. My parents will never know of some of the stuff that I pulled as a growing teen, not because I can't tell them now, but because I'm too ashamed to admit that I was a stupid kid once. Kids, even though we call them kids, are thinking human beings who have their own life and they interpret what is being told and shown to them. They will disagree with their parents on a lot of things, but they may not show it. Kids need to know that you trust them, but more importantly, they need to feel safe and loved by you, and that feeling of safety will allow them to open up with honesty Richard

Some may say that I'm blowing my own horn, but I'm so proud of the effort of a lot of people that I want to share it with you. As most of you know. David and I are on a quest, and that quest is to create a GLBTQ sense of community in New Mexico. We opened the first GLBTQ Community Center in New Mexico a year ago. Our goal over the next 10 years is to open a total of 6 community centers across the state. Well, number two is now in the works. Below is a copy of the press release that we issued today. NEW MEXICO GLBTQ CENTERS Press Release Contact: David Stocum FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: Cell (575) 373-8587 Gallup To Get State?s Second GLBTQ Community Center (Las Cruces and Gallup) ? New Mexico Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender and Questioning/Queer (GLBTQ) Centers a Las Cruces based nonprofit announced plans to open the Gallup LGBTQ Center, as the second of six regional centers planned for New Mexico. New Mexico GLBTQ Centers Executive Director, David Stocum and Gallup Regional Operating Committee Chair, Jordon Johnson, will make the announcement July 30th during the Gallup Pride day from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in downtown Gallup. ?This is another huge step toward our long-term goal of a network of GLBTQ community centers across the state,? said Stocum. ? In the past year since opening the first center in Las Cruces we have been with a few groups around the state seeking to be home to the second center,? Stocum continued, ? We are pleased to announce the Gallup committee are the first ones to officially sign an affiliation agreement.? Johnson stated, ? This is very exciting and a recognized need for the GLBTQ community in Gallup and surrounding area.? He continued, ? We?re delighted to be collaborating with many local partners and community members in developing this center in Gallup. It is a wonderful opportunity to build on the goal as well as be a part of the New Mexico GLBTQ Centers.? ?As a member of the community I am very excited to be a part of this tremendous development,? states Stella Martin, a longtime community member. She continues, ?Over the years I have witnessed our local LGBTQ community rise and shine. The center will not only be for Gallup but for our surrounding communities, and all the visitors who have the opportunity to witness the beauty and culture of our home. I am overwhelmed to witness the power of progress, and honor the courage of our current LGBTQ leaders from Gallup Pride to Gallup PFLAG. Let us all continue to move forward with the brilliance of building a healthy and stronger community.? Planning and fund raising has begun and an opening date will be announced soon. The first public meeting for the local community to provide input regarding the Gallup LGBTQ Center will be Thursday August 18th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital Solarium Room. The Gallup LGBTQ Center Regional Operating Committee will have a benefit show to honor Mattee Jim and her work in the community on Saturday August 27th at the El Morro Theatre starting at 7:00 p.m. New Mexico GLBTQ Centers? vision is for six Regional GLBTQ Community Centers with outreach to rural areas; quality needs based programs and services and advancing a New Mexico where everyone is treated with respect and fairness. It is a model that can be repeated in other rural states. New Mexico GLBTQ Centers mission is to reduce homophobia and enrich the lives of individuals living in New Mexico who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning through education, advocacy, support, example and collaboration. ~ END~

You know Pec and I have fought together and disagreed together, but what he has posted are words that right now so very ring true with me. We are not the only discriminated group in this or any other country. We are one of many and the focus should exactly be what he expressed in his second paragraph...nondiscrimination but inclusion. Richard

Gary Johnson was a past governor of New Mexico, so even as a Republican, we know that he's not all bad. :) Richard

Dk, many people want change, and in their world, things can happen quickly. But in the world of the US government, things happen slowly. I believe that our founding fathers planned it that way, so that we don't over-react and pass laws that will need to be looked at again, mistakes like prohibition and DADT. I do believe that President Obama is on our side but that things are going slower than we would like, but as you pointed out, those things are moving forward. REichard

Links, I need Links! I need something to click on. I need a direction. oops. Pun intended. :)

This is a truly interesting thread to me, as it hits so close to home. I'm a foster parent, as I'm sure most of you know, and the kids that are being placed with me now are troubled kids. David and I were "treatment" foster parents prior to our association with the New Mexico state agency. Because of our past experience, our state agency seems to think that we are better equipped to take their more difficult children. Kids are kids and they learn to be "bad" because they were taught to be that way...period. They lacked the guidance and love from people that should have been their role models. How do kids learn anyway? They watch what's around them. BTW, most parents aren't bad parents. They're just teaching their kids what they had learned while growing up. Cole, you got me on the topic of "bad and good" with your example of kids. But, (and here I go again starting with a conjunction, which I'm sure I'll hear about from you all) genetics does have it's play here. Genetics is actually the wrong word, but there are conditions that a child goes through that make him/her process information differently than their peers. ADHD is one example. The brain of kids with ADHD work differently than other kids. The synapse connections that they have formed send information to different parts of the brain than in other kids. Social information can be sent to the limbic part of the brain which reacts in a "fight or flight" mode to defend that person. There is still controversies within the psychology sector whether these connections were formed from "nurture" or "nature" Whatever the case, these kids have synapses connections that send information to places in the brain different than other kids, and to change that, or rebuild new connections, will take a long time by very patient people. I believe that these synapse connection are formed for nurture, the kid's environment. But, it can be done! Kids are born with a "clean slate," as they say. What turns kids into "bad seeds" is the people around them, the lack of or fulfillment of love, the model of how they should react, and everything around that child. Richard

OMG...OMG...I can't believe my eyes. Do you see what I just saw? Of all people, our IDOL. Cole, Let me help you. I know you have a lot of editors, but...but...THIS? Camy, can you talk to him, please? You're a grammar expert, and he might listen to you. I don't think we need for Cole to be committed, but...but...this is so far out of line from his norm. AwesomeDude friends, we need to help one of our own. Richard

I need new landscape bushes and flowers that died during our sub zero temperatures last February. I'm switching from Lowe's (the closest to me) to Home Depot. Join the ranks of the good guys Home Depot along with Ford and Disney. R

You guys are TERRIBLE. You know why? You've put a lot of good ideas in my head. And now thinking about them, I'm now thinking about acting in them.A "food fight" as Cole suggested has merit. I would want to involve the kids again, but many of them have graduated this week and won't be back. But. this could be a cooking contest for youth from HS to college or anyone else..say 15 to 25 y/o. We'd have to have categories like deserts, main entrees salads, etc. I know the Operations Manager of Best Buy and he would be happy to give us $100 gift cards as prizes. Forget the royalties Cole, you gave me this challenge because you want to torment me, because you know it's something that I would love to do. LOLI'm not sure when this will happen, sometime in the Fall, but the possibility intrigues me.One reservation though. We're in New Mexico, and the culture is such that cooking is a female/wife thing, By addressing youth, I can help change that stereotype.Now. I've got to have qualified Judges. I was thinking about the heads of the culinary arts departments of New Mexico State University and local restaurant owners. Here again, you've all have gotten me thinking about our future. Maybe, just maybe, we can get the Food Network interested in us to do a show on us.I'm only speculating.Richard

Dinner Theater? Actually, I have one of those scripted "Throw a Murder Mystery Party" things in a box. I would personally love to do one, but haven't found the right time yet.I asked Katy Taylor, our director, what would be the next performance that we do. She looked quixotically at me, and I said, "How about Who's Of Virginia Wolf ...but only if I get to play Richard Burton." We laughed at that a lot, but...I sparked in her an interest. It's not a kids performance.Now, I'm getting back to Cole's comment. A cooking setup? Now that's something that they would like. A lot of kids, gay or straight, have left the stereo molds that we grew up with, and the major chefs in the world today are straight. This is a great idea, and has me thinking.Richard

Thank you all for your warm wishes, James, I'm no saint: I drink with the best of them. And Bruin, I don't see myself as any kind of hero. All I do is follow what I believe in. I believe in kids as the future of our country and want the best for all of us, so I promote their future happiness. Some of our kids are troubled. They haven't had the best life, I guess that's why I'm a foster parent, I'm just an average guy who wants to leave this world knowing that I was here and made a difference.Cole, love you and you're not that far away.Richard

I know I took more time to calm down, than you wanted me to, but, okay guys and gals, here's what happened.Doing this play was one of the most exhilarating experiences that I have had in years. As you all know, I chose a high school to help put this play on. The reason was that young people today don't know who Harvey Milk was. I wanted this be not just an educational experience for the audience, but the cast as well. We had 9 high school students from Alma d'arte, 1 Alma graduate and 2 New Mexico State University students as our cast. Only 2 cast members had seen the movie Milk with Sean Penn and didn't know who Harvey Milk was. For one rehearsal, I took the entire cast to the Center and screened the movie Milk. They came away amazed. One cast member, a female (the only gay person in the cast) was almost in tears. They hadn't realized what Harvey had done and were aghast when they found out that he was assassinated. Through the first rehearsals, they had started to identify with the characters that they were playing.I had originally pictured this as a reading where each actor was allowed to have a script in front of him/her but wanted a better production. Katy, the director, came up to me and asked if they could do it from memorization. I cautioned her on the short time that we had to rehearse, but she said that she could do it. I smiled because that's exactly what I wanted, So...she pushed and pushed, and guess what? They did it!I was an unknown to the young cast that we were working with, but as time went on, I couldn't walk into rehearsals without half a dozen of the kids stop and say, "Hi Richard." When I walk through the school doing post production stuff (gathering borrowed props, paying the director (yes she did it for free, but she did such a great job, I had to acknowledge her), etc,) the kids would come up to me and hug me for the experience that I provided to them. I loved those kids for who they are and for the dedication that they put into their work. This is truly our future! Of course you all have read my previous posts and know that I was a total wreck. I wanted this to be a great performance, but I also didn't want to lose any money. Well, the first came true and the second didn't. Tech was on Saturday, the day before the performance. "Tech" is where they marry the correct lighting and sound to each moment. It was all scripted and programmed for each moment. I worried that the amount of time they had to put in on this was too late as the performance was the next day. Again, Katy Taylor came through. She made it last until she was satisfied. She kept asking me if I thought the lighting on each actor was correct or that the sound was too loud or too soft. She's obviously a politician as she also knew that this was my first production.We had minimal props on stage, just a few painted wooden boxes of varying sizes. The actors used them to stand on top of to deliver monologues for focus. At one point in the second act a young man with long brown hair got on top of one of the boxes with a bullhorn (just like Harvey did) and gave a compassionate speech). Christ, I was in the back of the theater watching and I cried!We shook up the audience last Sunday and I didn't think they'll forget what they witnessed for a long time. This play was intense at the right times and followed with mellow stuff. But it always heated up again and MADE PEOPLE THINK.A family was created with this experience. The kids became very close to one another and bonded as a family does. Email addresses were exchanged as well as cell number amongst them.It amazed me how much the cast identified with Harvey Milk. Harvey Milk was an out gay man in a time when it was not popular to be. 11 of the 12 cast members are straight and they embraced Harvey and his beliefs. I truly believe that I have made a difference in 12 lives who will be speaking to others.I had bought white polo shirts for each cast member and the director with the Dear Harvey loge silk screened on the front and had asked them to wear them at the meet and greet the case reception following the performance. They all did, and I was out there watching. Members of the audience came up to me. congratulating me on what I had done saying what a wonderful group of young people I had pulled together. Hell, I didn't do it, Katy did. One girl was probably only 4'7", but she could project. She also had no problem with her being so short. She just was and believed in herself! Gawd, I'm so impressed with these young people. They taught me as much as I taught them.We had about 160 people attend the performance and the theater director was thrilled. He said that we would loose a small portion of the usual audience because it was a gay themed play, but was still thrilled about the turnout. I had ordered appetizers for 75 and they were all gone by the time the last person left. The theater is in a downtown area that had gone through urban renewal in the 60's and closed off the street in front of the theater. It was devastation to the business in the area. Two years ago the city realized this and opened up the street and renovated the area. The theater was built in 1926, but closed due to a fire in the 80's. It was put on the national registry of historic buildups and renovated. It opened agai9n 3 years ago to it's grandeur. What a venue! The Dona Arts Council (Dona Ana is the county we live in) bought the theater and did the work.Let me tell you about the performance. These kids did something absolutely amazing. I watched from the rear of the theater for most of the performance and I was entrenched in their ability to perform. It was a little bit shaky for the first 10 minutes, but after that, they got into it. No rehearsal ever came across like what they did in front of an audience. I saw deep passion like I had never seen before. I think at rehearsal they held back but still believing in Hervey's message. Now it was truth time and they let it come out.At the meet and greet reception following the performance, most of the people talking the the cast were school friends, which I expected. But some of the older people approached me with their comments, And they were all very encouraging. Of co9urse, I wore a suit, so everyone could identify me. No One wears a suit in Las Cruces unless you're an attorney. LOLActually, I wore a suit because I was to introduce this play on stage. I asked the lighting guy to focus an me when I did. The sound guy gave me a mic that he said he would turn on the moment I came on stage. I waited until the cast was on the stage wing ready to enter before I came out. (no pun intended I walked onto the stage the the front and made sure that I was illuminated. I introduced the play and asked them to turn off their cell phones, But I also said, "I mean it, do it now." while pointing toward the audience, I got a good laugh. I walked off light for a moment and returned, face showing no emotion. I looked up and paused. I said, "My name is Harvey Milk ans I'm here to recruit you." while pointing at them and then walked off the stage. I got a round of applause as I think they knew the line, but back in the tech booth, Katy said, "I hope you didn't give the play away. I said that that is a famous line. She said that the audience doesn't know that...yet. Oops.I asked Katy about a cast party, but she said that they hadn't arranged one yet. So, being the party loving guy that I am ,sai8d that we'll have one at my house. Before the rehearsal and tech session on Saturday, I gave them all a map to my house.Every kid showed up, One had told me that he and his girlfriend were vegan. I really tried to accommodate them with organic dishes, but I had ordered a 5' Italian sub too. OMG, over half of the cast didn't eat meat. Oh well.This cast has bonded. No one wanted to leave and we played serenades for over two hours. They finally left around 10:40 pm. What was it like? It was one of the most fulfilling experiences on my life.. i saw young people become engaged. I saw enlightenment in their eyes oF knowledge gqained. I saw caring in their voices and their eyes.I think I am better off than they are as I gained a view of the world that is to come and it makes me proud to have known our future.

I'm burned right now. The cast left the cast party that I hosted at my house about 20 minutes ago. I'm going to veg for a few hours and then I'll tell you all how it went. As a preview, I'll say that the day was one of the best days of my life. Now where did I put my scotch? I had to put it away as we had a lot of kids here tonight.Richard

I seriously like the way this thread has progressed. It shows hope. Tomorrow is Harvey Milk's birthday and the day that my play is going to be presented. The decline in organized religion is indicative of the public's feelings. Today Gallup's poll showed that more Americans support gay marriage for the first time. This is the third poll to show that in the last month, but it is the most believed of all the polls. Harvey Milk's "hope" speech said that a political figure's basic responsibility was to give the people hope, that there is a better horizon. That's what's happening in the churches today. The people are telling their beliefs and not following outdated dogmas. Tomorrow I am taking a stand for gay rights. The play that I'm producing is fought with gay rights activism. Las Cruces is an open city with the cowboy mentality of "you leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone." But what is going to be presenting in the play is going to shock their laissez fare attitude. I was outside the theater today talking with the theater manager about table placement for the reception following the performance when an older woman and I think her grand daughter, came up to me and asked if tickets were available. I told them we didn't have tickets available at the theater right now, but a coffee house had them as well as the GLBTQ Community Center. The younger girl was reluctant to enter the gay and lesbian center to get their tickets, even though that it was closer, but the older woman said, Posh. let's go there." :) Times are really changing and I am so excited to see it. I look back at what I went through in high school and my tour with the Navy following, and I now have "hope" for our country as being "truly" what is said on the Statue of Liberty."

Thanks Cole. I know you'd enjoy it.Bruim, they won't let me video the performance, but I'll get pics and post them.Katy, my director, has these kids moving all over the stage. It's an avarnt gard production. You all would love it.One rehearsal tomorrow left and then dress rehearsal and tech run through at the theater on Saturday.Of course, I'm a wreck. Will they be ready? Will we fill the theater? Will the public be accepting of a play that deals with homosexuality...in an open way.? What will the papers say? Will the playwright be pleased? Oh God...I just know that I haven't ordered enough appetizers for the reception. We're going to run out. Then again, no one will stay and we're going to have to eat the food for days to come, if they don't go bad. Like I said, I'm a wreck.This is the first time that I've produced a play, and you know what? I LOVE it!Richard

Well, here we go. It is now five days until the performance of Dear Harvey. It'll be this Sunday at 2:00pm, a matinee performance. I think I've done everything I could do to promote this play. The theater usually puts out 70 posters around town for other performances, but I put out 96...it's everywhere. As my cast is all high school students, I even got permission to post the posters in all 5 high schools in Las Cruces. You will obviously get from this post that it's gate time and I'm as nervous as hell.. The theater holds 422 people, and I calculated (rather hoped for) 150 people to attend. It's the grandest theater in Las Cruces, closed in 1982 as too old, renovated to it's grandeur and reopened 2 years ago. We're planning a "meet and greet the cast" reception following the performance at the theater. If I can expect 150 to buy tickets and attend then maybe 1/2 or 75 will stay for the reception. That's the food that I've ordered...for 75. What happens if we fill this theater? It holds 422 people. I'm going to run out of food. Las Cruces is known for people not ordering tickets in advance, they just show up. What happens if we fill this theater? I'm going to run out of food. What happens if no one shows up? I'm going broke. What happens if the show flops and no one wants to contribute? I'm broke. Remember, this is a fundraiser for our Centers youth center. I have a full head of hair, even at my age, but I'm pulling it out quickly. I've never produced a play before, and I would like to know if other producers go through the same anxiety. The cast is great, the director is so talented and we've had tons of community support. So why am I a total wreck? These kids are so into this play now after not knowing who Harvey Milk was that I have decided to buy them all polo shirts with the play's logo silk screened on the front. We're having our full dress rehearsal this Saturday, and I'm going to give them out then. Most of these kids have never been to this theater, so we held a rehearsal there tonight. They were in awe with the place. Katy (the director) and I sat in mid theater and found out that the acoustics were so much better that projection (which has always been a problem) was not an issue, There is a PowerPoint projection of slides during the performance of Harvey and his times behind the actors. The tech guy has worked out a way to show the slides above the actors and place them at locations where the actors are vacant that it comes across wonderfully...no shadows of the actors or slides in their faces. I had a scare today. We had a production meeting 4 weeks ago and it was agreed that the school, Alma d'arte, would do the programs. I found out tonight that nothing has been done on them...panic time. Katy has already put together the program and all she needs to be done is have the school print them. whew! These kids are stressed. Graduation from high school is the night before the performance. on Saturday. So at the final dress rehearsal on Saturday, I'm going to give each one of them a white polo shirt with the play's logo silk screened on the front. I'm also going to ask them to wear them during the "meet and greet the cast" so that they can be identified. I want people to know what a great job that they did and to have them tell of their experience about understanding who Harvey Milk was what what he stood for to the audience. This is all about education. My most challenging thing is to find bullhorns to borrow. Harvey used a bullhorn when he addressed crowds. The police and fire departments don't use them anymore. I had approached the local school, but they don't know me. I wouldn't loan my equipment to someone that I didn't know. So, I asked the principle of Alme d'arte (for those of you who don't know this high school, it's an arts charter high school in Las Cruces) to contact the people that he knows in the other high schools to see if we could borrow their bull horns. Every athletic and band department has to have them. Well, with graduations coming up this week, he's swamped and I've not heard back from him. When will this frustration and anxiety end? But, you know something? I'm at my wits end, and...I absolutely love it. I'm so happy that this is coming together. It will happen. I think I've done all that I can do at this point and now it will just happen. Wish me luck. No! don't wish me luck. Send checks, cash, promissory notes for our youth center...just kidding. I'm actually having the time of my life. Richard.

Simon, I was more than enchanted. I was totally wrapped up in the imagery, the words, the feelings behind this work. Simon...you've married flash fiction with poetry. Absolutely WONDERFUL. I intend on showing this piece to friends. Richard

I'm from Minnesota, and his speech brought tears to my eyes. I often wonder what has happen to the Hubert Humphrey state of Minnesota that would turn it's back on minorities.

We find out who we are in many ways. One way is to look at our past, as Kapitano has done, and derive our conclusions about who we are from our past. The other way is to look at the truth of what was taught to us and make our own decisions about what we were told and what we believe. Wonderful piece Kapitano, truly. It's one of those pieces that make us think. I am so happy to see this. Richard

What is wrong with us as a people and a society. We're allowing the killing of our future, our hopes and our dreams for a better world. Please watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah7_hLXLLaA WATCH THIS NOW Richard