Dartboard

Since persuading Dawn last weekend about how meeting and dating people on the internet wasn't weird or gross or scary, but becoming more and more normal, I've been reading craigslist.com for Boston, where I intend to move in less than a year. I found the "Best of Craigslist" and read this great post. It's from the Portland craigslist as well.

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong

01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

I believe love makes a marriage.

And some pictures. This from my friend Nina, who just met a great guy from Portland's Craiglist. He's Emre from Turkey and sounds wonderful!!

And since we're on the subject of marriage, I just got some pictures from my friend Jayme's wedding!!

A beautiful bride (and husband Steve).

A good group of friends from college, "The Pioneer Pack" at Jayme's wedding. I'm so sad that I missed another friend's wedding for being out of the United States. My biggest regret from traveling/living abroad the last five years: Missing three of my friends' weddings.

The Pioneer Pack having a progressive dinner in Portland. This is Nina, Amy, Alisa and Erin.

Last picture, my sister and some friends in Portland.

Oh, Portland... I'm getting homesick! It's November and soon it will be December. That means... Thanksgiving and Christmas and all without a family. I'm not going home this year because I need to save money, but I'm a little worried about my emotional state if I don't spend this time of year with family! My plans to go to China fell through, unfortunately, and I don't have a back-up plan. I got really homesick last year at this time, but I figured it was because it was my first year and I was unstable. I don't want to go through THAT again, but maybe I'm just not strong enough to spend holidays without family?!? I felt so re-energized after going home last year... What should I do?!?

I'd like to spend New Years on my island. It's a very special holiday in Japan. I've already got an invitation to spend it with a family here and I'm so tempted to do it. Now I only have to worry about Christmas!

Trying to stay positive (and do some saratonin-breathing as recommended to me by a Japanese friend) but you'll hear from me if I'm feeling down and out this year!

I slept 12 hours last night and it felt so good!

Needing your support and love this month,
Sierra