Blog de Tommy

Same Sex Marraige Rights March On California

2008-11-08T04:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my dear friend, Kip, invited me to participate in a direct action street blockade during the Prop 8 protest march that took place earlier tonight. I volunteered to take photo/video, provide jail support in the event of arrests, and bring nutritious snacks. At 5:30pm the march began at Civic Center. At 9th and Market a group of 10-20 people risked arrest by staying behind and holding up a banner across Market St. blocking traffic for over two hours. A large audience quickly gathered and kept spirits high by chanting and providing support the entire time. The police held a line across from the banner directing traffic and stayed peaceful while giving us space, thanks SFPD and City of SF. After a couple of hours thousands of marchers met back up with us and together we pressed on to the City Hall steps and then continued in full force down Market to 18th and Castro where a couple was married by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Pollo Del Mar, "an accidental activist" and drag queen, kept the energy high with a large group until at least midnight when we left. It was rather powerful to witness a union between two people that wouldn't have been outlawed a week ago. This march acts in solidarity with demonstrations that have taken place in San Jose, Los Angeles (not so peaceful), and Salt Lake City (because the Mormon Church donated around 2-4 million dollars to the Yes on 8 opposition) over the last week. It is easily one of the most successful, fulfilling, and joyous direct actions I've been a part of. A big thanks to Kip for organizing it and thanks to all those that provided support and risked arrest.

More pictures can be seen under this web album.

"Who's State?"

"Our State"

Thats right!

City Hall

Pollo Del Mar

A Marriage in the Castro

Yes We Did.

2008-11-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

Where were you when the election was called? I was seated enjoying a taco in the Mission. People began honking and yelling out windows and chanting the new president's name on the street, "O-ba-ma, O-ba-ma" My best friend, Kip, called to tell me the landslide electoral results. Even with all this, it hadn't set in. Back in the taqueria, McCain started giving his concession speech. The streets began to fill with celebration. You could see the electricity in the eyes of everyone. The words on the train buzzed with expectations, interpretations, and relief. Union Square began to overflow and the police had to clear the streets for the trollies to pass. Still, it just wasn't registering with me. My attention belonged to Kip and his friends who remained on edge about Prop.8, which threatens to amend the CA Constitution to ban same sex marriage. We rode our bikes to the Castro remembering what our world looked like in Knoxville, TN four years ago during the last election. Despite Prop. 8's current success in the polls, the Castro turned into a dance party. The street closed, a stage, lights, and sound were in full blast. However, the city shut it down early, probably concerned that there may be riots if the polls close with Prop. 8 ahead. Today, the excitement of our next president being a leader America actually wants feels similar to a birthday, new year, and "I just got a brand new pet/job/hot date" all rolled into one occasion. I've been crying all day, even now my eyes are watering. Its a new chapter for a lot of us that have been so depressed by politics over the last 8 years that we couldn't even read the papers or listen to the news unless it was the Onion or the Daily Show. I'm ready for the next era where the world will make sense and we won't need the filter of alcohol or comedy in order to cope with it's challenges. How about you?

Kip and Flik Barack'd that vote

Potheads

"Proposition 10 will revoke the right of straight people to marry"

How can you say no to this?

Tears of joy

Edendale Middle School PE Bike Program

2008-11-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

Last week marked the end of the Edendale PE phase 1 bike program in San Leandro, CA. We worked closely with three Coaches and their 500 students for 4 weeks this fall and will continue to assist them over the next 2 years. The Coaches are enthusiastic about integrating the curriculum into the school's permanent PE program. It will hopefully be worked into the school district and other district's PE programs as time goes on. A Special Thanks to: Isaac, Jill, Maya, Matt, and Kellie.

Charlie struggles to fit into his helmet

Coach Budge explains the drill

Student staying focused

A bicycle built for two

Safe Routes in the house

One of our star players

Isaac leads a neighborhood ride

Chillin'

They grow up so fast

Sunrise on Edendale's blacktop....I couldn't resist

Birdwatching at Ft. Funston

2008-10-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

Last week I took to Ft. Funston, an old military outpost overlooking the Pacific Ocean just south of San Francisco. The wind was low leaving little updraft that the hawks love so much. However, a hungry White Tailed Kite came along and found itself a tasty morsel among the iceplant. Once it made the kill, it began calling to its mate and once it arrived, they flew off together. A few days later I returned to the same spot and saw it hunting again, but didn't get any good shots. I love it's fire red eyes, don't you?

Ft. Bragg to San Francisco By Bike!

2008-10-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

With a few days off work and wonderful weather, I decided to bike a section of the coast I'd never done before. After posting an ad on the net, I found a ride north about 200 miles. These are a few of the memories from those four days on the coast.

My ride, Alissa and her friend Jesus.

Alissa is the Cellist for Vetiver and this is their tour van

A great place to be dead

Watching the sunset from the grave

A deer watches the first star come out

I slept next to this guy

This is Drift. I didn't sleep next to him.

x
This isn't just for Halloween

Almost as photogenic as razorwire

Redtail Hawk checking me out

I slept under that big rock in the background

The Pt. Reyes in Bodega Bay

The Pt. Reyes Lighthouse. Windiest place on the W.Coast.

Waking up in Samuel P. Taylor SP, yaaawn.

Pet Pride

2008-10-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

When I saw this announcement, I couldn't resist. People and their pets are a never ending source of entertainment. See for yourself........

Ocean Beach Scenery

2008-10-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Sanderling Attack!

Tern

Surfboat?

Tern Meeting

Sanderling Snacking on Jelly Fish

Booking it

Strut

Watching the sunset

Watching the mice

Pelican Lives Happily Ever After

Pelican Fishing

Sanderling Hunting Shellfish

Its been a week since my head was sheared and I have no regrets. A friend even tells me I can donate my hair to Locks Of Love. I'll have some recent photos of myself up within the week for all that are asking. In the mean time, please enjoy some Ocean Beach Pictures taken with this 500mm telephoto over the last month.

28 going on 19

2008-10-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend I turned 28 and went to the bar to celebrate. This is what happened next....

Jaws!

2008-10-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago a usual walk on the beach turned into an action movie scene when a couple of joggers and yours truly found a live shark. I picked it up by the tail and threw it back...twice. Each time Sharky swam back ashore and started thrashing in the sand. Then, a man and his dog came along and carried the killing machine back out to the waves. The dog, pounced and chased Sharky through the breakers. The two of them frolicked into the sunset and lived happily ever after.

I just blogged myself!

2008-09-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

Alright! Its a Saturday night and I'm geeking out on the internet instead of socializing at a bicycle powered carnival. At least I'm setting up this photoblog. These photos are from last week outside my house at Ocean Beach. After an unsuccessful attempt at photographing the endangered Snowy Plover, I was walking home and saw this little penguin looking creature approaching some people. It kept falling over, so we named it "Lucky" and began calling rescue centers. Because Lucky was on federal beach property we could either wait hours for the federal park police to come, or we could move Lucky across the street to a warm coffee shop on city property. The SF wildlife rescue came right away and let us know Lucky is a Common Murre not a penguin, then took the critter to the animal hospital. The five of us that stuck by Lucky's side that night were brought together by a sense of duty and love for nature; the stuff heroes are made of. The next day we all went out and bought matching spandex bodysuits.