"Lock the doors and close the blinds -- we're going for a ride..."

Holy crap -- I still have my Mindsay blog! How cool is that?!?

We did a test show last night to iron out some of the challenges of a new platform -- and it was a success!  Here are some of the latest details:

* The show has its own web page you'll be able to access at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/69574  . There's a chat room for those who would like to participate live.  If you're looking to use your Mindsay name rather than "guest," you can quickly register with TalkShoe.  When you get to the chat, you can listen to the show.

* Windows users can also download "TalkShoe Live Pro" (for free) which allows a much sleeker interface and accessibility.  It starts up through your browser.

* For those of you who can't make it to a computer for all of the show -- you can also call in at (724) 444-7444
And punch in Call ID 69574 to listen! You MIGHT need to register on TalkShoe with a PIN beforehand; I'm not totally sure about that part of it.

* The show will be available online after the fact for those of you who have much less significant plans this Saturday evening.

Hope to see you there!

Oh good -- I can come out of hiding now.

What? You thought that you could get rid of me that easily? Heavens, no! Especially not when I've got an important announcement to make.

*ahem*




We'll be using TalkShoe as the platform for this show -- which allows a chat room and calling in to the radio show!  We'll send out the link closer to the date.

The show will also be saved as a Podcast for those of you who can't make it live.

Hope to see you there!

This should make for an interesting blog post. It's been something on my mind for a while now. Something I've felt like sharing, but since I really haven't been in a bloggity place it hasn't really come out.

Yesterday I told you a little bit about my life nowadays.  I intentionally left out a chunk of it so I could write about it today. It has to do with the volunteering I've been doing several times a month.

And it's one of those things that people will perceive in very different ways: some of you will take a look at what I'm doing and cheer, saying that I'm doing a wonderful thing. Others of you might nod a bit and take a "hey -- whatever floats your boat" attitude. There will be some who think what I'm doing is stupid, and some who will see this as a counterproductive abomination to society and the heavens above.

And you know what? That's fine. I'm still going to do it. Not because others have given me their blessings -- but because I feel that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Because I feel that what I'm doing is right.

So -- what exactly is it that I've been doing when I wake up early on certain Saturday mornings? When I hop in my car and cross over into downtown DC, parking my car on the street and huddling with a cup of coffee while I walk the few remaining blocks, where do I go?

There's a simple answer to this: I volunteer by helping women get to their doctors' appointments without being harrassed and/or intimidated.

I suppose that leaves out a huge chunk about why this is so controversial: The women with appointments are coming to a clinic at which I "escort." The clinic is Planned Parenthood in Northwest Washington, DC.  Planned Parenthood provides medical care and counseling for women -- primarily working class women in the District. Women can make appointments for gynecological exams.  Their physicians can prescribe birth control. There are counselors on site to assist women in many ways -- not just limited to discussions of sexual health.

And yes -- Planned Parenthood is a place where, if a woman chooses to do so, she can have her pregnancy terminated by a physician.  I'll say this in no uncertain terms in case anyone accuses me of not being direct and straightforward here: abortions. Women can get abortions at Planned Parenthood.

My job is not to judge. My job is not to ask women if they are there for the normal Pap Exam or for an abortion. My job isn't to convince women that they are making the right decision by choosing to have abortions.  My job is simply to help them get into the door without being harassed.  It's trickier than you might think: we have protestors lining the sidewalks and the common area leading up to the front door all morning. There are prayer vigils. Posters of babies -- and of fetuses, in utero and aborted. Self-described "sidewalk counselors" will find any woman walking down the sidewalk -- even if she's just walking on by! -- and latch on with flyers, pamphlets, and non-stop talk about how murder is occurring in that building. Some of them mention that there is always another way -- and that people can help take care of their babies. It can get rather intimidating.

Here's how a typical morning usually goes for me: we (the escorts) get there at about 8:15 or so. By that time, some of the protestors are already out front, some of them engaged in prayer vigils and mass. Some of them have their banners and signs up prominently.  Many are clutching rosary beads and crosses, one of them being on the lookout to "counsel" any women who might be going to Planned Parenthood.  A few of them are polite and responsive when I smile and say "good morning." We've both been there for weeks; we're simply soldiers standing guard on different sides of the battlefield. We simply have very, very different ideological differences. Others don't acknowledge when we greet them. I'm okay with that.

We get buzzed into Planned Parenthood's front door by Rita (not her real name), the security guard on duty. Each of us puts on an bright orange vest stating that we are clinic defenders. The phrase that sticks out the most, in big, capital letters: "PRO-CHOICE."  Some would feel that this is a misnomer, but it's a surefire, quick way to let people know that we are with the clinic, and we are here to help those who choose to use it.

There is a coordinator onsite every week -- and that person is "the boss," letting volunteers know the skinny on what might be going on that week and where to stand.  Some of us are at the front door, waiting to open it quickly when a patient needs to come in -- and closing it just as quickly so the protester following inches behind  doesn't have his/her shouts bellowing into the vestibule.  Others are lined up on the sidewalk -- sometimes playing zone coverage, other times covering individual protesters who roam around.  When women (and companions) are approached by protesters, we walk alongside and ask if they need help getting in. With a smile. If we're needed, we often talk about anything -- or nothing at all -- drowning out the voices of protesters and alleviating the tension.  The same thing happens once someone exits the clinic: we ask if an escort is needed, and we'll walk alongside the patients as far as they need us to go. Usually the protesters won't go more than a block or two (but I've seen it happen on occasion).  We do not raise our voices; if anything, our job is to diffuse any potential violence.  We won't get into a screaming match with protesters; if the patients get emotional and start yelling at them, so be it.  We're a strong, quiet force. Not there to preach, not there to argue. Just there to escort.

What happens on any given Saturday depends on a few factors: the weather is one of them. Protesters still come out on rainy days, but not in full force. (Patients are also sometimes dissuaded by bad weather.) Washington, DC is a unique place in that it's a hotbed of political activism. There was a huge rally on September 12 of this year which had many conservative opponents of Obama come down -- many of whom passed by Planned Parenthood and decided to spontaneously join in with their own protests.  A campaign called 40 Days for Life took place from the middle of September through this past Sunday; we had shifts of protesters there specifically for that cause. On most Saturdays during the school year we have groups come down from Catholic University (in DC) and Christendom College (in Front Royal, VA) for their own student prayer vigils. Rumor is that students can get school credit for attending.  Some Saturdays we can have only a handful or protesters; other Saturdays we can see crowds into the hundreds.

Escorting at the clinic used to be a much tougher job until 1994, when the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act was passed. This is a US law passed which makes it a crime to block the entrance of an abortion clinic. I've spoken with some of my fellow escorts who remember the days when protesters would sit-in on sidewalks -- or even park cars there.  We don't see this happening nowadays (at least I haven't). Most of the protesters are well aware of the extent of the law. They also know exactly where our rights, as escorts, end: we can't "assault" them (meaning we try not to touch them in any way). We make sure to travel in pairs to make sure that there is a witness to any possible accusations.  Sometimes we will state the facts to protesters: "You're not allowed to block the sidewalk." Usually they comply pretty easily.

In fact -- there is some civility there on both sides -- perhaps because there is enough legal information on both sides. Example: one day we noticed a film crew shooting patients coming in and out of the clinic. One of our escorts asked them to stop -- not that there was a specific legal prohibition against it, but it was seen as harassment. Almost immediately, one of the protesters asked them to stop filming as well -- and they did.  It's interesting to see that, although it can be easy to see them as simply "the enemy," they have the same type of goals that we do: they want to make their position heard in a civilized professional manner. (At least some of them.)

Usually it's pretty clear that we're not going to convince each other of our own views. But I have been approached by protesters in a very friendly way, trying to get me to change my ways.  I mention, right up front, that I'm certainly okay to "agree to disagree." That I'm not here to change their minds, and I'm not going to be swayed either. But some of them just won't quit. I've had one protester take out a box of plastic models of fetuses of different sizes (I kid you not), lecturing me on gestation. I've had protesters say that my position aligns me with Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger who had some nutty (and scary-ass, in my opinion) opinions about eugenics and culling the herd. Other times I've had labels thrown at me: godless. accessory to murder. Murderer. Racist (in that our clinic serves primarily African-American women). Misogynist. Child-hater. (Only the ones who run around shopping malls with no boundaries -- and I hate the parents more than I do the kids). Evil. I've even been called a "tool of the devil."  (I certainly won't argue with being a tool; I've been called that many times before.)

I've marched in DC supporting women's reproductive rights.  I've supported Planned Parenthood in petitions and donations. As recently as this past Tuesday I've voted for candidates who feel the same way I do about the right of women to choose what happens with their bodies.  But this is different: This goes against the grain a bit. I suppose it's potentially dangerous (although the chances are very small that I'd be in a situation where I would risk my life).  It begs the question if this is something I really feel is right. It's easy to march among thousands for a cause. But what happens when you're one in a sea of others who feel differently from you?  I've determined that yes -- this is where I'm supposed to be. This is what I'm supposed to do.

And I get my share of thank yous from people passing by. I smile at them. I also get a lot of stares from those who don't condone what I'm doing or who think I look foolish in a bright orange vest. I smile at them as well.

When I go home at the end of the shift, however, I feel like I've helped make a difference. And that's what counts for me.

Note about comments: feel free to post whatever replies you'd like. Praise me. Condemn me. Compare me to Hitler. Whatever. Just know that I'm not going to engage in a debate about abortion rights.  This isn't a post to try to convince anyone that my viewpoint trumps the opposite one; I'm just chronicling what I'm doing and how it makes me feel.

EDIT: I haven't posted this yet, but I'm anticipating that maybe one or two of you might want to know how to get involved in clinic escorting. In the DC area our organization is called the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force (WACDTF). I happened to read about Clinic Defense through a blog -- and had found it to be intriguing since my Mom and I had spoken about it years back. (She was a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood). If you're interested in volunteering, you can do a web search on "Clinic Defense" and your local area. 

You know what I miss about blogging at Mindsay the most? Bullet points:

• I wrote extensively about my son, av, growing up from a baby to a toddler and then into a preschooler.   Since I last posted here a lot has changed:  he's now in first grade! And he'll be seven at the end of next month! Where does the time go?!? We're sending him to a private Jewish school here in Northern Virginia -- which is an amazing fit for him.  He's in a class with 18 other kids with whom he's become great friends.  The teachers this year (as were the kindergarten teachers last year) are truly wonderful; they allow all of the kids to excel and immerse themselves in learning. I'm proud of him being able to work addition and subtraction problems with two-digit numbers; find different countries on a map and read entire stories in Hebrew. It's just great to see what he learns every single day.

• He's also very tall -- one of the tallest in his class. I have no idea how that happened.

• ... and he plays guitar! Well, kind of. He's been having guitar lessons every week for the past month and a half, and he's (slowly) getting it down. Perhaps the hardest part of it is his concentration during lessons and practice sessions. But when he gets it, he gets it.  He has six chords under his belt; this week we're focusing on transitions between chords.  He can play "The Wheels on the Bus." exciting!

(No, that's not him really playing. But it's a cool picture.)

• Enough about the kid; let's talk about ME! After taking a break from blogging, I decided to get more exercise and join Weight Watchers. I was at a pretty dangerous weight and was leading a more sedentary than not lifestyle. Well -- a summer of running in the neighborhood paid off (as did a pretty good change of diet): I'm now down about 30-some pounds from June! I still have a ways to go before my goal, but this really feels good. I've been told that I look different. It makes me happier and more confident. (Having bought pants in a smaller size for the first time in my life certainly didn't hurt!) I look forward to keeping up the progress. Although I can't run outside in the Fall/Winter season (too dark), I've joined the gym at work, and I find myself on the treadmill, elliptical and stairmaster a few times a week.

• Modern Family on ABC is the best new show of the season. With Glee as a close second. There. I said it.

• The Mindsay community was very helpful and supportive when I was going through the grief of my mom's death back in 2006, and I appreciate you all being there for me. Since then a lot has happened in my Dad's life:  He started dating a wonderful woman, and they have since moved in together. In March of this year he sold his home -- the home where I grew up since age 2. He also was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. An aggressive case of it, in fact, which required chemotherapy. But after a spring and summer's worth of chemo treatments, he has kicked cancer's ass into remission.  His hair is short but it's pretty much all grown back. I'm so proud of him for staying strong throughout this time.

• Oh -- and did I mention? He's getting married this month. At age 65. My brother and I will be walking my Dad down the aisle. And moments later, I'll have a much, much bigger family. A stepmom. Step-siblings. Step-nieces and nephews.  The cool part? We all get along pretty well.

• arrrgylesocKs and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary a few weeks ago. We spent the weekend in Baltimore and had a lovely time.  Here's to eleven more years! (Hell, maybe 12!)

• I've been spending a lot of time volunteering. But I'll save that experience for a post later this week.

And them things is bullets!  Have a good night...

I think I read another Mindsay Reunionite compare the current state of Mindsay to the dilapidated town. It used to have all of its allure, but then it started to decay due to lack of upkeep. The local riff-raff moved in (splogs), and there wasn't a lot of maintenance being done. True -- friends still lived in the town and were fun to visit, but many decided to look for better places to nurture their creativity.

I'd like to think of today's Mindsay as something a smidge different:  It's more like the VCR which has its clock still blinking *12:00* perpetually even though it's been plugged in for several years now.  Sure -- other sites may have more sophisticated blogging and social networking gadgets embedded. It may look a bit un-tech savvy to hang around and take a look at it from the outside. But it still works just fine as platform. In the same way that you can still watch that VHS tape of "City Slickers" over and over again on it with no problem, Mindsay serves up the blogs of dear friends. Over and over again. But without subtitles or extraneous "making of" featurettes.

But you know what Mindsay really reminds me of? A roller coaster. Not just any roller coaster, though -- a kick-ass roller coaster which opened at Kings Dominion Theme Park in Doswell Virginia in the early 1990s called The Hurler.  At the time, KD was owned by Paramount, and Paramount's hot movie property at the time was Wayne's World.  Thus -- they decided to open a special section of the park based on Aurora, IL -- the town where Wayne's World took place. The line leading up to the coaster had all sorts of Wayne's World references and took guests through the basement set and the legendary breakfast nook. It was amazing -- a roller coaster which was exciting but also relevant to my generation! How awesome was that?

Fast forward ten years. The notion of a Wayne's World themed roller coaster was about as exciting as an Angela's Ashes log flume ride. The ride was still there, but they took out all of the dated references to what people thought would be a timeless movie franchise.  The coaster was still quite good. But if you were to ask most riders why it was called "The Hurler," they'd likely scratch their heads.

Maybe I thought that Mindsay would evolve a bit more. I mean, why not? I had been blogging here when it made a leap from version 1 to version 2 (which people complained about until they got used to it). I saw through a move to version 3 (which, not surprisingly, people complained about until they got used to it). I saw the advent of video posting. A wiki! Forums!  Maybe I thought that, in my absence, Mindsay would continue to flex its muscle and become a social networking power! Perhaps it would have been a mighty contender in the race to become the next MySpace! (SPOILER ALERT: Facebook won that race.) Maybe Mindsay would achieve some sort of celebrity status not seen since the days of gusopenshaw.*

Maybe I set my expectations too high for Mindsay.  But I had expected that at least a few of the following things would have happened by now:

• There would be a working Mindsay app for the iPhone.  There's an App for everything. Why not Mindsay?  If I could update Mindsay as quickly as I could Facebook, maybe I'd still be around!

• Mindsay would bring back true Instant Messaging Integration. You know why I picked Mindsay over a whole plethora of other blogging platforms? Two reasons: (1) One of the creators (Adam) was an alumnus of the University of Maryland, just like me; and (2) Mindsay allowed you to post blog entries simply by IMing the post to their server. That went away in verison 2.  I would have loved to see that come back -- as well as a chat feature.
  

• A more useful "Find People" button at the top of the page.  Has anyone used that in the past few years? I mean really...

• More episodes of bdtsp   In fact, I would have wanted "The Best Damn Tech Show, Period" to have graduated to the more vibrant "The Best Damn Tech Show, Exclamation Point!" I'm thinking co-sponsorships, a booth at a nationwide Mindsay annual convention, and more exposure to what was a wonderful video podcast.

• An Annual Mindsay Convention in Las Vegas. Or Amsterdam. Or Macau. Loads of sponsors. Seminars. Swag. Comped hotel rooms. Booze. And, of course, spicy pork.

• An Acquisition of Wikipedia by Mindsay Wiki complete with a merge of Wikipedia into Mindsay's platform. Can you imagine the number of people who would need to sign up for Mindsay accounts simply to edit information about ... well, everything on earth (and beyond)?

• A feature film based on the activity of the Mindsay Forums.  I'm thinking that a horror/thriller might work best. But I'll let someone else sort out the details.

• Crazy40.com - the hype and hoopla spun off onto its own website!  (I know that some of you have decided to see if this is registered now. Yes. Yes it is. There are links to adult websites on it. Which reminds me...)

• Racier and more exploitve banner ads for American Apparel. I think Mindsay can certainly graduate to full frontal nudity in its revenue stream, don't you?

• Mindsay as a mainstream religion in three or more civilized countries.  I think I've seen enough strong, spiritual leaders in the ranks here to make it happen. I'm actually most surprised that it hasn't.

• A Dateline NBC Expose featuring: "Mindsay: It's Poisoning Your Children's Souls." See above.

•  A weekly sketch comedy show on NBC at 10:00/9:00 Central featuring characters from the  wtf  Radio Show.  Look -- anything will be better than Leno.  This is a missed opportunity -- unless Mindsay acts now!

So -- let's make all of this happen before next year's Mindsay Reunion! Who's with me?
___
* I do have to say, however, that former Mindsayer drewby hit it pretty big in the social networking world. An early user of Twitter, he happened to register the name "drew." After discovering that he had cancer (which he recently announced he had beaten), he has done a lot in the online community to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He made a deal with Drew Carey, in fact, to relinquish his Twitter name to the Price is Right host in exchange for $10,000 towards cancer research -- a deal Drew Carey accepted and said he would complete if he had 10,000 Twitter followers.

Drew Carey decided to change the terms of the bet:  If he has 1,000,000 followers on Twitter on December 31, 2009, he will donate a million bucks to the same cancer research charity. If you want to be a part of this, follow @drewfromtv on Twitter. And just know that the guy who started this all used to have his own Mindsay blog. Just. Like. You.

EDIT:  Corrected Drew Carey's current Twitter name above.