Having friends is nice; having friends with dogs is twice as nice. I welcome the chance to dog sit. Winston and Marissa love playing with (most) dogs, and Scot and I both enjoy playing with a new pup, too.

Another good element is that we often are reminded of why we do not want or need another dog.

Milo is a hoot, a spunky little pug. It's taken Friday night and all day Saturday for them to, finally, this afternoon, come to a space where they can just be, just hang, just share the same area/space/sun without totally pestering the living hell out of each other.

Heidee invited me to the 20th anniversary performance of the Portland Lesbian Choir. The program consisted of member favorites sung over the years. I'm so glad she invited me; the evening was filled with an ebullient joy and love you rarely find except for in such communities.

The chorus was divine in its current membership; but the house was really rocked when prior members came up to join in for a few songs. The sound was HUGE. The program mixed whimsical pieces that resulted in hooting, stomping and clapping and songs that gave rise to the hair on the back of your neck.

As the program pointed out, it's all in the context. Captain and Tennille probably didn't intend The Way I Want to Touch You ("I've never wanted to touch a man, the way I want to touch you...") to thrill a house full of lesbians, and the Baroque Come Again was decidedly less bitter-sweet than in many interpretations.

My favorite, however, was when the woman responsible for a chorus' beginnings, Cathryn Heron, sang Standing Knee Deep In a River. A beautiful redhead with a stunning voice. So beautiful, so touching, and so true.

( [Lyrics cut.] )

A close second favorite element was the very well built director who rocked the house front and center in leather pants. What's more illustrative of the concept of acceptance of diversity than a lesbian women's chorus lead by a gay black man?

Before and after we hung out at Heidee's place, dining on BBQ; I contributed what has become my signature dessert: berries and chocolate for dipping. It's so simple, and it sets everyone on fire. The simplicity belies the explosion of flavor, and the hands-on nature of its consumption lends a more relaxed, connected feel to any gathering. Parties usually first want to be all hoity toity but soon end up sticking forks, fingers and God only knows what else in the chocolate.

Ended the evening with some great conversation and snuggling on the patio in a fine Oregon night; a spit of rain earlier in the evening was nowhere to be found.

The director, Ray Elliott, also leads Confluence, a mixed GALA chorus right here in the Willamette Valley "affirming the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or straight people."

Scot was missed, but I know he was having wonderful connections with friends back east, even if it was probably a little more humid!