April

I had planned to post this on the first, thinking that I may be able to manage quarterly posts. Alas, here it is the 3rd already.

It's a beautiful Spring day here in Fredericton. At 24°/75° it's too hot for me, in fact! Tomorrow it's supposed to be even warmer. But, the sun is a welcome visitor. We picked up new deck rail boxes with the hopes of getting some (legal) herbs growing this year. We're cleaning up the woodpile, even though we'll be able to have evening fires well into the summer. And, we're scouting out landscaping people as this year we have to get something going. I realized that, aside from cost - and, no, we're still waiting to settle the litigation with the builder - one of the reasons that it's been difficult to "commit" to further expenditures on "settling in" is because of the fear that we're going to have to go back for a while. But, as time goes on - and things in the US get more and more insane - we're much more of a "no matter what it takes" mind set. As I've said before, between paying off some debt and knowing that we have a small mouth to feed, we've got to be realistic. But, things are definitely moving along in that regard.

Those of you on facebook likely know some of the following, but here's the latest in my world. As I mentioned in the last post, I was asked to serve as one of seven expert witnesses in a US legal case. I am now free to say that it is in the case Lxg Cxbxn Republicans versus Uxxxxd Sxxxxs, a challenge to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) in a US District Court. Yes, I get quite a chuckle out of the fact that I'm working for the gay Republicans - and I still think that that's an oxymoron - but, hey, whatever it takes. I wrote my report and last Monday I spent seven hours in a deposition. I quite enjoyed the fact that two attorneys from the US Department of Justice and the attorney representing LCR flew into little ol' Fredericton to depose little ol' me. Those of you who remember the hideous brief re DOMA, filed by the DOJ under the Obama Administration, might "enjoy" the fact that the attorney who deposed me is named on that brief and believed to have been the author. I'm actually glad I didn't know that until after the fact. Of course, had I know that I would have said even more than I did when he asked why I was living in Canada! I did say, "Because my family has legal recognition that is denied to us in the US," but I would have elaborated had I known his role in that ugly brief. The next step is that, if I am called to testify at trial, I will go to California in June to do so. A lot could happen between now and then, but if it's a go, I'm prepared.

On a related note, I was asked to visit the UConn School of Law - all expenses paid - and speak as part of a panel for a DADT event. I'll get to meet some folks where it's a case of "we've known about each other for years, but never met" and see a colleague I've not seen since 2006. Some of you may have heard about his book, read him on HuffPo, or seen him on the Daily Show - Nathaniel Frank, author of Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America. So, that will be fun.

But, before that I'm flying to Atlanta for the Innocence Network conference. While there I'll also see my (conservative) brother and sister-in-law and visit P's mother and brother and, hopefully, his partner. From there I fly to Ohio to visit the inmate with whom I'm working on a wrongful conviction case, thus my interest in the Innocence Network. And, then, from there I go to Connecticut and then back to Fredericton.

I return from my trip at 11:00 on a Friday night and the next two days I'll be in a Restorative Justice workshop with the John Howard Society all day. I'm really looking forward to that as it's an area I've been wanting to be able to get into more! And, I'm teaching RJ here in the fall, so even better!

I may also soon begin serving as co-chair of the Community Action Group on Homelessness-Fredericton. I had agreed to serve as chair, but then something else fell in my lap so we're hoping to set up a co-chair arrangement with someone who's really interested, but didn't feel she could take on chairing.

What fell in my lap is that I was contacted by a publisher and asked if I would agree to write another reference book. My previous book was on DADT. This one is a bit more broad in that it's "sexual orientation and the military." Thus, I can expand the scope a bit, both in terms of time and substance. The outline is due in June, 25% due in January, and the remainder due in January 2012. Guess you know what I'll be doing...

I also want to start a longer term research project that takes me in a new direction. Frankly, I keep trying to escape from DADT, but it keeps sucking me back into its grips. It's just too hard to turn down having my work acknowledged (e.g., the case and the panel) and too hard to turn down a guaranteed book publication. But, I'm looking into a new project that would focus on the adversarial nature of the North American legal system and its role in wrongful convictions. It would allow me to bring two of my major interests together so that makes it a fun and attractive enterprise!

Finally, another two-moms couple, C & D, with a son, A, moved her from Toronto last year and decided to try to start a GLBT parenting group. We had a small get together at their place last month and next Sunday we're hosting one at our place. We had dinner with C & D and their son, A, last night and really enjoyed it. Most of the GLBT parents we've met have kids because of someone's prior marriage to a man. It was nice to chat with someone who made the decision together, went the same route we had, etc.

Oh, and in May I'm doing a session on families at a conference for youth involved in their high school Gay Straight Alliances. A friend is one the openly gay teachers involved in the organization and he invited me to participate. Should be fun. I'm going to do it as a "brief intro followed by Q&A" type thing with questions submitted in writing - to avoid the "I'm afraid to ask the stupid question" phenomenon.

What else? Let's see. In January I wrote:
1. I'm hoping that our litigation is resolved favourably - okay, that really is number one. Nope, not yet. But, if I don't hear from my lawyer by 27 April - six months from discovery - he's fired and I'll handle it myself.

2. I'm looking forward to my sister's three week visit in July. She arrives on the 29th of June. Can't wait!

3. I'm looking forward to travels to Boston and Atlanta - conferences that we turn into vacations. We went to Boston and had a great time. Too much good food, though! Looking forward to Atlanta, etc.

4. I'm hoping for some improvement in my health. I see an orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday. I went on the waiting list in July 2008. I believe it was the 10th of July. I'm anxious to see what he says as my right leg and right shoulder are really bad right now. Then I go to see what the new BP meds are doing, or not.

5. I'm going to decide whether I'm going to get licensed to practice here, or not. With the book commitment that's less and less likely, but I'm not completely ruling it out yet.

6. I'm hoping we'll be able to get the landscaping done. As above, we're starting to get bids.

7. I'm looking forward to my workshop with the Alternatives to Violence Project. The first one was phenomenal, the second was sort of bizarre - due, it seems, to an inmate who was set off the presence of a very openly gay young man. But, I'm looking forward to the third workshop.

8. I'm hoping that we can squeeze in visits to PEI and Kouchibouguac. We'll definitely do Kouchibouguac, probably when my sister is here. We might try to do PEI in August over the holiday weekend.

9. I'm looking forward to the Inequality and Social Justice course I'm teaching here. I think it's gone well, but I'm still adjusting to the difference in students. E.g., "Yes, I really do expect you to attend the first class meeting."

10. I'm looking forward to more beach time with [then] 9YO. Soon, soon!

So, all in all I'd have to say that things are going great. P found out that her job is extended through next March and 9YO - yes, he's now 9YO!!!!! - still loves his school. When asked about it he proudly explains/exclaims, "The oldest continually operating school in Canada!" He's had a very good year and has decided he loves reading. Finally. He gets up around 5 am, sets the timer on the oven, and reads for thirty minutes before getting ready for school. I could handle it if he got up a little later - but at least he's reading! After a summer (2008) of hour-long fits over "Sam sat. Matt sat," that he's devouring chapter books on his own feels like nothing short of a miracle.

I could probably think of more. It's been a while. But, it's time to go up and see about supper. Hope all is well with you. I check the blogs of the "regulars" - well - regularly. I'm just not often inclined to write about what's happening here. Know that, if I know of your existence as an expat, I think of you often!

UPDATE: I changed the case name above as I'd rather that this post not come up when folks are searching on it. I'm sure you can figure it out, but feel free to email me if you want to know more.