Katie, Kristeen, Amanda help kick off Pride in the Park 3

One of the big problems with working swing shifts forever, is that your body is trained, and firm in it’s patterns, about going to bed late, and rising late.  When something requires an early start, the body (mine anyway) doesn’t really see the need to cooperate.  I’m not one who can change my pattern on short notice, so I didn’t get much sleep the day before the festivities.   We had a fun 5 hours in Plaza Park, at Queer Visalia’s third annual Pride in the Park picnic and BBQ.  The weather was wonderful (a tad chilly for skinny guys like me whenever the sun went behind one of the cottonball looking clouds blowing overhead) but sunshiny and warm.  We avoided the 95+ degree temperatures of PitP’s of the past, and enjoyed a great afternoon of burgers, hotdogs, volleyball, and socializing.  Jesse brought his new puppy, and of course was the center of attention showing him off!  I neglected to get a picture, sorry!

After Pride in the Park, I went to Fresno to see the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus at the Tower Theater.

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus

They came, they sang, they wore pink cowboy hats!  (in one song)  Such a powerful and moving performance, having the audience in tears one moment, and roaring in laughter the next.  The Fresno Gay Men’s Chorus also performed, doing several songs, my favorite which was “Color in Colorado”… very good!

Dinner afterwards at Livingstone’s, then home.  A busy day celebrating Visalia Pride and Harvey Milk Day!  This is the first annual Harvey Milk Day in California, as passed by the state legislature and signed by Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Harvy would have turned 80 yesterday.

More pics of the day after the jump.

Squirrel! Ava enjoys the park

PFLAG sets up

See? I was there! One of the nieces snapped a shot when I wasn't looking!

Katie and Amanda in living color!

Food!

It's all about socializing

Ted brought Ava and Jazmin to enjoy the fun, too!

and what fun they had!

White vests/shirts + bright lights + iPhone camera = glowing pictures!

The "Now Playing" banner

My ticket

Getting ready for a cowboy song... pink cowboy hats to come!

All in all, a great Saturday!  Let’s do it again, soon!