i've been in southern california the last several days visiting my niece. much to tell about that, and her recent visit up here, and my recent visit back home to kansas city, but in the meantime, here's a few classic quotes from the recent family visits:

(at the elementary schoolyard, repeatedly and proudly) this is my uncle reese. he's the gay one...
and
(my niece to me) this is my best friend melissa and she has a gay uncle too and we want you two to get together so we can be cousins.... (melissa to my niece) my gay uncle already has a boyfriend (my niece to melissa) oh, well he hasn't met my uncle reese yet. we got to get them together.

(to her 4th grade teacher) this is my uncle reese. can he stay at my desk with me today? you'll like him, he's gay.

(playing the game of "Life" and upon having children with my recently married husband, from my niece and quite emphatically) you ADOPTED the children. boys can't have children.

(sung repeatedly and loudly throughout our recent visits, by both my niece and i, from the 'confessions of a teenage drama queen' movie) that girl was a one time, teenage, drama queen.... da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da..... that girl was me!

(stated repeatedly in a whiny and annoying voice to me prior to a movie) can i have an icee? i really want an icee. please can i have an icee.....

(scary story told by me to my niece before going to bed) once upon a time there was a red blob and a green blob. and the green blob said to the red blob, "can i have an icee? please let me have an icee. i really want an icee." and the green blob never stopped asking.... scary....

(to my mother and grandmother) i can't believe you made everything i requested. can't you take a joke? i'm so full.
and (to my mother upon visiting back home, saying this to my own surprise) please don't make me eat anymore. it hurts, i really does. (my mother at our first ever pflag-kc meeting and pointing to me proudly) he witnessed the marriages in san francisco city hall! tell them about it...

and then, completely unrelated to family visits, but a great quote from last night's simpsons:
mr. burns: i can't be held responsible for what my hired goons are ordered to do!
such a classic pointed reference to current events, but oh-so-subtly done

i do have pictures and stories from my recent visits, just haven't gotten them up here yet. i will.