I LOVE LOVE LOVE my wedding/engagement photos, shot by Kristina Hill. Not only was I 20 pounds lighter (true haha), but we are glowing in almost all of them.  So why not use them in the Christmas Card (again - I did that last year)? I see no reason not too. With a little photoshop – you can come up with something like this…

Merry Christmas everyone!
Love,
Tom and Brian
The Grooms

Don’t be afraid to have the discussion, to argue, to hold your ground. Don’t be afraid to speak up and to dissolve relationships that make you so unhappy because of religious or core value differences. Let it Ring!

Brian

The Bridegroom

www.youtube.com/watch?v=geOFEMKERlU

I can’t believe a year has gone by already. And even though Tom and I are choosing to celebrate the wedding anniversary as the BIG anniversary (10/17/10), I can’t let this date pass us by without acknowledging the importance of our legal marriage. It was such a special day…  emotionally, legally, you name it.

Unfortunately, Tom works all day today and I have class tonight – but when we both get home, we look forward to quality time together. Oh, and Anne saved us a slice of our Del Friscos wedding cake from last year, which we can’t wait to tear into. I hope it’s good – it has survived a full day + of driving in CT the day of, Anne’s move to a new apartment, a power outage, a hurricane and a plummet to the floor by Anne, then another plummet by me yesterday. HA- Anne said that she hopes we have a couple of  drinks before tackling those morsels! I think I’ll also pick up a nice bottle of wine. Yes, I think I will.

It should be a relaxing night. A simple night. Just the two of us old married folks. I can’t wait.

Here’s to a wonderful year of legally married life! I love you Tommy!

Brian
The Bridegroom

Photos below by Kelly Prizel

The West Village was ablaze with men and women and even children crying and smiling and hugging, fist-pumping in the air. The fight was finally won.

I stood there smiling as well, thinking about my small, personal contribution for marriage equality over the years. All the marching year after year, the letters and calls to my senators, the votes, the blogs, the money raised were actually worth it and contributed to justice. Do you have any idea how that feels? It feels amazing.

Knowing that my friends and family in NY City and State can now get married at home and not have to travel to CT or MA like I and many others did is amazing too and makes me so happy.

By the way, in case you did not know the specifics, same marriage licenses can be acquired beginning July 24 – VERY SOON. Here are the details. 

That following week, was the NYC’s Heritage of Pride Parade. I met my friend Fontana and a few other wonderful ladies in front of the legendary Stonewall Inn to watch the parade. The City was ELECTRIC! It was one of the most emotional, political pride parades I have ever seen. Everyone was so happy, pridefully waving their rainbow flags, american flags and posters thanking Cuomo.

As Tom Duane walked by I yelled out “Thank you, Duane.” He turned, looked at me and said, “Thank YOU.” I thanked him again, as he passed me,both of us almost brought to tears with just those repeated two words.  It was a very special moment – one my friend all witnessed.

It was a wonderful day. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Tom was there. But he had to work. Hey – what do you know, a semi-perfect segway.

So, yes, as I stated in the title and in the first paragraph of this growing post…. Tom and I are leaving NYC. I know, I know, NYC finally has Gay Marriage and we up and move. Well, this just means we will pick up the fight in another state.

So here is the deal – Tom has been unhappy in his job as of late and really wanted a change of life. For example – since May, Tom and I have not had a day off together because he worked Wednesday – Sunday and I (during the summer) Monday – Thursday. No days off together. That, in addition to 10-12 hour days is not fun for him (or me). And to top it off, at times the City can be a lot. So, he put in his resignation and hoped to find something new. Then, he did – in New Jersey. The only problem is the commute, which from Brooklyn, NY would be roughly 2-2 1/2 hours each way by car. Yep – we have to get a car. So exciting.

After some discussions and visits to NJ, we decided we would move to Montclair, an adorable NYC-esq town just 16 miles outside of NYC. I still plan to work in the Ctiy, so this is most convenient for me and cuts his commute to under one hour in the opposite direction. This past weekend we rented a car and scouted out some possible apartments and we found one we really like and submitted our application on the spot. It is currently is being reviewed. We should know if we get it by tomorrow. I hope we do – it’s 4 blocks from the train for me, 3 blocks from the downtown area with lots of shops and restaurants, and in a beautiful part of town on Walnut Street. Cute, no? Walnut Street? The apartment is lovely and much bigger than what we have now WITH a dishwasher – Tom is most excited about that. We would also have a giant, private lanai. I hope we get it.

Things are a changing. We are growing up. and that’s good. Who knows, perhaps next you’ll see me blogging about children. It could happen. I’m learning more and more that anything can happen. Look at the last couple of weeks alone – marriage equality, new jobs, new lifestyles, and now new states. Life is interesting.

The Bridegroom,
Brian

Anyway -- enjoy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=be9w4QpQ4Xw