In Washington, D.C.

I’m in D.C. this weekend attending the Equality Conference and National Gala of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. The passion, commitment and organization of this group, on whose board of directors I am honored to serve for a second two-year term, stands in marked contrast to the dysfunction, chaos, and back-biting just down the street behind closed doors at the Capitol. If you missed the news, the GOP conference has once again failed to select a leader, and their top contender, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), has bowed out. Where this leaves their party, and our government which needs a budget passed in a few weeks to stay open, is anyone’s guess.

A quick programming note: I’m in meetings all day, so I won’t publish anything today but do hope to have an abbreviated “Xeets and Giggles” out tomorrow. In the meantime, here is an excerpt from my forthcoming book, MA IN ALL CAPS, which is now available for pre-order on Kindle, with the print version also available starting November 8. The genesis of the book was a growing collection of funny conversations I had with my Ma over the years, which I began to write down verbatim because they were so unique.

With all that’s going wrong in the world, I hope it brings a smile to you this Friday and that it inspires you order a copy! Proceeds will help me keep writing this newsletter, which I offer for free with no paywall, so I deeply appreciate the support!

Jay

January 1995

Oakland, California

Four years have passed since MA threatened to boycott ever seeing John and Rachael’s children. Rachael is now many months pregnant.

JAY: We’re supposed to suggest some girl names at Rachael’s baby shower.

MA: WELL, SINCE SHE BORN YEAR OF PIG, WHY DON’T THEY NAME BABY AFTER PIG?

JAY: The only pig name I know is Wilbur. That’s a boy’s name, and it’s pretty archaic.

MA: NO I MEAN JUST NAME HER “PIGGY.”

JAY: What? No, Ma, that’s terrible—

MA: WHY? IT GOOD NAME.

JAY: Trust me, it’s not. This is how Kaiser wound up with his name. No consultation.

MA: PIGGY IS GOOD NAME! FOR YEAR OF PIG.

JAY: No one names their kid “Piggy,” Ma! No one.

MA: YEAH NO, I HEAR A LOT. SO POPULAR.

JAY: …

MA: …

JAY: Ma, that’s “Peggy.”

MA: YOU SEE? GOOD NAME.