So, I read recently that lesbians have more in common with other women than with gay men.

It's true that, in my younger days, I mostly hung with the gay boys. We had a lot in common: discos, clubbing, cruising. It was the AIDS Era, a time when the men and the women of the LGBT community were making strides to "come together" - work together - to fight AIDS, revitalize community centers, form coalitions.

These days, I find most of my friends are, indeed, other women: STRAIGHT women -- AND straight men = other parents, homeowners, neighbors.

The guys and I talk about sports, deals at the grocery stores, which paint store is the best. We women talk about car pools, managing kids' schedules, play dates and sleep-overs, and if there are any good movies out we've all missed.

I've often thought that becoming a parent is "the great equalizer" between the straights and the gays. No longer does sexuality matter. [Who has time for sex, anyway?] It's all about the kids.

From selecting a day care or a school, to what to be for Halloween, finding religion/ethics/values becoming more important in our lives, and paying attention to our investments : it's all about Family Values.

In fact, it's somewhat difficult to get together with other, non-parent, lesbians; as our lives are so different. I can't just change my schedule anymore to meet a friend for dinner after work, or go out dancing late at night, or cruise garage sales on the weekend.

My social life is now filled with making lunches, going to library programs, outings with my daughter to the WaWa (a special treat for her, a coffee for me), searching the web for when any G-rated movies are going to come out, and hanging drawings on the wall.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ripped from the headlines : Philadelphia City Council proposes 15 percent raise. Sub-header: The proposed increase would give Council's 17 members salaries higher than their New York City counterparts.

What's wrong with this picture? Oh, where do I start?

Election day is just 4 weeks away.... what is the City Council thinking? . This proposal would have to go through public hearings. Know any members of the public who'd give our councilmembers raises from $85,000 to $98,000 a year? A raise (at 15%) waaaay more than a cost-of-living raise?

Plus, the City's been trying to cut its budget to reduce the deficit. How does this bill help? And, what about all the un- and under-employed of the City? Oh, ye who are forgotten.

I guess I'm also upset upon finding out that my councilperson makes $85,000+ a year, paid out of MY taxes, for representing "me." (Not!) And, that she was NOT one of the councilpersons who refused to sign on to the bill.

Lordy, this City and Its Politics is sometimes too much to take, ya know what I mean? I won't even go into what's going on with the mayoral race. Guess I should be glad I didn't live here during the Rizzo years, eh? Count ye blessings. . .