Yes, I’ve just celebrated another birthday, and boy, getting old isn’t easy. My memory is getting even worse, but thank you to all who called, sent cards, etc. On a serious note, I’ve done a lot of reflecting and soul searching, and I know I must try harder to be a kinder, gentler, nicer and more positive Nicole. Remember though, being an activist for more than 40 years can sadly, at times, harden you. Like I’ve said, you can tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs. I know I’ve shot many arrows too, so I’ll try once again to be a better and more positive person. Thanks for listening.

One of the Milk movie major characters and the founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will be in San Diego on Saturday, Dec. 13 for the Lambda Archives gala at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. You can meet this gay icon in person. Cleve Jones was the teenager who Harvey Milk mentored and allowed to join his campaign staff – another “from the streets to the suites of political power” story. Cleve and I have been friends for more than three decades and to this day Cleve Jones is a leader and fighter for equality, social justice and HIV/AIDS issues. Cleve will be receiving the Lambda Archives first annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Tickets to the gala are only $50. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1093.

The five above-mentioned outstanding citizens and public servants are being urged to run for these offices in coming years. Marla Marshall, a black woman who is a top assistant to the sheriff, will try to succeed Supervisor Ron Roberts and return this seat to a person of color (the board is all white, while the majority of our county comprises people of color). Toni Atkins has already been to our state capitol getting major support for her run for State Assembly. Bill Gore has solid support to be elected our next sheriff and Denise Price is being urged by many citizens to run for Donna Frye’s council seat. There is a bandwagon campaign to get Denise to run. She is currently Atkins’ chief of staff. My friend and hardworking Councilmember Ben Hueso will, I predict, be elected our next council president – well deserved.

I called my mom and told her I wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving, because I would be attending the 20-year anniversary of the Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, the homeless, seniors, etc.

What a wonderful, heartwarming event it was. The women’s chorus was outstanding, and as usual, the good people of the First Unitarian Universalist Church made everyone feel at home. Dozens of volunteers showed up (City Commissioner Shonne Henry even brought her husband and children to help out). The food was fabulous and it was great seeing Councilmembers-elect Todd Gloria and Carl DeMaio stay the entire time to dish out turkey to all our guests. I’d like to extend a big “thank you” to the sponsor of the annual event, the members of the Imperial Court de San Diego, “Big” Mike, Emperor Chris and Empress Selena, Linny Thomas, Joni Moore, Terry Cunningham, Ted Buettner (the Pecs owner who volunteered all day), Danny Becht, Duncan Stewart, Daniel Cuevas, Mikie Lochner, Ben Dillingham, the Rob Benzon Foundation, ROK Enterprises, Redwing, Sundance Saloon, Pecs, DKSS Inc. and so many more. I’d like to say a very big “thank you” to State Assemblymember Lori Saldaña and Sen. Christine Kehoe, who donated more than 15 turkeys. And, it was great to see the co-founder of this dinner, Dak Thomsen-Bousquet, come back as co-chair. God bless you all, and all who gave!

No city councilmember has ever walked from his or her district to the swearing in ceremony at City Hall. So, San Diego history will be made Monday, Dec. 8, when Councilmember-elect Todd Gloria will walk from 6th Avenue and Laurel Street at Balboa Park with his family, friends and constituents to City Hall. There are even some elementary school students coming. You are all invited to meet Todd at 9 a.m. sharp, and bring signs representing which neighborhood you’re from, and if you represent the senior, or veteran community, etc. My sign will read: Latino, Senior and Gay! Todd will make history as the first Filipino-American and Native-American to be elected to the City Council. It’s going to be a great walk showing the diversity of District 3. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1093.

For the last decade my phone number has been the same, and even in the early, dark years of AIDS, my home phone was the 24-hour phone line for the AIDS Assistance Fund. So, I am used to getting all kinds of calls. Last week I had a talk with a well-known lesbian businesswoman who was talking about taking her own life. She is now in counseling. I bring this up because during the holidays our nation’s suicide rate goes up, especially with people losing their jobs, homes, etc. Please focus more on your friends, their moods, etc. Be there for those going through rough times. Your care and concern could save a life.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department met with activists from the transgender community Monday at The Center. The sheriff’s No. 2 man, under-sheriff Bill Gore and Commander Rich Miller (who oversees the department’s detention operations) attended the two-hour meeting. As chair of the city’s Human Relations Commission, I arranged the meeting after a well-known transgender person in our community was mistreated, humiliated, harassed and threatened at the Downtown jail. Also in attendance were Connor Maddocks, Sandra Ramirez, Carolina Ramos and myself. It was a very productive meeting and much was accomplished. The sheriffs even officially apologized to the victim. There will be major changes made concerning the arrests and bookings of transgender people in county jail. We also discussed the restarting of more GLBT sensitivity training for the sheriffs and the booking of gay and lesbian people. Trust me, these officials took this meeting very seriously and I very much appreciated their time and sensitivity with the victim, who attended and was still emotionally distressed.

One of our state’s No. 1 artists, Julie Warren, will have her annual premiere art exhibit Monday night (Dec. 8) from 6-9 p.m. at the Noel-Baza Fine Art Gallery on India Street. This year’s theme is the Art of Tango and Julie’s art hangs in some of the most prominent homes in the state. Award-winning Sue Palmer will be playing and everyone is invited. It should be lots of fun, and there will be great socializing. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1093.

By this weekend, the 92103 Awards 2008 categories will be posted and up for you to nominate (nominees must live, work, do business, etc. in the 92103 zip code). You can nominate at The Center’s Web site or on Mo’s Universe. The awards will be on Jan. 25, 2009.

Yes, I’m getting shocked responses from all over the country that little ol’ me is finally on the Internet with a blog, Web page, etc. Soon, there will be a video section too! More shocking is I actually write something every day – except if I am gone on weekends. You can catch Nicole’s World at Mo’s Universe’s Web site. Wait until you see my “Roses and Gas” review of the cleanest and absolutely worst restroom in town. My blog is full of information, politics, social news, gossip, history, pictures, scandal and fun! For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1093.