Early voting began today in Florida, surely the starting gun of the final two weeks of madness. There were crowds outside City Hall carrying signs and shouting slogans as if any one's vote could be changed on the final approach to a voting machine. At least do it the old fashioned way and slip me a twenty; we vote tomorrow, so they still have time to get it right.

Infinitely more understandable was running into Geraldine on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of a soccer field. She was headed to Out in the Park, the first event to plan and finance South Beach's first Gay Pride parade in a long time next April. She was a lovely image of lawn-party-drag, and we walked together to the party.

Our adored mayor, Matti Bower, gave a speech acknowledging the great support our community turned out for her and how she always felt more comfortable at our events than at those stuffy political ones. There was lots to talk about, lots to drink and toast to, and many, many designer dogs.

But my favorite dog was the hot one because it had our favorite gadfly working it: the tireless Thomas Barker. Thomas is a natural at anything (especially if it has that slight hint of White Trash). He can raise oodles of money for Equality Florida, don a pair of pumps, a slut wig, and a tight mini-dress to delight a crowd with the salacious Peraldine, or drink the night away with the grace of a gazelle.