GAY PRIDE ? 2008

I have been thinking about GAY PRIDE MONTH for the whole of June and trying to decide.....do I get involved....do I celebrate....do I just ignore it. Greensboro had their Gay Pride Weekend in early June which I did not attend due to work. NYC, where my son (Elliot) lives, celebrated GAY PRIDE this past weekend. After speaking with him, I "Googled" the event and was somewhat disappointed at the images I saw.

I'm not so sure I have much to be proud of when I look at the pictures of the NYC GAY PRIDE Parade. In my opinion, it was a little much for my personal taste. Let's face it. I'm a 43 Year Old , Gay Father of 3 kids. I came out later in life and I'm quite conservative. If I were in my 20's and single, I may feel differently.

Scantly clad men strutting down the NYC streets seems more like a public display of erotica, rather than a group of a Proud people being GAY / LESBIAN. It seems more like an "In Your Face" exhibition to the Christian Reich, Conservatives and other groups who show intolerance for homosexuality. And in defense of those groups mentioned.....Our People sure can give them "fuel for their fire", by such public displays. I, personally, have no issue with the scantly dressed gay men....however, I wonder if it more appropriate for the creative, expressive and erotic behavior be displayed at the gay clubs and bars....and leave the Public Parades as an expression of unity and a way to educate the watching.

Now.....with all that being said.....I am quite comfortable in my skin as a gay man. I am in no way embarrassed of who I am. And I am Proud of the People like myself, who call themselves gay / lesbian. The "price" many gays / lesbians have paid to be OUT, has been high, and still more and more come OUT !! Our world is a much more beautiful, creative and artistic place because of the homosexuals who have come before us......Socrates, Richard, the lion hearted, Lord Byron, Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, Cole Porter, Andy Warhol, Willa Cather, Tchaiovsky, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, and Marie Antoinette. Michelangelo....and the list goes on.

JUNE

June has continued to be a busy month. The kids have gotton out of school. Jessica has celebrated her 17th birthday !!!! Currently, the kids are visting my former in laws in Cleveland, OH. They are having a really good time. I know they have spent lots of time on Lake Erie with the neighbors, who have a boat about the size of my house !!! LOL !! O MY !!

While the kids have been in Cleveland, I've been painting Jessica's bedroom as apart of her room makeover, I promised for her Birthday !! She chose a deep, deep rose color for the walls. The color matches one of the roses in an antique fine china pattern called Old English Rose by Royal Albert. Her room is taking on a very feminine look....almost English Cottage style.

Jessica returns home on June 30, but Andrew will be gone until July 10. I miss the babies. Elliot comes home on July 12...very early in the morning. Boy...it's only a 3 day weekend with him. It will fly by. Just another opportunity to shed more tears when he leaves to go back to NYC.

Hmmm...What else has been going on this month....O....How can I forget.... J.R. and I spending alot of time together. I'm really enjoying his company. He's such a nice guy. We get along so well.

J.R. and I did spend last Sunday on the boat with his brother Ruben, Theresa, and J.R.'s friends, Ken and Tim. We had a great time !!! The weather was great !! It was such a relaxing day. J.R. brought the drinks and meat to grill. I made the potato salad, devilled eggs, cheese ball, a honey bun cake, and Pineapple Upside down cupcakes (Steve and Terri's recipe).

WOW - LIFE IS BUSY

I was reminded on Saturday from friends in Cleveland, that I had not blogged in a very long time. I was particularly reminded that I had not mentioned what a "MARVELOUS" time I had with them, when they visited me in May. Therefore, I am taking the hint; It's time to BLOG !!

MAY

May was quite the month. Some of my very closest and dearest friends came for a visit during the first week. What a MARVELOUS time we all had ! Steve, Terri and Cassi flew in and we spent the weekend, hanging out, grilling out for the first few days. We spent a day in Durham, walking and picnicing in Sarah Duke Gardens. Afterwards we went to the LEMUR exhibit at Duke University and took a tour of the facility dedicated to the preservation of LEMURS. We spent a day in downtown Greensboro. Steve, Terri, and Cassi spent the morning at The Greensboro Children's Museum. Afterwards, we had lunch at an outdoor cafe, then walked around the downtown area....We discovered the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center. An excellent facility. Later in the afternoon, we took a walk at Tanger Family Park...This has always been one of my favorite parks...It reminds me of an English Garden. What a great visit !

Jessica had Jr / Sr Prom in May. She was so beautiful in her evening gown!!! She had such a great time !! Her prom date was a gay guy from her school....How safe can you get ? I can't believe how all grown up she is now. I am so fortunate to have such great kids.

I, also, have some other news. I have begun hanging out with a guy. His name is J. R. He's from Venezuela. What a nice guy. He's a Real Estate Agent in Winston Salem. Jessica and Andrew seem to like him, as well, which is a real plus. Elliot will not meet him until his July visit.

J.R. owns a Pontoon Boat and Memorial Day, he invited the kids and I to go boating with him. When we arrived at his condo, we discovered his brother, Ruben and Ruben's Girlfriend (Theresa) were coming along. We had the best day !! We got on Belews Lake around 12:30 and didn't get the boat out of the water until about 8:30. We beached the Pontoon Boat in a little cove and spent the afternoon swimming, sunning, grilling out, and just floating on floats in the water. It was the most relaxing day.

Also, this month, we discovered that Andrew passed his End of Grade Testing !!! No summer school !! YAY !!!

I turned 43 this month, on May 24. It was a good birthday. It was quiet, with no drama. Chara, a friend from work , J.R. , and thed kids and I, had a cookout at our home. It was a good day !