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 !

NEW YORK - April 17 - 22

Well...my visit to NYC to visit my son, Elliot, has come and gone. Jessica was there at the same time with her Choral Department from her Performing Arts High School. It was a wonderful visit !! I just can't believe it has come and gone !

I arrived in on Thursday evening, April 22. I took the LIRR (Long Island RR) out to Lindenhurst. Elliot and I had dinner at Olive Garden and watched a movie, The Kite Runner. What a powerful film !

Friday, Elliot had to work. I took his car and went out to Robert Moses Beach. It was an incredible day, about 75 degrees and Sunny. It was an incredible day. I took the book I had been reading , "Without You" by Anthony Rapp. At lunch, I picked Elliot up for lunch, had a quick bite and took him back to work. In the afternoon, I napped and watched a little TV. After picking him up for work, we took the LIRR into the city to meet Jessica to see our first Broadway Play. We saw "Legally Blond". I am easily entertained and enjoyed it. Elliot and Jessica, not so much. Afterwards, the students headed back to their hotel Elliot and I wondered the city for a while and ended up at a gay club and had a few drinks. Afterwards, we headed back to PENN STATION and got the LIRR back home...It was incredibly crowded !

Saturday, Elliot and I were up very early and back on the LIRR , heading into the city. Jessica's Choir was performing at Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, a catholic church. It was up on W 59th, right at Central Park and Columbus Circle. The Church was beautiful and the acoustics were incredible !! Amy, Victor and Sienna came to the performance. Amy is Linda's cousin, Sue's daughter. I have remained pretty close to them since the divorce. It was so good to see them. After the concert, we walked in Central Park and then went had lunch at a Cuban Restaurant that Victor suggested. WONDERFUL food. Afterwards, we just happened upon the pararde route for the POPE. He was coming right down 5th Ave. It was unbelievably crowded. However, we got some good pics and videos of the Holy Father. It was a great feeling to be apart of something so big and historical, having the POPE in the city. We were all excited.

Afterwards, Victor, Amy, and Sienna went on their way. Elliot, Jessica, Alana (Jess' friend) and I tooled around the city. We went by Saint Patrick's Cathdral, Bryant Park and then took the Subway to Downtown. We shopped in Chinatown and went down to the World Trade Center Site. Afterwards, we delivered the kids to the Italian Restaurant to meet the other students. Elliot took the Subway back to Penn Station and then back on the LIRR to Lindenhurst.

We slept in on Sunday. I didn't get up until noon. I watched the POPE give Mass at Yankee Stadium. Elliot came and we had lunch at Red Lobster, then headed back to the city on the LIRR to meet the kids to see "Mary Poppins". It was an excellent performance. Sunday night in the city was really nice...The weather was great and it wasn't crowded. It was much easier to get around. When getting back from the city, we stopped in at the local Diner, The Lindencrest and had breakfast food.

On Monday, I took Elliot to work, checked out of the hotel room and went to the beach after having lunch with him. I read more. It was a much different day than on Friday. It was cool and windy. however, the sun was out and it was quite beautiful. After picking Elliot up from work, we drove out east and picked up a new dog for him. She's a chocolate Pomeranian, we named her "Broadway". She's gorgeous !! and has such a nice temperament...so far !

On Tuesday AM, Elliot took me to the airport very early and I headed back to NC. I did really well until I got my car from long term parking. I just sat and cried for a few minutes. I miss having that boy in my life on a daily basis. Some of my happiest days have been living with him, when we had the apartment together. I don't want to lessen my love or how fortunate to have my younger two kids living with me. However, my whole family is not together with him in NY. I just wish he would come home.

At the end of the day....It was a great trip !!! NYC is a "one of a kind" place !!!

To My 3 Kids - Elliot, Jessica and Andrew

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you. "

-- Winnie the Pooh

A Few Lines...

Haven't had much time to post lately. Much of my time has been spent with the kids and house. The kids were out of school the week of Easter and I took the week off from work. I spent time with them and did quite a bit of work around the house.

Finally, all the wallpaper is down in the kitchen, the hall bath, and most of it is down in the Master Bath (Master Bath...HA). I have given family and friends permission to smack me in the mouth if I ever mention putting wallpaper up again !!!! I have hated taking it down. It's just not worth it !! Now...If I become (this is a big IF) independently wealthy and can have it hired out....I would consider. The paint is on the walls in the kitchen, but not the cabinets yet. The kids have picked out the color of their bathroom . My bedroom and bath, I have no idea, yet !! Now, I just need the time to get it all done.

Steve, Terri, and Cassi are scheduled to arrive the first weekend in May. I'm interested in their arrangements getting here, being SKYBUS went bankrupt and Steve and Terri had tickets with them. Lots going on and lots to do before they arrive. I will be in NYC for 5 days, visting Elliot and hanging out with Jessica and her choral group. It will be interesting to see how much gets done. However, I must admit, it's a motivating factor, having company come visit.

Happy Beheaded Chocolate Bunny Day !!!

HAPPY EASTER !!

Easter is supposedly the first sign of Spring. Here in NC, it's around 60 and sunny...The Daffodils and Tulips are blooming, as well as, The Bradford Pear Trees. However, my son in New York says today's high temp was around 40 degrees....My close friends in Cleveland had 4 " of Snow on the Ground . O MY !!!

Well....Elliot was in NY for Easter....sent his Easter Basket (BOX) to him by UPS last week....Jessica and Andrew spent the weekend with their mom and celebrated Easter there. Haven't heard the stories, yet....but it's always interesting, being my ex wife doesn't cook...I always get a chuckle....but at least she's making an attempt to be domestic for them.

Jessica and Andrew will come home Monday AM, and we will celebrate Easter at my parents at Lunch. I have Easter Baskets for both of them. I think they will like !.

On Easter Day, I came home from American Express.....and made a Coconut Cream Cake (1st Time), Potato Salad and a Sweet Potato Casserole...These are my contributions to our Easter Meal on Monday. I, then, chatted with Elliot for a while...and slept rest of my day.

I still find it odd that I don't go to church on Easter Sunday. It's not that I'm not a believer....but I work such a crazy schedule, it's just difficult to make it to a service....Additionally, being gay, I'm not going to a church that "hates" gay people.

On Tuesday, my cousin, Janice is bringing her mom (Elsie) over to go out to lunch, to celebrate mom's Birthday. Jessica and Andrew, both, want to go. I think Aunt Dot will be coming, as well. Afterwards, we will all go visit Aunt Katie (suffering with Alzheimer's and recently diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer). Aunt Katie's days are numbered. She has had a wonderful life. She's got 3 kids ( my cousins) who love her dearly and would do anything for she and/or Uncle Watson. Also, she has, 7 grandchildren, I think (Mike has 2 kids...Kaye has 3....Ken...hmmm...2, ?).

On Wednesday, I work my Part time job for a few hours. Thursday, I'm off at Pier One and American Express. The kids and I may go hiking or do something fun that day !! YAH !!