Busy weekend behind me... I worked Saturday and Sunday this week, as I will for the next month, and should for the rest of my life. I forgot how rewarding the weekend days can be. In April I only worked 1 Sunday and 3 Saturdays (Easter was in there so I don't blame myself for missing them all). My delivered sales this month, as a direct result.... STINK...

On a positive note, I was re-invited yesterday to go to the Landmark Theater last night to see the Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet, and Virginia Opera's production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". From what I understand this was a very "G" rated version of the story, but I was truly entertained by all the performances, not to mention the people attending, dressed in everything from tuxes to tees. Who says Richmond is stuck up and conservative?

Ask me how I ended up with tickets at the last minute...

Stephen called me earlier yesterday to ask me if I would like to go. I accepted knowing it might be somewhat awkward or uncomfortable for both of us. The performances were awesome, and it wasn't too bad, until after we left and I offered after to buy a drink and suggested Z2. I was a bit tired and felt quite uncomfortable there, as I suspect he did too... We showed up dressed to the nines and together, which we haven't been for awhile, so a few of our mutual (and not so mutual) friends were surprised to see us.

I had a really good time. Thank you Stephen... It was my first Symphony, first Opera, and first Ballet, I will certainly remember them all.

Until I write again.

Karaoke at Club Z2 was great last night... I wish I could sing like some of these people. Some of them should be on American Idol... I was supposed to be met by some friends from work, Drew and Nicole. Neither ended up coming. Nicole had a family emergency, and I think the gay club thing may have been a little too intimidating for Drew... But I might be wrong.

I never thought I would ever say this, but therapy today really made me feel good. I realized that the reason my Therapist seems so good to me is that he makes me talk and listen to myself. He shared a story with me: One of his patients came in one day and plopped immediately into "the chair", threw his hands up in the air and said "You ever notice how really fucked up some people can be?" My Therapist looked at the patient with a very understanding glance, and said "yeah I have". The patient said "of course you have. I forgot, for a moment, your line of work". My Therapist added that there are two kinds of really fucked up people, "the truly fucked up ones, and the ones that are working on it." By accepting the fact that I am (a little) fucked up, I hope to be included in the latter of the groups. I think this guy is great at what he does. I know I would be a mess without the help he has given me over the past year.

Speaking of American Idol... How about that Elliot (from Richmond, VA), he made it another week... You go boy!!!

My weekend (Thursday and Friday) is almost over, but has been quite nice. I may go see "United 93" or go to the Holocaust Museum later... I told this to a friend and they suggested rethinking both, as they might be a little too depressing.

I may still go...

Happy Thursday everyone!

Whew... I thought this day would never come. It felt good to sleep in a little this morning except that I forgot the city was doing street cleaning today, on my side of the street. I woke up to see a Richmond Police cruiser sitting right behind where my car used to be... Dang it all... I can only imagine what this is going to cost.

DANG IT ALL...

Ok, well I am not going to let this little bump in the road ruin my days off. I have called a friend to come help me bail my car out. and I will get it when I get it... Dang it all...

My weekend is not planned at all. I am a firm believer in spontaneity which helps when you have days that start like mine did. I have laundry to do, and some housekeeping chores to complete. Plenty to keep me occupied for awhile. Then I will read and sun for a bit before heading over for Karaoke at Z2 tonight. I think some friends from work may come too. Could be lots of fun.

til next I write...

Thursday and Friday are getting closer and closer.... YeeHaaah!

This was day number six (straight) at work, and to most, selling probably doesn't seem that energy consuming... But it actually is... You have to be "ON" all the time, "ON" meaning; the people you are dealing with expect you to be at your best all the time. It's very hard to do that for an 11 hour work day... Fortunately there are only 2 of those during the week. Today was one, as is tomorrow... Oh and tomorrow is my Friday, so I will be very relieved when 9:00pm rolls around.

I was called by my attorney's office yesterday, to look for some documents being mailed to me. These apparently are court ordered requests to produce financial information that my wife can use against me... It's ok, really... There isn't all that much to share, she actually gets more from me today than the court will order me to give her... Additionally I pay for her healthcare insurance through my employer... Anyway... We will see what the documents are, when I get home from work tomorrow..

Another day in the life...
Be good, and Be yourself!

Welcome to Monday night in the River City...

Yesterday and today I took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and have been seen all over town with my convertible top down... What a marvelous couple of days.

I went out to play pool last night and had fun at Z2, I also had their signature chili and a side salad for dinner. Very good and filling meal, thank you. Saturday night I went by Z2 and just didn't feel like being out or the "love"I regularly feel. It was very busy and smoky... Stephen was there too, and I didn't want to spoil anyone's fun, as he was with friends of both of our's so I decided not to stay. Nothing wrong with a good night's sleep.

I worked Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday... I am working Tuesday and Wednesday too... It has been really slow and challenging this month, but this too shall pass... Thursday and Friday are looking really good from here...

Douglas and I did not see each other all weekend... We did go out for drinks tonight at PF Chang's, a great restaurant at Stony Point Fashion Park (if you haven't been). It was great to see him, and hold/feel his hand, afterwards we kissed and said goodnight...

Ahh......

Good Friday Evening, Richmond VA... I spent the latter part of the evening watching the Miss USA pageant on NBC. This is the contest that is the precursor to the Miss Universe (aka: Miss Donald Trump) pageant. "The Donald" and his son were both present for the crowning, in Baltimore, of this year's winner. Baltimore? hmmm... Interesting choice of locale for the competition a second year in a row. Nothing like a little more atmosphere to highlight a major television event. Why not say Roanoke? or maybe Little Rock? I'm sure they would be equally as appealing to the bottom line. Oh, and Carson Kressley... Mr. Queer Eye! What where you thinking when you opened your mouth? I liked the Miss USA pageant better as a gay man, not with one as a color commentator.. Oh well enough said...

Work has been challenging these past couple of weeks. It seems no-one buys furniture after Palm Sunday, or the beginning of Passover. Why is that? Don't the people of Richmond understand that we commission sales people have to pay our mortgages, phone bills, electric bills, and so on, all year long? This includes April!!! It's hard to tell your mortgage company that you just didn't sell enough sofas to cover this month's payment.

Otherwise, life is good... Not sure what the ex is planning, I got letters from my attorney today that are confusing to say the least... But I am ok with it all... I go back to my therapist next week and that will help me to re-center... It's been over a month, almost two, I can't yet do without therapy for that long, but that's my problem...

Life is good... Oh... and what do you think of those new Honda commercials with the airbags and crashes? Dang... Scared the pants off me the first time I saw one!!!

Yesterday I drove up to Washington DC, more specifically Georgetown, to visit my niece. This is her first year at Georgetown University. Likewise, this was my opportunity to spend the better part of the day by myself window shopping.

The day was beautiful. I drove up with the rag-top down under a crystal blue sky. It was a little chilly at first, but I wasn't going to let that spoil the ride. My ABBA CD was keeping me company for the 1 hour 45 minute cruise. After finding a parking spot deep in the bowels of the Foundry Building, I started my walk. I found the Ralph Lauren shop, the LaCoste store, a Barney's of New York (COOP), the Dean and Delucca grocery, not to mention the usual fair, like Restoration Hardware, Banana Republic, and the GAP... Georgetown is truly a shoppers dream come true.

My niece and I met up for dinner after her classes at Washington Harbour, a marvelous shopping and dining area right on the Potomac River, overlooking the Watergate complex and the Kennedy Center. There where people on the river rowing, and others motoring in a varied assortment of watercraft. It was wonderful to sit and chat with my niece with all of this going on around us.

After dinner, we drove over to the University, where she gave me a tour of the campus and introduced me to some of her friends. The buildings on campus are impressive, from the obviously very old, to the very modern, all seem to fit together and work well with each other. The campus is not spread out like some I have seen, it is very compact and easy to get around. My niece seems to really like it there. It was wonderful to see her.

My drive back to Richmond last night was uneventful. I got home and reflected on my day...

LIFE IS GOOD...

Easter on Parade... On Richmond Virginia's historic Monument Avenue is a sight to behold. I made the mistake of asking someone "Where do all these people go when the parade starts?" The Monument Avenue resident replied "Honey... what are you talking about? The people ARE the parade"...

The day was glorious, sunny but not too hot, just enough new foliage on the trees to filter the warm spring sun, and the Dogwoods were in full bloom everywhere. I have never seen anything quite like this before. There were people dressed to the nines, and there were hundreds of dogs with and without their Easter bonnets... The homes along the avenue were all bustling with their owners preparing the Easter feasts and parade parties. Wow!!!

I can't believe I have been in Richmond for over six years and had never been to this event... Don't miss out if you are like me. Do it next year, you won't regret it...

Happy Easter and Passover Everyone...

I had a great time at the Strawberry Hill Races out at Colonial Downs yesterday... We (my new friend and I) ended up in a skybox with the Irish American group... It was nice to have our own bathroom, and place to put our cooler, but all the action was down around the track. There are like 800 reserved tailgating spots wrapped around the outside of the turf track. The theme of this year's race was "Colts, Kilts, and Celts" honoring the horses, the Irish and the Scottish. There were an awful lot of men walking around in skirts... Some actually looked mighty fine!

I received a call last night at about 11:30. I was asleep but kinda watching the news, was tired, and had a little sunburn... The caller ID on the phone said "Hollybriar House" so I assumed the worse and immediately thought something had happened to one of the kids or my wife. It was, in fact, my wife. She just wanted to call and tell me she was watching the Ten Commandments and was thinking about me and how we used to watch it together. I did not expect her to be so pleasant. She has not been very nice these past six months. It was refreshing to hear her old voice again, the one that was not filled with hate and spite. It reminded me of all the reasons I love her, and always will...

Today is the Easter Parade on Monument Avenue... I am looking forward to see that for the first time... I hear it can be quite entertaining... More about that later.

Enjoy your Holiday

My goodness... It seems I just can't write enough about my life for some people. Crystal, this is for you...

I am off for the next several days and I plan to read, sun, and spend some time with my new friend. He and I had lunch last Sunday, drinks after work on Tuesday, and then lunch today. I do like spending time together, I hope he does too.

Crystal is one the gals that work in the office at Value City. It turns out, she and my daughter know each other, what a small world... She let me know that she had seen my daughter's Senior pictures (which I haven't seen yet). Don't forget to bring them in Crystal!!

Happy Passover and Easter to all, until I write again...

Howdy y'all... Here's an interesting twist on things...

I met a really cool guy this past Sunday. We had a "date" of sorts and had lunch... No more (I know that disappoints some of you) but I was perfectly fine with that...

We met again last night for drinks and had the 2nd "date"... No more...

I kinda like this guy. He is not your run of the mill guy, that you might run into in the regular places. He could be someone special... he isn't comfortable (normally) in the "gay club" or bar... but seems to like me and my cart of baggage...

Whew... 2 dates and we haven't seen each other under our shirts (let alone our pants)? Oh my lord... I like this already... I have never dated a Jewish man, yet it seems I now am... Not odd for a Catholic man... but certainly different... I asked him to dinner on Friday, he told me he may have some odd meal requirements, and suggeted he bring the "meal", I liked the thought, as I would not know what to serve for Passover...

I watched parts of the new version of the Ten Commandments, and was semi-impressed... Charlton Heston makes a much more convincing Moses, than the new guy does... What's his name? hehehe

I was more impressed that my daughter stopped by today to see me. She was with a friend that she had abandoned a few years ago (at her Mother's and my request)... Both looked marvelous and happy. My daughter seemed happy to see me too, which I loved... Her friend looked great, and substantially less confused/intimidating than I once thought...

I am so happy that my daughter is happy... I wish nothing more than the best for her and all my children, regardless of their father's choice to "come out"...

LIFE GOES ON.... not a bad thing...

LIFE GOES ON...

Another weekend comes and goes in Richmond Virginia... and on the West Wing, Leo died and Matt Santos was elected the new president LIFE GOES ON...

I went out last night to Z2, Barcode, and finally Fieldens, met some friends, had a few drinks, and played some pool... I do so miss the friend I used to make the rounds with. Things just didn't work out as either of us had hoped or planned. LIFE GOES ON...

It's hard to be around the people we were around and not be reminded of our times together. LIFE GOES ON...

I have been re-reading the Four Agreements to remind myself that I should not take things personally. That in fact, those things that are directed at me and intended to hurt my feelings are the sender's problem, not mine. As the sender has no way of feeling what I feel, and no way of seeing what I see... Don't Take Anything Personally...

LIFE GOES ON...

Can you tell there's not much happening?

Work has been keeping me busy for the most part. I did take part in a Focus Group the other night that was really interesting. We were given information about an announcement made about global warming, and were asked to discuss the information and how we would react to it the way that it was presented. We were then given additional information and asked to comment, and so on... It was enlightening.

The Equality Virginia dinner is tonight... I am not going. I volunteer for them but signed up too late to help at the dinner, and $100 wasn't in my budget. The gay.com Richmond chat room dinner is tonight... I will not be going to that either. While I have met people from cyber-space before, I am just not sure if I want to socialize and have dinner with these guys...

Spring in Richmond is exciting. Next weekend are the Strawberry Hill Races out at Colonial Downs, and then the Monument Avenue Easter Parade, which is not so much a parade as it is a glorified dog walk. Apparently everyone dresses up, and dresses up their dogs, and walks up and down the avenue... I can hardly wait for this, as I have never been. The flowers and trees are all blooming and putting on their spring wardrobes... After several months of fall and winter, you forget how beautiful they can be.

Enjoy your Spring, wherever you are!

Without alot going on, there is little to say...

The past few days have been unremarkable. I worked, I slept, and I read. I am currently reading Dan Brown's DIGITAL FORTRESS and it is quite good.

I went out on Sunday night to Barcode for "Scary-o-kee", had a few beers and came home, no real excitement. Yesterday I came home early and started spring cleaning. I emptied my closet and filled two pillowcases with clothes and linens for Diversity Thrift. I never realized what a collection I had amassed. Today is laundry and housekeeping. We'll see what else it brings.

Oh... I did ride home from work yesterday with the top down again.. Thank goodness I put it up before those nasty storms came through last night... Talk about SCARY!!!

Til next we meet...