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November 12, 2012

Taking a Break...



It's probably obvious already to some, but I have temporarily lost my writing "thingy". I guess with trying to get back into the workplace, I kind of feel potential employers may be "googling" my name and finding this.

While there is nothing posted here (in the past 7 years) I am ashamed of, I just need to eliminate a potential offense to some unknown future employer...

I am going to leave things up for a bit, but block all access/deactivate in the short term.

For those who know me (or of me) personally, Facebook is your best bet to keep in touch... Thank you all for following along with me on my journey.

Over and (temporarily) "Out" from Portsmouth, VA

October 12, 2012

"Grand" Times... Part 2



The twins, Hailey and Haiden, are definitely a handful... They are fine for the the most part until Mommy or Daddy come into their view and then all they seem to want is to be held. The photo above is Haiden and the one below is Hailey.


Hailey is the talker... da-da, ma-ma, etc... and has what we all refer to as "lip-a-tude", her bottom lip is always a bit pursed... Haiden has the motor skills and crawls like a race car, pulls himself up to his feet, and has the funniest laugh which he does with his face all scrunched up.

Yesterday was my day to experience the 24 hour bug we have been passing around to each other. I quarantined myself in my room (in between mad dashes to the bathroom). I was supposed to meet a good friend up in Ft. Lauderdale for lunch today on my way up to visit my Mom up in Melbourne Beach. I thought I might be ok this morning, but I am still just not feeling great and don't want to pass this thing on to either of them... I will head up to Mom's tomorrow and hopefully get together with my friend on the way up or on the way back down to Miami on Monday.

My flight leaves Tuesday to head back to Virginia. I will welcome the cooler weather at home. It's just too damned hot and humid down here...

Over and "Out" on another hot day here in Miami, FL USA

October 10, 2012

"Grand" Times...



I am still in Miami. While the circumstances I am down here for are heartbreaking, most of the tears and consoling are fading... Every now and then something comes up and reminds someone of my first wife and starts the sobbing again... I'm sure time will heal the hurt and preserve the memories...

The picture above is of my grandson Tristan. I have been spending some time with him (to give his mom and dad a break from having to deal with a 2 year old AND 9 month old twins). We have been having a grand time... Took him to Matheson Hammock Park with it's enclosed beach on Biscayne Bay, and to a local park and playground where we watched some neighbors shoot rockets off (he thought that especially "cool"). For a 2 year old (he will be 3 in May), his vocabulary is phenomenal and I love kids that can communicate their needs (unlike the twins that just grunt and cry) and usually have a reason for being upset that they can express in words.

I will post about the twins later but for now I am:

Over and "Out" from Miami, FL USA

October 8, 2012

Family Update...



I am down in Miami to give my two oldest sons a little support after their mom (my first wife) passed after having a stroke while fighting her battle with cancer...

It has been a stressful week and a half so far, but they seem to be coping. Fortunately her family and I have remained good friends and I have been welcomed with open arms...

Hard to have a positive outlook when I have lost both my wives to this horrible disease while they were still young... Sometimes I think someone (deity of choice here) is picking the wrong people to move on to the next adventure. They were both such vibrant and strong women and I sometimes feel inadequate in comparison...

Funny thing is, both of my wives became great friends and supported each other through all the family dramas... I know they are both somewhere enjoying each others' company again, sharing a bottle of champagne, keeping an eye out for all their loved ones, and enjoying pain/suffering free existences...

RIP Michele, have a toast with Diana for me!

Over and "Out" from stormy Miami, FL USA

September 23, 2012

Show What You're Hiding Below...




Ok, this is not only Politically Incorrect, it's funny and accurate... Remember, only 44 days until WE choose the next group of politicians representing US in Washington DC.

Sorry if it offends any of my Republican friends (not really)...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA, USA

September 15, 2012

ReBoot September 2012





I am in the process of re-booting myself... Believe it or not, it was just ONE thing that got me on my way... 

OWL CITY...

Also: Asher Monroe:



I have posted the first in the past I'm sure, but I recently watched several of the Owl City videos available on YouTube and became even more obsessed with Asher's upbeat melodies and lyrics... Listen to the link above then let it continue with some of the other songs... You'll get what I mean... (He is kinda cute too)...

More to come...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

ps: This post is my 57th birthday present to myself... 09/18/1955 (a few days early)

September 2, 2012

Alive and, well, Just ok...

Thank you all for your concern... I am just in a real down and dark place, that hopefully will change soon. Taking a break from posting only because I don't really want to air it all here (especially while still searching for gainful employment) as anyone "Googling" my name will find it...

Wish me success and luck in the coming weeks...

Over and "Out" once again, from Portsmouth, VA USA

August 16, 2012

The End is Near...


If only I had the strength...

Over, "Out" and near the end, in Portsmouth, VA USA

August 8, 2012

Commercial Interruption...




Funny how some TV commercials catch your eye or attention... I was watching something and was admiring this couple as the commercial started; Thinking how wonderful it would be to be that young again, living life so freely and lively...

Then "Wham"... Watch it and tell me you didn't feel the same thing. The bonus is I had no idea what the commercial was for, until the "wham" happened... It was kind of like that scene in "Meet Joe Black" when Brad Pitts character got hit in the street... I had to rewind that a few times too.

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

August 5, 2012

Olympic Rings and a full Moon...



Was up early this morning and they showed this and several other photos (taken at the same time) on the morning news...

Awesome and beautiful...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

August 4, 2012

The Force "Jedi Condoms"...




I found this over at Joe My God so many of my gay friends may have already viewed it... Truly brings the kid out in me, I mean who doesn't like a good "Light Sabre" fight?

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

July 16, 2012

My Property Brothers...




I am definitely addicted... The Property Brothers on HGTV have my vote for anything they are running/applying/interviewing for...

Over and "Out", without the Property Brothers, in Portsmouth, VA USA

July 15, 2012

Mamas, Papas, Boys, and Girls...

This morning, while watching CBS Sunday Morning, I watched a segment on the Beach Boys 50th anniversary. It was interesting in some respects, as I never knew that they lost the 1967 Grammy award for best Rock and Roll Group Performance (for Good Vibrations) to The Mamas and The Papas (for Monday Monday)...

I guess the most interesting thing I gathered/deduced from the show is that this year Wilson Phillips is also making a comeback of sorts, and as most of us know, Carnie and Wendy (Wilson) are the daughters of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and Chynna (Phillips) the daughter of The Mamas & The Papas's John and Michelle Phillips.

The two most recent things I have heard from Wilson Phillips are their covers of "Good Vibrations" from the Beach Boys, and less recently "California Dreamin" both off their newest album...

Click and enjoy if you are a fan of all three groups:

"California Dreamin" from "The View" 04/04/2012

"Good Vibrations" (sorry for the advertisement)



Over and "Out" from my little world, in Portsmouth, VA USA

July 11, 2012

Who doesn't like a little Mary?




Just in case I have never said it... This was one of my favorite shows in the 70's... MTM and the spinoffs could not be more refreshing at the time and I looked forward to it every week and the re-runs too... 

I don't think any of the 3 million channels I get on cable plays any MTM reruns these days.

Let me know if I am wrong...

Over and "Out" from my little place, in Portsmouth, VA USA

July 2, 2012

Anderson Cooper "Outs" Himself



Like we didn't already know:

"The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."

"I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist." - Anderson Cooper

Gaydar is a very serious weapon... Welcome to this side of the closet door Mr. Cooper...


Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA


June 27, 2012

OpSail 2012 Video




The video above was produced by the City of Portsmouth after OpSail 2012, The Seawall Music Festival and Harborfest was over... It's a great way to re-live the weekend and most of the events that went on in the downtown areas of Norfolk and Portsmouth.

This is only one of the reasons I love living here...

Over and "Out" from my little piece of life, in Portsmouth, VA USA

June 17, 2012

OWYP Needs Our Help!


This is a request from OWYP for all that might have a need to support Global Cross-Cultural education. My Niece founded this effort and your donations are totally tax deductible.... Think about it, read about it and donate/share if you feel the urge...


One World Youth Project

Hello! Two outstanding students from the University of Guyana have been selected as the first ever university student leaders (or Project Manager Fellows) for the One World Youth Project (OWYP) program in Guyana. OWYP links schools across the world to create mutual respect and understanding among students. The two Project Manager Fellows manage the "Hub" on the UG campus, which is comprised of their peers who facilitate cross-cultural exchanges between local Guyanese secondary school students and their peers abroad in countries like the USA, Turkey, Kosovo and Pakistan.

In order to successfully lead this program in Guyana, the Project Manager Fellows must attend a mandatory training in Kosovo to gain the essential skills in leadership, management, cross-cultural communication, and most importantly, build a cohesive international community with their peers.

It promises to be an incredible trip for the University of Guyana Project Manager Fellows to interact with similarly ambitious students who are seeking new ways to connect with peers beyond national borders. The trip will allow Project Manager Fellows to develop leadership and management skills, learn about their peers' countries and cultures and prepare them for the upcoming service-learning work they will have in their communities. For most students in attendance, it will be their first opportunity abroad in a place that is so culturally different than where they are living.

Please help us empower local Guyanese youth to connect with others globally and make positive change within their local community!

What is the Summer Training Conference?

The Summer Training Conference (STC) is a weeklong experience where the Project Manager Fellows from OWYP Hub campuses worldwide come together to further develop their management, leadership and community-building skills.

This is a unique opportunity for OWYP's international leaders to come together as a team to learn from one another and form strong bonds across borders. The STC adequately prepares students to collaborate remotely with their partner secondary schools and universities abroad.

Check out this video from last year’s STC: http://youtu.be/vILw552FNFs

What is One World Youth Project?

One World Youth Project (OWYP) partners with universities and university students to build mutual respect and understanding among youth. Through the OWYP program, university students are trained to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges between local middle schools and middle schools abroad via technology. (Mentored by the university student facilitators, students gain empathetic and critical thinking skills that allow them to address challenges in their own communities with a newly developed global lens.)

The vision of OWYP is a just world built through the actions of empowered, discerning and empathetic generations of global citizens. For more information visit our website: http://www.oneworldyouthproject.org

To Donate
CLICK HERE

Media

Demerara Waves: http://bit.ly/Jm8MDB
Guyana Chronicle: http://bit.ly/KgWU2o
Kaieteur News: http://bit.ly/H9LprV


Over and "Out" from my little world, in Portsmouth, VA USA

June 8, 2012

Opsail Virginia 2012



This weekend is Opsail Virginia 2012 and Harborfest... Harborfest every year brings tons of tourist and resident dollars to the local (Norfolk and Portsmouth) economies. This year, with the addition of Opsail 2012 it is bound to be a MAJOR boost, especially to the downtown areas of both cities.

Today at about 12noon EST the fleet of tall ships arrives in the harbor (you can see it live at wvec.com). Most of them stay through the weekend and are "berthed" on all sides of the Elizabeth River, allowing tours and awe from most who visit...

Good luck to all involved to help keep us on the map as a major east coast port and tourist destination!

Over and "Out" for today, from Portsmouth, VA USA

June 4, 2012

Offspring...



This is a picture taken during our family reunion of my oldest, youngest, and me together... He (the oldest) flew up from Miami and she (the youngest) came up from Richmond...

Always great to have the kids nearby...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

June 3, 2012

Family...



It comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors... Thank goodness not all as "dashing" as I am...

This past week we attended a mini family reunion (if you can call 40+ attendees mini) in the mountains of Virginia at the Massanutten Resort. Most family members stayed for the extended weekend and some stayed a bit longer. We took advantage of the week long rental and stayed until Friday...

The picture above is of a couple of my cousins, their kids, one of my brothers, his wife and daughter, one of my sons (daughter was in the shower), Mike, his son, and of course me (top of the picture in green). I was not surprised that (being the only gay couple at the reunion) we were accepted totally and unconditionally. I think there may have only been one of (my) aunts and uncles that had any reservations about my relationship, but they kept it to themselves and we all celebrated family without a hitch, as it should be...

Many of the participants had not seen each other in as many as 40 years. Most of the cousins' children had never met any of my (side of the) family. We had people attending from Montana, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and Maryland. A few of the younger cousins were just graduating high school and getting ready to head off to college...

In preparation, I have been working on a family tree using Archives.com. I had traced back this side of the family to 1540, in England. We all are related through the same blood line (our maternal grandfather) so the line was easy to explain. Our family arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 (right after the Mayflower) and we all qualify to be Daughters/Sons of the American revolution. One of our direct ancestors also chartered 5 townships in what is now Vermont (it was still a territory at the time). I had no idea that our roots in America ran so deeply.

While I fretted over the planning of the gathering (since February), and the approval of the locale by my relatives (it was my suggestion), everything just fell into place and the condos we rented, all seven of them, were all clustered together for easy access. In the above photo you can see a breezeway between two of the units. That became the main gathering place with 30 chairs all lined up (it looked like an old folks home)...

I'm sure there will be more references to this outing in future posts...

Over and "Out" from "life back to normal" in Portsmouth, VA USA

May 31, 2012

Proud to be...



I couldn't let the month of May pass with only one post (shame on me)...

The month just flew by due to the planning and preparation of a mini family reunion up in the mountains of Virginia at the Massanutten Resort. We had almost 40 people attend including my daughter from Richmond and my oldest son from Miami... 

This past Saturday I woke up with a huge knot in my stomach before driving up to the resort. The family started showing up about the same time we did. Not knowing how they would like the venue I recommended, my anxiety levels were at full tilt all afternoon.

I finally started feeling better by Sunday night. They all loved the place. We rented 7 two bedroom condos and they were fabulous. As were the amenities of the resort (I had only been before during the winter for skiing)...

There are pools, water parks, tennis courts, hiking trails, horseback riding, golf courses, and many other places to go and things to do... It was a hit for sure...

More to come as pictures come in from the family members... 

Over and "Out" from our last day at Massanutten.

May 4, 2012

Star Wars Day 2012



I have always been an avid Star Wars and Star Trek fan and enjoy this parody of 5/4 every year. 

Turning back the "way back" machine, I remember that May day in 1977 when my then employer (Burger King Corp) had a private pre-screening for employees at the Dadeland Twin Cinema, which was a parking lot neighbor of BKC's corporate headquarters on Kendall Drive, in Miami.. 

I can't believe it was 35 years ago... Many things have changed except one... The force is with us all!!

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

April 28, 2012

Susan Sarandon on WMD...




Had to post (if you are offended by sex toys, do not watch)... Susan Sarandon is great!

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

Number 80,000

The 80,000th page view was from:


Vancouver, British Columbia arrived from justajeepguydc.blogspot.ca on "My New Life".
10:28:36


I'm not sure who it is, but thanks for visiting!

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

April 26, 2012

79999 Page Views...

As I processed this morning, checking emails, bank balances, Facebook, and my favorite blog "reads", I realized that my own blog was on the precipice of another milestone...

That's right, with over six years of posts, my site-meter is at 79,999 page views...

For some that may seem insignificant, but for me it seems unfathomable... I remember when I hit 1,000 hits and thought to myself "Dang this is kinda fun"... 

All I can say to the people that, for whatever reason, end up on my little slice of the "interwebs", is...Thank You!

I will post the location of the 80,000th hit tomorrow...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

April 24, 2012

My Retarded Crepe Myrtle...



As our early spring has "sprung" here in Virginia, I noticed all the Elms, Birches, Maples, Oaks, and ALL other trees sprouting their foliage. For those of you that have seen my previous posts on the Crepe Myrtle lined street I live on, and how all of them come to life in the summer, I have been quite worried these past few weeks. 

All of my neighbors' Crepe Myrtles have their spring green going on, yet my one tree (on line with all the others) looked something like the photo above.

Every morning I would go out to the front porch to have coffee and take a peek to see if mine had sprouted some hint of growth overnight, only to find that it was as bare as it was in January...

Mind you, my tree is younger than some, but older than others and has an unobstructed view of the springtime sun, yet all the others have already bloomed with an abundance of green leaves... 

I only kept thinking: "I have a retarded or possibly worse, DEAD tree in the swayle between my sidewalk and the street, what will the neighbors think the gay boys have been doing to it?"...  Eeee Gaaaads!

I woke up early this morning (around 5ish), and of course it was too dark out to determine whether the tree had sprouted growth overnight (we did have an all day rain event yesterday, so I only held my breath until the sun came up)... Lo and behold, there were little red reflections off the tree as the sun started reflecting off the trees in the gayborhood...

I guess my neighbors might be thinking now, how the gay boys' trees know how not to Pre-Maturely Foliate!!

Greetings, Over and "Out", from my little place in Portsmouth, VA USA

April 14, 2012

Sittin' on the Porch by the Bay...



This is one of the reasons I love the place I live... Coffee and laptop on the front porch, on a sunny Mid-Atlantic morning. Today we woke to temperatures in the high 30's and this afternoon we should hit 75. It won't be the first day I had the heat on overnight and the A/C on by the late afternoon...

Over and "Out" on a beautiful day, from Portsmouth, VA USA

April 12, 2012

Where has the "Blogido" Gone?

I'm not sure where my blogging energy has gone, but it seems to have faded recently. I am still reading all my favorites (Over on the right side-bar) but have come short on topics to "engage in"...

Rather than scour the web for something interesting, sanitizing it and re-posting it here, I will just list a few things going on in my life right now...

.    I am a little depressed that I have not found gainful employment yet.

.    Ubu (the blue pit we took in) has decided that the rungs on the front of my
     dining chairs are a great substitute for branches and twigs he chews from 
     the back yard (just an FYI, his God-Mother, Rachael Ray, has suggested Sour
     Apple Spray to detract him from chewing and licking things on the "NO" list).

.    I am "Addicted"... To 2 new TV shows, "Revenge" and "Scandal", both awesome.

.    I have been dramatically affected by the early pollen this year (Ahhhh-Chuuu)!

.    I think as a result of my depression, my libido has been missing (I think it
     decided to take a vacation to some exotic paradise without me).

.    In ALL my spare time, I helped put together a family reunion for 30 people in the
     mountains of VA over Memorial Day week (some of my cousins, kids, aunts
     and uncles)... Many of us haven't seen each other in years. Gonna be fun...

OK, enough of my rambling, what's going on with you all? I will try to have something more controversial to post about on my next entry...

Over and "Out" from my little world, in Portsmouth, VA USA

March 29, 2012

I Wonder if it would be the same with Gays?




A Story I heard from the early 70's, Equality does prevail sometimes:

A 50- something year old white woman arrived at her seat on a crowded flight and immediately didn't want the seat. The seat was next to a black man. Disgusted, the woman immediately summoned the flight attendant and demanded a new seat. The woman said "I cannot sit here next to this black man." The fight attendant said "Let me see if I can find another seat." After checking, the flight attendant returned and stated "Ma'am, there are no more seats in economy, but I will check with the captain and see if there is something in first class." 

About 10 minutes went by and the flight attendant returned and stated "The captain has confirmed that there are no more seats in economy, but there is one in first class. It is our company policy to never move a person from economy to first class, but being that it would be some sort of scandal to force a person to sit next to an UNPLEASANT person, the captain agreed to make the switch to first class." 

Before the woman could say anything, the attendant gestured to the black man and said, "Therefore sir, if you would so kindly retrieve your personal items, we would like to move you to the comfort of first class as the captain doesn't want you to sit next to an unpleasant person." Passengers in the seats nearby began to applaud while some gave a standing ovation.

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

March 28, 2012

Playin' the Balls...




Can you believe One Half a BILLION Dollars? Who is playing the numbers this week? And where did the recession go? 

I can barely pay the rent on unemployment, but I will be forking over Two-bucks for my very minuscule chance of winning (and I promise to share). I will keep my fingers crossed for your numbers if you promise to do the same for mine on Friday!

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

March 26, 2012

Ready to Relax? Try this out...



This is only a test: Using a combination of Binaural beats, Strobe effects and a Spiral, this video will induce a trace in about 10 minutes. Stare at the red dot, make sure you are comfortable and you MUST use stereo head phones. For more info on Binaural beats see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats

Over and "Out" on a sunnier day, from Portsmouth, VA USA

ps: Did you last all the way through? (I didn't)... Who does this shit?

March 25, 2012

He Finally gets his Heart...



"Former Vice President Dick Cheney had a heart transplant Saturday, after five heart attacks over the past 25 years and countless medical procedures to keep him going. Cheney, 71, waited nearly two years for his new heart, the gift of an unknown donor.

An aide to Cheney disclosed the surgery after it was over, and said the ex-vice president was recovering at a Virginia hospital.

"Although the former vice president and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift," aide Kara Ahern said in a written statement that was authenticated by several of the Republican politician's close associates.

Cheney was recovering Saturday night at the intensive care unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., after surgery earlier in the day."

I hope he received a fair, balanced, and more open-minded heart this time. (Perhaps it belonged to a gay or lesbian person?)

Over and "Out" on a dreary day here in Portsmouth, VA USA

March 13, 2012

Where in the World is Bellville Ohio?



I have been doing some research on my mom's side of the family and it seems we have some pretty deep roots in Bellville Ohio. Close to 4 generations that I can establish (and that's only before my great-grandfather moved to Minnesota).

It seems the family settled there in about 1818 and were very "involved" in the community. Quite the change after being thrown out of Connecticut during the revolution as "Tories" (having the state government take all their property and possessions), moving to Canada and being rejected by the Canadians as being too "soft" (not working as hard as the locals)... It seems they found a good place in Bellville.

Funny thing is; the father of the ancestors that relocated to Ohio, was involved in chartering many of the townships in Vermont and while never residing in that state, Vermont's constitution was actually "penned" in a tavern owned by him in Connecticut. He and his brother (and their service to the new government) have qualified me and most of my family for admission into the DAR's and SAR's... Interesting...

Still finding all sorts of tid-bits on my family in America (since 1635 when they came ashore)...

Over and "Out" from a "Southern State" here in Portsmouth, VA USA


March 6, 2012

Virginia's Two-man Primary...



Today is "Super Tuesday" (as if most are not aware) the republican primary in 10 states... Interesting thing about the Commonwealth of Virginia is that any registered voter can take part (we don't register our party affiliation here)...

Even more interesting, the only 2 candidates on the ballot are Mitt and Ron. It appears the other republicans forgot to turn in the required paperwork in time to make it, and no "write-ins" are allowed. 

Just thinking out loud here, these guys that are spending all this money bad-mouthing each other and have invested much of their own money in paying other professionals to run their campaigns, "FORGOT" to submit the paperwork and signatures to get them on the primary ballot in a RED State? 

I think they should all just go home, ALL of 'em...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth VA USA

March 5, 2012

Dustin Lance Black and 8...



I missed the live feed on YouTube, but just watched the whole thing... All I can say is WOW!

This is not a clip you can watch and multi-task while doing so. Set aside 90 minutes, connect your computer up to your big screen, watch and listen to it... Very funny at times and very touching at others...

Over and "Out" from the state that outlawed bi-racial marriage, here in Portsmouth, VA USA

March 3, 2012

Just Pee on it and Walk Away...



I have not been in a good mood lately... Not having a job sucks and going though all my savings etc. to survive sucks even more. It's been taking a toll on a lot of things, including my perspective on the future...

I got the above picture from an old friend of mine on facebook and it perked me up for a bit. I hope it does the same for you!

It's been raining all day here and is a little gloomy looking. I am just thankful that by the time this storm arrived it lost the punch that it pummeled the Mid-West with... My thoughts are all with those folks out there...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

March 1, 2012

North Carolina: Just vote NO on Discrimination...



To my North Carolina friends and family, I hope you are more successful than we were here in Virginia, in voting down this unconstitutional amendment to your State constitution...

Over, "Out" and just 20 miles from the NC border, here in Portsmouth, VA USA

February 29, 2012

Joan Crawford "Bitch-Slaps" Rick Santorum...



I wonder if he, or rather How he can believe this stuff... I like the timing of the Joan Crawford "bitch-slaps"!

Over and "Out" on a rainy day here in Portsmouth, VA USA

February 28, 2012

Getting "Horny" the Disney Way...



This is a video taken (not by me) on the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream when she caught up with the Disney Magic at Castaway Cay in the Bahamas in 2011 (I knew the Magic's horn could play "When you wish upon a star", but I had no idea of the Dream's "horn-list"). It's worth watching the whole video...

While living in Florida, we were a frequent Disney family. The kids were all much younger and even the one day trips were worth the 8 hour round trip drive. We also stayed periodically at a Disney Resort and I can only imagine what being on a cruise for a week, totally surrounded and saturated by Disney-mania would be like. I'm not sure I would fare that well...

Speaking of cruises though, my "bucket list" still includes a week long cruise to Alaska, so anyone that feels an urge to fulfill something on that list of mine, please feel free to forward the ticket...

Over and "Out" for today, from Portsmouth, VA USA

February 25, 2012

My New Life turns SIX!!!



I can't believe I missed my own "Blogoversary"... On February 16th, my little slice of the web turned 6 years old...

While I know, over the years, I have morphed this into many things, I try to keep it PG rated (although I also think I have dropped the "F" bomb on more than one occasion). It remains more of a personal journal and a way for me to vent, grow, and learn...

So many of you have been around for all of my political rants, my relationship status changes, my breakups, my losses, my adventures, my failures, and my successes. I thank all of you for the support you have shown me over the years.

While Facebook and other social media have allowed many of us to use different means to communicate and write, I still like this little niche I have carved out for myself (although I don't think I post as often in here) and for the many friends I have made. I also hope to continue attracting you attention every now and then...

Thank you all for reading, listening and offering your advice and comments!

Over and "Out" once again, from Portsmouth, VA USA

February 23, 2012

Glee Winter Finale "Behind the Scenes"...



This past week's episode of "Glee" was so emotionally packed. For those of you that don't follow the series take a "behind the scenes" look at what happened, then when you have a full box of kleenex and an extra hour to kill go to the Fox website and watch the whole winter season finale..

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

February 15, 2012

Glee does Valentines...



One of the reasons I still watch and enjoy Glee... Who would have known when they filmed this that Whitney would have passed 3 days prior to the air date...

If you don't follow the characters in the series you will probably not understand how the song came into play. Regardless, Amber Riley (who plays Mercedes) did a beautiful job on this cover...

Maybe it was a conspiracy? Probably not...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

February 14, 2012

Tweeting with Rachael Ray...

Ubu has a GOD/DOG-Mother!!!


February 12, 2012

Will you Stay? or Run Away? RIP Whitney Houston...



Why does this happen to all the truly beautiful talents?

Over and "Out" on a very chilly morning, from Portsmouth, VA USA

February 7, 2012

On to the Supreme Court of The United States...



"There is cause to celebrate today. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling today upholding the decision of Judge Walker takes California–and this nation–one important step closer to marriage equality. It reaffirms that the proponents of Prop 8, who would deny this basic right to millions of their fellow citizens, never had any real facts to back up their claims that same-sex marriage harms traditional marriage, or children, or society at large. Indeed, as the plaintiffs showed in the trial court, study after study has demonstrated that promoting stable, loving relationships is a good thing all around. This of course comes as no shock to anyone who knows gay and lesbian married couples–and the children reared by them.

Unfortunately, today’s decision does not mean that same-sex couples can resume getting hitched in California. Prop 8 may be unconstitutional, but it’s still in effect until the Supreme Court finally rules. But the long legal process underlying the challenge to this insidious law has had at least one positive effect: As state after state legalizes same-sex marriage, more Americans have had a chance to realize that the sky is not falling. Recent polls indicate a slim national majority now support marriage equality.

Most tellingly, 70% of Americans under the age of 30 support same sex marriage. And so if the battle is not won in the courtroom, it will inevitably be won in the court of public opinion. If the Supreme Court wants to be on the correct side of history, to say nothing of justice, it will and must uphold today’s decision.

I am nearly 75 years old. I have lived through four wars, spent my childhood in two U.S. internment camps, and watched a nation go from segregation and Jim Crow to electing an African American president. 

The promise of true equality in America remains unfulfilled, but with each moment like today, I know that we can be a nation that lives up to its ideals. And I can’t wait for all those wedding invitations.

— GHT"

I copied this from my friend George's blog (without permission)...

Over, "Out", and a little more optimistic from Portsmouth, VAgina, USA

January 30, 2012

The College of William and Mary and It Gets Better!



I had a friend of mine send me the above (thank you Allison)... After watching it and going to the College's website, I thought I'd offer some fun facts about the College of William and Mary. I Know it's a long video for my blog, but it's worth watching these kids and the faculty:


The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Home » About 

Not many colleges can say they've canceled classes because 'the British invaded'.

The College of William & Mary is the second-oldest college in America. The original plans for the College date back to 1618—decades before Harvard—but were derailed by an “Indian uprising.” We couldn’t make this stuff up.

On February 8, 1693, King William III and Queen Mary II of England signed the charter for a “perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences” to be founded in the Virginia Colony. And William & Mary was born.

Workers began construction on the Sir Christopher Wren Building, then known simply as the College Building in 1695, before the town of Williamsburg even existed. Over the next two centuries, the Wren Building would burn on three separate occasions, each time being re-built inside the original walls. That makes the Wren the oldest college building in America, and possibly the most flammable.

The College has been called “the Alma Mater of a Nation” because of its close ties to America’s founding fathers. A 17-year-old George Washington received his surveyor's license through the College and would return as its first American chancellor. Thomas Jefferson received his undergraduate education here, as did presidents John Tyler and James Monroe.

William & Mary is famous for its firsts: the first U.S. institution with a Royal Charter, the first Greek-letter society (Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776), the first student honor code and the first law school in America.

The College became a state-supported school in 1906 and went coed in 1918. In 1928, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. chose the Wren as the first building to be returned to its 18th-century appearance as part of the iconic Colonial Williamsburg restoration.


Over, "Out" and wiping a couple tears from my face, here in Portsmouth, VA USA

January 29, 2012

Is this the Congress We all Want?...



No one has been able to explain to me why young men... and women serve in the U.S. Military for 20 years, risking their lives protecting freedom, and only get 50% of their pay. While Politicians hold their political positions in the safe confines of the capital, protected by these same men and women, and receive full pay retirement after serving one term. It just does not make any sense. 

On Fox news they learned that the staffers of Congress family members are exempt from having to pay back student loans. This will get national attention if other news networks will broadcast it. When you add this to the below, just where will all of it stop? 

35 States file lawsuit against the Federal Government

Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.

This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.

This is an idea that we should address.

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop.

If each person that receives this will post it on their wall, in three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States .."

Now, what are you going to do about it? Read and delete, or work for reform? Share on the wall of EVERY congressman, representative, governor, the white house!!!!! Pass it around!!! Make calls, send fax's and email's...

Just an FYI, I sent this to Pres. Obama, Mrs. Obama, Sen Warner, Sen Webb and VP Biden with my name on it, even though I didn't pen it...

Over, "Out", and still waiting from Portsmouth, VA USA

January 28, 2012

American Idol... One more Season...




One of the reasons I will watch American Idol again this season. Maybe JLo will come out with another one of these by the end of the year..  Randy? Steven? I don't see anything by you guys. Maybe Pitbull needs to be the next judge?

Over, "Out" and "On the Floor" here in Portsmouth, VA USA

ps: Loved the comments from yesterdays' post. My response would be the same as my newest favorite commenter "anne marie"...

January 27, 2012

I Dare You to leave a comment...




Over and "Out" on a very rainy day here in Portsmouth, VA USA

January 17, 2012

Friend of Dorothy? Or Friend of Betty?



As you can see by the above, I choose the latter...

Happy 90th Birthday Betty White... I always had a thing for Mary Tyler Moore, then when you came along as the Happy Homemaker (aka the happy home-breaker) as Sue Ann Nivens you caught and earned my allegiance as to what a snarky, funny, quipy woman can be...

And then came the Golden Girls... What can I say?

Bless you as a "Friend of Betty"...

Over and "Out" from another day in Portsmouth, VA USA

January 13, 2012

Does Mitt use lesbian quotes often?



I was going to post one of the many "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" performances available on you-tube of this since the "Mittster" likes to quote the beautiful verses from the original poem written by Katharine Lee Bates. I just find it a little odd that Mr. Romney would use a poem written by an "alleged" Lesbian to try to make any points? That and who can resist a little "Babs in the morning"?

I have included the lyrics below, as I for one, never knew there were so many verses:

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!



Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA