New Faces - New Challenges

Well... I managed through the first day at the new store in Newport News. It's a 35 minute drive from our house in Toano - compared to the 10 minute commute I had in Richmond - to Newport News. I guess I took it for granted that I was accepted for who I am at my old store, not that my new team-mates don't like me, it's just I have to "come out" all over again to a new group of people. I don't want to hit them over the head with it, but I do want them to know that being gay is part of who I am. The sales staff - at least on my team - are a little more mature than the group I worked with in Richmond. Their tolerance/acceptance seems a little more hesitant in coming. Oh well...

Otherwise the store is very nice. I need to get used to the "operational" differences, but that shouldn't be that difficult. My feet hurt like heck after 12 hours yesterday. The floors are tiled over concrete, versus the floating hardwood at the Richmond store. It makes for some very hard stepping over a full day of chasing customers.

I would post some pictures I took this past week, but for some reason I can't get any photos to upload on to blogger.com??? If anyone has a suggestion or work around, leave me a comment. I am using IE6.0 and would prefer to stay with it and blogger, but I miss being able to put pictures up here every now and then.

From Toano, VA ... Over and "Out" for now!

The First Day of...

Today is the first day after Labor Day, the first day of school for most in our area, and the first day for me, at my new job in Newport News. This past week has been a whirlwind of sorts, with my move, family visits, and the remnants of Ernesto moving through. I suppose if JD and I can manage through something like - three days without electricity - and your parents visiting, we can weather any storm... And we did!! The first day through the last...

It will be good to get back to the rhythm of our everyday lives... I start this week with two 12 hour shifts, then off Thursday and Friday. I ended up on the same schedule as I had at the VCF in Richmond, so when things get slow, at least my old team-mates will be working and I can call and get the "scoop" on things in the old neighborhood.

JD and I went out shopping for a spa this weekend. He has some back problems and has always wanted to add to our deck and include a hot-tub when he did. The adventure begins... We will build a platform for the tub about 4-5 feet below the existing deck, install and use the new tub, then build a 600 square foot deck around the tub, in the spring - I built a similar sized deck at my old house around a swimming pool, so we should be able to manage a relatively simple, square deck...

Not much else happening in this neck of the woods... I will write more on our families visits on future posts...

Over and "Out" from Toano, Virginia...

The Simpsons vs Star Trek?

Click on the arrow and turn up your volume!

This was too funny to not include on a post. Can you tell I am on vacation this week? Filling my time with important tasks - like watching U Tube... hehehe

I have never been a Simpsons fan, but the combination is quite entertaining, and this guy is kind of cute in a silly way!

Back to the grind now... Over and "Out" from Toano

Home Sweet Home, Sweet Home...

Well... It's done! I am now an official resident of Toano, and James City County. My drivers license says so, and so does my car registration (oh yeah, I finally got the Sebring back last week after fighting with State Farm about replacing my windshield and winning). I even got my new tags and UM sticker the convertible in celebration! I am trying to get JD to allow me to add a UM decal to his jeep, but he is still "iffy" on the idea...

The move up was uneventful. I picked up the 14 foot U-haul at 7:30 Saturday morning, and started loading boxes and clothes and "stuff". BJ showed up (right on schedule) at 9:30 to help me move the bedroom furniture from my first floor room, out to the truck. We were both sweating like whores in church, by the time we finished. Is it possible to be 85 degrees with 110% humidity? It's pretty scary when ALL of one's worldly belongings fit into less than half of a 14 foot box truck. None the less, the van/truck was brand new and the A/C worked like a charm. We sailed down I-64 to exit 227 and my new place in the "burbs" of the "burg". Then the real work began. My furniture was all going up a slight hill, up the front steps of the house, around a real tight bend at the top of the porch, then up to the second floor. I think by then it was 95 degrees and about 150% humidity... YUCK! We got it all done in record time, and I got the U-haul returned to Richmond by the promised time of 1:30.

My new neighbors invited JD and me over for a "Welcome to the neighborhood" get together on Saturday night, which included many, many, gallons of liquid refreshments, dinner, and a yummy lemon cake for desert (which I am still enjoying for breakfast). Sunday was spent recovering from Saturday night, with a trip to the Prime Outlet mall mixed in for good measure. How could I possibly pass up an opportunity to go "outlet" shopping, even with blurry eyes and a pounding head? Ahhhhhhh, the life of a self-respecting gay man...

Yesterday, (oh yeah, I am on vacation this week) was pretty quiet. JD and I went down to Newport News in the morning to run a couple of errands, then came back up and lounged poolside at the neighbor's all afternoon. A great way to start what is leading up to be a pretty wild week with family visits.

More to come... from Toano, VA... Over and "Out"

One World Youth Project

The youth of today never ceases to amaze me. I was online this morning looking at one of the Ambassador's entries on my Niece's website: http://www.oneworldyouthproject.org/aidsday.html and was enlightened to see what today's young adults are capable of. Although the event was in May, I was in awe of the insightfulness of these young people. I hope the AIDS awareness event went well for them and other adults (politicians and government officials especially) were as taken aback as I was.

AWARENESS ALWAYS LEADS TO A CURE!

HIV/AIDS (awareness) and my other pet peeve BREAST CANCER (awareness), will always be on a front burner for my energies...

AWARENESS ALWAYS LEADS TO A CURE!

Acceptance (not just tolerance) of GLBT equality is another topic that is close to me. Unacceptance is not a social or moral issue, it's a disease of those who are afflicted by it...

AWARENESS ALWAYS LEADS TO A CURE!

All are issues that can not be ignored any longer. All (or at least one) that each of us should have some interest in. Whether it be by donating our time, our professional skills, or our monetary resources, we need to think about some aspect, one or more, of these ailments as a part of our lives...

Ok, enough said, I got that off of my chest early today...

Otherwise, "My New Life" is going quite well. I am getting ready for my move to Williamsburg, and already am expecting guests. My brother and family, from Cape Cod, are planning a visit next week after they deliver my niece back to her dorm at Georgetown. I haven't seen them in over a year and it will be nice to catch up in person. Then, JD's parents are coming for the Labor Day weekend. I have not met them yet, and look forward to that as well (although I do have a small knot in my stomach, as I have not had to endure a "meet my folks" event in a number of years). These and my move are keeping me very busy, which is a good thing!

Over and "Out" once again from Williamsburg!

Did you know? Queer GAY facts...

Ok, after my gut wrenching drama yesterday - at least to me - I've decided to follow a friend's format and do something different (thanks Kelly http://kellystern.blogspot.com) every now and then. I encourage all to leave some "Queer GAY Facts" after reading mine, in my comments.

Here we go!

DID YOU KNOW?

The gay pride flag, which made it's debut at the 1978 San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade, was designed by Gilbert Baker. It's inspiration came from the black civil rights and hippie movements.

Each color on the gay pride flag (also known as the rainbow flag) has a different meaning. Test your knowledge below.

RED = Life
ORANGE = Healing
YELLOW = Sun
GREEN = Nature
ROYAL BLUE = Harmony
VIOLET = Spirit

Adding a black stripe to the bottom of the flag represents victory over AIDS. It can also signify leather daddy pride.

How did you do?

Now it's your turn. Let's see what you know about your heritage...

Over and "Out" from Williamsburg (today)...

I Love "My New Life"!!!

It's hard to put into words, the way I feel. I am content, and very pleased to be me... How can one say that without dismissing one's past? I have no regrets about how I got to this place, I am just very happy to be here. I have children I love, I have friends and family I love, and I have a man that I love AND am in love with. Who could ask for anything more?

I still have obstacles every day, I have disappointments as well. I just refuse to let them govern who I am or where I am at this place in time. I fell to sleep last night in the arms of someone I care so much about, yet I can't forget the times I have done that in my previous life. I hope reading this does not cause anymore hurt to that person. Love is not something that can be discarded like an old shirt, it lasts forever if you let it.

I read a Blog from a friend of mine today and realized regardless of your intentions, the pain you create by your actions can sometimes never be forgiven. Unless they let it... I cannot focus on that, but rather concentrate on being true. To myself and to others. The feelings one has about things that have happened are their own. I have my feelings too, I just try not to have others' affect who I am or what I am.

Enough of the babbling... I am Happy, I hope they can be as well...

Over and "Out" from Williamsburg