Miss-posted comments

I got an email today from my ex-sister-in-law... She wanted to know if I remembered her, and if she was famous enough to be posted on my blog...

This is for you Aunt Sharon:

Hi Tom. It's me Sharon. Remember me? The kids from Miami's aunt. You look great. Sounds like things are sort of tough. Makes us stronger and more humble. I find a little humility goes a long way and keeps me at peace!! No matter what we choose we always end up hurting someone, I suppose. Just remember to do the next RIGHT thing. And I guess you are the only one who knows what that is. Sometimes it is not just about US. That is where it gets tough!!!!! Am I right. Hope I make it on the wall! Hugs from Gainesville. I know....where is that???????????? Love Sharon

Over and "Out" for today, from Toano, VA

Spam... Yuck

I seem to be spending more time cleaning up the crap (read spam), that people feel necessary to post as comment on here, than I do writing new posts... Yuck...

Life is grand in central Virginia... Work still takes up way too much time, but that's life! Jim is working even harder and is coping as well. We get to spend time together (every non-working waking and sleeping moment) which is great, although not enough for me... Our schedules still don't mesh, so a whole day off together is rare...

I have not heard from the kids in Richmond in a long while. I assume they are pissed after their Mom took me to court and was awarded about half of what I was paying her before, about a third of what she was hoping for, and of course, shared all the details with them.

For those of you that have read from the beginning, and/or are experiencing similar situations, I really don't think it ever ends. Just as you feel better about the choice to be honest with yourself, a monkey wrench gets thrown in... When you feel things getting better with the family, something happens and the house of cards comes tumbling down... I don't regret anything, I just miss my kids... Maybe I need to schedule an appointment with my therapist... It's been almost six months, and I may just need a refresher.

I am off Thursday and Friday this week, I need to find myself something to do. Maybe a jaunt up to Richmond for some shopping will help.

Anyway, I seem to be rambling here, so....

Once again from Toano, VA... Over and "Out"!

Catching things up...

It's funny how, over the past year I have relied on and looked forward to posting things here. As things change my posting habits have as well...

I still read daily, with enthusiasm, my favorite blogs. I add comments when I have something to say that I think is relevant, but I am finding it harder and harder to post on my own journal... What's with that???

Things with Jim and I are awesome, six months and counting... I guess as I settled in down here and found productive things to do with my free time, my blog became less and less of a priority. I will try to do better, as I know there are people that look forward to my entries here for updates...

On with the show:

January has been a real disappointment at VCF in Newport News. I am pretty sure it's not me, as several of my fellow sales people (Home Furnishings Consultants) have done substantially less business than I have. With that said, I went on an interview last week (Thursday) for a position as an assistant manager for a delivery operation based here in Williamsburg. The thought of a regular salary (close to the annual pay I receive now) that comes at regular intervals (a salary rather than commission) sounds mighty nice to me right now. The potential new position would give me at least one day a week off with Jim, which is also something I could get used to. I am not holding my breath, but the interview did go very well, and I am cautiously optimistic. I will keep you posted.

Other news from Toano:

Jim has decided to purchase a Bowflex tread/stepper rather than continue our membership at the JCC (James City County) community center. We both find ourselves concentrating on a cardio workout, and he feels he would do it more if the equipment was closer (it's a 15 minute drive to the gym). It arrives Friday, so we spent Monday afternoon re-arranging the office/den. Moving the desks, TV Armoire, and massage chair so that the Bowflex would be sitting directly above a supporting wall downstairs. It will be a lot easier to get my required workout done here at home...

I managed to catch the first half hour of the Bush SOTU address last night, before starting to doze... It seems most of the republican congress was equally as impressed with the tone of the speech. I do not make it a habit to listen that closely to "W" but I did want to be witness to the "Madam Speaker" introductions, something that only happens once!!! Who knows, maybe the next major event will be the introduction of a "Madam President"...

We had dinner last night with the Lavender Light (Williamsburg GLBT) group. It is so nice to socialize in a non-club setting with "family". I met a new couple that brought their 9 month old son to the dinner. It was so cool to see the love in that child's eyes for both his Dads. Who ever says two loving people can't raise children should have been there last night...

OK, that's all for now, my coffee cup is dry...

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

Old Man Winter

It seems winter has finally arrived here in Toano. Monday was in the 70's and this morning it's 29 degrees...

Today is the last day of a seven day work marathon. I am looking forward to chilling for a couple of days in front of the fireplace.

I will try to catch up on things tomorrow!

Over and "Out" from Toano, VA!

Reflections

Last February I wrote an interesting post that I just re-read. I thought it may be appropriate to re-post, this month, some of my favorites from my last year of blogging... Yes, on February 16th, I will have been blogging for ONE YEAR!!

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2006:

"Today I thought of adding an open letter to those of my family that have decided to ignore me, threaten me, hate me, and spread bad things about me. Unfortunately, I cannot change the way they feel, nor can I feel their feelings. The feelings they have are theirs and theirs alone. The only thing I can do is tell them I love them, and that I will help them in any way they want me to.

I did not choose to be gay. Likewise, I did not choose for those feelings to be so overwhelming after the events of this past year. I cherished the life I lived with all of them, without question or thought. I would never change a minute of it, bad or good. It made me who I am, and I suppose it made them who they are too. My choice to live the new life I have been blessed with, was not done to intentionally hurt anyone. I just wish the feelings they have decided to share with me were not intentional either. While I have been trying very hard to live my life within the parameters of "The Four Agreements", I feel I have taken all they say a little too personally, and let it hurt me way too much. It's been almost 5 months and I am not going to let it hurt me anymore.

I hope when they are ready to let me into their lives again, it's not because something else has happened to hurt them. I would much prefer to have a happy reunion, whenever the time is right for them. I love you all, and I will until I take my last breath."

Not alot has changed over the past year with regards to my family, but I am ok...

Over and "Out" from Toano, VA

Catching up...

Over the holidays I was a lazy blogger... I used "filler" as posts for a number of reasons:

I was working a very hectic schedule.
I (we) re-did the downstairs bath/laundry room.
I (we) pressure cleaned the driveway in hopes that we could seal it.

and

I was honestly concerned that if I posted the feelings I had over these past several weeks, I would hurt my (ex)wife and kids more than I already have...

I have been reading the trials and tribulations of a blogger friend Scotty, over at The Other Side of Straight and he has had nothing but heartache with someone reading, criticizing, and distributing pages from his blog to his family, church, and friends... Not to mention the threats and apparent "hate" crime inflicted on he and his partner.

It makes me think... Why do I do this? I remember when my wife's attorney used pages from my blog in our last court appearance. I remember when a good friend asked if I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to post my feelings and happenings in my life out here for the world to see. Hmmmm, thinking is so hard sometimes...

Jim and I had an awesome Holiday. My last post of substance was on Christmas Eve. We woke up Christmas morning and slowly opened our gifts. A humorous exchange went as follows:

. Jim opened a gift from his Mom: A device that you plug in (to charge) that you can run a TV, radio, or small appliance on, in the event of a power failure. The gadget also plugged into your car and could be used to jump start it, or could be recharged through the car's battery. It also had a built in air compressor for refilling a flat tire (which Jim has never had - only I have had tire issues before replacing them all). All in all a very practical gift, especially after her last visit down, when we lost power for 3 days...

. I then opened a gift from Jim... An air compressor with all sorts of tools (nailer, stapler, tire thingy, etc...). Another very practical gift, considering I have had flats, and we could always use more power tools!

. Jim then opened his gift from me... A portable air compressor with all the accessories...

Now, just a mention here... We shared some wishes for gifts with each other before shopping. Neither of us ever mentioned a need for an air compressor and we ended up with three!! Too funny... I meant to take a picture of the three of them stacked in their respective boxes in the garage, before returning two of them... I am so lazy I never got it!

We had a great Christmas... We went over to a friends house for a feast later, and then came home, changed into pajamas, snuggled on the sofa, and watched a DVD...

The neighbors returned from Vermont in time for New Years... We spent NYE with them and rang in the new year with fireworks and the Rimington tradition of banging large pots with wooden spoons...

After the new year, it was back to work for both of us, we de-christmassed the house that weekend and, although I really loved decorating and the festive feeling all the decor inspired, it was nice to get them all down, and get the official "gayborhood" flag back up outside...

Ok, there is work to be done around here...

Over and "Out" for now, from "beautiful downtown" Toano, VA

Happy 2007

Happy New Year!

To all my family and friends

Over and "Out" on January 1, 2007, from Toano, VA