Brothers will be Brothers...

It must be my week for emails from my past. My Brother and his wife - also "Canes" fans but in Atlanta - did not react well to my coming out. As a matter of fact, I can count the conversations we have had since that day last year on one finger. Well, I got a very nice email from him earlier this week. It seems they just needed some time to digest my whole situation. I was lucky enough to have all sorts of time to adjust, I guess I shouldn't be so critical of those that had less. We both apologized (in that brotherly - you know what I mean - kind of way) and I am optimistic that we will be able to mend the rips in our relationships, His, Her's and mine...

Meanwhile life goes on... I was hoping to have the Sebring back this week, but it will not be done until Thursday or Friday. I have a new collection of UM (University of Miami) window magnets and other car accessories to replace those damaged or faded. Also a beautiful new rainbow stripe for JD's Jeep, a bright new rainbow flag for the house, and rainbow wrist bands for our tolerant and supportive straight friends (thanks SB, HB and AB, we love you like family)...

I never doubted my little brother (who turns 50 this year) would come around in his own time. I'm just glad it's happened...

That's all for now... Over and "Out" from Richmond, VA

What a small small world...

The other day I received an email from a great friend and business associate from Florida. She and I worked together for about eight years at one company. Then when I left for a great job with Circuit City, I recruited her and she came to work with me for the couple of years I stayed in Florida. I then relocated with CC to Richmond and she took over my position in FL. That was 7 years ago... Her email informed me that she was coming up to Richmond this month, and possibly relocating here in November...

I do believe in destiny and fate. This woman and I are meant to have intertwining lives. At least professionally. I look forward to seeing her and helping her find her way around... Congrats Pat, I can hardly wait to give you a huge HUG!

I am at the end of a long week. Two 12 hour days followed by an eight hour Saturday. I get off today at 5pm and can't wait to see JD. It's only been a couple of days but it seems forever sometimes. We are attending a birthday party for a neighbor tonight, and I went by Priscilla's yesterday to pick up a couple of gifts for him...

That's all I have for now... Over and "Out" from Richmond VA

Not in Toano anymore Toto...

Max, Mikey, Kodie, or Dinero (the four black and white k9's in residence) either, for that matter... On Friday - after a week of 100 degree plus temperatures - a cold front plowed trough central Virginia. The first line of storms was nothing more than very high winds and a few light showers. Then came round two, heavier horizontal rains, back to back lightning strikes, winds that could move small cars in a single bound, and debris flying through the air like Dorothy's farmhouse in the Wizard of Oz... After the second batch of storms, JD called me to let me know a hail storm may be on the way and that I should move my car into his garage... I told him I really didn't think it was necessary, but told him I would. I went out and opened the driver's side door to find MILLIONS of small pieces of glass all over the interior of my poor car. It appeared a huge chunk of hardwood had been torn from it's Mother Tree somewhere overhead and been flung into the side of my car and shattered the passenger side window. Thank goodness for tempered glass... Am I dramatic? or what?

Well, the damage to the Sebring was not as bad as it could have been. The top does not appear to be injured, although the nice folks at Bruce's Body Shop in Williamsburg has not finished assessing the total damage. The best weather in weeks is about to happen, and I am off Tuesday and Wednesday stuck with a 2006 Hyundai Sonata... Not complaining, it could be worse.

I plan on telling my room mate tonight about my decision to move at the end of the month. I am not looking forward to it, but I owe it too him to let him know, as he has been so good to me over this past year.

I miss JD already, and have only been home since this morning...

That's all for now. Over and "Out" from Richmond, VA

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a funny movie, even though the first time I saw it, with my step-daughter, I fell asleep through parts of it. I own it on DVD now and watch it frequently .

DON'T PANIC!

The time has come for me to make some adjustments in my life... I have interviewed and been accepted in a transfer to our store in Newport News (for those of you unfamiliar with VA, that is where they build the big ships down towards the ocean from Richmond). There just aren't many reasons to stay here in Richmond. So, I am moving down to Williamsburg, to be close to the guy I love, and continue "My New Life" there.

There will be some raised eyebrows over my decision to move, but I think it's best for me, and that's what matters. It has been almost a year since I moved out, so I don't feel I have made a hasty call. Anyway, it's my movie, I am the Producer, Director, and lead Actor, let me make it the way I see fit!

I would be so lucky to have it turn out as fun as h2g2...

Over and "Out" from my neck of the Galaxy

Bird FLU or Hurricane?

This picture was sent to me by an old neighbor from Florida. It reminded me to acknowledge and thank the anonymous person that left a comment on my July 4th post. Most of my old friends (those friends of my wife's and mine) have chosen to steer clear of me. Whoever left the comment made me feel a little more accepted. I do miss the neighborhood feeling we had in Miami Shores. It started in earnest the day after Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992. We really had a tight group. So much has changed, yet so much has remained the same. There have been graduations, marriages, separations, divorces, moves, and of course the occasional "outing" of one's self. But we will always have the memories of what brought us all together, a common thread of sorts, and we will always be thankful for the times we spent in each other's company.

The picture above MUST be the results of the Bird FLU... Hurricanes bring out the best in people and make them stand up TALL...

Thank goodness for lasting friendships and people willing to extend a neighborly hand...

Over and "Out" from Richmond, VA (I still love all of you, my Miami Shores friends)

A Dog's Life

Dogs, dogs everywhere, all are black and white...
On the deck and in the house, with no relief in sight...

I should have been a poet. Well, we all survived the night without a rift. My room-mates two dogs slept under the bed (and on their own dog bed, which I brought), while JD's two slept with us in the king bed (for the most part). They all get along pretty well, although there are definitely two "alphas" in the four, so cooperation is not guaranteed.

I ran a couple errands here in Williamsburg for JD and myself this morning. I like this place, it is pretty compact for being so rural. unlike Richmond, which is quite spread out for being so urban (or suburban)... I am planning on grabbing my bathing suit and heading over to one of the neighbors to swim in their pool, and catch a few rays (yes the sun has made an appearance today) while reading from "Fresh Men 2" a collection of short stories penned by up and coming gay writers. These are not "sex stories" as BJ had suggested. They are just fiction written with a gay perspective. I was happy for that.

That's all for now, Over and "Out" from Williamsburg, VA

A Picture is worth...

Greetings from Williamsburg... I had a training meeting this morning at work, went to see my therapist at 10:00am, then went home, did some laundry, packed, loaded my stuff and my room-mate's two Boston Terriers into my car and headed east on I-64 (My room-mate is away on a business trip/vacation combination and I have the "doggie duty"). JD has two dogs of his own, and I was unsure how they would get along. So far - 2 hours - so good. Only a few snarls and groaning growls. All fixed males, I just was not sure what would happen.

The picture above was taken the week before last, as we (JD and I) were heading back across the James River, on the ferry between Jamestown and Surry County, and the Pork, Pine and Peanut (Penis) Fesitval - what a gay name. A few of you have asked to see pictures of my love and - albeit a bit dark - this is all I have at the moment.