YUM !

Progress

Last night, my friend Corey was nice enough to ask me to dinner ((it's Shake-n-Bake, and I helped) for those of you old enough to remember)... and fortunately for both of us, we pushed it back to 8:30, which gave me more time to get shit done in prep for 'ceiling day', as I am non-affectionately and begrudginly calling it.  With only a few things left to do before the ceiling is the only thing left to do, I'm pretty much right on schedule for my couple of days off before heading home (although I am looking into staying a few more days and coming home Friday). 

After eating so late, I felt like a slug... and although I had my hair up in a bun and my tight little outfit was screaming 'shake, shake, shake', it turned out to be another night in, but only after grabbing a venti latte on the way home, followed by a can of pop to wash it down, followed by a night of insomnia... and then finally falling asleep at 3:30 a.m.

I'm tired.  I'm tired of so many 10 hour painting days.  The only thing good about this morning is that I brought the cheesecake that I took for dessert back with me after we didn't eat it (and he didn't want it lying around the house)... so I had a big piece of it just now... maybe that will weigh me down and keep me from tipping over while painting.  Where's my insomnia now... and where's my venti hazelnut latte no whip with 4 Splenda now?

Ultraman

Does anyone remember Ultraman from the 70's?  I remember coming home from school and my mom having pizza bagels ready for us and this show coming on at 4pm... it's funny... I don't remember him being so man-like... thought he was more like a robot... you miss a lot as a kid as far as details...

The Funnies...

Meanwhile, My Two Daddies was pulled from the shelves... but this was their feature this week at the Barnes and Noble.

June couldn't wait to dig into her famous magical brownie cake... plop down in father's Barkolounger, throw back some brews in her underwear and catch up on Oprah, who looks more and more like a full-course meal to June as the show goes on.

Maybe because it's that I'm gay that the idea of one is way more than enough... and I'd imagine that her 'visitor' wouldn't be as pleasant as the Doublemint twins.  Sometimes, less IS best.

I guess when push comes to shove, the handicap always get a raw deal. 

The redneck fire alarm... and a light snack after your trailer burns to the ground.

Back to a Sunny, June Day in 1976

It's funny how one day I can be so silly.... and most of my posts reflect that, then the next day the whole mood changes and I'm introspective... While I was painting... I was thinking about how my mom and I used to sing to the Karen Carpenter's songs... she had a voice like butter... just like a stick of butter (too bad she didn't eat it).  Particularly, the song "Sing"... you can't help but be in a better mood after hearing it.  The first video is another favorite of mine... "I Know I Need To Be In Love".... specifically, it's the words that I relate to. And the last video, "You're the One", is what I want to play at my wedding... There'll be my two signature colors.. blush and bashful... every pink flower west of the mississippi, armadillo cake.... oh, wait... that's not me, that's Shelby in Steel Magnolias... nevermind.... (Meanwhile... my gay friends are getting it and the straight one's are like... what?)

Some Sad News...

Those of you from camp may know Larry Swartz.  He was a client of mine for the last two years... not sure exactly how old he was, but he had much difficulty walking and was pretty much skin and bones.  And while massaging him was never an easy task (kind of like pulling meat off a chicken bone), he was very kind to everyone...  had two of the cutest dogs ever... and he used to share wonderful stories of his well-traveled life with me while on the table.  He was always the guy in the background, and although many may not have known him personally... I relish the time I spent with him and will miss him enough for everyone that didn't  extend themselves to him.  He was one of the kindest, most gentle souls and lived a great life.

A 'Gooder' Morning

The suns out... it's around 72ish... and the breeze is the kind that is warm and doesn't chill you... it wraps around you like the arms of a friend.  I feel much better today both with the ho-hums and the allergies.  It's going to be a good day.

After putting the link to my blog on one of my photo sites, I've been getting some anonymous comments that are not only a bit creepy, but stalkerish as well, and I know who it is.  I met this guy from Lawrenceville a few years back that, to make a long story short, stalked me for a while... sending me things in the mail... driving by my house... sending letters telling me that he may have to hurt me, etc.... and after going over to his store and screaming at him out in the middle of the street and it stopping for a while, it seems that he is back.  Fortunately, I have saved those letters and emails, even still, knowing what a sick person he is and figuring that he would have nothing better to do than harass me, and I was right.  If he just spent the time being rational, we probably could have been civil, and possibly friends.  So, sadly, I had to switch it to no anonymous posts and I now have to moderate every comment before it posts.  While it's not that big of a deal, I wanted to keep it free for readers to say whatever they wanted.  That's not the case now.  Comments can only be from people who have registered account from certain communication vehicles.

On a positive note, I was able to get the password to a neighbors router for their wifi, so now I no longer have to go out and hang over the balcony to get a signal. 

Blah

It's late... I wound up not going out after all... we had dinner and sat around for a bit, then went to look at Bill and Jay's new place that they've been  working on... it's very nice.... monotone coloring (easy to paint).  Sitting outside on the balcony now trying to get a weak wifi signal, it's 68 degrees and a nice, balmy breeze... it's back to normal here.

Before I left, I attempted to get my depression medication refilled, but friggin' Giant Eagle pharmacy wasn't open late on Sunday... and I left Monday morning... so I'm trying to make 4 pills last 10 days... with poor results.  After dinner tonight, I didn't feel like going out.  I feel tired, mainly from a huge allergy attack today, which wears me out (with my body fighting it).  It's usually a fun night out... but I really wasn't interested... I've been talking with someone online back in Pittsburgh, so maybe I'm just looking forward to more of a tangible meeting than walking around in a bar in circles drinking strong (but cheap) drinks... looking at locals that I have no intention of talking to.  I just want to go to bed.... not even interested in TV.  Sometimes, when I sleep it off, I wake up with a new chemical mix in me... and I feel better.  Blah, blah, blah... argh.. hmf...

Cabin Fever

This has been my only contact with the outside world today... this window.  I'm outside now... it's a balmy 70 degrees with a nice wind, but overcast.  Pretty good day to stay inside and paint, not that I had the choice. Yet another tedious day of trim work.  Whatever happened to bare walls with the ceilings painted the same color as the walls... all an off-white.  Those were the days.

I haven't seen much of my TV progrums.... I missed American Idol over the last couple of nights, although it will be on my DVR at home... at which point, I will pick my boyfriend for this season... Hopefully, I can make another winner's dreams come true like Kris'... it's hard dating a celebrity though.

I'm heading to dinner with Bill, Jay and Corey... then off to $3.00 Long Island Iced Tea night at Alibi.  No late night for me though... too much to do tomorrow.

Progress...

Damn fluted woodwork and louvered doors.  Another tedious day of painting trim and doors.  Not too much else to report...

Yum !

Crazy, Cool Cat

Old Home Week

More painting and sunshine today, on the gradual upswing of temperature climbing.


I swear, I see more of my friends down here than I do at home anymore.  Last night, I hung out with my friends Bill and Jay for a bit at a bar.  Then, if that wasn't Pittsburgh enough, I had a bacon/cheese/fries sandwich at Primanti Brothers here on the beach... one of the only ones outside of Pittsburgh.  Apparently, one of the brothers (not original, since Primanti's sold it to someone else) moved here and opened it.  But it provides a certain hominess to me while here.... seems there are drunks here too that love it at 2 a.m.


Yesterday, while at the Home Depot... I took this pic of a van parked next to me.  How can people live like this?  Would drive me crazy... and to eat, drink and smoke this crap the first time, then drive around looking at it for, probably, months.... Yikes!

Progress

Got a lot done today... but all of it is just tedious trim work, etc.... time consuming.  I painted some closet doors outside today... was so nice... got up to 70 degrees.... trying to get most of it done in a few days to be able to hit the beach a bit later in the week.

Gotta Love Homo Depot

I'm thinking by the month?  That seems to be the best deal.  Can I get someone to carry that to my car?

Brrr.........

It was 43 degrees here last night... one of the last cold nights due... and I don't know if it's that when you are expecting it to be warm in your mind, it's harder to deal with when it's not... but, I froze last night with the heat at 68...4 degrees more than at home where I walk around in boxers and sometimes no shirt.... I had to put my hoodie on mid morning and wrap myself in a cocoon of blankets, and still was cold.  Maybe the thermostadt thought I was kidding when I switched it to heat?  Off to paint now.... if I can get my hands to warm up. 

My Home Away From Home...

I arrived in one piece to a beautiful 60 degree day... not a cloud in the sky... only puffy fleece on everyone's coats... funny to see walking along the beach (except for one brave hippy guy in the pic with his roof down).  The plan is to jump right in tomorrow and get as much as I can done early in the trip so I can enjoy of few days next week when it reaches 80 degrees.  My friends, Bill and Jay, are here... so I will want to spend some time with them before they leave on Saturday... I leave next Wednesday.  Funny thing, they live only 15 minutes from me and I rarely see them 1300 miles away at home.

I'm Featuring You.. Brad Simpson

The movie Beaches is a story about two little girls that meet, by accident, on the Atlantic City boardwalk and become fast friends…one creative and a bit wild and one conservative. Remaining pen pals over the years and not seeing one another until in their 20’s… then moving in together and sharing their lives, with some rocky patches, until the end. Substitute Myrtle Beach for A.C., keeping the two little ‘girls’ and the rest (except the ‘end’, so far), and that’s my and my friend Brad’s story.

 David Bradley Simpson was born in South Carolina… our family stayed at the same hotel every year and his, at a beach house right next door. I met him when we were about 8 or so years old… we pen-paled until I was around 20… living in Philly, when he got my phone number from my Mom and called me up. I went down for a visit, the first time I had seen him in 12 years. We quickly realized that we were both gay... and to make a long story short, he moved up to Philly with me and moved in with me. At the time, I was a lot more anal retentive than I am now (with lines in the carpets, etc.), so needless to say, the two of us in a studio apartment was a stress on our friendship. I got him a job where I worked… and it only made things worse. The little southern boy in the big city was an adjustment for him… he didn’t want to venture out much… and when he did, the idea of one-way city streets was a new and scary concept for him (“David… there are cars coming at me!). We lived together one other time in a bigger place some time later that worked out great… and he got me a job at the company where he worked some years later. Despite moving around or job changes, we have always remained close and in touch.

 Known as David by some and Brad by me and his family, he is the most articulate person that I know. With beautiful handwriting and a way with words backed by a broad knowledge base, it’s no wonder that he is so aptly positioned in a career of human resources and the legal system. And that overflows into some of the most beautifully-written (he’ll like that I hyphenated that correctly) poetry I have ever experienced. With his two dogs, Sadie (recently passed) and Caspar, he blossomed into a true, southern gentleman full of love and compassion and has surrounded himself with many who love him to death. I have always looked up to him being the most rational person I have ever met…. Full of ideas and definitely opinions (that he doesn’t mind sharing with you vehemently), his constant quest for knowledge is evident in his ability to talk on any subject…. And talk… and talk. Blessed with a great voice, we have sung many a duets in our car rides… that is, when he doesn’t pass out instantly when the car starts moving, most times mid-sentence… and one time on the train to NYC (where he drooled and we all laughed).

Finding himself in a destructive relationship and developing an addiction to Crystal Meth (divulging with his prior consent) that almost ruined him completely, he is now 2 years and 4 months clean, very active in NA, sponsoring many people and only a phone call away for others…dedicating himself to a better life for himself as well as making other recovering addict's experience easier. When I found out, I was floored… how could this happen to someone that I was so close with and that had it so together? But drugs work in mysterious ways and to all people for different reasons… across the board. After bringing him back here to Pittsburgh to live with me until he got back on his feet, he realized that the best place for him was with his family, which is where he is now… back in Myrtle Beach, now the Human Resources Manager for Ripley’s.

 I am so proud of him for many reasons, most of all for his inner strength to pull himself up by his bootstraps. And while we don’t keep in touch as often as I’d like to, we still talk every couple of weeks to check in or shoot an email or say hi on Facebook… as well as him following my blog faithfully. He has been my friend, confidant, voice of reason, ‘wind beneath my wings’, C.C. Bloom and family for just about 35 years. I am truly blessed to know him.

Up, Up and Away...

I prefer to think that I have a realistic outlook on life... and while I don't think that I'm a pessimist, I'm definitely not a card-carrying optimist.  I play the odds, and even Murphy's Law says that when things can go wrong, they will.  I get a certain sense of security in the insecure.  I take extra steps to prepare for the worse, and fortunately, my mind works that way so that I don't actually spend time doing anything extra... it's how I'm wired.

When it comes to flying, I take everything I think I would need (still fitting it into only one bag) and I have always been the person that would rather get to the airport hours before the flight.... grab some coffee.... watch the people... etc.... rather than rushing to get here right on time.  The only time that it bites me in the ass is when I have a 6 a.m. flight, then being early really bites.

So, here I am at the airport... two hours before the flight.  And considering the last bomb threat and heightened security (as reported sensationally by the media), I have flown three times since then... 4 minutes at curbside check-in and making it through security anywhere from 3 - 7 minutes... with not so much as a second look from TSA.  So here's one example of realism biting me in the ass.... but I don't mind sitting here.

I have looked at the weather for Ft. Lauderdale... doesn't look that great, but in comparison, it's a heat wave.  Progressively thoughout the week, it's going to get warmer.... up to 80 with lows climbing from the, now, 37, into the mid 60's.  I have a lot of work anyway, so it's not like I'm going to be lounging on the beach, but I hope to get it all done by week's end and relax a few days. 

Featuring......

Being out in the middle of nowhere, Roseland (camp) is always pitchblack, except for about 1 million stars visible.  Nonetheless, on the rocky terrain, you need a flashlight.  Matthew and I, on one of our many trips to Cabela's, the testosterone-pumped Disney-esque hunting store.... found these 6 LED hat lights that shine 30 feet ahead of you.  It also doubles, for me (while trashed on the dance floor), as a spotlight... and I will often (too often) walk up to someone and swirl it over one of my friend's heads stating "I'm featuring you... I'm featuring you".  It's a nice way for them to get a little extra attention from the crowd and gives a much-needed feel of the disco years on the dance floor.

I have a lot of wonderful people in my life.... so I will be 'featuring' some of my friends.  Kind of like when I did "All About Me Monday's"... but it'll be all about them.  And since he is my oldest friend (since we were in our single-digits), stay tuned for my friend, Brad.