Third Coast Progressive

OK

2009-07-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

So I'm slacking on keeping up my blog. guess it speaks well for my social life since I can't seem to find the time.
So what has happened since I last posted. Jave has been living with me since January. It's not going too well right now. He doesn't seem to care about anyone but himself. Other people's feelings are unimportant. I'm not sure why he's this way, but it's annoying.
I don't know how much longer he'll be living with me. He doesn't seem all that happy. He's begun a Master's program online with American College of Education. He wants to be a principal. This takes up alot of time and he's in his room constantly. It's almost like living alone again.
We done quite a bit in the past few months. The highlights are our trip to Pensacola for Memorial day; our trip to DC for the 4th and many parties (well, two or three) where we sang karaoke.
I had always been afraid to sing in front of ppl till I realized most ppl suck as bad as I do. Now I think it's fun. I haven't tried it in a bar and may not, but at home in front of a small group is great. I even bought my own karaoke microphone.
That's all I'm going to write for now. I'm tired.

Hey there

2009-02-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to catch up on my blog since I've not been posting here lately. I've been so busy. The past few months have flown by.
I met a new friend on Nov. 14, 2008 at 3:30 PM. We met in the steam room at the Y. His name is Jave and he is from the Philippines.
I must say I really enjoy Jave's company. From the beginning he struck me as someone with a great personality. He's smart, philosophically deep, very friendly and affectionate, and he's beautiful.
We started out dating, but it has morphed into a close friendship. I hope it morphs into a long term relationship, but he is hesitant to make any commitments b/c he has big plans for himself. He'd like to move to the big city and become successful.
I'm not sure quite how I feel. It's bittersweet, our connection.
Anyway, we have a great time together and we have plans for the time he is in Baton Rouge. I'll show him his first Mardi Gras, to include the SpanishTown parade. We'll attend the events in Pensacola for Memorial Day. I'll bring him to see Festival Internationale in Lafayette, always a good time there.
I'm going to try to enjoy the time I have with him and not worry about what is to come. That is, after all, all I can really do.
I just hope no matter what happens that we remain as close as we are today.

My New York trip

2008-10-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

My trip to NYC this year was an eventful, fun time. I arrived in Manhattan, from LaGuardia, at around Noon on Friday, Oct. 10th. I got there before Susie, so I checked in and went on a trek around the Chelsea neighborhood to find some food. I found a small pizza place, one of many, and sat down to eat my slice. It was a big slice, but thin and crisp, with mounds of ground meat and dollops of ricotta and marinara. Not bad.

Susie arrived around 1:30 and we dropped off her luggage as our room wouldn’t be ready till around 3. We found her a slice and had a conversation. Walked the neighborhood till 3 and found our room on the first floor of the Hotel Chelsea to be full of character (i.e. old and not updated). The room was large with two double beds, and a small kitchen. It looked out over an alley next to a residential building with balconies and window unit air conditioners. There was a deck below, where residents must enjoy a little outdoor privacy in the middle of the large metropolis.

That night we had tickets to see the Broadway production of Young Frankenstein. On the way to the show we ate at the Brooklyn diner (see Saturday for the results of that dinner). I had chicken wings with celery and sour cream/gornanzolla dip. I was excited to see the show, as I had seen previews during the Tony’s. I was looking forward to seeing Megan Mulolly, but I would learn later she was no longer in the show. The show was still very good and funny. The many drinks may have helped. Our next stop was Sardi’s. We had enjoyed our time there last year and wanted a new experience. We had drinks and met up with a ‘producer’ and his friend. They were very enjoyable folks. Robert K. Bloom (he was emphatic about the K in his name) and Sal were affable fellows and Robert seemed quite interested in Susie. Sal and I had a nice conversation while Robert and Susie talked politics. Sal told me all about his occupation as a freelance writer for technical magazines.

We closed the place and they all but kicked us out. So we went to a bar on 46th street called Don’t Tell Momma. It was a nice little bar on restaurant row as the locals call it. The schtik was that the employees all sing. It was like a karaoke bar, but the singing is done mostly by the waitresses and bartenders. They were very good, like aspiring entertainers. Susie appeared to be falling asleep, so I dragged her to a cab and headed back to Chelsea.

When we got back to the hotel, we noticed the bar in the basement was packed with mostly men, techno pouring from the door below the street, the noise easily heard in the lobby and in our first floor room. Susie, who makes friends very easily, spoke to the man at the hotel front desk and he was more than happy to get us in the booming bar downstairs. We didn’t stay long. Susie fell down and the beers we bought were $8 a piece. I went back to the room while Susie stayed at the hotel desk to talk to her new friend.

Saturday was a horrible mess. I must have eaten something the day before that gave me food poisoning. I woke up before dawn and threw up all day until around 4. I really felt like I was going to die. All our plans for that day were shot down. No NBC tour, no Beatles lunch, no heavy metal Bee Gees tribute.

Sunday was the opposite of Saturday. We hit the road early and walked thru the West Village, Soho(bought a belt at Yellow Rat Bastard shop), Little Italy and Nolita. I fell in love with Little Italy. So many restaurants and I was still feeling queasy from the night before. I could only stomach a wonderful Tiramisu and iced cappuccino from Cafee Palermo, where 90 percent of the menu was desserts. Further up the road in Nolita we happened upon a benefit showing of John Lennon’s art. We donated $20 and checked out the very expensive art that was for sale. We bought T-shirts.

We then went on a hunt for CBGB’s. It was fruitless. The locals advised us that the legendary place had closed completely a year before. So, we stopped at Slainte’s, an Irish bar and grill, to have a drink and watch the Saints win against the Raiders. Then back to the room to prepare for the Madonna concert.

The Madonna concert was nice. I was surprised at how good my seats were. I had floor seats. The stage had a catwalk, where Madonna and her dancers would spend much of the night. In front of the catwalk was the VIP section, the first three rows. Behind the VIP section was a walkway, maybe 6 feet wide, with a steel gate-like barricade behind it. I sat on the first row behind the barricade and 20 seats to the right of the VIP section, if you are facing the stage. I saw three celebrities in the VIP section; Chelsea Clinton, Kelly Rippa and Lindsey Lohan.

It was a wonderful show. Madonna played many of her most famous songs. Into The Groove, Ray of Light, Like a Prayer, a rock version of Borderline (who knew she could play the electric guitar?), La Isla Bonita. I really enjoyed it. And I met two nice guys, one from Houston (Matt) and one from NYC (can't remember his name). The concert was supposed to begin at 8 PM, but she started it at 9:30 and it ended about two hours later. I trekked back to the hotel room but Susie was asleep.

The next morning we went to 66th street to try and get tickets to The View. We were issued stand by tickets and had breakfast as we waited to hear if we’d be let in. Unfortunately, the show was full and no one on standby was let in. So, we hit 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center before heading back to the hotel to pick up our luggage. Then to the airport and back home. It was a fun trip. Even with Saturday being a total loss, it was worth it.

Oh the horror

2008-09-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Gustav sucked, but the aftermath was worse. At least the wind was blowing during the storm. Now my power has been out for 9 days and it's freakin' hot. I'm having to stay at my mom's and that's no day in the park.
My house always seems to be the last to get power back. I think it's a conspiracy.
And now every time I turn on the TV I am blasted with that awful Fargo-accent coming from that extreme right-wing radical evangelical nutjob who is running as McCain's VP pick. How can ppl see anything good in that awful person. She has tried to ban books in Alaska and fired the librarian when she wouldn't comply. She's an extreme anti-gay bigot. And by the way I resent my friends who vote for ppl like that. It's like they just ignore that she would do awful things to gay ppl if she ever became president.
She's such a liar too. She claims that she refused pork barrel projects for Alaska, but if you just look it up you'd see that she is lying to the American public. And she's a member of an organization that wants to succeed from the US.
Gosh, I hope they lose. I couldn't stand to listen to that horrible woman for another 8 or 16 years. YUCK!!!

Here again.

2008-06-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

I know I know, I don't post enough any more. It's tough to remember to post on this blog. and I don't have all that much time to do it. Or at the very least I work on a computer all day and don't want to be on one at home.
Not a whole lot to talk about right now. The election is on for president and it looks like the democrats will finally win one, if nothing goes wrong. I was a Hillary supporter, but will vote for Obama in the fall. I just can't see another 4 years of Bush-like administration. It would kill our country.
I do have a problem with many obama supporters though. They are so rude. They remind me of Bush supporters. When you tell them you are a Clinton supporter they say the meanest nastiest things. It almost made me want to vote for McCain, but then I realized it was Obama supporters, not Obama who were so stupid. I can't hold their ridiculous actions against him.
Mom and granny are doing OK. Granny fell in her bathroom though and hit her face. She has a black eye. Her memory is getting worse and worse. I sure don't want her to suffer in a nursing home.
I went to Pensacola Beach again this year for memorial day. It was fun. susie and I went and stayed at the Paradise Inn. The room was kinda dank and humid, smelly. Looked clean, but was behind the pool pump room and had a few bugs. But the weather was great.
Now susie asked me to go with her to Washington dc for the 4th of July. I've been before and it will be fun. Her mom lives there so we'll stay with her.
Then in October, I'm going, alone, back to NYC. I have a Madonna ticket for Madison square garden. They are floor seats, section 5 row E seat 4. I'm very excited. I will stay at the Hotel 17, where Madonna once lived. It's downtown in the flatiron district. It's near Chelsea and the village so I hope to party.

Time

2008-01-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it has been so long since my last post. Time sure flies. Of course it has been very busy due to the holidays. I spent my Thanksgiving and Xmas in Baton Rouge with family. We did make a trek over to Lake Charles for both holidays and stayed a few hours. It's an odd experience visiting my remaining family in Sulphur, near Lake Charles. My granny's sister lives there with her two daughters. My great aunt is nearing 90 years old and her daughters are in their 60's. They never married, but they cook really well. They had a nice shrimp gumbo for both holidays. Boy was that good. They also make me some special cookies for Xmas every year. They are peanut butter cookies with a hersheys kiss on top. I love them.
I got a few good things for Xmas. Dad gave me the money to have the window unit air conditioner that is sticking thru my bedroom wall removed. I still have to get some estimates. Mom gave me a nice Cuisenart blender/food processor. I haven't used it yet, but it looks good in my kitchen. Susie had a picture she took framed for me. It was an enlarged photo of Strawberry Fields in Central Park. It is beautiful and hanging in my living room.
New Years was very uneventful. I stayed home for the first time in a long time. I guess I was making up for last year when I was in New Orleans on a balcony on Bourbon street. That's when my back went out.
The new year did start nicely with LSU winning the national championship. I really don't care that much about it, but it's nice to have a winning team in the area when you are a Saints fan.
Susie and I are going to the Spanish Town mardi gras ball again this year. The theme is Groundhog day oriented, so that's a toughie for a costume. mardi gras comes early this year, on Feb. 5. The highlight for me though is the Spanish Town parade the saturday before. It's way too fun.
That's all for now.

NYC

2007-11-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well, my New York trip was Oct. 25 thru the 28th and we had a great time.
My flight from BR was delayed 30 min. and my flight from Atl to LaGuardia was cancelled, so I had to take the flight an hour later.
I got to NYC about an hour late and went to get a cab. A guy in a chaffeur's outfit asked me if I needed a cab and I said yes. Big mistake. He ended up costing $75. I should have taken the shuttle.
I got to the Wellington hotel at 7th Ave. and 55th Street. I know I had requested a room with two double beds. They disagreed and we ended up in a room with one double bed and a rollaway. It was a nice hotel with a great location. We were right across the street from the Carnegie deli.
Once I got there, Susie and I went to the drug store then to an Irish Pub (McGee's) for me to eat. That night, we went to see Spamalot on Broadway (Shubert Theater) and it was great! I bought a poster and a magnet. Getting to the theater, we took one of the many bicycle cabs. It was a little scarey and very memorable. After the play we went to Therapy, a gay bar in Hell's Kitchen where Wendy Ho was performing. I had seen her video on LOGO. She takes well known songs and changes the lyrics to obscene things. She was very funny. After that, we went to another Irish Pub and had a beer, then to a smoke shop and back to the hotel.
We had planned on trying to get into Regis and Kelly (with Kevin Bacon and Brian McKnight), but had too bad of a hangover. So, we got up late and had breaky at the hotel diner. We had omelets (Susie's had salmon in it and mine was undercooked). Next we went to 5th Avenue to shop. We had planned on staying just a short while, but it turned out to be longer. We went to Saks, where the coat I wanted was $2500, Armani, Lindt, NBC, Tiffany's (where we saw an $18,000 pair of earrings) and various other expensive places. I bought some cologne at Saks and a belt at Armani. We also had coffee at Primeburger (Kerri from Sex and the City had eaten there) and I had cheese cake so I could take a pain pill for my back.
After shopping, we went back to the hotel and got ready for Xanadu. Xanadu was great (helen Hayes theater). I spent $130 on souveniers afterwards. They were having an AIDS benefit and selling signed posters and pictures with Cheyenne Jackson, the really hot main character of the show (played Sonny Malone). In line for the pics we were shocked to see someone from the movie Hair. Annie Golden played Jeannie in Hair and also was Cliff Claven's girlfriend in Cheers. Her resume is huge, so I can't go into it all here. Check out IMDB.com to see it. We asked and she agreed to be in the pic with us. After Xanadu, we went to Sardi's next door. It's the old New York place where all the celebrities used to go (and still do). It has caricatures of them on the walls. Well, it was expensive to eat, so we went to the bar to have a drink and there was Annie Golden again. She came and sat with us and was very nice and answered lots of questions. We got pictures. It was very exciting.
After that, we went looking for a place to eat. I was hungry. We walked a while and didn't really see an appealing place, so we hitched a ride in a cab and went back to the hotel. We ate at the deli across the street from the hotel. We had some pretty big burgers and some beer. We were intriqued by the piles and piles of pastries behind the counter.
The next morning we had breakfast at Carnegie deli. We both had eggs and bacon (lots of bacon). It was very snug in there, lots of ppl. Then we got another cab and went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There was a Rembrandt exhibit Susie wanted to see. It was very nice. I got up close to the landscape paintings and it felt like I was in them. We at at the Petrie restaurant there. It wasn't very good, except for the cappicinno. I bought mom and granny some jewelry from the Met shop. It was recreations of old jewelry (earrings). Next, Susie and I walked thru Central park. It was pumpkin fest and there were ppl carving pumpkins. Went by the big Bathesda fountain (from the Friend's opening credits) and went by the Boathouse with the gondolas. Walked by Strawberry Fields and the Dakota Bldg. (where John Lennon was shot and they filmed Rosemary's baby). Walked thru the park back to 5th Avenue. Then did some more shopping on 5th Avenue. After that we were beat. We went back to the hotel for a while. That night, ppl were celebrating Halloween. There were all kinds of ppl in costumes. Many were standing in line for hours to get into the clubs at Dream hotel. Must be a nice place. We went to have pizza at Angelo's, next to David Letterman's theater. Then walked around, saw the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center, saw the Rainbow room, got lost and then we decided to go back to McGee's pub and have some drinks. After that, that was it. We were ready to crash.
The next morning, our last, we woke up to a street fair type thing on 55th Street. They had the street blocked off and tents selling food and stuff. We decided to go to the bagel place. I had a croissant and susie had a bagel with salmon and cream cheese. After that, it was time to leave. Susie took a cab to the port authority, to catch her shuttle. My shuttle picked me up near my hotel. The guy could barely speak English. He got me and the others to LaGuardia and I proceeded to my flight.
It was a great trip and I can't wait to go back.

Hello

2007-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I posted, but I've been very busy. I don't like to get on the computer at home since I am on it all day at work.
Anyway, I've done quite a bit since the last post and won't be able to go over it all here. The hightlights were, well, the main one is that I went to St. Louis to visit my friends, Rob and Jen, from New Orleans. I enjoyed my visit and learned that I love bratwurst. We went to the Budweiser plant and got free beer. We also sent to the Arch and that was cool. I touched it. It was bigger than I thought and was metal.
My next big adventure is a trip to NYC at the end of October. Susie and I will be staying at the Wellington, which I have found out was the hotel made famous in the Borat movie. I hate that movie.
We are going to see the broadway production of Xanadu, my favorite movie. We'll also try to see Saturday night live and will do alot of shopping.
Now, I've covered the highs, now the lows.
My uncle Bennett dies last month. It was sudden for me, but not for others, who decided not to let me in on the secret of him impending death. We weren't all that close, but he was my only uncle by blood.
On the home front, my life with a room mate has been going well, until this past weekend. My friend, Bruce is a great guy when he is sober. We've known each other for 10 years, but it seems like we've always known each other. We both go laid off last year and he went into a downward spiral, drinking and doing drugs, spent all his retirement. Now he has nothing.
So, he went to rehab and got out in June. He has been doing very well, or so I thought. I can tell when he has been using. He acts different and smells different. I had been getting little signals of late that he was off the wagon. The signals screamed at me even louder this weekend and I confronted him. He used the old 'I smoked but I didn't inhale' line, but with tequila. That's another red flag. So, this morning, when he was showering, I looked in his room and found a 40 oz. beer bottle, empty. Later, at lunch, I went home to search some more. I found 20 more 40 oz. bottles of beer, a large wine bottle and a half pint of whiskey, all empty. I layed them all on his bed, covering it. He called me later, sobbing, apologizing. I'm not sure what to do. He has been to rehab numerous times and I don't have experience with this. I told him he has one more chance, but if I find he's beeen drinking again, he will have to move out. I am also putting in some rules. His door has to remain open, among others. I hate to be the 'parent', but I don't know what else to do. He's such a great guy when he's sober. I even was considering whether we should be together as boyfriends. But his user personality is such a jerk and I hate him. I won't subject myself to that. It's either me or the booze.

Here I am

2007-07-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to find time to write on this blog. Not that I don't have the time. I just have better things to do.
My friend Bruce has moved in with me. He was in rehab for a few months and now is out. Seems to be doing just fine. He had worked with me at my old job where I got laid off. He was laid off too, but didn't take it too well. I guess he just used it as an excuse to get blitzed every day. He also spent all of his money.
He was a very mean drunk. And he wasn't too nice sober back then either. Now he is a joy to be around. I hope it continues.
I have been having some feelings towards him. We dated a few years back and it was just awful. Now I'm not sure what to do. My mind says one thing, but my heart says another. It's just hard to forget all the bad times.
Well, the day is finally here tomorrow. Granny, mom and I are going to sell Granny's house. It is so sad. I really wish we would keep the house. My grandparents lived in the house since it was build in the '50's. My mom grew up there and so did I basically. It hurts even more b/c the buyer is planning to bull doze the house and put up a strip mall. How cliche!!
We are going to have salvage rights, which means we can take anything we want from the house once the tenant leaves in a few months. I am no NOT handy and I don't know what to do. I really want to take the kitchen cabinets, but I'm not sure how to take them out or how to install them in my house. There are many other things I'd like to take, but I'm not sure how to do it. We also have appliances to sell...kinda hard when you live two hours away.
In other news, I am going to the Kathy Griffin concert tomorrow night. She is so funny. I never miss her Bravo show. She is so offensive, it is great! I am going with Susie, who is offended at odd things, so I hope she doesn't ruin my evening.
Next I'll make plans to go to St. Louis to visit Rob and Jenn. I leave Sept. 6 and will watch the first Saints game of the season with them.
All for now.

In Memoriam

2007-06-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take a moment to recognize my dog Milou (pronounced Mee Loo. Got his name from the TinTin cartoon. He was TinTin's dog). He died on Tuesday, May 29, 2007. I'm not sure how old he was. When I adopted Milou, the doctor estimated his age at 6 - 8, but we're just not sure how old he was. He died too young no matter what.
Milou was a sweet little white-haired Maltese. He was found on Greenwell Springs Blvd. at the Captain D's restaurant, just wandering around. His original name was Captain D. His hair was matted so he looked like a Chihuahua at first. He was covered in fleas, but was very sweet and friendly. My work friend, Christy, found him and brought him to work. My coworkers took up a collection to get him neutered and cleaned up. I took him home and we lived together. When I bought a house, I had to leave Milou at my mother's house. She has a nice big yard and Milou would always have company. I would visit him a couple of times a week.
Milou didn't like to play very much. He loved to get on his back and flail his front paws up and down while rolling around in the grass. One time a few summers ago, we were wondering why he was doing that. Turned out he was rolling on a dead frog.
Milou loved to be scratched on the chest and on his ears. He hated taking a bath or being groomed. He really hated going to the Vet. He would scream if he thought we were taking him to the vet.
We're not completely sure why Milou died. The doctors say he had liver problems. He had also been bitten on the head a couple of years ago by my mom's dog. This year, after his problems started, he took a head-first tumble off the couch.
Last Tuesday, while I was on vacation in Florida, my mom found Milou unresponsive. She took him to the vet where he later died.
I will miss Milou. He was the love of my life. I'll never forget him.
Here's to you Milou. You were a great great companion and friend.
Goodbye.

Vacation Nightmare

2007-06-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

I turned 40 last week, June 1. It was supposed to be a great week of relaxing on the beach and celebrating my first 40 years. Well, it started off with a bad omen. Susie and I noticed a large spider in my kitchen doorway. I got the Raid and sprayed it and immediately about 30 baby spiders started scattering everywhere. I think I got them all, but it was still very freaky.
The next morning we loaded up Susie'd newish convertible PT Cruiser. We pulled out of the driveway and hit the gas, the car died. So, we had to bring her car to the dealership and go in my car, which I hadn't prepared for travel.
The beach was nice, very relaxing. However, after getting there on Saturday we noticed there was a lot of construction. Monday came and the noise of construction began all around us. Also, the gulf water in Pensacola beach was very rough and red-flagged. So, we couldn't go in the water.
When I got back home, my mom informed me that my dog, Milo, had died. He had been sick, but I didn't expect him to die this soon.
My birthday went all but unnoticed. I didn't receive a cake. I got a couple of presents and cards and phone calls, but I didn't get what I expected for a 40th birthday, not even any black balloons or signs.
To top off this vacation week, my neighbor's boyfriend crashed his motor bike in front of my house. I called 911, but he got up and left on his bike and 911 wouldn't come out. He was gushing blood from his head wound and I ended up covered in blood and a nervous wreck.
I'm never going on vacation again.

New/Old Job

2007-04-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I've changed jobs again. I've gone back to the job I had before hurricane Katrina knocked me out. They laid me off a year ago, so I got another job, which I kinda liked, but was not treated like I thought I should be treated. So, my old job called me to inform me of my old job being available again and I jumped at the chance. So, here I am and boy am I happy. I have so much work to do now. My old job just sat me at my desk and occassionally trained me. I spent hours trying to fill up time. Well, here at my new/old job, I was working the first day. There is always soomething to do.
In other news, this weekend is Festivale Internationale de Louisiane, in Lafayette, LA, about an hour away. Oh Boy am I excited. It's the best time of the year. They have bands from all over the world (french speaking countries). They have Lafayette's wonderful cuisine, and all my friends will be there. It's like a reunion every year where I can see my friends from college who come in from all over. This year I want to see the Amazon Drummers from New Guinea. It's so much fun. I just can't seem to convince anyone where I live that it's as great as I am saying. They'll just have to miss out I guess. They'll kick themselves if they ever do go and wonder 'why didn't anyone tell me'.

Update.

2007-01-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

I'm just realizing how long it has been since I last posted. So much has happened I certainly won't cover it all. Christmas was spent at home with mom and granny, except for my annual Christmas eve dinner at Don's in Lafayette with my friend Susie. Don's was out of crawfish. I get the crawfish dinner every year, so I was disappointed.
I got some nice presents for Christmas. Mom and granny got me some bed sheets, candy, a James Bond 007 DVD box set and a DVD of the British TV series 'The Young Ones'. Susie gave me a ticket to the New Years Eve Saints game. They lost but it was fun.
After Christmas, I had to work a couple of days. It wasn't so bad. They let us out early on the day before a long holiday weekend.
For New Year's Eve, I went to New Orleans with Susie and Jay. Jay is from Brooklyn, but we attended ULL in Lafayette together. We met up with a bunch of our other friends. Ed had gotten a 'party room' with balcony on Bourbon Street. I had never been on a Bourbon Street balcony. I saw alot of crazy things, mostly boobies and weenies. People sure love to show their stuff to get cheap crappy beads. Not even good beads!
We stayed in the Quarter the 30th and 31st. Left of New Years Day. I had to get home to take care of my mom's house, dogs and my granny while mom was in New Zealand. Well, before I could even get to my mom's house, my back went out. I've never felt such pain. I had to go to the doctor and they sent me for an MRI which came back abnormal. I have something wrong with my L4/5 and S1 vertabrae and a bulging disk. Not sure what all that means, but I go to see my neurologist tomorrow. I sure don't want to be cut on or injected with anything. But the pain is still strong. I'm having to use a cain. I feel old.
Just makes me wonder what I'm going to do when I get older and don't have all the support I have now from family and friends.
Next on my agenda is mardi gras. I'm finally getting to go to the Spanish Town Mardi Gras ball. I've attended the parade for years and it's the best, very irreverant and political. I can't wait for the ball. Even if I have to sit there in pain I will have a good time.
Well, I'm in too much pain to think of anything else to write.

Goodbye November

2006-11-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

Had a very nice Thanksgiving. We had all the usual stuff in a southern Thanksgiving; potato salad, sweet potato casserole, turkey, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce (ick!). Afterwards mom and I went to the casino. She has been going lately, although she has never been a gambler, and winning. She has won over $400 so far. She is going to New Zealand in January and is trying to save/win money for the trip. Neither of us won anything on Thanksgiving though.
My family has gotten very small. I was an only child and so was my mom. My dad only has a sister and a brother, one of which had two kids. One of them is lesbian and the other hasn't had any children. I, of course, won't be having any children either unless some unforeseen opportunity arises.
So, our holidays aren't what they used to be. My granny had 6 brother and sisters and holidays when I was young were full of relatives visiting and many people around the Thanksgiving day table. It was alot of fun and I miss those days. They are gone forever.
So, like I read in a book about gaydom when I first came out, I have to rely on my 'family of friends'. I have been very lucky in that department. Two of my best friends I have known since high school. I have many friends from my college years. I also have made some good friends at work who I keep in touch with. Without all of those friends, my like would seem quite pointless and depressing. Everyone needs some kind of support system; someone to whom they can vent, tell all their troubles. I have several ppl who support me.
Work is getting better. I'm being assigned more projects, although I still don't know what I'm doing and have to have instruction. I'm a little more hopeful that I will end up liking this job.
In other news, Susie informed me last night that she has bought a car. She had an old Honda and really needed something more dependable. I was always expecting to hear she had broken down on the interstate. Her new car is a PT Cruiser convertible. Although I'm not a PT Cruiser fan, I love convertibles. It'll be nice to ride around in this summer.
Looks like I'm going to one more Saints game. Susie bought me a ticket to the new years eve game against the panthers. It's my xmas gift. I'm very excited. My friends Rob, Jen and Ed will be in from out of town. We'll all party on Bourbon street. We even got a balcony room this year.

Results

2006-11-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

Mom loved her printer. I knew she would. She has already used to for a project for the class she is taking at BRCC. I'm not sure what the class is, but she had to take pictures of her neighborhood and other things and present them as a project of some kind. She also loved the lunch at Mansur's and the doberge cake. I did as well. At Mansur's she ordered the filet mignon; I had the red fish cooked on a cedar plank; Granny had the crab and shrimp crepes. It was all so good. I want to go back and get it all again. The cake, from Baum's, was very good as usual. I loved the taste of the lemon. The chocolate was great too.
Friday night at pf Chang's, we ordered the Mongolian beef, lemon pepper shrimp and pan fried noodles with pork. It was another great meal that I'm still dreaming about. I love that place.
The only disappointing thing about the weekend was eating at Capital City Grill at the Shaw Center. It was so good the first time I ate there. This time, since I had already eaten out so many times this weekend, I ordered the soup and salad. The salad was drowned in dressing which made it hard to eat. The soup would have been good, but they put so much green crunchy things in it, it overwhelmed me. I didn't finish it. The only good thing about the meal was the wine and the waitress. Afterwards we went to Tsunami, the place I would have rather eaten, to get a drink and see the view. Then it was back to my place to watch the movie "Adam and Steve". It is very funny.
Well, the Democrats did it. They took both the House and the Senate. Then, Donald Rumsfield was let go as Sec. of Defense. It couldn't have been a better day! I was smiling all day long. I feel so much better. I didn't realize how much the past 4-6 years have affected me physically until the day after the election. My aches and pains were less and I felt like a huge weight had been removed from my back. Now there can be some oversight of this out of control administration. Now they can be held accountable. It's really good to be on the winning side again. Now we can look to 2008 and hope for the best. My only concern is that, after Katrina emptied the streets of New Orleans, my state might now be a Republican stronghold. We'll have to wait and see how the Governor's race and the Senate race turn out.

Friday again.

2006-11-03T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well, the Saints game last weekend was disappointing. They lost to the Ravens. I was afraid that would happen, considering how good the Ravens have been. I just hope the Saints can pick themselves up and continue to win. The rest of their schedule isn't that hard, on paper.
I'm a little annoyed this morning. I'm considering writing another letter to the editor, but probably won't. There was a letter to the editor in the paper this morning about the proposed new main library. There is a big discussion (controversy) about where to put the new library. Many ppl want the new library to be built downtown. Many others, iincluding myself, want it to remain where it is, in a central location in mid-city. I was a little taken aback by the letter b/c I had read the same exact wording in another letter to the editor from a high school student a few weeks back. It appears that those in favor of a downtown library are taking their cues from modern politics and are using talking points to argue their position. Talking points, for those who don't know, are lists of statements put out by organizations in favor or opposition to a candidate or issue, for their supporters to use when arguing their point or writing letters. This lady letter writer didn't even change any words to try to make her letter seem original.
Also, the Advocate, our local paper, printed an editorial in todays paper in favor of the downtown library. I was upset by their wording. They basically said that anyone who opposed the downtown library is an 'agitator' who doesn't 'comprehend' modern society. How insulting is that! There is just no need to stoop to that level of public discourse. Now I'm torn. If I send in a letter lambasting their tactics, I'll be using the same tactics, saying negative things. Also, when you write letters to the editor, everyone sees it and comments to you about it. I wish I could write in anonymously to avoid having to talk to everyone about it.
Oh well. Enough of that. It's the weekend and I'm excited. We go to PF Changs tonight. Tomorrow is mom's birthday, so we'll go to Mansur's restaurant. I bought her an HP Printer and a doberge cake, half lemon, half chocolate. Then Saturday night I have a date. We'll go downtown to the Capital City Grill. Mmmmm. I'm gonna have to work out extra next week to burn off all these calories.
Just a few more days till the election. Come on Democrats, take the House and the Senate and give 'em helll!!!

Brush with greatness

2006-10-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

I'm back at work after attending our annual IT conference. It's a fun activity with a vendor expo (free goodies), lots of speaker presentations (boring), free lunch (usually good, but not this year) and a big party with hospitality suites that serve all kinds of food and drinks. I enjoy going every year. Last year's conference was cancelled due to Katrina, so everyone was looking forward to attending this year.
It was nice to see all my friends from my last job there. I was able to sit with them during lunch and during some of the presentations.
The hospitality suites were fun as usual. I didn't stay too long b/c it was a work night and I wanted to get home and watch my TV shows, lame I know. These suites are usually scattered all over the hotel, so it's kind of an adventure to find them all. Usually a group of us will wander around to each suite, check out the spread, eat some food, get a beer, talk some sh*t with the vendor, get any freebies available and move on to the next room on the next floor. There are normally only 5 or 6 suites to visit, but this year there were closer to 11. One room had the Chris LeBlanc band, a local blues group that is very good. They also had gambling (not with money) in that suite.
My brush with greatness came on the second afternoon of the conference. The governor, Kathlene Blanco, spoke at the conference and finished up. I had to pee, so I went to the bathroom. When I came out of the bathroom, the governor was being interviewed by the news media. So, I and several others waited while we watched what was going on. When the governor finished her interview, she came our way. Now, I have a problem when things like this happen. I don't know how to seize the moment like others do. I also overthink things. I was hoping to shake the governors hand, but didn't want the secret service guys to think I was trying to jump her or anything (and example of overthinking), so when she came by I was late getting my hand out there and she passed me by. Everyone else got a handshake. My coworker, Leslie, not only got a handshake, but also got a hug and a picture with the governor. I was disappointed. It was still exciting. She did look my way and say hello. I guess I just didn't look like I wanted to talk to her. Oh well, maybe she'll speak again next year.
I really think this problem I have with seizing the moment is my biggest problem. It has been with me my whole life and I think it's why I have no significant other. I remember as a child going to a fair. Some young couple came by and asked me if I wanted one of the stuffed animals that they had won. I said I'd have to ask my mom and went to find her. Of course, they were gone when I got back. I was very upset. It appears that I am still the indecisive shy person I was when I was a kid. I really thought I was better than that. I'm not sure how to fix it.

Fun.

2006-10-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well the weekend was fun for the most part. Susie and I attended the Chinese Moon celebration at the Shaw Center LSU MOA. It was $8 and they were supposed to have food from PF changs. Well, we got there 30 minutes after the thing started, paid our $8 and went upstairs to where the celebration was taking place. The food had already been picked over and was gone. We waited and waited, but no food came. Later I asked about the food and they said they had replenished it, but it was obvious that the planning for the event was poor. I certainly wasn't expecting a full meal, but when you advertise an event and emphasize the food by putting it first on the list of activities, you should at least make sure there is enough food for everyone to get a little.
So, we decided to go ahead and eat some sushi at Tsunami, the restaurant in the Shaw Center. It was great as usual. We had a tuna roll, crunchy roll, a beef roll and a crab leg roll with the legs sticking out like a spider.
Saturday we decided to go to pf changs, since we didn't get what were craving the night before. If you have never been there or even if you have I highly recommend getting the lemon pepper shrimp and the mongolian beef. Order both. They complement each other well. And the lemon pepper shrimp are more like fried shrimp than I would have thought.
Sunday was another Saints game. Susie invited me to use one of her tickets Rob and Jenn gave her. Travis (her brother in law and my frat brother) also had tickets and we rode with him and his son Chris. It was a very easy trip. We got free parking immediately. The saints won and leaving was a piece of cake once we got past the huge crowd leaving the building. They really need some crowd control at the SuperDome. One thing bad happened at the Dome. Some guy a section over from us had a heart attack. The paramedics rushed to perform cpr on him. They also had to shock his heart. The worked on him for 30 minutes and then carted him out on a stretcher. He looked dead. I can't find any info on what happened to him. I hope he made it. At least if he died, it was doing something he liked. And he would have been ushered out of the building with the crowd cheering (for the team, but he wouldn't know that).
Oh well, at least the Saints won.

Saints again

2006-10-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Not too much to report this post. I have gotten an unexpected invitation to another Saints game. My friend Susie invited me to go see them play the Tampa Bay Bucs this weekend. I also am scheduled to see them play the Ravens at the end of October, but my boss said I have to be here to help them change the time on our mainframe that weekend. They wanted to do it on Sunday, when my game is, but I've requested they move it to Saturday. It all depends on our operator who will be here with us that weekend. If they can't come on Saturday, I guess I'll have to give away my Saints tickets. That sucks!!
At least I'm going to the game this weekend. I also may go to our Baton Rouge Shaw Center for the arts to attend a Chinese Moon celebration. It's a display of Chinese jade and is really just an excuse to party downtown. There will be food from PF Changs, which I love. Although I hate their specialty, the lettuce wraps. I really like the spicy ground chicken with eggplant, the Mongolian beef and the crab wontons. Mmmmmmm, now I'm hungry. Good thing it's lunch time. Today is chicken day in the cafeteria. I'm too obsessed with food.
I'm kinda in a somber mood today. I've been kinda depressed thinking about things I can't control, like my mom and granny are old and when they die they will be gone forever. Plus two of my friends lost a parent this week. My friend and former co-worker Dianne, who got laid off at the same time as me, but got her job back; well, her mom had been sick and she died. She was 84. Then, my friend Tim, whose dad fell off the stairs while visiting Tims house and bumped his head, his dad died this morning. I feel real sorry for both of them. But at least they have other family to fall back on. I have a very small family. My mom is an only child and so am I. My dad only has a brother and a sister. His brother had kids, two of them. One is a lesbian and the other is a hetero male with only one kid. Doesn't look like my family will be getting any bigger. So, I'll just have to rely on my family of friends when I get older I guess. Or find a nice lesbian couple who want to have a kid and donate my, well, you know.

N.O.

2006-09-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back at work after my big New Orleans Saints Monday Night Football extravaganza. It was fun. We had seats in the terrace level, the highest level (nose-bleed section). We had a great view of the field. It was a little hard to see U2 and Green Day when they performed, but I took pictures when they showed them on the big video screen. It was really something. The biggest negative thing was getting into the stadium. They had blocked off some of the entryways to the second level, where all the doors to get in are. We speculated they were doing something for Bush1 who was the coin tosser. They aggrevated the situation by putting a stage right in front of the doors at the top of the entry ramps. This caused a crowd to form from the stage at the top all the way down the ramps. We, and thousands of others, squeezed thru a small gate entrance to the parking garage, up a small staircase and onto the upper terrace level. That didn't help much. We still got stuck inthe very thick crowd. We moved very slow, taking baby steps and inching our way to the front doors. When we got near the stage we realized the crowd could have dispersed to either side of the stage and entered thru other gates that surround the dome. We barrelled thru the crowd and out the side of the crowd and got in immediately at the next gate. Really poor planning by the dome crowd control people.
Once inside, it was fine. It was nice and cool. There were still way too many people, but it was to be expected. The beer was warm, just like it used to be. I had two pulled pork sandwiches that were good. The game was great b/c we won.
After the game, we walked back to the quarter, quite a hike. There were lots of people partying in the quarter, but it certainly wasn't packed. My friends from new Orleans said it had been dead all weekend. Unusual.
My friend manages some restaurants in the quarter, so we went to one of them to have a beer and rest. Then we went to our group's favorite bar, the Gold Mine, but it was closed for the night. So, we went to the Old Absinthe House. My friends are straight and I was bored. I had also stopped drinking earlier b/c I was queezy. So, I ended up being the only sober person in a group of drunks. Not a good idea.
We stayed out till around 330 and went back to the room. Had to get up at 730 to leave. I took off Tuesday to relax. Whew! Now onto the Baltimore game in October.

Party!!!!

2006-09-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well this is the big weekend I've been waiting for. My friends, Rob and Jen, are coming in from St. Louis to stay at my house. My friend Ed, from DC (orig. from N.O.) is also coming in. Others that will be at my house, my friends Jack and Beth from Lafayette; Beth's boyfriend Todd, who I went to high school with; Kim and Kyle, who are married. I went to high school with Kyle. I met kim in college. When Kyle decided to come to school in Lafayette, I introduced him to Kim. The rest is history. Now Kim is pregnant! My friends Barry (another one from high school) and Ben (barry's ex-bro in law who I've known since he was a kid) will also be there. Susie can't come b/c she is celebrating her mother's 60th b'day with a trip to London for the weekend. She left yesterday(Thursday) and will be back Monday. Quite a whirlwind trip.
Anyway, we finished putting together the photo album for Rob and Jen. Remember, they lost everything in katrina. I found a few more pics, some from college, others from their wedding, that will need to be placed in the album before they get here.
Beth is bringing gumbo and boudin, so that will be what we are eating. I still have to pick up beer, rice and french bread, plus a dessert.
I received some great news from Ed last week. He has an extra ticket to the Saints Versus Falcons game on Monday night football this monday. It's the Saints first game back in the Dome and I'm excited. U2, Green Day and the GooGooDolls will perform; Irma Thomas will sing the anthem and Bush 1 will toss the coin. Wish they could have gotten Clinton to toss the coin, but at least it's not Bush 2. I will go down to the Quarter Monday at noon. I leave work early. I'll park in the Quarter and cab to the dome, so I'll be able to drink at the game. It looks to be a really big event. The internat'l news media will be there plus, GMA, CNN, etc. I'm very excited.
I'll write later to let you know how it went.

Annoyed

2006-09-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

I'm annoyed quite often. Usually it's the REALLY poor drivers in Baton Rouge, or the lies that the wingnuts spew all day as disinformation against their massive failures of the past 6 years and their absolute hatred of the Clintons and anything good in the world. Today it's my working conditions. I work in a computer room which, for those who aren't familiar with the IT world, is very, very cold. They keep it cold because the mainframe and servers need it to be cold. We counter the cold by bringing heaters. I finally remembered to bring my heater today. I plugged it in and was enjoying the new-found comfort when my computer shut off. I immediately knew I had blown a circuit breaker with the addition of the heater to the circuit. This is not an uncommon occurence in the world of work. I didn't think it was such a big deal till the maintenance guy came to fix the circuit and told me there is nowhere for me to plug in my heater. So, I'm going to have to just be very, very cold at work all the time. My cubicle neighbor has a heater, but with only one circuit, she can have hers but I can't have mine. Therefore, I'm annoyed. Why they stick humans in cold ass rooms like this is beyond my comprehension. At least they are promisiing that we will be moved out of this cold room when they remodel. Of course, the remodel will be done in dog years. I might be retired by then (just 22 more years!).
On another subject, my friends, Rob and Jenn, who are from New orleans, but moved to St. Louis after the storm,, will be visiting again at the end of September. Rob worked for the Saints and wanted to be in the Superdome for the first home game after the storm. I believe it's a Monday night game. We've nearly completed their photo album. They will be visiting for a couple of days and staying at my house. My friend Ed, also from new Orleans, but who has lived in Washington, DC for years, will be there too. He's the one whose brother I helped after the storm. His brother worked for the water board, who control the water pumps that always fail to pump the water out of the city. He made it to Baton Rouge after the storm and needed a place to stay till he could catch a flight to DC. He had lost his ID and had to wait for his brother to send his ID so he could use it to get on the plane. They don't look all that alike, but it worked, and he was off to DC.
Unfortunately, my friend Susie won't be able to join us this time. She will be in London with her mom for her mom's 60th birthday.

Kat

2006-08-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

My friend Katherine was in town for the weekend. She was in town from Susanville, California; a small town near Reno. She is the ex-wife of my best friend Barry and we were very good friends when she left town. I haven't seen her in almost 7 years and was very happy to visit with her again. We went out to Tsunami, a local high-end Japanese restaurant. We didn't eat there, unfortunately. We did have some drinks though. Then went to Happy's Irish Pub, which was packed, loud and full of annoying 20 somethings. I guess we've all been an annoying 20 something at some point in our lives, but I prefer a more sedate atmosphere now that I'm nearly 40.
Next we went to Splash, the main local gay dance club. I haven't been in months b/c, again, it's full of annoying 20 somethings. I did discover that if you drink enough, they aren't quite as annoying. We danced the night away. Also there were Barry, his 20 something girlfriend Shannon and another good friend of mine Joey. I met Joey in the late 90's after I came out and started joining gay social groups to meet people. He's one of the few friends I have left from that period in my life. He's been going thru some rough times with health problems and breaking up with his husband, Frank, who I've known for a little longer than Joey. Frank's former boyfriend used to be a customer at the credit union where I worked. I would see them out frequently and we became friends. It's sad to see their 6 year relationship ending.
Back to Kat; she is considering moving back to Baton Rouge and I'm encouraging her to do so. Her daughter, Julia, is happy where she is and apparently doesn't want to move back. I'd love for them to move back. Julia is a great girl and I'd like to see her grow up and go to college here. And I'd love to be able to visit Kat any time I wanted.

Friday again.

2006-08-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

I guess I need to write something since it has been a while. It's hard to think of things to write some times.
I have been thinking about my trip to New Orleans and how there were so few people on the streets in the Quarter. It really was eery and is quite unusual. I really wonder if this is going to be the new reality in N.O. since the storm. I hope not. I used to be able to go down to the Quarter on a random weekend and the place would be packed. I went to Mardi Gras this year and there were plenty of people. So, it looks like the people show up for special events but not when nothing is going on. It is a disturbing development to me.
In other news, my friend Susie and I have been planning to go to NYC to see Saturday night Live for a while now. It has been something we want to do, but didn't really have the time or money. When will we ever have the time or money?? So we have thrown caution to the wind and have requested tickets for SNL. However, one thing we had planned to do while in NYC was to go see the Off-Broadway production of Xanadu (the greatest movie ever made). They are saying it won't be in production till the Spring of 2007. Well, SNL tickets are given out in a lottery. You send in your contact info, via email, and if you are picked, you receive two tickets to a random show sometime during the season. So, it's kinda hard to plan to be there on a specific date. We went ahead and requested tickets anyway. Susie says maybe the Kharma gods will smile on us. She has pretty good luck in general. If she is in the car with me, good parking spaces miraculously appear.
On the political front, things are looking better and better for the Democrats in this years Congressional elections. It really is imperative for at least one house of the congress to go Democratic. Someone has to counter the criminallity of the Bush regime. The Republican's in Congress have been a rubber stamp for the president and it has been a disaster. Come on November!!!

New Orleans

2006-07-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

We had fun on our trip to new orleans. I left work early and we arrived in New Orleans around 3 PM. We checked in at the Royal Sonesta, a very nice hotel on Bourbon near Canal. I've stayed there before, but it was years ago. Usually, we stay with friends, or at a smaller hotel with cheaper prices, but Beth wanted to stay at the Sonesta and it was her birthday. We really don't have any friends left in new orleans since the storm. They've all moved away.
Anyway, the first night we ate at the Cafe Pontalba, one of my favorites even though it's a tourist area. I split a hot roast beef poboy with Beth and also a crab cake. The crab cake was not very good (although Susie and Beth seemed to enjoy it), but the poboy was very, very good. We then went and sat out by the pool. Later that evening we were going to walk around the Quarter and headed towards a back street b/c Bourbon was crowded. Beth and Susie refused to go any further when we saw the street was empty. I was annoyed, but the next day we did go down that street and there was a path of blood droplets that went way down the street. The whole quarter was weird, strangly empty the whole trip.
We ended up at the Pat O'Brien's piano bar, another tourist trap, but fun. We used to go to Pat O's when we were in college and either go to the piano bar or to the courtyard. The piano bar is always fun. There are two piano's and the pianists take requests written on napkins (with tip please). They sing all kinds of songs, Billy Joel, Elton John, etc. When we got there, it was late and they had just begun singing Itsy Bitsy Spider. The young (early 20's) folks in the audience were going wild over this song! We stayed till 2:30 AM, drinking hurricanes which were suprisingly strong.
The next day we went to Cafe Du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait, my favorites. Then went over for some shopping at the French Market. So much cheap crap, but so tempting to buy the stuff. I didn't buy anything. Next was Central Grocery and muffoletta's. If you don't know what that is, it's a large sandwich with italian meats and olive dressing. Legend says that muffs were created at Central Grocery. I've tried several times to get one, but they were always closed. I was successful this time and it was the best muff I've ever eaten.
We sat out at the pool at the hotel again Saturday afternoon, dodging the occassional rain shower. Eventually, it really began to rain and our plans for the evening were ruined. We ended up at the hotel bar listening to a wonderful singer, a black woman with hair red like a stop sign. She sang beautifully, Nina Simone songs and others.
My friends have a tradition of drinking flaming Dr. Peppers, so we were on the hunt for some. They consist of a shot of ameretto topped with Everclear or 151 Rum. The shot is lit and dropped into a half glass of beer. You are supposed to drink it real fast, and it tastes just like Dr. Pepper. No one would make us one b/c most places use plastic cups and others didn't want to do it b/c it might cause a fire. Whata load of crap! If the wood is so dry in your establishment, why do you allow smoking???
All in all it was a great trip. I need to plan more of these trips since N.O. is only an hour away.

Updates

2006-07-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to Lafayette with photo album in hand to start the process of copying all of my college pics for my friends Rob and Jenn, who are from New Orleans and lost everything in the flood. They now live in St. Louis.
My friend Susie bought one of those copier/scanners that will copy pictures and so we all gathered our pics and copied quite a few of them. I did mine first since I was only going to be in Lafayette for the night. She bought a Cannon printer for about $130 and it worked pretty well. The scanner part didn't create very good copies of the pics, but the copy feature seemed to work fine. If you scan a pic, it saves the image and you can print out a copy. If you just copy it, it's like a regular copy machine, but spits out a picture.
Anyway, I didn't bring all of my pics to Lafayette b/c there are so many. When I got back to Baton Rouge, I decided to go buy myself a scanner/printer too. Susie seemed a little irritated when I told her I had bought one. She works for Fema and has been given some really good promotions and raises and has been spending money hand over fist. She bought not only the scanner, but a surround sound home theater, and a very nice wide screen TV. She also informed me she is buying a juke box. I'm happy for her. She is a very nice person, despite her inexplicable support for the Bush administration and Republicans in general. She always was known as a hippy chick, and a vote for Bush is not what a hippy would cast. But I digress.
I had found a $100 bill that I had saved from my birthday money, so I had some extra cash and could go buy a scanner/copier. Mine was only $90 and was HP. It works just as good as her Cannon, so it was a good purchase. Now I can copy all my photos at my leisure.
The Art Melt I mentioned in an earlier post was really great. I'm not really into art, but love free food and big gatherings of ppl, esp. good looking artists. There were some real interesting pieces of art; there were sculptures, paintings, audio/video, ballet performances, symphony performances and art car displays. They also had chicken salad, hummus, cheese cake, meat pies and seafood pies. Mmmmm! I met up with my friends and former co-workers, Suzanne, Pam and Chris. My best friend Barry was there too. He and I went and had a pitcher of beer at the Thirsty Tiger Bar in downtown Baton Rouge, after the Melt. It's the oldest bar in BR.
Well, I'd better stop writing now. Got class starting in a few. I am still in training at work. Gonna be a long road!

Been a while

2006-07-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's easy to forget that I have this blog to update, so it has been a while since my last entry. Today I'm at work doing a training project assigned by our inhouse IBM guy. It is an attempt to write a REXX program from scratch. I'm usually kinda annoyed when this guy does our training because he doesn't bring it down to the elementary level, which is what I need as I'm a novice. So, I'm piling thru manuals trying to determine how to write this thing. It's really frustrating.
On a lighter note, we are going to eat at one of my favorite places today. It's a diner called Frostop, here in Baton Rouge. It was shown in the movie 'Everybody's All-American', with Dennis Quaid. They have really good hamburgers, po-boys and are famous for their home made rootbeer.
This weekend I'm going to attend the Baton Rouge Art Melt. It's an art show at the Shaw Center, with art for sale and, most importantly, free food. It's a pretty new event in the area and it'll be my first time to attend. Mom my attend with me and some of my friends from my old work place have also expressed an interest. I invited my friend Susie, but she had other plans. My friend Tim, who has had his life turned upside down recently, may attend also. Tim had his parents over to his house to visit. His dad was climbing the short staircase from Tim's garage into his house. His dad lost his footing and fell, hitting his head on the cement garage floor. He had to be rushed to the hospital with brain bleeding. Now he can't stand, he has no short term memory and has been described by Tim as having Alzheimers symptoms. He doesn't actually have the disease, but the hit on the head is causing the symptoms. So, and his sister and mother, have had to remain by his dads side 24/7. It has been a while and I think Tim needs a diversion, at least for a couple of hours.
Politically, looks like the middle east is on the verge of erupting into a bigger war. Israel is invading Lebanon and continuing their Gaza incursion. Can't say I blame them after being attacked themselves, but it's an unprecedented action and could lead, along with the Iraq debacle, to a larger problem for the US and the world. As much as I want a Democrat to win the presidency, it's going to be tough for whoever wins in 2008, with the mess that the Bush administration, and the RepubliCONS in congress have left. They really are an incompetent bunch. They can't do war; they can't fix the economy; the environment is a mess; they break the law at will; the smear war heroes. What a shame. They should be ashamed, but aren't. Hopefully, they'll be put in their place, out of office!

Here we go!

2006-06-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and I'm ready for the 4-day weekend. My friends are coming to visit from St. Louis. Rob and Jenn lived in New Orleans, Arabie, near the industrial canal. Needless to say, Katrina took all their belongings. If they'd have known what was going to happen, they at least could have saved their priceless photos from family and our college years.
They're coming down to visit family, friends, and to check out Destin, Florida for their anniversary. I'm a little jealous that they will be in Destin, known for its beautiful beaches. I was able to take my usual Memorial Day trip to Pensacola, FL. It was nice, but was almost ruined b/c the friend I brought is a mean drunk. I was verbally abused the entire trip and nearly became violent, which is completely against my nature. I will never bring him anywhere again!
Anyway, back to my St. Louis friends. Rob is my fraternity brother (PIKE) and Jenn is his gorgeous wife. Rob and I were great friends in college, room mates just about the whole time, till he left to live in Tennessee. As is common for people who come from this part of the country, he couldn't stand it and had to move back to New Orleans. I really do suspect they will move back eventually.
Since they lost everything in the flood, I thought it would be nice to copy all of my pictures from college and give them a set. This includes many pictures of parties, trips, old digs and the early years of Rob and Jenn's relationship. I just discovered that you can have old pics scanned and recreated. Ah, technology. I won't be able to get the pics in time for their arrival, but it's nice to know I can eventually hand them a complete photo album of pics they lost.
Also coming to visit this weekend, Susie, who works for FEMA; Beth, who works for the University; and possibly Jack, my hippie friend (also frat brother). All of these are friends from college, who I've kept in touch with and, finally, they all moved back home. I'm a really lucky guy to have all of these friends. Even if some of them are Republican (a dirty word in my book). No one is perfect I guess.

Keeping up.

2006-06-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

Gosh it's hard to think of something to write in this blog daily or even weekly. Guess I'll come up with something.
Not too much going on right now. I've painted a wall in my living room. I've had paint chips taped on the wall for a year and finally decided to go ahead and paint at least one wall. It's so intimidating to think of painting the entire living room by myself, so I made a commitment to what I thought I could do easily. It turned out very nice. I had originally chosen an orangy brown color for my wall, with a suede texture. It's that Ralph Lauren paint, so it's pretty high quality. Well, when I got to the Home Depot, I changed my mind and bought a gallon of a different color. It's called Greenstone (still from RL) and turned out to be the exact same color as my couch, an olive green. It didn't look like that in the store. It has a granite texture. Looks real good. Now I will have to get up the energy to paint the other walls. I'll do them one at a time too.
I'm liking my new job as a system programmer on a mainframe, although I'm getting tired of the training. I don't think I'm getting as much out of it as I was at first. There comes a point when you just need to start doing the work. I've been assigned a couple of small projects, so things are getting a little more interesting. I like the folks I work with, so that's a major thing.
My friend at work has decided to set me up with one of her friends. I'm happy about this b/c I've been single for so long, I'm ready to expand my horizons. I just don't know if I'm now so used to being single, that having someone around (if it comes to that) might be annoying. I'm not going to let that worry get in the way of meeting new ppl though. You never know what may happen.
Politically, on Larry King last night he had all the women Democrats from the Senate, which of course includes my Senator, Mary Landrieu. She really is great. Can't understand how some ppl don't like her. Probably just jealous. She's pretty, smart and sensible.
All in all the show was great. The ladies have some great ideas and really should be listened to. It's a shame that the RepubliCON Senate won't even listen to them. They are fighting for the average American, including veterans, who have been shafted by the CONS. The CONS have cut funding for veterans health care and other veteran programs and during a war! They claim to be the 'patriots', but really are just political hacks, rubberstamping anything the president wants. They need to be run out of town. Hopefully that will begin this November!

TGIF

2006-06-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy that Friday has come this week and it's raining. I can safely avoid yard work this weekend and focus on fun things. Since it's my granny's 85th birthday this weekend, I'll be taking her back to Lake Charles/Sulphur, LA, where she is from. She had to move in with my mom after a fall that broke her hip. It occurred right after hurricane Rita hit her town and neighborhood pretty hard. Her house had only minor damage, lots of missing shingles, shudders ripped off the walls, but not a single broken window.
Her neighbors, two doors down and really all over the town, weren't so lucky. Most damage was caused by trees falling, and many houses were completely destroyed.
Anyway, we'll be going to visit her sister and nieces this weekend.
When I get back, I have tentative plans to visit my friend Susie, the Sulau, in Lafayette, LA, Cajun country, where I attended college. She works for FEMA, here in BR, now, and wants to celebrate her recent promotion.
Politically this week, Carl Rove was let off the hook in the Plame scandal. So, he's back to his disgusting dirty tricks. I'm sure he's behind the recent Congressional theatrics where the RepubliCONS brought up a resolution that they support the president's (failed) policy in Iraq and won't be setting a timetable. This is obviously a trap. If Democrats vote against it, CONS will use it against them in the next election. Even if they vote FOR it, it could be used against them. I live for the day the CONS get what's coming to them. I just hope the American public is not duped again by these criminals, most of whom have no military service, or any family members in the conflict. They really have screwed up this country. I'm heartened by the recent stories of a potential alliance between libertarians and liberals. I've be a libertarian leaning liberal for a while and they're finally catching up with my philosophy of individual liberty being supreme. The CONS always claim to want the government out of citizen's lives, but that only applies to their constituents interests. Such hypocrites!

Monday, Monday

2006-06-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well, the weekend is over and I didn't get everything done that was on my to-do list. I painted the living room. I had selected several potential paint colors and placed the chips on the wall, where they stayed for the past year. At the last minute, however, I changed my mind and picked a different color, an olive green with sandstone texture. I was a little worried at first, but it looks good.
I also completed some of my yard work over the weekend, including using my new edger to edge my driveway. It looked like it hadn't been edged in years. I filled up an entire garbage bag with the edgings.
Now I just need to mow my backyard. It's such a task. It's a big yard and the grass is thick from the full sun. And the weather is so hot, 97 in the afternoon.
The hurricane season is only a few days old and there is already a storm in the gulf. It looks as if it will hit Reddington shores, where my friend Dan lives. They showed the beach there, on the news, this morning, and the clouds looked ominous. Sure hope we don't get any big storms this year. Sure could use the rain though.

Almost the weekend

2006-06-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

I always look forward to the weekend. It's not like I don't like my job or the ppl I work with, but I love sleeping late and completing my yard work and house work. I don't seem to have much time for anything else. I'm really eager to use my new edger. I was finally inspired to buy the edger when I started getting comments from friends and family that my yard looked overgrown and it needed edging. Luckily, it was right around my birthday and I used my birthday money for the purchase. I was able to use the edger for a short time right after I got it, but quickly ran over the power cord and nearly got electricuted. I've now had to dispose of the power cord and will have to purchase another this weekend.
Politically, this morning, CNN and EVERYONE else is reporting the death of that terrorist dude. I just hate it when the media latch on the something so sensational and run it into the ground. I don't think this story is important at all, worth no more than a two minute story at the top of the news. Nothing in Iraq will change b/c of this death. Someone is always ready to fill the shoes of someone who has been 'martyred' . Oh well, that's my two cents.

6/6/06

2006-06-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Weekend

2006-06-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Just had a great weekend of celebrating my birthday. Went to a nice restaurant for lunch Saturday, with mom and granny. I didn't like what I got, but everyone else did. Did enjoy the crawfish dinner I got Saturday night in Lafayette. My good friend Susie brought me to dinner there. We like to go there every year for Xmas eve, but it was my choice for my birthday. I met Susie in college. She was the sister of a member of Chi Omega sorority. I was in Pike. We had lots of parties with Chi O's.
Also saw my friends Kim and Kyle. Kyle has been a friend since high school. Kim I met when I went to college at USL in the '80's. I introduced them and they got along swimmingly; got married a few years later. They credit me as being responsible for their getting together. Kim works at an art gallery in Lafayette's downtown. She always gets me nice presents. This year, she bought me a nice wooden bowl, piece of art. It is made of several different types of wood, intricately designed and put together. I love it.
Well, the weekend is over and I'm back at work. I am enjoying my new job. The ppl here are very nice and have a sense of humor (for the most part). I still miss my friends at the place I was laid off from. I still see them, but will miss working with them for a while, I'm sure.
On the political scene, today I'm irritated with Republicans again. Bush is pandering to his evil political base and pretending to support a Constutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. His poll ratings have gone down, so he has to throw out some red meat. What a goober. I sure hope this country wises up soon and replaces the skunky RepubliCONs. Even Ross Perot would be better than what we have.

Friday.

2006-06-02T05:42:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and I'm glad I can sleep late tomorrow. I've been so tired lately. Could be that I've been so busy, with going to Pensacola for Memorial day, and all my birthday stuff. My co-workers, who I've only known for 6 weeks, had a pizza party for me and a few of the other early June birthdays. We also had cake.
Well, it's hurricane season now and I'm kinda worried about what's to come. Last year was bad enough, but if something enters the gulf this year, I think people will panic. No one wants to go thru another Katrina or Rita, even here in Baton Rouge.
I certainly don't want another disaster in my state, but there is a certain thrill when a hurricane hits close by. Everyone huddles in their houses around the TV, til the electricity goes out, then it's the radio that gets the most attention. The skies slowly turn grey and the wind picks up. Rain starts to come down in sheets and before you know it, the trees are bending with the wind. After the storm, everyone begins to emerge from their houses to see what damage occurred.
It's certainly inspires meeting your neighbors!

Day One.

2006-06-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Well, Here it is, my first post on my first blog. Guess I'm kinda behind the times. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do or say on this blog. My passions include politics, food, Louisiana, travel, food, and food. In other words, I like to eat. Well, I'm from Louisiana, so what else would you expect??
So, I guess I should give a little personal info. I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana on June 1, 1967, the first day of hurricane season and the summer of Love. My mom and dad were divorced when I was 5 and my mom and I moved to Baton Rouge in 1975. Except for a 7 year stint at The University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, I've been in Baton Rouge ever since.
I am a system programmer in IT. I am newly employed here, after being laid off in February 2006 due to budget cuts caused by hurricane Katrina.
I am single, gay, own my own home, have a dog (maltese).
Well, that's all I'll post for now. I'm about to go to lunch in our cafeteria. I'm very excited b/c we have these wonderful cooks, who cook soulfood for us in the cafeteria. I've been eating lots of greens and cornbread, which I recently discovered I love.