Reluctant Rebel

From My File Cabinet - 4 "Fledgling"

2012-01-23T08:44:00.006-05:00

Fledgling - Notes From Mid-Life Adolescence It was a Sunday evening in February 1985 and a bunch of us guys decided to go out for a drink after the Dignity service. Back then, about eighty or ninety people would show up in the basement of a local community center early Sunday evenings for Mass. It was one of many organizations I got involved in after my personal liberation, six

May Be Busy

2012-01-16T06:56:00.000-05:00

Leon and I are doing some projects around the house and may be involved in another major project over the next several weeks...so I may not be contributing much here. Forgive me if I don't check in on your or other blogs as often during the upcoming weeks...Frank

Story of Bi-National Gay Couple With 4 Kids v.s US Immigration Services

2012-01-11T20:02:00.002-05:00

I invite you to visit the current post on Mark's blog "Our Simple Lives" and learn how very not simple their lives are fighting the Department of Immigration in order to stay together as a family of two dads and four adopted children. THEN GO HERE TO WRITE YOUR CONGRESSPERSON

Let Us Pray

2012-01-10T21:40:00.002-05:00

If you heard about the Kansas congressman who was "praying for Obama" to let his days be numbered, the prayer can go both ways sweetie. Isn't it something like treason for an elected official to intimate the wish for the President's demise? Not to mention his other blatantly racist and derogatory comments and emails about Michele Obama. The man is a disgrace. Lets take that psalm from the

Another Good Meal in Winchester (revised)

2012-01-09T18:18:00.004-05:00

We just can't make those long drives like we used to - without a stop-over. We stayed in Winchester, Virginia as we have several times and treated ourselves to a nice dinner at the Union Jack Pub and Restaurant on North Loudon Street. A special thanks to Noah, our friendly server who made us feel very welcomed and advised us on the beer and ales as well as entrées. The pub serves up some

I'm Depressed and Grouchy and Likely to Offend Someone

2012-01-07T18:58:00.004-05:00

Travel, especially away from the Interstate and along some of the byroads on the way to Leon's mom's house can be depressing for me. We pass both occupied and abandoned homes, some once quite livable, and strip malls and main streets lined with empty businesses and landscapes strewn with human debris. Once a Very Fine Home, I'm Sure Once we arrive, I find a low-level anxiety permeates my

It Irks Me That Santorum Uses The Catholic Membership Card

2012-01-06T18:40:00.000-05:00

As one who was brought up Catholic and still has some appreciation for the Catholic tradition in its most spiritual and radical expressions, I am repulsed by the current heresy of the church and those who wave their Catholic credentials around like a certificate of Sainthood. Especially those who have a political career to further. Read this article that pulls the Catholic rug out from under

Stamp to Commemorate Gay Codebreaker Alan Turing (edited)

2012-01-06T10:14:00.003-05:00

Another lazy day, another link: this is of interest not only because Alan Turing was gay, but because, while he was instrumental in breaking the Nazi code during WWII, he was nonetheless a victim of archaic and oppressive laws against homosexuals. (Personal observation edited)

Anti-Gay Writers Distort "Scientific Research"

2012-01-05T09:18:00.001-05:00

Feeling lazy lately, so I'll just offer a link: Box Turtle Bulletin has an interesting article about the distorted and misleading use of scientific studies to advance an anti-gay and anti-gay adoption agenda. And something on the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus' new project honoring Harvey Milk - "Dear Harvey, We've Got Hope" ("You gotta give em hope".)

Here or There?

2012-01-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

Given my location, I assumed that "Chicken Bog" was the name of the town where First Church of God is located. At least one of you guys knows what this sign means. Out for a walk with Lance, Rolyne and their dog Sadie. We stopped with our friends to see some topiary.

Memories of Growing Up Gay

2011-12-28T00:04:00.002-05:00

This TV memory popped into my head tonight for some reason. Probably because I was looking at the blog "My First Gay Crush" I had just turned fourteen in 1962 when a TV show aired called "It's A Man's World". (The link has a few short clips that I could find nowhere else). It was one of my favorite shows, even though it was all very heterosexually oriented (as was every other TV show back

Very Nice Gift From Santa Leon

2011-12-26T18:37:00.002-05:00

I've been using a Canon Powershot SD1100 IS camera for several years. I've been happy with its performance overall. Sometime last year my photos began showing dark spots that were especially noticeable against a blue sky. The spots are always in the same area of the picture - except when using the zoom feature - then the spots are larger and more centered. From what I could learn, there may

I Can Say Nothing Of God Except...*

2011-12-24T22:18:00.005-05:00

Last year my sister, who is a Sister of Mercy, sent me a prayer she had written about the things and people in her life that gave meaning to the celebration of Christmas. Each line began with the words, "I can say nothing of God except..." This prayer reminds us, whether theist, atheist or agnostic, that we can really say little meaningful about God. That perhaps our belief in God's

Our Un-Traditional Christmas Tree

2011-12-23T21:21:00.001-05:00

Found Greens for a Holiday Arrangement If we do a tree at Christmas, it is our tradition to find, make or buy one that is very Un-Traditional. The rule is we don't pay for a Christmas Tree unless it is a potted tree that we can plant. One year I used an inverted tomato cage to fasten cut greens together to make a tree. One year we acquired the top of a fir tree that some friends had cut

An Interesting Proposal To Address Inequality

2011-12-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

But It Won't Be Under The Tree This Year A New York Times article Don't Tax the Rich, Tax Inequality by Ian Ayers and Aaron Edlin, Law Professors from Yale and Berkeley respectively, was discussed today on WNPR - Connecticut Public Radio's Where We Live. The PodCast should be available soon. The authors are concerned about the demise of democracy in the face of political control by the

What Makes Our "Marriage" Work

2011-12-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

You've all no doubt seen the Folger's holiday "Brother and Sister" commercial. It's been a standard for at least three years, maybe more. If you haven't seen it, see it here: The gist is: Brother returns home after a long absence in some foreign country, presumably fighting for freedom or just bumming around, it's not clear. The snow is falling, and his younger sister is brewing Folger's

Elizabeth Warren on Health Care

2011-12-13T13:01:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Truthspew for this post. It dovetails nicely with a recent post Raulito did on Trickle Down BS The only thing I would add to her explanation of Health Insurance syphoning off billions of dollars to pay CEOs and administrative expenses is the payout to shareholders - the ultimate For Profit scam on middle America. EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Thanks to Stan at Metrodystopia,

'Tis The Season To Make Cookies

2011-12-12T20:49:00.000-05:00

Been busy baking... Aunt Stella's Chocolate Cookies with her secret chocolate frosting... and Cuccidati See Dinner's Ready for details.

'Tis The Season To Be Careful - About Who You Donate To - And Where You Shop

2011-12-09T16:22:00.003-05:00

The Red Kettle and Bell Ringers in front of your favorite store are a sign of the season. The act of dropping coins in the bucket has been imbued with the sound of Christmas Carols and the warm fuzzy feelings of helping the poor and disadvantaged. But please consider giving to charities that do not discriminate against and actively work against the LGBT community as does the Salvation Army.

From My File Cabinet - 3 "1986 Gay Politics"

2011-12-08T19:10:00.000-05:00

This is from a 1986 letter to the editor of a local gay news rag after he castigated some men who were arrested in a local "t-room" for allegedly soliciting a police officer for sex. It was in the local news and there was a question of entrapment that was never investigated. The paper's editorial implied that the men deserved what they got and that they should be shunned. I share the letter

Link to Blue Truck Red State Post On Hillary Clinton's LGBT Speech

2011-12-07T22:21:00.000-05:00

I will just refer readers to Russ's post here about Hillary Clinton's address to the United Nations on Human Rights and Gay Rights. Link to the text of the speech - it is worth your time to read.

Read About My First Gay Crush

2011-12-07T17:44:00.000-05:00

You can all check out my secret pre-adolescent love interest on "My First Gay Crush" Do you know who this is? From Internet without Attribution From Internet without Attribution

From My File Cabinet - 2

2011-12-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

Early 1980's while still struggling with coming out.... Past and present blending, fading, forming pictures being-here-now-present seeing kids stirs up memories like dust when you move old books on the shelf - annoying like finding a delightful memento while rummaging through the attic - nostalgia I am on an expedition exploring like an archeologist in drawers and cardboard cartons on shelves

World AIDS Day - A Retrospective

2011-12-01T23:29:00.003-05:00

Me, Leon, Bob at the AIDS Quilt in DC Bob Died of Complications of AIDS in the Late 80's Here is a retrospective of my experiences working in the HIV/AIDS "industry". The industry now includes obscenely priced pharmaceuticals and thousands of individuals working in HIV/AIDS organizations and programs whose benefits may be questionable. My early work at the Gay Health Clinic was during the

From My File Cabinet

2011-11-30T19:28:00.000-05:00

I would like to do a series of posts "From My File Cabinet" as I go through old papers and clean out stuff I've been keeping for years, most of which is pretty uninspired. Not to say that everything I post will be inspired, but for what it's worth: Letter to State Legislator, 2003 (before Civil Unions and Same-Gender marriage) I was born in 1948. I grew up Catholic. Everything was a sin.

Anniversary of Harvey Milk's Assasination

2011-11-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

Netflix Pick - Saint of 9/11

2011-11-25T19:33:00.003-05:00

Last evening, after some of the company left, Leon, my sister and I watched Saint of 9/11 on Netflix. I knew Father Mychal Judge was a gay man and I had this documentary in the queue for some time. Last evening seemed like a good time to view it and I wanted my sister to see it too. The documentary was quite moving and, despite the limited available historical footage, this film presented a

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T13:33:00.002-05:00

Leon and I wish you all a Happy Day and Thanks for stopping by. More scrumptious dinner details will be over at "Dinner's Ready" soon.

Taking a Break From the Political News

2011-11-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for the Turkey Day at our house this year. My favorite of holidays: good food; church, gifts, optional. And we get the leftovers! Check out Dinner's Ready for the details. The Stuffing Is Ready And The Rolls Too.

Michelle Booed at Nascar

2011-11-22T08:40:00.000-05:00

This is old news already and I won't post the video, but apparently Michelle was booed by a large section of the Nascar crowd in Florida. It is evident that hatred, much of it racist, for the President and Mrs. Obama is out there and people, even "genteel" southerners have lost their sense of propriety and feel free to cross the lines of civility. Comments made by news/video feed readers and

Remember Kent State

2011-11-21T19:49:00.002-05:00

We are entering an era of mass protest reminiscent of the 60's and 70's. Judging from this video, not much has changed except they use pepper spray instead of bullets, but this can change too. So what happened to to the right to peaceably assemble, the right of free speech. The unrest is international and is focused on the economic crisis but is really about the deeper issues of justice and

Congress and "Super" Committee are Laughable

2011-11-21T07:55:00.003-05:00

Three New Vegetables: Pepperoni/ Cheese; Grilled Chicken/Asparagus; Eggplant/Sausage Laughable if it weren't for the fact that they are not governing this nation or even making an effort to solve the problems we are all facing. "Super" Committee - what a pretentious title for a bunch of Super Idiots. We all knew the outcome of this Committee would be ZERO, ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING. Meanwhile,

One Senior Voice of The 99% - Perhaps

2011-11-15T13:46:00.002-05:00

Unknown Attribution This Email has been making the rounds and expresses the "fed-up" attitude of many of us. But a check on Scopes.com (and some of their additional Links) while not refuting the sentiment and the the basis for it, is also very interesting. Link especially the interview with Alan Simpson, Senator from Wyoming , Co-Chair of Obama's deficit commission, who calls this [senior

Americans - Beware Cynicism and Apathy

2011-11-14T15:50:00.001-05:00

Thanks to TruthSpew for this:

Last Facebook Holdout

2011-11-09T09:06:00.005-05:00

Am I the last person left to sign up on Facebook? I have resisted the pressure to join for a number of reasons. From the start I was repulsed by the term "Facebook". I can't say exactly why, but perhaps it reminds me too much of the FBI's Most Wanted posters; or a catalogue of masks; or a hall of mirrors; or a dusty yearbook. All scary images. As the social network phenomena progressed,

Can It Be "Indian Summer" ?

2011-11-08T19:44:00.001-05:00

As I jokingly commented during the freak October snow storm, "we'll probably have Indian Summer next week." Well sure enough, it was pretty close to 70 degrees - practically a beach day (with a few patches of snow still melting here and there). I always found Indian Summer to be a real treat - one last burst of glorious weather before the dreaded foul skies and windy days of November. I do

Turn Off Your Breaker For A Week

2011-11-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

Some thoughts on being off the power grid for seven days: There are folks here who have been without electricity for more than a week and who may not have their power restored until Wednesday. It is difficult to convey the degree to which being depraved of electricity effects one's life. So much time and effort is consumed substituting available resources for those that are suddenly

Welcome Back to the 21st Century

2011-11-05T16:58:00.000-04:00

We got our power back today at 1:30 PM. Three hours short of a week. We cleared out the water jugs and the pots of water on the stove. The generator and the electric extension cords that were all over the house are also put away and the 15 gallon bins in the bathtub emptied. A load of laundry is washed and dried and hot showers were taken. Pizza is in the oven and the dog is snoozing on

Young Gay Man Murdered in UK

2011-11-04T20:42:00.001-04:00

Just read about a horrible hate crime against a young gay Brit, Stuart Walker, who was brutally murdered recently. Such crimes are obviously not restricted to the States and our sympathy and solidarity should be with the victims and their families wherever they are.

Little House in the Colonies

2011-11-02T14:04:00.002-04:00

Some Minor Tree Damage This must be what it was like back when the colonists first shared the table with Native Americans. Cooking on the barbeque, melting snow to flush the toilet, waiting in line for gasoline to power the generator, boiling water to wash dishes and body parts, and not having telephone or internet service or vacuum cleaners or battery chargers. People are dying all over our

Everything Looks Better in the Morning

2011-10-30T08:34:00.001-04:00

Yeah, Right! Honda Fit Last Night 10-29-11 Truck Roof This Morning This is probably the worst, most widespread weather event we've experienced in the Northeast ever. In Connecticut nearly 800,000 homes without power and no light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. The number of trees down is worst than a typical hurricane and with 12 to 24 inches of heavy concrete snow, cleanup

Welcome to New England

2011-10-29T14:05:00.000-04:00

October 29, 2011. It is snowing. Not just a dusting. Southern New England is expecting 6 to 18 inches of snow by tomorrow morning depending on location - we should get 8 to 12 inches here. These pictures were taken at about 1:10pm Saturday after about 45 minutes of snow fall. Even Benni isn't too thrilled with the prospect of winter snow. We are hoping to have Indian Summer next week.

Bumper Sticker of the Day

2011-10-27T19:54:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Raulito at Trickle Down BS

Glee

2011-10-25T20:49:00.001-04:00

Poster Circa 1966 The White Cardboard Stock Has Long Since Yellowed While so many of you were watching Glee on Fox, Leon and I were catching up on True Blood, Dexter, Drop Dead Diva, and several other past and current TV series. When we finally discovered Glee on Netflix, we watched every episode. It is cute, funny and smart. The humor reminds me a bit of Psycho Beach Party with a bit of

Tick Magnet, Masonry and Leon's Fiftieth Birthday

2011-10-24T20:06:00.001-04:00

It's been a busy few weeks so haven't been posting much. Been to the airport more than I do in a year. Thank goodness I'm retired! Friday - drag in the cacti for the winter and clear brush in the yard, get SIX ticks attached to various parts of my body which I only discover at 2 in the morning - even the dog doesn't get this many ticks Some Of The Cacti That Get Dragged In For The

Occupy - Followup

2011-10-19T05:30:00.003-04:00

An article about Occupy Wall Street appeared in a small local Newspaper which generally covers only local news, high school sports and obituaries, to which I responded with the following letter (annotations in brackets): I appreciated David F's column in the October 14 edition... Quite honestly, I was surprised that the topic (disparity between the super rich and the the rest of us) was

Occupy

2011-10-12T20:13:00.004-04:00

I just want to say a few words about Occupy Wall Street and the protests that are spreading around the country. (Listen to NPR - On Point with Tom Ashbrook) I think its about time that a large-scale protest movement has been launched against the corporations, the Supreme Court's granting them personhood, and against the greed and corruption that is bringing this nation down. (Really, it warms

Tribute to Frank Kameny, Gay Rights Pioneer

2011-10-12T19:37:00.000-04:00

See a nice tribute to Frank Kameny, one of the earliest Gay Rights pioneers, who died yesterday: links at I Should Be Laughing and at Pam's Houseblend and at Towleroad, among others. It is important for us to keep our history alive and pass it on to the young ones. Also, it is the 13th year since Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered because he was gay. The above mentioned blogs have posts on

Audio Book Report - Mississippi Sissy

2011-10-07T11:48:00.002-04:00

Picked up this Audio Book, an abridged version of Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums at the local discount store. The story is a memoir of a sissy boy growing up in a small town in the Deep South during the 1960's. Sessums' mastery of language and the fact that he reads the story with full dramatic effect easily makes a movie in your mind as you listen. Kevin was one of three children. His

Born This Way

2011-10-06T19:59:00.001-04:00

Check out this website - "BORN THIS WAY" - a place for GLBT folks to tell their childhood stories of how they knew they were "different" at an early age. Russ from Blue Truck, Red State posted about this one back some months ago, but it's worth another mention.

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T07:07:00.000-04:00

In Memoriam Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Book Report - Last Summer by Michael Thomas Ford

2011-10-04T17:01:00.003-04:00

I almost put this book down after reading six pages. Not another story about some thirty-something drama queen in a tizzy because his boyfriend cheated on him. But I decided to give Last Summer by Michael Thomas Ford a chance. After all I was I in PTown and this was my one unread book on the shelf I picked for beach-reading. (As we know, I don't read with much speed, so am now just finished -

Climate Change

2011-09-30T18:45:00.000-04:00

Here in Southern NewEngland the summer has been rainy, damp and humid - not typical, but perhaps not altogether unheard of. The dampness has caused blight - both for gardeners earlier in the season, affecting tomatoes and other crops - and now for leaf peepers, instead of vibrant reds, yellows and oranges, the leaf blight is causing browning and premature dropping of leaves. On the brighter

My "Class" Issues and The Gay "Lifestyle"

2011-09-28T14:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, OK, I have "class" issues. I admit it. I recently got a complimentary copy of "OUT", that snotty gay periodical that caters to the LA and NYC gay male with money to burn. I've seen the mag here and there many times and there is nothing in it that I can relate to. Take wardrobe for one. One of their spreads features a Pea Coat ($1,290), a hand-knit Tank Top ($795), Boot-shoe ($215) a

Elizabeth Warren

2011-09-27T19:41:00.000-04:00

This is a few weeks old, but kind of goes along with the Revised Ant and Grasshopper Story I posted below. Some of you have posted it previously, but it deserves another go...especially as the right wing is relentless in attacking her. Elizabeth Warren, candidate for Senator from Massachusetts:

North Carolina, Constitutional Amendment

2011-09-24T14:58:00.000-04:00

Here's a link to an article by a married father of three boys about North Carolin's proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw any legalization of relationships other than those between 1 man and 1 woman (at a time, I assume) . The amendment is not only bigoted, but politically motivated to supposedly win votes for conservative candidates. The comment section is very long, fascinating but

Don't You Just Hate Those Emails That Get Passed On And On?

2011-09-21T13:39:00.005-04:00

Public Domain Artwork Recently I received one of those emails that got passed on - an allegory about Grasshoppers and Ants. Whoever wrote the so-called "modern" version of the proverbial story portrayed the grasshoppers as lazy freeloaders and drug addicts and tried to portray the ants as the industrious "middle" class, but actually they came across more like the wealthy ruling class.

Annual Pilgrimage

2011-09-20T21:15:00.001-04:00

Returned from Provincetown yesterday. PTown, as always, is especially photogenic. Here are some photos. A Nice TerraCotta Red Cottage Road To Race Point And Access Point To Over-Sand Dive For Off Road Vehicles "The Bike Rack" - Where You Park It For the 1/2 Hour Hike To Boys' Beach Leon "Airing Up" After An Over-Sand Drive The F250 On The Beach At Race Point Window

Ashton on Two and a Half

2011-09-19T22:17:00.002-04:00

Just saw the new Two and a Half Men on CBS. I confess, I do not miss Charlie.

Here's A Quickie

2011-09-12T11:37:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to let you know we're alive and well. As well as not having internet (except here at the coffee shop) we are relegated to bicycle transportation and walking as the Ford is in the shop. It's not Even Halloween! The Ford F250 Always Picks the Worst Time To Have Mechanical Problems Poor Little Duckies!

Off the Grid

2011-09-06T16:13:00.000-04:00

Sorry folks, we are off the grid temporarily. Nothing related to the recent hurricane or any other disaster. Just don't have internet service handy for a couple of weeks. So I can't post or catch up on anyone's blog for a while. Hope you are all well. - Frank

Update to the Update on Irene

2011-08-28T18:59:00.001-04:00

Hurricane Irene turns out to be a strange storm insofar as its kind of hit or miss damage and its doling out of wind and water. At our house, we have only the aftermath of what could have been a normal rain storm; just down the street about two miles, in the same town, the street is closed due to the Pequabuck River overflowing. The same river took out part of a business in our town and

Irene Update

2011-08-28T11:55:00.002-04:00

EARLIER: Well, Irene seems to have fizzled out here in New England - lots of water and a little wind, some power outages and trees down but thankfully nothing too serious. We are on the side of a hill so we didn't get flooded, but there is some flooding in town. Our worst damage was a few corn stalks and tomato plants that got knocked down from the rain. There was hardly a stiff breeze here.

Waiting for Irene - Netflix Saturday

2011-08-27T16:37:00.004-04:00

Irene is taking her sweet time leaving the Outer Banks and heading north. While we're waiting for her we are walking the dog between rain showers and Netflix so he won't have to hold it too long should it suddenly get nasty outside. This afternoon's selection was Chris and Don, A Love Story. This is a documentary told mostly from Don's perspective, about two remarkable men - Christopher

5.8 DC Quake Sure Sign of Heavenly Ire

2011-08-23T19:08:00.000-04:00

An earthquake centered in Virginia, today damaged the National Cathedral. Surely this must be a sign. After all it did strike a cathedral. Somebody's god is angry. We can't be certain what he or she is angry about, but it must be serious. Perhaps god did not like the cathedral or wants a bigger fancier one like the Pope's. Perhaps this finger of god is pointed at Congress for their

Hindu Rescued

2011-08-20T12:43:00.003-04:00

Found this story which gave me a renewed sense that there are still people in the world who care. The Schooner Hindu will once again be made seaworthy and return to summer in Provincetown with Captain Kevin at he helm. This wonderful wooden schooner has been a part of our enjoyment of Provincetown until it was basically held for ransom in Key West two winters ago. It was not in Ptown in 2010

Watching TV and Life Expectancy

2011-08-18T19:13:00.000-04:00

A study has been published that supposedly concludes that every hour you spend watching TV could shorten your life by 22 minutes. By my calculations, I must have died in 2009 and Leon has only six months to live.

You've Got To Laugh

2011-08-16T17:50:00.001-04:00

You've got to laugh at the Republican presidential race or it will be a long, sad, upsetting year ahead.

Google Storage

2011-08-13T08:07:00.002-04:00

Thanks Russ and Cubby for info on photo storage space. I found this regarding Google+ (plus). Unfortunately registration is closed at this time. If you've signed up for Google+Free storage limitsPhotos up to 2048 x 2048 pixels and videos up to 15 minutes won't count towards your free storage. Automatic resizingAll photos uploaded in Google+ will be automatically resized to 2048 pixels (on

Some Netflix Suggestions

2011-08-09T20:14:00.000-04:00

We don't do much in the evenings after dinner as Leon has to return calls to customers to schedule work or to remind them he's coming tomorrow. Unlike me, he likes to schmooz and has the gift of gab, so when he's done it's generally 9pm and we have time for a few episodes of a TV drama or a short movie on Netflix - Instant Viewing: "Damages" with Glen Close and Ted Danson, a drama of the rich

Man In The Mirror

2011-08-06T11:29:00.000-04:00

An acquaintance who I hadn't seen in over six months asked me recently "When did you stop tinting?" Which is gay for "Why the hell did you stop dying your hair?" I told him "It was just getting to be a chore, it's too messy." He looked at me with his heavily "tinted" mane and said, "Oh, I have mine done every three weeks, It's only forty dollars." I thought, should I tell him I use the

Reached My Limit

2011-08-05T20:43:00.000-04:00

Well, it looks as though I have reached my free one Gigabyte limit for pictures on Blogger's Picasa Web Albums. I have deleted several duplicates from the web albums - there are duplicates whenever you post photos, then delete them and put them back again. In other words, when you delete a photo from your blog, it remains in the web album, taking space. If you repost the photos, as I have

Road Trip - Addison County Vermont

2011-08-03T19:21:00.001-04:00

It was the best time for a short, four day road trip to Northern Vermont - just when our congressional idiots were fighting over how to send the country down the tubes. We didn't listen to the news for more than five minutes a day, just enough to get disgusted and turn it off. Went to visit two of my college buddies who I haven't seen in over five years - (they have been invited, but haven't

Camping in Vermont with Ed and Jeff

2011-08-01T08:11:00.000-04:00

Day Trip to PTown

2011-07-31T07:55:00.001-04:00

Our friends think we're nuts to take a day trip to PTown. It's only about 4 hours. We left home at 6 AM and we were at our first stop at PTown Doggie Park by 10. Then it was off to Coastal Acres campground to make our reservations for September. Used my Senior Citizen National Parks Pass to get free parking at the beach where we enjoyed a few hours of sitting and walking along the shore. It

Father Mychal Judge Nominated for Congressional Gold Medal

2011-07-29T23:28:00.000-04:00

Father Mychal Judge was a Catholic Franciscan priest who lost his life on 9/11 while ministering to those wounded and dying in the North Tower. Father Mychal was chaplain to the New York City Firefighters and openly gay. Link to Bilgimage blog here for the story and how you can help advance this nomination. Link here to the Mychal Judge website.

Breaking News: Prices on Everything To Go Up 64%

2011-07-28T20:57:00.000-04:00

"PRICES ON EVERYTHING GOING UP 64% STARTING TODAY - INCOME TO STAY THE SAME OR DECREASE FOR MOST AMERICANS" Imagine that headline on the evening news or your local newspaper which was $1.50 and is now $2.46. The $4 gallon of milk at Fast Mart is now $6.56. The $100 grocery bill rings up at $164 now and that will come out of your wallet every time you stock up. The electric bill has been

Yesterday's Post

2011-07-28T08:25:00.000-04:00

I have added a bit of commentary to yesterday's post. The point is that such "reports" are used by conservatives and Fox News to advance the idea that social programs are not needed and should be cut.

It's UnAmerican for Poor People to Have Refrigerators -Re-edit

2011-07-27T17:16:00.003-04:00

The American Heritage Foundation, a Right-Wing-Nut "think tank" thinks the poor have too many luxuries. Imagine a single parent working two jobs to earn $12,000 per year and raising three kids. If this family actually has a refrigerator to keep a gallon of milk and some hot dogs in and if the kids have an xbox that they got at Goodwill, well, then they're not really poor. Really poor people

Flowers On A Hot Summer Day

2011-07-21T20:03:00.001-04:00

It's nice to know that while out illustrious, do-nothing congress holds the country hostage and marriage equality is up for debate and human rights are summarily dismissed in places like Ghana, flowers still blossom, as if nothing is more important than a show of color. My sister-in-law gave us this hydrangea about seven years ago. It has never blossomed because I kept trimming back the "dead"

B&B - Closed for Season

2011-07-14T16:46:00.000-04:00

The family visitors are packing the van as I write this and we are ready for some peace and relaxation.   When they arrived Monday evening I had a big pot of spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage waiting. On tuesday morning, Leon accompanied them to Misquamicut Beach where the kids had a great time and they all ate seafood dinners at a restaurant on the beach.

The "B & B" is Ready For Guests (Edited)

2011-07-13T14:46:00.003-04:00

Guests (Leon's family - Mom dod not come but an additional grandnephew did for a total of 2 adults and 4 kids) arrived Monday and all was ready, inside and out. We saw to every detail, just like those fancy B&B's. Here are some pics of the yard and gardens: The Outdoor Shower - We Love It! Most Guests Are Too Shy To Use It However Palmetto, Fuchsia, Papyrus, Pine Bonsai, Red Maple The

A Link to Congress

2011-07-12T19:11:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Raulito, you can let Congress know they need to fix the budget fairly.

Book Report 2 - The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

2011-07-09T08:48:00.002-04:00

Picked up this book at Heathrow in March. As I've said, I'm not much of a reader because I'm slow and tend to nod off. This is only the second book I've read all the way through in the past year or so. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, an Australian author, is an interesting study of a cast of diverse characters in a Melbourne middle class community. They are all at a backyard barbecue when one

Cattivo

2011-07-07T21:00:00.002-04:00

Italian for "nasty, ugly, wicked, ill-tempered". This too shall pass...

Yellow Rose of Connecticut?

2011-07-04T21:53:00.002-04:00

Years ago when I lived 10 miles from here, my Prickly Pear (native to Northeast coastal regions - Opuntia humifusa) used to blossom around June 24, and I used to have a"Cactus Blossom Party"; but in this microclimate (north side of Fall Mountain) all my flowers are two weeks late and, well no party. Click to enlarge.

Nice to be Appreciated

2011-06-29T20:24:00.001-04:00

The Director of Development of the non-profit I've been doing work for took me and another person who's been let go due to budget cuts, out to lunch today. Her department staff of two were also there. She sincerely hated to let us go, and got a bit teary when raising a glass of wine to us. She also gave us parting gifts. She also said that she just got word that one of the grants we applied

My Achilles Heel and Impending House Guests

2011-06-28T14:18:00.001-04:00

My mother was "nervous" whenever things were in turmoil, or otherwise disrupting the customary routine of house and home. Too many people coming and going, commotion, noise, spilled drinks, wearing shoes in the house could all give her anxiety. I'm sure it is genetic to some degree. I have the same gene. I also have paternal genes that love bare feet, sandy beaches, music, and coming and

Happy Pride Weekend - New York

2011-06-25T08:33:00.000-04:00

Happy Pride Weekend, New York! You've just won the right to get married! Now, I can't imagine wearing this shirt when I was his age. Hell, I can't imagine wearing it at my age either! But the Rebel in me would like to think I could. Unable to Locate Credit for this Photo Copyright owner may contact this blogger to have it removed He does wear it well, don't you think? We've come a

Austerity

2011-06-24T20:35:00.001-04:00

In these lean times I've taken to cutting my own hair. Having endured years of bad haircuts, I can't say my self-cuts are half bad. I've also stopped "tinting" as they say. And it turns out I will have to cut more than my hair come June 30 when my contract runs out with the company I do work for part-time. I will be on no-time soon. Like all non-profits, they are also experiencing the

Selebrating Summer Solstice

2011-06-21T10:48:00.007-04:00

Summer is officially here. My Summer muSic of choiSe is definitely Brazilian and Smooth Jazz. Especially the old Stuff by Sergio MendeS which expreSSeS the Sultry Sensuality that I aSSociate with Summer: Sun, Sand, Salt water and Skin. Maybe even add Sweat. Definitely add Sex. Brazilian Samba Sounds exSite me. Make me pine for romanSe and hot male bodieS. Even when Sexy women Sing the

A Beach Day

2011-06-20T20:55:00.000-04:00

This New England State has the least best beaches. And this one is pretty low on the list. It's actually in a small cove. But it's deserted and I can take the dog. One of those nasty creatures that spread the disease named for a nearby town. A bunch of cormorants flapping and sunning. Real big grains of sand. They will be smaller in 10,000 years The woodlands near the shore

Samba Blessing

2011-06-17T22:37:00.003-04:00

That wonderfully romantic but way too straight French film "Un Homme et Une Femme" had some good music. This Samba is nice. Here it is in Brazilian Portuguese: While I love the French version, the Portuguese is so earthy. And one more - unfortunately I couldn't find this version by a male artist and there is no "Gay" version that I'm aware of...someone needs to do that. More to come as

Let me Refer You to Fr. Geoff This Morning

2011-06-17T10:06:00.001-04:00

Fr. Geoff on Marriage Equality Thank you, Fr. Geoff.

The Meadow on a Misty Morning

2011-06-14T12:39:00.001-04:00

Is it just me, or are many of us just depressed, bored, discouraged, weary? We are bombarded by bad news, bad behavior, bad noise, and bad clutter. We can't afford to indulge in simple pleasures like dressing up the garden, going to nice restaurant, or a movie (if you can find a decent one). The only thing that gives me pleasure is a walk with the dog in the woods or meadows. Today we met

One the Tornado Missed

2011-06-06T20:13:00.001-04:00

The possible parallels have already been drawn around Blogovia. The Wicked Witch of the West arrives in New England along with Tornados. But somehow, the twisters missed the bus and no house fell on the wicked witch! Then came her rendition of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere where he "warns the British" that they can't stop the NRA from carrying guns. Now her followers are attempting to

Aftermath of Massachusetts Tornado

2011-06-04T20:05:00.004-04:00

Went to visit our friends in Sturbridge, Massachusetts today. There was considerable tornado damage just a few minutes walk from their house. Mostly trees snapped up and some homes with roof damage. We drove into Sturbridge, Brimfield and toward Munson and saw more damage there. Several roads were closed and we were not able to get to the areas where homes were leveled and blown apart. The

Colors - Pictures added on Saturday 6/4/11

2011-05-31T20:18:00.003-04:00

This variety of Iris is spectacular: the ice blue/violet and white with shinny "crystals" like rhinestones reflecting the sunlight. Mountain Laurel Just Coming into Bloom The Red Maple that Leon Rescued From Someone's Gutter as a Seedling Colors in the garden excite me. Columbine Columbine Iris have always been my favorite flower. Bearded Iris and Siberian Iris and

Time Is Cruel

2011-05-30T19:53:00.000-04:00

Whether you look back... Photo courtesy of Mike D. ...or forward... It doesn't seem like I really know those four guys.

Not Just Your Everyday Walk in The Park - Unless You Live There

2011-05-29T00:20:00.009-04:00

You know when you've "been there" and "done that" so many times you just don't want to go to the same hiking trail, the same lake, the same river, the same restaurant, the same highway. Starting a holiday weekend with the prospect of doing the "same old things", Leon suggested checking out the greenway along the Hudson River in Manhattan for a change. What Were They Thinking? AT&T' Thinks Their