Inaugural Drive

Oh yeah – I DO have a blog!  I almost forgot.

The Chrysler 300’s re-chromed bumpers arrived on my birthday last week (last year the car arrived from Massachusetts on the day of my 40th birthday party) – Scott is really diggin’ my birthday.  I helped him attach the bumpers (yeah, SO helpful – I held up each bumper while he screwed bolts into place).  On Saturday, he spent most of the day re-attaching the back seats and installing the side panels.  I was so helpful – I vacuumed and helped sealing the interior side panels.  I may have screwed in a few chrome pieces with the drill when Scott wasn’t looking.  (Ever since that unfortunate moment with the table saw and the 4×4 post that somehow didn’t kill me, I’ve been banned from (most) power tools.)

We called ahead to Mark and Rommel’s since we were running late, but the majority of the attendees were from San Francisco – they operated on standard gay time, which means that we arrived before almost everyone else.  The inaugural drive down to San Ramon was beautiful.  The car drove a little hot, but Scott says it looks like all gauges read high.  As long as the gauge works, I’m fine.  If the car was a convertible, I would have worn big-ass sunglasses and a babushka.  For reals.

The boys were suitably impressed in a gay-standard “wow, that car is huge – you must be size queens!”  Eighteen and a half feet of Toreador red fabulosity.

Here’s a pic of the car and how it looked a year ago.  The interior was shot, the exterior multi-colored, but the body was solid with very little rust.

I will post NEW pictures this week.  Doesn’t the pic just scream “Boy Wonder”?

Congratulations to Iowa

News Release
For Immediate Release: April 3, 2008
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal
House Speaker Pat Murphy

Iowa continues to be a leader in guaranteeing civil rights.

This is a joint statement from Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy on today’s Supreme Court decision:

“Thanks to today’s decision, Iowa continues to be a leader in guaranteeing all of our citizens’ equal rights.

“The court has ruled today that when two Iowans promise to share their lives together, state law will respect that commitment, regardless of whether the couple is gay or straight.

“When all is said and done, we believe the only lasting question about today’s events will be why it took us so long. It is a tough question to answer because treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa common decency.

“Today, the Iowa Supreme Court has reaffirmed those Iowa values by ruling that gay and lesbian Iowans have all the same rights and responsibilities of citizenship as any other Iowan.

“Iowa has always been a leader in the area of civil rights.

“In 1839, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected slavery in a decision that found that a slave named Ralph became free when he stepped on Iowa soil, 26 years before the end of the Civil War decided the issue.

“In 1868, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated “separate but equal” schools had no place in Iowa, 85 years before the U.S. Supreme Court reached the same decision.

“In 1873, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against racial discrimination in public accommodations, 91 years before the U.S. Supreme Court reached the same decision.

“In 1869, Iowa became the first state in the union to admit women to the practice of law.

“In the case of recognizing loving relationships between two adults, the Iowa Supreme Court is once again taking a leadership position on civil rights.

“Today, we congratulate the thousands of Iowans who now can express their love for each other and have it recognized by our laws.”

_______

The funny sounds in the background are of Mormon leaders gasping for breath.  May their hearts give out, the hintless fucks.

Your Partner

The best kinds of mornings happen when your partner makes breakfast while you’re reading work email.  It gets better when you shower and start getting dressed but can’t iron because the power cord is cut and your partner helps you solder it back together so you can look spiffy in pressed shirt, tie, and slacks.  This, when your partner isn’t feeling too hot and doesn’t complain or bitch and moan like you yourself are prone to do.  You feel like a million bucks when he tells you how nice you look.

When he checks in on you during the day which is filled with meetings, trainings, and more meetings, you smile when you hear the sound of his voice.  You melt when you hear the excitement and encouragement in his voice because your manuscript was accepted at a writing conference. You’re going, and you know that he’ll be with you every step of the way.

History: Obama Landslide

Congratulations to not only the United States, but the entire world.  Finally, a President that uses language and doesn’t butcher and blunder his way through.

If I have to listen to another Bush speech, I’m going to fling myself into a vat of margaritas.

Happy Birthday SML

This is for Sister Mary Lisa who I talked to just a few days ago and I remembered I had seen the very funny picture below on Upright’s site.

Lisa – I wish for you health and happiness.  You are a wonderful friend and I wish only the best for you.  (Note to self to update my calendar with SML’s birthday so that I’m not such a late lame-ass.)

I Did It

I got the job.

I. Got. The. Job.

I would be remiss if I didn’t explain the implied but vastly understated series of exclamation points that follow the end of that last sentence.  Lets not forget the naked happy dance either, with a background stage filled with go-go guys (I hate saying “boys”) in skimpy shorts or briefs, and seven rounds of chilled tequila shooters.  Nor the loud music and laughter and whooping shouts of “oh yes!”

I gave two weeks notice on Friday.

I start the new gig on June 9th.  Since I’m going back to private industry, I’ll do something sensible for a change and not be blogging about work-related issues in the future.

Suffice to say it’s a great opportunity, the compensation is generous, the benefits are great, and I’m going new laptop shopping (compliments of the new gig).  I may have a small commute, but I’ll put the laptop to good use while I use the Bay Area Rapid Transit.

I wanted to write a post that didn’t sound like I was gloating, but failed miserably.  I’m so happy I could burst!

Good and Bad

I had a very funny post written and I saved it to preview, and WordPress deleted it/couldn’t find it.  God.Damn.It.  Instead of trying to recreate something that cracked myself up, I’ll just tell you:

I got the job offer for the interim two-month director position (which doesn’t officially open until February 1, which will not officially close until they paper screen, interview, and hire sometime before April 1 – and this was fast tracked, folks – YOUR tax dollars at work)!

**insert picture of a happy dance, here**

There are quite a few cons, but the weight of the pros dictate that I take up the challenge (because it’s not going to be easy by any means), that I give it my best shot at effectively leading, training and directing (and catching the department up to speed on process improvement and automation, not to mention basics like sorting within Excel, formulas, and the use of email as a way to communicate (instead of the Pony Express or the use of smoke signals – and I edited my uber-catty comments because I’m practicing benevolence – PRACTICING).  This interim position does not guarantee or imply any assurances if I do apply for the permanent position (of course I’ll apply!).  If I don’t get the permanent job, I go back to my regular job, which has been awesome since they hired my new manager several months ago – and he’s faboo.

One cannot sell out if they’ve already admitted they’re a data whore.  Besides, baby needs new shoes.

Second Blogiversary

Look what happens when you’re gearing up for winter quarter and worrying too much about work things (which are just things), and not properly blogging, as in writing an occasional snippet, being creative, or sharing part of who you are. My second blogiversary has come and gone – the date I kicked off the blog via Blogger was on January 11th. I remember thinking about it over the weekend, and I went so far as to find a really sexy picture or something celebratory to go with it, but that’s all I did – “think about it.” Thought does not action make – a lesson I know by heart, but every once in a while I curiously watch myself think about things and still do nothing but think about it.

This second year of blogging was the year that almost wasn’t. I wrote less in year II than in year I (and is it just me, or do roman numerals remind you of the Star Wars episodes?). I did some creative writing, but writing turned into soul-searching questions of “is writing what I want to do?” or “what is it that I want to do?” or “why don’t I know what I want to do?”, etc. Yes, year II was the year of the existential, the year of questioning, the year of being an emotional hermit. Ironically, this past yea is the year I met the majority of fellow bloggers – amazing people, every single one of them.

The past year was about reaching out across the miles and connecting with people I wouldn’t have met, otherwise. Blogging has made my offline world more rich and satisfying. When the world is sometimes too much, blogging is a space where I can chunk issues down into single words that make up sentences and haphazard paragraphs that bring me back to myself – and you fantastic friends are right there with me. Thank you for being a part of my light, my life, my world.

Before I get maudlin and melodramatic, we now return to our irregularly scheduled appreciation of the male form – no penii here, he’s towel-clad (barely). As an aside, I’ve posted near-naked pics here, but have as yet to post a penis. One thing I’ve learned in my years is that sometimes imagination is better than seeing the real thing (‘cuz trust me, I’ve seen plenty of dicks in my time (and dated a few)). Without further ado, here’s a studmuffin against the ruins:

Best of 2007, part deux

We had a very nice evening with friends in San Ramon. The food was amazing and the champagne and wine were superb. Somehow through relationship osmosis, Scott absorbed my hangover – I feel great, but he’s moving. very. sloooow.

Following are my best-of linky links for the second half of 2007, the criteria being the posts that I enjoyed writing the most. (I’ve discovered more posts that didn’t migrate, so I’ve got my work cut out for me in getting those fixed.)

July: TLC inspired a poem using Enigma song titles. In between music and whoring new MeMes, I wrote the last episode (XII) to Seasons, so far. I wrestled a few demons and discovered that I’m not quite as jaded as I thought I was.

August: After posting socially unacceptable jokes, I waxed about what blogging means to me because I was in the post-glow haze of meeting other bloggers. Before starting classes again, I tried to get organized. Once class started, I outed myself, which was both anti-climactic yet affirming.

September: Work angst was increasing and I was cracking – the effects of constant battles over 8 years. At the time, I had huge doubts about a project proposal, but based on results of the last several months, it has more than paid for itself, both materialistically and emotionally. Add in news about my father having prostate cancer. Throw in an ex-boyfriend and his text from out-of-the-blue. By mid-month, I just wanted to find a cave and hibernate.

October: More family trauma with an uncle in the hospital, a too-short trip to Utah, Julz visited, I get grilled with Wry’s wonderful questions, and I feel virginal again by posting 13 firsts.

November: The dream meme helped me fortify for the next few months. My internal and external conflicts were explored in Two Darks. More internal fortification, done through happy places and happy thoughts. I migrated to WordPress. I challenged myself at the gym. A blogger I admire very much inspired this hat tip regarding self-acceptance and sexuality.

December: I finally finished that stained glass rose for Mom and Pa. Work became increasingly hostile and hectic and I crammed to read two books in four days for my Brit Lit final. I kept running into gym bunnies with an attitude. SML started something incredible with her thoughts on life without fear. Finally, beyond this blog, my life is full and beautiful because of the people in my life, such as you.

Happy 2008, dear ones.

Best of 2007

First off, let’s talk numbers. I knew that I hadn’t done so well blogging this year (173 posts) as opposed to 2006 (248 posts), a difference of 75 posts. I averaged 20 posts a month in 2006, and dropped to 14 posts a month in 2007. Because I’m a guy, and because everything comes down to numbers and inches, I can say that the blog visits increased each month to over 2K at their peak before I decided I could care less about the length and girth of this internet hardon. Actually, I switched to WordPress and am not using Sitemeter or any other hit counter except what’s provided by WordPress, which is a whole different set of numbers to fondle. Suffice to say that I’m happy with the moans and groans of you dear readers. I’m done with numbers now.

Let’s get a firm grasp of the prior year. Allow me to summarize my best-of with linky-links for the first half of 2007. My criteria for favorite being that these are posts I enjoyed writing the most.

January: I had a lot of fun writing 50 Facts, thanks to Pokerspice, who has disappeared from these here internets – if you’re reading this, Pokerspice, drop a line! Poetry is not my forté, but I managed to pull together a post about Why I Love Poetry.

February: I wrote an essay about Poetry and Prose. My muse was in high gear, since I posted two episodes (VI and VII) of my long-neglected series, Season of Truth.

March: More poetry, inspired in part by upcoming travels and conferences, starting with I-Tunes Shuffle. Color me shocked, but I was still on great terms with my muse because I did two more episodes this month: VIII and IX. THE highlight of the month was meeting DC Rushhour who is fab.u.lous!

April: I’m an April Fool, not born on the 1st, but I get excited each year to celebrate a day when I could very well have not been born at all. My writing inspirations were coming from weekly word prompts, and I played along with “light,” “duck,” and “miss.”

May: There was so much going on with family – I could have been in multiple states for multiple reasons because family members were either recovering or in hospitals – and everyone is just fine now, thank you very much. The highlight of May was going to Wyoming and spending too short of a time in Thermopolis and having the extremely good fortune to meet the one and only SML **insert picture of a happy dance, here!** Over the next few days, I had epiphany after epiphany about families and family roots. Who said this stubborn Scorpio-mooned man can’t have a change of heart – I wrote about my brother’s birthday, too.

June: I kicked off Gay Pride month with Pride Tips. It’s our anniversary month, and I posted the script of our commitment ceremony from 2005. Also, I played the trés, trés, gay host to Carnival of the Veil, here and here.

That, dear ones, is it for now. We’re heading to friends’ tonight for dinner, drinks, and New Year’s celebrations. Tomorrow morning, when we get up, I’ll either jump out of a cake or make Scott breakfast since it’s his birthday. When I’m suitably sober and caffeinated, I’ll wrap up the rest of 2007. Happy New Year!