Memorial Day Weekend is Oooooverrrrrr!!!!

It's late, we just finished up with dinner and friends and I realize that I haven't made much of a presence here this weekend at all. I have been a lurker on some blogs, just when I had a free moment here and there, but not much on the comments. This weekend is officially over. I can't believe that this is the end of May. Where has the time gone?

Friday, Nick and I went to see Star Wars Episode III. I'm glad I prepared myself mentally for the dialogue and it's pathetic delivery. Seeing this film is kind of the conclusion of something I guess. I remember the first time I saw Star Wars. I went with my Uncle Jim one summer when I was visiting my Mom for vacation.

Saturday we went to breakfast at our now regular spot and then I spent the rest of the day working in the yard. I know, I know, I said I would update the blog with new photo's and stuff, and I fully intended to do so. But I didn't do it, even though it's been almost an entire month since the last update. I will get there. I know I will.

Sunday, I spent the entire day of course at the nursery, cleaning, arranging and just enjoying myself. I was so tired last night when I got home, but in a good way.

Today, we went to breakfast again, at the now regular spot. Oh but before that, we did go and meet up with a friends husband at the nursery, because we needed his truck to bring home my newest acquisition, a clump white birch. It's lovely!!! Afterwards, I went and did grocery shopping for tonights feast. The menu tonight was Thai Bar BQ Chicken, Garbanzo Bean Salad and Grilled Asparagus. For Dessert I grilled Pineapple skewers that were sprinkled with demurera sugar and then we dipped them in chocolate rum sauce. It was pretty darn tastey. The company is gone, the kitchen is cleaned up, the dishwasher is loaded and running. Nick and Harlow are in bed watching television waiting for me to finish.

It's been a pretty nice weekend all and all I really must say. Thanks for all the visits and the wonderful comments. I love you bloggies! You make this all worth while.

I've got nothin' today...

I can't find any thoughts to convey to you at all. Today is a good day to stop. Stand still, breath and let life move around you. See it, sense it with all your senses.

I'll be at the nursery today, identifying new plants and adding 'fiscata' to the names of everything in honor of amanda b..

This is what I look like on Sundays at my church standing with my congregation.

Pooper Friday!

I'm afraid I've been terribly lax with the Project Greenthumb blog of late. It started when I got the crud, then the weather took a dive, but I assure you that I have not forgotten. I will make a HUGE effort to update and post new photo's of the progress. Kristine, there is COLOR in the garden.

So for now, I give you your Pooper Friday.

How to make me love you even more....

Place a .wmv file in the middle of my desktop and title it 'Play Me.wmv'. So I played the file and it's a song titled 'Making Memories of Us' by Keith Urban from his new album 'Be Here'.

Keith Urban - Making Memories Of Us Lyrics

I'm gonna be here for you baby
I'll be a man of my word
Speak the language in a voice that you have never heard
I wanna sleep with you forever
And I wanna die in your arms
In a cabin by a meadow where the wild bees swarm

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us

I wanna honor your mother
I wanna learn from your pa
I wanna steal your attention like a bad outlaw
I wanna stand out in a crowd for you
A man among men
I wanna make your world better than it's ever been

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us

We'll follow the rainbow
Wherever the four winds blow
And there'll be a new day
Comin' your way

I'm gonna be here for you from now on
This you know somehow
You've been stretched to the limits but it's alright now
And I'm gonna make you a promise
If there's life after this
I'm gonna be there to meet you with a warm, wet kiss
Yes I am

And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us
I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you baby
And I'll win your trust making memories of us

Breath in...breath out...breath in...breath out...repeat.

It seems there are a lot of ups and downs going on all over blogland today. I myself have been riding the bucking bronco of emotional ups and downs the last several days. Tonight I was greeted with wonderful news, as my bloggie friend who was recently in the hospital for heart surgery has returned home and is back among us again. It's so nice to have the day end on a great note. Welcome Homo August95!!! It's not the same without you, I'm so glad you're back.

I'm not sure how to talk about the latest developments in my own life, so I'm going to leave those things alone...for now. I think I just need to macerate in the feelings and thoughts for a while until I can come up with a suitable way to talk about it here...or not.

I think it's interesting how you grow and develop with another individual. I spent so many years wondering if I would ever be in a relationship of any merit, and now I find myself up to my eyeballs with all kinds of things relationship driven. Before I met Nick, I was with another man...let's call him D. for the sake of this exercise. When D. and I met it was very obvious that we had great chemistry together. He made me laugh and I made him...uh...happy, ya that's it. One thing that never matured though was my desire for him. We had all the trappings of the perfect life, but I wasn't IN LOVE with him. I loved him dearly and I never ever wanted to hurt him. I spent a great deal of time in therapy working through a lot of my issues hoping that by tackling my issues, I would be able to let him in and be happier. What I failed to realize is that D. had a whole truck load of issues of his own that he kept parked out back, hidden away where no one could see. Long story short here, I had to finally leave him. It was one of the single hardest times of my life, but at the same time, I found myself breathing again. I think I was holding my breath for 2 years.

I spent a good amount of time to myself in my studio apartment in downtown Portland. I had no tv, only a stereo tuner and cd player. I listened to U2 and David Gray a lot. One thing that kept bogging me down was the idea that I had failed at my relationship. He would call me on the phone and scream at me for hurting him and I would take it because I did hurt him, it was my fault. It took some time before I began to let up on myself, but he soon found a new boyfriend and I was happy for him. Several months later I was to meet Nick for the first time and my life would be forever changed.

As I said in other posts and in my interview, I met Nick online. We had a long courtship you might say, rather, a long distance courtship, with one or the other making the trip between Seattle and Portland every weekend for 3 years. It was not an easy courtship in some ways, and I was glad to have the distance in the beginning, but as time wore on and events took place, I began to yearn for more. You would of thought that this would of been an easy natural progression for a relationship of 3 years, but in fact it was a struggle of immense proportions. Neither of us wanted to give up what we had. Arguments were hashed out, proposals put forward, pro's and con's for one over the other and vice versa. I kept thinking that I was going to win this, but in the end it became obvious that he was not able to move. I realized that I was holding on to more than was really reasonable and soon gave in, with stipulations of course. I wasn't going to go there with nothing. Hell no.

Because he is the man that he is, he met all the prerequisites fully and as promised, I came to Seattle. It has been a little over a year now, and things have been good. We have had our ups and downs and what I call growth moments. The other week I was having a discussion with someone about relationships and the whole TRUST thing. She was talking about how hard it was to give your heart over to someone so completely after having your heart tromped by another. I do know what it's like to have your heart broken, but I also know what it's like to break another person's heart. What I realized is that my issue with TRUST was not in trusting someone else to care for my heart, but whether or not I could TRUST myself to take care of another person's heart again. I was all fired up and excited about the idea of being together at last, nesting and cooing, but I soon encountered my issue with TRUST and the second party.

That whole experience with D. was so hard. I experienced a part of me that I am not proud of. I scared myself by some of the things that I did. I did not like that person that I had to become in order to make the break from that situation. Now whenever I'm faced with even the remotest possibility of that happening, I go into protection mode. Detach. Distance. Defend. I have been guilty of detaching and distancing, because I feared a threat to my relationship recently. I knew what I needed to do was to confront and be offensive, but I chose to take the defensive position and all it did was draw out the problem.

Last Friday, I took the issue head on and I found myself in a place of understanding and acceptance for our situation. There was no reason for the distance and defense. But like all things, this was just the opening for more. Today resumed more discussion and understanding and again, I was reminded that there is no reason to fear, but reason to TRUST.

I'm so fortunate to have found someone that loves me for who I am. I am still overwhelmed that he TRUSTS me with his heart, because it is truly a humbling experience for me. He is so loving and understanding, even when understanding is so difficult because of where I come from in my life. His patience with me and his willingness to try, humble me and remind me to breath. Just breath.

I'm learning to be better at love and trust. Nicholas, thank you for being the man that you are. You give me too much credit for our relationship, you are a big part of that success and support. I'm so glad we found each other and I promise to try harder. I love you with all my heart and I'm so glad that you're mine.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it....

Once again, amanda b. has posted an interview with a local bloggie, only this time it was me. She makes me sound much too good, but I think she's partial to redheads. You can catch this week's up close and personal interview here.

This photo was taken by Nick yesterday at the nursery. The leaf is from a Gunnera and each leaf is approximately 3-4 feet across and this one here was about 5 ft high. There was one that was taller at about 7ft at the tip.

Gratitude

Today is a day of gratitude for me personally.

I want to express gratitude for the comments for August95, last night we received good news in that she is out of ICU, though still clearly in pain and feeling nauseous. I'm hoping for more good news today that the nausea has passed so she can rest better.

Thank you for all the get well's for myself as well. I am over the food poisoning.

I wanna say how thankful I am for friendship both near and far. This last week proved to be challenging on more than one front, and I seriously don't know what I would of done without you dear friends, you know who you are. You are proof that no matter how far, love has no limits or boundaries. Thank you for loving me so much, for giving me courage to face life everyday.

I want to thank my best friend for coming through for me on Friday. You have no idea what your love, your commitment and support mean to me. I cannot fathom my life with out you. Thank you for finding a way to help me understand, for trusting me enough. I love you so much.

We all have something to be grateful for everyday. I hope you share your gratitude today with someone, even if you did it just yesterday. We can never let them know enough how much they mean

Pooper Friday Postponed...for today only!

I'm foregoing Pooper Friday today, because today one of my fellow bloggies is having heart surgery, more specifically, valve replacement surgery. I want all my non-work oriented thoughts to be on her, her husband and family as they wait for this day to finish. I promise to resume regular broadcasting next week.

If you have the time or the inclination, stop by to offer well wishes and positive vibes, prayers and general good will to my friend at The Walk or otherwise known as "August95"

Today is proving to be a challenge on more than one front. Thanks for all the get well wishes gang. I'm on the mend with the food poisoning ordeal now and back at work today with my back log of shit.

We have a Mo down! I repeat...Mo down!

Ugh! I posted about my Pop getting food poisoning yesterday, and now I think that's what happened to me yesterday afernoon. I went to lunch with a co-worker at a mexican restaraunt and later that afternoon, I was paying homage to the porcelin god.

I'm taking it easy today gang. I'll catch up later on tonight maybe. I think the pooper and I are gonna go take a nap.

SPD with a Friend

Mount St. Helen's 25th Anniversary

Today is a memorable day in the minds of a lot of native Northwest peeps, as it is the day that Mount St. Helens erupted 25 years ago. I was in the 7th grade in White Salmon, WA back then. All along we had been watching the events of her immanent eruption week after week. I'll never forget when the ash cloud moved over and turned everything grey. While I was rummaging through my keepsakes this last weekend I came upon my baby food jar of ash with my hand written lable "Mount St. Helen's Ash May 18th, 1980". For years after, when ever we were moving our woodpile around, every now and then we would find more ash.

My father spent two years building the Johnston Ridge Observatory. He would stay up there during the week and each Friday night make the journey home to be with us for the weekend, only to leave again early Monday morning. One weekend my Mom and I decided to go there for the weekend so Dad didn't have to come home. We thought that we would treat him with a bar bq dinner of chicken and potato salad. We had a lousy little briquette burner and we had nothing to really cook with up there, but we thought we had done a pretty good job, that is until we cut into the chicken. Mom and I immeadiatly realized that it was still underdone, but Dad insisted it was fine. We popped ours into the microwave for a couple minutes anyway. Needless to say, Dad ended up sicker than a dog that night and we probably ruined his whole weekend. Given a choice now, he most likely would beg us to stay home, and drive himself home.

Food poisoning by his family would prove to be the least of his worries from working up there. Ash is made up of micro fine particles of mica or glass. Because there were no trees for miles around, the wind blew constantly there, stirring up the ash in a constant haze. Add to that, the amount of digging and excavation involved and you begin to realize the problem. The workers were required to wear surgical masks, but this was ineffective over the long term. My Dad and several others ended up with severe coughs as a result of breathing that into their lungs. His lungs are full of scar tissue now. He no longer works construction, he's a log truck driver now and loves it. It's a lot easier on his body and he loves being up there in the mountains bright and early so he can see the wildlife and scenery.

As I monitor reports of the current activity on the mountain, I keep hoping that she will put on another display of Mother Nature's strength and creative abilities. It's so amazing, that power to devastate and destroy with one blast, but even more amazing is the speed in which life returned to the mountain.

Where were you when Mount St. Helen's erupted?

Google Me How?

I'm the #4 Search Result for

Rick Rick Rick Amy Poehler SNL

In Honor of Closet Metro

The Dude is a hardcore fan of Lucas and this was left by one of Metro's many fans in his comment section. Try it out for youselves. Who's your Star Wars Character?

Star Wars Horoscope for Aries

Like many aries, you have demonstrated your penchant for inflicting pain. You feel you are at the center of the universe and that you must be in control. You enjoy being a leader... and you find that your aggression and quick temper serve you well. Star wars character you are most like: The Emperor

What is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

New Look!!!

The first thing I want to do is to echo the sentiment that was expressed by Kristine. We write about our feelings, our experiences and we never really know what our readers are going through day to day unless they comment. Sometimes we as writers are touched and inspired by other writers (this is the case a lot for me)and unless someone mentions it, it goes unnoticed for the most part.

Kristine, thank you for the recognition and the friendship here. Thank you for pimping me hardcore with this beautiful new look. You did this out of pure generosity with out even realizing that we were celebrating 4 years of commitment. The timing could not of been better.

To all my other bloggies, known and unknown (I'm talking to you lurkers, those who read or drift by with out making yourselves known. I know your there, I have my ways. Hi Mom.*wink*), I want you to know that I'm always impressed and always touched by your generosity, your kindness and your constant willingness to show support and encouragement not only towards me but to those who need it. Thank you for making me laugh at life's little moments, especially when it seems like the most inappropriate times (in my cubicle).

I love taking pictures and finding a way to make use of them. Blogging has given me a new lease of sorts, especially being so far from friends and family. What I didn't anticipate was that there would be a community of friends here as well.

Thank you for that. You just never know how much you can impact a persons day by saying something positive and supportive. Even when you look at a perfect stranger and smile as you go by. I have a new route to work now because of that singular thing. I used to take the 405 to work every morning, but one day, I decided to try a back way into work and I was rewarded with the simplest pleasure. Along the way, I pass through Kirkland, which is situated on Lake Washington. There is an older/elderly gentleman who walks every morning in his red and white running suit and as he passes other walkers and joggers he raise his hand above his shoulder and enthusiastically waves and says good morning with a big smile. Not only does he do this to other pedestrians, but he also acknowledges the motorists too. I've taken to opening my sunroof and waving back. It's terrific. It's the simplest gesture and yet it is so memorable.

So your challenge this week, is to smile at anyone who glances your way, you can even say 'hi', improvise, be creative. Who knows, someone might make a comment about it to someone they know, "today this person smiled and waved at me for no reason. It was so strange, but I liked it". It's a sad state of things that something so common, so everyday as a stranger just smiling and waving at you can cause you the slightest bit of discomfort or uncertainty...Like what's your motive dude?

Keep up the great job everyone. You totally RAWK my blogdom!

Memory Lane....(dialing my therapist now)

As I was preparing to leave the house yesterday morning to head of to work for the day at the nursery, my phone rang. It was the nursery calling to say that it was pouring buckets there and that it wasn't going to let up today. So I ended up staying home. Within 15 minutes, it was pouring buckets outside my door too. It rained a good portion of the day, so I was stuck inside with Harlow. Nick left for the day to go play with his friends, so I had the house to myself.

I went downstairs to grab some boxes that had been set aside for me to go through and started rifling through years of letters, papers, photos and ended up taking a long walk down several memory lanes.

One box had 2 years worth of missionary memorabilia. I couldn't believe the things I kept. I sorted through most of it and finally threw some of it out. It just had no relevance anymore. It was interesting how removed my life has become from those days as a missionary where my life was all about the teachings of Christ, getting along with my companion, trying to meet new people to teach and trying not to feel home sick. Looking through the bundles of letters from my parents and friends was very sentimental, especially when there was the occasional letters from my Dad. You have to know, in order to understand, that my father is not a big writer. So to get a long letter from him was something to treasure. I know I would read and re read letters from him and Mom. I had to laugh yesterday, because on the outside of one of his letters, he had drawn a picture of an elk head on the envelope with hunting season underneath and a map of the area on both sides. You have to see it, and you have to know my Dad to get it I guess. He loves hunting season and I loved going with him just to spend the time with him and to be out in the woods. I was a terrible hunter, but I had been hunting with my father since I was very young. They are some of the best memories I have with him.

In another bundle were the letters written to me by one young woman who I thought (at the time)that I was destined to marry. You have to understand Mormon beliefs and ideas to understand that, but in a nutshell, it's the idea that you have a predetermined mate in this life that you knew and loved in the pre-existence. I thought that this girl was that for me. In retrospect, I realize that I wanted that to be the case, because it would have meant that I wasn't gay. It would of given me the 'normal' life that I wanted so badly. She figured out for herself that I was not to be her future, and so she broke up with me. It was by far the worst feeling of my life at that time. I thought I would never recover from that experience. I carried a torch for her for almost a year and half. I don't know why I keep those letters, or her pictures( I have three framed photo's of her). But I do, I very gently wrapped them back up in their papers and very reverently placed them back in the box along with the letters from her and my mission. It's funny, I'm a gay man who has all these 'love' letters in a box with photo's of the only woman he has ever loved. I did love her, I loved the idea of loving her for eternity. I guess it's mourning a life that I wanted, but never achieved. I realize now that it would have never worked out, I would of eventually been undone emotionally by it. She is married and a mother of 3 or 4 now. I know that she is happy and so am I, for both of us.

In the second box there were bundles of photo's that I have taken over the course of 10+ years. It amazes me now to look at the pictures I took. There were not very many that had people in them, and that is the case still today. My photo's were mostly scenic vistas or images of flowers and animals. There are photos of people too, but the ratio is pretty scary. Where are the photos of the people in my life? There were so many envelopes of photos I hadn't seen in years and years. I decided to sort them by location and events. It took me all day to just get a basic sort done. Nick took me to Target when he got home later that day so I could pick up some photo boxes. My next pass through will be to throw away the photos that have no relevance and to write information on the backs of the ones that do.

Among the photos that I took, were old photos of me when I was very little. Susie had requested that I post a photo of me as youngster some time ago, and so I set up my tripod and digital camera and took photos of photos yesterday. It works! (thanks Kristine, for the idea)So here's a few photos of yours truly. Enjoy the show...

My aunt and me circa 1969 or 1970. We are 5 years apart. My Mother was the oldest and my aunt the youngest.


My step-sister Cissy and I. Probably 1972-ish or later.


My aunt and I at Northwestern Lake.


Me on Beauty. This pony was not a nice pony at all. See my aunt's arm?


And lastly...the original cast of "Stand By Me" or "The Little Rascals", you decide. Can you pick me out of the crowd now?

Simple Beauty

In thinking about today's Inspirational Post, I was looking through my recent photos and I came across this little gem. I believe, not certain, but think that this is a member of the geranium family. I see it blooming every where right now in the woodlands and this particular one was blooming up at Snoqualamie Falls.

I remember walking by it and having to stop. Something about it was so compelling and I knew that it was the perfect picture, or I at least hoped it would be. Something about it's dainty perfection was so sweet and enjoyable. It was blooming in a shady wet location next to the boardwalk almost at eye level, as there is a steep hillside that boarders the walk. It felt like I was being greeted with a smile and it made me smile to look at it.

May you convey something so simple and yet so profound as to offer a smile to anyone who will look, but may you also receive a smile in return for your willingness to be just as you are, perfect, sweet and enjoyable.

Stuff Portrait Day

I missed out on this earlier, well, not really, but that's okay.

My Hair Products....I think the only one to really appreciate this one will be Spoony-licious.



Something Ugly hanging on my wall....Nick is going to see this and HUFF real loud y'all. REAL LOUD!!!



My Prized Worldly Possession...If you do not own an iPod, you are not lesser for it, you cannot miss what you do not have. That being said, IF you own an iPod, then you know that your world is richer for it. I LOVE my iPod. I know, I know, it's so trendy, it's so expensive. People, I would put this up with the D70, god willing I get someday, as the thing that makes my life richer. Honey, that D70 will make my life richer. You know it will.

Pooper Friday!

One of the things I love about Harlow and sometimes really makes me question her intelligence, is her ability to turn just about anything into a toy. She loves the big water bottle with the suit case like handle on it. She will play with it for weeks and entice you to 'try' and take it from her. When you go down the back stairwell to go into the garage, she will drop it down the stairs with the total intent for you, the source of all things glorious, to throw up and out into the yard to her total enjoyment. At which point, she returns, drops it down the stairs again with that hollow empty plastic jug crashing down over and over as long as you're willing to do it. I'm not sure which is more fun for her, Keep Away or Fetch. The total and complete intensity with which she approaches both activities is borderline NUTZ!!!

Not only will she turn anything into a toy, but should you show any indication that you have tired of one of her many objects, she will immeadiatly discard that one and promptly provide you with another option. Her commitment to HER enjoyment is tireless to say the least.

Bathroom Eyes SPD

Did I do it right?

If I Lived in South Park...

I might look something like this. But if you want to see me in action go see amanda b., she totally took the ball and ran with it. It's very funny!



Go HERE to create your own.

If I Could Be...

I was tagged again, but this time it is excrement free. Thanks to August95 for the fun task.

The rules are simple when you're tagged.

Choose 5 items from the list to write about.

Tag 3 other individuals when you're done.

The theme is, as you can see, "If I could be..."

If I could be a scientist, I would devote my life to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS and work to provide this cure to the world and not just the privileged few with insurance.

If I could be a farmer
If I could be a musician
If I could be a doctor
If I could be a painter
If I could be a gardener
If I could be a missionary
If I could be a chef
If I could be an architect
If I could be a linguist
If I could be a psychologist
If I could be a librarian
If I could be an athlete

If I could be a lawyer I would want to represent those people who are fighting for equal rights like same sex marriage, same sex adoption.

If I could be an inn-keeper

If I could be a professor, I would want to teach world history or literature. I would try to inspire minds to open up and to see that there is more to life than television and the media. I would try to inspire minds to delve into their own experiences and fine commonality with the characters in our history and in literature and to develop ways of understanding who we are as a result.

If I could be a writer
If I could be a llama-rider

If I could be a bonnie pirate, I would sail the oceans of the world and recruit exotic and beautiful men from distant lands to run my ship. Every year there would be a calendar of said men to help finance my voyages, but I digress. All members of my crew would be appropriately clad in their skin tight capri's and nothing else.

If I could be an astronaut I would want to be the first human to make contact with another race/intelligent life form.

If I could be a world famous blogger
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world

If I could be married to any current famous political figure.

Okay, that's it for me, now it's time to tag 3 unsuspecting victims of my own.

I PICK!!!

Bucky, because I'm dying to know what she would pick.

Closet Metro, because I know he has a little more free time at the moment. Hopefully not for too much longer though.

And last but not least...

Susie, because she alluded to needing new material for her blog.

U.K. Invades Kenmore Home

Wow! What a weekend. It was truly enjoyable. As is usual with these kinds of events, there was plenty of food and drink and lots of good conversation and laughter. We spent Saturday in Downtown Seattle and on Capitol Hill. Pike Street Market is always a good place to see beautiful flowers and smelly fish. The same is true for people as well. You get to see and smell a lot there.

We went to the new library in downtown. If you're in Seattle and you walk by this building of glass, go inside. It's amazing architecture and very modern. This was taken from the 7th floor. The entire thing is made of sustainable materials. Well, almost all of it.



After trapesing around downtown, we headed up to Capitol Hill and to Volunteer Park for a view of the city and the water. We really lucked out with the weather, it was cloudy but with lots of sun breaks.



Sunday we took a road trip to Snoqualamie Falls. It's only a 30 minute drive from Seattle and a must see on any visit.



It was during this visit to the falls that I had my first sighting of the elusive and somewhat shy Nikon D70. At first I didn't believe Nick when he said, "hey there's that camera you like." I looked around quickly trying to see what he was talking about. There were so many people and it was on the move. My predator instincts took over and I started tracking it's movements, waiting for any signs of weakness or slowing. Finally, it stopped and the masses of people cleared away. I had a clear shot and I knew my time was limited before it would start moving again. I looked this way and that and then at Nick. He knew what was next, "I'll be back" I said and I pounced.



The events that transpired next are not for the faint of heart. It was hedonistic, it was euphoric...it was geek-a-rific times 10. This gentleman and his offspring (seen here in the lower left decrying what has now befallen him. I seem to remember an oy vey or ay carumba, not again.)fell quickly into my trap. He was very willing however, to share his love of the D70. But this is where things went beyond any that I had ever imagined and I felt my heart skip a beat. He let me hold it, he encouraged me to take a photo with it. IT WAS RAPTURE!!! When he clicked the shutter rapidly like 6 times to show how fast it was, my knees went weak. It was love people. I'm so gonna get one...some how, some day.

This was just a few of the high lights from this weekend. The best parts for me were the laughing and long conversations. If you've ever just met someone and felt like you've known them your whole life and then months later upon seeing them again felt like an everyday occurance, then you know how I/we feel about these lovely, adorable men who came into our lives again. They are just two of the nicest and most charming people and we loved sharing our home with them. More over, we look forward to continuing this new friendship and going to see them someday. Thank you for the great weekend Adrian and Pepy. It was oh so hard to let you go this morning. Here's to a wonderful rest of you vacation.

Happy Mothers Day...

To You.

Susie has written a wonderful post about "Mothering" that I highly recommend reading today. If you read my posts, then you know what a struggle today is. So I leave you with this link to Susie and a little something I picked up for you at the Pike Street Market yesterday. Thank you for all your love and support, for being Mothers in your own way.

Aaahhh...Clean House

THERE IS NOTHING and I mean NOTHING more wonderful than a clean house. The Boys are here and we had a nice evening at home with salmon, asperagus, pasta salad and wine. Today is downtown Seattle with Pike Street Market, Space Needle, Capitol Hill just to name a few. But first things first, I have to take the girls to the field. It's almost 7am, so I better get crackin'.

Pooper Party Friday!!!

This weekend and next week, we have another special house guest, her name is Rosie and she's Harlow Gal Pal if you will. Last night was the first night and I liken it to a teenage slumber party repleat with pillow fights and giggling. They were so tired but they just wouldn't go to bed. I predict that by the time this is over, Harlow will lapse into a three day coma. I don't think she slept more than 4 hours last night. How do I know that? Because I don't think I slept more than 4 hours last night. I had to keep seperating them and making each go back to their corners.

It's morning now and they are playing again. I have house to clean and laundry to do before our U.K. guests get here. I was outside till almost dark mowing the lawn. It's going to be a busy weekend and I doubt I'll be on here much after today. So don't dispair, I'm still here...just gonna be entertaining and having myself a good time. I'll be sure to report all about it later.

So with out any further delay, I give you your Pooper Friday.









Oh boy...it's gonna be a long day.

Just SPD!

He's not a poet, and he know's it

I've been tagged by HDL to wax poetic.

Turd in a punch bowl
See how we gravitate
Turd in a punch bowl
wonder twin powers activate

Here are the rules for Turd Poetry 101:
1. Write a four line poem with the 1st and 3rd lines being "turd in a punch bowl"
2. Make lines 2 and 4 rhyme, using any topic
3. Tag three other bloggin' bitches, and force them at cyber gunpoint to post a turd topic on THEIR blog.

I hearby TAG the following: Doc Ern, John Boy and klog (a.k.a. Kelli)

From Intollerance...

On April 25th, I wrote the following:
Intollerance+Love=Understanding

At the end of that post, I said that I would willingly answer questions about my homosexuality or what it means to me. As a result, the following question was posed to me.

My question: from those of the "angry" persuasion...will you/would you, be criticized, disrespected, etc., for taking the kind of stand that you take in this post, for trying to reach out, rather than ridicule and condemn? I have seen such things happen with issues of racial prejudice, when one person of a minority approaches the issue more gently than those with a more militant style.

I have to throw a disclaimer in here, as I feel very strongly that what I may say here may upset some of my persuasion. My views and opinions do not reflect those of other card-carrying members of the MoNation. The opinions and ideas expressed here are solely those of one stunningly good-looking redheaded male who loves...oh wait, where was I going? Oh right...the ideas and opinions expressed here are mine and only mine.

I have encountered angry Mo's in my time as an openly gay man. I'm certain that there are those individuals or groups that may look at my opinion or this post and feel that I'm terribly naive about the ways of people and the world. They may even criticize me for these thoughts and ideas. Would they put a mark on me and seek to have me culled from the pack or revoke my membership, I highly doubt it. I don't believe that my ideas or thoughts in that post are provocative enough to draw that kind of fire.

I think the interesting thing about gays and lesbians in general, is that they embody such a diverse group of individuals. One of the great successes of the Civil Rights Movement was the unification of a group of people that gripped a nation. I don't believe that you can get that kind of unification out of Gays and Lesbians. We are just to disparate, to fractured to ever mount that kind of momentum. I can't possibly imagine the movement that 'could be', should gays and lesbians across the U.S. unite in that kind of fashion. It would be amazing, but it would mean coming out of the closet for a lot of individuals. Can you imagine the scene? You would have literally every walk of life unified, White, Black, Asian, Latino...banker, wall street broker, lawyer, doctor, researcher, porn star (though a good number are also straight actors in gay porn),rock star, teachers, ministers....truckers, bikers, fireman, cops...senators, representatives, lobbyist...soldiers, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.

I believe that this is what makes the injustice of denying Gays and Lesbians basic rights the hardest to understand from this point of view. Everyone knows someone that is gay, even if they don't know it yet. Gay people are everywhere and they work side by side with you. They pay taxes. They contribute to society. They have families that they love, they own homes, and they are bringing value to property and you know it. It's called expendable income people and we like to fix things up. It seems at every turn that society is willing to profit from us, but not willing to give us the same as everyone. We spend money people. We don't have kids, or very few of us do. We invest in our homes. How do you think Homo Depot stays in business?

Think about this...if you leagalize marriage for gays and lesbians there are a lot of individuals out there that would go all out for that event. Do you realize what that can mean for local economies? Do the math...you know how much you spent on dresses, tuxes, gifts, locations and honeymoons. I know this seems a little on the material side, and truly it is about the spirit of the issue that I most care about. But do you see the problem?

At any rate, I believe I answered the question earlier in this post. Some individuals would probably lump some other less disirable groups in the list of potential representatives of the MoNation, and they would be correct in those. I guess I look at it this way, if you were to flip the tables and put all Gay people in the majority, in control and in power and leave the heterosexuals in this position we are, you could come up with the exact same list of potential members both good and bad. The real difference between us is that there is none. We are the same.

As before, if this raises questions, feel free to ask. I welcome criticism of this post too. You can even do it anonymously.

The Old Lady and the Hair Lipped Kid

In the spirit of words that someone said that stayed with you...for any reason at all, Susie's post today reminded me of someone that used to say something whenever we worked together.

When I was 20, I worked at a nursery called Volstedt's Greenthumb, it was my first real nursery j0b. I went to work there as the only male employee and the youngest. The owner was an older gal, who was old school lesbian of sorts. She was very stern to say the least and if you got her to laugh or smile it usually came across as cynical and even condecending. It was a tough job working for this lady and I busted my hump everyday to try and get her to appreciate me as an employee. Oh the foolishness of youth.

Well, one of my co-workers and a long time employee of this establishment was another gal, to call her lady would be insulting, because Donna was just that, a good ole' gal of the best kind. Donna took notice of me and my efforts and she was always quick to point out something else that could be done or had never been done before. Donna became my barometer and my friend.

Donna was in charge of the store's gift/decorating section. She was the queen of wicker baskets and all things dried floral. She was running with the whole Country style of the time and her and I spent lot's of hours early in the morning and well after closing moving and arranging things to display the latest and greatest in reproduction furniture pieces.

What you really need to know to be able to appreciate Donna is what Donna looked like. If I had to describe Donna's build, I would say 5' 9" linebacker, not fat, but stout and sturdy with grey hair that was straight and wispy that was tom-boyishly cut with feathering in the front. Her skin was perpetually tan and leathery. She wore makeup and was very female, but she was a no nonsense female. Donna called it like she saw it and I suppose that's why I loved her so much. You knew when you were in the dog house and for what. She always wore some kind of all purpose smock and she had a range of styles and colors for every occasion. But the signature thing about Donna's appearance was that damn cigerette dangling out of her mouth. It just bounced up and down while she talked thru her lips while both hands were busy tying bows or making a new dried floral arrangment. I could find ash droppings in the isles and would think to myself, if I ever lost her I could just follow these tiny grey crumbs to locate her.

Well, as I said, we were project oriented peeps together and we did a lot of projects at the place. Donna was always at the store before anyone else just so she could get started on the day. It became a bit of an unspoken contest to see who would be there first. I loved being on the front planter when she drove in just so I could say "bout damn time", and so our day would begin. By now I suppose you're wondering what the hell it is she would say that has stayed with me all these years. Well, whenever we would finish a project her and I would stand side by side; her with that smokey treat dangling and her fists on her hips and she would so eloquently say, "Not bad for an old lady and a hair lipped kid".

I worked with Donna for a little over a year. I left shortly after that and my life moved on. While I was on my mission, I learned that Donna had lung cancer and had passed on. It was a sore loss for many.

I still say those words believe it or not. Whenever I'm working on something and I stand back to see my handy work, in my mind I hear those words. Funny how something like that can stay with you like that. Those words say volumes for me beyond the accomplishment of another task.

Sunday Post

Sometimes beauty can inspire you, but it's even better if it can change your perspective. Go out and see the beauty in someone and maybe you will see them differently.

From the House of Joseph 5:1