Hello,
Well after rolling things around in my head for several weeks, I have
decided to put this blog to rest. When I first started writing here, I really
had no idea what I was doing, I was learning as I was going and it was
fun and exciting. I have always enjoyed writing and I had no idea if anyone
was reading what I wrote but me. From time to time I would get an email from
someone commenting on it and sometime people would even leave a comment on
the post itself. Hearing from people who enjoyed what I wrote was always nice
but that was not why I started this. I just wanted to share what was going on in
my life from my point of view. I also learned that doing a blog is alot of work.
As the years have gone by things have changed, I have changed and it is not
that I don't have things to share anymore, it is just someone where along
the way the spark I had when I started writing this has dimmed to the point
that I just don't seem to have the energy to keep it going anymore. I keep
up with several blogs and it really makes me sad when whoever is writing
it just stops writing and just walks away from it. I have a hard time doing that
in my life, I need closure on things. If I am talking to someone one the phone
and we get cut off, I HAVE to call them back just so we can say goodbye.
So this is why I am writing this entry, I just did not want to stop writing
and let anyone who may be reading this wonder what happened.
I have had alot of fun,and I am not saying I will not start another blog
or tumblr at another time, but for now this one will just rest as it is.
If I do start something up, I will post the link on here.
Thanks to all who have taken the time to read my thoughts along the way.
It has been a fun ride.....
later
12/16/12
9/4/12
9/3/12
Special Time
One of the questions I get asked the most by my friends and famly is if
I miss living in the Desert and what what is it I miss he most? I alway have
the same answer for them, Yes I miss living in the Desert and the thing I miss
the most is the quiet and solitude that living in the Desert brings. Of course
there are friends who still live out there that I miss seeing but I keep in
contact with my close friend there, although so many of them have moved else where
now. It will be 10 years next month that I moved to Los Angeles.
I think by nature I am not a crowd person. In different times in my
life I have had to be in front of large crowds of people whether I was singing
or speaking or teaching. I can do it and I think I pull it off really well,
but deep down inside I do much better with a one on one encounter or a small
group. The hardest part of moving to Los Angeles was the huge amount of people
I had to deal with everyday. Just driving anywhere in the City, you have to
interact with large amounts of people at any given time!!
When I was getting settle in here in LA and I allowed myself to start
getting out into the City and learning my way around, I soon found that my
favorite time of day to be out in the City was very early in the morning,
sometimes just as the Sun was coming up, before the City started waking up
and getting noisey. On my drives to and from work, I have to totally cross
over to the other side of town. And on my drives I see alot of graffiti
art that comes up over night and is not going to be there very long before
either the City paints over it,or someone else paints over it so they can
put their Art there. I am not talking about taggers, I mean small stencil
art or sometimes small original pieces that someone had taken the time
to do. As I saw these on my drives,I would try and take mental note where they were,
and on the weekends, I would get up before the Sun and head out with my
camera to document them. This was like a hobby for me. It was during this
time of me being out really early morning that I realized that LA has a time
of solitude, kind of like I use to experience in the Desert. It is a quiet
still time, a short time mind you, but a time when everything in the City
seems still and quiet. I love this time of the day!
Then little by little the traffic starts up and more and more cars
are on the road and then people start arriving to work and opening up
all the little shops and stores and before you know it, the City is
awake and roaring along.
This morning, my number one goal was to sleep in. It is one of the
few Holidays I get where I work, I had already done anything and everything
I would need to do this weekend. So the only thing I had planned to do
today was #1 Sleep in as late as my body would let me and #2 catch
a nap in the afternoon!! Sounded like a plan to me.
But it seems like someone had a different plan in mind for my day!!
We only have one window in our bedroom and it faces East. In the distance
is a rather large hill, so the Sun has been up for awhile before it starts
peaking in our window. Every night during the Summer we sleep with the
window open and the blinds as high as they can go. I love the night breeze!!
Well this morning I woke up around 6am and nature was calling so
as I sat up on the edge of the bed before I got up, I glanced over my
shoulder out the window and I have to say my jaw dropped. At that
moment the rays of the Sun hit the clouds that were the sky and
they came alive. I knew right then my sleeping in was gonna
have to wait. After making a pit stop in the bathroom, I put on
some clothes and grabbed my camera and down our drive way I went.
There were so many morning clouds in the sky and the Sun was hitting different
ones at different angles. Some were lite up and some were still dark.
As I stood there watching my part of the world wake up, I seemed to be
totally engulfed by the quiet and solitude around me. I stood there
and listen to the quiet of the morning and watch as one by one the Sun's rays
woke up the clouds. It was such an awesome experience.
We live on a street that gets really busy at times but not this
morning, this was MY special morning and it was wonderful.
But all too soon, the neighborhood did start to wake up but not
before the sun was just coming up over the hill.
We all having special moments like this everyday. But we get too
busy and our head too full of thoughts and they
come and go and we never notice them. When I visit my friend PW in
Joshua Tree, I always get up early and stand in his front yard and
listen to the Sun rise out there in the Hight Desert. There is always
a lite breeze blowing across the Desert and the rays of the Sun
flash in the sky just before the Sun peaks over the Horizon.
I amost hold my breath just before it peaks over and as soon as
the first rays hit my face, the two Joshua Trees in his front yard
come alive with the birds that live in them. A new day starts
and the Nature world is rejoicing. We should take lesson from them,
and watch a Sun rise and rejoice in the beauty of a new day starting.
We need to be more aware of what is going on around us and watch for those
special moments, made just for each of us. If we did our lives
would be a richer and happier place!
later...
ps..I did go back to bed for a little bit when I went back inside and I ended
up taking 2 naps this afternoon...yes I was lazy today!!!
9/2/12
On Safari
Since it has been just a couple of weeks since Patrick came home from Taiwan, we
really had not made any big plans for the Labor Day weekend. One thing I really wanted do was not to do anything, just spend some time hanging out at the house and vegging as much as possible. So when Patrick asked me if I wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo with our buddies, the Au's, I said sure, I knew we would have a good time, we always do when we hang out with them. I was even a little excited about going to the San Diego Zoo, some 25 years ago it was one of the first big adventures my BFF LB and I had taken, our very first "road trip" together. Sometime when I feel really brave I will even share a picture of me and the flamingos on that fateful day. (One she finds hillarious and one that gives me the shivers every time I see it, how could she ever
let me go out in public dressed like that!!)
So it was not until Saturday morning that I realized we were not going to the actual San Diego Zoo, but to the San Diego Safrai Park!! I had heard about it
for years but have never taken the trip over there to it. And let me tell you now,
it is NOT in San Diego!! A little close maybe, but not real close!!
We met up with the Au's and their friend, Hamilton at a Chinese cafe called
Younique, and it was,
first time I had been there but it a nice place, a happy place to have breakfast.
So after breakfast we headed out in our 2 cars,and a couple of hours later
we arrived at the Safari Park. Now up until now I really had no idea where it was
located, and we were following our trusty GPS and at times I felt like she was
having a good time with us and just having us drive down some roads we really did
not have to be on at all. But finally we drove into this really beautiful valley
and there it was!! Really, out in the middle of no where. But I guess when you have
as many wild animals as they have roaming around free, you really don't want it
in a residentual neighborhood!!
Since it was a major holiday, the place was packed. We found parking close
to the entrance but our friends were not so lucky. (I have to tell you, if you
are somewhere where the parking lot is going to be really crowd, you REALLY want
to have Patrick with you, the parking faries LOVE him!! No matter how crowded a
place is, the car Patrick is in, always get a primo spot!)
The Park is really amazing. They have so many things to see, they have different
paths that lead to certain habitats like the goriallas, lion, elephants and
such. It is really like you are walking in a dense forest as you are walking
to the different areas.
The most awesome area is where all the animals roam
free in a huge area, it is really breath taking to see. We took the tram
tour that takes you down into that area and they show you the many different
animals and explain thing about each one. It was really amazing to actually get
to see them roam around like they would in their natives lands.
Once the tram trip was over we started making our way back toward the front of the Park,stopping along the way to get a view of the new baby elephant that was only
3 days old!! Our friends were staying over at a Hotel that was close to the Freeway, so we headed over there to let them get checked in. We were able to walk
over to the Elephant Bar that was close to their Hotel for dinner and
then Patrick and I headed back home.
I would really recommend if you have hot been to the Safari Park go!!
It is an amazing place where they are actually breeded wild animals that
are going extinct and returning them back in the wild of their native
habitats. I has been doing so for some 40 year now! The one thing
I sould caution you on though, go when it is not a hot day. Let me
tell ya, it was HOT and humid yesterday. I am sure we will be going
back at some point, it really was a fun day!
www.sdzsafaripark.org
later.....
really had not made any big plans for the Labor Day weekend. One thing I really wanted do was not to do anything, just spend some time hanging out at the house and vegging as much as possible. So when Patrick asked me if I wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo with our buddies, the Au's, I said sure, I knew we would have a good time, we always do when we hang out with them. I was even a little excited about going to the San Diego Zoo, some 25 years ago it was one of the first big adventures my BFF LB and I had taken, our very first "road trip" together. Sometime when I feel really brave I will even share a picture of me and the flamingos on that fateful day. (One she finds hillarious and one that gives me the shivers every time I see it, how could she ever
let me go out in public dressed like that!!)
So it was not until Saturday morning that I realized we were not going to the actual San Diego Zoo, but to the San Diego Safrai Park!! I had heard about it
for years but have never taken the trip over there to it. And let me tell you now,
it is NOT in San Diego!! A little close maybe, but not real close!!
We met up with the Au's and their friend, Hamilton at a Chinese cafe called
Younique, and it was,
first time I had been there but it a nice place, a happy place to have breakfast.
So after breakfast we headed out in our 2 cars,and a couple of hours later
we arrived at the Safari Park. Now up until now I really had no idea where it was
located, and we were following our trusty GPS and at times I felt like she was
having a good time with us and just having us drive down some roads we really did
not have to be on at all. But finally we drove into this really beautiful valley
and there it was!! Really, out in the middle of no where. But I guess when you have
as many wild animals as they have roaming around free, you really don't want it
in a residentual neighborhood!!
Since it was a major holiday, the place was packed. We found parking close
to the entrance but our friends were not so lucky. (I have to tell you, if you
are somewhere where the parking lot is going to be really crowd, you REALLY want
to have Patrick with you, the parking faries LOVE him!! No matter how crowded a
place is, the car Patrick is in, always get a primo spot!)
The Park is really amazing. They have so many things to see, they have different
paths that lead to certain habitats like the goriallas, lion, elephants and
such. It is really like you are walking in a dense forest as you are walking
to the different areas.
The most awesome area is where all the animals roam
free in a huge area, it is really breath taking to see. We took the tram
tour that takes you down into that area and they show you the many different
animals and explain thing about each one. It was really amazing to actually get
to see them roam around like they would in their natives lands.
Once the tram trip was over we started making our way back toward the front of the Park,stopping along the way to get a view of the new baby elephant that was only
3 days old!! Our friends were staying over at a Hotel that was close to the Freeway, so we headed over there to let them get checked in. We were able to walk
over to the Elephant Bar that was close to their Hotel for dinner and
then Patrick and I headed back home.
I would really recommend if you have hot been to the Safari Park go!!
It is an amazing place where they are actually breeded wild animals that
are going extinct and returning them back in the wild of their native
habitats. I has been doing so for some 40 year now! The one thing
I sould caution you on though, go when it is not a hot day. Let me
tell ya, it was HOT and humid yesterday. I am sure we will be going
back at some point, it really was a fun day!
www.sdzsafaripark.org
later.....
9/1/12
You Just Never Know.......
I remember the day I first met "Soan". (I would find out later is real name is Norman) Summer was just starting,that means we were already having temps over 100 degrees and just about all the Snow Birds had left the Valley. I was on my way to the Library and I had just turned on to Sunrise Way, and there on the right was this tall kid carrying a very tall and very loaded backpack. He was walking down the side walk in the same direction I was traveling. I remember thinking he must be really hot carrying the large load he had on his back as warm as it was outside.
I passed on by and went to the Library. When I came out of the Library parking lot, I saw he had made it to the corner by the Libary. As I came to the signal light on the corner where he was standing, I glanced over at him and and realized he actually looked like he was fixing to pass out. The light turned green so I had to go but
when I got where I could, I made a U-turn and headed back in his direction.
Now I am not going to sit here and tell you this is the firt time I had spotted
a guy on a corner and made a U-turn to go back and talk with him, but I must say I think it was the first time I had done it because I thought the guy was over heated and
about to pass out!!!
When I got back to the corner he was still standing right where he was when I came out of the Library. I pulled over to the curb and got out of my car. As I was walking up to him I introduced myself and asked if he was ok. He seemed to be ok but really overheated, so after talking a few minutes amd realizing he was not a serial killer, I had him put his back pack in the trunk of my car and we were headed back to my apartment. He was all of 19 years old.
So to make a long story short, or as My Sister Goya would say, let me give you
the Reader's Diget version, when we got back to my apartment and he got cooled off
in the pool, I found out he was 19 yrs old, straight and had come out from the East
Coast with some friends to see what kind of life he could have out here. His friends
had ended up getting arrested (not sure for what) soon after they had arrived
in Palm Springs and he was pretty much stranded with no where to go and not much money.
Ok,so those of you who know me already know where this going. I really liked this
kid, he was a real sweetheart and as far as I could tell, he was sincere and was telling me the truth. I felt deep down inside that I needed to help him. So after really giving it some thought (ok so I ran in around in my head a couple of time), I told him he was welcome to sleep in my couch for a while until he could get a little settled and figure out what he needed to do. He was totally shocked and had not expected it. I had already told him I was Gay and he had no problems with it so after talking about it a little more and setting some ground rules, he moved his backpack from my car to the corner of the living room.
Since I had lived alone for awhile it was a little strange having someone around
all the time. But he never was any trouble. All my friends liked him. (he was REALLY good looking so I had to tell all my Gay male friends he was off limits!!) Within
a week he had a full time job and offered to help with expenses. He ended up staying
with me for a couple of months and during that he met a girl and they hit if off
and after a few weeks he ended up moving in with her We were like family by
that time so he was always coming around checking on me. He was a great kid.
After a year or so I had moved to a new place and he and his girlfriend moved
and somewhere along the way we lost contact with each other. It wasn't long after
that I met Patrick and moved to LA. From time to time I wondered where he was
and what he was up to. I had his birhtday on my calender and would always wish him
a Happy Birthday on his special day.
FAST FORWARD 20 YEARS......
At work I always keep my phone on my desk with the volume turned off. I keep it where
I can see the screen in case Patrick or my Sister texts me. We were really busy
that day and when I looked down, Facebook had notified me someone had added me as
a friend but when I glanced town I did not recognize the name so I touched the screen so it would disappear. After a very busy day I headed home, had dinner and headed
to the Libray wiht the Nephew, its something we do every couple of weeks. I got
back home and was getting ready to go to bed when I rememberd the Facebook thing,so I
got on to check it out. When I brought the picture of the person who had added me up,
my mouth dropped open, it was Soan, an older version, but it was him.
He had also sent me a message with his phone number and asked me to cal him as soon
as I got he message. I was so shocked!!
So I called him and man were we both excied to hear each other's voices!! We talked for a little whild and kinda caught up. He told me he had been trying to find
me for the last few years. He started working at a Security company and from
there he access to the flies the Police Dept uses. That is how he was able to
find where I was. During our conversation he kept telling me it was very important
that we get together because he had something he really needed to tell me, that is
why he had been looking for me. So we checked our calendars and came up with a date a weeks later.
It was a great reunion. That skinny, tall young man I last knew is now 40 yrs old,
6'4" and weighs 280 lbs!! But his face is that same handsome face I knew but now
his hair is totally grew (in a good way). We went to breakfast and caught up
somemore but it was not until we got back to my house that the conversation took
on a more serious tone. I could not imagine what it was that he needed to tell me
that was so important that had hunted me down. We were siting at our table when
when got a serious look on his face. What he told me made me get all teary eyed.
He said he had hunted me down because he really needed me to know how thankful
he was that I had taken him in when I did and gave him a chance to get his life on track. He could not remember if he had every told me how much he appreciated
what I had done for him. I just sat there with tears in my eyes as he
talked to me, I could not believe it. He went on to tell me that he had gone back
to school and got his High School Diploma and had also gone to a trade school
and was a certifed mechanic in a special field. Because of the economic downturn
he had lost his mechanic job and was working in security until he could find
something else. The urgency to find me esculated because he was making plans
to move back East in a few months to be closer to his family and find work there, but
he needed to talk to me before he left. He said be believes none of that would
havd happened for him had I not stopped that day to see about him and then
let him stay with me. I was speechless, what do you say when someone tells
you something like that? I assured him I had always known that he appreciated
it because he had alway acted like he did. I always knew he appreciated it,
even if up until now,he had never verbally said so.
We spent a couple more hours visiting and he headed home and I head off to
something I had to do. For the next several days I was in a kind of daze.
I kept thinking how different things might have been had I not stopped
that day, but then you never know, maybe someone else would have stopped
to help him, these things you just can't know. But I do know, you
never ever know what a diffence you make when you stop and help someone,
even if you have no idea who they are......
later
I passed on by and went to the Library. When I came out of the Library parking lot, I saw he had made it to the corner by the Libary. As I came to the signal light on the corner where he was standing, I glanced over at him and and realized he actually looked like he was fixing to pass out. The light turned green so I had to go but
when I got where I could, I made a U-turn and headed back in his direction.
Now I am not going to sit here and tell you this is the firt time I had spotted
a guy on a corner and made a U-turn to go back and talk with him, but I must say I think it was the first time I had done it because I thought the guy was over heated and
about to pass out!!!
When I got back to the corner he was still standing right where he was when I came out of the Library. I pulled over to the curb and got out of my car. As I was walking up to him I introduced myself and asked if he was ok. He seemed to be ok but really overheated, so after talking a few minutes amd realizing he was not a serial killer, I had him put his back pack in the trunk of my car and we were headed back to my apartment. He was all of 19 years old.
So to make a long story short, or as My Sister Goya would say, let me give you
the Reader's Diget version, when we got back to my apartment and he got cooled off
in the pool, I found out he was 19 yrs old, straight and had come out from the East
Coast with some friends to see what kind of life he could have out here. His friends
had ended up getting arrested (not sure for what) soon after they had arrived
in Palm Springs and he was pretty much stranded with no where to go and not much money.
Ok,so those of you who know me already know where this going. I really liked this
kid, he was a real sweetheart and as far as I could tell, he was sincere and was telling me the truth. I felt deep down inside that I needed to help him. So after really giving it some thought (ok so I ran in around in my head a couple of time), I told him he was welcome to sleep in my couch for a while until he could get a little settled and figure out what he needed to do. He was totally shocked and had not expected it. I had already told him I was Gay and he had no problems with it so after talking about it a little more and setting some ground rules, he moved his backpack from my car to the corner of the living room.
Since I had lived alone for awhile it was a little strange having someone around
all the time. But he never was any trouble. All my friends liked him. (he was REALLY good looking so I had to tell all my Gay male friends he was off limits!!) Within
a week he had a full time job and offered to help with expenses. He ended up staying
with me for a couple of months and during that he met a girl and they hit if off
and after a few weeks he ended up moving in with her We were like family by
that time so he was always coming around checking on me. He was a great kid.
After a year or so I had moved to a new place and he and his girlfriend moved
and somewhere along the way we lost contact with each other. It wasn't long after
that I met Patrick and moved to LA. From time to time I wondered where he was
and what he was up to. I had his birhtday on my calender and would always wish him
a Happy Birthday on his special day.
FAST FORWARD 20 YEARS......
At work I always keep my phone on my desk with the volume turned off. I keep it where
I can see the screen in case Patrick or my Sister texts me. We were really busy
that day and when I looked down, Facebook had notified me someone had added me as
a friend but when I glanced town I did not recognize the name so I touched the screen so it would disappear. After a very busy day I headed home, had dinner and headed
to the Libray wiht the Nephew, its something we do every couple of weeks. I got
back home and was getting ready to go to bed when I rememberd the Facebook thing,so I
got on to check it out. When I brought the picture of the person who had added me up,
my mouth dropped open, it was Soan, an older version, but it was him.
He had also sent me a message with his phone number and asked me to cal him as soon
as I got he message. I was so shocked!!
So I called him and man were we both excied to hear each other's voices!! We talked for a little whild and kinda caught up. He told me he had been trying to find
me for the last few years. He started working at a Security company and from
there he access to the flies the Police Dept uses. That is how he was able to
find where I was. During our conversation he kept telling me it was very important
that we get together because he had something he really needed to tell me, that is
why he had been looking for me. So we checked our calendars and came up with a date a weeks later.
It was a great reunion. That skinny, tall young man I last knew is now 40 yrs old,
6'4" and weighs 280 lbs!! But his face is that same handsome face I knew but now
his hair is totally grew (in a good way). We went to breakfast and caught up
somemore but it was not until we got back to my house that the conversation took
on a more serious tone. I could not imagine what it was that he needed to tell me
that was so important that had hunted me down. We were siting at our table when
when got a serious look on his face. What he told me made me get all teary eyed.
He said he had hunted me down because he really needed me to know how thankful
he was that I had taken him in when I did and gave him a chance to get his life on track. He could not remember if he had every told me how much he appreciated
what I had done for him. I just sat there with tears in my eyes as he
talked to me, I could not believe it. He went on to tell me that he had gone back
to school and got his High School Diploma and had also gone to a trade school
and was a certifed mechanic in a special field. Because of the economic downturn
he had lost his mechanic job and was working in security until he could find
something else. The urgency to find me esculated because he was making plans
to move back East in a few months to be closer to his family and find work there, but
he needed to talk to me before he left. He said be believes none of that would
havd happened for him had I not stopped that day to see about him and then
let him stay with me. I was speechless, what do you say when someone tells
you something like that? I assured him I had always known that he appreciated
it because he had alway acted like he did. I always knew he appreciated it,
even if up until now,he had never verbally said so.
We spent a couple more hours visiting and he headed home and I head off to
something I had to do. For the next several days I was in a kind of daze.
I kept thinking how different things might have been had I not stopped
that day, but then you never know, maybe someone else would have stopped
to help him, these things you just can't know. But I do know, you
never ever know what a diffence you make when you stop and help someone,
even if you have no idea who they are......
later
6/24/12
Wow What A Break!!!
Well when I said I was going to take a break from blogging last summer I certainly did not intend to take this long of a break!!! :0!
For the most part of these last few months I keep telling myself it was time
to get back to sharing things on here again and then a couple of weeks would go by
and I would be driving to work and think I really need to get back to
the blog because I have been invloved so many fun things that I want to
share,and then some more time would go by and I would thing about it again.
But the last couple of weeks I have really been doing alot of thinking about
what things in my life are really important to me and what things just
fill up space in my life. And it was during this time that I realized
how much I missd sharing things on here and it was then I knew it was time
to get back to it.
So hang on with me and see what has been going on and what is going on
in my world! I am not going to try post alot of stuff to get you caught
up with what has been going on with me this past year, but from time to
time I will be sharing things that has taken place.
Let the Adventure begin, and as usual, let me know what you think.
If not in the comment section then drop me an email, it is much appreciated!!
later!!
6/7/11
Gone Fishing........
It's hard to believe that summer is upon us, seems to me I was just dragging all the Christmas decorations out of the shed to begin decorating, and here we are getting ready to celebrate the Summer Solstice!
It's also hard for me to believe that I have had this blog for 3 years. Seems like a few days ago that I was thinking about it and finally decided to try it.
I read alot of other blogs and I know mine is not even close to being a great one, but I do think for the purpose of sharing things with my family and friends, it is
a fun one. I have been very surprised by some of the people who leave comments for
me in that they have some of the more popular blogs and here they are reading mine
and leaving me a comment on how they like my post...very exciting for me!!
But over the last several months I have had a tough time posting things. Not that I am losing interest in it, I really do enjoy coming up with things to post,
but it has been hard to find the motivation to post very often. This has been a worry for me because I have several things I want share on here. But another blog
buddy who has been blogging for much longer than me, told me that maybe I need to step back for a while, give myself some time away from and then later on, take it up again. He has done this himself and he says it works for him. When you have a blog
you are constantly thinking of things you want ot post and share, or at least it has
been that way for me. So...I have decided to take a little vacation from blogging.
Just step away for a few weeks and not think about it.
For me,I tend to get so busy with "stuff" that the Summer is gone before I know
it and I have not done anything I had hoped to do during that time. I have lots of
fun things I would really like to do this summer, places I want to go and people I want to visit and catch up with that I have not seen in a long time. So this is
what I am going to devote my Summer to. And when I return to blogging, I will
get to share those adventures with you.
So over the next several weeks, enjoy your Summer!! Get out there and have
some adventures and enjoy life. I am reminded everyday in one way or another just
how fragile Life really is....and who knows....this just might be my last Summer,
and if it is, I want you all to be able to say that I really did enjoy it.
later
5/1/11
Maybe....
Maybe…we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
Maybe … when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don’t even see the new one which has been opened for us.
Maybe … it is true that we don’t know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe … the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
Maybe … the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can’t go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
Maybe … you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
Maybe … there are moments in life when you miss someone — a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child — so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.
Maybe … the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.
Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.
Maybe … giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn’t, be content that it grew in yours.
Maybe … happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
Maybe … you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive; don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
Maybe … you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.
(via creativeinspiration.tumbler.com)
Maybe … when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don’t even see the new one which has been opened for us.
Maybe … it is true that we don’t know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe … the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
Maybe … the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can’t go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
Maybe … you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
Maybe … there are moments in life when you miss someone — a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child — so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.
Maybe … the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.
Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.
Maybe … giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn’t, be content that it grew in yours.
Maybe … happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
Maybe … you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive; don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
Maybe … you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.
(via creativeinspiration.tumbler.com)
4/30/11
Special Day
Today is a very special day in my family,it's my Mom's birthday, she would have been
93 today.
The first year after she passed away, her birthday was a really hard for me and my family. But I have been told that all the major holidays after a person passes can be
pretty tough, and they sure were for me. But after that first year, I always try and
use remember all the fun times we had with her on whatever special day we were celebrating.
Of course I knew this day was coming and had even discussed it with my sister, but
I had to get up really early this morning to get my car in for servicing and it was not until mid morning that I really remember it was her birthday.(to be really honest here, staying up till after midnight night before last really kicked my butt and I
am still feeling the effects,my brain did not even really wake up till mid morning this morning!!).
She has been on my mind all day. But then most days she is in my thoughts alot.
My Mom was a really great lady. She was always my best friend. I have a very lucky
guy in my life. I have had 2 very great ladies in my life that have always been
there for me, and I do mean always, my Mom and my sister, Jean. Not only are my Mom and my sister, but they both have always been my closest friends and allies.
So all day today I have been remember Mom's other birthdays I did have her here to share with.
My Mom was always hard to buy for, she had everything she needed and pretty much everything she wanted in life (except me living back in Texas close to her!!).
So every year we would ask her what she wanted for her birthday, and every year
she would tell us "O,don't get me anything, I don't need a thing". Well, after
my Dad didn't get her anything one Christmas because she told him the same thing,
there was no way in Hell I was gonna fall for that. My poor Dad paid for that mistake all year long! So if I thought about what I was going to get her, I never
shared that info with my brother or my sister, because that was golden information and they had to think up what they were gonna get her on their own!! And no matter
what it was we got her, she was always excited and about it when she opened it.
It is really hard to even try and put into words how much I miss her. She was always
such a part of my life. I am not really sure I will every completely get over
her being gone, but I am trying to learn to live with the big empty space in my life
that she once filled. But above everything, I am so very thankful that I had
her for my Mom, she was the Best of the Best.
Happy Birthday Mama!! I love you!!
later
3/8/11
On My Daily Drive.......
I have been driving the same way to work (and back) for over 8 years now. Over that time period I have taken several different routes to make the drive more interesting, but I always go back to the one I have used the most,the one I am using now.
I have also come up with different things to do and look for as I drive keep me alert and aware of my surrounds. My favorite thing to do has been to watch for the different stickers and emblems people have on the rear of their cars. Since I always keep my little camera with me I have been able to record some of my more favorite ones. I have to be discreet about it, I don't want some one charging out of their car and coming back to mine wanting to know why I am taking a picture of their license plate!!
So here for your enjoyment are some of my favorite things people have on the back end of their cars.....you should pay attention as you drive, I am sure you will come up with some favorites of your own.......
And My Favorite One so far.....
I have also come up with different things to do and look for as I drive keep me alert and aware of my surrounds. My favorite thing to do has been to watch for the different stickers and emblems people have on the rear of their cars. Since I always keep my little camera with me I have been able to record some of my more favorite ones. I have to be discreet about it, I don't want some one charging out of their car and coming back to mine wanting to know why I am taking a picture of their license plate!!
So here for your enjoyment are some of my favorite things people have on the back end of their cars.....you should pay attention as you drive, I am sure you will come up with some favorites of your own.......
And My Favorite One so far.....
3/6/11
Robin...and I 'm Not Talking About a Bird......
Growing up Gay in a small Southeast Texas town was not easy, trust me. There was so much I could not share with anyone...I mean ANYONE! So when the Batman series came on TV in the 1960's, I had to keep it to myself that I thought Robin was the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on!! Yep, I had a MAJOR crush on the guy who played the Boy Wonder on the Batman TV show. His real name is Burt Ward, at the time he was a young cute slim guy who had the greatest eyes and the cutest nose. But alas, time changes us all, I recently saw a picture of him and he, like myself, has expanded over the years!! I bet there is no way he can slide down that Batpole and jump into the Batmobile now days, and I sure bet he would get winded trying to run after Batman to catch the criminals now. I know I try not to run anywhere myself.
I haven't actually thought about him in a long time, but recently I came across a couple of things that jogged my memory and gave me smile as I remember those times.
I haven't actually thought about him in a long time, but recently I came across a couple of things that jogged my memory and gave me smile as I remember those times.
3/5/11
Just Trying To Enjoy A Nice Lunch.....
So yesterday I had a Doctor's appt in the after noon so I took off work at noon so would not have to rush to get there. I work in Beverly Hills and my Doctor is located in Alhambra (just a couple of miles from our house),which is pretty much across town. It was a really beautiful sunny Southern California day so I decided to treat myself to lunch since I had the time.
Now to many people, Burger King is not an exciting place to eat. But I happen to enjoy their food and every so often I will treat myself to something on their menu. Now I do have my favorite Burger King and it just happens to be on my way home from work! It is pretty close to downtown LA and when you sit outside you have a nice view of the downtown sky line (and the major 101 free way that runs close to downtown!)
So I got my food and made my way to their little patio area to sit out in the sun and enjoy my food and the beautiful day. I found a nice spot and just as I sat down, the first one appear....the pigeon. Now I am not talking about your run of the mill variety of pigeon, oh no, this one was a honken big pigeon. And it just landed on the railing about 4 foot from me and just sat there and stared at me. Now pigeons
are not an oddity here in LA. You see them all the time around certain eateries where they have BIG signs that at..."DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS". But I have to say
this was one of the biggest ones I have ever seen.
So I started unwrapping my sandwich and it just sat there and kept staring at me. Then it did something that startled me at bit, it jumped off the rail and onto my table!
I shooed it off and it jumped back on the rail and continue to just stare at me.
It made me think of the cartoon I had seen once where this vulture just sat and stared down at the guy who was crossing the desert on his stomach looking for water.
Then.....a second one landed, not far from the first and there they were, both of them staring at me. I have to say it did make me a little uncomfortable, but what really made me a little uneasy was when the 3rd and 4th ones landed on the same rail.
At this point I was half way through my meal and had made up my mind I wasn't going anywhere. It was MY afternoon off and I was going to enjoy sitting outside having lunch no matter what.
Then I noticed something that brought back memories of the Alfred Hitchcock movie,
"The Birds" to my mind. As I happened to look up at the telephones lines running
near by, there must have been 15-20 more of them sitting up there,and I swear they were all looking at me!!! The first one jumped on my table again and I shooed him
off and I got to thinking if they swarmed me ... I was gonna throw my packet of fries
up in the air and hopefully they would go for them and I could escape!!
I had flashback of the movie where the woman was running away from the birds and they were swarming her and eventually killed her. There I would be, sitting out on the patio at Burger King being swarmed by a bunch of wild pigeon while the inside
patrons ate and watched in safety.
It was at this point I was just finishing my last french fry when I noticed
one of them had gotten off the rail and was on the ground walking up to me on my right hand side. Guess he was gonna try to sneak up behind me. So I gathered up
my garbage and stood up thinking they would probably all fly away, but no....
they did not move.....not a one of them. They all sat there perched on the railing
looking at me. As I got up to throw my stuff in the trash, I did have a thought that
maybe I should not turn my back on them, maybe that was what they were waiting for, but not a one of them made a move.
After I threw my stuff in the trash I turned and walked back to my car, and when I go to my car I looked over and there they were, watching their next victim sit down and settle in to enjoy eating outside and enjoying the Sunny day, or so he thought.
later
Now to many people, Burger King is not an exciting place to eat. But I happen to enjoy their food and every so often I will treat myself to something on their menu. Now I do have my favorite Burger King and it just happens to be on my way home from work! It is pretty close to downtown LA and when you sit outside you have a nice view of the downtown sky line (and the major 101 free way that runs close to downtown!)
So I got my food and made my way to their little patio area to sit out in the sun and enjoy my food and the beautiful day. I found a nice spot and just as I sat down, the first one appear....the pigeon. Now I am not talking about your run of the mill variety of pigeon, oh no, this one was a honken big pigeon. And it just landed on the railing about 4 foot from me and just sat there and stared at me. Now pigeons
are not an oddity here in LA. You see them all the time around certain eateries where they have BIG signs that at..."DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS". But I have to say
this was one of the biggest ones I have ever seen.
So I started unwrapping my sandwich and it just sat there and kept staring at me. Then it did something that startled me at bit, it jumped off the rail and onto my table!
I shooed it off and it jumped back on the rail and continue to just stare at me.
It made me think of the cartoon I had seen once where this vulture just sat and stared down at the guy who was crossing the desert on his stomach looking for water.
Then.....a second one landed, not far from the first and there they were, both of them staring at me. I have to say it did make me a little uncomfortable, but what really made me a little uneasy was when the 3rd and 4th ones landed on the same rail.
At this point I was half way through my meal and had made up my mind I wasn't going anywhere. It was MY afternoon off and I was going to enjoy sitting outside having lunch no matter what.
Then I noticed something that brought back memories of the Alfred Hitchcock movie,
"The Birds" to my mind. As I happened to look up at the telephones lines running
near by, there must have been 15-20 more of them sitting up there,and I swear they were all looking at me!!! The first one jumped on my table again and I shooed him
off and I got to thinking if they swarmed me ... I was gonna throw my packet of fries
up in the air and hopefully they would go for them and I could escape!!
I had flashback of the movie where the woman was running away from the birds and they were swarming her and eventually killed her. There I would be, sitting out on the patio at Burger King being swarmed by a bunch of wild pigeon while the inside
patrons ate and watched in safety.
It was at this point I was just finishing my last french fry when I noticed
one of them had gotten off the rail and was on the ground walking up to me on my right hand side. Guess he was gonna try to sneak up behind me. So I gathered up
my garbage and stood up thinking they would probably all fly away, but no....
they did not move.....not a one of them. They all sat there perched on the railing
looking at me. As I got up to throw my stuff in the trash, I did have a thought that
maybe I should not turn my back on them, maybe that was what they were waiting for, but not a one of them made a move.
After I threw my stuff in the trash I turned and walked back to my car, and when I go to my car I looked over and there they were, watching their next victim sit down and settle in to enjoy eating outside and enjoying the Sunny day, or so he thought.
later
2/25/11
2/19/11
1/2/11
Looking Up From The Rut......
How often when you are outside do you actually take the time to look UP? When you are walking to the mail box or to your car or when you are out running errands or getting gas, do you actually look up and see the sky? If you are like most of us, probably not very often.
Have you ever realized sometime on your life's journey that your life seems kinda dull and you realized you were in a rut? You know what a rut is...Webster defines a rut as a fixed, routine course of action or thought, one regarded as dull and unrewarding. We have all been in a rut sometime on our journey.
Well,just yesterday I realized I have been in a rut. Sometime over this past year I slowly stopped doing things that I really enjoy doing and slowly my routine changed to the point that I spent more time at home doing nothing or glued to my computer..doing nothing. A couple of weeks ago on my drive to work I drove by
a park that I really love to walk in. For the past couple of years I stopped by
there most every day (except when we do not have daylight saving time and it is dark by the time I get here) and walked a mile, sometimes 2. But I realized it had
been months since I stopped by, not sure why, guess I was headed toward my rut.
I really enjoy going to the Annenberg Space for Photography, it is a beautiful Space
for different Artists to show their work. It is truly an amazing place. As I was driving to work last week I saw an advertisement of their latest showing and realized I had missed their last 2 showings, and I did not really know why I had
not gone....guess I was headed to my rut.
I have always been a big believer in living your life to the fullest, make the most of everyday you have because our days really are numbered and one day we will
run out of those numbers. I have friends who think I am a little crazy (and they could could really be right) because driving any distance to do something I really want to do has never been a problem for me. When I lived Palm Springs, there were
times when I would be at work and thing how nice it would be to go to Laguna Beach for dinner. I would get off at like 4 pm, run home and change and head to Laguna.
Now from Palm Springs that is like an hour and a half one way. Crazy, probably.
Fun...o you betcha. I could get there, spend some time on the beach, watch the sun set on the ocean, have dinner and be back home by midnight. I did that several times through the years and each time is a wonderful memory I will always have. (Even met a really nice guy on one of my quick trips and we ended up dating for a while....nice!) But I have realized that for whatever reason, I have not been on one
of my little adventures in a really long time....guess I entered my rut.
One of my greatest enjoyments over the last couple of years has been this blog.
I am always on the lookout for something share with you guys on here, but as I looked back over the last half of 2010, I realized all the things I did not share
with you...it was like I had just lost interest in blogging, which in reality, is not true, I really love it....it is just hard to do when you are in a rut.
They say the most important step in getting over a problem is realizing you have one!
(Heard that in a Co-dependency Group I use to go to years ago). So day before yesterday, I went to my park that I enjoy so much, and I walked a mile....and it was great. And as I walked I looked up and say what was around me. I noticed that
as I walked I kept looking down at the ground ahead of me. So I started looking up and when I did I could see the beautiful snow cover San Gabriel Mountains that
seem so close I could touch them. I noticed all the new trees they had planted in the park earlier in the year, and when I looked straight up from where I was when I stopped to catch my breath....I saw 2 beautiful Hawks circling right above me!! ( when I first saw them I checked to make sure they were not vultures circling me, I can not tell you how out of shape I have gotten in my rut!!) I had such a good
time! And yesterday,in the afternoon when it warmed up, I was back at the park doing another mile... it was great.
So look at where you are in your life right now.... 2010 was not a really good year.....we all got hit with so much negativity......are you in your own little rut?
If you are.....I hope you will join me in being "rutless" this year. I am not really big on New Year's resolutions...ok I have a couple... but my main goal this year
is to get out there and enjoy what life has to hold....hope you will join me .
Lets make this year the most fun and adventurous year we have ever had.
And yes, I am back to blogging so check back....you just might find something that will bring a smile to your face!!!
later...
Have you ever realized sometime on your life's journey that your life seems kinda dull and you realized you were in a rut? You know what a rut is...Webster defines a rut as a fixed, routine course of action or thought, one regarded as dull and unrewarding. We have all been in a rut sometime on our journey.
Well,just yesterday I realized I have been in a rut. Sometime over this past year I slowly stopped doing things that I really enjoy doing and slowly my routine changed to the point that I spent more time at home doing nothing or glued to my computer..doing nothing. A couple of weeks ago on my drive to work I drove by
a park that I really love to walk in. For the past couple of years I stopped by
there most every day (except when we do not have daylight saving time and it is dark by the time I get here) and walked a mile, sometimes 2. But I realized it had
been months since I stopped by, not sure why, guess I was headed toward my rut.
I really enjoy going to the Annenberg Space for Photography, it is a beautiful Space
for different Artists to show their work. It is truly an amazing place. As I was driving to work last week I saw an advertisement of their latest showing and realized I had missed their last 2 showings, and I did not really know why I had
not gone....guess I was headed to my rut.
I have always been a big believer in living your life to the fullest, make the most of everyday you have because our days really are numbered and one day we will
run out of those numbers. I have friends who think I am a little crazy (and they could could really be right) because driving any distance to do something I really want to do has never been a problem for me. When I lived Palm Springs, there were
times when I would be at work and thing how nice it would be to go to Laguna Beach for dinner. I would get off at like 4 pm, run home and change and head to Laguna.
Now from Palm Springs that is like an hour and a half one way. Crazy, probably.
Fun...o you betcha. I could get there, spend some time on the beach, watch the sun set on the ocean, have dinner and be back home by midnight. I did that several times through the years and each time is a wonderful memory I will always have. (Even met a really nice guy on one of my quick trips and we ended up dating for a while....nice!) But I have realized that for whatever reason, I have not been on one
of my little adventures in a really long time....guess I entered my rut.
One of my greatest enjoyments over the last couple of years has been this blog.
I am always on the lookout for something share with you guys on here, but as I looked back over the last half of 2010, I realized all the things I did not share
with you...it was like I had just lost interest in blogging, which in reality, is not true, I really love it....it is just hard to do when you are in a rut.
They say the most important step in getting over a problem is realizing you have one!
(Heard that in a Co-dependency Group I use to go to years ago). So day before yesterday, I went to my park that I enjoy so much, and I walked a mile....and it was great. And as I walked I looked up and say what was around me. I noticed that
as I walked I kept looking down at the ground ahead of me. So I started looking up and when I did I could see the beautiful snow cover San Gabriel Mountains that
seem so close I could touch them. I noticed all the new trees they had planted in the park earlier in the year, and when I looked straight up from where I was when I stopped to catch my breath....I saw 2 beautiful Hawks circling right above me!! ( when I first saw them I checked to make sure they were not vultures circling me, I can not tell you how out of shape I have gotten in my rut!!) I had such a good
time! And yesterday,in the afternoon when it warmed up, I was back at the park doing another mile... it was great.
So look at where you are in your life right now.... 2010 was not a really good year.....we all got hit with so much negativity......are you in your own little rut?
If you are.....I hope you will join me in being "rutless" this year. I am not really big on New Year's resolutions...ok I have a couple... but my main goal this year
is to get out there and enjoy what life has to hold....hope you will join me .
Lets make this year the most fun and adventurous year we have ever had.
And yes, I am back to blogging so check back....you just might find something that will bring a smile to your face!!!
later...
1/1/11
Where ever you are, there you are............
Well here we are, 2011. I can well remember when I was a kid (yes, I can actually remember back that far, and sometimes even farther), my friends and I would think about what the world would be like if we lived till the year 2000!!! Well now that I have lived these 11 years beyond that, I can tell you that NONE of what we imagined back then about what life would be like now was even close to what is really happening now. It is like that when you are young.
So here we are, 2011...a whole new year ahead of us....it is going to be up to us
to make it a better year than 2010. It's just not gonna happen on its own.
So I hope you will join me in making your own 2011 the best,most fun, full of new things and adventures year you have EVER had in your life....we can..we really can.
You just have to believe you can.....so get busy, we only have 364 more days left!!
Happy New Year!!
So here we are, 2011...a whole new year ahead of us....it is going to be up to us
to make it a better year than 2010. It's just not gonna happen on its own.
So I hope you will join me in making your own 2011 the best,most fun, full of new things and adventures year you have EVER had in your life....we can..we really can.
You just have to believe you can.....so get busy, we only have 364 more days left!!
Happy New Year!!
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