Seems Just Like Yesterday, Part 2....

So there I was, leaving out on that Monday morning headed for Salt Lake City, Utah and my room at the Motel 6!! I had never driven very far out of Casper before by myself much less a long road trip like this. The weather this time of year could change in a heartbeat and a beautiful sunny day could change into a hard snow storm in a matter of minutes. But the weather man said we were in for some nice weather so I headed out.

My sister told me when I was home this past November that she really did not think I would make it very far in my old truck. I had only paid $400 for it a few months earlier and we did not know just how reliable it really was. She told me she figured I would get aways out of town, my truck would break down and they would come and get me and that would be the end of it. Well the truck did ALOT better than she thought

I really do not remember any more just how long it took me to get to Salt Lake City but I do know it took me most of the day. I wish I could remember what all went through my head as I drove along that day. Here I was almost 34 years old and striking out on the biggest adventure of my life. The James that was leaving Wyoming that day was certainly different from the James that came to Wyoming almost two years before. I was more sure of who I really was and had come out not only to myself but my sister and her family (who were super supporting) and I was happy with the person I was at that time. I was excited about what lay ahead of me. Here I was moving to a place I had only visited once, I did not have a job or a permanent place to live, but I knew deep down inside me that this was exactly what I was suppose to be doing. Crazy? probably but, determinded.

I remember coming over this ridge and seeing the Great Salt Lake for the first time, breath taking. I made my way to the Motel 6 and checked in just as it started to snow. I called my sister and told her I made it and she reminded me I could turn around and come back the next day if I really wanted to. I was really tired and hungry. Once I took a shower I found this little cafe to get something to eat.
It was a busy night for them so I sat at the counter to eat. When I sat down there was this older man already sitting there reading the paper. As I sat there waiting for my food to arrive I got to thinking about what I was doing. I think it was right then that the magnitude of what I was doing really hit me. I started thinking how I was now going to be totally on my own with none of my family around me for me lean on. All my life I had lived around some of my family, now I would be totally alone.
As I ate I kept wondering if I was truly doing the right think and I remember I started to get scared. I got up to pay my bill and the older gentleman who had been sitting next to me eating and reading the paper was standing ahead of me in line, we had not looked at each much less spoken to each other. When he finished paying for his meal, he turned around and looked me right in the eye and said, "You are doing the right thing" and smiled and walked toward the door. To say I was stunned is an understatement. I hurried and paid my bill and ran out the door after him but he was no where in sight. I really could not believe what just happened. Now most of my life I have had a deep relationship with my God. I have heard of Angels before from other people, but I have never experienced one for myself. You will never convince me that this old guy was not my own personal Angel experience. All along my way when I get to doubting and wondering why I am here and not living closer to my family in Texas, I alway remember his words "You are doing the right thing".

It was still early so I decided to take a walk around where I was staying. I walked a few blocks and turned the corner and there was the Morman Temple, the original Morman Temple, totally covered in tiny white lights. Every branch on every tree that surrounded the Temple was covered in tiny white lights. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. All those thousands of lights and the snow falling made it seem like a magical place.

Since I am not a Morman I was not allowed to enter the Temple itself, but off to the side they built ths beautiful visitor's center. I was suprised that it was open at night. I walked in to take a look and was soon greeted by a very nice man who volunteered at the center. He greeted me and introduced himself and asked me my name and such. He was only suppose to tell me about the diffrent areas of the center but after we had talked a few minute, he actually took me on a tour of the whole facility. It was a very beautiful place. There were painted murals on the wall of one section that told the story of the Morman people and and Brigham Young and how they ended up in Salt Lake City. On another floor there were diagrams that explained how they built the Temple and then there were several sections that were exact replicas of some the rooms in the Temple. As we walked around the center we told each other pretty much our life stories. He was really taken by the fact I had picked up and was moving to California just because I felt like that was really were I needed to be. When he asked me how long I thought I would stay in California, I told him I really did not know, I had not given much thought to that question.
We ended up spending almost 2 1/2 hours together, him explaining things about the displays and us just talking about our lives in general. Not once did he try to convince me I should be a Morman,but when I started to leave, he did ask me if he could give me a copy of the Book of Morman. I took one and inside the front cover he signed his name for me, he shook my hand and told me he would be praying for my safe trip the rest of the way. I have to say it was a very enjoyable time. After that I walked back to the good Old Motel 6 and went to bed, and slept like a baby!
The next morning I woke up and looked outside and EVERYTHING was totally covered in several feet snow!! I turned on the TV to listen to the weather and there was suppose to be light snow on and off all day. I called the Highway Dept and was told
the road to Las Vegas was "snow bound but passable". Now what in the hell did that mean? Could I drive or could I not? I was fine with staying in Salt Lake a day or two if I need to but if I could drive the freeways I wanted to head out. So I asked the lady one more time, what did snow bound but passable mean? She said well sir,
it means it is snow bound but you can drive on it. Well that is all I needed to hear so I packed my stuff in my truck and found the freeway to Vegas and headed out.
Did you know it is 584 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah to Las Vegas, Neveda?
Do you know how long it takes on a GOOD day to drive that far? Well I didn't.
NOW I can tell you what snowbound but passable means. It means that the freeway is covered in snow, very deep on the sides so you better drive in the ruts that are already there and hope you have enough gas to make to the next town and hope the
exit ramp is cleared off enough so you can get off the freeway and get gas!!!!!
I drove over 14 hours that day. I have to admit I saw some of the most awesomely beautiful snow covered mountains I will ever see in my life. I would drive for miles and not see another car or truck on the freeway. During one long stretch of highway it was snowing so hard I followed the tail lights of the highway patrol in front of me so I would know where to drive. I was really hoping he would not lose control of his car and head off the side of he freeway because if he did I knew I would be following right behind him thinking it was the way we were suppose to go.
But then there was times I would drive on for an hour or two and it wouldn't snow, but not once, not even for a glimpse, did I see the Sun that day. I had a room reserved at the Motel 6 in Vegas and by the time I drove in there that night about 9pm, it looked like the most elaborate Hotel on the face of the earth.
I will alway remember how stiff and sore my legs were when I stepped out of my truck there at the Motel. I had to just stand there for a minute or two to let the blood flow. I had been proably 3 or 4 hours since I had gotten out the last time.
I went in and checked in and headed to my room. I called my sister and told her I had made it and I think it might have been then she realized I was really gonna make it to Palm Springs. I did not tell here the kind of day I had had or what the weather was like for me that day. I figue when she reads this now she will find out, and I still be a call from there and chewing out, even after all these years!!Lol.

After I showered and ate something, I decided I would drive around alittle and see what Vegas looked like. I had seen it on TV but never in a million years did I ever think I would actually BE in Vegas. Now let me remind you of something, this was back on 1987, there was no Strip like there is today. There were bight lights and stuff but nothing like today. Now before I left Wyoming, I looked up the Gay bars in Vegas in a Damron guide a friend had. I decided I was going to try and find one
ad have a coke JUST so I could tell my friends I had been in a Gay bar in Vegas.
I got a map of the town and located the street of one of the bars close to the Motel and over there I went. Yes I was nervous because I had never actually been in a Gay bar by myself before but like I said before, I was determined. So I went in and sat at the bar and ordered a coke and before I got my Coke, this really nice looking guy sat down next to me and started talking to me. He lived in Vegas and was single and wanted to know where I was from and where I was headed. Now he was a real looker, blond hair, kinda muscular but not overly done and of course he had his shirt unbuttoned so I could see his nice smooth chest. Now as they say, I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night, I knew after talking with him for a few minutes that if I wanted to spend sometime with him that night it would cost me, yep if you have not guess it, he was a hooker, a real live Vegas hooker!!
So after we had talked for a little while I excused myself and told him I was tired and had a long drive ahead of me the next day and as I startd to get up, he asked me why didn't I take him back to my Motel with me and he could smooth ot my tired muscles, if you know what I mean. It was then I looked him square in the eye and asked him how much that smoothing would cost me and he told me without blinking an eye,$500 dollars. Well I truly did not know what hookers made since he was my first real live one I had ever seen, I was a little shocked. I asked him,"Really, $500?" and he told me yep and he was worth every penny. I just kinda laugh a little and told him, I didn't think so, I had a truck parked outside that I did not pay that much for and I would get alot more miles out if it than I would him! And I just walked out to get in my truck. Now I was surprised because he just got up and followed me outside and the whole time he kept talking and lowering his price. By the time we got to my truck he was down to $50. When I got to my truck I turned to him and told him, I appreciated the discounted price and all, but the answer was still no. When I drove out the parking lot he was still standing right where I had parked watching me drive away. Guess it was just my animal magnitism at work again!!
I headed on back to the Motel 6, climbed into bed and passed out before my head hit the pillow. That was the end of my first exciting night in Vegas!!
Tomorrow I landed in California!!

later!

Update On Andy...

Well when we last left Andy (my car remember?) I had been told by the insurance company that he was a total loss. Now if you look at him sitting there on the road in front of the house, you notice a little dimple in the side panel and the scratches on his bumper from the impact and truly that is about all. Well I found out today from Cheryl at the insurance company that Andy actually had $7,826 worth of damage to him, underneath the car!!!!! The frame is bent along with a LOT of other things. It made me sad.

BUTTTTT!!!!!!!! the good news is they are going to pay him off. I was SO afraid they wouldn't. So now, I get to go out and look for something else, and to be honest with you, I think I may have already found him, and he comes in metallic orange!!!!
I can hear your thought now, "why does that not surprise me?"

I'll keep you updated!

later!

Seems Just Like Yesterday.....

Time sure flies when you are having fun, so I'v heard!! It must be true because 22 years ago today, I left Casper,Wyoming headed for Palm Springs,California and it truly does seem like it was just yesterday.

I had lived in Casper for just over a year and a half, I had moved there to put some kind of order back in my life. When I moved there I was really just a shell of the person I had always been up to that point. I was 32 when I moved to Casper. The year before had been one of the most devastating years of my life. My marrage of 10 years had come to an abrupt halt. Everything I had work for the previous 10 years suddenly dissolved into thin air in what seemed like over night. One day it was there, the next day it was all gone. When my exwife decided to leave me, she planned it well and when she was ready, she took our two kids, and everything in our home, and left. Seriously, it was pretty much that way. The next few months were not pretty and I slowly went deeper and deeper in a depression. When it was over, all I had were my personal belongings and my car, and lots of debt. The depression went deeper. At that time my maxium weight had been 155 lbs (o how I long for that weight now!!). The day I left to move to Wyoming, I weighted 118. Like I said, it wasn't pretty.

My sister and her husband (Jim) lived in Wyoming because of his job. He was a Directional Driller and worked for a major oil field company located in Casper.
They had come home for a visit just about the time my divorce was final and my sister tried her best to get me to come back with them and start my life over there.
I told her I just couldn't go and leave my kids, I got to see them once or twice a month and I could not lose the chance to see them. She really did her best to convince me to come back with them but I wouldn't. As the next few weeks passed on my depression continued to get worse. My Doctor finally told me that if I did not do something soon I would have a complete nervous breakdown. I so remember the day I decided I had to do something about my situation. I was at work and I could barely function outside of my daily routine. I remember thinking, I just can't do this anymore and I walked over the phone at work and called my Mom. I told her to please get Jean to call me, I just couldn't handle anything anymore. This is a tough place to be when you are only 32. I stood there by the phone and in just a few minutes my sister called and I told her I would come, I just had to do do something or I did not think I could handle it anymore. Looking back at myself at that time, it really scares me that I was ever in that place. Within two weeks, I had given up my apartment, boxed up what little I owned and was on my way to live in Casper, Wyoming. My brother in law flew down, picked up a company car in Houston, and drove us back up to Wyoming. I took us 3 days.

I will always believe that my sister and her husband letting me come and live with them there truly saved my life. I was not allowed to work for 3 months. They paid what bills I had and provided me with a truck and a gas card for those 3 months.
Slowly I started getting better. Like I have said before, my sister and I are crazy fun when we get together. She and I traveled all over the State. She took me up close to Yellowstone where we roamed around the mountains and saw some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. Over those 3 months I returned to being more of the person I had been before. But also during those months, I started coming to grips with my being Gay. I was really surprised to find the Public library there had numerous books on being Gay (now remember this was 1985). By accident I met some really nice Gay men who in turn introduced me to other Gay people and before long, even though I was deep in the closet still, I had several Gay friends who helped me realize who I truly was. Several of these people and I are still good friends and keep in contact to this day. It was through some of these freinds I met, Calvin, who would become my first partner, but that is story for a future time.

In November 1986, I flew to Palm Springs to spend a week with my very good friend, Lola Milburn. Lola and I had met one night when I had gone to pick Calvin up from work at the Mall and she was working in a store next to where he worked. I went into her store one night and we struck up a conversation and we have been close friends ever since. She had live in Palm Springs once before and decided to move back to work in a resort. After she had moved she invited me to come out and visit and I did!
I spent a wonderful week with her and her daughter and while I was there I just knew deep down inside myself that this is where I needed to be. I kinda brushed it off thinking it was just because it was such a beautiful place is why I was thinking that. So when my week was up, I flew back home to Casper. Well, I couldn't get it off my mind. It was all I thought about. So one day I mentioned it to my sister she told me she figured I would want to move there!! She really did not want me to go but she would not tell me not to go. So after a few more days of really mulling it over, I decided I would move to Palm Springs and follow whatever it was that was telling me I needed to be there. My friend Lola told me I could stay with her until I could get a job and a place of my own.

So on January 5,1987, I took out in my old 1972 International Scout loaded with everything I owned and headed for Palm Springs California, with my first stop being, Salt Lake City, Utah!!

to be continued.....

later!

Breakfast at the Whole Foods!

So after sleeping in a little this morning, Patrick and I decided to head out and take care of some errands we have been needing to do. I don't know about most of you but after about mid morning I need to eat something if I have not had breafast yet.
So we decided to try and find somewhere to have a bit to eat that we have not been to before, you know try a little something different for the New Year. So as we were driving around trying to figue out just where that might be, we passed the Whole Foods Market on South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. We have been there shopping once to check it out and they have a very large section where you can eat there so we decided to give it a try. I mad a big U turn and headed back. Now if you have not been in the Market, it is beyond HUGE and super nice. We made our way to the second floor to the Cafe they have there. They have a pretty good Sunday Breakfast menu so after looking it over a bit we ordered and found ourselves a table. It is all open air so it feels like you are eating in the middle of a grocery store because, well you are eating in the middle of a grocery store. ("Coffee refill on Aisle 12")
Now I was going to be adventuresome and order the Tofu Scramble but I settle instead for the Ranchero Bowl (breafast potatoes, sauteed peppers, scrambled eggs(my choice), ranchero sauce and cheese). Patrick ordered Eggs Florenine(english muffin,spinach, tomato, porched eggs, hollandaise sauce) and we both had a big mug of Orange Juice. I have to say we both enjoyed it and it didn't break us either.
We will do it again I am sure.
They also have an Asian Express Menu and Mediteranean Wraps. So if you are in the mood for something different than you usually have, give them a try. I think you will like it!

later!!

One Of The Best Times of My Life.....

I know we all have them, an event that has happened in our past that we think back on and say "Man that was one of the best times of my life." Hopefully, we all have several of those kinds of moments that were so special that when we think about them we are right there again, enjoying the time once again.

The picture you see today was taken of me back in 1987,January 4th to be exact. I know the date is correct because it was the day before I was leaving Wyoming to move to California. The picture was taken by my sister, Jean, on the backside of Casper Mountain. That is Muddy Mountain in the background. If you ever wonder where that one got its name, go over there after a rain storm or when the snow starts to melt, you'll know! Those of you who may not know or for those of you who knew but forgot, this is in Wyoming.

The town of Casper, Wyoming where we both lived sits at the base of Casper Mountain.Going up on the Mountain was a favorite thing for my sister and I do whenever we both had some free time to hang together. So we decided since it was my last day in Wyoming and our last time to hang out together there, we would head up to our favorite part of the Mountain to take picturs and spend some "us"time before I left the next day.

If you can not tell from the picture, there was ALOT of snow on the ground.This was January for pete's sake, EVERYTHING was covered in snow!! And you can tell from the way I am dress that it was VERY cold. Our favorite place to hang out was on the backside of the Mountain. The forest were beautiful and you could see over to Muddy Mountain and beyond. It was my favorite place to go and listen to it snow.
(Now for those of you who have never seen snow or been anywhere while it is snowing, snow really does not make any noise when it falls) You stand there at the edge of the woods and you look out over the unending landscape and all around in every direction, these large beautiful snowflakes are falling by the millions and all you can hear is the quietness all around you. It is truly a beautiful experience.

Now to get back to the day we were there. It was both a somewhat sad and happy day for us. Both of were a little sad that I would be moving away and at the same time happy that I was going on an adventure like I had never been on before. But regardless we were both in a super good mood and we are really crazy when we are together anyway. So we had taken several pictures all around the area and we decided to walk over across this little clearing to take a few more pictures, so my sister, being the brave soul that she is, takes out across the clearing and I was following a little ways behind her, walking in her footsteps. She was just talking away to me as she walked when all the sudden the ground beneath me gave way and I fell into the snow drift up to my arm pits. Now picture this, my body from my armpits down are in the snow and all that is sticking out are my arms, shoulders and my head. My arms are stretched out on both sides of me,I look like the letter "T" My sister
continues to walk away from me and when I got my senses back (ok, what little I have) I started yelling at her and she keeps talking and walking away. Then she turns around to tell me somthing and she is looking to where my head should be and
she stops and slowly looks down to where my heard actually is. We just looked at each other, neither of us saying a word and then we both start to giggle, and the giggles turn to laughter and then the laughter goes into crying while you are laughing and that gets so bad we both lose our breaths.
Thankfully, the drift was no deep and I was able to climb out (not sure I could do that now!) and she came over and helped me dust the snow off. We were both talking at the same time (something we still do to this day!) and everytime our eyes met we would start laughing again. This went on the rest of the day. We started making up funny things about what could have happened. We truly laughed about it the rest of the day. It was one of those special moments for both of us. To this day when one of us brings it up, we both start laughing all over again.

later.

ps. Here's a little trivia for you, Casper Mountain is the only mountain in the US to run east to west, all the other mountains in the US run north to South. Thought you might want to know in case you are ever on Jeporady.

Momma Knows Best...

Hang On!! Here We Go................

Well here we are, first of day of 2009! I don't know about you but I am very excited about this year. As I said in my previous post, 2008 was not one of my favorite years. And even though I am starting the new year on kinda of a down not with my car being totaled, I think this year has the promise for many good changes to come.

Well Christmas is OVER at the Lee-Neff household. The trees are down and all the decoration are packed back in their boxes and put away in what we loving call, the Christmas Shed. Yes we have so many Christmas decorations they have their very own storage shed where they live all year long until it is time to drag them out and make everything look beautiful once again. We would usually wait another week to do this after we got up and go going this morning, we thought today was the perfect day.

We had a pretty queit day around here. We slept in some, went to dim sum with Patrick's family and them came home and started on de-Christmasizing the house. With both of us working at it, it didn't seem to take long. But one of us had to have a nap, won't say which one it was except that it wasn't me, so that did slow things down just a tad. Now Patrick is over watching "The Dark Knight" with the kids and I am going to go upstairs in a little while and watch "Second Hand Lions". A great way to start off the New Year, mostly vegging.

Hope you will stay tuned this year and I have some ideas for some different kinds of post on here. When I first started this blog it was a way for me to share with you all about my adventures as I check out different places and LA and around Southern California. I will be doing more of that as I venture out and I will be sharing some places I discovered this past year but did not get to share with you, so please hang in there with me and PLEASE, leave a comment so I will know someone is actually reading this!!

Have a fun weekend and I hope this year will bring each of you fun and excitement as we experience this new year together!!

later.