A missed week.

Alright, so I missed my last week post, because I got back from TX and had a surprise waiting for me at work.  I requested to have off from Monday to Monday, 6 days of work, 8 total days of vacation, and 48 hours of work.  Meaning I had Monday off, which was good because it was my friend Sal's birthday and I made her an amazing marinara sauce over rotini.  It was fab!

Anyway, so I get to work on Tuesday and discover that my request had been altered to not include Monday, which left me with a no call no show on for that Monday.  After the initial shock wore off, I was more or less angry at the fact that there was no recourse left to me to deal with it.  Obliviously I don't do that (my record of 2 years with nary a one of those should speak for itself) and my request for 48 hours of PTO, which I spoke to 2 supervisors about before I left (why would I double check to make sure I had 48 hours of PTO if I only took 40 hours of vacation?) should have been appropriate to at least instigate an investigation for a possible computer error.  But no, I'm just a peon and I don't warrant that kind of effort, so I had to take the disciplinary action.  Which I was fine with in the end, but I was more angry about the lack of effort to look into my claims that I had actually done everything correctly, and the lack of employee ability to force such an investigation. 

Anyway, Austin was fun.  Got to see a neat city, and visit a pretty cool gay bar.  Met some interesting people, most notable was a couple of people who were obviously transients, who travelled via train hopping.  I didn't realize that people did that anymore, but you learn something new every day.  They also had a really cute big dog named Duke.  I hope their lifestyle and the dog mesh.  If not I wish the best for the pooch.

Tried brisket for the first time in an authentic TX BBQ joint.  Along with seasoned smoked turkey and some amazing sausage.  I will say that despite my depredations about the south, they do have a certain flair for doing barbeque.  So maybe it's not all bad.  Kinda.

And now I'm back in the frigid north, and hoping to make the most of my return to the land of cheese.  Happy Sunday!

A Cultural Moment with Elwë

Week 3 of 2012 finds me traveling.  I am currently approximately 1100 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

Things learned and seen on my road trip.

I saw the St. Louis Arch for the first time.

I know where the worlds largest rocking chair is (Missouri if you’re curious, at least that’s what the sign said)

I know the location of a Vacuum museum (also Missouri)

I saw a shop called “Allen’s Quik Lube” and it made me think of my friend Sunshine.

I found Electric Avenue (It’s in Oklahoma)

Happy Days moved from Milwaukee to Oklahoma (It’s a hotel in Oklahoma)

Texas apparently thinks gun stores can be a family affair.

I also have never been out of the midwest in the winter months.  So when I arrived and it was 85 degrees with low humidity and I heard that Wisconsin had 10 inches of snow and it was -13 degrees 2 nights ago, I thought it was rather fortuitous that I was 1200 miles away. 

I also realized, again, that I cannot live outside of Milwaukee.  Some of my habits are too expensive anywhere else.

There's also a really interesting restaurant chain that I discovered called Which Wich.  Not sure if it would make it in Milwaukee, because Jimmy Johns has a huge customer base.  But it certainly would be fun.

I think that Texas has way too much space, as evidenced by the fact that all of their interchanges for highways and such end up 50 feet in the air.  Also, apparently nobody told them that "Dubya" isn't president anymore, because they have "President George W. Bush Parkway" in Dallas. 

So off to a day of sightseeing in balmy 80-something degree weather.  I think I'll wear shorts. 

2012 - Week 2

So, it's week 2 of 2012 and the end of the world is (hopefully) that much closer, and I have zany stories regarding my NYRs to share.

First, the return to online dating.  Now I understand that when you're putting yourself out there you also have to be aware that you're also putting yourself out there for criticism.  Some guys are just assholes enough to take advantage of your putting yourself out there and make you feel like crap.  Case in point, I joined a website, created a profile, and all that crap.  Some young little bastard messaged me and his first words to me were, "God u need a makeover".  Naturally, I didn't read his message before I looked at his picture, so I was all drawn in by a pretty face.  So my reply was "And you need a personality transplant", and then I proceeded to block him, which is why we have those options on dating sites.

But I just wanted to bitch for a minute about something.  I have friends who are approaching 30, which is (according to some) "gay death", and I have friends who are well past that mark.  Now, lots of young(er) gay guys refuse to date over a certain age (usually somewhere in their early 20s), and don't want "fats, fems, or old guys".  Speaking as someone who's reached what you could call "gay middle age" I guess (late 20s), I really take offense to this.  Mostly because young, tight, svelte bodies will fade, and rapidly (usually considering the stereotypical party weekends that young guys have), but it can be extended by eating right and spending ungodly amounts of time at the gym.  But let's be clear here guys, looks *will* fade, and then what will you have?  As I'm fond of saying, "Looks fade, but bitchy is forever".  Which is to say, that maybe we should be spending more time on our personalities and intellects so that when we're not pretty, or young anymore we still have something to offer.

Another thing I'd like to mention is rounding.  Mostly all the rounding people do and don't do.  Dan Savage mentions sexuality rounding, wherein a Bisexual person will round themselves up or down depending on who they're dating.  I would like to mention that at some point we all have to round a whole bunch of other things.  Mostly regarding age and looks and such.  I mean, who really could be considered a 10?  Mostly I guess we have a hell of a lot of 5, 6, and 7s running around with inflated senses of themselves.  But I think Dan Savage said it best.






I think things would be easier if more people were cognizant of the fact that to get through life, there's going to be a lot of rounding.

I also came across this little video and it made me giggle, so I figured I'd share.  Happy Friday!

In the Closet - watch more funny videos

Blog! Languish no more!

I'm back.  For at least 52 new updates.  It's part of my NYR's (New Years Resolutions).  My goal is to blog once a week for a whole year, a week being Sunday to Saturday.  Therefore this would constitute week one.  The goal also includes blogging when I don't think I have anything to say, because that's never a problem in real life, so why would it be a problem in cyberspace?

So, what to blog about?  How about I'm happy that the bat shit crazy lady is no longer running for president, but I'm sorry that Santorum is really in the lead.  But I'm very glad that the GOP is apparently so fractured and reduced to infighting that they don't even have any non-crazy candidates to put forward for election year.

I think this year is going to be the year of cooking.  I had a recipe pop into my head for a seafood alfredo lasagna.  Involving crab, shrimp, scallops, layers of basil and spinach and cheese.  It looks good in my head, but I think I need to research scallops a bit before I go forward because I've never cooked them, or bought them for that matter.  So here's hoping.

What else?  Oh, I decided to get back into online dating after last years NYR of not.  But after being matched with people I'm acquainted with who have turned me down. Some for really stupid reasons (i.e. "we know too many of the same people").  I mean isn't that kind of the point?  The movie Latter Days (I recommend it, go find it and watch it)  has a quote where it says the LA is a city where everybody danced with one eye on the door, waiting for something better to come in.  But would they know it if it did?  I'd like to take that one step further and say that idea applies to gay culture, because that's what it is.  I get that nobody is willing to settle, but as Dan Savage is fond of saying, let's get into rounding.  So the guy that's interested in you isn't a 10, or even an 8 or 9.  Maybe he's a 5 or a 6 or even a 4.  But round up.  You have to give a little to get a little.  I wish more guys understood that prior to the age of 30.  But at this point that's a pot and kettle situation. 

Happy Saturday!

Is anything really new?

I was facebooking (I love that websites end up becoming verbs) with a friend from HS the other day and she had asked me if there was anybody wanted to go to Wall Street for the Occupy Walls Street movement.  I replied that I would love to but that I have to work.  Her response was to ask if I could take any time off (a week was what she asked) to go to NYC.  I replied that I didn't have that much PTO, and couldn't go.  Her rebuttal was to say something along the lines of "I love you and I'll support you if you ever decide to fight back" (I'm paraphrasing).  But that last comment really got me thinking.

I really would like to protest the whole idea that 1% of the people in this country control 99% of the wealth, or some such thing like that, because I think that it's something worth protesting.  But how can you reconcile protesting an injustice with fulfilling your obligations.  So how do you protest something that you believe in if it means that you'll possibly lose your job.  Is it really fair to look down on those who choose not to protest in favor of fulfilling their obligations and keeping their job?  I don't think it's fair but that's the world we live in. 

Also, I have a friend who apparently is very offended at my repeating of good and fun sayings that I have heard.  I'm inclined to think that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  Is this not the case?  More things to ponder.

Mental Rumblings

So, I haven't been updating.  I've been busy, and focusing on other things, ergo my blog has been languishing.  Which is not to say that I haven't had deep thoughts that ought to go out into the world, just that I don' think that they can be put here.  They're not bad, but they're not for public consumption, I think. I have been thinking about journaling more, but again, that leaves my blog to gather dust and cobwebs. 

Maybe I need a focus?  Something more to write about than my opinions, because let's face it, if I can't bring myself to write about them then clearly they aren't that important to me.  But then again, my opinions make up my voice, my thoughts, my personality, more or less.  If I don't care about them anymore, what do I have?  *le sigh*

I suppose I could write my opinions on Gay Rights and the fight for Equality, constantly coming out (no pun intended) against the GOP and other bigoted homophobic public figures.  Call them out, and hold them accountable for what they say and expect them to back it up.  I could focus on religious issues, but does anybody really care?  I mean outside of the liturgical and theological community who really cares, unless it pertains to an issue currently in the public eye.  Naturally I have to have an interest in two issues that are, for the moment, polar opposites.  Despite years of work on both sides, it seems that reconciliation isn't going to happen.  Perhaps the turmoil I feel spiritually comes from this?  I'm not sure.  I'm rereading the Dragonlance Chronicles (Autumn Twilight, Winter Night, Spring Dawning).  Usually I feel a connection with Raistlin.  He's an outcast, slave to his passion which leads to his downfall, and is physically weaker than most other people but has his own brand of strength.  Lately, however, I've been feeling a connection with Tanis Half-Elven.  A child of rape, he lives in two worlds, elf and human, and neither wants him.  He struggles for belonging and faith, which he can't wrap his brain around, at least until the end of the story.  I think he's sort of like me, or I'm like him.  I exist in the realm of the theological and the homosexual, and currently neither side really understands my beliefs which causes me to have one foot in each movement.  Gay rights people want me to change religions, to something that's gay affirming.  But asking me to do that is like asking me to give up the bedrock of what I believe in.  But asking me to ignore/abandon/change my sexual orientation and not embrace it as a part of who I am is tantamount to the same thing. 

No wonder I have such inner turmoil. 

I did not intend this blog to end up this deep, but when you get started sometimes things just come pouring out, and if that's the case then I just broke the dam.  Hope you, dear reader, didn't get washed away, and are still with me.  And technically, at least in central time, I'm still on time for a Wednesday entry. 

Happy Wednesday!

A break in the heat which also means a break in blogging inspiration

So, I slept for 11.25 hours last night, woke up at around 12:45pm central time (I usually get up around 10am) and went "What the F***!".  Then I remembered it was wednesday and spent the morning checking Facebook and my webcomics and some news sites, trying to discover something to blog about. 

So I found a couple of things.  One of which is here.  In regards to a comment said at an HIV/AIDS fundraiser.  And I agree, there needs to be more information about the fact that HIV/AIDS is not just an old persons disease.  It can happen to anyone at anytime.  From elderly people to infants, because it is borne on the blood.  Any contact with infected blood, from a car accident victim for example, potentially carries a risk of infection.   It's not just from gay sex, or hetero sex, that you can be infected.  If the idea that HIV/AIDS is a sad, old person disease is a prevalent one, we are doing our future and our young people a disservice by allowing it.  More information is always a good thing, whether you want to hear it or not.  At least if you know you can make an informed decision. 

Also there is a comment beneath the story that makes a point as well.  The A in AIDS which means Acquired.  To a lot of people that means that you have to do something, you have to go out of your way to end up infected with HIV.  As mentioned above, that is not true.  The infection of an individual can be a complete accident or a result of a mix of factors.  Only one way to get infected is via intercourse (homo or hetero).  As mentioned above, because HIV is a blood borne infection, any contact with infected blood carries a risk, no matter how small, and that is something to keep in mind.

Salt Lake City apparently is banding together to combat hatred and intolerance, in this story.  I think it's wonderful that a community, both hetero and homo, are banding together to show solidarity against this sort of tragedy.  I do think, however, that it's sad that it took the beating of this poor young man for this sort of coming together to occur.  It's very disheartening that in our everyday lives that the LGBT+ community can't find this kind of cohesiveness.  I realize that human beings tend to gather together in the face of tragedy, suffering, and persecution, but what most young people don't understand (or care about) is that everyday we are viewed as second class citizens by anyone of our countrymen or peers, we are being persecuted, we are suffering, and it is a continuing tragedy that some can't let go of their hate. 

So, we'll go on.  And hopefully, to quote Dan Savage and company, it will get better.