Mondayne, 3

I did not do any visitation this past week. My schedule became complicated and there just was not time to make the trip and do visits. This week will also be a wash. My car is in the shop for most of the week.

This coming weekend I expect to be on my own. Without adult supervision. *eg* I’ve pretty much decided to bag the “class reunion”. The two classmates that I would want to see are not that far away and I can see them another time. I’m hoping to find something to do within the parameters that I need to be around to care for the princess.

The following note may fall into the category of TMI, but I will try not to be too direct. On Friday I met someone who is relatively new to the area. I would say that we had a good time, but I am not adding an exclamation point. It had been nearly a year for me (except for my dates with Rosy). Since then I’ve been contemplating my reaction to it all. I do not feel compelled to follow up, and what bothers me most are my thoughts that I am not so sure that I care that it ever happens again. It all rather takes the thrill out of the forthcoming weekend.

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

We Interrupt This Blog…

…to encourage you to watch the Ken Burns/PBS special series on the National Parks.

We DVR’s the first one and watched it early this afternoon. The photography and videography are great! as is the content. I highly recommend it.

I hope that it will raise awareness and appreciation again among the American people of these wonderful national treasures so that the voices of “Drill, baby, drill!” will once again be silenced and these lands kept as a gift to our future.

I hope you will watch it and find it as enjoyable as we did.

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Friday Thoughts

The theme of this edition of Friday Thoughts has to be gay lit and media.

From earlier posts you learned that I had watched the film of A Home at the End of the World recently and subsequently procured a used copy of the novel to read. Earlier this week I finished the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. What I noticed immediately were the differences between the book and the film – particularly toward the end. Among some of the many differences: the character of Erich is a “no show” in the film for the most part, and the book is not as explicit as is the film with the thread of Jonathan having AIDS. As with a lot of duke outs between books and the film adaptations there of, I think I preferred the book, although I think I fell in love with Colin Farrell as the dopey Bobby – especially as he dances with Jonathan to Mozart. *sigh* The movie ran again one afternoon this week and I was able to see most of it again.

Another movie that I was able to catch this week was a re-run of Were the World Mine. I missed the first showing and it looked interesting. It reminded me very much of Kiss Me, Kate – a play within a play. I not only knew the movie of KMK, but we had done the play in high school. Instead of The Taming of the Shrew, WtWM uses A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I enjoyed it well enough, but some of the scenes were a bit over the top for my taste. I would have preferred that they turn down the volume on the “gay” knob a wee bit in places. One thing it did do was whet my appetite to read some Shakespeare again and add still another element to my “retirement ADD”.

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Unwanted Intrusions

A few moments ago I checked my email.

In my in-box I found an email that had been forwarded to me (and to dozens more) by a former classmate who recently “rediscovered” me. Since the day of our graduation over forty years ago until the phone call of a few weeks ago, I have seen the man once. I have talked with the man one other time on the phone. That should tell us how close we are.

Now I find that I am suddenly on his email forwarding list… of emails that I do not appreciate …on topics with which I do not agree …about issues that I do not support.

He is not the only one. Persons from my distant past and from my recent past also engage in this practice.

I have my own opinions. I have issues that I support. From time to time I have used this blog as a platform to express my views. I feel I have that right to my say.

BUT if you do not like my views, you do not have to read this blog. You do not even need to stop by. I do not wish to force my ideas on anyone. You need not acknowledge that the Greedy Maelstrom even exists. I will not email you copies of my posts, certainly not mass mailings.

In a similar vein, if I make comments on any of your posts that you find offensive or unwelcome, I would ask you to notify me “post haste” and I will cease and desist from doing so.

I do not ever intend to intrude where I am not welcome or wanted.

Why then are there those who are so taken by some kind of twisted “missionary zeal” that they feel that they must forward every bigoted, hate-filled, lie-infested email that they receive to everyone they know? What makes my friends and some distant members of my family think that I support their cause? or that I am even remotely interested in reading their latest lunacy?

What right then do they have to their outrage when I inform them that I do not wish to receive their hate-filled email and that I do not support their cause?

This classless, clueless mindset is also related to the Kirk Cameron plan to distribute in November copies of Darwin’s Origin of the Species with a “special” fifty-page introduction written by creationists. I appreciated many of the points outlined by the woman in the video below in response to this plan. Among the one I liked the most was the plan to distribute copies of the Christian scriptures with an introduction written by atheists and agnostics. As this woman points out, the furor from the “Right” would be red hot. They would be incensed at such audacity. Yet they do not appreciate the offense of their own unwanted and inappropriate intrusion.

There is a voice in me (despite my own faith) that hopes that someone takes up this woman’s suggestion. Let’s just say that it’s the devil in me that makes it so deliciously tempting.

There is another voice that screams “don’t do it!”

If someone does follow through on her suggestion, my inbox will be filled to capacity with even more unwanted intrusions by all my lunatic fringe friends and family.

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Mondayne, 2

It was *BEAUTIOUS* here in Lake Gonebelow this past weekend. It was good to be outside and enjoy the bright sunshine without oppressive heat or humidity. The A/C has been turned off and I hope not to turn it on again until late spring.

Saturday was an anniversary of sorts (no, not *the* anniversary). Thirty-nine years of the day we met. We were going to go out to eat and rent a movie. We could not find a movie that appealed that we had not seen and we decided that we did not want to fight the crowds, so we picked up dinner from our favorite Chinese place and ate in. I bought a dozen roses and told her I got her 3[+]9. That’s what happens when a cheap math major’s brain gets creative.

Right now I am listening to the sound of jack hammers at our front curb. It appears that the local gas utility has decided to replace the lines that run by our home. They started on the next block in the middle of last week. We received our letter of notice the day *after* they started. We do not have any gas line into the home, but our frontage services a number of properties across the way. I am hoping that they contain their digging to along our curb only. There should be no need for them to come up and dig around our home as they have at other properties (who actively use the gas service, I assume).

We learned over the weekend that our younger son has a job interview “north of the border”. It is in one of the English-speaking provinces, but even if it were not, it should present no major problem to him. He excelled in both French and Latin in high school. The distance is going to be a concern to his mother (who will not fly). But at this point it is only an interview and we will cross our bridges when we come to them.

Over the weekend I sorted through some boxes of old computer parts in preparation for the area’s electronic recycling program. We’re talking *old* parts here. Some date to my Tandy 1000 era! I think I can safely rid myself of them now. I think I had three office boxes full of toss outs.

May your Monday foreshadow a happy and fortuitous week!

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Friday Thoughts

Today marks the end of what became a full week. Other than fetching the groceries, I’m taking it relatively easy today.

On Monday, in addition to talking with you all via my post, I cleaned the house thoroughly and mowed the lawn. I even made lasagna and a nice green salad for supper.

Tuesday I helped a friend from the group get at least started on the path of resurrecting his dead Vista laptop. Have I shared how much distaste I have for nearly all things Microsoft? Oh, yeah. I did. Well, just for the record, Vista when it crashes bites the big one. We managed to get the system restored to the original factory settings, and get my friend back in business at a functional level. There are more challenges to get it where it should be, but for now it is working for him.

It turned out that my wife was home both on Wednesday and Thursday so I made the most of the opportunity and did visitations both days. In that scenario the princess did not have to spend all day in her cage. I was not really up for the visitation, but once I got going it went well and I felt good about having done it.

A number of the persons who need to be visited in any given month are victims of dementia or of Alzheimer’s. In many cases it is quite saddening to see persons in such mental states. I did have one visit this week that ended up being somewhat humorous unintentionally.

I bought a new webcam. This one has a built-in microphone and low light adjustment. It also sits nicely on the top of my monitor. I may actually use this one. Any takers?

One of the group took a picture that included me at the dinner last Friday. When he shared the picture with me, my thoughts were, “Lordy! Lordy! Lordy!”. Or should that have been “Lardy! Lardy! Lardy!” I must get control of the weight again!

I had a chance to use a bit of my newly learned Spanish during one of my visits. I was trying to find my way through a labyrinth of hallways at an unfamiliar care facility when I ran into a workman and asked directions. He was a Latino man and with his broken English and my broken Spanish we got the job done.

Have an enjoyable weekend, everyone!

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Mondayne

From all accounts and reports by the others, the concert sponsored by our group went very well. I am really sorry that I could not have made it. I’ll have to work on earning Specialty Pass Points for the next one.

There should be pictures from the concert event and perhaps some additional photos for the meet ‘n greet on the group’s website soon. Navigate to the Event Photos area and then scroll down for the link to the events for 2009.

Yesterday were the annual bicycle races on the streets in our community. Last year the event coordinators did move the start/finish line from the edge of our property to a spot on their own property. Still we were essentially prisoners in our own homes for twelve hours. (Ingress and egress is essentially blocked.) At least it’s over for another year.

I think I have developed “retirement ADHD”. I am finding that I have so many things that I want to do. I get started on doing one thing and then another comes along, catches my interest, and distracts me from the first. Major categories of those interests have been geeky stuff, foreign languages, music, cooking, home repair, and cleaning.

Of course the intrusion of the “temporary” visitation gig did not help (and, btw, is not appearing to have an end in the near future).

One of my foreign language interests has been a renewed attempt to learn (some) Spanish. Torn referred to some software (Immersion Spanish) recently in a post. It appears to be a good resource. I also found a resource on line that I consider quite good: Coffeebreak Spanish. The basic lessons are free. One can download them as MP3’s or do podcasts, etc. Each lesson is about 20 minutes in length, and I appreciate the approach and the order of things. It feels to me much like being in a classroom with a real teacher. The parent website also has areas for other languages (French, Italian, etc.) although I have not tried them yet.

I’ve actually begun to do some reading for pleasure again. Recently I caught the movie of A Home at the End of the World on TV. I heard the book (author: Michael Cunningham) was better, so I bought a used copy online. I am about half way through the book and I am enjoying it very much.

We had rain for the last few days, delaying lawn care. So today as soon as the dew dries, I am cranking up the ole McCormick Reaper and mowing the lawn. It looks like a nice day here at Lake Gonebelow.

Have a great day wherever you happen to be!

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Every Bear That Ever There Was…

If you go out in the woods today
You’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You’d better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Last night was the “Meet ‘n Greet” for a few of our group with Kendall and Chris Shirk, who will be performing at the Stonewall in Allentown this evening. There were five of us from the group and four more guys from the Allentown area plus Chris, Kendall, and Kendall’s cohort in musical crime, Joe.

Kendall and Chris

What can I say? WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

Joe and Kendall

It was a delightful evening. We met for dinner at a local lounge and then retired to one member’s home for dessert.

As for the dinner, the food was good, but the service left something to be desired. It was slow and, when our food came out, hardly any two of us had our food at the same time. It was as if we were eating in shifts. Of course, the slow service gave us more time to talk with one another.

The conversation was lively and intriguing. Chris shared his journey as he prepares to release his first CD in the near future. I have his single (What Would You Say) and I am sure his CD will be great. Chris and Joe entertained us with quick dialogue snippets from Will and Grace. Kendall shared his experience in being contacted by Logo to feature his video for his song Bears! One could not be around any one of the three for very long without smiling. They are all very warm and genuine guys.

Kendall, Spike, and Joe

It was also great to meet the four other “local” guys. One of them (Andy) and I spent a while trying to figure out where we had met before and struck out on all attempts. Andy’s partner, Scott, and I found a common thread in computers and in being victims of downsizing. At the end of the evening we swapped emails. I hope to catch up with all four of them sometime in the future.

Joe and Andy

I also learned that one of the guys in our group has been following this blog. I knew he knew about it, but I did not know he actually read it. So here’s a shout out to you, Jeff. BTW, Jeff has his own blog about music as a part of the group’s website.

As always the fellowship continued at the member’s home and as always I had to leave too soon.

It will be a great concert tonight. I wish I could be there.

Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o’clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they’re tired little teddy bears.

WOOF!

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Thursday Thoughts

First off, here is a picture of the wine bar in which the reception on Sunday was held. I stole the image unabashedly from a website that had reviewed the place. It is a fair image, but does not quite do the place justice.

Last night we were treated to a spectacle of watching petulant little children sulking in their chairs because they did not get their way. It even included the outbursts of full-blown tempter tantrums. Sad.

This afternoon I resume my visitation gig after a brief hiatus to prepare for the reception. I have a couple of visits lined up. The one soul seemed so excited that someone was coming to see her that I fear I may be kidnapped and tied to a chair. If you do not hear from me, …

When I was as yet employed, I had a running feud with the administrators of the company’s FSA (Section 125) accounts. They were slow, inept, prone to errors, and even more prone to deny claims on the most spurious of reasons. When my position was cut in the spring, I contacted the company officials with various questions among them being access to my FSA funds. I was assured that I could make claims against the funds until the end of the claim period (the year 2009). Recently I filed claims sufficient to close the account, having waited until I had accumulated enough to do so. My claims were denied on the basis that they occurred after my “termination” in contradiction to what the company officials had told me. I dashed off an email to said officials quoting their text to me. Last evening I received a reply from the officials that contained the thread of their correspondence with the FSA administrators. Supposedly my claim will be reprocessed and a check cut so that I shall receive my funds. News at 11.

This weekend on Saturday evening the group is sponsoring an event at the Stonewall bar (named for the NYC original) in Allentown, PA. Two musical artists will be there: Kendall (who has a video playing on Logo TV) and a local artist, Chris Shirk (whom I met at out local Pride). I will not be able to attend the event itself, but a subset (by invitation only) of the group is hosting Kendall and Chris for dinner on Friday evening at a local lounge and for dessert afterwards at the home of one of the members. I expect to attend that Friday event and meet the two artists. I am looking forward to it.

If you are anywhere near the Allentown area on Saturday evening, you can check the group’s website (linked above) for details if you are interested in attending. The admission is $10 as I recall.

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

I Don’t Have a Clever Title for This

How’s that for being direct?!

Well, ole Lem is back in Lake Gonebelow and he and the princess are reunited. Neither is the worse for wear for the most part.

We left early Sunday for the western frontier of civilization and dropped the princess off at her countryside retreat and spa on the way. It was a very nice kennel (and at a very reasonable price). There was a [swimming] pool just for the dogs and the grounds were very nicely landscaped with water features and water falls. Swanky! Even so when we pulled up to the office, the princess attempted to bolt. When I picked her up this morning, she was quite happy to see me. Even so, I knew that she had been well cared for. It was a much different experience than when we last kenneled a dog.

Our trip west was fairly pleasant on Sunday morning. Truck traffic was nearly non-existent and automobile traffic was also light. The crazies must have all been at anti-Obama rallies decrying a President having the audacity to address school children.

We arrived ahead of schedule and had time to grab a bite to eat at a fast food seafood restaurant. Years ago the chain had plenty of stores in our area. Now the closest one to the Lake is nearly an hour away. So it was a bit of a treat for us.

We were also ahead of schedule in terms of our check in time at the hotel. We decided to go ahead, figuring that we could sit in a lobby until the room was ready. There was no need. We were given our room right away and we had time to relax, freshen up, and get all gussied up before the pre-reception photography marathon at the home of the parents of my new DIL.

We had a van full of baked goods and hand-made mints/candies for the reception, so we got a hall pass from the photographer and headed to the venue for the reception. We took only one wrong turn going through the city (due to construction), but our GPS got us on track again quickly.

When we arrived at the venue (45 minutes before the event was to begin) the doors were bolted shut. We started to panic because we had beau coup trays that had to be filled with goodies and put out. About 15 minutes before the event, they opened the doors. They were [supposedly] unaware that we were coming with the goods. I felt like Maddog and Adam. The staff did take over and put out the items.

In addition to my baking, my wife had made over 350 mints/candies. Below is a picture of just four of the seven kinds. (These were the only kinds left over.) These are the white bells (anise), green leaves (creme de mint), white roses (peppermint), and yellow butterflies (amaretto). There were also red hearts (cinnamon), lilac roses (raspberry), and peach roses (orange).

The venue was a restaurant that was very upscale and reminded me of some of the small, narrow lounges in large cities. Unfortunately I do not have good pictures. When I walked in, my ‘dar went into high alert mode. There is no way that anyone but Family with good taste could have done the interior of the place. Likewise there had to be Family in the kitchen, the hors d’oeuvres were to die for and when the meal was served my taste buds orgasmed over the rib and the grilled asparagus alone! But the tastiest dishes were serving the food.

The venue was expecting fifty people and sixty-one showed up. It was a bit crowded, but everyone seemed to get along fine and members of the two families as well as friends of my son and his wife mingled well. It was a long and exhausting night however.

As the resident “professional pray-er”, I was asked to offer the blessing. One of the bride’s relatives, a rather right-wing sort, loved it. He must not have been paying attention to my line after I sought divine blessing on the bride and groom: “Give your blessing this day also to all families in all the unique forms You have created them and to all, whoever they are, who bind themselves together in loving covenant.” Or else he missed my point.

My hero of the evening was my younger son, who was the best man. He made me so proud in so many ways.

Our hotel was very nice and fairly reasonable in cost. It was a hotel at which a non-smoking room really was what it claimed to be.

Shortly after noon on Monday we gathered at the bride’s parent’s home again for a combination cookout (despite the rain) and gift opening party. At the cookout I realized that a member of the newly extended family (a female) was Family. She introduced me to her partner.

It only proves how sinister and devious we in the Family are: having the audacity to “disguise” ourselves as perfectly normal human beings! The outrage of it all!

We left early afternoon. I was apprehensive about the holiday traffic, but it was not as bad as I had feared.

Here is a picture of one of the flower arrangements. I took this picture this morning, and the flowers are starting to fade. You can still get the gist.

* * *

That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!