CT United Ride

Over 3000 motorcylces roared through our town yesterday in a tribute to 9-11.
This year each cyclist was also asked to bring a Katrina relief bag as well.

My patriotic wife and I tailgated in the convertible festooned with American flags. The event, at least in our town, was not that well advertised. So when we pulled out the lawn chairs flags and sandwiches - people stopped to ask us what the heck we were doing.

One couple who had just stopped for ice cream parked next to us and asked why we were there. When we told them - they pulled out a small American flag and stood with us waving and cheering on the riders for the near 40 minutes it took for them to pass. After the last stragglers passed the couple having ice cream came over and the woman said how wonderful life was -- that by chance they saw us, stopped to chat, and got to experience this -- mentioning her husband was a Vietnam vet so they always have flags in the car. Both my wife and I shook his hand and thanked him.

Friday

tip-o-the-day

With gas prices soaring through the roof, here’s a tip to save money.

Instead of gassing up tonight on your way home, stop at the liquor store. While the price per gallon of your favorite cocktail may be higher than gas, you get better mileage.
Remember, don’t drink and drive – as that defeats the whole purpose of trying to save money.

Do you read?

What a silly question isn’t it? Of course you do, you are now. Whenever I am asked that question I usually answer “Not really.”
Most of the reading I do is to gather information. News magazines, manuals, How To books and papers…etc. Of course being a reformed news junkie – my reading material is not much to speak of.

So we are trying something new.
Turn off the TV.
I know, I know… this is no revelation, and I am not saying to stop watching television (yet). But we have decided to watch it…when there is something on we want to see. No more channel surfing until an ‘acceptable’ show is found. No more watching 2 or 3 shows because none of them are really very good.

And so – now we are reading. I am actually reading books… just for pleasure. They are not teaching me anything or spawning new DIY projects either (the plus part of that is I don’t need to go buy new tools as a result… how can you help it reading the handyman type rags).

I am a discerning reader, and will put down books that are not written well (according to my own twisted standards) that said – I have to admit, that right now I am hooked on vintage Lesbian Pulp Fiction novels from the 50’s. We saw a documentary on them and decided to pick up a bunch, as a joke, to bring on our PTown vacation this summer (what is better than smut on the beach). But now…I am hooked. They are just horrible really, and yet I cannot stop reading them. Might I recommend the Ann Bannon series – it’s a hoot.

When FEMA Calls

Good luck and God speed to Bubba, my big brother and fire captain at a local volunteer department here in Connecticut.
He, and some of his firemen buddies are being airlifted to New Orleans tomorrow morning to do what they can... to do whatever is needed.
He was told he will be there for 30 - 45 days, and to expect no services. Basically, be ready to fend for yourself. I believe he is spending this afternoon triple bagging a carton of Marlboros (well... he is a fireman).

First Day of School

Today is Ferris’ first day back to school.
First day of his senior year.

He was ready early for school today. Which was completely accidental …he simply needs to re-hone his timing down so that he is tearing out the door with just enough time to fly past the security guard before he starts handing out tardy slips

Live Draft

I have my first Live Draft today at 4:00.
I will be doing it here at the office.

Luckily, I just found out Boo Williams has a torn ACL and is out for the season...whew - he was my top TE pick.

I am now, wisely, researching the rest of my players...many of whom are chosen because I like their names...or their pictures.

Leave it to me to get long winded.

It seems I have been ‘tagged’ for a meme.
To be polite I do participate only when tagged (and it helps to be tagged by one of my favorites)
So, this is for you Suzanne.
[and…uncharacteristically, I even named other players]

First, the rules to this meme game: Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place; add your blog's name in the #5 spot; link to each of the other blogs for the desired cross pollination effect.

1. Heather http://outloudvoice.blogspot.com
2. Suzanne http://mimilou.blogspot.com
3. Gina http://objustanotherday.blogspot.com
4. Suzanne http://lifethesuburbs.blogspot.com
5. Lisa http://weese.blogspot.com/

Next: select new friends to add to the pollen count. No one is obligated to participate.

1. Lachlen http://www.mysocalledblog.com/
2. Maxine http://www.nolanoni.blogspot.com/
3. Lisa http://www.mittenmusings.net/
4. Ace http://www.acepryhill.com/
5. Bayou http://www.aperfectanomaly.com/

Let the game begin!

What 5 things do you miss about your childhood?
1. hmm….

Huh. I had planned to put a nice neat list of five items, and be done with it really.. but in simply trying to come up with this list I got to thinking.

First, I had a wonderful childhood. I grew up in a well-to-do town in Fairfield county, we were not rich, but really I can’t say I ‘wanted’ for anything. We were a harmonious family (well until I hit my teens – but that’s a whole ‘nother story).
My father died when I was very young, so my mom was both parents to us. She taught me to be a strong woman, capable of getting along on my own.

I have many fond memories of my childhood, but that is not what the question asks.
The question asks what I miss.. is there something I long for.
And really, no. I can’t say I have a ‘longing’ from my childhood. I actually prefer being an adult.

That said… I loved my purple banana seat Schwinn Sting Ray, Muffy our smelly mutt, running to catch the ice cream man, swinging in the rope swing behind the neighbor’s house, and most of all leaving the house in the morning to play outside all day …until summoned by the dinner bell.
Yes, my mom used to ring a bell out the door for us, rather than calling us home as some of the other parents used to do, usually because we were so far down the hill it was hard to call out that loud.

Can you imagine that today – young kids just going out the door after lunch, and their parents not knowing where they are or what they are doing for hours, and I mean --- all afternoon… and then, around dinner time, parents need to literally call their names …holler out the door to get them home.
We needed to be called because there was no friend’s parent or babysitter to tell us what time it was or what to do… or even to watch what we were up to all day. In our neighborhood, we were usually in the woods at the bottom of hill. Other times we were right in the middle of the street, drawing elaborate chalk outlined ‘roads’ to guide our bikes through, or setting up jumps from scrap wood ‘borrowed’ from the back of a neighbors house (or from construction sites) to run our bikes over—with, of course, the expected disastrous results, sending the wounded home, cut up and bleeding from multiple scrapes and cuts…only to be patched up and sent right back out and down the street.

Do I miss that? … well no, because of course I can leave the house any time I want and play outside all day ‘till dinner ... or even later (and my toys are better now). – so I don’t miss that for myself.
I do miss it for kids today. It’s an unparalleled freedom, to go off on your own with your friends and have the greatest of daily adventures. I learned more about life, living, getting along, physics and biology out there in the neighborhood... on my own, living large and soaking up those long summer days.

Hint

ok... look at the tower pic again. Think of the old Donald Duck cartoon...the really old ones. Now look at the arched windows in the tower and think eyes.
Does that help?

Michael Cunningham mentions this in his book, and admittedly its easier to see at night when the tower is lit. But we spent all week looking for the duck. We kept stopping all over town to gape at it helplessly. I am sure we looked insane, and certainly did when we finally saw it!
We were coming out of 'Tea' at the time.
You do know 'Tea'... right?

The duck

Can you see the duck?

Oh, c'mon...no one sees the duck!

just a couple more

It's been very busy here at work lately - leaving me little time to blog, surf and shop online. So I will wrap up the vaction stories with just a couple more.

Today I just wanted to thank, hug, smooch and otherwise fondle and cuddle our two best friends, Bets and Sammy, who shared our 20th anniversary in town with us - and treated us to dinner (and much fabulous wine) at the best restaurant in town. There is a short list of things that I am so honored and blessed to have in my life- these two people are on that list.
Here they are at Front Street with us. (I will post a better picture of them tomorrow...but I wanted one at the restuarant and this is what I took - it was pretty hard to get a picture of someone that night without a drink in their face)

And here we are across the table. This is the night I was nicked named 'ho'.

Another day in Town

One of our favorite places to go while we are in ‘Town’ is the Euro café.
It’s a second floor outdoor café located ideally in the center of town on Commercial Street. It is without a doubt one of the best spots for people watching while sipping cool and refreshing cocktails.

Because we travel with Sammy (Sammy…Betsy’s lovely wife and without a doubt THE travel queen when it comes to fine restaurants and the best seating)– we always get the best table for four right near the railing for optimal viewing.

On this beautiful August evening – we were sitting at the Euro enjoying our FABuLoUS cocktails and discussing how we will never plan our trip for the first week of August again and yukking it up in general. In the distance we heard honking…my first instinctual reaction was to comment on how inappropriate that is in PTown. There are certain things that are just not done here… one is – if you drive down Commercial Street, you NEVER honk. You wait. You basically drive at the speed of the average pedestrian and do so patiently. The drive down Commercial Street is basically done to see, and be seen. It’s an event… not a thoroughfare.

Anyway – it became quickly apparent that this particular honking was not traffic related. It was consistent and as it got closer we could hear crowd noises too – clapping and happy shouting – this was clearly a celebration. The noise got louder and louder as it drew near and finally came into view.

We stood and went to the railing as did everyone in the restaurant… as did everyone in the streets. The whole town came to the curb, came to their windows, came to their doors and applauded and waved and shouted cheers as we all watched the brides go by, followed by what looked like their wedding party, parents, family and friends.
They were seated up on the back of the rear seat of a convertible with a big sign
‘Just Married’

The four of us cheered and waved and whistled… and cried. We wept for change, we wept for equality, we wept for the beauty of acceptance in this wonderful little town, we wept …well, because you weep at weddings.
After they passed we toasted to this happy, nameless couple and kissed our beautiful wives and hoped for the future.

Friday

Unwrap your favorite bar soap and slip it between your sheets or towels in the linen closet. Especially off season items, this makes your linens smell fresh and clean. Also, unwrapping the soap dries it out and hardens it so it will last longer in the shower.

Let the crisping begin

ah yes, now where were we ...

Of course the first day in town we went to the beach.
We like to check out the hot topless women of course.
Hmmm, now where were those topless women...

oooo, right it was family week.

At least my sumptuous wife got to sport her newly acquired fabulous hat.


We go to Herring Cove beach. If you have not read Micheal Cunninghams description of Herring Cove in his book Land's End, I highly recommend it.

Friday

We interrupt this ongoing vacation saga to bring you our regularly scheduled Friday Tip of the Day.

Outlet saftey.
We live in an old home and outlets are few, far between and not very well placed.
Upstairs in the bedrooms where we needed to place beds against the walls, especially when the kids were small, I was concerened about bedding and such hanging over the outlets. I investigated childproof covers, but they only block access to the outlet itself, I wanted it covered with stuff plugged in. So we installed outdoor outlet covers.These allow easy access but completely cover the outlet and the plugs.
(also: some models can also be made childproof by securing the cover down with cable ties)

Rookie Mistake

We have been vacationing in PTown for 20 years. It’s our favorite place to go.
Isn’t it fantastic that you can learn something new about your favorite place even after all this time?

After having mimosa's for breakfast and slurping down our jello shots at the beach we decided to drive into town, check in, park the car and perhaps stroll around a bit, find a place to have a cocktail.
Oddly, we didn’t really piece together the teens playing Frisbee in the park, the ridiculous amount of strollers, and so many gay dads fawning over infants – until we got about halfway down Commercial Street and saw the banner.

10th Annual Family Pride Week

Ok. Now I know a lot of you out there have kids…hey – so do we.
But we didn’t bring ours… and that’s NOT why we come to PTown.
We had no idea this had been going on for 10 years. Don’t get me wrong…its great. I am very happy all these lesbian, gay, transgendered, etc. folks are taking the plunge into parenting… I understand it’s a huge step for the movement and for acceptance... and alllll that... but really, we don’t want to vacation with them.

Of course my child-rearing wife and I smiled to ourselves many times over the week – as we passed these happy new families, with their colorful toddlers… we smiled because we know. We know these adorable little cherubs will one day – drive, drive too fast, drive into things, get drunk and puke, have sex way before they are ready, and for a short time in their tumultuous teens…completely ignore their parents – not because their parents are gay…but because they are parents. Have fun. See you on the other side. See you when you want to vacation in PTown on ANY other week but the 1st of August.

The Trip

This week I will share short passages from our trip.

We travel to PTown most often with our Favorite Friends, B & S.
It is our tradition to have a champagne/mimosa toast prior to departure.
This year we toasted at about 5:45 a.m. - It's a great way to start the morning.

It is also tradition that as soon as we can see the Provincetown Tower from Route 6, that we pull over immediately and have our first cocktail.




This year, my colorful wife made us rainbow jello shots for our first day at the beach.

ahhhh

We're back. Town was FANtasTIC.
I will have some stories and pics to share.
But first I have 323 emails to read...

hmm, I wonder if I can get a bloody mary downstairs at the Corporate Cafeteria...

Hiatus

What could be a better way to celebrate 20 years together than a full week in 'Town'.

We are leaving bright and early Monday morning, just after mimosa's.
We should be on the beach by 11:00 a.m.

If you'll be in Town, look for us at Herring Cove... don't worry, we'll be easy to find.

Friday

How ‘bout some packing tips today.
- Roll your pants rather than fold them, they will come out wrinkle and crease free.

- And don’t waste precious time trying to decide which pair of shoes to bring – bring them all.

You know… if you do any research on traveling and vacationing… there is this school of thought that you should take as little with you as possible. Less bags, less to carry. Economize your trip. Take clothes that will all work with each other so you can get many outfits out of just a few items. Stick to neutral colors so that one blouse works with slacks, skirts and shorts…
That’s just RIDICULOUS. You are on vacation – you need to look svelte and athletic at the beach**, perky and coordinated for mid-afternoon cocktails and then stunning by dinner.
You don’t know what the weather will be, you don’t know what you will feel like, you don’t know what will look ‘right’ that day…sheesh sometimes I don’t even know what size I will be from one day to the next.
C’mon – suitcases are on wheels these days – take it all.

**please note that by svelte and athletic I am referring to wearing black…cuz its slimming, and carrying a Frisbee.

Transportation

I drove Ferris to the airport yesterday. He is off to visit with his Dad in that ridiculously big state of Texas. While sitting in the terminal I saw an airport security person roll by on one of those Segway things…you know those silly contraptions that you stand on and it transports you around by a slight shift of your weight.
I got to thinking of the irony of this. Here is a guy – who up until recently had a fairly active job… on his feet all day, walking here and there around the airport, probably needing to move quickly and nimbly from one location to another. Now… he is going to have to go spend time at the gym making up for the fact that he gets no exercise in his work.

20 years is a long time

I fill with pride when I tell people that my wife and I have been together for 20 years.
What does it mean to be together for 20 years?
I suppose it means we covered our bases. Picking the right person is key, then committing to that person – and not wavering or giving up just because it’s not always easy or perfect. I joke with my wife when she points out one of my not so positive qualities… ‘Well, you picked me.’
(See how I deflect, aren’t I clever. Being clever also helps you last 20 years.)
Add to that… my wife is patient, kind, intelligent and damned sexy.

But here is something that I don’t like. That being together for 20 years somehow validates our relationship-- because we are …homosexuals (please pronounce this with a lilt in your voice and a slight lisp: hwomo-sec-tual).
‘Oh, yes..well they have been together for 20 years. See, those gay people really can be committed and in life long relationships…huh.'

So, what is the amount of time a gay couple needs to be together to validate their relationship? And I wonder… will Civil Unions make a difference. Will we appear to be more committed then. Will our relationships then be taken seriously after a month, after a year.

So, while I am blessed and thrilled and so happily celebrating my 20th year with my soulmate. I would like to raise my glass to other gays and lesbians who are just starting their journey together, or to those who have been together for some time and are struggling through a lull…together.
May you get to 20 and may it not be a tribute to gay people…but a tribute to you and your love.

Also (mostly for my wife, because she looks every week to see if any gay couples are included) I hope that by the time we reach our fiftieth our local paper will be ready to post our picture on the page with all the other old wrinkly couples celebrating their long lives together.

7.26.2005

We don’t have matchbooks with our names printed on them in fancy, scrolly writing, we don’t have a photo album on the coffee table, there are no dated cocktail napkins, there is no documentation or legal paper to prove it – but today is the day.
It’s a day we chose.
It’s a day we cherish.
It’s a day we celebrate.

How many years has it been my love, a million …one?

My love, my friend, my pal, my soul mate – Happy Anniversary.

Frideigh

I could not login to blogger on Friday - so ... you get your tip today.
Buck up and get over it...

To remove candle wax from your carpets - put the iron on a low setting, place a paper towel over the wax and gently iron up the wax. Keep changing the paper towel until all the wax is absorbed. (remember to use a low setting - some carpets with synthetic fibers can be damaged by high heat).
(this tip brought to you by 'the daughter' who, as a teenager, learned this tip out of necessity. We used to call her 'pyro'.)

shhhh

i am being vewy vewy qwiet...

because

to
day
is
p.
m.
s.
day


consider this
your only warning.

Heat

Can you feel the heat?
It's hot and humid. Serious humid.
The local news channels are warning about air quality today ... I suppose the air is to thick to actually breathe or something. Perhaps you need to chew it before swallowing.
But that won't stop my determined wife and I from going on our evening walk. Last evening we were alone on the trail. Buncha wimps. The way I figure it is... not only are we getting our usual walking exercise but the thick air adds a 'resistance' factor. Not unlike aquasize.

Temp: 86°F, feels like 91°F
UV Index: 8 Very High
Wind: From SW at 9 mph
Humidity: 72%
Pressure: 29.94 in.
Dew Point: 75°F
Visibility: 5.0 miles

The federal Environmental Protection Agency says air quality in Connecticut, Rhode Island and southwestern Massachusetts will be unhealthy.

Pause

I saw a squirrel get hit on the road this morning on my way into work.
It happened right in front of me - it seemed to happen in slow motion. The car never slowed - I suppose most people don't for something so lowly as a squirrel. How indifferent we have become. This is one of many things that bothers me about this world.
I was far enough back to see clearly under the car, the squirrel rolled and flipped under there as the car passed over. I slowed while the squirrel recovered enough to limp off the road where he** rested on the edge of the curb. I came to a slow stop, all I could see for sure was his back leg was badly injured. I stupidly wanted to go to him. I knew that was pointless. I knew if I approached he would be forced to try to run away - and clearly he needed to rest. And even if he didn't - then what. Put him out of his misery? Take him home to care for him? I continued my drive in to the office. I wondered whether he would live. I wondered whether another squirrel would comfort him. I was shaken... and sad.
I am not indifferent to this small rodent. He mattered to me. I hope that my caring energy can help him in some small way.

**(he) I decided the squirrel was male instantly, and only later determined this was probably because: a female squirrel would not have been silly enough to run out into traffic - and if she did... and got hit, she probably would not have the courage, strength and stamina to get off the road to safety.

Fryday

Do you use dryer sheets?
Once the dryer load is done, take the used sheet and wipe your TV screens.
They not only remove all the dust – but actually help to repel it.
(only use them after they have done their job in the dryer – a new one will leave streaks and smudges)

Bright Light Bright Light

Remember that quote from Spielbergs Gremlins movie. Bright lights melted them or some such thing, I can't quite remember.
I am reminded of this today because, here at the office we have many of our overhead, brain rotting fluorescent lights turned off. Really those lights are destructive.... I have desk lamps instead.
Recently some people were moved around…and into our area. Apparently these new folks like to SEE what they are working on.
There is a man on a ladder here right now turning lights on. Egad.
I already use an umbrella over my cube to block some of this flesh eating light… I may need to invest in a beach umbrella.
I can't leave my cube right now or he will turn on the light directly over my head. This would most likely kill me. So I will wait here until he is done and has put his ladder away - my bladder may burst, but I am not leaving.


While I am on the ‘cube’ subject…. Did you ever see this pic circulating the internet?

I did this. Well… me and a couple friends. On the right side of the pic – that’s a plant in my cube and behind it is the edge of my umbrella… which I have to block the relentless, mind melting, carnivorous fluorescents.

Symbiotic

We had an absolutely beautiful summer weekend here in CT.
Sunday was hot yet breezy – so it was summery and comfortable.
My wife and I spent the day puttering around the yard and gardens – she with her watering can filled with MiracleGro, and me with my sprayer of RoundUp.

Main Entry: sym•bi•o•sis
Pronunciation: "sim-bE-'O-s&s, -"bI-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sym•bi•o•ses /-"sEz/
Etymology: New Latin, from German Symbiose, from Greek symbiOsis state of living together, from symbioun to live together, from symbios living together, from syn- + bios life -- more at QUICK
2 : the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship;

Friday

From the comments I received about our new Storm Trooper – its clear we need to review the tools of the trade.
Yes, I use a canister. If you have predominantly wood (or tile) floors as I do – then a canister is a must. Uprights do their best work on carpets. Granted each type will do the job of the other – but please, do we use a reciprocating saw to rip plywood…no of course not.
Canister vacuums have no belts. I looked. The only belts would be in the rotating brush floor attachments. In our case – the motor simply burned itself out. I am debating whether to add the new vacuum to the FREE dog expense spreadsheet.
I learned from my vacuum salesman (I do so love vacuum salesmen – no I am serious, I love to be sold a product by someone who really knows their products) not to use the really expensive hepa filter bags. They cut the airflow and he said can actually burn out the motor. Hmm.

Ok. So here is your vacuum tip for the day.
When you are doing your big clean for the week (as apposed to your small daily or every other day cleanings) don a tool belt and pop your vacuum attachments in there. Makes for quick and easy access. In a flash I can be vacuuming the tops of the window moldings, then with the flick of a wrist I holster one attachment

and switch to another

to clean out those baseboards.



Hmm, now I am thinking -- I could use some of those fringed chaps for this outfit.
Draw.

The Aviary

We were enjoying a FABulous flounder dinner out on the patio on Monday evening.
The sun was shining, not a cloud – and it was cool and comfortable. (with the exception of the caterpillar droppings…which I will get to in another entry)
I noticed the FREE dog slinking by, heading out into the yard. She was practically tip toeing… so it caught my attention. I noticed she was carrying something in her mouth…and knew right away.

I stood up immediately and sternly demanded, “Drop the bird!”

She obeyed immediately - setting the baby bird gently down into the grass and skulking off. This dog has the gentlest mouth. I have seen her pick up an insect and carry it to her rug and set it down without harm – to play with it I suppose. I can only assume this was her plan for the baby bird.
We weren’t completely surprised - we had actually heard it shrieking earlier…and figured we had another baby dropped out of a nest – we just couldn’t find the little guy.
The FREE dog heard it as well, and apparently kept on with the search long after we lost interest.

The bird seemed fine…except, as with the other one – not quite ready to fly.
We gave him a little water – to help him get his strength back. He seemed to enjoy it.

I set him on the ‘other’ side of the fence. We are hoping his family found him there.

Just another day at the aviary.

Storm Trooper

Our mission to Sears was a success. Dog hair and dust have been abated.



We named the vacuum Storm Trooper
can you see the resemblance?

Frydays

Today's tip:
If you start to smell burning rubber when you turn on your vacuum.
Don't wait to see smoke, shut if off and go get a new one.

Off to Sears we go!

Namaste

On Thursdays here at my office they offer a yoga class from 11:30 - 12:30.
I am really enjoying it.
Altho, I tend to get a bit restless during the cool down. I am already a pretty relaxed person, I really don't need much more.

At the end of the class the instructor asks us to bow to our head to our heart and give thanks for our minds and bodies and our health and blessings. I quietly give thanks for my lunch.

Tending the flock

There are so many of them now. We have become security, nursemaids and a search and rescue team for our flock.
Last week, on my way out to the garage, I saw one of them stuck up in the attic above the car park. There is a stationary window to a low attic up there - and this silly feathered fool was repeatedly flying into it, attempting to escape. My clever wife went in first and tossed a blanket over him, I donned gloves and we carried him to safety.

This morning - I came downstairs and my wife tells me we have another event. Apparently a baby had fallen from its nest. There were parents and aunts and uncles squawking all over the place. The problem for these poor creatures is they can't pick up and carry their young. So there’s the little guy calling out for help and his whole family is just flying around.
The FREE dog was very interested in the problem at hand – however, the family of the orphan was not happy for her interest. Every time she came any where near the infant there was a whole lot of ruckus. Interestingly, when either my wife or I approached the little guy – there was silence. Because of course – we are the law.
And so this is our lot.

It's just what I do

When I was a young teen I got a spiffy, new 10 speed Schwinn bike.
They were all the rage, and it was great to have transportation.
As should be no surprise to anyone... I used to wash and wax it.

Fridaze

Have a baked on, stuck on mess you don't want to clean?
Put the pan in plastic garbage bag with 1/2 cup of ammonia, and leave it overnight. The next morning the mess will wash off easily.
(and really ...the best part is the justifiable procrastination.)

sheesh... Kids

kids can be such a dissapointment.
Can you believe, that BOTH of our kids, making their plans completely separately -- are going to see Tom Petty this weekend.
oy. You try to teach them...

Neil Sedaka

In an ongoing effort to lose a couple pounds, my svelte wife and I have been walking most days of the week with the FREE dog. The dog is key. She LOVES the walk but more importantly without her I would be sitting on a park bench somewhere. We walk a trail, down and back, and we trade off holding the leash. I get to hold it on the return trip. Her pulling me down the trail is the only thing that gets me back to the car.
This trail is a repurposed railroad bed. It goes through some thick woods and comes out at a park on one end. Our walk is about 3 miles, there and back.

Last evening when we left the house it had just started to rain. A soft, summer, sultry rain. So we brought slickers.
Well about ¼ of the way into the trail, the sky darkened. The trail began to look ominous and the heavens opened up.
I immediately enter ‘Rainman’ mode.
Mild panic sets in.
That was when the lightening started.

My wife … walks on, happily “What’s a little rain”, she says. … and I am pretty sure she is humming…

Oo, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oo, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside

My panic level rising, walking briskly, head down, repeating,
“Not supposed to be outside in the lightening. Not supposed to be outside in the lighting.”

My sweet wife, who knows me all too well, is smiling and reaches out to take my arm to comfort me. I quickly pull back… oooo no no no, don’t wanna make any connections – current will travel, better if we are not connected, no touching.

Clearly …we survived. We finished our walk too! (my courageous wife is nothing if not driven)
Soaking wet and muddy, 45 minutes later we get back into the car.
And of course, what do dogs do when wet.

The FREE dog had a good shake.

Oo, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oo, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside

Friday's

Keep a dry erase marker in the bathrooms. You can write messages on the bathroom mirror, or even the tiles.
Leave a morning reminder for the kids, a Happy Birthday note, or my favorite... little love notes.

Suburgan Gangs

Now they are forming gangs. I saw a flock of them…all black and shiny, take down a rather large hawk the other day. They chased him into thicket, screaming madly, nipping and poking. The cacophony when on for over 5 minutes, I considered going in and breaking it up…but there were so many of them – and you know how that gang mentality is.
Suddenly there was silence. The flock flew out. I never say the hawk emerge. I shudder to think of what happened in there.
This is what happens when you mix overcrowding with these hot sultry summer days… vandalism, looting, gang violence.

Top down dog

Look who loves the Cabrio.

A continuing battle

Our adversaries continue to taunt us. Over the weekend they mounted another attack, and their numbers seem to be growing.
Altho all is not lost, we believe we have discovered one of their major trade routes.


We have assigned a sentry to this post.


We will continue to monitor their movements, and ready ourselves for retaliatory assault.

Friday's

Today's tip:
Don't think it's too late to get rid of unsightly weeds in your lawn. Just because the dandelions have flowered, puffed and finished their cycle, there is still time.
Apply a broadleaf herbicide while weeds are actively growing. (which means now... right now, go ahead - get up ..go do it)
For best results use one with an added fertilizer (Weed-n-Feed). Apply in the early morning so the dew will help the herbicide will stick to the leaves of the weeds. Apply when no rain is expected for 24 to 36 hours.
For families with small children and pets, apply an organic fertilizer, such as Milorganite. You can spot treat weeds with with a liquid herbicide, or even better, get this tool - and pop those dandelions out by hand. It works like a charm... I have one.

This is Axel

(for the story, see yesterday's entry below)

Axel

I came into work this morning with the top down, it was a beautiful sunny ride in.
I come in early, so I usually get primo parking right next to the stairs on the second level of our parking garage. Since the top was down...even before I got out of the car I heard a cat meowing. It echoed all over the place and sounded distressed, it also sounded like a kitten…altho, I can be a bit of a drama queen (my patient wife is chuckling right now). Of course, I immediately started to look for this distressed and starving kitten. Each time it meowed… I would try to walk in the direction I had heard it from. But then it would stop, clearly because it was near death…and I would have to wait, then again…try to find the poor little thing. I quickly realized I could not do this alone so I went in to get help. I found Brenda. Brenda LOVES cats.
So then the two of us were down there in the parking garage, running one way or another every time we heard the little mew. The sound was bouncing all over the place and was so intermittent that we had a lot of trouble locating the source.
We needed more help, more people to spread out so when he did meow we could move quickly to find the poor starving, frightened and possibly injured little kitten. So Brenda got Joe. Now the three of us are walking around looking up, looking down…looking like we are nuts. I got a flashlight…we checked the drains we looked in all the nooks and crannies we could find. Time was clearly running out, the meowing came less frequently, the situation was dire. But we three were not going to give up – we were going to find this possibly abused or discarded little animal if that was all we did today.
By shear luck-- I think – the cat started meowing again, and we all happened to be standing near this green Altima with out of state plates. It sounded like it was coming from the car.
So there we were, as the parking garage was filling up- the three of us – crouched down around this car. Joe had his ear to one side, and I had mine pressed to the other. At first we thought the cat was in the trunk. But Joe got down under the car with the flashlight, and there he was. The cutest little tabby kitten you could imagine, tucked up behind the rear tire, sitting on the axel. (I will post a pic later, can’t ftp from work).
With some treats from my lunch Brenda was able to get him out. He was dirty and pretty jumpy at first, but he’s still here with us at the office and has eaten most of my lunch already.
We saved his life and named him Axel.

Meet me at 'The Spot' at 4:44

Evidently we live at 'The Spot'.
They gathered again this morning, same time. There must have been more of them today. The noise was even more intense, I was sure some had actually gotten into our room. But then, close to 5 a.m. - it was quiet. They were gone. They had moved on.
Clearly our house is just the gathering point before further adventures of the day. If I wasn't so tired, I might think this was cool.

4:44

Perhaps I will research the local gun laws in my town today.
Their numbers have become somewhat unwieldy. And for the life of me I don’t understand why they scream so.
But there they all were at about quarter to five this morning, gathered outside the windows seemingly surrounding the house… screaming. This wasn’t just chatter – they were yelling. From where I lay in bed it sounded like they were yelling at us.
I can’t imagine why they would be so enraged. We have been nothing but nice to them – well, until now. Things are going to change. I have had it with the noise… and the mess. I spend a good part of the weekend cleaning up after them.
Enough is enough, measures will be taken.
Hitchcock has nothing on us.

My stunning wife and I got to be gay this weekend.
As you must know, June is Pride month, with Boston and New York hosting the majority of events. Saturday we went to a local Pride block party. For anyone who is not gay – you have no idea of how liberating it feels to just ‘be’.
I realize times are changing, and people are more ‘out’ than they have ever been.
But still – it’s not the same, ‘just being’ feels really good. And while it may be perfectly ok for two very attractive, middle aged lesbians such as ourselves to walk down the street arm in arm – it’s still a spectacle, it’s still a novelty. I don’t want to be a novelty; I don’t want to be noticed for just being with my wife.
It’s one of the biggest reasons why we get soo excited about our yearly trip to PTown – it’s why we choose to go there year after year. We are just faces in a crowd there; no one gives us a second look (well… we may turn some heads ;o).

So ..cheers to Pride month – cheers to 55 more days ‘till PTown!

Friday's

Inspired loosely by David's photo fridays , and a suggestion from a friend (yes, that's you Sue)...
I am going to offer Hints and Tips on fridays (Think 'Hints from Heloise' ala Weese).
I seem to be the 'go-to' gal for advice on a couple subjects - mainly falling into the Cleaning and Lawn Care catagories.
So each friday I will offer a tip in one of these categories...or just some other sorta helpful tidbit... take it as it comes(my new catch phrase by the way).

Today's Tip
Do you have a stubborn stain on a favorite blouse, or perhaps a table cloth.
Try this, pretreat and launder as usual, then hang it out to dry in full sun.
Leave it out for the day, and see if your stain dissapears.

(this works best on food/drink stains or protien stains such as blood, not as effective on grass stains, and probably won't work on ink or grease type stains, intended for home use only, always wear saftey goggles, never do laundry under the influence of alcohol)

A Day of Remembrance

We went to the Memorial Day Parade in my Mom’s town on Monday.
She lives in senior housing right on the parade route; so we have a little lunch and put out the chairs and watch the parade go by. It’s small town stuff. The parade is largely dominated by girl scouts, brownies, daisies (whatever the heck those are) cub scouts, boy scouts, little leaguers… and more brownies. I think some towns really ought to put a limit on these extraneous little marchers. This parade is about veterans, and soldiers and cops and firemen and those who protect us. I don’t want to lose that in a myriad of candy tossing 8 year olds.

I am very moved by this parade.

First, there is the excitement of the fly over. This year we got two jets, low enough to tremble our lawn chairs. This is the part my patriotic wife really likes.
She LOVES the flyover.

In those jets are young pilots. Young people who have dedicated their lives to protecting me. I have nothing but respect… and admiration for these people.
On a good year we will get to see vets from each military branch, from a variety of wars from WWII to Vietnam and Korea, the Gulf war…the Cuban missile crisis… well?….

As I am sure is the case in other small towns we also toss in most of our fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and motorcycles …and horses if you got ‘em. These are a brave bunch as well. They fight the battles here at home.

And so we sit waving our flags… to say “Thank You”.

This year, as we had lunch we watched two couples come up the hill towards the parade route. The man from each couple proudly wore a Garrison hat with his post assignment. One man had the arm of his wife, gently supporting her, my mother explained that she has Alzheimer’s and so he is always right there at her side. The other man used a cane, and probably should have been driven up the long hill – but he was clearly a soldier… and so he walked.

The couples settled in their chairs with front row seats, we were seated just behind them (it’s a small town parade – everyone can have a front row seat… we just wanted to be in the sun).
From this vantage point we got to see the salute when the WWII vets paraded by -- from one Vet to another. It wasn’t a standard military, stiff, formal salute; it was an informal, small motion, yet the meaning that it held was gigantic.
I can’t truly explain the feeling I had at that moment. I am welling up in just re-telling the story. In just that small gesture, in just the look across Anytown Main Street– from one soldier to another – there was a world of history, of emotion, of camaraderie, of respect, of brotherhood – between men who most likely had never met before. I was so choked up I couldn’t speak. These frail old men, who struggled up the hill – are my brave and strong heros.

I have been asked to ‘meme’.
Normally I don’t, but the list is short, and Ace is my pal.

10 Things I've Never Done

(hmm, perhaps I should add…and will not do,
and that is of course why I have not)

1. jumped out of a plane
2. jumped off anything tethered by a big rubber band
3. given birth
4. written a song
5. gone on safari
6. been shot out of a canon
7. eaten frogs legs
8. had surgery
9. broken a bone
10. taken a cruise (…well this one I actually want to do)

EB

I am pretty much a walking advertisement for Eddie Bauer. They should actually just send me clothes for free. (hmm, perhaps I will call them later to discuss). For example right now both my shirt and pants are EB – wrinkle resistant of course.

When you are a middle aged woman…and you find something that works – go with it, don’t ask questions, just whip out the credit card.

They love to send me email.
I get the mail, I click the link.
It’s a reflex, and they know that.
That’s why they send it to me…
They are marketing geniuses.

Of course I got some mail from them this morning.
Gotta go shop now.
Whaddya think of these? Ooo gotta have ‘em.

W

Wednesday. 'W' day.
Remember on Sesame Street they always had a letter to sponsor each day.

Today, kids is 'W' day.
W is for Weigh-In day. Can you say 'Unsightly bulge', kids.

So I am in two... well, I guess you would call them competitions. Two weightloss competitions. One here at the office, and one at home with the family.

Our family competition is fun. It started with the daughter and me. We both wanted to take off the 'last few' pounds. So we decided to do it together. Ferris wanted to get involved as he is trying to bulk up this summer in anticipation of the next wrestling season. With his numbers consistently rising we figured it would just make us look better on the chart. We later added my svelte wife as our 'constant'.
The competition is going well - the daughter has been steadily losing, Ferris gaining nicely, my wife remains steady.

At work a small group of us got together for a Weight-Off. No one in the group is particularly heavy. We all just want to drop a couple extra pounds. The goal of this competition was to loose 7% of your body weight. Today, two people in the competition will reach their goal weights. They must remain at this goal for 2 more weigh ins after today.

As for me... well, lets just say I am exploring new methods. Today's weigh-in will put me at my starting weight on both charts. But I am resilient. I am not giving in.
I have a new plan.

The really good news is that 'W' is also for Wednesday Wings Night!
Hot wings and a pitcher of beer makes everything right in the world.

44°

As I sat down to my computer this morning my little Weather Bug icon was chirping at me. The weather bug will display the current temp in the toolbar. I felt like turning it off this morning. I just didn't want to know.
But I had to look. 44 degrees.
It's the end of May folks.
Inclement weather usually doesn't bother me. I love rainy days, and I don't get all wired if we have a rainy season.
But 44... enough is enough.

Priorities

In my never-ending battle with my middle-age spread I have incorporated a daily walk into my regular work day routine. I have heard, or maybe I read it online somewhere that diet and exercise are key to weight loss (huh).

This walk however, changes my routine. I am all about routine. Rainman had nothing on me. So now I am walking when I am normally blogging. This puts a wrinkle in my universe, but its the best I can come up with.

I considered a walk before work, but this would change my morning routine. Not good. Mornings must remain as morning are. A change in my morning routine could throw off evolution as we know it. If you believe in the premise of Its a Wonderful Life; how the course of one life affects so many others - then really you don't want to go messing with my morning routine.

After work is fine - and actually my fit wife and I do walk 3 to 4 times a week together with the Free Dog. This is a whole diffent kind of walk and really that is a whole 'nother entry....more on this later.

My daily work-walks are really just so I get up out of my chair each day and let the blood actually get from one spot up through the heart and out to another. Remember, if you don't have your health....

So, in order to blog I will have to displace some other part of my day.
What is the obvious answer...yup. Work.
Gonna have to sacrifice some actual work.
I imagine this will take some time to adjust to - so if my blogging is sparce for a week or two, this is why. I am simply adjusting.

Will I be getting any thinner while I adjust - this remains to be seen.

It doesn't take much

I am all freaked out about the environment again.
I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, and she got a bit behind in her schedule, leaving me in the waiting room for ½ hour with a National Geographic magazine. I should not be left unsupervised with such magazines.
I read this article on oil consumption and supply. It had charts and diagrams and pictures of 10mpg SUV’s. It basically outlined how we are heading for crisis, and that we are forced to find oil in more far reaching places. There were lovely graphics showing just how much oil is left and where. Do you know how much oil you use each day? Each person in America uses 3 gallons a day. And there are A LOT of us.
My environmentally friendly wife read me excerpts from a similar article in Time magazine last week. The news is not good folks. We really should be paying a little more attention.
Add to this, that this morning I started to read an article about the rising sea levels caused by global warming. Evidently, folks seem to think that we have made such environmental progress since the 1970’s (which we actually have – our water supply and air are in fact cleaner) that they no longer need to really pay attention to what’s going on now. All that trapped contaminated air up there eating at the ozone, ever so slightly warming up the polar caps causing a bit of melting action, raising the sea levels a little at a time.
We had actually been thinking of buying a little cape close to the shore. But now, maybe we’ll just wait. See how this whole thing plays out. We may be just sitting on some beach front property.

Real TV

This is not the first time that TV has ticked me off. Surely won’t be the last.

On Saturday afternoon, Ferris was recouping on the couch.
He was flipping around the channels, bouncing around to a couple ball games, some action/thriller type movie and MTV every once in awhile – typical TV watching with Ferris (which is why I rarely watch TV with him).

On one of my trips through the room I noticed this show he was watching about kids of celebrities. I sat down for a moment to watch.
The show seemed to be about just how fantastic their lives were. So posh and full of everything a kid could want. One segment was on the Travolta kids. They told an anecdote of the first time their daughter took a commercial flight – she wanted to know why there were all those people on the plane. Because of course, she is used to just the family being on Dad’s luxury jet. They showed pics of his jet too. Now I don’t know much about private jets – but this was a pretty amazing plane.
They also interviewed some rappers kid who is on his local football team, and the dad spends gobs of money on the team and chauffeuring them around in limo’s and such to their games.

I have a real problem with this type of programming aimed at kids and adolescents.

Its one thing if an ADULT wants to watch Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Some I suppose watch to torture themselves, others may watch just out of morbid curiosity. Some simply find it interesting or amusing.
Either way – we are ADULTS. Whether we have a grasp on reality or not, we process this sort of information differently. I can watch Animal Planet all day and not run out to the local shelter and bring all the pets home (ok, well there have been some close calls there). Kids don’t have such emotional restraint. Kids don’t have a grasp on their own socio-economic status. Kids don’t have the maturity to deal with the pressures of economic standing. And really …why should they – they’re kids.

I know, I know, before you start commenting on how parents should be limiting what their children watch… I completely agree. My point is – who thinks this stuff up, who approves it, who creates it – that’s a whole huge team of really stupid people. If one of you out there reading this blog created this show, you will hear no apologies from me. I suggest you find other work, might I suggest the Peace Corps, or perhaps simply a little community service.
I think this kind of television is more damaging than R rated movies.
Now Disney has been making movies about rich kids for ages. They are feel good movies where the kids get to figure out that it’s not the money that’s important, and then they adopt the butler or some such nonsense. It’s cute, it’s not real, it’s a STORY – usually with some semblance of a moral.
This show is reality. The cold hard facts that some are rich and most are not. And those who ARE rich have great stuff, and great lives and get to have TV shows made about them.
I hate TV.

The Look

Prom Night

We live on one of the main roads in town. I enjoy this tremendously – well… except for the obvious street noise. When we are out in the front yard someone always drives by and beeps. On a warm sunny day, folks will stop on their way by to chat for a moment through the car window. Everyone knows where we live, everyone knows its Ferris’ house. And EVERYONE knows Ferris.
It can be fun to know that most folks in town will be driving by your house. When our PeeWee Pop Warner football team won the State game – we hung the Championship banner on our house; when the daughter graduated high school we hung a banner high up from the second floor windows proclaiming her achievement. Everyone in town got to see them – you can’t do that living on a cul-de-sac.

Tonight is Prom night in our town.

In years past, we would get all excited on this spring Friday night. Grab a cocktail and a rocker on the porch and watch the limos go up and down our street, trying to peek in and see the kids all cleaned up and spiffy. The flurry would only last ½ hour or so. And then we knew they were off on their way… all nervous and smelling pretty – perhaps having a little pre-dinner cocktail themselves.

This year Ferris will be in one of those limos. We will watch them drive by hoping to peek in and see the kids all cleaned up and spiffy.
Thankful for the limo driver while we all enjoy our pre-dinner cocktail.

Earth Friendly

This morning on my way to work I was behind someone driving one of those Toyota Prius cars. It had a bumper stick that said EAT MY VOLTAGE.
I covet this car.

The styling leaves a little to be desired, but I would drive a Prius before one of those unbelievable cute Mini Coopers.

Environmentally sound

When I went to cut the grass for the first time this season I found my hand mower in a distressing state...

You see, some years back we made a decision on lawn care.
The decision was to simplify. The lawn is too big. So barring moving we wanted to find a way to make it easier for us as we get older (oh..shushies).

I was getting tired of doing full tune ups to small engines each spring. At the time we had two tractors (yup…one for cutting one for hauling) a self propelled hand mower, weed whacker and leaf blower. It was a fleet.
It was… a pain in the ass.

So – Plan A was to get rid of all the equipment and hire a lawn service.
I spent an entire season trying to get accustomed to having a service.
‘Pros’:
- we no longer had to cut the grass
- no more spring tune ups for the fleet
- no more breaking down in the middle of a cut…and wondering how to finish

'Cons':
- no control over the schedule (the lawn should be tidy before entertaining)
- no control over quality (patterning, trimming, clippings etc)
- no control over mishaps (don't get me started)
- the weekly cost(very pricey)

Cost... and me being a control freak led to Plan B.

Plan B was to buy a new tractor… with the caveat to have it serviced each year.
We bought an electric string trimmer -- no engine to deal with (of course we had to make some adjustments to the gardens and edges so that an electric trimmer would suffice) and we bought a non-self propelled hand mower (cheaper, less to break).

Welp. Its seems that ‘servicing’ said hand mower sorta fell through the cracks.
This spring I found it sitting in a puddle of its own oil, gummed up and unwilling to turn over.
Hmm.
I went back out the week after, and tried more fervently to get it to go. Cuz you know, sometimes if you pull harder or faster that works.
Nothing.
I tried just this past weekend again. Just to be sure.
Its over folks.
I could probably have it fixed up for just under a hundred bucks… but that would still leave us with a gas engine to deal with.
Pfft.
So as an amendment to Plan B – we will add THIS to our fleet.

The Zone

Did you watch the Derby on Saturday?
The 131st running of the Kentucky Derby.
The most exciting two minutes in the world of sports.
Whew…what a race, huh.
We saw it from the best seats in the house at the ESPN Zone in Times Square.
We took Ferris and a buddy for his birthday – and literally we had the best spot in the joint… we had the center booth in the ‘screening room’ with two 16 foot screens and a dozen smaller ones each with a different ESPN feed, surrounded by stats and scores on either side. Also there was TV on our table, speakers in our headrests…TV’s in every stall in the bathroom (I will assume over every urinal as well). Not to mention the entire 3rd floor is a grown up video arcade. What a place.
That is …if you like sports.
And what a place to see the race! The place filled up about ½ hour before post time with people pouring in off the streets to pack the bar behind us. The roar when the race started was unbelievable. Barring being right at Churchill Downs – this was the spot to be.
Ferris placed a bet on ‘the rabbit’ cuz he is just that kinda guy. (anyone know who the rabbit was?).
He didn’t win… but he was the front runner out of the gate.

Endorsement

Scotts Lawn Care products DO work!

My neighbors lawn:


Our lawn - using Scotts:


Ooops - one slipped by....


Yesterday we took a day off to tidy gardens:

May 4th, 1988

For anyone who has been reading along - you know our son Ferris.
He is an enigma.

He never ceases to amaze us ...and worry us...


To our sweet baby boy



Happy Happy Birthday

Somebody please...

...stop this ride so I can get off.

work is nuts today. posting is not going to happen.
dammit.

Vaca Day

I am taking a day off from work today. I was actually supposed to be taking the entire week off...but that is whole 'nother story.
Today's activities will begin with...anyone...anyone... correct!
Cleaning.
As we have established, cleaning is my Zen.
Its also an excellent use of time. Think about this. With the weekend approaching I would be planning to clean the house anyway. Probably Saturday morning would be spent tidying, dusting and vacuuming. Instead, I can use this time - time where normally I would be sitting in my cozy, dark cubicle - and get a head start on the inevitable. This also frees me up to spend more time with my lovely wife.

And just what has my artistic wife been up to these days?

Dressed for success

Do you remember when your mother used to tell you to wear good underwear when you went out? Well, I was watching Trauma: Life in the ER on the Discovery channel last night and realized the stakes have been raised.
Not only will the doctors and nurses see your torn and tattered undergarments but you may be on TV as well.
I don’t know about you…but I am going shopping today.

The Artist and the Rocket Scientist

So... what happens when you mix art and science?
Do you get sparks, explosions, do we meet the melting point!!!
Ok, relax folks. This is the real world - where sometimes things simply go... 'well'.

We all had a wonderful time at our 'blind date' dinner party.
We saw no visible sparking...but there is some casual chat on both sides of perhaps a second meeting (altho I have yet to hear the word date).

(the Artist occasionally reads this blog - perhaps we can coax her into a comment?)

The Draft

As you can well imagine we have a lot to say about this matter, having kids of eligible draft age. My liberal wife will pack us all up move us to Canada if they even hint at re-instating it. You don’t wanna mess with her when it comes to slapping a uniform on one of her babies.
Of course there is nobility in fighting for what you believe in, but there is no cowardice in deciding not to get yourself killed for political ping-pong. I mean take a look at the situation with this current admi….

Ok, ok… relax. Weese has not suddenly gone off the political deep end…
The draft I am referring to of course was this weekends NFL draft!

As Ferris says – there is the draft and then 363 days of planning.
He was decked out in full 49ers regalia, replete with 49ers swivel chair placed strategically in the center of the living room. Snacks within easy reach, phone at his side to taunt friends and family, and remote in hand to flip back and forth to the Mets game.
What better way to spend a rainy Saturday.
(not to mention the 'niners got the 1st pick and snagged themselves the top pick QB)

Blind date

Tonight my delightful wife and I are orchestrating a blind date of sorts.
We have a friend, a lovely and wildly creative creature who recently became single. Her relationship of 7 years ended abruptly last winter.
We figure it’s high time to get her out there and start dating again.
Through other friends we had the opportunity to meet an ex NASA rocket scientist… also recently broken up and in need of a good woman. No, really-- she is a rocket scientist. Well actually, I believe she is doing social work with impoverished kids these days. As you know there is a high burn out rate making rockets.
Well tonight we get them together over dinner. We will be there, as well as another couple to see if the artist and the scientist make music together.
It has all the makings of a made for TV movie.

Civil Union bill signed into law

HARTFORD (AP) -- Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed landmark legislation Wednesday that makes Connecticut the first state to recognize same-sex civil unions without court pressure.

The bill was fraught with controversy, and only passed because a DOMA amendment had been attached.
But …it PASSED!

So… will this adorable couple of near 20 years take the plunge?

80°

It's 80 degrees. Right now - in the middle of April.
Granted it will be 50 this weekend - but you have to take it as it comes.

Spring in our yard is an symphony of blooms - my artistic wife has made such a beautiful vista. Each day or so some one or another tree explodes into blossom or flowers spring to life with their heady smells and happy colors. It's a great couple of weeks each spring.

Tomorrow.... I promise a picture or two.

I am going to add this to my living will:

If I am ever on life support I want to be unplugged, but not until I get down to a size 8.

(from a birthday card sent to my older, yet better wife)

A couple of years ago we spent half a grand on a lawyer to get all those medical, financial, and familial docs that gays need to have to protect their families and assets, and of course a firebox to put them all in (because we lesbians are nothing if not careful). In that myriad of paper work we also have living wills and estate wills. Our lawyer suggested we each have a section with specific designations that we can maintain our selves and change as need be.
I suppose some might think of this sort of planning as morbid – but we had some fun with it.
I opted for cremation. But I don’t want my ashes dumped out somewhere. That's so …cliché.
Rather – I want to have small pendant sized urns – each filled with a little bit of me. We can give them away as parting gifts at my funeral. How fun is that? You could hang it from the rear view mirror, use it as a key chain, perhaps a pull for a hanging lamp…

The other fun part to my funeral will be a little twist I came up with for the procession.
Funeral directors will ask folks to turn their lights on as a sign of respect and also to designate that your vehicle is in the procession.
My funeral will be at night, and my train of cars will drive with their lights out.
Puts some adventure into in, doncha think?

I am going to add this to my living will:

If I am ever on life support I want to be unplugged, but not until I get down to a size 8.

(from a birthday card sent to my older, yet better wife)

A couple of years ago we spent half a grand on a lawyer to get all those medical, financial, and familial docs that gays need to have to protect their families and assets, and of course a firebox to put them all in (because we lesbians are nothing if not careful). In that myriad of paper work we also have living wills and estate wills. Our lawyer suggested we each have a section with specific designations that we can maintain our selves and change as need be.
I suppose some might think of this sort of planning as morbid – but we had some fun with it.
I opted for cremation. But I don’t want my ashes dumped out somewhere. That's so …cliché.
Rather – I want to have small pendant sized urns – each filled with a little bit of me. We can give them away as parting gifts at my funeral. How fun is that? You could hang it from the rear view mirror, use it as a key chain, perhaps a pull for a hanging lamp…

The other fun part to my funeral will be a little twist I came up with for the procession.
Funeral directors will ask folks to turn their lights on as a sign of respect and also to designate that your vehicle is in the procession.
My funeral will be at night, and my train of cars will drive with their lights out.
Puts some adventure into in, doncha think?

Like a fine wine

Happy Happy Birthday my love.

Activism

Today in the Connecticut House of Representatives there will be a vote on S. Bill # 963 - AN ACT CONCERNING CIVIL UNIONS.

Opponents to same sex marriage are trying to attach a DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) to this bill.
Evidently there will be a day long debate/discussion today in the House on this very topic. There will be thousands of people there from both sides of the issue.
Thousands of people… who have freed up their schedules to spend the day at the capital.
I can understand throngs of same sex couples, with their family and friends fighting for their rights – this makes sense. But why-o-why would someone show up to oppose such a thing when it will have no effect on their lives. Do these people go into their boss and say “I’ll need to take the day off on Wednesday or those damned gay folks might start getting married. Can’t let that happen… I’ll take the day without pay if I have to.”
I think the Catholic churches are busing them in today. Go to any Connecticut Catholic diocese site today – this bill is front page news.

This bill DIRECTLY affects me and my family – and I am sitting here eating cornflakes. Why would someone who will not in any way be affected by the outcome of this vote spend an entire day listening to House representatives pontificate? This just makes no sense whatsoever to me.

I think I will take a ride up to the capital later in the month tho…just to keep an eye on the outcome of Bill #6762 AN ACT ALLOWING RETENTION OF PAID VACATION DAYS.
This is ludicrous. How can we stand for this. What’s next – mandatory 2 week Hawaii vacations for all public employees. You can’t let these things get out of hand...

Pilot

I have this new idea for a cable series I am going to pitch to Showtime (aka gay tv)
Real Lesbians.
Basically it will show what real lesbians do on the weekends. You know…kinda like the Lword – but since it’s not based in LA – the lesbians would do stuff like: raking, picking up sticks, laundry, mopping the floor, grocery shopping…

The closer of the first show will be something like this.

Two women clearly in love (although seemingly exhausted) are sitting on an open porch basking in the sun. They rock slowly, chatting quietly to each other, smiling and occasionally laughing. One woman is slowly and sensually enjoying an ice cream treat, licking the spoon o-so sexily, while glancing at her lover. Her lover is taking long luxurious sips from a succulent looking frozen drink, piled high with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. Their glances are so hot it’s a wonder the ice cream doesn’t melt.

Then suddenly off camera is heard a loud car, with booming music coming to a skidding halt. The women look knowingly at each other. The music cuts off abruptly.
One of the women takes her cup lifting it up and away.
Car door slams, and almost instantly the cup is snatched from her hand – a boisterous teen leaps in between them, cup in hand, devouring the rest of the tasty snack.
Smiling, he jumps up and disappears as quickly as he came. Off camera we hear a car squealing away and a friendly beep-beep as he disappears down the street in a plume of dust.

Whaddya think? Huge market potential huh.

A little late

I have been passed a ‘stick’ from Robin (last week I think)
Since it’s been passed – it would be rude not to pick it up.
But boy… have you got the wrong gal for this meme.

-Rock Music

1. The total number of music files on my computer is....

I presume you wanted to know about mine (not the rest of the family)
So at home… that would be 2 (and those were just downloaded to test a connection)
Here at the office… I find 95 of them. But I think about 20 or so came with the operating system, and let me tell you – that’s some fine music.

2. The last CD I bought was....

You mean me…personally, doing the purchasing myself… hmm,

3. The last song I listened to before reading this message was....

Well that would have been, I guess the theme song to West Wing last night.

4. Five songs I listen to often or that mean a lot to me are....

Ok. I do have some of these (but its cuz my melodic wife burns me CD’s):
Bonnie Rait: I Can’t make you love me—because I love to sing along.. really loud
Dido: Thank You – because its used in that movie with Ellen and Sharon Stone…ooh fah with that.
Fields of Gold: Sting — mostly because of one line “feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth” – this always makes me think of my wife… (ooh fah with her)
Lie in Our Graves: Dave Mathews – because its an amazing song
Into the Mystic: Van Morrison – because it's Van Morrison

5. The three people I'm passing this stick to (and why) are....

Since I did poorly and I am late – I will drop the stick, and back quietly away.

L is for…

Ludicrous… and I LOVE it.
Do you watch the L Word?
Well, after we watched this week’s episode last night I told my sexy wife to start packing.
We are moving to LA.
Evidently in LA 80 percent of the population are lesbian. Really hot lesbians. AND all of the delivery people are lesbians as well, AND they will sleep with you when they deliver stuff (or in some cases, if you are perhaps too busy to have sex they might just give you a case of Angus Steak…which is REALLY good steak, and I would be VERY happy with a case of Angus Steak).
I am still trying to figure out how a very wealthy Museum Curator can live next door to an unemployed writer...in those FABulous bungalows, but I guess that’s just how it is out there in sunny CA.

Images of Spring

I rarely post on the weekends. This is for Elizabeth.


I call this "Free Dog on Crocus"

No Parking

I am surfing today... no blogging.
Go read something else today.

What...what ...speak up

I have a head cold. I stayed home yesterday and I was sooo good - no blogging, no working in the yard (it was over 60 out there)...ok, so I did a little laundry. My thoughtful wife loaded me up with chick-flicks -- yup, gotta watch chick-flicks when you're sick.

Today I am back at work. The problem... is that I can't hear anything. There's gonna be alot of nodding and smiling today. Wish I knew how to read lips.

People please,

Get up off the couch, walk out your front door. Take 10 big steps away from your house and turn around.

If you see any decaying pine boughs, red ribbons, snowmen, Santa faces, elves, imitation holly or mistletoe, baubles or garland, would you JUST take it down already

Please keep an eye out

For my wife...and this dog.

She just loves boxers... and perhaps feeling the pangs of emptyness...

and the FREE dog is not helping at all.

So, generally, we are not letting her leave the house alone for awhile.

'Sweetie...you still at the office?'

Aaaauuugggghhhhhhh.....

For David

When my Blogfather stopped in to see us during a recent blizzard, we offered him some warm tea, or perhaps a port. We offered the port unknowingly of course - since our port was not kosher.
Being Italian - it was important for us to serve something to 'take the chill off', especially since he would be driving home in all that snow, with those treacherous white out conditions, and slipperiness and all... must have a little 'something'.
My Italian wife suggested some Limoncello, which we make ourselves (as Italians we are required to either make wine or limoncello – we are also required to have at least one lawn statue). We reviewed the ingredient list and found nothing un-kosher about it.

The recipe below is for David, from my wife. But please, give it a go if you are so inclined.
We keep a bottle in the freezer at all times, so stop in anytime for a taste.

Limoncello (pronounced lee-mohn-CHEL-loh) Recipe

Ingredients
15 large, thick, skinned lemons
Two 750 ml bottles of 100-proof vodka
4 cups sugar
5 cups water

Tools
1 large glass jar (at least 4 quarts) with lid
Vegetable peeler
Glass pitcher
Funnel
Cheese cloth

Phase 1: The Zest
Wash lemons well with hot water to remove any residue of pesticides, wax or stickers. Pat lemons dry.

Fill the jar with one bottle of 100-proof vodka. Be sure to use 100-proof, which has less flavor than a lower proof vodka (Limoncello should taste like fresh lemons, not poor-quality vodka.). Also, higher proof vodkas won’t turn to ice in the freezer.

Start peeling the zest from all the lemons with a vegetable peeler. If you get some of the bitter white pith with the zest, carefully scrape the pith away with the tip of a knife. As you peel and de-pith the zest, add it to the jar.

After combining the vodka and lemon zest, cover the jar and store it at room temperature in a dark place (We store ours on a shelf in our cellar.). Let it sit for 40-45 days. As the limoncello sits, the vodka slowly takes on the flavor and rich yellow hue of the lemon zest.

Phase 2: The Syrup
After 40-45 days, retrieve the jar from its hiding place. You are now ready to add the remaining ingredients.

Combine 4 cups of sugar with 5 cups of water in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Let the syrup cool.

Add the second bottle of 100-proof vodka to the jar of limoncello. Add the cooled syrup.

Cover the jar and return it to the cellar to sit for another 40-45 days.

Phase 3: The Finale
After the second 40-45 days, retrieve the jar from its hiding place. You are now ready to strain and bottle your limoncello. Cut a layered section of the cheese cloth big enough to generously fit over the mouth of a funnel. Place the funnel on a glass pitcher or other glass container that’s big enough to hold the entire batch of limoncello. Pour the liquid from the jar through the cheesecloth-funnel into the pitcher. The cheese cloth will trap all the tiny chunks of zest.

Now remove the zest from the jar and discard it. Repeat the straining technique with the cheese cloth-funnel, this time from the pitcher back to the jar. Replace the soaked cheese cloth with a new fresh layered section of cheese cloth. Strain one more time from the jar to the pitcher.

Pour the limoncello into decorative serving bottles (Pier One has a fabulous collection of tinted green bottles!) with cork tops. Immediately put one bottle in your freezer. Serve the limoncello in cordial glasses (or drizzle over ice cream or fresh berries) as soon as it’s frosty.

Store the remaining bottles in your cellar until you’re ready to serve or give away to your friends.

Julia10.28.1994 - 03.19.2005

Julia was a muse. She was perky and loving, her intelligence… questionable.
She never finished growing, and visitors would always marvel at how small she was.
She was the only dog I ever knew who would sniff around the yard and not even lift her head if guests arrived. Not a typical dog.
She was not good with children. She did not like being picked up. She made it very clear on the things she did not like. If you sat – she was in your lap. If you were under a blanket, she was under with you. If you opened the fridge, she was in the kitchen. If you called her name, she completely ignored you.

She loved to be warm and would seek out any source of heat. She would follow the sun around the house on lazy weekend days. She loved to crawl into the daughters big sweatshirts while they lay around watching TV all afternoon. When we had occasion to work around the house using our portable halogen lamp – she would stand right in front of it, soaking up the warmth. On really, really hot summer days, she would stretch out on the asphalt driveway. A couple of times I actually carried her into the house before she started to cook. Her legs were so thin and her coat so short that when it would get to be below 0, her legs would freeze up and she would tip over, I would need to run out and scoop her up.

She could care less about other dogs. We have always had a big dog in the house, and so she had no fear of them. It was this courageous ignorance that kept finding her in the neighbor’s yard…. the neighbors with electric fence….electric fence to contain their 100lb. Shepard. He never caught her, tho he tried.

She was certainly not like any other dog. Let’s call her special. For reasons I cannot truly explain, I was rather attached to this little pup.

We'll miss our little Joosie.

Exercise Regimen

After having come to the conclusion recently that I needed to exercise as well as diet to take off those last 5 pounds – I immediately put on 3. This is a good thing tho – it’s all part of the dieting process. I call them Panic Pounds. It’s a reflex really. As soon as you say you’re going to diet, your body goes into panic mode -- to protect itself.

Regarding the exercise portion of my program – I can say this, I am not a quitter.
Are you familiar with the saying “You can‘t win if you don’t play”?
Well you can’t quit if you don’t start.
Works for me.

The dieting part (now that I am past the panic pounds) is actually working quite nicely, albeit slowly. But this is to be expected. I cannot lose 5 pounds in 3 weeks.
I can lose 1 pound in three weeks. It’s good to know your limitations.

My diet of choice is tried and true – starvation. Weeellll, perhaps not starvation like 3rd World starvation – this is more Americanized. It basically means eating a hell of a lot less. It’s a very convenient diet. No special foods to prepare, no planning, no counting points and you save money at the grocery store.

My downfall is weekend cocktails. I do so like my evening cocktails on the weekends. They really rack up the calories.
The first weekend I decided that rather than drinking beer, which is so high in calories it’s practically a food group – I would have vodka. That way I would drink less, as it’s so much more potent.
Yeah well. Tell a beer drinker to drink less. Ha.
Ok, Vodka is off the list.

This weekend I will stick with beer. I am planning to compensate for the calories during the day – by eating much less food I will get tipsy faster, and therefore drink less – less calories all around– it’s a win-win situation.

It's Madness I say

Last night was family Wednesday Wings night.
We brought our March Madness brackets to fill out over wings and a pitcher.
There was a pile of Ferris’ buddies there and bracket advice was flying from table to table. I would just call out a team and a debate would erupt.
Ferris plays two brackets – one from the heart, and one from the head. Mine is a melding of the two. Which, of course, means Uconn gets knocked out in the final four.
I have entered my selections into our workplace pool for $5.00. I am so excited…I never entered one for myself before.
No one is doing the Women’s bracket – so I am going to fill one out all by myself, because I am so swept up in the Madness now.
Gotta go…time for tip off.

Good Morning

I was going to blog this morning about being irritated by the continuing cold weather.
I had compiled a long list of synonyms in my head; grating, harsh, annoying, maddening, frustrating, wearisome, exasperating…

BUT – I woke up this morning next to love of my life…, and the birds were singing and the sun was out, and the temperature…well, ok the temp was still 25…
I can sense the spring under all that snow. It refreshed me. I think I can make it.
Life is good.

Gaaaayyyy BING-GOOo

Tonight we will play Gay Bingo. I am not yet sure how this differs from ‘Straight’ Bingo– except the caller will be a drag queen. A bunch of us are going – because lesbians are known to travel in tribes of course. And, as is customary it will be held in a church basement (not a catholic church mind you), which means no cocktails. I have suggested we all leave work early for a pre-bingo cocktail hour.

I have been practicing all morning. A…4 ; I…6 ; E ...7
My analytical wife loves to gamble so this is right up her alley; she says if she wins she will call out 'Gay Bingo'.
When I win I will call out ‘You sunk my battleship’.

Compulsion

I am home today, waiting for the dryer repairman to come. There are loads of laundry in waiting.
My plan for the day, other than laundry, was to finish up some trim painting in the living room.

However, I went outside for just a moment to sprinkle some of that de-ice stuff on the walk -- in hopes the dryer repair man would not slip fall and break something, thereby not able to fix my dryer and did I mention there is quite a bit of laundry queued up.

See, we had this weird snow the other day, which left about an inch of ice underneath, that we were not able to clear with the snow thrower or shovels.
We generally keep the driveway cleared, clean and dry all winter. It’s civilized. Ice or snow on the driveway or walkways is not acceptable. But warmer weather is promised for just next week, so ‘waiting’ was the best option we came up with.

However, while sprinkling the ice stuff, I notice a loose piece, so I chipped at it, and it started to come up. More and more ice started to break up as I went. So I continued, on and on, gathering different shovels and other tools to lift and break up the ice. Chopping and scooping it out of the driveway, added more de-ice pellets, shoveling away the broken ice…. basically, I can't stop now.
I have to keep picking and chipping at it until its gone. It's driving me mad.
I simply can…not…stop chipping and picking and chipping and picking...
I am obsessed.

Unionized?

As you may have read, the State Judiciary Committee here in Connecticut has approved legislation to allow civil unions. This controversial topic will now go to the Senate or the House or the Hood… to get voted on again and again and finally end up in the lap of our new and improved, non-cheatin’ governor Jodi Rell, while all we gay folk wait with bated breath to be allowed to share in a small percentage of rights enjoyed by heterosexuals… well as long as we stay in Connecticut that is.

The GLBT activists here (Love Makes a Family specifically) are not all that enthused as they feel civil unions makes gays “separate and unequal”.

But in all this political rhetoric, I beg to say we are missing a very important point.
Quite simply it boils down to conjugation…the schematic arrangement of the inflectional forms of a verb… basically what the HELL am I going to say?

Ok – you’re at a party, you’re a heterosexual, you have a stunning example of the opposite sex on your arm, you are wearing a ring on ‘the’ finger. What might you hear…”Say there Pat, when did you get married?”

Now… you’re me. I am at a party, I am a homosexual, I have my stunning wife on my arm and am wearing a ring on ‘the’ finger. Say there Weese, when did you get…..aahh
…get…. um… civil unioned?... uuh unionized?…no no..that’s Hoffa… um… civilized? Ah, when did you crazy kids go to town hall and sign those papers to give you rights to visit each other in the hosptial...well in the state, and get health insurance..well also in the state - but really congratulations.“

C’mon people… a little help here. How can I explain in a word to the world that I have willfully, joyously, romantically with all of my heart and mind, for the rest of my life …signed some papers and entered into a civil union.
If for no other reason than the adjective – it think we should fight for FULL marriage rights, and on a federal level--so I don’t have to make up other words when I travel out of state.

My Quest

It seems that the list of repairs on the van have finally exceeded its worth.
As I have blogged before – I love my Quest... but I am ready to accept that it’s over… its time to let go, its time to move on, its time... for a change
…but not a good time as far as our fiscal planning is concerned.
The plan was to replace the van in two more years. That was our plan, it’s a good plan, it’s a financially sound plan.
This was not in the plan.
I am all about planning.

So I would need to be frugal, wise and conservative in my car selection.
I called my trusted mechanic for some sage advice.
He suggested the LeSabre.

Ok now, I have nothing against mid-size American family sedans…really, I don’t.
But look at me…trendy (stop laughing), middle-aged, lesbian… in a LeSabre.
Ooo, I shudder at the thought.
I know, I know – I am not in a position to be picky.

My trusted mechanic also recommended a car dealer right down the street from where I work, he said they may have a used Altima or Accord.
Ok, I can do an Altima, I can do an Accord – I could even do a Sentra – affordable, good on gas, sensible – yeah, I can do that. I am so centered and self confident – I can drive a Sentra and make it look cool.

That very day I took my lunch hour and went to the dealer.
I pull in the lot and what is the first car I see?
While test driving it I sold it to myself.
My wife is so supportive.
I called her from the dealer and told her I basically just bought the first car I laid eyes on.
She laughed.
She loves me.

Mid-life crises ?

Batteries not included

My rechargeable batteries for my digital camera are... de-charged.
:o(
so no snow pics today.

Let me try to describe it for you.

Perhaps in Haiku...

cold yet dry to touch
deep enough for sore muscles
soon to be flowers

ok.. how about a simple rhyme...

White and fluffy and dry to touch
The snow is not melting fast enough

The months accumulation is very deep
So much in fact we may buy a jeep

I tire of its brightness, soon to be brown muck
Ready to throw in the shovel and say " Who gives a f*** "

Or perhaps the more unusual … Cinquain

Snowstorm
Cold, white
Blowing, drifting mounds
We are its prey, stranded and warm
Blizzardry

MORE shoveling

Actually - we DO have a snowthrower. I was ...well... exaggerating a bit yesterday.
I am in love with my snowthrower, will never live without one again.

However, as I type my herculean wife is out there shoveling the driveway. We had a 'dusting' of three more inches last night. It's rather puffy and fluffy...so she decided to do it the old fashioned way.
If I make it home before dark tonight I will post a pic of all this crazy late season snow.
And yes...I promised a story and a pic yesterday - I have not forgotten, but work keeps getting in the way.

Shoveling

There is ALOT of snow out there. I can barely type... my arms are so sore.
There is still more - so posting will have to wait. But I promise a picture and a story tomorrow.
In the mean time the wife and I had a FABuLous visit from my blogfather last evening.
Cleary, real men do not fear snow.