jeeptick.com…Profoundly Me

This is one I’ve been putting off for a few days. My cousin died on New Years Day about 3:30 pm. He’s been dealing with cancer for a couple of years but only recently told people. I have felt nothing; I have no sadness in my body. My mom is beside herself, as is her sister, my aunt, his mom. He was a racist, homophobe, fundamentalist. I spent Thanksgiving with him many years ago and the remarks that came out of his mouth I have yet to forget. It was nigger this, faggot that. These days, I would not have just sat there and put it up with it, but I thought at the time, I would just keep the peace on Thanksgiving. How I’ve changed over the years. He ran off his daughter when she got pregnant and wanted to marry the guy. They went to court to take custody of the baby but lost the case along with contact with their daughter for many years. I’ve been to his church and listened to the small town Southern Baptist preacher preaching as they all agreed with all he said. I don’t think I’ve been in a church since. My aunt asked him to say some words for my lesbian aunt who had just died but he didn’t. He just preached the evils of the gays. I have no sadness, no tears, no nothing. I’ll send a sincere card to my aunt, telling her of my sorrow for her loss because she is a wonderful woman. I won’t say I’m sorry he’s gone.

We finally had a chance to see Milk today. It was really good. I’ve seen The Life and Times of Harvey Milk many years ago but this one went much deeper into his personal life and what drove him rather than just chronicle it. Go see it if you haven’t.

We got another inch of snow today which ain’t much but that’s on top of the nine inches on New Years Eve and the more than two feet we had earlier in December. It’s going nowhere soon either.

People have been talking about how bad 2008 was, but for me, it was much improved. Yea, I’ve lost a lot of money on investments this year but who hasn’t? And I feel fortunate to have a job at a stable company. 2007 was the year I thought I was going to lose my folks and did lose my dog of 15 years. It took a LONG time for me to get over losing Kaleb. We still talk about her but it’s usually humorous. My folks are doing well, especially my mom. I have the best partner ever. So here’s to 2009 only being better.

Still trying to catch up, I had a dream about getting stints put up in my sinus cavities for an experimental surgery, ran all the way to Wal-Mart without even losing my breath, and calling Duncan to pick me up only because I was tired. Another dream involved Eartha Kitt. We were having a big gay dinner party and she was at the head of a huge table. She took off her clothes and had a penis. I’m not only behind on this blog but my dream blog too. Planning to move it to wordpress too but you know how long it took me to convert this…still working on it.

And speaking of Eartha Kitt, did you notice that every gay blog tributed her when she died last week?

Alaura conquers the snow mound, originally uploaded by jeeptick.

We’ve had family visiting from North Carolina since Christmas and luckily, they brought the warm weather with them but took it back this morning. As you can see above, the snow has been hastily retreating but the rest should stick around and three to six on top of that tomorrow. I had to work most of their trip but we did get some sledding in, and by southern standards, it was pretty good.

If you look real hard, you can see Alaura on top of the snow mound.

The real Santa Baby is gone. Singer, actress, ostracised for being biracial moved from South Carolina to New York City and got her first starring role as Helen Of Troy from Orson Wells in 1950. Always flamboyant and outspoken on all issues including gay rights.

Kitt was outspoken on her stance regarding gay marriage. “I support it because we’re asking for the same thing,” she states confidently. “If I have a partner and something happens to me, I want that partner to enjoy the benefits of what we have reaped together. It’s a civil-rights thing, isn’t it? The gay marriage issue is similar to what African-Americans experienced during the time of the Civil-Rights Movement. We were not allowed to go through certain doors because of our race, our color,” she says intensely. “It was so stupid that we were not able to sit at the counter of a restaurant because it was only for Anglo-Saxons. It’s stupid when this country says it was born on freedom for all, but it’s freedom for some!”

Performing up until recently, she died of colon cancer today at age 81.

This is actually my (I think our) first white Christmas. We are usually out of town on Christmas if there is snow on the ground. For every Christmas we’ve been in town, we’ve had a green (or brown) Christmas. It’s a beautiful, sunny, very windy day in the thirties here in Schnectady, NY. Happy Christmas to all. I think I’ll watch ‘A Christmas Story’. Anybody know where I can find it? Ha!

My Checkerboard Cake, originally uploaded by jeeptick.

We had our Christmas party at work today and I have to tell you, there was some good food there. My jambalaya was supreme if I do say so myself and was gobbled up completely, and my checkerboard cake I promised wasn’t exactly a checker board but it WAS GOOD. I haven’t made a real cake since I was a kid. For my pal Debbie, the main organizer, you did a great job.

It is snowing so heavy right now. We’ve mostly just hung around the house today and enjoyed each other’s company. I think I may go lay on the couch and watch The Bucket List before we have to start clearing the driveway later.

This is me walking Casey this afternoon as she takes off after a snow plow.

OK, so we had a foot on the ground this morning when we cleaned the driveway and it’s been snowing ever since, though not at the same fast pace as yesterday. OK, so it’s not gonna get out of the teens today. OK, so it’s gonna snow another 6-9 inches tomorrow. I can actually deal with all that but Duncan just talked to his sister and she said it’s 70 down in North Carolina today. Wah!!!

Whither she was Number One, Nurse Chapel, Lwaxana Troi, or one of the many, many Star Trek computer voices, Majel Barrett carried on and fought for the tradition her husband of many years Gene Roddenbury built during his life. She was the only person to have a part in every movie and series based upon the original Star Trek. As you know, I love everything Star Trek, including Majel Barrett.

Majel Barrett 1932-2008

I grew up in Charlotte and it was well known knowledge that this place would rip you off. Harrelson Ford even got busted by the press for selling a crashed car as new. Who doesn’t think Louis knew what was going on?  “That’s Awesome Bill”…… Where is Catfish Hunter when you need him?

Does anybody get that?

After last week’s ice storm, we’re getting set for another blow from Mother Nature tomorrow as we sit on the snow map border between the 6-10 inch limit and the 10-14 inch limit. More snow on Sunday and an “icy mix” for Wednesday not looking to get above freezing anytime before then.

Walking down the streets of Toronto.

3 Coins Open Kitchen in Richmond Hill.

And this is the way we do Proud Mary.

Ice storm hits the northeast and the power’s out for days.

I thought our weekend away was gonna be spoiled by the storm as a fire truck blocked off our block Friday morning as live wires lay across the road and driveway. It took until almost noon for National Grid to cap them off and move them out of the street. We were then free.

We took off Friday afternoon for Toronto to see the incredible Tina Turner. We arrived Friday night after a snowy drive and collapsed after getting there due to getting no sleep the night before from crashing limbs and a fire truck sitting in front of our house all night watching live wires in the street. The next day, refreshed, we explored Toronto. That night, we hit The Air Canada Center for the concert. I can’t put into words how I love Tina Turner. This is my 5th Tina Turner concert since 1984. Each one just as good as the last. She moved around that stage better than I could have done 20 years ago. She performed every song. She did Nutbush as her finale at 100 miles per hour and the gave a little speech about how great it’s been and then did a song I was not familiar with, basically a good-bye song. It was the last show on the North American leg of her final tour. I think she got a little teary. It was an awesome show.

The power came on as we drove home Sunday with the only interior fatalities being a couple of plants. As of now, there are still tens of thousands of people without power.

We’re in Toronto, just got back from seeing Tina Turner, probably for the last time. She was awesome! Pictures and review later. At home, we haven’t had any power since Thursday due to the ice storm that hit the northeast. Last night it was supposed to be 14 so the house is nice and chilly by now. Called but the answering machine, still isn’t picking up. Friday I was trapped at home for a good part of the day with a fire truck in front of the house guarding some hot wires laying in the street. National Grid finally came and capped them off and said “bunker down”. More later, I just Ny-quilled up and it’s calling me to bed.

Oh, around 1993 or so…, originally uploaded by jeeptick.

I came across this today and thought, look how young Kaleb was…then I thought, look how young I was.

I have a cousin who’s dying. It’s actually one of the few cousins I know pretty well, or used too when I was growing up that is. He’s a lot older than me. He’s also a racist, bigot, and homophobe. He’s the kind of person who gives religion a bad name. I feel bad because I feel no sadness that he’s dying. It’s killing my aunt who I love so much. My mom can hardly talk about it because she watched him grow up. I have another cousin who I may or may not have met at some point who just died who I feel more sorrow for. I never thought I’d feel this way about someone I actually know. I wish I were better person.

Massachusetts toll takers make on average $70,000 with OT, some making as much as $100,000. Why am I not a toll taker?…god awful boring I suppose.

I lost (misplaced) my phone and it turns out somebody’s been using it during the day. Spent the evening at Verizon replacing it then explaining to the person texting him he’s going to jail. Didn’t hear back from that one. I like my new phone a lot but it’s just something else that I have to become proficient at. While we were there, Duncan found out his phone was still under warranty and having and LCD problem. He got a brand new phone and so did I for $99. His warranty was about to expire so maybe it was a good thing, probably not…lost all my contacts.

Fran Drescher thinks she should be considered for Hilary Clinton’s Senate seat once Clinton becomes Secretary of State, seriously. Honestly, I think I’d like to hear what she has to say. Caroline Kennedy has also expressed interest in the seat but more seriously being considered is Andrew Cuomo. If David Patterson picks her, he may be wishing he was deaf instead of blind.  Seriously, I’ve always thought she was beautiful and although I never watched it at night, I became a closet Nanny fan when it went into syndication.

Christmas 2008, originally uploaded by jeeptick.

It’s 18 degrees with winds at 36mph and a wind chill of 2 as I take this picture. It’s been a cold day and I’ve been outside most of it. Gas is a buck eighty seven and I popped myself in the lip with a push-broom that had blown over in the wind which I stepped on…it then flew up at 70 miles per hour and hit me in the face…hence my purple lip.

People seem to be decorating outside as much as ever, maybe more. We rode around looking at christmas lights tonight in our annual tradition but we’re still in need of a longer ride I’m thinking.

I love my GPS.

Christians who think Christmas is a Christian holiday are seriously fooling themselves.

I’m no cook but I think I may go all out and cook a checkerboard cake for the Christmas Party at work this year. I’ve never had it but it looks pretty fun and people will love me. It takes a special pan which looks easily acquirable and if that doesn’t work out, I’ll go for my usual jambalaya or gumbo…always a hit.

I sold Christmas Trees today in the 20 degree weather. It makes it seem Christmas-e when it’s so cold and everybody is so nice and the kids are so well behaved. I think we may get above freezing Thursday. Watching COPS now, it looks so warm wherever they are.

Judge Jackie Glass gave OJ Simpson a tongue lashing before passing sentence.

“Earlier in this case, at a bail hearing, I said to Mr. Simpson I didn’t know if he was arrogant, ignorant or both,” Glass said. “During the trial and through this proceeding I got the answer, and it was both.”

It was so long ago during the mid 90’s. The Rodney King incident was not yet out of people’s mind. The OJ Simpson trial was long and out of control. If you didn’t know how separate the races or classes were, you knew then. When I heard the news, I was a vendor at a mill where almost everybody who worked was black. As I was leaving, the special report was on the TV in the break room so I walked in to watch. When they read the verdict, the crowd let out in emotional applause and cheering as I, with the three or so other white people just stood there with blank faces. I remember not only the feeling of the room, but the actual look of that room like it was yesterday.

O.J. cried like a little baby because for the first time in years, he hasn’t been able to work the system like he owned it.

Cry O.J., cry

I’ve been putting off getting a GPS basically because I didn’t want to pay for one. On Thanksgiving, I was looking around the Internet and voila, Super Friday specials were starting early, and I didn’t have to get trampled in the process. I got a great deal. I loves me a great deal. I haven’t had a chance to use it other than taking Casey for ha walk. We didn’t get lost once.

Put up a bunch of Christmas lights too. Lots of purple, lots of huge, lots of lots…

Update: I was reminded (told for the first time) wa-la is voila.

Hey look, welcome me to the 21st century. I’ve got it hooked to the old site for now. Considering how long it took me to do this, it may take me a while to get around to converting the old entries to wordpress and some of the old pages I have really look bad. It’s been a while since I’ve looked them over but let me know if you see any problems.

For the first time in quite a while, it seems like December is gonna be quite a good month for movies. Most importantly, I’ve been anticipating Milk for a long time.

Milk. After moving to San Francisco, Harvey Milk, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977, making him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the USA. The following year, both he and the city’s mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White. I’ve read books and books on gay history and although there have been documentaries and small independent films, this is the first major film with a major star.

Cadillac Records. 1950s Chicago, “Cadillac Records” follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.

Frost/Nixon. For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency.

The Wrestler. Mickey Rourke stars as an aging Hulk Hogan-inspired professional wrestler, desperately trying to hold onto his larger-then-life glory days of the 80s. In a parallel plot line, Marisa Tomei costars as an aging stripper, also holding onto her youth as long as she can. Remember when Mickey Rourke was one of the hottest, sexiest men on earth? It seems he had a bunch of botched plastic surgery.

Doubt. Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx, it centers on a nun who grows suspicious when a priest begins taking too much interest in the life of a young black student. In my book, Meryl Streep can do no wrong.

Slumdog Millionaire. The story of Jamal Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, the girl he loved and lost. Slumdog Millionaire was released earlier but is due out to a larger number of theaters later this month…oscar maybe?

Duncan told me last night that Ann Coulter’s jaw was wired shut. I just said there was a God and wondered who broke it. Turns out she fell, so she says… Here’s what Keith Olbermann had to say.

It’s Christmas Tree selling time again and I enjoy doing it immensely.  Unwrapping several hundred soaking wet trees in the 35 degree rain is not the funnest part of the whole thing though.

Dog got a squirrel, originally uploaded by jeeptick.

Casey finally got to bring a squirrel in the house. She had that thing gutted in about an hour. Okay, so it wasn’t a real squirrel. Tonight while on a walk, she had a chance to make friends (or enemies) with a cat but was too chicken to get too close.

Who would’ve thought? And even more so, it’s on e-bay for $99.99. I should offer this guy $3 and see if he jumps on it.

Our next door neighbor gave us a gift certificate to Brandon’s Ritz Terrace so we decided to use it tonight. It’s only three or four blocks from the house but we’ve never been there. This place has been there a long time and seen a lot of changes in the neighborhood. Dinner was good and the inside of the restaurant was exactly what you’d expect after several remodels over the years. What was cool was the 1950’s tile foyer. You walk in the glass door into a small room then up two steps into another glass door with no landing. The entire floor and both steps were covered with 1950’s one by one tile. Inside in the corner was a white piano being played by a man dressed for the 1970’s, sport coat and all with 1970’s hair backing up that look. Backing him up on the piano was a cool synthesizer heavy on drums and lite on style. It was fairly crowded but I think we were close to being the youngest except for a couple of kids.

Casey kissing, originally uploaded by jeeptick.

I am getting old, or maybe it’s a bit of dementia. Over the years, I have come to admire Celine Dion. Don’t get me wrong, I will always always always always (did I mention always) hate that Titanic song. In fact, there are several songs. But have you ever just sat there and listened to that voice? Go to YouTube. It just does all this stuff that most can’t do. It’s mesmerizing. What’s to become of me?

On the other hand, I’ve always loved me some Prince music. Prince has always been a bit strange especially since he changed his name to a symbol. Now he has not only come out against gay marriage,
but against gays themselves and everything they are. Dude, I am so done with you. To my pal
Dennis who was probably gay, what would you think now?

Warning, Cute Dog Story: There was a small spot of sun shining in the dining room earlier today. Dog dragged her bed from the living room to the dining room to that one particular spot, dropped it, and laid down. End cute dog story.

Begin crappy story: It’s snowing.

Barbara Hoffman (Thora Birch) is a brilliant, beautiful college student by day working as a “masseuse” at a local massage parlor by night. In this true-life murder, mystery Barbara finds herself accused of poisoning two of her clients, men who had named her beneficiary in their wills. Police Detective Lulling (Keith Carradine) works diligently in trying to solve this intriguing, complex case and the results are fascinating.

This is the plotline for the not yet released film Winter Of Frozen Dreams shot in Schenectady in early 2007. In the trailer you can see a location two blocks away on Avenue A, inside beautiful City Hall, outside our weekend haunt Mike’s Hot Dogs, and The GE Plot. The film was shot in Schenectady but takes place in Wisconsin in the 1970’s. I assume Schenectady looks like Wisconsin in the 1970’s.

Synecdoche, New York, is the new Philip Seymour Hoffman film coming out next month that was filmed in new York and takes place in Schenectady.

Synecdoche: a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole.

It was flu shot day at work today. I accidently declared myself female on the flu shot paperwork. Hummm…

Keith Olbermann blast the people who supported Proposition 8 last week in this pretty mesmerizing commentary.

Me? I got to sleep in this morning. Now I’m sitting at the kitchen table looking out the window at the leaves covering the ground, trees almost bare, and the rain falling out of the sky. The dog is pestering me to “Take this ball from me if you can and throw it, then we’ll do it again, and again, and again”. It’s a very cold Veterans Day but don’t forget to celebrate all the honorable veterans who fought in all the wars and skirmishes here and around the world. Those who died for our’s and other’s freedoms including my dad in WWII and Duncan’s dad who fought in many places around the world. While doing this, don’t forget about the people who are working hard to take away our freedoms.

Yea, I’m freaking happy about yesterday’s elections but I can’t help but take personally the gay marriage and adoption bans. Florida was expected but the fact they gave their electoral votes to Obama but still voted 62% to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage strikes me ill. Arkansas voted to ban gay couples from not only adopting kids, but even becoming foster parents. Yea, let’s keep them in a group home before we put them with the fags. Most disappointing is the California gay marriage ban. As of this morning, it hasn’t been called but I can read the writing on the walls pretty easy. Like I said, emotionally, I take it personally.

Secondly, repeat last night’s entry!