It's been a while, mostly because of being busy and since last Friday,
I've been pretty much sick. Even leaving work early one day, but feeling
much better the last couple of days. I decided to do some yard work this
afternoon, it being almost 70 out and after talking with the neighbors
who have lived here for many years, we wondered what this neighborhood
was like so long ago in 1905. When this neighborhood was built, the
roads were not paved, they were either gravel or cobblestone. There were
no cars or driveways and streetcars ran down the main streets. Four,
six, or even eight kids per house was not that unusual.
As I mowed the yard, I thought about the neighborhood I grew up in which
was built in the 1950's. It was early suburbs, cars and streets and
shopping centers. Our neighborhood was pretty diverse considering it was
all white. Oxymoron? probably. Next door was the "old Yankee couple" as
my dad called them. He wore long black knee sox with bermuda shorts,
bought a new Cadillac every year which he parked in the carport (our
neighborhood had carports) while his wife drove some old Cadillac from
the 50's that she had to move out of his way whenever he went somewhere
and she was not allowed to drive his. Next to them was my friend Allison
and her folks. If I remember correctly, her sister was a hippie. Her mom
always referred to me and my bro as her boys. I seem to remember
thinking my mom did not like that. She was a member of the PTA (more on
that later). Next to her was my mom's best friend. She worked for
Eastern Airlines until right before it went under. It hit my mom hard
when she died suddenly in her 50's. As a little kid, I remember her
liking to drink a lot. She had a cool Camero convertible which any kid
would love. Next house was Mrs. Lee. I NEVER saw her. My understanding
as an adult is she was an "invalid" because she always had a nurse there
which we also never saw. Roomer was, she let dogs fuck her. Why this was
true? Because a kid in the neighborhood saw it through the window,
that's why. Going back the other way was an "old widow woman" who
briefly married a man who committed himself to the psychiatric ward.
Therefore, to a kid, he was a crazy man, she drove him crazy. She did
drive my dad crazy as every time she needed something "done" at her
house, she called my dad on his weekend off. I think this may be where
my dad's aversion to answering the phone came from. Next to her was my
second mom. I think I stayed there as much as at home until she had her
own kid, and even after that. She was a teacher and drove a Pinto. I
loved that Pinto.
Next to her were and old couple in their 80's. She used to make me snow
cones. I don't know why I remember that except that ice crusher was
loud. Most of his backyard was a garden in addition to a plot of land he
owned in the middle of the ghetto that the neighborhood used as a
community garden. I hated having to go to work in that stupid garden.
When they died, this guy bought the house and I remember my mom saying,
"I think he's gay". Never had I heard her talk about someone being gay.
Next to them was my second dad (first in a way because my dad was out of
town so much) and my friend Michelle and Mike. Michelle and Mike's dad
was awesome. He always brought me out on Halloween and included me in
their families activities. he died a couple of years ago way too young.
Across from them was my friend Doug. We were best friends for many years
until he moved away. We played hot wheels until we were in ninth grade
until we made a conscious decision that we may be too old for these
things and we should stop. It was then we started getting in trouble
together. I've tried to find him many times to no avail. Doug had the
coolest house with a creek running through it and a whole downstairs
just for the kids.
Finally, next door on the other side were an older couple who had 17
Chihuahuas. Names I remember were Big One, Little One, Fat One,
Chocolot, Victoria...you get the point. One last point, the PTA I
mentioned ain't The Parents Teachers Association. My mom, and three of
her friends who lived in the neighborhood got together several times a
week to smoke, drink wine, and play bridge and they were commonly
referred to as The PTA. If someone called the house and asked for mom,
we said she was at The PTA.
What happened to all the gay folk? At one time, I counted at least 15
gay folk out at work out of about 150 employees. Hey that's the 10% we
heard about for so many years. I just learned one of us gave his notice
this week and I started thinking, that number will have dwindled to two
out at work. That doesn't count the two that are in the closet and the
one who just hasn't figured it out yet for himself. I guess I gotta do
some recruiting.
Going to see Tina Turner in December. It'll be my 5th time. Even if
she's 400 years old, she's still one of, if not the, greatest. Lost a
butt load of weight during my recent sickness. It'll be fun putting it
back on..
I was listening to the radio this morning before they played the new
Britney Spears song but before I changed the station. They suggested
that Britney was back and just as good as ever. In other words, she
sucks.
Casey graduated from obedience school last night by laying down for the
first time on command, not doing her best command of sit, and winning
"best come" award.
The first autumn leaves started falling today and we're expecting our
first hard freeze this weekend. No more shorts, no more open windows,
full time hoodies soon, and there's a rock salt shortage.
State Parole Board member and ex-state lawmaker George "Chris" Ortloff
tried to arrange the rape of two young girls at a Colonie hotel Monday
through their "mother," who turned out to be an undercover cop,
authorities said Tuesday. Ortloff, 61, was "buck naked" after he showed
up at the undisclosed hotel with condoms, lubricants, sex toys and a
camera all to meet two "sisters," ages 11 and 12. Ironically, Ortloff a
former Republican assemblyman was an outspoken advocate of tough
penalties for sex offenders.
I'm watching the last debate tonight and McCain so far doesn't seem to
have that last spark of spunk that he needed to muster up. I do like
this format of debate more than the others so far.
Autumn is here and the trees are beautiful. The leaves are falling in
the valley and our first freeze hits tonight. By the end of the weekend
all the summer flowers and plants will be gone. I haven't decided if I'm
going to bring anything in and drag it out or just let it end now.
Daylight savings ends in a couple of weeks too. I can't help but wishing
they'd keep it all year so come the first week in December around these
parts, the sun would set at 5:15 rather than the 4:15.
Our neighbors are into Halloween big time and Saturday, their daughter
was married, hence ghost bride.
Colin Powell gave this eloquent explanation for his endorsement of
Barack Obama on Meet The Press Sunday. The ironic thing is there was a
day when John McCain showed this type of independence and that was one
of the things that made me admire him. Once he started running for the
presidency, he started towing the Republican line more and more and that
made me like him less and less.
Aetna, my insurance provider, is the first health benefits company in
the U.S. to link its online provider directory to The Gay-Lesbian
Medical Association's growing online database of more than 1,200 health
care providers. The database includes primary care providers,
specialists, therapists, and dentists who welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender patients. Fortunately, I have the greatest primary care
doctor and dentist ever but for those in such a need, this is a nice
resource.
Went to work this morning, it was 25 degrees and there were few leaves
on the ground. This is from one afternoon.
As exciting as this political season is, we don't live in any of the
districts where the exciting local races are happening. We live in the
relatively calm 21st congressional district where the race between Paul
Tonko and James Bhurmaster has been pretty mellow and almost free of ads
until this week. I wish I could vote for Kirsten Gillibrand in the 20th
district because Sandy Treadwell is a sack of crap who takes the public
for fools. James Tedisco is running unopposed in our state assembly
district but one block away, I want to vote for George Amedore even
though I don't care for him all that much. Mark Blanchfield could have
had this election wrapped up but he had to go and pull a quote from
Amedore out of context and turn it into a lie. Mark Blanchfield is a
liar. Our own mayor even scolded him at a city council meeting for
pulling some last minute political budget bullshit. These two guys are
allies. I guess I'll just vote for Paul Tonko, James Tedisco, and Hugh
Farley (who is Fred Goodman?) and be happy. Oh, did I mention Barack
Obama?
Scott Kazmir, pitcher for the Rays, is just so damn cute I've decided
that I want Tampa Bay to win the World Series. My love of the most
boring spectator sport in the world nor either team has anything to do
with my decision.
Looks like a leaf raking day, but after this episode of Lucy.
It's snowing the biggest flakes I've ever seen. I took a picture but it
really didn't convey the message I wanted. We're expecting 1 or 2 inches
but the mountains are looking for 12 to 15.
Polls show that in New York, Obama leads McCain 62%-31%. It's no wonder
we don't see any presidential ads.
