How It Is Done

Hey Ladynay, thanks for still checking me out even after my six month hiatus...*LOL*. I was waiting to see if I'd get any reaction. :-)

I'm actually off from work today and back in Chicago. My work life has been hell at the company I've been vowing to leave since 2006...*LOL*. I've fallen a bit off the gym track and am doing my best to maintain myself though January is near and I may do another cleanse. My love life has consisted of hot sex with an occasional FWB who's deep in the closet and a few dates and hookups with other guys, nothing significant though I long to find boyfriend #2. Maybe 2011 is the year.

Hemingway (classic...*LOL*) now I'm going to do something I haven't done in ages. Give a blow by blow account of an event that recently happened. I'm referring to my coming out to my parents on the 24th.

The day started innocently enough. Fast forward to 12:30PM. It's Day 3 in Detroit at my parents' crib. My Dad's sitting by his laptop playing spider solitaire and listening to the radio. My Mom's laying on the sofa watching CNN and I'm sitting in a chair not far from her at the dining room table texting.

So I'm texting with Eugene, who's also in Detroit visiting his family, about his recent high school reunion that he attended. Of course he's rambling on and on about how everyone there was telling him how young he looks. I started strumming to myself the bars to Beyonce's Ego (god...I imagine she has a huge one too....*LOL*). His date for the evening wasn't feeling all the comments from his classmates from what he said.

My Mom sees me texting and asks me with whom I'm texting. I love my Mom but sometimes she's too nosey for her own good. And yeah I guess Mamas are like that. I sighed and told her it wasn't anyone she knew. That of course didn't stop my Mom. She asked me if I was texting a "special friend".

(It didn't help that moments before CNN was once again talking about the repeal of the discriminatory military practice of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' that finally received approval from the House and Senate and was signed into law by Obama.)

I was in shock but only for a moment. If I were a more direct person, I would ask her what she meant by "special friend". But I knew exactly what she meant. No explanation required. I told her no it's not a special friend. That wasn't enough of course for my Mom. She dug deeper and asked me if I was seeing anyone. I got up from my seat and told her I wasn't seeing anyone and made a beeline for my bedroom (well the guestroom....*LOL*).

A wave of emotions was coming over me. I texted about this recent exchange to Eugene. He asked me what she meant by "special friend" and then was amazed my Mom knew about texting. My Mom is not into texting or using the computer but obviously she knows when someone's doing it. I then told Eugene that I would need to tell my parents officially that I'm gay but would wait until the day after Christmas as to not spoil the holiday.

Eugene asked me what I was going to tell my Mom and I said I'm going to tell both my parents that I'm gay and dating but don't have anyone special. The weight of what I was contemplating doing came over me and I started to cry. Luckily since I was texting Eugene, he had no idea I was doing so.

I mourned again the hopes and dreams that my parents may have had of me one day getting married (to a girl...*LOL*) and starting a family. I mourned that I didn't have a special guy in my life that I could tell them I was seeing. I worried that I would be seen as a failure by my parents.

My Mom came knocking on my door asking me if I was okay. I did my best to swallow my tears and told her I was fine. I didn't hear her walking away so I went and opened the door. She wasn't by my door but was in the back kitchen. I walked towards her and she asked me again if I was okay. She was looking out the window and not directly at me.

I was still wiping the tears from my eyes telling her I was fine. But I lost it and started crying again. She turned around and looked like she was about to cry to but instead she asked if she made me upset asking about any "special friends". I lied and said no but the tears wouldn't stop. I then hugged her and repeatedly said 'Im sorry.'

My Mom shooed my apology and had a smile on her face. She asked if I had a boyfriend directly and I told her no but yes I'm gay. She told me that she knew and just wanted me to say it. She displayed a strength that was hiding under her Parkinson's Disease ailment and told me to go to my Dad. With one hand she touched my hands and the other she wrapped around my waist as we took the longest walk towards the living room.

With each step I kept thinking it's finally over. I hoped my Dad's reaction would be as good as my Mom's. Honestly my Mom surprised me the most since she's so 'black and white' about things and I imagined she'd have a more difficult time about it. But on the other hand my parents I'm sure had lots of discussions about me in private and likely she's had more than enough time to accept the reality, hence her relentless pursuit of the truth. She didn't want another moment obviously of knowing but not receiving my confirmation.

My Dad, aside from any disappointments that his #1 son (his only son) was gay, I felt would have a better grasp of the situation and come to terms to it sooner. As far as personality, my Dad has done a complete 180. Whereas in my childhood he was stern and downright scary, my new Dad over the years has become friendlier, approachable, and downright emotional.

My Mom and I reached the living room and she told him that I was crying. He turned around, looked at me, and immediately started crying himself as he told me that they've known about me and no matter what, they still love and care about me. They just wanted to know what was going on with me since I never talk about my love life and the last girl I bought over to the house was in 2001.

He was still crying and I went up and hugged him. Then he started talking about his own experiences about how folks at our Church actually thought he was gay since he hadn't seriously been seeing any women prior to my Mom. But he told me that at the time he knew that he ultimately wanted to marry a woman from the Caribbean similar to himself, which is exactly what he did. I recounted the teasing I had gotten growing up sans my molestation story. He rambled a bit more but I heard all I needed to hear when he said that they still loved and cared about me.

And then it was over. We later went back to our normal routines and my fear of Christmas being ruined didn't come to pass. My only question now is who'll be the lucky guy that'll get to meet my parents someday.

It Is Done

It officially happened around 1:30PM EST. The moment I've been building on for several years now. A moment I was nervous as hell about but knew had to happen sooner or later. A moment that drove me at one point to write a letter.

It is done now.

Merry X-Mas everyone!!!

Yeah I Know...

....I'm alive. Yes. Just haven't been much in the mood to blog. But I found an interesting blog featuring photos of various passengers on the C.T.A. I'm going through the blog right now curious if I've ever been caught by this blogger. Hopefully as a dapper fashion plate and not a fashion don't. Wow.

Quickie news.

Family

My younger sis Trina recently got engaged on her last birthday. Her fiance proposed to her on the job. They both work for the same company. She texted me and showed me the ring. It was a nice ring, nothing too garish which is good.

My Mom tripped over a chair in the house and broke her nose and cut her lip. She was bleeding profusely but luckily was able to get Trina and my Dad to take her to emergency. It was quite a scare, especially for me since I'm over 300 miles away and can't do much. But she pulled through and everything's okay.

Friends

Eugene actually is dating someone. I'm hoping he doesn't drive the guy away with his rigid rules and can't wait to fly down and meet him, assuming all goes well. In the forefront, a straight postal worker who is a close friend of his may be soon going through a divorce and Eugene suspects he may be bi-curious. Interesting.

Sally is still in the market looking for an IT job. She's had an interview last with Northwestern University for a position and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it comes through for her.

There's more but I need to get myself back in the groove for the 500th time. See ya around. :-)

Tired Out

As I mentioned in my last entry I was involved in a car accident on Thanksgiving day. The car accident was only the latest in a series of tire mishaps I experienced in 2009. I've had more issues with tires last year than any other time in my driving career. I'm hoping I get a break from those in 2010. 2010 is still young...*LOL*.

What happened Thanksgiving was that I was making my usual trek to Detroit. Things were going normal. I alternated being listening to music and chatting on the phone with Eugene. I was on the phone with Eugene as I crossed the Indiana/Michigan border. We were talking about various mundane happenings in our lives when suddenly I heard what sounded my rear passenger tire blowing out.

I remembered panicking to Eugene that I "think my tire blew out". At the time I was going at least 70mph (probably 75-80) on the far left lane in Benton Harbor, MI. I quickly assessed that there wasn't any immediate cars around me so I tried to slow down to make my way over to the right lane. That was probably a bad idea since the tire that blew out was the rear passenger. I felt the car start to spin out but I briefly gained control back. Next second the car spun out again, this time beyond my control. I screamed as I spun around on the expressway, under an overpass, and eventually spinning into a ditch near the entryway.

Thankful that the car didn't flip over, I reached for my phone to redial Eugene to tell him I was okay. Several cars stopped along the side of the road to check up on me. I told Eugene that I was fine and would call him back while the passerby's (including a nurse and an off-duty EMS worker) checked for my well being.

At the time I was quite shaken but was able to get out of the car. Another witness mentioned that I was driving on the rim of that tire for a few miles. I was stunned since I checked my tires before taking the road trip and everything at the time was okay (aside from putting a little air on the front passenger tire).

Moments later a local Benton Harbor police officer came by. The folks that stopped gave their versions of what they saw before they all took off for their holiday destinations. Thankfully there were no other cars involved in the accident. I gave the officer my insurance and license information. He went back to his squad car to fill out a report while I went back to the car to empty some of the contents into a duffel bag I happen to bring along for the trip. I meanwhile called my Mom and Dad to fill them in on the situation and to ensure them that I was fine and needed to work on what to do next. I called Tasha and Trina and gave them the same update.

Within another few minutes, I saw a tow truck make its way down the service drive. A lucky thing about the accident (if you can call it luck) is that I ended up in the ditch by the entryway to the expressway. That no doubt made it easier for the local departments to get to me.

The police officer gave me back my items along with a police report number for insurance purposes. Once the tow truck guy began his work to tow my car up, the officer left. I meanwhile was keeping Eugene appraised of my situation via text messaging.

I was debating between going to emergency to check myself out (my wrist started aching). Only thing was that my car was currently out of commission so I was at the mercy of the tow truck. What was worse was that it was Thanksgiving day and since Benton Harbor is a small town a lot of auto shop places were closed.

So TowguyD wanting to get me going on to Detroit worked on changing my bad tire with the spare one. I myself wasn't comfortable though driving with a doughnut tire all the way to Detroit, which from my vantage point was almost another three hours. TowguyD towed my car over to his shop and proceeded to change the damaged tire with the spare.

I lost my front fender in the accident when I spun into the ditch. I didn't hit any signs, poles, or anything else but the tires and wheels were filled with dirt and grass debris. There were also some scratches along the body of the car. He replaced my damaged tire and assessed that the other tires were okay.

After paying $225 for the towing, I decided I wanted to get myself checked out. Luckily I had my Garmin so I drove myself to a local hospital. Upon arriving to the hospital I discovered that both of my front tires were low on air.

It was raining cats and dogs as I ran into emergency. I filled out the paperwork as I explained to the front attendant the nature of my visit. The attendant told me to go in the waiting area. Figuring I'd be a while I called my parents to give them a quick update. But within minutes I was ushered by a nurse's assistant.

She took my blood pressure and it was 159/108. Scary but surprisingly the nurse made no real comment about it. Maybe it's common in car accidents to have the pressure rise dramatically. I explained to the doctor the pain I was feeling in the wrist and I started feeling other random body aches as well. He did a general check and aside from the aches, everything was fine. He gave me a prescription for extra strength Tylenol (or some derivative of it). I decided that if I felt pain by the next day I would get it filled.

An hour and a half later I decided to make my way to a gas station to fill my tires. I found one within a few miles and did so. I had gotten some hotel information from Eugene earlier. There was no way in hell I was going to drive to Detroit with my car in the condition it was. And it was a good thing I decided to go to emergency instead, otherwise I could've had another accident.

Since there were literally no restaurants open in Benton Harbor (not even McDonald's or Burger King), my bigger concern was what I would do as far as food. I only had a couple breakfast bars earlier while driving along and I was getting hungry. On the one hand it was nice that the corporate greed Eugene preached against before wasn't alive and well for most businesses in Benton Harbor but on the other when emergencies such as mine happen on a holiday and you're in the middle of nowhere, you're kinda stuck.

As I made my way to the hotel, I saw a local Walgreen's that happened to be open. I drove there (discovered that my front tires were still losing air) and bought some snacks that would have to do for my dinner. It wasn't ideal but at least I wouldn't starve.

I went to find another gas station but unfortunately the one I hit had a broken air machine. I decided I'd have to make my way to the hotel and hope I wouldn't get into another accident. I wound up having to hop on the expressway again to get to the hotel. Those were the scariest 3 miles on the expressway as I had my flashers on only able to go about 30 mph.

By the grace of God I made it to my hotel in one piece. God was truly watching out for me that day. I just came away from an accident relatively unhurt aside from a few aches. Had it happened on another stretch of the trip things could've turned out differently. My car on the other hand was looking straight up like an abandoned vehicle with its exposed front and flat front tires. All I needed was the cement blocks on all my four wheels and broken glass to complete the look.

I entered the holiday lobby and was served by the nicest young lady. She honestly looked like a modern day Jan Brady. But I told her I needed a room and after hearing the circumstances of what happened, she mentioned that the hotel was serving Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings to everyone at the hotel and told me to go get a plate.

There were two other young ladies (both black) sitting in the lobby. I later found out that they cooked a lot of the meal.

I said it before but I really believe God was looking out for me. I just knew I would be eating popcorn and chips for dinner that night. Ironically I was actually looking for Red Roof Inn as the place I would stay at and accidentally stumbled upon the former Best Western Hotel. The attendant mentioned that the hotel was currently owned by a bank due to foreclosure. I bet that Red Roof probably wouldn't have the free dinner.

So after taking my luggage to my room and updating Trina, Tasha, and Eugene, I made my way back to the lobby and served myself dinner. It was a lot of food and I happened to be the first one to get to it (since it was around 5pm). I filled up on stuffing, turkey, ham, string beans, and corn bread. There was even some chitterlings. But I passed on those since I don't really trust anyone else's chitterlings but my Mom's (and she hasn't made that in years). For drinks there was only soda, which I actually don't drink much of these days. But by some miraculous chance there was a lone Miller Lite in the fridge. Jan Brady was nice enough to let me have it and said after the day I had, I deserved it.

Afterwards I went back to fill up on desert, which included Upside Down Pineapple cake, Red Velvet cake, Sweet Potato pie, and German Chocolate Cake. It was a feast.

Needless to say I was full for the rest of the day as I made my way back to my room. I called my parents to tell them all about the dinner I had. Since I couldn't make it for my Mom's dinner, it was the next best thing. Then I took a nap and woke up and wound up watching Beyonce's Thanksgiving promotion. I swear that girl needs to take a five year hiatus. But whatever.

The next morning I woke up and after calling the insurance company to get a claim number, I quickly walked to the nearby McDonald's for breakfast. I wanted to go to the nicer pancake house next door but there was a huge line and I needed to check out by 11am. I also had to get my car tires taken care of.

So after breakfast and checking out of the hotel, I wound up calling another tow truck company that towed me to a local Discount Tire. Apparently everybody and their Mama was at Discount Tire instead of at the mall for the first official shopping day of Christmas. I wound up staying there for nearly two hours while waiting for my two rear tires to be replaced and a determination that grass/debris was blocking the air valves on the front tires, which caused them to go flat.

I then had the daunting task of deciding if I wanted to continue my journey to Detroit with my fender messed up or drive back to Chicago, which was closer. My concerns for driving to Detroit in my car was that the messed up fender would give guys up to no good reason to think my car was abandoned and decide to break into it. Not to mention would I really want to drive to Detroit and then drive back to Chicago with the fender missing and exposing the interior to the environment. At least if I made it back to Chicago, I could get the car serviced locally.

But then I thought about my family and how disappointing it'd be not to see them. Plus with winter rearing its ugly head there wouldn't be too many opportunities to make another trek.

In the end I decided to rent a car at Enterprise and have my current car repaired in Benton Harbor by the same tow company (which also had a body shop) that rescued me from my accident. I arrived in Detroit Friday evening. I gave both my parents extra long hugs.

So Enterprise wound up giving me a shitty car (Kia Spectra) that I managed to make it in to Detroit and back. The alignment was off and both front tires were balding. At first I thought I was still shaken from the accident and was being jittery (which I was to a degree) but I found out about the issue after getting back to Chicago. I swear if I had another blowout, I would've been too through.

After using Eugene to haggle with Enterprise, they gave me another car. It wound up being a Ford Focus (which I must say, Ford's come a long way from their Found On Road Dead days). My car was ready a week and a half later and I wound up driving back to Benton Harbor to pick it up.

Needless to say that was quite a crazy experience and aside from paying for the car and bills I incurred while stranded, I'm still dealing with the insurance company as far as my emergency visit. But I'm grateful to be still breathing.

Chopped & Screwed 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

2010 is shaping up to be a screwed and choppy year for me. But not necessarily in a bad way as you'll later read. Actually just to summarize on my holiday, it went fine. I trained it to Detroit on Christmas Eve and stayed until the 29th. This year for Secret Santa I had my Mom's name. I wound up getting her a basket of lotion, hand soap, and body gels from Bath & Body Works. For good measure I also got my Godmother the same. My Dad had my name for Secret Santa and he went and bought me a new Bed in a Bag. I did need some new sheets so that was cool. I have to admit it's nice seeing my Dad actually buying gifts. It's a bit of a reversal of roles since my Mom usually bought all the gifts growing up. Now it's my Mom that's slipped in the gift buying department. Its mostly due to the Parkinson's and her not being able to drive. She was so happy to have my Dad's name for Secret Santa. She actually bought his gift after the holidays while I took her shopping. That left Tasha and Trina with having each other's names.

As far as the "coming out to my parents" deal I blogged about last year (hee), I'm wavering again. But I did finally tell my older sis Tasha about it on our way to dinner with my younger sis. So both of my sisters officially know. I knew it would be a nonevent and even prefaced it by telling Tasha that I knew she already knew, which she did.

I decided to make an effort to be closer to both my sisters by treating them to dinner. Since Trina worked late we wound up going to a Chinese buffet closer to her job. We had a nice time catching up and the hope is we'll get together more often in 2010.

Since having my car accident last November on Thanksgiving no less (yeah I didn't get a chance to blog about that), I'm realizing that I need to make a greater effort to connect with my family. We're only on the Earth for such a short time and tomorrow isn't guaranteed for anyone.

I even got to hang out with Eugene while he was in Detroit. Actually he needed a place to crash after Christmas in Chicago for a day or so before his friend (lost love Larry) drove from his place in Wisconsin to pick him up, their ultimate destination being the 2010 Sugar Bowl (whereever it was...*LOL*). I wasn't going to be home during that time so we needed to meet so I could give him my keys.

So all in all it was a full holiday. I ended 2009 getting tipsy on a date. This happened on December 30th. I met this guy TopChef from Springfield, IL who was visiting his family in Northwest Indiana for dinner. We had a nice time. I guess I had too nice a time drinking a total of one rum/coke, a half bottle of Pinot Noir (with our dinner), and later on two Pomegranate Cosmos and a lager beer. TopChef drank as much as I did but he was better able to handle his liquor. I was tipsy enough that I had to get a hotel (well TopChef did) where we of course made out madly but didn't have full blown sex. He had such suction with his mouth that he nearly pulled my tongue out my socket a few times.

Since I was tipsy on the 30th I limited my alcohol on New Year's Eve to two drinks, though that didn't stop me from getting a drink spilled on me in the wee hours of 2010 while dancing at a nightclub.

Ain't that screwed and chopped up? But that's not as screwed and chopped as some of these songs I found on YouTube. Apparently screwed and chopped music originated from Houston, Texas in the mid 90's. I guess I missed that somehow. Perhaps not living in Houston played a role. Apparently it's a way of remixing hip-hop music to play in a slower beat. The results are funny but oddly enough enticing. In fact some of the songs sound even better after getting the "chopped and screwed" treatment. I'll close my blog with a few selections that I liked. I will definitely be looking for more "chopped and screwed" music in the future.


Mariah Carey - We Belong Together


Kut Klose - I Like


Aaliyah - One In A Million


Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight


Phil Collins/Jeffrey Osbourne - Easy Lover

I'm Gay

I can hear all the duhs from the few readers I have left....*LOL*. I was watching this movie with a recent date called Mambo Italiano and one particular line in the movie stood out for me. I can't exactly phrase it word for word but essentially the main character is struggling with coming out to his parents. He basically says something like he would hate for them to die not knowing who he really is.

So of course that got me to thinking again about my situation. Yeah yeah yeah....they know. But it's unofficial of course.

I actually wrote a letter earlier this year that I still need to mail. The trigger for writing it was my Dad telling my Mom (in front of me) that he told someone that he gave up asking about my personal life. What bought that up was him running into a long time friend at his Church that started asking him questions about my sisters and I. One of them of course was if I had someone in my life. The questions of course were invasive but I'm sure common among folks discussing their kids.

I was upset by the comment but of course kept my feelings to myself. I went to the guestroom I always stay at during my visit and cried for about ten minutes. Oddly enough I started singing to myself the PCD song "I Hate This Part". Particularly I was singing "I gotta do it. I gotta do it. I gotta do it. I hate this part." Oddly enough again those particular lines were appropriate for my situation.

I was feeling emboldened enough after I wiped my tears and cleared my eyes out to tell my parents during breakfast. So fast forward to breakfast time sitting with my parents and I started feeling queasy. I just couldn't say the words. Same thing happened throughout the day.

So I left without saying anything. But soon as I got home, I wrote a letter. It goes like this...

Dear Mom and Dad,

I'm gay. It's something I've come to terms with a few years ago. I wanted to tell the truth Mom when you've asked me but at the time I wasn't ready to make it official. It took me a while to accept it myself. I realize though that my being gay is just a small part of who I am.

I've had those feelings most of my childhood. It had nothing to do with how I was raised. I truly believe my being gay was something I was born with.

You both were (and still are) very good parents. You taught me a lot of positive values that gave me the tools needed to get through life and be the positive member of society that I am today.

I truly wish I had the courage to tell you this news face to face. There were several times I wanted to say something but the words never came out.

One of my biggest fears was that I would lose your love if I told you. The thought of you not loving me anymore really hurt and kept me from sharing.

At the same time I know there is rampant speculation on why I'm not married yet and why I haven't started a family. As I get older, I realize the speculation will only increase.

A part of me needs to come out just so I can end the speculation. Its one thing when people outside of my immediate family (coworkers, church members, for example) wonders about you. Honestly I could care less what they think. But I do care about you both and I don't want to keep you in the dark about this anymore. The only way I found that worked for me was to write this letter.

Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag "officially", know that I will always love you. I know finding out about me this way may be a bit of a hard pill to swallow. If you want to ask me about anything, I'm hoping this letter helps to reopen the lines of communication.

I love you both.

E

So that's the letter. I just need to drop it in the mail or leave it behind the next time I visit, which will be in a couple days.

Labor For Love

I was supposed to be home in Detroit for the holiday weekend. A combination of work and laziness kept me from going home. But not to worry I plan on going home next weekend. I took Friday and Monday off work to do so. I could hear in my Dad's voice his disappointment when I told him I wasn't coming. I still am amazed even years later on how much mellow my Dad's become as he's gotten older.

Parents have their own way of making their kids feel guilty. At least my parents have that effect on me. But I do love my parents so I'll definitely pay a visit.

So Hemingway I spent most of my weekend playing email, phone, and text tag with this hottie I chatted with on one of my social network sites. This past Friday was the first time I chatted with him. He had a nude picture of his nicely sculpted torso (minus his face) and his erect peewee. When I sent him a message complimenting his bod, I honestly didn't expect a response. But we exchanged emails and eventually traded numbers. He actually invited me to hang out with his friends at a bar. I declined since I was having one of my "ant-e-social" moments (at least in real life, not online). I made the suggestion that we go out bowling (hee...the irony) on Saturday. I suggested 1 PM but HotRod had a feeling he'd be hanging out real late and opted for 4PM. He said he'd call Saturday.

So Saturday comes and I don't get a call by afternoon. I decided to call him around 2pm but he sounded horrible. He told me that he stayed out till 5:30AM. Not only that but he was suffering from a huge hangover after downing several vodka and juice drinks. HotRod felt he'd be himself if we hung out early evening instead. I was skeptical but I went along with it.

Around 7:45 I got tired of waiting so I texted him and said I was making dinner for myself. He stated he was still lying in bed and didn't feel good. We texted back and forth for a bit and then we said our goodbyes for the day.

So yesterday (09/06) afternoon against my better sense I called HotRod. I got his voicemail. Twenty minutes later he sent me a text. We chatted back and forth and he apoligized for Saturday. I apologized for Friday. So I asked if he wanted to meet and he agreed to do so. We decided to meet around 4:30 for bowling and dinner.

HotRod truly was a hot rod, hence my nickname for him. He wore some form fitting blue jeans and a baseball shirt that complimented his upper body well. At 30 years old and 190 pounds, he's younger than the guys I've typically dated. He's also of Polish descent and I enjoyed hearing his accent.

He mentioned that he was a cop (and yeah he has cuffs for if we get naughty...*LOL*) so it surprised me to hear another accent coming out. It was the so-called "gay" accent. However it's a battle between his polish and gay accent with nice results. He also had a bit of a walk to him. However I was so attracted to him that I honestly didn't care.

I couldn't stop looking at him whenever it was his turn to bowl. His clothes definitely highlighted his muscular physique and I had images of his naked body in my head. We bowled a total of 4 games.

We had agreed to go to dinner afterward but it was nice knowing that neither one of us were anxious to end the date early. He got in my car and we drove to a Chinese restaurant fifteen minutes away.

Dinner was really nice and we got to know a few things more about each other. He's a Scorpio (my ex Rock is also one) so that may be interesting...again. Similar to my friend Eugene, he says what's on his mind and it doesn't matter at the time if he's hurting that person's feelings. He says in that regard that he's honest to a fault. If it's something that he truly feels, he will let it out. As I've mentioned in relation to Eugene, that's a double edge sword for me. On the one hand it's better to hear the truth but there are times when the truth can't be handled. During those times I can't handle the truth, I would get pissy but then it would force me to think. Ultimately it is better to be straightforward than to tell half-truths. It's something that I'm working to do more of.

His last relationship also lasted for two years, similar to mine. I didn't ask why it ended. I'll save that for another time.

Before I knew it dinner was over. I drove us back to the bowling alley and back to his car. We both expressed how much we enjoyed the date. There was this awkward moment where we weren't sure what the other person wanted to do. I really wanted to kiss HotRod and was trying to do all kind of nonverbal (yeah yeah yeah...straightforward honest, right ....*LOL*) actions to express that. I'm not sure if HotRod even noticed those but he leaned over towards me and I leaned to him and we exchanged an electric kiss.

It was a really nice end to a great date. I haven't had a date where things didn't end after a make out session at someone's place. It felt like a hetero date in a way. If we stay true to the hetero pattern, our third date should be the 'sex date'. Woo hoo!

The best thing about his kiss. I didn't taste any cigarette breath like I did with Colin. Digressing from HotRod for a few sentences (okay probably a paragraph or two...*LOL*)

Speaking of Colin, it appears he's officially written me off. The last correspondence I had with Colin was an email telling me his phone had been stolen from the gym. It just so happened that around that time he was also heading out to Vegas with some friends. He wanted me to give him my number so that he can add me back. I gave it to him but I haven't heard a peep from him. It's almost a month now since that email. I know he's alive because I see him logged on my social network site all the time.

I'm sure his friends (who all smoke) probably reminded him that I wasn't a big fan of the smoking. I really harped on it a few times and I'm sure they mentioned that if things were going anywhere, that would be an issue. Not to mention the distance thing would be major. I kinda wish Colin and I had a frank conversation about our feelings instead of avoiding the issue. But it's just as well.

Back to HotRod, so you know I called Eugene after our date was over to spill the tea. While Eugene and I were chatting, HotRod sent me a text telling me that I was very handsome. I told him he was a stud. While talking to Eugene, I was texting back and forth with HotRod. So we'll see where this one goes.

I also shared my date news with Sally who has some potential great news of her own. Let's just say she's been hunting for a job related to her field for almost two years now and it's possible that the search may soon be over. She's been in talks with a manager of a government contract firm in Virginia. Yeah my #1 girl may be soon leaving Chicago. I'm sad by the possibility but at the same time the Virgina/DC/Maryland area is where she wants to be. Plus I can always visit her. She also reconnected with an old love that lives in the area and things seem to be really taking off there. So it's almost like work and love may be converging for Sally. Please pray for her that she gets this blessing.

Back to me....Incidentally I have another date planned later in the week with another guy (in another state...Missouri so at least it's closer than Massaschusetts). I could hear the groans already...*LOL*. I'll share that story another time.

E-Cast

I thought since it's been a minute, I should recap all the cast of folks that have come and gone in my life and made impacts, whether positive or negative. These are folks that I've blogged about in the past and may blog about in the future. So Hemingway without further adieu, let's start with...

I M M E D I A T E
F A M I L Y

Mom and Dad - They're pretty self-explanatory. I was blessed to be raised by both and even though times weren't ever easy, I wouldn't trade my parents for the world. Well except maybe my Mom for Big Dee....*LOL*. Just joking.

Tasha - My older sister by one year and four months. She beats to the beat of her own drum, which sometimes takes a bit of time to figure out. But her off beat personality makes her unique and I'll always love her.

Trina - My younger sister by six years. She's the social butterfly of the family. Her street cred personality sometimes clashes with my "bougie" side but we love one another and will no doubt watch out for each other.

F R I E N D S

Sally - She's my closest ally in the world and my #1 fag hag (sorry Reesie...*LOL*). We've known each other for almost 15 years and I have no doubt we have each other's back. Even though we live an hour apart, we keep in touch constantly.

No_The_Game - Since the day I met her at Caribou Coffee over three years ago, she's been a constant presence in my life. I enjoy hearing her unique insights on relationships and have met some of her close friends, which has been a cool experience.

Eugene - Eugene's my ace-in-the-hole, homie, ace boon coon. Since the fateful day I met him on A4A, he's always willing to toss his two cents on various issues in my life, even if I don't ask for it. He's a true kid at heart down to his crazy practical jokes, which one day I plan to get even with him on. I may have a potential ally to help me there...*LOL*.

Doug, Rick, and Keith - Those three are my college buddies from way back. Even though we all don't keep in touch as much as we should, whenever one of us is in need, one or all of us pulls together to help out. And actually Doug and I have gotten closer since I shared the gayer side of E. I look forward to visiting Doug at some point in the future.

Stan - I met him at my job when I first moved to Chicago. He's a good natured guy married with two kids who is my go-to person for real estate queries.

W O R K
A C Q U A I N T A N C E S

Ling - She's my crazy Asian co-worker without the filter. Lately she's been taming her tongue and we're in different groups now. The layoffs that our company's being having lately have likely calmed her a bit.

Dan - As Ling becomes calmer, Dan's become more cut throat. My new boss has told me that he's bad mouthed me to her in the past and he's become less trustworthy. He's one that I definetly have to watch out for.

SLAB - The funny acronym I gave my former Slightly Less Annoying Boss. He's moved on to bigger better things in the company

Fussy - He's my crazy business user who I continue to support. He can be demanding but one thing I do like about him is that he knows his shit.

Happy - Happy continues to be the happy-go-lucky guy of the group. He was actually one of the first ones to tell me not to trust Dan years before I realized Dan's two-faced personality. His instincts were definitely on the mark. He's currently on medical leave after having surgery on a defective heart valve. He's doing well and hopefully will be back in the office sometime in July.

Smooth - Smooth is the Billy Dee Williams cat daddy that I befriended years back. He was a victim of our last round of layoffs but he's doing it for himself as a consultant of his own firm he's trying to get off the ground.

Reid - He's my crazy former bowling buddy who was also a victim of our last round of layoffs. But he was recently rehired back in the company for a smaller salary (a trend that a lot of companies seem to be doing these days).

Deidre - My ditsy greek former teammate. She's over in a different part of the company and is adjusting to life as a mother and wife. Every now and then we keep in touch via work email to see what the latest happenings are.

M E N S E S

(Preface: I've had a lot of menses that I blogged about over the years so I won't list them all....just a few that were somewhat significant in one way or another.)

Vince - The only reason why I'm listing this jerk is because he was the first guy I've blogged about. He was my "coming out" guy to the blogworld. I've no idea what he's doing these days and I don't care.

Chad - He was the crazy 20-something that I had a date or two before finally kicking to the curb. He had issues up to the wazoo. Despite our rough going, I actually hope things are okay for him and hopefully he's matured a bit by now.

Rock - What can I say? He was my first real boyfriend. We had a lot of good times and a lot of bad times. I've learned so much from my two years dating him. We fell out of touch recently but I will always wish him well.

Midas - He was the guy that introduced me to my wild side sexually. One thing I didn't mention about him (not that it matters...guess that's why I didn't mention it) is that he's caucasian. As much as Midas satisfied me sexually, I unfortunately knew that he ultimately wouldn't give me what I desire....a monogamous relationship.

And introducing....Colin - You may be hearing a little bit more about him. He potentially could be my new boyfriend. I met him while visiting Eugene in Boston during Memorial weekend. Meeting Colin was the most random thing too. He caught me viewing his profile and basically he asked me if I was visiting the Boston area that weekend, which I was. We met and hit it off and have been chatting daily since. I actually am planning another trip to Boston in a couple weeks to meet him exclusively. I may be able to sneak a lunch or dinner with Eugene....*LOL*.


So there you have it....the cast of characters that have impacted E in one way or another in the real world. No doubt you'll hear more about them and future characters as I continue to blog. PEACE!

What's Up E?

Oh my gosh. I have been so bad in keeping up with my blogging and blogs. I just haven't felt like typing much with everything still being insane at the job. I think I'll pull a Norris and just provide a list of random events or things that have caught my attention in the last month. I reserve the right to ramble on a few.

1) I've been enjoying Season 1 of Dexter on DVD. The title character is a Miami blood forensics expert who moonlights as a serial killer with a twist. He's a killer of other serial killers. I admit it's an interesting dynamic since taking a human life is wrong but at the same time he's taking the lives of those who takes other lives and slip through the system. Plus it's so cool seeing Lauren Velez in another television series. I still have fond memories of her from her New York Undercover days. That's really old school. I also keep hoping Erik King takes off his shirt one day and preferably just wearing briefs. Tight briefs. That brotha is so fine.

2) Has anyone heard of the ROM machine? It claims that you can get a workout the equivalent of 45 minutes on the treadmill in just 4 minutes. I read an AD on the machine in Popular Mechanics, though I vaguely remember seeing the same AD a year ago in another magazine. If you click on the website, they'll send you a free 45 minute DVD or VHS tape on their machine. By the way, it only costs $14,615. They try to justify the cost when compared to long-term gym membership costs and time commitment required. I ordered the DVD, though I probably won't be buying a machine anytime soon. At least not with the way the economy is right now.

3) I went to see Janet Jackson in concert this past Thursday with Sally. Sally was using the concert as a last hurrah of sorts in light of her present financial situation. The concert was the bomb. The majority of the songs played was from her previous albums with a brief snippet of her recent song Feedback. I ran into Rock's bff Ned and his boyfriend NDrama in the hallway while Sally was in the restroom. Of course they got seats near the stage but I wasn't complaining about my lower level seat, which actually gave a very good view of the stage. LL Cool J was her opening act. I was hoping to see a little skin from LL but he kept his shirt on. Overall it was a great concert....now getting out of the parking lot, that was another story.

4) I so need to get ready for my Hawaiian trip. I totally need to contact fellow blogger NeenaLove to find out when we can hang out. Part of me hopes she can hang out with me during a luau, even though that's so touristy. And I need to buy a Spacebag to see if those things really do hold more items in less space. I think I've talked about it before.

5) Any other kefir lovers out there? A co-worker of mine turned me on to the drink a year or so back. I remembered liking it that initial time but not really thinking much of it afterwards. So Hemingway in my continued quest to eat healthier (even though some days that falls to the wayside...*LOL*), I read up on kefir and recalled drinking it before. The main benefit is that it provides good bacteria to your digestive tract, which helps improves digestion. It also helps in absorbing the necessary nutrients that your body needs. Plus it tastes so good. I've been drinking a glass every morning.

6) My one-year anniversary of owning my Nissan Altima is coming up. I still enjoy driving it as much as the day I took it from the lot. I want to get it professionally cleaned soon. I saw the immediate benefits of doing so when cleaning up the Cavalier before giving it to my father and figured an annual cleaning wouldn't be so bad. Of course when I told my bff Eugene about doing that, he had to counter with why I don't do the same thing for my house. I should but sigh...*LOL*.

7) I'm looking forward to the newest Saw movie coming out this Halloween. It seems to be an annual tradition now for those to come out. My only question is why is Lyriq Bent, the fine ass brotha that was in Saw 2, 3, and 4 (especially his prominent role in 4), not listed in the credits for 5? Hopefully he makes a cameo appearance and they are just hiding his name from the credits. After my fiasco last year with trying to see Saw IV with Eugene and the subsequent issues I had with Rock, I think this year I'll opt again for seeing it on my own (like I wound up doing anyway). Besides it's coming out the day after I get back from Hawaii.

8) I went to Detroit last weekend for Tasha's housewarming. I wound up getting her some Partylite candles and holders for her gift. I got to see a few of her friends and co-workers and it was interesting hearing how one of them said that Tasha talks about me all the time. A good interesting, of course. I must admit I was flattered. I got to see Trina as well when she came over after work. Of course I spent the rest of the weekend with the 'rents (heh). Their cats had a bad case of fleas when I was in town last time but luckily the population is under control now.

9) What a mess this country finds itself in. With all this talk of the government bailing out Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and even the auto industry wanting to weigh in on getting help, my question is who's going to bail American out? I was wrapping up my workout (which I so needed) at work and making my way home when the first presidential debate was airing. Luckily I was able to catch a transcript of the debate from CNN's website. It was a shame I missed the historical debate between the two as from the way it read, it sounded really intense. I'm sure it'll be on Youtube soon. But I really looking forward to next week's vice presidential debate with Palin vs. Biden.

There was an interesting article from Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker where in the last few sentences she says in regards to Palin: "McCain can’t repudiate his choice for running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP’s unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Barack Obama faces the same problem with Biden.

Only Palin can save McCain, her party and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.

Do it for your country." I wonder if that'll be bought up in the debate.

10) I can't think of a point 10....but thought I should have 10 points to make things even. (Although it looks like based on the labels assigned for this post, I've covered almost every category.)

Sag Drag

I've always cracked up whenever shopping with my Mom at Sears and seeing a huge line of clothes with the label Sag Harbor. Apparently that label sells a lot of apparel. But with the stigma of having saggy breasts, I'm surprised they sell as much as they do with such a name. Sag Harbor's been around for a while, though, so I guess women are able to look past the corny name.

Hemingway having a sag may be a thing of the past in the Chicago suburb of Lynwood. The village of Lynwood passed an ordinance fining folks who show three inches or more of their underwear in public $25.

The ordinance has already caused controversy. The ACLU says it unfairly targets young men of color.

I don't know if that's necesarily true. I've seen plenty of young white men with their draws sticking out. I never understood the appeal but then again I'm 35 going on 36.

I read the news this morning and thought it was an interesting topic. Does this law infringe upon basic rights? Does passing this law put Lynwood one step closer to passing another ordinance telling folks what they actually have to wear?

Hey, It's Me...Remember Me?

*LOL*...Eugene used to utter those words to me whenever I overextended myself to certain people. There were times when every time I see someone, I felt compelled to say hi, even if the other person could care less to be bothered. Hemingway...

Miss me? Anyone even notice I was gone. That's me....Mr. Cellophane. Mr. Cellophane. Shoulda been my name. Mr. Cellophane. Cause you can look right through me. Walk right by me...and never know I'm there. Hmm...I could so be The Mole. Like I think Clay Cauley is. He's so under the radar. I so could do that. I bet he's the Mole. Hopefully the fools at ABC won't yank it off the air before I find out if I'm right. Unfortunately the ratings haven't been all that great for the show. Though I'm not sure what idiot thought it was smart to put the show at 10PM EST on a Monday after the dreck that's currently called The Bachelor(ette).

I didn't think The Mole would ever see the light of day after the bastards at ABC canned it four years back. But thanks to the uncertain writer's strike and some behind the scenes magic, The Mole has managed to make its way back to TV. Needless to say I've been really happy to see it since I still think The Mole's the best reality TV show out there.

Rock has a thing for the new host Jon Kelley. He says that he's his "one allowance" if he had to step out of the relationship. Personally he doesn't do anything for me. Then again my current "one allowance" is Terry Crews, a guy on a totally different spectrum. I saw Crews on White Chicks this past weekend and damn was he exuding sexuality.

Speaking of relationships, Rock and I are having a bit of a rough spot. Same issues keep creeping back in. Control issues primarily. I don't feel like talking about it anymore. The relationship's limping along but I feel like we're both dancing around ultimately calling it quits. It's like that classic Gladys Knight song 'Neither One Of Us'. We'll see.

In happier news, Tasha mentioned that she's in the market for a new home. I was so happy when she told me the news. I know the biggest reason my parents have held on to the old house we grew up in was due to Tasha still living there. The neighborhood they are in is unfortunately on its last legs. Drug dealers are on the block selling their poison a few houses down and the police aren't doing a damn thing about it. I'd swear the police are in on it. It's a bit of a sham actually since it'll only be a matter of time before the 'white folks' start moving back into the city. But basically they want the remaining folks on the block to kill each other or move out. Besides being a homeowner will give Tasha a good taste of independence and responsibility that she needs. The market is definitely in her favor as there's a lot of homeowners desperate to unload their homes. So she could be closing on a house before the end of the month.

Speaking of which, I found myself visiting Detroit two weekends in a row. Originally I was planning to take week off from work but due to work being a mother (don't even want to talk about that...*LOL*), I was only able to take a couple days here and there. The first weekend I was in Detroit, I primarily came to watch Tasha take part in Race For The Cure. I didn't get to see her walk but I met her at the end of the route. She later treated me to dinner at Famous Dave's.

The following weekend I went to Detroit primarily for my parents. My sisters and I helped my folks celebrate their wedding anniversary. To find out what we did to celebrate, look for all the letters in my entry that are highlighted in red and put them together.

Hemingway till next time.

Mama Love

My Mother - author John Irving Pearce Jr.

The surest love, the safest love
The love that never lies ;
The purest love, the gravest love
The love that never dies.

All these and more is Mother-Love
That beams from holy eyes ;
There is no love that's half the love
That Mother-Love implies.

I went home this past weekend to visit my folks for Mother's Day. In the basement of their house hanging on the wall was a simple frame with this poem. It summed up pretty nicely why I love my Mom so much.

I have so many memories of my Mom and her showing me her love. She was always the one that was there to protect me. I remember once when I was young, peeing on myself at K-Mart. Umm that was a different retailer from the one I mentioned before. Geesh I guess I really did have trouble keeping my bodily fluids to myself. Hemingway. My Dad was mad at me for my actions and threatened to leave me behind. My Mom immediately jumped in and said if he left me, then she would stay behind as well. (Of course I know my Dad wouldn't have left me.) There was another memory where younger sis Trina and I were scrapping for money to buy a Nintendo game at the counter and my Mom was there scrapping a few dollars as well. It was a bit of a cute scene in my mind. Every first Friday of the month, our school let us off for a half-day. Since my Dad needed to be at work, on those days my Mom would meet us and we'd walk home or catch the bus from school (of course after we did some window shopping). That doesn't even count all the times she's cleaned, cooked, and took care of the household.

That's why I always try to take care of my Mom when I visit. I usually go to the store and buy a lot of different fruit that I know she likes. I usually take her shopping and am always trying to chip in to give her cash, even though she usually refuses.

She's done so much for me. I wish I could do more for her so I try to do what I can when I see her. I don't need a holiday to tell me that I love my Mom but it's nice to have one anyway. I love you Mama.

Special People

Special - Gary Taylor (duet with Bridgette Bryant)

[Verse 1 - Gary]
I would like to take a minute of your time just to let you know
How your thoughtfulness, and tender ways
caused my love to grow

And in the evening when I settle down
I have more than just my peace of mind
Knowing you're around

[Chorus]
You’re special – so very special
You're a special part of my life

[Verse 2 - Bridgette]
Can’t explain the feeling that I get when you touch my hand
Cause the love that flows from you to me
Is more than I can stand

And like it’s been said many times before
With everyday that passes by – I’m loving you
more and more and more

[Chorus 2]
You’re special – so very special
You’re a special part of my life
So very special - you're a special part of my life


[Bridge]
Even if the time should come where we should be apart
It won’t bother me – cause you’re right here in my heart
Here’s hoping that the moments shared will always be enough
I know it will - as long as there's love

[Verse 3 - Bridgette and Gary]
I don’t need to know all the answers we’re yet to find
I only want to live for the love you placed on my mind

And like it’s been said so many times before
With everyday that passes by – I’m loving you more and more

[Repeat Chorus 2]

[Bridge 2]
Never had a love so right
gonna love you for the rest of my life - you are -so special

I just want to let you know
you caused my love to grow - you are - so special

I remember when I first heard this song being so excited to hear something new from Gary Taylor. I first heard of Gary in 1992 while listening to a late night radio show. I was in the middle of my Junior year in college still living at home with my parents. The DJ (who I've long forgotten about) played a lot of Gary Taylor's music even though his stuff wasn't considered mainstream. I remembered enjoying listening to Gary early singles and it took me almost a year before I found his album Square One in a local store.

I've blogged about Gary a few times on my blog, the first time doing so when I wasn't as popular of a read. Over the years he released eight albums, most of them via his own independent label Morning Crew records.

So Hemingway I was in the mood to listen to some of Gary's music on the way to work today. I popped in his One Day At A Time CD and listened repeatedly to Special (among other tunes).
Special is the song that I would want to be "our song" if I ever have a civil ceremony.

Of course the song got me thinking of the "special" folks that are in my life. Relationship wise, top on my list is Rock. He and I have had a few challenges over our almost 16-month courtship. We're still working through a few of those. Things were made even more challenging with Rock's close cousin passing away February 12th. Rock's been extra moody and distant, which I guess is understandable. It has taken its toll on the relationship but I'm doing my best to be patient.

I've actually focused on trying to befriend a few more guys on that site. Believe it or not, I've actually met a few cool guys who know that I'm not looking for anything beyond friendship with them, though I admit to being tempted by one...well his pics....*LOL*. I've hung out with one of them a few times already and a second one last weekend. The temptation one forwarded me his resume so I could pass to my job (even though folks have been laid off left and right).

Rock and I haven't seen each other in three weeks. We're planning on hanging out tomorrow and part of Sunday. Rock says he wants to do whatever I want to do. But we'll see. Historically depending on what that something is, he's put up quite the resistance.

I just don't know what his state of mind will be like. Like I said, we haven't seen each other in weeks. The death of his cousin has really rocked him to the core and he hasn't dealt very well with the death. Even prior to that, we also haven't had sex since early January. Even though Rock's assured me that it's just his appetite for sex hasn't been there, I do know he's mentioned liking to be topped and I haven't been able to meet that need. I can't help but wonder if eventually he may meet that need elsewhere. Lord knows the lack of sex has contributed to me feeling tempted at times.

I'm hoping for the best this weekend when we hang out. I rented Why Did I Get Married a few weeks back and hopefully we'll watch it at some point in the weekend. We did want to watch it together since he sees himself as Angela (obviously...*LOL*) and I see myself as a cross between "Patty Perfect" and Sheila. So I think that's one aspect of my plans that won't get vetoed....*LOL*.

In addition to Rock, the other special guy in my life is Eugene. And yeah he's definitely a special case at times. But he definitely has a good heart and has been quite the confidant over the three years we've known each other. He so wants to come back to Chicago so we can go back to Jackhammer's again. I told him he'll have to rent a car so that if he wants to partake in extracurricular activities, I won't stand in his way. I'm a cockblocker reformed...*LOL*.

Even though I'm not as close to my family as I like to be, they're also special to me as well. They've been a part of my life for almost 36 years now. My experiences growing up with them shaped me into the man I am today. I would do anything I could to make their lives easier. In fact, when I come to town next time, I plan of bringing my parents some Hemp seeds (which are supposedly quite beneficial and expensive). The Hemp seeds are said to even help delay Parkinson's Disease symptoms. I've ordered some seeds online and have enjoyed the taste so I'm hoping my parents enjoy them also.

I can't forget Sally and No_The_Game. Sally I've known for over 13 years and we've been there through our ups and downs of life. The greatest moment of course coming when I finally shared a big part of my life with her. No_The_Game, better known on YouTube as Grafinia, has been a great confidant as well. She's my international ambassador and has opened up my world to new possibilities I didn't think I'd ever be part of.

And I can't forget all my fellow bloggers. Actually I'm planning on attending the "Blogging Without Borders" family reunion this coming April sponsored by Mr. Jones and Mr Darius. That should definitely be fun.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and take the time to remember all the special people in your life.

P.S....Thank goodness for YouTube. Here's some videos featuring the talented Gary Taylor, the main inspiration behind getting my lazy ass to blog today.

Blind To It All


Love Dance


Hold Me Accountable

Bottom of the 07

I've been a bit lazy lately. But while I have a bit of energy, I thought I'd post an update on my holiday adventures.

Like I've done previous years, I've decided to Amtrak it. On the date of my departure, a derailment of several cars of a freight train occurred. The cars contained various UPS packages that had to be retrieved and rerouted. This caused a delay, of course, and Amtrak scrambled to get a bus to transfer passengers to the next Amtrak stop in Michigan City, Indiana.

On the bright side, I managed to have a row to myself both on the bus and on the remaining train trip. I wound up arriving in Detroit about three hours late.

Overall the visit was good. I didn't venture far from home except for either going to Church (both Sunday and Christmas day) or running errands with my parents.

I had my younger sister Trina's name for Secret Santa and I gave her a new Pulsar watch as well as some fashions from Venus's new line at Steve & Barry's. My Dad had my name and I was pleasantly surprised to get a gift from him instead of cash. He got me a Charging Station Organizer that basically is a central location that you can charge all your electronic tools.

For my godmother, I chose the sentimental gift approach. I found an old picture of us together and decided to blow it up and put it on a frame. To cap it off, I also gave her a Target gift card.

Trina shocked us all by bringing food over. She cooked chitterlings and aside from burning them a bit, they weren't half bad. I guess her guy is making a domestic out of her yet.

I returned to Chicago late Wednesday night and decided to take the rest of the week off from work. Eugene was planning on hanging out with me Friday and today. But his plans changed when an old friend of his mentioned being in Chicago for a brother's wedding. So we're just hanging out Saturday afternoon, assuming he doesn't blow me off again. Yeah I was a tad pissed. But I'm over it pretty much.

My plans for New Year's Eve is similar to last year's. Rock and I will exchange belated Christmas gifts and will simply enjoy each other's company. I'm still amazed (for me) that I've spent the entire 2007 with one guy.

Hemingway I hope everyone that reads my blog had a great holiday.

Together Again

Together Again - Janet Jackson

[Intro]
There are times when I look above and beyond
There are times when I feel your love around me baby
I'll never forget ma' baby
(I'll never forget you)

[Verse 1]
There are times when I look above and beyond
There are times when I feel your love around me baby
I'll never forget ma' baby

When I feel that I don't belong
Draw my strength from the words that you said
Hey, it's about you baby
Look deeper instead you baby

Dream about us together again
When I want us together again baby
I know we'll be together again 'cause

[Chorus]
Everywhere I go
Everywhere I see
I know you are there
Smilin' back at me

Dancin' in moonlight
I know you are free
'Cuz I see your star
Shining down at me

(Together again, ooh)
Good time we'll share again
(Together again, ooh)
That makes me wanna dance

(Together again, ooh)
Say it loud and proud
(Together again, ooh)
All my love's for you

[Verse 2]
Always been a true angel to me
Now above, I can't wait for you
To wrap your wings around me baby
Wrap them around me baby

Sometimes hear you whispering
No more pain
No worries will you ever see now baby
I'm so happy for ma baby

I dream about us together again
When I want us together again baby
I know we'll be together again 'cause

[Repeat Chorus]

I'm together again. I always loved this song when it came out. The inspiration for this song came from a friend of Janet's who died from AIDS. The up-tempo song became a dance anthem of sorts for speaking out about AIDS. It seemed a fitting title for today's entry since December 1st is World AIDS Day and I'm finally together again.

Eugene inadvertently admitted to crying when watching on demand this movie called 'The Cure' last night. The movie no doubt was available in anticipation of World AIDS Day. The story is about a friendship that blossomed between two young boys, one of whom got the AIDS virus from a blood transfusion. The other boy in the equation was caught up in an abusive relationship with his mother. I may have to rent this one day as well.

It's just so sad seeing the devastation AIDS has caused for many. Even though AIDS is labeled as a gay disease, it can happen to both gay and straight folks. I really hope a cure is found soon, though the conspiracy theorist in me don't see the manufacturers of the current "treatments" for AIDS giving up their milk cow. That's the big problem with medicine. It always a masker of symptoms but never a cure. But that's another debate.

Hemingway my holiday was pretty cool. Sally and I decided to drive together to Detroit. It was my first time driving to Detroit in my brand new baby Altima. She's been a bit down after being unfairly fired from her recent job. In a nutshell, her boss unfortunately was quite the asshole and she was finding it increasingly difficult to work with him. She mentioned how other folks in the company were afraid of him and would come to her instead for different issues encountered. But she wouldn't kiss his butt or tell him how great he was, which would irk him. But that's enough about that.

My time in Detroit itself was pretty mundane. It was actually cool Thanksgiving night, though, since the entire family was together again for dinner. We haven't had that for a while, mainly cause Trina usually wouldn't visit until later in the evening. But her last few visits have been without her guy. I'm wondering if there's trouble in paradise there. But Hemingway she even bought her new cat over to interact with the other cats. That went really well as you can imagine...*LOL*.

The rest of the weekend I did my usual running errands with my parents deal. Both of them enjoyed riding in my Altima.

Before leaving for Chicago, Trina came over for a bit and we all decided to do Secret Santa again. This time I wound up picking Trina's name. It seemed fitting that I got her name this time considering I came out to her last visit. So I'll have to think of something good to get her.

So today I'm heading over to Rock's place to help him put together his Christmas tree. It's actually my second time helping him with the tree. One of my first visits (if not my first visit) involved helping him with the tree. He's a bit under the weather so he's a bit moody but otherwise it should be fun. I even bought some Sesame Street character ornaments to put on his tree. Sadly I found the Ernie ornament but couldn't find Bert. You know to complete the set...:-)

The weather is supposed to be sucky later today so I'll defiintely have to leave a little earlier to avoid the brunt of the storm. Bah....I hate winter. *LOL*.

On a happier note, let's end this entry the way it started.