Playing Tyler's Game and Going South

Sorry Tyler it has taken me so long to get around to this game of yours and I do enjoy them, I’m even thinking of doing the questionnaire also, I know a big step for me :) Tyler is one an active blogger who most of you know I’m sure but if not give his blog a look he posts almost daily. I do have to warn you he is not America’s biggest fan though :). But what he does do is promote this sense of community that we have here and I like to support his efforts on that so thank you Tyler for inviting me to play.

I would also like to say thanks to my three new followers. Wat so Ever from Australia who writes Chosen Life Foreva, Nelson G. whose blog NG2 is closed but I would be glad to read it from time to time if you ever choose to invite me, and Dave who writes derelict . I thank you all.

I would also like to say hi to Aaron a fairly new blogger from Australia and he writes A Beautiful Chaos so give him a look and a few comments if you have the time. I have had the pleasure of chatting with him a few times already but i have to warn you he has one of those aussie accents.

Many may remember his questions But here they are again:

1) Where are you from? (you can choose to answer with your country, state/province, or city)

I'm from outside of Boston and the city always looks good at night

2) What' your favourite food? Pretty much got to be steak and a Ribeye or T-Bone is always nice

3) What's your favourite drink? By far coffee and mostly from Dunkin Donuts

4) What's your ideal/favourite (future) job/career? The ideal job in the world has to be being a judge, i mean they answer to hardly no one.

5) What's your favourite thing about yourself? Probably that i have a good education to fail back on which helps me make a living.

6) What's the place you most want to visit? Well without going back to any of the wonderful places and countries I have been too, I guess this little place i have come to learn a little about, it seems to be about one of the most photographic places in the world.

7) What's your favourite body feature on someone else? Eyes i really like nice eyes

8) What's your favourite Movie? In the mid 70s when Animal House came out I thought it hilarious and i still do.

9) What's your favourite TV show? Right now probably FlashForward the new ABC show.

10) Choose one word that best describes you/ This was easy.

11) What time period would you most like to have lived in? The one which has yet to come.

12) What's the next thing you're (probably...) going to purchase? A movie someone recommended next week when I'm on vacation.

I need some time off so I'm going south to Florida. Hoping to have a nice lunch tomorrow with a couple of friends. I'm going to drive the 1500 miles to Dad's house over a couple of days. I really like the drive. I will stop along the way and meet some friends. Dad's getting a bit older and i like to check in on him a few times a year and OK he does live in Florida where its warm. It snowed here last weekend so winter is upon us.

Work just goes on, although suffered a but of a loss the other day. I hate losing it just leaves you feeling sickened. I don't even like the idea of an appeal.

For all those who are feeling ill I wish you a healthy recovery and a hearty thank you for all those helping to care for sick friends or family members. I am hoping to catch up a bit on my readings and make some comments to all you hard writing bloggers. Its been about a year since I started reading the blogs and i do think you all have helped me a bit.

Thanks for reading and take care and be safe my friends

Cvn70

“Baby boy, I’m so sorry this happened to you”

They had spotted him in the bar alone, he was a diminutive figure apparently appearing feminine as Matthew Shepard was only 5’2” and just over 100 lbs (1.575 m. & 46.266 kg). His killers discussed their mark, plotted together; then they approached Matthew befriending him. It was reported they led Matthew to believe they shared his views on the gay movement while alluding to Matthew they were also gay.

“Showers of your crimson blood Seep into a nation calling up a flood Of narrow minds who legislate Thinly veiled intolerance Bigotry and hate But they tortured and burned you They beat you and they tied you They left you cold and breathing For love they crucified you Scarecrow crying Waiting to die wondering why Scarecrow trying Angels will hold carry your soul away” Scarecrow by Melissa Etheridge

Melissa, in her song Scarecrow, which is dedicated to Matthew tries to convey the incident and her disgust of the hate in this country towards the GLBT community. Most of us understand the concept of hate and what it can do to you. Whether you have faced it like AJCon89 did when he was attacked last year; like Joshua did when he came out in his little town in New Zealand or just feared that somehow you would be confronted by it, like so many others of you have from some corner in your life, well today maybe the tide turns a little.

With a large march today in Washington supporting the HRC Initiatives and the passage of the Matthew Sheppard Act by our US Congress, things maybe looking up a bit. But today I ask you to remember Matthew Shepard who was severely beaten and died on October 12, 1998, after a brutal attack which was in part justified by Matthews' killers because Matthew was gay.

“The only white skin I saw (on his face) was where he had been crying.” Patrol Officer Reggie Fluty described in her report, she continued that when she found Matthew's body, his hands were bound behind his back so tightly to a buck fence that it was difficult to cut him free. She tried to cut the ropes from Matthew's hands and when she bent him over he stopped breathing so she turned him back over. “His hands were tied tight and I wanted to free him” she also noticed that he wore braces on his teeth and though his face was caked in blood, his face was clean where streaks of tears had washed the blood away. Fluty testified during the trial of Matthew's killer, that in trying to comfort Matthew while waiting for the ambulance she told him “Baby boy, I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

Tomorrow marks the eleventh year since Matthew left us. Just this last week the US Congress passed Matthew Sheppard Act which would broaden the definition of a hate crime to include those committed because of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability to our existing laws. Matthew’s attack and the lack of protection afforded us, in part, spurred the passage of this amendment to the law. Now it’s up to President Obama to sign it into law. Obama has come up short on many issues he campaigned on and this is his first big test where he can make a difference. Sure many may point to New Zealand’s new American ambassador who is gay as an example of Obama's support but to date its been more talk than action.

I can't imagine what occurred or what Matthew was feeling during the ride and beatings, but at some point while sitting between the by two individuals who knew Matthew was gay the robbery began and then it turned to deadly. Soon after getting into the car with his killers they informed him " We’re not gay and you’re getting jacked,’ " they began striking Matthew over the head with a .357-Magnum pistol. After stopping in a deserted field Matthew's killers made him get out of the truck. He was tied to a fence post and left to die. His killers got $20.00 and a pair of shoes in the robbery. Eighteen hours later Matthew's beaten and bloody body was discovered but it was too late.

Two people who felt so little for the life of another that in their defense of his actions, one tried to explain his hatred of gays and why he was justified in taking Matthew’s life; he claimed simply that he had negative experiences with gay people including being raped as a child by someone, so when he learned that Matthew was gay and coupled with he claimed that during their ride Matthew made advances on him which caused him to strike out against Matthew, so you can see that was simply Matthew’s crime and what justified his killing. Matthew's skull was so badly crushed that his brain stem was seriously damaged, meaning that vital functions including his heartbeat, breathing and temperature control were critically impaired, and doctors were unable to operate.

Matthew's parent have created the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Ms. Sheppard travels the country speaking out against the kind of hate which killed her son. It's worth a look to learn more about Matthew and his life. Matthew died for $20.00 so please be careful out there my friends; know who you get into cars with and don't go any where with folks you do not know.

Thanks for reading and I hope all is well with my readers, followers and commentators

Take care and be safe my friends and remember its getting better but its not a safe yet.

Cvn70

Happy Birthday, trips, meetings and friends

I like to say happy birthday to Shane tonight who writes I just want to be me and thanks for sharing a meal with me today. Shane might appreciate a little support right now as his room mate found a blog post on a memory stick and well Shane has feelings for his room mate so the result is things are a bit unsettled between them too right now.

I appreciate everyone who trusts me enough to actually meet and share some time with me. I have enjoyed getting to meet so many of you here on the blogs and look forward to meeting others, both on line and in real life. I was privileged to meet three people in California during my recent trip which I hope to post about soon in more detail with some pictures I took.

But in general I enjoyed a jet blue flight across the country; landed in San Francisco; rented a car. Drove down the Coast a couple of hours after being stuck in traffic between San Francisco and San Jose; arrived and met Jonathan who writes Gentleman's Romance; went to an aquarium where I saw some penguins, tuna and otters among other things; next day I drove south and met James who writes Just me; had a nice meal and took a walk downtown and enjoyed a cigar; overheard at dinner during my trip in response to bar waitresses inquiry as to if we desired another drink – no thanks if I have another I might hit on the waiter :) ( I hadn't heard that dinner before it was a first for me :P);

Drove north again and enjoyed some time with Jonathan again; the next day I drove south; went through a grapevine and saw some ducks and sharks; met Landyn who writes Stuck In The Middle and is the first blogger I ever emailed and met here; next day drove back to San Francisco and flew home

In the last three weeks I have met six bloggers and one other, a few months ago. I can’t thank you all enough. Not only those who I have actually met but those who read, comment and share their lives with me. Those who chat on MSN with me and email me. You are all making a positive impact on my life and I just want to say thanks. I believe we have a nice thing going here, a little community of people trying to help each other, and I’m lucky to have found you all.

And once again I get to plug some old friends who have come back to blogging recently. People like Courage had been blogging for months when I came along and he was one of the many who showed me real kindness and friendship almost ten months ago when we first met. He is back blogging after a short break and his blog is called A Beautiful Addiction.

Matt my good friend from the UK, who some may remember my post when he left our little community, well he is back and I hope you can give his blog a look, he is actually not a bad writer :P and he is a good guy. His blog is My Life.

I would like to thank my new followers first JC who describes himself as a Christian and is from Tennessee writes Who's Life Am I Living? and Charlie, a US high school student who writes Blogger (Blogspot) - boyintree - . I would also like to plug one new blog, Musings of Mr. GaGaa* is the writing of a Geeky And Gay Asian American grad student from California.

I am hoping if you have some time drop and say hello to them all. Add them to MSN and make them feel comfortable here too. I have finally updated my links and if you want to meet to add you please let me know if i haven't already. Oh yeah and I'm really going to try and make some comments and catch up on my reading

Thank you all for being out there dropping by and reading. Take care and be safe my friends.

Cvn70

All the Leaves are Brown and Wolves

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey I've been for a walk on a winter's day I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A California Dreamin' on such a winter's day stopped into a church I passed along the way well, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray you know the preacher likes the cold he knows I'm gonna stay California Dreamin' on such a winter's day …”

When I was young and growing up on the east coast of America, California was like a magical place in a lot of ways. It was the sunshine state before air-conditioning made Florida popular. It’s where the hippies were and the Vietnam War protesters’ all lived. It was the place the Dodgers and Giants moved too. It was where the movies were and the stars shined brightly. And oh yea it’s where all the gays were in San Francisco. At least that is what people think they don’t know we are everywhere : )

But there were two songs I loved growing up about California and they shaped how i saw it, one was by the Mamas and Papas: California Dreamin'. The words of the song above really spoke to me, as New England is a cold place on a winters day and I wanted to be warm in LA. So many times before I left the church I pretended to pray.

The other song was from an English band, Led Zeppelin. Going to California. Ok so as a teenager I did smoke some weed and drank some beers well a little bit too much at times but that is a story for another day, maybe soon. But in a way I have always sought a new start to this life of mine.

… Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine. Made up my mind to make a new start, Going to California with an aching in my heart…Took my chances on a big jet plane, …The sea was red and the sky was grey, Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake As the children of the sun began to awake. Seems that the wrath of the gods Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow; I think I might be sinking. Throw me a line if I reach it in time I’ll meet you up there where the path Runs straight and high. … Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams, Telling myself its not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

Some days when I was young I couldn’t convince myself it wasn’t as hard as it seems. I felt like it was never going to work out this life of mine and being gay well that just wasn't in the plans. I stressed that my life or the promise others saw in it would amount to nothing but also like the songs says when you stand on that mountain top after you have taken the path that runs straight and high, well the view of how your life works becomes crystal clear. I hope you all reach your mountain tops

I am going to California tomorrow to do a little dreamin and take a few days off. Maybe I will have some time to catch up on reading all your blogs. Any of you Californians have any ideas what I should do or see out there. I have been before and well it like every where full of beauty and imperfections but its worth another visit I think.

And I am happy to announce the return of Wolf back to blogging. Many of you older timers may remember his old blog Curious Wolf, well he is back with -- Wolfi's Blog – so if you have some time please check him out, and add him to MSN he has his listed somewhere on his blog :) . Hey and thanks to Blake for becoming my latest follower. And if you are a recent follower and I haven't yet acknowledge you please leave me a comment or send me an email so I can fix that problem.

Happy Birthday to Mirroboy's blog also and I hope you have many blogging birthdays : )

Hope all is well with you and yours my reader's; thanks for reading.

Take care and be safe

Cvn70

Playing Ball in Boston - Meanwhile in Australia its ...

Went to America’s past time twice this week it’s something I have done before but this week was a bit special because of the people I went to the one of the game’s with; and it was two of our fellow bloggers :). I have been pleased to meet so many of you online and have felt a real sense of community here. Naturgestez who writes Naturgesetz: Catholic and Homosexual; Mark, who writes Mark’s Complicated Life and my self met a bit before the game and enjoyed a nice dinner.

It was very comfortable and enjoyable as in some ways I felt a knew a lot about them after reading their blogs and enjoying their thoughts. We got to the game half through the first inning. The sox took an early lead only to have the visitors from Baltimore come back and tie the game. But in the later innings the home town team came back to win the game by three runs. It was exciting and exciting game but it was just a pleasure to be with some people just like me

I have been closeted so long and really afraid to reach out to anyone but slowly and because of events like last night I’m building a little confidence in being gay. Not sure I’m ready for any pride events but every time I have met someone from our community or youtube its just been a comfortable thing and experience. It’s slow growth for me but who says you have to rush into anything.

Took a couple of pictures i thought i would share with you over the last couple of nights. The first one is of the Fenway Park sign and the Red Sox League Championships or World Series Banners
The view from our seats last night up above third base of the diamond

The outfield down below us

Youk at to bat from my regular seats

And the cutest redsox there is Jacoby sorry you cant see his eyes

On a side note an old friend is back and blogging. Jake Anon has a new blog and its called Meanwhile in Australia. Now he does think that Australia is the best place on earth but if you can get by that he writes a great blog. I owe Jake Anon a lot in some ways for it was his encouragement that got me onto to MSN last year and talking to a lot of you. So if you have time go over and say hello and add him to your links. And talking to you all has made my life a lot better in many ways.

Thanks for reading everyone and i hope all is well where ever you are tonight

take care and be safe my friends

Cvn70

Hard Wood

It’s a nice thought I know but I was referring to my nephew putting a hard wood floor in my condo this weekend. I had him do the first floor the bedrooms can wait. And some how it still was a lot of work for me to do event though I was paying him :P. I had him do the first floor of the condo the bedrooms which are on the second floor can wait, I’m tired.

Had a nice long weekend filled with work (flooring), barbeque’s and even a little bit of sailing. Next weekend im going to participate in the Moffet Race off of Martha ’s Vineyard. Now that the Obama’s went home its safe to go there again :D. When the Clinton’s and Now th eObama’s visit that crowded little island it funny how many people go over to try and get a peek at him.

Work goes ok people are not happy out there these days is one thing I can tell you. If the economy is getting better I don’t think its starting around here. This afternoon I will spend with two other attorney’s dividing up the cash my client makes. Don’t play with drugs people if you have any responsibilities in this world. Its funny how little you can be left to live on if you fuck up in life

Going to the Red Sox a couple of times this week, maybe ill have some pictures for you from the games. For those of you outside the country baseball is coming sdwon to the wire and the Sox are in the hunt for a play off position.

Hey and for all my friends going back to school work hard on your studies for they only help you. What you are doing now will go along way to make your life better and more fulfilled. And no matter what kind of of life you want to pursue get educated it in.

Hope life is treating you all well. Take care and be safe my friends

Cvn70

Never get caught with a dead girl or a live boy – A tribute to a Massachusetts Senator

How could he be one of the most trusted members of Society -- and be an out of control frat boy most of his life? No the questioner is not talking about George Bush but rather Senator Ted Kennedy.

The answer is our lives are full of challenges and as human beings we just don’t fit into one box our whole lives. This is the biggest lesson I have learned from Mr. Kennedy in life is - Don’t ever let others successfully define you or limit you in any manner.

Mr. Kennedy passed from this earth today leaving his mark over the United States and the US Senate where he served in for over 45 years. Mr. Kennedy defied the politic odds several times in his life and for that I do respect him. Being a conservative Mr. Kennedy has drawn my ire several times but how he lived his whole life is why I respect him. Like a phoenix he rose from the political ashes to become one of America’s greatest liberal stalwarts.

To many Americans, America lost a hero today. People far beyond our shores felt this way also and I believe it right to acknowledge his life even though; Mr. Kennedy was not a political hero of mine and to be honest I never voted for him once. He has to be recognized as one of America’s leading politicians over the last forty years.

Mr. Kennedy taught me a couple of things in his political work one; is be happy with getting a little of your program started because once begun a popular government program never goes away. So I try to be happy for the little victories in my life and not dwell on the negatives for I know those can be overcome too. Secondly, never let any single event in your life define you. To be truthful this is one I am working on as I am in closet still but I guess what I can see is he lived through the worse and came out it of stronger.

I enjoyed a few things in life that Mr. Kennedy did like sailing in Cape Cod sound, and being with family but Mr. Kennedy and his family were like the American Dream itself. Poor Irish immigrants the Kennedy’s once were who rose to the highest powers of government and wealth. The Kennedy’s are for many Americans, America’s dream family and part of the lure of the American dream – it happen to them it could happen to me too – in America.

Mr. Kennedy taught me that: I have the power to make it a better life; I have the power to overcome what ails you and if some is important to me to never stop working to achieve it. Don’t seek excuses in life seek results even if you have to deal with people opposed to you and your efforts. You can’t do it alone and that is where friends come in and I thank you my friends I have met here and continue to make.

Mr. Kennedy arguably is responsible for the passage of more laws affecting the social fabric of this nation and yet in 1969 he faced one of the greatest challenges to anyone in politics and survived. Mr. Kennedy in 1969, less than a year after his second brother’s passing was at the wheel of a car in which a young girl died.

Many know the story or lack there of as Kennedy failed to report the accident for the better part of a day while a team of supporters arraigned a story. It was reported that after a sailing regatta and a heavy day of drinking Mr. Kennedy crashed his car into the ocean off a small bridge on a small island connected to Martha’s Vineyard. Ms. Kopechne, a political aide, was trapped in Kennedy’s car and did not survive. Mr. Kennedy could have faded away but he did not. No charges were ever brought against the young Senator, the Kopechne family I have read, believed this was due to heavy political pressure the Kennedy family exerted in National and Massachusetts’s politics.

It’s that part of his story I find most interesting; that at a time when most wouldn’t have had the strength to continue he did. And he not only continued he worked harder than most of his contemporaries and became maybe the most effective Kennedy of his clan. Many of us could allow the problems and challenges in our lives to over whelm us but step back and reexamine your life.

Each and every problem can be overcome, yes it takes effort and it's not going to be easy but with planning, forethought and support I believe that all problems can be overcome, I mean look at what Kennedy overcame is anything you or I will face in our lives more challenging or so greater a hill to climb, yet the man did it you have to give him his due.

The picture above is of the JFK Library (the black building) in Boston, Massachusetts.

I would like to mention two new followers and thank them for reading Jose A. who appears to be from Brussels, Belgium writes Llaves Rojas which maybe in Spanish and Octavius who writes The Life of a Commodore and claims to be from New Zealand. I have become real partial to Kiwi's as I have never met one who isn't a great guy (Judie feel free to MSN me :)) and gay for that matter :P

If you have time take a look at their blogs and leave a comment or two. As always I would like to thank you for stopping by reading and saying hello. Take care and be safe my friends

Cvn70