Chicken Fried Sunday

Greetings one and all!

This is the last day of PRIDE month.  I’ve still never attended a pride event in person.  I’ve seen plenty on YouTube.  Perhaps someday I will make it to one.  I think it’s one of those events that your better off going with someone or a small crowd of people rather than attending by yourself. 

I ended my Saturday at normal time and this morning Rudy started with a 4a wake up call.  Way to early to make biscuits but he was going at it like it was going to work.  We wound up cuddling and I fell back asleep, then he just waited patiently while sitting on top of me.  Meanwhile Mora was sacked out next to my feet. 

I got up at the normal 7a and fed the cats.  Then threw on some clothes, took my medicine and headed for Blueberry Pancakes.  They were pretty good and quite filling.  Next stop was the grocery store.  Got everything I normally get and two things that I wanted last week but forgot.  Next stop was the gas station and then home finally to unload. 

Everything got put away and then I settled in my room to watch some YouTube.  Eventually sacked out in bed and both cats fell asleep in my chair.  They looked so damn cute snuggled up to each other. 

Enough time passed and the UPS store was open so I picked up my old modem and headed out to drop that off.  Realizing that I had tasks at work that I need to do.  They will kind of put a bit of a damper on my eating out.  I had some place in mind but instead talked myself into getting KFC as take out.  I can do my work then head over and get carry out.  Come back home and chow down with having left overs for a day or two.  Not a bad idea. 

The day started off overcast with some drizzle while I was out earlier but when I got back out to go to UPS the sun was out and it was looking to be a nice day.  I lowered the temperature in the house from 77 to 76 and the cats don’t like it that cold.  It was really refreshing when I was watching TV earlier and napping.  We will go back to 77 for the felines since they love heat.  I can always lower it again.  The house seems to stay cool longer before the AC has to kick back in but the AC does run longer. 

Time to do the regular house cleaning and terrorize the cats by turning on the vacuum.  At least they are downstairs with me now, hopefully they don’t follow me upstairs. 

Very much looking forward to a short week.  I hope and think that a lot of people will take the week off so that will mean that things will be calmer than normal and make for a bit less work.  Time will tell but I think I am on to something.  I go on-call tomorrow and as per usual I never look forward to it. 

Hope that your having a great day!  Take care. 

Man Candy - Last one for 2023, enjoy :)

- Cameron Monaghan (US Actor)

- Matt Rife (US Comedian)

- Sean Ford (US Porn Star)

- Alex Grant (US Porn Star)

Happy Pride

Today kicks off Pride month.  I’ve never been to a pride event.  This year I see that being different has turned political again and it seems that the LGBTQ community is under attack.  That is part of my reasoning behind not going to an event.  However, if I had an invite and someone to go with I would be inclined to go.  I hope it’s a great month and the message of pride doesn’t get lost in the politics. 

That aside I get my review today.  I noticed something that I know my boss won’t have an answer for but it will be fun to put him on the hot seat.  We get an overall score determined by our managers of how we did.  In the past 3 years my score has gone down, not by much and the comments changed this year to occasional exceeds expectations from the past 2 years where I exceeded expectations.  I am producing the same caliber of work so I don’t get why things would change.  I know the explanation I get will be some double talk corporate bullshit excuse but it honestly bothers me.  I throw my heart & soul into my work.  I find this very disconcerting and it’s like a slap in the face.  Sure I am respected but I’m not there for respect I am there for the money.  You can’t tell me that the overall score doesn’t have an impact on how much of a pay raise one gets.  Otherwise, what is the purpose of scoring?  My reviews aren’t bad but they seem to me to be less glowing as the years pass.  I guess I should put in less effort so it matches with the decline in score I was given. 

I made it home yesterday afternoon with a little bit of clean up work and a surprise waiting for me at my front door.  The HOA raised our rates.  They say that the membership approved it but this is the first I have heard of it.  I know there was a vote last year and I voted no but they say that 51% of people approved it.  They also cited the fact the cost to cut the grass has gone up.  They are using the highest priced firm in the area.  They wanted $96 per week to cut my grass and I have never ever paid anyone near that.  I’ve got a small lot that isn’t worth more than $45 tops per week.  They are paying almost $200 per week for common ground to be mowed.  Don’t get me wrong the expensive firm does to the very best job but it’s just not worth it to me.  They are all up in arms about the insurance and are seeking a new carrier but they have no qualms about paying so much for the grass to be mowed.  They also want us regular common folks to reach out and start to bug our neighbors to pay their dues and/or back dues.  It’s a spineless HOA they have the power to place liens and go after people but they don’t have the balls to follow through, it’s all just empty threats.  I honestly don’t want to pay but considering they have the power to foreclose on your house I’d rather give them their money to have peace of mind.  I don’t agree with HOA’s and I never ever will.  If I should ever wind up moving I will be sure it will be to a place where I don’t have to pay any dues to an HOA or similar organization.   This is an average middle class community but they act like we all have money and are the upper crust of society, when that is so far from the truth.  Houses still turn over rapidly here because people move in, think they can afford it and then wind up drowning in debt and have to move out or are kicked out. 

Yeah I am a little upset today but it’s not for no reason at all.  I hate it when other people try to take my money.  You start messing with money and it gets personal really quick. 

Last night I am not sure how I did it but I managed to spill some tomato sauce on my shirt.  I never knew it was there.  Morea came over and sat in my lap and then started licking my shirt.  I let her clean it up.  This morning when I woke up I had a mess to clean up.  I realized after she ate it cats shouldn’t really have anything acidic.  Plus it doesn’t help they got brushed last night.  That always means they do extra grooming. 

Rudy was by my head most of the night and just counting the hours until morning.  He loves the morning and waking up.  He always greets me with such enthusiasm and knows how to make me smile.  He’s still not great with being spot on time but this morning I just gave in.  I had a bad night with a headache and I never get them.  Not sure what was going on.  I feel fine now.  Had some strange dreams and it was difficult to go back to sleep. 

Looking forward to what I hope is a quiet day.  I’ve got the feeling that I am going to get a mess dropped in my lap by my co-worker.  He’s got today and tomorrow to complete a task, then he goes on vacation.  If it’s not done by then to save us I will have to take care of it but I am hopeful that his drug filled pea brain remembers and does the work. 

Speaking of which I should get back.  Hope that it’s a great day for all.  Take care and be well.

 

My Coming Out Story

 

I was in counseling [therapy] in my teenage years because my grandparents thought I was acting out, not behaving correctly and they thought that perhaps I could use someone to talk to that was impartial.  What they failed to realize is that my brother was setting me up to take the fall.  While I was getting yelled at, he would be laughing his ass off and making fun of me, which as you can imagine didn’t set well with me.  Of course, I wasn't acting right because I was getting in trouble for shit that he setup or traps that he laid and I fell into.  I was the victim when I looked like the aggressor [perpetrator].  They say everything happens for a reason and well it did. 

It was my therapist that after a couple years of talking with me, confronted me and told me that one of my problems if you will, was that I was gay and trying to deal with coming to terms with it.  I myself didn't even know it and denied it.  Eventually enough time passed that allowed me to think about what he said and internalize it, which led me to the conclusion that he was in fact right.   While I was trying to sort this out, I told my family what he said and they agreed with me I wasn't gay I was just young and growing up.  I hadn't yet figured out who I was.  Except yeah, I had with a little bit of time.  I also figured out that my therapist was gay as well.  He had a boyfriend and he was older and passed away while we were in therapy.  The best advice I got from therapy was don't fall in love with an older man and I will be damned what did I do but disregard that sage advice. 

My therapist encouraged me that when I felt comfortable, I needed to come out to my grandma, it was important to acknowledge who I was.  I didn't understand why.  He said that I should only do it if I felt comfortable and thought it was safe.  It was very much a personal decision but something that he strongly encouraged me to do.  I was told that it would make me feel better about the whole thing.  As you would expect I wasn’t terribly comfortable with the idea and afraid that it would forever change my relationship with her.  I was grandma’s boy and we had a tight knit relationship.

One day I got up the courage and me and my grandmother sat down in the kitchen in the evening.  I told her that I was gay.  She dismissed it and she told me that I was confused and just growing up and figuring out life.  I was far too young to know that I was gay and I was more likely experimenting.  That's when I told her that I had sex and I liked it.  She was cautiously curious but pressed me for details while trying at the same time not to come unglued.  She asked me what kind of sex I had.  Without missing a beat, I said oral and I loved it.  She told me that a co-worker gave her a book [romance novel] to read at work and it had oral sex in the plot, she thought that was absolutely disgusting.  Then she asked where she was and where this took place.  That's when I told her it was in her home and she was home while this took place.  Eventually she became exhausted from grilling me on who the guy was.  She told me that it was going to be okay, it didn't change things between her and I, even though it was tough for her to comprehend.  I wasn’t dumb, I knew that if I gave up the guy’s name, he wouldn’t be able to come over and there would go my sex life.  The one thing she said is no matter what that I could never, ever tell my grandfather.  He surely would kick me out and disown me.  I am positive that she never said a word to him. 

Years later after she had passed, I was watching a gay porn movie in my bedroom and thought the door was locked but it wasn't.  My grandfather had a nasty habit of just sneaking up on you and that kind of bit him in the ass.  I didn't know it but he had opened the door while I was busy working and just about the time things were getting good the door slammed loudly.  I lost my momentum for a moment and became worried and scared.  Then I thought hell might as well finish what you started and back to work, I went.  I stayed in my room for a couple hours and when I came out it was as if nothing had happened.  He wasn't pleased with me but he never said a word.  It wasn't as if it was a huge surprise to him, I think he figured things out a long time ago but just never said anything to me.  He just had his fears, worries or concerns whatever completely confirmed and validated.  That had to be soul crushing and a frightful moment for him.  I honestly never really thought about it at the time.  I was more worried if we were going to have an argument and I was going to become homeless, which thankfully neither of which occurred.   

As for my mom I told her a short time after I told my grandmother.  My mom was a bit immature and while she was accepting, she asked me if I shoved the large flashlight, I was carrying with me up my ass for sexual pleasure, to which I responded no.  She wanted to know all about my first sexual experience and what I had tried.  I of course never told her a word, she was a bit twisted there and it just didn’t feel like something that was appropriate for a child to be telling their parent.  She was concerned on how I could top a guy with my back problems.  She always said that I should be a top.  She worked in a Hospital and after I told her she went to work and had to tell all of her coworkers who never quite looked at me the same way when I visited her at work.  Jesus my mom couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it unless of course it was going to benefit her.

My brother kind of figured things out on his own.  I mean we had a conversation about it and he said that it didn’t bother him.  However, it was used against me when we would get into fights, he would call me a fag or faggot because he knew it would affect me and it did. 

The thing that I have found out is that Coming out is a continual and life long experience.  Some people think just because you tell your parents and friends that your journey is done.  Nope, as life goes on you find yourself telling a co-worker, your boss, your physician and the beat goes on.  Your never ever done coming out of the closet.  I have had people ask me why I felt compelled to tell them.  Simply put this is part of who I am and I want you to know all of me not just part of me. 

I've been asked if I was the man or the woman in the relationship, to which I replied were both men.  We each have a bit of a girly side but were both very much masculine.  I have also had people ask me if I was a top or a bottom.  Unless we're having sex it's really no one's business.  I get the curiosity to want to know that.   I mean when I find out a guy is gay that is one of the things that I really want to know, especially if they are or were famous and if I can find out great and if not, we'll so be it.

A side note, a bit off topic.  The one advantage to having an older man as your boyfriend, partner, husband, spouse, etc. is that people often would mistake us as Father and Son.  We wouldn't bother to correct them.  He [my late spouse] did fulfill part of the father role for me.  To us it was humorous.  I would have certainly spoken up but I knew telling people the truth (while he was alive) would have made him feel uncomfortable, so I respected his wishes.  It was a compromise that we agreed upon.  He did tell his best friend at the time in confidence and his friends wife overheard that ended the friendship because she is against homosexuals.  I really liked those people and we used to hang out all the time, that is until they found out the truth and things came to an awkward and abrupt halt.  I remember coming unglued at the time because he [my late spouse] didn’t ask me ahead of time if it was okay to tell someone about me [us]. 

Coming out is a very personal experience and once you say the words, I am gay, it's not like you can take those words back.  Therefore, you have to tread cautiously and think before you speak.  I of all people understand that one can be eager to shout it to the world, as was I.  However, I am thankful that I was able to have smart people in my life to discourage me from telling the world because there were times when it wouldn't have been appropriate, it would have changed things and it could have been detrimental to my career/employment.  I work in a state where it was legal to fire someone for being gay, which I think is so stupid.  How does one’s sexuality impact their ability to perform their job?  How does it change anything in the employer/employee relationship?  My point here is that only you know your circumstances and if it's safe for you to come out.  There are people who will embrace and applaud you and there are people who will react negatively.  While I wish that I was a bit more open, seeing things with hindsight I am thankful for the most part the way life turned out as it relates to who I have told and who I didn't tell. 

Where I work now, it is a progressive organization that has an LGBTQ + group setup and allies as well.  The thing that I don't like is that if you choose to come out, your placed in a group that serves as a mailing list, so if you have access as I do, you can clearly see who is gay.  There are people that I work with that I would never, ever under any circumstances want them to know about my sexuality just because.  No one is treated differently because they have chosen to come out but I think that group along with other minorities in our organization are played a bit Ike tokens for PR.  What I mean is that my opinion is look we have a gay group, an of color group, this group and a that group.  We are so proud of ourselves in the fact that we are diverse.  Yeah, I don’t think you need to advertise it, just say that you offer same sex benefits and that right there tells a person all they need to know.  I don't want that and I don't want a label hanging over me.  I am Jeremy a man.  Being gay is just part of who I am.  Just like having a love for pizza, being male and white is also part of who I am.  It changes nothing, you either like me for who I am or you don't. 

I am a sucker for a good coming out story, I like the emotions that come with the ride.  I remember watching the video of the Rhodes Brothers [there YouTube stars, give it a Google] telling their parents they were both gay.  I cried just as they did.  I am not particularly fond of when it doesn’t go well but it’s a gamble, as is all of life.  While you want to think everyone will be accepting of who you are and that it won’t change anything, it does change because you uttered those words [ I am gay] and you can’t take that back no matter what.  You have to take into consideration that the person on the other end might not be receptive and be prepared for whatever negative consequences could occur. 

Parts of this story were in my book but since Coming Out is something I view as a major life event, I decided to expound on this.  I hope that you enjoyed it.  It certainly was an emotional rollercoaster that had some great risks as well as rewards.  I’m glad that I was able to tell my grandmother and that she was so tolerant.  She didn’t endorse it but understood that I was born that way and it wasn’t a choice I made.  I know that she would be extremely proud of the man I have become and I really wish she could see me now. 

You hear the saying "It Gets Better" applied to coming out.  Yes, it does get better but usually when people get older and more mature.  If your coming out in school, my opinion is that most people aren't mature enough to deal with it until they are College age.  If your thinking of coming out, don't do it because I did, do it because it's something you want to do.  Below are some resources that I hope are of help. 

HRC Resource Guide for Coming Out 

Matthew Shepard Foundation  - Coming Out Resources 

The Trevor Project - Coming Out | A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People

 

 

Some common questions asked to gay people

1. ‘When did you decide to be gay?’

Being gay isn’t a decision, it’s who you are sexually attracted to. It doesn’t define every aspect of your life or personality. It just means that you like to sleep with people of the same sex. I have never actually been asked this.

2. ‘What do you actually do in bed?’

What a person does in their own bed for sexual gratification can vary. You have the vanilla to the wild. Unless you’re in bed with me, this is a question best left to your imagination. I have never been asked this.

3. ‘Are you the man or the woman?’

This is a question that I got asked one time. One guy can be more effeminate than the other but at the end of the day your both men. Some people ask this question to find out if you are a bottom.

4. ‘Do you know my gay cousin, John?’

Being gay doesn’t mean we know every other gay in the world. I got asked ths one as well.

Can you think of any others? Post your own suggestions below.

5. How do you know if you have never been with someone of the opposite sex?’

How does Grandpa know that he likes Grandma if he hasn’t tried being with another dude? It’s pretty simple you know who you are attracted to and who makes your heart skip a beat. Some people try the heterosexual way but as for me, I am a gold star gay (meaning I have never been with a woman). It’s just not something that appeals to me at all.

If you have a question or something you’d like to know, leave them in the comments.  If appropriate I will respond either directly to the comment or in a future post. 

Being Gay - what does it mean?

After the death of my spouse, I wrote a book.  It was therapeutic.  Below is a chapter taken from my book verbatim.  The book was written a few years ago but the general nugget of knowledge I am trying to impart still holds true today.  My hope is that this will help someone out there.  My belief in God has changed a bit over the years.  I am still somewhat on the fence.

I also decided to look up the definition of the word GAY and here’s what it says according to Dictionary.com

 

  

Being gay only applies to my sexuality and my sexual preference.  Outside of that, it doesn’t define who I am, what I like or anything else.  It just defines the sex of the person I want to have sexual relations with.  I know that there are people that say it’s wrong; it’s against the Bible, God Hates Fags, etc. My personal feeling is that gay people were created to be martyrs and when you discriminate, hate or treat us differently you are doing that to God.  For that, I believe those that do shall be punished.  I think that one day; we (gay people) will reap rewards for the hell we have been put through here on earth.  Now just because that is my opinion doesn’t make it so.  However, I don’t believe there is anything wrong with homosexuality.  I suppose I am biased there.  It’s how I was born and just like you can’t pick your parents you can’t pick your sexual preference.  It’s not a mental disease.  You are not sick or twisted.  You can’t pray the gay away.  You can’t convert yourself because while on the outside you may appear to be living a “straight” life inside your true desires for a person of the same sex linger.  That is something that no “straight” life will be able to quench.

Gay people who are trying to hide their secret become exceptionally good at deception and lying over time.  Some people might suspect but until you confirm it no one knows for certain.  Depending upon the circumstances, it is sometimes best to keep people guessing.     

If you are gay, the sooner you and those that love you come to terms with it the sooner you and they will be able to move forward in life.  Coming out is a very personal decision and something that you have to do when you feel it’s right.  If it’s never right, well then so be it. Don’t let anyone pressure you into something you don’t want to or aren’t ready to do.  

If you have thoughts of committing suicide, realize that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.  I understand that in the heat of the moment, with all of the pressure weighing on you, that you feel it’s your only option.  Stop and think about those around you, those that depend on you and how they will get by.  I’m certainly not a doctor or a mental health expert.  I mean if you’re bound and determined to take your own life and you won’t entertain opinions or thoughts from others or won’t reach out for help before you rush to your decision then there is very little I or anyone can do to stop you.  It’s like a runaway train.  Think of what it will do to whoever discovers your lifeless body.  Then there is also the possibility depending upon the method you have chosen, that you may not be successful and you could wind up having to live your life with a disability, disfigurement, etc.  There are a lot of factors to weight before rushing into a decision that will determine your future. 

Growing up gay is NOT easy.  People are always making fun of you because you are different.  I promise you that it does get better as you get older.  I hear college is a real fun time, I wouldn’t know because I never went.  Once you are an adult in the working world, I think is when you will find that things are truly as good as they are going to get.  Society as a whole is starting to come to terms with Equality.  Marriage isn’t for everyone but it’s nice that those of us that want to get married in many states can.  I think we are just mere years away from society viewing gay as becoming common place.  It’s like growing up with regular TV and then one day you get Cable and don’t realize how you ever lived without it.  I think society one day will wake up and say who cares and move on.  

I love to hear coming out stories.  They are often filled with drama but in the end, it’s about a person letting those they care about know their sexual preference.  Why do we (meaning gay people as a whole) feel compelled to share this?  I mean “straight” people don’t walk around and advertise that they are straight; it’s just something that is assumed.  I suppose it’s because we want and need acceptance and to know that no matter what those that we care about love us unconditionally.  

If I can help someone deal with their sexuality through this book that would be awesome.  I had next to no one there for me when I was feeling all of those strange feelings and thinking it was wrong.  Being raised Roman Catholic didn’t help either.  Talk about guilt!  

The bottom line is to talk to someone about your feelings.  Don’t let it go all bottled up because that is a recipe for disaster.  That applies to most problems in life.  Holding it in does no good and is self-destructive.  Do not think that you are all alone or that you are the first person to experience this because you are not.  I know there are many emotions that come with being gay.  So your different, you are as God wanted you to be.  Society today deals with that in a much more accepting way than when I was growing up. 

I encourage you to reach out and talk to someone.  If they won’t or don’t want to listen then move on to another person.  Consider looking online for resources.  There is a program for youth called The Trevor Project and they can and do help a lot of younger folks.  Talking is therapeutic and necessary for survival.    

Eye see you

I made it for my annual eye exam today. It was difficult to wear a mask & glasses. My glasses kept fogging up. My prescription changed in that my astigmatism has gotten better. The issues with my eyes are attributed to age. Nothing serious on going, which is a very good thing. I opted for new glasses. I was sad to learn my current doc doesn’t carry Nike. They showed me a few options but I am hell bent on sticking with Nike, they have been good to me and I have no reason to abandon them. We came to a compromise in that I would get new lens in my existing frames. That with the exam still set me back $300.

Once I got home, I did some looking and found other providers that carry Nike and they will take my insurance. I may change to a different eye doc next year. I’ve already made an appointment though with my current provider. The one thing that I like about my existing doc is that I can come home, login to his portal and print out scripts for glasses. I could technically do that and just visit a different provider to get my glasses. I am presently wearing my computer pair from Warby Parker that I got last year. They serve me well but the frames are a bit small and slip. I haven’t had the best luck in mail ordering glasses and much prefer the in-person touch. What kind of ticked me off is that there was a frame I was looking at and they were going to order it in but if I didn’t like it then I owed them $10 for shipping, that’s BS. It’s the cost of doing business. The one thing that has me potentially hanging on is they are going to open another location close to me. For now, I am playing it by ear. I will get my new lens back in 1 to 2 weeks. I had to sign a liability wavier that if the lab cracks the frame when they go to put in the new lens that they aren’t responsible. That is standard practice. If that happens then I will just take the written prescription and visit another provider since I would need to get a new frame.

I didn’t get any of the work on the deck outside done today. I just wasn’t motivated. However, I did manage to take the freezer apart and oil the noisy motor that started to make noise again. It’s a six month to annual thing. I’ve got it down to a science. A few squirts of 3 in 1 oil and all is quiet. Then time to put it all back together. It’s not much fun but it does make me feel good knowing that I was able to fix something (mechanical nevertheless). Last night I put on Flex Tape on the leaking duct work and it was super sticky. It’s one product that does what it says it will do. I don’t see any leaks. It’s a rubberized type of tape that is designed to ad hear well. It warns you on the package that it’s not intended to be easily removed and damage may occur. I had a tough time cutting it and I was using sharp lineman scissors.

I did manage to get out and get cat food. I also took in a nap. I was watching all of the unrest in various cities across America. I was in front of the computer and got an alert about a protest that started near the office. I watched and thought to myself I am sure glad I am at home. There were tons of people, it was peaceful and orderly but cars were trapped in the middle of the highway and they shut the highway down just with the mass of people. The police were out but didn’t do anything to try to stop it. I understand the people at large are upset. It was an upsetting thing to see. I am not quite sure how the authorities will be able to contain this and restore order but I do hope that it happens soon. I mean Monday is around the corner and some people actually have to go to work. Between this and the COVID outbreak I am so glad that I am secure in the comfort of my own home away from all of the chaos and germs.

My fancy keyboard will no longer be eligible for return as of tomorrow. I am kind of surprised at myself but I am keeping it. I decided that since that is the case it was time to customize the layout. It’s a gaming keyboard so it lights up. I’ve got a nice rainbow scheme applied. I tried to program it myself but I easily was overwhelmed. I found a profile on line that I was able to import and tweak. You can make the colors change actively or you can apply a static pattern. I like the flashing but when I am trying to work it is a hell of a distraction, so I opt for a static pattern. It’s pretty cool.

Registered my warranty for my gaming chair. I still kind of wish that I would have been able to get the name brand I wanted. It had a bit more features and didn’t cost much more. However, this is still comfy and seems to do the trick.

I spent some serious money to renew my license plates. The DMV opens up on Monday. My plates don’t expire until July but considering that we could easily have a 2^nd wave and there is going to be a rush, I opted to renew on-line. I am paying more for that privilege, but it’s a case of better off safe than sorry.

The mail brought me a refund check for my auto insurance. I got $54 back and since my usage changed from commute to pleasure that got me a reduction in premium by $40 so not terribly shabby. I also got my homeowners renewal today, that went down by $84. My face wash finally arrived and so did several other bills, which I have already paid. I don’t like seeing bills in the mailbox but when I know that I have already paid them so there isn’t a surprise waiting for me, that is refreshing.

It’s been a chill day with the cats. We got in noodle time. Which makes for a very happy Marvin. I’d rather have a happy cat than an unhappy cat. These two really have it made here. It’s like cat heaven on earth. Free room and board, free food and the best medical care. If reincarnation is a thing and I come back as a cat I hope that my owner is as good of a human to me as I am to them, if that makes sense. Ideally if I come back, I would like to be a ripped muscle hunk.

My time off is quickly coming to an end, which is always the case. I will need to take time to visit the dentist whenever that appointment is made. An unless something else crops up, I shouldn’t need time off until September when it’s time to go back to see the doctor.

Tomorrow will be my day of house cleaning, grocery store shopping and trying to relax before Monday rolls around and I am on-call again. I peeked at my work e-mail today and it’s not pretty but it could be worse.

I hope that your doing well and enjoying the weekend. Take good care of yourselves and treat your self to something special. I will talk with you again soon!

PIE

Good Day!

It appears another weekend is upon us.  I feel 10 x better than I felt last week at this time.  I finished my antibiotics as of today.  I hope that all of the infection is gone.  I still have plenty of phlegm and hope that goes away soon.  I don’t need a relapse or for that matter to get sick again until much later in the year.  Thankfully I still have plenty of PTO. 

I figured that some of you would enjoy the Pie commercial above.  I went out for dinner tonight and had some Spicy breaded Cod Fish and some Mac & Cheese.  I finished up with a mini Bourbon Pecan Pie.  It was oh so good!  I got this at a local place.  I wanted to hit up the buffet but my fear of being on call and getting called upon while away prevented me from acting upon my desire. 

I went on an Amazon bender and will have a new Cross Rollerball Pen tomorrow along with some soap, a spray that my eye doctor recommended and other nifty things that I could otherwise probably do without.  It was one of those moments where I said fuck it.  I don’t need another writing instrument but I collect them along with law enforcement challenge coins. My absolute favorite writing instruments are made by Mont Blanc.  Problem is they have so much that I want but simply can’t afford. 

According to Facebook my brother in fact did get married yesterday.  The bitch he married of course took his (our) last name.  Makes me want to go change my last name.  I’m serious but it’s only a desire, I won’t be acting upon it.  In other photos he looks really happy that he is with her but in his wedding photo looks more like he is saying HELP ME.  We haven’t spoken and I didn’t get an invite.  I don’t plan on contacting him and I am sure he has no plans to contact me.  I can’t believe he actually went through with this and yes I am angry and highly disappointed in him.  With all of the grief he has caused me I’ve come to the conclusion it’s best to cut ties.  I don’t plan on changing my mind, I made this same decision before and after our mom died I gave him a 2nd chance and look at what that got me. 

In other news you know how your going through your life and out of the blue one of those recurring got you expenses come up for renewal that you forgot about?  Yeah well that happened to me this week.  I got an email from a vendor I use for remote access to my desktop.  I know I am smart and could setup a VPN and spare the expense but I find this subscription solution more secure, easier and I don’t have to guess what my IP Address is going to be when my ISP decides to change it.  Well the cost of their subscription renewal went up to $420 from a simple $100.  There is no way I am paying that so I called and they cut me a break on the price but this will be yet another annual negotiation that I will need to do.  I despise negotiations with vendors be it my ISP, TV or anything else.  However, more often than not it works in my favor and I’m rather good at it, but it’s a skill that I would much rather not have to use. 

The most interesting thing I did this week was attend a webinar and heard from a survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting.  It was to educate for awareness on active shooters.  I have no ties to VT but hearing this story unfold I couldn’t help but be saddened as I heard the events recapped.  I get that people snap and it seems to be happening more and more in today’s society.  I understand suicide but I don’t understand killing innocent people who pose no imminent threat to you.  I got some great insight out of this event, even if I did have to give up my lunch hour it was so worth it. 

No post here is truly complete without an update on the cats.  Ms. Momma has been clingy ever since Tuesday when I found her and got my scare.  Her kids are vocal and require just as much attention as she does if not more.  Gator is the biggest attention seeker by far and it’s a competition to her.  It always has been, it’s just her make up.  Interesting to get to know their individual personalities and quirks and it’s been quite fun seeing them grow up and grow old. 

Ah tomorrow I will be cleaning house after skipping it last week, this place is a wreck and I look forward to getting it back into shape, even if it’s all going to fall apart in a weeks time.  Nothing like a clean floor and an empty sink with no dishes. 

Finally we are officially in LGBT Pride Month, Happy Pride everyone! Now back to giving attention to the cats and relaxing.  Hope your weekend is going well. 

Pride 2016

Wow were already in June!  It’s time for Pride Month!  I’ve never been to a pride event and right now I don’t expect that to change this year.  I am sure that eventually I will make it to one but it’s just not top on my list.  Lots of people like to go and I hear it’s a good time.  Going alone to an event like that doesn’t sound like fun to me.  It sounds like temptation and torture.  I don’t need either.

I keep seeing my late partner in my dreams.  It’s like were both alive and things are back to the way they used to be.  It’s enjoyable and fun until I wake up and get a fresh dose of reality.  It doesn’t hurt as bad as it used to but I can’t say that it’s pain free.  I was feeling kind of lonely today.

I have a couple knots in my back left over from my massage on Thursday.  I’ve been using ice and a massager that I have to try to get them out.  They are shrinking but not fast enough for me.  I would just as soon they go away.  I did some quick reading on my iPhone and it appears that knots in the upper back are common.  There are a variety of ways to treat them everything from exercise, stretching, massage and hot & cold therapy.  It could always be worse.  Hopefully I will get them worked out before Monday is here. 

Today I got to sleep in, woke up to fetch the mail.  I stopped last night hoping that my order for blood work would be there, but it wasn’t.  It arrived today but I had already eaten breakfast.  Looks like I have a task for next Saturday.  I have a date that will involve a small prick.  Bad I know but hey I had to say it.  Anyways back on track.  I came home and laid down with my ice pack and watched a movie on Netflix called The Do Over.  It’s got Adam Sandler in it.  Not bad, not drop dead funny but not bad.  Then I took a nap.  Woke up by 3p fed the children.  Got dressed and ventured out for some pizza.  I tried to recreate one of my favorite pizzas from a place that is now out of business.  I ordered the same toppings but it just didn’t taste the same.  The sauce was off, they didn’t have any cheddar cheese and it was a tad on the salty side.  I consumed a good majority of it but managed to save some to take home. 

Came back home and started to play with the computer, get finances in order and deposit a check I got in the mail.  Then reprogrammed my scanner, still not getting what I want but I am working on it.  At least I still am able to receive the local channels that interest me.  Just missing one municipality.  Started laundry.  Plaid with the children.  I got the fishing pole out with the ball on the end of it.  Bear had a great time.  I managed to entertain Marv and Insty as well.  Then I got tired so I tempted them with the word treats.  Man they were eager to shift gears and so was I.  They did work up an appetite.  I still have yet to muster up the courage to trim Ruth’s claws.  Then I ventured out for cat food, nice sale this weekend 15% off, plus they lowered the price of the food by a few pennies and I had another coupon that gave me $1 off.  I’ve got enough food for 2 weeks but that is normal, I still go every week.  If there is a financial or physical problem that prevents me from going 1 week I at least have enough to get through the next week.  Plus they are all so picky I have to keep a wide variety of food in stock.

Been sitting down here at the old computer and my head itches like crazy.  I normally skip a shower on Saturday and get one on Sunday.  I think this weekend I am making an exception and going to break out the Tea Tree Shampoo and jump in the shower.  Oh, I used the mask on Thursday night and I saw a minor difference on Friday morning.  I thought by mask they meant facial but no it’s a cream you put on before bed, it absorbs in your face to moisturize and rejuvenate your face.  I’ll try most anything once, I will keep using the small jar until it’s empty.  Undecided if I will order more.

There is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING on television.  Nextflix, Amazon and Dekkoo are all a bust for me.  I am so bored and really want to watch something good.  Thankfully John Oliver will be back on tomorrow night.  I will need to turn in early but will probably watch his show as it is always entertaining.  Monday will be a rise and shine early day.  Same for Tuesday.  Looking forward to putting this training class behind me.  It’s a complicated product/service and my co-workers don’t like it nor do I think they fully understand it.  I know I don’t but then again that is why I am going to training. 

Within the last week or so I posted about how a particular bank reached out to me to verify my identify to reconsider a credit application.  Well I got another call from them and they wanted to do the same damn thing all over again.  This time they asked for my cell phone number and sent me a text message.  They asked me to read the code back to them over the phone.  Now how does that prove my identity?  It proves that I gave you a valid cell phone number and that’s it.  It could belong to King Kong but you won’t know that.  I found the whole thing as odd.  I did my research before I returned the call and based on my research before reaching out.  The reference number I was asked to provide from the voice mail matched up to the letter I got, so I believe it’s all legit.  I got the same response that my identity was verified and that I would either receive the card or a letter within 1 to 2 weeks.  Yeah well I’ll believe it when I see it.  I just know that I’m not verifying my identity a third time without asking questions.  It can’t be that hard to make a decision either your going to send me a card or your not, lets get it over with.  We all know how I feel about waiting. 

Tomorrow will be grocery store day.  Going back to the new place that I was at last week.  Going to order Biscuits and Gravy with 3 scrambled eggs on top and a diet soda.  That will be my power breakfast to hopefully get me through the grocery store.  Not sure about lunch/supper but hopefully I find something appealing at the grocery store.  Really don’t want to go out but I will if I don’t have any options.  I’m hungry right now so that left over pizza might just be wiped out. 

Lastly an eye glass update.  I got a call this week from the eye doc that the frames I inquired about didn’t come in a more blue color.  They asked me to stop by and take a look or let them know if there was something else that I wanted them to order.  I had sent an email last weekend with 2 pairs of Nike frames that I wanted them to order in.  They are blue but outside of that no where near the match of Kennedy from CF.  I really want a pair like his but we can’t always have what we want.  I’d like an Audi or a BMW as well and I know that those are both out of my reach and the realm of possibilities.  This is a simple pair of eye glasses which should be within reach but because I can’t get the information on the specific make and model of the frame I am out of luck. What a shame.  I called the doc back and left a voice mail letting them know to check their email and let me know when they get them in.  I would be happy to stop by.  I realized there is a larger eye glass provider in the area, if my eye doc fails and I don’t hear from them within the next couple weeks I will go to the larger provider with the same photo and see if they can match up the frame.  They can get my Rx from my present doc to get the glasses ordered.  This isn’t rocket science it’s eye glasses.

I did something that I deeply regret.  I trimmed my eye lashes on my right eye.  They are facing the wrong way and were starting to get junk clogged in them.  My vision was blurry and I got tired of it.  Well the trim part went well.  I regret it because when I put in eye drops they sting like a SOB.  I am thinking of investing in an eye lash curler but that looks dangerous, almost like you need someone to help you.  My other alternative is to have plastic surgery but that doesn’t sound like something I want to do.  It would be a simple in and out procedure but I would have to go see another doctor, have the procedure done at a hospital and go under general anesthesia.  It would involve a few days off work and I really don’t want to do that right now, not to mention what it would cost.  Who knows if insurance would even cover it?  I mean it’s elective surgery but it’s to fix a problem that I was born with. 

Well my towel is dry so I am headed up stairs to get that shower and probably wipe out the left over pizza.  Let’s hope that I can find something of entertainment on TV and that I can also get to sleep before 2am. 

Life overall is going well.  It’s lonely and painful but I am still doing well.  Need to find a boyfriend so that I can start a new chapter of my life.  I am pleased with my accomplishments thus far and hope that with time I will continue to make great strides.  Hope all is well in your world and that the sun is shining bright.  You’ve read this far, might as well leave a comment.  Feel free to ask questions, comments are moderated, meaning that I have to approve them so they are not instantly published.  In other words, you’ve got some privacy here I won’t publish anything that I am asked to keep private. Okay to the showers!

Wedding 689

Today was an emotional day for me.  It started out with a visit to my mom.  I really didn’t want to go see her but I promised her that I would be by soon and figured that today was probably the best day of all.  I have commitments the next two weekends and who knows what will come up after that.  She did a lot of crying, it didn’t take much and as fast as the tears stopped they started up again.  She sounds like she really hates the nursing home, but she elected to go there.  Now she has remorse and wants to go back to the house but there is no house to go back to.  She was worried that they are going to put a rock on her income and I explained to her that I did my research and it’s done, no one can garnish or otherwise have claim to her disability income.  Our state has an anti-deficiency law so that once you surrender your property to the bank, that is full and final payment.  If there is a balance on the loan they can’t come after you for it.  If she remembers and can keep the facts straight when she tells my brother that, he will be overjoyed since he is legally responsible for her.  I thought for sure he had made a huge mistake and was going to regret it but lucky for him the law appears to be written in his favor.  Mom’s still trying to get into a state program and get moved to an apartment.  I honestly don’t think that she will qualify for her own apartment and can live totally on her own.  I think she will always need someone to watch over her.  The mom that I knew and remember is gone and has been gone for quite sometime.  I have to deal with the new mom and her mental state.  It’s really very sad.  Then again I am not all that well attached to her, given our ups and downs as well as the way I have been treated in the past.  It is to my benefit to keep my distance, I know my sanity and life are far better off.  Kind of sad that it has to be that way but it is what it is. 

I knew it was coming today was a very special day for Will & RJ the YouTube couple I have watched for many years.  They live streamed their wedding, they wrote their own vows and it was an awesome ceremony.  It’s all captured on video and it’s available if you’d like to watch over at their channel http://www.youtube.com/shep689  They are both young and in love.  They have been together for six years and 6 months.  That is a very short time but long enough to know if you want to make the long term commitment to get married.  I am profoundly happy for both of them, but it did bring back a flood of memories for me.  I have never cried at a wedding, but I did today.  It was so awesome that they thought of their viewers and decided to share their special moment with the rest of the world.  Twitter was a mess waiting for the livestream to begin.  It started on my phone before I could get it going on my Roku.  Finally everything came together and I was able to watch it on TV which is a much larger screen than my phone.  Wow is all I can say.  Simple but elegant ceremony surrounded by family and friends, how high they both must feel right now.  It was a HUGE step to take and one that I hope will last them both a lifetime.  I’ve written to them before, even sent them a copy of my book.  It’s no secret that I am writing them again, going to pickup a card at the store tomorrow to send to them.  I didn’t want to do it but then I felt compelled to reach out.  I touched on my story and told them to take time to plan for the unforeseen, I know that is probably not appropriate but just knowing what I went through, never thinking that I would have to make a decision to remove life support – it can and often does happen in the blink of an eye.  I encouraged them to take time and talk with each other, to have the necessary legal paperwork drawn up so there are no questions and everything is in order.  I of course congratulated them and wished them all the best.  Watching kind of made me wish I was younger and could experience the same thing.  I can’t say if I will ever get married again, but it’s not something that I am ruling out.  I doubt that I will ever find someone as special as my late partner but I know that there is someone out there for me, finding him is the difficult part.  Kind of wish I could speed that up.

Now we move on to the part where I got mad.  I’ve placed two phone calls to the vet about Momma asking about a Plan “B” since I can’t afford their Plan “A” option.  No one has called me back.  I was determined to go over and throw a fit in the lobby, but instead I chose to put my anger in words.  I have had and still harbor anger because of what happened with Big Boy/Bear.  I think they should give him free medical care for the rest of his life, but convincing them of that is another story.  My late partner encouraged me to keep my mouth shut and not express my feelings.  Well he’s not here and I have had it.  So I let some of it out when I had to take Bear over and I let more out today when I wrote a letter.  Come to find out their website has malicious software, I browsed to their site from Work and it set off all kinds of alarms.  I did it from home today and same thing.  So I was a nice guy and told them about it for free.  Hopefully they do something about it so that their customers who don’t have up to date security software aren’t infected.  There isn’t a privacy or data breach issue at this point, but if the virus that wanted on to my machine actually got through and I logged in then there would be a data breach.  I should have charged the bastards but instead I was kind figuring that might help further my cause.  I faxed the letter to them, so hopefully on Monday someone will reach out to me.  If that is not the case and I don’t have a response by mid-week, then lets just say it won’t be pretty because I will be over there and in someone’s face.  I might be weak on somethings but if it comes to my furry babies then I am very protective, to the point that I would take a bullet or get ran over by a car if I could do it and they wouldn’t be hurt or injured. 

I got through my letters last night, took an awful lot of paper, proofing and coordination but I have filed a last ditch appeal with the union that my partner was a member of that provides the insurance to me.  I also reached out to the local hospital that runs the urgent care facility as well as the conglomerate that contracts with them to supply physicians.  I explained that the insurance claim was submitted incorrectly as an office visit.  It probably was just a typo but the more I thought about it I viewed it as a fraudulent and deceptive way for them to collect revenue that they were not otherwise entitled to.  I asked them to reimburse me for their error.  Plus I looped in the appropriate state agency's so they could start their own investigation.  I don’t give a damn who gives me back my money but I want it from someone.  If the company gives back the money I will tell the union, I’m not looking to commit insurance fraud or to make money on this, I simply want back what is rightfully mine.  I still have a right to sue but we both know that I’m not going there it would be far too time consuming and if I lost I would be out a lot more than what is owed to me.  So let’s just hope my strong words bring some swift action.  Should be interesting!

I wore my pride shirt out today. It takes some guts to put that on and go out in the world.  You just never know what kind of reaction your going to get.  I got a compliment from a waitress on it.  So far it’s been a very positive experience.  I think wearing it might just attract a guy or so I hope. 

I am all wound up and ready to burn the midnight oil, despite yawning.  The kids all want to go to bed.  Momma has already yelled at me that I am up past my bed time.  They have their routines just like I have mine.  If I disturb theirs it’s difficult but they recover.  If mine are disturbed it can throw my whole day off.  I have a love hate relationship with routines but I do like structure!

We had some wicked storms pass through the area.  Thankfully my town has power.  There are surrounding towns that don’t have power, lots of trees and power lines down.  I turned on the scanner and the power company is talking way more than the police or fire departments.  It got kind of annoying so I turned it off. 

Tomorrow I continue my laundry adventure, clean the house, give Bear his bath and prepare for Monday.  I’m not anxious like I was last Monday but I am sure it will all come together.  I still feel like I bit off way more than I can chew, I remain scared but optimistic that it’s going to fall into place.  I am sure there will be areas that I will excel in and other areas where I lack, thankfully no one is expecting me to pick this stuff up overnight.  I want to ask about a subscription to a service for some training and to further my education but I don’t know if they will cover it.  The cost is $400 for 1 year, which considering everything that is available is really cheap.  They help you prep for tests for certifications, talk about most everything under the sun that is IT related and even if your not studying for a cert you can learn something from watching.  Remember the 3 day law firm from 2 years ago?  Yeah when I asked them for the subscription that is when they fired me, after 3 days.  Thankfully my present employer has much more faith in me and I have a stellar reputation for customer service and getting shit done!  Right now I can’t afford the $300 since my recent vet visits.  However, if I get to the point where I can afford it, I will gladly make the investment.  It would do wonders for me in self confidence and help my paycheck to grow if I was able to get a cert or two under my belt.  Plus it would also make me more marketable should I ever find myself looking for a job again. 

Well Momma is throwing a small fit and before she has a canary I think I should obey her and get upstairs to pass out meds and wind down for the night.  Still watching Frankie and Grace, it’s awesome!  Take care and I hope your having a great weekend.  We shall talk again soon!

Average Saturday

As you can tell by the title it was an Average Saturday for me.  I woke up in plenty of time.  I elected not to visit the eye doctor to get my glasses adjusted.  I think I fixed that problem on my own.

I did venture to the post office but nothing there but junk.  Went on to have breakfast at Huddle House.  I got a Philly Cheesesteak Omelet and it was very tasty.  Had Toast and Grits washed it all down with a Diet Soda.  Pretty good and cheap as well.  Afterwards I came home.

Watched a movie 7 Psychopaths.  It was stupid but it was one of those movies that you wanted to know how it ends, so it compelled me to keep watching.  I squeezed in a nap and Gator was laying on me the whole time.  She has become quite the Daddy’s girl and loves to be the center of attention at all times.  It’s rather annoying to me, not to mention to her mother as well.

Got all of the cat fur off of my shirt and went out for dinner.  I visited a place that I have wanted to go to for a long time.  It’s not cheap but I have never been there.  Looked at the menu on line and was all set on a burger.  Got there and saw Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, topped with BBQ Sauce and it came with fresh green beans, two onion rings and mashed potatoes.  Holy crap that was some meal.  I dared to keep going and had the White Chocolate Blueberry Bread Pudding.  As Bread Pudding goes this was crap.  It was dry and they served it with a scoop of ice cream that was the size of a melon ball.  I enjoyed myself and had some good food.  It was nice but the whole time I kept thinking I wish my late partner were here to experience this with me.  The bill would have been double but I think he would have said the same thing I did… this is so good that I will be back!

Ventured on to the pet food store.  Got the children their food.  Then I wanted to visit the hardware store but my belly said go home.  So that is where I went.  I am still stuffed and that was several hours ago.  No more food for me, until tomorrow.

I need to pick up Water Softener Salt, but there is always a tomorrow.  My late partners vehicle is starting to act up.  Hesitating when I press on the gas, acts like it wants to die at a stop light.  Then today for a short time I couldn’t roll down any of the windows.  I kept thinking cancel the service on both vehicles and instead prepare to purchase a new one.  It’s a great idea but I am conflicted about what to do.  Part of me says move forward and the other part of me says hold off.  So doing nothing can’t hurt.  Maybe I will work it all out in therapy and then on Saturday I will get a new car.  Who knows. 

The rain here has stopped and the sun is out and it’s very hot.  This is the weekend of home coming and they always manage to pick a hot weekend for it.  I never go.  We used to visit just to see the parade and then leave.  After a couple times, that got to be old hat so we decided no more.  I thought about going back but decided to skip it. 

I picked up some gift cards.  1 for the attorney who gave me free advice and 1 for a guy at work who has helped me out time and time again.  I learned Taco Bell was his weakness.  I wrote a fan letter to Joey Graceffa and mailed that along with the gift card for the attorney. 

As for the Bankruptcy Attorney he is close and I am thinking about going down to his office.  However, if things are as I suspected that he has let all of his office staff go, the front door very well might be locked and he is under no obligation to answer.  So that could be a wasted effort.  I am planning on calling him and seeing what if any response that brings.  The whole thing makes no sense to me.  I’m asking for a status update – simple words that would take no more than 2 minutes tops if he leaves out all of the lawyer lingo and speaks in plain English. 

My friend that I had the spat with last weekend hasn’t phoned.  That is not exactly uncommon.  I was the last to call her on Monday and I figured that she would reach out to me.  She knew that I was getting my review on Friday.  I am concerned but right now I am letting her make the next move.  I am not calling her not even next Friday when I know the ceremony will be going on.  I did nothing wrong, other than snoop and find out the truth on line.  I always heard that my nose would get me in trouble and this wouldn’t be the first time and it won’t be the last time. 

I am bored with life.  The routine works to keep me functioning but it doesn’t bring me happiness.  I miss happiness and being one with another guy.  Right now I am trying to think of what to do next Friday since all I have booked is my Therapy appointment.  I may do my blood work then but what after that?  I thought about taking Marv to the vet but that isn’t something I really don’t want to do.  Not because of money but more because of how uncomfortable it will make him.  Trying to keep myself entertained is a full time job and when I plan something or come up with an idea I usually wind up talking myself out of it.  I know that isn’t healthy but it’s just how I am.

Pride is coming up and one of the gals at work is encouraging me to go.  I’ve never been to a Pride Parade or Event.  They are supposed to be fun and of course filled with guys.  I’ve got mixed feelings on this as well and doubt seriously if I will go.  There was another pride event that I didn’t know about that took place today not terribly far from home.  It was more of a surprise that it snuck up on me. 

So there is my Saturday.  Tomorrow is the kids Birthday.  So I will be trying to cater to them all tomorrow since it’s their special day.  Who am I kidding all I do is cater to them.  I try to make their birthday special even though it’s just another day for them.  Birthday’s to me are just not the same once you become an adult.

Okay well before I kill any sense of happiness you might have I am going to run along now.  Enjoy your evening and the rest of the weekend.  Monday will be calling soon enough.  Cheers!

Lunch costs how much?

Saturday

I was thinking on Friday night about taking my mom to lunch.  I put the idea on the back burner and low and behold she called me and had the same idea.  Then she went on to tell me about her continued problem with trying to refinance her home.  She filed Bankruptcy a few years back.  Something she said created a spark and I went looking. 

I was able to uncover a serious problem.  Turns out that she actually filed twice.  The first time was a Ch 13 which is a repayment plan.  That case got dismissed because her attorney at the time was arrested because he was duping his clients.  So there were meetings scheduled in her case and no one showed up for her, so the case was dismissed.  After that she was able to hire another attorney and file a Ch 7 which is what you file when you have no assets and no money.  Then you wait 6 months, go through some credit counseling and presto your all done, debt forgiven.  The problem is the Ch 13 petition lists 2 MasterCard accounts with the same bank.  The Ch 7 petition only lists 1 of them.  So there was a clerical error. 

It gets more strange.  So we pulled her credit reports from all 3 bureaus and turns out there is nothing listed that is in collections, derogatory and no mention whatsoever of the MasterCard's in any of the reports.  Now the bank she is trying to refinance through is telling her that there is a problem, but her credit report doesn’t say that.  So I am perplexed at where they are getting their information from. 

I wrote a letter to her attorney for her, she just had to sign it and explained the situation, like I was talking to a two year old and drew a picture of what occurred.  I simply asked him for help in fixing the error.  Mom said that he won’t help because it’s been too long.  I said well it’s worth a try in asking for help.  I pointed out the error and initially was quick to blame him for making it, but then I thought that might piss him off.  So I just said there is an error, left out who made it.  Honestly it doesn’t matter who is at fault, it’s better to just get it fixed and move on. 

We had lunch at TGI Friday’s and I got a bill that was the most expensive lunch I have ever had.  2 sodas, 1 salad, 1 burger, 2 pieces of Whiskey Cake and $45.00 for all of that.  Holy shit, I about had a stroke when I saw it.  Never ever going back there when I am paying for more than myself.  I should have taken mom up on her offer to buy lunch but decided against it.  Between lunch, gas and all of the paperwork I had to obtain from the Court I can easily say I dropped a lot more money than that.

I did wake up in time and got my new specs.  The lens look like they are crooked, I had the same problem with the pair I have now.  It’s going to take time to get them broken in and I will probably have to go back for adjustments.  I got them adjusted while I was there  - it was an in and out type thing 10 mins max. 

I also managed to get my hairs cut.  I had an appointment but the lady who was holding the sharp instrument was running late.  I got a complimentary scalp massage for the inconvenience, plus they gave me my neck shave for free.  Not a bad deal.  I saw a hot guy walk in while I was waiting.  He had a nice butt.  He looked at me, I looked at him and then he picked up his phone.  I was trying to glance over his shoulder, it looked like he was on a dating site but I was across the room and even with new glasses I couldn’t solve that mystery.  Then it’s my turn.  So a potential guy might have gotten away.  I figured if it was meant to be he would have said something to me.

My supper was very late and I had ice cream.  Polished off the Banana Rum Jam.  It was awesome!

Sunday

Woke up – fed the children – went to breakfast.  I don’t know how I manage to do it but no matter what I order at Steak N Shake the total always comes out even, with last week being the exception.  I wish I had the knack to be able to do that all the time, it would be even easier to manage my money.  Made the dreaded trek to the grocery store.  I didn’t get a whole lot.  On my way to the car I got an e-mail from work.  Turns out it was from my boss.  The person who was on-call had a relative pass away so she was looking for someone to take the rest of today.  I thought about it for about 1.2 seconds and then moved on.  I waited and waited finally by the time I got home and had everything put away, someone volunteered themselves.  So off the hook for that but I almost did take it.  Didn’t want it but that is another story.

I started on laundry on Saturday so it was a matter of continuing the process until everything is done.  I took a nap and slept for a couple hours, with Gator laying on me.  Woke up moved her off, rolled over and she jumped back on me.  We do this every weekend, I don’t know why she likes sleeping on me.  It’s nice but I think twice before I go to move.

Woke up went to Target to got cat litter, toothbrush refills, floss and cat treats.  Then on to the pet food store where I managed to use a coupon and got $30 worth of food for $15 – NICE.  Then I went on a little trip to a shopping center just to see what was there.  Things have changed a lot, so some new places to eat at.  Then stopped at Sam’s for gasoline and came on home. 

I want to go back out to eat but it’s simply too hot and I have been Amazoning again so better stay home.  I am thinking Lasagna and Garlic Bread.  It will fill me up and then in a few hours I can try some Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream by Ben & Jerry’s.  Hope it all tastes yummy!

On my latest quest with Amazon I have purchased a couple candles.  One is Yankee #5 which is Vanilla & Coconut, it’s amazing.  The other one was something called Volcano by some brand I never heard of.  Connor Franta (YouTuber) turned me on to it.  It’s suppose to be very good, so we shall see.  I ordered my first ever pride shirt.  It’s the American Flag in a Rainbow Design, the shirt is grey.  I was looking at Target but they didn’t have anything.  They are doing pride shirts this year via on-line only and most of the designs are sold out.  I also ordered Furnace Filters (how exciting) and I picked up some Tenga Eggs.  You can look them up online but don’t do it at work – it might cause you to blush.  They aren’t real eggs but I am very much looking forward to their arrival.

I am still waiting for my replacement headset, Amazon dropped the ball.  They created a label for shipment but that’s it.  Never placed the package with FedEx so there wasn’t anything to be delivered on Saturday.  Not happy.  I did get my money back for shipping.  Hopefully the order will be delivered on Tuesday if not then I will cancel it and get all my money back.  Thankfully I was able to glue the broken headset back together and it worked.  So I really don’t need the replacement but for peace of mind it would be nice to know that I had a backup. 

My Brother & The House

Turns out the deal is off for certain now.  Mom didn’t want to move so that caused a riff between My Brothers Girlfriend and Mom.  Doesn’t sound like things have been pleasant.  The girlfriend and the others that were staying there have moved out.  She went back to her place.  Apparently she told my mom that she ruined her life.  Yeah, well there is more than one house for sale.  It’s not the end of the world.  I am kind of relieved that it’s all over with, for now. 

Mom seems to think they are going to get married.  I said I’m not so sure about that.  She told my brother if you do get married, get a prenup.  He of course won’t listen to sage advice from someone who has been through several marriages.  If he would marry this woman and things wouldn’t work out and they faced divorce, she strikes me as the type that would take him for everything she could manage to get. 

Mom doesn’t like her.  I am not fond of her.  Mom asked me what I thought and I told her that I think she has big boobs and that is about the only thing going for her.  This girl has my brother by the short hairs and anything she wants, he gives to her.  If she wanted to fly to Paris, he would try to make it happen.  It is horrible that one person can take advantage of another person in the name of love.  It happens all the time though.  Doesn’t matter if your straight, gay, bi – man or woman.  Ah well, I have my own problems so I tend to focus more on them and less on my brother and mother. 

Other ramblings

It’s very hot here.  The AC is getting a good work out today.  Right now I am freezing in the basement with the AC going full blast and I have to pee.  Momma is nagging me to go but I want to keep on typing. 

I have looked at the forecast and it’s going to be humid all week long.  No rain until of course the weekend.  I have nothing going all week, except the usual Work – Eat – Sleep.  The weekend is another story.  My next therapy appointment will be on Saturday and this will be my first time at my therapists new office.  Rain would only add a layer of complexity in navigation.

So there you have it my weekend.  I wasn’t as bored as I thought I would be and I managed to accomplish everything that needed to be done, plus entertain my mom for a bit.  Naps were taken both days and it was nice to be able to relax and unwind.  Now it’s time to ramp up for another week of who knows what.

I did find a neat calling feature that I have with my home phone.  It’s called Exclusive Call Forwarding.  You put in up to 20 numbers that you want forwarded to a specific destination and then when someone calls their call is automatically routed to that destination.  The phone never rings at home, kind of nice.  I am using it for the attorney that I am hoping calls me back on Monday.  I can see other uses for it if you only want someone to go to voice mail or if you want certain people to be able to get ahold of you on your cell phone.  Technology is fascinating to me but I only like it when it works. 

Now it’s on to feed the children, feed myself and put away laundry.  How exciting will all of that be?  Then I get to come back to the computer and send in a mileage survey for my auto insurance.  Plus who knows where else I might surf to.  Then on to watch Nurse Jackie & John Oliver in This Week Tonight.  Then lights out hopefully I fall asleep, of course drugs (sleeping pills) will assist with that.

I do hope that you all had a productive but relaxing weekend and that your all doing well.  I shall talk with you again soon.  Until then be kind of each other.  Cheers!

IT GETS BETTER

Please give me 10 minutes of your time and watch this, it explains so much. 

Thanks Jude for sharing this with me.  It’s awesome!  Growing up gay is difficult and today we at least have some acceptance in society.

It Doesn’t Get Better!