Two Things

We are in the middle of our August Heat Wave, but its really the end of July.

Yesterday, it was 98 degrees at 5 pm, 95 degrees at 8 pm, ..with humidity hovering at about 75 to 80 percent..makes for a grueling day.

So, if the trend continues, August and September are going to scorchers. I have friends coming to New Orleans in mid August for two conventions. They are from up North... Too Bad that they will smother .. sweat at two steps out the door of the hotel... drank more beer than the law allows... and be damn glad to board that plane back to Chicago or where ever they are from.. above the Mason Dixon Line.

Its just Louisiana... in the last throws of an Indian Summer... its just early this year.

On to another topic....

This morning I got a call from my former partner who lives up in the DC area. He has been through a lot in the recent months. John seems to make poor choices in life. He has bounced around from one relationship to another over the last 18 years that I have known him. I was his first relationship, he was young, just out of rehab, I was some what young, but heading into my early 30s, leaving a failed marriage, so we both had our baggage.

As we grew to love each other, we had good times, turbulent good times, piss poor times, but all in all it was a growing adventure for both of us. Our careers got in the way, we were both doing well, he had just graduated from the flag ship university after a stint in the Navy and I was well on my way up the career ladder in the doc.

Basically his career in landscape architecture was leading him to a life in a big city. Well the inevitable happened, I got a job offer to move up to where I presently live at, he got a job offer to move to H Town.

We tried to hold it together, but you can't have a long distance relationship without some parameters and goals to rejoin.

We broke up.

He then went on from H Town to Big D then headed out to DC all with different men. He was searching for something, I really don't know what. We keep in touch through out the years, John telling me how this lover and that lover was going to do this and that for him. But each one was just didn't turn out how John planned it. They all went bust. The last two, were the worst. John let them suck all his money from his inheritance out of him.

Then in the last recent months, John develops cancer of the stomach, goes through a lot of crap..figurative, maybe actually ..but the partner he is with now, seems to be trying to get rid of him, abuse him. John has had the ability to choose badly, or let what he thinks is love take hold only to have his expectations diminished with reality.

So, today I got a call from John. Telling me of his dilemma and just needing some support.

As much as you care for a person, we all make our own path in life to some extent. Critical decisions are made over time.

I have offered in the recent past for John to come back to La. His mother and father are now passed, all except one sibling is passed, a sister is the only one and she lives about 125 miles from here. His sister must care for a mental challenged child. So she can only give limited support to him.

I do know that I care for him very much. I know that I can in time help him and give him that stable environment where he could get back on his feet.

But will John come home....

Well.....

Its been a long time since July 1st.

Getting back into the groove of working five to six days a week is hard.

Establishing a routine, having now 275 employees, $75M of your tax dollars to account for, but I am back at it...rolling right along.

Not having to work but working to improve something is a wonderful time. I wake up in the morning, head to work by 630am, open the door of the office and look out onto my lil govt world. ... Tis a good feeling that I am starting to make a slight difference.. .... slight I say... miniscule ........ ever so careful I tweek the system. ..

We are Vox Populi .... Working for the People.

Well....

been interesting. the comings and goings of the politics that i am involved in now.

just to make it simple, i have ran into some novices....

the guy that took my place made a faux paux today... you just don't go from the bottom to the top. in his position he should always go on an equal level... top to top.. he went from the bottom of the food chain...he should realize he is a big dog and big dogs bark and eat big dogs...don't play in a puppy pen... get in the ring with the dogs that are equal to you.

well... i am learning a lil bit more of the internal workings of the new govt agency that I am in ... interesting to say the least.

if i stay there till dec. it will be not a miracle but just amazing..!!!

It's been interesting.... the new job that is.

Moving from one govt agency to another takes lil getting use to.

But then there is the constant personnel matters, etc etc.

At least I do have something to fall back on if it all goes hay wired.

I have decided to take the transition slow, learn the basic ins and outs of their system. Chill out for a lil while. So in the end, it will be my system too.... just not theirs.

And Harvey....no ...ain't no one chasing me... i am bout to hit the double nickel... i am way pass the age difference ...

just a settled old man.... but thanks for spiking my esteem.

So, Tis Sunday !!!!!!

The democrat staffer is still here with me.

He said he is moving on after the office for the Senator is opened and up and running here next week. Ethan said he will be going by this Wednesday.

Its been another experience with living with another person. I have grown very settled in my lil' routine. I am glad that Ethan came along, just from the stand point that it has helped me in understanding a lil more about myself, once again....yes once again.

The job is in full swing. Being a political appointee myself now, I have gained a new dimension to my life.

It is taking a lil' bit of adjusting to the attention and scrutiny.

I am recognized at every event and anywhere I go. I do not like the attention. I hope all of this fades away FAST.

Today I get a call from an old friend who is working with Senator ML on her re-election campagin.

The Old Friend, who served as one of the first AA women on the La Board of Parole, she is no longer there due to our indian giver, who is now in office, well...she called me and wanted to impose on me a lil bit.

So, now I have Ethan, staffer for Senator ML going to be "bunking" at the house with me for a few days until he finds a place to live in the grand ole city on the Red R.

Be interesting to see what Ethan looks like and get his take on the Deep South, since he is from up state NY.

and the world goes on.

The pic on this page is of the Episcopal Church at the end of my street (which by the way I attend)

We had fireworks on the River for the Fourth of July. I have always wanted a pic of the fireworks over the steeple of St J's.

So, I got my opportunity the night of the 4th.

Roy was taking pics also.

Its been a lazy weekend, but my week starts up big time tomorrow, as I am back in the grind, headed to the office early, riding the Bull once again.

I have decided to write about all of that very soon. .... getting back into the world of politics wasn't my plan. Taking pictures, and living the life of Riley was the plan...but plans do change...ya know.

Well...Joshie must have been good luck.

The Fat Lady sung, had a sore throat but sung a wonderful Ava Maria.

Its a done deal.

Thanks for all the support.

t