Coming Back and Stayin' Too

You know its Thanksgiving each year by the influx of "returning" gay men and women into the City.

Each TG, the "ones" that left, drift back into our lil City on the Red River.  For the most part they come back to see Momma and Daddy or what's left of their families... Sisters, Brothers, Aunties and Uncles... etc...

I took one to lunch today, Chip, he works in the medical field in Cinnantti Ohio, boy made good as they say down here..  Then there is Kevin, executive vp to some firm in CA, Matt made it good in NM in the social welfare privatization field, and the list goes on and on...

They all left, cause for one reason or the other, family pressure, uncomfortable social atmosphere, bigger brighter futures....

There is some irony in it tho... the "ones" that stayed should be given more credit, enduring family pressure to marry the "right" woman, telling Momma and Daddy..that "No Thank You"... I'm not the marrying kind..!!.. They faced the church crowds, the stares in the restaurants, the gossip at the football games, the questioning by their siblings as "what are you thinking".... etc etc...

And Now... everyone can get married... that's the next social hurdle for us here in our lil City by the Red River... the boys and girls (in true Southern Tradition, Gay Men and Women remain..boys and girls to their families and close relatives).

We need them to marry and Come Back and Stay Too..... some are reaching retirement age...

Come On Back... Boys and Girls.!!!!

Taking Note

Monday Monday

The neighborhood carpenter is coming this morning to put a few shelves in some cabinets and work on my deck. The new wine cellar, a Transtherm, made in France, will arrive today.

Taking note: Brettcajun, listed on my blog rolls has ended his blog.  So, this year, I have had one blogger pass away "the cajun" 'On Transmigration'  and then Brettcajun deciding to end his blog.  Maybe he might return, but I doubt it.  He also, took all his postings down.  I have not run into any other blogs that I would deem interesting, heart felt, and thoughtful to replace or add to the blog roll. And I am not sure what this says about blogging at the moment.... nothing profound reaches into my mind.

I have to say that the Governor Elect first quote is right on track...

"We will be very inclusive and moderate..and govern from the perspective of being Louisianans first"
Governor Elect John Bel Edwards

Cast Ya Vote

Its Election Day in Louisiana....

Edwards, a Democrat, Blue Dog, (no relationship to the previous Gov) Vs  Vitter, Totally Conservative until you get to the Bed (current Republican US Senator).

Its a dog eat dog, nasty till the end, throw crap, Fight.... !!!

But, since everyone has a very very very VERY BAD TASTE that Bobbette Jindal has left in everyone's mouth... I think... ...... Edwards might have a fighting chance.....  He has been endorsed by one of his Republican Opponents, endorsed by the Sheriff's Assoc.... and numerous other groups..

Just have to see if Edwards can turn our lil Red State a shade of semi blue... mixing Blue with Red... gives you Purple.... we can be a Purple State.. the only one in the country...

I'll be casting my Vote for ........... drum roll... John Bel Edwards....

Just.....So....!!!

Today, before I headed to the office, I received a knock on the door, it was the local florist, with a delivery.

"Please, do come in Sir, .... flowers for me..... gee... "

The flowers were from Bill, from Salt Spring Island BC.  Such a nice gesture..Such a Gentleman.  The florist told me that Bob/John received the same arrangement that I received.  Bill stayed with Bob/John during his brief visit.

Manners abound in the gay community doesn't it.... we are very thoughtful folks... to send flowers is such a truly nice thought and gift....

Just a fine Gentleman... Bill ...!

Note to Self

Today was appointment day for the Dr and the Dentist.

Well, all is pretty fair with me except my sugar is slightly elevated, I had too many old fashions on the Sunday before the blood work on Monday. Also,  I have been hitting the bread/pasta, so more veggies etc.  White Count/Red Count was very good, Liver Functions Perfect,  triglycerides  a lil more, where's the fish oil, weigh is holding well..... Pretty fair report.

I go have blood work 4 times a year for the Internist, then 4 times a year my PSA is check for the Urologist in San Antonio, then twice a year I am given a stress test for the A-Fib by the Cardiologist,  and then three times a year for the Dermatologist.  ..so I believe I am very well taken care of with all the blood work, stress test, poking and prodding..... Modern Medicine at your service.

Last night, John/Bob had a friend from Salt Springs, British Columbia down for a visit.  I made seafood gumbo, went into the wine cellar and broke open some ChdP and a few Sonoma County Cabs.  Made a fire in the fireplace, entertained the group and it was a very nice night, no one under 50 was there. The conversations flowed..... so did the wine..... Good Time was had by all.

A note to self:   Have more "Over 50" Suppers......

Very Very

I sit here, looking out my side window onto my new fence between my neighbor and me.  I built the fence to help secure my side yard and offered to have her side gate move up also, it increased her side yard also.

Good Fences make good neighbors.

My other neighbors haven't communicated with me, only to say hello just once.  They are from out of state, transplants, "come heres" as the locals say.  Our block has extended the hand of friendship, but they must be mountain folk, these new neighbors, we (the block/neighborhood) did find out that he teaches at the Baptist College here, Louisiana College.  Its a very very conservative Baptist College.

I hope these new neighbors understand that they are living in one of the gayest parts of this lil city on the Red River.  I think, they,  from their facial expressions, when they do drive out their driveway, are  not very very Happy. We (the block/ neighborhood) tend walk on Saturday afternoons around 5pm, with our cocktails, visiting each other front porches.  We gather on the sidewalks, talk local politics, the condition of our brick streets, and who has seen the neighbors of the previous discussion.  We are in somewhat of an amazement, that  everyone has  knock'd  on their door, welcoming them, but to no avail.  Oh Well...

I hope everyone has a Very Very Good Week

Mournful Thursday....... Justin....Lost in a Haze.

It's Thursday, yesterday, it was a balmy 82..humid, today I woke to a nice 60 temp.  So goes Fall in Louisiana.

I went back on Grindr this week, under a generic photo.  I am amazed at the "parTy" guys on the site.  All hawking their wares and hook-ups.  With a city, without a gay bar, this is the new cyber bar.  It's a sign of our times, drugs have always been around the gay scene. I'm sure most or certainly about everybody has done some type of stimulant to enhance a night of wild abandonment.

It is just a  commentary to what this town has seen, from poppers to ecstasy to a lil coke....now its the poor man's high... Meth... the T in the parTy.  The effects are so awful... this T... Certainly, I am not advocating for poppers nor any drug.  The "out" is not being Out, But, I have seen so many of those tweak'd  out guys, out and up for days, strung out, weirded out..brain is fried guys....

Years ago, Justin, was a blond headed, blue eyed 18 year old came up on my porch, stating his sexuality, he was the dream of so many men... young, handsome, built, full of Vim and Vigor... now... he is in jail, at the age of 35... having had a long road of drug addiction... mainly contributed to Meth and mood altering pharmaceuticals.  His latest foray... note: he was in recovery, meeting at a local Catholic Church. Well....and Then....... he entered the Chapel one night, a couple of nights ago.... before this foray had ended... he had taken the Crucifix from the Alter and stuffed it in the toilet of the Church..among other disgraces.

All... contributed to a local gay T parTy...he had attended... A Mind and Body Ruined..

a sad commentary on a Life Lost for now.

Note:   I cast no stone also, I was a participant also, I just see how the parTy circuit is gaining another breath of air and momentum.  I hope Justin does gather his Self and find a path. Before it totally ruins him.

Sunday Sunday

Sunday, around mid day.  I had the gang over last night, for a beef burgundy stew and greens from Inglewood.

Festive Time was had by all according to the count of empty wine bottles this morning.  I'm a lil tired, but other than that... all was ok.... Cooking and entertaining go hand in hand here on the banks of the Red River, I cooked all day.  Then entertained till about 1030pm last night.... worn out.

It rained here all day yesterday, then a cool front, came through, for most of the country it is a cool front, to here in the deep deep South, its a Cold Front.

Working in the yard this afternoon, tiding up the fire pit area and cleaning up a lil bit.

I had a visitor this morning, Edward, stopped in.  He dropped in on me, catching me up on the events in his life.  He left the State Work, for the private business world about 9 months ago.  I think he realizes that it might have Not been such a good decision. I have known Edward, for 23+ years now, met him when he was going dating a friend of mine.  Watched him graduate college, his transformation from country gay boy to a mature man,  has held many wonderful observations,  over these years. Edward, announced to me, that he was 4 months sober on this trip back home.  Another transformation on  Life's Path.

I'm always proud of the men that are in my circle and Edward is no exception.  He's a lot more intuitive than some.  I am glad he came to the decision that he needed to be sober.  Maturity has sometimes, passed Edward by, but I can say this time it didn't.

The retreat scheduled for this week for the unclassified staff has been canceled.  I am glad, I didn't want to drive across the state.  I was going like a good employee should, with a smile on, but now, I can smile for not going too.


Great Sunday here on the banks of the Red River.

Easin' into November.

Nothing Profound or Even Entertaining.


We have had many many inches of rain here in the last few days, I think about 11inches in some areas of the Parish..


 Not much is happening, other than a few parties, seems that the Season, will be sort of short, nothing over the top, its just a lil' chill time..

I do have to attend a governmental retreat here next week, out of town, its will be held in a small rural community in the SE part of the state, within close proximity of the college I attended.  I haven't been back over that way in many years.  I think I will travel the old roads of time and memory when I do go over there.