It's Going Fairly

 The Beast's return to The Camp, has been hindered by One Factory Rim.  Shelter Insurance will not release it unless it is in Prime Condition.  One Factory Rim

Other than that, I have met actually, a Man, who knows life's Best and Worst, I believe he will turn out to be a good friend.  He Has a Good Job, He has a Place to Live with the Key in his Pocket, He has a Good Old Boy Truck..... a working man.... Not a Boy Friend nor a Lover...  but a Friend...

I'm happy... as I have always been... just a lil bit more exceptional today.... Fairly Well... I would have to say.

Comments from the Last Entry

 Gentlemen:

Pickin' friends in a  community that only has 123,000 people in the a geographical area of 1232 square miles, means for the most part, if you live in Rapides Parish, you belong to a non socially acceptable sub culture, there you are likely to know, have knowledge of, had been associated with or associate at one time, ALMOST All known members of that societal subculture, our Gay Life is non existent, the last gay bar closed 7 years ago.

When you think about where y'all live, then think about the rural life here, where almost three quarters of the entire parish  population is housed in or lives in an area of about 18 square miles, you run into most folks at lest once a month.

People in my category, successful folks, are looked upon as to give our "blessings" out... Its a Rural Southern Thing, The late Governor John McKeithen, slogan was .... "Can't Ya Help Me". 

If I truly discarded folks, I would not have the social or ethical standing that I have in this community or area. Even the dead beats deserve to be treated in a kind way, As Governor Earl K Long said, "Give 4 Bits, they worth that". Gentlemen ..... 2 Bits, 4Bits 6Bits a Dollar.. All Stand Up and Holler.

I should have explained my self more...... This parish, 1232 square Miles of it has So Economically  depressed, when you have .. locals saying is " All is  here are.....Po Folks and Pine Trees"

Awake..... !!! My Rant!!!!

 Last night, actually at 830pm Friday evening, I retired to my cold bedroom, to snuggle under my cotton blankets and Red Land Cotton Sheets....  I so love those sheets

But now its 1:10am Saturday Morning, I felt compelled to write a small social commentary.

Years ago, Years ago in the Gay World that I was raised in, every guy had a job, didn't matter what job, it wasn't so status driven. O, Yes, there were a few "Kept Boys" around but not many, and of those they usually worked in the same business as their Dear Daddies worked in, mostly Florist, Speciality Shops etc.

The majority of this Gay World of the late 70s, 80s, 90s, and a few years into the 00s saw a gay workforce, but most if not all had some source of income independently of a Partner, Daddy, Lover, etc etc...

Most had a key to where they resided at.... this thing of "couch surfing" not having or knowing what bed you were going to count on for the night was somewhat unheard of.  O, you had the cases where Larry kicked out Bobby, but that was soon remedied by a good Samaritan .......

Now days this is not the norm..... not here in Central Louisiana.... where there are gay men who haven't worked in two to four years, living off each other as leeches, ... drugs to the max, selling drugs... and not working.... asking for for a 10 or 20 dollar bill, to buy cigarettes.... Shameful and Shameless at the same time.......

That My Rant ending at 1:20AM....... I

A Polling Place, Time Remembered.

 As I usually don't post people or places,  I thought it might be nice to show the polling place where I have voted for the last 31 years here in the Lil City by the Red.  Its the first public high school build here and with it Monolithic Stance among the Live Oaks that surround the site, which  stands out on Vance Avenue.

The first is the school it's self, Named for a Family here, the second is the annex where the gym is housed and the third is the entrance to the gym, gym's lobby where the powerful, mighty, and glorious Bolton Bears listed their championships of generations passed.

It's Nice to Still have Contacts

 I was in need of a new license plate for the Beast, The other was lost in the Mario Anderitti Chase in the lower country ...  

I called my old contact with the OMV, he said come over now, come thru thru back door...  So as per instructions...  I did just that..... Thru the back door, saw him, he said give me the registration paper and your bank card.... ten minutes later, with a lobby waiting for hours, I was out the back door, with my new plate.. 

Thank Full.... Yes I am... totally......  its just nice to still have those contacts ... !!

Here.... There....

 Well ... the repair shop said the Beast will be ready soon... "soon"

If it wasn't for such a dear friend as Mr. who owns the local Ford dealership, lending me a Lincoln MKZ, I would be on a bicycle... that has given rise to what I am considering next in the transportation area... some electric bike...  I rode one the other day, six rounds of the pedal got me me to 22 mph.  Hitting the back streets around town might be the ticket to going to have supper and bike there.. 

Its just a thought and many thoughts these days fly thru my lil head.

Its fairly nice weather, the cold went away and I'm back to short pants, canvas shoes, and t-shirts...

Tonight, I'm cooking pork chops on the ceramic grill, fast, hot.   I've been invited to bring the main course for supper, which is across the street at the teacher's home.  This fourth time I have been over there, most of the times she comes over here...   I seasoned the chops with Oink last night so they will have a good crust on them.. .. Oink is the preferred pork seasoning here in the Lil City by the Red.

Being Humble is Always Good

 Yesterday, was Truth Day here in the lil city by the red, the person who was appointed to the city council slot by pressuring some members of the city council basically lost, receiving on 47% of the vote.

When a sitting official doesn't win the first time, it is worth believing that person won't win in a run off.

The  being mean of the above person shown through yesterday, bulliness, etc... helped the other two candidates.

The above person needs to learn to be humble... if this person does not, the person won't be elected.

Gettin' Out

 Today, I made my trek to get my blood work done, for my  ev6 month test, for my hiv..... somehow getting out of the house freed my soul for some reason, I went on to go check on the Beast at the repair shop, call my law practice  friend, called some Public Affairs people I had not spoken with, etc.  

Also I published for the first time a photograph on a scene from my neighborhood... an empty wooden rocker, with back pillow and a half full wine glass.... it seemed appropriate given the day of my awakening..... 

It captured the moment in time that I was feeling, Half Full  but Not Half Empty

Sunday..... Almost Noon

 Its Sunday and almost Noon.  ... Sitting at the counter in the kitchen, we never had a counter in the kitchen, Momma's home, actually my Grandmother's house that was built when the big house burned in 1914 had this enormous kitchen with a kitchen table were 8 could sit.   

I'm not sure why that just popped into my mind, but it did.. . I just received my last two "bowlegged" bar stools made by American Chairs of Chicago, IL.  I ordered one, just to see if I liked it and the quality of it.  

Amazing it took 6 weeks to make and ship here to Louisiana.  After receiving the first one, I decided to purchase two more.  

There is the "Bowlegged" Counter Stool by American Chair, in the same top top, it swivels, and has a good cushion for sitting.  The frame is welded, not screwed and it comes with a two year warranty.  American Made... Union Made as the Company describes itself.  

So, here I am at the kitchen counter, thinking of the past, the present, and what do I need to do tomorrow.  I am determined to leave the house and go take a few photos of local political events.. Since on Saturday there will be local elections.

Tis Friday

John and Bob have invited me to supper tonight, I haven't been out to supper or any activity since July 31st.  

Grocery shopping is done by an app, then delivered to my home.  I did manage to go to the dry cleaners today to deliver some dirty shirts and pick up my pressed shirts.  Its getting cold here, temps are in the 50s and low 60s during the day and upper 30s during the night.

I haven't purchased any firewood, I did have the fireplace cleaned tho.

 I just don't feel the mood, my tempo is off, my mood is melancholy ... very much so.... disgruntled.... sour.... and other adjectives!!!!

One blogger says get out of the house, get on with life... good advice, but I am not feeling it...

I have to put on a smile, fresh starched shirt, take a bath, brush my teeth, and adjust the few strands of hair left on the top of my head ... we are having Ziti with a Caesar salad and I am bringing a bottle of Malbec.

Fridays was always a great day for me, I thought I would might try to do that again soon.  Friday Lunch... invite a few folks. Dutch Treat Mind You.

The Feeling

 The Dogs Bark....... But the Caravan Moves On.... So says an Arabic Proverb which use to hang in one of my Warden's Offices years ago...... 

I hear the Dogs Barking...... I feel the wind in my face.... I take one step at at time.... to ....

Move Forward.....   

Its not an easy process.... I have never been unemployed since 1974..... I feel myself becoming bitter, a bitter old man...... men my age are dying all around me... I see that in the obit......

Its a bitter time for me..... Thinking I will pull out of it....  There is Hope .... I just don't know how much Hope