Megachurch Pastor Comes Out

I am of two minds about this video and story. Not once in any of the stories like this do I read or hear anything referring to God, Christ, or the Gospels.  It's all about themselves and their church congregations' survival. Watch for yourself and comment, if you wish.

His personal epiphany is appreciated, but the deceit must be unbearable for many in the congregation. How does one justify building a huge congregation with a lie as its foundation?

More religious hypocrisy. 

And so it goes.
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Halloween Caturday

Sea Witch Weekend here.  Humans parade this morning, treasure hunt later, costumed animals parade tomorrow morning.  Winners announced Sunday afternoon.

Restaurant opens early today.  We're all in costume to welcome the humans before and after their parade. Sounds like fun to me. Hope to take lots of photos, but am told this is a very busy day. Full floor staff and double kitchen staff.

More later. (if I'm still standing.)
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It Gets Better...With Age.

So, stick around. This is a joyous, uplifting video that I snagged from my friend Elizabeth's site.  After viewing it and hopefully passing in on, you will indulge yourself by reading the post accompanying it. Enjoy:

Here is the link to Elizabeth's pages. Telling Secrets.

And so it goes.
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VOTE, Dammit! VOTE!

This is no time to sit by and let the teabaggers, wingnuts and other crazies who want a circa 1800 white America, take control of this country.  There is too much at stake. This arrived in my inbox this afternoon and you need to see, hear, and heed Olbermann's words.

There is a second part to this spot-on Olbermann rant, just in case part one doesn't convince you.  It's our duty dammit, and we ought never forget that.

You'll find the link to part 2 on the YouTube page. Enuf said.

And so it goes.
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Juan Williams Takes the Buckwheat Seat at Fox

 I decided to sit out the Juan Williams brouhaha and let the anger, race-baiting, and all-round stoopid run their course. I used to be a big fan of Mr. Williams until he began to work at Fox News and talking out of both sides of his mustachioed mouth. Hearing him say one thing on NPR only to say the exact opposite the next day on Faux got old really fast, and so I tuned him out. I don't know why it took so long for NPR to show him the door; it seemed a long time coming to me.

Anyway, I found this just now and, to my mind, it is right on the mark.  From Big Think and Kris Broughton:

Maybe it was a good thing that I was headed out of town the day Juan Williams got whacked by the NPR head honchos. Because it probably wouldn’t have taken more than two or three hours before I would have had to write "take your handkerchief head wearing ass somewhere and sit the hell down."
By the time I got back from the great state of Kentucky earlier this week, where people in wheelchairs and on walkers come a dime a dozen and sorely neglected teeth are de rigueur, but the populace still hates the thought of getting any help from the federal government even though government money is the only thing propping their state up these days, all I could do was watch as Magic Bishop Don Juan Williams took his pimp game to FOX News for a full-time gig.
So why do the commentators at FOX like Juan Williams so damn much?  In an excerpt from one of my own short stories, The Black Folks Guide To Survival, the main character explains why “Our Gang”, the vintage show that had a black boy in a sea of white faces, loved their black friend so much:

The only two reasons Buckwheat was in "The Little Rascals" was because he didn't challenge Spanky and the gang could laugh at him all they wanted. Is that what you want--to be a modern day Buckwheat?"

Is that what you want, Juan Williams? To be a modern day Buckwheat?

How you feel about Juan Williams often depends on how you were introduced to him and his work. If it was through his early books and documentaries there tends to be a degree of admiration for the philosophy major who became a leading political journalist.
If you discovered him after he joined the FOX News Network as a regular analyst and expressed what could be perceived as conservative views on the state of black families, you may see him as some sort of Racially-charged Judas, playing the Liberal pantomime on FOX News Sunday. 

Read the rest HERE

And so it goes.
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Decisions: Financial, Halloween, & Political

Wednesday in October and it feels more like July.  It's 82' this very moment and while there is a light breeze, the humidity is making everyone grumpy today.

The appointment with the financial adviser went well. Turns out he remembered me from the restaurant and we hit it off  right away. He explained (as best he could to one as financially dense as I) the entire process and as mentioned in the comments on the last post (thanks, everyone) it is a no brainer.  All I need to do now is complete the enrollment form, present it to the Dos Locos guys and the funds will be deferred to the new account as soon as the next pay period.

While I was out and about I did some accoutrement-hunting for the Halloween costume to be revealed at Dos Locos on Saturday afternoon. Yes, for the first time the lunch crew will be festively adorned - in rather tasteful attire, of course - to get diners into the spirit (no pun intended) of the holiday.  The night crew gets very risque, but that's them, not us.

Originally, the boss thought that I should be a Snickers Bar since it would be the least constricting, but he quickly nixed that idea when I said, "great! I can go up to people and say 'Hi, I'm a Snickers Bar, you wanna eat my nuts." He frowned and said that would be OK for the night crew, not lunch.  Here I thought nuts were good any time of day.  What do I know?

So far, I think we have The Tooth Fairy, a Southern Belle, a Police Officer, Pirate, a Ninja, and at least one very-scary clown. Zombies are discouraged, I mean, people are EATING, after all.

No, I ain't tellin' what my costume will be, but here's a hint: one accoutrement is a corn-cob pipe. That's all you get outta me.

The phone hasn't stopped ringing and I am not answering. They are political robo-calls regarding the upcoming election and I know that because not one caller has left a message. Not that anyone calls these days.

Oh, I'll be voting, unlike some LGBT folks I've encountered, because I think this is a critical election in many ways and now is not the time to sit-one-out. Not that I believe there is ever an election to sit out.  I may not be raising banners, but the process is only as good as the people and we have a stake in this one, a big stake.

(off the soapbox)

I'm flabbergasted by the events of the past week, and can't understand why this is happening to me at this time in my life. But...as I hear constantly, 'it is what it is', and that's the truth.

And so it goes.
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An Invitation and More Trash & Treasure

Yesterday the bosses formally invited me to enroll in a simple IRA (sort of a 401k, I think), of which I know nothing. The company will match up to 3% of what I choose to invest (?) if that's the correct term.  I meet with the "financial advisor" tomorrow to learn more. Financial stuff, like the stock market, have always befuddled me. I still believe the market is rigged in favor of the rich who manipulate the ups and downs with their enormous financial clout.  But, what do I know?

Never having such a thing in the past (being in a 30 year relationship can do that to you) I have so many questions; Is it right for someone my age?; how will it impact my take-home pay?; are there penalties for emergency withdrawals? While 3% doesn't sound like much, I wonder how much the deduction will deplete my already tight monthly cash flow.

Still, I feel they are looking out for my best interests and hope to garner some useful information at the meeting with the FA tomorrow morning.

In other news, I was able to empty 2 more boxes of trash and treasure.  Have another full box for the Thrift Store tomorrow, as well.

Another box contains condensed versions of major motion pictures on super 8 film with magnetic sound tracks. I no longer have the projector to view them - lost in the settlement - and the Elmo sound projector's ability to accept the larger reels was the cream of the crop back then.  There's about a dozen titles, but I have no idea if anyone would want them in this age of the DVD.  They're on 800' reels and in original cases.

 Anyone with thoughts or ideas, please share.  I would like to give them a good home with a collector who will enjoy them for years to come.

And so it goes.
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The President Contributes to "It Gets Better"

And totally blows my tiny mind.

OK, I am late to the party with this, probably because I am totally confused by his message.  Now, if I (an openly gay man) am confused, what on earth are young people thinking when the president's words are no match for his administration's actions,  DOMA, ENDA, and especially Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

It hasn't gotten better for our men in women in the military even with the latest ruling.  What is Obama's point?  To score with the progressive base for the mid-terms?  Forget that move, the GayTM is closed.

Still, I was moved by this video; this is the man I voted for and believed in.  Look carefully at the numerous edits in this piece.  Far too many for my taste.  What was deleted, and why?  I will not be taken in this time. Results, not words, are what matters as we get down to the wire. Here is the video:

Don't get me wrong, I am pleased that the PoUSA has shown an interest in Dan Savage's project, but he needs to put his pen to paper to end injustice (which he can do) instead of appealing court decisions at every turn. I will not be grateful until he grows a pair and makes real changes. Empty words don't carry water.

And so it goes.

Cable Caturday

If I had it, I could complain, too.

More later.
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On Spirit Day, Political Debate & The Hunting Trip: Part 2

As we sat on the new sofa sipping wine she scanned the room offering decorating ideas, her gaze fell and fixed on an 11X14" photo I shot years ago of my grandmother as we enjoyed coffee with chicory and beinets at the Cafe du Monde in the French Market in New Orleans. It is one of those once-in-a-lifetime shots of her in one of her favorite settings, and she is glowing.

GM: Who is that in the picture eating a piece of cake?

me: That's my grandma and it's not cake, it's a beinet. I related the whole story to her and she smiled.

GM: I never knew of this side of you. (Our glasses clinked.) I truly understand what you have been through these last few years; I was there myself not that long ago. (very personal stuff followed) I know how you feel about not being able to go out to dinner or even buy a friend a drink once in a while. I also know how this hurts you deeply; you're so used to giving, and you will again. I know it. I have been there.

The personal stuff  floored me and (to my mind) was far worse than my situation. Different, she said, not worse.

GM: Did you read the label on that bottle of wine I brought in?  No? Go get it and read that label.

The wine was called "To Hell and Back"

GM: That, my friend, is where you have been and the best part is that you are 'back'! Though you've had little support here, your friends around the country and elsewhere have supported you and that support gave you confidence and the strength to move forward. Mine was provided by the Dos Locos guys when the times were very dark and I made it through, too.

I didn't have anything to say to all this. We sat in silence for a while, sipping the Merlot. Then...

GM: You know, you need 2 more EXPEDIT bookcases for that wall to frame that large painting over in the corner, which will help cover that old thermostat in the process.

It was time to part company and this wee Irish lass with a big heart took all the packing materials, tossed them into the back of the truck, turned and gave me a big hug, and was gone.

I came back upstairs and sat on the new sofa once again. It was so still after all the noise and activity assembling furniture. Looking around at the difference a few furnishings and a single person can make, I began to cry. Quiet tears, not big sobs. The knowledge that this very private person would share such intimate details of her dark times had a calming effect; allowing for the release of 'aloneness' (is that a word?) I've held in for so long.

Exhausted and a bit drunk, a shower was taken and the bed felt warm as I drifted off to dreamless, restful sleep.

There has been a marked difference in our relationship since that day; one that is most welcome by both sides.

And so it goes.
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On Spirit Day, Political Debate & The Hunting Trip: Part 1

First things first.  Spirit Day here was an interesting success. Many people wore purple (gay and straight) and some businesses actually hung purple ribbons in their windows. Interesting because us older folks are always whining about the young'uns not being interested in what went on before; the brutal history of the movement.  Then I noticed older lesbians and gay men dining who were not wearing purple - not one of them. I randomly asked a few if they knew about the project and recent suicides behind it.  Some knew, others didn't seem to care. None wore purple.

The impression I got was "I lived through it, I've got mine, to hell with everyone else."  Nice, huh. Oh, and these very people were about to attend a candidate debate that included those running for the DE Senate seat to replace Joe Biden (the VeePee) and one is the teabagger nutcase, Christine O'Donnell who wants, among other things, to ban masturbation, hates LGBT folks with an uncanny, irrational mindset, and who makes Sarah Palin look like a Rhodes Scholar.  Enuf' said. Doubt that I'll elaborate on this crazy one.

It was disappointing to hear people my age who've survived, thrived, show no emotion regarding the current situation involving our young folks. Again, I detected an attitude of "I had no one to help and support me, so why should I support these kids." Maybe it IS true that we turn into our oppressors.  I hope not.

Back tracking to Tuesday and the Hunting  Adventure. The Gen. Mgr. picked me up promptly at 8 am. We arrived at the IKEA in Pennsylvania at 10:10 am (the store opened at 10 am. - good timing) and oh - my - G*d I was blown away. The place is huge and as she steered me through the maze of departments, stopping here and there to test a piece of furniture, I had an epiphany.  This is where I was supposed to be for useful, decorative, practical furnishings for a small apartment.

Having gone online and printing  pictures, specs, and location of the items I liked, I thought we'd head to these areas first, but that's not how the store is organized and I am SO glad it isn't. I found almost everything I was looking for in the most surprising places. I found the 3 items I was hunting for - apartment size sofa, chair, and bookcase - over the course of an hour, throwing away printed pages I brought with me. I came home with more than I hoped to find, adding a few new words to my vocabulary. Words like KLIPPAN, EXPEDIT, EKTORP, LEKMAN, and KNIPSA.

I also purchased a few kitchen items and the total still came in under what was budgeted for. Well, not in the budget, exactly, but what I planned to put on a credit card. With the extra pieces the total was $45.00 less than expected.

The GM picked up a few cabinets for herself (renovating the kitchen of the house recently purchased, and we made our way to the aisles and bins containing our purchases.  Ten minutes, 2 flat carts and a shopping cart later, we were in the checkout line. Another 15 minutes and the truck was loaded and we were homeward bound. On the way the GM stopped at what I think has to be the largest wine store in this country. The size of a supermarket it boasted wines from even the most obscure countries one would never imagine producing a fine wine.

Arrived at my place and the GM pulled the truck into the driveway next to my apt. We (she) unloaded the goods spreading everything around the living room floor. As she began to rip off the packaging I took the smaller items into the kitchen or bedroom where I began to unpack and assemble those requiring it. I thought she would be finished with me and would head home, but I was very wrong. We put the sofa together then she disappeared and returned with a bottle of wine just purchased; handed it to me and asked, "you have a corkscrew? good, open it and pour two glasses."

As I did so, she began to assemble the bookcase (without my help) telling me - as I handed her a glass of a new Cabernet - that she had put many of these together and it would be best if I just kept her glass refreshed, which I did.

When it was assembled, her bottle consumed,  I opened a bottle of Merlot and we sat on the new sofa, sipping wine and resting our glasses on the tray of the storage ottoman I purchased for just this purpose (Turn over the top reveals a serving tray) and it felt so right. Now, 2 bottles of wine under normal circumstances would bring on a buzz in the best of us, but we had no breakfast and only a hot dog for lunch. And this is when she opened up...

Sorry, it's not meant to be a cliffhanger, I need to process this more so I don't get all teary-eyed when I finally write this part of the "hunting trip" - I just need to understand it more to write and do justice to the moment. 

Besides, I am pretty overwhelmed, and mentally exhausted by events of the past week. The brain is on overload...

And so it goes.
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I'm Back...Almost

Busy here this week with much to write about. The hunting/shopping adventure, candidate debate, Internet Training, and much more. Plenty to do at work - with the new responsibilities - and with the addition of Webmanager things will get busier.  Great for the dark, cold winter months ahead.

More later, I promise.
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