For absolutely no reason whatsoever and apropos of nothing, I give you the color of the cars I've owned.
Grey/silver
Blue
Blue
Grey/silver
White
Gold
White
Grey/Silver
POLT
Showing posts with label Belle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belle. Show all posts
Friday, July 19, 2024
Monday, November 27, 2023
SO, how was my Thanksgiving holiday weekend? Why thanks for asking. Here we go.
Wednesday, the county closed at 1pm. My co-worker Rachel agreed to work the remaining 3 hours since she was already working Thanksgiving and the day after, both holidays.
I left work and went to the tire place. I had made an appointment the day before the get two tires replaced. And I did...and damn they were expensive! After that I spent the night here at the house just relaxing and doing nothing.
Thursday, I got up and watched all the Bob's Burgers Thanksgiving episodes while putzing around on the computer and drinking my coffee. I did shower, but not shave, and then left for mom's, getting there about 11:30. We ate at noonish. And, as always, it was delicious! Turkey, stuffing, mashed taters, gravy, sweet taters, corn and cherry pie for dessert. She also had sour kraut and oysters, but only she and Howard ate those, as I don't like either of those. Then, after cleaning the table, we sat around an chatted until about 2, when I got my leftovers and came home.
Getting here I putzed around online a bit more, and then settled in to do my Christmas Cards while watching the end of the Packers-Lions game and all of the Cowboys decimation of the Washington team (the Commanders is a stupid name and I try not to use it). It took me 4 hours and 15 minutes but I got them all filled out, in the envelopes, address, stamped and return address stickers on. After that, the last game was on, but I wasn't in any mood to watch the Niners dominated anyone, even the Seahawks. So about halftime I think I turned it off, went to bed, read some and was on my phone before going to sleep.
Friday, for some reason, I woke up early, like before 7 and couldn't get back to sleep. So I got on my phone for a bit. And then I made contact with a fuckbuddy and soon thereafter, he was here for some bedtimesexxyfun. After he left, I putzed around the house not doing too much of anything really, until
Mom came in. Despite having a real bad knee and getting it replaced tomorrow, she came in and "helped" me decorate the Christmas tree. It took about an hour to get everything I wanted done, and it was great to hang out with her and have her help, as always.
Afterwards the Jets-Dolphins game came on mid-afternoon. The first ever game on Black Friday. Hopefully, it's a regular occurance. After that I did pretty much what I did all day: nothing. Did order some wings from Dominos and devoured them. But that was really it.
Saturday I got up and got to work. It was a thankfully uneventful day, so I go caught up on a lot of paperwork I needed to. Upon leaving work I just came home because Saturday was also my birthday, ! turned 56. I watched some crap on TV, and then started to actually watch Good Burger 2. No seriously I did. I had enjoyed All That back in the 90s (even though I was like 30 when I was watching Saturday Nights before going out to the gar bar), and so I wanted to check this out. It was fine. I don't even know that it was a 'good' movie. But considering what it was, what it was based on, it was fine. And I did literally laugh out loud a few times.
But I didn't watch it all the through in one setting, because I got a text from another fuckbuddy, and so he came over shortly and we had some bedtimesexxytfun! However, after he left, I did finish it. And then eventually I did go to bed.
Oh also, can't believe I forgot! Before Good Burger 2 I watched the first of the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials! With Russell T Davies writing and David Tennent and the Doctor, and thank GOD they're both back. This was THE best episode I have seen since they left the series back in...what, 2010? 2011? I don't know but it's been a LONG time! And then after this, my friend FDot and I spent about an hour and a half on the phone, talking about many things, including Doctor Who!
Sunday morning, I woke up about 530 with stomach cramps and had to use the toilet. I blame it on my cleaning up the Thanksgiving leftovers Saturday night for supper. But I couldn't get back to sleep afterwards. So after laying in bed on my phone for awhile, I got up, dressed, and got groceries, then had breakfast, drank my coffee and read some. Also, at the grocery store, I got myself a slice of that layered rainbow cake these sell there, for a late birthday cake thing. Ate it after lunch and supper.
For lunch I ordered a Big Boy Sub from Toledo's (YUM) and then settled in the watch some football. I had run the dishwasher Saturday night, this Sunday then was laundry day. And I did a load of clothes. While watching football tho, I was contacted by yet ANOTHER fuckbuddy, who later came over for some bedtimesexxyfun. Afterwards, I just watched football, paid some bills, got some cards ready to mail and did little else.
Monday morning, for whatever reason I got up at 630 (i am NOT a morning person and I hate that I do this on my days off). I got my coffee from Rutters and when I had finished, I went to the Post Office, to Advance Auto for some new wiper blades. And even though he wasn't the one to help me, that amazingly HOT guy with the big bubble butt was still working there. Damn, his ass is SO FINE.
Anyhow, after this I went to Wal-Mart for a few things, stopped at AC&T for a sub for supper, came home and started a load of sheets in the laundry. For lunch I made pasta, and spent the afternoon watching TV or on my phone or laptop.
Also, I called mom with some phone numbers to give to Howard. She's having her knee replaced tomorrow morning, and will spend a night in the hospital, but Howard will stay there. If everything goes well, I'll just swing by after work. But I wanted Howard to have some work numbers in case there's complication or whatever (God forbid), and he can call me.
Also, yesterday mom made some chocolate chips cookies, but she forgot to put something in them and they look like, according to her, "pancakes". There's too many for her and Howard to eat alone, so on their travels today, they brought a bag into me. And they taste fine, even if they don't look like her cookies usually look.
So for supper I had half of the sub, and now I on the laptop waiting for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to come on at 8pm. Then I might go to bed a bit early, cause I am feeling tired, and it's work again tomorrow.
And that, friends, is how the Thanksgiving Holiday went.
This week looks to be busy as I work all week, Thursday and Friday I have to go in early as Rachel's taking off, after work Tuesday I'm going by the hospital to see Mom, Wednesday after work I'm to see yet, yet ANOTHER fuckbuddy for some fun, and Thursday after work I have a Cut N Color. Whew.
And some pics from the weekend:
POLT
Monday, October 28, 2019
Okay kids.....my day.
Last night, I got things ready cause I had a whole tons of errands I wanted to run and get done today. I got out of bed at 8 (early for me on a day off), showered, had a quick breakfast of yogurt, took my morning meds, grabbed my bag full of all the things I'd need and headed out the door, ready to go first to Rutters to get my coffee.
And the car didn't start. At all.
Called mom, she came in and we jumped the car. Drove it out to the mechanic who said he'd check the batter this afternoon, if he had time, cause the morning was crazy busy. So no car for the morning, and possibly longer.
Mom, however, did not need her car today, nor does she need it tomorrow, so I could at least use her car, if need be. But still, I had an aching headache...whether from the stress of what happened, or worrying about why might need done, or just not having any caffeine yet, well who knew.
I took mom's car and headed home, but before I got out of her retirement village she texted me to come back. So I did. And when I got there, she had a cake she wanted me to drop off at her brother's place on the way in. I took the cake, took it to my uncle's, gave it to his wife, and started home.
And I thought to myself, "This day just sucks. I'm just going to go home and lay on the couch and try to forget it." But then I thought, "NO! No, I have all the stuff prepared I'm just gonna go do it."
Stopped at Rutters, got my coffee. Came back home, got my bag of stuff. Went to the Post Office and mailed some things. Went to CVS, I had a whole string of coupons for a bunch of stuff. Ended up getting it all and the bills was $161 and some cents. BUT, after all the buy one get one free stuff and all the coupons, the final bill was 100 dollars EVEN! Who gets a 100 dollar EVEN bill? This guy right here.
Went to the Credit Union to deposit some rolled coins and checks. No one was there, I was the maze of ropes (not that I had to, but because I like mazes) and got right up to the teller.
Then I drove to Hagerstown....and encountered no real traffic, even though I went through downtown! Got to the Mall, went to Hallmark, got my cards for November. Wandered through two other stores, but didn't buy anything.
Went to Ollies. Found a bunch of books and stuff, and used my 15% of entire order coupon!
Went to Sams. Got gas for mom's car, cheap (just $2.39 a gallon, most places around here are more than 2.50 a gallon) and then went inside to get a few things I needed (including another book).
Risked getting onto I-81, but there was little traffic and went to Jersey Mike's for one of their amazing subs! Brought it home (again, risking I-81, and again, there was next to no traffic and no problems merging) and devoured it.
Then I hung out doing not a whole lot, still stressing about the car. But I was here barely and hour and a half before he called and said they replaced the battery. Since that battery was just put in three years ago, it was still under a warranty, so he'll discuss that with the battery guy when he comes to restock the batteries, and then send me an invoice. And i could come and get the car.
SCORE!
I went to pick up mom, drove us to the garage, got the car. We both went back to her house, where we talked (and I had a piece of pumpkin pie she made) and then came home.
And I've been just sitting here reading and being online and shit since then.
I'm really glad today went better than expected, cause I KNOW tomorrow at work, especially the morning, is going to be a Day From Hell.
Ah well, nothing I can do about that until tomorrow....
POLT
Last night, I got things ready cause I had a whole tons of errands I wanted to run and get done today. I got out of bed at 8 (early for me on a day off), showered, had a quick breakfast of yogurt, took my morning meds, grabbed my bag full of all the things I'd need and headed out the door, ready to go first to Rutters to get my coffee.
And the car didn't start. At all.
Called mom, she came in and we jumped the car. Drove it out to the mechanic who said he'd check the batter this afternoon, if he had time, cause the morning was crazy busy. So no car for the morning, and possibly longer.
Mom, however, did not need her car today, nor does she need it tomorrow, so I could at least use her car, if need be. But still, I had an aching headache...whether from the stress of what happened, or worrying about why might need done, or just not having any caffeine yet, well who knew.
I took mom's car and headed home, but before I got out of her retirement village she texted me to come back. So I did. And when I got there, she had a cake she wanted me to drop off at her brother's place on the way in. I took the cake, took it to my uncle's, gave it to his wife, and started home.
And I thought to myself, "This day just sucks. I'm just going to go home and lay on the couch and try to forget it." But then I thought, "NO! No, I have all the stuff prepared I'm just gonna go do it."
Stopped at Rutters, got my coffee. Came back home, got my bag of stuff. Went to the Post Office and mailed some things. Went to CVS, I had a whole string of coupons for a bunch of stuff. Ended up getting it all and the bills was $161 and some cents. BUT, after all the buy one get one free stuff and all the coupons, the final bill was 100 dollars EVEN! Who gets a 100 dollar EVEN bill? This guy right here.
Went to the Credit Union to deposit some rolled coins and checks. No one was there, I was the maze of ropes (not that I had to, but because I like mazes) and got right up to the teller.
Then I drove to Hagerstown....and encountered no real traffic, even though I went through downtown! Got to the Mall, went to Hallmark, got my cards for November. Wandered through two other stores, but didn't buy anything.
Went to Ollies. Found a bunch of books and stuff, and used my 15% of entire order coupon!
Went to Sams. Got gas for mom's car, cheap (just $2.39 a gallon, most places around here are more than 2.50 a gallon) and then went inside to get a few things I needed (including another book).
Risked getting onto I-81, but there was little traffic and went to Jersey Mike's for one of their amazing subs! Brought it home (again, risking I-81, and again, there was next to no traffic and no problems merging) and devoured it.
Then I hung out doing not a whole lot, still stressing about the car. But I was here barely and hour and a half before he called and said they replaced the battery. Since that battery was just put in three years ago, it was still under a warranty, so he'll discuss that with the battery guy when he comes to restock the batteries, and then send me an invoice. And i could come and get the car.
SCORE!
I went to pick up mom, drove us to the garage, got the car. We both went back to her house, where we talked (and I had a piece of pumpkin pie she made) and then came home.
And I've been just sitting here reading and being online and shit since then.
I'm really glad today went better than expected, cause I KNOW tomorrow at work, especially the morning, is going to be a Day From Hell.
Ah well, nothing I can do about that until tomorrow....
POLT
Oh if anyone needs a visual aid of the above post, here we go:
Leaving my house with my bag of stuff I'd need for my errands.
Belle, her battery dead, won't start.
Off to Denny's Garage, leaving Belle there.
To mom's house, dropped her off, in her car, headed towards home.
Back to mom's house when she texts me to return.
Taking the cake to my uncle's house.
Rutters, to get my coffee FINALLY!
Back to the house to get my bag of stuff.
Back into mom's car, to start my actual errands.
Post Office, to mail things.
CVS to use all those coupons they always give.
The Credit Union to deposit coins and checks.
To the Valley Mall in Hagerstown.
Got my cards in Hallmark.
Perused FYE, but bought nothing
Perused Books-A-Million, but bought nothing
Hit up Ollie's to use my coupon.
Sam's, for gas and a few other items.
Jersey Mike's, got lunch to go
All my stuff from the entire day, after being unloaded from the car and waiting to be taken inside.
Back to Denny's to get my car.
Back to mom's, for some conversation and pumpkin pie.
And FINALLY, Belle, back home at night, new battery in place, all is good.
POLT
Monday, December 31, 2018
Like a top ten song, I hear it all.....
SO...
As it's now December 31st, last day of 2018, and I have here my Top Ten Things Of 2018!
There were a lot of important (and not so important) things that happened this year that didn't make the list: TUMBLR slitting its own throat by banning adult content; a new pair of glasses; snowstorm, aka blizzard, Toby; Johnnie returning to Philadelphia (with his wife) from Shanghai; Ollie's batch of DC Comics graphic novels at insanely low prices; having a date (and some bedtimesexxyfun) with one of my ex's Tim; scorching heat in July, freezing cold in January, record temps both; Mom starting the year in early January with a visit to the emergency room with the flu, and ending is just yesterday at the same place with the same thing; one entire week of no 'decongesting'; tooth issues, like cracking a tooth and losing half of it in Sept, and then deciding on getting some bridges at the end of the year; hanging out and getting to know mom's 'friend' Howard (he's a nice guy), etc. But with all that, THESE below are the top ten!
10. Avengers Infinity War
Marvel continues to hit it out of the park! This movie was damn near flawless. A perfect culmination of ten years worth of previous movies! It's worth every single penny of the billions in profits it's made. Marvel knows their shit.....unlike DC movies, which continue to be just...shit.
9. New Mattress
(old mattress on top, new mattress on bottom)
Back in September a local furniture was selling their mattresses at half off. My old mattress I had had for 15 years or so. And I figured with the discounts, I'd get a new one.
Big. Fucking. Mistake.
See, my old mattress had a mattress pad on both side. That made it fluffy and comfy. I didn't think about that when I bought the new one...that does NOT have a mattress pad. Oh. My. GOD! It was so hard. So rigid. So uncomfortable. I had to go buy a sheet that had extra padding attached and put that on it, just to make it so I can lay on it. But its still, even now, not really comfortable. Oh, I'm used to it and can sleep on it, but it's not at ALL like my old mattress...even though that one was 15 years old.
I've learned my lesson. If I ever again in my life buy a new mattress (which probably, realistically, wont happen) I'm getting it with a mattress pad already attached!
8. Rye Bread
I've always eaten white bread, but it's not that good for me. I don't really like wheat bread at all. This year, back in February, I was ordering a sandwich from Rutters, and I saw the option for rye bread. I've never had rye bread before so I ordered it. And I LOVED it! Now, that's all I get. Both at Rutters and it's what I buy for here at home. It's much better for me than white and tastes a LOT better than wheat! So it's a win/win! And it's a change to my diet that I have no problem making or keeping!
7. Plays
Last December, my theater buddy, Michelle, and I decided this year, we wanted to see an average of one play a month. So our goal was to get to 12. We did good at first. By May (the fifth month) we had seen 7 plays! And then.....we kinda slacked off. Right around Thanksgiving, we were chatting and she said we were only at 9, we needed three more plays! So we crammed three of them in in ten days in December. For 2019, we've sworn to not ignore the summer months.
In the pic abover, left to right, front row to back:
It's A Wonderful Life; The Barbara Ingram School Winter Extravaganza
Chicago; The Addams Family; Death By Design; Harvey; The Fantastiks
Hairspray; Shrek; Cabaret; Deadly Murder; The Queen Of Bingo
In the top row are two plays I saw without Michelle: The Play That Goes Wrong and Deceiving Granny.
And all the ones we saw together were local productions and all but one (The Queen Of Bingo at The Totem Pole) were amateur. We've already talked about some plays this year upcoming. Hopefully we won't be cramming them all in right before Christmas again.
6. Belle Broke
Lovely way to start off the year. New Year's Day, not 12 hours into the new year, I drive to Rutters to get my morning coffee before heading out to mom's for lunch, and I can't get the key out of the ignition. Won't budge at all. So then that involved the AAA, towing her twice, my local mechanic, the Volkswagen dealership, parts needed to be ordered, several unplanned days off work, and some unforseen expenses. ultimately, though, Belle get repaired and is running fine. And I found out I had some pretty darn good friends who unexpectedly offered me the use of one of their cars, which I was prepared to take them up on. But then the part arrived at the dealership earlier than expected, so I didn't need to. Hopefully, this New Year's Day is a little more....unexciting? Conventional?
5. VUBOQosity!
This year, I've hung out with VUBOQ quite a bit more than before. He's invited me several Saturdays up to The Cabin Of Ill Repute in West Virginia. He came to my house once because he was running a 10K in my little town. We had planned on hanging out for the day, but it was cold, damp, rainy, and I was sick with some stomach bug. So he just ran the race, came back to my place, cleaned up, we ate at the Waynesburger, and then we back to the cabin. But this year, we've played my favorite board game The Road To The White House a few times, and I even got him his own copy of th game for the cabin itself. We shared many vegetarian meals up there, food that I never would have eaten, as well as some alcohol I wouldn't have tried either. And lots of fun conversation as well. And none of this includes the time we spent together, with all the other Puntabupeeps, in NYC in August. And after all this VUBOQness this year, I'm looking to a whole lot more in the new year.
4. Old Man Issues
In February, my lower right back started hurting. I feared it might be my kidney (since I'm diabetic, I don't wanna fool around with that). Went to the doctor. After tests, he says, it's just skeletal/muscular issues. Still hurts periodically (although not as bad) throughout the year.
Last year I had physical therapy for the strain in the bicep of my left arm. This year, while that still hurts, my right arm started hurting the same way. Both shoulders hurt when I wake up in the morning, but it gets better quickly and doesn't bother me too much.
I cracked a tooth in September and ended up losing half of it. And now, the dentist and I decided I needed to get some dental bridges, so that'll be fun and costly (although those are necessary).
I got new glasses, but I still have problems reading small print and without enough light.
In addition to being sick with the stomach bug in May when VUBOQ was here, in January, I was knocked on my ass by some of the worst flu I've ever had. Had me down for most of the week. It was only the second time in the 22 years I've been at my job were I was off sick more than two days and needed a doctor's excuse to come back. I missed the entire week as a matter of fact.
My knees crack a lot and hurt sometimes when I take stairs or get up off of chairs.
And it's only gonna get worse. Yeah, getting old sucks.....but as they say, it beats the alternative.
3. New York City
This year, Tam left the Middle East and returned to Canada. And before leaving North America again for Central America this time, she (and Kristen The Kid) came to NYC and got an apartment for a week. For a weekend, I, john eliot, and Michelle M. stayed there as well. VUBOQ came up for an overnight. And we had a few hours long party attended by Craiggers (we got to meet his man Steve), Adam and Drazen (we got to meet baby Jack and his hair), Mikey and Ty (we got to meet Annabelle), and FDot!
A group of us also went to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art and then later to THE funniest thing I have ever seen on stage: The Play That Goes Wrong. And we ate at many varied, but always awesome, restaurants.
But the best part of the trip was just hanging out at the apartment with old friends who I haven't seen in many years!
2. Democrats Take The House
This one should be on EVERYONE'S yearly list, but I know it's not. Now, FINALLY, we'll have a governmental check on the obscene, chaotic, insanity of the tRump administration. If tRump and his supporters have not liked the Mueller investigation....well they aint seen nothing yet.
We're gonna get a HURRICANE of subpoenas from the House. Into his Administration, his campaign, his finances, his tax returns, his university, his children, and all the corrupt practices that his corrupt Cabinet members have been perpetrating on the USA. Yes I'm going to LOVE watching it all crumble, but much more importantly, no more of the destructive bills of the last two years will see the light of day again.
Thank God.
Oh it'll be ugly. And messy. And nasty. But it's the ugly, messy, nasty first step to saving this country from the pox in the White House that has befallen it.
1. Diabetes
My diabetes has basically been uncontrolled since I've been diagnosed. A bright spot this year is that, in the 6 years I've been tracking it, this is the first year in which my A1C level never tested above 8.0. But that's not much to brag about really (it SHOULD be under 7.0 all the time, or under 6.0 if you're not a diabetic).
Then, in July, the outside of my right big toe started getting sharp pains. Never having had one before, I thought it might be an ingrown toenail. Ended up going to a podiatrist (for the first time) and finding out it's not. Its some calcium growth at the base of my big toe. Made it much better with new shoes and specific insoles.
But after this, I finally decided it was time to see an endocrinologist (a diabetes doctor). I finally got to her ten days ago. After a two hour meeting, I had some of my meds changed. And after having taken them for that ten days period, the results have been simply phenomenal! In that time, I have not had a blood sugar level over 180. And I have only it over 160 four times (out of 20 times checked). It's crazy how swiftly and totally that has worked.
So I can only hope the progress continues in the new year. And I've got home this cuts down on the sometimes pins and needles in my foot. And the foot aches. And the eye issues. And maybe even lose some weight as well.
I just want to hopefully make my uncontrolled diabetes, more controlled. Because this will continue to have very detrimental effects on my health otherwise.
So that's this year's Top Ten! Some good, some bad. Hope you're year was more good than bad.
POLT
As it's now December 31st, last day of 2018, and I have here my Top Ten Things Of 2018!
There were a lot of important (and not so important) things that happened this year that didn't make the list: TUMBLR slitting its own throat by banning adult content; a new pair of glasses; snowstorm, aka blizzard, Toby; Johnnie returning to Philadelphia (with his wife) from Shanghai; Ollie's batch of DC Comics graphic novels at insanely low prices; having a date (and some bedtimesexxyfun) with one of my ex's Tim; scorching heat in July, freezing cold in January, record temps both; Mom starting the year in early January with a visit to the emergency room with the flu, and ending is just yesterday at the same place with the same thing; one entire week of no 'decongesting'; tooth issues, like cracking a tooth and losing half of it in Sept, and then deciding on getting some bridges at the end of the year; hanging out and getting to know mom's 'friend' Howard (he's a nice guy), etc. But with all that, THESE below are the top ten!
10. Avengers Infinity War
Marvel continues to hit it out of the park! This movie was damn near flawless. A perfect culmination of ten years worth of previous movies! It's worth every single penny of the billions in profits it's made. Marvel knows their shit.....unlike DC movies, which continue to be just...shit.
9. New Mattress
(old mattress on top, new mattress on bottom)
Back in September a local furniture was selling their mattresses at half off. My old mattress I had had for 15 years or so. And I figured with the discounts, I'd get a new one.
Big. Fucking. Mistake.
See, my old mattress had a mattress pad on both side. That made it fluffy and comfy. I didn't think about that when I bought the new one...that does NOT have a mattress pad. Oh. My. GOD! It was so hard. So rigid. So uncomfortable. I had to go buy a sheet that had extra padding attached and put that on it, just to make it so I can lay on it. But its still, even now, not really comfortable. Oh, I'm used to it and can sleep on it, but it's not at ALL like my old mattress...even though that one was 15 years old.
I've learned my lesson. If I ever again in my life buy a new mattress (which probably, realistically, wont happen) I'm getting it with a mattress pad already attached!
8. Rye Bread
I've always eaten white bread, but it's not that good for me. I don't really like wheat bread at all. This year, back in February, I was ordering a sandwich from Rutters, and I saw the option for rye bread. I've never had rye bread before so I ordered it. And I LOVED it! Now, that's all I get. Both at Rutters and it's what I buy for here at home. It's much better for me than white and tastes a LOT better than wheat! So it's a win/win! And it's a change to my diet that I have no problem making or keeping!
7. Plays
Last December, my theater buddy, Michelle, and I decided this year, we wanted to see an average of one play a month. So our goal was to get to 12. We did good at first. By May (the fifth month) we had seen 7 plays! And then.....we kinda slacked off. Right around Thanksgiving, we were chatting and she said we were only at 9, we needed three more plays! So we crammed three of them in in ten days in December. For 2019, we've sworn to not ignore the summer months.
In the pic abover, left to right, front row to back:
It's A Wonderful Life; The Barbara Ingram School Winter Extravaganza
Chicago; The Addams Family; Death By Design; Harvey; The Fantastiks
Hairspray; Shrek; Cabaret; Deadly Murder; The Queen Of Bingo
In the top row are two plays I saw without Michelle: The Play That Goes Wrong and Deceiving Granny.
And all the ones we saw together were local productions and all but one (The Queen Of Bingo at The Totem Pole) were amateur. We've already talked about some plays this year upcoming. Hopefully we won't be cramming them all in right before Christmas again.
6. Belle Broke
Lovely way to start off the year. New Year's Day, not 12 hours into the new year, I drive to Rutters to get my morning coffee before heading out to mom's for lunch, and I can't get the key out of the ignition. Won't budge at all. So then that involved the AAA, towing her twice, my local mechanic, the Volkswagen dealership, parts needed to be ordered, several unplanned days off work, and some unforseen expenses. ultimately, though, Belle get repaired and is running fine. And I found out I had some pretty darn good friends who unexpectedly offered me the use of one of their cars, which I was prepared to take them up on. But then the part arrived at the dealership earlier than expected, so I didn't need to. Hopefully, this New Year's Day is a little more....unexciting? Conventional?
5. VUBOQosity!
This year, I've hung out with VUBOQ quite a bit more than before. He's invited me several Saturdays up to The Cabin Of Ill Repute in West Virginia. He came to my house once because he was running a 10K in my little town. We had planned on hanging out for the day, but it was cold, damp, rainy, and I was sick with some stomach bug. So he just ran the race, came back to my place, cleaned up, we ate at the Waynesburger, and then we back to the cabin. But this year, we've played my favorite board game The Road To The White House a few times, and I even got him his own copy of th game for the cabin itself. We shared many vegetarian meals up there, food that I never would have eaten, as well as some alcohol I wouldn't have tried either. And lots of fun conversation as well. And none of this includes the time we spent together, with all the other Puntabupeeps, in NYC in August. And after all this VUBOQness this year, I'm looking to a whole lot more in the new year.
4. Old Man Issues
In February, my lower right back started hurting. I feared it might be my kidney (since I'm diabetic, I don't wanna fool around with that). Went to the doctor. After tests, he says, it's just skeletal/muscular issues. Still hurts periodically (although not as bad) throughout the year.
Last year I had physical therapy for the strain in the bicep of my left arm. This year, while that still hurts, my right arm started hurting the same way. Both shoulders hurt when I wake up in the morning, but it gets better quickly and doesn't bother me too much.
I cracked a tooth in September and ended up losing half of it. And now, the dentist and I decided I needed to get some dental bridges, so that'll be fun and costly (although those are necessary).
I got new glasses, but I still have problems reading small print and without enough light.
In addition to being sick with the stomach bug in May when VUBOQ was here, in January, I was knocked on my ass by some of the worst flu I've ever had. Had me down for most of the week. It was only the second time in the 22 years I've been at my job were I was off sick more than two days and needed a doctor's excuse to come back. I missed the entire week as a matter of fact.
My knees crack a lot and hurt sometimes when I take stairs or get up off of chairs.
And it's only gonna get worse. Yeah, getting old sucks.....but as they say, it beats the alternative.
3. New York City
This year, Tam left the Middle East and returned to Canada. And before leaving North America again for Central America this time, she (and Kristen The Kid) came to NYC and got an apartment for a week. For a weekend, I, john eliot, and Michelle M. stayed there as well. VUBOQ came up for an overnight. And we had a few hours long party attended by Craiggers (we got to meet his man Steve), Adam and Drazen (we got to meet baby Jack and his hair), Mikey and Ty (we got to meet Annabelle), and FDot!
A group of us also went to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art and then later to THE funniest thing I have ever seen on stage: The Play That Goes Wrong. And we ate at many varied, but always awesome, restaurants.
But the best part of the trip was just hanging out at the apartment with old friends who I haven't seen in many years!
2. Democrats Take The House
This one should be on EVERYONE'S yearly list, but I know it's not. Now, FINALLY, we'll have a governmental check on the obscene, chaotic, insanity of the tRump administration. If tRump and his supporters have not liked the Mueller investigation....well they aint seen nothing yet.
We're gonna get a HURRICANE of subpoenas from the House. Into his Administration, his campaign, his finances, his tax returns, his university, his children, and all the corrupt practices that his corrupt Cabinet members have been perpetrating on the USA. Yes I'm going to LOVE watching it all crumble, but much more importantly, no more of the destructive bills of the last two years will see the light of day again.
Thank God.
Oh it'll be ugly. And messy. And nasty. But it's the ugly, messy, nasty first step to saving this country from the pox in the White House that has befallen it.
1. Diabetes
My diabetes has basically been uncontrolled since I've been diagnosed. A bright spot this year is that, in the 6 years I've been tracking it, this is the first year in which my A1C level never tested above 8.0. But that's not much to brag about really (it SHOULD be under 7.0 all the time, or under 6.0 if you're not a diabetic).
Then, in July, the outside of my right big toe started getting sharp pains. Never having had one before, I thought it might be an ingrown toenail. Ended up going to a podiatrist (for the first time) and finding out it's not. Its some calcium growth at the base of my big toe. Made it much better with new shoes and specific insoles.
But after this, I finally decided it was time to see an endocrinologist (a diabetes doctor). I finally got to her ten days ago. After a two hour meeting, I had some of my meds changed. And after having taken them for that ten days period, the results have been simply phenomenal! In that time, I have not had a blood sugar level over 180. And I have only it over 160 four times (out of 20 times checked). It's crazy how swiftly and totally that has worked.
So I can only hope the progress continues in the new year. And I've got home this cuts down on the sometimes pins and needles in my foot. And the foot aches. And the eye issues. And maybe even lose some weight as well.
I just want to hopefully make my uncontrolled diabetes, more controlled. Because this will continue to have very detrimental effects on my health otherwise.
So that's this year's Top Ten! Some good, some bad. Hope you're year was more good than bad.
POLT
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
SO....
Today I got Belle back!
Yay! That's me, inside her, after picking her up. The part, which was supposed to take 8-10 business days, got made and to the dealership in 4 days! They put it in, put her back together, and didn't charge me an obscene amount of money to get all that done. Today, I went over, paid and picked her up! YAY again!
After doing so, I went to Ollie's. I had seen online in a few groups I'm in that they had a huge DC Comics graphic novel drop and people were getting stacks of them for real cheap. And when I got in there...yep, there were a BUNCH! And they were REAL CHEAP!
I ended up buying 27 different ones, the cover prices of which totaled $667.70, and for which I only paid $117.73! I saved over $500!!!!
Dont know when I'll get around to actually reading them all, nor where I'll actually store them all, but hey, I got em...and for CHEAP!
POLT
Today I got Belle back!
Yay! That's me, inside her, after picking her up. The part, which was supposed to take 8-10 business days, got made and to the dealership in 4 days! They put it in, put her back together, and didn't charge me an obscene amount of money to get all that done. Today, I went over, paid and picked her up! YAY again!
After doing so, I went to Ollie's. I had seen online in a few groups I'm in that they had a huge DC Comics graphic novel drop and people were getting stacks of them for real cheap. And when I got in there...yep, there were a BUNCH! And they were REAL CHEAP!
I ended up buying 27 different ones, the cover prices of which totaled $667.70, and for which I only paid $117.73! I saved over $500!!!!
Dont know when I'll get around to actually reading them all, nor where I'll actually store them all, but hey, I got em...and for CHEAP!
POLT
Monday, January 01, 2018
So, how's your New Year been?
Mine? I woke up late, got up late, had hog maw with mom for lunch, screwed around online a bit.
OH, and yeah, I almost forgot. My car's not working.
Yep, that's Belle, up on a rollback (and one of the cute guys who came to get her). Seems the ignition's not working. Whether it's frozen or the mechanism itself isn't working, who knows? But they took her out to my mechanic's place, so she's sitting there waiting for him tomorrow.
That's the down side. The up side is that I already have off the next two days and I have nowhere I HAVE to be during that time. So if it HAD to happen, this was probably the best time for it to happen. It still sucks to not have a working vehicle, even if you don't have to use any leave to take off work because of it.
So, what does one do when one doesn't have a working vehicle? One (or at least THIS one) has a glass of beer while the chili he's making simmers on the stove!
Yum! Looking forward to supper here in lil bit! Hot fresh chili will do one a LOT of good on a frigid, January, non-car-having evening!
POLT
Mine? I woke up late, got up late, had hog maw with mom for lunch, screwed around online a bit.
OH, and yeah, I almost forgot. My car's not working.
Yep, that's Belle, up on a rollback (and one of the cute guys who came to get her). Seems the ignition's not working. Whether it's frozen or the mechanism itself isn't working, who knows? But they took her out to my mechanic's place, so she's sitting there waiting for him tomorrow.
That's the down side. The up side is that I already have off the next two days and I have nowhere I HAVE to be during that time. So if it HAD to happen, this was probably the best time for it to happen. It still sucks to not have a working vehicle, even if you don't have to use any leave to take off work because of it.
So, what does one do when one doesn't have a working vehicle? One (or at least THIS one) has a glass of beer while the chili he's making simmers on the stove!
Yum! Looking forward to supper here in lil bit! Hot fresh chili will do one a LOT of good on a frigid, January, non-car-having evening!
POLT
Monday, April 17, 2017
One other thing of note:
FDot arrived last Sunday night. That evening, I filled Belle up with gas. I also did that one day later in the week. Then Saturday, Michelle and I went to the Kennedy Center in DC to see the musical "Chicago". Belle was only down a quarter of a tank but I filled her up again before leaving.
Yesterday, Sunday, just week after first filling her up, I had driven her 540 miles. In just a week!
She's such a trooper!
POLT
FDot arrived last Sunday night. That evening, I filled Belle up with gas. I also did that one day later in the week. Then Saturday, Michelle and I went to the Kennedy Center in DC to see the musical "Chicago". Belle was only down a quarter of a tank but I filled her up again before leaving.
Yesterday, Sunday, just week after first filling her up, I had driven her 540 miles. In just a week!
She's such a trooper!
POLT
Monday, January 16, 2017
So, as this is the 16th of January, and the month has 31 days, we're halfway through the month.
In this half month, I have, because of holidays, days off and being sick, worked just two days. I have just started my fifth book of the month (again, because being laid up from sickness over the last 10-12 days, I've had little to do but read some days). I have had sex three times each with a different guy, but have not had any since the 4th of the month. I have filled up Belle's tank with gasoline just once. Again, because of being sick, I have showered just 9 of those 16 days, and shaved even less of those days, even though I don't know the exact amount. Including those two days at work, I believe I have been outside my house for more than one hour at a time just six of those days. I have only been to three of my physical therapy appointments.
Hopefully, all that will change now. I still have a cough and am moving things around in my lungs, and my head is still somewhat congested, I do feel better. Not totally back to health, but much MUCH better than last week this time. I am going back to work tomorrow, and right now, I'm looking forward to it (although I'm sure that will change within an hour or two of actually being there). I am getting my cut-n-color tomorrow. I am going to physical therapy after work Wednesday and Thursday. All these things mean getting up and out of the house, and out and about. Which I definitely need to do.
I've washed all the blankets I keep on the and around the couch, to disinfect them. I will change my bedsheets here in a bit to get fresh clean sheets on and not have the flu infested ones on anymore.
I will feel better tomorrow. and better still the day after tomoroow.
Onwards and upwards!
POLT
In this half month, I have, because of holidays, days off and being sick, worked just two days. I have just started my fifth book of the month (again, because being laid up from sickness over the last 10-12 days, I've had little to do but read some days). I have had sex three times each with a different guy, but have not had any since the 4th of the month. I have filled up Belle's tank with gasoline just once. Again, because of being sick, I have showered just 9 of those 16 days, and shaved even less of those days, even though I don't know the exact amount. Including those two days at work, I believe I have been outside my house for more than one hour at a time just six of those days. I have only been to three of my physical therapy appointments.
Hopefully, all that will change now. I still have a cough and am moving things around in my lungs, and my head is still somewhat congested, I do feel better. Not totally back to health, but much MUCH better than last week this time. I am going back to work tomorrow, and right now, I'm looking forward to it (although I'm sure that will change within an hour or two of actually being there). I am getting my cut-n-color tomorrow. I am going to physical therapy after work Wednesday and Thursday. All these things mean getting up and out of the house, and out and about. Which I definitely need to do.
I've washed all the blankets I keep on the and around the couch, to disinfect them. I will change my bedsheets here in a bit to get fresh clean sheets on and not have the flu infested ones on anymore.
I will feel better tomorrow. and better still the day after tomoroow.
Onwards and upwards!
POLT
Sunday, January 01, 2017
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 2016 edition....
2016 is over, and thank GOD! what a horrid year. But it's time for me to reflect over last year on a personal basis and reveal...
Polt's Top Ten List Of Important Events In 2016 (or something like that).
First of all there were a whole lot of things that happened that did NOT make the list. Things like my new iPhone, seeing George Takei speak, another visit by my buddy Lewis and both of us going to my own hometown's first ever comicon, Downton Abbey ended and Captain America: Civil War was the Best Comic Book Movie EVAH, cutting down the tree in the backyard, the two Murder Mysteries I attended, binge watching all seasons of Game Of Thrones and falling in love with it, Blizzard Jonas in January, and then the God awful heat in July and August, my anxiety came back again, but it wasn't paralyzing like before and was only for a short period of the year, and of course, the visit to the Cabin Of Ill Repute! While all of these impacted my life in 2016, I only had room for ten things on the list. So here we go.
10. Refinancing My Mortgage
After paying on the original mortgage for 7 years, I still had 23 years left at 5% interest. But after a very smooth refinancing procedure, I now have a 20 year mortgage, at 3.75 % interest, and my monthly payment is $50 less than what it was. I still plan on paying the old amount, or even a bit more, each month cause that means I'll get it paid off sooner. But this will have a hopefully beneficial effect on my finances in the future.
9. My Grandmother Died
My mother's mother died in January. She was my last surviving grandparent. She and I were never terribly close. My mother visited her at the home several times a week. I saw her, really, only a couple times a year. We just never were very close. I still loved her, and she me, and so I'm sad to see her pass. But she was 91 years old, had had a long, prosperous, productive life, and she was in poor health and wasn't going to be getting any better, so in the end, it ceased her suffering. Goodbye grandma.
8. Bradford Beefeaters Trip
Back in early August, A Local Celebrity, Mr. David ParisPeking and I (after I MADE him agree to go), drove 5 hours to Bradford PA to eat at Beefeaters and have another Best Steak Of My Life. We spent the night, had breakfast at the European Pastry Shop (again, delicious) and then returned home another 5 hours. Not only did I have an AMAZING steak, and breakfast, and lots of fun with ALCMDPP, but it made me decide that every year, I'm making an overnight trip to do this, I'll just take someone different each year. Should be a fun little overnight trip.
7. Belle
In March, mom bought a new car, she gave me her old one (BELLE!) and I gave her Sebastian to use as a trade in. Belle's a sweet car. And she's already been to Toronto, Bradford, and DC! Great car, even though she's a 2010. I hope I have her for several years!
6. Health Issues
Had several health issues this year. Back in April someone I dated several years ago was hospitalized with ocular syphilis. Even though I had not been with him in 4 years or more, getting syphilis in your eye can be a symptom of tertiary syphilis, meaning a long term infection. So I got tested just in case and it came back negative. THEN, over the summer, one of my current fuckbuddies texted me and said, "I've tested positive for syphilis, get tested!" SIGH So I did...again! This one worried me because we had been together within the last month. But that one came back negative too. PHEW!
Then in August I got this rash under my right armpit. It was sore and hurt and eventually covered almost my entire armpit. I went to the doctor and it was a yeast infection! In my ARMPIT???? WTF? Well they gave me some creme and I did as the doctor said and it went away, and hasn't come back. Although, apparently, being diabetic makes one susceptible to yeast infection. Goodie.
Then, about two years ago, my left shoulder, the muscles inside started aching a bit. Back in April it got SO bad the pain did NOT go away, all night. I tried ice, and pain killers and it was just an unending blast of pain. And I was leaving like the next day for Toronto! I got to the doctor's that morning, got a shot of something, got some pain killers and anti-inflammatories, and that helped a lot and made the pain get tolerable. But after that I asked the doctor for the MRI. I tried to get one in August, couldn't do it, too close. Finally got one at a wider barrel MRI machine in November, and then in December went and lined up physical therapy to start in January. The shoulder has tendonitis and a sprain or strain. Still hurts, but hopefully, the physical therapy helps.
5. Air Conditioning Malfunction At Work
Back in July and August, when they weather got all hot and humid, the A/C in my part of work decided to break. So there was no relief from the heat. I have NO windows in my office, and my office opens out into a hallway where there are no windows. And the heat and humidity rose and rose. When I entered my office several days at 8AM, the temperature was ALREADY at 85 degrees! And it only got worse as the day went on. I already had a fan, but I bought another another one, And even with two fans blowing directly on me, I could still just BARELY function. Oh, I could complain with no problems, and I could sweat without difficulty. But dear GOD, that's like inhuman. They did get it fixed, after like four or five weeks, which is way sooner than I thought. But the unit is the original one, when they built the building in 1986. The unit is 30 years old! It's time to change it. But I doubt they will (welcome to government procurement). And I fear the issue will occur this summer as well.
4. Orlando
This tragedy struck me like none since 9'/11. Fifty people slaughtered, just because they wanted to dance and have a fun night out....oh and because our country does not believe in sensible gun control....but I digress. This shocked me to my core. It made me feel...unsafe. I was so shaken by this, two days later, on Monday, I needed some unconditional love and fun and happiness. So I went to the ParisPeking household and hung out there with three pre-pubescent kids and two dogs for a few hours. And who better to give unconditional love and fun and happiness than kids and dogs. They helped immensely. But still, ever since then, I just dont feel as....safe and secure in general as I did before.
3. DC Capitol Gay Pride Parade
Immediately prior to the Orlando shooting (the parade was in the afternoon, the shooting was the evening), the Pride Parade seems, in retrospect, to have been like a last 'fling' of fun and happiness. At any rate, I went there with some of the normal friends and met some of the usual friends there. Also, Travis From Long Island came to DC for Pride and he hung out with us. And Diego from NYC came down as well and I got to meet him in person for the first time. (Unfortunately, Diego and I have since parted ways, and I'm honestly not sure why....but I digress....). The parade was fun as usual, the friends were fun as always, and a good time was had by all. In the above photo, there is Travis From Long Island, Diego, me, and Derick.
2. Toronto
This April, I FINALLY got back to Toronto! The last time I was there was in 2009! WAY too long. Lots of things had changed, but many things were still the same. And being there with Michelle was amazing! She's SUCH a great traveling companion. We ate at new restaurants, saw two plays (including one with full frontal nudity!), and I experienced, in my 16 trips there over nearly 20 years, my first real Toronto snow! I dont think I'll be getting back anytime soon (I have a mortgage ya know, even if it's been refinanced this year), but I really hope my next time there is NOT seven more years away!
Yes, that's the way I have to say it, as I can not yet acknowledge the 'winner' as such. And yes, I am disappointed she lost, just as I was disappointed when Kerry lost, when Gore lost and hell, when Dukakis lost. And just as I would be disappointed if she had lost to Bush, or Rubio or Kasich. But losing the Electoral College to the Orange Cheeto (especially when she got almost 3 million votes MORE than him), is more than just a disappointment. Having a narcissist, thin skinned, Russian puppet in the Oval Office is a threat to everything this country is. With him there and Paul Ryan as Speaker, they can privatize Social Security, guy Medicare, slash or do away with minimum wages and unions, and yank the healthcare from 12 million Americans. All the while...
-He'll put someone in as Secretary of State who has zero diplomatic experience, but who happens to be great and long time friends with Putin.
-He'll put someone in as Treasury Secretary, who is to regulate and keep an eye on Wall Street, someone who is a billionaire CEO FROM Wall Street.
-He'll put someone in as Labor Secretary who doesn't even believe there should BE a minimum wage. -He'll put someone in as Energy Secretary who said when he was running for President in 2012 that the Energy Department should be abolished.
-He'll put someone in a as Education Secretary who never attended public schools and believe public monies should go to vouchers for rich people to help defer the cost of private and parochial schools and just starve the public schools of funds.
-He'll put someone in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency who doesn't believe in climate change and global warming and, further, doesn't believe there should be ANY environmental protections.
-He'll put someone in as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development who has no experience in either housing or urban issues, but instead who's background is in neurosurgery....but then he IS Black, and you know the cities are where all those Blacks live, so.....
-And worst of all, he'll put people on the Supreme Court who will uphold all his uConstitutional measures and decisions and throw this country back to what is was during the Gilded Age more then a hundred years ago, when robber barons ruled and did what they wanted and the common man worked ten hour days, six days a week with no paid days off or sick leave or a livable wage.
If this country resembles in four years anything like it is now, it will be a miracle. This, this my friends, and so much more, is why I am fearful, and scared, and expecting nothing good until we come out from under this new upcoming Dark Age.
Batten down the hatches and buckle up, its going to be a very unsafe, unsure and wild ride.
POLT
Polt's Top Ten List Of Important Events In 2016 (or something like that).
First of all there were a whole lot of things that happened that did NOT make the list. Things like my new iPhone, seeing George Takei speak, another visit by my buddy Lewis and both of us going to my own hometown's first ever comicon, Downton Abbey ended and Captain America: Civil War was the Best Comic Book Movie EVAH, cutting down the tree in the backyard, the two Murder Mysteries I attended, binge watching all seasons of Game Of Thrones and falling in love with it, Blizzard Jonas in January, and then the God awful heat in July and August, my anxiety came back again, but it wasn't paralyzing like before and was only for a short period of the year, and of course, the visit to the Cabin Of Ill Repute! While all of these impacted my life in 2016, I only had room for ten things on the list. So here we go.
10. Refinancing My Mortgage
After paying on the original mortgage for 7 years, I still had 23 years left at 5% interest. But after a very smooth refinancing procedure, I now have a 20 year mortgage, at 3.75 % interest, and my monthly payment is $50 less than what it was. I still plan on paying the old amount, or even a bit more, each month cause that means I'll get it paid off sooner. But this will have a hopefully beneficial effect on my finances in the future.
9. My Grandmother Died
My mother's mother died in January. She was my last surviving grandparent. She and I were never terribly close. My mother visited her at the home several times a week. I saw her, really, only a couple times a year. We just never were very close. I still loved her, and she me, and so I'm sad to see her pass. But she was 91 years old, had had a long, prosperous, productive life, and she was in poor health and wasn't going to be getting any better, so in the end, it ceased her suffering. Goodbye grandma.
8. Bradford Beefeaters Trip
Back in early August, A Local Celebrity, Mr. David ParisPeking and I (after I MADE him agree to go), drove 5 hours to Bradford PA to eat at Beefeaters and have another Best Steak Of My Life. We spent the night, had breakfast at the European Pastry Shop (again, delicious) and then returned home another 5 hours. Not only did I have an AMAZING steak, and breakfast, and lots of fun with ALCMDPP, but it made me decide that every year, I'm making an overnight trip to do this, I'll just take someone different each year. Should be a fun little overnight trip.
7. Belle
In March, mom bought a new car, she gave me her old one (BELLE!) and I gave her Sebastian to use as a trade in. Belle's a sweet car. And she's already been to Toronto, Bradford, and DC! Great car, even though she's a 2010. I hope I have her for several years!
6. Health Issues
Had several health issues this year. Back in April someone I dated several years ago was hospitalized with ocular syphilis. Even though I had not been with him in 4 years or more, getting syphilis in your eye can be a symptom of tertiary syphilis, meaning a long term infection. So I got tested just in case and it came back negative. THEN, over the summer, one of my current fuckbuddies texted me and said, "I've tested positive for syphilis, get tested!" SIGH So I did...again! This one worried me because we had been together within the last month. But that one came back negative too. PHEW!
Then in August I got this rash under my right armpit. It was sore and hurt and eventually covered almost my entire armpit. I went to the doctor and it was a yeast infection! In my ARMPIT???? WTF? Well they gave me some creme and I did as the doctor said and it went away, and hasn't come back. Although, apparently, being diabetic makes one susceptible to yeast infection. Goodie.
Then, about two years ago, my left shoulder, the muscles inside started aching a bit. Back in April it got SO bad the pain did NOT go away, all night. I tried ice, and pain killers and it was just an unending blast of pain. And I was leaving like the next day for Toronto! I got to the doctor's that morning, got a shot of something, got some pain killers and anti-inflammatories, and that helped a lot and made the pain get tolerable. But after that I asked the doctor for the MRI. I tried to get one in August, couldn't do it, too close. Finally got one at a wider barrel MRI machine in November, and then in December went and lined up physical therapy to start in January. The shoulder has tendonitis and a sprain or strain. Still hurts, but hopefully, the physical therapy helps.
5. Air Conditioning Malfunction At Work
Back in July and August, when they weather got all hot and humid, the A/C in my part of work decided to break. So there was no relief from the heat. I have NO windows in my office, and my office opens out into a hallway where there are no windows. And the heat and humidity rose and rose. When I entered my office several days at 8AM, the temperature was ALREADY at 85 degrees! And it only got worse as the day went on. I already had a fan, but I bought another another one, And even with two fans blowing directly on me, I could still just BARELY function. Oh, I could complain with no problems, and I could sweat without difficulty. But dear GOD, that's like inhuman. They did get it fixed, after like four or five weeks, which is way sooner than I thought. But the unit is the original one, when they built the building in 1986. The unit is 30 years old! It's time to change it. But I doubt they will (welcome to government procurement). And I fear the issue will occur this summer as well.
4. Orlando
This tragedy struck me like none since 9'/11. Fifty people slaughtered, just because they wanted to dance and have a fun night out....oh and because our country does not believe in sensible gun control....but I digress. This shocked me to my core. It made me feel...unsafe. I was so shaken by this, two days later, on Monday, I needed some unconditional love and fun and happiness. So I went to the ParisPeking household and hung out there with three pre-pubescent kids and two dogs for a few hours. And who better to give unconditional love and fun and happiness than kids and dogs. They helped immensely. But still, ever since then, I just dont feel as....safe and secure in general as I did before.
3. DC Capitol Gay Pride Parade
Immediately prior to the Orlando shooting (the parade was in the afternoon, the shooting was the evening), the Pride Parade seems, in retrospect, to have been like a last 'fling' of fun and happiness. At any rate, I went there with some of the normal friends and met some of the usual friends there. Also, Travis From Long Island came to DC for Pride and he hung out with us. And Diego from NYC came down as well and I got to meet him in person for the first time. (Unfortunately, Diego and I have since parted ways, and I'm honestly not sure why....but I digress....). The parade was fun as usual, the friends were fun as always, and a good time was had by all. In the above photo, there is Travis From Long Island, Diego, me, and Derick.
2. Toronto
This April, I FINALLY got back to Toronto! The last time I was there was in 2009! WAY too long. Lots of things had changed, but many things were still the same. And being there with Michelle was amazing! She's SUCH a great traveling companion. We ate at new restaurants, saw two plays (including one with full frontal nudity!), and I experienced, in my 16 trips there over nearly 20 years, my first real Toronto snow! I dont think I'll be getting back anytime soon (I have a mortgage ya know, even if it's been refinanced this year), but I really hope my next time there is NOT seven more years away!
1. Hillary Losing
Yes, that's the way I have to say it, as I can not yet acknowledge the 'winner' as such. And yes, I am disappointed she lost, just as I was disappointed when Kerry lost, when Gore lost and hell, when Dukakis lost. And just as I would be disappointed if she had lost to Bush, or Rubio or Kasich. But losing the Electoral College to the Orange Cheeto (especially when she got almost 3 million votes MORE than him), is more than just a disappointment. Having a narcissist, thin skinned, Russian puppet in the Oval Office is a threat to everything this country is. With him there and Paul Ryan as Speaker, they can privatize Social Security, guy Medicare, slash or do away with minimum wages and unions, and yank the healthcare from 12 million Americans. All the while...
-He'll put someone in as Secretary of State who has zero diplomatic experience, but who happens to be great and long time friends with Putin.
-He'll put someone in as Treasury Secretary, who is to regulate and keep an eye on Wall Street, someone who is a billionaire CEO FROM Wall Street.
-He'll put someone in as Labor Secretary who doesn't even believe there should BE a minimum wage. -He'll put someone in as Energy Secretary who said when he was running for President in 2012 that the Energy Department should be abolished.
-He'll put someone in a as Education Secretary who never attended public schools and believe public monies should go to vouchers for rich people to help defer the cost of private and parochial schools and just starve the public schools of funds.
-He'll put someone in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency who doesn't believe in climate change and global warming and, further, doesn't believe there should be ANY environmental protections.
-He'll put someone in as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development who has no experience in either housing or urban issues, but instead who's background is in neurosurgery....but then he IS Black, and you know the cities are where all those Blacks live, so.....
-And worst of all, he'll put people on the Supreme Court who will uphold all his uConstitutional measures and decisions and throw this country back to what is was during the Gilded Age more then a hundred years ago, when robber barons ruled and did what they wanted and the common man worked ten hour days, six days a week with no paid days off or sick leave or a livable wage.
If this country resembles in four years anything like it is now, it will be a miracle. This, this my friends, and so much more, is why I am fearful, and scared, and expecting nothing good until we come out from under this new upcoming Dark Age.
Batten down the hatches and buckle up, its going to be a very unsafe, unsure and wild ride.
POLT
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