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
