SO...

I posted last August about all the people I personally knew who had died since May of last year (when I posted about a bunch of people I personally knew who had died in the year previous).   And that number came up to ten. 

Well, since August, more people I personally knew died. 

- One of mom's cousins.  When I was a kid, we hang out with them, either at our place or at their place in Greencastle, at least once, usually two weekends a month.  

- Phoenix's grandmother

- Johnnie's grandmother

- My uncle's second wife's father

- A former coworker who had had repeated bouts of cancer after he retired

- A new coworker's father

- The second in command at my job when I started there 30 years ago.

So that's put us up to 17 people.  All in roughly 2 years!

I know as you get older, you know more people who die.  And all of the people I just listed were older than me.  And death is not such a surprise for people over 70 or so years each.  But still, to have so many people dropped so close together...

It's disturbing. And unsettling.  And it's not likely to stop as I age.

POLT

Gonna dress you up in my love (Part 210)....

 Dudes In Dresses

Looks little bit like Johnnie.  Clearly not him, but looks like him. 

POLT

Someone book me a room at the Casa de Loco (Part 55)....

 Reasons To Call In Sick And Just Stay In Bed!

What a cute lil stubbly cuddlebug. 

He looks a lil like Johnnie.  I mean, I've never Johnnie naked in bed or anything, but this guy does kinda look like him. 

POLT

Check this out, real quick, don't know if everybody know (Part 3645)....

 Check This Out!

Check out the beauty, and slight dystopian-ness, of Shanghai China at dusk.  

This is where my friend Johnnie, he formerly of Testicular Tuesdays, is working, living and raising his family. 

POLT

 Today is the 25th Anniversary of my first trip to Toronto!

My Fairy Godfather Mark (who's originally from Michigan) was going to Toronto to meet a friend of his Paul who was traveling there from Michigan.  He asked me to go along, cause he said three to a room would be cheaper than two.   I had never thought about Toronto, never thought about going there, but it had been several years since I'd taken a vacation anywhere, so I said, eh, what the hell?

So we packed up and off we went: a four hour ride through PA, a four hour ride through upstate New York, crossed the border and then a two hour trip on he QEW and we were in Toronto!

And I was almost immediately in love.  I was certainly in love by the time we left four or five days later.  We checked out a bunch of stores in gay ghetto along Church Street, ate at several restaurants in the downtown area, visited several gay bars, and had fun at the big strip club.   And I had insatiable desire to return.

Which I did.  I made it to Toronto 20 times in the last 25 years...although since I bought the house 13 years ago I've only been there twice (2009 & 2016).  So in 12 year I went 18 times, and that seems about right since I was going twice a year, usually in April and October.  (can't go as often now because I have a mortgage and such).

Anyway, I went through my Toronto Photo Album and found some photos.  The first batch are from my first trip there, 25 years ago in 1997.

The Hotel Selby, where we stayed.  It was in an old mansion with a bunch of additions to it.  It was kinda run down and had seen better days, and it was several blocks north and east of where any action was, so I never stayed there again.  But it was fine for a first visit.  After going through several different changes, the mansion part is all that remains and it's a fancy-schmacy French restaurant called the Masion Selby. 

The red brick part and the concrete part too are the additions made to the hotel to expand into.  Our room was in the concrete part in back, along the street on I think, the third floor.  Underneath both of these was a huge gay dance club opened in the 80s and open until the early 2000s called Boots Warehouse.    Unfortunately, now, everything you here has been torn down and some high rise building is there going up many many stories.  I think it may be a Clarion hotel, but it may also be a business building...not sure.

While we were there, we stumbled upon a Caribbean Festival behind the Ontario Legislature building.  Lots of music, food, smells, and eye candy. 

The Eaton Centre, that huge shopping mall, four or five stories on an entire block of downtown Toronto.  Have always had a great time there, even if I never bought anything.

We made it to the CN Tower, although I could never go up to the top.  Mark and Paul did.  I stood on the ground and took this pic.

Next to Mr. Sub, is Remington's, imo, Toronto premiere gay strip club.  Spent lots of time (and money) in there over the years.  This as well as everything else on this block, is gone now.    Google street view shows me that there's not a high rise apartment building or office building or something like that here instead.

And see that rhino on that tarpaulin over those steps?  That's the entrance to Woody's Bar, the premiere gay bar in Toronto.  Spent lots of time in there too over the years.  It's also, incidentally, where they did some filming for the American version of Queer As Fold 20 years ago, as was also done in a lot of other areas  of Toronto itself.

After a couple years of the ten hour drive straight through, Ag, my travel companion, changed out route to go through Bradford PA, where Johnnie was attending college. and it also cut our entire one way time down to 8.5 hours.  And we spent the night in Bradford both going up and coming back and it broke the long trip up.

In Bradford, we found two great places to ear: Beefeaters, which is where one can eat the BEST DAMN STEAK OF THEIR LIFE!  I guarantee it.  And then the next morning, we have a great breakfast at the European Pastry shop. 

Beefeaters

European Pastry Shop

And I also found pics of my friends who accompanied me to Toronto over the years.  (I could not find one of Mark and Paul on this first trip, I assume I didn't take any pics of us.  And Ghostie went one time, but I can't find any pics of him there either.  I assume I took those with my digital camera and they were on some computer that has since died and I was not able to get the pics off beforehand).

Ag, God rest her soul

In, I think, 2001, a group of us went: My Fairy Godfather Mark, me, Ag, and Johnnie

One trip, Poodle went with Ag and I (his real name was Scott and I worked with him at Borders, but we all called him Poodle)

And in 2009 and 2016, Michelle went with me (and in 2009, she and I went to another Toronto landmark: Casa Loma)

In Toronto, I met two famous people.

On one trip, I met Shawn Ashmore (Iceman of The X-Men movies).  I met him on the street, he actually stopped and we had a short conversation: about the X-Men movies, about Toronto, and Canada in general, where I was from, etc.  He was very nice and pleasant.  And he even allowed me to take a photo of him when I asked.  Great guy.

And on the 2009 trip, Michelle and I got to meet Canadian, Puntabupeep, and all around great gal, Tam, and her purple iPod.

And also, in Toronto, hooked up with many MANY people.  (Ag and I would always say since everyone was so cute and sexy in Toronto, people that were fat and ugly like us were desirable here!)  A few of them I hooked up with on multiple trips there.  And I got pics of those too.

Sam.  He was Iragi, he got me into some gay clubs without paying because he knew the bouncers, he took me to both the apartments he lived in both times we hooked up, and was a voracious bottom!

Ed was Philippino, but had grown up in Canada.  He worked as an International Banker.  He and I hooked up on several trips.  He was planning to come visit me on his trip down the East Coast, but then 9-11 happened and he canceled the trip. 

Fizul was of Indian descent.  He worked in his father's import-export business.  We met up on two trips and then just by total chance, I ran into him on the 2016 trip more than 10 years later.  His father had passed and HE was running the business now and was doing VERY well.

But all of this stuff I talked about happened on subsequent trips.  Twenty five years ago, in 1997, I just had a very fun time with Mark and Paul (and by myself) and fell in love with the city. 

It boggles my mind to think it's been 25 years!!

POLT

Okay, Storytime:

Back in I think 2001 or so, Ag, my fairy godfather Mark, Johnnie and I all went to Toronto together.  And I had one of my most favorite Toronto memories during this trip.

One evening, Mark, Johnnie and I decided to go to Woody's THE gay club in Toronto (Ag was tired and stayed in the hotel).  Woody's is also the gay bar where they filmed the gay bar scenes in the Showtime TV show, Queer As Folk.

This particular evening was a weeknight, a Monday I think, and that night is when new episodes of Queer As Folk aired.  So Mark, Johnnie and I are just sitting around this table together, talking.  There's a big screen TV along one way that I was facing.  There's some drag queens hanging out in a corner to the left of the TV.  There's a pool table with some guys playing.  There's bars on the walls to my left and right, and both have customers sitting at them, as well as customers at other tables like the three of us.

The TV was on, playing some show, but the volume was down and it couldn't be heard over the hubbub of the bar itself.  Then, at the top of the hour, the theme to Queer As Folk came on.  The bartenders turned the volume up a bit and the entire bar got silent.  I mean, so silent you could hear two ice cubes in a glass somewhere in the bar clink together.  And the entire bar watched the show.

Unlike here in the states, the Canadian station airing this broke for commercials.  As soon as it went to commercial, the normal bar noise resumed.  And when the show started again, like flipping a switch, it got silent again.  This was amazing to me as I witnessed it.

But then in this episdoe, there's a scene: the two lesbians have split up and are living separately.  The baby Gus is fussy and the way he always calms down is to listen to his mom's ex sing to him.  So mom calls and asks her to sing to him. And she does. 

Unfortunately, for some idiotic reason, you can't watch the clip here, but ONLY on YouTube...fucking copyrights.  So anyway, go watch it and then I have some comments below.



So the bar is silent, as I said.  However, when Melanie sings the second line, a lone drag queen in corner sings (and respectfully, not obnoxiously or campy or anything) right along with Melanie, "I say a little prayer for you."

The next line, "I'm brushing my hair now", all the other drag queens join in and the whole corner is singing...but kinda softly, like Melanie is, just as if they too were singing it to the baby.

the Next line, "wondering what dress to wear now." I hear someone behind me and to my right join in and sing that song with them.

And then on the second, "I say a little prayer for you." All over the bar, people are singing that chorus out loud, but again, softly, as if to a baby.

And from the next time, "Forever, forever" the entire bar, myself, Mark and I'm pretty sure Johnnie too, were all singing along.  An entire bar full of customers, joined together in singing a song along with a TV show, all enjoying ourselves, but no one being overly loud or disruptive.

And when Melanie choked up and stopped singing, the bar did as well.  The entire bar went back to silence.  I know that several of us in the bar, myself included, went "awwww" quietly when Gus was making his lil cooing noises and as they said goodbye.

And then they cut to a party scene.  But everyone was still silent watching it...until the next commercial when it went back to normal bar noise at the normal bar volume.

I have never heard or seen, and certainly not gotten to participate, in anything like it before. And I'm pretty sure I never will again.

Good times, good memory.

POLT

SO...

My Monday.  I got up a bit before 7AM (as I did on Saturday AND Sunday as well...even though I was off all three days and didn't have to get up at  ANY specific time). I putzed around on my phone, then got up showered, shaved and threw a load of clothes in the washer.  

I went to Rutters for my coffee and breakfast, and ate them while reading the paper.  Then after throwing the laundry into the dryer, I headed out for my chores.

I mailed a package at the Post Office.  I went to Advance Auto Parts to get a new radio antenna, as my old had...well, fallen off at some point (don't ask) and some new windshield wipers.  The guy had the wipers and replaced them for me, but didn't have the antenna in stock, although he could have it by 330.  Fine, I paid for all and said I'd come back when they called me it was in.

I washed Belle, it had been a while since she'd been cleaned.  And then went to Wal-Mart.  The air conditioner in my bedroom hasn't been working that well as of late and since I've had it the entire time I've been in the house (and the previous people left it here, so who knows how old it was), and since last night it didn't really work much at all, I decided to just go buy a new one.  And did.

I returned home, and took the a/c up the bedroom and opened it up.  But thought it might be a better idea to have two people work on it, so I called mom.  She couldn't come then, but could later in the day.  So I said I call her in the afternoon.  And then I got the laundry and folded it.

I had lunch, and then left to house to go visit someone.  Johnnie (of Testicular Tuesdays from the Palace's early days [search for it, you'll find his columns]) had texted me last night.  He, his wife and his new daughter were back at his parent's house here in the area, and would be for a few days and asked if I wanted to come visit.  Well of COURSE I did!  And that's where I went.

I got there and immediately met Lilly, and got to hold her.  Johnnie and I and his wife had a nice pleasant visit.  His mother-in-law was also with them, but since she only spoke like 4 English words, she and I didn't talk, other to say and wave Hi and Bye.  But Lilly herself was just adorable.  And after a really nice visit of a little over and hour, I left and came home.  Don't know when I'll see them again, as they're moving back to China, Johnnie got a different job there, but I'm really glad I got to see them now.

I came home, and as it was closing in on 330, and I've not heard from the auto parts store, I called mom and asked if she could come in then and went they called, I just go out then.  She said sure.  So she came in a we started to attempt to put it together and get it ready to go in the window.  

And then they called.  So out I went.  When I got there, Cory, the guy I was dealing is wasn't there, even though he's the one that called me ten minutes before, and the guy who WAS there, handed me the new antenna and said, "Here ya go."  Well I looked at it dumbly, cause Cory said he'd help me figure out how to put it on.  And yet, Cory wasn't here.  So I said, "Okay" and headed out to Belle.  I unscrewed what was there and the new one just screwed on and BOOM, I was ready to go.  Who knew I was such a great auto mechanic?

I came home and back upstairs where i left mom. She had the new a/c unit assembled and the old unit out of the window.  I'm not sure how she herself managed to actually lift that out of the window all by herself.  I mean it's not extremely heavy, but she IS 76 years old!

Anyway we got it into the window, turned it on, and DAMN, it started to cool the room down right away!  Mom said it was gonna be like a meat locker, if I left it on until I went to bed....which I did.  Cause I prefer sleeping in a meat locker than a sauna.

SO after all that, I took mom out to eat to Wendy's.  And then we just went home. I was reading on the sofa and then fell asleep for nearly an hour!  That was some nap.  

So all in a all a busy day of accomplishments.

Oh, and here's pics of me and Lilly!

POLT

So, Johnnie's back in the states.  He called yesterday and he arranged a visit today.    After mom and I had lunch at her place, I stopped by the grocery store and got stuff to make another batch of chili.  While I was making it, Johnnie arrived.  We talked in the kitchen while I finished preparing it, and then while it simmered, we went into the Living Room and watched the first NFL playoff game: The Jacksonville Jaguars at the New England Patriots.  Which was almost a great game, but in the end, the Pats won.

But after simmering a bit, Johnnie and I both had a bowl of chili.  I kept it simmering on the stove, and we later each had another bowl, before he left.

It was a great and fun surprise to hang with him today.  And to share the chili.  Although, now I'll probably go to the store and buy stuff for another batch and make that tomorrow!  I can usually get 7 bowls out of a particular batch, but I've already used 4 bowls.  So, I'll need to make more.

POLT

Check this out, real quick, don't know if everybody know (Part 921)...

Check This Out!

Shanghai China, at dusk.  This is the megacity where my buddy Johnnie and his wife, are living.

POLT

IF I were a hero, I'd be Martin Luthor (Part 628)...

Superhero Anydays

Today we have a group shot of Earth-2's Justice Society Of America, drawn by, I believe Todd McFarlane.

Clockwise from bottom right: Hourman, The Atom I, Green Lantern I, Dr. Mid-Nite, The Flash I, Hawkman I, Starman I, The Spectre, Wonder Woman I and Dr. Fate.
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Also today we have a Batman Wifebeater on pretty fit piece of eye candy.

He kinda looks like a more ripped version of Johnnie!

POLT

So here's what I've done recently.

Last Saturday, April 29th, I went with two of my friends to a local high school's spring play, like we do every year.  This year is was Guys And Dolls.  I didn't think I'd like it because I've seen that play somewhere before and didn't like it then.  But this time, it was pretty darn good.  Very entertaining.

Sunday, Derick came over for some bedtimesexxyfun.  After he left, I got a text from Johnnie.  He was back from Shanghai, China (yep, China!  He's working there at the University Of Shanghai!), and he brought his girlfriend with him.  He wanted to do lunch, and so, Monday do lunch we did.

I met his girlfriend, and I'm probably misspelling her name, but the way it's pronounced is Ton Ting.  She was a cute little thing, so sweet.  We chatted a bit here before we went to eat at Montezuma's (her first time eating Mexican food), and then we came back here to chat a bit more.  When she was in bathroom, he told me he was going to propose to her while there were here.  

He did....

...and she said yes!  YAY for them both!

All through last week, I took walks every other day and ate better.  Hopefully this'll help me get the diabetes under control and improve my health.

This past Saturday night, I went with Michelle and our friend Celeste as well as Michelle's mom to the Old Opera House in Charlestown WV to see Grey Gardens.  A weird play, but an enjoyable one.  And a fun time with those three ladies!

Yesterday, I had lunch with mom (she cooked: meat loaf, baked potato and asparagus) then went to see The Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2.  It was a fun movie, and I had enjoyed it, but I don't know that I liked it.  It was over the top, way too much, and seemed to be trying WAY too hard to be funny.  It wasn't a great movie, but even Marvel's not so great movies are still better than any of the crap DC is putting out now.

Today, I had a headache all day.  I just didn't feel like doing anything. I canceled by physical therapy appointment, and canceled mom coming to do help me do some stuff around the house.  I didn't shower all day, but I did go get some groceries, and then got something from KFC.  Which I only mentioned because, the lady at the counter gave me a Senior Discount.  And I dont turn 50 for 6 more months.  *SIGH* 

Anyway, that's been the last ten days or so.

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 333)...

Chapter 11, Page 28...

Saturday, I got up and to work without problems.  Again, I was the only one from my department there and I handled everything that came up, which wasn't much.  I did get the new clients taken care of and some other paperwork done.  And then I came home.

I hung out here for a bit, on the computer, watching TV and reading my book, until my company arrived: Johnnie!  YAY!  He had texted me on Thanksgiving he was back in the area, and we planned for him to come over this night.

I got to know Johnnie through his uncle, Conrad, that I played D&D with.  Conrad's wife, Tanda, also played with us.  And about 17 or 18 years ago, when they stopped playing, the had had two girls.

Anyway, Saturday night, Johnnie texted me and asked if he could bring Tanda and the girls along.  I really just wanted to spend some time talking with Johnnie, and not with someone I hadn't had contact with in 20 years and two people I didn't really know at all.  But what could I say?  So I said sure, bring them along.  They ate supper and Johnnie's grandmother's and then headed down.  I got some food from Rutters and waited for them.

When they got here, we all had a pretty damn good time.  They were here for about two hours.  Tanda and I caught up on what we had been doing over the last 20 years.  I found out from Johnnie all about his future plans.

On December 29th, he's moving to China!  He'll be working at the University of Shanghai.  He'll be a professor, but he wont be teaching.  He'll have his own lab, where he'll be working with and on proteins.  He'll have the ability to hire up to 9 people to work with him.  And he'll be doing amazing science-y things there (that last part is what I added, not what he said).

It just amazing to me....I can't believe it.  I first met Johnnie when he was 15.  We got closer when he got his license and a car and could drive down to my apartment to hang out.  He came there when he was upset, when he was angry at his family, when he had great news to tell me, or bad news.  My apartment was a refuge for him.

Then he want off to college in Bradford PA (and that's how we came to stop there on our way to Toronto...it was originally to visit with Johnnie).  And then for a short time, he had his own column here on the Palace called Testicular Tuesdays.  And then he graduated and started his grad work in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania (I got to visit him once there, seeing his office and apartment and having an unbelievably delicious sub there).  And once he got his Masters there, he stayed there to get his PhD.  And after getting his PhD, he moved a few years ago to University Of Chicago where he continued the work he did earlier.  He's had several studies published in peer review journals.  Apparently, he's known in that particular field (not world reknown, not a super star or anything, but people have at least heard of him).

And now...NOW, he's going to a foreign country, China of all places, will have his OWN lab and people working under him!  My GOD!  It's mind boggling. I mean, there's NO WAY I would have ever thought he would every be in a position to do something like this.

I'm very proud of him.   He said he'll be making a few trips each year back home here, and he said he'll get in touch with me when he does.  And he had me download an app onto my phone so we could chat once he gets there, like Facebook messager, so it's not like he'll just disappear overseas.

But still...wow....unbelievable.

Anyway, after they left, I watched a repeat of last week's Doctor Who (since I was watching The Laramie Project when it aired) and then this week's episode.  And then I went to bed, read some and then went to sleep.

POLT

I said do you speak-a my language, he just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich....

So, in the late morning today, a co-worker slumped into my office, plopped down in my chair and said, "Sometimes I envy you."  I said, "Really?"  And he said, "Yeah, you gay guys dont have to deal with women's shit."

He was having some issues with his wife and their communication and stuff. But I said, "yeah, I know."  and told him what it reminded me of.

Johnnie one time said, "You gay guys have it so easy!  As a straight guy, I have to first talk to a girl, make conversation, ask her out, go to dinner and a movie, pretend to be interested in her, and then after two or three more dates, MAYBE I'll get some nookie.  But you, you don't even know their names, and you're having sex with them."

I nodded and added, "They don't even need to speak English."  Which is true in one case, cause one time in Toronto, the guy I was playing with was moaning and mumbling things in French.  That doesn't mean he did NOT speak English as well.  It just means for the 15 or so minutes we were together, I never heard him speak it.

My co-worker just kinda looked at me after telling him all that, a few moments passed, and then he just pressed on with his marriage issues.

POLT

This morning, mom and I took her candy over to work.  For the past, oh i don't know, decade or more, she and I have taken batches of cookies, fudge, peanut brittle and other stuff she made over.  My co-workers like it and really appreciate her doing so.  They look forward to it every year.  And frankly, so do we.

I waited all day for the computer to be delivered (other than when we were over at work, and then at lunch) and it didn't get here, so hopefully tomorrow.

In the late morning, Johnnie stopped by.  He's back from Chicago for the holidays, and was visiting friends today and spent several hours with me.  Quite a nice visit, I don't think I've seen him since sometime in 2011.  But he still looks the same.  And we still had a good time together, just talking and catching up.  

We went to Montezuma's for lunch.  He grabbed the check when it came.  I asked what he was doing and he said, "You always buy my meals when we go eat, I have a real job now, so it's my turn."  He did let me cover the tip though.

And during our conversations, I told him of some troubles I'd been having over the last couple months.  And he said to me (this is paraphrased), "All the times I've visited you over the last 15 years, yeah, it's been cause we're friends, but it's been more than that.  You've been like a big brother to me.  Like a mentor.  You were always there for me, and always offered good advice and I knew I could always come to you I if I needed to.  And that seems to just be part of your make-up, cause I dont think I'm the only one you've been like that to".  What a nice thing to say.  How sweet.  It really kinda touched me.  He is such a nice guy and a good kid.  (Kid, ha!  He's 31 years old.  But still....)

So I've got two more days off and nothing planned (other than waiting for the computer tomorrow).  And I'm okay with all that.  I like not having anything planned nor knowing what I'm going to be getting into.  It's a pleasant change.

POLT

Here we are now, entertain us...

Today, coming home from work, Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came on the radio, and I started singing along.

And if brought back quite a few memories: hearing it for the first time while laying in bed reading a book, trying to figure out the lyrics for hours with my friends, buying the CD in Frederick, etc.  I remembered discussing it with Johnnie, who was too young to remember the music as it came out, and telling him what a watershed moment that song was.  How all the music before it was Sap, Rap, Crap or Heavy Metal, and afterwards, the music ROCKED.

And then, it occurred to me: that song currently also is a watershed, of sorts, in my life.  It splits my life in half.  When the song came out in 1991, I was 23 years old and as of later this month, I'll be 46, meaning I lived half my life before the song and half of it (so far) after it.  

And it surprises me how long the earlier time seems and how very very short that latter time seems.  And MAN does that make me feel old.

But regardless....it is SUCH an awesome song.

POLT

Bits-N-Pieces

So what's been going on in my life?

Sunday mom and I made a trip to my uncles house cause I wanted to see their new additions.  They're Bichon Frise (think small, fluffy white poodley dog) had puppies.  She had four, two lived and they're selling those.  But the puppies are only a few weeks old, they're eyes aren't even open yet.  Here they are:

They're sleeping together.  That's really all they did, even most of the time that I held them.

This is Lea (she's got the reddish nose).

This is Mia (she's got the black nose).

ADORABLE, no?

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I've spent about twenty minutes of the last three days de-weeding the front flower bed. Those jaggey kind of weeds (which I THINK are some kind of thistle...but really what do I know of horticulture?) have spread all through it and grown like...well, like weeds.  And I've been neglecting getting them out.  But now they're threatening to overwhelm the flowers.  So I've got to get them out.

I thought I might be able to get it all de-weeded in like a half hour.  Oh but NO was *I* mistaken.  Not only are there more weeds than I thought, and not only are they harder to get out than I thought, but my hips, thighs, knees and calves can only take the bending and squatting for about 15 minutes till they decide not to cooperate anymore.  And I'm done.

But I think I have about 75-80% of the flower bed de-weeded now, so one more time and that should do it. I hope!

Here's some pics of the garden, taken almost every Monday for the last several weeks:

I missed two photos in between the third and fourth one.  That's why the flowers are doing better and there's not many jaggey weeds things (like I've been complaining about) in the last one.  The yellow flowering plants, the purple plant in the back and the tree where there before I moved in, I have no idea what they are.

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Yesterday, deweeding, despite having gloves on, I got a blister on my thumb. Damn big thing too.  It's gonna really hurt as time goes on.  I'm so delicate.  I've spared you all a pic of that.

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It's been unbelievably, gloriously beautiful weather-wise, lately!  Temps in the low 80's, no humidity to speak of, clear or just a few clouds in the sky, a cooling breeze!  Amazing.  Course, they're saying this weekend's supposed to be back up into the high 90's with comparable humidity, ugh.  So I've been trying to enjoy it now while I can.

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Update on Grandma Polt.  Yes, her heart is only working at 30%, but they discovered she also has a bloodclot in her lung.  Which accounts for her troubled breathing, and strain on her heart.  They've given her meds to break it up and are monitoring her.  Today, they put a 'filter' in her leg to prevent any other clots from getting up out of her leg.  Another surgery.  That poor old woman, she's quite the trooper.  And since this is the problem and not just her heart, once it gets cleared up, her heart may improve and she may actually be able to leave.  So any thoughts, prayers or mojo you guys sent this way is greatly appreciated!

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Just found out something today about Johnnie (remember him?  My young friend {well hell, he's like 30 now, and living in Chicago} who's a PhD and who I visited in Bradford PA on the way to Toronto when he was in college there?  Cute lil twinkie boy?  Anyway, on Facebook he goes by Jack, and I questioned him about it, and apparently, that's what he goes by now.  Like in real life.  Like all the time!

My Johnnie's not a Johnnie anymore!  He's a Jack!  Pfft, nope sorry, Jack is too....big...old, MATURE and name for my Lil' Johnnie!  I don't care whatever anyone else calls him, he'll ALWAYS be Johnnie to me!

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FDot texted me this photo yesterday.  He was on a dinner cruise around Manhattan.  

Is that not an inCREDible photo?  Great shot! Thanks FDot!

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And now the Obligatory Bits-N-Pieces Eye Candy.

geez, if they were any tighter they might as well be painted on.  ....and ya know, that would make a great photo too....

POLT

Go go, go Johnny go, go go...Johnny be good....

So last night, Johnnie came by for a visit.  He was back from Philly visiting his family for the holidays.  We went out to eat at Montezumas (YUM!) and he did an incredibly evil thing.  On it tablet, he was showing me Angry Birds....and now I'm addicted.  So much so that I've got the app on my iPhone and even paid 99 cents for it.  I hate myself. 

But Johnnie was looking good, and he had a beard, which was something, cause he's never someone I ever thought of as being able to grow facial hair.  Although upon further inspection, I realized it was kinda patchy and obviously just there cause he didn't feel like shaving for two weeks, not because he was consciously growing a beard.  And he confirmed that assessment. 

He's submitted his thesis, so after he "defends" (?) it and goes through a graduation ceremony, he will be a Doctor.  Doctor Johnnie.  Now I just have to wait for him to call me and tell me he's sick and I can call him Dr. Johnnie Fever!!!!  (Here's the link for all of those of you under 35 who have no idea what I'm talking about.  Go ahead, check it out, I'll wait)

It's crazy to think that Johnnie, little Johnnie, MY lil Johnnie is gonna be a Doctor.  Not a medical one, no, but a Doctor nonetheless.  He'll have a PhD to hang on his wall.  He's got a job at a college in Chicago, doing what he's doing now, but making more money.  So that's good,  but Chicago's quite a bit more distant than Philly, so I don't know when I'll see him again.  Which is sad.  But there's phones and email and stuff.  And we only really saw each other at Christmas anyway.

I tried to get out of him what he acutally does.  And he told me, but after the first words "I research Pharmaceutical proteins..." everything else was words I had never heard before and couldn't comprehend.  Apparently its something about research into which proteins help which pharmaceuticals do thier jobs better.  Or something like that.  Whatever it is, it's YEARS beyond anything my mind can comprehend.  He showed me, on the tablet, one of the proteins he was working on.  It looked like a 3D picture of a small pile of different streamers and confetti.  So yeah, I got no idea.  I just have to take it at face value that what he's saying actually makes sense.

But we didnt' discuss just this high-falutin' stuff.  We talked football, politics, society in general, Kris, the religion he converted to (Ba'Hai....or something like that), and his future.  And of course, Angry Birds.  A really good time, as usual.

So, yeah, I've no idea when I'll see him again, but I know he's really gonna go somewhere and do something important.  And I'll be able to say, "I knew him when.  Back when he was a shy backward sixteen year old that just moved to the area and had no friends." 

POLT