Alive, and pissed . . . .

I've not been online to read blogs, let alone post something. 
Won't say I've not been online . . . .  
never mind.

There are times I feel angry.  Just angry. . . . . at the world, myself, who-knows-what.  I'm that way right now.  It's been a good day, but I'm feeling a bit pissed.

Working in the religious non-profit sector, I was (finally) dissed for being (somewhat) Christian AND gay.  Having posted something on a rather free-thinking, free-spirited group, I got somebody really pissed at me about that.  OK.  It's happening.  I'm all right with it, but it's just not happened before.  I've had it so easy in so many ways.

Really.  Of course, I've had my own struggles, but coming out has been easier.  Maybe there are parts that will get more difficult.  We'll see.

More on that later.  Cheers, all

Spo Shirt, Beer City, BLURP

The amazing Spo Shirt Tour visited one of our local breweries.  No, the picture is not about dogs or science, but the Lexington Avenue Brewery (known locally as the Lab).  You see, our fair city is Beer City USA.  Really.  I didn't make that up.

So, even though we didn't stop in for a brew, we stopped by for a picture.  My crappy camera doesn't focus, so forgive the fuzziness of the picture.  I make no apologize about my natural fuzziness.

Tonight, I'm going with friend D for supper and a movie.  This week is the QFest film festival in our fair city.  Should be great fun.

Tomorrow is our local Pride celebration, BLURP.  I'm volunteering at a couple of booths throughout the day.  Too windy to wear my kilt, I fear.  Could get me into trouble.  More trouble.

Life goes on.  And with gratitude, I'm making it, a day at a time.  Today's a good day.

Cheers all.

Spo Shirt Tour

The Famous Spo Shirt arrived and has now paraded around town.  I'm not used to being in such bright, colorful attire!

In our first photo, I'm in from of our famous, art deco City Building.  Though the sun was out, it was a chilly day!

As my computer is acting up and may not be able to handle much today, I'll add some posts with a few other pictures.

And, as my camera is really awful and doesn't seem to focus well, I ask your forgiveness on the pix.  It was not the photographer (friend D.S.).

OH!  The Spo Shirt also made an entry into Sean's Undie Monday.  Check it out.

Septemberance

Remembering the events of ten years ago has been sad.  Really sad.  Forgiveness is a tough thing, sometimes. 

Then again, sometimes, it is the only thing.

Islam is not the enemy.  Religion isn't even the enemy (though it's easy to say so.)Extremism, absolutism, and fanaticism - they are the enemies.  Those who feel so strongly about being right are the ones who think they must punish those who are not like them.

If we do not behave in a very different way, if we do not embrace forgiveness, we become like them.  It is so easy to do.

"They" did not win.  The attacks of the 11th of September, 2001, did not succeed.  There only success will be if we become like them.

Even if we do not feel very forgiving, we must live it on the outside, until we can embrace it on the inward side.  Then . . . . .

Love wins. 

Update

Yes, alive, and OK, if not well.  But, hey, compared to life in Mogadishu, I'm doing great. (Note to self:  stop whining).

The Spo Shirt has arrived, and I shall post pictures of its whereabouts this week.  Now, I just need to get out and about some.

Update:  It's a dark and stormy night as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee roar through the mountains.  Just got some pictures of the newly arrived Spo Shirt. Thought I'd share some.

Too long away

Sorry to have been away for a bit.  The rough patch I've been in has stretched out longer than I thought.  Isolating and keeping to myself some hasn't been good.  A real blunder at work that sent me reeling.  Still recovering from that one.

Things are getting better, albeit slowly.  I'm going to write a bit more later.  Just wanted to let you know I'm alive and sitting up, taking nourishment (as we say).

Felt the earthquake today.  Ugh.

Busy, better, beach

Busy week.  People keep dying.  Ugh.

Sometimes, in the oddity of the work I do, I deal with the dead.  And there is an added oddity of dealing with a cemetery.  Yes.  I know more about burying the dead than you'd want to know.  'Tis true.  Today, I was helping dress the dead, (in a special outfit peculiar to his office.  New one for me). The deceased was a dear colleague, and it was an honor.  Just never know what the day will bring.

Anyway, this Saturday, after ceremonies involving all of the above, I'm off to the beach.  Some "clients" of mine have a place at the beach they lend us for a time in the summer.  My children and their mom are there now, and I'll go down on Saturday (while mom drives back).  This arrangement has worked well for us.  The profile picture is of me, on said beach, last summer (or maybe two years ago).  I'll see if I can get a new shot this year.

I've noticed:  Blogs with photographic backgrounds load slowly, and do not scroll easily. Is it just my computer?  or what?

Cheers.

More Better

Another doctor visit and two antibiotics have me feeling better.  Support and encouragement from friends have me being better, too.  Thanks.  Diverticulitis ain't no fun, I've come to discover.  I think I've been battling with this for quite some time, actually.  Only recently did it become so acute as to need some remedy.

Any illness can call us to re-evaluate some things.  And, of course (if you've been reading this blog) I'm always in the throes of something.  Up and down, and back and forth.

This week, I'm aiming to settle down a bit.  Calm the tummy, calm the spirit, be in touch with Spirit.  That will be the most calming, healing thing of all.  Why do I run so?  It is so simply and difficult - at the same time.

Things go well.  i am grateful.

Belly ache

marching through my tummy

Ugh.  I've had a belly ache for at least a week.  Gets better, then worse.  I've been home most of the week.  Been to the doctor, had a CT scan - nothing.  I've spent a lot of money, though. A lot.

Money is one of the areas where I have the greatest fear.  I think I've written about all that before.  It seems any time I get a little ahead, I then move two steps back.

And I have fears of being ill.  Something wrong, really wrong.  But I know that probably not the case.  Just weather it, hang in, pray, relax, rest.

I guess I'm glad I'm the boss or someone would have fired me by now.

Clouds and Sun

Moving brings all kinds of stresses, re-assessments, acts of discernment, days of frustration, and opportunities for recycling.  And it can also be very depressing.  I am quite depressed today, anyway.  Be it moving or barometric pressure (and a cloudy, sun-less day), I've had a tough time getting moving.  But I am plodding, nonetheless.

Boxes: emptied, and still full; drawers not recently opened or explored; feeling a bit like a visitor in someone's home.  And yet making myself at home.  I need to focus on making it home.  And what that mans to me.

I've made an electronic connection with someone once in a situation like mine.  he's read back over old blog posts and made comments.  I went back and re-read some old posts.  Wow.  I wrote that stuff?  Could have fooled me.

And in other news, , , , , my last post ended with a "maybe."  It was intended to be a "may be;" not expressing uncertainty of connection, but wonderment about what may yet be.  It was indeed a very real connection.

And, I may have committed a terrible blogger-sin, or had a stroke of genius:  I told him about my blog, and sent him the link.  Hello, D.  are you there?  So now he has the opportunity to get to know me through what I've written.  And, (or but) I can't write all about him on my blog!  Yet, it's seemed the kind of intuitive connection that leads me to want him to know me better.  And there is so much history in this blog.  I really like him, but it's certainly more than a "like" kind of connection.  Who knows.  May be.  May it be.  What yet may be?