A Visit With Alex

Dear Jack,

Last night I went to visit my good friend Alex.  He has had some major surgery on his leg and is in recovery. We watched The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green.  Michael joined us after work and we ate Bare Burger.  It was good to visit with Alex.  His new apt is nice, and it is good to have him in Astoria.

When we got home we watched some TV before crashing for bed.

Ghost Smells

Dear Jack,

I know I am on Robitussin fighting off a cold, but I'm having some odd experiences that have made me feel like I should write them down. I recently added a Peach Cobbler recipe to my cookbook blog, and as I was writing it out, I started to smell Vanilla and Peaches... very strongly, as if I was actually smelling the Peach Cobbler in the room. The smell was so vivid, yet there is no reason for it.

Similarly, I was reading a friend's blog about Mexican Lasagna. I commented on it because my Trailer Park memory of Mexican Lasagna had tortillas in it as layers, and his had macaroni. Regardless, I started to smell a very strong odor of baked cheese. It is so strong that I smell it now.

Obviously, it has to be something in my head... a olfactory memory... and yet, it is so real smelling. I decided to blog about it anyway, though it may appear that I'm just loosing it. LOL.

Next Please

Dear Jack,

So Yesterday I was supposed to hear back regarding one of the jobs I interviewed for. As it is now Friday, and the job was to start Monday, and I have not heard anything, I am assuming I did not land that job. So it goes. I am still hopeful to find something, and will keep trying. According to one of the job seeking accounts I have, there are 6 applications that have been pulled for the next level of review. Any of those jobs would be wonderful.

Tonight I am making turkey chili and am a little excited at it. I guess I'll get the domestic bug out of my while I can afford to do so, and still under severance.

As far as everything else, not much going on. I created an IntegrityNYC blog and hopefully we can do stuff to update it and promote iNYC. We are also trying to get a celebratory Eucharist set up, but may have to postpone it till September. That is mostly, so we can raise funds to cover the costs.

Well that's all I have today.

The Search

Dear Jack,

I am looking for a new job, as my old job is no more. All is good, so no worries. I've been applying to stuff for the past four hours, hoping that as potential employers arrive at work and check their email, my resume will be one of the first things they see.

Michael is still in Anaheim, and I he can't come home too soon, but for us that means Friday. I miss him. A lot. Daniel F. is back from Nebraska and Dirk, Dan, Frank and I met him at Michael's Restaurant for dinner last night. It was good to see him, and he brought back goodies from a Czech bakery back in Nebraska.

Dirk and I also met up and saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I rather enjoyed it. I've read already how people are complaining that it modified some parts of the book. One person said that it was one thing to leave something out and another to change things. The reality, is that a screenplay based on a book always has to change and modify the storyline. There was nothing that was outrageous, although I had wished more memories were included.

Last Weekend

Dear Jack,

On Friday, Mike and I went to Jackson Heights. We ate at Himalayan Yak. I was supposed to do OUT Jackson Heights, but had some trouble with the restaurant and decided upon Himalayan Yak.

We then went to a party at Paul Z's apartment. It was a lot of fun. We then went to Lavish afterward. It was a late night.

Saturday, we went to Paul and Jason's and helped them decorate their tree. From there we went back to Jackson Heights for another friend's birthday party. We had a lot of fun, but it was again a long night.

Sunday, after Mass, I went with some St. Luke's folks to the Cathedral of St. John for the Evensong Rededication Service. That was a lot of fun too.

Autumn Arrival

Dear Jack,

Fall is definitely here. It is cool and crisp outside, and the leaves are beginning to change. I love the fall and the winter best. they have always been my favorite seasons. I am excited about the holidays that come in them. I also like the nights, as I sleep better since it is cool, and I get to bundle in blankets.

Mikey is not as big a fan of the cooler seasons because he doesn't like the cold. I will say though, his favorite foods all seem to be best suited for the fall and winter.

This fall, we have plans on going to a Halloween party with some friends, celebrate Thanksgiving with Abigail and Jon, and then have Christmas with friends from St. Luke's and possibly Jon again if he cannot go home to Michigan.

I have the itch to bake and cook again. Having worked so much in the evenings, I really miss fixing food and baking cookies. Additionally, the kitchen has become not that organized or stocked. I hope to change that a little bit.

Working Weekend

Dear Jack,

This was a long weekend. Yesterday I ran the booth for Yetta at London Terrace. Two of our volunteers did not show up, which put some extra pressure on. The street fair was pretty good, despite the small size of it and the constant drizzle of rain. I think Yetta met more people in that time than we have yet. It will definitely help her cause. Afterwords, Karen, Katsumi, Michael, Elizabeth, Yetta and I went to Grand Szechuan for dinner. It's my favorite Chinese restaurant.

Today we had an event at Animal Haven SoHo, and then I joined Michael and Paul at the Center for the 25th Anniversary. It was busy busy, and humid, but I still managed to enjoy myself. We did dinner at Cowgirl, and then met up with Daniel at Michael's Restaurant.

I'm glad Yetta is letting me come in tomorrow at noon.

O'Neil Departs

Dear Jack,

Today I was in a good mood for the most part. I'm hopeful about a possible part-time job. It will be nice if it goes through... just have to make up my mind about it. There are a few logistics about it.

Had a decent day at work. It was John's (our summer intern at KBA), farewell shindig. Blakes, Gina, Greg, and I went with him to Comfort Diner. It was a lot of fun. I needed that time to relax and regroup. It was really nice to relax with the work crew. Katsumi should have been there.

Jackson Heights

Dear Jack,

Had a marvelous evening tonight. Mike and I joined the OUT Jackson Heights crew for dinner at La Paquena on Roosevelt. Met two newcomers Lewis and Ali. They were very friendly. Ali had just moved here from DC. Afterward, we all went to the new gay bar across from where Lydia's used to be. I don't recall the name, but it is "memories" in Spanish or something like that. People told me it was going to be a dump, but in all honesty I found that I liked it best. It has the most room to move by far, and I had Mike get me a Shirley Temple and they gave me a handful of cherries. And since I love cherries, it won me over.

Later that night we stopped by our friend John's place for a visit. He has a gorgeous place and is quite the host. Martha Stewart would be proud.

We just got home, and am now headed home.

Domesticated

Dear Jack,

Well on Friday, Mike and I headed to Manhattan and registered with the City as domestic partners. To celebrate we met several friends at Mundo in Astoria on Saturday for dinner. Keri, Jason O., Paul, Karen, Jason N., Daniel, Sebastian, Lucia, Abigail, and Jon all joined us. It was great. Unfortunately Mundo, or well, the owner, was rude to Karen and Jason N.. I was embarrassed, and will probably not be going back anytime soon. It was unlike the owner, but I was really upset.

After dinner, Jason N., Daniel, Sebastian, and Brendan joined us at Omonia for desert. That was much more pleasant.

Today Michael and I visited Saint Luke in the Fields on Hudson St. It was a most pleasant visit with some wonderful people. We will be back next week for certain. I am hopeful that Michael and I will eventually find the parish that we need to be at. This may be it, but it may be not.

As I write about the parish we visit, my mind is drawn to the service that was held earlier today in Lambeth. The Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo in Sri Lanka was the preacher and in another post I will share his sermon. It is worth a read.

My mind is drawn to when I was in Oxford in the summer of 2003, and how as I studied with Dr. Hobbie, the Episcopal Church met for General Convention and decided to consent to the nomination of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. I've recently been reviewing journal entries from that time and adding them to this blog. How similar is my anxiety as I read about what is going on there. It is even more pungent to me, having met Bishop Robinson on many occasions, as well as becoming closely acquainted with Davis MacIyalla of Changing Attitudes Nigeria. I know not much will happen, and I know their exclusion is bearing witness to work that needs to be done. I think also of my 2004 summer at Kanuga when Archbishop Eames and the Lambeth Commission drafted parts of the Windsor Report. I had such an opportunity to be there and overhear their conversations. Part of me wonders if I could or should have spoken to them.

How far my life has come from 2003 and 2004, and yet how very slowly has the Church come in the same time. I read my posts and entries from 2003 and 2004 and see how immature I was in many ways, and I hope I have grown up. In someways, I see the opposite in the Communion, as some bishops refuse to break bread in the Sacrament of Unity ordained by Christ as a way of memorializing him. It reminds me of the children who are upset and take their toys home. Bishop de Chickera was prophetic in his restatement of the parable from Matthew today. "There can and there must be no uprooting, simply because if we attempt this game of uprooting the unrighteous then, my dear sisters and brothers, none of us will remain."

At Last I'm Home

Dear Jack,

Just got home after a long day of volunteering. Mikey came and joined me and Yetta, and it was really nice. Also I ate a great salad for dinner and it was really that good that I'm blogging about it. Lovari stopped by while we were there too. It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work. I think it will definitely pay off in the end though. MPD may as well concede now! LOL.

Life goes on, and I go to bed.

Been a Long, Been a Long, Been a Long Day...

Dear Jack,

Had a long day. It was good and productive though. Things are going great with the YGK09 stuff and I'm hyped. I'm about to head to bed, but wanted to post. Not much happened today other than I got a lot of work done, and was there a long while. I ate a hotdog, and that was great.

That's all for now.

New Jersey

Dear Jack,

This weekend Michael and I traveled to New Jersey. We went with a friend from Michael's Mozart group to another member's house in Raritan. We watched a movie on Mozart as well as listened to music of Mozart or contemporaries of Mozart. We also watched some slides of Mozart related places--all great if you are a big Mozart fan, which Michael and his friends from the forum are. I on the other hand, although enjoying myself, found it a bit much. Regardless it was nice hanging out with them and traveling to the country. Oh, last week we hung out with Albert and Jason. It was great to hang out with them. Albert and Jason both look great--I think they're loosing weight or something. We ate at Acme Diner, which always makes me nervous... I mean ACME for crying out loud... Wylie E. Coyote never had any luck with ACME. Luckily though they have sweet tea.

Friendships Falling

Dear Jack,

Leaving all names aside, the issue must be mentioned:

A friend's friend was visiting and was hanging out with Michael. The friend was very blatantly hitting on Michael, commenting on all his features. This is not something totally new, as people hit on people all the time. There was a line crossed, however, in that the person then (having known Michael and I for less than 24 hours) said "You know you, the way he looks and the way you look...[Chap] and you don't belong together. I mean what's with that?". Had the comment been made by a stranger, Michael would have put that person in his place. However, the comment was made by a friend's friend, so Michael restrained reaction to "How could you know? You don't know us." Regardless, the person persisted with questions about Michael's dating experience history. The friend, recognizing the situation as bad even asked the guy to shut up.

Time goes on, and the guy flirts with Michael throughout the day, and into the night, in front of me even. Although I can get jealous easily, I recognize when there is not any chance of competition. This old dude was far from a being someone that would cause Michael to stray, even if straying were apart of Michael's personality.

Over the next few days, the comments made by the guy did bother me. Coupling the comment about Michael and I not belonging together were the comments on the beautiful physique of Michael. Very plainly the reason this guy felt I should not be with Michaelis because I do not look as traditionally "cute" as Michael. This really hurt and pissed me off. What was worse, was that the same guy, the friend, and our friend Bob were scheduled to join us for Easter Dinner.

At dinner, things went well. After dinner, the guy having left us to pursue a fling on Long Island, Michael inquired to our friend about the situation. Here is where things get odd. The friend, not recognizing the hurt I felt, nor agreeing in the inappropriateness of the comments, said that Michael should expect such comments because of the way he dresses. More was said against Michael regarding a proposed "naivety" and necessity of needing to "live in the real world".

Later the friend left. Bob left. Michael and I thought. The things said were very mean, and unrelated to the actual hurt the dude had incurred with his comments. Our friend did not seem to recognize that we were the victims of his dude, nor that his criticizing Michael rather than admonishing his friend played out that he agreed with the friend's comments.

Later that night I visited the friend, and rather than deal with the situation at hand, I was given a bag of red herrings. 1. That Michael and I are too judgmental of his friends, and that this necessitated him having to find a new place to live farther away from us, in addition to not introducing any more friends to us; 2. We bring up his friends to other friends of his and to our own friends, and he felt that was gossiping; and 3. That Michael  is the person at fault for not reacting at the time to his guy friend in a harsher manner, and for his style of dress provoking flirtation. He also mentioned not liking me mentioning him on my blog, thus the no name. (Regarding the story, this is my story, and I am going to write about it whether he likes it or not).

After much conversation, and several weeks of pussy footing around the situation, we finally all talked (not the dude). At first our friend admitted nothing wrong, and expected us to apologize. Michael and I did apologize for bringing up the comment in front of B4b, and for bringing up other friends in front of his friends, and for being "judgmental" (although we don't see it as such).

We got an apology that began with "I'm sorry you got hurt, but..." and then listed why we should not be upset. Mind you we were not holding him accountable for his friend, but for his reaction and his comments on Easter. Again the "naivety" of Michael was blamed for the situation, as well as his clothing. In addition we were told that the opinion expressed was only an "opinion" and is as prevalent as anuses.

Michael left the situation, and I was bombarded with how the two of them could not be friends because of Micahel's reaction to this friend's apology. I stood up for Michael. Michael came back and demanded an apology. Rather than brushing off the situation, the tearful red herring of "y'all are my only friends here" was brought up as a reason for moving on. Still no admittance that the comments were wrong and hurtful to us.

Finally we got a vague "I apologize for everything I've done". I am sure you have heard many people say that such a blanket apology is not really one at all, as it does not give any ownership to the actual deeds done.

We left that night with Michael needing time to think. I go back and forth from finding the apology suitable, to being insulted by it.

If indeed this person cares so much about us, than I would hope he would just swallow up his pride and apologize. Indeed also, if this person cares so much about us he should recognize our hurt.

Upon reflecting on the situation further, I began to question the depth of the friendship. As I looked throughout the time this friend has been near me, I find little white lies appearing that I let go or ignored. I found in the conversations I had with him a lack of understanding regarding the depth of the love Michael and I share with each other. Indeed if this friendship were so deep, he would be able to grasp the many "real world" experiences in just this past year that Michael and I have had to endure.

I just don't see this friendship going on...it is falling. And I don't see him trying to reconcile it at all.

New Job

Dear Jack,

Well today I began a new job through Winston. I am working at Amalgamated Bank. The people there are very friendly, and I think this will be a decent assignment.

I wish something had gone through with the Episcopal Church Center, but so far I've heard nothing whatsoever. I guess I will just do my best with this job, and see if anything comes of it.

Other than that, there is not much new going on.

Michael's Birthday was on St. Patrick's Day, and we celebrated twice. On Friday, I cooked dinner and baked a cake. Dan, one of our new friends, as well as Dean and Jason. I think it went well. Then on Sunday, after Church, Michael and I met Bob and Brendan at Spice in Manhattan for lunch. So we were nearly able to see all our friends for Mike's Birthday, 'cept Empy, Kim, Josh, and Albert who were unable to make it...all had good excuses.

Well that is all for now.

One Year

Dear Jack,

A year ago (and a few days) Michael and I started dating. I cannot think of any time when I would want to have been without him. He is my true love and greatest joy.

Last night was Mozart's Birthday, and although I'm not a huge fan, not like Michael, I made reservations to Cafe Mozart to celebrate. The food was not that bad, not exceptional... but well worth it. Ironically, they celebrated Mozart's birthday the day before it...we couldn't figure it out either. Thus rather than hearing a Sonata, we heard piano jazz by some college kid with a chester-chester-child-molester mustache.

Being able, I had Vienna Schintzel and Sacher Torte with fresh mint tea. Mike had a champagne cream sauce covered Schnitzel and a Carrot Cake with a cub of Turkish Coffee. It was great.

I can't wait till this is our 50th year, and I can type about this here in this blog. (assuming computers are not obsolete by then LOL).

Wonderful Birthday

Dear Jack,

Well I had a good day! Dean came into town; we got a computer desk for the computer; and Michael threw me the best b-day surprise party ever!

He was able to get Bob C., B. Smoake, Kim E., Dean P., Jason N., and Albert G. to meet us at Burrito Loco for dinner. I was a bit frustrated as we approached the place because I was hungry and tired. When we walked in and then I noticed that everyone was there, I about died of shock. I had no clue what was going on. None.

It was simply marvelous.

Well that's all for now.

David Barton is My Hero

Dear Jack,

Let's see new friends are Jason, Shai, and Smoake. Those are the closest so far...although I've more that aren't as close yet. And then there is Josh. All of the people I've gotten to know here are pretty cool. I think they are a great group of people, and I'm glad to hang with them.

Last night I went to a modern opera called the Temptation of Anthony at the BAM. I went with a group from the school. I rode in the train back with my friend Rick from California. We ate at John's Pizza in the village, and then walked our way back to the school.

Somehow I convinced him to join me at the gym today. It forced me to have to go. And it was a great time. He knew a lot of what to do, and I had some level of comfort having a friend with me. I will say that I can now go to the gym on my own... and with the wonderous specimens in the locker room... I intend to.

After that we went to Mary Ann's Mexican on 8th Ave.

I was supposed to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, but have opted to go to the Jewish History Museum tomorrow instead.

Today I may meet up with some friends later on... maybe go to the Big Cup on a quasi date thing. I don't want to call it a date though.

But that's all going on nowadays.

Time Warner Sucks @ss

Dear Jack,

The title is true. I spent way too long waiting for them to not get any service now. I won't get service till at least the 8th of October now. I am considering canceling and going with DSL. If only I knew DSL would work here.

This past weekend I went to The Big Cup many times. Several times with Bob, my Methodist friend, and then once with Jason, my NYU friend, although we ended up going to New Venus Cafe instead. Jason is a cool guy, and I'm not just saying this because he may read this. I look forward to a stronger friendship. I've also made friends with two other wonderful guys up here off the close. On the close, I'm finding my spot. I am happy to say I get along with everyone, and I have found no one who has a qualm with me. I am running for a few offices in the community council. I don't know if I'll win any of them, but, hey, it can't hurt to run for them. Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the Matriculation dinner. We sign the book to show we are true members of the school, and then they feed us Filet Mignon. It is a black tie affair, and I am hoping I can find mine.

Other than that, not much is going on here. It is raining... the remnants of one of the hurricanes from Florida. That's about it.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Dear Jack,

I came back to Georgia yesterday afternoon. It was a sweet flight on a real small jet. There were two seats, aisle, then one seat -- Very small. My Grandma Hohne lost the car when she tried to find it after dropping me off. I didn't' get the message on my phone till I was loading the plane. Back in Atlanta, my mother got lost finding the airport. I am beginning to worry about them ... not really... well sort of.

We went to Zio's Cafe Milano last night for dinner. Let me tell you how hard it is to find a freaking Italian meal with low carbohydrates!! I ate salad and pulled the shrimp and artichokes out of my alfredo linguini.

Today we purchased new cell phones. I have a LG VX3200 flip phone... the system is Verizon. So far I am much more pleased than I was with Cingular Wireless. Other than that, not much has happened. I leave Thursday for Kanuga, and I cannot wait. It will be nice to be back in the swing of things again.

A NOTE TO READERS: You are always free to IM me for a chat. Anyone can IM me even if you don't like what I say or what I stand for. I don't care. I am proud and content with who I am, and that doesn't bother me. Dave, a reader, IMed me. He is a good example of what to do.