Back in High Form

The first Letter to the Editor I've written in about a year made it into the paper. I really love writing letters about things that tick me off. It's so rewarding when they are published. At the SLTrib they also allow comments on the articles, so it's interesting to see what my other editorialists are saying. So far 23 agree and 7 disagree. Fine by me!

I am Delighted. Simply Delighted!

Wow. Sometimes I feel like I need to return to work just to get away from my weekend.

Thursday was the sushi outing with the Sushi Crew... PSara, Kyle, TM, Christopher, Chris, Shane and Christian. We visited a new little establishment, I heart Sushi at about 350 South State. It was very, very good - even compelte with green tea ice cream. Shane, Christian and I were in rare form, Napoleon Dynamite references, and funny, funny jokes abounding. Dinner is always better with gay men, for some reason.

Friday evening was pizza and movie night for me and Lindi. I rented a movie I was told everyone must see documentary, Jesus Camp. (You can also go here) Let's put it this way, I thought I knew about evangelical christians from going to Bible school and Bible camp when I was younger. I was sorely mistaken. Jesus Camp takes you through an Evangelical Bible Camp (Kids on Fire) and shows you how they are teaching their children to be "Warriors for God." It shows you a "home schooling" environment, a church environment, even young kids preaching helfire and damnation. It is profoundly disturbing.

Hey, I am all for being whatever religion you choose and devoting your life to it. When you start brainwashing and indoctrinating 5-6-7 year olds to pray to George Bush to stop abortion when they don't even know how babies are made, and tell children that age that they are phonies and fakes and they better get on their knees and start praying for forgiveness, and they do it, that seems more like emotional child abuse to me. You can convince a child of anything. It doesn't make it right.

Saturday, I was a little down in the dumps, so I decided to cleanm the kitchen and make two recipes I had never made before from the Food Network. I also went shopping for ingredients to make Baby Baklavas and some phyllo turnovers and tyropitakia (cheese triangles). I bought way too much phyllo dough for the baklava for Christopher's wedding, so I have to use it up!

I made Cream Cheese pie (I used fresh strawberries for the top instead of pie filling - it turned out beautifully) and Chicken Georgia. MMMmmm.

Sunday morning, I got up before Lindi and went to the store to fill our kitchen with snacks and drinks for her upcoming "Pre-Season Football/Couch" day. We had just finished our breakfast when my mom called to tell us she was going to the hospital because she was severely dehyrated and in a lot of pain. We arrived just as the doctor was finishing up his evaluation, and both he and her nurse took excellent care of her. She was doing much, much better by the time she went home. We were there until about 4. Then we went to Lindi's parents for a BBQ at 6 that evening. We were pretty tired little campers when we collapsed that night.

My birthday weekend is shaping up pretty nicely. Friday the 7th, a bunch of friends are meeting at Go Sushi for dinner, Saturday during the day might be a movie with some other friends, Saturday Night will be a party at Mo Diggity's and Sunday will be the big family dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. I love my birthday. Love, love, LOVE it!

This week will be baking and finishing up a little book I am making for Dawn with her wedding pictures. I finally got the digital pictures printed, so I can begin. I am so excited!



Question of the day: If you were stranded for 7 years on a desert island and could only have one food, what would it be?

Message to Myself

1,001 Posts and Counting!

Can you believe that? I have over 1,000 posts? Pretty crazy stuff.

Today is going well so far. I busted arse last night to complete a lot of work, so today is a slower day, which is good. I'm having some pain today, so any chance I can get to slow down before Open Enrollment is a very good thing.

Last Night was dinner at Woody's (shout out to the Cottonwood High crowd) of fried pickles (mmmm) and real American beef burgers and the latest episode of Big Love (shakes head - this show is getting crazy). What the hell is up with Nikki and the money and spending like she's insane? And the power struggle with Barb and Margene for "public wife"? I can't wait to see how this is gonna shake out.

For my lovely friends and bloggers who made it with me through 1,000 droning posts: THANK YOU!

You had my heart
and we'll never be worlds apart
Maybe in magazines
but you'll still be my star
Baby cause in the Dark
You can see shiny Cars
And that's when you need me there
With you I'll always share
Because

When the sun shines
We’ll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

These fancy things,
will never come in between
You're part of my entity
Here for Infinity
When the war has took it's part
When the world has dealt it's cards
If the hand is hard
Together we'll mend your heart
Because ...

When the sun shines
We'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

You can run into my arms
It's okay don't be alarmed
(Come into Me)
(There's no distance in between our love)
So Gonna let the rain pour
I'll be all you need and more
Because ...

When the sun shines
We'll shine Together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

It's raining (raining)
Ooo baby it's raining
baby come into me
Come into me
It's raining (raining)
Ooo baby it's raining
You can always come into me
Come into me

B, eleven, B, B, eleven...

OK - friday night Bingo with the Cyber Sluts was AMAZING! We had such a fun time. We were joined by Christopher and Teinamarrie, Aiden, PSarah and her boyfriend Kyle. It looked like there were about 50-75 people in the gymnasium of the First Baptist Church, surrounded by the loverly Cyber Sluts, trying not to get charged with a "party foul" that would require any patron to run around the gym and beg for cash in order to continue to keep playing. Party Fouls included marking the center space without being told you could, elbows on the table, calling a BINGO when you didn't have one, or not standing up and spinning around when you only have one more space left to Bingo. HILARIOUS! They served Hot Dogs, drinks, chips and candy for $1 - we easily spent just $20 on food and Bingo cards, and another $20 on Party Fouls and donations. $40 per couple for 3 hours of Gay-tastic entertainment is a dang good deal if you ask me.

All money goes to a selected charity of the evening, and Friday night was no exception, raising about $1,200 for the Center and one other Charity. Whoot!

Saturday, we both worked. Nuff said.

Sunday, we went to church at the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society. We had a very nice time. The Universalists are a group of people who, well, basically believe that we all believe differently, should support one another, sustain our environment and have our own journey to enlightenment. There are people who have a Christian faith base, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan (both modern and oldstyle pagan influenced) and everywhere in between. They gather to offer worship and support to one another. The alter is decorated differently each week, and done by the parishoners. It was very interesting.

They also sponsored a pancake breakfast (delicioso!) and invite newcomers to eat without donation - our presence was donation enough. I thought that was sweet. We got to sit down and talk with the Reverend and just get a feel for the place. Lindi didn't get that feeling she was looking for, so we may check out some other churches.

The Unitarian church is unique in that it doesn't teach you what to think, it encourages you TO think. They are also one of the very opening LGBT churches in existence. We had a lovely time.

This week is going to be a little busy, but I think it will be fun. Tuesday, my business partner and I are going to meet to discuss our future plans for the website. Thursday will be sushi at a new sushi place (yay!). And all this week will be putting things on eBay for TM, and generally cleaning up our house. We need to get some rooms painted.

My birthday parties are coming together nicely. I ordered my b-day cake from the same lovely lady (Rep Christine Johsnon) who did TM's wedding cake and I am really excited. I call it a "Twinkie" cake because her white cake tastes just like my favorite little snack. Plus, it's going to be in pink. Love it. TM is also checking into the club to see if the owner will do a little cover charge discount and the money can go to charity. She's pretty sure she can make it happen. Lindi's got the "family" party locked down at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

I love my birthday!

Rest In Peace Peppy

My love and heart out to Toni, Rob and her Grandparents at the loss of Peppy the Poodle.

For Toni:

We Have A Secret

We have a secret, you and I
that no one else shall know,
for who but I can see you lie
each night in fire glow?
And who but I can reach my hand
before we go to bed
and feel the living warmth of you
and touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths
and see ahead of me,
your small form racing with the wind
so young again, and free.
And only I can see you swim
in every brook I pass
and when I call, no one but I
can see the bending grass.

Author Unknown

Bingo and Hot Dogs

Well, it looks like Lindi and I will be joining the Scuderi's and some other wild and crazy people at Bingo with the Cyber Sluts tonight! First of all, I love bingo. Second, when you play with a bunch of gay people in a Baptist Church to raise money for Youth Programs and your Emcee's are drag queens - talk about a FABULOUS TIME! HELL-OOO!!

There should be hot dogs and other eatables when we get there and we'll just have a fun night out.

Looks like Lindi and I will also be able to get away for our anniversary out to Wendover, which should be fun. I was worried about that since we were moving to this new pilot, but my vacation was approved, thank goodness.

Work is going well, home is going well, life is just going well. I am excited for my Pampered Chef Book Party in September as well as Margarita Party in October. This ought to be a blast. Plus, I can get stuff for Christmas Presents. We're already shopping, we really want to enjoy this Christmas.

My mom and I are going to be taking 2 days a week to get her out of the house and go to the Therapy pool at Pioneer Valley. She doesn't like public pools, and with her health in decline, she needs to be in a controlled environment, so I'll be taking her to PVH. They have great therapists there and I think it will do her good to get out of the house, as well as me to spend more time with Mom. :)

Well, back to work. Hope your weekend is fantastic!

Archimedes: Μoυ δώστε μια θέση όπου μπορώ να σταθώ και θα κινήσω τη γη.
'Give me a place where I may stand and I will move the earth.'

Good Week - Crappy Weekend

Let's just say these past 7 days have been an adventure.

Work has been progressively more challenging, and yet, much more entertaining. I have definately found out who is in my corner. I actually had my boss tell me "If Connie's ain't happy, ain't no one is happy..." Glad she realized it! Just kidding. The new pilot program is working really well and I feel my client is really under control and I have the support I need, which is always fabulous.

Lindi had a great time in Vegas, learned a lot, taught me a lot of what she learned loved the new bedroom and is now going to teach others in her organization.

I ended up catching the massively bad cold that was going around the office, probably because of my stress level. I took a half-day off on Wednesday, was ok on Thursday, then couldn't speak when I woke up on Friday! This virus ripped right through my head and chest and I laid, practically motionless, in bed until yesterday. Today was my first day back at work, and although it was hard, I am glad I came in and got things caught back up.

I had another meeting with the Manager today and we are working on a career path to get me promoted in 6 months, then promoted again in another 6 months. He said it is agressive but definately do-able.

And last, but not least, my 35th is coming up soon! It looks like Lindi is planning a dinner-outing on the 9th for family and best friends and Teinamarrie might be helping me plan a bigger friends get together on the 8th. It's been so long since I've seen some of my friends, it's crazy.

I've come to terms with some hurtful realizations recently about some so-called "friends", who really aren't anymore, and just kinda let them fall by the wayside, on purpose. There is only so many times you can invite a person to participate in your life, you know? So, I am letting go, trying to find peace with it all, and I am sure they don't even realize what they have lost while losing me. And in fact, I wish them only the best in life, because to wish them otherwise would only be harmful to me.

There comes a point when you realize, hey, I am almost 35 and I am not the geeky little 15 year old I used to be. I don't need to run my life my anyone else's approval. Either you want to enjoy my company, or you don't. Either way, I will continue to move and grow and become and be. I don't need to live in your shell of shallowness, I can express myself and be wonderful! I don't have to fit your definition of a "worthy" person. I was born worthy.

I don't know what I would have done for sanity in the past few months without the phone calls and emails from those who love and support me. To be honored by participating in two weddings of people who are such a joy to my life and have always shown their true colors - it's breathtaking. To be sought out for my opinion and company has been wonderful. You know who you are and you are the BEST!