Under Siege

There is only one item on my Christmas List... it is been there for so many years maybe it's not possible to acquire... it's Security.

I feel like I live in a constant state of stress, anxiety… under siege. There is a disaster is lurking in the mailbox, under the hood of the car or behind the next ring of the phone.

I've tried grasping at security in the comfort of a relationship. Allowing red flags to flutter like they are in a Category 5 Hurricane, sacrificing my identity and my mental health as I grasp for security.

During the month of December the siege expands to gift expectations... court ordered poverty doesn't help.... two weeks to payday... less than a quarter tank of gas... and $30 in the bank. Now you see why I wish I could wave a wand and fast forward to January 5th.

Rolling Along

My ill-advised relationship came to a sputtering end this past week as he packed his stuff out of my house and headed back to California. The last week had him sleeping on my couch, moping around the house and heaving heavy sighs. On several occasions he proclaimed that he didn’t understand what went wrong. I would restate my position… using small words. He would heap the passive aggressive martyrdom on the Facebook minions. Many of my friends had ‘friended’ him in a sign of support for our relationship wondered if he was really sleeping on a bench in the park as he insinuated. He was a very interesting fellow… if you didn’t dig too deep. The day he left, we hugged and I wished him luck. He maintained that we would stay in touch… and then he blocked me.

Good Riddance!

The sad part is that the whole reason I sought out this transfer was to be in the same town as my son as he went through his senior year and one of the MAJOR reason I finally grew a set and ended it was when I learned that he had flipped off my son’s girlfriend as she walked past my house. Not only was it bad that a grown assed man flipped off a 16 year old girl that he didn’t know, but he denied it even happened… because there are just scores of 6’5” black men living in this town that just happened to be smoking a cigarette outside my house as she walked by.

As I posted before, he was jealous, immature and paranoid. Anytime I spoke to, or even looked at another guy I was peppered with 20 questions with the insinuation that I was having sex with the individual. Initially, I would explain exactly how I knew the individual and say how ridiculous it was to think I was sexually involved or even attracted to them. Instead of accepting my explanation he accused me of lying.. which makes me irritated.

Honestly, he wasn’t my “type” in any way… except the sex. Damn… that was good!

For the foreseeable future… no relationship, no hookups. I’m going to focus on ME, my KIDS and my JOB. On balance 2014 has been a good year. My Joy Jar is full and I’m looking forward to opening it up on 01/01/15… stay tuned.

EXCELSIOR!

He’s Single Again

In August, shortly after I moved back to Pendleton for my sons' senior year and to take on a new assignment at work, I took myself out to the cinema to see "Guardians of the Galaxy". (I’ll take any chance to post a picture of Chris Pratt) I had spent the summer of 2014 growing increasingly disenchanted with the gay social networking sights... Grindr, Growlr and Scruff. The local prospects were shallow, closet cases or both. As I sat waiting for the previews to begin, I decided to delete them and take a break from 'putting myself out there'. I noticed a new face on Growlr... a handsome black man... tall (6'6") and about ten years younger than I. He said he was new to the area and seemed to be equally disenchanted with the local prospects. We chatted through the movie and agreed to meet for a drink afterwards. We chatted over drinks and things progressed from there.
I promised myself I wouldn’t make the mistakes of the past, something that I have felt has sabotaged other attempts at a relationship. Mistake #1… he moved in really soon. We joked that he was a hook-up that never left. There were red flags and I was honest when they would come up. The biggest ones were a lovely combination of self-pity and paranoia/jealousy. As my regular readers and people who know me in the real world, I enjoy people watching… especially guys who look like Chris Pratt. The paranoia/jealousy would rear its ugly head whenever he felt I was looking at a guy. He made me explain how I knew everyone on my friends list on Facebook. He made a fool of himself by responding to a text I received from a friend stating that he (the friend) was to stop contacting me because I was taken. He had no concept of the idea that two gay men could be friends without it turning into an orgy. He would get pissy at the pub when I would look at people. Granted, occasionally I would see someone who caught my eye… but mostly it was someone I knew from the community. I have lived here nine of the last 12 years.
We were together for three months, confrontations got better. But mostly I just got better at masking my wandering eye. By the way… let the record show that I never cheated on him. Never gave him any reason to believe I would… but there it was paranoia/jealousy.
The final straw was that none of my kids liked him. They saw him as a perpetual victim who judged them for their thoughts and feelings as well. My oldest daughter, who lives here too, spent a lot of time at friends house because she just couldn’t deal with him. She wanted to tell him how it was… but she didn’t for the sake of family harmony. The big one was when word came to me that he had flipped off my son’s girlfriend. He didn’t know it was her (which actually makes matters worse), but who does that? Flips off a teenaged girl on a residential street in a small town?
The hard part is that he still lives here.. I’ve told him he needed to be out by December 1st, but he played my soft heart and the holiday season. God, I hope this doesn’t last long. I’m being very forthright with my intentions. I fear the emotional manipulation will get thick.
Once I get his ass out of my house… it will be a LONG time before I step in the relationship pile of shit again.

A Quick Update

I knew it has been a while since my last post, I just didn't realize how long.


Shortly after that last post, I was offered a promotion to a supervisory position at work. It has been quite a learning curve and there have been many challenges. I was talking to a colleague on Friday; she said that she has been impressed by how determined I have been to be successful in this position. Mainly I just want to prove to myself, and my mentor that I was the right choice for the job. I've always believed that the more frightening the prospect, the more worthy the accomplishment.


The new position is stationed in a town 30 miles from where I had been living the past three years. I spent a little over a month commuting, before moving in August. I enjoy being back in Pendleton. There is much more to life here... good music, good beer... good people.


Two weeks after I moved, I met a guy. We hit it off right away and have had a lot of fun. It's been three months, but there are things that make me doubt the prospects of the relationship lasting into the new year. That's all I'm going to say about it right now...


My weightloss journey has stalled... I haven't been to the gym for three months (one of the "issues" I alluded to in the previous paragraph has prevented it). The good news is that I haven't gained back anything significant. Calling it a stall is appropriate. On a positive note, October 28th was the one year surgi-versary. I can still say that I weigh 127 lbs less than I did one year ago.


If you're still reading this... thank you.


Stand by... there should be more to say soon.

TMI: PRIDE 2014

It is PRIDE weekend in Portland… I’m missing it this year. But my heart is there in spirit.

HAPPY PRIDE 2014!

1. Tell me about your first Pride.

* My first pride was Portland 2012. I had this idea that PRIDE would be an assembly of gays celebrating who we are in a world that wants us to sit down and shut up. What I found was that there is as much judgment and hate amongst the gays as there is in the world at large. I had my fill of that when I was closeted, I didn’t go through the pain and loss of coming out just to be hated on by members of the gay community. Some very good friends took me to my first pride, they were my guides on what to see and how to find your own groove in a very diverse community.. and how to spot and avoid the mean girls.

2. What did that first Pride mean to you?

* Living in a rural area I had only seen PRIDE parades and festivals on the TV machine. Which meant I had a notion that it was a bit more fabulous and over the top than it actually was. I was surprised that the parade had more church/faith groups than bars, dykes on bikes or floats. That part still resonates with me, how much certain brands of the faith community are so willing to show their acceptance and understanding of the pain the church has inflicted, they will miss their own Sunday morning services to walk in a PRIDE parade.

3. How many different Prides have you been to?

* Two – Portland and TriCities, WA. Since I’m not able to go to Portland Pride this year, I’ll be hitting Mid-Columbia Pride next month.

4. Do you fly the Pride Flag and/or stick it to anything?

* I have a Bear Pride window cling on the Subie and I have a full-sized Bear Pride flag, but since I live in an apartment, there’s really no place to hang it other than in my window.

5. Do you still celebrate Pride? What does it mean to you now?

* I’ve been “out” just five years. I think that the spirit of PRIDE is something you celebrate every day that you don’t let the ignorant homophobes of our society drag you down.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter” –Dr. Seuss.

6. Does Pride need improving? If so, what changes would you make?

* I haven’t thought of it.        My next tattoo, or something like it  --->

7. How do you give back?

* I talk to others who are still closeted, giving them an ear, offering some advice from someone who’s been there. I also have done volunteer work for a non-profit assisting those living with HIV and educating others so they practice safer sex.

BONUS

What kind of trouble or embarrassing moment have you had during Pride?

* Nothing to debaucherous… yet.

I did fall into the trap of spending too much money on the sexy stripper boys at Silverado. It’s fun in the moment, but filled with regret later because I could have used that $$ for something useful. But.. .in the moment… it’s hella FUN! (This boy is a bit too skinny but his muscles felt nice… and he let me wrap a unit of paper currency around his rather ample cock.)

**Check out Sean the author of TMI Questions and check out some of the other participants (in sidebar)

Happy PRIDE Month

It has been five years since I began to live the Shakespearian mantra, “To thine own self be true”. It’s not always easy; sometimes you start to think it would be easy to be just as others expect you to be. Life is better today than it was then, and it will continue to get better. Be who you are… be true to yourself… and, as a show of PRIDE… be there for someone who is struggling to ‘be true’.

Kelly's PRIDE 2014 CHALLENGE!

After last years lack luster participation in the PRIDE CHALLENGE, I thought I would give it a rest this year, but with all that has happened since then, I am throwing it out there again.  Please take the picture above and post it on your blog, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media and link it to me or message me, so I can recognize those who participate.  We have had a huge movement in the last 12 months in favor of equal rights and marriage equality across the country and this picture I took years ago, I think, brings it all together.  We have Pride, and we are Americans and we can live together as a country.  Regardless of religious beliefs, we all know people that we love who may not like the LGBT lifestyle, but love their family who may be a part of our community. So many things have happened in so many states and courts in the past year, we need to really celebrate this June's Pride Month.  If you post the picture or see it somewhere, please let me know and I will link it to this post as it will be at the top of my blog for the month of June. When I first did this many years ago, I had over 100 people post the picture.  This year, please help me make it 1000.  Whether it be Facebook or some other social media... let me know so I can recognize and add to the list on a daily basis with a link or without a link.... Show me who is supporting this massive movement across the country this year... speak out and I will link to you and also, if you have your own Pride Picture, I will post it, just send it to me. 2014 is our year... let's make it a great one!!!  Thank you for your support over the years!!!  We are getting there....

Those who have posted and shown support (so far)t:
1: Mrs. Richardson on her Facebook, Pintrest and Twitter-Thank You!!
2: Mac at Yummy of the Day
3: Anne Marie in Philly (hugs my dear) at From My Brain to My Mouth
4: Jay in Virginia
5: Nicheva on blog and tumbler
6: Sean at Idle Eyes (smooches my friend)
7: Java at My Life or Something Like It
8: Helen over at Eclectic Potted Histories
9: The Cajun
10: Robert at Welcome to the Middle Ages
11: Buddy Bear (grrrrr)
12: Sean over at Sean the Jeep Guy  (also posted on his other websites and social media... Smooches)
13: Mark Harshbarger on his Facebook page and over at his blog
14: Urspo at Spo-Reflections
15: Erick Rubright at Gambrinous with Griffonage
16: Upton King

TMI Memorial Day

Here we are again, the post that shares more about my personal life and/or habits than you may want to know. Sean at Just a Jeep Guy started it, now all the cool kids are doing it.

Pull on your BIG GIRL panties and buckle in…

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

1. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance but it also signifies the "Official" start of summer. What are your plans this weekend?

• I have absolutely NO plans this weekend… such is the glamorous life of a single gay man in rural Eastern Oregon.

2. What is your most and least favorite thing about summer?

• The list of favorite things is lengthy… warmth, long days, tanned skin, exposed skin, travelling… not being cold. If I had to choose a least favorite thing… BUGS.

3. What do you think of when I say "Bar-B-Que?"

• Outdoors, friends, food, beer

4. What is your favorite summer food?

• Fresh fruits and veggies at the farmers market. Seasonal salads made with those items. BBQ food with friends on a summers evening. It all just tastes better on a deck over the river as the sun sets.

5. Are you is swim suit shape yet?

• I’m MUCH better than I was last summer… but maybe not all the way there yet. Some may still run screaming from the pool, shielding the eyes of their children.

6. Given the choice, which do you prefer: ocean, lake or pool?

• Ocean

7. Which summer blockbuster movie are you most looking forward to seeing?

• I’ve seen Captain America and X-Men so far. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes comes out July 11th, Jupiter Ascending on July 25th and Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1st.

8. Summer reading: What? Recommendations?

• I am so backlogged on my reading, I wouldn’t know where to start.

9. Vacation Plans? If you can't, what would you do if you could?

• I’m spending a 4-day weekend in Boise in June for the Boise Music Festival, In July, some friends and I are in the early stages of planning a trip to Vegas for a Bear gathering and a camping trip in August.

10. Did you ever have to go to summer school?

• It was a threat when I was a screw-up in Middle School. Fortunately, I never had to go.

BONUS

Sex on the beach?

• One day, I’m going to find the right man and fulfill that fantasy. I love the Oregon Coast, I refer to it as my happy place. When I’m there, listening to the waves, breathing the air… nothing is wrong in the world. One day, I will have the man of my dreams to share that experience with as we build a fire on the beach, snuggle under a blanket, watch the sunset… and get freaky.

Sunday Stealing: Random XV

Random XV

Wantonly stolen from: That Forthright Girl

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?

• I have a pair of Birkenstock knock-offs that are 5-6 years old. They really need to be tossed, but they are convenient to have around when I need to slip on something to run outside.

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?

• I buy Girl Scout cookies EVERY year. Mainly because I’m a sucker for kids selling things. I always get Samoas and Thin Mints. The last couple years I’ve added Savannah Smiles to my mandatory order, they are delicious with the morning coffee.

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance?

• Um… no

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?

• Reasonably so… I had my moments.

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?

• American Hustle – Yes
• Captain Phillips – Yes
• Dallas Buyers Club – Yes
• Nebraska – No
• Philomena – No
• Gravity – Yes
• 12 Years a Slave (winner) – No
• The Wolf of Wall Street – No
• Her – No

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?

• Honestly, its easier to have it done. Watching someone else get any kind of medical (or dental) procedure makes me feel ookie inside.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?

• Saturday – It’s generally a day of personal choice and there is Sunday there to serve as a buffer between you and another week at the grindstone.

8. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

• You’re the best caseworker I’ve ever had.

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?

• No

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card?

• IKEA

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?

• Yes, Best Foods Mayonnaise and Jiff Peanut Butter. Store brands just don’t cut it when it comes to those two.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?

• The latter. Generally, when you are telling someone how you feel, you’ve worked up the courage to do just that. When you are being confronted, it’s much harder to hear and therefore harder to look the person in eye.

13. What’s one thing you’re deeply proud of — but would never put on your résumé?

• My entire life, I was told I would never amount to anything or that I wasn’t smart enough. So I endeavor to prove those people wrong; it is what drives me toward success and it is also what drives me to make sure my every accomplishment is known. I was recently told that may backfire in some circumstances. When in an interview situation, I can and do speak of my accomplishments. I have a couple interviews in the pipeline this summer, I will need to revamp my sales pitch to see if I can tone it down. I fear that if I don’t sell myself, who will?

14. What’s the most out-of-character choice you’ve ever made?

• OMG… this is something that is a daily battle. My tendency is that I do what I believe is expected of me. On top of that, I say what was expected. In the end I was lost… I couldn’t keep my opinions straight (snort) in my mind. As I was approaching 40, I couldn’t take it anymore, there were many shocked people.
  After five years, I don’t suffer fools and I say what I mean and mean what I say… for the most part. I wonder if it’s been worth it? I have lost many ‘friends’ and I don’t have a romantic partner. On the positive…  I have lost the feelings of self-loathing, multiple anti-depressant prescriptions and some really lousy people… on balance. I feel I’m better off. Although, a cuddle buddy would be AWESOME!

15. What’s your personal anthem or theme song?

• I love music. It has always been my escape, speaking the words I wasn’t strong enough to say myself or giving my hopes and dreams a voice. Many of the songs of Queen serve that purpose… These are the Days of Our Lives, It’s a Kind of Magic, and of course… Bohemian Rhapsody. The last several months, Kenny Chesney’s Beer in Mexico has been my ringtone.

“to old to be wild and free.. too young to be over the hill… So I’ll sit right here and have another beer in Mexico… let the warm air melt these blues away”

• I’ve been wanting to change it to “Let it Go” from Frozen, but I felt that would be just TOO GAY… Until I found this…

Saturday 9: Star Spangled Banner

For the record, Whitney's performance of the SSB is the one that all other performances are judged. It is flawless... pitch, artistic effort, passion.

The Star Spangled Banner

1. Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.)

• My family is filled with veterans, My Dad (Army) and Uncle (Navy) are Vietnam vets, my Papa was a WWII Navy Corpsman. I did not serve, but I have the utmost respect for those who have, especially those who have served over the last 12 years of non-stop war on behalf of our corporate overlords, and not the Republic. It is really sad that people aren’t more pissed off that their sons & daughters died on behalf of Halliburton and Bechtel and Blackwater and not for We The People.

2. Memorial Day also kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food?

• Anything grilled… and homemade potato salad.

3. Let's celebrate the Memorial Day holiday with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor?

• I’m into the Ben & Jerry’s Lemon Blueberry Yogurt right now. But my decadent choice is Tillamook Chocolate Peanut Butter.

4. This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you rode a bike?

• When I was younger I loved riding my bike. As I gained, and gained more weight; the bicycle was sold years ago. Since I’ve lost so much, I am hopeful to get into riding again. It was my goal to buy a bike this season, it hasn’t happened yet, but then the summer isn't over yet.

5. Or went hiking? 

• Same as the last answer, I love to hike, I love the outdoors… the picture is when The Boy and I hiked to the top of Multnomah Falls in 2008.

6. Or rode a horse?

• I haven’t rode a horse since I was a kid. It is my belief that the goal of every horse is to get the human off their back and will do whatever they can to achieve that goal… run fast, walk under low branches, etc.

7. Or toasted a marshmallow?

• Marshmallows are toasted at any opportunity.

8. As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or window fan on?

• The current temp is 57F, there is a fan running in the bedroom window to keep the air moving.

9. Crazy Sam needs your help: What song or a performer would you like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer?

• I’m seeing Train, Fitz and the Tantrums and Sir Mix-A-Lot at the Boise Music Festival this summer. I’m sure those could inspire a theme or two.

TMI Tuesday: Potty Humor

Here we are again, the post that shares more about my personal life and/or habits than you may want to know. Pull on your BIG GIRL panties and buckle in…

TMI Questions
Fun, slightly embarrassing questions designed to reveal Too Much Information between you and your significant other and among you and your friends and/or family.

POTTY HUMOR

1. Toilet Paper - over or under?

• Over… the opposite has terrible consequences.

2. Who replaces the empty roll in your house?

• I live alone… I do

3. What do you use if you run out of toilet paper at home?

• I don’t run out of TP.

4. Seat up or down?

• Again, I live alone… does it matter?

5. Do you leave the door open?

• See answer #4

6. Does your love leave it open?

• N/A

7. Do you wait until you are alone in a public restroom?

• No… these facilities are there for a purpose. Why be neurotic about it? Although, I think you should look at those urinal etiquette videos on YouTube. If there are a selection of available urinals, why are you right next to me? I’m not cruising, if you think you are; you’re doing it wrong.

8. Do you always check for toilet paper first in a public stall?

• Absolutely!

9. What do you use if you run out of toilet paper in a public restroom?

• It hasn’t happened yet. But socks are replaceable.

BONUS

Sex in a public restroom?

• In the days before Growlr… cruising public restrooms were the way men found sex with other men. Closeted men, like myself satisfied the urge for some manly affection by lingering around a public restroom. There was a park in the town where I lived back in the 90’s that was so cruisy that guys looking for gay sex outnumbered the guys there to fish or to have a picnic with their family by a large margin.
  I remember having a lot of fun playing the cruise-game. Parking in a certain area of the park, lingering as you walked to the bathroom, or onto the nature trails to signal that you’re looking for a hook up and showing interest either at the urinals or between the stalls. For the record, the story of Sen. Larry Craig’s foot tapping at the Minneapolis airport is EXACTLY how you do it.
  Now that I’m Out, and secure in who I am. I don’t do that anymore. Public bathrooms aren’t exactly sexy, secure or even hygienic. Now if the gym has a sauna… grrr. .
• PS… I have been tested and I am negative. If you participate in random hook-ups with men you do not know. Please get tested. It’s quick and knowledge is power. But above all… PLEASE play safe! Look at the colors!

Saturday 9: Vacation

1) Do you know how to water ski?

• No

2) Do you have 2014 vacation plans?

• If all things stay the as they are, my daughter and I are going to Boise for the Boise Music Festival at the end of June.

3) Do you have a passport?

• YES

4) If you took a 7-night cruise, could you completely unplug -- no phone calls, no texts, no internet?

• Yes, I believe I could. I would hope that I would be with someone who could offer distractions.

5) Do you own a travel alarm clock?

• Yes, my cell phone

6) Though the Go-Gos broke up in 1985, they frequently reunite for live performances. What's the last concert you attended?

• I go to lots of local music festivals, like the one this summer in Boise. I cannot think of the last concert I attended with a big name band.

7) Their first hit was "Our Lips Are Sealed."  Can you be trusted with a secret?

• YES

8) In 1982, when this song was popular, the comedy Tootsie was in theaters. What movie makes you laugh?

• Tommy Boy

9) Sam is chewing on a Tums as she composes these questions. What's the last over-the-counter medication that you took? 

• Advil and Zrytec (it is the height of allergy season here in the Inland Northwest)

 

3 on Thursday: May 15th

1. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?

• Iced Tea

2. Have you heard of the Kidnapped Nigerian Girls? Do you think that the US should do more to return these girls home?  Over 200 girls have been kidnapped from their school and held hostage by a militant group and/or being sold as child brides for $12 each. Very tragic.

• Yes, it is tragic. But the US is NOT the policeman to the world. We need to stop chasing after every outbreak of international strife. Let our government policy be securing the homeland, building OUR infrastructure, winning the hearts and minds of Americans.

3. If you could live anywhere in the world (money is no issue) where would you live?

• London

Saturday 9: Your Mama Don’t Dance

1) This song is about how the older generation often doesn't understand what the younger generation is up to. Do you keep up with trends?

• Chasing after trends is the sign of someone who doesn’t know who they are. I spent too many years not being my true self.

2) This song was in the top 10 in 1972, which is also the year HBO was introduced. Do you have any premium cable channels?

• I have way too many channels. Every time I call Charter to change my service, I end up with more channels that I don’t watch. I read an article the other day that says the average American has 189 channels, but only watches 17 of them. I have HBO so I can watch Game of Thrones, True Blood, Newsroom and Bill Maher. I have Showtime so I can watch Homeland. I need to have a steel spine and close some of these services.

3) Mother Winters taught Sam how to kill the lingering food smells in her microwave (take a bowl of water, add a few drops of vanilla extract, and heat it in the microwave). Do you have any useful household hints to pass along?

• If you have a baking sheet with baked on stains; sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the surface, cover in water and let sit overnight. Wash the sheet the next morning and it will be sparkling clean.

4) The French word for "mother" is "mère." What other French words do you know?

• I tool a year of French in college, I can count to ten and ask where the library is located.

5) Flowers and plants are popular on Mother's Day. How is your yard or garden? Is it green and/or blooming?

• I live in a 2nd floor apartment. The landscaping outside is flourishing. I do miss having a space to exercise my greenthumb.

6) Mother's Day is a big holiday for card shops. So are birthdays, weddings, and St. Patrick's Day. Hallmark sells greetings for everything from "Congratulations on Your New Job" to "Happy Retirement." Who received the most recent card you bought?

• I gave Valentines to my girls.

7) Have you put away your winter clothes yet?

• As I have lost a considerable amount of weight, they weren’t put away.. they were GIVEN away.

8) Mother Winters used to scold Sam for leaving her dirty dishes in the sink. Sam admits it: as a grown up, she's still a bit of a slob. Do lean toward "neat" or "messy?"

• I must confess that I tend toward the neat end of the spectrum, but not in and OCD sort of way of course… lol

9) To celebrate Mother's Day, Sam is giving away candy bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate with almonds?

• Given the choice, chocolate with almonds please.

TMI Thursday: Make Mine A Double

Sean at Just a Jeep Guy started it, now all the cool kids are doing it.

MAKE MINE A DOUBLE!

1. Do you have a favorite alcoholic drink?

• I enjoy a good Gin & Tonic. They are refreshing and pack a sneaky punch if you aren’t prepared. Plus, I feel there’s a bit of class to it.

2. What kind of wine do you prefer?

• Lately, in reds, I like a Syrah and in white, I like Pinot Grigio.

3. Do you have a favorite beer? 

• I live in the Great Northwest, the home of craft breweries. Bridgeport, Full Sail, Pyramid, Ice Harbor, MacTarnahan’s, and my favorite Deschutes 

4. Can you taste the difference between vodkas?

• I keep trying, but I haven’t been able to yet. Although there are these crazy Pinnacle Vodka flavors. Some of those are just WRONG. Pumpkin Pie vodka sounds good in theory, not in practice.

5. Are you a top shelf or rail kinda person?

• I don’t have the budget to be ‘top shelf’, rail booze does the job just fine.

6. What was your most memorable (good, bad or embarrassing) drinking experience? 

• Drinking with friends in Portland a couple summers ago… we had a great time with the dancers at Silverado… much $$ was left in the G-Strings of a couple sexy dancers and I experienced my first lap dances… RAWR! After we hit a couple other bars we discovered The MAX quits running at midnight, so we called a taxi to take us back to the hotel. The taxi dropped us off in front of another hotel. I said, “No, we’re at the Inn at the Convention Center”. The driver pointed across the street and says, “It’s over there”.

BONUS

Have you ever drunk dialed?

• Not that I’ve been told… LOL

Saturday 9: Too Close

Saturday 9: Too Close

1. This song is about a friendship that turned romantic ... and it doesn't end happily. Have you ever crossed that line with a friend? If so, how did it work out? -- It hasn’t turned out well… it got awkward and then lost contact with one. In another it became all about the sex and we rarely did the things we used to enjoy as friends.
2. When he was a kid, this week's singer, Alex Clare, listened to his dad's Stevie Wonder records. When you were in 7th/8th grades, what music were you into?-- In 1982-83 I was very much into the music of John Mellencamp, The Cars, Human League, Huey Lewis and REO Speedwagon.
3. "Too Close" has been featured on the TV show, The Vampire Diaries. Do you enjoy shows/books/movies about the supernatural?-- I’ve enjoyed Anne Rice’s Vampire novels, but generally I like good old fashioned cops & robber murder mysteries.
4. Some of Alex Clare's tour dates were sponsored by Bud Light. Do you like beer?-- I am proud to say that mass market piss “beer” hasn’t passed my lips since 2007. Coming from the great northwest, I enjoy GOOD beer… Deschutes is my favorite.
5. Mr. Clare trained to be a chef, just in case the music thing didn't work out. Are you a good cook? -- I’m told I’m a damn fine cook.
6. Crazy Sam (the mistress of this meme) is forever running out of mayo because she slathers it on her sandwiches. What is currently on your grocery list?-- Oatmeal, Milk, Cheese, Bananas, Cat Food, Vodka, Gin and Toilet Paper.
7. Where are you most likely to find spare change -- between the sofa cushions, in your jeans as you toss them into the washer, or under the floor mat of your car?-- All the above. I even pick change up off the ground. Every penny counts. I put all non-quarter change into a Tattoo Fund Jar. The quarters go into the laundry jar.
8. How did you spend your Friday night -- working late, hanging out with friends, or just enjoying a quiet night at home?-- Home watching the TV… as per usual.
9. Do you use Pinterest?-- I have. But I only have time for so many addictive websites in my life. So I don’t currently use that service.

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TMI Thursday: True Colors

Sean at Just a Jeep Guy started it, now all the cool kids are doing it.

LET ME SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS

• What is your favorite color? BLUE
• What color are your eyes? BROWN.
• What color is your hair? BROWN with GRAY reaching a saturation point..
• What color is your bedroom? WHITE.
• Which color do you look best in? I feel I look best in BLUES and GREENS.
• Is there a color you never wear? I try to avoid BLACK because I own cats and cat hair is glitter for lonely people.
• How did you pick the color of your car? Sadly, I’m not in a position to get the car I really want. I have what was available at the price I could pay. I have a WHITE 99 Subaru Outback.
• Are your eyes ever green with envy? I’m envious of those who are happy with life partners when I’m surrounded by shallow closet freaks.
• Do you have a signature color? BLUE!
• How much do you love Cyndi Lauper! I LOVE Ms. Lauper.

BONUS

Gray hair is sexy on the HEAD, and CHEST, but never in the EARS or NOSE.

 

TMI Questions
Fun, slightly embarrassing questions designed to reveal Too Much Information between you and your significant other and among you and your friends and/or family.
POST YOUR TMI ANSWERS
Post and answer the questions on your blog or tumblr page and then post the link in the comments so that others can read your answers (directions here), visit your website and get to know you too.