CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

He's finally lost his mind!


Actually, I haven't lost a damned thing; just a little bit tired of this oppressive heat and longing for some cool weather. I was simply checking back on some of my previous templates today and looking at this template made me feel just a little bit cooler........... so I thought I would share! Now back to the toothache.....

............................................... Christmas Tooth Fairy

THE DRAMA CONTINUES........

Three weeks later, the broken tooth (third from center right) called the eye tooth is causing me to go blind with anger. I've come to terms with the fact that the tooth has to go...... not a problem, right? Of course it's a problem. First of all, "dentists" don't extract teeth anymore. You are referred to an "oral surgeon" for extractions. Then, there's the dental plan which most oral surgeons don't accept; leaving a very short list of choices. And then, of course the dreaded appointment.

"The doctor can see you in three weeks." EXCUSE ME? I'm in PAIN dammit! I've already taken a full course of antibiotics and pain killers. If this isn't taken care of NOW, I'm gonna have to start another course of medication and I don't want to do that. If the damned tooth has gotta go, it's gotta go NOW. And by the way, what about the bridge to replace the missing tooth?

"Well now, that will take approximately two weeks after the broken tooth is extracted."

Two days later, I receive a telephone call from the oral surgeon. The tooth can be removed Tuesday. All is well until the following morning when I receive another telephone call from the oral surgeon..... the extraction is not covered by your dental insurance plan!

Another call to my insurance provider..... yes it is covered, no it's not, yes it is, no it's not!

Back home that evening, I check the referral form from my primary care dentist. He's marked the wrong tooth for extraction.

Holy fucking shit!

Does anybody out there have a good pair of pliers?

Gay in the NFL

Esera Tuaolo

"I have always known what I was, even before I knew what gay meant. I grew up poor on a banana plantation in Hawaii, the youngest of eight kids. We went to Pentecostal church with my mother, and that's where I learned how to sing. But from a young age, I knew that I was different. I was attracted to men." Esera Tuaolo

"I settled into my stance for the last play of Super Bowl XXXIII. The field glowed under the lights. Flashbulbs popped around the stadium. We, the Atlanta Falcons, faced the Denver Broncos led by their superstar quarterback John Elway. Denver had the ball with a 34-19 lead. I lined up at my usual position, nose guard, across from the Denver center, who was poised to snap the ball to Elway. My knuckles gripped the turf.

The Broncos quarterback took the snap and dropped to his knee to let the clock run out. I touched him first. When the ball carrier is on the ground, someone on the defense must at least touch him so he's ruled down. Since I touched Elway, I was credited with the tackle.

A routine play, but it terrified me. And that was not the first time. That game and that play were televised to one billion people around the globe. Someone could have recognized me and blown my cover. In the past, whenever my image appeared on the screen -- when I made a big play, sang the national anthem -- I lived with the fear that I might be outed. This was January 31, 1999, and at that point I had been playing for eight years in the NFL. Before that, I had played four years of college football. In all that time, not one teammate, coach, or sportswriter knew I was gay.

The National Football League is the number one entertainment in the world, and the Super Bowl is its showcase event. Media from all over -- places like Japan and Lebanon, where they don't even play football -- report on the spectacle. The Super Bowl is the biggest event that happens every year in the United States.

What if one of those billion people watching recognized me as the stranger he had picked up in a gay bar? All he had to do was out me to the press and the story would be all over the headlines: "Gay Man Makes Final Tackle in Super Bowl." My football career would be finished.
No more Super Bowls, no more Sundays playing ball. No more paychecks, no more financial security. No more locker-room banter, no more camaraderie with the guys. I would be banished from the NFL fraternity."

Excerpt:
ALONE IN THE TRENCHES
ESERA TUAOLO
Website: Esera Tuaolo

Gay his way.....

"Get it from the horse's mouth, not the horse's ass!"

Tab Hunter who decided at the age of 74, to publish his autobiography upon learning that an unauthorized biography about his life was in the process of being written.

Art Gelien was just a kid when an agent asked him if he wanted to be in movies. Blessed with extraordinary good looks and enough smarts to know that he had a lot to learn, that kid said yes.

Rechristened Tab Hunter, he was launched on a journey that carried him to stardom.

First he became a pin-up favorite of teenage girls worldwide and then a number one box-office star; then he recorded a song called "Young Love" that knocked Elvis Presley off the top of the charts-and all the time he had to keep secret the fact that he was gay.

In Tab Hunter Confidential, written with Eddie Muller, Hunter looks back on a life lived without apologies and a career that soared, then crashed, and then later-thanks to popular cult-film auteur John Waters-enjoyed a revival.

Choices

You can choose spend the weekend in bed hidden underneath the blankets; or you can "phone a friend".

Thank You, my dear........

NOTE TO SELF:

I hope you dance
Lyrics: Leeann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

On Gay Marriage......

155,649
The number of "traditional" marriages in Florida between 2002 - 2004

84,403
The number of "traditional" divorces in Florida between 2002 - 2004

Ah yes, traditional marriage between a man and a woman...... and you won't at least give us the chance to TRY?

DO NOT get me started.

The morning after we arrived home from Las Vegas, my sister telephoned and asked "when should we go again?" Today, five days later she telephoned me at work to inform me that we return to Las Vegas on February 9, 2007. That woman does not play games!

This evening, my friends Tim and Bill who accompanied me to New Orleans in June also telephoned to ask if I want to join them in New Orleans for Decadence, Labor Day Weekend.

I'm not anywhere near ready to commit to either invitations at this time because my mother will be undergoing hip replacement surgery on August 3rd in Canada and I plan on flying up for a few days during her recovery period.

The focus, at this time is on the dreaded dental work. I'm remain on antibiotics and in the process of scheduling an appointment with an oral surgeon to extract the infected tooth (which cannot be saved); after which I need an impression taken for a dental bridge followed by the removal of two additional teeth which cannot be saved due to a calcium deficiency. Bring on the pain killers, please!

I returned to work Wednesday after my eleven day vacation and remain unable to motivate myself. I just can't seem to kick it into gear; with even blogging becoming an effort which is totally out of character.

As I continue to visit my BLOGMASTERS, it's becoming obvious that many are also experiencing "bloggers block" and are posting much less frequently. Hopefully, as fall approaches and with the upcoming elections, we will become re-energized!

What I need at this time, is romance which as my family and friends continue to remind me "will not happen when you spend all your time working and/or locked up in your home in front of a computer screen."

Can I hear you say "Amen"?

What I did on my summer vacation.........

Las Vegas is the wedding capitol of the world with a chapel on every corner and several in most hotels.

It's not at all unusual on any given day to see several men and women in formal wedding attire walking thru the hotel lobby followed by an entourage of attendants, family members and guests.

My nephew and his fiancee chose Las Vegas as the site of their wedding for a variety of reasons. They wanted a small wedding, attended by their families and closest friends and felt the best way to accomplish this without offending their large circle of friends and co-workers was to get married in Vegas.

The wedding and reception were held at the very beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort. The chapel was small and elegant with a subdued air of sophistication. Classical music was played on the baby grand piano throughout most of the service. No photographs were allowed but three well placed video cameras (one on the ceiling and one on each side of the alter cleverly hidded in large bouquets of calla lillies) recorded the ceremony.

Precision was the order of the day with weddings scheduled hourly in two chapels. An international flair permeated the environment as the wedding before Marc and Kim was an asian couple, the wedding immediately following was an african american couple and the wedding in the adjointing chaped being conducted at the same time was for a latin couple. It appeared to be a fashion show for bridal attire.

The weather throughout our stay was hot, over 100 degrees daily but the dry heat of Nevada without humidity is much more comfortable and tolerable.

I chose the Monte Carlo hotel and although it was beautiful and I had stayed there previously, there were kids running around all over the place including the casinos. As a social worker, seeing children sleeping in strollers or on the floor at the foot of a slot machine at 2:00 AM while the parents are preoccupied with gambling, angered me and I had to restrain myself from calling the abuse hot line on several occasions and I remembered why I had previously moved from the Monte Carlo into the Bellagio Hotel during my last stay in Vegas (where children are not permitted unless accompanied by a paying guest).

Thursday was reserved for immediate family which was great fun as we had 2nd row front center tickets to Mama Mia!

Friday was meet and greet as guests arrived from throughout the country and Canada. Besided family, guests included several sheriff's deputies and their wives who work with Marc and Kim who are both sheriffs, friends Marc had in the military and even childhood friends from Canada.

My sister and brother in law hosted dinner for all invited guests Friday evening; after which the young adults went clubbing while we elders hit the casinos for a nite of gambling.

Saturday morning, I accompanied my brother in law, his brother and nephew to the Aladdin Hotel casino for more gambling while the women spent the morning at the hotel spa; looking relaxed and quite glamerous after having hair and make up done professionally.

Because Kim's mother is a recent widow who has an inoperable brain tumor and limited funds, my sister and brother in law once again hosted a two hour cocktail reception followed by dinner after the wedding.

This was followed with the younger generation going to Margaritaville for more partying while the ever foolish elders once again hit the casinos to lose more money. I love spending time with my family but although we live in the same town, we seldom see each other because of work schedules, social obligations, etc....

My Sunday afternoon flight was delayed three hours because of an unexpected rain storm which means I arrived home at 3:00 AM. Neither dog was in bed but were soundly asleep in the living room, waiting for daddy to come home!

I am happy with the sitter and the dogs looked wonderful. We will definately enjoy her services again!

Wednesday, back to work! Life is grand......... coming up.... the dentist.

Gay Royal Canadian Mounted Police wed

The motto the Mountie "always gets their man" was certainly accurate this weekend when two gay Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables were married in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.


-A harp played and the couple couldn't stop smiling as they stood before family and friends to exchange vows of love and a lifetime of commitment. Then it was on to the reception where a white chocolate rose with a red tag sat on a red napkin at each setting.

That was how Jason Tree and David Connors, wearing their red serge uniforms, became the first same-sex Royal Canadian Mounted Police couple to get married.

The couple fiercely guarded their privacy and refused interviews either before or after their civil ceremony Friday.

The area of the Rodd Grand Yarmouth Hotel where the wedding took place was closed to the media and most guests refused to talk about the ceremony.

But for Ken Spragg, one of the guests, it was an important occasion that deserved mention.

"This is long overdue. I got to see them take the vows that other people have taken for granted for so long and so many don't understand what it means to have that opportunity," the 27-year-old Fredericton man said.

"The fact that they can do now what everyone else can do is really gratifying. It's great to see."

He bought the couple a special gift - two stuffed toys in red serge. "This is one more step to being treated like everybody else," he said as he held the little moose and bear in his hands.

Mr. Spragg is gay and said it is important to him that if he finds the person he wants to spend his life with, he can make his commitment legal in the same way as heterosexual couples.

Russell Robicheau, another guest, said the ceremony was brief yet touching. The couple was surrounded by family as they stood in front of a justice of the peace and spoke the vows they had written. "It was not awkward," Mr. Robicheau said. In fact, he said, the ceremony was smooth and relaxed.

"They couldn't stop smiling. They looked great."

He said their vows were direct and spoke of their love for each other and what they expected of marriage.

Murray Judge, a local Crown attorney, said it was like any wedding. Mr. Connors was the more nervous of the two, fumbling for the vows, which were written on a piece of paper in his pocket. "That's universal in any marriage ceremony," he said.

No guests wore their red uniforms, but Mr. Judge said the police presence was pronounced. "It's a room full of RCMP officers," he said. "The presence of the RCMP is in the people who were there."

The reception was in a room adjacent to where the wedding ceremony was held. "It's beautiful in there, just beautiful," said one employee who didn’t want to be named. Another employee said they had all been forbidden from speaking to the media.

The candlelit tables were covered with black tablecloths and red napkins with little white chocolate roses bearing the couple's names on red tags.

The wedding was on the minds of many in Yarmouth on Friday. Indeed, Trina Deion said she's proud it happened in her town.

"I say good for them as long as they're happy. Good for them and I'm glad they did it in Yarmouth."

Gay officers tie historic same-sex knot at private Yarmouth ceremony
By BEVERLEY WARE Staff Reporter

OUCH!

One week before my nephew's wedding in Las Vegas; a sitter for the PUGS has been hired, transportation to and from the airport has been arranged, flights and hotel have been booked, show tickets have been purchased, friends and family will be flying in from several states and Canada, and I have a broken tooth (third from center right) .....

An easy fix I thought, until I went to the dentist yesterday. Life has chosen to throw me a curve ball. Not only is the tooth broken, it has now become abscessed which means the dentist is unable to perform any procedure until the infection has run its course with massive amounts of antibiotic and pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication; for the next 14 (the wedding is in 7) days.

I forgot to mention that the break is clear to the gum line which also means that I've been referred to an oral surgeon to complete the necessary procedures to have me smiling again!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent updating my drivers license, taking and picking up my suit at the cleaners, haircut and SPEECH THERARY!

Since several of my developmentally disabled clients require speech therapy, we conveniently have a staff of speech therapists who visit on a regular basis. I've made the call. "teach me how to talk and smile without exposing this gaping hole on the right side of my mouth!", and although they find this all quite amusing, (and I'm getting flashbacks of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady") they've taken on the challenge.

This will all be a very sobering experience since I will of course, be unable to drink while on all of this medication!

My blogmaster Crackerlilo has just returned from a wedding in France and arrived home to some controversial issues regarding the young ladies she had hired to oversee her household of pets and plants. A good lesson learned and one which my sister and I will both be acting upon. Although I don't forsee any problems with the young lady I've hired (I know your momma!), my sister on the other hand has hired a young man of 21 she hasn't even met whose father works with my brother in law. At my suggestion (and thanks to Crackerlilo) she has asked a neighbor to "sit the sitter".

My sister and I keep saying "this is the last trip without the pets" although I'm certain this will not become reality.

BLOGMASTERS, what a wonderful word. Connie, another of my much beloved Blogmasters recently arrived home from a vacation in Las Vegas with some great advice and wonderful suggestions! For this, I am grateful because although I've been to Vegas, it's been a while and things do change.

What I'm actually hoping for is that my flight coming home is overbooked at which point, I can surrender my seat for another flight (I'm bringing the DaVinci Code) and receive another travel voucher. Since I already have a voucher from my last trip to New Orleans, this would make two free round trip flights in the future. Additionally, Southwest has a program where for every 8 round trip flights, members receive a free round trip ticket anywhere they fly including Hawaii. This could be a very interesting year for travel. Did I just mention "this is my last trip without the pets?"

Ruling Emphasizes Constitutional Boundaries

For five years, President Bush waged war as he saw fit. If intelligence officers needed to eavesdrop on overseas telephone calls without warrants, he authorized it. If the military wanted to hold terrorism suspects without trial, he let it.

Now the Supreme Court has struck at the core of his presidency and dismissed the notion that the president alone can determine how to defend the country. In rejecting Bush's military tribunals for terrorism suspects, the high court ruled that even a wartime commander in chief must govern within constitutional confines significantly tighter than this president has believed appropriate.

For many in Washington, the decision echoed not simply as a matter of law but as a rebuke of a governing philosophy of a leader who at repeated turns has operated on the principle that it is better to act than to ask permission. This ethos is why many supporters find Bush an inspiring leader, and why many critics in this country and abroad react so viscerally against him.

At a political level, the decision carries immediate ramifications. It provides fodder to critics who turned Guantanamo Bay into a metaphor for an administration run amok. Now lawmakers may have to figure out how much due process is enough for suspected terrorists, hardly the sort of issue many would be eager to engage in during the months before an election.

By Peter Baker and Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, June 30, 2006