Quantcast
Channel: Retired in Delaware
Viewing all 2154 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

"The Kiss"

May 13, 2014, 7:59 am
$
0
0
Michael Sams kissing his boyfriend on national TV - "OMG! The sky is falling!"


"The Kiss" of course is referring to Michael Sams, the openly gay University of Missouri football player who was drafted into the National Football League on Sunday.  Michael was so happy with the new he heard on the phone that he dared to kiss his boyfriend on national television. 

Of course the Usual Suspects sent the Twitter universe into overload with comments like former NFL running back Derrick Ward who appeared to take exception to how intense Sam's kissing was.  Ward wrote:

Derrick with Khloe Kardashian - Uh, should I be offended by this PUBLIC display of affection?  Just asking.


"Man U got little kids looking at the draft. I can't believe ESPN even allowed that to happen." And later posting, "I wasn't against him kissing his significant other.  All I said was he shouldn't Had done it the way that he did it. Even if he kissed a girl I woulds said the same thing." 

Uh huh.  Here we go again.  Sounds like my brother saying "Ronnie, I couldn't care less what you and Bill do but do you TELL EVERYONE YOUR'RE GAY?" The old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" mentality folks.  Some straight folks will "accept" what you do in your private life but just don't show affection in public, it might cause my children to think gay is normal.  You know folks, the "Crazy Uncle in the Attic" mindset that some straight folks can't shake.  

Crazy Old Uncle Joe

Heaven forfend that gays should act like other folks in public.  We're not talking about having sex in public, just a kiss between two human beings who love one another.  Why do so many people feel threatened by that simple act of affection?  

An angry lightening bolt God - "get out of the way, He's mad!"


I think the answer is more than just simple bigotry against gay people.  I think those who are offended by same sex couples acting just like heterosexual couples in public feel it sends a message that gay is normal.  Well folks, it is.  God (if she exists) created me this way.  I'm not a mistake (regardless what some people may think).  In fact, I'm a pretty good guy, especially compared to some of my peers.  And yet, if I show affection in public to someone who loves me and who I love in return, that causes some to want to hide their children?  You got to relax peeps.  RELAX.  Gayness is not contagious.  You either are or you're not.  

RELAX.  And prepare yourself for more "kisses." 

The times are changing folks.


Yes folks, we're making a lot of progress in societal recognition that gay folks are just like straight folks but I'll know we're really making progress when I see a Cialis commercial that has two MEN in a bathtub. 
↧
Search

Crashes and Gridlock in Delaware

May 16, 2014, 3:07 pm
$
0
0
Here's what happens when you don't yield the right of way


There are a lot of advantages to living in southern Delaware but there is one BIG disadvantage…..traffic in the summertime.



Thankfully no one was seriously injured when yon teenager pulled her Ford Explorer into the path of a Lexus - you get hit

We moved to Delaware in 2006.  I was very careful where I chose to build a house and live in my retirement.  I love Rehoboth Beach and the "cottage" feel of the town.  However I could neither afford the houses ($700,000 and up for a "cottage") or the lots.  Lewes is a cute town just up the road three miles from Rehoboth but I couldn't afford their prices either which fell into the same stratosphere.  


Air bags deployed - lady wasn't seriously hurt

I checked out the environs of the Rehoboth Beach area for several years.  While there are many nice communities with prices more in my range, I soon realized that in the summertime, when the hordes of tourists descend on Rehoboth that the traffic was not only gridlocked but dangerous.  Route One scares me.


Yon teenager took out the Cave Neck sign - she would make her yon teenager boyfriends proud

So, after much thought and consideration I chose a lot in a development ten miles north of Rehoboth Beach, on the east side of Route One. In retrospect my decision has turned out to be…..well let's say BRILLIANT. 


This is what stupid looks like and why teenagers have such car insurance - they think they're indestructible 

Just this week, as I rolled into work on Wednesday my bosses wife called him and told him that "traffic was backed up because there was an accident at Cave Neck Road." Familiar words my friends, familiar words.  I left for work at 2:40 PM.  The accident happened at 3:15 PM.  A 16 year old girl who failed to yield the right of way (as so often happens on Cave Neck Road) and she got smashed.  Thankfully she wasn't seriously hurt, there have been people killed at that crossing, but maybe she learned a lesson.  YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY DUMB ASS.  


Not an unusual scene where Cave Neck Road empties into Route One - thankfully no deaths this time

Cave Neck Road is just about a mile down the road from where I turn out of our development on my way to work.  I always stay in the left lane because three miles down the road I have to make another left to go into Lewes.  Bill (of course) drives in the right lane (always the opposite of what I do) and has to quickly get in the left lane when one of these dumb assed aggressive drivers doesn't yield the right of way coming out Cave Neck Road.  Sometimes people turning into Cave Neck just scoot across which is apparently what this 16 year old did.  

So I just missed this one folks.  Then this afternoon, after my nap I decide to take a ride to Sandy Hill Nursery.  On the way back, cruising down Route One all of a sudden the traffic slows down…..then comes to a ………STOP.  Yep, another accident.  And here we are folks, late Friday afternoon, and the Horde is descending on Rehoboth Beach and points beyond (Dewey Beach, Ocean City, Maryland) for a weekend of fun and frivolity and obviously someone else has taken their aggressive driving a bit too far.  I just hope no one was injured this time also.  

Fun at the beach folks.  This is why when The Season begins, most of us locals stay as far away from Rehoboth and off of Route One, because the Crazies are out.  

Safe driving folks, safe driving!




↧
↧

This and That

May 19, 2014, 3:08 pm
$
0
0
Ron's life

Hi folks.  Been pretty busy around here the past few weeks getting the backyard in shape for the summer.  This spring so far has been fabulous.  Just wonderful weather.  And I'm enjoying every day.

Nothing earth shattering to write about other than we're still plugging along here at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  

(Not) Casa Tipton-Kelly


I'm on the outs with Bill again but that's normal.  He always thinks I don't pay enough attention to him.  Maybe I don't.  I've always been basically a loner all my life and I guess I'm not going to change.  I told him that when I moved in with him almost fifty years ago.  We're still adjusting to that fact.  I hope he doesn't read this because he hates for me to write about our personal problems but hey, that's my life now.  There's a LOT that I can't write about in this blog but I can and will write about the home situation.  Not the best now but, hopefully, it will get better.

I think I'm back on track to working two nights a week at the hotel.  Even those two night have been pretty busy but this is The Season.  I would rather be busy at the hotel than the boredom of passing eight hours at the hotel with only one or two guests in the hotel.  

Looks like I'm going to get back on the Medical Train again.  I had two warts pop up on my left cheek.  Last year I had one pop up on my forehead which I promptly got rid of.  I'm getting rid of these warts too.  No witch am I.  


I've already made an appointment with my dermatologist so he can "suck" them off (hey, that's what he calls the machine that "sucks" them off).

Loner on a train

I just finished reading the latest blog posting of "Scott." I "met" Scott when he commented on my Inspire posting about what I went through with my prostate biopsy.  He was hesitant to get his biopsy because of the pain, discomfort and humiliation.  He finally got it and sad to say, he has prostate cancer and it has spread.  He decided to start a blog (at my suggestion) about his progression.  I feel so bad for him.  He's only a young guy (50) and he has to face this.  Again, this is just another one of those situations where I realize how lucky I am.  Here I am, a 72 year old geezer and I'm worried about the side affects of my localized prostate cancer (sometimes small - a white mucous like substance -involuntary anal discharges, not a full erection, no sperm, and fatigue).  I read of Scott's medical condition and what he is going through and I thank God and I'm not even religious. Here is Scott's blog for those of you who are interested in reading it. Click here.

These days the most exciting thing in my life is laying mulch.  I do love working out in my backyard.  I do love having good health (relatively so for a prostate cancer dealing old geezer of 72 who is a loner).  

That wheelbarrow is waiting for me.  Talk to you later!

Come join me in my garden 
↧

The VA - Now Here's a Real Scandal

May 22, 2014, 7:27 am
$
0
0
The Wilmington VAMC - the one that I use
(photo that I took 2012)

The Republicans have been floundering around trying to push faux scandals like the Benghazi, the so called IRS scandal, Fast and Furious, and even the kidnapping of those 300 Nigerian school girls that the Republicans are trying to blame on Hillary.  But now here comes a real scandal, the shameful VA (Veterans Administration) cheating scandal where some VA centers were caught falsifying records on how long it took for veterans to see their doctors. This folks is a real scandal.  See here.  But the Republicans better be careful before they jump on Obama for his failure (and it IS Obama's failure given his past speeches about fixing the VA) because they would not have done any better.  In fact, if the Republicans were in charge we probably wouldn't have a VA.  


One of my many visits to the Wilmington VAMC


This is one reason I am now a registered Democrat.  Prior to  2000 I was a lifelong registered Republican.  However, when George Bush and his Republican chicken hawk cronies  got into power in 2001, one of the first things they did was issue an order that the VA should stop marketing the availability of the VA to veterans like me.  Then they attempted to eliminate veterans like me from even accessing the VA and only making the VA available to veterans with service connected disabilities. This repugnant action against me, as a veteran who put my life on the line for three years with the promise that I would have lifetime medical care if I needed it, completed my transmigration from lifelong conservative Republican to a flaming liberal Democrat.  I was already traumatized by the 1992 Republican convention where Pat Buchanan gave his famous "culture war" speech which disowned and criminalized gays like me as not part of this country.  What really radicalized by was all the good Germans white folks in the audience enthusiastically cheering on his hate filled speech.


Hitler Pat Buchanan rallying The Cause to the Good Germans Republicans at the 1992 Republican Convention

The Bush Administration weren't able to drop me from the VA because there was such an outcry from veterans' groups.  Veterans like me, who had already signed up in the VA, were grandfathered into the system.  However, the Republicans and the Bush administration were successful in creating eight classifications of veterans eligible for VA care.  The classifications ranged from total disability (classification 1) to veterans like me (classification 8).  The Bush administration even tried to charge ($2,250 a year) for veterans like me to remain in the system.  Thankfully they were not allowed to get away with this outrage.  So Republicans, don't give me your false outrage now that President Obama has failed to keep his campaign promise to "fix" the VA.  I almost threw up yesterday when I saw Republican Sen. John Thune and his fellow vulture Republican senators make a statement about how "outraged" they were at President Obama.  


GIVE.ME.A.BREAK.  

Hey Thune, I'm outraged too but here's a clue Republicans……you don't have to do anything.  You're going to look like the vultures that you and reinforce your reputation for unbridled hypocrisy.  

So here's the deal folks.  There is a BIG.PROBLEM.AT.THE.VA. And yes, President Obama has fallen down on the job.  And Eric Shinseki should be removed from the VA.  He's hapless.  Did you see his "I'm mad as hell" moment the other day before the Congressional sub-committee?  I almost fell asleep while he was expressing his "outrage." Wake up Shinseki!  No wonder not much is getting done at the VA.  Shinseki gives somnolent a whole new meaning. 


Mr. Excitement

You want "mad as hell"?  Here's MAD AS HELL (Howard Beale from the movie "Network")




As I mentioned before, I am a veteran and I use the VA.  There is a problem with getting timely appointments.  A BIG PROBLEM.  But I have to say this, I have always received excellent care from the VA…..once you get to see a doctor.  

I've had two major operations at the VA, both successful.  The VA monitors my health care every six months but taking lab tests.  The VA discovered I had prostate cancer.  The VA discovered that I had Gilbert's Syndrome (a non-life threatening liver ailment).  My VA doctor ALWAYS has time to talk to me.  The VA provides all my prescriptions at a reasonable cost.  Without the VA I probably wouldn't be here today typing this blog post. But folks, I'm one of the lucky ones because I'm already in the VA system and have survived despite the Republican efforts to kick me out of the system.




Having said this, now is the time to get the VA straightened out for this thousands of veterans who have put their lives on the line in defense of this country.  Now is the time for president Obama to wake up and take charge.  Maybe he will have to cut back on his time for greeting sports teams at the White House and maybe even fire Shinseki (who I'm sure he put in the VA to make up for Shinseki being sacrificed by the Bush administration by daring to state that the United State would need a lot more troops in Iraq if we invaded them).  Talk is cheap president Obama.  DO SOMETHING!   And you Republicans who are all so eager to jump on the Vulture Bandwagon and use the veterans who are suffering and dying from the way the VA is run now, have some human morality and join in helping to fix the VA so our veterans can have the proper care that they deserve.  


VA Outpatient Clinic - Georgetown, Delaware (the one where I see my doctor is is EXCELLENT!)
↧

Stranger by the Lake

May 25, 2014, 8:33 am
$
0
0


When I was just a ten year old whippersnapper (1951), going to the movies at the Roosevelt Theater in Downingtown, PA I used to fantasize about seeing my favorite male actors……nude.  Well folks, that's happened.  And I don't mean porno films, I mean a regular, full production, well acted and written movie.  That movie I saw a few nights ago named "Stranger By The Lake." 









 Well folks let me tell you, be careful what you wish for.  First of all this isn't a "gay" movie.  You know, those cheapie movies done on a shoestring with shaky camera work and a nothing plot usually populated with stereotypical gay actors (the "gay accent" which is a big turnoff to me).  No folks, this movie is an Alfred Hitchock



 genre psychological thriller….only with one BIG difference…..plenty of dingle dangle on display.  And I don't mean a 2/10th of a second shot of a man's gentiles   (I don't call a man's genitals "junk", thank you).  And I wouldn't call the genital display gratuitous, it is reality.  Yes folks, we have finally arrived at REALITY at depicting scenes of real life as they are.

I'm not going to do a review of the whole movies other than to say that once I got past all the casual, matter of fact full front nudity (none of that "Full Monty"



scam tease here folks, you do get the FULL MONTY…A LOT), the story was actually quite good.  In fact, I was rather enthralled and surprised by the ending which, to me, is always a sign of a good movie.  




Now some of you (mainly my very nice lady friends) will see this movie and think, "That can't be the way it REALLY is." Let me assure you (ladies), it is.  Not that I have any first hand knowledge (well, maybe a…..little bit) but I'm telling you, this movie accurately portrays one of the more seamy aspects of the gay "lifestyle" (so to speak).  

To me, this movie was thought provoking on several different levels.  First it showed the banality of total nudity.  I didn't see anything sexy at all about the continual full display of "the goods." But then, maybe that's me, I grew up with my sexual fantasies.  I've always preferred a bit of sexual mystery.  




Then there is the other level of the main character being attracted to an unattractive (to a typical gay man looking for surface beauty only), pot bellied older man.  I found "Henri"

Franck and Henri


a much more attractive human being than I found Michal, the Tom Selleck look-alike.  But then I never found Tom Selleck attractive either in a sexual manner.  

"Michal" and "Franck" from "Stranger By The Lake"


But that's me, I go for the nerdy, nice guys but not the smart alert Napoleon Dynamite smart assed jerk nerds.  In fact, the Napoleon Dynamites of this world I could smack in the head, they annoy me. There is a reason they're losers but I digress. 




Back to the main course subject at hand (no pun intended).

So so sum up, much to my surprise I found that I rather like this movie a lot.  One of my tests of a truly memorable movie is do I keep thinking about it?  Is it realistic? Does it raise questions?  Does it make me think…..about life and life's choices?  Well folks, this movie surely did.  


Choices

So if you decide to see it don't be put off by the very casual and matter of fact nudity.  Hang up your inhibitions and concentrate on the story….and the scenery.  Yes folks, this movie also had great scenery but no music.  None, nada, zilch.  A zero musical score unless you count the wind blowing…..no pun intended again…through the trees.

This is a haunting movie folks.  I recommend that you see it.  
↧
↧

Memorial Day Weekend Meme

May 25, 2014, 8:25 pm
$
0
0
Me and Mike Smith - Poodle Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware


I like memes but don't usually do them.  However, this time I think I will.  This is one that Sean, The Jeep Guy started.

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

Hanging around the house, working in the backyard and taking rides with Bill - did all of those yesterday and today!

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

Most favorite = the long days and warm weather

Least favorite = The heavy traffic and aggressive drivers which make it not only dangerous to drive to Rehoboth Beach but almost impossible unless I'm willing to sit in traffic from a half an hour to an hour. Usually, after Memorial Day until Labor Day, I avoid Rehoboth Beach like the plague because I want to live.

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

Grilled hamburgers which I would love one right now.  Alas it is not to be, too much trouble setting up a grill and most of the store bought hamburger is tasteless because of all the hormone injections.

4. What is your favorite summer food?

Fresh summer veggies like corn, zucchini, tomatoes and fruits like peaches, watermelons and cantaloupes.

5. Are you is (in) swim suit shape yet?

HA!  I have a roll around my middle that refuses to go away and I am certainly not putting that on display nor be the subject of ridicule as just another Old (72) Man on the Beach.

Me, Herring Cove- Provincetown, Mass


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

Pool.  I love the smell of chlorine. 

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

I already saw it, "Stranger By The Lake."

8. Summer reading: What? Recommendations?

I read all the time.  There is no "summer reading" in my world, there is Reading All The Time.  I usually have two books going at once; one by my bed stand and the other in the library bathroom.

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

I would love to visit Provincetown one more time before I check out of this existence.  Oh I know it's not like it was when I was a regular vacationer in the 70's and early 80's but still…..just one more Tea Dance at the Boatslip would be fun. 

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

Yes, Mother forced us (me and my brothers).  Didn't have to go but she thought we needed to do something "productive" with our summer.  BIG MISTAKE. She never did it again. All we did was make ceramics and wax beads.  What a waste of time when we could have had real fun. 

BONUS  
Sex on the beach?

Of course, Provincetown. Remember? Sand, heat and gawkers. What was I thinking? Thank God there weren't iPhones around then.


Watch out Michel Phelps! Me doing my best backstroke in Provincetown Bay



↧

Why I Like the Internet and Blogging

May 29, 2014, 8:52 am
$
0
0
Me, June 1974 (40 years ago!)


The Internet and blogging often get a bad rap these days.  All the moaning and groaning about loss of privacy, you have to get over it folks.  Just assume that everything you do is monitored by the government and recorded.  This is a fact that was brought out in the open by Edward Snowden.  Is it any wonder that the government is in such hysterics about condemning Snowden and tossing him in a jail cell, naked, with a light on for 24/7 for the rest of his life?  We have to get past out loss of privacy folks, it's a way of life in the Big Brother world.

Now, here is why I like the Internet and blogging. A few days ago a former co-worker of mine read an old blog posting of mine about where I used to work in Philadelphia, Girard Trust Bank.  She commented on my blog and new we're in touch again.  I love this!  So many folks from my Previous Life are gone, it is so nice to hear from someone who is still alive and well even though it is hard for me to imagine that my young and beautiful co-worker is now a 67 year old grandmother.  

I told her that I had old photos of her taken at work.  She asked if I could post them.  So, I went digging through the boxes that I have yet to unpack in my basement storage room from our move to Delaware in November of 2006.  Yes, I am ashamed to admit I still have boxes (I'm not telling you how many) that are still unpacked.  Well folks, digging through those boxes I came across about a dozen photo albums that I haven't looked at in over 30 years!  You know what I'm going to do with those photos, scan them to my computer and share them with you all. Another Big Project that I will happily undertake.

Yes, I love the Internet and blogging.  Through my blogging I have met and am now friends with my Brother From Another Mother, my soulmate and good friend Pat from Toronto, Canada.  Pat and I are so much alike.  He's the friend I've been looking for my whole life.  Cute, handsome, sexy, smart, and we have so much in common. I've never had a friend in my life that has had all these attributes.  I've spent a lifetime looking for him but through  the Internet and my blog I found him.  I won the lottery with this guy!

I have also made other friends through my blogging and the Internet.  You all know who you are and I appreciate every one of you.  

I was wondering what I was going to blog about today.  Lately I've been leaning towards a rant but I didn't really want to take my faithful blog followers on another one of my political rants or the "poor me" rants.  So here is something positive that I'm writing about today.  Yes folks, today is a good day.  When I feel myself slipping into depression, despair and hopelessness something wonderful happens like it did this past week to remind me of how good my life is.  


Was I really that hot? What happened?
↧

Another Visit to the Dermatologist

May 30, 2014, 3:45 pm
$
0
0



Another day and another visit to my dermatologist.  A few weeks ago I had an uninvited guest pop up on my left cheek.  It looked like a wart.  I suspected it was something other than a wart.  However, even if it was a wart, I didn't want to spend my remaining years with a wart protruding from my left cheek.  Hey, I know I'm no beauty at 72 and my face is starting to crumble but I do have my limits. So, last week I called and arranged a visit with my dermatologist.

I used to go to the VA for my dermatology appointment but I'm sure by now you've all heard how long it takes to get into the VA.  My dermatology appointments were taking up to four months at the VA.  Like all my medical appointments at the VA, once you get there, they take great care of you but it's the getting there.  And by the way, I'm glad Eric Shineski, the current VA administrator resigned today.  

Don't let the door hit you on the way out


The VA needs a complete overhaul but first they need a leader who looks and sounds like he's mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.  The bureaucratic nightmare that is the Veterans Administration. From a president (Obama)

Hey prez, at least act like you give a damn


 who doesn't give a shit to the members (mostly Republicans) who consistently underfund and ignore the needs of our country's veterans, it is time to end this injustice and neglect of those who served so valiantly this nation.  And I'm ranting again.  I am so angry about this whole mess, from our president who at times seems more concerned with Shinseki's feelings than recognizing the real problem to the politicians who take our veterans for granted like they're getting free medical care and should be grateful for whatever dollops of care they get.  I am so angry about this whole mess and especially at those venal Republicans who are now trying to score political points over this real scandal.  I thank God (or whoever) that I now have Medicare and can go to the doctor of my choice and mostly avoid the delays of trying to get VA medical care that was promised to me when I signed up January 27th, 1960 and joined the Army and put my life in their hands for this country for three years. 


Pvt. Ron Tipton, potential cannon fodder

My dermatologist stuck a needle in my face to numb the area and scrapped off the offending "wart" which turned out to be a keratosis growth.  Keratosis is a pre cancerous growth.  I've been having them for over thirty years now, no skin cancer so far.  But of course you all know I have a cancer already, prostate cancer.  No one gets out from this trip (Life) alive.  I am just so thankful I'm one of the lucky ones who isn't caught in the web of dysfunction and deceit and ineptitude which is the Veterans Administration Medical system.  And I am also thankful that I have regular visits with my VA doctor to check on my health.  That's one thing I never had in the private medical system, preventive health care.  During a routine blood test (every six months with the VA), my prostate cancer was discovered.  I also use the VA for all my prescription medications.  They are very efficient (and cheap).  No waiting at Walgreen's for my prescription to be filled for this vet.

Have a great day everyone and try not to let the bastards get you down.
↧
Search

Philadelphia Rooftops

May 31, 2014, 7:26 pm
$
0
0
Me and Bill on our Philadelphia roof deck - 1972

Found some more old photos folks that you haven't seen before.  I'm sure regular followers of this blog are tired of me reposting the same old photos of me (and Bill) of long ago.  Well folks, as  I said in a previous blog posting, I found a whole new treasure trove of old photos which I will be subjecting you all too.  

These two photos were taken on the rooftop of our 16 ft by 50 ft (including a small backyard) townhouse at 2409 Naudain Street, in center city Philadelphia.  They were taken in September 1972 (42 years ago!) with a self-timer camera.  Of course the subjects in the photos are yours truly (in some God awful red striped shorts) and my Bill.  At this juncture we were together a grand total of seven years.  

Bill built that roof deck for me so I could work on my tan.  I didn't get out of the city that often and when I did it was only to visit my parents in Downingtown, a suburb thirty-seven miles west of Philadelphia.  And of course I didn't and couldn't "work on my tan" when visiting Mom and Pop in Downingtown.

I look at these pictures and think "Wow, a lot of water sure has flowed over the dam since these photos were taken."


Check out that Philadelphia skyline folks.  That's a million dollar view.  And yep, we had it…..made.
I wonder what happened to those pants
↧
↧

Bill

June 1, 2014, 7:29 am
$
0
0
Bill Kelly May 1974


More old photos folks!  This continues my series of photos that I recently found after not looking at them for forty years.  Someone (literally "Someone" of Dr. Spo's world) mentioned that I've rarely posted early photos of my other half, my spouse, my husband, my partner of the last fifty years (this July), Bill Kelly.  Well folks, here it is.  This is my handsome Bill, photo taken September 1974 at our center city Philadelphia townhouse.  Bill had discovered a baby bird and he thought I was taking a picture of the bird.

Bill doesn't like his picture taken.  Yep, Bill is on of THOSE people which has always been a source of great frustration to me.  I had always imagined myself with a Prince Charming life partner that I could photograph endlessly.  Not so with Bill, most of the pictures I have of Bill he has his arm in front of his face.  The latest such episode was last night while we were sitting on the back deck.  I thought he looked cute with the setting sun behind him.  Bill realized that I was going to take a picture of him with my iPhone and immediately said "Oh no, you're not taking a picture of me!"and proceeded to place his arm in front of his face.  

But as you can see Bill was (and still is) quite the handsome dude.  Ironically, Bill's look was never my type.  I was never attracted to the conventionally handsome man or the "All American type" as Bill calls them.  I've always found the guys with the slightly offbeat or unconventional look more sexually attractive.  Don't look for me to go into orgasmic paroxysms over the likes of a Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise.  They leave me flat; zero sex appeal. But Bill has more going for him than his looks, he has always treated me like a prince.  Always, except when he gets mad at me for some insignificant domestic misdemeanor but that's a subject for another blog post.  Maybe not but the majority of the time Bill has always treated me better than anyone.  Bill puts up with me, who else is going to do that?  

So here he is folks, the man I've been sharing a life with for the past half century.  And we have a few more years to go.


Me (center as if you didn't know already) with my brother Isaac (on my right) and Bill (on my left) - 2012
↧

Our Philadelphia Home

June 1, 2014, 6:41 pm
$
0
0
2409 Naudain Street (house with red door) - our home for eleven years in Philadelphia, PA


From 1969 to 1980, Bill and I lived in a center city town house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Prior to that we lived in an apartment in Roxborough, which was also in Philadelphia.  

When our rent was raised significantly in our Roxborough apartment we decided to buy a house and put our monthly housing expense into equity. 

I always wanted to live in Center City Philadelphia so I could walk to work and…..walk to the bars.  Hey, it is what it is.  I didn't have a car (Bill drove) and parking was always a bitch anyway when we went to the bars, so why not move to Center City?


Our home with the roof deck (see green cinder blocks at the top of the roof

So we went from paying $165 a month rental for a two bedroom apartment to paying $127 a month mortgage on a house that we bought for $27,000, which at the time I thought was outrageously expensive.  However, just to put the prices in context, our Center City Philadelphia house last sold in June of 2009 for $592,000.  




We loved that home.  There was an entranceway on the first floor as you walked in.  To the right was a garage (barely large enough for Bill's car but he never parked it in the garage because someone would park in front of the house and block him so he always parked outside).  

Further on down the hallway was a coat closet (something I don't have in this monster of a house we live in now).  Then a full bathroom and in the back a laundry room leading to the walled in back yard.

Me on the grill in the back yard - a hibachi - whatever happened to them?
To the left was a den with a fireplace. 

On the second floor (I have photos of all these but I'm not posting them because I don't want to overload this post with photos) there was a dining room, kitchen (albeit very small, a "Pullman" type kitchen) and a large living room with TWO Mussolini balconies overlooking the walled in back yard.

The view of our backyard from one of the living room balconies on the second floor - Bill built that swing


On the third floor were two bedrooms; one in the front and the other in the back separated by a full bathroom.  Bill had the front bedroom and I had the back bedroom.  Yes, we sleep apart, have for years…..I sleep alone having grown up sharing a communal bed with my two younger brothers until I was 14 years old.

We surely did love that house but there came a time when I tired of going to the bars, got tired of the noise of living in center city Philly (police sirens almost continuously and still to this day, when Pat and I visited last November the sirens were still going reminding me of why I left).  I also yearned for openness and fresh air.  The downside was that I would now have to commute to work by train.  

Bill built a rooftop deck to satisfy my need for privacy, space and sun.  

Me working on my base for skin cancer - 1974

I also like to plant and grow things.  Bill built window boxes for me on the roof and I had a small garden in our back yard which I assiduously maintained. 


My tomato plant, such as it is.  Believe it or not I have a few tomato plants growing in the back yard now in a compost pile.  Somethings never change.

These days we live in beautiful southern Delaware.  I have my space, sun and privacy.  A bit older these days though folks, 40 years old to be precise because the pictures featured on this blog posting were all taken in 1974.  Some things never change though.  This Bhudda, which one of our Naudain Street neighbors gave us, is now in the oval planter in our backyard here.  I can see it from my bedroom window.  When I look at it every morning as I do when I get up and open the curtains I am reminded of that very same Bhudda that used to sit on our rooftop garden at our lovely home in Center City Philadelphia.  Memories, how sweet they are.





↧

Passport Application

June 2, 2014, 9:49 am
$
0
0
Rehoboth Beach Post Office this morning, this must be the place!

This morning I applied for my first ever passport at the Rehoboth Beach post office.

As you may (or may not) know I'm planning a trip to Toronto Canada

Pat's "hoose" in Toronto, Canada


 late this summer to hookup with my friend Pat and meet Dr. Spo and Someone who will be in Toronto at the same time.  Sort of like a mini Bloggerpalooza.

I've been experiencing a fair amount of frustration in getting my U.S. Passport.  First thing I needed was my birth certificate.  I only have one copy which I didn't want to part with so way back March I wrote to the Pennsylvania Department of Records to get more copies (two) of my birth certificate.  Of course that didn't go well which was not unexpected because I assume the powers that be in Pennsylvania are more concerned with suppressing the vote and filing delaying tactics against same sex marriage.  My first applicate was returned because they didn't like the copy of my driver's license.  I sent them a new copy, in color. That was month ago.  They cashed my $20 check two weeks ago but I'm still waiting. 

Dr. Spo told me that Someone

Dr. Spo and Someone - International travelers soon to visit Toronto in August
had to wait about three months before they got their passports.  Time was a running out so I took the bull (shit) by the horns this morning and took my original copy of birth certificate to the Rehoboth Beach post office this morning.

I got there at 8:45 am.  They weren't open (of course).  So I got in line behind this young man in semi-Army fatigues.  Me being me I attempted to start a conversation while we waited for the Post Office to open.  I asked him if he was an Iraqi veteran.  He said he was.  I thanked him for his service.  I then began to talk to him about the VA and other issue related to both of our experiences with the Army but he didn't want to talk.  Okay, I'm fine with that.  Probably thought I was hitting on him.  This is Rehoboth Beach after all, lot's of Old Gays hitting on young guys.  Not me though, I like my own age group but that's another whole subject for a different blog posting.

Finally at 9:02 a.m (and not a minute before) the window opens.  By now the line waiting has eight chatty people in it.  The Iraqi war vet is first.  He doesn't take too long to do his business.  He doesn't say "goodbye" to me.  I didn't expect him to.  Then I'm next.

I flop my plastic folder full of information proving I am who I am (birth certificate, Army DD-214, five envelopes with my mailing address, original Social Security card and even the "birth certificate" with my baby footprints).  I tell her that I'm applying for my passport.  Immediately she takes out a multiple form and tells me what to fill out and "don't go past that line!" Thankfully she knew what I was talking about, I didn't have to explain myself or worse, I wasn't told that I was at the wrong place (which I half expected).  To the contrary, she was very efficient.  


She told me to go through the "Postal" door.  She told me to stand agains the wall, take off my glasses and SMILE!  Yes Virginia, unlike our driver's license, we get to smile on our Passport photo.  
Smile, you're on Passport Photo!

So I mustered up, on this short notice, my best endearing smile.  Whatcha think folks?  I like it.  At least I don't look like a stalker criminal like my driver's license photo.  Sure, I got beady eyes but the smile….man oh man you can't beat my smile.  Distracts from my turkey neck.

Next up, fill out the forms.  I take the forms and and find spot out of the way of the other postal customers and fill out the multiple forms, printed.  Mother, father, birth dates, next of kin, am I married or not (I AM! Which I gladly fill out as my "spouse" William Daniel Kelly).

I take the completed forms back to the nice postal employee lady.  She takes one look and says "These really should be filled out in BLACK pen." Uh oh.  I filled them out with my BLUE ball point.  

Okay Ron, fill out the forms again.  A snag not unexpected, I'm just surprised there weren't more snags.

I fill out the forms again and submit them to the nice postal employee lady.  Then she asks me for my check.  I DON'T HAVE A CHECK.  Uh oh, another snag.  She asks me if I have a debit card.  Uh……no.  I try both of my credit cards, neither one works as a debit card.  She asks if I have cash.  Well I do but I don't know if I have $111.25 on my person.  I pull out my wad of bills in my back pocket, which I rarely use since I always use my Discover credit card, and viola!  I have the cash.  
JUST have it with exactly a five dollar bill to spare.  She asks if I have a quarter.  Nope, I don't carry change.  She loans me a quarter and says when I go out to my car I can bring it back to her.  Of course I promptly forgot to do that but I digress.

She rings everything up and then needs another $40 for the application itself (what WAS the $111.25 for I wonder?) and photo.  She could take my credit card for that charge.  

She also takes my original birth certificate to send in with the passport application.  She tells me it will take four to six weeks to complete and at that time there will be two plain envelopes returned to me.  One with the passport and other will have my birth certificate.  Probably by then I will have received my additional copies of birth certificate from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Records.  They should have the time now because a judge struck down the same sex marriage ban in Pennsylvania and their loser governor, Tom Corbert has decided (wisely) not to appeal.  Pennsylvania is usually a little late to the game.  Ironically I live in the First State which is Delaware.  
Know who the Second State is?  You got it, Pennsylvania.

I gathered up all my papers and left the Post Office, walking out in the bright morning sun of Rehoboth Avenue.  Bill was waiting in the car. There was a sign "15 minute parking for Post Office Customers".
 He was afraid I would get a ticket since I was gone almost an hour.  I assured him I wouldn't because I was in the Post Office on "business." He didn't want to hear it.  Oh the joys to bring Worry Wart with me.

But anyway folks, I finally got my applicate in for my Passport.  That hurdle is done.  NEXT!


Every day is an adventure folks. 
↧

Prostate Update

June 4, 2014, 8:43 am
$
0
0
Me at my home away from home this morning


Well folks, just got back from my six month update visit to my oncologist.  It's been a little over a year since I had my seed implant surgery (May 2nd) for my prostate cancer.

The good news is, I am progressing well.  So well, that I won't have to visit my oncologist anymore.  He's turning me over to my urologist, who I will visit every six months for the rest of my life.  Hey, a small price to pay for the knowledge that (so far) the seed implants have been successful.


Bill works on a puzzle while I go through my paces this morning at the cancer center

My PSA reading is down from 4.8 to 1.2.  My oncologist said he would like to see it below 1 but he'll accept 1.2.  Hopefully the reading will be lower after my next blood test.  I'm just thankful it's not going up or staying the same.  


"Ship ahoy matey!"

So it's free sailing folks for me for the foreseeable future. I told him that I'm going to be one of his success stories, surviving at least twenty years past my original diagnosis of PC.  He said that would make me 91 years old and "that would be a good run." Are you kidding folks?  I'm 72 years old now and I've had a damn good run already.  It's all gravy from here on folks.


Good to go for another 20 years
↧
↧

Throwback Thursday

June 5, 2014, 8:48 am
$
0
0
Me on bicycle trail Schuykill River, January 19, 1975 (Philadelphia, PA)

I haven't participated in "Throwback Thursday".  My nature is such that I resist fads and trends but I can't hold out any longer on this fad.  So folks, here I am with my first "Throwback Thursday" picture.  

Me riding my bicycle December 25, 1954 on Boot Road, Downingtown, PA
(sorry about the quality of the photo, one of my brothers took it) 

This picture was taken on January 19, 1975 when Bill and I lived in center city Philadelphia.  I didn't have a car but I had a bicycle.  Bill had the car, I didn't drive.  In fact I didn't drive until we moved out of Philadelphia to Downingtown, Pennsylvania in 1980 when I was forty years old.  Yes, I got a late start.  I'm making up for it now.

We lived in center city Philly from 1969 to 1980. Those years were some of the best of my life.  I always wanted to walk to work (I worked at Girard Bank, right across from City Hall) and walk to the bars.  "Walking to the bars" was very important to me, callow, self-absorbed youth that I was at that time.  And yes, those were the peak years of gay life in the city.  Talk about timing, I got out just before the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic.  Pure luck folks, pure luck.

I haven't had a bicycle since I moved out of center city.  Lately I've been thinking about getting another bike, haven't made up my mind yet.  I do like riding a bike.  I rode one for years when I was a paper boy in my adolescence.  But then it was for work but not pleasure.  

Ah yes folks, the years to fly by, especially when you're having fun and believe me, I've had my share of fun.



Have a great day!

Me at the Philadelphia Water Works on the Schuykill River, Philadelphia, PA January 19, 1975
↧

Now This Is How a Man Wears Shorts

June 6, 2014, 9:54 am
$
0
0
Bradley Cooper in "costume" for his latest movie playing a Navy Seal - now this is how a MAN wears shorts

I'm old enough to remember that when a man (or boy) wore shorts, they actually were shorts.  I don't know what happened but somewhere over the past ten, fifteen or twenty years the women's "shorts" got shorter and the men's shorts got longer. 


Adam Sandler, movie star and fashionista wearing his "shorts" - right up  there with the latest fashion trend but he looks like crap (to me anyway)- is it me or does it look like he's wearing a red pair of ladies pantaloons? 


I think the trend started with the black NBA basketball (no pun intended) players.  Once the blacks got into the NBA, I suppose that then then NBA basketball shorts weren't enough "basket" to keep their family jewels (I don't call men's genitals "junk", thank you, because they're NOT JUNK) in place. 

"Basket….ball" shorts back in the Fifties

Then the Cool Dudes (black NBA basketball players) took over the NBA and set a new fashion trend which, of course, The Whites quickly followed, not wanted to be subject to the Fashion Police scrutiny.

Then wearing real shorts (looks good doesn't it?)
Now (they're wearing "skirts")


 Even boxers took to trading in their boxer trunks for silk dresses.


Joe Louis and Max Schmelling - back when men were men and wore real shorts and not silk mini dresses

How long do you think it will take until the "shorts" are down to the ankles?  I give it another five years then we will have come full cycle, long pants for boxers.  Long silk pants (ies).

So folks, feast your eyes, this is how a real man wears shorts.  Oh yes! I do love me some man thighs………and the rear view isn't bad either.
↧
Search

Pat Hosts a Modern House Tour

June 9, 2014, 10:58 am
$
0
0
My friend Pat of Toronto, Canada hosted his house on a Modern House tour this past Saturday.  I talk to Pat almost every day on FaceTime.  I occasionally take photos of Pat and his house while talking to Pat.  Last week he told me he was "volunteered" by his architect for a Modern House Tour of Toronto.  

Pat has a minimalist house.  He had it custom built a few years ago.  He's very proud of it.  His house (or "hoose" as Pat pronounces it with his Canadian "Eh" accent) is in TinyTown, Toronto, Canada.  He frequently has stranger knock on is door inquiring about his house.  Pat almost always invites them in to "have a look." So it was nothing new for the organizer of the Toronto Modern House Tour to ask Pat if they could include his house on their tour.

I asked Pat if I can sneak a look via FaceTime while his guests were having a look at Pat's unique living quarters.  As usual, Pat is very gracious and acceded to my request.  

I took a number of photos, too many to post individually so I put them in an iMovie with some cool music.  I love making iMovies.  

So without further adieu, this is the iMovie I made this morning of Pat's preparation (cleaning up) his house for the tour and the tour itself.  I must admit I found it fascinating the looks of askance when Pat told them "a friend of mine if watching via FaceTime." Check out the expressions of the folks who then looked at me on FaceTime.  It almost looks like they're saying "What are you doing here?' Funny that.  Just another marvel of the modern age of technology….there is NO privacy anymore.  

I hope you enjoy the iMovie folks but I actually just made it for myself and Pat but I thought some of you who follow this blog might be interested in seeing it too.

Have a great day!
↧

No Solicitations

June 10, 2014, 8:11 am
$
0
0
                          
                       
            
                                   

We have a sign at the entrance to our community that reads "No Solicitations". Of course that doesn't stop some people.

Yesterday morning, as I was on my computer I hear the front door ring.  My home office is right next to our front door. I get up from my desk and take the few steps around the corner to the front door.  I have the front door open and only the full glass storm door open.  There I see a young black man.  Of course my first thought was "Now what does he want?" 

Not wanted to appear discriminatory by not answering my door where this well dress, seemingly earnest young black man was standing, I opened my storm door and stepped out onto my small front landing and said "Yes?"

He said he wanted my "vote." Then immediately he told me he wasn't running for office, chuckling as he said so.  Instead he told me he was introducing himself to people in my neighborhood presenting himself as a well spoken young man, standing up straight, and being courteous in order to get enough "votes" to win a trip to Spain.  He said if he got one hundred votes he would "win." 

Of course he now had my interest.  I'm wondering "What is his angle?" but he seemed so sincere I continued listening.  He smiled and he further went through his script.  He was reading but I could tell by the wording he was using that his verbiage wasn't normal for him.  But as I said, he was relaxed, friendly, courteous and well spoken.

Then came the hook.  I saw in his right hand the familiar blank credit card papers.  I'm wondering "Is he selling magazine subscriptions and this is just another ploy to GET MONEY FROM ME?" 

He asked me if I wanted to CONTRIBUTE  to one of the following from a laminated card that had a list of names from veterans to students and religious organizations.  Ah yes, HE.WANTS.MONEY.FROM.ME.  His whole innocent, "You VOTE for me and I win a trip to Spain" is a scam.

With a smile I tell him "Oh, we're not doing money here" and turn around to open my storm door to return to what I was doing before I was rudely interrupted with this latest neighborhood scam.  Immediately his demeanor changed and he said (shouted actually):

"YOU ANSWERED THE DOOR DUDE!" 

Uh huh.  Just another scam.  The mask comes of and the real earnest young student looking to earn votes for a free trip is exposed.    His smile was gone as he turned away and left my front door.  




I told Bill what happened.  Bill went upstairs and saw the oh so earnest and sincere young man go to the house across the street only to back off when my neighbor's two large dogs lunged at the front door, ferociously barking at him.  

Yes, I got suckered in yesterday.  I should have dismissed him right away before he started his spiel but this young BLACK man knew exactly what he was doing, taking advantage of take new white guilt complex in the wake of the Travon Martin "hoodie" shooting.  Show up in a white neighborhood, where the appearance of a young black man knocking at one's door is about the last thing we white folks would expect, and play the race card for all it's worth.  

Funny think happened later in the afternoon.  Another black man (this one more mature) shows up and wants to know if I want to buy any meat.  Say what?  I see his van in our driveway, it says "Capital Meats." I tell him "No, I'm a vegetarian (I'm not by the way but I was trying to be gentle and not rude)" He wasn't taking "No" for an answer and said "You eat fish?" I said "Definitely not!" Then he said "How about chicken?" WTF?
I don't eat that much anyway and if I do I'll buy my meat at the store.  I told him: 

"I.AM.NOT.INTERESTED." 

He finally leaves.  I look for Bill to tell him I have a twofer for today.  He looks at our TV monitor for the road coming to our house and sure enough they is Mr. Capital Meats pulling in the driveway of our neighbor.  

I look up "Capital Meats" on the Internet.  Yep, it's a scam.  In fact, seeing that he had a van I suspect the kid was in the back of the van.  I didn't see him pull up in a car.  





They're out there folks.  After your money.

I called the police to tell them the kid was in the neighborhood running a scam.  I had a heck of a time getting the police first.  Is this a "9/11?" No. I have a Lewes phone number but a Milton address. Do I call the Lewes police?  I did.  They told me to call the Delaware State police.  I did.

After being transferred a few time an Officer Mack got on the line.  I told him my situation.  He was a "Just the facts ma'm" kind of guy.  He said he would stop out to get a statement from me.  That was yesterday afternoon.  I'm still waiting.

Just another day in the neighborhood folks.




So here's what I do the next time folks when a stranger rings my doorbell.  I have my iPhone with me set to camera and I take their picture first.  If they don't like it…..well, it was their decision to stop at MY front door.



Fact of life folks, no stranger is going to call you out of the blue on your phone or stop at your door that doesn't WANT something from you, preferably money.  Even the politicians who stop at my door, who I will answer for, want my vote or as is the latest case to be the neighborhood volunteer.  Which reminds me, since I was "volunteered" to canvas my neighborhood as well a two bordering neighborhoods for the local Democratic Delaware state senate candidate, I'm not going to knock on any more doors.  I'll hand the political literature on their doorknobs right before the election but I am not going to knocking on any more doors.  A very distasteful experience yesterday folks, very distasteful.  

In my old age dotage I'm trying hard not to turn into what my Mother was a few years before she died; a bitter, paranoid, cynical person distrustful of just about everyone, including family.  I'm already estranged from both of my brothers, and other members of my family as well as a life long good friend because I had the temerity to get officially married to Bill.  They were alright with me living the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" life but once I made my marriage public just like theirs, then I'm "shoving it down their throats" or as my estranged friend said "What's next Ron? Marrying your pet?" He doesn't get it.  Friendship all but over (until he gets it). 

These days folks I try to concentrate on the positive.  My relationship with Bill, with whom we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in less than a month.  My new found friendship with a new friend who I've been looking for all my life.  We complete each other.  My (relatively) good health, good job and ability to still pay my bills and not be in debt.  Sure I've had to remove all the bushes out front of the house because they became infected with a parasite (scale) but I'll be damned if I subject myself to another human parasite seeking to take advantage of my good nature.  

So that's why when I realized I was being scammed (yet again) yesterday with that young man, I said (with a smile) "No, we're not doing money here" and turned around and closed the door in his face.  I'm too old for this folks.  I've had enough.  Be it family or strangers, or anyone else.  Doesn't work here any more folks. 

I know who my friends are and I know who wishes me well and I know those who don't.  

These are the people that I share my life with, not some stranger showing up at my door. 
↧
↧

"Who The F--k Are You?"

June 11, 2014, 7:33 am
$
0
0
"Do I know you?

One of my favorite bloggers Jon of "Lone Star Concerto" wrote a blog posting on the lack of spontaneity in his life.  He wrote about one of his experiences when living in southern California:

"Late at night in Hollywood it wasn't unusual to see streets blocked off while scenes for movies or a TV series were being filmed. One night I was walking home and the street I needed to access was blocked by a filming crew.  Annoyed and a little drunk, I simply kept walking - right through the set while they were filming.

The director said "Cut!" and then he yelled (at me) "Who the f--k are you?"

"I'm an unpaid extra," I told him."

The question the direction posed to Jon"Who the f--k are you?"struck home with me.  Isn't that question a great metaphor for our lives?  At least my life.  I liked Jon's answer: "I'm an unpaid extra."

That folks is the STORY of my life.  It seems that all my life, when I encounter someone I don't know whether it be from my childhood to my encounters here in Gayberry (Rehoboth Beach and environs) Land "Who the f--k are you?" 

Doesn't it seem to you (and you and you) that we constantly have to prove that we are somebody?  That we matter?  

Even my own father seemed to pose that question to me even though I was his the first of his three sons; sometimes the way he looked at me it seemed that he was wondering "Who are you?" More than a few times he accused me of not being his son, that they got the babies mixed up in the hospital where I was born.  No matter that I'm almost the spitting image of him (especially as I grow older) and I have just about all of his physical mannerisms (much to my chagrin).  Sometimes I even wonder to myself, "who am I?"

Then there are to occasions, most recently at my job as the front desk "agent" (clerk actually, the schmoo who checks you in at the hotel) when I come face to face with "important" people.  I remember one such occasion.  A local, self important photographer stopped by the front desk to see the owner of the hotel.  As is my style, I attempted to engage him in small conversation while he waited for the owner to show up.  

I forget what I burbled but I said something innocuous to pass the time.  As the sound waves of my inane talk entered his ear drums and attempted to register, he slowly turned and looked at me with what could only be described as "Who are you?" or more accurately "Who the f--k are you?" The contempt emanating from his narrowed eyes towards me could wilt a flower (yes, I am a gentle flower folks).  I quickly retreated back into my position of subservience and made a mental note not to ever again talk to this ectoplasm that purports to be a living, breathing human being.

Growing up poor, on the wrong side of town (literally), with a hillbilly (literally) father who didn't want children and who constantly belittled and demeaned me, I grew up learning that the best way to navigate my way through life was to keep my head low and not to say too much lest I offend "my betters" by daring to speak unless spoken to.

Joining the Army after high school and leaving the negative environment of home was perhaps the best thing that ever happened to me.  Those three years in the Army matured me more than my previous eighteen years of walking and dodging on this planet.  For the first time in my life I wasn't denigrated for the way I looked (skinny, big nose, poor posture) or my humble family background (which is actually very noble once I researched into my family history, my first ancestor landed on these shores in the late 1600's)  

These days I sail through life as my own man.  Either you like me or you don't, that's your choice and if you don't like me that is your loss.  Actually, it really is your loss because I'm a damn nice guy.   

I never cease to be amazed at how many people dismiss me and others like me just because I don't have the pedigree of family or social connections and only consider me worthy of their attention because of my physical attributes (sex) or for what I can do for them (money).  

So to answer the question that anonymous director shouted to my friend Jon "Who the f--k are you?"

I'm somebody, that's who.  Somebody they will never be because never in my life have I ever asked anyone, "Who the f--k are you?" I accept and judge people by their character and not their social pedigree, sexual conquest, or what I can get out of them.  And that folks makes me the odd man out.  But then I always knew I was odd.  

Welcome to my world.  


↧

Throwback Thursday

June 12, 2014, 9:37 am
$
0
0
Me sitting in the back of my friend Bob's pickup truck at Bob White's Motel in Provincetown, Mass - August 1974

My Throwback Thursday this week is a recently discovered photo of myself taken during my first visit to Provincetown, Massachusetts.  This photo was taken in front of Bob White's Motel. I'm sitting on my friend Bob McCamley's pickup truck.  We made the trip together.  

The date on the back of this photo is August 1974. Egads!  Forty years ago?  What happened?  Talk about time flying when you're having a good time (well, mostly good anyway), here is a good example. 

A little background history to this photo and our trip to Provincetown.  Forty years ago I was working at Girard Trust Bank in Philadelphia.  One of my co-workers had recently returned from a trip to Provincetown, Mass.  He was gay and he told me that Provincetown was THE PLACE TO GO FOR GAYS.  Up until 1974, the only vacation trips I had ever made was one to Canada in 1966 and one to visit Bill's hometown in Toccoa, Georgia in 1965.  

Me and my friend Bob getting ready to leave Philadelphia for our road trip to Provincetown, Mass - 1974

I was intrigued by my friend Don's recommendation to visit the gay Mecca of Provincetown so I made a suggestion to my friend Bob.  He was up for it.

Our only requirement was that we didn't want to be too gay.  I did my research and found a place to stay in P-town called "The Ranch." I called and made our reservations.  

On the appointed day of our departure from my home in center city Philadelphia, Bob arrives with his pickup truck.  It was a bright, sunny Saturday morning.  The trip took just over eight hours.

Saying "Goodbye" to Bill - we're on our way!!!

We arrived Saturday evening in Provincetown on the main street which was PACKED WITH PEOPLE.  By the way, the main street is called "Commercial Street." Interesting, one would think they would have named it something more in line with a Gay Mecca, say like Spruce Street.

"The Ranch" was located right in the center of Provincetown.  Wow.  Not what we had imagined, a bucolic setting in the country.  

We check in and found that we had registered with the gayest establishment in Provincetown.  There was so much swishing going on there with the residents that Bob and I got dizzy.  What really threw Bob was his room.  It looked like a whorehouse bedroom, with the canopied bed with red silk tassels dangling around and the mirrored top of the bed.  My room was a little butcher, called "The Harness Room." I had visions of a sling.  WE.HAD.TO.GET.OUT.OF.THERE. 

The next day I did some frantic searching and found a suitably butch motel on the outskirts of Provincetown.  That is where this photo was taken.  


Ah memories.  

This was just the beginning of our somewhat disastrous week.  I had planned to spend the week with my friend Bob but he had other plans.  One day in he met a twinkie from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  I was on my own.  

My subsequent trips to Provincetown I made by myself except for one other disastrous trip when I convinced Bill to go with me.  He went but wouldn't come out of his room at the Best Western motel, the only other "butch" accommodation in P-town.  

Ah memories.  
↧

Lost Dog!

June 13, 2014, 7:26 am
$
0
0
"Red", lost dog in our garage this morning

Somedays you just never know how your day is going to start.  This morning was such a morning.

This morning started out as usual, I groggily arose from the dead got out of bed, hit the bathroom for my morning pee, then slumped to our kitchen for my breakfast of bran flakes and strawberries.  After feeding my face, brushing my teeth I trekked to my home office.  I called my friend and former high school classmate Jack S.  Jack had called me yesterday as I was just going into work.  He needed my help with is new iPhone in navigating the Calendar function of his iPhone.


I called Jack.  After about a half an hour of Ron's iPhone Class, Bill breathlessly bursts into my lair. He gasps"There's a lost dog outside!  I put him in the garage."  Oh great, an emergency this early in the morning and I'm already in my Mr. Fixit mode.  Make no mistake about it folks, I'm the Go To Guy in this household.


A stressed lost dog and a stressed Ron taking a selfie

So whose dog is this?  Our neighbors across the street who just installed their invisible dog fence?

Bill said the lost dog has a phone number on his collar.  Out to the garage I am met by an anxious WET, PANTING red Irish setter.  Oh great, just what I need this morning.  Putting out another fire.  I understand Bill rescuing the poor dog.  We don't want the dog wandering out on Route One to risk being hit by one of the speeding idiots on Route One, especially today Friday when the Horde descends on Gayberry Rehoboth Beach for the weekend. 


Route One (Coastal Highway), ready for the onslaught of the weekend Horde

I get the phone number off of "Red's" collar (and actually, I later found out that this dog's name is actually "Red.")  I call the number and I get voice mail.  I leave a message.  Now what to do?  We have a panting, (which we gave some water), WET, dog in our garage.  




I go back to my office and my computer.  I have a lot to do.  My friend Pat from Toronto is coming down this Sunday and I have to coordinate picking him up and taking him back (to Wilmington) for the following week.  Yes, Pat's taking the bus for this time instead of driving himself.  A fifteen hour trip.  Yes, it takes that long to travel from Toronto to Casa Tipton-Kelly.


Me and Pat last year just before leaving for our trip to Philadelphia 

The phone rings.  The man on the other side of the phone identifies himself as "Donald." I recognize his voice.  He is a former (gay) neighbor of ours who we had falling out with his late partner.  I say to "Donald", "This is Ron!  You know who I am Don!" He says he's calling from ---------- (I'm leaving the name out because I don't want his boss to to an Internet search and read this blog), and that dog "Red" (yes, that's the dog's name) is his bosses' dog.  He asked where I live. I told him "Don, you know where I live!" Then he realizes who I am and said "Ron!  Hey! I know where you live. I'll be right over to pick up Red." 

Ten minutes later Don pulls up in our driveway.  I told Bill Don was coming over.  We were both out in our parking lot to greet Don.  


Bill greets Don and "Red" is going home

Now how about this?  Don doesn't know why we had a falling out with his late partner who died three years ago.  And I don't really want to rehash why either because his partner is gone now and it's probably best that we leave that negativity behind us.  But we never had a problem with Don. Who knows what his partner told Don why we had a falling out but that's all history now.  


Friendship renewed

We had a wonderful reunion right in our little parking lot by the garage.  Don now has a new love.  They're getting married this September.  Don gave me his new address (and phone number and e-mail).  Bill and I will visit.  We also have a mutual friend, Ed C. who, coincidentally will be vacationing next week at his home in Rehoboth.  What great timing!  My friend Pat will also be down next week.  I can introduce Pat to Ed and Don.


"Red", the catalyst for a friendship renewal this morning

So folks, you just never know.  Somedays you get out of bed and your whole world changes….for the better.  I'm not a religious man but sometimes I wonder.  


Don and Ron, renewed friendship after three year estrangement (is it me or does Don look like he's not quite ready? I'm always ready)
You're going home buddy.



↧
Viewing all 2154 articles
Browse latest View live
Search