MEMO TO SELF AND INTERESTED OTHERS

THE OTHER EARTH

2011-08-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Somewhere out there in the vastness we call space, is another solar system exactly like ours with an Earth like planet with the same water and land properties. But the water there is clean, the air that the inhabitants breathe is without pollutants and crops and livestock grow in abundance. True there are natural occurrences like earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes and the occasional volcano eruptions, but as soon as it is safe to go back into those areas, peace is restored and rebuilding begins. And it gets done because it is what needs to be done, not for profit. You see, the difference between the two Earths is that they don't know GREED. No one goes to bed hungry, when you are ill you get the attention that you need and the people there are much happier then they are here.

Some would call this Socialism or maybe even Communism, but whatever you call it, it works for them and I dare say that it could work here as well. As a child I remember my mother telling me that greed was the killer. I didn't understand what that meant back then but I do now. And if there was a way that I could erase greed from our planet I certainly would, before greed does kill us.

AUNTIE STELLA GETS A NEW DISHWASHER

2011-07-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

Auntie Stella is a cook and hates to clean but had to do what she had to do. No more! I now have a dishwasher. I think his name is John or Juan, really cute, about 6'2" ,20 years old, brown/brown and just full of life. Would love to show all of you a picture of him but I don't want immigration to take him away from me. He loves every meal I fix for him and tears came to his eyes when I gave him a pair of rubber gloves and a bottle of Dawn. Hey, if it gets oil spills off of birds I know my dishes will be clean. I only have one bedroom so we have to share a bed but he doesn't seem to mind at all. And honestly, how many of you out there have a dishwasher who will also scrub your back when you shower together?

Also found a new pair of shoes that I just had to have so I had to cut back and live off of tuna for a couple of weeks, but tuna salad doesn't have to be boring, I see to that. I always use celery seed, red onions, caraway seeds, relish and Miracle Whip. I know, "Caraway seeds"? Yes, rye bread costs more. Also, if you have happened to love raisin bread like I do, and that costs more too, try adding a small handful of raisins to your tuna salad and maybe some walnut pieces. Maybe I can stay on tuna for an extra week and find a nice bag to match the shoes. (Juan loves the shoes too, and they fit both of us, LOL

Auntie Stella.

LOUD ASS COMMERCIALS

2011-06-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate having to watch television with the remote in hand so that you can mute those commercials that are so much louder than the program? The shows can keep you interested but the ads are so loud that you wind up recording them and then zapping thru the commercials. Today I took a step to hopefully fixing that. I wrote to Bio.com and told them the above and added the fact that their advertisers probably wouldn't like knowing that. Let's see if they reply or not.

Also, if you have Bright House for your cable provider, you have probably noticed that their commercials are louder as are the one just before or after their ad? Check it out for yourself and see if I'm right or not. You are paying for this cable and they need your feedback to make the changes that will keep you watching and paying.

Mike

GAY FOR PAY, REALLY???

2011-01-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, if all you had to look at in the gay community was fat, old, farts like me I could understand you paying large sums of money to "STRAIGHT??" men to perform or pose for your enjoyment. But really, isn't that just like voting for republicans to oppress you more? I look around and see tons of hot looking men that I would love to see naked or performing in porn, and they do, in my mind of course. But seriously, what is the fascination? I've searched my perverted mind and you know what, if I like what I see I continue to look, if I don't, I go on to the next DVD or magazine. It doesn't matter to me if he is gay or not, like I really have a shot at him (did I mention that I'm also broke"?). And if I wasn't, it wouldn't matter to me any more than it would to him what religion I was, if I had one, what I did with whom-when or anything else as long as the money held out. We all fantasize about movie stars, some of whom are gay and pretending to be straight and I can understand since it could effect their jobs and fortunes. But if there is a naked picture of them out there, I will try my best to find it, not because size matters (LOL) but just to complete the puzzle by putting the last piece together. I personally I like nudity and have no shame about that fact. It's the way I came into this world and will probably go out the same way, closed coffin for the sake of others. I would love to know what you think.

IS HIV/AIDS THE FORGOTTEN EPIDEMIC?

2010-11-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

I subscribe to POZONLINE, a magazine that is published 6 times a year and contains a wealth of knowledge. But the other day they had a poll asking a simple yes or no question, “Is AIDS the forgotten epidemic?” I answered yes and then found out that most of the people who answered said the same.
In the early days of HIV/AIDS it seemed that just testing positive was a death sentence but today we are living longer due to newer and better medications. But unless you have the virus yourself or know someone who does, you don’t know the costs of living longer. I’m not just talking about money but also about the pain that you pay by living longer. That isn’t talked about in the media but it is certainly real enough. Bouts of diarrhea, pain in your extremities, fat deposits in different parts of your body like the back of the neck or stomach. Some of the medications can cause you to have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, liver and kidney problems and yes, some of them can even cause death. And of course all of them seem to cause dry mouth which leaves you with a constant thirst. You don’t hear a lot about these things and for that reason and the fact that we are living longer, people aren’t taking this virus seriously anymore, and they still need to. Having a longer life is great but if you are in pain and don’t want to get addicted to pain killers or have them just knock you out, what good are the extra years?
Doctors and researchers need to do a better job of coming up with medications that help without hurting further. I believe that the physicians oath is “First do no harm” but if it isn’t, it should be. At 62 years young, I am being force into a scooter because a two block walk just about kills me. I’m grateful for the scooter, don’t get me wrong, but I would much rather walk on my own. And this is what people, especially young people need to know, need to see and need to hear.

WORLD AIDS DAY

2009-12-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

December1st each year is WORLD AIDS DAY, a time to remember all of those who have perished because of this disease and to celebrate those living with it today. Around the world the day was marked and remembered as it was here in St. Petersburg, Florida. A good friend and artist who works in metal artistry, Mark Hester, created bronze plates with inscriptions of those of us living with HIV/AIDS in our own handwriting and they were displayed locally at The Flamingo Resort. People were invited to not only read but also run their fingers over the words that were transformed into art as a living memorial. It was a sobering experience for me and others and our minds were reminded of the great quilt that started with one square in remembrance of one who had passed. The names of those who wrote their feelings are not reveled to anyone other they themselves and the artist but I and others witnessed first hand the solitude of those who read and/or felt the words. But the best thing that could come out of this World AIDS Day and others would be for a cure to be found or at least kinder and gentler medications that right now are causing as much pain as the disease it self. Your comments are welcome.

THE WORLD WILL END IN 2012, OKAY, MAYBE

2009-10-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

People all over the world are worried that the because of the Mayan calendar the world will end in December of 2012. Did it occur to anyone that the accountant just ran out of chalk and the whole village decided it would be fun to go into town and toss a few back and keep him company on his quest to get more chalk? And for that matter, who said you were going to live to see that day come? Do you drive or walk across streets? Who knows what can take a person out or when.

So why not try this, be the best person that you can be for the rest of your life. Help others where and when you can and live every day like it could be your last because it just might be. Set an example for others by the way you conduct your life and just maybe it will catch on. World peace is an obtainable goal in our lifetime if we can overcome hate and poverty. Don't just sit on your sofa and wait for the end of the world, make it a better one while you're here.

A MESSAGE FROM JESUS AND ME

2009-08-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

"Let the one without sin cast the first stone," Jesus said to the crowd when they were about to stone Mary Magdalene to death. Am I without sin? Not even close, but I do try to be the best Mike that I can be with this quote in mind always. Note I said try and I do. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we could all do the same. And I try to stay positive everyday and that isn't easy either especially when I feel like I am standing in the shoes of Mary Magdalene. Being a gay Christian is extremely difficult because SOME who call themselves Christian, would rather hurl their stones at me and others in the LGBT community, chasing some of God's children away from Him instead of bringing them closer. Maybe, rather than hurling stones at the ones you disagree with, you can expend your energies in positive ways: helping the poor; tending to the sick; working for a greener world and saving future generations or maybe just trying to make peace in the world in your lifetime.

I was born gay and so were millions of others. This is not a choice, who would chose to go down a road that would cause you to be cast out not only by family but also strangers, and in the name of God. With 10% of the world being gay, doesn't that tell you that the Lord has a special purpose for us? I have no idea exactly what it is, but I do know that he doesn't make mistakes.

EVERYBODY HAS ONE...

2009-06-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

No, not that. Everybody has someone in the film; music; television or other art industry that they relate to on one level or another and feel like that person would be a wonderful person to know and be friends with. My latest is Pauley Perrette who plays Abby on NCIS. I think that she is a hoot and would love to tell her so but someone started stalking her on line and she pulled her personal blog. I'm a fat, old gay man and don't think of her in that way. (However, I do drool over the men on that show, whew!) But I do like to research actors and such, mostly on Wikipedia because I feel safe on that site, and found out that she also supports Gay and Lesbian marriage, now I know we could be friends. But that assumes that she would like me as a friend and has all kind of time to write or call and catch up on things, duh. She is a great actress in my eyes and makes me laugh with some of her antics but we live in different worlds so I just hope someone reads this and tells her for me. I'm a writer but that doesn't mean that she would like or even appreciate some of my tales or short stories, but then again, how could she not? LOL

So, who would you like to write to or talk to? I dream about being able to meet the cast of The Guiding Light I have been watching them for so long I feel like they are family to me.
Mike

FIGHTING GAY MARRIAGE

2009-05-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

Why in the world would Christians who profess love, be wasting all of their time; energy; money and other resources be fighting the sanctity of love in any form? Especially when they could be helping fight poverty and sickness around the world. The word MARRIAGE is reserved for when two people who love each other want to make a lasting commitment to one another and announce to the world that they hope that love will last forever. It does not have to be a religious thing, many heterosexuals get married by justices of the peace, in chapels along the highway or in other countries (not to mention those Elvis look-a-likes). More gay and lesbian people than you probably know are Christians, just the same as you. Well, not really like you, but Christians just the same. And why should it matter that they are Christians or not? Who gave you the RIGHT to try and control the lives of others who do not play by YOUR set of rules? This is the United States of America and we have a bill of rights that this country was founded upon and not by any religious organization. We have the freedom to decide what if any set of doctrines that we will follow.

As I said in the beginning, use your money; resources; and whatever is at your disposal to fight poverty and sickness throughout the world. I have seen the bumper sticker on more that one vehicle that asks WWJD? Where would he want you to put your resources? Against love or against suffering?

CRANK DOWN THE VOLUME

2009-04-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Could I be the only one out here who is tired of holding onto the remote all the time because as soon as a commercial comes on the volume pumps up so high that the neighbors can hear it? It used to be that the commercials couldn't be any louder than the loudest part of the show but that seems to have fallen by the wayside. I mean is it really necessary that if I should decide to go to the kitchen to get a drink or some chips that I hear the whole advertisement about something that I could care less about?

Well dear advertisers, I have taken to muting all of your messages or recording the program so that I can just speed thru all of the commercials. True, I won't be able to see things in real time but I don't have to sit with the remote in my hand. All things considered it just boils down to good old fashioned greed and that is something the whole world could do without. If fact, if greed isn't brought under control and soon, what is going to happen to this planet of ours? Over pricing products for sale is pushing consumers to the brink. I don't buy brand name products much anymore. I've learned to buy the generics and spice them up some how and have turned to buying more and more fresh produce from the growers, even if it means going out of my way do do so. And I am not alone. You should keep that in mind when raising your prices higher and higher. We are making serious cut backs in our budgets and it's time for you to do the same. And a nice start would be to crank down the volume on your commercials and maybe I will listen to them.

That's my take, let me hear from you.
Mike

READ YOUR BIBLE PREACHER

2009-02-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

I left organized religion years ago mostly because of all of the finger pointing and the holier than thou priest and preachers who would gladly take your money and condemn you to hell. Most would make you feel bad about not having the money to spare telling you that Jesus needs your money. Jesus doesn't need money but he does expect us all to be the best person that we can be.

I also fought my inner demons because of my sexuality before I came to believe that God had a higher purpose for myself and the millions of other gay and lesbian people. The simplest reason I could come up with was that we were put here to test the Christian community of learning to love one another and not kill those who are different from us. Most of the gay and lesbians that I know are also Christians, I know that must come as a shock to many people.

To me, the worst kind of Christians were and are the evangelicals who would rob or shame the poorest of their life savings so that they could lead grand lives. That was until I saw Ted Haggard on Oprah and then again on HBO and now I believe that he is the most Christ like of any holy man alive. I also believe that his church officials and his congregation are the the worst examples of Christians I have ever witnessed. You don't go to an AA or NA meeting to listen to someone who knows nothing about the problems of addiction, the person you need to hear from is the person who woke up in the gutter hurting and penniless, someone who had been down that road and recovered and can help you lead a better life. I hear all the time that homosexuality is wrong because sex is for procreation. Really? So none of you use birth control or have sex even when the doctor tells you that you are barren or two old to conceive? How about sex during a pregnancy?

The countless millions/billions of dollars being spent every year to condemn or kill homosexuals every year could feed the world, build housing for less fortunate people and solve REAL problems in the world. If God wants to judge us and put us to death that is up to HIM and HIM alone. And if Ted Haggard were to start preaching close to where I live I would be there every Sunday. I do hope that you have taken the time to read this and that you will comment here or pass this blog on to others and share it.
Mike

MARRIAGES BEING ERASED

2008-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

If you are not gay and you are married, try to imagine what it would feel like to wake up one morning and find out that someone was trying to ruin your life. That's exactly what is happening in California. Not only have they stopped any new marriages from happening but they want the ones that have already taken place to reversed. I understand that different people think differently but what happened to individual rights? Is it now okay for one religious group (I'm talking about Christians here) to decide what rights everyone except gays and lesbians? Isn't this how the Holocaust started out? Along with those of the Jewish faith, gays and lesbians were also gathered up and killed, is that what is coming next? I am a Christian as are many of us and I don't think that your religion or any other rules supreme over this great nation. Your money being used to fund this fight could be better put to use by feeding the homeless, helping people find jobs and letting them feel more like humans again. There are all kinds of ways for your money to be put to good use. And if you are going to enter the political arena then I demand that your tax status be changed and you should be paying your share to voice your opinions.

I have a personal belief as to why there are so many gay and lesbian citizens of this world and that is to teach people, especially the religious, patients; understanding; kindness and love. For Jesus said: Love each other as I have loved you. And if any two adults love each other and want to create a home where that love can abound, then who are you to disobey His message. Oh yes, there is that other quote about "judge not less ye shall be judged". So take your money and put it to a finer purpose, one that would make GOD proud not anger him for destroying love.

Mike

AT WHAT PRICE SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED?

2008-11-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

Today is November 3rd, the day before people all over America will elect a president and local representatives. I voted early to avoid the crowds but they are still out there and that is a very good thing that people are excising their right to vote. But what I want to talk about today is how those running conducted themselves and what it is doing to the public at large.

How many of us have had our blood pressure raised listening to all of the DIRTY TRICKS that these people will stoop to just to get elected. Lies and lies by omission of the facts. Smearing your opponent with slander. Commercials every couple of minutes until you just unplug the tube or just watch the cable channels. Who can you believe? Stupid questions by the media or those who just show up at the events to cause trouble. If a politician were asked, "Is it true that you have stopped beating your wife?" how could a person answer such a question. And now everyone thinks that he might be a wife beater even if his wife comes forward and calls it BS. The seed has already been planted.

And regardless of who gets voted in I as a citizen intend to hold them to every campaign promise that they made and if they fail us then we need to find a way to get them out. It won't be easy, they get real comfortable once they're in, but it is up to each and everyone of us to make sure that we get what we paid for. We do it when we go grocery shopping and that same theory should work for politicians as well. Grass roots got a lot of them elected and we should be able to de-select them the same way.

That's what's on my mind today. How do you stand on this idea? I'd love to hear you thoughts.
Mike

FIFTEEN MINUTES A DAY

2008-10-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me that all things considered, I have a lot to be grateful for and I've been lucky enough to have a lot of help along the way. And now it's my turn to be on the helping end and yours too if you want to join in. There are 24 hours in everyday and if we all take just one quarter of one of those hours to help someone else we can make this a better world. Maybe you could call people who you know are shut-ins or just alone and make their day and you will feel better about yourself as well. Make phone calls from your home to encourage people to get out and vote for the candidate of their choice and make a difference for your area or for all of the USA.

There are all kinds of volunteer organizations that would love to have an hour or two of your time even if it's only once a week if you can spare the time. And another benefit of doing this kind of work is that you are likely to make friendships with others, people who also want to share and make a difference and after all who doesn't want more good friends like them.

At sometime in your life there was someone there for you, could this be your time to reach out and give fifteen minutes of your time? I hope so and I'm glad to call you my friends.
Mike

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

2008-09-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Since I live in Florida, the acknowledged Sunshine State, perhaps it is up to me to start pushing for solar power. The state and local communities would be a great place to start I think. Just imagine if there were no electric bills for all of those offices, jails, libraries and other government offices. This alone could lower taxes all around the state both sales and property taxes, is it possible that is a bad thing? Could it be that I'm the only one who has thought of it? And this would bring about less dependence on both foreign and domestic oil and bring all of our residents cleaner air.

And while we're at it, why not start building cars with built in solar panels on the roof or trunk. Have I gone too far? I think not. Offer large one time only tax breaks for private citizens and business' for installing solar panels as an incentive for installing them. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.This would also create new jobs to manufacture and install these units and show the rest of the country what we are made of and maybe start a revolution of revitalization in America.

And then there are those wind mills. One hurricane or even a near miss would probably light up the state for a month. We have the technology at our disposal, why not put it to good use. Big oil could fight us every step of the way or they could use some of those windfall profits to get behind us and clean up their names at the same time. Give the Ozone a chance to heal it self with our help and make this a better world for all of us.And just think of the help we could extend to third world countries, give them free electricity and build a better world for them. What would you give to know that some how you were building a better world by maybe just starting a letter writing campaign or collecting signatures to send to your government representatives.

The world, this planet we call home, deserves a chance and we can do it, one person at a time.

Just thinking out loud, what are your thoughts?
Mike

CONTACT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

2008-09-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

There are millions of Americans, and certainly I am one of them, who are so addicted to tobacco that the thought of quitting causes fear and anguish. At 60 years of age I have smoked for 46 of them. I know that aside from the cancer that smoking may cause it also raises my blood pressure and prevents me from being more energetic (or maybe lazy would be a better choice of words).

Also I'm tired of trying to get visitors to my home to believe that I have painted my previously white walls to an antique yellow. Actually everything in this apartment that was once white in now that same pale yellow including some of my clothes. And I don't dare wash a spot on one of the walls or I would have to wash the whole wall and as I have already discussed above, I just don't have the energy for that.

Then there's the cost of the cigarettes themselves. I often ponder what I could do with all of that extra money given that I spend $100.00+ per month for this disgusting habit. Hell I could wake up and find myself on a cruise ship sailing off somewhere nice. Or even better, get a nicer car. And when I see young people lighting up I'm tempted to pull the cigarettes right out of their hands and faces and tell them what's in store for them later down the line.

I'm a poor addict looking for real ways to stop smoking. And if you think that addict is too strong a word, but there it is, call a spade a spade. I know that I'm not strong enough to do it on my own, I've been down that road too many times, I NEED HELP.

If you can imagine, if we stopped growing tobacco and started growing real food we could help all of the starving countries around this world of ours. Or turn them into fields of solar panels and create clean renewable energy that would not pollute the environment and help the ozone rebuild itself. That's my opinion, I'd like to hear yours.
Mike.

POLITICS AS USUAL

2008-09-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time again. Once every four years it happens and no, I'm not talking about the summer Olympics, that I like. No, it's time for the dirt to be hitting the fan in the presidential elections and their commercials. Smear campaigns on every channel, except the premium channels and those are what I will be watching. I have sent letters to newspapers, TV and radio stations and to the candidates for years all to no avail. Don't tell me what you know or think about your opponent, talk to me about you and let me make up my own mind. I already know that I don't want a book burning soccer mom (aka pit bull with lipstick, a heartbeat away from the top job in the world). Hillary I would have loved to have seen but not Palin and I made up my own mind from watching the conventions.

And if you are planning to enforce the beliefs of your personal religion on this nation, stop now. I have already lived thru too much of that already. Read the constitution and the bill of rights and follow them. No one religion will satisfy an entire nation, nor should it. And equal rights for all citizens means exactly that, not just what you personally believe in. If you don't believe in abortion, don't have one. If you don't believe in gay marriage, that is your personal belief but don't think that it gives you the right to stop others from what they believe in. That is NOT your right. I don't tell you how who to pray to, don't tell me who I can marry.
Mike