Bye 2009

So tomorrow is NYE, and while at the end of the year I usually have an idea of the things I want to change for the new year. I guess ill keep the same as last years since that didn't really go over so well.. These include the normal, drink less, save some money, be debt free, loose weight.. etc. Maybe I'll add the get a car to this years goals.

Well, so long 2009 and Hello 2010, lets see what you have in store for us all...

Cheers!

So close yet so far.

So last night I went out with some friends and the guy i kinda like is there. We have a few drinks and then decided to go to another local bar holding a holiday party for the local radio station 104.1.
On the way out to the car, the guy decided to come with me. So that was fun. On the way there he talked about how if he was going to be gay he would want to be with me. And that another guy I know and he talk about this all time.
It's that just the way it always is... So close, yet so far..
Its nice to hear, but it would be better if just once...

One job done, one to pick up..

so my last big client job is done for now...
City Center hiring complete and I'm ready to start with a new group with something new.. event planning with a mix of the same ole admin... I hope.. but we will see what the future has in store for me. I'd love to have some insurance to go along with some of the work I've been helping to provide. but orlando is totally different then west coast...
two weeks left in the 09 and with 2010 on the way.. who can guess what the future holds..

have a blessed holiday all!!!

Hello

Hello to new viewer Taryn...


WELCOME!!!!

i have LOA

Is the lack of appreciation or having the lack of appreciation, considered a mental disease, or is it just a major block in to your emotions?

Turkey day reminders

Just a reminder to everyone today is a marathon of eating: don't blow it all in one trip thru the buffet. And please, no one choke on a left over Turkey sandwich on your third round, or slip on miss-placed cranberry sauce that your lazy second cousin dropped on the floor and the dog didn't hasn't seen yet and you hit your noggin on the counter that causes your aunt to gasp in hysterics that 1. Wake up your drunk uncle that just wants to talk to you about why no one in this family understands him and they are all crazy sons-a-bitches while his whisky breath gets you about as drunk as he is at about 2.8 blow scale and 2. Making everyone else in the house look at you 'cause you now have an insta-goose-egg on your forehead that reminds everyone of that time when you were little when you jumped in the pool and your swim shorts fell off, and you don't see how thats related at all, but now they are all laughing, and your cousin actually has soda come out his nose and you've never seen that before and it's totally gross and that just makes you loose your entire appetite and then Thanksgiving is just ruined once again and you have to question why you even bother to come home for thanksgiving and you realize your drunk uncle is right they ARE all crazy and none of them get you. Don't let that happen again this year....

Should you get a BlackBerry or an iPhone?

So while I have been doing some research about which phone would be best for me and my needs.. here are some of the things I have come across.

Should you get a BlackBerry or an iPhone?

BlackBerry
Best for: A person who frequently travels internationally, writes a lot of e-mail on the device and needs rich e-mail/calendar functions.
Physical keyboard
Multiple carriers
Variety of international plans (tend to be less expensive)
Dial numbers in e-mail and meeting requests
Limited attachment viewing experience
Limited multimedia
Third party application support
Limited handheld browser experience

iPhone
Best for: A person who doesn't often travel internationally, doesn't write a lot on the device, reads a lot of e-mail, browses Web and accesses multimedia content.
No physical keyboard
AT&T only
AT&T international plan only (may be more expensive, but maybe worth the iPhone's functional advantages)
Dial numbers in e-mail only
Very rich attachment viewing
Rich multimedia
Many apps available through Apple's App Store
Rich handheld browser experience

Thanks to all for their input about both phones and services they provide.

Two Things

Okay -
So there are two things at the top of my list that I'm hating on right now. Being poor and being fat..
They have been there for long enough and it's time to do something about it.

So this week I told myself.. self.. this is it. It's going to take motivation, strength, and a lot more you dont have right now to get through this.

Each day will be a new struggle and we will make the best decision we can in the moment to get us past this. If I slip i will not get upset or give up. I'll simply start again until we are past this.

It will be a long long road but I'll be happy to start and see how things change along the way.

Hypocrite Tax...

Is happy that he doesn't have a tax payment due this month but is sad to learn its $200.00 more then what he expected it to be.. UGH!!

Why do I pay them again, is it for the schools that the kids I'm not allowed to adopt go to or maybe the play grounds? Or maybe it's for the war to fight for my country's freedom that I'm not allowed to fight in along with other men and women cause I choose to speak up for who I am. Or maybe they go to pay to the county clerk that wouldn't allow me to apply for a marriage license or better the elected officer whom is meant to help protect my rights but instead chooses to help pass laws that discriminate against basic human rights.

Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to live in a country where I can be openly gay and have a page to voice my opinion about how shitty it is the way some things are done around here. I'm glad I have that right, I just wish I had the rest of them too.

Ouch!

No one told me that turning 35 would give me such a headache.

UGH!!!

An Ah Ha!!

So there are a few times in life when you just have that spark and moment of clarity.
When all the sudden something just totally make sense. The Oprah proclaimed AH HA moment.

So while I was out with some friends the other night, I was introduced to a friend of a friend who in my opinion was tellable Gay.
But for the duration of conversation talked about girl friends and hot chicks etc.

I so totally never understood why some people choose to pretend to be straight. Well as the night went on and a few cocktails later, the conversation with me opened up and it was becoming more and more telling that yes he was into guys at least a little, but was not out with some of his guy friends.

As the conversations went on and on over the course of the night the things the "Boys" would say to each other were helping to bring the light bulb closer to hovering over my head.

It was if the light was turned on, or the door finally opened and it was there and then in that moment that I got it.
I understood the reason some guys "Act" STR8 with other guys.

It would be similar to the "Down Low". There is an added level of presumed innocents in play if lets say two "STR8" guys got drunk and then something happened. The excuse of " I've never done that before" or "this is the first time" some how to them means that they can't be gay, cause we all know your first time doesn't make you gay. Just curious. Ha!

So to those boys out there that I've always hated on for this Act. I dear now say to each of you.. Good show and good luck with that.

Its been awhile

Its been weeks since Ive posted.

I promise to commit to writing an update this week and posting it.

ciao

Finally Done

Well after what feels like forever... I finally finished the website and am proud of the work completed. Thanks to everyone that helped to proof it for me.

Now to launch and get the word out there..

Check it out.....

www.helpinghandsofcelebration.com

Good News about Bills!!

Historic Domestic Partnership Legislation Introduced
Sen. Eleanor Sobel (Hallandale Beach) has introduced a statewide Domestic Partnership bill (SB 1642). Equality Florida has been working closely with Sen. Sobel in preparing this historic legislation. The companion bill will be sponsored in the house by Rep. Richard Steinberg (Miami Beach). As a Miami Beach City Commissioner, Rep. Steinberg played a key role in passing Florida's strongest Domestic Partnership policy.
The introduction of these domestic partnership bills comes at a time when public support is at an all time high for this legislation. The latest polls show 77% of Floridians in favor of extending benefits to unmarried couples.

It also comes as a South Florida hospital is embroiled in a lawsuit for refusing to grant a woman access to her partner as she lay dying at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The case has provoked international outrage and highlights the vulnerability gay couples face when there is no legal framework to protect their families.
If passed, this bill would ensure committed, unmarried couples throughout Florida have access to basic legal rights like visiting each other in the hospital.

Many places in Florida already understand the importance of offering domestic partner protections. Miami Dade County enacted domestic partner benefits in the past year, as did the cities of Sarasota and Orlando.
Civil Rights Protections
Senator Ted Deutch (Delray Beach) has introduced a Civil Rights bill that would make it illegal to fire someone, deny them housing or access to public accommodations because they are LGBT. Florida is one of thirty states where it is legal to discriminate in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Rep. Kelly Skidmore (Boca Raton) has already introduced the House version (HB 397) and Equality Florida is continuing to build on the twenty co-sponsors already signed up.

It is against current Florida law to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or familial status. These bills would add sexual orientation and gender identity to already protected classes.

Equality Florida applauds Senator Deutch, Representative Skidmore and Senator Sobel and Representative Steinberg for sponsoring these vital bills.

Great News From Mallory

Just today I received commitments from additional co-sponsors for the Civil Rights Bill. Rep. Rader, Rep. Reed, Rep. Chestnut and Senator Smith have all agreed to co-sponsor. Rep. Randolph also signed on to the Adoption bill.

Quick Summary:
Civil Rights Bill (HB397)
Great news. I met with Sen. Deutch on Tuesday and, after months of uncertainty, he confirmed he will be sponsoring a fully inclusive non-discrimination bill that will match Rep. Skidmore's! Sen. Deutch told me that hearing from supporters across the state and watching the movie Milk really helped him decide to take the lead. He's a formidable sponsor who commands respect on both sides of the aisle and has a close relationship to Senate President Atwater.
On the House side, there are already 20 co-sponsors for Rep. Skidmore's bill with more coming on as fast as I can meet with them.

Domestic Partnership (SB1642)
Sen. Sobel's office has told me she will make the domestic partnership bill one of her priority bills this year. She is very adamant that same-sex couples need protection, especially after Amendment 2. We are still talking to several Representatives about sponsoring in the house. Rep. Richard Steinberg is our best hope but he has not committed yet. We need more outreach to him from his home base.

Adoption (SB500, HB413)
I met with Rep. Culp (R-Tampa) and she said she will co-sponsor the adoption bill and we are working with to identify other Republicans to sign on. Rep. Culp has co-sponsored in the past and is a great ally to have, both has a mother of a gay son and someone who is well respected in her party. Hopefully, with her stepping up as a co-sponsor other Republicans will too.
I think the bill will be referred to the Health and Family Services Council. Representative Homan, a moderate Republican, is the chair and he's someone I believe we can work with for a hearing. In the past Rep. Homan has opposed his party on certain issues, so we know he is an independent thinker and someone who doesn't only toe the party line.

Sex Education
I also met with Rep. Jenne and Sen. Ring on Tuesday about their bills to repeal abstinence only education and the language that says schools must teach the "benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage." Planned Parenthood attended the meeting as well. We talked a lot about Title V funding, which the state receives from the federal government for abstinence only education. Turns out Florida spends $1.6 million dollars more than the required $1.8 million on abstinence-only-until-marriage program. We are spending millions on ineffective programs that don't prevent STDs and ignore the existence of LGBT youth. The Ring/Jenne bill would put an end to this waste.
That's the Tallahassee update this week... more to come!

LAME Attempt

Have look at this miserable web site..


HELPINGHANDSOFCELEBRATION


This is why I need someone creative to just sort it out for me...

NEXT Step

Sitting here wondering if the lack of ability to learn to build on GO.DADDY is really a just that or a real fear of failure


Am I blocking myself from getting it done because I fear it wont do well??

HMMMMM!!!

Maybe some should just do it for me... Less likely to blame someone else for their work then I am my own.

Paris passing on the famous

what a shot

To Resolute or not....

I didn't hear about to many Resolutions last night. I didn't go out of my way to ask, but Isn't that a normal NYE topic?

For me I typically don't have them, or at least outwardly talk about them so if I "fail" I wont have the persecution of everyone that knew I was attempting one.

However this year I feel that I should put it out there and in return hope that everyone HELPS me along the way.

So with that said:
I do hear by Resolute to loose some weight this year.
In order to help achieve this I have formulated a reward system.
For the first 5 lbs lost I will get a new cell phone
For the second 5 lbs I will get a tanning package
For the next 10 lbs I will get some new Spring clothes (assuming I'll be a different size then anyway)
If I can continue to loose after that with another 5 lbs. I'm sure I'll think of something gracious for myself.

I do hear by Resolute to spend less time and money in the bar(s).
I'd like to spend less time sitting drinking with friends and instead do other things, bowling, movies, Mall, etc.

I do hear by Resolute to be debt free by the end of 09.
Spending less time and money in the bars, I can use the tab money to pay down the amount due faster.

So there you have it, the three things I'd like most for myself in 2009.

(I'd add that I'd also like to start to workout three times a week, but don't want to be held down to that one)