Come Together

We have come to the end of Pride month. 

In theory, one of the most important ones, as we feel the attempt - and success - at repealing some of our rights. 

While same-sex marriage isn't on the GOP agenda - yet, they've already taken great strides at Trans rights, Trans youth, youth - period -, Drag. 

Honestly, they're doing a pretty good job of it - should you be on that side. They've told their voting public who the enemy is - and the laser focused on it, completely ignoring the pack of election promises they made which they had no intention of fulfilling. 

The things gay men and women of "our age" went through was at times painful, but nothing like the ones 10-15 years before us. I refuse to say the younger gay population has it "easy", but they've only heard about some of the struggles. I fear, they are about to find out first hand - and will have to refight the fight. 

The meme up top I've been holding onto for weeks, wondering how to use it. Apropos fits here. 

It is a painful reminder of what it is like. And let's be honest, for adult white males who are gay, we don't experience this discrimination as much as LGBTQ+  youth, people of colour or especially the T part. Even in a marginalized society, white men still somehow get a semi-pass. 

That is more the reason to make the entire LGBTQ+ community heard. 

For all communities who have not yet had their Pride events, please attend this year. Solidarity is more important than ever now. 

Song by: Echosmith

the Waiting

I started back at the gym 15 months ago (or so). Yes, it was weight related, but mostly because I caught sight of myself in a bathroom mirror bending over and just saw gut. Honestly, I don't think anyone else would have thought a thing of it.  Me? I was horrified. 

In terms of the BMI chart, for my height, I should not exceed 185.  I was 208. 

Honestly, I hid it well enough under clothes, but I knew. And I'm not so sure the clothes truly hid anything, but I tell myself they did. 

As we age our metabolism changes, and I found it not so easy to get back into shape, let alone lose weight. My eating habits, while so much better, were still not great. They're better now, but I'm never gonna be that guy who watches what he eats very carefully. 

The gym and running have helped with the weight. It's taking longer than I wanted, but you know: persistence. 

15 months ago I thought "two pounds every month is doable" and in a year I can lose the 23 lbs I needed. 

My plans and my reality did not match up. Losing was harder than it seemed. But even on day one of the gym, I decided I would weigh myself only once per month and not obsess about it. I have stuck to that tactic, and my word. It's been mentally freeing. 

15 months in - and I finally broke 190. I'm in the 180s. Barely, but I'm there. 

While I always hope I lose more than I do, two days ago, I felt pretty good before my weigh-in and felt I would be in the 180s - which I probably haven't in the last decade. 

188.5.

I'll take it. Only 3.5 more to go. But honestly, now I expect that to take the rest of this year.  ....and I'm good with that. 

Song by: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Hey Baby

I kind of swear I wrote about this before, but I can't find it - so instead of doing an "extension" post, maybe it is an "initial" one. 

I'm assuming I'm not the only one who gets random texts that I assume are meant to lure someone in to get data or sell you something. It almost takes too many steps to block the number - which I always do - but not before I have a little fun. 

Yes, I get responding probably opens myself up to untold data breaches, well, I can't help myself. Or don't want to. 

I then screen capture and send out to my friends. Jon thinks I should save and collect them all and make them into a book. I've seen worse sitting on the shelves - so, why not? 

But here is a sampling. 

Song by: No Doubt

App of the Month

The New York Times has a new game out - in beta form. 

Yay and Boo.  I need them to soothe the savage beast in me, but it spurs said beast and honestly, Spelling Bee already can suck a lot of time free time should it be a difficult one. 

Connections is the name of the game. I think it's only available to NYT subscribers and not just to the Game section.- though I can fully be incorrect in this. 

710 told me it existed and it took a while to find it - and oddly it was through ... (three dots) in the upper left corner of the game Tiles.  Then a labyrinth of menu selections. 

This is a selection game, that at first seems, and is, easy. And then it always isn't. There are four groups of four items / names / terms /what have you. But some of them overlap into other categories. 

Here are the 16 selections you make into 4 categories of 4. 

Beds seemed the easiest for me. Brothers was up there, but you have overlap of five, so one didn't belong. My bet was on Mario Bros, but I don't really know anything about them - as I was never a gamer. 

Boom! Beds were correct.  

So I moved on. 

I know my cars, so that was ok enough. 

Then I did tackle "brothers". 

In my brain I knew enough about Mario to think of Sonic the Hedgehog and Crash Bandacoot. Considering I never played, it's a little sad. 

In reality, I didn't have to pick, since they were the last four left. 

We will see if it moves from the Beta phase to the actual Game page. It shows once per day and it doesn't take a lot of time. They could be more challenging, but they have their moments. 

My Music Monday

Pride month is coming to an end. I get it, but I don't. A month. Should it be relegated to such a specific timeframe? 

As it turns out, there are tons of implied songs on gay-dom, most of which I've either already incorporated into unthemed MMM posts, or ones I don't want to. Yes, I'm talking to you Diana Ross and the Village People. 

There are great songs from Perfume Genius, Macklamore, Tegan & Sarah that exist out there. Some more than others (Macklamore!) have rightfully hit the airwaves. Most have not......but they try. 

If you go all the way back to 1994, you get Blur's "Girls & Boys". It was a semi-perennial hit mostly due to the lyrics more than the music - though that fit the time. And only in the gay clubs, I suspect. 

Still it was ahead of its time in a way. It went well beyond gay and into sexual fluidity - something that most wouldn't deal with until the 21st century - at least not in a more common way, even if divisive in some communities. 

The chorus would go: "Girls who are boys who like boys to be girls / Who do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boys / Always should be someone you really love"

It wouldn't be the first or last time you'd need a white board to map that out. 

Still - it hits close. Not for me specifically, but for our (my) community. 

Atomic

We took ourselves to see Asteroid City yesterday, Wes Anderson's new movie. 

First off, it is better than his last, the French Dispatch. 

It's Anderson, so the usual cast of characters show up: Schwartzman. Norton. Brody. Iohansson. Swinton. Dafoe. Goldblum. Balaban. Schreiber. Cranston.

The Lobby Boy from Grand Budapest Hotel is in it. But more notably who is not:  Bill Murray who had been in all Anderson films was out, as was F. Muarray Abraham. Both possibly for the same issue: #metoo issues  But even stalwarts - Balaban and Goldblum have no lines and one line respectively.  Asteroid also has the addition of Tom Hanks and Steve Carrell. 

I don't know what most Anderson movies get in the way of reviews, but a quick look only had this at 2.1 stars or a 76% rotten tomato score.  I don't think it was out of the park like Budapest of Isle of Dogs, but I liked it.

The movie is fairly meta: it’s a play within a play within a TV production within a movie. Though you're reminded of it often, you most likely forget during some of the acts and scenes. 

Like with so many Anderson outings, the performances are understated and meant to be that way. Jason Schwartzman does a great job at this. Ditto to the kid who plays his son (who looks a lot like Lobby Boy). 

I really liked Scarlett Johansson oddly enough. And all the science kids who are in the movie. 

Hanks tries to pull it off, but cannot. He's just wrong for the part, the movie and he cast. Carrell kind of is ok, but he doesn't quite gel. 

I adored Jeffrey Wright's opening speech. I'm not sure the man could do wrong. Adrian Brody has never looked this good. But they didn't use Liev Schreiber's sexy as fuck voice enough. And I'm always going to love how Tilda Swinton can just morph into anything or anyone. 

Visually, the movie is extremely interesting. 

Like a few Anderson films, I think I'd to see it again to fully appreciate it all. But even some of the most understated performances are extremely strong. 

2023 Movie Count / Goal: 07 of 15

Song by: Blondie

Nice to Meet Ya

After we lost Sophie, and discussed another feline, while we didn't really want a kitten, I thought that perhaps Shep would do better with one, than he would a full grown cat. I was hoping they'd bond and nurture the kitty a little.  I might get my wish. 

On with the show. 

The second meet and greet was on leash. 

Shep was fine. Simon was more interested in the leash.  

BTW - the first meet and greet was Simon in his carrier. Shep cared less than he does in the pic above. 

Simon's first glamour shot. 

Next visit: no leash. 

Simon is not afraid in the slightest of Shep. He wants to play. Shep isn't so sure yet 

Simon has bounced on Shep then run away.  Baby. 

Bailey's 4th b-day. 

She got a dog cake. 

Oh yes, we're THOSE people now. 

Simon has a LOT of energy. I'm glad he's using it. 

Birthday trip to Bow Wow Beach. 

Bonding time with Dad II. 

All purrs. Maybe a bite or two. 

Lap kitty 

Shep stood up for himself. Simon did too. 

This lasted 0.02 seconds......and then all was fine. 

I think they're gonna be buds. 

 

Song by: Niall Horan

One of our Submarines

Well, I'm glad that's over. 

It only distracted us a bit from Hunter Biden, though I'm sure Pappy Joe was hoping for a longer period of time. 

Still, this is better than the round the clock manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers. 

I'd like to say I'm sorry for these folks, but I'm really not, if I'm being honest. At best it endeavor was risky and frivolous. If you have $250k to blow on a trip like this, you're smart enough to have researched the company, the history, the safety guidelines - or lack thereof. 

And it got them round-the-clock coverage for days. And a fucking huge bill from 3-4 countries that no doubt will go unpaid by the families. I mean, you gotta believe the company has no assets now. Investors, should they have existed, probably pulled out. Anything else will be spent to settle lawsuits. Hell, even Everest sherpas have a $10k clause in their agreements to help the underprepared get down the mountain if they're stuck. 

Yes, the media buys this shit hook, line and sinker.  Allegedly there were 750+ refugees on a boat around the same time that went missing - but ya didn't hear about it. It capsized of course, killing all but 104. And questionable if Greece would allow those who survived into the country. 

So don't lecture me on humanity or providing good vibes. $250k, from that billionaire on board, would have fed and housed those 750 for years........but you know.......me me me.  I'm not saying they got what they deserved, but it's tough to feel sorry for them. 

But four countries looked for four days for something that probably imploded four hours into the journey. All the technology (with an Xbox controller) and a simple Apple Air Tag could have tracked that sucker. Ok - I'm simplifying, but you get it. They had three back-ups to it's ballast system - but not back up to find it. My iPhone has at least three ways to do that. 

The CEO was arrogant and even told CBS safety standards were overrated, and if you wanted to be safe to stay in bed. I'm guessing there are four others (or at least their families) who wished they had. 

Song by: Thomas Dolby

Brain Damage

My lord, this man is a fucking idiot. 

....and he wants to be president. 

I thought it was Michael Kennedy who hit his head on a tree while skiing and died. It seems there's another brain death in the family as well. 

His anti-vaxxing stance alone kind of already told you everything you needed to know about RFK Jr's stance and understanding of science. This shit just kind of solidifies it. 

You either have the source, or you don't.  You either have the facts, or you don't. Should they exist at all, you should have someone on your staff explain it to you like you're five, so you can explain it to me like I'm three.  

But if it is not your area of expertise (and clearly it is not), perhaps you shouldn't be talking out of your butthole. 

At some point you're just running on your name. Apparently that is now, which makes me think you have absolutely nothing to say. 

I have yet to be corrected. 

Song by: Pink Floyd

Stonehenge

Summer officially arrives today. at 10:58 EDT. Though I've also seen 10:57 with no time zone attached. 

Yes, after today, the days get shorter. But still......summer. 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think for the first time in a long time we had a Spring. A true one - not a 'the calendar says so' one. 

We had sun and cool temps, but then some hot hot days. We had rain - and then none. And then none still.....for over three weeks. The only thing we didn't have was snow. 

In Ohio, usually it goes from snow to upper 80s, leaving one with no actual Spring. 

Due to that, Spring has never been "my" season. That said, it was good for running. Cooler is better, even if I moan about it while people stand around waiting to start said run. Once you move, you don't even notice it - even in 12 degrees. 

We got over 80 yesterday, but for the most part it has been in the 60s and low 70s. I'm looking forward to summer though. I think.  More dog outings - as if there could be more.  But more going into a lake or river with said dog. 

Then there is vacation - less than two months away. I'm psyched for it for so many reasons. 

Still, we are moving through 2023 quickly. That could just be age talking - sands through the hourglass, as my time sifts away. The Earth pretty much rotates the same speed it's always done during my lifetime, so "quickly" is all relative. 

Summer is here. Or almost - .....or after -  depending on when you read this. Enjoy the season. 

Song by: Spın̈al Tap

Red Flag Diver

Not that most of you will recall, but I've stated numerous times here about my fascination with certain subjects, that I latch onto and read all I can about the subject.  JFK assassination being one of them, the Manson Family being another. Add Patty Hearst to that pile. 

But it started with the Titanic. 

Don't ask why. I have no answer. I had no affinity for boats / ships. Maybe if you look the subjects I just mentioned, I suppose I might be a freak for tragedy. I own it. 

I haven't really written about the Titanic since 2012 - the 100th year of it's sinking - oh, and maiden voyage. Technically, I did write about in 2016 with a minute-by-minute CGI video of the sinking from the time it hit the iceberg until it went under.  Morbid?  Maybe.  Fascinating? Absolutely. 

I'm sure in the former, I mention that I never saw the movie. Sure, I saw A Night to Remember with Barbara Stanwyck from the '40s.  At first, I was enthralled with the idea of James Cameron's movie, but when I found out it was less about the ship and more about - ugh - "love", I was out.  Yeah, I've caught some there and there, but only the sinking parts - and maybe Billy Zane. 

All that said, I do see the sites where it now resides as hallowed grounds. Groups fighting out remnants seem unseemly. And I don't think they ever did build that replica of the Titanic or had the same voyage (well, hopefully not the exact same one!) from the same port, at the same timeframe. 

So, well, I won't say I'm happy that a submergible craft carrying people who have too much money and use it for viewing an underwater cemetery, has not returned as planned, I'm ok with "now you're really part of the Titanic experience........happy?"

I suppose the five in the craft could be fine and playing Parcheesi just waiting to be rescued, but I'm guessing leaks, pressurization (or lack of)  or some other maritime issue have left them dead......and now two miles below the surface of the ocean. 

Myself - I am not really claustrophobic, but danke nein. I'm not getting in there, let alone two miles under the sea. I'd say the consequences are too great, but I might be overstating what is now clearly obvious. 

Unless there was some oxygen or carbon monoxide leak when everyone kind of drifted off to sleep, I have to believe the end - should it be ended - was quite horrific, physically, emotionally and mentally, much like for those in the North Atlantic 111 years ago. 

Oh, the company is gonna get sued! I'm 99% they had liability waivers out the wazoo, but that's not gonna stop anything. 

If the next company is smart, they'll do a 2-4-1 sightseeing tour with their new and improved submersible.

Song by: Aimee Mann 

My Monday Morning

I know my theme this month is Pride, but I suppose having the word in the title doesn't make it so, so I'm changing it up a little. 

XM had a gay pride theme going and Josie Cotton's song, "Johnny, Are You Queer" was one of them. 

I struggled with this. Pride?  Or homophobia? 

I kind of like the song. But I don't think I've ever seen the video. Is Josie Cotton really Christine Baranski at age 38 and in a wig?  And I kind of take offense that Johnny isn't just gay, but a nerd cast-out with an ill fitting cardigan and tape on his glasses.  You know, because being gay wasn't enough of a high school pariah group. 

Still - the sentiment has plagued us all, no?  I mean, at some point, it's a girl, girlfriend, friend, stranger or family member who ponders - maybe not as bluntly as Cotton's title - if you indeed are a "confirmed bachelor". 

And due tot that alone, it fits into our Pride or Pride story. 

Run the World (Girls)

It's been said for generations that women are the fairer sex. Even the Oxford dictionary says: 'women viewed collectively'. 

 It's been bad enough that an old English university tells it like it is - even though it is just a false statement. They just define the terms, not create them. 

Unfortunately, SCOTUS now gets to weigh in on this. 

A private school is trying to require women to wear skirts. I get it's a forced dress code issue, but it goes to a different level. 

O.M.F.G. 

I get it's the South and they are a genteel folk, and well, fucking backwards. 

There are four female Supreme Court justices, I'd like to think that even Amy Barrett would take offense to that...........but she'd probably take it as a compliment 

It is truly shameful that people think about women this way in this day and age. But these are the same people who wonder what women were wearing when they are sexually assaulted, as surely they must have brought in on themselves. 

Forget that the skirts in which the must wear to school sexualizes the women to the male population and enforces oh so many stereotypes. I suppose school administration doesn't think the women will notice, as they'll be in Home Ec class much of the time trying to learn how to keep a nice home for her husband. 

The women at this school, or anywhere, don't deserve "gentle treatment" from their male classmates. They need to be treated with dignity and respect..........and to not attempt rape. They are not less than. 

The school administration is. Perhaps SCOTUS too.......depending on how they vote. 

Song by: Beyoncé 

Arthur's Theme (Best that you Can Do)

 I'm incorporating dogs this week, but we are still kitten friendly. No worries. 

Our little Kitler. 

Saw this at Pride:  her name is Moira. 

Yes, you read that correctly. 

Shep & Arthur. 

They always get along, which is great. 

Simon remains curious - as you'd expect. 

Also saw these six (!) at Pride. 

Shep in the sun beam. 

Lookin' hadsome!

Simon finds places to lie - like on this sweater. 

I think we'll try to truly introduce him to Shep this weekend. 

Song by: Christopher Cross

Hanging on the Telephone

 

My lack of post was due to delays at phone repair. 

Months ago, I dropped my phone, and while the case was fine, the phone still shattered something like the image you see. 

I finally went to get it fixed. And being I have Apple Care, it was only going to cost me $29. 

If that were only the case!

Since I was backed up, we were good to go. But they truly wiped out my phone completely. Everything. Still fine, since i had a back-up.  But then they went to reactivate my sim-card. 

Way back in 2007, when I got my first iPhone, it was a gift from 710. So while the bill somehow comes to, and paid by, me, the account is still under his name.  .....and now they wouldn't reactivate the phone without him being there with his I.D. 

FUUUUUUCK.  

I guess I'm just a '50's housewife who needs a man to get anything I need. 

They told me to try the AT&T store down the road, maybe they'd reactivate it. 

Short story - they couldn't. Not without the man of the household. 

But it took a long time to get to that point. Do you know who the AT&T store folks goes to for technical support?  Do ya??   The same fucking customer service line you or I would call.  Even their employees have to talk to Rajeet Brad.  And he wanted my account number.   Guess what??  I have it........on. my. phone. 

So while the rep was talking to the phone rep, I meander over to the display phones, which are operational. And I call 710..........nine times. At first he lets it go to voicemail, which I assumed he would from an unknown number, which is why I kept calling back. But then he just would automatically send it to voicemail.  Now I'm pissed. 

I'm upset for a number of reasons. One being it is now after 20:00 and I'm not going to have a phone. Second was, of course, being ignored when I needed to talk to 710. Third - and I can't stress this enough - is how dependent we are to our phones. Everything is on it. Personal. Work. All my contacts. How I pay for things. Spelling Bee!!!  

.....and on the way home, I pass two grouping of deer on the side of the road. Now I get into safety. If I got hit / hit them, I can't call anyone.    .....which sends me down a spiral of, 'would he pick up if EMS was calling him'.   Now I'm inexplicably irate.  

We go through options and still had 30 minutes before AT&T closed. So we trek back - I.D. in hand.  And it's back to the customer service line. They ask which device I had - which they should know. And it turns out they didn't want my account number, but my 4-digit code.  And then said, "we went the code to reactivate to my phone"...........which useless, because the phone isn't active. 

I mean, WTF, people. 

Finally another guy shows up, and it takes him a bit, but he brings it back to life. He wants to set it up, but it's after 21:00, I haven't been home since 04:30 and I haven't had dinner. I'd set it up at home. 

OMFG.  It was worse than setting up a new phone. It still is. I'm finding apps I still need to reactivate and set new passwords. My Apple Pay stuff was wiped clean. My face recognition: gone. My bluetooth links - all disappeared. I'm still finding things to set up. 

I'm still not happy about how to be so dependent on the phone, but I don't know how to break from it either. 

Honestly, I was without it for 3.5 hours. How sad is that?

It's rhetorical, of course. 

Song by: Blondie

Nothing

I suppose I don't have nothing. I just ran out of time. 

I'll write about today tomorrow. 

Prison Bound

Listen - a boy can dream.  

Song by: Social Distortion

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 158th 12 of 12.

Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Erik is back and I think he's picking up 12 of 12 again. 

04:20. Putting away my cereal bowl and spoon. 

04:29. Headed to gym in the rain. 

It's the first precipitation we've had in almost four weeks. 

Hard to be annoyed about being wet when farmers are possibly not making a living this year. 

05:03. Gym time. I had the entire place to myself for about seven minutes. 

06:42. Arriving at the office. 

10:01. Gotta change the water. 

I'm one of few guys on the floor. It seems the women are helpless and can't hoist and turn over the jug. 

11:22. Too much water...........well........you know......

12:35. I brought lunch, but I went to the cafeteria for some utensils. 

12:48. Lunch - chicken and noodles.

16:40.  Almost to my car. 

18:17.  Speed Demon. 

....something a hound on a walk is not. 

18:35.  Simon. 

Yes, we've named the kitten. Yes, I said no "S" names, but it just seems to fit him. 

20:19. Dessert. 

It's ice cream season.