Binging

I recently binged a series on Netflix called “Eastsiders”. The show was originally a web series, but is available on Netflix. It’s really well written and I was able to binge it over a two day period. The episodes are short, but packed with amazing conversation and of course drama. The storyline follows a gay couple through their ups and downs.

I theorize and may be wrong, but I think the reason many of us have fumbled through relationships is because we never got to “binge” on our own love life. At least for my generation, the gays were shunned and our lifestyle was wrong. I was extremely closeted. I grew up as part of a generation that thought it wrong to be gay. While my friends got to fall in and out of love, I sat on the sidelines watching them navigate through their emotions. They learned what worked and what didn’t. I thought I would never get the chance to do the same.

Coming out later in life, I eventually did fall in and out of love. I am now in a long term relationship. I’m still navigating and I’m still fumbling. But I wonder how much better I could be had I had all that “practice”.

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Busy Busy Busy

The holidays are always a busy time for me. And between November and January, time seems to fly by quickly. Every time I wanted to sit down and write about my day, my week or even my hour, the day was literally over and I didn’t get any of my other tasks finished. Eating, bathing, feeding the animals and paying attention to my partner takes precedence over screen time.

One of my most memorable moments happened some time after Thanksgiving. I was at a function when an acquaintance asked me how my Thanksgiving celebration went. I replied “I ate too much turkey, too much stuffing and too much pecan pie, watched too much football and spent too much time on the couch”. She replied “like a true American Thanksgiving”. I didn’t know how to take it. My ethnicity is Asian. Maybe I was being over sensitive, the way I am when people ask “where are you really from”. It starts with “where are you from” and I reply “here”. And then the question is followed up with “before you moved here”. I say “oh from West Virginia” and then the follow-up is “before there”. I say “oh well New Jersey”. Again, that’s followed up with “before there”. Once being a smart ass, I said “oh well I was born in Jersey, so before there my mother’s womb”.

Anyway, I have missed blogging. I have missed the blogs that I read and follow. And I hope everyone had a happy holiday.

NOT FOR SALE

So I was told by a long time follower of my blog that when they click on my name, it says my blog is for sale.

Well, it’s not. I am here to stay. I will always open that window to let the fresh air in…and hopefully bring some joy to those who read this blog.

Now Where Did October Go

October was more busy for me than September. There were reunions with childhood friends, tons of activities on the weekends and of course lots of work.

There was also the dreams of winning one of the biggest lotteries in history. I day dreamed that I would help many friends and family members. I dreamed that I would do what I loved. I would love to be a talk show host. I know I would be a fun one. I wouldn’t ask the tough questions, but in my experience if you can get someone to feel comfortable with you, they will talk anyway. I have been told I have that gift. However, just cause you have tons of money, doesn’t mean a network will give you a time slot. I think I would just keep the job that I have now. I don’t love it, but I understand it. And I do believe that I am good at it.

I didn’t win the lottery. But I did dream a lot…

October

Where did September go? And where is my autumn weather?

I am not sure where September went. I don’t even remember most of the month. Is this what happens as one gets older? Do we just forget most events in our lives and let time slip away?

This weekend some of my childhood friends and I will be reuniting. I don’t feel like I have accomplished as much as they have. Comparison is futile though right? Success is based on one’s perspective correct? I become a different person around this set of friends. I once again become that person who hides my feelings. These friends sensed early on that I was gay and teased me mercilessly. But no one outside the group was allowed to call me gay. No one outside the group was allowed to give me the side eye. It was a double edged sword. I got teased, but was protected. Don’t get me wrong, these guys would do anything in the world for me. And yet…hard to explain the way I feel when I am around them.

I look forward to this reunion…but I don’t.

Just One of Those Days

Did you ever have one of those days? I made a few work related mistakes, nothing detrimental, but it felt like a lifetime passed as my boss pointed them out. She said they were fixable and the conversation was meant to be constructive. Still it felt like a ton of bricks fell on my head. I don’t have an excuse. They were careless mistakes, done when I rushed through processing the documents. Still I felt like a louse and I felt I had let the department down. I want a big glass of wine, but that isn’t the answer. I want a martini, but again that isn’t the answer. I would love a cold cold beer, and again that isn’t the answer. Do I dive into a bag of potato chips (BBQ flavored) or a bag of gummi candy? Nah..that will just make me feel worse (much later) as today I found out I lost 2 pounds.

What fixes this feeling? What are some of your go to fixes?

Living Your Life

These inspirational tweets, pics, and FB posts about living life because tomorrow is never promised have me thinking about my own life. I think I am happy. I tell people that I am. I believe that I am. When I say it out loud do I really believe it? Or do I say it out loud to convince myself more than those I am telling it to?

One of my really good friends posted a beautiful pic and written in fancy cursive were the words “do something big”. In smaller letters underneath the pic he explained that we didn’t need to climb a mountain, scuba dive or up and move to a gorgeous island. He said that we should do something that we want to do, have been talking about doing or dreaming about doing.

I have been dreaming about writing a book. I think I know what kind of book, but I don’t know the details. I am going to hammer out those details tonight. I will start with an outline. I may come up with a title. It may not be big, but it’s a start.

Today let’s remember all who perished on 9/11.

Weddings

This weekend I went to one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to. It was small, intimate and filled with only family members. Both sides of the bride and groom got to know each other because of this small guest list (less than 150). We celebrated the union of both families. I caught up with relatives I haven’t seen for a few years and got to know the groom’s side of the family. It truly was the experience I thought a wedding should encompass.

The groom ugly cried when he set eyes on the bride. She giggled a little under her veil, but teared up when she said “I do”. The flower girls and ring bearers all smiled and waved at the on-lookers (I believe because they knew everyone seated in the pews).

I think when weddings get too big that’s when the event goes awry. I once attended a wedding that had over 400 attendees. Being a guest stressed me out. I can’t imagine how the bride, groom and parents felt.

Weddings should be about the bride and groom. And I believe this one truly was. I am not saying that huge weddings can’t be intimate, lovely or beautiful. To me this wedding was a celebration of their love as all weddings should be.

Changing Weather

I can feel autumn in the air. It is cooler in the morning when I leave for work (and dark for that matter) and also in the evening.

This weather change always makes me want to buy school supplies. It reminds me of going back to school. It reminds me more so of college, since that was just a few years ago (perspective in reference to a “few years ago”). I am enjoying the weather.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. You can wear a sweater and there really is no chance of snow. Sweaters and scarfs are my favorite part of my wardrobe. I think a winter jacket just ruins and ensemble. Plus, I fear driving on ice and snow. It was worse when I lived in West Virginia due to the hills, and I learned to drive on hills. I thought that getting to drive on flatter ground would be better. At least in WV they plowed the hills and the roads. Here? Well since it is flat, they tend to only clean the highways and main roads. But I digress…I meant to write about my love for autumn.

Let it be known, I love autumn.

A Reboot

Lately television shows are getting re-boots. Popular shows are being brought back and storylines pick up where they left off. One of my favorite shows Will & Grace came back and I love it more than ever.

Today I wondered about my own life reboot. Would I go back in time and re-do a life that had so many cringe worthy moments. Would I re-do my coming out moments knowing what I know now. What about high school? If I could exude the confidence I have now, would I have been bullied? Now I would speak up. I would defend myself and some of the others who were bullied.

Lets face it. I don’t get to re-live the past. There is no time machine. But there is the me now. I have a different sense of awareness and confidence because of what I had to endure. I have no tolerance for bullying in any form because I was bullied. I have compassion for those who are marginalized and empathy for underdog. I can honestly tell others that it gets better because it does get better.

In reality there isn’t anything I would do again. I live and love because of the way I lived and because of the way I was loved. There were friends and family who sheltered and loved me. No reboot. My mind will use the re-run memories to remind me that I am who I am because of who I was.