Some animals courtesy of the ASPCA

The golden retriever on top and the Calico cat(Simba) are up for adoption and the rest of award winners.

Politics and terrorism

Well, after what happened today in England, I felt the need to post something on the political front. I try my damnest not to get involved in politics because basically, I can't stand our president. I didn't vote for him. Luckily, for the citizens of the world, the latest air threat to US was thwarted. I feel that if we did not have who we have as running the "world" we, the US, would be slightly better off. I am not surprised when I hear/read anti-US statements. If I was a citizen of another country, I would feel the same way. As a citizen, I do feel some of the same things that I've read or heard. Under no circumstance should the United States EVER run the "world." We should NOT be policing the world-that's up the leaders-why else would be have the United Nations? If my opinion or advice ever counted, I would love to tell Bush to get our troops out of places where they don't belong. Concentrate on the citizens of the US-like the people near New Orleans whose homes are still destroyed and have had no relief since Hurricane Katrina. Don't butt into Israel relational problems with the countries that surround them-not just the latest issues-let Israel stand up for themselves and resolve their own problems. Okay enough soapbox talk.

Madness

Okay, this online class madness needs to end. I just signed up for 3 more for September-1 diet and 2 writing. Well, at least it will keep me out of trouble.

Reflection

With Scott and my anniversary coming up next week, I have been doing a lot of internal reflection on where I'm at in life and where I used to be. Before I met Scott face to face, I really wasn't sure if I thought that I would be able to love someone again as much as I love(d) Jeremy. I certainly wasn't up to even thinking about getting remarried. I knew that I didn't want to be just dating around for the rest of my life.
Careerwise, I was getting burned out and was anticipating this new position that I'm currently in. Hell, I helped try to make sure we got the positions here. I was sick and tired of dealing with the same bullshit everyday. I had far aspirations of getting my craft ideas out in the world. I had farther aspirations of trying to make money with my writing. Both of which, I've come just slightly further along in trying to advance.
In regards to remaining in the Big Apple, I've always known that I've never wanted to stay in this city-too many people-but never really thought about moving despite Jeremy and I speaking about it once or twice during our marriage. Now, with the rent increases, people and their issues, possibly getting married to Scott and raising a family, my desires of getting the hell out of here has increased. Of course, Scott isn't 100% ready to move yet. To be honest, either am I. I just moved a year ago and since Scott and I have so much crap it would be a nightmare to even know where to start.
Overall, I'm in much better state of mind than I was a year ago. I'm not wondering how much longer Jeremy is going be a lazy pain in the ass about the divorce. The divorce is done with. I'm not trying to find that man of my dreams. I have him. I'm not wondering how much longer I have to travel all around the City. I basically have an office job which I enjoy.

Review

So the concert last night.......First, I hate the fact that I had to leave in order to catch the last bus leaving Jones Beach and my friend who was there, didn't even offer me a ride-damn him! Anyway......There was an opening act that went on at exactly 7pm. I didn't think that they were all that great or all that bad. Especially after Cinderella performed. Now, I'm not a fan of Cinderella and I really only know one song-their power ballad. But, unfortunately, due to drugs (?), age, touring for 20 years, the lead singer was losing his distinctive voice throughout the song. A major disappointment. But, on the other hand, Poison rocked! I am so glad that I got the ticket. What I loved the most, other than Bret's beautiful blue eyes, was that the band acknowledged their fans, a lot. It's always nice to see when a band realizes and understands what made them famous. They played all of their greatest hits Luckily, I didn't lose my voice with my loud off-key singing. So now, I have several songs running through my head.
Now, I've only gotten about 4 hours of sleep and am feeling it. I was going to attend another writing workshop tonight but I think that I would rather go to sleep.

Poison

Well, again I'm trying to recapture my youth by going to see another 80's band. I'm going to see Poison tonight with Cinderella (which I really don't care about) at Jones Beach. It all started with me listening to the the album that I'm currently listening to and have been listening to for the last few days. Poison's new collection of hits with a new single-The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock. So I started listening to it, went to see when they were playing and sure enough, I had time to get a ticket and got it immediately. Now, what the hell am I thinking? Going to Jones Beach on a weeknight when I have to do a lot of traveling for work tomorrow? Insanity, I tell ya!

Class time

I started my new Barnes and Noble University class yesterday. It's called Writing for Quick Cash. Now, I'm not wholly interested in making the quick cash because I know how competitive the writing business can be. So far there are a lot of people in the class-all of different levels of writing-novices to published writers. So I'm looking forward to learning a little bit about the field and more importantly, something about me.

????

What does it mean when you start dreaming vivid dreams of something that you are highly anticipating?

For your amusement

Cats

The Wedding

Scott and I had a fairly good time at the wedding last night. I did my usual and shed some happy tears for the couple. They looked very happy-as they always have when I've seen them. Lydia was Super Girl which everyone enjoyed, even the woman who was set up with a date with Scott long before I was in the picture. Yeah, that was interesting. Good to know that Scott's with someone much more better for him now! The ceremony was short, sweet, and fitting to them. There were a series of speeches made by family and friends-a little bit overboard but that was probably the only thing I would complain about and I'm sure that there were reasons for the speeches. Food was great. Table company was great-games were not the focus.
Of course, this had both Scott and I thinking about our own wedding when and if it comes. We did make comments to each other throughout the night. And more importantly, we did do some discussing when we got home about how we would want our wedding.
It also made me think about my first wedding to Jeremy and what we both missed out on. I hope that if Jeremy does marry Donna or someone else that he has more than what we had. Of course, we had our reasons for doing what we did and did have plans to renew our vows with a bigger ceremony. Which, obviously, never happened.

Melancholy

Well, I think that Jul's death is now starting to get to me. I haven't really cried over her loss and pretty much just went through my day as I had to. Had to deal with people that had attitudes that I really shouldn't have had to deal with in my state-or even if I was in the best of moods. I'm sure at some point I'm going to break down. Just not 100% sure when.

Progress

I finished typing up my first short story that I've written in years. Now it's off to my editor for life, Scott. I can only imagine what he is going to say and think about it. Hopefully he won't laugh at me too much.

Imagine

Imagine you're on an deserted island.....with all of your exes-ones that you kissed in grade school, to puppy love boyfriend/girlfriend relationships in junior high, to high school sweethearts, to college loves and beyond. The ones that you simply kissed, to one night stands, to long lasting relationships. Who would survive? Who would you try to make sure was taken care of? Remember this is only for exes-not current relationships.
Now also think back-who would you like to erase from your history? Who would you be willing to try to make things work? Did you learn anything from your relationships? Take a moment and think about it.
-courtesy of my coworker and our lunch conversation

Weddings

Trying to get back to happier things since the loss of Jul.....Scott and I will be going to a wedding tomorrow night of some good friends of his. I've met them a couple of times and have always enjoyed their company so I'm looking forward to seeing them tie the knot tomorrow. Scott is also looking forward to the ceremony as well. It also has me thinking about maybe our wedding. We've spoken about getting married but nothing has been made definite. I know what I would like to do differently this time around. I know that Scott has some ideas but nothing definite. I would love to discuss plans like this with him but I don't want to push the issue.

RIP Jul

Jul-You've lived the longest of any rabbit that I've had and I will miss you a lot. Thank you for bringing such joy to my life, despite the bites when food was around. I know that Scott, Jeremy, and Sal will also miss you but now you're back with your brothers. Have fun hopping around.

Another writing workshop

I went to another writing workshop after work today. It was at The Coliseum Bookshop on 42nd Street near Bryant Park. Tonight's workshop was a overall creative writing one. It was an overview with some useful exercises. I did work on my new story a little bit while waiting for the workshop to start.

Congrats

I haven't forgotten to give my girlfriend and her family a big congrats on their newest arrival-Alex. I've received pictures of Alex with his sisters and even though his oldest sister always has a sneaky grin on her face, I know that she's happy about the newest addition. So a big congrats and let me know when you receive the gift.

Morning thought

Just what I need-a 18 pound cat to jump on me and start kneading at 4am.

Left alone

When are you going to realize that you need to move on with your life and not bother looking at mine? You have what you wanted. So why bother wasting your time at work and home to look at my life? Are you really that bored at work and home that you need to look at my life? This just shows that you can never move on. That you will always wonder if I'm behind you, sneaking in, to take what was once mine. News Flash-I don't give a shit. Just leave me alone. Don't bother wasting your time looking at my life.
But I guess that I will never be left alone because people will always be wondering what's going on with my life. Haven't been left alone for the past 8 years, why should I think that a major event would have changed that? Get a life. Move on with your life. I thought that you would have been happy that everything was done and would have moved on but obviously you can't. Plan your shitty life. Just stop looking at mine.

Garfield