Meet Lizzie

 On Monday, July 27, 2020 my 4th grandchild was born. Now mind you I have 10 grandchildren, but six of them are step-grandchildren. I only have four "blood" grandchildren now.

This is Alizabeth AnneMarie, or as we will all call her, Lizzie.

Lizzie is my youngest son, Adam's daughter. He was the one that battled Hodgkin's and was told due to all the chemo and radiation that he would be sterile. But low and behold, he and his girlfriend did conceive.  Doctor's don't know it all.

Welcome to this crazy world, Lizzie.

Reality Check... How am I 60?

 Today I turned Sixty.

No this picture is not a current one, this was taken in February.

In the midst of a pandemic, I turned sixty. I had planned a big party with family and friends, but unfortunately I had to cancel due to the stay-at-home orders across our county. Pandemic or not, I still turned sixty. Party or not, I turned sixty.

Did I tell you I turned sixty today? 60!

This blog has been empty of new posts since 2013. I had just recently started my job with my current employer. Posted about it then nothing. A hell of a lot has transpired in seven years, and now I am 60!

I have been with that employer now 7+ years. We were sold to the largest Pharmaceutical company in North America about 4 years ago. With that change, I received a large raise and promotion and had my own office. But now, instead of going to my office every day we are working remotely. For me, that means in my bedroom. Not a bad set up, and I am actually more productive here than I was at the office. If you would have told me seven years ago when I got this job that I would be working from my bedroom and living with DJ and B, I would have said you were crazy. But I am.

Yes I live with my Ex and his husband (they were married in 2015) and 99.9% we get along fine. Even during a pandemic and me living in this house 24 / 7. However, they are essential workers (the pandemic has created new words and phrases) and both work outside of the home. I rarely get out. I have an auto-immune disease (MS and diabetes) so I want to avoid the Coronavirus / COVID-19 at all costs.

Like I said, so much has transpired in the last seven years, and I don't want to go into all of it in this post, but I will be posting more in the upcoming weeks and bring you up to date, if there is anyone still reading this. If not, that is okay too as this blog was always for me anyway.

So welcome to the "NEW' Reality Check.

Reality Check @ 60

Not A Baby Any Longer

My son's birthday is today. My youngest child of four. My baby is no longer a baby. He turned 20 today. A big turning point as far as age goes. No longer a teenager, but not a "real" adult yet. It wasn't too long ago we didn't know if he would see 20. Now four and a half years later the Hodgkins has been in remission for over three years, and the longer it remains there the less chance it has of rearing it's ugly head again.

I am proud and thankful for all my children, and I don't have a favorite child. Each one has a special place in my heart and with each one, our relationship is different. Adam has a special place, because he is the baby. Kind of like the last part of my own youth.  He ws born at a time in my life where I was moving from one chapter of my life to another. I divorced his mother when he was three and came out shortly thereafter. Now again, his turning twenty marks a turning point for both of us. Him from a teenager into adulthood, and me as a single gay man, living by myself for the first time in my life.  We both are going to experience things we've not experienced before and we both will have struggles as we make our path on our new journey. Regardless of what lies ahead for either of us, I know and he knows that we have each other. I'm Dad and I will be there for him whenever he needs me, and he is my baby and as always brings joy to my heart, and if I need him all I need to do is let him know and he will be here. But, regardless of what he says, he will ALWAYS be my baby.

Seventy and Still going Strong

Dad turned 70 today. On April 25, 1939, he was born in Hamilton, Ohio.  Raised in Hamilton and has lived in Hamilton, but that does not mean that he has had a boring mundane life.  That is not the case.  He has lived a very happy, eventful, blessed and exciting life.  He has worked most of his life and since retirement continues to work, but in other ways.  He is always trying to help others and give to those that need help.  Dad is a very caring and compassionate person.

I didn't always think that of him, but as an adult you certainly see your parents in a different light.  He is strong in his faith, and strong in the love for his wife of 50 years come July, and his love for his family is one of the strongest.  From as far back as I remember we never part company or went to bed as a kid without hearing him say..."Love you!"

He continues to be strong and healthy, bowling up to four or five times a week, and even got up on his roof recently to put on some new roofing after a wind storm.  yeah there is no stopping him, and that is a good thing! One he continues to love strong more every day.

Happy Birthday Dad, Love Ya!

Happy Birthday DJ

He is turning 29 today! His last year of being a twentysomething!

Happy Birthday to my husband, partner, lover, & best friend!

4 Years and Counting

Sunday is my unofficial 4 year Blogiversary! I say unofficial as I started the blog about a year earlier on another blog service and the deleted my content. So this is my 4th year blogging on blogger!

Let's see what was happening on my blog four years ago...

Well I was having the HUMP DAY BLUES here...

Looks like I was Enjoying a Weekend on this particular blog post...

Also four years ago a certain presidential election was coming to an end and we were at the Home Stretch...

And it looks as though I was Getting Over a bad cold...

But actually a lot more than those things have happened in the last four years. DJ and I have moved five times, I have had a son get married, three grandchildren, lost and started a new job...twice, added three cats to our family, diagnosed with diabetes, lost several family members, met new friends, lost old ones and put up with GWB for the last four years!

So now for the next four years...

Terrible Twos

My grand-daughter Alana turned two today. They grow up so quickly. She is a handful for her mommy, but such a beautiful little girl. Here are some pics of here special day.

18 Again

No I do NOT wish I was 18 again!! Those years were not my best, but it is however my third child's 18th birthday. J2 was born on a really hot July Sunday in 1990. It seems like it was just last week. Now 18 years later, my big brown eyed little man is really becoming a man.

He has been here with me all week, and as I see him I realize that he soon will be own his own, not coming to stay with dad for the weekend, or a week or two in the summer. His days of fun and doing nothing are over and he will have to go out and meet the world head on like the rest of us.

He has one more year of High School left and then it's off to college or the work world. His whole life is ahead of him. Remember that feeling? I know he will do alright, and whatever path life takes him he will do his best. All I hope for him, as with all my children, is I want them to be happy. Life is too short being unhappy. So, Happy Birthday, Son! and remember if the path get's a little rough (which, I am sure it will) I'm here for you, I love you and I'm very proud of you!

A Birthday Week

Yes, last week I got another year older. On Thursday I turned 48 years old. There were no big parades or fanfare, although the team at work went all out with a major "food day" on Thursday, bringing in all kinds of goodies to eat. So all day I indulged in those food items that I should avoid. Cakes, brownies, salsa you name it they had it!

DJ and I celebrated at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Cancun. Over all it was a great birthday week and I didn't suffer too much from the overeating and the high starch, high carb diet. It was one day for goodness sakes.

My favorite girls, Lil Bit, Paris and Louisville Sweetie, all went together and got me a beautiful Fossil watch. I've owned several watches, and at one time I had over 16 but I've never had a Fossil watch. It was a very nice gift and a pleasant surprise.

I received calls from my parents, DJ's mother, all four of my kids and both brothers and my bff Silver wishing me birthday goodness, and I even received a few e-mails and one birthday wish on my blog.

Once it was all said and done, I realized getting older is not that bad. It's just a number, right?

Birthday!

Birthday Month

Our family has a full month in June of Birthdays. Today is my mother's 70th Birthday. We will be celebrating this special day with her next Saturday with a big surprise birthday party. She doesn't ready my blog so I am not giving anything away.

Tomorrow my grandson will turn two. We are having a little celebration planned this afternoon for the little birthday boy. I am sure I will have pictures to post tomorrow.




Many cousins, aunts and other family members celebrate their birthday in June as well. Leads me to believe that many in my family were busy people in the month of September!





Happy Birthday to all in June. (Pictures of the festivities will soon follow!)

Dad at Sixty Nine

I've written quite bit lately about my father in my blog. So much could be said about this man, but no one else would probably think it was all that great, but to me he is a great man, who has accomplished great things. Dad was raised the third of six children by a single mother during the 40's & 50's. He was a typical kid and a rebellious teen, having to spend time in a boys school because he refused to attend school. While there he learnt how to apply himself and once he was out he began to work odd jobs here and there. Carpenter work, painting and yard work to name a few. He loved to draw and would spend hours drawing and painting. A passion he continues today. He met my mother when he was 14 and they soon became "a couple". On again, off again they finally married in 1959 when he was 20 years old. They will celebrate their 49th Wedding anniversary in July.

Dad in 1940, at the age of one

Even though dad did not have a father most of his own life, he was able to see the importance of being a father. He insisted upon his own children to be honest and responsible. If we were ever caught in a lie, there would be a price to pay. He raised us with love and discipline. This was in the day when parents could actually discipline their children, and as I look back on it now I am thankful for it. I certainly wasn't then, but I realize as a father myself that it wasn't the discipline he handed out that was necessary, but the respect he garnered from it, as it was always done with love and we never had to question his love.





Dad worked for over 40 years from the age of 14 to 62, retiring from the local school district as a maintenance engineer in 2001, yet he continues to paint, do small carpenter jobs, and leather working. He stays active by bowling several times a week and sings and works in his church. To this day we all know (all three sons, daughter in laws, significant others, his 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren) that his love is honest and pure.





I salute my dad today on this his 69th Birthday!

Thursday Thirteen #22

Today is my younger brother's 43rd birthday. Over the years we have had our issues and disagreements, but now that we are both grown men with grown children we seem to understand one another a bit better, so for my Thursday 13 today, in honor of my kid brother I give you...

Thirteen Redeeming Qualities of my Younger Brother

1) He is a true family man, loving his wife and children with a passion that far exceeds most.

2) His convictions, whether I agree with them or not, are strong and unwavering.

3) Steadfast. You don't have to second guess him, he is always the same no matter where he is or whatever the situation.

4) Hardworking. He has made a good life for himself and family and works hard for the things he has obtained.

5) Honest. Brutally honest. Sometimes his honesty pricks your heart, but again there is no second guessing, you know how he feels on a subject and he will let you know.

6) He loves our parents with the same passion and compassion as he does his wife and children. He recognizes that who he is , is a reflection of the two parents that raised us.

7) Thoughtful. There is never been a year as adults that he has not called me on my birthday and wished me a happy birthday. Even when we were not as close, he never forgot.

8) Courageous. During his recent bouts with cancer he has faced it head on with a strong conviction that all things happen for a reason and he will face it regardless of the outcome.

9) I have to admit he is a handsome guy...maybe not as handsome as myself, but handsome nonetheless... we do look alike I may add

10) Persistent. He never gives up. Even as a kid he persisted in everything, never willing to admit failure.

11) Even though he is a man's man, a true rugged persona, he has a sensitive quality that is both redeeming and sincere.

12) Funny, he has a side of him that is very funny. His sense of humour is great and honest as he is. I see a lot of my father in him, and that is a great thing, trust me.

13) A true brother. Even when we were at odds with one another, and even when he turned away due to not understanding my "lifestyle choice" as he called it, I never questioned his loyalty to me as my brother. I knew that if it came down to it and I needed him, he'd be there for me.

Happy Birthday Brother, hope it's a good one!

Call Me Grandpa!

I am a grandfather again. Tonight at 8:22 p.m. my daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Alyssa Brooke. She weighed 6lbs. and 9.6ozs. and was 19 inches long with big beautiful eyes and dark curly hair. I will have more pictures in the coming days I am sure!

15 Again

Oh to be 15 again....

Not Me! I hated being 15. I was gangling, acne filled and just not quite put together yet. Nothing like my youngest son who is 15 today.

Happy Birthday Son!

Blogiversary

Today marks my third anniversary blogging here on Blogger. I started my blog about 6 months prior to that on a service called mblog that closed without any warning and I lost my posts.

A lot has happened in the last three years. We have lived in three different places, both DJ and I have changed jobs, we have three cats, and two grandchildren with another on the way and this is just to name a few of the things that have transpired in our lives in the past three years.

I have closed the blog twice, only to re-open a few days later. I've met some great bloggers as well. Some are now gone to that big blog in the sky, and others remain strong and vital to the blogging community. While some blogs tend to be political or trendy, sharing the latest in the world of celebrity, or the newest trends on TV and the movies, my blog just continues to share my story. Sometimes I'm depressed, other times I am happy. Most of the time my readers are probably bored, other times they have told me how much they enjoy reading about my life. But, I put this blog up for me. I don't post for all the readers or to make a point politically or even to make a name for myself in the gay blogging community but just to put down my thoughts and have a place to just put it down into words so that I can recall them later.

I have gained some new readers, and have lost some. It doesn't matter though I will continue to post. Maybe not as often as I once did, but I'll stick around hopefully for another 3 years.

One thing I do miss are comments. So if you read the blog, let me know. Post a comment and say hi.

Another Birthday, I'm Getting Old!

Today marks the 26 anniversary of my oldest sons birth. Yep, 1981 little J1 was born on a rainy, muggy September evening. What a day that was! I took his mother to the doctor that day early in the morning as she was late, very late, like 14 days late. He decided to induce her. Of course we had no idea what that was, but we headed to the hospital in a downfall of one of the worst days of rain that year. As we drove along at a slow pace, because I couldn't see to drive, her window falls down! She gets soaked. I stop several times on the way to the hospital to stop the car and pull her window up only for it to fall before we reached the next red light.

So we get to the hospital and we think, cool this will be over soon. Boy we were wrong! We checked in the hospital about 9:00 a.m. and still by 3:00 p.m. no baby. We chose not to find out the sex of the baby, so my family were in the waiting room placing bets. 6:00 p.m still no baby. 7:00, 8:00, 8:30 then finally after almost 12 hours he came into the world screaming bloody murder.

This being my first experience in seeing a birth I was shaking like all get out. I couldn't even hold him I was shaking so bad. Now that I look back on it I'm not sure if it was nerves, the cold delivery room or the lack of food.

Yes, 26 years ago I became a father for the first time.

I love good memories like that.

Thanks Son, and Happy Birthday

A First

My grand-daughter, Alana turned one today. She is such a good baby, and she is a very happy little girl too. We traveled to Mt.Zion, Kentucky to celebrate her first year of life. All my kids were there, along with my grandson, Rylan and my parents. It was a great day, and everyone had fun. Even if we did have to take the scenic route to get to my daughter's house due to work on the interstate.

Birthday # 47

Today was another birthday. Much like many of my other birthdays. I remember the birthdays as a kid when mom would go all out and make a cake and invite all the neighborhood kids over for cake and ice cream after dinner. Sometimes they brought gifts, sometimes they didn't, it didn't matter it was just wonderful to know mom remembered and wanted to make a big deal out of it for me.

This year DJ and I went camping, left Sunday returned today. It was a great time. Away from the phones and the hassles of time, work and responsibilities. All we did was sit around talk, play cards, and yes, of course having special time with one another after the sun went down. At 12:00 as soon as it turned the 10th, he turned and kissed me and whispered "Happy Birthday" into my ear. It doesn't matter that there was no cake or gifts (well except for the great gift certificate my friend Silver gave me on Saturday) and no bog fanfare, it was nice just to know he cared and remembered and that we were together.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sixty is the New Forty!

All of my mother's sisters played a big part in my life. From the time I was a kid they have been there. As they raised their own children, we still maintained close family ties and we met several times over a course of the year for holidays, birthdays, weddings and other family events.

Today, one of my moms' younger sisters turned 60. It just doesn't seem possible the she could be sixty years old! I watched her date as a teenager, get married, have a daughter of her own, divorce, work as a single mom, re-marry, take on her step-daughter as her own, continue to work raising two daughters, become a grandmother, and now still continues to work, while raising a grand-daughter. On May 29 she became a grandmother again for the 4th time.

She continues to laugh, work, love and inspire. Happy Birthday Aunt G!