Finder's Keepers

As a boy growing up, I never had an Action figure that worked. I either had to work to get my own or when my brothers didn't want their, I gladly accepted them. I just wish that they were GI Joe's. GI's are the best. Well i do love a man in uniform for one. You can put them in any form/they bend easily. They have accessories, changing outfits, other buddies and cars. What more could a gay boy as for.

Well as John and I were cleaning out the garage. We came across Gene's childhood G.I. Joe. This one is one of the first G.I's to come out in 1965. I am now too old to have this, but i thought my nephew would like this. His parents are in the Army and christmas is coming up. I don't think he has any action figures. So i know he will enjoy this and also help him understand his parents job! Great Find Today!

Holiday....

Holy Shit Macy's was caught on Fire today in Seattle.

Ok not really. We went to downtown Seattle to Watch the Tree lighting. It was fun, cold, and fun. Lots of people.. Look in the Second photo. Doesn't it look like a scene where the world is coming to an end and everyone is rushing to safety? lol

My life through songs!

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your music library.
2. Put it on shuffle. (use everything whether you like it or not)
3. Press play. (no skipping songs)
4. For every item, type the song and band that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question press the next button.

Of course, there's not supposed to be any cheating - it is kind of funny how some songs end up matching so well and some... not so much. And away we go...

Opening Credits: More Than a Woman-Bee Gees
Lol got that right

Waking Up: Dirty- Christina Aguilera

Oh i guess i am dirty...rawr

Average Day: Still the Same-Bob Seger

I guess i gamble daily...ummm

First Date: Build me up Buttercup- The Foundations..

OMG i love this song. Such a great one.

Love Scene: Physical-Olivia Newton-John

ha ha ha enough said

Fight Scene: Break my Stride-Matthew Wilder

True that!! No one will Break mine! I got to keep on Moving

Breaking Up: Boys-Britney Spears

Umm...unless it's a dancing break up!

Making Up: Could i have this kiss forever-Whitney Houston/Enrique Iglesias

Sadly it's not a good song to make out too.

Secret Love: La Tortura- Shakira

It's a great secret lover song to shake your hips too! Awesome!

Life's Okay: Material Girl- Madonna
Lol "We are living in a Material World and i am a Material Girl!"

Mental Breakdown: Mamma Mia- Abba

Oh my... "look at me now....will i ever learn"

Driving: Dreams-Fleetwood Mac
I love anything by Fleetwood Mac. This is a great driving song for me! I just want to go anywhere.

Deep Thought: Maneater- Hall & Oats
umm.. What is this telling me??

FlashBack: Cover Girl- Rupaul

"Covergirl, put the base in your walk... head to toe, let your whole body talk"

Partying: I wear my glasses at Night-Cory Hart

"Don't switch a blade on a guy in shades...Oh no!!"

Happy Dance: Freedom! '90 George Michael

This is my happy dance when i am running, showering, making dinner. There is something about George Michael that makes me get happy/dirty.

Regretting: The Mating Game-Bitter:Sweet

Yes, the mating game is something to regret at times.

Long Night Alone: Lovegame-Lady Gaga

"I want to take a ride on your DISCO STICK!"

Final Battle: Sanctuary-Utada Hikaru

I love this song. It makes a great battle song. "Angels in Flight"

Death Scene: Careless whisper-Wham

Such a way to go!

Closing Credits: Safety Dance- Men without Hats.

"You can dance if you want too, you can leave your friends behind"

Thanksgiving

I always wanted to do a play like this!

Tradition...

Usually everyone has a Thanksgiving tradition. Whether it is to cooking your turkey as your mother did, gravy from the drippings of the turkey, pumpkin pie made from scratch, going over to some friend's house for dinner, watching football or the Macy's Parade. But the most famous ones are waking up after the day of giving thanks to beat everyone for the "deals." This is one of my stories when i was younger that i decide to go with my mother for the black friday sales.

I was ten, so the year was 1995/96. Wal-Mart just opened in my hometown of North Bend Oregon. Thanksgiving at my house came to a close and all my family members all but my mother, grandma, aunt, father and me were up. Everyone else in a deep slumber from the turkey spells and fullness of sweets or beer. They were up talking about "black friday." I have never heard of such a day, was this a bad day? Were we not able to go outside? My mother talked with my grandma on the game plan for tomorrow. They would stay up all night and leave the house by 3:30 am to wait in line with the other town folks.

My mother's plan was to drink until it was time to go. I asked my mother if i could stay up and go with grandma and her to this ritual in my family. She gladly told me yes as she took a drink of her Tequila and Squirt. As the hours passed my grandma went to sleep for a while as my mother and I watched TV, ate more turkey, played some game, and cleaned house. I remember passing out for a while, only to be shaken up by grandma to get ready for the trip.

As I dressed warmly as my mother told me it was going to be cold at 4am and to bring some food as no places would be open at this time. We soon arrive to Wal-Mart, the mecca of Bargain Shopping. About 75 people were crowded around the front door waiting to get in. Some people camped out over night. Some brought chairs and blanket from home. Food, drinks, people peeing on the side of the store or by their cars. I remember mostly is my mother brought her flask filled with her drink of choice. "This will get me through this", I remember her saying to me. Soon from 75 people to about four or five hundred people were all behind us. I still can feel people pushing us or trying to cut in front of us. I asked my mother what time it was. She looked at her watch and told me it was five minutes til five am. We saw the employee walking up to the front doors getting ready to unlock them.

The sound of the doors opening and a gush of wind hit us. Everyone pushing, pulling, yelling, trying to pass one another was getting nowhere. Luckily for me my mother was a big lady. All she had to do was push and she could knock over a few people. My mother took my hand and told me know to not let go, "this is where people will go crazy!" We hit the floor of Wal-Mart running. Grandma got a cart, while mom and i booked it for the toy section. Other people had their kids on their shoulders reaching for toys on the higher shelves. My mother reached for one of the last toys, but soon bumped hands with another lady who wants the same toy. The both struggled to get the toy out of each others hands.

Until my mother threaten the other lady. "I will beat the shit out of you if you do not give me this toy", my mother told this lady. She released it and backed away. My mother took another chug from her flask and off we went. The lines were the worst. Everyone wanted to get out and no one wanted to wait in line. I remember pulling pop tarts, fruits, and some juice out of my pockets and eating them over all the things we got that morning. I was so tired from the rush of the ahopping spree. I did not want to go to another black friday ever. I disliked this day. I thought people who did this were crazy. Plus being a ten year boy and going with your mother three sheets to the wind was fun but not for me. I will say this, that year i got all the things i wanted!

Happy Holiday!

Thankful..

As this holiday Season is coming closer and closer. There are many things i am Thankful for, which i will list now.

First of all, life. To be able to live this far without dying. Second, Family, My real and extend family. Without them and all the love and support i have from them, i would never have got this far or turned out the way i am. Big thanx to Emmy and Garbanzo for letting me into their lives, opening up their home to me and allowing me to grow and feel so loved and welcomed. I miss you both lots! Third My hubby. As each day we grow closer and closer. Our feeling grow stronger, our love grows, each moment spent together gets better and better. I love you Papi. Fourth Friends. All my friends you mean so much to me. Each day i look forward to either hear from you, reading your blogs, emails, facebooks, or phone calls. You mean the world to me. And i love you all! Fifth reading. I am beyond blessed with. Without being able to read, i could on type this blog out, make yum food from the Food Network, drive, watch tv, or do almost about anything! Thank you public school and High school for that one.

So enclosing I would like to Wish you and your Family a Wonderful and Happy Holiday. Please do not burn your houses down or let any family member get you down, If they do, let me know. I got your back!!

Princessa!

I lost my feelings.....

Last night was the Season Final of Project Runway. I love this show. As seen in the picture is Althea Harper, Irina Shabayeva, and Carol Hannah. I was rooting for Carol Hannah. Her looks were wonderful and lots of color, unlike the other ladies. He style was strong and fab. Her concept to her collection was fairy tale style. Dresses, color, lots of draping. While Althea brought the style of the Future. Her collection was mostly from 60's Sci-Fi movies. Lots of hoods, pants, some dresses. Finally Irina's collection was about women in New York in suits of Armor. Black, black, and more black. Some hats with chains, handbags, and ponytails. I really wish that either Carol Hannah or Althea would of won. But i am sadded by that Irina was named winner of Project Runway.

Maybe i should try out for it... I can sew... and i am friendly! wuhahahaha

Ode

To Glee!!

Enjoy

Food Network.....

I just want to say, i love watching the food network. I also hate watching it. I love watching for getting new recipes and cooking things i would never do. I hate watching due to i want to cook everything they make. I dislike Rachel Ray. She is too bubbly. I enjoy watching the barefoot Contessa(Ina Garten). She just has something about her that makes me want to watch her. Something that makes me want to cook. I wonder if it is because she is older and does not make everything "huge" and makes it easy. I really enjoy that about her show.

Today i make Italian wedding soup with meatballs. I sauteed veggies(celery, carrots, onions) in olive oil, added chicken stock, a orzo pasta, than added the meatballs(turkey meat, green onions, garlic, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, egg, milk, salt pepper) and topped if off with Spinach. It was so delicious. And to think i got it off of the food network.

So in closing... Food network.. i love and hate you!

Mash up

Hey blogger amigos!

What to star in a video.. well what i want to do is make a mash up of everyone doing the song Girls just wanna have fun by Cyndi Lauper. What you need to do....

Make a video of yourself lip syncing to the song, send it to my email, than just wait til i post it to the blog. It's that easy.

Princessa

Unforgettable....

There are many things in this world that we do not want to forget. Dates, memories, and people. People are the ones most we think about. Living or not. Most of the time when we think about the ones we have lost, it hurts or sometimes you feel lost and do not know where to turn to. I have lost many people in my life. My grandfather, aunt, cousins, and uncle. But i have not yet known was it is like to lost a husband/partner. Someone so close to you. The one that makes you get up in the morning and sleep in the same bed. The one that you will do anything from, even if that means t's something you do not like.

While cleaning the house today, I came across a wooden box of the floor. At first I did not want to open it not knowing if there was something dangerous or not in there. But something told me to open it. I lifted up the lid and found a picture of John's last partner Gene. I stared at the picture, studying the face, clothes he wore, smile, eyes. Behind the pictures were a bunch of cards. Cards from when Gene got sick/was in the hospital, and when Gene passed away. Also were the rings John and Gene wore when they were together. I started to cry. I felt very emotional. I wanted someone to hug, to cry with. I wanted to met Gene. I know that is not possible now. But i can only know Gene by the stories and pictures John has of him. I want to know what Gene was like, what he liked to do, what was is take on life, what did he support and what did he despise. What was his favorite place in the world or time of day?

I will never get to know Gene, but his story lives on through John and everyone who knew him. What i do know is this. Now i can not take credit for writing this next part. But this will give you an Idea of who Gene was.

He was born February 1, 1956, in Eugene, Oregon, to the late Edward and Mary Uttinger.

He attended St. Peter Catholic School and graduated from Marist Catholic High School in 1974. In 1977, Gene started work at Pacific Northwest Bell. Soon he moved to Seattle to continue his career. In 1982, he met and fell in love with Martin Brandt. They spent eleven years together, including the purchase of their first home and many wonderful trips and celebrations with family and friends. They were well known in Seattle's gay community. Gene and Marty remained together until Marty's death in 1993. Gene progressed in his career as he rose through the ranks of management at the phone company, maintaining his commitment to customers through upheavals in the industry. He worked in consumer, small and large business groups, agent marketing, as well as on 911 and county government accounts. Gene was well known for his knowledge about the Centrex product. At the time of his death, Gene was working as a program manager on loan to the Washington State President for Qwest Communications. During his 30 years of service to the phone company he made hundreds of friends who admired his gentle but honest personality, his well reasoned manner, his attention to detail, and his commitment to customer service and employee morale. Gene is survived by his domestic partner of 14 years, John Carroll. They met in 1993 through John's work at the Seattle Men's Chorus and their joint attendance at Dignity Roman Catholic Mass. They were together for 14 years until Gene's sudden death - a sign of Gene's unwavering commitment to love, family and friends. Together they lived in the Queen Anne, Ames Lake, and Magnolia neighborhoods. Over the years, they adopted and loved four cats and three Miniature Schnauzers. Gene was also well known among friends and family for his love of gardening and travel. Gene and John shared trips across the U.S., throughout Europe and recently several cruises through the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Alaska. 

These are the rings Gene and John wore everyday while together. I know that Gene will be apart of my life now. And deep down inside we i really wish i had a chance to meet him. I often think about where i would of met him and the conversions we could of had. You are miss dearest Gene.

 Princessa.  

how I met papi.

I met John about 14 month ago, over the Internet on a site called gay.com. He was in the portland chat room and i was looking for someone to date. We talked over about a year before we really met. I had rugby games in Seattle and asked him many times if he wants to come watch me play. He was going to come to one in Bremerton but something came up. So we waited and it was almost the end of summer right before everyone goes back to school, unless you are a college student. John called me and told me he was going to visit his parent, but really want to meet me. We arranged a time and meeting place. So i always met someone i do not know in a public place, that way i don't get hurt or killed. Anyways, we met at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland. As soon as i saw him in person i knew that i want to do many things with him. We were both hungry and John loves mexican food, so we went to Mayas Tacqueria for dinner. After dinner and talking with each other, we began to walk around the Pearl District and came to the Jamison Square. There we sat, watchin the children play in the fountain. We sat next to eachother really close. I kept looking into his green eyes, smiling, handsome, sexy. I wanted to do many things to him, but i knew that i had to be good. John turned to me and asked, "Is this the part where i kiss you?" My eyes lit up and i closed my eyes and leaned in. When our lips met, heaven, my body melted, i felt wonderful(i still get that way) There was something about John that i knew was different. As we were kissing, i felt like we were being watched. We pulled away and i turned to see one of my parents from school waving me down yelling, "I thought that was over there!!" i quickly jumped up and told here that this was john and we are on a date. Thank god her son was in the fountain playing. After that john took me home where i made out with him in his car. I asked him what he was doing tomorrow. He was going back to Seattle. "Would you like to get together and do breakfast", is what i asked him. "I'll pick you up" We had breakfast, made out a bit before taking me home, and that is when i know i liked john. But it was about our 5 date in Seattle is when i fell in love with him and wanted to make things work with him.

That is my story of John and I meeting...

One week...

As i sit here with a beer to my side. I wonder why i do not like being alone. John is off on a trip to Atlanta for work, so that lets me and the schnauzer babies in the house. Being alone to me symbolizes that i am Afraid, worrisome, secluded, solitary, lonely, sad, helpless and a bit of depression. I could never be alone when i was younger. I would get scared even at the age of 15. What if someone would to come in the night and kill me. What would happen to the babies, what would john do, how would i react. I guess i need to let go of my childhood fear. I get this from when i was younger. My brother and sister all wanted to play hide n seek one night our parents went of out town. and we just got a new fridge. It was not plugged in, just sitting in the kitchen awaiting for my parents to transfer the food. My oldest brother being 15 at the time was old enough to watch the other four siblings. We all ran off to hide as my older brother was a seeker. I ran into the back room of our house, but i stopped into the kitchen and saw the new fridge in all it's glory and thought that would be a great hiding spot for me. I climbed into it and waited. I waited...and waited... and waited...and waited... about thirty minutes passed. No one came... I was worried.. I tried to push the fridge door open.. The suction to the door. I scream...no one came... I punched the door to make noise... No one hear me. About another thirty minutes pass... and finally my oldest brother, opens the door and see's me crying, hurt, full of sorrow, broken, depressed. He asked me what was wrong. I told him to never leave me alone again...

After that experience, i can never be alone again. I can't live again, I now am in a house that has not even been a week yet. I can not stand it. I need some Human Interaction! I run to i want to go have dinner with someone, laugh with someone, dance, talk...

Is anyone out there?

John Hurry Home.....

Already...

IT has not even been a week yet. John is off to Atlanta for a Teacher Conf. He leaves tomorrow morning and will not be back til Sunday afternoon. I know that he has not left yet but yet i know that i already will miss him. So far my life in Seattle has been wonderful. I will not be working until January. After our trip to Australia. I have been busy. I have clean the house, taking care of the dogs, making dinner and dessert. i have been running each day. I ran 8 miles a day. I am walking around the the neighborhood to get a feel where everything is. I love after cleaning the house and running is that i get to take a nap and cuddle with the babies to the Golden Girls. They are the best. The best thing i love about being in Seattle is that i get to sleep in the same bed as John. No other feeling is better than that! Over all i am finding my place here in Seattle!

I miss you friends and family in portland!!

Princessa!

So long...farewell...

Today was the official day that i am no longer a Oregonian. I loading my things into the back of my boyfriend's Lexus and started our new life together. After 3 hours of driving in the rain, a stop for some burgers, chicken strips, fries, and a milkshake. (my last burgerville) More rain, a out of order bridge, and being attacked by lovable schnauzers. My move has ended. I am now safely in the arm of the man i love. We both unpacked my things and found places for them to go. We even set up our Wii and played some bowling. John won with 169, i go 118. After wii we made dinner. Meatballs in a mushroom sauce with rice. YUM! While eating dinner we watch the movie Australia. That move was packed with so many twist and turns and great scenes of Australia. It made we want to go there now. I am so excited to go. John looks like Hugh Jackman from that movie. Grrr... It has been a great weekend started. Tomorrow we are going grocery shopping so i can start to plan for this week. Than on Wednesday, John is off to Atlanta Georgia for a Teacher Convention. I will have the dogs, cat and the house. Looks like papi has a busy week ahead!

I fell i love...

With a man.

A man that is caring, smart, sexy, funny, geeky, loving, handsome.

A man that has been there for me.

A man that has shown me parts of the world.

A man that is opening up his world for me.

A man that loves me.

A man that is worth everything.

A man that puts up with all my craziness, love, silly, dancing.

A man that wants to make me an honest man.

A man that i love.

A man that i want to be his man.

A man that one day i hope turns into my hus-bear.

I love you Papi Bear.

I honestly can not tell you what the future holds, but i can give you my world, my thoughts, my love, my care. my warmth, my touch, my heart. I can give you memories that last a lifetime, a life that we can grow together, friends that are both ours, quiet time with the puppies, dinners, and other times together. No words can tell you how much i care about you. But this is a start.

Love your chico,

Derek