Robert's World

'I AM GAY AND A REPUBLICAN'

2012-01-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

Robert, a rather LARGE Republican...

I did not watch the "State of the Union" address on the telly last night. Have come to view the annual event as boring as watching paint dry...

The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President, to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and his national priorities.
The practice arises from a command given to the president in the Constitution of the United States:

“	He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.	”
	— Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution

Although the language of the Constitution is not specific, by tradition, the President makes this report annually in late January.
While not required to deliver a speech, every president since Wilson has made the State of the Union report as a speech delivered before a joint session of Congress. Before that time, most presidents delivered the State of the Union as a written report.

What began as a communication between president and Congress has become a communication between the president and the people of the United States.

Last night, President Obama used his time addressing Congress to fire off the first brutal blow to his opponent in the upcoming presidential contest for the 2012 election to the office of President of the United States. Mind, other presidents have used the 'State of the Union' address in like manner before President Obama.

What bothers me as a GAY man AND a Republican is President Obama's charade of seeming to be wanting 'fairness' for all when he clearly is not able to deliver that.

Mitt Romney was never mentioned by name but you can bet that the "Buffett Rule" is all about the rate of tax that Mr. Romney paid in 2010 and 2011. As if it was a curse to do well and make buckets of cash that the law says you do not have to pay large taxes on. What Mr. Romney did is what many well off persons, Democrat and Republican, do.

There were other things in the address that bothered me but I am more concerned about the theme of the address. "Fairness".

Life is not FAIR and all things are not EQUAL. I doubt that they ever will be.

I do not have a crystal ball and can not say with certainty that Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for the office of president. It looks that way, but the ground seems to keep shifting for the Republicans this year.

By all accounts, Mitt Romney is a nice man. He has worked hard, made buckets of cash, raised 5 boys well and given of self in service to his country. It would seem that like many folks in America, his views on homosexuals are not the most enlightened and that could play in to his actions if he were to be elected president. It gives me pause in how I would vote..... PAUSE, mind, not completely put off by him.

Barack Obama was elected President of the United States with "Great Expectations". Three years on, it does not seem that President Obama was 'the greatest thing since butter on sliced bread'. There are those who believe him to be touched by greatness. So much so that to hear that another might consider a replacement of, is dangerous and foolish.

I have been told that it is impossible for me to be a gay man and a republican. It seems so horrid a thing that it has caused some known to to be quite angry at.

I did not vote for Obama the first time out, and would not vote for this time. I do not feel he is the right person for the job. Just that, for no other reason. Mind, there are some who want to read more into that than there is. I can not stop them from...

President Obama seems more concerned about 'illegal aliens' and their treatment than how this country deals with the poor, the old and the treatment of 'native born' gay men and women. His speech last night played to the voting block of the 'spanish speaking' voters AND to those who feel that it is OK to go after everyone who has made a dollar or two. Mr. Obama went for the votes, not about 'fairness'.

If I have learned anything in 64 years of living, it is that life is not fair. One does not get all one would like and LIFE does not play out as one would hope. I have learned to live with the limits placed on me by some of my choices in life. Being GAY was never going to be easy but rather think I have dealt with it well. I am comfy with self and content with my actions to help make others more aware of what being homosexual means. We are not all the same. I have also come to terms with poor choices made about my retirement and feel no anger toward folks who prepared for 'golden years' better and are better fixed. Somehow I manage to keep going.

The title of this post proclaims to one and all a very personal statement. It will be a shocker to newbies of the blog but you who be 'aufait' with the old geezer will not be shocked.

I do not wish to convert anyone and most certainly force one to change from one side of the political fence to the other. In a very small naive way, mearly wanted to give another slice of life to folks and let them think on what is coming down the road in the months ahead.

Mitt Romney is not evil, no more evil that Barack Obama. Each man plays to the folks he feels best suits and one will win come November. I do believe that I am capable of making up my own mind and deeply resent some questioning my ability to be gay and republican...

Jacques Brel

2012-01-17T07:48:00.000-08:00

Sons of the thief, sons of the saint
Who is the child with no complaint
Sons of the great or sons unknown
All were children like your own
The same sweet smiles, the same sad tears
The cries at night, the nightmare fears
Sons of the great or sons unknown
All were children like your own...
So long ago: long, long, ago...
But sons of tycoons or sons of the farms
All of the children ran from your arms
Through fields of gold, through fields of ruin
All of the children vanished too soon
In tow'ring waves, in walls of flesh
Among dying birds trembling with death
Sons of tycoons or sons of the farms
All of the children ran from your arms...
So long ago: long, long, ago...
But sons of your sons or sons passing by
Children we lost in lullabies
Sons of true love or sons of regret
All of the sons you cannot forget
Some built the roads, some wrote the poems
Some went to war, some never came home
Sons of your sons or sons passing by
Children we lost in lullabies...
So long ago: long, long, ago
But, sons of the thief, sons of the saint
Who is the child with no complaint
Sons of the great or sons unknown
All were children like your own
The same sweet smiles, the same sad tears
The cries at night, the nightmare fears
Sons of the great or sons unknown
All were children like your own...
Like your own, like your own

IN THE LAND THAT MADE ME, ME.....

2012-01-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

Long ago and far away, in a land that time forgot,
Before the days of Dylan , or the dawn of Camelot.
There lived a race of innocents, and they were you and me,

For Ike was in the White House in that land where we were born,
Where navels were for oranges, and Peyton Place was porn.

We longed for love and romance, and waited for our Prince,
Eddie Fisher married Liz, and no one's seen him since.
We danced to 'Little Darlin,' and sang to 'Stagger Lee'
And cried for Buddy Holly in the Land That Made Me,Me.

Only girls wore earrings then, and 3 was one too many,
And only boys wore flat-top cuts, except for Jean McKinney.
And only in our wildest dreams did we expect to see
A boy named George with Lipstick, in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We fell for Frankie Avalon, Annette was oh, so nice,
And when they made a movie, they never made it twice..
We didn't have a Star Trek Five, or Psycho Two and Three,
Or Rocky-Rambo Twenty in the Land That Made Me, Me.

Miss Kitty had a heart of gold, and Chester had a limp,
And Reagan was a Democrat whose co-star was a chimp.
We had a Mr. Wizard, but not a Mr. T,
And Oprah couldn't talk yet, in the Land That Made Me,Me.
We had our share of heroes, we never thought they'd go,
At least not Bobby Darin, or Marilyn Monroe.

We'd never seen the rock band that was Grateful to be Dead,
And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson , and Zeppelins were not Led.
And Beatles lived in gardens then, and Monkees lived in trees,
Madonna was Mary in the Land That Made Me,Me.

We'd never heard of microwaves, or telephones in cars,
And babies might be bottle-fed, but they were not grown in jars.
And pumping iron got wrinkles out, and 'gay' meant fancy-free,
And dorms were never co-Ed in the Land That Made Me,Me.

We hadn't seen enough of jets to talk about the lag,
And microchips were what was left at the bottom of the bag.
And hardware was a box of nails, and bytes came from a flea,
And rocket ships were fiction in the Land That Made Me,Me.

T-Birds came with portholes, and side shows came with freaks,
And bathing suits came big enough to cover both your cheeks.
And Coke came just in bottles, and skirts below the knee,
And Castro came to power near the Land That Made Me,Me.

We had no Crest with Fluoride, we had no Hill Street Blues,
We had no patterned pantyhose or Lipton herbal tea
Or prime-time ads for those dysfunctions in the Land That Made Me,Me.

There were no golden arches, no Perrier to chill,
And fish were not called Wanda, and cats were not called Bill
And middle-aged was 35 and old was forty-three,
And ancient were our parents in the Land That Made Me,Me.

But all things have a season, or so we've heard them say,
And now instead of Maybelline we swear by Retin-A.
They send us invitations to join AARP,
We've come a long way, baby, from the Land That Made Me, Me.

TIME IS NOTHING

2012-01-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Clever chap from UK sets his holiday snaps to video with a bit of music to capture his moments spent round the world. Lovely....

OUD en NIEUW!!

2011-12-31T09:11:00.001-08:00

2012 - A New Beginning.......

12 REDNECK DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

2011-12-26T09:20:00.001-08:00

HAVE A LAUGH THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS........BEATS SHOPPING AT MALL....

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

2011-12-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

This old geezer has mates all over the world. Christmas Eve will arrive at different times, but will be greeted by all with the same pleasure.

May the blessings of Christmas find one and all happy and safe.

Be it;

Scott and family in Dunsmuir, Jack and Paul in Palm Springs, Justin and Glenda in Hilo, Ron in Honolulu, Clive in London, Jason in North Carolina, Anita in Fresno, Barbara in Marysville, James and Chandra, Ira in Las Vegas, Van in Croatia, Phillip in Paris, Victor in Rome, Doug in NYC, Linda in Scranton, Virgil in Florida, Steve in Yuba City, Andy in Linda, Klaus in Berlin, Misha in Zurich and so many others held dear.

I am blessed and will be each and every day of the new year. I am made wealthy by the folks who have been friend to me this year and every year. Not all Christmases are equal, some have been more joyful that others. But each Christmas makes me very aware of how much I have been given.

CHRISTMAS SONG - 2011

2011-12-23T20:18:00.001-08:00

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

2011-12-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

Father Christmas AKA Robert

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. " ~Charles Dickens

For my part, I always want to remember the great moments of Christmas, that the moments that mean the most in coming years will always be ones filled with hope and gladness. In years to come, I want to mark Christmas 2011, as the year I truly gained a new respect for the true meaning of Christmas and hold that close to my heart all of the days of the coming year.

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! " ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Received an email yesterday that make me thing of More to say on the subject of Christmas and how one must get into the mood.:
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-
depressant.2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to
__________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured IN
plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli ,
almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.7. Don't waste your precious energy on energy vampires, issues of the past, negative
thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive
present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed
out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good!
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything.20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following
statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. Please send this to everyone you care about

Mind, the lovely lady who sent on this, is in the business of getting into your head and finding out what is wrong..........sounds to me as if she does it rather well, and the advice forwarded can apply all the year round.

"It is my hope that our paths will cross again soon. Till then it is my hope that your days with filled with peace, truth, and love, that you may continue your wonderful service to our community!!"

My dears, we shall meet again, the lovely lady and I..........need all of the help given to bring me back down to earth.

'Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself. ' ~Francis C. Farley

My dears, in a week, Father Christmas will have come and gone, the Christmas Ham will be sandwich makings, and the presents will have been much used. Before all of that comes to pass, allow MOI to make a few points and remind many that Christmas this year is so very important, in ways that will reveal themselves as the months of the New Year unfold.

America went through the Great Depression. The Stock Market had taken a dive into the loo, folks were without jobs, folks lost homes, and there were long breadlines and there was much sadness in the land. It looked as if the American way of life was over, and the darkness would never end and all would be lost.

The shock of all the bad news was more than many could bear, and folks were not sure what to do next. Hope was lost. Faith in American was on weak soil.

A new president is in the offering, and there were plans to get this country moving again. There were going to be some changes, but in the end, the dark cloud of fear was going to be chased away and America and Americans were going to come through this.

Many alive today do not remember these dark times, and it was probably not a very interesting part of History that many paid attention to in school. Along with the Great Depression, came World War II not long after, and folks had to buckle down and band together again and try to help keep this country safe.

The media is full of bad news these days. The End of The World is Coming............they would have you believe. Every day there is another tale of how bad things have got and how much worse things are going to get. The economy is so bad that Christmas 2011 is turning into the Christmas that was not. The stores are worried that folks are not going to have an orgy of spending, and the good folks who try and help families in hard times are running on empty.

ENOUGH ALREADY! When did we as American loose our pluck? When did we forget that we can do anything we set our minds to? Times have been bad before, but as Americans pulling together we came through them better than folks did in a lot of other places.

This Christmas, don't you think we should take stock of our many blessings and stop whining about the trials that we are going to have to suffer through for a bit? Even in the best of times there is never enough to please everyone, and there will always be the greedy buggers who will never be satisfied. Due to Free Speech, there will be ample voices heard of how America had let folks down, that it has not been all things to all peoples. That the promise is yet to be fulfilled.

Bloody right that Christmas is not going to be faced with undiluted delight by many this year. It is going to be a challenge to believe the carols of joy that are playing all round us. That is where the true magic of Christmas Spirit comes into play. You have to believe..........really believe.............in the basic goodness of our country and our neighbors.

My dears, Got Bless you, one and all!

WHITE TRASH CHRISTMAS

2011-12-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Special tribute to a dear mate who is spending Christmas in a caravan park............

YOU AIN'T GETTING SH*T FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

Right, so many of you cheeky buggers who peek in are all wondering what Christmas presents await you on Christmas Eve. This on one family's way of dealing with...........

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

HOME -THAT WARM AND COMFY PLACE WE ALL FEEL SAFE IN. THAT SPECIAL PLACE WHERE THE HEART IS....

A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS

2011-12-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL WHO SERVE....

WHERE EVER YOU ARE

2011-12-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

British Military Wives sang this song for Remembrance Day but it still calls out to all loved ones, men and women, far from home this Christmas season.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

PERFORMED BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HMS OCEAN......

A CHRISTMAS STORY 2009

2011-12-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

Rhoads Family - Colleen Cummings A-P

Whilst Christmas 2008 is not looked back on with undiluted pleasure, Christmas 2009 is a bright Christmas moment long remembered fondly.

Am re-printing the story of that Christmas, as it appeared in local paper on Christmas morning. The Rhoads family have gone on to greater things. James, the father was taught the trade of 'property management' by the old geezer and has gone on to help owners with troubled properties get turned round. Last checked the family was doing well.

Christmas miracle for family in Linda

December 25, 2009 12:32:50 AM

By Ben van der Meer/Appeal-Democrat

Nearly a year ago, James Rhoads started a business of reselling items from storage units where renters had fallen behind on payments.
People sometimes pleaded with him for items they'd left behind; often, other than for personal items, they were out of luck.
But after the contents of his own storage unit was sold, and his family of six had to sleep at friends' houses or sometimes a 1996 Plymouth Voyager, he's gotten a new perspective.
"Everybody out there, they aren't really that bad of people," said Rhoads, 34, adding he hasn't always felt that way. "There are bad seeds out there, but the majority of them are good."
The reason the out-of-work cement mason has a better outlook these days has to do with what's happened to his family in the last two weeks — going from a Christmas with little hope to what his wife Chandra Rhoads calls the best one she's ever had.
In a modest Linda apartment, the family has furniture, bedding, food and $500 worth of Christmas gifts. All of it donated, including the unit where they live.
The Rhoads' journey started as the economy tanked in the last few years. James Rhoads went from making $4,200 a month and planning to buy a home for his wife and their four children to being out of work so long he can't even take advantage of the unemployment benefit extensions recently approved.
Short of money, the family left a rented home in Linda a few months ago where the electricity had been shut off and a ceiling had collapsed, and headed for Oregon, where they thought a new home awaited them.
When that fell through a month ago, the couple and their four children — Jamie Rhoads, 12; Alex Gomes, 9; Haley Rhoads, 5; and Jimmy Rhoads III, 3 — piled into the van and drove back to Yuba County for what they believed would be a temporary stay at a friend's home.
It was temporary. But for two weeks, as James said he searched for an apartment he could move his family into, he began to fear living in the van would be more permanent.
Because the family had only Aid to Families with Dependent Children for income, they couldn't afford the normal rental requirements for an apartment. And other apartment managers wouldn't take in a family that big for relatively small quarters.
When he approached the managers at Linda Villa Apartments in Linda earlier this month, James Rhoads said he'd decided honesty was the best policy.
"I was discouraged," he said. "So I just put my story out there."
Rob DeFrees, who works with Linda Villa's managers, said Rhoads' story struck a chord.
"I looked him in the eye and thought, 'If ever there was a situation where I should trust my gut, this is the time,'" DeFrees said. He agreed to let the family rent an apartment on a voucher for homeless families.
But after losing the storage unit's contents, the Rhoads had little which with to fill the apartment.
"As far as Christmas, we were kind of thinking we weren't going to have one," said Chandra, 31.
DeFrees wrote a story about the family on his blog, and published it Dec. 13. Doing so proved to be a snowball thrown down the side of a mountain, the result being an avalanche of generosity.
People began sending DeFrees e-mail messages: What can I do?
"I wanted to believe if people had the opportunity to help on a personal level, they would," DeFrees said. "I'm just overwhelmed at it all."
One person who responded was a woman named Bonnie, who thought at least she could bring over blankets and other bedding. Then she saw how little the family had.
She made phone calls, sent e-mails. More offers of help came in. Bonnie, who declined to allow her last name to be published, said she thinks being able to do something small for someone resonated with people.
Many of her fellow parishioners at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church helped, as did the Yuba County Sheriff's Department, Supervisor Andy Vasquez and a furniture store.
Those who contributed had two things in common: They wanted to help, and they didn't want credit.
James Rhoads beamed earlier this week as Alex and Haley zipped around the apartment complex's parking lot on donated bikes.
"I like my beds, and I like my new bike," Alex said, pedaling just behind his parents as they walked. Alex mentioned his brother's birthday was Christmas Eve.
"Then we get a lot of treats," he said, to laughter from James and Chandra.
"I used to think less of people who were bad off," Rhoads said. "Now I think, I've been there."
In exchange for a break on rent, Rhoads has been hired as a maintenance man at the complex, and other part-time jobs will start soon. He's hoping to stay long enough to earn money toward a more permanent place.
The family is also planning its own giving back, starting by taking extra sleeping bags and blankets to the homeless.
When she talks about what's happened, Chandra Rhoads stops in the middle of her sentence.
"It's going to be awesome," she said of today's celebration, her eyes welling with tears.

It may be a small blog, but this old geezer reaches out to many, many kind folks with hearts as big as Texas. When you ask if you can make a difference, just remember the lesson of this story. One person has the power to change lives, a small change that leads to bigger changes.

Christmas, it is all about the giving and not the getting......

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

2011-12-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?
~Author Unknown

My dears, MOI made a promise to not fill these pages with tales of woe or grief this holiday season and will honour that. What will follow is the re-telling of Christmas 2008, or rather the days of Christmas 2008, and how the whole of these days makes Christmas the special season it is. Christmas is a blend of hope and unhappiness, and how both can mesh and still leave one with joy in the heart and the true Spirit of Christmas alive.

The orchestra has picked out a lovely tune to set the mood..............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMD056C3IRs Do listen as you read.............

Last night as the sun set and the sky turned dark, the Christmas lights from the tree in my office were shining brightly for all on the road to see and enjoy. MOI had tied back the curtains and lifted the window blinds, offering a brilliant view of the warm glow of the tree that stood in the window.

MOI was reading mail on the computer and Paul was standing beside as MOI had received a touching story and wanted to share with him.
Suddenly,there was a loud crash, followed by a rather large brick that had been hurled through the window. With such force had it been thrown that it knocked over the Christmas tree, smashing ornaments, breaking limbs of tree, shattering the glass on a picture on wall and covering MOI and most of the room with shards of glass. Paul was standing quite near the the window and was able to catch a glimpse of a figure in the garden of the property next to office window, saw the person run into the house next door and slam the front security gate.

MOI called the coppers. Since neither MOI or Paul had been killed by the brick and while shaken were still very sound of body, so MOI dialed the non-emergency number for the coppers. The poor lady who takes the calls informed MOI that the coppers were ever so busy and it would be some time before they could come out to take a report.

Looking out the window it was very clear where the brick had come from and in what direction it had been cast from. The house next door had all of the lights off, even the lamp that comes on when there is movement out front. As if to confirm the winning aim, the lights all came back on and folks from the house next door came out to give a look about. In short order the lady who rents the property even showed up and stood in the garden looking up at the smashed window.

My legal angel tells me that the tale can be told so long as MOI tells what he knows to be true and does not try to name one who is not known to. That the lady can be talked about as she is part of the community and took it upon herself to have an open chat on the front garden that any on road could have heard. In short there is much MOI can say and not cross any line that defames a person or property that is not part of the event that happened to MOI on this occasion.

Neither MOI or Paul actually saw the person throw the brick through the window. Paul did see a person run into the house trying to hide face and enter the house next door. The hole in the window leaves no doubt where one had to be standing to hurl the brick. MOI managed the property for the Natal's and is 'au fait' with the bricks that are on that property, and where they sat in the garden, there is no doubt in my mind that the brick sitting on the floor next to MOI will match one from the garden next door. NO DOUBT!

Proving who hurled the brick is another matter and that is one that may never be solved. Since MOI was not killed by the brick and just damage to property was done, it is not a crime that the coppers will spend a great deal of time trying to solve. That is the way of it.

The lady who rents the property had much to say and wanted all of her followers to hear what she had to say. When MOI saw her looking up at the broken window, MOI told her that the coppers had been called and that a person from her 'room and board' was seen running into the property after the brick had been hurled.

"You did not see shit, how could you with the blinds down"; the lady told MOI. Point of fact the blinds were up and curtains tied back.

"You are nothing but a piece of shit, if you were to stop taking dicks up your ass and mind your own business, maybe people would not throw rocks through your windows". "You are nothing but a sick evil faggot that everybody wishes would leave the neighborhood".

My dears, however sad the events of last night are, there is a true Christmas tale here and MOI hopes that you will keep reading to see it unfold.

It was MOI who got the owners to rent to the lady with the 'room and board', knowing full well that the 'clients' required special care and watching. The lady promised that she would do that, even go so far as to say that drugs and alcohol were taboo in her 'room and board' operations. It was MOI who begged the owners to give small Christmas presents to the 'clients' last Christmas. It was MOI who provided a very large holiday pie to the house, and made sure that a small boy got presents for Christmas. Over and over the old geezer kept the Spirit of Christmas in his heart and made sure that the lady had everything she required to help her 'clients'.

The lovely gentlemen in the orchestra are telling MOI they have another tune to play for you........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVylexEGY-A Give it a listen to.............

'A Home', the wish of each and every 'uncovered' and mentally ill person in Fresno. That is what the old geezer believes.

"I hear that in many places something has happened to Christmas; that it is changing from a time of merriment and carefree gaiety to a holiday which is filled with tedium; that many people dread the day and the obligation to give Christmas presents is a nightmare to weary, bored souls; that the children of enlightened parents no longer believe in Santa Claus; that all in all, the effort to be happy and have pleasure makes many honest hearts grow dark with despair instead of beaming with good will and cheerfulness." ~Julia Peterkin, A Plantation Christmas, 1934
Christmas 2008 will be a hard time for many folks on the road lived on. There is no cash and single mums and poor families are not able to have a tree and there will be no presents. For some there will be no holiday meal. Many of the children on the road will never see Father Christmas, or even believe that he is real.

MOI has had much given to in life and MOI will don his Father Christmas costume and walk up and down the road and try to have some small treat for every little boy or girl who wants to come out and meet Father Christmas. That is what Christmas means to MOI.

The orchestra is full of Christmas and they want to play more..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0SWPnryXl8

That there was love in the world would be so grand and MOI knows that however horrid the things said of MOI are, MOI knows in his heart who he is and what he believes.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
My dears, it is Christmas........................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCM1MXtMtFk

My dears, the window will be repaired, some sort of lights will be placed in window in office, the poor tree might be able to be fixed, the picture can be fixed, the special ornaments will be replaced in time with new ones, and the crystal figures on desk will be remember if not enjoyed anymore. MOI leaves you with a quote that sums up MOI perfectly.........

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens

HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS SONG

2011-12-12T15:04:00.001-08:00

THIS CHAP SINGS IT BETTER THAN THE OLD GEEZER.........

CHRISTMAS SONGS

2011-12-12T14:33:00.001-08:00

ENJOY SOME MUSIC OF THE SEASON.......

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

2011-12-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFudoxGJaL4 Joy to the World

My dears, MOI has received many cards that have filled his old heart with much joy, there are so many lovely folks who have tried to lift me spirits and it has renewed my determination to be a fountain of Christmas Joy each and every day. MOI will spread that spirit where ever he feels it is needed.

Gentlemen of the orchestra, you have your work cut out for you this day, be ever so kind to get ready to bring joy to the many lovely folks reading and wanting to fill their heads with the sounds of the season..............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CA2vdo9eOk

TALE OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

2011-12-11T11:25:00.001-08:00

Christmas Lights

Wrote the following letter to my wife after a recent argument:

Christmas Lights
Hi Sweetheart,
I am sorry about getting into an argument about putting up the Christmas
lights.
I guess that sometimes I feel like you are pushing me too hard when you
want something.
I realise that I was wrong and I am apologising for being such a
hard-headed bloke.
All I want is for you to be happy and be able to enjoy the holiday season.
Nothing brightens the Christmas spirit like Christmas lights!
I took the time to hang the lights for you today and now I will be off to
the golf course.
Again, I am very sorry for the way I acted yesterday.
I'll be home later.

Love you……

WAS SENT THIS AND THOUGHT IT A LAUGH.......TALK ABOUT STRESS AT HOLIDAYS

CHRISTMAS TREE LOOT

2011-12-10T10:42:00.001-08:00

Truth be told, it is the giving that makes for the best of Christmases. My hope is that each and every one will find loads of presents under the tree with YOUR name on the packages. There is still timev to add to the pile....

SANTA MOMENT....

2011-12-10T08:21:00.001-08:00

There are some who would like to run over the poor man. It is Christmas, go with the flow, there just might be something in Santa's bag for YOU.....

MEMORIES SHARED

2011-12-09T08:44:00.001-08:00

DISCLAIMER: Having been asked multiple time to tell stories from my life and giving the requests much thought, the old geezer has given in and provides a glimpse behind the veil. As with any life, it is the parts of, rather than the whole, that give the best understanding of should think. At least that is the belief of this old geezer. There are defining moments that allow folks to reference in trying to decide what to make of us. What will follow may be more than some will want to know, and they can stop reading. As to the dear reader who continues to read, what will follow will tell on a part of life lived that meant much to MOI and is believed to have shaped the course of his life. Having stated that, pray do not judge what you read until you get to th end and then decide if it gave a better understanding of MOI. Can ask for no more than that.

My dears, MOI sits at machine and quakes at the thought of revealing so much. However outgoing you may think MOI is, to be true, there is a most private person unknown to you. Right, MOI bangs out endless stories of life lived on road to the whole world and HE is 'private'. Bit of a dichotomy that and will leave it to you to sort it all out.

MOI is desperate to not come off as pompous and making every effort to qualify what will follow. Should think that this quote from 'Diary of A Nobody' does that nicely:

"Why should I not publish my diary? I have often seen reminiscences of people I have never even heard of, and I fail to see — because I do not happen to be a 'Somebody' — why my diary should not be interesting. George Grossmith

"Get on with it!" and so MOI shall.

It is convenient for many who have come upon MOI at this point in life to assume that his present visage is one that has always been one presented to the world. Old, fat and sinking into decrepitude. Hair much gone and eyes in need of glasses. No one knows better than MOI that what was once 'golden youth' has long since departed. Trust me my dears, there was a day that MOI was thought of as 'the cat's meow', quite a figure he cut, slim and handsome, even 'dashing'............. That was then and this is now, and the bath mirror tells daily what MOI looks like.

Many, many moons ago, long before the INTERNET, MOI met a chap that was to change his life forever. Did not know at the time, but it is surely how it turned out.

Now, MOI knows full well that for as many who are 'au fait' with, there will be many giving a read that have missed a few chapters here and will be clueless to some things about MOI. MOI is 'bent' as in not straight. 'Gay' if you prefer, although MOI has always been curious as to the popular use of the word to label followers of 'the love that dare not speak it's name'. To be sure, MOI has met many a 'unhappy' homosexual. Yes Virginia, MOI is a 'nancy boy', 'light in the loafers' and would never be thought of as a 'bit of rough'.........you get the picture..........

MOI was sitting at a luncheon counter in a city not unlike one now lived in, when the love of his life entered. Unknown to MOI, this young chap had seen MOI on many different occasions and was hellbent on making himself known to MOI. MOI was reading a book and trying to block out what was going on round and was not happy about being put upon by this chap. Had never paid any attention to in the past and was clueless as to why he would want to introduce self to(not really, but was trying to be coy).

'My name is John, and I have seen you around' he said. Not the most original of lines but it will have to do. He WAS easy on the eye and did have a pleasant manner, so MOI bought into the meet and agreed to go to see a film with. 'The trap was set' and MOI walked right into it. John agreed to see a foreign film(learned later he loathed sub-title films) and a good time was had by both. We agreed to meet again.

A chance meeting turned into a marathon of meeting over the following 7 days and at the end, John took to dinner and came right out with his purpose. Sitting cross from, he set a pair of keys on the table and said: 'I have decided that we are meant for each other and here are the keys to my home, you are to move in!' MOI had never had a real live-in relationship up to that point and was gobsmacked at how firm his belief was that MOI was THE one. To be true, MOI had taken a shine to John and it was not hard to buy into the offer. Kindred souls we were, or so MOI thought at the time, and that was to be more so as time went by.

Will not bore the dear reader with the mundane details of daily life between us. To be true, one does not remember these as clearly as the snapshots of a life shared that spring forward that become the high lights of. And there are so many of these to cling to.

What is remembered on this day are these:

First trip to Lake Tahoe. Driving through the snow in the mountains and chatting all the way. Checking in at the hotel(a rather grand one), taking silver dollars and placing into a massive fruit machine next to check-in, losing $5.00 with first pull and placing the next bet and pulling handle(they still had at that time) turning round and telling that we had just lost $10.00 and had not even made to room or got to eat yet. The massive machine started ringing loudly, with lights flashing. MOI had won the 'JACKPOT', all of the sultans had lined up and $5,000 was won. No fool was John and he quickly told MOI to take the cash and run. We canceled our rooms(they now were offered for FREE), collected winnings in CASH and got back into motor and were headed home. My dears, it had been a long drive there and tired as we had been, we not were quite giddy at having so much cash that we laughed and laughed all the way home. Tired was not even thought of.

Buying our first house. Wondering how we were going to pay the $286.46 mortgage. Tight we were with a quid, we were. There would be many homes to follow but one always remembers the first.

Doing a make-over on John's wardrobe. John was a 'trust fund' baby. Came from 'old money' and had never had to worry about the whole of life. Right odd how the truly rich never think of selves as 'wealthy'. John thought a perfect wardrobe could be had at JCPenney, right off the rack his clothes came and it showed. Out went the old and in came the 'designer look'. From shirts to trousers to under pants and shoes even, John was made over. To be true, John did not put up a fight and loved the 'new' look.

Walking through Macy's one afternoon and John spoting a 'Calvin Klein' leather jacket and wishing he could afford it. My dears, he could, just too bloody tight with cash to part with. MOI went back and bought it and John was gobsmacked at the extravagance. Mind, it soon became his most favourite jacket.

The many holidays taken together in Hawaii. Walking the beaches, dining well, staying at a posh hotel, planning on retiring there one day.

Taking John to his first play and having John take MOI to his first Bette Midler concert.

John standing up for MOI when the newspapers carried stories of the horrid businessman he was. Making money was not something folks thought kindly about, more so when it meant buying run down hotels in rough section of city and moving the old and the poor out. MOI never broke any laws, it was all perfectly legal, but MOI and his partners in business, were not 'social workers' and never gave a thought to the human cost of displacement. It was all about making money. Not nice to see self in the newspaper and called "Tarzan of the Tenderloin". Have a clever columnist write about and liken one to 'what the evil dentist in a film was to dentistry, is DeFrees to hotel industry'. Dark days but John never left side and brushed off the countless newspapers dropped on his desk to draw attention to the horrid creature he lived with. Not once.

Throwing a birthday bash and having all stay away due to the notoriety of MOI. ALL, my dears, personal friends and folks known in local government. John lighting the candles on cake and giving presents to MOI as he cried and cried.

Sitting here, so many memories come flooding back, it is hard to know which to tell. They come back out of order, some stronger than others, but they are quite vivid. It was a life lived, charmed to be sure but it came with a price.

Many sad partings as MOI went off to far away places to do business. Long periods apart in cities across the pond. Missed birthdays and holidays and daily events not shared. There were the telephone calls and the letters and cards. Many, many cards, with messages of longing sent and received. A collection of T-Shirts sent to John from every place visited.

Then came AIDS.

No one who was not there will ever know how horrid that period of time was in the beginning. Stories were told of a strange new illness that was striking down countless homosexual men. 'The Gay Plague' it was wrongly thought of. It got that due to so many homosexuals being among the first brought down by it. MOI read all on the subject he could find. MOI heard it was spread by sexual contact.

MOI had always been told by mates that he was a prude, that he was missing out on the greater ride to be ad by the 'sexual revolution' taking place. The 'candy store' was open for business and all one had to do was enter and feed on all of the delights to be had. Sample away, what is the harm and you might even like it. The problem with 'FREE LOVE' is that it is not entirely free. There has to be some guilt attached to all of that pleasure, and what about STD's. MOI missed the boat and all let him know.

When they came out with a test for risk to AIDS, MOI was one of the first to take. Dragged John with. At the time, the 'Lavender Elite' was not big on it, even suggested that it had no value and could be used to round up folks in the future. Nothing like spreading a few lies to scare folks. In the beginning, one was given the test and a number was handed to, all very private and without identity attached to. No one wanted anyone to know HIV status.

Together, John and MOI got the test, TOGETHER, and his number was exchange with mine so that we would know the true status of the other. A week passed, and the day of the results came. To be true, MOI had bought into the myth and felt that since he had been a life long homosexual, he would have a positive result. My number told John that MOI was negative, and John's number told MOI that he was positive.

The clock was ticking. MOI had done his homework and believe that it was 'infected' with and not 'exposed to' that was the true meaning of the test results. Many did not feel that way. No one wanted to believe that death was coming.

With the support of John, MOI set about trying to help in any way possible. If you think that writing letters to folks is something new, you should have seen in earlies times. MOI was pedantic. Sitting at dining room table, MOI wrote in long hand, one letter after another to any and all one could thing of to help with this growing plague. There were letters to the White House, Senators, Congressmen, health officials, hospitals, newspapers, television and folks known all over the country. Trips were made to Washington and other places to beg for help. Fundraisers were held in home. jumbos put together to raise even more cash. No stone was left unturned. Along the way, MOI lost mates, people one knew stopped come by the house. A congressman likened MOI to a zealot. Doors were slammed shut and telephone calls not returned.

Through it all was John.

When a costume was used to march in front of businesses that were not being morally responsible, John sat in vehicle and watched over. Helped wipe off the spit hurled at MOI. Drove to hospitals to deliver reading material. Picked up from homes of dying men, after a long night of Hospice care.

Throughout 1986, John had many health problems, it was clear that something was coming. Christmas 1986 was a blowout. Vans from every store like delivered present after present for John to have under the tree that year. It was a Christmas to remember.

Through all of the years together, we had never invited workmates of John to our home. We did that year, along with a collection of others special to us. MOI hired caterers, had so much food that tables groaned under the weight of it all. Bartenders mixed drinks. The front of the home had fake snow on the garden, and there were so many lights on the house one almost was blinded by them. Every single room had Christmas in it, and the tree that year never looked better.

Santa even came(with a little help from MOI) and had small presents for each and every one there. MOI gathered all round tree and had Christmas Carols sung, with the voice of MOI being the loudest. It truly was a night to remember.

Just after the holidays, the shoe long waited for, dropped. John was rushed to hospital with 'PCP' a definitive marker for full blown AIDS. John had gone from 'infected' to 'victim'.

My dears, MOI is not going to bore you with horrid details, that is not the point of this story. Quite sure that you know that it was not an easy time. What will be told is the story of how this dark hour turned MOI into what he is today.

John faced his illness with courage and humour. The man has CLASS, buckets of it.

He told the whole world of his illness. No easy thing to do at that time, there was much fear. John told all of his workmates and the company he had worked for all of his life. We told all we knew of his illness. He made a special effort to tell his closest mates.

We went about living, knowing full well that these days remaining were numbered.

Every time John was well enough to travel we boarded a plane and went to Hawaii. These trips gave John so much and there were times we stayed but a day or two, having to return due to his condition.

We planned his funeral, every detail of it. And there were some giggle had in doing that. Sitting at dining room table stuffing Mass cards into envelopes, John remarked how cruel MOI was having him glue his snap on and pass to MOI. He helped pick out the quote used on and even helped decide which music to play for mates at memorial service to be held. We did all of this together, side by side.

John was thrilled when President Ronald Reagan sent MOI a personal letter tell that he, the President and Nancy, were sorry to hear of his illness and that he was in their prayers.

He allowed the local newspaper take his picture along side MOI with a massive bottled water container filled with years of collected pennies, to be donated to an AIDS cause, the bottle had close to $400.00 in pennies.

On the last trip to Hawaii, MOI shared a walk on the beach with John. It was important to know if John felt happy, felt pleased with how life had gone between us. John told MOI that he had no regrets and was proud that MOI was not going to die in the same way. He also told that he felt that he had lived a life most excellent and much of that was due to being a part of MOI's journey. Felt that stories told of far off places visited by MOI made him feel as if he was on every trip taken. He loved all of the people he met through MOI. "Rob, who else do we know that has the Mayor of San Francisco ring up?" Bit of a snob my John was..........John told that he would always be with me and hoped that MOI would never forget how much he loved him.

They say that folks who are soon to die, hang on for special moments. John did that. He wanted to be alive for my 40th birthday. That was the one day he did not want to miss. John had arranged for flowers to be delivered and a massive balloon bouquet. There was also a small box given to MOI. It contained the antique silver ring with stone that MOI wears to this day.

On the day John died, MOI was there. Sitting by his side, holding his hand, MOI watched him depart this life. There was no struggle to hold on, John was a peace and his face showed it.

Many years have passed since John died. MOI has grown old, wiser even. John has never been far from his mind, he is with each and every day, would have it no other way. The many gifts received from John have never been forgot, or the lesson learned from him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwP6mkoImkM This Neil Diamond song was played at John's memorial service. MOI felt this way then and still feels that way today.

My dears, my life has a few defining moments, but the time blessed to have shared with John is the strongest example of how MOI grew as a person. John taught MOI that money is not the end all in life. There is no coffin built that allows you to shovel it into along with the things one collects. We enter this world with nothing and we leave with nothing. John taught MOI to give to others, to try and treat each and every person met with honour. John taught MOI to believe in self, to fight for that was right, even if others did not agree with. To be true to one's self. John taught MOI to love GOD, and to follow his faith. John made MOI promise to LIVE, to get over grief and go about building a life without him. There was so very much John gave and one wonders if he truly knew how MOI felt of him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz_m92XLzhA How fitting that a Bette Midler song can be used to send this message to John.

To my mind, John was the best of people. He never harmed anyone, tried to not think ill of anyone, and forgave everyone. Some might be tempted to feel that John wore rose-coloured- glasses. Trust me John knew, he just wanted not going to let the dirt in life land on him. On a visit to the home of one of his closest mates, MOI had to use the loo, and MOI being MOI, opened the medicine cabinet to peek inside. There on the shelf were bottles of medicine folks took to fight AIDS. MOI told John of this. John got very quiet, and his face showed the pain he felt at hearing this news. This person was the closest friend to and John had thought that they were so close that they would share everything with each other. John was gutted. We never went to visit this person again, and John refused all calls from, so hurt was he that his very best friend did not feel comfy enough to tell that they both were in the same boat. John could have used that support. Hurt as John was, he made MOI promise that if this person came to his memorial service, he would have a place of honour and MOI was to tell him that John loved him and was waiting to meet again.

John gave MOI the courage to keep going. There were a few mis-steps but in the end, firm footing was found and MOI lives on. There is not a day that MOI looks to memory of John and hopes that he continues to be proud of MOI. John made MOI a better person for having known him and in no small measure is John responsible for leading to the light and never, ever, losing sight of what is truly important.

In a diary kept from those days, MOI found this item he wrote:

...............have no idea what to do, everything has turned to shit. What about ME!!!!! Who is going to be there for me............it hurts so bad that I just want to die....get it over with.........there is no point............fuck you, John............you left me like everybody else........

Loss made MOI mad, grief was so much to bear. Poor MOI! Funny, however hateful that entry was, none of it was true. Time has healed MOI and he has come to see that John had it right all along. MOI will never be alone.

Folks who asked MOI to peel back the onion may well rue having made the request. Does MOI care if folks get a different view of MOI? Only to the degree that it might allow folks see how MOI came to be MOI. Coming to the end of the post, MOI is pleased to have shared John with you..............think he would be pleased as well.

CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED

2011-12-08T07:18:00.001-08:00

Christmas
Author unknown Every time a hand reaches out
To help another... that is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger aside
And strives for understanding
That is Christmas.
Every time people forget their differences
And realize their love for each other
That is Christmas.
May this Christmas bring us
Closer to the spirit of human understanding
Closer to the blessing of peace!

CHRISTMAS TREE IN ROME

2011-12-07T12:51:00.001-08:00

My friend in Rome sent this snap. They were putting up the Christmas Tree in Rome. Lovely.

One realizes that all over the world, people are joining in the celebration, a celebration of good cheer and being kind to one another. This makes the old geezer realize just how connected we, the entire world are. More's the pity we do not feel this spirit the whole of the year....

SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER

2011-12-05T09:34:00.001-08:00

Rather think that one of best times had at Christmas was dressing up and visiting City Hall and thanking all of the public employees for their service. What a thrill it was ti see so many adults line up to have picture taken with SANTA. Mind, it helped that I had a samrt costume on and with the added weight looked very much like SANTA.

Christmas is all about the giving, not the getting. Truth be told the experience left me with memories that will last a life time.

When is the last time you played SANTA???

SANTA IS COMING

2011-12-05T08:44:00.001-08:00

Robert plays Santa

I may not really be Father Christmas but it does not stop me from spreading Christmas Cheer.....

'RHYTHM OF THE RHYME'

2011-12-03T13:27:00.001-08:00

Robert DeFrees Plays Santa

I have a list of folks I know all written in a book.
Every year at Christmas I go and take a look.
That is when I realize that these names are a part
Not of the book they are written in but of my heart
Each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime
And in the meeting they have become the "rhythm of the rhyme"
While it sounds fantastic for me to add this claim
I really believe I am composed of each remembered name
While you may not be aware of any special link
Just meeting you has shaped my life more than you can think
Once you have met somebody the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or friendly face
So never think of my Christmas card is just a mere routine
of names upon a list, forgotten in between
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you
It is because you are on the list of folks I am indebted to
You are a part of the total of many folks I have met
You happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget
Whether I have known you for many years or few
In some way you have had a part in shaping things I do
Every Christmas I realize anew
The biggest gift that life can give is meeting folks like you.

My dears, the above newspaper clipping was old when it was sent to MOI in a Christmas Card many years ago. It meant so much to MOI that it became a marker in my diary and it is seen almost daily. Some times it is just moved from page to page but at other times MOI reads it again and thinks of all of the lovely folks who have been a part of his life.

Many of you are 'au fait' with MOI sending E-Cards. Not a holiday or special event passes without a little something being sent to the folks who are special. A small number of folks write back and tell that they NEVER open the E-Cards, they are afraid that it will have a 'virus' but that does not stop MOI from sending them. Many know that it is just my way of letting all know they are thought of. MOI receives many as well and loves each and every one received.

Last year this clipping was posted and wanted to make sure that all were reminded how dear all are held in heart.

Life goes by at such a fast clip and it is important that one takes the time to let the folks loved know that the feelings are strong and will stay with MOI the whole of life.

BEING CHRISTMAS 'GAY'....

2011-12-01T10:55:00.001-08:00

A few years ago I was feeling a little 'gay' and thought it would be a laugh to record a little Christmas
song learned in Hawaii. It got massive response.....

Looking back on it, I was rather full of meself. And I wonder why folks think me a bit too much....

Truth be told, I do not think meself very 'colourful'.............

It is the beginning of December and am going to fill the blog as have in the past with positive items
about Christmas. Christmas - it is an inner spirit - one has it or does not.......

PAY PACKETS NOT EQUAL

2011-11-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

Salary of retired US Presidents ....$450,000 FOR LIFE

Salary of House/Senate members ....
$174,000 FOR LIFE

Salary of Speaker of the House ....$223,500 FOR LIFE

Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders .....
$193,400 FOR LIFE

Average salary of a soldier
DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN ..... $38,000

Average income for seniors on SOCIAL SECURITY - $12,000

NASTY FALL

2011-11-29T07:09:00.001-08:00

Must have been one hell of a steep curb.......

WORSE THAN BEDBUGS

2011-11-28T07:58:00.001-08:00

What is a calorie?
Calories are the little bastards that get into your wardrobe at
night and sew your clothes tighter... MY CLOSET IS INFESTED WITH THE LITTLE SHITS.

I AM GUTTED

2011-11-27T08:27:00.001-08:00

To wake up and learn that one much admired has taken own life is a real kick to the chest. Gary Speed was but 42, seemed to have it all. Had recently received OBE. By all accounts was that rare footballer, a genuine lovely man. It is so very sad.

BLACK FRIDAY

2011-11-25T08:23:00.001-08:00

COMPLETE MADNESS....

THANKSGIVING QUOTES

2011-11-23T09:08:00.001-08:00

Giving Thanks means differents things to different people. Thank You is pretty cool...

ODE TO PENIS....

2011-11-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

SENT TO BY ONE OF MY WICKED READERS.

WORKING IT.......

2011-11-17T10:11:00.001-08:00

Judge Not....

2011-11-17T09:58:00.001-08:00

ADVERT FOR LOVE CONNECTION

2011-11-14T14:59:00.001-08:00

Looking For True Love

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...

I need sex - please give generously...........

**I can supply face pics by email**   wink,wink.......

I am mid 60s & a carer for a frail older partner. I am acceptable-looking, house-trained, and you'll soon get used to the smell.   Think "Whatever happened to Baby Jane"

Mid 20s upwards please.

Can't accommodate. Hopefully, you can supply a horizontal surface no more than few tube stops away (but not if it requires innoculations or a packed lunch to get to you...)

Don't like facial hair, metal embedded in flesh (and any subsequent extra orifices), facial hair, doggy-breath, gits, facial hair...

Handsome, fit, tanned, dark-haired, twinkly-eyed nudists - march to the front of the non-existent queue.

**I can supply face pics by email**   wink, wink

No particular kinks required. Knickers off and away we go...

Oh, and by the way... for those curious about my video... The dating site told it was too weird....the positions used were too weird......

PS If you don't like my profile for whatever reason, then just move on... life's too short to waste any of it on criticism. It won't impress me and it won't enrich your life

PONDER THIS......

2011-11-14T14:24:00.001-08:00

http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

Sort of made me pause and take stock this morning. Find myself with a smile on face when I thnk back on it.

SEE THE USA - DEFREES STYLE

2011-11-13T09:36:00.001-08:00

A very clever member of the DeFrees family, has just completed a trip round the USA. Filmed it and it is so clever it has been featured in Daily Mail in UK. Fancy that.

The young chap responsible for this filmed bit is ever so clever with a camera.

Remembrace Day 11-11-11

2011-11-11T06:42:00.001-08:00

11-11-11 Remember The Fallen

2011-11-11T06:37:00.001-08:00

I will remember the brave young heroes.

THINKING OUTLOUD HERE...

2011-11-09T12:50:00.001-08:00

Desiderata - written by Max Ehrman in 1927

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Remember the 5th of November

2011-11-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Guy Fawkes Night

2011-11-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Remember, remember the 5th of November.

Unprofessional behaviour at work...

2011-11-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas Man With 100-Pound Balls!

2011-10-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought you had problems...

As horrid as the plight of the poor chap is, there is some humour. Who would have thought a hoodie could be used so creatively.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT 'ME'...

2011-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Being 'au fait' as readers of me blog tend to be, they, and new peekers in, realize that what this old geezer writes about is LIFE. Life that is seen through me eyes and lived, imperfect at times, but still lived.

However difficult life is at times, one is constantly amazed at how oft the door of opportunity swings open and begs one to have the courage to venture through that door.

Recently, the old geezer took to the road of life in search of his 'safe harbour', a place where one could knock the dust of heavy times from trainers and collect thoughts and try to find inner peace. A place to feel welcome and safe. It would seem that relief from the burdens of everyday life comes at one from unexpected corners. One never knows truly what lies ahead, round the next corner or in the welcome offered by a new friend in life.

I am lucky. There always seems to be someone who takes a shine to and makes the journey worth the taking and all the more likely that one will come away with a much better feeling of self and a renewed joy in life.

If one takes the time to listen to the stories told round one, one hears many a tale that mirrors one's own fight to make sense of life. The mystery that seems to baffle one is really no mystery at all, the challenge of living life is one faced by more that self. The trick seems to be to realize that some face the challenge better and come away the better for it. That is not to say that scars are not got from the battle.

I have met a person of late who makes me stop and take stock of what frightens me, what holds me back and what makes me feel low at times. This person has led an exemplary life. Had a life's work that provided a good living and provided a good retirement. This person has punched his ticket in all of the right places. Paid his taxes, cared about his community and tried to right what wrongs he saw as he travelled down the road of life.

That is not to say that he has not suffered the tragic in life. He paid a heavy price for being true to self. Family was not as supportive as one would have liked and choices in who to love did not provide with a union that lasted all of his days.

The wounds received in one's youth tend to be the ones that never really heal proper. The come back to haunt later in life. Truth be told, this old geezer knows that all too well.

What should be the 'golden' period of life for the person met is filled with much depression. He wonders what it has all been for and what lies ahead. As clever as this person appears to be, he tends to think that there should be more. As if there is still the possibility that days will be filled with the loudness of Christmas and Fourth of July. There has to be more.
\
The battle to make sense of what is now and what one hopes for is huge. So thick is the smoke of battle that one tends to not see what already has been granted and to appreciate the bounty of it all.

In the past I have banged on about what ails me. Some would think a little too loudly. May well be more truth to that than am willing to lay claim to at times.

Whatever my problems, they are not so unique. All one has to do is listen to voices round to know that we all suffer loss and want. There are dark days enough to go round many times over. Mind, one has to remember that the the sun always come back out. So dark it is not that a ray of light does not brighten the future.

I oft wonder what is the point of life. There have even been times that the thought of suicide seemed a perfect end to problems faced. The cloud of depression is not unknown to me.

It may well be that the trick of me life is to be here for folks met who need to realize that however dark the present moment is, there are brighter days ahead. Having faced so very many dark days, I know that to be so very true. In some small way it might be possible to lend a helping hand to another in need of bucking up.

Life is not just about ME. A life worth living is one that shares AND remembers that life lived is not a solitary experience.

I hope that my new found friend chases away the ghosts of the past and comes to see the beauty he adds to the world round, just because he has a place in it.

SOME THOUGHTS

2011-10-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

For all of you who did not take Latin in school, the snap is Latin for "What? Me Worry?" Roughly translated...

I got to thinking of the small things that trouble me in life and took a moment to think back of some of the positive things that take place on a daily basis.

I am reminded of a dear person to me who has faced much in life and has taken the attitude that each and every day will be lived to the fullest. No regrets and no time for time lost worrying about the small things in life. This coming from a person who has sent the 'grim reaper' packing three times in the past when he came knocking at door. One never knows why some make it and others do not, rather think that it just is one of the miracles in life.

Recently met another chap who has kept the faith even when the cards did not always play out well. Loss is hard to take.

The comment was made to me recently that dealing with depression was hard. How true.

One wants to keep the party going, even if the balloons are a bit short of air.

Whatever worries I have, and I do have some, become somewhat easier to deal with when I think back on persons known to me who have dealt with the tragic and still find much to feel good about and are willing to share with others.

BREAKING NEWS

2011-10-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS!!
To save the economy, on October 30, 2011, Obama will announce that he is ordering the immigration department to start deporting old people (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.
Old people are easier to catch, and will not remember how to get back home!
I started crying when I thought of you.

RUN, YOU OLD GEEZER, RUN!!

Well..... Someone sent it to me and I'm not going alone!

FIRST LADY 'SPLASHES OUT' AT TARGET

2011-09-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

First Lady, Michelle Obama, must be feeling the need to cut back on her spending. What with the very expensive holidays taken of late.

Rumour has it that the First Lady filled her trolley with 'must have' items, not easily got at the White House.

Stocking up for a future party, the First Lady got loads of paper products and tins of nuts to serve her future guests.

I mean really, this trip to local Target is about as real as The Queen queueing up at the local Tesco for bargains. Talk about a blatant attempt to pander to the press and folks who truly need to cut back.

If you add the cost of security detail, there could have been no real savings about this trip.

The boredchap in the background must be part of the security detail. Look on face says it all...

CUPPA WITH ATTITUDE

2011-09-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

I am not a fan of the 'Evil Empire' AKA 'Starbucks', even so, I was gobsmacked that a lady in New York recently received her cuppa with "BITC." written on the take away cup. Who would do such a thing at 'Starbucks'?? Surely not the ever so friendly baristas who rattle the tip jar on the counter as you fork over a small fortune for a cuppa.

Many moons ago in a different city, this old geezer would go to a Starbucks early in the AM, it was only place open at half 5, to get a cuppa and some toast. Went every day I did. Until a barista came up to and told that I was 'cheap', never put a donation into the 'tip' jar. Went so far as to tell me that if I could not do that, perhaps I should go to McDonald's...

I marched out and rang up the main office and complained. The barista was fired but I never went back to Starbucks. I knew my business was not wanted. I did not fit in with the fancy customers willing to pay high prices and leave huge tips.

The old geezer in the clip is a bit over the top. Language is most colourful. Mind, I doubt he will ever go back to have a cuppa at the 'Evil Empire'...

POSTCARD FROM THE EDGE?

2011-09-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

It is rumoured that WC Fields said on deathbed; "all in all.....I'd rather be in Philadelphia.". Even on me worst day that would never be the wish of this old geezer. Yuck...

The silly video came to be as many who follow me channel on YOUTUBE banged on about no new offering.

Being a whore to public opinion, I thought I would slap something together to stop the emails begging for another filmed bit. It is not me best but it allows one and all to see quite clearly that I am very much alive and kicking...

I do miss Hilo, the Hilo Bay Hostel, Ron, Bill and Margie and of course The Big Kahuna. More than I let on. Life goes on and one has to adapt...

I read all of the mail from faithful followers and ever so appreciative of the many suggestions for future posts to the blog.

There are many tales yet to come...

WICKEDLY CHEEKY UK CHAT SHOW

2011-09-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

As a rule Chat Shows are not my cup of tea, BUT, that may well change as I have recently discovered and gone quite made for the Alan Carr Chat Show on Channel 4in UK.

Before mates had sent directions to this show to be found on YOUTUBE, this old geezer thought that Graham Norton was the most wickedly cheeky chat show host on the telly. Openly gay and full of clever innuendo-laden jokes, Mr. Norton was both campy and flamboyant, in a way that Benny Hill could never be.

Move over on the couch Mr. Norton, the ever so campy Alan Carr takes the crown...

As you can see from the clip, Mr. Carr never misses a beat. Truth be told, it would appear that his guests do not either. Just watch and listen to the clip.

In my day, I have watched many a chat show. None come close to the good time had by tuning into this one. One never knows who will turn up or what direction it will take. Forget about Rosie or Ellen or any other person doing a chat show. Even Jonathan Ross.

I know, I am over the moon for all things British. In this case it would seem that the UK has done it up rather well. There is nothing boring about the guests appearing on Alan's show.

For all of the lip service given to how well we do telly in America, it will never come to pass that a chat show on American telly will ever have so clever a host. Let alone openly GAY. I mean to tell you, there is no doubt that Alan is 'light in the loafers'. What makes it all work is that guests, audience and Mr. Carr are in on the joke.

If you have not see Alan's show before, watch the clip and at the end you will have the option to see more. I went through quite a few and will tell true, the laughs kept coming. And the guests were most interesting. I got a new respect for Justin Timberlake from watching him play off Alan. Mr. Timberlake can do 'funny' and 'serious'. There are loads more BIG American Stars that grace the couch on the chat show and they all seem to have quite a giggle.

It is pure rubbish telly and I love it. I rather think you will as well, or I do not know me readers...

Pure Camp

2011-09-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

I thought Grace Jones was dead or in a mobility chair by now. The mix between her and Alan is too funny for words.

Dame Edna and Alan Carr

2011-09-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

TAKING THE PISS

2011-09-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

I will tell true, I laughed so hard at this clip...

Funny Commercials

2011-09-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE?

2011-09-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Nevada	United States
	32	6.40%	Yuba City	California	United States
	28	5.60%	Fresno	California	United States
	22	4.40%	Honolulu	Hawaii	United States
	17	3.40%	Hilo	Hawaii	United States
	10	2.00%	Eatonton	Georgia	United States
	10	2.00%	Homewood	Illinois	United States
	8	1.60%	Seattle	Washington	United States
	8	1.60%			United States
	7	1.40%	Roswell	Georgia	United States
	7	1.40%	Sterling Heights	Michigan	United States
	6	1.20%	Wilkes Barre	Pennsylvania	United States
	6	1.20%	Bangkok	Krung Thep	Thailand
	6	1.20%	Bucharest	Bucuresti	Romania
	5	1.00%	Chilpancingo	Guerrero	Mexico
	4	0.80%	Cartersville	Georgia	United States
	4	0.80%	Atlanta	Georgia	United States
	4	0.80%	Phoenix	Arizona	United States
	4	0.80%	Los Angeles	California	United States
	3	0.60%	New York	New York	United States
	3	0.60%	Woodland Hills	California	United States
	3	0.60%	Smyrna	Georgia	United States
	3	0.60%	Whitesboro	Texas	United States
	3	0.60%	Marysville	California	United States
	3	0.60%	Prague	Hlavni Mesto Praha	Czech Republic
	3	0.60%	London	London	United Kingdom
	3	0.60%	Hamilton	Waikato	New Zealand
	2	0.40%	Minneapolis	Minnesota	United States
	2	0.40%	Kingston	Ontario	Canada
	2	0.40%	Cambridge	Ontario	Canada
	2	0.40%	Randers	Midtjyllen	Denmark
	2	0.40%	Oro Grande	California	United States
	2	0.40%	Amsterdam	Noord-holland	Netherlands
	2	0.40%	Amarillo	Texas	United States
	2	0.40%	Dollard-des-ormeaux	Quebec	Canada
	2	0.40%	Düsseldorf	Nordrhein-westfalen	Germany
	2	0.40%	Nairobi	Nairobi Area	Kenya
	2	0.40%	Richmond	Virginia	United States
	2	0.40%	Yorktown	Virginia	United States
	2	0.40%	Anchorage	Alaska	United States
	2	0.40%	Gatineau	Quebec	Canada
	2	0.40%	Orlando	Florida	United States
	2	0.40%	Sydney	New South Wales	Australia
	2	0.40%	Houston	Texas	United States
	2	0.40%	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma	United States
	2	0.40%	Huntington Station	New York	United States
	2	0.40%	Seoul	Seoul-t'ukpyolsi	Korea, Republic Of
	2	0.40%	Silver Spring	Maryland	United States
	2	0.40%	Dallas	Texas	United States
	2	0.40%	North Tonawanda	New York	United States
	2	0.40%	Ravenna	Emilia-romagna	Italy
	2	0.40%	Petersburg	Alaska	United States
	2	0.40%	Newnan	Georgia	United States
	2	0.40%	Fountain	Colorado	United States
	2	0.40%	The Dalles	Oregon	United States
	2	0.40%	Covington	Georgia	United States
	2	0.40%	Central District		Hong Kong
	2	0.40%	Hyderabad	Andhra Pradesh	India
	2	0.40%	Nonthaburi	Nonthaburi	Thailand
	2	0.40%	Wroclaw	Dolnoslaskie	Poland
	2	0.40%	Adelaide	South Australia	Australia
	2	0.40%	Puebla	Puebla	Mexico
	2	0.40%	Livonia	Michigan	United States
	1	0.20%	Lahaina	Hawaii	United States
	1	0.20%	Winter Park	Florida	United States
	1	0.20%	Helsinki	Southern Finland	Finland
	1	0.20%			Belgium
	1	0.20%	Colorado Springs	Colorado	United States
	1	0.20%	Dothan	Alabama	United States
	1	0.20%	Fairbanks	Alaska	United States
	1	0.20%	Novi Sad	Vojvodina	Serbia
	1	0.20%	Matraville	New South Wales	Australia
	1	0.20%	Buena Park	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Peshawar	North-west Frontier	Pakistan
	1	0.20%	Thunder Bay	Ontario	Canada
	1	0.20%	Ludhiana	Punjab	India
	1	0.20%	Fiães	Aveiro	Portugal
	1	0.20%	Burbank	Illinois	United States
	1	0.20%			Switzerland
	1	0.20%	Mol	Antwerpen	Belgium
	1	0.20%	Winona	Minnesota	United States
	1	0.20%	Bad Vilbel	Hessen	Germany
	1	0.20%	Siauliai	Siauliu Apskritis	Lithuania
	1	0.20%	Lvov	L'vivs'ka Oblast'	Ukraine
	1	0.20%	Broomfield	Colorado	United States
	1	0.20%	Quezon City	Quezon City	Philippines
	1	0.20%	Stevensville	Montana	United States
	1	0.20%	Wellington	Wellington	New Zealand
	1	0.20%	Jaipur	Rajasthan	India
	1	0.20%	Birmingham	Birmingham	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Mount Shasta	California	United States
	1	0.20%	New Delhi	Delhi	India
	1	0.20%	Seinäjoki	Western Finland	Finland
	1	0.20%	Deerfield	Illinois	United States
	1	0.20%	Trowbridge	Wiltshire	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	West Haven	Connecticut	United States
	1	0.20%	Paris	Ile-de-france	France
	1	0.20%	Dover	New Hampshire	United States
	1	0.20%	Sacramento	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Mount Vernon	Indiana	United States
	1	0.20%	Roseville	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Lincoln	Nebraska	United States
	1	0.20%	Miami	Florida	United States
	1	0.20%	Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Australia
	1	0.20%	Muskegon	Michigan	United States
	1	0.20%	Kaunas	Kauno Apskritis	Lithuania
	1	0.20%	Ho Chi Minh City	Ho Chi Minh	Vietnam
	1	0.20%	Eugene	Oregon	United States
	1	0.20%	Hallum	Friesland	Netherlands
	1	0.20%	Hersham	Surrey	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Clifton Heights	Pennsylvania	United States
	1	0.20%	Pernik	Pernik	Bulgaria
	1	0.20%	Maryville	Tennessee	United States
	1	0.20%	Menlo Park	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Watford	Hertford	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Kaneohe	Hawaii	United States
	1	0.20%	Santa Clara	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Lawrenceburg	Indiana	United States
	1	0.20%	Brand	Niederosterreich	Austria
	1	0.20%	Palmerston North	Wellington	New Zealand
	1	0.20%	Annecy	Rhone-alpes	France
	1	0.20%	Mississauga	Ontario	Canada
	1	0.20%	Las Vegas	Nevada	United States
	1	0.20%	Zevenaar	Gelderland	Netherlands
	1	0.20%	Arlington	Virginia	United States
	1	0.20%	Auckland	Auckland	New Zealand
	1	0.20%	East Providence	Rhode Island	United States
	1	0.20%	Baltimore	Maryland	United States
	1	0.20%	Shreveport	Louisiana	United States
	1	0.20%	Upland	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Caldwell	New Jersey	United States
	1	0.20%	Mangaluru	Karnataka	India
	1	0.20%	Denver	Colorado	United States
	1	0.20%	Webb City	Missouri	United States
	1	0.20%	Târgu	Mehedinti	Romania
	1	0.20%	Dubai	Dubai	United Arab Emirates
	1	0.20%	Port Elizabeth	Eastern Cape	South Africa
	1	0.20%	Chiang Mai	Chiang Mai	Thailand
	1	0.20%	Manchester	Manchester	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Flensburg	Schleswig-holstein	Germany
	1	0.20%	Regina	Saskatchewan	Canada
	1	0.20%	Batu Caves	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia
	1	0.20%	Grimes	Iowa	United States
	1	0.20%	Leatherhead	Surrey	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Amstetten	Niederosterreich	Austria
	1	0.20%	Barcelona	Catalonia	Spain
	1	0.20%	Konya	Konya	Turkey
	1	0.20%	Delhi	Delhi	India
	1	0.20%	Wellingborough	Northamptonshire	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Esbjerg	Syddanmark	Denmark
	1	0.20%	Kailua Kona	Hawaii	United States
	1	0.20%	Allendale	New Jersey	United States
	1	0.20%	Budapest	Budapest	Hungary
	1	0.20%	Madrid	Madrid	Spain
	1	0.20%	Jakarta	Jakarta Raya	Indonesia
	1	0.20%	Blue Earth	Minnesota	United States
	1	0.20%	Saint Paul	Minnesota	United States
	1	0.20%	Delavan	Wisconsin	United States
	1	0.20%	São Paulo	Sao Paulo	Brazil
	1	0.20%	East Aurora	New York	United States
	1	0.20%	Ashford	Kent	United Kingdom
	1	0.20%	Montreal	Quebec	Canada
	1	0.20%	Toronto	Ontario	Canada
	1	0.20%	Grand Rapids	Michigan	United States
	1	0.20%	Pictou	Nova Scotia	Canada
	1	0.20%	Ramat Gan	Tel Aviv	Israel
	1	0.20%	San Francisco	California	United States
	1	0.20%	Singapore		Singapore

The above is a snapshot of folks reading me blog one hour ago. Gobsmacked I am. Who would think that so many would want to follow the adventures of this old geezer?

The map of world brings up 'flags' to show where the hits are coming from and there are times that one sees 'flags' in the middle of the 'Atlantic', a very bored person on a ship no doubt...

Which all goes to prove that the old geezer can not be sitting in the dark clicking a button to generate 'hits' from outside his cave. There be some who believe that...

In the words of Thelma Desmond in 'Sunset Blvd'; "I owe it all to the little people, sitting in the dark"...

Very flattered I am.

GAY SOLDIERS - WHO CARES?

2011-09-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

If you ask me, and no one did, most of what is being said these past few days about the 'DADT' policy of the US Military expiring is so much tosh.

Military members have got married, some have flung open the closet door so hard it has broke off and others have gone on YOUTUBE to ring up Dad and proclaim their formerly hidden sexuality. Some members of the media are even calling the newly 'open' gay service members heroes. Fancy that...

Who really cares, save the very politically active members of the Lavender Elite, who never will be truly happy until they have outed every gay person in America and made sure that one and all have had GAY shoved into their faces multiple times?

Call me the product of my generation, but it never was a burning issue with me.

Many of the Lavender Elite do not remember Barry Goldwater. I do and I remember what he had to say on the subject of gays in the military long before recent events unfolded.

The year was 1994 and Mr. Goldwater had this to say to Washington Post;

“At 85, after a life in politics spanning five decades (he retired from the Senate in 1987), Mr. Conservative has found himself an unlikely new career: as a gay rights activist. [snip] This month he signed on as honorary co-chairman of a drive to pass a federal law preventing job discrimination against homosexuals. The effort, dubbed Americans Against Discrimination, is being spearheaded by the Human Rights Campaign Fund, the influential gay lobbying organization. “The big thing is to make this country, along with every other country in the world with a few exceptions, quit discriminating against people just because they’re gay,” Goldwater asserts. “You don’t have to agree with it, but they have a constitutional right to be gay. And that’s what brings me into it.””

“The first time this came up was with the question, should there be gays in the military?” Goldwater says. “Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time, and never having even talked about it in all those years, I just thought, why the hell shouldn’t they serve? They’re American citizens. As long as they’re not doing things that are harmful to anyone else. … So I came out for it.”

After more than 50 years in the military and politics, I am still amazed to see how upset people can get over nothing. Lifting the ban on gays in the military isn’t exactly nothing, but it’s pretty damned close

Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar. They’ll still be serving long after we’re all dead and buried. That should not surprise anyone.

But most Americans should be shocked to know that while the country’s economy is going down the tubes, the military has wasted half a billion dollars over the past decade chasing down gays and running them out of the armed services. It’s no great secret that military studies have proved again and again that there’s no valid reason for keeping the ban on gays.

When you get down to it, no American able to serve should be allowed, much less given an excuse, not to serve his or her country. We need all our talent.

The Lavender Elite will no doubt laugh this off. Barry Goldwater was Republican and round the bend. Truth be told, Barry Goldwater was a public servant most of life, along with having served in military with honour. He ran for president. I rather like to think he also spoke true on many subjects, way ahead of his time in many ways.

The real heroes are the countless men and women who risked much in order to answer the call to arms in our country's hour of need. WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the current conflicts in the Middle East. These brave men and women served their country and then went home and got on with their lives. They added another label to that tin, pushing GAY further down the list of contents.

What a lot of time was wasted on a matter that truly did not matter...

POOR HARRY - GINGER IS NOT IN DEMAND

2011-09-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

Prince Harry - No Demand for "Ginger"

It has been reported in the world press that the world's largest sperm bank is no longer accepting donations of sperm from donors with 'ginger' hair. There is no demand...

Mind, if one is to believe, the sperm sold 'like hotcakes' in Ireland...

One wonders if Prince Harry has been told that his 'deposits' might not be wanted. Truth be told, I rather think that the ladies are queued up to try and see if they should be so lucky. The lust for 'ginger' must be dependant on the chap who has. Harry is not the only 'ginger' that has many lusting after, there are others.

I am gobsmacked at the demand for 'ginger' in Ireland. Who knew...

SAD NEWS

2011-09-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Andy Whitfield - Dead at 39 years

Was a shock to read in the Daily Mail that Andy Whitfield had lost his battle with Cancer. He was but 39, and was of the opinion he was winning the battle.

The Big Kahuna once asked me if I like 'gladiator' films and I was quick to reply; "I do indeed."

Andy was Star of the telly series "Spartacus" and I, along with millions of other fans, watched it with delight. Pure rubbish telly, but what a feast for the eye it was to see Andy do battle in every episode.

It will be the only thing to remember of the series. Mind, there were costumes and a story line that held one glued to telly. But it was Andy Whitfield's acting that made it very believable.

Whatever comes off in the continuation of the series will never quite take the place of his being gone.

He leaves behind a family in OZ and I do so hope that they do well in the future. He will be missed.

TEN YEARS ON AND STILL FRESHLY REMEMBERED

2011-09-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Fireman Mike Kehoe

The featured snap of Fireman Mike Kehoe will forever be my most vivid image of September 11th.

I had always assumed that Fireman Kehoe had died that day in the Tower. He did not. His company was pulled out when he was on the 28th floor and he and they survived, alond with the folks they helped get out of harm's way. While he did not die, I have no doubt that he would have have he continued up the tower. He did his job and was prepared to do it at the cost of his life. Truth be told, that makes Frireman Kehoe in my book, even if he did not forfiet his life. Truth be told, I am ever so glad that he lived and his doing so does not take away the image of bravery on the part of men and women that tragic day.

Every single time I journey by airline, I am reminded of how life changed that day in September. I have a metal rod in my leg that requires me to subject self to the horrid pat down at the airport. I rather think that will be the case for rest of my days. It will always remind me of September 11th.

UP, UP AND AWAY...

2011-09-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

HOT AIR BALLOONS OVER RENO

Were I ever so clever, me camera would have captured what I could see from the road outside home. Sadly, camera owned did not do justice to what was before me and had to use a snap from the INTERNET. Truth be told, it is what I saw, even better.

Folks tend to think that all of the action in Reno is within a casino, costing buckets of cash. The annual Reno Balloon Race is 100 per cent FREE and quite thrilling to see.

Just another treat one sees if open to the adventure.

Rather think I am going to like Reno...

TALL TALE??

2011-09-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Mountain Oysters

Mexican Oysters

A big Texan stopped at a local restaurant following a day roaming around in Mexico.

While sipping his tequila, he noticed a sizzling, scrumptious looking platter being served at the next table. Not only did it look good, the smell was wonderful.

He asked the waiter, 'What is that you just served?'

The waiter replied, 'Ah senor, you have excellent taste! Those are called Cojones de Toro, bull's testicles from the bull fight this morning. A delicacy!'

The cowboy said, 'What the heck, bring me an order.'

The waiter replied, 'I am so sorry senor. There is only one serving per day because there is only one bull fight each morning. If you come early and place your order, we will be sure to save you this delicacy.'

The next morning, the cowboy returned, placed his order, and that evening was served the one and only special delicacy of the day. After a few bites, inspecting his platter, he called to the waiter and said, 'These are delicious, but they are much, much smaller than the ones I saw you serve yesterday.'

The waiter shrugged his shoulders and replied, 'Si, Senor.

Sometimes the bull wins.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - SPLASH OUT AT CASINO

2011-09-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Peppermill Casino - Reno

Last night, Jack, my new BFF was gracious and invited me to dine with at the casino located less than a mile from where we hang our hats. It is located less than a mile down the road. Mind, it would seem that casinos are quite near to one and all but this casino has the reputation of being quite an adventure. How could one refuse so grand an offer to enjoy a lovely meal in a new venue?

We arrived just past 6pm and Jack wanted to sit at the Sports Bar and try his luck at a Video Poker Machine. It also helped that given one is 'gaming' one could have a cocktail 'one the house' whilst trying one's luck.

Truth be told, this old geezer in not fond of poker, it is like watching paint dry, but it was not my cash and Jack told that if I were to be with, they would give me a cocktail for FREE as well. They did and my evening of vicarious thrills was set into motion.

Jack is quite clever and seems to know just what to hold. The game played was 'Jacks Or Better', meaning if one got a pair of Jacks, one won. Sounds ever so simple.

Jack was playing for a $1.00 a bet and would select his hand and allow me to click the button to produce results.

The first thing one must mention about Jack is that he is quite demonstrative in sharing his delight at winning a bet and equally demonstrative in wishing for good results from the click I was providing. There were others in the Sports Bar, all seemed to be following a game of football being played, but the squeals of delight from Jack were infectious. Even the Barkeep thought Jack was showing the proper spirit of the place. One would have thought every winning click was a great family fortune, to hear Jack.

Truth be told, I was gobsmacked at the good fortune Jack was having. He had parleyed a $20.00 into a much larger sum and it never seemed to go below a certain level and bit by bit grew larger.

After an hour, and a considerable amount achieved on machine, hunger won out and we headed to the restaurant. Not before I asked if it were possible to get another Gin and Tonic, to replace the one I had nursed. One had to have a beverage for dinner. No?

Romanza Ristorante Italiano

Jack is a most gracious host and told that we could go to a restaurant close or journey further into the casino and dine at his favourite. I opted for his favoured place.

What strikes one about the Peppermill is it's flashy decor. Everything, and I do mean everything, about the Peppermill is 'over the top'. The carpet under foot is quite plush and in all directions one can see something that takes one aback. Very Posh.

The Romanza Ristorante Italiano was our place to dine. Just from the entry it looked as if the Emperor Nero had been allowed to run riot on the decor, it was so very eye filling. One was struck by the lighting that seemed to be subdued, as if one were in a courtyard of a villa dining by candle light.

Jack had good choices to recommend for dinner and the old geezer went with completely.

We started with 5 cheese soup, served with an organic salad and the main course was a Monte Cristo Sandwich complete with chips.

There was also a lovely bread basket with a spread to nibble on before the starters arrived.

Directly in from of me was a massive telly that displayed video images of scenes from the Mediterranean. Like I said, very over the top...

I will tell true, the 5 cheese soup was the Pièce de résistance of the evening for this old geezer. That is not to say that other parts were lacking, just that it was so very good that one longs to return and have again and again. I will tell that I had had a Monte Cristo before but never prepared as it was last night.

Needless to say, the meal was so filling that there was never any serious consideration given to afters. It would have been gluttonous to have attempted.

Having dined, we wandered through the casino taking in the sight and sounds. Jack cashed out one of his winning tickets and was ever so grand in giving me a bit of cash to play with. Jack was in no mood to depart and there just might be another video poker machine with his name on it.

Throughout the casino there are Penny fruit machines and quite near the place Jack was to play, I sat down and started clicking the buttons on a machine I had no clue worked, other than it had a bonus feature and multiple lines to place with wilds.

It turned out that the right machine was picked as it kept giving me the bonus feature and in short order had given up a sum that was much greater than started with. Was quite pleased with self and took the amount and ran...

Jack had found himself another machine that fortune was smiling on and again had managed to collect a grand sum for his efforts. No small thing when you consider that one does not always win. As before, joining Jack got the third cocktail of the evening for FREE. I was over the moon and starting to feel the warmth of the beverages. The old geezer is not a massive drinker and three was one past limit. It was fun...

Jack is very responsible, in gaming and drink, and was well capable of not getting carried away. Mind, his luck was greater at this machine. Cashing out, we headed to the door or so I thought. There was one more machine to try and that produced a winning amount that was the topper of the evening. Lovely.

I will tell true, $1,00 machines are too grand for this old geezer but not for one minute did I feel that the few pennies played were less than fun. Multiple lines had given up a sum one could be quite pleased with. The point being I had FUN... Fancy that...

Truth be told the vicarious thrill of clicking the buttons of the $1.00 machine and the sharing of Jack's thrill of winning was truly a night to remember...

ADVENTURES CONTINUE

2011-09-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Multi-Sided Robert

Travel is always an adventure, and it requires a little thought before departure and some reflection upon arrival at destination. The old geezer recently set out on another adventure and some days have past since arrival and thought it was time to share. Fancy that...

I departed Dunsmuir, Ca., on the south bound train that departs in the wee hours of the new day. Just past 12am on the new morn of the 1st. Rumour has it that the train is always late, but my experience held no such late schedule. The train pulled into the station on time and departed on time.

Allow the old geezer t back up a bit. New found friends, Bill and Margie, lovely couple who lived cross the road from cottage house sat, had the old geezer over for dinner night before departure AND stayed up and drove to station. Margie packed a cheese sandwich, bit of cake and beverage, as to keep the old geezer from pangs of hunger during the long journey. What a lovely couple and ever so kind to this old geezer.

The trip to Sacramento passed with out incident and we arrived in Sacramento before schedule. The layover in Sacramento was to be 4 hours but having made a new friend on train, there was someone to pass the time until the next leg was taken.

The train did not go direct to Reno, one had to switch to a coach. That was OK, as AMTRAK uses a company that has rather grand coaches, equipped with WIFI and an ever so lovely driver. We departed on time and arrived in Reno ahead of schedule. How is that for laying waste the rumour of lateness, or was it pure luck?

Avid readers will remember that the old geezer was want to find a suitable situation in Dunsmuir and the suggestion was made that Reno might hold better promise.

The old geezer had chatted with a chap met on the INTERNET, who told of a possible housing situation in his home. His verbal description sounded like a 'slice of heaven' as did the chap sound ever so lovely. Mind, one never knows how things things will turn out, neither of us knew the other from a 'bucket of paint' and there was always the possibility that it would not be suitable for either.

There was some worry, not much, but one has to trust these things to fate from time to time.

The chat agreed to meet at train schedule and he did. Ever so gracious he was and told that at very least, accept the hospitality for week end and see how one felt. How could one refuse?

The house turned out to be on a street that could have been out of "Leave To Beaver", lovely road and ever so charming house. Huge house, containing 4 'en suite' bed rooms, with loads and loads of room. Back garden contained a brilliant swimming pool, lovely potted blooming flowers and TWO 'hot tubs'. Talk about posh.

The bedroom assigned to the old geezer was on top floor, that is to say first floor, with two others being downstairs. A 4 poster bed and comfy wing backed chair catching me eye right off. It was quite lovely to strip off and take a lovely HOT shower before taking a wee nap before dinner.

Four days have passed since arrival and each day has been lovely. Jack, the new found friend, is truly a lovely chap and he has introduced the old geezer to mates who have come by to swim or have dinner with. Quite a collection of interesting chaps so far, but will get into that later.

There are three dogs in the home, not bothersome types and no real problem dealing with. Actually, all three are well mannered.

There is another old geezer living in the house, he has been here for some years and fits into the scheme like a card carrying member of the 'family' Jack has set up in his home. A complete lack of drama....

This old geezer is always in awe of other old geezers who kept eye on the 'golden years' and manage to have a brilliant retirement. My education and life experiences should have held that true for self, but as one all knows too well, this old geezer has not done. Me bad, as the young would say. Truth be told, I used 'awe' not 'envy' to describe the great divide between Jack and self. Rather think that sums it up best and am only ever so thankful to have landed a situation that seems suited well to this old geezer.

There are minor details to work out, all having to deal with paper work to complete to place on the on proper register for me benefits, and rather think that will sort itself in good order.

I have not taken any new snaps of yet but rest assured will fairly quickly, want to make sure that Jack is comfy with the idea first. Not all are keen to be on the INTERNET.

It is Day 4 and this old geezer has yet to set foot into a casino. Did not travel here to camp out in front of fruit machines, but think there will be a visit to one over the long week-end and no doubt a penny fruit machine will gobble up me offering.

As the heading told, the adventure continues and will no doubt have much more to offer in the days ahead...

A READER WRITES

2011-08-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Robert,

I know my responses to your posts have dropped quite dramatically. I can't even begin to explain how busy I am with work and school (again, this time for nursing). But do not think for one second that I do not read them every time I get an update. I always have you in my thoughts, as I can not ever forget, or brush aside the one one person who turned my vacation to the one place I had always dreamed of going to, a time to remember. I sometimes have a hard time understanding what exactly has happened to you over the last year....I can't imagine why someone as kind and caring as yourself, could possibly have so much hard times put on him. I continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and hope to hear more from you soon. Keep yourself well.

Much Aloha~

It is always flattering to get a note from one who has followed my adventures for some time. Gobsmacked the old geezer at the number of folks who are avid readers.

To answer Marilyn, the answer to my trials and tribulations may well just be due to the simple act of living. Mind, do not always think out things and have been known to mus-step from time. Truth be told, the last year has not been with out high points. Mind, with a few trips round the pity pole concerning medical problems, it did get a wee bit tiring for some. To the point that one reader reminded the old geezer that my situation was not without my own hand at the helm. Quite right.

I sorting out things and it appears that there is another journey coming my way. Like so many others, the old geezer is looking for an affordable safe harbour to pull into and finding has not been easy. My next stop may not be entirely perfect, but it must might work better than Dunsmuir. My situation requires a central location, support network and ability to fend for self most of them time. If one is realistic, neither Dunsmuir or Hilo seems to be able to give me that.

I am working the INTERNET and feel sure that something will turn up. I am quite upbeat on that point. Truly.

Will keep you posted...

DUNSMUIR SOLITUDE

2011-08-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Robert De Frees - Roughing It

Whatever else can be said of the old geezer, not being willing to rough it is not one of them. The wee cottage put up at is not without it's drawbacks. Least of which is lack of hot water. Did you ever stop to think how grand it is to step into the shower in the morn and be greeted by endless flow of hot water? Sort of makes for a lovely start to the coming day.

My shower is COLD, tempered only by my boiling water to splash on when the ice starts to form on head. One learns rather quickly to not keep too long bathing. One must tell true that it does get the motor running, straight for the kettle and a cuppa of hot tea.

Mind, the sofa makes out into a most comfy bed and a good night's sleep is had. Removing the hearing device all but guarantees that the whistle of the arriving trains into Dunsmuir will not be heard, or anything else.

My solitude is not a burden, have always been able to entertain me self and there are books to read and NPR on the small radio. This old geezer has had much to contemplate. Like where he might land when The Big Kahuna returns and starts to tear up the cottage further. Daily walks have of yet revealed no diggs that would suit and am beginning to wonder of my travels will take me east and Broadway...

The folks in Dunsmuir are grand, there is no complaint there. You, who follow me adventures,are 'au fait' with me lame leg. While greatly improved, it still can carry but so far before it lets me know that it can not bring me back if I continue. Most of the spots found are out of town and with no vehicle, it it too great of a problem to overcome. There was on place, a 4 floor walk-up and that simple is not possible. One keeps looking, but the prospects are not too bright. I have no desire to live in Mt. Shasta or Weed, as public transport is limited and winter will come sooner than later.

Many have sent emails to wondering why the flow of posts has slowed. Partly due to library being open a limited number of days and hours. Partly due to the old geezer not knowing what to impart without coming off as whining. I do try to keep all happy and am ever so honoured that so many keep peeking and catching up on posts they might have missed in the past.

To sum up,I am completely clueless as to how this adventure will turn out OR where I may wind up next.

The Big Kahuna is of the opinion that the old geezer just likes to keep adding miles to his trainers and can not stay in one place too long. Fancy that...

DUNSMUIR SIGHTS

2011-08-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

Room with View

The window caught the flash but you can still see that the view is one of being in a valley with many trees looking down on. Is summer and is all quite green. Come winter one can imagine the winter wonderland look the snap will have.

Pro-Active City Hall

Attending a garden party one hears of the recent recall of folks in City Hall. Of a mayor who wanted to plant a 'pot' garden near City Hall. It may not be the big city but folks took to streets and recalled the lot and put in place more comfy council members.

Dunsmuir Mural

This mural appears on Dunsmuir Apartments, a place lived some 15 years ago. Not much has changed save for some fresh paint.

St. John's - Catholic Church

One has to be thankful for small favours. Who would have thought there were enough papist to support a priest and church.

Local Merchant

Along with pushing bits and bobs at counter, the local merchant found time to co-authour a book on Dunsmuir.

Dunsmuir Avenue

Rather think Dunsmuir is a wee bit more than one horse town, not much more but still...

Winter on Dunsmuir Avenue

The snap proves that winter will follow the warm weather and there will be lots of snow to contend with.

Lots of SNOW

Not sure how it all adds up but it gives one pause, all of the white stuff to come. Did I mention the cold as well?

From all discovered so far, there is more 'there' in Dunsmuir that towns round. Some how do not fancy having a post address of Weed, Ca...

DUNSMUIR HARPIST WOWS GARDEN PARTY

2011-08-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

Dunsmuir Village Harpist - Patty

I pose the question, when is the last time you attended a garden party where a harpist was holding court? Asked the Big Kahuna and he fessed up to never. The old geezer must lived a charmed life and has attended many a gathering in UK where a harp was featured. Very big on chamber music they be across the pond.

The garden party was planned by a new neighbour to, Nancy, a lovely lady met at Senior Centre. She was gracious to invite the old geezer and the thought of meeting more folks from Dunsmuir AND free eats was all it took to get washed up and over the fence.

The party started promptly a 6pm, and the guests were queued up in the drive way when I arrived. There was a lovely lady manning the greeting table, on the was heavy with platters of ever so inviting finger food and dip. Nancy rounded the corner and hoped that I would have no problem meeting some of the locals. I did not.

Truth be told, many were well know to one another and did not bother to get between folks chatting. I did meet a man and wife, he is on the local city council, another chap who had spent most of work life working in Hollywood and a lawyer. There were a few others but in the main kept to the four who sat at table I ate at.

The purpose of the garden party was to welcome home a lady who had been living in China. Seems she is back for a short spell and then returning to China. Very "Berkeley" the lady seemed and she regaled the gathering with tales of life in China and her ability to order food in the cafeteria in Chinese. Fancy that.

All seemed ever so clever and was reminded of the days when this old geezer hosted like garden parties in Walnut Creek and London. Times are different now and the old geezer does not host, he just bellies up to the table and chow down the lovely eats and listen in on conversations. It works.

Dunsmuir is a constant surprise. Who would have thought?

My house sitting is til end of September, at which time the wee house will be much put upon and there will be no place to live. Looking round Dunsmuir has not turned up and possible winter digs and and of the opinion a return to Hawaii might be in the cards.

The end of September is a wee bit off and am not viewing my return to Hawaii as a running away or a search for the perfect place, it is just familiar and might prove more easily settled in.

We will see how the cards fall...

HONOURING THE DEAD - PART II

2011-08-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

Final Words

One of Many Military Buried

WWII Pilots - Brothers -

Spanish Flu

Famous Local Family

Headline Marks Grave

Lilly at Work

There are many graves of small children, some but a day old when they died. Victims of the Spanish flu some, others tragic mis-steps that had the grim reaper come and collect so young.

Lilly makes no exceptions to her TLC, all receive her attention and with over 1000 graves her task is far from over. Need to commend her son Robert. Disabled but still helping his mum every day do some good for the community.

With folks like Lilly and Robert, rather think Dunsmuir is pretty special...

HONOURING THE DEAD - PART I

2011-08-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Lilly Jones

"To understand a place, the people, beliefs and values, examine how they honour their dead"

I met Lilly Jones on my first walk through the Dunsmuir Cemetery. I was puzzled to see her bending over a rock and painting a name on it. Curiosity got the better of and I approached the lovely lady and asked if she was remembering a member of her family. Turns out she was remembering all of the forgotten souls that lie in the cemetery. They were never promised perpetual care and truth be told, the graveyard was in need of some TLC.

That is where Lilly comes in. She has many family members buried there and was sure that a little clean up would make her and them feel good. Local, Lilly and her son, Robert, are known as the duo who tend to the weeds and replace fallen stones and mark the graves where the headstone has long ago been destroyed or worn down by time.

Lilly does this all out of love. No pay packet. Just knew that helping discover lost loved ones would make her and others feel better. She went further and bought flowers and crosses and markers to further bring a little brightness to the graveyard. Along the way she made some discoveries and made friends of family members who were delighted with her efforts.

Single-handed, Lilly has got City Hall to back her efforts. Placed headstones on graves that honour fallen servicemen and boy scouts. Crosses were made to mark military and she places flowers in a holder attacked to. She has poured through records and found the resting places of many where there was no marker.

When Lilly and Robert first started cleaning up, large parts of the graveyard were buried under mounds of debris. Many of the dead were forgot.

Born when US was very young

I took to this stone as the chap had been born in 1837, making him and one other the oldest buried in the cemetery. Long lived as well.

Colourful Headstone

Lilly scours news accounts to find some of the graves. The local newspaper gave no much more that the name and one wonders what sort of lady she might have been to gain such a moniker.

No Name but Details

Weed Kills

You Think?

My Final Resting Place?

Stay tuned for Part II...

PROBLEMS POSTING

2011-08-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

The old geezer must have been knackered, or the bloody websaite, the last post had to be fixed.

There is now text to go with the snaps taken and hope you will re-visit the post of 2nd. It is a good read.

There is so much to come. Want you to meet Lilly who tends to local cemetary, Robert, her son, Bill and Margie and Nancy and Brett. So much good neighbour policy here.

Last night, Margie brought over a potato lasagna (bloody lovely) and rumour has it she is going to do potato pancakes in days ahead.

It is not London or Honolulu but ever so lovely all the same Dunsmuir is. Rather think you will enjoy the stories to come.