27 July 2007

Who am I???

I saw this over here and thought it would be fun.

*** THE EVERYTHING TEST ***

There are many different types of tests on the Internet today. Personality tests, purity tests, stereotype tests, political tests. But now, there is one test to rule them all.

Traditionally, online tests would ask certain questions about your musical tastes or clothing for a stereotype, your experiences for a purity test, or deep questions for a personality test. We're turning that upside down - all the questions affect all the results, and we've got some innovative results too! Enjoy :-)

Here are my results:

PERSONALITY
You are more logical than emotional, more concerned about others than concerned about self, more atheist than religious, more loner than dependent, more lazy than workaholic, more rebel than traditional, more engineering mind than artistic mind, more cynical than idealist, more leader than follower, and more introverted than extroverted.

As for specific personality traits, you are innovative (57%).

STEREOTYPES
Prep (85%)
Punk Rock (67%)
Old Geezer (67%)

LIFE EXPERIENCE
Sex (52%)
Substances (30%)
Travel (38%)

POLITICS
Your political views would best be described as Liberal, whom you agree with around 46% of the time.

SOCIOECONOMIC
Your attitude toward life best associates you with Working Class. You make more than 0% of those who have taken this test, and 100% less than the U.S. average.

If your life was a movie, it would be rated R. By the way, your hotness rank is 62%, hotter than 55% of other test takers.

TAKE THE TEST

Powered by ThatSurveySite - http://www.thatsurveysite.net

Just a note...

...to let you know that I've been really busy lately get ready for out little holiday next week. James and I are head to the land of the Land of the Long White Cloud (aka New Zealand) to visit a friend who moved back there a while back. James and I have been to NZ several times but this will be the first time that we will be seeing our friends new home. She lives on the North Island and we will be spending all of or time on the North Island. You really need a couple of weeks if you want to visit both North and South islands properly. We are really looking forward to the visit as well as the chance to get away for a few days. So, needless to say posts will be at a minimum except for the few I might get done from our friends place. Who knows there may be pictures before we get back. Until then I will try to keep up with my blog reading and I'll see you when I get back. Cheers...

24 July 2007

There it is again...

I don't know if it is the time of year or just the weather we have been having or what, but once again the sunrise I've just seen out my kitchen window was amazing. I just had to share again. I could do a whole blog on sunrises or not. I guess that would be pretty boring unless i was an actual professional photographer and alas I am not said photographer. So after these few pictures I promise not to post another sunrise post. Well, unless it's like unbelievable and then well maybe.... :)





21 July 2007

A blast from the past...

I don't know why I'm posting this, but for some reason I felt the need to share. This post originally occurred on my other web site which tells the story of my life dealing with HIV up to a point. I am sorry to say that the site needs a complete update and I need to finish my story and maybe just maybe I'm feeling the need to do so. Anyway, as I said I'm not sure why I'm posting this but I am. Let me set this up a bit.

The post I'm about to share was written based on a letter I received from my daughter. Now you should know that for the first 13 years of my daughters life I had only seen her once and that was the day after she was born. I had to sneak up to my then wives room and I held my daughter for a precious fifteen minutes. I then had to leave for fear that my soon to be ex-wife's family might show up. Even though my wife and I were divorcing due to the fact that I had finally come to the realisation the I could no longer live a lie about my sexual orientation. I had been battling that dark secret for way to long and at that point there was no way I was going to bring a child into the world and have her see her parents living in a lie. Many people tried to get us to stay together for the sake of the baby but I just couldn't. As I said I would not have my child grow up seeing and feeling the fact that her parents did not actually love one another anymore. I say anymore because I have to be fair that in some way even though inside I knew I was gay I fought so hard against it and I did actually find a woman for whom I could feel love. To this day I honestly do care for my ex-wife. she's a good woman and she raised my daughter to be a very well adjusted young woman and I could not ask anymore than that. We had some how come to a friendly arrangement and I give my ex-wife a lot of credit for she was very wise before her time. My ex-wife and I had agreed that for my daughters sake it would be best for me to stay in the background so as not to confuse the issue. I suppose on reflection it was not the best choice, never the less it was the choice we made.

For the next thirteen years my daughter grew up to be a lovely girl from what little things I found out through various avenues. The how I found out does not matter suffice it to say I found out. My ex-wife had remarried and I even went as far as allowing my daughter to be adopted by my wife's new husband because I thought it was the right thing to do. At the time I did not think I deserved to have a daughter as I was very good at becoming a self loathing gay man, not worthy of proper love, understanding and support from various friends and family. What I did not know was that during all time she was growing up my ex-sister in-law was keeping my daughter in tune with who her real dad was. My sister in law apparently told my daughter everything, including the fact that I was gay. Which she told her only because my daughter pressed her for the answer. Now I could be mad at my ex-sister-in-law for outing me but the truth would eventually have to come out and as it was that would be the impetus for my daughter wanting to meet me. The way I understand it she asked her mother who did not want to say anything about me and my daughter said fine she would find out on her own and eventually got my parents on the phone and talked to them.

In those thirteen years my life changed a lot and during that time I had become HIV+ as well I had buried the first of two partners. I was living with the second partner, when my mother called me to tell me that my daughter had called her and that she wanted to meet me. My daughter asked my mum if she thought I would be okay with meeting with hear after all this time. To say the least I was bit shocked. There had not been a day go by since the day she was born that I did not think about my daughter and wondered how she was or what she was like. Needless to say I said yes I would be more than happy to meet her. I knew in my heart that one day I would have to meet her and she would eventually ask me what happened thirteen years ago and why did I leave. I did not know what she had been told so I would be flying blind but I figured the best way forward would be with honesty. So the day came to meet and my mother had arranged for my daughter, along with my dad, to come to my home. My partner at that time used to be a professional photographer among other things and he was going to take some pictures of my family all together for the first time. Needless to say the meeting was very emotional so much that I can not even convey it here in words. At the end of the day the photos were taken and a new beginning began to form between my daughter and I. Shortly after that meeting I received a letter from my daughter and in that letter was what ended up being the post that I'm about to share with you.

So without further adieu here is that post:

A few weeks ago I wrote my previous column, and I discussed the trials and tribulations of taking all the different medicines I need to help my immune system fight the HIV virus. I often asked myself wondering if it was all worth it. Well several days after writing that column I received a letter from my daughter and I got the best answer as to why I continue to fight this disease. I would like to share this letter with you. I think you'll agree I have a very good reason to fight back against this devastating disease.

Dad, Hi! How are you? I'm just fine. Well I wrote this poem two years ago and never gave it to you. I hope it doesn't upset you, something just told me inside that I should send you a copy of it. Well I gotta go!

Love always & forever, Erin

ps. I just want you to know that I love you with all of my heart even though I haven't known you for all of my life. A girl couldn't ask for a better dad. I'm proud of you & everything you have ever accomplished. I love you daddy!


Is Life Fair?

I just met my dad the other day.

There is so much more that I want to say.


His body is a wilting flower,

Here today, then gone tomorrow.

Yet his spirit is like the ocean.

It waves up and down,

One day calm and the next rough.

I ask myself "Is life fair?",

"Why my despair?"


I think of my wedding day.

How will it be?

Who will give me away?

Who will stand next to me?


He wears a smile.

But inside he is frowning.

I sometimes wonder is he drowning?


My father loves me with all of his heart

I know in spirit that we will never part.

But, it just hurts really bad.


Life is robbing me of my dad.


That letter and poem have stuck with me to this day and in the end here we are in my daughters 25th year and she is all grown up and she's even given me a granddaughter. I've obeyed the doctors and will be lucky to see my 50th birthday this November. I don't know if or when my daughter will get married but at the end of the day if she stills wants me to walk her down the aisle it will be my pleasure. All in all as difficult as it can be I think life is good because I have won this battle so far. Anyway, thanks for reading and now we will return to our regularly scheduled and much more current posts.

18 July 2007

Red, angry and yet beautiful...

As I sat here yesterday morning reading all the various blogs as I do every morning I was presented with a spectacular view, of the sun rising, from our kitchen window. We get some of the most stunning sunrises here. Albeit the sky was very red and angry it was also very beautiful. I know they say red sky in morning sailors warning and we were expecting a bit of bad weather, which sort of eventuated. A change did come through with a bit of rain and pushed our temperatures back done into the 30's in the morning. Anyway, I just thought I would share these with you. I am working on a post that some of you may or may not find interesting. we shall see. Until then Enjoy...





12 July 2007

Have you ever...

This is a long meme that I found and I actually modified it a little because it was even longer, but I still think it is fun. Just copy the list and bold the things you've done. So here's mine

Have you ever...

  1. Bought everyone in the pub/bar a drink
  2. Climbed a mountain
  3. Held a tarantula.
  4. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
  5. Been in love
  6. Broken someone's heart
  7. Had your heart broken
  8. Done a striptease
  9. Bungee jumped
  10. Watched a lightning storm at sea
  11. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise
  12. Seen the Northern Lights
  13. Gone to a huge sports game
  14. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
  15. Slept under the stars
  16. Changed a baby's diaper
  17. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
  18. Watched a meteor shower
  19. Gotten drunk on champagne
  20. Given money to charity
  21. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
  22. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
  23. Had a food fight
  24. Bet on a winning horse
  25. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
  26. Had a snowball fight
  27. Photocopied your butt or any other intimate body part
  28. Held a lamb
  29. Gone skinny dipping
  30. Taken an ice cold shower
  31. Seen a total eclipse
  32. Ridden a roller coaster
  33. Hit a home run
  34. Been arrested
  35. Visited all 50 states
  36. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
  37. Stolen a street/highway sign
  38. Backpacked in Europe
  39. Taken a road-trip
  40. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
  41. Gone sky diving
  42. Milked a cow
  43. Alphabetised your records
  44. Sung karaoke
  45. Lounged around in bed all day
  46. Gone scuba diving
  47. Danced in the rain
  48. Gone to a drive-in theater
  49. Started a business
  50. Gotten married
  51. Been in a movie
  52. Crashed a party
  53. Gotten divorced
  54. Had sex at the office
  55. Made cookies from scratch
  56. Gotten a tattoo
  57. Been on television
  58. Had sex a public place
  59. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
  60. Recorded music
  61. Had a one-night stand
  62. Bought a house
  63. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
  64. Been on a cruise ship
  65. Spoken more than one language fluently
  66. Bounced a check
  67. Called or written your Congress person
  68. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
  69. Sang loudly by yourself in the car
  70. Wrote articles for a large publication
  71. Piloted an airplane
  72. Helped an animal give birth
  73. Been fired or laid off from a job
  74. Won money on a T.V. game show
  75. Broken a bone
  76. Ridden a motorcycle
  77. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
  78. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
  79. Ridden a horse
  80. Had major surgery
  81. Had sex on a moving train
  82. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
  83. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
  84. Visited all 7 continents
  85. Eaten sushi
  86. Had your picture in the newspaper
  87. Parasailed
  88. Changed your name
  89. Dyed your hair
  90. Been a DJ
I've done 46 out of 90. What have you done? Leave a comment if you were so inclined to do this meme so I can visit. Enjoy.

11 July 2007

Quote & Word of the day...

Quote of the day

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."

Voltaire (1694 - 1778)

Word of the day

prink \PRINGK\, transitive verb:
1. To dress up; to deck for show.

intransitive verb:
1. To dress or arrange oneself for show; to primp.

10 July 2007

Time flys (especially when you're cold)...

It is amazing how time flies by when you're not paying attention. I mean it's been four days since my last post. I thought it was like only yesterday. I felt like I should write a little something but this isn't going to be a ground breaking post, just a bit of a hey there, hi there so I won't have such huge gaps between post and I also won't feel guilty for not posting. As I said this isn't going to be a ground breaking post full of items about the most intimate parts of my life basically because I don't do that and to be honest there isn't anything ground breaking or shocking going on in the intimate department of my life. Not that I would honestly tell you anyway :) Nope pretty boring here.

So, what is happening? Well as you know it's winter here in the land down under and everyone is kind of hibernating including me. I don't mind winter as I like things like snow, wearing jumpers (American translation jumper = sweaters) and I love a nice fire in the fireplace. It's just that our house, which I'm sure I've mentioned before, is over 115 years old and there is no central heating/air conditioning. We depend on couple of space heaters, 2 oil heaters and one reverse cycle system which is located in the kitchen. We also use the fireplace in the lounge room and occasionally the one in the dining room.

What I'm getting at is, we don't leave all these item on except for the one oil heater that is in the bedroom to keep the chill off that room. So by not leaving anything on to keep the rest of the house warm over night it can be pretty darn chilly if not down right cold first thing in the morning. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is turn the reverse cycle on in the Kitchen. It has an automatic timer but I have never learned how to make it work. Occasionally I will turn on the fireplace in the lounge room but I hate to waste the gas. I guess I should be happy it is gas fuelled and not one that I would actually have to start with kindling and such because that just wouldn't happen. I never was a very good boyscout. It usually take about 30-40 minutes before it starts to really warm up and then it only does in this part of the house. The rest of the house stays cold. Anyway, that is the price we pay for choosing to live in a temperate climate, which is hard to find in Australia. At the end of the day I will take the cold over the heat because I hate it when I start getting all sweaty and can't seem to get away from the heat. I'm sure I will survive.

Well there you have it a riveting post on how I heat my home during winter. I hope you enjoyed the read. I think I'll go fix a nice hot cup of tea and try to warm up from the inside and leave you to ponder over this this very engrossing post on how I cope with the winter chill. BTW I am very well aware of the heat wave many of you are experiencing over in the states so maybe just maybe I can send you a bit of cool weather. I'm really all about the sharing.

6 July 2007

One word blog...

This is supposed to be a one answer meme and I'll do the best I can, but like the person I pinched this from I can't promise I'll make it through with only one word. Anyway, here's some more mindless tripe about my life.

1. Where is your mobile phone? In the living room
2. Relationship? Yes, working on 9 years
3. Your hair? Short
4. Work? Retired
5. Your sister(s)? None
6. Your favourite thing? Shopping
7. Your dream last night? No
8. Your favourite drink? Chocolate Tea from here
9. Your dream car? Can't drive due to pain medication I have to take daily
10. The room you’re in? Kitchen
11. Your shoes? Brown
12. Your fears? Snakes
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Alive
14. With whom did you hang out with this weekend? My husband
15. What are you not good at? Not worrying
16. Muffin? Blueberry
17. Wish list item? My mum to come visit my home in Australia
18. Where you grew up? Texas via - New Orleans - via Michigan
19. The last thing you did? Took shower
20. What are you wearing? T-shirt and lounge pants
21. What are you not wearing? Shoes
22. Your pet? Cat
23. Your computer? HP
24. Your life? Good
25. Your mood? Tired
26. Missing? Dad
27. What are you thinking about? Answers for this meme
28. Your car? Volkswagen Golf
29. Your kitchen? Needs remodeling
30. Your summer? Still 5 months away
31. Your favourite colour? Blue
32. Last time you laughed? This morning
33. Last time you cried? Last night
34. School? So long ago
35. Love? James

5 July 2007

We will always have the dance...

I ran across this video and I realise it has been around for a while but I just had to share. Enjoy!!!


Fourth of July...



I just wanted to wish all of my friends and family back in the states a very Happy Fourth of July. I know some of you are disheartened by certain things that are happening due to choices being made by the current leaders of your country, but remember it is you that can fix what you believe is not right. I say stand up for what you believe and take back your right to be free and who you are in a country that is so beautiful and has so much to offer. I did not leave the states because of the goings on of the current administration; I simply moved for love and I'm very happy with that decision. However, I am alarmed at what I see going on in the country I grew up in and believed in with all I held as true. I say to all of you be proud again and take back what has been lost and restore the faith of the world and yourselves.