Happy New Year 2023

What better way to start the New Year than a little entrance music from my favorite band, the Ohio State band, the best damn band in the land!

Happy new year everyone! I hope 2023 is the best year every for you and your family!

Happy New Year 2020!

"Mike", cross country hiker

Just a short message wishing everyone a very Happy New year!  

I work tonight at the hotel. Tomorrow I have off which I will do some major vegging out. I need to do some serious relaxing.

This morning I spent about three hours on the phone with Apple Support trying to correct my Time Machine Error Code 92 problem. Sometimes folks, I am tempted to just toss all my digital age stuff out the window and retreat to my bed and read a book. Much less complicated and frustrating. However, I am hooked on all the convenience of the Digital Age so I will plow through.

Last night at the hotel I checked in a guy who had spent the last nine months walking across the country. His starting point was his home in Irvine California.  This is his website.Nice guy.  Very relaxed. Looked like a guy who had just walked across the country.  He was amazing, he had less "luggage" (back pack) for a nine month trip than I take for a week's stay in Philadelphia. And yes, I did wash his clothes after he stripped down to his walking shorts. I asked him "why?" he walked across the country. Usually people who bike or ride across the country are raising funds of awareness of an issue. His answer was "I believe it is the end of times and I wanted to see the country before that happened."  Oh, okay.  Nice guy though. No proselytizing or any of that boring nonsense some self righteous Christians lay on you. He said he knew that others have claimed end of times but "this is different."  We'll see.  He said he started his trip with a meal at an Italian restaurant and wanted to end his trek with a meal at an Italian restaurant. I told him we had an excellent Italian restaurant in Lewes, Touch of Italy. He went there and had a huge chicken parmesan dinner. He said he's going to visit a friend in Virginia and then take a train back to his home in California.  See the interesting people I meet at the hotel?  Memorable. And we'll see about that "end of times" thing.

I'm working again at the hotel tonight. Almost a full house. Dropping the anchor in Lewes at the Overfalls Ship, fun times. 

Happy New Year to everyone!

Thoughts as 2015 Ends

Here we are at the end of another year.  And what a year it has been for me.  Remember last February 18th?  That was the day I slipped and fell on the ice as I was leaving work, thus severing the quadricep muscle in my left leg.  That little "slip" put me out of commission for twelve weeks.  

I couldn't walk. I was totally dependent on Bill to just exist.  If it wasn't for Bill I would have been placed in a rehab facility.  Thank goodness for Bill!

I'm walking again, not quite the same as I was before but I.AM.WALKING for which I am totally grateful.

It seems as if each year brings on new health challenges for me.  I hope I get a pass this new year.  I'm ready to coast for a few years.  Enjoy what time I have left (there he goes with the "I'm dying" theme again). 

I am working at the hotel tonight but I do have tomorrow off which I am looking forward too.  Again, like the Christmas holiday, the first time in years I've had off for New Year's and I plan to totally enjoy my day off.

Yesterday as Bill and I were going out for our daily ride, we encountered our neighbor (and fellow former Downingtown resident) Jane J. She just had the interior of her house repainted and insisted that we come up and see the finished product.  You all know me, I always like house tours so that will be my activity tomorrow. 

I don't have anything else planned.  I don't "do" football games anymore.  I see enough TV commercials already with the few TV shows I watch.  

I plan to play more online Scrabble, catch up on my e-mail and will definitely take in a movie at the Tipton Cinema tomorrow night.  And of course Bill and I will go out for our Daily Drive.  We always get out of the house at least once a day.  

For any of you going out this New Year's Eve, drive safely and if you're indulging (drinking), make sure you have a designated driver!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2015

Happy New Year folks!  I'm a little late but my wishes are the same for all of my faithful followers.  Thank you so much for following my blog this past year.  You are all appreciated, even the occasional Internet troll who tries to push my buttons (you know who you are).  

So what did I do New Year's Eve?  I worked at the hotel of course.  Last night we almost had a full house.  That was unusual because in years' past we were, at the most, half full.  So the economy must be booming, for some people anyway.  

Even though most of our hotel rooms were occupied, all the guests were sweethearts.  We even had newlyweds.  All happy folk last night. No grumps.

So what does the new year bring for Ron?  Well folks, I'm thinking of starting a new blog.  Now don't get your panties in a twist (to quote my good friend The Cajun), this will be an additional blog.  I've been looking at the Word Press blog establishment and I like the clean format of their blogs.  I've tried Word Press before but I found them somewhat constricting and difficult to figure out.  But, even in my reduced mental capacity these days (I am getting OLD you know), I'll give it another go. Of course a new blog has to have a theme (the good ones do anyway).  

This blog will have the theme of GETTING OLDER, which folks, is my status now.  Any way you cut it, at 73 and creaking along, I'm approaching ANCIENT territory.  And I think it's time to blog about it.  Oh sure, I like to stay upbeat and positive but the elephant in the room is my impending doom slow deterioration health factor.  I can kid myself that I'm one of those 40 or 50 year old younguns who seem to populate the blog world these days but no two ways about it, I am an Old Geezer and not getting any younger.  I think that factor bears a separate blog of its own.  Especially since I will be delving into my past history (again) for which some of my blog readers have chastised me about. Yep, I'm going to go there again because I want to and because it is my blog, so there.

Another night of work at the hotel and them I'm off for two weeks.  Next week is the Big Trip to LA.  I'm meeting my Toronto Pal (Pat) at LAX on January 7th.  We will be staying in Hollywood (where else) until the 17th, at which time we will be boarding SEPARATE planes on the 17th for Philadelphia.  Don't ask me why we're going on separate planes, it is a LONG story. 

So here we go folks.  I wish you all a very happy and stupendous New Year.  I hope you all get everything that you wish for.  For me, I'll keep trudging along until something befalls me and I can no longer write.  I've already made arrangements with our dear mutual friend and favorite blogger, Dr. Spo, to inform you all when I am no longer blogging.  

Mazel tov everyone!

Happy New Year 2014!

Happy 2014!

We made it folks!  If you're reading this you're alive as I am.  Well, sort of.  I woke up this morning with a terrific headache and aching all over.  No, I wasn't out last night celebrating the new year.  Actually, I had to work at the hotel yesterday.  My boss called me and asked if I could come in because my co-worker was nowhere to be found.  Ron to the Rescue.  I didn't mind though.  

Yes, I "celebrated" New Year's at the hotel as I do every year. I thought this year would be the exception but it wasn't and I wasn't surprised.  The hotel was almost full last night but all the guests were in good spirits and posed no problems other than the usual "how do I get this TV to work?"  None of that "Where's the ocean view?" and "I want a different room because I'm looking at a building out of my window."  

DAMN!  They did it!  They dug up Dick Clark!

My shift ended at 11:00 pm and I was home by 11:20, in time to change, make a smoothie and watch to see if "Rocking New Year's Eve" brought out Dick Clark's corpses (it was in his will) to bring in the new year.  They didn't.  On CNN Kathy Griffin (who I actually like) was making her lame jokes with Late to the Gay Outing Party Anderson Cooper.  I tuned in just as Anderson was begging Kathy to take off the handcuffs before the ball dropped in Times Square.  What did I miss?  Maybe I don't want to know.  

Body language says it all folks.

CRINGE ALERT!

Made my smoothie, had TWO slices of my Sour Cream Raisin pie, watched the ball drop and took the lame picture that I posted at the top of this blog and then I was off to Dreamland.  

Smoothie!

Sour Cream Raisin Pie!

Working again tonight folks, and tomorrow night. 

Happy New Year!

Year End Ruminations

Me at my friend Ed's place on Laurel Street in Rehoboth Beach, DE - Master of my Universe

Well, here we are at the end of another year. Don't they seem to go by with ever increasing speed as we get older?  Remember those calendar page flipping scenes in those old 40's movies that show the passage of time?  That's the way I feel my life is going now.  

I was going to do a list recapping my past year, which has been some year.  Perhaps the most life changing year I've ever had in my life.  But I know  I'm bored to death when they do those year end lists on TV so I'll try and make this as painless as possible. Thus is my list of the pluses and minuses for Ron this year.

January - I had a prostate cancer biopsy. The procedure was painful and humiliating (stirrups with women walking around).  The outcome was that I was diagnosed with cancer in six of the twelve samples taken.  I guess this was a Plus, because I found the cancer and a Minus, because of the torture like procedure (they should use this on Al Qaida suspects) I had to undergo.  No anesthetic. MINUS.

Urology Associates - interrogation treatment center

If this "hobby horse" could talk - censored!

April - we had our first ever Bloggerpalooza.  This was where I actually got to meet face to face fellow bloggers.  The event was held at my workplace in Lewes and it was a great success.  So successful that we're having another one this year and will continue to do so as long as there is interest.  This one was a Plus.

Blogger pals Jay, Anne Marie, Java and me

Jay, Nate, Ciubby, Superman, Java, Doug, Michael, Ron and David at Stripper Bites

April - Bill and I made our annual trip South to visit his hometown in Toccoa Georgia.  We also visited my father's birthplace in the mountains of western North Carolina.  For the first time I wanted to visit my great-great grandfather John Tipton's grave (I just discovered its location this year).  I also wanted to introduce my cousin Bob Tipton and his wife to a distant relative of ours (our grandfather and her grandmother were brother and sister).  This was a plus and minus trip.  The plus was visiting the grave.  The minus was being threatened by her son because I was gay.  He told me not to step foot on their property or else I "would have to deal with him."  Why was I threatened you ask?  Because he asked if I practiced "the homosexual lifestyle."  After I told him I was gay he banned me from his parents' property.  Homophobia is alive and well in the western North Carolina mountains.

Upper Pigeon Roost Road, North Carolina

No longer welcomed because I "practice the homosexual lifestyle" guess who issued this proclamation?  Yep, "Bubba" on the right

April - I was asked to and did testify before both houses of the Delaware State legislature for marriage equality (same sex marriage).  Something I have never done before in my life and was nervous as Hell doing but I did it.  I don't know how much my testimony had to do with the passage of marriage equality for Delaware but I'm glad I had a part in it.

The press ready for the testimonies for Marriage Equality at the Delaware State Legistlature

Me in the gallery waiting for my turn to testify

Me out on the plaza being OUT again - much to Bill's chagrin

May -  I underwent brachytherapy seed implant for my prostate cancer.  Again, a plus because my cancer is being treated and a minus, because of the side effects which I am still suffering to this day and will for the next twelve months.  

The Tunnell Cancer Center - where my torture procedures were done

Checking in

No caption needed

July - after 49 years of living together, Bill and I got married.  Now I can die without having to worry that Bill will be homeless because he doesn't have the money to pay the death taxes on our home (which is in my name, which we did years to protect our assets).  

Me and Bill the day we got our marriage license - unbelievable 

Bill and I taking our marriage vows (Bill is hard of hearing)

Finally!  After 49 years….married!  

August - I met Pat, my alter ego.  After 71 years I met someone who is so much like me that he could be my brother.  More than my brothers because I don't always get along with them but I do Pat.  For those of you who can't quite figure out my relationship with Pat; let me assure you I am still with Bill and will stay married to Bill.  However, Pat is the friend I have been looking for all these years.  He is nonjudgmental, he has similar interests that I have, he has a wonderful sense of humor, he's not after me for my money (which I don't have anyway, I'm "house rich") and he's cute.  I enjoy being with Pat and he likes me.  What more can one ask for in a friend?  I have other friends but they are either straight and their wives are their first priority (which I understand) or they have other things going on in their lives and no time for me (telling it like it is folks).  Pat likes me and I like him and we can do things together that Bill and I don't do.  It is a simple as that.  It's not complicated.  

"Pat"

Me and Pat at Cafe Azafran in Rehoboth enjoying a vegan meal (Pat's a vegan)

Pat and me in my driveway with his little tan Fiat that he drove all the way down from Toronto, Canada

Pat on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach - Pat is a lot of fun - no strings, bad vibes or judgements with Pat - just a good time

September - My kidney stones returned.  First on the left side resulting in a visit to the ER.  Then a week later on the right side….another visit to the ER.  This kidney stone didn't pass like the previous one.  My doctor advised "five days for it to pass."  This was over the Labor Day Weekend.  Eight days passed before I had to go to the ER again, this time resulting in a two night stay in the hospital and an operation to "blast" the stuck kidney stone which had not moved after eight days.  On the third ER visit I was sure I was "checking out" of this world.  I surprised myself because I got all teary eyed thinking of everything I had not had time to do.  But I survived.  However, my operation to blast the stuck kidney stone resulted in having a stent placed in my ureter canal (urinary canal) for two weeks then another operation for a "water bath" to remove the three remaining kidney stones stuck at the top of my ureter canal.  I had more surgical operations this year folks (three) that I've had in my entire life.  I survived.  Oh, did I mention the excruciating pain during this whole kidney stone drama?  All I can say is imagine the worst and then go ten times.  That's how it felt at times but I'm here now to write about it for which I am thankful. Minuses and pluses here folks.  Choose your favorite.

First kidney stone passed - the others didn't

Infused with pain killers waiting for the other kidney stone that was stuck to pass - EIGHT DAYS - it didn't pass

One of three Emergency Room visits to pass kidney stones on both sides - when it rains it pours

Bill waiting in the ER for me 

Out of the ER and into a hospital bed on my 3rd ER visit - pain was unbearable - jammed full of pain killers in this photo

Then I had my last surgery to blast the three remaining kidney stones - surgery performed at the Milford Hospital thus completing the trifecta of operations for me this year: 

Tunnel Cancer Center
Beebe Hospital
Milford Hospital - do I win a prize?

"I don't remember a thing, that sure was some good anesthesia!"  

October - I had my bi-annual Tipton Family Reunion.  It was a bust.  I don't know why, but most of my family just isn't interested in attending the family reunion including my two brothers and their family.  I was disappointed and hurt and will never have another family reunion.  A definite Minus. 

Basically, this was the reunion - a few hardy folks who were interested 

Plenty of room at the pavilion

I don't know who brought the cake but I thank them

Me discussing something with my cousin Richard Tipton who catered the reunion - we had plenty of food leftover

November - I realized a dream of many years to revisit my former hometown and place of employment of Philadelphia.  For years I wanted a "last blast" of walking those city streets that I walked from 1965 to 1997 but I didn't want to do it by myself.  Bill doesn't like to travel.  For years I vacationed alone in Provincetown.  I did not want to visit Philadelphia alone.  Fortunately for me my alter ego, Pat, graciously consented to go with me.  Oh sure, at time I came close to boring him to death walking him to many of my old haunts and relating my memories of those places and people to him, but, bless his heart, he never complained once.  See why I like Pat?  Anyway, my "last blast" trip was everything I had hoped it would be.  A definite PLUS.  

View of Walnut Street from our room at the Latham Hotel

Me and Pat in center city Philadelphia - walking those mean streets

December - and here we are at the end of the year. I'm still working (two nights a week) at a job that I like with folks that I like.  My job gives me the opportunity to meet people and be in situations that I still matter.  I need to be "professional" at least a couple of times a week.  This works for me.  Also, my job enables me to make some extra money which I can do "last blasts" and pay $300 a year for my Ancestry.com membership, which I rarely use.  Little extravagances like this matter to me, especially at this time of my life.  Another definite PLUS.

A rough year folks but I survived and am ready for next year

A few weeks ago, checking names for my Christmas card list, I discovered two more friends and co-worker from my former life had passed on.  Both were younger than me.  I know that now I'm operating on Gravy Time.  Each day is a gift.  And that definitely is a PLUS.

Happy New Year everyone!  See you next year.

Happy New Year!

A short video folks that I made earlier at the hotel where I suffered tonight working with a squeaky voice.  This is only the second time in my life that I got laryngitis, the last time was about twenty years ago when I worked at First Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia. 

First of all, trying to speak with laryngitis, is painful.  I'm trying to reach my voice under all that phlegm and it just isn't working.  There's nothing like answering the phone with a SQUEAK! when the owner call which is exactly what happened tonight.   I didn't realize how much I talk.  Oh I DO love to talk.  The guests were giving me that "poor thing" look tonight when I tried to get off my usual coterie of bon mots and witticisms.  Just wasn't working tonight.  

So here I am at home now, waiting for the ball to drop and half expecting to see Ryan Seacrest roll out Dick Clark's embalmed body to count down the crystal ball on New York's Times Square.  

Happy New Year everyone!