California Dreaming

After yesterday's post about writing for tickets to "The Price is Right!", I'm California dreaming.

Pat and I are scheduled to fly out to Los Angeles January 11th, from Philadelphia.  Pat will take fly from Toronto and meet me in Philly.  

We'll be staying ten days in Los Angeles.  Five days at the Hollywood Bed and Breakfast, where we stayed last year.  The remaining five days we'll be staying at one of those Airbus rentals in the Hollywood Hills.  Pat chose that location.  

I can't believe that almost a year has passed by so fast.  I've only posted about 25% of my videos form last year's trip.  The video I'm posting today is of our visit to the Griffith Observatory of our trip last year.  

Pat and I, when we go on a trip, loosely plan our activities.  Last year we were so lucky because the weather was perfect wherever we went.  The day we visited the Griffith Observatory was perfecto!  We had a fabulous view of downtown Los Angeles, a view we often see in movies.  

This year we may actually have a mini Bloggerpalooza.  That is if we can coordinate Dr. Spo and Someone to come.  David (the Travel Penguin) and may be there too!  We hope to see Tony and Nadege again.  And Cindy of Sonoma?  You're invited! And of course Randy of Nebraska, always welcomed.

Note: the header photo at the top of this blog is of Pat at the Hollywood Hotel.  This is where he stayed the last time he visited LA alone.  We stopped in to check the renovations.  I didn't want to stay there last year because of all the negative Trip Advisor reviews but hey, maybe after the renovations they will be improved.

The Price is Right!

Well folks, as you know Pat and I will be returning to Los Angeles for our annual visit for ten days this January.  

Last year was the first time we visited and we had a FABULOUS TIME!  Only one problem, we didn't have enough time to do everything we wanted to do.  In fact, we hardly scratched the surface of fun things to do.  

Pat and Ron in LA last year in out out os style hats which we lost on a roller coaster ride in Toronto this past August

Last year we basically flew by the seat of our pants.  Pants, by the way which we quickly found out were out of style.  The new style is the skinny legged jeans.  Hmmmm, not for us folks.  These two old dudes from the East will continue to wear our out of style jeans.  Me?  I prefer my cargo pants, stylish or not.  They provide a safe place for my iPhone and wallet.  I also notice that very few of the IN folks wore baseball caps.  Hmmmm.  Again folks, Two Old Dudes from the East will continue to set our own trends.  

For this trip I plan a little more structure.  Loose, sure but maybe plan some things like a visit  THE PRICE IS RIGHT!!!  

Drew Carey, host of "The Price if Right!" and his audience

Last year while we were visiting Los Angeles, we stayed at a fabulous bed and breakfast called "The Hollywood Bed and Breakfast" (what are the odds a bed and breakfast in Hollywood has THAT name? There's only about fifty of bed and breakfast hostels in West Hollywood where we stayed).  Our friend Nadege introduced us to The Grove, which is a high end (very) shopping mall in West Hollywood.  I noticed from our parking level while we were waiting for an elevator I could see the CBS Studio building where "The Price is Right" is taped.  Guess what folks?  I'm writing for tickets!

The last time I wrote for tickets to a TV show was for "To Tell the Truth."  This was many years ago (1967 I think) when that show was taped in New York City.  I wrote for tickets for me, Bill and my Mother.  We took a bus to New York City to see "To Tell the Truth." 

Joe Garagiola was the host.  I remember that the panelists included Peggy Cass and Kitty Carlisle.  I don't remember who the male panelists were.  Was the trip and the show worth it?  Absolutely!  We got to see how a TV show is produced.  One thing that surprised me was the warm-up prior to the actual show beginning.  Also the "APPLAUSE" sign.  We're told when to applause?  Apparently and we did like trained seals.

I'm excited folks.  Even more excited is my friends Dr. Spo and Someone and Sassy Bear and his husband join us.  I'm writing for six tickets just in case they decided to join me and Pat and make this a mini West Coast Bloggerpalooza.  And Lar, you and Lois are invited too!  

P.S.
Just between us, I'm getting a ticket for our friend Nadege.  Hear that Nadege?

Republicans Plan to Derail Hillary Clinton Backfires

Hillary Clinton, First Woman President of the United States (in waiting)

This is a political post so I will understand if you're one of my blog followers who prefer not to read one of my infrequent political rants. 

As regular followers of my blog know, in my past life I used to be a conservative Republican but George W. Bush cured me of that malady.  Especially since the many conservative Republicans believe that I am a second class citizen just because I happen to be born gay.  Not all conservative Republicans (some of whom happen to be good friends of mine) but too many.

Now for my rant.  Whatever you think of Hillary Clinton (I will vote for her, get over it), who didn't know that this whole "Benghazi/e-mail" faux scandal was all bout bringing down Hillary Clinton.  The Republicans, with their clown car of candidates, knew that Hillary was a formidable candidate so what could they do to bring her down?  

When the horrible tragedy of Benghazi happened, in which our ambassador to Libya (Chris Stevens) and three others were murdered by Islamist extremists, the Republicans hopped on this tragedy to investigate Hillary.  

What did she do?

What didn't she do?

How can we blame this on Hillary?

During their investigation (the longest in U.S. history at a cost of four millions dollars so far and counting) what have they "discovered"?  

Hillary's private server and e-mails!!!

AH HA!

Hillary the Deceiver.  

What is she hiding?

Of course the media jumps on this "scandal" too, to bring up ratings. Plus, many of the news media are intellectually lazy.  They'll follow whatever Republican talking points are fed to them, accurate or not. A good example is the MSNBC daily morning show "Morning Joe."  Every morning the co-host Joe Scarborough opens this show drum beating the tired old Republican talking points over and over, ad infinitum, all aimed at bringing Hillary Clinton down.  Why?  Because he knows that Hillary is the odds on candidate to win the U.S. presidency.  

Joe Scarborough and his conservative Republican cohorts know that this basic fact, if you say a lie often enough, enough voters will believe The Lie. Throw enough mud at the wall and some will stick.  Sort of like the question:

"How often do you beat your wife?"  

Of course the person being asked the question doesn't beat his wife but the very fact that the question was asked plants the suspicion in some minds (almost always those paranoid Repubs who WANT to believe anything bad) will stick.

Well, the curtain of the campaign by the House Republicans was pulled aside last week by House Speaker in Waiting, Kevin McCarthy.  

McCarthy was on the Sean Hannitty show on Faux Fox News.  McCarthy, who ironically doesn't speak well (see some of his speeches, he's worse than George W. Bush in mangling the English language), was flustered when Sean asked him what have the Republicans accomplished since they were put in control of both houses of Congress.  Here is McCarthy's response.




There it is folks, an open admission by the language challenged McCarthy about the real purpose of the Benghazi committee, to BRING DOWN HILLARY CLINTON'S POLL NUMBERS.

Kevin McCarthy just made a gaff.  You know what a Washington D.C. gaff is don't you folks?  
According to political commenter Michael Kinsley a "gaffe" is when a politician inadvertently admits the truth.  

So for all of you folks out there who are Clinton Haters, you can thank Kevin McCarthy for his stupidity in admitting what everyone knew all along, the whole Benghazi Fishing Expedition was nothing more than a ploy to ruin Hillary Clinton's chances of becoming the first woman president of the United States. 

English language challenged Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Speaker in Waiting

Surf's Up!

  For the past several days a nor'easter has been tearing through where we live here in southern Delaware.  No, this isn't Hurricane Joaquin, it's just a regular nor'easter.  

It seems like it the howling wind and rain have been here all week but actually, only about three days.  Great napping weather which I have been taking full advantage of, sleep at least two hours ever afternoon listening to the wind whistle and howl outside my bedroom windows.  My bedroom is constructed in such a way that I get the maximum eerie sound effects of the wind.  I could tape those sounds and sell them to old mystery radio shows. In fact that's what that howling wind reminds me of, listening to radio shows like "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" when I was just a child of five years old in the late 40's.  Yes, I am THAT old.  

Today, as usual, I took Bill for a ride.  You think we hang out in this house, as glorious and comfortable as it is, all day?  Not us.  We have to get out.  If I'm not working I take Bill out for a ride.  We usually ride down Oyster Rocks Road, which is a dead end to the Broadkill River.  We went down that way yesterday but the road was flooded so we gingerly turned back by making a hasty U-turn.

Today we toured downtown Milton, which the Broadkill River runs right through the middle of town.  Oh my, flooded!  And the Milton Theater was just refurbished too.  I see a new fund raising campaign in the future to Save the Theater!

The flooded parking lot in downtown Milton - the theater is the red brick building on the right of this photo. Looks like someone left their car and bicycle parked in the lot.  Who knows, maybe someone left their cake out in the rain too.

After touring Milton (I have other videos which I may or may not post tomorrow), I decided it was time to visit Rehoboth Beach.  Surely the summertime tourists are gone now.  

Route One was still fairly congested much to my surprise.  Upon entering Rehoboth Beach I decided to drive out to North Shores, which is the gay beach where my late departed friend Ed Cage used to troll for sex.  Poor Ed, on an ever ending quest for that Anonymous Sexual Encounter.  He died this past January 27th, the anniversary date that I entered the Army in 1960.  Thus I will never forget the day he died.  But I digress.  Back to North Shores. 

Me and my friend Paul Bickerstaff at North Shores in 1980 - that's the way the "surf" usually is at North Shores - calm as a lake - by the way, I still have that New York Yankees hat - get rid of it Ron!

While Bill stayed in the car (the wind was too much for him), I tried to go to the beach.  The wind fought me all the way.  Man oh man, was that wind ever strong.  The strength of the wind may not come through in this video, but a couple of gusts almost knocked my iPhone out of my hands!





That surf may not look like much but on my previous visits to North Shores, the waves gently roll in. Not today folks. This surf was ferocious!
A couple of times a strong gust of wind almost blew me (no pun intended) away.  My friend Ed would appreciate this "humor."  My apologies to my family friendly blog followers but occasionally I do dip down into my innate crude humor (which I inherited from my hillbilly father, my Mother of course would be greatly offended, being of Quaker heritage).  

So it's been quite a day here folks.  Every day is a gift and I appreciate the experience of Life.  Wind, rain, sun, heat, cold . . . . all of it.  I love life!

Now to take a shower and have some dinner then check my online Scrabble boards.  By the way, any of my followers who want to play online Scrabble (Facebook), let me know.  I'm getting quite good.  My friend Pat (he of Toronto, Canada) introduced me to the pleasures of Scrabble.  I find playing online Scrabble most enjoyable and would love to play with others online.  Check it out.  Facebook friend me and let's play!

Random Thoughts Nor'easter Saturday

This morning I had to go down to our local B.J.'s (a heckuva name for a wholesale warehouse wouldn't you say?) to order new glasses.  My standard, day to day glasses had become foggy because the coating wore off.  Wow, that was a long sentence.

Beady eyed and bagged out (bags under my eyes), I plopped myself down on the main thoroughfare of B.J.'s and took advantage of their 60% off sale (wait a minute, didn't they just have that sale a few months ago)?  

Getting fitted by "Bruce" for my new progressive 60% off glasses

I needed new glasses because the coating had worn off my regular, Around-the-House Glasses. I wear different glasses to work - the Lenscrafters progressive lenses $400 glasses.  I also wear my full top false teeth.  Have to look my (phony) best you know for the guests.  No Falling Apart Old Gay Guy Displayed Behind the Front Desk here.

I lucked out and walked right into a 60% "Nor'easter Five-Day Sale".  Something to drum up business at B.J.'s on this wind and rain swept nor'easter day.  For the past three days, the wind has been howling and near Noah's Ark rain in these parts.  This morning on the news they had a report on power lines down in Greenville, South Carolina.

Sure does look like my brother John's street in Greenville, South Carolina

 I looked at the picture and could swear that it was the street my brother lives on.  Although he wouldn't want me swearing, being a Southern Baptist pastor and all (another whole story which I won't go into here at this site . . . again . . . because I think my previous statements have already alienated me from him and his family - see I do have SOME control).

I sat like a good boy and got measured for my glasses then I was off for a little shopping.  You think I would go to B.J. and not INDULGE?  I am a born shopper although I have to admit in the past five years or so the shopping addiction was loosened its grip on my psyche (thank God and I'm not even religious).

I needed to get some more of that delicious spicy carrot hummus. And my luck was further extended when I discovered that there was a new stocking of Panera soup,  Autumn Squash and Loaded Potato Soup.  Big Whoop!  I've been making my own soup (black bean and delicious by the way) but having LOTS of gas.  Serious gas so much so that at times I felt like I should bottle that gas to fuel my car.  

On the way out . . . . wait . . . . what was that?  Christmas decorations?  Well, I'll be!  Oh yes Virginia, Christmas decorations and we're only into October three days.  Well folks, this year we're making some changes here at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  I'm cutting way back on my Christmas cards.  No sixty to seventy-five cards will be mailed out of this same sex married household.  I was seriously thinking of mailing NO Christmas cards but relented a bit out of respect for long-time old friends to let them know I'm still alive.  For all others, check me off of "You mailed me a Christmas card so I have to mail you one back" list.  Ain't happening this year folks.  No disrespect.  

I'm not doing Halloween this year either.  Again, just not into it.  I used to love all these holidays (Thanksgiving too) but I just don't do them anymore.  Not that I have anything against them.  These days we just prefer to coast along in our regular, comfortable routine thank you.

Gay (former) neighbors Don and Al (Al now deceased as so many of my friends) - Halloween 2007 - almost ten years ago!  Where does the time go?

On the way home we drove into my now deceased (September 2014) friend's place off of Anderson Corner Road outside of Georgetown.  Oh the times we used to have there.  We called it "The Ranch."  Many a times in the late 70's and 80's we whooped it up on many a weekend.  If that double-wide could talk.  Some of my blog followers might never return to this blog.  

Me cutting my birthday cake at my 39th birthday party at "The Ranch" - check out the cigarette and drinks abounding -

Ah, the memories.  Look at me kneeling folks.  Something I can't do today.  Yep, I cannot kneel on the floor like this.  If I did, I would need at least two people (preferably a couple of sexy men) to help me up.  That's how old and feeble I am these days.  Gee, look at that shirt . . . . I still have it!  I have the pants too but they don't fit (32-36) any more.  My waist has expanded and my height has shrunk.  These days I'm a 34-34, loose in the seat pants.  This reminds me, I still have to post all my old jeans on eBay and sell those vintage MF's. 

Ah well, I've rambled on enough today.  If I remember the dream I had at my three hour nap this afternoon I'll tell you all about it.  Three hour nap you say?  On a windy, rainy day like today I nap for hours.  HOURS!  Probably won't be able to sleep tonight now.  Oh well.


   

Another Mass Shooting

Last night I turned the news on only to be confronted . . . . again with wall to wall coverage of yet another mass shooting.  This time at a community college in Oregon.

An angry president Obama had a press conference yesterday and spoke about that occurrences such as these mass shootings are becoming "routine."  And indeed they are.  

What kind of country do we live in folks?  I don't own a gun and I never will.  I don't get a thrill or a boost to my masculinity by shooting a gun.  The last time I shot a gun (rifle) was when I was in the Army in 1962 during my annual rifle qualification. 

Oh sure, I know the gun rights advocates who want their Second Amendment rights.  They want to "protect" themselves.  Excuse me but just how many people actually have shootouts (other than drug dealers) while protecting their home from invaders?  Right, that's what I thought . . . . NONE.  

There was the occasion that I thought of getting a gun to "protect" myself, but then I thought it out.  I realized that if someone did break into my home I wouldn't have enough time to get my gun out of my safe or wherever I would have it hidden for safety.  And I also realized there would be more of a probability that my gun would be used against me or there would be an accident.  Of course the worst case would be a child getting hold of a gun and thinking it was a toy and have a tragedy happen.

Another sad day folks.  I feel so bad for those families who lost loved ones yesterday.  All those who lost their lives and who were injured.  We do live in a violent country folks.  

Dental Visit

Continuing with my spate of medical appointments, this morning I visited my dentist.

More good news!  I got a clean bill of health.  

These days I brush after every meal.

I floss my teeth every night before I go to bed.

I also swish  an anti-cavity fluoride mouthwash in my mouth before I go to bed every night. 

I need some good news after the big disappointment yesterday of finding out that Pope Francis had a private meeting with that vile woman, Kim Davis, the Kentucky marriage license clerk and self imposed martyr.  Both of them are religious hypocrites.  The Pope for keeping the meeting private until he left the U.S. and Davis and her lawyers for using the Pope for their own opportunistic ends.  I cannot emphasize enough how disappointed I am in Pope Francis for letting himself be used like this.  But then maybe he knew all along he was being used.  I will say no more on this subject (for now anyway).

I have several more medical appointments coming up then I have clear sailing until the next spate of visits to doctors.  I remember teasing my Mother about all her appointments with doctors, saying  her life seem to revolve around her medical appointments.  Well, here I am folks, in the same place. Karma is a bitch isn't it?

Well, at least I got more good news.

Now to get ready for work on this rainy day as Hurricane Joaquin roars up the East coast.