I'm really excited. Tomorrow I have a phone interview with a gentleman from my company for a possible transfer to Burlington, WA. I've been talking about one day moving up to Washington. It was really funny how not even a month went by and this position opened. I hope I proove myself enough to get it; I am a quick study and have faith in myself to be able to do this job. Here's to hoping I get it.

This afternoon I was talking with my neighbors about Hurricane Katrina. I did a google search for Katrina Aftermath videos... After 4 hours of looking at pictures and watching video, news feeds, etc I have realized I now understand why the city is like it is. I have complained about New Orleans and how I don't fit in here. I can't describe the feelings I am having. I watched a BBC documentary about how the New Olreans prisoners were left behind, the first floor filled with water as levis broke, the guards put them in cells; 8 grown men to a 2 man cell, on the 2nd floor or higher. The 2nd floor filled up with water with chest high water. Inmates were locked into their cells, when the power failed, the doors, which were electric, jammed and hey were intoomed in their cells filling with water waiting for rescue. Just watch it for yourself and others to help get a sense of how bad things really were. It is called "Prisoners of Katrina". It's about an hour long, but well worth watching.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=katrina%20aftermath&gbv=2&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iv&start=0#

I realized after watching all these programs I have had a somewhat sour attitude about this city. I live in a great city. There are so many things to do. The majority of the city is back up and running though you can still see areas still devistated with water damage; water lines on building showing just how high the water got. This city's judicial system broke, documents were stored in basements throughout the city. Many men are still to this day in jail for simple things like unpaid tickets; their information destroyed.

If you don't live here, you won't truely understand how people feel, me seeing in their eyes the horror of watching everything they've ever known destroyed. I visited New Orleans in 1998 and from then till 2008 when I moved here I can see a huge difference. In 10 years I saw areas of a city that were the most popular and safest places to live change some of the most run down and unclean areas. I pray that no city will ever have to go through this again.

I woke up this morning to a VERY cold house. But who doesn't like the cold more than me; huh? It was 60 degrees. I realized Angel and Ori must have been cold because sometime during the night both of them had snuggled under the covers without waking me. They have never done that before; except for the hard thunderstorm we recently had on Friday night. Anyway, this morning I got up and turned on my heat which is a big deal. I'd much rather have a cold house walking around with a blanket wrapped around me, maybe a snuggy one of these days when I can afford it. So anyway, I put on my sleeping pants, jacket and took the gangers out for their morning ritual. After doing the first part of their duty, we walked around the side of the building about to the backside where the back parking lot is where the other 6 families live in my building. Ori stepped off the curb which I called him back while Angel did her business. Low and behold I turn around and Ori is peeing on a pair of red and pink women's panties. LOL I say "No Ori" he looks at me as if to say "it'll be a minute, just hold on" and then looks away still peeing. At this point I'm rolling laughing at 7:30am. I'm sure my neighbors just love me. Ori finally stops and walks over to me proudly marking what I assume he believes are now "his". Ori begins to do his business when I turn to see Angel now squatting and peeing on the SAME PANTIES! lol Angels look was priceless. With eyes bright and ears slightly erect she looked like she was saying "Ori, it's a women thing; you just wouldn't understand" and then trotted off when she was finished. With her tongue hanging out, I said "good girl" she wagged her tail and we finished doing our walk and went back inside.

We had a great service today at church. Two members were baptized, and I found out when the Bishop visits Nov. 8th the church would like for me to play something on my Cello. I’ll also be playing it the last Sunday of October. Good times. After church I got home, took one look at my bed and realized I wanted a nap; something I don’t usually have time for but I did it anyway. I had set my alarm for an hour but you guessed it. It never went off. I forgot to set the alarm for SUNDAY… It was still set for week days. Oh well. Has that ever happened to you?

Tonight for dinner I made steak, mashed potatoes, carrots, and green beans. It was delicious. I’m going to have to make it again when my friend comes to visit me; you know who you are. I’m also going to be making No-bake chocolate cookies to take to church with me on Wednesday. They’ve never had them before… I guess it’s an Mid-Western thing. Either way, I’m excited because they’re so yummy. I’ve attached a link to the website of the cookies I’m going to make. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/No-Bake-Chocolate-Cookies-I/Detail.aspx If you’ve never heard of them, you have to try them! You WON’T be disappointed. I won't be using the coconuts though. I prefer the basic cookie. Everyone at church says they love chocolate. I think I'm going to have to make a lot more than 5 dozen... but we'll see.

Oh yeah, I have Wednesday through Friday off this week. I'm very excited about that. I'm going to be driving home to Arkansas to spend the time with my parents. I haven't seen them since my grandfather died in May. It'll be a good trip though.

So the weather outside is gloomy and overcast, makes me wish I was at home playing with my dogs. But the brightness of my day was I got a call from my best friend. She makes me very special when she calls but I still miss her LOTS. :( boo hissssss HUGS THOUGH

I watched the original “Cheaper by the Dozen”. A Classic movie is always a good idea. To be honest with you, I can’t remember when I’ve had such a great week. I got to start the week by seeing my best friend for a couple of days. Funny how it was her first time in New Orleans and she was telling me where we parked… so much for a gay man being different from a straight man and asking for directions. LOL But at least we had fun. I still can’t believe we got to see the break-dancers. That was AWESOME. Monday was a drag, and not the fun type either… Loads of work to do as always; my customer decides to order all this material but don’t get around to getting it to me before I leave so by the time I get to work Monday morning at 7:15 (or later) “clears throat” there are orders to process and they need it either that day or the following. Tuesday was fun I was considering going and buying a new car but opted out on getting it. Would rather save the money than be eating beans and grits every night, yummy eh? Yeah I’d barf too. Hehe By the time I got off work I had a huge migraine that wouldn’t stop. It started around 4pm and by the time I woke up Wednesday I still had it. If finally subsided sometime around 8am. Phewww!
My friend is always telling me that I offer too much information. At church last line I realized what she was talking about. After playing cello for the choir director, she opt for me to play this coming Sunday; if I wish, and then the following Sunday as well. Then while waiting for rehearsal to start, I came across Handel’s Messiah in her office. I opened it up to one of the Bass solo’s I had performed the year before at church in Arkansas. I walked over to the Piano player and asked her if she wouldn’t mind playing it because it was my favorite. She began and I started singing. Caroline; the choir director, rushed out of her office with this HUGE smile on her face as if about to burst to ask me something. I stopped and she said “I know what you’re going to sing when Advent starts!!!” Is there anything ELSE she would like me to do? Well I guess I can’t complain TOO much. She wants me to use my talents and that’s why I joined the church. I wanted to find a church family that would allow me to offer my musical abilities while becoming closer with the Lord again.

Angel and Ori are so glad I’m home tonight. We played until they wore ME out. Well that happens anyway. I’m sitting at a desk working all day while they sleep only to become rambunctious gangsters in the afternoon when I get home. But I love them. Wow, already 9:20 and I’m still wide awake. I’m so thankful tomorrow is Friday. LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM IT! F.R.I.D.A.Y!!!! Does that mean the drinking can commence promptly at 4? I’m sure no one would mind. I’ll bring a gallon of margaritas, but what will everyone else drink? That’s for ME. Lol Makes me sound like a lush doesn’t it. Well thankfully I hardly ever drink. I had my phase of drunken weekends. It was while I was in Architecture school 100 years ago, back when God was a boy… oh yes, but alas those days are long gone… sigh…

Well I should at least attempt to get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day. It is wear your favorite football team’s colors tomorrow. When I show up in Red and everyone else is wearing black and gold, I’ll just tell them that the Saints bleed Razorback red. LOL

This morning time flew by. Now, this afternoon has drug on. I can't believe it's about time to leave. This has to be the day that God forgot. This has been the longest day ever. You know those days when you're super busy, taking care of everything around you and when it's all finished you say to yourself "I've accomplished something". Well at this point, I know what I've accomplished but the question is how long did it take me to do it.

Sigh. Thank the Lord it's time to go home. I never thought 4pm would come. THANK YOU!!!

I went to the doctor yesterday. I have bronchitis. I swear Sunny at work gave it to us all. Coughing his head off all over everything, how else would Claudia and I have it… hmmm.

My favorite subject in school was History and Orchestra; obviously. Orchestra being my absolute favorite. My love of History changed as I grew older only because I realized the older I got, the more History there was to learn.

Today actually went fairly fast. I kept myself busy working, billing materials, blah blah blah. And not to mention I'm coughing and hacking up my lungs. I FINALLY got a doctors appointment for Monday; because it was the quickest place I could get into. Most people around here already have a doctor I just haven't gotten one yet. Yay for being a new patient.

I deleted the journal entry I had on here... something I shouldn't really disclose. If you wanna know, call me. :)

WHO'S GLAD IT'S FRIDAY?????????????????

So it's 1:20 and I'm just now taking a VERY QUICK lunch. I'm actually not eating because I've been so busy I've not been able to stop to realize what time it is. Last night actually went... ok... My sister accepted me, but said that she would never accept the gay lifestyle. I'm just thankful she isn't going to reject me completely.

I think I can safetly say that I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I think the best thing for me to do is to tell my family I'm gay. I can't handle keeing it inside any longer. I know it will matter to my sister and brother, and my dad will freak. This will be my most time of need. My only hope is when I need my friends, they are there. I can't go through this alone. My sister told me a long time ago if I was, I would no longer be welcomed into her home, or be around her children. I just called my sister and she and her husband were at dinner. I didn't want to ruin their evening so I asked her to call me back; that I had some things I needed to talk to her about. She said she'd make a mental note and would call me back; well see if she does.

Tonight I made a delicious Cantonese dish. Problem is it's so hot with spice I can't enjoy it. I put too many chili's in it... live and learn. It's going to be fun tomorrow night though! LOL Anyway, I have been going to a new chiropractor as of 2 weeks ago tomorrow. He said I have a strain and a sprained back. Not good for trying to help my friend move this weekend. My back was killing me this morning in church. Those hard wooden pews; they're definitely meant to keep you in line while listening. Today was my first service at St. Paul's Episcopal on Canal here in New Orleans. I think I'm going to enjoy the servies, people, and atmosphere there. It is very different but I felt accepted and relaxed.
Ok, so here's a question for whomever reads this... don't you hate it when you have so much to say and you're not sure about how to structure your sentences so that everything is clear? I feel like I have so much to say but don't want to be discussing something that links to something else (in my head) that doesn't make any sense to anyone else. For example I'm baking a cake and my neighbor is doing laundry. She she does, you smell her faberic softner. not a very good combination may I add. So where was I... church, sentence structuring, random thoughts... oh yeah. I am so thankful one of my best friends now lives 3 hours away; and my fraternity brother lives about an hour in the other direction with his wife and their son. You know I always tell everyone family is important to me. To be honest my friends help make up a large part of "my family". Without them I wouldn't be where I am today; you know who you are.
One of my best friend called me yesterday and told me he wants me to moved to Seattle and teach music at his private school. They're needing someone to teach strings and choir. I said I would think about it. That's almost 3,000 miles away!!! Could you imagine trying to drive that? It's something like 4 or 5 days. I guess it would be like my friend Zach living over seas in France to teach English to his students. Far away from anyone he knows but doing what he loves. Maybe it's a sign I need to move. Who knows. Well I need to take my cake out of the oven, let it cool, then get ready for bed.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I NEVER thought this day was going to come. Thank goodness it's here... and a 3 day weekend at that! Crazy day here at work but it's all over now. Everyone have a great weekend!

My friend Scott is about to loose his mother to cancer at any moment. Please pray that she is not feeling any of the pain, and that God gives her and her family comfort in their time of need.

So I don't have anything interesting to post. Ordered pizza last night, it arrived late, was cold, and the driver forgot half the order. Another 20 min. later he arrives to give me the food he forgot to bring. I put his tip on my credit card when I ordered online. As he handed it to me, I thanked him and started to shut the door. He turned and started to walk away and said "You should have tipped me" which I hurried outside and said "excuse me?" and he replies "I wasn't talking to you". I replied "I wanted to hear you say it again because I put your tip when I ordered online, came inside, slammed the door, called his boss, and my entire order was credited, and will get another order for free anytime I wish.

So like I said, not much going on.

Today has been a crazy and crappy day. My dad called me because he went to the doctor to have x-rays done on his right knee; which had to be drained because of a build-up of fluid... and will have to consider having knee replacement surgery sometime in the near future. Then my ex-girlfriend Trish, her grandfather has a HUGE surgery today on his heart. It's in a somewhat stable condition; if you can call it that. Then my step-mother informs me that I need to come home and see my grandfather because his cancer is back and in his liver. The radiation treatments are making him very sick not to mention weak. She told me the doctor is pretty much giving him 3 months to a year, and that's only with the treatments buying him some time. And that's only assuming if the treatments do what they did last time and go dormant for 6 months. And speaking of the number 6, today is the 6 year anniversary of my grandmothers death... I don't see how I can take much more death in my family. I've already lost 4 people in a year and a half. How much more of this can I take.

If you know my parents, please don't say anything to them. I'm not supposed to know about my grandfather yet.

Yeah so tomorrow I have a "lunch meeting" with my Operations Manager and my Outside Sales guy with my company. I have no idea what we're going to talk about but my OPM is taking the time to work from wherever and meet us for lunch to talk. I hope things are ok and my job is secure; I PRAY I PRAY I PRAY!!!
Then after work tomorrow, I'll be driving to Conway, AR to see family and friends for the extended weekend. Pray for me and wish me luck!
And to top it all off, tomorrow is my grandmother's 6 year anniversary of her death. I still can't believe she's gone. So much going on... sigh...