True Colors

 The election of Donald Trump by the majority of the American people continues to cause me distress. However, I'm am making progress on coming to terms with this reality. 

This is one thing I've always said about Trump, he has revealed the character of so many people I previously had respect for. In this case I'm talking about Republican politicians. Those same politicians who when taking office, place their hand on the bible and take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Little did I know before Trump revealed their true character, that the "oath" they were taking was meaningless. Only a ritual to be followed prior to them taking the office they were elected to. If they take an oath to anything  it is to keep their job no matter how much they have to sell their soul to keep that job.

I really don't know what I can do except continue to point out the hypocrisy of these Republican politicians but one thing I can do is let these friends of mine, the ones who voted for Trump, how I feel. 

Of course this won't make much difference to the, in fact make no difference to them because they are so immersed in the information silo called Faux News. 

But what I did do yesterday is distance myself from them. I don't feel good when I talk to them because I look at them in a different light. Not all my friends but at least I can minimize those who I don't feel the same closeness with that I did before the Great Trump Reveal. And to make perfectly clear, I still have those friends who see The Truth as I see it.

There is a lot of don't know and never will know in this world and my lifetime but one thing I do know, I am on the right side of history. This country has elected a convicted criminal, who was out on bail, as the chief law enforcement officer this country. Shame on all of those who voted for this criminal.

Footsie

Waiting for my podiatrist to take care of my feet yesterday. I like that painting on the wall!

 This morning I was out front of my house cutting back my crepe myrtle trees. A white van parks out front and a good-looking man gets out and shouts "Good morning young man!" I look at him and fail to recognize him. Not an unusual occurrence for yours truly, at my age I often forget to recognize people who know me. With a feeling of comfortable curiosity I say to him in a friendly manner "I don't recognize you" (thinking to myself "How could I not remember this hottie?") 

Well, the mystery was soon solved because he was someone who I never met before, he was one of those random "I'll pave your driveway because I'm in the neighborhood doing some of your neighbor's driveways." 

Ah ha! 

Not the first time I've had one of those guys in my driveway telling me they'll give me a bargain because "they're in the neighborhood doing my neighbor's driveways and will have asphalt left over and will give me a deal."  

He offers to measure my driveway and give me a quote. Okay, I'm in a mellow mood this morning so I say "go ahead" while I return to cutting back the dead branches on my crepe myrtle trees.

He goes back to his van, takes out a giant tape measure, go those the motions of measuring my driveway. In about ten minutes he returns to where I am trimming my crepe myrtle branches and looking to his left and right and in a comedically conspiratorial whisper says to me "I can do your driveway for (wait for it) only $4,500."

Okay folks now here is the very first thing that is wrong. Driveways are repaved in the early springs and preferable in the heat of summer. Not the beginning of winter. The driveway needs to set from the tar. 

Secondly, $4,500 is WAY TOO MUCH! Are you kidding me? 

A few years ago a neighbor of mine did have his driveway done, and a very nice job at that and it cost him $3,300, which I thought was a lot but it was a good job. I couldn't afford to get my driveway done then at $3,300 then and I certainly can not afford to get my driveway done now at $4,500 now that my household income is cut in half. I can hardly afford to continue to have my lawn treated and cut. 

Mr. Hot Guy then sees my hesitation and immediately "offers me a special deal" at $4,000. I tell him I can't afford that price. By the way, I have no intention of getting my driveway done by this guy under any circumstances. I'll give you a little background with those Driveway Guys. 

Several years ago I contacted one of these driveway guys who really was doing three of my neighbor's driveway and got a coating price. I saw what a good job they did with doing three neighbor's driveways at the same time. This driveway guy, when he finally did get back to me (it was weeks) came by, checked out my driveway and my two neighbors and gave us separate quotes (I couldn't see the quotes for my neighbor's driveways). I went to all the trouble to contact both of my neighbors, who aren't retired and who work full-time and have families to raise. After all that coordination I could never get those driveway guys to come out. I called several times and when I could get through I was told they were "busy" which they probably were. I was promised they would do my driveway "first thing" THE FOLLOWING YEAR! Come "the first thing" (spring) the following year and still no driveway guys. Of course I didn't pay up front (I never do with these guys) and he still didn't come. Finally in July two of the guys came by and finally coated my driveway. It was an all right job but certainly not worth all the aggravation and coordination I had to do.

So here we go with Mr. Hottie. After I tell him again I can't afford his price he says "What's a good price for you? I need this work." Oops! He just let it slip, HE NEEDS THE WORK. I'm sure he does. Probably wants at least half the money up front too. 

I'm still in a mellow mood. I put my hand on his should and I slowly tell  him "I'm not trying to bargain with you, I really can't afford to get my driveway paved." Now the friendly, "I'm your buddy tone and facial demeanor changed and I see what's below the "Good morning young man!" facade, and he mumbles something under his breath I couldn't quite make  out and he retreats from my driveway with the brisk morning sun on his back, and climbs back into his van to seek out his next prospect.

While all this was going on, my neighbors across the street, who rents his house, works full-time to support his family of six, sees all this mishigas going down with me and Mr. Hottie. 

I return to my crepe myrtle trimming as Mr. Hottie climbs into his van and drives off down towards the cul de sac. A few minutes later he's engaging my neighbor across the street from my house.

After about fifteen minutes he drives away from my neighbor's driveway. I know my neighbor can't afford to get his driveway done, he rents his house and wants to buy it but can't afford the price. He has an irrigation system that doesn't work and can't afford to get it fixed. He certainly isn't going to pay $4,500 to get his driveway repaved. 

My neighbor walks across the road towards me and we have a chat. Yep, Mr. Hottie offered him the same deal. My neighbor had to decline. All was not lost though, this Friday morning drama gave me an excuse to catch up with my neighbor who I haven't talked to in several years. It interesting isn't it? You can live near someone but not talk to them for years. Not that we're enemies but we all just have our own lives. Especially my neighbor, who is a nice guy. I live in a fabulous neighborhood, all good neighbors which is unusual for me because they're all straight. I don't live in a gay neighborhood. I never would. While there are a some of nice gay guys, and I've met some since I moved to Delaware twenty years ago,  I just never clicked with those guys down here. They're too cliquish for me. I don't fit in. Just as well, I don't miss that cattiness and bitchiness and game playing that I encountered down here with Rehoboth Beach's large gay population. If I moved to Palm Springs California, while I have a very good gay friend who lives there (Glenn M), I would probably encounter the same exclusivity attitudes. That's why I would never permanently moved to Palm Springs. Visit yes, but move? Never. 

So what's with the picture of my feet at the beginning of the post? That, my friends is good news! 

I took that picture during my visit to my podiatrist yesterday. If you'll remember last month I had an ingrown toenail that was taken care of my a podiatrist. That was the first time in my life I ever visited a podiatrist. Which was very lucky for me because the VA wouldn't (couldn't) take care of my ingrown toenail which was causing me a great deal of pain. As I left my VA Outpatient facility I just happened to see across the way a new podiatrist office. My VA Outpatient facility is in a new medical park in Georgetown. I walked into this podiatry office and asked if they could see me. They could and took care of my ingrown toenail. That was last June. They asked for me to come back for a followup. I didn't think it was necessary but I came back anyway. Oh am I glad I ever did because I asked if they could trim my toenails. Of course they could! The doctor (who was very nice by the way), not only trimmed my toenails but buffed them with what looked like a dental tool but shaved back some calluses on the bottom of my feet. Then as I left they made my next appointment for nine weeks hence. What for? To trim my toenails again. Foot maintenance! And here's the wonderful part, my feet feel great! I didn't realize how uncomfortable I was with my feet and toenails. MY FEET FEEL GREAT! 

In the past several years I've been having trouble trimming my toenails because of my arthritis (having trouble bending) and I couldn't see my toenails and to top everything else off I would get leg cramps. What a wonderful thing to discover that I can get my feet taken care of and Medicare covers the full cost.

Now I wish I had known this while Bill was alive because his toenails were in terrible shape. He hadn't cut them in years. I tried to get them done at the VA but again, they wouldn't. I tried to cut them the best I could but it was difficult because his toenails were so thick and curled. I managed the best I could and did make some progress. But it would have been nice to have a professional do his toenails though. Bill would have been so much more comfortable walking around. Yes, right up to three days before he died, Bill was able to walk. Bless his heart. He tried so hard not to be a burden to me.

So there you go folks. My post for today. I was able to do this post uninterrupted because Pat is visiting his friends Paul and Deb. Usually Pat calls me on FaceTime two or three times a day. I prefer to write by blog uninterrupted,  stream of consciousness. Can't do that when I'm interrupted by calls from Pat. Even writing this blog I received a phone call from an old classmate. I didn't answer it. While I've known her over sixty years and worked closely with her on our class reunions, she's a Trumper and I'm not in the mood for her gloating over Trump's win.

Speaking of which, I discontinued another friendship that I had with a former classmate. For the last four years we've been doing weekly Zoom calls on Sunday with Pat just talking about Old Man Stuff. But when I found out he voted for Trump over Kamala, I just don't want to continue that friendship anymore. I can't take his smug face. He was the one who said he couldn't vote for Kamala because "He didn't know enough about her." When I  told him "You know about Trump though don't you?" That question was answered by the blank look on his face. Sorry folks, I just can't engage with people like that anymore. I still have Trumper friends who I will continue to be friends with, including my very good neighbor but for some reason I just cannot engage with this particular friend because I never even suspected he was so far in right field. Never in all the years I knew him. I just can't do it. I used to enjoy our Sunday Zoom calls. Knowing this about him, I don't see how I can enjoy our calls anymore knowing that his is blind to the danger that Trump poses for our country. And he's Jewish, he should know better. My right wing MAGA friends who I continue to be friends with, I understand (though don't agree with) where they're coming from but I don't understand him. Just going with my gut feeling here friends, I recoil from him now. And it is a shame.

Have a nice weekend everyone and watch out for those Driveway Guys offering you a deal. 

The World Is Laughing At Us

 

Trump continues to prove every day how obscene he is. But hey, he's owning the libs. That's all that counts to those who voted for this grossly unqualified "leader" of the Free World.

Trump told us what he was going to do if elected president. Help the average American? Fuck that, he's out for retribution and only solidifying his position of power.

This is what you voted for the majority of American voters. Like it? And you can try and spin it anyway you want but the fact remains, the world is laughing at us. 

But at least we don't have a woman as president. Couldn't have that now could we?

And believe me, this will get worse. Trump has yet to find a position for Lurch Barron Trump.

Maybe he'll put Lurch Barron on the Supreme Court when Alioto and/or Thomas resigns to reap their rewards from their billionaire owners.

The Trump Era Begins

 The last couple of days I've been in a funk. 

I'm trying to put a pin in it.  At first I thought it was my high blood pressure. Yes, it's went up since Trump was elected president. I think I have it (my blood pressure) under control now. I've started to take my blood pressure medicine.

The day after the election, that morning I was in shock. Especially when I saw Trump also was ahead in the popular vote. My God, are my fellow Americans THAT ill informed? Apparently so.

My longtime friend Stuart M., perhaps illustrates the profound ignorance of the majority of the American voters this election. I asked him why he voted for Trump and is answer was "Well, I really don't know much about Kamala?" This begs the question "You DO KNOW about Trump though don't you?" Convicted felon, twice impeached, adjudicated sexual abuser, brags about grabbing women by the pussy, serial liar, con man, cheater, stealer of top secret documents. When I asked this question I just get a blank stare. Folks, he DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW. All he knows is that he has always voted Republican, would never in a million years vote for a woman let along a biracial woman.  And this is the saddest part, not that Trump was reelected but that so many of my fellow Americans don't see the danger. 

Well, it is what it is. I am resigned to slugging through the next four years of chaos. 

Yep, my fellow Americans saw this and said "Yes, that's what I want."

Here's what might happen. I'm not holding out much hope for this to happen but it might just happen. Trump will keep pushing all the boundaries and maybe, just maybe the Republicans will develop a spine and actually be true to that oath to the Constitution they took when they assumed their office to protect the CITIZENS of the United States of American and not a wanna be dictator. 

Veterans' Day 2024

Specialist 5th Class Ronald Tipton - 1962

 Happy Veteran's Day everyone! 

Joining the Army January 27th, 1960 was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

After graduating from high school in 1959 I immediately signed up to join the Navy. I wanted to "see the world." At the recruiting station I was persuaded to join the Army instead.

I failed my first physical (I was born with a hernia and the Army wouldn't take me.)

I had an operation which almost killed me (staph infection) but that finally cleared up and I boarded a bus in Philadelphia January 27, 1960 for basic training in Fort Dix New Jersey.

What an experience that was! 

After eight weeks of Basic Training I had a week's leave to go home before I boarded a train for Fort Devens Massachusetts to Army Security Agency training school for the next six months.

Me, Army Basic Training Ft. Dix, New Jersey 1960

After school I choose an assignment for Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, the site of the National Security Agency which is where I served the remaining two and half years of my three year service contract. 

Me (right) with my buddy Jim Harris at Ft. Meade firing range for annual qualification September 1962

I would have made a career out of staying in the Army but since I was gay, that was impossible. 

I had to stay in the closet the whole there years I was in the Army. If they found out I was gay I would have been discharged with a less than honorable discharge. I lived three years with the fear that I would be outed and thus have my life ruined with a less than honorable discharge. Fortunately for me I got through the three years and did leave the Army with an honorable discharge. Some of my friends weren't as fortunate. In fact many of my friends were not as lucky as I was. 

I didn't approve of the Vietnam war but I would have went if assigned there. Again, lucky Ron. I've been lucky most of my life, perhaps the luckiest when I met Bill, my partner and husband of almost sixty years. Bill was in both the Army and Air Force for nine years. He had to leave to help support his mother. Bill also wanted to make a career out of staying in the service. 

Me (standing second from right with my hand on my chest) with some of my Army buddies at enlisted men's swimming pool at Ft. Meade, Maryland 1962

Even though neither Bill or I was able to make a career out the service we have benefited mightily for the VA Healthcare system. And for that I will be forever grateful. Again, both of us were very lucky.

On this Veterans Day I want to thank all of those who served who weren't as lucky as Bill and I were. They either lost limbs or sight or even their lives for service to their country. 

Thank you veterans. You have earned and deserve our respect.

Hapy Birthday To Me!

Little Ronnie T. 1942,
I was a cute kid wasn't I? Lot of water under the bridge since this photo was taken right before my first haircut. Speaking of which, I need another haircut. Yes, I still have hair and it's not snow white (thank goodness!)

 Last night at the stroke of midnight I entered my 84th year of this years making a wide path for my spirit's incarnation this time around. 

I don't know how many more years I have left but what I can say unequivocally is that in this incarnation learning experience (and that's where we are here, to LEARN until we get it right) my life has been quite a journey. So good in so many ways, the best gift was having almost sixty years with my life partner Bill Kelly who died earlier this year at ninety-five years of age. 

Bill has contacted me often since he left his earthly body and his spirit returned to his heavenly home by flickering on one of the burned out Christmas lights in our living room. I put those light up for him about four years ago when his lost his sight to macular degeneration. He couldn't see out the center of his eyes but he had peripheral vision and could see colors. We always had Christmas lights up in our living room and sun room which I took down in January. That year Bill asked me to leave them up because he liked the colors. I've done that every since and even now that he's gone I continue to leave them up in his memory.  

When we knew Bill was dying we often talked about that if there is "something" after you die, for him to contact me. He said he would. About a week after he died, I was in our kitchen preparing a meal when my peripheral vision was distracted by one of the burned out Christmas lights that was in my direct line of vision. That was so unusual because that light had been out for months and even when the lights were on, they didn't flicker.

At first I thought it was a short in the wire but after a minute of two of flickering I "got it!" Bill was an election by trade and this was his was of contacting me. Since that time he's contacted me many times, especially during stressful periods. 

The last two months or so the light has been out. I even mentioned it to Pat that Bill hadn't contacted me for about two months. Then yesterday I had a very stressful confrontation with an acquaintance that I had to hang up the phone and block his calls. I won't go into the details other to say he's an ass and I've tolerated him enough. I need to get toxic people out of my life. Right after my blowup I felt my blood pressure rise. I took my blood pressure and it was 182! I've never had blood pressure that high. I'm usually 120 of 70. Lately I've been up in the 140's but I contributed that to the stress of this presidential campaign. But over 180?! I'm going to have a stroke over this guy who is trying to interfere in my life? Who talks and shouts over me and doesn't listen and interfere with my relationship with Pat? I only mention this because the confrontation wasn't over politics. As a matter of fact he has the same political views I have but every thing else about him is antithetical to me. When he talks he shouts. He asks questions then give me a chance to answer, instead shouting over me. I felt used to feel sorry for him because I know he lives alone and is probably lonely but he would never admit that. I've known him since the late 70's. He was a friend of my good friend Bob Mc. We lost touch for about thirty years then after Bill died he started calling me on the phone. 

I.AM.NOT.AVAILABLE!

Well, I really veered off of my birthday blog post didn't I? Let's see if I can all these words together at the end of this post. I don't know how much time I have left, the past eighty-three years have been glorious and I sure as hell and not going to have a heart attack or stroke dealing with a toxic person in my life. 

I was so upset last night (getting back to Bill's way of contacting me) that when I went into my kitchen to have a slice of that apple pie I made earlier in the week, I saw.....you guessed it....that yellow light flicker off. YES! That's Bill giving me comfort.

The Day After The Day After

 

Good morning folks! 

I crawled out of my fetal position yesterday afternoon. 

Had a nice nap and an even better sleep last night.

All the mishegas of this election season is now behind us. 

Trump was elected president by an overwhelming majority of American voters. I think they made a HUGE mistake but it is what it is (to use a tired old cliche). 

I will admit I was in shock yesterday when I got up at about 3:30 the morning and sneaked a look at my iPhone to see who won. When I saw Trump won I was stunned. Literally stunned. It's a wonder I didn't faint right there on my bedroom floor. And this time I didn't have Glenn and Pat around to take me to the hospital. 

But I came out of my stupor, after trying to make sense of how many of my fellow Americans could vote for Trump, after all they know about him.

So now it's time for the autopsy of what the Democrats did wrong. 

Of course there are many contributing factors to the Democrat's loss but from my perspective as a former Republican voter for most of my life (my first vote for president was Barry Goldwater in 1964, voted for Nixon twice and Ronald Reagan and for both George Bushes) here I think is one of the main reasons:

Transgender issues

What the fuck Democrats? 

First I will say that if someone wants to be transgender, fine. That's your business. Who am I to tell you how to live  your life. But you know what? I don't want your issues injected into my every day life. In fact I even voted for the first transgender member of Congress this election. I'll be honest I didn't know he/she was transgender and that's probably the way it should be. I didn't look for a transgender running for Congress for the one House of Representatives in Delaware. I voted a straight Democratic ticket. A transgender person just happen to be the Democratic candidate for Congress from Delaware. I voted party, not sexual orientation. Same way that I wouldn't vote for a gay person but I would vote for a person, whether they were gay or not just because I like them or more likely because I almost always vote straight Democratic ticket these days since there is no more Republican Party as I knew it when I grew up. By the way, my term paper when I was in college (1964-1968) was titled "The Emerging Republican Majority." This was back in the day when the Dems had held the House for forty years without a break. I never in my lifetime thought there would be a Republican majority in the House of Representatives. But I digress. 

I think the transgender issue was one of the main reasons the Democrats lost this election. People do not want to be dictated about all the in's and outs of transgender issues. Of course Trump and his campaign seized on this issue. Trump is very smart with identifying issues that the general American public, the Great Unwashed Mass, cares about.       

I sensed the transgender issue was a loser for the Dems way back in 2013 when I testified before the Delaware Legislature for marriage equality for same sex couples. After that law was secured, the activists immediately began looking for another cause. That cause was transgender rights. These activists didn't miss a beat once they were successful in getting the Marriage Equality Act passed and signed by the governor. I had this feeling that these activists were lost without their next cause. Again, to reiterate my stand on transgender rights, I DO BELIEVE they have a right to be who they are and should not be discriminated.  But to put the full bore of their activism now into transgender rights, I felt it was more important to them for their activism than the actual rights of transgender people.  Listen Democratic activists, the Great Unwashed, the general American public wants to vote for a party who is more concerned with inflation (i.e., the price of eggs) than making sure a transgender person has the right to use the opposite sex bathroom. If that sounds like discrimination from me, so be it. If Bruce Jenner wants to wear one of his little dainty short skirts playing tennis, great. But please Bruce, use the men's bathroom as long as you have a penis. 

Democrats, you're going to keep losing elections until you get your priorities straight. 

Another thing that bothers me. Yes, I think there should be diversity in the entertainment fields. More black actors. More people of color in commercials. But man oh man, do they have to be in EVERY commercial? Same with movie roles.  Sure don't limit black actors to playing maids and criminals but having a black actress playing role of a high society matron in 18th century England during a Jane Austen mini series? Oh come on! Black people existed then but THEY WERE NOT HIGH SOCIETY MATRONS. Every time I see that lie in one of those streaming series, I immediately turn it off. And I'm one of these far left liberals!  Maybe, just maybe the Great Unwashed doesn't appreciate being force-fed that lie either all in the name of diversity. 

Look, Trump is an ignorant, selfish, con man but he is not stupid. There is a difference between ignorant and stupid. Trump is a genius at identifying opportunities for self aggrandizement. At one time I liked Trump but when I eventually discovered what a dangerous man he is, I abandoned ship. We cannot have someone like Trump leading this country. Why? Because he isn't actually leading this country, he's just a useful tool of the Far Right Republican Rats. Trump is very transactional. Flatter and kiss Trump's ass and give him all the attention is insatiable soul needs and he will do whatever they want to keep this sick feeding of his bottomless ego needs. 

There, a lot of words from your favorite blogger that in essence says to the Democrats if you want to ever win any future elections then stop shoving transgender rights (which translates to a man using a woman's bathroom and/or vice versa).   Bruce has all the rights he wants or needs but he DOESN'T have to use the woman's bathroom, penis or not. There are toilets in the men's room, he can squat if he "doesn't feel comfortable" using the urinal. 

I hope this election in which Trump even won the popular vote, wakes up the Democratic establishment to change their focus to the American people in general. Sure, be concerned about the rights of all and surprisingly I think the Democrats will find that many if not most of the voters who voted for Trump are accepting of people who are different then them. They, like me, just don't want this shoved down my throat. My neighbor who lives immediately next to my house, is a MAGA guy. He even flies his Trump flag outside along side with American flag. I also fly an American flag outside my garage door. Last month that flag was getting a little ragged. Guess what, my neighbor bought me a new one and put it up! That's the way I think many if not most of those who voted for Trump live their lives. Live and let live but don't force your beliefs on me. Of course not all neighbors like that.  Remember when I told you another one of my MAGA neighbors stated to berate me when he saw my Harris/Walz hat?  I threw him out of my driveway 

Life is complicated folks. 

We each have to find our own path while we live together. 

Now I'll sit back and observe and comment on the next four year of chaos that Trump will bring to this country. I'm sure the MSM media is loving this, lots of air time and money from commercials. No more boring, marble mouthed Joe Biden in office wandering around wondering where he is. You gotta give Trump for entertainment value. I just hope he reigns in the more extreme, opportunistic white nationalist, Nazi leaning types (read Steve Bannon)

Crusty two shirts Steve Bannon - out to avenge the civil servants who gave him a hard time years ago when he tried to get his father's benefits from the government. Hell hath no fury like pissing off this maggot.

who are swarming around Trump like flies on shit looking to take advantage of the Great Unwashed (tax cuts first, always!) 

God help us!