Monthly Archives: February 2023

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Nice three days

I drove my son to work Saturday–he didn’t want to practice driving and I don’t want to make anything into something. I watched his game and we worked out together on different weight machines. I also called my aunt right before he started coaching. It was nice to catch up with her. My son’s team learned a ton and played great. I took a picture and sent it to my aunt. It was his last day of his basketball season, and next he coaches soccer. After weights, I took him to a local guitar shop and messed around on an acoustic guitar while he played a black EVH. He wants it for graduation. I’ll have to have his Dad contribute to it and I told him when he moves out that he has to keep it locked up. He and I walked around the park and talked. I took another long walk that night.

Sunday was book club. I don’t know why I had so much trouble with the murder in “Under the Banner of Heaven.” I didn’t even flinch with the depictions in “Killer Clown” or “Lost Girls,” but I think that the cold realism of Krakauer who I love made the murder of the toddler and mother something that I couldn’t read. I love the author. I’ve read, “Into Thin Air,” “Into the Wild,” “Rape and the Justice System in a College Town” and am now reading his book of essays. I liked all the history in “Under the Banner of Heaven” and our good discussion–just couldn’t read the murder parts. My son and I took another even longer walk Sunday; although, it was really windy. I got my mail shredded and all my laundry done and actually put away.

Today the super nice guy from work texted me early and said his girlfriend was dropping him off at 7:20. I asked if she was ok meeting me, because I want to meet her. When I went out there to meet her, the climber was in the back. I was surprised. The guy’s girlfriend has great energy. It was so nice to meet her. When the climber got out, she looked super hot. I said, “You look nice, _____.” The guy said, “You look great and professional.” She said, “The jacket is really to cover up the back of this shirt that has a design that I screen printed for a a burning man.” She sat up front. We all had balanced and good conversation on the way in. When we got there the climber said, “I think that we should all hang out in the car for the next eight minutes because we’re not contracted until 8.” I said, “That sounds like we’re doing drugs.” She laughed and said that it did. She said that she was going to lay on her desk for eight-minutes, which raised my eyebrows.

I signed in second, and she stroked my back and said, “You’re going to sign in today?” I said, “Yes, are you going to lay on your desk?” She cracked up. However, when I went into her office she got out behind her desk and laid on two tables in her room and bent her head back to talk to me. I sucked in my breath and said, “You’re terrible!” She said, “Thank you.” I adjourned and was definitely turned on. I worked and so did she. At the end of the work day I was zipping up everything, getting my things and she laid on the nice guy’s tables. I looked away and kept focused so I wouldn’t leave anything. When I exited my office she had left and was back in her office. We all left together. We all had a great and connected conversation on the way home. I looked west and said, “The mountains are beautiful.” She said, “Let’s all drive there.” The nice guy said, “Drop me home first.” Good vibes and conversation on the way home. I have cardio with my son Mondays and she was going to use her kiln and then go to the ice climbing gym.

I was so excited when her car wasn’t at his house. She said, “It’s only two blocks, but I’m getting up front.” I said, “You should! I feel like your Mom with just you back there and if I’d had a kid when I was 11-years, three-months and twenty-eight-days-old that would be a huge problem on many levels.” I think that she was going to pick up my hand when we got up the street. I told her that I couldn’t believe that she laid on tables and that she should warn me when she is going to do something that sexy at work! She said it was my fault for bringing it up again and I said, “To be fair you asked if I was signing in and then I followed up with that, but touché, you definitely won and nailed it.” She said, “Come ice climbing. That’s a workout.” I said, “As soon as my pinky heals, I would love to.” She picked up my hand and kissed my pinky. When she got out I unbuckled my seatbelt and said, “I’m hugging you.” I held my breath. She got out and winked at me. I would venture that she has served the ball from her court!

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Keepin’ on

I biked about 10-miles and some change on Sunday. I went to a very small lake in a park in our city and laid down. Before I did that I sent GA a text. Her name isn’t Georgia, but she lives there. I just don’t want to call her Rugby although she played it in college because that evokes a certain look and she’s really feminine. In fact, she’s the most feminine woman who has ever kissed me. I would’ve thought that she was straight actually. I laid down on the other side of a drainage ditch about 20-feet from the lake and closed my eyes. On the dormant grass I was in a windbreak, but it was roaring. I could only hear the seagulls calling and with the high wind it was like the ocean. I laid there for 10-minutes with the sun on my face. Gorgeous.

GA and I texted all afternoon into early evening. It was Q & A and really nice. It definitely cut the loneliness. On Thursday, Vegan texted me and asked if I could go to the restaurant with her. I’d told her that it had the best Green Goddess dressing that I had ever had when we had lunch two weeks ago. We had such a good time at lunch. We have dinner next Friday. I’m looking forward to it. I might like her. I’m not sure.

Today I was waiting for the nice guy from work to show up for our commute. I’m going with him and his girlfriend to karaoke next Thursday. I texted him that it was no rush, but I was wondering and he said minutes later that the climber had just picked him up. They finally got to my house and we went to work. She sat in the back, and was pleasant and more open than she’d been last Monday.

I worked and was doing massive amounts of paperwork and finally went to warm up part of my lunch. I didn’t want to go back to my office. I’ve been so lonely. I peeked into her office and said, “Are you busy?” She said she wasn’t. I said, “I don’t want to eat alone, may I eat in your office?” She said that I could. We had a really nice conversation. She laughed a lot, blushed a little and I found out that although she nor her ex are neither satisfied with the terms that mediation is done and she’s glad it’s over. She also said it’s getting warmer so we need to go back to the spot where we climbed in October. It was a nice ride home and I told her commuting partner that she was getting shotgun. We all chatted and joked and such. Balanced car trip back to my driveway where her car was parked, and then we all said, “See you Monday.” It was so much nicer than it’s been.

I’m going to send GA a picture of me tomorrow. The one that I’d sent her with my fall kickball team is ok, but I look too skinny, so I’m sending one tomorrow. I’ll watch my son’s team play and then lift weights and my son can get a good picture of me. I would love to see her again. It would be possible at the end of next month, but I’m being calm and cool.

I was pretty sad this week given the injury. I can type now, but I can still feel where the fracture is. It’s also very purple at the top joint. I have to bowl on Wednesday, so I’ll have to get creative with taping or really bandage it. I decided to play kickball on the old league and bowl for this gay league. I think that’s the safest sports with young, huge men.

I guess these girls don’t look masculine. One could be GA before she puts on her makeup and fixes her hair.
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Little Updates

I think that the fracture was mostly at the top joint. There is a smaller one down the side. It’s healing though which is good. It’s almost a week. At 6:30 tonight, it will be just that–one week. I’m not going too nuts. I don’t love not being able to plank, but I’m not completely crazy.

It’s the third one that I have broken. When I graduated with my two Bachelor’s in 1997, my left ring finger was taped to my pinky on a tongue depressor. I caught a basketball pass incorrectly playing pickup three-on-three. It looks funny wherein I am shaking the President’s hand with my other hand injured in my cap and gown picture. Then in 2015 or 16 my dog ran one way while I was picking up my wife’s (ex now) dog’s poop and she snapped my right ring finger. Three fingers, so I know and don’t need to do the $60 co-pay. I’ll rehab it too. Our new Occupational Therapist at my main site is so cool, so I’ll ask her about it when I start doing hand strengthening.

I am not going to stay with this league. I paid for March and April for the old one. I had fun in the summer kickball and really these huge men are a bit strong for me to hang–especially in dodgeball. I also don’t like this team manager. She’s rude and kinda stuck up. I’m going back to what I knew. I played on a Meet Up kickball league about 10-years-ago and there was one guy who pitched as hard as he could. I blew my quad kicking it.

I have to expect that playing sports causes injuries. I just want to be a little more circumspect. I do want to keep playing rec sports though.

I have been walking and biking. It’s a little difficult to bike over bumps because of my pinky and pain, but I’m getting it done. I had fun at the Mardi Gras party that I went to last night, and am looking forward to seeing my teammates and my colleague tonight at the cowboy bar. I’m being social and as active as I can injured. I also have practiced guitar three times. I think that I’m doing as well as I can. I hope that my son can stop lying about vaping, and have told him–as I caught him again–that it was the last time that is happening in the house if he wants to live here. We’ll see. It’s nice again, so I’m going to add to my biking right now. Hopefully, I will meet a nice woman tonight. I’m super behind on that goal.

  1. Calm and cool – Absolutely
  2. Spend less – Moderate progress as the convention and being away from my house set me back
  3. Do you – yep, and helping others
  4. Lift like a girl – damn pinky; another setback
  5. Healthy alcohol consumption – check! Only three over the course of 4.5 hours with massive amounts of food at the Mardi Gras Party
  6. Get big – I am bigger, but have a small injury setback currently. Thursday – now: 30,058 steps & 13 miles cycling
  7. Love / Connect / Lead with Heart – Check
  8. Sing – Check
  9. Play guitar – Moderate progress
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Broken

Not my heart, but my pinky. I thought that I had jammed it because I was holding a ball when a shot was near my head so I blocked it with the ball that I was holding. It really hurt, but I could bend both joints. I couldn’t play though and our team manager got pissed. It was Super Bowl Sunday and we didn’t have a full team. I was sorry that we were at a disadvantage, but couldn’t use my right hand well. We lost. She was pretty nasty to me. She’s a little weird anyway and sneers, but she was visibly mad about my hand.

The next day after my shower it was zombie colored. I knew that it was broken. I showed the climber and her commuting partner. They were in my car. I don’t have a good read on the climber anymore. She’s not cold, but definitely not effusive any longer. I don’t want details and didn’t give her or her commuting partner who I drove to work any information about my Poly-Cougar kissing episode at the bar on Friday. I’ll drive them next Friday and will have to see if they like riding with me when my son is in the car because I’ll have to give him a lift once a week when I drive. I dropped her off at her house and she said, “Bye.” I don’t know. I also don’t chase. I’ll just see what the next month or so involves.

Conversation was pretty dominated by her commuting partner on the way in and then she asked me a question about my son that was open-ended on the ride home. I have been encouraged by his openness and attitude lately so I told her and him about my hopefulness. She talks more in describing adventures in the car, and frankly lately. I don’t even know how mediation with her ex for the house has been going. I guess that I don’t feel close with her. I can be open, but she seems maybe a little guarded. I’m not going to give energy to thinking about why, and will drive them both next Friday if they want to save gas and be green.

I got a popsicle stick from work and waterproof tape and have my finger splinted. I have been toggling over with my ring finger to type, but shifting is very awkward and slow. It’s ok because the pinky is easiest. It’s just the shifting thing that is super slow. It could be much worse.

I probably won’t get to play in our last couple of dodgeball games. I’m only going to play kickball for this league. I don’t want to be around the team manager who is a varsity dodgeball player. I may go back to the other league anyway because I don’t have to play on a gay league. I had fun last summer. There was a woman who gave me wine and she was friends with a lesbian married couple on that league, so I can probably still meet woman in the other league.

I had so much fun in guitar class last night! The teacher is a nut and I’m honing my skills. I’m going to play a song at open mic at the bar. I would like to get the strumming pattern for “Little Bit of Love” down completely and do a sing-a-long. I’m going to practice all weekend. I have my grief group for the loss of my parents tonight, which always helps. My colleague who almost died is going too. Life is pretty good right now.

It’s snowy and pretty today. Since Saturday I’ve biked 24-miles, so with biking everyday Friday through Tuesday, I ought to get to at least 50. I won’t bike today, but maybe I can bike to work on Thursday. I can do that with a broken, splinted pinky!

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Feeling really good

My son’s best friend since probably about 4th grade was here last night. I was so peopled out that I had to escape: wash my car, find the cat litter that is difficult to find, get some vegetables, etc. because I didn’t want to catch up with his Mom for an hour or sometimes more. She had her daughter at 17, and so she’s much younger than I am. We don’t have a thing in common. Actually, now that I think about it, she’s probably the same age as the climber. I didn’t want to talk though because I talked with people all week. Originally, my son’s best friend was going to come and go. I thought that he was driving and he is licensed; although my own son is three-months older than he is, but his Mom didn’t want him driving so far. His family moved counties when my son was in 6th grade and he’s known him since 1st. They were laughing and my son was showing him the guitar that I rented for my son and they were having a great time. Hearing my son laugh was so great. I can make him laugh a little, but he’s not generous with laughter. I know it’s part of the depression that he deals with as well. His best friend stayed the night. I made southern chicken sandwiches, sweet potato fries and a monstrous salad. I left it out and will eat it tonight before dodgeball.

I also got three rounds of rapid eye movement. I can remember three rounds of dreams. I feel so, so good. It also was nice on Friday night to get hit on. And not by a man! By a super young, blond, blue-eyed, very feminine, ex-Rugby player with a slight southern accent. Fun. I actually looked terrible Friday night and didn’t have on one bit of makeup. I also never would have approached her to talk, because I was just chillin’ in the gay bar, which is something that I like to do. I’ve known the owner for 15-years and talked to her as well. It’s where I prowl with my friend.

Speaking of which, I need to work through more modules to update one of my trainings. It’s probably 5-10 hours of content. I’m motivated to do it though because the particular training is such a good one. These other two workshops can be a little dry. I need to really get familiar with the content so I can bring my charm. I can’t dance. However, I would say that I’m one of the best public speakers period. My partner-in-prowl has done these workshops probably more than I have. I’ve probably given about 3-6 times via the one that I’ve been endorsed in for the last 8-years, and have given close to 20 in the one that I like. During convention, I got a new one and am a virgin for it. It’s actually called “Provisional.” We should look for places to train in which there is hiking and pretty women.

That’s it! I just feel so good and hopeful. I know that I’m going to meet lots of new women.

I was surprised not to meet any at the convention, but the one night that a vendor had drinks and food was the one in which our old friend had chosen for a dinner out. It’s ok, she lives in CA now where she was born and without her I’d never have met my best friend. I also was intrigued by the best flatiron steak I’ve ever had. I have a couple, so I’m going to read a bunch of tips before I cook it. I make good steak, but this one was like butter. I need to look up some tips before I make my own. I just thought that the convention would be a good place to meet women, but it was more a time for reconnecting with students whom I’ve taught.

I took a 10-mile bike ride yesterday because it was 63-degrees. There is still a lot of ice on trails, but my bike to work route is nearly clear. I can do it in rush hour and will do it Tuesday through Thursday. I feel like I want to bike 30-miles a week to make up for all the commuting that I missed from snow-poc-alypse. I love cycling and tooling around on my bike.

I don’t work Friday or Monday. Friday I’ll have to deal with my parent’s estate and we do have family therapy. I want to talk about goals and rewards for doing work and connecting with teachers rather than leaving campus at lunch and getting high in the parking lot. I texted his godparents to help me. I didn’t want to be a downer during our climbing class in January, so they didn’t know that he dropped out. I wish my son’s Dad was a little more inspiring for my son. It was odd, but my son said last week, “I’d never marry a woman like you. It would be like marrying myself and I would be so angry all the time.” It’s odd because I don’t think that we’re similar. I’m super active and hardworking. I’m not sure what he meant. I’m going to ask what he meant in family therapy. As I was finishing this entry, his godparents were texting me back and they’re going to support me and him. I’m a lucky person.

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Asked for a kiss

I only worked on Monday this week, which was good given a crisis that happened the week before. I didn’t talk to or look at the climber. I came in early, set up an incredible breakfast, and worked. I was walking a client down the hall to my office mid-morning and she was talking with one of our colleagues and I kept talking with my client, and honestly didn’t notice who she was actually speaking with in the hallway. I had to walk past her office several times all day, but didn’t look in, linger and walked my typical super fast pace. (I get a lot of shit about how fast I walk.) At the end of the day, she came into the front room in my office and then into mine and we chatted. I said, “I didn’t see you today, but knew you were at work.” She said, “I saw you in passing several times.” She also complimented the food. I told her, “I’ve cooked for you before. We need to be honest about that.” She told me that I’m good at everything. I don’t even know what that means. We haven’t had sex. I can’t dance.

I had forgotten some materials for one of our clients and told her commuting partner that I would bring it by his house and didn’t know what time. I made it home, got it, and then went to his house when they were driving up. I joked with him to catch it. I told him I was kidding because it’s very heavy and then walked to my car and started getting in. The climber said something that I couldn’t hear so I walked to her car. She said, “_____ and I were talking and said that we should all commute together.” I said, “That probably wouldn’t work because they have me go to client homes sometimes,” and she said, “As long as you were back at the end of the day, that would be fine.” I said, “There’s a liability with driving someone else’s car.” She said, “Maybe you could drive us?” I texted her the next day that I would drive them. I didn’t hear back so I texted her commuting partner that _____ had mentioned when I was leaving his house us all commuting together. If they were there at 7:20, parked on the side of my driveway, I would drive. He hearted the text. We’ll see. I don’t really care either way. If I was in the car with the climber, it would be nice for us to be alone. Her commuting partner is a super nice guy though.

I was away from my house for hours all week, but only had to get up incredibly early on Tuesday. The convention was wonderful. I saw so many former students. They are all over the nation and it was amazing to see them. I also saw a couple of colleagues who I had not seen in years. I went to the corporate party and had a complete blast and then when I left at 11:30 the next train was due to come at 4:18. I walked 4-miles through not the best neighborhoods and finally hailed down a bus amidst construction barrels, plastic fencing and missing streets. The bus driver told me that at the central station that the next train would be there now. Nine-minutes later nothing, which is what my Google Maps said for the next train. It kept getting pushed back for the ETA. About 20-minutes into my wait it said it would be there at 2:24. I downloaded Lyft, got to my Park N Ride and went to bed a bit after 1:30. Yikes. The entire convention was excellent. I learned a ton and have a new endorsement for trainings. The woman who I prowl with and I will have to start some marketing. She and I can train in the same three trainings. I should go to GA. More on that 😉

I went to lunch today with the Vegan. I can’t call her Angry Vegan anymore because 1) I had fun, and 2) We had wonderful conversation. We’re going to go to a favorite spot of mine for veggies and the best Green Goddess dressing that I’ve ever had. She is still pretty injured, but we will climb together eventually. It was really nice.

I taught tonight and barely got home in time to do it from home. I was craving Mexican food so I went downtown to eat and then dragged myself to the bar. I watched the Celtics game at the restaurant, but the bar owner doesn’t pay for the NBA channel so I had to watch a repeat game: Cavs and Pelicans. I slowly drank a beer. After standup was over, I was able to move to the other side of the bar. I had asked a woman who was with her girlfriend if it was ok that I put my jacket on the chair next to her as I was standing at the bar and she said “of course.” Super nice girl. When I was moving to the other side of the bar after standup was over I retrieved my jacket and she chatted with me and was kind. She said, “I’ll hopefully talk with you more later.” I said that I’d like that.

She and I chatted a bunch. She asked me my sign and said, “I’m always attracted to Virgos.” We talked for a long time. She’s 30!!!!!!! I told her, “I could be your mother!” She said, “Just barely.” Flattering nonetheless. She’s from Atlanta and here for a vacation and the girlfriend is her ex. When the latter was back, I made myself scarce, went to close out my tab and said goodbye. Then I said, “Give me a hug.” We embraced. When I told her that it was nice to meet her and that I was sorry not to take her to lunch she said, “Can I have a kiss?” It was quick. I hugged her again and said, “Let’s have one more kiss,” and really kissed her longer. Nice. Should a 48-year-old person kiss a 30-year-old?!? Who cares.

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More loose ends

I process things pretty slow. I’m also long-suffering. Those qualities do not make for a good match in exclusive partnership. Anyway, as I write all of the time as I’ve been doing since last November these features have made me want independence, and to love and enjoy others in specific places and times. I won’t live with someone again until I am in my 80s and need some help from someone younger who I pay with whom I have a business relationship. I will not remarry. I think that monogamy works for a handful of people. I have not been exposed to a marriage that I thought was working for both people in my sphere. I know that they exist, but it always seems like massive sacrifices are made by one person more than the other when I know both people. That is where I am.

I had talked to my ex who is dying slowly on January 21st and was on car adapter through speakers with her and her wife. The conversation was bizarre. It spanned medical procedures and the new cars that they’re thinking about buying. It made sense finally to me why she reconciled with her wife. I guess she was broadcasting their business on Facebook, and talking about their fights and possible divorce. I don’t get on Facebook unless someone tells me that I have to log in: eg. pickleball dues or a post that they need me to address. Didn’t ask how I was. Didn’t inquire about my son who she always says that she adores. I get she’s on a transplant list. I knew all the stuff that had happened via text when I donated to her Go Fund Me. I don’t like cars. I bought a sport utility vehicle in 2008 and still drive it. It was two-years-old. I repair it and put parts in it. I’m not going to hustle down there. I’ll go see them when it’s necessary.

I have a sinus infection. I guess what is going around is bacterial. I’m NOT getting antibiotics. Work was difficult, but definitely not impossible. And then I bought everything and took it for the first time last night, and I slept through the night except to blow my noise once and my throat is good. One night of vitamins and such. I always have Kickass Immune and EmergenC, and still have a little bit of the Chinese herbs that my ex-mother-in-law used to send, but I needed to add these until I felt cessation in sinus pressure and a sore throat:

I COVID tested negative–again–why don’t I get COVID? I have to be careful with zinc. It sends to nauseate me or make me throw up. I think that the sources on the left were more water soluble so it was fine. I also made mushroom risotto, chicken cutlets with panko and kale chips in the oven last night, so I was pretty full when I took these zinc.

I didn’t see the photographer at the art performance. She texted me the next day and said that she was texting with the woman who I was able to sit with–and her boyfriend and a lesbian couple. She said that she was sad not to run into me. So, I’ve texted with her a little bit about the sale of house this summer. I don’t actually want to hike or cycle with her. I want a professional relationship. I saw a few pictures of her recently and didn’t find her attractive. At the beginning of April, we’ll do a walkthrough pending the late afternoon that works for the tenants who pay bills there. I’m not hugging her and will bring my son if I can make it work with his schedule. He’s a good buffer. He’s also very good looking, so he distracts people.

He’s going back to high school. Not his high school, but one in which he can blend online and in person classes. He told me last night that he wants mostly in person classes. I don’t care, and am glad he’ll have a diploma instead of a GED. There still is some stigma. In his case, it’s truly being lazy. I have to hire a driver. Uber and Lyft have too broad a window, and I want him to be on time. He can take the city bus home. His Dad can take him once a week, and I can take him once a week. Hopefully, it won’t be as expensive as his out-of-pocket therapy that ended a week ago was. He has to go to school nine weeks only–not a year-and-a-half. They’ll get his schedule done on Monday. His personal essay for the application said that in 6th grade the friends that he had controlled him rather than knew him, and that COVID killed all his motivation for school. I wonder who else has a student like my son?

I have to study today and also read. I have a training of trainers event on Tuesday and Wednesday and work on Monday and have convention things all day on Thursday and Friday. There is a corporate sponsored party on Tuesday night as well. Maybe I should have my son stay at our house and I should stay in the hotel with an old friend? No, I won’t sleep well and that seems a little bit 20-something. Regardless, I’m excited for the convention.