I've been so bad on being regular about updating this journal; it's just when I get to it lately. I can't say I'm proud of that fact, in fact....


I should be doing a lot better at keeping up with this journal, but I have excuses...

I've been working really hard at bringing an under-performing store to where it should be. There's a lot of inertia, a lot of challenges and it's taking a lot of time. But there have been some successes and I have to make sure I remember them when I am exhausted...

And I need to take some time off when I need it. Fortunately, my company watches out for that, even if I forget to watch out for it myself.

I am going to spend a week with my family (next week) in Boston, with a few days in Provincetown, and that will be a good thing. I will get to spend some time with my Dad, which is important now as his Alzheimer's progresses; each time I see him, he's a little bit, (and sometimes a lot ) different. My lil' niece, well, it's kind of the same with her; she changes so fast and so much! It's going to be a good time; my sister and her partner will be there as well.

When I get back, I'll be plunging into a very busy retail season... but I'll be ready. The meeting today with my regional co-ordinator was very good; we're going to do amazing things this year.


Pensacola



I went there recently for a team building. We spent two days and it was really good; I had never been there before... it was comfortable, nice... in that beach resort kind of way...



We stayed at a house on the beach and even though it was all people that I work with, it was fun. We also got a lot of work done...

But there was also some time to relax...



It was quiet, and soothing to hang out on the beach at night.





Good News!

My friend Dave in Australia will soon be able to become a citizen of that country; it's been years in the making, but now he'll be able to live with his lover for as long as they both shall... They've been living together there for almost five years and belong together for all time. They met here in New Orleans when Glennie was traveling and I was here to witness their meeting. There was never any doubt in my mind when I first saw them together that they would be together for a very long time. Sometimes, this sort of thing is just very, very obvious, and just the right thing.

Rejoice, children... rejoice! Somewhere in the world, there is goodness, there is love, there is truth, there is justice!


Other bits....

Talked to luca tonight. Amazing that when I next go to Vegas, that I'll be staying with him... Hehe, I remember when he would never, never leave his house up north! And now he's so happy and excited to be moving on....

Alex and I have e-mailed a bit lately... how I have missed that!

And this is kind of a biggy! Mass suggested a trip to Ireland next March and Pebbles, Jazzy and I took him up on it! So the four of us are going! I, of course am working on side trips to a few cheese makers....

This is going to be so great!

Ford might meet us there!

Yikes!


Hehehehe!


Yeaaaaa!


durlx

Perhaps it's time to give up the madness.

At best, it's it's own reward.

E-mails from alex and phone calls from luca and Davo in Australia, they helped a lot.

And just a few weeks from now I'll be on vacation in the Boston area, spending some time with my family, some of the time in Provincetown... with my family... they are really kewl, my family...


When I get back from the northeast, I have a very interesting holiday retail period. It's going to be fabulous! We have so many new products that are at a price point that will kill for the holidays!

Yes, I get off on this sort of thing. It's all fun, part of my second career and second childhood. The fact that this year we have way more 365 chocolate truffles than last year makes me very wet! hehe.

And it looks like I'll be going to Ireland in the spring... and visiting some very lovely cheesemakers in the company of some very nice people from these boards.

What could be better?

Oh, yes, Vegas in January!

I've had to start doing my schedule over a month in advance now; part of keeping the team budget in line... unusual for me to plan so far ahead, but refreshing in a way. Kind of nice to know where I am going. And I can still change it if I need to, it's my damn schedule! Well, sort of...



I did see someone from the past today... whew, what a terrific blast from the past!

(I'm sorry, I was going to post the picture, but it's just not right. He did some local porn.... but it's just not right...) Amazing to see him today. He looked very good, but then he'll never look bad, sort of like Paul Newman will never look bad.

This man was the beginning of my male menepause, hehe. I mean, I freaked out, I quit my job, I went to Australia, came back, nursed my Dad after my Mom died, spent this incredibly long time away from work... and almost didn't find my way back to the world of work.

Of course you know that I did find my way back, but it was a close thing.

(I mean... just throw in 9/11 and luca, bwahahahaha!)


Very strange to see him in the store today. Stranger still to remember as I was racing down Esplanade on my way home that he still owes me 40 bucks.

Oh yea, kharma.

:) hehe.

This is my prayer..


Don't go to church on Sunday
Don't get on my knees to pray
Don't memorize the books of the Bible
I got my own special way
Bit I know Jesus loves me
Maybe just a little bit more

I fall on my knees every Sunday
At Zerelda Lee's candy store

Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Keep me satisfied

Well I don't want no Anna Zabba
Don't want no Almond Joy
There ain't nothing better
Suitable for this boy
Well it's the only thing
That can pick me up
Better than a cup of gold
See only a chocolate Jesus
Can satisfy my soul

(Solo)
When the weather gets rough
And it's whiskey in the shade
It's best to wrap your savior
Up in cellophane
He flows like the big muddy
But that's ok
Pour him over ice cream
For a nice parfait

Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me

Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Keep me satisfied

Blah... blaaaaggghhh!!!!!!



What a strange mixture of emotions.... the work has been going so well, but there has been such a lot of it!

O.K. I did get to go to San Francisco and taste a lot of really great cheeses and meet a lot of amazing food people, and then two weeks later I spent a few days at beach house in Pensacola with my fellow store team leaders... quite good actually.

But over all, I have had very few days to myself lately; as much as I enjoyed the intense work related travel and learning, it was starting to fry me. The work highs were very high. But when I got home at night, I was crashing.

I've really missed having a man around the house lately, more than ever. And it makes me very sad during the down times.

I have tomorrow off, (finally a day off!), and I had to make myself go out; I never used to have to do that.


So, anyway, I went to Cowpoke's and that was dull, so I went to The Phoenix. The bartender was sooo happy to see me! He said, "this one's on me!" Then later he collected the fare from the five I had sitting next to my drink... when he thought I wasn't looking... how pathetic.

So, I moved on, even though I was talking to a guy who was mildly interesting, (he agreed with everything I said and that was a bit un-nerving... but he was O.K. otherwise..)

I took a cab to "Chet's". You might remember Chet from the last journal post. He was the "hostess" of that dragstavaganza, and I mentioned that he was very butch and owned a bar.



And he's sweet ol' cajun butch at that.

After a while I went around the corner to "Big Daddy's" to watch a show. What kind of show?

A drag show, of course!



The show was alright... actually this girl was hugely fabulous! But after a while, I just wanted to get home... (this is not good, I used to want to stay out all night. Now, I just want to stay up all night...)



I walked home from the bars. It's always a pleasant walk, lovely streets and convenient side walk markers...



Passed the "S & M Iron Works" near my house...



And then around the corner...



...and home.

I really do live in a nice neighborhood...


So, why ain't I happy, why am I so blue? "Am I blue? You'd be to", as Billy Holiday once sang... (warning! warning! When a queen starts quoting Billy Holiday there's bound to be drama!) hehe. It's just someting I'll get over, eventually.

In the meantime, why doesn't somebody come to visit me?

That would cheer me up.