Sweetened Cherry Iced Tea

This is an iced tea I fixed up today for while I worked on the gardening. This recipe is also featured in the Carnival of the Recipes at the Busy Family Meals web site.

It's simple, just a bit of improvising for the sweetener. I had some berry flavored tea, and I wanted to use sweet besides sugar. Cherry butter fit the bill and I even had a jar of it. You can find cherry butter earlier in the year (and canned, now) at farmers markets. It's a lot like apple butter only with, you know, cherries.

I used the coffee maker to brew the tea, when the maker is at it's hottest, right after recharge from morning coffee (it's a diner coffee maker thingy). But the filter drip needs to have been cleaned daily to keep out coffee taste.

Sweetened Cherry Iced Tea

• Celestial Seasoning Black Cherry Berry tea (or any berry infused tea)
• Cherry Butter, maybe 2-4 Tbsp
  

Brew tea, mix in enough cherry butter to the preferred sweetness. If you like really sweet tea, such as southern tea, you may want to add some sugar to keep the cherry from becoming overpowering.

Pour into your favorite tea pitcher, fill with ice and enjoy.

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Bonus Recipe!!!

Tangerine Float

Try this for desert, easy as any root beer float. Take the ice cream out of the freezer just as you take your first forkful of dinner, it'll be the perfect consistency for this delight.

• Vanilla Ice Cream


• Tangerine Cream Soda

Put the ice cream into the glass, preferrably a coke glass shape with the narrow bottom. Add the cream soda, slurping the foam to keep it from overflowing. Take a spoonful, close eyes and just taste it cross the tongue.

Resting Day

The festival always takes a lot out of me, and I just need a day of rest and relaxation. I always take one extra day off whenever I travel or go to big events like this, so to veg. Call it a mental vacation.

So today I will post pictures from this mornings walk with the pup. Much larger versions of the pictures are just a click away.

Just starting the walk and passing car dealerships. They must be really hurting if they are offering 0% financing and 42% off the price.

There is a bunch of construction going on to widen Wake Forest. This is just inside the 440 loop, up on the hill the exposed building is the Courtyard Marriot. The shopping strip center behind me is getting a major face lift.

The greenway parralels one of the creeks and or drain systems. The babbling brook is where I enter the greenway off of Wake Forest.

Today we walked to the Kiwanis park. There is a big soccer field there, and shrooms were growing quite well on it after Saturday nights rain.

And while gardening in the back woods, I came across this slug. The thing is huge.

Yes, it was a very relaxing day today.

13th NC Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

It has been a very busy weekend, starting last Thursday with the opening of the 13th NC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Local TV station NBC 17 did a feature, here.

I've been volunteering at the festival for several years now, starting as a ticket taker and manning the information booth. That is actually a lot of fun, because I got to look each in the eye and smile and basically get my face out there and become familiar. This year I was on the men's programming committee. I actually feel quite honored to have been asked to join.

Pictured here is the Carolina Theatre from Saturday night. This is between shows and the main features will be starting soon.

We started reviewing films in March, and had over 350 films submitted. Half of those were womens films, so they didn't need viewing by us. Well over half were shorts, but that is still some serious film watching. And trust me when I say that there is a fair share of them that just are not that good.

That explains why my Netflix activity is down to nothing lately. (If you aren't my Netflix friend, go here).

I had an absolute blast the entire 4 days. One of my responsibilities was to go onstage and introduce the film and welcome everyone to the festival. So here I get a chance to go in front of lots of gay men and talk to them. Talk about getting myself out there to be recognized! Another responsibility was to host filmmakers and others for the films. That meant getting them from/to the airport, and to the theater for their showings.

What made this a great weekend for me was how I was enjoying myself every minute. I was walking around saying hi to tons of people I knew, or even just sorta knew, or wanted to know. I also attended the reception this yea, my first time. I had no idea what to expect, and figure I'll be more prepared next year.

Meeting the various filmmakers and actors was also fun. The big name that we had was Randy Jones, the cowboy from Village People. When we were at the bar later and we talked, I think I was a giddy little school girl, which you know is not me. I think I was just enjoying the brownies and beer. There was the faintest of possibilities that Michael Emerson would be at the festival, because of his great part in Ready? Ok! Everybody quizes him about his role as Ben on Lost, but I didn't want to do that, so I tried to bone up on some of his other films. I had caught Straight Jacket where he is wonderful as a butler. I had 29th & Gay queued up, but that's when Netflix broke down last week.

The film selection this year was just awesome. We had a ton of films that covered a wide spectrum. From a silly teen sex farce to the artistic. Subtitled foreign films to spritual to wholesome to funny, we covered a lot.

Okay, I think Ive gone on enough. It really was a fun time, and initial figures show this festival to be the 2nd most successful season. And that's because it was fun!

Whatever Happened To....

So, whatever happened to ??? How about Danny?

I don't remember how much of this is before or after starting the diary. Danny's last name was Groves, and he hailed from out northwest U.S. Washington or Oregon. He had mentioned one time that his dad worked in computers and that is why he was assembling a computer from blueprints. To this day I keep thinking that I will find out that his dad really is Andy Grove of Intel fame.

He knew his computers and how they worked. Or I think it would be more accurate to say he knew rules and how they applied, and computers are all about a bunch of rules tied together. When we would get together for our almost weekly D&D game, he would start quoting the rules in the dm manual. But we know now that D&D doesn't have any rules. (or maybe it was a flaw in version 1 of the rules?).

Danny knew I was gay. Thom told him, just before I got back from Eagan, MN. When he told me that, I was flattened. Here I was, afraid to let anyone know becuase I could get kicked out? And Thom goes and outs me. And outs himself too, of course! And not just to Danny, but to Bill too!

According to my diary, Danny and I didn't mix too well. Oil and vinegar. And thats what I remember. But... in one entry I tell how he and I just talked one night when I needed it about me being gay. It went pretty well apparently because I failed to note any of the details. I don't remember the talk, but I feel that it's important that I had that talk with someone.

Over time, Danny became more of a recluse. He spent all of his time in his dorm room, initially studying the D&D manuals, all of them. Who know what after those were memorized. He owned only one pair of jeans by that time. They were too long but he had walked on the heel for so long all that remained was the seam. And I'm not sure when they had last visited a washing machine.

My final thoughts about him were near the time where he should be planning on what to do next, re-up or go into private sector. And he just disappeared. Poof!

And that was Danny. One day I will discover his dad really was Andy Groves, or he himself will burst onto the world scene in the computer arena. One day.

Jon Stewart on DADT

In light of what I wrote yesterday about keeping secret about being gay when I was in USAF comes this clip from the Daily Show. Jon Stewart take on the congressional hearings in his inimical style.



That is pure comedy gold!

June 7, 1983

I really dont know how to really start this off. Just an impulse to start a diary set it off. I do hope that I'll keep this going for several years, and that it'll help me through some of the hard times.

Maybe I should describe myself. I'm 21 right now, and at times I feel a lot younger and a lot older, but neither really seem just right. Its probably from the way I get treated at work alot of times. Since I'm in Minnesota, working with this team, I just Happen to be the youngest. There's nothing wrong with that except that I catch a lot of flack, being “the baby” or “junior”. I'm not really all that upset, in fact, its kind of nice. Being with people that are 10 to 25 yrs. older than I am has helped me to mature a little. That seems to be what I think about the most, growing up and being a little more mature. I do hold my own, though.

Well, enough of that. Let me finish describing myself. As I said I'm 21, about 6 ft. 1, weigh about 160 pounds. I'm hoping to change that weight as soon as I get back to Montgomery though. I have a membership at a health club, and plan to make full use of it when I get back.

I'm in the Air Force, with a rank of E-2 (airman 1st class), and have been here since Feb 10, 1982, totaling 1 year and 4 month. I'll recap what happened in that year, or at least what I can remember of it.

Starting with Basic Training, I was on a plane on feb 10, and Basic started on Feb 11. It only lasted 6 weeks, or 30 actual working days, but it seemed the first 2 or 3 weeks were a long time, or so it seemed. But once I got into the groove of it, it just seemed to pass quick. I never did get lonely or homesick, though I did call home quite a bit. And then there was the time I called Jenny Toth and tried to talk her into joining the service. She didn't seem too excited about it, and now that I look back on it I feel like a fool, ah but what the hell. And then there's the day that the T.I. Told us not to do any “unauthorized” smoking breaks and then I get caught! I had to clean bird shit all morning long. And then getting arrested for deserting Dorm Guard duty! Ha – ha, it seems so funny now. But the best of all was when I found out that I was to be made into a computer programmer. I about jumped through the ceiling with joy.

And then after basic came tech-school. In Biloxi, Ms. Or all places. But then, thats where I wanted to go, just because of the beach. Oh well! But tech-school was fun. I took a detail that released me of almost all other duties. Road Guard! The only duty I had was to go to a meeting of the other Road Guards once a week, and it wasn't nothing great. And don't forget A.F.I. Painting trees, roads, basketball courts, and what-not. But there was school. I thought it was awful tough. But the day that I passed was great. Again I felt like jumping for joy. I was now a Computer Programmer!! Ah, but it's not all that its cracked up to be. It isn't bad, as a matter-of-fact, its been pretty good.

Off to Gunter I went. Down in the south. Montgomery, Al. A sleep little capital, but not too bad. I arrived after a little leave between school and there. I was moved in with John Howard. Not a bad guy, all-in-all, but strange in his own way. Falls in love with a girl that barely knows he's alive and then tries to move in. I have as yet to see anything happen with one, but I wish him all the luck in the world.

And then there Danny Groves. Danny is a good guy, but at times, he and I don't mix too well. It's rare, but when it hita, it hits hard. All the rest of the time, we get along just great. I wouldn't say that we're the best of friends, but we do get along.

And then Bill. Cant think of his ^last (later:smullen) name right off. Bills very odd. He showers daily, but for some reason, he always has B.O. I don't know what it is, but he is almost always like that. I dont like to talk about it, but its a fact. But other than that, Bill is just great. Whenever we play D and D he's the Game-Master. He has a wild imagination, and that works out great. But as far as the game goes, I don't think I'll get into it right now.

And last, but most definitely not least, is Tom Blackmon. Tom is about as tall as I am, has red hair, and I would call him my best friend. I don't know what his opinionis of me, but I imagine I'll probably find out when I get back to Gunter. As for other things about him, I'll get to that later today.

Now, as to what I'm doing here in Minnesota. After being at Gunter for about six months, Danny Nieman (my boss) asked me if I wanted to go to Minneapolis to work on the system they are buying. Of course I said ”Sure” So here I am. I feel that Ive learned quite a lot here, but not quite enough. But I keep on trying. I've been here since January 9, 1983, and will be going home to Gunter on June 19. I tell everyone here that I really don't want to go back just yet, but I guess that I've been here a little too long, and I would like to go.

Now comes the thing that find hard to say. I'm Gay. At least I think that I am. I always find myself looking at a guy I find good-looking, and just can't help myself. Its a thing I always keep secret, for fear of what would happen. I don't really know what would happen if it were known all over, but I know that not all of it would be good. First, I would be kicked out of the service, no matter how much I enjoy being there. I haven't had this good a time in my life, making friends, meeting new people, and different sorts of things. But behind it all, there is the fact that the very next day, I might be out on my own, just because I'm gay.

It really bothers me at times. I don't know if it's something that I think I am, or if I really am. I dont act like the stero-type, but then, most people that are gay, dont act like the typical image that most people think a homosexual should behave. Peer-pressure is part of it, along with “society” shunning it, but it really does bother me.

It's caused me a lot of heart-ache, making me think and do some things that I really didn't think was right or sensible. For instance, while here in Minnesota, I tried to cover my tracks, make people think that I was straight. There was this girl up here, her name's Leslie. To the best of my ability, I made it appear to everyone that her and I were a little serious. I even had her fooled. But after a couple of weeks it all went sour. You see, she had been dating another Air Force guy, but he ended up going home. So thats when I thought that I might start all of it. She had asked me if I wanted to go to a party (function) that some of the people at Sperry were throwing. I accepted. [ed: see photos at end of entry] From there, I went on with this charade, using Leslie to help me cover up what I was. Well it went sour when Don came back up here. He thought I had designs on Leslie, and I imagine his friend, Dave, told him what I'd been doing.

Well, the two broke up, and I felt that I was responsible for it. I couldn't stand to see them breaking up, not if it were my fault. Well, during this time, I had been working at night, and about the time that things were getting to a good boil, I went back to days.

All of a sudden, I was thrown into it. For some reason (I still haven't figured it out), I went into a truly super-black mood. Anything and everything made me mad. This lasted for 3 or 4 days, and I just couldn't get out of it.

Last Friday, Jo-Ann (our secretary) decided that we should all go out and get to tie-one-on. So most of us went, and after I started to buzzing pretty good, Jo-Ann asked me if there were something wrong with Don and Leslie. Thats when my black mood hit its climax.

I just started telling here everything that had been going on (except that I'm gay. must keep it a secret, now you see what I mean). I just plain unloaded on her. Told her about everything that was bothering me. It helped a lot.

The next day, I was still not in such a good mood, so I went for a walk. I ended up walking about 3 or 4 miles to the theatre, watched “Return of the Jedi” and walked back. From then on, I felt the blackness lifting. I felt awfully good, and even better when I went to Grand Old Days Sunday. Parades, parties, and bands all up and down the street.

Since then, I've been in a lot better mood. And tonight I go back on midnights. So you can see what being gay can be like, but I'm still not sure just what my feeling are. Its like some great conflict is always taking place within me. I can't help it if I find other men attractive. I've been fighting it since I was 16, but its always there. No matter what, I still turn my head when I see a good looking man.

Of course, I've been writing about the bad points. With everything people around me keep saying against gays, its a wonder I'm still sane. There are time when I feel good about it. I just hit a natural high on it, and I'm in a fantastic mood.

And good things have come from it. I met one guy that I thought I was in love with. I thought about him quite a bit. His name was Mark Love. He helped me come to grips with what I am, or at least what I think I am.

For a long time in High School, and afterwards, he and I were best of friends. We did everything together. While I was fighting against being gay, I told him that I thought I was. But his reaction was a lot different than what I expected. I thought that we would probably break away as friends, and go our own way.

But it wasn't that way at all. He just said “So am I'. I was amazed, to say the least! We went to bed several times after that, but he was just as new to all this as I was. I eventually became too possesive of him, and that was our downfall. I still think of him a lot. But from that “So am I”, I came to accept myself for what I am. I told 2 more people after that, my sister and Linda Toth. I told Linda because at that particular time, I became a little depressed (not the 1st nor the last). She ended-up telling the entire Toth family, which I didn't find out until a few trips to their house later. I love that family because they never did treat me any different after that than they did before-hand.

Kaye, my sister, just said “I kind-of thought so”, and that was that. She doesn't bring it up very often, and she doesn't disaprove or dislike it, so there isn't any worry there. But I haven't told my parents yet. I'm going to have to do it eventually, but I just don't know when or how. I think that my Dad already suspects it, but, I don 't really know.

My second lover is Tom. I said that I would tell more of him later. He's at the same point that I'm at right now. He's not too sure if he's gay and being in the service forces him to keep it secret also. He and I have gone to bed a few times, and we're learning off of each other. We're also trying to help each other come to terms with what we are.

Well, I don't know what is the real problem with me, but I working on it, which is why this diary is being written. I just hope for the best. Its time to get ready for work, so bye for now. Mike, I wish you the best of luck!!

(16 hand written pages)

---

	Leslie and I at the function in Minneapolis
	Talking
	Something serious?
	Tuckered out
	Dave. Yes ... Dave!

The Diaries

On Sunday afternoon, in an attempt to escape the heat of summer, I decided it was finally time to start work on the office / library / data / information room. This is the room that will house the computer servers, plus information such as policies, bills, documents. It is also the room where the photo albums will be found.

While working through the various boxes and piles of folders and shoe boxes, I came across 3 spiral ring binders. These are my diaries. All three binders open with the year 1983, however the 3rd one later on has dates past 1987. I was quite prolific in the early days but apparently slowed down in that last diary.

I was 21. I was in the Air Force. I was returning to my permanent station from an extended tdy. And I was excited about being near Thom again. And of course, there is youthful angst.

I've decided to post those entries on this blog. It's not going to be particularly easy, since some of the entries are dark, embarasing or both. The entries will be as they were written, grammar, spelling and punctuation unchanged.

I am toying with the idea of putting into the comments area to the post my personal thoughts, because some things don't mesh with how I now remember things. Please let me know what you think of that idea. But the actual entries will be verbatim of what I wrote 25 years ago.

So starting tomorrow I will put up the first entry. It is long, but, to my point of view, very illuminating. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it back in the day.

Sunday

It's been a particularly busy and fun Sunday this week. It started with a bikeride on the greenways. I made straight for the path where it crosses North Hills. After checking out the new breakfast menu at Wendys. The menu? Eh, nothing to be proud of, but okay. They should go bold and serve up a heaty breakfast menu, lotsa peppers, salsa and spice.

was headed towards crabtree, I'd heard there was a triathlon this weekend. Never did make it there, but got fairly close and I know the way now. Did a loop around Lake Shelley, a little rought railing, and back. During the ride I found I was missing my water bottle. Not cool, man! On the return ride I rode through the Wendys drive through and asked if I had dropped it there. Nope. Turns out it was in the parking lot of the first curb I jumped this morning. When I put it back (after several gulps) I saw the bracket was loose. Must have gotten loose during it's tune-up.

While going around the lake, I came across this man. walking on these stilt like things. These were really cool. He told me that it took him 3 months to get to where he could walk easily in them. They can't be bought in the U.S., but the can be found at XtremeSportz.com (I musta rememered wrong...but they can be seen here) Click the pic to see it larger)

The rest of the day was working in the yard at my new home. I brought several hosta from the other home and planted them. And painting the front door. It was a dreadful black, so I'm getting it to a white base so that I can choose any color I want for it.

It's been a fun weekend for me. How was yours?

Dreams

I think I am going to start a new category of postings. Dreams. Yes, those weird little personal movies that are all yours. I love dreaming, they are so fantastic.

My dreams are usually from my point of view, usually from what I would see through my eyes. Occasionally in the dream I will view the scene from a 3rd view because that way makes it easiest to watch and integrate it into the whole.

About 2 years ago come August, Chantix came online to help people stop smoking. I took it, and come this August I will be smoke free (tobacco) for 2 years. Woo Hoo! Anyway, one of the side effects was an increase in dreaming. And did I ever groove into that side effect. I absolutely loved it!

Eventually I decided to keep a book on the dresser so that when I woke remembering the dream, I could write it down. I've gotten quite a few. Regrettably not all made it into the diary, as in at least one I was too embarrased or ashamed to want to record it. Man, that was a stupid thing to think. They are forever gone.

I wrote down last nights dream, as usual even before making coffee. Even before anything becuase I want to get it down before it fades. It was something about road trips, amusement parks, and bears being carried through a grand entrance and ending up in a mud puddle. And not caring.

Trust me, you had to be there!

But I Own a Weedeater

Two good ol' boys from Arkansas, Jimbo and Bubba, are sitting at their favorite bar, drinking beer. Jimbo turns to Bubba and says, 'You know, I'm tired of going through life without an education. Tomorrow I think I'll go to the Community College and sign up for some classes.' Bubba thinks it's a good idea, and the two leave.

The next day, Jimbo goes down to the college and meets Dean of Admissions, who signs him up for the four basic classes: Math, English, History, and Logic.

'Logic?' Jimbo says. 'What's that?'

The dean says, 'I'll give you an example. Do you own a weed eater?'

'Yeah.'

'Then logically speaking, because you own a weed eater, I think that you would have a yard.'

'That's true, I do have a yard.'

'I'm not done,' the dean says. 'Because you have a yard, I think logically that you would have a house.'

'Yes, I do have a house.'

'And because you have a house, I think that you might logically have a family.'

'Yes, I have a family.'

'I'm not done yet. Because you have a family, then logically you must have a wife. And because you have a wife, then logic tells me you must be a heterosexual.'

'I am a heterosexual. That's amazing, you were able to find out all of that because I have a weed eater.'

Excited to take the class now, Jimbo shakes the Dean's hand and leaves to go meet Bubba at the bar. He tells Bubba about his classes, how he is signed up for Math, English, History, and Logic.

'Logic?' Bubba says, 'What's that?'

Jimbo says, 'I'll give you an example. Do you have a weed eater?'

'No.'

'Then you're a queer.'

Raleigh Dating Scene

Okay, this personal ad starts on the positive:

you are the fairly hot, 30-ish married dude who cruised me at a certain raleigh gay club last night.

and goes downhill from there...

SirGayALot.com is Due To Expire

Yes, I did register that domain. And yes, I did pay for 2 years of it. And then I did nothing with it.

It expires on July 21 if anyone wants it. (Did I mention that I'm unloading lots of old stuff?)

I'm way past this

No More Big Screen

Oh, it is a sad day today. I sold my big projector screen. MD once told me that you can't call them big screens until it can show a lifesized manly as big as a thigh. At 118" mine qualified. Here was the Craiglist ad.

I did keep the projector, it is only 6 months old. A Panasonic PT-AX200, a very bright projector. I will mount a retractable screen at the brick end of the living room, with a tube telly at the other end with all of the equipment. That way face one way for big screen movies, the other for regular watching. Life is good.

Dante's Cove @ Netflix

Okay, so I am being accused of only updating this blog every 2+ months or so. Hmmph!

So how about something fun to hold you over until I find time to do some real blogging? I see that Dante's Cove, Season 3 is out on DVD now. There is a rumor that there is a plot this season. I've watched every episode very, very, very closely and almost spotted one last year!

So of course, I bring it up in Netflix. Here is the Netflix page:



Look closely at the "Enjoyed by Members Who Enjoyed" section. The list is:

Dante's Cove: Season 1 (2-Disc Series)
Babylon 5: The River of Souls
Children of Dune (2-Disc Series)
Tom and Jerry Tales: Vol. 2
Jeopardy: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show!

Huh? I guess the people that like the show are sci-fi kids who are into quiz shows and barely concealed flesh. Or something like that.

And in case you were wondering, yes I did add it to my queue and pushed it to the top.