Just Catching Up

I know I've been MIA lately but, apparently, I was so stunned by Dick McKay that I lapsed into a month-long coma. I just haven't felt there was much that was blog-worthy lately, hence the absence. But when I think about it, there has been quite a bit going on.

First, there's the new job. It's been a little more of a challenge than I thought it was going to be. I went from working for one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country, to a two-and-a-half-person local staff. I went from battling cancer to protecting an organ that not many people think about (but you should!) And by the way, who knew that the title of this post would allude to the job that I would interview for a week later?

In my old job, there was somebody for every function, and I admit that I was spoiled. Now I feel like chief cook and bottlewasher. Plus, I kind of feel like I've been picked up by the seat of the pants and tossed right into it. There hasn't been a whole lot of formal training, and not a whole lot of resources to turn to. But I keep telling myself that this is what I wanted: more challenge, more autonomy, a good career move. So I've been pretty overwhelmed in the adjustment, and have doubted that I made the right move, but all in all, this will work out. It's good experience, right?

And then there's the house. No, I still haven't moved in yet, but Hotass has. I've been packing the last two days in preparation for the move this coming weekend. And like last year's move, and every move before that, this too is a source of great anxiety. I don't know if it's common among everyone else, but every time I change residences, I nearly have a complete and total come-apart. I hate the idea of being unsettled even if for a day, and the prospect of putting my life in boxes strikes sheer terror in my heart.

Okay so maybe "terror" is a bit dramatic, but I probably could stand a bit of therapy to help me with my moving issues.

The renovations so far... we've painted with the help of the Gaggle. Brown Teepee in the living room and dining room. Porpoise in the bathroom. Sparrow in Hotass' bedroom. Subtle Touch in the hallway. The first color that went up in my bedroom was Ocean View, but it turned out a little too blue and juvenile for my taste; the color seemed more appropriate for a five-year-old boy who liked to play with trains. So I repainted it a pleasant grayish-blue appropriately named Skipper.



We've ripped out all the carpet and sold it on Craigslist, and the hardwood floors are in remarkably good condition. We've single-handedly remodeled the bathroom. A new vanity light. Installed an electrical outlet. A new medicine cabinet. New light switches (with a dimmer of course). New vent fan. Ripped out the old vanity and installed a pedestal sink. We've replaced the stove, the washer, and the dryer, and, painting a picture of pure white trash, the old ones are sitting on the patio. If you want to take them off our hands, let me now. And I think we've done a fine job with the work so far; not bad for two queer boys who have never done this sort of thing before.

I'd like to propose that our new neighborhood become Memphis' new gay ghetto because don't you think there's something homoerotic about living in a gayborhood called Sherwood Forest? What gay man wouldn't want to call Wil Scarlet Road, Maid Marian Lane or Robin Hood Road home? Of course, we need to get the appliances off the patio before any self-respecting gay man would want to call us neighbors.

And there's been a few other things going on. There was the boy that came to visit from Connecticut, a torrid, all-consuming infatuation until there was the realization that he was there and I am here. And let's face it. I consider anything outside of Midtown a long-distance relationship. He's a wonderful person, but then there's the reality of the situation. A reality that I allowed myself to ignore for a few weeks, but it was a nice few weeks, allowing myself to get caught up in the blush of a crush.

The Dynamic Duo moved to Nashville last weekend, and left a pretty big void here in Memphis. Granted they're only three hours away, and while I was in Nashville this week for work, I stayed overnight with them, but dammit, I'm gonna miss those boys.

So, um, what else? Oh, I saw Pirates of the Caribbean today, after two Bloody Mary's and a crab-Swiss-spinach omelet at Bayou Bar & Grill. The omelet was good and I was unimpressed with the movie. And I'm really kinda diggin' Christina Aguilera's new song, and I'll give it my vote as the Summer Song of 2006. And I don't care how wrong it is, but I really feel sorry for how white-trash Britney Spears has become. I just want Madonna to take her aside and give her a good talking-to. And I'm really sorta worried about this thing in the Middle East.

So that's what's been going on with me. What's been going on with you?