Daily Archives: 02/19/2009

(Community Matters) There’s this irritating tradition in Facebook to list 25 things about yourself others may not know. Admittedly, I’ve enjoyed reading some of these. Though, I’ve resisted writing my own. That is, until now, since I’ve not been able to sleep since 1:20am. Feel free to skip

1. I like to eat potato chips with pizza.
2. Steven and I disliked each other immediately. He thought I was a player. I thought he was aloof. I set him up with another friend.
3. I’d written in a journal that if I was to settle down, he’d be tall, a scholar, an artist and religious. (Good thing I eventually remembered writing this!)
4. Margaret Keys knew we were infatuated with each other before either of us realized it. Margo Weisz set us up.
5. My maternal grandfather rode with Pancho Villa & was exiled from Mexico.
6. When I was 4yo, my aunts returned home from the beach and showed me shells they had purchased. Later, my grandmother and aunts received a telephone call from a neighbor that I was selling shells door to door – the shells from their caliche drive.
7. I was president of thespians in high school, class president, honor society president and graduated #1 in my class
8. I believe all gay boys & parents should read Andrew Tobias’ “Best Little Boy in the World”
9. I opted out of Yale because I was offered space in a “minority dorm”
10. My parents didn’t graduate high school yet are among the smartest people I know – my father my role model in business; my mother my role model for hospitality.
11. I never believed I would live to be 32 years old.
12. I secretly adore my mother-in-law. This hasn’t always been the case.
13. My maternal grandmother was the only member of her family allowed to attend public elementary because her skin was light enough. She ate her lunch privately because the kids laughed at tacos.
14. Once I privately acknowledged my homosexuality, I assumed I might be blackmailed as a banker and made plans to commit suicide if I was.
15. A young man attempted to blackmail me for being gay, demanding a $500 loan from the bank. I laughed, having always imagined someone would want at least six figures, and I was quickly over the thought of suicide.
16. When I was outed (in 1992), I received a call from another gay business man informing me I was now too dangerous to be around. I was informed by the bank I would never be president. I was a 31yo SVP at the time.
17. My first visit to a gay bar was in Sydney, Australia. I was intent on picking up a good looking Australian. When I approached my target, he laughed at me. After much persistence, he allowed me to buy him a beer. We were together for three years (he was tall & smart and shares Steven’s birthday).
18. I sometimes develop innocent man crushes on tall, smart, successful guys.
19. The only close college friend who publicly condemned me when I came out eventually tried to have sex with me (unsuccessfully)
20. I have a younger sister and younger brother. My sister once beat up a neighborhood kid who threw a punch at me. My brother beat up everyone who threatened any of us.
21. Lost hundreds of friends and acquaintances to AIDS while we were in our thirties.
22. In college, I thought about marrying Robbie. Without me knowing, my grandmother had asked her not to interrupt my education.
23. I multi-task quite well and respect those who can’t. Admittedly, it drives me mad when they rationalize that no one does so well – not true.
24. I test off-the-chart as an extrovert and love to be an introvert
25. I was always skinny as a kid so no matter how much weight I gain I still “see” myself as thin

(Community Matters) So, I’m wondering. The readers who receive my postings by FeedBlitz, do they receive the first post or the edited one I eventually settle on? Good gosh, if you’re receiving the first, I’ve usually not edited for spelling, grammar or, in some cases, even the eventual content. I’ll acknowledge being loose with spell check and not adhering to grammar rules in blog postings (especially re: full sentences which I don’t require in internet writing). Nevertheless, 90% of my postings are edited post-first posting. even this one – yikes

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Since last Spring I’ve thought mortgagees should be helped by the government, arguing that someone was going to be bailed out and it might as well be individuals rather than financial institutions this time.  Well, the latter have since received trillions, and we’re just getting to the individuals.  Had we provided mortgage relief early on, our economic catastrophy might not be so deep.

(Community Matters) Ok . . . . Is it just me or are there a lot more African American-centric shows and lots more African American characters on television – shows & commercials? Maybe just too long since I’ve watched as much tv as while I’ve been nursing the flu, but it sure seems so. Have to do with the election of a our first African American president? even though multi-racial

(Community Matters) so, maybe I am gullible.  

(Community Matters) They are calling for the S. Ct. ruling of Prop 8 as unconstitutional.  here

(Community Matters) Whatever deficits exists including those resulting from the economic stimulus and other economic recovery efforts belong to Republicans for giving away our surplus and getting us to this depression-threatening era.