My New Friend

A few weeks ago while in New Hope, I found this little critter in a shop. I fell in love with him but didn't want to pay the asking price. So I left empty handed. My mind kept thinking about the little guy the entire way home, so I decided to find out a little about him. A google search for "glass octopus" led me to the site of Michael Hopko, an artist in Northern California. This guy and many other octopi, fish, and turtles are the creations of Mr. Hopko. The octopus was available through Mr. Hopko, but I decided to try my luck on E-Bay. I have never bought anything on E-Bay, but sure enough, I found Mr. Ocotpus. The seller, an art gallery in St. James, NY, listed an asking price. I made an offer $25.00 less. My offer was rejected, but I held firm. A couple days later I received an e-mail stating that if I wanted to resubmit my offer, the seller would accept it. I did, and the rest is history. Mr. Octopus came a few days ago and has a new home in Mays Landing.

Will Gore Warm Up His Supporters?

Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The former vice president said he would donate his half of the $1.5 million prize to The Alliance for Climate Protection, a U.S. organization founded by Gore that aims to persuade people to cut emissions and reduce global warming.

Does this mean that Gore will reconsider throwing his hat into the 2008 presidential race? Many are hopeful this will happen. An organization called draftgore.com is one of several trying to persuade Gore to run. The group ran a full-page ad in The New York Times on Wednesday described as "an open letter to Al Gore." Monica Friedlander, founder of www.draftgore.com, said after the Peace Prize was announced that it would now "be very difficult for him to say no."

I for one would like to see former Vice President Gore shake things up a bit and get into the race. I think he would bring with him something that is currently missing from the current democratic presidential candidates. We already know Gore's position on global warming and the environment, and some feel this is one of the greatest challenges for the very existence of mankind. Gore is a very strong supporter of those less fortunate than he. I checked on some of Gore's feelings on gay rights from his position in 2000. Gore supports "civil union" but not "gay marriage." He would fight to stop any discrimination against same-sex unions. Gore would eliminate "don't ask, don't tell." Perhaps he has evolved in some of his views since 2000, but that would be known more if Gore begins a run for the White House.

Mr. Gore, if you read this, GO FOR IT!

Finally, frost on the pumpkins! Well, that's not exactly frost on those pumpkins, but you get what I mean. I am sitting here at my computer and the temperature here in Mays Landing is 58 degrees F. WOW! Hard to believe that it wouldn't be until October 11th that the temperature would finally get out of the upper 70's to almost 90! I always thought global warming would be good because it would mean our NJ weather would become more Florida-like. However, I find the older I get (not that I'm getting old), the less I like the heat and humidity. I actually like cooler weather now. I am not yet ready for the snow and ice and anything below 50, but I'll take that over 90, hot and humid! We gotta stop global warming because I just might have to move to the Alaska if this keeps up! Believe me, I don't think there's too much to do there! (Where do the gay boys go to dance there)?

Was I A Cowboy?

What makes a gay man such as myself be so in love with country music? Maybe I was a cowboy in a previous life? Maybe it's due to my raising, with a grandfather that thought he was a cowboy? But whatever it is, I love today's country. I know country music is usually about loving the "woman" in your life. It's very conservative politically. I would never buy a Toby Keith CD or go to one of his concerts, but I must admit I like most of his songs. However I do turn the radio station when his "kick em in the ass" war songs come on. On occasion, I would venture to Woody's, one of Philly's best known and loved gay bars/clubs, on Friday night when the "gay cowboys" there would do their two-steppin. It was such an interesting site, these guys in hats and boots twirling around the floor, with re-mixed country music playing. So I must not be alone, and there are those country musician that do share the same beliefs as me, The Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson ("Shut Up and Sing" and "Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly(Fond of each other)").

I am sitting here now listening to Brooks and Dunn's new CD, Cowboy Town. "Dirt, mud and dust, Bibles and beer. Outlaws, barbed wire, saddles and steers...In cowboy town, yeah, cowboy town. That's where I come from, cowboy town." Now there's some lyrics! Country songs are simple, I know. They talk about life and the stuff that happens, in ways I can understand without thinking too much. Maybe that's what I like. For example, a few months ago I wrote a post, "Jose Kicked My Ass" (July 2007). Brooks and Dunn know what I'm talking about. Tequila, one of the other songs on Cowboy Town puts my exact feelings to words: "Jose got me stumblin', mumblin' like a fool. That worm's got a kick like a Tennesse mule....Tequila. Goes down easy, Lord it'll sneak up on you fast...You don't go toe to toe with that little bitty worm."

I have found country music can help when one needs a good cry also. Put on some country songs, and the tears will begin to flow. You'll feel much better afterwards!

So, think what you will, but I will continue to love that music.

A Day In New Hope

Spent a nice Fall Saturday in New Hope, Pa. with friends. I said a "nice Fall day," but it didn't feel too much like Fall as the temperature was in the mid 80's and a bit humid. (I can't wait for the cooler weather). But it was a nice day nonetheless, strolling New Hope, people watching, and just being in the company of good friends! The food and beer was great as was the conversation.