This ‘n That – Page 152

I am going to see Barbra Streisand this Sunday! I can’t believe it! I saw her in concert in 1994 at Madison Square Garden and it was bliss! I hated the fact that I was so far back, especially when the show came out on DVD, but it was definitely a night to remember. When tickets came on sale here in Boston, I didn’t even bother to look. I hate going to concerts and being far back from the stage. There was no way I could get tickets close to Babs, so I put it out of my mind. Just for fun I looked for tickets today on Ticketmaster…2 days before the show. I couldn’t believe what I saw on my computer screen, 1 ticket in the 4th row!Â I actually hesitated for a moment. The tickets are too expensive I thought. I can’t justify treating myself to this. Finally, my “gay card” started to burn in my wallet. I realized that this is a chance of a lifetime and absolutely NO self respecting gay man would let this go by! I clicked on buy it! I have no worries nowÂ of being expelled from the gay community, I made the right choice and and am out and proud! Showtunes run thick,Â through my blood…I am at peace.

Just in Time for Halloween…Jesus Camp

I just saw one of the scariest movies I have ever seen…Jesus Camp. This documentary was made at a camp for evangelical christian children in Missouri. I kept thinking of Hitler’s youth. These kids are being brainwashed and it was terrifying to watch these young minds soaking up “that old time religion” like a sponge. They were not encouraged to think, but were caught up in mass hysteria. If the leaders had told them to drink Koolaid and kill themselves for Jesus, I have no doubt in my mind that they would. I am totally convinced that evangelical christians are completely delusional and a danger to themselves and all of society. We should teach our children the best available evidence of everything that is out there. To reject science and replace it with religion is a dumbing down of the human mind and sends us back to the stone age. Anyone who believes all the answers to the questions of life are found only in the bible is just not operating at man’s evolved intelligence. People choose to switch off their brainÂ in many different ways. Some people use drugs, some use food, some sex…and some peopleÂ use Jesus. Teaching kids to blindly lay down their lives for Jesus has just as much validity as teaching them to die for Mohammed, or in my opinion, even the Tooth Fairy! I don’t want children dying for anyone! I really wish we would teach people to do things not for God, but for their fellow man. What we have here and now… is the only thing an intelligent person can be certain of. To put all our faith and energy into a deity, which may or may not exist, is a gamble with our own life, and quite possibly, the lives of all of us. That to me is truly frightening.Â

Can somebody say Amen?

Why is the music industry so violent?

I just read in the news that another rap star was shot. What is it with the music industryÂ today? Rappers are shooting rappers to get ahead, and drive by shootings take out major rap stars. I can just imagine what it would have been like when I was young. The Captain and Tennille, Olivia-Newton John and the Steve Miller BandÂ form a gang toÂ shoot and killÂ Billy Joel!

Kudos: Yahoo News

Happy 43rd Birthday to Me!

Today was my 43rd birthday. I can’t believe I am that old! I know, some people never make it to this age, but I really can’t believe it! I hate gray hair, wrinkles, and middle age spread! Not to mention the aches and pains on arising in the A.M.! What can one do? There really aren’t many alternatives. I do hope that losing weight and exercising help me at least feel a bit younger. Time will tell. The diet is going OK, but I think I will be adding HMR dinners to the mix on a regular basis. I can’t seem to stay sane on liquids only. Wednesday is weigh in, so I will have more to report then!

Tony Snow is Loser of the Week

President Bush’s Press Secretary, Tony Snow, described the horrible and predatory contact between a 16 year old male page and Congressman Mark Foley as “simply naughty emails.” This is absolutely shameful and just another example that the the Bush administration is out or touch with reality.

Â Tony Snow is my Loser of the Week!

Goodbye Swimming Pool

This weekend we had our inground swimming pool demolished and filled in with dirt. It was really kind of sad. There are many memories of good times. It needed a lot of repair work and we really just didn’t use it any more. I think I have been in it no more than 10 times over the last three years. It was going to cost about $8000 to semi fix it up and was only $5300 to fill it in. We have been dealing with rising electric costs, as well as expensive chemicals. And again, no one swam in it! I kept telling the neighbors to come and use it, but no takers! It is a lot of work and expense for only about 2 months of enjoyment here in Massachusetts. I will miss it though. My mother used to use it every day before she had her stroke. She kept thinking that she was gonna get in it again, but only made it once or twice when I carried her in. After the rain today, we can now hold mud wrestling matches!

Ebay Magazine Subscriptions

I just ordered some magazine subscriptions on eBay. I don’t know how the sellers are doing it, but the prices are great! The sellers have high positive feedback ratings, and I paid by credit card, so there should be little risk to me. I’ll let you all know if there are any problems!

I Dream of Jeannie

I grew up watching I Dream of Jeannie, and fell in love with Barbara Eden. I loved the beautiful bottle that Jeannie lived in. Over the years I have painted my own Jim Beam bottles and failed miserably at havingÂ them resemble anything like the whiskey bottle they used on the show. Mike finallyÂ made a great attempt at painting a bottle for me, but I never had the correct colors to give him. Today in the mail I received a beautiful copy painted by Michelle of DreamyJeannieBottles.com. All I need now is a Jeannie!