What a fun time, VACATION!

Man what a Vacation. As some of you know I was on vacation and out of touch here for a while. Atlanta and South Carolina were my destinations and I had a wonderful time. I have to thank my wonderful host Mac as he is the bomb. Recapping the start of my vacation, Fridays the 13^th went off without a problem. Actually I got paid for watching films all day. Good thing was I got to leave early which made the weekend that much nicer. Traffic wasn’t bad either as I zipped right along home.

Saturday went to see Jeff as a mutual friend of ours wanted to see him and didn’t know the way as he traveled some distance to see him as well. I didn’t talk much to him as I let them have the time. Jeff seemed to be up beat and I have to say looked great as well. Still I feel there is no future for us or at least at this point. However I have to admit I was a little jealous watching him interact with this person. Although he said they have no sexual relations I feel to differ as this mutual friend talks about him as if he were his life. I know what time it is but haven’t let on to this friend that Jeff and I have a past. After the hour was over we went to a late breakfast to meet Jeff’s Mother. I already knew her but for our mutual friend this will be his first time. I was shocked to see the shiner on his mothers face as she said she walked into a doorway but I think it was from something else. Still I let that be. Went and got my hair cut and then home to rested up and put some finishing touches on the publication. Still have some things that need to go back to the editor and I’ve taken care of that this Monday morning July the 23^rd. Next off to the printers, and then send them out.

Sunday made sure all my reservation and all were in order and packed as well really nothing went on this day.

Monday I had some light running around to do (saw my dad) before catching my plane which was delayed for 40 minutes. I guess I couldn’t complain as there were folks there for two hours a head of me. Plane was suppose to leave at 4:49 PM we didn’t get off the ground until 5:30PM. Didn’t reach Atlanta until 8:30 PM and didn’t get out of there with the rental car until nine or so. I was really glad I didn’t have to go to baggage clam as there were so many folks there it was a shame. I’m told Atlanta is one of the biggest air ports in the U.S. and I’m in titled to believe it. Got lost driving out of Atlanta airport and ended up taking the scenic route around the city. I finally made it to Mac’s as it was reaching 10:44pm that evening. I got settled, made out my schedule for the next day and laid it down as I was beat. It was way too late to be making phone calls so I put that off until the following day.

Tuesday I took time out to remember my good friend LeRoy as he passed this day of a massive heart attack three years to this date. There his hardly anything left of his place as his father sold it and they’ve since placed townhomes on the property. I have a few pictures of him to keep his memory alive. I got up early and started making phone calls to set up two photo shoots. There were suppose to be four for that day but two canceled on me. Or for a nicer word they didn’t answer their phones. Its ok, no matter how good looking one is I’m not going to chase them to try and get them to do a photo shoot. I was grateful for the ones who did and they are some great pictures indeed. One lived on the northeast side of town which took me about and hour and a half to get there. I was surprised as to how quickly I adapted to the city driving. However, I did get lost and loss some valuable time coming from Mac’s place. Since school was getting ready to start for him again he was on the job getting this class room together. Got those shoots done and meet Mac for dinner and then back to the house. We lounged around the house and cuddled most of the night. Was a lovely evening at best.

WEDNESDAY, Was my Birthday. I turned 47 this day and my phone was blowing up. Good to know I have friends and family out there who care about me. Mac went and got breakfast for us and I accompanied him to the school to see his class rooms as he’s both the band and Chorus director. We spent the morning there then went to get some lunch. I had two photo shoots later that day as well so shortly after that I was off and running. I made it home around 10:00 p.m. that night as I had dinner with one of the models. I for sure will stay in touch with him. He’s a very nice man with good conversation as well as listener. Mac was a sleep when I returned and I woke him up to let him know I was back, and then went to bed as I had an early day tomorrow.

Thursday morning I was to have a photo shoot at noon before I drove over to South Carolina but he was a no show as well. I got a call from my sister that my Uncle who had been suffering from cancer passed this day. It was kind of a relief as he won’t be suffering anymore. Mac and I went back to the school them went to eat lunch and shortly after 2:30p.m. I took off for South Carolina. I made it there around 5:30p.m. Traffic was horrible and since Mac lives on the south part of town there was an extra hour added to my travel time as it only 135 miles from Atlanta to Greenville. Just as I got settled on to the hotel Rodney called and we met in the hotel parking lot for a few minutes as I had a photo shoot to do there shortly afterwards. The second one canceled out on me as well. Went over to do the photo shoot and the outside pictures went well but once we got inside the lighting wasn’t so good so the pictures weren’t coming out to my liking. After trying to reset the camera a few times we lost light so I rescheduled the rest for the next day. Left there and went to dinner with David and Rodney. Met Jason who is a friend of Rodney’s, who also heard about the shoots in the area and was eager to meet me and see the publication. Lovely city Greenville is as well as South Carolina. Kind of took me back in time at one point. I really like the architecture.

Friday morning I got up and had a photo shoot in which I got that taken care of. Rodney had put me on to a story that happened in the city about two months ago so I wanted to get some research on that in which I went to the local library and did so. Later went back to do the rest of the photo shoot from the day before. The camera worked like clock work. David and Rodney met up with me and we all went to dinner and drove the town. However since I was driving back the hotel I wasn’t drinking. However I had chicken fingers and two Teas that added up to five bucks. Man it was a lot of food as I was full by the time we left. Funny story about Tea in Georgia and South Carolina, when you order tea it’s already sweeten as I found out when I added sugar to my tea and it was like syrup. However the young lady that served us felt sorry and brought me a new glass. Saw Rodney’s loft which is very nice by the way. My first time in a loft and I can say I think that would be something do able for me. Nice view as well.

Saturday checked out and made my way home but stopped off at this camp ground and resort Rodney and Mac told me about, to get a story there as well. Ran into Tom one of the owners. What can I say about Tom? He’s a character that’s for sure. The interview should have taken only 30 to 40 minutes as I ended up spending two and a half hours there. I will for sure be back there and get Tom to pose for the publication as well. I made it back to Atlanta as I had one more shoot that evenings and then home to Mac. He wasn’t feeling well as our plan was he was going to drive up to the resort and I would meet him there and we’d drive back. Come to find out Friday he was running a fever so I was in rush to give him a little tender love and care. We cuddled a little and watched Dream Girls since I hadn’t seen it then laid it down as I had to get up very early to catch my plane.

Sunday I got up before Mac as my internal clock work me up. Got ready and said my goodbyes to Mac and then headed to the airport in which I was sweating as it was night when I drove from there a few days ago and things surely looked different in the early morning than at night. Made my way back and turned in the rental. Got a seventy dollar saving from the coupon I had so I was really happy at that point. Plane was on time as well however I had an hour and a half wait as I got there plenty early, all good as I wanted no issues at all. Not long after I landed mother was calling my phone. Not once but twice as I was exhausted from my flight. So I had to turn off my phone. Had me a four to five hour nap and was ready for the world again. I will be going back to Greenville and Atlanta in a few months as some of the guys I wasn’t able to shoot due to scheduling issues are still willing to do a shoot. So that’s good news. Can’t say where I’m off to next but I’m sure it will be and adventure as well.

Monday was back to work and I felt refreshed and no hassles. I was even calm most of the day which is a good thing as I’m really trying to take over a new leaf at work. I got a call from Richard in Mane and he’s going to be back on Houston come December so that will be nice to spend some time with him. I’ll make sure I’m on hand during his stay. Had some orders to get in the mail later that night so I didn’t get home until later. I went to bed shortly after that.

Over all it was a nice working vacation and meet some wonderful folks whom I’m sure I’ll have lasting friendships with for years to come. Good info on things in the areas as well. To them I thank you all as my project as well as the community are coming together to make this something special indeed. So until fingers meet keys all have a great week ahead. Hugs.

Friday The Thirteenth. DAMN!

Well so far today hasn’t been so bad. However this Friday the thirteen things has me kind of worried. I got up this morning and Saw a wasp in the bathroom and my first thought was how in the hell did that get in here. It landed on the light fixture over the sink so I couldn’t swat it away. So I picked up the disinfectant spray to coast it out. I zapped it and in the process of it flying away I swatted it with my Bath towel. Now here is where it gets weird. I know I saw it land on the sink behind the faucet then disappeared. Here I am looking around for the damn thing and nothing. It was as if it disappeared. Didn’t really think about it until now as I remembered it was Friday the Thirteenth. OH well. So far it’s been a good day. I had training all day yesterday as well as today. I’m not use to getting up at five in the morning. It’s a killer for sure, and then had to get home to make phone calls for photo shoots next week. I have to say I was a tired camper as traffic was horrible. I saw at least three wrecks yesterday then again that’s a never ending story here in Houston.

I hope I haven’t over extended myself with the Model scheduling. I wasn’t for sure as to who would answer but the respond has been good and all I have to do this weekend is sit down and schedule my time. Since I don’t know the area and how long it’s going to take me to get to these places I’m kind of spreading them out some. No big plans this weekend. More less getting ready to head to Atlanta and South Carolina. Actually I’m kind of nervous as I’ll be traveling alone to a big city that I hardly know anything about. However Mac will be some help but he’s not to king on going into Atlanta. I haven’t talked to Phillip in a couple of day as I think he’s still trekking his way back home. It will be good to see him and David again.

The week has been good especially since the boss have been out of town. Brothers Boy friend is out on the rig for his two week tour so the house has been somewhat quite. He bought him a truck during his stay this time and gave his sister his vehicle. The day before he left he has 20 inch wheels on it. I didn’t say a word but I do know he loose this job his clothes will be packed at the door and ready for him to go. I’ve had it with that B.S. for sure. I haven’t heard anymore from Jeff as I’m going to show a good friend of his from the valley how to get there to see him. I don’t think I’ll go in to see him as Hi will have driven four hours and since they only give you and half our to visit and two visit a week he can have the full hours. Then me, his mother and Hi will go for lunch. Will be the first time I’ve seen his mother since all this has happen but Hi says he’s in good spirits and up beat which is a good thing as all I’ve had for him is bad news, especially when it comes to us. Its good to hear that he hasn’t giving up as last I heard he was at that stage of giving up and very depressed. However I think his mother has a lot to do with that when she brought his sister, the one that turned him in there to see him. She says he needed to face her but I felt that was a bad choice on her part. All it did was depress him and push him back in to one of his states. Well enough of that as I’m off here to head back to training. Man will it ever end. So until fingers meet keys, hugs to you all and do have a great weekend.

Ten More Days To My Birthday

Man what a day yesterday. Got to work and there were five new intakes waiting on me to process but the good news was my boss was leaving on vacation and we have a free week to ourselves. Even better I’ll be on vacation next week myself so I won’t see her for two weeks. YEAH! I’m going to Atlanta and S.C. It will be a working vacation but I’ll find time to relax as well. I’m also looking forward to finally meeting MAC. Plus it will be a new change of men for the publication as most of the men have been from the Texas and Louisiana area. However the publication is growing and soon I can afford to hire some free lance guys to do photo shoots in other areas.

Well it’s been well over a week since I drop info in here. The 4th of July was good. Messed up my week though but all good. Went out with a friend to the movies that day and had a wonderful time. Saw fantastic four. The next two days were busy at work as I received 10 more intakes over that two day period. I’m averaging twenty a week now so it’s really getting ridiculous. Saturday I worked on the project all day. Was a long day for sure but I made some good head way. Was suppose to meet my date later Saturday night as well but ended up moving it to Sunday which worked out best for us. It was a lovely evening for sure. I really enjoyed showing him the city since he’s from out of town. He left this morning on a plane back to Maine. He also gave me some good leads on entertainer in his area for the publication. Went to see my father Sunday morning and he’s doing wonderful. They don’t want him to walk just yet as he’s still having some issues with healing on the foot after the amputation. However he’s still getting up and doing things, which is a good sign. Doctors say he’s healing nicely. He was sitting outside when I arrives so I joined him out there. It was nice and windy at first but later on started getting kind of warm for me. My father is old school and use to working in the heat so he felt fine. Plus it gets like of cold to him in the rehab center. We visited for about two hours and then I needed to get home to work on the project some more. He’s allowed to have a four hour pass and told my mother that he wished I had taken him home for a bit. It didn’t piss me off but he never asked me to do that. So next time I’ll take him on an outing since we’re not even five minutes away from him.

I got a letter from Jeff this weekend as well. The first one I received from him in two weeks. I was under the impression he was pissed at me after my last letter to him. I wasn’t so easy on him but I guess he got over that. Still I don’t know what he expects of me as we’re not a couple and I don’t see a future there for us now. Once he’s convicted he will have a record and it’s really going to be hard on him to find a decent job as I’m surely not going to take care of him. I believe a man should work and two should work together to build a comfortable life for each other. He couldn’t do that for me or us for all that matters. Just to many bad memories in that relationship. Then again I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to the relationship. Still I wouldn’t have gone into it but he was pursuing me. Now that he’s behind bars all of the sudden he’s starting to say the things I want to hear. An hour short and a dollar late. However the bad part is no one knows what his sentence will be. He could get anything from five to life and they can be stacked that as well since there are three counts that really could hurt him. My biggest fear for him is, if his mother passes he has no one since his family members other than his mother has been supportive of him or gone to see him. The other thing is he’s always been there for him when they needed him but when this comes about now he’s the black sheep of the family. They all don’t want anything to do with him. I know there is no excuse for what he’s done but there will be consequences from it. I won’t stop being his friend over it but I know how far to take it as I did work for the prison system for fifteen years so I have learned a few things or two. I do feel sorry for him and what he’s got to go through and endure as well. One would say I still have feeling for him and I can say I do but one doesn’t stop loving someone as deeply as I loved him. Well enough of that. I think I’ve caught up for the week here so until fingers meet keys all have a good one and have a great week a head.