2008 - New Year, New Resolutions, New Life!

Well, folks, I'm HERE!

I arrived in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, December 12th. We left Cincinnati, OH, on Monday, December 10th, stopping overnight in the St. Louis-area, Tulsa, OK, and Amarillo, TX. Three short jumps of 8-hrs, 12 hrs, and 14 hrs...and we made it with 2 cats in backseat. No whines, meows, claws, shredded car seats, or other issues. Just a few days of rain, rain, and more rain.

It's been a month since I've been an official "Southern Californian". I've applied for and passed the written test for my CA driver's license. (I'm waiting for it to be mailed to me...should be another week or so--more on this later.)

Work has started off lightly and is now starting to take off. I've been picking and choosing jobs that fit all of our schedules. What with having to pick up the kids from school, watching the kids while M's off at work, class, or other necessities, and my complete lack of motivation to drive 2 hours 1-way to a job that's only 20 miles away...and get paid 2-hours only...it's sometimes difficult to find jobs that meet my specifications.

I'm done with teaching for now. While it was fun for the past 7 years, I think it's time for a short sabbatical. This will give me time to recuperate, reflect, and seriously consider my professional motivations, future desires, and educational background. In order to work in Southern California, I've heard that it's more about "who you know" than having all the right credentials. So I need to get out there and meet important contacts out there.

For now, Independent Contracting is what I'd like to continue. It's got its ups and downs, but it's totally flexible to my in-transition life. If I'm feeling up for a drive and exploration, I can go further north up to the Valley or south towards San Diego. Or I can take advantage of my other wonderful contacts and colleagues around the country and world! For now, it's about supporting myself, my partner, and my family. At the same time, it's about getting a handle on my debt and "growing up" finally. (If my mother were in the grave, she'd be turning cartwheels about now!)

*hehehe* Anyway, good to know that you're still out there reading. I'll try to be a little more consistent about posting. Thanks for being there for me. Good to know I've got something still to say. *hugs* to all!

SKSK

--Bob

"New Day, New Dawn, New Life...For Me!"

Michael Buble has said it all! :-)

I haven't posted in what seems like forever! It's almost been a full year. I know that some of my regular readers wonder what's been going on. Here's the general information:

I have broken up - after 8 years of wonderful life together - with J. We're parting on friendly terms, after all we are each other's best friends. Unfortunately, we've grown apart and are on separate roads towards our futures. I was feeling held back and antsy, he was needing room to grow and flourish.

I have met someone new - M, in Long Beach, CA. He has asked me to move in with him, and I'm ready. Well, I *will* be ready for the move by December of '07. This gives me almost 7 months to close out my business and responsibilities here in Cincinnati, my 15-year home and anchor. It's time to pick up my roots and transplant myself someplace sunnier, warmer, and where my heart truly lies - with M, with Cosmo, with Sara, and with little Miguel. (More on them later.)

J and I are continuing to live together - it's the most economical choice and neither of us has enough savings or chutzpah to try to go it alone at this point - with only 7 months left. It wouldn't make sense for me to try and find a place in Cincy for 6 months (first month, last month, security deposit, cat-friendly, etc.), and then pack up to move cross-country). Nor does this make any sense for J. So for now, we're living together, still doing some of our regular activities together, and pretty much going on with life.

For those of you who are worried about us, don't be. We really are being very respectful and supportive of each other. We never wanted to hurt each other, and we only want the best for each other. I am pushing for J to find someone who will complement him, encourage him, and make him feel motivated to better himself in all ways. He's pushing for me to be happy, to love deeply, and to find myself.

In general, this is a very good thing. The most awkward part is the separation of us as B & J, and the establishment of B... and J... as separate entities. It's slow-going - we have met many people over the past 8 years together, and we don't want to leave anyone out.

Please contact us if you have any questions, comments, or words of wisdom. We appreciate hearing from everyone. Take care...all our love!

XOXO

Bob in Cincy

P.S. If anyone wants to donate to the "Bob-moves-across-country" Fund, please let me know! :-D

Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee

I'm a geek. I've embraced that. I've always known that my preferences and tastes leaned more towards the cerebral, and less towards athletics and physical outlets. That said, something you probably never knew about me:

I was in an inter-Grade School local spelling bee in the seventh grade. Funnily enough, the spelling bee was hosted by my father's High School alma mater, St. Edward. (While St. Ed's was known for their athletics program, they were not nearly as well-represented in their academic pursuits.) For academic excellence, I had my heart set on going to St. Ignatius--St. Edward's mortal enemy!

While both High Schools were all-boys and Roman-Catholic-affiliated, I was going to support the Jesuits who ran St. Ignatius. But I digress!...

I entered the Grade School spelling bee and drum roll, please!

I WON!

And my winning words? First I had to spell the misspelled word: "amphibian". Then I had to complete my own word: "perforate".

Not difficult, you say? Remember that I was only 12 years old. Most of the other spellers were 8th grade, 13 years old, and just itching to get to HS. Suffice it to say, I beat them all! (And had only studied for about 4 or 5 months.)

Ah well, we all have things to be proud of. I trounced the competition at my father's alma mater. And I went to school at the opposition. :-)

Enjoy the mental titillation!

From tonight's Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee,
the finalists' words (Challenge Word List):
psitticism
maieutic
aubade
poiesis
kanone
tutoyer
izzat
koine
tmesis
weltschmerz
kundalini
** ursprache ** (winning word!)

Anyone out there?

Who's reading my blog?

Reply in my comments section! At least leave your first name and your city/state.
If you have your own blog or webpage, leave that too. :-)

Miss you!

- B

Winter Quarter's Done...now what?

My regular job had me completely stressed...money matters sucked. And to top it all off, I was in a slump. :-(

But now that the Spring is here, the sun peeks its face out every now and then, and I'm starting to feel a little better.

I've been working more (a lot more - almost to the other extreme!). And I've started interpreting cruises! Talk about an amazing experience. The best, though, is interpreting Atlantis Cruises - all gay, all the time!

Think of it:

3,100 Gay Men

100 Lesbians (they must like Olivia Cruises better *shrug*)

Comedians & Entertainment, like Margaret Cho, Jim David, Poppy Champlain, and Hypnotist-Extraordinaire Bruce McDonald!

Western Caribbean - 2 Exotic Destinations (Cozumel, Mexico & Grand Cayman Island)

The Cruise Line's Private Beach hideaway on the NorthWestern coast of Hispaniola - all to ourselves with NO OTHER tourists around!

Oh, did I mention the 3,100 HOT, Muscular, tanned, and amazingly god-like "hunks-a-men"??? ;-)

And the Atlantis staff were as hot, if not hotter, than the cruisers!

P.S. I also heard that deck 12-forward had some skeezy late-night fun, especially considering that the ship staff were "nice enough" to turn off all the deck lights up there after midnight. *ahem* I never got up there, but I must imagine that it took a lot of pressurized water to clean up that deck each morning. :-)

Add to that a great group of consumers, an excellent team interpreter, and a whole helluva lot of fun...and that's a true "working vacation". I can't wait to go back and do another one!

Well, that's enough rambling for now. Maybe I'll post some hottie pics soon.

*heheheh*

SKSK

Knitting Olympics 2006 

A Gay Old Time!

What a way to start off the New Year - a new post by Bob for his BobTerpGaysian Blog. It know it's been a while...I wanted to sift out those readers who want to attend to my work/life/general blather from those who wanted to hang on every art fiber/beading/knit bitching!

So, I just found this on another guy's blog. Since he got it from a message board - it's pretty much a free-for-all. So enjoy!

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I saw a message board for "Will & Grace" fans that had a section in it where people posted their favorite quotes from Karen (my favorite character). This isn't so much of a blog as it is just sharing some good humor from one of my favorite TV characters :)

I copied/pasted these quotes from that message board. Enjoy! ;)
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[Grace trying to start up her Uncle Jerry's very old beat-up car, but it won't start]
Grace: "Okay, here we go... that's weird. Will, what do you think is wrong?"
Karen: "Oh, my God. She just asked a Fairy an engine question. We're all gonna die in this car."
Will: "Karen, you're not going to die. It would take a silver bullet and a wooden stake to do that."


Karen: [on hiring Jack to play a straight man in a commercial] "No one in the world would believe you're straight. You're as gay as a clutchpurse on Tony night. You fell outta the gay tree, hitting every gay branch on the way down. And ya landed on a gay guy... and ya did 'em. No, no, honey, your gayness can be seen from space."

(Karen to Grace)
"I stared death in the face, and I tell you it wasn't a pretty sight. [looks at Rosario] Ahhhhhhh there it is again!"

"Look, someone got flowers...or as I like to call them, 'poor people's jewelry'"

"Good Lord. I can't believe I'm at a public pool. Why doesn't somebody just pee directly on me?!"

Karen: "Here, honey, i brought you some soup."
Jack: (sniffs it) "Karen, this is vodka!"
Karen: "Yeah, but with noodles!"

Karen: "Oh, coulda shoulda prada!"

Karen: "Rosario, take the kids to the toy store. El toy-o store-o."

I loved it when Will, Grace, Jack Karen make a few "pit stops" on Thanksgiving and they are at Grace's "Aunt Honey's" apartment. Aunt Honey is wearing a hideous muumuu and at one point Aunt Honey tells Karen about her bad back. Then Karen says "Hey, how did you throw out your back--by running away from good taste?!?"

"Grace, it's Christmas, for goodness sake. Think about the baby Jesus--up in that tower, letting his hair down... so that the three wise men can climb up and spin the driedel and see if there are six more weeks of winter."

Karen at the Gay and Lesbian Ball: "Ladies, Gentlemen and undecided!"

Beverly Leslie after the Auction: "But I was the highest bidder!!!"
Karen: "Oh you're not the highest anything!"

Karen says this to some random lady in a restaurant: "Hey do u have a tic tac or something?"
The lady: "Yea, in my purse."
Karen: "It's not doing you any good in there!"

Another one I just saw in the "It's the Gay Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" episode happens when Karen goes with Jack to a gay group therapy meeting. In the midst of the group meeting Karen says --->
Karen: "I feel so uncomfortable. All of these gay eyes judging me...and undressing me... and then dressing me up in a new outfit!"

"What!?! They are trying to make gay people straight? GOOD LORD! Don't they know what that will do to the Fall line!!!"
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SKSK

Re-Direct!

For my Fiber-Arts followers and other yarn/crochet/stitch marker enthusiasts, I have created a blog specifically for that!

http://bobloparooriginals.blogspot.com/

So, check it out, leave me some comments, and we'll re-build over there!

SKSK
Bob

My-my-my! Blog-itude

Well, I think that the "cootie"/"Lice" scare on my blog is gone. I believe I've narrowed it down to the blinking mini-banners I had along my right-side margin.

Therefore, the blinking mini-blinking java evils have been eradicated. Let me know how your computers are doing...locking up? Barfing microchips? Attempting world domination in the background?

Either way, I've decided to keep my work/life stuff on this blog, and migrate my knitting/beading/crafty stuff to my other blog. It's not up yet...nor really designed. I'll be unveiling it over this weekend, so be prepared!

Thanks to all those who have supported my crafting endeavours throughout this past year. It's amazing to think that in a little over a year, I've gone from making simple knitted scarves and horribly-shaped n-gons to felted purses, designer scarves with self-designed cable patterns, light and lacy shrugs, and even sock(sic)!

So I haven't exactly finished a pair of socks...but the single partial that I have isn't exactly lonely! It has two other single partials to keep it company. :-)

Be on the lookout for the new blog addy and keep sane!

SKSK

Cooties?

Here's a new one!

A friend keeps trying to access my blog. She tells me that everytime she navigates her browser to my blog, some sort of worm or malicious spyware/adware/java application causes her computer to hang, then crash!

Anyone else experience this???

Please leave me comments here or e-mail me: Bob

Also, let me know if the problem is with my Flickr active board, loading up pics, or any other troubleshooting tidbits that might help me!

Keep dry, warm, and safe!

SKSK