Proudly Served Without Giving Handjobs, Blowjobs Or Getting It Up The Butt

"After 10 years of service to our country -- including leading combat patrols, rebuilding schools and translating Arabic in Iraq for 15 months -- the Federal Recognition Board issued its recommendation on Tuesday that I be discharged from the Army for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy."

- Lt. Dan Choi

As though that service speaks nothing. AN ARABIC LINGUIST FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

So, you may or may not remember, but I'm a gay Veteran... proudly both.

One was a choice for me.

I'm on the right in the following three pics:








When I served, I didn't march to morning chow in anything but a uniform.


And this wasn't it. Although, I'm sure that's quite liberating.


And at morning muster, I didn't wave my willy in the air like I just didn't care and yell,


"SIR, I'M HERE! I'M QUEER! LET'S PARTY, SIR!!"



When I served, I didn't throw down my weapon and declare,


"YOU'VE GOT ME, BOYS! WHAT ARE Y'ALL WAITIN' FOR, A DIRECT ORDER? COME AND GET ME!!"


When I served, I didn't try and give anyone blowjobs in the showers. And I didn't try to make them give ME blowjobs. I didn't try to feel anyone's penis or balls. And I don't remember mounting anyone. I didn't continually drop the soap and perform




the "bend and SNAP!" in front of my shipmates or fellow crew members. That was saved for special occasions. Like holidays.

Oh sure, I did do it quite regularly with my M16, it's just that that big ole gun was so heavy and I was tired of chipping my nails and my dainty arms could barely hold that dumb, silly weapon.

There was a true camaraderie in our port security unit and the only crevice that was deep and visited much was that of true fellowship among soldiers and sailors working towards the same goal.

And when I was deployed to Haiti for "Operation Uphold Democracy", besides our "mission", we just wanted to keep the dirt and fleas out of our ears and eyes, shit as quickly as we could because the "pots" were vile and the temperature in them ran around 110 degrees, plus added sweat didn't help the rash ("crotch-rot") that we all had spread over our groins, and to not get shot. I know, revolutionary... we didn't want to die there.

I wasn't thinking, "Man oh menz... I wish I could get me some 69-action goin' on UP IN HERE IN ALL THIS RASHINESS, Y'ALL!!! BRING IT, BISHES! LET ME JUST POWDER MY NOSE WITH SOME FUCKING CLOROX!"

This might surprise some people, but we had other things on our minds.

There is something in the military that you may have heard of... It's called discipline. And if someone can't do their job and keep something in their pants, so to speak, straight OR gay, they're going to have problems in more places than just the military.

Make no mistake, there have always been and always will be gays in the military. And allowing them to serve with true pride and dignity and EQUAL RIGHTS in exactly who they are would by NO MEANS necessitate an end result of a lack of conduct or discipline. That's what the military is all about; Conduct and Discipline. And that wouldn't and shouldn't change. It's simple and juvenile to think otherwise.





Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

We, the undersigned, urge you to make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a priority and publicly support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283) -- legislation that would repeal DADT and replace it with a policy of nondiscrimination.

Lt. Dan Choi, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, an Iraq War veteran, Arabic translator and California native, is a capable soldier and leader who could continue to play a vital role in this time of war. His firing is a symbol of all that is wrong with this policy.

Both the Senate Majority Leader and President Obama have spoken publicly about the need to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Speaker Pelosi -- your voice and your leadership is needed at this crucial time.

We call on you to make the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a priority in Congress. We cannot afford to lose any more talented soldiers critical to our national security.

Sincerely,

Your Name



(This image compliments of Whit Honea.)




If sovereign people who know nothing other than their freedom had ANY IDEA the insidious self-loathing that accompanies being in an oppressed sect of people, the lowest of the low on the totem pole, there wouldn't be a minute left of discrimination. It would have no place to hide.


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Shit Under Glass... And On Top Of It Too...

Sears Tower unveils 103rd floor glass balconies


Lovely Sears Tower dominating the Chicago skyline.


And...


My feet literally began sweating just looking at this shot.



And then my hands...



Yes. My hands definitely began to perspire here.




And I would strongly consider just pissing my pants.



Yep. I'd totally be lying in a big puddle of bright yellow piss right about now.




And quite possibly shit. I would strongly consider just completely soiling myself at this point. I'm really about to anyway...




That's it. I'm dead. DEAD, I SAY!!! I would be screaming for my very life and grasping at anything near me. No one with hair would be safe. I'd probably be crying too.



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The Omo People - Fancy Danger Zones

This truly awesome contribution comes to us from our gorgeous, blue/green eyed goddess in Santa Barbara, Claudette. Thanks, Claud! I love it.

I usually find tattoos/body art intriguing, though I have none myself. But, like something that's in front of my eyes on a constant basis, while I try not to take beauty for granted, it eventually loses something for me... If I were to be honest, I appreciate something more when it's temporary, impermanent. And living back in four distinct seasons is reminding me of this... A celebration of the moment seems more clear, more distinctive. When I look out the window, or am in the garden, the light and the colors and hues are hardly the same way twice.

Anyway, that's why I find this body art of the "Omo People" so stunning. Besides its raw, natural beauty, it's fleeting... and will never be the same twice.

And of course, they adorn their boobs and peeps too, which is always fun.


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BRING OUT YER DEAD!!

Holy smokes, this bastard


was sure busy last week, wasn't he? Dang... Got a little carried away there, don't you think, sport?

I have to say that I was greatly saddened by all of the very public deaths last week... And two of the biggest icons of my younger years, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson dying on the same day??? Just really bizarre... It's always so surreal when icons die. As if they're immune to it... As though they only lived in a book.

But, of course, they were real. They laughed and cried and yelled and died, just as we all do and will...

And yes, we've certainly got the birth and death part in common. Not much choice there... But, we do have a choice in how we live... How we chose to be during this precious, fleeting human life.



“Honesty is the single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual, corporation, or product.”

- Ed McMahon




“Hi, Billy Mays here for..."

- Billy Mays





“God made man stronger but not necessarily more intelligent. He gave women intuition and femininity. And, used properly, that combination easily jumbles the brain of any man I've ever met."



But, she also said, "I'm shy. I can go on a trip for days and not go because I won't sit on a toilet seat on a plane. I'm certainly not going to go on somebody's lawn. Could you imagine, in a cocktail dress?"

- Farrah Fawcett (Her Documentary)





“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”

- Michael Jackson


"Terrible or not, difficult or not, the only thing that is beautiful, noble, religious and mystical is to be happy."

- Arnaud Desjardins



"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

- Bobby McFerrin


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Goodbye, "Hello/Goodbye"...

"Hello/Goodbye" by William Bezek, (9 x 12, oil on canvas) leaves us to go and reside in the private collection of Molly and The Baron.

"Hello/Goodbye", I shall miss you, but I find comfort knowing that you are going to a good home where you will be loved and cherished and I shall see you again... So, until next time, I'll bid you a fond adieu.

*** Introducing William Bezek's, Pans Garden, which features Will's paintings and sculptures. ***


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Protecting And Respecting LIFE

In Hillel The Elder's Words: "If Not Now, When?"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Obama Administration actually likened Gay Marriage to pedophilia and incest...

If you're so inclined, please take a moment to sign this petition: Tell Obama and Holder: Stop defending Inequality.


*************************************

The Fish Special

So, the other day, Will and I took the pups for a walk around Wade Lagoon, which lies in front of The Cleveland Museum of Art and is only about 5 minutes from our home. Okay, maybe 7 minutes... Alright, maybe 8. But, NO MORE! Well... maybe sometimes 9, BUT THAT'S IT, DAMN IT!!


The Lagoon itself is gorgeous and surrounded by ornamental flowering trees, fountains



and sculptures.




This is "Night" passing the Earth to "Day", with the Museum of Art sitting proudly in the background.



Even the lamp-posts are fantastic and are art in and of themselves.


And then,


there's the Museum of Art itself.


A structure from another time...


From a period of grace in the pride of continuing classical architecture, which is indeed timeless, without the need to forge one's own design and masterbate one's own ego and piss all over something that we're going to consider atrocious in 30 years.

I guess you can probably tell how I feel about most modern architecture... I'm not a big fan.

Now don't get me wrong. I understand the psychology behind the attempt to be original. And I DO appreciate some contemporary architecture. And even the shitty stuff is a great contrast to the stunning works, providing perspective. I mean, how would we know what's good if we haven't seen what's bad, right?

Anyway, enough of my silly rant, here's the beauty settling in


at dusk.


And more dusk.


And slumbering peacefully at night.

Wade Lagoon is surrounded by other fantastic structures that make up what's called "University Circle".


Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra.


And Severance Hall at night.

And then, the holy oil can church, as we like to call it.


With its stunning patina copper steeple.


And at night, shinning bright like a pale Aquamarine stone.

So, Will, the pups and myself continued our meandering around the serene lagoon. And we came across the Koi or, "Nishikigoi" (Living Jewels), as the Japanese also refer to them, but when speaking more formally. And when pronounced out loud, sounds more like a sneeze, I know.


Now, Will and I actually have a Koi pond with our new home. And it really is tranquil, SO meditative... I really never thought I actually WANTED a Koi pond, I guess I never thought one way or the other about it. But, now that we have one, I LOVE it. Will and I take our coffee out there in the mornings and it practically lulls me right back into bed. So, it's good for the soul, but maybe not so much for the productive end of life.

Well anyway, we were watching the rather large and in-charge Koi at Wade Lagoon when these kids of maybe 18 came bouncing and sauntering up. Their pants were barely hanging on and they had probably only been the proud owners of pubes for about 4 years now.


So, they walked up and were all, "DUDE! LOOK AT THAT BIG ASS GOLDFISH!"

And I should've just kept my mouth shut, but I didn't want them to be dumb, so I said, "Actually, it's a Koi."

And they all just turned their heads and stared at me as though I just asked, "Well, Hello there... What do you all say on the count of 3, we have a 20 minute session of sucking my balls? Who's first?"

So, convincing myself that they must have not heard me, I repeated myself, "They're not really 'Goldfish', they're called 'Koi.'"

Again, nothing. They all turned around ignoring me and kept looking at the big ass goldfish.

Had I only had a slide show presentation with me. I could've said, "This is a GOLDFISH, bishes."


A super fancy one at that.

Then, there's this one,


that makes my eyes hurt. Or my eyeLIDS hurt. Or my eyes, my eyelids AND my ears. Actually, it just makes my whole face hurt. And you KNOW that he's all, "Dude... Thanks a lot for breeding me to look like this. WTF? Real nice, bro. Reeaalll nice..."

Then, there's THIS one,


Black Goldfish (wouldn't it just be called "Blackfish"? Or... "Slightly Gray and Dull Blue Fish With Lots Of Fucked Up Shit on its head"?) from GuangZhou Zoo. It's also called "Black Lion". His roar tends to be a little muffled though... with a few bloops. And you KNOW that he's all, "HEY! WHERE YOU BE AT? DANG, I CAN'T SEES A THANG! THIS SHIT BE CCRRAAZZYY, YO!" (source)

We've named our Koi... Or rather, I'VE named our Koi. Which can be unfortunate when there's an f-ing Blue Heron that occasionally lands and STEALS our family membered fish from the pond for dinner. At a later date, I shall take some pics of them and post them with their names, if there are any left. But, in the meantime, we DO have a yellow/gold one like this kind


that I've named "Goldie Hawn". She's going to be a STAR, I just know it!

Now, this is some serious dedication to Koi, no?


And I haven't quite figured it out yet, whether or not his body art is suppose to be symbolizing that his ass BLEW that Koi and those water lillies out of there, or whether his hole is like a big drain and it's going to suck them up. I'm sure that it's one or the other.

So, Will and I are loving the Koi. Although, we know that they just love us for the food.


(source) But, at least we have an understanding.



It's crazy, you can hear the fish speaking Japanese! The translation, you ask? "I NEEDS ME SOME FOOD, BISH! AND KEEPS YOUR SLIMY SCALES OFF ME, SUCKA! DANG! ALL Y'ALL BE CRAMPIN' MY GAME!! shiiiitttt.."

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this post. Well, like a stroll, really no place in particular. And that's the point of it, I guess.

Will and I continued our walk with the pups around the park.


And I noticed that there weren't too many people on their cell phones talking, or texting, or facebooking. They were looking at the trees, the flowers and the bees. They were watching the "Big Ass Goldfish" and talking with one another...in person. And it was extraordinary in its simplicity.

And I thought it was worth writing about...



***The History of Koi***

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