Jacob Ryan turns two!

One of the great things of being a Pop Pop is my grandsons's birthday party. Seeing him as the center of attention with all his family and friends is the best. You only are baby once and you might as well be thrilled. I love my little buddy.

A few things before vacation begins!

We leave tomorrow for a week in Rehoboth Beach. It is me, my son, his wife, the two grandsons, my daughter and her boyfriend. We plan to eat, drink, beach it and just be the lazy slobs we always were meant to be. Sunday we meet up with my ex, and her brother and his family. I miss the lot of them and I love have grandparenting with my ex and me. Makes me feel good to share memories with her (my ex wife) on a spontaneous level. We were meant to be grandparents.

Next...I just viewed a site called OVERSAMPLED.NET. A site for children of gay parents. Highly recommend it to anyone in that situation. Not only is it full of info but you can connect with others who share your views or problems or whatever.

Lastly....I went to the Doc for my SHINGLES or PHP (post herpetic neuralgia). He wants to talk to the eye doc and would like to install a PIC in my arm so I can inject myself 3 times a day with an antirviral. They want to fill me up with the stuff because the cornea does not have blood vessels and to get the anti viral to attack the Shingles virus (herpes zoster...Not contagious now, and when it was it was for a very short time for chicken pox not shingles), they feel I need to have so much of the med around the cornea that it will penetrate and get to the villain virus!
I am losing vision which they say I can get back and I am diligent on the meds. Meanwhile the cardio workouts continue for my heart health but my weight is horrible....I need Star Jones to reveal her secret to success to me!

Well off I go on vacation! I need this one big time!

THRU THICK AND THIN

I have gone to the eye doc the other day and once again the news is not good. My vision in my left eye is questionable as to whether I can save the cornea. UGH! The good news is how much support (and teasing) I get from my friends.

I am not able to cope with things and even get around as much. Joe, Mike, Ron, Gregg and Blair have been the best. They just are there for me and emotionally that means alot. My problem is physical and if I let it get the best of me, I am sunk. Consequently because of my lack of coping skills, I will not put up with shit. Some people can call it drama but it is a bunch of BS. I have found if I want a "drama" free life, I need to be "drama" free. Take it from a man of my age and with my health issue, you will get what you give. Simple as that. Therefore I feel I have sown the seeds of friendship and I know whom I can call upon for unconditional support.

I have many friends at many levels. I will always look out for my friends as if you were family, which by the way I have the best family anyone could want. So to those I have mentioned and the ones I have not...THANKS for being there now and in the future!!!!!!!

Out and About

So, I finally went into the city (Philadelphia) after nearly a year. It was great to see everyone. Wish it was a bit more intimate than Equality Forum but nevertheless it was a good time. We went in to walk around and drink some and then go to Woody's for country western dancing and some more drinks. Then to Moriarity's for the best damn wings around. In between all this was a whole lot of socializing. Saw some old buds and saw some of you guys in person finally that I only know through AOL and Bear 411 (GRRRRR lol). Thanks to everyone for saying hi and caring enough to have missed me!

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR STEF

I had Stef's birthday party on Saturday the 29th. Too much fun. Stef is basically too much fun. She is bright, articulate, funny and beautiful. And I live with the realization, that so are all her friends. She has been friends with 9 other girls since they were little girls. I have seen them them grow up from little girls screaming non stop to teenettes with little boyfriends to driving around in cars and free wheeling (big worries), to being coeds, joining the work force, falling in love, getting married and as I saw at the party, they are parents. These girls are women to be envied. I am amazed how they have maintained their friendships all these years. They all have these handsome husbands, beautiful babies and lives that suit them. Five of them are jointly celebrating their 30th year by going to a DUDE RANCH. They will have a ball! By the way, Stefanie has a great boyfriend and they live together and they seem to be headed towards the family thing soon. Now back to the party. We had a great time, the food was great, the bar was ample and the day was beautiful. The kids rode bikes and ran around the yard. My grandson, Jacob Ryan, was a wild boy. He is 21 months old and knows too much. He ran, he rode, he danced, he ate, he played he was amazing and I love my little buddy. Stef looked beautiful and was an amazing hostess. She was the perfect daughter. We shared the day as a family, Stef's mom, aunts, brother, uncle, cousins, nephews were all there. Life was kind to our family that day. Thanks Stef for bringing us all together. We all love you!

FRIENDS

Sometimes I feel as tho I am a better friend to some of my friends then they are to me. I want them to be better friends.

I LOVE MY DAUGHTER!

I love my daughter more than I say. On April 24, 2006 she turned 30. The best 30 years anyone could ask for in this life. No matter who has come and gone from this world, no matter what joys were given to me, the best and worst that life can deal someone, my daughter was there with me. The whole unconditional love thing really works for me. I am so very lucky that she, Stefanie, was the type of baby, child and now woman that really let me into her world. She is not just my daughter exclusively, she is a sister, niece, a friend (just as an adult to me mind you), a comic, a nurturer, a planner, a great person that the world is lucky to have! The last 30 years seemed to flown by and yet I remember each moment. They are my yesterdays and Stefanie is part of it all. She is in my every thought 24/7. Last night I could have just looked at her for hours. Listening to her talk and laugh was the best. My family is loaded with divorce so her party scans a full week. Sunday she was with her mom and aunt for dinner with that group plus my son and his family. Last night was ice cream night with me. Tonite, Tuesday, we go to Sullivans for a dinner with my Dad, his wife (ugh), her boyfriend (soon to be fiance, we think), and of course Aunt Jean! Thursday nite, Stefanie will be excluded from the poster night. Our family always does a poster with old and new pictures. It is a hoot and I have to say my family and my ex are very talented at it. Saturday is the party. 40 people plus, family (I have 7 brothers and sisters and tons of others) and friends. My ex wife and some of her family are included, the babies and kids will be running around and it will be a nut house. It will be a great party. Fully catered and very Italian! I will blog some more after Saturday. Life is GOOD!