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Monday, August 27, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Punching the Clock
I'm eating lunch at my desk for the fourth day in a row. Don't cry for me, Patience Reader. It's just a busy week at the office. Conventional wisdom says that I shouldn't be blogging at the office, but hey...this is my time. And I've have very little of that lately.
It's 2 PM. I have my thawed Lean Cuisine whatever sitting on my desk along with my weak decaffienated iced tea (in my Houston Symphony coffee mug). And one of my co-workers comes in my cubicle and asks me to update a spreadsheet. In behavior that is completely atypical of me, I give her my back and curtly answer her questions. She remains chipper and trots off with a sweet "Thanks!" Grrr...
I'm a bit grumpy...I'll admit. Our department had a HUGE project in the past couple of weeks that dictated that the majority of us work into the wee hours (Our director - along with the aforementioned chipper co-worker - worked until 4 in the morning last Tuesday). Work/Life balance at this point is nothing but a joke (and an unfunny one at that).
I'm not pointing the finger at anyone or anything. And although it may seem as if I'm complaining, I know that, in my line of work and at my level of employment, burning the candle at both ends means that sometimes you have more than two wicks. And the wax disappears rapidly.
In the spare moments that I've had recently to entertain my own thoughts, I have reflected on the measure of time that each of us have. Life is finite. Fact. Hate it or love it.
There are so many things that I want to accomplish in this life - some seem to be significant, some trivial. To me, all of my goals are important. But, hey...I can't do it ALL.
I do have three things that I want to do before I step off the planet. I won't share them now. Stick around if you'd like. You'll see the progress. The changes may be interesting to some, the changes may seem odd to some. The paths that I take may seem downright bizarrre or boring. I will have to leave that to you. You can give me your thoughts if you'd like.
I do ask something of you. Try to measure the time that you have left. And start working to achieve whatever you believe to be important for you. It'll be easier than you think when your heart is all in.
The clock on my phone says "2:22pm." I have a meeting at 3, and I need to prepare. 22 minutes for lunch sounds like indigestion. Don't worry about me though. I know where I'm going.
It's 2 PM. I have my thawed Lean Cuisine whatever sitting on my desk along with my weak decaffienated iced tea (in my Houston Symphony coffee mug). And one of my co-workers comes in my cubicle and asks me to update a spreadsheet. In behavior that is completely atypical of me, I give her my back and curtly answer her questions. She remains chipper and trots off with a sweet "Thanks!" Grrr...
I'm a bit grumpy...I'll admit. Our department had a HUGE project in the past couple of weeks that dictated that the majority of us work into the wee hours (Our director - along with the aforementioned chipper co-worker - worked until 4 in the morning last Tuesday). Work/Life balance at this point is nothing but a joke (and an unfunny one at that).
I'm not pointing the finger at anyone or anything. And although it may seem as if I'm complaining, I know that, in my line of work and at my level of employment, burning the candle at both ends means that sometimes you have more than two wicks. And the wax disappears rapidly.
In the spare moments that I've had recently to entertain my own thoughts, I have reflected on the measure of time that each of us have. Life is finite. Fact. Hate it or love it.
There are so many things that I want to accomplish in this life - some seem to be significant, some trivial. To me, all of my goals are important. But, hey...I can't do it ALL.
I do have three things that I want to do before I step off the planet. I won't share them now. Stick around if you'd like. You'll see the progress. The changes may be interesting to some, the changes may seem odd to some. The paths that I take may seem downright bizarrre or boring. I will have to leave that to you. You can give me your thoughts if you'd like.
I do ask something of you. Try to measure the time that you have left. And start working to achieve whatever you believe to be important for you. It'll be easier than you think when your heart is all in.
The clock on my phone says "2:22pm." I have a meeting at 3, and I need to prepare. 22 minutes for lunch sounds like indigestion. Don't worry about me though. I know where I'm going.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
"Baby...That's Just Strange."
One night, I was watching "Later...with Jools Holland," the BBC TV pop music showcase. A stunning dark-haired woman in fishnet stockings and a super-short black dress, backed by a four-piece band, performed a fun jazzy cover of one of my favorites: "In These Shoes," written by Kirsty MacColl. But that's not the story here.
I enjoyed the performance so much that I did a search on YouTube of other performances by the woman. I had not caught her full name, but I knew that her first name was "Camille" (her full name, I discovered later, is actually Camille O'Sullivan - but again...that's not the story here). In searching "Camille," the internet diverted me along a different path (as usual). The video below was my first introduction of a mononymous Camille:
I enjoyed the performance so much that I did a search on YouTube of other performances by the woman. I had not caught her full name, but I knew that her first name was "Camille" (her full name, I discovered later, is actually Camille O'Sullivan - but again...that's not the story here). In searching "Camille," the internet diverted me along a different path (as usual). The video below was my first introduction of a mononymous Camille:
I was fascinated, transfixed even.
So I did my research.
This "Camille" is a French artist, who like the pop superstar Bjork, uses her voice as an instrument. The song "Au Port" (In a Harbor), is included on Camille's album Le Fil (The Thread). The album has a "thread" of a tone (a B note) running through the course of the entire recording. The idea was zany enough to further fascinate me. Many people who purchased the album returned it, thinking it was defective.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the garage satisfying my nicotine habit. I set down my phone on the washing machine, opened the YouTube app, and loaded the video. About that time (as he frequently does), Ken came to hang out with me while I smoked. He looked over my shoulder at the video. He laughed and rolled his eyes a bit. He didn't have to say it, but I had a good idea of what he was thinking. I smiled at him and said nothing.
I purchased the album on iTunes. I played "Au Port" for a co-worker. Her take? "Oh...puh-leez." Ok...well, Camille is not exactly Taylor Swift, Lady GaGa, Nicki Minaj, or Carrie Underwood. Let's face it: some music is just not for the American masses.
On a final note, I played the entire album on a road trip that Ken and I took. He admitted that he enjoyed it. I love it when I can smile at him and say nothing.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Begin Again
Hi, my name is Jason. You may have met me before. Maybe not.
I have a blog called "The Queer Next Door."
So, why this new blog?
I decided to be more open about my life. I did not hide on my other blog. There, I did write about my life. However, you may get a little more of the real me on this site.
I have no reluctance to identify myself as a gay man. I use terms like "Queer," "Fag," and "Homo" all the time. Those words were forced on my kind in the past, and many of us homosexuals have taken ownership of those words for our own empowerment. Our using these words may make many heterosexuals uncomfortable. Which brings me to this...
Oftentimes (and especially with my work friends), I use these words to describe myself in a light-hearded and joking manner. And oftentimes, I've seen those friends recoil.
I have no interest in intentionally offending people. I'm gay, and everyone who know me on a personal level knows this. I do not hide it. Nor do I hide the fact that I am in a stable, loving relationship. Who would want to hide something like that - regardless of the make-up of the marriage?
And yes, Ken and I are married. We took care of that in New York City last year. And while many states (and many people) do not recognize our marriage, we two act like your typical married couple:
All that being said, I want to be able to connect better with our blogging society. And why would I want to take the chance of alienating someone with the word "Queer"? Granted, that's what I am. But only a facet. Most adult heterosexual people do not rub their sexualty in my face. I've decided to take the same route.
I may still post something about the inequality in rights for us gay folks. But that's more about fairness. And when I see injustice, I am offended to my core. I'm certain that I will address universal issues on this site as well as gay ones.
That's an explanation for the change in blogs. I will share more of what makes my world turn and what I find fascinating, overwhelming, joyous, tragic, and even mundane. I'll try to keep it brief. Time is at a premium for all of us, and nobody has 30 minutes to read one of my (commonly) lengthy blog posts.
If this is your first visit to one of my blogs, thanks for stopping in.
If you know me already and have read some of my stuff, thanks for hanging in there.
I wrap up with this thought: Each of us are who we are. All Day Long.
I have a blog called "The Queer Next Door."
So, why this new blog?
I decided to be more open about my life. I did not hide on my other blog. There, I did write about my life. However, you may get a little more of the real me on this site.
I have no reluctance to identify myself as a gay man. I use terms like "Queer," "Fag," and "Homo" all the time. Those words were forced on my kind in the past, and many of us homosexuals have taken ownership of those words for our own empowerment. Our using these words may make many heterosexuals uncomfortable. Which brings me to this...
Oftentimes (and especially with my work friends), I use these words to describe myself in a light-hearded and joking manner. And oftentimes, I've seen those friends recoil.
I have no interest in intentionally offending people. I'm gay, and everyone who know me on a personal level knows this. I do not hide it. Nor do I hide the fact that I am in a stable, loving relationship. Who would want to hide something like that - regardless of the make-up of the marriage?
And yes, Ken and I are married. We took care of that in New York City last year. And while many states (and many people) do not recognize our marriage, we two act like your typical married couple:
- We spat
- We dream
- We plan
- We live
- We love
All that being said, I want to be able to connect better with our blogging society. And why would I want to take the chance of alienating someone with the word "Queer"? Granted, that's what I am. But only a facet. Most adult heterosexual people do not rub their sexualty in my face. I've decided to take the same route.
I may still post something about the inequality in rights for us gay folks. But that's more about fairness. And when I see injustice, I am offended to my core. I'm certain that I will address universal issues on this site as well as gay ones.
That's an explanation for the change in blogs. I will share more of what makes my world turn and what I find fascinating, overwhelming, joyous, tragic, and even mundane. I'll try to keep it brief. Time is at a premium for all of us, and nobody has 30 minutes to read one of my (commonly) lengthy blog posts.
If this is your first visit to one of my blogs, thanks for stopping in.
If you know me already and have read some of my stuff, thanks for hanging in there.
I wrap up with this thought: Each of us are who we are. All Day Long.
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