Graduate School: The Adventure Begins!

Today I attended the new student orientation for the Seminary where I will be working toward my Master's degree. It was an interesting day, finding the places I needed to be at the time I need to be there was a challenge at times.  That part was stressful, I got lost once, but made it to the place just in time.

We started out at the Morton Library, with orientation to the Library, kind of boring but information will be useful in the near future. There were introductions to the Seminary President, Dean, Registrar and financial aid representative. There were a lot of pictures taken, one of all the attendees, these pictures are to be used for advertising and promotional material. 

There was a nice lunch, where we met our Academic adviser's, and fellow students. It was a nice time.  Then the drive home! Got stuck in traffic as usual!

This semester I will travel to campus once a week, and I am taking one class this semester to start off. It will be Philosophy of Religion, which should be an interesting subject, and lends itself to the work I am currently engaged in.  

Here are two pictures of the inside of the Library. from the top floor looking down over the main lobby. and the ceiling. 

 

Monday Medley: Maroon 5-Love Somebody (Lyrics) Happy Labor Day

enjoy the music!
Today is Labor Day 2013! A day we celebrate the opportunity to work, earn a living, and  the opportunity to work toward goals and dreams.  Lets Celebrate, I celebrate by working!

 

September Sweet September!

The calendar has rolled around to September again.  I love it!  It means autumn is near, I love autumn as much as spring.  The colors, the coolness in the air, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all around the corner. Oh and its my birthday month! Yep will be a year older blah! I'm going to think of it as being a fine wine, gets better with age!

Today, I missed going to church all together, I had planned on going, but was not sure where to go, then thought I would just go to my home church.  Then a friend contacted me last night and we made plans for this morning that precluded me going to church. Then this morning, those plans changed again, and I missed out all together.  On the other hand I relaxed, walked three miles and got laundry done. 

Church, I wish I could find a church I can be at home in as a gay Christian.  A church that is affirming of me as gay.  They are out there, just hard to find. So I still want to visit around. Which I will on a regular basis. 

Diet and Exercise My friend is inspiring me to be more regimented in my diet and exercise than I have been,  I need to pay more attention to amounts and what I eat.  Now that I am only on call 2 nights a week and not running back and forth like I was, perhaps I can do better. I hope to be in a better sleep pattern, that is a key to healthy metabolism. My friend Branden is making progress and living healthier and exercising.  He is blogging about it as well, check his blog out and encourage him and perhaps be inspired yourself!  See the link to his blog below, or click the link on the sidebar of this blog.

 http://www.madfatmandiary.blogspot.com/

Happy September to you all!




 

Saturday This and That

Its the last Saturday of the month, its Labor Day weekend.  As usual its truly a Labor weekend for me, I was on call last night and had calls, so I worked.  Monday, Labor Day I will be covering the Trauma Center in our area during the day, at least I won't be on call! Today and tomorrow I am off and going to relax!  Of course church on Sunday, but what church? mine or visit another? Decisions.

The weather has been unusually cool for our area for this time of year. I like it, but I hope we don't pay for it later.

Gay in the news!  Some exciting developments this week:

• First, Wal-Mart is extending benefits to the same sex partners of its employees, that is good news.  Makes me want to shop there more!
• Second, the Treasury Department is going to allow deductions/exemptions for same sex partners (married/civil) no matter whether the state in which they reside has legalized same sex marriage.  This is due to the Supreme Courts overturn of parts of DoMa!

• In addition to this, a California federal Judge has ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs can not ban married same sex couples from receiving benefits their heterosexual counterparts now receive. Again thanks to the Supreme Court ruling. 

• Lastly, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be the first Justice to officiate at a Gay wedding.  This takes place today in Washington DC, she also hinted that next month there will be another gay wedding she will officiate.  Exciting to me! 

 Progress is being made!

 

A Few Hours at the Zoo

Last weekend I went to the Zoo with my friend, we spent  a few hours wandering around and seeing what there was to see. It was a great day weather wise, not too hot!  I told him he could go in the reptile house alone when we come to it.  What was the first exhibit we went  to?  Yeah the reptile house.  LOL I went in.  BAH Icky!

I was surprised to see a Honey Bee exhibit, but was glad since they are so needed.  Next to their exhibit, is a nice rose and various flower garden.  There are some wonderful flowers in these gardens! Some very old and glorious trees as well.   It was very relaxing!

Here a few pictures. Next time I think I want to take pictures, I must remember to take my regular camera,  the one my phone is not that great for these kind of pictures.

 

Monday Medley: We Can't Stop

Good Morning,  Wow it feels like fall this morning!  I enjoy fall, but its still August!  It was a great weekend, went to the Zoo with my buddy.  I actually relaxed for a change!  I enjoyed going to church yesterday as well.  I was going to go to a church that is gay oriented but did not get up early enough.

I start my class in two weeks, and attend the new student orientation next week!  I am excited to start something new and feel this is  a bigger start for me.  I just feel like its going to be something special.

Today I share We Can't Stop hope you enjoy

 http://youtu.be/eqPfniLJwBI

New Jersey Law!!

There are now two states which have enacted laws banning gay conversion therapy for children. California being the first state to pass such a law.  Its a good thing to protect children, plus the reality is this therapy does more harm than anything and never truly changes anyone. In fact, there is a higher instance depression, and suicide among teens in this kind of therapy.  To tell you, at one time early in my coming out, I looked into this kind of therapy.  I am so glad I decided against it! 

Several significant points I want to make about this New Jersey law are the fact this law was signed by a Republican Governor.  Not only that but Chris Christie attached a note saying he believed people are born gay.  That homosexuality is not the sin it is purported to be by mainstream Christianity.  What a break from his party! What a break with his Catholic background. Perhaps a smart move if you want to run for President? This is a significant event!

Now I hope more states enact similar laws protecting children from this kind of "therapy" or what I consider abuse.  This is progress!
 

Monday Medley : Love and Affection

This was a great weekend, a long weekend, but I did not do half of what I planned.  Partly due to the weather, but mostly due to my being lazy.  Sometimes their is a time to lazy, just relax, this was the first time in a very long time I had three days in a row off.  However, tomorrow its back to the schedule, unless I decide to take a PTO day, but since its supposed to rain, I will go to work.

Todays Monday Medley is a song I have been listening to on the radio. Hope you enjoy it.

http://youtu.be/GXt2wL11uKs
 

A Day At The Garden

My buddy Branden and I went to the local Botanical Garden and walked all over the wonderful grounds.  The weather was perfect, sunshine, low humidity and in the mid 70's, very unusual for August!  The garden is a great place to relax, and enjoy the surroundings, flowers, trees, birds and waterways.  We found a number of tall Redwood trees, I did not think they would grow well here.  They have a membership plan, I think I am going join, and go more often.  Especially for seasonal events, like the Christmas lights, and spring flowers.  It was fun, great place and more enjoyable since I had someone to walk around the place with and talk about whatever.  Also I noticed it is a wonderful bird sanctuary, except for Eagles. They destroyed the Eagles nest because it interfered with the planes at the airport.   We saw a family of Cardinals, such a gorgeous bird!


There was a display of glass flowers scattered about the garden, wish I had thought of taking a picture of them.  Next time I go I will take my regular camera with me since it works better than the one on my phone.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

To LOVE "Tis A Fearful Thing

 

 

 

'Tis A Fearful Thing

'Tis a fearful thing

To love

What death can touch.

To love, to hope, to dream,

And oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this,

Love,

But a holy thing,

To love what death can touch.

For your life has lived in me;

Your laugh once lifted me;

Your word was a gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

‘Tis a human thing, love,

A holy thing,

To love

What death can touch.

(To love is a precious thing FF2013)

Judah Halevi, 11th C., Spain

Poet, Philosopher, Physician 

 

Monday Medley: Moon River

Happy Monday. today I am sharing an old song used in Breakfast at Tiffany's Moon River written by Henry Mancini.  Its a beautiful yet sad song. its done here by Elton John  I hope you enjoy it.



http://youtu.be/RGi5EKPjIvw

Being Outed

Recently I learned that a former manager in my department told the Clincial Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor shortly after he came to our department that I was gay.  Don't know any details of how or why that conversation occurred. Fortunately this one he told is LGBT friendly! This is interesting to me in the fact that I never came out to this manager, and not sure how he was sure enough to tell someone else.  I am certain he suspected.  Now I am wondering who else he told?

Since this gentleman is no longer employed with the company, this occurred three maybe four years ago now, and so far nothing negative has come from his outing of me.  I don't really have any need for recourse. At least that is my thought at this moment.  I have no need or desire to contact this man and talk about this. No need to.

I will say that I think it is dead wrong for anyone to out another person to anyone.  Its not their business, not their place! The damage that can from the doing this could catastrophic to the one who is outed.  Its up to that person to come out to whom he or she chooses, and it being a workplace makes it more critical in my mind.

As for the CPE Supervisor, he did not ask me to confirm or deny, just that he was uncomfortable with this information and felt it was time for me to know?? My thought What's that all about?  It could be there is a CPE student  this summer who is openly gay.  I am aware it has been an issue with some of the other students.  I don't know why now?  I guess it does not really matter.  At least I think it does not.

Now I have ad conversations with two of my closest friends about different guys and acknowledging they are gay, but it goes no further, and we three understand the importance of that.

If you are ever tempted to out someone for whatever reason, Please don't! Its the wrong thing to do!

I may say more about this in the near future.