Coming Out Insurance

LMAO!

Countdown: One Mighty Weekend!

Well, I finished the work week today happy. I am now on vacation! Woo Hoo!!

Rich, Jerry, Philip, Bernard, Tony and I are all headed to Orlando, this next week. One Mighty Weekend and GayDayS at Walt Disney World are almost upon us. We will be joined by, what it seems like, most of the gay community across the United States! Since I first started to push this party as our big event of the summer, we have been meeting more and more people who are attending the festivities along with us. The above mentioned are our core group of friends, but we will have many more people in the adjoining rings.

The San Diego Crew are growing to be more centralized in the whole scheme of things. There are a few people from here in Phoenix that we are friends with whom are going. Hopefully, accompanying each other to these events will fortify our friendships. It never hurts to have more friends.

Also, we have recently been meeting more Circuit Party friends. So far with the Circuit, it seems like you meet one person (Lawrence!), who introduces you to this person, who introduces you to that person. It can go on and on. Then, you find out that all those people know most of the others you met, but not all in the same way. The web of social networking can get confusing, to say the least.

Now to mention all the guys we have been chatting with about what to expect at GayDayS, One Mighty Weekend or even just Walt Disney World and Florida in general. Everyone has been so forthcoming with vital information. It has been great! It certainly helps build all the hype for next week.

I know this is going to be one of the best parties we have been to, yet!

Stay Tuned.

http://www.onemightyweekend.com/

Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin

Naughty Adventures and Southern Charm continue to thrive in The City by the Bay


When I first heard that Armistead Maupin was in the middle of writing another book about the inspiring characters from 28 Barbary Lane, I was ecstatic. So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard the primary focus of this latest book was Michael "Mouse" Tolliver! His character touched me from the first time I read Mary Ann thinking she was being flirted with by Michael's boyfriend. Even though his appearance was brief in that chapter, I knew this was someone who would change my view on life and being gay.


Who is Michael Tolliver? Who is Mouse? He is my hero, albeit a fictional one. I have always looked up to him, even strived to be him! Who could resist falling in love with such a caring, warm and down-to-earth character? He may have been written into existence, but he is more than words on paper. He is real. He is any gay man that feels that he is not quite part of something, almost unlovable. I was only a teenager when I started reading the Tales of the City series. I was still trying to figure out who I was and where I fit into the world. Mouse was a great friend to look towards. He was me (if I were living in the 1970's, anyway). I saw him question people telling him he was a great guy and not be surprised when he was dumped by a guy. He, also, would not let that affect how he cared for others. He loved everyone and always had a light-hearted demeanor. I felt a real connection.


As I advanced through my adolescence, I continued reading the books. Both, Mouse and I grew into ourselves. We became more confident in all aspects of our lives. And even though I am still only 25 years old, I know I am a better person and heading in the right direction in life. Partial credit of this standing needs to go to Michael Tolliver and his loving guidance on being a nice gay guy in the big bad world. Thank you, Michael Tolliver! And thank you, Armistead Maupin!


Michael Tolliver Lives!

Release Date: 06/26/2007

Open Door Policy

So, I know this is my first official post and I really should ease myself into it before getting too deep with the topics. This topic has been coming up a lot lately, so I have been wanting to talk about it. Anyway, here I go...

Open Relationships. Not a very mainstream ideal, but they certainly do exist. They seem to be more common in the gay community than the straight community. Either that or us gay men are just more inclined to be open and public about it. The concept of the open relationship is not new to me by any means, as I have been in one with Rich for many years. I will go on record with saying that they are not for everyone. At times, they can be frustrating and with added leg work, but they do that their advantages.

Like I was saying, the subject has been brought to me an uncanny amount of times, lately. I have been asked about how they work, seen shows on TV talking about them and even in print articles. It seems like it is being brought to the forefront.

A local news show did an expose on what they called 'swinging' here in the Phoenix Metro area. Granted, this particular topic was more focused to the straight community, but it was being talked about, nonetheless. They talked about how it was happening under all of our noses and what you need to know about what your neighbors are doing. It even went as far as having the shadowed-figure interviews. This made me quite perturbed. Why does it matter what people are doing in their own private lives? How does that affect anyone else? This point-of-view is along the lines of constantly being interrogated about my relationship and how my inquisitors could never be in a relationship like that and does not understand how one can live it. Hey, I didn't ask for your opinion. I gladly offer any information about what I think it is all about to help those that are curious about having one for themselves, but I do not need to take the beratement from the rest who can't deal with something that has nothing to do with them.

On another note, I recently read a rather interesting article in Out Magazine. It talked about gay men in committed relationships who then pursue another relationship. They are not cheating, but taking on boyfriend in addition to their husband/partner. All parties involved are aware of everyone else. Now, I had always wondered if this happened, but never heard any evidence. I don't think I could do it myself, at least at this point in my life and relationship. Hell, I have my hands full as it is!

I guess I should probably get to the point of all this. I feel that open relationships are more than just having the opportunity of sexual activities outside of one’s committed relationship, but it is also a mind set. It is being aware of a different way of life that is not confined by religious or social prejudice. I think someone who is either in an open relationship or is accepting of them are somewhat enlightened. They know that humans are still animals and have urges they have to deal with when it comes to sex. We are made to have multiple partners. The pairing of modern time is from what is expected of us to do not what our bodies are telling us it wants. Granted, I am sure there are plenty of people out there that have no issue with wanting to be with no one else other than their mate, but I am sure at one point they had the stray thought or hormonal surge to think of someone else.

I love my partner. He loves me. We both know that we are not going anywhere. But we also know we are humans, even more so males. We are driven by not just our minds and judgment, but our hormones and instincts. Our relationship has evolved into something more than most will ever experience. We can go have our own adventures and know that we have our mate, our best friend there at home, when we return. We encounter new experiences and then share them with each other. It is quite hot, actually.

You can say what you want about my relationship, but I know this is better than being in a monogamous relationship. We don't have to worry when the other is going to cheat, because we cannot cheat on each other.

We know where the other stands, and luckily it is right next to each other!