2011 and Still Us

Isn’t it nice when you go back to something that you haven’t seen in awhile and realize that it is the same, yet so much a has changed. This is how my life and friends are. There are a few times that we stop talking in order to deal with life in our own corners of the world but when we resume or friendship, we find that things are pretty much the same. This tends to always around the holidays.

When Christmas and New Year’s hit most of us trade friend time for family time and when the middle of January rolls around we find that a lot has happened but we are still pretty much right where we left one another.

Jaiye is now living with Phil. Right after the holidays the people Jaiye were living with were evicted for being in violation of their lease. So Phil allowed Jaiye t come life with him. Phil, being the smart guy that he is, told Jaiye that he could only stay with him for two weeks. It’s understandable considering from what we have observed, the best way to squash your friendship with Jaiye is to let him come live with you.

As for Phil he is still seeing Billy and things are going well for the mast part. During the holidays Phil saw the first promising sign that Billy sees Phil as his boyfriend and that Phil over analyzes things. Billy asked what he was doing for new years, translation, what are doing and who you doing it with? All because Billy was spending the holidays with his family in California and was not coming home till the 4^th. With Billy now being split between three states I am amazed that things are going well, considering a false HIV alarm and Phil’s obsession with getting revenge on the ex.

RJ and Adam are, well, RJ and Adam. The love of RJ’s life is behind bars for something that the group really doesn’t care about and RJ promises to be there for him and available when he gets out. RJ’s friends support him but we all think he is wasting his time. Damn gays and their drama queens.

Adam is still planning to get an apartment with Jaiye and Jaiye is still not over his ex. Leads one to believe that men named Josh are to serve one purpose, Break men’s hearts.

As for me, well I realized what is important in life. There was talk of me leaving MeTo after the holidays but I soon realized that he is more perfect than imperfect and our love runs to deep for each other. School is supposed to start in a few weeks and I can’t wait.  I want my degree more than anyone knows. Barns and Noble is proving to be a bust with no hours this month things are financially tight with MeTo and I, I now have to wait till February to go see my friends in Philadelphia but in the mean time it looks like I may have a chance at a job at a local gay night club.  So here’s to 2011.

You Aint My Daddy!!!

It would appear that some people after a large amount or time spent with me don’t seem to get it. The one thing that pisses me off the most, is trying to change me. I am who I am, I am stubborn, emotional, I don’t hide my emotions, I have a nasty temper which I try to keep in check, I need space, I need love, I need me time, I don’t ask for much, I am a fighter and I enjoy a good fight. I have little patience with those who refuse to take a hint. I am a gay male with issues just like every other male since the beginning of time.

Today MeTo decided to run off at the mouth. I was already in a bad mood. The night before I lost my wallet and I had to go to the school that I wanted to go to and I needed to have my id on me. I lost it at a night club. I was checking out a job opportunity.  I texted my friend and told him I thought I left it there and sure enough he did. I knew MeTo was not in the mood to drive back there and get it. I had already explained to MeTo what was going on in detail. He then asked why I was not panicking. I saw no need to panic my wallet was found and was in good hands. I was trying to find out if I could pick up from my friend before I went to the school. He told me it was ok. No need to panic.

Today MeTo ended up driving me to the school after I picked up my wallet; he was again in a bad mood. He dropped me off and decided to wait in the car. I stood in one line, then another and then another. Progress was made except my financial aid was not ready yet, which meant that I had to make a deposit in order to hold my classes. MeTo got upset and I then went to financial aid just to be sure, and it was confirmed.

Apparently there had been some glitch in the system which put a hold on allowing me to register and declare a major all of these things needed to be done before I got my aid. It was fixed but last minute. Now what I get for aid is greater than my tuition meaning I am going to get a kick back. But MeTo and I are having financial issues so it was not good news. I was ready to just wait till the fall but MeTo told me he would dig into savings and I would pay him back.

In the car ride home he preceded to lecture my about my laissez-faire attitude and how I am wasting time getting my life together. He made it clear that it was my fault my application went in late. At the time I applied I was not working and the account that I had money in was a prepaid MasterCard that expired and I requested a new one which took forever to arrive. Mean while I was still paying our cable bill and cell phone bill. I told MeTo the situation and he would respond, “Well make sure you get that in ASAP.” “I would respond as soon as I get my application fee.”

MeTo’s little chat lasted the entire ride back home. I felt insulted that he was saying I was basically sitting on my ass and not grabbing the bull by the horns. Meanwhile I was looking for a second job and had to make a decision as to whether or not I wanted to get a full time job or go to school. It was MeTo who told me to make school my number one priority. I was getting no hours at Barns and noble and so what was I to do? He complained when I told him I was going to get a job at a night club.

This whiney brat hated when I yelled and cursed, he wanted me to give him a fucking play by play for every move I made and thinks arguments are supposed to go according to how he wants it to go, calm no yelling, no cursing, no throwing things.

I simply stayed quiet packed some boxes and before I knew he left without telling me. Some loud music, a lot of drinking and a dozen broken bottles latter the cops showed up. I got them to leave and I let MeTo have it, His ring along with a new ass hole.

So Fucking Sue Me!

I have said it a thousand times, “Gays love drama.” It is not so much that we go out and seek it, it kind of just finds us. Most gay men handle drama fairly well. It is the ones that like to drag everyone else, such as friends and family, in that most people have an issue with. A little dram in a relationship is fine, cursing and screaming at each other is healthy in any relationship gay or straight it does not matter. It typically leads to great makeup sex.

Recently MeTo and I had a huge fight. I will talk at about the actual fight later. A typical fight is extremely boring. In MeTo’s perfect world there is no fighting just discussing. He talks then I talk then we come to an understanding. Where is the fun in that?

I have a temper, I have learned to control it and see no reason for me to seek counseling to handle my temper, it is under control unless you push me too far. Everyone that is important know the warning signs. The most important one, if I become unresponsive to you, go away. This typically happens because something the other person said makes me want to do one or more of the following. Jump up and hit them, throw something at them, break something that belongs to them, or cures them out in such a manner it would make an army sergeant blush. 

It is not easy to get me to this point, the comments are usually comparing me negatively to someone who I am honestly nothing like, making assumptions, ill advised accusations and repeats of prior conversations indicating the person was not listening and did not get the point that I spelled out so eloquently for them.

This rarely happens and it never happens with friends and colleagues just MeTo you can understand my frustration. Now imagine if you will all this has been explained more than once, I am verbally attacked and I stop taking. The other person continues to drone on and on about something and it is now clear that I have stopped listening. I am tapping my foot, rapping my fingers, giving the look of death and they continue on and then ask why I am not saying anything. So I walk away.

This continues several times, I get heated and we discuss what he needs to do when this happens and better yet how not to let it happen. Mind you everyone else gets it. Finally he pisses me off and I decide to handle it my way. I start yelling and then I am told not to yell. So I lower my tone and start cursing I am furious and my words are the only thing keeping me from killing him.

He becomes angry and doesn’t want to talk so I let him have it all. All the pent up anger is served to him on a silver platter. I tried negotiating with him and he does not want to meet me half way. So I do it my way. The result he is hurt and demands of an apology.

No if you are told not to poke the bear because the bear will attack you, and you go and poke the bear anyway, and the bear attacks you and hurts you badly, do you have a right to sue the bear keeper and the zoo?

We all say no so if you’re told to back off or have you head handed to you more than once and you choose not to heed the warning then sue me.

Two Years

What can be said once you are in a two year relationship moving onto the third? From the time I started my blog I talked about my relationships and my hunt for gay love. Then, without warning I found true love with the perfect family, then a year later I was given a ring if I promised to do one thing, spend the rest of my life with the same one person for the rest of my life. What does a city socialite turned Suburban house husband  talk about on his blog?

My blog is all about me and in some instances, my group of friends. I struggled to get my online presence out there but it was difficult to maintain my blog. I wanted it to go one way but my life was going another. I had to be honest with myself and evaluate what I honestly wanted for me and my life without considering the collateral damage.

For starters I want to get a degree in something and have a career. I thought maybe a writer of some kind or advertising or a combination of the two but my life did not work out the way I wanted. I was not given the opportunities as far as education financing goes to get the necessary degrees. So advertising was out but writing was still in. I soon learned that I liked the night life and everything about it, correction, I like the gay night life, I also thought about modeling but to get started it required to much financial investing I was also getting a little too old to be just starting. I looked younger than I really was which was working to my advantage but with the clock ticking it was a no go.

Then I realized that I could throw a hell of a party no matter what the budget was. All my friends complimented the food and asked for me to take note of important dates. Then I got into baking, then it was crocheting, then sewing, I was becoming Mr. Tommy Homemaker. I enjoyed leaning the dyeing Arts and having my friends admire me for my domestic skills, but a house husband I was not.

At the six month mark, MeTo and I moved in together and I soon lost my job. The loss of my job led to the loss of my car which meant I was stuck in Jersey unless I took the train and with no job it was quite expensive. My Gayborhood life was slowly dyeing and I was less recognized as I came far less often than I did in the past.

I had no choice but to be a house husband and work on my domestic skills. I threw the occasional party but my friends were a great distance away and only one of us had a car. Soon my food was more elaborate and my baked goods were enjoyed by everyone even myself. I was then told I should do something with the baking. I sat at my computer and started to write my own recipes.

One summer while vacationing with MeTo’s family, four of us decided to cook, MeTo, his brother, his brother’s boyfriend, and myself. Someone jokingly sad we could do a show called, “Four Gay Guys.” Which latter turned into us writing a book. I was put in charge as I had the most free time but I was the only one writing recipes, then MeTo started making contributions but the project ended there. But I figured I would not let what work had been done to go to waste and so I continued advancing my skills and working on my own cookbook.

It proved difficult when I realized cooking for the sake of cooking was expensive the project went on hold when I got a job working at Hollister and Panera. I soon learned that Retail was not for me and I quit Hollister. Panera was an odd schedule and it left me with little free time. Before I knew it however MeTo threw down an idea, Bethéa Pâtisserie. He wanted me to start my own baking business and I thought the idea was perfect. I figured it could grow from a home business to an actually bakery and then a Bakery Café. I had always wanted my mother to have her own bakery café but she seemed to lack the motivation.

I soon realized that New Jersey sucked on a whole other level, unlike my beloved Pennsylvania or even New York, New Jersey does not allow Cottage business, the production and selling of food made in a private residence.

I quit my job at Panra and tried to do things under the table but it was a no go. So I got a job at Barnes and Noble and decided I was going to go to school for Culinary arts. I had taken all the Wilton Decorating classes at Michael’s over the summer and could not find the money to go to The French Culinary Institute for Pastry arts so I figured I would start at the bottom and work my way up in such a way that after a certain point my career, I would take off like wild fire.

Things are in place for me to go to school this spring and there are parts of my life I need to address before I take any drastic measures. As it stands now I am engaged and living in Jersey and preparing to go to community college for Culinary arts management. I have a job at Barnes and Noble but I have not gotten hours for the past three weeks. I have been in my current relationship for two years.

With all of this said I have to evaluate where I have been, where I am going and where I would like to go. The most attractive part of my current situation is that I am experiencing things that I would not if things were different.

In an ideal situation I would have my driver license back and a car with a job that would allow me to afford, gas, insurance, rent, and some money to have fun with every now and then. I would also go to school for my dream job. I have decided that a Career in Pastry arts is in fact what I want. However my career is something that I don’t want to share, meaning I do not want to start a family business. I know that it sounds selfish but think about it, most people go to work and their work life is shared with only coworkers the people at home are part of a different world and I find this separation to be important on a productive level it allows me to feel that home and work are separate and there is no way that the two could become one even by accident.

Bethéa Pâtisserie is my future without a doubt but how am I going to get there? Where will Bethéa Pâtisserie be located? Those are questions that I have to keep in mind with every step towards my goal. Now I do want to eventually get married and I want more than anything to marry MeTo ergo, we are currently engaged.

MeTo is a country boy and I am a City Kid we are both hardcore and hate the suburbs. Its almost like he Is a fish and I am a bird. In order to be happy he needs the country, and I need the city.

I still dream of climbing the social ladder and think that the Gayborhood would be the perfect place to open Bethéa Pâtisserie. This however is an issue. How could I run a business in Philadelphia and have a life with my husband in upstate New York? The answerer of course is I can’t, not happily anyways. 

So do I compromise and run a business in the country and live in the country? When am I supposed to be happy I mean my husband has what he wants and needs. His plan is to work in the suburbs and live in the country. 

I like to play in the city and would be happy to live in the city. I like walking to the market or corner store, I like taking the buss to Center City to go shopping in order to save on parking, I even like sometimes taking the buss and train to work so I can read on the way. But in the country I have to drive everywhere I go. Now the fact that my Driver license is suspended is only a temporary hurdle as I will have it back soon enough.

Now I do enjoy driving but to be in a world where I have to drive is not my ideal situation. I also like to go to a club at the last minute, call my friends and meet one, two or more of them for a drink without having to make sleeping arrangements. City life and country life are way to different with a huge line in the middle called suburbs. What am I to do, I want to work and play in the city that is what I want, I don’t mind living in the country.

One solution to this is to have more than one house, this is what my in-laws, MeTo’s parents did. They both hated the city and my father in-law loved the country and so they bought a vacation home in the country, latter they moved out the city and into the suburbs and still had their house in the country. Now they all fell in love with the country and hated the suburbs and the city.

So MeTo and I decided that we would definitely have a country home, wherever MeTo wants that home to be is fine with me. Now our everyday home is another story and is still in discussion.

My dream home is huge with a large formal dining room a kitchen for a chef to be proud of, a closet that will house a large wardrobe, a bathroom with a tub large enough where a man of six foot two can soak comfortably, a large family room with high ceilings and a living room with white furniture and cherry wood tables. The basement will house an extravagant entertaining area complete with bar and pool table along with sitting area so guess can come over and enjoy movies, video games, and the Super Bowl, the other end will hose his train layout. Lastly my hubby and I need offices, my office will be large enough and equipped with the necessary accouterments for my crafts.

When I think about MeTo and my dream home it would be great to have it in the country but then what about the jobs that are paying for all this?

 For the first time in my life I am learning that you cannot plan every detail of your future, something’s have to remain open ended. To be 100% honest I want that dream house with MeTo and two kids more than my career, so I guess I need to focus on the following.

I need to get my driver license, a car, my degree, a decent job and where ever I end up living I will simply have to adjust. Besides there are ways of becoming well known and being a big shot in the city. There is that cookbook I am working on and I could also write a book for men who like fashion crafts such as, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and I could even merge the two and become like Martha Stewart, I just won’t sell out to Kmart and Sears.

So this writing assignment has served its purpose I know what I want out of life more than anything. It has been two interesting years with more good times than bad and more exciting and happy memories than I could have wished for and I want more of the same. I would imagine that my struggle with Old me and New me is over. We have figured out what we want and are willing to sacrifice to get it there is a plan to become happy and maybe get a little fame along the way. My Goal, get the dream house but how am I going to do that?

So here it is, I am Vixc-B and I enjoy, B&W Photography, Baking, Cooking, Crocheting, Sewing, Writing, Reading, Listening to music, Dancing, Clubbing, hosting Parties, and taking care of my Fiancé, 

I AM JUST MAD. Tired of this shit.

There used to be a lot that pissed me off. I hated almost everything my parents did, I hated being ignored, being lied too, let down, put in situations that I could not control. I hated people who called me a friend then would talk about be behind my back. People who were my friend one day then my enemy the next, I hated trying to fit in, I hated school, I hated homework and test, I hated cleaning, I hated having to cook, I hated boring family functions I hated, a lot. 

Then the day came when I started to learn plenty of useful things and while I tried to hold onto my family I learned how friends were more important. I learned how rewarding it was to keep a clean room, I learned how things tasted better when you made them yourself. I learned that there was more than one way to was a shirt and that washing it the right way meant it lasted longer and looked better. I learned that doing things yourself meant they got done when they needed to be done. I learned that not all schools were the same and that an A on your homework would help get an A on your test and the A on your test made them almost worthwhile.

I learned a lot of things about life and non of the important things learned at home from family. I learned on my own or from teachers or friends. I thought that family was supposed to nurture you and help you grow into a decent person. I learned as a child that mom and dad were always proud of you as long as you tried your best, they then taught me that my best was not good enough. 

Why is it at 24 years of age I am still struggling with all the stuff that I should have learned as a teenager? When I felt bad I had to blast music to feel better, HIM, Garbage, Beethoven, Bach and I spent many a night and weekend alone in my room trying to clean it, do homework or forget what happened in the living room with my step father, or the dining room with my mother, or what my so called friends said and did to me that week. 

I am hurt and traumatized and the only thing that would honestly help is if I got an apology, a simple I’m sorry. It hurts that for years I maintained a relationship with certain people in hopes that things would get better yet when things got bad I was blamed for the past, I was left out and each time it only caused more and more scars.

I want out, so many teens have committed suicide and I wish I could one of the guys to honestly say, it gets better, but dose it? My family did not stand behind me, when things got bad I got yelled at, I was judged, I was told to clean my room. I have so many bad memories and all the while I was prevented from making friends, I hung with my cousins or I hung with no one. I played in front of the house or I stayed in. I did stuff at the church or I did homework. My childhood was taken from me by the very people who were supposed to give it to me.

I want to give over it but my heart won’t let me, my head says its over and life gets better but it dosen’t. I am making 8 dollars an hour at 24 at a part time job the best I can get. Why is this so if life gets better. Suicide seems like a great idea and to this day no one will or can give a reason as to why I should honestly go on. Life doesn't get better for the ones who’s parents don’t support them. 

I hate to say it but offing yourself is the most logical excuse. Why go through life with all the sadness of growing up among people who refuse to help you better yourself for the sake of bettering yourself? Why life a life of minimum wage when you know you deserve better? Why should anyone care? There is so much that people can do to make a person’s life just a little better but we live in a selfish world where people rather make more money that make another person’s life better. The economy is heading into the toilet and the rich don’t care because they are rich, the poor don’t care because they are trying to survive. 

By definition I am sad person with a really good mask, I smile to hid my pain, I take vitamins because it’s the only thing I can afford to prevent me from killing myself. And as hard as I try when I look at my life I don’t see a good reason to go on. Yes I have a fiancee but I am being supported I have no independence. I am supposed to go to school with no money I can only afford one semester a year and how I am supposed to pay for books is still out there. 

My point is I have been struggling all my life to have just a small piece of what everyone else has and has been willing to help. I have befriended people who are in the same boat and all I can say is I have yet to see proof the it gets better. Sure it gets better if mom and dad are there for you, it gets better if you have money but for poor gay black boys from the ghetto who’s Mom hates them and has never stood up to say I was wrong and sorry it simply just doesn’t happen.

Can a Christian boy where what he wants for Halloween?

I think many of you have probably heard about the mother who dressed her son up as Daphne for Halloween per her son’s request. I find it fascinating how his peers accepted him but the parents were the ones who gave the mother a hard way to go. 

There are many points about this story I think need to be addressed. The first this is a Christian school, from the fact that this is an issue, shows that the school is not progressive. So why then are they celebrating a pagan holiday such as Halloween? Second the boy wanted to the costume and his friends had no qualms with it they probably thought it was great, proof that intolerance is taught and not inbred.  Third why are these parents trying to tell this woman how to raise her child? Fourth again this is a Christian school aren’t Christians supposed to accept people and not judge. Sounds like the parents of this school are quick to the draw when it comes to casting stones. 

All in all this a classic example of how Christianity is the most hypercritical religion. I can say this as I am a christen and have be subjected to the criticisms, and constant judgments by the very people who claim to be just as imperfect. 

Halloween

This year for Halloween I was invited to a drag party. I thought what the hell I already wear makeup why not take it a step further. The plan was to go to this party and then Voyeur. Voyeur was staying open till 8am so it was a big deal. My friend jay had decided to dress as Wendy Williams and planned this elaborate costume. He was hype and been talking about it for months.

I am not sure I understand the joy that people get from Halloween. Many of my friends go all out with their costumes and begin planning their costume and what they are going to do way in advanced. I planned everything that has to do with Halloween at the last minute. I think it may stem from growing up in a family that never really celebrated the holiday, Christians.

I decided at the last minute to go as a witch and that caused Phil to wear his costume, a fairy. This was totally comical. I put on my makeup and I borrowed a bra, wore a tee shirt that said, “No really, this is my Halloween costume.” I thought after everything I still looked like a boy in girls cloths. Phil went all out with his tutus, thong, wig, heels and mask. I felt safe walking outside as long as my wig hid most of my face he on the other hand, we had to call a cab which never came.

We pre-gamed it and thank god we did as when we got to the party there was next to nothing to drink. It was also a small crowd. I was shocked I came to party like VixcB typically dose. I managed to scrape something up and Phil and I mingled a little until the party was moved to Woody’s. A few drinks, some dancing and we were off to Voyeur. Phil got hit on I danced with one person and before I knew it, I was feeling old and off my grove. Me, VixcB, I used to go to the club not thinking what anyone thought had a good time I usually talked to someone about how sexy they thought I was.

Needless to say I ripped my wig and bra off and danced some more before getting a text from Jaiye say he went back to his friend’s apartment and his feet were killing him. Under old circumstances I would have stayed until closing but the booze had affected my mood negatively and Phil was tired of that chasing him all over. We left and Phil paid for the cab.

In the car I remember calling Mr. MeTo and told him I was old and I think I may have blamed him for it. Once we got to Phil’s place I crashed and woke with a total hangover. I didn’t think I drank that much but it was enough to cause a hangover and I spent the day watching Disney Halloween movies with my best friend while trying to recover.

I left my favorite city late and took in the scenery of center city as I walked from one train to the other. I thought of how I always hated leaving, it depressed me that I could not spend more time with Jaiye and Phil, I longed for the days when we would go out together and make new friends. Our lives were like a TV show with each season having different friends but the main character remained the same.

I got home and my mind was all mixed up and I had lots to think about. Did I like where my life was going? Did I want to say in this relationship? Did I want to move back to the city or to the country? Plans were made and I felt I had to decide quickly. One thing was certain, I was in love with MeTo my biggest fear during the time I was thinking was I might break his heart.

As time went on MeTo kept asking what was wrong a refused to accept nothing for an answerer and I just exploded. My outburst turned into a long discussion as to how we could stay together and remain happy and as things stand now at the end of our lease while we will remain together we may end up living apart for a year or two.

Awesome Celebrity Anti-Bullying Video

VixcB on youtube

So Awesome.

ULTIMATE GAY HOUSE PARTY!!!

I am initiating the planning of the ULTIMATE GAY HOUSE PARTY!!! Tell your gay friends to hit me up so I can send them an invite.

spirit day

Sperit Day

So today is spirit day and wearing the purple and hear about all the people who committed suicide only reminded me of my family and what it was like growing up as a gay teen and not being allowed to tell anyone. The one person that knew, who was a family member took advantage of the situation and caused only greater heartache.

So much of my child hood is hidden away in secrets. Things I have done, seen, people I have spoke too. I hate looking back to the day when I was young pretending I was going to do things that I could see would never happen.

I told everyone I wanted to be a doctor and pastor. It made everyone happy especially my mother and grandmother. My tutors thought it was such a noble goal. I wanted nothing more than to tell them there was a good chance it would never happen. I grew up in a family and church the condemned people for being gay. Gay acts sent people to hell I was told, it seemed that to be gay was worse than an alcoholic, prostitute, drug dealer, rapist.

It seemed when ever my mother of grandmother hear anything relating to gay they would start quoting the bible and talking about how gay were going to hell. It was hard to hear knowing that while I was trying to make it go away it was very much a part of my life.

In the forth grad kids began teasing me, calling me gay and other horrible things. I dealt with it daily and by the time I was in sixth grade it was made quite clear that I did not fit in anywhere. I wanted to end it all. My home life was terrible with my mother and stepfather always fighting, my stepfather made it clear he did not like me and my mother did little to show she cared. At school I was picked on endlessly and got into fights. No one was on my side I felt. My mother would tell me to ignore them or try to be more like them which only got me into more trouble.

I began thinking about suicide and I grew up hearing how that was a sin and one way ticket to hell. I felt so trapped. I began asking my mother about technicalities as far as being gay and suicide were concerned and she made it clear there were no outs for me.

My life became an unfocused one of fasting and praying, trying to fit in, do my homework alone, or at my after school program, trying to avoid my stepfathers rage, and trying to hide the fact I was gay.

One morning I was scolded for being pricey by my mother, she told me thats why my stepfather and I did not get along.

I then went to my school counselor and told her I wanted to die. I had it and before I knew it she was asking questions about why and how. The fact I was thinking about suicide was already privileged information and I told here it was because of home. My mother found out and told me to stop seeking attention.

I felt I could trust no one. The day came when I could not take it any more and I tried to move out. My mother fought with me but I was 19 and managed to break free. I lived alone for a year and after awhile I was dating men and I had gay friends. I went to my first gay club and realized that things were not as sinful as my mother said.

At the end of the year I decided to move back home to save money. My mother could tell I changed and was not nice to me. My stepfather was however and our relationship was on the mend. It was not long but I fell in love with a guy and my mother came right out and asked if I was gay. At first I said no but I thought about it and later told her I was. She kicked my out and I began telling everyone. I was shocked that all my friends were so excepting. They told me they loved me and many said they already knew but wanted to give me time.

I felt free although my mother and grandmother were outraged. My friends were there for me and then I made new friend who showed me what the gay life was like fore them. There were night of crazy parties and quiet evenings out to dinner. I did all the things I used to do and more except now I was happy there was no more brick walls keeping people out.

Coming out at 21 was a lot easier than coming out before I was 18. school was tough as a kid and being openly gay may have made it worse not sure and I cant say for sure. There are times I think about it and being openly gay would have gave them one less thing tease me about.

I look at my life now, I am engaged and happy, my life is finally coming together and I have met some extraordinary people. The point of it all is I made it through the rough times of having that secret and being so worried about my mother. She still hasn't accepted me and her whole family probably didn't acknowledge today.

As for that family member he is not nearly as happy as I am, non of those family members are I knew because although I was the black sheep they all confided in me.

In closing I simply want to say that homosexuality is not easy to deal with at any age and being a teen is tough enough. I can only Imagen what it is like to come out and still be picked on mercilessly. What has happened is heart wrenching to hear about parents who lost their children its not fair. Everyone agrees there is nothing worse than burring a child. What do we, the roll models of our children, do to encourage them to life each other up. How are we setting an example with our actions, that we want them to better not simply because we want them to but because they can.

If just one person came to me and told me to be myself no matter what when I was a child, told me that they had my back as long as I was trying to make the world a better place in some small way I would have felt the need to lie a lot less. The fact remains every gay person I have ever met has admited that the now has mad the past so worth it.

My Life Was Shit??

I do not think anyone understood or could even fathom how bad a shape my life has gotten to be.  Vixc B was always the one who had it together or at least could make it look like he had it together.  I was one who always had a job, I had a car, and I always had enough money to go out even when I was broke.  My friends loved to be around me because I always had good advice when needed and I could sit down and really talk with them.  Then it seemed like once it all started coming together, it went to shit.

I lost my car, my job, the means to go back to school and the place I was living was miles away from my friends.  To top it all off, my mother was not coming around to the idea of having a gay son; she went as far as to force me to pretend that I was not gay whenever she was around.  I went with it I am a survivor.  Then my sister hit 21 my cousin became a father and we lost our grandmother to cancer.  To the rest of my family it was not that much of a shock but to me I was completely blindsided.  My mother never told me much all I knew, she was in the hospital for dehydration.

Before I knew it, things were happening fast, Panera was no longer my place of employment and my love of crafts and cooking led to perusing a career in baking.  I needed money, mom was not helping, and financial aid was only giving me about a quarter of what I needed.  I was hoping for a scholarship that I did not get and then a fight with my mother left me not talking to her side of the family.  I then found out she told the police I punched her in the face.  I was devastated, she lied on me.

I began looking at where I was in life.  No car, suspended license, I owed money for tickets, I had no money for school, no job and I might be going to jail.  I just wanted to get an education and have a bakery café.  I spoke with my aunt and she confirmed there was no warrant for my arrest. I then found out that I only had to pay off the tickets I already started paying to get my driver license back. I then felt like a fool because Middlesex community had a both Pastry arts and culinary arts programs that I could afford.  I found the information to all my accounts and got them in order and my 401K is still growing although I am not adding to it.

My external hard drive was on the fritz and today it worked after I tried everything.  My life was now organized both digitally and all my paperwork.  My house is almost all clean and it’s only Thursday.  I do not know if it is safe to breathe yet, but here goes nothing.

VixcB's webcam video October 06, 2010, 07:27 PM

Its Cool

After the 4th of July

After July 4 things got crazy busy and MeTo made a surprise announcement that made everyone halt in their tracks.

MeTo decided that a recent panic attack meant he was not meant to get his PhD and after doing the necessary research, he decided that taking a masters and becoming a teacher was the right move to make.  A weeklong trip with his parents and he was still not changing his mind.

Phil and Andre were going strong and at the Gayborhood block party, they seemed so perfect together.  Then André found out he was accepted to the perfect school to do his post doc except it was in California.  Phil and Andre were left with making a decision, Long distance relationship or to call it quits.

 While MeTo was away on his weeklong trip with the parents, I was working on the face of my business.  Thanks to MeTo, I had the perfect name, Bethéa Pâtisserie.  I bought the URL and even some test marketing supplies and it all was to come in early august.  I got a few things for Vixcb.com but with a greater request for my bakery, I had to give all my attention to that.  I then had a small get together.  The turnout was smaller than I wanted but it was still a good time.

Jaiye had got back with Josh and things were not all Roses and Sunshine. Ramón Kicked Jaiye out and the two were now living at a friend’s place in center city.  Jaiye was now dead set on getting a job in Center City and get a place.

RJ finally herds the thing every gay man wants to hear.  Josh told him he was the only one he ever really loved, except Josh still liked sleeping with women and so commenced the open relationship came to be.  Josh gets to sleep with women and RJ continued to sleep with, Tom, Sean, Scott and Brian.

By the end of July, so much had happened and was happing that it was no surprise that august was a downpour.  The summer was hot and there was next to no rain except when it came to drama.

Phil and Andre called it off but were still acting as if they were together they even attended a recent party of mine together and it looked as if things had not changed.

Jaiye brook up with Josh for the last time.  Things got so bad that I felt it was necessary to pull away and just let the cards fall as they may.  Jaiye’s birthday just went buy as Jaiye was in a depression.

MeTo decided to do sales a job we all told him he would not like.  He was set on it and for me to get the bakery going as soon as possible even if it meant I quit Panera.  MeTo then had a long meeting with his advisor who not to everyone’s surprise crumbled and negotiated a deal that made getting a PhD more appealing than going into Sales.  So now, upon graduation MeTo will have a PhD and will become a high school science teacher.

RJ is still RJ and working a new job and has decided to lose weight.  He is already a great looking person but this is something he wants and his friends are happy to support him.

Jaiye is out of his depression and onto dating.  He has found a job and a few affordable apartments.  Therefore, it is only a matter of time before Jaiye is on his feet.

As for me, Bethéa Pâtisserie is coming along and will soon launch.  I have also decided to go to school at the French culinary institute.  I have lots of support just not a lot of funds, that is how “Cook it, Eat it, Blog it!” was born.  Lots of research, a few cookbooks, and several events and I will be busy to the point I will have to Quit Panera.

Life is good for the RGOP and our men and my Indigo Life is moving onto a new chapter.

4th of July

My week had finally started to balance things out. MeTo and I decided we would go upstate for the weekend but with the way things looked it might be just a day trip. Fortunately I was about to get someone to cover my Monday shift.  Then a car accident later I found out that Panera was in for drama the needed me to find someone else.  Thank god I did and then I realized that I would have off the 4^th the 5^th and the 6^th but the 7^th I had my 2^nd cake class which I was excited about.

I was so excited to be going upstate to see my in-laws their amazing dog, and the new addition. Not to mention the chance to just relax. I was slightly tempted to bail due to the fact the house need cleaning, laundry needed to be done, recipes perfected and a closet needed lots of TLC. Despite it all I ran away to a place flooded with joy, joy, excitement and two people who understand the importance of just getting away and relaxing.

The moment I arrived my future father in-law offered me a drink, I chooses peach schnapps and he decided to make it a double. I was shocked how fast it hit me. I thought the porch was spinning for a few seconds. Soon after our arrival it was time for dinner bison burgers, salad and a few other traditional BBQ favorites that had a healthy spin like turkey sausage and grilled vegies. 

The first night was the big 4^th celebration, which was held on the 3^rd, down on the lake.  We all went down to taste the pig, have some burgers and mingle with the neighbors.

My mother in-law wanted to dance so she grabbed her other son in law and the tore the dance floor up. It was the cutest thing. Much to my surprise MeTo found an old friend and started talking it turned out he enjoyed web design as a hobby and was willing to help me out. I needed a logo and he was more than happy to do it.  The night ended late looking at the stars talking politics and enjoying the chocolate cake I made. It was well enjoyed and I was given many words of praise.

The next morning I wrote a little and then my aunt in law and her daughter arrived. You want to meet someone fun meet this woman. Free spirited and loving just like her brother. We did all kinds of things BBQ, looked at a house. Did some light shopping, and we filled in the gaps with jokes about Activia and the mahjong ladies of Brooklyn. 

So many fun memories were made and If laughter was a drug we all would have died from an over dose with enough left over to kill others.

But like all things in life the weekend came to an end,  But I now know I like malted and that white chocolate raspberry ice-cream is addictive, proof my mother in-law and I have very common taste.

Suicide

A friend  who I consider to be extremely close attempted suicide t the week before the fourth of July. Due to the fact that we are so close and that I did not have an address to send authorities I rushed to Philly. It ruined not only my day but my entire week.

For the little got from my friend he decided to take the last of his anti-viral medication. I later learned that this was a shitty way to try and off oneself.  Most antiviral medications will cause you to get really sick at worst not kill you but I ran to Philly anyway.

I was able to find the house from the little information that had received from various people. I thought 302 would be a great idea but figured I would talk to my other friends before I made such a rash decision.

I also talked to my friends ex to get the back story. It would seem that my friends ex who had been frisky with other men during the course of their off and on relationship of 5 months. This time my friend found out that his boyfriend kissed another man, again, and pushed him into a fence. The boyfriend then exclaimed that he never wanted to see my friend again due to the fact that his brush with the fence caused him to bleed. All of this was explained to me by my friends ex.

I figured I could put both sides of the story together once I saw my comrade face to face. When he finally stopped crying and wishing he could just sleep he told me his side of the story which shockingly was exactly the same as his ex’s.

Things progressed and while his closes friends were all for 302 another party dragged his mother back into the equation which took the burden off of us so to speak. We did not want to take such drastic measures without the consent of his next of kin who was now backing in the picture.

The night dragged on and I had to start rearranging my week so I would not lose my job. 

As it turned out my friend never did get 302 and whiles all of my friend friends think that his ex is simply no good my friend still wants him back. What the hell is it with gay’s and welcomed drama?

Hello Mother

I had been planning to contact my mother in some form other than a text, for quite some time.  I had been debating on what I should get her for mother’s day alongside it. Due to a mix up, the card I wanted to send to her could no longer be sent and it was well past mother’s day.

I decided on the Junior’s cheesecake cookbook.  I had found it quite useful and I remembered my mother saying how she wanted to create the perfect cheesecake.  I went to Barns and Noble dot com and ordered it to arrive to her house.

The day that it arrived, I got a call from Jaiye saying there had been a tornado in Delco.  I became quickly worried.  My sister had tried to call me only moments before Jaiye, but because I was in Wal-Mart shopping with my headphones on I missed the call.

Jaiye told how Lansdowne looked like a disaster area and that there was no power.  I hurried off the phone with Jaiye and began calling my sister like a mad man.  When she answered, her sweet loving voice gave no indication that anything was wrong, she sounded happy to hear from me and gave every indication she had happy things to tell me.

We chatted about how she drove around that day with our stepfather and that she thought there was a tornado but Sharon Hill was untouched except for some golf ball sized hail and rain.  I was so happy to hear that the first love of my life was not only fine but also happy.

The last of my worries was if the wind might have blown the package off the porch but my sister told me she saw it, which meant it was now in the house.

I then called my grandmother and aunt and my grandmother gave me an earful about taking so long to call her and not calling her when I was in “the depths of despair.”  We then talked about the hail and rain and her commute home in it.  She was all giggles about it.

Latter I went to arrange my remote corner of the house.  I bought a bookcase and wanted to put it together and make what is my little workspace neat tidy and organized.  It came out nice.  The printer has a permeate spot now and I have a trashcan and file cabinet.  The funny thing now is I have lots of functional storage space for files books and anything else I would need in a home office all in a 6 by 4 foot space.

When I was done, I checked my phone and there were two missed calls, both from mother.  I called her right away and asked if she gotten my gift, she said yes but this was a better one, meaning the phone call.  She then went on about how much she missed me and was worried.  I could say nothing except to ask is she already had the book.  We talked for 49min and in that time she told me she was getting her business license and that she had to have surgery due to scar tissue.

I did not like the sound of it but she sounded fine and gave the news in a matter of fact tone.  We then talked about church and all the things we normally talk about, but there was no talk of my engagement, or other reasons I had stopped talking to her.  It was as if we just picked up where we left off. 

She does not know it but I do plan to be there the day of her surgery.  I figure this is how our relationship will be.  Things go ok and when holidays come up, she will pretend to be shocked that I did not show up because I am with MeTo’s family or the two of us went to my grandmother’s.  This year will be hard but it ultimately will define the type, if any, relationship my mother and I will have.

Philly Pride and the RGOP

Of all the things Philadelphia is known for, the lad marks, the art mesueam, the franklin institute, ockie and the gayborhood nothing keeps me coming back more than my friends. It is hard to believe that I am fast approaching the 4 year mark of being open and happy.

Recently the four of us met up for one of the biggest events in the city, Philly Pride. I would be lying if I said pride was supper fantastic, I never go for the sake of going, or the entertainment.  I go because of my friends Jaiye, Phil, and RJ. It is also to see who we will bump into, old friends who’s names we forgotten but faces we will never forget and of course the men whom we have slept with, had bad dates, and just downright pissed us off.

The best part of the actual event was Raven from Ru Paul’s Drag Race and Jennifer Coolidge  (Stiffler’s Mom). Raven Looked and was amazing and Jennifer was Funny. I had no idea that she did stand up nor did I know she was coming to pride. I think it is time I get back into the loop.

The Real Gays of Philadelphia were together and having a blast. We hugged old gay buddies but aside from that kept to our selves no one was in constant attention.

RJ and I were the only ones alone. RJ broke up with his Josh 3 days prior and MeTo stayed home to do some work. Phil and Andre looked so cute together and just watching and listening to them gave several awe moments and made me wonder, “Maybe they are a perfect couple.”  And as for Jaiye the night before I found out that he and his Josh were engaged. This came as a shock to us all. With all the drama and the recent open relationship it left the rest of us thinking, “BIG Mistake.” But after talking to Jaiye and hearing the he thought about all the same concerns we did and that he knows its crazy, but still wants to take the chance, I gave my blessing. I latter told all my friends about the conversation and that we should support Jaiye.

I then gave my congratulations and joked about engagement parties and wedding ideas.

The day was rain on and off ending with a down pour. As we walked in the rain back to RJ’s car, we passed old spots that reminded me of Mr. M. La Scala’s where we had fancy pizza and expensive drinks and  the place that I bought the 9 dollar Kamikaze. Those we happy times but for each happy moment I could recall several unhappy one’s. I sent him a text letting him know I went to pride and thought of him when I passed La Scala’s. I never did hear back from him.

It was a happy kind of day and while it was a rainy one I had lots of fun and walking around center city it became clear I really did miss this city.

While at pride it was announced that the gayborhood would no longer just be a nick name. it was an official neighborhood in Philadelphia. There were official plans and the weekend of July tenth was a big one. When I got home, I told MeTo that I simply had to go.

So pride was full of surprises and I simply cannot wait to find another excuse to go back home.