Dom's New Chapter

 Dom got news a few days ago that the school he works at was ending their contract with him once the school year ends.   He mentioned a few months back that the district mentioned having a memorandum on their ballot where they were wanting to increase taxes to raise extra cash for the school district.   He was told that if it didn't pass then they would have to cut staff.   The memorandum did not pass.

Dom teaches math and from my understanding, math is one of the harder subjects to find teachers.  As a result he didn't feel they'd get rid of any of the math teachers.  So the announcement came as a surprise to him.   He did note that he didn't like the current principal (who came into his role a year after Dom started) and the feeling was mutual.   He found the principal to be a bit two-faced and a person who is used to getting things his way.   He felt the principal wanted to get rid of him and used the memorandum as an excuse since Dom was doing a great job otherwise and couldn't be fired.

Oddly enough with all of Dom's health issues, he did discuss with me the possibility of taking early retirement and leaving the school for a year and then going back somewhere else the following year.   He would use the year to improve his health and fix up things around the house.   I was feeling a bit leery about that idea since I just started my gig back in January and wanted to feel a bit more secure in my job and have time to get my financial life back on track.   Also Dom said he would have to cut out his discretionary spending on his doll hobby.   With his track record I can't imagine him not doing it for a year.   It's bad enough that he's started racking up a few over draft fees in our joint account due to his hobby.    I remind myself though that the fees are less than the credit card interest I've racked up prior to starting the Amazon life.    Thankfully I'm finally making headway to knocking out my debt on one of my credit cards.   But still the bank fees can be controlled.   So it's bothersome when it happened.    

So it's funny that circumstances have given Dom the opportunity to possibly pursue early retirement.  He's also talked about possibly becoming a substitute teacher and making his own hours.  He's also exploring checking out the school district in Michigan (the Indiana-Michigan border is less than an hour from where we live) due to their later school start and early completion.    If he does pursue retirement, he's thought about taking a part-time evening job to supplement his income.   If it winds up being a part-time situation, he's going to need health insurance which means we may finally have to stop living in sin and get hitched.   I guess it's been almost eight years.   Some would say it's about time...*LOL*.

Whatever he decides, we'll work through it together.   He stuck with me through my lean years so I will do the same for him.

Incidentally he's heading out to the International Men of Leather weekend in Chicago tomorrow.   The  last time I went to an IML event was a Sunday church service they had that Dom and I sang at.   He plans to participate in the Sunday service but also take part in some other events.   So I'll have to figure out how to entertain myself this long Memorial Day weekend.   I'm guessing a casino may be involved...*LOL*.

Shut up Fido!

A lot of dog owners don't realize that when they have a dog not only do they have to deal with it, so do their neighbors.   Dom and I have the unfortunate pleasure of having next door neighbors that have a canine.   The Joneses, as I've come to nickname them, had a small terror when we first moved into our home back in 2016.    Terror #1 would yip and yap whenever one or both of us stepped out into the backyard.    Sadly it is in their nature.   Terror #1 died sometime in 2021 and for awhile I thought we were finally done with the nightmare.    It was crazy because for a period I was thinking something was up when I wasn't hearing Terror #1.   We got confirmation when Mrs. Jones told Dom about Terror 1's demise.   She said they were done with dogs but then came Terror #2 a few months later.   I notice he'll (I assume it's a he though it could be a she) start yapping even if I'm in the kitchen making dinner.   

Mind you that there's a fence separating our yard.   Terror #2 don't give a crap.  He'll just yap, yap, yap.  I'm tempted to buy a dog whistle to play to see if it'll shut him up.   He annoys me especially during the day when I'm working from home.  I wish we had central air but since we don't Dom insists on cracking all the old windows (bad screens and all) open.   That irritates me too but not much I can do about it.  Mr. Jones is literally outside almost the entire day in his yard during the spring and summer months.   So of course when he's outside, so is Terror #2.   I get to hear it all thanks to the windows being open.

As bad as Terror #2 is, we have an even worse dog living across the street from us.   I mostly blame the owner in this case.   This stupid lady has her dog walking all across everyone's lawns in the immediate vicinity and then lets it pee or poop where ever w/o a care in the world.    And don't be outside when they are walking, the stupid beast will be yelping and ready to attack.    There's an empty field area literally across the street from her that she can take her beast to relieve itself but she chooses to let it do its business in a random neighbor's grass.   If Dom and I didn't hate dogs so much, we'd get our own dog and have it come in front of their house and pee on their lawn and see how they like it.   

I guess things can always be worse.  It becomes more apparent when the weather gets warmer.  Also the Joneses like to entertain in their backyard.   Some of their invitees become annoying especially when they decide to park on our lawn, which is apparently a Gary, Indiana thing.   I'm so tempted to throw some nails in the lawn to see how they like a flat tire or two.   I'm so over the neighbors sometimes.   I was cracking up one year when Mrs. Jones told me that it's nice that we're in a quiet neighborhood.   I wanted to tell her 'quiet for whom, with all your noisy family and friends and Terrors'.   It's not limited to them either.   When Dom and I walk along the block, no less than a dozen dogs in the neighborhood start their familiar chorus of yelps.   Uggh!

Don't even get me started on Fourth of July which apparently is not limited to the day in question.  I already told you about the drama last year with kids and fireworks.   Dom and I talk about moving to the country just to get away from the crazy folks.   I can't believe I lived 16 years in a townhome when I think of the nightmare that was my asshole closeted gay neighbor.    He was a chain smoker with two little yappers that would proceed to want to attack whenever I ran into them outside.   I was so glad to get the hell out of there to get away from him and some of the racist neighbors.   I guess the Joneses and crazy lady across the street are tame in comparison.   At least I'm a single minority as opposed to a double...*LOL*.

You Don't Say

 One of the side effects of getting older is that I'm getting more set in my ways.   I admit I'm becoming less social (not that I was all that social to begin with...*LOL*)    But I did used to do "thangs".   I will say my late 20's and 30's was when I was at my peak.   It was at age 29 when I had my first "oral transaction" (thanks Trina Braxton...*LOL*) with a man.  I was freshly 30 on Halloween 2002 (almost 20 years ago...wow) when I lost my virginity to a hot Hungarian man.   Yes I was a late bloomer.

I laugh now when I think how naïve I was way back in eighth grade when I was teased and called a "virgin" (which was the tamest thing I was called).   The only virgin I heard of was the "Virgin Mary" and I associated being a virgin with being a girl.   I may have liked boys but I identified as a boy and wasn't looking to change that.   So I would adamantly argue back that I wasn't a virgin.   It was years later (I'm embarrassed to say it was in my late 20's...maybe close to the time of my transaction...*LOL*) when I realized 'yes I am a virgin'.   

I came into my own in my 30's.  I had a great job, a few close friends that I was keeping my gay secret from (though most knew), I occasionally socialized outside work, I traveled a lot, and I was a home owner (at 27 actually).   I kept up with the latest TV shows, artists, and fashions.  I blogged!  I worked out consistently and had a few Master Cleanses under my belt.    

One of my fondest memories happened on one of my numerous trips back to Detroit.   My parents were still living in our old family home and I remember going with my Dad to Sam's Club (it must've been summer 2007 or 2008, I don't remember the exact year).   We arrived back home after shopping and I remember carrying in one hand a big box with two or three Clorox bottles and in the other hand a big box of some other products that were placed in it.   Both boxes were heavy but I carried them with such ease.   My Dad over the years growing up always seemed critical of me, finding fault in how I did things.   But this particular visit when I was carrying groceries back into the house, my Dad came up to me, put his right hand on my shoulder and said, "(E...), you're so strong!"   At that time it was the first time in a long while I recalled my Dad giving me a compliment.   When I say I felt like I was on cloud nine, I can't even describe how happy I felt.   Even with everything I've accomplished at that time, I never felt like I measured up in my Dad's eye.  It's not to say that he wasn't supportive.   He worked hard at a menial job to take care of my Mom and his three children.   He did want what was best for us. But he was from the old school and not one to give affirmations.   So when he gave me that compliment, it was validation that I was on the right track and was a bit of an ego boost.

I will say now that I haven't been to a gym since just before the pandemic started.   I did get some good exercise my first six months working at Amazon when I worked in the smaller warehouse.    But once I moved to the larger warehouse, I had a more stationary job (even with standing on my feet all day).  I did move around my little station but it wasn't like before where I physically have to move around the warehouse to transport totes to delivery drivers.

I'm definitely not in the same shape I was in my mid 2000's.  I even gained some weight though thankfully I'm not obese.   But I don't have the strength or energy I had back then.   I know I need to get my butt in the gym but it's harder to get myself there and it doesn't help that Dom isn't that energetic either.   So I don't have that person motivating me to do so.   I guess some would call it "happy weight".    

I find myself having to drag myself to even go run errands at times.   When I was working weekends it was fine if I was lazy because at least I could go during the week.   Of course I wasn't making a lot of cash so I was limited in what I could do.   But now that I'm working weekdays, I'm back to only having two days and if I blow one day, it leaves only one more day (which I usually spend at least two hours in Church) before it's back to the work week.   The honeymoon is pretty much over as well so it's a bit more challenging getting out of the house.

One of the other things that became stagnant was giving new artists a chance.   Now that I'm older, I find myself more comfortable listening to familiar artists from the 80's, 90's, 00's, and a little of the 10's.   I tend though to gravitate towards the 90's and 00's which I feel were the greatest musically.  I pretty much just listen to CDs in the car and usually I'll have the same one on rotation for several months.   I have the habit too of having a song on repeat which annoys Dom the few times he drives in my car.   

So Hemingway I was listening to this Youtube show called Tea G-I-F from channel Fox Soul.   They are having a 'listening party' on May 9th for a new artist who's releasing an album soon after.   The whole music game has definitely changed in the age of the Internet.   Why did I find myself mesmerized by this new artist?  Her name is Ella Mai and her sound is reminiscent of the late 90's and gives of an Aaliyah/Brandy vibe.   Perhaps that's why I like her songs.   I've had her one song titled Didn't Say on repeat.

It's rare that any newer artists get my attention.  The last one that caught my ear was Lizzo.  Needless to say I'll have to listen to more of Ella Mai.   I may even have to do something I haven't done in years...buy a CD.  *LOL*.   See, you can teach an old dog new tricks.   I just need to get my ass back in the gym as well.   My company does encourage employees to take care of their health and help cover some of the costs associated with it.   Come on, E!  You can do it!  Do it.  Do it.   Just do it...*LOL*.