Avast!!! Insensitive Asshole On The Poop Deck!!

In lieu of the post I was going to submit this evening, I felt the need to unbottle the following rant...which has been eating at me all day.

See, I have this step-nephew-in-law of sorts (through my illegal and unrecognized "marriage") who is, to put it mildly, a fucking moron. It's well known through the grapevine (that I lovingly tend to in my garden of gossip) that this person is what some would call immature and a tad narcissistic. He's married, but spends more time playing video games (typical) and fantasy sports than actually socializing with those with a full and real cranium.

This person - I'll call him Mr. Smee - also appears to spend buttloads of time playing on MySpace. Nothing wrong with that, really...

...however...

In his voyages and adventures on MySpace, Mr. Smee fills out a lot of those assinine surveys that are continually batted around. And this is where Smee tends to shiver my timbers.

See if you can spot the part that really chaps my ass:

" 30. Favorite color?
49er Red.

31. Would you like to be a pirate?
GO BACK TO TREASURE ISLAND........FAG!

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
I'm too sexy......"

Isn't he just absolutely fucking FABULOUS????? Why, I swear, he can just sweet-talk a body into a perfect swoon!!!

Normally, I tend to chalk up such hateful words coming out of an idiots' mouth as pathetic cries for attention...or that person is just a latent "MO". This, however, hits way too close to home, so to speak, and that makes it all the more insulting and hurtful. Especially because this is not an isolated incident. Not by a long shot. He's used that word, and others as equally offensive, at least three other times in just the few atricles/posts/surveys of his that I've read.

While Steve is a far more level-headed and forgiving person than I, even he is hurt by this latest use of the word "49er".

I'm kidding, of course. But I needed to laugh and that last line helped.

Knowing, as I do, that this topic has been discussed by gay bloggers gay-zillions of times before, I had briefly thought about just leaving this alone.

Underline "briefly". Twice.

As I said, I am not nearly as forgiving as Steve. I want revenge. I want to sail the Jolly Roger's & Hammerstein all the way over to his house and kick him square in the booty and then stuff his ass into Davey Jones' (the singer, of course) gym locker!!

Naturally, I'm not a physically violent person, but in my mind I'm swabbing the deck with his narrow ass.

I mean really, he's not only insulting us, but he's also insulting pirates as a hole whole. And that is simply bad form!!

So watch out, Mr. Smee...because this time you ain't dealing with Tinkerbell or Peter Pan. No sir-ree. This time you've messed with Captain Jack Thparrow (I do love an outfit with epaulettes). You're heading straight forward to a good old-fashioned keel-hauling!!

Honestly, is it really too much to ask that, when you're filling out yet another inane survey, you refrain from calling a question "gay" or the idiot who asked the question a "fag"?? Because when you do that, it makes your writing sound like such a JEFF!!

Sexual Preference; Not a Personality

I never saw myself as a feminine male, b/c prior to accepting myself, I'd always fight the fact that I'm gay 'n would try my hardest to not do anything to emasculate myself as a guy. The "wrong" crowd were close friends, 'n would do things that would supposedly reassure that we were guys. We'd break into cars 'n houses, fish for cigarettes 'n alcohol outside of liquor stores, watch football games, play ball, get into fights 'n stupid drama, call each other fags if anyone did anything remotely "gay." Doing such boy 'n juvenile acts supposedly helped strengthen my masculinity.

After coming out, however, I learned that no matter my sexual preference, I'm still able to be masculine. I'm still watching 'n participating in sports, I don't talk w/ a lisp w/o trying not to, I don't have a rainbow bandanna hanging out of my right pocket; I believe I don't come off as the typical gay person as he/she is usually portrayed as. I don't understand what it is to be gay, except for the fact that you find your own gender more appealing than the opposite. At what point did being gay make one act like the opposite sex? I'm not bashing on feminine people, it's just that I don't understand how your orientation changes your personality of a woman.

A couple of nights ago, a guy (we'll address him as K) called me up. This boy is on the twirl team on my school (the first boy ever to join the twirl flag team) 'n is quite the nelly guy. K has heard about me through word of mouth around school, which I'm not worried about yet not too happy about it neither. Him 'n his friend were on the phone talking to me, 'n it was tough to figure out who I was talking to, b/c they both sound the same; they have high-pitched voices. I called them out on how I couldn't differentiate the two, 'n one of 'em said, "Oh, I think it's b/c we're gay."

That made me, again, question if them being feminine was just who they are, or it's b/c they're gay. I know I'm gay 'n don't have a swing to my hips whenever I walk, but I'm also aware there are metro guys who are as straight as a board. So, w/ that all said, I'm convinced that you never know who's straight or gay, but in a world where just about everyone assumes every other person is straight, it's still more difficult for gays, as compared to straight people, to go about 'n have a non-discretionary lifestyle.

Now I've a question: Is being a feminine person a choice?

"Columbia River Swim Team Member Number 17"

Waiting for Lewis and Doug, on the other side of the bridge, was the star of the Columbia River Swim Team: that smooth and slippery, lickity split, seal boy you may have heard about, Number 17.

Signs of Spring (11)

Rhododendron "Nancy Evans"

Is Common Sense Prevailing?

Leading scientists in climatology and meteorology are beginning to rethink their once strong support of man-made global warming. Note that these experts aren't saying there is not a warming trend, they simply no longer buy into the hype of man-made catastrophic climate change.

As I've said before, taking care of the earth is in everyone's best interest. Recycle, reuse - it's all good. Let's find new and cleaner energy sources; after all it would be nice to tell OPEC to kiss our asses, wouldn't it? But let's not destroy our economy and turn back the clock on our living standards to somewhere around the time of Charlemagne just because an ego maniacal politician loves the spotlight and is good with PowerPoint.

Stone Mountain Georgia

I know it's a while since I posted on here sorry bout that but those that have been following my other blog knows I have a lot 2 deal with right now with Mikey being hurt and all. I did want 2 post something on here and it's not gonna be gay or anything 2 do with gay community really has 2 do with the community of all of us. With Memorial Day coming up I thought this would be a good thing 2 talk about something 2 do that might be fun for the history nuts out there like me. Stone Mountain Georgia is a awesome place 2 visit if u like history and on Memorial weekend they always have a lot going on I normally go up there every year 4 the holiday we normally camp out that weekend yes this gay boy that loves 2 shop and worries if I have the right products 4 my hair camps out. That weekend I let it all hang out so 2 speak and camp out with the family and don't worry bout hair or what shirt I have I just go and have fun. I can't go this year with Mikey being hurt and all so I thought I would share it with ya'll that might be looking 4 someplace fun 2 go that weekend if u do go post on here and let us know if u had a good time.

Here some sites you can find info on Stone Mountain
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/
http://www.stonemountainpark.org/

Rough Ride to Heaven

Click to see a BIG ASS copy of "Rough Ride to Heaven".

Thank Goodness He Didn't MEAN To Sound Prejudiced

Frustrated that he can't get his own show in Las Vegas, Swedish magician Joe Labero said:

Las Vegas is controlled by "Jewish business syndicates, American dollar millionaires and homosexual booking agents".

"I don't mean to sound prejudiced of course, I'm just cynical.

Look, I've been to Vegas many, many, many times and seen some bad, mediocre, and good entertainment of all kinds. If Labero can't get a gig in that town, then quite frankly there's something besides a jew/millionaire/homo conspiracy going on.

How do you answer?

I just got home from work and read this e-mail from my cousin Jo:

Dear Matt,

I had a close friend today send me an email asking for prayers. She has a young friend, a girl who is 20, who apparently is in love with a guy who thinks he is gay. The girl and my friend both say that God doesn't make people gay; that it is a choice. I feel like banging my head on a wall, because how do you deal with people like that? The guy is dealing with enough as he tries to figure out his sexual orientation. And of course he isn't "saved," a term that I am coming to dislike very much by people in other faiths who use it. So not only does he struggle with being gay, he struggles with God, because people tell him that God doesn't make gay people!

Would you ask your readers how they deal with this? I know it is impossible to change the minds of those in faith who see God as totally against gay people. It frustrates me to no end. How can they see a judgmental and unloving God towards one group of people? How do you and other gay people come to grips with your belief in God, and what on earth can be said to those people who insist that being gay is a choice?

I just want to cry, because I can't believe that people will tell someone that being gay is a choice, so God doesn't love them!

People really have no clue, do they? What about 'walk a mile in my shoes?" They just don't believe it. I think we need a national "adopt a gay for a day" day, just so people will realize what it is like to come to terms with your identity, and to try to live in a world filled with unacceptance.

Love you much, and Scott, too!

Jo

So, I'm putting the question out there: How would you answer this? I already replied to Jo with how I would usually answer, but the more opinions the better. (And I know, it can be tempting to respond with sarcasm, ridicule and put-downs, but I think I know my dear readers well enough to know you'll honestly try to give her some good advice).

Thanks, everyone.

Matterdays

Signs of Spring (05-10)

Rhododendron "Unique" Azalea "Rosey Lights" Rhododendron "Horizon Lakeside" Rhododendron "Peeping Tom" Rhododendron "Kiwi Magic" Rhododendron "Starbright Chanpagne"

We've moved...Sort Of...

The day is now upon us. All of the hard work is (we hope) about to pay off.

The new site...

...has come online...and we can't be more excited.

The Tempest Online has teamed up with Wordpress, Vanilla Forum, Coppermine and WPDesigner to create a more streamlined and user-friendly place for us to call home.

Our new address is:

The Tempest Online

Please update your blogrolls to the above link.

As time goes on, you will see many changes to this site, as we are currently migrating much of the data over to the new site.

Many thanks to Kathy (KatB) for her many hours of dedication and hard work on this massive project.

There will be many new and exciting tweaks and additions made as time goes on, but I think you'll get the gist of it so far. As always, your feedback is always welcome.

Temple Blessing Dream Number One