My Attempt to Make A Friend Smile
Sometimes you see a friend really hurting and you just don’t know what more you can do. At those times I think you just have to keep smiling and make them laugh. The best way I do that is tell them a funny story about myself so they can laugh at me (and trust me, I have lots of those stories).
My best bud is really going through a funk. I have seen him struggling for months but this time it just feels different. I don’t know if my laughter medicine will work, but I am going to stick with it.
If you are this person I am sure you know I am talking about you by now and this one is for you!
I hated the wallpaper in the stairwell at our house so I decided to start taking down all the old stuff after a big ass beer at our favorite Mexican restaurant. This job required working on a ladder on the steps, so it could be a little tricky. Dave told me to wait for him to help before I got on the ladder, but who listens to their spouse?
So I pull out the ladder and start to climb up to tear down the first sheet of paper. Well like any extension ladder it needs to be clipped securely on one of the other rungs. I start climbing up wearing my tennis shoes and the ladder slides down trapping my foot between two rungs and with my full weight on it. OUCH!
I tried to get out of the mess myself but there was just no way to get my weight off to get my foot out so I have to scream for help. Dave runs around to see my foot trapped in the ladder on the stairs and me in pain. So he runs around the house and from the bottom of the stairs pushes the ladder so I fall up the stairs. With my weight off the ladder I can now free my foot without any permanent damage except to my ego.
Oh and just as a side note, I wasn’t wearing anything else but those tennis shoes! Good thing nothing else got between those rungs!
Lessons learned – don’t climb on a ladder after drinking a big ass beer and listen to your honey when they tell you to wait for help.
I hope this makes you feel better and made you laugh. Who else do you know that could get caught on a ladder naked?
Atlanta Snow Storm 2011
It has been a crazy few days here in Atlanta, Georgia! We got hit with a big winter storm on Sunday night and had about 5 inches of snow then about 1/4 inch of ice on top of that. What a mess it has been but also a lot of fun. You should see my YouTube video of my makeshift sled at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc7oTRADAKQ.
The big trucks thought they could get through and managed to block every interstate we have. Then complained that Atlanta didn’t clean the roads. Just today after so much clean up one flew by me in the passing lane that is for cars only. No trucks in the two left lanes!
I am so thankful we have a hot tub to warm up with. I just so enjoy sitting in the hot water and having the snow fall on my head. It doesn’t hurt to have my baby in there with me!
We have a lot of travel plans coming up in the next few weeks. Please let me know if you are going to be in any of them. First will be New Orleans on January 28 through January 30. We are going to be celebrating a good friends birthday in and staying in the Garden District.
Next will be a cruise on NCL, Norwegian Cruise Line, on the Norwegian Sun. This is a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise and we leave on February 5 and return on February 12. I can’t wait to get away for a nice trip with the family.
On a personal note to a special friend – hang in there! You can get through this and it will all work out!
Happy New Year and Welcome 2011
The New Year is here and this Atlanta Nude Dude is starting things off right. One of our annual traditions is to start the New Year at Gulf Shores, Alabama with some of our best friends. We always have a great time and I get to play with those big fireworks!
This year was so windy that my buddy and I struggled to get them all lit. Well we may have missed the countdown to midnight, but we had a blast. You can view a video of them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r94aV9Ofhck
New Years Day I did something I have never done before. I joined in the 27th Annual Polar Bear Dip and the Flora-Bama, a lounge on the Florida and Alabama State Lines. There were over 300 people that rushed into the cold water at 12 noon. Some wore great costumes and some just their bathing suits. There was such a large variety of people. It was amazing! I have also posted the video on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cC5ubYxZ_c
I have made some New Year’s Resolutions and so far so good. I sure hope I actually do them this year. I have a habit of breaking them, but this year I have shared them so I have some extra accountability.
But looking back at 2010, while some things have been a struggle others have just been great. I have an even stronger relationship with Dave (I love you so much!), the house remodel is complete and I love it, I gained a new best friend, all the family is healthy and happy, and I got to travel to a couple places that I had never been before (Upstate New York &Martha’s Vineyard).
Happy 2011 To You!
Merry Christmas
I am having so much fun this Christmas! While we will not be traveling, I am getting to spend time with friends and some much needed time with my husband Dave. I can’t wait to get those presents from under the tree!
We are working on a little remodel project at one of our rental houses. I say little very lightly. We have ripped out the entire kitchen and now have almost finished the new tile floor. Next step new cabinets and a few new appliances. Not really what I wanted to do for Christmas, but got to pay the bills.
I have heard so many stories over the last few days of people being taken advantage of. A friend had his computer and phone stolen right from his house. Another good friend has been having a rough time at the office with the boss (thank to the bosses wife). All you can really do for them is just to listen and support them. I sure hope I can do that for all the people I call friends.
Dave and I bought a bunch of toys and gave them to Toys for Tots. I am thinking I need to do more though. Maybe some extra money for the animal shelter would be good.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Yahoo Got Me Again!
I use to blog on Yahoo 360, but then they changed and I could not blog on the new profile they built. I remember many days that they would delete my latest blog to sensor me. I am sure that someone hit the violation button. I would guess a homophobic person or a jealous queen, but so is life on the internet.
So I moved my blog over to a personal website and linked it to my Flickr account. I thought it was going well and hadn’t had any problems for years. But after paying money for my Flickr account and having my Yahoo email address for over 10 years, everything got deleted. Email to JosephSMiller@yahoo.com is now rejected. The money for my Flickr Pro account is gone.
I have tried to contact Yahoo.com and ask about my account, but not a single response. Nothing! Yahoo just deleted me and was done. So if it was you and you got me deleted, congrats! You got me. Now just try to get rid of this blog. I do like a good challenge and karma is a real bitch.
So if you had me as a friend on Flickr as ATLNudeDude or as a friend on Yahoo as JosephSMiller or ATLNudeDude then please look for me as AtlantaNudeDude. I know, not much of a change, but I like it even better.
To Yahoo, way to screw your customers! I really like Gmail better, so Flickr is the only reason I will have a Yahoo account. My new goal is to develop my own website that will put Flickr down one day. Now I just need a good name. Any suggestions out there?
Catching Up and Struggles
We since our trip to New York we have been up to Appleton, Wisconsin to visit Dave’s family and to celebrate his brother’s birthday. We had a great time! Limo ride, hanging out with the family, shopping, and visiting a few bars. I even got to go to a Friday Night Fish Fry (evidently this is a big thing up north but they don’t believe in malt vinegar).
Then it was back in time to have a Thanksgiving at the house. It was just a few of us and the family was scattered all around, but we did have a great time. I got to cook the green bean casserole and fry the turkey. I like when I get to help out in the kitchen. Not very good at winging things, but if I have a recipe it will turn out fine.
Christmas is in full gear at our house now. The trees are up, the stocking are up, and Santa’s helpers are up (that would be Dave and me). Last night we took some pictures of the decorations and of each other. I posting them on my Flickr account now, so you can see them all if you make me a friend.
On the other side of the coin, I have been struggling a little with a few things. I have let my job skills erode over the last 8 years. Not getting any money for an IT Department and not getting any new hardware or software just makes it worse. I can’t grow because I can’t use new stuff. It is very frustrating when you love your job.
I have also been struggling with religion and politics stuff. If one more person tells me what I should think about those subjects or tells me I am wrong I am going to scream. I try to just avoid the subjects, but damn if they won’t just slap you in the face. There are those people that just have to say those one liners or shoot you an email on a topic to prove their point.
No one likes to be told they are wrong, but in these subject areas there isn’t a right or wrong. And when we feel like we are being pushed into something then that is when most of us snap. I know I do! Just keep telling me I am wrong and need to change and I will not only start to hate you but will dig in even more and never admit that you might have a valid point. There is only how you feel about it, which is normally based on your family, your upbringing, your friends, and you environment.
This isn’t just about religion and politics. It even happens with sports. People pick teams to root for and against based on how they grew up, who they watched as a kid, who the family rooted for, or what school they attended. Funny how wrapped up some of them get for their team. It’s a game people! Hey people this is nothing to get violent about and nothing to lose friends over.
While I will continue to struggle with my own feelings over these things I guess I will also have to struggle not to raise a subject that might lead to a conversation on those topics. I think from here on when those topics start to be talked about, I am going to have to go to the restroom. Make that quick getaway and not get caught up in it. Just keep up those barriers that I have built to protect myself. The bad part of that is that I might not understand the other viewpoint and never realize there are better options. Oh well, at least I won’t be causing a scene and I won’t feel like I am being attacked. I just have to remember that no one, including me and everyone I know, has all the answers. If they say they do, just run!
A Romantic Getaway to New York
This blog is a little late (sorry). The dates discussed below was September 30th through October 4th.
What a great few days! Dave took me on a surprise trip this weekend. Our romantic getaway. So Thursday I flew up to White Plains, NY and he picked me up at the airport and we drove into the city. We stayed SoHo just near China town. He had wine waiting for me at the hotel and after a short break we headed off to dinner in Little Italy. It was sooooo good and our waiter just kept filling up our wine glasses for free. Neither one of us could drink it all! Then it was back to the hotel for a good nights rest at the Holiday Inn Express ($350 a night).
Friday was a very rainy and windy day in the city, but we didn’t let that stop us. We walked, took the subway, and those crazy cabs to see everything from the Museum of Sex to Ground Zero and the new Freedom Center is being built. We did take on wrong train and found ourselves in Brooklyn (oops).
That evening we went to an off Broadway play called My Big Gay Greek Wedding. Too funny! Loved every minute of it. Then to meet some friends at a club called Boxers (hot men with great abs only wearing boxers! What a great concept.).
On Saturday we did wine tasting in upper New York! I was totally surprised at the quality and taste of some of these wines. We even stopped at a whiskey tasting. Just too much fun.
Sunday it was time to get home, but what a great weekend! Thanks Dave! I love you!
Reasons I Love Dave – 2 and 1!
The number two reason I love Dave so much is the great sex! I just cannot give him enough props. I know you can think that it isn’t love that is lust, but for me it is both. We may not have sex every day anymore, but I bet we are way above average for a couple that has been together for 10 years.
Now for number the number one reason. (drum roll sound) Dave makes me a better person. I have always been one that can let small things distract me from the big picture. I have always known that my partner in life would have to balance me out. Dave does just that! He is encouraging, thoughtful, but also honest to say something when I get off track. Even when we disagree, which doesn’t happen often, it is a short simple discussion. Who knows maybe I keep him on his toes and entertain him. Whatever it is, I am just glad to have him in my life.
Happy Anniversary Dave! I Love You!
Reasons I Love Dave – 4 and 3
For number 4 I am going to go with forgiving. He has had so many people hurt him and I must admit I have caused him pain over the years, but he really has that forgiving spirit. He really will give you another chance and will not keep count. Once it is over it is forgotten.
My number third reason for loving Dave is snuggling. Dave is a great snuggler. He keeps me warm at night. He holds me all night if I am feeling down. He enjoys being held during the night. Even after all these years, Dave and I snuggle every night. I would never change it and look forward to holding each other forever.
Reasons I Love Dave – 6 and 5
I missed posting this yesterday and feel terrible about it, but we were so busy and I just didn’t get it done. Okay, I did take time to get a massage, so there really isn’t and excuse. Sorry Dave!
My number 6 reason for being in love with Dave is about family. I truly believe you can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat their family. Dave’s family is great (no surprise there) but he is so great with them. Always willing to do anything for them and really enjoys spending time with them.
Dave loves to travel and that is reason number 5 I love him. I don’t think he has ever come back from a trip and said hated it. He can always find the good spots even if we wouldn’t go back for another visit there. I am so glad he is adventurous and wants to try and see new things!