EARLY 20TH CENTRY VIEWS ON GAYS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFPfycMoTWU

JOEL AND FRENCH

As most of you know, Joel was my high school sweetheart and best friend. He chose me to fall in love. I was hesitant for some reason, but I quickly changed my mind. The best thing was that he was my best friend. Mom and Eva taught me that the best relationship is with a friend. 

He looked up to me. I was 6'2" and he was 5'9". He wanted to be like me, but that is impossible. 

When he graduated, I took him to SAC and went through the whole enrolling process with him. We had several courses together and it was great to have someone with me.

Of course he wound up taking French with our favorite professor. He picked it up easily. 

One memorable Fiesta, we were at The Country, the bestest gay bar ever. We were on the dance floor when we heard a familiar tune. We stopped in our tracks and listened. Were we that drunk or stoned?

It turned out, we did hear what we thought. An early gay anthem in French. We instantly loved it of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhFU16MEtR4

Another memorable Fiesta, we went to NIOSA. We went by the French section and we had escargot and some wine. I was coerced to sing, and the only song I knew at that time, was Et Maintenant.

I got applauded and then they played to Can-Can and we danced the the dance. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9DRkpeSVjs

A CRY IN THE DARK

Finally found the answer. Years ago, I slipped in the tub and lay there for three days. Finally, Mike called the office and the police. And there I was when Meghan, the office manager found me. 

Long story, short, I wound up in the hospital for about a month and a half. I was out of it for the most part. 

Mike and Sid visited frequently, so they said. One day, they were visiting and Oprah was on and she said she was taking the audience to Australia.

I don't remember of course. Out of the blue, I said, A dingo ate my baby in an Australian accent. They broke into laughter. Even when I'm out of it, I'm still funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYTIGXvc88Y

FRENCH

 I think everybody knows I'm a Francophile. My love of French began in 1963 when my beloved Piaf passed away. I heard La Vie En Rose and I was hooked.

I was an avid fan of Pepe Le Pew and Miss Piggy, LOL. Back in the 60's, I remember watching La Belle et La Bete. We used to go to the Alameda theatre on Thursdays because that were two films that played that night. They also played other foreign films, so I got to see Italian, French, and Spanish.

1980, a year that was a turning point for me. I finally took my first French class. It was so simple. I caught on quickly. I also met the greatest group of friends. So we had each other to practice with.

I've actually been able to use it several times. In Austin I was able to read a Langston Hughes poem in French. I think I said that before.

Alas, those friends have all disappeared. The only one I have is Clyde. He's the best. 

And speaking of Claudia, here we are:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmEpAmFrATo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmEpAmFrATo 

  

2021- The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity

 As we all know, February is Black History month. I was very ignorant about it. I was working at UH in the library of course. There, I started to learn about Black History from my colleagues. They also taught me about Mexican History.

Decades later, I was working at the Austin Library branch, George Washington Carver Library located in the hood. I was a white man of Mexican descent working with Black personnel. I was an instant success. 

There, I was exposed to Black and Mexican history. It was a family-like atmosphere and I felt content. They were amazed at my knowledge of Black history. They considered me a Black man. What a compliment.

It was interesting to look at life as a Black human being. Every February we would get a lot of questions about the theme for that year. The title of this year's is in the Title of this post. I also read a Langston Hughes poem in French.

Fun story: We used to have a business library and we were one of the few with typewriter access. One day, a biracial couple was using it. It was closing time and I asked to finish their work. The woman who was Black accused me of being racist and called me rude.

The next day I told my story to the head librarian, who was Black. He laughed at my story and nicknamed me Rudy.

DEJA VU

 I've been experiencing a lot of Deja Vus lately. It started about a year ago. I'll thinking about something or someone and poof! there it is in front of me. 

The majority of them are visual although some are musical. I'll think of a song and before long, I hear it on the radio. 

The visuals are fun. I'll be thinking of a movie quote or actor or scene and it pops up somewhere. 

This one is a fun one. I'd been thinking of an I Love Lucy episode and I found it. Here for your watching and listening enjoyment:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh64lA1fH60

NAME THAT TUNE

 I wrote in Face Book that I used to love Name That Tune back in the day. Once again, Dad couldn't figure out how I knew so much. 

I came across a modern version on FOX. I was very disappointed. It has the same rules. The problem is they have some rap and other poor choices. 

A lot of my music and film I learned I owe to my fabulous sister, Eva. Because of her, I learned to appreciate classic singers and films. She also taught me to dance and to sing romantic songs. 

Years ago, we used to listen to KQXT that played adult contemporary music. One of my early favorite was and still is is Johnny Mathis. I've seen him live several times. One memorable performance, Joel surprised me with tickets to see him. Johnny introduced a song from a current Broadway tune, Memory from Cats. 

JEOPARDY!

 I have been watching Jeopardy! since the 60's. Art Fleming was the host and everything was so bizarre. The clues were slid open to reveal the answer.

Dad was always surprised that I knew so many questions. I'd say I was born smart when I should have said it was because most gays were smart. To my library friends I said I learned it through osmosis. 

One day I was driving around with my handsome nephew. He mentioned something about Jeopardy! And he said it's probably one of my favorite shows. I hadn't seen it in years and I started watching it again.

The answers have gotten easier in my old age. I do remember back in the 70's and 80's, I would watch it with my friend Rick. We always got the correct question. I've lost track of him somewhere along the way.

Now I just watch it by myself and do quite well.

Joel, I almost forgot about him. He used to watch because he had a thing for Alex Trebek. He was quite the hottie with his moustache. We were devastated when he cut it off. Joel was always amazed at my knowledge.

I am not much of a fan of Ken Jennings, the current visiting host. His claim to fame is that he is the winningest contestant ever.

No one can replace Alex.

TV AND MOVIE QUOTES

As most of y'all know, I am quite the movie fan. Something happened in the 60's that drove my sister and me to escape reality by watching movies.

Way back in the day, KENS-TV used to show movie musicals. Being in the FAA, Future Faggots of America, I quickly learned all the songs and music. 

We love to quote films and I learned to use them in my lexicon. In MI I used to quote On Golden Pond when friends came over. I did a great imitation of Ethel Thayer and I'd make impromptu speeches. 

Here are some quotes:

My Mother, a waitress.

You make me hotter than Georgia asphalt.

I love you more than my hair color. 

You played it for her, you can play it for me...

You bet your Bippy.

See if you can guess. I will post five more periodically.

Snow and Ice.

Snow. Can you believe it? I abhor snow, it only looks pretty but then it gets ugly and  to ice. Of course being the turns to ice soon. Then there's black ice. Snow has melted and turned into ice. 

I actually become quite intimate with the stuff. 24 December 2003. I went to my yoga class. I stopped to get some pastries for breakfast. The road was pretty much dry with a stream of water. 

I swerved to the left, then right, then left, and the car flipped several times and landed on the passenger side. The windshield popped straight out. The car was totaled.

But I survived. 

And here I am with snow. Bright side is, I don't have a car, I've been in quarantine since 2005. 

Happy Mardi Gras

I live.

Michael Hunt is alive and well, I have emailed every FB email available. I wrote them. And I finally filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

So much has happened since my last post in FB.

My beautiful niece is doing better for the most part. It was touch and go there for a while. She's at home finally but has had some more hospital visits.

I had issues with Google back in 2016, so I can but hope that this will work.

I am TRUMP virus free. I got a call to get my vaccine, but have no transportation. My labs are fabulous, everything is normal. I sometimes wonder if I'm sick.

I used to post music I would like for my service, since I'm not having one. I will post these as FUN MUSIC.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I&pbjreload=101

Good to be back.