So I don’t know if I mentioned this. I must have, but yanno. Brain fart as usual. LOL! So my Richard volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is upon his one year anniversary with his Little Brother. It is the most awesome thing he has ever done. They hang out once or twice a week and every time Richard gets home he has an energy about him. I can tell he spent the last few hours being twelve. Haha.

Anyway, his Little wanted to go for a swim today (it’s been hotter than a huckabuck here the past few days) so they are actually here at our community pool. We’ll all be grilling hotdogs for dinner on the back patio. I am actually excited to be included. Mostly they do things out about town. Not that there’s anything weird about his hanging out here, I have met his mom and went along on the Twilight movie night (which was a big time!). In fact his mother is well aware of who I am in Richard’s life and is cool with it. In fact she let Richard come out to her son, which I think is amazing! Where was I? Oh, so I was in charge of stopping at the store and getting hotdogs. I was sooo concerned. Like what to get, will he eat it, and all that. So I got traditional Ballpark Franks (ew) and a gourmet type jalapeno sausage for Richard and I. When they arrived here I was showing Richard what I got and his little, spying the jalapeno sausages, was all “I’ve had those before, they are really good!” I literally was like O.O. He’s twelve. I never imagined he’d have eaten, let alone liked such a thing. Lesson learned. In fact, he’s like a little adult in a lot of ways. The boy is an excellent conversationalist! He can keep you talking and actually STEER a conversation if it gets quiet or awkward, which I have witnessed on more than one occasion. It’s freaky at first cause he’s so young but you get used to it. He’s an amazing kid. It’s funny cause Richard was expecting a troubled youth when he signed up. A kid that might be emotionally damaged or worse. Instead he got an intelligent, well brought up, social yet lonely boy that in my opinion is a perfect match.

OMG. I should make sure that the patio furniture has no bird poop. Later.

tagged: richard anniversary swim twilight big brothers big sisters

daniel · early evening · say it · ping it

He was fine. We had a blast on Saturday. (Maybe a bit too much fun for someone.) We woke up fine on Sunday. He did his walk and then made me breakfast before going off to his BBQ with work friends. It was around 7 or 8 that he sent me a text that he was on his way home and had “flu like symptoms”. Now honestly I figured he had some heat-stroke type thing going on. He’s a sun worshipper and loves his adult beverages after all…

So I went on about making plans for Monday (today) while he arrived home and was directly off to bed. After an hour he texted me (yes, from upstairs. We do that). He wanted his temperature taken. So I headed up. 103.2 degrees. He was radiating heat. I was worried, but he thought it was a 24 hour thing. I was still thinking too much sun and booze. Today he still felt bad but went to work. He ended up not going out with us tonight. When I got home he was much worse. He had tweeted about “a hole in his tonsil” so I looked in his mouth with a flashlight. Sure enough there is a sore there. Now I don’t have tonsils so looking in someone’s mouth that has them kinda is gross. It was a labor of love. After much google-ing and photo viewing we are 97% sure it’s tonsillitis. Way more symptoms than strep and he has like ALL of them. It’s almost a perfect match, but he IS going to the doctor tomorrow.

Anyhoo, since I stopped my antibiotics due to a crazy rash situation, (which is much better now, thank you) I got him taking the rest so he will be un-contagious faster. (Google said what I was taking is will work on tonsillitis.) Since I don’t have tonsils I am pretty sure I won’t get it, plus I still have the antibiotics in my system for another day, but still… Ew. I may be camping on the couch tonight yo. I just got over some long sickness. I am not signing up for another!

Keep my boy in your thoughts though. He is feverish and in a bit of pain. Thanks.

daniel · late at night · say it · ping it

I love Tuesdays… Have I mentioned that? LOL. Of course I have. Today was a day of errands, lunch (mmm!), and chores. I had a fabulous time. Isn’t that funny?

Anyhoo. Richard is starting dinner and I am relaxing with an adult beverage and some internet time. So I thought I might blog! *gasp* I know, right? Again so soon? Yes!

I just finished my reference questionnaire for Richard’s application to become a Big Brother. It was interesting for me. One of the questions involved my giving a specific instance when he was interacting with a child and how I felt about it. It was tough because as I thought about it there have been so many! Richard loves kids, and the only feeling I am ever left with is that he is a natural parent. He adores kids! He has this innate “skill” (for lack of a better word) with children that I wish more parents had! I always feel kinda bad when I witness that tho, because I don’t really want children. Sometimes I wish I felt different, for his sake. But I don’t really. I do not see myself as a parent in anyway. Weird. Of course I didn’t write all of that. TMI and all… It just got me thinking is all…

Anyway, wish him luck with the Big Brother thing. It’ll be good for him, as well as the kid.

tagged: richard update day off big brother
  introspective

daniel · mid-afternoon · 1 comment · ping it

Well. I gotta say, officially:

Welcome, to the end of Richard’s Birthday. I hope you don’t take umbrage with that.

It has been a whirlwind. A whirlwind! Sunday we had a moment where I gave him a card. We had to work. Monday was the ‘no big deal’ dinner that we go out to every week anyway, only with a few surprise guests that became the *only* surprise and a ton of fun after our 4 months in the works Surprise At Wild Animal Park Saturday was spoiled by an otherwise well-intended e-card. (Run on sentence, anyone?) Tuesday was.. breakfast and lunch out. Wednesday he had cocktails with Sheila. Thursday we had to work. Friday was The Happy Hour at The Hotel Del Coronado That Turned Into Dinner and a Crashed Wedding Reception (well, we didn’t crash it, but our friends that were with us did…). Weee! And then we land on our crown jewel of Birthday Week…

Wild Animal Park. Not just a trip to the park with 7 close friends that he knew about. Oh no. Sheila and I still had one last secret. Well 2 really. But one from the original plan. 

It was a behind the scenes VIP Tour at The Wild Animal Park. I hope someone got a picture of his reaction because he was so shocked/happy it was comical. The tour was great fun. I do recommend it especially if you are a Zoo Member as it makes it more affordable. Anyhoo. So we did that. But Sheila had one last trick up her sleeve and kept us on a timeline. After the tour and a bit of fun at the park it was my job to get Richard all the way downtown by 4:30. We were to have afternoon cocktails, nibbles, and watch the sun set on a yacht. And we did. OMG.

It was an amazing and dramatic and exhausting week. The whole surprise element I thought might kill me. I am bad at secrets like that. I was confused, I couldn’t remember who I told what and whom I invited where and what lies I had told! I finally told Sheila that next year if we are gonna try and surprise Richard, just keep it to yourself and send me a bill for my share after. I don’t want to know. LOL!! But it was fun and I am thrilled that he had such a great week. Lots of pictures to come on Flickr.

Now I think I might have to go back to bed. I am pooped. Heh. *yawn*

tagged: richard birthday safari wild animal park birthday week
  happy, relieved

daniel · lunch time · say it · ping it

To the most important person in my life, the man who has stood by me through good and bad for 11 (or 12) years, my partner, my confidante, my friend, my lover…

Thank you for spending another year of your life with me! Happy Birthday!

tagged: richard birthday richardallen

daniel · mid-morning · 9 comments · ping it

OMG. It’s anniversary day! As is my tradition, seen here, I did nothing. I knew it was coming, just like last year. I still work *at* the mall so shopping or a card would be easy enough. I just can’t get it together… After reading last years post I am a bit jumpy, worried some box or something is gonna pop out of somewhere leaving me to feel like a total heel. I thought we agreed tho. We get another iPhone. That is the gift, so we each end u with killer phones! Yay!

We are spending the day at a friend’s house for a BBQ and hopefully fireworks. She lives on Coronado Island, so we should be able to see the show without too much effort! There is champagne chilling in the fridge for later tonight. And we have a week off. I think that is a pretty good start on Anniversary festivities!

Anyhoo. Happy Anniversary Richard! Thank you for keeping me company all these years…

tagged: richard iphone coronado tradition anniversary gift fireworks

daniel · mid-morning · 6 comments · ping it