Managing, PRIDE, and the Midwest

The life of a jelly doughnut manager has taken over. It starts at 7am every day and doesn't really ever end. I have been having difficulty sleeping as my nerves are shot all the time. And you would think that waking up at the ass crack of down would have me exhausted but it doesn't. It's hard to know what's important and what isn't in terms of work right now. It's all new, fresh, and crazy. Fortunately, this is the part of the plant which I have worked in since the day arriving there making my first doughnut. So I don't have to learn the technical part. It's all the people stuff. Plus being left with a sub-par supervisor who is somewhat a tool is a challenge too. But it will all work out. It's going to be a crazy ride the next six months and the feeling of being completely swamped or run over will be common. Got called twice this weekend about very significant issues. It won't stop with that, I'm sure.

This was a wonderful weekend! Started the PRIDE festivities with the "run with the gays" over in Golden Gate Park on Saturday. It was a 5K which now is no big deal. Last year it was remembered that Miss B and I had all we could do to drag our butts across the finish line without dying. This year it was like a leisurely run with Heather. (She came out to support the gays AND keep us on pace! It was like she was our pace car keeping us on the 12 minute miles. We need to run with her more often!) We finished about a minute and a half faster than last year so that's good news, right? Must have been the H-pace. (That's short for Heather pace car.) After that we motored home to collect the kuchen which Miss B made and was to DIE for, the blueberry banana bread with cinnamon crumble, and 4 quiches I made on Friday night. Felt like a catering gig. With lots of mimosas and weed. Foxy Metrosexual hosted at his house right across from the park where the dyke march takes place, Dolores Park. We had a wonderful time hanging out and were so fortunate to have a pee stop so close by! We also had to partake in the yearly brownie consumption and it was delicious. Made to across the road to sit and people watch for hours while being H-I-G-H but not so much so that it wasn't enjoyable. The many pleasures of brownies. Yum-ola. Today I met up with A and her special lady to attend the short films (girls and boys) at the Castro. First movies attended for the festival this year. This is my favorite way to spend PRIDE Sunday, away from the ruckus of the parade and gayness brought to you by Red Bull and Skyy Vodka or Visa/Mastercard. Simply don't like to be in crowds that large anymore and I will take riding my bike across town to view films rather than have some stranger puke on my shoes or rub up against sweaty tweakers at 10am. Everyone's different, correct? It's been a super memorable PRIDE and as always, look forward to next year to be gay all over again. Although in San Francisco it's not really very difficult and we are fortunate to be so liberated compared to the rest of the US of A, as well as the world. The more we celebrate and carry on the practice of being visible (but not obnoxiously visible) the more we can overcome the fears and ignorance still embraced by folks not as open minded or exposed to the fact that we are pretty much just like everyone else with a better sense of fashion, music, food, and home furnishings. I'm proud to be gay and thank all those who showed up to support and represent this occasion. Even 10 years ago I was having a difficult time saying that and now it's no big deal. It's how I've always been meant to be anyway so why not go with it. I'm fortunate to have found someone like Miss B to share my gay-ness with and things just keep getting better all the time. Happy PRIDE everyone!

Miss B and I did travel to the Midwest from June 9-18th. It was a long but quick trip if you know what I mean. Highlights:

1. Mom and Dad's 45th wedding anniversary/65th birthday party for my mom. There were 300 people there and lots of half barrels of Miller Lite. (Ok, the beer was not the highlight.) Miss B met a lot of extended family and pretty much all the farmers in Prairie du Sac, WI.
2. Having dinner with my PC friend Beth and her boyfriend Todd. Best food we ate the whole trip!
3. Hanging out with my sister and her family upon arrival in town.
4. Anchora coffee and Brugger's Bagels.
5. Drinking "Apple Pie" a drink made with Everclear and who knows what else but really does taste like apple pie while watching my friends Shawna and Scott's neighbor kids skateboard on a half pipe in their backyard. True story.
6. Singing in the car with Miss B as we drove to Michigan.
7. Wrestling/playing kickball/basketball/soccer with Miss B's nephews and niece non-stop.
8. Going running with Miss B in the midwest.
9. Hearing stories about Miss B from her brother and sister in law.
10. Tubing on Cavanaugh Lake in Chelsea Michigan and going end over end four times as Miss B's brother threw with the craftiness of the boat.
11. Learning how to cast and fish (even take them off the hook!) with Mason, Miss B's 7 year old nephew. I caught a pretty big bass!
12. Boysenberry pie make by Miss B's mom.
13. Singing "I've been working on the railroad" karaoke with my nephew Zachary.
14. Fielding multiple questions from Miss B's nephew about how long we have been together, if I'm married, if Miss B is going to have babies, and several other questions which signify that he "gets it".
15. Being "skinny" according to Midwestern standards.

Best to you all and be well. I will try to write more when I can. It's just really really tough right now. Oh, and I failed my second APICS exam (different subject, second class) by one point. I am quite PO'd about that one.