Time Flies - Time to Fly

[mrdreamjeans]

It seems like I was just jumping on a plane and coming to Minneapolis; tomorrow I leave. I arrived in the city knowing gotmoof and bluedevilsf. I leave having met several of the men on my live journal friends list and adding a half-dozen more. I've experienced Pride in the Twin Cities, more wonderful food than I knew existed (thanks to my new peeps here), learned to paint the exterior of a house ... It was a lot of hard work, but at the same time I was recharging for the return to Texas, the isolation, the care-taking of my Dad, the search for a new job.

I've blogged about the wonderful afternoon hiking in Minnehaha Park. I've seen more movies in two weeks than I've seen in months. Among them were: Superman Returns and The Devil Wears Prada (wonderful) in the theaters and Sordid Lives, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Unconditional Love here at perkk's home with a group of friends. I don't have these kinds of evenings. I will miss them.

kjvbear and I drove down to La Crosse with Tim and spent three days helping him get his home painted and staged for sale. Despite working steadily ... washing and scraping the 2200 sq ft house, taping off the windows, doing seven loads of laundry, packing, sorting, mowing and trim work, we only got about half way. The shingle siding soaked up the paint; every inch took at least two coats. I am hoping that Tim's friends will help him the weekend of July 15 to finish the process. Tim also interviewed real estate agents. It was an incredible experience. I only wish I could stay here to help Tim with what we started seven years ago, but family responsibilities beckon.

As I type these words, my eyes are tearing up. Maybe, it's wanting what I don't have ... maybe, it's the welcome I received here ... maybe, it's gearing up for the challenges I face at home ... maybe, it's just the normal peaks and vales of life ... but leaving here will be hard. Other than Seattle, Minneapolis feels most like home. Brenham ... Houston feel like home but only because of the people I love there. Minneapolis, a place, feels like home. I want to offer a special thanks to perkk (John) and his roommates Claire, John, and Steve for welcoming me with such grace. A two-week visit in a busy household could be a disaster. I never felt less than included.

Finally, to gotmoof ... We almost finished the journey of getting your home on the market, Tim. Luckily, the journey of our friendship continues. I've loved each moment of staying with you and meeting the people who bring you joy. Times flies ... but now it's time to fly.

I've never attended a Pride Parade with such diversity and passion. Here are a few samples of groups which caught my attention!


Cowboys and Their Horses


Foxy Ladies of a Burlesque Revue


The Renaissance Festival - A King and his King


Mayhem Rugby Players! I want to find #13! :)


St Joan of Arc Reconciling Church


This Banner Brought the Biggest Response from the Crowd

Comments

[bearhedded.livejournal.com]

Well, good! You needed a break.

I've gotta get my place painted, too.......and I'm thinking STRIPES!!!!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! I'm thinking of taking up rugby:)

[bearhedded.livejournal.com]

"rugby"

No, the rugs must wait. Paint first!

[ex-quietdanm235.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the opportunity to meet you! I'm so glad that your visit here was a good one.

Hope that your trip home, and the adventures/challenges that are ahead go really well for you.

Be well!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I regret not making it downtown again to see your theater. I would have really liked to do that and see the space through your eyes. I've shown the pictures I've taken during this trip to friends and the picture of you always gets raves. You should be smiling more often in photos:)

Take care! Till next time! HUGS!

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

Glad you could recharge your batteries and spend time with good people who care for you.Hope the next few months go well. Hugs

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I am a bit apprehensive about the future. I hope to take the memories of this trip and wrap myself up in them as a buffer when the stuff at home gets too overwhelming. But, It's time to get back to Texas, secure new employment and thank my lucky stars I have friends and family who love me! HUGS!

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You are very, very welcome ... I'm sitting here in your room, gearing up for the flights home. Thanks for sharing your space and being such a great host. We always have a terrific time, don't we, Bubba? Love ya!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The words of your final sentence ring true! I am hoping to refocus and move forward. This trip was so necessary in so many ways. Who knows ... you and I may both wind up in this area ... Here's to continuing to grow our friendship! HUGS!

Have a safe flight!

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Have a safe trip home, Neil. You deserved this vacation. I'm totally jealous :0) Mine will be next week = Pfft!... Hey, I love MN and I've grown to love particularly the people who live there. Those you knew and those you have known on this trip. What a bunch of just wonderful people all around! It must be true what they say about the Mid-West. I need to visit there soon! HUG!

Re: Have a safe flight!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Where are you vacationing? Have you had an opportunity to meet my friend Marybelle at the UH Downtown campus? To know her, is to love her ... We need to arrange a dinner soon. Big HUGS!

Re: Have a safe flight!

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Yeah, love to meet Marybelle. May be when you're in town?
Well, I won't be free til next week yet. Afterwards, gotta clean up and clean out appart in prep for NY before school starts again. I also need to finish up some of the writing stuff... So, we'll see. What I meant by vacation is no school! Yeah, sad I know but only for now. On the other hand, Splash/Austin is still on for Aug/Sept... Hope to swing by you when I do that. But if you're in town, let's do dinner. Hug!

[deanosota.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the Seattle tips... too bad this trip overlapped with yours. It was great to meet you.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

And you ... I'm delighted you had such a great time in my beloved Seattle! Got to say though ... if I don't wind up in Seattle, Minneapolis/St Paul would be a rockin' choice! HUGS!

glad you had a good time and productive too

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

thanks for the pics and news

Wouldn't it have been easier to stain vs paint? My friend Charles did his shingle house and staining seems a longer term solution to the problem. I can only imagine the agony of paint being sucked into shingles!

Re: glad you had a good time and productive too

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The shingles had been painted previously without a primer. Kevin and Tim did a great job of scraping, but the only real choice was paint ... and lots of it ... Staining should have been the first choice, but Tim was dealing with the hand he was dealt. HUGS!

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I got through about half of the parade while filming with my video camera, and caught some of the same folks you did. (Like the cowboys... Cowboys... (Homeric drooling noises)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm suddenly a fan of rugby:)

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Guess I'll have to give those guys the eye, eh?

[resedabear-lj.livejournal.com]

Neil, I was a pleasure meeting you when you were in town. Godspeed in Texas! Hopefully, our paths will cross again.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for coming to my welcoming dinner. I'll think of you when I take time to sit down and read your poetry. Take care!

[woofusmaximus.livejournal.com]

So pleased you had such a great time in my husbears and Gotmoof`s company and of course the rest of the beary company you had while in your stay in the Twin Cities.
In regards to your dads future , I understand how you feel and its a difficult road but make sure you get all the help of the authorities that you can for both yourself and your dads benefit. Lean on your friends and keep time aside for yourself, you need to look after yourself as well and your own health.
BIG BIG BIG , SQUEEZY HUGS N CUDDLES FROM THE ENGLISH BEAR!! xxxxxxx

[perkk.livejournal.com]

Woof!

[perkk.livejournal.com]

It was very good meeting you. You're a great house guest! I'm just sorry that everything was in such disarray what with the move and the remodel. sethlan, ilv2laff, minnesotatoast and Ms. Gwen enjoyed your stay too.

P.S. Guess who got added to a different filter.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

YAY! I got added to the better filter, I got added to the better filter! LOL! DO you think that Steve and Claire would mind me adding them to my Friends List? I have added John at his request.

Have a wonderful trip and weekend in LA! HUGS!

[perkk.livejournal.com]

I don't think they will mind at all. Steve almost never posts.