The Friend From Tel Aviv

I've been on a kick lately, surfing YouTube for a few hours at a time, watching all the LGBTQ-themed short films that pop up. Yesterday, I stumbled across one that truly blew me away.

The Friend From Tel Aviv.

Wow! By the end of the film, I thought, now THAT'S how you write and produce a short film.

If the viewer pays attention, the narrative unfolds like a soft, warm bath towel, just pulled from the dryer. I mean, truly, this little film has so much going for it:

The PROVOCATIVE STORY!

The REALISTIC PERFORMANCES!

The "I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT" appeal.

I cared about all the main characters. And that's no easy feat in screenwriting.

I'll say no more.  Simply see the film below for yourself.

And remember, Love is Love.

The Friend From Tel Aviv
Director: Federica Gianni
Writers: Federica Gianni, Nitzan Krimsky
Starring: Yuval Boim, Karen Giordano, Nitzan Krimsky

I Said What I Said

Since I was 18 years blessed, I've been keeping a journal, chronicling the ups and downs and all arounds of my life.

Lately, I've been re-reading some of those journals.

I have filled FOURTEEN notebooks with the trials and tribulations of a young CAM Jr. They span from 18-31 years old.

By my 32nd birthday, I had stopped writing in notebooks and began typing my journal entries onto a computer, storing them onto a diskette. Unfortunately, that diskette was compromised, and I lost all my entries from 32-44 years old or so.

I began this blog in 2009 to pick up where I left off.

In many ways, re-reading these journals is a hoot!

And it's also sobering.

Some might even say, "sorta sad."

I spent a LOTTTTTTTTTTTT of time fretting over no romance.

And even MORE TIME lamenting my lack of meaningful work in showbiz.

Um...I'm 55 years blessed now, and I can't say that much has changed on the romance and showbiz fronts. The only difference is: I don't complain about either any longer.

I just LIVE.

I find myself reading about people I can't recall, so I Google them to see if that will jog my memory. And in some cases, when their image pops across the screen, it certainly has.

I've even read an obituary of one of the guys I looked up. Anthony was a co-worker at Macy*s. He was 21 or so at that time. Everybody loved him. Especially the gay guys. His super friendly personality, and incredible body made him the cat's meow. I remember laughin' it up with the kid while hitting dance club after dance club in Manhattan. He was always good for great energy!

His obituary doesn't reveal his cause of death, but like most nosy curious folks, I sure would like to know it. Well, whatever his cause of death, may his soul rest in eternal peace.

One of my nieces used to visit me quite a bit while I lived in NYC, and she'd go through my journals when I was at work. She was searching to see if I talked openly about my sexuality. Well, because I just KNEW folks like HER might one day stumble across my journals, I talked in code. Haaaaa!

So, SPECULATION was all she got outta her snooping. Never CONFIRMATION! Haaaaa!

It's re-reading my college years that intrigues me most. Wow! Those four years were somethin'!

The FRATERNITY!

The STUDYING!

The SEXUAL ANXIETY!

It was all soooooo dang IMPORTANT to me back then!!!

And truth be told, if it wasn't for these journals, I wouldn't remember HALF of what I wrote about!

Actually, MORE than half!

I'm happy I wrote down my thoughts back then, 'cause re-reading about 'em now is bringing a huuuuuuuuuuuge SMILE to my face.

Okay, a few CRINGES too, but I'll take 'em!!!!!!

In The Swim Of Things

A week ago, I went to a public pool around the corner from my place, and had myself recording "swimming."

I placed quotation marks around the word, swimming, because whether or not I was actually performing the task might be debatable. Haaaa!

Truth be told, I feel very comfortable in the water. Regardless the depth. But I'm not a strong swimmer.

I have never mastered the breathing in freestyle swimming, thus, I keep my head above water, or swim underwater until I am almost completely out of breath.

Not good.

I've often thought to myself that if I were on a boat that capsized, I'd probably swim on my back and my side until I got to shore. Swimming freestyle on my stomach would tucker me out within moments.

I say all this to say that, at 55, I'm gonna take a real swim lesson for the first time. Everything I know how to do now was learned during my scouting days by trial, error and repetition.

While I'm learning to swim properly, I may as well learn to dive too, because all previous attempts to dive have wound up as semi-painful belly-flops! OUCH! 

Can I Get An Amen?

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 

Danny Gokey, Thank You

Danny Gokey

I am not a religious man.

Treating people the precise way I want to be treated is my religion.

Tonight, I just stumbled across a song that moves me beyond description!

I know the singer is singing about "God."

And that's fine by me.

Because the message of the song can apply to anybody.

Believer.

Or not.

I can't stop listening to it.

Because it's singing my thoughts.

I'm closer than I think I am to PERSONAL FULFILLMENT.

And PROFESSIONAL FULFILLMENT.

And IMMEASURABLE INNER PEACE.

I just haven't seen it yet.

But I know my BEST is yet to COME!!!!!!

Danny Gokey, Thank You for reminding me, though.

HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET (Lyrics)

Hmm 

Have you been praying and you still have no answers? 
Have you been pouring out your heart for so many years? 
Have you been hoping that things would have changed by now? 
Have you cried all the faith you have through so many tears? 

Don't forget the things that He has done before 
And remember He can do it all once more 

It's like the brightest sunrise 
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night 
Don't ever lose hope, hold on and believe 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet 
You're closer than you think you are 
Only moments from the break of dawn 
All His promises are just up ahead 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it 

He had the solution before you had the problem 
He sees the best in you when you feel at your worst 
So in the questioning, don't ever doubt His love for you 
'Cause it's only in His love that you'll find a breakthrough, oh 

It's like the brightest sunrise 
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night 
Don't ever lose hope, hold on and believe 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet 
You're closer than you think you are 
Only moments from the break of dawn 
All His promises are just up ahead 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it 

And He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory 
Good things are coming even when we can't see 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that 
He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory 
Good things are coming even when we can't see 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that 

It's like the brightest sunrise 
Waiting on the other side of the darkest night 
Don't ever lose hope, hold on and believe (don't ever lose hope) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet 
You're closer than you think you are (yes, you are) 
Only moments from the break of dawn (Oh) 
All His promises are just up ahead 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
Maybe you just haven't seen it, just haven't seen it yet (oh) 
(You gotta hold on, hold on)
(Hold on)

'Cause He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory 
Good things are coming even when we can't see (yeah) 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that 
He is moving with a love so deep 
Hallelujah for the victory
Good things are coming even when we can't see 
We can't see it yet, but we believe that

I believe
Oh, I believe
That our best is yet to come
Oh, your best is yet to come.

Expired

By golly, I think this young lady might be on to something!!!!! :) :) :) :) 

Crispy AF

Whenever I go to a backyard cookout, if the hot dogs don't look like the photo above, I DON'T WANT 'em!

#GimmeBurntHotDogsOrGimmeNothingAtAll

Mr. Jackson (If You're Nasty)

Last night, I had the unexpected pleasure of running into Mr. Curtis Jackson.

No, not THAT Curtis Jackson.

But THIS Curtis Jackson!

The COOLER one!

The Curtis Jackson who put himself through architecture schooling by exotic dancing and working catering events. In fact, I actually met him at a catering event. We both were waiters.

Well, tonight, we ran into each other at NoHo Park. He was jogging, and I was heading over to the outdoor, calisthenics workout area.

As soon as I spotted him, I stopped, saluted him (as I do most people when I see them), then wound up chatting for half an hour or so. Hell, probably 45 minutes! Damn, we can talk! Haaa!

He told me he no longer does the exotic dancing thing (nor the catering), and has begun his own business. I absolutely love how eloquently he expresses his thoughts.

We talked about politics, our families (especially our mothers), and our love lives. Or lack thereof!

It was interesting to learn that his mother's life is as much a mystery to him as my mother's life is to me. And what makes it so interesting is that both of us had our mothers in our lives from the very beginning of our lives; so, it's not like they abandoned us at some point. They just never shared info about their lives pre-children.

I told Curtis I'm determined to one day find out more about my mother via one of these DNA companies, so we'll see what we see.

The man is a bright and loving soul. I wish him the very best!!!!!

Hell, that's my wish for everybody!!!!!! 

Capitalism

Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Independence Day 2019

To ONE and ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

World Pride 2019

Yesterday concluded a month-long celebration of Gay Pride throughout this country. Heck, throughout the world!

New York City was the final send-off for the Pride celebrations. And it appeared the folks there had a BLAST!

The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world.

When I lived in NYC, I actually marched in the Pride March as a member of a book club. Marching among the screaming onlookers was truly invigorating. I felt like a star!

Today's young people don't have to feel as frightened about vocalizing whom they're attracted to as we felt back in my youth. Yes, there are still parents and others who might have problems accepting gay men and women, but there's such a self-assured tribe who will that young people can find camaraderie almost immediately. Understanding people are simply a click of the mouse away.

So, here's to OLD LOVE!

And YOUNG LOVE!

World Pride let's EVERYBODY know that...