Autumn 4th Quarter Journal 2017 October-December

 

October

1 October 2017 Sunday

My favorite month. Moving front room furniture all around to sweep and mop beneath them... Dirt, grime, doggie treats, bird feathers and pee spots...ugh...been working since 9 doing Fall cleaning and I am already pooped... But the floors are spic and span even if the pups are unhappy with the mess... Listening to music recorded from the 1900's over 115 years ago while I work. Listening to comedy from 1905 and it's interesting what was thought to be funny... A woman went before a judge to divorce her husband. The judge asked what were the grounds...Did he support you? Well he wouldn't make me coffee in the morning! Is that right said the judge? Yes Sir... Well then I will grant you a divorce on coffee grounds... Lol. Eventually I got the front room scrubbed and cleaned. I bought this area carpet for $10 at DI and looks brand new but what a pain moving the furniture... I need to buy some new Roman blinds for the bay window and have my window screens redone because they are worn out... Well it's been 21 years this month.... Chuck Whyte up at Holy Cross called and asked if I’d deliver him home which I did... Then I finished straightening up to house while my homemade chicken pot pie were baking... It's a very fall like day...trees are changing and the breeze is scattering leaves off the trees. My harvest is coming to an end with the cooler weather... Got a basketful of cucumbers, tomatoes, and a pumpkin...I have lots and lots of green tomatoes that I doubt will ripen on the vine but in a week or two I will pick them all...if they are put in a sunny window they will ripen well in to November... I am not one for fried green tomatoes. I fixed Mac and cheese and rotisserie chicken for the dogs dinners but only Buddy is eating... I have failed as a mother...In LDS Conference Dallin Oaks attacked marriage equality again. Yup same old bull shit from bull shitters. The Sons of bitches and bitches in the Republican Controlled Congress has let 9 million American children go without insurance because of their greed and incompetence... You bastards are really making America great again... What the Russians couldn't do the Republicans are doing it for them... Make America a 2nd rate country...China ordered all of North Korea’s businesses in China to close.

·         Chicken pot pie, for supper tonight. chopped onions, red bell pepper, diced potatoes, frozen peas and carrots, chicken broth, white wine, half and half diced chicken breast from rotisserie chicken, poultry season, salt, white pepper, celery flakes, butter, and flour. Throw all veggies and seasonings in crockpot with 2 cups broth and 1 cup wine... When cooked and tender put 1 stick of butter and 3/4 cup flour in a pan ... Make a rue add it to crock pot and 1 cup half and half...let it thicken and add chopped chicken breast...pour into pie plate cover with crust (store or homemade) brushed with a beaten egg... Bake at 375 for 40 minutes or golden brown

·         Terrie Williams I've been doing a bit of that too. It really feels good to get the dust bunnies and toss expired stuff. That stuff can sneak up on you unless you dedicate a couple of hours to "rat killing". As my Mama use to say...

·         Richard P. Butler But if God created made in his image wouldn't that include the Negro?

·         Edgar Ben Williams You forget the preexistence where the Negro refused to fight in the war in heaven so was cursed to have dark skin and to be a servant... I suppose Gays were cursed because they were at brunch and lost track of time...

 

2 October 2017 Monday

Horrific news out of Las Vegas. Who needs ISIS terrorists when the NRA and angry white males are willing to do it for them? Does anything shock us anymore? 2017 will be known as a disastrous year... Trump becomes president, picks a cabinet to destroy the offices they are meant to serve, Charlottesville, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, earthquakes in Mexico, and the Las Vegas mass killing... I fear what will be next...war with North Korea? With all the news out of Las Vegas I just felt like baking this cool fall like day... Made Dutch Apple crumb pie.... It made the house smell so good... I don't know what to do with it once I had my slice...

·         Amy Barry I am pretty shocked that, if the gunman is white the police (and society) won't call it domestic terrorism. The police on the radio this morning said they have to figure out his motive first and won't call it terrorism.

·         Ruadhan O'Sheridan Why would an angry white male shoot up a country music concert? Rap or rock, yeah, but I don't know why he would have picked a country concert unless it was just because it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

·         Garth Chamberlain I would imagine being a country western platform that there were plenty in the audience that were carrying. If the NRA is correct then someone in that vast audience could have shot their attacker. This did not happen thus the NRA logic is flawed. Let's all go out and get assault rifles yay ( said without inflection )

·         Ruadhan O'Sheridan The stage lights might have made it impossible to see where the shots were coming from since Mandalay Bay was behind the stage. I get your point, though. I was just thinking earlier about the irony of this. If people had been shot at a rap concert, I just betcha that lots of the folks in last night's country audience would be shouting "Murica!" and cheering the gunman.

 

3 October 2017 Tuesday

Frost on the grass as I took the pups to have their fall haircuts at the Stephen Bolinder’s Dog Show shop on 15th and 15th. I took Buddy, Coco, Harleigh, and Lulu Belle to be groomed. I didn't know it was supposed to get that cold last night. I suppose I should start gathering in the tomatoes that are still on the vine. It seems so quiet in the house with just Maxx and TJ. When I go to pick up the gang I will take them to get nails trimmed.TJ hates that and screams like he's being tortured. Silly Willy. An apple a day keeps the doctor away... So I ate an apple fritter... After dropping the dogs off I went to the Donut Deli in South Salt Lake. Best donut shop by far. At home I sent $50 to a GoFundMe site for the victims of the Las Vegas madman. He killed 58 people and wounded over 500.  This is better than sending thoughts and prayers like the fuckers in Congress... Now raise money to defeat politicians bought and paid for by the NRA I am waiting for the NRA to spin it only takes a good guy with a gun to take out a bad guy with a gun.  I spent much of the day condensing 25 pages of material on Utah Gay history from 1976 to 10 or less and it is hard work... Been plugging along since 9 this morning but I will get there... I have a presentation tomorrow and cookies to bake. Kyle Foote called me after I got back from picking up the hounds. I paid $148 and left a $20 tip. Kyle called to tell me that he’s finally in Draper. Just was transferred there this morning. He said it was a good move and he will be working on the grounds crew.  I made Stuffed green bell peppers for supper tonight... To make up for the apple fritter I ate for breakfast and lunch... I have been watching a Halloween flick each night as my October tradition...I've watched American Werewolf and Fright Night so far... I think I will watch Addams Family tonight.

·         Erick Myers I love your posts about the changing seasons and weather. They make me feel connected to SLC in a different way and evoke memories and feelings long forgotten. Thank you, Ben!

·         To Bill Poore: Kyle has been transferred to Draper so our trips to Gunnison have come to an end. He was transferred this morning. He's been assigned to landscape crew and is living in a dorm like situation with his own room and bathroom. New carpets. His area also has a pool table... He's been out in the yard meeting some of the other boys and running...

 

4 October 2017 Wednesday

I had Bill Poore come over for lunch today to tell him about Kyle Foote being in Draper now and we had a lunch of left overs... He finished his dinner but I only manager a bit of homemade chicken noodle soup... The pot pie and stuffed pepper will go back into the icebox... I sent Bill home with some soup and apple crumb pie... Then I was off to make copies for my Historical Society meeting tonight at Fed Ex... After that I baked some peanut butter cookies.  It sure is breezy today whipping the autumn leaves off the trees..  I was really tired today but perked up after I went to the Marmalade Library for the 1^st Wednesday Utah Stonewall Historical Society’s lecture series. We had a turnout of about 12 people which was down some but still good. Jim and TJ invited me over for dinner on the 15^th. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans cared about people out of the womb as much as they do fetuses? All their actions however tells me they are the death party...

·         Richard Harmston Yes, cookies are nice, but the information is priceless.

·         T.J. Otaka Ben, Thanks for the lecture on 1976. I was still in Japan in 1976 but it is very interesting to know what was going on over here at that time.

·         Bill Poore He either invites me over for leftovers or gives them to the dogs.....I won and left with homemade apple pie and soup......my dinner tonight

 

5 October 2017 Thursday

I sent Kyle Foote $50 to replace toiletries and stuff he lost with his move. I printed on FB as documents the talk I gave at the USHS lecture series for those who couldn't make it. I appreciated those who attended so I don't have to speak to an empty room. Cookies are a bribe. I pulled up all the Sunflowers in the front yard to begin to put the front yard to bed for the winter. You would think that the Republican bastards in Congress if they are not going to do any meaningful gun control measures would at least pay for the funerals and medical expenses of the NRA's victims instead of having these families go bankrupt. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans cared about people out of the womb as much as they do fetuses? All their actions however tells me they are the death party...Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi said By refusing to allow a vote on creating a bipartisan Select Committee on Gun Violence, Republicans in Congress have shown they have no intention of offering a grieving nation anything more than empty words.

·         TJ Otaka Yesterday, Ben gave us some tomatoes, pickle cucumbers and a pumpkin from his garden. Tomatoes are incredibly sweet. I have made tomato and cucumber salad with Japanese sweet ginger soy dressing for supper. Thank you, Edgar Ben Williams.

 

6 October 2017 Friday

I took Coco to the vet this morning to meet Mike...she has a big growth abscess on her left leg that is leaking... She needed surgery so had to leave her there all day.  I went over there at 4 pm but Michael had already picked her up so I made an appointment to have Buddy and Harleigh’s vaccinations done this Tuesday at 8:30.  I Spent most of the day scanning old pictures to post on my genealogy Facebook page with my new scanner. It works really well and easy to use.  I’ve been trying to watch scary movies for the month so I watched the 1956 “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” about Alien space pods taking over humans.

 

7 October 2017 Saturday

Richard P. Butler came over about 11 am to rescreen my front room window screens...the mesh was shot and after 21 years old really worn and faded...afraid the pups would fall through them if they got excited with the widows open.  He told me about the drama Sophie and Miley got into when they got tangled up in Miley’s collar and he almost died from her twisting it around his neck as she couldn’t get loose. So I gave him some of my old harnesses and collars to try and find Miley’s size to buy him a better collar. We also went to a cleaning supply store in West Valley to buy some enzyme cleaning solution that is supposed to remove pee stains. I sent him home with some banana bread too. In the evening I came home from a nice time at the theater with Jim Dabakis... Jim asked me to go with him to the Salt Lake Acting Company to see the play “Surely Goodness and Mercy” which had an all African American cast... Never heard of it but it was interesting... the play was heartwarming.  Saw Historian Will Bagley there who wanted some contact information for another historian who is wanting to write a Gay History. Saw Todd Markham and Addy Rose some friends from Provo there too which was nice too. Jim introduced me to this handsome ballet dancer named Lucas Horne who volunteers at the Gay Youth Homeless shelter. He was very interested in my Historical Society. I missed going to Gay game night at Jesse Dolce. I felt bad...just too much going on in October that when you agree to one thing you are missing out on another... But I didn’t  want to miss out on Jim's company and all the inside gossip on the powers that be in Utah. I should not let my pups eat in bed, especially a ham and egg burrito... What a mess...oh well tomorrow is laundry time. Harleigh is the only pup who doesn't like sleeping in bed with me...so I put his doggy bed by the bed and he sleeps there...

 

8 October 2017 Sunday

Spent 2 hours creating trying to update my journal and two seconds of a power outage wiped it out... Ugh. Three times the power went off briefly today ugh. Fortunately I learned from this morning and every few paragraphs I was pushing save... I wonder what is going on... Our power grid out here is under ground. Thank goodness after the 1^st I backed up everything I was writing every few minutes. How is it possible for my house to keep getting so messy? I am only 1 person with 5 dogs...geez...it would be really helpful if they would pick up after themselves and stop peeing in the house...is that too much to ask? I did strip my bed and did some laundry. I made them ham and scrambled eggs this morning and their bowls are still where I set them down... I made a pot of some ham and cheese potato soup for my lunch...it's that kind of day...gloomy and cool out... Finally checked my mailbox and there was a letter there from Kyle Foote dated the 5^th detailing his transfer from Gunnison to Draper. I sent him another $100 to cover the cost of shipping his things from Gunnison to here because they wouldn’t let him take them with him. Spent the rest of the evening in bed watching old Alfred Hitchcock Present shows from 1955. So good. A man stock piling an arsenal is what is wrong about the NRA’s interpretation of the 2nd amendment... In any stretch of the imagination does this look like a "well regulated" militia? Religious Liberty is anathema to true Christianity... It's the doctrine of the Pharisee, those who have religious trappings but who only want conformity... It is the unchristian practice of "shunning"... Who would Jesus shun? If you cannot abide the Royal Law to love God and your neighbor as yourself you should not call yourself a Christian no matter how much you attend church. Faith without works is dead... You can't say you love Jesus Christ and treat your neighbor as inferior or unworthy. Thoughts and prayers are for fake Christians. Faith Without Works Is Dead James 2:14-17 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead

·         Doug Murri And on top of all this, he's displaying a Bible front and center. The disconnect in the minds of gun worshipers like this guy is mind boggling. It reminded me of when I was following behind a car here in Las Vegas a few months ago. They were obviously LDS. The back of their van was covered in bumper stickers. Half of them were the typical LDS ones for BYU and BYU Idaho. The American Flag, "Families are Forever", "We Thank Thee O' God For Our Prophets" with the pictures of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and Thomas Monson, as well as the silhouette of the family of Father, Mother, 5 kids, dog and cat on the back window. Then the other half were the NRA logo. "My insurance is Smith and Wesson". The Confederate Flag, a Trump sticker, a very rude and insulting anti-Clinton sticker and several more very threatening pro-gun slogans. When I drove past his minivan, it was filled with a sweet, gentle looking, typical LDS family. I couldn't believe the disconnect between the two things they were espousing with their bumper stickers.

·         Edgar Ben Williams Cognitive dissonance

 

9 October 2017 Monday

I made banana nut bread today. This is why I can't keep from having a messy kitchen... When they cool off into the freezer they will go... Dogs are absolutely tired of baked chicken... I think I will try roasted boneless pork chops to see if I can get them to eat... These days they are eating better than me... I get a happy meal and they get roasted pork. Talked to Mike when I took Coco home and the labs came back saying that the tumor was benign so that's a relief... But $750 later... No Obamacare for pets I suppose... So helped him out with the cost by giving him $500 since I am Coco's step mom lol. It was money just laying around from the money that Bill is paying me to repay the $3,000 loan I gave him last winter. Want to feel old? John Lennon would have been 77 years old today.

·         Bill Poore grandmother not step mom

·         Roland Ron Holmgren Good news...bummer on the cost.

·         Chuck Whyte Great Great Auntie Bennetta..............

·         Stephen Bolinder So glad just bad about the money.

·         Laurie Epperson Oh no, glad to hear that it's benign but sorry for the added expense. You're a great person they are very lucky to have you

·         Laurie Epperson There is pet insurance for Animals I highly recommend it

·         Edgar Ben Williams Do you know the company?

·         Laurie Epperson Banfield has pet insurance, 24 Hour Pet Watch pet insurance, petfinder.com advertises pet insurance as well

·         Dear Kyle,       I got your long letter dated October 5^th on Saturday so perhaps the move to Draper means our letters will come sooner. I put $50 on your account on the 5^th and another $100 yesterday so you will have money to ship home any of your stuff. Consider it an early birthday present.  Too bad about your bedding. If they would have transferred you last July it would have saved a lot of money for sure. I suspect that your first work day is today. I hope the guys on your crew are good to get along with.     Well the first week of October has come and gone. October is my favorite month with the cooler weather and the changing of the leaves. It's been very fall like since the month began...trees are changing color and the breezes are scattering leaves off the trees. My harvest is coming to an end with the cooler weather... Got a basketful of cucumbers, tomatoes, and a pumpkin...I have lots and lots of green tomatoes that I doubt will ripen on the vine but in a week or two I will pick them all...if they are put in a sunny window they will ripen well in to November. Bill Poore and I took a day trip through East Canyon at the end of September to look at the changing leaves.  We saw a moose in the road and before going into Henefer we were in a cattle drive of a herd of about 300. That was fun seeing the cowboys.         Well Conference has come and gone and when the Saints meet the heavens weep and it was damp all that weekend. Only hateful crap I heard was from Dallin Oaks that old liar who attacked marriage equality again. Yup same old bull shit from bull shitters. I didn’t listen to a bit of it but it’s what was reported.  Chuck Whyte was up at Holy Cross having an infected bone cut out of where he had his toe amputated but he’s home now and I suppose doing alright just under home confinement for a month. I think I told you how some ass put ecstasy in his diet coke drink at Club Jam.       The 3^rd was the first day of frost on the grass after a long hot summer. I didn't know it was supposed to get that cold but I suppose I should start gathering in the tomatoes that are still on the vine. I pulled out all my sunflowers and did some pruning to get the yard ready for bed. The cooler weather has me on a soup making and baking kick even though I can only eat a bite or two and then give the rest away. I’ve made split pea soup, chicken noodle soup, ham and cheese potato soup, two chicken pot pies, Stuffed green bell peppers, a Dutch Apple crumb pie.... It made the house smell so good...I end up giving it away or feeding it to the pups. I had Bill Poore come over for lunch last week and we had a lunch of left overs... He finished his dinner but I only manager a bit of homemade chicken noodle soup.  So I sent Bill home with some soup and the apple crumb pie. I also made Peanut Butter cookies for the guys who come to my first Wednesday’s History Lecture series. I also bring cookies as a bribe lol. Coco had to the vet to have big growth abscess on her left leg that was leaking removed. I haven’t talked to Michael yet but she came over this morning with just a bandage on so I suppose she is doing fine.  She needed surgery so had to leave her there all day. I bought a scanner so have been spending a lot of time scanning old pictures to post on my genealogy Facebook page. It works really well and easy to use. Saturday I had nice evening with Jim Dabakis... Jim asked me to go with him to the Salt Lake Acting Company to see the play “Surely Goodness and Mercy” which had an all African American cast... Never heard of it but it was interesting... heartwarming... I saw Historian Will Bagley there who wanted some contact information for another historian who is wanting to write a Gay History. The Sons of bitches and bitches in the Republican Controlled Congress at the end of September has let 9 million American children go without insurance because of their greed and incompetence... Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans cared about people out of the womb as much as they do fetuses? All their actions however tell me that they are the death party... What the Russians couldn't do the Republicans are doing it for them... Make America a 2nd rate country...  It was horrific news out of Las Vegas. Who needs ISIS terrorists when the NRA and angry white males are willing to do it for them? 2017 will be known as a disastrous year... Trump becomes president, picks a cabinet to destroy the offices they are meant to serve, then Charlottesville, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, earthquakes in Mexico, and the Las Vegas mass killing... What is next nuclear war with North Korea?  You would think that the Republican bastards in Congress if they are not going to do any meaningful gun control measures would at least pay for the funerals and medical expenses of the NRA's victims instead of having these families go bankrupt. Good thing Obamacare was not repealed or the 500 wounded would really be up shit’s creek. Well I will end now so I can get this in the mail today. As I ever was and ever will be Your friend Ben

 

10 October 2017 Tuesday

I need to find a new vet in the west side of SLC or Bountiful. I am not happy at all with the vet I have been using. I took Buddy and Harleigh in to have their Bordetella and DHPP-L shots and was charged for two office visits when I only wanted their shots and not an examination. The vet wanted me to get a rabies shot for Harleigh and I said he's current and he said it’s not on their records and I said I adopted him just 18 months ago and he was current then. After that he suggested that I have Buddy's bump removed. That's when I let him have it. I told him I brought Buddy in almost 2 years and paid $1500 for major surgery on some cancer, neutering, teeth cleaning and other things and at the time he told me that to leave the bump alone because there wasn't enough skin to cover it...now he's telling me he's recommending it? I told him absolutely not that I am not putting him through surgery again for cosmetics when I asked him to do it when he was sedated last time... Ugh. Did get some pills for Harleigh’s joints but a visit for 2 shots ended up being $185. He also said my dogs are overweight...well duh.. Felt good cleaning up my herb garden and trimming bushes back for the fall...I bound a bunch of Rosemary and Thyme and tied them to my front door to keep evil spirits away as we get closer and closer to All Hallow's Eve and the new cycle... Smells very aromatic for sure. Cut down the Empress of India clematis for the year and gave all the roses a good watering before they go dormant...Made a crockpot of Taco Soup from Mom's recipe...smells so good...soups seem to be the only thing that doesn't give me a tummy ache. The Vegas shooter bought 33 weapons in a month. This is not normal... Having a few hunting rifles, a gun for protection... But an arsenal? If the 2nd amendment gives me the right to bear arms can I have a missile launcher or a bazooka? I am a collector...

·         Mario Mothe Take your dogs to Healing hearts on 4800 south. They're very good people and don't charge that much

·         Bill Poore You should have told him he did not even notice you lost weight and you are going to have pups have doggie bypass to deal with their weight. They are senior dogs and we know seniors tend add a few pounds.

·         Stephen Bolinder Healing hearts is a good place.

·          Ann Clark We do shots at the humane society. Real inexpensive.

·          David Andreason Animal Care Center Near you. And excellent. Ask for Marianne.

·         Roland Ron Holmgren I took my dog to the vet. He walked in, planted his big gut on the table and told me my dog was overweight. Never went back. I have thought that your vet was very expensive. Good luck in finding a new one. I take mine to Hunter. Inexpensive shots... and no appointment necessary if you take them for designated times. Also the Salt Lake Country Animal shelter gives shots. Out of your way, but maybe someone reading your post lives in the area.

·         Luci Malin Animal Care Clinic in Bountiful- Pam is a great vet as are the other 3 women vets. She runs an excellent lesbian owned business and supports the community.

·          Edgar Ben Williams I will go there from now on

·         Jon Michael Animal Care Center is incredible! Dr Pam is now seeing patients at The Utah Dog Park on West Temple which she also owns.

·         Beau Chaine' the most reliable and cheapest shots like those you need are at the HUMANE Society...they're half for what my vet charged...and they send you notices when shots are due

 

11 October 2017 Wednesday

It's National Coming Out Day...if anyone didn't get the memo I am Gay as a Goose. The AIDS Quilt was displayed for the first time in Washington DC in 1987 and I was there...Do Mexicans use corn starch? I went to Rancho Market and bought a bunch of different types of Apples and went to buy some corn starch since I was all out...Nada...baking soda, baking powder, rice flour, corn meal but no corn starch in the entire store. So I had to go the Gringo store of Smiths LOL. Work some more of the front yard as I hear it’s going to rain this weekend and it’s a beautiful day so I mowed the front and back yards. Now I am pooped. Even an old poop. A year ago John Oliver called Donald Trump "the human embodiment of every backward, condescending, Mad Men–esque boys’ club attitude that has ever existed, rolled into one giant, salivating, dick size–referencing, pussy-grabbing warthog in a red power tie." But women voted for him anyway same women who are probably jubilant that Harvey Weinstein was fired...

 

12 October 2017 Thursday

I wrote my Lambda Lore Column for November and sent it in to Michael Aaron, although he’s vacationing in Mexico with his mother. I had Bill Poore come over for lunch for a pot roast dinner, with mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. He always says I feed him dog food because I serve him Chicken thighs, LOL, so I baked him a homemade apple pie... He told me that he saw Jon Huntsman at Walgreens downtown. Bill said to him he thought he'd be in Russia by now and Huntsman said he's leaving tonight...then Bill told Huntsman "don't take any guff off of that Punk Putin" and Huntsman told him he won't...lol... then Bill asked the clerk how did it feel to wait on the Ambassador to Russia and she said, "I don't watch TV..." Geez...Huntsman was only governor of Utah, Ambassador to China, and presidential candidate... Lol but Bill's encounter is why I love SLC. Another batshit white guy tried to harm people by leaving a bomb filled with nails at a North Carolina airport. And trump wants us to fear Mexicans, Muslims, and NFL players, exactly why? Looney toon white guys scare the crap out of me… Gun lovers say guns don't kill people, people kill people... That is not true... Guns accidentally discharge all the time...and semi-automatics have no purpose but to kill mass amount of people... The concept of a well-regulated militia was put in the constitution before we had a standing army... One purpose of the militia was to kill Native Americans and to put down slave insurrections... We have now a standing military we pay $600 billion each year for, we don't kill Native Americans anymore as a policy, and slavery is not part of our culture anymore... Those same people who want an arsenal to fight tyranny elected a man who wants to become a tyrant... This is madness.

·         Bill Poore and it seems to happens to me a great deal.......I am sort of sorry I called Putin a punk to Ambassador Huntsman, not sure if it was appropriate I ,said we were really proud of him and congratulated on his new position . He was really nice

·         Terry McKeown You left out the most important- Ambassador to Singapore. Heeheehee

·         Kevin Scott People like that checker drives me crazy... There's so much to say that I can't even start. Except occasionally telling them that people who are that disengaged are why we can't have nice things.

·          Ruadhan O'Sheridan Even though young Mr. Huntsman was a republican, he was a decent and fair governor and much smarter than the one he left us with when he went to China. I am so pleased that he will be going to Russia instead of some nut job like Jeff Sessions.

·          Bill Poore The food was so good, Pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, and apple pie, all homemade, yum yum. I went home with a container of pot roast, potatoes and homemade apple pie, I am set.

·         Roland Ron Holmgren And the cashier is why we have Trump as president.

·          Amy Barry And so many pin their hopes on all those youngins voting. You know I don't watch TV and I know what the hell is going on.

 

13 October 2017 Friday

It’s fun that October has a Friday the 13^th. Drained, cleaned, and refilled the hot tub...such an exciting life...bought some new Roman Shades for the bay window...They came today. I bought them on Amazon. Mike’s coming over tomorrow to help install them. I moved a bunch of paving stones from the back yard to the front yard... Could only move them one at a time but I still managed to move them... Tomorrow the temperature is supposed to drop 10 degrees at least... So I got a kettle of French Onion Soup going in the crock...This ignoramus president brought to you by Putin and the Republican Party... Said he spoke with the President of the US Virgin Islands... he is the President of the Virgin Islands.

 

14 October 2017 Saturday

Today turned out to be a very busy day...It must have rained last night because the deck is wet. The pups are all sleepy because of the weather. TJ is shivering. I may have to get him a little sweater if it’s a cold winter. I wrote Kyle a letter this morning to let him know his bedding came in from Gunnison. Then Mike came over with Coco this morning after taking her to the vet to have her bandages removed. We went and visited the Pet Care Clinic in Bountiful and then to the Dog Care Center on North Temple looking for a new vet...both locations had good vibes but Redwood and North Temple is much closer. When we came back to the house where Mike was going to hang my new blinds in the bay window,  we got a call from Randy Gile who wanted to drop by...so we visited a while about his new job and how the Giles were doing. For lunch we went to Chubby’s where I treated them to lunch. I ordered a smothered chili verde burritos ala cart and ate about a 1/3 of it and then gave the rest to Mike to take home. Randy is working for Lyft to see if he can make some money with that company...I hadn't seen Randy for nearly a year so it was good catching up. His 21 year old daughter Kayla was a baby when they moved in next door so have known these folks a very long time... After Randy  left about 3 Mike installed my new shades which I really like and they let sunlight in... So it was a good day.... Alan Anderson invited me to go with him to see An American in Paris at the Eccles and came by at 6:45 to pick me up. I was surprised to see that he had a new Lincoln, color was white. He never posted that he bought a new car at the end of September and yet I post what I had for breakfast LOL. Alan’s seats are in the second row behind the Orchestra pit and behind the late John Williams’ row of seats which Alan said is still kept by John’s relatives. The Broadway touring company had lots of Gershwin and Cole Porter songs and dancing boys... The backdrop and scenery was outstanding... Alan's seats are close enough to see the boys sweat... I didn’t get home until after 11 and am really pooped. Bishop and Stewart voted against relief for other Americana... Not only unpatriotic but unchristian... Or Mormon in their case.

·         Dear Kyle, Just a quick note to let you know a package from Gunnison came yesterday that contained your blanket and sheets. That was all that was in it. No toiletries or anything else. The postage was $15 if you are keeping track of your money. I suppose you finished your first week of work. I hope it went well and the weather of course was nice this week but supposed to be changing soon. Today is supposed to be ten to twenty degrees cooler than yesterday. We got some rain last night so many you did too.            Are you sleeping any better in your dark room at night? I suppose you don’t need an alarm clock as there is someone there to wake you. I have been getting up when Coco comes over in the morning and don’t really get to sleep in on the weekends either because either Harleigh is outside barking or the rest want their morning treats. I have been working in the yard some, cleaning out garden beds and pruning, getting things ready to put to bed. The vegetable garden is over and I have harvested all that I can.  I wrote last time this cooler weather has me on a soup making and baking kick. I made a Taco Soup and your favorite French Onion Soup this week. Soups are about the only thing I can eat that doesn’t upset my stomach anymore. I didn’t notice I had lost so much weight until the other day looking in the mirror, skin is just hanging off of me that once was full. Oh well I am a little old man now.  I had Bill Poore come over again for lunch last Thursday and made a pot roast, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I even made an apple pie from scratch. I cook mostly for him because I eat so little. I sent Bill home with left overs and some of the apple pie and gave the rest to Michael. We took Coco in to the vet to have a big growth abscess on her left leg removed. Lab results said it wasn’t cancer but it cost $750. I gave him $500 to help out with the cost and we are going in today to have her bandages removed. I took Harleigh and Buddy in also to have their Bordetella and parvo shots and ended up costing me $185 because the vet insisted on doing an examination. I really don’t like this vet and when he suggested that the potato size lump on Buddy’s rump be removed I just let him have it. I was so mad because two years ago when I took Buddy in for that very same thing he said there wasn’t enough skin to close it but he said that so many other things were wrong with Buddy that I paid $1500 for to have cancer on his leg removed, neutered, teeth cleaned, and anal lesions removed. I told him that I wanted the bump removed then when Buddy was having surgery back then. I was not about to put Buddy through it again when the bump doesn’t bother him and that it’s more cosmetic. And I wasn’t going to pay for another surgery and labs when it should have been done then. So Michael and I are heading to Bountiful to this animal clinic ran by Lesbians that my friends recommend. I bought new shades or the bay window to replace the old Roman Blinds that are nearly 15 years old. These are pull up blinds too and a chocolate color. Michael is coming over to help install them. Tonight I am going to the Eccles Theater with my friend Alan Anderson to see An American in Paris. Jim asked me to go with him because his husband didn’t want to go. If it weren’t for non-theater going husbands I probably would never go to the theater. It’s going to be a busy next week for me. Tomorrow being invited by friends to a Chop Suey dinner because I told my Japanese friend that you can’t find Chop suey in Utah LOL. Wednesday I have a dentist appointment and Thursday I am going out to Topaz with these same friends to see the museum at the Japanese Internment camp out by Delta.  Then on Saturday it’s my monthly Dinner and a Movie Group. I am showing Rocky Horror Picture Show and serving meatloaf for dinner LOL. I don’t know much more to write about. Nothing major going on in the Gay community that I am aware of. The fires in Northern California are devastating. I heard the Peanut’s creator Charles Schultz house was one that burned down. Can’t imagine the treasures of his lost. Oh well between North Korea and rumblings in the super volcano in Yellowstone none of us may be around long. To fill out this letter I will include my Lambda Lore column for November. 1976 The Gay Student Union Emerges: The 1970s were the origins of a Gay social revolution here in Utah. Activists, teeming with idealism and social consciousness, thought they could make a better world. By 1976 the Gay landscape of Utah had changed dramatically from 1969 with 24 different Gay identified organizations, businesses, and publications, whereas at the beginning of the decade there had only been one, the Utah Gay Liberation Front.  Important organizations formed in 1976, were the Gay Service Coalition, The Imperial Court of the Wasatch Empire, Women Aware and the University of Utah’s Gay Student Union.  At the beginning of 1976, the growing community was still serviced by two religious organizations, the Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City and it splinter church the Grace Christian Church.  The Gay Media, essential to building community, was basically still the California based Advocate, whose editor was a former Utah LDS Missionary named Robert McQueen. Our paper the Salt Lick, was a published by the Gay Community Service Center. As the year began , the board of Trustees of the Gay Community Service Center however changed the name to the Gayzette, with Babs DeLay its editor.  The Gayzette ended with the closure of the community center but by the end of the year, the Open Door, was published by the Gay Service Coalition as a community forum.       Interestingly, the Salt Lake Tribune even recognized the societal changes taking place when on 8 January 1976 they opined that “Two women who had applied for a marriage license in Salt Lake County probably should have been issued one, according to Utah law. Utah statute does not specifically prohibit marriage between members of the same sex, a spokesman in the Salt Lake County the Attorney office said.” The women were referred to the county attorney when they attempted to obtain a license. However they didn’t go to that office and one can only speculate what would have happened if they had.           There were five Gay bars at the beginning of the year: The Radio City Lounge on State Street, The Sun Tavern on South Temple, Sweetwater Tavern in Ogden, The Rusty Bell on Redwood Road, Sisters on West Temple, and The Sunset Room on 400 west.  They were soon joined by a new Gay bar called The Name of the Game Jr. at 535 South State. It had changed from a straight bar to a Gay Bar  because the owners said, “Gays get down a lot more and are less trashy than some of the straight street people we get in here.” The bar even offered free drinks on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8-10 PM for “ladies”, and “men in drag”, a first for any Gay Bar. One of the more important organizations founded in 1976 was the Gay Student Union, the forerunner of the University of Utah’s current Queer Student Union. Responding to a Daily Chronicle’s article, “Homosexuals Discuss Gayness and Society”, in January Paul Larson wrote a letter to the editor to promote his new organization. In part it said “Of interest to Gay Chronicle readers are some of the activities of the Campus Christian Center, 232 University Street. We are offering an ongoing Gay Consciousness Raising Group and a two part presentation on Gay History and Literature, Sunday evenings March 7 and 14 at 8 p.m.” The Gay Consciousness Raising Group was formed by Larson to show Gay people that “they were not alone in their homosexuality” and to help people “adjust and learn to cope with living in a heterosexual society.”  The Gay Consciousness Raising Group was also designed as “an alternative to the Gay Bars and the parks”, and “as a setting where members of the Gay community and any heterosexual who wishes to attend can relate to each other as complete people instead of simply as sex objects.” Additionally Paul Larson’s course on “Group Dynamics” at the University of Utah was probably the first real Gay lecture ever presented in Salt Lake City.  In September 1976 the first workshop for the Gay community was held by the Gay Consciousness Raising Group at St. Mark’s Cathedral. Twenty people attended with Hal Carter and Paul Larson facilitating the meeting. At the beginning of the University’s  Fall Quarter, an average of 40 to 50 people were attending the Consciousness Raising Group each week. By October the meeting, which had started out with six people,  grew to such an extent that the original group had to split into two.  One of these groups left the Campus Christian Center to meet in room 324 in the Student Union Building on the U of U campus.  This group was called the “Gay Awareness-Conscious Raising Encounter Group” which was formed by students to talk openly of “their hang ups, of pressures put on by society, and family and religion and to express their hopes, dreams, and long term goals”. The student leaders of the Gay Awareness-Conscious Raising Encounter Group then pushed to have their group listed as a campus club. On 3 November 1976 the club was placed on the University Register by the Committee on Student Affairs formally as “The Gay Student Union.” Its first formal meeting had forty-six people attending the session. The Gay Student Union’s stated purpose was to “promote and maintain activities and ideas supportive to Gay rights and Gay people through combating Gay oppression and promoting Gay dignity, unity, and liberation.” The format of the club was still a “rap group” designed for “getting people together, sharing feelings, and ideas”. The Gay Student Union sponsored the Gay Awareness-Conscious Raising Encounter Group and met every Monday at 7:30 in room 135 in Orson Spencer Hall. Membership in the Gay Student Union was open to anyone who conducted themselves according to and in support of the goals of Gay Student Union and was not limited to university students although its officers had to be enrolled on campus. A $5 annual membership fee was charged for membership cards. In one of the by-laws meeting the Gay Student Union considered admitting for free any Brigham Young University student, faculty, or staff member with a valid identification card to any GSU activity in lieu of an official membership card due to the ongoing persecution of Gays enrolled in BYU. These “peer” discussions meetings of the Gay Student Union consisted of a “getting acquainted section” and then breakout sessions where issues relevant to the Gay community were read and discussed.. These breakout sections were divided into four groups with one person in each room designated as a facilitator to keep the discussion topic focused. If one of the discussion groups did not meet the needs of those attending then that person could change sections.  The Daily Chronicle featured three stories in the fall of 1976 on the new campus Gay club. On 10 November 1976 an article entitled Gay Group Discusses Social Bars, stated “Salt Lake City is unique in that it is one of the places in the United States where people are concerned about the oppression of homosexuality.” Again on 1 December 1976 a reporter named Russell Weeks wrote a lengthy article, called “Gay Advocate Group Ease Social Problems”. In it Weeks detailed the origins of the Gay Student Union as well as the community at large. A third short blurb was published 6 December 1976 in the “Chrony’s Weeks Events”. “Gay Student Union 6 p.m. OSH 137- Will discuss membership drive, elections and plans for Winter Quarter.” “Gay Consciousness Raising Group 7:30 OSH 135.” As I always was and ever shall be. Your friend Ben

 

15 October 2017 Sunday

TJ Otaka and Jim McMullin invited me to their place in Daybreak for lunch so I left the house about 11:45 to be there by 12:30 because they live off of 114^th South. Before leaving I put on a pork roast for the dogs’ supper  and started some cabbage soup in crock pots.  I brought with me the toy wheels that Bill Poore had given me which he had found at Topaz some years ago. He wanted it returned to Topaz when we go there this Thursday. I also brought TJ some window ripened  tomatoes from the garden and a loaf of banana bread. TJ fixed Chop Suey and other Japanese dishes for lunch and had invited Alan Anderson and Kyle Daniels over too. They were still bummed from the U’s loss to USC in yesterday’s football game. Funny guys. Anyway my big surprise was hearing that Gay Men Aloud was disbanded by Kent Scadlock. Not that it surprised me because they had not met since last June I think and they were to meet tomorrow. I didn’t think Kent and Dennis had it in them to keep it going even after I volunteered to Kent last Summer to help out but he wasn’t interested. Oh well, nothing lasts forever and I know Charles Frost’s clique was toxic to the group. Anyway we had a fun time discussing current events and as always religion. The party broke up about 3:30 because Alan and Kyle were going to see a new play at SLAC tonight and I left with them. Instead of going home I drove over to 106^th South to drop in on the Giles. Gay Elder was out front smoking on the porch so it was easy to find the place even with all the development all around them. Only Kimberlee and Elyse were home and both were under the weather but we had a good visit catching up on their lives. It was about 5:45 when I left to go home and feed my hungry hounds. I finished up the beef and cabbage soup and had a bowl for dinner and then retired to the bedroom. I looked up the Gay Men Aloud site to see what it had to say about shutting down and while I was on my old FB page I started going through pictures saved on that site and saving them to my mini iPad because I probably will be shutting down that page. So it was a nice visiting day and kind of cool no more than about 50 degrees. I bought gas down in Daybreak for $2.38 when it’s still about $2.50 up here in SLC.

 

16 October 2017 Monday

Went to urgency care this morning because my back has been so itchy for about a week. I thought I had a rash...just dry skin so got a prescription for some cream... You know how hard it is to put anything on your back? Anyway took a Benadryl and that knocked me out for 2 hours nap lol... So not the most productive day... Ate some of my cabbage and beef soup but brought most over to Michael's. I posted a few pictures of me at different stages of my life. My 1979 Weber State College student ID has me with permed out hair and a beard. Another was from forty years ago when walking on the Huntington Beach Pier ... Still very much the Mormon boy with my Y tee shirt... We are allowed to make mistakes when we are young lol. The first time I had my picture in the paper was in 1971 while attending Cypress College. In May 1971 I was on the Cypress College committee to make designs for the Spring fest... Because it was radical we called the fair "the Unfaire" and had an Alice in Wonderland theme....I am wearing an Indian print cotton hippie shirt my sister sewed for me. I was an art minor in Junior College and began to meet openly Gay people in the theater and art departments... I was wearing my homemade sandals I made in a craft class... A year before I transformed into a Mormon boy. Changed my FB page from Edgar Ben to Benedgar as most know me as Ben not Edgar. I am Edgar Junior so Benedgar is the same as saying son of Edgar. Ben is Hebrew for "son."

·         Mario Mothe Ben as Benjamin ?

·         Benedgar Williams Nope just plan Ben... In 1971 I was a YMCA Camp counselor for long termers who were always trying to rile me up and they started calling me Benji Boo Boo... I thought it was funny as hell and they were mad that I never go mad... all summer I was Benji Boo Boo and when I came off the mountain back to college I started introducing myself as Ben... I took an Old Testament religion class from a Rabbi in College and learned that Ben meant son so I started calling myself Ben Edgar; son of Edgar... few know my real name is Edgar. I was trying to reinvent myself which I guess I did. Few people choose their name but I did.

·         Richard P. Butler I knew you as Edgar but you liked Ben so Ben it was. I liked Gentle Ben.

·         Kevin Scott Not too much acidity in the name Benedgar? I love me some apple cider benedgar with my spinach! :-)

·         Benedgar Williams I'm sweet and sour

·         Brandon Burt What's Edgar Hebrew for? 🤔

Benedgar Williams Edgar is Germanic for Lucky Spear... My full name Edgar Hugh Williams Jr. Means The Intelligent fortunate warrior with the bright shining helmet the minor.

 

17 October 2017 Tuesday

Today is Kyle Foote’s 38^th birthday and his 5^th spent in prison. I looked up the visiting schedule for Draper and its weird. It’s a rotating schedule with different times and days. But I did call the prison and the good news is that my visitation form is still valid. I feel like I am coming down with something. My throat is scratchy. Mostly worked on recovering what I wrote about Theophilus Williams that I had to transfer from an old laptop I had. It's October so I am watching this evening Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein my all-time favorite Halloween movie.

 

18 October 2017 Wednesday

I went up to Centerville Dentist office at noon to have teeth cleaning. She said my gums have improved quite a bit since my last cleaning. Salt Lake has expanded a trail from the east bench to 9^th West along I-80.  This is why I love Salt Lake City... I will never use this trail but it was money well spent to keep the city vibrant and connected... Most cities and towns in Utah would be appalled at spending public money to make their communities more livable... When they finish it to the Jordan River, residents will be able to hike and ride along the Bonneville Trail at the foot of the Wasatch and then connect over to the Jordan River Trail by my house.

 

19 October 2017 Thursday

When I took a shower this morning the hot water was lukewarm so went downstairs and saw that the pilot went off on my water heater... I have no clue have to get it back on... so I turned it off because I was heading down to Topaz near Delta this morning so I guess I will deal with it when I get home I suppose. I had to be down in Daybreak by 10 this morning because Jim McMullin was going to drive TJ and I. I never had been to Delta before and had no clue how far it was. We took Redwood road on the west side of Utah Lake to Elberta and then went on HWY 6 to Eureka and then down to Delta. It was a little after noon time reaching Delta. We ate lunch at the one Chinese place town but I suggest avoiding it from now on... I just had a bowl of sweet and sour soup but TJ said his meal was nearly inedible. From there we went to the Topaz Museum which was very worthwhile seeing. I also gave the rusty toy wagon wheels to a docent who worked there that Bill Poore wanted returned. We stayed at the museum for over an hour learning a lot of history. My head cold was acting up but brought a bunch of hard candy to help with the tickle in my throat. At one time Topaz was the 5^th largest city in Utah with about 8,500 people interred there. From there TJ wanted to see the actually site which is about 16 miles northwest of Delta. We just drove around because even with markers there was nothing much to see. It was hauntingly beautiful in its desolation, however. So It was a fun trip but longer than i expected but Jim drove and TJ navigated and I saw a lot of pumpkin patches on the way back to Hwy 6 to come home. We were back in Daybreak by 5 pm and because of rush hour it was another 45 minutes until I was home to feed the dogs. .. I had  turned my hot water tank off this morning thinking I’d be back in time to have Rich turn it back on...but i guess tomorrow. When I got on FB I read that I received a Best Columnist Fabby Award in the QSalt Lake magazine... I didn't even know I was even in the running ha! After writing the column since 2003 I have never been nominated so figured only a few die hard history geeks read my Lambda Lore column... I am proud to have a column for local Gay history for a city the size of Salt Lake, Crossroads of the West. Chad Keller is probably grinning somewhere as he was the big promoter of the Fabby’s after city Weekly protested calling the awards the "Best of"... Whoever you all were who voted for me I am honored as self-promotion was never my style... It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” - Mark Twain. This fits Utah's trump supporters to a T... Especially those who "prayed" about voting for the sexual predator in the White House rather than the Methodist who ran against him.

 

20 October 2017 Friday

My head cold hit full on last night but it’s beginning to break up after having gone down into my chest. It was very blustery out here in Westpointe, with leaves being blown everywhere doing their autumnal spiral dance. Richard P. Butler came over about 10:30 and showed me how to relight my hot water tank so I don't feel completely helpless... He stayed to about 1:30 visiting and then I had to run to the store to get food for the pups supper. I didn’t get a chance yesterday and everything in the house has been used up or is frozen. After Rich left I stayed in bed eating bean and ham soup and resting up for cleaning the house for tomorrow’s dinner party... The Temps really dropped and it's sprinkling now so soggy leaves everywhere.  I think I need to stop buying bananas... They always get away from me and I end up making banana nut bread... I glazed these with an orange juice glaze so they will be fruity like me... When they cool I will pop them into the freezer until company comes over... I was asked to go to see Aladdin at Ballet West tonight by Jim Dabakis but had to decline because feeling under the weather... But seeing boys in tights might have perked me up

 

21 October 2017 Saturday

About 3 years ago I took in Levon, an Armenian asylum seeker, who had left because he was Gay and had voiced antigovernment opinions... When I hear of neighboring Iran and other Caucasus Mountain countries killing Gay men I was worried that he might have given up and went back to Armenia but just heard from him today in a text message and his asylum case is finally being heard in January. First thing I did this morning was make a Pumpkin cake that I later frosted with cream cheese frosting and candy corn so that I could finish cleaning the house, by mopping and vacuuming and scrubbing the bathroom good. My head cold has lessen but still hanging in there... I wanted to take a nap before movie night but Maxx had other plans for me jumping and playing with Lulu Belle... At least TJ is settled down so I could at least rest. For my Saturday night dinner I fixed a meatloaf with brown gravy, sour cream mashed potatoes with chives, buttered corn, green beans with mushrooms, and rolls... What we didn't eat I sent home.  People started coming over about 6 pm and I had a smaller crowd than usual but had plenty of food. Jim and TJ were first to arrive then Jay Vallar came with his new boyfriend Kai, Mike came with Coco, and then Dennis Lee and Kent showed up. Bill Poore brought me a beautiful bouquet yesterday for my monthly dinner and movie night even though he wasn't feeling well and couldn't stay long so I sent him home loaded up with a carry out meatloaf dinner and some bean soup. Later Jay took me in the kitchen and whispered that Kai was his new boyfriend. I wonder if I will see much of Greg Allen now.  Kent Scadlock had another place he had to be at so he left after dinner and Jay and Kai didn’t stay for the movie either.  We watched Rocky Horror Picture Show that's why I made meatloaf lol Carol Gnade announced that she is stepping down form the Pride Center at the beginning of the year.

·         Bill Poore Thanks so much for the food....I wish I could have stayed but just was struggling  with breathing and eyes.....I have not eaten yet but looking forward to it.  Love ya.

·         Me-Thanks for the flowers ... I hope you get to feeling better...

 

22 October 2017 Sunday

My little house of horrors as this Daddy Long Leg captures a wasp in a web right beneath my lamp shade by my computer... Yikes! Bill Poore came over to get some pumpkin cake I forgot to send home with him yesterday lol... I was in the process of making broccoli, cauliflower, potato, ham and cheese soup...so I sent home a jar of it with him too...he said you can't help cooking can you... I said I am addicted to it...just because I don't eat it doesn't mean I don't want to fix it... I didn't eat a bite of the big meal I made yesterday... Other than that it’s been kind of a wash of a day although it seems to have been a pretty day. I told Bill of the dream I had last night were I was being taken to the emergency room with a heart attack and my one thought was that Bill was not well enough to come take care of my dogs like he did when I had my surgery last spring. What I realized from the dream that I need to make sure I am getting plenty of potassium to keep a healthy heart.

·         Bill Now that you don't have an children in Gunnison anymore I doubt I will ever visit my relatives graves there again..... are there any cemeteries near the point of the mountain that might have some of my relatives in?

·         Benedgar Are you related to anyone executed there? Visiting hours are really weird...they change daily and hourly...never the same... Today was the soonest I could go out when he wasn't at work and I was going to try and get out there but I am getting over a head cold and they won't let you go in if you are sick...besides I have no idea even where the entrance is... I got a letter from him the other day saying he is on basically a 1 man work crew driving a tractor and tractor mower...in the winter he will do snow plowing... He says it's weird being on the outside with so little supervision...he works about 3 hours out of a 8 hour shift and gets $8 a shift or about $40 a week so he won't need my help as much now... His birthday was last week on the 17th...

·         Bill Maybe I should drive over and bring back your containers and have a piece of cake?

·         Benedgar If you are up to it... I saved you a big piece of cake...

·         Bill yeah I will come over in a while, soon as I get my act together.

 

23 October 2017 Monday

I have been craving soups lately so I ordered from Amazon a hand held immersion blender to make creamy soups for $26. A Russian singer reportedly arrested as part of Chechnya’s anti-gay crackdown was murdered shortly after being detained. Zelimkhan Bakaev was last seen on August 8 in Grozny, where he had come from Moscow for his sister’s wedding. His family say they haven’t heard from him since and have been unable to get answers about his fate. I love a good apple crisp and this sounds delicious.

·         For the topping: 1 1/2 cups rolled oats, 1/2 cup oat flour, 1/2 cup chopped nuts – almonds, pecans or walnuts, 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/8 tsp coarse salt For the filling: 6 cups chopped, peeled apples 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp cinnamon Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly butter a 3-quart baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together rolled oats, oat flour, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add melted butter, stirring until mixture is crumbly. Refrigerate until firm (about 15 minutes.) In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the topping over the apples. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until filling is bubbly, apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Let crisp rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

 

24 October 2017 Tuesday

What do you do with fresh blackberries and blueberries before they turn? Make a cobbler of course silly... Hot coffee and cobbler for breakfast... The life of a retired Gay school teacher... That and spending days putting family genealogical research on line... I feel like I've accomplished something by finishing my research on Theophilus Williams whom I have been gathering information for over 30 years... I was mired down in the maddening pursuit of Williamses in colonial North Carolina during the 18th century... About 15 years ago I did a DNA testing and found out to what Williams tribe I belonged but it of course couldn't tell me paternity but through lots of sleuthing I finally figured out my lineage to my satisfaction...what really messed me up was that in 1752 a hurricane blew the county seat where my people were off the map with a complete loss of land and probate records... But it's feels good to put this to rest for future generations. Sen Flake of Arizona has more integrity than any Utah Mormon GOP politician. He’s not running again for Senator and gave a blistering reproach to Trump. Utah's delegation to Washington is mired down in a morass because of its moral turpitude and lack of integrity. The disgraceful way white men in power are attacking strong black women for speaking the truth is appalling... It has been that way for centuries... Doing research in colonial North Carolina I came across a horrifying event in 1780 during the Revolutionary War...A black woman named Jenny was convicted of poisoning her master Lewis Bryan, his father Needham Bryan, and his uncle William Bryan at a family dinner...who knows what these men did to drive her to this act of vengeance beyond keeping her in bondage? She was found guilty by the whites and sentenced to be burned alive in the town square...all the African Americans in the county were required to witness Jenny being executed as a warning. Needham Bryan's son who was the sheriff lit the kindling that consumed Jenny while tied to a post... No white person, even those accused of witchcraft, had ever been executed by being burned alive... I am ashamed that I am even related to these people no matter how distant... All Black Lives matter.

 

25 October 2017 Wednesday

Rich Butler came over this morning with this long handle contraption to clean the cobwebs and spiders off my vaulted ceilings and corners I couldn't reach. Then he went downstairs and vacuumed out the furnace of dust and cobwebs and got all the little buggers downstairs up in the ceiling. He motivated me to do some yard work so after he left I raked up the front yard and the street gutters from all the leaves that blew in last Friday. I spent 2 hours working and filled up two garbage cans. Now I am pooped but happy. I am so old I was born before there were ZIP codes and you called long distance at night because it was cheaper, and you memorized phone numbers or you looked them up in a phone book. Trump is the current physical manifestation of the disease that has infected the American body politick for decades... Ever since Nixon's Southern Strategy, the radical rights Moral Majority's fusion of church and state, Reaganomics that engorged the 1percent at the expense of the Middle Class, Bush's Patriot Act and War on Terror, and the Citizen United decision that opened the flood gates to corruption of Democracy... Trump is the proof that America is very very sick... We need to build up our resistance if we are to save the Republic.

 

26 October 2017 Thursday

I saw that Pioneer Theater was having a half-price sale for their performance on Halloween night so I purchased 2 tickets  for $44 to see Comedy of Tenors. I intended to ask Jim Dabakis as a payback for all the shows he’s taken me to but unfortunately he said he had obligations that night.  Then after reading that Richard Harmston young boyfriend posting about the two of them I invited Charles Bigo to go with me and he accepted. Are you supposed to take down Halloween on the 1st or can you wait a few days? When does it begin to encroach on Thanksgiving?

 

27 October 2017 Friday

I went out this morning to go and have labs done for my appointment with Dr. Stoneburner next Wednesday. All I had to do was an A1c blood test.  From there I went and bought some Cinnamon, Root Beer and Licorice hard candy at the farm supply store on 21^st South. I wanted some Horehound but I don’t think they care it any more. I wanted some drops for the tickle in my throat from this head cold that isn’t going away. From there I went to Walmart because I wanted to get some sweatpants for the cooler weather and all the ones I bought last year are way too big for me now. I was going to just go to DI but at $7 a pair I might as well but new. I did go to DI however and found about 8 mini holiday loaf ceramic loaf pans that will make great Christmas gifts I think. The hand immersion blender came today. Yay. I got a letter from Kyle today that ws dated the 23rd letting me know what days will be good to visit him in November but I may go down this Sunday during the visiting hours of 6-8 pm. Update on the UPC's library as it prepares to vacate the old space on 4th south. I was informed it's all over in SLC's Main Library on loan as a GLBT collection to be used. The archives are up at the Marriott Library. I saw a FB post that said in Salt Lake City there is no limit on how many pets you can have. Twenty years ago it was just 2 dogs and 2 cats.  The weather was much cooler today because of the breeze. The schedule for November is November 11 Saturday 1-3 pm, November 18 Saturday 6-8 pm, November 19 Sunday 3-5 pm and November 26 Sunday 8-10 am.  I know I won’t be able to make it on the 18^th.

 

28 October 2017 Saturday

Only time I left the house today was to go to Food Savers to buy some groceries. I am glad I did because I learned that they will be closed tomorrow until their Grand Opening on Wednesday when the store will have been completely remodeled. The price there are better than any of the stores around me. Other than that I made some Split Pea Soup and worked on the history of John Williams the Younger of Bertie County, North Carolina who was Britton Williams’ great grandfather. I still have my cold that seems to have gone down in to my chest but is breaking up. It was a pretty fall day and wished I felt well enough to work in the yard. The backyard is completely littered with falling leaves. Well it is that time of year. In the evening I watched the series Mindhunter on Netflix. Its slow going but good.  There was too events I wanted to do today but blew them off. One was a tour of Fort Douglas’ cemetery and the other was a Halloween Costume Party at the Tryangle. I am realizing a lot of my Halloween fun days are behind me, The Pork chops was a hit for the hounds supper tonight... They are tired of chicken thighs so need to switch it up. At 1.49 a pound it was an inexpensive meal and they each got a pork chop after I cut the bone off... Just because I am not eating, not going deprive them of the joy of supper time. Today is Chuck Whyte’s 60^th birthday.

·         Quick Lo Mein: 4 packages ramen noodles, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 small onion, diced, 10 oz. shredded cabbage, salt & pepper, to taste, 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger {or grate in a little fresh ginger}, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sesame oil

 

29 October 2017 Sunday

I was up at 7 am to open the doggy door so the pups could go out. I decided to stay up so made some coffee and hot cereal that I ate very little of. I worked some more on John Williams  the Younger’s history until about 9:30 before making some banana bread to take to Jesse Dolce’s Halloween pot luck this afternoon.  I dressed up as a pirate for The Men Who Move’s Halloween and Pot Luck Party that Jesse Dolce and Darby hosted at their home in Bountiful. I got there about 1 pm when it started and their home was so decked on with Halloween paraphernalia galore. Life size mannequins of witches, Frankenstein, The Corpse Bride, talking skeletons. It was wonderful.  Most people came in costume and the weather could not have been more pleasant almost 70 degrees and the fall colors this year are spectacular. They had perhaps 30 people off and on show up.  Most people I did not know, but most were an older crowd like me. Those I did know were John Crapo, Garth Chamberlain, Mark Angus, Darrin Solomon, Cole Gilman, Dennis Lee, and others I recognized from my lecture series but really don’t know their names yet. The costumes were wonderful like Gay men do. A medieval knight in chain mail, a Nordic Ice God, Hippies, Togas, etc. I was the only Pirate ha! I spent some time talking to Steve Fales, the actor who performed Confessions of a Mormon Boy because he was interested that I was a local Gay historian. He said he’s working on a play about Stephen Evans a Gay Mormon Music Instructor of the Tabernacle Choir from the early 20^th Century.  I had a really nice time visiting with lots of different people and my banana bread was a hit even though there were lots of homemade desserts. Of course I barely ate anything mostly chips and guacamole. I left about 3 pm when the party was winding down to come home, change and go to the store and get some gas. I wanted to feed the pups before heading down to Draper Prison for the first time. Even though I still have a slight cold and it was against the rules to visit prisoners when sick I went anyway because I knew I was not contagious. I had no Idea how to get there, nor the procedures once there. I left at 4:50 and was there by 5:15 which surprised me how quick it was compared to what I thought. Visiting for Wasatch’s C group was not until 6 so I sat in the car to wait until 5:45 and by then the waiting room was now filled which was Spartan compared to Gunnison. No comfy waiting couches at all, just plastic utilitarian chairs. Found out I had to fill out a slip, stand in line to hand it and my driver’s license to a correctional officer behind a plexiglass partition who gave me a small plastic card with an identity number which I had to carry with me. Draper has no lockers to store items and since hats are not allowed I had to quickly go back out to my car to drop off my hat and extra keys as they only let you carry in two. I had to ask folks about the regiment. About 6:15 they were starting to let people pass through the metal detector and I just played “follow the leader” with the crowd. We passed out of the waiting room building into an open space into the actual prison and were then taken through some hallways by guards to the inmate visiting room which was very Draconian compared to Gunnison. The Gunnison visiting room was bright, painted white with lots of murals painted by prisoners over the years with a row of vending machines to buy drinks and snacks. Here in Draper the room was a brown brick space with poor lighting and kind of dismal.  The vending machines are in a room before the visiting area and only contained drinks that were clear, no colas at all. You had to buy the drink before the inmate came in because you were not allowed to get up afterwards. So I bought Kyle a “Mist” lemon lime drink for a $1.50 in quarters. No Dr. Pepper or snacks this time for him. I needn’t bother bringing lots of quarters anymore. They didn’t bring Kyle out until 6:30 and someone told me that they wouldn’t give us a full two hours but I thought well I am so much closer and can visit that much more frequent. Kyle looked good and in good spirits so I know he was glad to see me. He had a story to tell me about Craig Crawford who murdered John Williams of Gastronomy. Craig’s been sentence to life in prison for the murder but has been temporarily housed in the same unit as Kyle. Craig came up to him and said that he heard Kyle’s family had been spreading gossip about him. That took Kyle for surprise first because he didn’t even know Craig and second his family never visits him. Evidently Kyle had mentioned to some Gay guys he knew about the murderer of John Williams coming to state prison and it got back to Craig. He thought Kyle had been talking to Jim Dabakis instead of getting the news I had been sending him. I told Kyle jokingly that he needed to start hanging around a better class of Gay people. He responded by saying the pickings are slim considering his environment. We talked of other things, how he is remorseful and done with his old life and way of thinking that got him in trouble and how he just wants to get out and get on with his life so he can build things. Well at 7:45 the guards said everyone’s time was up and we were hustled out. I had to show my plastic card to get my license back and then I was on my way. It was pitch black when I left and I was home in 40 minutes. Much better than the 2 hour drive from Gunnison. At home I called Jim Dabakis to tell him about Craig because Jim was a close friend of John’s. He was really surprised that Craig was housed with Kyle but I told him that it was only temporary that Craig was supposed to be housed in what Kyle called Tier 1 above Kyle but because of lack of openings he was temporary in the same unit as Kyle. Tier 1 I suppose is for lifers who do all the menial work of mopping, laundry, cleaning. So I said to Kyle, Then they are your servants? And he laughed. 

·         Old Fashion Oatmeal cookies Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 6 Tbs milk, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups oats, 1/2 cup raisins or nuts Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  In a bowl using a hand mixer cream butter and sugar.  Then add egg and milk, mix together.  In a bowl mix the baking soda in 1 Tbs warm water then add to the bowl.   Sift flour, salt, cloves, and cinnamon into the bowl, mix.  Add the rolled oats and raisins or nuts and using a large spoon mix together.  Drop a tablespoon sized ball on greased cookie sheet 1 inch apart.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown.

 

30 October 2017 Monday

I didn’t do much of anything today. I was up early about 6 am and had a cup of coffee but my stomach was hurting so eventually I made an egg burrito that hurt my stomach when I ate it so end up giving 2/3 of it to the pups. I did have a small glass of orange juice and later for lunch a chicken pot pie. Ate most of it but not all. I think Maxx ate the rest of it. I don’t think Buddy is feeling all that well because for the past couple of days he’s been slow to eat any supper when usually he has a great appetite. Finally a nice supermarket is coming to Redwood Road... they remodeled the old Food Savers and turned it into a Lucky's that use to be all over Southern California when I lived there decades ago... Probably realized with 900 apartment units going up on Redwood and North Temple people need a supermarket over here... The closest Smith to me is 3 miles away on 6th South and 1200 West and after that there's Rancho Market on North Temple and 9th West 5 miles away... think it's almost time clean up my leaves in the back yard because they are ankle deep but TJ, Lulu Belle, and Max loves chasing each other through them.... They pounce around like kids. I will wait until the end of the week when its November or before the snow falls. So desperate to deflect that Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, has been indicted, trump accused “Obama's campaign” of dirty dealing during last year’s election... Only one problem... Obama wasn't running for President! This guy is so senile... former house speaker John Boehner called Jason Chaffetz a “total phony” and focused on self-promotion instead of his legislative talent. He said “With Chaffetz, it’s always about Chaffetz.” Everyone except Utah County knew this about Chaffetz but he got the good old boy Mormon pass there...  I wrote Kyle today and sent him some pictures of him constructing the deck that he wanted to show off to his crew to show he is a handyman. I mailed it off went I took Coco home. So it’s been a lazy day as Mabon comes to an end and the pups slept most of the day. In the news Mueller indicted Paul Manafort for money laundering, a court invalidated trumps ban on Transsexuals in the military and Kevin Spacey is losing his career after coming out as Gay after a guy claimed he molested him 30 years ago when he was a teenager. Also Trump’s former foreign policy adviser George Papadopolous pled guilty for making false statements to FBI... “Manafort and Rick Gates indicted...Hurricane Mueller gets upgraded to a category 5 as he heads towards Pennsylvania Avenue. Residents there have been advised to evacuate immediately but so far have insisted on staying, hoping that uranium will protect them."  Then a Federal court said that Trump’s ban on Trans in the military is illegal. Poor trumpipoo is having a very bad day...I hope all the fake Christians are sending their thoughts and prayers.

·         Dear Kyle, It was really good seeing you yesterday. Actually you looked well and less tense than I last saw you in Gunnison. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest and even though Draper is a little dingier than Gunnison hopefully being back in Salt Lake Valley and seeing familiar mountains will make you realize you are that much closer to being released. You being at Draper was a learning curve for me too. I had no Idea how to get there to the Draper Prison and the google map was confusing but I left at 4:50 and I was there by 5:15. I was really surprised how quick it was to get there from the house compared to what I thought.  I first went in the Visitors Building just to check it out even though I knew that for your Wasatch’s C group visiting hours was not until 6.  The waiting room was absolutely Spartan compared to Gunnison. No comfy waiting couches with magazines at all, just plastic utilitarian chairs. Found out that I had to fill out a slip with your information on it which was different from the open counter in Gunnison where the correctional officers just took down all your information. In Draper there’s just one correctional officer behind a plexiglass partition to deal with all the people standing in line. I actually was visiting with your Jesse Martinez folks who told me that there’s no lockers in which to store personal items like Gunnison has, so since hats are not allowed I had to quickly go back out to the car to drop off my hat and extra keys as they only let you carry in two keys.  The line of people to hand over their ID is in a little space about 4 feet wide and quite crowded with people waiting and with those who were handed the small plastic card with an identity number which I had to carry with me coming back out to wait. It was nearly  6:15 before they started letting people pass through the metal detector and I just played “follow the leader” with the crowd because I had no idea where I was going. We passed out of the waiting room building into an open yard space then into the actual prison. That seemed odd after Gunnison. We were then taken through some hallways by guards to just outside the inmate visiting room which seemed to me very Draconian compared to Gunnison. Not as cheerful for sure. The Gunnison visiting room was bright, painted white with lots of murals painted by prisoners from over the years with a row of vending machines to buy drinks and snacks. The vending machines here are in a small room before the visiting area and only contained drinks that are clear, no colas at all. You had to buy the drink before the inmate came in because you were not allowed to get up afterwards.  When I left you I noticed they do have sprite and sprite Zero but everything else is just Mountain Dew or water.  No Dr. Pepper or snacks. Sorry. Let me know beforehand what you would like. Even though we didn’t get a little more than an hour and 15 minutes to visit well we are much closer and I can visit more frequently.  It was pitch black when I left and rather cold out in the open area between the waiting area and the prison. Someone told me that you can bring a jacket in the winter but you have to hang it up on hooks before coming into the visiting area. I was home in 40 minutes so I was home before 8:30. Much better than the 2 hour drive from Gunnison. I looked at the schedule you sent me and I can come down on Saturday November 11th at 1 pm, Sunday the 19th at 3 pm.  I can’t make it on the 18th because that’s my movie and a dinner night. I am planning on fixing Chili and showing the 1939 Classic The Women.  Sunday the 26th will be iffy because of the weather and it’s 8 am. I know you might need your beauty sleep and want to sleep in… besides do you miss your breakfast when they have an early visitation hour?  But plan on me coming unless it’s snowing bad or you would rather sleep in.  Hopefully you will have your television by then and get some relief from football. I texted Jim Dabakis when I got home about your run in with Craig Crawford and he wanted me to call him and tell him all the dish. I told him that you were surprised when he confronted you because you didn’t even know who he was. I told him that I told you that you needed to start hanging around with a better class of Gay people.  Jim was surprised that Craig was there among you guys because he thinks that Craig has a temper and violent streak and he doesn’t believe that he pled guilty to spare John’s family either.  He laughed when I said that Tier 1 inmates were your servants doing your laundry and mopping. I hope you got your Pork Chops on Halloween. I will be going to the Pioneer Theater to see a play called Comedy of Tenors. I don’t know anything about it but the tickets were half price for Halloween night.  Wednesday the 1st of November I have an appointment with my family doctor. It will be interested to see what I weigh in at. I should probably get my flu shot then too. I looked up your Cyle Cox on Facebook but couldn’t find anyone by that name. Maybe I am spelling it wrong. I am sending you some pictures when you were a butch hardworking carpenter. One of them is of you building a fence for Greg. I’ve heard that he’s been sober for six months now so good for him. He’s still very active in the Royal Court fundraising. Chuck Whyte is hooked up to an anti-biotic drip line to clear up an infection in that bad foot of his. Last week he turned 60 years old. That’s a mile stone I suppose.  I got my Senior pass to National Parks for $10 about a week ago, not that I will actually go to any of them but it’s also good for Federal forest lands to go see fall colors up in the mountains that is unless Trump’s cronies hadn’t already sold everything off to the oil and coal companies. Well I am ecstatic that Paul Manafort was indicted today on money laundering.  He was released to home confinement on $10 million bond. I bet he will fly the coop.  I hope the whole house of cards collapses. Speaking of House of Cards, I guess that old Queen Kevin Spacey finally admitted he is Gay after he had accusations of sexually harassing a 14 year old after back in 1988. Puhleeze. Bill Poore said that he knew the porn stars that Kevin Spacey had on a regular basis back in the 1990’s when Bill was a director in Experimental Gay Theater in Sand Diego. Not a well-kept secret. And why is this coming out 30 years later? Someone needed a career boost I think. Oh well… C’est Le Vie. Nothing new here in Gay Salt Lake since we last visited.   I will close now and get this into the 6 O’clock mail… As I ever was or ever shall be Your Friend Ben

 

31 October 2017 Tuesday Halloween

Buddy's grapefruit size bump on his rump burst last night and has gone down but it’s a mess... I am keeping it clean with peroxide and Bactine.. But what a mess to clean up... Probably will take him to the new vet tomorrow to have them look at it...he doesn't seem to be in any pain from it...I am going out with Charles Bigo tonight to see Comedy of Tenors at the Pioneer theater so won't be home for Halloween so I gave the pups their Tricks or Treats while I tried to take a nap...I worked all morning getting 25 pages down to 10 for tomorrow's lecture series on the Year 1977... Not quite there yet but getting there... I made a big kettle of chicken noodle soup to bring over to Mike as he has the mumbo-gumbo everyone seems to getting although I am about over it...Had a small bowl to sample and I must say it is delicious...I had a lovely time at the Pioneer theater with Charles Bigo but glad to be home now with my pups...I hope everyone had a great Halloween but it's kind of sad when October is over...November is always so dark...and here comes the snow sooner or later...

·         Stephen Bolinder That poor kid  I was thinking it might burst when I was grooming him.

·         Richard P. Butler And the other doctor didn't think to drain it?

·          T.J. Otaka Hopefully, he is fine. It is a good idea to take him to the vet to ensure that his wound heals properly.

 

 

NOVEMBER

1 November 2017 Wednesday

Such a busy day...I had a doctor’s appointment this morning with Dr. Stoneburner at 8:20 and the results of my A1c was 7.1 up from 6.6 but still good with all the crap I have been eating and without exercising or taking meds...The good news is that Stoneburner said I am no longer considered obese after I made him change my height LOL. He dropped me to 5’7” so I’d be eligible for the bariatric surgery but now that it is over I said I wanted my height back LOL. So he changed me back to 5’9” which is more like it. I have been considered obese for at least about 27 years lol. I haven't been at 195 lbs. since 1989... He took me off high blood pressure pills since my measurement was 130/71 and my oxygen saturation was 98 percent. He wrote A+ on my forms because he knows I use to be a school teacher. My next appointment is March 1^st. I got my flu shot today also. I then took Buddy to the Dog Park Clinic to have them look at his wound. They said it was an abscess cyst and they kept his all afternoon to do some blood work but he wasn’t caged but allowed to roam. When I picked him up they have me some pain pills and some anti-biotics to hold him over until next week when He is having what is left of the bump surgery removed as well as a lot of dentistry work... He's always had bad teeth. I paid $285 for today’s visit and next week it may be close to a $1000.  Other than that the rest of the day was getting the paper on 1977 written and chronologies printed at Fed Ex for tonight...I also baked some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. The lecture series was at 7 pm at the Marmalade Library and wow we had the largest turn out ever... I didn't count the people but all the chairs around the table were filled as well as all the stackable chairs and two chairs were brought in...Greg Allen said we had at 24 crammed into the small conference room... Connell O'Donovan kept saying more people were coming when I started at 7 but didn't believe it until they showed up...lots of new people...many under 40 even lol... I hope everyone enjoyed learning about 1977 as much as I enjoyed sharing my research... There was a man at the meeting up from Tucson who now is in his 80s who had bought the Railroad Exchange with Joe Redburn back in 1972... I have his phone number so I will extract nuggets of information from that Gold Mine. Also Chuck Whyte surprised me with his recollections of the Anita Bryant protest at the State Fairgrounds saying oranges were thrown on stage which I hadn’t heard... So it wasn't as peaceful as I had been told lol...

·         Denise Wachs You go Uncle Ben! Proud of you. I've lost 50 lbs. and your still lighter than me!

·         Benedgar Williams Keep it up whatever you're doing

·         Terrie Williams yeah, I’ve lost 30 and you're lighter than me . I’m gonna catch up. have you considered eating paleo? you can still bake, you use almond flour or coconut flour . ingredients that would keep your sugars lower. lots of awesome recipes. check it out. non obese....good job. way to go!

·         Benedgar Williams It's not at all what I can eat as that physically I can only eat about a cup worth of anything before feeling bloated and raw veggies are hard on me as well as milk and cereal... I egg and a half a slice of toast in the morning makes feel stuffed.

·         Bill Poore I hate you.

·          Richard Harmston Bill really doesn't mean what he wrote. You've just helped him determine a personal goal he needs to work toward.

·         Benedgar Williams Yes he does but jealousy is an ugly emotion so he's buying me lunch tomorrow at Charlie Chows...

·         Bill Poore He is a cheap date, all he can eat is a bowl of soup

·         Richard Harmston Excellent presentation last night! You are a rich resource, Ben. Just for your information, Houston won the World Series last night, but you also hit one out of the ballpark.

·         Benedgar Williams There was a World Series going on?. Thanks Richard you are always kind and supportive.

·         Bill Poore It was not a football game Ben.

·         Benedgar Williams It's not how I enjoy watching men play with their balls Bill

·         T.J. Otaka I did enjoy learning about 1977. Thank you, Ben.

·         Robert Moody Thank you ! Fun evening!

 

2 November 2017 Thursday

The Dog Park Vet called with Buddy's blood work...she said everything was good and normal except a higher amount of infection in his blood which she said was probably due to his abscess rupture and his gum infection which should be taken care of next Wednesday... So hopefully he will feel a lot better the remaining time we have together...I worked a couple of hours cleaning off my deck of all the leaves from my poplar trees and putting all the deck chairs away for the winter... I will do more tomorrow if the weather holds...it’s been one of the more beautiful falls we have had in a fall, lots of color, still no freeze but also not much moisture. The city came out yesterday and planted two Hedge Maples on my south parking strip...they are drought resistant and should look pretty in the fall when they mature otherwise very green in the summer... I now have 10 trees in my front yard and 12 in my back... 2 Hedge maples, 1 Hawthorne, 1 redbud, 2 faux purple plums, a Scottish pine, a blue spruce, a long needle pine, and a flowering faux cherry. That's just in the front ha! So I am doing my bit to filter the air. In the back I have two globe willows, an ash, a yellow locust, a silver leaf poplar, a fruitless flowering pear, a plum tree, a purple leaf ash, and 4 poplars. Some American hero deleted Trump’s Twitter account on his last day. It was only down for about 10 minutes but still! He should permanently be deactivated... Remember when Obama had to give up his Blackberry phone when he became president for security reasons? Wouldn't it be great irony if Trump is indicted on the anniversary of his fraudulent election? Billionaires crushed the working class...blamed it on foreign workers...promote a Billionaire who promises to bring back working class jobs... Knows many Americans are disparate and or stupid to believe he will... Appoints a Billionaire cabinet to destroy working class safety nets and bargaining rights... What we have is a Billionaire coup de ‘tat.  My old friend Don Penrose wrote this about me on his Facebook Page

·         I’ve known him since a year out of high school when I was a stumbling, gawky, just-coming-out young man with bad hair, a face full of gnarly teeth and braces. I had zero self-confidence, I was quickly transitioning from introvert to extrovert, I was terrified of crowds, and I felt like I was the only clueless, questioning dude in the world (fast forward to this age of wisdom: all men have their eras of cluelessness, with some epochs lasting longer than others). He made me comfortable and put me at ease. This particular fine gent directed weekly support groups for gay and bisexual or questioning men, usually with some kind of Mormon background. He is one of the first men in the gay community that I contacted that helped fill out life’s map, banished some of the fog, and made the threats of dragons less terrifying. His repartee, benevolence, and composure reminded me of Paul Lynne, Aunt Clara from Bewitched, and Miss Judy from the Love Boat: funny, matronly, but directive without being overbearing. He was our community’s historian before he was ever recognized as such, decades later. He coordinated an event called “Beyond Stonewall” – a community overnight camping trip, an event I attended with my then partner, both of us trying to figure out our path in the world. He volunteered countless hours to our community, and his presence and guidance in my early years had a profound effect on my sense of self, confidence, community, and safety. Whether he knows or not – I started keeping a journal because of him. Friends, please say hello to Benedgar (Ben).

 

3 November 2017 Friday

It’s kind of a blustery morning. Temperatures are probably going to drop. A cold front must be moving in. Ambitious this morning, I got up and got a crockpot of lima bean soup going and after giving the dogs their treats I baked two loaves of banana bread to use up bananas that were turning overly ripe. Soups are about the only thing that my stomach tolerates... I made split pea, chicken noodle, chili verde, and today Lima bean soup...I think stew tomorrow as it might rain or maybe corn chowder...Buddy’s wound still looks raw. The bump seems to be still oozing so been keeping it clean with peroxide. I poured some peroxide on it and its still foaming poor guy. His surgery isn't until next Wednesday.  Everybody else is sound asleep probably due to the barometric pressure. Should clean my house but nah... no company is coming over. I met Bill Poore for lunch at Charlie Chows.  We both just ordered a bowl of soup and surprisingly I ate all of mine. Michael Aaron asked if I would go to the Fabby Awards held at the Zest Vegan bar downtown. I said sure but once there I found out he was just taking pictures as he gave out a certificate award. Mine wasn’t even framed LOL.  So when Tinamarie said that there wasn’t going to be an announcement of winners and the event was really for the Gay Chamber of Commerce I left to go back home after picking up my award certificate for best columnist for the QSalt Lakes Fabby Award... Now I know the reason I don't go out at night downtown anymore ... There's no place like home...

·         Daniel Cureton, I have to say I thoroughly loved reading "year of the porcupine". I very much appreciate being able to publish the firsthand account, primary source from that period in Utah gay history. My editors loved it and warned to know more about some of the folks who never came back into the pages like John Merrill. But you're writing it like mine, kindred spirit, passionate, persuasive, full of energy and life. Beholden to me.

·         Benedgar John Merrill's other persona was Dixie when she was a bartender at Radio City Lounge. She was a big girl about 300 lbs. and dressed in the 1940s fashion with a pill box hat with a net veil... She was quite popular but lonely as John confided in me that as Dixie she was constantly getting laid but as John he never could find a date.  He eventually got his barber license and opened a hair salon on 3rd South and 2nd East and also gave massages... At one low point he was dealing drugs out of his shop which failed and he fled to Mexico... I know he took a vacation to Greece once where he said the Greek servicemen supplemented their income by fucking Gay tourists...it wasn't considered emasculating as long as they were the top... I lost track of John over the years...he was heavily into what was then called metaphysics especially crystals... He was A good man but a lost soul...

·         Daniel oh wow, crazy. Is he still out there?

·         Benedgar I have no idea...have not seen him the community for at least 20 years when I dropped out for a while... I can ask around but I suspect with his weight, the drugs, and HIV he's probably not among the living anymore just exists in my journal and memoirs

·         Daniel oh my, well, so many went the way of the grave too early

·         Benedgar Well he might surprise and still be kicking...he would be in his late 50s or early 60s if he is and often older Gay men go back into a closet of isolation in a youth centric Gay community... I should send you the rest of the sacred Faerie Saga till its end in 1993.

·         Daniel ah, yes that's true. I should have the rest. I got a large file from you. ah, wait you're right I have year of the squirrel, but it ends there. when you can, send over the rest. I NEED it! Lol

·         Benedgar I don't know if I copied everything from my journals but stopped before I completed the chronology... I will check ... It all fell apart due to betrayal lol oh the drama.

·         Daniel Well, I can publish the squirrel for 2018, so you have till May of 2019 to get me the rest. Don't lollygag or you'll forget to get it to me

 

4 November 2017 Saturday

I am not sure why but I woke at 2:30 a.m.  and couldn’t get back to sleep so got up to let the dogs out now that I have been shutting the doggy door at night and I cleaned up the kitchen. I went back to bed about 4 a.m. but was up again at 7 am so decided to stay and due some cooking. I made a kettle of Beef stew because it was a gloomy November day. I had a nice lunch with Bill Poore. I had him over for the Beef Stew and a biscuit and he brought he brought treats for the pups. Bill says he’s an Independent now and says he's no longer a Democrat...he's a switch hitter... I tried to reason with him but he wants to date Republicans and Democrats... Sad...not me I am a Kinsey Six Democrat... Independents are like bisexuals they don’t know what they want.

·         Bill Poore I am not going to vote for someone just because they are Democrat, I can see no I could vote for a Republican. The Democratic Party in my opinion turned its back on Hillary.....yes they did. by the way the bean soup you gave me to take home was the best I have ever eater

 

5 November 2017 Sunday

Cold and damp this first day back to normal time...should I turn the heat up or just put on more clothes? I feel like I was supposed to go somewhere or do something today but don't know what. I worked on John Williams the Younger’s story most of the day but the site kept going up and down. What a pain. Harleigh has been going outside all day then barking to be helped back up. Why should I go to the gym when I get my exercise going up and down the porch steps 4 or 5 times a day hauling Harleigh back up... Shouldn't that count as cardio? Scores of Baptists dead in church shooting in Sutherland Springs Texas... I am sure the Republican Congress and the NRA will send their thoughts and prayers as this is not the time to talk about gun control. Another white man with access to killing machines... The NRA is mass producing these killers... Make no mistake as thoughts and prayers are mouthed by our eunuchs in Congress... Faith without works is as dead as these victims of the NRA. Stop with the thoughts and prayers... No lives matter to the NRA...Get your asses out on Tuesday and vote Democrat. Donna Brazile expose’ is such a lie. She shouldn’t call herself a Democrat ... Go be an Independent like Bernie and quit trying to divide us Democrats. Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary in the Trump administration, shares business interests with Vladimir Putin’s immediate family, and he failed to clearly disclose those interests when he was being confirmed for his cabinet position.

 

6 November 2017 Monday

It was misty and gloomy this morning. The dogs are still wanting me up at their time not standard time. I fixed some coffee and tried to fix and egg and bacon burrito but ended up giving it to the pups after I took a bite. It wasn’t sitting well on my stomach. Later I fixed some cooked oatmeal to get something on my stomach. I also started making a navy bean soup in the crock pot. I wanted to go to Deseret Industries this morning to get a wooden bowl that I could screw down to the deck so the squirrels will stop knocking them off the railing. I found one and a few other little items before going to the Northwest Community Center to go to the gym. My membership through Silver Sneakers had expired so I had to renew it. So I walked a mile around the track and did some of the weight machines. Before going home I went to Lucky’s supermarket to get some pork for the dog’s supper tonight. It’s still really busy with its grand opening.  The rest of the day I worked on John Williams the Younger [1672-1757] history.  Buddy seems to be so much better or at least peppier with the anti-biotics and pain pills I have been giving him. That goose egg bump is nearly gone now. Ban assault weapons ... We don't have a well-regulated militia... What we have are crazed angry white men who are paranoid sociopaths... I pay taxes for the armed services to have assault weapons... Civilians should not have access to these weapons of mass destruction any more than car bombs...How can the far right say America is a Christian nation when they all practice idolatry by worshipping guns over God? The far right is filled with sociopaths devoid of love for their fellow human beings and other living creatures... The Mormon Church says they only get involved in politics when it’s a "morals" issue. That's the excuse they use to squawk about Gay Rights but nary a word do you hear about the American epidemic of A-15 assault weapons used to massacre innocent people. You would think that mass murder would be one of those moral issues beyond sending out 'thoughts and prayers"... last I check every one of these white male murderers were heterosexuals not Gay folks.

A quick guide to Republicanese for mass murderers.

White shooter = mentally ill, lone wolf

Black shooter = Thug, drug user

Latino shooter = Gang member, rapist,

Muslim shooter = terrorist, jihadist,

·         Shorten Bread Ingredients all-purpose flour (2 cups), rice flour (1/4 cup), sugar (1/4 cup), more as needed, fine sea salt (1/2 teaspoon), 16 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 cup), melted and cooled Preparation Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar and salt. Stir in the butter. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with sugar while warm and slice; cool completely.

·         Lemon Bread  A tasty bread that is quick to prepare, moist, and just the right amount of lemon!  Servings: 12  Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp lemon peel, grated, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/2 cup milk powdered sugar, 2 tbsp lemon juice  Instructions In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add in the eggs, lemon juice, and lemon peel. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Pour in the milk and stir until just combined. Grease an 8x4 in. loaf pan, Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan(s), filling about 1/2 way. Place pans into preheated oven, 350 and bake for 45 minutes if using a large pan, or 35 minutes if using mini pans. While bread is baking, combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl. Once bread is finished, remove from oven and drizzle glaze evenly on top. Allow bread to cool slightly on cooling racks before serving.

 

7 November 2017 Tuesday Election Day

The Recorders office said David C. Atkin has withdrawn from SLC council District 1 race leaving incumbent James Rogers as the only candidate for city council for my area. There was nothing else on the ballot and I had ambivalent feelings about Rogers so I didn’t vote today. I figured if even 1person voted today Rogers would win so what was the point except for a symbolic empty gesture.  Went out to lunch with Levon my Armenian ward at Chili's downtown to catch up on his immigration status. He's been here 5 years now, has a job, a car, and pays taxes but because he's here seeking asylum, under Trump's Home Land security they made him wear an ankle monitor for 45 days to determine his coming and goings even though he's never even had so much as a parking ticket... He's a college graduate in graphic design. He lived with me for 6 months when he first came here seeking asylum and by law could not work. I supported him until he got permission to work. In Armenia he would have been persecuted for being a Gay kid. He has his asylum hearing finally in January. Made some lemon bread this afternoon from a new recipe...smells good but can't vouch for the taste...I brought in my potted Geraniums because supposed to be a hard freeze tonight down to the 20s but back up to the 60s come Thursday... Buddy goes into the vet tomorrow to have that abscess removed although it's shrunk quite a bit...I know he's feeling better already because he's bossing me around again. Home from a fun time with Jim Dabakis at the Salt Lake Acting Company to see a very strange play called Mercury...the acting was wonderful and the play was really good if really strange...Jim wore a red cap that said Make American Great Again in Russian lol... I gave him one of my lemon loaves I made today for taking me...The play Mercury had two Gay story lines one with Lesbians and one with Gay men and a whole lot of nudity so I give it 5 stars even if it was really weird with the occult, murder, and a dead bear lol...

·         Kevin Scott -Personally, Rogers is a nice guy. But he rubbed me the wrong way in a stump speech when he talked about how much government needed to operate like a business. It's a premise that I reject. But I don't believe that he's a bad guy by any means.

 

8 November 2017 Wednesday

Took Buddy to the new vet this morning to see how the infected cyst is healing and have the rest removed and to have some teeth pulled and others cleaned. He's gonna be woozy today but hopefully the remaining years we have together he won't be in pain from infections. Driving around after dropping Buddy off at 7 a.m. I saw all these flags at half-mast... for the latest NRA sponsored mass killing I suppose. We might as well keep them at half-mast as the GOP will never do anything to upset their masters and more mass murders are inevitable in American's killing fields. The only thing the GOP has to offer is ineffectual thoughts and prayers... Too many wicked Americans love their guns more than their children. That's the definition of evil. A year ago America lost its god damn mind and elected a four times bankrupt, three times married, one child out wedlock, Russian backed sociopath rather than the most qualified candidate because she was a woman to be our President. Most shameful day in our history. Buddy came home from surgery and teeth extraction about 3:30. The bill was $940...poor baby had 17 teeth pulled even though I have done a cleaning on him every two years... He's always had very bad teeth I suppose because he'd never chew on biscuits or raw hide... Makes me upset that his old vet would not have seen how bad his teeth were. He will have to wear the cone of shame for 10 days then he will go back to see how his sutures are on his rump and teeth... He's really out of it right now but gave him some antibiotic and pain pills... I will grind his food up for him because he can only have soft food...Later Buddy is so out of it... Just stands in one spot...if don't think he knows yet where he is until the drugs where off... Buddy has to wear his cone of shame to keep from licking his stitches so it doesn't get infected. I can't have him lick his stitches... But I can take it off while I feed him... He ate some wet can food that I hand fed him and I have to let him out the door because he can't go through the doggy door... He's up on the bed resting... The cone of shame is padded made out of nylon not hard plastic...so it's like a pillow for him. The collar is not hard plastic but a padded nylon hood that fastens with Velcro... It's kind of like a cushion to rest on... I hand fed him some wet food which he ate... His upper and lower front teeth are gone... I guess it will be scrambled eggs and biscuits and gravy from now on...

 

9 November 2017 Thursday

Up early to let Buddy outside to do his business... I have to guide him down the steps as with his fancy blinders he doesn't have any depth perception... Good thing it's not snowy... Then hauled him back up... Gave him his antibiotic and pain pill in cream cheese... Forget sugar it's cream cheese that makes the medicine go down.. Also hauled Harleigh back up too...but we are all back to bed and the pups are sound asleep... Me not so much... But we are all safe and warm and for that I am truly thankful...Tried feeding Buddy scrambled eggs this morning but he spit them out lol...so I opened a can of wet food and he ate it as long as I hand fed it too him...yucky...the eggs didn't go to waste with all the others... He went out this morning and was out for about 15 minutes wandering around the yard getting his exercise... TJ is afraid of the Buddy’s collar of shame and barks at it lol...

 

10 November 2017 Friday

Didn’t really do much today but work on genealogy and buy some groceries. It was cool and overcast and Michael didn’t bring Coco over today so I didn’t need to bring her home. I made some spaghetti for dinner and cooked up the rest of the hamburger to feed to the dogs. I am sure things are going on in the world but not sure that I care anymore. It’s like Future Shock just can’t keep up with the corruption in the Era of Trump. He met with Putin in Vietnam, Michael Flynn is being accused of plotting the kidnapping of a Turkish cleric, a man with no judicial experience was confirmed by the GOP congress to a lifetime appointee position as a federal judge.  It’s so overwhelming.

 

11 November 2017 Saturday Veteran’s Day

What a beautiful fall day along the Wasatch Range...sky crystal clear and can see 50 miles or more to Ogden to the north and Stansbury Mountains to the west... I did some yard work cleaning the leaves from the north side of the house... I am leaving some because the pups like to play and jump around in them... I made a crock pot of corn chowder and then took a drive to Bluffdale to visit Kyle at the state pen. Visiting hours today was 1 to 3 so I left the house about 12:15 to get to the prison by 12:45. The entry guard was being a real jerk compared to the Gunnison personnel. Kyle said that at Gunnison there’s not much work so they can screen people who work there better but here in Draper there is so much better paying jobs in Salt Lake County that they get kind of the dregs who can pass a back ground check but that’s about all. Most of the guards I saw today were pretty hefty. We had a nice visit. Really not a whole lot to report on since I wrote him last. It was just good to be with him. I was back home by 3:45 because I kind of took the long way home on Redwood Road because it was such a pretty day. Buddy is more energetic and has a good appetite even with 17 teeth gone... He woofs down the wet food I hand feed him... Glad my old boy is feeling better... Today is Armistice Day, World War I came to an end 99 years ago at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month... It was the war to end all wars. Americans fought and died to make the world safe for democracy... The asshole Roy Moore who is running for Senator from Alabama is being accused of inappropriate behavior with a 14 year old girl some years back. The only shocking aspect of Moore's dalliance with a 14 year old girl when he was 35 is the fact that she wasn't his cousin... Radical evangelicals are excusing his dalliance with teenagers by comparing him to Joseph and Mary. Since when did so called Christians begin to use Mary and Joseph to justify pedophilia? Oh when Republicans wanted to put a disgraced bigoted Klan loving Alabama homophobe in the United States Senate who think Donald trump is the Messiah of the white race.

.

12 November 2017 Sunday

I fostered Marley a year ago after I had mourned Farley's death in August. I was a successful foster and got him adopted to this great Gay couple who just adored him... So I thought I'd foster again a little female Terrier Mix named Cupcake. Complete foster failure... Fell in love with her, adopted her and changed her name to Lulu Belle... So that's how I ended up with 5 dogs, Buddy aged 11, Harleigh age 9 or 10, Maxx age 6, TJ age 3, and Lulu Belle age 6. Baking Raisin Oatmeal cookies this morning. Why? Because I can. I baked them while I was working on the history of John Williams the father of Britton Williams. I had Bill Poore over for Sunday dinner to thank him for his service in the Coast Guard while I was dodging the draft... Well at least I got a college education from avoiding the draft...Bill brought over these lovely flowers and I fixed him a pot roast dinner with mashed potatoes, brown gravy, peas and carrots, biscuits, corn chowder, mixed nuts and oatmeal raisin cookies... Sent him home with cookies and all the left overs... He brought soft treats so Buddy could have some... Now it's nap time. Its 4:30 and the dogs all fed... Canned wet food with some diced up flank steak...Buddy got wet food, mashed potatoes and gravy with a little bit of roast beef scraps... He's got his appetite back... Yesterday Lulu Belle must have had tummy problems because she wouldn't eat but her appetite is back...I don't think she cares much for beef... I had a cup of corn chowder, a spoonful of peas and carrots and a dab of potatoes and gravy for lunch and I am still feeling bloated... I see that the sun is starting to go down early in the west... The dark days of Samhain... I can see why some of my friends are putting up their Yule lights already... Call me a traditionalist but I will wait until the turkey has been gobbled...The sunset in the western sky is beautiful tonight from my veranda ... I wish the camera captured it better...

 

13 November 2017 Monday

The pups wanted up at 6 am so let them out, fed them breakfast, wrote my very late column for Q Salt Lake (award winning column I might add ) and now the pups are sound asleep while I am wide awake... I've had my coffee now what? Do need to go to the Marmalade Library and see about renewing a space for the lecture series for the next 6 months? That should bring us up to 1984 in Utah Gay history... So I went down to the Marmalade Library to see about renewing a space for the lecture series for the next 6 months but I have to wait until November 15^th to submit the form. I also want to change the meeting space from the small conference room to the multipurpose room. From there I went to DI to buy some more sweaters and shirts. Everything I have is either X large or bigger and they just hang on me. No sense buying nice clothes until I land at a certain weight. I’ve felt very gassy in my stomach like I have to belch all the time. I went to the gym and walked 1 ½ miles for 40 minutes and did some machines before heading to Smith’s to get some Alka-Seltzer for my stomach and some more vitamins.

 

14 November 2017 Tuesday

I've been up since 4:30 after letting Buddy out then chasing him around the yard to get his butt back into the house... Will be glad when the cone of shame is gone so he can go in and out the doggy door again... Rather the trying to force myself to go back to sleep wrote and researched on the computer for four hours. Chicken N Dumplings sounded good thus afternoon... But what to do with a kettle of it? I went to bed about 8:30 and woke up at 10:30 after I had soiled the bed in my sleep! Ugh I had never done that before so I stripped the bed threw it all in the washer and remade my bed. My system is so out of whack. I had been constipated for a couple of days and very burpy so I took some Ex-lax hoping to get things moving down there. Usually I am very sensitive about when I have to use the toilet but not this time. I didn’t know I made a mess until I had. Times like this I am glad I sleep alone or I’d be mortified.  I think some of my constipation is from not drinking enough water. Oh well as they use to say shit happens but hopefully never again in bed. Welcome to getting old. The Republican Congress and gun worshippers send their thoughts and prayers after a deranged white man shot his wife and then attempted to shoot up an elementary school in Northern California. He managed to kill four people before he was shot dead.... That should cover it... Kids’ lives don't matter to the NRA. It’s the cost of doing business. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions committed perjury but does the traitorous GOP care? No ... Party before country. How come the bat shit crazies were ready to lynch Hillary Clinton when they were falsely told she was running a child sex ring out of a pizzeria basement but they only have high praise for Roy Moore's escapades that are supported by many witnesses? Is the far right a form of mental illness?

 

15 November 2017 Wednesday

It was such a beautiful sunrises in our Rocky Mountain paradise. The morning sky was lit with yellows, oranges, crimson and violets. Out and about this morning. I went to the Marmalade Library to turn in a request for a meeting room for next year from January to June. Should hear back in a few days if we got a room upgrade for the USHS Lecture Series upgrade. Then went down to the new Winco Supermarket on 21st and Main Street. It’s the only place in town that carried my hot cereal Zoom so bought 2 boxes. Lots of good deals there but not that much better than Lucky's down the street. Anyway I met Bill Poore at 12:30 to see if there are any bargains at the Sears downtown that is closing... Had a nice lunch with Bill Poore at Charlie Chows after looking around Sears... Bill bought me a pair of house slippers as an early Xmas present lol... I am not a cross dresser just because I picked out women slippers... The men's were so blah... Why do women get all the pizazz? These should keep my tootsies toasty when I go out to haul Harleigh’s butt in at night... We just had soup at the restaurant. Then came home and took Buddy back down to the vets to have them look at Buddy’s stitches that have broken open and are oozing...Buddy needed some new stitches to close up his wound and has new antibiotics... Kyle Foote called this evening which surprised me as we had just visited on Sunday. Really not a whole lot of news. I think he just wanted to hear my voice. After retiring I watched Future Man a new series on Hulu. It’s a sci-fi series by Seth Rogan. Inspectors with the Salt Lake County Health Department Inspectors closed East Seas  after finding, among dozens of other violations, infestations of live rodents, cockroaches and flies. I guess Bill Poore and I won't be going there anymore...besides the Asian waitress was rude as hell...

·         Bill Poore She didn't even know what the dumplings were. Now I wonder if I was even eating dumplings, not going to eat in your neighborhood anymore.

·         Robert Whyte Oh, hell, she knew exactly what she was serving you guys...

·         Benedgar Williams Chinese restaurants are China's revenge for the west getting them addicted to Opium... We Occidentals are addicted to sweet and sour lol.

·         Doug Murri I haven't eaten there for quite a few years. But, when I had a commuter apartment on North Temple for seven years, I ate there or had taken out from East Sea quite often because it was convenient. The staff has always been very rude. Needs to be closed down. Too many violations going on for far too long. Bye, bye. Love you long time.

·         Kevin Scott I saw the Health Dept breakdown... nauseating... We're in that seedy neighborhood all the time. Mexican and Asian restaurants are all too often cited, as they get really loosie-goosy with cleanliness issues. No one actually likes to follow reports posted on the Health Dept website, we'd never go out!

·         Greg Allen Stick with China Star

·         Benedgar Williams My dad would never eat in a Chinese Restaurant... Claimed they all were filthy in the kitchen...

·         Richard P. Butler Makes me cringe to think I ate there.

·         Benedgar Williams Proud to say when I worked in the food industry I kept a clean kitchen and Hygienic food prep... I took pride in the product I was serving be it Taco Bell or Giovanni's chicken masala or UCI's dorms feed 400 kids a day generally by myself in massive quantities... Anytime you eat out any more it's an act of faith...

·         Daniel Cureton Just like how it is here in China

 

16 November 2017 Thursday

I am wide awake from the wind gusts blowing through the valley ahead of a storm front and from Buddy falling off the bed in his sleep... Clunk...Time to make some coffee, cook up some Zoom, and organize my writings ... The pups are still asleep bless their hearts... Too blustery to go out today so stayed home and wrote on family histories ... Did make some homemade Tomato Basil soup and some banana bread with almond slices and fuzzy navel glaze... The pups got gizzards and pork chops... Not sure what I want for supper... I gnawed the meat still on the bone and that filled me up... That's a fine howdy do... The pups get the meat and I get the bone scraps...About 7 pm here came the rain and we need it... None fell the entire month of October.

 

17 November 2017 Friday

Sleepless night...about midnight Harleigh was so agitated and restless that he woke me up so I went into the front room and picked him up and sat with him on the lazy boy petting him until he calmed down and fell asleep ....everyone of course migrated to the front room to be with me...about 1 am returned to my own bed after everyone settled down and then the rains hit at full force pounding the roof all night...only fell asleep because I was exhausted...I got up at 6:30 as Kyle was supposed to bring Corky and Bhanni over then... The weather must be delaying him. Whoops he's here now... None of my pups will go out this morning in the deluge. It was a year ago that I brought Lulu Belle home to foster... Her owners surrendered her saying they couldn't keep her anymore... I had just adopted out a little Foster so thought easy peasy...piece of cake... About a week later I had failed again as a foster and couldn't give “Cupcake” up... Like I ever passed up a cupcake in my life...She was so attached to the rest of my hoodlums that she became a part of the Fernleaf Street Gang and her new gang style name became Lulu Belle. A really good soaking rain this morning...boy do we need it but the pups will not go out in it to do their business. Corky was the only one brave enough to go out in the sleet... Well maybe just not that bright. Poor Corky he acts like no one ever makes pancakes for him in the morning the way he scarfs them down... Well pups all had their morning snack and the rain is letting up so maybe the babes will go outside...I feel like an 80s sit com Eight is Enough... Buddy, Coco, Harleigh, Maxx, TJ, Lulu Belle, Bhanni and Corky... Maybe Full House? Went out shopping, thinking the rain would keep some people away, but no.. I needed to get some more chicken for the pups since we have guests and I wanted to buy some rope lights to replace the ones on my front steps that have burned out. I went to Walmart to get some hot cereal called Wheatena that I never heard of but Walmart was said to carry it. Well they didn't. Got in line behind someone who just wanted to buy a gift card and activate it but the clerk wasn't trained on it... already had all my stuff out or I would have gone to another check out. She called the manager 2 times, one came over and had no idea how to do it and finally another one came over. It was about 10 minutes... This is why I hate Walmart besides other reasons. Grilled ham and cheese sandwich with homemade tomato basil soup for supper this cold, damp November...the pups got chicken thighs ...After supper Harleigh lays on my chest in the lazy boy, Lulu Belle teases TJ over some wet chewy she dragged in, Buddy is in favorite spot under the table, Corky is still looking for food jumping up on the counter stools, Bhanni is under the coffee table and Maxx is in the bedroom away from the shenanigans. I watched some TV and around 9:00 Everyone one sound asleep on the bed except Maxx who is on the doggy bed in the closet and Harleigh who is in his bed by my bed...I guess it's time to turn in myself.

·         Bill Poore Well we know Corky is not very bright, he has a sister who bit my hand last time I saw her. She thought I had a treat......both in serious need of treatment and meds.

·         Alan Anderson My kids know a curmudgeon when they see one.

·         Richard P. Butler Sleet? It's that cold?

·         Benedgar Williams Yep little ice pellets

·         Richard P. Butler Wow! Just rain here and possible snow by this afternoon. I would love it to snow.

·         T.J. Otaka It's been snowing for a while over here.

·         Dear Kyle, Hope you are well. It was good to hear your voice Wednesday. You sounded well. Sorry I sounded tired. I was resting with Harleigh on my lap on the Lazy Boy when you called and probably was more sleepy than I thought.        Just a quick note to let you know I put some money on your account and I got a subscription for USA for you starting on November 21^st. It’s a three month special for $25 but will go up after that to $29 a month if you still want it after then. I know you will be glad to get your own TV again. I’ve binged watched a new Sci-fi series called Future Man on Hulu. Its produced by Seth Rogan about Time travelers. It’s very raunchy  but very good. I really liked it ... Hulu's series like The Hand Maid Tale and Harlot are really good, better than Netflix these days. Wednesday I went to the Marmalade Library to turn in a request for a meeting room for next year for the Utah Stonewall Historical Society.  Should hear back in a few days if we got the room change. We had 24 people in a room that seats about 15 comfortably. Time for an upgrade.  Speaking of the USHS this man named Owen Edwards up at the U of U who is taking a class on Oral History and working with the SLC Council on Aging, wants to interview me for a class project that will be submitted to the Oral History archives at the Marriot Library.  Seth Anderson did an interview of me several years ago for the Kristen Ries AIDS Archives at the U of U so I guess after I am gone perhaps some young Gay guy will look me up and wonder who this dude was. LOL. I hope I am leaving good memories behind. I also went down Wednesday to the new Winco Supermarket that just opened on 21st and Main Street. It’s the only place in town that carries my hot cereal Zoom so I bought 2 boxes. Its wheaty and it’s a change from oatmeal in the mornings. I can’t eat cold cereal anymore. It expands too much after I eat it and I hardly get through a quart of milk before it expires anymore. There were lots of good deals there but not that much better than Lucky's down the street where Food Savers use to be. After that I met Bill Poore to see if there are any bargains at the Sears downtown that is closing... I looked for yard tools but even at 10 percent off its more expensive than Lowes.  Bill wanted to buy me some slippers for an early Xmas present. I am not a cross dresser but I picked out women slippers... The men's were so blah... Why do women get all the pizazz? They are a southwestern pattern fur lined and  should keep my tootsies toasty when I go out to haul Harleigh’s butt in at night... We then went to Charlie Chows downtown to have some lunch. We don’t eat like we used to do. He had a bowl of egg drop soup and I had a cup of Hot and Sour soup with some egg rolls. The days of full course meals are over for me. One of Bill and my favorite Chinese place used to be East Sea next to Rancho Market on North Temple and 9^th West but they got closed down for 94 health code violations.  I guess Bill Poore and I won't be going there anymore...besides the Asian waitress was rude as hell... My dad would never eat at a Chinese Restaurant claiming their kitchens were always filthy. Probably some truth to that.  Proud to say when I worked in the food industry I kept a clean kitchen and Hygienic food prep... I took pride in the product I was serving be it Taco Bell or Giovanni's chicken masala or UCI's dorms feed 400 kids a day generally by myself in massive quantities... Anytime you eat out any more it's an act of faith... I took Buddy back down to the vet because some of his stitches had pulled open and they stitched him back up... The doc said it looked a little infected so he's on stronger antibiotics... When she called later to see how he was I told her that it looked like it was scabbing over and the oozing has stopped... His appetite is back full guns... Thursday was too blustery to go out so stayed home and wrote on the computer my family histories. Monday Michael Aaron reminded me that he hadn’t gotten my Lambda Lore column in so I cranked one out just for him but later in the week he says that there wasn’t space for it and he’d put it in the January issue. Oh well I will get a month off I suppose I did make some homemade Tomato Basil soup and some banana bread with almond slices and peach schnapps’ glaze... The pups got gizzards and pork chops for their dinner... I gnawed the meat still on the bone and that filled me up... That's a fine howdy do when the pups get the good meat and I get the bone... It’s been raining all night at times really hard and it is supposed to all day.  A really good soaking rain...boy do we need it? I had a sleepless night because of it though...about midnight Harleigh was so agitated and restless I guess with the storm moving in  that he woke me up. So I went into the front room and picked him up and sat with him on the lazy boy petting him until he calmed down and fell asleep ....everyone of course migrated to the front room to be with me.. About 1 am I returned to my own bed after everyone settled down and then the rains hit full force pounding the roof all night long...I only fell asleep because I was exhausted...I had to get up at 6:30 as Kyle Daniels was supposed to bring Corky and Bhanni over then... The weather delayed him and he got here about 7. I am doggy sitting Corky and Bhanni until Wednesday next week. Of course none of my pups will go out this morning in the deluge so been following them around to make sure they aren’t peeing in the house. So I guess 210,000 gallons of oil spilled from the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota as all environmentalists warned and the corporations denied it would ever happen. The Republicans are hell bent on turning America into a dystopian night mare where I suspect they will soon be marketing Soylent Green when all the crops fail because of climate change.  Donald Trump Making America Great Again to Rape, Plunder, Pillage, Ravish, Exploit, and Deceive... The Republican Dream Some sociopath idiot with more money than humanity bought a Da Vinci painting of Christ...What foundation could have been endowed with $450 million as if Christies needed the money... So ironic that an icon of Christ was not used to feed the poor... We are in moral decline and it's not about sex it's about grinding the faces of the poor...That is what the Prophets of the Old Testament condemned over and over...economic injustice... Christ never praised the rich but said how unlikely they were ever to experience spirituality ... He drove the money changers out of the temple... we need to drive Wall Street out of the Capitol.   1 percent of Americans own 90 percent of the wealth while 63 percent of Americans would face economic ruin for a $500 emergency. Deluded GOP supporters think someday they will be part of the 1 percent if they love Jesus enough. Sadly there is no such thing as the “Gospel of Prosperity”... It's a lie and part of the great American Christian apostasy... Most hireling priests in the evangelical movement are liars and Deceivers... preying on the most gullible and desperate instead of praying for them. It’s been a year ago today that I brought Lulu Belle home to foster... Her owners surrendered her saying they couldn't keep her anymore... I had just adopted out a little foster to a Gay couple so I thought easy peasy...piece of cake... About a week later I had failed again as a foster and couldn't give Cupcake up... Like I ever passed up a cupcake in my life...She was so attached to the rest of my hoodlums that she became a part of the Fernleaf Street Gang and her new gang style name became Lulu Belle. As I was or ever shall be your friend- Ben

 

18 November 2017 Saturday

Lulu Belle thinks my belly makes a good pillow in the mornings... Everyone is back to sleep but me... I think I have a sweet life now that I am getting closer to the finish line of my life... Don't know what the future holds but for now I am truly Thankful for multiple blessings. In 2013 on his date I adopted Lucky who was a very sweet pup... I am glad I rescued him and gave him a home even though I didn't have him very long... First went Lucky, then Daisy, then Farley in 2016...that was a hard year but I don't regret it... The love we shared was worth it... Having some folks over for dinner and to watch a movie so I fixed chili and cornbread...I got three crockpots going, one has my grandpa's Texas chili in it, another is a more milder tomato base chili, and the third has pinto beans cooking... I ground up my own roasts in a grinder I bought from years at least 10 years ago  for coarser chili meat and more fat. Texas chili is just stewed meat...you add the beans to your bowl if you want them... I am making a pineapple upside down cake too but that's for later... I made a Pineapple Upside Down cake for the dinner party.... My mom use to make these all the time ... Quick and easy and looks like you went through so much trouble....trick is you have to have a good cast iron skillet.  Bill Poore brought over some beautiful burnt orange mums with bright yellow centers for the get together tonight... The dinner and movie party was a success judging from the lack of chili and cake left over lol.... Introduced the phrase "Jungle Red" into the novices who had never seen 1939 The Women before.. So let me get this straight...Alabama Evangelicals are willing to vote for a sexual predator over a man who convicted white supremacists of killing children, to preserve Alabama's moral superiority? Man how twisted is that? So glad my part of the family got the hell out of Alabama after the Civil War... Sad when Texas is a step up from Alabama where the slave culture was so entrenched...

·         T.J. Otaka Loved the movie and the food. Thank you, Ben.

·         Richard Harmston I am no longer a Texas Chili virgin. Thanks, Ben, for initiating me. Delicious!

·         Jon Michael Sweet little girl! I am constantly amazed at how the "children" enrich my life. I am sure you feel the same.

·         Bill Poore You make all our lives better, except when I agitate your dogs.

·         Benedgar Williams I never said you agitate MY dogs I said you agitate Alan's dogs

·         Bill Poore I didn't even talk to his dogs last night......remember when TJ, Lulu Bell and Max were all sitting on my chest? They love me.

·         Benedgar Williams Yes they do...

 

19 November 2017 Sunday

I said I would help pull a thanksgiving dinner together today for the Baptists so I got there about 8:30 and I am glad I went in early as Ken Burnett was there by himself... Actually the pups got me up a 6 am but that's okay because I have to be over on 13th East and 8th South to help prepare Thanksgiving Dinner for the Good Baptist folks. Just because Southern Baptists have soiled the brand don't mix them up with American Baptists who are inclusive welcoming people... I like to help them out cooking when I can....A lot of prep work chopping veggies and such was done yesterday so I was put in charge of making 30 lbs. of mashed potatoes and this zucchini dish that the guy who was supposed to make it called in sick so I had to grate 40 zucchinis to make a dish that that I knew no one would eat... Courtney Moser later told me that he  ate the zucchini thing and thought it was delicious. I thought the zucchinis thing was good too but it was supposed to be cooked in small patties like crab cakes but when I tried cooking them they fell apart...nobody got time for that so I cooked it up batches...almost a zucchinis stuffing... Not my recipe...and there was almost a full pan of uncooked left over... I thought kind of a waste... I am a traditionalist for Thanksgiving... Leave the experimentation for another day... We had plenty of help but only about 3 of us who knew our way around an industrial kitchen...lots of people in the way and didn't even know how to stir something without scorching it... Been on my feet since 8:30 to 2 so I am beat but I have one more Christian duty before I can rest... I was home by 2:00  and sat down to have a cup of tomato soup as I didn’t eat a thing at the church. I put my cup of tomato basil soup down on the coffee table just for a moment and then Corky got up and starting licking out of the bowl! This what a very bad dog looks like.. LOL… Didn’t have much of a rest because at 2:30 I headed down to the Utah State Prison to do “my Christian duty” visiting Kyle Foote. I went down there for visiting hours, which were 3 to 5 pm and the weather was really good. It was weird seeing Craig Crawford in the visiting area. He murdered John Williams. He had two guys visiting him... Kyle told me that Craig told him that after he had his medical physical and the doctor told him there was nothing wrong with him, he cried...I guess he hoped for some ailment that would shorten his life sentence...I would not have known who he was but for Kyle pointing him out...He also told Kyle he missed having brunch with Jim Dabakis. .  Was home by 5:45 and now in for the evening... Waiting for the chicken to cool before chopping it up for the pups... I am pooped out... Will be good to go to bed and watch TV. Charles Manson died today. People my age are probably the only ones who have feelings about this... I was an 18 year boy in Southern California when I read about the Sharon Tate killings... Many like me thought it was horrible but didn't connect with the rich and famous but a day later when the LaBiancas were murdered fear grip the south land... My parents rarely locked the house even at night if we were home...after this I remember distinctly my folks locking the house... It was not until December when the murderers were caught did we realize that they were young people my age... Manson changed how people viewed hippies from peace loving flower children to drug crazed killers... It was the end of innocents... I don't know how many times I read Helter Skelter to try to understand it all... Manson got the death penalty which was changed to life when the Supreme Court overturned the death penalty.... Such a strange time 1969 was Stonewall, Moon landing, Manson and  Woodstock. 

·         Garth Chamberlain Ding dong the bastard's gone

·         Stephanie Williams That man was evil to the core. I remember about the murders and it did mark a change in So. CA. I read that book twice. It’s hard to listen to The Beatles song Helter Skelter, I think about the horrific acts. Now that he is dead a certain sense of relief, let God work on him now.

·         Benedgar Williams He's sparking in hell

·         Terrie Williams Well said Stephanie. He was a crazed psycho. Brutal killings and writing on the walls in the victims blood. I felt sorry for Sharon and her unborn baby. That looks like it was a mistake. They were set to kill but the intended was someone else. They really screwed up our era. the 60's and early 70's were trying enough times without this rampant killing and the style. Manson took too long to die!

 

20 November 2017 Monday

I spent at least seven hours compiling material on the Gay Straight Alliance Gay student clubs controversy for Jim Dabakis. I said I would so he can talk about it at the Gay Student conference in December. I had over 150 pages I had to comb through and condense. I broke it into a Time Line, Heroes, and Villains. Since soups are about the only way I can tolerate vegetables on my stomach these days, I made a delicious soup I never tried before... It's made with leeks, carrots, red pepper, cabbage, spinach; smoked sausage, all sautéed in butter thickened with a rue, and made with chicken stock, half and half and milk... Surprised how good it is and good on my stomach...At 4 pm I went to the Marmalade Library to meet up with Owen Edwards where I did an interview at the for an oral history project the U of U was doing about being a "LGBT" Elder... I said I wasn't a lesbian, bisexual or transgender so I prefer Gay Classic... I said that Gay seniors don’t care about gender issues or sexual fluidity and for many the word Queer is as offensive as Fag. I said it didn’t bother me however I said the only "Sexual Fluidity" I give a damn about comes out of the end of a dick.  When I came home after 8 I fed the pups ground beef with barley and some porkchop... So everybody ate well tonight. Della Reese died at the age of 86 years

·         Stephanie Williams Always really liked her. Remember The Della Reese show?

·         Benedgar Williams Don't think I ever watched that one

·         Doug Murri She was a passenger on my flights between LAX & SLC many times when she was commuting back and forth during the filming of 'Touched By An Angel'. She was always happy, charming, funny. She always loved to chat, spread her positive energy. She treated everyone as if they were old friends. Such a lovely woman.

·         Richard P. Butler It was a great show. Filmed in Utah (Magna was used a lot)

·         Ron Johnson My Mom was a Della Reese fan. When they filmed 'Touched By An Angel' near my studio, she got to visit with her. A real treat.

 

21 November 2017 Tuesday

Dogs all enjoyed their supper of Pearl barley, buttered yams and roasted chicken although Corky was a stinker today...I had piled all the pups in the cruiser to take Coco home when I noticed I forgot to roll the passenger window up... That's usually not a problem but Corky was gone in a flash through the open garage door but  when I went after him immediately and called him, he came to me instead of shooting down the street... So he was a good boy to come to me but a rotten dogs for jumping out of the car and making me worry in the first place... Well Bhanni and Corky’s vacation at Club Fernleaf is up tomorrow... I take Buddy in at 9 to have the vet check his incision and hopefully that will be that ... I signed a petition on line to stop development at the Warm Springs Park on Beck Street. The Warm Springs area should be left as open space as there are few areas in the Marmalade Area that is undeveloped...The park should be expanded and the old museum used as a community meeting space... I signed ... This area for centuries was a neutral area between the Shoshone and Utes and was the first community recreational area for the Mormon settlers... It was the area where Dr. Robinson wanted to build a hospital which ultimately led to his Murder at the hands of Mormon authorities over property rights...

·         Richard P. Butler Glad it ended well. I have to keep an eye a Sophie or she's off in a flash also.

·         Alan Anderson That sounds like maybe he is growing up!

·         Benedgar Williams About time... It shocked me when he came strolling back when I called for him because I didn't see where he took off... I guess he knows where the grub is...

·         Roland Ron Holmgren I cannot get my dogs to eat any vegetables. I read that pumpkin is good for dogs.

·         Benedgar Williams Corky surprised me by how he eats vegetables... Tomato soup, butter squash soup, yams ... But then I think he's just a chow hound... Harleigh loves yams too...

·         Bill Poore Corky is an evil pup, Alan and Kyle brought him up badly......I thought being around sweet Harleigh would help him but he just made Harleigh bad.....

·         Benedgar Williams Harleigh doesn't have a bad bone in his body... besides I always thought you were partial to bad boys.

·         Bill Poore yeah but none of mine are in prison.

·         Benedgar Williams That you know of

·         Bill Poore I am not counting relatives and am not saying some of my boys didn't spend some time in prison. One cousin was murdered in Price, who had been in prison, does that count?

 

22 November 2017 Wednesday

I woke up after midnight and couldn’t go back to sleep so stayed up until 2 am on the mini iPad till I could get back to sleep but I was up again at 6 am so my ass has been dragging all day. I took Buddy down to the Vet this morning at 9 a.m. They treat him like a rock star. Said his stitches all look good but wanted to keep a few in for another week just to be safe. No infection and no cost for the checkups on how he's doing. I have been working on compiling information on Utah's ban on High School student clubs that was in effect from 1996 to 2000 for Jim Dabakis. A whole 4 year high school generation was denied participation in school clubs just to prevent a Gay Straight Alliance Club from being allowed in Utah's schools. What a shameful period in Utah's history and kids paid the price, not being able to use extra curriculum clubs to pad their college resumes.  I went back to Sears about 11 am to buy another pair of slippers like the ones Bill Bought for me that are so comfortable. While there I bought some men’s outdoors slippers and some gym shoes. Everything was 40 percent off so I paid about $50 for them all.  Kyle G. Daniels came and picked up his babies about 2 pm and I then went to the Redwood Clinic to get a bucket load of blood drawn at the lab for my 6 month check up with Dr. Volckmann bariatric surgeon.. Actually the phlebotomist did a great job and found my vein with just one try. Came home and baked my pumpkin Pie in the oven to let alchemy do its magic at 400 degrees.... When it was done I let it rest before chilling it so it won't sweat ... It sure seems quiet around the homestead without Bonnie and Clyde riding roughshod over the law abiding pups.. Feeding 5 dogs is a piece of cake compared to 7 lol back to our abnormal normal home ... Baked chicken breasts with pearl barley... I bet Corky and Bhanni are missing supper at Club Fernleaf but I know they are happy to be home with their daddy Kyle G. Daniels. It Seems strange not to be baking pies and prepping for Thanksgiving all day... I've cooked a lot of dinners and pies over the years and several community dinners for Gays and Lesbians at MCC and the Unitarians... Those were fun days but just memories now... I baked one pie and to bring to an invite tomorrow but that's it... The old habit in me wants to be making corn bread stuffing, and at least 3 pies, pecan, pumpkin, and apple but no more...Today is the 54^th anniversary of the assignation of President JFK. In a nut shell, Republicans would rather support a predator of young girls like Roy Moore than a man who convicted those who killed four little girls... The GOP as sold its soul for 40 pieces of silver. RIP David Cassidy...Rumors of his death started days ago but confirmed today. Kind of like when Tom Petty died. So many nights I did turn out the lights and sat in the dark listening to his song and missing someone.. I sent Jim Dabakis three documents... Heroes and Villains a history of the controversy from 1995-2000, a document Heroes, the people instrumental in the fight for Gay student Clubs and Villains those who actively fought against the kids. I told him to have his intern condense them because there were a lot. lol... I took it down from 150 pages in my files.

·         James OMG, thanks. I can't wait to tell the story. It is one of the best illustrations of concrete actions of record that show the state of mind of even liberal SLC in the 1990's. There it is right in the record.

·         Benedgar Yep the Villains and Heroes are right there on display for all the world to see... I always knew on what side I wanted to be when judgment day comes.

·         Bill Poore TJ told me he did not like Corky, and LuLuBell said he sexually harassed her.

·         Benedgar Williams Corky says you're making that up to smear his reputation

·         Bill Poore Benedgar Williams Ben dogs don't talk.

·         Alan Anderson Bhani told me Bill is mean.

·         Benedgar Williams They talk to those who listen to them

·         Stephanie Williams You make a beautiful pie

·         Benedgar Williams We come from good cooks

·         Kathryn Warner It's a beauty.

 

23 November 2017 Thursday Thanksgiving

It's supposed to get to 68 degrees today for Thanksgiving so no dashing through the snow to Grandmother's house today... for anyone in Salt Lake City.. So warm you could have a Thanksgiving Picnic... Everyone traveling on the roads be safe anyway... lots of distracted and probably stressed out drivers. Hope those staying home are stocked up with movies and snacks. Thanks Giving is not an occasion or location it’s a state of mind. I am truly grateful to the universe that I am allowed to be sentient stardust for this brief time and to feel love, love, and be loved. Grateful in my sunset years I have the companionship of five furry friends. T.J. Otaka and Jim McMullin invited Michael Romero and I out to Daybreak for a lovely Thanksgiving dinner and good company. I brought a pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes with candied pecans. Charles Bigo joined us too so there was just the five of us. Everything was delicious and I tried a tablespoon of everything except for the delicious looking dinner rolls that I knew would have over loaded me... We had pumpkin pie and pecan pie that Charles brought, with whipped cream for dessert... Mike brought Coco along with us and she was a very good girl. We stayed for about 4 hours before leaving for me to come home and feed my own pups. They are having cold roasted chicken breasts and sweet potatoes.... Happy Thanksgiving everyone and I didn't hear a bit of football either

·         T.J. Otaka I want everyone to know that Ben's good-looking pumpkin pie (posted yesterday) came to us and that it was as delicious as his sweet potatoes. Thank you, Ben, Mike, and Charles for joining us on this Thanksgiving Day. We had a real good time with you guys and we truly appreciate your friendship. You are our family here in Utah.

·         Charles Bigo TJ and Jim, you are the greatest. I was wondering what I was going to do today, but you friends asked me to join in for a delicious feast. What a joy it was to be counted amongst you fantastic and precious individuals. Everyone should be as lucky as I. It was great seeing Ben and Mike join us. (As well as Coco who won everyone over with her quiet manners and ways). Thanks again for making this day truly special.

·         T.J. Otaka We do enjoy your friendship and we are glad you could make it today. Thanks for a delicious pecan pie from Whole Foods. We will enjoy the leftover tomorrow. Yes, Coco was a very good girl and she was a lot of fun.

·         Pumpkin Pie 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon, allspice, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 13 large eggs, beaten, 2 cups (or one 15-ounce can) pumpkin, 1 1/4 cups light cream or evaporated milk. 400 degrees 45-50 min

·          

24 November 2017 Friday

I got up early and baked another pumpkin pie and made some dressing that I wanted to bring over to Bill Poore with the food TJ and Jim sent home for him but he didn’t want any part of it so I ended up giving it to Michael Romero. Busy day... Went to the library to check on whether I got the reservations I wanted but they were closed so came home and put away the fall decorations and put up the Xmas lights and decorations... Richard P. Butler brought a bunch of lights over so I didn't have to go to the store. He brought Sophie over to play and she's a big girl now... They are having a big house party on Dec 23rd so I said Sophie could spend the night here...she is still a rambunctious pup. Dogs ate their supper of chicken thighs and I was surprised that Lulu Belle liked Butternut soup and that Harleigh and Maxx both liked pumpkin pie.

·         I have food that TJ sent home for you and some stuff I made I want to get to you today with your hearing aid control... I can meet you about 2 at Smiths ... I need to buy some Xmas lights there... If not at 2 let me know when

·         Bill Thank you so much, sorry I didn't see this till later in the day....Microsoft was updating my computer early so I went shopping  around 930 then came home and there was  another update so I just turned off the computer. and ended up taking a nap which last most of the morning and afternoon....maybe you can give the food to Michael .  my eyes are killing me so really can’t drive far.  I almost hit three cars driving to the store.

·         Benedgar Mike already has a package...it's still good and sealed ... The library was closed today and I do have to go out in the morning... I made you done pumpkin pie too... Tell what street you live on and I can meet you by your van or at Smiths...I think you would enjoy the dinner and TJ made it for you...

·         Bill That is so sweet but I bought a pumpkin pie and didn't eat any yesterday was going to have some tonight....I don't want you to drive all the way over here to bring me food......

·         Benedgar I am going into town tomorrow any way... As long as you had a Thanksgiving... I am sure the pups will share your dinner... I bet my homemade pie is better.

25 November 2017 Saturday

As you grow older it’s amazing how in just one day a new ache appears out of nowhere. Went to bed feeling fine and then my right rotary cuff in my shoulder started aching... thought it would go away but the pain got worse and kept me awake so finally got up and took some liquid Tylenol, it’s the only pain medicine I can take anymore...I also got an ice pack and slept with that on my shoulder the rest of the night. I didn't do anything to aggravate it so just part of growing older and things wearing out. It’s still sore this morning but not as painful as last night... I guess pain still means I am alive. Felt like having a hot dog so bought all beef ones but after eating half of one I was full so placed the uneaten half on the ledge over my bed. The next thing I knew TJ drags it down and now there's mustard and sweet relish on my bed... I split the remaining hot dog between TJ, Maxx, and Lulu Belle and Maxx ate the bun so all's clean now... My life with dogs...

 

26 November 2017 Sunday

Well this is as good as it's going to get. I dug out my Christmas decorations and put up a pink tree in the front room with purple globes. I like having a tree but I hate putting it up and taking it down but hey it's beginning to look like Christmas at the House of the Barking Dogs. I also strung Lights on the banister to make it look more festive. This evening when I went out to bring Harleigh in it felt unexpectedly warm so looked it up and it's 64 degrees here in SLC at 10 at night with a zephyr wind blowing my chimes outside

 

27 November 2017 Monday

Went out tonight to the Marmalade Library to hear Chad Anderson speak and others at his monthly event. I really don't go out but it was riveting... Saw Cole Gilmore, Tom Folks, and David Andreason there so I am glad I made an effort to get out of the house on this wet dark November evening.

·         David Andreason Great to see you, Ben! Beautiful stories and experiences shared tonight by some amazing people. <3

·         Benedgar Williams I felt old lol... They were talking about 1988 when they were 8 and 6... I was 37 years old ...older than they are now ha! My first crop of kids I taught that year are in their 40's! They were 11 and 12 back then...

·         Cole Gilmore I was glad to have such a great specimen of man sit next to me!

·         Tom Folks I’m glad you came to hear Chad and the other two speakers read. If you’re like me, you’ll be addicted and be back again next month.

·         Benedgar Williams I know I will go to the Marmalade not sure about driving across town... I am an old man you know 😇

 

28 November 2017 Tuesday

It's such a pretty looking day... I picked up a temporary foster Chihuahua today named Rocky. I told Laurie Epperson of Hearts 4 Paws that I would babysit the little Chihuahua whose foster mom was going out of town for a week. When I picked him up he was so scared. He has such a sad back story. He was found in a canyon left in a box with another pup. The pup was adopted out because he was young but this one is a senior dog whose black muzzle is almost entirely white. I am taking Buddy in tomorrow to have all his stitches out, then Thursday up to the Bariatric Clinic, Friday I am attending Jim Dabakis Holiday Birthday Party, and Saturday I am seeing Newsies at the Pioneer Theater... Busy week... 

·         Steve Brackenbury You've been on my mind. Thought I would say hi. I follow the hijinks of your hounds and imagine how fine it would be to share supper with you. Wishing for you some nice holiday times across the miles that separate us. Whenever I read Walt Whitman I think of you because I recall an evening where I presumptuously brought a book of his poems to the Gay Fathers group and had everyone read from it. You were a bit curmudgeonly about it but jumped in anyway. I can’t help but see you and Walt as one and the same: Lovers of men, chroniclers of lives and times. This was the poem I asked you to read: Come I am determined to unbare this broad breast of mine, I have long enough stifled and choked; . . . I will plant companionship thick as trees along all the rivers of America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies. I will make inseparable cities with their arms about each other's necks, By the love of comrades. I hear it was charged against me that I sought to destroy institutions, But really I am neither for nor against institutions, (What indeed have I in common with hem? or with the destruction of them?) Only I will establish in the Mannahatta and in every city of these States inland and seaboard, And in the fields, and woods, and above every keel little or large that dents the water, Without edifices or rules or trustees or any argument, The institution of the dear love of comrades.

·         Benedgar Yes I was kind of pompous lol... I hope you are enjoying that great kitchen remodel and glad you did it now... You get to a certain age like I have where you just look at things and say it will do... Lol I am turning into an old person... Those days in the 1980s were great times and filled with heart filled memories...

·         Steve No more pompous or presumptuous than forcing poetry on others! Yes, we are loving the remodel but it is largely Frank's doing. I, like you, am OK with what works, but it was fun to design a kitchen and bathrooms. I doubt I will get that experience again. Now we're pairing down. I had 4 rectangular baking dishes all the same size. Don't need all of them! I do find myself revisiting those memories of when I first came out. I have never experienced such community.

·         Benedgar It was a golden age for a lot of us...something I think younger Gays are missing today...

 

29 December 2017 Wednesday

I took Buddy down to have his remaining stitches taken out so he's good to go... I think this little guy I am fostering has abandonment issues... He hasn't left his bed all day except when I had to take him outside this morning... I feel sorry for the old guy... My pups are sweet to him and gives him his space...only TJ is a little brat because I think he's a bit jealous of the attention I give Rocky Lulu Belle is such a funny girl... She just loves split pea soup... I fixed barley and hamburger for supper and everyone ate except Lulu Belle who preferred the soup so I gave her the rest of it...Rocky ate wet food with barley and hamburger...he seemed to have a good appetite and when I came home from taking Coco to Mikes he was outside so he did get out of bed some... I am letting him have his safe space and a security blanket... I got a letter from Kyle today dated the 27^th. He sent me a visiting schedule for December. The dates are December 9^th at 3-5 pm, Sunday the 17^th from 6-8 pm and Sunday Christmas Eve 10 am to 12 pm.

 

30 December 2917 Thursday

Went to the U of U medical clinic for my six month checkup for Bariatric Surgery... Labs said my A1c was 6.8 down from 7.1 earlier...don't see how that is possible with all the junk I eat... My protein intake is down so got to eat meat twice a day now and my calcium and vitamin D is low...probably because I rarely do dairy anymore but other than that they were happy with my progress... Finally Rocky got up out of his nest and joined the rest of the gang for supper...I think it was the barley and hamburger that enticed him... I just let him get comfortable with his surroundings. Jim Nabors who played Gomer Pyle on TV died.

 

DECEMBER

1 December 2017 Friday

Today is my oldest nephew James Clark’s 49^th birthday. I went to the gym today to walk the tread mill and do some weights. I was there about an hour and the place was empty. In the news Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about meeting with the Russians.  Hopefully it’s just the beginning of dominoes falling. Home from attending Jim Dabakis’ birthday party/ Christmas party at his stately home in the avenue... He was gracious as always but while I was there I didn’t know a soul. He put out a catered spread but I only had a half of a tamale...made by this sweet woman from Guatemala who has several children to support...she's been in this country 14 years, hard worker, never been in trouble and on Christmas Day she is being deported back to an uncertain future... Trumps America... So proud. Salt Lake City was packed with people enjoying the lights on Temple Square and I guess there was a Jazz game going on as well.

 

2 December 2017 Saturday

Minor victories, the foster pup trusted me enough to come out of his bed for me to hand feed him treats like I do my brats...he acted like he was hungry so put down the chicken that Lulu Belle refused to eat last night... Speaking of nights...Harleigh got me up at 2 am and I couldn't go back to sleep so got up and typed on my blog until 4 then tried to go back to sleep but pups started making a racket at 6 am so got up to feed my poor starving dogs... Maybe I will get a nap before the theater...taking Michael Romero to see Newsies for an Xmas gift. Fun day... I bought tickets for Newsies last October today the performance. I took Michael Romero as his Christmas gift... We ate at Chubby’s before heading up to the U for a Saturday matinee. I ate a tostado which was a lot. The matinee was at 2 pm and it was wonderful with lots of high flying, leaping, twirling, and pirouetting boys... It was a packed house for a matinee...one of the featured performer was also in the National Touring company production that Alan Anderson took me to a while back...first rate production and I think the sets were better than the touring company... When we got home little the Foster pup was up and about so he's getting more trusting of his surroundings... I sent Michael home with bean soup I made this morning and a dark chocolate cake with chocolate walnut cake frosting... But now I am ready to call it a day so I turned in and watched an episode of The Orville.  Thinned out the herd down to 120 people on FB as that I don't want to fill people's pages with posts on how much I hate Republicans, how much I love dogs, food I fix and general rants... I didn’t even know some of these people but they had requested to be friends and yet they never interacted with me. Yes we are such a Christian nation. The Republicans have money to burn giving corporations tax breaks but no money to fund the health care of children... My one creed all my life is to NEVER vote Republican and it has served me well...I have never empowered these miscreants by saying I am an Independent and i vote for the person...Bull Shit...that is not how a 2 party system works...the majority party rules... You vote for a sweet Republican you have turned the reins of government over to a ideology that thinks that some people are more worthy than others... And the poor deserve to be poor while the rich deserve to be rich.

 

3 December 2017 Sunday

I got up this morning to help Harleigh up the stairs and to my surprise I saw the foster pup up on the lazy boy... He hadn't been out of his safety zone bedding for days...now he's feeling like he can be a dog up on the furniture lol So much progress, this old gentleman who had been abandoned in a box up in the canyon, is finally feeling he's safe with me...he didn't like men probably from abuse and was snippy with me but after days of letting him have his space and feeding him and rubbing his ears he's coming out of his shell... I hope he's getting the therapy he needs from me to trust again since I am not quite a regular man so he can feel safe with me... I have some of the best dogs who are so good to strangers... I was a stranger and you took me in...Buddy is back to being bossy since his surgery...schnauzers are such back talkers... I haven't heard a peep out of this fellow I am fostering... He doesn't have any front teeth so even eating this soft chewy falls out of his mouth.... I give him wet and finely chopped up chicken... He doesn't lack for an appetite... The winds are gusty here and it's turned cloudy since this morning...says it's still 59 degrees but a storm is coming in and a cold front...Dropping to 35 degrees tomorrow and 16 degrees at night... Pull out the long johns. I must say my homemade cream of mushroom soup is hitting the spot for lunch  this blustery day... Especially with a few Oyster crackers... Hope everyone is having a good Sunday dinner... All the pups are napping... I think I will join them. Roast beef and butter noodles for dinner... Not mine mind you but the pups all had a good meal this gloomy wet December evening... Bean soup sounds good for me... Less some of you think it was extravagant to feed the pups roast beef...it's a roast I dug out of the freezer and who knows how it had been in there lol...pups didn't seem to complain...

·         T.J. Otaka Glad he's coming around. He senses your loving and caring heart ♥

·         Richard P. Butler Damn Ben if you feed me and gave me my space and rubbed behind my ear I'd love you too. LOL

·         Benedgar Williams He wanted me to rub his belly and I noticed his jacket had slipped down over his pee pee poor guy so he's been wearing a wet diaper basically ... He never let me that close before and he let me take it off him without a fuss... He's sleeping again

·          

4 December 2017 Monday

I woke up to the first real snow from overnight. There’s about 2 inches on the deck.  TJ and Jim came over with some homemade treat for the pups and to see the new little guy...but he took off as soon as he saw two men and hid behind the lazy boy the entire time. He must have been really traumatized by whoever had him before. He's coming to me for affection letting me pet him and scratch his belly when there's no company. They pups loved the made homemade treats for the pups so much that when we got home from lunch the baggy left on the coffee table was torn to shreds and all the little biscuits were gone! We went to Chubby's for lunch because they had never been there before and it was close by. I had a taco and half an enchilada... TJ and Jim left before traffic and Old Boy Chihuahua is out from hiding LOL... Maybe he thought they were going to take him away from me. Charles Bigo asked if I wanted to go with him and Richard Harmston to go to the Salt Lake Men’s Choir next Saturday. I am not a big fan of the choir or any choir for that matter but as they were so thoughtful I said sure.

 

5 December 2017 Tuesday

Sixteen degrees this morning...brr... now if Harleigh will stop going outside and making me go and get him.  Guess who made himself at home? Laid down for a little shut eye and this old guy was on the bed when I opened my eyes... When I picked him up a week ago he was so scared and nervous he would not get out of his corner safety spot... I think the other pups have showed him that he has nothing to fear here... Men who hurt little girls belong in jail not the Senate said Doug Jones who convicted Klansmen for killing 4 little girls in a church bombing... I agree...Republicans are sick people.

 

6 December 2017 Wednesday

Another break through milestone with the old boy who now thinks sleeping with the gang is better than being alone by himself... Buddy woke me up wanting down and couldn't because old boy was cuddled next to him... Lulu Belle thinks my belly is her mattress...TJ woke us up with his bark... Guess I will get up and make some coffee if Lulu Belle will let me... I have some writing to finish for the Gay history lecture tonight for 1978... What a strange year, Mormons lifted their ban on blacks and the priesthood, a polygamous mother throws 7 children to their deaths from a high rise hotel in downtown SLC, the Jim Jones suicide massacre, the assignation of Harvey Milk... So much to get through tonight...Finished a 10 page report for the Utah Stonewall lecture series tonight, and ran to Fed Ex to make 15 copies of the chronology and now baking peanut butter chocolate cookies for tonight... For an old dog with no teeth Buster’s going to town on a chew stick... He gave me kisses and let me rub his belly this morning... I can't believe the change in this frighten little guy since last week... And how well he gets along with everyone... For a while I didn't think he could not bark but when I came home from errands there he was with everyone greeting me. We had a good turn out to learn about that bizarre year 1978 in Salt Lake City's Gay community... It was not as filled as last November but that’s okay. Lots of people have things to do for the holidays. I made three dozen cookies and they were all gone so I didn't have to take any home... I will post tomorrow on FB what was discussed for those who couldn't make it... Chad Anderson talked to me a little afterward the meeting to let me know how the Gordon Church project is coming along. He’s interviewing Archuleta’s girlfriend at the time next week. He wrote me that the meeting tonight was “Such a beautiful evening!” and he thanked me for all of my work! Now Buster is asleep on my belly next to TJ... Anyone who sleeps on my belly is a keeper... I guess I better go pay some adoption fees this week... Trump is the 1st president since before Teddy Roosevelt not to have a dog in the White House...every other president in the 20th and 21st centuries had presidential dogs... This tell me volumes about Trumps lack of moral character... He said that having pets is “low class.”

·         Roland Ron Holmgren You should adopt the old boy and let him live out his life in peace and harmony with a good master and loving companions.

·         Bill Poore I totally agree, what is one more at the little house of Barking Dogs on Fernleaf.  You should keep Rocky, he has be bounced around enough....poor old guy. I guess I better come and meet him, soft treats like Buddy...no teeth.

·         so the difference between Fosters and wards is the wards have bigger dicks.

·         Laurie Epperson Aww too cute. I knew you would be able to get through to him. Yay. Thank you for your support and helping us with him. He is home now.

·         T.J. Otaka Really happy for him. Your love and care is genuine and he knows it.

·         Terrie Williams You might just go ahead and accept him into the herd. What's one more with your experience? You do this so well..

·         Charline Wachs Sounds like he has found someone he trust and a love. This is his family now.

·         Michael Aaron Ahhhhhh

·         Benedgar Williams When men come over he runs and hides behind the lazy boy... He's a phantom

·         Bill Poore Well I will come in drag then.

·         T.J. Otaka Never crossed my mind. I am not Gay enough.

·         Bill Poore T.J. Otaka Oh but you are Blanch you are.

·         Richard P. Butler Just goes to show what kind of men you hang out with, lol

·         T.J. Otaka Oh, Thanks, Richard.

·         Roland Ron Holmgren If you adopt this senior, then you are truly a special person.

·         Alan Anderson Brings tears to my eyes. You are such a sweet soul, Ben!

·         Benedgar Williams I will go and sign the papers Saturday and I am changing his name from Rocky to Buster... Instead of Club Fernleaf I think I am opening a Senior Fernleaf Residency lol

·         T.J. Otaka You take us in someday, won't you?

 

7 December 2017 Thursday Pearl Harbor Day

From being discarded like a piece of trash early in November left in a box in a canyon I think this little old guy I am naming Buster is going have a happy ending... He's asleep on my belly again this morning...it's his safe space now. Bought me a fiber optic Christmas tree on line that was delivered yesterday and I set it up today. I had one for years until it finally died...couldn't find any at the store so went on Amazon and sure enough I found one that was delivered in 2 days...This is Buddy's 11th Christmas with me but it's only Harleigh, Maxx, TJ, and Lulu Belles 2nd Christmas with me and its Buster's 1st...Chicken liver, gizzards, and navy beans for supper tonight... Mmmmm...Good eatings... for the pups. I had garlic bread and hot tea. Everyone is in bed with me this evening but Harleigh ... He never did like being up on the bed unless scared or sick... Yes I do sleep like a pretzel. Buster cracks me up... I think this pup is a clown...He’s lying on his back with his belly up and now, from snapping at me last week, to this ... He's a funny old dog. My cousin Kay Campbell said it’s snowing in San Antonio Texas... Weird. I am sorry to see Senator Al Franken go... He did more good in his life then harm from a lapse of good judgment when he was a comedian... But repentance isn't good enough in this day and age I suppose... People want their pound of flesh. Jim Dabakis messaged me if I wanted to go see Newsie with him Saturday but I had to decline as I had just seen it and I made a commitment to go out with Charles Bigo this Saturday.

·         T.J. Otaka Sorry it happened. I feel I need to apologize on behalf of my birth country.

·         Richard P. Butler That's is OK a lot of our soldiers were apologized too in person already. A lot of Japanese people visit the Pearl Harbor site with Honor, respect and dignity.

·         Benedgar Williams We can't control what people did in the past... My ancestors fought for the Confederacy and owned human beings as property

·         T.J. Otaka True. I just felt bad about the event that took place 76 years ago. Despite all that, you're a saint. I am so glad Buster get to stay with you. Randy Olson You have always been a sanctuary

·         Laurie Epperson He loves you. And just a few weeks ago he was scared of man. Not anymore. Yay

 

8 December 2017 Friday

I went to the Genealogy Library for the first time in months to look up deed records for St. George Parish Georgia and Barnwell County to tidy up my research on Britton Williams’ ancestry. I was there for about six hours and didn’t find much more than I could have on line. Times have really changed. As I was leaving I saw Debbie Knecht who I use to teach with at Orchard Elementary who was serving a genealogy mission. She didn’t recognize me until I introduced myself. It was a long time ago at least 25 years. Opened a can of Campbell Clam Chowder soup for dinner... I don't know how people can eat this stuff... Back to making my own homemade soups... I think I am hungry out of habit but nothing sounds good... Only thing that seems to hit the spot is kettle popcorn and I already went through a bag of that lol... Dogs are eating good though lol... Pearl barley and shredded pork... I asked Bill Poore over for Sunday dinner because he wanted to see the new pup although I doubt whether Buster wants to see him LOL. He hides when men come over.  Rich Butler wants me to make a banana nut bread to see to a friend of his for Christmas and I said I’d make it Monday as he wants to send it off on Wednesday next week.

 

9 December 2017 Saturday

Going to be a busy but fun day today. I am going to sign the papers so that Buster will officially be part of my family of pups. Every one of them including Buddy was unwanted. Even though I got Buddy as a puppy he was the last of his litter mates because no one wanted a black schnauzer. I had his sister for two weeks before finding that Buddy was left all alone so I drove up to Wyoming and brought him home to his sister. All the rest who have come into my life were also rejected by families who no longer wanted them for very stupid reasons like pooping in the house, no time for them, a new baby, a broken leg, etc. And poor Buster was left in a box in a Canyon. Well we will all now grow old together safe and secure. I am rich in puppy love and for that I am grateful. I love my retirement and that I have the means to live the life I do. .About 1 pm I was out at West Valley’s Petco to meet with Laurie Epperson to officially adopt Buster as part of the family...I paid his adoption fees of $200 and then gave an extra $300 donation to hearts 4 Paws because I know they have had a lot of medical bills lately... So it was like I gave $50 for each of my critters. The name change for Buster should not be too hard as when he was taken to the shelter in November they named him Carmen and when the foster bailed him out she named him Rocky... I like Buster a lot better although I did considered Pepe, Cisco and even Buckwheat but thought they might sound racist... Lol. I got home about 1:30 barely enough time to grab a bite to eat then I was off at 2:15 to go to the State Prison to visit with Kyle Foote. His visiting time was from 3 to 5 although we never get the full time. Nothing really new, just visited about his access to his own television now and prison tamales he is going to make for Christmas for his section. A Very creative use of crushed Doritos LOL. I was barely home by 5:30 to feed the pups when Charles and Richard came by at 5:45 to pick me up for an evening outing. Now I am home from a wonderful evening courtesy of Richard Harmston and Charles Bigo. They treated me to dinner at Zupas in Sugar House and to the Salt Lake Men’s Choir Christmas concert... It was a fun holiday treat all though I would never have gone on my own. I am just not much of a choir fan of any type except a black gospel choir. At Zupas I had their chicken gumbo soup which was good but I could not finish it. It came with a butter roll and a chocolate cover strawberry which I gave to Richard because I was so full. The concert started at 7:30 and seemed like it was a full house. They had a small orchestra accompanying them which I think made them sound better. Dennis McCracken directed and Richard and I both thought he didn’t look well. I wonder how long he will be able to do this. Wesley Brady is the Choir President. The people in the 70 plus members I knew were first tenor Garth Gaullickson, 2^nd Tenor Jon Bennett, and Baritones Troy Hunter, Adrian Ruiz, Baritones, Kevin Alvey, Robert Cross, Michael Aaron, Dennis Lee, and Courtney Moser. We sat behind Curtis Price and his new wife and at first I didn’t recognize him. I said I didn’t recognize him out of uniform. Some of the soft choir songs nearly put me to sleep as I was so tired from being up so early. When I got home about 9:30 I heard Harleigh barking outside. I hope the old boy hadn’t been out in the freezing cold all this time. I need to really close up the doggy door if I am going out for any extensive amount of time now that temps have dropped below freezing. So I am in for the evening with everyone but Harleigh in bed with me... Brrr it was cold out tonight...still haven't acclimatized to the cold after such a warm fall...

·         Kay Campbell You & your big ol’ heart!!!!💕

·         Alan Anderson All pups deserve the love you give yours.

·         Ron Johnson You're an inspiration to us all.

·         Craig Hunter Such a good kid.

·         James Connelley Lucky pup. Both of ya.

·         Richard P. Butler Busted Buster out. The House of the Barking Dogs has another in the pack.

·         T.J. Otaka Congrats, Ben. Hopefully I can pet Buster next time I come over.

·         Terrie Williams good deal! Buster it is.. So glad i didn't have to read about how he had to go to some strangers house when he finally felt like he could show you his belly. I mean really....

·         Roland Ron Holmgren I am so glad that Buster now has a forever home where he will be treated with love and kindness. You are a special person, Ben.

·         Ruadhan O'Sheridan Buster looks a lot like our Connor.

 

10 December 2017 Sunday

I made a mincemeat pie this morning... Not sure how it will taste but smells like Christmas ... Hmmmm I wonder if this will count towards my protein after all it does says mincemeat...I had Bill Poore come over for Sunday dinner and to meet Buster... And Buster didn't hide but came up to him and said Howdy Do... I fixed a pork roast with roasted potatoes, served with apple sauce, corn bread dressing, cauliflower and broccoli in a cheese sauce, and butter corn with diced red bell pepper. I made a biscuit for Bill also... We had Hot tea to drink... Bill didn’t want any of the pie but I sent him home with containers of food for his supper. After dinner, Buster fell asleep in my arms with his little tongue sticking out... He's shedding some lol... He's a good boy. Bill took a picture of Buster and me for me to send to Laurie Epperson for her Hearts 4 Paws site but he was so sound asleep in my arms it was the best I could do of the two of us ...he lays on his back so I know he feels safe after the trauma he had in November... Not even 7:30 and the pooches are all pooped out and so am I...I can't even stretch out because Buster likes sleeping on my legs and TJ is like glue.

 

11 December 2017 Monday

Foggy Inversion day. The ground and everything covered with frost. All my geraniums which had been blooming until last night are now dead from the freezing temperatures. Lion in Winter King Henry II: There's no sense asking if the air is good if there's nothing else to breathe. Whenever I lay down on the bed Buster has to be on my legs...I think he loves me... And he keeps my feet warm... TJ is by my belly, Lulu Bell by my feet and Coco up by my head... I am so fortunate to be loved by these little rescued mutts. It is so Good seeing Buster become a playful dog again... Even Harleigh is up on the bed... I know I am posting a lot of dog pics on FB but I know many of my friends are happy to see Buster progress from a scared little waif to being part of a new family... I think that the pup that was found with Buster who was adopted right away may have bonded as they stayed together in the box in the canyon... Well he will have a big family now. What to do on a frosty morning? Make soup and quiche of course.... I had vegetables of cauliflower, broccoli, corn and potatoes left over from Sunday dinner so threw them into a crockpot with chicken broth, rue, cheese, ham, and half and half and voile cream of vegetable soup... I also had cheese and sour cream that needed using up so made a ham, onion, and cheese quiche too... Bill Poore doesn't care for mincemeat pie so I had that left over too... I brought the mince pie over to Michael Romero with some of the soup when I took Coco home.

 

12 December 2107 Tuesday

This morning I was up at 5:30 so I decided I better write back to David Busby, an inmate friend of Kyle Foote. He had sent me a letter that I had inadvertent over looked in a pile of junk mail. Then I wrote Kyle about the content of David’s letter. I got it off in the mail before 9 a.m. because Rich Butler said he was coming over at 10 to retrieve a banana nut bread I made for a friend of his for Christmas. I am glad I mailed them when I did as Rich stayed until 1 pm  and we had a nice long visit. He brought Sophie, the pup I babysat last June, over too to see the gang. She is such a pup still running all over the house. Rich is bringing her over on the 22^nd to stay because Brenda and he are hosting a Christmas party for about 50 of their friends and Sophie would just be a nuisance.  Buster was pretty good. He came out and sat in the lazy boy and didn't hide the whole time but he did bark a lot at Rich at times. But his tail was always wagging. Rich has Italian heritage and he can’t talk without hand gestures and certain gesturing would set Buster off especially if Rich's hands were raised. Makes me think Buster may have been abused but most of the time he was in my arms and was a good boy. After Rich left I ate a banana and lay down and thump I was out for 2 hours for a major power nap. When I got up it was nearly 4 do did not do much productive. Must have needed it and what else is to do in this winter inversion? I cooked a pot of pinto beans today and made two tostados for supper but only managed to eat one and a half. I was dreading hearing the news out of Alabama but was filled with joy when it was projected that Jones the Democrat won over Moore the Republican bigot. The Confederacy lost again in Alabama... Alabama proved more people are decent in that state than indecent... If the South is going to rise again it should be with Equality and Justice not with religious bigotry... The Great American Apostasy on the part of Evangelicals is trying to combine Church and State instead of rendering unto Caesar what is Caesars as the Lord commanded. Today Hanukah, The Festival of Lights, begin to today... Oy to the World…break out your dreidels

·                     Dear David,     I am sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your letter. Actually it came with a stack of other mail that I had put aside and only discovered it the other day. So I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. I am not sure what the policy is about forwarding a letter from one inmate to another in letters. But I certainly am willing to try. If they won’t let me forward letters in my letter I have no issues passing on your thoughts to him. I went and saw Kyle last Saturday in Draper. I have visited him about three times previous to that. Yes it’s a whole lot more convenient to drive to Draper, about a half an hour, than all the way down to Gunnison for sure. That made for a long six hour day, two hours down, two hours visiting and two hours back home. The difference between visiting at Draper than Gunnison is that at Gunnison you could come down anytime Friday through Monday but here at Draper there is a rotating schedule of when you can visit someone in a certain section. It changes daily and hourly. As that Kyle has a regular job now with the ground crew I only go on the weekends that he is available as not to take him away from his work. I will see him on Sunday the 17^th and again on Christmas Eve as those are the days he will be available. He seems to be adjusting to his new environment in the Wasatch C [Charlie] section that was just opened before he arrived. He even had to put his own bed together as it was just so new to prisoners once again. He’s in a room that contains its own shower, sink, and toilet with just one other cell mate. He said that it’s completely dark at night because the room is windowless and he had not experienced sleeping in the dark in years and years and it being so quiet. I know he hated giving up the mattress I bought him just before the transferred him but the rest of the bedding was sent to me. The area where his cell is located is called the dungeon because there is no window except a tiny one located in the door. He hopes to move in with another room soon with a guy he met that is more compatible. He told me at our last visit that he’s making tamales for the guys in his section for Christmas. I was fascinated to hear of his ingenious concoction using just what is available from the commissary. Kyle said he had a nice Thanksgiving and he made a bunch of cakes, cinnamon apple, chocolate fudge and even a mint chocolate cheesecake for his section. He said he’s gotten to be “pretty damn” good at “jail house cooking.” He said he can work wonders with a commissary and a microwave. So I have no doubts that his tamales will be just fine. He said the food at Draper is okay compared to Gunnison but he says they put too many onions in everything. That has always been his complaint. Otherwise there’s plenty of food. When he goes to his work assignment he stays in a place that has a couch, a microwave, with plenty of fruit like apples and oranges as well as extra food trays. His only other complaint was that his request for a television last October was delayed a month. While he turned in the forms on time, the officer did not so he had to wait until just the end of November to have his own television back. In the meanwhile he said he had to endure a lot of football on the communal set. Even now it’s not the best as his section was not rewired for television as was the rest of the prison so sometimes he will lose reception in the middle of one of his programs. But oh well. The prison had paid for his section to be updated but the company hadn’t so who knows when they will. He works for 7 hours a day from 8 to 3 pm on the ground crew but since he’s gotten there he’s been working on repairing and doing maintenance on snow plows and tractors, doing brakes, oil changes, and other mechanical things. I guess his time in the air force reserves working as a mechanic is paying off. He gets a $1 an hour for all his jobs. Which is about $35 a week, so he has some spending money. He is not in construction as they didn’t think he was capable of that I suppose. He had me copy pictures of him building my backyard deck as part of a resume to convince them in the spring but he is also thinking of transferring to the motor pool when an opening opens up as it would pay $1.75 an hour. Every little bit helps I know. Once a month he even gets to buy food from a café ran by women prisoners. His boss even will once in a while buy his crew hamburgers from McDonalds. Kyle says he never even complains of the onions, he just wipes them off and is grateful. Kyle gets paid whether he is actually working or not so I sent him a subscription to USA today because he wanted to do the crossword puzzles to kill some time in the break room. In his section there is a pool table and he said while he’s not good at it, he is getting better with practice. I guess everyone in his section is on some kind of work program and it’s like a dormitory he said. I told him he’s living the life of Riley. He does miss a lot of the guys he associated with in Gunnison as he was there for so many years but he knows his parole time is getting closer. This December he has only 2 more years and he is hoping that the last year he will get a work release to work as a cook in a half way house.  He was proud of the fact that he ran in the Half Marathon and 10 K when he got to Draper and came in 1^st Place surprising the coach official who didn’t think he had it in him. His times for the 10 K was 45minutes and 22 seconds and the half marathon were 1 hour and 39 minutes and 39 seconds. I guess Kyle’s running partner Johnny Wall from Gunnison was transferred to Draper to be closer to medical facilities. He’s in a different section from Kyle, however. The unit that Kyle is in, he said he feels relatively safe and of course Kyle is good at schmoozing people. I will write Kyle today also and tell him I got a letter from you and how much he means to you and that you are thinking of him. I know that will mean a lot to him. I know he doesn’t get much support from his real family who have pretty much given up on him. I hope you have as Merry a Christmas as you can considering your situation. Best Regards Ben Williams

·         Dear Kyle, I received a letter from a David Busby from Gunnison. Actually it came with a stack of other mail that I had put aside and only discovered it the other day. It was dated from December 3^rd so I apologized for not getting back to him sooner and sent him off a letter today on how you are adjusting to your new digs. He was wanting me to forward his letters to you but I am not sure if that is permissible so I said I would transcribe what I could and send what I could in my letters. He said he met you in STRIVE “roughly five years ago, probably more but many of the years begin to blend together. I relate being in here oftentimes to the movie “Ground Hog Day” with Bill Murray.” “Anyway, I consider Kyle one of my best friends. Not many people you socialize with in here are people you would continue to associate with out there. Not so with Kyle. He is a friend I would happily hang out with in the real world. His absence down here is palpable to me mainly because he was one of my very few confidants and even rarer still was one of the only people who was capable of intellectually stimulating my mind. There aren’t very many people I can talk politics with and actually enjoy. Most just regurgitate the nonsense they hear from someone else, which is too often just made up dramatics, or opinions with no substance what so ever. Plus, Kyle and I watched a lot of the same TV shows, PBS cooking shows, This Old House, and maybe a few others. I have Kyle to thank for making me a loyal CBS Sunday Morning viewer – our “church” as he so aptly named it!” He then went on and gave a rundown on his biography about his mission and his college career and that “ while I at the U, I was elected for three consecutive years as the president of the college Republicans there.” Yikes! But then he wrote “My political views have changed considerably since then” [Amazing how personal adversity can change people’s views to be sympathetic to others] “I like to think I’m somewhere in the social libertarian range. I tend to prefer fiscal conservatism [stingy] but am rather socially a liberal.” I wonder if he knows he’s writing to a Socialist Democrat? LOL “I am opinionated and I can be stubborn and persistent.” “I love movies (musicals, dramas, action), I like to watch Broadway productions and I adore a good symphony.” At this point I thought humph GAY and another Log Cabin Republican but he redeemed himself a bit adding “I’m definitely a dog person.” “I could go on with more, but I mainly wanted to give you a personality profile given that writing on paper is not the best medium for really communicating with and “seeing someone. Since you are Kyle’s de facto parent, I think you might like to know some of his friends- well me in particular since I’m writing you. Kyle has spoken regularly of you so I know about you whatever he has shared about you and your personality. Nice to meet you!”  Does he know I am a Yellow Dog Democrat? “All that being said, I don’t know if you would be comfortable forwarding/ enclosing letters from me to Kyle with your own as we are not permitted to write each other directly. Alternately, I can write to you and you can share with him anything I have to say.” “By the way, I don’t know if Kyle has told you that I’m gay.” I figured that when he said he liked musicals and Broadway shows. “I’m not open about it in here for a variety of reasons. I wasn’t open before coming in, which is a major contributor to my circumstances. I anticipate being open and needing to be open out there. Of course, with all the courageous activism of people like yourself, it’s now much easier for someone like me to be open nowadays. I’ll have more questions for you in this regard in the future I’m sure.” I am not sure if he will like this old Gay Liberationists views. He asked how you are doing in Draper and thought you were in Construction. He asked if I am able to visit you more frequently too.  “Kyle does well wherever he is, which is admirable. So I can only assume that he is doing well.” “I hope more things go his way because he has been locked up for way too long for what he’s in for. But chalk that up to a broken, severely broken system. One that, in Utah, I would argue is corrupt and unconstitutional.” “Not much has changed for me. Kyle would be interested to know that I retired from clerking in STRIVE. Although it has opened a little more time for me to focus on some other things, my trust in any staff has not increased.” “I am also still sifting through strategies and researching attorneys. I met with Liz Hunt for over an hour just over a month ago. I’m not convinced she is right for my situation. I think I need someone who is more calculated and a power player or savvy and intelligent as things may call for.” I wrote back to him that I was not sure what the policy is about forwarding a letter from one inmate to another in letters. But I certainly am willing to try. If they won’t let me forward letters in my letter I have no issues passing on his thoughts to you or you to him. I told him you seem to be adjusting to your new environment in the Wasatch C [Charlie] section that was just opened before he arrived. I wrote how you are making tamales for the guys in your section for Christmas and how you finally got your own television even if the reception is poor. I let him know you were a part of the ground crew rather than working in Construction and that you’ve been working on repairing and doing maintenance on snow plows and tractors. I also told him you miss a lot of the guys you associated with in Gunnison.  I did tell him that you ran in the Half Marathon and 10 K and came in 1^st Place.   Well I will close now and get this off to you. I hope to see you this Sunday. As I ever was or ever shall be- Your friend Ben Williams

14 December 2017 Thursday

I wanted to bake today so looked in the cupboard and icebox to see what I had so I made a Christmas fruit cake... I had pecans, walnuts, candied pineapple, dates, maraschino cherries, applesauce and tangerines to go in it...I slivered the peel of the tangerine and candied it... Then I had butter, brown sugar, molasses, eggs, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice and powdered cocoa...I had rum and cranberry juice, salt flour, and baking powder so I thought why not? Didn't have to go out to get anything... So here it is with royal icing flavored with peach schnapps... Should be moist and not dry. Maud's Cafe is opening January 18th as a coffee house to provide work experience for homeless youth... I hope it's a big success...

 

15 December 2017 Friday

I think Buster is now part of the pack as Lulu Belle was a year ago...him and TJ like to play together now I have been compiling all my research on who I believe is the father of my last documented ancestor Britton Williams...I know from DNA who my clan was from an indentured Welsh servant who came to Virginia Colony in 1666 but the paper trail between the 3 generations between him and Britton has been tough going and depended mostly on land records... But I finally finished and made a strong case for my direct line on just circumstantial evidence... genealogy is as addicting as crack... Just wouldn't be the holidays without Mom's pecan pie... So I made one today for my dinner party this Saturday. She use to make fudge with walnuts, divinity, and my aunt Pauline would send us homemade peanut brittle from Texas. My aunt Marie made the best homemade banana cream pie and Grandma Williams' chocolate pie was to die for... Diabetes was inevitable lol. Donna called me in the afternoon and said she got the check I sent her for Christmas. I know she appreciates it and an use it. She said at least in Orange County you wouldn't know there was fires raging in California... She was surprised I have another dog, my sixth...I had to remind her that mom always said if she had to do it all over again she'd of raised dogs... Just following moms advice lol... She loved animals and we always had cats and dogs growing up... Dad not so much. Don't ask me how but Harleigh broke his harness that I use to help him climb the deck stairs... It's made of nylon and looks like it's been cut in two places ... Weird... So ordered him a new red one so hopefully it will come Sunday... Roy Moore hates Gays ... Thinks homosexuality should be illegal like in backward Middle East countries... Doug Jones victory is not only a victory for human decency but also for his zookeeper son, Carson Jones, oh yeah, who also happens to be Gay...

 

16 December 2017 Saturday

It makes me happy to wake up to Buster and TJ wrestling over who gets to lay by my belly... Spent much of the day cleaning and cooking for the party. Cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed and mopped. I put the beef and barley soup on early this morning. Can't vouch for the taste but my fruit cake looked pretty when I sliced it for my dinner party... The Dogs mustn't be too hungry... I Fixed them pork and barley and no one ate much... Oh well, I put it up and they can have it for breakfast or dinner tomorrow... Not running an all night dinner...Had a nice supper with friends for tonight dinner and a movie even though it was the smallest turn out I’ve had. Bill Poore said he wasn’t feeling well again and I know it’s hard for him to drive at night. Alan Anderson and Kyle Daniels had a debate tournament in Provo, and Jim McMullin fell yesterday and twisted his ankle so he and TJ couldn’t make it. So had a small group of Charles Bigo, Richard Harmston, Dennis Lee, and Michael Romero. I was going to make clam chowder in aition to beef and barley soup but decided not to after TJ and Jim canceled. So with the beef and barley I made meat balls in BBQ sauce, and served sharp cheddar cheese and crackers, pecan pie, fruit cake, and bread pudding with butter rum sauce... Dennis brought over some assorted nuts, and Charle brought French baguettes. Plenty of food as usual. After eating we watched my perennial favorite Christmas Vacation... Good food and good friends...even Buster came out to say Howdy do...

 

 

17 December 2017 Sunday

Kind of a lazy day after yesterday. Today is Jim Dabakis’s birthday. The new collar came for Harleigh today and even though I measured it was too small around his chest. Ugh. So I just ordered another one a bit larger as the quality looked really good. I will give this one to Coco and if Mike doesn’t want it I will donate it to Hearts 4 Paws. I am making beef stew although I am really not hungry. It snowed a bit last night but its melting fast. I took a nap in the afternoon before getting up and feeding the pack before heading out at 4:00 to head down to Daybreak to deliver some soup and fruit cake to T.J. Otaka and Jim McMullin and to see how his foot is doing. He said the swelling has been going down with applications of heat and cold... Otherwise they seem to be doing fine... After that I left there to head to the prison in Draper and I got there at 5:45 and the place was already packed...they didn't even let us through the metal detector until 6:20 and it was 6:30 before I even saw Kyle...the visiting hours were from 6 to 8 but they kicked us out at 7:45 so only got to visit a little more than an hour... I didn't buy him a drink this time because they said the visiting room would be overcrowded and I wanted to get a table for us... First time I ever saw Kyle tear up telling me how he had a slight run in with a gang member there because he was Gay...first time I ever heard Kyle talk about gangs in prison... Evidently one of the guys who put in for the tamales Kyle was going to prepare for Christmas is a gang member and they have a thing about Gay people touching their food so Kyle was told he couldn’t prepare the meal but only assist in supervising. I think this was the first ramification he encountered being open about being Gay. I got home about 8:20 from seeing Kyle and finally had a bowl of stew being going to bed...

So that I am clear on this ...candidate Trump promised to rebuild our failing infrastructure putting Americans back to work but instead the Republicans are giving a huge tax cut to corporations and the wealthy putting our nation 1 and a half trillion dollars in debt without a bridge or a road repair to show for it? We are going into such deep debt while the nation crumbles... Who is the enemy ISIS or Republicans?

I sent a letter off to Kyle’s friend in Gunnison after copying it in case it doesn’t get through.

·                     Dear Dave,      I sure do miss you. It was very nice to hear from you through Ben. I’m doing well in my new home and fairly settled in to my new normal. After so many years in one place it was a bit of a culture shock moving here. Though I miss my friends and some of the comforts I left behind, on balance my move has been a good thing. My new home is actually pretty nice, much nicer even than my college dorm at Westminster. After so many years without a bathroom of my own it’s a great luxury to have a shower in my room I can use at any time. There’s a couple of TV lounges around a common room for people to share, though they’re often tuned to Football.  There’s also a pool table so my billiards game has improved markedly from sad to mediocre. All my neighbors are blue collar types working in construction of one type or another but I suppose that describes me now too. Though, my line is grounds keeping rather than construction. The company I work for has a contract to maintain 5 separate facilities spread across 800 acres. My duties take me all over the property. Normally they employ a team of 4 guys to do my job, but for the winter I’ll likely be the only guy in my shop. This is partly because there’s not a lot of grass to cut or fields to plow this time of year but mostly because there are basically no eligible candidates to hire from. Every crew seems to be desperately short handed but they can’t seem to find hardly any eligible  and interested candidates to even apply for the open positions. My bosses are very laid back and my job is actually pretty enjoyable. I am mostly unsupervised and unmonitored all day and am free to wander the entire property with few restrictions- which is surreal. So far my job is mainly to service and maintain the various tractors, riding lawn mowers, and other motorized equipment used by grounds. My bosses assure me I’ll become an expert at small engine repair and maintenance yet- I can hardly wait. I have picked up things fairly quickly though and I need far less guidance now than when I started. When things are slow in my shop and the mood strikes me, which is often, I wander to the motor pool and help out over there. I can now confidently replace the brakes and rotors, change the tires and lube, oil and filter on a wide range of vehicles. I didn’t even know cars had rotors two months ago. I’m also on the snow plow team so I’m on call to drive one of the plow tractors in the event of a snow storm. My guess is the novelty of plowing snow will wear off fairly quickly once I’ve done it once or  twice. Ben said you retired from clerking in STRIVE. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing for you but I ‘m sure it’s bad for STRIVE. I’m not sure how STRIVE can survive long-term under its current leadership. I just hope he doesn’t ruin things too badly for people like you. He also said you met with Liz Hunt but that she doesn’t seem like a good fit for your situation. I met with her as well and left with a similar impression. I still haven’t done anything to get a Special Attention so there’s no change for me yet on that front. I’m still not sure what I should do either. I really hope you find a good path forward for your situation- it makes me sick to think about how much time they want you to do. I guess that about catches you up with me. Please pass along my regards and warm wishes to everyone, especially Kit, Johnny Bell, Perry , Ayotte and Cox. Also tell Cox I hope his house turned out well- it should be almost done by now. I think about it all the time and I’m bummed that I can’t see how it all turned out. I’m grateful that he let me lend the occasional suggestion and be a vicarious part of his project. I hope he and his family find great comfort and joy in their new home. Take care of yourself my friend, Kyle

 

18 December 2017 Monday

I'm bored but don't want to put pants on to do anything when I am cozy lounging around in my African print shirt, boxer shorts and the slippers that Bill Poore bought me. 'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house not a doggy is stirring... All nestled in their beds.

 

19 December 2017 Tuesday

Binged watched the 2nd Season of the Crown and Alias Grace on Netflix...yes they are that good..

 

20 December 2017 Wednesday

Up way too early at 5 am with the wind gusting and Harleigh barking to be let in so fixed some coffee and stayed up to do some writing on the family history. The wind is really ripping through the valley ahead of a cold front that is expecting to bring snow...it was 47 degrees this morning... Last day of fall and the beginning of winter..

I found a great cast iron skillet at the DI for $3 ... it had a little bit of rust which is the only reason I can imagine someone getting rid of it... I cleaned it up and re-seasoned it and now good as new...

Snow blizzard here in the River District as I took Coco home... At least it isn't sticking to the roads but will turn slick tonight but I am home with my pack

Have dumbass trump supporters caught on yet that any tax break they might get will be eaten up by increased health insurance premiums once the ACA acts mandate provision is gone... Orrin Hatch and the rest of the GOP crime syndicate are celebrating and slapping each other on the back while states across the country are ending health care for low income children for lack of funding... Monsters all of them... Sorry Tiny Tim just die and decrease the surplus population... The Aristocrats need a tax break on their private jets...

 

21 December 2017 Thursday YULE

Today is the Winter Solstice and the beginning of winter. I got a notice from the Social Security office saying that because I am 66 I can work and still keep all my earnings from work and social security... I thought about going back to work for 5 seconds and said forget it...I'd rather be home with my critters and I am sure they'd rather me be home with them too... Did some banana bread baking too and made 3 loaves... How would I be able to continue making banana nut bread if I went back to work? Unlike corporations and the wealthy I have plenty for my needs...I may have vices but greed isn't one of them...

Winter Sun Shining Bright, Shortest Day Longest Night

As hope dispels all our sorrow, The Suns rebirth will surely follow

'Tis the season to light the Yule fire, and dream of things most desired

Longer days white Yule Tide will bring joyfully to us a verdant spring

 

22 December 2017 Friday

Bill came over about noon bearing gifts for me and the dogs...even a ham...lol reminded me of the Best Christmas Pageant Ever when the wise men brought Mary and baby Jesus a ham... I made him some banana nut bread and later sent him home with some stew. He came over for me to drive him to Layton for him to drop off presents for his brother's family...had a nice visit his brother Ross, and his granddaughter who was 4 was visiting so Bill got to see her...we stopped at China Star in Bountiful on the way home for lunch...we both ended up taking most of it home with us for our supper... I am babysitting Sophie for a couple of days so have a troupe of hounds at the house... And they all want to be in my lap... They had a good supper of chicken gizzards, barley, and beef... I made a crockpot of ham and bean soup for my supper....

I had two people knock on my door after I had already turned in for the night and had to get dressed again on both occasions. First was a young Latino who said the UPS had delivered an Amazon packet to his house instead of mine. One block over there's another house with the same street number as mine 1633 and since we have the same city and ZIP careless mail deliveries will often mix us up...frustrating why the city assigned the same street number. I was here first and his house could have easily been 1631 or 1635 as we are both corner lots. Oh well. Then almost at 9 I get another knock on the door and it’s my Mormon neighbor behind me. We have been neighbors for at least 19 years as his house was built after mine. He gave me a small gift and an invite to the local ward's Sunday Christmas program. He said something surprising to me. He said I might think the church doesn't want me but they do. This is from someone who works for the Boy Scouts and had a family of 7 boys. I think there is a real disconnect between rank and file Mormons and the Old Men who run things downtown. I thanked him but I have other commitments that morning as I need to be down at the prison by 10 a.m. If it wasn't for my Grandma Williams attitude against beer and alcohol I think my Christmases would have been more like white trash than the pots of chili and pies and Rice Krispies I remember from my childhood... I miss her this time of year ...

·         Charline Wachs Christmas time at our Grandparents house was always special cause everyone was there all of the cousins, in-laws and extended families. Grandma Williams always wanted her family around her for the holidays. I miss those days.

 

23 December 2017 Saturday

I went to the LDS genealogy library to look at old land deeds in Barnwell County from the 18^th Century that still exist and glad I did because I found a deed that proved my hunch that Abigail Williams was the widow of John Williams. Still no real proof they are the parents of Britton Williams but no proof they weren’t either.  I left and went to the store to get some food for the pups and came home only to discover later I misplaced my car keys and it's driving me nuts... Came back from the store this afternoon and now they aren't to be found and yes I checked my pants pockets... Ugh... Don't you hate misplacing something you just had? Sign of early dementia... I have an extra set but can't imagine where they can be ... Generally they would be near my wallet when I come home... But don't seem to be anywhere... It's snowed  pretty good over here in Westpointe this afternoon... If it sticks we will have a white Christmas but I think it will melt as its hasn’t been that cold. You think Republicans will support raising the minimum wage now that they have given these corporations millions in added profits?

 

24 December 2017 Sunday

I drove out to the State Prison in Draper this morning to go see Kyle. His visiting hours were from 10 to Noon but of course we never get the full time like we did in Gunnison but that’s okay because I can visit more often. It still aggravates me to no end the morons who show up with belts and boots and stuff that sets off the metal detector and makes everyone else wait. There should be an express lane for people like me who know how to dress. It’s like going through airport security.  It was of course crowded again like last week too which kind of killed my Christmas generosity and goodwill. Ha! But Kyle seemed to be in better spirits than he was last week so I guess the run in with a gang member over him being Gay and fixing food was resolved. He didn’t know that I had put some money on his books for Christmas. We had a nice visit and first time I spent Christmas with him since 2010. It was a nice clear day too so the roads were good. I told him I’d come see him again on New Year’s Day.

After leaving Draper I drove over to Daybreak to drop off a mincemeat pie I made for Randy Gile and banana nut bread for the rest of them. Only Gay was home however because the rest were out serving subpoenas ha! But I was just as glad because needed to get home so that Rich Butler could come and pick up Sophie to take home.

Tried to take a Christmas Eve nap in the movie room with four pups who all think they have to cuddle with me... Buster is my Christmas present to me this year...he's my guardian...he sleeps at the foot my bed and growls at the other pups wanting up... Sophie went home this afternoon and we all need a nap from having a puppy in the house... We watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas.

I miss the old Salt Lake City at Christmas time...loved being in Cross Roads Mall and ZCMI Mall across from each other and especially seeing the window candy displays in the ZCMI window front, the Talking Christmas Tree, and seeing the lights on Temple Square... I Remember when bookstores were the favorite places to buy gifts.

Two years ago I had a bunch over for a Christmas Eve dinner of baked ham, yams, and funeral potatoes. Green beans, fried okra, pecan pie etc. Christmas Eve dinner from 2015 ... My last hurrah... Those days are now The Ghost of Christmas Past...

Today is my Aunt Minnie's birthday... As a kid I always thought she was cheated out of a birthday having it on Christmas Eve but now I know how lucky she was to always have family with her on her special day... She was a preemie baby born in Muleshoe, Texas 1929 and on Christmas Day the hotel the family was staying at caught fire and burned down...grandma was carried out on a mattress with her new born baby... Christmas presents were lost but not Aunt Minnie or anyone else... She died in 1999 an "old maid"...

·         Bill Poore I know I would have liked anyone called Aunt Minnie.

·         Benedgar Williams She was a sweet woman... She'd take me to the shows when I was a kid...saw Ten Commandments with her and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea... They weren't the same movie lol

 

25 December 2017 Christmas Monday

Buddy woke me from a dream barking this Christmas morning wanting treats... I gave him and Harleigh treats and Maxx TJ Lulubelle and Buster their new toys and they fell promptly back to sleep... We have a white Christmas this morning with about 4 inches of snow that fell last night... My floor is wet from the pups tracking in snow ... Merry Christmas

Well Christmas morning is up and running... I hear Harleigh outside barking in the snow, Buddy wants me to get up and the non-schnauzers are wresting on the bed even Buster who is allowing TJ to lick and clean his face. Buster says Merry Christmas from my new home... It's better than being left in a box in a canyon...

A white Christmas in Salt Lake City this morning....my Buddha is completely covered but St Francis is still there... Hmmm a Christmas sign?

I guess I will gird up my loins, put on some pants, snow boots, fleece pull over and my woolen cap and go shovel my driveway, and steps...

Took me an hour but the old man did his civic duty and got the steps, driveway and 100 feet of sidewalk cleared of snow until the next dump... Utah certainty has Four Seasons. My Mexican neighbor was snow plowing his sidewalks and asked if I wanted him to do mine and I said yes please. I then Cleared a path for the pups in the back yard on the deck so they don't break their necks or me hauling Harleigh’s butt up the steps...his new and hopefully last mail order harness came today and it's snug but fits... The small one fits Buster so it's not a waste... I baked my neighbor some cinnamon banana bread for his kindness of doing my sidewalks.

T.J. Otaka and Jim McMullin invited me over for Christmas dinner and since I forgot to get anything to bring I whipped up a homemade banana cream pie...however I forgot to place a pie plate over the crust when I baked it so it all slid down the sides...oh well can't always have a masterpiece... I remembered how wonderful my Aunt Marie's banana cream pies were so here's to you Aunt Marie

Home from a delicious ham Christmas dinner with TJ Otaka and Jim McMullin... Charles Bigo drove so it was a relaxing afternoon... When I got home about 5:15 I fed the pups their Christmas dinner of roast beast and chicken thighs so they had a nice dinner too... Most of the streets are clear of snow and warmed up enough to melt what didn't get shoveled... Merry Christmas everyone...

·         T.J. Otaka Thank you for coming. We had a great time with you and Charles this afternoon. Glad you are home safe with your pups. Again, Merry Christmas!!!

·         Manage

·         Charles Bigo The meal was Super! I had seconds, too, with the best friends ever! Thank you for your familyship!

·         T.J. Otaka Glad you could come today and went home safe. Thank you for the gift and your friendship. We cherish our familyship very much.

 

26 December 2017 Tuesday

Dismantling Christmas 2017 inside the house. I took down the fiber optic tree and the pink tree and took down all the Christmas decorations inside. I took out the coffee table in the front room to give more room in the front room and brought the television from downstairs back up to the front room. I am done and over it...see you next year ... On this day 2004 a huge storm dumped nearly a foot of snow on SLC with power lines going down across the city including my house...as I was outside trying to dig out the steps and driveway Michael said I had a call from my mom... My dad had just died that morning... It was nearly two days before I could get a flight out of SLC as the airport had shut down and I spent the entire time in a cold powerless house desperate to be home to be with my mom... Little did I know a half a world away, tens of thousands were being drowned by the Indonesian tsunami... My own personal sorrow over whelmed that event...

 

27 December 2017 Wednesday

No entry

 

28 December 2017 Thursday

No entry

 

29 December 2917 Friday

 

My heart is diminished learning that Dr. John Reeves PhD passed away last night in Boston. I met John when he attended a support group I started in 1986 called Married and Divorce Gays and Lesbians. He had gone through an ugly divorce and was just coming out at the age of 52 and was now in a world he didn't know and he depended on me to be his guide even though I was a novice too in a brave new world.orld. When I wanted to create a summer retreat for Gay people up in the mountains it was John who encouraged my dreams and helped me with the process. He was the one who came up with the name Beyond Stonewall the capsulate that we were heading from liberation to creating. John always said I was doing “my Ben thing” when I would start a new group or get involved in SLC Growing acceptance of Gay people. He was vice chair of the Gay and Lesbian Community Council in 1988 when I learned he had to leave Utah because Utah Valley College wouldn’t renew his teaching position. He moved to Boston, struggled until landing a position at Bunker Hill Community College where he taught Sociology. He was the first person to teach a class on Homosexuality which he persuaded his administrators to allow him to teach. From 1988 to 1992 I would go back to Boston and stay with him and oh the adventures we had. After that a faerie friend of mine Fuku went back to Boston for a KRCL conference and he met John... Love took root and Jimmy moved back to Boston to live with him and eventually when the law allowed married John. I know that a part of my world just got smaller knowing John is no longer in it but he lived the latter half of his life a true and authentic Gay man. Condolences to Jimmy Hamamoto just doesn’t seem enough for the loss of beloved John.

 

I finally found my keys. They were hidden in layers of blankets in my bed LOL. They must have fallen out of my pants pockets when I threw the pants on my unmade bed. With four dogs sleeping with me and burrowing under the blankets they must have gotten buried. Stripping my bed to do laundry I found them... yay!

 

My friend John's passing made me realize i need to make arrangements for my own passing. So I am at Wiscombe Memorial which is Gay owned business to set up a preplanned and paid cremation so it’s one last thing my out of state kinfolk will have to worry about. It is one less thing on my mind

 

Up at discount tires because of a slow leak... i didn’t have an appointment so here i sit for at least an hour...

 

The comedienne Rose Marie died today at the age of 94

 

 

 

 

 

 

His grandson Chris Reeves wrote a  short tribute. “I still feel numb, but while smoking a cigarette about to get in line for security, for the flight to Boston, that I frantically booked at 1:30 in the morning last night, while thinking I would not get to say goodbye, I learned that I did not get to say goodbye. He knew I loved him, and I know I loved him, and know he loved me...but to have at least to have squeezed his hand.

I wrote him “Chris, you don't know me, but I loved your grandfather and we were great friends. We were confidants. I am so sorry for all our loss.”

 

30 December 2017 Saturday

Very productive morning. I got my baking done, made beef stew, baking chicken for the pups supper, doing my laundry, installed a wood oak toilet seat to spruce up the joint, and hooked up my new sound system for my desk top computer... I was going to make banana bread but while they looked fine on the outside in the middle they were black! Yuck! So threw them out and made pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and walnuts. When Bill Poore comes for lunch I will make some biscuits too..

 

 

Did some genealogy research for Mike West a friend of mine who had a Greek great grandfather who came to SLC in 1910 and settled in Greek Town on 2nd South... I wrote an article a while back on 2nd South so fun to actual know someone whose ancestor lived there

 

Happy New Year... enjoy the pumpkin bread.

 

Hey, Ben, how can an OAK toilet seat “SPRUCE UP” the place

 

31 December 2017 Sunday

Happy New Year!
I don't recall the weather ever being this nice in SLC to end the year. Love it!

 

"I woke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. " Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Joel Jay Vallar took me out to lunch with his friend Kai to Little America and he gave me this handmade Raku figurine of a bear... My totem spirit guide has always been the dancing bear so this was very sweet... I wore a sweater that T.J. Otaka and Jim McMullin bought me for Xmas...it's the first "new" item of clothing I wore since surgery that wasn't from DI lol. It's such a pleasant New Year Eve Day... Never felt it this warm before...

In 1992 Salt Lake City had a First Night Celebration downtown for New Years Eve with lots of free venues and fireworks. In 2014 due to concerns that fireworks added to the winter inversions they were discontinued and the world's 3rd largest disco ball was used to celebrate a new event called EVE which was another multi-day festival. The ball has been retired and now one night event called the Last Hurrah will be a free music venue and fireworks at the Gateway.