Bill and Pat May 24, 2018

These days I spend a lot of time thinking about the two great loves of my life. With all the chaos going in in our country now, I often retreat into these fond memories.

Few people are a fortunate as I am. 

I still miss Bill a lot. Rarely a week goes by that I don't tear up when I see something around Casa Tipton-Kelly that brings back a fond memory of Bill. That's one reason I will never leave here alive, I love living here with my loving memories of Bill. When I leave here it will be like when Bill left here, on stretcher. Bill left unconscious on that stretcher pulled by two paramedics and put into an ambulance on a cold Wednesday night in February for the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, Delaware. As I followed him in my car I knew he would never be returning to his home here alive. That night will always be one of the saddest of my life, only surprised by the telephone call I received at 1:20 AM three days later (Saturday) from a nurse at Delaware Hospice telling me "I'm sorry to inform you that Mr. Kelly has passed away." I will never forget that phone call for the rest of my life. Even though I was expecting this call, I was still stunned and in shock. After hearing those words my life changed forever. But life goes on. 

Bill and Pat May 27, 2018

Pat is in the last step of us getting permission to get married. He has to submit his paperwork to the American Consulate in Montreal, Canada. Once the consulate reviews that paperwork they will interview him and hopefully give the go ahead for him for us to get married. Then this whole new chapter starts in my life. The last chapter.

Pat and Bill May 22, 2017

Donald Trump blows off dignified transfer of fallen U.S. soldiers for go...

The "stable genius" in the White House Donald Trump has his priorities: golfing at all costs.

Shameful.

Update April 2025

My two hearts pin which I plan to wear on my lapel when I get married to Pat

 Time for an update.

I'm tempted to write about the latest stupidity from the Convicted Felon who occupies the White House but I'll give everyone a break from his never ending quest to destroy our country with his tariffs. 

My question is, will I live long enough to see the Congressional Republicans grow a spine and finally do their job and impeach this Russian asset? I doubt it so instead I'll write about .......ME. Always an interesting subject, at least to me. (smile)

Ah yes, my hearing is back. I'm listening to a DColor mix right now as I type this blog entry.

I have my hearing back and it is wonderful! Oh how I missed those upper registers. I'm hearing them now though.

Pat is busy filling our his paperwork prior to his visit with the American State Department Consulate in Montreal. It's Pat's turn to jump through all those hoops like I had to do last September. Getting his K-1 VISA is a complicated process folks. Hopefully this last step will go smoothly and we will be able to get married by June. That would be good timing. I would like to get matching outfits for our wedding but Pat isn't having it. He HATES seeing two gay guys dressed like twins. I have to admit I'm not too thrilled about those displays of "We're together, look at our matching outfits!" Pat and I look enough alike already so that will have to do. I will be wearing my Two Hearts pin (pictured at the beginning of this blog entry). I wanted to get one for him but again, Pat isn't having it. 

In other news here at Casa Tipton-Kelly: I got my John Deere riding tractor serviced on Tuesday. It was a mobile service and the service guy did a great job. Expensive but worth it. He was friendly, knowledgeable and will to share his knowledge. He showed me how to properly start my John Deere. Later on this morning I'll do some grass mowing with my new sharpened blades. I'll be mowing my grass every other week. I'll have Jose (my local all-purpose landscaper) mow every other week. He does the weed whacking which I don't do.

Later this morning to motor on down to the VA Clinic (which is still open, Trump and Musk didn't close this one .......yet) to give blood for my labs. I have an appointment next week with my doctor for a six month checkup. 

I haven't heard from my ENT nurse practitioner but my hearing is back as I said earlier. I don't know if I need another appointment but I guess I do to go over my recent CAT-SCAN.

Time to leave for my labs. 

Have a great day!

Lunch in Palm Springs & Palm Desert Feb 20, 2019

Yesterday I posted a damning critique of a new show on HULU called "Mid Century Modern." 

I wasn't going to post my critique but in the end felt compelled to because the show disgusts me so much for reinforcing negative gay stereotypes. Today I have to post what it's really like for two gay men "of a certain age" who visit Palm Springs. I have to get that bad taste out of my mouth after what I posted yesterday.

This video was the last time Pat and I visited Palm Springs right before the COVID pandemic swept through our country and world. Little did either one of us know it would be five years before we returned to Palm Springs this year. I don't know if I'll ever return to Palm Springs because of the cost and the stress of traveling by plane across the country. But if I do I can guarantee you that Pat and I and our friends that live in Palm Springs and other friends we meet who also take an annual holiday in Palm Springs (like Spo of "Spo Reflections"), we will again have a fabulous time as we always do. So much better than any of that nonsense that is portrayed in a New York Broadway TV show like "Mid Century Modern."

Mid-Century Modern | Official Trailer | Hulu

As regular followers of this blog know, last month I returned from a two week holiday in Palm Springs.

Pat and I have been taking annual holidays to Palm Springs during Modernism Week. This is an event in which Palm Springs celebrates the mid-century modern style of buildings and furniture during The Fifties (last century). 

Every year in February since 2016 Pat and I have been making this annual visit to Palm Springs. Pat loves the mid-century modernism style. I do too. Except for a four year interruption due to COVID and the three years I was caregiving for Bill, Pat and I have made this visit every year. 

This year we stayed with our friend Glenn who lives in nearby Cathedral City. Yes, we were three older gay men of a certain age living together.

Thus, imagine my happiness when I heard HULU has a new series starting tonight called "Mid-Century Modern" starring three older gay men living together in the same house in Palm Springs. This show was touted a "gay version of Golden Girls." The show is actually filmed in a sound studio in Burbank, California.

So I checked out the preview of this new series. 

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!

First, I am sick to death of this portrayal of gay men as two dimensional cartoons. Yes, I said it. A portrayal of gay men as (are you ready because I'm going to say the "F" word) FAGGOTS. 

I did a little further checking and yes, it is directed by James Burrows of "Will and Grace." Yeah, "Will and Grace" was about as an accurate depiction of gay men and a certain section of the "gay lifestyle" THAT DOESN'T EXIST.  

I remember what my cousin said when I told her I was gay and how shocked she was with the information. Then she tried to show me she was "all right" with my revelation by saying "Oh, I watch 'Will and Grace." I told her I didn't watch "Will and Grace" because it was a cartoon version of how gays live. Oh I suppose SOME gays live like that but not in my experience. Real gays live a much more interesting life than the New York Broadway version.

I did a little further research by checking clips from future episodes of "Mid-Century Modern" and was even more disgusted. Yes, there was Richard Kind, the standard goofy New York/Broadway based actor who plays the same goofy role.

Richard Kind

Richard Kind plays Richard Kind. Another episode showed Judd Hirsch. Oh God! Is he still alive? Judd "I am the greatest Broadway actor ever!"Hirsch.

Judd Hirsch

And of course there is Nathan Lane playing the lead role. Nathan is funny at times but let's face it folks, Nathan Lane plays Nathan Lane. That's his shtick. That gets tiresome very fast. Nathan Lane, facing the camera, shouting his one-liners like he's in a Broadway theater facing the audience.

Nathan Lane, "Mr. Broadway"

So Broadway. 

The other two other housemates are Matt Boomer, a younger gay man who plays the hottie. His role is as an airline steward who is always looking for sex. More gay stereotypes. Then if course us the now de rigor black actor that is in ALL series and movies these days of political correctness. I never heard of this actor, his name is Nathan Lee Graham.

Nathan Lee Graham (on the right). What? Laverne Cox wasn't available?

I'm sure he's a fine actor but from what I can see of the previews he looks like Ru Paul out of drag. And I'm sure he's the smartest gay in the series, of course. 

Folks, I have some expertise in this area. I am a gay man of a "certain age." I just returned last month from sharing a beautiful Palm Springs area house with two other gay men of a "certain age." And I'm here to tell you our lives are vastly more interesting than this two dimensional gay cartoon depiction that is being foisted on us by the New York Broadway types like James Burrows as what life is like of three older gay men sharing a house in Palm Springs. I was even going to watch just to see the Palm Springs scenes but the show isn't even filmed in Palm Springs. It's filmed on a Burbank California sound stage. More fakery.

This show, to me as a gay man who knows how real life is with two other older gay men who shared a house in Palm Springs, is the equivalent of having a series of blackface minstrel show.

How's that New York/Broadway living in your gay bubble James Burrows? 

This show is nothing more than a quick buck to be made on the backs of regular gays reinforcing the show business gay stereotypes. We really haven't progressed much from the flitty Franklin Pangborne

stereotype of a gay man from the Thirties films have we?

A lot has changed in my lifetime (all eighty-three years) of how gay people are viewed by the entertainment and media but one thing that hasn't changed is the depiction of real gay people who lead real lives, especially older gay men.

This picture was taken February 17, 2025 in Palm Springs during me and Pat's visit to our friend Glenn's home in Palm Springs (Cathedral City, only a few miles from Palm Springs actually.) 

This picture was taken at a restaurant where we were having dinner. Yes, we're "older gay men". I'm eighty-three years old, Pat is seventy-seven and Glenn is sixty-nine years old. I can guarantee you that our stories are MUCH MORE INTERESTING than a bunch of tired old Broadway actors spouting stereotypical gay laugh lines. 

Me, Pat and Glenn at Jimmy's Restaurant in Palm Springs, California February 17th, 2025

Here's an idea James Burrows, do a series with me, Pat and Glenn. It's not hard, oh wait maybe it is. Here's my suggestion, start the series with the way we're living now. Both Glenn and I recently lost our longtime partners and Pat is from Canada, and is now my fiancé. Glenn is still looking but settled into his life as a single guy who lives with his cat Sadie. All three of us have at plenty of stories of the present time and in addition, we have a fabulous history in which you could do flashbacks. Now, THAT would be an interesting and REALISTIC depiction of what life is REALLY LIKE today in Palm Springs of three older gay men. And you could even tie our stories in a really funny guy, Bruce Vilanch.

One year, as Pat and I were waiting for our flight at the Palm Springs airport I saw Bruce sitting by himself waiting for his flight. I went over and introduced myself and asked why I don't see him on TV anymore. Bruce, the funny guy that he is, says "Me too! Talk to my agent!"  

Message to James Burrows and or HULA or even Netflix (if you ever decide to do a REAL series about older gay men), I'm available for consultation for this series. I don't have an agent yet, but I can get one.

Glenn, Me and Pat at The Reef Restaurant, Palm Springs, CA February 19, 2025

Got My Hearing Back!

Fishermen on Wagonmond Pond, Milton, DE

 Good news folks, I have my hearing back! 

Wednesday I had a CAT-SCAN taken of my left ear. I haven't received the results of that CAT-SCAN but I do now have my hearing back which is wonderful!

By the way, the picture at the beginning of this post was taken of Wagamon Pond in Milton, near the facility where I had my CAT-SCAN. As you probably know, I'm always on the lookout for an iconic scene. This one was perfect although the two people on the boat kept moving about. There was actually a better scene but by the time I parked my car and hobbled up to the road to take this picture, they had relocated to a different part of the pond.

This photo was taken in the early morning light which is always the best time to take photos. Second best time is late afternoon. Worst time is high noon.

Again, great news, I have my hearing back!  

Daffodil Tour March 23, 2025

Folks, I present to you this year's (2025) annual Daffodil Tour at Casa Tipton-Kelly.

I took this video early this morning in the clear morning like of a chilly spring day here in southern coastal Delaware. 

Most but not all of my daffodils I have planted over the past nineteen years are now in bloom. 

Most of my daffodils are of the tete-a-tete miniature  variety. I have a few clumps of bigger daffodils like Mount Hood and King Alfred but most are of this small variety. I will have to change that in the coming year to balance out my annual daffodil display. 

Each year I add to my daffodil collection. Over the years I've also added a lot of tulips but not so much the past several years. Tulips tend to fade out in succeeding years but daffodils only grow in profusion. I prefer daffodils although I do like tulips too for color. 

I hope you enjoy the show as much as I do. 

Each year when my daffodils come into bloom I always remember what someone said many years ago during one of their magnificent daffodils displays:

"One can never have too many daffodils!"