A.B.C. of A.B.C.

Last April, I got a clean bill of health from my doctor, during my annual physical.
But last June I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, which is a disease that mainly affects the lungs.
Call it coincidental, psychosomatic, or blame it on the "Brokeheart Mountain" in my chest, I have been bogged down by A Bad Case of A "Bulldogged" Cough for these past six weeks. My throat is not sore, but I have lost my normal voice because of it. I really have not been expectorating any phlegm, but the few times I did, it was tinged with blood.
According to my mother, asthma, bronchopneumonia, chronic bronchitis run in my family's health history. My doctors were concerned that it might be tuberculosis, simply on the account that I was born and raised in a third world/developing country. All of the test results came back negative and all of these diseases, including mold and allergies, have all been weeded out.
I then went through a barrage of pulmonary tests and fortunately my chest and breathing results came back normal.
Here is hoping that it is just some quirky summer allergy and I get better soon...

P.S. I guess I have to note that I am HIV negative, just in case you are one of those types who narrow-mindedly do the math and think: "gay man + sickness = must have AIDS" , and might unnecessarily worry about me.

iPostcards from Rogue River, OR - "The Devil does the River Wild "

Long before Meryl, played the ruthless and cynical Miranda Priestly in "The Devil Wears Prada" in 2006, she did "The River Wild" in 1994 with Kevin Bacon...

We flew up to Oregon, where Bill's mother and one of his brothers live, for a family reunion and to celebrate another brother's milestone birthday. To save on the air fare we decided to fly on Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air. Big mistake! Once we got there, not all of our luggage had arrived with us. It immediately put a damper on and stopper to our activities for the next 28 hours. That's how long it took for the airline to deliver our missed luggage & golf bag.
So the highlight of our first day was having to buy toiletries and clothes at the local Walmart. I never imagined that I would have so much fun at a store like Walmart!...LOL.

For X'mas 2000, I took Bill's one and only niece, Carley, to the Philippines, to meet my friends & family, and experience the beauty and culture of my homeland.
This time around, my own niece, Czarina, was with me.
I was so excited for her to experience my partner's beautiful and loving family. It was great to see everyone again. It has been exactly 10 years since I was first introduced to them after Bill came out to his family six months prior.

One of the highlights of this trip was a full day of wild river kayaking on the Rouge River, same river where "The River Wild" was filmed. So just like some of Meryl's characters, I too enjoy fashion, but also enjoy the great outdoors.

Puff Daddy's namesake longs to be a daddy!

In case, you do not know who Puff Daddy is, he is a lot of things. But to me, he is merely the man who uses my name for his hip-hop fashion line, Sean John.
Had I known this during the beginnings of the Internet, I should have immediately registered that domain name. He would then have to pay me "mucho dinero" to use it. Unlike Madonna or Sting, who sued others using domain names with their name on it; he cannot sue me, since it is my real name and besides...I'm several weeks older than him. Damn, I would have had a better chance of getting rich this way than winning the lottery...LOL.
Most hip-hop clothes are so oversized/supersized, and unfortunately for me, P. Diddy's line is no exception. I am not one who is into labels, but had his design style fit mine, I wouldn't mind receiving gifts from JLo's ex. I guess I can always try the accessories...LOL.

***

Since I was 10 years old, helping my sister raise my parents' first grandchild, I knew I was good with children. When my peers were starting to become parents in high school, college, in our early and late 20's, that obviously was not in the cards of my life plan. As I hit my thirties, somehow my body clock started ticking. I started yearning to become a father. I even went out and bought a brand new blender and turkey baster, just in case we found the right surrogate...LOL. My life partner, who was a teacher and coach early in his career, is equally, if not better than me when it comes to kids. Unfortunately, he worries that he may have already passed his best years to share in the physical joys of fatherhood. Eventually, it did not matter to us if the child was biologically one of ours, since there are so many precious children who need a loving home. When I hear about kids being born to couples/families with a unstable home, I more so feel we deserve to be given that chance.

We may never be ready for that possible opportunity or if that opportunity will ever be even given to us. But I do know one thing. I will make sure I will be do my best to be a good father to that blessing.

***

GLMA Hails Groundbreaking Report Finding That
Children Benefit When Their Same Sex Parents' Relationships
Are Legally Recognized.
Report appears in July issue of Pediatrics,
the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

source
c/o Dr. Constantine Azarcon M.D.