The Days of Summer

Good Afternoon!

Its wonderfully warm and dry today and the weather in NM still enchants me. Last night as we sat on the patio I had to wrap in a blanket but it still was wonderful with a clear sky full of stars and promise.

My promise to you was to add more pictures more often. And here it goes. I still haven't figured out all of this blog technical stuff so sometimes the pictures and the captions don't match up - but today I promise to work more on the technique.

This week is busy with work and preparation for a week long weaving class I will be taking later in the month. I will be working on 4 treadle looms and learning the technique from start to finish. The class is 6 days - 6 hours a day so it is pretty intensive. I hope to have some amazing project to show you when completed. Maybe weaving is how I will pass my golden years - so be prepared to get hand made gifts of the next few years.

If I love this class the next big project will be to find a way to fit a loom into my house.

Speaking of the house - the back yard will be nearly finished by this weekend so stay tuned for pictures of that. I never thought I would say how good it feels to be working in the yard - but it does.

So here are some pictures.

Chris posing in a redwood tree trunk.

Outside the Church of San Francisco de Asis in Taos.

Chris and our special friends Mike (r) and Eric (center) and our hosts while in San Francisco. They and their amazing dogs made us feel like we were home.

One of my favorite places - Angle Fire New Mexcico outside Taos. A place I hope someday to own a little get away.

Home at Last

Good Afternoon and Happy 4th of July Weekend.

It feels good to be home from all my travels. A long weekend in Palm Springs planning the wedding of my dear friends Scott and Charlie - lots of fun - but wow its hot there.

My friend Chris from Hilton Head arrived 2 days after I retruned and then we traveled to San Francisco for Gay Pride - an amazing weekend filled with very special friends, music, parades, shows, concerts, and of course street fairs. Chris had never been to SF so we also played tourist and visited the redwoods, took a zillion pictures and just had a ball.

Chris and me just after we were mistaken for the happy couple at the wedding and congratualted.

We returned to NM on Monday night and spent the next 2 days playing tourist here. I achieved another big goal during that visit. 2 years ago my dear friend David was here and went to Bandilier National Monument - Native American cliff dwelllings - and as I sat in the car and read my book David went exploring.

Chris in one of the cliff dwellings.

This year I walked the two miles back into the ruins, climbed a million steps up to the dwellings and even climbed a few ladders into the houses. Of course any sign of emotion would surprise you all I am sure - but I cried much of the way back to the car - relaizing how much my life has changed for the good.

The whole gang - the best friends in the world.

The cops in SF are SOOO friendly - this is Lenny - a charmer.

I am adding some pictures to this entry from the parade, Muir Woods, and the Cliff Dwellings - do enjoy and stay tuned for more fun and excitement.

The real happy couple - Matthew and Andy - I married these guys 11 years ago - and last Friday it was all made legal - a very emotional and special day for us all.

One of the beautiful giants in Muir Woods - one of the most profoundly beautiful spots in CA.

Barbie rides again.

Fun with balloons - how does one get the job

attaching these? Hmmmmmm.

On the Road Again

Good evening all!!

June has been one heck of a month. We had 7 concerts to present for work and they were amazing - Chamber music like it is supposed to be - sublime.

I traveled to Texas to see the Dr. - all the details are on the last posting.

Last weekend I went to Palm Springs to begin a celebration that many of us have been waiting for all our lives. Two of my best friends, Charlie and Scott will be married on August 9 - after being together for 28 years - finally they are allowed to make this legal and public. I am honored to be the celebrant and this past weekend we spent planning. In temps of 119 or so - I might mention - egads.

I spent 2 days in Phoenix visiting my second family Brian, Sherri and the godsons - it was a joy as usual. Brian is a bicyclist and he helped me pick out a bike that I will purchase when I return from the next trip.

A friend Chris comes tomorrow and on Friday we leave for 4 amazing days in San Francisco for Gay Pride - such a treat. Chris has never been to SF so it will be fun showing him my second home town.

I was so excited about the progress of things that I actually had a photo shoot done and below are some pictures from that - I will share a few each posting for a while.

I hope you are all reading the comments made by various folks - it is a joy to see the shared journey of so many people - Blessings - Chuck

Lubbock and stuff

Good evening all. It is a perfect evening in Albuquerque and I felt like writing tonight.

About 45 minutes ago I returned from my latest visit to see Dr. Syn in Lubbock. Dr. Syn is such a contradiction but such a wonderful man. He is an Asian American, Southern Baptist, Republican, Hummer Driver, single bariatric surgeon - so except for the southern Baptist, republican, hummer thing he is a perfect catch - He was thrilled with my progress - and believes I can still lose another 100 pounds - yikes.

The drive from here to Lubbock is certainly a different drive than it was last September when I made my way there for surgery. It seems to go more quickly that it used to. There have been so many things happen in my life since then - maybe my mind is trying to put it all into perspective and the time just passes.

I am a very different person than made that first trip. I am now, officially, 203 (Dr. Syn's scale) pounds thinner than that first trip. But the emotional changes, the physical changes, the many things that have filled my life since that trip in September of 2007 are mind boggling.

Some of these "special events" might not seem so special to some of you - but they are most significant to me.

Last week I crossed my legs -for the first time in 15 years.
I went shopping in a men's store that doesn't sell big and tall sizes and bought a shirt.
I bought new shoes because the old ones kept falling off my feet.
I went through the 5th belt since last September.
I went to Hawaii - and walked 2 miles to see a waterfall - maybe just because I could get there - it was the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen.
I dug holes in my back yard to plant trees.
I walk 2 blocks every night to get my mail.
I had to ramp my treadmill to a 4.0 incline to get my heart rate to training level.
I fell in love - and that, like some of my weight has gone away - but I did it.
I registered for a week long, full time, weaving class.

This month my life has been racing along - 6 concerts for my job, talk of a new title at work, plans for Charlie and Scott's wedding (along with 4 others coming up), planning my trip to San Francisco in 2 weeks for Gay Pride, work on the back yard and all this in the midst of spring house cleaning.

Now those of you who know me - know that 8 months ago - there was not one of the things listed above that I was capable of doing. Thank you all for the various parts you have played in this journey so far.

I know there are some nurses from the hospital who read this - God bless them - friends who took care of me when I came home - there is NO way to thank you JC and Beth, my wonderful sister who came to visit me, and my neighbors who have been amazingly helpful. Those of you who constantly read this blather and send me nice notes. Old friends from High School, friends of friends - people I don't know read this and send wishes - Bless you all - because your support and kindness has been a huge part of this journey that I could not have made alone and I could not be more blessed that you are all in my life.

Good Night! Chuck

A Place to Live

Hello Folks,

Sorry for the delay in posting again but life has been hectic here - a good thing. At work I am preparing for the June Music Festival, helping friends plan a zillion weddings in CA, recruiting new clients for the consulting firm, and becoming much more social.

I have made huge headway in my weight loss - the loss is now over 200 and headed down the home stretch - will see the Dr. in 2 weeks and we will talk about when the "skin" surgery will be.

Walking miles a day - and loving it all. Summer has hit Albuquerque and its wonderful.

The rest of this post will be pictures of the progress of the back yard. The spa went in yesterday and I have already soaked a bit - its wonderful. The water feature will go in next week and plantings begin the end of next week. Enjoy the pics and I hope this finds you all well.

Hugs - Chuck

This and That

Good Morning Possums,

Don't ya miss Dame Edna - time for another concert tour.

Life is moving on quickly on this end of the world and its fun. Spent part of yesterday seeing Cirque du Soleil - one I had not seen - Saltanbanco - it was, of course, delightful. Hans had never seen a Cirque - and now he cannot wait to see the next one - magical as usual.

I guess the big news of the week is the court ruling in California - thank God there is an intelligent group of judges - this group even headed by a conservative Republican finally realized that marriage is a right of all Americans - not just the blessed. The court, in an unusually evolved decision said: "affording same-sex couples only a separate and differently named family relationship will, as a realistic matter, impose appreciable harm on same-sex couples and their children, because denying such couples access to the familiar and highly favored designation of marriage is likely to cast doubt on whether the official family relationship of same sex couples enjoys dignity equal to that of of opposite-sex couples, [. . . and] assigning a different designation for the family relationship of same sex couples . . . poses at least a serious risk of denying the family relationship of same-sex couples such equal dignity and respect."

How about that - an arm of this government - a 6-1 Republican majority on the court has decided that we are all people and have the same rights to happiness. There is hope folks.

We are in the planning stages for a trip to San Francisco at the end of June for Pride - its been years since I was able to attend the parade and will once again host Chuck's A List Parade Party. It is assured to be a good time for everyone - come join us.

Exciting news - my wonderful niece is preggers - Jeff and Melissa and the boys will be welcoming a new member of the family and everyone is thrilled. Now I get to shop for a little baby again. We all wish Melissa luck and an easy journey.

After my return from San Francisco its puppy time. Will be making a journey to Denver to chose a Labradoodle puppy to joining the family. And yes - for all of those of you asking if I have enough patience to raise a puppy - I do. This surgical journey has taught me a lot of patience - I still don't tolerate squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle, drivers who are not smart enough to use a turning signal, and someone who talks on the cell phone while eating dinner with a date but I will be an amazing father to a little puppy. Trust that there will be pictures galore on the blog when she comes home.

Speaking of pictures - here are two more from Hawaii. A beach I found by accident and the amazing blacksand the beach was made from.

Hugs- and blessings - Chuck

A Return from Heaven

I walked nearly a mile to see this waterfall in Hawaii - and the fact that I was still smiling when I got there is amazing. I am truely making progress like you wouldnt believe.

The trip was amazing - just amazing. Not sure I would do it alone again - but the scenery was breathtaking - and I did what I had hoped to do - nothing. I sat by the pool, walked, did the spa - 2 full days - walked on the beach - black sand - amazing.

The food was outstanding - the weather perfect. Who knows - I may have one more move left in me.

I did get to see the volcano - and it was about to "erupt" and did close some resorts and they had to evacuate a little town the day after I was there. I chickened out about the helecoptor - not sure I am ready for that.

I was blown away by how rural the big island is and I cannot wait to go back.

The rest of my life? WOW is the only good word. I have passed the 180 pound mark and am very close to a place I havent been in so many years I even forget - weighing in the 200's. Should be there in about 3 weeks. By my Dr. appointment is June I will have lost 200 pounds.

I feel wonderful - the vacation did wonders. I am starting back to the trainer this week (tonight acutally) and he is going to work on my arms ad shoulders - there is lots of saggy skin that we are going to try to do something about - yikes. Someday in the next 9 months I will do surgery again to get rid of the midsection - and when the lotto comes my way - will do the cosmetic part, arms, legs, face lift - lol - I promise not to look like Joan Rivers or Bruce Jenner.

Here are a few more pictures from the trip. I hope to do a little slide show soon - and will make it available on here if I can figure out how to do it.

Blessings all - Chuck

A view from my room.

---->>>> A waterfall in Hilo

The volcano

WOW