MikeSpeaksOut!

Let's All Go Down To The Pool!

This week I (re) begin my quest for fitness.  It has been a very difficult time for me personally.  I have spent so much time involved in things (other than those) that I should be doing for me.

I plan to go to Meryl's house (she's out of town and I am baby sitting) and hide out for a few weeks.  I plan to push forward with my dissertation.  I plan to hit the gym twice a day (she lives near the gym).  AND....YES....I plan to go down to the pool.  LET'S GET SOAKING WET!!!  (If you watch Queer as Folk, you'll get the reference).

I have never looked good in a speedo (maybe one day??)  But he sure does!

I'm taking a break from serious posts today.

I enjoyed the Stonewall Ball last night.  As many know, I am on the board of trustees of the 5th largest LGBT Community Center in the nation.  Most GLCCs have "Pride" events in the summer....It's just too dern hot in S. FL to do that.

To Chef Dean, Chef Craig, and all the boys in HOTlanta....enjoy Pride!

Items Found and Things Remembered

I am not geneerally known as the most organized person.....so, I was not surprised today when I was cleaning out an old laundry basket that I was using to store miscellaneous junk...and found my other digital camera. As I flipped through the photos that were stored and never downloaded, I came across the photo you see on the left. Guernal.

What a great time we were having when this picture was taken. I had taken my students to Disney World for Disney's Very Merry Christmas. It had become a tradition for Student Council. We stayed at Disney's Old Key West Resort....a very expensive treat that I gave to my students for all their hard work. It was Guernal's first time staying in a hotel. He had a great time.

This time we decided to combine three schools. Mine, my friend Tracy's Student Council, and my friend Detar's Student Council. We gave them money to go shopping for food and divided them into teams. They were responsible for cooking all meals. It was too fun. One of the nights we treated them to a buffet dinner in the Magic Kingdom. Also a first for Guernal.

The next picture in our series is me with the group. It was a very cold night. Obviously I was looking at somethign totally different than my students. I giggled when I saw those silly glasses that Guernal had "borrowed" from the Mickey''s PhilHarMagic ride. He loved those stupid things. I don't condone thievery....but, they are cheap plastic..and they made him happy.

Sometimes life is very unfair....and bad things happen to good people.

A little more than a year after this photo....in his senior year of high school...Guernall died due to a complications from a brain tumor. His parents and he decided that they would not go through another painful surgery. My soft-spoken, sweet, hard working, do anything for you Guernal was gone.

I miss you Guernal! I am glad that I was able to give you so many "firsts" in your life. I hope you are looking down on me from heaven.

I am glad I found my camera. Maybe you helped me find it.

A Picture is Worth....

Hmmmmmmm.

I was taken aback the other day when I heard that Heather Mills, soon to be ex-wife of Paul McCartney was going to be on Dancing with the Stars.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered that she only had one leg. 

Look, I have no problem with people with one leg.  Afterall, Iam a special education teacher.  But my idea of even having a prosthesis (replacement leg) was that they don't have much range of motion...and I thought they were kind of rigid.  So, I commented to my colleagues, "I wonder how she is going to do it.".

I support her in her efforts.  Heck, it may have an inspirational value to people everywhere. 

But, today on one of my favorite "guilty pleasure" sites, TMZ, there was this picture.  Here is Ms. Mills entering her dance studio for rehearsals.  In tow with her.....errr.....extra leg ???

Read the article (entitled "Heather gets a leg up on the competition")  here.

When Harry Found Hotness!

You know, I make no bones about the fact that I believe that the Harry Potter  books are the one of the best series of books ever written! For me, the writing of JK Rowling is perfect.  She has truly captured the imagination of children of all ages.  The cast has done a great job at bringing the books to life!  I remember telling my students the other day that when I saw the first Harry Potter movie (which was after I had read the first three books) I was truly amazed at how well the characters fit the descriptions given in the book.  IT WAS AMAZING!  Daniel Radcliffe did an outstanding job at truly capturing "everything Harry". 

It seems that we have all seen the characters grow -- both in their parts...and as individuals!  As they age, I hope that they can "hold on" long enough to finish the series.  Some are venturing out to start some project in between filmings.  None has done more of a 360 from their HP roll than Daniel......He is staring in Equus in London's West End.  It's a true .... well....you see.

Ummm....a 24 pack?  The directors of the stage show stated that they were "amazed" at how quickly Daniel transformed his body......I want his secrets.  I love my Harry Potter.....but....Daniel will do just fine!  Yee haw!  I am getting a horse!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

I've always loved a good photo.  I LOVE having a digital camera now. I can take pictures without even caring about what I "snap" at....  I was at the Palm Beach Post's web site today.  They have a photo gallery of animal photos.  I thought it was cool......Here are some of my favorites.

Peek-a-Boo!  Owl in a birdhouse.....Too cute.  She's a mama. She just gave birth to some babies.

This is a view of Singer Island from the Lake Worth Lagoon (aka intracoastal waterway).  I'm only a few miles from this beautiful location.  When I was younger, my parents owned a boat.  We frequently cruised down the intracoastal....it's one of the coolest things I did as a kid.

Sunsets are beautiful!  This picture was taken about 2 miles from where I live.  Maybe I do live in paradise :)

I used to live 1/4 a mile away from where this picture was taken.  Again, paradise! 

Turtle, Turtle, Turtle!  I have an advanced underwater SCUBA certification.  I once had an opportunity to see a turtle like this under water.  How beautiful. PS...It's against Florida State Law to "hitch a ride" on the back of a turtle.  I love seeing the turtle nests on the beach.  They are a protected species.  When I was little, my mom took the family (dad, my brother, my aunt, my uncle and me) to see the "Turtle Lady".  She protected these beautiful creatures.  We even have street lights that are "blacked out" so they don't shine on the beach -- the light distracts the turtles.  They follow the moonlight to the ocean.  COOL!