FL_boi's Xanga

Friday, November 06, 2009

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:58:41 GMT

10 Years

It has been 10 years since I met Jeff. This is the day we celebrate because unlike many others in this world, we don't have a "wedding day" to mark. That's ok for us because what we mean to each other and how much we love each other is much more important.

I remember our first meeting as if it was only yesterday. Neither of us were looking to meet someone and I wasn't even out of the closet yet. It just happened. A series of events that seemed to almost be nothing more than something taking place in a day, came together and before we knew it, fate had taken our hands. If we both would have planned this, I doubt it would have ever happened out of fear.

But from that one moment we met and began to talk, our lives took a different course. We've seen each other through so many rough moments and we've laughed together, cried together and grown so much together. We are not the same people we were 10 years ago.

And for Jeff to put up with me all these years, well he's an angel because some days it takes a lot of patience. Even when life gets tough, I am glad I have Jeff to travel through it with because without him, it would be much more difficult.

So many out there claim that gays are the downfall of society and yet, I can't help but ponder that we've been together for 10 years. We didn't get together because we needed to or felt like we had to. We got together because our hearts drew us together. I hope we have many more years together for the future. He means the world the world to me.

The picture below marks our first meeting with a group of fellow survivors of child abuse. It was the first time outside of the internet message board we all shared, that we had ever met. We've lost touch with the people in this picture now but at one time, they were close friends.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:30:49 GMT

What The Hay

Ok, I figured, I'd post again and just do a catch up. I still don't spend much time on Xanga but try to keep up with some of you.

So let's see - what's new...

1) This has been a tough year. Work, jobs, music income are way down. Of course they are for the many others as well but it has been rough. May have to start selling my blood - oh wait, I'm gay - I can't do that... That's ok anyway because if I tried to donate blood, I'd be as white as a sheet lying on the ground. I can't do blood things or I'm out like a light. Now how in the heck, did I get talking about blood. You've got me.

2) I did some paintings for the first time in my life and really enjoyed it. Of course, I'm trying to buy another blank canvass so I can paint some more. I have posted them on my website and facebook as well as blogger if you check those sites out.

3) A few weeks ago, I started going to the fitness center and doing Yoga. I think it is helping some especially the Yoga. Jeff goes there, so it is nice to have someone to give some moral encouragement to go.

4) We're still in summer time heat right now and I actually believe we are only supposed to get into the 80's this week so that's a cool down. We did get down one night to 46 but of course now we are in the 60's/70's at night. That one night down to 46 dropped the pool temp enough and the solar heating is taking forever to warm it back up. I got in the pool a little bit today but it was only 70-75 degrees so a little "chilly". And for the guys, we know what that means!

5) My tomatoes in my earthboxes are trying to do well but they got hit with some very hot temperatures when they were beginning to bloom and then the cold hit them and then the tomato hornworms hit them. Poor things. I have gotten a couple of tomatoes off of them and they were so delicious.

6) Met Greg (DaKingFish) in person. He came and stayed with us for a couple of days and the poor guy - we worked him way to hard in the heat. We had a lot of fun and it was nice hanging out and chatting and working on some lighting projects. We had fun going to Cracker Barrel and watching with interest of the window washer (that's an inside joke.. but its getting hot in here now ). Poor little Topanga hid the entire time from Greg and I actually had to take her litter box plus food/water up to her in our bathroom because she wasn't about to come out. She did the same thing with Jeff's mom. Such a shy kitten around strangers. She gets spooked easily though.

7) Jeff's car basically decided it had enough and so the repair bills started halloween a little early. It was a 14 year old Honda Accord and had done well up until this point. When we began to add up all the repair work, it was just too much to spend on a 14 year old car. So after a lot of searching and researching, we bought a 2010 Yaris last Thursday. It is a nice, cute little car that I'm sure will serve him and us well for many years to come. We negotiated a great deal on it that was rather a tough ordeal but hey we paid what we planned on and not a penny more.

8) As part of Jeff's mom's birthday, we went and got her and brought her to our house for an overnight stay. We then went to the dogtrack in Daytona Beach because she loves doing that and had a fun evening there. I cooked lasagne which she loved and we all came home with some money in our pockets from the race track. It was a fun time with her and she's such a great lady. I enjoy hanging out with her. Of course Topanga did the hiding routine from his mom as well. She doesn't realize that if she comes out, she gets much more lovin like her brother Corey gets.

9) My life is going through many ups and downs right now. I'm not sure at times which is up and which is down but so far, I haven't completely gone off the deep end. I do wonder though how much one can take in life? If there is a test for enduring life, I should be scoring pretty high I believe. I can't complain about everything because others have it much worse but I'm ready to move on into a few more ups than the downs.

So you all = have a fun time! Say hello if you want. I'm getting used to people on Facebook ignoring me so I just figure I'll write and hear myself type. It's just like me talking to myself (and yes, I do answer myself at times). Of course I talk to the animals (including the cats, the birds, the squirrels... and the hornworms).

Monday, September 14, 2009

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:26:45 GMT

Corey and Me

I don't normally let too many pictures be taken of me. Guess I'm always the one taking the pictures but this picture is a rare one not only for that but because Corey never comes up and sleeps on the couch next to me. He's so cute and full of love. I just had to post this one!

Friday, September 04, 2009

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:21:18 GMT

Free Song Download on Amazon

One free song download on Amazon. This is legitimate and it is through Amazon. The link below will take you to the details (no scam involved or anything like that). If you download a song and you haven't already purchased my music, please consider downloading one of my songs. Search on my name DON SHETTERLY for all my music. Questions, feel free to ask. Thanks for supporting me and please share this link! Hurry it expires, Sep 6 @ 11:59 pm PDT.

Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=dm_tw_firstmil?&docId=1000420651

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:54:55 GMT

Swimming Dolphins & Relaxing Spa Music

Vilano Beach, near St. Augustine, Florida - http://www.donshetterly.com. Video was taken on a recent trip to St. Augustine Beach (FL) where we saw dolphins playing and swimming within a few feet of us. It was a beautiful site to see and a treat. I put this video to a sound clip of one of my relaxing piano songs called "Swimming Dolphins".

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:15:30 GMT

Food Based Healing & Smoothies

I just thought I'd post the link to one of the latest blog postings I wrote on "Food Based Healing and Smoothies". It is on the Mind/Body Thoughts blog that I host and here is the link below if you want to read it.

http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/2009/08/food-based-healing-smoothies.html

Thank you to everyone for all the thoughts about Snuggles. It has been a difficult month but I am getting through it. As always, I barely post here any more but I am on Facebook constantly. Feel free to join me over there if you want. This link should take you to my profile page, I think. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/don.shetterly?ref=profile

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:01:56 GMT

I Will Love You Forever Snuggles

Snuggles died this morning. She had been with me almost 18 years. I'm heartbroken. Here's something I wrote about her. http://www.donshetterly.com/snuggles/In%20Memory%20Of%20Snuggles.pdf

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sat, 30 May 2009 21:57:51 GMT

Okies

I've really about had it with Xanga. Hardly anything going on and if there is, most of what I read around Xanga is just too depressing. I've got enough to deal with in life without reading depressing stuff all the time. After all, that's why I quit watching the news.

This place just isn't worth it anymore to me. It is time for me to move on. If you are interested in how to find me, I am on Facebook. Sometimes I post there during the day and sometimes not. If you send me games and apps and stuff, I generally ignore those because they are a waste of time to me. So don't feel offended if I don't join in the reindeer games. Myspace is about as bad as xanga anymore and so I barely go there.

At one time Xanga was something and I've met some great friends. However, it just isn't what it used to be. There's no fun in coming here any more. It is just time to move on. So many others have already and I guess I was hoping that it would change. It hasn't!

There is a chance from time to time, I may come back around. Who knows! But for now, I've had enough of Xanga!

Hasta Luego

Don

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wed, 27 May 2009 14:30:04 GMT

Portrait Of An Achiever

Failed in Business - Bankruptcy, 1831

Defeated for Legislature, 1832

Sweetheart / Fiance Dies, 1835

Nervous Breakdown, 1836

Defeated in Election, 1836

Defeated for U.S. Congress, 1843

Defeated again for U.S. Congress, 1846

Defeated once again for U.S. Congress, 1848

Defeated for U.S. Senate, 1855

Defeated for U.S. Vice President, 1856

Defeated again for U.S. Senate, 1858

Elected President of the U.S. in 1860
Abraham Lincoln

You Can Not Fail ... Unless You Quit

Monday, May 25, 2009

Mon, 25 May 2009 14:56:28 GMT