Last Friday saw a milestone that, personally for me, made it all real. I made my first loan repayment on the home loan. Sure, we may have paid a couple of thousand that would roughly translate to Ant and I owning about $2 of the home so far, but it was more about the fact that we could do it for me. I didn't doubt that we could do it; but to actually reach that first repayment felt good. Mind you, all the bloody bills lately are doing my head in. Telstra kindly sent me a $300 bill for last month, over three times the amount that it should be! This was down to a lot of work calls over that period (no landline) and the usual Christmas/NY calls and SMS. Eck!
Ant took me out on Saturday night for belated birthday drinks. As usual, we went to The Market with our friend Travis in tow (along with his friend Jay). There was a highlight or two along the night, apart from the DJ playing 'The Boss' again. Possibly one of my favourite moments of the night happened in the men's toilets (oh-er!... it's innocent). A tall gent was just about to leave the bathroom when he stood in the middle of the room to make an announcement.
"I just want to say something... (slurring and slightly out of it) Firstly, i'm really f*cked!... Secondly... i'm straight and... (getting emotion) i'm sorry for any time that i've used the term gay in a derogatory sense... i'm having one of the best nights of my life and I love you guys..."
...and then swanned out of the loo.
If only more straight guys could have a moment of revelation like that. What I do love is the fact that you really got the impression he had seen the light and realised that the gay community are actually a friendly bunch who only ask for respect and, in turn, will give respect (and a bloody good night out) back.
We did have another rather out of it guy (seemed to be a reoccuring theme) stumble up to Ant and I at one point, noticing that we were holding hands and asking for "Proof of boy on... (slur) boys on..." Me: "Boysenberry?" Him: "Boy on boy photos". Me: "Sorry, don't have them..." (getting up) "Yet..." (wink and walked off).
Happy birthday to me... happy birthday to me... happy birthday dear me-e... happy birthday to me!
Yep, another year older and, with each passing year, more of a feeling of indifference.
Not apathy though. I did explain to a friend recently that I am so fortunate to have such wonderful family and friends who make every day feel like my birthday. As a result, birthdays are a nice excuse to spend time with people you love but who needs an excuse for that anymore.
I do have to say that I am thrilled with how many people dropped a line this year. Generally, a small handful - but this year, it has felt like i've had at least a couple of handfuls! :p Family... friends... even pop stars... birthday wishes all round... I love it! Especially on Myspace (www.myspace.com/lawrenceakers) which seems to be the new and easiest way to drop a line although still equally as genuine. So, to everyone who did - thank you!
I've been asked by a few people about 'the ghost' and what's happening there. If the truth be known, we had a medium over recently who told us that it was an eight year old boy (Sid had thought about ten years old when he came over) and his name was Robert James - although not sure if James is a middle name or surname as Caspar meowed as the name was being said. He hadn't 'crossed over', for fear of what was on the other side, although I am now lead to believe that he has since. And, having said that, things have stopped and calmed down since then although I still do get a little freaked when i'm home by myself, like I was last Friday night. Ant, on the other hand, still believes there is something here.
And there is. It's called 'the heat'. This place is in dire need of air conditioning. But then, what did I suspect. Sure, the roof of a 100 year old school building is always going to be pleasantly chilly... I'm so not used to the heat that today has been a welcome relief (it's mother nature giving me a birthday present... ain't she sweet!)
Poor Ant has been working hard lately, so whilst he is in bed, i'm chilling out, listening to Depeche Mode's Best Of on my new turntable/CD player and just playing on the net with bed not too far out of sight. Into another working year and while the holidays already seem a distant memory, it would be good to get back into work and earn a buttload of money for the first quarter (I have a home to pay for now...)
Thanks again to all for the birthday wishes - they really mean a lot to me.
Well, new year is done and dusted and so far, 2007 has proven to be rather... uneventful. There is still a lot of moving to be done from the previous place, especially now that an old friend of mine is moving back in cutting our remaining two weeks down to one. I had to admit that i've been feeling a little down over the past day or so too, which should hopefully lift soon. And it seems I can't have a non-public holiday without a work related call coming on through, despite giving up the phones last week.
We celebrated Ant's birthday here on New Years Eve, having a small handful of friends over to the new place. It was a bit of a test to see how our place would cope in the heat and, frankly, we need some form of air conditioning. The place was absolutely boiling although it mostly affects upstairs over the bedroom and study below. I think once we get curtains up on the west facing window in the study, it should cool down that room dramatically (as long as they're heavy curtains). And since I contain all my vinyl and VHS in there, that would be the preference.
NYE, we went to the Rawhide party and the Motel recovery, both of which were ok. By their usual standards, they were a bit light on with numbers but that just meant more room for us to move. I think people are being put off by the high price tags (both Love Machine and The Market were a flop according to one of the DJ's I know) and tending to stick to home parties more now.
I did get a chance to catch up with an old friend of mine on NYE named Jason Trubridge whom I was close friends with when I first came out a long time ago. I think we estimated that it had been something like 14 years since we last caught up and so it was great, in a twist of small-world fate, to have him come over and chat for a while.
I best go have my morning shower - it is going to be another hot day today and i'm keen to get the stuff from the car upstairs before it gets too hot. Hope everyone had a great NY and look forward to what 2007 holds. Hopefully it shall be half as good as what 2006 was for me. :)
