Patrick's visit

My long-time friend Patrick arrived Wed evening, and he and Spouse were talking out on the back porch when I got home from work.  We chatted on the porch for a little while, then I changed out of my work clothes and the 3 of us met up with Steven & Thad for dinner at Jimmy's.  Patrick had met them on previous visits so we all had a nice time catching up over dinner.

Yesterday (Thurs, my regular day off) we had coffee on the porch and Patrick got some special lovin' from Marvin & Walter.

I suggested lunch and a walk on the boardwalk which Patrick quickly agreed.  On our way to the restaurant my phone rang 4 times.  While I'd hoped to disconnect from work the entire day to spend uninterrupted time with Patrick, unfortunately I kept getting calls and emails from clients to whom I'd shown homes earlier in the week.  Patrick was very nice about it and understood, but I was annoyed.  After handling what I needed to over lunch, we went to the boardwalk.  As if someone had flipped a switch, the sun went behind the clouds, the temperature dropped, and the wind picked up.  It was so chilly we actually had to cut our walk short.  As we were driving away from the beach, again as if someone had flipped a switch, the clouds broke, the sun came back out, and the temperature warmed back up!

We returned to the house and talked some more, and then I went into the office to meet with my clients and write a contract.  This can often be done via telephone and technology, but these clients are kind of 'old school' and wanted to talk and sign the contract in person.  2 1/2 hours later I returned home to Patrick and Spouse, and since I had a taste for pizza we decided to order delivery. After dinner we just hung out together, with 1 eye on the TV and 1 eye on Facebook, relaxing.

This morning Patrick & I had breakfast at a local diner together, and then he headed home and I headed to another real estate appointment, even though I had planned to be off that day so Patrick could stay as long as he wanted.  While our visit wasn't 'uninterrupted' as I'd hoped, it was still nice to visit with my old friend.

Visitor

My old friend Patrick is coming this evening for a short visit.  We've known each other since high school (35+ years) and after many years of absence from each others' lives, we reconnected a few years ago.

We don't have anything particular planned to do while he's here so I think we'll probably sit on the porch and talk a lot (the weather should be good for it) and catch up on the goings on in each others' lives.  Its nice to have friends like this, that you don't feel you have to 'entertain', and with whom you can just be yourself.

Patrick & Me - 2015

Patrick's visit

My longtime friend Patrick came for a short visit.  We've known each other for over 35 years, and he was instrumental in my coming out and self-acceptance.

Patrick arrived on Wed evening just after I got home from work, so we chatted for a little while on the back porch with Spouse, then went to dinner.  We went to Ruby Tuesday because I was craving a good salad bar.  Afterward we talked some more on the porch, then came inside and watched a little TV together.  Marvin & Walter remembered him right away.

On Thurs we hung out at home for a while, went to the local diner for a late breakfast, then ran a few errands (car wash, dry cleaner, etc) then came home to change clothes and go to the beach.  It wasn't the greatest day for tanning, but at least it was warm and breezy so we enjoyed a couple hours of relaxation by the ocean.  After coming home and taking showers, Patrick took a nap and I checked in on work stuff.  Spouse came home and then went to his personal trainer appointment, and then Patrick and I went to have dinner and listen to a local entertainer we'd heard on his last visit.  However, the wait for a table was 45 minutes and we were hungry, so we decided to have dinner elsewhere.  We ended up eating at a window table (my favorite) at the Blue Moon.

Cheers!

Patrick had the sesame encrusted chicken and I had the short rib.  Both were outstanding, as were our cocktails.  After dinner we walked next door for karaoke.  I couldn't get Patrick to sing with me even though we used to perform together in high school, but we had a fun time.

This morning we had coffee and conversation, then decided to go for a late breakfast.  Afterward Patrick headed back home and I got prepared for a walk-thru and settlement.  It was nice to visit with my old friend!

Patrick's visit

My old friend Patrick came to visit!  He arrived yesterday afternoon and will stay until mid-day tomorrow.  He visited back in early May and we had a great time!  However, the ocean water was too cold to go swimming so I suggested he come back in Sept when its more comfortable, and he did.

Yesterday we sat on the porch with Spouse and the dogs and talked until it was time for dinner.  The 3 of us met up with Steven & Thad at Purple Parrot.  Patrick had the prime rib special and I had 1/2 price buffalo wings and 1/2 price nachos which I shared with the table.  This is not on my Fit for Life plan, but I enjoyed it anyway.  It was a beautiful evening so there were lots of folks out and about, and we saw several friends.  It was a fun evening.

Today Spouse went to work and Patrick and I sat on the screened porch with Marvin & Walter for hours, drinking coffee and talking about politics, equality, the glory days when we were in the Concert Choir and Dominants vocal jazz and show choir group, family dynamics, work, and all sorts of other stuff.  We never run out of interesting things to discuss.  Finally we got our beach stuff together and had lunch at Panera before going to the beach.  

Beach selfie

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the sun and went swimming in the ocean.  It was great!

Once back home and showered, I picked up some subs, drinks, chips, and cookies for our dinner on board the water taxi.  The 3 of us met up with Steven & Thad and Joe P and took the same sunset cruise that I went on last week with my colleagues.  

Photo credit: Joe P

It was fun and we all enjoyed it very much!

Unfortunately tomorrow he'll head back home around noon.  But I know he'll be back again before too long.  That's how old friends are.

Cinco de Mayo!

So yesterday was Cinco de Mayo and we celebrated as we have for the last couple years by having margaritas and Mexican food with Steven & Thad and Joe P at Dos Locos!  I was happy that Patrick was still here so he could join us too.

Me with my Blood Orange margarita

Patrick and his traditional margarita

 



















We are friends with the owners who always go out of there way to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated.  The past 2 years Spouse & I have gotten free Dos Locos/Cinco de Mayo T-shirts so we wore them to dinner last night.  This year in addition to new T-shirts we also received crazy shades.

dos locos wearing locos shades 

Everyone's fabric napkins were wrapped in red Mardi Gras beads with red chili peppers on them. Since no one at our table wanted to keep theirs but me, I took them all.

As we were leaving the restaurant several patrons looked at all my peppers and asked what I had to do to get so many, to which I responded "I'm ashamed to say!"  This produced surprised looks and laughter.  Even folks sitting on benches as we walked toward the boardwalk made comments about all my peppers.  They were quite the conversation piece!

Once on the boardwalk Patrick & I took a selfie with the ocean behind us, which you can't see because it was night.

We had an awesome Cinco de Mayo celebration and hope you all did too.

Patrick

Yesterday my old friend Patrick arrived!

We met when I was a junior and he was a senior in high school, and both of us were in the concert choir and Dominants! vocal jazz and show choir.  We became close friends during that year and one night he 'came out' to me.  At first I thought he was joking because he didn't fit any of the gay stereotypes with which I was familiar.  Later on I nervously came out to him, to which he responded "I know.  I knew you were gay before you did."  Patrick was instrumental in my physical and mental transformation which prepared me to to come out to my family and leave them and my former religion behind.  I could never repay him for this gift!

The weather was pleasant so Spouse, Patrick and I sat outside on the porch (with Marvin & Walter) and began getting caught up.  

Patrick and me - friends for over 35 years!

When it got to be dinner time, Steven & Thad texted and invited us to dinner so we joined them and I introduced them to Patrick.  Before Patrick arrived I'd told Steven & Thad about him coming and described him as my "gay mentor" since he explained so much to me about being gay back in the day.  As a joke Thad said to Patrick "As I understand it, you are responsible for his gayness", pointing at me.  Not missing a beat Patrick replied "Yep, and I think I did a pretty good job too!"  We all laughed, of course.

Today I took Patrick to Crystal for breakfast, where he got to meet our friend and waitress Pau Pau.  Afterward we went for a 2-mile walk on the boardwalk, and then drove around the area a bit before heading home.  This evening while Spouse is at his personal trainer appointment, Patrick and I will go for Thai food and then go listen to my friend John play the keyboard and sing at a restaurant.  I think Patrick will enjoy that.

He'll be here through Wed morning.