Happy Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Todd on the 17th

Happy Birthday to Mommy D on the 24th

Happy Birthday to Grandma E today.






It's been a very eventful last few days. I am visiting my family in NJ for the Thanksgiving holiday. Patty, my cousin, invited me to stay at her beautiful apartment in North Bergen, NJ, overlooking the skyline of Manhattan. The weather today is raining, but it's been very sunny so far.
Thanksgiving day we ate turkey with all the trimmings. Julie, Billy, Matthew, Daniel, Pablo, Patty and I all had a great time. The meal was the most delicious I'd ever enjoyed.

How I Spent a Rainy Saturday

The Family gathers around the camcorder for some playtime. Later that night, at the foot of my bed, Panda had another accident. It was raining and Panda is scared of the rain, so he must've been holding it in all day. I'll forgive him this time.

No Blog Today

I've decided not to write a blog today. I just couldn't think of anything to blog about. I could blog about the oil spill, or the latest Republican "not gay" scandal. I could blog about the crappy weather, the war, Bush, Cheney, oil, outrageous gas prices. If I wanted to I could blog about the noise my neighbors made at 3:00 AM. If I wanted to I could blog about Doris Day. I loved her movies. How is she doing? But I won't bore you. That's why there is no blog today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARISA!!!

Pictured here on Halloween with her Baby Elani.
35 years ago today, Elani's mom, our baby sister was born. She completed our family as she was the first girl born. She was born on the day that Richard Nixon was re-elected in a dubious election that culminated with his resignation. The scandal was known as Watergate because it had to do with the break in at the Democratic headquarters located at the Watergate Hotel in DC.

November 7th 1972 was a beautiful day. I remember hearing the news and running across the street to the Justin's backyard where Billy was playing football with the Justins. I shouted, "Billy, we had a girl". Words that should have made Billy jump for joy, but didn't because he was in the middle of a game. After the 4th down he came running back to 8 Dexter so happy and excited over the birth of the first Ellenberg girl, emotions he couldn't reveal during the football game.

Happy Birthday Cooper-----today and tomorrow

Cooper was either born on the 6th or the 7th, so he has two birthdays. His first year on Shotwell has been so much fun. When we first brought him home in early January he was already the Cooper we know and love full of energy and wet kisses. I never thought I'd fall in love again, but he's a great dog.

Today is also election day. The Mayor is running uncontested so he'll hands down be re-elected. It's supposed to be a very low voter turnout, but we always do our duty so we'll turnout.

Now they can dance.... and happy November!

They're hot. Anya and Pasha from last season's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE audition. Both made it to the top ten and then Pasha came pretty close to winning.

BOO

It will be interesting to see what happens in the Castro since Halloween has been cancelled.

Shotwell Shook, Rattled, and Rolled

I was reading the newspaper at 8:04 pm when it struck. This was the strongest quake I've felt since 1989. Most of the time I don't even get up from what I'm doing. I've been in bed, online, and even on the toilet. But tonight I jumped up and headed for the safest spot which is under the doorway. Temo turned white and managed to blurt out "my nitroglycerin".....thank g-d he didn't need it, but sometimes my life is like an old Bette Davis movie. I hear the preliminary magnitude puts it at 5.6.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTY!!!

October 21st. A beautiful fall morning. The slightest chill is in the air. Later today will be picture perfect. On my birthday it rained all day. On October 12th we had the first signifant rain in months. The earth was reborn, it was a beautiful day also.

Yesterday we visted Half Moon Bay, located about 25 minutes south of San Francisco on the Pacific coast. Click on the picture to see the most beautiful and unusual pumkins. The world's largest pumpkin, weighing over 1500 lbs was on view there.

News, stuff, etc.

Annie is having some serious dental work done. She's taking off 2 weeks from work and so far from what I can ascertain is that she's getting one implant and then a bridge. Good for her. I believe the impetus was her job. She is getting transferred to a classier Panda Express located at UCSF. So I put 2 and 2 together and figured her sudden make-over has to do with the sudden transfer. She's definitely a company girl. I can't wait to see her new smile. I think it will help her self esteem tremendously. Now don't get me wrong, I haven't gone soft on her. A little maybe. I'm a better person since last winter and so I see things differently.

Temo is doing very well. He hasn't felt this good in a long time. I'm approaching this turn of events with very cautious optimism. It's a precarious situation because on the one hand the Cardiologist said to me that it's good and bad. The bad being the aggressiveness of the disease and the fact that he had a double bypass 2 years ago and one of those grafts was already blocked again was not good. The good being that he was able to open the blockage and stent the artery. On the other hand Temo is much better. Now he's starting to wonder why he had to wait so long to feel better. I'm relieved but I still keep one eye open at night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCIANO and me.

I'M 51 TODAY. JUST ANOTHER DAY ON SHOTWELL. EAT BREAKFAST, OATMEAL, THEN I'LL GO TO THE GYM, ENGAGE IN SMALL TALK WITH MY GYM BUDS, EAT LUNCH, GO HOME, PLAY WITH THE PUPS, GO FOR A WALK, ETC, ETC. LATER IN THE DAY I'LL EAT DINNER.

Or, I'll do nothing.

Temo, Cooper, Panda, and I drove Annie to her Dentist appointment this morning. The weather forecast for SF called for rain all day and for the first time this year they were 100% on target. After dropping A at her Dentist we were hungry so we decided on bagels and lox. There is this semi quasi poor excuse for a New York style deli that claims to make the best bagels in the bay area. Whole wheat seeded bagels were non existent back in the 60's and 70's, the choice was plain or salted. Who wants a chocolate chip jalapeno bagel with a pesto smear anyway?

T, C, P, and I ate our bagels in the van in the pouring rain. Since the rain showed no sign of letting up we decided to go home. It's Friday and it's my birthday. That's good enough for me.

Old Pictures

1971

1980?

1968

Happy Birthday Ruby wherever you are.

Jeffrey didn't send me a picture of Ruby, so I'll have to describe her. She is a black woman, with a sweet friendly face who always smiled and by now must be in her 70's.

Todd called me last night and sounds like the family is doing great. Valery came in 4th out of 500 runners in the marathon. That is fantastic for a mother of 4. The children are all excelling in school and the addition to the house (after a very harrowing experience) is finally completed. He said Bill will be coming down soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEMO!!!

Happy 49th!

Love,

David

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVEN!!!!

Happy 54th.....

FROM THE BOYS

AND MARISA

Poor Pathetic Poofter

Now that the last episode of Angina House has aired for the season, I would like to switch gears and blog about Larry Craig. Yesterday, a Judge,( I think it was Judy), said his guilty plea sticks. I then read that he decided not to resign. My opinion is that he should not resign. As much as I think he's a hypocrite, I also believe there shouldn't be a double standard. If others have weathered the storm and remained in office, why not this jerk?
And another thing, as a gay man I would like to comment on public restroom sex. Maybe at one time it was a way for gay men to meet, but we've come a long way baby and we don't have to stoop to that level anymore. Most of these guys that are engaging in this behavior apparently identify as straight. They very well may be, but many are in the closet as well. It is very sad that in the year 2007 people still have to hide their true identity from society for fear of not being accepted and of being hated. What is society and why are we so fearful of what "society" thinks? I don't give a damn what society thinks. I am what I am. I feel sorry for Larry Craig. I knew guys like Larry Craig. They're pathetic, liars. Still, he doesn't deserve to lose his seat. Who knows, maybe this incident will change him, maybe he'll see the light? We are very forgiving people. He can have a second chance in life. This is a perfect opportunity for him to make good. But sadly I don't think he sees it that way.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Never was that more true than today. Once again in the Cardiac unit but this time with a better result. CUAUHTEMOC will go on...and on... for as long as there is hope.

He wants to say hello. I hope taking these pictures in the hospital isn't offensive to some, but Temo asked me to take it. Originally I took the one in the ER, it was my idea, but today it was his idea, he even wants me to show a picture of where the catheter was inserted for the angioplasty.

Is he not the sexiest man you've ever seen in the ICU?

Poor baby has to stay there overnight and believe me the nurses love him.

Me and Mommy Lola.

Today is October 2nd. 73 years ago little Lola Rabinowitz was born. Happy Birthday to Mommy in heaven.

Love,

David

Happy Birthday Frisky!

Frisky is pictured here in 1970 with Grandma Esther. 41 years ago today Frisky was born. The life of Frisky is an interesting story because she broke barriers. Originally adopted by Archie for Lola and the boys, she then became Grandma (over my dead body)Esther's and the boys for a while. She finally came to rest with Elliot and Dorothy, the boys and Marisa. By 1976 when Frisky was only 10 she was tired of being tired, so she committed suicide by running in front of a truck.

Friday Night in the ER

For the second time this month we went to the ER because Temo's angina was pretty bad and wouldn't subside even after 4 nitro tablets. Fortunately things were status quo after the EKG, blood work to check for indicators that tell whether a heart attack took place and a call to the Cardiologist. The EKG wasn't normal because it never is, the blood work came back normal, but then the Cardiologist wanted him to stay overnight for observation.

Our New Puppies

It is fast approaching Cooper's first Birthday, so I've put together a webpage of Cooper and Panda's puppy pictures.

This picture was taken last week next to the cave at the San Gregorio Beach. Click on it to see the full size.

http://home.pacbell.net/dave1956/puppies.htm

Sunny and warm on Shotwell

Today is Wednesday. Weather is sunny and warm with the temperature hitting about 80. Here is a picture of our street. The row of buildings were all rebuilt after the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. There are two more buildings adjacent to the beige building that aren't in the picture.

Folsom Fair is right around the corner...

Geographically and figuratively! This coming Sunday is the Folsom Street fair in San Francisco. Here is a little video from a couple of years ago that I posted on YouTube.
Enjoy

15 Years on Shotwell

I'm almost 51 and have never lived anywhere as long as I've now lived on Shotwell Street in San Francisco.

If you knew Shotwell Street you may or may not agree. There's history here. First, and probably not even first, is the fact that 100's of years ago Dolores River ran from the bay all the way inland and passed precisely where we live on Shotwell. Second, in 1989 the houses on my side of the street were all destroyed when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck. Fortunately we didn't live here yet. In 1992 we did move into a new building that was built on the property that was destroyed and burned during the quake. In the winter months there has been flooding in the 3 - 4 ft range. One time we woke to find 5 cars (including my late moms beloved Beretta) in our garage submerged in 4 ft water. We were on the local news. Third, there are many historical victorians as well as murals located on Shotwell St. Fourth, the ODC dance school is on Shotwell St. and gives us class. Our 3rd floor balcony is across from the dance school with a beeline view of the inside, just to be cute I'll shout, "Isadora Duncan sucks"! Most of the time they don't know where the voice is coming from. And fifth, Shotwell is notorious in another way which gives it the sleaze factor.

Shotwell At Night...Beware!