A FUNKY GOOD TIME

March 29, 2005

           Saturday

Still a bit out of it from a long night and waking up early, I called Logan to meet up with him.  This is most likely his last day in Sacramento for quite some time before he makes his move to possibly his permanent residence.  Will he still ramble place to place?  I don't know.  But it looks like the state of Washington is his targeted, general area.

Last night (3/28/25) was a long night.  Logan and I had a play date that lasted way longer than expected due to a string of events and or lack thereof. This morning I woke up early to run some errands.  Needles to say I'm a bit tired but I still make it out to see Arrow one more time.  He asks me if I would like to try this one sandwich place which is claimed to have the best meatball sandwich in Sacramento. 

Okay.  I'm not going to lie.  That sandwich is pretty damn good.  He's eager to get the verdict if it's the best I've ever tasted.  I can't make that judgment call because I don't eat meatball sandwiches to that degree to know.  Now if we were talking pizza that would be a different story.  But I will say I was quite pleased with the flavor.

After our lunch we chat for a bit before dropping him off to the library.

Later we meet up on K street.  K street used to be known as K st. Mall.  Back in the day it was where the actual mall was.  There still remains blocks of stores, bars and restaurants.  And with the new arena where the kings play and live concerts happen, the area has come back to life.  Personally I miss the old mall but nothing stays the same forever. 

Today Papa Roach is performing so it's a lively crowd tonight.  Neither one of us are familiar with their music but the atmosphere brings back the nostalgia of when the place was jumping with people, although the new make is not really my thing.

I ask if he's ever been on the Delta King.  He says no so we go for a stroll on the boat.  Across the river are sea lions resting on the deck.  I still find it quite interesting to see.   Although I've read that they have been around for decades they are making more prominent appearances as of late.

Logan's buss arrives at 8:30pm. It is about 7:40pm.  I'm am getting a bit tired and announce that I will be heading back towards my car.  He agrees to walk with me a little bit but not all the way as I parked pretty far. 

As we are walking I am mesmerized by all the low riders cruising the street.  Back in the day before the cops cracked down on cruising, there would be somewhat of a parade of guys and girls showing off their rides.  

Predominately rooted in Mexican American culture, it is something that influenced many Black and Urban communities as well. 

As we are walking down the sidewalk, I notice a young Latino guy with his cigar raised in the air grooving to something.  I can't quite figure it out.  As we get to the intersection, there's a Black family walking by and take a moment to get their boogie on. As we get closer, I totally get the message.  

A group of fifteen or more men and women young and older chilling next to their ride blaring JB's Doing It To Death.  If you don't know who JB is...

I understand the assignment . I look at Logan.

"We gonna have a funky good time! We gonna have a funky good time!"

It seems to fly right over his head.  He is talking about an episode of Wheel of Fortune.  

Earlier I told him I was watching Wheel of Fortune and that sparked a series of quizzes about the daily double. 

Shit! I don't know! 

I did remember one answer. That's about all I got.  Right now I'm grooving. 

Well, it is obvious, he's not feeling James like I am.

I'm am floored that he just is not in the groove. This man is talking about Wheel of Fortune and I'm up here tryin' to take him hiiiiiiiiiiiiiya!

I then realize the funk ain't for errrbody.

I did get a kick out of one Wheel of Fortune story involving Ken Jennings giving the wrong answer for a gardening tool also meaning an immoral pleasure seeker.

Come on. Anybody would have answered the same thing.

What is a ___

All together!

Rake? 

Didn't see that one coming.

The time has come for us to hug and say goodbye.   He turns and go on his way.   I turn and go my way and then I stop and turn around.  I turn and watch him walk away until I can see him no more.  It is something I have always done.  From when I was a kid I would watch my mom or dad's car until it disappeared whenever they went somewhere.  I would wait until a friend made it safely in their home and the door closed.  I did it tonight as he faded into the crowd. 

This is not goodbye.

In the past it would be. But not this time. 

This is not goodbye.

VENOM AND LASAGNA

 March 27, 2025

           Thursday

We finally had our day.  

After months of planning and things falling through, Logan and I finally had our day to hang out before he made his decision to move.  Although it is still in the air where, it's good to know that I did get the opportunity to hang out with him.

Our day started out with Pinball.  

"What do you think?  Thirty minutes?"

"Sure," he agreed.  

We've done this before with BearGuy (in which I just discovered is not really keen on the moniker) and had a good time. Why not have another go at it?

We started out at the back with playing as two.  We both agreed that machine was way too slow. Not enough action what so ever.  He really got into the games that had more than one level for the pinball to go.  

I was having fun which was really a surprise for me.  I don't do much. I can listen to music most of the day a just chill.  I never really found something that gets me majorly excited; no real hobbies.  I never got into video games or anything else so pinball would be the last thing on my Bingo card.

Almost every game Logan would be like how about this one? How about that one?  It is pretty cute how excited he gets with things he's passionate about. 

As much as I was having a good time, I still didn't get that rush that I was looking for.  

There is one Pinball game I haven't tried yet.  

It is this really loud red Pinball machine that basically stands out from the rest. Kind of like a sore thumb. It kind of looks out of place in all the cool toned machines that have minimal designs and distractions compared to this one.

"I want to try this one."

The name of it is called Venom.

For the most part most of the games are pretty similar in my opinion. I am sure Logan would beg to differ. He has detailed blow by blow information of the workings of pretty much every one we've played. 

Venom however feels a bit different.  Maybe it's the colors that stand out. I'm not quite sure, at least not for now.

As I hit the pinball and rack up a few points, another ball flies out giving me a little more to work with.  Before long another pop out.

"Holy shit!"

Now I got my hands full.  Beyond trying to keep afloat with all these balls coming after me I have to remember not to yell out too many obesities next to  the kids playing to the right.

Now we have four balls.  Maybe even a fifth?

Somehow they all seemed to get stuck so Logan called the front desk guy to clear the gutter area thingy for them to go down.  

Our time is almost up.  I'm not ready yet.

"What do you say? Another thirty minutes?"

"Sure."

We get another round in for thirty minutes. I am bent on tackling this monster called Venom.  

After a few minutes in, it is time for me to sit down. my feet are a bit sore from standing so long. 

After our time in the Pinball arcade we migrate to yet another place I enjoy.  It is a store that sells various balsamics and olive oils.

The flavors 

After the shop we decide what we want for a late lunch.  For quite some time we talked about going to a certain restaurant that serves Raclette on just about everything on Thursdays.  Unfortunately the restaurant no longer serve that.

Logan decided that he wanted me to to expose him to a new food experience since he was always so good at getting me to try new things so I decided to take him to an Italian restaurant that in my opinion serves the best lasagna I have ever tested.

The verdict: 

He liked it.

I wasn't majorly hungry but I did want to dine with him and since he was always hipping me on to new experiences. I figured it was my turn. He did remind me however, that it was I who introduced him to bondage.

I ate half of mine and saved the other half for Boss since he loves their Lasagna.

I dropped him back to his motel room and spent a little time chatting with him. then I came home.

Altogether, I had a great time with Logan.  We'll see what 3/28 has in store for us.

LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN

I chatted with Logan.  We have been chatting more lately.  I am glad we worked things out. It is not as though we had a falling out of any sort it just felt as though the chapter of our friendship was closing for good and I didn't want that to happen.

The future is unsure of where he will be living.  California somewhere is a slim possibility. But wherever he goes I do wish him the best.  As for now he plans on a trip to Sacramento this Thursday.  

Lately we have had terrible luck getting together for anything as there has been things coming up with my dad that sent me to Southern Cali.  The last time Logan ended up getting sick so hopefully this time all will work out.  I do look forward to meeting up with him again.  Possibly do the restaurant thing we've been trying to set up for months.

Fun dom

 "You are a fun dom..."

I am not going to correct him.  At least not yet.

I'm pretty sure he knows what he is doing.  

I don't get hung up on honorifics, titles or "What to address me as" 

but I do observe behaviors and patterns.  

And I keep that shit filed in my bullshit folder.

I may or may not use it against him 

depending on how much I want to invest into this one 

and how worth it  he makes the investment.

SOUTHERN CALI

Feb 11, 2025

Tuesday  6:23am

It’s 6:23am twenty three minutes after I heard my father rumbling around in the laundry room to get clothes out to start his day.  He is fixated on going places that he doesn’t need to go.  He is constantly wobbling around the house without his walker putting him at risk of falling. No matter how much he is told to use his walker it doesn’t register with him. 

My sister recently had a lock put on the laundry room door so that he couldn’t get in there and possibly get hurt. It is literally like dealing with a child. 

I know this. 

I’ve worked as a caregiver for quite some time.  It is however a totally different dynamic when it is a family member that one is taking care of. 

I have seen client’s family members where they are the only ones there to care for the loved on.  I do not wish that on my worst enemy. 

For my sister she has me to assist with his business and financial affairs.  But living over four hundred miles apart, there is very little relief I can provide.  So far from January this year to this week of feb 10th I have driven approximate five trips down. The time before last, one week and having to return the following week.  The drive is becoming a lot. And air travel is expensive. It will be close to a month before the VA will get a caregiver in and even when they do, the max is 9 hours a week. Well, I guess it is better than nothing but…

It is not all gloom.  My father looks better than he ever looked in any facility. He is gaining strength in his legs and walking more. He just needs to do so with his damn walker.  This is a short trip. I’ll be home. And though I’m glad for the opportunity to spend time with Dad, I am ready to go home. 

I’m a little late on this one as a lot has been going on. Things have calmed down considerably since this. There is still a lot that leaves me floored.  For example, how my sister still calls me telling me how many times she’s told him not to put his dirty briefs in the kitchen garbage or how she constantly tell him to get cleaned up and dressed for physical therapy like he really has the capacity to say, “Okay!” and actually get up and do it. It is like two people living in their own reality. 

It is better but it sometimes gets worse. But for now it is better. It is better because I'm learning how to deal with a whole lot of things I used to put my head in the sand to. Now dealing is no longer an option. It is definitely a sharpening instrument for me. Like it or not.

DRAINING

 Narcissistic people are so fucking draining.

TODAY'S PICK: STROKE 12

My time stroking with the hot Latino Guy. Check out STROKE 12