Thoughts regarding Sheriff Paul Babeu

When this first broke, I thought that I wasn’t going to comment on it. I changed my mind after watching this news conference.

On several of the blogs that I read, there have been really shocking and horrific comments made about the sheriff. The most venomous and unfair remarks I’ve read were from blogs that cater to the gay world. Even the comments in blogs of the religious right weren’t as hostile.

This left me wondering what about this man had generated such venom. So when I saw a link to this news conference if figured I’d have my morning coffee and see what this guy could possibly say that would generate so much anger from the gay community.

This is a long video. I like a lot of what this man says. Those items we disagree on… well nobody’s perfect!

Sheriff Paul Babeu Press Conference from Paul Babeu on Vimeo.

Several things struck me about this guy.

He strikes me as genuine.

He’s doing his best to hold it together during a very public exposure of his sexuality. He comes across as a very private person and having something as personal as your sexual behavior splattered across the world wide news machine has to be difficult. I give him credit for hanging in there.

Sheriff Babeu explains his life philosophy pretty well. He says he’s a man of duty, and that duty and honor are both at the top of his priorities even when duty and honor may result in personal difficulties. He points out that he’s never lied about being gay. From another published comment attributed to Sheriff Babeu, He’s also never worn being gay on his sleeve.

Sheriff Babeu explains why he contacted an attorney to represent him in a disagreement with Jose. One of the things that caught my attention later in the news conference is that Sheriff Babeu refused to discuss the particulars of the relationship. It’s hard to make out but I think one of the reporters off camera asks something about the length of time the relationship lasted and when it ended. Sheriff Babeu only responds, “prior to September” and goes no further.

The Sheriff states a couple of times that he’s a single man, and that he’s done nothing wrong or illegal in dating other adults. At one point the Sheriff tells someone in the crowd that the minute details of his personal life aren’t anyones business. The person in the crowd doesn’t like that answer but quiets down pretty quickly.

During the whole interview I saw nothing but a guy dealing with a tough situation with a commendable amount of grace under pressure. Hell, I’d vote for him.

Sheriff Babeu didn’t come across as a racist,  hatemonger, liar, or abuser of power. So I was still at a loss to understand why the gay community as represented on the mainstream gay blogs were so hateful in their comments about this guy.

Then the Sheriff addresses the allegation that he threatened to have Jose deported.

AH HA! Here we go, THE HOT BUTTON ISSUE! Immigration…

Because every gay person should be completely happy with, and supportive of illegal immigrants. (Even though a large percentage of them are devoutly Catholic and by church doctrine are opposed to gay rights)

Sheriff Babeu says that he didn’t threaten Jose with deportation, and goes on to say that to his knowledge Jose’s immigration status was the same as anyones.

The commenters on the gay blogs and some of the blog sites themselves have locked onto this single allegation and in one of the most  hypocritical twists of logic have tried, convicted, and condemned Sheriff Babeu without any evidence whatsoever.

How can the gay community demand justice, freedom, and equality while at the same time stomping all over those very principals?

Sheriff Babeu, is an example of both what is right … and wrong in this country.

Here’s a guy that just lives his life. He works, contributes, serves his country, serves, his community, dates, and has bad breakups. He’s no different than any of the rest of the people in this country. In fact he’s the ultimate guy next door.

Here’s whats wrong in this country.

By saying “I’m Gay”, somehow all the contributions this man has made are thrown into question. Many people, in politics, the media, and some in the communities he serves will now look at Sheriff Babeu differently and few, will even seek to limit his freedoms.

Is it any wonder at all that folks like the Sheriff work so hard to keep their private lives private?

Our society creates and reinforces an environment where your choices are;

Be gay, open, honest…. And stigmatized… In corporate America, You’ll never gain promotions, achieve anything of note, or move up the corporate ladder to success. In the political arena, with few exceptions you’ll have to be a Democrat, can’t be conservative, and will probably not be taken seriously and therefore your career will always be limited. OR Hide.

Given those options which would you choose?

I hope that Sheriff Babeu is a tough as nails. I think the next few weeks are going to be very hard on him.

I sincerely hope that his friends continue to rally around him and that he’s never lacking for support.

100 Degrees and Shivering.

I like it hot. I’ve always liked Palm Springs in the Summer. I’m talking about planning my vacation time around spending time in Palm Springs when it’s 110 in the shade.

Naked by the pool, hotter than hell and I’m just damn comfortable. The Comedian Bill Hicks would have described me as a lizard.

However, I’ve been running a fever of 100 plus for the past day.

It’s not unusual for me to spike at 103 and then drop sub normal for a few hours. What is unusual is a more or less sustained fever for long periods of time.

I spent the whole day in bed shivering off & on watching movies and South Park. The fever finally broke around 8pm last night. I’m currently sitting at 97.9F which is a relief. This is the first time in 24 hours that I’ve been clear headed, and not completely miserable.

Whatever has taken hold is not letting go, On the other hand… when I get out of bed to go take a leak, my balls are hanging very nicely… Now if I just felt good enough to do something sexual or perverted well It might be worth being sick

My sleep schedule is completely screwed up too. I woke up a little while ago and realized I wasn’t going back to sleep soon. So I’ve been reading emails that have been neglected for days. And of course catching up on the news.

One thing that this has taught me is that I can do without the network news… at least for a few days.

I’ve been watching stuff on Netflix, and my own disks. I haven’t even turned on the satellite box, leading me once again to question the satellites necessity.

Whitney Houston is still dominating the news. This surprises me, not because I’m heartless but because we’re so fascinated with tragedy. I too loved her voice she was an excellent vocalist. I just feel sorry for her family not only because of their loss but because they won’t have the opportunity to grieve in peace and solitude.

The unblinking cameras of the paparazzi will follow and detail every event and comment the family makes until well after the poor woman is laid to rest.

It just seems that we should have a little more respect, but then again I’m old fashioned.

 

 

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines day.

I have a cold.

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It started out as nothing but a minor tickle. So minor, that I ignored it. Then during the night Sunday it developed into a full blown sore throat, fever, sneezing, coughing, PAIN in the ass!

Women say men are whiny and hard to deal with. We’re actually pretty easy to deal with. LEAVE US ALONE…

I’m like most men when I’m sick.

I don’t want to take a shower, I don’t care if I stink, I don’t want to look pretty, and I don’t want to put clothes on.

We revert to our primitive state. It’s actually for everyone else’s protection. If someone can tell we’re sick from 100 feet away they know two things.

1 We’re infectious, the rest of the tribe should stay away.

2 We’re probably really bad tempered and unless you want a stone ax in your head… Probably best you stay away.

We’ll eat when we’re hungry, we’ll forage in the food stores and cholesterol BE DAMNED! We’ll sleep, watch TV, we’ll jerk off cause we want to feel better if only for a few minutes and we’ll pull out the whiskey, scotch, or whatever because that gives us a burn in our throat that’s way better than Nyquil.

In my case the dogs are on guard protecting me. It’s kind of nice & I sleep soundly when they’re on guard. These guys don’t bark unless there’s something they’re worried about. For the most part they’re content to sniff me occasionally, (Checking to see if I’m dead, I sure smell dead.) then back to the foot of the bed watching the door.

This Valentines day… all bets are off, I’m not going anywhere, doing anything, or engaging in a Hallmark Holiday. I’m in bed, in a cave with the flickering garish light of a TV, the only source of illumination. I’m cranky and I’m going to stay right here until either I can’t stand my own stink or I get well whichever comes first.

if you want to see the “nice” me… The first appointment is two weeks from next Monday… I’ll see you then!

 

Sometimes my clever plans… shoot me in the foot!

 

I was working on continuity in a book I’m trying to write. I moved a chapter or two around and thought nothing of it…

Then I went back to work on those chapters and found that the contents have evaporated into the ether. Damn!

I was just mildly annoyed, I’ve got at least a couple of backups and so while there might have been some data loss it’s not much.

This led me to rethink a couple of things about the book and the way that I’ve been writing it.

I’d started out writing this as pure smut. But as I’ve written, the characters have become more than automatons and I’ve been looking at their motivations. This has inevitably led to a story. The sex is still there and exciting, but the characters are more engaging now that they have a backstory and can stand alone without the backdrop of wild sex.

I’m working now to stabilize the material that I have and then move forward by enhancing the characters motivations and better explaining how each one got from point A to point E by way of B,C,& D.

In all I think the story will be richer and more engaging.

As a close friend of mine has reminded me “Writing is Editing…

As a break I was out in Palm Springs last night at the first meeting of a newly formed group. There was a nice flogging demonstration and another demonstration of an updated violet wand.

Both demonstrations were instructive and I appreciate the demonstrators and the demonstratees!

The line of people forming to BE flogged was gratifying.

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My ego was also stroked a bit in that I was hit on by several people wanting to submit to whatever I might consider pleasurable. I love willing subs!

I was far too interested in improving my flogging technique by observing the demonstration to actively pursue any of these generous offers. Perhaps I will accept an offer or two at the next event. I am looking forward to the next event, it was nice to be in a room with so many like minded individuals.

I’m still surprised that I’m coming across as a “Daddy, Dom, Top, Master”. No, I’m not complaining I’m just fascinated, I’m not sure that I’m experienced enough to formally “Wear” these appellations. Then again maybe these titles are representative of who I am now and are well deserved. Time alone will tell, I can say that for the first time in my life I’m unafraid of those titles and the responsibility that they imply within the confines of the BDSM community.

How does all of this tie into the book?

Well there is a component of the book that deals with this alternative expression of sexuality.

 

Do these exercises make my butt look big???

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As I’ve been documenting, I’ve been hiking around the local area quite a bit lately.

After a pretty strenuous hike yesterday I was a little uncomfortable. It was obvious that I’d hit the muscles in my legs pretty hard and that’s OK.

This morning… The muscles in my butt are killing me! I’m thinking a massage is in order but is it weird to call and say I need you to rub my butt???

I’m going to take the pups for a hike today too but probably not up the canyon…

I’m thinking down the canyon a bit, then when we come back up it’s a little gentler grade.

It would be funny if It didn’t hurt so much…

OH, who am I kidding? It’s funny.

If this is the price i have to pay so I don’t get “Old Man Butt” I’ll gladly pay it.

Of course the real benefit to a decent cardio workout you can lower your blood pressure in addition to building up muscle in your legs and butt.

So my brothers… get out there and get active.

I’m going to get an ibuprofen…