I'm Back.....

Yes, it has been quite awhile since I have last blogged. Work has been busy with getting a new project off the ground and I have done much testing on the new website. Keeping our fingers crossed that it takes off and does well.
My travels of late have been low key. I did travel over to the west coast of Florida and visited Naples. Quaint, nice beaches, but kind of dull in the off season. Most of the shops downtown are on limited hours, usually opening around 4pm and catering to the dinner crowd. There were some great end of season sales for up to 75% off, but when the shirt was originally $375, it is still kind of pricey for my budget.
This past weekend was the Miami Metro Zoo. I was quite impressed, it is ranked in the top 10 zoos in the country. The zoo is located in southwest Miami/Dade county and is about an hour from Ft. Lauderdale. The pathway guests follow meanders around the various enclosure for the animals. The only cages were for a few birds and small species that would be hard to see otherwise. Most of the walk is shaded except in the newer stretch near the Amazon are that recently opened. I highly recommend a counterclockwise path, that way the sunny part is in the beginning while you are still nice and fresh.
The complete walk took approximately 3 hours to complete. There are many vendor carts set up along the way selling snacks, cold drinks along with frozen lemonade and ice cream. Facilities are also provided along the route.
Besides being busy at work my home laptop has passed on to that big CPU in the sky and no pictures for now. I need to download some programs on my new one so I can get my pictures off the camera. A coworker is going to try and get my old pictures off the dead laptop.
So if you are looking for a local get away, maybe a long weekend to a nearby city you have never visited? Damron Vacations can assist in just a hotel, an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean or maybe a multi-city European vacation. Let one of our experienced agents help

Holidays

Yesterday was Mother's Day in the United States. Countries around the world have similar holidays, but the actual date varies, in England it was in March and in Israel it is in February. I guess Hallmark cannot get everyone to agree to one day.
Since my mother passed away almost four years ago, I had no one to buy flowers for, or mail a card to. My roommate and I went out to lunch after he got home from church. His mother has also been gone for a number of years. It seemed most of the restaurant parking lots were crowded with families out enjoying the day. The place we chose eventually filled up with families with mothers and in some cases grand mothers.
My father used to make sure that their was a card from all the children and a present from us, which he had bought. While still in New Jersey my mother would get breakfast delivered to her in bed. As we got older it was just a big breakfast in the kitchen. But honestly, my father cooked breakfast every Sunday for the family, so only the cards and gifts made it something different.
My family accepted my lifestyle and it was not much of an issue, but so many gay men and women are disowned by their families. And that is such a waste. Relationships that grew for years are destroyed by the truth, and no one is to blame.
If life has taken you away from your family, maybe it is time for a visit? Damron Vacations can help plan a weekend trip to the old hometown. While offering packages to exciting gay destinations, along with Europe and other exotics, Damron Vacations does offer packages to most US cities with an airport. A flight and car can be of assistance if there is no airport nearby. So contact one of the experienced agents and visit your family.

Anchors AWAY!!!!

This past Sunday was the monthly Tea Cruise on the Musette. There is free parking right near the ship's berth on the south bank of the New River. After checking with Peter and his crew, the Damron Vacations' staff(no pun intended) boarded the ship. Dana, Sherry, Kirk, his partner David and yours truly took a quick tour. Kirk and David set up the Damron Vacations display in the main lounge on the first deck, meanwhile the rest of us found 'adult beverages' on the open second level and found space at the rail to watch out departure.
After a slight delay for one of the performers, are drag queens ever on time?, we pulled away from land and headed east. The New River winds it way along the south side of downtown towards the intercoastal and the open waters of the Atlantic. Lining the shores are some of the most expensive homes in the area. Large waterfront compounds with plenty of outdoor living space with pools with attached spas, outdoor kitchens that rival most suburban homes.
The on board entertainment included performance from two local female impersonators, a stripper, a porn star and a young guy in his underwear. Of the group, the stripper was DEFINITELY the best. I'm guessing that he was well into his 30s, but had a body to die for. Well muscled but not steroid looking, dark hair, what had not been shaved, and appeared to be nicely equipped under his torn, wet, white, tee shirt. YUMMY!!!
The porn star was no slouch either. A tasty looking Latin man in a well packed Speedo. One of my coworkers(and me) thought it was nicely filled in the rear. So many men work on their chests but ignore other ASSets. He did pose for a group picture, but I have included the other I took.
The weather was beautiful, sunny with a nice breeze, so was a great day for a boat tour. The Tea Cruise is an optional feature for all of Damron Vacation packages if travel includes the first Sunday of the month. There is a variation with the next cruise the last Sunday in May so as not to interfere with Gay Days at Disney.

Memories......

I commute to work with a fellow employee. She lives about 4 blocks away and picks me up after dropping her daughter off at school. We have a great relationship, I am dramatically older, 2 FULL days, her brother is gay and lives with is partner in Chicago, and I entertain her with jokes. On Friday she asked me to bring in a picture of my family. after hearing storied about them, she wanted a visual. So today I bought in two photos, one of my mom and one of the whole family. Mom's picture was taken just before her health started to fail, taken in my parent's home at the time. The second is my brother's wedding about 20 years ago.
My mom was just past her 70th birthday and is the last picture she had taken. Though this is the picture I have in my room of her, I remember her as she was in the mid 1960s. When our birthday parties were events to be celebrated, ice cream in individual containers with wooden 'spoons, cupcakes topped with coconut tinted in different colors, birthday cake and games. For my older brother's fifth birthday there was a rented pony for rides. This was a big deal in suburban New Jersey.
The wedding picture is from the late 80s when my younger brother got married the first time. It was held in a boy's school in Subiaco, Arkansas. Yes, out in the middle of nowhere, halfway between Little Rock and Ft Smith, right near the nuclear plant in Clarksville. It was a fun time, most of us flew into Memphis to my parent's home at the time and then we drove over to the wedding. I drove my father's Tempo(a real stylish ride) with Mitzi and Dawn my two sister in laws. I remember the drive and we had a good time.
Though I only looked at two pictures memories flooded back of these events and others too, family vacations, holiday preparations and meals among others. So break out the old photo album and take a stroll down memory lane with your family. For future memories, call Damron Vacations and plan a trip off your bucket list, time will not wait.

Ancient Greece, birthplace of.......

Democracy, modern civilization and gay rights. Athens the capital of the Greek civilization was the center of knowledge and learning at its zenith. It laid the foundation of many of today's practices.
There was the democratic form of government originated in Athens approximately 500 BC. All while males were allowed to vote on the issues. Previously only the wealthy elite controlled all the power. This was a turning point and a launch of modern society.
Though still a society of classes, the poor had the same voice as the wealthy. One man, one vote. The population would meet to discuss the issues before casting their ballots. I wonder if their campaigns lasted for almost two years with ENDLESS commercials?
In regards to gay rights, homosexuality was just a part of nature. There was no stigmatism associated with it. In fact it was promoted in the army since soldiers would be less likely to leave a lover on the battlefield than just another soldier. Legions of homosexual men conquered vast areas for Athens. What gay man would have passed up the chance to watch the Ancient Olympics? Hot sweaty athletes performing in the nude. WOOF!!! Many of he Greek gods were also at least bisexual. Zeus and Ganymede, Apollo had many lovers, along with Hercules. Diana had females lovers also.
After the Classical Age and the start of the Dark Ages, homosexuality became a social taboo. Laws were enacted against homosexual acts, and people were condemned to death. Though the punishment by death faded into the past, the acceptance of homosexuals did not gain momentum until the 1960s. With the hippie movement and free love, social norms began to fall. As society relaxed, it was gradually accepted that homosexuals do exist. There are now several states that allow same sex marriages.
With the opening of closet doors, why not open your wallets and celebrate your lifestyle? Many Gay Pride celebrations are on the horizon, and Damron Vacations can help plan your trip. NYC Pride is the end of June to coincide with the Stonewall Riots that ignited the gay right movement. If Pride celebrations is not on your list of must do's, how about the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival? Great movies and great beaches in the tropics, what could be better? These are just two of the options at Damron Vacations, so pack up the suntan lotion, or your gay pride flags and get on the move.