New Hampshire

Well, I'm back from my trip. I got back last Sunday actually, but this week was just waaaay to busy for me to find time to update this blog. New Hampshire was awesome! The weather warmed up just enough for us that week that it was very enjoyable. There was enough snow on the ground already so when the temps warmed up it didn't all melt away. Melissa and drove up on Tuesday night. It took about 9 hours to get from Buffalo, NY to Bartlett, NH. I don't mind road trips, but I have to admit that even I was getting a bit antsy after awhile. We stayed in a "ski in, ski out" condo at a ski resort called Attitash. On Thursday (Wednesday we just sort of tooled around), Melissa, Paul, Jill and I went skiing. We put on our skis right outside of the condo door, jumped on the hill and skied down to the ski lift. It was awesome. The mountains in NH (or any ski resort on the east coast really) make the mountains at Holliday Valley (ski resort in Buffalo, NY) look like hills. The scenery was breathtaking. We skied for almost four hours in almost 50 degree, sunny weather. The conditions were almost perfect. (I say almost because it was a little icy in spots). After we were done skiing, we went out to a nice dinner and home to relax. Friday we walked all around town and in and out of the little shops in the area. Saturday we watched football and hung around, and on Sunday we drove home. It was so relaxing. Melissa and I were in need of a vacation.





Something else happened as well. On Thursday, during our ski adventure, I "proposed" to Melissa on top of a mountain. I had planned on doing this for awhile now and the opportunity presented itself so I took it. I didn't give her a ring because we had talked about not doing engagement rings. I did, however, give her a candy heart that said "Marry me" on it. I had given her the heart last year at a Christmas party as a joke. Well, she kept it all this time in her jewelry box. So I gave it to her this time "for real" in a ring box. I swiped it from her jewelry box before we left on the trip. I was so nervous the entire day we went skiing but things just fell into place. She said yes and we will probably have a very small and intimate ceremony of some kind. Right now it's planned for Fall of 2009. We hope to do it either in Vermont or New Hampshire - either way I'll keep you posted.


Below are some pics from the trips. The frozen waterfall on the ski hill that you see is the spot where I asked Melissa to marry me. I know, I'm smooth!

2008

Well, another year is gone. And what a year it was. 2007 was a definite pick-me-up for me. I saw a lot of good things come my way and I hope I manifest the same for 2008. Well ... maybe not the same ... more like bigger and better!

I've updated a few things on the website. For one, you can read the new Outcome column for January on the Poetry & Columns page. It was recently picked up by a newspaper in San Diego called the Gay & Lesbian Times as well. So that's exciting.

I went rock climbing for my latest installment of Fitness 101. It's written and ready to go, but due to legal issues I have to wait for it to publish in the Buffalo News first, before I can post it on the site. As soon as it's up, I'll let you know.

Other than that, I'm just winding down from the holidays and family interaction. I leave for vacation tomorrow with my Buffalo BFF's and Melissa - I can't wait. So I will have plenty to write about when I get back. Until then, Happy New Year!

Here's a little teaser pic for Fitness 101 of me rock climbing ... or hanging in there really!