Do you want to buy a car?!?

I’ve thrown in the towel. Due to my current financial situation I can no longer afford the luxury of my second car.

It is a 2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited; Deep Sapphire Blue Pearlcoat/Dark Blue Cloth Top w/ Royal Blue/Cream Interior. The car is in excellent condition only one little scratch on the right corner of the rear fascia. Only 16,500 miles and it was wintered in the garage. I’ll throw in the custom fit Kimberly-Clark NOAH car cover (seeing as how I won’t have any use for it.) The price is fairly firm at $15,500 although you will note the ad does read OBO. While I do need to rid myself of the car I’m in no hurry to do so and car afford to wait out another month or two if need be.

Anyway, check it out and if you’re interested please feel free to contact me.

Until next time… know that you’re loved,

D

Affirmations Program Director Passes The Torch

Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center
195 West Nine Mile, Ferndale, MI 48220
Phone: 248.398.7105 Fax: 248.541.1943
Email: info@GoAffirmations.org Web: www.GoAffirmations.org



Date: May 16, 2005

Contact: Kathleen LaTosch
Special Events / Marketing Director
248-398-7105 ext. 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFFIRMATIONS PROGRAM DIRECTOR PASSES THE TORCH
FERNDALE, Mich. – After close to five years of service to Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community, Program Director Michael Larson recently announced that it’s time to pass the torch to another energetic person and move on. Having accomplished what he set out to do at Affirmations, he says “I feel like I did accomplish those things and now it’s time to pass the torch.”

Initially hired in October of 2000 to run the Youth Services Program, he quickly moved into the role of Program Director where he was responsible for supervising a staff of three, organizing activities and programs for the 200 people who came to the Center each week, and getting the art gallery back on its feet. Five years later, the staff of three has grown to ten and the 200 people coming to the Center each week has grown to over 600. Moreover, he now heads a flourishing art gallery that has seen more than 30 artists exhibit their work, and has been featured on Detroit’s National Public Radio, WDET.

Under his direction the Center has added four new programs areas – health services, older adult services, family activities and community outreach – more than tripling participation at Affirmations. The youth program has expanded service hours from four a week in 2000 to 20 hours a week in 2005. YEP nights have grown so successfully, that attendance is often at its maximum capacity.

What will he miss the most? In his signature quiet and thoughtful way, he said, “If I had to name three things, I’d have to say that I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the youth program. The youth are so dynamic and inspiring; it’s been rewarding to be able to work so closely with that program. Coming OUT Over Coffee and the Pittmann-Puckett Art Gallery would definitely be on my list too.” But Larson doesn’t expect to miss Affirmations too much – he will continue serving on two of the organization’s planning committees to help move into the new building.

“But I will certainly miss him,” said Leslie Thompson, Executive Director of Affirmations. “Michael came to Affirmations during a very turbulent time and together we smoothed out the edges and got the organization back on track. His wisdom and insight will be greatly missed.”

Larson plans to stay on at Affirmations while the organization conducts a national search for a new program director and then assist in the training of that person. “One of my hopes is that the community recognizes the importance of the Center and embraces the person who comes after me,” said Larson. When asked what his plans are after leaving Affirmations, with a relaxed smile, he said, “I have several things in the works, but I might also just take a break and spend some time pulling weeds in my garden.”

Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center, based in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, has been in operation since 1989 and provides a variety of programs, services and social opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals residing in Southeastern Michigan. Affirmations’ mission is to provide a welcoming place to every day people where they can have fun, learn, socialize, grow, be supported and find acceptance.

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Prayers

I need to remind myself that I don’t have it so bad and that despite every thing that I have going on in my life right now if certainly could be worse.  While I want things to be better for me I am grateful for what I do have.

 

For Jacob – Who is going to not one but two different sentencing hearings today, may he make it through the day regardless of the outcome. 

 

For Steve – Who lost his wife of 18 years to cancer and may soon loss custody of his daughter, may he find the forgiveness needed to keep his family.

 

For Thomas – Who had his car stolen, may his travels be made easier.

 

For Scott – Who lost his job, may he soon find work for idle hands.

 

 

ho humm

No not that kind of Ho!

Things have been busy of late. I cannot seem to post from e-mail, at least without major error and garbage showing up (Last Friday's post was like that for a while.)

There hasn't been much to update as I have been laying low and otherwise to preoccupied to make any observations that would require my own personal editorial.

The renovations to the Master Bedroom are well on their way and the new job is progressing nicely.

Next Wednesday, 11 May 2005: Last Comic Standing

Looking for something to do next Wednesday night? Join us at Mark Ridley’s in Royal Oak to root on our favorite comic in the “Last Comic Standing” Contest.

DATE: Wednesday, May 11, 2005
WHERE: Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - on the corner of Troy St. & 4th in downtown Royal Oak. (One block south of 11 mile and one block east of Main St.)
WHEN: 8:00 PM - She could be first so don't be late! And the earlier you are the better chance you have of getting excellent seats.
COST: $2.00 - if you can't afford this try gathering up 20 empty bottles/cans...
WHY: Because she is very competitive and will cry if she doesn’t go on to the next round.

It will be a fun time for sure.

Melon Collie

So I don't really have much to say, and more importantly I don't really feel like saying anything; yet I feel compelled to write. I need to finish my update about Toronto and yet that is fast becoming irrelevant or at least unimportant. I have spent the last few nights working on the renovation and actually painting, though I feel I may have to go back a few steps and touch up a few dry-wall sections. The is the boy in AA who I think is really cute but I know is painfully str8 and am actually becoming friendly with (I almost put friends but we remain acquaintances and probably will so). The school board elections are finished and we won. That is the last few days in a nutshell without all the detail.

Until later.

Know that you're loved,

D

National Teacher Day

No kidding.  The day their boss’, boss’ bosses are elected into office we recognize the teacher.  Ironic, maybe… 

 

Either way, don’t forget to VOTE today.

 

If you live in Michigan you can visit www.michigan.gov/sos or www.publius.org to get information about how and where to vote in your community. 

 

In Royal Oak you might also want to check out www.royaloakreport.com to get some more information pertaining to today’s election.

 

OK Hose Head

Were to begin… 

 

Even before I left it was an adventure.  This trip was originally scheduled for the previous week and was rescheduled at the last minute to Thursday of last week.  The actual plan was unknown to me until late Tuesday afternoon so it wasn’t until then that I knew we would be traveling up Wednesday evening staying Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Which is a BIG difference from where we started, I had half expected to either travel up or back in the same day to minimize travel costs.  My coworker and I were supposed to travel together, again to minimize costs, and when last we spoke he asked when I got off of work and indicated that we would leave then.  I had previously scheduled a meeting with my financial advisor well before the trip got changed, for the afternoon of Wednesday.  When I returned from my meeting, my coworker, having changed his mind, now wishing to leave around lunch time, and not being able to locate me, left without me.

            His leaving was in actually a small blessing in disguise.  It gave me the opportunity to deal directly with a rental agency without having either a coworker there or being stuck without options.  I made the rental reservation through corporate travel and headed off to the agency.  When I arrived, as I expected, I was asked for my driver’s license.  I explained the situation and was told that unfortunately they could not accept paper IDs, but that once I had the license back I would not have any problem.  This in and of itself was a bit of a relief.  Now I knew that the answer to one question without having to expose myself too much.  Secondly that I would only have little more than one month to go also took some burden off my shoulders.  Obviously at this point my only option was to drive my car which I was perfectly fine with, and actually would prefer.

 

The remainder of Wednesday night was uneventful.  Because of rush our traffic and accidents on I-696, I-94 and 401 I did not arrive in Markham until almost 10 PM. 

 

Thursday morning we set out for our first visit of the trip.  My coworker drove as he managed to obtain a Jaguar X-type as his rental car. (I only hope that he was only charged the normal rate.)  The plan for the day was to trial three different materials from three different suppliers, all at the same manufacturer.  Now it isn’t necessarily unusual to try-out a couple of different materials, just not on the same day.  We got to play a little bit of hot-potato when the second supplier arrived early all the while the first trial was behind schedule.  It was an interesting time.