BasketBaller

So. Navy twin went back to the Yard almost a month ago, and signed his commitment papers. Midshipmen can leave the Academy during their first two years with no need to repay or service obligation. But once they start their Second Class (junior) year, they're committed to serving for at least 5 years after graduation. He's in for the long haul. Last week DePaul Twin flew back to Chicago on his own and is back at classes. Older Brother is here at least through December, when his Hill internship ends. His hope is to find a job that will let him get an apartment. In DC that probably means with roommate(s) but he won't mind. His gf has started at GW Law and has a solo dorm room, so there's already been a lot of time spent there-- no overnights yet but some pretty late arrivals home. It is, of course, nice to have him here. For one thing he gets up early and makes coffee! This summer, it was Navy Twin with whom I had the most searching conversations about sexuality and my social life. He really wants me to find someone, which is so touching. Anyway, after two years on my own it's yet another "new normal," with my eldest as roommate. We carry on.

Here she is. It's pretty surreal seeing those colorful costumes in front of an audience of soldiers. Merrick appears near the end, too. Note her reading the names inserted in her encore off her fan.

That was actually why Koenig was hired-- Davy Jones was so popular the Star Trek producers decided to add a character who looked like him to attract young women to the show!

Like many have said, I change every time I shower, so twice on a gym or pool day, once otherwise.

Allegations of sexual harassment over the years. Sigh. Who's next? https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/concerts-canceled-investigation-opened-into-placido-domingo/ar-AAFL27b?ocid=spartanntp

Baltimoreans, and some Washingtonians, head to Ocean City MD or the Delaware beaches and say they're "going down the ocean," but it sounds more like "going downy ocean."

Last fall my Navy Twin had liberty one Saturday and I brought him into DC for dinner. He was in uniform, of course. We went to a nice place that is a family favorite. When I asked for the check, the server said it had been paid by another customer, I asked who, and she said he'd already left. Plus, she added that two others had offered after he had paid! I turned to my son and said I had better start taking him to more expensive restaurants if people are going to pay for our meals. He rolled his eyes.

True enough!

They haven't asked that, not yet anyway. I can say I'm still attracted to women but my desire for them is dormant. And given my predilection for sleeping with as many as I could before I met my wife, I don't know if I had a type. (Although again, I always liked blondes!). There are certain things mentioned above that I find especially attractive in men but my experience is still limited enough that I don't want to restrict myself to an ideal.

I believe that may be in the cards!

In the "conversations I never thought I'd have" category-- With everybody home we manage to have dinner together at least a couple of times a week. Other meals are catch-as-catch can, everybody on his own, usually. But this past Saturday we were all home with no plans until afternoon, so the twins spontaneously decided to make a huge breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits from scratch, juice and coffee, and we all sat down together to eat. We were sitting in the same configuration as my post-Christmas coming out. A very casual morning lots of idle talk about what's going on with everybody. Somehow or other the topic turned to the friends of the various girlfriends, and what they thought of them. Whose friends were pretty, or funny, or vain, etc. More than once one of the boys referred to someone as "Pretty, but she's not my type." DePaul Twin, who as I said seems the most interested in my experience, asked smoothly, "What about you, Dad? Do you have a type? What kinds of guys do you like?" And three pairs of eyes were looking at me curiously. And with no real embarrassment, I answered as best I could. I said I'm not sure I really have a "type" but I do like guys-next-door with a positive personality, sense of humor and kindness. Navy Twin said, "What about looks?" I said nothing is set in stone but I kind of like guys who are tall and lean, and that I have always been partial to blonds, even when I was seeing women, but that's not so important. As I said here once before, I kind of am attracted to guys like me, and joked that I guess that makes me a narcissist. They laughed and nodded and the conversation turned to other things. It was so matter-of-fact, so simple, but what a topic for me to discuss! I of course, left out that my type is really an imaginative top with lots of stamina, and I'm not going to share that...

There is a genre of fetish porn called mpreg, which is all about men being pregnant and giving birth. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/questions-about-mpreg-you-were-embarrassed-to-ask

Yes, the girlfriends know. Back in December I told the boys they could talk it over with anyone they felt comfortable with, and I know DePaul Twin discussed it with his roommate. As with the boys, each gf reacted in her own way. Older Brother's gf took it in stride, DePaul Twin's gf was surprised but accepting, and asked how HE was taking it. Navy Twin's gf is the one we've all known the longest, a wonderful young woman. She reacted with sympathy, and even sadness that I'd been alone, holding it back, for so long. She wrote me a lovely email saying she was glad to know and hoped that this would make life easier for me. I think we all know by now that she's going to be part of the family someday, so it's nice to know she's supportive. I haven't made any big announcement, and probably won't, but I have spoken to my brothers and my sister. Slight concern from all of them about what this would mean, but nothing really negative. My oldest brother thought I was joking, and my sister kept asking "Are you sure?" My other brother is kind of a stoic, and his immediate response was "Didn't see this coming. Nope." Which you may remember is pretty much what my brother-in-law had said when I told him!

At work, I mostly get called calm and patient. I'm not sure my sons would have always agreed!

Navy Twin got home for a month's leave last week, so the gang's all here and I'm very happy. Older Brother has a full-time internship on the Hill until the end of the year, and DePaul twin has a part-time job for the summer. We fall right back into our old routines, it seems. For once, the twins do not have identical haircuts. Navy Twin had an awesome time in San Diego, but is still very undecided about what he wants to do in the service. He'd been leaning toward aviation but he really liked the Marines as well. He won't have to decide for over a year, and even then, it's not guaranteed he'll get his first choice. I had wondered how, if at all, things would change now that they know about me. Each seem to deal with my revelation in his own way, but nothing has really changed. Older Brother regards it as none of his business, it's a done deal. Navy Twin is more of an advocate, as before, that I should do whatever makes me happy. DePaul Twin is more interested in my journey and what it was like along the way. He and I have talked quite a bit about the stages of my life, my years of denial, my acceptance, and finally my decision to tell them. I think he's interested in part because of his Irish roommate's admission of being bi, although as near as I can tell without probing, that means he lets guys give him a blow job when he can't find a girl to fuck. It feels good to talk to DePaul Twin about it all and I appreciate the chance. All three are curious about the social activity, and I tell them what there is to tell. I've gone out a few times since the summer started and of course,, they greet me with "How did it go?" I had also, maybe foolishly, wondered if my coming out would make them uncomfortable changing and showering with me at the gym and pool. They've done that with me since they were little, and I suppose because it's so familiar, nothing about it seems to have changed, no awkwardness or reticence. It probably was a stupid thing to worry about, but I did. Anyway, about three more weeks together and we'll make the most of it. Older Brother is pining away for his girlfriend; Navy Twin and his gf are ecstatic to be in the same city for a while; DePaul Twin has again taken up with his ex "for the summer."

Wrestlers used to weigh in naked to minimize weight as much as possible, and they also had to be inspected for rashes or skin infections. There are videos on the internet of naked wrestlers casually standing in front of coaches and officials. All that changed with the advent of cell phone cameras and fear of pictures being posted on the internet. Now I believe they weigh in in briefs or compression shorts.

Quite right, the journey itself becomes the whole point.

I'm fond of train travel, always have been. Everyone's right about Amttak's Northeast corridor being a good option for DC-NYC-Boston travel. But I splurged a bit this past year when I had the time and took The Capitol Limited from DC to Chicago and got a compartment in the sleeping car. Quite nice, beautiful scenery most of the way, and pretty good food in the dining car (meals are included with sleeping car tickets). You are seated with strangers, but between the meals and the lounge car I had some fun conversations A good trip. BUT as others have said, thanks to freight trains having priority, we had to stop and wait a lot, and we were three hours late getting in. My son at DePaul was going to meet me at the station and I kept texting him our later and later ETA, So I wouldn't rely on thos long-distance trains if schedule is an issue.

I've long since given up trying.

Is it this? Travis Carlson and Shane Collins in the hot tub scene. http://www.friskyfans.org/reviews/doggie_style_shane_collins.htm

And the others-- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sondheim%27s+80th

Your surmises are right, a great number from Follies performed at Sondheim's 80th birthday concert at Lincoln Center.The ladies in red are Broadway stars of various vintages, and they all sing great songs from his shows. Here's another--

@BabyBoomer wished me a Happy Father's Day, which was kind of him. I thought a quick report was in order. It was a great, quiet day. Older Brother mowed the lawn and did yard work (Yay!) and DePaul Twin made a great dinner like last year. No word from Navy Twin today but he'd warned us he'd be at sea with spotty email access. After dinner we were going to watch a movie, and we browsed Netflix, we came across "Queer Eye." I have watched it a couple of times but none the latest season. They both said EVERYBODY at school watches this! So, a little nervous, I agreed, and we watched an episode, Lost Boy, about the scraggly camp counselor who wanted to make a place for him and his son. The situation is nothing much like ours but enough so that we laughed a lot. They started teasing me about which cast member I was most like. I stayed out of this conversation but they settled on Karamo, personality-wise. (Okay, I'll confess, I was hoping for Antoni, but whatever they say.) Never in a million years would I have imagined this conversation last year. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers here. And the sons and daughters. And the "Daddies" too!

As I was saying... Well, actually, I haven't said anything lately, have I? So sorry for the long gap. @gallahadesquire checked in to see if I was okay (thanks, you guys are great!) and that reminded me that while the coming out saga was a big part of my story it isn't all of it. And my job has been insane all year. So, a quick update-- On May 18, my oldest son graduated from Fordham, Navy twin could not be there because of training duties, but otherwise the whole family was there. He's got an internship here in DC for the summer, then needs to decide what to do vis-à-vis job/grad school. Interesting wrinkle, his gf will start at GW law school here in the fall, and I suspect that may inform decisions. They are still serious and I would say are engaged in all but name. He's older than I was when he was born! DePaul twin will be home next week so I'll have two in the house for the summer. He has indeed entered the 5 year BS/MS program and loves Chicago. He and his gf have, I think, finally called it quits, amicably, and he was seeing a girl at school but says it's not serious. Navy twin is in San Diego, poor kid, for a training program called "Protramid," or Professional Training for Midshipmen, He'll spend weeks with Surface Warfare, Submarines, Aviation, and the Marines so can get an idea of where he'd fit best. Right now he says Navy pilot but is keeping an open mind. He and his gf are still making it work. After I came out to them there were quite a few talks, and eventually a few questions along the lines of "How long have you known?" "Did you always feel this way?" etc. I later learned that each of them, separately, contacted my brother-in-law, their uncle, to talk about it. He was very amused. And me? Well getting more comfortable, have gone out with a few guys but not rushing anything. The boys did come play basketball and were a big hit even though they murdered us, as I predicted.. Driving home I asked what they thought of the group, and DePaul twin said, "They're cool, but you can do better." Wait, what?? His eyes flew open and he said, "I mean you could find better PLAYERS!!" Anyway, one at home, soon to be two. With Older Brother's gf coming to DC he may stay in town, although I suppose that might mean them moving in together. Anyway, life marches on.

She played Marian at Arena Stage in DC a few years ago, and you're spot on. She was great.