Ain't it funny how a melody....

can bring back a memory.

My friend Heather, a very successful professional basketball player, sent in a few requests to Matt's radio show. One of the songs, "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx, took me back to the summer after I graduated high school.

In the summer of 89 I met a girl named Florence. She was a foreign exchange student from Dijon, France and we hit it off. Of course I hadn't begun to deal with you know, being gay, but that wouldn't come for a few years. Anyhoo, Florence and I spent a lot of time together and I developed feelings for her.

When Florence went back home, "Right Here Waiting" had just been released and every time I heard it I thought about her. To this day, when I hear the song I go back to that summer and the fun we had.

Reality

I started sending out "save the date" magnets for the wedding next summer. As I dropped the envelopes into the mailbox it dawned on me that this is going to become a reality. In less than a year Matt and I will be legally wed. Over the past few weeks I've been making arrangements for the ceremony (the hotel, save-the-date magnets, centerpiece stuff, wedding party) and it really hadn't sunk in until I dropped the magnets in the mail.

My biggest challenge is yet to come. At some point in the next few weeks I will officially come out at school. I've been in my current position for 8 years now and I'm a respected member of the faculty. I have a feeling that coming out isn't going to be a shock to a lot of people. Almost all the faculty and staff members in my building know and I have to think that it's pretty well known among the students (they never ask if I'm dating anyone). I guess the thing that I'm worried about is any parents who will be like villagers at the castle wall with pitchforks and torches.

The wedding is the reason I'm coming out to my kids. A few of our staff members have kids in the district, and when the save the date magnets go out, I can imagine that the kids will talk. I'm fortunate in that my boss is supportive of me 100%. We're going to meet with our district superintendent to plan my "outing". My goal is to be proactive with this because in our district rumors can spread very quickly.

School starts in less than two weeks. ACK!

Good Clean Fun

The last time I watched a soap opera on a regular basis was way back in college when I was hooked on "All My Children" and "Days of Our Lives". I gave em up when I actually had to get a job and plus there was that whole "Marlena gets possessed by the Devil" storyline.

There have been gay storylines on daytime soaps for quite some time. I never got into them because they simply weren't interesting to me, then came "One Life To Live". Last week I discovered the story of Kyle and Oliver that is currently playing out on the show. Oliver is a closeted member of the Llanview Police and Kyle is the guy that he had a relationship with in college, who is now back in his life. Over the past few months Oliver has struggled with his sexuality (and his relationship with "girlfriend" Layla). Things finally came to a head on this past Friday's show when Kyle kissed Oliver.

Any of my friends can testify that I have a HUGE weakness for cops, so this story arc really appeals to me. I can also relate to what the character is going through in his coming out process. In addition, the actor who plays Oliver, Scott Evans, is an openly gay actor. He also happens to be the younger brother of Chris Evans.

Of course now this means that I'm going to be taping OLTL every day to follow the story. Oh why does school have to start in a week and a half!

Me as Mad Men

I love, love, love, love the show "Mad Men". In preparation for Season 3 (premiering August 19th on AMC), amctv.com allows you to create yourself as a "Mad Men" character. So of course, I was in. It actually came out pretty good, even Matt agreed that it looked like me.

Feel free to create your own at MadMenYourself.

Rainy Days and Fridays?

I'm in a funk today for some reason. I felt it coming on last night and it's just hung around today. I went to meet Andy to workout this morning. He was running late and so I just walked around the track. After 15 minutes of walking, I decided to head on home. I just wasn't feeling it today.

I don't know how best to describe how I'm feeling. It's like there is a pit in my chest and everything is being pulled into it, almost a hollow sensation.

We're going to an Iowa Cubs game tonight with friends. I'm hoping that will help cheer me up.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

I DO! I DO!!!!

So it was a busy weekend of trivia (and travel).

On Friday, Matt and I were in Kansas City. By passing an online test, Matt had been invited down to audition for Jeopardy! He was nervous to try out and I was nervous to wait 2 hours in the hotel lobby for him. For his audition he took another 50 question test, interviewed with the contestant coordinators and then played a mock version of the game. Following the audition, Matt wasn't sure about how he did on the test, but felt very good about the interview and game play. He's now in the contestant pool for the next 18 months. He could be called any time between now and December 2010! When I auditioned, it was only 6 weeks before I was called to be on the show. So our fingers are crossed.

Yesterday, my friend Pete and I returned to Kansas City to audition for "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". We showed up at 6:30 in the morning at the Ameristar Casino to take the Millionaire test. There were 375 people in our testing group. We had to take a 30 question, multiple choice test that covered a lot of different topics. They also had us take a 30 question movie test for the Millionaire Movie Week.

Those of us that passed either test were then scheduled for interviews in the afternoon. I passed both tests and Pete passed the main test. There were two levels of interviews. The first one involved talking to one of three contestant coordinators. If they liked you, then you were sent on to the video interview. Pete and I both got to the video interview. Woohoo! We'll find out in 2 to 3 weeks if we will be placed in the contestant pool.

I think Pete has a really good shot at making it. From what he told me the interviewers loved him. I was asked a lot about being engaged. They are doing an engaged couples week on Millionaire and it wouldn't surprise me if they asked me and Matt to be on together. Again, crossing my fingers.

So that was my weekend. This morning it was back to the gym for a workout with Andy and then physical therapy on my left leg. Tomorrow it's spinning class! yeah!

The Proposal

Last night we went to see "The Proposal" and LOVED IT! The movie is that rare romantic-comedy where you actually believe the relationship between the leads. Both Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are sincere and funny as book editor and assistant who make an arrangement to get married so that Bullock's Canadian character can stay in the U.S.. The movie should really be a boost to Reynolds career (and he's absolutely adoreable!). The real treat in the movie is Betty White. She plays Reynolds' grandmother and is an absolute hoot!