About Me

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New York, New York, United States
Well, besides the fact that I've taken off 300 years from my age...Here's the deal... If you didn't get it from my blog's splash-page or looking at my interests - then, YOU AIN'T GONNA GET IT BLANCHE! However, I will add that I have an extremely wicked sense of humor and love to play practical jokes - especially if I discover your greatest fear. As I always say, "EVIL IS AN ART FORM!".

19 December, 2009

The Night Before Xmas...

Before reading - get some tissues - you'll be in tears...


Kudos to all the soldiers who made the choice to serve and protect or nation. Regardless of your political, moral or religious beliefs - judge not and honor them as individuals. May this be a reminder to keep especially during this time of year and forever. Please share this with as many folks as possible – Thank you.


‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand, on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary; I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone, curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, not how i pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play, and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, "Santa don't cry, this life is my choice; I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more, my life is my God, my Country, my Corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still and we both shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, whispered, "carry on Santa, its Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right. "Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night."


This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sharing this with as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. Service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, Living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

18 December, 2009

2009 Holiday Video Slideshow

Sorry folks, but as I am practically destitute – I still wanted to give y'all something other than the ever ubiquitous: “Warm Holiday Wishes” (blah-blah-blah, etc… etc… etc…). So I spent the past few weeks compiling this video-slideshow for your enjoyment. I hope you will be satisfied with the results. May your Holiday's be Merry AND Gay! LOL! ~D~

A CHRISTMAS STORY

When four of Santa's elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones, Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that 3 of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress. Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot, and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang, and irritable Santa trudged to the door. He opened the door, and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to put it?"


And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

16 December, 2009

01 June, 2009

GAY PRIDE

Today is June 1. It’s the official start of Gay Pride.

Over the next four weeks, we’re told to 1.) be proud of our sexual orientation and gender identity, 2.) that diversity is a gift and 3.) that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. If you’d like a “gayducation”, click here.

As we celebrate the progress and history of LGBTQ rights and equality, it’s important to recognize the overlaps and intersections of oppressed people everywhere. While this month focuses its attention on the gays, I suggest focusing attention on the countless other groups that face discrimination and marginalization.

Embracing the diversity of this planet is important for all people. Logically, I’d assume that marginalized people would be especially accepting and understanding of other marginalized folks. As it turns out, it doesn’t necessarily work that way.

I’m always surprised when I encounter an openly racist gay person (though, to lesser degrees, I’m certain that everyone is racist). Or a gay person that embraces genderism. Or a lesbian that is antisemitic.

At the end of the day, it’s not helpful to point fingers at others. I can only control myself (and even then, it’s often touch and go). So, this month, and every month, I’ll challenge myself to embrace the myriad of people that inhabit this planet. Inspired by Pride, I’ll cherish the colorful mosaic that is the human race. I’ll remind myself that our vast differences add value to our collective human experience.

And moreover, I’ll recognize that those vast differences pale in comparison to our similarities and the one light from which all of us emanate.

30 March, 2009

“In Somino Exsiccatio”

“In Somino Exsiccatio”
(The Draining Dream)

Caravaggio: detail from “The Sacrifice of Isaac”

An erotic short story
Nurse Feratau ™ Publishing, Ink.

The night was dark and damp as Nathan paced impatiently about the room while a cool breeze drifted in through the window. The full moon came out from behind a cloud and shone brightly through the naked branches of the ancient oaks, just past the balcony overlooking a small pond. His prominent nipples almost protruded through the fabric of the flimsy black satin and lace shirt which bulged at the seams over his rippled torso and strong, muscular arms. Somewhere in the imposing Victorian manse, a grandfather-clock began chiming the hour of eight – it was almost time for his arrival…

Sighing – yet tingling with excitement, he turned from the open French doors and walked back towards his antique dressing table, his motorcycle boots clicking on the polished parquet floors. Nathan sat down in front of the mirror and began brushing and re-styling his longish, rusty-colored auburn hair. After finishing his “touch-ups”, he turned to the stereo and placed five CD’s of Scarlatti harpsichord sonata’s into the changer. Within seconds of the first notes blazing out of the speakers, he felt – rather than heard, the gentle flapping of wings outside the double doors leading onto the balcony.

As always, he turned and watched in fascination as the bat-thing slowly changed shape to become a man. The creature held Nathan in his gaze, eyes flashing a bright, blood-red, just briefly before returning to their natural brownish-black natural color. “Well it’s about time you showed up bitch”, said Nathan, “Why do you always keep me waiting for what seems to be like an infinity?” The vampire only smiled, flashing extremely sharp, blindingly white fangs and bowed apologetically.

Then in a frightening show of supremacy, swiftly materialized right in front of Nathan, startling him and grabbed him in his arms, “Ah, Nathaniel, my reflection… my love…” he whispered in his ear before roughly grabbing the back of Nathan’s head, pulling it back and shoving his snake-like tongue into his mouth. Nathan could only moan in eagerness of what was yet to come. Then, without warning and much to Nathan’s chagrin, the vampire disengaged and gently led him to the full length mirror at the opposite end of the room.

Again, the vampire grabbed the back of Nathan’s head and forced him to look at the reflection and said “Now call me by name”. Nathan looked at the reflection; there was no trace of the vampire at all. “I am yours, Damien – do with me as you will”, Nathan said.

The vampire smiled in triumph and dropping his jaw, inhumanly and slowly twisted his long, merciless tongue around Nathan’s neck, flicking its tip along the line of his bulging jugular. Nathan watched in complete enthrallment, as invisible hands undid the buttons of his shirt, exposing his muscular, hairless chest – the tender pink nipples expanding in the cool, evening air. A shiver of anticipated ecstasy raced up his spine as the unseen hands began to undo first his belt, then his tight, form fitting black leather jeans.

He continued to observe as the shirt was practically ripped off his back; the leather pants slowly inch their way over his supple buttocks, as his large, thick, fully erect cock sprang into view, then down his muscular thighs and calves in what was much more than just a teasing manner… As usual, Nathan felt more alive during these moments then ever in his normal day-to-day life.

When he finally saw himself standing naked in the reflection, Nathan suddenly felt a surge of vertigo as Damien suddenly lifted him up into his arms and placed him on the bed. Nathan lay there helplessly as the fiend securely strapped him down, spread-eagled to the head and baseboards – while his aching cock throbbed vulnerably in the cool, empty air.

As soon as the vampire was satisfied with Nathan’s suppression, he stood up and gestured with his left hand. Immediately, the doors and windows closed and locked themselves. He then snapped his fingers and all the lights went out as several candles sprang to life with dancing flames. Then, with a barely perceptible slight twist of his wrist, the volume on the stereo rose by several decibels – thus, if there were any neighbors to call the police about “the horrible screams” coming from the house – there would be no one to hear them…

The harpsichord swelled with the music. To Nathan, it seemed as if the world was drowning in all the trills, turns and the rising and falling glissandos – while his untended, untouched and aching cock continued to pulse in time with his rapid heartbeat, dripping pre-cum into a small puddle now forming in his navel. Nathan managed to crane his head forward and looked at Damien. It seemed as if he were dithering – as if he were standing behind a shimmering curtain of heat…

The vampire fell on all fours and began to crawl towards Nathan. As he moved, he metamorphosed into wolf form – his clothes falling into a pile behind him. The beast leaped up onto the bed and placed its head between Nathan’s legs. Using its massive paws to slightly lift Nathan’s muscular legs, it began to lick at his asshole. Nathan closed his eyes and moaned – the beastly tongue seemed to be everywhere at once, while the fur on the sides of its head lightly brushed his inner thighs, further stoking his lust.

Nathan tensed as he felt the wolf’s long, probing tongue enter him – stroking deep inside. He shuddered – on the brink of orgasm, when the wolf suddenly pulled his tongue out and gently, but firmly, took Nathan’s balls into his mouth and clamped his jaws down – preventing the inevitable eruption – at least momentarily, as Nathan moaned in suffering and alarm.

Abruptly, the wolf let go and entered Nathan with its tongue again, this time, pressing its cold, wet nose to the area between his balls and asshole and varying between chomping his nuts to eating his ass. Nathan’s eye’s rolled back into his head with delirium when the wolf suddenly stopped his administrations, jumped on his chest and just licked, nipped at and chewed his soon to be raw nipples.

Covered in a light film of sweat and panting, Nathan watched through bleary, yearning eyes as the vampire transformed himself back into human form… He looked Damien up and down lustfully: the deep, dark eyes; the longish curly light-brown hair; the broad shoulders and muscular chest and abdomen; the tight, hard little nipples; the strong, powerful legs… Then there was the face: full lips, a strong jaw, high cheekbones… He seemed almost a god.

Glancing down, Nathan saw that Damien’s hard-on was huge and arching painfully towards him. His cock seemed to be pulsing in time to the music, as if it had a life all its own.
Damien crawled up onto the bed and stopped just short of cramming his enormous cock down Nathan’s throat – instead he slapped Nathan across the face repeatedly with it, until tears ran down his face from the onslaught. Damien’s cock felt like a baseball bat, it was almost as long and definitely just as hard and thick – Nathan thought he was going to pass out from the onslaught of rock hard, Vampiric cock-flesh assaulting and bruising his tender face.

Without warning, Damien pinched Nathan’s esophagus viciously forcing him to open his mouth wide in a feeble, desperate attempt to get oxygen – and crammed his gargantuan cock down his throat. Nathan sputtered and gagged but managed to accommodate the monsters cock with no more than a few new tears streaming down his now bruised and battered face. Now it was Damien’s turn to moan with pleasure…

Eventually, he pulled out enough for Nathan to go to town. Not one to be bested in any way – let alone sex, Nathan worked Damien’s cock like a Hoover in a field of dust-bunnies. All his years of hustling, had in a way, paid off after all. First he flicked his tongue over and around the monstrous, convulsing piss-hole – then he began sucking at and nibbling on the throbbing underside of the unnaturally long shaft.

Damien’s breathing became hoarse and rapid, coming in short, spasmodic bursts. He began groaning loudly as he felt Nathan’s mouth going down his shaft – the tongue moving from left to right on the underside of his fuck-pole as Nathan slowly inched his way towards his pubes. Meanwhile, Nathan could taste Damien’s pre-cum on his tongue and at the back of his throat – it sent a zinging sensation rattling through his muscular frame, making his cock bob and bounce uncontrollably in anticipation of the inevitable end.

Without warning, Nathan felt Damien’s immense cock throb in the weirdest way and grow even larger as it began re-entering his already ravaged throat… Meanwhile, his own as yet unattended cock was still pulsing, almost burning – actually, it was so hard, it hurt. The pool of pre-cum in his navel had begun filling the cuts of his washboard abs like tiny canals. Sensing Nathan’s anguish, Damien lightly gripped the sides of his head and slowly began to withdraw himself from the hot, wet, open, willing mouth.

The vampire stood, moved to the foot of the bed and again began to shimmer – it seemed as if he were fading away. Now, where once stood the vampire, a fog-like substance hovered over the bed. It paused momentarily before descending upon Nathan. A moan of ecstasy escaped Nathan’s lips as he began to thrash about wildly – pulling on the tethers that held him tightly to the bed – as the fog began caressing his entire body. Millions of microscopic droplets of water touched him; felt him, as if each individual cell of his body was being made love to – all except one part. His painfully aching, throbbing cock had still to be touched. Nathan’s muscular frame twitched beneath the onslaught of the gentle pressure of the cool mist.

Nathan’s body went rigid, almost on the brink of orgasm when he felt the fog gently caress, then firmly enter his twitching asshole. He felt it penetrate him, working its way past his swollen sphincter, ever upwards and through his body – caressing his inner organs. The unbearable pleasure was too much. Fresh tears welled in his eyes as they rolled back into his head and the inevitable release began. Writhing in rapture, Nathan screamed as both his mind and body were racked by what seemed like orgasm after orgasm until they ran together and became one long, agonizing cum.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A half-hour later, though it seemed as if an eternity had passed, Nathan woke to find himself free of the restraints, but the evil mist was still inside him and surrounding him, stroking his still hard cock and caressing his raw, ravaged and now tender eraser-like nipples. He felt the fog slowly begin to withdraw from his body. When it had barely exited his asshole it suddenly solidified and thrust upward and into the depths of his now damned soul. His asshole had never been stretched to such limits before and Nathan screamed in a mixture of pleasure and pain. The vampire held his cock firmly in position.

Fresh tears welled in Nathan’s eyes as he looked up at Damien with a mixture of fear, lust, hatred and longing. He saw that Damien’s eyes had become a bright, glowing crimson. He also noticed that his canines had begun to extend themselves – long and sharp, gleaming in the candlelight which made his face a mask of hideous shadows.

Slowly, agonizingly and inhumanly slowly, Damien began to withdraw his monstrous cock, yet when just the head was barely out of Nathan’s ass, he would re-enter him again in the same fashion. This was unbearably delicious torture to Nathan whose body began to convulse as waves of pleasure gripped his being. It seemed as if it went on for hours, this agonizingly long, slow supernatural fuck – when abruptly Damien completely withdrew and stood.

Nathan’s gaping asshole spasmodically opened and closed, as if trying to grab Damien’s cock and restore it to the cavernous opening, yet failing to refill and satisfy its need. Nathan looked up at Damien, his pleading eyes betraying nothing. Suddenly he found himself being lifted from the bed. The vampire had grabbed a nipple in each hand and with preternatural strength, was holding him off the floor, arms and legs dangling free like a rag-doll.



The pain was excruciatingly delicious, yet terror now gripped Nathan’s heart. Damien lowered him enough to bring them face to face, immortal eyes glowing like coals while still firmly and tightly gripping each nipple, “Is this what you want?” he hissed through clenched teeth, fangs dripping with anticipation. “You summon me in hopes of this? To become one of us – like us? You stupid human!” said Damien as he slowly and cruelly twisted each nipple between thumb and forefinger. Fresh tears sprang from Nathan’s eyes as his head rolled back limply, yet his cock remained hard, throbbing and dripping a new batch of pre-cum.

Without warning, Damien dropped Nathan on the floor, grabbed him by the hair and flung him across the room and face down on the bed. Suddenly, the vampire thrust the entire length of his massive cock into him. Nathan felt his breath get knocked out him and it seemed as if the entire universe had collapsed around him. He struggled to retain consciousness as Damien savagely raped his well-worn, stretched out asshole.

Meanwhile, Damien’s fangs had grown extremely long and sharp; he leaned forward, raking claw-like hands up and across Nathan’s back leaving behind a trail of blood-filled welts. He bent down and began to nuzzle the nape of Nathan’s neck – his long, probing tongue stabbing at the jugular, in anticipation of the delectable treasure this particular vein held.

Damien’s thrusts began to go deeper into Nathan, while his hands, more like talons now, were continuously raising more and more welts across his back and the sides of his rippled torso, until eventually a trickle of blood seeped out. Damien’s pumping hips increased their rhythm as his hoarse breathing became a guttural growl while he pitched himself into Nathan’s ass even as his eyes became a deep, blood red.

At this point, Nathan began pushing his ass back to meet the vampires thrusting. Blood and sweat poured from their bodies as they slammed into each other with animalistic abandon.


Without warning, Damien’s throbbing cock began undulating deep in Nathan’s ass. Again, his eyes rolled back into his head with delirium. Nathan suddenly reached back and grabbed Damien’s ass tightly, pulling him in deeper as he felt the vampire’s cock engorge itself inside him. In his mind, he knew the end was near – the final orgasm was fast approaching and when it was over, he would be either unconscious or dead.

Like a well-oiled piston, Damien rammed his huge cock into Nathan over and over. He let out an ear-shattering roar as he bent forward towards the waiting neck. The blood was beckoning him, wanting him, needing him as he needed it to survive. Abruptly, he plunged his fangs into Nathan’s pulsating jugular. The blood spurted forth, hitting the roof of his mouth, splashing the back of his throat and Damien swallowed greedily. Within seconds he had drained Nathan of at least a quart of blood, if not more.

At that same moment, Nathan came again – so powerfully that it seemed stars were exploding in his head as he slowly lost consciousness, while his ass walls began contracting, triggering Damien’s own orgasm. The vampire’s immense cock spewed forth his unholy load. He lifted his head and bellowed like a beast in agony as he continued erupting deep into Nathan’s plundered ass – bloody, Vampiric cum already dripping from the gaping, still stuffed, impossibly stretched-out hole…

A few minutes later, after it was all over, Damien looked down at Nathan. He was nothing more than a tangle of limbs and bedclothes – laying there, limp and lifeless; completely physically and mentally exhausted. Sweat, blood and cum were everywhere.

He leaned down, gently kissed his bruised cheek, dressed quickly and changed back into bat form before flying off into the night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nathan woke with a start, fumbling with the alarm clock to turn it off. He glanced around the dingy apartment; everything was still depressingly the same. The sun glared through the dirty little windows that looked out into the rat-infested alley next to the restaurant. He tossed off the cum-sticky, sweat-soaked sheets and walked naked to the shower. “Well”, he thought to himself, “at least it was a great dream”.

He turned on the shower and turning to piss in the toilet, noticed his face in the mirror; it was pale, gaunt and bruised as if he had indeed been drained or been in a fight. Shrugging it off as being still half asleep, he turned and began to piss. The stream of urine shot out like a canon and as he looked down, noticed blood mixed in with the yellow fluid. Shaking off the last stray drops, he noticed his cock was extremely sore. Actually it felt raw as if he had been jacking off with sandpaper. After flushing, he looked in the mirror again, this time inspecting his face more closely. “Damn, I look like shit”, he said just before noticing the marks on his neck. They looked like really big mosquito bites that had scabbed over.

Concerned, he turned around to look at his back. Sure enough, it looked as if he had been savagely whipped – it was a roadmap of scars and welts. Now he was truly frightened, “it couldn’t be true”, he thought to himself “it was just a silly dream”, as he put down the toilet seat and sat down only to jump up alarmed at the intense pain. His ass felt as raw as his back looked.

Panicking, Nathan ran back into the bedroom. There was blood everywhere; on the sheets, smeared on the walls, even splattered on the floor. He began screaming uncontrollably. Now terrified he ran towards the door and began fumbling with the several locks trying to get out. Then realizing he was still naked, ran back into the room and grabbed his pants off the back of the chair. While putting them on, he lost his balance, tripped and smashed his head into the corner of the nightstand.

Unable to move or even call out for help, Nathan lay prone on the floor, helplessly watching as the blood poured out of his head, soaking the dirty rug with it’s sticky gore…

The End.

©2003 DAMUN®
Nurse Feratau™ Publishing, Ink.

22 February, 2009

Cat Wars...

Be very afraid...



Ozzy Osbourne-Sympathy for the Devil

Sorry folks, but gay or not, I'm still a HUGE Ozzy fan... Here is his rendition of the classic song by the Rolling Stones from his Greatest Hits Collection
"Prince of Darkness". Now enjoy!

17 February, 2009

Courage Campaign

"Fidelity": Watch the video and join our letter to the state Supreme Court, signed by over 250,000 people. Tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry. DEADLINE EXTENDED: March 2

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

13 February, 2009

Etiquette for Cats:

BATHROOMS: Always accompany your humans and guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare.

DOORS: Do not allow any closed doors in any room. To get door open, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. Once door is opened, it is not necessary to use it. After you have ordered your human to open an outside door, stand halfway in and out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, snow, or mosquito season.

CHAIRS AND RUGS: If you have to throw up, get to a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental rug. If there is no Oriental rug, shag is good. When throwing up, make sure you back up so your creation is as long as a human's bare foot.

HAMPERING: If one of your humans is engaged in some activity and the other is idle, stay with the busy one. This is called "helping," otherwise known as "hampering." Following are the rules for "hampering:"

1) When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on and then picked up and comforted.

2) For book readers, get in close under the chin, between eyes and book, unless it's possible that you can lie across the book itself.

3) For paperwork, lie on the work in the most appropriate manner so as to obscure as much of the work as possible. Pretend to doze, but every so often reach out and slap the pencil or pen.

4) For people paying bills or working on income taxes keep in mind the primary goal: to hamper! First, sit on the paper being worked on. When you are dislodged, watch sadly from the side of the table. When activity proceeds nicely, roll around on the papers, scattering them to the best of your ability. After being removed for the second time, push pens, pencils, and erasers off the table, one at a time.

5) When a human is holding the newspaper in front of him/her, be sure to jump at or swat at the back of the paper. Humans love to be startled.

6) When a human is working at computer, jump up on desk, walk across keyboard, bat at mouse pointer on screen and then lie in human's lap across arms, hampering typing in progress.

WALKING: As often as possible, dart quickly and as close as possible in front of the human, especially on stairs, when they have something in their arms, in the dark, and when they first get up in the morning. This will help them develop their coordination.

BEDTIME: Always sleep on the human at night so he/she cannot move around. In the mornings, help your human wake up by jumping on them or walking on them and meowing in their ear. Start early, humans never want to get up the first time.

LITTER BOX: When using the litter box, be sure to kick as much litter out of the box as possible. Humans love the feel of kitty litter between their toes.

HIDING: Every now and then, hide in a place where the humans cannot find you. Do not come out for three to four hours under any circumstances. This will cause the humans to panic, thinking that you have run away or are lost. Once you do come out, the humans will cover you with love and kisses and you will probably get a treat.

ONE LAST THOUGHT: Whenever possible, get close to a human (as near the face as possible), turn around, and present your butt to them. Humans love this, so do it often. And don't forget guests.

After JS Bach - D Scarlatti Is My Favourite Composer!

Scarlatti Harpsichord Solo: The Cat's Fugue
Elaine Comparone plays Scarlatti's Fugue in G minor, later dubbed "The Cat's Fugue" by Muzio Clementi.




Comparone Plays Scarlatti

Harpsichordist Elaine Comparone plays Domenico Scarlatti's Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 545, L. 500 on her 2-manual harpsichord built by William Dowd in 1968.



Harpsichord Performance: Comparone Plays Scarlatti
Harpsichordist Elaine plays Sonata in D minor, K. 517 by Domenico Scarlatti on her 2-manual harpsichord built in 1968 by William Dowd.



For more information: http://www.harpsichord.org/; http://www.lyrichord.com/.


09 February, 2009

Coming Out Of The Closet Advice

© 2009 http://www.breaktheillusion.com / Davey Wavey

Continuing our Tuesday’s Tips tradition, this week, we’ll focus on advice for guys and gals looking to come out of the closet. Each and every day, I get countless emails from people of all ages soliciting advice for their particular out-of-the-closet situation. While each situation is different, here are my general guidelines:

1) There is no “good” time to come out. If you’re waiting for the ideal moment to tell someone that you are gay, you may be waiting forever. There will never be a “good” time to come out; however, your heart will tell you when the time is right. At a certain moment, you’ll just have to bite the bullet and spill the beans.

2) But wait. Before you come out, establish a safety net. No one says you have to come out to everyone at once. Coming out is a process. Start by telling a few close friends or family members. Once they are comfortable with your declaration, gradually increase your circle. If you experience any challenges along the way, you’ll be able to fall back on the network of support that you have already built.

3) But wait. Before you tell anyone you are gay, try not to anticipate their response. I’ve learned that it is nearly impossible to predict the reactions of family members and friends. Their political leanings, religious affiliations and personal philosophies may serve as indicators at best, but will not predict their reaction. If you expect someone to react positively, you may be severely crestfallen when they don’t live up to your expectations.

4) But wait. Before you do all of that, realize that there is no rush to come out. You have your whole life ahead of you. You may be confused, and that’s just fine. We’re all confused. As my life’s hero recently said, “I am Deepak Chopra and I don’t know who I am, what I want, or what I want to be when I grow up.” There is no rush to adapt a label. And, there is no reason to adapt a label if it doesn’t feel right or true in your heart of hearts.

5) Now if you do feel ready to come out, and if you are currently in a relationship, consider holding back on the relationship information. Coming out is big enough - especially when dealing with family members. Some family members will unwisely look for someone to blame. If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, that person becomes an easy target (especially if he or she is older). First, come out. Once they are comfortable with that, then share your relationship. Let’s take things one step at a time.

6) Use the internet. And I’m not talking manhunt or craigslist. Use the internet to find a local support group. PFLAG is great - there is probably a group that meets near your hometown. Become active. If you don’t currently have a network of support, it’s a great place to start.

7) Remember, you will get through this. As tough as things may seem, especially if close friends or family members react negatively, trust that you are strong, beautiful and powerful. Someday, you will look back at your coming out journey and smile, knowing that you are all the happier for having taken it.

For many of us, coming out of the closet and openly identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer can be one of the greatest challenges we’ve faced. If, at any time, you feel overwhelmed by the challenge, please reach out to one of the many open arms before you. If you need help, visit The Trevor Project.

May your journey be one of self-discovery, love and compassion. Hopefully, there will be a few smiles, laughs, hugs, tears and even a cute guy (or girl) along the way.

*** Personal note from DV8ion – I hope this helps many people realize that they are NOT in anyway alone…