Sweltering Heat and Morning Reflections

The sweltering heat continues in Hampton Roads and even though the official high temperature yesterday was 98 at the Norfolk airport that sits near Chesapeake Bay (and is moderated temperature wise by the Bay's proximity), the thermometer in the back yard topped out at 105 in the shade.  Definitely too hot even for a sun worshiper like me to stand.  So why didn't I blog more yesterday?  Apparently the heat took its toll on our local Internet provider and the Internet went into sleep mode or some other melt down mode and ground to a near halt.  I couldn't even get the blog "new post" option to load.   I took solace in reading a new archeology/thriller novel stretched out under a ceiling fan.

But I did have time to think about some of the good things about are life in Virginia - an often wretched state to live in if one is an LGBT individual.  And what's good comes down to our friends, and not just our gay friends.  Friday night the boyfriend and I took three of his widowed clients out to steak night at The Wave - a Norfolk gay bar - and then for dessert at Sassi Cakes and Sweets in Ghent area of Norfolk.  These women are outrageous fun and were right at home in a gay club.  They indeed have a resilience and spark right out of "Steel Magnolias."  It was a wonderful evening and they are game for another night out with the gay boys.

Then last night we had an older couple over who are truly remarkable both in terms of their achievements over the course of their lives and their sense of fun and open mindedness.  The purpose of the dinner was to celebrate the husband's 78th birthday.  Would that more Virginians had their style, love of life and spirit of acceptance of others.  I truly treasure them and they have become surrogate parents of sorts for me now that both of my parents are gone.

This afternoon, we will take refuge by a friend's pool (see below) and most likely have a libation or two - or three.  Friends do make the difference in one's life.  The boyfriend and I are blessed to have wonderful friends even in a backwards place like Virginia.