JustMattHenry.com: gossip, life and humor

before i get into the true guts of this entry, i must mention an occurrence at the bar this evening.  so there were like two out-of-towners in, a guy and a girl.  they were kind of disgusting and i’m not sure if they had wandered in to the wrong establishment or what, but at one point, the girl, who had frosted hair, waves me over, and between sips on her margarita asks “are you gay or straight?  we have a bet going.”

normally, and i get this a lot, i answer, well, this is a gay bar…

and as i said that, she goes “NOT!  WHAT! I! ASKED!”  and i said, okay there, sunshine, calm down.  i’m gay.  and  her friend, the guy, lets out a big D’OH!  i inquire as to who thought what and the following conversation takes place:

the girl:  well, i knews (yes, she said ‘knews’) you was gay, but he thought you was straight!

the guy:  i was just thinking that maybe the two of you could hook up or something if he was straight!

me (on the inside):  are you fucking kidding me?  with that rusted ol’ piece of trailer park scrap metal?  you must be out yo’ mind.

on saturday i am heading down the beach house to join my father for the weekend.  with mikey still gone (sigh), i’m loading up the pooch for a weekend at the beach!  it will be the first time my father and i have been alone together in quite some time.  dec 1994 to be exact was the last time he and i were alone together for more than a brief hour or so.  i don’t think i’ve been avoiding him by any means.  i just think that, you know, once you learn to drive and take care of yourself…you just don’t really connect for long periods of time.  we’ve always had an awkward relationship that, i think, as only gotten better since we’ve gotten older.

i think this will be a good thing.  the last time, way back in dec. of 94, he had driven me down to a soccer tournement in Raleigh NC.  i was unable to play that weekend since i’d torn a ligament in my knee, but obviously i wanted to go and support my team.  we stayed at the Embassy Suites and this was the same weekend that my mom called and told me that i had been accepted into W&M and i remember racing down from our room into the hotel bar where my dad, mr and mrs ulrich and some other parents were boozin it up.  i was so excited.  and i could tell he was really proud.

i decided to join my dad at the beach after…well…okay, so jokingly i told my mom before mother’s day that i was going to confiscate one of dad’s wii’s since he never gives me anything–which is so far from the truth and i was joking.  one, i don’t have room for any of his huge tv’s that he passes along to my brother (seemingly) every six months (he likes his electronics) nor have i  needed one of his many cars that he gets bored of.  but obviously, my dad would do anything for any of his kids and i’ve never doubted his support or love even though we, as a family, tend not to get all mushy and stuff (although, again, as we’re getting older, that seems to be changing).

so on mother’s day, i’m down in the storage room getting a soda from the ‘fridge and my dad follows me down and beckons me over.  he then proceeds to tell me how hurt he was to hear that i had said  i didn’t think he ever gave me anything and i immediately thought two things:

one, i can’t believe that old woman repeated what i said.  and two, this is the first time i’ve ever seen my dad express anything other than anger, sarcasm or his actually quite good sense of humor.  he’s retired military, farm raised, older generation–these guys tend not to talk about feelings and such.  maybe he’s getting old and he forgot all that.

once i heard that no one else in the fam was going to be able to make it down there to the beach with him, i thought, okay, this is a sign that i should.   even if it’s just to do odd jobs around the house (like rescreening windows.  i’m really good at that) or go get some seafood or play a round of golf (putt putt of course.  or real golf.  i’ve been practicing on the wii) or watch the french open or old vhs movies… i think  it will be good for us.

or it could totally suck and i’ll be bored out of my mind.  i should bring  a book.