With the Opening Ceremonies only a few days away, I'd like to offer you a way to see and/or hear more on your end there if you are so inclined. I'm only now just beginning to realize the IMMENSITY of all this for me and for my comminity, and, really, with what this is all about in terms of equality and justice (and you will read why when I explain briefly below) for THE WORLD!

 

FIrst, of course, the Athletes and Participants in procession, where I will, of course, be marching respresenting one of the few? many? (don't know yet haven't met anyone from my state of Delaware. There will, however, be a "meet and greet" for Team Rehoboth, which, for those of you do not know the area, is a beach, known as a retreat for the gay and lesbian community (and since I AM a lesbian...this is of course great..don't tell anyone...it would affect my competition) the night before this at one of the local gay bars. It can often be sometimes referred to as "Rehomo Beach", thanks to a term once coined by my friend Jeff.

I look forward to connecting and bonding with them for laughs and connections that I'm sure will continue past the GAMES!

 

Before I describe what will happen during this Opening Cermony, I'd like to share a way for you to possibly enjoy it on your end...one of which is FREE for a month, one of which is free for 3 days.

 

LOGO, the Gay/Lesbian digital cable TV station is the only featured channel covering the GAMES. This is channel 163. If you don't currently have this station, if you'd like a free trial month, you can contact your contact your provider (mine is Comcast) to set this up, which I have done, but obvioulsy won't be able to watch all that much!

 

There is no obligation to quit anytime, and you can also enjoy their many other channels non GAY GAMES. But of course you will be closely glued to that channel from 7/15-7/22 to maybe see MOI. Or else I may have to kill you. Watch for me marching proudly with the state of Delaware and also for possible clips of my event, Mens Masters Physique (50-59) which is July 19th at 6:30 for the categories of Women (21-29), Women's Pairs, Mixed Pairs, MENS MASTERS (50-59).and Mens Masters (40-49). Gee I wonder which one is mine.

 

Here's a brief description of what LOGO will be offering this coming week (I can't believe it's almost here already)....

 

 

and here's the link if you want to hop aboard yourself...and watch in spirit!

 

LOGOonline.com - LGBT Television and Entertainment, Movies, Documentaries, New

 

The other one is free for 3 days, and is Sirius Radio, which is America's ONLY GLBT radio station. It's Satellite Radio and is the station where I did my radio interview about my story of denial, recovery, and miracles, and hopefully, inspiration.

 

When I was told I was to do this interview for a gay cable station, I thought "oh cool...a cute little station in NYC...fun". But after 3 checkpoints including a bag scan to get up to the top floor (almost) of a building right across the street from Radio City (I saw the view of that from the huge lobby way down below from the 32nd floor) and having these offices take up the ENTIRE floor of this building, and seeing photos of both Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, and a host of other celebrities who actually DO their radio shows right there, in one of their probably 20-30 radio station rooms  right there on that floor, I had a sense of how huge this was for me. gulp

 

My show will be one of several competiors who will tell their stories of competing and living with the same "adventure" (not an "affliction" for me) as I do. I got a little blubbery there a couple of times talking about it, and I'm sure that will be the part they will air, as we all love to watch that whenever Oprah elicits the same, or Barbara Walters does with their interviews.

WAHHHH Bring your violin.

 

Here's there link...I listened before I came here, and was fun...light and upbeat with a full spectrum of stuff to hear...right from your PC or MAC.

 

SIRIUS Satellite Radio - Sirius OutQ Radio – Listen to gay & lesbian radio on

 

Just last night I got an email from a guy who is in the group of athletes who also is living with AIDS and who will be in MY COMPETITION! He is 59, so just made it in, and placed 3rd in the Mr. Muscle Beach Competition in Venice, CA! This was the same ranking as I got when I competed in the Mr. Annapolis Natural Competition 3 weeks ago! We will meet I'm sure before that, as there are events planned for people living with HIV/AIDS including this particular group called "Team Plus" which is just us athletes competing. Social ones...should be fun!

 

Then follows a presentation that "is an intricate, theatrical tapestry that will evoke memory, stir feeling and elicit yog as the story is told".

 

It will be in 4 parts...most of which is quoted below from the free 194 page program they are distrubuting everywhere now is this amazing city.

 

1) EXCLUSION...the moment when we discovered that the world does not welcome everyone.

    It is the beginning our search, hoping to find more people like ourselves.

 

2) OPPRESSION...explores the levels of freedom under which people live,

       throughout the world.....we persevere....

 

3)EXPRESSION...about the power of "coming out" of standing up for ourselves with   pride...a call for others to join and support the rest of us in the broad light of day. There is a community awaiting each of us, to welcome, to embrace, to nurture and to celebrate.

 

4) IGNITION...a maelstrom of percussion and flame, of lithe bodies, leaping and flying through the air (the same troupe that performed stunningly during Broadway Bares 3 weeks ago...Anti-Gravity), releasing the combined power of each of us in the stadium, all of the energy, courage, determination and discipline it has taken to bring each of us to the stadium and launching it into the sky...fireworks, laser lights, the whole nine yards.

 

My friend Jerry Mitchell (who has been one of the many angels like you) who have supported me in so many ways on this journey, was supposed to have been choreographing it, but because he is so busy with new projects, he cannot, so he has assigned Michelle Lynch to stage one of those four segments. This whole thing will involve 400 dancers!!

 

As for me, the routine seems to be kind of "there"! I had ripped a small groin muscle two days into my training here, from overstretching and not being warm, and thought "oh great...perfect timing"...but with the help of my angel healer Andy Pasminski (also a dear friend) he knew in 5 minutes what it was and how to handle it and it is just about 100% again!

 

So obviously, the stretch for me is my "money card" with this event, as I have incorporated it BIG TIME into my routine which made the audience GASP audibly and then cheer during the entire rest of the routine until the end when I did my final "tah dah" pose lunged double biceps to the floor. They had apparently never seen anything like this not only from someone aged 50, but from anyone, anywhere, anytime in the history of bodybuilding competitions. There are those out there with stretch and can also do splits, but apparently what I delivered, thanks to 30 years in the "biz" served me quite well. Thank you Bob Fosse! Though this number is without the Fosse fingers and hips, I do however serve up "pretty pictures" as he would say.

 

When I ran my number yesterday, I decided to run it once with the intention of dancing this just that time to see what it felt like, with the remembrance of all my friends and past partners who are no longer with us. I actually FELT them right there in that room...

Tanis, Thumper, Mikie, Danny, Kevin, all watching and beaming their joy into mine. I was smiling fully the entire time I danced, and I knew that this would be out there for me, as well as all your thoughts and prayers for my event.

 

And you know...it truly doesn't matter if I get the gold or not. I have my golden friends and family. What more could you ask for?

 

love you all and will keep you posted as the week goes by...

always

DOUG