It's a Zoo Out There...

Like many other Philadelphia landmarks and institutions, the Philadelphia Zoo is an American first. The charter establishing the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was approved and signed on March 21, 1859. Due to the Civil War, however, it was another 15 years before America's first zoo was ready to open. The Zoo opened its gates on July 1, 1874 (135 years ago)! Admission was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children, a rate that held for the next half century. The Frank Furness Victorian gates and gatehouses, and the Zoo's location, are the same today as they were on the day it opened.

To honor this historic day in zooology, I want to list my top 5 favorite wild animals and why they mean so much to me:

#1 Mountain Gorillas

Ever since seeing the film Gorilla's In The Mist, I have been fascinated with these majestic and curious creatures. I want to grow up to be come Diane Fossey or Jane Goodall!

#2 Sea Turtles

While snorkling in Maui a few years ago, I spotted a baby sea turtle and swam with it for almost an hour. The most spiritual moment in my life!

#3 King Cobras

Such an intimidating, yet oddly enchanting being. I am fascinated with the mystery andiconography of this incredible seprent, the longest poisonous snake in the world.

#4 Moray Eels

The ugly stepsister of the ocean world. The beady eyes, the sharp fangs, lurking in the dark. Reminds me of myself at times, highly underestimated.

#5 Blue Dolphins

Considered to be amongst the most intelligent and playful of animals. After swimming with these guys with my best friend in Grand Cayman, I recall all of the wonderful memories that he and I have shared in our lives.

*Being a HUGE animal lover, this was a hard list to come up with. I thank my mother (the science teacher) for exposing me to this wonderful wild world at such a young age. My folks let me have so many different animals as a child, which gave me the appreciaton and respect for all the world's creatures*

(please visit http://www.goodzoos.com/arezoos.htm for more information)

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UPDATE!!!

This posting was supposed to hit the web on WEDNESDAY, July 1st. I got a little trigger happy!

I Am Woman Hear Me Roar...

Someone near and dear to my heart once told me I should have been born a lesbian. I DID attend all seasons of the Lillith Fair concerts, absolutely love camping, and I admittedly own more than one pair of Crocs. So today, I am not only channeling my inner lesbo, but am also celebrating an amazing organization which is near and dear to my heart, in which I am a proud member:
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Today is the 43rd anniversary of the founding of The National Organization for Women (NOW), the largest feminist organization in the United States. The organization was formed by 28 women and men attending the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women.

The founders included Betty Friedan, the author of The Feminine Mystique, Rev. Pauli Murray, the first African-American woman Episcopal priest, and Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president of the United States of America. Acting from the tenet that women and men are alike in important respects and, therefore, entitled to equal rights and opportunities, the movement spawned by Friedan's book is embodied in NOW, the National Organization for Women, which works to secure political, professional, and educational equality for women.

Founded in 1966 with Betty Friedan acting as an organizer, NOW is a public voice for equal rights for women. During the 1970s NOW promoted the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Today, the organization remains active in lobbying legislatures and media outlets on feminist issues.

"Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size.

But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies.

I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips,

The stride of my step, The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That's me.
~excerpt from Maya Angelou's poem, Phenomenal Woman

So Close Yet So Far Away...

On the 40th Anniversary of the legendary Stonewall Riots, there is still so much injustice and intolerance going on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygvoQB1pZwY

As angry as we may get, these types of situations need to instead, motivate us to continue marching toward equality for all human beings...

Remember the Past...

Change the Future...

DOG spelled backwards is GOD...

When God had made the earth and sky,

The flowers and the trees.

He then made all the animals,

The fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last He'd finished,

Not one was quite the same.

He said, "I'll walk this world of mine,

And give each one a name."

And so He traveled far and wide

And everywhere He went,

A little creature followed Him

Until its strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth

And in the sky and sea,

The little creature said, "Dear Lord,

There's not one left for me."

Kindly the Father said to him,

"I've left you to the end.

I've turned my own name back to front

And called you dog, my friend."
~ Author Unknown ~

(photo of Buddha courtesy R. Hess III)

EX Marks The Spot...

In my 14 years being an "out gay man", I have made so many wonderful connections, been through several amazing experiences, and have called numerous people my "boyfriend". This does not make me a slut or a whore but instead makes me realize that I am attracted to a variety of different people, and have been blessed to have many different people influence my life in a "boyfriend situation".

Seeing a couple of "exes" this weekend has really forced me to reflect on the fact that I remain good friends with the MAJORITY of my ex-boyfriends. I cannot see it any other way, to be honest. Sharing a part of yourself, your soul, your weaknesses, your passion, and your fears with someone is a very deep and emotional thing. Trusting someone with your secrets and desires does not come easy to most people. Being the open book that I am, however, has made me very vulnerable and exposed in most relationships I have had. Again, I can't see it any other way.

So having shared even a couple months of my life with someone who I have called "my boyfriend" has always ben very special to me. Whether it was me who did the "dumping" or my mistakes which caused them to "dump" me, it really does not matter. I shared myself, my life and my soul with someone who in turn, also shared an intense part of themselves with me.

I thank all of my X-factors who have touched me, inspired me, and helped me along my path, whom I will always be grateful for.

There is not enough time in this life to have bitterness or regret regarding an "ex". One day I hope to never have another "ex" again. But until then, I will always have faith that I will learn, grow, and be inspired by any future, or past "exes" that will come into my life.

Michael Has Left The Building...

As the world mourns the death of Michael jackson, I reflect back to my childhood. Like so many around the world, I grew up listening to Michael's amazing songs, making up dance routines in my room, mimicking his videos, always in awe of how incredibly talented this man was as a performer.

Many may say that we should not be celebrating the life and achievements of Jackson due to the child molestation allegations, his legal and financial woes, and his often bizarre behavior. There certainly are arguments to both sides of the coin.

Today, I say we celebrate the life of not "Jacko Wacko" but of Michael Jackson, THE KING OF POP, the Elvis of my generation.

Despite what happens in anybody's life, we all make mistakes and sometimes act a bit "Wacko" ourselves. What we must remeber is to cherish everyday and celebrate the talents that we all possess inside of ourselves.

I will miss my pop idol, the trendsetter, the trailblazer, the dancer, the humanitarian, the singer, the philanthropist, the dreamer, the visionary, and the wonderful talent that he was.

The "Breaking of the Bread"

To “break bread” in Bible times often referred to the eating of common meals. In ancient times, to “break bread” was a figure of speech known as synecdoche where a part (to break bread) was put for the whole (to eat a common meal, regardless of the kind of food and drink consumed). In New Testament times, however, the phrase “to break bread” was also used to describe the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted this special supper while celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread with His disciples shortly before His death.

(From Eric Lyons' article, “Breaking Bread” on the “First Day” of the Week from TheApologeticsPress.Org)

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Fast forward to The Holy Book of theSTACEYJAY- Chapter 6, Verse 23:

To "break bread" refers to my night last night. I was invited by my roommate to a dinner party at a residence at the foot of the Phoenix Mountains. Having knowledge of the size of most of the houses in this area, I knew this would be a kick-ass dinner party!

As I walk into this palacial home, I immediately noticed the Asian inspried decor, the limestone floors, and the custom furniture and art that adourned the walls. As I walked around on a tour of the home, I kept thinking to myself "Why can't I live in a home this beautiful, big, and fabulous?" And then my friend said to the host, "Show them the garage!". I couldn't help but wonder what could possibly be in the garage...We pressed on.

I walked into the garage and had to immediately lift my jaw up off the ground. I am not a car guy but HOLY SHIT! I felt like I was on an epsiode of the MTV show Cribs. The custom flooring was as shiny as the North Star on a clear day, there was a bar in the corner, and the flat screen television was mounted so that you could sit in the vehicles and play Drive-In Theatre (Beverly Hills style).

To say the least, I was super-duper impressed with this place and never wanted to leave.

As the night went on and the cocktails were sipped, I began to see a different side of the home. My fascination with the glitz and glamour of the house got put on the backburner quite quickly when the conversations began. The individuals I was with were such genuine and caring people. We spoke of everyday life situations, world events, and our respective careers. We laughed together, drank together, cooked together, and eventually "broke bread" together.

As the night came to an end, I realized that "breaking bread" with people is not only an eating of meals, but a coming together of spirits, creating new friendships, and appreciating that what one own's in material posessions will always be surpassed the beauty of a conversation between souls.