La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We celebrated solstice with rain most of the day, sometimes heavy, so we never left the house. We never did see the sun either. Saturday we enjoyed lunch and dinner with Matt and Lindy who are still waiting for their luggage which hadn’t made it out of Paris. By Sunday, both bags were at least in Spain, but in different cities. They did some quick shopping Saturday morning for a change of clothes but got caught in a downpour Sunday afternoon that soaked their only shoes and jackets. Still, they seem to have already fallen in love with Córdoba. It makes us so happy to have them here.
Big news here. San Geraldo’s autobiography has been published and he received his copy the other day. It’s called “My Queer, Unsettled Life” and is selling on Amazon. I’m so proud! I wonder what he’ll be up to next. Maybe he’ll reinstall the piece of wood trim in his office that fell off right after we moved in. Following is the blurb from Amazon:
In My Queer, Unsettled Life, Jerry recounts growing up in South Dakota in the 1950s, coming to grips with his “otherness”; bursting out of his virginal bubble, and living life as an out gay man. Jerry met his husband, Mitchell, in 1981 in Boston. The couple has been together for 44 years. Jerry’s professional accomplishments include senior leadership positions at premier U.S. institutions, including Yale, Berkeley, and UC San Diego. Jerry and Mitchell left academia for several years; moved to Palm Springs, California; and launched Viola’s Resort, the country’s first boutique hotel serving gays and lesbians with children. Two years later, following the hotel’s bankruptcy after 9/11, the couple moved to Santa Barbara, where Jerry became Chief Administrative Officer for the University of California’s Education Abroad Program. Prior to his retirement, he became Assistant Dean for the School of the Arts at University of California, Irvine. He then served briefly as Interim University Librarian at UCI before retiring in February 2011. Four months later, the move of all moves occurred when the couple emigrated to Spain, first to Seville, then Fuengirola, and now Córdoba, where they reside as permanent residents, along with their spoiled cats, Dudo and Mussy. He thought he was going to be rich and famous and the first gay host of The Price Is Right. This is what happened instead.
Celebramos el solsticio con lluvia casi todo el día, a veces fuerte, así que no salimos de casa. Tampoco vimos el sol. El sábado disfrutamos de la comida y la cena con Matt y Lindy, que todavía esperan su equipaje, que no salió de París. Para el domingo, ambas maletas ya estaban en España, pero en ciudades diferentes. El sábado por la mañana hicieron unas compras rápidas para cambiarse de ropa, pero el domingo por la tarde les pilló un chaparrón que les empapó los únicos zapatos y chaquetas que tenían. Aun así, parece que ya se han enamorado de Córdoba. Nos alegra mucho tenerlos aquí.
Grandes noticias aquí. La autobiografía de San Geraldo se publicó y recibió su copia el otro día. Se llama “My Queer, Unsettled Life” y se vende en Amazon. Estoy tan orgulloso. Me pregunto qué estará haciendo ahora. Quizás vuelva a instalar la moldura de madera de su oficina que se cayó justo después de que nos mudáramos. A continuación, la sinopsis de Amazon:
En My Queer, Unsettled Life, Jerry relata su infancia en Dakota del Sur en la década de 1950, cómo aceptó su “otredad”, cómo salió de su burbuja virginal y cómo vivió como un hombre abiertamente gay. Jerry conoció a su esposo, Mitchell, en 1981 en Boston. La pareja lleva 44 años junta. Los logros profesionales de Jerry incluyen altos cargos directivos en instituciones estadounidenses de primer nivel, como Yale, Berkeley y UC San Diego. Jerry y Mitchell dejaron el mundo académico durante varios años; se mudaron a Palm Springs, California; y inauguraron Viola’s Resort, el primer hotel boutique del país que atendía a gays y lesbianas con hijos. Dos años más tarde, tras la quiebra del hotel tras el 11-S, la pareja se mudó a Santa Bárbara, donde Jerry se convirtió en Director Administrativo del Programa de Educación en el Extranjero de la Universidad de California. Antes de jubilarse, fue Vicedecano de la Facultad de Artes de la Universidad de California, Irvine. Luego trabajó brevemente como Bibliotecario Universitario Interino en la UCI antes de jubilarse en febrero de 2011. Cuatro meses después, la pareja emigró a España, primero a Sevilla, luego a Fuengirola y ahora a Córdoba, donde residen permanentemente junto con sus mimados gatos, Dudo y Mussy. Él creía que sería rico y famoso, y el primer presentador gay de El Precio Justo. Esto fue lo que sucedió.
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts; 2006 trineo de artista Georg Jensen, un regalo de una compañera de trabajo; Muir Woods cerca de San Francisco.
• Nuestros amigos Don y Bev, y sus hijas Laura y Sarah, nos los hicieron en 1993, antes de mudarnos de Connecticut a San Diego. Empezamos a jugar Pictionary Junior con ellos regularmente cuando las niñas tenían 7 y 4 años; ahora ambos tienen hijos.
• Los dos adornos anteriores nos los realizó nuestra amiga (artesana, restauradora y conservadora), Marisa, en Fuengirola.
• Dibujo hecho por nuestra amiga Sarah en 1983 cuando tenía 7 años, 7 meses antes de tener una hermana, Annie (estaba obsesionada con la película). San Geraldo lo encontró en el suelo del comedor con uno de los juguetes de Dudo. Lo habían sacado del cuenco de la mesa de cóctel. Sorprendentemente, no se apreciaban daños. Quizás la cinta de 42 años estaba vieja.
• Bergen, Noruega. Y una perdiz en un peral.
How delightful, all of the memories connected to the artifacts of a life well lived, and a new book. I don’t know how you find all of the amusing music, and I wonder what she did with 12 partridges, it is obvious what she did with all of the rest.
David:
I can’t remember the first time I heard the song performed. I even shared it before some years back. It’s always heartwarming to go see the Christmas ornaments. Lots of great memories.
Congrats to Jerry! May you have great sales!
Debra:
Thanks so much.
Excellent news, Jerry. Congratulations on yet another remarkable achievement…in a life filled with so many. Mary
Mary:
You said it! Very happy for him.
Congrats SG! My copy is on order and I cannot wait to read it.
Now, about that first gay host of The Price is Right? Perhaps Cordoba’s own El Precio es Correcto?
Bob:
That is so kind of you. I hope you enjoy it. He tells a lot of tales. As for El Precio es Correcto: I think he’d need to improve his Spanish!
Congratulations SG! I’m so proud I could bust my buttons, um zippers, er…elastic! Are there pictures? Just curious, not perving or anything.
Host of the Price is Right, hmm? One thing for sure, no one following would ever be able to fill your shoes.
Scoot, keep him grounded 🙂
Deedles:
There are a number of photos in the book. And tell-all (well, most) stories of his sex life! Groan!
Oooh, photos, sex life stories, and groaning? I’m in! Or was that a Scoot eyeroll groan? Never mind. I’ll choose.
Deedles:
A Scott eye-roll groan, but that doesn’t mean it’s not interesting.
Wow, sg has excelled himself! Can’t wait to read about him, but you both feel like old friends at this point, it will be nice learning more. You’ve had some adventures here and there. I had a livelihood business destroyed by 9/11, too, so I relate. Boud
Boud:
That hotel is why we’re not wealthy now. But, we tried it and we succeeded for a while!
I do believe that was the fastest I’ve ever ordered a book in my life. I cannot WAIT to read it. Dang. I thought SG was still working on it and had no idea it was anywhere near the publishing phase.
I’m completely blown away. What an accomplished man you are married to.
I absolutely love how you and SG have made and maintained such deep and true friendships with people. That says a whole lot about you both. And I am also so very touched with the deep attachment you have to your ornaments. I believe my favorite of all of these are the Annie card and the tiny bird nest with eggs in it. I may try to make something similar in pottery.
Fay McCay’s performance puts me in mind of the speeches of a certain would-be king except that he doesn’t need alcohol of any kind to achieve that perfection in word saladry.
A Very Excited Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
So kind of you to order the book. I hope you enjoy it. Sexual revelations are included! There are so many people from our past that we no longer have contact with. We forget how many others are still our friends. The bird nest was a gift and, shamefully, we can’t remember who from. We still treasure it. Fay McCay was a riot.
Sexual revelations?!
This just sounds better all the time.
Ms. Moon:
I could have lived without those, but at least they’re about his other experiences!
I had no idea that Jerry was working on an autobiography! I will be reading it, starting this coming Saturday evening… I ordered so fast I could hardly get a good look at your wonderful photos 🙂 And, SG is on the cover!
Judy C:
Oh, thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the read. It’s kind of a tell-all. That cover photo is from a few years before we met.
Our copy of Jerry’s book arrived yesterday. We are looking forward to reading it. Quite the accomplishment and very well presented.
LOVE your little Christmas ‘keepsakes’.
Jim:
I can’t believe the book already arrived! Thanks so much for getting it. I hope you enjoy it.
My copy is on order, but how are we to manage the book signing since you two are in Cordova and I in California? (Shirley)
Shirley:
Well, when are you flying here? Jerry would be happy to sign it.
I really loved looking at all of your ornaments, but even more so I loved reading SG’s bio. You must be so very proud of him. I am so glad the two of you found each other and are still going strong to this day.
Happy Holidays.
Michael:
Yes, I love the bio and I’m very proud of him. Maybe now he’ll leave his desk!
“When I am dead, I hope it may be said: ‘His sins were scarlet, but his books were read’” – Hilaire Belloc.
Well done, Jerry! Now, who is going to play you in the movie adaptation? Jx
Jon:
My mother thought he looked like Tom Selleck “but better” when we met. But I think Tom’s too old now.
Make sure you congratulate San Geraldo on his publication. I would love to read it but I fear that might make me break down and have to use Amazon. Curses. But if I do I will demand a signed copy if I ever meet you guys! The blurp sounds very interesting. I mean just the fact he grew up in South Dakota and now lives in Spain is interesting enough!!!
Mistress Borghese:
Sorry about Amazon! Yeah, I like the bio. I also love that you, like SG, say blurp instead of blurb.
Congratulations to SG!! It might have to go on my out-of-control TBR!
Kelly:
I prefer fiction myself. He gives a lot away in his book… But I’m so proud of him and haven’t yet read it all myself.
Congratulations, San Geraldo! And who needs Bob Barker anyway?
Kirk:
And who needed Drew Carrey. He took SG’s spot!
I thought of you last night as there was a TV programme showing Alan and Amanda at the switching on of the lights in Malaga. Spectacular ! ( It was a follow up programme after they refurbished a house somewhere in Spain.)
Congratulations on the book Jerry. Just looked on Amazon…..it’s nearly £20 so probably won’t be buying it anytime soon…sorry.
Wishing you both a Happy Christmas…..or Feliz Navidad might be more relevant!
Frances:
Sorry about the price! It was the best he could do.
PS That was me Frances!
Don’t know what happened to my comment. Went something like this…lovely assortment of memories and mementos from friends, love the little nest with the eggs. And San Geraldo has an impressive resumé.
ellen abbott:
San Geraldo had quite a career. I was always in awe. For him, it was never enough.