Bondi Beach Nov2002

Here is some basic info about me...in case you couldn't figure it out based on my pictures:

Born May 1968 (Taurus)

5'8"
155 lbs
Dark Brown Hair
Light brown eyes (Hazel)
42" chest
29" waist
15" arms

Being single for the 1st time in years I've enjoyed the luxuries of being care free and unattached. On the flip side...I missed and longed for the days when I could spend my time with someone who means the world to me and believes in a Long Term, committed relationship.

Events of 9/11 and the World Trade Center

The picture above is almost the same view I had from my office building. I was at ground zero...across the street from the world trade center. I was sitting at my desk in my office and heard a rumble...kind of like a heavy truck hitting a pothole and shaking the building. Then I heard from co-workers there was an explosion at the World Trade Center...I stood up and saw paper flying everywhere. I didn't know what happened, but it couldn't be good. I went over to the window...and saw the side of the WTC on fire. I thought it was just an explosion/fire. Then word came in from the news agencies that a SMALL twin-engine plane crashed. All I could do was think of the people who worked above the impact site because there was no way for them to escape. I kept looking at the North Tower and saw debris flying around and objects falling from the building. I looked a little closer and realized the objects were people. I was watching as people were jumping from the top floors to their deaths. The last thing I remember was seeing someone wearing a bright red shirt jump from the top floors. I don't know why I did this, but I didn't take my eyes off this person. I followed the body as it was free falling to the point of impact and all I could see was a mist of pinkish red where the body landed. I've never felt such horror as I did at that very moment. What could have that person been thinking or experiencing that the best choice was to jump. I couldn't look anymore...so I walked away from the window...then BOOM...the 2nd explosion. I thought the windows in my bldg were going to blow in. Initially I had thought it was an explosion that was fed from the initial crash. I then realized that a second plane crashed into the south tower. I knew it was time to get out of the office. I called my friends and family that I was alright and was leaving the office. I made it to the lobby of my building, and then everyone started screaming and running back into the bldg. I didn't know what was happening, people were getting stampeded, everyone was screaming, crying and in a panic now. The next thing...the outside turned gray, then dark gray then black. I couldn't see anything. I was scared now...it's very hard to put into words what I felt but imagine a clear blue sky, sunny day and you look out the window and you see BLACKNESS and nothing else. People ran into the lobby collapsing; not being able to breathe.

I started shaking and crying.... as the smoke started to clear I looked out and it looked like nuclear winter, something that Hollywood would produce. The scariest part was I had no way of communicating with my family. All the cell phone towers were on the WTC and the other towers that were left were all busy with the amount of cell phone calls being made. Finally 10 minutes later I was able to get a cell phone signal and I called my mom. I told her that I was alive, but scared. I told her that I was trapped in my bldg and couldn't leave because of all the smoke and debris. About 5 minutes later I made a decision to leave the bldg. I took off my shirt and covered my face and walked through about 5 inches of debris and soot on the street. I continued to talk to my mom, telling her I couldn't see where I was walking. She told me just head North towards China Town. I found a fence which I knew ran in the direction towards City Hall so I knew I would be safe. I continued to talk to her and told her I couldn't breathe and I was scared. I made it a few blocks and I heard screaming. I said to myself now what? I turned around and now I knew why everyone was screaming; the south tower was coming down.

I watched as the antennae tilted slightly forward and then fall straight down under where the floors used to be. I just stood there in shock and then I saw a ploom of smoke and debris quickly approaching me and eventually overtake me. I told my mom what was happening and she just told me to RUN. At that moment I lost the cell phone signal and all contact with anyone. I couldn't see anything, couldn't breathe...it was terrible. I made it to Canal Street before I looked back and there was nothing there. No more twin towers; just smoke. I lost it, crying and watching the shock and horror on other peoples faces. Finally I made it home an hour later, my answering machine and cell phone was full of messages from friends and family calling to see if I was ok. My mom and best friend left several messages begging me to call them...to make sure I was alive. With each message they left I heard the desperation in their voice and it hurt me that for a moment my family thought I was dead. Eventually I was able to contact everyone. The phone system was a wreck. I only got sporadic service so I was able to send email out thru my cable connection and told whoever received my email to let others know I was ok, at least physically. Mentally is another story. I suffered nightmares, guilt, night sweats I couldn't concentrate and constant crying at odd moments. I'm better now but the horror from the WTC hasn't ended. I had to go back to work 3 weeks later and witness the destruction left behind. The air had a strange smell and there was dust and smoke everywhere. Fires were still burning and all I could see was the skeletal remains of the WTC. To make matters worse I got laid off from work due to the WTC and the economy. I thought what else can possibly go wrong, but I'm just thankful I'm alive...

As they say time heals all wounds. With each day the events of 9/11 don't hurt as much. The 1st anniversary was tough as I'm sure others will be. I'm thankful for being alive, my friends and my family.

The events of 9/11 impacted everyone equally, especially Gays and Lesbians who may have not received the respect they deserved. The following is a link recognizing those victims of 9/11:

Gay and Lesbian Victims of 9/11

The last time I updated my webpage was right after 9/11. Since my webpage is a running diary of my life I update it when there is a significant change in my life. Well guess what? There's been a BIG change in my life...I have the greatest man in my life. He is everything anyone could ever ask for and so much more. It's been awhile since I've dated or been in a LTR and this is such a great feeling to have again. All I can say is that we're going on over year together and I look forward to spending my future with him. Just in case you're curious to see what he looks like, here is a picture of the two of us.

Gay Disney June 2005