I am in San Diego for a few more days (total of a week and a half) because of a relative's medical emergency. Coming from Fairbanks (50 degrees and raining) to California (90 in the daytime, muggy) made me rather miserable. As you can imagine.

Anyway, I did bring a kilt (twill casual) and wore it as soon as I felt how miserable life is in San Diego in jeans. I've had no negative comments except from my uncle. Every single day I visited him in the hospital and every single day he felt like he had to comment to me and again to anyone else in earshot (nurses, cleaning staff, other patients, their families, the food service folks) that it is the right garment for Hillcrest. See, the neighborhood of Hillcrest is apparently known locally as a "gay" community. So, essentially, he is telling me and everyone who sees me that I look gay.

Now, I'm not going to say a word against lifestyles that involve same-sex partners. Several friends, including two kilt wearers, are not interested in ladies. But I'm as straight as John Wayne sitting on a horse and voting for Ronald Reagan. Once or twice would not be so bad. But every single time I put the silly thing on.

So, yesterday he says to me "I really wish you wouldn't wear that kilt." Since I am here to help with his recovery and recuperation, I figure I'll deal with the discomfort. I wore jeans today. Misery! Hot, sticky, sweaty, icky misery! I got introduced to the next-door neighbors and he spent about half an hour telling them that although he trusts that I am straight, I do sometimes wear a kilt and that's really weird. I finally stuck up for myself a bit and now HE is acting offended.

I just needed to vent. But I'm putting my kilt back on tomorrow. One day like this was bad enough.

The up side was I got by a Joann fabrics and got some poly/rayon tartan material so I can make kilts in Black Stewart and Black Watch. Or at least in plaids so close to those tartans that I can't tell a difference. There was also some Dress MacDonald, but the red threads were metalic instead of just plain red. Too odd. So, there's a plus to being down here.

-Patrick