BGCLive.com

I live in the Wright Avenue area of Little Rock, AR. I'm a passionate, romantic, spiritual individual who loves men of 'substance'. I enjoy the company of close friends, travel, pets, web surfing, bowling, model trains, & attending blk same gender loving male retreats nationwide. I OBSERVED MY 65TH BIRTHDAY ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 & am glad to reach that 'MILESTONE' in this day & age. I'm a 21-year 'survivor' of HIV (diagnosed in 1999 with full-blown AIDS). When the vicissitudes of life come upon you, don't complain. Just 'go with the flow' because all things will work out for your good. 'LIFE IS TOO SHORT. GRUDGES ARE A WASTE OF PERFECT HAPPINESS. LAUGH WHEN YOU CAN; APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU SHOULD; AND LET GO OF WHAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE. LOVE DEEPLY AND FORGIVE QUICKLY. TAKE CHANCES, GIVE EVERYTHING, AND HAVE NO REGRETS. LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO BE UNHAPPY. YOU HAVE TO TAKE GOOD WITH THE BAD. SMILE WHEN YOU'RE SAD. LOVE WHAT YOU GOT AND ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAD. ALWAYS FORGIVE, NEVER FORGET. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, BUT NEVER REGRET'. Thanks to everyone that selected me as the 'Sexy & Poz' person for Sunday, April 26, 2015.

The Men of Adodi gathers for the 27th year to celebrate the African heritage & love of men. The retreat is meeting in Grafton, IL (one hour outside of St. Louis, MO) @ Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center http://www.pmlodge.net on the Illinois River. The retreat began with a reception @ the Comfort Inn Westport in St. Louis, MO on 7/16/13.

The 26th Annual Men of Adodi National Summer Retreat was indeed a blast as always. The theme of the retreat was "TRUST, POWER, SPIRIT: NURTURING THE FUTURE OF ADODI". Over 90 same-gender-loving black men attended the retreat from all over the United States & London, England, United Kingdom. The retreat is a non-alcohol & non-drug retreat. The retreat began on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 with a bus trip from the Hampton Inn Atlanta Airport & a pickup @ Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to Forrest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center http://www.foresths.com in Dahlonega, GA (approximately 80 miles north of Atlanta). Upon arriving @ the site & unloading the bus of our bags, we assembled in an open area to form the "Brotherhood Circle" to officially open the retreat. We picked up our registration bags & keys to our rooms, settled in, had dinner, & the "Welcome Affirmation" afterwards. Free time followed after 10:00pm, consisting of games, movies, internet work, etc.

Thursday, July 19, 2012: For those who wanted to participate in Morning Devotion or Morning Aerobics, those activities began @ 7:00am. Breakfast followed from 8:00am-9:00am. The Morning Affirmations began daily @ 9:30am. The Morning Affirmation dealt with "TRUST". Six workshops followed lunch. Free time periods were between the workshop schedules & dinner. Group pictures were taken. The "TRIBUTE TO THE ANCESTORS" ceremony took place. A very sacred time for Black Same-Gender-Loving Men. Everyone wears a white t-shirt & the music is Afro-Centric, gives one a sense of connection & community. Each spiritual path has a representative to offer prayers during this time. This ceremony is ecumenical. Free time followed.

Friday, July 20, 2012: Morning Aerobics & Devotion took place as usual @ 7:00am, followed by breakfast. Morning Affirmation dealt with "POWER". Seven workshops followed lunch. Free time periods were between the workshops & dinner. The newcomers to the retreat were initiated into the brotherhood of Adodi that evening. Free time followed.

Saturday, July 21, 2012: Morning Devotion & Aerobics began @ 7:00am. Breakfast was from 8:00am-9:00am, followed by the 9:30am Morning Affirmation that dealt with "SPIRIT". Various meetings followed lunch, such as the "SOUTHERN REGIONAL MEETING" consisting of representatives from 14 Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, & West Virginia), "THE SPOKEN WORD" (poetry readings), & "ADODI SHARES" (dialogue between the members of the Men of Adodi & the Adodi National Board of Directors). Free time followed between these meetings & dinner as well as the "TALENT SHARING" on Saturday night @ 8:00pm. Many talents were showcased, including the Adodi Warrior Choir, consisting of 11 black same-gender-loving men & the musician. The choir rendered 4 songs (2 secular & 2 religious). The Social Dance party took place afterwards.

Sunday, July 22, 2012: Morning Devotion/Aerobics took place for the last time @ 7:00am. Breakfast was @ 8:00am. Room Checkout was @ 9:00am, followed by the Closing Affirmation. We boarded the bus to depart @ 1:00pm for the trip to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport & the Hampton Inn-Atlanta Airport. There was an "AFTERGLOW" Fellowship Dinner @ one of the members' homes in Atlanta. Some of the attendees remained in Atlanta for sightseeing to the Martin Luther King National Historic Site & the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library during the next two days.

All in all, a good retreat for any black same-gender-loving man HIV+ or Negative as well as those in recovery from alcohol & drug abuse to attend. Ache' (So Be It)!

It's that time of year again when same-gender-loving black men from around the world will gather for the 26th Annual Men of Adodi National Summer Retreat. This year's site will be the Forrest Hills Mountain Retreat & Conference Center, Dahlonega, GA (one hour outside of Atlanta). The date for this event is July 18-22, 2012.

A wonderful time was had by all @ the 25th Anniversary Retreat of the Men of Adodi, July 20-24, 2011, White Eagle Conference Center www.whiteagle.com in Hamilton, NY. The journey began with a flight from Little Rock to New York City (LaGuardia Airport) via Chicago (O'Hare Airport) on United Airlines, Tuesday, July 19. No problems were encountered; the flight went well. Upon arrival @ LaGuardia Airport, the Adodi brothers in New York City picked me up & took me to a reception in the Bronx. The food was wonderful, with a Caribbean flair. The fellowship was indeed a blessing to all who attended. I stayed with two of the Adodi brothers in Yonkers.

Wednesday, July 20 saw all of the Adodi brothers gathering @ the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building (125th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard). Two buses awaited us to board for the 4 hour journey to Hamilton, via the George Washington Bridge crossing over the Hudson River through New Jersey toward upstate New York. We departed @ 10:00am, had food on board, movies to watch, & talked or slept. We did make a stop @ a rest area for about 20 minutes. We arrived in the White Eagle Conference Center safe & sound. We assembled in the "Brotherhood Circle" to welcome each other to the retreat. Afterwards, we went to our rooms to unpack our clothes. We had dinner that evening, followed by the WELCOME AFFIRMATION.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday during the morning, we had the MORNING AFFIRMATIONS. Thursday & Friday afternoon after lunch saw us in various workshops. Lots of FREE TIME were available. On Friday, a boat cruise was offered to all on Lake Moraine, along with a POETRY READING by several Adodi brothers @ the Appley Center Auditorium. Saturday afternoon, we had a dialogue between the leadership of the Men of Adodi & the membership.

Thursday evening, we attended the TRIBUTE TO THE ANCESTORS, a ceremony of Afro-centric heritage. Friday evening, we initiated the first-time attendees into the brotherhood of Adodi. Saturday evening, we had the TALENT SHARING in which anyone who wanted to, could share their talent. After the TALENT SHARING concluded, we had a DANCE PARTY, which lasted until approximately 3:00am.

Sunday afternoon, we departed for New York City @ 1:00pm & arrived back in Harlem @ the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building (125th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard) @ 5:45pm.

I had some authentic ethnic food @ Manna's Restaurant on 125th Street in Harlem for 3 days (Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday evenings). They charge the amount of food by the pound (approximately $6 per pound), so you can load up on everything. During my 3 night stay in New York City, I again stayed with two of the Adodi brothers in Yonkers.

Monday, July 25, I went sightseeing @ the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. Tuesday, July 26, I went to the Empire State Building & "Ground Zero". Wednesday, July 27, I caught my flight back home (Little Rock) from LaGuardia via Chicago (O'Hare) on United Airlines. Overall, a wonderful vacation for the summer. Check out the Men of Adodi website @ www.adodionline.com for updates on the next retreat on July 18-22, 2012 @ Forrest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center www.foresths.com in Dahlonega, GA (one hour outside of Atlanta). Ache'!