Queer's Prodigious Pair: Vietnam Venom. #MemorialDay

***Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States 

for remembering and honoring the people who died while 

serving in the United States Armed Forces.***

I had been to war museums before, but this experience in Hanoi felt daunting as hell. I would soon realize the reason being. Let's just start with the fact that the Viet War is one of the hugest elephants in soo many rooms. It almost felt sacrilegious that we were on their soil for leisure sightseeing. It wasn't before long that I responded to this "iron man" calling my name. 

My Grandfather shape-shifted! 

It felt like a reunion with an old friend. His essence felt familiar. IT WAS! My grandpa whom I affectionately call DAD. I was lost for words on how to explain such excitement to my wife at that moment. From the way I reacted, she knew to just get in position for a photo. Look at her pose! It's like she knew he was the man!

Now, ever so clear, I knew I'd be guided along the army grounds by my grandfather who never spent his waking hours detailing his trauma from the war. Strangely enough, I have learned much more about him since his passing in 2006. His spirit has intimately made a home on my traveling altar space. Not only can I tell when he is around, but my Wife can differentiate between her own late grandpa, as well. 

That above selfie in Hanoi was nostalgic of the moment of my salute in front of the US Flag. The last time I was this close to a huge flag of sorts, was when we did the military fold at his homegoing service. You may be able to tell by what my eyes were emoting, that I am and will forever be a proud "Daddy's-Girl" 

 

Unfortunately, I would have probably found more solace in learning that the missiles took him out. Instead, I'm almost certain that generational curses, family secrets, and pride manifested itself thru diseases and alignments. Therefore, I salute YOU ALL. I salute those who have been drafted into their own war, listed internally and never made it out. LET IT GO, Sus.

LET IT GO. 

Queer's Prodigious Pair: JAPANESE BAE! #TitsInTokyo

My happy place: Between her legs.

Living in Japan was one of the first countries I loved to hate. It's like a dream come true and my worse nightmare all in one sleep cycle. Although I had already lived in neighboring South Korea, I was about 3 years into my long-distance relationship (LDL). Quite frankly, I was just over being IN THE CLOSET. My heart truly goes out to those who can't afford to just be who they TRULY ARE because of where they live. As a young adult who grew up in the heart of the NYC village, I would often find myself pitying untold gay truths walking around Japan in tight-ass suits, countlessly bowing at one another out of traditional normalcy. 

 Honoring the visibility of my LGBT Community in Japan.

I, honestly, feel like the streets of Shinjuku and the community bath onsens really helped fine-tune my gaydar. Regrettably, at the same rate, I would feel even more frustrated for almost instantly being aroused from vivid memories with my then-fiancee that were jogged on impact.  I'm not exactly willing to shout this loud enough for the covenant of nuns in the back, so come in a lil' closer for this part: ONSENS were my GUILTY PLEASURE. Wait now! Before you accuse me of being that perv, or assuming that I am one of those lesbians that wants everything with a rack, cool your mental heels.

I'm the kinda person who truly enjoys being free in every sense of the word. Summers in the states would often welcome my solo trips to beaches with no restrictions for bikini-wear. When I lived in Spain, I would spend most of my time on nude beaches. Naturally, when I discovered low-key, clean, quaint, respectable and discreet bathhouses in Japan, it had my name written all over it! I can't help the fact that at that juncture in my life some disastrous ingredients included:

• a Horny-ass-toad
• a starving Vegan
• Skype-Sleeplessness 
• and ROOT CHAKRA BLOCKAGES!

Luckily for me, my embarrassment wasn't visible. HOWEVER, my pheromones were bringing all the ladies to the pond! For real. It never failed that when I went alone, I was a walking piece of artwork. Before I could fully enjoy my naked tidbits floating around la-la-land carelessly, I was met with the dainty hand of a Japanese woman touching my hair, then reaching for a boob! Surprisingly enough, I ain't know whether to let her go for it or let my NY reflex kick in. Yeah, I chickened-out and politely moved her hand with the typical nervous smile/chuckle thing that we do, ya know.  My queer, puppy love glow was appealing! I guess its the way I carried myself. I was collecting all kind of stares and compliments. Oddly, that didn't tend to happen when I was with my Japanese counterpart. Now, as for the single time I took my then-fiancee, I just ain't have a clue as to why most of them were staring Admittedly, there were just soooo many apparent reasons. More importantly, all that really mattered was that feeling like I was over-the-moon in love with being free to roam and engage with the one woman I would soon call my own. DAWN. 

Probably how we looked to others as a mysterious Queer couple 
in a Japanese bathhouse. 

Queer's Prodigious Pair: Japan! #GuapInGifu

My 5-second Gusband (Gay Husband) in Japan!

"OH MY GOD. GIRL!" is literally what I heard in my head when he & I crossed paths. I was busy living my best life with my beautiful new Japanese Bestie. She opted to spend her weekend parading me around at an International Expo. I was so relieved because the weather was nice and the weekends were very nostalgic of Fridays in Catholic school. You know, the days where you could pay one whole American Dollar ($1.00 USD) to wear your own clothes or bring your cheap/broke/wise-ass back to school in your stiffly ironed, plaid and pleated uniform. Well, any chance we had to dress up and go somewhere not in a suit was welcomed! In fact, our birthday suits were the only other suits we were super thrilled to be in, but that's a whole other story. I digress. 

Fiancee (at the time) posing by waterfalls in Japan.

You see that man in the picture (above), well to my surprise, my Japanese Bestie got so excited for me. Somehow she felt the innate desire for me to BE IN MY QUEER TRUTH, even if that meant for a few fleeting moments. She motioned for me to get a pic, and I did! 

Luckily, that picture would make it across oceans in a matter of seconds, thanks to GOOGLE PHOTOS! Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to see my soon-to-wife for an ENTIRE YEAR. I know. I know. The woes of long-distance love (LDL). But when she came, SHE CAME. >>>

We both were so focused on collecting that YEN, building the restaurant and sticking to our workout therapy that we didn't grumble over the lack of physical touch too often. I must say that our huge pile of savings paid off for her only visit during my second year. We were able to even go on a shopping spree, including food and fashion. We felt so royal! For those couple of weeks, she would take me to work, scoop me up for lunch, pick me up from work and ride around during the day to peek in on my classes since I had a huge window wall in my classroom. It felt so perfect and certainly ruffled the feathers of all the nosey birds chirping around the school. I mean c'mon! I would talk about me too if I saw a teacher spending her every free moment from class to meticulously complete this colorful work of art below! GIRL. Puppy love at it's finest. Couldn't tell me anythaaaannng!  - Jeanie Rei

The closest thing to a family picture I had in Japan. 

Queer's Prodigious Pair: MAMMA MIA, it's still MAY?

Credit: Eisen Bernardo, a Filipino graphic designer. 

Overused like the ENTER key.
Abused. Won't let it SHIFT me.
My mother's womb gave me life. 
Now, it's all a foreign country. 

Passport, NO VISA. 
She won't change how she treat ya.
She holds her tongue, 
Put out her hand, 
Selfish desires. I'm not her man.

I clap back with the SPACE BAR,
Telecom intermingled. 
Speaking two different languages,
I'm allergic. Gave me shingles.

CTRL + ALT + DEL
Adjust my crown. I'mma Queen. 
Hashtag, can't relate.
CAPS LOCK. Pressed ESC.

                                     -Jeanie Rei

Queer's Prodigious Pair: UNLEASH the FUN! #PenniestoPesos

via GIPHY

“It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”  ― Hugh Laurie

Bumming around in our beachside villa!

For far too long, we found ourselves chasing the cheese and burning the midnight oil trying to prepare for a future we weren't completely sure we even wanted. The American Dream. What does that even mean? We weren't really even sure, but what we knew was that trying to achieve it was slowly stealing our own dreams from us. We vowed that for the next chapter in our lives, we'll stick together as a family, no matter what it took to do so. To hell with the notion, "Divide and Conquer." That one-way flight deal marked the epoch of our lives! Now, our  mantra says, "As a family unit, we'll get thru it."

Beachfront breezes are lifetime goals!

This reminds us that no matter the circumstances we are may be in, we shouldn't get caught up in the next best thing. No matter what our financial status is, we will always be able to create joy with the capital we already have. There shall be no need to feel guilty for being blissful. We deserve it.   - Jeanie Rei

Queer's Prodigious Pair: Barking Up the Wrong Tree! #PenniestoPesos

PDA's on our early morning beach walk.

From the city streets in New York to the Spanish "calles" in The D.R., the high pitch whistles of bated breath men will never be comforting. As a global citizen, I already make constant readjustments to accepting the social stares and curious gawks of locals. Some days are better than others. On rare occasions, I literally feel like a foreign juxtaposition. Beachtown Bavaro was, by far, the closest thing to a love-hate relationship, since I've accepted mushrooms as a delicious and sustainable protein. 

 

Click here to view my VLOG response. 

The early morning strolls along the coastline would be a perfect time to freely show our affection in public. As a queer couple of color, we were less concerned about being harmed, and more annoyed with being harassed by the cat-calling and perverted men that would often feel like our PDA's were catcalls for attention. "Wrong tree, Amigo! Wrong tree." 

Let me know if you're apart of the LGBTQ Family and can hashtag relate!

Queer's Prodigious Pair: Mother's Day, Punta Cana! #PenniestoPesos

Just A Pair of Queer living life in our beachfront villa home!

Mother's Day. eh?
It must be about 3 years, since the last time I've actually felt like a Happy-Go-Lucky Dog Mom! This would be one of the rare times you'll find me saying, "take me back to life in The DR."

Click here to watch us try to capture a family moment! 


There was something about the sand between our toes and the ocean breeze in our hair that wiped away all remote responsibilities. It forced us to live in the present and marvel at the lives we have been working so hard to create for ourselves. Although we regret still not being able to get the pups to a Thai beach since leaving Punta Cana, they have really come to fancy the saltwater pools! 

I say that it has been a few years following that fond memory of "Doggie Motherhood" because here in Thailand there are so many stray dogs, which means going outside for a walk likens to tossing a T-bone steak out of the front window. "FRESH MEAT!" is literally all I can imagine the "soi dogs" signaling to one another when we step out into town. Needless to say, long bougie walks along the fruit tree lined pavement have been less of a reality with our paw-kids here in Thailand. However, the lifestyle of our 2-story beachside home in the DR had me feeling like we made it! A memory we'll forever cherish. With just a few Spanish street dogs scattered about, rolling around with the Violet Chariot was a luxury I now realize. 

At any rate, enough with my #FirstWorldProblems! Expat life is still rewarding and we are still toiling the globe in search of that "pocket of heaven" for our fur-babies to thrive! The things we do for our canine crew, right? Call me obsessive or just tell me, "I'm the best Dog Mom, Ever!" Happy Mother's Day to all the Paw Parents who can hashtag relate.   - Jeanie Rei

Mio Trio, beachbound, in their Violet Chariot!
Dad-Mom-Son (orange)

Queer's Prodigious Pair: Mt. Fuji- Lessons to Blessings #FujiFit

It's about that time I come out of the closet for the umpteenth time! First, lemme introduce myself as Dawn- Thee Dawn. Some call me YUME, but many others know me as the Wife of Kimora. It's been long decided that herein lies another lifetime we'll be doing together for the long haul. On that note, I'm taking over the blog post for now! We're in this to win this!  

Mt. Fuji, Japan 

For as long as I could remember, there were 2 things I always knew was predestined for my life. One, I always knew I would be rich. I had no idea when, where, or even how, but I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it would happen. Two, I would be a catalyst for Global Change. Again, I had no idea how this would come to pass. I had no special talents and I was no Einstein. However, I have always been very athletic, had a great deal of inner strength, a caring heart, and a burning desire to be heard loud and clear to make a difference. 

Today, I just made the decision to be the "Man in the mirror." In just 104 days I will leave behind a lifetime of fears, guilt, and regrets and climb Mount Fuji. I made the choice to climb for my life, let it all hang out, and leave it behind on the mountain. With 220 pounds on my body and $100 in my account, I step out on blind faith and declare this victory for me and everybody else that follows. It is not clear how quickly I will get to a comfortable weight my knees can bare. Nor is it clear how I will be able to afford this trip. What is clear as F*ck is,  that bright-ass light guiding me thru this long ass tunnel. Antennas up and intuition fine-tuned to my "HITTERS", I am leaping with blind faith on the certainty that, August 21st, 2019, will be the day I take one step closer towards my salvation. 


I intend to leave behind every single thing that has weighed me down like a parachute on my back.  I will bury it in the shadow of my volcanic ash footprints, and push ahead feeling ever lighter and more powerful than before. Healing my inner child once and for all, then giving myself permission to spread my wings and soar.

Being vulnerable isn't an easy task, but it is very necessary. Often times, we all suffer in silence. We roll thru our lessons like the fool, instead of putting those lessons to work for ourselves and the masses. Throughout the past 3 years I've been traveling, I have learned the true essence of chess in this game called LIFE. As I move forward into my season of abundance, it is my honor to share each and every trial and tribulation with the people at large.  My main hope is that YOU- SEE- ME. Learn from my mistakes. Embrace my lessons as your own, and rejoice in OUR wisdom. My greatest hope is that I take each and every one of you to the mountaintop with me in body, mind or spirit, so we can lift our heads to God and rejoice as one. We are in this life together.

One heart. One World. One purpose. I'll see you, Royals, on top!  - Yume