Much too old for a fake ID

After I started my job with Deloitte in 2004 I found I had very little time to take care of any personal business but somehow I managed to find one morning where I would have enough time to get a California Driver's License.  Early that morning, I rolled out of bed, threw a t-shirt on and raced to the DMV in hopes of missing the crowds.  I barely passed the written test (who knew that you had to take a written test), took my photo, and waited two weeks for my new license to arrive.  When it finally came, I regretted not taking the time to at least comb my hair before rushing off that morning.

I insist that I have never smoked pot - despite what it may look like in this picture.  And yes, I am gay, but I am not the "frightening butch" that this lovely image makes me out to be.  So, the picture was "not cute" but at least, at the time, it somewhat resembled me and I was not questioned when proving my age or identity.  But over the past several years, my physical appearance has slowly changed and the licence has become quite the problem, especially recently.  I get funny looks when using it at bars, and have even had to show secondary proof of identification a few times.  People have accused me of using a fake ID and on one occurrence, accused me of using my "old, fat mother in-laws license" (where the bouncer came up with this I am not sure but I found it simultaneously hilarious and insulting).    Newer friends (and girlfriends) have found this old ID highly entertaining, studying it for several minutes in disbelief.  

Deciding that I am much too old for a fake ID, I resolved it was time to pay the $22, brave the lines and get a new photo taken.   This time I took a shower, did my hair and makeup. I came to the realization that the photo on my ID is probably seen by more people than any other picture and I should put at least a little effort into it.  The new ID arrived in the mail yesterday, and I must say I am rather pleased with it.  It is a good picture as far as ID pictures go.

I presented both the new and old IDs to a group of friends last night because I was told that it would be a fun "stupid human trick."  One stated "you got hot" - yeah well, I guess I did.  Go me.

Out of Africa

About a week and a half ago I finished the first part of what has turned out to be a simply amazing summer internship.   I am a teaching associate for the Johnson and Johnson/UCLA Anderson Executive Management programs.  During the first six weeks of my internship I worked at UCLA Anderson with executives and managers from Community Health and Head Start organizations around the United States. My job was to teach and assist these professionals as they progressed through two-week intensive management programs but in the end, I feel that the participants gave much more to me than I did to them.  I have been inspired by their incredible passion for what they do and the populations they serve.  

The second part of my internship has the potential to be even more incredible than the first.  Next Friday, I will be traveling to Africa to assist as a teaching associate in the Management Development Institute, also an intensive management program sponsored by Johnson and Johnson, focusing on executives and mangers from HIV/AIDS organizations throughout Africa.  We will be spending one week each, in Nairobi, Kenya and Accra, Ghana. 

In the United States we have become somewhat blind to the HIV/AIDS pandemic as prevention improves and those infected are living longer.  Despite great progress in the U.S., the threat of this disease is all but over.  The number of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide continues to rise steadily each and every year.  In sub-Saharan Africa there are over 22 million people living with HIV/AIDS, accounting for more than 5% of the total population.  Every second, 3 people die in Africa due to HIV/AIDS which as left over 11 million HIV/AIDS orphans. Africa is “ground-zero” for the  pandemic and I am both proud and excited to have the opportunity to assist the people and organizations that are working to fight both the disease its social and economic impacts.   Providing that there is time (and a reliable internet connection) I hope to document some of the insights from my trip here – get excited (I know I am).