The Truth of “O.” Revealed

December 15, 2004

As my friend Nick would say…”AMAAAZING.” Simply effing amazing.

I was at Reno’s going-away party at the D-Bar last night, and we were talking, and all of a sudden, he got this amazing glimmer in his eye, and he said he had something to tell me. It looked BIG so I got very interested…he built it up perfectly. Reno grabbed my shoulder, sat down his beer, looked me in the eye and said…

“I am O. I am Orlando.”

For those of you who are regular readers, this will mean something to you. Since September “Orlando Tomms” has been posting on my blog, one of the first comments telling me that I looked beautiful on a date. His comments continued to be quite suggestive, and it kind of weirded me out. He then told me he was going to the same conference in Chicago and so I told everyone that I went with to keep their eyes out for Orlando and I was constantly on the lookout for him at the conference. A couple times I even emailed him back and tried to let him know “I wasn’t interested.” This is the last email I wrote to Orlando:

Orlando, Don’t take this the wrong way, but I am not quite sure where you are coming from bro.

Your comments always seem to be hinting at something, and I don’t know what you’re trying to get at. Or, if you are trying to get at something, I don’t know why you are saying these things. I just find it a bit odd for you to comment about me on others’ blogs (Reno’s) and/or that you say I “continue to be beyond your grasp.”

Adam

And now…well, it was a fitting time and place for Reno to tell me. “O” has actually been both Reno and my best bro Josh (Josh apparently came up with the email address: “orlytoes@yahoo.com”). Simply amazing. I have told so many people about this “weird guy” Orlando who keeps leaving odd comments on my blog. And it’s been Josh and Reno. Of course, once I found the IP address for Orlando, it totally matches up with Reno and Josh (and other PTSers commenting), so if I ever had tried to block him from commenting, I would have found out - but…wow. Apparently, they were even going to try and send a postcard from NYC, and Reno called the hotel I was at in Chicago and tried to leave a message under the name of “Orlando.” Simply amaaazing.

Absolutely amazing. Here are a couple of my favorite lines from Orlando:

• “Meow.”
• “Personally, I have found that eros can lead to great theological insight. Wish we could have wrestled with these issues together.”
• “P.S. Less pictures of books and hair and more of YOU!!!”
• “You are authentic, even though you continue to be beyond my grasp and remain somewhat of a mystery.”

Thanks Josh and Reno for making this semester the “Orlando semester” and making us laugh…a lot…non-stop about this guys’ comments, and then last night at the unveiling…Reno, Josh, you bros are loved.

To read all of Orlando’s comments, keep reading…

9.23.04
So, Adam. In light of your theological discussion, I wonder if you think it is ok to have as much sex as you wish. Since procreation is not the goal of sex, then, I suppose pleasure is the goal?

Also, I was wondering if you thought that pleasuring ourselves is ruled out of this equation.This is something that I have been contemplating alot recently, and in reading your blog silently over the past few months, I have come to respect your open theological stances.
Regards,
O.

9.23.04
Adam,

How important is sexual celibacy to your emerging theology and seminary experience? Eager to hear your thoughts…

Congratulations on such a highly trafficked post.

Regards from Brooklyn,
O.

9.27.04
Myles,

In the spirit of your post, could it also be said that we should always be careful before saying what God IS doing?

Pomomusings seems to be more about deconstructing our thoughts about YHWH rather than expanding YHWH’s shrine.

Regards,
O.

10.16.04
Adam,

Congratulations, you looked beautiful on your date. Black and grey are most definitely your colors.

I hereby offer my place in Brooklyn for you and your ladyfriend to explore beautiful NYC for a second date, “if needed”. ;)

Hopeful,
O.

10.25.04
First of all, Reno, I applaud you for your thoughtful post.

It amazes me how Chris, Dave, and Keith, who are so driven by ideology do not have enough intellectual chutzpah to respond accurately and to address the point that you are trying to make. Have you actually thought through your comments, or are your “theological members” so engorged with your own conservative ideology that you have missed the point? This leads me to my second point…

Adam, what are your thoughts on this? You have been silent in this discussion. Please indulge us.

Regards.
O.

11.1.04
Adam! I am so glad to read this post.

I will be in Chicago, at the conference WITH YOU!! What a small world. I have been anticipating this conference for months, and
believe that it will be an important week for us all. I will be looking for you. I will be eager to buy you a drink and to process the
conference with you as we sojourn through these issues together.

With great anticipation,
O.

11.5.04
Greetings, Adam!

As you have already gathered, I am sure, I was not able to make it to the conference. A work emergency came up and I had to fly to Cincinnati (of all places).

Thank you for posting about the conference, glad to see that you are interested in these issues. Truly, sex IS the untouched theological debate in the church today. Personally, I have found that eros can lead to great theological insight. Wish we could have wrestled with these issues together.

Regrets,
O.

11.5.04
“Is it hot in here…?”

Fondly,
O.

11.9.04
Meow!

O.
P.S. Love the profile.

11.13.04
Adam,

I have a very good friend at Union Seminary who is working with Derrida on his dissertation. Perhaps the three of us could hook up here in the City over spirits…on us.

I am so glad to see that you are moving in the right direction with your postmodern theology. As always, thanks for your openness…

Regards,
O.

P.S. Less pictures of books and hair and more of YOU!!!

12.2.04
A,

Greetings. It is amazing how these three posts had no reference to sex or embodiment issues. Adam, you ask “How can we have a church for Other?” Only the church born out of eros can be truly “for Other” — don’t you agree?

Embracing,
O.

Tags: Friends, Jen

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