Tuesday, July 31, 2007
RIP Mike
I've joked that my parents belong to the Death-of-the-Month Club because it seems that they're always going to some funeral home. Some people's parents join civic organizations or bridge clubs; my parents go to wakes. About thirty years ago they joined a volunteer organization and were one of the youngest couples. As a result, many of their friends are a little older. And now dying.
Lately Mom's emails seem to be occurring with greater frequency. And it made me a little sad when I talked to her this past week. Their friend Mike passed away at 83. He had a heart attack and didn't want surgery at his age - he just wanted to die at home . . . which he did . . . 2 days later. My parents always liked Mike and his wife Dell. Besides bearing a striking resemblance to Floyd the barber from the old Andy Griffith Show, Mike was a sweet, kind soul who never said a bad thing about anyone. And he ended just about every sentence with 'yyyyessir'.
This particular funeral was tough for my folks and I feel bad that they had to go through it. There's a price to pay for being friendly and outgoing and having so many friends - there's a lot of goodbyes for which you can neither plan nor allow yourself to expect.
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Monday, July 30, 2007
Chicago History Museum

This past weekend, The BF and I went to the Chicago History Museum (see us in the "O"?). After getting over the initial euphoria of seeing the actual bed in which Lincoln died (The BF checked my pulse a few times), we meandered through the museum taking all kinds of strange pictures and learning a little more about they city we love and call home.

Friday, July 27, 2007
Steroids vs. Bulimia

Thursday, July 26, 2007
He's The One
I've heard this song about a hundred times off Robbie's The Ego Has Landed CD. Perhaps I never really paid attention to it, perhaps it was the woman's voice, perhaps because I was at a wedding surrounded by love, perhaps it was just having The BF next to me for the first time in three weeks (following his bike tour) . . . perhaps it was all these things. In any event, while sitting listening to the song, I almost totally lost it.
I'm not a crier - that is, it's rare for me to shed a tear. I have to be pretty emotionally tapped out for that to happen. It's not that I don't share my feelings or emotions, I just don't get sad very often. But sitting in that room, next to that person, hearing that song, it was alot for me to handle.
The main refrain is "If there's somebody calling me on, she's the one". It's a song about support and encouragement; about being with the one person who challenges you to challenge yourself to go a little further; about being with that person who inspires and motivates you to be better. And The BF does that for me. I think it was that moment that I realized how nice it was to be with him again. I decided that our relationship can stand the strain of our being separated for several weeks at a time, or possibly longer if necessary - but it's not something I want to do too often. Because I need him there "calling me on". Which he does, with a smile.
And I'm pretty sure he's the one.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Johnny Rockets Ride To Nowhere

Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Harry Potter Film

Friday, July 20, 2007
The Morning Funnies

Funnier than seeing an adult in a suit running for the bus is seeing an adult in a suit run for the bus and not make it. Through the glass, you can see the adult mouth one of three expressions: "shit", "ah c'mon", or the most popular "fuck". And then I can't help myself, but I giggle silently.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Cold Homeless
Do homeless people acquire lower body temperatures?
The other day, it was 95 muggy degrees in downtown Chicago and I saw a homeless guy at the gas station across from my office, wearing a coat. And this is not the first time I've seen this. I can understand the need or compulsion for someone without a home to have to wear everything he owns, but many times I have seen someone who I define as homeless or vagrant dressing far colder than the actual temperature.
So I'm just curious. Anyone?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
July 18th
2006 - Have dinner and pose for publicity photos at Hamburger Mary's with The BF, Ashley and Jessica S.
2005 - Fly out to Chicago for interviews. Stay at The Villa Toscana. Spend the day with The BF (back before he was The BF - it was our second date) at Millennium Park, the Field Museum (with Jessica T.), and Buckingham Fountain (where we snap our first photo together).
2004 - Have third session at Fatty's Custom Tattooz in DC. Have dinner at Local 16 with Ex#4. Go out with Ashley to Lizard Lounge.
2003 - Go to Remington's with Ashley to sing karaoke.
2001 - See Legally Blonde with friend George B.
1999 - Visit Deep Creek Lake with Ex#3. Spend the day jet skiing, climbing Wisp mountain. Dinner at Silver Tree, drinks at the Honi Honi.
1998 - Go to Rehoboth Beach with Ex#3. Stay at Atlantic Sands, dinner at Summer House, dance at Renegade.
1997 - Mail my phone and VISA payments. Hair appointment (yeah, I used to have those) at Suissa. Out to Badlands with friend David F.
1995 - Interview with The Gap in Georgetown. Dinner at Chi-Chi's with friend Lance D.
1994 - Spend the night at Ex#1's place in DC on my way back to Eugene O'Neill Theater Center summer internship (came home for brother's wedding).
1993 - Dinner at Karrow's with Ex#2 and friends Ron M, James C., and Scott S. during Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre in Winchester, VA.
1992 - See Ex#2 in Me & My Girl at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. Dinner and drinks with gang at Coley Harry's.
1991 - Softball game in Arlington at 7:00, then go to "Ripped Levi Night" at the DC Eagle with friend Matt B.
1990 - Go to Allegany County Fair and Expo with best friend Jeff in Cumberland.
1989 - Work until 6. Have pizza with friend Mike P.
1988 - Ex#1 and I have friends Steve & Steve in for dinner. Ex#1's best friend Ivan stays over.
1987 - Work until 4:00. Go to Deer Park Lodge with friend Steve P.
1986 - Work at the hotel from 4-midnight.
1985 - Take car in for tune-up. Work at McDonald's from 6-9:45. Out drinking with friend Dave S. visiting from the US Naval Academy.
1984 - Dinner at Pizza Hut with Spanish Class students.
1983 - Softball game at 6:30.
1982 - Ride along to take brother Mike to Boy Scout Camp for the week.
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Thursday, July 12, 2007
I Think I Love It

But at least if I bought this bar code chandelier I could end up tossing it later, not like a tattoo. So is this lamp cool or not?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Open Letter To Cab Drivers

First of all, let me say thank you. Apparently I must look inexperienced, naive, and dewy-fresh to you (tho, I can assure you, it's been ages since I've been a virgin at anything). I say this because you must think I don't know how to hail a cab, even though I am over 40 and have lived in metropolitan areas for the last 20 years. I must make a note to myself to wipe the vague expression off my face while I am minding my own business walking down a sidewalk.
This is the only reason I can think of as to why you feel the need to blow your horn at me for no reason. Trust me when I tell you, I know how to hail a taxi. Unless the process has changed, you simply stand on the street and hold your arm up. Correct? Is there something new? I'm sometimes out of touch, so help me out here. Am I now supposed to just shake my ass in your direction? Maybe that's why you are confusing my simple walking with trying to get your attention for a ride.
May I also remind you that despite the fact that you CONSTANTLY disobey the speed limits, traffic signals, and commit numerous moving violations, you are also violating Chicago's Noise Pollution Law 11-4-1290, which states:
No person shall sound any horn or audible signal device of any motor vehicle of any kind while not in motion nor shall such horn or signal device be sounded under any circumstances except as required by law nor shall it be sounded for any unnecessary or unreasonable period of time.So you see, aside from just being annoying, you're also breaking the law. So hear this: if I need you, I know where to find you.
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Monday, July 09, 2007
3 Down, 1 To Go
1) It marked the first time I was officially invited to a function with The BF. Prior to this, invitations were sent to The BF "+1". This time, my name made it on the invitation, suckas!
2) I got to meet just about all of The BF's college friends, who are very near and dear to his heart. It was a bit daunting, as I would be meeting about a dozen or so people all at once.
I only had two fall-backs for the night - Jessica and Ann, both of whom I already know. But as expected, they are all a great group of people. If you can judge a person by his friends, then The BF is a pretty great guy (but I already knew that).
But, MORE IMPORTANTLY on this weekend trip, I met The BF's sister and brother-in-law. Not just met them, but stayed in their cute little home. And they were as gracious and accepting as I expected them to be. Truth be told, I usually do pretty well with sisters; three of my Ex's have one (#1, #4, & #5). But I was a little nervous about meeting this one, I think because we waited so long to meet. She's been hearing my name for about two years now, and I felt I had either a lot to live up to, or a lot to explain. But she's a lovely woman and it was fun seeing someone with the same mannerisms as The BF . . . only in the form of a perky little redhead.
So despite The BF's myriad of friends, I've now also met The Mom, The Sis, and The Bro-in-Law. That leaves only The Dad.
3 down, 1 to go.
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Thursday, July 05, 2007
Damn You, Michael Francis Hartney II
1. I'm currently reading my 8th book about John Wilkes Booth titled, Right or Wrong, God Judge Me. After reading so much about what others have written about him, it's interesting to read his own thoughts in his own words. Something new I have learned: he was bow-legged (which is probably why he broke his leg after jumping to the stage), and he was a really bad speller. I'd still do him, though.
2. I've managed a reconciliation of sorts with Ex#3 to whom I swore 8 years ago I would never speak again. Time has softened me where he is concerned and I no longer consider him to be a mass of dead plant life. Eventually, I am hoping to feel the same way about Ex#4 - but I doubt it. On a lighter note, Ex#2, my personal favourite, is visiting Chicago in August.
3. The bump in my left calf from my bicycle accident on April 28th is almost gone. It's now marble sized as opposed to its original tennis ball size. I've never been so happy about something shrinking.
4. I just had my 90-day review at work and my boss basically loves me, which is both good and bad. Good, because it's always good when your boss loves you, and bad because she left on Friday to begin her 12-week maternity leave, which puts me in charge for the next three months. It's a bit daunting - seeing as how I have only been on the job for three months myself - to suddenly be in charge of a company during an office expansion, a satellite office acquisition, an overhaul of the performance review process, and the ending of the fiscal year, among other things (but then think of all the fun blogs I have to write in the future).
5. I have discovered "drop off laundry service". For about $20 a week, I drop my laundry off at the local laundromat in the morning and pick it up in the evening on my way home. Yes, I do refold everything the way I like it, but I am also not wasting two hours or so in the laundromat watching clothes dry. I don't have many extravagances in my life - but this is one of them. Give me this.
6. I went out last Friday night with my roommate and got hit on three times. That, for me, is lately unheard of. I'll accept that I probably get cruised while I am out and about, but I tend to be completely oblivious to it, mostly because I'm not looking for it. The BF does a great job of both flattering and humbling me (he's the only person who can give me a little dig and follow it up with a kiss - which keeps me on a very even keel). So I know I was hit on because these three men were physical in their aggressions, which bothers me because 1) I don't like being touched by people I don't know, and 2) I have long prided myself on being somewhat unapproachable. Apparently, I need to spend more time in the gym.
7. The History Channel is beginning to get on my nerves with all the war documentaries and space programs. For over two years now, I turn on the channel hoping for a biography on a Founding Father or a story about Reconstruction or the plight of the Navaho. Instead, it is yet another documentary about World War II or hunts for lost squadrons or something about star wars. I demand a story on the founding of Idaho!
8. The BF has been gone on his vacation now for two weeks, and I can't remember when I have missed anyone so much. It's like a dull ache. He completed a 695 mile bike trip (which still amazes me, seeing as how I have trouble biking from my house to the pier - 3 miles away). Along the way, he camped outside, fighting thunderstorms and raccoons, and still managed to find the strength everyday to get up and ride 70 or so miles despite sunburn, exhaustion, and unmarked roadways. He's my hero, and I get to see him again tonight!! YAY!
So there are 8 things about me. I won't tag anyone on this. However if any of my friends or blog buddies have an interest in writing 8 things about themselves, I'd love to read it.
And Michael - call me sometime!
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Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Nicole Richie & 50 Cent
Just this past April, the traffic doubled from March. In just a month, twice the number of people who were visiting my blog, were . . . well, visiting my blog. And that number has steadily increased over the last two months. My readership for June was 4 times what it was for the same month last year.
I'm not complaining at all (cause I don't complain, I just point things out), but it would be interesting to learn where the sudden burst of interest came from.
I am curious about one thing though. My blog seems to be the host of images of Nicole Richie and 50 Cent. I get a lot of traffic from people who Google those names. So my traffic is not really directed to me as much as its directed at me. And it must be frustrating for those people who are looking for images of Nicole and "Fitty" to suddenly find themselves at my big gay blog. Still, I have to wonder how my blog became the owner of those two images, considering I
So for those who are looking for the images, here they are:


Monday, July 02, 2007
"W" Does It Again

In exactly 18 months, this man will get a complete pardon from the White House. The only president to ever serve two terms and not accomplish one single domestic policy will exonerate I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby of all illegal activity.
And I am sure he's not going to be the only one.
Oh, yeah. It's gonna happen!
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