It's The Pits-Burgh

I know it's not right to bitch about our mediocre weather when there are areas of the country that are torn apart by tornadoes and hurricanes and now, flooding... and I should be thankful... but I don't know how much more I can take of the dreary, gloomy, miserable, damp, rainy, overcast, dank depressing weather we've had this year.  Last year we got dried out... this year, soaked.  WTF?  What I wouldn't do to find someone who doesn't believe in global warming and beat them about the head and neck with some blunt object today just to get some frustration out.  Please tell me why you'd even bother to get out of bed when you're staring at a forecast like this?  Punxy Phil isn't popping out to see his shadow to predict how long winter will go on... he looks out and has the good sense to go back to bed for six + more weeks figuring what's the point. 

I got a lot accomplished last week and the areas that I mulched willl get them off my back... but there's still more to do... about 20 yards more.  Plus I have 16 bushes and trees that need planted and 600 annuals on the heels of that.  Please, mother nature... give me a break.

Show Me A Sign

My First Time (Bartending at the Blue Moon)

What an interesting concept, being on the other side of the bar making the drinks that people get tanked... and me not drinking and making money (and not having to run someone off my street corner, like usual).  I had a great time last night and it was fairly busy.  I was in the back bar, so it was a bit slower for me than the front bar where all the action was, but I was able to make some money, learn their systems, meet some people and hang out with Kyle, Kevin and Carter who came to sit with me at the bar to support me and keep me company.  The person that was training me got sick and went home an hour into the shift, leaving me alone to work the room and I did fine. 

I'm not sure how often I'll be working... right now, it seems like every other Friday, but there may be some extra slots opening up... and I'd like to get out to the front bar as well.  We'll see.  I'm just going to enjoy it as a night that I'm not spending money and getting drunk, but get to be out in it all.

I finally got into bed at 5 a.m.

Out of Sight, Out of My Mind

Wow... it's been a crazy week.  I, with help, managed to get about 40 yards of mulch done this past week and some grass cut today.  It's been some long-ass, tiring days in the 80 degree sun, but a great week, nonetheless.  Tonight, I head to my new bartending job at the gay bar.  Should be fun and interesting.

We've had some weird weather the last couple of days... Mother Nature has been up to her old tricks again... this morning... I woke up and looked out upon a few gorgeous landscaping guys planting shrubs (some of you may recall the guys from last year that were stalking me outside of my house, pretending through an elaborate scheme to cut the grass, etc. when they were trying to just catch a peep through the window) in the complex on a warm, beautiful day... and this afternoon, from the same window, torrential downpour and flooding.  Make up your mind.  Schedule-wise, I'm fine.  I have some things to get done, but a good time frame to do it, so no stress. 

I've been out of commission lately... haven't gotten to read anyone's blog or talk to people... hope everyone is OK.

Spo Shirt

I was pleased and honored to receive the Spo Shirt last Sunday.  Unfortunately, it sat here for a few days before I even took any pics, etc... mainly because I was waiting for it to stop raining so I could take a picture wearing it with Pittsburgh in the background.  Sadly, when it got sunny out... I've been working 13 hour days... so I never did get that picture snapped.

When I received it, I did open the box and in with it was a notebook with a short, hand-written note from everyone that has had it, in chronological order.  I immediately felt overwhelmed with emotion to not only be a part of this journey, but to read some of the stories of other's experience when they got it... and perhaps some of the things, good and bad, that were going on when it arrived.  It's almost like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants... but it's a shirt instead.

I was also very impressed with Spo's seamstressing... or tailoring... it was heavier than I thought it would be and was impeccably sewn.  I was also surprised to see that it fit me... as it looks much bigger in some of the pictures I've seen.  Granted, it didn't fit like my clubbing shirts... but I think I managed to get some sexy out of it.  My pics are NC17 rated... for a more spicy pic... check out Sean's Undie Monday spread.

You can check out the whole story of the shirt at SpoReflections Spo Shirt History.  Next stop... Shawn Dooley in San Diego...

Pittsburgh: Gaybirds and Jailbirds

I was watching a skit on The Daily Show last night and they did a piece on 'The Gayest Cities in the U.S.'... and was surprised to see that Pittsburgh came in at number 5, beating out New York City, Provincetown and Ft. Lauderdale/Miami... with San Francisco coming in at #11.  WTF?  I have lived in Las Vegas... and I can attest that there isn't much gay life there at all... and as for Pittsburgh... it's fairly gay... but not like NYC, SF and Miami.  The study was done by Advocate Magazine, so you think they'd know what they were talking about.  I don't get it.

When I got out of my old neighborhood, things were getting pretty bad with violence and vagabonds and the like.  Interestingly enough, they just moved the police station 4 blocks away, and it seemed to make things worse.  My Aunt told me the other day of an art student who was shot dead in the neighborhood, but I didn't get any of the details.  I'm not really a news whore so I really don't pay that much attention... figuring if it doesn't happen within 25 feet of me (the idealogy for my original blog name, Trouble in My Bubble), then it's none of my business, having enough to worry about already.  Last night, I just happen to catch the first minute of the news because one of my progrums was ending at that time... and it turns out that the kid was shot 20 feet outside the front door of my old house.  It puts things into perspective... that could have been me, for all the times that I was out front picking up litter, etc.  I'm just glad that I got out of there.  What is this world coming to?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Weekend Update

I went from never going out on the weekends to it being an every week occurance, and this one was no different.  I look forward to it now... where I never used to.  The bar that we go to is modest and small but lots of fun and I've been hanging out with a whole different crowd that actually likes to do things and have fun.  Friday, we did our normal karaoke night and on Saturday, Carter had his birthday at another bar, but I didn't stay out very late, since I was tired from the night before. 

Last week at the bar, I happened to mention it to the manager that if they needed help bartending (I am certified and worked at the Marriott for 3 years bartending) that I'd be interested.  An hour later, he tapped me on the shoulder and said they were interested.  It became official yesterday... and I start training this Friday at the Blue Moon Bar.  Instead of being in front of the bar slamming Long Island iced teas, I will be behind the bar now.  It's a good opportunity to get myself back into a bartending gig, since that will probably be what I fall back on in my golden years... and will be a foot in the door to maybe get into a bigger bar down the road and will keep me busy in the winter when I'm not landscaping.  It's great money and fun, I just hope I'm not cutting off my nose to spite my face... with a few things planned already this summer, I will be tied up on weekends now, as I'd only be working there Fridays and Saturdays.  At least I get to wear whatever I want and wear my hat. 

My nephew stopped by with his fiance, Devin and we got to meet her.  She seems very down-to-earth and nice and they seem to be happy.  They will be getting married August 2012.  He also made the payments that he needed to make to my Dad, so all is good... for now.

Not sure why... and I'm not going to ask... but we will be having a 4 or 5 day stretch of no rain, complete sunshine and about 70+ degrees all week, starting today.  I'm off to do mulch again today... probably another 12 hour day... I love it!!  Yesterday, I managed to get a long row of hedges trimmed back along the parking lot where there are usually lots of cars.  Sundays, especially those with a holiday, the parking lot is clear, so I get a lot done.  I also managed to pull a few pine trees out in an area that I'm tearing out and replanting with new trees and bushes.  Sadly though, I unearthed a nest of baby birds and they went scampering around.  I managed to get them gathered up and hope that the mother, who was berating me the whole time, can get them resettled.  Nothing makes you feel more like crap than upsetting a mama bird on Mother's Day.

Stefon... Mother's Day Suggestions

Moms The Word

My Mom passed away in 1994. She went over to the beauty parlor to get her hair back-combed and permed, came home and was fiddling with it in the mirror in the bathroom. My Dad was in the kitchen talking to her and he said she started saying things that didn't make sense... words all jumbled and all. She then fell on the floor and was taken to the hospital, suffering from a brain aneurysm.  I lived in Philly at the time and didn't get to talk to her since she was pretty much brain-dead upon arrival.

It's hard when you don't get to say goodbye. I was 28 at the time... and there's a lot of things that I would have loved to have done with her, like take her to plays and musicals since she loved to sing and get dressed up. And although I don't think that we would have ever had the type of relationship where I would have sat down to ask her advice instead of blogging about it... it's a hard pill to swallow that I will never be given the chance.  I don't know what it feels like to have that support system, even down to the basics of having your Mom just give you a much-needed hug.  It's difficult to say how that has affected me and the person that I have become... perhaps self-soothing... stubbornly independent... slightly detached.

 

While I was always closer to my Mom than my Dad, we shared an odd connection that felt somewhat like a rivalry at times.  There was a huge generation gap in thinking, and my early job hopping to get ahead was a theory that she didn't get, given my Dad's track record of being in the same job for 40 years.  I also felt like because my Mom didn't work... didn't drive... and was saddled with two boys (when she would have loved to have had a little girl (she almost got that)) in a remote location, that she wasn't happy.  Getting more details on my adoption would have also given me a sense of foundation and better understanding.  Being able to talk about some of that with her later in life, like now, would have been valuable and therapeutic.  Instead, I can only wonder.

In the pictures, we see her posing like Jacqueline Kennedy or some shit... complete with the dog and the tree like it was 'a night with the first lady' tv special.

Although usually when mad at me, my Mom was the only one allowed to call me 'Dave'.

Settling Down (Finally)

If you've read any of my older posts from about a year ago or so, you know all that I've gone through with my brother (the addict) and my nephew (after he saw what my brother was getting away with) and the things they've done to my Dad, trying to rip him off.  It's been months since I've heard from my brother, which is a good thing... and after some negotiations regarding the school loans that my nephew got my Dad to co-sign and subsequently went into default, he has made a huge turn around in his life.  With a new job at a college where he can finally finish his degree for free, an apartment of his own and taking responsibility for his financial situation, he is well on his way to becoming a man.  Now 25, it's about time that Tony gets on track.

Recently, he met Devin and they are now engaged.  Since it was his first girlfriend that got him into a heap of trouble to begin with years ago, I'm hoping that history won't be repeating itself and that he will settle down and continue on his path.  I haven't met her yet, but she seems to be level-headed from what he said... and with his recent accomplishments, she must have had something to do with it.

Our history hasn't been exactly good.  I moved to Philly for his first twelve years shortly after he was born.  I was the absentee Uncle, which meant that I was always good for buying him something when I came home, and that was about it in his eyes.  We now have been able to develp a relationship, which I am happy about.  Being adopted, having my Mom pass away when I was 28, dealing with my brother's crap and not having any sort of relationship with my Dad until we moved in together a couple of years ago... I've had a rather fractured sense of family... always having been closer to my friends.  It's an interesting feeling for him to be one of the few people that I actually have a blood connection.  My brother is technically my half brother, and although there is a blood connection, there's no hope of us ever having any sort of meaningful relationship.  Short the other 6 or 7 half brothers and sisters that I have that I don't see, my nephew will be it for me in my lifetime.  And although it's a relatively simple concept (blood relations) for everyone else in the world, it's an experience that I won't experience much in my life.  It leaves me feeling vulnerable, hoping that he doesn't screw it up again.

YUM !! (Manly-Muscle Hairy Chests)

An Honest Day's Work

I had a great day today... it was about 65 degrees and sunny.  My friend, Kyle, came to work with me and he mulched while I did the first full grass cutting.  What usually takes me about 7 hours took me about 10 today because the grass was so high and thick from the rain.  It was a good 13 hour day.  On the plus side, with the rain, all the bushes and trees and plants are doing really well.  It should be a lush Spring... and hopefully not followed by a drought like last year when everything dried up and died.

Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!

I have to apologize for not only for not posting anything for a few days, but for not reading many posts lately either... I've been in a major slump this last week or so.  With rain coming down every day this week, I've gotten nothing done work-wise, and the lack of progress and the shitty weather have taken it's toll on me.  I haven't felt like writing anything and have been fairly down in the dumps.  Having no sunshine really effects me... I haven't really cared about too much of anything.  The picture, incidentally, is of me in 1974 when I was 7 years old.  That was my favorite place to sleep... in that vinyl beanbag chair.  The neighbors white German Shepard used to come visit us all the time and would sleep in it too.  Those were the days... the care-free days.  This picture captures my mood, for sure.

I've been to the gym two times in three weeks, and while it seems like with me not working so much that I would have plenty of time, I just haven't felt like it.  Last week's trip to Columbus wore me out and with some, somewhat, bad eating, I feel like I've gained some weight, although the scale doesn't say that (still at 175lbs) and neither does my fat percentage, still around 15.5%.  I can definitely see that my muscles have taken a beating, probably being used up as fuel.  Maybe I'm just being paranoid.  Clearly there's a difference between the first photo I took back in the beginning of January and the one next to it, which was this morning.

I spent the day with my friend, Kyle, yesterday.  We went to see Water for Elephants with Reese Witherspoon and Camp Edward... it was really good.  It's interesting seeing a movie about animals with someone who works at the zoo... it's a different perspective.  We ate lunch, got a coffee and then took his dogs to the park to throw the ball and then walk them on the trails.  It was a great day.

Today is the first full day of sun that we will be having in weeks and although it's only 37 degrees out, it's going up to 62 and not a chance of rain at all.  I'm heading out in a few minutes to get a start on the day, hoping to get a good 12 hours in, which will do me some good.

I am the recipient of the Spo Shirt... I received it a few days ago and was waiting for it to stop raining so I could go out and get some Pittsburgh related pictures with the shirt on.... stay tuned.

Mother's Day is Fast Approaching

Weekend Recap

There's such an energy in Columbus that I don't feel here in Pittsburgh.  It's amazing how it's further in the midwest, and yet it feels more progressive in many ways.  High Street is littered with art galleries and trendy restaurants and progress... and the gay presence there is two-fold.  We had a great time taking in some shopping and partaking in some bar-hopping.  We got home around 3 yesterday... and I slept for 5 hours... woke up for 3, then back again for another 8.  I am definitely looking for some quiet time today.  One thing that I'm noticing more and more as I get older... I need quiet time.  3 hours in a car with GaGa blasting wore on my last gay nerve.


The expectation of quiet time is perhaps ill-timed, considering the events of the world last night.  With Osama Bin Laden now dead, it offers both peace to the families of those killed by his terrorist's acts, but also provides fuel to his followers in their expected acts of revenge.  Only time will tell, but I think it's going to get worse before it gets better.  I'm all for capital punishment, but I don't feel vindicated that he was killed... and some of the celebrations are making me feel uncomfortable.  We already have a bad light in the international arena without adding our whooting and hollering like we just won a football game to the list of arsenal.  It's called a moment of silence for a reason.

This past weekend wasn't exactly a model weekend for watching what I ate.  I've fallen off slightly, lately.  A few too many sugarless candies... a sponge cake or two... a few Diet Cokes... it all adds up.  I haven't gained any weight and my fat percentage is still around 15.5%, but I feel like maybe by not hitting the gym hard these last couple of weeks, muscle is being used as fuel.  With all the rain, haven't been working as much as I anticipated, and a few spinning classes might be much-needed.  I need to take a step back to basics and get on track.