YUM !! (Love... It Takes Two)

Bangles and Baubles

Someone commented on a picture of me recently where I was wearing the black rubber wristband that I always wear (seen on my left wrist in the picture) and wondered if it had any symbolism, like Lance Armstrong's yellow ones for cancer, etc... I wish there was a story of humanity behind it but, sad to say, nope... I bought it because it was black... and black is my signature color.  Shelby had Blush and Bashful... I have the color of death.

I go through phases... at one time, I was all into gold and diamonds... then it was platinum and diamonds... now, it's mostly rubber bands.  Usually people wear more jewelry as they get older... I wear less.  I'm more earthy-crunchy now.  Part of the reason is my jobs... being a massage therapist and a landscaper, I don't wear much because it would get messed up, lost (from taking it off so much) or caught on something. 

I've had some nice pieces back in the day... three Gucci watches... a Tissot... and some nice rings, including a 1 carat round diamond solitaire, flush-mounted into gold... it looked like a big diamond eyeball, watching me as I looked fabulous... I mean, I thought that I had arrived, don't you just worry about that.  It was given to me by a boyfriend the second go-round.  We had broken up and that was supposed to impress me... and considering he owed me about $15k at the time... I'd would have much rather had the cash in-hand.  Regretably, I whipped it at his head at the end of the second go-round... and on the third go-round, he never gave it back to me (for fear of future head injury, no doubt)... and consequently, getting it back was one of the main reasons I got back with him to begin with, so it didn't last long.  So, out my solitaire ring and my $15k.  Lesson learned... never give the jewelry back.

A few years back, I sold off all my watches and rings since I never wore them any more.  I replaced them with some retro looking Fossil watches (the same style, one with a black face and one in brown)... and two that I thought was the sun in the face, but turned out to be a tennis ball.  With the words "U.S. Open 2004" etched onto it, I should have realized, but I will plead the fifth of gay... I don't pay attention to sports unless it's swimming, ice skating and gymnastics (the gay triad).  Unfortunately, since I never wear those either... the batteries are all dead, and there's always one jagoff in the crowd that calls me out when he sees that the time isn't correct, and realizes that I'm just a gaybird wearing a watch that matches my outfit but doesn't work.  I am right-handed... and I've always worn my watches on my right hand... it just feels better.  Again, somebody will always call me out, asking me if I'm left-handed... there isn't some law that says you have to wear your watch on the opposite wrist of the one you write with, is there?  Oddly, I wear the rubber bands only on my left wrist.  Typical Gemini bullshit, making no sense.

I have three rubber bands that I've collected over the years.  The black one, I got in Las Vegas.  I love the retro sign and stars, but I usually wear it inside out so it's just all black.  The grey one I got at Petco, supporting Greyhounds (the dogs, not the buses)... and the orange one, PNC bank was giving away for free yesterday at the pride festival (it says "PNC Celebrates With Pride).  Nice that they showed up and all... but obviously they were just gay for pay... looking for some gay dollars to be deposited into their bank via some new customers.  The only rings that I have left are the gay pride one that is bejeweled and bedazzled in colors of the rainbow flag... and the white gold one with small diamonds that I gave to my ex, Jesse, to counteract his fear of abandonment.  When I broke up with him, to help him face his fear... I made him abandon the ring.  A little random therapy never hurt anyone.

I'll never forget, back in the early 90's, I went to see Joan Rivers in concert.  She was talking about wedding rings and asked to see some of the rings on the fingers of some of the girls in the front row (first mistake... never sit in the front row).  This one girl jumped up and stuck her hand out for Joan to ogle, thinking that she would rave about it... and she said to the girl... "that's swimmers jewelry... you wear that into a pool when you don't want to lose your good one"... and the girl was mortified.  Again, NEVER sit in the front row... and never volunteer for anything.... and NEVER NEVER NEVER give the jewelry back when it's over.

We Are Family (Albeit Disfunctional)

This week has been somewhat emotional for me for a number of different reasons.  For one, I'm exhausted and haven't slept much, so I'm kind of 'raw' right now and my nerves are exposed, so to speak.  I've been edgy, and communication with everyone this week has been a struggle.  Another reason is that the guy I started dating didn't really work out, and that makes me sad because I thought it had some potential because he was special and I really felt a spark, but it didn't seem to come together, so I walked away... not what I wanted.  Lastly, I'm proud of all the things that I have been able to get accomplished lately... with a lot of balls being juggled... they're still mid-air, so that's good.

So it's no wonder that today, at the pride parade, I got all choked up.  The parade was huge... and there were so many people that showed up.  Last year, standing on the sidelines watching the parade go by, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment for our community.  This year, being in the parade, it was magnified.  As I drove in the parade route, I saw all the people cheering as we drove past... the support, not only for the bar... but for us as their 'family' members, was overwhelming, and I found myself holding back tears many times.  To be a part of a group of people that are strong and overcome adversity on a daily basis... gay, bi, transgendered, drag queens, lesbians, etc... and who aren't afraid to be themselves in a world where non-conformity and being different have their cost.  And yet, we all rise above it, getting up time after time of being beaten down as though we are some sort of freak of nature, deviant or abnormality.  I am proud to be a part of this group... and would rather be someone special than part of the whole... be colorful rather than blending... and be an individual with a mind of my own.

It's not easy being gay.  I've been asked many times throughout my life if I had a choice, would I pick being gay... and the answer is yes.  They say you can't 'pick' your family.  I'd pick these people each and every time... and consider them exactly that... family.

For Medium-Well Gay, Bake at 350 Degrees for 45 Minutes

I am up, somehow.  Not that busy a night at the bar because of Miss Patti LaBelle singing at the Pride in the Streets Concert, but what lacked in numbers, made up for it in pure crazy.  What a strange crowd at the Blue Moon.  The previous night, with some 400 queers packed into a hot, smokey bar... we had no incident.  Take 33... and you've got fights and problems out on the sidewalk and a whole load of bat-shit crazy coming in off the street.  Odd, that's all I have to say.

I cut grass for 3 hours yesterday after getting 2.5 hours of sleep... then spent 4 hours cleaning and detailing my truck.  The parade sparked a few other things that I've been putting off, like changing a burned-out tail light and undercoating the bottom of the truck.  It's all ready for the parade... she works hard, but cleans up well.  Gotta run... the parade awaits.  4 hours of sleep last night... people are going to be on my last gay nerve.

Love-Tapping a Dyke-Riden Harley Hog

For the Pride celebration, last night was the 'Bar Crawl'.  For $30, you got tickets to a number of bars and got a free drink at each of them... and were buses on school bused from one bar to another as part of the package.  For the people, it was probably a good deal, and fun... you got to see all the bars and not have to drive.  For the bars, not so fun.  The bar itself saw no money from the tickets... but we, as bartenders, had to make all the drinks.  I rang about $500 on my drawer... which is usually about $200 more than a normal night... but taking into consideration how many 'free' drinks we made... I would have rung 3 times that, at least.  With 'free' drinks, comes bargain shoppers/tippers... and what would have been a killing in tips turned out to be a record high for me there... but should have been fantastic.

I'm no stranger to a busy night.  At the Marriott, we would have Penguin hockey rushes before the game and I'd ring $3,000+ on my drawer, but there were 5 of us working behind the bar.  It wouldn't have been bad last night, except that the bar back was AWOL most of the night... and then drank himself into a stupor... and the bar doesn't have enough glassware, so I was literally washing glasses out to be able to make drinks... and considering that bus loads of them were showing up every 15 minutes... I didn't stop once the whole night.  It was fun though... I enjoy being busy.  At the end, the bar back passed out and was taken home... so we had to clean up the mess.  We got out of there at 5:15... I was in bed at 6:15 and, wide awake again at 8:30 this morning.  Not good.  With landscaping work, working out and working at the bar... my appendages are dangling today.

Today, I have to wash my truck for the parade tomorrow, since a bunch of people from the bar will be sitting in the back of it and I'll be driving it in the parade with banners all over it.  I'm back at the bar tonight at 9... probably another 4 am morning... then at the parade at 10 am. 

I hope I don't fall asleep at the wheel and run into Dykes on Bikes in front of me and knock all their motorcycles down and they kick my ass.  Or worse, catch the tail end of a feathered boa or scuff the back of a drag queens 6" stilettos with my front bumper... you don't want to mess with a queen's cha-cha heels or fashion accessory...  hell hath no fury than a perturbed man with his weiner tucked in spanx with full make-up and a bedazzled gown with a wig jacked up 18 inches off their head on an 85 degree day in June after they just walked 15 blocks waving like Princess Di.  They simply won't have it, plain and simple.

Happy Gay Pride

Tonight starts the Gay Pride Festival here in Pittsburgh.  There's a bar crawl where they're busing the gays from one bar to the other, so it should be busy.  Since I'm on permanent Fridays and Saturdays now... I'll be there.  I'm not what will be taller, gayer and more refreshing... me or the drinks!  Tomorrow night is the dance in the street, with Miss Patti LaBelle as the headliner.  I'll be working at the bar, so I won't be going... but I am letting them use my truck Sunday morning in the parade for the bar... so I'll get in bed around 5 am and have to get up, wash my truck and get to the parade by 10 am.  Afterwards, they have a block party stretching about 8 downtown city blocks... it was a lot of fun last year.... with booths set up and food and performance.  Coincidentally, the Pittsburgh Arts Festival will be going on a few blocks away... should be interesting.  Here goes another fun-filled, not-much-sleep weekend again.

It's been a busy week at work.  I was able to get 60 flats of flowers planted and did some more mulching today.  It's been so hot and humid... it's not been fun. 

I made it to the gym tonight... first time in about 5 weeks.  Unbelievably, I am still at 16% body fat... 170 lbs... and could still lift the weights where I left off.  I've had my fair share of sponge cake over the last couple of weeks... and my diet hasn't been that strict... and yet I've been able to maintain.  I guess it's all the strenuous work and sweating.

YUM !! (Total Towel Hotties)

Blogger Problem

I clean out my cache and history all the time.  There is a bona-fide problem with a glitch in the layout template or the gadgets that affects comments.  There are many service notes about this... I did what they told me to do and nothing changed.  I created another google account (D@vid @ Another Mile Marker) that I can leave comments with until I figure out what I'm going to do with my blog.

Flogging Blogger

I've been going back and forth with whether to move my blog to Wordpress.  I've been having some problems with comments... mainly posting any on anyone else's blog... I get caught in an endless loop of signing in and word verification and my comments don't post.  They say it's a glitch of some sort caused by the layout of the blog or some gadget layout thingy.  Sometimes, my list of followed blogs don't show up, my counter disappears, etc.  Regardless... I've been silenced, so to speak... and I don't like it.  I'd have to import my blog into Wordpress, hope for the best, and get a new blogger ID to be able to leave comments on other's blogs.

Is anyone having problems leaving comments on my blog?  If so, email me (My Email Address) and let me know.  It will help me make my decision.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

We're definitely the product of our parents.  In my case (and for this exercise), I'm referring to my biological mother... the vagabond, wandering gypsy.  With a man in every port, she couldn't be held down by a boyfriend, job, husband or her kids... she had to keep going, never getting her fill of life and what it had to offer... in her case, instability and about 9 children, but I digress.  If there's anything that I inherited from her, it's this constant state of unrest that I'm in.  Always on the go... always looking for a new experience... always wanting more from life.  Nothing makes me more happy than to be behind the wheel of the car heading in some unknown direction without a plan.  It's about the journey, not the destination, and I've done more than my share of enjoying some great journeys.  While other people amass property or cars or material things, I collect memories and experiences.

With a few goals in mind, I not only wanted to get away and explore, but I also wanted to put some closure on my depressive spiral called 'my move to Vegas'.  Hitting the lowest and darkest point of my life when things didn't work out and standing on the edge (literally, of the Grand Canyon, ready to end 'it'), I haven't been back there since.  That was about 4 years ago... and I've come back from the brink stronger than ever, but I'd like to face my demons in this trip.  I'm going to see a few friends I met out there... visit a few places that have some meaning in relation to that time period... and put it to rest.

I acted too quickly in booking the trip, not thinking about it before locking in the car and flight, when I should have extended the trip a few days, but now can't.  Because of the geographical layout of the Grand Canyon (no easy way around it) and the distance between things that I wanted to do, I had to cut out Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, otherwise, I'd spend most of the days driving 5 hours to each thing.  I was fortunate to get great prices on the hotel and car... and found hotels all under $65 a night that were decent and clean, so it should be a relatively inexpensive trip. 

I really connect to the desert.  It speaks to me.  It's not about what's there... it's about what was there.  You can't help be overwhelmed with understanding of history and time... and a sense of mystery and compassion for the earth.

Here's the final Itinerary:

July 5th… Fly into Phoenix at 11 am… explore Phoenix and Scottsdale, dinner with Ur-Spo and Someone, staying in Phoenix.July 6th … Leave for Sedona (2 hrs away), Verde Hot Springs, etc…. staying in Flagstaff.


July 7th… Leave for South Rim Grand Canyon/Helicopter tour (2 hrs away) or stay to see more of Sedona, etc, staying in Flagstaff


July 8th… Leave for Las Vegas (3.5 hrs away)… see friends there… staying in Las Vegas


July 9th… Tour Death Valley, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead/Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon… see friends there…staying in Las Vegas


July 10th… Tour Death valley, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead/Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon… see friends there…staying in Las Vegas


July 11th… Wrap up in Vegas, leave for Phoenix (4 hrs away) via Lake Havasu… staying in Phoenix

July 12th… Fly out back to Pittsburgh 10 am

Phoenix or Bust

I finally had 5 seconds to sit down and think about my quickly-booked trip to Phoenix.  After taking a look at the places that I wanted to see (Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas), I'm realizing that I either need to cut things or add time... which the latter isn't too much of a reality.  I'm kind of locked into my flight and car... and booked my hotel the night of my arrival into and departure from Phoenix.  The thing that makes it so difficult is all of those spots are, on average, 4 hours from each other... which means a lot of really early morning driving to get to them and still have a decent amount of time to actually see them.  The other thing that I'm realizing is that I need to choose how physical I want to get at these places, taking into consideration the time that I'll have allotted... do I do the car tour, or do I do some hiking?  Five hours hike down into the Grand Canyon and 7 hours out can't be done in one day.  The other thing weighing my decisions down is that the physical location and size of the Grand Canyon... with no easy way around it... adds time to the trip and could possibly add a lot of backtracking if I don't make the total loop.  It's difficult to eliminate points of interest when you have to pass them to get to another one... you might as well stop if you're passing.  I have to figure it all out.  The three pics are the Grand Canyon... with Zion to the right of it... and Bryce underneath.

I had a shitty night at the Blue Moon on Friday... especially after I heard the neaderthal ask how to make a vodka martini... that's what you learn the first 6 minutes of the 40 hour bar tending course.  What an idiot.  Anyway, I called and quit on Sunday, but didn't realize that the Manager called and told me they got rid of him and offered me Friday and Saturday night permanently at the front bar... so I accepted.  Without the idiot there, it should be fun again.... we'll see.  I'm less apt to put up with bullshit now.

Back to the grind at work... getting a lot of things done with the weather being nice, although hot and humid.  I really only have a few more days of mulching and planting before I'm down to my regular one or two days a week maintenance.  Next week... building a deck.

Weekend On-The-Go

I haven't posted since Thursday... the last couple days have been a blur.  I worked all day Friday then went to work at the bar... Saturday, my friend Eddie (who is in town from Philly staying with me since Friday) and I went to breakfast in the Strip District (kind of like the farmer market area of town), then we hit the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival and then went to the Pirates/Phillies game at PNC Park for an evening game.  It's the second game that I've been to at the park... which is really a great stadium, with the views of the city right across the river.  It was a good game... exciting right down to the end but, alas, my friend's team lost.  Of course, like everything in Pittsburgh, they had to shoot off fireworks.  It made for a great evening.  I met up with some friends at the bar last night... and Eddie and I are going to check out the Rivers Casino today before I wisk him off to the airport to head home.

It's been a full weekend... with staying up late Thursday, Friday and Saturday... and with the humid weather and constant running, I'm beat.  I need a day off from my days off...

I'll Take Potpourri for $100, Alex

I went from having nothing to say, to having too much to say, so I'm doing a 'tids and bits' sort of entry...

-  The other day, my palm was itchy... no big deal, I thought it was just hair sprouting on my palm from inappropriately touching my weiner too much (is that an old wives tale or for really?)... but I went to the mailbox and there was a check from Uncle Sam... apparently paying for other people's children to go to school through additional taxes... while adopting my own children is frowned upon... and having to file 'single' since I'm not allowed to marry, paying higher taxes... and paying employer taxes as well for owning my own business earned me some sort of rebate check from the government... the poor, gay, childless spinster deduction... I didn't care... I ran to cash the check before the U.S. went bankrupt and it bounced.

-  My friend, Eddie, from Philadelphia is coming tomorrow to stay with me for the weekend.  I have to drag him to the bar (I'm sure he won't go kicking and screaming) while I work on Friday night... and Saturday, we're going to the Pirates/Phillies game.  It's always a great to sit in the stadium, facing the city... and eating a weiner or two (the meat-by-product kind).  Of course, like everything in Pittsburgh, they'll shoot off fireworks every time they get a home run.  Fortunately for the neighbors, the Pirates don't get many home runs.

-  I'm no stranger to doing things by myself... case in point, the upcoming trip out west... but I have always wanted to see Wicked... so I bought my ticket to go in September when it's here in Pittsburgh... by myself.  Sometimes you just don't want to be bugged by someone else's agenda or the wrapper of their hard-tack candy.

-  With landscaping back in full swing with the weather being great, albeit 90 degrees and humid, I'm getting a lot done.  I'm drenched, parched and full of heat stroke... but I'm productive.  Today, it was only 70 degrees... absolutely beautiful weather to plant annuals... and that's exactly what I did... except for a special visit by a cute guy named Alan, which led to a nice getaway luncheon. It's common knowledge that I don't like to talk about people that go on a date with on the blog because it seems to jinx it... but he seems like something special.  Time will tell.

-  One of my best friends got married today, but it wasn't a joyous occasion.  Unfortunately the guy she married is a complete ass and she basically feared for her life if she didn't marry him.  That's a long story... but the point is that I have never felt so helpless in my life... anything that I would have done to intercept the situation would have made it worse for her.  I feel like her heart and soul were ripped from her body today.  It's a sad, sad day.  It's amazing how one person can control another.

-  The other day, I broke down and got the iPhone.  Blah, blah blah.... bells and whistles this... gadgets and widgets that... it's all smoke and mirrors.  My other phone was more productive, with some basic necessities built right in.  It's hard for me to wrap my head around updating my phone through a music app, iTunes.  It pisses me off that I have to buy an app to do things that my old phone did for free.  One noteworthy app is Vlingo.  You just speak into the phone... "Text so-and-so... What up, bitch (question mark)".. and it does it all for you.  "Search one-eyed monkeys".. and it pulls up the browser and searches the internet.  I tell you, it sure takes the tedium out of trying to eat your Big Mac and text and drive all at the same time.

I feel like the Droid/Windows crowd are the people that get things done... and the Apple people just want to look good trying to get it done, worried more about their hair and which Banana Republic outfit they are going to wear to do it in.  Even the whole naming convention... " i ".... suggests a self-absorbency.  I did, for my money, get an Apple sticker that I'm supposed to put on my truck, to show that I am one of the chosen few elitists... I'll put it right beside my Sarah Palin sticker when I get that... NOT.   

I've posted this video before... it's hilarious... but I love how it captures the epitome of the Apple consumer... I guess now, myself included.

Gay Pride Month

The gay days of June are upon us.  Every weekend is filled with a gay parade up and down the eastern seaboard... ours being next weekend.  I tentatively told the bar that next weekend will be my last (although the manager is working on getting the shirtless thug to the back bar and me to the front), but they wanted to use my truck in the actual parade... with some workers and drag queens in the back.  Should be fun.  Last year, we had a great party in the streets in the daytime with vendors and info booths... and probably 15,000 gays/friends of gays/etc.  This year, Aretha Franklin is our performer... should be interesting.  To usher in gay June... here's some gay-themed humor... (be sure to watch the video at the end)