Outings and Aboutings

Finally, an update with all the pix I've taken over the past couple of months. In the posts below this one, I have, I think, caught my blog up with my photos. I love documenting life! Next month, however, look forward to more thoughtful, philosophical postings about life because I have noticed I seem to be too focused on writing about our adventures out and about, but no focus on what's happening inside my little head and heart. I'm in a mood to explore that now, so September will mark the beginning of that frontier. If you know me, you know I am always thinking, feeling, and exploring myself (in so many ways, tee hee), but I haven't written about it much here. That is about to change...

Until then...

Nick was asked by a coworker to gather us and come out to Opaline to show support for her as she is a band member. Because they work in the music industry, she had a heads up that Boy George and Debbie Harry were going to be at Opaline, too! Opaline was hosting a record-release party for a member of The Toilet Boys, and the lead singer, GUY's, latest solo project, which includes a duet with Boy George!

Boy George is a teen idol of mine, so I was thrilled at the possibility of even seeing him in person. I am a very shy star-stalker, barely even acknowledging a celebrity when I see one. Living in NYC puts into perspective that people who live on TV or in movies are just... well, people. Still, Boy George is an icon, a pioneer, an artist, and an inspiration, so I was excited. And we DID get to see him! A fleeting glimpse (I actually walked right past him and didn't notice) as we left the club.

Craig was in town from D.C., so it was really nice to see him. He is so funny and smart. I love seeing him and wish he would move his ass here. He's such a conservatively-packaged fringe freaker genius... I love it.

Gary and Martin (a couple of sweethearts who have recently joined my life) found their way out with us, which was a wonderful treat for me, especially. I have been hoping upon hoping to meet some local guys from Brooklyn who may at the very LEAST be capable of intelligent and fun socializing, and possibly share some interests. The guys I have met so far have completely exceeded my hopes!

Meeting new pals was always important to me, but even more so after being horribly dumped by Love, like the aftermath of too much fiber.

I had joined Brooklyn Gay Network of Friends to help in that exploration and it took me over a year to make the time to go to any outing. Synchronistically, I found my way out to a spontaneous gathering at Excelsior a couple of months ago, and found myself in the company of some really great guys! Interestingly, from what I understand, everyone who had gone out that night was going out for THEIR first time, too!

Anyway, so Martin and Gary (and DJ and Henry) are not only amazingly wonderful guys, but they helped generate a sense of peace that I am gladly growing into, knowing that I am building friendships closer to home (literally and metaphorically).

After we gathered at Cyprus' and my own Love Lounge, we headed out to the East Village! YAY! My old stomping ground...

Chillin' and a little Groovin' in our own Lounge

In the East Village, we found Opaline and met up with Taren who was as cute as EVER. I am in love with Opaline now. It became one of my favorite places that night. The crowd was absolutely eccentric, eclectic, and fun! The music was the best I have ever heard in a public place in forever! We danced like the White people we are (and yes, that includes you two, Martin and Craig, hee hee) as we waited for the night's main event.

The performance was a raucous, LOUD, tribute to The Toilet Boys (none of us had ever heard of them). Several guest singers/screamers took the stage, one after the other, to do their covers of Toilet Boys songs, ending with the original lead singer, GUY. It was so energetic and fun and corny all at the same time!

Martin & Gary

Nick's Co-worker/Band Member

Below are the various guest singers covering The Toilet Boys, including (out of drag) the delicious Mistress Formica (3rd pic)!

Original lead singer of Toilet Boys: GUY

Monster Feelings, Monster Cock

Taren, Nick, and I parted from Cyprus, Grant, and Josh after seeing a forgettable movie (The Village). We've begun to go to the Battery Park Theater as a way to support that area's recovery from the World Trade Center attacks. It is still heartbreaking and difficult to be in that area, but it's going to be a long healing process.

It's amazing to me to be inside the World Trade Center Winter Garden now. To remember how devastated the atrium was and to see it now is just disorienting and oddly uncomfortable, even though the recovery is a good thing. The images with the trees are my photos from July, 2004.

Of course, no contemplative day is complete without an evening of idiocy! We popped from G Lounge [or here] to The Monster where we saw real monster boys and real monster penis!

At G Lounge


Dancing at The Monster

Monster Penis Dancer!


Satisfied-Taren after stuffing some moolah down monster penis panties!

The End is near...

Madame X and the Slipper Room

These photos were taken in June when Taren, Josh and I decided to romp around the lower east side. We popped into Madame X [or here] by direct invitation by the owner as we stood outside pondering whether to go in or not. There was a door cover, but they saw we were displeased with this and invited us in for free! They had overheard Taren telling us how this place was one of (if not THE first) place that she had gone out when she had first moved to NYC. The owner was incredibly generous with us, eventually inviting us up to a V.I.P. area where we got super goofy and laughed secretly at the frat boys and sorority girls who stood in careful poses.

Later, we continued romping and found ourselves once again at the Slipper Room [or here], but not before bouncing around in a few other lounge/bars. Oh my god, we had so much fun!

Some lovely ladies of Slipper Room!

This House is CLEAN...

Ahhh... finally,...

I know this seems to have turned into my DYI blog, but it took a lot of time to paint and decorate our little home, so I wanted to pop these pix up. I'm missing some images of Cyprus' room, but it wasn't completely done at the time. They will be up soon enough, though.

My teeny little bedroom with a loft bed to make it seem like I have more room! YAY! Cyprus' room is even smaller! D'oh!

Cocteau Twins Gallery Exhibition!

Cocteau Twins may be long gone as a cohesive band, but their impact continues to affect a special portion of the masses! I was thrilled to find that a Tokyo art gallery is showcasing art that is inspired by none other than Cocteau Twins! The exhibition is called SUGARHICCUP! YAY!

Speaking of Cocteau Twins, I am sorely disappointed that I am more-than-likely NOT going to be able to make CocteauFest in L.A. this year. Sigh...

Slowly, Slowly, the Colors...

Progress is coming along on the apartment.  This is the longest amount of time I have ever had to spend on painting, but I have so many conflicting priorities that I just have to squeeze the paint into my schedule whenever I can.  I still have both bedrooms and the kitchen left to do, but, my god, it's almost all done...   When I am completely done, I will put all the pix together in one post.  The Living Room post is a few entries back...

 

BEFORE                                                AFTER

BEFORE                                                AFTER

Bathroom (I didn't have any Before photos)

 

Columbia Cruelty

On a more serious note:  Please help the animals...  I don't care what you might think about different organizations designed to help the non-human animals suffering in this world, just help the animals, if you can.

Help Them

I got an update today from PETA2 alerting us to the atrocities being imposed on these amazing creatures at Columbia University in NYC.  PETA and many other supporters of animal rights are such important pioneers in the movement toward ultimate peace.  They may seem weird or overly-passionate, but that's because they have to make up for a world of apathy among most human beings.

Here is a copy of the letter.  Please pass it on:

A PETA investigation has revealed the grotesque abuse of animals in laboratories at Columbia University, including baboons who are subjected to invasive surgeries and left to suffer and die in their cages without painkillers. This horrific story came to our attention because a courageous whistleblower who was a veterinarian in Columbia's laboratories stepped forward to tell us what she had witnessed. Thank goodness for good people!

Now, PETA is calling on Columbia to end three crude and cruel experiments, one of which involves artificially inducing strokes in baboons by cutting out their left eyeballs so that a critical blood vessel to their brains can be clamped. These experiments have no practical value. Animal records reveal that baboons have been left without veterinary care while they hunched over in their cages, unable to drink, chew, or even lift their heads. This is the sort of thing that you expect from a horror movie, not a prestigious university!

This abuse must stop! Please e-mail the president of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger, at bollinger@columbia.edu, asking him to put and end to all three experiments now.

To earn 500 Street Team points, BCC your e-mail message to StreetTeam@peta.org before noon on Tuesday, July 27. Be sure to use BCC so that Lee Bollinger can't see that you're also sending a copy to us. If you don't know how to do that, just send us a second copy of your message. And as a thank you for helping animals, we want to send you a pack of our brand-spanking-new Columbia Cruelty stickers. We'll e-mail you the link to the sticker order form after we receive a copy of your e-mail message.

Please forward this message to your friends and family.

For more information about Columbia's cruel tests and to watch our undercover video, visit http://www.ColumbiaCruelty.com and http://www.peta2.com.

Thank you for speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Sincerely,
Noah Cooper
Street Team Coordinator
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
PETA2@peta.org
http://www.peta2.com

The New York Sex Comedy

The gang and I went to see Josh's latest play:  HOPSCOTCH "the new york sex comedy". 

 

What started off as a disorienting, sort of startling and disturbing display of half-naked glittery homos and a couple of Paris Hilton/Britney Spears knock-offs eventually turned into this really endearing, totally hilarious jaunt into the world of NYC created by the expectations of mid-westerner transplants.  The play began as if it was taking itself seriously, and then suddenly you totally get it that it is not only making fun of the corny version of NYC that is portrayed by TV shows like Sex in the City, but they were making fun of the people who move here thinking that is really what it's like!  And even better was that the play makes fun of itself, sex, relationships,... I really loved it.
 
Once you started to "get it" what was going on, you started seeing that each character/actor was playing their parts perfectly.  Josh was excellent as usual, but his role as the dead, fat, horny Elvis in a dream sequence with a fetish for thong panties was at once creepy and brilliant.  Brianna Leigh Hansen played the naive yet snotty, secretly-from-Oklahoma girl trying to make it big in NYC, apparently by only using her ability to put on airs.  She played it up EXCELLENTLY.  So much so I wanted to smack her silly.  And oh my god, particularly striking and achingly funny was Diedre Kilgore playing the multiple facets of a sexed up psychic dominatrix hiring a detective to look for her long lost love (read: one-night stand), whom she can only describe in terms of how he approached her at the bar one night to offer a drink and how he fucked her with his maybe-10-inch dick.
 
The whole play didn't really seem to go anywhere, but for some reason when it was all over, you really liked all the corny, sexy characters a LOT!
 
We all wanted to go home after the play, but the cast convinced a few of us to go out for drinks for a bit, and even Cyprus went!  And this was a Wednesday night!  GO GRANNY!
 
PICS of part of the cast having food and drinks after: 

 

PARTIAL CAST OF HOPSCOTCH
 
 
 

Special Note:  Deandra, my good pal from my old position at Saks, has an accidental alter-ego we call DeNadra.  Note in the background of my photo of some of the cast of Hopscotch and you will see DeNadra gettin' all ghetto and goin' through someone's purse!

DeNadra, how could you!

Ps.  Just kidding... hee hee

The Tediousness of Tenderness

It is taking me forever to paint and clean and settle into our new home. I just thought I would send up a quick BEFORE/AFTER image of our Living Room.

We love happy colors!!


BEFORE & AFTER

Home... Again

We are finally done with our big move to our new apartment, settling in, and making the space liveable. I have not been this happy with an apartment and neighborhood in such a long time!

The neighborhood is full of gorgeous brownstones, very friendly services, conveniences, etc. It is the perfect balance of City vs Nature.

The people around here leave a little bit to be desired so far. The area is populated by what appear to be a mix of midwestern suburbia transplants who still do not know how to smile or be friendly to a stranger (true NYers are very friendly), and transplanted hipster cuties who generate a posture that was obviously learned from bad TV shows about NYC. It is really odd. When you say hello to most people around here you may as well have just spit a hocker on their faces. They react like you have just committed an atrocity! Very weird.

Despite the lack of friendly pedestrians, I still LOVE the apartment and the neighborhood.

Here are a few pictures of the day we moved in, along with one picture of how we have managed to make the best with what we have. We won't be able to paint for at least a couple of more weeks, but that will make a huge difference.


Living Room view from Dining/Foyer area (before)


Living Room area (after)


Looking toward Dining Area/Foyer from Living Room


Looking from my room across Living Room to Cyprus' room


Kitchen and Bathroom off of Dining/Foyer area


Cute Little Kitchen


Cute Little Kitchen (view 2)


Partial view of Cyprus' teeny Bedroom


Partial view of Cyprus' teeny Bedroom


Partial View of Cyprus' teeny Bedroom (looking out toward living room)


Partial view of Troy's Bedroom


Another partial view of Troy's Bedroom

I am so happy with how much light, air, and coziness there is in our new home! I think I could live here for the rest of my life! I will post more updates as we make the place into more of a home! As you can see, the landlord did NOT paint or complete repairs... sigh...

WORK: I am adjusting to my lack of steady work now... unemployment sure helps! I have been busting my booty to get my web site functional, revitalized, and made into a wonderful community again, so I hope that pays off on many levels! So far, so good. 7 Paths

DREAMS:

1: I dreamt that Nick asked me to get back together with him. How sad is that.

2. I dreamt that I was part of a secret society that had learned how to extract a liquid from a person that carried a quantifiable life force measured in years. So you could basically extract 5 years from someone and give that 5 years of life to someone who had been seriously injured or was terminal. Once that liquid 5 years was used, then 5 years was immediately removed from the donor's lifespan. You could actually see within minutes the aging of the 5 years! Anyway, this was a totally philanthropic organization who also had metaphysical knowledge as to who were the most powerful and positive and pivotal people on the planet. If any of those key people were harmed or became sick, we would track them down and give them the viles of liquid to extend their life until their pivotal task was done! I remember looking at my hands as I climbed a ladder and they aged before my eyes; I knew a vile of my years had been used successfully to help someone.

3. I dreamt about a bizarre display room in the basement of a mall where these unusual watches were being sold. I tried on this cool watch that looked like a smoothed, oddly-shaped stone. The stone was hollowed out and opened to reveal a glowing light of either blue or green along with its hollow filled with 3 differently sized stones. There were like 3 of one size, 6 of another, and 12 of another, all resting in this wet muddy moss. I was very confused as to how this was a watch and as I stared at the moss and mud, the stones started moving and shaping themselves into an order. The moss and the mud began dividing, too. I don't know how I knew it, but I figured out that the arrangement of the moss, mud, and stones, along with the color of glowing light, indicated exactly what time it was! I was thrilled with the concept!

4. Finally, I dreamt that I was invited to a TV cult classic movie showing. I was invited because people couldn't believe that I had created a movie, but it wasn't me. The name was very similar, but it was a couple of letters off. The movie was titled, "The Strange".

I dream the strangest dreams...