Saturday, September 30, 2006
It's a Jungle In Here, Alice...
With apologies to R. Kramden. While in Africa on safari, I bagged three of the famed 'Big Five' must see mammals. (missing: rhino and leopard). Ro-mantic Ro-mammals. Now they roam my rug...
Knick-knack, patty whack, give a dog a bone...
Mixed-heritage ro-mammal?
The proverbial elephant in the room...
Let's get Junkie...
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Friday, September 29, 2006
(Belly-) Dancin' The Night Away...
everythin's goin' right...
when you hold me oh so tight..
i wanted you to stay.. woo-oo-oo-oo-ooh
driver, we've taken a wrong turn into folds of glistening sweat...
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Thursday, September 28, 2006
Happy Birthday, Brian !!!!
Fer he's a jolly good feller
Fer he's a jolly good feller
Fer he's a jolly good fehhhhhhlllleeeeerrrrrrrr
Thatnobodycandeny (4x)
And everywhere that Brian went his Canine-American©® was sure to go...
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Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Friends, Friends, Friends....
We will al-ways be............ Fernando, red-eyed Me, Emerson, Howard & Milton..
Emerson at the Moroccan banquet table... Souk restaurant, 47 Avenue B in btw 2nd & 3rd...
Fernando and Sunil among the burgeoning crowd in front of this hip Mid-Eastern eatery..
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Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Box Office Gold
From The Onion, my favorite feature, “What Do YOU Think?
Question: Willie Nelson was issued a citation Monday for possession of marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms. What do you think?”
Answer 1: " He got caught? Crap. All right, I guess I got to call my other guy. "
Answer 2: " You can't arrest Willie Nelson for doing drugs. That's like arresting Aretha Franklin for being fat, or James Brown for any of the various crimes he's committed. "
Answer 3: " That's the difference between marijuana and alcohol: When Willie Nelson was pulled over, he had only nice things to say about Jews. "this entry's permalink
More Emerson & Milton
Missing the F train is a drag...
Splitting the check...
Emerson's Scissor-ific Shimmering Shirt...
that doesn't make you gay...
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Monday, September 25, 2006
Scissorcrime Scissorgetaway
Emerson's purloined poster of the Best. Gay. Group. Ever. - What did they expect when they plastered Chelsea's surfaces with a velvet poster? Coming soon to a wall near me... But first, the crime must be followed with a frame-up...
Unbearable In Any Language
Can you guess which languages?
She's floated back...
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Sunday, September 24, 2006
Get Serious About Terrorism!
or... I'm Such a Ninny!
Brian liked this cartoon, but complained that it was longer to read than "War and Peace." I reminded him, as I learned on Seinfeld, that the actual title of Tolstoy's masterpiece is "War. What Good Is It For?" : -)
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Saturday, September 23, 2006
Emerson and Milton
My friends arrived from Brazil! But their luggage did not... : - ( Happily, I have a vast collection of musical T-shirts. Emerson's on the right, wearing the Scissor Sisters logo, whereas Milton is blazened with the ultra-talented Ambulance Ltd.
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Friday, September 22, 2006
Question: U.S. warplanes accidentally fired on Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan, killing one and wounding five. What do you think?”
Answer 1: This sends a powerful message to bin Laden. It says, 'We're willing to destroy any ally in order to hunt you down in what would be a largely symbolic victory. "
Answer 2: Clearly, U.S. military leaders are having some creative differences over there. One idea would be to decide on the enemy, and then agree not to kill people who do not fall under that category. "
Answer 3: " Look, the American military does not discriminate. Gay, straight, Taliban, Canadian, Pat Tillman—we will shoot you all."Question: Labor Day immigration rallies drew fewer numbers than the marches held from earlier this year. What do you think?”
Answer 1: " If it’s true that these illegal immigrants are too lazy to fight for their rights, then that just proves how American they truly are. " Answer 2: " Just goes to show you, the rights of immigrants will always come in a distant second when going head-to-head with a nice plate of potato salad. "
Answer 3: " Well, there you have it. Sometimes these issues just find ways of working themselves out. "
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Thursday, September 21, 2006
Summer Viewed From Autumn...
Lisbon Buildings...
More of Denis....
Eat, Already....
Hey, Pal...
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Lisbon At Dusk
From The Onion, my favorite feature, “What Do YOU Think?
Question: “A new technique of harvesting stem cells without destroying the embryos is coming under fire from the Vatican as unethical. What do you think?”
Answer 1: " I expect this kind of knee-jerk moral grandstanding from Bush, but the Vatican? " Answer 2: " I wish, time and time again, that the Vatican were not composed of the foremost scientists on embryonic research in the world. This makes it very difficult for anyone to argue a case against them, and we are repeatedly left at an impasse. " Answer 3: " It serves those scientists right for trying to slip under the Vatican's ethical radar with these disease-eradicating, life-saving experiments. "Question: An arbitrator for the state of Nebraska ruled that a state trooper could not be fired for belonging to the Ku Klux Klan. What do you think?”
Answer 1: I'm actually fairly impressed with this man. It has to be hard, time-consuming work to be part of two bigoted, fear-mongering groups simultaneously " Answer 2: Would you rather he vented his racism at unsuspecting motorists on the highway, or in the safe confines of a KKK meeting?" Answer 3: " The last time I checked, no one was forcing blacks or Jews to drive through Nebraska. So what exactly is the issue? "
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Tuesday, September 19, 2006
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Monday, September 18, 2006
Question: Over the last decade, American work productivity has increased 33%, while wages have only increased 11%. What do you think?”
Answer 1: " Look, I've only got five minutes for my break, and I'm not about to waste it talking to you. " Answer 2: I love the notion that workers are somehow supposed to be rewarded for increased productivity. Do you see any of those CEO's being rewarded for being more productive? No. They are being rewarded for absolutely no reason. " Answer 3: " So if I reduce my productivity 20%, it'll be like getting an automatic raise. Which will come in handy when I'm fired for taking 3-day weekends. "Question: People who worked or lived near Ground Zero are demanding health-care for illnesses related to the poor air quality after the attacks. What do you think?”
Answer 1: " I think we should FedEx an itemized invoice for all of those people's medical expenses to Osama bin Laden. Then, when he goes to sign for it—bam! We grab him!" Answer 2: This is a very serious issue. My cousin was a first responder, and he recently succumbed to a particularly bad case of Freedom Lung. " Answer 3: " I guess we know whose side of the war on terror these folks' alveoli are on. "
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Sunday, September 17, 2006
Denis Out Of The Shadows
Denis had a very Happy Birthday on Friday! While he appreciated our blog salute, he sent these photos and suggested I show my readership what he looks like when not mostly covered by shadows. Here's Denis on vacation in Brittany six weeks ago - his father's family is from this far-flung seafaring province...
In the kitchen with his three nieces, Mathilde (10 years old), Adèle (8), and Tiphaine (almost 5)
.. and by himself...
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Saturday, September 16, 2006
Scissor Me This
The Great Gay Pop Group is back - this Tuesday, Scissor Sisters's long-awaited second album, "Ta-Dah', is released worldwide. Formed here in New York, the campy, kinetic, 70s-imbued Sisters achieved superstar status in Europe - they scored UK's #1 selling album of 2004 - but only light play and gay cult status back home... I lucky enough to see them on stage three times with Thomas in '04 - meaning Thomas was in the audience with me, not on stage with Jake & company (pictured left).Today I went to Pompton Lakes, NJ, with Sundance, my gay outdoors group, and we hiked 7 miles and probably up and down 1,000 feet in surprisingly great weather. Quite a work-out for my tired muscles. We found this massive abandoned grey brick structure at the top of a mountain - no historical markers - but probably a mansion built in the early 20th century and then abandoned for some reason (ran out of money in the depression?)
It's very sunny here. More Bart & Ashley wedding photos:
Gathering in front of the church...
The very old church - though 1665 refers to the congregation I think, not the actual building...
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Friday, September 15, 2006
Happy Birthday, Denis !!!!
There'll be more Bart & Ashley wedding day pictures tomorrow. But today, I salute Denis, one of my very favorite people in the world. I've know him for several lifetimes, and was lucky enough to hang out with him last month in his native France and in Portugal, pictured below..
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Thursday, September 14, 2006
Kids of All Ages...
Here I am at Bart & Ashley's wedding reception with Melissa, one of Bart's longest-running and liveliest friends. Melissa came up from Baltimore with her boyfriend Rob, who met us at the train station with a lovely 'Wedding Shuttle' sign with multicolor pom pom things. Interestingly, the shuttle almost brought back a brush-salesman type with us but luckily realized he was headed for a different wedding... : -)At left, Bart's cousin Elizabeth and their lovely grandmother, Doreen Fritzer.. At right, from Ashley's side of the family, Julie and Molly...
I hope you like doo-wop....
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Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Seaside Wedding Retreat
Bart's family rented a lovely seaside home for exteneded wedding weekend. This was wise, since Bart and Ashley were married in Ash's home town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, and Bart's family and friends were as far flung as Fort Lauderdale, London, and Baltimore... At right, dearly beloved we are gathered here for a pre-wedding snack...Views of the Atlantic Ocean - that's Bart's childhood friend Chris taking a call on the veranda..
Bart's Mom, Penelope Bland, and his uncle...
I never know where to put my glasses during a medical exam....
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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
How I love to vote! No matter how big the landslide, one more point is a psychological victory - I want to be the guy who made Spitzer win with 80% instead of 79.99%! Spitzer, God bless him, favors gay marriage. This year's NY Democratic top-heavy sweep may place give us full control of State government, making my wedding bell dream a reality (when I find a partner, that is...)A stroll with Thomas on the most prettiest day of the year!!
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With This Dinner, I Thee Wed...
Wedding dinner for Bart and Ashley and guests was scrumptious - both gourmet and down-home in the same breath. First, lovely canapés floated by, my favorite of which was a teaspoon of corn, diced green & red pepper, avocado, and a touch of lemon and spice in delicate pastry crust, about twice the size of a quarter. Wish I had a picture.
The main courses:
Pecan chicken that melted in your mouth - the crust and chicken a symphony of texture.. There wasn't much left when I snapped this photo. I had eaten three pieces of it!
Wild rice salad with a host of flavorful and colorful ingredients:
Everyone loved the gourmet potato salad, which I didn't try - I'm really sorry I failed to photograph the asparagus - this is Bart's favorite vegetable, and he adores it to the point that we once called him the 'Aspara-guy.' Dinner was peach cobbler, done to perfection...
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Monday, September 11, 2006
September 9!
..will always be Bart & Ashley's Happy Anniversary. Curiously, Ashley was born March 9, and he and Bart began going out June 9 - too bad Bart's Mom couldn't have delivered him 11 days earlier, so he could complete the cycle with a December 9 birthday...
Bart on the dance floor in his dashing yellow vest...
Ashley gets his groove on... This great lady is a friend of Ashley's Mom, and danced up a storm.. I was lucky enough to dance a set with her that included 'Devil With A Blue Dress' and 'You Can't Hurry Love'
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Sunday, September 10, 2006
Bart & Ashley: The Loveliest Day Of The Year
What a beautiful wedding, reception, and overall karma. My camera couldn't do it justice.. Beaming with happiness, I kept pinching myself, as if I was dreaming that two men who found in each other a lifetime lover and friend can be so celebrated and validated by everyone they know. All family and friends were genuinely thrilled and their happiness and good fortunate, and both clans were delighted to welcome in such a lovely family member. 
How can some people be so closed-minded, even hostile to something so obviously right? I hope one day I have the same good fortune again. I was married - twice - in every sense of the word - to men I deeply loved - with no wedding, though at least we did have the goodwill and recogniation of family and friends. I feel more than ever that this kind of love and commitment deserves a wedding and a celebration.
Anywhere, here come the photos, all dressed in white...
Bart's mother, Penelope Bland, is a total sweetheart, and she created and wore the day's loveliest outfit, with a lovely grey dress and a show-stopping pink hat! My school colors from Vassar, the rosy dawn of women's education...
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Saturday, September 09, 2006
Bart & Ashley XOXO
I'm getting married in the morning! Ding dong!
The bells are gonna chime. Pull out the stopper!
Let's have a whopper!
But get me to the church on time!
I gotta be there in the mornin'
Spruced up and lookin' in me prime.
Boys, come and kiss me;
Show how you'll miss me.
But get me to the church on time!
If I am dancin' Roll up the floor.
If I am whistlin' Whewt me out the door!
For I'm gettin' married in the mornin'
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime.
Kick up an rumpus But don't lost the compass;
And get me to the church, Get me to the church,
And get me to the church, Get me to the church,
For Gawd's sake, get me to the church on time!
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Friday, September 08, 2006
A Public Service
Let's settle this right now. This is where babies come out:
and this is how they get there:
Now that we've settled the question, some irony for your palette:
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Thursday, September 07, 2006
Let Them Eat Postcards
Storks in Alsace, preparing to head South. Someone I know once asked his mother to 'show him where babies come out' when he was 4 years old (his mother declined). I don't think these nests were what he had in mind....
Somebody's Merry-Go-Attic:
Remains of the Breakfast. Our first Alsatian inn was up in the mountain pass... I love French 'bowls' of coffee in the morning...
He ran out of room:
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Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Squash In The Sun
the bounty of the Alsatian soil...
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Thomas tastes wine and knows the ways of San José...
I'm back in rainy NY, jet-lagged and trying to catch up.. I'm really looking forward to Bart & Ashley's wedding Saturday - tonight I must start work on the music...
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Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Old Lady Is Dead. Long Live The Old Lady.
I'm back! Details to follow... In my absence, I learned from the Dutch press (below) that Memphis is now, tentatively, the proud home of the world's oldest living person, 116-year-old Elizabeth Bolden. The title fell on Ms. Bolden following the death of Ecuador's Maria Esther de Capovilla, who passed on just two weeks shy of what would have been her 117th birthday..
The French call it 'la rentrée,' we call it 'back to school-or-work.' Arizona, always early, began the school year over three weeks ago..
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Monday, September 04, 2006
