My Thursday nite out...

Flynn calls around 8:30 and asks if I can take him to the airport to pick up a friend. I got into overdrive cuz we have to be at the airport at 10:10 and I have to pick Flynn up in the Bywater first. I throw together boots, black cut offs and my black t-shirt with Judas Priest on it in silver glitter. At Flynn's we add black eyeliner.

At the airport, I drop Flynn at the pickup area and we decide that I should drive in cirles instead of parking. Twenty five minutes later of driving around, I finally pick them up at the door. Ugh.

We decide to head straight out to the Quarter. Parking is madness. Finally we get lucky and find a spot on Esplanade. We trudge back to the Shim Sham on Tolouse and get their after the cover begins. But Flynn gets us in anyway. Yay. To the bar... the bartender comps our first round of drinks. Yay. From the moment I'm in the bar, chicks are digging my Judas Priest shirt.

I meet lots and lots of cool people through Flynn, mostly at the upstairs bar, where I purchase another beverage. Run into Robert, Jeff, Kris and a couple of their friends. See a few of my (lesbian brigade) employees. Chat with Mike a bit. A driveby hello to Robin and Anthony.

I go back upstairs to purchase another drink and arrive just a guy is buying drinks for the entire room. Sweet.

We eventually tire of 80s retro and head to the Rawhide. It's bursting at the seams with leathery, denimy, bearish, muscly types. Quite tasty actually. Of course I draw no attention. Bleh. Probably the Judas Priest t-shirt and eyeliner...

At some point, Jonno wonders along. And around this time I discover that *someone* did a couple bumps when we were at the Shim Sham. And made out with the straight boy who supplied it.

After much ogling and drunken blather, we decide to call it a (relatively) early nite around 2:30. On the way back to the car, we grab Macaroni & Cheese from the Verti Mart. Yum.

I drop the boys off. Home. Blissfull slumber.

Today? clean the apartment? a movie? cook? read? vacation...

Thursday... afternoon one of vacation...

I went to da Quarter for the afternoon. Just missed the bus, so I 'shopped' at Winkies on Magazine for a bit first. Saw three shirts and a pair of pants I'd like to have. Budget doesn't allow for them tho...

Sat next to a incredibly cute guy on the bus. Retro hair, lots of tats, striped pants and a ragged white tank top. Yummy.

Once in the Quarter, I drew lots of stares b/c of the bandage on my arm covering my tattoo. Headed to Fifi's to show it to Flynn. Drew lots of approval from him and the staff. Made plans to meet at Shim Sham later in the nite.

Next to CC's for a iced soy latte. Served to me by CustomTaylored from gay.com. I didn't say anything to him about recognizing him. Cute boy tho.

Then I wondered down to Gargoyles shoes and looked at the $180 pair of boots and the $104 pair of shoes (black leather with orange and yellow flames) that I want. Sigh. Went into Gargoyles clothes and had half the staff ask to see my tattoo. Much admiration. Friendly people.

Lots and lots of gay peeps wondering about the Quarter. Lots and lots of overdeveloped pecs. Lots of hot leather daddy types. Yum.

Traipsed through Virgin Mega and listened to Stereolab. Not too sure if I like it. Ran into Bookstar and ran into my district manager. He asked why I was bandaged and when I looked embarrassed about the tattoo, says he doesn't care and that he thinks its cool. :)

Walked thru Jackson Square and ran into Jonno getting a temporary tattoo from Tanner. I say nothing to Tanner about the breakup and nothing about the fact that I know what a cheating bastard he's been. Anthony, who I can never decide on the cuteness of, wonders by also...

Then to the gay bars. Decent crowds for a Thursday at 5ish. Pre Decadence mode. Went to Rawhide for a bloody mary. (they make the best by far) The bartender called me 'boy' when he took my order. Unfortunately... not cute... not handsome...

Drifted along with my bloody mary. Was walking past 735 just as they opened their doors. Tom the manager and great bud sees me and motions me in. Chat chat chat. He's in major manic mode and drinks half my drink. But, he gives me 3 weekend passes. And I'm sure I'll get a few comped drinks over the weekend. Heh, he was impressed with how good the bloody mary was...

Streetcar home. Potatoes baking in the oven. Bowie on the stereo. Out again in about two hours to meet Flynn and friends at the Shim Sham...

Off the top of my head... some of the greatest CDs ever... (utterly subjective, natch)...

Hole "Live Through This"
David Bowie "Low"
Nirvana all of them
St Etienne "Foxbase Alpha"
Dead Can Dance "Aion"
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult "I see Bad Spirits, I see Good Spirits"
Chemical Brothers "Exit Planet Dust"
Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack
Meat Beat Manifesto "Storm the Studio"

Fresh ink! Fresh ink! ow...

It is done. I have a new tattoo. It's on my right forearm. It's between 3 and 4 inches long, I think. It's the alchemical symbol for Mercury. I first became fascinated with Mercury through the pages of a comic book, DOOM PATROL. The writer of the comic, Grant Morrison, is a mad genius. Seriously... he's written some of the best comics ever to see print... Doom Patrol, Zenith and now New X-Men. Doom Patrol under Morrison consisted of Robotman (a human brain in a mechanical body, natch), Crazy Jane (a woman with many multiple personalities and a different super power for each of them), a couple of more boring characters, and Rebis. Rebis was a bit of a mysterious character who was wrapped in bandages. He was the fusion of a man, a woman and 'a spirit in a bottle.' He was bodily representation of the alchemical marriage. He/she/it was one of the coolest characters ever in comics. Through Rebis, I became slightly fascinated with the most confusing subject of alchemy.

In alchemy, mercury was greatly revered. It represented both solid and liquid states, both heaven and earth, both life and death. It was both Above and Below.

I like that. Above and below...

So, now my right arm has the Key to Hell on it. And a representation of both Above and Below. Makes me sound kinda shady, huh? :)

*START VACATION*

Whoo hoo. A week off. Mischief begins... Maybe I'll clean my apartment. Maybe I'll clean out my car. Maybe...

I got the necessary Westbank SuperWalmart food fortification trip out of the way this morning. I need to swing by Whole Foods at some point now.

This afternoon, I'm seriously thinking bout investigating the tattoo thing. Its grey as can be outside. Feh.

The big news this week is that The Ex and his boyfriend broke up. Not sure how I feel about this. I liked his boyfriend, sorta. Sorta. Important thing now is to be a good friend for the ex.

Ok... time to clean out the car...

I think I'm finally coming out of a 2 week funk in which I stumbled around feeling dull as dishwater. Whoo hoo... just in time for Decadence. *yawn* Maybe I can transform myself into a Blog Superstar now...

I'm currently obsessed with Mary J. Blige's new song, "Family Affair". I've never ever liked her before, but this is one fierce song. Fierce fierce fierce. And I don't understand half the damned words to it. Heh. I also bought the new Crystal Method CD which I think sounded much better thru the Virgin Megastore headphones than it did once I got it home. It's decent but it seems like a retread of their first CD. I do like the song with Scott Weiland tho. I believe the new Stereolab CD is out today... and Bjork... yummies.

I'm currently debating between getting something else pierced or a new tattoo. I can more easily afford a piercing than a tattoo at the moment. I want the tattoo more tho. I want multiple tattoos actually. The first one will be an old alchemical symbol for mercury on the inside of my right forearm. It's sort of a cross with a hooked cup at the top and an S in the cup. Kinda plain, but I like it. And I love the concept of Mercurius in alchemy. It's a symbol that's very appropriate for me to have on my body, I think. Much like currently having the key to hell on my upper arm was quite correct for me to get. I'm poor tho and tattoos aren't cheap.

I went out Sunday nite to hang out with my friend Wil and a new friend of his at the Pub. Ran into my date from earlier in the week and got a distinctly uncomfortable vibe off of him. Ah well... prolly the nail polish... Had a good bit of fun just sitting at the bar in the Pub watching videos. Wil's friend Cy was a decent fellow.

Later, after turning down a 3-way with two guys that I'd just met and wondering around for a bit and having a nice conversation with 2 black female hookers, I wound up at Rawhide. And just as I was about to leave, I ran into Flynn and Jonno. They were sufficiently thrashed and both were in full-on post-Hedwig rockstar mode. They had a cute newly married couple from Rochester NY with them. And she was wearing her wedding dress (a simple one). They'd been to see Hedwig twice and met Flynn post show. I had MUCH fun hanging with the four of them. Rawhide is simply the best place to hang with friends late at nite in the Quarter, I think.

2 days till vacation... count count...

Vacation plans... Decadence (duh)... tattoo? (prolly not)... pierce an eyebrow or something? (maybe, prolly not)... go to Movies (Ghost World, Jeepers Creepers, Ghosts of Mars)... go out dancing a lot (735 mostly, cuz i'm a VIP *riiiight*)... Dick Party at the Red Room? (prolly not, i think it's done)... Swamp Club? (cancelled for Decadence? not sure)... visit Flynn a lot at Fifi's (hanging out at Fifi Mahoneys' ups your cool factor by ten, i think)... bike bike bike (need exercise)... sun sun sun (need tan)... eat well (Whole Foods trip on Thursday)... drink in moderation (promises promises)... buy a CD or 3 (Stereolab?)... sleep with at least one cute out of town boy (*best mischevious face*)... relax (frankie says)...

the last couple of days...

um... work mostly... which is boring...

I spent most of today hanging out with Mr Flynn. We went on a shoe buying run which ended with Flynn buying a steal of a pair of shoes at Gargoyles. Shoes that would look SO good on ME. Feh. Oh well, he needed them for a date tonite.

Then we spent most of the afternoon hanging out at Fifi Mahoney's. Heh. Me and the fabulous people who dress the drag queens. I learned that if you put me in wigs, I look like either a stoner dude or a 70s high school principal.

Being there did make it possible for me to pick up a couple things to teach tonight's date a little lesson. He told me he wanted me to go to a party with him tonight cuz I was 'artsy' and 'hip' and it was that kind of party.

So, we'll see what he thinks about a smidge of blue eyeliner and gun metal gray fingernails... That's artsy and hip, huh? Specially combined with an all black wardrobe and leather pants...

Flynn is much fun to hang out with, I gotta say. Must do this more frequently.

"Jonathan Carroll's novels sit astride the boundary between genre fantasy and magical realism, between fairy stories with their vindictive morality and the laid-back contemporary novel of the mundane."

A reviewer for the Times Literary Supplement said that at some point about my favorite writer.

No other author can so fully transport me into his stories. For me, reading or even rereading a Jonathan Carroll novel or short story is a quasi-religious experience. It's the closest I ever come to an enervated state of exultation. I float around for hours to days after with bits of his worlds clinging to me until bit by bit, like smoke or finely spun sugar, they drift away leaving me back in the mundane.

Mundane is an important word to me when I think of Carroll's books. They always start with the mundane. They're written in a style that is actually quite mundane. But his mundane prose is sneaky. It's an incredibly comfortable style of writing that fools you. It invites you into the world he's creating and by the fact of its mundane nature makes you comfortable. You slip into a story that could perhaps be your own. And then just when you're wearing the life of a character that you feel you naturally know, the dog curled on the foot of your bed turns, yawns and speaks some terrible truth to you. Or you meet God. Or perhaps you meet yourself.

In Carroll's worlds, the mundane turns on you. His comfortable prose is almost a trap of sorts. It reassures you. And delivers you somewhere... different... somewhere difficult perhaps. You step sideways into a world that's the same as this but different. And then that vindictive morality often comes into play. And in the end, there's never an easy resolution. Often, there's no resolution at all. This frustrates some of his readers. To me, it's one of the great joys of his books. It's what makes them drift about me for days on end afterwards.

I really can't recommend anything more highly than his books. I urge you to find one and read it. Only a few are easily available. Of those, I most like THE WOODEN SEA, THE LAND OF LAUGHS, and SLEEPING IN FLAME. If you can find a copy of the out of print OUTSIDE THE DOG MUSEUM, that's my favorite.

Did I mention the names of his books? They're amazing too, I think. There's also:

THE MARRIAGE OF STICKS

KISSING THE BEEHIVE

AFTER SILENCE

FROM THE TEETH OF ANGELS

VOICE OF OUR SHADOW

BONES OF THE MOON

A CHILD ACROSS THE SKY

Such mundane words twisted into such small beautiful phrases.

Go find one of his books... or visit http://www.jonathancarroll.com/

Yesterday morning, I called The Ex and asked him if he wanted to run about town with me for a bit. The most important stop being KB Toyworks, so I could look for Superman. Bada bing. He's mine. Altho, the stupid Ex saw them first and was all casual and shit. "Oh, isn't that what you want?", he says all casually as he points.

I got Fortress of Solitude Superman!! Whoo hoo.

Then we ran to Whole Foods. That place is fucking scary. The people there are crazed, customers and employees alike. Maybe they have soy poisoning... Anyways, an employeed actually shoved me out of the way as he went down a crowded aisle. That was lovely... I wanted to shove an organic zucchini up his ass... but I didn't...

Home for some napping and such, then off to Flynn's birthday party. It was a glam and glitter party. I was the dull guy. I'm so not glam. Oh well...

It was an interesting evening of sorts. I saw people I'd rather not see. I saw people who'd rather not see me. I saw people I've made an ass of myself in front of. I saw people I've been an ass to. I saw people who've been an ass to me.

All in all it was okay...

*shrug*

Alrighty... I'm back from a self imposed week or so break from the Internet and my life in general.

A lot to catch up on, sorta... so I guess I'll well and truly ramble now.

First... if you know me or if you've read my blog for a bit, you know that I like action figures. My mania for them has cooled somewhat over the past year or so. There's not that much out there that excites me, and that's not a bad thing. I still like DC Direct's superhero figures, but they're kinda pricy, so I don't buy them that often, catching up when I can. I used to spend inordinate amounts of time driving around to toy stores waiting for new lines of figures to come out.

Well, those days are back for a bit and will be back later this fall for sure. I have two lines of action figures that I adore the most... the Superman and Batman animated ones. I have 99% of everything that was put out in both of them. In the Batman line, the only things of consequence I'm missing are the 12" figures of Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl and Robin's Dragster. The 12" figures are no biggie. I can pick them up anytime for not that much cost. The Robin Dragster unfortunately is a big deal. Shortly after it was originally produced, the factory where they were made burned to the ground. The molds for the vehicle were destroyed. So, it was only made once and can never be recast, as many figures and vehicles are. They sell now for anywhere from $100 to $400. Bleh. I don't like plastic toys that much.

The Superman line was a short-lived one. The last couple of lines of figures were either released in small numbers and through somewhat difficult channels or not released in the US at all. I managed to find the rather hard to get villians, Darkseid, Metallo and Bizarro, when they were released. Two things elude me though. The Fortress of Solitude Superman, who just has a fucking cool name and also has a great Kryptonian inspired little number that he's wearing, and the Metropolis Bank playset. Both of these were released only in the UK. I have the bank from it's rerelease in the US as a Batman Gotham City Bank, so I'm not overly concerned about it. I want that Superman figure though. And again, it sells on eBay for $100 to $150.

BUT... suddenly on the West Coast, people on eBay are suddenly selling the Fortress of Solitude figure in larger numbers. And, on the action figure newsgroup, I read periodically, people report finding this holy grail of mine at KB toys for $5!!! The cards say 2001 on them which means that Hasbro, the maker of the line, is making more!! I'm gonna be going to KB toys almost every day until I find one of those damned figures! Hell... i want two... one to open and play with and one to hang on the wall.

AND... rumor has it that this fall, there's gonna be a Toys R Us Superman 4 pack that will include three older figures and a brand spanking new Lois Lane figure. Be still my heart...

AND... I just read for the first time this morning that Hasbro has the license to make toys for the new Justice League animated series that will be airing on the Cartoon Network this fall. If they make this line in the same style and size as the Batman and Superman ones, I will just die happy. I will fucking scream in the Toys R Us aisle the day I spot an animated Hawkgirl or Martian Manhunter or Flash figure. Seriously! SCREAM and jump over any child in my way... Fuck that, I'll prolly preorder a case of the little fuckers...

hmmm.... more later today...

Alrighty... I'm back from a self imposed week or so break from the Internet and my life in general.

A lot to catch up on, sorta... so I guess I'll well and truly ramble now.

First... if you know me or if you've read my blog for a bit, you know that I like action figures. My mania for them has cooled somewhat over the past year or so. There's not that much out there that excites me, and that's not a bad thing. I still like DC Direct's superhero figures, but they're kinda pricy, so I don't buy them that often, catching up when I can. I used to spend inordinate amounts of time driving around to toy stores waiting for new lines of figures to come out.

Well, those days are back for a bit and will be back later this fall for sure. I have two lines of action figures that I adore the most... the Superman and Batman animated ones. I have 99% of everything that was put out in both of them. In the Batman line, the only things of consequence I'm missing are the 12" figures of Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl and Robin's Dragster. The 12" figures are no biggie. I can pick them up anytime for not that much cost. The Robin Dragster unfortunately is a big deal. Shortly after it was originally produced, the factory where they were made burned to the ground. The molds for the vehicle were destroyed. So, it was only made once and can never be recast, as many figures and vehicles are. They sell now for anywhere from $100 to $400. Bleh. I don't like plastic toys that much.

The Superman line was a short-lived one. The last couple of lines of figures were either released in small numbers and through somewhat difficult channels or not released in the US at all. I managed to find the rather hard to get villians, Darkseid, Metallo and Bizarro, when they were released. Two things elude me though. The Fortress of Solitude Superman, who just has a fucking cool name and also has a great Kryptonian inspired little number that he's wearing, and the Metropolis Bank playset. Both of these were released only in the UK. I have the bank from it's rerelease in the US as a Batman Gotham City Bank, so I'm not overly concerned about it. I want that Superman figure though. And again, it sells on eBay for $100 to $150.

BUT... suddenly on the West Coast, people on eBay are suddenly selling the Fortress of Solitude figure in larger numbers. And, on the action figure newsgroup, I read periodically, people report finding this holy grail of mine at KB toys for $5!!! The cards say 2001 on them which means that Hasbro, the maker of the line, is making more!! I'm gonna be going to KB toys almost every day until I find one of those damned figures! Hell... i want two... one to open and play with and one to hang on the wall.

AND... rumor has it that this fall, there's gonna be a Toys R Us Superman 4 pack that will include three older figures and a brand spanking new Lois Lane figure. Be still my heart...

AND... I just read for the first time this morning that Hasbro has the license to make toys for the new Justice League animated series that will be airing on the Cartoon Network this fall. If they make this line in the same style and size as the Batman and Superman ones, I will just die happy. I will fucking scream in the Toys R Us aisle the day I spot an animated Hawkgirl or Martian Manhunter or Flash figure. Seriously! SCREAM and jump over any child in my way... Fuck that, I'll prolly preorder a case of the little fuckers...

hmmm.... more later today...

Saturday nite out...

So, last nite was a night of juggled friends and constantly coalescing plans. Originally, I was supposed to go to White Linen Night with a couple friends and then meet another friend to go to Oz.

So I spend some afternoon time laying out trying to get some sun, with no results. An hour in 100 degree heat and my skin doesn't even turn pink!? And my phone kept ringing the whole time I was laying out. First, my major crush of the moment called to catch up with me. He has a new houseguest moving in with him and they were planning on going to see Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I told him that I was going to see it on Sunday. Bummer.

Then, my friend Robert calls and we make plans to go to White Linen night once we get in touch with Dave, the ex. Then, my friend Brian calls and Dave is with him. They don't wanna do White Linen but they do wanna go see Hedwig. Then, Wil calls about going to Oz. But he has to meet the str8 friends at Pat O's for a while... Grrr. More phone calls. My plans firm up as follows: White Linen briefly with Robert, then off to the Shim Sham for a drink or two before we see Hedwig, then call and meet Wil in the Quarter to make it to Oz before the cover goes up. Whew!

So... I have a couple glasses of wine while waiting for Robert. Then we go to White Linen night. Parking is a bitch and a half. We wind up parking at Harrah's. I immediately decide that I HATE White Linen night. Too many stupid people. Nobody's really looking at the art, its all about being seen and seeing others. Plus, the art sucks anyway.

Luckily, Brian calls me on my cell and tells me they're on their way to the Quarter and are on Camp Street. I happen to be on Julia about 40 feet from the corner of Camp. I bid adieu to Robert and assorted people and run to the corner and hop in the car. And evidently I slam the door too hard.... or so I'm told...

Tom, Brian's manfriend, drops up in front of the Shim Sham and we meet Dave at the bar who's already purchased our tickets. A quick couple of drinks and we go in and take our places on our reserved front row seats (Thanks Flynn!!), feeling like NO celebutantes.

Within five minutes of the show starting, I was ecstaticly happy. This show completely utterly totally and without a doubt fucking rocks the planet. It was flawless. Usually, when I go to any sort of theatre, I'm bored at some point. But, I was completely rivetted to the stage for an hour and a half. The music in the show is glamrock at it's best. The dialogue is tight and pointedly perfect. And I have to assume some kick ass direction went into it.

But, the glue holding it all together were the actors. Dorian Rush and Flynn DeMarco both were brilliant. During the first song, I just wanted to run up on the stage and hug Flynn and tell him how amazing he was. Sometimes in life, you feel lucky to be near someone who has an immense talent. Dave, my ex, is one of the most artisticly gifted people I've ever known and I've always felt lucky to have had him and have him in my life. Flynn is another... his gift on the stage is HUGE. I've seen him in two productions now and he only seems to grow in talent.

Even if I didn't know Flynn, I would still be raving about this show though. Everyone who has any interest in theatre needs to immediately make plans to see it. I've not heard one negative or even mediocre word said by anyone who's seen it. Everyone that sees it is blown away by it. Even my stage hating friends. (hi Dave)

DO NOT miss this show.

So, after the show, I called Wil who just happened to be near 735, which is where Dave, Brian and I were heading for drinks. Wil and I ran into Oz and got stamped and then went back to 735. Wil heads back to PatO's. The 3 of us go back to Shim Sham for Glitter Glam for a bit. Have a nice time out on the balcony. Eventually, I head back to Oz and meet Wil. Dancing ensues. I say hi to a gay.com person. He's cute. Seems to think I'm cute. But, he has a boyfriend.... After a bit, I wonder away. Run into someone who lives near me who is heading home and hitch a ride. Calling an early nite of it. Leave Wil a voicemail letting him know.

Home. Sleep.

Saturday nite...

Life in New Orleans...

This week pretty much sucked cuz an out of nowhere sinus infection kicked my ass up and down the stairs. I hate these fuckers. They always start with a tickle in the throat and a vague feeling that things smell 'wrong'. Next thing you know, I'm sick as a dog. Getting older sucks. Sinuses suck. But, I'm getting better. Much better.

So, we may or may not have a tropical storm heading towards us. I hope not cuz I live in a neighborhood where the streets flood BADLY. I don't wanna get stuck in my house. Specially if the power goes out. I lived thru a week of August heat with no AC after Andrew a few years ago. I have no desire to go through that again. The adult side of me also doesn't want my store to lose sales as we do during bad weather.

I've actually gotten a couple of emails lately letting me know that people are reading my blog, which is gratifying. (Hi Doug ) Last nite, I got a really interesting long one from a person of indeterminate gender who noticed my webpage on gay.com and referred to me as 'a pretty kick ass motha *BLEEP*'. That was extremely gratifying. Heh. I'm kick ass. Heh.

So, tonite is White Linen Night. Pretentiousness will abound at art galleries. And I shall mingle. And probably inwardly sneer at 99% of the art. Hopefully someone will have something interesting on display. And hopefully I can succesfully steer my different friends who dislike one another in opposite directions...

If anyone out there wants to buy me anything, head on over to http://www.amazon.co.uk and buy me either Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds or Origin by Stephen Baxter. :)

I want those 2 books SOOO bad and I'm too broke to buy them. Unfairness of life...

An interesting thing I've observed... When I ask a the question "Am I preppy or alternative?", I get differing answers depending on who I ask. Some people say "definitely preppy", some say "alternative, you're not preppy at all". I think the truth lies somewhere in between. And I don't think I'm preppy or alternative. Of course, I don't think anyone who is 'alternative' these days is really alternative at all.

I think i need a nap...

Today, I begin to try to post daily. We shall see...

But that'll be later today...

For the last several days, I've had a sinus infection. UGH. I hate sinus infections and I get them pretty frequently. They suck!

I can't wait to be over it completely. I better be completely better by Saturday, cuz I wanna go to White Linen Night. Free wine at multiple galleries. Whoo hoo. After a few glasses, the crappy art starts looking better.

While illing, i've been reading other people's journals and chatting online a lot. Oh the drama... Way too many of the people I know are a little too into melodrama. And into being a little too involved in each other's lives. No wonder I have so few friends and date so few people... bleh...