Thursday, July 31, 2008

Happy 30th Birthday Bro!

Above: My brotehr Nathan in 1986.

My brother Nathan turns 30 today!! Whoo hoo welcome to my world and welcome to the decade where life begins!

Above: Good lord! Me at age 17 and my brother Nathan age 13 in 1992.

I have not talked to my brother Nathan in about six months but I called him today to wish him a happy birthday. We talked on the phone for a while and it really was so good to talk to him. We lose touch now and then but we always have no problem getting into great conversations and connecting so well over the phone. He is one of he few people that has knwon me most of my life and we ahve been through a lot together.

Above: This is one of my favorite pictures of my brothers and me (1983). I am in he middle, Nathan is on the left and Noah is on the right pointing at the camera!

After talking to him it made me really want to go see my brothers. I have not seen them in almost 2 years and not seeing them just made me lose touch with them and make me feel like they don't care about me and vice versa..but I will always care about them and I know they care about me. I am going to make a point to go see them this December when I go back to Boston. It will be great to catch up on old times and talk about the good time.

Above: Nathan, Me and Noah Christmas 1996. Check out the horrible Christmas tie I am wearing.

I love you Nathan and Noah! See you guys soon:-)

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Sunshine


Yesterday, when I came home from work I grabbed the pile of mail that is usually near the door when I get home. There was this envelope that was all crunched up and it was buldging out. It had no return address, no postmark on the envelope. It was addressed to Paul. Paul is in Chicago for work this week and I called him and told him he had a mystery package with what looks like a present inside. He told me to open it and I did. Below is what was inside:


I know this was meant for Paul so I scanned it in so he could see it and react the same way I did. It made me cry. It’s funny how that sunshine on that piece of paper made me feel so many things. It brought a huge smile to my face, it made me cry, it made me realize the power of tradiational mail (an actual piece of mail is so much more powerful than an email)!!! It also made me think of the song below that my mom used to sing to me when I was a small kid. She would comb my hair back with her hand and sing this song:

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You’ll never know dear
How much I love you
Please don’t take
My sunshine…….away

Above: Me and my mom in 1977.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Chef Zach

Above: I love this picture! Zach taking the cookies out of the oven.

Zachary has expressed a huge interest in something that I find to be quite fascinating for a kid his age. Remember Zach is only 4 1/2 years old and while other kids want to be a fireman, a teacher, a nurse, a policeman or any of the other "common" professions when they grow up, Zach has shown that he really has a taste for a particular profession. (All the photos pictured below are from our friend Richard and his day cooking with Zach!)

Above: Excited to cook!

Above: Mixing the ingredients.

Zach likes to watch cartoons and action movies but lately Zach has been asking to watch cooking shows. Not only does he watch them, but also he comments on them and expresses how he wants to be a chef! Zach enjoys cooking food from scratch and adding in all the fun ingredients like eggs, flour sugar and salt and making a tasty dish. I love this interest he has and it really shows the creative side to him.


Above: Taste test.

Above: YUM!

Zach has been away for a week now and he will be gone for another week and a half and Paul and I miss him very much. He is staying on the Cape with his Mom, Iggy, Nanny, Pops, Aunt, Uncle and his two cousins. I am sure he is having a blast. We cannot wait to see him when he comes back. I am looking forward to baking some fun things when he gets back to San Fran. Below is a quick clip of all of us baking. We usually cook right when we all get home from work and school and it's rather hectic trying to cook and get food on the table, get Zach in a tubby and then settle down before bedtime.

Above: Zach and Me cooking dinner.

I think it's so important to feed the interests kids have so they are exposed to what is peaking their curiosity. Whatever Zach wants to be when he gets older we all fully support and that's the key - to support your kids in whatever they want to do. It may not be what you had in mind for your children but support them - I feel that support will only make the parent/child bond stronger. I am hoping for the "Chef Zach" so he can make us some tasty meals when we are old and gray:-)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Switch Hitters Ball - Rihanna Performance 2008

Finally, here it is - my performance at the Switch Hitters Ball last month. Oy Vey!!

To read the full story on this video go to the earlier post below, dated June 22nd 2008.

Enjoy!





A few things about this little video:

1. This is the first time I have ever done drag.

2. There were a few wardrobe malfunctions, which are pretty funny to see on video.

3. The commentaries from the crowd and MC are hilarious. I can hear Kyser and Jeff G. shouting and saying a few funny things.

4. This was all in fun - I am not going to make a career out of it.

5. I'd do it again in a minute!


Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words


Paul sent me the above photo, it was a headline story on the boston.com site. So, let me ask you, what do you think happened in this picture? Just by looking at the picture.

Monday, July 21, 2008

2008 Softball Season Comes to and End


This past weekend was the end of the softball season! Our team, The Pups C, finished overall for the season in a respectable 3rd place and we finished overall in the playoffs in 3rd place as well. I am very proud of that! Our division has 13 teams total, so coming in third place out of 13 teams is not too shabby! Our record was eight wins, three loses and 1 tie.




We have a great team and everyone gets along really well, some of our team members are moving away, some are not playing next season and some could be moved up to the next division. I will really miss the team I had this year, this team matched what the Brushbacks in Boston meant to me and I never thought that would happen.


We are all playing in a small tournament this weekend up in Russian River, I opted out - I am done with softball for this year and my body needs the rest. On last hooray for the Pups C!! It will be a blast I am sure:-)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Friends


Some people use the word "Friend" loosely and I admit I am guilty of using the word freely here and there. This past weekend Paul and I realized that we have some REAL friends that we could call on, go to for support and advice and that can truly be there for us in time of need. I just want to say that I am so thankful to have these certain people as real friends and, in my eyes, family. This past weekend there were a whirlwind of situations that came up that neither of us could have got through without our friends. I am so thankful to have all of you in my life....

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

iPhone Photos

Above: Imagine if there were two Zach's!

I finally got around to getting the photos off of my iPhone. The iPhone is pretty handy when you want to snap a photo and you don't have your camera handy. Below are some photos that were taken over the past couple of months on my iPhone.

Above/Below: Paul and Zach reading the Sunday paper.



Above: A bizarre tribute on someones house after longtime newscaster Dennis Richmond retired.

Above: We do bi-monthly "bake-off" contests at work - the entries look small but they all were delicious!

Above/Below: My bus ride into work is truly amazing. Usually in the morning San Francisco is under a cloud of fog and when I get into Sausalito it's bright and sunny. You can see the blob of fog covering the entire SF skyline.


Above: Another amazing view near my work.

Above: Sorry Ryan, I stole your photo! We saw this photo at AT&T Park.
What the hell is an "express" bathroom!?!?

Above: Following the theme of "Where's Waldo" - Where's Paul?

Above: This picture was not taken with my iPhone but with my iMac - Warhol.

Above: Looking through a fish eye.

Above: Jetta dash

Above: One of the many crazy cars we see in SF.

Above: A huge billboard I saw of Madonna on my way home from work.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

The Unknown

Above: Me and my friend Donna hanging out and talking Joan.

The Silent Film Festival came rolling into San Francisco this past weekend. I thoroughly enjoy silent films and discovering films that I normally would never watch. I was extremely excited about this year’s silent film festival because the feature film for the festival was an early film Joan Crawford stared in called "The Unknown." Joan Crawford was only 21 years old when this film was released in 1927 and she was co-starring with one of the greatest silent film actors of all time, Lon Chaney. The film is probably one of the best silent films ever showcasing Lon Chaney's amazing silent acting skills, a bizarre story line and a fresh-faced almost unrecognizable Joan Crawford only two years into her acting career. As we all know, Crawford became one of the most successful actresses of all time having a career that spanned six decades and wining an Academy Award.

Above: The beautiful poster that promoted The Silent Film Festival. Thanks Scott!

Above: The famous Castro Theatre marquee.

Above: One of the slides that appeared on the BIG SCREEN at the Castro Theater
- notice the plug to my website!! :-)


Prior to watching "The Unknown," I met up with new friend, David who reviewed my collection last week and Scott who I worked with on the Joan Crawford essay that was being shown before the filming of "The Unknown." We all connect so well on many levels and enjoyed a few beers at the famous "Harvey's" in the Castro. We then headed over to the Theater to watch "The Man Who Laughs." This silent film was being shown before "The Unknown" and I was excited to see this interesting tale about a man who was branded with a permanent smile on his face as a young boy and had to go through life begin ridiculed for having this large, toothy smile. The film was brilliant and was the inspiration for the Batman comic book and film character The Joker.

Above: This is a great slide showing the inspiration for the Batman villan, The Joker.

Above" David, Scott and me at the Castro Theatre - Looks like I lost a few buttons!

After watching "The Man Who Laughs, " I gathered up Paul, friends and many Joan fans to watch "The Unknown" (many seeing it for the first time). I am always glad to have Paul with me at a film event because it's exposing him to something I enjoy and 9 out of 10 times, Paul truly enjoys the films I share with him. Paul really enjoyed "The Unknown." My online Joan friend, Donna, flew into SF earlier in the week to come see this film with her friend Karen. This is the second time Donna has come to SF to watch Joan on the big screen with me and it's always a treat. We were all kiddy and happy to be reunited once again.

Above: Me outside the Castro Theater.

Earlier in the week on Friday night I had Donna and Karen over my apartment to view my Joan Crawford collection. I have been showing the collection pretty much on a weekly basis to people in the SF area and it's not only been wonderful sharing the collection with other fans but I have been making some great new friends. I was super excited to share it with my friend Donna because we both share the passion, both have Joan Crawford Websites and we talk online on a weekly basis. After two hours of looking at the collection Donna's friend, whose not a Joan fan but respects her acting and enjoyed the collection, was at her Joan limit and rightfully so. Donna and I could have reviewed the collection all night.

Above: Me and Donna lookign at my Joan Crawford collection.

It's funny how you meet people through different mediums. I have a great group of friends back in Boston I met through Paul and here in SF we have a great group of friends we met through softball and now I am making a whole new level of friends through my love of old films and Joan. It's crazy how certain people come in and out of your life, but I believe people come into your life for a reason. I am surrounded my some truly amazing people that I am thankful to know and call friends. I am truly enjoying meeting new people!

Above: Joan friend Darwin, me and Paul sharing a few drinks after the movie.

Above: Scott, Donna and Karen talking about Joan and Judy.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Small Paul


A couple weeks ago, Zach’s mom, Carrie, was telling me how she bought a really cool sweatshirt for Zach that had a monkey’s face on it designed by Paul Frank. Underneath the monkey’s face it says “Small Paul!” How cute is that considering Zach IS a “small Paul.” The bad thing about it is Zach doesn’t like wearing the sweatshirt. Bummer.

So, last week I was shopping for myself, but I always end up shopping for Zach instead and I found a t-shirt that had the same “Small Paul” tagline on it! This morning I shared the shirt with Zach and he saw that monkey’s face and said “NO! I don’t like that shirt.” I think he thought it was the sweatshirt – so after we talked him into wearing it, I had to get a picture with Zach in this cute shirt!


Zach is small Paul!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Portland, Oregon. "CA-KAW"!!!

Above: The Portland, Oregon skyline might be small but the nightime skies are rather impressive.

This summer we have been traveling quite a bit and still have a few more trips planned before the end of he year. While Paul and I are living on the West Coast, we really want to visit as many places in the surrounding area that we can. Seattle, Arizona and Hawaii are on the list, Paul has been to all three - I have not. Portland, Oregon was also on that list but now we can cross it off.

Above: One of he many drawbridges we saw in Portland, Oregon.


Our trip to Portland was for a softball tournament, so we decided to head up a day early so we could enjoy some of the sights the city had to offer. We also were going with many friends, yes another trip with several friends! Most of us stayed at a renovated motel called Jupiter Motel, it's an old 50s motel that was refaced and given a gay modern makeover - it was pretty cool. There was a tasty restaurant attached called Doug Fir that was very enjoyable.Our first full day in Portland we were meeting up with our friend Casey, Mark and Joe. We were all going to cram into one car and go sight seeing along the Columbia River. Mark and Joe decided they needed more "room" and opted for the cab rather than to sit on a few laps in the car - so Casey, Scott, Paul and I headed on a scenic tour through Portland! Mark and Joe were missed while we were on our little tour.

Above: Me, Scott and Casey enjoying the scenic views.

Above: Whatchu lookin' at?!?

Above: Me

Above: Me and Scott admiring the views.
Above: The Vista House.


I have to say, Portland was very impressive. The scenery was lovely with so much greenery it reminded me of New England in the summer - very green and lots of mountains. Our first stop was the Vista House that had a really cool stained glass castle on the mountaintop and offered views for miles! We tramped around the area for a while then headed to some one the most impressive waterfalls I have ever scene! It was breathtaking. Take a look below.

Above: Multnomah Falls in Portland, Oregon. How amazing is that!?

Above: Me and Paul in front of the Falls.

Above: Casey, Me and Scott.

Above: Casey, Scott and Paul in front of the massive waterfall.


Above: Casey holds up a hilarious sign that we found in a gift shop. The sign is suppossed to be used when you drive and it comes with many differnt sayings that you can flash to people while driving.

Above: Stop staring at Scott.

Above: What IS Paul talking about!?

Above: What ride am I talking about?

After our jaunt through Portland we headed back to the Jupiter Hotel where several hundred gays were gathering to register in the Softball Tournament. We saw many familiar faces from San Fran and several other men from Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. It was pretty cool to be part of a large tournament like this. I have never played in an official softball tournament like this before and I was anxious and excited to play with the big boys!

Above: The Jupiter Hotel.

Above: Each motel room door was also a chalkboard and everyone wrote some fun things on their doors. As you can see above, I decorated the door but some people defaced it by writing trashy things all over it! It must have been Bette Davis!


Above: Our neighboors door.

The next day started bright and early with a full day of softball ahead of us, we knew we had to play at least four softball games so I was prepared to get dirty and play. Our first game started out rough and we were playing a game we should have beat, but we lost. Our "team" was not the full official Pups C division team - the team had a combination of Pups D players and players from other softball teams. So, although the team had a common bond of playing softball and we all got along, we didn’t have the "glue" of the full official Pups C team that played very well this year and I really think that's the reason we ended the day with losing ALL four of our softball games.

Above: The "Oregon" version of The Pups.

Above: Troy and Scott watch in awe!

But what's a gay softball tournament without a teeny weenie bit of drama, eh? Our last game of the day introduced us to a robust lesbian as the umpire and I am being kind when I say robust. She started off on the wrong foot right off the bat (no pun inended) - she had this angry empowerment to her and I knew it wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience. Since I play catcher, I am close to the ump with them being right behind me for a large part of the game. So as the game went underway, the ump told me I was too far back from the plate. Too far back from the plate? I have never heard of such a thing, but I just moved up close to the plate and thought nothing of it. The next inning she then proceeded to tell me I was too close. After she made several bad calls and now she was just being ridiculous with me I plainly said "What the Fuck!?" Now, apparently you cannot swear in a softball tournament, I have no idea why you cannot swear but you just can’t. So she told me that if I swear again she would throw me out of the game. At this point I had already listened to enough of this dyke's bullshit and I turned around, looked her in the eye and said "Then throw me out of the game!" I think she was a bit shocked that I stood up to her, a big badlesbian; I am not scared of them even some of them they try to come off as bullies and power hungry.

Above: Joe is up to bat and the man, I mean woman, in blue is the angry lesbian ump.

Above: Poor Scotty sprains his ankle!

Above: The Pups unite after a hard day of softball.

Above: Jim and Ed! Ed kept score for us and gets my vote for MVP!

Anyway, the fun didn't stop there! After she called a really bad call against PJ, who was playing shortstop, he got upset and threw the ball at the ground towards the pitcher. The ump thought he was throwing the ball at her and all hell broke loose. All I have to say is she most likely won't be umpping a game after this year. End of story. I don't understand why a large majority of lesbians are so angry all the time. They love confrontation, they love to fight, and they appear miserbale..what's the deal!? It just blows my mind. So, we lost all four of our games and earned the last place spot in the brackets for Sunday’s tournament! Ha!


Above: Casey, James and PJ getting through our last game....

Above: ...and Joe has had enough!

Since we were the last place team, we were punished with having to play the 8am game the next morning but that didn't stop up from dancing the night away and getting to bed after 1am! OH NO! We still had our fun and pretty much knew what our fate would be in the morning. We were pretty tired and sore from the previous day and most of us mentally checked out. Scott was hurt physically and I think a few of the players had bruised egos. So we ended up going 0-5 but we all had smiles on our faces and went to go enjoy the entire day in Portland slumming around the city.

Above: Mark and Joe get romantic. They just celebrate 7 years together! Congrats!

Above: Troy and Me are holding a book, I'll let you fill in the blank.

Above: PJ acting all studly.

The trip was great and yet again another bonding experience with friends. I do have to say that I am not a big fan of softball tournaments, I had fun with my friends playing, but I didn’t like playing in the stressful competitive tournament. I prefer the fun and carefree attitude my D division team has and will still to the regular season games. I am ot saying Pups C wasnot fun and carefree, it was just the overall vibe from the other teams. I was pleased with how I played; I did better than I thought, so that was a positive. Enjoy the photos!:-)


"CA-KAW" "CA-KAW"

Above: Me falling asleep Sunday afternoon waiting for the train.

Above: Casey and Joe.

Above: Chip Away is a game Paul and I love to play! Check out who has the high score - it's my all time best!

Above: Manja!