A North Park New Year!

 

Patrick and I have been working on our condo all week while he is on vacation and didn't go to Ireland for the holidays - per the norm.

Although invited to a few outings and house parties for the New Year - we both lagged on making a decision, preferring to finish as much work as possible while we had the time and were motivated.

 

Let me put it this way - - by 9:30pm we were covered in paint and concrete dust, and don't even get me started on the heavy doses of Ibuprofen we were both taking as we were both in a lot of pain from all the work. We figured time was running short so we better clean up so we could mosy down the street and see what we can find without investing too much effort or money so last-minute.



One of the things I love about our location in North Park is that we are a quick and easy walk to the bars and restaurants that have sprung up the past few years. We found ourselves turning our noses up at some of our regular hangouts with huge cover charges and pretentious crowds and opted for the free -- oh yes -- -F R E E - party at the gay dive bar (yes, you read it correctly although it sounds wrong) REDWING on 30th Street.

I have to give it to the folks there. We were easily able to join in on the fun at 11pm - - not a cent was paid in cover, we were given tickets to win door prizes as our IDs were checked -- there were noise-makers, hats and tiaras for everyone - - not to mention karaoke (George Michael and Beyonce songs were the favorite of the evening)... this also included free champagne toast at midnight for all and STRONG, cheap drinks. (Take THAT, foofy West Coast bar - - who were charging $50 at the door, the drinks aren't strong, only party masks for the first 50 through the door, and no champagne toast).

The evening was perfect, I got my gay man quota for the week - - everyone was in a super mood and neighborly with each other, the drag queens looked magnificent -- we even were able to find a place at the bar to crowd watch and for me to sing along with the karaoke 80s songs.

Happy NEW YEAR to all my loved ones!

Click on Slideshow below!

New Years Eve 2009

He purty but he MY man!!!

 Okay, okay folks - I got one thing to say: Foreign does NOT equal = GAY!

Now, this is coming from an expert: MOI. I am highly versed in dating foreign men and being a "fa- hag". Yes, I admit to believing that my previous ex Italian, Mik, was gay for the first 2 weeks of meeting him as my next door neighbor - but that was partly because of the extremely tight Italian pants and T shirts he wore, the fact that we lived in Hillcrest (the gay part of town). Also, I already knew for sure 1 roommate of the 3 was gay, and Mik and Danny were constantly together and going out together and going to soccer together - I thought they might be a couple. Lastly, his northern Italian accented English was also a bit fay-sounding. See picture below of Mik, my old roommates Caren and Kim, and Danny at the ultra fay Hillcrest GAY PRIDE PARADE.
That said - I hear a lot of Americans (ignorant ones) bellow out that foreign guys are a bunch of 'fa-s'. (Personally, I just think they are jealous since it is widely known that American women LOVE foreign accents and foreign men.) *sigh*

Well, my current handsome beau of almost 2 years, Patrick, is from Ireland -- although he's been here long enough now to only use the accent when he wants to (too bad for E!!). And, yes, people throughout the years have also pinned him for being gay. When he lived in the USA in his 20s, he hung around a small group of straight guys, but were all into alternative music and that look - pegging them as 'gay' to the socially unaware American. (Puleease - those boys had plenty of female company back then...)

On my first date with Patrick, we ended latter evening for a drink at the gay bar, "Bourbon Street" - partly because we both lived nearby and I also wanted to see if he was comfortable in his skin and not anti-gay. Well, all eyes were on my date, I can tell you - and gay men usually love ME - calling me "Penelope Cruz", etc etc. When one of us would go to the restroom he'd be singled out and hit on immediately hehehe. That's my Irish straight man.

Well, today I got a call from P stating that he has a secret admirer. "Whose arse am I gonna have to kick, now?" I commented dramatically - for P has plenty of admirers and exes and full-bussomed girly friends that I have to keep in check - shoot. P went on to say there was a note, a business card rather, left on his car this morning. It said on the back, "I lost your number, call me and let's go have some wine together.."

Ummm-huh.

"Well.." I said dramatically again in order to get a rouse from him, "somebody probably sees your handsome face coming and going and then they see me looking all homely and ugly cleaning your house, taking out the trash (next to the car) and walking the dog and they said to themselves, "shoot - that girl of his ain't NOTHING, I am going after that Leprechuan and we can go have an Irish Spring shower together!!'"

There was just one thing, though. P told me the name on the card.

It belonged to a man.

HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH mwuah haa haaa hahaha!

Maybe it's the Banana Republic metrosexual dark T shirts he always wears.....:P

80s Song of the Week: Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls"

I still like this 1985 song and its basically being completely programmed on a keyboard synthesizer is SO 80s :)
Pet Shop Boys are actually still around, still recording and still successful - in Europe. But their heyday in the USA was definitely during the 80s starting with this hit. Made up of the duo Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe they wrote danceable tunes with intelligent lyrics delivered solemnly by the stoic Tennant.

Interestingly enough, by watching their videos again I only recently came to realize that the lead singer is obviously gay - well, shoot - I wasn't a fag hag in 1985 in 7th grade (or WAS I- - but didn't know it yet?)hahahaha It seems he is publicly "out" since 1994. Also, Patrick recently informed me that their clever name leans to something very gay - again, I grew up so innocent and sheltered for so long (how on EARTH was I supposed to know?) :)

Whatever the case - good songs, great memories :)

Pride Picture of the Year

Alas: it's PRIDE weekend in my old home of Hillcrest, San Diego. This will be the 2nd year in a row I cannot make it but it always ends up incredibly hot and the parade isn't as fun as we expect. Still the bars will be kicking and so big hugs to all the 'girls' that will be partying it up the whole weekend! This picture is from a couple years ago taken at uber gay club, Montage. I guess it just proves 3 things:

1). it's impossible to keep Elsa off a stage
2). it's impossible to keep a 6'4 drag queen away from Elsa
and
3). it's impossible for my ex Italian to keep his shirt on at an uber gay club

HAPPY PRIDE!! :)

P n E at Joshua Tree

It was another lovely Spring weekend memory made with my Patrick. This time we packed up my gas-efficient Scion and headed out to the Southern California desert park of Joshua Tree. Only 2 hours away, I try to go every spring as I love desert, dry heat, hiking and camping. Patrick had never been and this is the best time of year to go, so it was a no-brainer.

During a most-enjoyable drive up P entertained me for once (hahaha) with some stories of his youth in the Navy. I love it when he tells me stories, as I am very good at it myself and it runs in my family and culture. Story-telling runs in his Irish culture as well, but P doesn't have E's "gift to gab". :)

We stopped off first in Palm Springs – also a first for my man. The weather was perfect – warm, about 88 degrees – but not too hot. We parked, and strolled around the main street, stopping in galleries and boutiques that caught our fancy. It was such a charming afternoon there! One interesting thing we both noted was how gay-friendly (“Frisco!!”) the town had become. They even had a “Hamburger Mary’s” bar there – it was HUGE in Hillcrest, San Diego. Being the Gay Man’s Best Girl Friend that I am, this accelerated my good mood to an even better level.

Eventually we made it into the Park – after making us drive the long way around it to the 29 Palms Northern entrance – oopps! It was late afternoon – the best time to take pictures. Patrick is becoming increasingly involved in his photography and this trip was definitely an invitation to partake in it.

Joshua Tree Park is interesting. One is able to enter at one entrance and drive completely through to the opposite side. In doing so, you can see and enjoy the different ecosystems and plant growth according to the elevation. We started out in flat lands with many Joshua Trees and then enjoyed the famous Jumbo Rocks in the middle of the park – which have a red sheen at sunset – (but there was too much cloud-coverage that day). Many rock-climbers flock to the rocks nowadays – I couldn’t believe how many were scrambling up those HUGE boulders like spiders. Very cool.

Eventually we ascended some hills where it definitely got cooler and I had to break out my jacket. After enjoying the view (but not the strong, cold winds) – we headed back down again to see a different desert terrain with blooming, tall Ocatillo bushes. All very stark but lovely.

Early the next morning we got up early to embark on one of the several hikes. We chose to do the short 2.5 hour loop to Mastedon Peak. Along the way we got to enjoy 2 natural oasis’ and an abandoned gold mine. The weather had cooled – perfect for hiking. I think Patrick took about 500 pictures! We will definitely head back again in the Fall.
Click below for my short photo gallery slideshow!

Joshua Tree 2007

It's "Absolutely FABULOUS", Dahling....!!

I hate the term but I've been a fa* hag for quite some time. I figure growing up with all those musicals and then getting into theater did it. Heck: I'm open-minded! Well, I was knocked down a rung or two when it took my conservative (if somewhat Metrosexual) boyfriend, Patrick, to introduced me recently to the hit BBC television show, "Absolutely Fabulous".

Known as "The Fab AB" - this show is a RIOT! It mostly consists of the foibles of Eddee and her childhood friend, Patsy, now both about 40. The pair is an absolute fabulous M-E-S-S! Eedee has a teenage daughter (perfectly cast) who is a total nerd, conservative brainiac - much to her super liberal mother's chagrin. Eedie is twice-divorced (the father of her daughter turned out GAY, of course!) Even though Patsy and Eidee are a mess, they are quite successful in, what else, the Fashion industry. So we always get to hear funny commentry on lables and designers. The 2 are also rarely seen NOT guzzling down some alcohol or lighting a fag (cigarette, darling, I mean lighting a cigarette!) They are constantly making trouble for some poor soul and their comedic timing and facial expressions are hilarious!

Well, far be it for me to somehow miss that this show was HUGE within the Gay community. Patrick said that they even used to do viewing parties of it at one of the gay bars in Hillcrest. Shoot. I somehow missed all of that. Maybe it was because I haven't had cable in over 10 years???

Enjoy a taste of it, Dahling....!!

80s Song of the Week - Culture Club - "Do you Really Want to Hurt Me?"

I believe this may have been Culture Club's first American big hit. I really think that lead singer, Boy George, has a pretty voice. He has this long, thin nose - and, being a singer, I can tell how that gives him this great, forward, almost nasal, woman-like tone. Who couldn't have fun listening to their music? It was certainly different than anything else going on at the time.

In my family we grew up so sheltered and unexposed to so much, I am surprised (now, as an adult) that I didn't question Boy George's 'she-male' whole thing. I always was fascinated by his long corn-row braids and meticulously-applied makeup. Should it be no surprise, then, that I grew up completely non-judging and befriending gays?? My favorite place to live in San Diego still is my 7 year stint in the gay community of Hillcrest...

80s Song of the Week - Wham! "Wake me up Before you Go-Go"

This 1985 bubblegum pop ditty by British duo, "Wham!" is a TOTAL guilty pleasure of mine! Bouncy beats, perky melody, horn brass in the chorus, playful deep bass voice chanting, "Jitterbug", at regular intervals - sweet fun! As for the video - well, those are some pretty short, 2-toned, 80s shorts (I later heard George Michael comment that he and Andrew Ridgely, did indeed er, stuff them for the video). And the use of glow-in-dark lighting - so groovy! Looking back now at the wardrobe, song, video and the swinging and clapping dance choreography there is no doubt that George Michael came 'out' years later. That said, he is deliciously cute, became a master of pop songs and he DID write them as well (always a big plus in my book). Also, everyone who knows me knows that I love gay men - maybe way back in Jr. High school when this song came out I already knew I was destined to be a friend of the 'girls'... :)

Diva-Fina's Birthday!!

ok, it's 11:15 and I am buzzed after 3 strong drinks. Tonight I was celebrating with some of the 'girls' my dear, DEAR, bestest Gay Friend: Jose AKA Jose-fina, AKA La Diva-Fina's 29th birthday!

I plan on writing a blog about my colorful friend who now resides in New York City as a hot-shot agent for one of the world's Top modeling agencies: Elite Models. But since I am buzzed, have my own early morning modeling segment to get some beauty sleep for (and oh I admit it: I forgot my camera tonite) - I guess this will have to suffice for now. That and a picture of La Diva-Fina in kimono drag from last Halloween (until I am forwarded pix from tonite).

Ohhhhh, Gawd: felt like ol' times...

I love you 'Fina!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!