October 11 2008

What happened to all the gay folk? At one time, I counted at least 15 gay folk out at work out of about 150 employees. Hey that's the 10% we heard about for so many years. I just learned one of us gave his notice this week and I started thinking, that number will have dwindled to two out at work. That doesn't count the two that are in the closet and the one who just hasn't figured it out yet for himself. I guess I gotta do some recruiting.

Going to see Tina Turner in December. It'll be my 5th time. Even if she's 400 years old, she's still one of, if not the, greatest. Lost a butt load of weight during my recent sickness. It'll be fun putting it back on.

October 10 2008

It's been a while, mostly because of being busy and since last Friday, I've been pretty much sick. Even leaving work early one day, but feeling much better the last couple of days. I decided to do some yard work this afternoon, it being almost 70 out and after talking with the neighbors who have lived here for many years, we wondered what this neighborhood was like so long ago in 1905. When this neighborhood was built, the roads were not paved, they were either gravel or cobblestone. There were no cars or driveways and streetcars ran down the main streets. Four, six, or even eight kids per house was not that unusual.

As I mowed the yard, I thought about the neighborhood I grew up in which was built in the 1950's. It was early suburbs, cars and streets and shopping centers. Our neighborhood was pretty diverse considering it was all white. Oxymoron? probably. Next door was the "old Yankee couple" as my dad called them. He wore long black knee sox with bermuda shorts, bought a new Cadillac every year which he parked in the carport (our neighborhood had carports) while his wife drove some old Cadillac from the 50's that she had to move out of his way whenever he went somewhere and she was not allowed to drive his. Next to them was my friend Allison and her folks. If I remember correctly, her sister was a hippie. Her mom always referred to me and my bro as her boys. I seem to remember thinking my mom did not like that. She was a member of the PTA (more on that later). Next to her was my mom's best friend. She worked for Eastern Airlines until right before it went under. It hit my mom hard when she died suddenly in her 50's. As a little kid, I remember her liking to drink a lot. She had a cool Camero convertible which any kid would love. Next house was Mrs. Lee. I NEVER saw her. My understanding as an adult is she was an "invalid" because she always had a nurse there which we also never saw. Roomer was, she let dogs fuck her. Why this was true? Because a kid in the neighborhood saw it through the window, that's why. Going back the other way was an "old widow woman" who briefly married a man who committed himself to the psychiatric ward. Therefore, to a kid, he was a crazy man, she drove him crazy. She did drive my dad crazy as every time she needed something "done" at her house, she called my dad on his weekend off. I think this may be where my dad's aversion to answering the phone came from. Next to her was my second mom. I think I stayed there as much as at home until she had her own kid, and even after that. She was a teacher and drove a Pinto. I loved that Pinto.

Next to her were and old couple in their 80's. She used to make me snow cones. I don't know why I remember that except that ice crusher was loud. Most of his backyard was a garden in addition to a plot of land he owned in the middle of the ghetto that the neighborhood used as a community garden. I hated having to go to work in that stupid garden. When they died, this guy bought the house and I remember my mom saying, "I think he's gay". Never had I heard her talk about someone being gay. Next to them was my second dad (first in a way because my dad was out of town so much) and my friend Michelle and Mike. Michelle and Mike's dad was awesome. He always brought me out on Halloween and included me in their families activities. he died a couple of years ago way too young. Across from them was my friend Doug. We were best friends for many years until he moved away. We played hot wheels until we were in ninth grade until we made a conscious decision that we may be too old for these things and we should stop. It was then we started getting in trouble together. I've tried to find him many times to no avail. Doug had the coolest house with a creek running through it and a whole downstairs just for the kids.

Finally, next door on the other side were an older couple who had 17 Chihuahuas. Names I remember were Big One, Little One, Fat One, Chocolot, Victoria...you get the point. One last point, the PTA I mentioned ain't The Parents Teachers Association. My mom, and three of her friends who lived in the neighborhood got together several times a week to smoke, drink wine, and play bridge and they were commonly referred to as The PTA. If someone called the house and asked for mom, we said she was at The PTA.

September 28 2008

It's a little late but I watched Friday night's debate today. I'd call it a draw but (no, I ain't voting for him) McCain completely impressed me on foreign policy issues. I guess being in the House and Senate for the last 25 years has "learned" him a thing or two. Remember when McCain used to really be independent and not just pretend to be? I wonder how this election would be polling right now if McCain would have picked a decent running mate.

This new American Express commercial is pretty funny. This old one I've never seen before but it's pretty funny too.

September 27 2008





A rainy couple of days lead me to try to escape it at least for a few hours so being by myself this weekend, I headed down Rt 30 to the Catskills where I came across the village of Margaretville, a cool little town at the base of a mountain on The Delaware River. I saw The Delaware & Ulster Railroad have an old train they use for excursions into the mountains that I passed that I have a definite interest in next year. It looks like great fun.



As I was getting closer to home, I tried to snap a picture but I guess it was set to video so I have a video of me singing some KC and The Sunshine Band as the camera flails around aimlessly in my hand. WARNING: It ain't pretty. I don't know how Duncan puts up with it.

Almost finally, so long Paul Newman. What a great actor and stand up guy you were.

And finally, Burn After Reading, good but not great. I was a little disappointed and it was a lot darker than I expected but I still love Brad Pitt. My friend Rick who I was with had a tranny with very noisy keys sit down right beside him.

September 26 2008



Went to see Lisa Lampanelli again tonight at The Palace in Albany. It seems like yesterday but it was for my birthday last year we went to see her. Duncan was out of town so I went with my pal Echo. My jaw hurts for laughing. Better than any old presidential debate for sure. I guess I'll watch that tomorrow on the DVR. She said she's doing an HBO special. If you haven't seen her, watch it.

September 22 2008



Our neighbor is having some trees trimmed so I abandoned my backyard work in case there were a mistake as a crane hovered above the 50 foot trees. There is sun where there never was before.