Confessions of a Southern Boy in Yankee Land

A Thought

2008-07-25T10:23:00.000-04:00

You know, I realize this might just be a little bit of old-school misogyny at play here, but I have yet to understand exactly why the exact same scenario played out with different sexes tends to bother me so much.
Here’s what I mean: I don’t blink when I’m at a gay bar and someone tells me he’s trolling for dick. It’s just something I guess is an expectation of horny guys in a bar that they’re trolling for a piece tonight. I also guess that I think a guy being prowled can take care of himself if necessary (at least under most circumstances).
Cut to a straight bar. If I were privy to the confession that a friend of mine were trolling for pussy, I’d immediately get defensive for the girl.
Why do I do this? Why am I so imminently skeeved out at the prospect of a straight guy doing what barely registers on me when a gay guy does it? Do I honestly think this guy is such a pervert that he’ll rape any girl he can find? Do I think the girl will be completely defenseless? Why do I not think that, like the gay guys, the straight guy will find a girl who is ALSO just looking for a little fun at the end of the night?

I don’t know. I do know that it bothers me.

It also bothers me in the exact same way when I see a guy turn around to check out a girl from behind when they’re passing each other on the street. Two guys? Not so much. I wonder if this is a result of my being gay, my being overprotective, my internalizing the sexism of anonymous straight guys…I really don’t know. I don’t have a sister. I don’t know that I have in any particular way an overprotective streak in me, but when I see straight guys engage in this kind of behavior, I want to confront them and I do not feel ths way with gay guys.

Photo - sleepies!

2008-07-23T16:28:00.000-04:00

This is what a sleepy Southern Boy looks like on the subway. I think
it's time for a nap.

2008-07-23T11:46:00.003-04:00

When I read reports like this, I'm so glad I just bought a bike.

The MTA seems to be on a mission to prove just how bad the idea of privatizing something in which the government has a legitimate interest can be, especially when the government underwrites as much as half of their operating costs.

Hot on the heels of the MTA projecting another budget shortfall (because god forbid they not give their executives tens of thousands in raises and bonuses and free EZ-passes to board members), they're about to impose a fare hike. AGAIN. This just after raising my unlimited card another $5 a month. One can only assume that raising the per-trip fare will increase the unlimited passes again. Governor Paterson has vowed to oppose it and I hope he sticks to his word. Given my high opinion of him and his willingness to do what he says he intends to do, I'm thinking he'll work very hard on this.

In the meantime, I bought my bike. I was going to get one last year, but I kept hesitating, mainly because I wanted to make sure I was going to use it. Also, I'll admit to having a legitimate issue over the space. Where would I store it? It's not like I have a garage or a massive hallway where I could hang a rack and I'm certainly not going to keep it outside my apartment, where it'd be stripped for parts within 10 minutes.

I finally decided I'd need to get a folding bike. But everything I found was so expensive, on the scale of several hundred dollars over a comparable standard bike. I didn't want to spend $500 on something that could end up being a lark. So I waited. And waited. By the time I thought I'd do it, the winter had hit and I wasn't going to ride in that cold.

Always an excuse, right?

Somehow, I finally got off my dump and the temporary roomie found a website with well-reviewed folding bikes. So I took the plunge.

Go check out Citizen Bikes. They're on sale right now (don't know for how much longer) and they're really neat looking. I have about a 10 mile ride to work but there's a bike path almost door to door, so I'm very excited to get the bike and check out the ride. I'll let you know how it goes.

Isn't it cute? It folds down almost to the size of one of the wheels! I think I'll call it Bumblebee since it is yellow, although I would like to call it Optimus.

NOT the Hot Train

2008-07-23T06:30:00.000-04:00

Popeye is on my train. He's wearing an old man fishing hat with a
sprig of wilted purple leaves shooting off it. His pants are of the
cargo style that was popular in the early 90s (with tapered legs) and
he keeps giving everyone a little glare from the one eye that isn't
squinted shut.
I've been trying to get a shot of him,but, proving my point that the
smaller the space, the larger the occupant on the subway, a very large
man is next to him now and blocking my view.
Damn it. Why can't this one smell as well?

Bicycle of the Devil

2008-07-22T06:19:00.000-04:00

So I bought a bike.
I have been contemplating it for almost two years and somehow
elevating it to car purchasing status in my head.
Of course, storage is a major factor in a tiny NYC apartment, so I
finally decided I needed to find a folding bike that was decent.
Cue my friend, Tim (he's the one stating with us). He is a bike guy
and did some fancy googln' (he's got skillz McCain would envy!) and
found a brand that is highly regarded AND cheap.
Well, that's my kinda gal!
So I bought one yesterday and it should be on its way soon. I'm
excited about it. I think I'll be more inclined to Bike around and
exercise more now. It'll be good cardio and I can then go to the gym
for some weight training. Maybe I'll finally put off these last 15
pounds. Seriously, 15, you're like an annoying toddler who keeps
tugging on mommy's dress. Stop it and go play your Wii. Permanently!

Ep 58 - Walkin' Walkin' Walkin'

2008-07-21T08:19:00.001-04:00

Ep 58 – Walkin’ Walkin’ Walkin’

I’m back on the voicemail line! Poppy, crackly, and walkin’ to work!
An odd tangent leads me to talking about my graduate thesis. Mm-hmm, I’m cuh-razy and wild like that!

Whoopsies

2008-07-21T06:23:00.000-04:00

We're going to see if this even posts. Whatever AT&T uses on the
iPhone to have it access email and the Internet is down. Boo. This
does not bode well given that I'm stuck on 12 hour days this week. The
weekend was already stressful enough without having zero Internet! Grr!
"in my day, we didn't have interfaces in our brain to get onto the
interwebs! We had to use cell phones! Big, clunky things the size of
pieces of fruit! And that's the way it was and we liked it!"
Ah, grumpy old man needing his phone to do internets. p

Hopefully, today will be smooth and event-free, although I never put
anything beyond the abilities of my admin team. The more I have to
deal with them, the more I don't want anything further to do with
them. The good part is they have people coming in on opposite shifts,
which is kind of fun since it leaves less people on the chain gang at
a time and people have less opportunity for the mischief that seems to
be bred by boredom at work.

The train is wildly crowded this morning. Intense. As usual, someone
who shouldn't has decided to crowd into the available space...and
while wearing el cheapo floral perfume!
Excuse me while I spend the rest of the trip sneezing my head off.

A Quick Friday Recap

2008-07-18T06:29:00.000-04:00

I fell asleep so early last night. So very early. While that's not
entirely unusual, I must have had the Internet on my mind since I
dreamed about blogging all night long.
Actually, it was more like I just kept making a bunch of short posts a
la Tumblr. So weird and the topics were also odd (some old lady
walking her dog, a blurb about a park). I was stricken by how mundane
the topics I was writing about were, and then I realized I'm a little
mundane myself! I blog about work, the dog, my weekends...it's not
exactly broadsheet material, is it?
And yet so many of you keep coming back. Thanks for that. This blog
was really nothing more than an excuse for me to write, diary-style or
otherwise, both to chronicle my life and see what nugget might be
unearthed from time to time.
Since I started the blog, the podcasting craze has taken off and now
I'm doing *gasp* three of those: my own personal one, Meat Free Radio
and Dial H for Homo.
It's a hectic schedule and I can't always meet it (especially next
week, which is going to be long and late for me), but I try. I'll
continue to try and get better. Maybe this will all finally settle and
I'll have something resembling a routine.
And pigs could fly. Out of my butt.

Do They DO research?

2008-07-17T10:09:00.006-04:00

This is how you lose me, normally reliable NY Times critic Charles Isherwood:

But she is ill served by the decision to employ the choreography Fosse
created for Gwen
Verdon, his long-limbed wife and muse, who originated this dance-defined
role.

Not to be too critical, but if you're a theatre historian and/or buff of any kind, you know that long-limbed really isn't something ascribed to the ridculously talented Gwen Verdon.

Gwen was 5'4". Miss Jane Krakowski? 5'4...and 1/2" I'd be QUITE shocked if her legs and arms are so wildly out of proportion of Verdon's that the dances wouldn't sit on her. Perhaps Mr. Isherwood was thinking of the strikingly leggy Ann Reinking (although she's not much taller), Fosse's 2nd muse and owner of killer legs and kicks?

I'm thinking so. If anything, I'm just guessing that, as usual, a set of dances so particularly crafted for one (Verdon) artist's style isn't sitting well on a different artist (Krakowski). See last year's criticism of "A Chorus Line" when Charlotte D'Amboise was hit for not quite living up to Donna McKechnie's original Cassie.

Ep 57 - I’m back! Whew!

2008-07-16T07:29:00.000-04:00

Ep 57 - I’m back! Whew!

So after a much longer hiatus than expected, I am back! Just a short recap and catchup of the last few weeks. Sorry it’s through the phone, y’all. Audio quality’s a butch!

Too. Much. Makeup

2008-07-10T06:33:00.000-04:00

Sweet lady across from me, you are wearing TOO much eyeshadow. Now,
I'm not a Design Gay. I can't help you coordinate your outfit, jewelry
and hair. However, one innate gay ability is noticing excess. Dear,
your blue upper eyelids could guide ships safely into harbor on a
stormy night. Lighten it up a touch.
You are wearing cool jeans, though. Points for that.

My boss surprised me by showing up at my office yesterday and I ended
up only seeing him for five minutes. I don't even know why he was
there. It doesn't matter much since I came off charmingly. I'm good at
sucking up (among other things).

So the new iPhone software was supposed to be ready. Also, I think
games are finally supposed to be available. I really need a game on
this here phone! But! There's always a butt. I couldn't find my
iPhone cord this mor ing. You see, my computer is sleeping in the
kitchen while we have our houseguest so I can use it in the mornings
without disturbing the guest in the living room. Somewhere between
yesterday and this morning, my cord got up and went dancing. Grr. One
more day, I suppose.
Anyone getting the new iPhone? I would like to, but I honestly feel
as if the upgrades don't warrant it. If I drove, it'd be a done deal
thanks to the GPS. I like the 3G speed but it's still cellular, it
isn't going to rock my world. I'll patiently wait for city-wide wi-fi
or for Jean Grey (that's my iPhone's name) to go belly up like the
rest of my phones.
Frankly, I'd rather hold onto every penny and upgrade my computer. If
I get my fall bonus, I'm doing it and I'll sell my current laptop. I
love my little MacBook but I didnt anticipate doing quite everything I
have ended up using it for (ok, I'm talking about playing games).

Last fractured thought for the day: my train car this morning? NOT
the hot guy car. Boo, I say.

Vacation from the Weekend

2008-07-07T06:27:00.000-04:00

Whew. That's what I need right now; a vacation from my weekend. I was
hectic, y'all!
We had a fairly low-key Friday. The fourth was supposed to be wet and
rainy and we decided to steer clear of getting too far from home so we
wouldn't be caught in a downpour. Of course, it naturally didnt rain
anywhere near as much as predicted but I enjoyed sticking around the
house.

Saturday was a fun fun day. We got up earlier than usual (the sun was
still up though), and trotted to the Metro North station to catch a
train to Poughkeepsie.
Yeah. We had good reason, though. Our friends, Walt and Ken, met us in
their car and we drove to Woodstock. It was a fantastic little
afternoon, Woodstock being exactly what I wanted: a little town with
shops, strolling, and ice cream. Comic Boy and I bought air plants!
We figured that they might live since we can't keep actual dirt-based
plants alive. We also ate ice cream. I realize those are two totally
unrelated thoughts that dont belong as a pair, but that's what we did.
Walk, lunch, walk, shop, walk, air plants, walk, ice cream.
There was a cool little flea market and a booth had a pile of old toys
and action figures. It was spooky, like looking at re scrapheap of my
childhood. Old and somewhat broken superhero action figures, He-Man
pieces...I was at once intrigued and mortified. Also? Toys in the 80s
looked god-awful. Cheap cheap cheap.
Sunday morning brought our temporary(???) houseguest, who's staying in
our home while his new job begins and he searches for an apartment
(everyone's favorite pastime).
Now, here comes Monday. Oh, Monday. You're so mean to me. You sneak up
on me and catch me unawares, tired and worn out and looking to hit
that snooze button just one more time. Oh, but no.

(fun tangent: hot Russian blonde boy is on the train again, this time
reading a socialist book! Papers and books. I guess he really is a
militant. Doesn't matter. He's so hot he could be a Hari Krishna and
it would be ok.)

Photo - weekend

2008-07-05T16:48:00.000-04:00

Watching the Sad Little Stars performing in Woodstock.

Photo - a really good salad

2008-07-04T14:30:00.000-04:00

Figure it out...

Whew

2008-07-03T06:31:00.000-04:00

What a week!!! Howzabout a few more exclamation
points. !!!!!!..,,!!!!!-$@!!

Better.

It's been a crazy few days! Thanks to some possible work changes,
we've (meaning I) been on pins and needles regarding some major (but
fortunate not permanent) changes at work that would have officially
ruined the rest of my summer. Fortunately, we seem to have crossed a
major hurdle and things will be ok. Well, as ok as can be given the
whacky antics that go on at work. And by antics I mean the absolute
psychotics who work for me.

This Saturdays going to be great, however. After having the 4th off,
Comic Boy and I will be heading upstate for the day to hang out with
Walt and his partner. Walt is one of the cohosts of my other endeavor,
the podcast "Dial H for Homo." I'm very excited and looking forward to
being out of the city for the day and relaxing with my honey and great
friends.

Subway hot boy alert: there is an incredibly hot (perhaps Russian? He
looks eastern European at least) blonde boy on the train who reads the
Socialist newspaper, "The Militant." today he's reading a book and
I'm having trouble figuring out what it is. Not because I can't see
the book but because I can't stop staring thanks to an incredibly
tight t-shirt.

I've noticed my blog has turned (well, perhaps even moreso) into a
dear diary sort of thing. I suppose that's ok. Given that I can't
follow much beyond keeping up with my own life these days, I might as
well run with it.

Oh! My birthday was last week. It was nice and thanks to all of you
who sent me cards or emails or notes (I hope I replied to you
personally; if not, I'm sorry. I suck. A lot). I had a fabulous
little dinner friday and an even better Saturday. We got up and took a
Zipcar down to Brooklyn (I suddenly feel as if I've talked about this)
to Two Jakes, a funky little store in Williamsburg that sells
refurbished furniture. Amongst all the stuff (some great, some not), I
got the awesomest gift from Comic Boy: an Aeron chair. Me love!!!!
It's awesome and all the hunched over neck problems that come from
sitting on kitchen chairs have gone. Plus, Aeron chair! I have the
best boyfriend ever. And I need to get him back for this incredible
gift. I need help though. If you know me, you know I'm a big fan of
the store gift card. You like the place, go buy yourself something
purdy. Help me out and offer some suggestions?

Weekend Recap

2008-06-30T06:33:00.000-04:00

What a busy weekend. I need a nap to recover.
Friday was the delayed dinner birthday celebration. I met some friends
for dinner down in the East Village and drinks after. Given my usual
state on Friday evenings, I'm surprised I managed to stay out as long
as I could. Thank god for taxis home, though.
On Saturday, I got up and took the pooch through the farmers market
and visited the new cafe that has opened in our area (so excited for
it!). After getting Comic Boy up and moving, we picked up a Zipcar and
drove to Brooklyn and went furniture shopping! His birthday gift to
me was to get me a computer chair and, boy, did he deliver. We bought
the chair, stuffed it ]in the car, and decided to enjoy our afternoon
in BK.
Oh, brother. We found some lovely shops and had a great lunch in a
vegetarian cafe...and then the downpour started. I think our shoes are
still wet this morning. Ugh. It was really cool renting a car and
getting around though, so I'm looking forward to doing that more often.
Yesterday was another rain day...and on Pride to boot! We were both a
little disappointed to miss hellthe parade, but a slow day was in
order. After spending the afternoon avoiding the rain by parking my
butt in my new chair, we got dressed and headed downtown for dinner.
We had gay dinner in a gay restaurant (no, really, it's a very gay
restaurant) and did a subdued bar crawl through three locations. As
much fun as a prolonged night would have been, we had to get home so I
could soak my dentures, take my Geritol, and get in bed so I could
wake up before the sun rose. Which I did. I do that every weekday.
Have I said, "ugh" yet? Ugh.
Today's going to be a chore. Big things are going on at the chain
gang, possibly resulting in extended hours this week for an
undetermined time. Adding to that is the big project Comic Boy has at
his job and I think we'll be lucky to ever see each other ever again.
Le sigh and all that jazz.
All in all, though, it was a fabulous weekend. Gay (but not TOO gay),
with food, drink and presents! Seriously, what more could a girl ask
for?

Recap

2008-06-27T06:24:00.000-04:00

Good morning, blog. How are you? I'm fine, but life is tough. Little
Sally down the street has been bullying m...
Oh. Wait. Wrong decade.
It's been a lovely week. Tuesday, also known as The Most Glorious Day
of All Time and Whatnot, was lovely. Comic Boy met me at one of our
favorite restaurants, Angelika Kitchen, with a lovely bouquet of
flowers. We ate dinner and took a stroll through the East Village and
got a shake, took a stroll through Thompkin's Square Park (last check:
still full of junkies), then cabbed it home.

Tonight's the birthday dinner, a rather small affair. However, I'm
reasonably certain that drinks are on tap after food. Feel like a spot
of gin in the East Village? You cab pay your respects to me at the
same time you get drunk. So let me know if you feel like a drinks poo
by emailing me (southernboypodcast@gmail.com) and I'll let you know
the when and where.
Whee. And junk and stuff.

Photo - purdy!

2008-06-26T17:32:00.000-04:00

The flowers my wonderful Comic Boy had for me at the restaurant
Tuesday as e celebrated my birthday.

Meat Free!

2008-06-24T06:31:00.000-04:00

So you guys can do me a birthday favor.
Head over to meatfreeradio.com and listen to my THIRD podcast endeavor
with Tim Corrimal and Mikeypod.
It's good, I promise. We dont assault meat eaters. If you think you'd
like to "transition" or just find meat alternatives or add more veg
eating into your life, cone join us!

Tonight, I'm celebrating my birthday the way it ought to be: just me
and Comic Boy at one of our favorite vegetarian restaurants enjoying
some great food and each other's company.
On Friday, dinner with friends and drinks will be fantastic. I found a
great place (I hope) that has Southern food with a wealth of
vegetarian options. Win win for everyone!

Work is going to try my last nerve. I could be on all week 12 hour
work schedule starting Sunday and I. Am. Not. Happy. I'm going to
finish my project today, though and get everything in preparation for
my final push to finish. Get it out of the way, Southern Boy!

Ep 56 - Pre-Birthday Cast!

2008-06-23T08:51:00.002-04:00

Download the episode

My birthday is tomorrow! A little quickie audio thanks to the voicemail.

What a Weekend

2008-06-23T06:26:00.000-04:00

Srsly. What a weekend!
Oh. Hai, blog. It's been awhile again. As usual, I have an excuse.
I've been busy. Very busy. In addition to fighting my way through the
daily hell that is my job, I've had evening after evening of chore,
committment, etc. And I think it's just going to keep on for awhile.
This last week, my ex was in town and the weekend began with meeting
him and his traveling friend for dinner (note to self: always remember
to SHUT IT DOWN when it looks like your ex and your current are about
to commiserate over you. Not. Gonna. Happen.) and then to the theatre
to see "The 39 Steps." so good! What an incredibly fun and funny
show and the performances were so absolutely incredible.
On Saturday, up we were and off to drop the pooch off at some guy
who's a Gemini during a full moon (or something like that; star signs
confuse me) and then down to Penn Station to catch a train down to the
Jersey shore. We stayed at the gayest Ramada Inn-looking place ever.
How gay? There was a disco ball over the pool.
Yup.
So we enjoyed our time laying out by the pool (mr. Man whose ass could
barely fit into his size small green trunks: thank you for the
view.). The beach was really nice as Comic Boy and I took a stroll
and dipped our feet in the incredibly cold Atlantic.
Sunday morning, we got up late, took a stroll to the downtown area and
had a late gay breakfast. I mean late in the day, not a deceased
homo...oh, hell, you know what I mean.
We got back to NYC and took a walk in the surprisingly nice weather,
grabbed some dinner, then jetted uptown to pick the pooch back up,
then on the train again to get him home. He had to be fed, walked and
then I had to shower and get dressed to come back downtown and meet
the ex and our semi-mutual NYC friends for drinks. $5 frozen
margaritas is all I'm sayin'.
Then I splurged on a cab, got home and passed out on the couch with CB.
And now the week has begun anew And the train keeps rolling.
Tomorrow is my birthday (I accept paypal), but we're holding off the
celebration until Friday. On Saturday, we have a car rented for an out
of town endeavor (and I'm happy about that), then I'd really like to
go to Gay Pride on Sunday, which means going out somewhere Sunday
night as well. Two full weeks! And the week after that is the 4th of
July followed by the arrival of our Chicago friend who's moving into
the city and staying with us until we kick him out. I mean, until he
finds an apartment himself :-)
It's going to be a busy few weeks. I'm already tired thinking about it.

Ep 55 - Breathless

2008-06-19T07:13:00.001-04:00

Ep 55!
It's a quickie on the street, I'm breathless and pausey!

More Subway Fun

2008-06-18T06:28:00.000-04:00

I have a raging headache. Lord.

What's helping would be the three advil and the new Kathy Griffin
album I just downloaded. "For Your Consideration" is making me very
happy this morning.
It's another busy week but this weekend is going to be fabulous. Comic
Boy and I are joining a friend or two in Asbury Park. This is
incredibly overdue. When I got back from Madison, all I could think
about was getting away again. It's going to feel incredibly good. Whee!

Oh, Kathy. She just said "dress muumuu and dress slippers." The
image will stay with me all day. Sometimes, you just need a good
public laugh on the subway. Some friends are seeing her on Friday
night and I'm a little bit jealous. After finally deciding to have fun
with my life and going to a few concerts and such, I want to go to
everything. Who knew having fun involved such jealousy?

Today's hot guy count on the subway: a paltry one. But god, he's hot.
He's also playing with his iPhone. Oh, hot boy, look! I have an
iPhone too! Come rub my feet.

Come on. You know it'd be kind of hot if a really hot guy were rubbing
your feet.

Photo - Sleepies!

2008-06-17T09:07:00.000-04:00

I was licking my paw and the position was so comfortable...

Photo - Wedding Fountain

2008-06-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Weddings are much better with chocolate coming down like liquid
pleasure.