November 26, 2007
Enchanted
David and I went to see Enchanted last night with Rick, Tim, Russet, and Charlene. It was a great time and we all really enjoyed the movie. The highlight was a choreographed scene in Central Park which to me was worth it.
It left us all in a silly mood and being at Westfield Shopping Center, we got a bit carried away. There was a section that was closed off with private event on the front. Just being goofy we were trying to peek over the walls, and think of creative ways to peek inside (not that we actually would). It came down to these bamboo poles that were around the outside for decoration. Rick and David were planning on catapulting over. I in turn picked up one of the smaller bamboo poles sticks as a joke when an amused security guard came over to tell us it wasnt ok. It really was ok since he had a smile on his face from watching us.
After that, we went to Union Square to see the Christmas tree all lit up. It really gave me a sense of love, especially having David there and being surrounded by good friends. Russet led me up on stage to sing, and soon we were joined by Rick. The 3 of us started our rendition of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, and after finishing had about 10 people clapping. It was a lot of fun.
The highlight of the evening for me, was when Charlene and Russet got to the theater. I hugged Charlene hi and saw a tiny spider on her neck. I freaked a bit and went to get it when it crawled down her blouse. She being clueless to what I was doing freaked a bit. When she asked what it was, I couldnt help but lie and say I was joking. Last thing I wanted was to freak her out by telling her a spider just went down her shirt.
So today we are going to take pictures down at Embarcadero and Embarcadero Center. Its an annual ritual of mine. We are also going to check out the Christmas Store that opened for the season in the old Tower Records on Market.
Posted by Des at 07:50 AM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2007
Disneyland Gay Days 2007
I won't bore people with the rides, the thrills, and the park, after all it is Disneyland.
Some of the highlights....
-Mickeys Trick or Treat. California Adventure closed to the general public so event ticket holders (us) could get in at 6:30 and do some trick or treating and ride the rides. The park was pretty empty and lines short. They had trick or treat points set up throughout the park and we got some good candy. I was rushing from all the sugar. This is why I grew up because the candy became my dinner.
Aquaman was well known at Disney. The security entrance questioned my costume only to be shot down by her partner "it is a costume".
A girl approaches and tells me her friend would like a picture with me and is too shy to ask. When I agree and stand next to her friend, they stated "no, the other side". I graciously turned around so they could take a picture of my ass.
On another note, I got to spend time with Brutus who I have only met a couple of times. He's such a great pup and a nice person. Its times like this, you can actually get to know someone.
David was there on Friday evening but on a separate trip with his posse. We managed to connect on and off and cross over between each world. I gave him his birthday present which was 5 different Lego type Bufffy figures that can transform (Oz transforms to werewolf Oz etc...).
I always have a great time with the group and Daddy Richard gave me some lessons with the single tail. I will be getting one soon and should be up to speed using fairly quickly. I still could crack it circus style from when I was 9 and my dad bought me a real whip.
As for the rest of the time, I spent it at the park. They reopened the submarine ride as Finding Nemo and revamped the Pirates of the Carribean to look more like the movie. The Haunted Mansion was all decked out and The Nightmare Before Christmas exploded inside. *sigh* I love Zero.
It was sad saying goodbye to those who live far away. I'm looking forward to next year and making it an annual event.
Click Here for my Disneyland Photos on Flicr
Posted by Des at 08:28 AM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2007
Irony
The irony is that for the past 2 years I raised the most selling raffle tickets for the AIDS Emergency Fund, in the SF Leather Daddys boy contest, and the reason I didn't win was because I didn't know the charity it was founded by.
The worst part is, that was a question asked by a friend of mine. It really had nothing to do with my fund raising abilities. Still I understand the downfall, I just think its funny the irony that the question that killed me, was by a friend, and directed to the cause that I raised a significant amount of money for.
Posted by Des at 05:27 AM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2007
Birthdays
Yesterday started out as what would appear to be a bad birthday. I tossed and turned all night, and work consisted of trying to communicate with people who just couldn't grasp that their trouble really had simple solutions. They were bent on the fact they had a problem and wanted it to be a major problem. They weren't understanding the simplest things I was saying and wanted to argue that the mouse was a lot bigger than it was. As soon as we came to a solution, I had them on phone and chat so long, they used that line that makes me cringe "well since I have you on the phone".
Needless to say calls were long and my day was just frustrating. The best solution I had for salvation was to take the fork that was sitting on my desk and jab it into my throat.
Finally my work day ended and things took a fantastic turn for the better. I met Elizabeth (my old coworker) for coffee. We spent about 20 minutes catching up and I had a great time. Then off to meet Rick and Timm for a drink at the Mint. I arrived and they were sitting there. They got me a bottle of vodka and a HUGE martini glass which reminded me of the one we had at Tara that was once used for tips.
Joined after a while by John, and finally David showed up, it was a great time of singing and friends. We stayed about 4 hours and I sang about 10 tunes.
Dont Tell Mama
They Dont Know About Us
Your Song
Razzle Dazzle
Class (which I sang with
Grease Megamix (with the 4 of us)
There Are Worse Things I Could Do
The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
Hot Shot
Wasted On The Way
Your Song
Big Spender (for David who got a new job making more money to buy me more cocktails-Congrats!)
I cant remember all the songs but I finally ended with what I thought was my best yet rendition of All That Jazz. Off to the Edge for one and then home.
Tonight is Avenue Q. I cant wait. It should be a blast.
Thanks guys for making my birthday fantastic. I love you!
Posted by Des at 06:33 AM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
New Years 2006/2007
So New Years was great. It was a small party and about 8 people were here. Josh and Randy stopped by as well to ring in at midnight.
kenji stopped by first on his way to the Eagle. Russet, John, Ricko & Tim, josh & Randy, Rob, & Ian were here at midnight and by that time I was exhausted.
So I finally got the place picked back up and looking like an apartment again. Now to shower and begin my 2007 by getting outside in the sun.
for those who are interested, you can view the photos
Hope everyone has a great 2007
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December 27, 2006
Christmas
Well Christmas weekend was nice and quiet. Much quieter than I had expected which was much to my enjoyment.
Friday night I met a few friends at Powerhouse. Met a few new people there, had a kissing contest, and had our share of fun. Saturday I stayed home all day and in the evening met up with a Sir Ive known, trusted, and played with before. We met up at Powerhouse for a quick beer and then back to his place. It was nice to get to know more about him as well as allow him to get to know me a bit more. That is my new project for myself, is to quit being afraid to let people see inside me. I always fear if they see inside, they will see the insecurities, the fears, the unknown knowledge, and all those things we dont want people to see. I realize however there is a lot of good things about me that I also keep hidden by doing this. So my goal is to open up more to many people, especially one person I really like and plan to spend more time with soon.
Sunday I went to dinner with Russet. As I was heading out to meet him, my phone rang. It was Rick. "Are you already outside your apartment?"... "yes"..."nice red shirt you have on"... As I turned around Rick was riding down the hill on his scooter. He had a present for me. I wasnt expecting any gifts this year and it really made me feel good. This was the second gift I had gotten and the first being a cute pit bull piggy bank that Joshhad gotten me on Friday.
So Russet and I went to eat at Fuzio and on the way ran into my friend Joseph who moved back to the area recently. I met Joseph in Rochester and heard through a fellow transplant he had moved back but hadnt seen him yet. Its funny but the last time I saw him was when I had run into him on the street and this time was in the exact same spot only on the other side of the street. Weird!
So we went to dinner at Fuzio and then back to my place to hang out for a bit. Soon Russet and I were getting ready for Underwear/PJ night at Powerhouse. I introduced Joseph to my two major kinks, which he seemed to be interested (in a hmmm I never knew kind of way). Powerhouse was rather quiet but I did get a lot of compliments on my sleeper. We ran into a couple of other friends, again met new people, and somehow back at my place for a night cap.
I woke up Monday with a sore throat. I thought perhaps it was from smoking and drinking and carrying on the night before but after having lunch again with Russet, I came home to find myself with the chills. I curled up on the couch, watched TV, did some reading, chatted online, and relaxed the rest of the day. I was in bed around 9:30.
Yesterday was back to work. I wasnt feeling good but trudged on in anyway. After being there and having every inch of my body ache, I came home early and slept most of the day and night. My estimate would be about 15 hours of sleep and this morning Im feeling a bit better but not quite 100%. Ill try work again and see what happens today.
This weekend will be busy so Im hoping to be better by Friday. Friday night will be my 3rd patrol. Saturday is a puppy pile over at John, Sunday Im having a get together here for New Years Eve. So overall it will be a busy weekend.
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December 04, 2006
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Powerhouse was fun Saturday night, however Carlton who works there and also organizes the CCOP told me that one of the teams that night came up on an armed robbery. They kept their distance and called it in, but after seeing one of the people I knew who was on the team, I learned something.
Apparently the business owner told them they didnt have to call it in because they hit the silent alarm. It amazes me how some people think. Hitting the silent alarm does not give a good description of the guy or tell you which direction he ran. I still think its a good thing we are around and it really lets me know that we are helping.
Sunday I went out and bought some new stuff. I bought a new ipod shuffle which Ive wanted for several months now. Man they are tiny! I went to Mr S and bought a new vest made of the same material that wet suits are made of (I keep forgetting the name of the material). I bought a new jock strap and a couple of other things that should go unmentioned lol.
Last night was the Leather Forum Holiday Dinner which I volunteered to be a tree. I was a bit nervous because I was thinking I wouldnt know many people but in fact, when I arrived, I knew about 25% of the people and there were some hot guys Ive met but havent seen in a long time.
Up went the tree. I probably stayed up there longer than I should have but I was having fun. I was stripped down to just my socks and boots and had my privates exposed as well as my nipples. Yes, I was played with for a good hour and loved every minute of it. I was wrapped in green suran wrap, with real tree branches, lights, bulbs, and garland. I had candy canes hooped through my nipple ring. The only trouble I had was when they took the candy cane, opened it and hung it from my nuts, which was licked. That was fine until they took the candy cane (now stuck on my um not so privates) and put it in my mouth. There was pubic hair on there and I was like a cat trying to get rid of a hair ball. The ice down the suran wrap was fun, especially when it started to run down my leg. Thanks Jorge! lol
After about an hour up there, it was finally time to come down. I got a lot of compliments on being a tree and all the other boys who were trees looks fantastic. Sukk took several pictures and I cant wait to see them. I also used his camera to take some pictures of him as a tree which I cant wait to see.
After the dinner I went with Daddy Vince and Jorge to the Lonestar for a few drinks. I really love hanging out with them. I got to learn more about both of them and several things about trees that arent native to SF. Apparently its like poison to the natural plants that do live here. We talked about trouble and embarrassing situations and it really was fun to connect with them.
On my way home I stopped by Daddys. I ran into someone I hadnt seen in a while, ran into Mario (who was at the dinner) and met a few new people.
Talking to Mario, it kind of set me back a step. I was talking in normal conversation about myself (which I often do) and I made a comment about boys (referring to myself). It set me back a notch because Ive never felt a part of the Leather Community and in the conversation, I was talking about it as if I were. It really made me think how comfortable people have made me feel and how much a part of it I am now. It was a good feeling.
I was also able to explain being poly to someone, with ease, but most important last night was how it pertained to me and my needs rather than explaining to someone what it was. I was able to tell them what I wanted, and what I would expect from people I was with. It was really a good feeling as well.
So all in all it was a fantastic weekend but now Monday is here and off to work. Woof! till next time.
Posted by Des at 07:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 23, 2006
Conversations with Dad
So I'm talking to my dad this Thanksgiving Day and realized where I've gotten some of my interests.
Des: so how's things with you?
Dad: same ole same ole. Kim beats me daily.
Des: I didn't know you were into S&M?
Dad: Yeah, she beats me till I pee like a puppy.
Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Posted by Des at 11:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 29, 2006
Pride
So people have been blogging about last weekends pride was a good time. A bit long but good. The only exception was the parade which seemed to have a lot of gaps between floats. Other than that the Pink Party was fun as well as the festivities at the Civic Center after the parade. I believe they estimated a million people and from the looks of it, they were definitely close.
This year Leather Alley was moved to a bigger location. It provided a bit more room for people which allowed people to hang out more. It used to be in a smaller location and people seemed to stop by and move on because it was too crowded.
After venturing off on my own (because keeping a group together in this evvironment of people is tough to do without a lot of waiting around) I met up with Jay and we ended up over at the Eagle. Rob showed up and soon after Matt and Jason. I met some new people, had a great time and ended the night with a smile.
Monday night I finally met up with my friends from Rochester who were in town for pride. We started at daddys (I still can't call it 440 Castro as its new name). We ended up at Metro and talking about old friends, old times, and had lots of fun.
This week at work has been pretty busy. Its been going by pretty fast and I'm looking forward to having a 4 day weekend. I will be getting my boots this weekend which work has given us $75 toward new shoes. I'm so glad I waited.
Click Here for Pictures of Pride
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June 02, 2006
IML
I landed in Chicago Wednesday night. Lonnie picked me up at the airport and we had a mild night with a couple of cosmopolitans at his place and went to sleep early. Lonnie had to work half a day on Friday so I entrtained myself at his place while he was gone.
Lonnie
afternoon Lonnie and I went for a walk down to the gay district (boystown) which is a little like Castro but not as many fags. We stopped by a store which buys and sells things to donate proceeds to AIDS. They were having a used leather sale and I wanted to find a pair of leather chaps or leather pants. No luck there so we stopped by another place before eating lunch at a Mexican restaurant and then headed back to Lonnies for a power nap.
It was sprinkling outside and I forgot how different rain was on the east coast compared to SF. The rain is more humid here which makes the rain feel more like wet sweat on your skin. Because of higher temps and the humidity, it doesnt feel so warm here but more humid which is odd.
Restaurants here also impress me. Ive seen a trend on menus here for more healthy dishes such as tofu scrambles and what Im about to eat which is a egg white, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, & buffalo morazella cheese (yes it was spelled wrong on their menu but they try).
Now there are way too many people that I met this weekend but several stand out and some have now become a bit closer friends. Some will remain internet friends and others I truly hope to see for pride, Dore Alley, and Folsom.
To start with Stomper was a wonderful person to finally meet in person. We have chatted for so long online and hopefully will continue our friendship. Being that he lives on the west coast already, it would definitely be easier for his partner and himself to come visit.
Stomper
Next is Jonathan who is young and extremely cute. That combination makes me freeze up and become shy and quiet. Thanks to his personality and who he is, I really started to respect him and realize how great he is beyond the pictures ive seen online.
Jonathan and Davee
Alan is someone who I have talked to for many many years online and had never met till now. Alan is a fun person to be around and one of the nicest people Ive met. I enjoyed him mainly because we got to have some real conversations and he was fun to joke around with. He also did the majority of the driving and paid for several meals which I will get him back for eventually. His English accest was also a charm but also alot of fun to mimic especially when he said ina fun way "you're being deliberately obtuse". I laughed.
Alan
Another thing about Alan which makes him who he is but also became annoying a bit was he doesnt have the ability to judge time. It seemed the first night he disappeared to the rooms to take care of stuff and left Lonnie and I baypbysitting his friend Marcus. Many other times we would have a time set to be so.mewhere and somehow due to poor planning would end up being an hour late. I was even a half hour late to the kennel which was the one thing i really wanted to be on time for.
Either way I realize that he was trying to keep everyone together as a group while enjoying himself as well. It does become difficult when you are doing your own thing yet keeping people waiting.
Another person I met was Davee. He was a blast. A good heart and I certainly wasnt planning on enjoying his company as much as I did. He was lively, entertaining, cute, and I got a chance to see inside him a bit. I had chatted with him years ago and never thought I would ever meet him. I had always thought he was hot and it certainly was true. He was a bit out with his fetish as he wandered the hotel in just a diaper and tshirt. One night we ventured outside the realm of the hotel with him dressed exactly as stated above except also in bondage. That was fun.
I enjoyed meeting several pups such as sparkie and pupruff. The pup I really enjoyed meeting (other than Stomper) was Dak. I had messaged him several times online and had hoped to meet up with him. He turned out to be a lot cuter in person and after hanging out for a bit, we realized wehad the makings of a possible great friendship.
Funny thing about places like this is you meet so many new friends and somehow no sooner do you meet these people youre saying goodbye again. Hopefully see these people online soon.
So with these people I also saw others that I had met once or twice before and hope to become better friends with them. I got to see King and Matthew as well as Ace. I got to see friends such as Greg and Dennis from NY. Dennis has always been one of my favorite people in NY and so it was a great to spend time with him. He will try and make it out to Dore Alley fair. Woof!
The weekend was full of drinking, meeting people, and on the go moving with very little sleep and barely time for food and outfit changes. I wore my wetsuit for the first time to the Black Eagle and Lonnie was nice enough to give me my first rubber shirt. I bought a pair of leather pants, a leather arm band, and a cute hankie thats black with white dog bones and yellow highlights (my kind of hankie).
As for the rest of the weekend, we went to the eagle (I got to wear my wetsuit). I finally flew back in on Tuesday and Josh picked me up at the airport. It was nice to be home although I did feel some sadness that the weekend was over and that all my new friends would be leaving. Im really hoping to do it again next year.
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April 25, 2006
Easter Sunday (photo by Daddy Tony/Sister Gladys)
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December 26, 2005
The Rest Of The Trip (Its a long one)
There was a lot going on to write about, so this entry may be a bit jumbled and hard to follow. Hopefully it will make sense but hey, Im not sure it all makes sense to me.
First off I'd like to say thank you. Thanks to my sister & Larry, Kym, Marc, Patrick, Stan & Reid, Nadine & Erik for putting us up.
The rest of the visit to my sisters went well. Josh slept in a bit after surviving our drive through the snow storm. We had mulled wine the night before and it was a chance to relax.
I went to breakfast with my mom and my sister, which was nice to spend quality time alone with them. I wanted to go to a restaurant that would possible have something other than grease so that I could bring Josh back some breakfast but Tupper Lake being the hunting/fishing/country town it is, there was nothing but grease pits all around.
Breakfast was good for me since I don't mind grease. I had a ham, cheese, and mushroom omlette. We sat and talked for a bit and I really realized how time can pass us by. Everyone is older. My nephew is driving, my nieces are dating, they are doing many of the things I did at that age. My mom seems to be having more and more health problems and my sister is playing the role of the parent in some ways.
After breakfast we stopped by the grocery store. They laughed at me when my sister asked if they have anything healthy. "like organic" they said. I hate them for not knowing but I guess if I wasn't with Josh I wouldn't know this stuff either.
I showed my sister the ingredients of the whole wheat bread which every brand we picked up had lots of crap in it including corn syrup. My sister found some pretty healthy organic cereal which actually seemed ok. That, along with some Silk soy milk, kiwi, bananas, lemons, and tuna fish, I knew it was going to be the best I could do.
Dinner at my sisters was nice. She and Josh made a pork roast with mashed potatoes and corn. It was delicious. More wine and more relaxing until we had to go to bed.
Early am we we're heading back to Rochester. Smooth sailing all the way back. We stopped at Barnes & Noble in Pittsford for coffee and headed to see Nadine.
We both agree we love her house. Her kitchen was decorated in 1950s style, a 1950s tv in her living room with 6 lavalamps inside, freak lights on the ceiling, and a jackalope head mounted to a wall. When we pulled onto her street, we wondered which house it was until we saw the giant ballon figure of the abominable snowman from Rudolph in her yard. She is outrageous which is one of the reasons I love her.
After dropping off our stuff and visiting for about an hour with Nadine, Josh and I set out for our evenings. The plan was to go to California Rolling for sushi and then I was heading out for another night of drinking at the Pub. Josh was heading off to see Bruce and visit some more while he had the chance.
California Rolling was everything we had remembered. Out of all the sushi places in SF, I have to say, the best is still in Rochester, NY. The service was great and the food was great. They accomidated our request to be out of there in an hour and they did it with time to spare.
After dinner we stopped back at Kyms to watch smallville which was a repeat and around 9pm Josh dropped me off at Tara. The plan was to meet Chris and go to see Tilt which I was anxious to see. As time got later, and Chris got there, I determined we should just go to the Avenue Pub and forget about Tilt. So off to the pub for another night of drinking and seeing friends.
Friday came early and I was up with Nadine who took me to visit old friends at Blue Cross. I wasn’t certain that anyone would remember me or that there wouldn’t be anyone left that I knew there. I was sooooo wrong. Everyone greeted me with open arms and I forgot just how many people I knew there still. It felt really weird being there, like I didn’t belong but yet was comfortable with everyone who came up to me and said hi.
I realized how much I really miss certain people there and it was really nice that I actually got to see my old friend Renee. Renee has always been someone I have admired for her work ethic and she never seems to get what she deserves from working hard and doing a great job. Im hoping things get better for her there.
Around 11:30, Josh and I went to see our friend Steve’s new office. He had just moved his practice from downtown to Penfield and was very proud of his new space. He took the place from a gutted space to a great office space with walls.
The place looked great. You walk into the front door and it already has a warm feeling to it. The high counter in front, the aquarium to the left with a liquor cabinet above it. The hall to his office in the back, passed by a nice little kitchen area and finally his office. His office was painted with two shades of green to reflect the window lighting. A few plants, another aquarium, and a lot of personalized stuff which I recognized right off the bat. His coasters with the pictures of his shitsu and pug (lucy & ethel as they are known to friends). It was nice being able to be there for him and Im really glad we got the chance. The cosmo and martini at 11:45am wasn’t something I was used to though but we survived.
We went to Hogans for lunch which was really good (as it always was). From there it was off to meet Steve again (along with Chris) for bloody mary time. God, I haven’t been to BMT in ages and it was nice to get a chance to go. Nadine met us there as well and I got to see Marty Taylor who looked good. I was afraid I wouldn’t get a chance to see him so I was really happy I had the chance.
After about an hour there, we went back to Nadines for a nap. I wanted to go out one last time on a Friday night in hopes to see a few of the people I didn’t get to see. This didn’t happen. I ended up bored at most places, remembering that every night in Rochester isn’t always a lot of fun. I remembered that most times it was pretty dead. There were many nights that friends were busy and couldn’t go out. The one reason there has been so much interaction with old friends this week, was because I was home visiting. If I lived there again, Im sure it would dwindle quickly and pretty soon it would be no different than being in SF. To sum things up, Im really glad I live in SF even though I do miss my friends so much. I guess it does make seeing each other again so much better.
So Saturday we were up at 2am after 3 hours sleep and heading to Buffalo. Dropped the car off and checked our bags. The flight was on time and we actually made it back to Oakland 15 minutes ahead of schedule. It was nice to step out into sun and 60 degree temps again. It was beautiful. We arrived home and I took my shirt off. First thing I did was go out on our deck without a shirt to feel the warmth and to smoke. Its nice to be home.
Our roommate for some weird reason, decided he would take advantage of our absense and do nice things for us around the apartment. He changed our light in our bathroom. He bought new floor matts for his bathroom and gave us his old one so we aren’t using a towel on the floor. He bought firewood. He also bought a bakers rack which we have been talking about getting for a while now. God bless Ste3ve. He is truly an amazing individual. If I haven’t told you how much I appreciate you and the things you do, please hear it now. I will try and say it more often but sometimes we forget. Anyway, thank you.
Off to Roseville.
Along the way we stopped by Red Lobster for dinner, ran around a bit looking for a CD for his grandmother and all intentions of stopping by Walmart so I can get picture frames. No success with Walmart, it was already closed.
We arrived to his grandmothers around 7 or 8pm. I was exhausted and managed to pass out pretty quickly. I felt a little bad but my body was just saying to me “you need rest”. Once in a while, there is no way to control it, your body just shuts down, and you have no choice but to let it happen. This was one of those times.
So much for Christmas Eve but today will be Christmas. We shall spend the day with his family and it should go well. Im still a bit anxious to get home and settle in. Hopefully we can be back early enough so I wont have to go right to bed. I still need time to unwind.
Posted by Des at 09:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 24, 2005
Love Parade
Finally the Love Parade was today...
Its been a weekend of drinking for me and then some. Thursday night my friend Lonnie from Chicago arrived in SF. Mind you, I have never met this guy and have chatted with him for about 8 years now. Theres a little bit of fear in meeting someone after all that time and a fear that they wont live up to what you had envisioned. Perhaps a little fear that perhaps you wont live up to theirs either.
Either way, it seemed to work out and we met up Thursday night at the Eagle. We proceeded to drink and drink and drink until the Jack & Cokes started to kick my ass a bit, and then we went to The Lone Star to drink some more. Lets just say Friday at work was not the most fun although I am surprised my hang over wasnt much worse.
Friday night was again a night of drinking. I met Lonnie and this guy Bill who was in town from Indiana. He knew Lonnie already but didnt know Lonnie was in town and just happened to meet me online. Weird how the world works sometimes. Imagine, you meet someone online, they say they are going to be in town, you tell them you have a friend from a different city who is going to be in town as well, and they know each other. Small world out there.
So last night we went to dinner at the Thai restaurant on 18th in Castro. It was Lonnie, Bill, my friend Ian, and myself. Delicious and left overs in the fridge. YAY.... Bill, I have to say is a really sweet guy and a bit shy at first. We came back here after dinner so I could show them our new apartment and of course start our drinking binge. We started out with a very high content Vodka and 7Up.
The night continued in Castro and started with Daddys. It was a bit boring so we decided to head to the Pilsner where we could smoke. As we went past Detour, I saw my friend Brian outside who works there and was looking rather hot in his leather gear. Chaps and ass showing are always one of my favorites. He was having an event there called Domin Asian (domination for those who arent good with the puns). It all made sense now as I remembered he loves dominant asian guys. We stopped in for a couple of drinks before heading to the Pilsner.
Pilsner was lame. We ended up heading over to Ians, who lived about a block away, and had fun there. Some people were naughty and need spankings. You know who you are :-P
Today was the Love Parade. We went last year and had a blast. It was much different this year. I was prepared for the freaky fest with bright green glitter hair, silver horns, and a black and white button up shirt with red cuffs.
St3ve, Josh, and I headed down there around 12:30, and met up with Lonnie and Bill and grabbed a bite to eat in Union Square. The square was being invaded by Verizon wireless and some weird, loud, promotion complete with old dance music, large video monitors, and dancing girls who get off on the camera. The highlight was an older black man who was attempting to show he still has his break dancing groove and was moving to the music.
We headed back down to Market to catch the last half of the parade which had already started. I seem to remember last year, there being more floats, and less people. The speakers were only on one side of each float but there was some good music playing (as well as some bad stuff).
We followed the parade down to Civic Center. It was kind of weird being "the devil with the green hair" guy and having people asking if Id take a picture with them. Wow, I guess I was part of the entertainment which is what I set out to do. I guess I just never expected it to happen.
The Civic Center was surrounded by float after float and we kind of wandered around and danced to several DJs and again some good and bad music. After about an hour there, I was ready to come home.
Overall it was a great time and would still recommend people going next year. Last year was a bit better though.
Off to the Eagle for another drunk night and finally tomorrow.... Folsom... Dun Dun Dun!!!
Posted by Des at 08:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 14, 2005
Valentines Day
So I had the day off (vacation day) and Josh was up late last night so I went out to buy a card and flowers. I figured I already had dinner planned at the Stinking Rose and The Tea Orgy at Samovar but would get him a card and flowers anyway.
As I looked through the cards I wondered "Is there really a card that says what we want to say, and is there one with enough space to say how we truly feel about someone". I found one that would due and went to the flower shop.
I took a brief look at the flowers and contemplated buying some and making my own arrangement. I didnt want to spend a lot of money on it because I had just got finished with the weekend in Monterey (which ended up costing quite a bit) and with dinner and tea, it was pretty much just a little extra something for Valentines Day.
It took me about 2 seconds to realize this was not a way to go. I thought about the little plant store around the corner that we had stopped in the day before. I realized how untraditional a plant is but figured it was a good representation of our relationship. Most people would gasp at the thought of *a plant* for V-Day but for some reason it just seemed more perfect.
Not only was it untraditional like our relationship, to me it also represented growth in our relationship. Flowers will die, and I want something that could have a chance to live on and grow. It just seemed more perfect. So while he slept, I was out.
When he woke up (I woke him up like usual) we had the best sex (but that stuff is a bit private, besides it could scare some people). I just had to add that in there.
He loved the plant and loved the card. I still dont think I could have done justice to the card compared to what he wrote on mine but it came from the heart and spoke the truth.
So a few hours later we are off to dinner. Traffic at 5:30pm in San Francisco is hell. Who would have guessed (sarcasm). Well we should have. We didnt arrive at the restaurant till 6:15 and the reservations were at 6. Thankfully they didnt give up our reservations. This was our first time here and oh boy, lots of garlic.
They had an area of tables like a normal restaurant would but in the back, they had special, secluded tables which was more private and more intimate. Each table was divided by a red curtain which gave us the feeling we were alone (almost).
The service was above average however not quite the best Ive ever had. She forgot the wine but quickly got it for us once we reminded her. They were very tentative to waiting on us and bringing our appetizer and entree.
We started with garlic spinich fontina fondu which was really good. Not big on the portion I noticed. We also ordered the Bagna Calda ( Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy)to go with our garlic rolls. The portions still seemed a bit small but hopefully our entrees will be bigger.
Needless to say, they werent. If we didnt have our appetizers, we most likely would have still been hungry after the entree. I had the prime rib medium cut which is served with garlic mashed potatoes. Josh had the baby back ribs (which also came with the garlic mashed potatoes).
The food was delicious on my end, and I believe Josh enjoyed his as well. The last thing was to pay the bill and leave. After they removed our plates, we sat there for about 5 minutes just waiting for our check. It was annoying for a moment but tolorable. Overall on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it a 7.
As left, we noticed the time and had about 20 minuutes to get back, drop off the car and walk down to Samovar. Now mind you, the tickets were 29.10, which included tax and gratuity. I hate when they include gratuity but figured its an event, so be it.
We arrived there shortly after 8pm and there was a line outside. This was my first turn off. I ordered advance tickets to this thing and I have to wait in a line?
So here's the rest of the kicker. Not only did we wait in line to get in but spent a good 20 minutes in line for self serve desserts and a cup of tea. After waiting in line for 20 minutes, there was so many people there, that it was almost impossible to find a place to sit without sitting on someones lap. I wasnt happy and after thinking about it, I paid a gratuity for this crap?
We ended up talking to two lesbians who made room for us and some straight girl sitting next to us with her bf. We didnt talk to the boyfriend because he was up getting his girl more tea. We didnt stay long. It was hot in there from so many people and quite frankly I wanted to walk out as soon as we got there.
So we left and I was trying to figure out if I wanted to stop by the Mix for a drink before heading home. Josh didnt have a preference. It wasnt until we started walking by, that I made the decision to stop in. Moulin Rouge's Come What May was playing as we were walking by, and that was my que to stop.
I ordered a cosmo and Josh had a plain tonic with lime. As I ordered, I ran into my friends Kevin & Jim who moved here about 2 years ago from Rochester and havent had the chance to see since I moved here myself. They were just leaving so it was a brief encounter but still I was glad I stopped in and ran into them.
I also ran into my friend Logan who I hang out with on occassion. I finally got to introduce Josh to these people which Ive mentioned on occassion as well. It was a quick stay, I finished my cosmo and we headed home. Overall it was probably the best Valentines Day ever.
Hope everyone else enjoyed theirs.
Posted by Des at 07:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Home To SF
So we woke up early, checked out of the hotel and headed back to SF. It was a great weekend and a magical one I decided. It really went well and there wasnt a problem in sight for me. I wasnt sure how Josh was feeling about it but I knew it was the best weekend we ever spent together.
We made it back to SF in about 2 hours. We pretty much talked a little about the trip and as it turned out it was pretty special to him as well. I knew he enjoyed himself and had a good time, but didnt have any idea that it was as special to him (perhaps more so) as it was for me. Its funny but Im usually the one who takes moments and becomes emotional about them. Im the sentimental one. Thats why I take pictures. Its nice to know we both felt the same way about it.
It was nice to be home though. We went for a walk down Castro and came home and cooked Stir Fry. We watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which I decided half way through that I needed to go to bed. I was in bed a little after 9pm.
This morning Im up at 6am recapturing the weekend. Its Valentines Day and its going to be as great as the past few days Im hoping. I finally made reservations (not sure if I mentioned it) at the Stinking Rose which seemed to be full according to their website. When I called he told me they had openings and that the web site was wrong. So dinner at 6 for us.
After dinner, we are heading to Samovar for the Tea Orgy. Im not sure if I mentioned that I did end up buying tickets or not but I did and we will be there. I just wish there were other people we knew going but oh well, it will still be fun Im sure. We were hoping St3ve would go but alas, he turned us down. Hopefully one of my faithful readers (as Josh put it), will see this entry and say "oh I wanna go to that". I hope I hope I hope lol.
Well more on how the day goes later. Now its time to wake up, finish cleaning the dishes, go to the post office and mail out a package, and go to the store to buy a card. Its going to be a great day.
Posted by Des at 06:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2005
Aquarium and the Making of the Weekend
Saturday we got up early and went to the aquarium. Our plan was to spend some time there and look around Cannery Row. The aquarium was fantastic and we spent about 3 hours seeing the sharks, the jelly fish, and all kinds of neat sea creatures. I cant explain it but there was some kind of magic in the air. Everything seemed to be going right.
We hit Cannery Row, which was a dissappointment. Mostly touristy stuff which I thought would be great if we were there with someone from out of town but alas we werent and it was rather dull and traditional. We left quickly as we were hungry and the sun was going to set in about 2 hours.
We headed back toward the hotel, went to the Art Museum briefly to pick up some info about an art walk and then off to a restaurant called Rosines for lunch/dinner. Dinner was ok, the waitress wasnt all that into things and I hate when you look at someone and you just know they are faking their smile. That was the impression I got from her.
So this evening after all was said and done, we took a drive down the beach to look for the best place to take a picture of the sunset. It was cloudy but we were hoping to find the right place where the sun would set so beautiful and capture the moment. The clouds seemed way too thick, a bit hopeful, but not so promising. The water was beautiful, and the sounds of the ocean seemed to put us at ease. Relaxing more and more with each crash.
We finally parked and sat down at a bench. We stared at the ocean for a bit through the thickened clouds which now had a slight pink hugh from the sunset (or lack of). It was still pretty. It started to get a bit cold and after finally losing faith of capturing the sunset that was originally going to make the weekend even more special than it has already been, I decided I didnt want to stay for the remaining 1/2 hour to wait and find out.
As we stayed a moment longer, and caught one last look at the horizon, Josh handed me a bar of chocolate and a card. As I read it, tears came to my eyes as I could hear his voice in my head telling me how appreciated, how loved, and how special I am to him. Its funny but sometimes, although we know these things, it really means so much just to read the words that you know came from the heart. The love, the emotion, the feelings of being with someone you care about.
This moment was my "sunset" of the trip. It was the moment that captured our Monterey experience. It was the moment that was that made everything feel perfect and right. I was truly beautiful and I cried.
When we got back to the hotel room I was figuring out my budget for the weekend and seeing how close I was to staying within it. I noticed the charge on hold from Rosines (the restaurant we at lunch at) and the charge was higher than it should be. It was exactly $1.66 more which surprised me. I left the waitress just a hair under 15% because I wasnt completely satisfied with the service and when I calculated the amount that was on hold, it was exactly a 20% tip. I was a bit ticked.
I called them up asap and here is how the conversation went after explaining the situation. I heard first that it was my bank that automatically does that. I responded by telling her, every other restaurant Ive eaten at didnt do that. She explained that the charge went through fine in which I asked to come down and let them print me out a receipt showing the correct amount. She said I could come down and she could show me but couldnt print me a receipt that had the correct total.
At this point it was getting a little heated and I said it wasnt the $1.66 issue that was the problem and if they corrected it, thats fine but I just wanted them to admit it was their fault rather than continuing to make excuses. This was when she told me I was becoming annoying.
Well that would say enough (if you know me) and I asked for her name. I was delivered with a "Why do you want that?". Why are people so bold and so strong until you want their name? I explained that if I was coming down to take care of this issue, I would want to speak to her since she was the one who knows the situation.
At this point the tone of the conversation changed. She explained that their machine automatically sends this amount. Yes! "Your Machine". Now hearing this, it was my turn. This was the admission of guilt I was looking for. I said "ok, now let me explain something to you. I have worked in this kind of industry before accepting credit cards and know that its a button on your machine that automatically calculates the 20% tip and that it was your machine that is programmed to do that." I explained "Most restaurants will hold the amount of the bill without gratuity unless there is a large group. If they are adding in gratuity (which the bill didnt reflect when it was brought to me to sign), then they should be advising their customers. Otherwise all other restaurants Ive been to put the actual amount of the bill into their machine and then adjust the amount up to include tip.". She played stupid and surprised to hear that information. She changed her tone and apologized (which was all I really wanted to hear). Finally I felt like I won the battle.
The rest of the night was pretty smooth. We went to another coffee shop and realized why the stores in Monterey seemed to be full of rude employees. The reason being, a tourist town, the jobs are probably occupied by locals who get fed up with people from out of town. They get irritable and expect people to understand how their business works. This just isnt going to happen. My thought is "You wanted your business in a tourist area for the money, then you need to have your help accomidate the tourists as well as the locals".
With that, it was now late and we went back to the room, stayed up for a bit and then went to sleep so we can leave Monterey.
Posted by Des at 06:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 12, 2005
Monterey
When we last left our caped crusaders, they were expecting to go to Monterey.
Thursday night was fun. Josh arrived around 6:30 and we had his friend Josh C (the C, not to be confused with my Josh) over for dinner. We cooked for the 4 of us (Ste3eve included).
I got a bit tipsy and went in and crashed but it was nice to have company, and it was nice to see that Josh C. Its funny but he lives so close, yet we dont really see him all that much. They grew up together, came out together and were good friends since childhood, and for some reason, we dont get to see alot of him.
Part of it would be my fault because what little time I have with Josh, I like to spend quality time together. Just the 2 of us. So I tend to monopolize his time alot while he is on break. Soon enough though, he will be done with school (he graduates the beginning of May), and then we will have all the quality time we want. I cant wait but we still need to figure out living arrangements.
We havent decided yet, if we want to move (which may be a possibility) or stay in the place we are at which is small. If we move, its a pain in the ass, and if we stay, the place may be too small for 3 people. Stay tuned to see what happens.
So Friday went well. We woke up, got ready for Monterey, and were off without a hitch. We made great time and arrived in Monterey around 3pm. It was beginning a gentle rain which in some cases would mean disaster. It was actually calming and relaxing. Its nice to get away from home although its kind of odd to live in a city such as San Francisco and want to escape on occassions.
So last night we went for a walk in the rain, looked around, had dinner at this great mexican place called Zocalo, came back to the hotel, watched 13 going on 30 (which I actually liked surprisingly), and went for another walk. We stopped and had coffee at this great little bookstore which I actually liked. I saw two versions of the Harry Potter books in Chinese and Arabic. That was weird.
The place was great up till the time we were leaving. When Josh asked if they had a bathroom, he was told no and to go across the street to the hotel over there. This surprised me. I mean, a bookstore/coffee house without a bathroom for customers. I was a little ticked about that so while he went across the street, I went inside to ask for a comment card.
With this, I told them I was surprised they didnt have a bathroom and advised the girl (the same one that said no) that we had sat and had coffee and it wasnt as if we were some guys off the street. When she found out I wanted to write a letter, she started making excuses which pissed me off more but I kept my cool.
She explained that she was trained to say no when people asked and that she was just doing what she was told. She asked me not to mention what she was telling me about the training, in which I just agreed and moved on.
So here's the sitch'. I can appreciate that she was doing what she was told and suppose perhaps it wasnt her fault, but the truth is, if they are trying to stop people from coming in off the street (mind you its Monterey and a tourist town), then perhaps they should qualify people before they "just say no". Perhaps state "bathroom is for customers only" or "Only people who buy stuff can use it". Althought they both still sound rediculous, it would have at least given us the option to tell her that we had purchased coffee and enjoyed their store. Needless to say, it didnt happen that way, and I will be writing to the owner.
After the bookstore, we were both still in a great mood. We took a walk in the rain, took some pictures at night, and went along the beach a bit. Such a relaxing, romantic evening. The waves crashing onto the shore. The sound of birds chirping as they wander the sands. It was fantastic.
The night ended on a romantic level for me, reconfirming my feelings and knowing after 2 years together, how much we still care about each other. Ive only had one other relationship that has lasted this long and I remember all the negative feelings arising after about a year and a half. I remember wanting to get out of the relationship. Its amazing when we learn that we can continue to care about someone on the same level (and sometimes higher level), as the day we met.
I still love him very much and its nice to have someone after 2 years, that I still want to plan a life with, and continue moving forward and enjoying each others company in so many ways both physically, mentally, and on a romantic level.
This morning Im up early and writing, while he sleeps for another 1/2 hour. We are off to the Aquarium today, a stroll down Cannery Row, Perhaps an Art Walk, and then I want pictures of the sunset on the beach. Hopefully, another romantic day.
Ill keep you posted
Posted by Des at 07:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 01, 2005
New Years
Up early, breakfast with Gregory, and on our way back to SF around noon. We made good time. We decided to see if a few people wanted to come over so we stopped by Rainbow Grocery and Safeway to pick up some snacks. Relaxed for the afternoon and finally around 9ish the fun began.
Josh's friend from Heartwood called earlier in the evening and was at the airport. Josh invited him over. With him it turned out to be 7 of us here which was about perfect for a small party. It consisted of St3ve, Jamison, Rob, Rick, a different Rick, Josh and myself.
For people who count, I had 3 cosmo's, two vodka cranberry's, and a glass of champagne. We were all pretty lit, and the pictures that were taken will be available for viewing to the company that was here soon. They arent ones that really should be shown to the public lol. Lets just say, we were in our underwear around 12:30 am. It turned out to be a blast, I just wish I could remember most of it.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Posted by Des at 07:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 30, 2004
Almost New Years
The trip to Roseville started out poorly. The web page for Amtrak says to arrive about an hour early. I arrived at 7am to find that it isnt even a real station but just a stop. I printed my ticket from the automated kiosk machine and there was no reason to be there an hour early.
So the train was supposed to leave at 8:07 but due to delays in San Jose, the 9:37 train arrived first. Yes, I had to wait an hour and a half for the next train. Finally I am on the train heading to Martinez to catch my transfer (hopefully Ill make it). The delay wouldnt have been bad if it werent for 2 things. First, I figured I had my laptop and would use the hour and 45 minutes to play on it. Make notes to my journal, perhaps pretype a few emails, play in photoshop, etc... With this in mind, I decided to leave my reading material at home. Man I could have used a good book while I waited. The second was cash. I had $1.25 on me for the muni and figured I could pull money out when I got to Roseville. I didnt expect to be delayed and my tummy was growling. Have I mentioned the rain yet?
Yes, the rainy season has started in San Francisco. It started raining Sunday evening and hasnt stopped yet. The weather forecast doesnt show signs of stopping within the next few weeks. Its cold, its damp, its raining, and its cloudy. Snow? Im grateful theres no snow but cant help but complain a bit about the cold, damp, rain.
So I trudged out in the rain with my umbrella at Richmond station since I had an hour to kill. First time out to find food, I didnt find anything but ghetto Richmond. The second time out I finally found a Mc Donalds. My thoughts and reaction were ick but Im hungry and they now take debit cards. So needless to say, rather than have my stomach rumble, I stopped at Mc Donalds. Have I said ick yet?
So off to Martinez. Catch my transfer? Who knows? I sure dont but will find out soon enough. Boy I could use my massage right now.
Ok, made the transfer which just happened to be about 1/2 hour late. What is it with trains being late. Seems like it should be pretty easy to remain on time, at least some of them. I think its a plot against me or something although it was nice that the transfer in Martinez was late, since it did allow me to go directly into Roseville.
So I arrived in Roseville and Josh was running late. He over slept which kind of worked out well since I was 1/2 hour late getting there. As I was picking up the phone to call and find out where he was, he pulled up.
He was tired and not in the best of moods but after spending the day together, he seemed much better and not hating life as much. We all get in those moods and I can totally relate sometimes.
The massage was fantastic again. I fell asleep on the table and believe I was snoring a bit lol. God, how could anyone not enjoy it. It really made me feel better even though I was up so early.
So the rest of the day consisted of visiting with Josh's friend Mike who is moving to Idaho. Why anyone would ever want to move to Idaho is beyond me. We picked him up in Sacramento, went to dinner, went to Barnes and Noble and had coffee. Then we went back to his grandmothers and ended the day by passing out from exhaustion.
Posted by Des at 07:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 27, 2004
Friday - Monday
Ok, so to continue with Christmas, we went to his friend Marks Friday night and then on to see the lights. The two places we went were amazing. The little suburb community that all deck their houses to the max with Christmas lights. Im not really sure if I have seen anything like that on the east coast or perhaps I just never paid attention. Needless to say it was great.
The first community was bright and festive. One of the guys walked around in a Santa suit while another house gave out free popcorn. It was an event rather than Christmas Eve. Makes me wonder why people who live there would prefer to have themselves on display on a night that seems so special with family and togetherness. We enjoyed it.
We then went to Rockland which had another community of lights. This one was more of Disney than anything. Decked to the max with lights and Disney. Who could want anything more on Christmas. They had all kinds of characters on the lawns. Not just Disney but other characters such as Calvin & Hobbes, Christmas Specials such as the abominal snowman from rudolph, and the newest members to the cartoon family was the characters from the incredibles. Josh's grandmother counted the houses that had nativity scenes. It was important for her to see. I think we counted 8 total at this place. It lasted about 1/2 hour just driving through and finally it was over.
Pictures and video (keep in mind the video may take a while to load), can be seen Here
Once the lights were done, we went back to his grandmothers house where in tradition of Christmas between Josh and his grandmother, we got to hear her read the story of Christmas from the bible. I was glad to be a part of it although I have to admit, the bible reading was a bit over the edge for me. I can understand, appreciate, and respect it though. It was just nice to be a part of something so special between the two of them. Thank you Josh for allowing me to be a part of it all.
After the reading, his grandmother did say to me "Youre welcome here anytime. Any friend of Josh's is always welcome here". This to me was as good as saying I was accepted although she would never admit I was his boyfriend lol.
So Saturday was Christmas dinner. Josh gave his grandmother the picture we framed of the two of them along with his grandpa. She cried. I know its a bit painful but still think the picture was a good idea. I hope it was at least.
Dinner was great, I got to see his cousin Lindsey and his aunt Dawn again whom I met last year. His aunt finally found out that Im not Josh's age *chuckle*. She honestly thought we were closer in age than the 11 years difference. I got to meet the rest of his family which I must admit was interesting. His family I guess is like any, where you have some that arent as respectful or as mature as one would hope. His uncle was out back looking to hang a bird house in order to sit on the chair and shoot the birds with BB's.
After all was said and done, we finally were headed back to SF. We made the trip home in an hour and 45 minutes. Hooray a quick trip for the most part.
The rest of the weekend was relaxing. Josh went Saturday night to the Solstice party and Sunday morning I went for coffee by myself. It was kind of nice doing our own thing for the night/morning etc...
He slept most of the day Sunday and I went out for a couple of drinks. Got home around 5ish and we had a nice evening together.
Today: I worked and Josh left back to Roseville so that he could get some homework done. He needs to do 4 sessions in swedish massage and is going to use a friend/CMT's table and room to do it. Im heading up there this Thursday morning so I can contribute once again to his homework by allowing his fantastic hands to rub my oh so willing body. *chuckle* I cant wait. Its becoming more of a sentimental thing for me and something special.
I worked this evening on my web page and posting the pics from the weekend. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed being there. Now off to bed. I have Wed-Sun off and cant wait till tomorrows over with.
Hope everyone has a great new years.
Posted by Des at 10:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 22, 2004
Short Breat in Entries
We regret to inform you that the journal entries will be on a short hiatus due to the holiday break. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause in the personal lives of its readers.
Sincerely
Desmond
Ok... so a quick recap of the week so far.
There must be something in the air because it seems everyone has been down lately. Could be the holidays but not quite sure. I had my moment on Friday and feel pretty good about things.
1. Josh received his flower essences and made me up a batch which Ive been taking 4 drops a day, 4 times a day. I forget the essences I chose but they seemed to fit. Some of the things its supposed to help is stress and jealousy. I cant remember the others.
2. I have half a day Thursday. We are heading to Roseville to have dinner with his high school friends. I really only like one or two of them to be honest but I guess I dont know them well enough. They do seem to have that 24 year old attitude which I know will depreciate in a few years. Just lack of worldly knowledge, yet knowing it all. Im so glad Josh isnt like that, nor is any of my other 24 year old friends.
3. Im excited about JK Rowlings release of the 6th Harry Potter book called "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". Release date has been set for July 2005. In November of 2005 will be the release of the 4th Harry Potter movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". I think that one was my favorite. Its a long book and the movie is being rumored to be 4 hours long with an intermission. Hooray, it may actually do the book justice.
4. Work has been good. People have been good. No complaints except, I still feel the urge to find something new. Unfortunately I dont think Ill be able to do that till May. I need my vacation time so that Josh and I can take that cruise we were talking about. Hopefully it happens. We will see when May comes I guess.
Not a lot of other stuff going on. We cooked dinner Monday night. Ham and sweet potatoes. Last night it was left over ham with some wild brown rice salad. mmmmmm delicious.
So thats about all. Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday. Till next time.....
Posted by Des at 05:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 27, 2004
Vietnamese again!
Today was a pretty relaxing day. We went to Rainbow which you can read about in Josh's journal. Its a grocery store that has more of organic and natural foods as well as herbal and natural products. It has things from aroma therapy to whole wheat lasagna noodles. You get the idea. ;-)
We then went to Clements St where I had to get a new coffee press. The one I had for work broke in my suitcase when I went to Rochester. I found a decent one for about $15 but in the long run it saves me $1.75 in Starbucks every day so it will work itself out.
We had a vietnamese food again, which we did the last time we were in that area. The food was tasty and we discussed how convenient and easy it was to eat out rather than staying home and cooking. It gets expensive but you cant beat the selection, the convenience, and no messy clean up. We also discussed a bit of western medicine compared to chinese medicine. Im not sure really which one is accurate but I guess everyone has their own knowledge and ideas.
Josh is now packing up and getting ready to head back to heartwood. Im sitting here journaling. Not sure where the rest of the evening will take me but at least my journal is up to date and thats all that matters to some people.
I have to say though, its been a great weekend and the time Josh and I spent together was definitely quality time. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Posted by Des at 05:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 26, 2004
The Day After
Friday was a good day. I woke up early, Josh slept in a bit. His grandmother and aunt had gone shopping on Black Friday so I had a chance to be in my own mind for a few hours.
So Josh woke up (more like I woke him up) around 11am. He jumped in the shower, while I fiddled online. His grandmother and aunt had returned both exhausted from their shopping experience.
I showered while he contacted his 2 cousins for an excursion into Santa Cruz and we were on our way around noon.
So Ive been having a few experiences where I am taking back my first impressions of people. His cousin Terryne was actually pretty cool and Im guessing her and Josh are a lot alike and perhaps it was just in dealing with the rest of her guests the day before, she overlooked her manners.
We went into town and went shopping down Pacific Avenue. There were people advocating "Buy Nothing Day" with a guy (cute I might ad) sitting at a table with sissors, ready to clear up your debt in less than a minute.
Afterwards we went back to his aunts and went out to dinner. Nice Italian restaurant in the middle of downtown Boulder Creek (his aunt actually lives in Boulder Creek which is about 10 miles from Santa Cruz). Nice dinner however the prices were kind of high. I have no problem with prices as long as you get your moneys worth in food, mood, and all the other fringe benefits. The service was good.
So packing up and on our way back to San Francisco. Exhausted from the evening, we relaxed for a bit and then off to bed.
Posted by Des at 05:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 25, 2004
Thanksgiving
It was kind of tough at the start, knowing that Im so far away from my family. You would have thought it would be easier since in the past, Ive always chalked up the holidays for just another day off of work. I always felt although we didnt see each other on the holidays, that we were close enough to know how much we loved each other. I guess being so far away, it became a bit more difficult. Its especially hard being with another family.
I am very appreciative to Josh and his family for letting me join them, but cant help but think about mine. I wish words could express how I feel.
So on to Santa Cruz for Thanksgiving. What a great drive down. Beautiful scenery and just a sun shining day. I did feel a bit sick from the ride which hasnt happened to me in years. I was remembering smells from childhood, which I think may have been the culprit along with too much sleep last night. Who knows but it made me think about when I was a child and my dad had a Cadillac with A/C. The A/C combined with the cheap smell of the pine tree air fresheners used to make me car sick. It was weird smelling those smells again and how they stay with you. Please note, that Josh would NEVER have pine tree air freshener (thank the lord).
So we arrived at his Aunt Barbaras just in time to eat. Good food for all. Turkey, Ham, Stuffing, Potatos, and much much more. It was delicious. We went with his cousin Toni to visit his other cousin who was having guests of her own. They all seemed eager for Josh to talk to this one woman Jill who is apparently a Spirit Healer. It was kind of odd to watch how everyone was all about the two of them talking. We stayed there briefly because they were just getting ready to eat, so the 3 of us took a ride down to the wharf. I really wished I had my camera with me because the place was absolutely beautiful. The sunset going down over the ocean. in the middle was a small peninsula with a lighthouse. The only way to explain it would be by photograph but of course I didnt have my camera. We will be going back tomorrow so theres always another chance.
We had ice-cream, saw the sealions, and headed back to his cousin Tarines (sp?). I have to say, I was a bit uncomfortable and would have rather head back to the sanctuary of his grandmother and aunt Barbara as opposed to a place of about 15 strangers. Running through my mind was that everyone was so eager for Josh and Jill (that sounds funny) to talk which means I will be forced to be alone among all these people. Although I found ways to talk to some people, my fear came true. Eventually Josh was off to the side with Jill talking. Not through his own accord, because it was kind of forced by his cousin, which I thought was rude especially since they apparently know we are together. I mean, in my opinion you dont split up a couple and leave the outsider alone to fend for themselves. If I was hosting, I certainly wouldnt pull someone off to the side and leave the partner I just met by themselves. Oh well, it happened, I made due, and its over. Josh was nice enough to keep it to a minimum and it was only about a 10 minute conversation.
So back to aunt Barbaras, and another plate of food. Josh and I went for a walk into town and I took my hotspot finder with me. I found signals here and there but they seemed to be encrypted. Then I found a signal just as Josh spotted an internet cafe. Sure enough they had their wireless on and I was able to get online. It was fantastic. I was excited.
It was a great walk. Josh and I talked about spirit healers vs what his grandmother said and that was "Only God can heal". Makes me wonder how many people put doctors, and other people of medicine and how they are perceived as gods in a lower sense. The night just seemed to be with us both emotionally and physically. It was almost like the stars and the moon had embraced us for a moment in time and hugged us with its wonderful darkness. Ok, I know its sappy.
So back to aunt Barbaras once more for tea and goodnights. There was a single bed in the room we were staying in, so she politely showed us where the sleeping bag was in the closet lol. I can appreciate it since its family and his grandmother was here as well so off to dreamland I went.
Posted by Des at 11:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 23, 2004
The weekend continued
Where to begin. Perhaps the best place to begin is where I left off?
Friday night! I was a bit apprehensive about going to Tara. I wasn’t sure who I would see, who I wanted to see, or who even wanted to see me. It turned out to be a great night. As soon as I walked in, I saw Bernie and Marsh. Bernie, who I love, was the first to greet me and compliment me on how I looked. Marsh of course was second. It was nice to see them and that there put the night at ease.
John Merridew showed up which made my night. I really value his friendship. Even his jokes that night made me laugh (and it wasn’t at 3am like he always tells me Ill wake up laughing). I want upstairs to see Bobby and Mike with an occasional downstairs trip to smoke and go to the bathroom. Kim, Marc, Stan, and Reid showed up and Kym reminded me of our roof top adventures.
We would go out on the roof of the womens bathroom and just sit there and talk. I'm not sure who gave me that idea to begin with (I think perhaps one of my moments with Jason) but it was usually after Ive had enough scotch to last me till morning.
It was also Gina Browns birthday so there were people there that I didn’t expect to see or talk to. David Yates, Terry Bastian, Dale, and of course Gina himself. Needless to say, the music was great and it was nice to see everyone again. Another night packed full of hellos
Kym and Marc dropped me off at the hotel and I was out like a light. Then morning, check out, how to get over to Kym’s with my luggage. I decided to get something to eat at a new Pita place on East and Alexander, get money from their ATM and call a cab. It was raining out so the quicker the better.
I have to say, I wasn’t impressed with the place. Of course I was that guy outside waiting to get in before they were even set up and open so perhaps that was their issue, however they were unfriendly, didn’t really know what they were doing, and very unprofessional. Then again, they were probably college kids on a Saturday morning, after partying the night before, having to be somewhere they didn’t want to be.
Food eaten, cab called, and on my way to the Joneses. Anytime from here on out, in which I refer to the household consisting of Kym, Marc, Patrick, Stan, and Reid, I will refer to them as the Joneses house since it becomes too time consuming to say all their names.
So I arrived at the Jones's around 11:30. A day to relax for a bit and enjoy the company of friends. We went to dinner at some restaurant I had never heard of on Ridge Rd and then back to their place so they could get ready for their drag pictures. They had to be there extra early so I went with them to hang out for a bit. I now realize the politics that are involved in the bars and working in the bars. Funny thing is, when you are a part of it all, you cant see how intense it truly is. It becomes all about who is in charge, what the other people are (or arent) doing, who's stepping on who, and of course you add the drug scene and it becomes a whole political world. I did come to one conclusion and that I would never work in the bar scene again.
As for the queens, although its ameture drag, they surprisingly looked good. Stan looked great and even GiGi looked better than normal. Marsh and Dan showed up and I met a few new people. Once the first set was done, and I was already partially toasted, it was off to barnight.
I lost Marsh and Dan the moment we hit the forum and it was once again person after person, hello after hello and seeing people I havent seen since I moved. The theme was toys for tots and I had brough a stuffed devil cow which I still ask the question "Who wouldn’t want one?". The toys they received were amazing. They did a fantastic job raising gifts and really should be commended. I was enjoying myself until around last call (shot after shot, drink after drink with Terry), when I was finally tapped on the shoulder. It was Marc who was still in drag, ready to take me back to their place. Interesting to see a drag queen in the Forum on barnight no less.
___(insert blanks slight black out here)______
Woke up Sunday thinking I was rude and just came back and passed out on the couch. Apparently I was wrong. Here's where I fill in the blanks above.
Kym wakes up and decides to tell me how funny I was the night before. I professed my love to her about 100 times and was kidding around about getting it on in her bedroom. I also was hungry for a can of speghetteos and decided I would pay $5 to Reid for a can. Reid was drunk enough to take it (damn him lol). Well bits and pieces came back to me and I felt better knowing I didn’t just crash without saying goodnight. Wasn’t too happy about blacking out but hey, it happens.
So Sunday afternoon was lunch at the restaurant that Reid works at. I had a great breakfast as you can see.
The food was delicious. As we ended our afternoon, Stan and I stopped by Tara’s before taking me over to Steve and Marks for dinner. It was nice to see Marty Taylor before I left even if it was quick and only for a few minutes. I knew where he would be and that was pretty much my only reason for stopping. Now on to a fantastic dinner.
Stan dropped me off a little after 4pm. I was the first one there and it was great to see Steve and Mark again. They didn’t get the chance to meet us out for drinks but I knew we had Sunday evening to catch up and enjoy some quality time together which we did. Jeffy came by soon after, as well as Chris5. I enjoyed talking with Mark quite a bit and getting to know him better. He gave me (as well as Josh) some compliments which I really hold in high regard.
So Ive been looking forward to this evening for a few weeks now. One reason is because I get to see Steve and Mark. The other reason is I knew we were going to have lasagna. I couldn’t possibly tell you how delicious it was and top it off with wine, sherrie, cheesecake, and Jeffys cake, it was a great evening. We talked about everything and relaxed. I really miss them guys and cant wait to see them again.
So that’s about it. Jeffy was nice enough to take me back to his place in which I got to sleep in the Sare Finney suite. I promised I would leave an aweful stench in the memory of her absence. I couldn’t live up to it.
So off the next morning to the airport....
Delayed 3 hours at Rochester but I ran into the owner of Edibles (I believe his name is Jason but not positive). It was actually nice to talk to him and since he was on the same flight to Atlanta, he was delayed as well. Its funny but we never really got to know each other in Rochester but knew who each other was. Now, being one on one in an airport, we had more conversation than ever before. I actually learned more in that 3 hours than I did in the 4 or 5 years that I knew him.
So finally back in SF at 8:30pm. Flying in, I realized one thing. I realized looking at the city full of lights, that this was home. My family is in Rochester and NYS but San Francisco is now truly my home. I was able to identify different parts of SF from just the lights (or lack of). I knew where Golden Gate Park was, I knew where my place was, and I knew where several other areas were. I knew where the Golden Gate Bridge was as well as the Bay Bridge. I didn’t need direct lights to know this stuff. So slowly I'm learning but will always miss my friends and family back east.
As for today? Well its back to climbing the mountain every day, going to work, being surrounded by lots of gay men (HOORAY!), and my own high speed internet as well as my own bed, my own bathroom, and generally my own life.
Wishing everyone the best. I love you all.
Posted by Des at 05:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 19, 2004
Grandpas Memorial Service and Family
Well I woke up at 7:40 and my ride was supposed to be here at 7:50. Needless to say, no shower for me, quickly throw myself together from my drunken stuber last night, and head out within 10 minutes. They were late.
I rode with my Aunt Roanne and Uncle Doug to the Lattimore Rd Medical Center. I tried waking up but it was hard. My system just isnt used to the time change yet and quite frankly I was still hung over (possibly drunk). It was a nice visit but when we got to Palmyra, I ended up riding with my cousin Tony and Yvette down to Groten. It was great seeing Tony as he and I both grew up together, were 3 months apart, and both named Anthony. We used to party together and every time we see each other, it never seems to be enough time spent. Today was different.
We made it down there right on time. I got to see many relatives that I havent seen in ages and although there is a lot of sorrow in my grandfathers passing, it was really good to see everyone again. I got to see my uncles who I rarely get to see (and admire), as well as most of my cousins, my mom, my sister, my dad, and many second cousins. Last but far from least, I got to see my grandmother.
It was nice talking with everyone but trying to catch up all the time lost in between, almost seems wasted because there is never enough time to get to know each other again. I took a few pictures and video of everyone, so Ill have that to remember.
I rode back with Tony and Yvette and got to stop by their house. It was nice to see they are doing well and I really wish them both the best. It was nice to spend time getting to know him a little more since we were so close at one time. The house is fantastic.
They dropped me back in Rochester around 6pm. We stopped at Wegmans briefly (which I miss terribly since theres nothing to compare it to out in SF). We bought food, and I came back here and ate. I know, very boring lol.
Now Im off to get some coffee and head to piano bar for a few cocktails. Should be lots of fun. More on that later.
Posted by Des at 05:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 18, 2004
Arrived in Rochester
I arrived in Rochester this morning at 8:30am. What a flight. 4 hours to Detroit, an hour and a half layover, and an hour to Rochester. This translates to 3 hours sleep, on a plane, in a middle seat, in between two guys who figit. So I was on 3 hours sleep and now the time difference, I lost another 3 hours.
Nadine and Renee picked me up. They were right on time as I went down to pick up my bags. It was great to see them again. I noticed on the plane, just thinking of them being there, put a smile on my face and I didnt even realize it until it was already there.
We went to breakfast at Jines (my choice). I missed the place and had the Park and Berkley omlette (my old choice). From there we went to Blue Cross and all I can say is wow! What a response I got and a warm welcome from so many people I didnt even plan on seeing. I really miss the warmth and friendship I had there. Hopefully some day Ill have that again in San Francisco.
I checked into the hotel around 2pm and was exhausted. The room sucks but hey, you get what you pay for I guess. The tv doesnt work, the tub gets plugged up and basically the bathroom needs repairs. I should have expected it but didnt.
So I got my computer set up to go online and then took an hour and a half nap. I got a hold of Chris and we went to eat at The Keg (I think thats the name) which is partially Brians restaurant. Its downstairs from the German House and it really looks good in there (if you like sports bars lol).
From there we were off to the Forum for a quickie. Then the Pub around 9ish. Played a few games of darts, then Jeffy showed up, then Kym, Marc, Stan & Reid, then Jarrod and Geoff. It really was nice to see everyone else that was there and it seemed pretty busy but not quite as busy as it used to be.
Needless to say, after 4 Jack & Cokes, a watermellon vodka drink, several beers, and several shots of Jeager, I was ready to pass out from exhaustion and drunkeness. I did one of my famous "Ive gotta go now!" routines and passed out drunk.
Posted by Des at 05:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 30, 2004
The Eve Before Halloween
Well the weekend has been just dandy. I pretty much lounged around most of the day, and relaxed since its my last full day of having the apartment to myself. I did finally manage to break down and buy a small space heater. mmmm warmth.
Tonight was what they call "the gay halloween" in Castro. Tomorrow will be the free for all, a madhouse of 300,000 people crammed into a small area of San Francisco. The gay halloween is still a huge event though. They closed off the roads when the crowd got too big which apparently happens every year.
I started off hanging out with my friend Rick. He was the guy from that old movie Bachelor Party. He wore the bow tie and had a tray of hot dogs held about waste high. The one weiner closest to him at the appropriate location to simulate his own penis. You get the idea lol.
So I followed him around for about an hour. We stopped at Daddies and the Mix. Finally I felt like I was holding him down a bit. He knew lots of people who were there and with his costume, he had so many strangers paying attention. I kind of felt invisible at times so I figured I needed to break free as well. Besides, Im thinking he would have had more fun with out me around as well *grin*
So I explored a bit, flirted a bit, talked to a few new people. I went to Moby Dicks, and then back to The Mix. Funny but I was drunk within an hour lol. I think I only had a total of 4 drinks. God, I am becoming a light weight.
The only really interesting thing that happened was at Moby Dicks. As I entered, there was a cute guy who looked at me. I looked back, we flirted. Within 5 minutes he kisses me, grabs my hand to feel his raging hard on. I was thinking "wow". Then he says "Do you want to fuck me?" *insert screeching record here*.... I just laughed and said "Im a bottom". Well I never saw something come together and part so quickly before. It amused me I must say.
So that was the night. Home again, Home again to sleep in a nice warm bedroom for the first time in about a week. Delightful.
Posted by Des at 07:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack