Vanity Fair

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. It has kind of been hard with all that has gone on with me lately. I think things may have finally settled down for awhile, which is way good for me. I have been able to maintain my friendship with the person I wrote about in the previous post and while it is different, it is deeper and it is good. I consider myself very fortunate to have him as a friend. Also, I have been on two dates with a really nice guy. I don't know where it will go, but I am taking the advice that has been given me and am just having fun right now with no expectations. In a couple of weeks, I FINALLY get to get away for a little while. I will be going to Sarasota, Florida for two weeks. My favorite aunt lives there and I get to spend a lot of time down there in the spring and fall. It will be so nice to get away from my soul-sucking job for a little while and sit on the beach and be refreshed by the surf. This is the place I want to move to when I retire in 12 years. (I know it seems like a long time, but it really is not). Memphis is a cesspool of crime, corrupt politics and horrible race relations. Bad thing is, it will never get any better. I have a few friends down in Sarasota and it is hard to explain, but I really feel like I am home when I am there -- even more so than being in Memphis.



Memphis holds an annual Fair in the fall. I went last night with some friends and had a ball. Ate all manner of things that were not good for us. But we justified it by going to exercise class right before. Personally, I didn't eat as much as one particular, above-mentioned individual did. He ate everything in sight. This place has fried Oreos, turkey legs and fiddle-sticks. If it can die or fry, they have it. I tasted some fried pickles that were so good they would make you slap yo mama. And of course, there was the obligatory beer. Following the Fair, we went to a local restaurant called the Beauty Shop for drinks. This actually was an old beauty shop and you can sit under the old hair dryers and eat. It is very chic and trendy. Oh, I saw the HOTTEST guy in the whole world in there. He is a bartender at another restaurant in Memphis owned by the same woman that owns Beauty Shop. Last week, he talked to me for awhile when it was slow at the bar and he came over and said hello to me. Believe me when I say that I could give up my absolute last strand of moral fiber that I possess for this one. Alas, he is married - the wife was with him. (sigh) All in all, we had a really good time. It is nice to finally have some stability back. But knowing me, who knows how long that will last...

I'm Back

Sorry for my absence in posting for so long...I have had a lot of drama and trauma lately. I believe it has all worked itself out for the best. Long story short, right after I came out, I fell for one of my best friends. Hard. He didn't feel the same way about me. I let my feelings run away with me and, very recently, I was forced to get them under control and deal with them. I have learned and am learning that is a hard thing to do but it is doable. I am very fortunate in that I have the very best friends a guy could ever hope to have, thankfully, which still includes the friend that I fell for. My friends have listened to me and held me when I cried. Growth can be a difficult thing, but it is worth it. The fact that I can write that last sentence says a whole hell of a lot considering where I have just come from. So...I am back ... with a vengeance.

Farewell to a Great Lady...

Jane Wyman
1917-2007

It's Labor Day, Bitches!

The King of Useless Information is back. Have you ever wondered about the history of Labor Day. God, I sure haven't. I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. All I care about is I don't have to go to my soul-sucking job for a day. But for all you inquiring minds who want to know...from Wikepedia:

Labor Day is has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s. The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

And there you have it. Everyone enjoy the weekend and have a safe holiday...

The King of Useless Information

Last night I was told by one of my surly friends that I know way too much useless information. I know more...

Many years ago, in Scotland, a new game was invented.

It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"....and thus the word GOLF
entered into the English language.

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The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and
Wilma Flintstone.

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Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.

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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

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Coca-Cola was originally green.

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It is impossible to lick your elbow.

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The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska

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The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% ( now get this...)

The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

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The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400

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The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000

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Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

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The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.

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The youngest pope was 11 years old.

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The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

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The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

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Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:

> > >> Spades - King David

> > >> Hearts - Charlemagne

> > >> Clubs -Alexander, the Great

> > >> Diamonds - Julius Caesar

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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

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If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the
air,

the person died in battle.

If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of

wounds received in battle.

If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died

of natural causes.

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Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th,

John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but
the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

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Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

A. Their birthplace

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Q. Most boat owners name their boats.

What is the most popular boat name requested?

A. Obsession

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Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you
would find the letter "A"?

A. One thousand

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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser
printers all have in common?

A. All invented by women.

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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?

A. Honey

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Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?

A. Father's Day

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In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When
you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to
sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight."

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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month
after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all
the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was
lunar based, this period was called the honey month...which we know today as
the honeymoon.

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In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts.. So in old England,
when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints
and quarts, and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and
Q's."

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Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim,
or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the
whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by
this practice.

~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

Beware! Blogger Messed Up...

I just posted, but for some reason Blogger put it further down in the posts. Scroll below to Might As Well Be Sex and the City...

Here's to You, New York, New York....

Well peeps, I just spent the most fabulous weekend in New York and all I can say is WOW. Is is possible to fall in love with a city? It must be because I cherish every moment I am able to spend in the Big Apple. I went up for a friend's 40th birthday. All of us live in luuuuuuuvley Memphis and decided to make a long weekend of it. One thing that made this weekend really nice was that we had no plans. Now those of you that know me know that I am the ULTIMATE planner. (Some haters have slandered me as a control freak, but I think they're jealous of my superior organizational skills.) I must say however, it was really nice not to know where we were going or what was going to happen. Spontaniety, people - taht's what I'm all about. We spent a lot of time wandering SoHo and Greenwich Village, just looking around. My friends spent tons of money. Me being the poor red-headed stepchild that I am, was unable to purchase several shirts at a hundred bucks a pop. But that's ok. The Village was especially fun as I had not spent much time there at all and got to see a completely different side of the city. One night we went to have drinks at the Oriental Mandarian Hotel in the Time Warner Center. This is the most expensive hotel in the city. Rooms start at $2500.00 a night (or so I'm told). The kicker is that the lobby is on the 35th floor overlooking Central Park and Central Park South. One of the best money shots in the city. We had quite expensive cocktails and some h'or doerves that we didn't order. But it was spectacular to see the city go from dusk to darkness. Two completely different views, each one awe inspiring.



However, it was two other things that really made this trip stand out. One was that we went to Tony and Tina's Wedding. Now, I don't know how many of you have been to this - but let me just say it is a HOOT. It's an off-Broadway show that is more interactive than just a show you go and watch. You are actual guests at this wedding party and reception. It is My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets the Sopranos. Compeletely over the top. They feed you dinner, wedding cake and champagne. And as the evening wears on, the "family" drinks more and the reception disintergrates. Fights start. One girl starts stripping. They will come to your table and gossip with you about the other family members. I especially enjoyed it when the absolutely burning hot gay brother of the bride came and danced with me. Apparently, this show has been around for 20 years, but I had never heard of it. Also, I am told it travels - so if it comes to your city, most definately go see it. If you allow yourself to really get into it you will have more fun than you can shake a stick at.

The other thing that really stands out is that my 40 year old friend and I frequented a few gay bars. And I made a friend. A firefighter from Queens. How sexy is that I ask you. And I will tell you -- very.



My weekend was WAYYYYYYY too short. But the city was perfection and the company I kept was priceless. I will soon post some of my photos up and soon as I (the non-computer geek) can figure out how to do so...In the meantine, yall will have to settle for these...