Chelsea

Nestor and I hit all the Chelsea spots tonight and now I am drunk. We started out at foodbar for dinner, the we walked down to Greenwich village stopped at the monster (what a nightmare), what a sad place. Then we walked up back to Chelsea stopped at g for a drink, then onto the Gym and had a draft. Now I home and wished I didn't drink so much. It was great being with Nestor tonight, it felt like old times. I asked him to come to New Years eves in east Hampton, hope he comes, it will be great.
I am on my way to Milan and Florence Friday to check out some hotels for fashion shows, Four seasons, Bulgari, should be interesting.

Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown, the chantuese who put her heart and soul into a song has died today at 78. What an amazing career she has had. To think she started out as a housewife back in the 50s, and then turned the next few decades into a voice that was unlike anyone else.

I was lucky to meet her once, her son who I met in Greenwich Village invited me to a rooftop NYC barbeque. It was 4th of July back in the late 80s, and she was in Black and Blue at the time on Broadway. She was amazingingly friendly and she saw I was very shy and told me to come sit on her lap. I brought along my partner and friend Yaron and they were also taken in with her charismatic way.

What a feast she put out, ribs,cornbread and every southern dish you could imagine. In the afternoon she took a few of the guests back to her apartment to play a card game I had never played, I believe it was called "Brisk", but I couldnt say for sure. I remember when I was leaving she kissed me on both sides of my cheeks,
and said goodbye like I knew her my whole life. I wish I did, we definately lost her way too soon, but her music is here forever.

Jayne County Rules

Its been awhile since I have seen Jayne County, that infamous rock star. She has been on the seen so long, and it seems she never ages. Her shows are legendary at Maxs Kansas City, and Squeeze Box.

The evening always started out at my friend Rick apartment where we would all get dressed, drink what was ever available and follow Jayne to Squeeze box like she was royalty. I miss those nights in NYC when clubbing was an event not just a place to keep yourself busy. The other rock stars would show up backstage, like Joey Ramone, Debbie Harry and Patti Smith. I would always talk to John Waters when I saw him. What a genius he is. Ms Guy or Formika would be at the turntables and turn the place out with great music.

Back in the early eighties was the first time I saw Jayne perform at Maxs and I was hooked. I love this picture of her with Debbie, holding a glammy award. Rock on Jayne.

Fat and Skinny

I have finally reach the point where my weight is now becoming a problem. I am about 182 pounds on 5 Ft 9in frame and feeling a little sluggish. There was a time when I was able to eat or drink anything I wanted to, that has changed. When I was younger I was so skinny it was painful to look at me, now I am starting to get puffy cheeks.

I vow to go on a diet and manage my weight but now I am worried that with the holidays coming and its really going to difficult.

KELLY GIRL

Sometimes when the sun is rising and the house is very quiet, I start to think of the past, this morning was one of those times. I started thinking about a gril that my friend Ilene had introduced me to, her name was Kelly. She was about 22 and I was about 20, the year 1982.

Kelly was beautiful in the classic sense, she had sleek red hair and brilliant green cat eyes. She was always into the holistic life style, and her job as massage therapist went hand in hand with this life style. Only one thing about Kelly was strange and didn't fit into her lifestyle, was she liked to drink. She mainly drank red wine and could be intoxicated after just two drinks. I think growing up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and being Irish did not help with her drinking situation, also to her defense this was the decadent 80s.

My friend Kelly had chance in the late 80s to get on the Cunard ship Vistajford and sail on their world cruise, not once but twice. She was on the ship for about 2 years. While she was on the ship we heard all kinds of funny stories involving Kelly,
like her joining exercise classes for the guests only. She would order fresh squeezed carrot juice everyday and have it delivered to a guest cabin door and then pick it up. She was a real live one as my mom use refer to her. At times I had some real run ins with her but we would make up and laugh about later. She was a true pleasure seeker and very rarely did she ever look back which I envied.

Unfortunately for Kelly her past was at times strange and very sad. Her father had left her mom when she was just an infant and she didn't hear from him until she was late in her 30s. I know her reunion with him was something she treasured.

She called me after my mom had died in 2001 and we talked for awhile. She seemed to drift in and out of the conversation and I know she was disappointed with life a little. She talked about never having met her mate and how as friends we lost touch with each other at the drop of a hat. I was very sad as well, after having lost my mom, 9/11,losing my job and having disconnected with a very close friend, my foundation had finally gave out. Kelly said she could hear the sadness in me, and asked what was wrong. I never went into it but I knew things were going to keep changing in the next couple of months and they did.

I hadn't heard from Kelly in awhile but I did hear from a friend during the summer who told me Kelly died. They were unsure of the way she died but to me it didn't really matter. It made me realize how short life is and maybe she had right, just seek pleasure. I mean pleasure in family, friends, travel and life itself.

I found this picture above of the Vistafjord ship and it brought back the memory of my visit with her on that ship and how she loved it so much. She was a free spirit and she taught me some valuable life lessons. Sail on girl!!!!

Another Happy Day-Santorum Defeated!!!!

Do you believe this picture of Santorum daughter crying? You would think she just lost her father in the Iraq war. Unfortunately America never sees those photos.

BYE BYE SANTORUM

Last night was a great night and today only got better. The house is finally democratic and the senate may follow suit as well, we are all waiting for the answer.

Nothing better than Nancy Pelosi asking some difficult questions to the Republicans about the Iraq war and spending.

Santorum, yes Santorum is gone, and he has gay people all over America to thank. Believe me that we were behind the scenes of this race and wanted him gone. Casey is not the greatest choice but he does not compare gays to dogs. Has Santorum ever looked at his children and wondered what world his children would find themselves in if they realized they were gay. He would be the worst father in the world.

Screw Santorum and I hope he is done with political life, but I bet he isn't. Last night I heard JC Watts classify Santorum as compassionate conservative. Is this guy crazy?

Bryant Park at noon

BUCKING BULL RIDES

I think I have to visit this place to see the bare chested muscle guys bull riding.
Who wrote this ad? It had to be someone queer.