junoman

Yuko and I

2009-01-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

At work at Polo, someone sent us a nice fruit basket...

2008-10-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER 18, 2008 RUE 57

Sunset Beach Shelter Island

2008-07-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Met Schumer and Lautenberg at Sunset Beach on Shelter Island at lunch.

Richie Rich

2008-06-25T14:20:00.001-07:00

I love Richie Rich, I don't get to see him too often I ran into him Sunday with his beautiful boyfriend Joseph.

South Beach

2008-05-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last week I saw Mickey Rourke and his girlfriend in Miami. It was a crazy night!!!

Pope Benedict XVI

2008-04-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI is in Washington now and will move onto NYC tommorrow and the media is trying to drum up so much hoopla over this demons visit, but it just isnt working.

I ve spoken to so many people and they just think he is wasting his time, with all the church scandals and loss of attendance in the Catholic church. Most people use the church only for weddings and funerals.

Eight Ave

2008-04-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

My friend Nestor saddling up to the bar at a new restaurant/bar on eight ave in nyc. Its called "Eight Ave". The chow was good and drinks good as well.

Sunday Evening

2008-01-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to see the movie "The Orphanage", the movie was in Spanish with subtitles and it was a very good movie. I went out with Michael and Chuck. After the movie we went to eat at Grand Szechuan, after a lengthy wait we got a table.

We decided that we would go to Splash bar

after dinner and check out lady bunny djing

The club was pretty packed for a Sunday.

I left about 10pm and walked back to my car

on 22Nd street at 7Th ave. I noticed the streets were eerily quiet and I became anxious walking back to my car. On the way back to New Jersey I starting getting depressed and just felt really sad. I sometimes get so melancholy when Sunday nights hit, and nothing like walking Manhattan on a Sunday evening to put you in that mood.

Christmas Gift Not Wanted

2008-01-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was spent at my sisters house in Holmdel, New Jersey. My mom is no longer with us and my aunt from my moms side is the only person living from my moms family.

We have always treated my aunt the way we would have treated my mom if she was still alive, but there is one difference, my mom appreciated us, my aunt does not appreciate us.

My sister gave my aunt a coat for the holidays and she put it in one of those Christmas bags you use when you don't want to wrap a box. My aunt pulled the coat from the bag and threw it on the floor and said "Thanks, but no Thanks". My sister was in shock, as was everyone in ear shot.

I noticied the entire day prior, as well Christmas day she was eating everything that had sugar in it. One big problem is that she is diabetic and I really believe this plays a huge part in her

being crazy that day. I know this is not an excuse, but it allows me to understand how dangerous diabetes is. Yesterday, I called her and she was still very defiant and would not back down.

I told her that she hurt my sister and they everyone in the family was in shock at her behavior. She was upset that i didn't see her side. I told her there are only two words that should be said when given a gift and they are Thank you.

Needless to say, guess who is out looking for a new gift that will appease her?

You guessed right! ME!

Should have stayed home.

2008-01-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think we just need to know when to stay home and enjoy the company we have.
New Years eve started out like any of the last few years, we were in East Hampton and friends were arriving about every hour starting in the early afternoon. Last year we had fourteen people for dinner and this year we had only six people.
The dinner was delicious and everyone was really getting into the conversation. About 1030pm we all cleaned up the dishes and started to get dressed to go to a friends house. My friend had about fourteen people there for dinner and our group added more people to the mix.
My friend Joanne was the only girl. I felt really bad for her since I could tell she was thinking another year ringing in the New Year with a bunch of gay guys. She has been part of our group since we met at 14 years old. Now at 46 we would hope she had met a man and created her own life, but that was not to be.
When we left the party she was crying and I could feel her sadness. I went into the darkened room to speak to her and I told her that we all love her. And she said in a whisper, its not enough. I started to feel so bad for her that I didn't know what to do. I promised her tomorrow and the next few days she would feel better. Years ago a few gays guys were her only friends and now it just wasn't enough, and I totally understood.
I started thinking if we didn't go to this other party none of this drama would have happened.

In paris/weather cold but sunny

2007-12-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Father

2007-10-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

Saison

2007-10-17T13:12:00.001-07:00

Mike and Joanne

2007-10-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

I really like this picture of Joanne and Mike.

Deep Sleep

2007-10-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Did you ever feel like you were sleep walking during the day?
Well I have for a few weeks now. My boyfriend brother is dying of colon cancer and he is way too young for this disease. Believe me when I say don't wait until your 55 to get a colonoscopy
it may be too late.
Since we returned from Italy we have visited him almost every weekend, and he lives over an hour away. Its really sad to see him in such a terrible condition, and hospice care at his side.
I have put everything on hold, business trips, parties and even my own boyfriends birthday.

San Gimignano

2007-10-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

We travelled one day to San Gimignano and I had been there a few times before but it always a great city to explore. This picture of Lorraine is great with that beautiful tower behind her.

I have been home for two weeks now and still not quite adjusted.

Tuscany

2007-09-20T12:55:00.001-07:00

I was in Tuscany for awhile, and finally home. I miss all the beautiful views and great food.

The villa was truly amazing, it had 15 bedrooms, and amazing pool, and a beautiful loggia.

asbury new jersey

2007-08-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

Patti Smith

2007-08-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

In 1976 I was on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey and I stopped by one of the gaming wheels. I placed a quarter down on a number and won an album. My eye caught this striking black and white album cover of an androgynous girl who looked so cool.

I decided that was the album I was going to take with my win. When I returned back to Brooklyn I played the album over and over. One particular song called "Gloria" was amazing to me, I later learned it was written by Van Morrison. This album believe it or not helped me come out of the closet. Patti talked about her love for another girl during the song Gloria and there was a somewhat scary homosexual rape during the song Horses. I was only 16 years old but I really took an interest in the underground NYC punk movement. I started going to Max's Kansas City and begging to be let in. They usually let me in and I would have to sit in the DJs booth all night.

During this time in NYC I met everyone from Blondie to Bowie at Max's Kansas City. I also eventually met Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe the photographer who took that beautiful picture of Patti on her album cover. They were amazing in person, Patti was so mystical and beautiful to me, and Robert Mapplethorpe was just plain strange. A few years later I met him at Keller's a bar on the west side that he would frequent and also I was reintroduced to him at the Mineshaft ( a sex club in NYC) one night. My friend Dan use to arrange all Patti's travel when she lived in Detroit during the nineties, and he was always tell me stories. I went to her concerts all over the world from NYC to Paris, and was always amazed by her performance.

She had some great albums but Horses is my all time favorite. My friend Patrick Mcshane was in the hospital and wanted to hear the newly released "Dream of Life album", I put the earphones on him and I can tell he really like the song "People have the Power, it was a liberating song to me. Patrick died from complications from aids two days later. I never listened the album again after that day, all it represented to me was sadness then.

I haven't heard Patti in years now and I just read an interview in Vanity Fair about her ideas on fashion design. I guess I have moved on, Maxs Kansas City is no longer there, Mapplethorpe has passed, as has so many friends from that period. I have to confess its still good to hear Gloria sometimes blasting out of the speakers.

Last Year at this time.....................

2007-08-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

In asbury and with Yaron and Nestor.

Crazy Cat

2007-08-03T07:22:00.001-07:00

My friend Ro asked if she could drop off her cat for a week while she is in the sunny Bahamas, I said sure. When I mean drop, I mean drop, she came to my house while my boyfriend

was home, opened the cat carrier and dropped him onto my living room floor. Now not only did he feel abandoned but

he is very afraid of us. He has stayed under the guest room bed for 5 days and will not come out. I am some what relieved that he is gingerly tip tip toeing out to eat and

poop in the middle of the night while we sleep. My friend called and asked how he was doing and of course I lied and said great!!!!

He is constantly hissing and charging the bed skirt when I enter the room, needless to say he has no front claws, but

some nasty teeth. Two more days and my friend is home, I

cant wait.

Asbury Park Roadtrip

2007-07-27T18:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.roadtripasburypark.com Asbury Park road trip is this weekend.
ROADTRIP 6Sixth Annual weekend-long event celebrating the New Jersey oceanfront as the next gay vacation hot-spot.

Russia

2007-05-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Russia is bursting at the seams with all these new American stores opening up there. I just worked on my first fashion show ever there. It is really amazing that it went off with few problems and has run smooth so far. Moscow has the Kremlin and St. Petersburg has the Hermitage.

I am one person who has no desire to travel to Russia whatsoever. My niece dated a Russian guy once and I always wanted to go to Russia and loved the Russian people, after her experience with him, I hated everything Russian. If someone gave me a Faberge egg, Id toss it, ya right!!!

Maybe some day I will visit the Baltic and include St. Petersburg as stop along the way.

Bedouin Soundclash - When The Night Feels My Song

2007-05-02T17:12:00.001-07:00

The Cross

2007-04-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

As the three of us walked along the west side highway that day toward ground zero the sun was blinding. I could tell he was quiet and wondered was he just overwhelmed by it all. That day was a Sunday in May 2002 and it was my first time visiting ground zero after 9/11. I guess I had not visited earlier due to my moms illness and subsequent passing in April.
I felt good at the three of being together and it was the first day since my mom had died that I felt some relief by just getting out with friends. I remember seeing the ground zero cross and being so overcome with emotion. As we turned to walk away he said " I am leaving", I said "home", and he said "yes". He said it in a very strange tone. I watched him cross the street and just as he was about to descend the stairs, he turned and looked at me. His stare was for about ten seconds and then he was gone. That day was the last time I saw him for a few years. Was it something I said? Did he just want to start over? or was I just in the way? The phone calls were too many to count during my grieving process for my mom, none were answered or returned. I was so baffled I spoke to my other friend who was there, what did I say or do? Nothing, nothing........he would say.

One Friday night I was at the Eagle bar NYC and I turned to the right and there he was. It had been years since I had seen or heard from him. Do you ever think of me?, I ask. He stays silent. How could you just walk away, we knew each other 30 years. I could feel my heart beating faster and could tell he was not glad to see me. I do think about you Joey, but I need to go on, he said to me. My mind goes blank and I don't know what to say to him , he turns and says "on that walk to ground zero, you said I don't want this situation to come between my family and me. God knows I don't remember saying this, but he insist I said it. Do you want a beer?, he says, OK I say just to keep the conversation going, he goes to the bar, I go to the toilet. When I return the beer is there and he is gone again.
I thought maybe he would call the next day, but nothing. When I was in Paris in November all I thought about were are old haunting grounds, but that's just what it was, a ghost of the past.
I starting thinking back that this wasn't the first he disappeared in my life, he had done this twice before, once in college, and once when his mom was dying. I remember him calling me and saying lets bury the hatchet right now, my mom is dying, and I did. I also took care of his mom when he was San Diego and he was not ready to come back east. She had started to get very sick from cancer. If only he had returned the favor. That year I lost my mom, my job and him. I tried to think why he did this and I realise there are two reasons, first he wanted to hurt me and second he loves to run when the situation gets difficult. He never could face adversity, and he knew by cutting me out of his life I would be hurt. At first it worked and then after I saw him in that NYC bar I knew he was not worth my time or love. I really was able to let him go with love. I figured if he had nothing to give me spiritually while my mom was dying and I was grieving when would he give me anything. In the past year I have felt true love from so many friends, and I see what a waste of time it was thinking about him. God bless him wherever he is and I hope he is not alone, but I suspect he always will be. I let go of disloyal friends..

Knicks Game

2007-04-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Last night as office we went to see the Knicks game at Madison Square

Garden. The best part of the night was taken the train from Jersey

into NYC. We were all excited to just get out of the office and have an

adventure. The best part of the night I could say was getting there as

a group. The game itself I never watched, we were in one of those suites

with booze and food and I talked the night away with people I never get to speak to. It was amazing that once the liquor starting flowing people

get loose lips and everyone told me they were looking for another job.

The economy for the fashion industry just gets better and better

and its not a litmus test for the rest of the job market.

I know my job is busy and stressful at times but the old saying goes

you know what problems you have now, you don't know what problems you

will inherit with a new job. I think the Knicks lost I never stayed till the end of the game.

Black Party NYC

2007-04-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

This year I really wanted to revisit the Black Party in NY. I had this feeling it was not to be and I was correct again. I returned from the Dominican Republic and I was very sick with a lung infection. The night of the black party my temperature was 104 and I knew the only date I had was with my bed. After two days of sleeping I started feeling better and starting thinking about my black parties past.

I am not big on spending the whole night up at some club or even doing any drugs to accomplish this feat so I don't know why I wanted to go in the first place.

In 1987 my friends talked me into attending my first Black Party at the original Saint location. I remember driving to NY and parking on 2nd ave near St. Marks place. Robert Mclaughlin was a friend of mine who always worked all these venues, black parties, white parties, red parties, you name it and he always had some connection to get us in. That night was no different, we all met at around 1am in front of the Saint. The DJ for the evening was Chuck Parsons, and lighting man extraordinaire Richard Sabala. The minute we arrived I remember everyone mentioning that I should take some coke to keep me up for the night, I figured that I didn't need it and boy was I wrong. The place was filled with hot men, and remember this was 1987 and Aids had did its number already on the community. Little did I know that out of 8 of us there that night only 2 of us are alive today.

I remember that this was billed as the safe black party, the invitation came with a condom attached.

The music was amazing, and the crowd was really upbeat. I hung near this huge table filled with fruit and kept thinking Ill never make it to 12noon like most of my friends.

They had a huge round sitting area downstairs and my friend Robert was taking a break from bar tendering, so I went over and sat with him. We talked about how this night had such a strange feeling and like we were dancing for our lives. He didn't know it that night but he was so right. The strange thing was 10 years later I met him in Palm Springs at a house he was staying at for the White Party. He couldn't attend the White Party because his HIV medication was giving him such bad diarrhea, I stayed by the pool with him and we talked into the night. I think we both knew the life we had know was coming to end. A few weeks later he was found dead in his apartment.

Back to 1987 and the Black Party, while Robert and I were talking he was cruising some guy across the way from us. I was so tired, I laid my head on his lap and almost dozed off. I remember Robert yelling someone get him home, I woke up and said guys we will speak tomorrow. They were all laughing, they knew me better than I knew myself, I would never make the night. After I left I walked to my car and I saw glass all over the floor, I knew immediately the car window was smashed and the radio stolen. It turned out to be a very expensive night but one I would pay anything again to redo with my friends. I am glad for the memories good and bad. Maybe next year.................................

Dominican Repbulic

2007-03-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

I guess Jay, my partner and I gave in, we are both headed for somewhere warm. We leave for Sunday in the am for Punta Cana. We really need some sun. I haven't blogged in awhile, too much going on. My cat Jasmine had to be euthanized last week and it was hard letting her go after 20 years. Work sucked, I worked on two major photo shoots in California, one I think is Bruce Weber, and the family I work for kept me very busy.
Mike and Pat are meeting us in Punta Cana so it should be fun and relaxing, and we need both.
I was suppose to go to St Patricks day parade tomorrow, but I am going to pass, I need to get ready for trip.
I get back on the 22Nd of March.

Family is out town

2007-03-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

My entire family is in Miami. They have been there pretty much from January.

I dont know why I have not visited but I am just not interested in traveling

there. I think I see them enough when they are here.

My Cat Jasmine

2007-02-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

About 15 years ago my friend Cindy brought me a cat in a laundry hamper to my house. My boyfriend and I looked at each other like she was crazy. We had two other cats in the house already and no room for a third. In the back of my house behind the pool yard we had a small doll house that the last owners built for their grandchildren, so that's where this cat was placed. On cold nights we wondered how she was doing, and over time we would go out in the middle of the night to check on her.

My friend rescued the cat from her brothers fraternity at Rutgers college in New Jersey. She told us that at every holiday break they would release her from the house to live on her own outside and they never thought she would return. When they came back she was always on the porch and starving. When I got her she was about 4 or 5 years and only 4 pounds. One night we said why don't we bring her in the house its freezing out, so we both went and got her from the doll house.

After months of her living in the house we both came to love her as much as the other two cats. She never got along with the other cats, she tolerated them. At the present she is either 20 or 21 years old, and is ailing. Her kidneys are starting to fail and she is up most of the night looking for water. We started hydrating her on our own after the vet told us how and she is doing OK. Last night we talked about euthanizing her this week and every time the subject comes up, I break down crying. My boyfriend who takes care of animals with such love and care they always come back to life, but I know this is short lived. She is our last surviving cat, the other cats have since passed and we know the house will be very quiet.

I truly love having a pet, but this is the hardest thing about owning one. I know I should be happy I rescued her and saved her life but it brings little or no consolation. I know I must make this difficult choice during the week. I guess I just am not ready to let her go.

New Jersey Civil Unions

2007-02-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

I guess I should be happy that civil unions have been granted in New Jersey, but I really feel its still not like having a marriage certificate. My partner and I have been together for 24 years this July. I met him when I was 21 and he was only the third person I ever had a long term relationship with. The first two were short relationships, one for six months and one for one year.
Around 1985 we decided to have a "union". We went to Dignity, mostly catholics who are gay and long for recognized unions. They interviewed us twice and asked questions that were so personal that we wondered what the hell we were doing. This was back in 1985 so I am sure things have changed, or maybe not. We found this Presbyterian minister who would perform our union and he also interviewed us two times but was much more interested in us as a couple then as separate people. The day of our union was really amazing and scary all at the same time. My parents were not invited, but the rest of my family was, so it was a huge secret. Years later i came to regret this and finally told my mom months before she died. she understood that I was trying to protect her, but from what I didn't know.
My friend who was a chef made a beautiful wedding cake and most of my friends wore a tux.
Many of the friends that were there have passed from Aids, so the whole memory seems bitter sweet. I don't think I will have another party but I do think I will have civil union performed with my partner. We talked about having a civil union at our 25 year anniversary. Marriage means that you receive your partners social security benefits, but civil unions don't. I think this is just
a show by the state to say we are offering something to gays and lesbians. One of the main reasons we never adopted is because the laws were so vague protecting either one the participants in a union. It was a big mistake by us, we really wonder what our lives would have been like.
Most of my friends now are not in any relationships, so when I have a situation with mine, I usually don't go to them for advice. I almost feel bad about mentioning anything to them since they are solo, they all think I am so lucky, and I am in may ways.
There is a mayor in Bogota, New Jersey who said he will not perform civil unions even though the law says he should, because of his religious beliefs. Guess what? His mayor ship should be terminated, if he cant perform his duties, get someone else that will. I am so sick of people using their religious beliefs for hatred and bigotry. As a community we have to fight these people all the way out of their jobs. Has he ever heard of separation of church and state? My job here is to see the next generation get their state given rights and I plan to do everything in my power to see that its done. I have had a belly full of these morons!! I know I am not alone.

Linda Evangelista

2007-02-12T18:41:00.001-08:00

The Ultimate Model

Israeli and Palestianian

2007-02-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Last week I spoke to my friend Yaron who told me some incredible news, that his new boyfriend is Palestinian.

If you know Yaron as long as I do, you would know that he is not very fond of Arabs. How they met is the weirdest story. On Yarons last trip to Israel to see his family he stayed in a hotel by the airport, this is where he met him, he was a worker in the hotel. He said he felt like he knew him his whole life and even in another lifetime, mind you he does not believe in reincarnation, or is evenly remotely spiritual. His description of him was that he was simplistic and spiritual.

Again this week after spending two weeks in Paris and London together, they are talking about getting apartment in Tel Av iv together. There is no way to get him to come visit NYC, since the Us declines all Arab visas for any reason, my friend has all but gave up on getting him in.

Its sad and amazing how we take traveling for granted living in the USA. My Israeli friends family is trying to warm up to this new guy but it has been difficult. He also sounds like he will be traveling to Tel Av iv for 10 days a month and is getting an apartment there. I think it all sounds exhausting, but when you in love, need I say more, the energy comes from outer space to see each other.

I hope this all works out for them both, but if it doesn't they still will have had a great experience and my friend will have racked up 1000s of fly er miles.

Miami Son

2007-02-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Uncle Joe, yes Thomas, I cant believe it, what Tommy? Tommy, Tommy, what is the matter?
I was ripped off, ripped off!! Where are you? Hello Thomas. I am in Miami for the Superbowl and I went to have some drinks after the beach. I was planning on buying my girl some gifts and getting into some expensive parties, like the Maxim party.
My heart sunk, what an amazing nephew, not just because he is mine, but because he is a great human being. The type of person who is too good, too much heart and will give you not only give you his shirt off his back, but his shoes as well.
How much? How much did you get ripped off? How about seven-grand, O no Tommy.
He started talking in tongues, telling me two stories at the same time. The first he was in a shoe store buying shoes for his girlfriend and his girlfriend had held his money in a beach bag, three credit cards and the roll of cash, wrapped in rubber bands. The second he had the money in his beach trunks and it was pick pocketed or he dropped it.
I honestly don't know what to believe.
How stupid to leave the house with so much cash. Maybe some saw him take out his roll of money, anything is possible.
Maybe the money didn't fall out of pocket, or get lifted,maybe the thief is closer thank he knows.

The Weather Man

2007-01-21T15:36:00.003-08:00

Are all weather men gay? I am starting to think so. I saw Sam Champion three times in one weekend. He was with a very nice looking, beautiful chiseled body, dark skinned gentleman in the Hampton's this weekend. He must have a house there since he is always there even in the winter. I always want to say "hello", but really don't want to invade his privacy.

I am starting to think the prerequisite to being a weather man is to be gay, but a friend once said that they always pick handsome men and most handsome men are gay. Is he right or wrong? I don't know, but I do know they are all gay.

Telling Tales

2007-01-19T20:43:00.000-08:00

Last night the weather in NYC sucked, but it didn't stop a few of us from catching a taxi up Madison Ave to the Carlyle hotel for dinner. I always forget I need a dinner jacket in their main dining room, but the maitre d brought me one without even asking me my size, it fit perfectly.

At the table we shared some crazy stories about our industry and helping assist celebrities. We all agreed the two biggest nuts are Jennifer Lopez and the cherry on the top of the cake, Barbara Streisand. The best story was Barbara Streisand screaming at the top of her lungs in a 2 by 4 elevator because her cell phone went dead, hello you are in an elevator.

Snow actually fell last night in the city and it was quite beautiful but then it changed to rain and it just got real messy. Dinner was really good and I didn't think I drank too much last night but this morning I knew I did, hangover big time. Also last night in the bar Bemelmans Rita Moreno was performing, I am that would have been quite interesting. The picture they used to advertise the performance must have been taken 20 years ago. We never attended the show, dinner was enough, and then we all split for home.

The Liberal and the Conservative

2007-01-14T21:40:00.000-08:00

Saturday night I was invited to a dinner party in East Hampton, NY at the home of a couple I barely knew. She was a liberal democrat and judge and he was a conservative republican doctor for the defense department. I expected straight couples to be in attendance but was really surprised to find gay couples there. They are very much into the arts, and I should not have been surprised to see that along the way they adopted some gay people as their friends. I prejudged them and that was not very nice on my part.

I wondered how they managed to have a house worth a few million dollars home, and a kitchen that would make Julia Child sit up and take notice. She didn't know how to cook, so many of the guys jumped in and started creating some dishes for the night. It was quite funny explaining to her how her Wolf oven worked. She said "I definitely need to invite you guys to more parties".

I don't know how it happened but we got on the conversation of politics and he said he voted for President Bush in the last two elections for tax reasons. I guess that was a good enough reason for him but it really baffled me since we are at war and there are much large issues than taxes.
Its amazing that two people can coexist today with such different political views but they seemed to do just fine. My boyfriend and I fight over the slightest different political views and we are both liberals, so I cant imagine their situation.

The Devil is Back

2007-01-09T20:48:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I work at pretty high pressured job at a fashion house. I work for a designer, and create much of their travel for business as well as personal. Sometimes its fun and sometimes its pure hell.

I work in an office with 8 woman and the egos are enormous. Because I am gay I think I dont threaten they in any way, but you dont want to cross them. One girl who always says what she feels usually in the form of a joke, sorta tongue and cheek, really means what she says, and she knows how to stab me in the heart. I usually arrive at 900am and sometimes make it there just before 9am, like 858am. As she left the office tonight she said I will see you at 859am tommorrow!

I retorted "yes and until this company starts paying me prior to getting here before my start time, I will be here at 858a, 859a or even 900am, and you or anyone else should have nothing to say.

Do you believe this girl, is she kidding? Why do people get involved in other peoples lives. My boss who heard everything and was stunned and just chalked it up to another one of her outburst. My tangles with her in the office have been really scary sometimes, and she does not get it.

Honestly I try not to fight with women in the office, the exchange never looks so cool coming from a guy. The problem is that I grew up in Brooklyn, went to all boys school and was taught never to take any shit from anyone. I need to keep this is check. She sure is playing with fire.

Nikki Bacharach

2007-01-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

When I arrived home from work my boyfriend told me the sad news of Nikki Bacharach
passing. She was the forty year old daughter of Angie Dickinson and Burt Bacharach who committed suicide in her condo in Thousand Oaks, California.

Nikki has a very strange disease called "Aspergers Syndrome" I think she developed this from being born three months premature. I met Nikki in Bora Bora about eight years ago at a hotel buffet bar, we were both having lunch there. She was only 6 years younger than I but she acted about only eighteen years old. She and her mom were lunching together and I didn't want to invade their privacy. We spoke only briefly and she was really very nice.

It is said that she committed suicide by placing a plastic bag over head. This is very similar to the way the actress Clara Blandick committed suicide. She was the grandmother in the movie "Wizard of Oz".

It also may be true that Albert Einstein has Aspergers Syndrome but he learned to use parts of his brain that compensated for this Syndrome. I feel really terrible for Angie Dickinson because she seemed so devoted to her daughter in the little time I watched her in Tahiti. God bless Nikki and God speed.

Backache

2007-01-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was put into one of the MRI machines not by choice but by my doctor who thinks I have 2 herniated disks. My right leg and hip have not been right since I returned from Italy, and I am thinking maybe I traveled with way too much luggage for me carry.
they put you in a tube that uses magnetic imaging and it can get very claustrophobic if they use the closed type of MRI. The sound also was deafening so they gave me ear plugs, it didn't help.
I am trying to be healthy this year and so far I have not smoked since New Years eve, major plus for me since I don't usually go this long without shaking for a smoke. Hopefully all will work out when I get the results.

Weight Loss

2007-01-03T08:13:00.000-08:00

With all the new year resolutions people are making, I think mine will be to lose weight. I talked to this couple who lost 100lbs between both of them. The diet program is called "Accu Weight". The program involves using these accu weight balls that are placed behind the ears and rubbed just prior to eating, they create a feeling of fullness or bloating. The diet also involves eating dairy for two days and then veggies for two days and then adding chicken as the program progresses.

It was really difficult watching my diet during the holidays and there is still junk food lingering all over the office. I really need a program since I was told my blood pressure is a little high do to weight gain. I guess it will work since now I am under pressure to lose.

2006-12-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve over the years has been spent out on Long Island in East Hampton and why should this year be any different. I thought the dinner crew would be small
but now I am up to 14. Fabio is one our new guest flying in from Milan, and Mike and I have not spent New Years together in a very long time so I am looking forward to it. What I am not looking forward to is cooking for 14, but Chuck said he will help me.

This year has been a good one, my family is together and Jay and I are still happy together. I am so glad I dont hear from a few people any longer who were not my friends at all, and one in particular. I am determined to work on releasing the past and staying in the present. This might be a tough year for my bf Jay since his brother is dying of cancer, but I will be there for him through it all. I also dont think my twenty year old cat Jasmine will be with us either for too long, but she has lived a great life.

I bless everyone in my life and prayer that this year is filled with peace, love and most of all understanding. Happy New Year.

The Feast is Over

2006-12-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

"I think I broke my leg", she said as I helped lift her from the floor. Doris is ninety fours years old and at my Christmas eve dinner every year. She is a young ninety four if there is such a thing, but nonetheless ninety four. I noticed someone dropped a fork on the floor and as fast as I tried to grab it, Doris was trying to pick up it up, that's when she lost her balance. It all happen so quick.
Thank heaven she did not break her leg, but she was very embarrassed, I am sure being embarrassed is better than a broken leg.

On Saturday I created my usual Christmas eve feast but it was way too much food and way too much rushing on my part. Next year I will definitely scale down. Honestly my bf has the all American family and I think the whole Italian dinner thing is wasted on them.

On Sunday I went to my brothers house in Middletown, New Jersey for another feast. It was a crazy night, with my nephews lighting off a stick of dynamite in a nearby
field off from the house, but of course the house shook and no one expected this craziness, boys will be boys. We had a huge fish dinner with every kind of fish represented. We left around 2am and drove back to northern NJ.

On Monday back down to southern NJ to Holmdel to have Xmas dinner at my sisters house, too much food and I refused to drink any alcohol. This week will be slow at
work and I can get some much needed work done.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

Almost Christmas

2006-12-23T06:16:00.000-08:00

Its around 9am and I am thinking about the dinner that I have to prepare for thirteen of my boyfriends family members. I like them all very much so its basically an easy dinner. Since I am Italian and they are all German/Irish they love to eat Italian food. I am preparing an Italian fish dinner, just one day shy of Christmas eve when I am suppose to be making that kind of dinner. They also wanted to visit with other family members on Christmas eve and Christmas day so I agreed to make dinner tonight on Saturday instead.

I don't know why but around this time of year I get the blues. I should be happy but I sometimes feel so sad, its like a tug of war with my emotions. I think of my mom and dad, and also my uncle who are no longer living and it seems so strange to me.
I also think of friends I don't speak to over things that were so unimportant now.

This year I made one resolution, and only one, to release the past. I have tried this before and failed, but this year I am prepared. Many changes happened over the last year that have prepared me for my resolution, and I actually feel different within.

I know I am ready to start a different life this year, its as if I am shedding my old skin. My boyfriend says he has noticed many changes in my emotions, things that bothered me before, I don't even care about now. I wonder when I read this blog next year at this time, where I will be.

Sometimes I feel like the Charlie Brown tree, really not put together too well but still holding on to that one shiny glass ornament. This year I will try to put more ornaments on my tree.

Christmas Bonus

2006-12-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day of work before having off for a few days for the holidays. Yesterday there was a blurb in the news about the chairman of Goldman Sachs getting
5 million for a bonus, It almost seems obscene.

I work for a top American designer. I arrange the travel for many of the top employees of the company and the designers family. I get a few gifts at Christmas from them all and I am really lucky. Last year I got two first class tickets anywhere I wanted to fly and numerous other gifts.

The best gift I received last year was from the president of my company who I have spoke to only once in person, he has two assistants. I received a tied up box with a beautiful red ribbon,in the box were brownies. There was a card in the box that said " a donation in your name has been given to Gods Love We Deliver".
His assisant didn't have to tell me but she did and said the donation was five hundred dollars. I started to think if everyone gave gifts like this to charities
it would really help out.

Its Only Gay If You Make Eye Contact

2006-12-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

Waiting on New Jersey Courts

2006-12-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

The legislative branch of New Jersey court is deciding right now on civilian unions. It should be interesting to see what happens and how this all is decided. New Jersey will be the third state to all gay people to have a union, only Massachuetstts allows gay marriage.

I definitely will have a civil union once this law is worked out. My bf is another question, I don't know how he feels.

My brother has made it cleared to me that he does not agree with this law, he is so crazy. Republican Gov. Mitt Romney has flipped on gay issues so often that it has really hurt his bid for presidency. This will be major issue as usual in the upcoming elections.

Crazy Italian Wedding

2006-12-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am going to a Crazy Italian wedding and believe it or not looking forward to it. When my family gets together at celebrations like this, it is almost always interesting. This wedding has been planned for three years, the bride and groom are very young and hopefully will be together forever. It takes place in Brooklyn, where else could a crazy italian wedding take place?

Florence

2006-12-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

Last week I was in Milan and Florence. It was amazing to see how Milan has taken over Paris as the fashion capital of the world. There were so many designer shops it was hard to keep up with all of them. Its cool watching all the Christmas decorations going up in hotels and shops. I left for Italy on black Friday and I didn't miss a thing by not being in New York. My whole family was ready to attack the stores on that weekend like they were going to war.

I stayed at the Four Seasons in Milan, quite a nice hotel, on the back end of the trip I stopped in Milan again and stayed at the Bulgari hotel.
The Bulgari was amazing with its bathrooms made out of black marble from Tanzania.
As I was checking in, Gisele the famous Victoria secret model was dropping tons of bags off in the lobby. The restaurant was really cool too.

Florence is just one the most beautiful cities in the world. I was there only three nights but could have stayed the month. The picture above is from the Four Seasons which was 15 century convent.

World Aids Day

2006-12-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

Having just return from a great birthday celebration at a great restaurant in NYC,
I cant help but think its a great milestone. I celebrated my friend Michaels forty six birthday tonight. As we sat at the table I know Michael and I both thought about the friends that never made 46 years old, not even 35 years old. They were close friends and people we would have love to celebrate with but unfortunately they weren't there, they had passed by this horrible disease we call aids.

I know as each year passes we are lucky to have lived as long as we have and we appreciate life even more. I miss them terribly.

Keep up the fight, donate to research and dont stop until this fight has been won.
A CURE

Chelsea

2006-11-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

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!!!!

2006-11-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

BUCKING BULL RIDES

2006-11-03T11:52:00.000-08:00

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.

Stonewall Bar and Its Renovation

2006-10-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday as I walked to my friend Mikes apartment, I passed the Stonewall bar. Displayed in the window was a huge sign saying, "Closed for renovation", I wondered what kind of renovation? A few weeks back I heard that it was closing for good.

You would think with all the stories of gay liberation starting from of that bar, that someone with some money and clout in the gay community would turn into a museum.
Instead as community we just keep saving and spending our money for the next circuit party. I know over the years it had gone through some major changes, likewise so has the gay community.

If only the gay community had a place to look at pictures and stories of our past. They can also run it as art gallery with exhibits throughout out the year. I know so many men who have photos and artifacts that they would like to turn over to a place that can store them.

CBGB

2006-10-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend the famous and infamous club, CBGB, closes in Manhattan. Tonight's bands are the Sic Fucks and The Dictators, and tomorrow will be Patti Smith giving the last performance before closing the doors for good. There is talk Hilly Kristal the owner will be moving all the contents of the legendary club to Las Vegas. Just what Las Vegas needs, less glitz and more glamour.

I have only been to CBGB a few times. I was once taken by my friend Patrick who brought along another guy he hung with. We were all about twenty-one years old and very much into the punk scene. When we arrived at the club they all knew this guy that Patrick and I had come with.

This guy was a small Irishman no bigger than 5"4, but very good looking, blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was very quiet which gave him an aura of mystery, and boy did he love his alcohol and drugs. His name was "Joe" and he, like Patrick and I, was into guys, but he never spoke about it. All three of us went to all male military academies such as Xavier and Xaverian. Talk about cutting loose after a week of strong discipline and schooling. The band appearing that night was the "Mumps" the legendary Lance Loud band. Of course Joe knew Lance, probably a lot more intimately then we wanted to know. Over the course of the night we drank beers and got shit faced. I usually never went downtown and the Bowery was as downtown as you could get.

I ordinarily went to a club called "Maxs Kansas City” and my friends eventually followed, giving up the seedy CBGB crowd and following me to Maxs.

Maxs is where we found bands like Wayne County now Jayne County, The Fast, Devo, Blondie, etc. I loved Maxs and really believed I was the youngest person ever allowed in. I was told to just hang in the DJ booth all night so I could see the band but not get caught for underage drinking. I started going there in 1979 when I was seventeen. The resident DJ was this “Louis Bova”, who I always thought was too cool for his own shoes. We had very similar musical taste.

Back to my friend Joe. Of course when he starting going to Maxs he became well known and I took a back seat to my old friends. I later found out he was giving some of the best head to guys he was meeting at the bar. One night he actually met David Bowie, and talked to him like he knew him his entire life.

Joe and I lost touch for a few years and I finally ran into him near Rockefeller Center. He totally wanted no part of me. I was excited to see him. He was all cleaned up and no longer gay, according to him. He was now a Roman Catholic priest. He was with a guy who looked like Wally from "Leave it to Beaver.”
Joe talked to me in a very monotone voice. He wanted no part of his past and I surely was part of his past. The brothers at Xavier had saved his soul.

A few years later, my friend Patrick, who had introduced me to Joe, died of AIDS.I later learned that Joe too had succumbed to the same disease. It was told to me that he never took any medicine believing that God would save him from this scourge, so the end was not pretty. His family never accepted his death from AIDS and neither did the church; they thought it was pneumonia
So when I think of CBGB, more than music comes to mind, my past comes flooding back and I’m sure that I‘m not alone.

People with Too Much Time on their Hands

2006-10-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

I got back to my desk after a fire drill and heard about a plane hitting a residential
building in NYC. Being in the travel business I was glad to hear it wasn't a commercial aircraft but a small propeller plane. It turns out it was a Yankee player
who loved flying his own plane.

You would think after JFK Jr, Thurman Munson and John Denver people would abandon this crazy idea of flying a one engine aircraft, with no where to land in case of an emergency. Most of the times it turns out to be some rich dude with too much time on his hands, and he always takes up the wrong hobby.

I think about all those people in their apartments who now have to live some where else and for a few moments their lives were in jeopardy in their homes,not even on the streets of Manhattan.

Cafe Torino, NYC and Best Friends......

2006-09-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Another night of calamari,vino and portobellos.....

What else is there to say............

2006-09-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

Jim McGreevey

2006-09-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

My partner and I went to a book signing on Sunday by Jim McGreevey.
It was at small bookstore in New Jersey and he arrived late.
He was really trying his best to give everyone special time and you could feel he was really genuine. I met him about a year ago at a fund raiser and he was not received very well from the gay community. I think people either like or hate him.
I like him, even though he may have done some not so ethical things during his stay in the governors mansion. I believe many politicians do things we never hear about. The advocate mag came and surprisingly he is on the cover. He asked how long we were together and I told him 23 years, he signed my book with some inscription in reference to that.

Honestly I am very happy for him that he finally seems to stop playing the game.

View of Manhattan from Bedroom

2006-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Chapters

2006-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Lately I have noticed that life is like chapters, people enter at some point and exit at other points. Its like a wave that you have no control over, it just happens.
It can be a positive experience or negative one, your choice. I have had such a wave many times in my life, some have been positive, some negative, but all good in the long run. Life just gets better and better. Family is very important and they change as well. I was told by a metaphysician once never depend on people, places or things because they are constantly changing. Boy is that the truth. East Hampton beach is a place I love this time of year. When I look at the water it reminds me of the waves or chapters of Life, they drift in and out. Someone I knew just passed away at 50. I didn't know him well, but he was a very genuine person, a good person, whose life was too fleeting. He would visit East Hampton during the year and I would run into him there through mutual friends. They say when someone dies that his life's experiences are up and no longer needs to be here. Its really hard to accept this especially when one is so young. I am ready for the next chapter of my life and I hope they just get better and better. Giovanni, I speak about you whose life was too short by anybodies standard. I hope you go on with God speed and also at the same time you are always with us like some cool and warm breeze on the beach. God speed old friend, God speed.

QUINCEANERA

2006-09-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to this movie with Nestor called "Quinceanera". It was a coming of age movie about a 14 year girl who at 15 will celebrate her quinceanera, a right of passage for young girls. I think that the celebration is mainly a mexican tradition. My friend who is Columbian told me that he had only been to one. The film also has a gay theme, her cousin who is this really hot chulo from Echo Park starts playing with this couple who move in upstairs from him. I am usually not attracted to latins but I couldnt get enough of this guy. This film was a real slice of what life is like in Echo Park Los Angeles.

Yankee game on tonight, boring Saturday night

2006-09-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

Good Ole Whitney

2006-09-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

Whitney Houston has finally come to her senses after 14 years of marriage with Bobby Brown by asking for a divorce. Im sure after all the abuse she had done to her voice over the years that it probably has suffered greatly.

I can just imagine her comeback. It will most likely result in some gay pier dance next year, and knowing us gays we will take her back with open arms, we did it with Donna Summer and she really gave us a reason to hate her.

How come when a singer falls from grace the gay community is so fast to take them back and into their arms once again. I think it has to do with us understanding pain and suffering at times in our lives. We all know the perils of drugs and bad choices in mates, and Whitney has suffered with both demons.

Just watch in the next couple of months and you will see I am right. When she gets back on top the gays will never hear from her again, very similar to Donna Summer and Grace Jones.

Grief

2006-09-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Andrew Hollerans new book is called "Grief", and it is quite a good read. It is really amazing how he captures a whole generation of people who have been in such a state of denial about their grief due the aids epidemic. I am a 45 year old man and have lost many friends to aids, and have been in such a state of grief for a long time now. I have noticed that there are times I feel so stagnant about life in general. One of the biggest hurdles for me is just trying to slow down and enjoy life. I feel like I am always running to get my mind off difficult things, either taking trips or just keeping really busy.

Every year at New Years I make a vow to release all these memories of people that passed and its really hard to keep. It definitely feels like I was left here to create something larger in mine and their memory. Out of five close friends three are gone and one I am still friends with one and the other will not speak to me any longer since I represent the past, so he says. I start to wonder if I would have been friends with them, even if they were alive. After college we all went our separate ways but kept in touch. It was really difficult for me watching them suffer through medical tests and life in general. Most of these guys were poly addicted, sex,drugs and alcohol.

The one thing I am very lucky about is having partner for 23 years. He has been my foundation and has pulled me through some difficult times. All in all I have lost about 10 friends, and always wonder what they would have been doing right now. I have some friends now that are in their 50s and have given up sex and the idea of ever meeting someone. Andrew Holleran refers to them as "gay emeritus", I have to chuckle but I tell ya its all too sad. I once said to my mom "that she would never know the kind of grief I have know and she said "Oh no", how about polio. It stopped me in my tracks and I realized some generations do know what we are talking about, we are not alone.

I don't understand bareback sex and some of my friends engage in it all the time. They tell me there is a different degree of intimacy without a rubber. I think the degree of how much you love yourself is whether you wear a rubber or not. I am working on this grief thing but it is not easy.

OH NO THE MANZA SISTERS...........

2006-09-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

Part 1
I have heard about 2 sisters that are outrageously rich, stylish and just plain crazy as I was visiting the Isle of Capri about 2 years ago. It was by accident that the sisters were vacationing on Capri at the same time I was. I arrived in Capri via a ferry anticipating a wonderful vacation, my vacation was anything but wonderful. When we arrived I looked to the left and saw a yacht, the size of nothing I have ever seen floating in the water before. All at once I heard another commotion on the right and looked and and saw another yacht somewhat larger. One yacht was named the Regina and the other yacht was name the Andrea. Both of course had heli pads and helicopters that rival anything Trump has owned. As we approached the island the ferry captain threw his hands in the air and yelled in Italian " quelle femmine ehanno di ritorno, il mio dio", roughly translated it means My god, those bitches are back!!!!". My curiosity had really take over and I was dying to see these bitches, oops I means sisters. I had heard that the sisters had rented the whole hotel called "La Scalintella". According to Andrea the younger and fairer of the two this was slumming. Both traveled with 50 to 75 trunks of clothes each and 10 dogs each, all named "Lola". The dogs were all named "Lola", so that when one died they never had to grieve they just had another dog name "Lola", and they were never sure which dog died had died.

Part 2
My first day on the isle, I thought I would go see the famous Blue Grotto but that was not to be I heard that the darker beauty Regina took the whole grotto over to have party with the likes of Nelly, Jay Z, Sheikh Saad (the Royal Crown Prince of Kuwait), Puff Daddy and Outkast.
Andrea, I heard had been flown to Cap Ferrat for a fitting by none other than Christian LaCroix and would return later in the evening. The concierge of the hotel told me that is very unusual for both girls to travel together, because usually one establishment, club or island could not handle them together. In the afternoon when I normally would going shopping, it again was not to be. All of the designer stores were closed for them to shop in private with their posse.
Things really got scary that evening when I heard that their party would go well into the morning, and the Gruccis were sent in to do the fireworks. I never slept that night because between 50 cent and Mary J Blige were rapping into a microphone so loud that my whole bed was jumping from the floor and I was a full block away.
I finally got to see the Manza sisters the next day along with a hundred other people as they walked to their private yachts to leave the island. Andrea the younger one accompaigned by 10 dogs, 5 body guards, Nicky Hilton (her new best friend)
Regina passed with 9 dogs (one died in the grotto), 5 body guards and Lindsay Lohan (her new best friend>.
All left for St Tropez to continue their summer party fest. I thought the Hiltons were spoiled, but boy these girls take the cake, and eat it too. When they left it was reported the island had no more Crystal champagne or lobsters. It would take two months to resupply. I was glad to leave Capri and will ask the travel agent the next time to ask the hotel "Are the Manza sisters going to be there and I suggest you do the same, if you ever want to sleep or relax. Now I know what its means when someone says,"OH NO THE MANZA SISTERS"

Little MIss Sunshine

2006-09-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Jay and I went to see a cute movie last night called "Little Miss Sunshine It was really a fun movie. The theater was packed, so we had to sit in the second row. This chick next to me had the worst breath, I guess I am sexist because I think I can deal with men who have bad breath but women, a big gross. When we left the theater we went to greek restaurant that is housed in a trailer and everyone that works there is Spanish. Very strange set up for a greek restaurant, but the food is very good. We had calamari, greek salads and a chicken pita. Today I am on my way to Middletown NJ to have dinner at my brothers house, as always should be interesting.

The Feast of San Gennaro

2006-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

The San Gennaro feast is about to start in NYC next weekend and its a huge celebration for any Italian in NY. The feast will be starting on Thursday, September 14 and goes for eleven nights through till September 24. To read more about the San Gennaro Feast

Paris is Burning

2006-09-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Paris is one of those people that always has me scratching my head, but honestly she keeps it interesting. She is now in embroiled in the middle of a DUI situation with the Los Angeles police department. This is actually not very funny to me since she can kill not only herself but some innocent person. In the last year I have driven a few times that afterwards I thought "maybe I should have not driven".
I promised myself after the last time, that it would be the last time I perform that stunt. If I ever hurt a person while driving impaired I dont think I would be able to live with myself. God only watches fools and drunks for so long.

Rosie does it again.............

2006-09-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

I watched the View today by accident, and Rosie O'Donnell was on. Let me first say I really like "Rosie", because she says it as she see it. She sometimes can be shameless and not care about a persons feelings. I have witnessed her in action a few times in my life, I happen to be in the same surroundings and she can be very tough when she wants to be. I generally liked the show but have to be honest, maybe because it was her first show, I don't know, but she up staged everyone including Barbara Walters. Just from Joy Behars face you can tell she was not happy. Do I see her in this position for very long? Not really. She will be on for a few months, just like Katie Couric. I wish Rosie the best, but wonder why she isn't she doing her own show.

Summer

2006-09-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Summer feels like its over,usually I am in Europe somewhere and this year we didnt go. This has been a crazy summer.One of our friends is in throws of the last stage of cancer and will probably been gone in a few weeks. It didnt feel like the usual summer. I am in East Hampton,N.Y., and the weather really is bad. Fall is usually a nice time for me, hopefully this one will be great.

What a weekend to look forward to

2006-08-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

I am off for the next few days over Labor day and the weather forecast in NYC looks bad. Was on my way out to East Hampton for one last summer weekend that I wonder if it will happen. My friend Nestor leaves for Mykonos Greece tonight and I told him how lucky he is to be getting away from this weather. I am already getting depressed and I know I shouldnt start this crap. Hopefully I will go with the flow.

Lance Loud

2006-08-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the weirdest dream of "Lance Loud". He was one the Louds, a family that served up some real reality TV back in 1971. He came out on the show and it made for some real good television. I remember I never missed an episode and once watching with my father, I could see how disgusted he was by the whole program. Airing your dirty laundry was not something he liked to do. I actually met Lance about three times in late 70s and 80s, I talked to him once outside a popular New York rock club called "Maxs Kansas City. Its possible I was the youngest person ever allowed in that club. Ever since I met I was taken with him, he seemed beyond cool. A person I knew Paul who was in a band was a very good friend of his but I never saw the two of them together. In the beginning of this summer I went to see Rufus Wainwright at Carnegie hall, it was quite a night, we sat in these tier boxes for 6 people, and I was right next to Christy Turlington (model). But the best part of the evening besides Rufus who I love, was seeing Pat Loud, Lances mother. She was right behind me on line and I wanted so bad to say hello but I resisted because I wanted to give her privacy. She kept looking at me and I at her but we both never said a word to each other. Lance died around December 2001 and I know for sure the documentary they did on him didn't touch the surface about his destructive ways. He had lost a lot of friends along the way or people who just couldnt keep up with him. When he died back in 2001, I started to realize how many gay people are so self destructive. In NY I had many friends addicted to crystal it was scary, thank god I never liked it or needed it.
RIP Lance

Star Jones and Al Reynolds

2006-08-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

There is way too much talk about this dude and his sexuality. His romps on Fire Island are legendary. I wonder when and where she will show up again, I bet on some silly show. They should do a reality program, I would watch, especially he brings some hot men home.....

Where's Edie?

2006-08-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have always been in love with Edie Sedgwick. I met Andy Warhol once back in the early 80s, he came into Bloomingdales with Diana Vreeland. I worked at shop called Michel Guerard. I asked them if they would like to try some chocolate she declined, and he said nothing. I handed him a piece and he took both the napkin and piece of chocolate. As he was chewing he kept saying "good, good. This was some the most expensive chocolate around at the time. I came from behind the counter and asked him to sign our guest book and he obliged, as he was signing I told him I that I found Edie to one of the most fascinating people he was ever photographed with. He smiled for a second and said nothing again. His lack of words expressed much, he seemed as much interested in her, as I was with him, which was not much. When they walked out of the shop, I heard Diana Vreeland said to him "who did he ask you about?. His response was precious, he said "I dont know". I wished I could have asked for my chocolate back.

2006-08-26T22:18:00.000-07:00

Sexyback

love this song...play every friday afternoon ready to leave work for weekend..yeah

Wedding in Lemnos

2006-08-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Sal my hunky greek friend called from his house in Lemnos where he is living for the summer. He said a wedding was taking place next door and the groom and grooms men are shooting off guns in the air in celebration. His mom is always hoping he may not be not gay anylonger, so she turns to him and says "imagine the celebration we would have if you were to get married on this island". He turned to his mom and said the whole island would be shooting off Ak-47s and Bazookas if I were to get married. That gave us both a hearty laugh.
The guy getting married looks like a cricket according to my friend and his wife is no prize at 350lbs. We both at the same time imagined them doing the nasty (more laughs) I miss sal.....

hey junoman

2006-08-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

View from the Mansion