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October 30, 2006
i left my heart
I am back after a long week in California. I spent a few days working in San Francisco followed by a few days of planned R&R in LA. It ended up being neither resrful nor relaxing, but more on that later. First, the city by the bay.
I stayed in a hotel right on Union Square, really couldn't ask for a better location. This was a work trip, but I managed to get a little sightseeing in, golden gate of course, the castro, chinatown(where those rascals knocking off marc jacobs and chloe), gumps, I had a great time. Went to Scoma(spelling?) on tuesday night down on Fisherman's wharf, the food was as good as the company.
Thursday I went down to LA for the weekend. This was a trip with great highs and equally great lows. The highs first:
- celeb spottings- Uma Thurman, Karen Black, Robert from Project Runway, Jai from Queer Eye, Joachim Phoenix, the hot doctor for ER with the goatee, Jack Plotnck from Girls will be Girls, the woman who played the lesbian dog trainer in Best of Show.
- shopping- fabulous Prada boots
- food- great meals
- seeing my friend Julie and touring the Getty
- spending time with my dear friend Patrick
- hanging with frind and co-worker Mike, including a meeting and fellowship with some terribly buff boys.
-some great AA, I heard a wonderful story Sunday night before I left.
The low points were pretty low. I planned this trip primarially to see my friend Dustin. Dusty and I have a long history, dating and loving each other for 10 years now. We do not see each other often, but talk on the phone a few times a month, usually weekly. He had failed to mention to me that he has developed quite the drug habit. I Spent two night with him before I had to leave and find another place to stay. It was horrible and he has moved way up the list on my prayers.
I really hate drugs.
All things being what they are though, I did come to a shocking decision. I could see myself moving to LA. The weather was perfection, the people were alarmingly attractive and still incredibly friendly, the recovery I saw was excellent.
So there it is, something I never thought I would say.
It is good to be home, I am looking forward to sleeping in my bed.
Posted by JimG at 02:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 19, 2006
I'll be wearing ribbons down my back
OK, so I am sure that by now Laura has been offered some position with Calvin Klien or Ralph Lauren in their eveningwear design office, so I am ok with that. Frankly, while her collection was flawlessly executed it did not have the range of the other collections.
There, I have said it.
And Micheal, Micheal, Micheal...what was up there?
While I felt that Uli's clothes were far more wearable than anything that Jeffrey put on the runway, certainly his designs should the most vision. The right person won Project Runway this year.
Anyone else notice Santino's absence from the audience?
There is a very good editors column in this months Vanity Fair, pretty much condeming the current administration.
Posted by JimG at 07:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 18, 2006
no use leading with our chins
I don't talk too often about news, local or national, or current events. I am usually far too wrapped up in the going on in my own head to really spout off about things that affect others. I leave that to others, the Seventh Ave Souths and Andrew Sullivans of the blogsphere. Every once in a while though something comes along that irks me and I feel like commenting.
This is one of those things.
Lavender Magazine, Minneapolis/St Pauls GLBT magazine, has ads that appear on city buses. I will save my commentary about the ad campaign for a private rant, I mean really, wha does "Unleash Your Inner Gay" mean! Back to the issue at hand. On the front page of todays Star Tribune there is an article about how a particular metro bus driver who claims "religious issue" with homosexuality has refused to drive any of the buses that carry the ads, and Metro Bus is accomadating this driver's demands. Now if you are not in the Minneapolis area and have never seen these ads, they are so not "in your face". They bear the smiling faces of ethnically diverse totally clothed people.
I want to give credit to the Bus Drivers Union who are speaking out against the decision to allow this driver, who goes unnamed, from having to drive any of the ad carrying buses. The Union states that this condones intolerence and compares this decisions to allowing people to refuse to drive buses that carry political ads that they disagree with, or muslim drivers refusing to drive buses that have liquor ads, or Victoria Secret ads.
What is next? Could Metro Bus and the city be sued for having pro-choice or right to life ads, or church ads?
I am good and riled up this morning. I better drink a couple diet rock stars and get to work.
Oh, before I forget...Studio 60...best show EVER! When did monday night become must see?
Posted by JimG at 07:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 17, 2006
a person can develop a cough
I am fighting a cold, and losing the fight. I actually took a sick day yesterday and except for a trip to the grocery store stayed in bed all day. I really dislike being sick.
The storm that hit Buffalo, N.Y. was apparently very dramatic. I know that my mom and dad were without power for over 24 hours, made me a little concerned thinking of my elderly parents alone in their cold, dark house. But power was restored and they are now warm and well lit, or is it well lighted? I have still not been able to contact my friend Wayne, but apparently he does have power, the only thing he lost was his phone service.
We recieved a box of office toys yesterday. Of course, because I was sick I got stuck with the lame ones. Oh well.
Posted by JimG at 07:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 13, 2006
Hear me now!
Ok, this is good humor, a discussion of the events follows the report-
POLICE BLOTTER: Police news published Oct. 12
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
City of Lockport
— HARASSMENT: Antonio J. Sheppard, 16, 60 Gabriel Drive, Apt. A, was charged Tuesday afternoon with second-degree harassment. A victim reported Sheppard had approached her on Gabriel drive and called her names, even after she asked him to stop. He then allegedly began humping an electrical box and said he was going to have sex with her. She told him she would call the police, and he said he was not afraid to go to jail, the report said. Sheppard will appear Monday in Lockport City Court.
Hmm, where to start? I am going to guess that Antonio does not have a strong male role model in his life to lead him through the sublties of romancing a young lady. Now I admit it has been sometime since I pursued the ladies, but I can't imagine that it gets a woman's juices following (now there is a visual), when you mount and dry hump an electrical box while telling her that you are going to have sex with her. Frankly I am curious about what law was broken also.
But if I am going to be honest it may have done the job for me.
I took the above item from my hometown paper, the Lockport Union Sun and Journal, or Onion Scum and Urinal as we used to call it when we were small and witty. I get a kick out of the shenanigans of my former county mates. You see the Union Sun and Journal not only covers the news of Lockport, but Niagara County, the Niagara Frontier and indeed the world! Thank God it is available on-line.
As an addendum, Western New York was hit by a ton of snow today! My mom and dad are safe and sound, but I have not been able to get in touch with my friend Wayne, which does concern me.
Posted by JimG at 07:25 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 12, 2006
Standing here on this moonlit street instead
We recently spent alot of money at work to a new computer system installed. Don't ask if was the server or what but it was very involved and very expensive. Of course we have had nothing but problems since the installation. After multiple visits to refigure how people are logging on and work out some "bugs"( all of which brought with the additional charges) I have been told that each morning when I come to work I have to reboot the server in order to properly log on to my computer. This morning it took me half an hour to load my profile to my desktop computer.
This entire field is a scam.
If I were a house painter and you paid me $1000.00 to paint your house and only painted one side and packed my stuff up, how would you respond when I tried to charge you another $1000 to come in and FINISH THE JOB!
I am a little heated about this, can you tell?
On another less aggravating note Project Runway was very exciting last night. I cannot wait to see Laura's collection as it goes down the runway. I really want her to win. I have predicted her win since the very beginning and I really hate to be wrong.
I really hate that.
Posted by JimG at 07:48 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 11, 2006
between a lover and a friend
It is snowing here in Minnesota today, exactly 200 days since the last time it snowed. So yes, that means that it snows, or has the possibility of snow for damn near half the year here. WHY DO I LIVE IN THIS ARCTIC WASTELAND? Sure, I love layering and I look damn cute in a heavy knit sweater, but come on this is ridiculous.
I went to a meeting last night that I have not been to in almost a year, I had to give a medallion to a sponsee, and I instantly remembered why I no longer go to this meeting. Of course I readily admit that it is my shit that makes this particular meeting completely unbearable for me, but so be it. It provided what I was looking for in my recovery for many years, it just isn't any more. Yet another reason that I am grateful for the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and the myriad of meetings that happen each and every day.
I love when I get to use the word myriad.
Project Runway tonight, the scandal concerning Jeffrey and his alleged cheating. I love Laura and am really looking forward to this one.
Posted by JimG at 07:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 10, 2006
no good deed goes unpunished
It is going to snow here tonight. I really don't know what else to say about that.
I have plans with my friend Melissa R., not to be confused with my friend Melissa E. who lives in lovely Snyder New York and with whom I would love to have plans. Now Melissa R. has a habit of cancelling plans at the last minute. I am keeping my Saturday morning free for her and since I know that she reads the blog daily am using this forum to pre-shame her.
I have a confession to make. I frigging LOVE TV. I ran into my friend Lance last night at Lunds and we had a long conversation about how wonderful TV can be. I am wrapped up in so many shows this year that I can't find time for real people in my schedule. Here is a snapshot of my week: Prison Break, Heroes, Studio 60, Nip/Tuck, Jericho, Project Runway, the list goes on. Why must the people in the box have lives that are so wonderful and exciting? Well at least I am able to live vicariously through them instead of having to actually experience life.
Tonight I am giving my friend Al his 4 year medallion. He is one of my heroes, in real life.
Posted by JimG at 07:24 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 09, 2006
long time no blog
I have not blogged in so long, I have actually been getting phone calls asking where I am. Allow me to recap my month so far.
I spent last week at a convention in Palm Beach, staying at the Breakers, thank you very much. I had a great time, worked my ass off but had an amazing time. Thanks to my friend Laura for shopping on Worth Ave with me, my ass is looking fine in those new Helmut Lang jeans.
After Florida I spent the weekend in Chicago, where I finally saw Wicked, it was good and I loved meeting up with Bobo and Dubin in the Windy City. I had a wonderful lunch with my old friend Gretchen, we walked around Boystown and had some tasty sandwiches at Ann Sather. It is funny how you can not see someone for, in this case 20 years and have things just fall comfortably into place.
I stayed with my buddy Brian, thursday night we hit Sidetracks, it was comedy night. Damn, there are some good looking men in Chicago. I spent a few hours looking at apartments and condos and was surprised to see that the housing market is even more competitive in Chicago than in Minneapolis. Starts me thinking.
I am home for a few days, glad to be in my bed.
It is Autumn here, big time. Trees have changed and the air is getting cold. Season of change. Both Spring and Autumn have been big seasons of change in my life.
Glad to be back blogging, I will try to keep it up.
Posted by JimG at 07:42 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack