The Suburbs

Sometimes there are just harsh realities one has to face: mortgage, jobs, wills and such.

While I am under no illusion that I'm some cutting edge kind of guy who lives this incredible life of leisure and spur of the moment events, but Sunday was an eye-opener.

Our friends and neighbors (Tom & Sal) are huge fans of Costco. We had a membership the first year they opened here, only because the first year's fees were free.  ....and you know I'm all about the cheap.

We went once. Once!

We are two men with no kids. Tom & Sal are too, but these guys go weekly.  Weekly!!!

Somehow, a few months ago they talked us into trying it again. We went, but didn't purchase a membership. We walked around and around and around. I suppose joining this kind of shopping establishment works if you have a family of six.

Marge Simpson came to mind as I wandered the aisles: "oooh, that's a good price for 12 pounds of nutmeg!"  

It ain't far from the truth.

When I overheard a man say to his family, "ok, everyone stop!  We lost grandma", I had to laugh.....and leave. I was done.

But we're family men now. And our son has special diet needs and food allergies. His food comes from - you got it - Costco.

As we got the comically oversized cart, 710 goes, "this looks so Pee-Wee-esque.".  True that!  ....and then we were off.

While waiting for 710 to get our membership cards, I'd say half a dozen folks left the store with these oversized teddy-bears.  And I mean, they were 5' tall. One person had THREE of them.  WTF.

Sure enough, when we went in, there was the display of them for the low low price of $30. This is a necessity?  People make and sell these in bulk?

As we looked around, again there wasn't much to buy if you weren't feeding the Von Trapp family. And it seems you have to use all the food in five days after you purchase it. Again, I suppose if you're feeding an army that isn't an issue. But for us, it means rebagging and freezing everything. Hardly worth it.

You can't buy one pork loin, it has to be two. You don't get a choice. Or the prepackaged cold cuts - like 7lbs of them. I don't want that much sliced turkey!

I'm thinking if I buy 4-5 bags of dog food a year, we'll break even on the membership fee. But other than that we just bought a gross of paper handkerchiefs, a bushel of granola bars and some of that CQ10 for my ear ringing problem (which isn't working).

Pushing that cart out the door made me feel like one of those housewives from the 'burbs. It was unsettling  Not only wasn't I feeling like a hip gay man (which I've never been), I felt that I was one Costco visit away from wearing mom jeans.



Song by:  Arcade Fire

My Music Monday

While I mentioned a day or two ago about some of "you people" (yes, I just went Ann Romney on your asses!), are sometimes less than thrilled with my selections for My Music Monday™, I'm not sure what to do about that. 

Some (coughcoughDavidcoughcough) don't like if it's too country or folk or female. Some (coughcoughMikecoughcough) think my selections are too obscure. And some (coughcoughDavidGcoughcough) think I'm coasting if I do something too commercial or too '80s.

It's a no-win situation of course.

Oddly, since I have lived with most of this music for years or decades, it is not obscure to me. Do I recognize my selections can be out of the mainstream? Sure.  Do I look to expose you to it - even if you don't end up liking it?  Yup. It's a fine line.

So Mike "offered" to write a guest spot for MMM and I accepted.  Now Torn (another pseudo-defunct blogger) has wondered why I don't want him to write an entry as well. Everyone is so touchy when not included - life is just an extension of high school!

All I can say is:  bring it, boys!

But can it still be MY Music Monday, if it's not my music??  Slippery slope indeed. But I'm open to this idea. And I don't mean just these two, but I'd certainly consider opening the floodgates, per se.  This could go to hurt feelings if people insisted on Tony Orlando & Dawn (which I totally have a story about regarding my friend Jeremy - remind me later for that) or the DeFranco Family (featuring Tony DeFranco)  (oh yes, they have a website!) or, ugh g-d forbid, Jay Ferguson.

Obviously, email me your entry - and not just a song title. There has to be background text, people...and a video link if one exists. And if not, you have to email me the .mp3 so I can add and link it to a player.

Yeah, it's harder than it looks, betcha didn't count on that one, didya??

But if you all come through, it saves me having to write a few blog posts myself.  Win-Win!


That said, we're on to today's selection, so I'm sure I'll annoy someone. {sigh}


Female (ticking off David J) and '80's (irking David G), it's too birds with one stone - BONUS! - I'm picking Alison Moyet's "Love Resurrection", taken from her 1984 solo debut, Alf. No, not the puppet alien TV show. 


Moyet had been a member of Yaz(oo)* and I had come out during some of their bigger hits - "Situation", "Don't Go", "Nobody's Diary", etc.  But the group split and Vince Clarke went on to form Erasure, which had vocalist Andy Bell  - who at times, sounded so eerily like Moyet, it was strange. 


Moyet went onto solo work, and Alf had her biggest hit, "Invisible".  I like and liked "Love Resurrection" better. I even liked "Honey for the Bees" better, but when I sampled it recently, the music portion of it sounds so Bananarama - and not the good Bananarama. 


Poor Alison didn't fit the mold of video television and was always draped in something to cover her figure. It's a sad statement.

She's still recording - or was back a few years ago -  and still puts out decent music, you're just not hearing it anywhere in the U.S.



*the group started as Yazoo in the U.K. and shortened to Yaz for U.S. releases. 

Home Again

We're back.

Glad to be home and in other ways, sorry to be home.  Vacation was great....as you've read along the way.

Now and again, during time away, 710 and I will even take time away from each other, just for space.

This did not happen this trip and all was fine, not that we anticipated strife.

Well, there was my drinks with BosGuy that we were apart, but that's it. ...and some bathroom time.  But that's it!

Our last day in Boston was beautiful. Mike or Peter asked if I was going to write about the three car accident we saw, but like I told them, it wasn't me having the accident, so no.....no I'm not.  (Two people walked away, one went bye-bye in an ambulance......that's all I know.)

But yesterday morning we were up at the crack of dawn in our great room at the Westin (I can't recommend the rooms enough - though the lobby was horribly crowded at all times!) at Copley Square. So it was out to b'fast. No worries, I'll be doing a blog post on vacation food soon enough.

Since we had hours to kill before our flight, we went back to the Hubway bike system and rode up to Harvard. Trust me, this is the only way I'd ever get to Harvard. Now I know just how Paris Gellar felt.

It was a nice 6 mile ride along the Charles River (each way), where we saw Harvard and Boston University rowing teams practicing. I so wanted to get a picture of a store in Cambridge called the Tennis & Squash Shop, but I didn't break my ride to do that.

Only at Harvard (or maybe Yale) would they have a shoppe for Squash (and, well, tennis).  Of course, you have to say 'squash' with that affected Ivy league voice that has your bottom chin moving more than ever parting your teeth.  You know the one.

Damn there are a lot of pretty handsome men in Boston what we passed on our bike ride. A LOT! Yes, most of them at the par course I mentioned a week or so ago, but damn!

Anyway, Sophie was very very very happy to see us. That my interpretation of her yelling at us for two hours straight. I'm sure she wasn't giving us lip (if cats had lips) for being gone so long. We'll see how she does today when we go pick up Petey. I bet she thinks she was rid of him, but she's not.

I'm very excited to get Petey and bring him home this morning. I hope he feels the same way.  But laundry is half done and grocery shopping has been achieved.

We're home.  Yayyy.............and bummer.



Song by: Carole King

A Lucky Guy

Seven is a lucky number, right?

I've never understood Craps, but I hear 7 or 11 is good.  But we're focusing on seven here. We're focusing on lucky. Try to stay with me.

Last night was Blogger Meeting #7 - Mike from his Short Attention Span Theater (temporarily defunct). Lucky him.

I've been following Mike for years and for some reason he reads me - and for content, which is a little disconcerting. No one reads me for content - even me.

But Mike is my age (well, naturally he's a little older - lucky me) and he's as handsome as he is wise and funny.  Take that anyway you like.

And while seven is lucky, third time is a charm.

Last year Mr. Short Attention Span blew me off for P-town and last weekend he blew me off for his "sister". This time he figured he'd just cut his losses and rip off the band-aid, figuring he could put it all behind him with the help of intensive psychotherapy.

All kidding aside, we got along swimmingly, as I knew we would. Just through writings and emails we play on the same level and I found kinship with Mike. Not bad for the blog world, no?

We met for drinks and had dinner as well.

But wait - there's more!

I not only got to meet Mike's partner, you know the one who provided the heinous recipe for sausage and veggies (I kid....I kid).

But wait - there's more.

Peter and Mike got to meet 710 !!!!  Lucky them.

Yes, you heard that correctly.  710 came with me for drinks and dinner and I think we had a great time - all four of us.  Of course, I gave Peter a faux-hard time regarding the recipe, but it was all a joke.  I'm sure however he made it was the correct way. {sigh}   My, I hope he knows I was kidding about that.

Conversation, jokes and jabs were all around and no one was entirely embarrassed until it came to picture time.

Oh, we tried multiple cameras, multiple angles etc and it's not that I didn't trust Mike to be the keeper of the images (though I totally didn't), I'm hoping his pics came out better than mine. Of the 5-6 on my phone, I found the one above to be the only usable image. Well one where he wouldn't come hunt me down.

Sodium street lighting is not our friend, but iPhone flash is even worse, so you do what you can. Olan Mills wasn't open to take our portrait.

Honestly, I had a great evening and would hope to do it again, here in Boston or host them if he and Peter ever made it to Cleveland.

Oh, and like many some of you, Mike has taken me to task for some of my My Music Monday selections. He's asked for, and received, permission to guest blog one of his own. Lucky him.

I have an idea of what he will pick, but that will surprise for the rest of you. .

Of course, he actually has to write the post.  Don't hold your breath just yet, but keep your fingers crossed. Either way, I don't think you'll be criticizing my selections any longer. So I'm lucky on that one.

We're all lucky.  It was the perfect end to a great trip.

(oh, and this is my 2600th post) 


Song by:  Rickie Lee Jones

Beautiful Day

I have no formal post of anything vital to say.  Though I've been keeping up with the news, I have nothing nice to say about Ann Romney probably eating at Chick-fil-A with a Boy Scout troop and  "you people".

I'm pretty relaxed, so I'm just kicking back and not over-thinking anything these days (re-entry to the real world is going to be a bitch!).

The week has been nothing but rest, reading, walks on the beach, dips in the ocean and pool - and food. There is really little else to do here and that is fine by me. I could spend all summer here.

But to knock out a blog post, after that art-filled video from yesterday, I'm just giving a few snaps of Ogunquit, ME.

The Sparhawk, where we are staying. We stayed at the building to the left last year. We're staying at the one dead ahead this year. There are other buildings that didn't make the shot. They have a pool, a tennis court and shuffleboard. Oddly enough, maybe of the places up here do not have pools, so unless you like 60-65 degree water, you're kind of screwed. 

View from the balcony of our room. Yeah it overlooks a parking lot but the water is great - even at low-ish tide.

 More low-tide pics from the Marginal Way. We walk the Way at least once a day. It's beautiful.

A great picture of the beach. I love the water on the sand, the colour of the water, the sky and clouds. How can you be uptight walking this?

 Perkins Cove at sunset. Or near sunset. 

That's it.  That's I got. Enjoy your Friday.  I will.


Song by: U2

Waitin' on a Sunny Day

Getting a decent wifi signal in Maine is challenging at best. Even the place we are staying has like 5-6 wifii networks and all of them are incredibly weak signals.

I mentioned the other day a possible video, knowing I was going to damned-well do one, but not sure I could get it up into the intertubes, and it was a struggle. One video that took 3:14 to make and two minutes to fix in iMovie, took 38 minutes to upload to YouTube.  ...and that was on attempt number five. The first four went down in flames.

But I found a spot, where if I went down a bar, I'd adjust by millimeters just to get that additional bar back - and it still took 38 minutes.

Knowing what the video is and how it came out, it hardly seems worth it. But you, the adoring public, are never sated, so, I do what I must.........and what I can.

Mucho thanks to my cameraman, 710. He is a good sport for putting up with me, let alone this project.





Song by: Bruce Springsteen

This and That

I'm just doing random updates from vacation. No specific order or anything - just thoughts that come to my head.

First - the main image. It was supposed to be a very stormy day yesterday. It was sprinkling when we got in the car and expected the 'severe' t-storms all day long. They didn't happen. 

Last year we never touched the car except to leave Maine. Yesterday we drove north. We ended up in Freeport, ME - home of L.L. Bean. 

I thought of former blogger buddy, Curtis, when taking this picture. He always appreciated my images of a building made out of a basket or a field of over sized cement corn. I was sure he'd enjoy a larger than life duck boot. 

The campus (oh yes, it's a multi-building campus) is large and is a catalog come to life. I bought two henley t-shirts and a gift for Petey.  Hey, I'm a new dad!

On the way up to Freeport, we drove past Kennebunk and the adjacent Kennebunkport - you know which houses the compound of Bush 41 and 43 - along with Neil and Jed and all their spawn. 

The compound sits on a piece of land where no one can get to, but all can see. The over sized U.S. flag that flies there seems like overcompensation to me - kind of like, my dick's too small; let's invade Iraq......twice. I found out later that Shrub Sr.and Babs were on-site for the summer. Had I known, I truly would have avoided. 

Then there is this family of four staying at our resort. Mom, dad, son and daughter  Dad is kind of wicked hot - and by "kind of", I mean "for sure".  But the girl is like 16 and rides "daddy's" shoulders in the pool and behaved a little inappropriate. 710 assumed it was his girlfriend, but alas, it was not. It was just wrong.

On Monday, I was walking home from the beach  - and it's a beach town - so I had my swim trunks and sandals on, but no shirt. I'm at a point in my life, and a point in my workout routine, that I just don't care and getting sun was more important to me. I'm not a total embarrassment.  Then this 5 year old girl yells at me from the passing Lolly the Trolley - "hey! you're naked!".   I just responded, "YES, I am!" I figured her parents could correct her if they chose.


It seems that places call Lobster Pounds, are not shelters for crustaceans looking for their forever homes.

And then last little tidbit - we ate lunch at that place where the lady dined and dashed. We had the same server we too.  She asked if we were the ones who pointed out where the two culprits had gotten off to. I affirmed.  Alas they did not find them, though they looked. But an interesting note:  the lady had come in the day before the episode to ask the specials of the day.  She was fine with some tomato and shrimp dish until she was told it was on a bed of linguine. Apparently she had some frickin' meltdown over that one and started screaming.

Mind you, it's not like she ordered it, or ate it. Or that someone was force-feeding her. She didn't even sit down, just asked the specials. Clearly, someone is a little unbalanced. Possibly more than a little. Or pasta did something very very bad to her at one point.

Oh, and I'm contemplating doing another video blog from Maine, like (but not exactly like) I did last year.  We'll see. 

That is it. Those are some of my current updates. More later. Probably. Possibly. 

Song by:  Michael Penn

Don't Walk Away

I leaned over to 710 and asked "is that woman boring holes into me?"


She was at the next table, and granted I was not dressed up at all, but this is a beach town (did I mention we were back in Maine?) and it was 90 degrees. I mean, the guy behind her had a tshirt of cartoon dogs sniffing each other's butts.

710 though she was staring at him, not me.

I think we were both correct.

She had a poorly done Anna Wintour 'do and was a little gaunt in the face. She appeared to be alone.

Since her table was to my side, I wasn't always paying attention and she was majorly creeping me out as she watched me eat my so-so parmesan encrusted scallops.

I had also noticed a man walking up and down the way to the restaurant but never paid him much any mind. I certainly didn't notice him take a seat at her table.

While she was by herself, I did notice, but not pay attention, to her asking the waitress questions and ordering something. Then there was a time I heard her ask where the restrooms were, but I was paying far too much attention to the gaggle of gays in the corner of the bar and how all the homos seemed to know each other except for us.

Then there was a slight commotion from the faux Wintour, which is when I noticed the male with her. "Awful" I heard her say. Then she and her "husband" got up and left.

As I was not fully paying attention, I did ask 710 if they had paid, and we agreed they dined and dashed. Or considering they were in their '60s, they walked away, as "dash" probably isn't in their vocabulary let alone exercise routine. We alerted the waitress, who alerted the hostess / manager. By then, these two had disappeared into the crowd of the foot traffic on the street.

Looking around, others clearly had noticed too, but said nothing. In my mind, I back-storied that they go from place to place getting free meals by eating part and leaving before the check arrived after feigning disgust with the food or service.

After our meal, we walked around town and hit Bread & Roses, for what turned out to be a disappointing single-serving chocolate silk tart, we were approached on the street by the woman who dashed - no husband.

Assuming we had some connection, she begins to prattle on about her 'awful' meal (though she thought my scallops looked good - ick!) and I think thought we'd be on board with her not paying and just fleeing.  She was wrong - and I let her know it.

I told her she had 'dined and dashed' and she did not disagreed, because it was a bad meal, she tried to justify. Others would have mentioned it to the owner or server - she did not.

I said she was wrong and rude. Apparently I said it strong and loud enough to get more than a few heads to turn our way. We walked away and she yelled after me, "well then why don't you go pay for it!" with folks still looking on.

I went and told the hostess where she and her husband were sitting if she wanted to do anything about it.

I hope she did.


Song by: Toni Childs

My Music Monday

Chris Isaak has a lot of good music. He also has a lot of fair music.  Good looks can only get you so far - trust me, I know!

The obvious choice to show off his beauty would have to embed "Wicked Game", as Herb Ritts surely knew how to photograph Isaak. ...and it's still a good song 23 years later.  Somehow I've always been more partial to the first release off of that album, "Don't Make Me Dream About You".  He was sexier in that video.

But as I said, Isaak has good stuff, just interspersed over the years and even in certain albums.

That is why I'm included a little known single, "We Let Her Down" from his 2009 release Mr. Lucky. It's got a great tune and I like the lyrics, which flow nicely.  However, if you listen to them, it's a bit depressing. If the girl hasn't killed herself, then she's one lonely lonely gal.

It's hard to tell if this is a post-suicide tale or not. There are one or two current tenses, but the rest are past tense. And while I'm sure just a story and not auto-biographical, even in story form, Isask absolves himself of wrong-doing in the last line 'where they'll never hurt her again'.  


Still the style is classic Isaak. And 30 years into his recording career, he looks no worse the wear, though the video seems to have more vaseline on the lens than any camera Cybil Shepard has seen lately.

Since this is a Warner Music Group video there is only a 50/50 chance it will actually play embedded below. If it does not, you can just follow this link to YouTube for the video.

City Middle

You know how my work travels are fairly painless.  Airport to car to hotel - oh and that client thing. Leisure travel was a frickin' nightmare the other day. 


Until we started to land, the flight was ok, but apparently we were too close behind another plane and the wake make our plane really jump and tilt. Then it was onto the rental car area.


No reservation that they could find by name or number. Lo and behold when taking my Fastbreak number they found it - and found another name attached to my account, though it had my home and work info and my credit card info.  Eeek.  Finally got that figured out and onto the hotel....


....where they didn't have my reservation.  WTF?


No worries, we got the room and it was off to a very late lunch. Granted we were hot and hungry, but Charley's really hit the spot. And the service was great. We tipped heavily. She totally deserved it. I ever mentioned her to the manager. 


But walking around Boston is always great and even more we did Bixi Hubway.

While the bikes at Hubway have three gears, they may as well be fixed-gear ones. They're not meant for heavy riding, but commuting. And there are no helmets to rent. I don't recommend riding in the city without one as we did. 


I'm happy to say, while we didn't have helmets, almost every Boston biker did. But we rode around downtown and up and across the Charles over to MIT and the surrounding area. I didn't get a snap of some of MIT, but there was a group of two dozen 13 year old Asian kids and I wanted to just say "freshmen class". 


I love these cities with bike-sharing programs like Montreal, DC and the likes. It's a great way to see more of the city you might not or can't normally do. Such as riding along the river and seeing quite a few incredible men on the par course. 


I so wanted to take the picture of one of them, but I was dissuaded. Incredible bodies and bits of show-offs. They've probably had their pictures taken willingly and unwillingly. I shoulda done it. 






Song by:  the National

Secret Meeting

Ok, it's not so secret, but I haven't yakked a lot about vacation. But it has begun.

Landed in Boston yesterday and on our way to Maine later today. More on the logistic and doings of our day in Boston in another post. It will be a little out of order, but you'll cope.

I can give you a little update on a blogger meet up. I got to have two drinks with a blogger buddy - BosGuy.

So far I've had a 100% success rate on meeting up with quality blogroll folks. I haven't met a dud among them yet - though it's only up to six now. (I don't count meeting JMG in a bar for all of 45 seconds, nor do I count Rebecca whom I've known since the g-d particle came to be.)

BosGuy (I know his real first name, but I don't know the protocol for using it here) and I met for two drinks. That seems to be the norm. I had two drinks (oh, and lunch) with Stevie B. Two with Tornwordo. Two drinks to Birdie. Two with John. And two with Spo (oh, and dinner).

Bos seemingly knows everyone in Boston. We tried one place but it had no air on. It was 90 out, we weren't sitting inside with a crowd and no a/c. But he greeted or was greeted by at least a half dozen folks, one who assumed they knew me since I was with him. "HEY - how are you?" the stranger said to me. I don't know why, but it amused me so.

So off it was to Fritz, where I had drinks with John last year.

First off, I was a total ass. I brought no cash, not that I expected Bos to pay for a thing. "We only take cash on weekends", I was told. Really?? Someone's skimming something under the table. I never carry cash. I mean, I had $4 on me, but really?  BosGuy fronted my two drinks. He's a prince. A prince with cash, apparently.

I'll buy the next rounds. Honest.

My BosGuy meeting was somewhat different than other blogroll meet and greets. We did talk about NONE of you. None. We barely touched on blogging at all. I think the most was when some of his very nice friends sat down next to him and were ribbing him about that he should blog about some podunk down called Messina, NY. I don't think it's happening. (oh that guy from there is gonna read this and get maaaaad.) 

They then found out he knew me via blogging. Michael (the only name I remember, sorry), asked what my blog was about. Before I had a chance to answer, Bos goes, "it's about him". I chimed in saying people can deny it all they want but all blogs are about the person writing them. Even if doing a political blog, chance are you're skewing the stories to your leanings, hence it's about you.

We talked about family, partners, apartments and houses. We talked about Boston, Provincetown and Ogunquit and Coco Peru.. And most will hate this, but we talked baseball. Well you won't hate it, but you won't understand it, but baseball is the sport which the sex analogy of "bases" is derived. I know that is most of your frame of reference, so you can wiki it later. Or listen to a Meatloaf song. Eh, some of you will get that reference.

Of course, I "forced" taking a picture with him. I took my glasses off and couldn't see. I was happy to stop at the first pic because Bos said he was fine with it because he looked good. I'm glad we took another one. While I look iffy and it is grainy, the first pic really did not do him justice at all, so I didn't use it. I'll send it to him to use if he posts about this event.

I had a very nice time with Bos, as I suspected I would. I like his blog - and he blogs way more than I do, albeit shorter posts - and if you haven't checked it out, I suggest you do. But a big thanks to his hospitality and friendship.

Ok - off to wake you know who so I can buy him breakfast  Me so hungee.



Song by:  the National

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 29th 12 of 12. 

12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, a number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad stopped doing the 12 of 12 links in December of 2011, but I will continue, as I like doing it.  I just can't link with the others who participated monthly.  Bummer.

This is a fairly dog-centric 12 of 12.

 05:05.  Time to put in the contacts.  It's gym day. 

 05:25. Sunrise from the gym parking lot.

07:15.  Petey's close-up, on his first walk of the day. He pooped twice on this outing. Just FYI.

 08:15.  the Invisible Fence guy showed up.

08:17.  the Invisible Fence guy is inked - on at least both arms and legs. I saw nothing else, except his ear lobes. Big holes, clearly had taken out his 'extenders'.  ick.

10:30. Taking Petey for a stroll showing him the white flags. He's not that thrilled.

 13:00.  Knock Knock.  Who's there?  Cantaloupe.  Cantaloupe who? Cantaloupe without a ladder.

14:00.  Printed out tickets for our flight tomorrow. I don't understand why they weren't available via iPhone.

15:15.  One tired pup.

 18:45.  Petey wants in. Is it me, or does he just look so sad?

19:50.  Sunset against the house.

21:50.  The single serving of Hagen Dazs. Carmel Cone. Vanilla ice cream, some caramel and broken up pieces of sugar cone. The single serve is a little more money, but it is all about portion control. Out of a normal container, I'd take three times twice as much.

Time Unknown.  Your Baker's Dozen.

It's not all about Petey. I still have a daughter whom I adore. ...and she's damned cute too. 

Walk Outside

I should be thinner.

That's just not a statement of vanity, but of logic as well. Though I am totally fine on the vanity part.

We've had Petey a little over two weeks now. He gets 3-4 walks per day. Sometimes five. Most of them by me.

I should be thinner.

For not being leash trained, the old man has come far in the last two weeks. He pulls sometimes, but not nearly as much as he had at first. Not even remotely.

(for the record, the title image was taken on day #1, so he's really not like this anymore.)

Yes, we still have the unintended squirrel sighting, but I'm getting much much better at seeing them first and diverting his attention - though he always picks up the scent.

But through a series of standard behaviour stuff, he's much more obedient on these walks. He's not perfect, I mean, who is?  - but he's not the doggie we got a fortnight ago.

When Petey pulls now, I will stand still and not move. He turns, looks over his shoulder at me and falls in line - more or less.  I have also been using a series of clicks that he responds to. For those and saying his name, he'll look over his shoulder and fall in line - more or less.

Like a spoiled child, he doesn't exhibit this kind of behaviour in front of strangers or neighbors. It's pull pull pull or just lay down and ignore - and then suddenly he weighs 4,872 lbs.  He's going nowhere.  Which is why I carry treats in my pocket now.

Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks.

But back to the non-thin me......

I'm totally killing the 10,000 steps a day rule.  And this is on top of my weight lifting, rowing, spin or yoga.  So why am I not thinner?

I've weighed in twice since getting him and still at the same mark. I know I'm not eating more - except fruit. Pushing water. Lots and lots of walks in the hot hot sun.  Why am I still the shlub I was?

On a note, he's met most of the neighbors and their dogs and everything has gone well. And he now knows the neighbors who have the treats. What a schmoozer.

Yet, I can still feel his ribs and he gets treats.    ...and yet, I should be thinner.



Song by:  Marti Jones & Don Dixon

Site of the Month

While I suppose this could be a Shopping with Blobby segment, it is not.

I guess even if it were, it'd be an Online Shopping with Blobby post.  But I don't have those.  So you get a SotM. Lame as it is.

710 sent this my way with no explanation. I'm assuming he thought I might use it some time, some how. That time and how is now.

Apparently there are some who don't like when men have sweaty balls. Those would be the folks at Fresh Balls.

I don't know who these people are or who they think they are.

It is possible that 710 was mocking me. Not that I have sweaty nuts - though I suppose some days I do. It has been hot out. Things tend to sweat, even my sac.  It is just life - deal with it.  Of course the silent mocking is because I rarely wear deodorant or antiperspirant under my arms - I'm certainly not applying it to my nether-regions.

There is always the chance he just sent it to me because of the name. One must not rule that out.

Before my female readers get bent out of shape that they don't like damp, and possibly smelly, balls, apparently they are no prize either - as there is the product Fresh Breasts - and we're not talking free range chickens.

There is also Fresh Feet and Fresh Baby Bottom.

I have a feeling it's like Miracle Foot Cream. There's a Miracle Hand Cream too, but I think it's just the same garbage in a different package.

I'll never know if it works, as I'll never be getting it.

What I really want is the t-shirt, of course.  I could even see 710 getting it for me and then not allowing me to wear it out - at least when I'm with him and getting the eye rolls if I wear it without him.

My life's hard!

Even Flow

Sunday was yoga day.

All things considered, I'm really enjoying yoga again. Those other things are that this class works me harder than that beginner class. The one I never felt I deserved to move out of.

Maybe I don't deserve the move, but I've done it and I haven't really crumpled yet. Oh sure, there have been times when my quads have quivered so much that I am sure I'd not only lose the pose, but go face first into my mat.

While we've only been to the class twice together, it only took once for us to achieve a reputation. Perfect. The high school lunch room should have been like this. Maybe it was.

I was greeted by a couple on the way in who talked non-stop about David, and why not?  He's fun and funny. He's done this class more with them too, so they don't know me - I got no street crud cred.  Not that Woodmere Village has "street cred".  They have an Original Pancake House, but no street cred.

Of course, what I found most amusing was a woman I had not noticed my other classes. She made a beeline for where David and I placed our mats and asked if she could be next to us. Then asked if we'd be doing any commentary like last week.

Now, I'll be honest, I didn't really think anyone but the woman next to us heard our banter, but my mother says I have been 'blessed with a voice that carried'.  And yes, I did make that one loud comment about 'being in hell', still........

The joke was on her. Save maybe two comments, we were pretty quiet for the hour. Sure, there was a time when the yogini was readjusting and rubbing the smelly stuff from last week on the hot Aryan Kurt from Sound of Music in front of me, and I might have said aloud, "I'll do that for you!!!!"

Before the class started, someone gave announcements on running club, other classes including - wait for it - belly dancing!!!!

The woman who wanted to be next to David and myself immediately turned and asked us, "are you going to do that??"  We both agreed to it.  David probably more in jest. Me, more for a blog entry.  Though in reality, I doubt either one of us will do it. I suppose I could do it and he could just video it. I can use if for brettcajun's next Jiggy Dance Whore-Off competition.  That is, if he ever does another one.

But besides the class itself, the hour after class has been great. David and I walk over to Barnes & Noble, grab an iced tea and sit outside and yak for the next 60 minutes. It's just casual chit-chat, but it makes my week.

It is unfortunate that I have to miss next week's class, but I'll be back for the following one - then on to belly dancing.



Song by: Pearl Jam

My Music Monday / Record of the Month - Classic

Since it's my blog and I can do what I want - no, it's true! - I'm combining posts today. While staying with the normal My Music Monday™, I'm conjoining it with Record of the Month - Classic. 

I had picked the MMM selection first and then realized it came from a pretty decent album that was also a debut disk, so I am running with it. 

The eponymous debut by the Cars was a pretty good album for anytime, let alone 1978 (keep in mind, the same summer yielded the Grease soundtrack). I got to see the Cars live that same year, as they opened the World Series of Rock (which also featured Todd Rundgren, Eddie Money and Bob Welch).  They were loud. I remember that. 

I had to look up how many hits they had from that disk, because the album is so ingrained, and all songs so familiar, it's foggy for me.  It turns out, there were only three singles ("Just What I Needed", "My Best Friends's Girl" and "Good Times Roll").  Equally deserving are, "Bye Bye Love", "You're All I've Got Tonight" and "Moving in Stereo". 

....and none of those are the MMM song, so having eight good songs on any disk, let alone a debut isn't too shabby. 

My MMM song is the closing track, "All Mixed Up".  Sung by Benjamin Orr - who always carried most songs better than Ric Ocasek - it's one of those songs you feel should have been a radio hit / single, but was overlooked. That's probably for the best or I'd be tired of it by now, considering it's {gulp} 34 years old.  

Still, when it comes on through rotation, I never click to move to the next song, so that's gotta say something. 

Hotter Than Mojave in My Heart

The Cure's "Hot Hot Hot" has been playing in my head for days - but I've already used that title and I'm really trying to only use song titles once, though I know I've slipped on a half a dozen occasions or so.

But it is Africa hot. It's like Mt. Doom, without the whimsy.

Climate change be damned. My rule about not complaining about heat be fucking damned. It already feels like I've been condemned to Hell, so let's roll with it.

Having no central air has not helped. Those little window units (my office and our bedroom) seem to struggle to keep up - especially in the office. The day starts out ok, but by 2-3p.....I'm starting to sweat. It doesn't help that Petey likes to lie in front of the fan.

I haven't felt good about him being outside in this heat. He doesn't seem to drink a lot of water, so I've been giving him ice cubes which he seems to enjoy. So for now, he's only outside on his walks and under a fan (or in front of) the rest of the day. He seems quite content.

Even Sophie endures walking past Petey to get to a cool place. Everyone of us hung out in the bedroom on Saturday - not a habit I want to do with Petey......but we'll see.  But he was struggling after his walks. Official weather said 98 degrees....my car said 102.  You gotta figure that heat on his paws was horrid, even though I tried to keep im on that grass and shady sides of the street.

For me, it's a 2-3 shower a day situation.  I can't cool down, which is almost never the case. Hot water doesn't even enter the equation when turning on the controls. I tried the gym a few times this week, but  it was draining. I opted to skip Spin yesterday. It can be temperature controlled there, but it's already a challenge to keep hydrated after a regular class without this warmth.

If it's 80 today, I will do yoga, but time will tell.

Each year we've "justified" not putting in central air for two weeks per year. I might be over that thinking right now. Of course, once we are in the '70s I will balk at that notion.

My parents call and tell us to come out and sleep at their air conditioned house, but I'm already in Hell, so why add to the misery?



Song by:  Iris DeMent

Bread

Tomatoes.  Onions. Garlic. Olive Oil. Mozzarella. Day old bread. A vinaigrette. It seems all too simple.

Apparently it was.

For our neighborhood picnic on the 4th, I decided we would make Panzanella.  It seemed light. It seemed refreshing. It seemed like something I didn't have to cook on a 95 degree day.

It turned out fair at best.

It also turns out, there doesn't seem to be a recipe for Panzanella. There are a thousand, and all vary by degrees. Some have cucumbers, some have olives, some have capers and some have peppers. Some don't have mozzarella. Don't get me started on what kind of bread to use or not use.

I probably should have stuck with a recipe, and for the most part I did, but I tweaked and that might have been the death knell. Or I just picked the wrong one.

I chopped. I sliced. I dried out the bread. I mixed. Still it had little flavour and the bread was mushier than I thought it should have been.

Some recipes had you mixing the concoction anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours before serving. We did ours an hour before serving and the bread was too mushy. And depending on the recipe the vinegar to use is red wine, champagne or balsamic. Which was the right one???

I opted for champagne, at it wouldn't colour the bread or mozzarella  - and I like champagne vinegar. In retrospect, red wine may have been the better choice.

It wasn't horrible or anything, but I wasn't feeling it. I've had good Panzanella before - this wasn't it. But I'd try it again, or try to make it again.

The picnic weather was so hot, we only stayed like 45 minutes, so I don't know how much of it people ate - or if they came back for seconds.  I didn't.  But I'd try again.

Song by: Todd Rundgren

Best Friend

You can all stand down now - we're keeping him.

Petey that is.

We decided last Saturday. I'm just getting around to telling you. It took me a few days to even tell my sister.

While we always loved him as uncles, it is different being a dad. Even a step one. But right now, I'm feeling less and less a stepdad and more of a real one towards him. Maybe that is me picking up dog pooh talking, but he fits in.

I'm not sure we know if he's happy or not, but he's content. I have to believe he misses the kids, the big yard and his learned ability to open their sliding glass doors and screen doors and go out and in whenever he damn well pleases.

But, he only had access to the kitchen inside. With us, he wanders the downstairs like a pro and loves flopping down in the middle the room and just passes out. 10 year old beagles sleep a LOT.  His three walks per day and the 90+ heat are probably not helping that fatigue. I guess we'll see when / if the weather breaks.

So the process has begun. I went on-line and got his license. He has a new, albeit temporary, ID for his collar with our phone number and address. The Invisible Fence folks were out to provide an estimate (no judgments please, he's been on it before and fine and he loathes being on that run that is stretched between the house and trees). We're fitting him with a new collar that won't let him pull as much, but he's a hound and we have deer, bunnies and yes, say it, squirrels. He tugs. That's what he does. We'll both adapt.

I don't anticipate the walks to lessen, except when I travel. It's good for him and it socializes us too. We end up talking to neighbors even more than we have - and that's a good thing. It's hard to stand and talk when "someone" is on a squirrel (c'mon - say like Veruca Salt!) or bunny scent.

And Petey has been so much better on the leash.

Then there is Sophie. Is she thrilled? No.  Is she coming around? Yes.

They are now in the same room at the same time and there is very little hissing. Last night Sophie was was next to 710 on their chair and Petey climbed up and slept on the ottoman.

...and earlier in my office, they were only 3' apart. Granted Sophie was 3' above him, giving her potential striking advantage (it never came to that).

I think they will eventually become good buddies and for whatever reason, Petey hasn't found the cat food bowl, so all is right with the world.

For all the concern from 710 of me being my father with animals (i.e. permissive), it's turning out he has a softer heart for Petey than I do. It is quite endearing to watch. Like all the other animals we've had, they'll like him better - they always do.

I'm really not jealous by this, it is great to watch and it expands our family.

You can expect a few pictures of Petey I'm sure - if nothing else at 12 of 12.  Sophie's going to have to share her screen time.


Song by:  the English Beat

The Forbidden Pool

July 4th was hot.  Africa hot.  It was just miserable.

It still is.  And no true break in sight. 

We had our annual holiday parade around the neighborhood, which I coated myself with SPF30. But I found every piece of shade I could find. I brought water for the dog, which he didn't drink.  No did he eat the popsicle I got him.

Then there was the picnic.  Not an ounce of shade back there and baking baking hot. We stayed an hour - it felt like 50.

But then......then it was off to a second cookout. A much smaller group, the promise of shade.....and more importantly, a pool.

Maybe 25-30 feet long, 11 feet deep and 80 degree waters. It was perfect.

Granted, I had some reservations about taking my shirt off with the neighbors, but the warmth makes you not care so much about this stuff.  No one looked.  No one cared.  I didn't get out until my entire body was pruned and my core body temperature dropped 10 degrees.

....and the yard is pretty frickin' awesome.

Problem was, I did eventually have to get out. Food called. Though I would have gladly ate this plate of fixins while sitting in the pool.

We brought the fruit salad. But the corn was good, the ribs were good and the hot dog was ok. If they actually made the chicken, I never saw it. It was too hot to get near a grill, so I just conversed with others.

In the meantime, my body temp was right back to where it had been before the pool.

I just looked at 710 and said, "I want one of those".   I don't think I'll get it though.

I would entertain central air though. As much as we just spent on the bathroom renovation, if someone told me yesterday it would be $30k to install AC, I wouldn't have blinked an eye and wrote the check right then and there.

We always say we can do without it for the 5-10 days a year it was this hot, but now we are on two weeks in a row and again, no end in sight. I'm trying to say it would be worth it for resale - if and when that ever happens.

But I really just want to be cooler.


Song by:  Peter Gabriel

Free

Happy 4th.  Of July that is, not May the 4th, you know, Star Wars Day.

I suppose being free can come in a lot of different forms. I suppose that freedom can matter differently to any person in question.

For your huddled masses, they are yearning for that freedom.  That is what the holiday is about - I mean, after defeating those nasty Brits who cameth by land or by sea. Yes, 'cameth' is a word. I just made it up. They have to come from somewhere, ya know!

Yes, that whole Continental Congress and the Declaration thing that was allegedly signed on July 4th - and also marked the dates of death of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (not the same year as the signing, of course) - is why we light off explosives. We were no longer under the rule of King George.  But since that 236 years, freedom looks different.

For, say, Anderson Cooper, being able to come out is a certain kind of freedom.  For other homos, it might be the freedom to marry.

Of course, Katie Holmes is where it's at in terms of establishing independence. Good for her. Tom Cruise has always creeped me out and though I know almost nothing about Ms. Holmes, I'm rooting for her.

That news made me think back to a Family Guy episode segment containing Katie and Ms. Cruise. There isn't an "official" clip, so you have to deal with a weirded put together one, but you'll get the idea.



The 4th I'm sure for most means a day off, picnic and fireworks.  I'm all about the day off. I'm all about the food.  I don't care about the fireworks, I never have. And if I never have to hear Lee Greenwood again set to rockets, I'm golden!

I don't give much thought to the Battle of Concord or the ride of Paul Revere - even though I've been on the Freedom Trail two or three times.  I suspect most don't, other than those participating in Revolutionary War reenactments.

But wherever you find your streak of independence, celebrate that today - along with a kosher hot dog, some chips and a beer.


Song by: Paula Cole

Stretch Out and Wait

Deep in the recesses of my grey matter, I was hoping that going to yoga with my cousin David would be kind of an even-playing field of an event.

It was not.  ....and make no mistake, I was not on the winning team.

Oh, never mind that you're not to judge anyone else's practice, we all do it. You can't fight a tidal wave.

Actually, you don't judge them but you take notice of how much better they are than yourself and invariably feel bad for your own practice. Of course, I might just be talking about myself.  Aren't I always?

David is a rock star in the yoga. Ok, maybe he won't be teaching a class anytime soon, but I was duly impressed by his skills. He got into a few poses I could never do.  Ever. And for those who do it when they say to 'step or float to the front of your mat', he can move like no one else's business.  It's not quite floating, but it sure ain't stepping, like I do.

As one might imagine, it could have been trouble having us not only in a class together, but side-by-side. While others in the class might disagree, I think we were very well behaved...........overall.

Granted, I believe I said something I would not have said had I been alone.  And I do believe he did / said something he possibly might not have done without my present.  POSSIBLY.

I'll start with me.  Don't I always?

The class started out quite serenely. The last class, I was dripping buckets in the first 10 minutes, this time we barely got going.  But once we did, somethings proved challenging for me - especially in chair pose and my aching quads were smarting. The yogini said we should have a smile on our face.  As if!

Then with her calm voice, asked the rhetorical, "where are you right now".  I couldn't help myself - I had an audience. I replied:  "in Hell!".   For a non-paying audience to my stand-up, it got a good response, even from the yogini.

Then while doing a modified pigeon, she came around to adjust me. It's always iffy when someone touches me during class. I want or need the help, but someone strange is touching me.  But I took it like a big boy. She moved my shoulders and head into a deeper position, really making me stretch. She also rubbed what I'm thinking was Vic's Vap-o-rub on the back of my neck and traced it down the back of my shirt. David could smell it being right next to me (but not seeing she'd done it) thought it was Ben Gay.

Now onto his doing.

While doing whatever we wanted near the end of class, David stretched his legs.....over his head.  Quite impressive considering he's taller than I am. But no, he couldn't keep quiet. He has to say, "a few more inches and a little push and I can get it into my mouth."

I'm in Bridge pose and look over and say, "it's every man's dream.....whether they'll admit it or not".  

Then the giggling started.  From me.  From him.  Back to me.  ....oh and then from the lady on the other side of him who heard every word we said.

Since more people know David than they know me there, they asked if he was the one making the commotion. I fessed up that it was I, as it is unlikely they heard his conversation. Maybe the laughing. But I'm sure they heard my comment about being in Hell.

I enjoyed our workout - and his company, but I always do. Well, at least about his company. Somedays I can do without the physical activity.  ....and there's always next Sunday for a repeat performance.



Song by: the Smiths

My Music Monday

I'd say this song isn't for everyone, but when are any of my choices?  When is that true of anyone's taste in music?

I think it is fair to say most of my readers know the song, whether they like it or not.

Bobbie Gentry is mostly known for this song, "Ode to Billy Joe", but she had a number of other hits, and a frickin' variety show - or was on one with Glenn Campbell.  While most would write her off as a one-hit wonder, that's not really the truth.  She wrote and sang "Fancy", which decades later would be covered by Reba McIntyre.

Say what you want, a song about suicide and then onto basically one about teen prostitution was heady stuff, especially since it was of an era that was hearing "Sugar Sugar" from the Archies.

Gentry had an undeniably unique voice for then or now. But for a woman in music, in the mid to late '60s, she was quite unique as well. Writing all, or most, of her own music, playing it and sometimes producing it - she was no one's fool or puppet.

I know many don't like country music, and I'm not sure this qualifies.  Delta blues meets country, perhaps (really, check out "Mississippi Delta"). And even growing up, I wrote this off as a hokey kind of tune and the made-for-tv-movie with Robbie Benson playing "homosexual" didn't give much to prove me differently.

But if you can separate time and tv, the actual construct of the song is pretty amazing: the back and forth of the lyrics for everyday events interspersed with the news of the day, he simplicity of  guitar (which she plays), the tumbling strings, the vocal arrangement and the actual control of Gentry's vocals - even if you don't like her accent. 

I wish it were still up and running, but a few weeks ago the BBC had a great special on 'Where is Bobbie Gentry?'.  Narrated by Rosanne Cash, it went through Gentry's accomplishments, which were many, but not really recognized. ....and who knew she married (though no longer) to Jim Stafford, from "Spiders and Snakes" fame (or am I the only person who remembers him?).

Well, until this special, I couldn't have told you if Gentry was dead or Canadian. But she is and has really dropped off the radar in almost every way.

Still, "Ode to Billy Joe" still stands up. Actually, it is better for me now than it was as it has clearly grown on me, as has Gentry's talents.

....and who doesn't like an intro from Andy Williams?  Well, except maybe Spider Sabich (extra points of you get the reference w out Gooooogling it)

 

Halfway There

Oh my - it's July 1 already.

Of course, it feels like the dog days of summer............in Hell!  But you know me, I try not to complain about the heat, since I have opted to bitch about the cold.

It's official, 2012  is halfway over.  Done.  Kaput.

These days, hot as they are, seem interminably long.  You get a slight reprieve - slight - at 06:00. After that, it is all downhill.

Without workout, it is a two shower-per-day day. Three a day if the gym is part of the schedule. Oddly enough my skin is not yet dried out.

Last night was the last dinner in the house of a friend. You'll remember his partner died a few months back and he is in the process of selling the residence. But for some close friends, there was a dinner, drinks and dessert.

Ruckiry (not Jon's boss) for me, we walk home, so the amount I drink isn't an issue, unless you're my liver.  Then, it's an issue.

Marty will be sorely missed. I know he's moving from the 'hood and we have the greatest intention of staying in touch with him regularly. But we know that will be work. And there is the distinct possibility he'll want a complete clean break from the neighbors. But I'm thinking we might make the cut.

It was a nice group, but not a close group.  Folks we had seen before but only had interaction at this house. Still we felt special to be part of this crew - as it was small and everyone got along so well.

The food was minimal (compared to other events held here) and the two desserts (seen above) were grand. Yes, I'm gay, so I say things like 'grand'.

But yes, 2012 is on the wane. So am I - for the night. 1-2 bottles of wine in me and I'm blogging tipsy. Surprise. Surprise.

You get what you get folks.  I have to be up in a few hours to do hot yoga with my cousin. It's not a 'hot yoga' class, but it will be pushing 90 by the time the class starts, so I think it qualifies.



Song by:  Rise Against