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Under The Big Bamboo
Feb. 15th, 2012 04:23 pmIf there were ever a time that Matt and I find each other in the Far East (e.g. Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, etc.), we have discussed our possible memoir title: "Under the Big Bamboo". I've been to Singapore, Seychelles, Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, and Israel (all prior to any social unrest). I would LOVE to go to China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Korea, as well as all over sub-Saharan Africa (except Uganda).
But, my Asian trip would have to be a month trip or longer. And my Asian trip would have to be with anyone other than Matthew, unfortunately. He has no interest in going to those places.
Matthew DOES have interest in going to Australia sometime. But, again, that would have to be a month-long trip in Australia with stop-overs along the way. So, we're talking about 5-6 weeks on the road. THAT would be AWESOME!
FYI: We're planning a trip to France with friends in late spring, so all this chatter about travel plans and destinations does have an actual origin of discussion today.
But, my Asian trip would have to be a month trip or longer. And my Asian trip would have to be with anyone other than Matthew, unfortunately. He has no interest in going to those places.
Matthew DOES have interest in going to Australia sometime. But, again, that would have to be a month-long trip in Australia with stop-overs along the way. So, we're talking about 5-6 weeks on the road. THAT would be AWESOME!
FYI: We're planning a trip to France with friends in late spring, so all this chatter about travel plans and destinations does have an actual origin of discussion today.
Barcelona Days
Oct. 7th, 2011 11:45 pmHere are my pictures from our 6-day trip to Barcelona before embarking on our 10-day Mediterranean cruise in August. Enjoy!!
https://picasaweb.google.com/113791141813573302132/BarcelonaDays
(Not sure if this embedding will work here yet, but here's trying:)
https://picasaweb.google.com/113791141813573302132/BarcelonaDays
(Not sure if this embedding will work here yet, but here's trying:)
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| Barcelona Days |
"Stuck" in Italy
Aug. 27th, 2011 12:37 pmSitting here, I'm truly grateful for Matt's family. We are faced with an extra 4 days of vacation though we are really ready to be home. We've been traveling for 3 solid weeks and have been to 6 countries and easily 12 cities. While we've been gone, NY had an earthquake and is now prepping for hurricane Irene. We'll sit in southern Italy with little A/C, sketchy Internetz, and no work drinking wine and eating pasta. Buono appetito!!
Recovering from Bear Week
Jul. 19th, 2011 10:48 am... otherwise known as "returning to a bland world".
Bear Week is amazing. People stop short of the word, "amazing," and think, "Can it really be 'amazing' like everyone says?" If you've been, you'd know and comprehend.
Consider these things
The build-up is at least 2 months prior to your arrival. The overall planning can take about 1 week, but earlier in the year around January when you schedule your accommodations, travel, vacation schedule with work (yes, 6 months ahead of time). Other things, like clothes shopping, planning get-togethers (birthdays, anniversaries, parties, etc.) during the week can take a full 4-6 months.
If you're going to be a vendor at Bear Market, you're planning your most exciting merchandise additions 6-9 months in advance and then making enough for the event. Then you plan your table layout, payment options for customers, and ship your goods to Provincetown. If you're DJing at an event or planning a show during Bear Week, you're creating posters at least 6 months in advance and posting information everywhere on the web, including Facebook and the Bear Week in Provincetown group (i.e. don't worry if you're not an "official" event sponsored or supported by the Ptown Bears; there are plenty more things to do than are "official" events).
Once you arrive
However you get to Provincetown, you arrive. That arrival is met with friends in town greeting you up and down Commercial Street. If you don't know anyone in town yet, within 10-15 minutes, you will notice someone somewhere in town smiling at you (and I don't mean at a store). You may even pat a belly, do a belly bump in the street, or just exchange a few laughs. This process of greeting people on Commercial Street and seeing people you've met grows exponentially throughout the week and EVERYONE is smiling, laughing, and having a good time.
You check into your accommodations, get settled for the week, and head to the Boatslip Tea Dance at 4PM on Saturday - the first Saturday of Bear Week. BUY YOUR BOATSLIP PASS for the week. Fill in your fun as it happens. Make sure you take pictures or have pictures taken of you.
The Week
Fun happens and you define that fun. Eat, shop, drink (start after 12PM!), shop, go to an event, get together with friends (the same or different ones) daily, eat, drink, dance, and sing. Oh, and eat, drink, get together with friends, etc. Repeat cycle for 7-9 days.
Recovery
Your return trip home starts when you get on the ferry to Boston or turn down 6A out of town toward a long, possibly empty straight road. On your trip home, start the very slow process of coming down back to reality, as much as you want to hold onto the amazing Bear Week you had.
You have to remember (as the Firemen's Ball music still echoes in your head!) that not everyone in your home town (or any town you drive through) is as happy as you've been for 7-9 days. Many of them have families, friends, or jobs with varying degrees of stress.
Other reality checks
- Not everyone will greet you with genuine gusto and excitement.
- Most people will not hug you in the street.
- You will not see handsome, burly men walking hand-in-hand.
- You might have to return to work within a couple of days of getting home.
How to deal
- Get in touch with friends who were there.
- Look through and post pictures.
- Journal your experiences at Bear Week - what did you do and who did you meet?
- Find the music you tagged (via Shazam) on the dance floor; play it loud for about a week after your return.
- Get other men to come to Bear Week the next year.
- Start planning your next year's vacation in Provincetown during Bear Week!
Get back to reality and look forward to the next year's fun and excitement.
Bear Week gets better EVERY YEAR! And the recovery gets evermore difficult. If you have more ideas for recovery, please submit comments below.
Bear Week is amazing. People stop short of the word, "amazing," and think, "Can it really be 'amazing' like everyone says?" If you've been, you'd know and comprehend.
Consider these things
The build-up is at least 2 months prior to your arrival. The overall planning can take about 1 week, but earlier in the year around January when you schedule your accommodations, travel, vacation schedule with work (yes, 6 months ahead of time). Other things, like clothes shopping, planning get-togethers (birthdays, anniversaries, parties, etc.) during the week can take a full 4-6 months.
If you're going to be a vendor at Bear Market, you're planning your most exciting merchandise additions 6-9 months in advance and then making enough for the event. Then you plan your table layout, payment options for customers, and ship your goods to Provincetown. If you're DJing at an event or planning a show during Bear Week, you're creating posters at least 6 months in advance and posting information everywhere on the web, including Facebook and the Bear Week in Provincetown group (i.e. don't worry if you're not an "official" event sponsored or supported by the Ptown Bears; there are plenty more things to do than are "official" events).
Once you arrive
However you get to Provincetown, you arrive. That arrival is met with friends in town greeting you up and down Commercial Street. If you don't know anyone in town yet, within 10-15 minutes, you will notice someone somewhere in town smiling at you (and I don't mean at a store). You may even pat a belly, do a belly bump in the street, or just exchange a few laughs. This process of greeting people on Commercial Street and seeing people you've met grows exponentially throughout the week and EVERYONE is smiling, laughing, and having a good time.
You check into your accommodations, get settled for the week, and head to the Boatslip Tea Dance at 4PM on Saturday - the first Saturday of Bear Week. BUY YOUR BOATSLIP PASS for the week. Fill in your fun as it happens. Make sure you take pictures or have pictures taken of you.
The Week
Fun happens and you define that fun. Eat, shop, drink (start after 12PM!), shop, go to an event, get together with friends (the same or different ones) daily, eat, drink, dance, and sing. Oh, and eat, drink, get together with friends, etc. Repeat cycle for 7-9 days.
Recovery
Your return trip home starts when you get on the ferry to Boston or turn down 6A out of town toward a long, possibly empty straight road. On your trip home, start the very slow process of coming down back to reality, as much as you want to hold onto the amazing Bear Week you had.
You have to remember (as the Firemen's Ball music still echoes in your head!) that not everyone in your home town (or any town you drive through) is as happy as you've been for 7-9 days. Many of them have families, friends, or jobs with varying degrees of stress.
Other reality checks
- Not everyone will greet you with genuine gusto and excitement.
- Most people will not hug you in the street.
- You will not see handsome, burly men walking hand-in-hand.
- You might have to return to work within a couple of days of getting home.
How to deal
- Get in touch with friends who were there.
- Look through and post pictures.
- Journal your experiences at Bear Week - what did you do and who did you meet?
- Find the music you tagged (via Shazam) on the dance floor; play it loud for about a week after your return.
- Get other men to come to Bear Week the next year.
- Start planning your next year's vacation in Provincetown during Bear Week!
Get back to reality and look forward to the next year's fun and excitement.
Bear Week gets better EVERY YEAR! And the recovery gets evermore difficult. If you have more ideas for recovery, please submit comments below.
This video proves that we had a good time at Bear Week in Provincetown this year. First, we re-discovered Broadway Tuesday at the Wave Bar (Matt, of all people, reminded me about it!). I screamed and yelled and hooted and hollered for about 2 hours. Sang songs at the top of my lungs and bawled my eyes out into Matt's chest at Susan Boyle's first performance on Britain's Got Talent of "I Had Dream".
The next night, I had the ENTIRE WAVE BAR (= 200+ men) singing "Happy Birthday" to Matt, but ultimately had to bite the bullet and sing a song: "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. My premiere of that song was in New Orleans (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cajuncountry and jefferzephyr weren't around for that performance) at Lafitte's. Alas, the Ptown performance should have ended more abruptly, but the drag queen made me finished the frigging song - my voice gave out in the middle and I had to finish it sounding like Harvey Fierstein doing a scene from a Jewish Gray Gardens. The next day, I had to whisper almost everything. AND IT WAS SOOOO FRUSTRATING!!
More later, but thought you'd all enjoy this.
The next night, I had the ENTIRE WAVE BAR (= 200+ men) singing "Happy Birthday" to Matt, but ultimately had to bite the bullet and sing a song: "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. My premiere of that song was in New Orleans (
cajuncountry and jefferzephyr weren't around for that performance) at Lafitte's. Alas, the Ptown performance should have ended more abruptly, but the drag queen made me finished the frigging song - my voice gave out in the middle and I had to finish it sounding like Harvey Fierstein doing a scene from a Jewish Gray Gardens. The next day, I had to whisper almost everything. AND IT WAS SOOOO FRUSTRATING!! More later, but thought you'd all enjoy this.
Happy Vacation Week!
Jul. 7th, 2011 01:15 pmHere's the weather forecast for our destination: Provincetown, MA:
Looks like it's going to be a very nice week. There might be scattered thunderstorms on Tuesday, but 'tis fine. We're 5 blocks from changing clothes if we get drenched. And what kid doesn't love splashing in puddles?!
Looks like it's going to be a very nice week. There might be scattered thunderstorms on Tuesday, but 'tis fine. We're 5 blocks from changing clothes if we get drenched. And what kid doesn't love splashing in puddles?!
SW Airline Pilot Caught on Tape!!
Jun. 28th, 2011 08:38 amThis is FRIGGING HILARIOUS!! The poor guy wanted to get laid. Gay flight attendants and old and bitchy female flight attendants cramped his style.
Southwest Airlines Pilot Broadcasts Physical Attributes Of SWA Flight Attendants Over ATC Radio – Raw UNCENSORED Audio
Southwest Airlines Pilot Broadcasts Physical Attributes Of SWA Flight Attendants Over ATC Radio – Raw UNCENSORED Audio
DC, Here We Come!
Jun. 10th, 2011 04:49 pmHeading to Pride weekend and a friend's birthday in DC. During the weekend, we'll also take in a a late happy hour at Town and the Blowoff dance party at the 9:30 Club (like we did last year). Looking forward to it all, too!!
However, the weather will SUCK this weekend. It's going to be hot and it's probably gonna rain in DC while we're there. Meh.
Here's hoping it all blows over! At least we won't have to walk as far to get places as we did last year at this time. We stayed in a great hotel, but it was simply too far away. A couple of weeks ago, when we went to Sharon Springs, that sort of started off the summer travel season for us, but that wasn't planned as well as this trip was. This road trip will really kick things in gear. Plus, it's the start of Pride month for us! YAY!
However, the weather will SUCK this weekend. It's going to be hot and it's probably gonna rain in DC while we're there. Meh.
Here's hoping it all blows over! At least we won't have to walk as far to get places as we did last year at this time. We stayed in a great hotel, but it was simply too far away. A couple of weeks ago, when we went to Sharon Springs, that sort of started off the summer travel season for us, but that wasn't planned as well as this trip was. This road trip will really kick things in gear. Plus, it's the start of Pride month for us! YAY!
Memorial Day 2011
May. 27th, 2011 01:26 amWe're leaving tomorrow after I'm done working for Sharon Springs, NY! We're heading up there for the Spring Festival and staying in The American Hotel. All sound familiar? Well, it might because of the Fabulous Beekman Boys of Beekman 1802 on Planet Green.
Derek Hartley and Romaine Patterson (of the DNR Show on Sirius OutQ Radio) will be working in the Beekman 1802 Mercantile all weekend with the Beekman Boys. We listen to them practically every day and I've posted conversations I've had with them over the last couple of years. We're hoping to see lots of local celebs there and get to chat with them all. Plus, staying the one night in the Bears' hotel tomorrow night, we might enjoy dinner there Saturday evening before coming home.
We haven't gone anywhere, really, since Christmas, so this is will be a nice little side trip. Haven't packed yet because we weren't sure whether we'd get the hotel reservation or not. They called us back late this afternoon just before I shut off my work computer.
This is the weather for the weekend:
Can't wait! We're also breaking in Matt's new car for the road trip. Should be fun!
Derek Hartley and Romaine Patterson (of the DNR Show on Sirius OutQ Radio) will be working in the Beekman 1802 Mercantile all weekend with the Beekman Boys. We listen to them practically every day and I've posted conversations I've had with them over the last couple of years. We're hoping to see lots of local celebs there and get to chat with them all. Plus, staying the one night in the Bears' hotel tomorrow night, we might enjoy dinner there Saturday evening before coming home.
We haven't gone anywhere, really, since Christmas, so this is will be a nice little side trip. Haven't packed yet because we weren't sure whether we'd get the hotel reservation or not. They called us back late this afternoon just before I shut off my work computer.
This is the weather for the weekend:
Can't wait! We're also breaking in Matt's new car for the road trip. Should be fun!
I LOVE COFFEE!!
May. 10th, 2011 01:44 pmWhen Matt and I were in Germany, I remembered Jacobs coffee, which I used to buy when I lived there and in Austria. There were other brands that were good, too, but a little more expensive or perhaps not as easy to get. Since we got back from that trip (end of 2008), I have been ordering Jacobs coffee regularly. Once in a while, I might get another kind as a one-off just for the fun of it, but more often than not, I stick with Jacobs.
Here are links to places from which I order Jacobs coffee online. It usually comes at the basic shipping rate within 2 weeks.
This site typically has better prices (per pound); right now its ~$7.00/lb:
12-pack shipment for roughly $6.50 a package (the website's math is wrong):
Currently this site has a better price (per pound) ~$6.50/lb! Their 12-pack shipment makes each package roughly $5.84! (And it's easier to order - from same page as the single package.)
There are other places, but these two sites are good competitors and I can't get a better price in Manhattan or anywhere in NJ for the same brand of coffee. There are also other kinds of coffee and countries from which I'm sure there are also good coffees, but these are by far my favorites - and I drink a LOT of coffee. Try it; you'll love it! Enjoy!
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Here are links to places from which I order Jacobs coffee online. It usually comes at the basic shipping rate within 2 weeks.
This site typically has better prices (per pound); right now its ~$7.00/lb:
12-pack shipment for roughly $6.50 a package (the website's math is wrong):
Currently this site has a better price (per pound) ~$6.50/lb! Their 12-pack shipment makes each package roughly $5.84! (And it's easier to order - from same page as the single package.)
There are other places, but these two sites are good competitors and I can't get a better price in Manhattan or anywhere in NJ for the same brand of coffee. There are also other kinds of coffee and countries from which I'm sure there are also good coffees, but these are by far my favorites - and I drink a LOT of coffee. Try it; you'll love it! Enjoy!
Our New Car
May. 10th, 2011 12:32 amSo, even though I haven't driven my car in over a year and it's fully paid for, Matt and I went out and got him a new lease. We've been driving a Toyota Highlander for the last 3 years and before that Matt was only a Nissan Pathfinder guy. I got him out of the Nissan and into something different. Now, we're heading into an Acura and it's got all the bells and whistles except for the technology package, which we don't need (both our phones have built-in GPS and other things).
We're going over on Friday to pick it up. We looked at the current Toyotas and Audis, but they didn't measure up for the same price and the same packages. Thing is, with the nuclear fallouts in Japan, cars won't be hitting the Japanese car lots till November 2011 - stock will dwindle.
We consider ourselves lucky to have gotten exactly what we wanted and will have it by the end of this week!! YAY!
We're going over on Friday to pick it up. We looked at the current Toyotas and Audis, but they didn't measure up for the same price and the same packages. Thing is, with the nuclear fallouts in Japan, cars won't be hitting the Japanese car lots till November 2011 - stock will dwindle.
We consider ourselves lucky to have gotten exactly what we wanted and will have it by the end of this week!! YAY!
Takes A Lot To Plan
Feb. 15th, 2011 09:02 amWell, after long last, I'm posting a little something. Haven't really been in the mood lately much, but here's something that's in the works.
Matt, me, and his sister's family are all heading to Europe for a couple of weeks this summer. We're all really looking forward to it, too! As I've written before, we've traveled with them before to L.A., Disney World/Land (3x), the Bahamas, and around NY / NJ. They're a fun bunch and we always have fun. Matt and I also find time to break a way a little for our own time together, too, which is important to the travel health of the bunch of us.
This trip will be interesting. Thanks to me and my big mouth, we're taking a Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Ephesus and back for 11 days (we're getting off the boat in Naples). Before the cruise, I'm hoping that Matt and I can get to Barcelona for a few days. Once we get off the boat, we'll head to Peschici to spend a few days with Matt's and his sister's family for a few days on the beach - on the spur of the boot.
Here's a look at our cruise with the ports of call:
I haven't been to Europe in about 2 years, and am really looking forward to this trip! The ship looks beautiful and I really enjoy cruises. I also don't tend to gain a lot of weight on them because we're always on the go when we're at port.
Before that trip, though, we're already set for Bear Week 2011 in Provincetown, of course. It's our favorite vacation ever. This year, we're VERY excited thatmartini_tim and bigsabu are coming out for it, too! Really looking forward to spending a week with those wonderful men. BTW, who else is coming to Ptown for Bear Week?
Somehow with all this traveling, I feel like I'm playing hooky from my profession(s), but in the end, it's my life. In the end, if I have the time and the funds, I should use them. Goodness knows, I'm not getting any younger! Once in a while, I catch Matt and me looking back through all the pictures of the travel whirlwind that was 2008-2010. We're just extending it a bit.
Matt, me, and his sister's family are all heading to Europe for a couple of weeks this summer. We're all really looking forward to it, too! As I've written before, we've traveled with them before to L.A., Disney World/Land (3x), the Bahamas, and around NY / NJ. They're a fun bunch and we always have fun. Matt and I also find time to break a way a little for our own time together, too, which is important to the travel health of the bunch of us.
This trip will be interesting. Thanks to me and my big mouth, we're taking a Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Ephesus and back for 11 days (we're getting off the boat in Naples). Before the cruise, I'm hoping that Matt and I can get to Barcelona for a few days. Once we get off the boat, we'll head to Peschici to spend a few days with Matt's and his sister's family for a few days on the beach - on the spur of the boot.
Here's a look at our cruise with the ports of call:
I haven't been to Europe in about 2 years, and am really looking forward to this trip! The ship looks beautiful and I really enjoy cruises. I also don't tend to gain a lot of weight on them because we're always on the go when we're at port.
Before that trip, though, we're already set for Bear Week 2011 in Provincetown, of course. It's our favorite vacation ever. This year, we're VERY excited that
martini_tim and bigsabu are coming out for it, too! Really looking forward to spending a week with those wonderful men. BTW, who else is coming to Ptown for Bear Week?Somehow with all this traveling, I feel like I'm playing hooky from my profession(s), but in the end, it's my life. In the end, if I have the time and the funds, I should use them. Goodness knows, I'm not getting any younger! Once in a while, I catch Matt and me looking back through all the pictures of the travel whirlwind that was 2008-2010. We're just extending it a bit.
Discrimination 101
Jan. 18th, 2011 01:44 pmThis morning's Telegraph (UK newspaper) posted an article about a civil union couple on holiday who were turned away by the hotel proprietors because the couple is gay. The article is very well written. The judge presiding over the case was fair and impartial and his judgments were very clearly articulated - toward the end of the article. Most Americans, in my experience with these types of articles and discussions, wouldn't get to the end of the article.
In the UK, if you are part of a civil union, the relationship by law carries the same weight as if you're married, which I wish would happen in the US. Not only gay couples can have a civil union, either! The British law provides that any two people can be in a civil union, if they choose not to get married; they would also call themselves "civil unioned".
According to the (religiously-minded) owners of the hotel in question, they would have allowed female-female or male-male friends stay in single bed accommodations, but not in a double bed room. The civil unioned gay couple was right in thinking that they need not ask whether they would be allowed to stay in a double bed room, since their partnership is legal. However, the proprietors' religious beliefs came into play and the gay couple was turned away - even though they had made a reservation. The gay couple's dog could have stayed in the double bed room, but the couple themselves were not allowed. That's discrimination.
Along a similar vein, Matt and I had gotten a room in 2008 at a B&B (The Laingdon Inn) in Ocean Grove, NJ, which was founded as a Christian community. Ocean Grove is a dry town (no alcohol served) and its townsfolk used to be primarily Methodists across the board. In order to buy a house there, you would own the house, but pay rent on the land to the town. Very strange set up, I must say. Suffice it to say, the B&B was nice and accommodating to us and a few other gay couples during the weekend following Thanksgiving. Ocean Grove is right down the beach from Asbury Park, where we go to a charity event every year (Santa Saturday).
In 2009, when we called for a reservation, their prices had gone up almost double for the same weekend, even though their online prices showed the same prices as in 2008. We decided to go to a different place in 2009. In 2010, the online system showed that they were open for business and reservations for the same weekend at the 2008 prices, so we tried to book a room there again. Even though the online system accepted our reservation for the weekend we wanted, because it's a B&B, I contacted the place directly to confirm that we had a reservation.
When I called them directly, they asked if I had stayed there before on the same weekend, and I said we had. They then said, "We're closed that weekend; we'll go ahead and cancel that reservation for you."
I said, "You're closed for Thanksgiving Day weekend? But your online system shows availability."
As in 2009 when their prices were wrong, they said, "We need to update our site to show that we're closed."
I thought that whole thing was strange and I'd never experienced something like that before- a B&B being closed for a holiday weekend. Of course, Matt and I started talking about the phone calls, the charity event weekend, and the conservative nature of Ocean Grove. It would seem from our point of view that the B&B has a problem with that particular weekend - when all the gays come to town. They were open the weekend before and the weekend after Thanksgiving Day weekend. You'd think that a B&B would want the business given the current economic landscape.
That Telegraph article brought my mind back to the interaction with the B&B around Thanksgiving...
In the UK, if you are part of a civil union, the relationship by law carries the same weight as if you're married, which I wish would happen in the US. Not only gay couples can have a civil union, either! The British law provides that any two people can be in a civil union, if they choose not to get married; they would also call themselves "civil unioned".
According to the (religiously-minded) owners of the hotel in question, they would have allowed female-female or male-male friends stay in single bed accommodations, but not in a double bed room. The civil unioned gay couple was right in thinking that they need not ask whether they would be allowed to stay in a double bed room, since their partnership is legal. However, the proprietors' religious beliefs came into play and the gay couple was turned away - even though they had made a reservation. The gay couple's dog could have stayed in the double bed room, but the couple themselves were not allowed. That's discrimination.
Along a similar vein, Matt and I had gotten a room in 2008 at a B&B (The Laingdon Inn) in Ocean Grove, NJ, which was founded as a Christian community. Ocean Grove is a dry town (no alcohol served) and its townsfolk used to be primarily Methodists across the board. In order to buy a house there, you would own the house, but pay rent on the land to the town. Very strange set up, I must say. Suffice it to say, the B&B was nice and accommodating to us and a few other gay couples during the weekend following Thanksgiving. Ocean Grove is right down the beach from Asbury Park, where we go to a charity event every year (Santa Saturday).
In 2009, when we called for a reservation, their prices had gone up almost double for the same weekend, even though their online prices showed the same prices as in 2008. We decided to go to a different place in 2009. In 2010, the online system showed that they were open for business and reservations for the same weekend at the 2008 prices, so we tried to book a room there again. Even though the online system accepted our reservation for the weekend we wanted, because it's a B&B, I contacted the place directly to confirm that we had a reservation.
When I called them directly, they asked if I had stayed there before on the same weekend, and I said we had. They then said, "We're closed that weekend; we'll go ahead and cancel that reservation for you."
I said, "You're closed for Thanksgiving Day weekend? But your online system shows availability."
As in 2009 when their prices were wrong, they said, "We need to update our site to show that we're closed."
I thought that whole thing was strange and I'd never experienced something like that before- a B&B being closed for a holiday weekend. Of course, Matt and I started talking about the phone calls, the charity event weekend, and the conservative nature of Ocean Grove. It would seem from our point of view that the B&B has a problem with that particular weekend - when all the gays come to town. They were open the weekend before and the weekend after Thanksgiving Day weekend. You'd think that a B&B would want the business given the current economic landscape.
That Telegraph article brought my mind back to the interaction with the B&B around Thanksgiving...
Boxing Day 2010. Day started at 3:30 AM checking on our flight to NC. Flight's still on time for departure at 6AM. Cab comes at 4:15AM to cart us to LaGuardia and we had carry-on luggage. In NY, they were asking for two people who were willing to give up their seats for a $300 voucher apiece. We almost opted for that, but realized we might not get into Raleigh if we did that. We gave up $600 of airfare in order to make it to the Lambeth Christmas gathering!
We flew to NC from LaGuardia Airport (NY) The entire flight to NC, we saw only white outside our window. Typically, as we're landing at RDU, you can see miles of trees and green and neighborhoods. That day, this is what we saw:
Once we landed in Raleigh on the "plowed" runway, we got to our gate about 5 minutes later, while another plane was getting deiced (above). This is the video I took of our smooth landing out my window:
Inside the airport before we got our coffee, we looked at the board (top left). Our later reshuffled flight with $600 of vouchers would totally have been canceled. We wouldn't have made it to NC at all!
Our Alamo car was waiting for us and we had "pick of the litter" from about 4 cars. For some stupid reason, I picked the Dodge Charger (rear-wheel drive) instead of any Toyota or Honda (front-wheel drive). None of the cars available had all-weather tires anyway, but it would have been smarter to get a front-wheel drive for the snow. We were tired and it was 8:30AM, after 4 hours of sleep.
This is the car - pretty and red, huh? It looks really good in the snow.
Unfortunately, for this trip, "looks good in the snow" meant "lodged in a ditch on the side of some arbitrary road in south Raleigh"!! That's where I landed us, thinking I was turning into a driveway that ended up being a massive, deep ditch. I couldn't see the front of the hood at first because of the snow drift.
Asshole rednecks in the neighborhood walked by us without stopping to help or asking if we needed help - even after I beeped! One angelic good ol' boy stopped to try to get us out to no avail, so we called AAA. 3 minutes later, Matt jostled us out of the hole and back onto the road. AAA was looking for us within about 5 minutes!!! We passed the tow truck on the way to the hotel while we were canceling the call and told them thanks for getting there so quickly. Hopefully, they got out to help the 30+ abandoned cars we passed on the highways from the airport.
Our hotel room was pretty and the beds were really comfortable! We took a nice 2.5-hour nap before heading to my youngest sister's house for lunch, games, dinner, and games.
We made it to my sister's house and it was a beautiful wintry wonderland!! We spent two and a half days going back and forth from our hotel to my sister's house for family festivities. In the end, we all had a great time (mixing in some dramatic moments where family members lost their holiday cool). Got some really fun gifts and had lots of good food and laughs.
Not to be taken lightly though, the weather and air traffic didn't cooperate with us. Our flight on Tuesday to return to LGA was canceled and we're getting a refund from our trip. Alamo, the car rental place who gave us the Dodge Charger (feh), wanted to charge us $450 on top of a day's rental ($120) to drive up to NJ; i.e. $570!! We switched to Budget instead and got a nice Malibu for the trip for a mere $248 total with an XM/Sirius radio to boot! The trip was quite uneventful, thankfully, and the main roads were completely clear. We ordered a cab to pick us up from the airport and drive us home from Budget at Newark airport - YAY - and got home at about 2AM. We are exhausted and really glad to be home!!
Here are some pictures of the snow and the holidays with my family:
We flew to NC from LaGuardia Airport (NY) The entire flight to NC, we saw only white outside our window. Typically, as we're landing at RDU, you can see miles of trees and green and neighborhoods. That day, this is what we saw:
Once we landed in Raleigh on the "plowed" runway, we got to our gate about 5 minutes later, while another plane was getting deiced (above). This is the video I took of our smooth landing out my window:
Inside the airport before we got our coffee, we looked at the board (top left). Our later reshuffled flight with $600 of vouchers would totally have been canceled. We wouldn't have made it to NC at all!
Our Alamo car was waiting for us and we had "pick of the litter" from about 4 cars. For some stupid reason, I picked the Dodge Charger (rear-wheel drive) instead of any Toyota or Honda (front-wheel drive). None of the cars available had all-weather tires anyway, but it would have been smarter to get a front-wheel drive for the snow. We were tired and it was 8:30AM, after 4 hours of sleep.
This is the car - pretty and red, huh? It looks really good in the snow.
Unfortunately, for this trip, "looks good in the snow" meant "lodged in a ditch on the side of some arbitrary road in south Raleigh"!! That's where I landed us, thinking I was turning into a driveway that ended up being a massive, deep ditch. I couldn't see the front of the hood at first because of the snow drift.
Asshole rednecks in the neighborhood walked by us without stopping to help or asking if we needed help - even after I beeped! One angelic good ol' boy stopped to try to get us out to no avail, so we called AAA. 3 minutes later, Matt jostled us out of the hole and back onto the road. AAA was looking for us within about 5 minutes!!! We passed the tow truck on the way to the hotel while we were canceling the call and told them thanks for getting there so quickly. Hopefully, they got out to help the 30+ abandoned cars we passed on the highways from the airport.
Our hotel room was pretty and the beds were really comfortable! We took a nice 2.5-hour nap before heading to my youngest sister's house for lunch, games, dinner, and games.
We made it to my sister's house and it was a beautiful wintry wonderland!! We spent two and a half days going back and forth from our hotel to my sister's house for family festivities. In the end, we all had a great time (mixing in some dramatic moments where family members lost their holiday cool). Got some really fun gifts and had lots of good food and laughs.
Not to be taken lightly though, the weather and air traffic didn't cooperate with us. Our flight on Tuesday to return to LGA was canceled and we're getting a refund from our trip. Alamo, the car rental place who gave us the Dodge Charger (feh), wanted to charge us $450 on top of a day's rental ($120) to drive up to NJ; i.e. $570!! We switched to Budget instead and got a nice Malibu for the trip for a mere $248 total with an XM/Sirius radio to boot! The trip was quite uneventful, thankfully, and the main roads were completely clear. We ordered a cab to pick us up from the airport and drive us home from Budget at Newark airport - YAY - and got home at about 2AM. We are exhausted and really glad to be home!!
Here are some pictures of the snow and the holidays with my family:
Friends of ours, Tommy and Brian, have been together for 9+ years* (as of Cinco de Mayo*). They're really cool, fun guys. We all four met on a bowling league at Chelsea Piers. Tommy's originally from Rochester, NY, and Brian is from Yadkinville, NC. Brian was surprised to know that I knew of Yadkinville cuz it's a small town.
Last year around Christmas, Matt and I witnessed Tommy propose to Brian on stage at the Duplex during their cabaret act called, "The Last Piece of Cake" (this was the farewell performance of their years-long cabaret). They invited us to participate in all aspects of their engagement, the bachelor party, and their wedding; we were really honored and excited to consider going to Mexico. I love Mexico and Matt had never been. We both love Tommy & Brian, and the friends of theirs we'd met along the way were just like them: real, big-hearted, awesome personalities, and different from anyone else we'd ever met. There was nothing holding us back - even being unemployed! In all my recent interviews, I made sure that the week of Oct. 14-22 would be blocked out for me (I did get a consulting Project Mgt job, but that's a different post).
We arrived on Thursday. On the way to the resort hotel (The Tropicana), our driver was nice enough to stop for us to buy some water. While Matt napped, I sat at the bar poolside and had a couple of shots of tequila (Don Pablo Reposado) coordinating with Brian to meet up with everyone on the beach. The resort was substantial, beautiful, and clean. I made the rounds of introductions of folks I hadn't met before. I got many salty, wet hugs from people I knew or who I hadn't met, but were excited to meet me. How absolutely wonderful! The stage was getting set for the entire weekend. We had the best, most unique time for 7 days straight.
Great planning by the couple (eh-hem, by Brian), great drinks, excellent food, no infections or sickness (at least with us!), awesome scenery, and beautiful ceremony. The Friday night "Welcome to Mexico" party was a HOOT with a mariachi band to boot - sponsored by Tommy's Uncle Ralph. The pre-wedding party Saturday night at the Villa Rosa (where the wedding party stayed) was really relaxing and fun with a hilarious game of Celebrity. The day of the wedding started out with pancakes with the Rochester crowd, while the wedding party took off to the destination - Las Caletas. As there aren't roads to Las Caletas, about 10 of us later took an hour party boat ride to Las Caletas. It was so much fun! Brian and Tommy (in line with their theatrical creativity) had a script and voiceover to begin our wedding adventure. They played such hits as Titanic, the Poseidon Adventure, and The Love Boat theme. We were tanked by the time we arrived and had been dancing for a while (as you see here).
Las Caletas is the previous home of John Huston, who directed and filmed Night of the Iguana at Las Caletas. Huston also directed The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon, and The Bible: In The Beginning among many other movies. For a wedding, Brian and Tommy could not have picked a more beautiful, secluded, relaxed, and elegant place. Every detail was covered, down to the sandalwood fans for everyone on their seats.
Apparently, the entire wedding party had worked hard to hold their emotions together all day long. All day long, that is, till they locked eyes on me. I always get choked up at weddings. Being at this marriage of two beautiful people with so much love and joy between and around them really touched me deeply. Matt was crying, Dara (another North Carolinian pictured above) behind me was bawling and Brian started crying when they saw me: a big blubbering bear, crying his eyes out. Later on that evening, I heard all about it: "Well, I was holding it together until I saw THIS one (pointing at me) shaking." "Oh, yeah... and I look at Steve... he had STREAMS of tears running down his face when I got to the bottom of the stairs and I lost it." Even Dara (spoken as Blanche Devereaux) said, "Well, weddings always get to me anyway, then I saw Steve and Matt just tearing up and starting to shake, well, I just lost it, too!" So, take note, if you would rather keep your tears in check and don't want to show your emotions at your wedding, don't invite me! LOL
The dinner was delicious Mexican food above a cliff where waves crashed below. The party, music, and dancing were fun, and the boat ride back to the marina was like none other! Lots of pictures, laughs, hugs, and booty shaking. We had never been to a destination wedding. We'd never been to a gay wedding. It was such a deeply memorable experience. Neither Matt nor I had been around so many friends and family who were so real, honest, loving, and self-giving to two beautiful people, Tommy and Brian.
Everyone there wanted them to get married and be happy together.
There are many more stories to be told of the week in Mexico, but this post is dedicated to Tommy's and Brian's wedding experience. Matt and I were so touched and honored to have been asked and blessed to be able to participate in welcoming Brian and Tommy into their marital bliss.
*Corrected timelines
Last year around Christmas, Matt and I witnessed Tommy propose to Brian on stage at the Duplex during their cabaret act called, "The Last Piece of Cake" (this was the farewell performance of their years-long cabaret). They invited us to participate in all aspects of their engagement, the bachelor party, and their wedding; we were really honored and excited to consider going to Mexico. I love Mexico and Matt had never been. We both love Tommy & Brian, and the friends of theirs we'd met along the way were just like them: real, big-hearted, awesome personalities, and different from anyone else we'd ever met. There was nothing holding us back - even being unemployed! In all my recent interviews, I made sure that the week of Oct. 14-22 would be blocked out for me (I did get a consulting Project Mgt job, but that's a different post).
We arrived on Thursday. On the way to the resort hotel (The Tropicana), our driver was nice enough to stop for us to buy some water. While Matt napped, I sat at the bar poolside and had a couple of shots of tequila (Don Pablo Reposado) coordinating with Brian to meet up with everyone on the beach. The resort was substantial, beautiful, and clean. I made the rounds of introductions of folks I hadn't met before. I got many salty, wet hugs from people I knew or who I hadn't met, but were excited to meet me. How absolutely wonderful! The stage was getting set for the entire weekend. We had the best, most unique time for 7 days straight.
Great planning by the couple (eh-hem, by Brian), great drinks, excellent food, no infections or sickness (at least with us!), awesome scenery, and beautiful ceremony. The Friday night "Welcome to Mexico" party was a HOOT with a mariachi band to boot - sponsored by Tommy's Uncle Ralph. The pre-wedding party Saturday night at the Villa Rosa (where the wedding party stayed) was really relaxing and fun with a hilarious game of Celebrity. The day of the wedding started out with pancakes with the Rochester crowd, while the wedding party took off to the destination - Las Caletas. As there aren't roads to Las Caletas, about 10 of us later took an hour party boat ride to Las Caletas. It was so much fun! Brian and Tommy (in line with their theatrical creativity) had a script and voiceover to begin our wedding adventure. They played such hits as Titanic, the Poseidon Adventure, and The Love Boat theme. We were tanked by the time we arrived and had been dancing for a while (as you see here).
Las Caletas is the previous home of John Huston, who directed and filmed Night of the Iguana at Las Caletas. Huston also directed The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon, and The Bible: In The Beginning among many other movies. For a wedding, Brian and Tommy could not have picked a more beautiful, secluded, relaxed, and elegant place. Every detail was covered, down to the sandalwood fans for everyone on their seats.
Apparently, the entire wedding party had worked hard to hold their emotions together all day long. All day long, that is, till they locked eyes on me. I always get choked up at weddings. Being at this marriage of two beautiful people with so much love and joy between and around them really touched me deeply. Matt was crying, Dara (another North Carolinian pictured above) behind me was bawling and Brian started crying when they saw me: a big blubbering bear, crying his eyes out. Later on that evening, I heard all about it: "Well, I was holding it together until I saw THIS one (pointing at me) shaking." "Oh, yeah... and I look at Steve... he had STREAMS of tears running down his face when I got to the bottom of the stairs and I lost it." Even Dara (spoken as Blanche Devereaux) said, "Well, weddings always get to me anyway, then I saw Steve and Matt just tearing up and starting to shake, well, I just lost it, too!" So, take note, if you would rather keep your tears in check and don't want to show your emotions at your wedding, don't invite me! LOL
The dinner was delicious Mexican food above a cliff where waves crashed below. The party, music, and dancing were fun, and the boat ride back to the marina was like none other! Lots of pictures, laughs, hugs, and booty shaking. We had never been to a destination wedding. We'd never been to a gay wedding. It was such a deeply memorable experience. Neither Matt nor I had been around so many friends and family who were so real, honest, loving, and self-giving to two beautiful people, Tommy and Brian.
Everyone there wanted them to get married and be happy together.
There are many more stories to be told of the week in Mexico, but this post is dedicated to Tommy's and Brian's wedding experience. Matt and I were so touched and honored to have been asked and blessed to be able to participate in welcoming Brian and Tommy into their marital bliss.
*Corrected timelines
Karaoke California Style
Oct. 14th, 2010 04:34 amSo, on the trip to California, when Matt and I met up with [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], and [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], we went to sing Karaoke at "Elvis!?" - a place in Fountain Valley, CA. It was really fun, and as I mentioned on a previous post, I wanted to post some videos.
I didn't hear any screams coming from the California corner of LJ or FB, so here are three of them:
Tim singing "What A Wonderful World"
Robert & Steve singing "Queen of Hearts"
Steve singing "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
I didn't hear any screams coming from the California corner of LJ or FB, so here are three of them:
Tim singing "What A Wonderful World"
Robert & Steve singing "Queen of Hearts"
Steve singing "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
A Day with Orange County Boys!
Oct. 13th, 2010 01:20 pmFinally, I've finished putting together, configuring, selecting, and posting the best pictures from our trip to the OC. You can find them on my Picasa album. We met up with martini_tim, bigsabu, and animbear for lunch at their favorite spot, Curry House. mondragon happened to be in town, too, from back home in NJ and he was able to meet us for lunch and coffee afterward.
We spent the day with the OC boys (except Greg, who is actually an original OC boy) after lunch. We went to a Japanese/Korean shopping center for a couple of hours of private Karaoke. It was a VERY fun experience! The place was called "Elvis!?" and we got to enter Barbra Streisand for the afternoon (that was our Karaoke room). We sang songs like "What a Wonderful World" (Tim), "Won't You Be My Neighbor" (Steve), "Magic" (Steve & Robert), "Fire" (Tim), "Running Up That Hill" (Reid), "Queen of Hearts" (Robert & Steve), and "One Week" (Robert & Matt - who wouldn't get on the mic!!). We sang more, but some of these I videoed and am posting on my YouTube channel today; they were too large for Picasa and kept bombing during the upload.
After Karaoke, we went next door to a Shabu-Shabu restaurant, something neither Matt nor I had ever tried. That was really tasty, too, and lots of fun! We drove down to Laguna Beach to see the sunset and send the boys off home.
The day was too short!! We had so much fun.martini_tim, bigsabu, and animbear are so much fun and creative. Can't wait till the next time!!
Now, they just all have to get their asses to NYC!
martini_tim, bigsabu, and animbear for lunch at their favorite spot, Curry House. mondragon happened to be in town, too, from back home in NJ and he was able to meet us for lunch and coffee afterward. We spent the day with the OC boys (except Greg, who is actually an original OC boy) after lunch. We went to a Japanese/Korean shopping center for a couple of hours of private Karaoke. It was a VERY fun experience! The place was called "Elvis!?" and we got to enter Barbra Streisand for the afternoon (that was our Karaoke room). We sang songs like "What a Wonderful World" (Tim), "Won't You Be My Neighbor" (Steve), "Magic" (Steve & Robert), "Fire" (Tim), "Running Up That Hill" (Reid), "Queen of Hearts" (Robert & Steve), and "One Week" (Robert & Matt - who wouldn't get on the mic!!). We sang more, but some of these I videoed and am posting on my YouTube channel today; they were too large for Picasa and kept bombing during the upload.
After Karaoke, we went next door to a Shabu-Shabu restaurant, something neither Matt nor I had ever tried. That was really tasty, too, and lots of fun! We drove down to Laguna Beach to see the sunset and send the boys off home.
The day was too short!! We had so much fun.
martini_tim, bigsabu, and animbear are so much fun and creative. Can't wait till the next time!!Now, they just all have to get their asses to NYC!
