A Happy Birthday Song of the Day #2 - Cry When You Get Older - Robyn

Young boy, by the traffic light
What your daddy never told you
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older

Not only is this Thanksgiving Week, but around these parts it's Birthday Week, as well.  Yesterday was my bestie Rich's birthday and today is the birthday of yet another bestie, Kyle.  Kyle is one of my friends that I know from bowling and we've become pretty close over the past two years or so.  In that short time...well...he and I have gotten to know each other pretty darned well to a point where we stand today.  He is probably the one friend who I spend the most time with and I want to wish him the best of birthdays.

Kyle is a youngin', 25 years old today, and a lot of times I feel like I'm not only his friend, but kinda sort of his mentor, as well.  From what I know of him, Kyle is one of those people who's always found a comfortable spot in hanging around people older and wiser than he, and he not only found myself as one to look up to, but a whole slew of us from bowling, too.  Al, Eric and Rick, Gary, J.C., Eric C., Bobby and Rich, and a whole host of fellow bowlers have all shared in helping to guide this genuine young man through these past few years, and though he doesn't always realize how much he is loved by all of us, he really is a special part of this extended group of friends.

  

Out of all of us, Kyle, myself and our pal Gary have been among the closest, and the trhee of us have shared plenty of good times together, as well, from our Monday night jaunt to Coney Island this summer, to catching up and teaching Kyle the great, great show, Six Feet Under, to gay nights at Great Adventure, P-Town, parties, bowling and more, the friendship that we share as three is a special one, too!

Anyway, last night Kyle was trying to guess which song I was going to post today for his b'day, and though he made some good guesses, he got it wrong.  I realized that although I've spoken about soundtracks of relationships in the past, it's not only romantic relationships that can have a soundtrack.  One of the things that bind he and I together is our love for music, and though we have some differences in our musical tastes, there are certain tunes that we both love, and today's song is one which I believe introduced him to Robyn (via me!) and one that fits this particular day and week for that matter.  I'm not too sure about him, maybe it's too early, but I am certainly crying cause I got older, lol.  Anyway, for what it's worth, Happy Birthday my friend!

The Gay Real World P-Town: The Sequel

We're back!  Well, at least we're on our way back.  After a wonderful week in P-Town last summer, many of the same people from last year's jaunt are doing it again, in just 9 days, and this time we're bringing along a whole set of newbies.  The trip has been planned pretty much since we left last year and ever since it's been like a snowball rolling down a hill, getting bigger and bigger with time and the whole thing's got me a lil apprehensive in a different way than last time.

This is the true story

(true story)

of seven, um, nine or ten strangers 

picked together to live in a house

Yes, there are a few changes in our house, and we're still not even sure what the exact number is going to be. Two of our former housemates aren't coming this year, so there will be four, maybe five new people from last year, and that's partly the cause for my apprehension.  We also can't go up until a Sunday, which kind of stinks.  No, it's not that I'm not looking forward to it or that I won't have a good time...I'm pretty sure I will, but I the dynamic certainly won't be the same as last year, so it will definitely be different.  

Last year I was apprehensive because I didn't know my housemates too well, and I didn't know what to expect.  That turned out great, so hopefully it'll be the same this year.  Anyway, with each day I'm getting more and more excited, and I plan on blogging from there daily once again, so stay tuned...

    

Here's to a Great Summer!

Summer moon, on your face 

For the wind blows so sweet

Come away, come away

Dance with me...

Let us dance to forget

Let us dance to remember

All those days last summer

thelivingroomsilence

Even though many people think that dance music is mindless music without meaning, I always beg to differ.  Oh sure, there's plenty of dance stuff out there that is, well, mindless, and that's because it's main purpose is to make you dance, not contemplate the meanings of life and love.  There are many dance songs out there, however, that are just as meaningful as those of any other genre of music. All one has to do is look to Madonna or Robyn, Janet Jackson, Avicii's Wake Me Up, etc. to find dance songs that are anything but fluff.

The lyrics above are from a 2005 dance song called Summer Moon by a French-based project named Africanism All Stars, and the words fit so nicely in my life right here and right now. Yesterday, like virtually every Sunday of Labor Day Weekend before, I ventured to Cherry Grove with my friends, and like every other Sunday of Labor Day Weekend before, I was surrounded by good people and great friends.  

Yesterday's trip to the Island of Fire was a special one, different than all of the other ones before it. Though the cast of characters was different, the experience was like always, fun and full of joy, but this time I brought with me a different perspective of the present.  The players in yesterday's outing were mostly from bowling, that wonderful little weekly social event that is chock full of special people, and of course my pals Rich and Bobby were there, too.  

Throughout the evening we laughed, we chatted, and we danced.  We danced to forget and we danced to remember.  At least I did!  This was a summer unlike any other for me, full of high highs and low lows, and there were many things about it that I'd like to forget and yet countless others I'll cherish in my mind for years to come.

My broken relationship with my family has followed me like a gray cloud throughout the summer, but in the wake of that mess I've come to learn a very important thing.  Where I've been feeling that this situation reflected poorly on my character, I've learned that it says nothing bad about my character. Regardless of what's happened with them, I am surrounded by a great number of people who have no other ties to me other than friendship.  They've all made the choice to be in my life and I know it's because they love me for who I am.  

My social circle has grown by leaps and bounds ever since I joined that bowling league last fall, and this summer I've fostered great relationships with many of those people.  Being with them in P-town just a few weeks back was a wonderful experience that became a catalyst for forging what I hope will be lifelong relationships.  Aside from that, I am now and will forever be grateful for my buddies Rich and Bobby, who are so much more important to me to be called just friends. They are family.   

So as summer draws to a close and the school year is less than 24 hours away, I stand here in my present satisfied with my life and who I am.  These past six years have been long and difficult for me as I've sought to find out who I really am.  Though the roads been difficult and there's a lot of navigating yet to do, I can say at this moment that it was all worth it.  This summer was a special one for me, full of happy memories and good times with great people: roller coasters in Virginia with Dita, a weekend with Flo and Francois, some very exciting moments in Atlantic City, trips to the beach, working with the little ones again, clubbing in the city, a nice reunion with my sister Chrissy, Friday night chitchats at Nuts N Bolts, P-town, and of course, Fire Island.  

A little over two years ago, I wrote a poem about myself for the A-Z Blogger's Challenge, and upon reading it I can see that not much has changed about me since then.  The core of my being is strong, and I continue to both appreciate what I have and to seek out new nuggets of wisdom along the way.  

Today I put summer behind me to focus on here and now, and what is to come.  Back to school means back to life, but I know it doesn't all have to be mundane.  I will get my enjoyment in life once again through my kids during school days and I will continue to forge my relationships with the people in my life during nights and weekends.  Soon I will be placing focus on my upcoming trip to Chile and possibly a trip to Canada afterwards.  This post has been a living, breathing example of one of my Keys to Life, to live in the present, appreciate what you've had and what you have, and always look to tomorrow with optimism.  It's not easy to do, but it is so worth it.

So here's to a great summer 2013, to a great school year and a great life!  Check out Summer Moon...

   

 

Africanism Allstars - Summer Moon (Fmif remix) by whitechocolate57

Tweet

The Gay Real World, P-town - Wrapping It All Up

Now that I've finished chronicling our vacation in P-town, I'd like to wrap up the whole thing in a nice, neat package.  A year ago today, I would never have imagined this trip.  Last year at this time I didn't know any of these guys, and who'd have figured that joining a lousy little bowling league would change my social life so much?  I am lucky!

I remember when I was first asked to go on the trip in the fall of 2012.  My pal Tim asked me.  I met he and his teammate Sean (who was definitely missed by all this week!) my first night bowling and the two of them became fast friends, followed by so many others.  Anyway, I accepted the invite, and there ya go.

I was apprehensive about the trip beforehand, but almost immediately I was at ease and going with a wonderful flow.  Provincetown is magical, really.  It's beautiful and charming, historic and wonderful, and like I said before, it is gay Disney!  But it wouldn't have been nearly as good as it was if not for the people I was with.

P-town 2013

This was the true story

(true story)

of seven strangers 

picked together to live in a house

They brought along bowling buddies and lovers and friends

and they each added their own special flavor to the group.

First there were the elders, 

who'd been there before.

Eric and Rick, Jim and Steve, and J.C.,

each with P-town experience

and each the sage of our daily, or nightly, activities. 

Of the elders, Mr. Eric was the kindredest of spirits,

making friends, making fun, and singing his heart out at Show Tunes night.

Sometimes the Punter's Planch eased his friendly ways,

always with a smile, always with a laugh, and always with the venerable Rick by his side.

Then there were the housemates,

Tim, Steve, Gary, Sal, Al, Kyle and I.

All easy-going, and all as sweet as sugar.

Tim and Steve were my bunk-mates,

P-town funnin' and summer luvin.'

Gary, easy-breezy, go with the flow

and colorful, matchy Sal, taking it all in.

Al, provider of food and laughter

and Kyle, the closest thing to a frat in the frat house

Then there were others,

on my fringe, but friendly and fun.
Sean and Leo, Mike n Mike, Nick and Chris...

One big happy family reveling in the moment.

There were tea dances and whale watching,

Miss Ritchfield and show tunes,

trips to the beach, shopping and bike rides through trails and crowded streets.

Camaraderie was building

everywhere you turned, at luaus and a frat party,

conversations on the patio,

all happening beneath that iconic tower.

Yes, it was a trip like no other,

memories made to be cherished

for a long time to come.

So thanks P-town, and thanks to my new, special friends.

Here's to P-town 2014!

 

Tweet

The Gay Real World, P-town - The Sun and Now a Moon; Final Tea and Goodbye

Like with any other vacation, it got sad once the week started coming to a close.  From that first tea dance last Saturday to the whale watching and the shopping and the bike riding and the dancing and the food and the drinking and the great company and everything else, I think we were all blissfully pooped by the time Friday rolled around.

For me, it was to be a low-key day, for the most part.  I started off with a last bike ride along Commercial St. down towards the East End and back.  Then I was planning on shopping a little before afternoon tea and one last night out dancing, but something else was on my mind.

The Sun and Now a Moon

Even before this trip, I had heard Gary say that he was thinking about getting a tattoo while he was in Provincetown.  It put a bug in my ear!  I have a tattoo, a sun, on my upper right arm, and I've always wanted another one of a moon in the same spot on the left arm.  So after returning my bike, I sauntered over to the tattoo parlor around the corner from the house to see what I could see.

I started perusing the tats, but didn't really see anything I liked.  Then the hostess of the place came over and before you knew it, I'd made an appointment to come back in a half-hour for my new tattoo.  I have to say, this time was much easier than last (I got sick!).  Maybe it was because my tattoo artist, Austin, was a very cool guy.

He'd only gotten to P-town a couple of days earlier to help out with the summer crowds (apparently lots of people get tatted on their vacation.).  Originally from San Francisco, Austin is a well-traveled man, going global to practice his trade.  He recently went to Iceland, which is a destination I've been hearing a lot about lately.  He went for some tattoo convention and ate whale and puffin (I know, ewww!) and hung out in this cool-sounding natural spring.  Fascinating!

Anyway, Austin drew up a moon design that would match my sun in size and style, and at first I wasn't sure, but with the colors he used I love it.  What do you think?

Final Tea and Goodbye P-town

After getting my tattoo I did some shopping and had lunch with some of the boys down by the water.  I went into a photography studio that was hella cool.  There, I discovered a photographer named Thomas Barbey who superimposes images over one another to make some very fascinating creations.  I didn't buy any of his stuff, but I sure wanted to.  Click on his name to check out some of his work.

After shopping it was time to get ready for the last tea dance of the week and the final night of this wonderful place.  Tea was crowded with the leftovers from the week and the new arrivals for this week, which has a carnival theme.  A last few dances, a Planter's punch or two, and a couple more laughs and before you knew it, the trip to Gay Disney was over...



Tweet

Song of the Day - End of Time - Beyonce

Today's Song of the Day is dedicated to my friend and P-town housemate Kyle, who discovered this one in a big way during our trip.  I don't usually like to post live videos, but once again YouTube will not allow me to post either of the videos I wanted to share.  If you love this song like me, then check out a Target flash mob doing it here or a professionally done vid of the song created by TheShayWest right here.  They're both worth watching!

Beyoncé - End of Time @ Revel (Multi Angle) by javierlobe

Kyle n me

Tweet

The Gay Real World, P-town - Climbing the Tower; Frat Party

The last two days in Provincetown were as good as the rest, only as the week wore on so did our bodies.  After suffering the after-effects of the Planter's punch the night before, I was ready to do something tame on Thursday.  Al, Kyle and I were the only three who hadn't ventured up the Pilgrim Tower, which is an iconic feature of the P-town landscape, and so that was the plan for us that afternoon.

We can see the tower!  The traffic is worth it.  

Shangrala straight ahead

The Tower

That was Eric, in a mass text to all of us who were traveling towards gay Disney.  Before we even went on the trip, I'd heard all about the famous "tower" from a couple of the elders.  They said that it can be seen from far away and that there was a spot on the road where it suddenly appears, telling you that bliss is just around the corner.

Prior to this trip, all I knew about Provincetown was that is was a gay mecca and little else.  I hadn't really thought about it much, but it's pretty damned historic, too.  The tower, or Pilgrim Monument, stands 252 feet tall, and can be seen from all over P-town proper.  It was erected in the early part of the 20th Century to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims here in 1620.  The tower was very close to our house, and it provided a nice backdrop in the sky from our deck.  By Thursday, all of the housemates had taken the journey up and now it was our turn.

One of the best parts of this trip has been getting to know the people I was traveling with and one guy I'm happy to know is Al.  Not only is he the food provider of the group, but he's also a heck of a funny guy.  Al's a teacher like me, but he was once a Ringling Brothers' clown and is also a veteran of The Amazing Race, so you can imagine what kind of sense of humor he has.  

He was at his silliest during our little jaunt up the monument, cracking jokes and playing around with people.  You can see from the pictures what kind of mood we were all in.  The walk up was long, but it wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be.  We stopped for silly photos on the way up and on the way down Al was teasing those on their way up.

Ooh, I left my camera all the way up there.  Would you mind getting it for me and I'll wait downstairs for it?

Boy those were good drinks they were giving out up there, weren't they?

We laughed almost all the way down.  Then he went after Kyle and I by making noises with his water bottle along the wall.  It took us about three or four flights to realize what he was doing, and it was his chuckles that finally let out what he'd been doing.  

The view from atop the tower was spectacular, and we could see all the way to Boston from up there, it was so clear.

Frat Party

After climbing the tower, the three of us went back to the house, where Al started to prepare for our party that evening.  As it turned out, we weren't going to be having any toga party.  J.C., Sean and Leo hosted all of us at their place on Monday for a luau, but that whole theme thing was just an elder joke and so ours was just going to be a partay!

After Solid Gold Tea (which was way too crowded), all of the housemates ran back to the house to help get ready for our get together.  Al was preparing food, Steve and I put up balloons, and everybody else just kind of cleaned up.  I also took care of the music (oh, I miss deejaying!).  By 8:30 our guests had arrived and it was on.

Everyone was there and the evening was full of good friends, great laughs and great times! Of course the party ended a little early for another trip to Wave bar (there'd be only one day left...), but I think it was a nice time for all.

Sal and Tim

Kyle and Steve

J.C.

Sal

Al and Eric

Leo and Sean

Rick and Jim

Mike and Mike

Jim and Steve

J.C. and Gary

Al, me and Eric fooling around

Me, Eric and Kyle

Tim and me

Bottoms Up

...and Back to the Wave

Stay tuned for more...

Tweet