Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Poor Unfortunate Souls...
Phillip posted a lovely comment in my Myspace profile I have to share with you all -

"Adam "Silent Storm" is the finest witch in all of DC. Watch out if you cross him - you'll end up with bells palsy, become an alcoholic, or have to resort to turning tricks to pay your rent. You've been warned ;) "

In regards to certian folks who have made the mistake of crossing my path (former co-workers, Drunky McDrunkerson, and so on) here is a clip I love. What makes the witch jokes even more perfect is Fernando is a brunette, Phillip is a blond, and I'm red - the three witches of DC, watch out!

Sean and Adam Go to The Zoo

I'm glad the beautiful weather is finally here. Wednesday after work I went with Margo on a shopping trip - my new office if bigger than my last so I needed objects d'art to fill the walls. It's looking good! We went to a great little Thai restaurant in Eastern Market for dinner called Old Siam. I'm beginning to be a honarary Eastern Marketer as I've been going there a lot lately. Thursday I went to Banana Cafe after work with Fernando too. That place never gets old - I think I might have my upcoming birthday party there too.
Saturday I really didn't do much - when Sean left the kitchen we met and had dinner at Skewers, a nice Middle Eastern place in Dupont, had a few drinks afterwards... Sunday was beautiful and we went to the National Zoo. Lots of new things since I was last there, and it hasn't been invaded by too many tourists yet. That evening we joined Fernando, going over to Margo's new place on the Hill for dinner, movie, and wine, always so much fun, esp. with great friends and someone you love.

Screw the Democrats

This is an op-ed that appeared yesterday in the LA Times, written by noted Gay activist Larry Kramer. I say fuck the Republicans, but this article illustrates why I say fuck the Democrats too. Both parties throw gays under the bus as per convenience. [as a side note, I know my straight friends don't hate gays...I post this to only show how other Americans are often two-faced in their support of gays]

DEAR STRAIGHT PEOPLE,

Why do you hate gay people so much?

Gays are hated. Prove me wrong. Your top general just called us immoral. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is in charge of an estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian troops, some fighting for our country in Iraq. A right-wing political commentator, Ann Coulter, gets away with calling a straight presidential candidate a faggot. Even Garrison Keillor, of all people, is making really tacky jokes about gay parents in his column. This, I guess, does not qualify as hate except that it is so distasteful and dumb, often a first step on the way to hate. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama tried to duck the questions that Pace's bigotry raised, confirming what gay people know: that there is not one candidate running for public office anywhere who dares to come right out, unequivocally, and say decent, supportive things about us.

Gays should not vote for any of them. There is not a candidate or major public figure who would not sell gays down the river. We have seen this time after time, even from supposedly progressive politicians such as President Clinton with his "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military and his support of the hideous Defense of Marriage Act. Of course, it's possible that being shunned by gays will make politicians more popular, but at least we will have our self-respect. To vote for them is to collude with them in their utter disdain for us.

Don't any of you wonder why heterosexuals treat gays so brutally year after year after year, as your people take away our manhood, our womanhood, our personhood? Why, even as we die you don't leave us alone. What we can leave our surviving lovers is taxed far more punitively than what you leave your (legal) surviving spouses. Why do you do this? My lover will be unable to afford to live in the house we have made for each other over our lifetime together. This does not happen to you. Taxation without representation is what led to the Revolutionary War. Gay people have paid all the taxes you have. But you have equality, and we don't.

And there's no sign that this situation will change anytime soon. President Bush will leave a legacy of hate for us that will take many decades to cleanse. He has packed virtually every court and every civil service position in the land with people who don't like us. So, even with the most tolerant of new presidents, gays will be unable to break free from this yoke of hate. Courts rule against gays with hateful regularity. And of course the Supreme Court is not going to give us our equality, and in the end, it is from the Supreme Court that such equality must come. If all of this is not hate, I do not know what hate is.

Our feeble gay movement confines most of its demands to marriage. But political candidates are not talking about — and we are not demanding that they talk about — equality. My lover and I don't want to get married just yet, but we sure want to be equal.

You must know that gays get beaten up all the time, all over the world. If someone beats you up because of who you are — your race or ethnic origin — that is considered a hate crime. But in most states, gays are not included in hate crime measures, and Congress has refused to include us in a federal act.

Homosexuality is a punishable crime in a zillion countries, as is any activism on behalf of it. Punishable means prison. Punishable means death. The U.S. government refused our requests that it protest after gay teenagers were hanged in Iran, but it protests many other foreign cruelties. Who cares if a faggot dies? Parts of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. are joining with the Nigerian archbishop, who believes gays should be put in prison. Episcopalians! Whoever thought we'd have to worry about Episcopalians?

Well, whoever thought we'd have to worry about Florida? A young gay man was just killed in Florida because of his sexual orientation. I get reports of gays slain in our country every week. Few of them make news. Fewer are prosecuted. Do you consider it acceptable that 20,000 Christian youths make an annual pilgrimage to San Francisco to pray for gay souls? This is not free speech. This is another version of hate. It is all one world of gay-hate. It always was.

Gays do not realize that the more we become visible, the more we come out of the closet, the more we are hated. Don't those of you straights who claim not to hate us have a responsibility to denounce the hate? Why is it socially acceptable to joke about "girlie men" or to discriminate against us legally with "constitutional" amendments banning gay marriage? Because we cannot marry, we can pass on only a fraction of our estates, we do not have equal parenting rights and we cannot live with a foreigner we love who does not have government permission to stay in this country. These are the equal protections that the Bill of Rights proclaims for all?

Why do you hate us so much that you will not permit us to legally love? I am almost 72, and I have been hated all my life, and I don't see much change coming.

I think your hate is evil.

What do we do to you that is so awful? Why do you feel compelled to come after us with such frightful energy? Does this somehow make you feel safer and legitimate? What possible harm comes to you if we marry, or are taxed just like you, or are protected from assault by laws that say it is morally wrong to assault people out of hatred? The reasons always offered are religious ones, but certainly they are not based on the love all religions proclaim.

And even if your objections to gays are religious, why do you have to legislate them so hatefully? Make no mistake: Forbidding gay people to love or marry is based on hate, pure and simple.

You may say you don't hate us, but the people you vote for do, so what's the difference? Our own country's democratic process declares us to be unequal. Which means, in a democracy, that our enemy is you. You treat us like crumbs. You hate us. And sadly, we let you.

Fresh Like Irish Spring!

Ok, now as much as I make fun of Maryland, I have to concede that MD's governor and former mayor of Baltimore, Martin O'Malley is a total hottie. (he even has a rock band, see photo)

Now see, given the St Patrick's Day weekend, O'Malley is an Irishman worth a few pots of gold and some Guiness. Meanwhile I'm sure other people of Irish decent I know are still crawling out of the gutters.

So, this weekend I DROVE to Chicago (10-11 hours of cornfield goodness - that's all there is to Ohio and Indiana) for my cousin Kala's wedding. I will post photo links soon. All I can say is she was beautiful and it was a great wedding. Driving back from Chicago the day after the reception wasn't pretty, and it's good to be back home.

I want to give a warm congratulations on Margo and Fred's 7th anniversay that was this past Sunday, and on their new place on Capitol Hill. All the best!!
And speaking of new beginnings, today is the first day of Spring!

March Madness

The post title isn't because I'm a big fan of basketball or anything, but because March thus far has been madness. My grandmother had a stroke, my cousin is getting married in Chicago this weekend (which depending on the grandmother's situation I may or may not be attending), I finished my first week at the new job (LOVE IT!), Sean moved into his new condo in Virginia, Margo is moving into her new place on Capitol Hill. So... that's everything that's been going in my life, sigh. [and how could we not forget poor Britney going bat-shit crazy?! And readers wonder why I advocate rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous for those who need it].

Ok, now apparently Congress up and decided to move Daylight Savings Time without informing yours truly, so this morning when I was supposed to meet friends and Sean at Cafe Belga for Sunday brunch, I show up an hour late! Afterwards we all went to the orchid exhibit at the National Botanic Garden, which somehow was a bit of a let-down compared to last year as they didn't seem to have as many orchids. Though there are always interesting planst to see anyway (why didn't they have our beloved chocolate orchid??)

This past week I haven't had time for my usual blogging. Monday night I did go out to celebrate the first day on the job with Sean at a place in Rockville I love called Cava. His friend Courtney introduced me to the place when Sean and I first started dating. It's strange - there is really no good Greek restaurant in DC itself, and Cava just comes to show there are some amazing restaurants worth a trip to the suburbs. I can't believe I haven't mentioned it before. Be sure to try their "Cava martini" made with pommegranate and white grape. Highly reccomended restaurant!!

"Vacation, all I ever wanted..."

Another week of vacation... actually I just took a week off as "psychological decompression time" between my old job, and the new one which I start on Monday. Wish me luck!
What's been going on in the past two weeks? Well, cleaning out my office, finding any excuse to celebrate my departure from the insane asylum that was my old job. And there's been lots of sleeping. Zzzz
I owe our friend Marc a belated Happy Birthday. We went out to celebrate at a cute Mexican place in Adams Morgan (we had a very hot Latin waiter, I seem to remember).
"The Sum of all Beers", or "For Whom the Booze Tolls"
I have to start off with this website I stumbled across today. Certain people I know might find it interesting...
Modern Drunk Magazine.
Departing From Gate...
So Friday apparently I caused a stir by inviting Phillip and Fernando to my going-away party at Halo (where did you think I was going to have it, JR's?!) I don't know why, but just knowing that the three of us wll continue to be the office gossip for ages to come makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
What have I done with myself this week? Absolutely nothing! No travelling, no places to be (I even cancelled my appointments), just sleeping as late as I want to, leisurely lunches, shopping, sleeping, meeting up with Sean. Yep. Oh, well Tuesday was reserved for helping Sean move. I absolutley love his new place in McLean/Tysons, we spent our first night together in his new home, bought some new furniture.
Speaking of moves, Margo may be moving soon, she is looking at places, and I wish her the best. Oh the fun times yet to be had!
The Fall of Berlin...
While many know my habit of naming exes after fascist dictators, I have to report my on-going reconcilliation with Casey (formerly known as Hitler, a nickname given to him by Dena). Anyway I saw him this week at Caribou Coffee and we ended up hanging out and going shopping together. He's doing well, it seems, so much more stable and mellowed out. I actually think it will be ok to be friends with him again. It's just weird to think we once lived together, and now we are such different people. But I guess that's growing up (or older).

'Taint Any Fun

This weekend Phillip's friend from London came to visit, arriving on Thursday, so I met them at the Fab Lounge and we went to College Night at Apex, which feels more surreal everytime I go - to think I was once one of those college kids (not THAT long ago, mind you, but a world away mentally).
I think I am turning into an "old married couple" already though with Sean. Maybe it's because his schedule and mine don't always sync, but for example Saturday night I took him to dinner at Floriana and afterwards, despite numerous invitation to go out, we stayed in bed. Granted certain things ARE more fun that dancing and drinking, but staying in on a Saturday night seems perfectly fine when you're with someone. Funny how that happens.
Sunday night, not having work in the morning (not that that's every stopped me before) F and Phillip requested my presence at Taint, a monthly Sunday night party at 9th and U Sts.
Sigh- just when I thought the abyss of DC gay nightlife was JR's, I was oh so so wrong. I hereby recant my statements that JR's blows the hardest, and give the new title to Taint. The "indie" music sucked, the room was full of pretentious hipster-wannabes, I think all my my friends unanimously concluded it was two thumbs-down. Taint left me longing for the bad techno and tweaked out twinks of now-defunct Velvet Nation.
Monday my friend Holly came over to deliver a new member of my little family, a hamster (as yet unamed) that her hamsters gave birth to last month. He's now living in my old aquarium and seems to spend much of his time spinning on the hamster wheel. How I feel at work sometimes.

The Best Valentine's Day Yet!

I realize many of my friends scoff at Valentine's Day as a "Hallmark Holiday" or something of capitalist excess. I don't give a damn, V-Day is important and if I'm in a relationship I want to spoil and be spoiled in return! Last year Drunky McDrunkerson ruined my V-Day (he spent his, no doubt, with his best friend Vodka and a trick from gay.com).
Well, this year made up for it and then some. Sean is a wonderful guy... when I told him (due to the 4 inches of snow/ice we got the night before) I wouldn't bother going into work, he told me I should go in... and of course he had very beautiful flowers etc delivered to me there.
For dinner he surprised me by taking me to French restaurant (trying to find the name, can't remember...) and we exchanged personal Valentines. I was glad to hear the flowers and balloons I sent made it safely to his job as well.

What an interesting (and bitterly cold) week it's been. I dropped the bomb on my current bosses that I accepted a higher position somehwere else (a big F-U to them), so I've been basically a lame duck in my office doing nothing until my last day next week. Last week I celebrated the news with Phillip and Fernando, Friday night I somehow left my bag (with my laptop in it!) at a Peking duck place in Bethesda, which found me the next day trying to find the place - fortunately they did have my bag. Saturday night I went out with Sean and two of his friends from VA to a wonderful place in Silver Spring I've heard so many good things about over the years, but never ventured to try: The Mrs. K's Tollhouse restaurant. It was very nice, sort of a country-inn type restaurant you'd expect to see in the Shenandoah Valley or something. We all enjoyed everything, I highly reccomend if you're looking for a short getaway, very romantic.
The night before Valentines (Tuesday) was the night it snowed. I met with Phillip and Fernando for coffee and some lovely brownies that fucked me up (I only ate 1 1/2, I can only imagine how P must've felt) went home, watched the snow fall, listened to music and drifted off to sleep.

More 15 Mins of Fame...

Today I am in both the Washington Post Express (under the Valentine's Day interview, which took place at Cafe Citron last week) and in the Washington Blade. The photo in the Blade is the funniest of all - it's a pic of Phillip and I... at (irony of irony) JR's. Everyday my life feels more and more like a tabloid.

February Revolution!

Welcome to February, which so far is turning into a month that ROCKS!

For starters, my boyfriend Sean just bought a place in McLean, Virginia, near Tyson's Corner -it's very nice, we took a look at it together yesterday. Congratulations, baby!!!

And, though I haven't wanted to mention it out of fear of jinxing it, I have been offered a higher-paying and higher-title position at a gay rights non-profit. I am taking it.

So, my social life wrap-up. Last week I was still under the weather. I'm still coughing but I'm getting better. Anyway, Fernando, Phillip, Sean and myself went to Margo's for dinner last Thursday night. She made this amazing roasted red pepper sauce (which I'd love to have the recipe for hint hint :) ). Friday night I went out with a bunch of co-workers, first to Cafe Citron, dinner at Luna Cafe, and tequila shots and other stuff at a friends house. Hmmm, Saturday Sean came over and we were going to go to dinner at Lauriol Plaza. Now, you know I love Lariol but when they have an 80-minute wait I don't think so. Some restauarants are ok, but highly over-rated. So we went to Logan Tavern where I felt dissapointed again, by both the wait, the bland food, and the service. DC really needs a fresh jolt of new restaurants, these places are getting stale. We met Phillip at Cobalt and I actually got Sean to dance(!). It was a great time had by all!
Sunday, we met Phillip and Fernando for post-party brunch at Playbill, looked at the place in VA, and went out with his friend Courntey to celebrate his purchase and watch the superbowl.

Love on Ice!

To see our happy fun skating trip last night, click here!

To recap the weekend, I went to Banana Cafe with Phillip and Fernando, for " a few drinks" which somehow tunred into Remington's, followed by Be Bar. A very odd mixture of atmospheres. Nevertheless, I love Be Bar - it's like Halo with a dance floor. And god knows we need more classy gay bars in this town, so I am glad to see the trend of places that are upscale as opposed to the graveyard that is 17th St.

So last night was a night of ice skating with my boyfriend and good friends, Lebanese food, and mischief :) Today, I hung around with Sean, mostly staying in since the cold has been bothering me, though we did venture down to Mei Wah for lunch.

"Sean and Myself"

"'Norma!" LOL!

A Tale of Two Phil(l)ips

I'm not sure if I forgot this in my last entry, but Phillip (with 2 L's) is back from England, his visa redtape taken care of for the time being. It's good to have him back, I met him for lunch with Fernando this week. I am looking forward to fabulous times ahead, if they are anything like, say, Fernando's birthday last year.

Oh, and tonight the other Phil, via instant messenger, informed me he is not amused with being labeled an alcoholic. I'm not sure why it brings me no small amount of joy to know my blog upsets him, but it does. Does that make me an evil person? I didn't think so. Anyway, he wishes to inform that he apparently has "studied" the definition of alcoholism, and he is "not an alcoholic" [See: "Alcoholism and Denial"]. Because surely one can diagnose oneself. And what of:
*breaking bones
*blacking out
*threatening to hit one's lover
- all under the influence? Those can't possibly be the signs of alcohol abuse, right? It is true I myself enjoy alcohol, though my enjoyment of it is limited, within control, and causes a relaxed state free from violent or angry behaviors. [post-script: "M" reminded me that laying in a gutter asking my friend "Why does Adam hate me so much!" also counts as a alky behavior too.]

Oh well, enough of Drunky McDrunkerson. It snowed again today... if the cold weather lasts I think this weekend Sean and I will go ice-skating, since Margo suggested that wonderful little rink at Pentagon City. Dinner, skating, mischief... I love winter! I may also be returning to Canada soon, for a possible consulting job opportunity, though I'll say no more lest I jinx it. Sean looked at some condos in Silver Spring today, continuing his search. And that's all I can think of new today!

Snow-Job

On Sunday we got out first snow of the season. Which figureing it was like 70 degrees outside a week or so ago is strange. I went with Sean, Margo, and Fred to MienYu in Georgetown as part of Restaurant Week on Sunday, and I have to say I liked everything I had, though some things on their menu seemed rather odd fusions I would never try. But I liked the atmosphere a great deal.
It started snowing while we were eating. After the meal Sean went to the neighborhoods around the National Cathedral to look at condos (he's in the market looking to buy) and we looked at places back in my neighborhood, in the Adams Morgan / Kalorama area, and saw some pretty nice surprisingly affordable ones. I'd be lying if I said the buying bug didn't bite me a little, but I am not ready to settle on property just yet.
It was good to be in from the snow when we got back to my place, though it was awfully beautiful. Now, Sean has these two friends who live in Sterling, Virginia. It's not just the suburbs, it's the middle of fucking nowhere. And they wanted us to come out to VA to have coffee. Now, being a snowy afternoon with nothing to do, I agreed. Everything was going fine until Sean's car got stuck in the snow on an unplowed street.SO we decided bumfuck VA was a bad idea and instead he took me to a place called Addie's near his place in MD.
Now most know how I feel about the suburbs (I may have developed a little snobbery over the years) so I was bracing for less-than-great food. I was very surprised. It's in a cute wooden house-turned-restaurant, a very country inn atmosphere, and great modern dishes. Sean's a chef, how ever did I doubt his taste ;) I reccomend it, even if it's in MD (again with the Maryland jokes).
All in all Sunday was a great ending to an, um, interesting weekend. Well, it was great to see Laura and her bf Derek who came to visit from Richmond. We had a great deal of fun going to the Spy Museum, the Natural History Musuem (all the things as a resident I am too lazy to see except with visitors). We had dinner at The Odeon, one of the few good Italian places in DC, and to a club called Midnight. All of which was great, save for an ex of mine who started acting very passive-agressively. Too much to even go into now, but I am in no hurry to repeat that mess again, though I'd love to see Laura again.

"Maryland Empire"

There's always been a long-running joke that Maryland, is just, well, different. (Apologies to select Marylanders including my boyfriend Sean, blog reader Brian). Well, this book just confirms it : Weird Maryland.

Which brings me last Saturday when I went to see the David lynch film "Inland Empire" at the AFI theater in Silver Spring (full enough of it's own weirdness to warrant a Lynch movie.) Hmmm you know, it's been going around in my head for days now. I think I might have a theory as to "what is all means" but then again I could be wrong. Either way, it involves three hours of Laura Dern playing a foul-mouthed skank, dancing prostitutes, Polish carnies. I think that about sums it up. If you find a plot, let me know.

It was also Leather Weekend, and my friend found a nice leather harness (no pics, sorry). I saw some very, um, educational stuff. Basically got drunk three nights in a row is the sum of it. Come to think of it, Tuesday night I got drunk too, on way too many cocktails at a work happy hour at the Front Page because the guy kept giving me half-priced gin-and-tonics long after happy hour had ended. Sure, blame it all the bartender. If this keeps going, I'll be turning into Phil.

Oh, and today is my friend Fred's birthday, so Happy Birthday Fred!

"Nothing Changes on New Year's Day..."

Hello, I am back home from Canada, and back at work (I feel like I'm the only one in DC who had to go to work today on this "day of mourning" for the death of Gerald Ford). I would have liked an extra day of rest, but oh well.

So New Years was great, I spent it with my boyfriend Sean (AKA "The Chef") and Fernando at Halo and the Eagle (don't ask me how we wound up at a leather bar, after drinks at Halo it somehow made sense). Yesterday, New Years Day, I had a late brunch with Sean once we got ourselves together, and had dinner too with his friends in Maryland. Honestly, I am exhausted, I haven't even unpacked from my trip- as soon as I got in from the airport I went right back out and so on...

So, Canada! I don't even know where to begin. I was mostly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but went to various other towns around the province as well (Evangline Beach, Peggy's Cove, Hall's Harbour, Wolfville, Kentville, Chester, St. Margaret's Bay area) It was very beautiful, and I can definately say I got my "Winter fix." Remind me never to ask for cold weather again.

Some photos for your enjoyment...
Hall's Harbour on the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's highest tides (as seen by this boat)

The lighthouse and town of Peggy's Cove


Downtown Halifax on a typical snowy winter day

Life in Beta

Blogger (the people who bring you this great blog) keep trying to get me to switch to Blogger Beta. Now, as a rule, I am always suspicious when things are "new and improved." Those who lived through the 80's and early 90's will remember such beta products as New Coke and Crystal Pepsi.
Hotmail tired a beta format that sucked so much I went back to the old format. I'm a little nervous about chaning my Deep Blog over to the new format on Blogger, I have fears it may wreck my design. Hmmm... so if you check back in and see things out of whack, that may be why. I hope this doesn't become the New Coke of blogdom.
At any rate my vacation thus far has brought me peace and contentment. I have just been able to hang about doing whatever I want. And goddamn does it feel good!! This week, when I wasn't sleeping in, I did all my holiday cards and mailed them out yesterday. Tuesday I entertained my mom and went to the Phillips Collection nearby in Dupont. We had Ethiopian food for lunch - always an experience. And later that night I had a wonderful wonderful "Festivus Fondue" at the Melting Pot with many of my close friends and Sean.
I saw "Apocalytpo" on Wednesday. Given Mel Gibson's insanity as of late I was a little apprehensive about seeing it, but I have to say I reccomend it. Who doesn't like graphic depiction of Mayan sacrifice?
Thursday Sean was off so I met him in Chinatown and we went to the Spy Museum together, which I highly enjoyed. It was a great day to spend with him, I really find myself liking him a lot.
So, today besides being lazy I managed to book my flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for next week.

I will be gone between Christmas and New Years in our fabulous and gay-friendly sister to the north, Canada! Tell you more "aboot" it later, eh?

December Updates

Wow, I've been even more absent than usual on here. I'm out of excuses...I've just been busy, and when I'm not busy I am too tried to update. So, I will try my best and get my adoring audience up to speed.

My work life has been hectic - the NRCA awards dinner at the Grand Hyatt last Wednesday night, and the preperation leading up to that, among other work projects. I am taking two of my three weeks vacation now (they won't carry over into the new year) and plus the week the office is closed for the holidays means THREE, read em, 3 back-to-back weeks of vacation!!!
I will thouroughly enjoy not dealing with any work drama. Now my only dilemma is what to do and/or where to go. Still working on that, as I hadn't really planned this out ahead of time.

Elsewhere in my life is the usual litany of bars and clubs, which I will spare you since it starts to sound redudant after awhile. But I will mention that this Friday I went with friends to a Martha's Table fundraiser (they help feed the homeless of DC) at the Mt. Pleasant Street neighborhood bar, Tonic. I rarely venture into the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, even though it's right around the corner from Adams Morgan. After that I went to a former co-worker's going away party, before she leaves for Romania, at a place in Arlington called Gua-Rapo. It was a nice place, met a lot of Eastern Europeans. Took the metro back into the city and finished out with drinks at the bar of Le Pigalle. The bartenders there are starting to know my drink (which, if you'd like to know, is a blueberry Stoli and soda).

Things to be Thankful For

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I know I did - I got off a half day from Wednesday to yesterday, so it was a much needed vacation. I went out dancing with Fernando on Tuesday night - ran into a guy I was/am sort of seeing. I feel mean because he seems into me, but I'm starting to loose interest in him. We were at Retro Night at Cobalt and he wanted to go home with me, but I was too drunk and had to work the next day. Sigh, I'm always so bad at handling these things.

Thursday I went to visit my family for the day, though I got a bit of the guilt trip for "dining and dashing" ie, I had to leave after dinner to make it to a friend's party on time which was the perfect excuse to get away. I don't know why I continue to let my family give me guilt trips over these sorts of things. I can count the number of times they visit me on one hand (keep in mind they live a whopping 30 miles away). Yet I'm always expected to go out of my way to visit them. I really don't feel guilty, of course, but I have to listen to the comments when I visit. Sometimes I wish I lived in California.

Anyway, I met Sean, a recent interest, and we went to Margo and Fred's. I always seem to miss the food on TG, and it seems to be a tradition-in-the-making for me to bring a new boy over (last year it was The Village Drunk AKA Mussolini AKA Phil). The wine tasting was interesting (my vote goes for the blueberry wine). I went home with tons of leftovers from both dinners. Witnessed a hit-n-run on 19th st (which was funny because we were discussing the infamous one that happened in August of '05).

Friday night Fernando and his roomate Kevin picked me up and we went to one of his friend's condos in Columbia Heights. We got drunk before we even went out - I should know that when Fernando is involved there's always a hangover. So we get to Halo and I'm alrady lit, and you know how Halo is. I met some guy from the gay men's swim team. Don't remember his name. I had all these grand ideas for the evening, but instead I stumbled home at midnight with the world spinning around me.

Saturday I enjoyed the beautiful weather as much as possible. I met Sean again and we went to dinner at The Duplex Diner in my neighborhood at 18th and U st. Now, the Duplex is an interesting place, part gay bar part kitschy restaurant. Sadly, the service is very gay too - in other words always late and filled with attitude. I really WANT to like the place, but the attitude factor keeps me from going back. At any rate, Sean and I had a great evening together, even if his chef job keeps him working odd hours (go figure- I never thought I'd be a 9-5er).

Sunday I met Fernando (you can already guess how this will end) for brunch at 1409 Playbill. Bloody Mary's were involved. My whole afternoon was shot. I remember accidentally insulting a friend from college we ran into at Kramer's, sitting in the Circle, passing out on my couch, and having a headache from hell. And they say Bloody Marys are a cure for hangovers! I guess in moderation.

As a completely unrelated topic, check out the new Macy's on 13th and G st. They have the coolest holiday window displays. It's times like that I could almost get into the holiday season.

Casino Adam

Zaytinya I've been hearing around, and in local magazines, that Zaytinya is the new hot spot. It's in Gallery Place next to the MLK library on F st NW. I went there on a date this Wednesday past, and as I expected, it was busy. Overall, I was prepared for another over-priced too-hip restaurant, but I have to say I was completly impressed with the menu (Turkish / Mediterranean) and the live music and belly-dancing.

Oh, and the guy :) So his name is Sean, he's very nice, a chef who lives in Maryland... I like him. The first date went very well, in fact I saw him again last night. We went to see Casino Royale, the new Bond movie.

James Blonde Ok, let me ctach my breath on that one. This new Daniel Craig guy is SMOKING hot. And unlike past Bonds, he seems a little grittier, a little dirtier, which I like! And those peircing blue eyes. Sigh...


Food and Booze I'm starting to notice a pattern in my blog... there's usually lots of alcohol involved. And this weekend, my dear readers, was no exception. I went out straight after work to celebrate the end of a particularly rough week. And Saturday was a sort of pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner party. Which in a party full of gay men means no one shows up on time, and there's more vodka than edible food. Of course I was impressed with all the dishes (thanks Margo for the great Apple pie - Fernando hid it from the other people for ourselves LOL). And this week will find me indulging in more turkey and cocktails, no doubt!

And for those interested: my Cranberry-Orange Grand Marnier Sauce

2 bags fresh cranberries, roughly 24 oz?
Squeezed juice of 2 navel oranges
1 to 1.5 cups sugar to taste
-Mix together in a large pot, over high heat until the berries start to burst. By about 6-10 mins, the berries should be completely broken down and the sauce should be thickening. Let the sauce cool, and add 4 tbs Grand Marnier. Chill.

An Open Letter to...

Ok, sometimes I get nostalgic for the past and things that could-have-been. Not sure why I remember Justin - considering it was years ago. A friend of mine was visiting from London and during that time I'd met this guy, even though I was still living with "Hitler." I was at Annie's having lunch one day this week and, as sometimes, happens, I remembered sitting in that same booth three years ago...

It was three years ago. I remember really liking you; your name was Justin and you had gone to Pepperdine University.
Your first month or so here in DC you also got mugged! I felt so bad.

I was involved with a psychopath at the time, but I wanted to get rid of him. It was a classic case of "if I can't have you, no one will." ie, he set out to sabotage any future dates I had, and I recall one drunken night he really embarassed me at Annies, where you were sitting with a friend having dinner. After that I was so ashamed I didn't try meeting up with you.

On the bright side, Mr. Psychopath is out of my life (with everything short of a restraining order). I've learned to be a little more drama free. :)

Out of the blue the other day -at Annie's actually- I remembered you. Wondered if you were still in DC, if you like it or hate it, in general I hope you are doing well. Funny the men we remember, and the missed chances we regret!

Mer de Noms

Now that the year is drawing towards a close, I feel I should reflect on things that have happened over the course of a crazy year. And one of my favorite commentors mentioned that I hadn't written anything political - and for a reason! I feel there's so much in the daily paper about it all, I can't add anything. Plus, I live in the District of Columbia which means I have no representation in Congress anyway, so I had no important candidates like my friends in Virginia or Maryland. Well, Mayor of the city I suppose, but we all know Fenty is going to win. Add to this the fact I am neither Republican or Democrat. No, I am not one of those mushy middle-of-the-road people. I am very much on the Left... so much so that I find myself frequently furious at the Democrats for their weak nature. I've even lost faith in Howard Dean... ok I said I would avoid politics and there I go!

So anyway, on to more pleasant topics, men. Maybe it was a conversation I had in a bar not too long ago, when I had trouble remembering all the guys I have been involved with this year. I don't know if that's funny or sad. At any rate, here they are in the order I remember them roughly, from January to present.

Phil- like a big drunken teddy bear.
Bryan - the guy from New York.
Stephen - the Catholic I dated for 4 summer months
Andy - wish I had followed up with him.
Mark - another one I wish I'd followed up with.
John S. -yet another one I never followed up with afterwards.
Brad - cute boy from Maine, by too young I think.
Michael - a reporter who wanted to get my story.
Tom- sigh, Tom the Fire Captain I met at Chloe.
Mike S. - a guy I met last year who's still being persistant.
Will- the current boy, a dancer.

I know there are names and nights I am forgetting here, but not too shabby I guess!