2007 - the Best Year Yet!

It's that time to recap on this year past. I really do think '07 has been a great year - I stated off returing from Canada in time to celebrate by ringing in the new year with Sean (I'm a bit superstitious about beginning the year with a kiss), and we later on had a great Valentine's Day. In short time I found a better job, more money, and I was happier all around. In April I had a great birthday and Sean made a wonderful Easter dinner for everyone. There were trips to Chicago, to Utah, to the beach, to England, to Mexico. There were gala dinners and countless happy hours. I stayed closer to old good friends and made new ones along the way. Sean and I celebrated out 1-year anniversary, and we were fortunate to spend the Holidays together.

Here's to another amazing year! See you in 2008!

All I Want for Festivus is....

Someone please buy me this:


I am so ready to have next week off! I’m looking forward to both Margo’s Festivus Eve party and seeing my family Xmas day, and getting to see Sean through all of it. Well – I’m not bringing him home this year, but that’s a "me issue" as I’m not psychologically prepared yet to subject him to my family introduce him to the folks.

Wednesday night I hosted a small gathering (pictures forthcoming) and gift exchange with Phillip, Fernando, Charlie and Sean. I’m sad to report Charlie is leaving my job for a better opportunity. So while I am sad to see him go, it really is for a better job, so I am happy too. We exchanged gifts, and drank my out of house and home. Out of the night came two new drinks we have given birth to.

The White Louis ™
(a variation on The Louis invented by Phillip)
½ part amaretto
½ part white cranberry juice
Shake with ice and serve in martini glass.

The Bizzy Fuck ™
(There’s an interesting story behind the name I won’t share here, but it was created in honor of Charlie’s resignation letter earlier that day)
3 shots Stoli Blueberi vodka
1 shot Grand Marnier
3 shots white cranberry juice
1 shot lime juice
Shake with ice and serve in martini glass. Makes about 3 martinis, so adjust accordingly if need more or less. Strong enough to drown all holiday malcontent. I hope Drunky's enablers friends don't try and steal the recipes, they are copywritten!

SIGH...

"Chef Tom" has been rather busy this year, wouldn't you say?

With My Back to the Wind

Hope all has been well with everyone! I'm looking forward to over a week off for the holidays. A bit stressed about all the things to do and what not, but the drama is part of the "fun" of the season I suppose. I've been in kind of a strange mood lately; I haven't gone out as much as I usually do.
The work holiday party was actually a lot of fun, aboard the Spirit of Washington. Afterwards we had drinks at the Beacon hotel. And after that I met friends at Halo. It was quote an evening. And I ended up at Town but I really didn't stay long as I was getting over a flu-like thing I had earlier in the week, and I was sure that a day-long binge was not doing me any favors.
Poor Sean has been working a lot and long hours lately, so we haven't been able to see much of eachother. Saturday night we saw eachother for a bit, we had dinner and coffee. I was wet and cold by the time I got home, so I declined another round of Town and actually managed to wrap all of my presents.
Last night myself and others met ou friend Marc for a sort of goingaway dinner before he leaves for Vietnam for almost a month, at an Ethiopian restaurant on U St. I hadn't had that in ages, I forgot how yummy the injera sponge bread can be...

Song of the day...

HOlidaze

Whatever that elusive holiday "spirit" is I think I came close to it this weekend. I braved not one but two malls in the suburban gift-buying race known as December. Thus far I've done pretty well and resisted temptation to buy for myself. By the way, if you are ever in Old Town Alexandria, Margo introduced me last week to a wonderful little Lebanese place on Cameron St. called the Pita House. Unassuming from first looks, but it’s very good. And did I mention that I love Border's and Macy's? Life-savers!
My work is having a holiday party on a river lunch cruise. Because being trapped on a boat with coworkers...nevermind I won't even go there.
I'm also planning on a do-it-myself "Festivus Fondue" party in the near future with the VIPs probably knowing who they are already. I make a mean-ass fondue and I actually have two fondue sets, one that Drunky gave me a few years back I still have. The only positive thing I have from that mess, actually LOL.
I don’t really have much else, besides Sean and I shopping and doing the weekend going-out thing. But for your random entertainment...

Festivus Cards - 1, 2
Airing of Grievances Worksheet
Brit, why do you do this to yourself?
Me as "Chef Tom's" Groupie - "I think the guitarist is dreamy"




Sean and I - digitally remastered

My candidate...

I, of course, would be his White House intern...

Uptown, Downtown

Friday night was a Britney-themed party at Be Bar, so of course you know I was there. Somehow it wasn't trashy enough. I mean, the kitsch factor should have been turned up a notch. At any rate I shared many Cherry Bombs with certain friends before they dragged me (kicking and screaming, of course) to Town. I hadn't been there for the Friday night party before, but I had a good time.
Saturday I honestly didn't accomplish much besides attempt some shopping. My problem every holiday season is all the cool shit comes out in December, so I wind up wanting to buy everything - for myself! I still haven't accomplished any shopping for others.
Saturday night Sean surprised me by bringing food and cooking dinner for me! He prepared leg of lamb and other sundry things. I couldn't stop eating it was so great. Sean doesn't cook often (being a chef and all, I imagine he gets tied of being around food) but when he does, he's amazing.
We went out that night, but first to Phillip's house for brownies and a new drink named after our favorite chihuahua, Louis.
The Louis: equal parts cranberry juice and Disoronno amaretto, shaken.
We went to Town yet again. Other clubs must be feeling the sting, because Town has been consistently packed. I had a great time, but I didn't last all night. I'm glad Sean was with me, to take me home.
The next day I feel bad because I sort of let the day pass by - it's not my fault the sun sets at 5 now! By the time we got ready, we wound up going for Chinese for "blinner." It was a wet cold day anyway, what's the point of getting out of bed?!
Tonight I am going to attempt to make a Thai green curry. If it comes out edible I will share the recipe. If not, I have Dominos on speed dial.
Currently in my iPod:
Filo & Peri - "Anthem"
Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat" Remix
Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
Ida Corr - "Let Me Think About It (Fedde Le Grand Remix)"

Updates: Christmas Disaster Generator!

Gimme More... Mexico!

UPDATE: after some quality time with the scanner, the complete pictures from Mexico, including diving pictures. Though they came out not as great as I wanted - not sure if it was my fault of the CVS photo people. Either way, there are up.

(there's just something about an iguana with a flower that will never cease being funny.)

NEWS UPDATE : Hockey Player's Gay Photo "Scandal"

After the Stuffing

Back from Thanksgiving weekend and I wish I was still in bed. Cold weather makes me want to do two things: sleep in all day, and cook high-calorie foods. At any rate, it was a great Thanksgiving day- I went to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving dinner though I spent most of the day there too. After eating myself sick there I drove to Margo and Fred’s and met up with Sean for wine and game and desert - a Thanksgiving tradition. And Sean is lucky enough to have been through not one but two of these. (Poor Drunky - he must be trying to numb the painful memories of Thanksgivings past with booze, no doubt surrounded by his enablers friends.)

Sean and I had a great weekend, albeit boring in the sense of not "doing" much. We did go out Saturday night, and I also had drinks with Phillip and Fernando returning from their Thanksgiving. I saw a movie yesterday with Sean after having dinner in GAY-thersburg, MD (if you want to annoy people from Gaithersburg, emphasize the GAY in the name). We saw The Mist, well mainly because The Golden Compass wasn’t playing, but I was impressed. I also want to see I Am Legend, as it’s actually one of my favorite horror short stories (read it - these things are always better than the movies). I also have to start holiday shopping! I have no idea what to get, and I’m terrible for waiting until the last minute. Help!

The Thanksgiving Edition

I'm back to reality from a very pleasant weekend. Sean and I joined some friends at TOWN which debuted this weekend, filling a void in the city when the only options for dancing were less-than-stellar other places.

I guess I should backtrack and mention that Friday night, while waiting for a friend at Halo, I was at the bar enjoying my martini when a nasty man tried to dry-hump my leg. It was one of those situations where you are too mortified to know what to do (like, say, grab his nutsack and throw him across the room). My friends couldn't show up fast enough. Ick!

So, Town: After having dinner at Lauriol Plaza with Sean, we went to a friend's place and then hit Town. It was packed - as one can imagine. I have to say - I was duly impressed. The decor, the attention to detail, the skilled DJs. Think Halo meets now-defunct Velvet. It was spacious (including a soundproofed lounge area), clean, the drinks were reasonable, and there was lots of dancing space. *Also, there is a sizeable parking lot for those of us that drive, across the street. Gay DC has been waiting for this for some time now - I can't wait to go back again this weekend!

(And to be filed under "guilty pleasures" : they played a 30-min remix of Britney's "Gimme More." And you know every queen in that place was squeeling with joy. Know thy customers!)

Sean and I left around 4 and went home. We didn't get started until way late yesterday afternoon, and we went to Annie's for late afternoon "blinner" and I joined my friend Charlie to Karaoke at Cobalt though I only stayed for two drinks. I didn't do much else except hit up Whole Foods for Thanksgiving stuff.

So what do I have to be thankful for this year?
*A new/better job
*Sean
*Good friends
*Family

UPDATES : Tom (Brady) of Finland, Underwear Model.
It's Whitney, Bitch! (Thanks to Phillip for link)

Festivus Gift Ideas: Lucky Eggs!

Thinking of what to buy Adam for Christmas Festivus? Well since no one bought me that grease-stained dress from Britney that was on Ebay awhile back, I guess I will have to settle for the Chicken Machine.

Seriously, do any of you guys remember these? If you were a child in the 80's, being dragged through the store with the parents meant a reward at the end: a plastic egg with a cheap toy inside, from the magic clucking Chicken Machine: (click to enlarge)




I swear, I want one! They occasionally pop up on Ebay.
UPDATE: Or you could get me a real Polar Bear skin rug for my non-existant fireplace. That would work too. Or just a fireplace.

More Andy...

I can't belive I let this one slip through the cracks! I didn't have a chance to keep up with my Perez and TMZ, but here's this gem:

Looks like daddy's been working out!

UPDATE in other news... Tom Brady, Undwear Model.

Going Down like London Bridge

London photos, as promised, are now uploaded here!

Anniversary!

Today is me and Sean's 1 year aniversary!!!

Maybe to some people that doesn't sound like a lot, but I think it's a major accomplishment. And what a crazy/wonderful/happy year it's been. Time really does fly when you're having fun with a great guy like Sean. I'm very lucky - and here's to more years to come!

Tea Time with Adam

Sigh, so I arrived back from the U.K. Sunday night (and Sean was kind enough to pick me up) and I'm still recovering from a wild time in the world's most awesome city, hands-down, London.

Everytime I'm there I feel so..invigorated, I guess. I don't know what it is but London is something else. I daydream about the idea of living there. Of course there's a) immigration - why did we have to have that stupid little revolution? and b) expense. London is fabulous, but one thing it isn't is cheap. ($4 USD for a Diet Coke, you get the idea...) So basically I'd need a job willing to sponsor my visa and offer double my current salary. BUT one can try...

I actually didn't take that many pictures - too scandalous to take. But the few g-rated photos I do have I will post soon. I think Phillip had an awesome birthday week. I've been feeling a tad under the weather since I got back, though I'm sure that had nothing to do with all the world travelling I've done lately.

It's a bit depressing being home again, especially with the lack-luster "entertainment" DC has to offer. Our sad excuses for clubs have nothing on the dance-till-noon-the-next-day amazing venues such as G-A-Y and the fabulous Club Fire. In retrospect all the days kinda blurred into one long (mis)adventure. But alas, I will be back soon, no doubt. Hopefully for longer too. Cheers!

Happy Halloween!

I wanted to tell my faithful readers Happy Halloween in advance, as I will actually be missing Halloween here. Now you know it takes a lot to make me pass up my favorite holiday - but I will be on a flight to my favorite city, London. I will be there for 4 days for Phillip's birthday celebrations (Happy Birthday, Phillip!) I am very excited, and will have yet more travel pictures when I return!
Cheers!

Viva Mexico!

I got back yesterday, and what a shock it was to step out of the airport into wet and cold (I, of course, was unprepared still in sandals and shorts). I don't even know where to begin, but it was a wonderful, magical trip with Sean. The snorkeling with the tropical fish, spending days sipping pineapple dacquiris on the gay beach, nightclubs, exploring the old town, shopping for goodies (of course), amazing Latin cuisine (including Sean's birthday dinner at this place).

As of right now I only have a fraction of the vacation pics, the ones from my digital camera. However once I have my underwater film developed and my other camera's pics scanned, I will add them in as well.

Mexico Photos!

Octubre, Octubre

Finally I am finished with my Gala and Convention duties - it really feels like the rest of the year is all downhill from here!
Plus, I feel like I can die as a happy gay man: I have met Cyndi Lauper.
Pictures from the Gala dinner - click here.
Only a few more days and I will be on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta with Sean. I will most certainly NOT be reading emails or updating blog during this time. In fact, I hope to temporarily forget D.C. exists (however for emergencies my cell phone does work internationally if you need to reach me).

Adios for now - and I will return laden with gifts, stories, photos, and my sanity restored!

"The Center of Attention..."

I had an incredibly fun weekend, centered around the HRC Gala on Saturday night. I have some photos from the night here, please don't forward to Perez Hilton! I don't think I've been out like that in ages - the VIP after-party at Halo, Apex, after Apex closed the after-hours dance at Club Five. I still feel exhausted from it, but it was a great night.

Congrats to Halo!

I love this shit! Today's Washington Blade featured a special report "Best of Gay DC" and Halo beat out JR's as best bar.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Hold on let me catch my breath. HAHAHAHAHAHA

Really, as if there was any contest. Cheers to Halo, and thanks for giving DC-region gays a more upscale option for social gathering.