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November 29, 2005
Houston GLBT Roundup
Jim, Dave, Steve and I all had a fantastic time at the Houston Roundup. They're so hospitable down in the south!
I met a ton of awesome people. Went to a few workshops. Heard some great speakers. Went out to the clubs one night - that was a little scary. Those Texas boys sure do know what they want at the lite-leather bar. I think it was called The Alley???
I'm kicking myself now. Can you believe I didn't take one photo the entire trip? I brought my camera with no batteries and never got around to buying any. Grrr - I'm so ashamed! Fortunately, some of the other bloggers were able to snap a few photos.
Scott had this photo:
Mike had this photo:
Posted by SparklesMpls at 09:12 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack
November 25, 2005
Friday morning in Houston
Jim just told his story at the roundup this morning. He was fantastic, as usual. It's funny how nervous he was last night, tossing, turning, getting up at 2:00 in the morning, when he had it down pat. He's always great, so I don't know what he was so nervous of. Afterall, us alcoholics don't judge people :-)
Posted by SparklesMpls at 11:21 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
November 24, 2005
Something to be thankful for
The truth finally comes out, and on Thanksgiving no less. How dramatic.
Seen first on CNN.com, the AP reports:
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, who turned mid-level music careers into a Hollywood star-spangled marriage, have separated following months of persistent breakup rumors.
The couple announced their separation Wednesday.
"After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways," they said in a joint statement released by their publicists. "This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other."
Calls seeking further comment from publicists Meredith O' Sullivan and Rob Shuter were not immediately returned early Thursday.
The couple have been dogged by rumors that their marriage was in trouble -- Us Weekly reported that they split in an Oct. 17 issue -- but Simpson, 25, and Lachey, 32, brushed the speculation aside and insisted they were still together.
In the December-January issue of Teen People, which went on newsstands earlier this month, Simpson denied rumors that the marriage was kaput.
"Hopefully mine and Nick's story will continue for the rest of our lives, like what we vowed, through sickness and in health," said Simpson, who famously professed that she remained a virgin until she got married.
The couple wed in October 2002, back when they were known simply as pop singers. But Simpson hadn't achieved the multiplatinum successes of peers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, while Lachey was a member of the boy band 98 Degrees, which sold far fewer albums than such acts as 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys.
The couple's reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," which chronicled their daily lives in a new California home, turned them into stars. The show, which ran for three seasons, made Simpson infamous for her dippy-blonde moments, including the time she confused the tuna she was eating for chicken, or when she eschewed Buffalo wings because "I don't eat buffalo."
Simpson's star status has begun to outshine Lachey's. She played Daisy Duke in this summer's hit movie "The Dukes of Hazzard," and she endorses "Dessert," a beauty line that includes flavored body creams. Lachey, whose solo album has had disappointing sales, appeared in some episodes of the sitcom "Charmed."
Besides appearing in "Newlyweds," the couple entertained U.S. troops earlier this year in the ABC special "Nick & Jessica's Tour of Duty," and last year they hosted the ABC variety special "Nick & Jessica's Family Christmas." A coffee table book, "Jessica Simpson I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding," also was released last year.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 03:43 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Foreigner keeps it up
I've had comments guessing at the country of origin of my mystery voicemail leaver. Polish, Russian, Persian, Indian, Arabic - who knows. But here she is on Thanksgiving still trying to get a hold of somebody. I'm starting to feel bad for her because she obviously doesn't know that she's calling the wrong number. And here it is on Thanksgiving and she has nobody on the other end of the line to talk to.
I am grateful I am not her today.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 10:51 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
Morning in Houston
I've just had a lovely breakfast in the restaurant here in the hotel. The buffet was wo-manned by a charming lady who made a killer omlet, pankakes and waffles. The front page of the Times is continuing to report on yesterday's story of the Vatican's new policy to weed out homosexuals from the priesthood. Afterall, we are the root of all of their evil.
Jim and David have gone for a walk and once again, left me to fend for myself in the business center, where David from last night is now hydrating himself in the same spot he was dehyrdating himself last night. He's much cuter after a shower and some water. Darling short blonde hair with a slight curl. Skinny and well-dressed, he's off to a friend's in a suburb to celebrate his first Thanksgiving.
I'll be with a bunch of alcoholic homos tonight, celebrating all that we are grateful for. I'm sure it's going to be a blast, as us sickos generally know how to have the most fun :-)
Posted by SparklesMpls at 10:44 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
My first night in Houston
I'm in Houston with Jim and Dave, sitting down in the hotel's business center for the free internet access. Can you believe they want to charge you $10 a night to be online in your room?
I've just met David in the business center. He's sauntered over from the bar where he is telling me that though I am good looking, he finds it strange that there is such a thing as a "gay non alcoholic texan group." He thinks that because I am already a minority (gay), that I shouldn't further my exclusivity by claiming to be non-alcoholic. I hope that didn't make any sense, because I can't make any of it.
Anyway, he's cute, here from Scotland, and continues to flirt with me. I wonder where this is going to go ...
Posted by SparklesMpls at 01:09 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
November 20, 2005
Am I a bore?
Not a whore, a B-O-R-E. I think I have turned into one. Call it recovery, growing up, growing old, what-have-you, I'm rarely in the mood these days to go out of my way to socialize. Just last night, on a Saturday of all nights, Jim and I were sitting at Vera's surfing the 'net and chatting with other patrons. It was around 7:00 PM. By 9:00 PM we were back at his house watching television and playing with the cats, Frank and Henry.
I had double-booked myself with two other social engagements, but I just wasn't in the mood to follow-through on those commitments. I'm not sure why I was so apathetic to the commitments - could have been fatigue, a desire not to get dressed to impress, contentness, or all of those things.
On one hand I should be grateful that I don't feel the need to get out and validate myself through meeting and hanging out with other people. On the other hand, I feel like I'm missing out on meeting and hanging out with other people.
Or, perhaps, I'm over-thinking all of this, and I'm just going into Winter hibernation mode.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 12:07 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
November 19, 2005
Serial foreign caller strikes again!
For those of you reading for a while, you know that I have a woman who's been leaving messages on my voicemail at home. She clearly has the wrong phone number, at least I hope she does, yet she continues to call. I hope its not important, but I can't really tell. If anyone can decipher / translate the message it would be interesting to know what's been going on. It's also ironic to note that the language she speaks seems to be somewhat of a hybrid, as she always ends her calls with, "Okay, bye." (in English) Here are two messages I've received over the past two days.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 11:28 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
November 13, 2005
The good, the bad, and the ugly
On Friday evening I was given the opportunity to help a guy in AA. It felt wonderful to be able to help somebody without having any hidden agendas about how this might serve me, or what I might get out of it. I'm just glad somebody was able to help this guy.
On the same evening I found out that some people who I've been close with, relapsed. It makes me sad to see people struggle with addiction. Prior to beginning my own recovery I looked at addicts and alcoholics as weak. Little did I know it's not something that you can fight on your own. I'd equate it to the U.S. attacking Costa Rica - it's simply not a fair fight. Costa Rica would have to enlist the help of other nations to defend itself, just like I have to enlist the help of others to help myself.
Unfortunately, these people don't seem to want help, or are too wrapped up in their addictions to accept it. I pray that they do not have to hit another bottom before they come back to the rooms. Alcoholism / Addiction can wreak a lot of havoc on a person and those around them - it's not pretty.
Tonight I went to another meeting. An NA meeting that really has a lot of good energy. I left the meeting in good spirits, dropped off Jim, and then came home. After arriving home, I ended up having a very hard conversation with somebody that I care a lot about. It's a conversation that I've been dreading. One of those conversations that you know isn't going to go well, no matter what sort of PR spin you put on it.
And it didn't go well.
It deals with an issue I touched on a few months back - doing business with friends. This person has been a good friend to me, and I them, for years. I'd like to think that we've both benefitted from being in each other's lives. Unfortunately, we made the mistake of doing some business together, and that business is now coming to an end and we're faced with some tough decisions.
I have a decision to make, with a couple of options.
Option one has me doing what I believe will give me what I'm owed, what I've earned, and what I deserve. But it does not leave the friend happy - and our friendship will end on a bad note.
Option two has me sacrificing what I believe I'm owed, in favor of preserving the friendship.
But I'm afraid the damage has already been done. The conversation was broached and there was no turning back. I had to state my opinion as to how to proceed. The friend was hurt, and now I feel terrible about the way things have played out. Circumstances, events, energy forces, coincidences, etc., have brought us to this point. Some things that we could have avoided, others that we could not have. But here we find ourselves.
I am afraid that just by stating my opinion, I may have already irreperably damaged the relationship. That even if I do sacrifice and go with option two, the friendship may be over.
I want to do the right thing, but I'm not sure what that is. I'll pray tonight that we can find a compromise that we can both be happy with.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 12:23 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
November 08, 2005
Interior Design Disaster
I usually check the local real estate listings daily. Always dreaming about that house on the hill I'll someday live in. Quite often the decor in these homes is less than desireable - they're just screaming out for an interior designer and their crew to come in and put a fresh face on them. However, the house below really needs some help. I couldn't help but share this with you.
My favorite are the living room lounge chairs that match the carpetting throughout the house.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 04:00 PM | Comments (21) | TrackBack
November 05, 2005
More Boston memories
I had lost the cord that connects my camera to the computer, so I'd had some photos trapped, unable to access them! Reluctantly, I made a stop at Best Buy last night to pick up a card reader, so I'm back in buisiness. Additionally, I coerced Jim to send me the photos Laura had taken during our visit.
Additional photos from Boston are in the last 2 and half pages of the Boston Gallery, while Laura's photos are here - the first is in Boston Commons on an overcast Saturday afternoon, where they had a pumpkin gathering of some sort. Pumpkins were being hauled in my the semi-load. A large structure was being built out of scafolding, and they were carving and inserting candles into all of them. I saw on the news later that night that somebody had stuck a bomb in one of the pumpkins, so they had to clear the commons while the bomb squad inspected all of the pumpkins, only to turn up empty-handed. What a comotion.
Later that evening we went to see a show down in the south end. Half-way through the show, the male version of Varla Jean Merman entered the audience and watched the remainder of the show from the sidelines. Jim actually spotted her first - and I was surprised that he was able to recognize her out of drag. But sure enough, it was her, so Jim and I got a photo.
For those of you not yet fortunate enough to be aquainted with Varla, check out her website at Varlaonline.com. You may remember her from the classic Girls Will Be Girls. She was in town with her show, Girl With a Pearl Necklace, which unfortuantely didn't open until after we'd be out of town. I was pleasantly surprised by how big of a boy she was - the camera didn't add ten pounds in her case, it had taken off ten inches... a good looking ten inches ;-)
Posted by SparklesMpls at 03:04 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 02, 2005
Fall (Autumn) in Minnesota
Do you refer to the season as Fall or Autumn in your part of the world? I've always said Fall - maybe to help me remember that I am supposed to set my clock back in the fall and forward in the spring. But I think it's got a more significant correlation - the leaves falling to the ground all around us.
If a strong wind comes along a tree-lined street, it's as if it's raining with the leaves falling all around you.
I remember raking leaves every year with my family. I abhored the chore of actually raking, but loved playing in the pile afterwards. In fact, one of my first memories is of playing in a pile of leaves (and peeing my pants when I couldn't get out).
Fall in the Upper Peninsula (of Michigan) is beautiful. So many forests turning color next to the freezing water of lake Superior. It's not unusual to find a road that is entirely shaded from the trees above, driving over the leaves that have fallen.
The brisk air makes my skin dry, and I anticipate going through a case of Lubriderm this winter, but I like the air because it feels clean and refreshing.
Warmer clothes are making their way to the tops of the piles in drawers and in my closet. Short sleeves sinking to the bottom.
I start closing the window at night because my bedroom gets too cool. The heat comes on in the morning to help ease the sudden chill when stepping out of hte shower.
Fog appears in the late evening into the early morning and the view from my window reveals cars' headlights coming through the mist. The fog also conveys a feeling of cleanliness, as if it's sucking the pollutants away and carrying them off into the atmosphere.
Soon there will be snow, but it will quickly melt until the air stays consistently below freezing, but when it does, rejoice, for fresh snow is the most beautiful thing nature knows.
Posted by SparklesMpls at 02:20 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
