drink responsibly

Never use alcohol to escape feelings of failure and loneliness. Use Vicodin.
--from the Onion

birthday greetings!

happy birthday, Paulie!

oh happy day!

Welcome to the 40 Club, an increasingly-less-exclusive place. You're 40! Forty! 40!

Things to do today:

Watch the Birthday episode of Ab Fab. Still funny after all this time, and much funnier when it is actually your own fortieth; the humor helps take the edge off ... as does a bit of bubbly. Boyer did remember a champagne breakfast?

Cry.

Spa day: mani & pedi, sauna, facial, massage.

Or, spend the day at the shop with lots of champagne all around. I suggest Paillard.

As for the rest of you, make it a great day by spending lots at the shop.

Paulie, lastly, if at any point in the day you are a little farklempt, remember to ask yourself:

What would Eddy do?



I could feel the forty-ness creep up on me in the night

cheers, sweetie, thanks a lot.

hey, hey captain jack
meet me down by the railroad tracks
with those running shoes in your hands
i'm gonna be a running man

hey, hey captain jack
meet me down by the railroad tracks

fab news

While surfing for photos for Mr. Boyer's award-winning birthday snark, I discovered some startling news. Maybe y'all knew this, but we did not at our house.

Ab Fab has a 5th season!



How did this happen without our knowing? You can go here to read all about it. The site includes clips and photos. Here is the season's lineup (the episodes ran this fall with the last one on Dec. 5):

Cleanin'
Book Clubbin'
Panickin'
Huntin', Shootin' and Fishin'
Birthin'
Schmoozin'
Exploitin'

A description of Episode One, Cleanin':

Saffy has been away in Iraq as an aid worker and Eddy has had no one to curb her extravagance. A 'lap pool' has been installed in the bathroom and Eddy is receiving regular, expensive, tan treatments. Her approach to business has also become increasingly sloppy. Clients have deserted her in droves.
Eddy is not unduly worried. She continues to take little interest in her remaining client -- Emma Bunton.
On the day of Saffy's return Eddy gets her act together. Everyone is enlisted to clean the house from top to bottom. Even Patsy helps.
When Saffy finally arrives home she has some shocking news in store for Eddy.

Oh, and apparently, last year there was a special called "Gay"! How did we miss it? (This country sucks.) A description:

The one-off episode 'Gay', in which Eddy is reunited with her estranged son Serge, received an audience of almost nine million. According to The Mirror this success has persuaded Jennifer Saunders to pen another six-part series.

birthday

Yo, David!

Happy effen birthday, boyo!

But really, you're only as old as you feel ...



and all that crap, right?

Well, sweetie, why not find out just how old you are? Take this test. It will analyze your life and deliver a verdict on how well you've been taking care of your bad self.

And then, you can see just how bloody cool you've managed to stay, despite your age.


Cheers, sweetie, thanks a lot.

Spike Lee

On Monday night I went to see Anita Hill interview Spike Lee at the Herbst Theater. It was really interesting. Lots of thoughtful commentary from Spike and Anita but my favorite moment: An audience member asks Spike why he didn't do the film "Ali". Spike says that he wonders how such a boring movie could be made about the life of one of the most charasmatic people of the century. He said that he had an interview with Sony Pictures who was considering him to direct. When he arrived, Will Smith's first comment was "Spike, let's talk about how you can broaden your vision". Spike thought: "Shit, I'm not getting this job."

have heard a report from another blogger than Blogger was having trouble. Her posts were being eaten. So if anyone has been attempting blogs only to fail, sorry about that. Here's hoping the troubles are over.

Thursday night, put up a post including a photo of Giuseppe for everyone's amusement. Trouble is I had the file too large. It posted huge! Filled the entire screen, practically. Was not amusing; merely frightening. Took it down immediately. So if anyone saw it in the 3.5 minutes it was up, sorry about the scare. Will attempt reposting when I figure out what I'm doing.

Last night I knew what I was doing. Chris, Melissa and I went to the new chocolate buffet at the Pennisula. A launch party, so we didn't have to pay the $19.50; but for an all you can eat chocolate buffet, that price is a steal. Of course, we had free-flowing champagne brought by a handsome, French-accented waiter continuously. That didn't hurt.

you're surfing that kind of crap (sorry) at work? hmmmm. I'll wait until getting home to visit that site.

as for the Straight Boys on Mopeds (great title): the short-circuitry is an excellent image. This must also account for the rise in straight boys dipping into the gay sex pool (which I read all about in Details, so it must be true). The straight guys must also short circuit, forgetting what team they're on, then hook up with another dude.

Ass Masters

i was just looking at a listing of online blogging groups on Tribe.net and noticed one for people into anal sex. The group described themselves as offering a forum for "people who like to get a little work in their behind." Love that.

Straight Boys on Mopeds

John took me to a club in Atlanta called Halo. It was full of beautiful people and my gaydar totally short-circuited. I could not tell what team these people played for.

When it comes to hair color and products, I really think the straight boys rule that world these days.

... here in Chicago, it's cold.

"Of course!" you're saying out there in California. Well, yes, it is Chicago in December and all. But yet we still spend a lot o' time talking about it here when the weather turns.

Well, Monkey has a solution! Hot cocoa!



Read his step-by-step illustrated instructions.

also wondering ...

about another type of highlights. That is: the highlights of Transgiving. Who can write for us about this wondrous event? Who's the best storyteller? Paulie?

why is it ...

that straight boys at work have better hair than I do?

It's a disturbing trend. A guy here who is probably late 20s or early 30s has gone from good looking to quite cute. Didn't notice why right off, then it struck me: lovely blond highlights in his floppy, somewhat shaggy, GQ-boy of the 70s hair.

I guess this isn't exactly new, but when did it happen? And how? How did it become OK for straight boys to be so ... well, what we would have been called back in the day is: sissy.

Just wondering.

Bush bumper stickers

(the first post borrowed from e-mail spam, but edited to only the good ones)

Bush/Cheney '04: Four More Wars!

Bush/Cheney '04: Assimilate. Resistance is Futile.

Bush/Cheney '04: Compassionate Colonialism

Bush/Cheney '04: Deja-voodoo all over again!

Bush/Cheney '04: Don't Change Whores in Midstream

Bush/Cheney '04: Get used to it!

Bush/Cheney '04: Leave no billionaire behind

Bush/Cheney '04: Lies and videotape but no sex!

Bush/Cheney '04: Making the world a better place, one country at a time.

Bush! /Cheney '04: Or else.

Bush/Cheney '04: Over a billion Whoppers served.

Bush/Cheney '04: Putting the "con" in conservatism

Bush/Cheney '04: The economy's stupid!

Bush/Cheney '04: The last vote you'll ever have to cast.

Bush/Cheney '04: This time, elect us!

Bush/Cheney '04: We're Gooder!

George W. Bush: A brainwave away from the presidency

George W. Bush: It takes a village idiot

Vote Bush in '04: "I Has Incumbentory Advantitude"

Vote Bush in '04: "Because every vote counts -- for me!"

Vote Bush in '04: "Because I'm the President, that's why!"

Vote Bush in '04: Because dictatorship is easier

Vote Bush in '04: It's a no-brainer!

Vote for Bush & You Get Dick!

With a Bush, a Dick, and a Colin everyone gets screwed

How Did Our Oil Get Under Their Sand?

And my favorite:

It Ain't Over Till Your Brother Counts The Votes

21 Grams

Over the holiday, John and I saw 21 Grams in Atlanta. The film is the tale of three people's lives intersecting amidst fragile life, death, crime and redemption. I liked the film a great deal. Though heavy, it stuck with me and has been on my mind for the last few days, always a good sign for me. John did not like it because he had difficulty identifying with any of the characters and thought the entire thing was just too bleak. It's by the director of Amores Perros.

Last weekend saw The Station Agent. It's sweet and charming but probably a renter.

Gregorio, enjoy your Thanksgiving at John's (and enjoy the lemoncello). I'm sure the Trans-giving won't be the same without you.

Someone from PETA delivered a tofurkey here at the office. ... we won't be tasting it.

Hurtling Towards Atlanta

It's been a crazy busy week at work and I am rushing to get things done before I head to the airport today from work. I did manage to get the Lemoncella that John asked me to bring to Atlanta (who doesn't like a boy that insists on Italian liqueurs).

Have a great Thanksgiving all!

Boyer??!!! I think the Castro theater is doing a Hedwig sing along with John Cameron Mitchell in attend in December. We need to get on that pronto!!

Bah humbug?

if you want to take an edge off the overpowering, way-too-early holiday hype, check out the latest cartoon at Happy Tree Friends.



... then again, maybe you shouldn't.

stupidotto!

lunch is next week. oops, so instead of wonderful Italian cuisine for lunch and a halting conversation in broken Italian, I'll eat yesterday's sack lunch and read the paper.

hope the rest of you are having a more fab day

ch-ch-ch-ch-changed it back

like it better this way.

and the links weren't working this morning 'coz I left out some code. sorry, but ain't the brightest bulb, ya know, when it comes to that shit. What, do you think I'm Chris? No, everyone knows that he's the smart one and I am (used to be) the cute one.

today, having lunch with friend Susanne, an editor on the foreign desk who spent 4 years in Roma as a young woman. Now fluent in la lingua dei italiani, she's helping me practice dialog. You know, things like "I like the soup. It is good." "The weather is bad." Clever stuff like that which I can use at important events.

What are y'all doin?

the best dragapella

for those of you who have never seen the Kinsey Sicks in concert:

Nov. 19 through Jan. 3: SAN FRANCISCO HOLIDAY SHOW!
Wednesdays through Saturdays, come see our first-ever holiday show, entitled "Kinsey Sicks: Oy Vey in a Manger" at the New Conservatory Theatre Center. No sacred cow is left standing after the Kinseys visit the creche. (Don't ask.) Special Kinsey Sicks 10th Anniversary show on December 30. Call (415) 861-8972 for tickets.

everything is gayer on a scooter

... just got back from a little jaunt around Lincoln Park and Lakeview on our friend Emilie's scooter (we're garaging it for her for a while and can ride it whenever). Was chased back in by the rain, but let me tell you that when we have to give it back, I'd sure like one of our own. It is too much fun! And who cares how gay it is?! I decided not too long ago to just be as absolutely fucking gay as I want! (Alan says: "Like he had to decide that?") Everything is gayer on a scooter: Need some eggs from the store? Hop on the scooter! Scoot over there, the wind blowing your hair back and your jean jacket open, skip into the store, grab the eggs and maybe some lovely olives with black truffle oil, jump back on the scooter and zip home! See, gayer! Gayer than walking, gayer than driving, gayer than your bicycle.

freewayblogger.com

... says it all

Always changing ...

again.
Good morningk, all my lovelies. Greg, thanks for sharing the Trans-plans. Sounds fab. Here in Chicago, we won't have a Trans-giving, but we will have a gay one, of course.

Matt
Matt says there will be one straight man. ... a couple straight women. But one is a fag hag, does that count? There will be games, of course, like any respectable gay thanksgiving. One that we've played before is Shag, Marry, Cliff: a player comes up with three names, people everyone playing knows or celebrities or a mix; every other player must then say of those three, who would they shag, who would they marry and who would they push off a cliff. Leads to interesting insights into the minds of your friends (you cannot use the name of anyone playing at the time).
Well, it all sounds rather tame and a little sad compared to the PotHill Party.
(and if anyone has Timmy's e-mail, send it along so that he can be invited to BGN.)

Oh, and I changed the blog template to get the blogger icon up top, making it easier to click, sign in and blog, if you're in that frame o' mind.
More customization of the template coming when I learn some html.

Transgiving

Transgiving.doc

But this is even odder ...

The Totally Unofficial Web Site For Dave Boyer!!!!! NEWS!!!!!!---- CHECK OUT EBAY.COM FOR THOSE HARD TO FIND DAVE BOYER ALBUMS AS MANY ARE OUT OF PRINT.

I have nothing to add ...

Ever google yourself and come up with something fun/odd/cool? Of course you have. This is what I found today. (No, I don't google myself every day.)

Joe Gray jumped down to the floor without hanging up the phone. He was trapped in an unfolding nightmare. First he found he could understand human speech (who would have guessed they had so little to say?). Then he found he could talk (useful for scaring dogs) and even read.

He got worried when he found himself feeling human emotions like guilt and sympathy. He even caught himself planning his day!

All that, Joe Gray could have handled. If only he hadn't found himself in the alley behind Jolly's Deli the night Beckwhite was murdered...

... apparently an excerpt from a mystery book about a cat, Cat on the Edge. Hmmm, oddly enough, it sounds like me.

Krug overdose?

As I looked up to the 8 champagne flutes in various states of full/half-full/quarter-full/dregs on the far side of my oversized dessert plate (more of a platter, really ... and was this the 2nd dessert course or the 3rd?) and wondered just which was which (was that one with the gold ribbon the '79?), I wondered the point of it all.

Then I came to my senses, finished the homemade marshmallow with chocolate foam and a ganduia (hazelnut) crunch, and quaffed my Krug Clos du Mesnil 1990. (Really, one of my favorites of the evening). Then I waited for whatever was next.

What a long evening it was, too, but fortunately, I had sitting to my right the charming Italian-born Ms. Isabelli. On the left, however, was someone altogether different. Now, if Paulie were a voluptuous black woman, he would be Iris, who entertained me all night with stories and jokes and inappropriate remarks (which we all love, of course). Iris lives in San Francisco, and will be headed for Atys after her vacation here, if she follows my advice. (She needs a cool doorbell! oh, and a large salad bowl; she said ceramic, but I think I talked her into the beautiful wood ones that were in the window.) At one point, I realized that with her quick wit and way with a story she reminded me strongly of Paulie. (I did not tell her this.) And, of course, she lived in Italy for about 10 years while growing up when her dad worked there selling Chryslers to the Italians. So of course, she speaks Italian, and Chinese, too, which she learned in the Air Force, but didn't use because instead she monitored some type of Soviet missles (back in the day). Now she's fabulous, works for Accenture, travels all around.

Look for Iris at a fashionable Union Street shop near you.

Krug overdose? No. I think it was just the right amount too much.

Always improving!

Hey!

Here at Best girlfriends notebook we're always changing to accommodate the needs of you, the blogger. Why just today, Greg posted a photo (!), making us realize that all one needs do is click the Upload File option.

And now, we've added an area for titles! woo hoo! It only gets more exciting from here, kids.

And remember what they say: Publish or Perish!

ashleygirls.blogspot.com. make it your first stop every single day. you don't know what dish you'll miss.

Swedish peace keepers

Yes, yes, an excellent idea!

But in the meantime, how did you post that picture? Mr. Greg did not used to be tech savvy! Is it living and working in the tech world in general? Or the job at Tech TV? Also, what does it mean "the slut you marry?"

In other news, read a good profile of "Queer Eye's" Ted Allen in today's Trib. He comes off as very funny and quite nice. Still lives on North Side of Chicago (Roger's Park, I think, but could be wrong) with partner Barry and says his parents have been more supportive of their gay son since the show:

"Now they're pissed off when we run reruns. They're fans. My mom e-mailed me an Andrew Sullivan column about gay marriage, in favor of. And she was sending it around to her friends.
"It was a huge evolution. My mother was affected by the show in the same way that a lot of people seem to be."



oh, I guess I figured out how to do it ...

Fredrik

How do you think I earned John's nickname for me - "the slut you marry"??

Personally, I think Bush's roadmap to peace would be a lot more effective if it included Swedish soccer stars.

somehow, I didn't think it would be Greg who would post the first beefcake shot. Especially after his politically charged previous post.

Or are the two connected and I'm too dumb to see?

BORN IN 1977. Sigh.

AMAZING RACE

Enver Hally visited this weekend. Yesterday we participated in the Amazing Race with my friends - Dean, Chuck, Brian and David. This was basically a scavenger hunt with 70 gay guys. The goal was to solve riddles about famous SF landmarks and then get a picture of your team at that landmark. There were 10 teams and unfortunately we did not win. I think we came in 4th place. But our consolation was that we were definitely the cutest team! The highlight of the day for me was a complete tour of all of the new Calvin Klein Pro Stretch posters around town. The Swedish soccer player who adorns those posters with his panther tattoo and his bling bling...well, I could just talk all day about that boy!!So So much better than that Fabio blonde from the last campaign...this is a MAN in every sense of the word. I just wanted to run to Macys and buy underwear.

Enver works as a financial analyst at Real Networks. He has a beautiful home on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Please look him up if you ever get the chance all. We have grown close over the years and we talk several times each week.

On a heavier note, this situation in Iraq is really ugly. The posturing of this administration and the willingness of the American people to accept their mucked up policy is stunning to me.

How to know when you're really birdcage:

When you no longer subscribe to Wallpaper

When you get Home&Garden instead

When you're too tired to go out

When you talk all the younger people into ordering in on a Saturday night

When you make souffles

When you're excited about the dress someone gave you for Trans-giving

When your younger-than-you boyfriend turns 40

When you feel like it's just too much work to be fabulous

what work is like now
Monday: so long ago, don't even remember ... but some tasting of some kind. ... sad. OH, wait, no. it was the annual GE awards to deserving food industry types. At Spago. (No, Wolfie couldn't make it)
Tuesday: Christmas beers tasting
Wednesday: Wine tasting, moscato; 6 expressions of the grape. Italy, Austria ... Michigan? Then, on to sushi launch party.
Thursday: meet & greet with members of the Indian community at very good Indian restaurant; Indian beer goes much better with the spicy food than French wine (make a note of it)
Friday: will work never end? Broke into the port and some yucky cream liquore

all in a week's work, folks
I taste these things so you don't have to ...

oh, no!

I've just realized why Boyer hasn't jumped in. And I feel duped and stupid (stupidotto!): He plans to hack the site, take over, and rule! The bitch.

Why she's funny

The "she" refers to both Dorothy Parker and Sparky of Snarky Malarkey. This post stolen with pride from Snarky:

Dorothy Parker quipped, If all the sweet young things in this room were laid end to end... I wouldn’t be the least surprised.

# posted by sparky : 4:14 PM

Alan, you know what Margaret Cho would say about all the home chores:

"Fuck it!"

working up to it? hey, it ain't no thing! well, whatever it takes. one must be comfortable, I guess, especially in your Birdcage Years.

Al, even though it's so much work for you and Justin, I envy you your house and beautiful yard! Let us know how the TV/Tivo/AV project works out. Chris just prepared this amazing document for our building explaining to all the owners the ins and outs of satellite TV, which we're adding.

I spoke with David last night and asked what's up with his refusal to get onto Blogger. He said he is working up to it. I'll see him this weekend and ask more about it. Justin's friends from SD are in town this weekend. This the same couple that we stay with in SD when we go down there. They're great fun to hang with so I'm looking forward to seeing them. We still have soooo much house work. Who knew that owning a house could be so time intensive. It's a constant battle to keep up with the heating system, painting, moving TVs from one room to another, satellite issues, landscapping (I can't believe how much things grow - It almost makes me long for the dormant winter season; well on second thought, nothing will ever make me long for the dormant winter season), window replacement projects, window hardware replacement projects, lighting, security systems (are you bored yet...). Then there's my day job which I need to go back to.....

Interesting about Wainwright. I had read a little something in Savage Love a few weeks back, but hadn't seen the whole article in the Times. Just found it online, and it really is an unfortunate, stupid thing to say, even in the context of his crystal meth abuse. I guess he was trying to scare people off "casual" meth use, saying there's no such thing, etc., by explaining how out of himself he was. But still. I guess the "gay hell" comment got more mileage, though.

I absolutely loved Rufus Wainwright's CD, Poses and his track on Moulin Rouge. I recently went cold on him though after a Sunday NYT article about him. Apparently Rufus had gone through a bad phase of drug use. He was quoted in the article as coming to his senses after what he described as "one of those really gay weekends where you take party drugs and want to have sex with children". The quote was something close to that and pissed me off enough to write a letter to the editor. Rufus should have known better than to play right into the stereotypes. Sorry, I was too lazy to search the web for the actual quote and I am sure Rufus has apologized hundreds of times since.

Oops!

Alan tells me I misspelled Moneka's name! Moneka, I am so sorry! I have known how to spell your beautiful name since the days back in A2. Whatever came over me? I must get my levels checked.

Fortunately, Blogger lets me go back and fix errors. So, it's like it never happened.

Beer tip from the Good Eating Christmas Beer Taste Panel:

Anchor Brewing Co.'s Christmas beer this year is amazing! Yes, right in your own backyard for you Bay Area folk. We tasted 11 Christmas or seasonal beers, all from microbreweries (although 2 Sam Adams were added at the last minute when they showed up in the mail -- do y'all get mail like that? -- and we thought readers might be interested) from around the country and one from England. Christmas beers are a traditional time for brewmasters to have a little fun, let go, try a recipe they've been wanting to all year. Most are spicy, with flavors traditional to holiday foods.

So, go to the brewery or your local store, look for their Christmas Ale with the beautiful label that will remind you of a real Midwest Christmas, take it home, chill (both you and the beer) and try it. On its own or maybe with a pork tenderloin with dried apples or apricots? Or maybe smoked chicken (for the no-red meat crowd).

No, this is not a paid ad! Just trying to pass on treats to my gay homeys (gomeys?)

Margaret's "Fuck It" Diet is a classic! Thanks for the cool link Giuseppe.

Wednesday isn't just an Addam's family name
Greg, good ideas, both of them.

As you guys muse over music, have you heard the new Rufus Wainwright? Have read it's great.

In other news: Today have added a link to Margaret Cho's blog. Who can resist the patron saint of gay boys? Check it out under Fav Links.

How about assigning colors to just 2 or 3 people? I agree that too many colors will make the pages look obnoxious.

I know that the password protection is the sensible thing to do but sheesh, another password to remember? I say let's see how it goes. If we start to veer into pw required territory, we address it then.

Alan, thanks for the Jack Johnson recommend. He is a local boy and I have heard good things, too.

Enver Hally in town this weekend for a visit.

Blog questions
good morning from the warm, but drizzly midwest. Feels like Seattle.

Chris has suggested I make this site password protected so that any blogs stay within the group. Seems like a good idea. Thoughts, anyone?

Also, I can make each blog member's blog post in a different color, making it easier to tell who's blogging, if anyone cares. That might get annoying, though, with 6 or 7 colors. Thoughts? Right now, the blogs can be posted & published by all blog members. I hadn't meant for this blog to run this way, but it seems that it should. Each member should be able to post whatever (of course always remembering what our mothers told us about not saying anything unless we can say something nice; gentle cattiness is fine, of course) she or he likes. But the password-protected option might be a benefit in this regard.

Also, where o where are David and Paul???

Al, can you send me Justin's e-mail so that I can add him to the blog? Also, anyone have Moneka's e-mail? Don't post them (and risk inviting spam from any interlopers), just e-mail to me.

Rickie Lee Jones playing this thursday in Chicago! Back to the 80s. I can't tell you what the new music of the world is because I'm stuck in the past.

Fun on the bay
Never there was such a fun time by the bay than our latest visit to see our beloved best girlfriends (well, except the last time, and the time before that, and the other time before that)

Folks, this is our thank you note. Launched in the new age. An e-mail somehow isn't enough, but is a blog posting?

Chris and I had a fantastic time. Thanks, Alan and Justin, for hosting us in your great new home. (Well, not so new as you've been there nearly 2 years, but new to us.) You've done a great job. Maybe MetHome wants to take a peak? The house, the garden, the furniture, the paint, the kitchen cabinets, the wonderful back deck. Well done.
And thanks for throwing the fantastic cookout. It was a great coalescing of the day, the weekend.
I just don't know what was better, that night or the surprise night at AW's. Thanks David, Alan, everyone or producing. Loved it. Every moment. Sorry I was so piggie about sitting by the kitchen and not letting anyone else have that spot. But hey, it's my job!
What was especially nice was the way you boys all traded off spending time with the boys from Chicago. Paulie's trip up the coast to Stinson Beach was perfect, memorable. Has there ever been a better lunch spot?
And even Moneka and Dayna got a piece of us with cocktails at the new digs.
I'm sure we left something out. But a big kiss to all.

I count on you guys on the west coast to provide music advice. We don't know nothing here!
But for fun, look back in time at the 80s with this quiz on lyrics. (Yes, Dave & Paul, you already saw it, sorry.) I scored an embarrassing 31. Paulie did better at 44.5.

Joe, everyone is sending emails to work, which I have sort of encourged by sending emails from my work email rather than hotmail. So I need to stop doing that and thought it was a good time to let everyone know. But where is everyone? I'm ready to blog.

Greg, try Jack Johnson's CD. It's been around for a little while but really good. Maybe you already have it. I need music ideas also. I've been really bad about finding new music.

Al, totally makes sense. Sorry about the indiscretion.

BTW - I will be looking for music recommendations from this group. Feeling woefully behind in that department. On the way in today I listened to Sea Change by Beck, my favorite CD from last year. All must own. Sent a copy to Atlanta last week.

thanks Joe for setting this up. I'm hoping our lives (or at least my life) can meet the high expectations set up in your introduction and the first entry, (DB's year old email about PH and then GL's poetic description of SF). My life with JS is currently centered around life in OAK and getting new windows that all need to be painted. Tomorrow is veteren's day so I get a much needed banker's holiday.

A quick word about my email addresses. Since I work for a big bank that keeps track of everything; please send all emails to my hotmail account. Recently, all of Enron's emails were made public and I would rather keep mine and yours out of the WSJ. However, since I do carry a blackberry with me every where I go, if you need a quick and/or simple resonse such as "Do you want to have lunch today at Boulevard?" feel free to use the work email. However, if it is more personal please use the hotmail account. MH wins the discretion of the year award when she sent an email to my work address with the simple request "Please check your hotmail." OK, thanks for understanding and I will be happy to review this again if necessary.

It's Monday morning and I need to finish some complience training that is due today and needs to be completed so the regulators don't publish all of my emails.

bummer about the car, Gregorio. Hope you catch the stalker.

And we really liked John. He's a keeper! I bare witness to the plausibility of long-distance relationships working out.

This is going to be fun! It is Sunday and I am up early as usual. Since the end of daylight savings, I have been rising at 4am and loving every minute of it. It's been a bit of a strange week.On Tuesday, I came out to find that somebody had gotten into my Explorer and stolen my sunglasses, some
of my CD's, all of the pens, my owner's manual and Jake Prescott's business card (a guy from work who died suddenly and whose business card became a lucky charm of sorts, a reminder to grab every day). It sucked and apparently was my own fault because the car had been mistakenly left unlocked. This morning I came out to find a flat tire. I'm beginning to wonder if I have a stalker.

Upon discovering the flat tire, I decided to cab to the office where I needed to get to send out a business plan document for my work with the LGBT Community Center. We have a very important meeting this week that may decide the strategic direction of the Center. The Center has Napster syndrome - lots of users who love it but few willing to contribute money.

I love San Francisco in the early morning - especially after the rain. A friend described it as being like a slumbering mistress on heroine. Ok, will try not to turn this blog into a SF asskissfest.

This long distance relationship thing with John I am doing is proving challenging. I like this boy a lot but dealing with having a "boyfriend" who is 2100 miles away is new to me. I try to keep my wits about me and think about all the lessons from past relationships. I've come to appreciate that all relationships take effort and that true connections are difficult to come by so I am sticking with this. More blogging about Atlanta in the future for sure.

Started Reading The DaVinci Code last night.

Hope you all have seen Lost in Translation by now.

Ok...off to the gym to satisfy my inner gay boy demons that can't go without. Margaritas at Cantina Slut with Dean this PM. Cheers.

O, friends of the Ashley Girls!

About a year ago, a lovely, clever e-mail exchange between Diana and Boyer sparked an idea, wouldn't it be great if we could keep in touch more easily?! Quickly, without playing endless phone tag or enduring the other pitfalls of modern communication? You know, you've got a story to share and just can't wait but you don't want to spam everyone, because you know what kind of fresh hell that brings!

To remind you, here are those e-mails:

from boyer:
. . . . you and your bf have an early am work-out, walk outside to 70++ weather, sun bright, moods fantastic, and decide to take advantage of our schedules and go to "Just Fuck You" - formerly known as "Just For You" - for a nice relaxed b'fast/lunch . . . . . . . as usual the mood of the place is soooo Potrero Hill, the crowd very "west-coast urban", the food good . . . Sergeant Alice (SA) - the owner who is constantly needing a re-adjustment of her housewife drugs AKA Prosac (and usually has a tool belt on) - walks in from the produce market with her daily finds and is having the help bring in the boxes of fresh produce . . . she glances over and spots paul and I finishing our food - throws a great big recognizing smile our way . . . stops by and says . . . SA: hey boys! how goes! DB: great - love your new location really seems to be working . . . more space . . . SA: yeah - took me a while to get used to it - but i really like it now PK: yeah me too! SA: so how is your buddy . . ahhh . . what's his name . . ummmmm . . DB: (looking puzzled at paul) dose she mean Tim? PK: do you mean our friend Tim? SA: Not sure - forgot his name - you know - the people with the poodles . . . DB: PEOPLE WITH POODLES? POODLE PEOPLE? none of our friends - unless they are "closet Poodle People" . . SA: (laughing - as she walks back outside to her Truck to retrieve more produce) well sorry mistook you for someone . . . oops - ha ha ha! DB to PK: Poodle People? I mean really do we look like we would know people with poodles? (as they look at what each other is wearing wondering if there are any mistaken items of clothing being displayed in public to give one this thought of having poodle people friends . . )
BIRDCAGE FRINGE ? ? ? ? Surely - or is that Shirley
(sorry, couldn't reproduce the dog picture on this blog; also, had to edit David's post for grammar and spelling.)

Diana reponds:
JG:  We have bigger dogs in Chicago.
AF:  WHAT were you guys WEARING?!
SB:  Our ATYS dog bowls are too big for poodles.
DW:  Poodles are NOT allowed on Olivia cruises!
MH:  I swam across the bay with a poodle once.
GL:  Honey, I'm sure.
MB:  Ever see a poodle in Taylor?!
DM:  Mortified!

Yes, I saved this for a year. But how could I not? It is the cleverest distillation of everyone in the gang that I have ever read or heard.

That little exhange inspired this blog. I had wanted to get in on the whole blog thing myself since getting hooked on snarkymalarkey.com (Make it a daily habit; you'll be glad). But not being clever enough or blessed with enough time to comment on the world, pop culture, music, international relations and Madonna with ease and wit and up-to-the-minute, right-on-the-button timeliness, I didn't start my own general interest, open-to-the-world blog. But this idea, this is something.

See we can all post to this blog and keep up with each others news, observations, funny stories, whatever.

Who's it for? Well, I go back to the beginning of it all, and that beginning has to be the Ashley Girls' home in downtown AA. Yes, many people connected to that singular social swirl had been friends of the Ashleys since before they moved in above the float tanks. But somehow, that experience brought it all together. Just look at Dave & Paul now and the way events just get "produced" around them.

So this blog is for the Ashley Girls and their friends. Post whatever you like. Post what? Oh, you know: stories. Best new CDs. News of the Potrero Hood that others in their far-flung lives don't know about. Or things like: "This hottie came into Atys and dropped a thousand on lovely vases for his new boyfriend, but then his wife came in the next day and boy, you wouldn't believe ..."

Like that.

You know, things that you would put down in your best girlfriends notebook.
And if there are glitches, please be patient while I figure this thing out. (Rantings against the blogmaster, will, of course be published for everyone's amusement.)

And stay in blog-touch.