On The return of the minstrel show.

Or,

All dressed up in gayface.

I can't understand why more people don't find Queer Eye offensive. I have many gay friends, and so far none of them have openly voiced an opinion of this thing one way or the other. Most of the straight folks I know think the show is a riot. I understand that it may represent a step forward for the community by helping establish gay culture as apart of overall American culture and not a closeted or in some way deviant life style. But frankly, the insinuation that as a straight man I don't know how to dress my self is a little insulting. I look good, most of the time, and I loves me the women. I have known gay men in the past who couldn't dress themselves without their mammas, though I admit most of my gay friends now have a pretty good fashion sense. Except Brad, but he's funny, so he gets off clean. Love Brad to death, but he looks like the gay man's Dave Attell. Also, I get a little miffed by the women I meet who think things like, "Wow that is a great suit you're wearing, Jeff. I bet your boyfriend thinks you look great in it." I don't begrudge anyone their sexual preference as long as what you like to fuck isn't a child or someone that doesn't want to be fucked. Go nuts, all of you, really, I don't mind. But please don't make unreasonable assumptions about me because the five funny guys on TV teach you that only gay men know how to properly iron their own clothes.

So far, the only guy out there that I can find who thinks, like I do, that if the show were called "Black eye for the White guy" that suddenly everyone would get why it's really a bit degrading is openly gay Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, who said (quoted from Newsweek), "The notion that gay men have a superior fashion sense is not true, and it's damaging.....It's perfectly possible to enjoy that show and say, 'Look at those clever homosexuals - what they do with hair!' And not support gays at all."

On a brief Respite from my Adventure

Or,

Magnolia Brewery Kolsch kicks ass.

Walked down to Union Square, people watching and city watching. Finally decided to stop walking and took the bus down to Haight Street. I always get off buses too early. Walked right past Janet's old house. Went to a Too Trendy vintage clothing store, then a Too Vinyl used record store (man, do I need a turntable) and finally into one of my favorite brewpubs, Magnolia. Hadn't been there in 4 years,. Last time I was here, I traded one of my Hub City Brewery T-shirts to a guy who I was told was one of their "best" regulars for a beer and a Magnolia brewery T-shirt. I was a little disappointed not to find that guy sitting at the bar when I got there. Wild Bill would have been there, if the brewpubs and the situation were reversed. The bartender chick was cute though, and my dogs were barking, so it was a great place to stop and take a rest.

On a new adventure

Or,

God it's good to be on vacation

I boarded the train for San Francisco with a bit of a hangover. The wedding party for Andrew and my cousin Julia was a wonderful time. I danced with my cousins, tow of them in red, one in white and spectacular on her big day. I drank and made new friends, renewed old ones, again gave my speech to my family about preservation and salvation of our bond. It is now up top me to follow through with this. After, I talked long with Jim about mistakes of the past, and my hope for a new future. Talked with many about quilts.

So, today, I set off on my new vacation adventure. San Francisco awaits, like hipster Mecca. I hope to find cool music shops, vintage clothing stores, cheesy presents to bring back home, good Chinese food. Later I will try to connect with Kevin and Min Jung.

Min Jung, by the way, throws the best Porn and Pizza party that I have ever beento. Since it was the only one have ever been to, this wasn't so hard, but I doubt it could be topped even if I were long experienced. Upon viewing my first gay porn video, which was described to me as only mildly hardcore, I have become very aware of one indisputable fact.

I AM NOT GAY.

Saw Ernie, Saw Tartac, saw people who remembered or knew by reputation 20X2. All in all, I had a great time. Here's hoping my day in the city will be equally great.

On Signs that things are right

Or

A little bird told me

In the Midst of Julia and Andrew's wedding something remarkable happened. During the exchange of vows, taken with hands clasped before family and friends, taken at the foot of a beautiful waterfall, taken under a beautiful blue sky, we all got a bit of a sign.

A bird, bright blue with a steel grey breast, alighted atop the falls. It cried out, neither menacing nor sorrowful, but announcing.

"Here I am! I have arrived!"

It was neither defiant nor jubilant, bet present nonetheless. Important. The bright blue bird was quickly joined by another, also blue but less so, the first one's mate. It seemed as though he had called to her, beckoning her to join him. "Look, my love, here are two others. Joining together, doing as we have done. " Satisfied that things were as they should be, they skittered off up into the rolling stream, away up the hill, flapping and splashing about in the water, picking bits of food, jumping about, almost dancing. They didn't stay to see the end of the ceremony, they didn't see the kiss that we saw. Perhaps they knew their time together is limited, as is all of ours, and wanted to spend all of it that they had together. They flew away, blue specks in a blue sky, confident that the union occurring below them would run its own course, happily up the hill and into the blue sky, happy, at its own pace.