Jack’s Bad Day

Somewhere along the banks of the Ohio I lost my work badge this morning while doing cardio. I do not know where may have happened. There’s a $10 replacement fee.

I was getting in the shower at the gym when I realized I’d forget my soap, so I headed back to my locker to get it. going back to the shower where I’d left my towel, I slipped and fell right at a guy’s feet. “Good lord Jack, are you okay? Do you need help?” Just my pride was hurt badly though I skinned my knee and scraped my elbow.

While getting my pic snapped for the new badge, I managed to tear my pants – got them caught on the arm rest.

I leave my sweaty clothes in my locker and pick them up later in the day. This afternoon, I forgot that I’d taken my rucksac upstairs, so I folded my shorts, socks and bandana into my t-shirt and just carried them through two buildings back to my cube.

On a more positive note, the corporate photographer snapped some shots of me at the LGBT NRG booth. Conversation is worth a lot sometimes. I don’t know if they’ll get published or not.

And when I got home, my KitchenAid Artisan mixer was waiting! Oh what to make first.

Simulacrum

in this world of simulacrum
i seek just one true form
and carry high a dim torch
to emulate my funeral pyre
with many saccharin lovers
dancing jigs between my sheets
and tone deaf bodhisattvas
singing me to sleep
like an important chess piece
i move from space to space
until i find the rack sub
to anchor me in place

Getting to Know Jack

I’ve been working on how to say this consicely and poetically. With a little help from a friend, I think I’ve got it down.

Buy me a meal, and I’ll know you’re interested.
Cook for me, and I’ll know you’re serious.
Cook with me, and you’ll win my heart.

Saturday in the Ville

At times I go through phases where I just don’t want to go anywhere on Saturdays. I want to stay home and nest. Of late, that (fortunately) has not been the case. I have these very full Saturdays that make me want to have two bites at the same cherry.

Pandora Productions’ staging of Pageant was wonderful. Miss Industrial Northeast won the Saturday matinée. Perhaps she wins every performance now that I think of it. You know it would just be beyond the pale for a fake beauty pageant to be rigged, but it would have behooved me to check the math and make sure it was on the up and up. And I think I’m officially a fan of Kiel Dodd. I had no clue who he was when I saw him as Rocky in Pandora’s staging of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Now, I want to see him in plays where he has speaking lines. He’s welcome to leave the shirt off all the time. Hey, I’m a middle-aged Bear. I’m not dead.

My plans were  get a pint or two at the BBC in Theatre Square then come home to have Chinese take-away and watch movies. Well, as I walked past the Sicilian place on 4th the unshakable craving for a pizza struck me. Fortunately, the BBC sells personal sized pizzas. It was my first experience with one of their pies. It was good. It won’t be my last. I sat, read about the candidates for office in LEO, and chatted away via text. It was a pretty good time. The winds were blowing like a storm was nigh. And I managed to lose a flip-flop under the bar stool — okay so I was able to recover it. I liked the Strong Ale so much that I actually bought a growler of it. I know.

At home was The Maltese Falcon – the one with Bogey this time, and I spent some serious time on the deck just watching the breezes blow the flags and banners. It was one of the most peaceful and tranquil things I cold have done. 

Before going to bed, I did renew my subscription for the 2010 – 2011 Pandora Productions season.

Tattoo Touch-Up

A couple of months back, I got the Welsh Dragon put on my chest. Well, it’s time to go in for the touch up work that I need. It’s not much — just enough to keep it from looking its absolute best. So on the morrow I’m headed up to the Highland of Louisville and to my favorite tattoo parlor. If I’m lucky, the Artist will be able to do the work tomorrow. Otherwise, I’ll be making an appointment.

In other news of the ink, I need to see about getting the pin-up on my right hip — and thinking about what tattoo would be best to commemorate the end of the world in 2012. I make a lot of fun of the theory that we’re doomed on some date in December 2012, but what if it’s real? Well, at least I’ll have a tattoo for the occasion. How many people can say that?

Thursday

There are a lot of things I could complain about were I so inclined, but I’m not. It’s actually been a good day. Great Weather. Sunshine. That whole thing with the Twink. Hell, even the burger I had for lunch was done nicely. So I was sitting at my desk playing with my soul patch and reading through an e-mail when I decided it was time. I wasn’t working late as I’d planned. Nope I needed something to set the evening right– tonsorial treatment. At the eight and skate mark, I was out the door doing everything but hollering “Yabadabadoo!” In less than five minutes, I was walking through the door of the barbershop and in five and a half, I was in the barber’s chair.

It was all I could do to keep from going to sleep, and when he laid the chair back and applied the hot cloths, I was close to Amida’s Pure Heaven – and I was even going to have to head west to get home. There’s a certain luxury available in a barber shop of the right caliber. I noticed that since I was last in, they’ve added one more but of finery — a shoe shine chair. Hot Damn! Now if they’d offer table massages, I might have to live in the place full-time. Okay, back to reality. I’d have to leave for liquor and food, but there’s a bar in the adjacent building. And there’s a pub going in across the street on Whisky Row. It probably won’t replace my favorite third places, but it’s nice to have something new in the neighborhood.

So, I’m home. Had a nice bumblebee stew washed down with a Stone IPA for supper. It’s been a pretty good day after all. Now, I really need to donate some money for the Hatii Earthquake. I’ll give, like I always give, through the UUSC.

Snow 2010

Okay, the Wetterdudes have been calling for a big snow. It began in the Downtown area today about 0500. I headed out to the gym while the first snow storm of the season was taking shape. The workout was nice. The shower was hot, and I was dressed in my tweeds, sitting at my desk, looking out into the morning before the weather turned terribly bad. I’m always amazed by the people who, during a snow storm, point out that there are slick spots on the road. These are the same folks who point out that it’s cold — in January, and really hot  outside during the Dog Days of August. Ya think?

 I’m not sure that it truly turned terribly bad at all. No the streets aren’t well cleared — no mach 90 speeds for most folks, but it’s not like it’s impassible. So I worked the full day and left on time. I needed to take care of some stuff, and I really wanted to cook a hearty supper. Tonight the menu was shrimp and grits. It’s a fairly quick meal to cook, hearty, and I really wanted something to spice up a cold, snowy day. It succeeded.

 My usual wake time is prior to the cancellation (almost never happens) or delay (rare but possible) decision. I’ll check before I leave for the gym. If we’re on schedule, I’ll be on the cardio mill while most people are still waking up. If we’re delayed, I’ll shower, dress and nap until time to head in to earn my keep.

Calling All Fabglitter

Come join us Out in the open at First Unitarian Church‘s Courtyard Cafe on Saturday, October 24. Open from 6-10pm with local coffee and snacks sold for a minimal cost. $3 cover charge with $2 going to commonGround of U of L. Entertainment provided by students and supporters. The Rev. Dawn Cooley, new minister at First Unitarian Church, will join the Cafe this month for a reception to welcome her to her new ministry in Louisville. Rev. Cooley is eager to meet members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in Louisville and learn about the equality and justice priorities in the local area as well as opportunities to support this crucial work. Rev. Cooley is available to members of the community for ceremonies of union. Please come to the Cafe to meet Rev. Cooley and welcome her to Louisville, or contact her at the church at 585-5110. Future Courtyard Cafe’s will be held on Nov. 20 and Dec. 18. When the weather no longer allows us to be outside, we will take the fun inside. We hope to provide local entertainment for future Cafe’s. For more information, email courtyard.cafe@rocketmail.com.

Caught in a Celluloid Jam

Science Fiction – Double Feature
Dr. X will build a creature
See androids fighting Brad and Janet
Ann Francis stars in Forbidden Planet
Oh-oh at the late night, double feature, picture show.

 

It was a Saturday afternoon in early October. There are a lot of events in the City at this time of year. I was part of the packed house who’d come to see Pandora Production‘s staging of The Rocky Horror Show. Who’d have thought a matinee would be a sell out? Like many people, I know this tale very well, and saw it numerous times when it played at the Vogue Theatre, but I had not seen it as a live production.

Also, noteworthy is that while there were plenty of gay folks in attendance, there were also quite a few straight couples. That’s absolutely great news — for Pandora, Louisville, and the nation.

I think I’m far more fond of it — if you can image that — as a stage production that as a movie. The actors had great voices, there was a live band tucked behind stage, and Pandora’s Rocky is far hotter than the film’s Rocky. My favorite part was at the end looking around at the audience members giving a standing ovation — and doing the Time Warp. It was astounding.

As of this writing, there’s only one more performance — at 1930 tonight, but it’s just the beginning of what promises to be another fabulous season for my favorite theatre company.

AIDS Walk Sunday

AIDS Remembrance Ribbon on the Second Street Bridge

Today was one of those glorious days when you remember what keeps you living in the River City. The skies were blue, the temperatures mild, and a light breeze swept across the city. The 16^th Louisville AIDS Walk was today. I got to the Belvedere just before they closed off the Main Street, and I had plenty of time to play anthropologist (i.e., people watch). One of the things that I like about events like it, is that same sex couples can hold hands or have other PDAs that straight people take for granted. I watched the runners start the 5K, saw and talked with some people I knew. I tweeted about the event, and had a wolf’s good time. I even saw a couple of guys worth lusting after, but that’s another tale. It was also impressive that Mayor Abramson and Congressman Yarmuth came to the event. I noticed that  neither of the Commonwealth’s senators were in attendance.

Soon enough it was time to head down to Main Street and get ready to start this year’s walk. We got in place, the count down began, and we were off. The crowd included plenty of people from the LGBTQI community as well as straights and the undeclared. There were drag queens and leather lords, frat boys and women of a certain age, middle aged men and children. There were even a few pups (of both four and two legged varieties) walking the walk. Blacks, Whites, Asians, Jews, Christians, UUs, and people of no particular persuasion all had on their walking shoes. The route led across the Second Street Bridge to Southern Indiana, circled around and came back. I think it’s about a three mile trek. Placed along the route were bins filled with ice and bottles of water, and there were wading pools filled with water for the dogs.

Thanks to some very nice sponsors, I was able to bring $315 to the total. I’m not certain of the total for the Walk itself, but I’m hoping it was huge. I’m already looking forward to next year’s walk, and I’m thinking of doing some volunteer work as well.