A few funnies

Pic 1 is the name of a porno flick on our TV menu... Classic. Love it.

Pics 2 and 3 are of a fountain we ran across in the historic district. Um...that looks toxic. Yum...

Ciudad de Mexico Scores a 9

On Day 3 we spent the day in the Historic Center of town - where the original Spanish settlement decided to build big Gothic buildings on the spot where glorious Aztec temples were...and to add insult to injury the Spaniards used the stone from the Aztec temples to build the new stuff. Nice, eh? Nevertheless, the area was amazing and we saw some beautiful stuff. We saw so many Diego Rivera murals painted across a few palaces.

We went to the only bear bar (Nicho Bear) that night and we all made some friends. The bar was small but it was a ton o fun. The sad part of the evening was that Don's iPhone was stolen right out of his pocket. The amusing part was the next day we had Wilma send a text message to Don's phone and we got a response with a phone number. So Wilma called the number and the person who answered said that he didn't steal the phone - but that he bought the phone last night because his career is to buy and sell used phones. Um... it was stolen at 3:30am... glad to see the used cell phone market requires 24x7 purchasing. Anyway - Don never got it back.

We all slept in late since we tore it up til the wee hours. We dragged ourselves to the Anthropology Museum (insert yawn here). If we see one more decorative bowl, we're going to go postal. We then headed over to the Frida Khalo museum which is actually the house she grew up in and lived in with Diego Rivera. Pretty cool stuff.

All in all - I'm giving Mexico City a 9 out of 10. It far exceeded my expectations. The city was beautiful, the people were friendly, and the sights were impressive. Off to Guadalajara!

Night 1 / Day 2

After dinner last night we ended up on Mexico City's version of Bourbon Street...for gays. We went in a bar called "Lipstick " and...gee... it was ladies night too. The space was cool and there were a handful of guys there. We met 2 guys who had also just arrived from San Francisco. And believe it or not - none of us were familiar to any one... so maybe SF isn't as small as we think.

Bummer 1: They measure liquor in drinks here - and they're just as expensive as in the US - so getting a buzz costs a bit more than we're used to. But we had a great time.

Today we hired a private guide and car to take us out to the pyramids. On the way, we stopped off at the basilica where Baby Jesus' mother made her apparitions to Juan Diego - and when her image appears inside his cape as proof to the bishop that she was visiting him. You know the image... it's the one that's on those classy glass candles. It was really impressive. This picture is of the actual cape from 400 years ago that is framed and hangs on the back of the alter in the church.

The pyramids ROCKED. Our tour guide, who's been one for 31-years, provided us details that you've never have known unless you read a book about it. No signs anywhere. It's basically an archaelogical site, so it doesn't have all the tourist signage with facts. So a few times people were hovering around us trying to catch some free info. We climbed to the top of the big pyramid - The Pyramid of the Sun... and the view was amazing. Hard to believe that once 400,000 people lived here 2400 BC. Incredible.

The flu is getting better. I've been able to keep up with the group for everything - but just now they wanted to walk around a bit but I thought I'd take it easy this afternoon so I can go out tonight. Yippie...

First Day in Ciudad de Mexico

Wow! First day in Mexico City was UH-MAY-ZING. It's not technically over yet... but wanted to update. The weather was incredible (like 72 and cool breeze) And the parts of the city we've walked around today were gorgina. Strolled to a neighborhood called Condesa for brunch at a cute little organic cafe. We stumbled upon this cool kitschy vintage store that had a lime green XMas tree... luv it.

Then we walk through out Bosque de Chipultapec which is Mexico City's Golden Gate Park. There was a palace that we walked through, a big lake with tons-o-peeps paddle boating around and we watch these guys hang upside down from a giant pole, and spin while descending to the ground. We're sure it was some sort of old, Aztecy rain-voodoo thing... but we didn't find out. Check out the video clip.

After our stroll throughout the park, Wilma wanted to see Mexico City's version of Rodeo Drive... so off we walked there. Nice shops - all the ones you'd expect like Gucci, Diesel... but the prices were the same as in the US, so the credit cards didn't come out.

We got our correct rooms so now we've got a big suite with a connecting room. So we've got a nice sized living room to hang out in together. Andrew just landed and will be here at the hotel in about 1 hour. He already texted us that he "NEEDS A DRINK". So we're off to drinks and dinner tonight at a place called the Hip Kitchen. And then it's off to a few gay bars. But I'm still not 100% so we'll see if I make it that late.

Oh - tomorrow we're taking a trek out to the pyramids. Should be awesome.

Since We've Been Gone

So after a 3 hour delay at SFO, we finally got to our hotel by 10:30pm last night. The hotel is really nice but we've been having some problems with our rooms. Will made early arrangements for a suite with an additional room connection. Well, turns  out that if you decide to stay an additional night at the Four Seasons, they change everyone else's plans - not yours. So the rooms we were supposed to get were not available. Wilma got all New York on their asses and they're moving us to another set of rooms today. Go New York! 

The other bummer is that I've got the flu. And it seems to be getter worse. Yesterday was my day for wheezing and coughing. Today is the day for feeling achy and sore. I may chill at the hotel today and regroup so I can get through it sooner rather than have it linger throughout the trip. I HATE missing a day on the town - but Andrew isn't here yet so we didn't plan  on seeing any major sights without him. So if there's any day to chill it would be today. 

Many many miles north, in a little town of Harrisburg, PA Matt drunk texted us to share that he was WASTED and at a Karaoke bar. Of course, the funniest part of this is that when Matt drunk texts... it's a typo-lalapalooza. Predictive type isn't always your friend. Don't be fooled. She's really a bitch that will screw you over when you're not paying attention. Or just jealous of other woman. Cuz I'm not sure why Matt would tell me "a girn just pang a rong by Kelly Alaolsoo (Clarkson). LOL. Keep drinking and texting Chant. We love it. 

Off to Mexico

Tomorrow I'm off to Mexico City and Guadalajara. Just got bad news that Shannon isn't coming with us because his dog Seymour isn't doing well and requires some special care. We're going to miss him but we hope his baby gets well.

If I get the chance I'll update with highlights from the trip. If not- I'll be back on the 5th and will give a general update from the whole event. The thing I'm most excited about is the fact that the high temperature is 75 and the low is 48.... My kinda weather - FINALLY. No more 95 degrees and sweltering humidity. I can't wait. Stay tuned.

Is it me? Do I smell?

Why is EVERYONE moving away? I swear, all of the closest people in my life have moved away over the past 7 years. It all started with my good friends Mike and Jenn. Mike and I have been best friends since 6th grade. He got married and moved off to Eagle, CO - of all places. That started it off. Soon after, other best friends Todd & Lisa moved to Minneapolis. Then there was the great desert migration of 2002-2006. John & Scott moved to Palm Springs...Danny moved to Palm Springs...Kevin (aka Stella) moved to Palm Springs and Vinnie moved to Las Vegas. Then Gabe and Jason moved off to NYC just when Gabe and I were hanging out more and more - which I truly cherished. Then after a super fun 8-month roommate gig, Jason decided to move to Palm Springs. Jason's move was very hard on me. We were so close before but living together really turned us into husbands. He always said that it was the most perfectly conceived sexless marriage - ever. It was hard to go back to living alone after he moved out.

Then Andy moved to Santa Cruz... close but yet so far. I was able to supplement my roommate aches by having Andy and Diego stay with me when they would come up for 3-4 day weekends. That was nice. And then Shannon stayed here for about 5-6 weeks, every other week, while he looked for a place to live...but that one worked out because it meant Andy was moving back to SF. So I'll chalk his move up to a momentary lapse of reason. He's forgiven.

And then- just when I had completely recovered from Jason's move - and things seemed really great, Wilma and Andrew announced their move to L.A. After a long, arduous "going away" season, they moved (well sorta). They were SUCH a huge part of my everyday life that I felt a little lost for a while once they finally moved. I don't think the true effects of their move have truly been experienced yet - as I've seen then about every week since their move - and probably will through the 3rd week of January. So I think February is when I'll feel the true pain of their move.

You'd think that would be enough, right? You'd think that having 15 people move away who were incredibly significant parts of my life would be plenty. Quota filled. I would. Oh no. It's not over.

Now, it seems apparent that Matt (aka Chant) is moving to god-only-knows-where to kickstart his career. Who would think that there would be a job opportunity in Little Rock...and not San Francisco. Well, thank god he's not moving there... but he's moving somewhere. And that really sucks. I don't like it!

And then on Friday night I just found out from Don that he has a job interview that may take him off to Washington D.C. I mean - come on?

Is it me? Do I smell? What's going on?

Don't get me wrong - I am SO excited for their journeys. Moving is SUCH an adventure and brings new aspects to your life that you just can't get from sticking around one place forever. It doesn't change the fact that it's bittersweet for us that remain behind. Let's face it. Things are never the same after they move. You can call, and text, and email, and visit. But it's not the same as when they're here to hug, to laugh with, or to just walk next to when you're doing nothing exciting at all.

I imagine a day when everyone realizes they're done with their journey and simultaneously they all decide to move back to SF. Then we can all be together - all the time - and live as one big family. I just realized that's my Christmas Wish.

Betting on the Ponies

Each year, the lexicon of a group of friends grows and grows. New catch phrases are invented and some work their way into the everyday language... and some are fun for a spell but don't have the staying power to last beyond the weekend they were crafted.

A recent phrase has not only made it's way into my group's lexicon, but it's promising enough to catch on and replace another long-standing phrase that America has embraced. The current domain champion taking-a-dump-phrase of "I've gotta drop the kids off at the pool" is soon to be replaced by (if the gods permit) "I'm gonna go bet on the ponies at Bear Downs".

The phrase was a collaborative effort between Gabe and I. You see, when a conversation starts to introduce "poo" Gabe refers to it as "going to Brown Town." Then I said that the race track in Brown Town was called "Bear Downs". And he then added "Betting on the ponies".

I've started using the phrase and it's gaining much traction. The response is quite positive and I think that within 5 years, i'll hear that phrase being used in some form of media. It's the best phrase that came out of 2007 and it has the legs to win the race, and I'm betting that it will replace the tired old pool reference, toot sweet.

What my blog name means

I titled my blog "Making a Left in a World of Right Turns" because growing up a left-handed person, it always seemed that everything was geared for right-handed people - and us south paws were always left with some retarded version of the original. Remember those lame short-bus scissors? They were never the nice big ones. They always the little ones, with a bull-nosed edge. They never cut right, and I eventually stopped using them and taught myself to cut with the right-handed ones.

Then growing up "chubby" I always felt like things that others took so casually, like playing in the park or beach with your shirt off, was off limits for me. As I battle with weight, I always see those people who just lucked out with good DNA who eat SPAM and candy and never gain weight, and envy their ability to tuck in their shirts or take them off without shame.

And as for being gay - well - that's truly another example of a world geared towards the non-gay and the struggles to find my way - and build a life - that is alternative to the masses.

Now - I completely realize that my trials and tribulations are not of the magnitude to equal those who have experience racial hatred, or any female in a muslim culture. But, my life is the only life I'm living. And it's the only life of which I can unequivocally speak from experience. They're real, and they're mine. I do not pretend to have had a more troubled life than anyone else. Quite the contrary. My life has been so blessed and fulfilling from birth to current. I'm not saying I've come to a stop-sign by the cruelty of the world. Merely feel that sometimes I have to pause in the intersection and wait until it's my turn. Until the coast is clear to be the only me I know. That's all.

Cuisine Corner

Tried 2 new restaurants in the hood this week. Cafe Castro and Frisee. Both locations have had 3 tennants each in them since I've lived in SF - so I felt some sort of neighborhood compulsion to try them both - and do my little part to welcome them to the stro.

Cafe Castro... don't bother. Boring menu (entree's a la Lyon's), horrible ambiance (too bright, nobody there, bad music), and average flavor. I give it 2 months. Hello...and goodbye.

Frisee http://www.friseerestaurant.com/ on the otherhand was super tasty. Nice energy, friendly service, awesome food, nicely presented, healthy fare but nice portions. Big thumbs up. Everything looked good as it was going out of the kitchen - since we were in the loft area and could see it all. I'll definitely be back.

So happy to find new good food choices in the hood. The selections in the stro can often be average at best...so I'm super glad that Frisee is here. C'ya Cafe Castro...

What's your daemon?

In the story of the Golden Compass, each human character has a daemon...not an evil demon as we've come to know the term, but a daemon that is an animal form that represents your spirit. Your daemon is always with you, close by. It take the form of the opposite sex, and can be any form of animal.

The movie website has an online tool where you answer 20 questions and it will tell you what your animal daemon is -and even gives it a name. So much fun.

http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/ and then select "DAEMON" in the navigation.

My daemon is a dog (a Whippet to be precise) named Eumelia. What is your daemon? Go to the site and comment here to share with me.

What makes movie magic

I saw the Golden Compass over the weekend. As someone who has read the trilogy, I have to give the movie an A in its accuracy and authenticity in recreating this world as I visualized it in my mind. Having said that, I have to give it a C on my overall impression of it as a film. The special effects are top-notch. The set design was impecable. The gadgets and objects were stylish. But the one thing they weren't able to craft in CGI was pure movie magic. I'm not talking about the hokus-pokus that occurs in the story... I'm talking about good old-fashioned movie magic. That special ingredient a movie has that leaves a permanent mark in your heart.

It's easy to judge a movie and say that it did or didn't have "movie magic" and I can't tell you what they should have done, or shouldn't have done in order to deliver it. That's the job of the movie makers. We all know what movie magic is, in essence, and it means something different to each of us... and I guess if it came in a bottle, then it wouldn't mean as much when we actually get a glimpse of it and it captures our heart.

But if I had to break down, systematically, what I think movie magic is - I'd have to say it comes down to pure moments of discovery. Those precise instances in a film where a moment of discovery occurs (the lie is exposed, the truth is learned, the love has sparked, the sorrow overwhelms, the revenge surfaces, the malice overcomes). Think about any movie that you truly adore. I bet there are at least 3 significant moments of discovery that moved both you AND the character(s) in the movie. Why 3? Cuz I said so.

I think we want to be surprised. Maybe even fooled, a little bit. Is there anything worse than a movie that's predictable and obvious? Remember when he realized he was dead in "The Sixth Sense"? Remember when he realized that he was Tyler Derdon in "Fight Club"? Remember when the creature was with Ripley in the escape ship at the end of "Alien"? Those precise moments of discovery are what moves me as a moviewatcher - and what I truly believe is at the heart of movie magic.

"Life without wine is a drag"

"Life without wine is a drag"

is the slogan at the very unique Clautiere Winery in Paso Robles, CA.

Completely unassuming from the outside - inside you're transported into a hybrid world comprising a dash of Priscilla, a touch of Alice in Wonderland, and a pinch of Beetlejuice.

The milisecond that you enter the lavendar-ensconced tasting room you're immediately compelled to find that perfect wig to express your personality. Why? Cuz everyone else is. It's peer-pressure at it's best.

There are 2 big piles of wigs to sort through - and you're sure to find just the right one. Once we all had our wigs on, well, the laughter ensued and we really could care less about the wine. I mean - please - 10 gay men and 2 lesbians playing dress-up? Come on.

Finally - a winery with a sense of humor. It was the most refreshing and enjoyable wine-tasting experience EVER. I think this could/would do well in Sonoma and/or Napa... if it doesn't already exist.

Lesson learned: Life's too short and serious - add humor anywhere and everywhere you can.

Think Big!

I just love this picture. Hmm...not sure why... :-)

Awaiting the return of the great American sitcom

As a TV kid, I hold a dear place in my heart for the sitcom. As a kid in the 70s, a teen in the 80s and a young adult in the 90s, I've seen and embraced my share of TV sitcoms.

I keep hopes alive that great, new sitcoms will come back to "Must-see TV". But with the intro of fewer and fewer sitcoms, and the expanding popularity of reality and variety shows, I fear the days of must-see TV may be gone.

Or maybe, like a life-long friend, our relationship with the sitcom has simply been put on the back burner - making room to try new things. Yet deep in our hearts we know this old friend will always be there for us when times get tough. And we can always revitalize the relationship and lose ourselves for 22 minutes in a place where everybody knows your name. Cheers.

What makes me cry

I find that as I'm getting older, I've become a super softy to tears of joy, empathy, love, and triumph. I've really come to embrace how emotionally rewarding crying is - elevating it almost to the same level as laughing.

I now seek to watch, hear, and share things that move me...move me to tears. It makes me feel human and real. Believe it or not, it actually makes me happy.

I cried at the trailer for "March of the Penguins" when the baby penguin shimmies to the right to stand next to its parent. I cry every time watching Extreme Makerover: Home Edition after they say "MOVE THAT BUS". I cried when Hilda realized that Santos was dead on Ugly Betty. I cried when I heard Paul Potts sing opera on the British talent show. I cried when Melinda Doolittle received her standing ovation the first night out on the big stage after singing "Home" on American Idol. I cried when I told my dearest friend Wilma that he was "My purple".

And I cried when I watched this clip this morning.

There - I've said it. I like to cry. And it makes me happy.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

What could be more tragic than a middle-aged man doing Dance Dance Revolution? Three middle-aged men doing Dance Dance Revolution. But GOD did we have fun.

Last week I was down in Los Angeles visiting Will and Andrew - with Chant (Matt) in tow. Chant and Wilma had done DDR a week prior and couldn't stop talking about the experience. So there we were... on a day jaunt to Long Beach. And instead of enjoying the coastline, or strolling the charming downtown streets, or even catching a glimpse of the undersea life at the aquarium - we popped onto Wilma's iPhone and conveniently found GAMEWORKS, a mega arcade with two DDR machines, in the heart of downtown Long Beach.

It was a weekday and the arcade was empty. Thank god. Well - 3 hours and $47 later - there were 3 middle-aged men, drenched in sweat, who had danced our asses off. Great fun. What we lacked in grace we made up for with "intent to master". With a few steins of beer in us, we transformed into 13-yr old kids stomping and clomping our way to HIGH SCORE.

Lesson learned: Try things that you think are too young for you and you'll quickly learn that the 13-yr old kid is still in there anxiously waiting to come out and play again.