Roadtrip to Vegas

On Thursday I got to spend some time with Vinnie while he was up here visiting his dad. Vinnie's been suffering with multiple disk herniations in his neck and so I decided to drive with him back down to Vegas since his partner Phil had to return to Vegas for work. I was worried that in Vinnie's state of pain, it wouldn't be a good idea for him to drive himself for 10 hours with 3 dogs.

So on Wed night, he showed up with the pups and it was real nice. Bailey, the dog that Vinnie and I got together back in 1997, was here and it was great to see him. Bailey spent the night on my bed so that was super special. He doesn't really remember me, but it was still great to have him in bed with me. I slept SO great that night. Funny how having him there made a big difference in my sleep.

Thursday we set off for Vegas in Vinnie's giant Yukon XL. In classic Vinnie fashion, he had created a giant doggie bed in the back of the Yukon so the doggies would be totally comfortable. Tons of blankets and big pillows. Perfect for 3 dogs on a long trip.

The drive actually went by really fast. We talked a bunch and listened to XM radio, flipping back and forth between the 70s, 80s, and 90s station. Heard some songs I hadn't heard in decades. Was really nice.

This one song, "The Second Time Around" by Shalamar came on. When I was 12, I used to play that song OVER and OVER again while rollerskating in my garage - pretending it was a roller rink. How my parents never knew...I have no idea. Anyway, we had a nice roadtrip together.

When we were together, we would spend a great deal of our weekends in the motorhome, so traveling for 10 hours was definitely a flashback to a big part of our relationship. Glad that we've been able to become friends again and can share time together that lets us reminisce and smile.

Hello Faggotron, meet Bearbot!

In the never-ending saga of "Decomposing Davey" it turns out I now need reading glasses. "Are you kidding me? Reading glasses...? Like ones that old people use?" Um, yes. So I picked out the coolest frames I could find and got fitted and I get my new pair of reading glasses next week. I'm shopping online right now for a walker, the clapper, and a bed pan.

As part of the eye exam, they had to dialate my pupils. I didn't have my sunglasses so I had to wear the disposable ones they provide. I turned into a superhero when I put them on.


HELLO FAGGOTRON..............................MEET BEARBOT

Good news on the heart front

After 2 weeks of being on the blood pressure meds, no liquor, strict diet, and ferocious workout schedule, I've brought my blood pressure from 158/94 down to 132/80. That's a "normal" blood pressure, if you didn't know. So things are looking good so far. He said that in 2 months if it comes down even more, he'll consider weaning me off the meds and see how I do on my own. Yippie!!

Bearin' it, East Coast Style

Just decided today to go to Bear Week in Provincetown in July with Gabe and Jason. They swear it's a super fun week. Even more motivation to stay on my program and get physically fierce since I'll have to hang around with my shirt off [insert cringe here]. That's 4 months away - plenty of time to become bear-licious and bear-ocious!

Sometimes it takes so little - yet means so much

In my blog entry dated Feb 28th, I told a story of a woman that was speaking passionately about the issue of Misogyny and how it's still strong in America. Well, just the other morning while I was at the gym, I saw that woman working out. So I decided to meet her.

I approached her and politely apologized for interrupting her workout but that I wanted to share with her that one day in the doctor's office, she touched me so profoundly that I wrote about her in my blog.

She was so touched that she pressed her fingertips to her lips and then against her heart. She then put her hands together (in prayer formation) and put her hands to her mouth and did a quick bow to thank me. She then grabbed my hand between both of hers and thanked me so genuinely.

Later that same afternoon I was back at the doctor's office and I ran into her again. She reached out both hands and put them on my shoulders and said a hearty "Well Hello!"

After this neat experience, it reinforced my belief that we need to go out on a limb more often and tell people how they touch our lives. Wouldn't you want to hear that? I would. So glad I took the 3 minutes to talk to her. Such little effort for such a huge return.

I've solved MUNI's poor ridership issue

MUNI is constantly talking about "how can we encourage more people to take the bus?" Well, I think I've solved this big mystery. GET RID OF THESE ADS!

This is the copy of an actual MUNI ad posted in an actual MUNI bus. Gee... I wonder why people don't want to take the bus. Read:

One time I picked up a man who was kind of strange. This was early, like 4am. He rang the bell like he wanted to get off, but he wouldn't get off. So we go to the next stop and he does it again. The he says "Close the door!" I said "I have to let people get on." The he starts shouting, "Go! Go!" I said, "No! It's a red light." Then he puts his foot on the gas pedal! And I'm like - Oh My God! I'm fighting with him trying to kick his foot off. Another passenger comes running to the front and he was able to put him off the bus. It was something. - going through red lights - we were lucky it was so early in the morning.
- Vawanda, MUNI Operator since 1989

WTF?

Here is a photo of the ad, if you don't believe me.

Invasion of the Combustion Engine Snatchers

I just had a real-life South Park experience. On my way home last night, on northbound Highway 280 between Cupertino and Portola Valley, I was completely surrounded by Priuses. Seven to be precise. I had 2 right in front of me. 3 just in front of them. And 2 directly behind me.

I had a flashback to the South Park episode where Kyle and his family move to San Francisco and EVERYONE drives a Pius (great play on the name Prius). Too funny. Oh, and when two exited on Magdalena Ave... two more were coming up the onramp. So good to know that The Bay Area is part of the solution and not part of the problem. Thaaaaaaaaaanks!!!

Separated at birth?

I love me some Carly Smithson but a friend sent me this and I thought it was pretty funny.

34... here I come

I've been on my regiment now for a little over 2 weeks and I'm happy to report that I've already lost an entire pant size. Over the weekend I was able to actually slip off my jeans without unbuttoning or unzipping them. That felt AWESOME.

I'm totally back into looking forward to the gym and have built it back into my weekly routine. What's that Eric Bana? You scared? Feel me breathing down your neck? Uh-huh... you better be. Here I come!

My ultimate goal would be to get back down to a 34" waist. It was Fall of 2003 the last time I was that trim - but I'm confident I'll get there.

I may actually get demoted from Bear status to Wolf...or even to, dare I say, an Otter...

No longer a Virgin

I went to LA this weekend with Jim and Matthew to visit Wilma and Andrew. We flew Virgin America. What a sexy flying experience that was. The planes are chic, back-lit in pink and purple, with black pleather seats wrapped in glossy white laminate. Felt like we were on a spaceship. I loved it. And it was tons of fun playing their touch screen inflight entertainment system. I played video Mahjong the entire time there and back. It was so fun, I want to now try and play the real Mahjong tile game now - god I'm getting old.

So the screens are touch-based and I was tapping hard on the screen which is built into the back of the headrest of the seat in front of me. Well, I was unaware of how hard i was tapping the screen and the lady sitting in front of me turned her head around and looked Matthew who was sitting next to me. Matthew then advised me that I should be gentler cuz I was moving her seat. So I apologized profusely and the lady and I had a laugh about it and she was very sweet.

So, this has never happened to me before, but when I got on the return flight tonight, the SAME LADY sat in front of me again. As she was getting into seat, she looked at me and said "Oh no, not you again!" And then we had a nice laugh. But really - what are the odds of sitting behind the same person?

I hope I can fly Virgin America more and more. What an awesome flying experience. Our outbound flight was delayed so they brought out a nerf basketball hoop and ball while we were at the gate, and were giving away free drink passes if you made a basket. Very friendly and personal. The inflight staff were sassy and sweet. I was a VA virgin. No longer. I've tasted the forbidden fruit. And I liked it.