File Under: Friends
Shout out to my very dear friend Dan. He's going through some medical matters, which he mentioned in his blog today. While I'm 100 percent convinced that everything will be fine, that the matters will be resolved but a few extra good wishes never hurt anybody.
Thanks!
Showing posts with label 41North87West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 41North87West. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Big Adventure - Day 1
File Under: Arrival
As you may recall, the task was to deliver to Dan 40 envelopes over the course of 4 days, the final envelopes would be given to him throughout the day on his birthday.
Sunday morning, Polo picked Denise and I up, then we waited around the corner from Dan and Luis' house for the limo to arrive. Envelope # 30 was forgotten by Polo (left in his hallway when he locked his door) but luckily he had extra blank envelope parts and were able to make another one. This one said "Get in the car!" We gave it to the driver, told him to ring the bell and give it to Dan. He did. Later we learned that the driver said "The people in the car told me to give this to you." We also figured out that Dan knew we were in the car because our luggage was in the trunk. However, at this point, he still didn't know where we were going. We arrived at Midway airport, where Tina was waiting, with the next envelope, telling him that we were off to Walt Disney World.
An interesting aside regarding the limo driver, Dan identified him as a stripper that we used to see perform at our favorite hangout, Jackhammer. However, we did resist tipping him by stuffing dollar bills into his pants.
The flight was completely uneventful, save for the fact that we had an attractive flight attendant and we asked him to hand Dan his next envelope. It really didn't have much to say, it just told him to relax and enjoy, perhaps the flight would sing "Happy Birthday" to him. They did not. That was fine with Dan.
We arrived at our destination mid-afternoon. Luis had a lovely villa reserved for us at Saratoga Springs, one of the Disney World resort properties.
Happy travelers, waiting in the lobby.
The view from our balcony:
Luis and I went grocery shopping, the remainder of the bunch went out to the pool to relax. We took full advantage of the fact that we had a kitchen and we planned on using it.
Luis made reservations for us to dine at Bongo's, a restaurant located in Downtown Disney.
Our waiter was cute and fun, and at the end of our meal Dan was serenaded with "Happy Birthday" from a group of wait staff. Our cute water was banging on his tray. I think Dan wished he was spanking his ass.
After dinner, we walked around Downtown Disney, visiting a number of stores, looking at everything from Mickey Mouse clothing, Christmas ornaments, kitchenware, stationery, jewelry, and bedding. Lots of mouse stuff.
We ended our evening back at the villa, and gearing up for our first full day in Florida, and Dan's 40th Birthday!
As you may recall, the task was to deliver to Dan 40 envelopes over the course of 4 days, the final envelopes would be given to him throughout the day on his birthday.
Sunday morning, Polo picked Denise and I up, then we waited around the corner from Dan and Luis' house for the limo to arrive. Envelope # 30 was forgotten by Polo (left in his hallway when he locked his door) but luckily he had extra blank envelope parts and were able to make another one. This one said "Get in the car!" We gave it to the driver, told him to ring the bell and give it to Dan. He did. Later we learned that the driver said "The people in the car told me to give this to you." We also figured out that Dan knew we were in the car because our luggage was in the trunk. However, at this point, he still didn't know where we were going. We arrived at Midway airport, where Tina was waiting, with the next envelope, telling him that we were off to Walt Disney World.
An interesting aside regarding the limo driver, Dan identified him as a stripper that we used to see perform at our favorite hangout, Jackhammer. However, we did resist tipping him by stuffing dollar bills into his pants.
The flight was completely uneventful, save for the fact that we had an attractive flight attendant and we asked him to hand Dan his next envelope. It really didn't have much to say, it just told him to relax and enjoy, perhaps the flight would sing "Happy Birthday" to him. They did not. That was fine with Dan.
We arrived at our destination mid-afternoon. Luis had a lovely villa reserved for us at Saratoga Springs, one of the Disney World resort properties.
Happy travelers, waiting in the lobby.
The view from our balcony:
Luis and I went grocery shopping, the remainder of the bunch went out to the pool to relax. We took full advantage of the fact that we had a kitchen and we planned on using it.
Luis made reservations for us to dine at Bongo's, a restaurant located in Downtown Disney.
Our waiter was cute and fun, and at the end of our meal Dan was serenaded with "Happy Birthday" from a group of wait staff. Our cute water was banging on his tray. I think Dan wished he was spanking his ass.
After dinner, we walked around Downtown Disney, visiting a number of stores, looking at everything from Mickey Mouse clothing, Christmas ornaments, kitchenware, stationery, jewelry, and bedding. Lots of mouse stuff.
We ended our evening back at the villa, and gearing up for our first full day in Florida, and Dan's 40th Birthday!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Out and Proud
File Under: Pride
This is Pride month, and this weekend is the big Pride celebration in Chicago. Saturday is Pridefest, Sunday is the Parade.
This will be my 7th pride parade. Prior to attending my first parade, I wanted to attend celebrate, but didn't have the appreciation for who I am. I accepted it and had been out to my family and friends for a few years but when it came to the parade, I was intimidated by all of the "in your face" displays. The first year I attended, I did so on a mission, my friend Vahona and I were doing promotion for the Go-Go's last CD release (God Bless The Go-Go's) and we were distributing flyers, buttons and a bunch of handmade promotional goodies. We were working, so the parade happenings were just background.
Each year became more of an event. My friend Chuck would throw a party so it became an entire day long event. Now it's something I really look forward to.
My best friend Dan http://41north87west.blogspot.com/ was someone who helped me appreciate who I am and proved it was a good thing to celebrate it. He has always been an inspiration to me and I admire him for being forward, for standing up for his beliefs and working to make a difference. I look forward to celebrating this weekend with him and our friends
Unlike Dan who has posted on a daily basis on his experiences growing up gay, I've not shared as much, only because there hasn't been much to share. I don't have a slew of songs that shaped my gay youth. However one song does come to mind because its general message is about living life to the fullest each day of your life. I've droned on and on in the past about The Go-Go's and about Belinda Carlisle. They are the soundtrack to my life. Earlier this year I obsessed because I was seeing/had seen The Go-Go's in concert and actually got to chat with both Jane and Belinda a bit backstage after the show.
One of Belinda's solo albums was titled "Live Your Life Be Free," the single of the same title was released in the UK and was successful. It didn't garner the same success here in the States. What I like so much about this song is the message of going for whatever it takes to live life to the fullest. In the bridge she sings "And when you free your mind, you will leave your past behind." Truer words have never been spoken (or sung, in this case).
Belinda has performed at pride celebrations in LA and at gay clubs in the UK. This song has become her anthem for the audience, she always performs it. I'm posting it here, again because it's my message to anybody who might be holding back and fighting what they feel. Don't wait, go out and enjoy. Live your life, be free!
Happy Gay Pride, everybody!
This is Pride month, and this weekend is the big Pride celebration in Chicago. Saturday is Pridefest, Sunday is the Parade.
This will be my 7th pride parade. Prior to attending my first parade, I wanted to attend celebrate, but didn't have the appreciation for who I am. I accepted it and had been out to my family and friends for a few years but when it came to the parade, I was intimidated by all of the "in your face" displays. The first year I attended, I did so on a mission, my friend Vahona and I were doing promotion for the Go-Go's last CD release (God Bless The Go-Go's) and we were distributing flyers, buttons and a bunch of handmade promotional goodies. We were working, so the parade happenings were just background.
Each year became more of an event. My friend Chuck would throw a party so it became an entire day long event. Now it's something I really look forward to.
My best friend Dan http://41north87west.blogspot.com/ was someone who helped me appreciate who I am and proved it was a good thing to celebrate it. He has always been an inspiration to me and I admire him for being forward, for standing up for his beliefs and working to make a difference. I look forward to celebrating this weekend with him and our friends
Unlike Dan who has posted on a daily basis on his experiences growing up gay, I've not shared as much, only because there hasn't been much to share. I don't have a slew of songs that shaped my gay youth. However one song does come to mind because its general message is about living life to the fullest each day of your life. I've droned on and on in the past about The Go-Go's and about Belinda Carlisle. They are the soundtrack to my life. Earlier this year I obsessed because I was seeing/had seen The Go-Go's in concert and actually got to chat with both Jane and Belinda a bit backstage after the show.
One of Belinda's solo albums was titled "Live Your Life Be Free," the single of the same title was released in the UK and was successful. It didn't garner the same success here in the States. What I like so much about this song is the message of going for whatever it takes to live life to the fullest. In the bridge she sings "And when you free your mind, you will leave your past behind." Truer words have never been spoken (or sung, in this case).
Belinda has performed at pride celebrations in LA and at gay clubs in the UK. This song has become her anthem for the audience, she always performs it. I'm posting it here, again because it's my message to anybody who might be holding back and fighting what they feel. Don't wait, go out and enjoy. Live your life, be free!
Happy Gay Pride, everybody!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Meet my friends
File under: Friends
As I said in my intro, I plan to introduce you to my friends, we'll call them the cast of characters in my life. These are my partners in crime, my travel companions, my shoulders to cry on. Later on, as I mention these people in my stories, you will get to know about about them, too.
Today's featured friend is Dan, my best friend. We met close to five years ago after I began frequenting a bar that he often visited. After sitting in the same spots week after week, he finally turned towards me one night and said "You sit here week after week, listening to our conversations, you may as well tell me your name so that I can include you in the conversation." I looked over my shoulder to confirm he was talking to me. He was, I introduced myself and then he smiled and said "It's nice to meet you, I'm Dan."
We chatted regularly, as we would see each other at least once each weekend at the bar. Pretty soon we were hanging out. He gets me, I get him. We're so much alike in some regards but polar opposites in others. We complement each other perfectly. In fact, he was there when my "Proper" monicker was born. Mind you, he laughed when he heard it applied to me.
Dan's partner is Luis. You'll learn about him soon. Pictured above with Dan is Ozzie, Luis' Bulldog.
To learn more about Dan, check out his blog, 41North87West. Dan has an opinion about everything and isn't afraid to speak his mind. Whether you agree or disagree with him, you can't help but admire the fact that he isn't afraid to call it like he sees it. A link to Dan's blog can be found at the bottom of this page.
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