The Thirteen Tales

Portland is fun.

Navigating the bus system like a champ. Explored more of the eastern side of the Willamette this go-around. Glad I ventured back over this evening, as I knew it would be "dead" yet photogenic with the neon signs all lit up. I wasn't disappointed. It's cold here.

Morning started off with a rudimentary list, which I doubt much was accomplished. Joined a walking tour group of portland sponsored by the hostel. That was worth the donation I gave the tour lady. These things are always quite entertaining. Her statement regarding the naked bike ride ("once you see 10,000 naked people on bikes, you can't unsee it"), was quite ironic as she pointed out every phallic or related point of interest on the two hour tour. Quizzed the group on the pronunciation of Oregon and Williamett River, instructed young woman not to be in the Old Town district after dark. Lagged in tieback of the 8 person pack, for a few hits off of the pipe, and to take photos. Figured signing up for even that opportunity was worth the time, but a bit long of a tour.

Discovered a little gem of a movie rental/museum I hit up after the tour ended. Movie madness. the bar of soap used for a promo for "fight club" is what brought me there, the dress from "drop dead gorgeous, is what kept me there. super fun. Had a bin of movie posters which turned out to be vintage. found "once bitten" which surprised me and will be dragged back home.

Been a long exhausting day.

Assisted with a friend who needed up grocery shopping at the local Trader Jo's on Saturday afternoon. Inquired as we were leaving and putting our tickets into the drawing for a gift card, for using re-use it bags, if she had ever won. She hadn't. Neither had I.

Put good juju out in the universe. They called today and informed me of my winnings. Will stop out there quick tomorrow after work. Yay me.

Spent today in bed with a headache. Thankfully that is all that it was. Sunny day in the tundra. Just seeing the sun made me happy, also seeing daylight get that much longer. It's the little joys. Headache is finally gone. Need to send out a sympathy card, go through bills and the mail, and everything else I didn't accomplish today. There is always tomorrow.

Was a rotting corpse all day with a headache/nausea/vomiting.

Finally took my homemade headache concoction of 2 Tylenol and 4 Advil which has made the difference. Finally got some soup/toast/apples in my system. Should probably take a shower before I go to bed. Wouldn't hurt.

At the 11th hour, hit up the 9:00 p.m. viewing of Wicked last night, 3D version. Mainly to do something and get out of the house. Dropped an edible during the previews. Details behind the cut.

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Weekend getaway that couldn't of came at a better time. Visiting a friend a few hours drive from the tundra. As it would be, leaving work much later than expected, my attempt at maximizing sunlight, failed as darkness came too quickly. As I've aged, driving at night is less appealing, mixed with unknown back country roads in the drift less, isn't ideal. Reminded me very fondly of driving to the Texas Radical Gathering in 23, where sense of direction, missed roads, and lack of mobile service, just added to the adventure. Nothing quite beats, finding a fire number, turning into a gravel road, hoping that this is the right address along with life/shelter at the end.

Gloomy over-cast day, enjoying watching the birds hitting up the feeder and leaves blowing around.

Was a good girl, managing to keep my phone off through the trip, until I felt it was time. The time being yesterday afternoon sitting in the "Shaloam" thrift store. Got there in time before they closed. Pretty cheap and large place to walk around in, connect back to the grid.

Bro-Hike 24 has been completed. It was alright. I would of preferred a bit more camping and hiking, although we did a good 8 miles per day. Spent 2 nights in a hotel, doing day hikes to complete the more urban part of the trail. It worked out. Keep needing to remind myself that Bro had back problems, therefore the smaller mile days and relaxed trip was for his benefit.

The southern Terminus proves difficult with lack of overnight parking and camping options. Need to do some studying on the map regards to distances now that I have a visual resource of locations.

Stopped in Minneapolis for an impromptu dinner with Cody. At this part of the day I was hungry, tired, and somewhat devious that who knows if I made any sense in our conversation. That relationship is starting out well and there are some good things in regards to Cody.

Got home and discovered at 3;43 a.m. Monday Morning some female looking figure, stole one of the coolers and my cool fly-ashtray off of my porch. Reported that to the local police. Caught on my camera to boot. The value if any was in the ashtray. Both of the coolers have been sitting on the porch for years along with the ashtray at some point. In the 20 years, this is the 3 time I had something stolen. Just bums me out. With some of the fence business, I really just want to be left alone and not have people on my property...am I becoming that old man on the block?!?!

I have been a total sloth of epic proportions. Didn't sleep well again last night. It was after 1:00 a.m. before I got to sleep. Have been up and down most of the day. Need to do some self care and grooming, along with a grocery list.

Looking on the positive of the whole experience and the little adventures we had on the trail. The first night we got there, I threw in a left over donut I had along with some snacks from the car. We had eaten earlier before starting, therefore I didn't need a frozen dried meal, like the other 6 hikers at the site. When one of them saw it, her eyes got big and everyone saw what was going down. Like a steak in a lions cage. Super fun and brings a smile to my face.

Not sure what the deal with trying to back out, since DJ and I made plans weeks ago to deal with the fence. Storms this spring blew a section down, and another needed some attention about 5 years ago. We tore down the fence, hauled it away, made 2 trips to Menards, and put it two posts with cement before calling it a day.

During all of the tear down, a chicken got loose while the neighbors were gone. Said chicken got under the porch, and with some coaxing, chicken came out, I was able to catch her and throw her back into the yard.

The fence is going back up. The neighbors are not a big fan, due to it butting up against their driveway, with snow removal. It's going back up. It fits in with the front, and I want my space. Having some issues of the neighbors respecting my space. Good fences make good neighbors.

Ran some errors and picked up pants at Old Navy for work. Sure, they are the same color as ones I currently own, yet will add to the rotation. Picked up some white shirts. Did some cleaning in the closet and about 3 loads of laundry.

High school braces dude at the McDonald's drive through, stared at me, and stated "My glasses are better!" It was out of no-where and made me laugh. Kid won today.

Heading to the great state of Iowa tomorrow for the taping of the Antiques Roadshow.

At some-point today, I need to put "Ingrid" in the back of Betty, my HRV, to be sure she will be able to travel. If not, it is plan B, which I don't have. Actually I have nothing prepared for tomorrow. Not even sure of what time I want to leave in the morning, as I have an open-ended timed ticket. Never did find someone to go with. It's near Des Moines, yet I am not sure. Should probably decide on all that, at some point today, and NOT swing by the seat of my pants in the morning. Looking at it as a big adventure.

Decided against the estate sale in Winona. There was a bunch of mission furniture that looked interesting enough. Transport, and space issues in the house were the main deterrents. Plus the dealers in Winona are pretty hungry. I'm sure they scooped up most of the "good stuff" yesterday within the first hour. Thought about heading there this morning for the left-overs, yet my motivation hasn't been strong.

Mattress may stop by, which means I'll get laid. I can mark that off the list of problem solving why I am tired and lack of motivation. I don't think it is depression, yet I could possibly be in a bit of denial on that.

Just got home from the weekend in NYC.

Solanum (mark) was on my case to meet up again, since it had been a period since we had seen each other. I had originally set aside this weekend for a mother/son adventure, yet scratched that, due to the nagging of Solanum, and that my mother was on my list.

I'm so amazing happy that I went. It was such a good weekend.

Solanum made a very valid point, that if we keep on pushing it off, it wouldn't happen, and that you need to manifest those moments. After the drama regarding last year's visit in October, I was a bit put off. I booked tickets about 2 weeks ago, after I got back from Maui, thinking that I would take a chance, and see if this meeting would be less drama. Once he said that, I was so glad that I went out.

I didn't inform many people, including my parents, that I was going. Also on that list was my gay cousin and his husband who live in North Manhattan. As someone said: "you were there for a short time, and your time is yours." Fair.

While Solanum went swimming on Saturday, I was left to my own accord. Knowing this ahead of time, I constructed a detailed walking tour of lower Manhattan, of things I wanted to see and take a picture of. There was much research with maps and google prior to arriving in New York. I wanted to plan my time wisely and see what I wanted to see. Solanum helped me tweak it slightly, as to the approach. My navigation skills were very skewed in the city. I got lost the first day.

Highlights of the walking tour: Ghostbuster's Fire-House, the Keith Haring mural in the bathroom of The Center , the Limelight (former club kid bar), and the location of the 1 season of the Real World Loft. My brother completely shocked me, when he identified the location. The doorway was the money shot, as it is in almost every episode.

Another locale, was tracking down where the 1988 movie "Torch Song Trilogy" was filmed. My preliminary research, resulted in just the apartment/park area towards the end of the film.
Would of been VERY beneficial to have watched the film, PRIOR to visiting the location. Would of gotten better angles and details. Still cool. One of my top 3 films.

We Went to "Scuffs" on Broadway. It is a new, 2024 Tony Nominated, musical regarding the suffrage movement. So many shades of inclusiveness in the Queer, female, biopic, and ability community and so many shades of awesomeness. We were in the 10th row from the stage, it was awesome night. Finished off with NYC pizza.

Such a wonderful weekend.

Spent the weekend around the house.

Caught the live-feed of William Fitzsimmons in Boston, I believe. It was worth the $10 dollars. Kept track of the playlist. His concert was much shorter than the one I saw in person.He talked a lot. He didn't play as much "older", although he did take a few requests, both he played in St. Paul. Chillin to his re-release of "Diveratives" which is much electronic. Super Fun.

Eat the Frog first thing in the morning, is the theme of the day. Do the most difficulty, or dreading task first, and then it is done. Thankfully I was able to accomplish that once I got into the office. I do enjoy being able to saunter in, in the mornings. There isn't a specific start time. The flip side of course, is there isn't an "end" time either.

I put out a rubber Godzilla doll on the porch, outside of the door, during the last snowmeggedon. These events occur often in the frozen tundra. During a blizzard, I track the snow, by putting out Godzilla and see how much he gets buried. Some people use a ruler, I use Godzilla.

The snow has melted. I haven't moved Godzilla from his post. Thought of it this morning when I left for work. When I got home, he was in the planter box. I noticed right away he wasn't gaurding the back door.

The back door camera is, honestly, of course, on a bit of a fritz. The only entrance to the backyard is via the garage, which didn't catch anything. I just hope no one is messing with me. I don't do April fools.

My great excape from Snowmeggedon in the Midwest is a cloudy, rainy mess, with temps in the 70's. The getaway has been perfect, financially efficient, and a nice stroll down memory lane, this isn't my first visit to Ft. Lauderdale.

My first very big boy vacation in 2001, was to the area, unaware of the gay life in the big city. Booked a week hotel on the beach, with a rental car, plenty of bars within driving distance, each with a theme night. It was great.

Walking on the beach daily, searching for the elusive sea glass is my jam. I have a small pile growing. Its fun, gives me time for reflection of those two different periods.

The dance bar is still the same. The DJ last night was pretty amazing if not darn right excellent. There is something about dancing to a remix of madonna's rouge surrounded my men, feeling alive, present, and loved. One of the older men and I both sang to Abba's "Lay all your love on me" the smile on his face when he recognised the song was priceless.

I miss those days. There is no regret in not sinking into the club circuit boy further than what I did. I enjoyed the dance floor and the party. The lifestyle, I kept out, which made a big difference. In my younger years and currently, there isn't a local gay hangout for a dance. I miss dancing for hours, with a DJ who was playing remixes of popular songs I was familiar with. Oh I miss the dance.

Glad I went out last night. Something I don't do very often.

I got back from the club at 1:00 a.m., greeting by the guy who we met at the bathhouse the other night in the courtyard. He thought I was latino. Talked to me in Spanish, knowing where he was going, I didn't respond, then he switched to the How are you. I went to bed shortly their after.