Gay of a Certain Age - Yes, We Caftan!

My friend, Gregory Gordon, had a birthday party this past weekend and I was delighted to attend. ...but first I tortured myself with the idea of just shutting myself in for the weekend and enjoying some alone time in my apartment, which I haven't had in weeks!  What with cat sitting, immediately followed by dog sitting and work and 3 days of wedding events and Gay Pride and Star Wars at Disneyland and book signings and special anniversary screenings... I really wanted some alone time at home.  Also, did I really want to go to a THEMED birthday party?  

YES!!

Gregory's birthday party theme was Palm Spring Realness: Caftans & Hats!

I am lucky to have found a group of friends who really know how to work a theme.  (Even at their (my) laziest, they are at least, theme appropriate.)  And, the party had it all...

Pool time fun & merriment

There were games... like this odd balls on a rope you try to wrap around a rack...

And there was food

With Matt at the grill, you knew it was gonna be hot!

There was a brief modeling session

there were even SIMULATED water sports!!

And, of course, Birthday Cake (Presented by Tegr, who created a theme appropriate, Palm Springs hot tub cake!)

It was a nice time of friends hanging out and having fun, 

which made so glad I didn't decide to stay in my apartment, alone on a Sunday afternoon instead of cherishing the great friends I have!

Finally, there was a costume change, ala Angela Landsbury at the Tonys, where Gregory got a little more comfortable in sequins.

And now, the caftan parade!

As a Gay of a Certain Age, I realize how important it is to be with the people you love & care about, as well as how important it is to not shy away from a party theme!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GREGORY!

This Is Why I Am Single - A Win/Winwin Situation

I know I have been here before. I know I have told you I have been here before. …but, it’s such a nice place! Here I am “in Love” with a gay porn star. That’s in quotes because, of course, I know it isn’t actually love; it’s an infatuation with a terribly good looking man, compounded by the fact that the guy is a total sweetheart. His name is Arad Winwin.

 Here’s the thing; I first noticed Arad at a RuPaul’s Dragcon as a standout amongst a throng of underwear models for Andrew Christian.

 He popped out of my photos of the event like Olivia Newton John in XANADU and, in my mind, we turned into cartoon fish and danced a wet dance.

I noticed him on a THE FIGHT MAGAZINE cover and learned his name.

(Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

 From there I took the next logical step and stalked found him on Instagram. Later, whilst perusing a gay porn site on Sunday morning while listening to NPR, as one does, I saw his face and clicked on the thumbnail. To my delight, I watched as he danced naked with another guy who looked exactly like me! I may have imagined the “looked exactly like me” part. As time went on, I enjoyed his posts on Instagram and collected his postcards from Andrew Christian Underwear. I would delight in chance sightings at events and hoped to see him at the DragCons, which I did. I’d always ask for a picture with him and he’d happily agree and pose.

 Then, it started becoming apparent that he was recognizing me- or one of me because I’ve accosted him as Frieda Laye, Reba Areba and maybe myself. Once I realized how many times I’ve actually come in contact with him, photographed him and stared at him, again imagining we were cartoon fish playfully chasing each other through the sea of love, I was actually amazed that he was not creeped out by me. I mean, people, this last Drag Con alone, I visited the Andrew Christian underwear booth, multiple times and shot multiple shots-patiently stalking waiting for a good clear frame in hopes that the pic wasn’t blurry because my camera is acting up and sometimes the display doesn’t come up so I can see what it looks like so I shoot many in hopes that one is in focus because he keeps moving and I’m not using a flash to save battery life because there’s so many things to capture at Dragcon…

 And of course, I know he has a job to do modeling underwear, so each time I’d go stalk take pictures, I’d buy some underwear. (I got some really cute stuff! … but also a pair of denim looking briefs- with no butt! I gotta sift through the bins more carefully) (I need a butt in my undies) I bought more underwear than I need, but it was a bargain and Andrew Christian made some buck, so it was a win/win!

Don’t forget, I also worked with him with a lot fewer people around when we shot the Best In Drag Show Calendar last year.

Every single time I had an encounter with Arad, we was the sweetest guy, and gracious. I don’t know if he actually remembered me each time, but he made me feel as if he had. It wasn’t until 10:30 pm, or so, the Sunday night Dragcon closed, I had gone to the new West Hollywood establishment, Rocco’s, with friends after the big 90’s Mixtape Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, when I saw Arad there. He was just hanging out and I didn’t think he had seen me walk by. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to bother him after photostalking him for two whole days, I wasn’t in drag so he prolly wouldn’t know who I am and HE DOESN’T KNOW WHO THE FUCK I AM. I may have a very active fantasy life, but I’m not delusional. But, then, he turned, saw me and sauntered right over to say “hi” and gave me a nice hug. Then he asked how the rest of my day was and was chatted for a moment before he returned to his hanging out. He did know who I was. He actually stopped what he was doing and came over to me and said “Hi.”

That was the moment I officially “fell in love” with him. It’s not just because he’s a super hottie underwear model/porn guy, but simply for the fact that as someone who’s admired worldwide by lusty & hungry gaymosexuals and prolly approached every minute, everywhere he goes, he took the time to walk over to me and say “hi”, when he could have very easily pretended that he didn’t see me in the crowd. That’s sweet. That’s deserving of my “love”.

This is why I am single; I give my “love” to public hot guys, and some guys cannot handle that.

P.S. Don’t worry, Chris Rockway, I still “love” you, too!

Happy Surviving Father's Day Day!

Too Busy For Love - A week of TRICK and treats!

My dear friends, I've been meaning to post more about the loss of a DAB and Gay Pride LA, but I've been too busy!!  I haven't even watched The TONYS, yet!!  When I'm too busy to watch The Tonys, I AM TOO BUSY!!!

Instead of heading home to watch my favorite awards show on Monday, I headed over to Disney's California Adventure to catch the World of Colors Show, as an appetizer for Tuesday's festivities...

A trip to Disneyland to visit the new Star Wars land, Galaxy's Edge!

(Darth Vader, Oscar Quintero (Kay Sedia), Dunquito, Daron Quintero and me)

"I did the Casserole Run in 12 forkfuls!"

Then, on Wednesday, after work, instead of watching Elaine May accept her Tony for Best Lead Actress in a Play,  I went to someone else's home to feed these fur butts...

(I spent one night in my own bed, after two weeks of cat sitting,

 now I'm sharing a bed with these lovable goofs)

Then, I immediately rushed over to The Hayworth to catch one of my favorite people, Drew Droege, in his one man show, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOUG! in which he plays the entire party of messy gays.

I wasn't alone, I was with a few of muh DABs and some Attacheds. 

(Me, Dennis Hensley, Jackie Clark, Matt Zarley, Glenn Gaylord, Jeb Havens)

(Me with Drew Droege)

I don't know if I was fully capable of telling Drew how much I enjoyed his performance(s) and how much I admire him as an actor, but I think my big, too long hug got some of it across!

Then, last night, without getting to see what number from THE PROM was performed at the Tonys, 

I fed the dogs then hopped over to the Harmony Gold to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of TRICK! 

This movie has a special place in my heart for a few really good reasons, one of which is I actually lived out the plot on a trip to New York in 1994.  Perhaps there will be a post telling you that story a little later, if I'm not too busy...

Anyway, I say I love this movie often, but it had been many years since I had actually sat and watched it again.  I got a little worried; you know how sometimes you see a movie and love it, then a few years later watch it again and wonder "What was I thinking?"  or "It's still okay, but not as great as I thought..."  I took for granted that I love this movie, but last night all of my original feelings for TRICK came back full force.  I think I even appreciated it more as an actor, an older gay and audience member.  Sure, there was a lot of nostalgia flooding my heart, but the spark really was new and bright again. Jim Fall really captured something special in TRICK and I'm grateful I got to experience it again!

My friends, Heath Daniels, That Guy and Darren Stein were in attendance-
(Speaking of sparks, check out Darren Stein's movie SPARKLER. It is a TREAT!)

 That Tired Old Queen at the Movies, Steve Hayes, who plays Perry was there!

Hunky John Paul Pitoc was there!

Christian Campbell,( whose performance I appreciated even more), was there!

That sweetheart director, Jim Fall, was there!

He really is sweet!

Brad Beyer, the straight roommate, was also there!

You know who wasn't there,

Tori Spelling (Excused- she's shooting the 90120 reboot)

and Miss Coco Peru!

I was looking forward to taking a picture with Miss Coco Peru 

because you can NEVER have too many pictures with Miss Coco Peru!

I can't stand not to post one,

So... I'll just post one from 2011

I am lucky to have so many talented people in my life and if none of that talent rubs off on me, I'll be happy just watching their work and hoping to learn.

So, there you have it, a week so busy I couldn't watch the Tonys, much less, even think of finding someone to fall in love with!