Kiddo78

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

It's Wednesday already?

Pride weekend was crazy, but fun. I'll post some pictures later when I get some from Jeff. It's a haze of memories. Last night, Danny and I were reminding ourselves of what happened each night, like "what night did this happen?" and "Was that the Friday after-bar or Saturday??" Anyway - fun times. I spent *way* too much money.

This guy we met not too long ago, Lance, called to see what we were doing Friday, so I invited him to join us. I wasn't sure if I was interested in him or not, but we were hanging out together none-the-less. We all wound up at the Brass Rail, where we saw friend Bill. All of a sudden Bill and Lance are dancing and making out. This is the 2nd time in two weeks that Bill has done this. I went up to him and said, "you can fuck off and never talk to me again. In fact, get the fuck out of here now!" I'm just sick of him always making out with someone new everytime we go out - it's gross, actually. And it's pathetic how there's always some new guy he's "dating." He didn't leave that night, but stayed clear of me. Saw him at Loring Park on Saturday night and Danny tried to get us to talk, but I would have none of it. Then he avoided me like the plague on Sunday. Oh well -- he annoyed me a lot of the time anyway. Not a huge loss.

Danny and I met a guy he kinda knows and wound up partying with him until 9:00 Monday morning!! Needless to say, I was still feeling a little "yuk" on Tuesday. Monday was just worthless.

Have some job prospects - one seems like it will become the next....will hopefully know by end-of-week!

Friday, June 24, 2005

Happy Pride!



It's PRIDE weekend in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Happy Pride everyone!!

Actually, I have to concur with Brechi and admit that I'm not proud to be gay. I'm just not ashamed. You see, I don't feel like I have anything to be proud about because it's not something I worked for or achieved. I was born gay, so how can I be proud of it? Much the same, I was born a European American, so I'm not proud to be English, French and Scandanavian (Swedish, Norwegian and Fin). I'm not ashamed of it, though.

I've expressed this sentiment on several occassions and probably angered a few. I do have to say, though, that I *am* proud of, and grateful to, the queers who paved the way and came out when it wasn't "hip," or even remotely accepted by our heterosexual friends. Thanks to those guys and gals at Stonewall in 1969!

A lot has even changed since I started to come out in 1998. My friend Jill had the hots for me and was always all over me at parties & such. It turned out that her older brother is gay and she loves him more than her luggage. So, she was the first one I came out to. Then I started telling more & more friends who didn't think it was a big deal. That fall, Will & Grace came on T.V. and I actually think that helped society a lot. Soon after, I met my first gay guy online (a closted frat boy at my college) and had the hots for him -- and vice-versa, except we were too scared/shy to act on it. In December of that year, I met my first gay friend, Mike, who had come to WSU from Chicago and had already been doing the Boys' Town scene there for a few years. (You gay boys should visit Chicago's Boys' Town -- it's much fun).

In January 1999, I hooked up w/ a guy for the first time. In March, for the first time, I felt how it feels to have a "relationship." He was a frat boy from MN who was going to college in Ohio. I was all giddy over him - especially when he came home for breaks. I had hickeys on my neck *gag* and my roommates asked him if he wanted them to make him a sandwich if he was that hungry (Duh)! He even came home with me and my Mom loved him -- we introduced him as my friend. But, distance was too much and he was going to Scotland for the summer, so we remain friends.

In April, I broke the ol' news to my Mother. She cried and suggested therapy. We still rarely talk about it. She's 65, and really very sweet and a great Mom, but just a member of the old school. She'll come around eventually. She has met two of my boyfriends (and the frat boy I already mentioned) and liked them -- she even told one of them that he *would* be coming to her house for Christmas. I know she wants me to be happy and we have talked about the fact that she wants me to find someone...so, that's a start.

In May of 1999, I started my first (and only) serious relationship with Chris. We were together more than two years and I haven't met anyone to "replace" him since we broke up in the summer of 2001. *Sigh*

Oh well -- that's my story. I said it and I meant it!!

Anyway -- Happy Pride!!

I'm hanging out with Jeff, Danny and Shawna. Don't know what we're doing tonight, but tomorrow is cocktail hour at The Hamptons, then off to Loring Park for beer garden. Then out to the clubs.

Sunday is back to the beer garden and to the Saloon Block Party. We might go to the parade in the morning, but who knows....just a bunch of floats with gay stereotypes. I would be interested to see if the gay Minneapolis cops and firemen have a float like they do in Chicago. I went on a few dates with a Chicago cop. He was a cocky bastard, but hey - Chicago cop. Need I say more?!

Oh, and I'm getting some jobs lined up....

A photo tour:

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Me, Scott (in hat), Tara, Jess and Jill for Tara's 21st in Dec. 1998. Jess and Jill were my roommates who asked Ohio frat boy if he wanted a sandwich. Scott is my teenage obsession. We went to high school and college together.



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This is my first real boyfriend, Chris, and me on his birthday in July 1999. He and his friends wore candy necklaces on their birthday and had to eat a candy whenever they did a shot. He had lavendar contacts...we're still friends.



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This is my first gay friend, Mike, and me in Winona - May 2003. We don't talk as much as we used to anymore...



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This is one of my new Minneapolis friends, Danny, singing karaoke at some dive bar we sometimes go to. He is crazy and was told once, "you look like Ann Heche..." and also, "you look like Ellen DeGeneres." He makes us laugh. I don't have any pictures of Jeff yet...

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Meet ZeppGoddess

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Some of you may have noticed a new commentor to my bloggie, ZeppGoddess. Let me explain:

ZeppGoddess is a good friend and fellow Dodge Centerite. I met her at one of her infamous parties in 1996 when I was still in high school. In a small town it's not uncommon for a few high school kids to be allowed at an "older" crowd party if you know a few people. So then a group of we youngsters started attending the soirees on a regular basis and her place was nicknamed The Frat House.

Anyway, we share much in common and usually just laugh the whole time we hang out - which is usually at a dive bar in Rochester called Kathy's Pub listening to an '80s cover band called Three Doors Down.

The picture above is of ZeppGoddess, me and the guy I was dating at the time, Jamie, whom Zepp nicknamed Freddy Mercury. It was at a small town bar close to Dodge Center in December 2002. Notice the NASCAR Budweiser ad in the background. Small towns -- gotta love 'em.

Anyway - she is a riot, so I'm sure you'll enjoy reading her blog now that she finally has a computer again.

Oh, and if you'd like to see her do the official cheerleading moves for the Dodge Center High School fight song, she'll do it for a beer.

"Dee Cee High School, Hats Off to Thee...To our colors, true we shall ever be! Firm and strong, united are we! Rah rah rah for Dee Cee High. Rah, rah, rah, rah. Hats off to Dee Cee High!"

**ZeppGoddess & Jamie: if you want your picture removed, let me know!**

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Scary Pancakes



I keep seeing this ad while I look online for jobs and I jump in fright each time it pops up because it reminds me of Ted Bundy. Don't you think?

I know it's not 1975 and I'm not in Utah/Colorado/Washington and I'm not a pretty young girl with shoulder length hair. But still.

Creepy eyes, man...creepy eyes.

I'm still here

Lordy. What is today? Tuesday??

After my firing incident, I went on a binger with friends to just forget about it all and work on my tan. Spent Thursday-Monday with Jeff in St. Louis Park. I'm still feeling like I want to "be" with him; but I guess friends is fine too. He said he just doesn't want a relationship with anyone right now. Whateva.

Anyway - he picked me up on Thursday morning to go sell my car. I put it on Car Soup and some kid offered me $1000 for it - and it had no engine, so I took it. Then I wanted to take Jeff to lunch for carting my ass all over the metro area and we wound up at Old Chicago in Uptown. We decided to have a beer and we basically didn't quit drinking until late Sunday night...yeah, that's healthy.

Spent all of Friday and Saturday, then Sunday afternoon, at his apartment complex pool and in "The Hamptons" with Jeff and his roommate, Shawna. They've made their patio into quite the little Martha Stewart-like abode with lots of summer pillows and cushions and flowers, so Jeff decided they should call it "The Hamptons" instead of the patio and it works quite well.

Since I'm a Kennedy and all, I fought for calling it Hyannisport for a while, but The Hamptons just stuck. That's fine b/c Kennedys are a nice fit for The Hamptons too.

It was an appropriate way to forget about all this shit in my life for a while. It's good to have friends.

Yesterday, Mandy took me to my Mom's house in Lake City to pick up the extra family car so I have something to drive for a while. It's my Grandma's, but she's blind, so it just kinda sits around...my Mom drives it in the winter sometimes I think.

It's a maroon 1990 Cadillac DeVille. Yeah, I'm ghetto. The keychain says "Just for Grandpa." I'm not kidding....

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Well, I'm fucked again & I dunno why

Yep, that's right -- I was canned -- AGAIN. No warning - no explanation from my boss (who hasn't returned my call) or the bitch VP. I'm pissed. I really don't "get" the only explanation I received from an obscure HR lady.

Seriously, I keep losing my jobs - this time last year, I would've said you're crazy if you told me I'd be fired multiple times in a year. I was never the "get fired" type of person.

I don't really even know why I got fired. The HR lady at the company's Minnesota office, who doesn't have anything to do with my job, had to break the news - b/c they wanted it done in-person. She said all she heard was that there were "several" times where my boss didn't know where I was and couldn't "find" me...and that's the reason.

Ummmm....two months ago I *did* oversleep by an hour - didn't hear alarm - and they couldn't get a hold of me that morning -- which I owned up to and apologized profusely for (and felt really stupid).

Another time, in early May, my boss didn't get my e-mail saying I was going to lunch with a friend for a birthday and might be gone a little over an hour. She couldn't find me then either, but all was taken care of upon my arrival back home/work (or so I thought).

**OVER INSTANT MESSENGER**
Boss: Where have you been all morning?!?
Boss: We've been trying to find you to post a job and find resumes - urgent!

Kiddo: Didn't you get my email?
Kiddo: Ummm...I was on the conference call **and talked to you**, then worked for a while more, then went to lunch with friend - it's his Bday
Kiddo: My auto-reply should've also said "At lunch"

Boss: I didn't get any of those messages

Kiddo: Yeah - Anyway, I worked all weekend and also until 10:30 last night...

No response

Kiddo: Can I take a lunch for once?!?!?!?

No response

**END OF TRANSMISSION**

The only other thing I can think of is when my Internet wasn't working and I was on the phone for over an hour getting it back up -- I told them upon being able to sign on that I was now there and what happened -- nobody even seemed to know that I hadn't signed on that morning, so I assumed it wasn't a big deal. I guess I was wrong.

Word of Warning: if you ever telecommute from home - make sure they know where you are at all times and if you're going to be gone at all for more than ten minutes, tell your boss!!

ALSO: They don't notice you working nights and weekends. They don't care that you're making numbers and doing what's expected (and more).

Quit working overtime -- they never notice -- they only notice if you're there from 8-5.

Corporate America sucks. So did the public sector. Working for other people sucks!! When can I be the boss, applesauce?!?!?!?!?!?!


When can I just *yell* at people for a living like Judge Judy.
My dream job.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Psychic Lady was right: Karma is *pissed* at me

Well, I guess the Tarot cards spelled it out pretty clearly. I've done something to really anger Karma, b/c she's kicking me in the ass with a vengeance.

My car needs a new engine. It will cost about $2000-3000 to repair and that's with a used engine too. I've left a message for my bro-in-law who knows about all that kinda stuff asking him what he thinks I should do, since I don't know if my car is even worth $3000 at this point.

*THEN* I almost quit my job, and at the very least, pissed off my VP. She called today to tell me that I needed to go to the MN office tomorrow for inventory check on my laptop. I informed her that I never went to pick up my laptop in the first place, that I just use my home computer for work. She seemed a little displeased by this - why, I don't know. She calls back to say they still need me there since the laptop is in my name, so I agree to go the office, 20 minutes away, at Noon tomorrow. I forget that I don't have a car right now, so leave her a message an hour later saying, "oops - I forgot my car is in the shop, so I don't know what to do now." Then she called back with major attitude, like, "You *forgot* your car is in the shop??? Well, You still need to be there....you need to figure out a way to get there...take a cab...blah, blah, blah...bitch, bitch, bitch." I was so livid that I got attitude back to her, saying, "I'm not spending $40 on a cab...my friends all work...I guess I'll see what I can do...and by the way, were you still planning on having me continue doing the work of a senior recruiter at a junior recruiter's salary??"

I'll probably get fired --- again.

My bro-in-law just called back to say "don't spend the money fixing it; get rid of it." So now I need to have the car towed back to my apartment and probably put an ad on CarSoup.com or something.

Anyone need a black 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT with no engine? I've had it since 2000 and it has been a great car up until now. Anyone? Anyone?? Yeah, thought so...

As Martin Zeller of the Gear Daddies would sing, "Sometimes, I swear, I need a drink."


Goodbye, old friend...

This car has been with me since summer 2000. I bought it once I got my first job out of college. I was still with my ex boyfriend then and living in Winona. This car came with me during my brief stint in Chicago. This was the car I was driving when I got in trouble "with the law." It's taken me back & forth to several different jobs. *Sigh* Poor car...

Monday, June 13, 2005

I guess it's not in the cards for me...Yet

The weekend was cool - mostly.

Had much fun on Friday with fellow bloggers for ChezLynne's visit to the Twin Cities from Washington, DC. Much to her's and Hotbabe's disappointment, I didn't slap anyone or even throw a drink in someone's face. All the more reason for her to come back someday! PlanetDan and I got some free junk for ordering a Miller Lite - the promo girls were out. We also saw some Irish music people at The Dubliner in St. Paul. Cool little place. Check out pictures at Dan's blog, and also Stacy's. Yay, fun! Although I hate all the pictures of me. I need a tan and to lose about 10 pounds....clearly! Oh well. Glad you could visit, Lynne!!

Jeff - the guy I like who really only wants a "friends with benefits" situation wanted to hang out late Friday and I wound up spending the whole weekend hanging out with him and his roommate, Shawna. The weather was great for lounging on their patio, which we've nicknamed "The Hamptons." We were going to come back to the city so I could shower and get fresh clothes Saturday afternoon, when my poor car died on the highway...thankfully, Jeff's apartment is right by this highway. The tow truck driver said he thought they screwed something up with my last oil change. I just brought the keys to the fixing place today, so not sure what's wrong with it yet -- ughhh. Just one thing after another with me.

Went to a trendy bar/restaurant in Uptown yesterday, Figlio, with Jeff, Shawna and her friend. Danny met us there and brought his psychic friend - who, in turn, brought her tarot cards. I was the only one, of course, who had a "negative" reading. The jist of it, she said, was "your life pretty much sucks right now, you're unhappy with a lot, but I see good things in the future, so hang in there...." My life doesn't really suck, but relationship-wise it does, and I'm not liking my job a whole lot anymore. In fact, I dread working every day. The psychic felt so bad and kept saying she was worried about me! I guess she saw more in the cards than she let on. She even gave me her phone number to call if I was feeling horrid about everything. Great - even psychics are concerned about me now!

I'm starting to get used to the idea of just being friends with Jeff, but everytime we hang out I just keep liking him and thinking about how cute & funny he is. He brought me to the car fixing place today, so that was another hour of hanging out with him. He suggested we do something on Wednesday -- possibly the Walker Art Center. I hope we do. And I hope this "sad" feeling about him goes away soon too. I do like being friends with him...Danny thinks Jeff is still hung up on his ex. That always happens to me! Again -- oh well...


Yes, I did get The Devil card. That can't be good....

Friday, June 10, 2005

Picture time! Kiddo78 in 1995 and 2000

Well, I'm totally slacking at work when I should be submitting candidates to my client, but scanning & posting old pictures is just so much more fun since I got my scanner to work again!

Yesterday's post was about where I was and what I was doing in 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000. My childhood pictures are all at my Mom's house, but I do have my own high school and college albums on premesis, so here's a look at Kiddo in 1995 (when I was 17) and 2000 (when I was 22):

1995

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This was my junior prom date, Natalie, and I at the Radisson in Rochester, MN - May 1995. Her name is Natalie. My Mom called us Mutt & Jeff (short & tall). Yeah, no kidding...Nice hair I've got. Natalie is now the married mother of two...or three??


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This is us at the After-Prom. I think the theme was Cruise Ship. Or probably Love Boat since our parents did all the planning and decorating. It was an effort to keep us from boozing it up, so the businesses in town & in Rochester gave away a bunch of stuff as prizes, like dorm TVs, microwaves, etc., even a used car! I bet I was wearing white socks with brown chukka boots with those nice cream short shorts. What the hell...??


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This is at my brother and cousin's h.s. graduation party in June 1995. I'm far right, then it's cousin Jenny (my age), cousin Tate (18) and brother Judge (18). Notice my plaid shirt - like Brechi, I had lots of plaid back then. I guess we wore our shorts a little short in 1995? I left for Boys' State later that evening. Jenny is married, is a nurse and just had a baby a week ago. Tate is in medical school. Judge is here in Mpls.

2000

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This is at a "March Birthdays" party during my senior year in college. In between is Meg (Meghan K.S.), who was just a lowly freshman at the time. She worked in the same office as I did and asked a lot of funny questions and videotaped my ass at parties. Now she's a fabulous NYC career woman/grad student. For instance, one day at work, she asked the other seniors and I if we'd ever been to Bullseye...it was one of the most popular college bars, so we just looked at her like, "Huh....??? Get back to work." Anyway, next to her is Clay, I think. I was getting a little chunky by the end of senior year. I saved the freshmen 15 for senior year, I guess. I still have that shirt somewhere.


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One of my junior year roommates, Jill, and I had our grad party together, so took pictures for the invitation. This is one of them -- at Garvin Heights, overlooking Winona and campus. She had so much hair! She's married now with a lil' baby and lives in the Twin Cities as well.


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Same deal. Nice fisherman sandals we ALL wore. I got my first pair in 1997, I think. Those aren't my originals.


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This me with good college friends Jess & Tara. We were at the wedding of another friend. We skipped out on the hoighty-toighty dinner (wealthy heiress bride) and went to Chili's for several cocktails instead, while their boyfriends went to some sports bar and got hammered. We did make it to the dance - I didn't even change clothes (!!), and Tara's boyfriend puked outside, right in front of a bus of middle school softball girls. Speaking of puke: like my goatee?! Ughh...I had that from 1999-2002, I think. Well, in '02, I had more of a Ty Pennington type thing, but same difference. Jess is now engaged to same boyfriend (I introduced them in 1998) and lives in Rochester -- Tara is in suburban Chicago doing the work thing.


That's all for now, kids. I have a feeling there will be more to come!

**DISCLAIMER**
If you don't want your picture posted on here, please let me know and I'll remove right away!!

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Where was I in...

I was just thinking about something that happened 10 years ago and decided to try to figure out what I was typically doing at this time 5, 10, 15 and 20 and 25 years ago...here goes nothin':

2000 - 5 yrs ago
I was 22 and had just graduated from Winona State University a few weeks before and was still working on campus as a writer for the PR office, very part-time. I was living with my older stylist boyfriend (of a year) for the summer in Winona and going to many interviews in the Twin Cities for general "you need a degree for this" jobs. I couldn't find anything entry-level in my major, Public Relations. I bought my first suit. I drove a red 1990 Pontiac Grand Am. It needed a whole new exhaust system and was louder than hell. I was missing my friends who had moved away after graduation (most of them).

1995 - 10 yrs ago
I was 17 and living in my hometown of Dodge Center, MN. I had just completed my junior year of high school and was working at a convenience store called Budget Mart in Dodge Center, where I was still forced to make pizzas and sandwiches in the deli instead of being allowed to work as a cashier. About this time in June, I attended Boys' State at St. Olaf College in Northfield. That's where two boys were picked from each participating Minnesota town to spend a week on the campus, living in a dorm, learning about the state government and such. It was hell, and hotter than hell, but I do remember there being a lot of hot guys there too. My roommate was kind of a dork - I think his name was Warren, so go figure. I spent all free time in our room listening to the radio and sleeping. St. Olaf did have a very pretty campus. I hated the athletics stuff we were supposed to partake in every day. I would sneak down to smoke a few times a day and usually found someone else down there smoking, whom I befriended. The kid they elected governor was a total dork. I didn't run for anything. In all, I guess it's safe to say I didn't get much out of Boys' State, except an appreciation for Army men, two of whom were "counselors" and in their 20s. Boys' State is run by the American Legion, so all the counselors are veterans or enlisted. I had a crush on a fellow Boys Stater named Noah from the Saint Cloud area. He's the one who made me realize that, at the time, you needed to wear a white T-shirt under all shirts. Also, he had some cool sandals, so I went and bought some right away upon returning home. I wonder where he is now.....Anyway, I drove a navy 1988 Jeep Cherokee at the time. I partied a lot that summer with friends/co-workers Shelly and Missy who were 18 and 20. I got served in a bar for the first time. Well, we'd go to a local bar with older co-workers (who were 21+), say I was the designated driver and my friends would put shots in my glasses of Coke. Then I actually got served at a TGI Fridays in Rochester.

1990 - 15 yrs ago
I was 12 and had just finished 6th grade at Dodge Center Elementary. My friends and I were eager to start at the newly formed Triton Junior High School that fall. This was probably the first summer that the girls and boys all hung out together. We spent a lot of time walking around town or riding bike to each others' houses to just sit around. I think we probably still played baseball and basketball at the playground and spent some time at the local pool. But, by the time you finish elementary school, you're getting a little too old to hang out at the pool. It was considered a great day if you were allowed to join a "high schooler" for a cruise around town. This was usually the older sister of one of us. This was the summer that I had girlfriend. She lived out in the country of the neighboring town of Claremont. Her name was Michele. I met her on some field trip we had to take with the Claremont kids that spring - oh wait, she was the friend of a girl I met on that field trip - Michele wasn't actually there. Anyway, my friends Scott and Juan and I rode bike to Claremont to visit Stacy, Michele's friend and Scott's girlfriend. Stacy and Michele got a ride to Dodge Center one day from a guy named Micah and Michele and I held hands the whole day...duh...while Scott and Stacy were heavily making out. We loved Madonna's "Vogue" and MC Hammer that summer. I remember going to see "Ghost" that summer as well. I think I had to go to some nightmarish basketball camp that summer too. I hated that stuff because my brother (year older) always got the MVP trophy and I would get a "Participant" ribbon -- or "Best Attitude." My sisters would get a good laugh out of the best attitude award since I bitched the whole time. The coach just felt sorry for me because my brother was MVP and I was horrible. The friends I hung out with most were Ryan, Juan, Kevin, Stan, Tim, Carin, Jenni, Natalie, Mandy. Now Mandy lives in Mpls and I still talk to her quite a bit. I just went to Carin's second wedding; Natalie is the mother of three and I think Juan is in jail. Wow, what 15 years can do. My Mom drove a blue 1984 Buick Park Avenue and my dad had a tan 1984 Cadillac El Dorado.


1985 - 20 yrs ago
I was 7 and had just finished 1st grade at Dodge Center Elementary. My Mom drove a silver 1980 Buick Riviera and my dad had a brown c.1980 Toyota Celica. My life in the summer consisted of going to the pool, the summer reading program at the library (I was a total book worm from about 7-13), stealing two quarters from a bowl on my Mom's dresser to visit the candy counter on Main Street every day, and hanging out with my friend Kenny. This was back in the day when kids didn't go to daycare past the age of 6 - at least not in a small town. Kenny lived a few blocks away and I'd spend most days at his house playing - mostly on their swing set. I loved when his mom would ask if I wanted to eat lunch there. My Mom worked, so I guess I'd just eat a peanut butter sandwich every day if I didn't eat at Kenny's. We tease my Mom about it now - that my brother and I had to fend for ourselves to eat lunch! We all did that, though - most Moms worked. Kenny's Mom stayed home and would make a good lunch every day. Anyway, Kenny was pretty much my only friend at that age who lived close enough to hang out with. I made him call me Boss and taught him how to swear. I had to start T-ball that summer and I was scared. My Mom had even bought me a glove. I walked to where practice was being held, by the pool, hid in the bushes for several minutes and went back home proclaiming to my Mom, "it's over already." She said, "get back out there and play ball!"

1980 - 25 yrs ago
I was 2 and living in Lake City, Minnesota. My hair was so blond, it was white. Besides my Mom, Dad and brother, Judge, also living with us were: oldest brother Rob (21), sisters Becky (17) and Melissa (12). Rich (19) was in the Air Force and sisters Kristen (15) and Marylee (14) lived with their Dad, my Mom's first husband, in Wisconsin. So, we still had a houseful at the time. I remember watching The Brady Bunch with my brother Rich, who must have been home on leave. He liked to give us popsicles and would tell me to "shake a leg." A bird got in our house and my Mom and sisters freaked out. My babysitter was Jackie down the street and she was really mean. I cut my arm on nail, while dancing around to the Popeye theme, and there was a big scab on it. I picked it at (hi, I was 2), it bled on her harvest gold carpet and she slapped the hell out of me. I remember watching Woody Woodpecker there. I wandered down the street to our neighbors' house and they were Harley people. They said, "well look here's here to party!" when I rang their doorbell. My brother and our twin neighbors, Josh & Noah, were playing in these woods behind their yard and a parachute guy landed nearby. My brother also remembers this. We have no idea why he was parachuting, but he talked to us. My sister and her friend, who had a little sister my age, were listening to records one night and the little girl started dancing. They tried to get me to dance too, but I was too shy. We watched The Dukes of Hazzard, then Dallas every Friday night. My Mom bought me some grape Hubba Bubba gum and I loved it so much that I ate the whole pack at once. We had a silver station wagon with wood paneling and a black 1978 Ford Elite. I'm surprised I remember so much...

If there's any time later, I'll try to scan some pictures from 2000 and 1995...I don't know if my scanner works.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson - Anne Bancroft


Anne Bancroft ** 1931-2005

Academy Award Winning Actress Anne Bancroft died of cancer on June 6. She was 73. She won the award for portraying Helen Keller's teacher in 1962's The Miracle Worker. She was probably most well known for seducing the much younger Dustin Hoffman in 1967's The Graduate. Shw was also a well known Broadway actress.

I've seen her in The Miracle Worker, with Patty Duke as Helen. It was awesome when Helen would eat with her hands, have a tantrum and start whipping food at people. I'm *so* going to do that if I ever get to be a crotchety old man. Anyway, then the teacher (Annie Sullivan), who wore some pretty cool shades throughout the film, forced her to use a fork.


Nice teacher

The Graduate is a movie I've seen several times. It's really quite an odd movie. And if you haven't seen it already, be prepared for an onslaught of Simon & Garfunkel, whom I like, but wanted to smash their guitars by the end of this picture. Anne does play her Desperate Housewife role quite well. In fact, she's a bitch, which, of course, results in my immediate approval.


Not to be messed with


The classic still of her leg


Still discontent

I always remember her from Home for the Holidays, when she played Holly Hunter's mother. She was good in that too -- sitting in a closet smoking a cigarette on Thanksgiving with her wig all crooked. Good movie. Good dysfunctional family stuff.


With husband Mel Brooks

Here's to Anne Bancroft.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Lynda Carter is Nice - and a Wonder


She's a wondah, Wonder Woman!

I guess it's true that Liftetime really is television for women and gay men. I'm a sucker for those Intimate Portraits. I'd probably even be totally engrossed by the Mimi Rogers story and she completely bugs the shit out of me. I don't know why, she just does. Anyway, I watched the Lynda Carter story this evening. We should all know by now that I've loved her for more than 20 years due to her Wonder Woman portrayal.

Turns out she was a singer in a traveling band during her teen years. She was rejected by an elite club in high school. She was Miss Arizona and Miss USA in the early '70s. Wonder Woman was her first TV role. She beat out the likes of Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. She was married to her manager from 1977-1981. The show ran from late 1975-1979 (or '80). I was obsessed with the show from 1982-1984. She was the Mabelline girl in the early '80s. She married a prominent Washington, D.C., lawyer in 1985. She did some TV movies and music specials. She had a son, Jamie, in 1988 and a daughter, Jessica, in 1990. She is very involved with her family and lobbying/fundraising for women's health issues. I think she seems like a really nice lady and a good mom. I like her. She's 54 now and still looks fabulous.

Go, Lynda Carter!!


With her husband, Robert Altman

Monday, June 06, 2005

It's Monday again

Were Mondays created just to make us realize what hell would be like?? Seriously, they suck.

Anyway -- I had a pretty good weekend. At least I didn't slap anyone this time. On Friday night, I went to Jeff's in St. Louis Park where he was hanging out with his roommate and her crazy friend, Tara. The roommate and Tara are both nurses. Tara is 25 and quite a looker - and quite a personality. I think I need to set her up with my brother, who's 28 and single. He would like her - like'r a lah...

So, we went to Park Tavern and Tara was being quite flirtatious....with me. Jeff and his roommate were even like, "umm...does she know you're gay??" So, whatevah. We played some pool --first time I've played in years and I'm awful-- and had some drinks. The roommate, Sh., started to feel sick so I drove her home. She sprawled in my backseat with the windows open. When we got to the complex she hurled - thank god she opened the door first. Then she didn't have her garage opener, so we had to run around the building like gazelles b/c the sprinkler system was on. I was wearing flip-flops and they kept sliding off. I'm clearly no Olympian when it comes to sprinting around sprinklers and trees at night. Roommate catapulted herself up the deck railing to get in to the apartment. I'd like to see Mary Lou Retton do that after vomiting from booze. I was quite impressed. Then met up with Jeff and Tara back at the ranch...I mean Park Tavern. We stayed up until about 6:00 and Tara even crashed in bed with Jeff and me. She was gone by the time we woke up -- she probably came to her senses and realized she was in bed with two gay men, therefore it was a useless effort. Poor thing. I'll hook her up with by bro.

Jeff, Sh., and I went to the Edina Art Fair on Saturday afternoon. Edina is a hoitey-toitey suburb of Minneapolis. Cake eaters. It started to rain so we didn't stay long and decided to get lunch at the Uptown Bar & Grill. That put us in the mood for more Park Tavern, so we went there and I actually participated in the bowling. I haven't bowled in five years or more - the last time I went I sprained my ass. Really. But I didn't even sprain my ass this time. I even almost got 100. We had to put in a buck every time we guttered it, then the winner kept the pot. Sh. won all three rounds. Oh well, I was just glad I didn't break any bones. I only guttered it about five times. Maybe not even.

We decided that we should go back to the apartment and have wine and steak. I think we each had one glass of wine when it was time to use their apartment pool. I didn't have any trunks and Jeff only has fancy little numbers that Go-Go Boys would wear, so I opted to swim in me boxers. Sh. used to be a lifeguard, so she put us through training like a drill instructor. We had to hold on to the edge and keep our legs kicking while hoisting upper body out of pool, like a push up. That will get ya in shape pretty fast, believe me. Then we had to put our legs on the edge and go down in the water until our back was level with the wall and hoist up. Good for the abs. All of this led to feeling very sore and out of shape on Sunday.

My good friend Mike, from Winona, called to say he was in town earlier that evening and that they were going to be at Elsie's Bowling & Karaoke Center in NE Minneapolis that night. Jeff and I went there at about 11:00, but the fools were already gone by the time we got there, so we talked to some regulars and fought with the host for the microphone...apparently he thought he should sing every other song. I've never really done karaoke, but there was hardly anyone there, so I thought 'what the hell' and so I sang "You're So Vain" by Carley Simon. I don't think I did very well, but whatev. Jeff sang "In the Ghetto" by Elvis since we were close to the ghetto. Oh, and he sang "Copacabana" too. He's funny.

Tried to hang out by my own apartment pool yesterday, but of course it started to rain as soon as we got out there. Went to Showtunes and Jeff stayed over last night. He asked if we could be friends with benefits b/c he likes me and likes to hang out but doesn't want a relationship with anyone right now. I'll play along with his idea and trick him into a relationship. Seriously, I have my own sneaky agenda....

Oh, and I'm going to his reunion/birthday celebration in his hometown in North Dakota next month....THAT should be intersting. Danny and Sh. are going too. I guess his family is all wild and fun. I must bring my camera! I have three rolls of film that need developing and posting on here. It's going to be picture madness, folks, so be warned...

Thursday, June 02, 2005

I'm an alien on the inside

Apparently shopping for DVDs makes me feel better (see post below). I just went to Columbia House to make a payment on last order and was enticed into buying 3 more (I really don't have many DVDs - I don't usually shop for them). They are having deals on their boxed sets and I decided to see what they had in SciFi (even though I'm not much of a SciFi fan) and guess what miniseries they're selling??

V!! Remember that show?? My brother and I loved it. I remember *running* home from my friend's house at night (kind of scared) to be home on time to watch it. And I thought Marc Singer was cute...WTF?? Anyway, it was about aliens posing as humans and they originally say they come in peace, but once they peel off their skin, they're green lizard people. And they eat white rats. And they want to harvest humans for food on their lizard planet. I remember their red velvet suits and that their leader was a lady. Also, a human girl gave birth to an alien baby. Eeewwwww.

So, I ordered the original miniseries and "V: The Final Battle." I didn't order the TV series that spun off, because I don't think I really watched that.

Oh, and then I ordered the totally non-SciFi "Wet Hot American Summer" after PlanetDan reminded me of my love for this movie. If you haven't seen it, do so. You won't be disappointed. Mucho funny. I love the part when they "go to town" and all hell ensues; including a trip to the local crack house. Good stuff.

Also on my wish list at Columbia House:

1. Wonder Woman Seasons 2 & 3
2. North and South - complete miniseries
3. Gypsy (Natalie Wood)
4. Broken Hearts Club
5. Butterfield 8 (Elizabeth Taylor)
6. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
7. Back to the Future I & II
8. Breakfast Club (have on VHS)
9. Ferris Buehler's Day Off (have on VHS)
10. Threesome
11. Napoleon Dynamite
12. Garden State
13. All About Eve

That's all I've added so far - but there are about a million other movies I need to buy. And TV series. It doesn't end...


V


The "Visitors" have arrived


Aren't they nice?


What the hell?? Diana, the boss lady. Time to re-apply!

In a Rut...



I'm in a rut for the past couple weeks - the only time I don't feel lazy and unmotivated is when I'm hanging out with friends. What's with that? I don't even want to get out of bed lately. What do you people do to feel better when feeling pretty hopeless...?? I find that being with friends and/or going for a long walk has raised my spirits lately.

I'm meeting with the senior recruiters from my company's Minnesota office for breakfast tomorrow to talk about me coming to work for them, instead of at home for the San Fran team. I think being on a normal schedule and around people every day again might help me. Most of the reason I go out so much is just to get out of the house and be around people. I need interaction! I dig it the most...

Well, I better get some bills paid, find out how much money I don't have left over, then see if I can get something accomplished at work.

Ughhh...

One thing that's good is that I feel kinda hopeful about Jeff. I don't know how many more "it didn't work out with him"s I can take.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Memorial Day Wknd - hazy memories

It was a wild holiday weekend. I still feel like my body is recovering and my internal organs hate me.

Friday: Went to The 19 Bar with friend/neighbor, Mike. We wound up going to an afterbar in suburb Bloomington with a bunch of people. Some young guy and Mike were talking quite a bit. We were outside to smoke and whenever I chimed in some witty remark, the young guy looked at me like I was insane and/or stupid. I think he thought I was a threat to his potential with Mike. Then he rolled his eyes at one point. I slapped him. Hard. He left. I feel really stupid and bad about it. I mean, what if he was just shy and didn't really know what to say to me? I'm still guessing he was just being snotty, but lord - did I have to get all Alexis Carrington on him?? I'm still dumbfounded that it happened. Yikes. Anyway, we woke up the next day like, "ummm...where the hell are we??" The guys who witnessed the slap were like, "that was awesome!!" Duhhh...I *slapped* someone?!? I'm really not that queenie. Just watched a few too many '80s night soaps, maybe...

Saturday afternoon: Watched "I (Heart) Huckabees." I chuckled a couple times - didn't think it was that great. Also got my oil changed. While that was being done, I walked to Target and then ate lunch at The Newsroom on their little sidewalk eating area. Some good people-watching. Then friends Danny and Jeff called to see if I wanted to hang out at Jeff's in St. Louis Park. So we hung out there for a while and then went to Park Tavern that night. Nothing really exciting happened, but still fun. Kept saying, "I see straight people...."

Sunday: Danny and Jeff call to see if I want to meet them at Figlio in Uptown for appetizers and beer. I was really tired, but agreed since I wanted to take advantage of the fact that there was no work on Monday. We had a really good time talking there. Danny was mad because he had to work at 11 p.m. He dropped Jeff and I off at The Bolt for beer bust. It was so packed in there, could barely move. Including on the outdoor patio. I finally screamed, "if you don't smoke, get inside!!" Nobody listened. Jeff's roommate, Sh., met us and then we were off to the dive bar, Brass Rail. Instead we decided we were hungry and ate at a smarmy little pizza joint off of Hennepin Ave. Jeff only goes after he's been drinking and can never remember the name of it, so he just calles it Oogley Boogley -- he's one of the most funny people I've met here. THEN, we went back to Park Tavern, since it's close to their house. I met three girls outside smoking and they wanted to hang out with us all night. One of them pronounced her love and gave me a glowing bracelet. They were fun. Jeff and I stayed up until about 5:00 a.m., I think. Ughhh....But he's cute and now I'm deciding that I have a crush on him.

Monday: Bill text messages me to say that he and his roommate, Craig, are having a BBQ at their house in the far extreme of Minneapolis, right by Brooklyn Center. Jeff calls to see what I'm doing and I invite him to come with me to Bill's. A fairly good number of people were there and we had fun sitting in the sun, eating and having a few beers. Everyone thought Jeff was really funny - and cute. He wears cool clothes and then will top it off with something fun like a cowboy hat. I like his taste. And by that afternoon, I decided that it would be most appropriate for us to be an item. He was summoned by his friend Don to a BBQ in St. Louis Park, so we left Bill's at about 6'ish and headed over there. It was a group of older gay guys, probably in their 40s, who all seem to be very well-established. Don, the owner, started some design company a while ago and now has more money than God. I was surpised to see my hot, hot friend from Rochester days, Luke, there with his boyfriend. Luke is my age and also from the Rochester area. He moved in with Eric (about 38) a few years ago. Eric was hitting on me first the night they met, I might add. But Luke is pretty much the best looking gay man I've ever met, so I didn't blame Eric for swaying that way the night we met. Anyway, it was fun to see them again. Jeff and I left at about 8 or 9 and headed back to my house. I had stopped drinking sometime before in order to drive. We were supposed to meet Bill and crew at The '90s, but neither Jeff nor I felt like going back downtown. So we changed and walked down the street to a straight bar, Mortimers, on Lyndale Avenue. Then trudged back to my house and sat up & talked. He did ask if I thought we should date...also if I wanted to go to his reunion with him in his native North Dakota next month. I'm not sure if he remembers any of this...We did end up fooling around a bit, but there might be a problem b/c Danny has a crush on him too, but Jeff already told Danny that he just wanted to be friends.

And the high drama continues....

Jeff was sick yesterday, but we talked briefly at night. He works until 11 tonight and I don't know what he'll do then. I'd like to see him though. We'll see....he left his new button-down shirt from the GAP and his cowboy hat here. Maybe on purpose??

I hung out with Danny last night and he admitted that he still had a big crush on Jeff and that he loves hanging out with him, but knows that Jeff just wants to be friends. Danny doesn't know, I don't think, that Jeff and I got to be a little more than just friends over the weekend. Yikes. I'll let Jeff decide what to do, I guess.

What to do?? Any advice?? I don't think Jeff and I should be stopped from pursuing something since we both seem interested, but don't want Danny's feelings to get hurt either.