T-wrecks me.

Now this just freaks me out.

Concave face optical illusion. Watch the T-Rex watch you.

passing notes

"Do you know any notaries?"
"I don't think so. My friends are more of 'yes'terries."

We can't miss you if you don't go away.

Instead of making a big media announcement that he is "leaving public life," I think that Public Life would have been perfectly happy if Alec Baldwin had just ghosted.

burning through their youth

He really doesn't like children being in adult spaces in the City. He thinks children should be kerosene and not heard.

hangin' with the boys

looking, out.

I ran into an old acquaintance while waiting for the work bus this morning. He asked me if I was still single. Then why. Then he suggested that maybe it's because I don't go out enough or engage different social circles. And maybe I should try that.

I considered reintroducing myself. It was clear he had confused me for someone else.

but can he skateboard?

Taking a break on the lawn outside my office, a large and very handsome hawk:



I was able to stand rather close and watch him for a while. Frankly from all I've heard, I thought he would have been watching me more carefully.

dancing bears, painted wings, things I almost remember...

Bear Weekend 2.0. I managed to miss all the Saturday night circuit parties (happily in favor of an hilarious, rainy game night) but Holy Bears that was fun. And exhausting.

Y'all have fun now. Call me from recovery.

c'm'ere you.

Via Heist, who has an epic beard.

Word.

good unintentions

Posted by a friend this morning:

Unintentionally, the best gay Valentine ever.

you spin me round round baby right round

Oh, someone sent me an Olympic-related Valentine.  I heart this.

loving cup

I went into the office kitchen to brew a pot of coffee, but since it's just me drinking it alone and it's Valentine's Day, I made a pot of bourbon.

How will I know?

Appropriate to Valentine's Day, and via Alert Reader Jimmi and Jezebel, the isolated vocals of Whitney Houston on "How Will I Know?"

I was always a casual fan of Whitney's, more distracted by the completely tragic personal life with a mother who hater her for being gay and the abusive closet and abusive relationship she had to live in to survive, but WOW, her voice.


Just, wow.

I love the produced version, but the vocal track is almost chilling. And it made me think of the vocal version sung by the Glee trio to open their memorial episode, which is also rather haunting in its beauty.


(forgive the subtitles, this is best version available on YouTube)

petal to the mettle

An omen? A sad commentary on my love life? Or perhaps or a subtle Valentine form the City that I love? In my path on the walk to work on this wet morning, a single, rain-dropped red rose petal.

Oh, the Humanities!

The Humanities program, or "Humes," was one of my great academic joys at Davidson. I'm glad it's still there, and disturbed that it is less popular tin students shying away from the grand theory a liberal arts education in favor of early specialization.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has a great piece: A Liberal-Arts College That Gets It Right



I also think that current President Carol Quillen is amazing and a terrific leader for the school.

In her exploration of humanism, she told me, she discovered the "experience of revelation through reading the words of people from a distant, alien age." Quillen remains devoted to the close reading of canonical texts. "Life is short," she said, "and those guys were smart." Quillen has a talent for combining academic eloquence with candor and self-doubt.

Each time I have heard her speak to alumni, it has made want to quit my job and go work for her just to be a part of fulfilling her vision.

Also from the story:

Davidson possesses a proud history, a devoted alumni base, and a sterling national reputation. It can pick and choose among applicants who receive generous financial aid and almost always graduate on time. The student-to-faculty ratio is held steady at about 10 to one, nearly all tenure-track. The college even manages to maintain a healthy Division I sports program while avoiding the kind of scandal that is presently consuming the academic reputation of the University of North Carolina, 130 miles east on I-85 in Chapel Hill.

When I visited the college recently, the tenured professors had a lot to say about their approach to teaching undergraduates, which means that they are teaching undergraduates and care enough about it to have an approach. This alone is different from what you often hear at big research universities or adjunct-dominated commuter schools. There’s also a lot of classroom collaboration among professors from different departments, to the point where it seems unremarkable. My questions about how members of the faculty support and evaluate one another’s teaching produced thoughtful answers, not puzzled stares. It was refreshing.

I do love clever.

"Until…"

doing my own bidding

My friend Ed organized the benefit "bachelor auction" for the SF Fog gay rugby team. Although "bachelor" is debatable as half of the 18 guys aren't single. And not everyone has Ed's rugged good looks, British accent, or a professional photographer for a roommate:

I went to support Ed and was outbid considerably. I also bid on—and "won"—a new friend. Heretofore to be known as The Other Wilson:


And while repeatedly out-bid on the quiet star of the show, I still walked away a winner.

All dressed up and know where to go

I've been writing here and there under the column "All dressed up and know where to go" for a several years now. I thought I was being clever on the "know where to go" part. Little did I know other people were paying attention to the "all dressed up" part.

I can't believe I made a "best of" list in a magazine in a city where I don't actually live. But I love it!

Sent in by Alert Reader Elizabeth James from this month's "best parties" issue of Nfocus:

send for a toe truck

It was a great night of dancing at the Sundance Saloon Sweethearts' Ball.

If I were to start a country dance band, I would call it "Ibuprofen and the Epsom Salts," because you'll need them when I'm done with you.

Like I do now.

Ow.

Rob was a fraternity brother in college, later a roommate in Nashville, and at one point fairly hip to the gay scene. He works for a church in the midwest now, where he lives with his wife and three little girls. Our lives have little in common, but we remain in touch via Facebook.

I sometimes wonder what my slap-happy homo/adventurous San Franciscan posts look like to my more conservative friends.

It didn't occur to me that their posts can take an out-of-context meaning for me too.

And just in time for Bear Weekend!


Seriously: Do not shave the bears.

"Who's Johnny?" she said. (And smiled in her special way.)

So, Jay Leno has left The Tonight Show after 22 years. I think I may have seen less than a dozen of those shows, and none in their entirety. Is it weird that I still think of him as "the new guy" after Johnny Carson? Leno still on the college stand-up circuit when I was in high school. Then again, I don't watch late night talk shows any more. It's all clips and highlights on a mobile device if it's noteworthy. And Kimmel and Fallon are much better at this for my tastes. But I understand that Leno is the man for the widest, lowest-common-denominator appeal. Mom loves him. She's clever but 77 and not so much on-the-pulse.

I think of older folks who still think of Johnny as new after Jack Parr, so there is also that.

My late nights are a DVR'd dose of John Stewart. Give me The Daily Show over The Tonight Show any day.

Although Jimmy Fallon is both sweet and clever. I think he should introduce a new soap opera parody and call it "Fallon Crest," but I am also dating myself again.

Bond gurls

Cookie Dough and the Chip (not actually the name for the supporting players but I'm running with it) brought it for the 007 night at the Monster Show.




And another happy birthday and fun show for Mutha Chucka!

après-hensive

Speaking of injuries, rainfall, and Tahoe:

"After I tore up my knee, I had to give up skiing,  But I'll never give up après ski."

smarter searching

Reference librarians, the original search engine.

Atrocities in Russia: they shall reap what they Sochi.

And the news of beatings and arrests of peaceful protesters are already coming in.  And by "peaceful protest" I mean "people are getting bloodied for holding anything with a rainbow on it and doing nothing else.  Except maybe singing.  Or mentioning that gay families exist in other countries as an aside in a novel.  Some critics have been disappeared.

And the shame spiral continues for the International Olympic Committee, who has long since lost any respect or integrity.

I'm hoping for some athletes and other to hold up six fingers for the camera this week.

The Principle 6 Campaign reminds us of the sixth principle of the Olympic charter:

I do love that television networks around the world are changing their logos and bugs to include the rainbow in solidarity with persecuted Russian homosexuals.  This feel eerily like Germany in the 30s.

decisions, decisions

Let's see, for my husband... wife... mother... excuse me, where is the "from your stalker" section?

lgbT

It always bothers me when those who are so offensive to the marginalized play the victim when called out on it. Piers Morgan managed to double-down, rant, and make it so much worse, over and over again. For being an LGBT ally, he has no clue about the T, and refuses to listen when offered an education.

Gender and genitals are not the same thing. They are usually consistent, but hardly always. We know this now. This is well-researched, documented historical fact. There is a continuum of human sexuality which has nothing to do with gentile formation. And gender identity is also neither determined by nor located in the genital formation.

Nearly everyone is born with a right hand. People are usually right-handed. But not always. Being born with a right hand does not make one right-handed, any more than being born with a penis makes one a true man (although it is highly likely). I know many people with penises, heterosexual people with penises, whom I would never dare to call a true man, but that is an issue of character.  To be brave enough to figure yourself out, and successfully deal with it—that I would call a true man, or a true woman. Or an impressive person.

Being born with a penis doesn't make one a "man" any more than being born with a right hand makes one right-handed. The incidence are predominantly consistent, but the incidence are not causal.  Being born with "boy parts" or "girl parts" will identify that child as a boy or a girl, until otherwise noted.  We will also assume right-handedness (although trans or intersex are even less prevalent than left-handedness).  The thing here:  it's been noted.  A lot.  She's a woman.  Always has been.  She was a girl born with boy parts.  To call the child a boy would be a statistically correct assumption, until evidence to the contrary.  To call her a man only until the point some flesh was surgically altered mis-defines gender negates her actual personhood, which has been noted and noted and noted.  And the subject of the book, and the interview.

To heap ignorance and offense on the offer of understanding is just being a willfully ignorant dick. And being a dick doesn't make you a man.

Or in other words: Once having a dick doesn't make Janet Mock a man. And being a dick doesn't make Piers Morgan one either.

full Nelson

Carrington Nelson (Fox) has been my bestest friend since kindergarten. Her parents are equally awesome, and I came out to Sandy and Billy before I was able to come out to my own parents. Billy had several children from a previous marriage, and sufficiently previous that Carrington has nephews older than she is, which makes for an interesting family tree. The Nelsons all are pretty awesome.

Two of her nephews have revived the old family business. "Old" as in "the 1860s."  Andy and Charlie have successfully revived the Nelson Green Brier distillery and are again producing the wonderfully delicious Belle Meade Bourbon. It's available in a dozen states now, and in finer restaurants and bars around the country. Prentiss Nelson made sure to have it served at his birthday party in the Hancock Room of the Sip Lounge last month.

This week, the Intuit blog interviews the brothers about their small business, getting started, and family tradition. Nice.

good gravy!

From an early conversation, I got it in my head and a little fixated on making some biscuits and gravy.  Sausage gravy is just so unhealthy though, and tends to wreak a little havoc with my innards as well.  I wondered if I could make a healthy version and started experimenting.  I successfully grilled and seasoned lean ground turkey to taste like southern breakfast sausage, added my own spices to a good black pepper white sauce made from low fat milk, and added a lot of sautéed spinach for good measure and some food value.   Wow that's tasty.

And drop biscuits from scratch fresh from the oven.


Good comfort food made as good for you as possible. This will make an appearance and the next southern style dinner.

I'm going to make someone a good husbear one day.

Make it so!

Oh my starships. This is Star Trek mashup at its best. It's Let It Go from Disney's "Frozen," reimagined to the movie "Star Trek: First Contact."

Make It So!

chocolate rim

I may have lived in SF for too long. Or just spent too many nights at Trannyshack. I totally misread this packaging and had to do a double-take. No, those weren't in fact Heklina pastries. Although the description "chocolate, buttery pastry mountains with a of crown of chocolate glaze" sounds so much like her.

And really, really dirty.

love letters

How did I miss this?  There is an entire field known as "correspondence art."  It includes letters, cards, presses, epistles, stamps—the rubber kind, and philately to a degree.  Art through the mail, and creating art via the mail.  The act of posting is part of the artwork.  

There is a correspondence art Con this month, hosted in San Francisco.  I had no idea.  I have so many artists in my head: librarian, archivist, designer, and writer; and we are all together astounded.

The word play just makes it better.  Ex Postal Facto.

And there will be a full afternoon of lectures hosted by the San Francsico Public Library on Sunday, February 16.

February frills

I had been so looking to laying low after the holidays, and January was, if not in weather, wonderfully chill. February is starting to heat up. But I am still eager to take a bourbon, the window seat, and the Kindle over event hopping for at least one more month.

But here's what's on the radar this week:

SF Sketchfest all week.

Second Act, a "food marketplace" opens in the old Red Vic space on Haight.

Tuesday, February 4
• It's like Grindr (or Scruff, or Growlr, or Mister…), but in real life: Hitch, at Club OMG.

Wednesday, February 5
• SF Court, Krewe de Kinque, and others are kicking off Mardi Gras at the Edge

Thursday, February 6
• The UCSF LGBT Resource Center and the UCSF Multicultural Resource Center present The Prep School Negro at Cole Hall Cinema, and a Q&A with the director. Free.

• The Monster Show: Cookie Dough hosts a 007 tribute night. The Edge. 10:15 pm.
And it's Mutha Chucka's birthday! Starring: Cookie Dough, Mutha Chucka, Sugah Betes, Vanity Ytinav, Laundra Tyme, Leigh Crow, Ruby Vixen, Kegel Kater

Friday, February 7
• Imbibe with the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, Mission Branch, 7-10 pm. Catered drinks, food, band, dancing, books, Valentines…

• Peaches Christ hosts Cabin Boy 20th Anniversary w/ Chris Elliot and Adam Resnick in person. Castro Theater. Part of SF Sketchfest.

Saturday. February 8
• The Lego Movie with the SF Movie Bears! 7:00 pm at the Century.
• Chicks with Shticks: Celebrating 20 years of the Kinsey Sicks.  There will be a special exhibition of song notes, costumes, and other artifacts celebrating their 20 years of dragapella activism in the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center of the San Francisco Main Library, opening February 8 and on view through July 10.

• Heklina launches Dragula a the SF Eagle
"The Boulet Brothers in association with Heklina & the SF Eagle team up to bring Los Angeles’ most depraved dance party and celebration of drag, filth & glamour to SAN FRANCISCO for one night only."

Sunday, February 9
• The SF Fog Rugby Team Bachelor Auction at the Lone Star Saloon. Bid on my handsome friend Ed and the other fine players, starting at 4:00 pm.
• Twang Sunday at Thee Parkside, with Laura Benitez & The Heartache plus The Bootcuts. 4:00 pm.
• Sundance Saloon Sweethearts' Ball and underwear dance.  Lessons start at 5:00 pm, open dancing until 10:30 pm.

grinding gear

The Edge bar is trying to bring some leather fetish wear back to the Castro, and is hosting Gear nights.


Hmm. I know he lives in LA, but the dude in this poster looks familiar…

Hispter Doo

I do love my honky tonk type shows, even though the crowds are have an increasingly hipster population. I am fairly sure one of these nights I'm going to notice some meddling kids and their pesky dog.

don't mind us

We couldn't find a seat so we'll just plop our asses down here and block anyone from using the dance floor.  And spread out with our plates of food.  And pint glasses.  And a pitcher of beer.


And do my my knitting...


WTF? Some of the aged folk hippies in Oakland need to stay in the trailer, or learn some social skills.

Regardless, Loretta Lynch was good music and good fun. Their folksy bluegrass cover of Miranda Lambert's Mama's Broken Heart was so wonderfully charming.

Kiss to Kris

Looking through my phone photos, I am reminded what a light it is when the lovely and talented Kris Searle visits SF. Kris called me when he was in SF working with his producer on the new album, and new single, in which I hear he is taking his music in a new direction. He's very excited about the new LP, and I can't wait to hear it!

I am particularly touched as he shared with me some of the shots from the album cover shoot, and in some free association of imagery and musical ideas, I inspired the new album title: Monarch!

Look for it soon! When it drops, I'll be sure to post an iTunes link here too.










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