Happy New Year

Well I'm off to the Tri-Cen 17 run in Philly today. I'll give you a report when I get back, and hopefully a couple of pictures as well.

Since the run has an 80s theme, I'd thought it'd be nice to leave you with this:

Divine - You Think You're A Man

Happy New Year.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Your 2005 Song Is

Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz "Love forever love is free. Let's turn forever you and me." In 2005, you were loving life and feeling no pain.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Some resolutions

Speaking of New Year's resolutions, here are some from the top of my head that I've made for the New Year:

• Move into Philly. I'm getting tired of living in West Chester and the long commutes between the two.
• Finish my pledging period with the Philadelphians and become a full member.
• Attend one of the Blowoff parties in DC.
• Cut down on the in-between-meal snacking.
• Exercise more.
• Work on my writing more.
• Better efforts to make more money.
• Maybe in throw in finding a boyfriend as well.

Low Key

My Mom and Dad just had a low-key Christmas this year. Wound up not getting a tree because they were busy and when they did have time they couldn't find one that they liked. Since they pretty much had the rest of the house decorated they figured they'd skip the tree this year. Saves the hassle of setting it up and taking it down afterwards. They did have one of those tiny novelty trees with a cartoon face that "sings" "Jingle Bells" and "Up On The House Top" and the like, just like those tacky-ass singing mounted fish you see in stores. It did keep my nieces entertained for about an hour when they came over to visit on Christmas Eve.

Mom, Dad and I were going to have a couple of guests for Christmas dinner, but they called and cancelled. So we wound up saving the pot roast we were going to have for dinner for another day, and made some homemade chicken soup to serve with some leftover crabby patties we had for last night's supper. After that I went to a couple of friends' house over in Jeffersonville, where they were having an open-house party that evening. I was there for a couple of hours.

Was walking out in the neighborhood on Christmas Eve watching all the houses decorated with lights and all that stuff. Came by one house that had one of those new-fangled inflatable snow globes--a Peanuts one--it maight look good from a distance but when you get up close to it it looks just plain fugly. Good Grief, indeed.

Getting ready for the Tri-Cen 17 run this weekend. This year's theme is "That 80s Run," so there's going to be lots of 80's pop culture and music. I will be staying with my follow pledges Marc and Ron. The three of us are going to be helping the parties go smoothly.

Speaking of leather events, I got an e-mail from the Bike Stop saying that they've moved the date of the The Mr. and Ms. Philadelphia Leather Weekend. They moved it from Febraury, where it was held for the past few years, to November where they likely won't have to deal with potential snowstorms that can reek havoc with audience attendence. So the next Mr. and Ms. Philly Leather Contests will be held on November 10-12, 2006.

One more item--here are some photos of Last Wednsday's Dumpsta Players show, courtesy of UrbanAddiction.com. Enjoy!

Naughty? Nice?

...or a little bit of both?

Anyway, Happy Holidays!

It's Berlin 1961 again

On Monday the House of Representatives passed legislation to build a 700 mile wall spanning the entire US-Mexico border. In other words, history repeats itself.



The original Berlin Wall.

Wake me up when the US version of that wall comes down in 28 years.

Another pre-Christmas night in Philly

Tuesday night I really had a case of the pre-Christmas blahs, but I got through it. So I needed to get into Philly again the following evening. I parked my car around 5:30pm last night and I walked around for quite a bit. This was the first I went on a long invigorating walk in a month, which I haven't before since I had that bad cold. First went up the Avenue of the Arts and the Tower Records on Broad and Chestnut streets. I considered seeing the Christmas light show at Lord & Taylor, but it wouldn't be the same one I've known for years so I passed. So I stopped over at Woody's and Village Coffee House, and then I went to my group therapy. After that I had some more coffee at Last Drop Coffeehouse, and then I went over to Bob and Barbara's to catch the holiday edition of the Dumpsta Players. (Good show; it certainly beats staying at home and watching the holiday episode of Being Bobby Brown!) Said hello to some follow bloggers/MySpace peeps Jimmi, Freddy and Sara. It's good to get out into the city; I really needed it.

New Year's Day plans and Christmas shopping

Was in Philly last night for the Philadelphians meeting. Main topic for that evening was the Tri-Cen XVII run, which goes on during the New Year's Day weekend. I'm looking forward to this.

Speaking of Philly, I drove by the City Hall building that night and it looks great with its new colorful lighting displays.

Did some of my Christmas shopping in the Wilmington, DE area this afternoon. While I was down there I listened to WMPH 91.7FM, which played dance music, such as the new songs by Madonna, Amber, and the Gorillaz. I wish we had something like this in the Philly area, though you can hear it over the Internet.

Oh Boy! Part 4

Yesterday Boy George's New York City court appearance for drug possesion has been postponed until February 1 of next year. Boy's lawyer said that BG was excused from the original court date so he could work on literary and recording projects in England. Among the "projects" not mentioned is Boy's upcoming appearance on the UK edition of the "reality" series Celebrity Big Brother with the likes of Anna Nicole Smith.



Oh Boy, you're so outrageous!

A bit slow for the past few days

Saturday I went to a Christmas party for the full and associate members of the Philadelphians and I had a good time, though I haven't fully recovered from my cold. Lots of traffic when I drove into Center City that evening.

Picked up the McGarrigle Christmas Hour CD at the Tower Records in King Of Prussia, PA when I was Christmas shopping the other day, and it was on sale for only $13.99. So far I'm enjoying it.

Christmas music part 2

An interesting book on the history of the Irving Berlin song "White Christmas."

Since I mentioned that I did (legally) download some Christmas songs in my last post, here's the list:

The Drifters - "White Christmas"
Death Cab For Cutie - "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Jade Starling - "Last Christmas"
Kristine W - "O Holy Night" (Illict and Welcome and Joe mixes)
Kristine W - "Mary Did You Know 2005"
Jimmy Eat World - "Last Christmas"
The Carpenters - "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" (1971 single version)
Mariah Carey - "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (I'm not a Mariah fan but I like the Phil Spector-ness of this)
Reina - "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

Which of Santa's reindeer are you?

This is what I got...

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form. Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up. Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Christmas music

Every year I always end up buying a couple of Christmas records. But this year I told myself that I wasn't going to buy a Christmas CD; just download a few songs from iTunes and copy some songs from the CDs I already own and make my own Christmas CDs. So far I have resisted getting the 40th anniversary tribute of A Charlie Brown Christmas jazz CD, figuring the original soundtrack is still fine by me. But when I heard that there was a new Christmas album by folk singers the McGarrigle Sisters, Kate and Anna, called The McGarrigle Christmas Hour, I knew that I had to pick it up. It's a musical family affair, featuring guest artists Emmylou Harris, Beth Orton, and Kate's children Rufus and Martha Wainwright, among other family members. Being a fan of the McGarrigle Hour album, which was a similar family affair a few years back, as well as a fan of Rufus, I know I have to get this album. It's nice to hear Rufus sing the chestnut "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," which he originaly did for a Gap commercial around 1998.

Also speaking of new Christmas music, dance-pop siren Jade Starling has recorded a new version of Wham's "Last Christmas," done in a old-school freestyle way. Very catchy. You can currently download it for free from her website.

Finally I've been on a mission to find one of the most bizarre Christmas records I've ever heard. "Zoot Zoot Zoot Here Comes Santa In His Space Suit" by Bruce Haack (best known for electronic-themed children's albums in the 60s and 70s) with vocals by Tiny Tim and done in a really cheesy disco fashion (which was not fashionable when it first came out in 1981), with Tim scooping out those high notes like there's no tomorrow. So over the top it's in the "so-bad-it's-good" category. Pure unintentional camp. I've been searching for the album it's from, Zoot Zoot Zoot, but without success. Appearently this is a rare and out-of-print record. If anyone has an MP3 of that song...

My worst cold so far this season and other fun stuff

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, I caught yet another bad cold over the weekend. I could hardly get out of bed on Monday, so had to cancel all my plans that day. I really hate this, I've been fighting this fucking cold for nearly a month now. When will it all end?

Cold or no cold, the Philadelphians Holiday Social on Sunday went very well. I helped out selling 50/50 raffle tickets, five dollars for a bunch of tickets measured from crotch to floor, plus a photo taken with Santa (who BTW was sexily played by my fellow pledge Marc, with follow pledge Ron done up as a reindeer/elf taking the Polaroid pictures). I had to be on my knees to measure the (usually male) person's inseam. Needless to say I sold a lot of tickets, and I did a good job of that as well. I spent good deal of the time running around with my shirt off, wearing my leather vest over my hairy chest. Not a good thing with a cold in retrospect, considering I felt worse the next day. But it was warm down in the Pit Stop of the Bike Stop, and I did get a couple nice comments on my furry arms and chest. Overall it was a fun time. Christmas is an excellent excuse to throw some parties.

What's happening this Sunday...

The Philadelphians will be holding their Holiday Social at the Bike Stop this Sunday, December 11 from 6pm to 10pm. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a basket auction, munchies, and more! I'll be there setting up and helping out, so stop by and say hi!

Straight supremacy in PA's state constitution?

In Pennsylvania the bigots are now trying to write straight supremacy into the state constitution. State representative Scott Boyd (a RepibliKKKan from Lancaster) is drafting an Amendment to the state constitution that would deny gay and lesbian families legal recognition. Four other representatives have already signed on to this mean, discriminatory proposal called the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment.

With elections eleven months away, Republicans are looking for ways to keep their majority in the state House of Representatives and Senate. People are pissed that state representatives and senators have voted themselves a big fat pay raise when they were cutting funds for services left and right (mostly right). So is this one mean-spirited way to keep those officials in office. Just put on that KKK robe and work the mob. "Me, who voted myself a big pay raise while cutting services like libraries? Never mind that, I saved marriage from those lowly homos!" And I'm afraid this is the wedge that will keep Satan-torum in office as US senator, who's also up for re-election next year.

I hope in the name of human deceny that this measure does not become law. I just hope not.

Sometimes you can hear nothing but the sound of pain.

First snow of the season

In case you were wondering if I got into the city last night, I didn't go. Figured the roads would get slippery due to the falling snow. It only snowed about two inches in West Chester while Philly got four. As much as I wanted to be at the Philadelphians meeting, it was probably smart of me not to risk driving on slick roads due to bad weather--I'd like to be alive when my pledging period comes to an end. So I shouldn't worry about missing just one meeting; I'm sure other members had to miss it for the same reasons.

Snow around Christmastime is nice, White Christmas and all that; it's just that driving around in it can be a bitch.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas will be airing tonight on your local ABC station. It's been forty years since it first aired in 1965.

Seeing that special always rasies a couple of questions:

1. A couple of times Lucy mentions that the Christmas play will be featuring a "Christmas queen" (herself). I've always wondered what does a Christmas queen actually do? Throw diva shit-fits at your brother for bringing his blanket into the play and at a dog for licking your face?

2. When Sally has Charlie Brown write her letter to Santa, she mentions that she wants "tens and twenties." If this was being made today, wouldn't that be "fifties and hundreds?" "Tens and twenties" don't go as far as they did in 1965.

BTW the soundtrack album has to be my favorite Christmas album. I don't see why there needs to be a 40th anniversary tribute album, the original is perfection. Quiet, somber, and yet playful too.

Getting a few things off my chest

Still haven't been able to successfully shake off this cold this weekend - lots of post-nasal drip down my throat and I pretty much sounded hoarse in the past two to three days. Let's hope it goes away by next weekend.

I'm supposed to drive into Philly for a general meeting with the Philadelphians tomorrow evening, but weather reports has been saying it will start snowing around that time. I hope that it'll hold up until after the meeting gets done. A lot of things will be going on in that meeting, and I don't want to miss any meetings because I'm a pledge and attendence is important.

More on Christmas lights...the Lord & Taylor (former Wanamaker's) on 13th and Market in Philly will be cutting their famous holiday light show to every other hour. A lot of the equipment used for it has gotten old and it was advised to not to use it as much as before.

A few days ago I came across a blog by Dan Renzi, best known as one of the cast members in The Real World: Miami (which BTW was my favorite season of the MTV series). It's called How was your day, Dan? and it's witty and observant, not to mention quite funny.

Another record I'm looking forward to

Kristine W - I'll Be Your Light - I liked this track when it first appeared on her Fly Again album two years ago. About time that it's been released as a single.

Speaking of Kristine W, I recently downloaded the mixes of her version of "O Holy Night" from iTunes. The Welcome & Joe remix has a bouncy Thunderpuss-y feel to it, while the Illicit Mix goes for a more of a old school disco feel.