TGIF

Enjoy your afternoon. GALVANIZE!

Boojie Nights Reviewed

Well, we have received another lukewarm review in the Improv/Sketch Comedy section of The Chicago Reader.

Smile, It's Friday

This is the weekend I have planned.

Life is a Cabaret

Thank you to Jude for this link where we see Hillary sing and dance

Best Of...

This will probably be the last "best of" post for a while. My walk down memory lane is nearly complete. It has been great revisiting my past. I hope you like this next one from March 1, 2001:

and don't forget the raisonettes
I have always been able to buy into the idea of my life as a movie. My friend Kava and I have spoken about our lives like this for years. We often talked about the importance of good editing, scoring, and a soundtrack to die for. My movie must be guest directed by some up and coming music video director lately. Everything is fast and furious. I go from hero to zero and back again so quickly these days. One morning, I wake up feeling like a million dollars and the very next, I don't want to get out of bed. I would prefer to stay in bed and cry. The crying is not even due to sadness. I just feel like crying. Maybe my life is not a movie. Maybe I'm what most folks would call.....C-R-A-Z-Y....or a-r-t-i-s-t-i-c (which is crazy with a flair).

Yesterday, I gave notice to my boss at MSDW that I would be leaving at the end of this month. I have targeted March 23 as my leave date. That was a good thing.

I worked at the furniture store but didn't make one single sale. That was a bad thing. One of the people that did come in yesterday thought I was a college student. I'm not sure if that is good or bad. I do like my youthful look but I definately feel that people don't respect me as much because they think that I am young. I suppose I could use their perception to my advantage. If you think, "wow, look how smart and mature that 23 y.o. is..." when in reality the 23 y.o. is 32.

Today, I purchased my friend Dan's birthday gift. I don't buy many birthday gifts but Dan is an exception. He has become my closest friend and confidante over the last three years. He has consistently been a good friend and a big supporter. Of course, that is not to say that he agrees with every decision I make. And thank goodness for his sensibility when I was in my depression, otherwise I would I have done some really stupid things. He was the one that talked me out of moving to Guam. LOL................*still laughing.....
Sorry, I had to have a moment.....Dan, AKA Patchy Scarback, was not so supportive last night about my decision to quit my day job. He knows how I have struggled and he is worried that I might be moving too fast but I'm not. The timing is right. I feel it. If I only made life choices and decisions based on the full reality of a situation, I would still be in Peoria right now, or in jail, or dead. Every good thing in my life has come because of a bold and daring move. I remember in December 1996, I decided to quit my day job. My sister tried to talk me out of it. She knew that I was finally eating regularly and paying my bills on time. She was right but I knew it was time to move on. I could feel it. I left that job on a Friday by the following Monday, I was cast in Showboat. More recently, I took a half personal day to attend an audition just as a learning experience. That audition led to my Second City contract.

I am having dinner with an Angel tonight. Last Friday, at the Fat Friday Ball fundraiser, I met this great guy named Joel. When I first saw him, he was in drag and looked like a Vegas version of the character Angel from the musical Rent, a show I have seen about 12 times. Anyway, when his volunteer shift was over, he changed into his own outfit for the night, which I believe was a pajama set. Didn't matter, he was cute and sweet and easy to be with. He gave me his pager number at the end of the evening. A couple of days later, I called him. We chatted, very casual and easy like the preceeding Friday. He didn't show any romantic interest in me at the party/fundraiser or on the phone but then we spoke on the phone and it was like we had known each other forever. I invitied him over for dinner. I just wanted to see if this was just going to be a friendship (which is great by me because when I finally settle down, I want that person to be a true friend) or something more. I was fascinated with the idea that he was "Angel." Well, Angel is a character in a play. And my name is not Tom Collins. Joel is sweet but Joel has a boyfriend. He told me last night and I'm glad he did before I jumped off the romantic ledge. Still, I loved the idea of romancing Angel. I met Wilson Jermaine Heredia in London. Rent and Showboat opened at the same time in the West End. Wilson, Krysten Cummings (who played Mimi), and I would have a few drinks from time to time at the Theatre Arts Club. I'm getting off the subject. The point is that I was hoping to find an Angel (like the Aretha Franklin song). Hopefully, I have found a new cool friend for life.

My life is definately a movie. I wish I had someone to share my popcorn.

OMG, I'm Famous

A friend sent me this to let me know that it is ok to name your baby after me. Celebrities with the baby name PIP. If Kathy Griffin is on the D-list, this must put me on the F-list.

Last night I attended a gala benefit. I don't get to go to things like this all the time but it was actually fun to get dressed up with Steve and have the neighbors look at you a couple of times (because we were so fucking hot). I wore a beautiful blue french cuff shirt with a spectacular blue and green floral tie by City of London. Steve opted for classic all black.

The benefit was for the Second City Foundation. I thought it was going to be lame. The only reason I was going was because my friend Di, who runs the Outreach and Diversity program, invited me and Steve encouraged me to go and schmooze. So I did. I loved it. I met some great people. I got to introduce Steve to my "other world." The "other world" got to meet my significant other, as well. There were also some special treats. I am huge fan of Strangers With Candy and I got to hang out with Gregg Hollimon last night for a bit. I first met him around 4 years ago but last night was the first time I mentioned what a fan of the TV show I was and that I was looking forward to the movie. I met a very big wig from the Illinois Film Commission. The biggest wig of them all actually, Brenda Sexton who invited me to LA in September for meet and greet celebration of film making in Illinois. Well, Okay... I also got to introduce Steve to George Wendt and Tim Kazurinsky. It was a cool night. Steve even won a silent auction. And it was all for charity.

Good News from Good Friends

I have lots of friends that moved to LA to pursue fame and film careers. Many of them are doing very well. Most are not famous but they are working and I just received news from a friend in LA that is doing well.

Husband and wife duo Nyima and Joshua Funk will be appearing as regular cast
members on the new MTV comedy/improv series called Wild N'Out, starring Nick
Cannon- the star of the movie Drumline. Joshua Funk is the improv coach for
Wild N'Out. Wild N' Out premieres on Thursday July 28th@ 10p.m. on MTV, EST/PT.
Nyima, a native Metro-Detroiter, has been involved with the Main/E.T.C
Stages at The Second City (Detroit, Chicago and L.A.) for over 7 years.

Joshua Funk, a 10 year veteran of The Second City, has directed The Second
City Main Stages and the ETC stages in Detroit, L.A. and Chicago, and
received local acclaim for his directing of the comedy film Garage
(http://www.planetant.com/garage.htm).

Both Nyima and Joshua received awards of recognition during their stints with The Second City in Chicago.

Here is a link to the MTV bio page about Nick Cannon, Nyima, Josh and the
other cast members of Wild N'Out.


Nyima and Joshua will also be appearing with their traveling improv allstars
group called The 313 on Saturday, August 6th@ 8p.m., at The Majestic
Theatre. Joining Nyima and Josh will be native Metro Detroiters and Second
City Mainstage & E.T.C. alums Larry Joe Campbell ("According to Jim"), Andy
Cobb, Marc Evan Jackson and Mad TV's Keegan Michael Key.

Tickets are $20 each, and can be purchased via Planet Ant Theatres @
telephone # 313-365-4948. Limited tickets, if available, can be purchased
the night of the performance.

The Majestic Theatre is located at 4120-4140 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI.

I'm setting my Tivo and I wish I could make it to Motor City to see them but alas, I have my own gigs plus house guests for the upcoming Market Days.

More Best Of...

I have been reading some of my old posts from a blog that no longer exists. This post is great for several reasons. It just goes to show how everything is temporal. Life constantly changes. I no longer work at Domicile. I no longer date Joel (aka, The Freak). The Freak almost turned me off to men completely (at least dating). I feel like I learned a lot from that. I also mention Scott's B-day. What I didn't know is that 3 1/2 years later I would be Scott's roommate for 9 months. Life is odd.

Reposted from my former blog, I'm Just Glad To Be Here. March 19, 2001:

Weekend
Last night, Joel commented on how I was so dramatic (something my mother said to me about two years ago). Well, no kidding. Do you think this might be the reason I became an actor? If I could control my freakish humanistic response to stimuli, don't you think I would? It is not called "being dramatic", it is called being.

Friday was great. Joel and I spent the evening behaving like teenagers. My roomate Matt had a date. They were in the living room watching JFK, while Joel and I were smoking pot, giggling like school girls, talking, and fucking like there was no tomorrow. We had so much fun. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard with anyone. And the sex? Wow. Enough said.

Saturday I had to work at Domicile Furniture. I worked at both Chicago locations. I worked for 3-4 hours at the Boystown location and the rest of the day at the Lincoln Park/Diversey store. Nothing of note happened except that Joel disappeared on me for the rest of the night. No word, no phone call, nothing. I didn't know if he were alive or dead. My guess was that he was off trying to kill some of the pain and stress he was feeling though alcohol. I was right. Unfortunately. This is his issue and not mine. I don't want it to become my problem and I addressed that to him on Sunday. He was cool about it and I hope that we never go this way again. I was a little disappointed in him, especially after Friday night.

Saturday night, I went to Mi Tierra for Scott's 33rd birthay celebration. I had such an odd time there. I was a little upset with Joel which played a part in my feelings. I was also weirded out by this strange group that surrounded Scott. Scott conceived and directed Schoolhouse Rock Live!. Scott gave me one of my first jobs acting in Chicago. I was an understudy with the original company and I later took over the role of Joe in Chicago. I worked on and off in SRL! for about three years until I joined Showboat. There is some weird history with SRL! I have to tell you that most of the original cast are not big fans of Scott, Kyle (the "co-creator") or Nina (the producer), all three were at Mi Tierra. None of my chums were there. It was odd. I stayed and met some neat people that have been involved in the show in recent years...another thing I found odd. The show started in 1993. Everyone involved was in their early 20's (except Joe). Now we are late 20's to early 30's (except Joe) and the current or newer cast members are the age that we were. And things just keep on rolling along like the old guards had never been there. We were there and now we have moved on. At least most of have. Dina and Joe are still bummng about the Chicago area. George is Mr. Musical Theatre Chicago going from one Marriott Theatre musical to the next. Dori is in the improv world. She and I will collaborate on a show soon. Shulie is out in L.A. working here and there. Someday, she will have her own sitcom and I hope she asks me to guest star. Tom is starring in the national tour of Blues Clues Live!
Okay enough, enough. Memory Lane is now closed.

Sunday meant more time at Domicile. Again, a little at one store and the rest of the time at the other. Joel and I discussed the previous night and reconciled. We spent the night together at my place being silly but this time without the pot.

Best Of

Chicagoist: Man Killed by Red Line; Passengers in the Dark. The article in today's Chicagoist.com reminds of me an entry I posted in March 2001. I have been blogging for 4 1/2 years now. Uptempo Orpheus is actually my second blog. The first was called I'm Just Glad to be Here.

reposted from March 15, 2001:
Ides of March Train Trauma
The weather is gray and rainy.
The rain may turn to snow. The Purple Line train is not running to
the Loop. The Brown Line (my train) is only making stops in half of the Loop because of structural damage to a downtown building . Needless to say, the
commute this morning was not so pleasant. The trains were super-packed and
no one was happy to be on them. Everyone seemed wet, tired and annoyed.
Anyway, I have to transfer to the Red Line train at Belmont. Per usual,
assholes get on the train and stand near the entrance/exit rather than
actually moving into the train so others can get on behind them. I decide to
push my way in. No one moves even when I use my kindest and most civil voice
to say, "excuse me, please." The best I can get from these lumps of wet wool
is a shoulder that someone moves for me to pass. I exchange glances with a
sitting passenger and I can tell that he gets the absurdity of the whole
thing.

So, there I am standing smooshed in this crowd just breathing
and trying to think of something other than the fact that I am trapped in
this box underground in a crowd. BTW, I have an acute case of demophobia,
which is like agoraphobia but I could care less about open spaces and
markets. As a matter of fact, I am better when the crowd is in the open. I
have trouble in enclosed spaces with a crowd. I can perform for a huge crowd
but I hate to be in one.

Finally, someone near me gets off the train. Yeah, we are going to spread out a little. No, we are not because the queen in front of me has decided that only he needs more room. He actually takes space from me. Now, I lived in London and have travelled around Europe so I know I can used to the idea of a smaller personal space but this guy is taking advantage. At the next stop, someone else exits, the queen takes more space. Now wait a minute. I tapped him on the shoulder and say, "excuse me but do you have enough room sweetie?" He replies, "yes." I say, "Share the wealth, Honey. Share the wealth". I go on,"If you back up any further, my umbrella is going to be up your ass. And it has a hair trigger. It could go up any moment." He moved. I sighed. I got off two stops later.

R. Kelly -- Oops

Friend: Girl on sex video was 14

What is Wrong with US?

5 County Bd. members drop OK of Gay Games. I live in Chicago. I vote. I am ashamed for these idiots. Their just sports people. Guys won't be butt-bumping in front of your ugly little children. Girls won't be muff-diving in front of your sexually frustrated husband. The fact that they supported it before and now that it is a reality and the Gay Games are coming, they are against it. Let it go already. And on with the games.

Sign of the Day

This is why I love TVgasm. TVgasm's Bad News Of The Day

What Is Wrong With US

Gay Teenager Stirs a Storm - New York Times. This article is about a boy whose parents wanted to send him to a religious program that is intended to change young people's sexual orientation. God help them.

Beam Me Up

James Doohan, Scotty on 'Star Trek,' Dies - New York Times

Hard Hats with Guns

I found a disturbing article in the Chicago Tribune that says that IL state troopers are disguising themselves as highway construction workers in order to catch speeders. My ass is in trouble.

Finally

Tonight will be the third performance of Boojie Nights and I.O. theatre has finally added us to their website. Mounting this show at this venue has been a real challenge. For those of you that may want to produce a show in the future, may I suggest that the "buyer beware."

We Got Our First Review

Boojie Nights is the show I have been working on for several weeks and we finally got reviewed. Unfortunately, it is buried under another review and it is not a rave (although harldy a pan). Check it out here but be prepared to scroll down to the bottom of the story.

That Just Ain't Right

Faced with debt, Georgia man shot postal worker in apparent bid to go to prison. Do I need to comment on fucked up this story really is?

In the Good Samaritan Category

I guess it just doesn't pay to do a good deed sometimes. Take the Texas man arrested after rescuing a drowning swimmer. Of course, we have to keep in mind that this is indeed Texas and that it was Texas State University police ("look ma, I got gun") that arrested him.

How Was Your Weekend?

This weekend I learned a few things about myself. First, I do not the current sweltering weather here in Chicago. This weekend I had to work Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Neither was all that pleasant.

Saturday afternoon Steve surprised me and took me to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This has to be one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever visited but definitely a cooler day activity. The temp was in the 90s but with the heat index, it felt like it was in the 100s. While we were there I enjoyed the gardens that we saw but we eventually had to leave because the sun and temp was too cruel. On the way home we had to make a few stops and I demanded my favorite hotdog from Superdawg. The juicy and delicious sausage and fries was good going down but a nightmare as it sat heavily in my stomach for the next several hours.

Knowing that I had a special Straight & Nappy performance that night, I tried to nap when I got home. I was able to sleep for a half hour before I heard microphone feedback. There was a band performing in the park behind our house. I guess I was going to have to get up. I did. Steve and I decided to take the dogs to the park to hear the band. The band was not very good. They weren't completely horrible but they were not great. Two of the three singers were alright but the third was a nightmare. You could hear her off-pitch bird calling, that she thought was singing, for blocks. I know because I couldn't take her anymore and walked away with the dogs. Three blocks later, my ears were still in pain. The band in the park stopped performing around 7:40 pm and the band performing on the other end of the block at a house party got started. It was a busy little night on our block.

I had a show at 10:15 pm at a north side theatre. Rebecca and I were performing with some friends that have their own comedy troupe. To be honest, we have been so busy trying to open Boojie Nights that I almost forgot we had booked this gig. The show went fine but I was sooooooooooooo tired but when I got home that night, I had insomnia and was up until 3:30ish in the morning. That was when I realized that I didn't feed the dogs that night. It was so hot that Steve and I skipped dinner and consequently the dogs fasted that day too.

Sunday, I had to help run the Storybus. We were at a local street fair that was underattended because of the heat. We told one story (instead of four) to 9 kids. We basically stood around and sweated during the hottest parts of the day (11 am - 4 pm) for nothing. I was in a terrible mood afterwards, if you can imagine that. Steve picked me up on his motorcycle and offered to take me to a restaurant for food. I was too gross and needed a shower. Following my shower, I was told that one of Steve's friends was coming over. His (our) friend's live-in boyfriend was out of town and he needed company. We helped provide that. We were originally going to go out for tapas but Steve suggested Asado. It was a great idea. Good wine, 20-30 items on the salad bar to choose from plus all the meat you could imagine. I loved it. Steve managed to turn my day around.

When we left the restaurant it was still uncomfortable and warm but we went home and watched Team America:World Police. I went to bed happy.

Happy Endings

Yesterday, I finally saw the over-hyped War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise. It was a great summer afternoon time-waster. It was loud, scenic, and had one of the worst endings ever. Last night, Steve and I went out with another couple to see AHappy Endings. It was a great film despite its 130 minute running time. I don't normally care for longer movies but this one never seemed long. I was completed captivated and surprised by the twists and turns of the characters and the story. Check it out if you get a chance.

Got Me Workin' Day and Night

Today is Friday and the weekend is here. For me that means work, work, work. I feel like The Little Red Hen.

Things should be a bit better for me in the next two weeks. I am still fairly busy but at least Boojie Nights is up and running. Now if I could just get an audience. A critic from the Trib was at the show on Wednesday but no reviews yet.

There are still Storybus gigs, teaching sessions and domestic responsibilities to consume my time. Steve has been great with all the craziness that is my life. My chaotic schedule is one of the reasons I stayed single for so long. Steve loves to tease me about staying in bed until 10 a.m. Some of his friends think that is "cute" but they are missing the big picture. If I get to sleep until 10 a.m. it is because I just spent several days in a row working my black ass off (and I got a lotta ass).

Today is a day off. I actually finished an assignment last night that was due this morning so I can play all day, if I choose. I will try to do some things around the house and take the dogs out for a trip to the park. I didn't sleep until 10 a.m. either. In fact, it is 8:30 a.m. as I write this. I have been up for 2 1/2 hours. I have taken out the dogs and made Steve breakfast (blueberry pancakes, bacon, a glass of oj, and a cup of black tea). I just updated my calender and finished this entry.

Gender Bender

Mystery 'sex change' has curious flocking to Myanmar monk-to-be - Yahoo! News

Cause I'm A Wo...Whoa

Ananova - Beauty queen used to be a man

W-O-M-A-N

Zimbabwean court jails man for masquerading as a female athlete.

A Comedy Tonight

Boojie Postcard copy, originally uploaded by mylilpip.

Wednesday night is the big official opening of Boojie Nights. I am looking forward to finally opening and hopefully getting an audience.

What are you doing tonight?

What Is Wrong with US?

WPVI.com: Lights Out for Jesus Lamp

Another One Bites the Dust

In May of this year, Straight & Nappy performed on the South Side at The Majestic Midway Theatre. I am sad to announce that they have shut their doors. They had a wonderful little space down there and it is always sad when a theatre closes.

Below is a copy of the email I received from the Artistic Director and Owner.

With regret, we announce the closing of the Majestic Midway Theater. Thank
you for your support of our first home.

Due to increased rental costs and insurance premiums, we cannot continue to operate at 5722 W 63rd Street.

In the works…theatre company will be spending the next year
looking for a new home, developing more programming and fundraising.

Watch for announcements of upcoming readings, workshops, and
fundraisers.

We cannot thank you enough for your support and
interest in our first year and promise there is much more to
come.

Sincerely,
Jenniffer J. Thusing
Artistic
Director
In the works…theatre company

Don't Be a Sheep

450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey - Yahoo! News

Survival of the Fittest

Children hurt in fruit can blast

Cause Boojie Nights Are Always the Best in Town

Boojie Nights, Straight & Nappy's new show, previewed on Wednesday. I was so nervous all day, a total wreck. This particular project seemed really to be a shitfire to get to the stage.

First, there was trying to get together with everyone involved. This includes Kevin and Inda, who make up the group kevINda, and Straight & Nappy, and that includes our director Dre. We never did have a full meeting with all 5 of us there until last week, one week before we opened.

It was difficult to produce a show in which you never saw the participants or the material. Dre wanted Straight & Nappy to write all new material for this show but I didn't see how that was going to happen. We are all just too busy and I had to produce the show too. I thought my head was going to pop off. Everytime I mentioned to my co-creators about the heavy workload, they would all offer to help but no one ever really took initiative and did much. If I didn't go to folks and say this or that "needs to be done" than it wasn't done. Even Dre, our director, was slow in envisioning a way to bring a complete show together. He and I talked together on the phone and finally came up with the 3-in-1 approach to our show. We basically are doing a 3 act play in a one act time frame. Our three acts are kevINda's material, Straight & Nappy's material, and an improv set. In between these acts are short 1-2 minute scenes that feature both comedy duos together in 4 person scenes. **BLOG NOTE: I love Dre a lot. I had to say that because his wife is a frequent reader and my guest blogger.**

The next obstacle was the success of our last show's marketing. I think the novelty of our name and gay/straight blend has been exhausted in the media. No one is giving us the star treatment this time. I am lucky if I can get a reviewer on the phone. Editors are also burying our copy so that no one can find it, if they even list us.

I awoke feeling like a scared groom on Wednesday. I awoke at 5:30 am and watered the grass. Yeah, it was one of those kinds of days. I went over my lines a few times afraid that I may have forgotten them in my light sleep the night before. I resisted the urge to get blazing high and listen to the Doobie Brothers LPs that I had bought at a flea market in Missouri over the weekend. I knew that the best thing I could do was just stay calm and collected. So I walked around as if in a hypnotic state all day.

Our call was at the theatre at 4:30 pm. Straight & Nappy were to rehearse our new material from 4:30 to 6:00. kevINda and S & N would rehearse together at 6:00. The show was 8:00. When Steve dropped me, the nervous actor/writer/producer, off at the the theatre no one had arrived. I looked for my cell phone for the time, I haven't worn a watch in at least three years, but the phone was missing. I left it at home. I waited probably 10-15 minutes before I realized that my partner Rebecca and Dre were not on time. I didn't have my phone so I used the theatre's phone to check my voicemail. Sure enough, Rebecca was running late (nothing new). She said she would be at the the theatre by 5ish. I started setting up our show. I found the microphones we needed. Tested the lights. And I found some microphone stand that we needed.

kevINda arrived a little early, probably around 5ish, still no Rebecca and no Dre. They rehearsed on the stage while I interjected my unsolicited advice. I was nervous. Dre came about 5:30 and I was glad to see him. I showed what I had done technically and he took it from there. I assisted in finding another microphone and unsuccessfully getting patched in. Dre took care of that. Reb showed up at 5:40ish looking exasperated and frazzled but her hair looked great. I quickly got into general mode and started moving the troops into rehearsal. We actually finished early and I was feeling good about the artistic side of the show. Now about the audience...

Collectively, we have put up over 100 posters. There are postcards. We are listed in The Reader, TimeOut Chicago, and other local publications. At 7:30, there was not one single ticket sold. The downstairs theatre was filling up because they have a free show there. We hoped that we get some of that overflow but it was looking iffy. Charna, IO's owner, arrived with her two dogs to watch the show. I was so embarrassed that no one was there for the show. Around 7:40, Steve (my love) unexpectedly arrived. I told him that he should wait until the official opening on July 13th to see the show but he just wanted to be supportive. Charna told me that if she liked the show she would help us promote it.

We started the show a little past 8 pm and had around 7 or 8 people in the audience. I liked the show. I'd give it a B- for that preview but I think everyone will take it up a notch next week making it a sure fire A+. Now if we can just get some more butts in the seats.

Shocking and Outrageous

Many Feared Dead and Injured; Blair Sees Link to G-8 Talks - New York Times. I have been following this story about the London blasts since I awoke around 7:30 am. It is blowing my mind.

I lived off Edgeware Road for 6 months (just blocks from one of the blasts) when I performed in the West End. What is it with terrorists and the killing of the innocent I have the same issue with rioters that burn their own neighborhoods down. Why hurt the people who are basically like you? If you have a problem with the government than deal with the government. Leave the poor working man or woman on their way to work alone.

Cheap Drunk Sloppy Bitch

Harsh words I know but I am referring to myself. That is the title I gave myself over the weekend as Steve and I spent time with his friends in a cabin in MO. It started with cheap.

Steve, Jeff (our host), and myself were dining at a local restaurant chain. It was a cross between TGIF and Applebees only with live entertainment (sort of). In the bar area was a karoake machine with two women performing together. It really was awful but at least in a kitschy way that was somehow entertaining. They were excruciatingly great. As one would sing Sheryl Crow's "Walk on the Sun" the other would do bits about sunless tanning lotion. They reminded me of the Sweeney Sisters from the old SNL skit.

This was Friday night and we had just learned that Luther Vandross had died. We asked our dippy waitress if they could ask the "karoake duo" to sing "Superstar" in Luther's honor. The waitress did not know Luther Vandross or Karen Carpenter. What is wrong with today's youth?

Finally at the end of our meal, we were presented with the check. Steve was going to pay but he forgot his wallet back at the cabin. I stepped up to bat. I should have paid for all three meals but when I saw Jeff pull out his card at the same time as me, I immediately blurted out for the waitress to split the bill 2/3 to me and 1/3 to Jeff. This request really fucked the waitress' mind.

Later we joked about the dumb waitress but what about me letting our host pay his portion? The man opens his doors to us and I can't pick up his lousy $22 meal? It must be the starving artist inside that never goes away. You are always watching your pennies and being frugal but I felt like a cheap bitch.

Next came Drunk. Saturday was fun out in the woods. Steve and I messed around a bit and met up with my former student at Freddie's, a popular St. Louis gay bar. Unfortunately, I had too many beers. I have been on antibiotics for two weeks and I hadn't had alcohol...As you can imagine, it went straight to my head. It didn't help that I got high and had more beers back at the cabin. I felt sick and gross. Dinner didn't help. It just made me more ill. I ended up going to bed feeling nauseous and embarrassed. Thus I became the Cheap Drunk Bitch.

Finally, on Sunday at the party I just couldn't help spilling drinks on my shorts. Maybe I was doing my own homage to the wet boxer contest, I don't know. But if it was liquid, it was going on my shorts on Sunday. Later that evening, I was in charge of the fireworks. Fireworks are messy. By the end of the fireworks, I was the spotted mess of a gay black man. It was at our breakfast at the Waffle House (which we ate everyday)that I spilt hot tea on myself and christened myself Sloppy Bitch.

By Monday I was just one cheap drunk sloppy bitch.

LGBT or just LGT?

Straight, Gay or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited - New York Times

Boojie Nights Starts Tonight

Boojie Postcard copy, originally uploaded by mylilpip.

We Still Matter

We still matter features a positive link today. Courtesy of Rod at rod 2.0:beta: UCC Approves Same Sex Marriage

Today in Improv History

Many people don't realize that their favorite sitcoms, movies, and live stage shows owe their genesis to an event that happened Chicago. Chicagoist: It Was 50 Years Ago Today celebrates the date and gives info about an evening of improv tongitht.

The Weekend

I'm back from my weekend in the country. It was wonderful to get away to some fresh air and different surroundings.

We stayed with one of Steve's friends in a log cabin located just south of St. Louis. The cabin was beautiful and the dogs (our dogs, Riley and Jason) loved being off leash in a huge wooded area. The cabin is owned by one of Steve's former Chicagoan friends. This friend and his partner now live in D.C. and use the cabin as a getaway destination. We stayed at the cabin with that couple and another.

Steve and I are an interracial couple. I hardly ever think about it. More times than not, someone will mention it to me and I'll think, "oh yeah...he's white, isn't he?" Staying with the interracial host couple (who are also black and white) and their other guests, a black and Asian gay couple, made me feel as if we were involved in some "colorized" version of Love! Valour!Compassion!

I got to see a good friend of mine while we were down St. Louis way. A few years back, I moved back to my hometown for one year. In that year, I befriended a young gay student at my alma mater. He was cute and sweet and I decided that, rather than take advantage of him, I would try to be his gay mentor. I think I did pretty well. He is smart, out, not a slut, civic-minded, and he dresses well (especially for a white boy from MO). It was great to see my "pumpkin" and have him meet Steve.

The biggest highlight of the trip to the cabin had to be the fireworks. I have lived in IL most of my life. Fireworks have been illegal here since I was a kid. Our host asked us to pick up some fireworks for the Independance Day celebration (which we actually celebrated on Sunday). Steve went crazy like a nympho in a dick factory. He wanted to buy everything they had in stock. I kept trying to calm him down. I reminded him that we will eventually have to retire and would rather that he not spend all of the money on explosives. We left the Fireworks Palace with over $200 worth of bombs, fountains, bottle-rockets, and loud booming thing-a-ma-bobs. When the party got to full tilt boogie, it was time for the fireworks display. Since Steve, our host, and I had smoked plenty of weed, I was ready to blow things up. And just like that, I became a pyrotechnics expert. I put on an hour long fireworks extravaganza with some periodic help from Steve and another guest that nearly set our host's lawn on fire.

I don't normally celebrate the 4th of July but I have to say that this year was a good one.

O'Connor to retire

USATODAY.com - O'Connor announces Supreme Court retirement. This worries me a little.

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby

This is my 4th of July special edition. And I want it to be hot, hot, hot! Just like all of you good people out there reading my ramblings at this very steamy time of year.

The man and I are going on a trip for a 4 day weekend. Don't stop reading. I am aware that the 4 day weekend detail is so not hot but I'm going somewhere with this...Okay?
When I was single I got my fair share of "something that's good for me." My standard m.o. was to find a willing body. I liked to work with the same body over a course of time but I never got emotionally involved. Again, I know not hot. The sex was ran the gamut from cries of ectasy to cries of "taxi!"

My libido was always fairly high but as I merged into my 30s it wained a bit. Where I normally needed to do it daily, I could get by on every other week...and maybe every three weeks if I was really busy.

I don't say any of this to throw a negative light on my current sex life with my partner. Rest your weary heads that we do all right by each other but everybody knows that the longer you are together (plus the older you are), the less you are "together" if you are not getting my obvious inuendo.

Lately, Steve and I have both been crazy busy. He has been really buys preparing for the Rogers Park Garden Walk. I have several jobs plus a show to produce. Mom came to visit in the middle of all this madness which includes three days of me in New York. We have barely even had time for a snuggle. Well, our vacation has offically begun. We will both be gone until Monday night or Tuesday morning and we celebrated by letting go of some of the last weeks' tension...by tension I mean horniness. We can't keep our hands off each other...We had to take a break last night because a friend came over. The friend got a little "blurry" and Steve took him home. Okay, this entry is not hot at all but when Steve comes back I'm going to...(SOUND FX:Sliding glass door)...he's coming...gotta go.