I heart the Olympics!

Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

This heat has been maddening. Thankfully we’re in a cooling trend for the next couple of minutes, but I’m sure that will all change very, very soon. My nights have been spent in hot shorts in the dark with fans blazing trying not to sweat out whatever moisture I have in me.

I’ve been laying pretty low these past few weeks mainly because I’ve been so exhausted and haven’t had the desire, really, to get gussied up and play with the kids. However, I did make it out this past weekend to the new Hamburger Mary’s in Long Beach. Yes kids, Mary’s back. I made it out for their grand opening on Friday night, and it doesn’t hurt that not only does my friend David work there, but long lost Cousin David as well. It was something of a family reunion, which was nice. David left and Cousin and I decided to do the bar crawl. It was nice to catch up.

Sunday, Jonathan and I went back to Mary’s for drag queen brunch, always a good time. Friend David was our server and he was working hard for that money.

Here are some pictures, in no rhyme or reason fashion.

Jeanette, Miguel and myself.

The lovely Mari Lou!

Jonathan and me at the lesbian bar. We played pool.

At drag queen brunch. Bring on the queens and the mimosas!

My face is asking, "Is this really my life?" Yes. Yes it is.

Last night I went and got my hair done, as you can see it was fading–fast. Now I’m a rich chocolate brown. Nothing crazy, I needed to let my poor hair heal. Bur fear not, it won’t be long until I get in the mood to entertain.

So I went to see Ivan the other day and we’re past the point of him even asking what I want to do with my hair. He just started slapping on bleach. Three and a half hours later, I look like neopolitan ice cream. I love it, and you should too.

Admittedly, I suck at ping-pong, but that doesn’t stop me from playing a coworker every now and then thanks to the game room at work. She is much, much better than I, and even plays tennis for God’s sake! This doesn’t, however, stop me from wagering on our games–which I inevitably will lose.

Last Friday I got whooped. I held my own for a while, but the outcome was that I would buy her lunch for two days. Then today the stakes were raised and after she acquired a week’s worth of free lunches, we decided that the final game would be to clinch it even further–three of the five days would have to be home cooked meals.

Now, if you know me, I’m anything but a grilled cheese kind of guy. Like this past weekend I made chicken saltimbocca (chicken, rolled with prosciutto, spinach, and parmesan), just for kicks! I also made my own salad and dressing, and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Mind you, I’m single.

So knowing this, my opponent raised the stakes and because I’m super-competitive I took the challenge. I lost. Now I’m faced with preparing three meals for next week, which is btter sweet, really. Also, in the last match, she played with her left hand.

I have been so lazy about posting pictures, so I am taking time to do just that. Mind you, there is no order or reasoning about these. Enjoy!

David with his new do. Love this kid, what a peach!

My friend Tina–she’s not fat, she’s pregnant.

I’m sorry, who doesn’t love Jimmy?

Thomas the lawyer. Always good to know one.

Doesn’t it look like Jonathan and I are having the time of our lives?

Ryan, the out of towner.

Pink hair was appropriate for pride weekend.

I tried to bring sexy back, but I was told to go home. Again, single!

So my friend Monica, who is the avid author of Run Eat Repeat tagged me with one of those blog game things. I’m a little late to get mine done, but here it is anyway. Indulge me.

1. Share 5 unknown Facts about yourself
2. Pay it forward! Link 5 more bloggers and include their names in your post
3. Leave them a comment on their blog and let them know that they’ve been tagged

And away we go!

1. I’ve never been to a concert. And I’m sorry, seeing a decrepit B-52’s at the OC Fair does not a concert make. It was more sad than anything. It was a mash up of bloated booze bags trying to relive the good ol’ days.

2. I don’t like chocolate. You’d be surprised how much grief I get over this. It’s nearing on being blasphemous to some people. Really? Ok.  My mother, after my 26 years, still thinks I’ll change my habits and engulf myself in a Willy Wonka chocolate bath. She even brings me various chocolate desserts every time she visits, thinking that just because it’s a mousse that somehow I’m going to be duped.

3. Although I’m born and raised in Los Angeles, the only celebrities I’ve seen have been Whoopi at a taping of Hollywood Squares and Howie Mandel, who tried to shake hands with me prior to him washing them after using the restroom. It’s a long sad story.

4. I have no one to marry on Monday. With the recent lifting of the gay marriage ban, I thought people would be clamoring over each other to propose. Instead? Nothin’! I can’t even get a date in this town to save my life. I don’t consider paying hookers an actual date, more like a convenient gathering that costs me twenty bucks.

5. My mother, the other day, let it slip to my brother and me that she honestly believes there are unicorns. Not in a fantasy like way–like I believe in the Tooth Fairy– she just honestly believe(d) they were real animals. We informed her they weren’t and she actually argued a little. This isn’t too surprising actually, she also thinks that somewhere out on that “internet” someone is writing about her. Let’s hope she doesn’t find out that person is me.

That concludes my facts and I now pass the torch onto: Christopher, Jonathan, Zach, Donnie, and Justin.

Well kids, it’s May, and with that comes Long Beach Pride. The weekend where out of towners flock to beautiful Long Beach and commingle with the natives, one of which being myself, naturally. Originally I was disappointed that I was scheduled to be out of town this weekend, but plans have changed and I will be showing my mug at one point.

I must admit that I’m not as jazzed as I have been in the past. I’m getting older, and the days of glitter and half shirts are long gone. I much prefer pajamas and my couch these days. However, I think it will be therapeutic for me to reclaim my status of Long Beach Socialite and impart witty wisdom on unsuspecting individuals.

I have to see the parade on Sunday for the sole reason that my friend David is going to be on a float for the Long Beach Grunions swim team. I think that statement and mental image is worth waking up, sneaking out of that stranger’s apartment, and heading down to Ocean Blvd.

In other news, I highly recommend purchasing the book, Things I Learned About My Dad (in therapy) by Heather Armstrong (of dooce fame) and friends. It’s hysterical and moving at the same time.

I’ll try to take some good pictures this weekend so I can share after some editing and censoring, I’m sure.

Peace out.

I just started letting the Cat explore the outdoors. Here’s a picture I caught of her.

My sincere apologies, I know it has been a long time since I write anything, but if you know me personally then you damn well know that I’ve had a lot going on. Some good, some not so good, and other situations I don’t know quite how to classify.

Let’s recap, shall we? I decided that I needed a little getaway, so Jonathan and I went to Palm Springs during Dinah Shore weekend. We didn’t go for the lesbian festivities, but it just so happen to coincide. While I’m on the topic, here’s a handy travel suggestion. Don’t book travel after a few drinks. When I arrived at the hotel I was presented with the bill which was nearly astronomical. Apparently, I had called while in a fit and demanded the best room they had. It so happens that their best room is the “Shirley Temple Room” which was formerly a pool shed. It was nice, and nicely disturbing. There were pictures of the young, smiling Shirley everywhere. Cute, but do I need her staring at me on the toilet, I don’t think so.

Jonathan and I were a hit at the all-boy’s resort by default. We were the youngest and most attractive. (Another reason why I love Palm Springs–instant ego boost!) We barely took our obscenely large sun glasses off, which help to hide our malicious commentary. One morning I walked out of the room to the pool and an elderly gentleman proclaimed, “God, you’re fat!” Which couldn’t be further from the truth. My response: “At least I’m not old.” I know, I can be pretty nasty.

* * * * *

I got a Disneyland pass, which I’d been wanting to renew for a while, mainly because there’s a bar at California Adventure, which makes all the people so much more tolerable. David and I went and we reached a point in the day where we couldn’t comment on other people anymore. I was on the verge of covering my eyes as to say, “I can’t look at another person, you take it!” Again, the sunglasses never came off, which is fun when the camera snaps a picture of you on a ride.

* * * * *

My company was acquired by a much larger, global, company. It’s been very exciting on my end. Turns out that one of their main reasons for choosing us was a training and certification program that we have that I manage. I call it job security.

* * * * *

My paternal grandmother passed away today. She lived in Cuba and my father, brother, and I were planning a trip next month to see her before she passed, but we were too late. I’m a bit struck down by it, but she had a wonderful life–yes, even in Cuba.

* * * * *

I’m going to Miami in May, which I’m excited about. I’m going with mom and gram, but I’ll have a car so it won’t be too bad. I hope to come back tanner than ever, and rejuvenated. I say that because my aunt, who lives there, is a Santera priestess. Yes I’m Cuban, and yes, we have them in my family as well.

* * * * *

I tried bringing in a new cat into my home who had been hanging around outside, but my incumbent cat wasn’t having it. She is such a lady. She’d sit quietly until he came too close, then bop him on the nose. He was all black and I called him Mister, because I call my cat Lady, even though her name is Dinah. I had to kick him out when he crapped outside of the bathtub, then twice in the bathtub. He had been using the litter box but Lady kicked him out. I couldn’t deal with cleaning up cat crap every day. Now, Dinah sits in the window, taunting him, walking back an forth as to say, “Don’t fuck with me fella.” Like father like daughter.

* * * * *

I have a new camera, finally! After drop-kicking my old one on Thanksgiving I can actually start posting pictures, so expect a cavalcade of random pictures.

* * * * *

I am training two friends to run the Long Beach Marathon with me (my third marathon), so I’m having to get back into “exercise mode.” I’m excited for it, but for Christ’s sake, a damn water belt cost me thirty bucks! It’s fabric, a zipper, and a water bottle! It didn’t help that I bought one for my two trainees. They don’t know it yet, mainly because we just started, but I’m a bitch of a coach. I have a whistle.

That’s all for now. I promise to be a better blogger

On Tuesday evening I went and saw an amazing production of Sweeney Todd playing at the Ahmanson. I highly recommend forking over some cash and going to see it. I didn’t have high expectations as it isn’t particularly one of my favorite shows, but I was very impressed. Could have used more blood though.