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Beardy boy

TV shows

There's been some interesting TV shows on recently.  Not on the networks, since they're all in repeats for the summer.

On PBS we watched "Man in an Orange Shirt".  This was written by author Patrick Gale and was essentially 2 stories, 1 set in the 1940s and the other set in modern time. The stories deal with love, "gay shame", and families' ways of dealing with gay family members.  The 1st story focuses on Michael Berryman (played by the uber adorable Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and boyfriend Thomas March, both soldiers until the war ended in the mid 1940s.  The 2nd story focuses on veterinarian Adam Berryman (the grandson of Michael) and Steve, the owner of a pet treated by Adam.  Flora Berryman (played by Vanessa Redgrave) is the wife of Michael and grandmother of Adam, and is the connecting thread of the 2 stories.  The stories were sensitive, the acting was brilliant, and the cinematography was lovely.  All in all a very well-done program that left me wanting more.  "Man in an Orange Shirt" can be viewed on-demand from your cable provider or on the PBS website.

On FX we're watching the series "Pose".  Set in the late 80s, this series explores the NYC ball culture, AIDS fear, and the lives and struggles of several transgender characters. The series showcases many transgender actors as well as Tony Award winner (Kinky Boots) Billy Porter who is phenomenal in this role as the legendary ball announcer.  The series is created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, known for their work on "Glee", "American Horror Story" and "American Crime Story". Unlike "Glee", this show takes a deeper look into the complex lives of the characters and is both poignant and fun.  If you're not already watching, you can catch up by watching on-demand.  Current episodes air on Sun nights.


Have you watched either show?  If so, what did you think?

Just because

Weekend recap

On Sat I worked (as usual) but also drove the company bus to shuttle folks to the Sea Glass festival, which is rather unusual.  Our bus holds 14 passengers and when asked we try to give back to the community by providing transportation to local festivals from the off-site parking areas.  Folks were very appreciative and it was kind of fun.

That night I performed as Neil Diamond in the Legends show.  My friend Chris from DC was there, as were some clients to whom I sold a condo a while back.  It was a fun show and the audience seemed to really enjoy it.

Sun morning Steven, Spouse & I met up with my friend Chris for breakfast.  Spouse & I putzed around the afternoon, and then Chris invited us to join him and some of his friends for happy hour followed by dinner.  Spouse didn't want to go so I went without him.  We had a lot of fun!

Chris and I went to the same high school and had many common friends, although I don't believe we were actually friends while in school.  I met him 20 years later, randomly at a bar, and in conversation discovered our common history.  Since then he's become a good friend with whom I always have a good time.

Fantastic

Have a lovely weekend!

Beardy boy

Being 'green'

I'm all about reducing, reusing, and recycling.  I've posted about it several times before.  I believe we can all make a difference with small behavioral changes that aggregate to improve our environment.  But I'm quite skeptical of the recent decision by many restaurants to no longer provide plastic straws with beverages.  The claim is that plastic straws "clog the ocean and hurt fish".

Ideally it would be best if no plastic was allowed to be dumped into our oceans.  But are we really to believe that this 

is somehow worse than this?

Grocery stores and warehouse clubs sell water in plastic bottles by the dozens, by the case, and by the palette.  About 50 billion (not million) plastic water bottles were purchased last year just in the US. These bottles are far larger and make far more ocean pollution than straws, yet somehow restaurants have singled out straws.  Could there be another reason that has nothing to do with altruism?

How about the fact that restaurants can claim to be 'environmentally friendly' by not providing plastic straws when in reality they are simply saving the money they used to spend to buy them?

The way I see it, the problem isn't plastic straws, water bottles, or grocery store bags.  The problem is our behavior.  We must choose to be responsible with our treatment of plastics, recycling all of them after using them.

But ocean pollution from plastics isn't just a 'USA' problem, its a world problem.  While the USA and some other countries have recycling programs in place, there are plenty of countries that do not, yet they are still consumers of plastic products.  With no recycling opportunities these plastics go into landfills and oceans.  

Obviously its a complex issue that will take effort and cost from all humans to solve.  I hope its an issue that will get worldwide attention soon, but in the meantime, I am skeptical of restaurants who single out straws as somehow making them environmentally responsible.  

What about the styrofoam and plastic "to go" boxes restaurants use for left-overs?

What about the small plastic cups with lids that mayo, ketchup, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce are often provided in?

If restaurants really want to be environmentally friendly wouldn't they stop using those containers too?  Outback Steakhouse provides those condiments in washable, reusable stainless steel cups so its definitely possible.

By not providing straws are restaurants being 'green' or saving green?

I guess we have to start somewhere.

Just because

Better

This chalkboard sign was seen outside a restaurant:

I couldn't agree more!

Friday

HA HA!!  I laughed out loud when I saw this.

Actually, I had a great day at work today so I have no reason to be an asshole on Mon.  This morning I had a settlement on a high priced home with views of the water and the buyers are super excited.  

Its not the most expensive home I've sold, but its #2.  Spouse (jokingly) said that with this big sale I could "just relax and coast the rest of the summer".  I laughed out loud and replied "As if!!!"

So I'll probably won't be an asshole on Mon.

Beardy boy

Switch

Just because

Dirty Sunday

Yesterday Spouse & I did a little yard work.  The weather was somewhat overcast so we didn't burn up. We dead-headed the hilarious (tall, pink) roses, pulled some weeds, and did a little trimming.  It didn't take that long with the 2 of us working on it, and we didn't kill ourselves over it.  It was kind of fun to play in the dirt.

Afterward I suggested we make use of a couple of large pots we already had, so we went to the nursery department at Lowes.  (FYI - if you want to see a lot of gay male couples on a Sun afternoon, go to the nursery at Lowes.)  Since we had 2 empty pots and there were 2 of us, we each picked out flowers to go in our own pots.

We transferred our flowers into our pots once we got home and were very pleased with the results.  Here's Spouse's pot:

A nice combination of color, textures and heights

And here's my pot:

A mixture of textures and heights but all in the same color, which compliments the trim on the house.

Again, this didn't take that long to complete and clean up after.  It felt good to see the fruit of our labor.

Now if we can just remember to water these new pots so the flowers don't die!

Bras for a Cause

So the Bras for a Cause event did not disappoint!  This year's theme was Mardi Gras so many of the bras were decorated accordingly, while others not.  This guy's bra was made of orange slices!

No, I was not carrying around this parisol.  The model was, and when we posed for a photo he told me to hold it.
 

Me with Courtney & Ginger

One of the models was my buddy Devon.  I met Devon a couple years ago when he was a bartender at the Blue Moon.  After the bra auction was over he changed into his street clothes and we took this photo.

I tried taking photos of the models during the bra auction but they didn't turn out because they were backlit, which made all my photos dark.

Me and Kaitie

After the event ended a handful of us walked to the bar next door which has a large open air space right on the water.  I really wanted something to eat since the food at the bra event was a bit skimpy so we had food and drinks.

Me and Joey

Again

This group shot was taken just before we all headed home.  From left to right is Kaitie, me, Joey, Brandi, and another of the bra models (Josh?) who had died his beard red to coordinate with his bra and costume.  I love this photo.

Beardy boy

Men wearing bras

Tonight I'm going to see men wearing bras.

Its the annual Bras for a Cause fundraising event for breast cancer. Lots of cities and towns have these events at different times of the year. I've been in past years and its always a fun time.  Businesses purchase and decorate bras that are modeled by men and then auctioned off to the highest bidders.  There's food and drinks and music too.

But as much as I love to contribute to a good cause, I have to be honest and say that I'm going tonight to see men wearing bras.

Just because

Not much of a weekend

So Sat I worked, as I normally do.  I had a home inspection in the morning, and a couple showings in the afternoon.  Sat I night I performed as Boy George in the Legends show at the Blue Moon.

I'm typically off on Sundays but I agreed to meet some new clients on my day off for a couple of home showings.  Just before we met up it began pouring down rain, and it was very windy too, like a monsoon!  It was miserable weather for showing homes and we all got wet, but at least they wrote an offer on 1 of the homes so it made it worthwhile.

After the showings I met up with Spouse and Steven & Thad for lunch at a new place called Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant. Its a chain, but we found the food to be quite good, and the place is HUGE!  There's a big bar, lots of indoor seating, and a sizable patio dining area.  By the time we finished up it was after 3:00 and I felt like the day was over.  It was still raining so Spouse & I just watched some TV.

So, not much of a weekend.

Thoughts

Have a terrific weekend!