Anne Marie & More

Its Fri and I've got another big weekend ahead.

As I type this I know that Anne Marie and her husband Todd have arrived in town for a weekend getaway.  Spouse & I will be meeting them and Steven & Thad and Joe P and Derwin & Carolyn for dinner at Dos Locos.  We are sure to have a fun time!

Afterward most of them will mosey on over to the Blue Moon to catch me in an extended LEGENDS show.  Although the summer LEGENDS series has ended, it is Jazz Fest this weekend so the Blue Moon decided to do a special "More Than Just Jazz" program for the weekend.  I'm doing a show at 7pm as Elton John and then another show as Neil Sedaka at 10pm.  Fortunately there will be time for me to visit a little more with Anne Marie & Todd between the shows.

Tomorrow I work at my day job as a realtor, then go back to the Blue Moon to do it all again; another 7pm show as Neil Sedaka and a 10pm show as Elton John.  I imagine I'll be exhausted by Sun.  Fortunately I'm off Sun so I can rest up.

Beardy boy

This wet and wonderful beardy boy comes to you courtesy of BosGuy.

Etiquette

I would like to go on record as declaring that the fact that someone is talking (loudly) on a mobile phone in a public place does not make them important or smart.  In fact it makes them the opposite of both.

I was in a retail store yesterday and this woman was wandering through the store, picking items up and then putting them back down with 1 hand because her other hand was pressing her phone up against her head, talking about nothing.  

I can understand the occasional need to talk on the phone while shopping.  "Hey mom, did you want 6 birthday candles or just 1 candle shaped like the number 6?"  That's completely appropriate.  But this woman yesterday was just gosipping with a girlfriend.  "So I told her she better not be spreading nasty rumors or I'd be forced to start spreading even worse rumors about her.  Uh huh, that shut her up.  I wanted to say 'cat got your tongue, bitch?' ha ha ha".  

Do I not speak for the rest of the civilized world in saying "We don't want to hear that!"

Later that same day I was in the grocery store, picking up a few items.  Several times I passed this young man wearing a big hoodie with the hood up and dark sunglasses, talking on the phone in a foreign language.  Just my luck the shortest cashier line was the one in which I was standing behind him.  Now, this guy wasn't talking loudly and I have no idea what he was saying since his conversation was not in English.  But the entire 10 minutes I was in the grocery store before getting in line he was talking on the phone, and now in the check out line he was still on the phone, presumably talking about nothing.  In his defense, maybe he was a bomb expert who was giving intricate instructions to someone attempting to diffuse a bomb, but I doubt it.

The cashier greeted him but he didn't speak back to her; he simply nodded his head.  Then she asked if he had a store discount card.  Again he didn't speak to her; he just nodded his head again.  Rather than getting his debit/credit card out and being ready, he continued talking on the phone until the cashier announced the total.  At that point he fumbled around to get his wallet out from his jeans pocket which was covered up by the over-sized hoodie, and tried to get the card out and swipe it without dropping the phone.  The cashier looked at me and I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

Just because you CAN talk on the phone in public places doesn't mean you SHOULD.  Use some common courtesy and realize others don't want to be forced to listen to your mundane gossip nor be inconvenienced by your delayed actions.  

Just because

What a weekend!

To say it was a "full weekend" or "busy weekend" would be incomplete.  Instead, I'm going to say it was a "GREAT weekend"!

I started my Sat with meeting brand new clients at 9:30 and showing them a number of homes that matched their criteria.  They were very nice and I enjoyed spending time with them.  After lunch they decided to write a very good offer on their favorite home, so I got that all put together for them, went over all the details, and supervised their initialing and signing on the various pages to be sure none were overlooked.  The next day the offer was signed as-is by the seller!

After work I had a quick dinner at home and then met Joe P at the theatre for a 7pm performance of "Lips Together, Teeth Apart", written by Terrence McNally.  

The play features only 4 characters; 2 straight couples who are visiting the Fire Island beach house of one of the woman's deceased gay bother, in 1991.  They are forced to confront questions of tolerance versus acceptance, fears of infidelity, and what happiness really means.  To me this play was a mash-up of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" and "Steel Magnolias".  There were harsh words and tense situations, but always peppered with humorous one-liners and sharp wit.  Joe P and I not only loved the play itself, but also the 4 actors who never 'over-acted' any of the scenes.  We both agreed that this was our favorite of all the plays and musicals we've seen at this local theatre.  Thoroughly enjoyable!

Sun morning Spouse & I met Steven & Thad for breakfast at the Crystal.  A little later I headed to the CAMP Rehoboth Block Party where I was to perform "Philadelphia Freedom" as Elton John, courtesy of the Blue Moon where I have performed as Elton John in the LEGENDS show.  My song went great and the audience was very receptive.  Shortly thereafter I performed a finale song with 2 other singers, 1 of whom was recording artist and 'friend' of the Blue Moon Pamala Stanley.

(Pamala and I will be performing together again this coming Fri & Sat nights during Jazz Fest.)  Then I spent a little 'meet-n-greet' time with the public where I talked with people and posed for photos with them.  

It was a lot of fun!  Back in my 'civilian' clothes, I was about to head home when I ran into Joe P and several of his neighbors/friends, so I decided to hang out at the Block Party a while longer.  In doing so I saw/greeted/talked to so many people I knew, both personally and professionally.  And while I didn't see him, MSNBC host Thomas Roberts and his husband stopped in for a drink at the Blue Moon.  

Joe P met him and had a lovely conversation, which totally made Joe P's day.  It was really fun!  The weather was ideal so there was a great turn-out for the event. That evening I met up with Spouse and Steven & Thad for pizza.  I'm not sure I could have squeezed much more into the weekend.

Size matters

We've all heard the saying "Size matters".  Well, I'm here to tell you its true!

Recently Spouse & I traded up from iPhone 5 to iPhone 6 Plus.  The difference in size is substantial and quite welcomed!

iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5

Let's face it:  most of us use our phones as interim computers so having a larger screen makes lots of activities easier.  Those of us with eyes that are over 40 (ahem) appreciate the larger screen and larger font.  The improved camera in the newer, larger phone takes superior photos too.  And despite the 6 Plus being larger, it is also thinner and lighter.

iPhone 5 on top of iPhone 6 Plus

Before getting the new, larger phone I had a small concern that its size may be cumbersome to slide into a pant/jean pocket, but this turned out to be a complete non-issue.  I have found that trying to text 1-handed is harder now, but the larger size and lighter weight are well worth that trade-off.

Both of us are really, really happy with our new iPhone 6 Plus phones!

We purchased the phones from an authorized Verizon partner store, so they did not take our old phones in trade.  However, upon transferring our contacts/photos/etc from our old phones to our new ones, we received offers from Verizon to buy back our old phones for $200 each.  They even provided the postage-paid shipping boxes!  So now we have a $400 credit on our Verizon bill.  

We couldn't be happier with our new phones and the entire transfer process.

Beardy boy

Here I am

Just because

(no) Indian Summer

I'm a summer person.  This is likely no surprise to readers, since my blog shows that I live at the beach, love going to the beach, drive a convertible, love wearing shorts and flipflops, and love sitting on my screened porch.  I should live in southern CA where the weather is like summer all year round.

One of the great things about living in the mid-Atlantic region is Indian Summer.  Its not unusual for us to have sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s well into Oct, of which I take full advantage.  I actually have a memory of sitting out on the beach the 1st Sun in Nov some years back, but I can't find it in my blog.  I continue wearing shorts and flipflops and driving with the top down as long as I possibly can, squeezing out the final minutes of Indian Summer every year.

But this year I feel like we're being cheated with no Indian Summer.  The month of Sept was cooler than usual and we've had rain and/or overcast skies much more than usual.  Now here we are in the 1st week of Oct and we've had cool temps, wind, and rain from Hurricane Joaquin for the last week.  Today it was in the 50s when I got dressed for work, although its supposed to go up to 66 today.  I had to wear long pants and socks and closed shoes to work - its depressing!  

I'm definitely NOT 1 of those people who gets excited about fall.  To me, fall simply means the end of summer, a reality I try to avoid as long as possible.  I don't even like shopping for fall clothes, since I find the colors almost as depressing as the passage of summer.

The 10-day forecast does show daytime temps creeping up into the low 70s during the day, but its just not the same as a good old fashioned Indian Summer.

Flu shot

Yesterday evening I met Steven & Thad and Joe P to get our free flu shots.  Our local hospital does several flu shot clinics this time of year and to make sure we all get one, we do it together.  Spouse did not come since it conflicted with his work out time, but got a flu shot today during a doctor visit.

I never used to get flu shots.  I was like 45 or 46 before I got my 1st one.  My primary care doctor talked me into it by telling me that thousands of people die every year from the flu, and that a simple flu shot can greatly reduce the risk of getting or dying from it.  So now I get one each year. 

After getting our flu shots the 4 of us went to dinner.  That makes it more fun.  We went to Purple Parrot and I had a good taco salad.  It was an enjoyable, early evening.  I was home by 7:00.

Beardy boy

Thanks to Fearsome Beard for this handsome bearded hunk.

Fitness

National Coffee Day

Spouse & I love coffee.  We literally drink it every day.  I've written about it on my blog, and even have a 'coffee' tag for posts.

I know we're not alone; lots of folks love coffee.  There's even song about it!

Well, today is National Coffee Day!

We will be 'celebrating' by doing what we do every day, which is enjoy coffee.  But several national retailers are getting into the spirit by offering FREE cups of coffee today. Dunkin Donuts, Wawa, Krispy Kreme, and McDonalds just to name a few.

So get out there today and get your free cup o' joe and think of me!

Just because

Road trip

We're going to Montreal!

Since I'm a real estate agent in a beach resort area, I typically do not take vacations during the busy summertime.  For a couple months now Spouse & I have been talking about taking a fall trip or getaway, and we've decided we're going to Montreal in late October. 

Neither of us has been to Montreal before so we are excited to explore some place new and different.  But fortunately for us, we won't need to explore the city entirely on our own.  Our friend and fellow blogger Tornwordo of Sticky Crows and his husband will play 'tour guide' for us some of the days.

We booked a studio apartment in Le Village (the gay village) with a balcony, so we'll have the convenience of being able to walk to restaurants, shopping, and metro, and have a view of the city.  

We're going to drive there.  Its been several years since we've taken a 'road trip' so I'm kind of looking forward to listening to lots of music and talking with Spouse.  The foliage should be pretty all along the way north.  We could have flown, but when you add the time it takes us to get to an airport, the waiting after check-in, the flight, and the travel from the airport to Montreal, it would take the same amount of time as driving.  So we're saving the airfare in favor of driving.

Does anyone have any recommendations for fun or unusual places to see/visit/eat?

Beardy boy

Thanks to BosGuy for this handsome and hirsute hunk.

Amazing

Just because

Birthday brunch buffet

Yesterday was our good friend Steven's 50th birthday.  His partner Thad planned a surprise birthday brunch at a local restaurant.  Steven was told that he was meeting Spouse & me and his old friends Jon & Carol Ann for brunch, but in reality there were more than 20 other friends and family members there.

Thad created 'loot bags' for all the guests to take home, seen on the table in the photo below. 

Loot bags on the table

They contained snacks and candies that are favorites of Steven, like Rolos, Twizzlers, Swedish Fish, Slim Jims, and more.

A magenta and black zebra print birthday hat was waiting for Steven, and I was glad he wore the hat for almost the entire party.

Steven with his daughters at his side

Since the brunch buffet included a variety of desserts, there was no obligatory birthday cake.  Instead Thad selected a piece of cake from the buffet and added the 5 and 0 candles to it.  We all sang "Happy birthday".

After we'd all stuffed ourselves from the amazing brunch buffet, Steven posed for some photos with his friends and family.  Below on the left is his longtime friend John, and Spouse and Joe P on the right.  I referred to them as the Four Paisanos!

Four Paisanos

Below are Steven with 2 of his sisters and 1 sister's husband as well as Thad and his sister Robin.

Brothers and Sisters

Steven & Thad with their daughters.

The food was amazing (much better than I expected from a buffet) and everyone had a great time.

Happy 50th birthday to my good friend!!

An old friend

Yesterday I went to happy hour at Saketumi with my old friend Dave Holler.

Dave's family lived near my family when we were young boys, but moved away before we became teenagers.  Coincidentally his family moved close to where my grandparents lived in the mountains of Western MD.  My parents would sometimes leave me at my grandparents' house for a week or 2 in the summer so I could experience a different way of life.  My grandparents lived on several acres in the country, with a huge garden covering much of the land, and a creek that ran behind their property, and lots of woods to roam and explore.  I would stay in the tiny bunk room where my father had grown up and help my grandparents with their huge garden, and go swimming and play in the woods.  It was a welcome diversion from my suburban childhood.

A couple times my parents coordinated with Dave's parents for him to join me at my grandparents' house for a few days.  Since we were teenagers by this time and the bunk room was so tiny, we slept in my grandparents' camper in the back yard.  It was fun to have a friend there during some of my stay.

But eventually I stopped spending summer weeks at my grandparents' and lost touch with Dave.  We ran into each other a couple times at the Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) conventions years later, but due to redistricting those encounters ended as well.

Fast forward 25 years or so to 2010.  Spouse & I were having dinner with our friend Bryan and his friend Dan when somehow the conversation caused me to mention that I had been raised as a JW.  Dan said that he had a friend who had also been raised in the JW religion but was no longer part of it.  Quite literally as a joke I asked the name of Dan's friend, kind of like the way when you're on a cruise ship and meet someone from Canada you can't help but ask if they know your friend who lives in Canada.  But quite to my surprise, Dan said his friend's name was Dave Holler.  My jaw dropped and I said "Oh my god - I know him!".  Dan called Dave right there in the restaurant and I got to talk to him.  We exchanged emails and became friends on facebook.

So a few days ago I got a message from Dave saying he was going to be in my area for a few days and wanted to get together.  I meant to take a photo of us but forgot to do so.  We had cocktails and sushi rolls and talked for over 2 hours.  It was really fun to reconnect with my old friend, catch up on his siblings, and hear about his parents.  They are still JWs (like mine) but have found a way to maintain a relationship with him, which is nice for him.  Dave is doing great and has 'adjusted' well to life outside the JWs.  We plan to get together again the next time he's in town.

Beardy boy

Can I get an 'Amen' up in here?

Feed me

Just because

Thanks for MAC at Yummy of the Day for this photo.  While this guy is not my usual 'type', I do think he's quite sexy.  Maybe its the eyes...

Patrick's visit

My old friend Patrick came to visit!  He arrived yesterday afternoon and will stay until mid-day tomorrow.  He visited back in early May and we had a great time!  However, the ocean water was too cold to go swimming so I suggested he come back in Sept when its more comfortable, and he did.

Yesterday we sat on the porch with Spouse and the dogs and talked until it was time for dinner.  The 3 of us met up with Steven & Thad at Purple Parrot.  Patrick had the prime rib special and I had 1/2 price buffalo wings and 1/2 price nachos which I shared with the table.  This is not on my Fit for Life plan, but I enjoyed it anyway.  It was a beautiful evening so there were lots of folks out and about, and we saw several friends.  It was a fun evening.

Today Spouse went to work and Patrick and I sat on the screened porch with Marvin & Walter for hours, drinking coffee and talking about politics, equality, the glory days when we were in the Concert Choir and Dominants vocal jazz and show choir group, family dynamics, work, and all sorts of other stuff.  We never run out of interesting things to discuss.  Finally we got our beach stuff together and had lunch at Panera before going to the beach.  

Beach selfie

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the sun and went swimming in the ocean.  It was great!

Once back home and showered, I picked up some subs, drinks, chips, and cookies for our dinner on board the water taxi.  The 3 of us met up with Steven & Thad and Joe P and took the same sunset cruise that I went on last week with my colleagues.  

Photo credit: Joe P

It was fun and we all enjoyed it very much!

Unfortunately tomorrow he'll head back home around noon.  But I know he'll be back again before too long.  That's how old friends are.

Remembering

Today is the 14th anniversary of 9-11-01, the day that changed America.  I still get chills when I recall the events of that day and my personal experience.

Many innocent people were killed in the World Trade Center attack, the Pentagon attack, and the hijacked airplane that crashed in PA.  Many more were killed trying to help them.  

On that day and the week following it, there were no Democrats or Republicans, no upper-middle class or lower class, no haves or have-nots.  There were just Americans.

Rather than focusing on the terror of that day, today we pause to remember those people: mothers, fathers, children, husbands, wives, partners, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors.  

Americans.

 

Beardy boy

Cruisin'

Last evening I went on a charter cruise with my colleagues.  Our broker chartered a water taxi and provided food and drinks for us as a 'thank you' for meeting our goals and working hard this summer. 

The water taxi picked us up at the canal wharf and slowly glided up the canal to the inlet and then up a river.  It was a warm evening but not hot, and there was a nice breeze so the trip was not only beautiful but enjoyable.

 

There were enough seats for everyone to sit but I found myself standing most the time, which afforded me the ability to talk with different colleagues and take in the views from both sides and the rear of the water taxi.

 Photos just can't capture the natural beauty of the river, marsh, and tributaries we saw on our 2 hour cruise.

They don't call it the 'Sunset Cruise' for nothing...

I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and will definitely do it again before they discontinue service in the fall.

Just because

Labor Day weekend recap

We had an absolutely wonderful weekend!  The weather was beautiful, I was off work, and our dear friends Bugsy & Roger visited us.  There was a lot of time spent on the screened porch, but here's what else we did, in words and photos.
 
Fri evening Bugsy & Roger, Spouse & I, and Steven & Thad met for dinner at Honey's Farm Fresh.  We had a great meal, then sat on the screened porch and talked until bedtime.

Sat morning we had coffee on the porch and Marvin & Walter shared a chair in the sun.

Once we got dressed we walked over to the farmer's market where Roger bought some fruit and veggies.  I ran into some clients of mine and had a nice chat with them.  Then we went back to Honey's Farm Fresh to eat breakfast.  We even had the same waitress from the night before!  I had yummy chocolate chip pancakes.  Then we went to an 'attic treasures' sale where Roger bought a Thai cookbook for 50 cents.  Then Bugsy and I sat on the porch with the dogs while Spouse and Roger went to pick up some things at the grocery store.  

When they returned Spouse made a 4-layer lemon cake with cream cheese icing for Thad's birthday, and a peach pie for those of us who don't like lemon cake.

After cocktails on the screened porch, Spouse & I and Bugsy & Roger went to dinner at Dos Locos where we met up with Steven & Thad, Joe P, and Carolyn & Derwin.  As usual our food was great and Bugs & Rog enjoyed it.

Since Thad's birthday was the next day, the restaurant staff placed a large sombrero on his head and lead the other patrons in singing 'happy birthday'.

 
The group went for a walk on the boardwalk while I checked in and got ready to perform as Elton John in the LEGENDS show for my last time this season.  Bugs & Rog had not seen the show before, nor had my longtime friend Kathryn who drove from VA to be there.  It was nice to have my friends there.

Sun morning we had coffee on the porch and then Spouse & Roger made us breakfast.  Then we went for a walk into town, then over to the Canalfront Park.

Then it was time to get ready for Thad's birthday dinner.  Spouse made steaks, macaroni & cheese, and ginger sesame broccoli salad.  Our friends Rick & Nick and Steven & Thad came and we all ate on the screened porch.  When it got dark we lit candles and mercury glass luminaries and stayed on the porch until bedtime.  Thad loved the homemade lemon cake (he'd specifically requested it) as well as time with friends.

Mon we had breakfast at the Crystal restaurant with Steven & Thad and Joe P.  When we returned home unfortunately Bugs & Rog packed up their stuff and headed back home.  Spouse took a nap and I relaxed and watched TV with Marvin & Walter asleep on my lap.  It was the perfect close to a wonderful, fun and festive weekend.

I'm so excited!

Our good friends Bugsy & Roger arrive this evening to spend the Labor Day weekend with us AND I have all 3 days off work!  The weather forecast is for moderate temperatures and low humidity so it should be a great weekend!

I hope your holiday weekend is fun and safe.