Grease, The Musical - Only Gayer.

I have a few friends in this production presented by the Washington DC Gay Men's Chorus, and here's what the Washington Post has to say today:

The Gay Men's Chorus version of "Grease" could be called a classic retelling, what with its adherence to the original script by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. But the Pink Ladies?
Well, they'll be played by men.
"Sandy is still Sandy, Rizzo is still Rizzo," insists Artistic Director Jeff Buhrman. And good-girl -- or in this case good boy -- Sandy and her bad-boy summer crush, Danny, still can't admit their feelings for fear of upsetting their high school's rigid social circles.But the chorus's all-male "Grease," which runs Friday through Sunday at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium, offers an opportunity to imagine high school as a more accepting place than the one many of them experienced.
"For myself, and for many other gay men, high school was a very difficult time. It was a time of great loneliness and feeling unaccepted by peers," Buhrman says. This production of "Grease," he says, is "a version of high school where gays can be cool and confident, and where a gay crush is the norm."
The show is the third all-male retelling the chorus has staged, after "Bye Bye Birdie" and "The Wizard of Oz."

Read more HERE! And get tickets if you're in DC this weekend.

And so it goes.
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An Irish Cajun?

Oh Begorrah, no! But the holiday can be addictive, I tell you.

Mountains of Ham, Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots, and many kinds of bread will be offered up today just about everywhere in the western world. Most of it downed with copious amounts of green beer. And that goes for the wee place I work, as well.

Oh sure, it's a Mexican Restaurant, but the six-page menu is quite eclectic, offering many seafood options like lobster, crab, or shrimp fajitas; stonegrill faves such as lamb, ahi tuna, sea scallops etc. But, today calls for something completely different.

So the kitchen concocted a small menu for the holiday consisting of ham & cabbage burrito or fajita, plain ham & cabbage platters for the feint of heart, green beer, (of course) and shots of Jameson Whiskey. This will be served all day, along with the regular menu, of course.

While I had this lovely day off I am sure I'll hear all about the festivities when I get back to work tomorrow. And no, I don't think I'll stop by to sample the menu or green beer.

The two days off weren't as productive as they could have been, but the break was enjoyable and restful, and sometimes that's all one can hope for anymore.

Tonight for supper, I finally get to use up what is left of the stew I made prior to the first blizzard back on 5 February before the infamous power outage that lasted for a week. Ah, memories...

And so it goes.
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Pet Shop Boys: Being Boring - LIVE!

I'm in a Pet Shop Boys frame of mind and this is one of my all-time favourites - the lead track from their Behavior recording. This isn't the original music video but a live telecast around the time of the release of their album titled, oddly enough, "Release" at least from the notes on YouTube. Enjoy.

This song brings back memories of friends lost to AIDS and how life for us all changed in the 1980s and 90s.

And so it goes.
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Katrina Whistle-Blower Files Suit against LSU

And it's about time! 
It should be noted that no one from the Army Corps of Engineers has been demoted, reprimanded, or fired because of the flawed design of the levees that Professor van Heerden proved was the cause of the flooding of NOLA. He is the only person being punished for proving that it was the fault of the Corp, and telling the truth about what actually happened.

(New Orleans) On February 10, 2010, Dr. Ivor Van Heerden, a world-recognized disaster science specialist, hurricane researcher, author, and former deputy director of the LSU Hurricane Center filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Louisiana state court alleging that LSU officials waged a campaign of retaliation against him that culminated with the termination of his position at the university. The whistle-blower suit alleges that Dr. van Heerden, an LSU Associate Professor and leader of the state team that conducted a comprehensive investigation into the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, was subjected to a multi-year campaign of retaliatory harassment after he made critical comments concerning the failure of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to safeguard the City of New Orleans. 

 I hope LSU gets nailed on this one and that our "press" such as it is, follows this story. Well, I can dream, can I?


View the video HERE. Again, it is too big and will likely be distorted if I embed it.

More later.
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Polar Bears: 10 - Weather: 0

OK, one Polar Bear Plunge under the belt and, all in all, a moving event. To see so many people braving the cold, wind, rain, and frigid ocean water for the cause was almost overwhelming.

As I arrived at the restaurant at 9 am yesterday, there were already dozens of people of all ages, shapes, and sizes dressed in pajama bottoms, (most sporting a polar bear print or motif) which covered their swim suits, getting out of cars and retrieving extra towels and sandals out of trunks and milling around waiting for restaurants and coffee houses to open.

We opened at 10 am to a light crowd at first; by 11 we were doing brisk business, and the special menu was a hit.

By noon street traffic was virtually at a standstill as plungers and onlookers alike began to fill the town making their way to the beach. Onlookers hunting for the best vantage point to watch, plungers huddling together in families or sponsorship groups.  Our little group of 5 was in rare form wearing bright green feathered hats with their jammies, looking so cute and all.

Oh my, yes, there were many costumes involved. There was a "Let's Make a Deal" meets "St. Patrick's Day" atmosphere about the whole event. All creative, some truly outrageous; all great fun.

Of course, the emergency services from the state, county, and local towns were at the ready in case there were health issues, and the press was well represented - print and TV coverage would be given special access to areas otherwise off limits to the casual viewer.

All went off without a hitch - the plunge ended at 1:20pm and the participants changed in vehicles, or home for hot showers - many chose to come in for drinks, shots, and hot meals. The restaurant was toasty and was full of excited plungers all afternoon. There were several big parties of between 12 and 25 who make the restaurant their annual post-plunge venue. They have standing reservations for the event.

By the time I finished my shift ( an hour and a half late) the bar was packed and the restaurant was nearing that point. It was a long, exhausting day and I felt happy to have played a small part in a big event.  I slept well last night.

I learned this morning that the place was slammed all night - something unexpected because of the nasty weather - and the kitchen was put through its paces until closing time. The bar remained the place to be until it closed, as well.  As we say in the south, "a good time was had by all."

One sad note: I am no longer a Plunge virgin. (sniff!)

Feh! I'll live! Now, where are the olives?

And so it goes. (or, went?)
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Dear Catholic Church - Read The Gospels

Rachel Maddow: Daylight Savings Time Exposed!

Leave it to Rachel Maddow to air this funny, enlightening, and historic look at our almost century old obsession with turning our clocks forward and back.  The video is far too large to view here. Resizing tends to cut the image in half, so click the link below. Enjoy.


Daylight Savings Time Explained.

And that's - - - that!

And so it goes.
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A Nor'easter, Chili, & a Polar Bear Plunge

Yet another Nor'easter blew in last night with heavy rains and wind gusts to 50 mph! Debri hit windows and the outer walls with disconcerting force and regularity and rattled the wine glasses in the cabinets. And because of that, I didn't get much sleep. Yes, I know, so what's new? This is the 7th such event in less than a year, but who's counting? 

But I digress...

This is the infamous "Polar Bear Plunge" weekend here supporting the Special Olympics - which was rescheduled from February due to a few feet of snow - and come hell or high water (and it felt like both) the weekend is going on as planned.

OK, so the run was ultimately cancelled over fear that skinny runners might be swept away along with small dogs and bad toupees, but the Restaurant-sponsored Chili Cook-Off went on as planned today. Ten restaurants participated in this annual event and with all in walking distance of one another it's a great 3 hours of "nomming" and meeting new people and old friends - or enemies.

It works like this, one purchases a card with the 10 participating restaurants listed and a check box next to each. The cost of the card is $5.00 - a donation to the Special Olympics - allowing one to have a cup of the entry by each restaurant. Pretty good deal and tasters travel in groups, herds, and troupes having a gay old time in the process. Our entry this year was a pork and white bean masterpiece with just enough kick to make your tastebuds want more. No "fire in the hole" stuff here.

The actual plunge into the Atlantic occurs tomorrow and a number of co-workers have signed up for the event. I think they're certifiable, but what do I know? The restaurant will open for a special pre-Plunge Brunch at 10 am offering a menu with all manner of warming protein rich delights to get everyone ready for the actual event set for 1 pm. God help us all!!!

It's a testiment to this community to see the lesbian and gay bears (some very hot, I might add.) signed up and ready to do their bit for this worthwhile charity. It alternately warms my heart and freezes my privates to think about what they're going to do. To be honest, one of the restaurant owners is on the administration board and will take the plunge, the other - well, he'll be taking pictures and holding a bathrobe for his partner when he rises from the waves in triumph and returns to the beach.

Sorry, I will not be present to photo-document the event. I'll be busy prepping staff for their ultimate trial - the polar bears descending on the restaurant to party-hearty well into the evening.  At least that is what I am told has been the itinerary in years past.  Hell, they deserve it.

Like I said, this is my first time, so I don't know what to expect. Nice to know I'm still a virgin at some things...

And so it goes.
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R.I.P. Theodore C. Olbermann, 1929-2010

Keith's dad has died. If you watch Keith's show - Countdown - you will already know what a journey this has been, especially during the bitter biting and ass-kissing regarding the HCR bills.  From Keith's site:

My father died, in the city of his birth, New York, at 3:50 EST this afternoon.

Though the financial constraints of his youth made college infeasible, he accomplished the near-impossible, becoming an architect licensed in 40 states. Much of his work was commercial, for a series of shoe store chains and department stores. There was a time in the 1970's when nearly all of the Baskin-Robbins outlets in the country had been built to his design, and under his direction. Through much of my youth and my early adult life, it was almost impossible to be anywhere in this country and not be a short drive to one of "his" stores.

My Dad was predeceased last year by my mother, Marie, his wife of nearly 60 years. He died peacefully after a long fight against the complications that ensued after successful colon surgery last September at the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. My sister Jenna and I were at his side, and I was reading him his favorite James Thurber short stories, as he left us.

I especially love that Keith was reading his favorite James Thurber short stories as his dad left us. IMHO, there is no finer humor with which to leave this life.

The rest is HERE. 

More later.

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Thoughtful Caturday

Katrina and the Fleecing of NOLA - 5 Years On...

 It's the never-ending story and few seem to even care anymore.

NEW ORLEANS — An engineering firm hired to oversee the reconstruction of city buildings and infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina has been overcharging the city, including billing for theater tickets and a flight to Las Vegas, an internal investigation found.
The report by New Orleans Inspector General E.R. Quatrevaux said the flawed contract with MWH Americas Inc. has hurt the city's recovery, placing blame on both the company and city officials. The city's slow rebuilding process continues to anger residents, and the uneven recovery was a major issue in the campaign leading up to last month's mayoral election.
Quatrevaux advised scrapping the deal with the Broomfield, Colo.-based firm in the report, first made public Thursday by The Times-Picayune. The company's work previously had not garnered much criticism.
"The city has blindly paid MWH's expenses," the report said, including "a markup of approximately 23 percent" without knowing if that was appropriate.
The report also said city employees and elected officials may have violated ethics laws by accepting gifts or meals from MWH.
MWH was hired in December 2007 by Mayor Ray Nagin's administration to manage the massive rebuilding of city infrastructure after the 2005 storm flooded fire and police stations, parks, community centers and roads. As of February, MWH had been paid $29 million for its work and billed the city for $36 million, the report said.
The probe said the city was paying the firm too much considering the amount of progress made, and that the contract, and its escalating costs, "will have profound consequences for the recovery program."
Hours after Quatrevaux's criticism was made public, one neighborhood leader lamented the recovery.
"It's moving at a snail's pace," said Dennis Scott, the vice president of the Lakewood East Homeowners Association in eastern New Orleans.
"We have a temporary trailer as a library. We still have a police facility that is a temporary building, and a fire station that is still in a trailer. And there's definitely no hospital."

Yes, that's right.  STILL no hospital!

Read the rest HERE.

More later.
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It Always Comes as a Surprise

When the universe allows events to fall into a positive place: Auto Service, Walk, Discovery, and an Interested Party.

After my last experience with a dealership when I took the car in for the 15K mile service, where I paid $135.00 and they tried to charge me an additional $75.00 for new wiper blades, I took a friend's advice and brought the car to a local shop today for the 20K service. What a happy difference and what a find!

They were right on time for my appointment, the technicians went over the work that would be done and/or checked, the job was finished in an hour, and the bill was less than half that of the dealership.

I had the rest of the day to do whatever, so I took a short walk on the boardwalk where I noticed that the electronic games arcade was gone and about to be replaced by some other business, possibly a restaurant. (As you can see, the doors are sliders and all the neon and signage have vanished.)  At least Funland is still intact, so the traditional rides on the Boardwalk will reopen this spring. And that's a good thing.

 At this point I received a phone call from someone at the restaurant interested in the list of furniture in storage I posted at the server's station, saying they'd like to take a look at it today, if possible. I was happy to do it. Although the guy doesn't speak English well - the brother who does was stuck in traffic - I believe he understood well enough to talk with his brother about what he saw, liked or didn't like. In any case, the two will talk tonight at work and we'll talk tomorrow about what they want to do, or not.

A productive day all round.  I like when that happens.

Time for a festive something with olives.

And so it goes.
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