The Banal Chew

Mark's Birthday Weekend

In a couple of days, Mark and I will finally be in the same decade...well age-wise.  We celebrated his birthday on Saturday.  I'm happy so many friends and family turned up at the Warren View Hotel to wish him well.  He's a good guy.  But I'm biased.  (Lots of photos from the party at my Flickr space.)

After the birthday gathering we rushed over to the Midnight Shift, where the Sydney Convicts' Rugger Bugger 8 fundraiser was taking place.  We couldn't miss Jase, Deano and Zane [not our Zane, but one of the rugby players] in their Single Ladies routine.  They did really well, although I have to say it's a bit freaky seeing your best friends in drag for the first (and second) time.

Following their number was the obligatory Full Monty show, this year with a prison theme.  Groovy music and hot men as always.  And now with arty choreography.  With so many Rugger Buggers anymore, you can tell the organizers are exploring various ways to keep the show fresh.  And fresh it was: guards undressing prisoners, prisoners undressing guards.  We were sternly warned by host Mitzi Macintosh not to upload any photos from the event [which kind of peeves me], and I guess there was an official photographer who was authorized to publish images taken that night.  You'll just have to do some Googling for his photos.  Or heck, maybe someone braver than I just ignored the warning.

Speaking of rugby, in precisely two weeks' time we take off for Europe where Mark and a couple of other Convicts players will take part in the European Cup, and where I'll be standing on the sideline with all appendages crossed that he remains intact.  Now I haven't heard from anyone regarding my request for potential sightseeing ventures.  I am sure there's someone out there who's been to London, Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam since I was last there.  And surely you have some tips, either on or off the beaten path.  Guide-books get so tedious after a while.  (Photo by danorbit. Licensed by Creative Commons.)

Feeling Better All the Time

After chastising myself thoroughly for yesterday's glum post, I just want to say:

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And because it's only mostly about partying, let's keep in mind that there are some serious issues at stake these days. 

Recently, the NSW Legislative Council held a public inquiry into the notion of revising the state adoption laws to allow adoption of children by same-sex partners.  I forwarded my public submission to them.  Unfortunately, if the list of public submissions is any reflection on the public hearings, the right-wing (mostly "Christian") groups received the most attention.  I hope not.  We won't know the outcome until April.

Tomorrow (5 March), the California Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments on the validity of Proposition 8.  Please send your positive energies in that direction, no matter where you are.  This is a nasty, demeaning piece of legislation that most assuredly will not stand the test of time.  In fact, I think its time is already up.  The Court's decision should be handed down by early June.  Appendages crossed...

And now...party on, my friends!

Good Times

 It's that time of year,
when the world falls in love,
every song you hear seems to say...

it's Mardi Gras season!

We have lots planned.  I can't decide if I want to splurge on a ticket to sit in the Members' Viewing Area and watch the parade.  I've only ever been in it...never watched.  But I'm thinking it's time to get some good photos to post.

As for parties, there's House of Blackstar this Friday, Underbear next week, Mardi Gras Party and Toybox next weekend. 

Then sleep.  A whole lot of it.

After hunkering down in quiet ol' Tucson for three-quarters of a year, I'm ready for some fun.

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ps -- I have received a couple of questions about the wolfberry (Goji) puree I included in the smoothie recipe in my last post.  You can find the brand I use by clicking here, but there are many types of Goji products on the market.  Yes, it's a bit pricey, but you only use a little.  I get about 30 servings out of the bottle I use.

Weekend: Birthdays & Beaches

Michael celebrated his birthday on Saturday evening with a gang of his pals.  He's such a swell guy.  If you haven't already, stop by his blog and wish him some belated birthday cheer!  Denys was there, too.  Mark and I had fun visiting with them...and all the others at the table.

No, the lizards on the wall behind us aren't real.

Yesterday, while Zane was hanging out at a schoolmate's house for the afternoon, Mark and I took advantage of the current summery weather and headed to Sydney's Eastern Beaches. 

First we went to Clovelly for a couple of hours.  The water was too cold for a swim, although I tried.  But we lounged around in the sun for a while.   

The weather was perfect...candy for the soul.  (That for the eyes wasn't bad either.)

Then to Bronte for a quick coffee while enjoying the view. 

No question...I am going to miss Sydney when it comes time to move on.

Bizzy

It is mid-winter here in the Southern Hemisphere.  Since I've been back in Sydney the days have been fairly sunny and not too terribly cold.  Still, after caramelizing in the southwestern U.S. desert for three months, I'm constantly chilly now.  I am more rugged up than I have been in years.  And spring does not officially begin until the 1st of October September (thanks for the correction, Kev).

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It's been a whirlwind of activities since my return to Sydney, as I expected.  So great to see everyone again, especially Mark & Zane.

Zane played hooky on Thursday, so we could spend the day together.  It was one of those sunny and warm days.  We walked over to the Entertainment Quarter to grab lunch and catch a movie, Forbidden Kingdom.  Nice to spend time with Zane.  He's growing up so quickly, it sometimes takes my breath away.

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Mark was out of town on a work assignment when I arrived in Sydney and didn't get back until Friday night.  But when he finally got home, the reunion was as joyful and teary as you can imagine.  He is looking GREAT! 

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On Saturday, there was a joint birthday party at a local pub for a few of our friends.  It was an 80's theme, and folks outdid themselves with the costumes.  Mark and I hit the opp shops on Saturday afternoon and came up with some 80's-inspired athletic wear.  Tragic, but it was fun cutting and styling the cheap wigs.  I didn't do too badly.  I wish they'd let me tackle Zane's hair now.

Oddly, there was no 80's music played at the party itself.  Come on now, would it have hurt ya to play a little Culture Club? 

(I put some pictures in a Facebook photo album, for those of you who are my FB pals.) 

Wanna get physical?

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Yesterday, I met with a man who needs a part-time personal assistant for a couple of months to help with the closing of his business and other matters.  Looks like I've been hired. 

Lord knows I can use the cash. 
Lord knows I've done my share of admin work in the past. 
Lord knows I really need to get out of the house now and again.

All good.

Rugger Bugger VI

This year's Rugger Bugger, the annual fundraiser for the Sydney Convicts rugby team, took place on Saturday.  Of course, the cash cow is the Full Monty show that happens each year, but the routine that I was asked to participate in was also great fun.  My fellow Convict Converts and I shook our money-makers for all it was worth.  The place was packed.  Honestly, I didn't expect the overwhelming rush of energy from the crowd.  They ate it up, and we loved it!  It was quite a departure from my days of singing Bach arias in front of quiet audiences. 

Despite a gaff or two here and there, like the DJ starting our music way too early (grrrr..can't they follow written instructions?) and a fluff or two with the choreography, the routine went very well.  I continue to beat myself up for screwing up during the one part that I had down pat, but I'm my own worst critic.  All in all, it was a bang-up show.  And I LOVE my vintage eBay kilt.  I will definitely wear it again sometime. 

Mini rant:  I have to admit I was put off by the backstage activities of many of the performers from the strip act.  They're all lovely guys, but why oh why did they need to relieve themselves directly on the floor at the end where our group was changing?  I had canvas bags on the floor, people!  Canvas!  Do you know how absorbent that fabric is.  Of course you do...you're gay!  Maybe if you weren't so busy downing shot after shot of some unknown alcoholic beverage, you wouldn't need to piss on my stuff.  Methinks you should think twice about agreeing to show your junk, if on the night you need all that liquid encouragement to do so.  The glow-in-the-dark body paint was cool though.

Anyway, the video clip is below. The audio was deafeningly loud, so you might want to turn down your speakers, as it comes across as massively distorted on the clip.  The song is MC Hammer's rendition of Do Not Pass Me By.  The number was choreographed by the wonderful Jason Brown, who put in many hours to practice with all of us.  He's the one lip-syncing the rap, by the way.  What a performer! 

Some pictures of the event, taken by Rod Spark, may be found here.

Friday already?

Yes, I've recovered...although it wasn't until mid-week that I felt as much. (Kindly refrain from age comments, please.)

I think it was the dancin' I have done all week that has helped. No, I've not been shaking my moneymaker at a club. I had enough of that on the weekend at the MG Party. Rather, this grooving has been in the confines of my own home or a rehearsal venue.  You see, I've been asked to join some friends in a routine for this year's Rugger Bugger show, an annual fundraising venture for the Sydney Convicts rugby team.

Looks like all those jazz dance classes during my musical-theater-wannabe years may not be for naught after all!  My two feet will find a way.

Oh, and no, I won't be displaying my bits during the Full Monty segment.  That's for the hunky rugby fellas later in the evening.  I'm in the warm-up show..and quite happy to leave it at that!

Mardi Gras 2008

My, oh my.  What a weekend. 

This year's Mardi Gras was, in a word, sensational.  What I like is that the festival is so big and takes place over the course of many weeks, a person can pick and choose how s/he wants to participate. 

Our first year in Sydney, Mark and I went to Fair Day and marched in the parade with the Sydney Convicts rugby team.  We had only moved to Sydney a few months prior, and Mark had just started playing with the team.  We didn't know all that many people, nor did we have our wits about us in enough time to score a ticket to the party, so we simply went home after the parade.

The next year, we had become good friends with a number of Convicts players, and after marching again in the parade with them, this time we went to the party as well.  I had been to a couple of dance events before, but this blew everything out of the water.  Despite the fatigue from standing around in the parade line for nearly 4 hours, the march itself, and then some personal conflict between a few members of our gang, it was a fabulous night.  The best part was dancing in the courtyard the following morning, bathed in bright sunshine.

This year, I had an animal-massage booth at Mardi Gras Fair Day a couple of weekends ago.  It was an expensive endeavor which hasn't resulted in any clients yet, but it was a fun day anyway.  Mark and I decided to skip the parade this time and focus our energy on the party and being with friends beforehand.  We joined our rugby fellas there, and I also made a point to catch up with Mykel, who looked incredible in his devil outfit. 

As an added bonus, James, a Kiwi buddy now living in Melbourne, and Matt, his friend from the U.K. but now traveling the world for a year, came to Sydney and have stayed with us for the past six days.  It has been swell having them both around.  I feel I've got to know James better, and made a new friend (Matt) as well.  I'll miss them, but I suppose all good things must come to the proverbial end.

Now to recover.  No really, recover.

Matt, Mark, James, YT -- Pre-MG Party

A-Day 2008

Yesterday, the 26th of January, was Australia Day.  Mark, and many other Australians of Aboriginal heritage, refer to it as Invasion Day, a term signifying commemoration of the event that led to demise of a huge amount of indigenous culture in Australia. 

On 26 January of 1788, the British flag was raised at Sydney Cove (very near where the Sydney Opera House stands today), and nearly 1400 people disembarked from eleven ships to establish a convict settlement.  That event marked the beginning of the detrimental colonization of yet another land-mass, resulting in one of the most scarring and disturbing sociologic phenomena in the history of man.  More than two-hundred years later, many Australian Aborigines continue to suffer from the egregious after-effects of European land mongering and false superiority. 

But don't let me rain on the parade.  In typical Aussie fashion, let's sigh and suck our teeth for a second, then move on to happier thoughts.

  Yesterday was also Kye's first birthday party.  It seems only a few months ago I was posting pictures of the newly born Kye on my blog.  Now he's a big boy with curls to die for.  Mark's sister hosted a pool party at her home in Wollongong.  It was a perfect day in many ways, although I got a really bad sunburn.  Yes, I've been thoroughly chastised for it.  And yes, I was wearing sunscreen, although obviously not enough.

Oh by the way, I just received a rejection e-mail from the job I interviewed for in the States a couple of months ago.  I was one of three candidates flown in for a two-day interview process, and they didn't even have the decency to call me to reject me.  You'd think that by the time I made it to that point in the competition, I'd get more than an informal, five-line e-mail.  Anyway, I'll assuage the pain with some Bombay Sapphire I acquired from the duty-free shops on the way back from that interview.  How twisted is that?

Wet

They say it is supposed to rain in Sydney this weekend.  I am staying indoors.  I think if I get touched by another raindrop, I may explode. 

Tropical Fruits was a wash-out...literally.  It rained the entire 4 nights and five days.  While it is always fun to be with our friends, by the end of it we were all entirely over it.  Within the space of five days, The Lismore Showgrounds, where we and hundreds of others camped, morphed from a bucolic, pastoral setting to something that would have made Swamp Thing envious.  I haven't waded through that much mud and muck since, well, ever. 

Despite a nasty stomach bug I picked up from somewhere (Giardia, anyone?) and that kept me cooped up in our saturated tent for the last day, it wasn't all grim.  The friends we hung out with were, as always, wonderful company.  The dance was good fun, and the rain miraculously held off for about 5 minutes to allow for some pretty incredible fireworks at the stroke of midnight.  Handel's Water Music and Royal Fireworks Music are often paired on concerts.  This would have been a perfect venue, that is, if Junior Vasquez had ever done a remix.

Immediately after the fireworks, the rain began pelting everyone again and all souls ran for cover in the various dance venues...well, except for the drag queens.  They were encased in enough rubber, spirit gum and waterproof mascara to survive the Great Flood.

So that you don't think I'm completely ragging on the entire experience, however, here are some photos from our getaway, pre-stomach-bug.

We all escaped the rain one evening to have dinner in town.  (I'm taking the photo.)

Braving the weather to get to the beach near Byron Bay.  The boys gotta hit the beach, you know, come rain or shine.

I hope my stomach bug has helped with the love-handle factor.

On an propitious impulse, Mark and I bought a massive canopy to take with us.  As it turned out, we all spent most of our time under its 95% waterproof benefit!  The purchase of the year!

 

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Despite all the muck, with friends like this, what's there not to smile about?