One more quick note

Last night I read another book, The Zookeeper by Alex MacLennan.

I really liked it. Interesting characters, and one of the main themes was how easily we settle for being comfortable, rather than happy. Needless to say, that really resonates with me.

Busy

Sorry, but I've been busy with a conference and just work in general.

Anyway, I have been doing more reading.

Cabal - Clive Barker
Good, though I liked the short stories in this collection better that the novella, Cabal. Just me. The best one in the book was called, Life is Death, about a woman whose obsession with death turns her into a modern-day Typhoid Mary. Terrific.

Bourbon Street Blues - Greg Herren
Fun little mystery novel about a go-go boy who finds out about a fundamentalist plot to destroy New Orleans. He has to save the day with the help of a closeted FBI agent. I've only read a few of Herren's stories and some of the books he edited, and this makes me want to read more.

And the book that kept me up until nearly 2 AM last night:

Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay
I'm torn on this one. First, I love, love, love Lindsay's writing style. Alliteration, wit, dark, dark humor - it's all lovely. And I adore the two previous Dexter novels.

This one, however, is really more about the Dark Passenger, which Lindsay reveals to be not an unleashed part of Dexter's psyche, the dark reptilian part of himself that the rest of mankind has beaten into submission over time, but a supernatural force - the offspring of a demon - that merely inhabits Dexter. The delightful and daring Dexter has devolved into a demon's domicile? Disappointing.

Anway, I have a few more books to read while I'm out of town. Maybe there will be a winner.

Tired

Went to see a late play, came home, watched some TV, going to bed.

Ta-da.

McCain is not an adulterer!

I, for one, do not believe for an instant that McCain was humping Vicki Iseman. Ethics violations? Probably. But humping, no.

Here's why.

Republican men, when they cheat on their wives, tend to sleep with:

1) Women who are way hotter than their current wives (Newt Gingrich divorce number one); or

2) Women who are much younger than their current wives (Newt Gingrich divorce number two); or

3) Male hustlers (ex. . . well, it would take too long to name all of them, so let's just stick with Larry Craig and Ted Haggard).

Vicki Iseman looks just like McCain's current wife. She's only about a decade younger than her. And she doesn't have a dick.

Ergo, McCain is being falsely accused.

Besides, does anyone actually believe that John McCain has had an erection in the last decade? Come on, he's nearly 100 years old.

Eclipse

Forgot to mention, go check out the eclipse. Pretty darn cool.

I was a fiend for all things space related when I was a kid. (And dinosaurs. And superheroes . . . Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern).

I had a poster of the solar system, a globe, a telescope, star charts, you name it. I'd go watch meteor showers in the dead of night, eclipses, look at the planets, all of that.

That said, I didn't want to be an astronaut. But I would have liked to have been on Star Trek.

Anyhoo . . .

So I missed a day

Doesn't look like I'll be finishing Cabal until this weekend. Normally, I can catch a few minutes during lunch to read. Now I'm just happy to catch a few minutes for lunch.

I've been doing a lot of writing at night, too, so I have less time to read.

Oh, well. There's always the weekend.

Went to see a show tonight. Okay. Not great.

Anyway, that's that.

Home again, home again, jiggety-jog

So I'm back.

Here's the book update. Every Frat Boy Wants It . . . where to begin? If you could just read the sex scenes, it was sort of hot (a guy who wants to join a fraternity, sleeps his way through said fraternity). Unfortunately, the rest of it basically sucked; it tried to work in a love story and coming of age story, both of which seemed rather forced. If you want to read porn with a story, read Mike and Me and/or Mike and the Marines by Eric Boyd. Hot sex, better story.

Hornito. Odd, but interesting. I'm not sure if it was meant to be a memoir or not. Either way, worth a read. I'd like to check out other stuff that Mike Albo has done.

Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. Amazing and interesting history of English as a language and how it arrived in its present state. Fascinating and answered a number of questions I had (why we have silent e, why the k in knight and knife aren't pronounced) and gave me some good trivia (the words tits and fart were both in use in Chaucer's time).

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Wonderful. For some reason, I had always thought of this as a young adult novel. Nope, not even close. More like Angela's Ashes. Wonderful, funny, amazing. I want to run out and read everything Betty Smith wrote.

Now I'm reading Cabal by Clive Barker (It was made into a really bad movie called Nightbreed). I've read most of Barker's work, but this one managed to slip by me. I love his style of writing and am always blown away by his books, plays, and short stories.

So that's that. On the non-reading front, the Lenten promises seem to be going fairly well. I've seen a lot of good theatre. Work has been busy but not horrible. Not much else to say.

Boring life. That's why I read so much.

Out of Town

Visiting the folks this weekend, so no chance to post. Still, I finished Every Frat Boy Wants It (meh), Hornito by Mike Albo (which I really liked, even though I had a hard time getting into it at first), Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (which was amazing), and I'm currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (how is it I've never read this amazing book?).

More on all this when I get back to NYC.

Valentine's Day

Blah.

Dog Years

I just finished Mark Doty's Dog Years. It was a lovely little memoir. Touching, funny and filled with places that, oddly enough, have been part of my life, as well.

I highly recommend it, especially if you are a dog person.

The next unread book in my pile is Every Frat Boy Wants It, by Todd Gregory. Don't judge me, I forgot to tell InsightOut Book Club not to send it.

Anyway, I'm sure it will be touching and funny in it's own way.

Yep.

Kind of an update

So the thing about blogging again is that there really isn't that much going on in my life.

Anyway, still sick. Still busy at work. Still reading Dog Years. After I read the introduction, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it. It felt like it was going to be one of those "I should have worked this out in therapy, but I'm going to write about it instead" books.

Boy, was that wrong. It's lovely and moving, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Even though, or perhaps because, it has made me cry several times.

And I thought I was sick yesterday

Today has been the day of wracking coughs. It started last night. Ever cough so hard that you almost vomit. Yep, that's been my day. I can barely speak, my voice is weak and about an octave lower than normal.

Miserable.

Went into work, despite it, but didn't last the full day.

I'm going to try to get some writing done and go to bed.

I finished the Rich Merritt novel, Code of Conduct. A tad didactic, but he was trying to prove a point about the struggle of gays in the military and the ridiculous insult that is "don't ask, don't tell." Overall, a little long, but a compelling read.

My next book is going to be Mark Doty's Dog Years. It's non-fiction. I'll let you know how it turns out.

For those of you keeping track, that's four books and a good half-dozen plays since Lent started. That's why I don't have a boyfriend, I just don't have the time.

Yep. That's why.

Yep.

Sub-arctic

Lordy, people, it's cold out there. After a lovely morning in the mid-to-high forties, it is now in the high teens.

Finally, a little bit of winter. Too bad the spring flowers were already starting to come up.

I finished Brendan Wolf. Basically, for the last chapter and a half, I skimmed. Didn't care what happened, just wanted it to end.

I've moved on to Code of Conduct by Rich Merritt. It had a bit of a bumpy start (too many characters introduced all at once and I had trouble keeping them all straight . . . so to speak), but I'm getting caught up in it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Today's play was an Off-Off Broadway version of The Importance of Being Earnest. Not the best one I've ever seen, but overall solid. Lady Bracknell was a Wagnerian type swathed in silk and crinoline - she pretty much made the show.

Not much to report other than that. Five days into Lent and I haven't messed up any of my promises. Much better than the year I gave up meat and soft drinks. I was halfway through my turkey sandwich and Diet Dr. Pepper on Ash Wednesday when I remembered. Not even half a day.

The things I gave up this year have been much more difficult, but that's part of the adventure. Am I made of sterner stuff than I think? Only time will tell.

I Haf a Code

I'm sick. Truth be told, I've been sick for over a week, but it really hit me today. No amount of DayQuil seems to be doing the trick.

Anyway, I saw two shows today: the children's theatre, which was great, though too advanced for most of the kids in the audience, who just sat there squirming and talking; and an amazing show called Providence, by Cody Daigle.

If you get a chance to see this, and can get tickets (it has a small and well-attended house), don't pass it up.

Let's see, hung out briefly with English David while he was trolling for twinks. Also got to spend most of the day with a friend who recently had surgery. It was great to just sit and talk for hours.

Other than that, I'm just waiting for the repeat of Torchwood. Mmmm . . . Ianto.

Oh, I finished Men Who Love Men. I should point out that I don't disagree with Alan's comment from the other day that the main character is whiney and constantly puts himself down. But as I mentioned, I tend to be the same way. But I enjoyed the book, somewhat forced and obvious happy ending and all.

I'm now reading, and hope to finish later this evening, Brendan Wolf by Brian Malloy. Not quite sure how I feel about it yet. No sympathetic characters, so while it's interesting to read, it inspires no real emotion in me. We'll see.

It's still Friday, dammit!

Although the clock reads nearly 1 AM, since I have just gotten back home, it's still technically Friday. So I still am counting this as satisfying my daily blogging.

Today was evil busy work day. I had a project that needed to be completed that took me all day, and made sure I couldn't work on any of the stuff I needed to do, other than this project.

No big deal though, because I really do prefer to be busy. The day absolutely flew by.

Then happy hour with the Rob Byrnes bunch at the Ritz. Dinner at St. Andrews (the only Scottish pub in town) with English David and Patrick. Then off to a play.

As a little side note, there is an Off-Broadway theatre company that I love called Emerging Artists Theatre. Not to say that every production is a winner, they can be hit and miss like all the rest. However, they have such a wonderful, creative group of theatre professionals (playwrights, actors, designers, directors, etc.) that there's always something to admire about their shows.

Tonight I saw one of their current productions, The Play About the Naked Guy. It was a lot of fun. It's about a small, nearly destitute theatre company that makes a deal with a fast talking, gay Svengali and sells out their integrity in order to turn a profit. Very funny show, excellent cast. Plus, you get to see naughty bits. Check it out.

After that, hopped in a cab and came home.

Tomorrow, it's off to review a children's theatre show.

And on that subject, I love children's theatre. The actors are often just out of college, trying out their new wings, so to speak. There is an energy and vitality that you often don't see in other shows. Plus, it's fun to let go and just enjoy a fun and often silly show.

That being said, I'd enjoy it a lot more if it weren't for all the damn kids. Truth be told, I just don't much like kids. Didn't like them when I was one, don't like them now. Okay, I love my neice and nephews and the other kids in my family. I love the kids of my friends. There is a connection there, it's not just some random kids, it's the child of someone I care about. How could I not like them.

But those other children. Condoms, people. Use condoms.

Wow. I guess Pat Robertson is right. I really am trying to destroy the Amrrrrcan family.

Ah, well.

I think I'll read a little more of William Mann's Men Who Love Men. Despite Alan's comment yesterday (well, Thursday), I'm actually enjoying the book quite a bit. Truth is, I have a lot in common with the main character self-esteemwise, so it's hitting home with me.

So there we go. Aren't you all so happy I'm blogging again?

Hello?

Is this thing on?

Minutiae

1) As I was waiting for the subway at Rockefeller Center, there was a saxophone player on the downtown platform. He was playing a really rocking version of The Family Guy theme. It made my day.

2) Note to Mitt Romney: Suck it, loser!

3) Note to the so-called Christian Right: Suck it, losers!

4) Day two of Lent going well. Of course, I've been avoiding temptation.

5) Since we haven't had a decent freeze this winter, my allergies are making me miserable. My rheumy eyes make me look like a feeble old man. Plus, I can barely see, which is remarkbly irritating. Yep, this is what old age is going to be like.

6) I just read Tom Dolby's new novel, The Sixth Form. I'll start by saying that I didn't like his first novel, The Trouble Boy. I've found that reading a book where none of the characters are over the age of 30, and where their worst problems are that they aren't quite as hot or rich or perfect as they want to be . . . well, frankly it frustrates me. It's kind of like watching those 90210-type shows (or whatever it is the kids watch nowadays . . . Gossip Girl?), the problems are so trivial, the people so shallow, and the situations so patently absurd, that I get pissed.

Well, Dolby's latest book isn't like that. Sure, it's set at a boys' school, so the characters are young, for the most part. But that's the nice thing, they aren't all young. There are parents and teachers, mentors and predators . . . all complex and interesting characters in their own right. It isn't just focused on the students.

It's an interesting story . . . a little darker than I expected, but worth a read.

That said, I'm probably going to read Kevin Sessum's Mississippi Sissy next. Sounds funny.

7) Speaking of dark books, last week's book was Atonement. Jeez. I can't wait to see how they did the movie. I loved the book, but it was like getting hit in the stomach.

8) And speaking of books I've read recently, check out Jay Quinn's The Beloved Son and Timothy James Beck's When You Don't See Me. Both excellent.

9) I'm going to give Lost one more chance. If it doesn't wow me now, I'm just going to stick with reading the synopses on Television Without Pity.

10) I saw The 39 Steps last night. Pretty funny, I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't that.

11) I attended Broadway Backwards III on Monday. Wonderful. Getting to see Anthony Rapp and Cheyenne Jackson sing Suddenly Seymore made my day. There were some marvelous performances. This is going to be added to my annual caldendar, right along with Broadway Bares.

Anyway, that's it for today.

UPDATE: Television Without Pity it is. I don't want to work that hard for a fucking TV show.

UPDATE 2: Mississippi Sissy . . . four pages into it, I'd had enough. Maybe some other time. I've started William Mann's Men Who Love Men.

Lent

Okay, it's the first day of Lent.

Although my faith seems to wane as the Christian right gets more right and less Christian, I guess I have to keep some of the old traditions alive.

So I gave up three of my biggest vices for the next forty days. And no, I'm not telling. Though I imagine those of you who hang out with me will figure out at least one of them.

And I've decided I'm going to blog every day during Lent (unless I don't have access to a computer).

Let's see how long I last this year. I'm pretty sure I know the order in which I'll fail at my vices. Maybe I'll be able to keep the blogging going so I can at least feel good about one thing.

We'll see.