Thad1527 - Archived Blog Posts

[Thad1527]

Well...we haven't really met.

But I went to his "One Night in Jersey" party at the House of Blues at the Showboat in Atlantic City.

I had fun.

It was surprising that he got so much musical talent for this party. Six acts plus a very hot DJ (Mia Morretti).

My favorite? LaRoux. I'm now a fan; came home and ordered the CD, which arrived promptly from amazon.com in nearby Delaware. I'm wearing it out and loving the songs.

And it was...get this...f-r-e-e.

So of course I gambled and lost a little at the Showboat. (Don't worry, I could afford it, even though I don't really like gambling at the Showboat.)

It was Halloween weekend and a lot of people came dressed in costume. I just wore my vintage Winnipeg Jets jersey but people noticed and talked to me about it. (They've been gone over 10 years now.)

Perez wore an unflattering green dress and sky-high hair. Well, Halloween is a good time for giving those unflattering dresses one last wearing before going to Goodwill. The hair was fine.

Ir was a nice way to end October.

 

[Thad1527]

Thanksgiving was surprisingly nice for me.

My brother and his girlfriend invited me to dinner. They can cook! We had the complete traditional feast, with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, corn, and biscuits. It was all totally delicious.

The two of them fight all the time. It was about as I expected; they toned it down slightly for the holiday, but there was a little.

On the whole, though, a lovely time.

Now the night before, I went to Daniel Nardicio's underwear party in New York. Definitely on the wild side. I'm a good bad boy so I had a great time. Lots of nekkidness and debauchery. I'm a good bad boy, though, so no problems from me. I'm sure many people I know would have no idea that I ever would go to anything like this, though.

 

[Thad1527]

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I'll be having lunch at my brother's (the one with the crazy girlfriend). No other plans, really.

But I'm enjoying all the sugary sentimentality of the season.

 

[Thad1527]

It's my busy season.

I'm working day and night for the next three days.

How in the hell am I gonna do it?

When do I sleep?

Will I ever have a social life?

Can I adjust to having a real income again?

 

[Thad1527]

I'm taking a trip to New York this Monday and Tuesday (2/7 & 8.)

Megabus has a promotion where they're giving away seats for just the handling charge.

So it's my 50-cent trip.

I'm not quite sure what I'll do there, but it's New York. There's ALWAYS something. My last trip, the DJ invited me to hear him at his Monday night job at The Cock in the East Village. So that's a possibility. And maybe I'll check out the gay sports bars, since the Rangers are visiting Detroit that night and I don't care for the Red Wings.

There's also a fund-raiser, Broadway Backwards 6. The premise is that Broadway stars perform songs written for the other gender. Bebe Neuwirth and Clay Aiken are the headliners.

And I want to eat someplace fabulous.

This is gonna be good.

 

[Thad1527]

It was fun. But it could have been funner.

I had a good Tex-Mex dinner at Caliente Cab Co. in the Village, then hit the bars. A quick visit to Boots and Saddle...little, kinda crowded, and I wasn't real comfortable. On to Boxers (I was hoping to see the Rangers game at a gay sports bar)...and they didn't have hockey on at all...so off to Gym, where they did. It was OK, but the pool table was kinda in the way. And I really think sports bars should have the audio on when a local team is in action. Afterwards, down to the Cock in the West Village. Talk about no-frills. And, since it was Monday night...almost no-people. The DJ was OK. Next door to Woody's to check things out...also almost empty, but the few who were there were fun and friendly. Then breakfast time...to the New Venus Diner in Chelsea, which fed me a very nice breakfast.

This probably sounds ike more fun than it was! Oh, it was OK, mind you. But I wanted more. And I think I'm spoiled here at home.

 

[Thad1527]

I think I'm gonna be working an awful lot this May.

That's good in a way. I need to save for a trip to Portland in August.

But if I work too much I get depressed. I need a balance of time off and work to balance needs and wants!

 

[Thad1527]

I love summer!

It's warm. No need to worry about coats and sweaters.

 

[Thad1527]

for the JUB meet!

I leave Tuesday evening and arrive early on Wednesday. Southwest Airlines has me changing planes in...Las Vegas. Darnit, I probably won't leave airport security. But it should be fun seeing neon-lit Vegas from the air at night!

I'm so excited to be seeing friends...meeting new ones...and going to a city I've really never been to. As I've been explaining to all my co-workers, I passed through on the Interstate once. But it was raining...it was the day of the Rose Parade, so downtown would be crowded...and my ex didn't want to stop. So we stayed on the highway until Eugene...which reminded me of a 60's flashback (this was 1983), then on to Albany (which I loved...my ideal of the perfect small Western town) and stayed overnight on the coast in Bandon.

I have two jobs before I leave...and packing and cleaning. But my laundry is ready...if it's not clean now it's not going.

 

[Thad1527]

After leaviong the JUB meet in Portland, I had a long but fun trip across the country by bus!

The best choice I made was to break up the trip in Denver. Denver and I have a love affair. Every time I'm there the weather is perfect and I always have a great time.

I was impressed by the beautiful Columbia Gorge area traveling east from Portland. Then into Eastern Oregon, which seems pretty desolate. It grew dark along the way so I really didn't see much of Idaho...but I bought the Idaho Statesman newspaper during our stop in Boise, so I now can say I've been to Idaho.

The sun came up as we rode into Utah. Salt Lake City is still beautiful. As I'm a railfan, I was pleased to see both Salt Lake's commuter rail and light rail trains at the bus station. Now I have to go back and actually ride then someday.

We went eastward into Wyoming, another state I'd never been in before. I ate at the Burger King in Rock Springs.

Then southward through Fort Collins, Colorado, and down into Denver. I had arranged for a place to stay while in Portland, using Priceline. Of the hundreds of hotels in Denver, they put me in the same Super 8 I stayed in during my last visit to Denver, 11 years ago.

So I was in somewhat familiar territory. But it changed! Stapleton was an abandoned airport then. It's been redeveloped now, with shopping and housing.

I went out the first night to Charlie's, the gay country-western bar where I'd visited my last time in town. They had awful karaoke (I didn't much feel like singing) and country line dancing which is fun to watch but I can't do. It was worthwhile getting the local bar rags and finding what was going on.

I spent most of Thursday bar-hopping! I liked Broadways, the gay sports bar not far from the Capitol. The Compound, to the south, seemed nice but it was quiet at happy hour. So was Boyztown. I learned that it was underwear night at the Denver Eagle, so I went there at night and it was fairly crowded and fun.

After checking out of the Super 8 Friday, I had a little time to kill; my bus was scheduled to leave after 6 pm. I went to the Wrangler for a drink; I bet I'd like it with a crowd, but Happy Hour was fun. I was hungry, too, so I went down the street to Hamburger Mary's for a meal. We had one in Philadelphia that wasn't a success; if it was more like this one it would still be there. The food was surprisingly good and the atmosphere fun.

Then back to the bus station and onto the bus east. We went into Kansas in the evening, another state I'd never visited before. The sun was up when we came into Kansas City. Unfortunately the bus station there is in a desolate part of town, near NOTHING. On the way out I did see the sports stadiums, which seemed nice. A fairly dull ride through Missouri led to St. Louis, where I hadn't been for 30 years. Talk about change! It looks great. I saw their trains, too, and Scottrade Center, home of the Blues, is directly across from the bus station.

We crossed into Illinois, then to Indianapolis. The bus station there is near Lucas Oil Stafium, home of football's Colts. I hadn't been to Indianapolis for a while, either; it's now a lively place!

Then into Dayton and Columbus, Ohio (I love Columbus but had no time except for a brief stroll), Pittsburgh (where it was raining), and home.

 

[Thad1527]

I was off all weekend. I know, I know, that's always a good thing. But strange things happened.

I'd planned to visit my ex, Thom, since he moved a while ago and I hadn't yet seen his new place in Mantua, NJ. I went to my brother's house first to see my cat and play on the computer and I left a little late.

Let me warn you. If you need to wait for a bus in New Jersey, the bus stop by the transportation center on Broadway in Camden is the cesspool of the universe. You won't believe it. It's not unsafe especially...just lots of low-income, low-status, kinda creepy people of all ages, sexes, and colors. Not a place I enjoy. So of course the 410 bus I was waiting for ran very late...over a half hour...and I really don't know if it ever came, since I decided to take the 412 bus which supposedly went to a Target store on the other side of Mantua.

So I was wide awake and looking for the Target as the bus pulls into a town I recognized but hadn't been to for a while. OMG. It was Pitman...which was supposed to be past the Target. So I called Thom and told him I was in Pitman. He had to figure out how to get there from where he was (turns out it was easy and not far), so I waited for a little while.

Pitman, despite the unassuming name, is actually charming. It's a cute lively little old town, with a lovely downtown theater (I saw Crystal Gayle there years ago), restaurants, and shops. Nothing was playing at the Broadway that night, but there was a horse-drawn carriage carrying families up and down Broadway and quite a few people shopping and dining. Granted, it wasn't really where I wanted to be, but it was a good place to pass time.

Thom showed up and took me to a cute little cottage on a country lane in Mantua. I met his new roommates, we had pizza and watched movies. "Red Riding Hood" wasn't really worth the time; "My Soul to Take" was an interesting horror movie but we agreed not Wes Craven's best.

Oh...did I mention the threat of Hurricane Irene was over our heads all this time?

I slept on the recliner Friday night and actually slept well. (Give me a blanket and I'll nod right off.) In the morning I went and played on Thom's computer until he woke up after noon. He was planning to go in to work at Comcast and get some overtime through the storm.

I checked to be sure transit would still be running. NJ Transit buses were operating until 6 PM, and PATCO and SEPTA until midnight. No problem! Thom dropped me off at the bus stop in the rain. There was a shelter so I was dry...but I wondered if the bus would come. No worries. Since this run started in Mantua I saw it early waiting by the RiteAid to start its run. We pulled out on time but had to detour around downtown Woodbury. (I found out a building on Broad Street was "structurally unsound" so traffic was detoured to avoid collapse.) We got to Camden fine, I boarded the PATCO train to Philadelphia and got home on uncrowded vehicles. Everyone must have already hunkered down for the storm.

At home, there was some rain and a little wind. But our power outages were very brief; maybe a minute total! Sunday afternoon even brought some sunshine.

I brewed a full pot of coffee and enjoyed the luxury of doing crosswords most of the day. I'm drinking Martinson Traditional these days, which is lovely coffee. Then I watched "Julie & Julia" on Lifetime at night.

 

[Thad1527]

Time to write a little about my beloved cat, Homer.

He's on the desktop as I type.

He's aging very well...he turns 16 years old next month.

He's been living with my brother for the last few years (yes, I'm at my brother's house) but that's worked out well. My brother needed a pet. And Homer's the best.

I joke about being a bad pet parent, and say Homer's in foster care. But I'm glad things worked out well.

And he's still my cat. Always.

 

[Thad1527]

Pittsburgh!

I'm going to see the Penguins play Dallas on Friday, November 11, at their one-year-old new home, Consol Energy Center.

I like Pittsburgh. I was there to see baseball on my birthday last year.

Yes, you all know I'm ever the bargain hunter. The actual round-trip transportation is costing me...hold on...

$5.

Yup, there's a special round-trip fare on Greyhound - only one stop for food on the way, each way.

So I splurged a little on the hotel. I'll be staying at the Doubletree Hotel, Pittsburgh City Center. It's near the bus stop...and the arena. Wonderful Hotwire gave it to me for $82/night (plus taxes & fees). I tried Priceline without success first.

And I bought my game ticket. Honestly, without that I wouldn't have gone farther.

I don't think there are any JUBbers in Pittsburgh...but tell me if I'm wrong! I am staying an extra night to get into trouble.

 

[Thad1527]

I'm home from Pittsburgh!

It's hard to believe I never left the state - Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are so different.

I saw the Penguins beat Dallas at their new home, Consol Energy Center. It's nice in some ways - the sightlines are great and it feels big. But it's not my favorite arena due to lots of little things. The legroom isn't that great. No cup holders. And, at least in the upper level, they could use more bathrooms and concession stands. It backs up when it's time to leave, too; the exits are limited.

Some good things, though. The fans mostly wear Pens gear, but they've had different uniforms over the years, so they aren't all clones (as Washington Capitals fans are). The atmosphere isn't as charged as Montreal (the BEST), but it's still clearly a hockey-mad place.

And I had the quintessential Pittsburgh experience. I had a Primanti Bros. sandwich at midnight. (Their original Strip location is open 24 hours.) They're the famous sandwiches that come with tomato, cole slaw, and french fries. INSIDE the sandwich. The idea actually isn't bad. I would go there again but I wouldn't have the sad "cheese steak," which features minimal beef. There are many other meat and cheese choices and I'd try others.

The weather was nice for November! I took a long walk along the riverside and loved it. They were putting up Christmas decorations at PNC Park (the Pirates' home) and Market Square.

 

[Thad1527]

I'm planning on going to a pool party tomorrow.

In Atlantic City.

As part of the "OUT in AC" weekend, Harrah's is holding a free pool party at the Pool at Harrah's Resort. It sounds interesting.

I like Atlantic City, although I've lost too much money there over the years. But free is always good! I have about $15 in complimentary slot play to redeem, and when you ride the casino bus you get a coupon for slot play that basically makes the ride free. I promise, I'll keep the gambling under control.

Now...will I be comfortable there? Will it be fun? I don't know. I may or may not be the target audience...I'm not hot or young or trendy. But I'll give it a try. It's an afternoon affair, so if I don't like it I can always leave early.

And I do like to swim.

The annual Miss'd America pageant is being held Saturday night. It's the drag version, and was an Atlantic City tradition after the Miss America winner was crowned at Convention Hall each September. After the pageant left Atlantic City, Miss'd America was left to die, but was revived two years ago to much acclaim.

I don't think I'll go to that...I have to work Sunday morning.

 

[Thad1527]

I didn't go to the pool party.

It was snowing.

And for once I acted responsibly and realized I really didn't have money to spend.

I'm sorry if you were expecting some revelation!

 

[Thad1527]

I'm usually a much more social person, but lately I've been avoiding people, it seems. I haven't gone out much.

Maybe I'm waiting for warm weather. Or I'm working too much. Or I'm just looking forward to next weekend. I AM going to Atlantic City for the ECAC Hockey tournament next Friday and maybe I'm just taking it easy until then!

 

[Thad1527]

I'm taking a little trip at the end of the month.

To Pittsburgh. (Again.)

Well, the round-trip bus fare was $2.50. How can I resist?

I'll be seeing the Pirates play the Colorado Rockies on the afternoon of the 25th. Beware. I'm good luck for the Rockies - I've never seen them lose, either at Coors Field (once) or in Philadelphia.

 

[Thad1527]

Oh! We have friends on JUB now!

But...but...I already have friends from here! And I want to keep them and...

oh. I can.

Well, then I will. Thanks.

But if anyone wants to make it a little more formal...I'm fine with that.

 

[Thad1527]

I worked myself sick last week.

I got a cold-flu-like something that completely wiped me out. It's Thursday and I'm not quite over it.

I am cutting back on work hours - but I made that choice a little too late!

Anyway...Easter was not a very happy one.