Category Archives: The Basics

Ray got home yesterday afternoon from LA.  He went out to see his mother for her 91st birthday.  I had the house to myself for the weekend. 

I love an All About Me Weekend.  Playing whatever music I want to hear, making a mess in the kitchen and jamming on my guitar like I’m a rock star (which I’m not), are some of the things I love to do in my solitude.  I always have so much fun and did this weekend but I have to admit,  it sure was good to have him come home. 

After chatting about the weekend and some dinner we both flopped into bed.

I woke up in the middle of the night.  Ray and I were laying there spooning while Parker kitty curled up in a ball next to us.  My little white noise machine was whirring away in the distance accompanied by the soft rumble of Parker’s purr.  There was no moon so it was pitch black.  All you could see outside was the night sky speckled with millions of stars.  It’s the little moments like these where I feel as if I am a man of great wealth.  Money, cars, sex, drugs–whatever fills that void can never match up against spoonin’ with your man next to a purring kitty.  Never.

I kissed him on the back of the neck, closed my eyes and said thankyouthankyouthankyou over and over in my head until I drifted back to sleep.

Ray cut my hair a couple of nights ago and I trimmed my stache for the first time since I shaved it off.  I’m beginning to think I prefer my current look over this one. 

To document this moment, I pointed my camera in the mirror to get a quick snapshot.  Little did I know it would look like a 8X10 head shot.  Lucky me I guess.  And yes–you can bet I’m going to use it as a current online profile pic so if ya found my blog from another website, you’re not seeing double.

Of course, the first thing I noticed in the photo are the ginormous wrinkles on my forehead and the gray at my temples.  I’m trying to not let that bother me and look at it from a D.I.T. (Daddy in Training) standpoint. 

Let’s just face it, some guys age very well and actually look better with a bit of mileage on their mug.  With all admission of vanity, I’m hoping that happens to me.  I want to look fabulous ’till I die.  Cary Grant did it.  Why can’t I?  Whenever I complain about aging Ray always says “It beats the alternative.”

Of course Mr. Ray has not one single wrinkle on his handsome face.  Not one.

What’s really weird is that I actually feel much better with the stache.  I’m comfortable in my own skin when I have to go out into the world.  Isn’t that strange?  I think it just suits my persona.  I have never cared for the cleanshaven look–especially on me. 

Some people have suggested I trim the sides of my stache or groom it so you can see my upper lip.  They say it’s too bushy.  Well, first of all, I don’t have an upper lip and second; if you’re going to have a stache, you need to have all the stache.  You need to go for it.  Make the posterboys of stache–Tom Selleck & Sam Elliott–proud. 

OK, this silly post is already too all-about-me.  Enough with the inner self exploration.  All I can say is that I’m glad to have the old me back. 

One more thing:  While I was looking for a photo of Mr. Grant, I noticed online that there were a lot of comparisons to this particular fellow: George Clooney!

George is too hot for words and yes, he has that whole Cary Grant thing going on.  I pray every day that he does not succumb to the perils of Hollywood.  He seems so cool and genuine.  I’d hate to find out that he’s just another famous asshole freak.  In these Hollywood hard times, it’s best to have low expectations about our movie stars.  Then you don’t get hurt in the long run when they jump on Oprah’s couch or throw a phone in someone’s face.  I’m counting on you George!  Don’t let me down!

One other interesting little tidbit is Randolph Scott.  Seems that he and Cary Grant were good friends.  Very  good friends.  By the look of some old photos, it seems like they could have been more than just friends.  But hey, who am I to speculate that a tall, dark and handsome classic Hollywood actor may have liked a little man-on-man action now and again?  No one is gay in Hollywood!

 
Having a little tea at their home.

Playtime at their home–in Silverlake, CA.

A bit of suntan lotion perhaps?

Ummm–hello!

So the two of them lived together off and on until the mid forties. They remained very close friends and died a year apart from each other.  I really can’t say for sure that Cary Grant was gay (I hate when people do that) but, I can say he obviously enjoyed the company of Randolph Scott.  Actually, who wouldn’t want to be sandwiched between the two of them?  Look at that photo in the pool!  WoOf!

I know it’s kind of, well, gay  to be going on about a classic Hollywood actor but, it’s Cary Grant.  The man had it going on all the way ’till the end.  Well, at least looks-wise, I have no idea about his personality.  I read a biography about him a while back.  Apparently, he was pretty freaky actually–but hell, he looked  great!

Still got it.

My role model…

Ray and I have a very good friend in Chicago named Cathy who we’ve known for many years.  Cathy started running the Chicago Marathon several years ago (I can’t remember if it was 8 or 9 years but I’m sure she’ll clarify in the comment section).  Right before Christmas a couple of years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Over the course of several months, she went through surgery, chemo, radiation and, um,  cancer.  That alone is hellish enough to deal with.

Cathy–who is such a trouper–made a full recovery.  I don’t know how she did it.  I would have been the biggest crybaby if I had to face what she went through.  I have to thank her for showing me that life is to be savored.  Seeing what she went through was a humbling experience to say the least.  Thanks Cathy!

Ray and I are very proud of our friend and were thrilled when we heard that she was contacted to do a commercial for a major sponsor of the Chicago Marathon.  I have the commercial and I’m going to show it off on my blog!

What’s a blog without a YouTube clip?

Speaking of You Tube clips; while I was working on Cathy’s clip, I happened upon this one that made me laugh:

Mary Poppins was the first movie I ever saw.  I was five and it had a profound effect that has lingered with me ever since.  This clip is an interesting take on Mary Poppins to say the least:

R, Maggie, Ruby and I piled in the car Sunday morning to get something to eat.  One of my favorite things in the world is to go out for breakfast.  I love the no-frills greasy spoon meal complete with sausage links.  Apparently so does Maggie and R (and Ruby) so I took them to a little place called the Lone Star Cafe.  It’s right on Hwy 92 going to Sierra Vista–and they have sausage links. 

I don’t usually eat much in the way of meat but when it comes to sausage at breakfast, it’s a must have.  While placing my order, the waitress and I got into a detailed conversation about how tasty links are and that patties were just a poor excuse for sausage trying to be a hamburger.

R asked me about blogging.  I was saying how you can find other blogs by clicking links on the current blog you’re reading (while I was eating my sausage links).  He whipped out his pen and in no time, I was immortalized on a paper place mat–links, blogs and all.   

After we ate, Maggie and I worked on some more music.  She had a poem from a gentleman up in Prescott that she set to music the night before.  I really love her voice.  She is a true musician.  It just flows out of her so naturally.  Maggie really encouraged me to just let it all out.  Let it go.  So I did.  She is my muse.  I will, however, spare you from the tracks we laid down together with my guitar playing and singing.  That’s for private listening only.  Here is her new song in all its glory (you may have to turn up the volume):

Lily (2:34)

[audio:Lily.mp3]

On Monday, they packed everything up and headed off for their next adventure.  While I admire Maggie and R for making sacrifices in the name of art, I don’t know if I could live out of the back of a Toyota earning money from playing violin on the street. 

R commented on how poorly they’re treated up in Prescott.  Part of me is sympathetic to them in a live-and-let-live sort of way but the other part realizes that most people don’t change their opinions easily when it comes to grungy artists living in a car with a dog and no shower.  Am I an elitist?  Not really.  I personally don’t mind if someone chooses to live the hippy lifestyle.  It doesn’t really bother me if people don’t bathe frequently either, in fact, I actually think this country tends to overclean itself.  The only time I mind is when someone is so ripe it makes my eyes water.  That’s where most people–myself included–draw the line.

It’s nice to have the house in quiet mode again.  This weekend Ray is either going to LA to see his mom or Chicago to check up on Leona (she’s not doing so well).  I’m staying home for a much needed mental vacation alone with myself.  I can hardly wait. 

Maggie, R and I met up this afternoon for lunch at the Bisbee Breakfast Club.  I love taking people there.  It’s one of those places where everything on the menu is tasty.  I was really impressed with R’s dog Ruby.  She’s such a good girl.  She just hung out by the door and waited for us to eat.

When we returned, R fell asleep on the couch.  Maggie produced a ukulele and just started strumming away singing as if she did that all the time.  I was taken aback by her sweet voice and natural ability.

I suggested we go into the studio.

Maggie had been playing around with this old Russian tune saying that she wanted to write some lyrics to it.  I grabbed a pencil and jotted down some words.  Together we came up with this little ditty:  

Somewhere Sleeping (1:20)

[audio:Somewhere_Sleeping.mp3]

After that, Maggie was actually able to convince me to sit down with her and sing whatever came to my mind while she strummed something in the background.  Having no idea what to say, I sang about R’s dog Ruby.  Ruby Doobie.  Listen at your own risk.

Ruby Doobie (4:13)

[audio:Ruby_Doobie.mp3]

Today we’re going to play around a little bit more with the music.  I want Maggie to get her violin and lay down some secondary tracks from last night. 

Halloween in Bisbee is always a trip treat.  Even though it was on a Wednesday this year, there were lots of people out and about. 

Ray, Jon (the cute guy who lives up the road from us), Maggie (my cool cousin from Prescott), R (Maggie’s man) and I spent the evening going to parties and bars in Old Bisbee.  Ray wore my pirate costume from last year and looked totally hot in it (that bitch).  I just dressed like a cowboy because I did not feel like putting in too much effort year and when all else fails for a sexy costume, anything involving a tight pair of 501’s and a cowboy hat always does the trick.

First we went to Jonathan and Theresa’s house for a little party.  They are both artists. (what a surprise!) Jon does jewelery and Theresa paints.  Check out their site!

Next up we headed out to Old Bisbee for a pub crawl.  We stopped at the Grand and St. Elmo’s before landing at the Stock Exchange for, you guessed it, karaoke!  I sang two songs and stayed out way too late. 

Ray and I were like zombies the next day but it was well worth it.  Next year, because of leap year, Halloween is on a Friday!!  I better get working on my costume.

I posted the photos to my Flickr account.  Check ’em out!