Sunday, September 28, 2008

I

She watched the stars
Through boughs burdened
Low by glistening leaves
Ready to let go

Monday, September 22, 2008

Learning curve?


Via James, cutie-pie extraordinaire.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

To forgive is divine.

Today Father Tony posted this on Bilerico Project. The entire post is a great read, but I especially like the following:

Do not ditch friends. They are for life so be careful about the ones you acquire.

Friends do not need to measure up to your expectations. They do not need to perform to your standards. They do not need to be perfect. Expect to really hate some of the food they lovingly make for you on a regular basis. Expect them to sometimes lose at love and to need you to side with them even if you think they were the source of the problem in the relationship. Expect to marvel at some of their politics and some of their clothing choices. Expect to see them put on fifty pounds and learn to see them as if they were still skinny. Go out to a gay bar with them even if they visually reduce your status. Treat them with esteem when you are socializing with them in a group. Realize that it is only a matter of time before you are the one with no mate, no money, bad shoes, dumb opinions and an extra fifty pounds.

Do not disclose to others the personal and private things you know about them. This is sometimes a spectacularly difficult thing to do. In recent years, an entire protocol has been unofficially developed about how HIV status is disclosed or nor disclosed among friends and acquaintances. If a friend tells you in confidence that he is HIV+ and swears you to secrecy, saying that only you and the doctor know this, you had better be willing to keep that secret to the grave if required. You should keep that secret even if you think that gay men should always disclose their HIV status. You should keep that secret even when you are drunk. You have no right to dictate this decision to anyone else. Consider it an honor and a privilege and a responsibility to have been told this or any secret.

Expect friends to sometimes be a hell of a lot of work.

I have learned some of these lessons the hard way lately. Others I have always tried to practice. No matter how these rules have come to me, inevitably I have broken them and failed to be a good friend. I have made these mistakes rarely with some friends and often with others. Some have forgiven me and others never will.

Regardless, life goes on. I will do my best, as I always have. I think keeping these rules in mind will raise the bar for what constitutes my "best."

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Whirl.




This is chicken enchiladas with salsa verde, with a side of fresh orange and red tomato salsa with corn. Inspired by this recipe, I spent Saturday in the kitchen whipping up some nummers.

Cooking is a kind of therapy for me. I've been practicing lately, trying to reach outside my comfort zone and explore new territory.

But after a week of Asian curries, I felt like returning to comfortable TexMex. Enchiladas were new, however; I usually go for burritos. The salsa verde was a particular surprise--I will definitely be making it again!

I often feel like I don't have much art compared to those around me. My friends are all so creative and have so many fresh ideas and perspectives. I wasn't gifted with much skill for visual or audible artistic expression.

I really enjoy the satisfaction of a meal well made and appreciated by those upon whom I impose my little works of art. I'm going to start thinking of food more as my artistic expression. I think I'll enjoy that and I think I have a lot of room to learn and grow in that area.

Photography, on the other hand, is hard as hell. The Mexican food took so long that I missed the soft evening light. I did my best with the photos above. I'll get better at that, too.

Recipes and Photoshop suggestions are welcome.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Dude! Dude! For reals!


Okay, I know the science is more complicated than this, but still:

If pot will kill MRSA, then sign me up, baby!

I had MRSA two years ago. It was a painful, embarrassing, awful experience. And I was lucky--my doctor diagnosed it immediately and treated it appropriately. I have known many other New Yorkers who have had far worse experiences due to missed and late diagnoses.

Incidentally, at that point in my life I was, shall we say, less "green." It could be that I currently have a lot more defenses against the superbug than back then! Suddenly I'm putting a lot more thought into exploring "herbal" medicine.

Via Towleroad.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

It's about that time.


I generally hate the idea of "they don't make 'em like they used to." Usually that just isn't the case. The grass always seems greener on the path behind us. Our world, for all its foibles and flaws, is better now than it has ever been.

However, they just don't make ads like this anymore. Brilliant!

I'm looking forward to the day when I earn my cane and daily dose of thorazine. I swear I'm going to forget to take those pills as often as possible, so I can run through the nursing home swinging at visitors and staff.

And you'll be able to hear my cackle all the way in China when they threaten to put a straightjacket on me!

Weirdomatic via Consumerist.