A Kiki from New Zealand

These Maori men done turned it out. The fellas werked the crowd by living it up with no shame in their game.

BTW, youtube Vogue Dance Crew and see what a group of young queens in New Zealand is serving to the masses.

I posted this because it just made me happy.

Getting On With It

I got bit by the cleaning bug today. It felt so good to make some progress in tending to things around here. Tomorrow, I will continue with the flow. I am feeling good energy.

I also put up two calendars for 2013. I am looking forward good people. I worked really hard this year to make peace with the changes in my life.

What helps me be at peace is feeling the spirits of my dearly departed looking out for me. Basically, they all have said in their own way for me to get on with it.

I have also been very inspired by family and friends around me that continue to move forward, despite the challenges in their lives.

Back to thriving and not just surviving good people.

For the Newtown School District and Community

Transformers! More Than Meets the Eye

"The meteroric rise of the workshop of Abraham Roentgen (1711-1793) and his son David (1743-1807) blazed across eighteenth century continental Europe." source: The Met Museum

Here are some extravagantly ornate, yet extremely functional examples of the Roentgens' amazing creations.

I smiled while fantasizing about the conversations, cocktails, and competition I would have around this table. Who is up for a game of Spades?



It's all very go go gadget. I wonder what secrets were kept in the hidden compartments.



Just an exquisite piece. There is a place for everything. It must have been divine to tend to daily tasks, both business and pleasure, on this piece of furniture. Gag on the desk's final transformation and function which helped its owner put everything in perspective.

Click here for the video.

My Daily Dose of Attitude Adjustment

99.9% of the time as I head into the day or wind down from my daily adventures. I speak words of gratitude and hope.

It goes like this.

"God thank you for another day. I know I am blessed and miracles happen everyday."

I said it tonight as I walked Gino. Once I finished speaking, the patch of night sky I was looking at gave me a star flickering into view. How cool!

Not bad for the closing of 12/12/12.

Julius': Libations and Liberation

Gay patron being denied service at Julius' in 1966. Oh, it's on now!

Ya remember when I said I was falling short of living up to my big-sister duties, when it came to Princess Rei Rei?

Well, yesterday I took her to Julius'. It was important for her to be in this space and know about Julius' role in GLBT history. I also wanted to share my personal history with this space.

For ya that don't know your GLBT history, Julius' is a tavern that played a significant role in GLBT civil rights movement.

Located in the West Village of NYC, this bar was the scene for the Mattachine Society's "Sip-In" in 1966. Click on Mattachine for the details.

My Julius' story took place back in 1984. I was taken to the tavern by a handsome man named Tolson. We stopped there for what would be my first Bloody Mary. We then went to his place for what would be my first time having sex with a man!

Tolson was very sweet to me, and I was so excited about finally acting on these feelings I had for men. I remember going home feeling liberated and empowered.

Princess Rei Rei and I enjoyed our time at a table in the back sharing some fries, while I ate one of their  cheeseburgers. Julius' takes pride in their burgers.

We went on to talk about tenacity and wondered what else made us want more in life, despite the obstacles that where in our way.

We both agreed that what made a big difference in our lives was we excelled in school during our elementary years. We were able to acquire the fundamentals in the three Rs. These skills then gave us access to experiences that helped us grow, thereby, expanding our options that we could pursue regarding career and life.

I would also add that we developed a sense of pride in being ourselves, because we came of age within a fierce GLBT community that taught us to be out, loud, and proud.

And, this pride and community was slowly built by fearless men and women, that came together in places like Julius'.

The Ying and Yang of Teaching 11

Here are some of the highlights from the past few weeks:

• I had to tell two eighth-graders to stop throwing snowballs. It resulted in one of them calling me a cabron to my back. One of my fourth-grades ratted him out. I then called the principal and we approached the student. Let's just say this kid has major issues, and at one point he got angry for getting caught and got all banji and started punching his palms. It could have gotten ugly. 
• Last week, while cleaning up my room after my class party,  I gave a group of fourth-grade girls the last few bags of Doritos snack-size bags, as they passed my room. It was a random act of generosity. Today, one of the girls saw me coming in and she yelled, "You gave me a bag of Doritos! You rock!" I laughed and smiled most of the morning.
• Yesterday, one of my students told me he and his sister need coats for the winter weather, but their mother doesn't have the money to buy them. They have both been wearing hoodies during these chilly weeks. My amazing school keeps a supply of coats for students in this predicament. I got both students this morning, took them to the storage room and they walked away smiling with their new coats, gloves and hats. 
• I am seeing progress with comprehension in my reading groups when I preload comprehension questions, so that the students read with purpose, while emphasizing "pause and reflect" while we read together. 

Random Thoughts

• I have made some choices with my coins this month that has left me in a financial bind! I need to stop being lazy and focus on my bottom line. There was no need for me to be so broke that it choked. I am forgiving myself, applying the lesson learned and moving forward.
• Hey Mitt! Dude, mama bear Barbara Bush said, "People spoke. Move on, get on with it. I want to do other things and not to be ugly." Learn it and live it. 
• I am going back and forth on choosing country sausage or sweet Italian sausage, for my stuffing this year. Ahhh fuck! Now, chorizo came to mind. 
• I am thankful for RuPaul's Drag Race on Mondays. Drag Queens are proof that God wants us to be happy. 
• Any action and every thought that had fear, apathy, greed and/or dishonesty as its soil, will bear bitter fruit. 

Guy Gets Dissed!

The NYT printed one beat-down of a review for Guy Fieri's new restaurant in Times Square. Here is a sampling:

"Did you notice that the menu was an unreliable predictor of what actually came to the table?"

"How did nachos, one of the hardest dishes in the American canon to mess up, turn out so deeply unlovable?"

"Why did the toasted marshmallow taste like fish?

I gagged while reading this review. I thought Guy had a respect for food that has integrity; even if it is a pulled-pork sandwich. He seems to celebrate good-quality food on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. 

Well, the place has a gift shop and is in the right location for the tourists that think Red Lobster and Applebee's is fine dining. It will make some cute coin for about a year and close up shop. 

Hey, ya remember when Emeril Lagasse was the man? 

The Village Voice found some more shade thrown at the restaurant. I have to wonder if Guy was even there for the first few weeks.

Haiku In Honor of Pres. Obama's Re-election

I am so looking forward to seeing what Pres. Obama does during his second term. He is older and wiser.

He knows how the game is played and all the shady that goes down in D.C.

He better turn it out and get it done.

He doesn't need to make enemies, but he should leave some haters and blockers sucking their teeth and rolling their eyes. You know who they are Pres. Obama. I know you have your list.

And, now a Haiku!

the second time around

people said forward
give them the leader they need
trustworthy and brave

This Nuyorican Queer B-Boy Nerd Showed Up...Dassit!

Halloween For Me

I went to my altar and offered flowers, candlelight, water, incense, prayer and libation to my dearly departed.

On this night when the veil between this world and the one they have transitioned to is the thinnest, I had to show gratitude for my time together with each of them.

They have influenced me, saved me, inspired me, brought me joy, taught me life lessons, and became a part of me.

I am eternally grateful.

Love and Peace to them all.

I picked out flowers that I know Marcos would have loved!

Sipping Some Organic Junior Juice

The darling Junior over at Juice With Junior just turned 30! He posted some little words of wisdom that he will use in moving forward. Check it out by clicking here. And, pass on some of your wisdom.

However, before you do, read what I passed on to him:

Happy Birthday Hooker!!! Let this 44 year old pass this on to you: 1. It's the shit that you don't worry about that will hit you, so don't waste too much time worrying. 2. You have 10 years left to complain about your parents. In the words of John Waters "complaining about your parents in your 40s makes you look like an asshole." 3. Start to become a connoisseur of things, rather than a consumer. 4. You will find 20 somethings to be rather silly but hot. 5. Identify one or two people in your life that are true friends (even if a family member) and cultivate that relationship. 6. Take bold steps in your work life to get to another level. 7. Keep a bottle of Witch Hazel in the fridge, and wipe your face with it using cotton balls. 8. No more highly-processed carbs. Whole grain all the way. 9. Don't eat anymore mammals. 10. When in doubt, check it out. 11. Read more. 12. Get rid of any remnants of a colonial mentality. 13. People will show you who they are and believe it. (I got that from Marcos waaaaay before Oprah said it!) 14. Accept you are a bit crazy, sane people are not paying attention to the world around them. 15. Get through a shitty day as best as you can, get some sleep. What a difference a day makes.

Princess Rei Rei Goes to the Movies - Part 1

I gagged the other day when I was chatting with Princess Rei Rei. I found out that my little, 6'3", sistah from da Bronx had seen very little, if any, classic movies that queens of a certain age, hold near and dear to their hearts. I done fucked up.

The thing is Princess Rei Rei and I have a reciprocal relationship that is firmly grounded in always learning from each other. I am the big sistah at 40-something, and  Rei Rei is the little sistah at 30-something. How is it possible I never told her about the films listed below?

These classic films have the holy trinity of all classic films, a fierce script, brilliant performances, and intelligent direction. Can I get an amen?

Princess Rei Rei has been given viewing orders.

All About Eve

It all started off innocently. Then it became bumpy.



Auntie Mame

Rosalind Russell was a divine woman. She ate the role of Mame Dennis with such relish, that she left me wanting to have an Auntie Mame in my life.



Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The ultimate performances of Liz and Dick, gave me the ultimate mind fuck. This film will never leave your system.

A Living Doll

Hey Good People,

How lucky are we to find little gems from our childhood available via the Internet? We are very lucky. I needed me a hit of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang today, and here it is.

Supporting The Music Makers On The Fringes

When music artists turn me on, I make sure to seek them out from time to time, especially if they operate outside of the mainstream pop world.

Many of these artist don't get the heavy radio play or big budget promotions. They work in solitude and have to do gig after gig to make a name for themselves.

With that said, I had posted about this woman's blog, vibe and music awhile back. I was turned on again when I  found new music from Tokimonsta.

The second track below is a wicked remix of Eight and a Half's song; Scissors.

She needs to get over to my neck of the woods and do a show, so I can get my groove on and support her efforts.

Oh and you can find more of her music on Soundcloud. Click here.

Diana Vreeland - The Documentary

Good people, come Sept. 21, 2012, the documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel will be at select theaters in NYC and LA.

Diana Vreeland is a truly legendary woman in the world of fashion and culture.

I am hyped for this doc. Here is a tease.

Now You Have It, Now You Don't

So, looks like stripping medals, honors, or titles is the thing to do these days. 

Lance Armstrong punked out against his fight with USADA, that accused him of doping in order to win his Tour de France titles. The result being he is stripped of those racing titles. 

I am of the firm belief that if I am innocent of something, I would fight until my last day. 

I am not surprise about Lance's actions. He knows what he did, along with many others in his sport during that time.

I guess Lance stayed true to himself by punking out. Ya recall when he dropped singer Sheryl Crow soon after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Now, I just read that John Galliano was stripped of his Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

This is another blow to Galliano, after he made the big mistake of spewing anti-Semitic remarks, while getting shit-faced at a bar.  Johnnie also got the boot at Dior and his own namesake label. 

The moral of the story is cheaters never win, and God don't like ugly. 

The Ying and Yang of Teaching 10

I had a very interesting summer. I taught in a program that services children with multiple and/or severe disabilities. Most of my students, ages 7-15, were non-verbal and are at a Pre-K level in terms of academics.

It was very challenging and required me to be creative at finding ways to reach each child.

I was humbled when after a full-days work a student would suddenly produce results at that moment, however, the next day that child would have no recall and I was starting from square one.

Often, a big smile would spread across my face when the students with autism were able to produce work that revealed they are learning and aware of the world around them. It was also very special when they would make eye contact with me. I felt they were acknowledging me.

A family member had asked me, "Why are these kids in school?" I responded by saying, "They deserve an education. We never know what content will click in these children's brains or their potential if we don't try."

I also talked about the fact the kids responded to the affection and attention we gave them, and it made them very happy. And, that in working with them I learned to give of myself to others on another level.

So, next week I return to work,and my K-4 students. I am looking forward to seeing them again. I miss them.

Ron's Turn at Metamorphosis

Ron Palillo passed away today. When I was a little kid I digged watching him as Arnold Horshack on Welcome Back Kotter.  I secretly identifed with him because he was nerdy and "not like the other boys," which is how I would describe myself back in those days,

I remember as a teen, I was hanging with my crew and we played, Which sweathog are you?, when it came to my turn, all the fellas said, "Oh, you're Arnold Horshack." I kinda remember wearing that title with pride.

BTW, back in '01, I got to see Ron in an off-off-Broadway show. He played a redneck homophobic daddy, and was actually very good. Who knew!

Thank you Ron. You made this little gay boy feel like he could belong. Now, go and hang with Donna, Dick and Don.