Gay Day and Other Things

The 2005 PRIDE celebration has come and gone. Every year I find myself participating less and less in the uber gay activities. My very first PRIDE day parade I somehow got roped into working security. Stood on the corner of Market and 5th letting buses go through and keeping drunken pedestrians safe. Was also forced to wear the ugliest t-shirt ever and vowed never to partake in the security portion of the event ever again.

The Dyke March however is still fun. Dolores Park is overtaken by the ladies and it's a swarm of dykeness which really can't be explained. It's something you have to see for yourself to understand. Prior to the march Ms. Diana Cage was gracious enough to invite a gaggle of gals over to her apartment for good eats and brownies. Miss B and I made three quiches and a strong batch of space cakes. We tried a little "test plot" on the way over and became rather spacey just driving over. Oh dear. Made a serious effort to monitor the intake as it was powerful enough to send one to the corner drooling for hours on end. The usual suspects were there, Hollysan, A, FArlene, and Diana's entourage. The pre-march buzz was a good one and props to Di for a great party. The weather didn't cooperate so well as it was cloudy and cool. There was lots of milling around the park, running into folks whom I hadn't seen in a while. Nothing too monumental happened but again, it's an amazing experience to see so many women all in one place. Once the march started we got as far as Valencia and 18th then taking a right rather than left for a burrito. Miss B's brownies had kicked in full force at this point and she was zoned out like I have never seen before. I was afraid she was going to fall asleep on our bench! Finished up the evening at the Eagle which was mellow but nice and the world's greatest bartender Brian was working. Love that man! We had a little fireside chat with Hollysan and A, eventually it was time to call it a night.

Rather than attend the parade on Sunday, the past few years Adriana and I have gone to the movies at the Castro Theater. The boys and girls shorts are featured. It's so fun! It's a good way to close PRIDE week and see some good films. There were several favorites this year and next year I hope to make it to even more films in the LBGT festival. It rarely disappoints. With the exception of the film called Inescapable which would have more appropriately been termed Incapable. I was really glad to leave all the Castro Queens at the parade and have the theater all to ourselves.

This past weekend we headed to Eugene, OR to visit friends Laurel and Kevin. It was our turn to visit and they are such good folks, how could we not?!?! Leaving on the Friday of the 4th of July weekend was rough but well worth the trip. Eugene is a rather odd place. It's more of a town than a city and it's just so......so....white. Clearly revolving around the university, it was rather dead as the majority of the students are gone for the summer. We did attend a fun wine event where our friend Lara's band Dirty Martini played. We did lots of walking around, eating, made a trip to Portland to see Amy/Brad/Elias, and lots of other stuff. Elias is one long baby! He is almost a year old and my goodness, he is cute as a button. Had fun meeting him for the first time. Showed up at their place with loads of bread, cheese, salami, and other snacks so we could just hang out and do a whole lot of nothing, something perfected in Peace Corps. Eventually the weekend came to a close and we had to hit the road back to San Francisco. Props to Laurel and Kevin for a great weekend and being the hosts with the mostesses, or however that works.

High fives go out to a friend of mine whom after a very appropriate dating hiatus has gotten back out there! I'm so proud of this individual that I am bursting with joy at the steps in the direction towards something scary as all get out and brave to do so! Funny how it all works out and things present themselves in the strangest way. Get on out there you! Hooooray!