Monday - Made Penne Risotto for the Roomie, and watched the fairly awful "Queen of the Damned" with Dead Ayallah

Tuesday - NSLP made slow-cooker ribs (yummmmmmm) and i contributed leftoever Penne Risotto and we caught up on Next Food Network Star.

Wednesday - Headed up to Nick's neck of the woods with the NSLP, and had take out chinese and watched SYTYCD (as I'm told to refer to it) with Nick, Tim, Chris D, Nicole. I, of course, brought the St Germaine cocktail fixins, tho' was hindered by a soda siphon malfunction.

Thursday - Having a "Frate" with new bud Ian, headed to Pho Republique. Mmmmmm. Tuna spring rolls!!

Friday - Headed to Matt & Juicy's for a game night, 'cause Juicy can't get around on his broke-ass leg. Then out to meet a boy (i hope!!) at Ramrod.

Saturday - Brunch with NSLP, Nick and Tim, then headed down to Providence for the day/night to go to RI pride in the evening, and see a Bruer exhibit at RISD in the afternoon. Spending the night. Drinking alot.

Sunday - Headed up to Dad's in E Falmouth for Father's day of hooking up his new Wii (yay, using that TV-Radio degree!!) and taking him to dinner.

Shote from the Doves show at the House of Blues, Boston

I really love when bands use lighting and projection well. Doves is a very
cinematic sounding band anyway, and the projections really worked well with
the music.

'Twas an excellent show.

pudgybloke!

Friday
Needed a break from the Alley, so NSLP and I headed out to dinner at Union (thier wonderful hanmburger and a slightly dirty Stoli martini - heaven!) and then over to see "Up." Go see it. It's just wonderful, or as NSLP wouldn't let me live down, "Enchanting." Headed to the Ramrod after the movie and a quick change of clothes and had a suprisingly good time, it was crowded and i got hit on not less than 3x, including a beer from a floridian visitor, an offer of sex in the bathroom (no thanks!) and one actually cute guy there with friends who had to leave abruptly. Fun anyway, and flattering :)

Saturday
NSLP and I got brekkie at McD's and then did a little shopping at South Bay - i got pillows for Cindy's bed (the shams having previously been stuffed with smaller leftover pillows. Who knew out of Bed Bath and Beyong, Target, and Marshalls, Marshalls would be most expensive and Target least!?!

After that we headed up to Winchester to Mahoney's and got plants to replant my deck. Out with the dead boxwood, pine tree, and arborvities.. In with a fresh new boxwood (to screen the AC), and in place of the pine in the tall planter, some railing pink flowers and purple spikey plants in back. Also purple and pink in the 3 windows boxes -- very Pride-like colors. In the pots by the door formerly houseing Arbor Vitae (or is that Arbor Mori?), 6 types of herbs for cooking. Also spept and it all looks very nice.

Also trimmed by bush... and by that i mean the Dogwood out front, you dirty people!

Headed out the the Alley on Sat night to meet some friends, and had a good enough tome.

Sunday
Had brunch (hash, of course) at the Vic with NSLP, and then checked out the South End Open Market -- many less vendors than the first (opening) weekend...NSLP was sad the "skinny wallet" vendor was not there. I wonder how vendors pick what weekends to setup and not. If you haven't been the to Open Market, it's worth a visit, esp since there is free parking. Every Sunday through October from 10am to 4pm.

We then tried for a beach day, but while it was sunny and rather hot in the South End, when we got down to Horesneck, it was 62, overcast and windy. And COLD. Like sweatshirt cold. So we got our parking pass for the season, and headed back towards Boston. We stoppped at Ikea and got nothing but a hot dog for a snack. (They were out of the outdoor lights i was looking for :(

So we finally settled on Randolph Country Club, until the cold front from Westport set in about 4pm. We spent a good hour or two sunning among alot of Brazillians (who knew Boston was a big gay brazillian hub?) and blaring music. We spent much of that time redesigning the place in a $5m makeover to look like a Palm Beach resort. Think modern white lounge chairs, and a completely rebuilt Mid-century-esque club building.

We then met Nick and his NSLP (Tim) for pre-bearaoke dinner at Equator. Which we settled on after Estragon (newish and nearby tapas place) was closed on sunday. Equater was good, nick said the drunken noodles made him sweat. That's a good thing -- i think.

Nick and his NSLP big us goodbye and NSLP and I headed to Bearaoke which was alot of fun. Talked to a very cute guy :)

A very good wekend overall.

Friday
Met up with the boys at the Alley after work, as well as visiting guy I been talking to online for a couple weeks named Jeff. After a couple beers, Matt, Juicy and I headed to the Kinsale for dinner. Do not get lobster rolls at an irish bar. (Even in Boston). Headed home and met up with NSLP, who was just home from China for some Tivo and went to bed relatively early.

Saturday
Met up with NSLP, his (and my) married friends Greg and Christina, and their Aussie from Catherine, who is in Boston, but moving to SF this week. Had lunch at Petit Robert in the South End. I had a Croque Madam (grilled ham and cheese with a over-easy egg on top -- DEEEEE delicious!) also had a lovely drink with St Germaine, grapefruit and i think herb (heather?) infused simple syrup. Then Mike and I did a little bit of shopping errands, including a new digital scale, which means no more weight with "-ish" on the end.

In the evening, we met up again with Greg, Christina and Catherine for drinks and dinner. We started off at 28 Degrees (mmmm Zyr vodka martini with blue cheese stuffed olives!) We then walked over the Stella at Catherine's request and had a lovely dinner (as always) there in the new THIRD room they'd opened, way in back, by lovely (but fake) fireplace. (Recession my ass - the place was packed, i counted among the hundred or more tables only 2 free -- people are still eating out. Alot.)

I had two of my stand-by's there -- two of my favorite things of any Boston restaurant -- the grilled sausage, tomato and broccoli rabe app; and the just lovely fresh linguine with asparagus creme sauce, asparagus tips and a poached egg on top, which mixes in with the sauce and pasta and...... it's orgasmic.

Sunday
I met up with my buddy Adam for brunch at Masa, where I had a really good spicy Bloody Mary, and the southwestern eggs Benedict with avocado and green-chili hollandaise. Very good! We did some wandering about the south end, stopped at Starbucks for a tea.

Met up with NLSP for dinner at Joe V's (another of my favorite apps there - their pork dumplings) and we split a yummy fig, procuitti and arugula pizza. We then headed over the the Alley for Bearaoke and met up with most of the usual suspects, it was nice and busy due to the long weekend. We also met regular Bearaoke hostess Nicole's Mom, who swear to god looks like her older sister at best (worst? -- e.g. she doens't look old enough, it's a compliment!) Fun night, and no, I don't sing at Bearaoke, so stop asking me what I'm singing or when I'm going to.

When I'm damn ready. Got it?

Monday
NSLP took me couch shopping for a new couch, as mine is sold and being picked up Thursday. We stopped at Jordans (one contender), Bernie and Phyll's (predictably not that nice), and Boston Interiors (eh..._) on the North Shore, and came back in the city and looked at Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel. Mitchell Gold was full of sofas I liked -- modern, clean lined and perfect... except the price. So maybe wait for a sale there (usually in July.)

We got some buffalo mozzarella, grape tomatos and salami, and drink fixings, and headed home for a snack before heading out to Star Trek. We had our snack along with my new Lemon-Ginger Martinis with new roomie Cindy, returned from the wilds of suburbia (where she stays on weekends with her kid and ex-hubby.) The drink is (preferably Lemon) vodka, ginger-lemon infused simple syrup and Limonata soda. So. Good. Oh. My. God.

Star Trek was entertaining enough, and I do think the new cast was great. And yeah, Chris Pine's a hottie. I was less comfortable with the huge departures from the traditional star trek mythology, and honestly the "it's time travel, it's an alternate reality" thing is just sloppy. Lots of other plot holes, but overall it was nice to see JJ's take on it, I guess. Did i mention Chris Pine is HOT? If you didn't stay through the credits, you didn't see the nice dedication to Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barret at the end. Another nice touch was Capt. Pike in the wheelchair at the end of the movie, as it should be.

(Aside: I hope and pray that they find a way to use Majel Barret's voice for all future Star Trek projects as the computer voice, I'm not sure if there's enough of her existing to slice and dice between all the shows and movies, but i bet there is.)

After ST, NSLP and I watched an episode of "Life After Humans" on History Channel. Very engaging, i recommend it.

Rally in Celebration or Protest at 7:00pm on the Day of the Decision - Tonight - Copley Square....

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=83808468247&h=L50xJ&u=qFHes&ref=nf

Photo's from London and Paris....

Travel Log coming shortly...

Click for any pics for more....

Took off down to Hyannis yesterday to spend the day with Mom, my sister and her whiffle-ball-obsessed son, Anthony. While Anthony (in his home-made -- by him -- Hyannis Crabbs" uniform) played whiffleball with the neighbor kids, Robin and Mom and i spent most of the afternoon reading the Globe and various trashy novels (mom and robin did, at least).

There was the customary pre-dinner appetizer (often crab dip, but this time 7-layer dip) and chips and of course cocktails (mine was a skinny black bitch.)

For dinner, Mom insisted on cooking a full on lobster dinner. Very meaty 1.5 lb lobsters which were quite good, potato salad with fresh chives from her garden, salad and sweet corn, which was too early to be particularly sweet, but good nonetheless.

I find it funny that Mom insisted in cooking for US for mother's day, rather than us cooking or taking her out, but she's like that. Getting the family together and cooking for them is partly because she likes it, and partly because she likes complaining about it.

"Get off the cross, ma, we need the wood" is a commonly uttered catchphrase, and when Robin commented sotto voce that Mom was in the kitchen sighing over all the work, i said "She's happy as a clam having something to bitch about, it's her mother's day present to herself."

So a quite pleasant day, getting some sun and relaxing and eating Lobster. As far as family obligations, quite nice.... and even if it involves dealing with family, sitting in the bright sun, waves crashing in the beach at the end of Mom's property, I felt pretty lucky to be in this particular family, at least today.

So, tonight's date, I can definately add to the list of fucked up things that have happened to me in the last 18 months of being single since, since Mike and I went from life-partners, to non-sexual life partners (e.g. "broke up.")

In the past 18 months, I....

- Dated someone for a week, spent a week trying to figure out how to break up gently, and he up and moved back to the west coast after 4 months in Boston, having moved here set on marrying me, instead of wanting to move here and having someone to date and see where it went.

- I was told on a date that i should see a therapist. The same person also chewed me out in an email for not inviting him home with me to have sex.

- I went on a date, which admittedly I invited the other person on, where he sat stock still while I got out my wallet and paid. Didn't even pretend to offer to pay. On the 2nd date when i said "it's $36" on totaling the share of the bill, he actually said "degrees out?" I flatly said "No, that's your share."

- Cooked a guy my famous risotto on a 2nd date. Had him crow over it, and say "I definitely want to have you over to cook for you." When this didn't happen in, oh, 4 months, i asked if he would ever actually invite me over, even as a friend to return the dinner. He said "I liked that there was no pressure."

- I had a date with someone, and we ran into Mike with him on the way home from our date. He and Mike realized they knew each other from online, and he then asked Mike out the next day. He never contacted ME again.

But all this doesn't really compare to this latest date:

I met this guy at a chocolate shop last weekend, when getting chocolate for my Dad. He was adorable, slightly shy and sweet, kinda flustered. I couldn't' tell if it was due to him being temporary in the sore (working to help out a friend) or 'cause he was interested in me. I sensed interest.

So I posted on Craig's List "missed connections" that I'd like him to get back to me if he was "interested".

And he did. Yay.

We emailed, I said "can i take you out for coffee or a drink sometime?" He said yes and sent me his phone number. I called and arranged a date. All going well right?

So the date night (tonight) comes and about 10 mins before the date, he says "sorry, i'm running 10 mins late." I get to the bar 10 mins late, and he's another 20 mins later. Some story about talking to a friend who just got fired. OK, good that he's a good friend.

He looks cute, are talking about what I do.

And his friend walks in and sits down with us. He introduces us.

And pretty soon they are chatting amongst themselves. And i'm basically a bystander at my own date.

I went to the bathroom, and on the way asked the bar wench to settle my tab and include the "date's" beer. (NOT his friends drink.) So when i get back to the bar, she brings over the check, and date half-heartedly says "oh, are you 'bouncing'[is he 13?]" I say "Yeah, it was nice to see you again" and too his friend "It was nice to meet you" and walk out.

On the way home i realize i hadn't told him i paid for his beer, so I text him "PS - I paid for your beer..."

No reply.

I'm speechless.

And I'm done.

Boston men are the most fucked up, rude, socially inept group of men anywhere. There are absolutely no men between about 35 an 45 that are single and together. There are plenty of 21 year olds who want a sugar-daddy bear. There are messed up needy 35 year olds. There are hot 40 year olds with "open relationships." (And to be fair, there are lots of 35-45 year olds who are partnered, monogomous and happy, and good for them!)

But what there doesn't appear to be even a single one of is someone 35-45ish, single, and stable for me in Boston.

So i'm done.

I need to move away, or resign myself to being alone for the rest of the time I'm in Boston.

and it sucks, because i see men getting in short term relationship after another, desperate to be with ANYONE. And not only do those not work out, but they won't even do it WITH ME. Sorry, i do have standards, and none of you assholes in Boston meet them.

Fuck. You. All.

[Just a follwup..... never heard a peep from him again all weekend, not "thanks for the beer," or "it was nice getting to know you" (because he didn't), and definitely not an apology for being late and then bringing a friend. I'm sure he thinks *I* did something wrong by leaving so abruptly.

Yes, you heard me... a POSITIVE Post.

Since i'm so down on Boston (mostly for it's PEOPLE), here are things about my hometown that make me happy....

• My core group of friends: who are reliable, social, and fun, and give back to me equally
  
• My condo: it's pretty much perfect for my needs and the way I live, it was a good move
  
• My job: which is filled with truly talented, dedicated, nice people, in a really nice space, office and environment. (Free food often helps too!)
  
• Location: near Ogunquit, the mountains, P'town, and many great beaches (especially Horseneck), and easy trips to NYC, and close to London
  
• My Dad: Who is utterly unfailingly supportive and tries really hard
  
• Spring in New England - nothing like a long, hard, dirty, cold winter (wihch i like in it's own way) to make you appreciate springtime.
  
• The Red Sox: they're a good team, and I love Dustin, Tek, Wake and JD.
  
• The Mapparium: One of the most unique things about Boston.
  
• The History: The history that permeates the place and how it is respected and retold
  
• The Architecture: There are so many wonderful buildings in Boston, and there is a growing (i hope) sense that modern CAN coexist with Red Brick. Walk around the Financial District. Look UP. Be surprised at the architecture there.
  
• The Shopping: We have some wonderful small stores (Black Ink, Aunt Sadies, Hootenanny) and a new sense of style and worldliness about our shopping scene
  
• The Mayor: I love that no one can understand him, and for all his lack of vision, he really does keep the City running well day-to-day.
  
• The ICA: A breath of fresh air, culture and dramatic architecture in a city that needs it.
  
• The South End: Vibrant, full of fun stores, good resturants, parks and nice bowfronts. It's a great place to live and close to everything.
  
  What else do you Bostonians like about living here?