Question of the moment? My blog's meant to be provocative. I'm provocative. Too much so? I'm not referring to myself, but rather the blog.

Really?

Just a small comment on your votes for the WoT character that most resembles me...."Really? You think so?" Interesting....

Rent Review Delayed

I'm working on my final paper for my Bible:Text and Context class. It's a lot of work, but you know me, the English Major Geek. I'm having a ball. I chose as my subject, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, and if you don't know what those two verses are, you should go and look them up. Right now.
The review will come after I've watched the film again. That may be when the DVD comes out. For now(SPOILER ALERT!!!) : The changes from the Broadway version were mostly known to me. A friend at work bought the Hollywood album a few weeks ago and I had listened to it. If I had loved it, I'd have bought a copy, but the album alone, I found very disappointing. It's quite a bit "cleaned up" from the stage version, and that sanitization removed a lot of the vocal emotion. For instance, when I saw the film, I didn't expect to like Joanne at all, because, while she sings prettily, vocally, there's nothing of "margins and discipline" in "Take Me or Leave Me." I was pleasantly suprised to find that, with the full performance, it worked. That being said, my biggest hatred (and this is more than a dislike, mostly because I find it amateurish) is for the editing. Primarily the editing of the story. While I LOVE Anna Deveare Smith, the "Take Me or Leave Me" scene could easily have been cut to panning out on the engagement announcement, going quickly in the flirting, followed by the song....The part of the parents wasn't necessesary. That problem runs all of the way through the film, and all of the unnecessary parts removed could have added up to 2, 3, or even 4 songs that were cut. ("X-mas bells" easily comes to mind....It may not be a major plot point, but thematically, it sums the show wonderfully.) Even if you didn't want to include more songs, quite often, the best parts of the songs were cut out. In "You'll See," one of the things that made the song special, and not just another POV song occurs when the lyrics are twisted and used by other characters. "You see boys.....Let it be, boys....I like boys....Boys like me.....We'll see...." There were weird bits after a lot of the songs too. Some were long fadeouts.
The most glaring omission was created by taking Joann and Maureen out of the title song.....What? The silences where "Maureen, I'm not a Theatre Person" and those lines following should have been were huge. Those breaks now seem amazingly odd and distracting. If the films about the year in the lives of these characters, can't they all be in the title song?
Some common complaints, I disagree with. I like Roger's hair....It's almost the cut I have now. LOL. The CGI breath did suck, but I got past it. I knew they'd cut "Contact," and until 3/4 through the film, I seriously disagreed with "Disneyfying" the film, but I realized, this has to play in every Red state, and to kids young enough to absorb the ideas of diversity. By toning down the film, it gets a wider audience. The filmed version of the death in the hospital was great. Too many youngsters today don't know what HIV can do to you. It's scary, but it's real. The tweaking of the timeline worked, but if it has to reverse to fix "You'll See," etc., then I say switch it back. The mini-riot, during the title song was great! The Tango was nice, too. I LOVED seeing Tom and Angel skipping in the park. I would love to be able to shame Denzel Washington (who gave Will Smith the advice "A black man doesn't kiss a man on film," when he was doing "Six Degrees of Separation) by saying, "Look, this is what a black ACTOR does. You may have an oscar, but you ain't shit. I haven't seen that performance. I really have no desire to. My antipathy for Denzel is cold...I don't want the man dead or anything, but I definately don't want to put $ in his pockets. "La Vie Boheme" was great, but the sound was a bit off. For instance, I couldn't even hear the "To Dance..." before "what a way to make a living...."More in the final review....

In honor of my new ability to type in Hebrew, I'll sign off with my Hebrew name:

אבגדר ישראל

Which Wheel of Time Character is most like Bobby G?
	Rand
	Perrin
	Elayne
	Mat
	Moiraine
	Thom
	Egwene
	Min
	Logain
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Personality Types

As a break from catching up for my classes, I took two personality tests today. One was at a site called The Spark. It's a great test identifying which archetype your personality is. You can register your score, (don't forget to allow your friends to see your scores) and we can see if we're compatible.


The second test identifies which Wheel of Time personality you're closest to. I have to say that my result was predictable and right on. Click on "Wheel of Time" above and take the test for yourself. I'll run a quiz and find who you guys think that I am.

Climbing Out of the Hole!

I'm slowly getting caught up. The confluence of The Holidays with my brother's wedding and a shortage of help at work have combined to really rock my world! I shudder to type this, but I should be caught up in my classes by next week. Tomorrow, there's a HUGE party for Simchat Torah at Tremont Street Shul. Everyone help us celebrate! Check out the website at www.tremontstreetshul.org

Steph-an-me

Pierce Girls

Wedding Finery

Newlyweds

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Pierce

The Perfect Couple

My Girls

Get Thee to Israel!

School's In!!

The semester has started and I'm taking some very exciting classes. Firstly, there's an Ulpan with Gili. She's truly a marvel. She's teaching a heavy courseload, and she still manages to look as if she's dressed for a Paris runway every day. It's really difficult to not feel compelled to get decked out in finery every day of that class. Next is Bible:Text and Context, with Mark Leuchter. He seems very knowledgable and the course seems to flow directly from my English degree. Finally, there's Models of Teaching and Reflective Practice in Jewish Education with Susie Rodenstein. She's a marvel in education and happens to have centerred her specialties on Hebrew and Israel. Sound like anyone we know?
So, this lead-up is to explain part of the reason that the pics from my trip aren't up. The other part of the explanation comes in the form of a warning: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT X-RAYS ONLY HARM 1000 SPEED AND ABOVE FILM. I have one complete roll of film (luckily, it's the most important one) which came out nicely. One of the others is shifted in tint and darkness, and the others are ruined. Funny, that one is fine. I'm guessing that it's the 200 speed film. Anyway, I'll get the decent pics up this week, after I finish my homework.
My work schedule is dreary this week:3 night shifts, including one buyout and one band night(ugh!), but, on the bright side, I have 2 bar shifts (Yay!). So, my routine will be a bit off. In addition, I'm joining the Y tomorrow. I'll be starting up Yoga again on Wednesday. That should add to my energy level and what I can accomplish daily. Expect the pics by the weekend. In the meantime, there's a nice BlueStarPR poster above.

Kitty Pryde

See that beautiful brunette in the front of the picture below(no, the woman...)...?That's Evangeline Lilly. Beautiful and talented, I have to say that she is the quintesential actress to portray Kitty Pryde. It's too bad that Kitty's so young in the current run of films, or Miss Lilly could be on the big and the small screen.

OK, as if being addicted to "The 4400" wasn't enough, now I've started watching "Lost," which kicks ass! I'll be watching this for a long time.

Please Help

I'm back to the US, and I'd never dreamed that I'd have to do this for my first post. From the dream and nightmare of my travels, I've returned to the nightmare left by Hurricane Katrina. I've located many of the people that I know from Louisiana and Alabama, but there are a few left unaccounted for. If anyone has heard from Kimberly Hillman, Rebekah Elgin-Council, Cason Duke, or Joel K. Fortner or, if you know their whereabouts, please contact me.
For those of you able to do something, please donate time, blood, money....whatever you can. One place to donate is United Jewish Communities. There website can be reached at http://ujc.org/
G-d bless us all.

The end of Greece : (

As my time in Europe dwindles, my thoughts turn to Boston. How will I react to being back in The States? How will they react to me? I want to go on with my life, graduate, and get a real job, but I hate to end my travels. So much has changed, in me and the world. Like Helen said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all....."

Love's Remains

I dreamt of Sparky last night. I can't remember the details. I can't even remember how to spell as I write this. It was multiple dreams. Every time that I awoke, my body's response was obvious, and there was one name on my lips.
It's been over for two weeks, and the pain has faded from that of a broken bone to one of a faded injury, dull but constant. A memory of an earlier pain.
Everything that I thought that I knew about love was a lie. You can truly love someone and break their heart. You can break your own heart, and that's what I've done.
I want the pain to go away. If that means forgetting the joy, however, I'll gladly keep the pain. To do otherwise would kill the hope that I have that someday things will work out.

It's All Greek to Me

I'm in Athens, until early the morning of the 28th. You can call me from the US by dialing 011-30-210-3244808. Leave a message for Robert Pierce at the desk. I'm having a great time, but I'm also in need of a hug. I'm missing Sparky.
On a lighter note, Athens is probably the mostbeautiful city that I've ever seen. Anyone who wants to visit...I'll play tour guide!

Going Home

I know that they say "Once you've gone, you can't go back home." To some extent, it's true. I'm back in Tel Aviv. Ha Yarkon is still the same. It is wonderful to see the familiar faces. The weather is actually nicer than when I left. It's a different city, however. I'm a different person.
My trip was supposed to open me up to new cultures. I was supposed to learn about Israel and Israelis. That has happened...in spades. What I didn't expect...What has broadsided me...Is how much the trip would cause me to learn about myself. Every trip has it's theme...a general mood and idea. The theme for this trip has to be self-discovery.
I've discovered many things about myself. Some of them have proven nice. Others horrifying. Truly, I'll return a different person than I started out. My priorities have shifted. I'm excited about my life in the future.

A Very Special Shabbat

Tu'B'Av came and went...Lot's of thoughts of Sparky and the direction of my life. It turned out to be a very special day. I had a beautiful Shabbat hosted by The Smeltzers in Effrat. I definately needed a "time out" to process things. My time in Jerusalem has been that as well. Tomorrow, it's back to memories and Tel Aviv.

A Time of Great Change

In Gaza, the world watches great changes in land ownership and control. The struggle is heart-wrenching. In the hearts of two people, another struggle occurs. Old ideas are examined, mistakes are contemplated, and pain is felt. Change can bring about much good....
But must it always hurt so much?

The Spark is Gone

Which is worse, being alone or knowing that you've caused pain in a loved one? What if the two are bound up together? Where does the motivation come to get up and try again? What if you don't want to try again? How many second chances do we get?
T'shuva involves remorse and making amends. It's not for forgiveness but simply because it's right and necessary...But what I wouldn't do to recover that Spark.

Musings

When is a soul iredeemably corrupted? How far down the path of self-interest can one go before return is not possible? What's the power of shame? Can actions redeem you, or do you spend the remainder of your life trying to repair any damage that you've done?
Why do we hurt the ones we love? How do you keep an image of love alive if you'll never again see the one that you love? Do our actions and emotions have power beyond the immediate? Can truth be sensed? Does one lie in a relationship invalidate all truths from that relationship?

The Land of Milk and Honey...and Mitz!

Israel is everything that you've heard of and more. The details will follow when I return, but for now, imagine the freshest, largest, lushest fruits that you've ever seen. Now imagine 50 shops juicing them for you around the city. Those of you who know me know that juice is my favorite thing in the world. My latest favorite: Mitz tapozim v'gezer v'rimon b'yahad! Can anyone translate that into English?

Sparky!

Hey Sparky,

Thinking about you. I got your Phoenix poem. Thanks! But I can't reply to comments on the blog. Email me. phoenixrave@sc.rr.com

Ani B'Yisrael...

Yes, that's right, I'm in Israel! Finally! It's truly amazing, but I had an interesting trip here, let me tell you. I've checked into the hostel and met some wonderful people. Adjusting to Hebrew required more work coming from Scots than it does from English, but I've begun teaching my new friend Frank, from South Africa, how to speak Hebrew....so that he can flirt with the hostel attendant!
More as the visit progresses...

Tis Nae Bother...

Almost a week in Scotland, and the holiday is already different from my plans. I'm not complaining. It's been a right class trip. I knew I'd be having a bit of lager, but this is ridiculus! LOL. Pubbing and the festival make Edinburgh a brilliant destination in August, but the prices have definately been artificially increased to take advantage of this. When you're still pissed from the evening before, and going out means spending more money, what do you do but lie in and recover. Then, you're feeling well enough to go out, but all that's open are festival shows and pubs. The cycle starts over...

A preview

Everyone's been asking what my hair looks like curly.....It looks like this, except about 4 months growth shorter. My goatee is gone to. Once of you said it made me look like a "mexican terrorist!" It'll be back, though!

Kat and I-Enjoying Brighton Beach

Hat Games

Some pics before I leave

Well, here they are....the pics which I've had developed from my last 4 rolls of film. Above is Maggie and I. Ain't she gorgeous! Above that are some members of Temple Emanu-el in Myrtle Beach. The next two posts are some of my family. I'm hoping that this keeps you satisfied until the pics from the Europe/Israel trip are done.

Coyote Beautiful

Tammy & Elijah

Striking a pose!

My brother's new tatoo.

"Bobby G Ignores Will of the People"

The title refers to the poll below, in which not a single one of you has requested more about politics. It could be that you're more than a bit disgusted by my ranting after the Country ratified the 2000 election of "The Imbecile." It could also be that you're tired of hearing about politics. The former, I can understand. If it's the latter:
Get your head out of the sand!
Even if you, like Heather and Jack, (I still find it difficult to refer to them as friends when I recall that they did this) voted for The Imbecile, you still need to be aware that you're money and influence are being used to install a government in Iraq that is cozying up to terrorist sponsoring Iran. Yes, that's right, the blogger Billmon at Whiskey Bar called it:

"How would the folks back home feel if they knew their sons and daughters were getting limbs blown off so that Iraqi politicians could jaunt off to Tehran and say warm and fuzzy things about the crazy old man who gave us the Iranian hostage crisis? And what kind of surrealist cover story would the GOP propaganda machine come up with to convince the Fox News audience that fighting and dying to keep Khomeini lovers in power is really a good thing?"

How many of you knew that Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, on Sunday, laid a wreath on the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini and hailed what he called "a new chapter in brotherly ties" between Iran and Iraq? Did you hear that coverred in the mainstream media? Is it not important? I know that you all have lives, but is working the extral hour to buy dinner out really worth letting the world and this country move closer to serious dangerous action? I need to quote my favorite president here, President Andrew Shepherd:

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.

That seems even more important, now that your idiot congress is working to pass an amendment criminalizing flag-burning. As if that's important enough to ignore all of the myriad other bills which they could be considerring. You can make a difference. Read and act! Complacency and ignorance got Bush elected. They did it again 4 years later. They may overturn Roe vs. Wade. (That's a risk that a very liberal friend of mine looks forward to. He says that it's the most sure-fire way for "Soccer Moms" to realize the idiocy of their voting for a war monger like Bush to "make the world safer for their kids." ) Get out there and act. I plan on keeping the politics as part of this blog. If that offends, I really don't need you as a friend. If you're not part of the solution, you're a part of the problem. I don't have time for you in my life.

Shrinking

Where am I leaving?
I do not walk.
I do not fly.
I'm part of no herd of passers-by,
Destined for cubicles of office space.
How sad,
To be headed nowhere,
But to be certainly leaving.

Facing the Wrong Windows

Tonight, I watched "Facing Windows," and saw more than I'd anticipated. for quite a while, I've been facing windows (to get the metaphor, you might have to watch the film...It's worth it!). For much of that time, I'd forgotten who I am. I think that I'm beginning to remember who I am. It truly makes a difference in how I see life, and which window I see through. My trip should prove to be an awakening, in more ways than one. I intend to do a lot of writing. Maybe Tel Aviv will be my Paris, and I'll awaken the sleeping artist within.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

What should I focus on in the blog?

More Politics Photos My Life, in general "Whatever the focus, just work on your writing, dude. You need it!" Film and Lit. Reviews--Pop Culture

Stop Me If You've Heard This One...

A woman, in a hot air balloon, realized she was lost. She lowered her
altitude, and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago. But, I don't
know where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS, and replied, "You're in a hot air
balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet
above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes North latitude,
and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes West longitude.

She rolled her eyes, and said, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is
technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your
information. And, I am still lost. Frankly, you have not been much
help to me."

The man smiled, and responded, "You must be a Republican."

"I am!", replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well...", said the man, "You do not know where you are, or where you
are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity
of hot air. You made a promise, that you have no idea how to keep.
And, you expect me to solve your problem. You are in exactly the same
position you were in before we met. But somehow, now it's all my
fault...

You Guys Are Always Looking for the Racy Pics!

The question has been posed "If we buy you some of the clothing choices for your birthday, will you post pics on the blog?"
Of course! But that's good for any of the gifts. Personally, I think a pic of me dancing in the Aussiebum swimsuit on the DDR pad would be a fantastic pic, don't you? LOL.

For Me? You Shouldn't Have!

Well, Harry's and my birthday is coming up, and some of you have hinted about getting me presents. I know that I rarely even hint at what I want, but here's a list so that you don't have to ask! I've tried to include something in every price range, but remember...the more you spend, the more that I'll know that you love me!!! LOL.
Just click "HERE," or this entry's title to get to the list. If you wind up at the Froogle page, just do a search for a friend's list. For my email, use bobbywith@gmail.com my travelling email address.

Alignment

Well, I'm a gamer, and I usually play characters who are True Neutral. It works...But what is my alignment in life? My results are below. Check your's out and get back to me!

I scored as Chaotic Good. A Chaotic Good person is someone who has little intrinsic respect for laws or authority, seeing them as insufficient to sustain what's right. These people work according to their own moral compass which, while good, is not necessarily always aligned with that of society. Despite their chaotic tendancies, these people are good at heart. Chaotic Good 80% Lawful Good 75% True Neutral 65% Neutral Good 65% Lawful Evil 45% Neutral Evil 35% Lawful Neutral 15% Chaotic Neutral 15% Chaotic Evil 15% What is your Alignment? created with QuizFarm.com

Help!!!

I need some help from someone out there. I need it now. You see, I'm addicted. That's right. No, I haven't started smoking again...it's much worse. You see, I could go to the gas station today and buy a pack of smokes. No, I'm addicted to a television series, "The 4400" to be specific.
The help that I ask for isn't weaning me off. I've already gone cold-turkey. The second season premiered June 5. Unfortunately, I couldn't tune in, as I was walking in the AIDS Walk to save lives. I don't know if it's being a completest or having to have the chance to solve mysteries on my own, but I can't watch episodes out of order. So, I ask all of you out there...
Does anyone have copies of the second season's episodes of "The 4400?"

Where We Came From

This weekend, I had the opportunity to watch an episode of "Tales of the City" with a friend. For those of you who don't know, "Tales of the City" is a mini-series based on a series of books by Armisted Maupin, ostensibly showcasing what life was like in San Francisco in the Heydays of the 70s. The teleplay is filled with A-list actors and received rave reviews when it aired, although many Red-state PBS stations didn't show it because of the gay subject matter.
My friend didn't "get" the show. He couldn't articulate why, but from the things that he was saying, I believe that it's a combination of two things. Firstly, there's the current rejection of Gay Identity. In today's climate, the younger "hip" generation of Abercrombie & Fitch clones have little respect or tolerance for camp or anything that smacks of Gay Identity. Secondly, he was just unaware of the culture of the 70s.
Now I was nowhere near San Francisco in the 70s, but I do know the disco culture. It was in the movies while I was growing up. The gay culture that I read about early in my life was that culture. Today's queers may try to run from it, mistakenly believing A&F more "manly" than terrycloth and corduroy , but that culture got us to where we are today. Hell, as everything is recycled, it should be coming back to us.

Hebrew: Keeping Me Busy, and I Love It!

It's true. I'm way behind on entries to the blog. I will strive to do better, but only a truly amazing topic could monopolize my time like this. No, it's not working at the Hard Rock Cafe Boston. It seems as if I'm there all of the time, but that's just to pay the bills. What's been filling my head for the past two weeks is studying Hebrew. I have to say that this is probably my favorite subject that I've ever studied (and you know that I LOVE learning!). The language truly has music, which actually sings to me! Some things in the class come to me easily from their introduction. Others elude me continually until one day, Boom: They seem embedded in my mind beyond conscious control. Studying a language four hours a day is truly the way to learn. I can't wait to get to Israel and see what I can absorb there!

Get thee to the Cinema

In the last two weeks, I've seen more films than in the two months prior. It's been worth it. I have really been inspired by the films that I've seen lately. We're definitely experiencing a resurgence in quality films. For years, I've said that the best writing was in Television. Now, I believe that it's shifted to films.
Firstly, there was the bad, but not unbearably so "Slutty Summer." I would have been severely disappointed to spend the $7.50 (Student Discount) to see it, except that my ex, Neal, had a part in it, as did John, the lead in the play that we were both in two years ago. It's very interesting to see the person that you've slept with most in the world on screen. It made me wonder, for instance, if he'll always be the person that I've slept with most in the world...But that's a subject for another day.
I also saw "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," and I think that Angelina has never been better. Brad, as always, did a nice job. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, although I wish that I hadn't seen it opening weekend. In general, I don't believe in spending money for big budget films early in their runs. They dominate the screens anyway. Why should I spend money to help them maintain their dominance. I'd rather have four films playing on four screens than all four screens being wasted on one film.
The other big-budget film that I saw, "Batman Begins," I'd planned on seeing on opening weekend. Number one, it stars Christian Bale. Number two, it's supposedly faithful to the comic, and number three, it stars Christian Bale. It didn't disappoint. He looked phenomenal, as did the film. It's definately the best translation of the character to film.
Heights, I saw tonight on a date. I expected to like it. I didn't expect to like it that much. Loads of laughs, I cried (But those of you who know me can vouch that I can count the number of films that I haven't cried during on both hands.) It's a New York film, and The City is a character. A minor one, but it's there. Glenn Close gives an understated, moving performance. I'd never seen Elizabeth Banks, but she proved eminently watchable. Finally, after "The 24th Day," where he really impressed me, James Marsden proved here that his best acting is done outside of major blockbusters.
The last film that I mention is my favorite of them all. It's a little Indie that I fell in love with. I suggest that you all run out and see it as soon as it opens in your town, and that you hound your cinemas to get it. The name is "Saving Face." It's a fantastic romantic comedy (Which, to me, is the ultimate in film genres.). Any description beyond that feels limiting. The lead is a lesbian, but it's not a "Lesbian Film." Her family is Asian-American, but again, it's not an "Asian Film." If you really need to learn more, the title of this blog is a link to the films site.

Soho moment.

...'Cause Everything is Rent!

Well, I'm sold! That's right. November 11 is going on my list of requested days off. I'll be in New York, in line, with my pre-purchased ticket (and you know how tough it'll be for me to pay that $1.50 service charge for pre-buying...I AM Jewish!) for Rent. Hell, there might even be a midnight show.
What sold me? Well, I knew that I'd be there opening day, c'mon. It's the musical equivalent of my life. LOL. Of course, for something in which I'm emotionally invested, I have been preparing myself for disappointment. Well, the trailer is out. You can watch it yourself. For those of you who know the show, it can truly bring up many emotions. Click on the title of this entry and watch it yourself.

I LOVE THIS BLOG!

There's a lot of new technology that I plan to be including in this blog. The poll below is the beginning. Eventually, I'll let you all vote on which features stay. Feel free to comment on anything and everything.
On a different note....Tippy a.k.a. Woodrow Wilson Cannon III has officially won "Bobby G's Blog's" first contest. He'll receive his prize after I return from Israel and pay those bills, leaving me (hopefully) with enough money to buy it for him.

What's the greatest thing in the world?
	Whiskers on kittens
	Baby Snuggles
	Amazing Sex
	Love
	A day spent on the sofa with the remote
	A rewarding career
	Being Right
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Trading Spaces is filming in Boston! I still say that Changing Rooms is better.

All Work and No Play...

As you may have noticed by the growing number of days between posts, I've been a bit busy...While it hasn't all been work, I've been in overtime every week for quite some time. While that's great for earning vacation hours, it doesn't do wonders for my social life. I do need to work to get ahead on bills....I am taking almost the entire month of August off to go to Europe and Israel. Another way that they've managed to keep me at the HRC has been training me as a bartender. Yes, that's right, I finally made it!!! I love it! Now, I'll never get scheduled behind the bar. LOL.
So, while I do spend a lot of time at the Rock, it's gotten a lot better in some ways. The girls below...including Britney (Shout out to ya girl!) are some of what it's all about.

Some wild gals, having a wild time with me at the HRC Boston!  

World Pride

It looks like World Pride may be delayed. If it is, then I'll miss it. Of course, I'm not going to Israel solely for World Pride. Of course, I never do anything important for only one reason, but World Pride wasn't even the primary reason for my trip. That said, I would like to be a part of it, if it happens. Who knows, I may be able to find a surrogate mother for my children. Speaking of which....
Those of you who are female, or who know a female with a big heart and courage, please email me. I'm looking for a surrogate mother. I basically need a womb for 9 months! Yes, I want to be a gay father. I've always been a gay mother....

The "Altar Boyz" are CRUNK

As I mentioned last time, I saw "Altar Boyz" in NY, and I can't recommend it enough. Those of you who know me probably can't believe that I'm recommending a musical. You'll dig it. Click on the title to this entry or the words "Altar Boyz" here and above, and you can read a review from NYTheatre.com. You can buy tickets at Theatre Mania.com.
Life continues to be interesting. I'm working on learning Hebrew and preparing to go to Israel. Anyone with any suggestions should email them, or leave comments here at the blog.
The great girls that I waited on this past weekend have become blog commenters. Shouts out to Liz and Marlee!!!

Coming Out of Egypt...

I've made it through....Passover has passed over. The work week where I was scheduled 8 shifts is over. I do feel like I've come out of Egypt. The tricky thing is...I'm still in the desert. I haven't made it to The Promised Land yet. I have to present my final project in class, learn my new menu items, train enough staff members to get a day off, make enough money to pay for school and my vacation, and figure out what's going on in my love life. And I thought last week was tough!
Check the photos below for the WAY COOL girls who came in Saturday night. Until next time, I HIGHLY recommend "Altar Boyz," in NY. It's not only funny, it has a great message. I'll get a link up fo it. In the meantime, rent "The Troop," an Israeli film from 1979. It's truly a classic.

Here's a pic that Liz and the girls took of me... 

That's Liz and her girls from Utica, NY. They were as sweet as could be. I can't wait until they come back! 

That's me and a friend at Gay Pride in NY last year. Keep your fingers crossed that the sticker was a prediction, and not a wish! 

Maria, with a quirky smile! Gotta love her! 

My old shul in NY...It's The Actors' Shul, in Midtown. Look it up, if you're interested.  

My girl Rita, looking VERY blonde! 

My sis and the Madeline, looking cute! 

You Sleep When You're Dead

It's been a very busy last few weeks. I've been working many hours, logging in many study hours, attended classes, and began volunteering for some new causes. On top of all of that, Romance keeps darting in to keep things especially interesting. A bit of a break to catch my breath would be welcome, but then again, that's not me.
So, I'm throwing myself into it all. I'll use the overtime to pay my tuition bills, use what I learn to prepare my application, and volunteer for a committee which will help me become a more effective educator. In addition, I'll continue out on the romantic limb on which I've climbed. I know the fruit's out there. I believe that I can reach it before the limb breaks.

Time For Some Photos

Alright, I've been a bit too busy to write for the blog...Info on that to come later, but, I've got some pics from my trip to Myrtle Beach and New York. Enjoy them. Much Love...

Welcome Back, Me

I apologize for taking this long to update you all, but a lot has been happening. I'm really loving the classes that I'm taking at Hebrew College. I've recently been to the doctor and dentist, and everything is looking good. Work is exciting and I'm training behind the bar. I have two appointments to snowboard in two weeks. Scotland, it appears, is strongly encouraginge immigration. It just seems as if a lot of lucky stars are shining down on me.
Shortly, I'm sure that I'll have something to report. Until then, let's all focus on the things that we have. Sure the President's a wanker, but hey, everyone knows it now.

Blowhard Bigot

Orson Scott Card will be appearing at Boskone, a local con this weekend. I won't be attending. I have truly loved some of his books, but I can't stomach his personal politics. If anyone attends, please, don't urinate on him if he's on fire...If he's out, it's ok.
Buzz Harris wrote the letter below. I think that he states the case nicely:

An Open Letter to Boskone 42 Attendees

While I am sure that there will be strong attendance at this year's Boskone, there are not as many people here as there might be. Why? Because of the Guest of Honor. Orson Scott Card, while a gifted and popular SF writer, is also virulently anti-gay - so much sothat he has amassed years of bigoted, publicnonfiction writing that insults and demeans lesbian,gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

He supports police action against us, unless we keep quiet: "Laws against homosexual behavior should remain on thebooks, not to be indiscriminately enforced againstanyone who happens to be caught violating them, but to be used when necessary to send a clear message tothose who flagrantly violate society's regulation ofsexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain asacceptable, equal citizens within that society." (O.S.Card, "The Hypocrites of Homosexuality," 1990).

He wants us to remain in the closet:"The goal of the polity is not to put homosexuals injail. The goal is to discourage people from engagingin homosexual practices in the first place, and whenthey nevertheless proceed in their homosexualbehavior, to encourage them to do so discreetly, so asnot to shake the confidence of the community in thepolity's ability to provide rules for safe, stable,dependable marriage and family relationships." (O.S.Card, "The Hypocrites of Homosexuality," 1990).

What does he really think?:"The dark secret of homosexual society -- the one that dares not speak its name -- is how many homosexuals first entered into that world through a disturbing seduction or rape or molestation or abuse, and how many of them yearn to get out of the homosexual community and live normally." (O.S. Card, "Homosexual'Marriage' & Civilization," 2004).

I thought it only fair to use his own words to back up my assertions. The problem was not in finding anti-gay quotes from him - it was in selecting from dozens of them so as to accommodate a single-page letter. Does he have the right to state his views publicly? Absolutely. Is he a raging bigot? Absolutely. A number of us have chosen not to attend Boskone thisyear to protest his presence. We just wanted you to know why.

Sincerely,

Buzz Harris

Buzz's Online Journal, where this, and other writings can be found, is at www.livejournal.com/users/civic_oracle/

Here's my professional headshot. Anyone wanting to contact me for acting work, please do!  

Probably my favorite picture of The Madeline... 

Somebody's Moody... 

Who's looking Devlish?