Royal’s 2008 – Top Ten

This is just a listing of stuff that affects just me that I think is pretty darn cool to me that either happened to me or is just really darn cool – so, I apologize in advance for anything remotely self indulgent about this post!  Thanks!  Oh, this list is NOT – NOT – in any order… it’s just a list that is coming into my thoughts as I type this, so please don’t be offended by that – be offended for other reasons… That is all, please read if ya want to!

1)  FAMILY & FRIENDS (yes, this includes everyone I know, it’s safer that way, no gets left out – oh some shout outs to Mom, Dad, Danny, Flippy, Alan, Meg, Miss Powers, Ms. West, Endora, the CEOREAD crew, Tamara and her Repubican and everyone I have yet to meet or have met *whew*

2) WORK/BOOKS – I LOVE my job… that is all – I just frickin’ LOVE it!  That and I get to work with books and I even get to another of my passions: writing!!  Some books I’ve read this year:  David Copperfield, The Woman in White, Anything Goes, and Stoner.

3) TUPPY – Yep, my baby, my cat

4) MUSIC – This year was a GREAT time for me music-wise:  Cyndi, Siouxsie, Debbie Harry, Dido, the Killers,  Erasure and the B-52s came out with new stuff.  I know I’m missing more – that that’s the cool ones I remember!

5) CONCERTS - Went to see Kathy Griffin, Neil Diamond, Madonna and probably more I’m forgetting (was I that drunk this year?).

6) TRAVEL – Got to see my friends I did NOT mention above (I reserve their names until now) Chad and Jason in Jersey!!!  I’m goin’ back again soon!!

7) HEALTH – *knock on wood* – not the disco song, really I’m knockin’ on wood as we speak (not that kind of wood either!!! DUDE!).

8 ) HOME – I love my home, basically because of where I live and well, Tuppy helps too!

9) POLITICS – This year was pretty cool in the political areana.  Obama rox – we still have a long way to for equal rights – but it’s gettin’ there *crosses fingers* – oh, and whatsup with gettin’ a priest for the inauguration? Seperation of church and state, anyone??

10) HOPE – I still got hope (see above).  I hope people stop dying in this war, stop hatin’ because someone might be different, and I hope that mint chocolate becomes banned soon (I hate that stuff).

** NOTE ** I’ve left coffee, martini and men offf the list, because, those just transends the list as a ‘given’, ok???

Anywho – there’s my top 10 for the year of our Lord, 2008.  Peace, Love and Joy to all!  Happy New Year!

1993: Old Syns

Flippy just scanned some old, old, old, old photos of me – thought I’d share them!  It’s from 1993, the time I lived in the Haunted House (see story above in ‘Haunted Syns’).

Enjoying the past memories and more to come in the new year!!!  Thanks for sharing this Flippy and I’ll have to scan some of you now!!  PEACE!

Republicans are Stupid

** DISCLAIMER ** Yep, I just called ALL Republicans stupid – and if I’m generalizing, so be it (tongue in cheek)!  I am (kind of) sorry for calling all those elephants stupid, it really is just two people thus far, but it wouldn’t be a dramatic title without generalizing, so bear with me!

I just ran across 2 such Republicans in the last 2 days and this is why these kinds of people are gettin’ under my skin as of late.

I give you the 2 people:

#1 – “Obama is not American, he isn’t from here – why can he be president” – Alright, this is just dumb, right – is it just me??  This Republican actually believes that Obama is from another country and how could we elect a foreigner.  Wow.  Last time I checked, Hawaii was part of the Union.

It gets better:

#2 - “Obama is hiding something on his birth certificate, that’s why he’s not releasing it to the general public – it could be a consipiracy, like it states that he was not born here or he’s listed as being ‘white’.” – OK, OK, WTF!!!  IF birth certificates could be made secret, we’d all know about this AND even if he was born in another coutry, it doesn’t matter (mainly because he wasn’t) and here’s a newsflash to everyone:  Obama’s mom was white.  All those pictures of him with those white people are his family.  It’s not a really big secret.  (I am kind of tired about EVERYONE saying he’s the first ‘black’ president (he’s half white/half black to be exact) – can he just be that great guy we elected?)

I’m going to be diplomatic here too – this is my part of bipartisanship – Democrats: I’m still waiting for you to get your priorities ‘STRAIGHT‘ and start getting the gay and lesbian community equal rights!  Ok, Ok, I’m done venting for now – until I meet up with another ignoramous from the Republican party – until then, I hope everyone has a GREAT new year!

Syns of the New Year

I’m invited this year to partake in a party – a theme party – for New Years’ Eve.  I know, I know – I hate theme parties too – but this one is different!  It’s the theme: Drinks of Years Gone By - people bring their favorite old time drink to share with everyone else!  See, yet another way to drink yourself through the holidays!

I choose Tom & Jerry’s!  It’s a drink that was designed by sports writer Pierce Egan in the 1820s.  It’s sort of like eggnog, but you add brandy and rum and you serve it HOT!  It is NOT named after the famous cartoon couple OR after the author of the first bartender guide (Jerry Thomas).   Rather, it was for Egan’s book:  “Life in London” or “The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom” (1821)  and the  play:  “Tom and Jerry” that followed the books release.  I guess they figured the booze would boost sales and recognition on the literature (p.s. – they were right).

Syns of Kitt

I had the awesome experience of seeing Eartha Kitt on Broadway (in the musical ‘9‘)  and have loved her since I was a little kid listening to her records on my dad’s player in the basement and then on TV as the Catwoman.  She was truly a remarkable woman, a force to be reckoned with and a talent that we won’t be seeing on a regular basis anymore.

Visit - http://www.earthakitt.com/ – for more of this amazing woman’s story!

Eartha: May you Rest in Peace and Never Forgotten in Our Minds!

Christmas with the family

Here’s a little video of this Christmas – in it is my family (mom, dad, and brother and my mom’s dog: Lady)!  I hope everyone had a great holiday!!  Enjoy the video

The Holidays Sure Can Be a Drag

But try to keep yourself as Mary and Gay as Possible!!

Happy Seasons!

North Pole Tragedy!

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the woods again…

An Actor’s Studio Christmas

Hey there – me again!

A great co-worker/friend and her hubby invited me to a GREAT party last night – mostly inhabited by community actors (not that there’s anything wrong with that – it just made it more animated than the other parties I have attended this holiday season).

There was a lot of Christmas going on at the house,many trees decorated, many candles lit, many a wreath, mistletoe,  much wine, much food and great conversation.  All in all it was a very cool party and I got to spend time with people I don’t get to spend time with at all!  OH, did I mention there was a chocolate fountain too?  Mmmmm!.

I hope everyone out there in blog-land has a teriffic and safe holiday season!  And if you’re drinking – have one for me!

Twelve Days of Syns

My Tree: A Traditional Pagan Ritual

Christmas is almost upon us and at this time I usually get tired, from time to time, about people referring to the 12 days of Christmas.  Most people think that these are the days leading up to the holiday – or that it’s just the song and it’s  not tied to any religion.  These accounts are both wrong.

The 12 days of Christmas were taken originally from the Pagans and adapted into Christian holidays.  It was a feast of Winter Solstice which lasted 12 days.  Being a Pagan festivity, the Christians made it have their intrepretation.  The 12 days were to start on the 26th of December until January 6th – “Chrstmastide”.  The 6th of January is also the Epiphany (arriving of the wise men to Bethleham).

The song that is sung during the holidays was used as an educative tool for remembering parts of the Christian Faith – especially for youngsters.  During times of war, the song used to strengthen Faith, because non-Christians would just assume it’s a harmless and not set in religion.

Each of the numbers and verses do mean something, however:

One Partridge = Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves = Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens = The Three Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope and Love)

Four Calling Birds = Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

Five Golden Rings = First Five Books of the Bible (The Torah)

Six Geese A-laying = The Creation (6 Days)

Seven Swans A-swimming = Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Eight Maids A-milking = Eight Beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing = The Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Ten Lords A-leaping = The Ten Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping = The Faithful Apostles

Twelve Drummers Drumming = The Parts of the Apostles’ Creed

So, there’s a little history on the twelve days.  Both Pagan and the bastardized Christian version of it.  This was the original time of Yule – so, drink heavily however you choose to celebrate it!!

Snowed In Syns – at work….

Made it in to work today and thought I’d take some pics from the office windows.  All told we got over 8″ of snow in one nite!

A parking lot in the Third Ward

ICE!

Snow!

More snow!

brrrrr Downtown Milwaukee

Our office X-mas tree

I hope everyone made it safely home if they travelled today – and stay safe in the snow!

12 Gays of Christmas!

A little something to provide merriment for the Yule Season!

DISCLAIMER: Those appearing in this video are not necessarily of the gay persuasion, (not that there’s anything wrong with that), they just play one on TV… Tribute to The Rockettes and those who live at the Hallowed Hall for 3 months a year during The Christmas Craptacular! …

Snow Day!!

Well I just trekked my little butt to work today via the bus because Milwaukee just got oh, about 8″ of snow over the night and it’s still coming down!  I’ll be taking some pics of it soon just so everyone can see.  The buses just sent out FREE passes for shits and giggles, so getting to work was FREE for me – I’m so cheap!  I’m the only one here thus far, kind of creapy – but that’s how I roll.  If anyone reading this is in Wisconsin/Illinois and it’s snowing – PLEASE be careful!!!  This is the time when accidents just happen – I saw an ambulance in the ditch coming in from my apartment with 4 guys trying to shovel it out… So, please use common sense!! That’s all – oh and if you’re snowed in – hot cocoa/coffee and whiskey will perk ya RIGHT up!!

A Great Workout for X-Mas!

IMPORTANT EXERCISE TIP:

The older we get the more important it is to incorporate exercise into our daily routine. This is necessary to maintain cardiovascular health and maintain muscle mass.

If you’re over 40, you might want to take it easy at first, then do more repetitions as you become more proficient and build stamina. Warning: It may be too strenuous for some.

Always consult your doctor before starting any exercise program!

SCROLL DOWN………….

NOW SCROLL UP..

That’s enough for the first day. Great job – Had fun though, I bet!

Have some cookies and eggnog.

Taken from Lady Bunny’s blog! Photos added by me

http://www.ladybunny.net/blog/

Syns of the SAG

The SAG nominations just came out!  Here you go:

Actor:

Richard Jenkins – The Visitor

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn – Milk

Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Actress:

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie – Changeling

Melissa Leo – Frozen River

Meryl Streep – Doubt

Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

Sup Actor:

Josh Brolin – Milk

Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder

Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt

Heath Ledger – The Dark Night

Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire

Sup Actress:

Amy Adams – Doubt

Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis – Doubt

Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Kate Winslet – The Reader

Cast:

Doubt

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

For more info – check it:  http://www.sagawards.org/nominations

Shameless Plug

I just have to say that I tried out the Schick Quattro last night and OMG!  It left my face smooth!! I have an odd, heavy beard and up to now I really didn’t know what I was missing with a double and triple blade razor -

I am totally using this from now on!! If you’re a guy with a thick beard, try it – I’m sure you won’t go back to less than 4 razors.  ** Great Idea for Christmas **

(http://www.schickquattro.com/sq_home_flash.cfm)

Time for Change?

I just found this on E! Online!!!  I can’t wait for RuPaul’s new show on Logo!!

(Looks like it could be the Obama’s newest X-mas card, huh?)

OH! This is RuPaul as both Michelle and Barack, in case you were wondering!!

Traveling Syns

I’d thought I’d just tell everyone that I love my cell phone now – it took me some time to actually get one and then remember that I have one!  It helped me out the last time I had to pick a friend up at the airport!!  Alan’s plane got canceled first due to weather and then didn’t leave the Chicago airport until an hour or so after they initially scheduled the flight.  Needless to say, me in my car with the phone was awesome.  He finally got to my car in the 3 degree weather with no bag…. they had lost it – but at least my car was warm!!

Dreaming Syns

This is just weird -

I had this total odd dream last night.  It involved me going back to my grade school to visit the old class rooms and get all nostalgia-like.  So, ya – I went there and there was my 8th grade teacher’s room on the 2nd floor – I knocked on the door and it was made of popcorn and the door pened and the carpet was now bacon – but not any kind of bacon – like not ACTUAL bacon, but like plastic, squishy bacon carpet (the popcorn wallpaper was foam, it turns out).  So, I walk into the classroom and on the bacon carpet in the middle of the room is a bed.  I asked my teacher (who is now someone else – some middle-aged woman, not the same woman who was there initially) – I asked if the kids gather around her bed for lessons and she laughed and said, “of course not, that’d be silly.”  Right – like that’s the thing that would be silly.  Turns out she lives there, not teaches.  Anywho, the other doors for the classrooms were closed – before closing her now bedroom/classroom I noted that all of the doors in the school were not big, oak doors that looked like bedroom doors.  I asked if any other teachers were up here and she said that they were all teaching.

So, the door closed.

It re-opened when her T.A. came in – she was an older woman.  Then they both showed me her shower, which was running in the corner of the hallway – huge head of the shower and kind of moldy on the side – green/yellow tiles – and 2-3 different kinds of soap in the dish.  She was all proud of this shower.  I didn’t get it – she smiled alot.  I was turning back into the room when she mumbled something like: “Who’d believe this was a lift, too” – So, it was a shower/elevator.  Odd, see!

So, I turned into the room and the bed is now just a mattres on the floor and she’s in a black nighty with her boobs hiked up to her chin and she invites me down to her bed (aka, Mrs. Robinson-like).  She proceeds to act like it’s usually for me to be on the bed with her and we chat.  I ask her about past school chums parents and teachers, etc.  She tells me either they are fine or she hasn’t seen them in awhile.  Until I mention Mrs. Kowalski, which she then says, “You know she was just up here yesterday and who knew she liked to make out so much! Do you like to make out?”

I noticed her teeth, yellowing and bad breath.  At that moment I woke up.

See, odd dream.

A Synful Christmas Carol

This weekend was nuts… NUTS I tell ya!!  There were 2 Christmas parites I attended (one with Flippy and the other with Roberto) then I got FREE tix to a Christmas Carol at the Milwaukee Rep.

At Flippy's Party!

Flippy’s Party:

Work party (PR Firm) in Pewaukee, in a hotel, open bar until 7pm, dinner (filet), dessert (choc, rich, cake), wine, presentations from employees, a carol sung by the newbies, dancing and socializing after wards.  Quite fun – this is my (5th??) year going with her and I always manage to have fun (as white and republican as it is….)

Roberto’s Party:

Around the corner (almost) from my apartment, 8pm, brought wine with me, got there and found:  hot beef sammies, chicken teryiaki wings, dips, veggies, pickles, cheese plates, cheesecake, pineapple upside-down cake, deviled eggs, etc.  Then I went downstairs and there was a FULL bar… HELLLOO!!!  After shots of tequila and much vodka I was totally in the Christmas mood.  I left the party at 3am with Nifer – quite fun!

Christmas Carol:

I always like this play – and Tiny Tim was not as annoying as he tends to be!  I got the tickets from work and had 2 extra so I invited John and his BF.  We got to sit together, which was nice!!  After that I took Lisa to a new Mexican place to eat (old to me, new for her).  After a couple of margaritas and some chorizo – I went home and found A Christmas Carol playing on TCM…. So, I had to watch it, right??