Chapped Lips
Yes...my lips are chapped...I'll get to that later.
I arranged to go to Twist bar and meet Shamus, Ryan, and Robert (some new blood for the mix). Robert and Shamus recently met during a night out on the town.
We were all there to help Shamus celebrate his big opening (insert giggle here) and attend the play for which he designed the set. This black box theater seated only 30 audience members, allowing the audience to intimately experience what is going on stage as if they were part of the play. I like this form of theater usually, but found the play being presented was Paula Vogel's Hot 'N' Thobbing. Now I've read the play before, and had I realized which play I was going to go see, I probably wouldn't have attended. This play is very, very, very disturbing, and in a black box theater, the sense of being trapped is extreme. Charlene, our heroine, struggles to provide for her two teenage children by writing women's based erotica, when her abusive ex-husband pays a visit. Two speaking voices are the subconscious voices of the characters she writes about, but who slowly take on the characteristics of Charlene and her abuser.
This play was way too close to my own childhood, and it was like living in my father's household once again. I'm not one to be trapped, and characters like this...it can be disturbing. Those of us who have witness abuse in some way or another, will have a seriously difficult time sitting through the play, without wanting to get up, and try to stop the action. This once again...is because the theater is so small, the domestic violence is happening "right in your living room".
Post show...we four went to The Starkweather bar for the opening night party. $4 martinis???? At that point...I needed 6, but I'll settle for one. Ryan hit on a straight guy, and the poor guys girlfriend was getting a bit perturbed. Get four gay men together with some alcohol, and the cattiness comes out.
Now a rule for everyone out there. As a comedian, I have jokes that I tell, but everything I do is scripted, and subjects are chosen based on audience. When I meet someone and tell them I do stand up comedy, I HATE BEING ASKED TO SAY SOMETHING FUNNY!!!!! I have yet to meet a comedian who likes that! My stock answer is "well your ugly and your mother dressed you badly".
Finished up the evening back at Twist, where I could happily walk home.
Pride Parade starts at 1:00 pm. One of the grand marshals was Dick Feagler, a straight columnist from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He wrote a wonderful column that really made me stand up and notice him, and sadly, he now has been getting quite a bit of hate mail, as well as death threats for writing it.
The weather was 68 degrees but with the wind coming off the lake, it felt like it was 50 out of the sunshine. Several times I was shivering, wishing I had wore a long sleeved shirt. The parade and festival...small (only 10,000), but this is gay Christmas.
From there is was down to the festival (aka "beer garden") where you can walk the booths selling pride t-shirts (gays and shopping??? Who would have thought?), churches that are always looking to welcome us back, and of course...Politicians booths. Politicians have very quickly realized the grass roots power of the gay pride parade and rallies. The festival had 8 voter registration booths, and every hour, the public announcement was to register to vote. It's a war going on, and my rights are in jeopardy.
Saturday night, dinner at Union Station, and bed by 1:00 am, sunburned, and with chapped lips from the wind. By 2:20, I was drunk dialed by Ryan who was making a food stop at Taco Bell, and wanted to know if I wanted anything. Uhhh...toxic hell?...I'll pass for now.
The Annual Cleveland Pride Run 5K was a smashing success. Joe and Mike need to be commended for doing this every year, as well as the Front Runners. Since I am living with two torn quad muscles, I was not about to run, so instead I helped with the volunteer work. Registering people, directing them during the race, and cheering people on as they ran back up "killer hill" (a 200 foot hill that leads to the beach off lake Erie).
The off to the Softball games where ladies and gentlemen:
WE BEAT THE LESBIAN TEAMS!
Game 1: Wildcats vs. Lizard Lips. Final Score 18-1 (whoa daddy!)
Game 2: Wildcats vs. Rainbow Warriors (formally Lady Bulls). Final Score 9-5.
After game...bed...I need to let the liver digest and rest a bit.
Hope y'all had a great weekend as well.
Results so far.
- A picture of people posing in front of the protestors and their signs. Extra points if the sign reads "God Hates Fags!"
- Picture of you kissing a shirtless boy.
- A leather thong.
- The rabbit "toy"
- Prince Albert
- Underwear/partywear for every color of our Flag
- 'Are you a natural blonde? Down there!?!'
Eyes of every colorTanlines or lack there ofPec symetrya Man-tini - a man with just a martini!Dykes on bikes- Marilyn Monroe drag with a Leather Bear
- Uncomfortable local politician trying to be P.C.
- Pflag mom shouting down ÂGod Hates Fags protester
- Thongs worn by those who can
- Drag Queen kissing a Cop (the cop must be Real!)
Short Guys, Short guys are Hot!- Crass commercial float dripping with,see #16 or #18
- You having way too much fun
- Skag Drag
- Sweaty Fireman
A total of 16 inches from only 2 men.- A sane potential son-in-law
- Rupaul autographing your shirt
- A nipple piercing
- Butch (Dyke) wearing pastel pink top
- Man who looks like his pet
- Woman who looks like her pet
- Someone with 6 toes
- Someone smoking a joint beside a police office on duty.
- Couple in the Senior Section of Cleveland Pride showing serious public affection.
- Mistress and her slaves (yes plural)
Woman with Boa- Rupaul posing with PC! (One can dream!)
