Ugh. So tired. It’s Sunday afternoon/early evening. Bill and I finished the parade at 2:30, marched the whole thing from start to finish. A good time, lot’s of balloon and thousands of well wisher. Truly an affirming thing. Only saw one hater in the way and he was very upset. I just smiled and flashed him the peace sign. That’s the kind of day it is, peace signs for everyone. That’s what I did I flashed the ‘V’ for peace as we walked down Fifth Avenue. Pretty tired though. It’s been a beautiful, gorgeous day, that much is for sure.

Didn’t do anything last night in preparation for the parade. Just watched Deep Impact, forsaking Scrubs for two hours. I had always been interested in Deep Impact and never saw it from start to finish. It’s definitely more emotional than Armageddon. Perhaps that’s because Mimi Leder directed it, and Michael Bay directed Armageddon. It’s probably Tea Leoni’s best screen time too. Maybe she’s better with drama rather than comedy. After that we watched Law and Order once again. The Olivia show, meaning Special Victims Unit. Bill and I sings along to the theme in the beginning of the show, singing ‘It’s Olivia. All about Olivia…and the others.’

Bill went to bed, I watched some of Saturday Night Live. It was the season finale repeat with Zack Braff. Very good and Maroon 5 was pretty good. I keep forgetting that’s they’re sometimes alright. They seem to be doing the right thing by releasing their second record five years after their first. I always thought they were a jam band, but believe it or not I may be wrong. Jeez I must be tired if I’m admitting that I might be wrong. Nudge nudge, wink wink. Blister is totally gone by the way. Thank you for your cards and flowers.

I got up around 7:00 this morning, showered, coffee and then out to get bagels and papers for myself. Went to the supermarket for other items including eggs which I forgot about until I got to the parking lot then had to run back in much to the cashier, Linda’s amusement. She’s nice and a pleasure to deal with on a weekend morning. Came home, had breakfast, more coffee followed by a little wake and bake since I wanted to be as mellow as possible. It worked out wonderfully. Caught a bus with a few other gays and lesbians who you can tell since they’re t shirts said they were.

It was a bright and sunny day and I was glad I put on some sun block. I listened to Good Day Sunshine by the Fabs, Freeda People (Bring on The Lucie) by John Lennon and Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) by George Harrison followed by 2-4-6-8 Motorway by Tom Robinson Band since I didn’t have Glad to Be Gay on my iPod. Tom Robinson was an out and proud rock and roller in the new wave days. But 2-4-6-8 Motorway is uplifting and energetic enough to psych myself up.

I met Bill at 41st Street and 7th Avenue and we went to Duane Reade where Bill purchased a hat for me and we made our way up to 56th and Madison where Bill’s church was meeting. This was our third pride march and the first one was a nightmare since we decided to help corral the religious groups. It was a horrible time with the Jews complaining about being behind the Episcopalians who resented being behind the Radical Faeries who didn’t complain at all. Neither did the pagans. I don’t know about this monotheism stuff. The followers all seem quite bitchy and big babies.

Bills group are a very nice group. Park Avenue Christian Church. Very welcoming. I even broke bread with them, taking a communion of sorts which was cool and made Bill very happy. Communion, community, commune. I was a bit peckish anyway. The grand marshals of the parade were religious folk and that meant that religious groups would be the first groups in the parade following Dykes on bikes.
It was a lot of fun, crowds screaming and cheering. We were handing out balloons and we all had a lot to give out and the balloons provided great cover from the sun and some of us were reluctant to hand them out. The plan was to hand out a balloon at every block I mainly gave mine to children and handicapped people. It was a glorious day, good company and lot’s of pride.

Happy Pride!

Here’s some pics. Took a lot. Enjoy. Me so tired. Johnny Ozombie now.

The DIGNITY Contingent. Catholics excluded from the roman catholic church, outside of that tax free tourist trap, St. Patrick’s Cathedral

We walk the line

MC’s outside the Public Library

Balloon Man Bill

Outside of the Stonewall, where it all started in 1969

Looking at these pics makes me proud and thankful, just seeing all the people in support of LGBT people. Wonderful. Would someone please bless the drag queens? Thank you.

and once again, Happy Pride!

and here’s a new Rufus Wainwright video, Rules and Regulations. I hope this works out!

A mellow Saturday is a good thing. I have no complaints. The ugly blister which I wrote about yesterday and grossed out a few readers has cleared up and I can walk without a limp today. Still my right calf is tight and not in a good way, but I think that should take care of itself. I knew it was going to be a busy day so I wisely did my laundry the night before. Foresight. Me. Go figure. Juan came over and hung out and so did Julio after he had dinner and drinks with some people from work. So he was a little bit buzzed.

He called from the bar he was at and asked if I would be home so that he might be able to climb down the fire escape. I assured him that I would be but forgot how antagonistic he could be when under the influence of a few beers. He came up, Juan and I hanging out. I cleared a path to the window and gave him a lantern that he gave me a few years ago. He was able to make it down to the third floor where he was skinny enough to be able to crawl through a 14 inch window. So he was able to get his keys back.

He came up and complained that there wasn’t anything alcoholic to drink. Actually there was some Guinness but Julio turned his nose up at that. Also there were only four cans, and three men so someone would get shorted on a pint. I offered him some
Gammel Dansk, a Danish liqueur that I had in my fridge but he refused in his humorously belligerent manner. Then he remembered that he had some Danish vodka in his fridge so I went down and got it and made drinks for the three of us when I returned to my apartment.

We watched Angel Cabrera, I mean Bill on Conan O’Brien again since Julio hadn’t seen it. We also watched Entourage, Flight of the Conchords and John from Cincinnati. Once again, Julio brought up the fact that he hadn’t been up here in a while, and was never invited up to watch the Sopranos, though I’ve told him time and time again he had an open invitation to come up here anytime and watch TV. He never takes me up on it, don’t know why. Could be because he doesn’t think Stine would like the apartment, or perhaps it’s so he can spend as much time with Stine alone.

Around 12:30 I kicked both Juan and Julio out. Julio went first, Juan a little while later, in time to say Hello Goodbye to Bill who crawled through the door later than usual, greeted by me with curlers in my hair and a rolling pin in my hand while wearing a house coat. I said good night to Bill and fell right asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. After two drinks last night which weren’t strong at all, I woke up with a head ache or a hang over. Took some gel caps and went out for the papers and bagels.

I called Julio to see if he wanted a bagel but he only asked for water since he too had a head ache hang over. I bought the bagels and the papers, then came back to the apartment and got some bottles of Poland Spring for the J Meister. Then I came home, had a nice breakfast and read the papers. I looked online for the train schedules to and from Garfield and looked to see if bicycles were allowed on the train, They were so I decided to ride to Frank and Elaine’s house from the train station.

Frank was sitting on the couch with Corinne and Elaine greeted me on the stairs. I sat with them and watched TV. Elaine and Corinne had errands to run so I sat with Frank until it was time for me to go catch the train back to Bokeyland. All in all a good day, even when I went to the supermarket after taking my bicycle helmet off not noticing a half inch of dirt and sweat across my forehead.

Here’s some more pics from the new camera..

Can’t start the day without it!

Julio’s POV

Bill

Elaine!

Cuddly Juan

Fire Escape Navigator

Me!