A time to rebrand

It's about how I represent. You know. How I'm bringin' myself out into the world and lettin' y'all see a piece of me. How I see myself, and how I let you see me through my writing.

To a certain set of friends, I became Debra shortly after we all started hanging out. And to them, I'll always be Debra. The bounciest on the volleyball court. The bounciest on the dancefloor. The bounciest as I go through life.

I wouldn't want it any other way, because those are some of the happiest times of my life.

When I started this blog, I had some concerns about starting something that the whole world could see and read. Still, I had goals in mind at the start, one of which was to begin feeling comfortable with writing for an unknown audience -- for people that I don't know and would never know. Business writing and technical writing and manual writing are all good, but I wanted to see about writing for people I might offend. For people I might make laugh. For people I might impress. For people that might not have to come back for a second look, but who just might want to because they were entertained. Or maybe because I made them think. Or maybe just because they thought I was hot : )

And way back then -- back in the beginning -- it was just easier to write this thing under a pseudonym. Naturally, I used my favourite nickname, Debra. Sure, it wasn't long before I freely started using my real name and writing about real details on the blog, but there will always be some distance between me and my adoring fans. There has to. After all, I'm not gonna let someone track me down and do the stalker thing. I'll never use my last name, and I'll never use my family's names.

But maybe this whole representin' thing is about showing more of who I am now, as opposed to who I was so many years ago. In the past year-plus, I've made so many contacts with people who have somehow found me and my blog. I've been lucky enough to have had those people leave some amazing comments for me. I've let friends into this blog world of mine. I feel comfortable with the idea of strangers finding me and seeing parts of me.

But, in all honesty, one of the things that has kept me from introducing everyone to this blog is the way in which I represent myself. In a sense, I'm embarrassed about being represented as Debra. Although I'm proud of the affiliation that the name means to me with my amazing circle of friends, I know that some people who aren't quite so enlightened might think that a woman's name is representative of a feminine person.

I'm here to tell ya one thing: I may be gay, but I'm all man!

Sure, I'm realllly gay and like figure skating, for instance, but that doesn't make me less of a man than, say, my brother. Nor should the nickname Debra label me the same way. Still, why not remove any ambiguity altogether? Although I love what the personna Debra represents, I don't want people to have a limited view of who I am based on a nickname. Why not stop feeling uncharacteristically confined by what others might think, simply based on a silly nickname? It's time to open the lid and let 'er rip.

I'll always be Debra to that certain group of friends. Heck, I'll always be Debra to myself. But on life is large. why insist on living small?, it's time to just be me.

Welcome to the subtle rebranding of my blog. I'm very happy to introduce myself as Jeff. I'll be your tour guide for the next phase of our journey.

And I got a free toaster oven phone!

I was just thinking yesterday, "Jeepers, I kinda feel like I'm back to some semblance of normal living again."

I was driving my own car to work. I was in a good mood after having the previous day off work. I have vowed to get back to better eating habits. I'm determined to get back into some sort of fitness routine.

And I got myself on a cell phone plan.

One of the things that has frustrated me over the past several months is that I've basically had to switch cell phone numbers for each of the past few new cities we've been in. And I figured it was going to be the same over the course of this year in the US, so I had resigned myself to going with a new pre-pay SIM card (with a new phone number) in each new city.

But I was convinced by the cute sales boy otherwise, and I now have a number that I plan on keeping with me for the next 12 months. It gives me free long distance calling anywhere in the US, it gives me so many minutes of talk every month that only a teenage girl could use them all. It gives me 5 cent text messaging. It gives me all sorts of benefits. And they gave me a free phone! And it's even got a camera to take into the men's changing room at the gym. Even if the rest of the world has been enjoying camera phone technology for the eons, it's suddenly become very new and exciting for me.

So here's a little test for all of my faithful readers. If you can break the following code, you'll know my new cell number and can contact me night and day with drunken phone calls detailing your debaucherous activities. Ready? Here goes:

• first number: the number of kids in my family, including me, multiplied by two
• second number: the number of letters in the first name of my roommate in Vancouver
• third number: the number of letters in the name of the ski resort I lived in for 6+ years
• fourth number: the number of triathlons I've completed
• fifth number: the number of marathons I've completed
• sixth number: the number of letters in the abbreviated form of my middle name
• seventh number: the number of cars I've owned in my life
• eighth number: the number of different apartments that I rented during my years living in the ski resort
• ninth number: the number of Olympic gold medals won by Canada in ice hockey (a number that will hopefully rise in a few weeks' time)
• tenth number: the number of times I've gone skydiving

I can think of a few people who may be able to decipher most of this Da Vinci-esque code -- the first three shouldn't be too difficult, for instance -- but even Luscious Lorna may have to dig very deep on this one. But I know that you, my dear readers, are up for a challenge. Have fun and happy code cracking!

But, please, if you've figured out what my phone number is, don't post it in a comment for all seven readers the world to see! Just e-mail me to confirm.

PS: If you're a friend and not a stalker or serial killer and would really just prefer that I gave you my phone number, please e-mail me as well. And take this as a cue that you clearly need to learn a bit more about my skydiving adventures, marathon/triathlon exploits, and apartment-renting stories : )

PPS: and if you're not a friend, but still want to make drunken phone calls detailing your debaucherous activities, I'll consider giving you the number as well. But only if you're cute and send a naked picture first.

Secure and social

I'm secured. I'm socially secured in the United States, that is. I, along with a whole bunch of other non-American circus freaks, went to the US Social Security Office yesterday to register for Social Security so I can get paid while I'm here in the US. The process was a bit comical at times, but it ended up all good. I'm secured. And I'm social. But we already knew that.

Afterwards I went driving around a bit, just to see this lovely city of San Diego. I didn't get too far, when I saw in front me a Pier 1 Imports clearance centre. Imagine my excitement at having stumbled across this bit of good fortune, after having broke the bank buying a few things for my lounge last week at a regular Pier 1 Imports store.

But, alas, I wasn't charmed with the selection inside. If I had found it a couple of weeks ago, it may not have been picked clean. But as it was, I didn't walk out with any new exciting finds.

Walked around Balboa Park for a wee bit, then went and checked out a few 2nd-hand shops in Hillcrest. Had a bite to eat. It was a very relaxing day off work. But back at it today. Lots to do, lots to do. But first, I'll enjoy the drive to site that meanders along the La Jolla seafront and up into Del Mar. I started using this route the other day, cuz it's so much more relaxing than taking the I-5. Ugh, who needs just another highway?!

Ciao.

Marty's back

I had a great day at work today. Now that the pressure of Set Up, Premiere, and opening weekend are behind us, today was a breeze. I worked a normal amount of hours and had a nice one-show day that helped me get caught up on some of my outstanding administrative work. There's still a lot more that I need to do before I'm completely out of the woods, but I'm making progress.

And I saw the last few games of the Clijsters v. Hingis QF match at the Aussie Open. Man, I wish I had seen the first 2-1/2 sets. I'm glad Kimmie won, but I gotta hand it to Marty. She's definitely back. I'm not a big fan -- the whole serving-underhand and then not-initially-appearing-for-the-trophy-presentation after she lost the French final to Steffi in 1999 still irks me -- but I'm impressed that she had the guts to come back. She's still one of the craftiest on the court and, as they say, it's good for the game.

Guess what?! Another day off tomorrow! I have to go get my US Social Security number, and then I think I'm gonna be a lazy bum figure it out from there.

Y'all have a great Wednesday. And if you're reading this in Australia, have a great Australia Day!

Two words

Hung.

Over.

The milestone

The first Sunday night of any new city is always a milestone. You've worked your ass off, you've gotten your tent set up, you've made subtle changes to how it looks and how you'll be doing things, you've met and trained your new staff, you've met and worked out issues with your new caterer, you've made it through Premiere, you've made it through your first double show day, you've made it through your first early-afternoon show, and you've made it through all of the trials and tribs that accompany the first 2 weeks in all new cities.

And now....time to relax. I have a wine in my hand, I'm going with friends to some sleazy bar out on the town, I don't have to be back until who-knows-when, and I have my first day off tomorrow.

Ahhhhhh. The first Sunday milestone has been reached. And none too soon, either!! If I wasn't such a booze bag, I'd be desperately ready for sleep : )

You know! Canada! The one in France.

I worked a helluva lot of hours this week. Thank goodness we are rewarded for our overtime handsomely in accordance with Employment Standards. And I'm not 100% sure if it's my fatigue, or if I really experienced it, but I'm pretty sure I met one of the most stereotypically ignorant Americans I've met in recent memory.

Sorry to all my American readers out there -- obviously an extremely attractive, tasteful and educated bunch -- but the following exchange is just so incredibly demeaning to other Americans out there that I had to write about it:

Her: "So you're from around here, right?"
Me: "No, don't you remember me telling you the other day that I'm Canadian?"
Her: "Oh, I didn't remember. Sorry."
Me: "No problem."
Her: "So that means you're French."
Me: "Uh.....no. I'm Canadian." (hesitating a few seconds) "Why would you think I'm French?"
Her: "Well, you just said you're Canadian."
Me: "Ya."
Her: "I'm sorry, I don't understand."
Me: "Well, I'm Canadian. Why would you think I'm French?"
Her: "Aren't all Canadians French?"
Me: "Oh, you mean French Canadian?"
Her: "No, I mean French."
Me: "Uh.....well, some Canadians are French Canadian, but that's only about 20% of Canadians."
Her: "You mean you're not French?"
Me (getting somewhat annoyed): "No, I'm neither French nor French Canadian."
Her: "But I thought all Canadians were French."
Me (getting a bit curt now): "Nope."
Her: "I don't understand."
Me: "What don't you understand."
Her: "You know what? It doesn't matter. I just need to get over there. I really need to get over there."
Me (wondering if I should even open this tantalizingly overflowing can of worms): "Over there? What do you mean you need to get over there? Over where?"
Her: "You know. Over to France."
Me: "But we're talking about Canada, right?"
Her: "Ya, that's what I mean."
Me (head spinning): "What's what you mean?"
Her: "You know.....I really should get over there. To Canada."
Me (seriously wondering if she's puttin' me on): "Over to Canada? You mean up to Canada."
Her: "What do you mean?"
Me: "Up to Canada. Canada's north of here."
Her (and incredibly, she's actually rolling her eyes at me): "No, I mean the other Canada."
Me (making all sorts of mental notes for this blog post): "The other Canada? Uh.....which one is that?"
Her: "The French one."
Me: "The French one."
Her: "Ya."
Me: "What do you mean?"
Her: "The one in France. I should go over and visit French Canada someday."
Me: "I'm sorry?"
Her (starting to dismissively walk away): "Oh, don't be sorry. That's OK."
Me (in shock): "OK then.....thanks..."

And if all that wasn't bad enough, imagine all of the "Her" statements spoken in an as-good-as-you-could-fake-for-a-really-bad-school-play Valley Girl accent.

Unfortunately, the accent wasn't put-on. And neither was her lack of intelligence. It was embarrassing for everybody except, apparently, her.

Is it Monday yet? Cuz I could really use that day off.

If only

Two shows on Saturday. Two shows on Sunday. Then a day of rest on Monday. Oh, to be able to snap my fingers and make it Monday right freakin' now.

If only.

I spoke to the new hottie today. It was only a few words, actually -- that's really all I could manage, as the visions of all our future Christmases and family reunions and "couple" holidays kept distracting me from what he was saying. But at least he remembered my name without being prompted. And at last night's after-party party, three friends of mine said they were sure we'd make a great couple. I'm not exactly sure how they would know, given the fact that they haven't even met the guy.

Too bad the man himself was already gone by the time I made it to the after-party party, thereby severely impacting my ability to woo him with my irreverent wit and impish charm. Regardless, one of my friends is absolutely convinced that we're going to work together, going as far as to say that it's just a matter of time. After all, she has a good feeling about us. So, you see, all of this is a sign that he and I are on our way to a brilliant shared future together.

If only.

"A" "B" "C" markets

The lounge has never looked better. The big bosses from Montreal said it looked terrific, in fact. I'm proud of some of the new touches I've added, and the fact that I'm trying to add aesthetic elements that make it feel more cozy and intimate. My goal is to add texture, shape and layers, and it's happening. Slowly, but surely, it's happening. When I see something that might work, I like envisioning what aesthetic effect it would add. And then I try it.

Sometimes I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with something when I get it (case in point: I still haven't figured out the best use of my red silk organza fabric), but other times I know precisely how something will fit into my Big Lounge Picture. Last night, for instance, I pointed out to my immediate boss some of the new items I picked up the other day at Pier 1 Imports. She agreed that they looked great and added to the effect in the lounge through their varied shape, size and height.

"Ya, I picked them for the exact reason that they add dimension and differentiation," I told her. "I do have an eye for these things ya know. After all, don't forget that I have the gene."

I'm happy how the Premiere went. But it kinda sucked having to work the Premiere Party. I didn't get to enjoy a drink until the party in my lounge was over and I headed to the after-party party at 2:00AM.

And I ask you: when was the last time I waited until 2:00AM to have my first drink?!? Never, I tell you. Never! I'm usually drunk and awkwardly hitting on someone by then! But someone had to work the party, I suppose. Still, it was disappointing heading to the after-party party and seeing that some of the people I wanted to have a drink with had already left. That's the reality of the Premiere Party in smaller North American markets, while in larger markets, they have their parties off-site.

Damn. Now I really wish we were hitting some "A" markets this tour.

And then a whole lotta sleep

Dayam, I am one tired puppy. But the hard part is behind me. I've put in the hard yards. The road has been traveled, the journey nearly complete. Tomorrow is Premiere night, and the start of our North American Tour 2006!

The day before Premiere is always a tough one -- a combination of training program, administrative details, last-minute right-brain creative touches to the lounge, and lots of general fire fighting. It's a tough day, simply because all sorts of things that you think you've got under control come back to say, "Please give me some of your attention. You thought you were done with me, but I'm demanding more of your time on this day when time is in short supply."

Yup, I swear I hear those voices in my head on the day before every Premiere!!

One of the things that demanded my attention today was training of my team of temporary staff. They all seem good -- outgoing, confident, well-spoken. And they're a varied bunch, so that should mean a dynamic group to work with. I'm convinced that this is a good team. OK, I'm fairly confident they'll be good. OK, what I mean to say is that I'm sure they'll be just fine. I mean it'll be OK. Well, they'll do.

It's nearly bed time. But first, a bit of surfing the net, and a bit of laundry action. And then a whole lotta sleep.

(Sandra) Oh, has it been a year?

Watching the Aussie Open on TV this week, I'm reminded that it was a year ago that I was in Melbourne watching a whole bunch o' great tennis from way damn close up. And it was also during that trip to Melbourne that I got a phone call scheduling the first of a few phone interviews for the circus position that I landed. And today, for the first time, I met the guy with whom I had two of those phone interviews.

I just kinda thought that was neat. Not really outstanding or anything, but just kinda neat.

Also a year ago, Sir Robert Borden grad Sandra Oh was on stage accepting a Golden Globe as part of the award-winning cast of Sideways. And she went one better this year, winning her very own Golden Globe outright, as Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Miniseries, or Made-for-TV Movie for her portrayal of an intern in Grey's Anatomy. Although I've never seen it, I hear it's darn good.

Well done once again, Sandra. Proof yet again that SRB Grads Rule!

That's all.

Freezing

It's unseasonally cool in San Diego tonight. The temps are expected to hit the freezing mark, and I have to admit that I have noticed it. It's glorious during the day, but at night you just want to find someone to curl up with.

Still lookin'.....

A new choir member?

Set Up is going well. The lounge is coming together and we'll be all ready for Premiere on Thursday night. We'd better be -- for the first time since I ran away and joined the circus, the Premiere Party is in my lounge. Normally it's at an off-site location where we can all go and be messy guests. In North America, however, it appears as if these parties are always held in my freakin' tent.

This, of course, means two things: (1) I have to work the function (although I think it'll be simply keeping one eye on things while I enjoy a few champagnes); and (2) I can now justify being the last one at the party, just like I have been at virtually every Premiere Party since I joined the circus.

And in other, unrelated, news, a hottie has joined the circus. Not a performer, but (gasp) someone on the business/admin side. Seriously, this is the first time since I've been with the troupe that a non-performer hottie has joined the team, so it's big news. And speaking of team, rumour has it that the new guy is on the right team. But the rumour has yet to be confirmed, so stay tuned.

Still, it's about time we welcomed a new choir member, so I've got my fingers crossed that the rumours are true!

Acquiring still more new skills

When I interviewed for this job, I never thought I'd be doing all the shit they never told me about adding all of these new skills to my resume.

Today, my day revolved around two very different tasks: (1) tasting food and wine, finalizing with the caterer the selection of offerings in my lounge; and (2) laying carpet. While the former sounds more glamourous than the latter, let me tell you why I'm waaaaaay more excited about laying carpet than getting drunk at lunch sampling food and wine.

In every city we visit, my tent gets set up and the site crew installs a wooden floor. On top of that floor, we have a carpet that helps to make the place feel like less of a tent and more of a lounge. Now, we've been traipsing around the world with a carpet that was purchased last March and is definitely showing its age. Heck, what can we expect with eight to ten shows a week where hors d'oeuvres and desserts are being passed around, wine and beer is flowing, and plenty of boxes of popcorn are being given to wee little kid hands. Naturally, there is spillage. Gawd, sometimes I feel like I spend hours and hours on my knees. Oh ya, and I spend a lot of time cleaning carpet stains, too : )

So before getting to each new city, we contact a local carpet layer and try to explain to him how we have a 500 square metre tent that requires a big honkin' carpet to be laid. Sometimes trying to get the carpet layer to understand who we are and why we need carpet laid can be quite interesting, to say the least. I swear, this isn't an atypical conversation that we have to try and find a carpet layer.

"Oh, you haven't heard of us? OK, well we're a circus. No, no, not an animal circus, we're a circus with people. Well, maybe we don't have elephants, but people are pretty cool animals, too. Anyways, that's beside the point.

I'm calling because we need some carpet laid. No, we don't really need carpet in the Big Top, cuz that's kinda silly. But we have another tent that needs to be carpeted. Yes, it's a fairly simply rectangular shape, about 500 square metres. We supply the carpet, we just need you to lay it. Nope, it's all cut to size and everything. You just need to lay it and tape it down.

Well, we'd actually like to offer you tickets to the show instead of paying you. Oh, you don't do contra deals. Particularly for clowns. Well, actually, clowns are only a small part of our show. You see, it's a combination of acrobatics, theatrics, music, and......actually, that doesn't matter. So you don't do contra deals. OK, no problem, we'll work something out and get you paid. No, we actually have an accounting department that will coordinate paying you. I won't be paying you in cash from our gate receipts or anything.

Now, the only big thing is that we NEED you to lay the carpet on January 13th. It's realllllly important that you be available to do the job that day. Ya, it's important because we need the carpet laid before we can finish setting up our lounge. Well, yes, actually it is a tent, but it transforms into a lounge when we're done setting up. We host our VIP guests in thee and make sure they have a great time with us. Well, actually, I'm not sure if Regis has ever been in the lounge. Yes, he certainly is a VIP, but I'm not sure if......well, I know things just haven't been the same since Kathie Lee left. Uh huh. Ya, I can understand why your wife doesn't like watching the show anymore. No, I haven't met Regis, but he seems like a likeable guy. Oh yes, I'm sure he's a good singer, too.

So anyways.....we host parties in the lounge and that's why we need to get our carpet laid. But the thing is that we only have a few days to set up the lounge before our Premiere night. No, I don't expect that Regis will be at Premiere. Maybe, but I don't know if he's been invited. Then again, I may be wrong, of course. By the way, are you sure you don't want tickets instead of being paid in cash?! Maybe you'll get to meet Regis. OK, OK, I understand -- cash, not tickets.

So, you know that we NEED the carpet laid on the 13th, right? Well, that is if the tent is set up and the floor is laid by then. Unfortunately, sometimes there are problems with getting the site set up and the tent is set up a day later than we're expecting. If it's not ready when we expect, then we need you to lay the carpet on the 14th. But that's for sure that latest day that the tent would be ready, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?

Oh, so you don't work on weekends. Bummer. Well, I'm nearly 100% sure that the tent will be ready on the 13th. Ya, definitely, the 13th will be for sure OK cuz I definitely know the tent will be ready. I mean, I'm pretty sure it will be. Let's just go on that assumption and cross our fingers, OK, cuz if you don't work weekends and can't do it on the 14th, I'm pretty much hooped and the 13th really needs to work....."

So you can imagine how fun this conversation is to have on the phone with a Hong Kong carpet layer who has limited English and really has no clue whatsoever what our circus is. But I digress...

We repeat this schtick before getting to each city, and then we actually meet the carpet layer guy and endure another time-honoured tradition. After hauling the 12 sections of carpet out of our sea container, he'll inspect it, make a face, show the stained sections to his assistant, have him make a face, lay all 12 sections on the floor, and make a comment (or ten) about how we should take better care of it and store if flat. Then we explain to him that we store the carpet flat, but in a sea container with a whole bunch of other stuff that shifts and moves and sways back and forth as the container is put on a boat and floated between countries, and that we don't really have much control over what happens after we've stored it in the container. And then he'll look at the entire carpet after he's laid it out on the floor, and sigh a really big sigh, and then try to work on undoing all the damange that happened in transport, and then start taping it down with double-sided carpet tape, and use that cool carpet jamming tool that you kick with your kneed to get all the joints tight, all the while complaining about how we realllllly need to do whatever we can in future to limit the damage to the carpet in transit, blah blah blah.

Yup, I've gone through it all, but NO LONGER! We now have carpet tiles that are perfect for the lounge. And I ain't talkin' about those small squares that you might buy for your family room or high-traffic hallway. Mine are heavy-duty one-metre by two-metre industrial quality carpet tile squares. They're freakin' perfect! And furthermore, we now control out own destiny by....

LAYING THE CARPET TILES OURSELVES!!

Yup, instead of working around the carpet layer's schedule and wasting most of a day as we wait for him to finish the job, today me and a few other people laid our carpet tiles and: (1) got it done in way less time that a carpet layer would have taken to lay the old carpet; (2) we saved about $1500 in the process. So you can imagine how stoked I am! Sure the wine and food tasting was cool, but the new carpet tiles? Well, that's just wicked!!

Carpet layer: one more skill to add to my resume! Along with manual labourer, forklift driver, public address announcer, and catering captain.

2 cup sizes!

Damn, there are a lot of scary commercials on American TV and radio.

I mean, let's be honest here -- I'm not unaccustomed to American TV and radio by any means. But when we see American network TV shows broadcast on Canadian airwaves, we typically see national commercials for car companies, fast food restaurants, national retailers, etc. Or, oftentimes, the American shows are simulcast by a Canadian network who has purchased the rights to air that show in Canada and can sell ad time to Canadian companies. As a result, we'll see commercials for local or national Canadian companies, or North America-wide companies. Some of the commercials are bad,but not often scary.

So to see all these local San Diego market commercials is,um, interesting. There's a lot of shit out there.

And don't even get me started on the radio ads. Clearly, I had forgotten that Southern California is the plastic surgery capital of the world. And they ain't afraid to advertise their services, Blanche.

I've already sent away for the amazing topical cream that you can just rub on your breasts to see instant results of up to 2 cup sizes. I'm assuming it works on other areas, too.

Safe, sound, and satisfied

Today's drive was easy and short. I arrived in La Jolla mid-afternoon, checked into my suite, and marvelled at the magnificent quality of the accommodation. After terrible accommodations in Adelaide, anything is better, but I'm happy to say that this is most certainly the best quality I've been faced with in my 5 cities of shared accommodations thus far.

The suite is huge, it's decked out with all the amenities (including in-suite laundry -- yay!!!), has two patios that look out onto the pool, with free wireless internet, and is immaculately clean. I took the second bedroom so I could leave the master for my new roommate, but it's not a problem -- the second bedroom is big enough, with a walk-in closet and bathroom that's recessed out of the main living area and is nearly an ensuite. In fact, this second bedroom is pretty much the equivalent of a master in most of the other places I've stayed thus far.

Now to get settled....I'm already doing laundry, and am thinking about driving to the supermarket -- in my car!! It's so nice to have my car with me on tour!! Yup, I gotta get stocked up with some breakfast food, snacks, and maybe some Scotch for cocktail hour. Although without Suzie to keep me company, I'm not sure how I'll cope having cocktails on my own.

Nevertheless, this is one smokin' place. With cloudless skies, on-tour wheels, and wicked accommodation, I think La Jolla is gonna be the bestest city ever!

Crazy

Today is the last day of the big ol' road trip. It should be a nice leisurely drive from Santa Barbara to La Jolla, so here's hoping. The weather is sunny and will warm up to about 73F (not sure what the equivalent is in Celcius), so it's certainly Summerish weather.

.....and I just realized that my blog posts have been extremely boring of late. Nevertheless, y'all know where I am and that I'm safe and sound. And that gives me peace of mind.

And on a completely unrelated topic, I've got VH1 turned on, am watching Alanis Morissette's new video for Crazy, and can't help but notice three things: (1) the guy she douses with water is very hot; (2) Alanis' hair is very weird; and (3) it sounds as if they've added one of those bizarre special effects to her voice to make it sound more....I'm not sure. Funky? Techno? Regardless, it just sounds odd, cuz her voice can stand on its own merits.

But that's just my opinion, based on a grand total of three minutes of the video. Your comments, please?

Deja Vu

Last night was fun. I went out to a couple of bars and listened to some stunning music -- the best from the '80's, '90's and the noughts. I cut a rug at both Badlands and The Bar on Castro, and just had fun (and a few too many beers).

This morning, I fought a bit of a headache as I hit the road on my way to points south. I hugged the coastline and saw some absolutely spectacular scenery. Like a cliche come to life, each corner yielded a view that was even more spectacular than the last. And with the number of twists and turns on Highway 101, that's saying a lot!

The California coastline is rugged and reminds me a lot of the Great Ocean Road. It was weird thinking that I was half a worl d away from the south coast of Australia, but seeing scenery that was markedly similar. Holy deja vu, Batman! It was breathtakingly perfect weather, too, and it all made for a terrific day of driving. I ended up in Santa Barbara, as per my plan for the day, and I'm just relaxin' and hangin' out as I look forward to the last day of the Road Trip tomorrow.

What's up on a Sunday night?

I had another good day of driving today. The weather was good -- no rain and very little wind -- so, in that respect, it was much better than the past couple of days. I didn't cover tons of ground, but that's just fine. I made it through another day safe and sound, and that's th emost important thing. And I went through one of the famous redwood forests this morning and saw trees that were so freakin' huge that it defies description. Amazing.

I had no plans to spend an evening in San Francisco, but once I approached and saw the Golden Gate Bridge, I just had to stop and take some pictures from the Marin Highlands. Spectacular! And by that time, the light was starting to fade, so I figured two things: (1) I want to do the coast south of San Fran during daylight hours, so it would be best to wait until tomorrow; and (2) if I could get a room for a decent price, then I may as well stay in San Fran for the evening and check things out. After all, it's been a while since I've been here, and who knows when I'll get the chance to come again?

It's still early now, but I'll rest for a while -- I'm tired from driving -- and then go out for a while. Let's see what's happening in this town on a Sunday night.

Eureka!

I hit the California border at 4:30PM, after fighting the winds and rain of Oregon. My Jeep is a soft top, and the heavy winds made me feel as if my canvas top was going to detach and fly away. When passing 18-wheelers, I would just brace for the worst, grip the steering wheel with all my might, and hang on until the gale force winds were over and I was clear of the big beast. Adrenalin-inducing stuff!

Happily, once I hit California, things were much better. No wind, less rain, and an awareness that I was in the state I'll call home for the next 3+ months. Although it was dark for most of my drive from the border to my final destination -- Eureka, in northern California -- it was still cool to catch glimpses of the ocean on my right-hand side at times, and some honkin' big redwoods on either sides of the highway at other times. At Grants Pass, Oregon, I had made the decision to head to the coast instead of sticking with the I-5. Despite all the heavy flooding of recent weeks, I had no problems at all. The roads that were closed as recently as last week were open and ready for Jeremiah and I. I'm glad I made that decision to move coast-side.

Today, it's southward-bound again. Who knows how far I'll get, but the knowledge that I still have 3 days to get to San Diego means I have options.

And options are always good!

All I really needed

I made the drive to Portland in good time. There was a bit of a wait at the border to get my US work visa, but that was expected, of course. Jeremiah Jeep drove superbly, and I'm happy with how smoothly Road Trip Day #1 went.

I found Blossom's place just fine, and we had a good visit over a welcome cocktail. Then onto dinner, followed by a whore tour of the local establishments. It's always so fun to hang with Blossom, who is one of the funnest and most talented bar cruisers I've ever had the opportunity to learn from. Still, I didn't want to just assume we'd hit the bars and cruise eye candy all night, so I tested the waters a l'il bit.

"Oh, I think I'll need to have an early night. I'm pretty tired from the drive," I muttered in a veiled attempt to feel him out. Sure. Fast forward to 3AM and a way-past-my-bedtime return to the Pleasure Dome (Blossom's nickname for his place, not mine).

We started the barhopping at a place called Crush, the latest martini bar that seems to be the place to go on Friday nights. Blossom's friend, RR, was working behind the bar, and wasn't he a stunning sight for laser surgeried sore eyes! I had met him once before during a party weekend in Seattle, but I most certainly don't remember his having arms like those! Mama. And he started making comments to me about how, as we all shared a hotel room during that Seattle weekend, he had been surreptitiously watching me in my underwear and doing some visualization of sorts. Obviously, my legs are still my best feature. Or was he lookin' at my butt? Or something else? Regardless, I was extremely flattered at hearing that.

I only vaguely remembered RR from that weekend, but he's sure hit the gym since then. Damn, when he raised those guns of his to get that martini shaker movin', I was doin' some visualization of my own. RR is one very potent bartender, who just happens to make a potent martini as well (I enjoyed a Lycretia Borgia and a Carried Away, dontcha know). For me to get compliments from him was very unexpected, let's just say. Despite my best efforts to have RR close his bar and come with us on the bar hop, he couldn't get away and we moved on without him. A missed opportunity? Perhaps. Still, the compliments alone were all I really needed.

Next up was CC Slaughters, where I got to catch up briefly with Band-Aid Boy, a sweet guy who I met at the same time as Blossom -- while playing in volleyball tournaments all over the Pacific Northwest. Blossom and I had one drink there before attempting something rather heroic: we headed to the usually-decrepid Silverado to watch the male strippers. This time, however, I must say that the quality of the entertainment has risen substantially. OK, to be honest, the strippers were damn hot! And the crowd was peppered with cuties as well.

Highlight of the evening? A cute 21-year-old-ish guy kept looking at me, and then finally came up in a semi-drunken, but extremely cute, way to introduce himself. He said he thought I was very attractive, and then did the shy-guy escape. About 10 minutes later, he got the courage to reappear in front of me, and we had a brief chat. I told him I was from out of town and only here for the night (although I sounds like a total pick-up line, it was the gods' honest truth!), etc. Turns out Andrew loves Vancouver, wants to move there, is trying to get a job in his field (architecture), and still thought I was extremely attractive after speaking to me for a few minutes (trust me, that isn't always the case!).

After a little bit more of look-and-then-look-away shy-guy stuff, Andrew bade me farewell and gave me a nice little kiss. "That's all I really needed," he told me as he bounced away contentedly. I thought about telling him that a kiss wasn't all that he really needed, but thought the better of it. Blossom lamented the missed opportunity, but I was content, like Andrew, just to have a brief flirtation and a hint of what might have been.

Sigh. To have the 21-year-olds give you compliments like that is a great way to spend an evening in Potent Portland. Damn, at my age, to have the 21-year-olds give you compliments like that is a great way to spend an evening anywhere!

So wasn't I just the belle of the ball tonight, drinking in compliments from both RR and Andrew. Even if each of those boys represented a missed opportunity, I'm all good with that. The compliments from RR were all I really needed from him. A little kiss was all Andrew really needed from me. As long as everyone's needs are being met, it's all good. Damn, how I love Potent Portland!

But now it's Road Trip Day #2. And it unfortunately began with my being awakened by the upstairs neighbours having sex in the room directly above the guest bedroom. I'm sure the day can only get better.

Destination: points south!

Infrequent visitors? I'm insulted!

I nearly forgot to mention the obvious: I modified the layout of my blog. It's subtle, but was much needed, including a new photo from my birthday dinner in Hong Kong (Jas, that's a bowl of Mongolian BBQ I'm pretending to lick), and a couple of other changes to the layout of the side bar.

I bumped into a friend the other day who told me that I should make it easy for infrequent visitors to know where I am and what I'm up to. He said it was hard to tell at a glance whether I was home or in Timbuktu.

But I have no idea what he meant by "infrequent visitors." Why, I have nothing but regular, committed, daily readers, don't I?!

Hellllllooooooooooooo?! Is anybody out there?

Anyways, I've pumped up the "what's new" section to draw more attention to it. I hope it helps, but your comments are always welcome and subject to deletion if I don't agree.

It's all about the peanut M&M's

I've driven cross-country on my own a few times. The Summer after I graduated from university, I headed East for a tour of the Maritimes, then followed the sun to the West, heading all the way to Tofino on Vancouver Island. I loved that big ol' cross-Canada road trip, and would enjoy a special sense of serene as I crested a hill and saw the bright lights and tall buildings of a new city off in the distance. I remember listening to Kylie's very first album (in casette tape format -- it was 1989, after all) and knowing all the words as I crossed the Prairies, progressively hitting Winnipeg, Saskatoon and, eventually, Edmonton. There was something about the vast expanse of the Prairies that made me feel powerful, in command. Having the right music to empower that sense of ownership was very important. Somehow Kylie fit the bill.

And that, my friends, is yet another example of just how gay I really am.

In those days, I used to power myself with Diet Coke and peanut M&M's. Appropriately stocked up with these necessities, I would, at times (usually when traversing the flatlands of the Prairies), pride myself on the number of hours I could drive without stopping for nothing but a Formula 1 pitstop -- pulling into a gas station, letting some kid fill the tank and check the oil, me never even leaving the car, in and out in about 2 minutes flat. This would happen every 500km or so, but other than that, I was glued to my seat and testing my limits. Ah, the stupid things we do when we're kids! It's no wonder I have back problems today -- I would literally sit in the driver's seat for up to 14 hours without getting up and stretching anything!

Let me clarify that there were times and places when I would do just the opposite -- driving from Jasper to Banff, for instance, took me hours and hours and hours because of all the hundreds of stops I made to take pictures of this, that and the other thing. Damn, I love the drive along the Icefields Parkway or whatever it's called. And in other places, I was a bit more normal in my stopping patterns. But something about the vast expanse of nothingness known as the Prairies and Northern Ontario made it easier to just put your mind on auto-pilot and drive. And drive and drive and drive. Sorry to anyone from the Prairies -- hey, that's me! -- or Sault Ste. Marie, but it just ain't exciting landscape.

A couple of years later, when I moved from Ottawa to Whistler.....

Oh my God, I just had a lightbulb moment. One of those times when you realize something monumental that you think is really cool. Stay with me here for a moment, folks.

Get this: I'm leaving on my road trip to San Diego today. It's January 6, 2006. EXACTLY 14 years ago today, I left on my road trip to start a new life in Whistler. While that may not seem so significant to some, anyone who knows me really well knows how much of an impact that move had on my life. I started a new life, found an amazing career, learned tons of new things about life and love and laughter, grew the confidence to keep moving onward and upward, both professionally and personally. Anyways, I digress somewhat, but I'm kind of enjoying this stream-of-consciousness writing. Jeepers, 14 years ago TODAY. I think of all the great people I've met as a result of that brand new start, and it's overwhelming. But in a really good way.

So anyways.....back to the post. When I moved from Ottawa to Whistler and did a road trip in the dead of Winter, I did the US route: crossing the border at Detroit, heading around Lake Michigan, through Chicago and Milwaukee, across Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington State. I encountered some of the coldest weather I had ever experienced in my life, and Minnesota in January ain't a place you want your locks to freeze, like mine did. Luckily, I made it across to the mild weather of the West Coast without incident.

So today sees another road trip. And, like all of my other road trips, I'll have plenty of my Diet Coke and peanut M&M's with me for fuel. Unlike the road trips of my younger years, however, I don't plan on driving for excessive lengths of time without getting up to stretch. When I floated this idea past her a few months ago, Luscious Lorna, in all her wisdom, pointed out to me, "You aren't as young as you used to be!" Damn, that girl is always right!

Nevertheless, I'm excited about hitting Portland tonight and catching up with Blossom for a long overdue visit. Following Portland, I'll head south (duh, I am going to San Diego!) and I plan on seeing how things go. I'd like to do the Oregon coast, but my biggest priority is making sure I take my time to do the California coast south of San Francisco. I want to see Big Sur, where my friends, the Scaryredwinegirls, have raced the marathon relay before.

Eventually I'll make my way to La Jolla. I don't have to be there until the evening of Jan. 10 (is that Tuesday night?), so I've got plenty of time to meander my way there. Powered with Diet Coke, peanut M&M's and a digital camera, I plan on drinking in every moment of this trip and living large along the way.

I think I should be buying peanut M&M's in bulk.

Life is large

I saw Brokeback Mountain the other day. It made me think a lot about what things were like back in the '60's for men who couldn't be who they wanted to be. I'm so damn lucky to have options that they didn't have -- options to live the life I want to live. I'm lucky to have the chance to live large. They didn't. And I don't take my blessings for granted.

And now I'm talking about repressed people everywhere. People who live under dictatorships, who live in poverty, who live in areas devastated by distasters. People who don't have access to education, food, or aid of any sort. The people who ask for money and food on the streets of my neighbourhood. The people who sleep in the parks in my neighbourhood. The people who sell themselves in my neighbourhood, just to survive. The people who suffer from addictions in my neighbourhood, without the strength to help themselves.

Mankind has come a long way, but there's still so far to go. May 2006 be kind to the destitude, the suffering, and the defeated.

I've never been luckier in my entire life. And I thank God for that.

Now that is good news

The verdict is in on Jeremiah: he's roadworthy and ready to start a road trip down the coast! Now that is good news! I've got my out-of-province insurance organized and paid for, and I'm feeling really good about having a car on tour with me for the entire year.

I picked up a thingy to connect my iPod to my car stereo so I can have some on-road entertainment on the way. And I've downloaded another 750 songs in the last couple of days, bringing my catalogue of downloaded songs to over 1500. Am I ready or what?!

Tomorrow I get a crown on a tooth that's bothered me for nearly 4 years. Now that is good news. And Friday morning, I'll be hitting the road on my way to San Diego. I need to stop at US customs in Blaine, Washington to get my US work visa, but then it'll be full steam ahead to Portland, where I'll hang with Blossom on Friday night. Perhaps a couple of cocktails will be in order. Maybe, just maybe.

Following Portland, I've got 4 more days to make my way to San Diego, hitting some hot spots like Big Sur and Santa Barbara for Highway 101 Pacific Ocean photo ops. Ya know, I'm really looking forward to the road trip, particularly because I haven't driven down the California coast since I was 7 years old and on a family vacation to Disneyland. I'd say it's long overdue!

I also picked up a smokin' pair of new boots to take on tour with me. Now that is good news!