Okay. No it didn’t. Well it kinda did.

You see, our good friend Fred was going to skip pride and drive down to LA for an event. After much debate and confusion Richard and I ended up tagging along. The itinerary was this: Leave San Diego by noon, drive to LA, check into hotel, go eat, go back to hotel to get pretty, go to Outfest movie premier, and hit after party at a club. After that there was no set plan other than an eventual return to SD on Saturday no later than 5:00 PM.

Well kids, it was exactly as planned. The drive to LA is about 2.5 hours. Thankfully Richard and I had our iPhones. More thankfully than that, Fred’s car has multiple power outlets. Heh. So the drive up passed pretty quick. We checked into a surprisingly nicer than expected Days Inn. It wasn’t great, but not horrible either. It was right next to an In-N-Out Burger, which became the immediate solution to our second task upon getting to town. I refused. I was trying to be as flexible and non-bitchy as possible. I know I don’t travel well, so I tried to be nice about it. It was a fine choice for them, but I’d still need to eat soon too, and I won’t eat burger. Luckily, after I carefully got that out on the table, Fred’s innate Cruise Director Instincts took over. He suggested a trip to The Grove. Brilliant. Many food choices for everyone. We hit the road. Of course as soon as he pointed it out, we had decided on The Whisper Lounge. It is pure glamour. An open-air establishment with drapery and pretty people and.. I can’t describe it really. It’s just fabulous. So we went in and proceeded to order up snacks and cocktails. I don’t remember when he noticed, but Fred made us aware that Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott were behind us with their family (we assume). OMGOMGOMG!!! As soon as he said it I could HEAR HER. I mean, she has a distinctive voice. OMG. We tried not to make a scene. I *really* wanted to get a photo, or talk to her… Something. Fred wisely reminded me that I need to “act normal” and treat her like anyone else. “We don’t want to ruin her time, right?” He’s good like that since he knows people. I took his advice and refrained. Richard staged a bathroom trip so he could ogle them. I sat and listened in. We stayed a long time… Tori and crew had several bottles of champagne. Well, at least 2. LOL. Finally our time was up and we had to go get pretty. Richard insists that Tori smiled at him as we left… OMG!

So getting ready for the Premier was pretty stressful since I had forgotten a belt. My outfit NEEDED a belt. I tried to con my man out of his, but he was having none of it. So we went out on the town with me already feeling kinda insecure. I mean really. LA? Without a belt? As soon as we arrived at the Ford Amphitheater I forgot all about it. Not only is the venue gorgeous, but there were soooo many pretty people. Pretty boys… I mean it *was* Outfest, right? So anyway, the theater is backed up to a hill, and the natural landscape is the main feature of the place. It’s really awesome, actually. We headed up to the top, where they was a concession stand, as well as the entrance for the celebs… Red carpet people! Wich in this case was a red mat taped to the sidewalk with an “Outfest” logo’d backdrop. Hrm. Fanceh. But whatever. We hung out, sipping our drinks. Fred found a photographer friend of his that chatted with us a bit and snapped our picture. Woo!

So the movie was Mulligans. It was actually really good. I liked it, tho the story was painful. But a movie that makes you feel anything has done it’s job. Plus the actors were a pretty bunch. Heh.

After the movie we headed over to Eleven for the VIP after party. Fred was on The List. Richard and I hadn’t been to a nightclub like that in years. It was a big time. Especially the part were we got to go upstairs to the VIP area and hang out with the cast of the film. Again, Fred was on The List. It was awesome… I got to meet Reichen Lehmkuhl who was also at the after party. Let me just pause a moment to let that sink in…

OMG!OMG!OMG! REICHEN!!! OMG!OMG!OMG!

Okay. So after we got tired of the madness of the club we headed to some sidewalk bar/restaurant for a bit. That was a great time as we got to watch the crazies of WeHo pass by as we ate and enjoyed a few more cocktails. We made it back to the hotel by like 2:30ish. LOL

The next day (Saturday) we didn’t want to rush right out. Obviously a bit of sleeping in and hydrating were in order, plus the traffic going down to San Diego (Pride morning) could be icky… So we left the hotel at checkout time and had an amazing brunch-ish meal at Hugo’s followed by a trip to the old Xanadu site and another trip to The Grove, for shopping. A perfect morning. My friend Fred really is an excellent Cruise Director. Plus he knows his way around. AND he drove. Really, really awesome. As we cruised slowly to the freeway Fred spotted a familiar face. As he pointed out Ms. Doris Roberts, she bent over right on the side of the road to pick up… A COUPON! LOL! Classic! Once on the freeway, on the way home, we sang songs from the Xanadu soundtrack with the windows down in traffic. Just in case people weren’t already aware that the car was full of ‘mos. LOL

Fred pulled up to our house to drop us off at like 4:57 PM. Three minutes to spare. Talk about sticking to the itinerary! 

tagged: richard people shopping party omg photo house fabulous pretty boys

daniel · early evening · 2 comments · ping it

For the first time since we have lived in San Diego, Richard and I are off for Pride Weekend. So what do we do?

Skip town! Really… We are going up to LA tonight for a bit of Outfest ‘08 and an after party. Fred mentioned it to us and I think Richard caught him off guard when he said he wanted to go. Now we are both going! We’ll be back sometime Saturday so we aren’t missing everything. Heh. I just think it’s funny we are leaving town. 

tagged: richard party weekend pride saturday

daniel · late morning · say it · ping it

I admit. I left the party kinda early. But srsly tho. I lasted longer than I thought I would. It was actually a housewarming, not a ‘garden party’ like I mentioned earlier. But it was in our Sheila’s backyard, which is becoming garden-like. Whatever. You get the idea. I embellished about the garden party. So it was a great little gathering! It’s always fun to meet your good friend’s other friends, right? It was a fun group. Kinda awkward in my regular group though, since there are those we haven’t seen much in a long time. Like a really long time. Like months. It was like hanging out with new people. Plus, I was a bit introverted as it was, what with all the meeting of new people. I don’t ‘meet’ well. That’s Richard’s niche. I can bond, but meeting is tough… Not that I can’t be social, but there is a difference with that. It’s more fake and totally temporary. THAT I am good at. Meeting people I may see again is like total pressure.

Anyhoo. So one of the people at the party I had met a few times. She was getting a bit tipsy, granted. But still, with all the touching! She was constantly touching me. (And swearing. I mean, I love a good f-bomb, but that is a separate issue and a whole other post)

What is with the touching? First of all, I have nothing against people touching me, in most cases. I am not a germ-o-phobe. In fact, there are good friends of mine that I just can’t hug enough… And I get that a ‘hug’ is a friendly greeting totally appropriate among acquaintances. However, it’s the assumed closeness that bugs. Just because you are standing behind me does not merit a hand on my shoulder, as an acquaintance. And wrapping your hands around my face is a bit too much… In fact, way too much. I pulled away saying “oh, that’s.. okay” as I removed her hands. Dumb thing to say, but I was trying to not be rude. I had a Home Ec. teacher once that did that (not actual Home Ec. It was ‘Single Survival’, I am not that gay...) , and I removed her hands from my person and loudly insisted she “DO NOT TOUCH ME”. In the middle of class. Don’t assume you can touch me at random after like 3 meetings.

Anyways, later she tried to hug me again. More touching. Ugh. Our hostess with the mostess caught me backing away… I felt bad, but dude. I was done with it. I had already started strategically placing myself away from this woman to avoid it (and the swearing). I tried to smile, hugged half-heartedly, then I ran for it…

tagged: party housewarming touchy-feely garden touching

daniel · evening · 1 comment · ping it

Today we are going to a garden party on Coronado Island.

Doesn’t that sound grand? 

tagged: party coronado sheila housewarming island

daniel · lunch time · 1 comment · ping it

My alarm went off at three. I am up, having coffee, and generally getting ready for work. I went to bed at 9 so it’s not so bad.

Across the street they had a party that is still going on. I can see them across the way…

I hate that. Not that I’d be partying if I were off today. I’d still be asleep. Heh. 

tagged: work party neighbors three am

daniel · terribly early · 3 comments · ping it

Well, I have to say. I think the post-holiday Holiday Party was a success. At one point we had 14 people. Fourteen. In my house. I have never had that many people over in all my life. But what a way to close out the season and ring in the New Year! All of our new friends, some we’ve had for a while, and some that have become like family gathered together like that. It was a blast. Thank you to all that attended. It meant a lot to us. And I love that I can say that there were guys making out on the stairs at my party! Makes it sound really wild, eh? Heh, it just sounds that way. It was a very classy event! I just wish I had taken pictures. There are tons that our friend Sheila took. As soon as I get copies I’ll put them on the Flickr.

Today we have been removing the holiday trim and tree. That is a big ass job! There were a lot of balls on that thing, let me tell you! Of course there is glitter everywhere. I have swept, washed, vacuumed, and wiped. I can still see red sparkles out of the corner of my eye… But the war on glitter will have to wait. My body has finally given in to this cold. I thought I was coming out of it, but today is another story. I am so glad I didn’t get drunk last night or I swear I’d be dead right now. A hang over with this sinus mess? No thanks…

Okay, time to curl up with some tea and a movie.

UPDATE: Got a few shots onto the Flickr. 

tagged: holiday people party love pictures family flickr mess tree glitter

daniel · lunch time · 5 comments · ping it

OMG. Where have I been? Where have YOU been? I swear, this poor blog is NE. Glec. Ted. I don’t even know what that means. Srsly, tho. I wanted to check in. Our big post-holiday Holiday Party is tomorrow. I am kinda excited, but more stressed. Also, I am totally sick. I hope it’s a cold and/or flu. So far that’s what it looks like, but I am prone to the Bronchitis. I swear I catch it if it is mentioned around me! But I am not trying to jinx anything. I have what I have. *cough*

I do hope I am not gonna still be sick for the party tho. We have some amazing people on the guest list. It would suck to be off at a friends house on the sick couch, missing the whole event. Most of the heavy work preparing was today. Tomorrow all I have to do is rest. I intend to rest. A book, a movie, whatever. You won’t pry me from the couch till it’s time to put on my face. Heh. And possibly an attitude. In fact my whole persona might just likely be totally fake. But I’ll look good. And I will be on cold meds. But I will be there. At my party. Propped up in a corner. Oblivious.

Or at my friend’s house, the one I cannot name. Propped up on his couch. With his dog. Trying to get well, but knowing it is best my germs stay with me… While everyone is at my house partying. Sad. 

tagged: work blog holiday people party sick time omg list house

daniel · the wee hours · 4 comments · ping it

I am uninvited. Or more clearly NOT invited…

...by one of Richard’s friends. A person that we had invited to OUR party. Well now I think this person should be UNinvited to ours if I am unwelcome at theirs. Richard doesn’t want to stoop to their level. I have no problem stooping… (If you are a member, log in for more details) What would you do?

uninvite or not?

total votes: 26

uninvite! one rude turn deserves another

 31% (8)

 

leave it lie, we don't need more drama at christmas

 12% (3)

 

don't uninvite, but make a scene if they show. just like bree...

 12% (3)

 

pretend you don't know and be extra nice! kill 'em w/kindness!

 46% (12)

 

tagged: richard holiday poll ocd party vagina wine pissed

daniel · late at night · 6 comments · ping it

I slept until one in the afternoon today. I felt kinda bad about it. Well, at least till I remembered that I was at work until one in the morning, and thus up until 3:30. Still a lot more sleep time than I actually need, but December does tend to catch up with ya. Heh. I can’t believe we are two days away from the halfway mark. Time goes crazy fast! Amazing.

I am pretty caught up this year too. work is going 10 times smoother than last year. I feel like we are on top of it.  Sure I am doing 6 days, but the hours are not too crazy. In fact, this is my only ‘closing’ weekend. I am almost through it! I feel a bit more balanced and caught up at home too. My holiday cards are sent. We are going to have a post-holiday party, and the planning is done for that. The invites are out. As soon as we get some RSVP’s we can move on food and stuff. The house is clean. We really just need to maintain and we will be guest-ready. Heck, I even got my 20,000 mile tune-up done! So the car drama the other day was not so bad… Right? All I have left to squeeze into the month is a DMV visit (appointment Tuesday) and a haircut. No problem!

So yeah. Today I am calm. Maybe by next week I’ll be a frazzled mess like usual. But so far so good as of today. 

tagged: work holiday party drama time hours house cards december mess   deceptively calm

daniel · mid-afternoon · 1 comment · ping it