matteecentral.com:theBuzz

Christmas Giftage:

Received christmas presents today from my best friend/surrogate brother Joe. In addition to the book mentioned below, I was given:

- Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright (1998)

-Cobb, Linda (2000) Talking dirty with the queen of clean. Accompanying the book was a bejeweled broom ("just like the Queen's") and feather duster.

-Ramakers, Micha (1999) Dirty Pictures : Tom of Finland, Masculinity, and Homosexuality.

Of course, I feel like a cheap mofo because I only got him a CD and a set of ornaments.

Posted by Mattee at 11:09 PM | Permalink

Today's Reading:

DeLaria, Lea with Casella, Maggie (2000) Lea's book of rules for the world.
-I started reading this book today in a hospital waiting room. I kept erupting into raucous laughter, and was getting very odd looks from the other occupants of the room.
As politically incorrect as it gets... DeLaria dicusses the finer points of traveling with dildos ("Packing for the girl who packs"), lesbian etiquette ("While attending lesbian functions, do not stand up and announce, ' I don't know what it is, girls. I just eat and eat and never gain an ounce'"). She also reveals the practical side of having a nose piercing --"an extra breathing hole for cunnilingus".

Posted by Mattee at 09:23 PM | Permalink

Califia, Pat (2000) Public sex: The culture of radical sex (2nd ed.).
-my favorite Macho Slut is back with a revised edition of her 1994 look into matters sexual. Controversial? You betcha! This book is NOT porn, however. It is an intelligent, well - written collection of essays that discuss child porn laws, age of consent issues, S/M, and sexual identity.

Interestingly, Pat is in the process of transformation from female to male, and is beginning to be referred to as Patrick Califia-Rice. Check out a feature that appeared in the Village Voice.

Fleming, Keith (2000) The boy with the thorn in his side: A memoir.
-An adolescent from Chicago, battered by family turmoil and extended psychiatric "intervention", is invited to live with his uncle in New York. What develops is an affectionate portrait of living with his uncle, author (and gay icon) Edmund White.

Catalogs perused this week:

The Sportsman's Guide Outdoor camping, fishing, hunting gear and Military Surplus. Includes some great deals on leather.

Posted by Mattee at 07:46 PM | Permalink

Nothing Personal (a column by Amy Reiter on salon.com) has published its second annual Readers' Choice Awards. What a hoot!

Posted by Mattee at 05:20 PM | Permalink

...sexy coffee table books. Getting any one of these could force me to buy a table to put them on.

Posted by Mattee at 09:09 PM | Permalink

Readers of this blog (good question.. is anyone reading? Let me know) may already be tired of my gooey, sappy posts about the BF. It's a fair criticism, and it may explain why I'm having such a hard time finding my "voice" in this blog (a problem I alluded to in a discussion with Ron recently).

If I were writing this a year or two ago, I'm sure it would be snappier, kickier, with a bit more of a bitchy, (read, "bitter") edge. A lot has changed in the last 16 or so months, though. Today, I'm feeling much more upbeat, much more centered and happy. Since the BF has only been in the picture about 10 weeks, I can't attribute all of my mood improvement to the new relationship.

(But --does the recent upturn in my sex/love life help keep a smile on my face? Damn right! :)))) )

Bear with me as I find a way to be happy but STILL be pithy, kicky and interesting.

Now, back to mushy-gushy gooeyness...

This Holiday Season is turning out to be the best I've had in years.

Christmas weekend was spent at the BF's house. Some simple errands (we picked up the Honeybaked Ham) were run, but we spent much of the time cooking (yup, even grilling), watching movies (including Trick), cuddling, and listening to music.

Saturday afternoon, I introduced him to Ann Hampton Callaway by playing her latest CD, Easy Living. He loved it. While making and eating dinner together, I also introduced him to Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion. Imagine our surprise when Ann Hampton Callaway appeared on the show as a guest! She sang one selection from her holiday album, (This Christmas) called A Christmas Love Song.

We set down our forks, left the table, and danced together. Incredibly romantic.

A short time later, we reverted to being the pigs we are. We practically broke the bed down in the process!

Christmas Eve, we exchanged presents, then went out to our local leather/levi bar with a friend. We celebrated a bit, then came home and cuddled into bed with visions of _________ (fill in the blank... we ain't talking sugarplums!) dancing in our depraved heads.

As Christmas Morning arrived, we parted so he could go pick up his children. He sent me home with a ton of leftovers.

As I said, the best Christmas ever.

Posted by Mattee at 06:12 PM | Permalink

Looks like straight men are just discovering the joys of cockrings.

As usual, homos did it first.

Check out Dave Cullen's in depth article on Gays in the Military, Don't ask, don't tell, don't fall in love on Salon.com. The article originally published on July 6, 2000, and has been selected as one of Salon's best of 2000.

Posted by Mattee at 08:54 PM | Permalink

Bradlands has the lowdown on the Big Adult Poof.. and it has nothing to do with ME!

Posted by Mattee at 05:39 PM | Permalink

Now that I'm back on my feet, it's back to cooking for myself. Made some kick-ass Vegetarian Black Bean Chili today.

Posted by Mattee at 05:13 PM | Permalink

I received a card today from my favorite Aunt and Uncle, advising me that a donation was made in my name to the Heifer Project. What a great gift!

Posted by Mattee at 05:03 PM | Permalink

I was sick with the flu for a couple days. I'm now back to work (though not quite back to speed yet...) and trying madly to finish up Holiday chores.

It never fails... I always end up running out of time with things undone... this year, no decorating or cards were done. It's all I'll be able to do to get gifts in the mail for my folks. Fortunately, my parents will be away for Christmas, so it won't matter if they're a few days late.

Things are getting serious between me and the BF. First of all, he fussed and nurtured while I was sick... he brought me food, a taping of last Sunday's Queer as Folk, and gave me a backrub. First clue....Tricks or short-term daters don't help you wipe your snotty nose.

We'd already talked about what "love" means... and both agreed that the word is grossly overused. Both of us assured the other that we won't say it unless we're sure we mean it.

So, I was surprised the other night to hear him say, "You know, I was going to wait till Christmas to say this, but I gotta tell ya, I love you to pieces." I cried like a big sissy. I told him I loved him too.

Love has always been such a scary concept for me. I've been very cautious about using the words or expressing the feeling for so long - I learned that when these words are thrown around gratuitously, someone (usually, me) will end up being hurt. I felt no qualms about saying so this time around.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Mattee at 08:18 PM | Permalink

Look for:
-a Litella-like rant on vote recounts.
-a Christmas Carol for the new millennium.

Posted by Mattee at 06:19 PM | Permalink

W32.Prolin.Worm is worming it's way through my workplace. E-mail viruses are a support nightmare.

Posted by Mattee at 06:12 PM | Permalink

VerizonOnline has been having server problems, resulting in mail never being sent or received, or being hideously delayed (last night, I received a time-sensitive message sent on December 5th). Looks like it may be time to shop for a new ISP, along with a new system to replace my aging, secondhand Acer. I'm going to try to wait for Pennsylvania's second Tax-Free PC Week, (Feb 18-25, 2001) to get a system exempt from sales tax. Hopefully, I can hold out that long.

Posted by Mattee at 01:51 PM | Permalink

A belated (Dec 8th) Happy 40th, Marlin
(Ron's boyfriend)

Posted by Mattee at 09:20 PM | Permalink

What a fantastic weekend I had! After a much-needed day off on Friday, The Boyfriend and I attended the Harrisburg Men's Chorus Concert at Whitaker Center. I was able to introduce him to a lot of people, and he got to see the group that has occupied a lot of my time in the last 11 years.

On Saturday, I went to volunteer at the Central PA Food Bank. This volunteer effort was organized by my employer, and I spent about 4 hours re-packing food for distribution. I ended up having a great time.

The holiday party invitations have begun. We attended a lovely neighborhood party nearby... my neighborhood has been christened by some as the next "gay ghetto" of Harrisburg, as there are at least 10 queer households within an area less than 5 blocks long and 3 blocks wide.

Then came Sunday, which is Queer as Folk day.

I was disturbed by the events surrounding Ted's date. On the one hand, we need to acknowledge that there is a lot of recreational, party drug use (Ecstasy, GHB) in the gay club scene, and that, for some people, their entire life revolves around the clubs.

I know I sound like an ancient old curmudgeon because I'm kvetching about how the series "doesn't represent me". It doesn't, but, then again, am I wrong for expecting that it should?

I think the show will reinforce a lot of stereotypes and distorted perceptions about queer culture. There's a lot more to Gay life than dance clubs and pretty buff boys. Then, the one cast member who presents as an everyday kind of guy has to be incapacitated in the second episode. I was really rooting for Ted to not only "get a little", but also in hopes that his character would be more fully developed.

Posted by Mattee at 08:09 PM | Permalink

It's cold outside. Although I despise cold weather, I'm not so miserable that I plan on leaving Central Pennsylvania any time soon.

I talked with my parental units today. They are inching toward the onramp of the Information Superhighway with their purchase of an "Internet Appliance". I'm looking forward to being able to e-mail them and send pictures.

Tomorrow is a big night for me. After 11 years of membership in the Harrisburg Men's Chorus, I am on sabbatical this season. Tomorrow night, I will be taking a seat in the audience for the first time ever. I'm looking forward to just sitting back and listening for a change.

This concert will also be the first public social event I'll be attending with The Boyfriend. I've been single for so many years, I think people will be shocked to see that this old hussy might actually be settling down!

Speaking of the BF, I was very pleased today when my mother inquired, (albeit hesitantly) "How is your Friend doing?" This is a major step forward for her and my Dad. Although I've been out to them for 13 years, this is the first time they have ever made any inquiry about someone I"ve been dating. Hmmm... I wonder if Joanie has been attending PFLAG meetings on the sly? Progress is a wonderful thing... all the same, I think I'll wait a bit before sending them the link to my website.

Posted by Mattee at 06:17 PM | Permalink

...that I was a big Barry Manilow fan as a kid. I've even sung "CopaCabana" in public... (New Jersey, 1978... me, braces, big hair, polyester, and Barry. No wonder I had no social life). Now comes the news that CopaCabana has been made into a musical. Frightening.

Posted by Mattee at 11:12 PM | Permalink

This is the beginning of what I hope to be a long habit. This is basically a test post to get my bearings with Blogger, but I plan on adding more detail (as well as an original design) shortly.

Posted by Mattee at 10:03 PM | Permalink