This takes me back to the '70s. I remember watching this version of The Taming of The Shrew, starring hottie Marc Singer as Petruchio.
Not a good actor, but still delivers a great performance. He's done a few films, but I still enjoy.
For your watching enjoyment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMdXHoZD6Ag
As y'all know, I was forced to go to parochial school for eight years. I hated every minute of it, but I did have a great education.
I hated the nuns and priests. For the most part, the nuns were Irish. They opened my eyes to a lot of things.
One of the things I remember was that they said the national anthem was originally an English drinking song.
It wasn't until later that I was able to confirm this.
This song is appropriate because it says that Americans are drunks. And it made sense. There is a movement to get rid of the American drinking song.
The drinking song was only added in 1929, which is appropriate considering the Depression. It is a very depressing song and you really have to be drunk to hit that note.
A poem, written by Francis Scott Key, a slave owner. He actually liked the drinking song and he used it before for another poem.
There are more appropriate songs by American musicians. The few I can mention are, America The Beautiful or This Land is Your Land.
I have been a cinephile since 1964, and I've been watching the Academy Awards since 1965.
I've loved books since always. For some reason, I'd read a book only to find out that the book was made into a movie.
I was always the ring leader and everyone loved my choices of movies.
I came across this and I really thought it was hysterical. The friends all laughed at this film.
For some reason, I found this hilarious back then, but it's not as funny as I remembered.
As soon as Sondra said this, we all knew exactly what she meant. Chanclas are those cheap flip-flops one could buy at Walgreen's for a dollar.
For some reason, they always broke when one least expected. Or they were a little used and they tended to fall apart.
Back in the 70s, I came across a lot of my baby stuff. Mom was a hoarder and I found boxes of my early life. Among the treasures, I found a baby huarache.
I loved that huarache. I always had it for show. We were looking at family photos one night and we came across a photo of me wearing the huaraches. Sondra loved it.
It followed me on my adventures. Last month I finally got a provider, a person who cleans the house, laundry, and runs errands.
Hortencia is my provider and she is awesome. Barbara is amazed at how different my home looks.
I felt something was awry and I noticed my chancla was gone! I looked all over but could not find it. It was gone. It was a family heirloom and irreplaceable.
C'est-la vie.
I know Clyde will love this one. I know so much more about women than I thought. I think this would be a faggot video. Would add to our humor. And of course, women.
I think everyone knows Barbarella, the 1968 fantasy film with Jane Fonda, a young Ugo Tognazzi of La Cage aux Folles. Not to mention a very handsome John Phillip Law.
Back in the day, moi and mes amis used to have movie nights. We took turns showing films with a theme. I usually picked films with music by Nino Rota or Max Steiner.
A fun companion to Barbarella would be Flash Gordon with hottie Sam J Jones, the hot husband in the movie 10. Also starring Max von Sydow, a young Timothy Dalton, and a soundtrack by then unknown, Queen.
This was hard to believe that this was shown 70's television.
I've got cartoons on my mind. Here are some memorable ones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U15rzqfSofo
This was an instant classic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucKGG45XZso
Another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYFhLM71kOY
And there is thishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZCNVYnpZHM one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZCNVYnpZHM
And then there's this. I always think of Clyde:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZCNVYnpZHM
They don't make cartoons like they used to. The quality was out of this world and did not rely on CGI or any modern tools.
I remember this one. Fabulous. I knew all the characters involved. Not bad for a child.
Speaking of Eva, for the most part we had the same taste in men. Although I never trusted her husband. He tried to bribe me once but I was adamant.
We were both into soap operas. The Young and The Restless had just started. We fell in love with Phillip Chancellor. He had salt and pepper hair, bedroom eyes, and a hairy chest.
It always amazes me the faggots that remember this classic. It is timeless and has a fabulous soundtrack. Hard to believe it was 1965, and it's only gotten better with time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xkQjuwihYI&list=PLVxlN_9uVnycJ_vHvMpS9lIaPIu2vtbfz&index=2
We all fell in love with the Prince. And, gurl, we all loved her gown.
This was blasphemed with Whitney Houston and Brandi, it was HORRIBLE!
Stuart Damon was the Prince and when Eva and I started watching General Hospital, we looked at each other and started singing.
I took an English class at UH and we found out there were over 415 versions of the fable. I googled and there are now over 500 versions.
I remember the oldest, Chinese, but now there's a Greek version that goes back to sixth century BCE.
There was a recent version with Cate Blanchett that caused controversy with the Prince. Turns out he's very well endowed and they had difficulty trying to hide it.
I just found out, although it's been talked about since 2019. There is yet another version with Billy Porter as the godmother, although he's being called Fab G.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNPTSeT1xyE I have it in queue with Netflix.
I can hardly wait.
I was introduced to Noel Coward sometime in the 60s when I saw the film Blithe Spirit. A fabulous film with a lot of memorable quotes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBH_xUayBsY
I just came across another version with Noel Coward himself and it's the fabulous version from 1956.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbkchgmDYgQ
Now there's another remake with hottie Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug9dTP4KlDg
Can hardly wait.
When one's bored, one tends to surf the net or you tube. I came across this one by mistake. I was shocked and amused at the same time.
Once upon a time, Joel, my best friend and significant other, sang this to me one night at Mi Tierra. I had no idea what was coming. He motioned for the Mariachis to come over. He spoke to them and they started playing. Joel, romantic Joel, took my hands and started to sing to me. He was not much of a singer, but he swept me off my feet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31OWzqItCIw
Stop trying to make fetch happen!
The Flying Fickle Finger Of Fate.
Our new lace foundation garment, zip up the back and no bows.
Who is that dangerously unbalanced woman?
Do that honey!
I did a lot of things in the '60s. I think I was the only one in the barrio that watched PBS. I mentioned earlier that I was doing yoga before it went big.
I liked Sundays because they would show episodes of Greek life, statues, and mythology. And Eva bought me a children's series of literature that included a lot of Greek mythology.
So, fast forward to college. I took a world literature course that concentrated a lot on Greek mythology. All those PBS episodes came in handy.
I grew up watching Steve Reeves films. He was a former bodybuilder turned actor who did a lot of Greek mythological-themed films.
I love watching newer versions of Greek mythologies and am usually aghast because they do not follow the classics. I did enjoy The Odyssey with Armand Assante. Also, there was a Helen of Troy mini-series that followed The Iliad.
I still have a copy of Mythology by Edith Hamilton which is the standard version.
I just wish I would have picked up Greek.
Peseta has several meanings. old Spanish money, also the name for a quarter in the barrio.
Drum Roll: A different meaning in the Barrio, Peseta is a person who is stuck up, obnoxious, person. It can be used in other instances to sarcastically talk about something, usually haughtily and with a sneer and a nod in the direction and stressing the 'A' at the end.
Some of you have seen moi on good days or bad. Most of you have seen the gregarious moi. I really don't do this much anymore, but I am quite the Peseta.
Eva called me Peseta when we were out shopping and I picked up a can of sensitive skin shaving cream. Que Peseta!
Another time we were at lunch and After the Loving played on the juke. I started to sing to her and I touched her tenderly. Que Peseta.
I don't know where it came from, but Debra's mother-in-law, Betty, called me Peseta. Everybody who knows me know that I do not celebrate anything, except Eva's Birthday. So she would always send me a Peseta Plateful of food at holidays. She was another fabulous person in my life.
There are more examples. Almost everybody calls me Peseta, but lovingly.
PESETA OUT!!!
Back in maybe 2002, I saw that my relationship was doomed. I knew he had an affair with a couple. Women's intuition. So what did I do? Hit the internet for someone.
One guy caught my attention. Pablo was a San Antonian and we had a semi-fling. We had everything in common. He could make me laugh and we talked about San Antonio.
We laughed at quinceaneras and weddings and the traditions that came with them. We knew all about Mexican history and we quizzed each other. These occasions had their unique idiosyncrasies. We found the songs hilarious.
Example 1-Reasons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qz_b1di3i8
And of course Europa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCAeDIF2svc
We've all heard them. They make up the tradition that are forever embedded in our minds.
I was still into Mexican history and we both knew the same characters. It was uncanny how much we had in common. We were supposed to meet in 2001, but it never happened.
Unfortunately, we lost track of each other.
I was pompous and arrogant way back in the '60s. I knew I was a snob way back then. And I haven't changed at all.
I loved films as you're well aware. Rex Reed is a movie critic I first came across back then. It was Eva who noticed his views were the same as mine.
Rex is from Texas of all places and he's articulate and intelligent. He too did not have an accent. And of course, he is a Friend of Dorothy. Plus I thought him handsome. Here he is on The Dick Cavett Show. Notice his accent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwT4iJCK2B4
There are so many great films not available anywhere. I've checked Netflix and I've checked libraries, but they're nowhere. I sometimes wonder if I really saw them.
Here's a fun one from 1984. Interesting plot and it has Lenny von Dohlen, who was in a little Indie film about a girl with teeth in her lady parts. Also, a little of hottie Maxwell Caulflied. He is drop dead gorgeous.
https://www.youtub.com/watch?v=JhjyTE0f6tY
ENJOY
WAIT!!! I found this trailer for TEETH.
There is a lot of music that defines me. This is one I would love played in my honor. Another Joel song, we loved this song and he would always request it when we were clubbing. And Honey, we dance the night away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZVpR3Pk-r8
Gurl, put on your dancing shoes.
Before we had gaydar, we had musicals! For obvious reasons, gays love musicals. We know songs and dialogue. Here are some:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rYXxK8e
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gDVfjj1Wa4
Part Three:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHDwSPUp0AQ
A fun one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQE2ycuoyM0
Another fun one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziA1TGNXktY
Sock it to me!
Horse Hockey
I'll have what she's having.
See you when I see you.
I'm into leather.
In my heyday I was all over the place. I was the center of attention. The guys new me and always came up to me and I'd perform for them as well.
One dancer paid me a lot of attention. Yada yada, yada. Of course I got a lot of oohs. Another weekend me and Joel were in Austin having a blast. Then the guys came on and guess who was there? My stripper from the other night. Joel was very impressed.
Joel and I loved dancing. When we went to weddings, quinceniras, and other gatherings, we had two beards who would always dance next to each other. After these soirees, We'd drop them off and go clubbing at The Country.
My last two exes were not great 'dancers.' One looked like he was having an epileptic seizure. Guys looked and were perplexed.
The other looked like Isadora Duncan. Another embarrassment. I found a video with her:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEb6KIPrvRQ&t=37s
Everybody that knows me knows how much I love to dance. Of course Eva taught me all the oldies and I don't know where I got some more moves.
High School: We used to have periodic fund raising dances. I had my posse and we all sat together. When fun music played, we were all excited and hit the dance floor. I actually started dancing on the way to the dance floor.
The Hustle: One of our favorites. We'd all dance and we were over 12 people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFzMs2SN--s
There there was a song from a funny movie, we loved the movie and there was this song. During the DJ's break, we would get up and start clapping: clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap:
Charmaine was my evil sister's friend. We hit it off at hello. She was another character in my life. She was married to a mariachi and she played the piano. She could play classical music at heart and she could also play modern music.
You know me and films. We were watching a Burt Reynolds film and I started to laugh at a certain scene, the only one in the audience. She had to wait later, the scene showed Burt reading a letter. What was funny was that the letter was at an angle. The audience bent their heads in the direction of the letter. I guess you must've been there.
We would get together and cook, drink, and laugh. She had a gorgeous daughter who I fell in love with. She authorized me as a driver when picking her up.
We would watch fabulous movies, and sing and quote the movie. One time we watched porn and we were all laughing. I didn't have any gay porn at the time. Now I do.
Some of my favorite times were the times we sat at the piano and she played and I sang. I had a fabulous voice at the time, my voice comes and goes. Joel, David, and June love my voice. Early this century my voice wasn't up to par.
Sidenote. Back in the 90's, I was in the Alamo City Men's Chorale. Of course I always had a solo. Once we did Broadway music. They had the lyrics available, but hello?, we're faggots and of course we new the words.
Anyhoo, I would sing American standards and Piaf, she's been around my life most of the time. She knew most of them. I did Johnny Mathis, Elvis, Barbra, Bette, Nancy Wilson, and loads more. She was surprised I knew so many.
Several times she sat me at the piano and I'd play and she figured that I play by sight. Meaning I could play but cannot read notes.
Back in the 60's, my dream job was playing piano at a bar and play all my oldies. But that's another story.
Introducing the Whiners: .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI8iCnM1QV0
I mentioned Hippie Hollow in a previous post. This is a clothing optional lakefront 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Was very popular with the Hippies in the 60's, hence the name.
Joel took me my first time. He had a Mazda with a moon roof. He would pick me up and we'd hit I35 North. Along the way, we would stop for some booze and we would drink along our merry way. Of course we also smoked. He was great at rolling joints. He usually used a dollar bill. I never learned.
Everything about Austin is fabulous. I enjoyed the meandering roads leading the way. Lake Travi0s is gorgeous, boulders all over the place and lots of greenery, and 'hiking trails.'
One time, there was this hot guy running around with his dog, Ralph. Of course he was nude. He'd be running around calling for Ralph. So, we nicknamed him Ralph.
I was a frequent visitor when I lived in Austin. I found it cheaper to get a yearly pass. I'd buy a poorboy somewhere and had a picnic by myself. Like I said before, I worked at the George Washington Carver branch library. I got a fabulous tan. One day I met another branch's colleague. We'd been talking on the phone. When he saw me he said, it's good to see a Black colleague who also spoke Spanish. My co-workers loved it. Guess that's why I was so respected.
Interesting story, I was splashing around and came up for some air. In front of me was a lesbian with a tattoo near her crotch. I was forever scarred.
I think I was the only that swam out to the buoys. I don't remember if Joel swam at all. He was usually checking out the trails.
These were great memories.
In the late 70's, I was still with my high school buddies. Jorge is one of my posse. We made friends with other people and a goo friend was Larry McNair.
Don't remember who brought it up, but we heard of a midnight cult presentation of a Broadway hit, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. What an absolute blast.
The whole audience was into it and screamed out lines and singing songs. Close to the beginning, there is a song and dance number begging for audience participation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umj0gu5nEGs
We would get up and dance The Time Warp. People used to dress up as some of the film's characters. So, we'd be dancing next to Dr Frank N Furter or next to Columbia or Rocky.
We would all drink and smoke on the way to the theater. I think it was Jorge that introduced me to Jean-Michel Jarre. Music runs in the family because his father is Maurice Jarre who won 3 Oscars with an additional six nominations.
I fell in love with Jean-Michel through Jorge. J-M's next claim to fame was his planned saxophone he wanted to collaborate with Challenger's Ron McNair. I posted that in FB a while back, for now here's his hit from Oxygene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSIMVnPA994
I don't know when I met Stanley. It was in the 80's and Sondra introduced us. There's the Fruit Fly again. Of course we became fast friends. And no, he didn't speak French.
He was older than us, maybe 5 or more years. He had a studio apartment and we could get close to 10 people. He was a great host, giving us food or booze and the occasional smoke.
He much favored young men. A typical trick would be anywhere from 16 to maybe 21 or so. I remember one memorable Fiesta, we were at The Menger of course. There was a high school band passing by and one was just his type. We met later that night and he was there with that boy.
We were at The Bonham back when it was great. We would all be dancing or boozing it up with a smoke or two. One night he was driving me home and we were at a red light. We were talking and laughing and still high. The light turned green and we stayed there. I finally said, Stanley, green go. And he thought I was calling him gringo.
He always said I was the perfect man to watch films with.
I miss him. He passed away in the early 2000's. He worked for ATT and was always scared of being laid off. He never did. He was also in theatre and would play roles at the San Pedro Theatre, I think that was the name. One memorable role was as Ito in Auntie Mame. Me be Charlie of The Ritz.
Auntie Mame. If you're a faggot you know who she is. I first saw this tome with my fabulous sister, Eva. She might actually have been a fruitfly now that I think about it.
Auntie Mame was written by Patrick Dennis in 1955. The play opened in 1956 with Roz Russell in the lead. She was nominated for a Tony but won a Golden Globe instead.
I've introduced her to a lot of friends. Clyde, Sondra, and I always said 1958 was a great year for films. Of course this is true because we were all born in 1958.
I showed this to Joel, and he loved it of course. He said she was me. At one point in time, I had made him and other ESL students to write down anything they did not understand and I would explain them.
Fast forward to the late 70s. We were at Hippie Hollow in Austin with some friends and he started to talk about her and we started to quote some of her lines.
Everyone I know has met her and adored her. I actually have a copy of the book. It is much different than the film. It's a cherished treasure.
Somewhere along the way, I had a black lacquer cigarette holder. It was black with a red band surrounded by rhinestones. It vanished sometime during my adventures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_3yUNA1XBI
It was the early 90's. We were at a bar that changed names frequently. I was with June and his boyfriend du jour, or as I called him, Insert Name.
We were standing at the bar having my Cape Cod which was my poison at the time. Suddenly, this song that somehow described me at the time, came on. I started moving to the music.
This gorgeous man came up to me and asked me to dance. June was aghast. Not missing a beat, I guzzled my drink and hit the floor. Later, June, still in disbelief, approved him for me.
His name was Evan. And he was a Jesuit priest who had just relocated from Hawaii. He was just under 6' feet tall, white, balding, hairy chest, and had the best underwear I've seen.
We were dancing and I could see June watching. We kept dancing for a while more. I introduced him to June and Insert name.We quickly became a four-some, and we all got along together.
Fast forward to his place. He lit candles and incense and put on Enigma. Wow, I was smitten. He got his undies from Hawaii and I reveled in it.
Here's THE song from one of my favorite films:
A few years ago, there was a fabulous sit-com on ABC called The Real O'Neals. About a gay teen in a catholic household. The family was cool with Kenny. Plus, they came up with some modern versions of classic gay lexicon. One of them was FruitFly which is the modern word for Fag Hag.
Sondra was my FruitFly back in the 80's. She is quite the character. She's from El Salvador. She has classic Mayan features. Of course she took French like most of us did. She and my Bestie, Clyde, were both Alamo High grads.
She had a gaggle of faggots of which I was one. We would congregate at her apartments and watch 50's sitcoms. Because of her, we had access to the best of the best. We never paid cover and some of the bartenders gave us free drinks. One of our favorites was a top shelf margarita.
We were the It Crowd. I have so many memories of this time. It was the BEST 'time of my life. We had many fabulous Fiestas. Unfortunately, our Fiestas were when Sondra, Stanley, and moi were walking along, and there was a man in front of us who got stabbed and bled all over the sidewalk. She said, that could've been us. No more Fiestas after that.
She was afraid of Brujeria. One time, she found a knife in a dead rabbit. She screamed Brujeria! She ran inside and lit candles and incense and actually prayed a rosary.
A funny story: 1984. Memorable. Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It? This was just before the song came out. She was booked into The Bonham. We were running late and the ballroom was full. She immediately started saying 'lady with a baby coming through.'
Sometime in 1987, I lost her. I always smile when I think of her. This video always reminds me of her. She's the one who renamed it the Barbacoa Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg
I cannot believe this. I finally found a working number for Facebook.
Long story short, apparently my account was sending spam to other people. So my account is permanently frozen. They deleted some of the spam but there are still eight spams they can't delete and they want me to go to each individual store and clear it with them.
Of course they weren't able to tell me what accounts they are. And they are not able to combine my accounts nor send me the pictures that I have stored.
Good-Bye Facebook.
http://chiflado-chiflado.blogspot.com/
You mean I'll, uh, we will be rich?...
I used to dream I was a mermaid.
And I can't stand him!
A c---, in a frock, on a rock!
I gave him my youth!
I woke up singing this morning. Being a faggot, I've always been a fan. Of course I have seen her few movies, but love her Broadway musicals.
I remember schlepping all over Ann Arbor singing her songs. Here she is in all her fabulousity best:
My education began with Eva teaching me how to read and write. I used to look down on my education, thinking it was below par. After much thinking, I am privileged to have had it.
I was forced to go to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parochial school. My Dad did not want me to go to school with the inferior neighborhood kids.
In school we were taught speed reading, penmanship, and grammar like everybody else. My grammar used to be fabulous. I was great in English and did not learn about comma splices or dangling participles. I was finally exposed to it in college. As soon as Mrs Billingsley said it, I learned how to use poor grammar.
The nuns taught us in Montessori. We were independent and went at our own pace. I was way ahead of the rest of course. I finished all the modules quickly and correctly, of course.
We were also introduced to music. We used to sing all kinds of music. I know now that some were Broadway music. We used to analyze songs as well as singing them. I had a blast.
They also taught us dance. I remember dancing to Fascination and we were introduced to classic Mexican music. They tried to teach us the dances, but we weren't that thrilled about it.
I do remember a nun giving me a fabulous book, something like 30 days to a new vocabulary or something like that. It was a fabulous read. I still remember some of the words and I have built my vocabulary because of this book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGiB1myCCOU
Once upon a time, there was a small bar in downtown San Antonio. It was a nice little bar. They opened at 7 a.m. There was a small alleyway in back where we could go and smoke.
It could hold maybe 70 men. During Fiesta there were way over 100 men. They came from everywhere and it was butt to crotch, guys slowly moving, grabbing here and there. It was a fun time.
I was there one regular day. I don't know what time it was, but it was sparsely filled, maybe around 20 faggots of all ages. We were lazily listening to the jukebox. The jukebox had a lot of classic gay songs. It was the second best juke in SA at the time.
A song came up and we all started to sing along and sigh. It was a special moment.
Here's the song:
TO ANYONE FOLLOWING ME. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ANY INFORMATION ON FB HELP. I CANNOT LOG IN ANYMORE.
IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE A CREATED ANOTHER ACCOUNT IN MY NAME, JAMES AREVALOS. MY GORGEOUS NIECE TOLD ME I FRIENDED HER AND SHE COULD SEE SOME OTHERS HAD BEEN FRIENDED ALSO.
I FORWARD ALL NOTIFICATIONS TO FB. FOR SOME REASON, THEY REFUSE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME.
I APPRICIATE ANY HELP FROM YOU.
THANKS
Back in the 90's, San Antonio actually used to have a Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Anybody who is anybody was there. I was with my friends from library.
The movies were great of course. And then, Trevor came on. OMG! This one was quite the pick-me-up. There's nothing like watching something with other faggots.
For some reason, a lot of the people I've known always compare me to our hero. Of course I've been a Diana Ross fan since the 60's.
Here I am in all my glory and it also won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO5uKgTETSI
I came across this just now. I wonder what we thought?
Fun Fact-Dick Sargent's real name is Dick Cox. How appropriate.
Another Fun Fact-When I get flustered, I tend to stutter somewhat. Clyde used to call me Aunt Clara.
I met Rick in the 70's. I was working at the MLC Library at the time. I was a Circulation Supervisor and he was a part-time student assistant.
Gurl, you could tell he was a faggot from the get-go. Of course we hit it off. We used to go clubbing and we'd dance the night away. He lived on Vestal St and we used to say he was a Vestal Virgin and that became a joke between us. He was a virgin and so was I.
We used to watch Jeopardy! at my house and we knew all the right questions. I remember taking the bus to Main St where all the bars were.
Anyway, we came across this fantabulous song that was all about me. Of course they played it at the bar and we'd dance. He tried to sing it in French or tried his best.
Rick was a cherished friend and I loved him to death. Somewhere along the way he developed a drinking problem. I lost track of him when he started drinking heavily.
I've searched high and low and nada. I never asked him, but later, I looked under Ricardo, Henrique, and others, but I cannot find him anywhere.
I came across my song at the time, and I always remember him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfoKoF4o6tU
Another Rick song. We used to call him Ging because of the red hair:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPYZpwSpKmA
I said I'm having deja vus, here are a few more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKMOClN9ITg
And of course,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILg5msMjDOM
And then there's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwieiakHiaM
As most of you know, Joel was my high school sweetheart and best friend. He chose me to fall in love. I was hesitant for some reason, but I quickly changed my mind. The best thing was that he was my best friend. Mom and Eva taught me that the best relationship is with a friend.
He looked up to me. I was 6'2" and he was 5'9". He wanted to be like me, but that is impossible.
When he graduated, I took him to SAC and went through the whole enrolling process with him. We had several courses together and it was great to have someone with me.
Of course he wound up taking French with our favorite professor. He picked it up easily.
One memorable Fiesta, we were at The Country, the bestest gay bar ever. We were on the dance floor when we heard a familiar tune. We stopped in our tracks and listened. Were we that drunk or stoned?
It turned out, we did hear what we thought. An early gay anthem in French. We instantly loved it of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhFU16MEtR4
Another memorable Fiesta, we went to NIOSA. We went by the French section and we had escargot and some wine. I was coerced to sing, and the only song I knew at that time, was Et Maintenant.
I got applauded and then they played to Can-Can and we danced the the dance.
Finally found the answer. Years ago, I slipped in the tub and lay there for three days. Finally, Mike called the office and the police. And there I was when Meghan, the office manager found me.
Long story, short, I wound up in the hospital for about a month and a half. I was out of it for the most part.
Mike and Sid visited frequently, so they said. One day, they were visiting and Oprah was on and she said she was taking the audience to Australia.
I don't remember of course. Out of the blue, I said, A dingo ate my baby in an Australian accent. They broke into laughter. Even when I'm out of it, I'm still funny.
I think everybody knows I'm a Francophile. My love of French began in 1963 when my beloved Piaf passed away. I heard La Vie En Rose and I was hooked.
I was an avid fan of Pepe Le Pew and Miss Piggy, LOL. Back in the 60's, I remember watching La Belle et La Bete. We used to go to the Alameda theatre on Thursdays because that were two films that played that night. They also played other foreign films, so I got to see Italian, French, and Spanish.
1980, a year that was a turning point for me. I finally took my first French class. It was so simple. I caught on quickly. I also met the greatest group of friends. So we had each other to practice with.
I've actually been able to use it several times. In Austin I was able to read a Langston Hughes poem in French. I think I said that before.
Alas, those friends have all disappeared. The only one I have is Clyde. He's the best.
And speaking of Claudia, here we are:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmEpAmFrATo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmEpAmFrATo
As we all know, February is Black History month. I was very ignorant about it. I was working at UH in the library of course. There, I started to learn about Black History from my colleagues. They also taught me about Mexican History.
Decades later, I was working at the Austin Library branch, George Washington Carver Library located in the hood. I was a white man of Mexican descent working with Black personnel. I was an instant success.
There, I was exposed to Black and Mexican history. It was a family-like atmosphere and I felt content. They were amazed at my knowledge of Black history. They considered me a Black man. What a compliment.
It was interesting to look at life as a Black human being. Every February we would get a lot of questions about the theme for that year. The title of this year's is in the Title of this post. I also read a Langston Hughes poem in French.
Fun story: We used to have a business library and we were one of the few with typewriter access. One day, a biracial couple was using it. It was closing time and I asked to finish their work. The woman who was Black accused me of being racist and called me rude.
The next day I told my story to the head librarian, who was Black. He laughed at my story and nicknamed me Rudy.
I've been experiencing a lot of Deja Vus lately. It started about a year ago. I'll thinking about something or someone and poof! there it is in front of me.
The majority of them are visual although some are musical. I'll think of a song and before long, I hear it on the radio.
The visuals are fun. I'll be thinking of a movie quote or actor or scene and it pops up somewhere.
This one is a fun one. I'd been thinking of an I Love Lucy episode and I found it. Here for your watching and listening enjoyment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh64lA1fH60
I wrote in Face Book that I used to love Name That Tune back in the day. Once again, Dad couldn't figure out how I knew so much.
I came across a modern version on FOX. I was very disappointed. It has the same rules. The problem is they have some rap and other poor choices.
A lot of my music and film I learned I owe to my fabulous sister, Eva. Because of her, I learned to appreciate classic singers and films. She also taught me to dance and to sing romantic songs.
Years ago, we used to listen to KQXT that played adult contemporary music. One of my early favorite was and still is is Johnny Mathis. I've seen him live several times. One memorable performance, Joel surprised me with tickets to see him. Johnny introduced a song from a current Broadway tune, Memory from Cats.
I have been watching Jeopardy! since the 60's. Art Fleming was the host and everything was so bizarre. The clues were slid open to reveal the answer.
Dad was always surprised that I knew so many questions. I'd say I was born smart when I should have said it was because most gays were smart. To my library friends I said I learned it through osmosis.
One day I was driving around with my handsome nephew. He mentioned something about Jeopardy! And he said it's probably one of my favorite shows. I hadn't seen it in years and I started watching it again.
The answers have gotten easier in my old age. I do remember back in the 70's and 80's, I would watch it with my friend Rick. We always got the correct question. I've lost track of him somewhere along the way.
Now I just watch it by myself and do quite well.
Joel, I almost forgot about him. He used to watch because he had a thing for Alex Trebek. He was quite the hottie with his moustache. We were devastated when he cut it off. Joel was always amazed at my knowledge.
I am not much of a fan of Ken Jennings, the current visiting host. His claim to fame is that he is the winningest contestant ever.
No one can replace Alex.
As most of y'all know, I am quite the movie fan. Something happened in the 60's that drove my sister and me to escape reality by watching movies.
Way back in the day, KENS-TV used to show movie musicals. Being in the FAA, Future Faggots of America, I quickly learned all the songs and music.
We love to quote films and I learned to use them in my lexicon. In MI I used to quote On Golden Pond when friends came over. I did a great imitation of Ethel Thayer and I'd make impromptu speeches.
Here are some quotes:
My Mother, a waitress.
You make me hotter than Georgia asphalt.
I love you more than my hair color.
You played it for her, you can play it for me...
You bet your Bippy.
See if you can guess. I will post five more periodically.
Snow. Can you believe it? I abhor snow, it only looks pretty but then it gets ugly and to ice. Of course being the turns to ice soon. Then there's black ice. Snow has melted and turned into ice.
I actually become quite intimate with the stuff. 24 December 2003. I went to my yoga class. I stopped to get some pastries for breakfast. The road was pretty much dry with a stream of water.
I swerved to the left, then right, then left, and the car flipped several times and landed on the passenger side. The windshield popped straight out. The car was totaled.
But I survived.
And here I am with snow. Bright side is, I don't have a car, I've been in quarantine since 2005.
Happy Mardi Gras
Michael Hunt is alive and well, I have emailed every FB email available. I wrote them. And I finally filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
So much has happened since my last post in FB.
My beautiful niece is doing better for the most part. It was touch and go there for a while. She's at home finally but has had some more hospital visits.
I had issues with Google back in 2016, so I can but hope that this will work.
I am TRUMP virus free. I got a call to get my vaccine, but have no transportation. My labs are fabulous, everything is normal. I sometimes wonder if I'm sick.
I used to post music I would like for my service, since I'm not having one. I will post these as FUN MUSIC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I&pbjreload=101
Good to be back.
