It’s been a nice run here at CityWOOF.    I wanted to let you know that I will be starting a NEW blog, and that it will be called “This Little Record”.  It will be at thislittlerecord.blogspot.com

I hope you will join me there!  I’ll be starting my blogging at This Little Record in a week or so.

I’m not sure if I can transfer the posts from this blog to that one or not…I’ll give it a whirl…or maybe just let them disappear into Blog heaven and start all fresh.

Thanks for checking in.  HUGS

Mark

Anyhoo, whatever you do, hope it is a LOVE-ly time.  This is possibly the last post on this particular site, as my domain is ending and I’m not going to renew it.  I WILL be blogging elsewhere and you will definitely be informed as to where that is.

HO HO HO and Happy New Year!

Everything is GOOD.  I am happy, healthy, have been going to a lot of theater and opera.  I met Phillip Glass and attended the west coast premiere of his opera “Orphee” which is based on the Jean Cocteau film “Orpheus”.  Very cool production, and now I am really into listening to more of Mr. Glass’s music.

I’m still seeing a very nice guy, although we have been going out for maybe 2 months and there has been no spark of sexuality.  I think that, for me, if there isn’t any interest (on either side) in sex by this point, then we are destined for friendship and not romance.  His hope is that his next relationship will be one that is born out of friendship…that is a nice idea, but…we are GUYS, and guys need a sexual aspect up front.   At least I do.  Know what I’m talking about, Shawn? 

I bought myself a new, big and beautiful HD tv.  LOVE IT. Everything looks so nice.

My poor little dog is, I believe, deaf now.  He doesn’t react to my voice at all, so I have taken to using sign language with him.  I can’t think about it too much, or I’ll cry, and I am currently at work.

Our next opera is “Cosi Fan Tutti” (Mozart) and then we have a Leonard Bernstein “Trouble in Tahiti”, followed by “The Barber of Seville”.   I found out today what the next season is (both Broadway and Opera) but I cannot divulge here, not that anyone who reads this would care, but….they are both BIG and exciting!  These are the things that I live for.

I am soon to be a published writer, I submitted two of my stories to an anthology of Portland writers and I know that at least one of them has been chosen.  Just not sure which one (or maybe both).  I have been invited to read whichever of my work is included at the book release party in December.  Exciting, that, eh?

It’s possible my domain name here at this blog may expire soon, and I may have to move.  I’d probably go back to blogspot.  I kind of want to start over from scratch with a new blog.  This one got kind of ruined when I decided to make it “porny”.  I loved it, and I know others did to, but…most readers jumped ship, because a lot of people read at work and, it wasn’t safe for work anymore.   BUT whatever happens, I will keep you informed.   I like blogging, but I want to try a different sort of blog.  I have ideas, we’ll see.

Now I’m heading downtown for “Lord of the Dance”.  Not seeing the show, working in the auditorium box office as I sometimes do.  It’s really fun there, and exciting and crazy.  I like it.

If I don’t get back on here before Thanksgiving, I hope you have a wonderful one!

He is getting so blind and deaf.  Pains me so. I love him.

Anyhoo, I’m very happy about my decision!  I had no passion for singing with the group and it’s a large commitment.  Now I can focus again on my writing projects (they are legion).

Still seeing someone possibly special.  We’re getting along nicely.  Went to see a couple of movies over the weekend (Mr. Moore’s new movie about Capitalism and ZOMBIELAND – both very good!)

I am thinking about moving to Austin, Texas.

Everything is good!  I copied this meme off the ever-enjoyable Spo Reflections site.   Here goes:

7 Things That Scare Me
1. Loss of a loved one
2. Homelessness
3. Republicans
4. Loneliness
5. Fat people.

7 Things I Like
1. Porn
2.  Movies
3. Books
4. Diet Mountain Dew
5. Sex (alone or with others)
6. Music
7. Theater

7 Things I Hate
1. Cruelty
2. Stupidity
3. Vegetables
4. Back problems
5. Hypocrisy
6. Republicans

7 Things In My Room

1. A pile of books being read.

2. A pile of laundry – some clean, some dirty

3. Posters

4. Xbox

5. Collectibles of dubious interest or value

6. Gay “Billy” dolls

7 Things About Me

1. Quit smoking now for 7 months

2. Undisciplined but talented writer
3. Lost 35 lbs and holding onto that weight loss.
4. Always wanting to move somewhere, but I don’t think anywhere is better than (or as wonderful as) Portland, so I don’t know why this compulsion to move persists.
5. Haven’t spoken to my father in years, and may never again.
6. Providing a comfortable home to the hiv virus for over 2 decades
7. I always have music on (in my head)

7 Things To Do Before I Die
1. Europe
2. Shove a gerbil up my butt
3. Lose another 30 lbs
4. Finish a play, a novel, several short stories and see them all produced and/or published
5. New York again
6. Michael Rockwell
7. Shawn (again)

7 Things I Can Do
1. Sing beautifully
2. Make people laugh
3. Bend my pinky finger all the way back so that it lays flat against the back of my hand
4. Communicate well

5. Get you off.

7 Things I Can’t Do
1. Eat vegetables
2. Discipline myself
3. Walk very well anymore (after two foot surgeries)
4. Run (I never could, so the coming zombie apocolypse will be a rough time for me)
5. Work under the hood of the car

6. Deal with republicans

7 Favorite Movies
1. Carrie
2. Terms of Endearment
3. The Color Purple
4. Sophie’s Choice
5. All of Quentin Tarantino’s movies
6. All of Barbra Streisand’s movies

7 Things I Say Often
1. “Huh?”
2. “Jesus Fucking Christ”
3. “Yes”
4. “What are you doing?”

My new thing is swimming at the gym….trying to get in a hour of freestyle laps at least 4 days a week.  I get SO BORED though, that I spent a bunch of money on a new ipod, waterproof headphones and armband case so that I can swim with my tunes.  WHOO HOO.

I’ve lost 35 lbs and have held on to that weight loss for a month now, pretty happy about that.

I’m dating someone, he’s nice and I like him.  That’s all I’ll say about that for the time being!

Went to see “Inglorious Basterds” (sp) and it is my favorite movie of the year so far…love that Quentin Tarantino, he’s such a great writer/director.

Working on writing projects.

I’ve joined the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, but I sure do dread the 3-hour rehearsals every Monday night…I’m not sure if I can do it.    It feels like I’ve been indoctrinated into a cult or something.  A very clique-y cult at that.   Mmmm, Kool-ade!  I don’t know if I’ll stick it out or not, need to decide soon.  I think I prefer the sort of stage performance where I GET ATTENTION, and am not just another queen in a tuxedo.  We’ll see!

My favorite thing in the world right now (besides swimming with my ipod) is the writing workshop I’m taking…I love having that time set aside every week to write.

So how are YOU doing?

What’s been going on, lessee…

I went to Vancouver, BC over Labor Day weekend with my best friend of over 30 years.  My dog Jesse went too.  Kelly and I sang at a church growth conference for the gay pentecostal “Rainbow Church” there in Vancouver.  We did two of our old standards.   I spent the rest of the time hanging out with my ex husband Jud and his current partner.  It was nice to see them and to see Vancouver again.  We were there for3 days and 4 nights.

Got into a HUGE fight with Kelly upon returning to Portland.  One of those “don’t ever contact me again, I hate you forever” kind of fights.  Don’t know if it will stick, I kind of doubt it after all these years, but who knows.  Like Billy Joel said, “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes”.  Maybe after all these years it’s time for a divorce.   We have gotten to be very c0-dependant as friends.

I’m planning to join the gay men’s chorus again, I need a new musical and social outlet and that should hopefully take care of both of those things.   It can be a very clique-y group, but I know lots of the men and I think it’ll be fun to do again.  Hoping so, anyway.

La Boheme is up next, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the opera.  It’s going to be a very traditional production.  Lots of great Broadway shows headed our way too.

Cheers!

- Elton John/Bernie Taupin “Writing”

For as long as I can remember, one desire has burned brighter than any other in me.  The desire to create,  to do or make something really cool and receive praise and make people suck air – whether it be a surprised intake, an “Oh!” of happiness, or a sob, or perhaps a sudden lack of breath brought about by shock or surprise.

Growing up,  I was able to fill that desire most often by my writing of stories or papers…any time I was charged with a writing project, I turned in something pretty great.   English teachers loved me.  In 7th grade, one teacher basically accused me of plagiarsim, claiming that someone my age simply couldn’t possess the talent to write the story I had turned in.  Well, I had written it.   I still have it.

My first college-level writing class was taught by the teacher everyone hoped they wouldn’t get…she was the toughest of them all, regarded as crusty, mean, hard-to-please.   I turned in my first paper to her and she informed me, in front of the entire class, that my narrative essay was “the best paper that has ever been turned into me by a student in all of my years as a teacher”.

Yeah, I pretty much sailed through the rest of that course!

I love to read, I love to write.   I like great writers like Truman Capote and Ray Bradbury.  I like Stephen King.   Horror is my favorite genre.

My problem is that I am just not disciplined as a writer.   When I sit down and get “in the zone”,  I can really turn out some good work…it’s just hard to get me to sit there and do it.

BUT I have renewed interest.  There are barely any horror writers who are gay, and the one BIG one who is – Clive Barker – never writes about gay people.  It’s time for me to step up and write some horror fiction for the lavender crowd.  There is some out there, and I own every gay horror novel and short story collection.  I recently discovered a gay horror writer named Rick R. Reed, and he is very good.  I’m inspired, I’m ready…just gotta get my ass in front of the ‘puter, turn off the TV and write.

What I really need is a laptop, but I cannot afford one now.  A laptop would let me write anywhere, and that is what I need to be able to do.  Maybe after I sell my first gay horror story, novella or novel.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m being silly in believing that, at my age, I can still do something like become a writer.  If I am, don’t tell me.  Have to have something to hang onto, projects to work on, dreams to move toward.

Otherwise I’d shrivel up emotionally, maybe even physically.  Now there’s a gay horror image for you!

The gig at the Duck went just like I hoped it would….nobody showed up, and those who were there left once I started to perform.  Awesome.  A few people stayed, bless ‘em.   I actually did put on a pretty good show.

I’m up for a role in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”.   Title role?  I’ll know soon.

Doing another singing gig at the Leather Pride concert this weekend.  4 songs. I should probably start thinking about which 4 songs!

I’m walking really well now, no problems.  I am no longer the gimp I was.

I have lost 17 lbs in just over 2 weeks on my Medifast diet.  Awesome Possum!

Almost 5 months without a cigarette.

Here in Portland we are experiencing a record-breaking heatwave.  Hot, hot, hot!

I’m writing, reading, whacking…just not blogging too much.  But I am still here!

Love,

Mark

Everything is good.  The weather is beautiful in Portland in the summer…rarely gets above mid-90′s, mostly it’s just gorgeous.    I am walking in my walking boot for this week, then I will transition into shoes.  Getting around with no problem.

Had my carpets cleaned, re-arranged the living room.  Everything is fresh and nice.

Jesse’s birthday is tomorrow…and so is Urspo’s!  All my Cancer buddies…I love Cancer males.  And Capricorns.

Went to a 4th of July bbq…it was nice to do something social.

Next Sunday I sing karaoke for an hour at the Dirty Duck.  God help those who show up.

Nothing to bitch about!

As usual I promise to blog more regularly, though that promise has little credibility since I keep making and then breaking it.  I need to get into a routine!

Citywoof is all smiles and peace these days.

I’m at the point where I am in a walking boot and the test steps I took yesterday worked out really well…I can walk, holding onto one crutch.  My best bud came over yesterday and we went grocery shopping.

Jesse seems to be better, I actually took him out for a walk on his leash.  He is still peeing in the house, but 0I’ll figure that one out.

I watched Marley and Me and had a really good cry.  Have you seen it?  You should see it.

Always darkest before the dawn.  I think the sun is coming out.

Hope you are having a good summer!