The Ones You Buy for Yourself!



Nikon COOLPIX S630

Don't worry, I haven't abandoned my Nikon D40. This is just for those times when I may want to bring along a camera but don't want to lug the whole kit and kaboodle.

Besides that, it's snazzy looking, isn't it? To paraphrase that popular saying about a timeless dress, "You can never go wrong with a simple black camera."

To Make You Feel PROUD?



Here are some shots from the NYC Gay Pride Parade yesterday. ENJOY!

(Click on pic for more.)

When I was seven years old I remember my mother forbidding me to watch the now famous episode of Charlie's Angels called Angels in Chains. It was 1976 and Farrah Fawcett was one of the most famous people on the planet, thanks to an even more famous poster.



I've since seen that episode of Charlie's Angels, and just about everything Ms. Fawcett has ever done. Farrah is as much a part of my childhood memories as The Fonz, Star Wars figures, and the soundtrack from Grease.

Rest in Peace, Angel.

And at Abercrombie & Fitch it's the old 18.

Here's a true story (said the fiction writer.)

About eight years ago my friend Rich and I went to South Street Seaport to visit the new Abercrombie & Fitch store. This was 2001 or thereabouts, when A&F was still publishing their infamous soft-porn catalogs. Looking back now I suppose we went down there hoping to get a glimpse of some of the shirtless models.

Translation: We were hunting for shirtless models.

These days A&F makes it easier to find their professionally waxed boys – it seems like there’s a shirtless hottie in the doorway of their 5th Avenue flagship store 365 days a year - but back then you had to work for it.

Sadly, there were no models on duty that day - a wax shortage, perhaps? - so Rich and I did the next best thing and went shopping instead. As I browsed through the racks and piles of tween clothes, many so small they wouldn't fit an anorexic Asian woman, and held up a boys shirt in front of a mirror that seemed tailor-made for slutty Mouseketeer, my thirtysomething self quickly realized he was too late for this party.

“I know one thing for sure,” I said to Rich. “I’ll be damned if I’ll ever be one of those forty year old queens who buys all his clothes at Abercrombie & Fitch.”

Rich cleared his throat loudly, and widened his eyes as if to say “Behind you, big mouth!”

When I turned around I saw there was a forty year old queen standing behind me, staring at me, with enough A&F tees in his arms to outfit an entire gay softball team.

“Just you wait,” he said, his voice thick with venom, like the Evil Queen’s in Snow White. “You’ll see.”

I remember laughing it off at the time. I mean, curses don’t really work, right?

Still, I’m sure I’ll be thinking of that forty year old queen today when I pop into the A&F flagship store for my summer wear.



"Where have my thirties gone?"

This site has been getting a lot of press since its launched last week; I think they've had close to a million hits. My brother sent me the link a couple of days ago on Facebook and I've been hooked ever since.

Be sure to scroll back through the older entries when you visit - that's were the good stuff is! If you can't access the site right away due to heavy traffic here's the address.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

My faves so far are "The Swinger" and "Saturday Night Special." In a word - Awkward!

Tiles For America - 7th Ave. & 11th St.

BONUS PIC - a close-up of the fence.

I've started reading my first "post-MFA" book - The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - and I'm totally digging it. (Thanks, 'Nathan!)



I'm digging the author's last name, too. Niffenegger. Seeing such a notable surname on the cover of a bestseller gives me hope for Puterbaugh.

I'm also digging the fact that I don't have to write a paper about Ms. Niffenegger's novel when I'm done reading it. Reading for pleasure...what a concept!

Here are some more shots that I took at a street fair on 7th Ave. this weekend. Click on the link to view.

( ENJOY! )

I defend my final writing project. I know, I know -- who the hell would schedule an oral exam on Memorial Day Weekend??!! Ah, well...it's better than arguing on Christmas Eve, I suppose.

Wish me luck!

UPDATE: May 24th - 11:38am EST - I PASSED!!! Next stop: Graduation! (Thursday, May 28th)

Here are mine, from best to worst.

1. Kelly Clarkson - (Season 1) - Always and forever.

2. Carrie Underwood - (Season 4) - A very close second.

3. Fantasia Barrino - (Season 3) - Granted, she hasn't produced a crossover hit song since winning the crown (2004's "I Believe"), but if you saw her live onstage in The Color Purple then you know this girl can sang.

4. David Cook - (Season 7) - Although not as successful (yet) as Chris Daughtry, he's the best male singer to win Idol so far.

5. Kris Allen - (Season 8) - Adam Lambert should have won, but this kid is growing on me. He can definitely sing, and I like that he can play both the guitar and the piano. Like Daughtry and Cook he's a real musician.

6. Jordin Sparks - (Season 6) - Poor Jordin. I had to look up who won Season 6, I couldn't remember! Then I remembered that god-awful song - "Tattoo." Jennifer Hudson has nothing to worry about.

7. Ruben Studdard - (Season 2) - When is the last time you heard anything about this guy? Like Fantasia he hasn't had a crossover hit since winning (2003's "Flying Without Wings"), but at least she's out there doing something. Is "The Velvet Teddy Bear" even recording anymore? Two words: Bore. Ing.

8. Taylor Hicks - (Season 5) - Unforgivable.

It's interesting that of the four superstars to come out of American Idol - Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, and Jennifer Hudson - only Clarkson and Underwood have won the title. Kris Allen has the potential to be the next superstar winner, but I bet Adam Lambert gets there first.