Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Yesterday seventy-nine Senators, including large numbers of Republicans, voted in favor of a Resolution that calls for much greater accountability from the President concerning the war in Iraq. Though not as binding as law, it calls for detailed reports from Bush on the progress of the war but falls short of demanding plans for a timely withdrawal of American forces. Nevertheless, this vote is considered a huge challenge and warning to Bush--and from his own party this time which drafted the Resolution, not the Democrats. Whether he chooses to listen to reason or arrogantly go on "staying the course" remains to be seen, but it's encouraging that even the hard-core faithful have finally had enough.
Another ultra-conservative politician whose influence is in severe decline is our Governor Mitt Romney. He came to Masachusetts clearly determined to save us from our evil Liberal ways (paving the way for a Presidential bid, he hoped, in the process) and has fallen flat on his face consisently. The latest is his initiative to reinstate the death penalty here, which was defeated by only one vote the last time a governor tried to bring it back.
Whatever you may think of Romney, and I think very little of him indeed, he did his homework on this one and mounted a well coordinated campaign, which must make the two to one defeat of the bill he sponsored even more difficult to take. Right now he can't win for losing here and I'm so proud of Massachusetts.
With a fair amount of frequency home invasions, operation of drug labs, hidden brothels, violent murders, etc. are happening in pricey suburbs or quiet little towns all over New England. TV report crews love to get the stunned reaction of the neighbors: this is a small town and things like this don't happen here--they happen in the city. They were such lovely people--I can't believe they were sacrificing animals and engaging in sex orgies right here in the suburbs! And the one that always gets me--I guess we're just going to have to lock our doors from now on.
Doors come with locks--what do these guys think they're for? Maybe I'm too urban a creature, but you just lock your doors when you leave the house and even when you're at home and that's that. The myth that crime and illegal, dangerous activity is confined to evil inner city neighborhoods is dying hard.
The opera Monday night in New York was Gounod's really lovely, rather old fashioned "Romeo et Juliette." It turned out not to be an exciting evening. French soprano Natalie Dessay cancelled due to a heavy cold and the premiere was sung by American soprano Maureen O'Flynn who was admirably prepared, and very professional but who possessed no charm and not a trace of girlishness. Because the set for the production is huge but very restrained and formal, combined with the fact that the performance stubbornly failed to incandesce, it was a pleasant evening but something of a non-event.
However, just as soon as I slipped into my seat I saw that there was a genuine celebrity sitting just in front of me. In case I missed it, the steel rivets set in the back of his black cow hide vest spelled out "Mr. Fire Island Leather 2001." Mr. FIL was there with his boys--actually they were good-looking middle-aged daddy types with highly individual takes on facial hair and that aura muscle guys give off when compelled by circumstance to get into some sort of formal clothing.
Leather Daddy and opera-goer Mister Fire Island Leather 2001, courtesy of Google
They don't seem in any way uncomfortable, but you do notice the strain of cloth stretched over upper arms the thickness of most men's thighs or around barrell chests that don't want to be covered up. A kind of tension hangs in the air that signals a man who's very much aware of his own body.
He wore a flat leather pork-pie hat (that didn't block my view of the stage at all), the hatband of which was decorated with silver conchos. During intermission I congratulated him on winning the title and asked, pun very much intended, if he'd faced stiff competition. This sent a ripple of laughter through through the group and and set up a nice conversation. No flirting, though--I'd done that with the cute, curly-haired usher at the top of my aisle when I first arrived in the opera house. And he flirted right back, picking up his cue without missing a beat. I really love that in a man. If the action on stage was a bit slow, we made our own fun out in the auditorium.
There was one nice touch at the end of the single round of curtain calls, however. When the production team, director and designers--all of whom were making their debuts at the MET with this production--came out for bows, Scottish lighting designer David Cunningham sported a fully accessorized kilt with the requisite knee socks, sporan, and an evening jacket in black leather that drew appreciative comments from the gentlemen in the row in front of me.
Full evening kilt ensemble, cloth jacket
Another ultra-conservative politician whose influence is in severe decline is our Governor Mitt Romney. He came to Masachusetts clearly determined to save us from our evil Liberal ways (paving the way for a Presidential bid, he hoped, in the process) and has fallen flat on his face consisently. The latest is his initiative to reinstate the death penalty here, which was defeated by only one vote the last time a governor tried to bring it back.
Whatever you may think of Romney, and I think very little of him indeed, he did his homework on this one and mounted a well coordinated campaign, which must make the two to one defeat of the bill he sponsored even more difficult to take. Right now he can't win for losing here and I'm so proud of Massachusetts.
With a fair amount of frequency home invasions, operation of drug labs, hidden brothels, violent murders, etc. are happening in pricey suburbs or quiet little towns all over New England. TV report crews love to get the stunned reaction of the neighbors: this is a small town and things like this don't happen here--they happen in the city. They were such lovely people--I can't believe they were sacrificing animals and engaging in sex orgies right here in the suburbs! And the one that always gets me--I guess we're just going to have to lock our doors from now on.
Doors come with locks--what do these guys think they're for? Maybe I'm too urban a creature, but you just lock your doors when you leave the house and even when you're at home and that's that. The myth that crime and illegal, dangerous activity is confined to evil inner city neighborhoods is dying hard.
The opera Monday night in New York was Gounod's really lovely, rather old fashioned "Romeo et Juliette." It turned out not to be an exciting evening. French soprano Natalie Dessay cancelled due to a heavy cold and the premiere was sung by American soprano Maureen O'Flynn who was admirably prepared, and very professional but who possessed no charm and not a trace of girlishness. Because the set for the production is huge but very restrained and formal, combined with the fact that the performance stubbornly failed to incandesce, it was a pleasant evening but something of a non-event.
However, just as soon as I slipped into my seat I saw that there was a genuine celebrity sitting just in front of me. In case I missed it, the steel rivets set in the back of his black cow hide vest spelled out "Mr. Fire Island Leather 2001." Mr. FIL was there with his boys--actually they were good-looking middle-aged daddy types with highly individual takes on facial hair and that aura muscle guys give off when compelled by circumstance to get into some sort of formal clothing.Leather Daddy and opera-goer Mister Fire Island Leather 2001, courtesy of Google
They don't seem in any way uncomfortable, but you do notice the strain of cloth stretched over upper arms the thickness of most men's thighs or around barrell chests that don't want to be covered up. A kind of tension hangs in the air that signals a man who's very much aware of his own body.
He wore a flat leather pork-pie hat (that didn't block my view of the stage at all), the hatband of which was decorated with silver conchos. During intermission I congratulated him on winning the title and asked, pun very much intended, if he'd faced stiff competition. This sent a ripple of laughter through through the group and and set up a nice conversation. No flirting, though--I'd done that with the cute, curly-haired usher at the top of my aisle when I first arrived in the opera house. And he flirted right back, picking up his cue without missing a beat. I really love that in a man. If the action on stage was a bit slow, we made our own fun out in the auditorium.
There was one nice touch at the end of the single round of curtain calls, however. When the production team, director and designers--all of whom were making their debuts at the MET with this production--came out for bows, Scottish lighting designer David Cunningham sported a fully accessorized kilt with the requisite knee socks, sporan, and an evening jacket in black leather that drew appreciative comments from the gentlemen in the row in front of me.
Full evening kilt ensemble, cloth jacket
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That certainly set you up for an interesting evening. I've always found that the leather croud can be quite friendly and fun, even though the leather mostly says otherwise. I used to sneak into the Providence Eagle when I was 17. I miss it. Louisville lacks both a leather bar and the right type of men to fill it. le sigh.
Let's hope Romney's presidential campaign falls as flat as his Massachusetts initiatives. Evil Mormon vampire.
Will, I'm with Jason. The man has "crazy eyes". Romney is one of the few people that I can't bear to watch or listen to without getting upset. I'm ashamed to have him represent our state.
I will never for the life of me understand how Mass. voted in Romney for Governor!
Have a great weekend!
Have a great weekend!
Sangroncito, it was a series of unfortunate events stemming from Bill Weld.
If only everyone had listened to Jessie Helms and stopped Weld from trying to be Ambassador to Mexico ;), we wouldn't have had a series of stand-ins that led to Swift, who became DOA allowing Romney to look fantastic in comparison, and then win.
Now, why the opposition hasn't won any of those elections? I am hoping they are thinking long and hard about that. However, with the current candidates, if next years polls are even remotely like this year's, Romney's gone.
OK, that's the extent of politics for me as "Atari".
Mr FIL in leather attire at the Met? That's so New York! I love it!
If only everyone had listened to Jessie Helms and stopped Weld from trying to be Ambassador to Mexico ;), we wouldn't have had a series of stand-ins that led to Swift, who became DOA allowing Romney to look fantastic in comparison, and then win.
Now, why the opposition hasn't won any of those elections? I am hoping they are thinking long and hard about that. However, with the current candidates, if next years polls are even remotely like this year's, Romney's gone.
OK, that's the extent of politics for me as "Atari".
Mr FIL in leather attire at the Met? That's so New York! I love it!
Yes, that was at the MET, although I also go to the New York City Opera and Opera Orchestra of New York.
Going to opera in full leather gear is also very Berlin. Fritz and I met a publicity manager for the Deutche Oper when we were on vacation in Australia. Gay bikers attend in full leather, roaring up to the opera house and parking along one side where there are facilities specifically for their choppers.
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Going to opera in full leather gear is also very Berlin. Fritz and I met a publicity manager for the Deutche Oper when we were on vacation in Australia. Gay bikers attend in full leather, roaring up to the opera house and parking along one side where there are facilities specifically for their choppers.
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