World AIDS Day

I've been living with HIV now for nearly 16 years - and those of us who were personally spared the worst of the epidemic - had to witness it. World AIDS Day is my personal Memorial Day. I remember the strong friendships I have with people that live with HIV and AIDS every day - I remember the dozens of men and women that are memories. It is hard sometimes to not have remorse for having lived through all that while others did not. There was a time in the early 90s where I didn't see myself ever reaching 40. Times change I suppose. I always use today to remember where I've been and muster the hope and energy to charge on into year 17.

Im-Press-ive!

Our morning show at San Francisco's 95.7 The Wolf are the cover story on this month's "MOUTH" magazine - an inside radio monthly about "whats hot in morning show radio" - and it features this kick ass photo shot.

Love + It!

Listen to Ken and Corey with Eddie King on 95.7 The Wolf - online through iTunes - or at their website. Ken and Corey are just downright funny - and their sidekick Eddie is the sweetest 'out' radio personality you'll ever meet. This is awesome to see San Francisco's Fresh Country station front and center!

the porkchop that got away....

Kateydog (the wonder terrier and my roommate) is a serious huntress when walking the streets of San Francisco. Nose to the ground like a determined four-legged Hoover vacuum - she follows a set of checkpoints. Various planters along the way let her check her pee-mail. (*sniff* - Oh - Buster was here earlier!) In the six months since we moved into the Muffin Penthouse - - this list of checkpoints has grown and become quiet sophisticated.

There are several things that make our little microneighborhood such a dog sniff patrol paradise. First - there is the opera, the symphony and other theaters - with various people eating on the way, dropping things and there is also a trashcan receptical about every 20 feet. Second - there is a relatively high homeless population in the area - who on regular schedules eat and leave litter in and around the buildings. (creating for dog walkers just the opposite - an obstacle course of "no you do NOT need to sniff that" challenges) Finally - there are two big grassy areas that the parks folks backfill with sand - which is simply a smell sealer for all sorts of great smells. When Miss Kate finds something "great" (to a dog) - like say bright red bubblegum - or a candy wrapper or a chicken bone or any other goody - she records it. and for weeks afterwards you can see her return to the scene of these finds - to double check that someone wasn't good enough to leave it there again.

The latest case is "The Porkchop That Got Away...."

We were leaving the building the other day - and incredulously - there on the sidewalk was an ENTIRE boneless porkchop. Now - to Miss Kate this is nirvana. Doggy heaven opened up and shined up on her - this - well it was like winning the doggy LOTTO.

Well - that was before she did tug-o-war with me for 5 minutes - her trying to wolf the entire chop down in one bite - me saying "drop it" and holding her by the collar. Me finally winning - well because I'm the Daddy and I said so. I literally think she pouted the rest of the day about it - occasionally looking over at me saying "but it was just a porkchop - what is so bad about that?" Well lets see - first - doggies don't eat entire porkchops. Second - well - its a porkchop on the streets of san francisco - - that creates all sorts of concerns.

Now before someone screams 'katey-abuse' - she was very sick with pancreatitis a year ago - prolly for finding something very much like this on the ground in Golden Gate park; so I am rightfully strict on what she eats and does not. She's got a sensitive constitution and I'm being a good Daddy by making sure no food harm comes her way.

Well ever since - even when we come in the other door - she will pull to the other door - ask to be let out - and sniff on the sidewalk on the other side of the door. She is convinced it is like a portal from another universe where porkchops fall from the sky - and she doesn't want to miss out. This has been going on now for three weeks.... the return to the 'scene of the porkchop.'

Tonight - we went out - she sniffed. and she stopped, sat down - and then looked up at me and let out this exasperated whine. as if to say "I know porkchops appear here - and I'm frustrated!" then she let out a little huff and turned back to go inside the building. Classic!

and I am telling you... I'm not going...

Tonight I went to see the 30th Anniversary concert of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. It was a splendid evening - and it was a full chorus with orchestra. The first act was a full commission of individual stories (including a blog entry from http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/) - a song cycle about war and peace entitled "New World Waking: Songs on the Road to Piece". For a large volunteer chorus their intonation was quiet amazing - and they had it all memorized; no books. I found the selections quite uneven - and I think the work will definitely make the rounds of gay choruses. The 2nd act presented the chorus with the two subgroups separated out (always an unsettling presentation as far as I'm concerned) - with Vocal Minority on one side and The Lollipop Guild on the other. The holiday selections were unfortunately the same old style of holiday songs - one for Hanukkah, one for Kwanza and a singalong. I've been away from the gay choral movement for a decade and it was like listening to the same concert.

As a singer I always dreaded Christmas concerts - because there are only so many arrangements - and the veteran singers have that "I've sung this arrangement so many times - I am going to go crazy" look on their faces. The soloists were great - but well - Jennifer Holiday was on the program; and she's a hard act to follow.

She came out and gave a short speech about when she was in Dreamgirls as AIDS hit NY and Broadway very hard. and how over the years - the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going..." has come to represent the creative men and women AIDS claimed in her life. and an anthem to those of living with the disease every day - who can bravelyl say "I am Telling you I'm not Going.." it was a very beautiful speech - then of course - she sang the living hell out of that song. Mr. Levy got Michael and I tickets in 4th row - so we were right there. She's simply amazing......

They did the singalong - and Michael I laughed our way through "the most FABulous time of the year"

then we saw Mr. Levy dressed as a nun for HALLELUJAH CHORUS..... and after that? what else can I say!?

So many of us are blessed by what the San Francisco Chorus started 30 years ago in the shadow of the assassination of Harvey Milk. Every major city in north america and even the world has a gay chorus that followed in their footsteps. What a beautiful thing!