queer eye

i was trying to discern what today's post has to do with recovery, and then i realized it embodies recovery for me. the day described in this post is a clear definition of my ability, albeit one day, to live life on life's terms. this may not be an ideal day for many of my readers, but it was an ideal day for me.

so we had spectacular weather for vail. not a cloud in the sky. the drive was beautiful and the autumn spectre felt like rapture. the palette was thoroughly autumnal, even though the aspen have already turned. additionally, the pine beetle is attacking the forests and turning evergreens this amazingly burnt looking rust color. it somehow worked with the color scheme, although the pines really seem to be screaming in that color.

we had lunch at a little cafe along clear creek called "up the creek". the waitress was a recent russian immigrant and mixed up some orders. frankly though, none of us cared.

then last evening we went for dinner to celebrate 22 years for vic and andrew. they were telling us stories of how they met. they met in ibiza 22 years ago. they have a house in london, a house on the isle of white, and a villa outside barcelona. they are genuinely smart, sweet, and funny. we shared stories about politics, work, life, and love on either side of the pond. i totally laughed my ass off.

the meal was spectacular. i had an antipasti plate with salami, gorgonzola, and homemade lavosh which rocked my world. i then had seared scallops with a light thai green curry with mango slaw. canolis with macerated orange rounded out the entire meal.

the staff signed a "happy anniversary" card and presented it to them with dessert. andrew got teary over the whole thing. staying with anything for 22 years is worth marking and commemorating. even more so, is staying with one person, through all those emotional changes, the bad moods, the illnesses, the disappointments, and the miscommunication. and of course we bantered about some of those with wit and skill through the entire process.

i got reminded of "the women" (1939 directed by george cukor). it is on of my favorite camp films. i would think it is a requirement for most every man who has or wants a gay card. it's a classic, classic, classic. i guess a weekend with the guys just brought this up for me.

oh, and before you watch this vid, you may find this site amusing...
palin for president
make sure to move your cursor over the entire picture slowly, it's interactive...
and click on the pics and the door, etc....

unbelievable

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Oprah Winfrey

one of my best friends came to town yesterday. he got tickets to hear one of his friends perform with the london symphony chorus at the boutique newman theatre at du. the chorus consists of 100 singers. they usually do outreach to perhaps two american cities a year. can you imagine the airfare and hotel bills? the show was superb. very intimate and sometimes emotional. the program was verdi's requiem. my friend (blue) and i went out for supper after the music. my friend g joined us. we chatted, laughed, swapped stories and reacquainted. grilled artichoke and colorado peach and date crisp ala mode stand out in my memory as being especially tasty. as well as my friends faces.

today the friend from london and his partner, vic and andrew, and blue and i will take a drive to vail, have some lunch, and then head back to town. it is vic and andrew's 23rd anniversary, so we have a late supper planned at rioja.

i don't think i have to mention (but will anyway) that legalized marriage is not required for long term happiness. but perhaps it is required to level the legal and the financial playing field a little.

things are really good today. almost unbelievable.