Some of the news that is fit to print

Hello from London...

Hello... coming to you from London where we are traveling with The Family for the week. And it is DMV's first ever visit to this city, which is just shocking.

It has been a great trip so far, despite catching yet another cold on a trip. Argh! Much more when I return on Sunday including... how London is dealing post 7-7 and 7-22... a review of the stage version of Mary Poppins... and more...

We're going to Disney World!

The traveling TypePad goes to Disney World on Sunday to spend some time with the in-laws at the happiest place on Earth. I'm hoping we'll also be able to get some much needed R&R. It has been intense at work for the last few weeks... and intense as my best friend has been facing some personal challenges. I'm hopng that a little distraction might just do me good.

We then go West to see my family... and again, we hope for some R&R.

I'll post from both places, no doubt.

A fond final Cherwell

A fond final Cherwell… Giving credit where credit is due, the wonderful headline comes from CherWorld.com, but it captures our weekend to SoCal.

We took the traveling typepad to Hollywood this weekend to see the final final for Cher’s Living Proof Farewell Tour 2005. Cher had come through Washington three times. I missed her the first time, so on the second round, DMV got me tickets for my birthday. (I discovered this weekend that he didn’t actually buy the tickets on eBay until days before that concert.) Cher came through DC for a third pass, but we had plans and so we missed that one. But then Cher announced that she was going to shut down this tour, which she says will be her last. And if one was going to do a final concert, it would seem that the stars are aligned correctly. She show was 40 years almost to the day after Cher performed her first concert with Sonny -- also at the Hollywood Bowl. So when Cher made the announcement, I quickly called my father. He is a Bowl season ticket holder, so I thought he might have some pull. And he did. We had great seats about 15 rows back. I’ll post the poor camera phone photos when I figure out how to transfer them over.

But I’m getting ahead of the story.

I flew out Friday – DMV had gone out earlier in the week for business. On Saturday, we did the perquisite tour of my father’s apartment building. He’s so cute because he is so proud of the building and the facility. And you have to give him credit – they are really nice! If I had to live in an apartment, it’s a nice place to live.

Given that we were in my old neighborhood, I called my best friend’s parents to see if we could do a pop-in. When we did, they had a neighbor over who said his friends tried to see Cher Friday – the next-to-the-last-show – and he said that they were stymied by gridlocked traffic. I panicked because I know what a horrible frustrating feeling that is. Years ago, I tried to go see Fleetwood Mac’s first reunion tour at the Nissan Pavilion and ended up spending more than two hours sitting in traffic, a trip that shouldn’t take more than an hour tops. Needless to say, I have never been back to Nissan. But I wasn’t going to let traffic interfere with our Cher-ebration!

We decided that we would have dinner in Hollywood and walk to the Bowl. (I generally prefer the low stress route. I’d rather get to the airport an hour early rather than having all the stress of rushing. DMV does not share that opinion, unfortunately, and it has led to some of our biggest fights.) We made reservations at the Hotel Roosevelt, a wonderfully remodeled hotel on Hollywood Boulevard across from the famous Chinese Theater – yes, the same Chinese theater where people are lined up to see the final Star Wars movie although the movie is not going to be showing at the Chinese Theater. We had a wonderful dinner at Theodore’s and then made on the 20-minute hike up the hill to the Bowl. And traffic wasn’t all that bad. I mean, it wasn’t free flowing, but it wasn’t gridlocked. So we make the 20-minute walk, there were people dressed up as Cher – of course. As we approach the Bowl enterance, there were religious fanatics out front with anti-gay messages. “Gays are sodomites,” one said, which is difficult to argue with. Most gays are, in fact, sodomites. Of course, not all sodomites are gay, but… From the look on the faces of most of these people, they could have used a little sodomy. Another sign said, “Gays like fecies – ‘skat’” Ah yes, I can’t get enough – sh*t pancakes for breakfast, sh*t, tomato and mozzarella for lunch, and sh*t soup for dinner… I always wonder what these people really hope to accomplish. Does anybody – let alone anybody at a Cher concert – walk away saying, “You know, those gays… they DO like skat.”

Of course, the concert crowd seemed like there was a direct bus line from West Hollywood to the Bowl. There was a high gay quotient – no shock there.

As I said, we had great seats. We did not realize that there was going to be an opening act – the “official” Village People, no less. They were actually much better than I expected. The biker boy – well, not really a “boy” anymore, but...  – is still in great shape. And they seemed really thrilled to be there. They finished up their show and had not sung YMCA, so you just know there is another song coming, right? There was.

And then – Cher!

The 57-year-old diva (she turns 58 on May 20) is just fabulous. (She only ranks second to Tina Turner in terms of putting on a great show… and that’s saying a lot!) I have now listened to and seen this show numerous times. She starts off lowering from the ceiling on a chandelier singing U2’s “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” and then quickly launches into her own stuff. The order of this show was different then both the televised version and the version we saw in DC, but the heart of them are there. Actually this show seemed to be considerably longer – about two hours. She does a great job using video clips, which allows her costume changes, which are numerous. She only does “I got you babe” using the video, including clips from her famous appearance on Letterman’s old NBC Late Night program, where she appeared with Sonny. Her first monologue is also different from the broadcast version. In the recorded version, she says that she wanted to make the show fabulous because there are all these young girls coming to take… “well they’re not going to take my place, but they are going to take somebody’s place.” She said that one of those girls – “I’m not going to say which one, but she has a very big butt!” – complained about being called a whore. I’m just joking, she said. But she said she has a motive for making the show so fabulous. She wanted to say to those girls, “Follow this, you bitches.” And, in fact, at the conclusion of the show, she did say it – in fireworks on top of the Bowl at the conclusion of the program!

She said that this would be the end of her 325 day tour and she said that she would not do another final tour like so many other artists. "This is the last time - 'cause I'm approaching 80." She suggested if she did, she would be riding a rhinestone-encrusted Liberty Scooter.

The show was everything we could have hoped for. The great thing about Cher is that she is a performer. She has that Tina Turner quality where she just goes out there and puts out 100 percent. In one of the video montages, she says that she has never been liked by singers and that she has never really been liked by actors… but she does her thing! And she sure did it well!

Two celeberity sightings... "Jo" from the "Facts of Life"... and Michelle Lee from Knots Landing "fame"

Then on Sunday, a baseball game – yes, me! – in my father’s fabulous Dodgers seats that are about four rows back from home plate. (A friend commented, "Only the two of you can do those two events in one weekend!") Now THAT’s the way to see a baseball game! Then dinner with my cousin and a viewing of “The Witches of Eastwick,” of course.

So… a huge thanks to my father and step-mother for getting the tickets and hosting us for the weekend! We had a great time!

'Tis the season...

It is one of the best times of the year to live in Washington, D.C. -- Cherry Blossom time!

The Cherry Blossoms are one of those amazing, spectacular events that has to be seen in order to get the full effect -- kinda like the Grand Canyon... or The Gates, for that matter. But the wonderful thing about the Cherry Blossoms is the unpredictability of it. It isn't something that people can really plan a trip around because the booms largely depend on the weather.

Now I could be one of those people who complains about how all the people are coming into the District clogging our roads. But I'm thrilled that people come to see the city in one of its most beautiful times of year. (I will, however, crab about people who don't let the trees alone. They climb up them or shake and hang off the branches. Or trample the roots. Just enjoy!)

We went with our friends John and Katie and their kid, Bergin. This was baby Bergin's second trek to the blossoms and she seemed to like them -- and all the people there looking at how cute she is! She also loved seeing all the dogs -- or was she saying "dads." I'm not quite sure. Doesn't really matter.

We got there early -- 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning in the hopes of avoiding the huge crowds. But to no avail. Apparently four or five thousand people had the same idea. Still, seeing the blossoms is one of the things that almost makes it worth having to go all the way through winter to get to spring.

One other fun tidbit... also at the blossoms -- none other than the infamous question infomercial guy, Matthew Lesko, apparently recording his latest gem. But even better -- Lesko has a blog! Of course!

I'll post a full gallery sometime this week. I have posted more photos here.

Less weight on the world....

Just how wrong is it to take a bathroom scale from a hotel room? How about the mirrors? Both the scale and the mirrors here at the Ritz blatently lie about my current weight -- a number I am absolutely not sharing because... well, you know. But I thought that if I take them home, it all becomes true, right? (Please say, 'Yes!')

Hello from Jamaica, mon!

We are here in Jamaica, mon! It is quite nice, although the flights here were nothing short of hell -- small, overly crowded planes. So the flight home looms. Ugh.

Before heading here, we treked to LA -- no, not California, but Alexandria, La. -- which was sprawling and kind of sad. DMV's sister lives there and we have not visited, even though they have lived there for more than two years. [GULP!] DMV's family is great, of course (and that isn't even in-law speak -- they are!) and the new baby is very sweet, but you get the feeling that they are trying to make the best out of a bad situation. It is DMV's brother-in-law's home town -- his parent's live two doors down! And it is a town that was dominated by a former Air Force base that has yet to find its way in the new world. They are hopeful they can be in on the early edge of that trek into the new world. (I just prefer to live in the new world, thank you very much!)

I also managed to get sick somehow. (See mention above about small, overly crowded planes.) I felt awful and slept most of the first day and a half we were here. I'm feeling better now other than a cough.

The Ritz is quite nice. We had seats by the sea today. I'm doing Yoga in the AM. And otherwise getting a lot of rest.

And sorry if the post looks odd. Typepad told me why, but...

CJD out... for a bit

As I mentioned, I'm out of town for the next week with limited access to the Inter-Web. A full report when I return.

I'm going to Disney World!

Actually I'm going to Orlando for a work conference... and the conference is actually closer to Sea World, but... I think I will score some Disney time while I am there. I return on Wednesday. Although I'm sure you will hear from me before then.

The Gates: The Visit

Yes, yes, I have been blogging about The Gates on and on, even pointing to cool satellite photos, so being the childless, carefree gay men that we are, we packed up the Volvo station waggon -- don't ask! -- and traveled north to The Big Apple this weekend to see The Gates. It was well worth the trip.

We decided it was a good occasion to take the pooches -- and it was. They loved it. The park was filled with people. Of course, many New Yorkers were complaining, "None of these people would be in the park if it weren't for these things!" And that really is the point, I think.

Much like when architect Michael Graves wrapped the Washington Monument during its renovations a few years ago, The Gates are mesmerizing. And it is wonderful how they make the park look like a whole new place.

People may ponder the meaning, but it seems to me they are a wonderful way to highlight the park and get people out in February. Not such a bad thing.

Off to The Gates

So despite the fact that there are apparently no hotel rooms to be found in the Big Apple, the always resourceful DMV scored us a place at the Soho Grand, which is very pet friendly. So the two of us along with the two pooches will be traveling north to see The Gates. My mother and sister were there this week and they said it is wonderful. So it just really seemed like something we did not want to miss. So I'll report back. Satellite photo of The Gates from 23 miles in space from National Geographic.