The High-Strung Loner

November 30, 2007

Seizure Salad

AES After leaving my pharmacy this afternoon I had to waste some time until SEPTA’s disabled fares started again at 5:30. I was at 12th & Chestnut Sts., wandered into the PA Convention Center and took the escalator up into what used to be the train shed. I forgot how huge it was. I walked towards the Arch St. side and saw that there was a buffet of come kind. You can see it in the bottom center of the picture. It was dinner for attendees at the American Epilepsy Society and it sure looked delicious. Sadly it was mostly pasta so I had to settle for asparagus, cheese cubes, some slices of fresh mozzarella, a little sausage and a Diet Coke. There was a photographer on a ladder who gave me the hairy eyeball but otherwise no one batted an eyelash.

After I finished my food I went to the men’s room to take a piss and put everything I was carrying into my backpack, mostly because I didn’t want to risk losing my prescriptions or having them stolen on the trolley. When I left I thought I looked a little more “legitimate” than when I had entered. I walked back across the long space, turned around and took out my camera to take a picture of the hall.

“Excuse me sir. You can’t take pictures in here.” I asked why as I adjusted my camera’s white balance. The woman at the security desk actually said, “Because you’re not allowed,” like she was my mom or something. Again I asked why and again she couldn’t give me a reason. It was really ridiculous. I said “You can arrest me if you want to but I’m taking this picture.” She made a sweeping motion to indicate that I should move along. I said “Arrest me,” raised the camera to my eyes and snapped the picture. She kept making that motion as I turned back towards the escalators and left.

This is the second time this month I’ve been asked to not take a photo in what is basically a public place—third if I count the Dollar Store incident. It’s insane as far as I’m concerned. What the fuck are they thinking? At least the adorable cops in the subway had a reason: “We’re preventing another terrorist catastrophe.” It was absurd but it was a reason. This woman today couldn’t do anything but tell me “them’s the rules.”

Well, here’s the forbidden picture. I’m ready for my arrest.

I’m listening to “No One Needs My Love Today” by Samantha Juste. from Dream Babes Vol.3: Backcomb ’n’ Beat

Technorati Tags: epilepsy, philadelphia, security

Posted by HighStrungLoner in Philly at 10:17 PM
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November 28, 2007

Millennial

Yet another arrogant, entitled twenty-something thinks demeaning people online is harmless Tuesday afternoon entertainment on gay.com. Some people simply can’t see beyond their own lives: Just because they never meet anyone from a chat room then no one does. The fact that they don’t says more that I ever could.

WCHII: hey...have u seen RAMMER??
TheCreepingTerror: i talked to him yesterday.
WCHII: k...havent seen em in here and was just checkin to see if hes ok
TheCreepingTerror: he’s good
WCHII: oohh...tell em i said hello
TheCreepingTerror: ok
thezooguy: maybe ram died and he’s been rotting in his home for days. that is the fate of lonely old gay men i’m afraid
WCHII: thats not even close to funny. hes a gr8 guy
thezooguy: i can’t stand him
TheCreepingTerror: ram is lonley? do you know him?
twomen pa: why zoo
thezooguy: oh i don’t want to talk shit
WCHII: u just did...too late
thezooguy: no i didn’t. i made a terrible joke
twomen pa: tsk tsk
TheCreepingTerror: THAT was a joke?
twomen pa: time for your flogging
thezooguy: yeah. he hates it when i call him old
TheCreepingTerror: uh-huh
WCHII: i dont think he cares. don’t flatter urself
thezooguy: yes...i flatter myself at his expense. don’t flatter him but...just in case someone oughta go check him out. make sure he’s still breathin cause the longer you wait the messier the clean up
TheCreepingTerror: notice no one’s laffing
howardn: but also notice that half of his “good friends” in here have no way of contacting him but in here. so just how "good a friend" are they really. just how sincere is their concern
WCHII: i have his number
TheCreepingTerror: i had dinner with him on thursday, talked to him on friday and again yesterday.
thezooguy: everything is laughable two. everything
howardn: then why ask day after day if he is alrighth. why not call him to find out
TheCreepingTerror: i haven’t asked
TheCreepingTerror: ONE person asked. ONE. and he never claimed to be a good friend
thezooguy: when answers tell him i said he’s an old fart. waaaaaaaaaay past his prime if he ever had one
WCHII: why do u bust on people when they’re not here to defend themselves?
TheCreepingTerror: really. i was just gonna say they sure keep their traps shut when he’s here.
twomen pa: zoo you going down points
thezooguy: he couldn’t defend himself anyway. i’ve got him blocked
howardn: good lord, it is just an online chatroom. why do you care if they “bust” on them
thezooguy: my point exactly how
TheCreepingTerror: really? i thought it was pretty clear that we’re friends outside of the chatroom
thezooguy: he’s representin
howardn: I dont know the guy, but like you said he really wouldnt care if he was here. yet you all get your panties in a bunch over it
WCHII: why does this even bother ya howard?
howardn: get the poles out of your respective asses and lighten up. this is online, why in god’s name do you take it so seriously
WCHII: i get my pants in a bunch anytime some one slams some one who not here
thezooguy: no you don’t lol
WCHII: yes...i do
TheCreepingTerror: speaking of getting your panties in a bunch, howard, all YOU ever type in here is catty, queeny remarks
philaguy111: creeping terror is absolutely right (it kinda scares me to see myself saying that, but it’s true)
thezooguy: i can’t see what he says. i got him blocked too. creepy old men freak me out
TheCreepingTerror: if you had me blocked you wouldn’t have responded to me OR had to announce it to everyone
howardn: my remarks are directed at the amazing stupidity of the current chatters. I do not, nor have I ever taken a thing said in here to heart
TheCreepingTerror: well, it’s time you started. YOU’RE An ASS
thezooguy: you do argue a lot howard
howardn: as I already stated, half the people in here dont know the other half but to be in here. so why in the world would I really care what a complete stranger thought about me. that is the problem with most of you. you think you have to have the entire world adore you
TheCreepingTerror: i don’t care at all if people in here like me or not. i think my behavior proves that. defending a friend is something else
twomen pa: well zoo ram is younger than my bf
thezooguy: yeah but does your bf act like a creepy old man?
twomen pa: meet him and you tell me
thezooguy: i have met one of you. i didn’t get the creepy old man impression. TCT and ram definitely fit the creepy old man category
TheCreepingTerror: and you have you met me, zoo?
twomen pa: creep is howard on a rant again?
TheCreepingTerror: yes, 2. he is.
philaguy111: on the other hand, it’s even weirder to come to a chat room for the express purpose of insulting total strangers
thezooguy: that’s entertainment phil
TheCreepingTerror: that’s the lamest excuse in the online book “i’m just here to stir the shit and be entertained.” bullshit
twomen pa: entertainment is done with some wit
thezooguy: that’s not true. entertainment can take on any form. anything you can imagine and more
TheCreepingTerror: REALLY?!?!?! i DARE you to show me something i haven’t already seen.
philaguy111: makes a lot more sense to chat decently than sit there sniping at every word
howardn: yet you all constantly snipe at mine
TheCreepingTerror: howard, some of us actually chat. it’s YOU who only chimes in to snipe at people
twomen pa: oh like using the N word was entertainment
thezooguy: i just come in...strike a few chords...then sit back and laugh and pity you at the same time
TheCreepingTerror: that’s even more pathetic and more clichéd.
twomen pa: well this is too ugly
thezooguy: and it all started cause i made a dumb joke lol that’s what makes me laugh the most
TheCreepingTerror: right. a joke.
thezooguy: rawr!!

time out...

thezooguy: i don’t actually want to meet any of these people
twomen pa: zoo is getting on my nerves tonight
TheCreepingTerror: i wonder why?
lefty31: i thought we were having coffee?
thezooguy: i’ll meet you :) and i’ll grab coffee but i don’t do the gay scene*
TheCreepingTerror: wtf is the gay scene? 2 blocks square in cc?
lefty31: i never have. they are trying to make me lose my gay bar virginity
thezooguy: don’t bother. it’s not worth it. stay pure
TheCreepingTerror rolls eyes
TheCreepingTerror: and a homophobe to boot
twomen pa: hmmm
lefty31: nah. it’ll be fun. or interesting at least
thezooguy: i avoid the gay scene. i just do other things. you know... like 99% of philadelphia
TheCreepingTerror: why bother avoiding it? why not just integrate it? it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
twomen pa: if he don’t like it he should not go. but to talk others out of going...
TheCreepingTerror: and it’s not just avoiding it anyway. he has to ANNOUNCE it to everyone. THAT’S the point.
lefty31: well tct, it is a chat room, everyone kind of announces everything to everyone. that’s the point in a way
TheCreepingTerror: there’s saying something and then there’s making a point of announcing it. he’s all about demeaning everyone
howardn: yes, he should just write a blog about, dont demean in the main chatroom
TheCreepingTerror: at least i do SOMETHING and i say nothing in my blog that i don’t say here
thezooguy: i’m not whiney or a queen
TheCreepingTerror: umm..yes you are
thezooguy: i guess i bitch a lot but i’m not bitchy
twomen pa: well tonight it doesn’t look that way
thezooguy: those are all very feminine terms
TheCreepingTerror: well...
howardn: it is alright for some in here to demean, bemoan and complain about others but not alright for others kind of like an updated gay Animal Farm
lefty31: did i miss something?
TheCreepingTerror: yes, lefty, you missed zoo’s rant about rammer supposedly being a lonely old man among other things
lefty31: aw. ram’s a good guy.
TheCreepingTerror: i know he is
twomen pa: apparently zoo thinks differently
thezooguy: i just said he could be dead
TheCreepingTerror: he said “maybe ram died. that is the fate of lonely old gay men i’m afraid”
mtairyguy40: it’s funny how some young men don’t think they’ll get older. lol
TheCreepingTerror: no shit, mtairy
thezooguy: i don’t think anyone believes they won’t get older
mtairyguy40: you act it.
thezooguy: because of my lack of grace when it comes to the aged?
TheCreepingTerror: because of your lack of grace in general
twomen pa: I hope someone treats you as badly as your treating ram when your our age
thezooguy: i’m not treating ram like anything
mtairyguy40: well the funny thing is, he’ll be arrogant no matter how old he is.
TheCreepingTerror: and that makes for a GREAT old age!
thezooguy: i’ll probably have the right to be no matter how old i am
mtairyguy40: no. you don’t have the “right” to be.
thezooguy: sure i have the right to do, say, and feel as i want
TheCreepingTerror: oh god
mtairyguy40: evidently you don’t.
philaguy111: maybe not, mtairy, reality has a way of deflating some people’s arrogance when they realize no one shares their high opinion of themselves
mtairyguy40: and the funny thing is he looks like an elf. that’s not exactly “hot.”
TheCreepingTerror: well, he IS from the zoo
mtairyguy40: should be under a tree wrapping gifts for kids.
thezooguy: mtairy you show spite more than anything
mtairyguy40: no. i just don’t like you picking on people in here.
thezooguy: so put me in my place daddy
mtairyguy40: live and let live. and leave people alone.
thezooguy: you’re setting a great example
mtairyguy40: you’re like 28? LOL you’re not exactly a “kid.”
mtairyguy40: i don’t have to set an example for idiots. not my job. god i can’t wait for the recession to sweep away guys like you. you’ll be unemployed immediately. thank god.
thezooguy: i don’t need a job my husband makes the money
mtairyguy40: that’s why you’re online so often trolling the rooms?
thezooguy: trolling ehhh not so much
TheCreepingTerror: husbands get tired of making all the money eventually
thezooguy: you speak like you know a lot about me
TheCreepingTerror: and you speak as if you know about everyone else. what’s the difference?
mtairyguy40: he’ll get tired of supporting your ass the moment it sags. any minute now Mr. Almost 30. i like your ear cuff. you look very mature.
thezooguy: is that when your ass sagged? cause i’m not built as average as you
mtairyguy40: no. but your brain seems sub-standard retro-fit...and your heart if you have one.
thezooguy: gosh
mtairyguy40: plus you look like a gooddamned elf dude.
thezooguy: how you talk
mtairyguy40: be a man. don’t you care that almost everyone hates you?
lefty31: zoo. that’s not cool. rise above it. personal attacks won’t make anyone feel better in the end
thezooguy: i’m not making personal attacks
mtairyguy40: how’s that zoo job going?
thezooguy: i’m just laughing at him and feelig pity
mtairyguy40: have you serviced your ape today?
thezooguy: see i just laughed
mtairyguy40: what’s your pay up to now? $1.99 an hour?
thezooguy: then i felt a little pity
mtairyguy40: i actually know your boss.
thezooguy: oop more pity
mtairyguy40: lol no comment there.
thezooguy: you helped me prove my point mt. pull the sticks out of your asses. it’s just chat
mtairyguy40: no. i helped you in no way whatsoever and you’re just an ass. guys like you end up in the dustbin all by themselves. you really don’t need any help.

thezooguy signs off...

TheCreepingTerror: aww...he’s gone
mtairyguy40: sorry i jumped into it. i felt compelled.
TheCreepingTerror: he probably had to shut off the computer because his meal ticket came home
ufillme: what the f was that all about??
TheCreepingTerror: it’s sickening how many people just like him come in here
mtairyguy40: well wait til we hit this long-awaitd recession. the grants will dry up and they’ll be laying his ass off over at the zoo.
mtairyguy40: have a good night gents.

*I could be wrong but isn’t gay.com part of the “gay scene?”

I’m listening to “Voices” from The Sickness by Disturbed.

Posted by HighStrungLoner in Gay at 1:01 AM
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November 26, 2007

Pier One porn

Pier One

I received these photos, both in the same email, from a Yahoo group today. I’m not sure I can think of anything less hot than futon frame bondage with tea lights. Note also the leopard-skin rug. Even ignoring the ridiculous wicker chair and guitar, fact that the second picture was taken in broad daylight with the shades open is mind-boggling. They must have been up all night.

I’m listening to “American Way” from Legion Of Boom by The Crystal Method.

Technorati Tags: gay, gay sex, IKEA, pier one, porn

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November 23, 2007

Backstage

Backstage I was in Atlanta most of last week staying with a friend. He was directing a porn film for Cruising For Sex on Saturday on which I was one of the cameramen.

A couple of weeks ago Keith asked me to meet with one of the guys he wanted to hire for the film because he hadn’t had the chance to see him in the flesh. Turns out he was exactly what Keith was looking for. He’s 21 and looks 15, certainly not someone I would have cast but it wasn’t up to me.

About a week before the shoot, Keith shipped to me the Canon HV20 HD camera I’d be using so I could test it out. It was fucking tiny! Every little hand movement was magnified visually and the on-board mic picked up the sound of any camera control I used. The image quality was amazing, though, and the 24P image was even better, so we decided to use it. The size of the camera would be a real advantage since we were shooting a gloryhole video and it would be a tight squeeze.

I arrived in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon. I really like visiting Atlanta and especially visiting Keith and it was really good to see how well he was doing with his chemo. It was nice that my visit, aside from the work involved, was “normal” and I didn’t have to worry about Keith’s health. I even went out alone one night but that’s another story.

We spent Thursday and Friday testing and setting up the lighting that he bought; doing a little carpentry work and preparing the space for the movie. (Keith should thank the good lord that unions aren’t involved in porn, if you get my drift.) We shot the movie using Keith’s own home gloryhole. It’s in his office which conveniently has it’s own street entrance from the rest of his apartment.

It was ambitious to shoot all four scenes in one day but we managed to do it—and on schedule, too! It was a really exhausting day, though. I was assigned to shoot the “guest” side of the gloryhole and the other cameraman Robbie shot the “home” side. My side of the partition was smaller so the tiny camera was an advantage. Robbie had a really sexy professional Sony HD camera which I coveted.

Robbie was also performing in one of the scenes, getting sucked and fucking the bottom through the gloryhole. According to him—and I have no reason to doubt him—he’s heterosexual and this was his very first time fucking a man. This guy could make a fortune in gay porn. He’s fucking adorable, really nice and not a narcissistic asshole, either. He’s not usually what I go for, only hairy below the waist (those muscular legs!) and he’s clean-shaven and not even gay but, hey, you can’t have everything.

Keith had an amazing amount of delicious food from My Girlfriend’s Kitchen available all day long for the cast and crew: corn spoon bread, sweet potatoes with brown sugar crust, Mexican lasagna, chicken satay and more but most of the actors brought their own protein bars and stuck to those. Crazy.

Things went really well most of the day. One guy couldn’t get hard (Yes, that’s like a bank teller with no cash.) and spent, I thought, an unusually long time in the bathroom but (but who am I to talk?) The scene was “re-written” and by the end of it he was hard anyway and pounding ass like a champ.

We had a long break before the last scene we shot which featured a guy who I’d seen in some other films and didn’t have a very good impression of. I thought he was hot enough and he certainly has a big dick but I figured he’d be a kind of pretentious overly macho-acting ass. I couldn’t have been more wrong. What a nice, friendly, naturally masculine guy! We had to wait a while for him to shoot his load but I didn’t mind sitting around watching him stoke. Not at all. The bottom brought down what looked like a Fisher-Price My First DVD Player for him to watch and he insisted on bareback videos, poo-pooing the musclebound Titan Men title that was already in the machine. When he was ready to shoot we all had to jump quickly back into our positions at the gloryhole. And we were done. Thank god he didn’t take much longer, too, because I was starting to doze off.

Everyone left, Keith and I went to sleep almost immediately. I made a half-hearted attempt to look for dick online but I knew my body wouldn’t do whatever I would be asking to do, so I gave up pretty quickly.

Sunday afternoon the cast and crew who hadn’t yet left town went out to breakfast in the Little Five Points section of Atlanta. It’s charming in a Haight-Ashbury kind of way with not a chain store in sight. It was really refreshing.

Earlier in the day the bottom referred to me as “elderly” and said University City was “the suburbs” in two incredibly condescending and lame attempts at humor. (FYI he lives in the “Art Museum Area,” the neighborhood that doesn’t even have a name, which is actually farther from the 2 blocks-square “gayborhood” than I am in UCity.) I don’t have an issue with my age but I do have a problem with cliched, catty gay humor. If I had been in my own home I would have reacted differently. Since my options were limited, I was a guest in someone else’s home and I am certainly more expendable as a crew member than he is as a cash cow, I went out onto the balcony and made a phone call, trying to remember that he is only 21 years-old. Maybe he was intimidated by the fact that the next youngest person was 15 years older than he was. Maybe.

My flight back to Philly consisted of a gate change, a half-hour delay after boarding, another half-hour delay when a passenger had a seizure before take-off and an hour wait for a gate after we arrived in Philly. The woman who had the seizure and was removed from the flight was at baggage claim before we were!! Thankfully, cast member Larry was on the same flight and gave me a ride home in his luxurious Jaguar. Nice!

I’m listening to “Mira Et Ten” from La Planete Sauvage by Alain Goraguer.

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, gay, gay sex, porn

Posted by HighStrungLoner in The High Strung Loner at 5:42 AM
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November 21, 2007

Persona non grata

Xinyi

While I was taking this photo of some amusing Engrish at a dollar store at 8th and Chestnuts Sts. today, the owner got really annoyed. He asked me to leave after I refused to erase the photo, or “leave it here” as he put it. I guess I can’t sink much lower than being thrown out of a dollar store. I’d be humiliated if it weren’t so funny.

I’m listening to “Easter Everywhere” from My Nation Underground by Julian Cope.

Technorati Tags: engrish, dollar store

Posted by HighStrungLoner in Philly at 1:21 AM
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November 12, 2007

Busted!

A friend of mine from New Orleans wrote to me last night. He saw my name on a hook-up web site and we had been out of touch for a while. I was really glad to hear from him and I mentioned that we had another friend in common. This was his reply:

WARNING! That “upstairs tenant,” (“Rayne,” Mark Smith, whatever) is one thieving junkie. Do not let him in your home! D and I took pity on him when he was “breaking up” with his BF here and was kicked out into the street. Fun fuck and seemingly had his shit together. Introduced him to friends who he’d trick with but became especially attached to the owner (since hurricane) of the Phoenix [great NOLA bar w/back room -hsl], Bobby. Things started disappearing from the start - toys, leather, DVD/CDs, and little baggies of Miss T and shots of caverject. Initially blamed tricks who attended play parties but then Bobby and I talked and same shit at his house. When Rayne/Mark was gone out we inspected his space upstairs. JACKPOT! D’s, Bobby’s, mine and who knows who else’s stuff. Subsequently have met others who also had their own stories. Immediate eviction upon his return - excuse? “I was only borrowing the stuff. I should've asked permission I guess” Within days he disappeared from N.O. and I noted his profile lists Philly as his new home/crime scene…so be warned! Sorry to discuss the unpleasantries, but your message necessitated a prompt warning. Pass along to any who may become his next prey. The whole episode left me quite bitter; (DUH!) open one's home to help someone and they shit in one’s helping hand. At least he didn’t make off with some favorite toys, leather, DVD/CDs, but a small fortune of recreational materials have fallen down a deep hole of a junkie.

I really don’t think I need to add anything here except that this explains why “rayne” never bothered to say hello to his landlord/fuck buddy from me during the course of his several months in New Orleans. Luckily, I guess, we’ve never met in person.

I’m listening to “That's What You Always Say” from Days Of Wine And Roses by The Dream Syndicate.

Technorati Tags: chat, crystal meth, gay, gay sex, gay.com, new orleans, philadelphia

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November 9, 2007

Art

Tito Ortiz

My good and blindingly glamourous friend THE CRUSHER has started making these great UFC-themed plates. I think they’re beautiful. This one is of his favorite fighter, Tito Ortiz. Send him an email and tell him how much you like them. Better do it quickly, too, because he’s sure to take the art world by storm.

I’m listening to “The Land of Plenty” from Ten New Songs by the great Leonard Cohen.

Technorati Tags: ufc, art

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November 6, 2007

Eureka!

Penny I’m going to talk about my health again. Hopefully, this will be the last time for a while.

I’ve said before that I’ve been feeling really terrible for a really long, long time, especially bad since my trip to Atlanta in August. I’ve been going to the doctor once or twice a week for the past couple of months. Other than PCP and a COPD exacerbation we couldn’t figure out what the fuck was wrong with me. Both of those things would explain my symptoms but not why they weren’t going away. It was maddening.

I figured my lung disease had gotten worse with the PCP and that was that. This was pretty much the best I was going to feel for the rest of my life. I lived through the last few years of my mom’s COPD and I know it’s not something I would want to go through myself. I started thinking about making preparations for the big dirt nap, not right now but I wanted to be ready when the time came. If I felt this terrible and was this miserable now I couldn’t imagine what was in store for me in the future. I decided to sell my bike instead of having it repaired since it was pretty obvious I wouldn’t be riding it anymore.

When this episode of poor health began I knew I needed to stop smoking again and was finding it impossible. My doctor prescribed Chantix pills. What a miracle drug! Before the first week was up I had absolutely no desire for a cigarette. Chantix does two things: It releases some dopamine into the brain (just like nicotine does) but it prevents nicotine from releasing it. So smoking a cigarette does nothing except taste bad. There’s no pleasure left in smoking at all. It’s incredible how fast the habit just fell away. All that stuff about people being addicted to “the ritual” is horse shit. Really.

Crystal meth releases dopamine, too, and lots of it, which explains why I never wanted a cigarette when I’ve done it. That lead me to my next decision. I’ve suspected for a while that my depression is more dopamine-related than serotonin-related. I’ve done lots of crystal meth in my life, almost daily in the late 70s/early 80s punk era when I played in bands and I still like it sometimes. (Before you start, I don’t want to hear any hypocritical shit from people who get schnockered at the Bike Stop every weekend or did lots of “crank” when it was acceptable but now toe the “meth is death” line. Get it? We’re all still here.) It never made me “tweaked” as much as it made me kind of calm but with lots of energy. (My doctor didn’t disagree and even suggested that my previous heavy use might have led to a dopamine deficiency but was hesitant to prescribe Adderal because of it’s potential for abuse, the bastard. He called it “Atta Girl!”) The Chantix seemed to be having a similar effect but certainly not as intensely. Because of that, I decided to go off of my anti-depressants, Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. That went as well as can be expected. The electric shocks and incredible—and I do mean incredible—constipation that come with SSRI withdrawal are really unpleasant but ultimately worth it, at least in this case. I started having spontaneous erections! Seriously, I had no idea how much damage these pills were doing to my dick until I went off of them. (Bye-bye Viagra!!) Never again.

I’ve written about being sober from alcohol for nearly 20 years. Last month I really wanted a beer so I bought a few. They were incredibly satisfying. I didn’t like the drunk feeling as much as I used to but it was taking the edge off being sick a bit. I wasn’t completely comfortable with the whole idea but I did it and I made sure to only buy two at a time. I figured I didn’t drink for 20 years so I proved that I could do it. Yes, yes, I was justifying it to death but, what the hell, I already made the plunge. (BTW, I settled on Fat Angel Ale by Magic Hat Brewery. It’s incredibly tasty but, boy, two of them had me plastered!)

I noticed that every time I drank beer I got really short-of-breath, really quickly. Since I have COPD my lungs don’t do a very good job anyway, so this was pretty alarming. My albuterol inhaler was next to useless, too. The worst episode was at the Westbury bar. The folks who volunteer together at The Gay and Lesbian Archives of Philadelphia© usually go out for a beer and a bite there on Wednesday nights (if we can find anything edible on the menu besides the fries) and I was kind of excited to finally enjoy a beer with them. That pint of lager made me feel like I was drowning! I ended up just staring quietly into the table while my companions had a conversation. I remember when drinking was fun! What the fuck happened?

That night I looked up beer allergy online and was pretty much convinced I had one. Shortness of breath is one of the major symptoms. DAMMIT! The people whose accounts I read online were pretty pissed about it, too. I went a week without a beer and still felt like shit. I bought two Fat Angels and drank them. Again, I felt immediately worse, very short of breath. The beer didn’t really cause my symptoms, though, it just made them much worse. I got really drunk, though, and almost called an ex-boyfriend in the middle of the night! Ah, the good old days.

I did more research. (A good friend of mine says he suggested this next thing to me before I discovered it myself but I don’t remember it.) I finally came to the conclusion that I am allergic to wheat/gluten. What put the lid on it was that I was waking up feeling relatively good every day and deteriorating quickly after my daily breakfast of shredded wheat! Also, I'd gotten into the habit of eating a Wawa pretzel and sour cream donut every night.

Last Thursday morning I had shredded wheat for breakfast and avoided wheat for the rest of the day. I felt profoundly better by that night. I continued the gluten-free diet. By Saturday night I felt better than I have in years. Literally. No more congestion and coughing. No problems concentrating. No more itchiness. No more constant shortness of breath. I’m not constantly hungry and tired. I don’t need a pill to fall asleep even though I’m more awake and alert. I am really horny. On the minus side, I’m kind of cranky and have worse sidewalk-rage. Hopefully, those will subside but I know for sure that I’m not going to take a pill for them. (Just get out of my way!)

I am a classic case. Gluten allergy can be triggered by all sorts of things like stress or infections or an increase in gluten intake. I had all of those. Supposedly, I’ll be able to slowly add things back into my diet after a couple of months. I sure hope so because there is a HUGE list of things I love that I’m now unable to eat. Cake, pasta, cake, bread, cake, pizza, cake, you name it. The substitutes at Hole Foods are execrable. If not, I’ve had a great 54 years of being able to eat anything I wanted.

Anyways, that’s the scoop. Ironically, if I hadn’t decided to drink again, I don’t think I would have ever figured this out. Weird, huh?

I’m listening to “Take Off Your Cool (Feat. Norah Jones)” from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast.

Technorati Tags: health

Posted by HighStrungLoner in Health at 5:27 AM
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Poofter

It seems Larry Craig’s former back-door man—or the only one not too mortified to talk about it, at least—is having sudden problems with the powers-that-be. Again, Wonkette has the goods with some hilarious Vanity Plate law clarification at the WaPo:

“You may have grown fond of your personalized plates,” but they are “socially, racially or ethnically offensive or disparaging” and “you must return them.” There was no explanation for why it took Virginia 11 years to figure out what “poofter” means.

I so want to be on the DMV Word Committee!

(Thanks Karen!)

I’m listening to “Let X=X” from United States Live by Laurie Anderson.

Technorati Tags: gay, Larry Craig

Posted by HighStrungLoner in Gay at 12:07 AM
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November 4, 2007

Drunk

From gay.com chat. I know this is REALLY long but, the depth of Westwoood’s offensiveness and idiocy makes me feel good about me, so I just couldn’t edit much more than I did. By the way, he’s originally from the thriving metropolis known as Easton PA. That matters later.

RAMMER009: I paid _____ $50 once, NOT to have sex with me
itsmarkbaby: I spent that on the street hustler to ahve sex with me
RAMMER009: I know
westwoood: of course you all spent money youre all from philly\
sPoconoGuy: west why you so nasty tonight
TheCreepingTerror: he is this nasty EVERY night
RAMMER009: west always is
TheCreepingTerror: and, i hear, a REALLY sloppy drunk
RAMMER009: or he wouldn't be westwoood
sPoconoGuy: not with that face
westwoood: well survey says people born in philly are ugly uneducated fat and just plain miserable
westwoood: and i find that to be tru
RAMMER009: I heard "alcoholic" too
westwoood: so what if i am
westwoood: i dont disguise my habits
TheCreepingTerror: i wish you would
itsmarkbaby: so do i
westwoood: i just thank god i wasnt born here
westwoood: maybe you people need a bit of reality
RAMMER009: or a drink
TheCreepingTerror: YOU are reality??
sPoconoGuy: man, my mom waited till I was 5 before she gave me my first gin and tonic
westwoood: how many times will i hear brittany's new album at pure prob till 2010
RAMMER009: brittany? drunk again
westwoood: did i spell it wrong
westwoood: sorry you must have been at the wall listneing
itsmarkbaby: now if I knew I was gonna go somehwere to get the same ole shit I dont want, I think it's my fault for goin there in the first place
westwoood: and not the music store
westwoood: pure stinks
westwoood: as far as music goes
westwoood: can i hear whitney again
westwoood: and the gay population can support innovation and diversity here in philly
westwoood: and it cant
westwoood: by fact of the music
westwoood: nice cock
TheCreepingTerror: innovation and diversity are missing from the gay community worldwide now that we've been assimilated.
westwoood: i dont have anything against the chinks
westwoood: but their dirty living situation makes my rent cheap TheCreepingTerror: please tell us where you're from that's so fucking great
RAMMER009: hell

Time out…

RAMMER009: I like restoring things
westwoood: shut of
westwoood: youve restored ass
westwoood: not homes
westwoood: i have my degree inh color and execution
westwoood: so i'll remodle your shed someday
westwoood: Rammer needs complete remodle
westwoood: so anyone want to join me for diner meatloaf?
sPoconoGuy: where
TheCreepingTerror: why would ANYONE want to join such a nasty asshole for anything?
howardn: enema?
sPoconoGuy: I just think he is cute, that's all
TheCreepingTerror: of course and that trumps all. incredible.
westwoood: maybe im a bit tooo bold for your old ass
TheCreepingTerror: bold? i doubt it
westwoood: hmm really
westwoood: you changed your SN for me
TheCreepingTerror: yes, JUST for you
westwoood: yep
westwoood: its Nov please\
westwoood: you do tooo
westwoood: spoc has babies in pods
westwoood: i wasnt born in a pod
westwoood: i like chad and he love my cat
westwoood: whats your beef\
westwoood: if you have any
westwoood: other to be a phila phag
TheCreepingTerror: my beef is that you're a nasty, drunk asshole. how's that?
westwoood: um ok
TheCreepingTerror: YOu're not "bold," you're just a jerk off
westwoood: you the one whose sizing up meth pipes
TheCreepingTerror: meth...alcohol...so what?
westwoood: hmmm
gaytopgeek_nj: someone has some bad teeth, most meth users do
westwoood: sizing up meth pipes
westwoood: guess what its not me
TheCreepingTerror: i don't come in here and act like an ass because i'm tweaked but you do it when you're drunk all the time
westwoood: so
westwoood: you talked aboput before buying pipes and selling to our youth
TheCreepingTerror: youth?
TheCreepingTerror: i was talking about selling them to men in their 40s
westwoood: or how you can make a profit doing it
TheCreepingTerror: i can
westwoood: and selling pipes
TheCreepingTerror: legally
westwoood: so you cant prove im drunk
westwoood: im not driving
westwoood: yeah
westwoood: nice
westwoood: crack hole
westwoood: who are you to judge me
westwoood: you fat and old
westwoood: and 50+
TheCreepingTerror: i might ask you the same thing. you're too young to judge me
westwoood: so im prob paying for your workers comp
westwoood: my mom is too young to judge you\
westwoood: but she does
westwoood: i can judge any9one i want\
TheCreepingTerror: as can i
westwoood: i live in philly\
sPoconoGuy: west, lighten up man, u r way to young to be nasty
westwoood: and you live in the burbs
westwoood: im way to smart to be nasty\
westwoood: but you have to here
TheCreepingTerror: if you hate philly so much, i'm sure i'm not the only person who'd be happy to see you leave
westwoood: sure considering you dont live in city limits
TheCreepingTerror: who doesn't?
westwoood: hmmm
chubme: westwood you are too cute to be mean
westwoood: right
TheCreepingTerror: he gets less cute by the second, even people who have fucked him have told me so
westwoood: well people over 55 dont
TheCreepingTerror: who's over 55?
westwoood: your fat creepiness gets older by the minute
westwoood: anhd for you to talk about city folk
westwoood: who actually try to m ake thius place bvetter
westwoood: you have a lot of nerve
TheCreepingTerror: i live here! and i was born at 12th & pine, you moron
westwoood: you were born ther 60 years ao
westwoood: no one cares
TheCreepingTerror: no, not 60
westwoood: npr are you making any impact on QOL
TheCreepingTerror: and why do you care. you hate philly anyway
westwoood: so how old are you
westwoood: do you know what QOL means?
TheCreepingTerror: Quality of Life? who doesn't know that?
westwoood: so i do - i have to live here with the rest of the baboons till 08
TheCreepingTerror: i am twice your age. what in the world makes you think you know something i don't?
westwoood: so i make the best of it
TheCreepingTerror: you call this making the best?
westwoood: baboonland
TheCreepingTerror: buffoon, in your case
westwoood: where do you live blue collar baboon
TheCreepingTerror: can you read? look at my bio-line
westwoood: no i mised it
westwoood: and i spelled it worng too
TheCreepingTerror: or spell?
TheCreepingTerror: "worng"
westwoood: your at?\
TheCreepingTerror: "you're"
westwoood: spelled thart wring to
TheCreepingTerror: "thart" "wring"" "to"
TheCreepingTerror: have another cocktail
howardn: is that Swahili?
westwoood: na answers
westwoood: and i answerered that black
TheCreepingTerror: he's disgusting
westwoood: hmmm
westwoood: the prob\
westwoood: no one in philly can hadle me
TheCreepingTerror: sure, that's it
westwoood: you cant
TheCreepingTerror: or handle either
westwoood: iget no response
TheCreepingTerror: i know ALL about you
westwoood: so
westwoood: lol
westwoood: spill it then
westwoood: i have no secrets
TheCreepingTerror: mmm-hmm
westwoood: think this is some
westwoood: b;ack
westwoood: male
westwoood: hmm no
westwoood: so spill it
westwoood: make up shit
westwoood: you 60+
westwoood: let it roll;l
westwoood: hmm no response
westwoood: what i thought
westwoood: hmmm
joshie564: pvt me
westwoood: i get no response
westwoood: like i said maybe im a bit too bold for you aol
TheCreepingTerror: right. bold. drunk maybe.
westwoood: hmmm
westwoood: get rid of service electrif
TheCreepingTerror: a blowhard, definitely
westwoood: you are 60+ i have no concerns about plunddering you
westwoood: vomit in my meatloaf
westwoood: i have bee infected by mushrooms
westwoood: im a hidden jewel
westwoood: i know
westwoood: i am
westwoood: loooki at all these without soul or their legs
westwoood: toofar
inkedguy25: souless and legless?
westwoood: yes
westwoood: any objections?
westwoood: didnt think so
westwoood: later look on craigslist
westwoood: sure you are familiar with it
westwoood: hmmmm
westwoood: no one likes the truth
sagscott: truth about what?
howardn: birth control pills
sPoconoGuy: and bra straps

Time Out…

westwoood: anyone miss mew
phillyscubabear: south philly looking to suck
westwoood: mooo moooo
westwoood: fine
westwoood: another fat boy waiting to suck
westwoood: or PR
westwoood: whom make great tacos
westwoood: either a pig or a mixicano
westwoood: lol
westwoood: same
westwoood: it's label hour
westwoood: hmmm
westwoood: hmmmmm
westwoood: again
westwoood: no one can taqe critism
sPoconoGuy: it's spelled taque