To start this "epic" I want to answer a question that has been passed along to me, I understand that some are wondering if me and Rich "have a thing". It is certainly a valid question and I would probably wonder the same thing. The answer is no. We are two guys who are friends. We both like guys, we both love one another as brothers, and that is a good thing.
I'd not been to Atlanta in 20 years. Except the airport. I had been to Charlotte to the airport so many times lately it was felt weird driving past exit 33 on I85 and continuing south west. Strand to continue on thru North Carolina, strange for me to be in South Carolina and not go thru Columbia. Then I crossed over the pittiful lake, with its dry shoreline, and I was in Georgia, I was on a virtual blank canvass. I was also way ahead of scedual, so I took some time to investigate the small town of Carnesville, a county seat with an old courthouse and monument to Confederate soldiers. A little conveinence store where I got a cup of coffe for 27 cents from a pear shaped woman who only charged me for the cup as she did not know how old the coffee was. It was just fine.
I also discovered in my car, I can make it from my house to Atlanta on one tank of gas. Something will probably thing of everything that gas pump shaped orange light comes on. I could be in Atlanta, drinking a V8.
We connected by cell phone before redevousing at his house. Rich told me "you see this, you see that, turn here" and I was soon at their house. I was begining a strange process of fleshing out what my mind had envisioned, replacing the not quite imagined with the real thing. While I was talking to him still I looked around in the back yard. Remember the little house he'd built for his daughter, there it was. More confirmation than the number. It was not long before our arms were coming together. What a joy that man is. He positively radiates it.
After putting up the stuff and cracking open a beer and taking a few pics that were the first posted, we headed out on the town. The first stop was his sisters house to meet his Mom. She is a jewel, I enjoyed getting to know her a little bit. Then we headed out to eat. He named a bunch of places and I picked one called Cow Tippers, because I like the name. It was located in the gay part of town, beautiful old homes and buildings and business catering to the tribe. It was a cool place, the matre'd looked like a blad Colin Ferrell with a Santa Hat. The place was full of gay folks, and I saw my first Palmetto Bug! Our waiter's name was Billy and he brung us our Rolling Rocks with a smile. A nice young lady came by to see if there was anything else we needed.
"World Peace" I told her.
"The election's next year" she told me confidently.
After a delicious meal of red meat we headed off to Brushstrokes, a kind of Gay Superstore that had the most extensive collection of Gay Movies I have ever seen, I am sure everyone ever made. We procured a calendar of the soon-to-be-devine Ms. Winehouse and a couple of movies. We spotted Colin Ferrell again were about to leave when I came to the conclusion that the entire strip mall was gay. We decided insted of heading someplace else we would go to a bar right there. A nice two story deal with a DJ, no dance floor, a couple of pool tables with purple felt, a nice patio area with it was almost warm enough to use, inverted Christmas tree, a charity craps table and a Tarot Card reader in residence. And some friendly, gentle people, all ages, races, shapes. It amazed me, in NY or SF I would expect to see what I was seeing. But this was Atlanta, this was the southern United States and althought a big city I still had not grasped the size and scope of "Hotlanta". This was after all, a "Sodomite Bar" as Eric Robert Rudolph had called it when he bombed one in 1996.
Before the night was over I had to plop down my $15 and pick my cards. Whay I learned was that I have a bank of good karma to draw upon. He told me I am standing at a cross roads and it was up to me to pick my direction. I came away somewhat confused, but optimistic. Rich had a much more specific experence, whch was cool.
Back at his house we popped in Latter Days and watched it. I love that movie.
Topic: Shakesthegrounds Rumblings (Read 2599215 times)