Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

Good Evening, Kittens. So, what's new and exciting in your lives?  I'm doing laundry.  Yay!  And, drinking a martini. I suppose I should try to catch you up on all that's going on in my life, except not much is going on in my life.  Just the usual: Work. Sleep. Eat. SteamyHotButtsecks. Pottery. Tap. Tappitytappitytaptap. And running. I have signed up for the Asheville Half Marathon in June.  I know.  WTF, right?  Normally, I wait for a Fall Half.  But, I figured I need to visit the Parental Units and Asheville is close to their town. The course is hilly as all get out.  I'll survive somehow. Cuddly Little Boo Bear McLovin' has signed up for the Wildwoods 8K in NJ in May.  I'll be sidekickin' it there.  He doesn't want me to run (fine by me!). Of course, it's the weekend after my work trip to (wait for it) MIAMI!  Oh, yeah.  The reward for being sent to Detroit in February is a May trip to the Land of the Dolphins...

Good evening, Kittens! How the heck did it become March already?  On the plus side of the time flying is that it is almost the Best Day of the Year!  YAY! What happened last month?  Hmmmm ... M and I had a bit of a spat, but we made up. I went to Detroit for work.  Detroit.  In February.  I kinda hate my boss (except, I really like my boss(es) and they felt bad about sending me to Detroit, so I also get to go to Miami in May.  Oh, yeah~!).  BUT, I did get to hang out with the SuperFantastic Cuzin and (the blogger formerly known as) GayProf. As is my usual MO, I also made pottery.  Here are some photos: A flower pot, because I accidentally put my finger through the bottom while painting on the slip design ... oops An OK ish mug A teacuppy thing (obviously I need to work on my handle pulling) A Japanese-style teacup (because it was too dry to attach a handle.  bah.) A bowl with some glaze crawl (maybe it gives it p...

Happy Saturday, Kittens. On Thursday, I received the final three pieces of pottery that I made in 2013.  Here they are: A handbuilt vase-thing ... A (slightly heavy because it was too dry to trim properly) vase ... Aaaaand, a handbuilt plate-bowl-thing ... Stay tuned for exciting 2014 pottery coming soon to a blog near you! *smooches*

Hi, Kittens! It's the New Year!  2014!  How the fuck did that happen?  And where did all these eye wrinklez and gray hairz come from? ANYWAYz, it is the time when one makes resolutions for the New Year (2014!*).  And, here are my New Year's (2014!) Resolutions (in no particular order): 1.  Last year, I read 10 new books (I re-read a lot of other books, but only 10 new ones).  In this New Year (2014!), I resolve to read *at least* TWELVE NEW BOOKS!  I have already started with "Ender's Game," which a couple of my co-workers will not. shut. up. about.  So far, it is not too bad.  Yay!  2.  Last year, I ran 97 times for a total of 431 miles.  This year (2014!), I will run 500 miles and I will run 500 more.  Just to be the man to run 1000 miles to your door.  A-hahahaha.  I kid.  I resolve to run 100 TIMES!  And, if those 100 times total to 500 miles?  BONUS!!! 3.  Last year, I blogged 3...

Since my last update, so much has happened (ok.  not really).  BUT, anyway, the Army 10-Miler was awesome.  I made it my bitch and took about 5 minutes off my previous time.  Yay me! I am still taking tap class. Last week, I took a Living Social Intro to Pickling class.  That was fun. And, pottery is winding down for the Fall.  I still have a few unfinished bits and bobs, but here are a few more pottery pix for you to enjoy(?): A bowl! Two mugs! A handbuilt mug! All of them were glazed the same way.  When they were "leather-hard", I sponged black and white slip onto the clay. After they were bisque-fired, I used clear glaze and translucent blue glaze. And there you have it.  Everything I've made (so far) this Fall is here in this set: Fall 2013 .

I should be cleaning my apartment.  Victor from Philly will be arriving around 2ish.  We're running the Army 10-Miler tomorrow.  ACK!  But, instead of cleaning, how about some pottery photos? This is a handbuilt bowl-thing: Here is a bowl: And here are two mugs that sort of are almost alike: And, now, I suppose I should get back to cleaning ... ugh.

Where to start to bring you up to date?  Hmmmm. Worklife:  Work is still good.  I still like my job.  We are very short-staffed at the moment, but should be bringing on a few new people in the very near future (assuming their security clearances go off without a hitch, which -considering recent events- may not be that likely).  I am keeping my fingers crossed that Congress can get their collective heads out of their collective asses and not shut down the government.  I needz mah paychex. Lovelife: This part is a mess.  I have resumed sexual relations with my most recent ex.  We both know that we are not good as a couple ... except when we are naked and having the superhot buttsecks.  I'm pretty sure that this is not going to be sustainable in the long-term.  But, I am enjoying the ride (so to speak).  I am also trying to date some.  We'll see how that goes.  Runninglife: The Parks Half Marathon was fun.  I ran...

Good lord, kittens.  It's been awhile since I've filled you in on all the strange and wonderful things going on in my life. So, let's see ... Tap class has ended.  It was only 5 weeks long, but it was fun.  Most of my classmates are signing up for "Next Steps."  However, because that class starts at 8:30PM, I have registered to repeat "Intro."  It's like I'm being held back.  I'm in Remedial Tap.  Oh, well ... The "real" reason I'm staying in Intro is because I want to get home at a semi-reasonable hour on a worknight.  If I took Next Steps, I wouldn't get home until around 11.  And that is way too late for someone who has to wake up at 5:45 the next morning.  Tap class starts again on September 9th.  The day after I run a half-marathon.  Joy.  Yes.  I'm running the Parks Half Marathon on September 8th.  If you're local, come out to cheer me on.  If you are hyper-local, give me a ride to the starting l...

This pottery session has been filled with more disasters than triumphs so far.  Here are the first two finished pieces: It's a mug.  The glaze on the outside is T(something) Gold.  I sort of like it. The inside is glazed with Nutmeg, which I also like.  There's just something about the mug that is kinda.  I don't know.  Blah. This is a bowlyvasething.  The glaze on the outside is Nutmeg, which I like.  The glaze on the rim and on the inside is T(something) Gold.  I don't really like it at all. Today, I glazed a mug and a bowl in Avocado.  And, then, I left, because I am sick and felt like crap.  Yay.

Good Evening, my kittens! Much has happened since my last posting.  I received a visit from a Famous Blogger, Professor and Author .  I have done many loads of laundry.  I have ironed many shirts.  I have drank (drunken?) many, many martinis.  I have started a new pottery session at a new studio.  But, all of these are stories for another time.  For, now, I must tell you the sad, sad Tale of the Platter of Trials and Tribulations ... Once upon a time, in a pottery studio far, far away, there was a pottery student who decided to make a fun platter. As he was throwing the fun platter, the walls became to thin.  And one of the walls developed a crack. His pottery teacher had a great idea.  By making diagonal cuts similar to the crack, he could create an interesting folded/braided edge to the platter. However, as he was doing this, the crack became worse, so the pottery student had to cut a half circle in the wall of the platter. He b...

Good Saturday Afternoon, Kittens! Yesterday, I left work a few minutes early to pick up pottery from the studio.  Although, I have two pots which haven't been glazed yet and a missing pot, most of my pots have been fired.  The only thing that hasn't been fired is the Platter of Trials and Tribulations ... I may be able to pick that up later this summer.  We shall see ... Anyway, here are a few pics of the Pots of Spring 2013.  Enjoy. All of my photos from Pottery Spring 2013 can be viewed on Flickr . Enjoy the rest of your Saturday! *smooches*

Good Sunday Afternoon, Kittens! I guess it's time to update everyone on my week and weekend.  It has been fabulous (mostly). After work on Monday, I busied myself by getting My Cocky & Rude Bloggy Gift Exchange packages ready to mail.  I hope that they (a) have arrived by now and (b) that they arrived in one piece. On Tuesday, my co-worker drove me to the Pottery Studio so I could pick up the last few pieces of my pottery.  I was mostly pleased with how things turned out.  Especially this bowl: Which I gave to my co-worker as a thank you for the ride And My Little Yellow Soup Tureen: Once I got home, I had to get ready for my building's monthly board meeting.  So much fun.  not really. On Wednesday, I did laundry and M (not the one in Las Vegas.  Obviously) came over for an Adult Sleepover.  We watched Men in Black 3 and ate pizza.  And maybe did a few other things ... On Thursday, I relaxed mostly.  And, made...

Good Evening, Kittens! Because there are some things I want to tell you about, but can't just yet, I am going to share with you some pottery pictures ... Mugs!  The inside is Michigan Brown.  And the outside is Lisa's Favorite Blue and Black (around the rim).  I think I will be giving one of these to V from Philly, who I will be seeing this weekend because I told him I would help him work some sort of Mulled Wine Booth at the National Harbor's Harbor Holiday Festival (or something like that). The company is putting us up in a hotel room there all weekend. And I get to talk about booze to strangers.  Good times! Bowl!  It is all in Lisa's Favorite Blue.  I am thinking I will give this to a family member.  Maybe my brother (and his girlfriend) for Xmas. I used my credit card points to get my family members gift cards to various and sundry stores.  So I feel like I should also give them something that I actually paid for ... Hm ... ...

Good Evening, Kittens! It's been a heckuvaweek (so far). Monday, I went to the Trader Joe's.  And, then, I ironed 10 shirts.  Later, K-Factor came down and we watched "True Grit" (the remake, not the original).  It was pretty damn awesome.  I also made a potato leek soup (plus carrots).  It was delicious. Later that evening, K-Factor and I went to pottery class.  I made three bowls, worked on my mini-soup tureen project, and glazed two mugs and a bowl.  Good times. Tuesday, after work, I went for a 3.5 mile run.  And, then, I attended my monthly co-op board meeting.  Joy. Wednesday, I did laundry and talked to my BFF from college.  AND, today, THURSDAY, I had the job interview.  I think it went well.  I hope it went well.  I need the significant increase in salary that it would bring.  And, this evening, another Board member and I had an orientation/interview with a prospective buyer of one of the vacant u...

Good Evening, Kittens. Last night, at pottery, a couple of pieces had been glaze-fired ... Prepare yourself for some Unattractive Pottery Porn Too big to be mugs.  Too squat to be useful. Actually, this isn't half-bad.  I may gift it to a family member.  Or a family member's girlfriend. And, there you have it.  In other news,  work.  It is keeeeeeeeeeeeeelling me.  I just have to make it through Friday.  I can do it!  I know I can. Have a fabulous evening (or day.  whatever)! *smooches*

Things That Are Awesome: (1) Me (2) This scarf, which was knat by the fabulous Chelsea and all I had to do was send her a couple of pieces of pottery . YAY for Internet Friends!  YAY for knitting! Happy happy dance dance *smooches*

Good Evening, Kittens~! Happy Thursday! All is well here in VUTOPIA ... Except, a couple of days ago ... or was it yesterday?  I may have been a little tipsy.  I suppose the actual timeframe doesn't matter, because, there was a Death in the Family.   And, then, there were two Yeah, I am down to only two martini glasses.  Ok.  That is kind of a lie.  I do have 3 ... ok ... 7 ... ok 10 others, but I kind of hate them and never use them.  3 of them are the overly decorated "specialty" martini glasses that you give as gifts for birthdays and such.  The other 7 I just don't really like.  I should give them away or sell them at a yard sell or something.  So, let's rephrase.  I am down to only two usable, sturdy martini glasses that I can keep in the freezer. In other news, my two days of LEED training went well.  I learned a lot.  Now I have to study a bit and then sit for the exam.  Assuming I pass, I wil...

Good Friday Evening, Kittens!  I may not have had a lifetime of nothing special (yet), but this week was mostly nothing special ... with a few minor exceptions. On Tuesday, I met Eric (Not From Baltimore) for happy hour.  We went to Central.  I had a yummy cocktail.  It was like a French 75 (gin, champagne, lemon) with the addition of cucumber and Benedictine.  Tasty.  Boozy.  Durnk. On Wednesday, can you guess what I did?  I'll give you a hint:  It starts with an L and rhymes with "raundry." Then, on Thursday, I met D (the guy recently out of the 20 year relationship that went all batshit crazy on his ex.  Remember him?) for happy hour.  And, let's just say ... he's still crazy.  Of course, he still wants me.  But that shit ain't happenin'.  Really.  I don't need that kind of crazy in my life right now ... or ever.  I did have many many margaritas though.  and cheese dip.  And that's alw...

Good evening, Kittens!   And Happy Monday (Thank goodness it is almost over)! I had a superfun weekend, even though I spent most of it on my back (and not in the *bow chicka bow bow* kind of way).  During the times when I felt I could be vertical, I was very productive.  Yay me! On Friday evening, I watched the latest Muppet movie, The Muppets .  It was cute.  Funny.  Sentimental.  I say everyone should go out and watch it now! On Saturday, I did some major cooking ... even though I'm not sure if it is still "cooking" if you don't turn on the stove ... First, I pickled jalapenos (see photo).  I also made gazpacho.  And, then, I made vegan pesto, which I suppose could also justifiably be called "basil puree."  I was texting with M that day and was telling him about the jalapeno pickling process and he wrote back, "Mmmm.  jalapenis." Which I believe should now enter the World Lexicon and mean "a very HOT guy,"  a...

Good Morning, Kittens! As further proof that (if there is a God) S/He hates me, on Tuesday my back was almost entirely pain-free.  Not 100% better, mind you, but close ... maybe like 95%.  I was ecstatic.  I made all sorts of plans for the weekend ... like going for a short run.  And, well, that was it.  I was going to get back into running. And, then, Wednesday happened.  I awoke at my regular time (5:15AM) and tried to get out of bed.  "Tried" being the operative word.  WTF?  My back was in excruciating pain ... AGAIN!  SRSLY.  I am totally over this whole Bad Back Thing.  At least this time, I knew to get up and move around.  But, still, I have been in mucho pain the past couple of days.  I have left work early every day just because I can't stand it and I want to come home and be horizontal.  Hello, Heating Pad, my old friend.  I've come to lie on you again ... But enough about the sharp stabby...