future ninja landlords

After a long hot week of hoofin' it all over town lookin' for rental units, on Saturday I came across two nice rental options in shared living situations. One was very tempting with a huge walk-in closet, a jacuzzi tub and access to a deck, albeit rickety. The second one was just a block down from where I used to live at 5th and T, with a roomate/landlord from Wisconsin who claims to be out of town a lot. While the guys in the first place were nice, I got a better vibe from the Wisconsin guy, and the room is on the second floor - with natural sunlight! And a gas fireplace although I doubt I would use it much. While chatting with the latter possible roommate, I noticed a sheathed katana sword on one of the kitchen stools:

Jimbo: "Are you a ninja?" Points at sword.
LL: "No, that belongs to my current roommate."
Jimbo: "Aww damn, I was hoping you were a ninja because ninjas are totally silent."
LL: "Yeah but if I really was a ninja you wouldn't know it. And if you did I would have to assassinate you in the night."

So I won't ask too many questions or else ninja landlord will kill me in the night. While I've only gotten an e-mail confirmation, I think my references will pan out. This will mark the first time in four years I will have an above-ground unit, so there won't be any more basement unit horror stories in the future.

I otherwise spent the weekend catching up, deleting about a hundred house prospecting e-mails, and enjoying not checking Craigslist housing ads every hour.

A few weeks ago I took a big hit from behind at rugby practice that fucked up my shoulder. In rugby it's illegal to tackle a person who doesn't have the ball anymore (I passed it long before the hit came), and especially dirty to hit them from behind as you don't have any options to break a tackle or a fall. Especially a hockey check out of frustration when the coach was explicit that the scrimmage in practice was not to be full throttle. In the span that I was out, the ref called a foul, I got up and started running, but I don't remember much of the above and my arm hung limply at my side for the rest of the practice. A week or so later I have a hard time raising my left arm above my head, so I went to the doctor on the advice of several people who said I should make sure it's not a rotator cuff injury. Thankfully the doctor thinks it's just inflammation and not a tear, but I'm avoiding weights and practice for a while until it starts to feel better. But the above habits are major stress relievers, and the combination of not being able to work out and moving anxiety has caught up to me. I didn't get much sleep last night.

Fortunately I'm heading out of town to NYC and Fire Island this coming weekend, first to see FREE DONNA SUMMER with Joe.My.God and Aaron at Coney Island. The rest of the weekend will be spent at the beach, my first "real" holiday of the remaining summer. I am told the combination of seeing Donna Summer and going to Fire Island in a single weekend will make my Gay Card status irrevocable even if I have sex with a female after going to a NASCAR event.

For those of you still in town, I hear it's time for Homo/Sonic again, The New Gay’s flagship alternative queer dance party at the Black Cat (1811 14th st., NW) on Friday, August 28. It's going to be a great way to end the summer party season with of the best music you might ever hear at queery dance party. As always, Homo/Sonic is coe-ed, trans-inclusive and straight friendly. They'll play a fun mix of danceable music, including retro/80s, indie rock, and requests. Doors at 9:30. $10. All Ages.