October 22, 2007
good times
Crimeny - you'd think after a week since the Packers beat the Redskins at Lambeau Field in Green Bay that the locals would be over it. I didn't even think about the significance of wearing a Green Bay Packers shirt out on the street last night, and forgot there was a Redskins game that day. So as I'm walking around Eastern market I hear hisses and boos from rabid Redskins fans. Bitter, bitter people. Crazed like purple Baltimore Ravens fans I guess.
The vital match this weekend was a nail-biter and a heartbreaker, with a final score of 25-27. While we were the leaders in points scored in our division as of last week, I don't quite understand why we don't have a likelihood of getting into the playoffs. The officials have been silent on this matter, so perhaps there is still hope. Winning Saturday's match would have sealed the deal, however.
It was a nice Saturday to be outside, and later that day the South Africa Springboks beat England to win the rugby world cup in France. Blowoff was a crazed event, and I saw lots of friends and got to catch up with many people. We were blessed by an appearance of our coach's wife who dove right into the Saliva Pit after asking politely where it was. Good times.
Some nice things about DC:
- lots of concerts and events;
- free museums!
- a new U.S. Botanic Garden;
- Lactaid is available at most major grocery stores.
Team Photo from this Saturday:
I don't think I'll have time to throw together a costume for Halloween this year. Just too busy with work and stuff, and well, I just feel busy. Charlene takes a long time to prepare, and I haven't had much luck with a kung-fu Shao-Lin type of costume either. I haven't even had time to dig out the plastic pumkin purse for trick-or-treating. I will have plans to be out of my house on Halloween. From past experience, the neighborhood kids come to trick or treat in no costume, say "Gimme candy!," and leave without saying thank-you. I seem to skip Halloween every other year, and this is an 'off' year.
Posted by jimbo at 1:55 PM | Comments (2)
October 18, 2007
women are indeed allowed in the saliva pit
Last night the little spot in my head flared up where I got multiple sinus infections in college while I was taking scuba class. As I ascended up the water column during a test while my sinuses were clogged, something burst and I bled profusely through my nose. (You shouldn't go scuba diving with a sinus infection, fyi) From then on it always hurts a little when the air pressure is changing quickly, so I expect some rain to come through soon. Hopefully it won't dissipate into humidity and dust like all the precipitation has this fall.
This week in my favorite new advice column Ask Bob: women not allowed at Blowoff?!? Horsefeathers! I mean, at the last Blowoff there were a buncha lesbians monitoring fluid exchange in the Saliva Pit. I had no problem with it and they seemed to be enjoying themselves too. There's fun for everyone there - Saturday, Oct. 20, at the 9:30 Club.
Dammit, Chaka-Kahn is supposed to be performing at H2O in town for Howard University Homecoming, and A Year With Frog and Toad (my favorite gay couple) will be at the Strathmore. But tonight is the last practice before a very important match on Saturday, and I need to desperately grasp on to the last remnants of my masculinity the best I can, so I need to be at practice. Anyway, we're top-ranked in our division in the local union, which is very exciting because we've had some really challenging years, with some matches where we did not score a point, or others where we got up to a hundred points scored against us. These days we're not only competitive, but we're winning. The match will be at an idyllic farm in Poolesville, and I hope to get some photos.
I will be going to see Annie Lennox next week with the same bunch with whom I saw Emily, Amy, and Cyndi . It's kind of wierd how all the same artist's names end in the diminutive case. Annie better frikkin' sing because the ticket was a pretty penny.
In order to remain completely superficial and continue to degrade myself by constantly putting physical beauty on a pedistal, here is a random picture of some hot guy with a gun:
No, I don't know him and I can't remember where I found the pic and I can't refer him to you.
Happy thoughts - happy, rainier times in Homer, Alaska at the end of the rainbow:
I worked there in 1993, and visited again a few years ago when the photo was taken.
Posted by jimbo at 12:14 PM | Comments (8)
October 15, 2007
2007-2008 Ben Cohen calendar now available
The 2007-2008 Ben Cohen calendar - a wonderful gift idea for your friend who plays rugby who also loves cute scruffy furry-chested rugby players.
Commentary on yesterday's entry centered mainly on the heated debate about how to properly prepare apple pie filling, which has nothing to do with Ben Cohen but I found it amusing.
Download weekly cooking podcasts at The Splendid Table from American Public Media.
Posted by jimbo at 12:32 PM | Comments (10)
October 14, 2007
masc buds chillin'
First off I need some leads & advice on the following:
- A friend new in town is looking to rent on Capitol Hill / Eastern Market, he's trolling Craigslist and all that of course but any leads are appreciated;
- A rugby teammate in DC is interested in entering the International conflict mediation field and is looking for entry level positions directly related to that line of work;
- I need to kick this reused IKEA dresser out the door as it's barely survived 4 too many moves and is falling apart now that the blessed loss of humidity in the air no longer keeps the particleboard construction together. I'm on the lookout for a new dresser about chest high and torso wide. For this and the above issues, drop me an e-mail at Jimbo3DC@aol.com;
- I want to bake an apple pie again soon. My crusts are fine and it cooks well, but my apple filling is always runny. I use peeled, cored and chopped apples. What's the trick with corn starch to make it less gooey? Add your two cents in the comment area.
Oh Noooo! Mr. Hands left me to take care of his new pet giant katydid:
Today Orally Oriented Josh was nice enough to offer up some space in a car to take me and some masc chill buds out to Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It was a very nice mental health escape from the city.
We didn't hike for long, but were sure to take in the scenery and silence along the way.
Here's Rob, Josh, TJ and myself somewhere off of Skyline Drive:
On Saturday we played a friendly match against the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences rugby team and had a good time. I got to play more than I expected, as a slow wing and a more fun position called a flanker. Between that and all the hiking, sunshine and fresh air I got today, I'll sleep well tonight.
Posted by jimbo at 8:05 PM | Comments (12)
October 11, 2007
gotta be tuff with the scruff
Goddammit: Buffy the Vampire Slayer sing-a-longs cancelled by Fox.
...Fox has pulled the license for ALL their TV shows from theatrical exhibition. This is effective immediately, and of course includes Buffy and “Once More With Feeling”.
From the ShawNeighborhood listserv:
I just heard what sounded like 10 gunshots somewhere north of where I am (6th &P NW )at about 2:55 pm, followed by lots of sirens- sounds like police sirens as well as fire engines and or ambulances. Anyone have any information?Clearly, it was the 12th-Annual Shaw Skeet Shooting Tournament sponsored by the North Capitol Rod-and-Gun Club of Washington, DC. Fish fry to follow and there'll also be live entertainment (polka band!) under the beer tent. See you there.
Oh wait, I thought I was in Wisconsin.
"Gotta be tough with the scruff": MANtage by Barats and Bareta:
Cute with Chris has nice scruff today.
Not scruffy, but nice flattop - Brandon Stokley (Denver Post / Portrait by Cyrus McCrimmon):
The Broncos interviews: Brandon Stokley, by Mike Klis, Denver Post Staff Writer.
Kinda reminds me of Howie Long back in tha day: 
Redskins vs. the Packers this weekend at Lambeau steppe. It will be a no-brainer. Scruff will prevail:
Posted by jimbo at 9:50 PM | Comments (5)
October 1, 2007
hooray for active old men
First order of business: there is an East Central Civic Association of Shaw (ECCA) meeting tonight (Monday) at 7pm at the Third Baptist Church at 5th and Q St., NW. Light refreshments served! Sadly I have class tonght so I can't be there.
Hooray for scruffy old men like Brett Favre (37 - "my age!") who became the NFL's all-time leader in career touchdown passes this weekend:
Yes, my little gaylings and angertwinks, there is life after you pass 25. Sometimes a very rich life full of accomplishments and joy.
I'm still surprised I had such a good time at the Megadeth concert last night. It was a refreshing change from the urban rut I've been in I guess. Dipping into different crowds and worlds is good for you and gives useful perspective. Do something you wouldn't normally do this month. I have an outfit for you that will help - her name is Charlene Hilton.
Posted by jimbo at 11:39 AM | Comments (19)
September 26, 2007
back from the beach
First off, I thinned out my water garden iris in the pond. Soaking up the previous cesspool nutrients has been good to them this summer. If you have an aquatic garden with lots of sun, and space for a pot about the size of a KFC bucket, this iris could be yours! Contact me if you meet the prerequisites and we can talk about when you can come pick up the extra iris.
Have you downloaded the new Duran Duran single 'Falling Down' yet? It sounds nice. Simon hasn't lost his voice, that's for sure.
I'm back from the beach with Delicate Flower, Clay and Martini Gurlatalova. The weather was cooperative and it was a nice getaway. Here's a few more photos:
Everyone brought their dogs:
Lemme tell ya children: the secret to eternal youth is to avoid excessive drinking, smoking and sun. There are a lot of beach residents with that leathery look that I should avoid since I tend to stay out of the sun when I can.
I managed to do some birdwatching and took photos here and there:
Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio was not at the beach. I just thought this photo was hot:
I loves my ornery Dadtastic English ruggers. However, I haven't been watching much of the Rugby World Cup lately.
The black eye sure was a conversation starter at the beach. People normally don't approach me in public otherwise. Ironically the meaner, black-eyed look somehow allows a conversational 'in' that people would not consider otherwise. No complaints here. I'll have to get beat up more often.
Posted by jimbo at 8:14 AM | Comments (5)
September 18, 2007
cue stereotypic downtrodden caucasian fife music
Nellie's Sports Bar gets a shout-out from Matthew Yglesias in The Atlantic online today. Does a gay sports bar mark the advent of the end of straight culture? I personally don't think Nellie's is going to undermine the fabric of heterosexuality any more than I have undermined the fabric of the gay blogosphere for almost 10 years now. Foodie review of Nellie's in the Washington Post.
Speaking of anniversaries, real-live hunky muscledawg-porn-crazed blogger Jocko celebrates his 7th, and mentions the upcoming release of a live-action Iron Man movie feauring Robert Downey, Jr. as the troubled Tony Stark. It is perfect casting considering both the actor and the character have a history of struggles with substance abuse. I'm looking forward to seeing the film. It's been a good time to be a former comic book geek.
I got my plane tickets the other day from Aer Lingus to get over the pond to Dublin for the next Bingham Cup big gay rugby tournament in June 2008. FYI: Lingus has a promotional special at the moment, having recently established new service out of Dulles last month. The next Bingham Cup is gonna be a smash, with lovely mushy peat-based pitches this time. Book your tickets today!
We will be getting jiggy over there, I assure you.
Posted by jimbo at 1:14 PM | Comments (4)
September 15, 2007
pastoral pitch
Today we played an A-side and B-side match against a team from Chambersburg, PA, which was apparently somewhere near Camp David. The weather was lovely and I got to play scrumhalf:
We won both matches. Chip played too, and at the ripe age of 50, he still looks radiant, even after a match:
Zoom in to see my bloody nose. I got elbowed in the face in a tackle which sent me into a little rage, but I got over it and he was nice about it. I just don't have that much more nose to break, so I get really pissy when someone hits it. Luckily, it was not broken, just bloody. Blood tastes really gross when it slides down the back of your throat, mixed with snot, fyi.
Cornfields surrounded the pitch, which was nice and soft. The scene was quite pastoral:
Note the excellent positioning of the Renegades back line at left in this photo:
It was 40 degrees cooler than last week's match, and it made all the difference, especially with no humidity. A nice day to play rugby.
The temperature should be dropping down to the 50's this evening. Since my soul wasn't sucked out of my body from high humidity today, I have the energy to go out to Blowoff tonight. Should be a fun debaucherous time in the Saliva Pit.
Posted by jimbo at 8:20 PM | Comments (5)
September 8, 2007
time for another neighborhood meeting
Today I played some rugby in the September sun, but it wasn't so fun. The temperature was above 90, and so was the humidity. Not fun weather for rugby. After about 20 minutes I felt like I was gonna die. My preferred temperature regime for playing is from like 50-60 degrees or so. I know - I was whining earlier about how fast this summer has gone, but just to let you know, I'm over that now, and am ready for cooler weather.
Anyway, I played a position called flyhalf for the first time today, which I guess our temporary coach thought I had played before. I had played positions on either side of flyhalf, but never flyhalf. It involves a lot more decision making than in other positions I prefer to play, and I don't think I get the ball out to the wing fast enough. Plus it was frikkin' hot and no fun cuz of the weather, and I'm not in shape. More practices will help.
On a different note, I've noticed that since I moved here in June, there is a near-constant presence of young men hanging out at the end of the block, at the corner of 5th and Q, usually outside 446 Q St., NW. A neighbor I spoke with this evening tells me this has not always been the case, and Q street was purportedly a quieter place. But that's what happens on the wavefront of gentrification - things change yearly or even seasonally. Sort of like after a cultural wildfire has passed with destruction, growth, and regrowth - this seems to be an ugly time for this part of the 'hood.
I've lived in other countries and cultures and consider myself pretty tolerant of a lot of things. I pass between straight and gay culture daily. I don't mind potsmoking either, but I can tell there's always something extra in those blunts. I've also tried not to feel threatened by a group of youth with seemingly no visible source of income, who don't work or go to school, who all wear the same color clothes. I've let the noisy evenings (often screaming across the street) and street parties that go on until 2am slide. Luckily, I don't have a car, but I would try to park elsewhere if I were you. Anything in their purview seems to be considered their posession, and they will sit and spit on it as they choose.
But when I have hear the word 'faggot' spoken in my direction when I walk home from work every day it starts to bother me. Usually I let that slide in most occasions too. But I don't want to go home and feel threatened every day. It's a bad feeling.
So I'm thinkin' it's time to tap into the neighborhood meetings again, just to see what's being done, or what I can do. Even though I've been a renter, I've gone to neighborhood meetings at my past two addresses. It helps to knock heads and get together and talk sometimes. I know that if a particular address gets enough police complaints or reports logged against it, some kind of warning or eviction notice can be made. I've seen the owner of this property out in his garden (which is very nice) but I'm guessing he's either asleep, passed out, or doesn't care by nightfall, when the crowd starts to gather and the problems begin. One neighbor claims to have seen drug dealings going down at that end of the street. I haven't seen a deal go down myself, but can smell pot all the time from that direction, which like I said doesn't bother me normally, but when it's accompanied by daily street parties, noise, garbage and threatening behavior, it's time for more things to change on the wavefront.
Posted by jimbo at 7:37 PM | Comments (28)
August 24, 2007
silly mammalian labels
Uff da - my legs ache mighty bad today from last night's practice. I was on the opposition of a 15-man team, and we only had about 7 providing defense. That meant me stopping a lot of big fat bears as best I could. We have a lot of new recruits though, which is nice. People are starting to buzz about the Mark Bingham Cup in Dublin in June 2008. It's going to be a pretty penny to get there, but their fields (pitches) and facilities will certainly be better than the last tournament, which was basically in a circuit party format, replete with lube stands at pitchside. I didn't get that part.
I didn't mean to imply in yesterday's post about genuine Midwestern friendliness that any behavior south of the Wisconsin/Illinois border is necessarily rude. I was talkin' about the I-95 'tude that you get around here. I LOVE good Southern boy charm, opening doors for people, being polite to your mamma and all that. I hear tell it's an act, but it works on me, hook, line and sinker. Southern gentlemen are an exotic species in the Northern states. Midwesterners are friendly, Southern boys are polite (usually). Then when they move here something sucks out their souls and makes them unfriendly and impolite. Heavy metals in the water, perhaps?
I thought this was funny:
Llamas make a very nasal hum of concern when they're annoyed. Then they spit green goo on you. I didn't think they were worth the wool, I prefer my goldfish who don't spit on me.
Yes, I have viewed the YouTube video link and website for the new Bear band sensation BearForce1. Thank you for notifying me. I don't think this is the last we'll hear from them, as I think the breeders are gonna eat that shit up like they embraced The Village People. Not that I mind, as that act of acceptance will be the deathknell of both BearForce1 and the entire Bear scene. Then we can all brush off our hands and be who we want to be - sans silly mammalian labels.
Posted by jimbo at 1:17 PM | Comments (2)
July 31, 2007
Declaration of Rugby Dependence
OK bitches: time for you to come out of the woodwork. Rugby is starting up again for a packed fall season, and the more who join the team, the better the practices, and the more we win. Plus, where the 'mos at?
While my team started out as mostly-gay, one day we realized that there are only so many 'mos who are willing to play rugby in one city. So we expanded our recruitment efforts throughout the 'hood to get more players. But I've noticed a drop in the number of homo teammates this season. Just an FYI: we are still accepting people who are new to the sport or those with skills transferrable from other sports. Tonight we had a former football player and a former college cheerleader. Both guys have a lot to learn, but they both have unique insight that they can bring to the team. So do you.
The team dynamics have changed over the years, and the emphasis has focused more on winning - which we have been doing a lot more of lately. And it's been fun. And rugby is a great way to stay in shape, and a hell of a lot more interesting than the treadmill at the gym.
It takes a while to get the hang of the sport. It's a lot more complicated than it looks from the sidelines. It took me a couple of years to gain confidence on the field. I have my good days and not so good days. But it's the challenge of getting over those issues and learning new skills that still appeals to me, even 7 years into the sport. I'm still learning new techniques and skills all the time.
And while you'll eventually get over stuffing your head in between sweaty men's asses, it does have its appeal:
Come and check us out. Practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays at Stead Field, behind JR's on P Street, N.W. (between 16th and 17th streets). Matches are nearly every Saturday beginning in September through mid-November.
Posted by jimbo at 10:26 PM | Comments (10)
June 1, 2007
pre-packing fall geek show update
The Sci-Fi Channel has announced upcoming season 4 of Battlestar Galactica will be its last:
"Galactica" will kick off in November with "Razor," an extended two-hour episode, with the rest of the season slated to run beginning in early 2008.
This is good and bad news for me. I'm glad they won't be stringing along storylines and leaving questions unanswered episode after episode like in Lost. They're trying to get somewhere and it makes sense that they'll hopefully achieve their goal in reaching Earth. But it's sad such a good show has to end.
Geek tip from Chris at BoysBriefs: A limited run six-episode Heroes spinoff, Heroes: Origins, will introduce a new character each week. At the end of the run you vote for your favorite Hero, a la American Idol.
The democratically elected character will then be added to the sci-fi drama as a regular the following year. In other words, think of this as a paranormal version of American Idol.
More proof Kylie likes Dr. Who and is a wannabe Cybergirl:
Geekery research by Kutari Prime who notes that Kylie is dressed like a Movellan Princess circa Tom baker era in the clip. Listen closely for Cybermen creator quotes.
More woofy baseball players, because it's almost summer. Geoff Jenkins of the Milwaukee Brewers:
It's amazing how inspired I am to blog when I have a whole house to pack today. I'll be away from the Internets for a while until Verizon comes to my rescue, which could be weeks, even months. Have a good summer!
Posted by jimbo at 11:40 AM | Comments (8)
May 22, 2007
leprechauns in the dust
My rugby team is composed of about 49% gay men, 49% straight men
...and two leprechauns:
Groundbreaking research finds that if you slow down a Kylie Minogue song it sounds like George Michael. Some queens have far too much time on their hands. But I'm just jealous. Imagine if you could harness that curiosity into more scientific innovation - queens would rule the world and/or take off into space and settle down in a distant galaxy.
Posted by jimbo at 2:23 PM | Comments (6)
May 19, 2007
A Scrum or two on the Potomac
Today we played some fun rugby in the shadow of the Washington Monument the Washington Renegades Rugby Football Club Scrum on the Potomac tournament.
Photos by Gurl. Someone from the White House was totally cruising us while we were playing:
Here's me pouting (photo by OMG DJ TM) when I realized those I had invited to watch were not coming:
"Dewey" was kind enough to join us after two on our team got injured. She played the 'hooker' position and held her own amongst the gurls and boys:
"Umm...'scuse me, but that ball is mine."
"HEY GURL! WHAT'S SHAKIN'?" That's Stefan to my right:
It was a nice day for rugby, breezy and somewhat cool. Now it's time for a shower and a nap.
Scrape from rugby that looks a little redder without the whitening flash. I get a tetanus shot every year, but I suppose I could still contract anthrax from scraping it in the dirt.
Posted by jimbo at 6:36 PM | Comments (6)
May 17, 2007
Happy Syttende Mai!
OMG DJ TM™ is hawt. So is the one to his left. Photos by Joe Tresh. Grrrr!
Speaking of whores and harlots, the Washington Renegades Rugby Football Club is having a 'harlotfest' tournament this Saturday morning starting at 10ish at the field behind the Holocaust Museum*. A harlotfest is where players are somewhat randomly assigned to their team, as opposed to playing on a team they have practiced with.
It'll be one of the last easily accessible matches of the season, so come watch. Social to follow at Titan.
If that isn't butch enough for you, don't miss The Great Big International Drag King Show 007 at the 9:30 Club on Saturday night, the featured entertainment event for the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition's 2007 GenderYOUTH Leadership Summit.
*Raoul Wallenberg Field (3 blocks West of Smithsonian Metro on the Blue/Orange Line; or 15th and C St. SW between Independence Ave and Maine Ave SW Washington, DC)
Posted by jimbo at 8:07 AM | Comments (2)
May 6, 2007
sunny weekend fun
This weekend the team played at the North Bay Cup tournament, a small one with about 5 other teams. It was a nice day to be out playing rugby:
I played for Team Caveman (I forget the name) as they needed a sub, so I got to play 2 whole matches. Here, the ball is looking for someone to hold it:
They were a nice bunch, but the young bucks were tired out by their 2nd match. Grampaw Jimbo was still ready for more by the end of it.
Photos by target="blank" Crumble.
Posted by jimbo at 2:46 PM | Comments (2)
May 4, 2007
our practice pitch
Here is a photo I took last night of our practice pitch located between 17th, 16th, P and Q Streets, NW DC. I thought the colors and lights turned out pretty cool.
I was feeling ill so was not practicing.
Evidence of the pro-Crocs lobby stamping out newcomers in the horrid footwear business.
OMG a photo of an Olive Warbler I took in March got posted on the World Birds website!
Posted by jimbo at 8:33 AM | Comments (5)
April 15, 2007
the rats in the air ducts are peering at me again
Blog postings will be scant until May, I think. I've been uninspired lately, deadlines looming at work, and a lot of other stuff seems to have started up in life as spring tries to assert itself. I think the moving thing is stressing me out. I've thrown away a number of household items absentmindedly. Garbage in one hand, tool/utensil in another, and I'm trying to do 6 things at once and I throw both handfulls away. I know I'm stressed out when I do that. And the rat nightmares have started up again. I always wake up in the middle of the night during times like this with fleeting memories of large red-eyed rats peering at me from ventilation ducts. But I don't have any ventilation ducts, and most of the rats I see in DC aren't that big. Freaky dreams, anyway.
I tend to have very strong symbolism in my dreams, and I take dream interpretation somewhat seriously. A current search of a few sites basically says that something is eating me up inside:
"To see rats in your dream, signifies feelings of doubts, guilt and/or envy. You are having unworthy thoughts that you are keeping to yourself but are eating you up inside. To hear rats running, or gnawing in the walls, shows that you have been wasting your time and should move on to greener pastures."Or something like that. I'm workin' on it.
My absentmindedness of late led to a disappointing situation today where I had organized a group of friends to go see another friend perform at the brand spankin' new Atlas Performing Arts Center on Capitol Hill. Sadly, I had purchased 8 tickets for Saturday, but told everyone we would meet for a performance on Sunday, and the show was sold out. Big time bummer.
So I think I should step back from any extraneous organizing or commitment for a while. My mind is kind of addled lately. I had already been in the process of doing so but this weekend confirmed the need for a stronger commitement to noncommital.
But I did get outside for some sun before this nor'easter parked its soggy ass on the area Saturday night and today. The team won another match and I got to play for a bit in the B-side game. I like how my tits look in this photo, taken by SuperStar OMG Brettie:
The formation to the right is called a 'scrum' and us skinnier guys just standing around are called 'backs'. I played a position called 'inside center'.
Here's me and Matt chittering away on the sidelines:
Photos by SuperStar OMG Brettie.
Blowoff was fun, but I was only there for a short time before I started to pick up Mr. Bartender like a sack of potatoes and carried him around. Between that and Saturday's match my back is a wreck. I did not see the famous and hot manatee while I was there.
Posted by jimbo at 9:36 PM | Comments (4)
March 31, 2007
voodoo works!
Friday evening I was messing around with my camera, Flickr and booty brought from Arizona to create a small Mayan-Santería-Voodoo shrine to ensure the spirits were on our side for a win in today's rugby match:
The sun and moon loteria candles bring me power from the heavens, the clay ruggers bring camraderie to the team, while the rugby ball sees me as I see it - illuminated and as one.
And it worked! We won against our competitive rivals from Aberdeen, Maryland - Renegades 13, North Bay 7. And such a win is especially delicious when someone on the opposing team calls my teammate a 'faggot' during said game, making the victory that much sweeter.
Geek Alert: there's a new comic book store on 14th Street just next to Sparky's cafe. It's called Big Monkey Comics at 1722-B (2nd floor) 14th St., NW.
Here is an interesting crosswalk design nearby Big Monkey Comics intended to designate a clear pedestrian area to enhance the customer flow to businesses around the 14th and S Street areas, NW DC. 14th St. is otherwise a wide impassable street that isn't conducive to a walkable neighborhood area.
Posted by jimbo at 5:43 PM | Comments (4)
March 30, 2007
I was scruffy before scruffy was cool
Yay for beards abroad and at home:
Facial Hair Required for Royal Air Force Regiments in Afghanistan
DanTan Sets Beard Trend in DC?
As for the second article, I say scruff was going on long before DanTan elevated to DC Diety. Tangherlini just looks great with his beard is all, and proves you can do a good job and still be scruffy.
Phoenix was quite unusual, because by and large the gay boys there had NO facial hair at all. I saw only one other gay boy with facial hair there. I was even asked about my beard while out and about on 3 different occasions. There are far more furry hipster beards in DC, or even Tucson. But when the temperatures started rising I could understand the Phoenicians' penchant for smoothness. It gets frikkin' hot there, too hot for extra fur.
I had my first rugby practice last night, although the practices have been going on for some time. My running outside of practice has REALLY helped this year, and last night wasn't as painful as I thought it would be, except for the hardpan clay-based shitty soil of our pitch, that is. I even got a good run in during a scrimmage, and there are many new cutie pies on the team. One new youngster looks like a less-evolved (that's a good thing) version of SG-1's Daniel Jackson, but with furry arms. Me like young cavemen. Anyway, we have matches tomorrow. Don't know if I'm playing, but the weather is looking good.
Posted by jimbo at 8:28 AM | Comments (1)
March 15, 2007
the sap is flowing
Rusty Dewees is a Vermont performance artist who does a one man show called The Logger. The image is from his 2002 calendar (March: maple syrup season). Caption for the photo: "Hey Aunt Jemima, gather this!" Photo courtesy of Boobob:
And the sap is indeed flowing in the sugar maples of West Virginia, while spring peepers (a very tiny frog in charge of announcing spring) have already been heard in Maryland. While rugby practice has started, I'll be going to my first practice tonight now that it's warmed up a bit. Here's a pic by Blogstar Brettie of me from last fall, 2nd from left, swinging my arms like an ape as I gape at the cute scrumhalf on my team:
Once, not long ago, I wore glasses. But that was before I got laser-enhanced vision, which was well worth the $2,200 per eye:
This photo was taken by BlogStar Brettie last spring at the Bingham Cup in NYC. The gentleman at my shoulder is Raimundo from Anchorage, who was clearly cruising somebody at the time.
Posted by jimbo at 8:58 AM | Comments (1)
February 4, 2007
<+)O 's Hard-as-Rock Superbowl silhouette
Did anyone catch the phallic silhouette against the fluttering sheet during the Purple Rain guitar solo of <+)O's Superbowl halftime performance tonight?
Get me a screenshot, people. It beats Janet's nipple, hands-down, so to speak. Luke Daywalker says Prince looked like Celie from The Color Purple with that 'do-rag.
UPDATE: Here it is - note the strange stains on the sheet. Erotic City cum alive:
There were other, more suggestive silhouette poses in that sequence. I think Camille or Spooky Electric got the better of him tonight, despite his purported association with the Jehova's Witnesses.
While it wasn't his best performance, he gets props for ordering rain from his good friend God for the Purple Rain set, and covering the Foo Fighers' ""Best of You". The song sounded familiar but I didn't figure it out until I went online later to find out what song that was.
Minneapolis is just a 2-hour drive north and across the river (Yes, the Mississippi goes that far north) from where I grew up. We drove to Minneapolis for the kickoff of his Lovesexy tour, and I went up twice for a screening of the letdown sequel to Purple Rain, a seldom-watched movie called Grafitti Bridge. We tried to sneak into Glam Slam but Minnesota's underage law was really strict. Do the math to figure out how long ago that was...
If you're on a long roadtrip and playing 'Six-Degrees of Kevin Bacon' to pass the time, using Prince as a starter is really tough unless you've watched the film Under the Cherry Moon. No cheating using IMDB! A hint is after the break.
Using Peter O'Toole is really hard to do playing Six-Degrees of Kevin Bacon too.
Hint: Under the Cherry Moon featured a little known-actress named Kristin Scott Thomas as the lead female, and Prince's lover, in the movie.
Posted by jimbo at 9:09 PM | Comments (17)
January 26, 2007
Isaiah Washington is dumb, but forgivable
I guess the local rise in crime wasn't just a random observation on my part. People have been getting mugged on T and 14th street a lot lately, our packages going missing (including my birthday care package from mom!) and even murder. The queens are not amused, and we are have begun to marshall our forces. Beware the power of nonbreeding drones of the hive! Like Nikita once said: "We will bury you..."
Kylie Minogue + Scissor Sisters = White Diamond, performed live from the Showgirl tour. OMG KYLIE.
Friday Night TV Pick: Scary 'God Warrior' Marguerite Perrin returns to Trading Spouses at 9pm on Fox tonight.
Here's a documentary about a local DC/Baltimore L.A.R.P. (Live-Action Role-Playing) group. And you thought I was a big 'ol geek.
I think I'll pass on a backpacking trip to Anthrax Isle. But it sounds like a great D&D module adventure title.
I think this whole Isaiah Washington gay slur thing is a bit creepy. Really, the guy is an idiot for using the f-word in Hollywood - he's made his own career grave saying that stuff. But does he really need to go to some gay rehab for saying what he said? Sometimes people say things in the heat of the moment and don't always mean what they say. He and other people (Eddie Murphy, etc.) need to get a little slack sometimes. People make mistakes, people are young and say dumb things, then people change, and people need to be forgiven. People have a hard time forgiving even themselves sometimes. I think The Gay spend waaay too much energy holding anger against whomever was a douche bag in the past. Much too often I hear the same thing, "HARRR! I won't read/watch/listen to 'X' person because of 'Y' crime to the gays in 19XX-20XX." Even when it's been like 10 years since that person said 'Z' phrase and has changed and grown significantly.
Many people have come to me asking, "Jimbo: what do you think of men's leggings?" (Because I'm apparently officially a drag queen now). And I stare back at them, confused. Of course they will be worn by the dandies about town by this summer. But I already wear them now. And I have a question about proper use of leggings and tights: so like if I'm running or mountain biking and am wearing my running tights or biking tights with snuggly padding where it counts, and then have to go grocery shopping after that, is it appropriate for me to be shining my package in the produce department of Whole Foods, or should I slip a pair of shorts over my bulge? I'm always a little bit self-conscious when I do that.
After a rugby match I also like to slip off my rugby shorts and cool my balls off, even though i'm still wearing my compression shorts which keep my balls in place. Is it OK to do that around teammates' family and kids? Are compression shorts more like undergarments or shorts in this instance? I also love my short running shorts even though it is most customary to wear baggy basketball-style shorts in the United States of 'Merca. But I don't like basketball and I don't like running in those long basketball shorts. I prefer my short-shorts even though they make me look like a dork. But my junk sure stands out in them. I think running in those stupid long basketball shorts defeats the purpose, and the cause unnecessary chafing.
That is all. Have a nice weekend.
Posted by jimbo at 11:45 AM | Comments (15)
November 15, 2006
a nice night at the gym
Now that rugby season is over it's back to the gym on a more regular basis. It's tough when it's dark out after work, but I know I have to keep it up to fill the stress relief vacuum left where rugby would normally burn it away. Much thanks to Joe for the Happy Light! I will install it on my wall next to the computer this weekend.
Anyway, lately I've been going to the Washington Sports Club on Connecticut, north of DuPont Circle, as the one south of the Circle has become skanky and smells of mold and stale cum, and the management there doesn't replace missing cable machine handles and stuff. Plus, these days the Kalorama WSC has been smokin' hot for some reason, filled at all hours with something nice to look at. Demographics always shift from club to club, and I move to where I'm most motivated.
So I do my back-craking and stretching exercises, then go to the upstairs deck to do my abs, because if I wait until after my workout I don't always do them. The area is crowded with Jennifers doing six million sit-ups, but waay back in the corner are two 20-something guys apparently humping each other. Interested, I move to get the sit-up device nearest to them, and set it so I can watch them humping in the mirror while I do sit-ups.
Turning off my iPod to hear what they're saying, I can tell they're doing some kind of martial art/wrestling training wearing only shorts and tee-shirts, but no shoes or socks. I did a bit of wrestling back in high school, and even some Muay-Thai kickboxing in Kazakstan, but the moves these two are doing are really unfamiliar. One guy looked Jewishy and had a hot schozz (we'll call him Jacob), and the other has a buzzed head and beard scruff (let's call him Esau). Both Jacob and Esau had furry arms and legs, so much so that they almost had Hobbitt feet. And they were almost in constant contact with each other the entire time, limiting their moves to only a 6' by 6' area of the excercise mat we were all sharing. Considering their appearance and strange grappling moves, I can only surmise that they are practicing some kind of Jew-Fu.
As I begin my set of sit-ups, counting off one...two...three...I see them linking their legs and arms together much like two queens on a couch rolling on ecstacy. Then they come closer, cheek-to-cheek, and just kinda sweat and groan together. Entranced by this close and erotic display of Jew-Fu, I lose myself in my ab set and can't stop looking...
...5,648 reps later I realize I haven't been breathing or blinking for almost ten minutes, and they combatants are still at it. The Jennifers didn't seem to notice. I could do no more sit-ups and didn't want to tent my shorts in the gym, so moved on to do my legs.
It was a good night at the gym...the Jennifers weren't even monopolizing the leg ad/abductor machines, and I completed an entire superset for my legs without anyone asking to work in. Must have been the crazed look on my face. Mmmm...Jew-Fu...
Posted by jimbo at 11:02 PM | Comments (10)
November 14, 2006
NC, SC wildlife photos
I'm back from Kiawah Island, SC and Charlotte, NC after a nice long weekend vacation. The above picture is of a Golden Silk Spider, which was about as big as my palm. While it's good to be home I will miss the genuine southern friendliness we encountered down there, and the sunny warmth too.
This is my first attempt at posting photos saved to my Flickr account, we'll see how it goes. The interface is pretty interesting and user-friendly, and my webmistress will certainly appreciate me using server space elsewhere. More pics after the jump...
The Charlotte Royals and a few guys from Raleigh-Durham hosted us for the match, which we won. However there were only 15 of us there, so no substitutions, so a few of us were hobbling around by the end of it. I got the ball and gave a few good passes:
It was the last match of the season, and it'll be good to have a freer schedule for the winter:
Boys from Durham and Raleigh were present, and I liked this particular posse of friendly bears, especially the one in the white cap. Wuuuufy beard:
Crazy gurls from Charlotte:
My wishes to see a gator were immediately granted the morning after our arrival to Kiawah Island, with a six-footer sunning itself outside our condo. Did you know they only need about 1.5 lbs. of food each week? I was wondering how they got so monstrous with just a small pond to live in. They apparently cannot eat much in the winter, especially if their body temperature drops below 75 degrees or so, as their innards are not warm enough to metabolize food. If they do eat during cold weather, the food rots in their stomach and they die:
These are white ibis, in off-season color. I got this one added to my list and the wood stork too. New word: crepuscular - a creature that is active mainly at twilight ( didn't make it up ) as opposed to a nocturnal or diurnal creature. "The best time to see a bobcat on Kiawah Island is at dusk or dawn, because it is a crepuscular mammal."
I think these are sanderlings, but I'm not good with shorebirds. But I think they're cute!
There was lots of Spanish moss hanging from the trees. I think Spanish moss is God's way of letting trees have weave extensions.
Posted by jimbo at 10:47 PM | Comments (6)
November 13, 2006
brief report from SC
I am still on Kiawah Island, near Charleston, SC After with Chip and BlogStar Brettie. Sorry for the lack of posts and unresponsive e-mail. My access to computers thus far has been limited to Macs, which are generally user unfriendly and unproductive to good writing.
Wooo! Go Terps! Fear the Turtle! Hear us ROAR! Sam had some good passes on Saturday to lead a win against Florida. Sounded like it was an exciting game. Here's to a fun bowl and more exciting Terrapins Football.
I have not yet seen a real diamondback terrapin here, as apparently it is too late in the season. However, I have seen plenty of alligators both big and small, and I have pictures to prove it. We went on a birdwatching trip this morning and can now say I've checked off all the birds on the 'dark herons' page, with new inclusions of the tricolor heron, little blue heron, and even the wood stork.
We won our match against the Charlotte/Durham combined team, followed by a fun social at the Charlotte Eagle. Woofy pics to come. The Atlanta Bucks did not show up, and I have to say I am very, very disappointed with all the Atlanta boys (especially the redheads) because they let me down.
Posted by jimbo at 1:33 PM | Comments (8)
November 9, 2006
a toothy wildlife weekend
I'll be away from blogging most likely until Wednesday, as this weekend I'll be heading down to Charlotte, NC for a friendly set of rugby matches against the Charlotte and Atlanta teams. I am looking forward to it as the Atlanta guys are HOT and my frikkin' honey pot has been on fire for weeks. While there is a regional tournament up in NYC, we were just there in May and it'll be fun to head South for a change.
Anyway, speaking of getting riled up - Uncle Rufus is frikkin' hot.
After the matches and debauchery me an Chip and BlogStar Brettie are heading to Kiawah Island, in Charleston, SC. It's about a 3-4 hour drive from Charlotte, on the Atlantic coast. I may be able to see a real Diamondback Terrapin and possibly some American Alligators. I will go so far as to go out at night with a flashlight to see one. I'll try to take pictures.
Speaking of awesome terrapins, howabout them Terps? We may get to a bowl this year. Props to the quarterback whose performance has improved a lot this season. The Terps were my first college football game ever. It was a lot of fun. So I guess I am both a Packer, a Terp and a Pointer (my undergrad alma mater) as well.
I think this weekend will be absolutely insane in DC due to the election results, especially amongst The Gays. I'm almost bummed I'll be away, as I think everyone will be out partying (except uptight closeted gay Republicans of course). For those in town on Saturday, November 11th, there is much to do. My buddy OMG DJ TM™ will be spinning at Cobalt, starting at 10. And I think Blowoff at the 9:30 Club will also be a total riot. There will be stories. Have fun in my stead.
Posted by jimbo at 11:03 AM | Comments (5)
October 6, 2006
daily beatings
Today's rain and last night's beatings at practice have me kinda uninspired, so I'll just list stuff:
We have an unprecedented 3-1 record for the season. If we win Saturday's match, we'll like be in the playoffs in our division for the first time ever. And we can beat this team. This is very exciting because back inna day the other teams beat us by dozens and dozens of points. Then we started to win, and then we started to really beat the snot out of some teams. Now they take us seriously. The team has developed a lot in the 7 years I've been with it, and this is the pinnacle so far:
Washington Renegades RFC vs. Winchester RFC
Saturday, October 7, Winchester, VA
Kickoff at 1 p.m.
Directions are on the link above. We really appreciate fan presence, as always.
Today I feel like hitting hypocritical closeted gay Republicans who spurt out excuses as they spurted on their keyboards while chatting with teens. I want to hit people that say gays are preoccupied with sex, are naturally alcoholic, are zoophiles, are pedophiles or always have been molested by preists. I want to hit all these dark ages motherfuckers who perform all the acts they condemn. I want to hit politicians who are wasting time and my tax dollars fucking around with moral shit. I want to hit the people who aren't filling in the potholes because they're too busy moralizing. I want to hit self-important smug shitheads who produce nothing but gas.
Tonight: Battlestar Galactica premiere!
Saturday: OMG DJ TM™ spins at Cobalt...it will be packed by Midnight as it always is, I assure you. And he's got another kickin' set ready for you.
Gratuitous shallow cute jock picture posting du jour - Detroit Tiger Matt Mantei:
His MLB stats state that he's been "on the DL" since May. This is exciting news! Now if I could only get him from being Down Low to Out of the Closet, and we'd be a nice match.
Posted by jimbo at 10:26 AM | Comments (2)
September 24, 2006
animal pictures
Lots of animal pictures from the weekend. Will from our team took the following two pics of me riled up and ready for our match against the Atlanta Bucks, which we won despite my pessimism about the outcome before the match. We all played very well and fought hard. My face took a beating too:
Red came to watch, and enjoyed the sights and the social. He's a cool bean. My back held out well during the match, thanks to all the good Valium-induced rest I got during the week:
On Sunday me and Gurl and Bubbles went to the Maryland Rennaissance Festival to see the Renn Fest Geeks and lots of other strange animals. I liked the elephants best:
One of the elephants seemed agitated so I gave him some of my Valium and he said "Thank you for the crack!"
Here's Bubbles and Gurl watching the jousting match:
I wish they had knights on flying ostritches fighting evil knights on vultures and pterodactyls, but I had to settle for horses.
Full plate armor must be hot, but it gives you a +8 to your Armor Class:
Gurl took some good action shots:
Photo by GURL. I had hoped it was kilt weekend, but it was pirate weekend with lots of Capt. Jacks around. But there were plenty of D.I.L.F.s to be spotted:
Longbows provide ranged attacks which are useful against armies and flying opponents such as wyverns and such creatures:
On the way home I got a picture of the semi-feral cat that hangs out in my front yard. I leave some water for her to drink. I've been working on getting closer to her, and she allows me to get up to 2 feet away before walking off:
On Friday our team hosted the Bucks at Titan. Naturally I again got fingered in the ass by some bear, despite the new spaciousness of the place. Next time it happens I'm going to pretend I enjoyed his lascivious advances, but will then pour my beer down his crotch after I pretend to actually want to dig around in his crotch.
Posted by jimbo at 4:53 PM | Comments (10)
September 22, 2006
weekend plans
This Saturday we have home matches against Rappahannock (a local league team) and the Atlanta Bucks (a hot gay team who came to play with us). Kickoff for Rappahannock is Noon at Colmar Manor Park. Kickoff against the Bucks follows immediately after the Rappahannock match finishes. Social to follow at Titan around 3 or 4ish.
Tonight we meet 'n greet the Bucks at the now dark but more spacious Titan at 7ish. I had a stressy week and don't know if I'm gonna go. We'll see how I feel when I get home tonight, if I don't pass out entirely.
I think a buncha us geeks are going to the Rennaissance Fair out in Maryland, which is always a hoot. I hope to see muscular men in kilts, and throw some axes or shoot an arrow at targets (not the men in kilts).
Posted by jimbo at 4:27 PM | Comments (2)
September 19, 2006
Renegades rugby in the news
Here I seem to be scrutinizing the thighs of the forward pack, but I'm actually preparing to put my shoulder into the meaty buttcheek of the person in front of me. This formation is called a 'scrum':
My rugby team was featured in the fitness section on page E5 in this morning's edition of the Washington Post Express, a free daily newspaper that is mostly read on Metro and public transportation. While the journalist got a few of the rugby details wrong, for the most part it is a good article. Hopefully we'll be able to get some good recruitment out of it:
Straight, gay, whatever: The Renegades are all about the sport. "I didn't know this was the gay rugby team when I joined," said Roberto Santiago, who recently retired due to a shoulder injury. "It took me, like, three weeks to go, 'Oh, I'm in the minority.' It was never an issue."I would contend that these days the team is about half-gay rather than a majority, but I haven't done an actual head count. Hopefully the article will result in more recruitment, as it's been nice that we can scrimmage two full teams during practice since expanding our recruitment outside the gay community. Back in tha day it was challenging to recruit enough gay people to front a more competitive team in our local rugby union, so the board decided to go outside the box, which has been to the team's benefit. While some straight members may not return after learning about the nature of our team, most of them stay and play, I think simply due to the ideal location. Our practice pitch (field) is conveniently located for a lot of players living inside the beltway, while most local union teams practice way out in the 'burbs.
For the gay players who may get off on the idea of playing with and against straight guys, the idea wears off after a few practices. When you see the same people at practice and during matches so frequently, it all just becomes being part of a team. Although it does lead to some interesting conversations at post-practice and match socials, where the straight guys often walk away a bit more enlightened from accelerated learning from Gay 101 and 102 lectures (they usually test out and earn credit). And for that reason I think the integration of more straight players has been beneficial for both the team and for advancing awareness of gay issues.
Our very own M.C. Slanty has some fine footage of one of our teammates puking after drinking from 'the boot', coming up at minute 1:30 on this video:
In this picture I beat the real scrumhalf to the ball, and am digging it out from between the fat guys' legs to deliver it to the skinny folks who can run:
Images courtesy of BlogStarBrettie and D.J. Slanty.
Posted by jimbo at 5:14 PM | Comments (5)
September 18, 2006
a new 'nelly' sports bar in tha 'hood
On Sunday I completely forgot to catch a sneak preview of the new Nellie's Sports Bar just around the corner from me at 900 U St., NW DC. The proprietor is a former neighbor of mine, and I think a gay sports bar is a neat idea. I don't know how much it will live up to the concept, but it's nice to be living somewhere where gay bars are popping up all around where I live!
This just in...video footage on YouTube of our Saturday rugby match. About halfway through the reel you can see me dig out a ball and do a nice scrumhalf delivery. Remember, I'm on the white, blue and scarlet team this time.
In case you didn't already mistrust the current administration, here's disturbing news about how connections to the GOP were/are more important than talent or skill in the rebuilding of Iraq. I can't imagine how much time, lives or my tax dollars have already been squandered by Joe-Bob's buddy Earl who had no international development experience but got sent overseas to manage these projects.
It is true that connections and contacts will get you places here in DC. I use it to my advantage and to help friends get jobs all the time. And to be fair I've worked under Clinton appointees that are complete bozos too. But one would hope that the appointer would give a little more consideration on how well the appointee can perform the job. But as is typical with a lot of those under W, most are incompetent and got their jobs from just knowing someone, many times to the detriment of said department's supposed customers.
Posted by jimbo at 11:18 AM | Comments (6)
June 29, 2006
More Hot Jews
Gabe Kapler of the Boston Red Sox shaved his head this season. While he's neither furry nor very scruffy, now he's a hot muscle Daddy with big guns:
I hadn't posted anything of shallow content lately, so I just thought I'd keep up the good work:
Oh, the chin, and the grin! GRRRR!
Posted by jimbo at 9:16 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
June 20, 2006
Stanley Cup furgasm
Congrats to the Carolina Hurricanes, a sun belt team, who beat out the long-established Edmonton Oilers last night in the Stanley Cup finals. Didn't hear about it? It wasn't even covered in the Washington Post Express this morning, but there were 4 pages of World Cup semifinal news. I guess hockey just isn't that big around here. Turns out the Jimbo pick, Cam Ward, was the player of the game, in addition to being quite woofy for a 22 year-old.
Yeah, drink it:
And after their victory, there was a furgasm on the ice:
When I was in undergrad back in 1990 or so, I lived on the hockey wing of my university. We had division III champions, many of whom were imported from Canada. I was not out of the closet then, but it is no surprise that I came out not long after. At the time when I was living with all of them, I would avert my eyes in the group shower, and would avoid looking into their open dorm room doors to avoid seeing them shirtless kicking back watching television, all scruffy and furry. D'OH! If I could turn back time.
Last evening we had several nice downpours in the area that gave the soil a much needed soaking. I took this picture at the College Park MetroRail station on the Green Line last night:
My plants are thick and green today, and nothing clears the snot out of your head like a run over a misty post-thunderstorm Rock Creek Park.
Thought of the Day: Did we ever find out who did the whole anthrax in the mail thing? How come our politicians never talk about it anymore? Is our mail system safe? Who did it? Does anyone care? I still think about it.
Posted by jimbo at 8:19 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
June 15, 2006
batboy tackles drunk
This morning I was watching the usual blather on the Today show, and they showed a clip from a Red Sox/Twins baseball game from last night. The Red Sox batboy tackled a drunk who had run onto the field. I noticed it was a perfectly executed rugby tackle, and my suspicions were confirmed by this story:
Nate Reese, a 25-year-old batboy made a tackle on a fan who jumped on the field in the eighth inning."Play of the game," Twins reliever Joe Nathan said.
It occurred with David Ortiz at the plate. Two spectators jumped out of the stands and began to run across the outfield, avoiding six not-so-nimble security guards.
One ran by Torii Hunter, giving the affable Twins center fielder a high five. The other headed toward the infield, rounded third and belly flopped on the plate.
As soon as he got to his feet, Reese leveled him and drew a standing ovation.
"There weren't any guards around, so I just thought I'd hit him," said Reese, who was a wrestler in high school and played rugby in college.
"Rugby?" Hunter said to Reese. "You stuck him like you played football, perfect form."
Hunter doesn't know what he's talking about - from the clip I could see it was a perfectly excecuted rugby tackle right there at home plate. Good on ya, Nate.
It's Stanley Cup time, and do you know what that means? PLAYOFF SCRUFF! There's even an obsessive hockey fan blog on the topic, playoffbeard.com.
Tomorrow night OMG DJ Timothy Mykael is spinning at Cobalt, and has sent me a JIMBO.INFO exclusive sneak-peek at some of the track list highlights:
Bananarama - Look on the Floor (Hyptonic Tango)
Bette Midler - Fever
Chelo - Cha Cha
Destiny's Child - Girl
Faith Evans - Mesmerized
Gustavo Santaolalla - The Wings
Heather Small - Proud
Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away
Natasha Bedingfield - The One That Got Away
Paris Hilton - Stars are Blind
Pink - Stupid Girls
Rhianna - SOS
The Pussycat Dolls - Buttons
He also promises a few brand new ones and some old classics. OMG!
Dan "Eyes of Smouldering Emeralds*" Tangherlini (or DanTan* as me and Carl refer to the interim WMATA manager) thinks entertainment in the MetroRail system would make things "more fun or interesting or peaceful." I can only imagine my peaceful subway experience with one of those annoying paint bucket drummers filling the station with uninspired rhythms, then having to listen to the summer interns (Jennifers**) as they screech even louder to be heard over the beat.
* I'd better get credit for that term if it shows up elsewhere. Fifty bucks says either phrase ends up in the mainstream press within a month - mark my words.
** The term "Jennifer" was originally coined by Chrisafer, meaning any random 20something new to DC with an internship on the Hill. Jennifer usually has a boyfriend named Mike, and is really loud in large groups and at gay bars.
According to JoeMyGod, Prince will be performing in Bryant Park tomorrow (Friday June 16) sometime between 7-9AM on the Good Morning America show.
Posted by jimbo at 10:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 5, 2006
I am so scene
Despite senseless deaths in Iraq, our idiot President protecting us from the horrors of gay marriage, and other various and sundry portents of doom, we are lucky to have pictures of England rugby's Ben Cohen in underwear on the Internets to help us forget such things:
Ben has the most adorable little kid smile complimented by a lush growth of chest fur, accentuated with a distinct and imminently lickable treasure trail. Shoulders like breakfast-sized bran muffins too.
I went to see Kathy Griffin last night at the Warner Theatre with a bunch of catty queens, and it was a lot of fun. Her routine was LONG, and we certainly got our money's worth from the show. I laughed a lot. I hope she kicks Ryan Seacrest's ass some day (again).
Before that I was a big giant queen and had two big girly cosmos at Halo. We were discussing that apparently some people loathe Halo for some reason. I go there because it's smoke free, and there are usually fewer overly-drunk twinks there who can't handle their booze, because the booze there ain't cheap, so it keeps the cheapos out of the place. Apparently some people avoid going there for fear of being perceived as in "the scene" too much, whatever that means. I am so scene. Fear this queen.
I remember shaking things up there this winter when I had a birthday gathering. Most of the guys who showed up to meet me were either on the rugby team or had facial hair. This was disturbing to the usual crowd at Halo, as one of whom approached us and said sibilantly, "Exssscussse me? Isss thisss Bear night or sssomething?" I love it.
I am going to see X-Men tonight. I hear that it isn't all that consisent with the comics, but these days not even the comics are consistent with the comics. There must be like a dozen X-titles out on the shelves these days. Do not be in shock that I haven't seen the film yet - I don't go opening weekends, or any weekends, for that matter as I don't like huge theatre crowds. Anyone using a cell phone in the theatre, as they usually do in DC, enrages me and it totally ruins the experience for me. On weeknights there are usually fewer opportunities for me to be enraged by movie theatre cell phone use.
Posted by jimbo at 10:57 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
June 1, 2006
"a slippery slope," or the future?
There were a number of discussions, situations and comments that came up last weekend at the big "gay" rugby tournament regarding assimilation, segregation, inclusion and intergration of gays and straights. Let me put them into points, then figure out what I want to say about it, or what you want to say:
Yeah, it was a downer that he was unavailable to me, but I thought it was cool that such a situation could occur with little more discomfort than being shot down by a gay man.
Josh declares The Death of The Ghetto, while West Hollywood is experiencing a demographic change much like DuPont Circle and 17th Street already have. The two issues are apples and oranges. Neighborhood demographic change is unrelated to issues of gay ghetto segregation and integration, and 'hoods will always shift and change, like a riverbed, as Miss In Shaw documents.
Related Link from The Onion:
Series Finale of Will and Grace Ends Eight-Year Truce Between Gay, Straight Communities
As for us being a "gay team," (or not) at first I was resistant to the idea of us increasing our recruitment of straight guys while maintaining our gay recruitment. As it was, there were only so many gay rugby players you can find in one city, and we were getting tired of losing so much. But since then we've become more competitive, and our practices often have enough players where we can play full-team scrimmages of 15-players each. We've won more matches since we've recruited more people, which helps in skill-building at practice since we have full teams to play against several times a week. Frankly, we're a better team with more people, and I think both the straights and the gays on our team are better people, having taken home some perspective from the other side.
I have been surprised by the reactions coming from some of the gay boys I've talked to about the above points. Sure, it's kind of special to be able to front a wholly gay team. But we also have to be competitive. Plus I think ghettoization is bad for you, and gays that live in huge metropolitan areas often suffer a retardation of personal growth and extreme lack of perspective as to how the other 95% of the world works. This was evident in that at times the tournament almost seemed to be a peripheral event for the XXL circuit-bear party, not the other way around. It gives credence to my theory that all things touched by The Gay must ultimately become a circuit party. Anyway, when the music was turned down low enough to be able to talk to the other players at the social events, most said they simply wanted to play rugby, have something substantial to eat, and to not have to shout when they wanted to talk about the day's gladiator events. The thrumming dance music often deafened the spirit of the intended event.
Anyway, as threatening as it seems, I believe the incursion of straights into our team and into gay sports is the future, and a good thing. They go home more comfortable with us, and tell their friends and family about playing with the gays. Otherwise ghettoized gay men with limited contact with straight people are more comfortable and better able to interact with straights after the experience. Integration and mutual acceptance is a hard and slow process, but healthier for everyone involved in the long run.
Posted by jimbo at 10:58 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBack
May 29, 2006
Memorial Day weekend
Hope your Memorial Day weekend was as good as mine:
I had no idea I was so red when I was walking around the View Bar on Saturday night. Joe told me the bar was usually reserved for off-duty porn stars and hookers, and we believe we saw one there, waiting around with his duty bag. I correctly predicted he wasn't going to get much business there that night due to the high availability of other less costly men, and I was right. The hooker left, out-marketed by the availability of sweaty hookers of a different kind.
The 2006 Bingham Cup was a lot of fun, and marked the arrival of hot summer temperatures. NY1 News managed to catch the only game I played in on film, video link included with the story - I think I'm number 14 in the fuzzy video. I was in an odd position as a sub on our A (Cup) side as it would have taken a mortal wound to take out anyone I could replace. But they toughed it through six dusty, hot matches regardless, and we came out 3rd in the Cup division, and the same with our Plate division. The Aussie Convicts won first in both, and the Boston Ironsides first in the Bowl division. I'll have to say that the most exciting match was us versus Manchester, with two nail-biting 'sudden death' match extensions due to a 3-3 tie, ultimately won by a penalty kick from our side. The most surprising ending was during our match against Gotham with a last-second 3-point drop kick from some 40 yards away by our miraculous Leprechaun scrumhalf, which secured a win. Joe and Eddie showed up for the nail-biting match, and I tried my best to explain what was going on and why people were spazzing out. I don't think they got it but they cheered for the hottie #13s on any side. The hottest teams of the tournament were certainly the Sydney Convicts and the brand new and totally muscular team from Cardiff. All blond and red-headed and cute as a button.
Later Saturday evening Glenn showed up at a social and I also got to meet Vasco, with whom I chatted for a while before the sunburn took me down. Glenn also came to watch a few matches on Sunday, and introduced me to Gayest Neil (partner of Plasicaisle) who played with the Gotham team. After the tournament matches were done I made an attempt at a disco nap so was up and ready for the closing party and XXL dance, where Joe and his dreamy friend Ken from Jersey arrived. Also in attendance were CSCFON and OMG Michael Hartney, who was unnerved by my girly screams due to his presence. I was able to out-geek the comic book fan with my vast knowledge of X-Men trivia. While I hear I need to suspend my historical knowledge of the Uncanny ones for X3, Michael was happy to learn that Juggernaut is Charles Xavier's brother, and that the Beast wasn't always so furry.
And speaking of furry, the XXL party was over the top. However, in terms of meeting new friends, my evening began with hitting on one of the few straight guys on one team (who was polite, but uninterested), and went downhill from there. Oh well, I got a lot of rest over the weekend anyway. But this Aussie got me riled up every time I saw him over the course of the weekend: 
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Dreamy! Dreamy! Dreamy!
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Many more pictures from the tournament at the break, thanks to Blogstar Brettie for any pictures of me...
Psyching up for Saturday morning's matches, iPod mini product placement:
Me and Twan:
I think I had the ball in this photo, in a match against the Seattle Quake.
After the nail-biting double-sudden-death match against Manchester, I'm wondering if I had a heart attack just from watching. Manchester in the background to my left, the Renegades to my right:
My hat keeps me cool:
A particularly woofy ref: 
My favorite Aussie, center, with red chest fur: 
Aussies accepting their Cup win at the award ceremony: 
Yet another scruffy Aussie: 
Aussie accepting Plate win with Mark Bingham's mom, Alice Hoglan: 
I'm trying to reprezent Tha DC but I can't get my fingers to twist correctly like Lora's: 
Posted by jimbo at 7:35 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
May 24, 2006
the sun dog days of spring
It has been a remarkably mild spring here in DC, an actual spring, probably the best one in my 10 years of living here. Usually the weather in this area goes from damp and cold straight to hot and muggy, but we've had almost a month of lovely dry, cool, and sunny weather. While the pollen earlier this spring kicked Bob's ass and many others, I experienced only a bit of extra phlegm in my throat, making for a husky singing voice during April. None of the usual sinus or lung infections I usually get from spring mold either. Maybe the long-term Allegra usage is finally kicking in, or the dry weather may have helped out too. And I've been significantly more robust and healthy since I got my tonsils removed in 2003. Like 185# robust and PALE, as seen in this unflattering MW photo of me and TJ at Blowoff last weekend, looking a lot like Sméagol and Déagol. Anyhow, it's been a good season this year, if not a bit nippy in the evenings. Last night at practice I spotted a sun dog on the horizon, an indicator of ice crystal formation in the upper atmosphere, so I guess the jet stream is still quite cold.
We leave Thursday for the big giant super-gay rugby tournament in NYC, coming back on Monday. I've been selected for the Cup or 'A' side team for the weekend, which was a surprise as I hadn't played much on our A-side all season. I'm told it was due to my flexibility with playing in several positions and the tournament rosters are locked. It will be challenging as we'll be up against the San Francisco Fog, London, and Seattle Quake teams on Friday, none of whom are pushovers. The tournament rounds continue through Sunday, starting at 9:30am each day. Match schedule is on the above link.
The Renegades are hosting a social Saturday evening at 8pm at The View Bar, 232 8th Ave., NYC. And I think I'll probably be going to the big, giant, super-gay Bear circuit party, XXL, on Sunday night in lieu of Allegria. I've been on enough Allegra this year already and can't take any more of it. I hope to meet up with Super-Dreamy Dawg, Joe, Glenn and especially Eric at the XXL party since Eric is now turning into a Bear.
Posted by jimbo at 8:27 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
May 7, 2006
"...a stately pleasure-dome decree."
Reminder: Mother's Day is Sunday the 14th.
This is my new futon with new pillows:
I tested it out Saturday night with a friend and watched "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," which was a lot like all the other Harry Potter films: a challenge, a mystery, a bad guy, beat the bad guy. But the effects were really cool. In the foreground of the picture is the hood of my aqarium, far background a lightning rod (doubles as a +1 copper shortspear in times of forced entry) from the roof of my grandparent's house, to the right my big gay shadowbox, to the left the doors to my bedroom.
It was quite an adventure finding a decent local futon store, but I eventually ended up with Ellen's Futon at 1728 Connecticut Avenue 202.518.0057. The woman who works there during the weekday was fabulous, helpful, didn't push for the hard sell, and knew what she was talking about. On the other hand the trashy, twitchy queens trying to hock futons at Z Futons & Furniture at 2130 P St NW were pushy, overtly lascivious and didn't listen to what I wanted or needed. Not only that, but the one salesperson who initially approached me and looked me up and down like a piece of meat, proceeded to hand me over to the next lascivious salesperson who also didn't listen to what I wanted and also lost my sale. I likes my attention but I lo