Farewell San Francisco

Yesterday we headed up to Castro for our last American breakfast at Orphan Andy's. Hotcakes... how I shall miss you. Anyone know anywhere in London that does hotcakes? Bought the Spartacus guide at A Different Light. Love that book, but it's always sold out in London. :o)

Walked up to the panhandle and Golden Gate Park via Comix Experience. The park was a disappointment even if the Japanese tea garden was lovely and the botanical gardens primitive plants were enchanting!

Got a cab back to Castro and had a few (many) drinks at Harveys, and a fajita at La Tortilla . The most massive fajita I have ever seen in fact!! :o)

Rushed back so Jim could buy an air soft handgun.

Off to airport in 2 hours. :o( Goodbye San Francisco, it's been a blast!

It's A Jungle Out There

Monday morning. Got up early, and picked up aMustang convertible from the Hertz rental place around the block from us. Looked gorgeous, and we headed out of San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge with the wind in my hair. Just needed a headscarf and we could have been Thelma and Louise. Was soooo cool. Went to Muir Woods which is the home of one of the last strands of original Redwood growth. Those trees sure are tall. Some appeared taller than Canary Wharf. Is Canary Wharf taller than 200 feet? Amazing. As we headed back to the car park along a hillside trail we cameupon two wild deer grazing right next to the path. :o) Lovely! Drove down from the woods to Muir Beach which is very pretty and we got our first (and possibly only!) glimpse of the Pacific Ocean proper. Magnificent.

Deciding not to head back to San Francisco we drove further north getting lost once or twice, but eventually ending up in Napa Valley which is Californias wine country. I have never seen so many vineyards in my life!! It was very beautiful.

Since almost day dot of my relationship with Jim, he has talked about Stag Leaps wine. So we spent some time looking for it, and eventually found the ranch. Did somewine tasting and settled on some wine to buy, which was quite lovely.

Headed back to San Francisco regretting leaving the top down only slightly as it grew chillier. Chillier by California standards anyway. It fell below 20 celsius! We have been blessed with great weather I have to say! Seeing some of the outstanding Californian countryside was brilliant.

Had a meal at Lou's Blue Bar, tried some Buffalo Wings (HOT!) didn't finish as portions were too big!!! Jim has taking a bit of a shining to some "air soft"guns we saw in a Spy Shop (no cameras allowed... it's a secret!!), and has spent the hours since then planning on getting them through customs (they are legal but they look and feel like a real gun!)

Todays our last full day... so better go have another adventure!

San Fran Is Freaking

Saturday night and we got cab to the Chinatown Gate (after the streetcar we were on stopped as the driver refused to go any further...). Wandered up and down in search of a restaurant, until we settled on the Empress of China. Good food, nice views over San Francisco and some of the nicest Asian waiter arse I've ever seen.

Sunday. Had breakfast at the International House of Pancakes. YUM! Then went to the Aquarium of the Bay. Really good. Slightly worried by the six foot Sevengill shark!!! Wandered in search of Buffalo Wings,but gave up and caught the streetcar to Powell and our usual line F to the Castro. Yesterday was the day of the Castro Street Fair!!! A bit like Soho Pride, only far better. Got cruised within five minutes as had wandered too far from Jim. Stayed far closer after that. Had a tarot reading with a gay psychic who told me that Jim and I were about to go through a rough patch while moving his hand ever further up my leg. Cruised and sexually abused by a gay psychic within mere moments. Yeah, sounds like a gay event!!

Headed back to Powell where... Jim bought me an iPod Nano!!!!!!! :o)

Quiet night really, most of which was spent searching for a restaurant with power! Got a McDonalds as was hungry at which point fishermens wharf's power returned!! GRRR....

Reporting Live From San Francisco - Jason At The Argonaut

Friday morning, and we were awake so early!! We left the hotel and decided to walk to the Castro. Up Hyde we wandered, which is one long hill! We walked and we walked, until we made it to the Mission. Deciding we were too hungry to go, we stopped at It's Toms Diner and had a proper American breakfast. Ok. I concede, maple syrup does go with bacon and hot cakes are better than our flimsy pancakes. I apologise to every American who I've told otherwise.

As we had to go to Alcatraz and were now running late, we braved a MUNI streetcar. Easy to use, but Americans treat public transport more as an informal gathering than a way of getting anywhere. Loud, chatty... nice but quite disconcerting for a Brit! Got back in time for our ferry. Headed over to Alcatraz which was AWESOME! Really felt the atmosphere, and the history, there. Walking round the exercise yard with the mist rolling over us was actually rather spooky.

Got the ferry back, dropped our stuff off at the hotel (the Argonaut!). We caught the streetcar straight to the Castro. The huge pride flag flying in the sky signalled that we had arrived. Pride flags flew everywhere. It's truely a brilliant place. I wish Soho was half as good. And it felt so bitchfree. Porn was sold openly unlike here where it's hidden in dark corners (even Virgin on Market Street had gay porn there for all to see!). Had drinks at Harveys, Moby Dick and Badlands. Then we went to Orphan Andys for a nice meal. Caught a streetcar to Powell and took a cable car to the hotel. COOL!

Today went up to Market via a cable car, this time with me clinging on the side for dear life. Jim is soooo evil sometimes. ;o) Headed to Orphan Andys for breakfast,had some drinks at Harveys then went shopping near Powell. I've got new clothes! Cheap too!!! :o) Also got Monk season 2. Great!!!

What Happened Next...

Tuesday 27 September. Someone throws themselves under a train at New Cross thus delaying Jae by two hours. Grr... selfish suicidals... do it on your own time!

Wednesday. Went on a work night out to Soho, starting at the Alphabet Bar. It was okay. If it had been in Folkestone it's attempt at looking like someones attic would have been cool. But not in Soho thank you. We moved on to some red bar starting with R where Champagne was drunk and Vince and Bonnie gave me some San Francisco tips.

Nineish we went to the Blues Bar, where I tried to pimp off some Americans, Bonnie and Peter had a conker fight (COOL!) and I said goodbye to Kiwi Sam, who I shall not see for a while. He was cool. And his replacement looks nothing like Colin Farrell (name of Andrea).

Walked Paul down to his bus. Thing I love about Soho is that it's surrounded by roads I know so no matter how drunk/lost I get I can always appear knowledgeable by leading people to their destinations. By a very roundabout route. :o)

Thursday. The day without end. Got up at stupidaclock,and headed for Heathrow, where we discovered Virgin Atlantic wanted to charge me50quid because I'm so tall! Laughed in their face. Anyway when I got on the plane found they had movedus anyway to bulkhead seats. So they lied to try and get someone to pay for something they have to do anyway. BASTARDS! Flight was eleven long hours but thanks to entertainment system (Spaced, Will and Grace, League of Gentlemen Apocalypse, Tarnation, Little Britain,and MissCongeniality 2!) helped us through. And the service waslovely and a million meals were served so Virgin, I forgive thee!!!

San Francisco. Wow! It's America! There are Americans,and big cars, and big roads, and big everything!! We got to the Hotel at 4pm local time,but that's about midnight by my body clock, so we... went out again!!! Our hotel is lovely, the room is HUGE!I'm sure the bathrooms in another time zone. Fishermens Wharf is asexpected. Tacky but fun. Had some clam chowder at Boudins, where I was renamed Tayson. Was accosted by Japanese tourists who wanted their picture taken with me. I was in a good mood,but made themusemy camera as well (pics of me with them will follow!!!). Jim got had for a $20 shoe shine on his trainers. FOOL! Saw the seals off Pier 39 and enjoyed the views to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thursday the 29th of September 2005 was 32 hours long. PHEW! It's 2am here, but I'mwide awake... ah!Fucked up body clock.

And this space bar... messed up!!!

Jae's Last Post (Probably!) Before He Takes Over The United States

Please note US Immigration agents this in no way suggests I wish to overthrow the United States Government. And I am not a Communist *throws his Soviet star with Hammer and Sickle onto floor and remembers not to take a copy of the Morning Star with him on the plane*. Oh and I'm only a little bit gay (Jae please do not take Gay Times or Attitude with you!). And don't be cheeky. And don't mention the war (1812) or the Empire. And let's leave Bush bashing to the breeders. And abortion is so out of bounds as a topic of discussion. Ooo... and hey global warming ain't gonna disappear in a week, so leave it out!

Phew just a little bit of ettiquette to remember.... ah and with my current experience of Americans here at work also do not make any jokes that could be offensive to anyone in anyway. Americans seem way too fragile, bless their cotton socks. Oh and take clean socks!!!

Hmm... ok I think I've covered everything... WAIT... no kicking SUVs...

God, this travelling to America is very stressful, and I haven't even started packing yet!

Jae Kay Is Away

Do Yourself A Favour

Hey!

Do you live in the UK? Do you want 24 meg broadband? Do you want one month free? Then go visit my mates Pauls new blog at BeThere24!!! He'll sort you out, and no he's not paying me!!!

Jae Is Going To San Francisco

Last night Sam  (http://www.livejournal.com/~srachel11) came over for a Chinese and a few drinks and got the honour of meeting Jim. Twas a nice evening, even if I had to avoid coming out to the Chinese lady ("where your brother? he brother or friend?"). Had a few pints at Richard 1st, probably our last out in the garden for the year if the weathers anything to go by!

 

Two days till I go to San Francisco!!! I am soooooooo excited now.  It'll be good just to have a break from work, I'm mean I've had to have over 4 weeks in a row here! Slavery! ;op

Jae Goes To Reuters Big Day

Oh yes Jim's work opened up their offices to friends and family so us and the kids dropped by...






Anyone know who's kids these are?



Jim realises it's a free bar behind him...



Step away from the rabbit...




Hmm... we lost some children and gained a gang of weirdos.



AH!



Ian's on TV!!!

Jae Goes Wilde

Oscar Wilde wrote one of my favourite books "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

And so I'm pleased to give you this link for hours of enjoyment. I wish I could write even half as well as he could.

Jae Will Never Understand Certain Things

Gay-priest ban won't end sexual abuses, some argue. Well it's good to know there are SOME people in the Catholic church with brains.

It has been a long time coming but that's the most insulting news headline I've ever seen. You mean banning gay men won't stop sex abuse???? Oh my God! Are you trying to tell us that being gay isn't the same as being a sexual predator??? Hold the front page!

And the editor of this news site is paid real money? For real news, from a sane source, go to the BBC's version.

Honestly guys... have you no eyes to see? Most abuse occurs within families. Most families consist of (dare I say it) hetrosexuals or closet cases. You do the math. Out and proud gay men? They're more interested in fucking their brains out down the local in the dark room than abusing some pre pubescent.

What the Catholic church really needs to do is ban priests. Let the Holy Spirit do the leg work.

Legacy

The remaining Holocaust survivors are starting to die. Wiesenthal funeral held in Israel

It's hard to imagine that not that far from where I am right now murder on the most disgusting scale occured, during the lifetime of my Nan. That's a blink of an eye in real terms. It is our duty never to forget World War 2 and all it's horrors, even after the last witness has died.

If we forget... then there will be hell to pay.

Jae's Campaign For Fabtastic Queers

written 25/09/05

Last night I sat reading Gay Times and yet another article about the commercial exploitation of the GLBT community and the homogenisation of the scene, when I could take it no longer. What has happened to us?

Back in 1998 when I was taking my first tentative steps out of the closet I remember the gay bars of Canterbury being full of interesting and exciting people. There were goths, freaks, trannies, lesbians (God forbid!), dirty old men and people best described (in the nicest possible way) as "what the fuck are they?". It was fun.

Now it's 2005. Take your pick of any gay bar or club in London. From Action through to XXL everyone is totally dull. Everyone looks the same whether they are all bears, or all twinks or the sad boring bastards wearing jeans AND a blazer in GAY. Conformity is the key. I haven't seen a pre op transexual in years, nor anyone I would think of as a fabulous freak.

What happened to subversion, or even simply being different to the breeders? We dress like straight people, talk like them and even follow the crowd like them. Whether it's rich tossers wearing jeans AND blazer (it's a pet peeve) to council trash chav scum we copy them!!!

I wander through the blogverse and find the same things happening, gay men who have been normalised. BORING!

So I want to know if anyone else feels like I do? Are we just going to sit back and become like everyone else? Whatever happens... we must stop the evil jeans AND blazer squad before it's too late. Let's do something about it!

Let's get back our immaturity, our insecurity, our tradegies! Being gay ain't just about shagging men!! As Judy Garland (praise be!) once sang...

Be a clown,
Be a clown,
All the world loves a clown
Act the fool, play the calf
And you'll always have the last laugh,
Wear the cap and the bells
And you'll rate with all the great swells,
If you become a doctor, folks'll face you with dread,
If you become a dentist, they'll be glad when you're dead,
You'll get a bigger hand if you can stand on your head.
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown!

Jae Loves A Nice Start To The Morning

Email post so links may not work, will tidy up later...

A hug from Jim, a nice peaceful non busy commute to work and then a trip in an elevator with the cutest guy I've seen in a long, long time (Jim not included) ...

 

Short black hair, a baseball cap tilted sideways (not a chav one but a proper American baseball one), slim, wearing a short sleeve t-shirt over a long sleeve, with knee length denim shorts and dark trainers. Mmm... that skater boi look is sooooo good.

 

Monk got a mention in G2 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1576728,00.html) today. Love that show, people please watch it, it's back on BBC 2 October 1st, afternoon time. It's BRILLIANT!

 

Maureen Lipman in G2 annoyed me (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1576480,00.html) and I shall respond to her in a long moany post this weekend which I'm sure you will all look forward to. ;op If you think customer servants are bad... wait till you meet the customers!

 

 

Jae Goes To The Northern Down Under Again

Went back to Acton last night via the slowest tube train in history. JOY! Had a lovely chicken caesar salad at Sam's before heading out with her, Lindsey and Lindsey's Aussie boyfriend Matt to a pub called the Mill Hill. Pretty cool evening, and Lindsey... Matt is CUTE! Marry him immediately! :o)

 

Plans ahead.. probably doing something tomorrow night, Wednesday night shall be heading for a work night out in Soho to the Alphabet Bar, Thursday I shall be in San Francisco, and Monday Sam is probably coming to Greenwich for a reciprocal meal... All fun... See I'm starting to get a life!!! WOW!!!

 

 

Jae Is BORED

I fancy doing something random. Random but cheap and that doesn't interrupt work. Ideas on a postcard (or in a comment) please!

 

News still slow. Which is a good thing meaning we are only operating at a normal level of badness as opposed to worse than normal (which considering how bad things normally are is really crappy).

 

We'll forget about the whole Basra thing. Hey we are there to support our Iraqi friends remember, by bulldozing their police stations with tanks... SAS guys please answer me this... why were you stopped in the first place? 

 

 

 

I'd Like To Thank You All!

Hello Dear Constant Reader and those just searching for porn!

 

Thanks for all the lovely comments and emails of late. The emails are fascinating... am I to believe that I have so many Dear Constant Readers who love my blog, and read it all the time and just happen to want to see certain pictures?

 

Cos guys, please don't send me butt kissing emails, I hate sycophants. If you want something you only need to ask nicely, and not talk to me like I'm a child. I'm not dissing the lovely emails. Just be honest with me, and I'll be a lot happier doing what you ask.

 

:o)

 

I am getting very excited about my trip to San Francisco. Just a little more than a week to go... ...

 

Antipodean Town

Yesterday I escaped the house for an evening in Acton with Sam R from work. Twas fairly cool, her house is MASSIVE! Had dinner at the local Spoons (that's like my 99th spoons ;op) and then went to the Redback which is a dodgy but pretty cool bar for those from the southern hemisphere. Everyone in Acton seems to be Aussie, Kiwi, or from small s south Africa. They served snakebite blacks and had live rock music... BRILLIANT!

 

Went back to Sam's for some Strongbow Super (cheap but tasty!!!) 

 

I think I'm becoming obsessed with Randy Orton the WWE wrestling star... WWE (when it was WWF) was more only source of male flesh before we got the internet... It should get an award for services to Gay Youth. 

 

 

Inconsistency

Ok so Iran wants to go nuclear. I agree any country going nuclear is pretty bad. But please will someone explain to me why Iran shouldn't be allowed nuclear weapons yet other countries should be allowed to have them?

What's our stance really saying? That nuclear weapons are bad in general? No it's sadly not. What it is saying is we don't want you to have them because we don't like you.

I'm not against a nuclear deterrant. I believe it's an important part of our defense. But we cannot hope to keep it, and not allow proliferation. We either give them up, or we put up with increased risk. We can't be two faced about this!

Brent Corrigan - The Saga Continues

Go see this forun at juicygoo.com for the most up to date info on the whole thing. Thanks to Jim for finding it!

I would post my thoughts on it but then this post would probably get deleted by the evil Google police for being too controversial... and those of you with brains can probably work out where I stand in the whole debate.