A quick look!

I figured that I've talked so much about the new club that I would go ahead and give you a look at where I've been spending my time.

This is a shot of the club from the DJ booth before it opened on Wednesday. Its not the hugest of spaces, but when you consider that there's another bar attached to it, it should be a decent sized dance space. Of course, the other strange thing is to see it with the lights on.

Here's a ground level view of the bar. I've heard a little grumbling that the lights are a little bright for a dance club, but hopefully we'll get that worked out soon. Personally, I love that usually the club is filled with blue -- my favorite color. I wasn't the one who came up with that, but for me it feels like its very much my space.

And finally, here's another shot from the booth from Thursday night's VIP Opening Party. Again, the place is lit up in blue, which I just love. And it was packed, which I hope is a harbinger of good things to come.

Katrina Aftermath

I can't help but stop and think about everyone that's been affected by Hurricane Katrina... After the initial shock of it all, my first question was, how can I help? The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help all those affected. If you can, make a donation, along with all your thoughts and prayers for everyone at this difficult time.

Update: You can also make donations through the Rainbow World Fund: A LGBT run charity. I like the RWF because they are volunteer run and 100% of your donations are used for relief. From what the RWF has on their website, donations will be going through America's Second Harvest, which is the country's food bank network and will be providing emergency food for those affected.

Wow...

Its been a long week... DJing 4 days in a row is a little much. Very up and down -- Wednesday and Friday were kinda rough and Thursday and Saturday both went really well. I keep reminding myself that there's definitely a learning curve with it and its going to take time to get where I want to go. I've been glad that I've picked up a lot very quickly, even though I still have a lot to learn.

I really had my reservations on being a DJ. Its not something that I dreamed of doing when I grew up... but I'm so glad that I decided to take a chance... When I was playing Saturday night, even though I was far from perfect and made plenty of mistakes, everything felt so incredibly right. Its a feeling I'm so thankful I've had the chance to experience.

SO much better...

What a difference a day makes... Last night was the "Sneak Peak" party at Club Miami. I have to admit that after Wednesday night, I didn't feel good and was dreading having to go back... that was SO not the feeling I was expecting. Fortunately, we got the technical issues sorted out a little while before we opened last night. We had a much larger crowd last night -- Todd, the owner, was telling me that they had 1200 people come throught Miami and Amsterdam last night, which I can scarcely believe. To boot, I finally settled in and was able to find the right music for the crowd, which I don't think happened on Wednesday. All in all, I felt SO much better - I certainly wasn't perfect, mix-wise, but I felt like I did a good job, even though I know I have a lot to learn. I'm looking forward to tonight -- and if any of you guys are in Phoenix, I hope you guys come check us out -- I hope I can make it worth the trip.

One down, three to go...

Last night was the Super-VIP opening of Club Miami, as well as my first time spinning in a club. From the feedback I've gotten, people enjoyed the music and the experience in general. From my end, it was a challenge, due to some major technical glitches added to the stress of playing in a club for the first time. Fortunately, those should be worked out by the time I play tonight. Its strange how your experience of an event can be so different from everyone else's. I was ready to practically tear my hair out last night but it seems like everyone else really enjoyed it. Hopefully I'll be able to relax and enjoy things tonight.

Finally!

I was having some major issues with updating the Radio.Blog... Long story short, I think I've gotten it all worked out. Now Homer can listen to some new music!

Opening!

Well, there were times I figured it would never happen, but Club Miami just announced that they're opening next week... To make a long story short, it looks like I will be spinning at the VIP opening on Wednesday the 24th... Not sure if that will be in the main room or on the patio or something, or just how long I'll be playing. Doesn't really matter to me, I'm just going out of my mind that I actually am going to get to play. My stomach's about ready to come out of my chest right now...

Crack Whore

Ok, I just got Rob Bresney's Free Will Astrology this morning and this was the my entry for the week. It was so freakin' funny that I just had to share it with you. Just classic! Those people at Spike TV are MESSED UP.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I couldn't believe the show I saw on the cable channel Spike TV: "Blind Date with a Crackwhore. (NOT WORK SAFE!)" Fred, a twenty-something stockbroker, got set up on a date with Propecia, a fortyish crackwhore. I watched with horrified fascination as she rejected all his genteel attempts to create rapport, constantly turning the conversation back to where they could score some crack. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, in hopes it will serve as a shining example of how *not* to proceed in the near future. You have in place everything you need to experience a week full of intensely meaningful adventures with allies who bring out the best in you. Therefore, don't flirt with senseless, random distractions--like blind dates with crackwhores, for instance. And don't do what I did, which is waste precious time entranced by stupid crap. Give every spare moment to capitalizing on the integrity-filled success that's available.

For Scott

Its Gonna Take Time by Nadia

As I look at you
I can see it in your face
Time is running out
And you might have lost your place...

But I know you well,
And I've seen your stuff
With ever fall you've took
You've always stood back up.

You know its gonna take time
Know that you're gonna rise
And I've no doubt you're gonna make it through.

And its gonna take time.
I know you're strong,
You'll fight on,
'Cause I believe, I believe,
I believe in no one quite like you.

Though its hard to see,
You'll be glad you saw it through.
You can give no more
Than the best that you can do.

So don't give it up, don't give it up.
I know you've got it in your heart.
Stick it out a little longer,
Time to shoulder to the top.

But I know you well,
And I've seen your stuff
With ever fall you've took
You've always stood back up.

You know its gonna take time,
Know that you're gonna rise,
And I've no doubt you're gonna make it through.

And its gonna take time.
I know you're strong,
You'll fight on,
'Cause I believe, I believe,
I believe in no one quite like you.
I believe in no one quite like you.
I believe in no one quite like you.

More Work Banter...

As if I needed any reminders of the things in my youth that nurtured my budding gayness, another coworker and I were discussing the He-Man phenomenon growing up. While I am several years older than she is, I readily admit that I was a big He-Man fan. I didn't have any of the toys, but I was more than than willing to watch a show about big, butch leather queens running around in little more than a harness and a loincloth. It was basically the cartoon version of the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest.

If that wasn't enough, we were also graced with the live action Masters of the Universe with Dolph Lundgren as He-Man. That came out around 1987, which would have put me in Junior High at the time. Yes, I saw the movie, which coincidentally, starred Courtney Cox... (who knew?) Let me tell you that Dolph starred in a great number of my junior high fantasies after that. Come to think of it, I think he's been in a few of my recent ones, too... Heh! Maybe that explains my penchant for hot, muscular blonds.

I Didn't Know...

Having brought my copy of Jagged Little Pill Acoustic to work yesterday, I lent it to my coworker, Philip. As we were chatting, he brought up You Oughta Know and said that he had heard that Alanis had written the song about Dave Coulier, better known as Uncle Joey of Full House infamy. "What an absurd notion," I replied. Imagine my surprise when I was surfing the internet today and did a Google search on the two only to find that a) yes, they had dated and b) it seems not just plausible, but highly possible that this is actually the case. The thought of Alanis going down on Uncle Joey in a theater just makes me violently ill. What a twisted world we live in. I am much more comfortable with the idea of Alanis going down on Ryan Reynolds in a theater. Pretty much Ryan Reynolds and anything are ok with me.

Go Irish!

College football season is almost upon us. I've always been a college football fan... I remember going to games with my family growing up. When I went off to college, I went to Notre Dame, which is one of the hubs of the college football world. Basically football is the glue that holds the community there together. I've never really lost that passion and I always look forward to the start of a new season. Of course, as a card carrying homosexual, I can appreciate some different aspects of football than the general straight male would. The prime example: ND's Junior Quarterback, Brady Quinn. (Thanks to BoiFromTroy for the pic!) From all I've gathered, he's intelligent, talented, a great representative of the University... and OMG could he be any fricken hotter? Ah yes, there's a reason they call a QB at Notre Dame "The Golden Boy," and he sure fits that to a tee. Honestly, I'd love ND football even if Brady weren't incredibly attractive, but it sure makes things that much more interesting. GO IRISH!

One Hand

I don't know what it was, but I had this overwhelming urge for Starbucks this morning. Along with my Venti Mocha Chip Frappuccino Brand Blended Coffee Drink, I picked up a copy of Alanis Morissete's acoustic version of Jagged Little Pill. Its hard to believe its been 10 years since the original album came out. As I sped down the freeway toward work, my mind drifted back about 10 years...

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind...
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah

Its my senior year at Notre Dame in the spring of 1995. A group of us decided to pile into a car and head down to South Padre Island for Spring Break. It was me, Pete, Vu, Bret, and Mary stuffed into a car, driving all the way from South Bend, Indiana to South Padre Island, Texas. They may both have "South" in their names, but they were worlds apart.

I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby

Of course, there was plenty of time at the beach, way too much beer and nights dancing, being goofy at an all you can eat pizza buffet... I vaguely remember heading across the border to Matamoros, drinking way too much and being in a club where these nasty, skanky girls were getting nekkid. ICK. I'm glad that's just a blurry shadow of a memory, 'cause I don't really want to remember those bits and pieces, ya know?

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five...

Through it all, what sticks with me the most is those long hours in the car... having to switch around every few hours so that nobody had to sit on the hump all the time... listening to the soundtrack of Beauty and the Beast twice through the long night as we tried to get a bit of sleep... yelling at Pete to play something other than the new Bob Dylan CD he bought... talking about covering Mary in Crisco... and driving through the middle of nowhere singing One Hand in My Pocket...

Too long...

I just realized that its been at least two weeks since I've posted a pic of a half-naked guy. That's FAR too long, in my book. I don't even need a reason to do it. Looking at hot guys is reason enough in and of itself.

Weekend Update

Sorry I've been gone for a while... I haven't been in much of a blogging mood lately, but I wanted to give you guys an update. Last weekend was San Diego Pride. This is is my 6th straight year - its my gay tradition. It was great to spend a weekend with my friends and just have a good time. Friday night I went with Anthony, Chris & Jim over to The Flame. Saturday was the Parade and Tony Moran at the Sports Arena. It was my first time hearing Tony Moran and I was impressed. He's definitely on my list of DJs I'd pay to see again. Sunday was Manny Lehman at the Zoo Party. I'm not a big fan of Manny Lehman and I wasn't too excited that he was going to be playing the Zoo, but he did a pretty good job. He still wouldn't be at the top of my list if I was booking a Tea Dance, but I definitely enjoyed this set more than I have any of his other sets. Overall, San Diego was beautiful and I didn't want to come back.

This weekend was much more low key, which was just what I needed. Friday night Adam & I had Indian Food and watched Eating Out and Return of the King. Tony Moran was spinning at Flux Saturday night, but I decided to skip it - I had traffic school on Sunday and I had missed the first class and I didn't want to risk missing this one. Let me tell you how exciting that was... the only redeeming thing about it was a cute blond that was a couple of rows ahead of me. He was maybe cute enough to make up for an hour or two, but not anywhere near 8-hours cute. At least now its over.