July 14th
Man am I happy to be home. I'm sooooo happy. I came in laid on my bed, poured a hot
bath, and swallowed enough Tylenol to medicate a small army. I missed Greg, I missed the
net, I missed my cats, and every other tedious drivelous little thing that makes my world
turn. It may not be much but it's all mine baby.
I'm glad I had this break, glad in so many ways. Yet I was definitely ready to come a
few days ago. I mean really now I love the coast, I love the ocean, the sound of boats,
the waves lapping outside my balcony window, etc, etc, etc... but them damned ferry horns
at 11PM and again at 7AM... that I can live without. The tourists that cluster together
like bunches of grapes and spill out into the street long enough to stop traffic before
stumbling off to the next attraction... that was annoying. The "I'm a tourist
attraction" smiles from all the service staff within two miles of the harbor.. *GAG*.
And the complete and total touristization of such a charming and picturesque town is
rather shameful.
I know, I know... you're thinking, "Ahem James, weren't you technically a
tourist." Well yes and no. Sure I didn't live there, but I am one of those few people
that can tourist in the most non tourist manner. I "blend" in. Seriously I do. I
don't carry a map, I familiarize myself with the modes and means of transportation before
I leave my hotel, and I keep to the side of the sidewalk and I walk with purpose. I don't
get a cluster of my ten best friends to stand up traffic in all directions so that I can
get that "perfect" picture... nor do I stand around "gawking". I don't
intrude, nor do I offend. HAHA you think... =P
***
So that was my "bitch session" now onto what I actually liked.
The sun... I love you sweet sun. Come to James... come. I don't tan though, I glow.
Seriously I get a pinky brown "halo" that lasts a few days and then
"POOF(ter)" and it's gone. But it was nice to sit on a patio and just feel that
heat radiating down. One thing I just love and that's the smell of a forearm in the sun.
Sounds creepy I know... but you know the smell of sun on skin. When you've been out enough
to sweat just a bit, and then the sun dries it and your arm smells of a "windy, sunny
clean"... make sense? Not a sweaty BO, like the old men on the bus get... its more of
a crisp clean smell. I can remember that smell from as early as my childhood, when adults
would stand behind me and they place their arms around me and their forearms would sorta
cross on my chest. Ok enough strolling down olfactory lane...
My first hotel was in a very gay district, so I was up to my lips in pride
flags and nelly queens the whole time I was there. Not that that's a bad thing mind you,
but I do find gay culture to be mostly shallow. At least the superficial gay culture that
is, the gay culture that everyone sees. There's gotta be more to being gay than how much
your shoes cost, who you fucked this week, and what label you're wearing. Oh that's right
there is... what dance music do you listen to.
I was entertained by a rather nice "not-English" fellow. I
kicked his ass at pool and he was my constant companion for the rest of the night. It was
nice, to meet someone and just hang with them for such an extended period of time. If I
must comment... he was a most handsome fellow and I was flattered that he found me
attractive. I'm not above some sweet compliments, sometimes its nice to hear those things
from someone new. But apparently he enjoyed my company, as he was somewhat in demand, yet
he did stay with me. So either he's a great guy, or he's a total slut. =P
So after this I was also pursued by this Hispanic woman rather
relentlessly. That I admit I found rather interesting. I've always thought that if I ever
did date women, that I'd be more attracted towards Latino women. Well not thought I'd be
attracted... I have been attracted. I won't try and decide whether its cultural or
physical but she was really sweet and really quite sexy as well. Those were the two most
prevalent options, but there were a few smaller and less consequential tramps to cross my
path, but none of them merit mentioning.
The second city I stayed in was much smaller and really touristy, so I
tried to spend as much time in out of the way cafes, and farther down the harbor away from
the bustle and the bumbling. Apparently I lost my appeal here as no one hit on me here
even slightly. The night clerk at hotel number two does NOT count. Those encounters are
just a given when on holidays. But it was nice... tiring but nice.
I did give myself lots of uncluttered time. Time away from everyone and
everything that complicates my life. Time to just let the thoughts drift in and out of my
brain. Purging and cleansing you could call it. Just me, the waves, and a cup of barely
legal content caffeine.
I got sick the day I was transferring cities and now I have this really
deep sorta "croup" cough and am expelling things that human lungs can only
create under extremes of infection. The housekeeper at hotel number two got the brunt of
my headachy and muscle sore self. Meaning that she made the mistake of banging on my door
too loudly at 8am, and in my rambling sleep deprived state I cussed her out through the
door. I don't recall exactly what I said but I do know it ended with "how many
fucking towels do I need? NOW GO AWAY!!!!" Not my fault they never thought to give me
a Do Not Disturb sign.
I left the poor thing a big tip though. Felt just like a rock star I
did. Spew shit and abuse on everyone then give em some cash to appease my own conscious.
Or is that too avoid a scandal?
But now that I'm home I'm finding that I'm missing the humidity there. I
already notice my skin feels drier and my throat is "scratchier". I spent many
hours gazing over the water and closing my eyes to listen to the surf. That I loved, and
its something I always miss when I leave. All those men in various states of undress is a
bit of a treat as well. I do agree that if you work out five days a week, then you owe it
to yourself to stroll around in the shortest shorts you own. You earned it, and if I'm
fortunate enough to spy you from my cafe table... *sigh* But now I'm back home in the land
of the widened midriff and the pink skinned natives.
Be it ever so humble...
PS: If I mentioned that Me-7 saw my ass recently... would
that pique your interest?