4.28.08: A change of seasons

Thais "T-dawg/Tae-bo/Tevo" Baldini celebrates her claim to fame today: the day she entered the world (N. Korea specifically). As Betsy and Jim would have it, Thais moved to Milton in the 7th grade (a mere 2 streets over from the McCabe residence) to became the cool new chick with the longest hair ever to be witnessed swinging through Pierce's corridors and champion stare-contest holder.

Thais' hair trends have varied accordingly (as determined by the fashion times), her eyes have remained captivating (especially when hidden behind dark-tinted sunglasses) and her personal records have multiplied exponentially since 1995. She is currently the most frequent traveler Wichita, KS has seen in decades, so clutter-free that she's created an organizational company for those who are not able to get rid of their own crap, the best thing to happen to plenty of gay men (no zing intended there Marc) and Rhode Island's most creative party planner... which leads to the inevitable question: who's planning Thais' party?

Guess we'll have to stay tuned until her return from Puerto Rico! Happy birthday T!

Health Insurance

So, as I will officially be uninsured for the umpteenth time as this month draws to a close, I thought I'd share a relevant, yet alarming article that was in today's NY Times. It discusses the introduction of a new system for co-payment pricing. And, quite frankly, it is absurd.

Initially, this system (called Tier 4) was limited to Medicare insurance programs but as of late employers and private insurers are also adopting the plan. If people suffering from ailments that can only be treated with expensive brand name drugs (as opposed to a cheaper generic versions) are paying 20-33% of the cost of their medications rather than a fixed $10 - $40 co-pay, it lessens the blow for other subscribers of the plan. Therefore, as one health care provider interpreted it, "the more the sick person pays, the less the healthy person pays". Here's to social justice, huh? Talk about throwing salt on your wounds. Not only are you going to carry the weight of an illness, but you're going to bear the burden of cost too. (Sadly that's going to deliver more of a bite than salt ever could.)

11 April

Plans this Friday? No? Well if you're into checking out intimate, laid-back venues with a great selection of music (and brews), head over to the Lizard Lounge between Harvard and Porter Sq. at 9pm to support performers John Doney and Evan LaFlamme. Doney has been writing some new material, of which we will hopefully hear a taste. There is rumor that there may even be cd's for distribution! The duo will be opening up for the band Hi8us, whose keyboardist and saxophonist, Mike Rakusin, I've known for a few years now. Mike also does stand-up comedy so if the music isn't what you were looking for maybe it will still be entertaining...

March Madness

Back to catching up on last month (now that school is on a gradual deceleration as far as workload is concerned). In hindsight, March proved to be quite the Fairfield alum month. J-Ro and Noel had a crash stay in Boston the weekend approaching Paddy's Day. Noel delighted in getting kidnapped by none other than Jessie K, while JRo and I participated in a sober game of quarters late night. Taking into account both the hour and the principle of staying hydrated in preparation for a 10am race, quarters with water was surprisingly entertaining. I took the opportunity to perfect my game, which, let's not beat around the bush, was pretty pathetic given such a simple concept.

My former FU roommate, Doyle, kicked off her Paddy's Day party which entailed plenty of dips, homemade meatballs and kilbasa, MJ power hour (compliments of Campbell), "don't sink the chalupa" and the presence of some of Milton's favorite parental figures, Connie O'Connor and Donna Flynn. Sunday concluded with (more) dinner and cake for Mama Sue's birthday and a mound of school work that brought tears to my eyes (literally). Anyone interested in knowing what-have-you about erectile dysfunction or all the various off-label uses of Viagra, please feel free to contact me.

Brian took off for the red-light district of Thailand for a couple weeks. I believe he celebrated his birthday with a couple of drags that couldn't get enough of his smokey-eyed look that he's nailed at this point, the look that is. A little late but, "sook sun wan gerd" Bri. Not sure how you would accurately pronounce that birthday wish in Thai but that's for you to say and for me to write. Also, 142 Pearl contemplated throwing a video together but were having difficulty choosing a scenario that wasn't too obscene. Instead, we captured stand-still evidence of the most exciting part of any birthday celebration (the rocking out part, duh!) in Brian's honor (see shotty photo above).

Seeing as we were down a roomie, our other Fairfield visitor, Greg DiCamillo, flew in from D.C. to assume Brian's role for the week. Greg's highlight of his spring break in Boston was his purchase of a suave gray pinstripe quasi top-hat made to induce atrial flutter in females. Clearly, there is no picture that can do the accessory justice but at least you have an idea of what to look out for ladies (and no that is not Greg after some photoshopping gone awry).

Annnd that wraps up March madness I would say (but apparently the madness officially ends tonight with Memphis vs kansas).

Hooray

Spearheading the trio of forwards for Alba Volan, cousin Sam Ftorek recently celebrated the International Ice Hockey Federation championship, granting Hungary its 6th consecutive continental cup (how's that for alliteration?). But the excitement doesn't stop there folks. Misty November and Ariana have been residing in Budapest for the season, serving as Sam's number one fans. The other day, while Sam was bestowing Misty with flowers (awww), Misty decided to take that opportunity to slip her hubby some booties that had no potential of harboring Sam's sasquashes and, therein, indicating their anticipated new arrival in a mere 5 months to date!
Congratulations Misty, Sam and Ari!

The Great Gazelle March

...referred to others as the Guerilla Stampede...silently, but maybe not so inconspicuously, unloaded on the Bell in Hand last month (and Tequila Rain this past Friday). My roommate, Brian, informed me of his latest discovery in the gay realm: 300+ gays take over an unsuspecting straight bar on any given night. Participants are notified of the destination via email 24 hours prior to the event and are requested to congregate at a specific time. The idea is to make people aware of the lack of integration between gays and straights. Well who doesn't want to witness an explosive infiltration of gays at one of the most straight-laced bars in Boston? The Bell in Hand was like a turkey on Thanksgiving stuffed with gays overflowing out its orifice (front door) and spewing onto the platter on which it sits (Union Street) And let's not forget to mention the torrential downpour that persisted (now that's some soggy stuffing). At first glance, chances were nil that you'd find a straight bar-goer in any room of the watering-hole. And at a second, more arduous look, maybe you'd see 2 fag-hags (me and Alayna) and a few guidos who just weren't getting it (and then of course Whitey and Campbell waiting in the hour-long queue to join the party). It's an event everyone should check out at some point, if not for support of gay-straight integration, at least for some gay ol' fun!