Records vs. CD's

I'm sitting here again late at night unable to sleep and I realize "JJ you didn't write a blog today."

Here's a little question for...well...the four of you that follow my blog: Records or CD's? I know we are in the itunes age but if you had your choice, what would you choose? I've always had a small collection of records lying around my house and for years I looked for record player. I always seem to find one that doesn't work or is missing parts, so the records just sit there, actually it's been so long they are sitting at my Mom's house. About a month ago I decided that this summer I was going to have an Italian themed party called a "Wopapalooza" and I thought "I need to hit the Salvation Army and City Missions to look for decorations."

One day my friend Steve and I were at a City Mission in Schenectady perusing various polyester bell bottomed pants when I noticed a rack of Records. I started pawing through them, lo and behold I hit the gold mine of Italian Records, I thought "Yes! Perfect decorations! Amazing!" This of course led to us going to every City Mission and Salvation Army from Schenectady to Saratoga. My record obsession was back. I forgot just how great records sound. I grew up in the 80's and records where the coolest thing to buy, I miss the days of Record Town :( After snagging some great records including Xanadu, Liza Minelli, Flashdance, Vicki Carr & Air Supply. I think the best thing about going through old records is you find recordings of songs you never knew existed, by the way, did you know Liza did a semi-disco version of "Dancing in the Moonlight?" It's crazy and amusing, now all I needed was a record player.

I searched Craigslist everyday but it seemed that every turn-table was a modern one. I wanted a 70's or 80's era record player. I never found it but I didn't really care, I could keep collecting records for the sheer fun of it. Then one day at a Salvation Army I came across an Anita Bryant record, I thought to myself "I have to have this one, it's ridiculous." Of course Steve was there and his eyes lit up and he exclaimed "OMG! An Anita Bryant record is that the one where she sings Over the Rainbow?" Yes people, Miss Anita Pie in the Face Bryant covered Over the Rainbow, kind of ironic huh? Of course it wasn't that album we found that day. My friend Steve said "It's super rare!" Now we were on a mission, we looked at every single record in every single store, we went from browsing to sheer obsession looking for this record. Side note, while were digging through boxes of records we discovered that there is at least 100 copies of the Doctor Zhivago record in the capital district, believe me we saw them.

It seemed like a lost cause. I know what people are thinking "Hey idiot God created Ebay for this reason!" I know but finding it on a shelf in a City Mission is so much better. After a while I couldn't take it anymore and turned to the internet. I thought I could download it on itunes or buy a CD recording of it but alas it did not exist. I began to think Steve must have been mistaken, but he insisted he heard Dan Savage, super gay columnist talk about it. Finally I turned to Ebay, I was worried that this "rare" record would cost an arm and a leg but like so many of life's searches in the end it was very anti-climatic, this "rare" record cost me $4 plus $2 shipping and handling. The day it arrived it was like Christmas but in all the happiness I realized "I still didn't have a record player!"  Insert sad trombone sound effect here.

Although the search for the record player ended up being easier than I thought, apparently Steve gave his friend one years ago and it was sitting in his attic. Insert Halleluiah sound cue here. Steve got it and I placed that needle on the record and that sound started. That scratching sound I hadn't heard in years, then believe it or not Anita Bryant's version of Over the Rainbow wasn't that bad. All in all I miss records and now I can at least hear the forgotten sounds of records that have sat in a Salvation Army for years, but now have a second life at 8 Steeple Chase.

Glee with me Sue Sylvester

I was going to write a blog about all the nightmares I've been having and all the dumb websites that tell me crashing a car means new things and breaking your leg means something stupid like wanting to take a vacation. A nightmare or dream should just mean what it is!

Before I sat down to write the "Nightmare" blog, I watched last nights episode of Glee online and then read my favorite recap blog on afterellen.com or afterelton.com depending on which site lists it. Let me just say this about the episode and the blog I read.

Last night's episode was about the Glee club preparing for nationals but most importantly and sadly the death of Sue Sylvester's sister. I have to say I always love Jane Lynch on Glee. I fell in love with her portrayal of Sue in the episode where we first meet her sister. Sue's sisters character has downs syndrome and in an amazing scene we see Sue's true self while she is reading a story to her sister. This episode made Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester one of the most popular on TV. It showed that she has, dare I say a "soft spot" for handicapped people. She even employs one of my favorite Glee characters Becky, a student who has down syndrome and Sue let join the cheer leading team The Cheerios. It also lead to so many funny scenes with both characters including my favorite where Sue is dressed up like the Grinch and Becky is dressed up like a Rein-dog, complete with a cute little black nose. So last night's episode really hit me hard and was a bit bittersweet. It showed Sue kicking Becky off the Cheerios because she reminded her of her sister. The Glee club comes to her rescue (well just Kurt and Finn at first) and plan her sister's funeral. Sue doesn't want to plan it because she was worried no one would come. Jane Lynch is truly amazing in this episode and the two moments where Jane shines is the first moment she tells the character Will Shuster that her sister has died and after being yelled at by Kurt, she goes to storm out before turning to admit she was worried no one would come. Each scene hit me and I truly believe that anyone who has ever lost anyone was effected by this episode. During her speech at the funeral Sue says she wants ten more seconds with her sister, is that too much to ask? She also says she will miss the simple things like the smell of her sister's shampoo. The Glee club performs "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory while they play a video of Sue and her Sister. This scene is amazing, I know I'm gushing over this episode but there are times where I hate Glee and there are times like this where I fall back in love with it. Of course the episode ending with Sue welcoming Becky back to the Cheerios blaming her dismissal on menopause and promotes her to captain, all Sue asked for is a hug and in a great TV moment Becky hugs her tight and Sue takes a deep breath smelling the shampoo and getting her ten seconds she so much wanted. Magic :)

After watching the episode I surfed over to read my blog. I know the blog is meant to just do a recap. It always talks about Brittany and Santana & Kurt and Blaine, I usually get a good laugh because I truly love Britana. The person who writes the blog loves Kurt, even mentioning in this recap about the only person she wants to defend against another character is Kurt. She even gushes about Kurt's singing in last night's episode and his choreography and his outfit (um I just need to say this and I share this feeling with a lot of friends, Kurt lives in Ohio right? Someone tell the costume designer to tone it down a bit). There was a whole paragraph about his outfit! I love the character Kurt, I like so many gay people are happy to see an out gay character on TV but I feel like the writers are going to far with the Kurt angst. The show is truly an ensemble and now since Chris Cofler won a golden globe it seems other characters are taking a backseat to Kurt. Last night's episode was about Sue's lose and my blog writer I so much love put Kurt into it more than needed. I totally for acceptance but I don't feel for the character Kurt, I did before but now it's becoming too much of a character...It's not real anymore. Kurt's bully Dave Korovsky at this point is a more interesting character, his struggle is silent and more powerful than Kurt's. Of course this is my opinion and all though it frustrates me at times I will always read my Glee recap blog.

So all in all Sue I love you and sadly Kurt I'm a little tired of you for right now, I know I'll come around again because there will be a point when the writers will make me love you again.

Rusty cars 1958 Porsche Speedster have nice prices

Rusty cars 1958 Porsche Speedster have nice prices. about $150,000This valuable Porsche Speedster, featured in a column by author Tom Cotter, was left covered by a tarp under a lean-to roof for about thirty years before its owner finally sold the car in 2007. A car like this would be worth about $150,000 today.And that wouldn't be for a fully restored one, either, said Cotter. Today's car

Rusty cars 1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe prices

used car 1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe: $660,000 great priceThis car passed through the hands of a few owners after first being displayed at the 1953 Turin Motor Show. Finally, in the mid-1980s, it was parked in a garage somewhere in the American Midwest, according to RM Auctions. There it sat for years.The car was sold at an RM Auctions event last March for $660,000.source : http://

Rusty cars Ford GT40 roadster prices

Rusty cars Ford GT40 roadster still have great pricesThis Ford GT40 roadster prototype, one of only five like it ever made, was thought to have been ripped apart and sold off in parts decades ago. Then, in 2006, it was revealed that it had been resting atop an old mattress in a London warehouse with many of its parts, indeed, gone. Restored, it's now thought to be worth between $500,000 to

hot rusty cars 1948 Tucker have great price

luxury used car : Tuckers are rare cars. Only 51 were made before the company ceased operations in 1949. This one spent 50 years out of sight in a garage. It's not clear why the car was locked up and left in 1956, especially since its owner was a noted Tucker enthusiast. Only after his death was the garage unlocked and the car brought out with only 10,000 miles on the odometersource: http://

RUSTY CARS 1964 Shelby Cobra have great price

RUSTY CARS 1964 Shelby Cobra have great priceluxury 1964 Shelby Cobra: Up to $625,000this cars Shelby Cobra was parked in a shed in the early 1970s and, for the most part, just left there until 2004 when it was finally purchased by a new owner and restored. It's value was really listed by the auctioneers at Gooding & Co. at between $525,000 and $625,000.

Rusty cars 1937 luxury Bugatti Type-57S great price

Rusty cars 1937 luxury Bugatti Type-57S great pricethis cars : 1937 Bugatti Type 57S: $4.4 millionIt seems too acceptable to be true. A car that was alone and abandoned in a barn for decades is apparent -- and it's account a mint!Case in point: This supercharged Bugatti was anchored in a barn by its then-owner in the aboriginal 1960s and, for some reason, artlessly larboard there for bisected a

Crackbook

Here's a little monologue I wrote, I think this explains it all LOL.

The Man at Starbucks: By now I'm sure you all have seen the movie "The Social Network." I've got to say I loved it so much but in a way it's kind of sad. Does anyone ever meet anyone in person anymore? And when did a friend request replace a simple hello. Well I'm not going to lie I LOVE FACEBOOK. It truly is a great thing to keep connected to old friends and keep tabs on the people in your life. I say keep tabs but most people refer to it as Facebook stalking. 
Now before Facebook there was a simple thing called Myspace, I have to say that's where my social network addiction started. A friend of mine was like, you have to check out this website it's like your own personal website and you can reconnect with old friends. So, like if my friends jumped off a bridge I joined Myspace. I actually found it pretty fun. I reconnected with old friends and then suddenly this random thing started to happen. People I didn't know started requesting me as a friend. It was cool and scary. Most people were like "I saw you on my cousin's high school friends friends list" or the dreaded, "I know you were totally wasted last night but it was really cool meeting you."
First came people who wanted to be your friend and then it became your friends playing Myspace matchmaker. You found yourself at 2am Myspace chatting with someone who your friends thought you would be perfect with. I have to admit it was easier than going to a bar, but then the 20 extra pounds I packed on sitting at a table at Starbucks drinking latte's glued to laptop didn't help. After many Myspace failed fix-ups, one actually seemed like it was going to work out. I met someone, he seemed really cool, yes he seemed really cool. We liked the same things and clicked. We chatted, then we called each other and then finally met in person. It was great I saw him across the bar and I swear Air Supply's Making Love out of Nothing at All was playing in my head. I thought this was it! I win! I found someone, it went great for a while and I found myself checking my Myspace 40 times a day and checking his too. Now on Myspace when you would go onto someone's page a song they chose would play, to this day I still can't listen to "Superfreak" without thinking about him. Then something happened, I became that crazy person who questioned everything I saw on his Myspace. See that's the problem with Social Networks they make easy for insecure people like me to go crazy over the tiniest little thing. Needless to say that relationship ended.
I totally became a different person after that, I swore I wouldn't date anyone I found on Myspace that is until the birth of Facebook. This took Social Networking to the next level because you were tricked into thinking that Facebook was for classy adults and professionals. I mean that's how it started but then it turned into a new Myspace. So there I was at Starbucks sucking down latte's glued to my laptop. And guess what, once you switch to Facebook you have to friend request all those 500 people you had on Myspace. But I stuck to my guns and didn't date anyone I found on Facebook, I couldn't I mean last time I almost turned into Glenn Close, thank goodness my ex didn't own a rabbit. I'm not gonna lie I flirted, A LOT but I truly didn't show any interest in someone unless I actually met them in person first. So I stopped falling for a friend request and turned my Starbuck's time into actual alone time. I could sit there for hours relaxing, reading or just writing.
It's funny all this time I spent at Starbucks made me a regular and the staff knew me by name, they knew my order and in the middle of all this social network craziness I made friends, without friend requests. I thouht to myself I should either work here or date someone who works here and then he was hired...


Total fiction, but somewhat funny. But truly scary because Myspace and Facebook does this to people LOL

Reality TV = Crack

If you are my friend and if you are reading this you most likely are. So you know I love reality TV. A lot of people ask me, why? Most people think that people watch reality TV to feel better about themselves. That maybe the case for some people...some sad depressed people...but not me. I watch it because it's so entertaining. It really is a look at a little slice of America, whether it be New Jersey, Coupons, Swamps, Hoarding, Singing or Dancing. I know what everyone is thinking...they are not a real look...it's all about editing!!!! Well of course it is, no one wants to see the "Real" Housewives, they want to see the trashy side of them, how boring would the Real Housewives of New Jersey be if we only saw them shopping and getting manis & pedis? No, like everyone else I want to see all the table flipping, weave pulling, country club chasing amazingness that is New Jersey! If we didn't have the editing it would be interesting. Like if my life was a reality TV show it wouldn't be interesting unless I had a really good editor, I mean I'm sure it would be funny for some but let's take an experience I had on a farm recently and let's look at it how it happened and how the story would go if it was edited...shall we?

This past Saturday I went Molly McGrath's Father's farm "Harmony Acres" near Saratoga Lake. We were there to borrow a post-hole digger and a rake. I was putting up a fence at my apartment...yes I can build, although the raising of the fence in the rain by two gay guys and Molly McGrath would make awesome reality TV the farm adventure would be a better edit. So Molly and I arrived at the farm, it was sprinkling a little but it was still a nice day. While we were at the farm gathering supplies we also needed to take a publicity picture of Molly for a show she is doing and since I freaking love animals I needed to visit with goats, horses, donkeys and my favorite, the alpaca. So we pull up and find a little place to snap some pictures. They came out okay but the wind was blowing and Molly's hair was kind of a wreck (by the way, Molly if you read this, we need to do a redo). That went pretty quick and then I got to see the cutest little miniature horse that was I'm going to guess a month old...so cute, a pregnant donkey, three crazy goats and mini sheep that make noises like pigs. They were all cute but on my last visit I got to see an alpaca, actually I got to feed the alpaca last time and it totally took a treat from my lips, I love those animals. Molly and I took the little walk over to the white fence near a hillside where the alpaca, mini horses and a donkey called home. We of course snapped a couple publicity pictures of Molly on the fence (Molly did I mention we need a redo?). Molly of course called out to the animals (insert Molly's dolphin noise here) but they didn't come running like they did last time. I really wanted to see the alpaca...who's name by the way is "Al." So after a couple minutes Molly opened the gate and we headed towards the lean-to that the animals spend most of their time. Molly of course was wearing cowboy boots and I of course was wearing converse...imagine that many animals and JJ trying to avoid stepping in piles of alpaca poop. We got the lean-to and Molly said "I don't get it, where are they?" I was sad. Then Molly turned to me and screamed. Al the alpaca came running up behind me with the other animals. I froze, he had this kind of "I'm either gonna spit on you" or "Rape you" look in his eyes! Molly instructed me to walk slow and not to run because he will "Hump" you...yeah that was a rape look I saw moments before. So we started our slow trek down towards the gate, Al followed slowly behind. A couple mini horses came close to us and Al charged towards them. Molly then said "Quicker, alpaca's protect their surroundings." My slow walking turned into swift walk and dodging of alpaca poop, a lot of "Damn, alpaca poop" "Wow that was a big one" "Your Dad feeds them corn?" was heard. We finally got to the fence and all was well. The rain fell and we were safe. I said goodbye to the once friendly Al the alpaca and we left. That was reality of the situation.

Now, if my life was a reality show the episode teaser would go something like this.

Announcer: "This week on the Real Gays of Saratoga Springs."

Molly: "Let's go take the pictures at my Dad's Farm"

JJ: "Okay, what's the name if his farm again?'

Molly: "Harmony Acres" (thunder sound effect)

Interior of Molly's Car. JJ and Molly are driving and it's raining hard. We hear thunder. They pull up to the farm we see the sign "Harmony Acres" through the front window of the car, thunder sound effect.

Molly: This weather sucks.

JJ: I know but I need to see Al the alpaca. (cut to Molly's dog Cherry who has been sitting in the back seat, Cherry gives a look of terror upon hearing the name Al)

Molly and JJ leave the car. JJ snaps a couple pictures of Molly. They are seen visiting a new born mini horse)

JJ: Awe look it's a Tiny!

Molly: I know Tiny!

JJ: Where's Al?

Molly: Out back.

Thunder sound effect. We see quick close ups of the mini horse running, the pregnant donkey kicking and the goats jumping up and banging the stall doors. Cut to Molly and JJ at the fence. Molly calls and no animals come.

Molly: Where are they?

Molly and JJ enter the enclosure the walk up to the lean-to.

Molly: I don't get it? (Thunder, eerie music and a scream from Molly is heard. Al the alpaca stands behind JJ, staring)

Molly VO: Don't move, walk slow.

JJ VO: Alapac Poop! Corn! Big!

We cut to Al chasing the other animals and a VO of Molly screaming and more thunder is heard. We see JJ running. A noise of an Alpaca scream is heard.

END OF TEASER.

I mean come on that would of been amazing right? Well actually the real one is funnier, wait does that mean my life would make a good reality show? Mental note call Bravo TV and pitch idea to Andy Cohen.

Blogger? Me? No!

I read a lot of blogs. I do. Mostly at work because I have a really boring job, not so much boring but a lot of down time. So in between the dumb questions "What is the best shampoo you have?" or "I know you are a guy but do you know anything about the hair products you carry?" I read my share of blogs.

My partner has a blog and a couple of my friends have blogs so I thought, "Why the hell not?" Contrary to popular belief...I'm funny. And if you don't learn anything from my ramblings you will at least leave my blog smiling and laughing. I mean where else can you hear about the craziness of a gay bearcub from Saratoga Springs, that is unless you go to Circus Cafe on any day that ends in Y.

So as they used-to say before each movie in the 90's, "Sit back and relax, enjoy the show."

Oakley Lamborghini Aventador LP760-2

Oakley Lamborghini Aventador LP760-2 Front View

Lamborghini has only just released its new flagship supercar and Oakley Design has currently come up having a tuning package for it. Known as the Lamborghini Aventdor LP760-2, the auto gets several engine and cosmetic revisions. Avid viewers will recognise the alteration with the ’2' in the end of the Aventador headline, offering away a clue

2012 Renault Twizy Europe Price

2012 Renault Twizy Picture
Renault Twizy 45: cost-effective mobility, with tax-paid prices starting from €6,990*. -Renault has profited through the Barcelona Motor Indicate to reveal its pricelist for Twizy, whilst reservations can now be created at www.renault-ze.com.


-As announced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Display, tax-paid Twizy prices will start from €6,990* in Europe. This price is for

Dodge Viper SRT 10 ACR NEW in dealer

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The hot car Dodge Viper SRT 10 Roadster

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