Quieto Despertar / A Calm Awakening

Thanks to the advent of YouTube and Flash video, I am now able to share my short films with the world. Prior to this moment, the last audience to view this short was the New Festival at NYU 2004 and the Frameline Gay + Lesbian Film Festival in San Francisco, 2001.

This was my Senior Thesis film from UC Santa Cruz in 1998. It was influenced by Isaac Julien's "Looking For Langston", Cheryl Dunye's "Watermelon Woman" and the films of the Mexican Golden Era- notably those starring Dolores Del Rio and Maria Felix. I also might add that at the time I was trying to communicate an aesthetic which celebrated my Latino heritage with my pride at discovering a queer sensibility. How distant these once urgent themes seem, and yet still very relevant.

where we come from, sometimes, beauty
floats around us like clouds
the way leaves rustle in the breeze
and cornbread and barbecue swing out the backdoor
and tease all our senses as the sun goes down.

-from People of Watts by Ntozake Shange

On my way to work I saw this marvelous rainbow, which I wish I could say is pictured above but thanks to the wonders of the modern age and google and no thanks to my ghettofab low tech cell phone camera that is not the case. . . And so I saw this rainbow and it totally lifted my mood- which by the way was quite nasty -like boom!

It got me thinking, well maybe I need to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me more often. One of the jewels of my Thanksgiving break was realizing how un-mindful I have been of what is important to me. I am using this blog for a moment to self reflect so stay with me folks. Basically I am gonna try to focus on what matters more intently from now on. We'll see how it goes. Maybe I'll take the time to snap a pic of an actual rainbow, from like, my life.

Thanksgivin Meme

One of my favorite bloggers, Angry Black Bitch, inspired me today with her answers to this Thanksgiving meme. My answers below:

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? Good lawd do I really need to use that flat iron, I'm in a hurry!
2. How much cash do you have on you? $48
3. What’s a word that rhymes with “DOOR?” Whore.
   
4. Favorite planet? Earth
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Cookie Dough.
   
6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Shit. Like a bitch, I am old school. But if pressed to describe I'd say it was a cross between electronic doorbell and a windchime.
7. What shirt are you wearing? Blue Gay Games closing night party Masterbeat giveaway, with words "Inspiration/Triumph" inscribed on front and some gay ass hands holdin a torch.
8. Do you “label” yourself? I am a "non-label whore".
9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? Adidas.
10. Bright or Dark Room? Dark
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Ghettolicious.
12. What does your watch look like? A Sprint cell-phone.
13. What were you doing at midnight last night? Singing Wild Night (John Mellencamp/Me'shell Ndegéocello version) with Dee Dee at the Mint.
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? Call when your here love to see u - Jake Boe
    
15. Where is your nearest 7-11? Fuck that shit… I get my Mountain Dew at Presidio Bowl.
16. What's a word that you say a lot? OHhellno.
17. Who told you he/she loved you last? My good friend Dominic. Love you honey!
18. Last furry thing you touched? OOo-eee, uh-uh.
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? 3: Alcohol, Coffee, and Nunya
20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? Maybe 3, from as 2001.
21. Favorite age you have been so far? 30…this has been a good year.
22. Your worst enemy? Am my biggest critic.
23. What is your current desktop picture? Skulls and Hearts a'la Alex McQueen- helleaux.
24. What was the last thing you said to someone? We're having nightlies in here at 4:30
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? The money… cuz Department of Homeland Security would just shoot my ass down.
26. Do you like someone? I am easily prone to liking everybody.
27. The last song you listened to? Fascination Street, The Cure.
28. What time of day were you born? 10pm- in time for the disco honey! On Sunset. . .
29. What’s your favorite number? 9
30. Where did you live in 1987? Woodland, California.
31. Are you jealous of anyone? Yes I must admit.
32. Is anyone jealous of you? I hope not…jealousy is tragic.
33. Where were you when 9/11 happened? Asleep in my loft, recovering from Burning Man.
34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Kick, hit, punch, scream.
35. Do you consider yourself kind? Not when the muthafuckin machine has my money.
36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be? Maybe on my flesh above the iliac crest.
37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be? Russian.
38. Would you move for the person you loved? Of course.
39. Are you touchy feely? No.
40. What’s your life motto? If the shoe fits.
41. Name three things that you have on you at all times? keys, wallet, cell phone.
42. What’s your favourite town/city? New York, New York. (where my hustlas at?!)
43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash? Chinese Chicken salad with yummy jicama.
44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? 1996
45. Can you change the oil on a car? Um, no.
46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her? Bitchin cuz I aint called him. Then he didn't return my call.
47. How far back do you know about your ancestry? Tarascan indian not conquered by Aztec and something about a Basque country somewhere.
48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy? I bought a French Connection pullover (hardly fancy) and Barney's Co-op sweater at Jeremy's used. Attempting to look nice for the UCSF PositiveHealth (360) Gala.
49. Does anything hurt on your body right now? Lungs itch.
50. Have you been burned by love? Sho 'nuff.
    
    

I Want This Scarf For XMAS

Skulls and Hearts silk scarf, designed by Alexander McQueen
sold exclusively at Barney's of New York Co-Op. I'm such a whore.



Lest I forget:

http://tinyurl.com/y58o9p

CATALINA SPRINT TRIATHLON - PICS

motto of day: if ya can't win it, have some fun with it!



having fun on the bike!



what me, worry!



did they say 3 loops!



there's brian, damn!



having fun on the run!



NOTE: new iPod Shuffle

playlist of day: Samba Minha Terra - Bossacucanova / Good Times - Chic / The World Is Mine - David Guetta / Flashing For Money - Deep Dish / Rise - DJ Erick Morillo / Call on Me - Eric Prydz and Steve Winwood / Situation - Yaz / Roy Ayers - Running Away / Sweet Side of Fame - The Arbiters

CATALINA SPRINT TRIATHLON - SPLIT TIME

AGE GROUP: MALE 30-34

AGE RANK 42

OVERALL RANK 313

SWIM RANK 326

SWIM SPLIT 0:13:39

TRANSITION 1 0:03:40

BIKE RANK 291

BIKE SPLIT 0:37:36

BIKE MPH 14.84

TRANSITION 2 0:04:30

RUN RANK 165

RUN SPLIT 0:23:01

RUN PACE 0:07:40 (minutes per mile)

OVRALL TIME 1:22:26

Mercury Rising

I will be posting about last week's Catalina race shortly, in the meantime...

Yesterday a rare celestial occurrance coincided with a tribute to the frontman of the legendary band Queen (who would be 60 this year). "The planet Mercury made a rare transit across the Sun today as skywatchers across much of Earth watched through special telescope set-ups or on the Internet. Mercury appeared as a mere dot against the huge Sun." Almost as if to herald a new beginning, this event also marked a day in which the government of the US was taken to task on an Election Day.


The Trannyshack tribute to Freddie Mercury was aptly called "Mercury Rising" and took place at the infamous STUD bar, which some are aware I used to go-go dance at. Last night would be my first time on the stage at Trannyshack, not in female drag but rather Freddie drag- as I impersonated the rockstar in both his 70s Bohemian Rhapsody era and the more sporty/leather/gay 80s look. I will post images and YouTube video as soon as I can get it. This was a really fun experience for me, and my first time working with the talented Cookie Dough. I forgot how great it feels to be on stage, since abandoning acting in highschool. It's also awesome to interpret a famous person and get positive feedback from a crowd who recognizes the songs, moves and look. Our first number was "Let Me Entertain You" in which I came out for about 20 seconds in black heshen 70s garb. The second number was "Tie Your Mother Down" and I acted as the boyfriend (Freddie) to Cookie interpreting the song. Lots of requests for photographs. I think the best compliment I could have received was from a smitten Fauxnique backstage, who quite literally gasped and clutched her chest when she recognized in my outfit some spirit of Freddie perhaps she has always loved dearly. She said I looked just like him, and for that I felt I had done my job perfectly right!

Freddie Mercury Lives On!

Me as Freddie, at the Archbishop's Mansion annual Halloweeen Party