DESERT LIVIING DEUX

For me, the best thing about Palm Springs has always been that one can find parking. "God is love when you find parking" in Los Angeles. Over the Independence Day weekend I have had an epiphany. Palm Springs is indeed an oasis of goodwill and happiness! Desert living has given people a more relaxed and forgiving attitude toward one another. Drivers don't come to a screeching halt at red lights. Employees in stores smile and are helpful. There is always an holiday atmosphere in restaurants without the haughty attitude of a host/hostess, but rather a smile and we are happy to see you body language. Residents are always curious to know where you are from (just about everyone is "from" somewhere else), and are you permanent or a weekender? There seems to be a sort of camaraderie among them wanting to welcome newcomers to the easy life. A friend admonished me for not wanting to live full time in the desert by saying I just don't want to be happy. Now I understand his point. Not that I would live there full time 'cause as Leontyne Price once said about the United States at the beginning of her career while singing in Europe: "There ain't no culture there". However, culture can be defined as a refined understanding or appreciation of our surroundings (Webster). They understand it and now I must admit I do, as well. Noooo....I'm not going to be a full timer - at least for now.

IMPORTANT PERSONS

Too often we forget to take time to reflect on those persons who have been important in our lives. Be they ex-lovers, teachers, mentors, good friends or relatives. There are those whose advice or understanding or confidence or love have attributed to our success or wellbeing or sophistication. It would be interesting to read stories of how, when or why those individuals have changed attitudes, opinions or circumstances and influenced our experiences. I plan to occasionally write about some of the influential persons in my life. Lest we forget!

PUBLIC PARTYS

I've always tried to avoid going to partys arranged for venues such as: business, gallery openings, etc. where people crowd in for a free drink and try to eat enough tidbits to suffice for dinner. Number one: I don't like eating standing up. Also, standing in line to get a drink I feel is awkward. Valet parking at these affairs is always difficult. The point being is: FB invited me to a launch party of BEL AIR magazine being held at a house in...duh duh...Bel Air. He stated if we didn't want to stay we could leave and go on to dinner however, because of his business (hotelier) he felt obligated to make an appearance. Friday evening we wound our way up the streets of BA following a line of cars to what was the VALET parking meanwhile other cars were turning around and heading back down toward Sunset Blvd. Upon arriving, the valet, dressed in obligatory black and an earphone asked FB if he was On The List. Seems one had to be On The List to be valet parked. If you were not On The List you had to go to Parking Structure 11 at UCLA about a mile away. A noticeably beleaguered PR girl recognized FB and told the valet that he was On The List. Gratefully and kiss kiss, we entered the gardens of a stately Paul Williams designed house where many guests, ladies in very short black dresses and men in black suits with open neck shirts, were already drinking and gorging. Having finally obtained a drink, we wandered around the gardens and observed people entering the house and we decided we'd like to see it as well. A gentleman with a clipboard asked if we were On The List. Being told FB was On The List, he said, "Oh no....you have to be On The VIP List." Hysterically laughing we fled the party to go on to a delightful dinner in a restaurant. Seated and paying our own way.

CENSORED?

Google was censored in China and now I believe, me with my big bad mouth was censored by Google for a blog I wrote a couple of days ago in jest. As Bill Maher often says "I say it in jest".
You can always catch me at my website: www.bhbum.com. I am a baaaaaad boy.

VERY GRAND OPERA

The opera AIDA is about as grand as they come. This morning at 10AM (would you believe) I went to the movies in Century City where FB and I saw the repeat of the Direct From the Met film directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Wow! What a production. Singers, dancers, horses and a cast of thousands. The Met transmits the operas on the Saturday of the performance: live from New York. This summer there are repeats of about 8 operas. Very comfortable sitting in good seats and being able to inspect every detail of the costumes and sets. Wonderful sound. How fortunate we are in this age of audio and visual magic.

POOP

I am having a "John Waters" moment this morning. For those of you unfamiliar with him, look him up on Google.

Have you ever wondered how many bowel movements you have had in your life? Something to ponder.

Oh! Lighten up!

PRIDE

"The consciousness of one's own dignity." That phrase perfectly exemplifies GAY PRIDE festivals around the world. The first Gay Pride parade in Los Angeles was in 1983 on Hollywood Boulevard.
My friend R and I went to see it, sitting on a curb, wondering how the spectators would react to so many Gay men and women parading in the middle of the boulevard. The crowd was silent as the participants passed by and at the very end of the parade some of our fellow spectators got up to walk with the marchers. R and I got up with them and began our march. I saw persons I knew sitting on the curbs - their mouths dropping when they saw us walking along with the others. The feeling of personal liberation was indescribable. We were no longer hiding or ashamed of who we were. The memory of that day still brings tears to my eyes. Yesterday, in the West Hollywood Gay Pride parade a float went by with singers singing "I am what I am", the thrilling song from La Cage aux Folles. The tears were flowing.