that one random adventure (+3 for monday) ep. 6

LVA c/o 98. God, were we ever that young?

"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"
--from the movie Stand By Me

The beauty and curse of social media is being completely connected and available. On one hand, it's great to find that awesomely quippy friend from 5th period algebra class and catch up with them. On the other hand, the creepy stalker kid from third period biology who confesses in his friend request that he's always been in love with you can find you too. What can you do?

I was very lucky in high school to have found friends like Ryan and Alex. In high school, we're all desperately trying to find our identity, that one thing that sets apart from everyone else. Coming out freshman year, I was well on 
the path of being "the token gay guy." Had I not met these two guys, I would have been stuck with that identity the rest of my life. They grounded me. We palled around and my sexual orientation was never an issue with them, which if you think about is pretty amazing in the late 90's. The three of us were inseparable junior and senior year. When we got to college, I would live with Ryan and our friend Eddy in L.A. during breaks. Alex moved to Chicago sophomore year and we roomed together for a semester.

Then life happens. Marriages. Kids. Grown-up shit. Ryan lives in Chicago now and is pretty much my straight husband. I've seen Alex a couple of times going back to Vegas for the holidays, as has Ryan. My interactions with Alex as of late are all on Facebook, as seems to be the fashion. Luddite Ryan has no social media ties, so he goes the old fashioned route and actually calls him.(What?!) So, in some way, the three of us are connected. But the three of us hadn't been together in the same room since 2003, Ryan's wedding. So when I found out Alex was going to be in town to catch the Notre Dame game with his uncles, I was pretty fucking stoked.


Friday night started pretty chill. Pregamed with some 40's as we do and then went to a bar. With my Foursquare check-in, I added a pic of us, which automatically updated to my Twitter and Facebook. Ryan always gives me shit about needing to be so connected all the time. But literally moments after this pic is shared with virtual world, there is a comment:

After getting confirmation that Ryan, Alex, and I were in the same room (a fact that we were all still in awe over), our dear friend and fellow LVA alum Marie Hale Ramos texts me: "Keep everyone there for 15 minutes." No need to tell her where we were, it was detailed in my Foursquare check-in. And as promised, 15 minutes later, we are joined by the beautiful Marie Hale Ramos.

Memories are shared all around. How when Alex first moved here, Marie had moved to the burbs and we went over there for dinner. How Ryan and I ran into Marie at Market Days 2 years prior with her then boyfriend. Now they're married and expecting their first child. And yes, while the immediacy of social media was responsible for this reunion...




...it was the hours of reminiscing over pints face to face that made this night amazing. No one will argue that real life interactions beats social media interaction any day. But as years go by, and with more distance between you, social media becomes the easiest and most convenient route to stay in touch. You just have to be careful not to take those interactions (or your relationships) for granted.

3 things I'm looking forward to the rest of the week

So I'm going to NYC this weekend. God bless those airline miles. Here are a couple of pre-planned adventures.


Theatre

I've waited for a live version of this movie musical since I was 11. Little girls who wanted to be actresses usually cite Annie as their inspiration. For me, it was Newsies. And Stand By Me. So when they announced this would be premiering at the Papermill, there was no way I was going to miss it. 


Geek



So, imagine if geeks had a pride parade, but instead of down streets, it was housed in a convention center. And instead of floats, there were were booths with sweet merch and seriously discounted books. Instead of politicians trying to gain favor, there's an artist alley where two of my favorite artists, Jim Cheung and Joe Eisma will just happen to be. (Update: Joe Eisma will not be there. Sad day.) And instead of drag queens in loud, crazy costumes we have Cos-Players in...loud, crazy costumes. Huh.


Unfortunately, I will have to run out to get to the Papermill right when the Marvel: Cup O'Joe Panel (with Marvel COO Joe Quesdada) will be taking place. Seriously sucks, as this panel is the highlight of every con for me. But then again, I'll be seeing Newsies closing weekend. Epic win.


Adventure/Family

New Year's Eve 2010 with our fellow trouble-maker Squirrel

Over are many years of friendship, Parker and I have had many adventures and caused a whole bunch of trouble. We have taken over a Midwestern town's gay scene for a weekend, been to VIP parties (of which one of us may have hooked up with a congressman once) and countless road trips and adventures on the West Coast. Now that he lives in Manhattan and I'll be in town for the weekend, the Big Apple better watch out.

When I realize my best male friendships (gay or straight) are best realized in threes, it's time to hit the road, before things get inappropriate LOL. Laters.