hey now...

So I've been a little quiet on this front. Truth be told, all things are really going well. But my new job, which I like quite a lot, just happens to be on a much higher pace. I did ALL of my posting before from my old job at the Big 4 accounting firm. Boy was life easy then!

At any rate, I thought I would check in and give an update.

I've been having some really good fortune lately. Or I guess if you look at it another way, I am coming into my own and am getting some of the good stuff I deserve. =)

Work is going well, my training for ALC7 is going well and I've met someone that I am getting to know a little better to see what potential lies ahead for us.

No worries, just not a lot of time to post and most of you who are my friends I manage to keep up with you day in and day out on IM.

I'll try to be better about posting - but be well!!

Yes, go ahead caller. I'm listening...

So with this past weekend's events, I've been left a little shaken AND stirred in a lot of different ways. And all of them good. I truly believe any experience that causes you to think and learn is a good one. And I'm surely thinking and learning about myself the past few days, yessirreebob.

I had a friend (B) over last night. He and I had been dating for a couple of months but I recently decided we were better suited to be friends. He wanted to take me out to congratulate me on my new job but I had so many around-the-house chores to take care of that I asked if we could order in and catch up while I did laundry and putzed around. Being out of it last weekend, gone this coming one at a softball tournament and then starting the new job on Tuesday, life is piling up all around me... YIPES!

But, as usual, I digress...

So I told B about Carmelo and the whole weekend...in great detail as I have with a few of you (Bunky, Dminmem, BigSir, Stack, Rev. Brown, etc. Syn and Moby, I owe you a deep-dive (heh....that's funny) so you'll get yours in the end (I kill me!)). He was a bit taken aback and amazed but also a little jealous. And of course, he agreed like everyone has how fucking cute C is. Because he is. I mean, sure, I'm biased a teensy bit, but... whatever.

And we talked about the emotional pitfalls of a situation like this. And he made the same very valid points everyone makes. I get them. But me and a friend were talking yesterday and I repeated a question to him that I've posed to most of you about this and then he quite clearly made a wonderful point as to why that question carries validity.

The situation is that me and Carmelo live a GREAT distance apart. Very true. The odds of this "working out" (whether that means a torrid global love affair for a few months/visits or even something greater) are not stacked in our favor. BUT, the question is, "why not?" Just because he lives in Italy and I am in the US, "why can't it happen?" I'm not saying it will, but why do we have to accept that the current geographical circumstance will be the permanent one?

So then the point is made to me yesterday in a conversation with my friend Auntie P as to why this question becomes valid. I live in a major metropolitan city which is definitely skewed in my favor with the concentration of gay men who also live here. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a fag. Seriously. And here is where I may lose you based upon your philosophy of love and "the one". I am not entirely sure how I feel about "the one" concept. I think likely there are two, maybe three people in the world living at this time that are BEST suited to be my partner in life. I think what makes one of them become "the one" are things like chance, timing, location, attraction, etc. Factors... But given all that chance I do think the universe pushes us in directions, helps to guide us in the right direction. Sometimes it is quite subtle (or maybe we just aren't listening) and sometimes it is as subtle as a bull in a china shop. All this said, just because I'm in a large gay area, why does that mean that one of these two to three people is living here in San Francisco at this very moment and that I will meet him? Sure, the odds are better that I find someone to share my life with here as opposed if I were living back in Alabama. But do you take the bet just because the odds go from 1,000,000:1 to 500,000:1? True, your odds just doubled but, as my ex used to say, "the odds are good, but the goods are odd."

So who is to say that one of those few people doesn't right now live in Rome and at this very moment is not vacationing beach-side in the Milazzo area of Sicily, telling his sister all about me and our adventure thus far? Who's to say that the universe didn't push me into that random bar that I NEVER go in last Thursday? Who's to say it didn't also push him into that same bar (which is decidedly NOT a tourist attraction bar!) a mere few hours after he put foot on SF soil for the first time in his life so that we could meet? Who's to say I'm not listening?

All I can really say is that I for one am tired of asking "why". It's about time I start asking "why not?"

To those of you who have voiced some concern over my being careful with my emotions in this situation - I do appreciate it. But just know that although this all does sound very Nora Ephron-esque, I am listening VERY intently. This situation could be about me finding my life partner or it could be about mending and teaching my heart. But in the end, whether I take an Italian lover or I walk away having learned something about myself that I didn't know before...and I walk away with a heart more open and more capable of true love than it ever has been before, do I really lose?


"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

ALC7, BITCHES!

Start your "Support Gina" piggy bank now, bitches... is all I'm sayin'.

because now THIS is happening:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

the emancipation of gina

It's hard to believe that it has already been one year (today!) since I ended my almost five-year relationship and embarked upon changing my life into what I want it to be.

One year later, where and what am I?

-living in kick-ass San Francisco (West Coast RULES!)
-still chillin' with my girls Lucy and Charlie
-missing my Right peeps, but diggin' my new Left ones
-volunteering
-softballing
-funner
-funnier
-self-confident
-still clean
-smokeless (one year 10/2/07 y'all)
-NOT sober (hey, I get to keep one vice!)
-HAPPY
-ready for __________

What a difference a year makes!

One love, 0ne Gina, 0ne Boogie...
XOXO


"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

Design on Someone Else's Dime

So I had a store credit at Room & Board from when my couch was so severely delayed/etc. way back in Nov-Feb timeframe. Then Bunky gave me an R&B gift card for my birthday. Well I finally went and spent it this weekend with my Mom and Big Sir in tow - so it was fun to buy myself something for free. Even better when I got a floor model with very minor flaws for 20% off!

It looks awesome and is on a dimmer - tres chic!



Then since moving to SF, I've become more interested in photography. And I have had not a stitch of ANYTHING on my walls since moving in. While at R&B, I bought three basic black frames, complete with mats. I had a series of close ups I took in some lime trees at our most recent Palm Springs rental house (former home of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, btw!), so I had Walgreens print 'em up and hung them last night in my kitchen. If I'm not careful, my home will soon look like a bona fide adult with some semblance of good taste lives there!!




Now if I could just get Charlie to get interested in re-decorating her little boudoir.




"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

being recognized

So my big gigantic employer recently awarded all 40K+ US employees with 4 extra days of personal time off in appreciation for good performance in our most recently closed fiscal year. YAY US!

They asked us to submit photos of what we did with our extra time off - so I submitted a few photos from my ALC6 experience and they chose one... see below!

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

Save Myself

One of my teammates on ALC6 and one of my new friends, Terry, made a Ride compilation of songs and sent it to each of us who wanted one. The songs are ones we heard on the bus or that Terry overheard people singing in camp or just ones that evoke some of the beauty of human spirit that the ride builds and shines.

I still get so overwhelmed when I think about my experience and as I write this post, I'm bawling my eyes out. I truly wish everyone could experience the joy and compassion I did. If you could your life would be forever changed. But the awesome thing is that you can. Get up, get out and go volunteer. Find the light that is within all of us and then shine it on all you meet.
But I digress (as usual)... So the whole reason I wanted to post is to share the lyrics of my favorite song from Terry's CD - "Save Myself" by LeAnn Rimes. This is how I feel about my life. I hope it is a sentiment and philosophy you can relate to.

I want the truth when the world is lying
I want to live or at least die trying
I want to share my soul cause it heals me every time
I want to scream when there's fear inside
I want to run when I gotta free ride
I want to shed my skin if I feel the urge to fly
I will fall on my face too bruised and broken

To save myself I don't want to save myself
I just want to live out loud feel the rush that's all around
I light the flames to feel the burn trouble everywhere I turn
there's freedom in the lessons learned and beauty when the loves returned

I want to breathe like it's my first breath
I want to bleed when I'm put to the test
I want to dig down deep and find out who I am
and I will love like a love lost too scared and open to

Save myself I don't want to save myself
I just want to live out loud feel the rush that's all around
I lite the flames to feel the burn trouble everywhere I turn
there's freedom in the lessons learned and beauty when the loves returned


"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

I can't believe its over...

The really bad picture is of my darkened hotel room in LA taken from my treo. I can't believe its not the inside of my tent at ALC6 in some campground.

I can't yet put into words an accurate description of my experience that will mean anything to those who have not done the ride. What I can tell you is that this has been the second most important decision I've made in my life ... the first being my move from NYC to help care for my dying father some 10 years ago.

I can also tell you that I made friends in the span of 7 days that I plan on keeping for the rest of my life. Everyone was so wonderful but some of the standouts were Randy, Nicole, Ruby, Blake, George, Joe, Jim.

And to the people I now consider part of my family...Philip, Terry and Stacie, I LOVE YOU!!!!

No computer for another few days - so that's prolly all for now.

More on ALC6 and BBCS Vol 2 coming soon.

Love yourself.
Love each other.

-GBoogie

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

-Gandhi

LET'S RIDE, CLYDE

Well... after talking about it, begging for donations and a few good cries over the overwhelming generosity of folks like my friends, family and my blog family, AIDS/Lifecycle 6 kicks off tomorrow. Me and Bunky finished packing around 11pm tonight.

Day 1 looks roughly like:

4:15 am - wake up
4:45 am - cab arrives
5:00 am - arrive for gear bag in-take
6:00 am - opening ceremonies
6:30 am - ride-out
7:30 am - board bus
9:00 am - arrive Camp 1 - Santa Cruz
4:00-9:00 pm - serve dinner for day 1 to all riders, roadies and staff

Yeah - a long day. But I can't wait. After dinner in the Castro this evening, we had to stop in Walgreens for some last minute items. We kept running into riders and roadies (we all have matching flourescent orange and yellow ride ID bracelets on that we must keep on for the duration of the event) and its like we're all a big pseudo-family already. The camaraderie is phenomenal.

Any way - now its almost midnight and my available sleep window is getting smaller by the moment and I still need to shower before hitting the hay.

Here's a pic of our route over the week in case you're interested.


I'm sure it won't be a surprise that I won't be posting until I'm back in SF almost in the middle of June. But be good to yourself, be good to others and think of me and the nearly 2,499 other riders, roadies and staff members of SF Aids Foundation and LA Gay & Lesbian Center as we make our journey south in the hopes of one day ending the senseless pandemic that is Hiv/AIDS.

One Love,
Gboogie

thirty-six on 4/29, y'all

At my birthday dinner on Friday with family and closest SF friends, one dear friend asked me:

"...what does 36 look like for [Gina]?" - to which I responded:

"athletic [in a clean boxy space]. it starts off fat, but ends skinny. single. outdoors. it starts off slutty, but ends in dating. the mouse movement is gaining momentum. learning. growing. hopeful."

Happy Birthday to me, bitches!

739

A treo shot from Giants Stadium on Saturday with Big Sir - my first SF game, SWEET seats thanks to a friend at work... and I got to see Bonds crack his 739th career homer for the Giants' only score. They beat the Diamondbacks 1-0.

it ain't easy...

I've been turned on to a great song... so now I'm sharing it with you:

Sideways - by Citizen Cope:
You know it ain't easy
For these thoughts here to leave me
There's no words to describe it
In French or in English
Well, diamonds they fade
And flowers they bloom
And I'm telling you

These feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways
They've been knockin' me out lately
Whenever you come around me

These feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways
I keep thinking in a moment that
Time will take them away
But these feelings won't go away

I was discussing the meaning of the song and my perception with "someone" the other night. He was telling me he feels like it is a somber, not-so-happy song. I think the music, the tone, the quality of this dude's voice - sure, not super happy/fun like an up-tempo Kylie Minogue frothy hit. But I also think it is not necessarily melancholy.

Listen to it. MANY times. God knows I have. I LOVE this shit. But I feel like its merely someone describing how he can't get away from a strong feeling about someone. He can't shake it. His feelings are throwing him for a loop.

But is that necessarily a bad thing?

I don't think so. I'm trying to feel my feelings instead of manage them in my brain. Its fucking scary. Terrifying actually. But the exhiliration and just plain old fun I'm experiencing lately is pretty awesome.

240 feet, give or take

that's the reported distance from home plate, through 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases all the way to home plate again. that's not very far right? you'd think, meh. that's not that far. even if I'm going to run it, I don't really need to stretch beforehand. i do cardio 4x/week.

here is reason you shouldn't run without first stretching, unless perhaps you are an experienced runner.




yes, that's my leg. my left thigh to be exact. my first softball injury. i was putting the petal to the medal from 3rd to home and no, I did not fall. I was not beaten with a bat. i merely heard a POP and felt a SNAP, and then could barely walk. and two days later, I get these lovely parting gifts.

WOOT WOOT!

digital camera advice...

I'm in the market for a new camera. I know I want SLIM (my current one is the size of a small car) and I want highest megapixel available. Supereasy to use. I know all you bitches have 'em - tell me what you think of yours, what you love about it, what you hate about it, would you buy it again?

xoxo
GBoogie

gay fetish goes mainstream

What other options does a rim chair have? Could it take it easy later in its career and be just a seat for someone incontinent?

LOVES IT!

32 percent!

Thanks to those of you who have already been so generous and donated in my name to AIDS/LifeCycle 2007.


As of this moment, here's what it looks like:

Most of this poured in yesterday. I was completely overwhelmed and crying at my desk. Nice, huh? =0)


But seriously, $5 helps. Please consider giving. (<-- link)

LET'S RIDE, CLYDE!

I got my information packet on AIDS/LifeCycle 6 (<-- link) y'all.
I'm super stoked! They have a cool feature in which I can create my personal ALC webpage. (<-- link)


And, what? Huh? What's that you say?

You can DONATE money in my name to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation? (<-- link) That's CRAZY. Where?

HERE (<-- link)


[Gina's Note: I should have clarified. Although I am ambitious, I am not riding this year. Visit my ALC home page to find out more about how I'll help...and how YOU can too!]

hmmphhhh....

"she's got 3 or 4 problems..."

"she's got her cuckoo panties on..."

"she's cuckoo-bananas...."

"she's cuckoo for cocoa-puffs..."

"she good -n- crazy..."

i have been orientated

Last night me and my buddy Bunky (<-- link) went to Orientation for new volunteers for Habitat for Humanity San Francisco (<-- link). As it wont in these type situations, we were asked to go around the room and introduce ourselves and give a brief sound bite about why we were looking to volunteer.

As you might expect, you heard a lot of "give back to the community" and "put some of my free time to a more meaningful use". But some peoples' reasons were a little less thinly veiled.

**********************************

Legal Lady Eagle said, "...I would, umm, like to, umm, learn some basic, umm, carpentry skills to, umm, umm, use in my own, umm, home. Umm, I would also like to, umm, meet, umm, like-minded people."

Legal Lady Eagle likely meant, "I am looking for a man who is handy and has a big cock, because I am single, I'm in my mid-thirties and I am in danger of becoming 'crazy cat-lady'."

**********************************

Semi-Hot Business Suit Man said, "I work as a real estate developer in the city. We are often involved with developments which require a subsidized housing component. I would also like to give back to the community and would be interested in learning about and helping in site selection."

Semi-Hot Business Suit Man likely meant, "I work as a real estate developer in the city. I am hoping this will look good for me in my career and I can ink some killer deals with government grants/subsidy. I'm also hoping I can kick it to Lady Legal Eagle. I'm handy alright... handy with this big cock. I'm just sayin'..."

**********************************

VERY Young Male said, "I, uh, was recently arrested. And I have to do community service, so I am here to do some community service."

[NOTE: here is where Bunky had to stifle laughter and I thought I might have to kick him in the shins...]

VERY Young Male likely meant, "I, uh, was recently arrested. And I have to do community service, so I am here to do some community service."

**********************************

Ultimately, does it really matter WHY they are there, as long as someone in need can benefit from their labor? No. I think not to those in need as long on someone benefits from their being there. For them personally - who knows? Probably. But then again, my read is pure conjecture and is really for humour. I have no fucking clue. So yeah, you shouldn't probably listen to me at all. I quite often talk out of my ass.

my newest husband

ok - I know I said I was marrying that dude from Survivor (<-- link).

But I'm over him.

New V-Day, I need new meat.

Enter Mister 2007 (v1.0, at least...)

Gerard Butler, y'all:


In his new role as leader of Sparta in
Warner Brother's production of Frank Miller's Graphic Novel: The 300. (<-- link)