Never pass a peony without pausing to peruse its perfectly-potent perfume.
12
June
2025
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June
2025
12
June
2025
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June
2025
The Gratuitous Luke Evans Speedo Post
Nobody rides a pool float like Luke Evans, especially when he’s decked out in a Speedo and giving all the summer attitude we want.
Evans has been here half naked before, many times in fact, in posts like this one and this one, (sometimes fully naked) and always providing a visual punch to see us into the end of the week as summer approaches…
12
June
2025
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June
2025
Merry Gold Gone
These marigolds were in the ground for less than 36 hours when they were completely decimated by a greedy and destructive groundhog. There are fixes for groundhogs in these parts, and once it’s in Andy’s hands, there’s not much that can help any critter. Don’t fuck with the flowers is not a secret message in our backyard, and if my screeching and chasing you with a broom like some deranged witch ddidn’t clue you in as to your unwelcome status, there are other ways to convey it. Lasting ways. You think I’m the bad-ass to worry about, but it’s always been Andy. Good luck to you, and good day!
It’s been at least a decade – and probably longer – since I planted marigolds. Their ubiquitous use has always downgraded their status in my eyes, but lately I’ve been embracing the tried and true, and marigolds are hardly little annuals that offer an explosion of reliable color. They are also said to deter pests, which is why they are often planted in conjunction with a patch of vegetables. Apparently they are also coveted by groundhogs, which is unfortunate, for us and for the groundhog. Andy doesn’t waste time dealing with unwanted intruders, especially those who disturb the approach of summer beauty by the pool.
11
June
2025
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June
2025
David Beckham’s Pipe in White
A gratuitous post of clickbait comes in the form of David Beckham in his white Boss boxer-briefs, another moment of visual magic from his butt-baring Boss underwear campaign. See more here and here and here.
Bend it like Beckham indeed.
11
June
2025
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June
2025
Down To Zero
We have reached that part in our protagonist’s journey where he is entirely out of fucks.
Proceed at your own peril.
11
June
2025
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June
2025
Let’s Get Lucky
A musical pop memory a quarter century in the making, ‘Lucky’ by Britney Spears is the song of the day here, harkening to her early career when it was just bop after bop in an endless array of pop music fantasy. The video here gives all sorts of drama, revealing cracks in the by-then not-that-innocent facade. While I never hated on Britney, I never full-on loved her either, though I have a soft spot for this one, which came out in the summer that I met Andy. It was a grand summer – rainier than usual, and rain portends luck. So do four-leaf clover clusters, for which I didn’t have a chance to search in this little patch I happened upon the other day.
We haven’t even reached summer yet and the fatigue of this rainy season has me feeling spent. Sunlight was forecast for today, and my soul is craving it. The clover has had its fill of the wet stuff and we need to dry our frustrated tears. A world in disarray, and of course the full moon decides to appear now of all times.
A full Strawberry moon, and whatever that might mean. May God grant us mercy during this spell of lunacy. Don’t wait up all night to get lucky; the two-headed coin makes its own luck.
10
June
2025
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June
2025
10
June
2025
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June
2025
#TinyThreads: An Insignificant Series
I want to live in a world where manufacturers use stickers that don’t require Goo Gone, soaking, scraping, and a hairdryer to get them off the top of a fucking plate.
10
June
2025
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June
2025
Still Spring, Sing for Fall
It sounds like we’ll be singing it up this fall as in addition to the conclusion of ‘Wicked’ comes the revamped ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ starring, wait… Jennifer Lopez? I’m not yet mad about it, but I’m not overtly thrilled. With studio sparkle, Lopez can sometimes sing. The trailer doesn’t quite give me enough faith that she can pull it off, but Chita Rivera and Vanessa Williams both made indelible impressions without having powerhouse vocals, so I’m giving JLo the benefit of the doubt for now. This looks like it has promise, and I have wanted to see a thrilling version of this musical for years. Maybe it’s time, maybe this fall…
09
June
2025
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June
2025
#TinyThreads: An Insignificant Series
We must always remember that dates are nature’s candy.
09
June
2025
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June
2025
A Build-Me-Up Buttercup Recap
We have just celebrated our 30th consecutive weekend of precipitation in the Albany area, so hooray for us! Yesterday was beautiful, so we’ll take what we can get, and let’s get on with the weekly blog recap… (Forewarning: my crankiness was because of the rain. Only the rain.)
A gratuitously Speedo-clad Gus Kenworthy post.
The credit card chickens came home to roost.
The ‘Wicked: For Good’ trailer premiered and was everything we wanted it to be.
Mr. Sassy Pants looks fiercely back.
The day Aaron Samuels wore a red Speedo.
Tin for ten: another BroSox Adventure is in the works.
The Divine Diva Tour trundled along, twenty years later, and two decades of body wear takes a toll.
Chains of gray in black and white.
Extraordinary transfigurations.
A waterlogged point of exasperation.
Dazzlers of the Day included David Blue, Auli’i Cravalho, and Jonathan Groff.
08
June
2025
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June
2025
A Waterlogged Point of Exasperation
Do you remember that scene in ‘Clue’ when the group stumbles upon the fourth or fifth murder in a row, and they walk into the room, take it all in, look disgusted, and simply walk right back out?
That’s how I feel looking out the window and seeing the 30th consecutive weekend of precipitation since November.
Disgusted.
Exasperated.
Tired of God punishing us for… whatever we did in November that would merit such a … oh, never-fucking-mind.
Got it.
Well-played, Sir.
I’ll get another umbrella.
PS – Absolutely every moment in life has a perfect ‘Clue’ reaction to it. Especially the awful ones.
08
June
2025
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June
2025
Extraordinary Transfigurations
“The fairy tale even projects this acceptance of reality for the child, because while extraordinary transfigurations in the hero’s body occur as the story unfolds, he becomes a mere mortal again once the struggle is over. At the fairy story’s end we hear no more about the hero’s unearthly beauty or strength… Once the fairy-tale hero has achieved his true identity at the story’s ending – and with it inner security about himself, his body, his life, his position in society – he is happy the way he is, and no longer unusual in any respect.” – Bruno Bettelheim
~ The Divine Diva Tour: A Fairy’s Tale ~
- Pink Frilly Fairy: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
- Homage to Herb: Part One, Part Two and Part Three
- A Purple-Hued Interlude
- Style & Panache: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
- Purple Puff Confection: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
- A Blue-Hued Interlude
- Fuchsia Fabulousness: Part One. Part Two and Part Three.
- Bad Boy Bangs: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Vanity Under Where: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Sugar Plum Ballerina: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Pool Frolic: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- A Cemetery Interlude: Part One and Part Two.
- Powder Blue Fur Doll: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Milky Interlude
- Rock Out, Cock Out/ Hang Out, Wang Out: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- Cocktail Cocktale: Part One and Part Two.
- A Fairy’s Interlude: Part One and Part Two.
- Willy Wonkers: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Peacock In Everything But Beauty: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- Swan Lake Fantasia: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four.
- Black & White in Briefs: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Weave of Basket, Weave of Rope: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part Five.
- Chains of Gray to Color: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
07
June
2025
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June
2025
The Body of a Fairy Hero
“The fairy-tale hero has a body which can perform miraculous deeds. By identifying with him, any child can compensate in fantasy and through identification for all the inadequacies, real or imagined, of his own body. He can fantasize that he too, like the hero, can climb into the sky, defeat giants, change his appearance, become the most powerful or most beautiful person – in short, have his body be and do all the child could possibly wish for. After his most grandiose desires have thus been satisfied in fantasy, the child can be more at peace with his body as it is in reality.” – Bruno Bettelheim
~ The Divine Diva Tour: A Fairy’s Tale ~
- Pink Frilly Fairy: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
- Homage to Herb: Part One, Part Two and Part Three
- A Purple-Hued Interlude
- Style & Panache: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
- Purple Puff Confection: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
- A Blue-Hued Interlude
- Fuchsia Fabulousness: Part One. Part Two and Part Three.
- Bad Boy Bangs: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Vanity Under Where: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Sugar Plum Ballerina: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Pool Frolic: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- A Cemetery Interlude: Part One and Part Two.
- Powder Blue Fur Doll: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Milky Interlude
- Rock Out, Cock Out/ Hang Out, Wang Out: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- Cocktail Cocktale: Part One and Part Two.
- A Fairy’s Interlude: Part One and Part Two.
- Willy Wonkers: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Peacock In Everything But Beauty: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- Swan Lake Fantasia: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four.
- Black & White in Briefs: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Weave of Basket, Weave of Rope: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part Five.
- Chains of Gray to Color: Part One and Part Two.
07
June
2025
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June
2025
Chains of Gray
“In fairy tales, internal processes are translated into visual images. When the hero is confronted by difficult inner problems which seem to defy solution, his psychological state is not described; the fairy story shows him lost in a dense, impenetrable wood, not knowing which way to turn, despairing of finding the way out. To everybody who has heard fairy tales, the images being lost in a deep, dark forest are unforgettable.” ~ Bruno Bettelheim
“The forest is queer. Everything in it is very much more alive, more aware of what is going on.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
~ The Divine Diva Tour: A Fairy’s Tale ~
- Pink Frilly Fairy: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
- Homage to Herb: Part One, Part Two and Part Three
- A Purple-Hued Interlude
- Style & Panache: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
- Purple Puff Confection: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
- A Blue-Hued Interlude
- Fuchsia Fabulousness: Part One. Part Two and Part Three.
- Bad Boy Bangs: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Vanity Under Where: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Sugar Plum Ballerina: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Pool Frolic: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- A Cemetery Interlude: Part One and Part Two.
- Powder Blue Fur Doll: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Milky Interlude
- Rock Out, Cock Out/ Hang Out, Wang Out: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- Cocktail Cocktale: Part One and Part Two.
- A Fairy’s Interlude: Part One and Part Two.
- Willy Wonkers: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- A Peacock In Everything But Beauty: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
- Swan Lake Fantasia: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four.
- Black & White in Briefs: Part One, Part Two. and Part Three.
- Weave of Basket, Weave of Rope: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part Five.
- Chains of Gray to Color: Part One.
