A Room With a View

I can barely believe it’s been a year.
The 14th was the anniversary of my walk home from Charlie’s when Jose ditched me.
The 17th was the anniversary of his phone message saying we should see other people.
Although my quest to find someone to pee on his car continues (I did find someone, but he lives across town), day by day I’m a little less bitter and a little less angry.
Good news:  whenever I get kind of weepy/emotional about the whole thing, I get a text from someone who says that I’m smart, goodlooking, funny, and just overall better than him.  That I have good things in store for me.
Amen to that.

Other news: 
1)  mixed signals from McStudly at the gym and at Charlie’s last weekend.  That always happens when a) I least expect it and b) actually meet someone else.
2) was approached by a guy named Charley to dance last Saturday.  Although he claimed he was not a very good lead, he did a great job and we danced all night.  More to come this Saturday.  And, should there be actual dating, I’m already anticipating the confusion when I tell someone, “I’m going to Charley’/Charlie’s tonight” and they won’t know which one I’m talking about. Ha!
3) back in training for processing.  I won’t go on my four day a week schedule until September.  September!
4) been without internet access for two weeks.  Getting high speed tomorrow morning. Whoo-hoo!  I’m a little Facebook deprived. 

So, I don’t exactly know who Carl is.
However, he did something I totally wish I had witnessed.
I must have already left Charlie’s on Saturday.  I was there for only about an hour as the final stop of a date.  The place was strangely empty (possibly because of Pride down in Rocky Point).  It wasn’t very fun while I was there, so left around 11:30. 
Sunday morning, my friend Eric told me about Carl and the amazing thing he did.

At Charlie’s we do three dances that are partner dances, but they’re done in a circle (Bresa del Rio alum think Barn Dance).  There’s always a scramble to find someone to be your partner and people even lock in commitments early in the night.  So when it’s not a crowded night, your usual partner may not be there.  Well, the song for the dance “Renegade” came on I guess Jose turned and stuck out his hand to this Carl guy to partner.  Carl was reaching for Jose’s hand, then saw Eric approaching, and accepted Eric’s invite instead.  Totally burned Jose.
Wish I had seen it.
Next week I’m buying this guy a drink.

Cheers

My third year attending Phoenix Pride. 
I took the day off Saturday in preparation for the parade and a day in the park.  But as the day approached, I realized that this year would be different.  Raymond’s gone.  Marcos has nested and doesn’t go out as much.  Ain’t going with Jose this year.  David was working at his booth in the park.  Martin had a wedding to go to.  Others were maybe going on Sunday.  Hmmm.  I guess I’m going by myself?
Then got a text from Billy who I know from the softball team I cheer for.  He lives near the parade route. 
9:30 am pre-party with mimosas. 
11:00 walked along the parade route. Great time to people watch.  Also saw a former student.  Never suspected she was; but not surprised either. 
After noon into the park; beer, volleyball, chatting with friends, shopping in booths.  One guy Michael said he saw Jose earlier and was cordial.  I wanted to say that next time he has my permission to push him down and kick him. 
Walked around a lot with Billy and we talked about life and ex’s.
Long walk back to my car.  Home for a nap.
Then to Charlie’s.  Packed.  But not many of the regulars, so dancing was so-so.
McStudly was shocked because I ordered a beer.  Then he shocked me by saying he tried to get my attention out at the park. He leaves me so confused.
Watched as Jose (Il Bastardo) chatted up some 20-something kid.  I thought a) what do I have in common with this little snot that he would be attracted to both of us  b) why is it that Jose talks endlessly to everyone else under the sun but always seemed lost for words when talking to me  and (when Jose and junior were headed out the door together) Lord, please smite him with ED.  Thanks. 
So then I left and crawled in bed. Thinking why me?  Took it easy Sunday morning; sleeping in and gym. 
Then poolside brunch at Michael’s.  Bellini’s and vodka 7’s.  Yum.  Then back to Charlie’s.
Packed.  Fun Sunday.  Il Bastardo was there (strange for a Sunday, and sans twink) with Ronaldo and Blake (who I used to count as my friends).  Hung out with John (Ronaldo’s ex) and Donny, Marcos and Chad, Kramer, Billy and Adam from softball. 
Then to dinner with Billy to cap off the night.
Fun weekend overall.  A little sketchy there in the middle with the Jose stuff.  But overall a fun Pride weekend. 

I can’t believe it’s already Monday.  Where does the time go?

Saturday is always a work day for me.  But it feels like a half day since I’m finished at 1.  After that, I was off to Tempe for the Great Arizona Beer Festival.  This is the second time I’ve gone.  Basically, if you cough up a Ulysses S Grant (or if I’d bought my tickets in advance online, two Andrew Jackson’s) you get almost unlimited tasting of microbrews from 2 to 6 while enjoying beautiful Arizona weather.  This year it was a bit smaller than last, but still fun.  Good beer.  And though you may be tired of hearing about Raymond leaving, this was one of the last chances to do something with him.  He leaves Friday.  Two years ago he went with our friend Marcos.  That year Marcos feel over the fence into the VIP area.  When they told me that story, I decided I needed to go next time.  And now it’s a two year tradition.  Sadly, no one toppled over any fences.  Besides the beer, a lot of tall, good looking guys.  Most gay guys I meet are like 5′7″ to my 6′4″ (or so it seems).  I guess to be straight, you’ve got to be tall.  And I had my fingers crossed that since these guys were willing to experiment with different beers they might apply that to other areas of their life.  Kidding!

Later that night I headed to Kobalt to see players from the softball teams I cheer for, the Phoenix Phire and Phoenix Phusion, perform in drag as a fundraiser.  So crazy, but fun to watch.  I stayed for just a bit, then headed over to Charlie’s for dancing.  No Jose.  Haven’t seen him for two weeks and I’m loving it.

Sunday was a quiet morning reading “Lean Mean Thirteen” by Janet Evanovich while sitting in the sun at Starbucks.  Aaaahhhh.  Then some chores around my house.  Some online chatting.  A great nap.  Then to Charlie’s for afternoon tea.  Once again, Raymond’s last Sunday at Charlie’s.  I finally picked up my Blonde Voyage pics and showed them to everyone.  I’ll be uploading them soon.  Petey was excited because he had sprayed his hair blonde and I was the only one who had taken his picture.  He kept taking the picture and showing it to everyone.  I finally just gave it to him.  We all stayed much later than usual.  I finally met up with this guy John that I’ve been chatting/texting with constantly.  I introduced Raymond to this guy Pim who is also Dutch.  They hit it off (I guess that’s my going away present).  A bunch of us went out to dinner at Fez.  Then it was home to start sleeping for a busy day at work.

Okay, in case you didn’t know, I love to line dancing.  I go twice a week. 
I first started going in college at the Bresa Del Rio in Michigan.  Anyone else know it?  Sarah, Sarah, and Rebo, I know you have.
Now it’s Charlie’s in Phoenix twice a week

My frustration:  We learn new line dances (which are fun), but they aren’t country line dances.

My problem:  I search online for line dances to country songs, but I don’t seem to find dances to anything new or I can’t really tell my the step sheets if they will be fun.

Your challenge:  Please tell me of new/newer line dances to country songs (though I will take recommendations to others) that would be a lot of fun.  Send me links, send me song names, send me dance steps, etc.

And FYI; I already know the Tush Push: I’ve been doing it since before I was being pushed in the tush.