Saturday Behr Blather

Today has been a mostly relaxing day for me. I did a few minor chores (laundry, ironing, dishes) but I've been resting for the most part.

I watched "The Emperor's Club," which stars Kevin Kline and Emile Hirsch. It's a "History Boys" meets "Dead Poets Society" but without the emotional impact of either of those two films. I found it a little slow towards the end.

I finished reading "Snowman," the fourth book in Mark Abramson's Beach Reading series. I thoroughly enjoy his series, which is set in San Francisco, predominantly in the Castro. I also finished reading Rebecca M. Hale's "How to Wash a Cat," which I started reading shortly after my surgery. This is Ms. Hale's debut novel and it's really cute. Cat lovers will enjoy the descriptions of Isabella and Rupert, the two felines in the story. This novel is also set in San Francisco and deals with secret tunnels, tulips, and pre-Gold Rush era citizens of SF who, interestingly enough, share their names with several streets.

I also took a nap with Winston. There's nothing more wonderful than napping with your cat. They are so calming and relaxing. I watched some TV, caught up on some blogs, and basically just kicked back.

It's been a good day. I hope it has been for everyone too. BEHR HUGS

SF Visit - Day 3

My final day in SF this last week was Saturday and it was a really nice day for me. It started out with sleeping in - natch! I can't recall the time I woke up but I just lounged for a little while. Then it was off to Starbucks to get breakfast: oatmeal, apple fritter, and venti triple vanilla latte. No foam. I took it back to the hotel, snagged a paper from the front desk, and just relaxed with the TV on. I think I watched a part of Night at the Museum 2.

After a while I decided how I was going to spend my day. I got up, showered, packed, and checked out of the hotel. Of course they held my bag for me. I walked to the Embarcadero where there was a farmer's market type event going on. At the end of Market street there were booths of arts and crafts, mostly jewelry. Across the tracks was the fruits and vegetables. I wandered over and through the booths and then through the building to the other side and wandered through the booths there: vegetables, fruit, cheeses, breads. The smells were wonderful combined with the sea air. I wandered around the building where I made a new friend, Mr. Gull. I tease. But it was fun playing with my camera.

I wandered through a bookshop and picked up Mark Abramson's "Snowman," the fourth book in his series about Tim Snow, the Castro, and various mysteries. Shortly after exiting the bookshop I plopped on another bench and just sat there enjoying the music of my iPod (Baba O'Reilly! Roundabout! Rhiannon!) and watching the boats and birds out on the bay.

I received a text from M; he'd just woke up. About this time I was exiting the Embarcadero and was taking pictures of four SFFD firemen trying to open a car. Evidently the owner, some woman, locked her baby inside. (And they worry about gays and lesbians raising children!!) M and I texted a little and it was determined that I didn't have a whole of time comparatively speaking and seeing each other probably wouldn't work out. I walked to 4th/Mission and had lunch at Mel's (a different one than I had been at with M). I had a tuna melt with fries and coffee. They were really busy so I sat at the counter. When I'm dining alone I prefer the counter.

Afterwards I walked back to my hotel, retrieved my bag, then headed to the airport via BART and AirBART. I had already printed my boarding pass at the hotel so it was just a matter of going through security. Unusually, I sailed through the ID check. I was slowed down slightly though with the security part; they've installed a body scanner! So it was kind of interesting although I didn't see my image.

The flight home was rather uneventful, except for the child that occasionally screamed. Yes, it was lovely.

So although there was no heavy drinking, wild sexual antics, or stoned moments....it was, for me, a very enjoyable day and trip. I wish there was a way for me to keep my job and move up there. I would in a heartbeat. I'm a bit tired of LA and its suburbs. But that complaint is to be saved for another post another day.

It's HUMP DAY! And that means I have two days left in the work week. Starting to get a little nervous about the surgery but I'll save that for another post as well.

Enjoy your day! BEHR HUGS!!

Good Read Followup

In an earlier post, I shared two good reads by author Mark Abramson: Beach Reading and Cold Serial Murder. While I was without internet, I read his third novel in the series, Russian River Rat.

This novel continues the saga of Tim Snow and his circle of friends and family. Tim has moved into his dead ex’s house and is now dating Nick. The new boyfriends, although in the throes of love, begin having miscommunication problems as a result of Nick’s cousin being found naked and drowned in the Russian River and the appearance of Phil, a mysterious man from Tim’s past. A series of accidents lands Tim in the hospital and his Aunt Ruth, who has moved into Tim’s old apartment, tries to ferret out the instigator before more harm can be done.

Mr. Abramsom brings the colorful world of the Castro, SoMa, the Russian River, and San Francisco to life and rounds out secondary characters introduced in the previous novels. We meet them all: drag queens, leather queens, bears, meth addicts, trannies, and straights. The author’s use of humor is a nice contrast to the excitement of the action. I recommend Russian River Rat whole-heartedly! BEHR HUGS!!

Two Good Reads

When I was a kid I was a voracious reader. I spent my summers reading under the elder tree in the front yard, reading as many as 20 books over my summer vacation. I couldn't get enough. This habit has fallen by the wayside I'm sorry to say. However, once in a while I do pick up a book rather than turn on the TV or computer and I'm here to tell you today about two really good reads, both by the same author, Mark Abramson.















The first is "Beach Reading," which is set in San Francisco and follows the escapades of Tim Snow, an HIV-positive waiter who works in the Castro. The storyline involves the "party of the decade" and an anti-gay evangelist who will "preach" on the same night as the party. There's the usual cast of characters - the ex-drag queen and his Nicaraguan lover who own the restaurant, an ex-lover who also waits tables, activists friends, cute Mormon boys, the older, and straight woman who sings show tunes. There is intrigue, humor, and of course, a happy ending!













The second is "Cold Serial Murder," which continues the Tim Snow story with a visit from his Aunt Ruth and not one, not two, but three murders - all of people Tim knows! Again with the humor and intrigue, a ghostly appearance, a new love interest for Tim, and the usual cast of characters, including the mysterious sister of one of Tim's apartment neighbors, a newlywed gay couple, the lounge singer's fifth husband - or is it sixth?

What I absolutely enjoyed most about these two books is Mark's ability to describe The Castro and its denizens so you feel as if you are actually walking past Twin Peaks, The Castro Theater, taking the Muni to see a Giants game, and best of all, actually walking into Hole in the Wall and talking to the hot hunky bartender! (Something I've done!) Both books have a bit of a twist/surprise ending which I didn't see (not that I was looking for it), which is always the sign of a great writer.

A third book in the series, "River Rat," is forthcoming and I can't wait! I totally escaped into his books. As a lover of San Francisco (wish my job would transfer me there), I felt an even greater pull to this fabulous city. Oh....and check out Mr. Abramson....WOOF! I "friended" Mark on Facebook and he graciously allowed me to blog about his books.














If you like good reads especially gay fiction I highly recommend both books. Each is unique in its own way and yet there is tremendous consistency in characters and loyalty to SF, in particular The Castro. Happy reading and BEHR HUGS!!