BIG GAY OUT ... with bunnies!

[Atlanta USA - 03 March 2006]

Today was a beautiful day ... peek-a-boo sun with a mild breeze ... about 17 or 18c ... fabulous!

I was out & about round Ansley Mall ... popped into the Gay 'Bucks (Starbucks) for a mocha mint frappuccino, as you do.

After a prolonged wait, I had a fab haircut! Yes, I shaved the sides but kept quite a bit on the top.

I deposited my wee paycheque ... a pitiful $150.00, due to my week off.

CVS gave me three tablets of Atenolol till I can get a new prescription. Still not sure what I'm gonna do. I guess I'll go to GRADY ('orrible public hospital) tomorrow. Phooey.

Got some more Pre de Provence 100% vegetable soap ... one eucalyptus and one peppermint. Why do the French insist on making fabulous 100% vegetarian soap but are infamous for being one of the most vegetarian-unfriendly countries on Earth? One can wash ethically ... just not eat!

I had dinner alone at the cafeteria ... cabbage, mac-n-cheese and a salad ... it suits a bunny!

After that, I wondered round and perused the Easter bollocks that are all about the shops. 'Tis a great time to invest in bunny tat, of course!

I wandered into the pet shop ... which I sometimes avoid, as those shops can be depressing ... but I discovered some very happy baby bunnies! They were so curious and responsive ... only three weeks old but seemed so clever & worldly wise to us human lot!

Leaving the bunnies behind, I carried on to the market. Sadly, I can no longer find crumpets but I put in a special order! I did get a few bits & bobs ... the usual ... lettuce, more greens, 12-grain bread, fakin' steak, Wet Ones ... I even got a bar of 62% cacao Scharffen Berger chocolate! Yummers.

I did not find a new bunny plushie today, as I'd hoped. I must have looked at three dozen in the various shops but could not find the perfect bunny to suit me ... it's gotta be cute & huggable but not tatty or tacky. I'll find me a new bunny yet!

:-)

Richard the Big Bunny

MARCH HARE: Not much news ...

[ATLANTA - 30 March 2006]

Almost nothing has happened this month. There's really very little to tell.

I've put in quite a bit of time at The Fox (rock shows & such) and made decent tips ... been out to the diner after work a few times with Stacy & Laura ... had a few dates with Jim ... spent far too much time on OUT in the UK and Thingbox ... that's about it!

My 'custom' Happy Bunny t-shirt arrived yesterday ...



Ain't it fab ?!?

I think my mum would blush ...



Luckily, I already have a handbag that matches it.



Just kidding! Actually, this is a 1980s London gossip newsprint clutch that holds my permanent markers.

Home life is okay, I suppose. Living here with Martin & his cat has gone well enough but it really does cost about 30% more than I can afford. I don't know how I'll save up money to apply for my UK visa (appx. £300.00!) at this rate. Still, it is comfortable & convenient ...



Maybe April will bring more excitement to my life.

Hopefully, a bit of UK visa news is just around the corner!

Bored in the colonies,
Richard the Big Bunny

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (with bunnies!)

[This is undeniably brilliant !!!]

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN IN 30 SECONDS (Re-Enacted by Bunnies!)

SPOILER ALERT: This will reveal the entire plot ... at rabbit speed!

Click on either 'toon below:





Hurrah!

x/RICHARD

Cut it all off! Let it all out!

[ATLANTA - Friday, 24 February 2006]

While jamming along to my favourite music today, I spent hours decorating the bulletin board that Jim bought for me.



I guess it's a manifestation of what goes on in my head ... a head that has far less hair after yesterday's shearing.



Hurrah!

Richard the Big Bunny

THE MUMMY RETURNS

[Atlanta - A Freaky Friday in February 2006]

My mum, sister, niece and I went out for lunch today.

They were here to drop off some things I'd left with them before I moved to England in 2003 (my electric kettle, toaster oven and humidifier) ... might as well use them while I'm here!

We had a meal round Agnes & Muriel's and then coffee at Caribou.

While we were there, my sister snapped this nice photo of my mother & me ...



I thought the photo came out rather well ... and no Photoshop adjustments!

We sat outside but it was colder than it looks ...

'Twas a nice visit.

x/RICHARD

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !!!

LODGING NEWS!

[Atlanta - 3 PM - Wednesday - Eleven January Twenty-O-Six]

I finally have permanent digs in Atlanta!

<--(Not my actual house!)

Well, permanent till I return to London ...

I live on Piedmont Way near Ansley Mall (how delightfully gay!).

In a bizarre twist of it's-a-small-world-after-all-innit?, I already know my housemate and I have even been in this house before!

Follow along now: My new housemate is Martin ... who I already know through a former acquaintance named 'Johnny Rock' (I am in his old room). I have been to houseparties here before. Johnny is also friends with Rodney, with whom I lived (along with Ashley) in Chambodia.

What more, I am only three houses and around the corner from David's garage, where I stayed after my 'crash landing' back into America. I am also back on my regular bus route to The Fox.

Most shocking, I suppose, is that I'm living with a *CAT*.

[*screams like a little bitch & then sneezes*]

I am back on Zyrtec, which is over $80 per month in America (no NHS here, babe!). It seems to have done the trick though. Luckily, I am getting Zyrtec for only $50 per month and a few free samples here and there. Compare that to the £3.65 (about $7.00) it costs me per month in England!

Anyway, my housemate Martin is über-sweet, helpful and easy-going. He's also gone a lot. Martin is a trolley-dolly for Delta. Hurrah! Can you say 'Buddy Pass to London' ?!?

:-)

I am sure that will more than make up for life with a cat ...

Martin is not a vegetarian but seems to eat more soya than I do! He's spiritual and a Kabalah student (pre-dating the trend, as it were).

His incantations of Hebrew with a Southern accent *do* amuse me ...

[*smile*]

Rent here is higher than I'd aimed for and I had a tough time choosing between this place and a downtown condo on Highland Avenue at Freedom Parkway (sorry, Alex & David!) but life here is undeniably comfortable and familiar.

And that's the news ...

Kol HaKavod!

Yours with bunnyfeets,
Richard of London

YOU BETTER WORK, 2006!

[ATLANTA - New Year's Day]

New Year's Eve was rather smashing this year.

Jim popped round early for dinner and a bottle of champagne.



As planned, we spent New Year's Eve at swish & newly renovated WET BAR.



The club is unique in that it has several indoor and outdoor water features (how very Grand Designs, love!).

On our way to the club, we picked up Jim's straight nephew, Justin.

We queued up outside the club for about 45 minutes. Yes, me! And I didn't whinge (much) ... mostly because Justin and I passed the time talking about his time in England.

Once inside, we had a look around and got cocktails.

Midnight crept up on us and we barely had time to refresh our cocktails before the countdown began!

It was murder on the dancefloor so we didn't stick around that area for long. We took a break and retreated to the lounge while waiting for the show ...

RUPAUL!



Ru was up to his usual grade of fierceness--no complaints there! Once I overcame security & 'crowd maintenance' via a long journey round the building, Jim and I were reunited by Ru's second song. We did have a rather good view of the show from our position on the steps.



Continuing with what has become a twisted drunken club tradition, I snapped these 'self-portraits' in the loo:



Outside, Jim bumped into some fellow band directors he knows from competitions and such ... so I was regaled with embarrassing ''one time ... at bandcamp ...''-type stories.



I thought that maybe I, too, would bump into someone from 'back in the day' but, alas, I didn't see anyone from my Atlanta past all night.

Of course, I need not worry about the ghosts of club nights past when I am holding the hand of my future ...



Justin was having no trouble finding affectionate females (an older woman had 'molestered' him on the dancefloor earlier!). Actually, there were a few girls about, gagging for the only straight boy in the building ... never mind the boys!

Below is the poor lamb being pawed by a bevy of admirers ...



We did make sure that he was okay. Justin didn't seem to be terribly concerned about his male admirers so Jim and I continued to enjoy ourselves nearby ... keeping a watchful eye!

Jim & I had a particularly good time when we got home as well. It was certainly a night I won't forget any time soon ...

[Ooo-er, Missus!]

Just look at this photo of my Puddin' that I snapped before dinner:



Am I a lucky bastard or what ?!?

Yours with a hangover,
Richard the Big Bunny

It's Xmas time in the city ...

[Atlanta - 28 December 2005]

Wow! It's been a busy month.



I am sure I'll forget something but here's a recap:

My move into Bryan's flat to 'house-sit' went flawlessly. I miss the neatness & order of Michael's apartment but I can walk to work at The Fox from Bryan's. And no rent ...

Work at The Fox has been overwhelming since late November. Along with the Rockettes Xmas hoo-ha and The Nutcracker, we've also had concerts and ballroom events at which I have worked. The concerts netted FABULOUS tips (!) ... and that money is needed as January will really see a slow-down in my workload & income.

I had lunch with Jim & his son James (who just turned 16) twice before Xmas. James is a great kid ... if a bit quiet. I suppose I'd be quiet and cautious, too, if I was meeting my father's boyfriend/partner for the first time. I am just pleased that Jim has invited me into his family life. Jim is a wonderful father and I have encouraged him all along to be the best daddy he can be! Given that we both had rather crap fathers, I support Jim totally in his role as 'daddy' to his three kids.

My Xmas was great. I was off work on Xmas Eve and just sat around doing nothing for a change. Jim was over on Xmas Day in the late afternoon to open presents & swill champagne (he's taken to champagne like a duck to water!). Note: I get champagne at cost from The Fox!

I'd teased him earlier in the day by emailing this image:



Yeah, Jim got lots of presents from me ... but I rather enjoy making him feel loved & giving him thoughtful gifts. Highlights include: a coffee table book from WICKED THE MUSICAL, a lovely button-down shirt, a French & Saunders DVD, a humourous book about Denmark and a copy of my favourite book, NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND by Bill Bryson. He also got a few CDs and such ... thrown in for good measure!



Jim got me just what I asked for ... socks! :-) Okay, so I also got a lovely button-down shirt, some fleecy sweatpants and some cufflinks ... all needed! I had asked for practical things. I have two shirts with me here in America that I've been unable to wear, as I left my cufflinks in London.



Whatmore, Jim had resheduled our cruise as an Xmas surprise ... but it seems it might be postponed again! The delay would be my fault this time.

Jim has been a real sweetie lately. More important than the gifts, he has been giving me so much of his time since he returned from Chicago. I just love him, I do!

My mum even came for a visit on the 26th. She was in town with my sister & brother-in-law (who I'm only just now meeting!), along with my neice Taylor and her half-sister Jessica. Mum & I had brunch down The Flying Biscuit and coffee at Caribou across the street. Once back at mine, we nattered on a couple hours while she enjoyed her ciggies on the balcony. Chest cold aside, she was in remarkably good form. I can't recall when we've last had such pleasant, positive conversation. [Note: I get 'the whingeing gene' from my mother yet this entire day was nearly complaint-free.]

One final bit of Xmas cheer arrived a bit late ... a lovely handmade Xmas card from my best mate Androo in London. The card features a red reindeer sewn onto a green patch on the front. Such texture & design ... how delightfully fabulous! Androo is the best, he is ... he even included some Jesus fodder that came through his letterbox! He knows how to make me laugh, he does.

Now I am looking for a new place to live (see the advert here). Bryan is back from his world tour on the 7th and this house-sitting gig is up!

Wish me luck.



Richard the Big Bunny

My family ...

[Earth - After Midnight - Thursday]

My family has returned from the Caribbean!

I rather liked this photo of mum and my brother David ...



She's a dancehall queen, she is!

:-)

'Cha bedda come-down-wid-it, Mummy ...

Some of you are surely in shock, as I so rarely speak of my family ... much less show photos!

They were all in the Caribbean except me. This entire trip was planned whilst I was still in London.

Peace, love & irie !!!

Richard