Happiness is... simple

All animals except man know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it.
--Samuel Butler







ZIGGY

Is it in Yet?

Ahh, the subtle art of suggestion...
Most of us are aware of whether it is in or not...

BIRDS

Indeed,

Birds of a feather - Flock together

And so do flying creatures with varied feathers...

I had the wonderful occasion to spend an early evening November buffet with friends of "Varied Feathers"...

Amazing perhaps, that in conversation a few days ago with a voice on the telling end of the telephone, I was told that I was "Not Normal..." My appreciation for their simple comment and astute perception came bounding forth. Thank you, I said. You have verified my uniqueness.

Curious as to the age old question of what normal looks like, I begin:

Is Normal, the lounging about on November eves, drinking brews, eating handful after handful of non-descript fried things dipped in sauce and watching the game?

Is normal comparing salaries and material assets with other normal people?

Is normal hedging and embellishing in conversational exchanges?

By Definition, Normal is:

1.
conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.
2.
serving to establish a standard

a.
approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.
b.
free from any mental disorder; sane.

Ambiguity, I insit ! ...

Alas I have walked away from the normal, as i have lost interest in attemping to become something as ambiguous as is normal...

Cheers to a Life of simpler, gentler existence ...

And so, do I see creatures with varied feathers as Normal...

Gift Giving Season...

"BARRE COMPANY"

It is that time of year when so many give thanks in a myriad of ways...
Hosting Family and Friends
Cooking and Baking
Buying / Wrapping / Giving Presents
Attending Parties for Work
Making sure Everybody gets a Holiday Card
Decorating and Decorating and Decorating and...
Finding the perfect Tree
I may certainly have inadvertently left a few things off this list
(even after checking it twice and being Naughty & Nice...)

I think the ultimate gift we give those we are involved with is the gift of self...
Being who we are, sharing our Truths, Vulnerabilities, Joys, Hopes and Dreams
I am grateful for simply BEING this year and I hope to share that with those I love and care about. I hope they will share with me about their gratitude for being who they are as well...
Happy Gift Giving Season to All...
I hope I have given a hint as to what I might like this year...
Tony

WHAT IS PRIDE, Exactly?

WHAT IS PRIDE, Exactly?
Is it a barrage of marketing, business networking, cruising, one-uping, empty interchanges, gossip, who's with who, quick glances and judgments about each other?
Is that what we are PROUD of?
Entertainment offered to a a very creative and supportive group of Artistic and discriminating GAY people in the form of Drag Queens, Female Impersonators - Lipsinking? Same Old-Same Old... are we all so hypnotized by it all that we really don't care as long as there is D&A, Abs and Pecs?
Is that what were PROUD of?
Can we think outside of the "BOX"?
Was a day years ago, when having a major Icon in town for a benefit the following evening may have warranted a SPECIAL visit to promote PRIDE... I heard K.D. Lang was wonderful, for the 1 hour she sang at the benefit, She is truly amazing by my recolection of my partner and I crying tears of love and joy at a concert we attended 2 years ago.
Where is the sensitivity of the common shared struggle to simply BE who we are?
This is what we can be collectively PROUD of...

Proud at Pride?

I just got in from being a Guest at the Palm Springs Pride Festival of IN MAGAZINE
I want to thank them for the invite and I will be back tomorrow to meet and greet MORE
Tony Barre Listeners... The IN Magazine Crew is a WONDERFUL group of people, thanks everybody - thanks Russ ! I am giving away DVD's of DE-BRIEFING... the video
I want to encourage those in our community to relax, extend a hand or a smile, take a chance and meet somebody...
Saying Hello is NOT commiting to anything other than the acknowledgement of another person... It does not mean WILL YOU SLEEP WITH ME?
Will you sleep with me, means... Will you sleep with me....
Let's give ourselves a break from the perceived imagery we feel inclined to carry like a heavy back-pack and acknowledge each other for simply being...
Best
Tony