Step Back in Time

I'm about to run out the door to JFK to catch a flight to Monte Carlo, where Damian and I will be fulfilling our youthful dream of attending its Masters 1000 event this week. (Because my husband lives by the "If It's Tuesday It Must Be Belgium" rule, we'll also be in Avignon, Nice, Milan, St. Moritz, Zermatt/Matterhorn, Zurich -- Glacier Express -- Interlaken/Brienz before flying home via Paris.) 

But before we go, I wanted to mention what a great weekend we had with my AZ childhood BFF, Greg, who flew in from Omaha to see Kylie Minogue last night at Madison Square Garden. 

The festivities began on Friday, with a mini reunion of the old Tucson gang -- Greg, Kara and Jimmy, aka Scooter. (I'm assuming Marlise, Liesel and Paul's ears were burning hot!)

It was so great catching up with everyone and finally meeting Kara's life partner, Korn.

The time flew by, but it was a thrill to see friends I have known since the late 1980s, a highlight of which was Greg's bringing some photos many of us had never seen before! 

Greg as Debbie Harry for Halloween

Scooter and Greg 

Me and Scooter at Kurt's 

Greg and me with Kurt, Tina and Nana 

 We followed that up with a fantastic dinner with Greg's friend Dave -- along with his boyfriend Abel, at the Society Cafe -- before meeting my friend Greg at MSG moments before the show.

This was my third time seeing the Aussie pop goddess -- also in 2009 and in 2011 -- and it was by far the best. I may only be a casual admirer … 

But by the end of the night, I felt like a superfan. So thrilled to see a woman of a certain age -- not unlike myself -- riding a new wave of success! 

 

Song of the Day: 'Every Day's Like Christmas' by Kylie Minogue

With thanks to my Arizona-childhood best friend, Greg, who yesterday introduced me to the Stock-Aitken-Waterman remix of this 2015 song by Dannii's sister. Sounds straight out of 1987, which was the exact year Greg and I finally got up the nerve to come out to one another! 

Song of the Day: 'Bette Davis Eyes' by Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue's version of the Jackie DeShannon gem made world-famous by Kim Carness isn't as compelling as it might be. But more surprising is that I'd never heard about the 2014 two-disc collection of '80s covers for which it was recorded -- that also included Lisa Stansfield covering "You're the Best Thing" by Paul Weller's Style Council. (If I didn't know about this, WHO did?????)

Song of the Day: 'Your Disco Needs You' by Kylie Minogue

 

And so does your bar! Order your shirt HERE.

On the Rag, Vol. 634

 A weekly look at what's making news in the gay magazines:

A&U: Entertainment correspondent Karl Schmid has set out to evolve the meaning of an HIV diagnosis and, with +Life, help others live positively

Between the Lines: Michigan HIV/AIDS agencies struggle to reimagine service delivery, support during Covid-19

Get Out!: Adonis -- Only Fans

Gay Times: Shea Couleé wins the honor for drag hero

Kylie wins honor for allyship

Grab: Colton Ford calls 'Unity' his most powerful album yet

Echo: Happy endings are possible, even in 2020

Out in Jersey: Joanna Lohman is a soccer star and activist

Dallas Voice: Local groups join National AIDS Memorial for World AIDS Day event

Song of the Day: 'I Love It' by Kyle Minogue

Today's pick is in recognition of the longevity of Kylie Minogue, who just became the first woman to top the U.K. album chart across five decades. "Disco," her 15th album, continues a run started in 1988 with "Kylie." She has topped the album chart six further times, with "Enjoy Yourself" (1989), "Fever" (2001), "Aphrodite" (2010) and "Golden" (2018), plus two greatest hits collections in 1992 and 2019.

Song of the Day: 'Dancing' by Kylie Minogue

What does everyone think of Kylie's "Golden" album? (I'm just getting around to listening.) My AZ-best-friend is a big fan -- he thinks some of the bonus tracks even surpass the official songs -- but I'm still a little on the fence about the whole thing. Her voice bothers me more than usual -- not sure if that's processing, aging, trying to sound "country" or Westville Girl Syndrome.

Remains of the Day (04/20)

Towleroad: Is Kylie Minogue angling for yet another gay boyfriend?

The Daily News: Was Morgan Freeman having sex with his late "granddaughter"?

Vanity Fair: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand up for LGBT rights

The Guardian: Friends mourn David Buckel, the gay lawyer who self-immolated

Daily Intel: The third major red-state teachers strike of 2018 will start next week (in Arizona!)

Dlisted: Rachel Weisz was impregnated by some 007 jizz 

New York Post: FDNY brags about diversity -- then hires firefighter who went on racist tirade

Boy Culture: Avicii, Swedish deejay and "Wake Me Up" hitmaker, dead at 28

CBS: Missing 17-year-old found dead; rumored boyfriend arrested for his murder

The Washington Post: Civil rights prosecutors recommend charges in death of Eric Garner

Greg in Hollywood: Must learn more about briefs-clad Tom Berklund

PinkNews: "It was either tits or death"

Lipstick Alley: I saw the story of a woman who married her uncle on "Forbidden: Dying for Love" last night, but it left out the part that he was an alleged child molester -- including her as a little girl -- and where she claims to have fucked his hot son/her hot cousin after allegedly murdering her husband/uncle/his dad -- and now another article claims she's fucked her defense lawyer

Deadline: Bette Midler returning to Broadway's "Hello, Dolly!" for production's end run

The Lester & Charlie Review: National Procrastination Week was last month

The Daily News: Hunt for cat that escaped carrier underway at JFK

AM New York: Cynthia Nixon's account of Marriage Equality Act passage angers LGBTQ activists

The Hill: DNC sues Russia, Trump campaign and WikiLeaks over alleged election interference

The Associated Press: "OK, who wants to take this one?"

HuffPost: Kansas teacher says series of homophobic threats drove him to quit his job

Hunk du Jour: How do you pick JUST ONE of these guys?

The Randy Report: Out actor/producer/writer Kevin Spirtas talks about his new Amazon series, "After Forever"

OMG Blog: Branden Miller -- aka "Joanne the Scammer" -- isn't pulling a fast one with that boner of his

NewNowNext: Research shows gay couples actually stay together longer than lesbians or heterosexuals

It's Either Sadness or Euphoria: "First love fixes a life forever: this much I have discovered over the years. It may not outrank subsequent loves, but they will always be affected by its existence. It may serve as model, or as counterexample. It may overshadow subsequent loves; on the other hand, it can make them easier, better. Though sometimes, first love cauterises the heart, and all any searcher will find thereafter is scar tissue."

‪From @littleman_mika: “Little is fighting the sleepies big time! He knows we are leaving & doesn’t want to miss a thing 😬🛫” #catsofinstagram‬

A post shared by Cats of Instagram (@cats_of_instagram) on Apr 19, 2018 at 6:18pm PDT

Hot Cat of the Day: I feel the same way during the last hour of work ...

On the Rag, Vol. 503

A weekly look at what's making news in the gay mags:

Metrosource: Behind the scenes with Daniel Levy of 'Schitt's Creek'

HotSpots: Talk about a tall drink of water!

Lavender (Minnesota): Adam Hirsch and Joe Livingston share the story of their relationship and unique wedding

Gay Times (U.K.): If this Gus Kenworthy cover doesn't resuscitate print media, nothing will

And this alternate cover of Ricky Martin isn't bad, either 

Metro Weekly (D.C.): Have you ever noticed that people who say they're geeks never are?

Between the Lines (Detroit): Homosexuality, the Middle East and self-identity

DNA (Australia): The weddings issue is here, and it's a doozy ...

Dallas Voice: The Easter pooch parade returns

QX (London): 13 Questions with Karamo Brown of 'Queer Eye'

Ku Easter Weekend

Get Out!: Prepare yourself for the annual Night of a Thousand Gowns

Gloss (San Francisco): I wanna do the White Party with Dan

Attitude (U.K.): Ricky Martin talks marriage, 'American Crime Story' and facing up to his sexuality

Kylie Minogue talks anxiety battle and why 'Golden' is her most personal album yet

Adelante: Greudyn Pena looking good out front 

Passport: Maybe I need to resubscribe to this travel mag!