beyond buffalo

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via Luxist.com

A handful of fashion editors got a look at Alexander McQueen’s last, unfinished collection on Tuesday, making them acutely aware of the genius the industry has lost.

The 16-piece collection, half of what was supposed to have been shown in Paris this week, was 80 percent finished on Feb. 11 when the designer hanged himself at his London apartment at the age of 40. He had been reportedly distraught by his mother’s death and there were rumors of a failed love relationship. Sarah Burton, who worked with McQueen for more than a decade, finished his work.

The presentation was set to opera music the designer was listening to when he was working recently. It was “solemn, funereal and even a little spooky,” according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Editors said the show was difficult to watch because it was soon clear that McQueen was fixated on the afterlife. The clothes had medieval and religious overtones and suggested battles between angels and demons-themes that take on significantly more meaning in light of McQueen’s death. With pale faces and wearing bronze skull caps, models glided out in Jacquards and silks on which Old Master paintings by Botticelli, Hieronymus Bosch and Jean Fouquet were digitally transferred. One print portrayed hell and damnation while another featured doves. A skull, a signature of McQueen’s, showed up in this collection crushed and broken.

I’ve been trying to move beyond Buffalo for most of my adult life, but every so often it is nice to go home. It’s been three years since my last trip home to see my family, and even longer since we’ve all been together in the same room. With the exception of the oldest, all of us were together for the for the first time since Grandma’s funeral. It was so good to see everyone. My parents we happy to have me home for a bit, but it was hard to see them getting older.

After the few days in NY, I spent a few days in Chicago while waiting for my connection flight back to San Francisco. I stayed with Tom and it was the first time in Chicago since my move back to the Bay Area. I’d forgotten the things about Chicago that made living there bearable. The trip was all about memories. There was brunch with Karen (the world’s best waitress) at the Salt – and- Pepper Diner in Wriggleyville, a trip through the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute, dinner at Adobo Grill in River North and drinks at Sidetrack, all while dealing with cold and snow. Tom was a fantastic host and as soon as I find the perfect “thank you”, I’ll be sending him a little package.

Some pictures of the trip…

Dad's Toys

Don't tell Tom... but...

from Joe My God.

I’ve been struggling a great deal with the levels of hatred directed at my sub-set of humanity (the gays.) The whole Proposition 8 trial has been rather eye opening in the disinformation and outright bigotry spewed at us. It saddens me that the majority of the bigots, and yes, I’m calling you bigots, hide behind their religion as if that makes it all ok. “I don’t hate you… I hate the sin that a 2000 year old work of fiction and parables tells me is a sin”.

Really?!?

That’s the best you can do?

At least when I have a discriminatory thought I acknowledge it out as my own weakness. I don’t hide behind some ancient text. I tend to speak ill of Asian drivers, should I blame my intolerance on the DMV driver’s laws? “I hate their driving, not them.”

How is that any different?

As such, all this religious based intolerance has made me angry and intolerant of religions and their people. I am disgusted that these people have so much control over the dialog in this country, so much control over politics and community. Religions have just as much right to exist as I do, they are entitled to their beliefs and ceremonies. However, they are NOT entitled to dictate my existence. They are not entitled to hateful rhetoric and fostering animosity towards others that do not believe as they do.

The founding fathers were very clear in their belief that religions are dangerous to freedom. They would not have dictated the separation of church and state otherwise. They would not have stipulated this in our very first foreign treaty. (Treaty of Tripoli)

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

I would love to see a president, senator or congressperson eschew religion, come out as an atheist, and proudly denounce the religious based intolerance and control over this country.

In that vein I was given a bit of hope when I stumbled over this website this morning. An insider’s view of the damage done by religion. And a very heartfelt apology for the hatred and intolerance. I wish I could send her a big thank you. The apology is a great first step towards recovery. I think they call it making amends in AA.

As a target of religious based intolerance and violence, thank you for your apology!

Tonight, I fixed the BF some Salmon for dinner. I wasn’t sure how to prepare it since I haven’t had a chance to go shopping after my trip to NY and Chicago.

I found a recipe online that sounded delicious and figured i’d give it a go. Came our pretty well. Though… I did start a small fire in the oven when I broiled the parchment paper.

This week has been exciting. Yesterday, for instance, in my effort to be more outgoing and to experience new things, I did 3 things completely new to me.
-I roasted a chicken all by myself. Granted, I cooked it breast side down, but regardless, the skin was crispy golden brown and the meat was tender and juicy with just the right amount of spice and saltiness to it.
-I blanched. I’ve heard about it but never tried it before yesterday. I blanched a big bunch of Chinese styled greens before crispy frying them in sesame oil.
-I sipped from an amazing bottle of Krug Grande Cuvee with good friends.

Tomorrow I fly home to the Buffalo area to spend some time with my family. Three of the boys and my sister will be together for the first time since Grandpa’s funeral. It should be interesting to say the least.

Then… as a reward, I’m going to spend some time in Chicago with my good friend Tom. I miss hanging out with Tom and I hope we spend some time doing all the things we used to do when I lived there. I can already taste the tots.

More Real Food, Less “Food-like Substances”,
More Fruit and Vegetables, Less Sugar, Wheat and Corn
More Organic, Less Toxic
More Chewing, Less Eating
More Water, Less Soda
More Recycling, Less Waste
More Walking, Less Driving
More Exercising, Less Watching TV
More Outdoors, Less Indoors
More Sleep, Less Worry
More Calm, Less Chaos
More Being, Less Doing
More Consciousness, Less Ignorance
More Smiles, Less Anger
More Love, Less Hatred
More Play, Less Serious
More Letting Go, Less Holding On
More Forgiving, Less Blaming
More Generosity, Less Greed
More Ubuntu, Less Me!

written by: Dr. Frank Lipman