What a drag (Again?)

© Joselito Briones

One thing I forgot to mention about my childhood recollection yesterday was that not only were we allowed to run around the neighborhood all the time, but we wore costumes! (Yes, a colorful towel tied on your neck as a cape counted as costume - and No!, the picture above is not of me, that's Alex, although I did take the picture and did the digital editing). Inspired by that, I thought I'd dress up a little like a cowboy today (That's still not me in the picture link, that's Robert, but I'm sure you remember him). Well, that, or I'm just sick and tired of spending all day in a wife-beater or t-shirt and track bottoms organizing stuff at home. Any anyway it's not really a full cowboy outfit, just a western shirt, jeans, leather shoes. And a cowboy hat, of course. It's not exactly drag, but now I know how a drag queen feels (and what would any mention of this be, if not including my friends, The Divas). In this clothes, everywhere I go, people looked at me, and they smiled. (I'am an attention ho' after all!) David, a guy I worked with in New York, (his alter ego is the ever fabulous but long-been-missing Tulah) said this is what he loved most about doing drag. The moment you put that dress on, you immediately acquire power. You can do whatever you want and people will just smile at you. People are friendlier to you. Either that or they'd think you're a complete fool but stare anyway. Either way, it's a win-win situation. I think I'll practice tilting my hat with my middle and index fingers as a form of greeting to those who smile at me. "Howdy, ma'am".

Unfortunately there was no paparazzi around so, no photos. Instead I'm showing you this (above)...I went to Handelshof again. I never learn. I bought too much stuff again and struggled to carry it home again. It was even more difficult as I couldn't tilt my hat. Also went to Ikea to buy shelves. Again.

XXX


PS
I had to rush to Handelshof today, tomorrow being a bank holiday and all shops close. There was a rush of people trying to do a last minute shopping. The most interesting purchase I did was of bagels of different flavors, ones even New York doesn't have... vegetable bagel, sunflower seed bagel, and pepperoni bagel.


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Windows to the Past

© Joselito Briones

I'm loving the picture windows in the new apartment. They're like ultra HD tv's and you can pan the picture by moving about in the room. The one in the bedroom frames this really tall tree behind the building. I lie in bed and look at it, I see the leaves swaying, I hear the rustling sound, and I get transported back to the Philippines of my childhood when, after a heavy lunch, playing in the sun, and getting forced to bathe by grown-ups who are against the smell of the sun on my skin ("amoy araw ka na", they'd say), I'd just lay on a bamboo mattress under a mango tree and take a nap, until it's time to have merienda and run around the neighborhood again.

Sigh...

The cow was a present from Nico.


XXX

Escape artist

© Joselito Briones

Back to Erlangen. Back to unpacking. Only I didn't know where to continue. I'm stalled. I couldn't unpack all closet contents because the closets aren't built yet, couldn't build the shelves because it required moving out of the way heavy photography equipment (enlargers) that I couldn't move by myself. After cleaning up and doing the laundry, I decided to escape to the park. The students lying on the grass, soaking in the sun, was a nice sight. I didn't stay long there though, I had to go to the pedestrian zone to get some money and do the grocery.

I also went to Handelshof (their version of Walmart). It's a short walking distance from the apartment. I got carried away and didn't realize I've bought too many things to carry by myself. I managed to get home only after having to stop and pause a few times.

Tonight I made humba (or something close enough).


XXX