Never Turn Your Back On The Ocean...

From the age of about 16, whenever I could, I traveled. All though my late teens and early twenties I went away whenever the opportunity arose. The problem was I kept going back to the same places. I had two close friends in New York so I went there about seven times, an aunt in Boston took me there three or four times. Florida, Montreal, Toronto, Milwaukee and Maine were all places I frequented more than once. When I turned 28 I accepted a full time job. Since then, finding the time and money to take off has not been as easy. (why did I seem to have more cash before I was employed full time...)



I have several dream destinations, the same places as many of you I'm sure, Paris, Australia, Africa, Thailand and London (London actually has a planned date and savings account going). The closest location on my dream list would be Hawaii. My connection to the Islands is skimpy but nonetheless and intense one. An old collection of Hawaii records my parents had when I was a kid began it all. For years we had shelves of these records, many from the K-Tel collection, but no working record player to actually play them on. That did not stop me from taking the records to my room and spending hours listening to my cassettes while studying the art work on the album covers. My parents loved Hawaii and went every second year leaving us kids at home with a angry aunt not used to taking care of anyone but herself. They always brought us home something and the cheapest looking tacky souvenirs became symbols of future adventure.



When I picture Hawaii it is still the vision I had when I was 8 staring at those album covers. I know Hawaii is far more than luaus and grass skirts but I do love how the culture is so heavily impacted by it's location. Hawaii always had me dreaming of what life would be like if we lived somewhere in between the ocean and the land, spending our time between the two worlds but never spending too much time in just one.

Hawaii via Australia: David Does Donkey Beach!

If your a member of JustADream you are undoubtedly familiar with one of it's most popular posters David Asset. David has also been a frequent contributor to FH, chronicling and sharing many of the videos I use each year from the solo strips which precede the annual Broadway Bares show.



Early in October David entered a self-portrait competition over at one of my favorite places to visit each day Aussielicious. The site, as many of know, is run by the photographer Brenton Parry and is a welcoming site that I have enjoyed frequenting for a few years now. David's beautiful window shot brought him not only third place but his own feature on the site the following month.



In his Aussielicious feature, the former television executive and ACE-certified Aerobics Master Presenter shared his love of the Islands and his time, usually naked, on the their many beaches. In the shots below, David had just competed in an Aerobics Marathon in NYC and headed to Hawaii shortly afterwards for a holiday to relax and chill out.



'I love the freedom of a nude beach, emerging from the waters just as unencumbered as the day on which you were born. What's great about both Donkey Beach and Little Beach is that they are both visited by an eclectic bunch of people: tourists on holiday who want to be daring, locals who simply want to lay back at the end of the day, surfers out to tame the wild waves and families with children unashamed of their nakedness, gays and straights out for a day of camaraderie and fortunately very few gawkers.'



'Donkey Beach on Kauai is unfortunately becoming more gentrified and its status as a nude beach is being threatened by the development of multimillion dollar cooperative apartments nearby and I fear it will soon be off-limits to nudists. Little Beach on the other hand sits high above the Cliffs and requires a long, somewhat difficult journey over sand and rocks so will probably remain a nude for years to come.'



David Asset is an aspiring videographer and purveyor of vintage movie posters currently living in both New York City and Rancho Mirage, California. Thanks David for sharing your time in Hawaii, and your pics with FH!

Noise:

When I was in grade 9 one of my best friends was Oliver. Our friendship was short lived as his father was a university professor and they moved a few streets over the summer before grade 9 and left when his dad was transferred the following summer. Oliver was easy going, quiet but thoughtful and devoted to his bike. Our connection began along a nature trail where we annoyed the shit of dogs and their owners and old couples walking, by burning quickly by them on our bikes, far too close to them, on our way to nowhere really.



After terrorizing the leisure walkers,we often ended back at Oliver's place. His house held a mysterious fascination to me. First off, Oliver did not have a mother. I never really found out what happened but guessed she was still alive somewhere as I thought if she had died there would be a picture around somewhere, there were none. In fact the walls had no pictures at all. The floor were hardwood (unlike my home with wall to wall brown carpet). There were no plants, but instead old tree branches stuck in pots. Oliver had two sisters but I rarely either one of them. They were always home, but they were always in their bedrooms. The oddest thing about Oliver's house was the sound...there wasn't any. It boggled my mind that Oliver's family did not have a television or even a stereo. Oliver had a small transistor radio in his room but it was never on. Whenever I did see a sister, or his father they were either reading, painting or working on some other project with their hands. In contrast my home was always loud, voices were loud and a television that my mother always had on although she was rarely in the same room with it. Even today, my parents television is always on and always loud and even today they rarely sit in the same room as the tv.



I remember initially thinking Oliver's lack of a television, not to mention the lack of noise was really odd. As the year went on I remember welcoming the quiet when I spent time in his home. It was such a break from my own home. Back when I was in grade 9 the television options were not what they are today. Television, radio today seems just full of loud people talking. They are not emoting character driven drama, most of the drama is real, or at least written to be swallowed by the naive as real.

There is so much talking it is all beginning to sound a bit muffled to me. Last week these voices were talking about a 72 day old marriage. This week those same voices are talking about the rape of a 10 year old boy in a shower stall. What is most startling is when you stop listening to the words, and only hear the voices the the two sound shockingly the same. There is far too much noise today, so much so it is hard to escape. So much noise that the brutal rape of a child gets the same amount of attention and air time as a morally challenged fame seeking family. I have no idea where Oliver is these days but I hope his auditory world has remained as pure as the one that I remember.

Ode To The Facebook Celebrity...

I joined facebook late, but... over the last year or two have observed the journey of more than a few celebrities on facebook. Now most celebrities are wonderful, appreciative of fan support and know the power of social networking. There are more than a few however, whose journey has gone a little something like this...




Postings of the ego driven celebrity of Facebook: (and many non-celebrities as well who seem to think 'friends' are 'fans'.)

2005:
Finally left Myspace, tell all your friends they can now find me on Facebook!

2006:
1670 Friends! Lets make that 2000 by the end of the day! Tell your friends!!!

2007:
4601 Friends! Lets hit that 5000 mark this week, spread the word!!! You guys are the best, could not do it without your support!!!!

2008:
I have maxed out my friends, please join my FB Fan page and tell your friends!

2009:
I love you all!!!! Fanpage up to 20,000!!!!!



2010:
Sorry everyone, closing down my fan page, no time to update, if your on my main page I will be updating there!

Ok people, I want my facebook page to be for friends, family only, too hard to keep up with every one's posts!

Ok, I am going to start deleting friends. If you don't know me personally please unfriend me, it will help save me some time!

Join my twitter page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfriended

2011:

Facebook is getting lame, you can find me mostly on twitter!

Anyone heard of Google+?

Just got an account on Google+

The user does not exist.
No results found for your query.

Celebrity (insert name here) has joined facebook

Hey Everybody, join my new Facebook fan page!!! Tell all your friends!!!!!

Congratulations Mario Cantone!

Although I am sure it was not as over the top as his alter ego Anthony's wedding was in Sex And The City 2 (below), it was great to hear about comedian Mario Cantone's wedding to musical theatre director John Dixon. I love Mario Cantone, I love him as he is one of very few people who can take me to tears of laughter. The ability to bring such joy is something I truly and admire and respect. I have followed the talened comedian, actor and singer since I began FH and was thrilled when Mario did an interview for FH a couple of years ago. Congratulations Mario and John!

Hating Julie Andrews???

Ok, so I don't hate Julie Andrews (but...she is a far cry from her goody goody characters she plays) but... what if I did? How do you dislike someone people have put on a pedestal? There are certain people people would look oddly at you if you said you hated, Desmond Tutu, Meryl Streep, Beyonce, Mother Teresa, Betty White to name a few. There is someone else that although certainly not like by all (hated my many actually) that has become a figure many in the gay community have gotten behind. Chaz Bono has gotten overwhelming support for his bringing attention to the transgendered community. Now, being the child of one of the countries sexiest superstars, gay icon and fashion trend center would not be easy for anyone. Being the cute blonde daughter who goes on to become a man would put complications into any family dynamic.



But...Chaz in annoying! His personality is grating, he looks completely bored and irritated during most interviews, has little to no sense of ha ha and despite any parental conflict is less than gracious about his mother in less than subtle, but frequent slams. The icing on the cake is that Chaz cannot dance! There are so many who back him up simply because of his gender (or transgender). If it is not OK to exclude someone due to gender, race or sexual orientation it should not be OK to include them solely based on it either. Chaz, I respect your hard work but hoping tonight the Hollywood Hills are alive with your getting the boot!

And just because...someone I do like, the adorable Tristan MacManus.

Pathos & The Press

I always question celebrities who take to the cover of magazine to discuss a personal matter. Usually the issue has already become old news as websites and newspapers have spread the word before the weekly can hit the newsstands. Although many celebrities will claim they 'want to help others going through the same thing', we all know the reason is generally all about money. If there is not a book coming out, there is a career or reputation to save. The public cry for understanding and sympathy is never as pure as depicted.

Above: Bill Rancic

I wish no one harm, but why exactly are we expected to care about Giuliana Rancic's latest health drama. It looks like she will be fine which is great, but why does she, or anyone in the press think she is worth the ink or our time. I have never seen Giuliana do anything except go on talk shows, sometimes with her husband, and discuss her personal issues. Her weight, her inability to have a child and now her health scare. I had to check Wikipedia before writing this to even know what her claim to fame is. Besides some hosting jobs as far as I can tell her marriage to Apprentice winner Bill Rancic is about her biggest claim to fame. Her recent cancer scare, like her struggle to have a child, have become her career. Without her public pathos most people would have no clue who she is.

Below: Zachary Quinto


It is exactly people like Rancic that have me respect and appreciate celebrities like Zachary Quinto. I know gay rights have a long way to go and I know that changing the way others think is not easy and often involves going to battle. I also love however, those who choose to battle simply by being who they are. I love when gay celebrities, as Quinto did, toss out their sexuality the same way straight celebrities are able and have the right to. Some have scoffed at Quinto's saying he was never in the closet but I applaud that comment. Quinto never pretended to be straight, he never hid, he was often photographed smiling and hanging with gay friends and rumored boyfriends. He was often connected to gay themed projects, both on screen and on stage. Not making a formal announcement is not the same as pulling a Travolta.

Sometimes I wonder if celebrities who scream their sexuality on magazine covers hurt more than help. I know many of my fellow bloggers disagree and champion those who make sexuality a public affair, but I personally don't support being gay on the same list (that includes cheating, addiction & disease) that gets one on a magazine cover. Being gay isn't something you do, a crime you commit or something you get. It is just something you are. I don't know about the rest of you but my fight for gay rights is not to make being gay important, it is a fight to make it unimportant. I am looking forward to a world where someone comments on their sexuality is not a news story, it just is. Quinto doesn't need our pathos and for a celebrity weaving their way through today's media, that is refreshing.

The One At The Beach

If any of you were a fan of Friends, you will remember the 1997 finale, The One At The Beach. My weekend away pretty much copied that episode down to the cottage filled with sand. (mostly from peoples feet...) It has been raining pretty much non stop for 4 days, everything ended up wet, especially my dog. Except for a walk on the beach for about a half hour Friday night when it cleared, it was an inside weekend at the beach. Not the weekend I planned but board games, poker, good food and lots of beer is not the worst way to close out the summer of 2011.



One lesson I have yet to learn though, in all the times I have gone away with this particular group of friends, is how to bow quietly and gracefully out of the room when someone says 'Lets Play Truth Or Dare!' In order not to repeat the singing in my skivvies incident from last year I carefully chose truth this year. Lets just leave it that the results were no less traumatic.

Endless Summer

I thought I sucked the last moments out of the summer of 2011 earlier in the month but alas...I am not done sucking! Off for officially my last weekend at the beach before the leaves start to change. See you all on Sunday!
Tye

Things You should NOT do Naked!

There are many things we can do that much more fun when naked. There are other activities which really do require clothes. In trying to research the idea for this post I was pleasantly surprised to find examples of images all in one place. Playgirls 1973 Man of The Year Greg Wainwright looks great doing almost anything. Although I applaud the creativity of the people behind Greg's layout, beyond the swimming and the running I would love to ask Greg what he was thinking as some these shots were set up.



Skinning dipping and running on the beach yes....
But... with much love to PG this particular shoot cracked me up!



Hanging with your 70's lady (who today must be pretty close to 70...)

Running with your dog...those teeth...that penis...too close too close!

Biking?

Running a dozer?

Repairing a roof.. What about the tar?

Hammering...

Using an electric saw?

And Yet....

Still so far to go...

Each time I hear about anyone, especially a teenager, whose life becomes so unbearable, so devoid of hope, that they feel there is no choice but to end it I feel sad and get angry. This sadness however is usually short lived as it is tragically becoming a regular part of the news cycle.

Something said about Jamey Rodemeyer has really stuck with me and I can't seem to shake it. An 8th grader at Jamey's school said 'He made friends of the friendless.'

I think of all the Religious based organizations who have poured millions into trying to stop same sex marriage. All the people in the name of the bible trying belittle, criticize and assault those different than themselves. Then I think of this 14 year old, making friends of the friendless. If there was ever a behavior that so closely mirrored that of Jesus it would have been the way in which this 14 year old gay youth interacted with others. The irony is fucking mind boggling.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite: Stories:

When I was in University I HATED research, but it has become one of my favorite parts of working on FH. Although FH is image based, I am proud it is more than just a 'right click, save' and post site. Sometimes it takes weeks to put together a post depending on the degree of research required. Sometimes, it takes hours just to get the info for one sentence. I would not have it any other way!

There are just a few of my favorite stories from 2011:
I did not pick any stories from my Photographer profiles as it would not be fair to choose and I loved working on each and every one of them.

Photographer Profiles:
Whenever an artist agrees to share their work with FH I want to ensure the images are presented in the best way possible. A favorite staple of FH is the photographer profiles. I try, especially in my first post on an artist, to find that special something I see in the within the images and try to put into words what drew me to them.

Shot above by Marlen Boro

1975
1992
My look back at some of the iconic men who were a part of Playgirl magazine, including my interview with photographer Greg Weinerhave been really interesting to put together. More in the works!


Beyond Betty & Veronica
Just fun to put together!


A Little Escape:
It was fun looking back on some of the books I read as a kid that led to my love of reading.


Celebrity Profiles:
It was rewarding to have my recent posts on the anniversary of The Blue Lagoon and profile of actor William McNamara's new web series get the seal of approval from Randal and William.
Below: Randal Kleiser on set with Shields and Atkins.



Unfanning: I didn't really think my article questioning my admiration for a certain actor was that spectacular when writing it. It became a favorite of mine because it drew 14 comments and 4 e-mails, one which included a death threat. 14 comments may not seem extremely high but FH gets a respectable 25,000 to 30,000 hits on any given day (more on the weekends) but pathetically few comments. Some of my biggest posts (biggest being stat hits and links to and... others borrowing for their blogs, usually without a link or credit) don't get many comments, but when I hit a nerve it is always a bit satisfying.


& Finally my profile of Max Emerson last week. I notice on my stats the Rick Day post with Max got tons of hits but getting to him through the story was the one I enjoyed putting together.

Next on my Amazon wish list: Paul Freeman's Outback Brumby

'Paul Freeman's 'Outback' series continues to explore the rich natural beauty of Australia's rugged landscape. Outback captured our imaginations during a rollicking pictorial ‘boys own’ adventure in the parched farming landscape of Australia. Its successor, 'Currawong Creek' introduced us to the strong bonds forged between mates that work on the land.'

I love Paul Freeman's work and his Outback series (including pictured model Nathan Kelly) are truly a collection of some of the most breathtaking images ever! Check out more on Paul's site HERE: