2013 in Review

Headlines this year…

• Terry turned 60
• My father died and was inurned in Arlington National Cemetery
• I amputated finger – and it survived reattachment!

Terry and I traveled…

• Fire Island with Nick
• West Virginia with Jeff and Lynn
• “Poseidon Adventure” Boat Cruise around Manhattan
• Edinburgh, Meersburg, Munich

We definitely supported the performing arts…

Patti Lupone at 54 Below with friends Joe and Doriann

Hello Dolly at Ford’s Theatre with our friend Bonnie

Deafhood Monologues at Gallaudet with our friend Nick

The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin at Roundabout Theater

The Picture of Dorian Gray at The Workshop Theater/Manhattan Theatre Works

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Richard Rodgers Theatre with Joe and Doriann

Breakfast at Tiffany’s at Cort Theatre

Matthew Morrison at 54 Below, July 14

Pippi Longstocking at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

Distorted Diznee at West Bank Cafe

The Nance at Lyceum Theatre with friends Steve and Bob

Pavel Zuštiak/Palissimo: Endangered Pieces

Sleeping Beauty by The Carlo Colla Marionettes at New Victory Theater

Music of Danny Elfman by Pittsbugh Symphony Orchestra

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Cirque du Soliel's Totem with my friend Ricky

Me and Jezebel with friends Enrique and Gene

Jean Genet's The Balcony

Naked Holidays at The Cutting Room

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Handel’s Messiah at Lincoln Center

Sparkle, Jingle, Joy, featuring Matt Alber and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington with friends Richard and Hilary

Other

I served on a jury for 10 days. It was a terrible rape case. It proved to me that there are a lot of people on juries who don’t ever want to hold someone accountable for the pain and suffering they cause. Lessons: don't fall asleep near unfamiliar people, and don't trust a jury to do its job. 

Fragers Hardware on Capitol Hill was going to burn to the ground one day, but it broke our hearts when the inevitable happened. Lesson: plan for fire safety and disaster recovery.

The terrible Boston Marathon bombings resulted in a picture that captured the story: three Boston police officers and a fallen runner. There was also a lot of diversity in the picture. One of the officers happened to be gay and married to a TSA employee. The subsequent coverage from that connection helped TSA become more gay-friendly in 2013. Lesson: make connections that can bring out the good in things.

Here's to the old man of 2013 - and the baby of the New Year!

Welcome 2013!

And we're off to a new year!

A lot has happened in my life in the last 12 months:

• Terry bought an apartment in Manhattan.
• My father died.
• Good things happened at work.

With the new West Side apartment at Columbus Circle, Terry and I are traveling less across the Atlantic and more on Amtrak and Greyhound. Now that my father's gone, my family members are encouraged to visit me in Washington. This year is about focus. Clockwork.

I recreated myself when I turned 50, leaving association management and embracing a new federal career path. Now I'm redirecting my personal life as well. It's less about foreign countries and more about enjoying New York and nesting on Capitol Hill. It's more of a private party. Invitation only. Want in?