Last weekend we went to a gay techno camp out in very rural West Virginia. It was interesting to see people from big city gay culture as there were attendees there from Toronto, Pittsburg. Chicago, San Francisco, Berlin, New York Altanta etc. I felt like a country mouse. That had terms I really didn't know and a lot of outfit changes. I think some people changed more times in one day than I do in a week. The best outfit was neon trimmed tightly whities or a guy who was actually dressed as a merman with a unileg.

The nature itself was pretty awesome. It was very secluded in the mountains and had a a combination of all the amenities plus 10 miles of scenic hiking trails.

The place and event was male only, which as you can imagine would lead to a lot of craziness. There was some controversy concern the exclusivity but I find it so interesting to see how a huge number of gay guys behave with no females around to keep them in check. It's pretty much exactly what you would expect.

They had non stop DJs. All day by the pool, all evening at the Saloon and then from 12 am to around 6am out at a giant dance setup in the forest.

There was even a sex barn. I'll just leave it at that. Wait I won't just leave it at that, lol, no there were no animals involved.

At one point I was watching a naked drag queen in eight inch heels and an full back size upside cross tattoo dancing in the sun by the pool smoking and I thought this is exactly what all the Christian conservatives thing gay life is like.

I will go back next year and bring more people.

I got a haircut, than a hour later I cut off the hair cut. Bad investment but it's was like 90s still and I couldn't take it anymore after riding my bike home.

Finally, I am back in an office and got some furniture. It's amazing hardwood that someone left behind in an office when they moved to a new one in the new building.

Now it's like an office, conference room in one. Can't wait for the display to arrive that goes over the table.

We walked down to days part for some infringement fun. Ate a taste vegan BLT at Grind House. I love the way they taste but I'm always hungry afterwards. I could eat 4 of them.

Afterwards we went to (e:Joe)'s family's for birthday dinner. Food was delicious as always. I forgot to take a picture till it was dark out, so all you get are sparklers.

The beer of Bavarian Kings.

I can't think of anything to write about. Its like I wrote for 10 years and ran out of ideas.

Mike, he is a great brother and not just a brother but my best friend. I always wanted a brother. One time in 1982 at Fays on elmwood, my mother asked wanted I wanted for christmas. I said a brother. Mike was born Aug 31, 1983, when doing the math, I like to think I got what I wanted.

Since then, outside of a handful of very contentious clarinet concerts I missed in the 80s, we have been pretty inseparable. When I was gone I would write him letters. Back in the day they were hand written and mailed. Now they are texts.

I even wrote to him everyday in my journal in elementary school. I found excerpt from 1985 that I thought was appropriate.

Today is Tuesday, September 17, 1985

Dear Mike ,

(I named my journal mike because it is my brothers name.)

We are doing Science Experiments someone asked, "Are these magic tricks?" yes in a way, but there is a Scientific reason for each trick . Kool and the Gang says, "Cherish the love you have! Cherish the life you live!"

Anywho (as Mike would say) I have a lot of hilarious stories to tell you about him. I know right now he is super nervous that I am going to tell some of the best ones, the kind that make you laugh till your face hurts, like the time&. just kidding& Im not going to do that. I think in the end his favorite story will be the one where I didnt tell any those stories at his wedding. We will save them for the biography.

Those of you that know him well, know my brother, like myself, and my father can be intense. When we get driven to do something there is no stopping us. One of our friends described this phenomena as laser brain. If any of you have ever seen my father anxietiously await anything, like the dishes being washed within minutes of completing dinner, or a dog approaching his property line, you know exactly how this goes.

Sometimes that ability pays off. During the 90s Mike, well not just Mike but strangely most all of his friends really, seemed to have an obsession with stalking people. I have a feeling he was the ring leader. It was creepy, they would drive around slowly, and hide behind buildings, sit outside people's houses and duck behind bushes.

The first time I heard about Dave, he was another stalking victim known as The Coffee And.." guy and my brother was putting those stalking skills to the test like a lifetime special starring Sally Fields. He didnt just like The Coffee Shop guy, he was obsessed with him.

Let's just say Im glad the obsession turned out to be mutual and they ended up together here in this room, at this wedding, instead of in a courtroom with restraining orders or jail time ever involved.

When we finally officially ran into "the coffee and" guy at gay pride in the early 2000s, that was it. You could tell Mike knew at that moment, it was forever. He jumped into the situation like an old lady, clutching her favorite troll doll jumps into screaming BINGO as she dabs the last square completing the coveted coverall.

Mike never dated anyone else seriously, FULL STOP.

Dave's a great guy. He seems to always know whats good for Mike even when Mike doesn't know. Like the house. Mike did not want a house. If any of you remember Mike was never going to live in a house, let alone a house with a backyard or any greenspace as my brother hates nature.

Dave knew better, he knew mike needed a house so he could have a glitter and wraping room and space to store the fruits of his coupon fueled scavenger hunts for the bandaids and toothpaste they share their lives with.

I have had so much fun hanging out with Dave over the years. All of our friends do. He is a treasured part of the inner circle social group at the 24. I would enumerate some of the stories that built up our friendship but like so many of my stories with Mike they are on the do not tell list so instead of risking it im going to say this.

Dave, I always wanted a second brother. Now I have one.

Mike, I love you, you make me so proud, congratulation

Another bike trip up to Windmill Pt in Fort Erie. I love swimming there. We saw so many purple martins along the way. If you haven't been, go.

We had a crazy night of red carpet entrances. When I made the traveling red carpet I never expected (e:Mike) to wear it as a train but it served a dual purpose. In the end, the party turned out great even though the porn star stripper bailed.

The best thing was the bacon wrapped shrimp at Ebenezer's Alehouse that had a mustard dipping sauce. It was so amazing. (e:Mike) agreed. I wish I had a picture.

Instead I have a picture of the Kale salad from 716. I got two of them. It was the perfect combination of bean and green and hard cheese and lemon.