abersparky in vegas

This is for my peeps back home. The best part of the entire rap starts a 3:00! So true about the Green Line! HA!

“It turns out that while you shouldn’t mess with Texas, you could probably get away with sticking at least a finger up in there.”
-The Sword

[via Joe. My. God.]

I finally finished reading A New Earth!  After getting mugged in DC and feeling so stressed out from it, I was able to calm down and finish this fantastic book and realized that I was completely identifying with the event.  I was a ‘victim’ – and all of my feelings and emotions were associated with that ‘fact’.  Everytime I felt something, it was anger, and resentment, and a displeasment about having been in the wrong place at the wrong time – for not paying attention, for being a little too drunk, for not taking a cab.  After reading A New Earth I was able to reconfirm my belief in ‘no regrets’… what’s done is done and I learned from it.  I’m better for it.  I’ve learned to not walk home at 2 am alone.  I’ve learned to be more attentive of my surroundings.  I’ve learned that things can be replaced (albeit costly) and that things are just that – things.  Man makes things, and things do not make the man.  In a few months I’m going to revisit this book for a second read as there is so much to offer and learn that one time is just not enough.  I also went out and bought the prequel, The Power of Now and I’ll be reading that after I finish a long procrastinated read of Getting Things Done.  I’m glad to get back into reading.  It’s been a while since the written word has touched me.  I hope it’ll give me inspiration to write more. 

I am finally proud to be an American.  I’m watching the coverage via CNN.com’s Live feed which has teamed up with Facebook to provide live coverage online.  What a historic event.  My eyes were definitely tearing up when he said those final words of the oath: “…so help me God.”

If you haven’t already seen, The White House website (www.whitehouse.gov) has been updated right as President Obama began his Inaugural Speech:

A friend called attention to the Civil Rights section of the new site and I am glad it’s written that Obama supports LGBT rights!  Below is the excerpt from that page:

Support for the LGBT Community

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”– Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

• Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
• Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees’ domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
• Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
• Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
• Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
• Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
• Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

Today is a great day for this nation… we still have a long way to go – but at least, for once, we’re taking a step in the right direction.  A step I hope to be followed by many many more.

We all hear the stories… a friend, or a friend of a friend, has gone through the traumatic experience of being mugged – their wallet, keys, cell phone, watch, and/or other valuables taken from them by force; left feeling completely violated and helpless.  Well as of 12/27/2008, I can now be used for any one’s reference if they are in need of knowing someone who has been mugged – at gunpoint no less.  Yes… it was bound to happen sooner or later – I mean, really, have you seen my stature?  I’m 5’9″, and 140 lbs but still look as if I barely tip the scales at 120.  An easy target, especially at night walking alone (yes, I know, stupid)… anyway, so here’s what happened…

I had gone home again this year to visit family and friends for Christmas.  I stayed with my friend Bill again in DC as I definitely wasn’t planning to spend another year sleeping on the parent’s couch.  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day went as expected – got drunk the night I flew in and recovered Christmas Day with a LOT of water.  The day after Christmas was pretty lazy and when 10p rolled around, I made my way over to Town.  Ran into a ton of friends that I hadn’t seen in quite sometime and again, drank way more than I probably should have – but hey, I’m on vacation, right?

As my night drew to a close around 2a, I decided to head back to Bill’s.  I had been texting with a friend and, not thinking of the 10+ block walk, neglected to wave down a cab.  As I walked up 18th and turned the corner onto Kalorama, I noticed that there were two people standing in the sidewalk about a 1/3 of the way up the block.  Now, normally, I would have crossed the street – not for the reasons you may think but because I don’t like to walk in between people.  I feel it’s somewhat rude (although technically it would be them who are rude by standing in the sidewalk but I digress).  As I walk closer, I overhear the individual on the right on a cell phone telling someone to pick them up and as I started to pass them he asked “hey, what street is this?”  Keep in mind, I am two sheets to the wind and am texting… completely not paying any attention.  I look up to my right, I say “Kalorama”.  When I direct my attention forward again to continue walking, a third person had come down from the steps of a rowhome, has a gun pointed at me, and says “give me your money!”  At this point, I’m not entirely sure what’s going on… in fact, I had no idea what was going on.  My brain had completely shut down and couldn’t comprehend the immediate situation until one of the two first men, who were now behind me, forced me to the ground by my shoulder and the person holding the gun said “I’m not going to tell you again, give me your money!”.

Completely stunned, I frantically dig for my wallet – my new COACH wallet that I had JUST bought THAT DAY – and offer it up for them to take.  Meanwhile, since I had been texting on my iPhone, the screen was lit up and it was noticed.  The next thing I hear is “that’s a nice phone, we’ll take that too.”  And with that, my phone was gone.  All I could think of at the moment was the gun that was being shoved in my face and saying “that’s all I have”.  One of them says, “now get up and keep walking up the street”; to which another replies, “yeah, that’s a good idea, keep walking and don’t look back”.  Now, if you’ve ever been in a situation with a gun… you generally don’t want to have your back facing it.  As I got up, I stumbled a few steps and tried to cross the treeline so there was something between me and the gun.

I was only two streets over from where I was staying and as I made it back to the apartment, completely stunned (and also noticing the lack of any presence in that area, pedestrian, bike, or car), I became rather hysterical and tripped over every step up the two flights.  Once inside the apartment, I tried to get my mind to think of what to do.  I have no phone, I have no wallet, no ID, nothing… what do I do?  After having a slight… ok ok… mild panic attack, I notice my laptop and immediately jump on AIM.  Thankfully a friend was online and was able to come over.  We called the police and filed a report, credit cards shut off, and while I attempted to shut off the phone – the representative wouldn’t do it as its a company phone, regardless that it’s still company policy to suspend lost/stolen devices but I’ll deal with that later.

This whole ordeal has been a very trying experience.  I’m still dealing with getting the finances straightened out as they were able to get off a few charges on every card I had in that wallet.  The phone I have not yet had replaced and am using an old BlackBerry but I’m starting to go into iPhone withdrawal.  LOL. I am doing my best to take the positives away from this situation.  I know I should have been paying more attention.  I know I should have crossed the street.  I know I shouldn’t have been walking alone.  I know I should have gotten a cab.  All these things, and yet I still ignored every one of them.  Is it my fault I got mugged?  Of course not.  It’s not fair to place blame on myself like that – it would only lead to regret, and I have a strict policy on no regrets.

I am, however, thankful.  I am thankful that I was not hurt.  I am thankful that my life was not taken that night.  I am thankful for the lessons learned.  And I am thankful for the friends who were there for me when I needed them the most.

After walking 7 blocks to the nearest Metro stop in the rain (man, I hate DC weather), I stand on the platform waiting 10 more minutes for the next green line train and think to myself: I am so glad I packed up and moved.. Don’t get me wrong… I love DC and of course I have friends and family here… but my life is 100 times better in Las Vegas than it ever was, and probably ever could be, here. The real friends I have here are few and far between. The rest are just ‘filler’. In Vegas, I have met and made more real friends in the 5 months that I have lived there, than the 24 years in DC. Maybe its the “newness” of everything… The opportunity to start over and take a fresh approach on life. After Friday night at Town, I realized that I didn’t really have much to miss. Boys who don’t really care about you… Friends who don’t invite you for brunch, or DH nights. I go out practically every night in Vegas. Whether it be to a friend’s house, the movies, restaurant, or to a club… I am always surrounded by genuine people. Some may not think so much about Vegas… But my friends, the people I care about, are real. We all have our pretencious moments, but the people I have gotten to know are quality people whom I am very thankful for. I know more than ever now that this move was the right thing to do.

One last drink. One last dance.  One last night in DC.  I can’t believe that in less than 24 hours, I’ll be on the road… probably be almost around Akron… on my way to Las Vegas.  Tonight I’ll be at Cobalt and hope to see many friends that I’ve made over the years.  If you’re not there – well – that’s ok.  You’re always welcome to come visit me in Las Vegas.  I’ll give you a tip though – come the day after a holiday… hotel rates are always cheap!! 

This last week has been a total roller coaster and the days kept getting shorter and shorter.  As much as I said I wouldn’t miss this humid hell-hole… I will.  I’ll miss the comfort in the familiar.  The people, the places… but it’s time for something new.  I resolve to keep moving forward; and I don’t feel as though I can do that standing still here on the east coast.  I will inevitably get tired of Las Vegas – and I believe I can already hear Southern California calling my name.  One move at a time.  One day at a time.  I’ll try to type up an entry or two to auto-post on here over the next few days as I make my way across the nation.  Please keep my travels and my car (please don’t break down Jake, please!) in your prayers.  Goodbye DC!

If you’re around DC and want to say g’bye – I’ll be at Cobalt from 9.30p til probably about midnight; and then over to Halo for a little bit more.  Hope to see you out!

People do tend to look better in low lighting… DC Councilmember Jim Graham suggests that the male strip clubs, like Wet, Secrets, and the like, take advantage of the Dupont Down Under space which resides directly under the Dupont Circle. The underground space was originally built as a streetcar station in the 1940′s, and was used in the 1990′s as a food court; but has been since boarded up. What a lovely idea though – to get down and dirty… just go down under. I’m curious to see if it ever comes about. I would expect plenty of objections from residents in that area… but who knows. Perhaps it’s a good thing – out of site, out of mind? I’m sure the business owners would be up for it. From the article I read in last week’s MetroWeekly, the businesses would escape some of the zoning laws which restrict business hours, licenses, etc.  (Photo courtesy of MetroWeekly)