Rudynate

I have a big ficus tree in the kitchen and I've been concerned about it- it didn't seem to be thriving in that location. I had a dream that I was examining the leaves on the tree and noticed a lot of new growth. When I remembered the dream, I checked the ficus, and, sure enough, it has new shoots all over.

I have a low-rent budget, but Priceline spoiled me and helped me develop a taste for nice hotels. But, alas, the days of 4-star rooms at 75.00/night seem to be pretty much gone.

Something like that, yes.

You have to choose your battles. A deli line in a grocery store when you're in a hurry entails a high risk of losing the battle. There always seem to be those people in front of you who are ordering sandwiches for half the city, compounded by brand-new just-trained employees.

Another great place is the Kilauea Lodge in the town of Volcano on the big island of Hawaii. Formerly a boy scout camp that was purchased by a Swiss Hotelier and converted into a plush little resort. Outstanding restaurant.

I forgot about the Enchantment Resort in Sedona. Spectacular setting in a box canyon. You can hear the coyotes howling at night. They have little individual houses - casitas. The interiors look like hotel rooms that you would see on the cover of Holiday or Travel & Leisure. A couple of pools and several spas on the property. Very isolated. The first time we stayed there was one year after 9/11. Because people were still afraid to travel, we stayed there for an absurdly low rate. We've been back a few times since. It never disappoints.

Another favorite is the Renaissance Lodge in Sonoma. My partner and I have been going there for several days at Christmas every year for close to twenty years. Spacious comfortable rooms. They used to provide all kinds of ammenities, but not so much anymore. The food in the restaurant is outstanding. Friendly well-trained staff. Nice grounds, Spa.

My partner and I used some points recently to stay at the W. Enjoyed it a lot, except for the $50.00 blueberry muffins from room service in the morning. Staff was exceptional.

I hadn't even thought of that. That's where well- heeled tourists will be found.

The Majestic is in Lower Pacific Heights, which is actually the portion of the Western Addition and the Fillmore that borders Pacific Heights. The real estate industry relabeled it in the 80s-'90s. The TenderKnob is the area of the Tenderloin that transitions to Nob Hill, e.g. Post and Sutter from Van Ness to Union Square. It was known as an area where you could find decent housing at affordable rents. I had a good friend who lived in that area, on Post a couple blocks from Union Square. His apartment was CAVERNOUS, it was so big. The building was shabby, but he only paid 900.00 for all that space.

Locals don't really like Union Square or FiDi. The traffic is heavy, the streets are torn up and parking is expensive. Yerba Buena or SOMA are better choices. I did an incall once with a guy who stayed at a nice hotel in Japantown. It was great-easy to get to, plenty of metered parking on the street.

One of the most comfortable hotels that I ever stayed at was the Doubletree in Pasadena. I stayed there for over a week several years ago and it was one of the nicest hotel stays ever. I think it is now a Westin.

I didn't have a lot of upper-body strength, so I didn't do well at those kinds of activities. When I was in basic training in the Army, we had to go down and back on a horizontal ladder before every meal. The first three weeks or so, I couldn't do it, and then, suddenly, I could. It was really rewarding.

You are a MSM though. Since you don't feel any sense of community with MSMs who identify as gay, it is probably a lot easier for you to speak about gay men in broad generalities that lack validity.

So it is baroque. I always think of countries like France, Italy, Germany when I think of baroque. It only stands to reason that Spain would have had its own flavor of baroque architecture.

A friend of a friend was a nurse at a hospital where he was a patient in his MacGuyver days. She said he was quite deflated when he found that she didn't watch the show or know who he was.

In the Wikipedia article, they call the big dome a "baroque dome." I wouldn't call it a dome and I wouldn't call it baroque. I think it would be better characterized as a Moorish tower.

Ahhh, but broad categorical statements about "gay men" and their shortcomings, coming from a gay man, are a red flag for internalized homophobia.

Why would an escort, who is known to bareback, "make" a client who wants to use condoms bareback. Think it through.

Some internalized homophobia talking?

If I were him, I would try losing 40 pounds before I got the neck lift.

I can't recommend a particular practitioner, but I've never had a bad massage at Kabuki Hot Springs. Strictly therapeutic, though.

The Common Law is a creature of English law.

I used to be pretty adept with them, but as a result of breaking my right arm 3 separate times as a kid, the range of motion in my right shoulder, elbow and wrist has deteriorated to the point that a couple of years ago, I gave up on chopsticks. When I wear a dress shirt, I leave the buttons to my partner.