{ Dashus:land }

Yippy!!! It's my birthday!!!

I'm headed to Rehoboth Beach for the weekend. This is the BEST way I can think of to spend my birthday. SO READY! RJH and I feel just like this, y'all!

A real reason for a Fourth of July celebration...

Cackles has left...on a jet plane...

Today is a sad day for me and my partner RJH. His Mom, who we lovingly called Cackles, has boarded a plane and is headed back to the UK to live. Cackles lived in Philly and was a constant in our lives these past 6 years. She is moving back to the UK for many reasons but one of the happiest is to be a grandmother to her daughter's first child who is due to be born in late July. I adore this woman. She has been like a mother to me, truly, and I'm crushed to know she isn't just a quick little trip away anymore. Cackles used to visit me and RJH on a regular basis as well. She would come up to visit with us every few weeks and we would go out to yummy dinners, check out the next fantastic exhibit that was on or just take a lengthy walk around this fabulous city. I know RJH is very sad to see her go but we only wish her the best. She's moving to London so it's not like we feel sorry for her. She isn't moving to some awful little town - it's London. Hellooooooo! It's a place I adore and to me it rivals NYC in soooo many ways. I know she'll be back to visit and I know we'll get over to see her too but it won't be the same, sadly. She brought a special light to RJH’s and my life.

Cackles - I wish you all the happiness and success that you deserve in London. RJH and I both do. You mean so much to me and I value this time we got to become so close. You treated me with kindness and respect and like one of your own flesh and blood. That meant the world to me! Make sure your other bubalas take just as fine care of you as we did or you'll just have to come back! Visit soon! Love you, Mom! xoxox.

The Trevor Project + Mraz + Me and My Peeps.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a benefit for an amazing organization called The Trevor Project. The organization's main goal is to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth who are in crisis and considering suicide. The group runs a prevention helpline that takes calls 24/7. They also offer online support to young people through their web site. In addition to the work they do for teens at risk, they also provide guidance and assistance to parents and guardians of these teens. My dear and dedicated friend Jason, invited me to the event as a guest. Jason was asked to sing at the event and he absolutely rocked it out. The performance was stellar and brought the room to it's feet. Seated at my table was my parter RJH, my longtime friend Ashby, Jason, his manager Patrick and the utterly fabulous Rachel Harris. Just to my right was a table filled to brim with yumminess ~ Kelly Ripa & her husband Mark Consuelos, Trevor Award Winner and honoree of the night Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty star Ana Ortiz, Ally Sheedy (who introduced Jason's performance!). A special treat for me was also watching the uber-talented and brilliant Dustin Lance Black (writer of the award-winning film MILK) give special awards to three youths who are doing amazing work in their communities. The night was truly special.  We got to really talk to Rachel Harris  who was thoughtful, lovely and every bit as charming and funny as you would expect. She coincidentally sat at the table next to us while I was out to dinner two nights before at my local favorite restaurant! Who knew we'd be hanging out a couple days later? New York is so strange and fabulous. I was so thrilled that Jason had asked me to attend. The Trevor Project is doing incredible work and is saving lives day after day. There were some very touching speeches by those who have been helped personally by The Trevor Project which brought a tear to my eye. I'm so thrilled to the extent that my friend Jason is lending his voice to LGBTQ community and their causes. Jason doesn't have to do any of this but he does with such willingness, compassion and love. He inspires me and I'm sure countless others with his thoughtfulness and commitment. To learn more about The Trevor Project, PLEASE visit their website. They are a tremendous organization with a tremendous heart. Watch FOXNY's coverage of the event below.

He put a ring on it...after 64 years.

Via one of my favorite blogs, joemygod.blogspot.com, comes a truly inspiring story of devotion and love. I hope RJH and I will be telling a similar story when we reach Bob & Henry's age. xo.

A love affair...

After 10 years, I still adore you....

My idol.

Eight years of i love u, RJH.

I slink deeper in love with you each step...

A beach dressed in white...

Rehoboth in winter..

Be Love.

To RJH. I love you. xox.

An evening with a twist...

A weekend begins richly with him...

 

Brothers.

Surfing on New Years with my best friends. Full on Joy!

24 degrees out. Not cute...

Ready, set, go!

me, my guy & nyc.

A special delivery from a special guy. xox.

Me. Me. Me.

The many meanings of nine eleven...

Today, September 11th, is my Dad's birthday. I'm such a huge fan of my Dad. I'm named after my Dad and he is a man that I look up to immensely. My father is still such a rock for my family. He may come off rugged and quiet but he is one of the most sweet, caring and joyful people that I have in my life. All of my Dad's actions come from his heart. He is not a man of pretension. If you treat him well, he will treat you well. His manner is very simple and that it was why I've learned so much from him. So many people I've witnessed in my life thrive off of drama. To see someone so completely disconnected from that trend can teach you a great deal. Dad - Happy Birthday. My wish for you is that this year is filled with more health, love, friends, family and good times than you know what to do with. I love you.

Today is also a day that has become a day of remembrance. The attack on our soil was one that drove a stake in to the heart of our country. Having been in New York during and after 9/11, I have seen a city that has grown and risen from such deep wrenching fear and loss and become a more cohesive place. I know I will never truly get over the feeling of that day. The madness, the panic, the unsureness and the absolute feeling of helplessness is something that you cannot shake. Each year I think different things about the events of that day and how it has shaped me, my friends, my city, my country. I look at how the events that took place on that morning brought out the best in this country and sadly the worst. I saw the heroic and the willful in my fellow New Yorkers as they risked their health to work at Ground Zero directly following the attacks and then we saw our own politicians use the terror warnings in the years to follow as a voting tools. There is so much good that came out of that day in regards to our recovery and then so much negativity that still lingers 8 years later. That day's events crushed families, broke spirits, confused our faith and at the same time it inspired hope, taught perseverance and strength and brought a Nation together for a moment. As Friedrich Nietzsche said "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." He couldn't have been more right.

Lastly, today is an important day to me because it is the 3rd birthday of this here blog! Dashusland is three! I began writing Dashusland on September 11th 2006. I had just gotten home from a fabulous week in Rehoboth Beach and I wanted to create some sort of artistic and cathartic outlet for myself. I love music and poetry and fashion and photography and art and I wanted a place where I could just document the things in my life that caught my eye. This blog has become some what of a living online journal of mine. This post will be my 1,507th post that I have written on this site since that first day. As this blog took off and I really found my home here, I made a promise to myself (and to you) on January 1st 2007 that I'd post at least one thing daily and I haven't missed a day yet. Whew! I look back at my HAHAHA posts that are filled with some funny videos, quotes, and photos that have caught my eye and I still laugh. I love my posts on ART, or the photos that I have snapped with my Blackberry and now with my iPhone that are part of my DASHUS:MOBILE series. I love my Quote related posts in my YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT series featuring quotes and sayings that I found interesting or inspiring or provocative. I'm also enjoying the new set of photos that I'm calling UP FROM DOWN which is my vantage point on the city I live in looking up at all the skyscrapers that I adore. This blog is fun for me and I hope that you find it fun sometimes, too. I really enjoy writing it and keeping it current. The things I feature here are just things that I dig. Dashusland is my lil' outlet and my communication with you. I hope that you'll continue to visit me here. Please continue to comment on the site and to send me things that you think I'd find interesting. I LOVE that. Here is to 3 more super duper years of Dashus goodness. I promise ya. xox.

Lovely Lewes...

Dear Bellmoor, Oh how I've missed you so...

A setting sun with you....

Rage against it!

My music selection was inspired by the kind of day I had. Not sure if any of you are Rage against the machine fans but this track is oh so fitting. (It's also one of their best!) I needed something that was just a weeeee bit angry. My day was just....uuuugh. I wouldn't even go in to it here. BUT what I can tell you is that I am earning each and every last second of my upcoming vacation to Rehoboth Beach. Goodness!

A striking view...

Last night in Manhattan we had an AMAZING storm. It started with massive amounts of lightening and ended with one of the heaviest rains I have seen in a very long time. I only stayed outside for the lightening portion - it was insane and beautiful. I get to see some of the most amazing things from my balcony. This video is a bit on the noisy side due to the strong wind blowing but visually you will see what I mean - it's stunning. The video is on the long side but it's worth it - minute 3:58 is a real highlight. Storms in NYC are sooo incredible. Lights from the ground and the sky meeting one on one. Watch.

33.

Today is my 33rd birthday. I really like the sound of that. The number just feels right. Thankfully I'm happier and healthier than I've ever been. I'm blessed to have an amazing guy that I get to spend my time with, phenomenal friends that still astound me with their devotion and inspire me with their actions and a family that I learn from everyday.  For those youngins who doubt it - life truly does get better with age. That statement is true if you want it to be true. My friend Jason is always talking about gratitude. He lives and breathes that philosophy. In keeping with his keen guidance I decided to list the top 33 things that I am grateful for in no particular order today. I'm sure there are a hundred more things that I can list but I think 33 is a fair start. For anyone else having a birthday today, cheers to you. Here is to many many more.

33 THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR TODAY.

1) My Health

2) My Mother and Father

3) RJH & his family

4) My bro, his wife and his magical girls

5) My Friends 

6) Alice 

7) Music

8) The home I've made here in NYC 

9) Dashusland

10) The breeze on my balcony 

11) Laughing with him 

12) Trips out of town 

13) Meaningful quotes 

14) Photography 

15) My growth over the years 

16) Aging with style

17) Warm weather

18) Learning

19) Skyscrapers

20) The cool side of the pillow

21) A smart cocktail

22) Dancing

23) The # 23

24) Poems

25) My past

26) Dusk

27) Optimism

28) My work ethic

29) The memories of friends and family I've lost 

30) Fresh starts

31) Clarity with distance

32) The Future

33) You

{oxo{w+j}oxo}

Dear Jason...

Born in 1969.