A Fetish for Fashion

On Feb 12, Folsom Street East presented its First Anual Fetish Fashion Show and Charity Auction, benefitting The Center: the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.  Billboard Dance Number 1 artist, Sylvia Tosun, performed and hosted at the event.  Many of you may not know, but Sylvia was one of my bosses when I worked for a hotel in Manhattan.  She invited me as a VIP guest and I of course brought my camera to catch al of the action!

I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them! ;)

Lots more after the jump...

My 3rd Birthday in NYC

Here are some pics from my 3rd official Birthday in NYC.  Like last year, I had it at F-Word.  However, this year, F-Word is now at legendary nightclub Splash.  A good time was had by all!  As I glanced through the pictures, I noticed that there were LOTS of people I didn't get to photograph.  Either way, the general energy is in the pics. 

There are lots more pics after the jump.....

To Finish..

The challenges that come with being in a relationship have forced me to look at how I act towards challenges in general.  Especially when it comes to other people.  My default is usually to drop things/people when they get too complicated.  Im kind of over that process...its just hard to change something that is so automatic.

Sometimes trying to change something can be futile if you dont know where it comes from.  Im not going to break down all my issues on this blog because it would take too long.  However, Im trying to change it.  Little by little, I am changing everyday.  In my past relationships, I have been the "tit-for-tat lover." All that does is make the situation worse, and really, nobody wins with that attitude.  Again, very hard for me to stop being that way, but its a process that I am walking myself through.  

Knowing that you deserve love and good things isn't enough,  you have to work at it if you want a strong finish.  

...and Im working it.

2 Y.O.

Myself with Ryan Nickulas and TJ Kelly of The A-List: New York.

Just about two years ago, on October 1st, 2008, I moved from Boston to Brooklyn.  My how things have changed since then.  First of all, I am a happier person and I no longer feel trapped.  No place has ever broken my heart the way Boston has...but as much as I loathe that place, I am from there, so we will always be connected.  However, NYC is quickly becoming my home.

As you may know, besides my 9 to 5 job, I am creator and editor of www.StreetWalkersNYC.com.  I recently covered Logo's first episode screening of The A-List: New York, and it was definitely educational.  I got to see how other press people work and what is expected at an event like that.  I was really unprepared, but Im ok with that, Im still new around here. ;)

I would be lying if I said this was easy...its actually pretty damn hard.  But Im working it...I didn't come here to give up during hard times.  This is NYC...nothing here is easy.

Somebody remind me to do a post with my visual transformations since I got here.  Gold dusted rattails and such... lol

Look closely...

As my  love and I were having brunch at EGG, last week,  he decided to draw me on the disposable tablecloth.  So cute of him!

The Bachelor Auction!

Come and bid on me or any of the guys up for auction.  Its for a great cause and its tax deductible! ;)

Finally, Now.

with Bory in Times Square, photographing for http://www.streetwalkersnyc.com/

Since the last time I dropped a full post, I have covered a lot of ground.  I have a new job, have been to Fire Island twice, have gotten further into my relationship, started a new blog, and I seem to care a lot less about a lot of shit. lol  The latter could be a good or bad thing. ;)

Let's see, my job is pretty cool.  I do lots of admin and busy work for a rooftop lounge.  My "office" is in a private party room. labeled the "VIP Room."  Its pretty swanky, and I have one hell of a view.  Not the best pay, but it works for now, and I like who I work with.  Liking your coworkers and managers is key, when you are at work.  I am thankful to be where I am....things were starting to look kind of bleak for a moment.  But I never gave up, and made it happen. I am going on just about 2 years of living in NYC, and I cannot believe how fast time flies!  I am still in love with this city,  I think I fall in love with it even more every passing month. 

I was off and on unemployed for 2 years...and as much as I loved being in a 9 to 5 world, I don't want to do this anymore.  lol  I want to be my own boss.  So I decided to ask one of my bff's, Harvey Champagne, to join me in creating a variety blog based on NYC.  Its been 2 weeks since we have gone live with the site, and the feedback has been pretty good.  A lot of kinks have to be ironed out, but its a work in process that we both enjoy.  The purpose of the blog is to do all the things I love while opening doors to new career opportunities. 

I am in a great place right now.  I am in love, I have employment, great friends, and am able to marry my love for photography, graphic design and socializing, all into one project.  None of those things are perfect, but they are all sustaining me right now, and I am very grateful.  Its weird typing all of that out, because I am so self tortured, that its hard to admit when good things are happening to me.  My mind is so Debby Downer-ish. 

I am not sure if I still have a following, but thank you to everybody who still reads my shit.  Its a privilege to have my thoughts be heard. 

Here is the link to our new blog: http://www.streetwalkersnyc.com/

with Kelly Horton of Madison Kelly NYC

with Marcella "Incredible Lago" Araica

Harvey Champagne

the infamous Dawter, Brandon.

with Sylvia Tosun, backstage after her show.

Coco & Breezy glasses, remixed in 3D.

Celebrating and Social Differences

Since my last post, things have actually been going in the right direction. Still in love with life, NYC, my guy, etc. Things are far from perfect, but I am in it to win it. In the last few weeks, there have been lots of dancing and celebrating. Celebrating new/old friendships, opportunities, good times and progression.

One particular subject/situation that has come up recently, is my quietness around new people. Naturally and contrary to popular belief, I am not good at breaking the ice. However, when spoken to, I am very responsive. I can go on and on about how I grew up and why it's difficult for me to excel in new social situations, but Im tired of doing so. Call me stubborn, but I am into my 30's now and I really don't feel the need to constantly justify my shyness to new people (unless it is work related). Just because Im quiet and often expressionless, doesn't mean that I am not present or without opinion.

Somebody has to listen, right? It would be totally different if I was saying or acting offensive, but I am far from that. I also realize that insecure people find it difficult to accept my shyness and self internalize it...aka take it personal. What can i do? Im not a mind reader. Im ok with people asking me questions to try and understand me, but am not ok with being accused of something that is not true.

Anyhoo, here are some pics from the last month or so:

Photo's in WIlliamsburg

Harvey and I walked around Williamsburg and went to town with the camera. Here are the pics he took of me. I will post his pics as soon as he picks his favorites.

Old Header.

This is the first official header I designed for this blog (in 2008). I created it in my red room, in Boston. Hence it being called "The Red Room." I live in Brooklyn now and decided I would change the name of my blog and incorporate my commute to the city and back, on this new header. Behind me, is the Williamsburg Bridge, where the JMZ train travels on.

It was on that bridge, as I looked at Manhattan while the train was pulling into Essex/Delancey, that I realized that I was now living in NYC. It was what my friend Ryan, would call an "Oh shit moment." A year and a half later, I am still here, still trying to get my hustle on and still loving this incredible city. This view of the bridge is also where my love brought me during a very cold day in December.

Shout out to Harvey for taking the pics of me literally jumping around Bedford Ave.

Always in my Heart.

This was written on Monday night while I was on the bus coming back from

Boston:

As I sit on this bus, I'm thinking of how my past has created my present and how grateful I am. All the good and all of the bad has added up to this.

I spent 5 days in Boston because my grandfather lost his battle to cancer. That man raised me, so it's been rough. Growing up, my biological father was never in the picture, so my grandfather filled that void. He was not the perfect father, but he truly was enough and he loved me so much. Anything I needed, I had. He really was an 'all action and no talk' kind of man. Its a hard trait to come by, and I always respected it.

My grandfather was the definition of selfless. He gave and gave and gave and never asked for anything in return. With 3 decades of military service, he had soldiers at his burial along with the American flag draped over his coffin. The soldiers folded the flag and then gave it to my beautiful grandmother.

I want to say that I'm done mourning and ready to celebrate his life, but that's not true. It's a process and seeing his coffin get lowered into the ground did something to my soul. Death is inevetible, but it never gets easier to digest...especially when somebody close to your heart, passes on.

I have conflicting emotions. I feel energized because I want to use this as a way be a stronger person, but I also feel a little fragile. With that being said, I will take this opportunity to push on with more zest and I want to cherish the time I have on this planet. Life isn't that serious. One of the few beauties of a funeral service, is that you get to see people in your family that you haven't seen in awhile. As dysfunctional as my family is, they are so beautiful and I love them. Usually in small doses, but love nonetheless. ;)

Here are some pictures I would like to share. My family is a little bit of everything. Jewish, Jamaican, Cambodian and more. (And of course my amazing extended family, Marie, Harvey and Daland, were present.)

RIP Angel L. Colon

August 22, 1935 - March 10, 2010

I love you Papi,

Michael

xoxo

Communication Changes.

I am quite impressed with my self restraint these days. I have realized that as self aware and opinionated as I am, all can be lost if said at the wrong moment. Word vomit can ruin the message. As much as i am impressed with myself, I am also frustrated. The days of carefree communication are out the window. Well, not totally, but there was a time where I would fly off the handle and make sure my feelings were placed on a table for all to see. Sometimes I would shove it down people's throats. Now, I understand that the instant gratification of 'letting it out,' is temporary. I need more then that.

I often keep myself in check because I know that my way of thinking is a little obsessive. Its like I am too connected to my thoughts and feelings. Again, as great as that is, its a curse as well. What appears to be obvious to me, may not be the same to the next person because they dont live in their feelings and thoughts the way I do. When I describe it, it makes me feel like I am describing a person who thinks too fucking much. Which is true..and something I have been working on for awhile. Change isn't always easy.

Lots and lots of changes...but all good.