No. 1 Single: Seasons of Love

It caught me by surprise this morning that I have a new No. 1 most played single on my iTunes. It's the ballad from "Rent"! We Belong Together previously held the top spot for over a year. It may seem insiginifcant, but I look at it as a symbolic change in my life the past five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.





1. Seasons of Love - The Cast of "Rent: the Movie"
2. We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
3. Quen Di Tinh Yeu Cu - Trinh Nam Son
4. Cafe Mot Minh - Ngoc Le & Phuong Thao
5. How Can I Not Love You - Joy Enriquez
6. Never Too Far (Love theme from "Glitter") - Mariah Carey
7. Buon Vuong Mau Ao - Anh Khoa
8. My Saving Grace - Mariah Carey
9. Chuyen Tinh Buon - Anh Khoa & Hoa Mi
10. Lullaby of Broadway - Jerry Orbach; 42nd Street (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

A New Hope: Confessions of a Wannabe Swimmer, Part 6

Not exactly a huge break-through I was hoping for, but Thursday 19-October-2006 marked a major milestone. Coach Tom said I looked good doing freestyle! He said it twice during the practice!

I definitely saw the improvement. I nearly kept up with Miss W in my lane. I was almost comfortable breathing under water. I definitely rotated my shoulders and improved my efficiency. I felt great with my arm rotation.

First, I still need to work on pressing my chest down and sticking my ass up. Second, my hip rotation hasn't come naturally yet. Third, I need to learn to breath on the left side so I can alternate.

It took six months for a mini breakthrough, but who keeps score when I'm having fun!

Re-elect Rendell

If Governor Ed Rendell is any more accessible, some people may think that he's my boyfriend. This guy is a charmer! Even my Republican parents like him. More importantly, Rendell has been able to navigate his way out of an ugly start in the PA state capictol Harisburg. He's making the right alliances and delivering results.
I'm counting on the Rendell lovefest to bring in voters for other PA Democratic candidates.
If Rendell calls, I'd skip a marathon to be there for him!

Baltimore Marathon

Marathon No. 9 is in the bag. I had an unspectacular run in an unspectacular race today. Lack of hill training cost me about five minutes on the second half. My ofiicial time of 3:39:27 was still a personal record.

number of finishers: 2142
number of females: 733
number of males: 1407
average time: 04:21:48

bib number: 557
overall place: 405 out of 2142
division place: 53 out of 189
gender place: 335 out of 1418
time: 3:39:27
pace: 8:23
guntime: 3:39:51

Pumpkin Patch Open

Pumpkin Patch Open
Originally uploaded by reflexblue.

I played my fifth Pumpkin Patch Open on Oct. 7-8, 2006. The annual national gay and lesbian soccer tournament is hosted by my soccer club, The Philadelphia Falcons.

It was cold and it got hot. It was dry and it got wet. A straight guy gave me his cleats. A hot gay guy bought me dinner. My trick brought a trick to the field. I washed and folded uniforms for an opposing team. A straight guy with a body of perfection ran naked around the adjacent field.

I'm still confused as to what happened during the 2006 Pumpkin Patch tournament. Was everything a dream?

Armpits! Confessions of a Wannabe Swimmer, Part 5

I keep telling myself that I'm on the verge of a breakthrough, but it hasn't happened yet. I'm still learning the very basic stroking techniques and trying to put them all together. The whole body mechanics still seem unnatural to me as I really have to pay attention to each motion.

Last week, Coach Tom gave me a breathing clinic. Coach Jim this Tuesday tried to get me to press my chest down. On Thursday, Coach Jen wanted me to pull my fingers into my armpits and stick my elbows up the air, glide and pull.

All the coaches are being very helpful. I'm looking forward to my next milestone, which is to be able to swim freestyle 50 yards without hyperventilating.

Photo copyright by Philly Gay Calendar

Ultramarathon Man

Dean's bus
Originally uploaded by Herkie.

Dean Karnazes is good at running, and promoting himself. Sounds like someone I know!

Dean is running a marathon a day in 50 states in 50 days. I get a text message from Team Dean each day, which makes my afternoon.

I'm thinking about joining Dean for a run when his entourage stops by my city.

Patrick Murphy for Congress

Patrick Murphy for Congress
Originally uploaded by reflexblue.

Patrick Murphy and I crossed paths while I was canvassing in New Hope, PA on Sunday September 30th for Liberty PA. Mr. Murphy is running against the Republican incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District. I endorse Patrick Murphy for PA's 8th Congressional District. Sending Mr. Murphy to Washington is a major step toward harm reduction.