Do not be mistaken – this is not a Tiny Thread.
Or part of the insignificant Series.
It is, in fact, much less.
Filler.
This is a filler post.
I’ve fallen behind, so you get this placeholder.
A promise for better things.
I promise.
Author Archives: Alan Ilagan
08
May
2019
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May
2019
07
May
2019
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May
2019
A Late Anniversary Recap
Andy and I are just coming off an early anniversary trip to Boston. Today marks our real wedding date, but it’s hard to get away on a Tuesday, so we had it early. Some years it works out that way, and after nine years of married life and nineteen of cohabitation, we can be a little flexible on such matters. On with the recap…
It began in sweet fashion with these magnolia blooms.
It was gonna be May.
Tiny Threads continued to unravel.
Retail bliss may be found in downtown Albany.
Gratuitous Pietro Boselli naked shots.
Florals for spring feet.
I warned you but nobody listened.
Gratuitous Cristiano Ronaldo underwear shots.
The weekend everybody went to Boston: Part One and Part Two.
Gratuitous Zac Efron nude shots.
Dazzling in downtown Albany.
Camping out at the Met Gala 2019.
Hunks of the Day included Jason Elliott, Gavin Leatherwood, Eric Michael Krop, and Ammed Tuniziani.
07
May
2019
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May
2019
07
May
2019
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May
2019
Nine Fine Years
More than perhaps anything else, a marriage is a journey. It is a trip through time with someone that you love and with whom you want to spend all the days to come. Granted, there are days when it’s more difficult than others (and everyone knows I am often more difficult than others) but it’s always a choice to stay on the journey together, and Andy and I still stand behind that choice.
As far as anniversaries go, nine is fine. Nothing too showy or spectacular, and no need to re-tread the original by recreating what we did the first time (we’re saving that plan for #10). This was a quieter, simpler celebration that was a comfort and balm to our hearts. I’ll get to those posts in a couple of days, so come back if you want to see how we do #9.
Happy anniversary, Drew!
06
May
2019
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May
2019
The Met Gala 2019
A few of the selections from the best red, err, pink carpet of the year.
The Met Gala 2019 was inspired by the theme of ‘Camp’ which is fertile ground for all the shit-slayers.
(Lady Gaga has already had FOUR outfit changes. And Billy Porter came in Cleopatra-style, carried by six shirtless gentlemen. And Jared Leto gave head to Shawn Mendes right there on the pink carpet.)
06
May
2019
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May
2019
Dazzling in Downtown Albany
There was a time when most of us didn’t use Photoshop (a few of us still don’t) and these photos, in their dazzling brilliance and un-retouched power, are a reminder that nature, at her best, doesn’t need any help in that department. On a recent walk in downtown Albany, the sun was out and these flowers were in bloom. They stopped me in my tracks with their colorful siren calls, begging to be captured in some way – by word, by music, by painting, by photograph – anything to retain as a keepsake. I did my best, but it pales in comparison to memory.
05
May
2019
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May
2019
Zac Efron and His Naked Ass
Zac Efron’s nude booty has been featured here before, but for his turn as Ted Bundy in ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile’ he’s showing his naked ass off again, in a little more explicit fashion. Given its serial killer subject matter, this is one of those films that may best be viewed by isolating the naked male celebrity bits. No one who comes here regularly is going to complain about that kind of editing, so I suppose now is a good time to recount all the times Zac Efron got naked here:
- This post featured one of the first glimpses of the Zac Efron ass: a side view, planking-style.
- A simply shirtless Zac Efron post.
- That Zac Efron Speedo shot. And another angle of the Freedom Speedo. And one more.
- Some sexy GIFs showing a shirtless (and bulging) Zac Efron in motion.
- These briefs somehow made him look more naked than he was. (You can almost see everything.)
- The Zac Efron nude butt GIFs.
- That old Zac Efron heat.
- Zac and some other nude dudes.
- Dripping wet and in trunks.
- Finally, this impossibly-cruel full-frontal Zac Efron shot.
05
May
2019
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May
2019
Perfumed Boston Blooms
It is not a particularly showy plant. Its foliage is common, albeit handsome enough. It’s blooms – white tinged outwardly with rose when in bud, are small, produced en-masse so they form quiet snowballs that prefer the understory of plantings, hiding and blending into the background. But their scent – that exquisite perfume – is what puts the Korean spice viburnum on the landscaping map. One bush is enough to fill a small yard with fragrance, and even in the expanse of Boston, a few specimens often leave passers-by wondering where the scent originates.
While their looks fade into the environment, this is the time for other showstoppers, such as these back-lit Narcissus and the cloud of pink Kwanzan cherry blooms seen below.
The crab apples are also in bloom, and they do have a fragrance, unlike the cherries. It is the quintessential scent of hope and spring – all sweetness and freshness and delicacy.
They look especially lovely against a bright blue sky. We might complain about how cool and damp the weather has been of late, but such conditions prolong the life of their blooms. It’s always a trade-off.
Forget Christmas, this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Hello, May flowers.
05
May
2019
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May
2019
The Weekend Everyone Went To Boston ~ Part 2
After such a tumultuous night of inclement weather, the morning, despite the wind, felt fresh and new. The sun was actually out, something that hasn’t happened as much as it typically does at this time of the year, so we bid adieu to the glorious Fairmont and headed into the city for some shopping. Clouds rolled in and out, but throughout the windy morning there were glimpses of blue sky ~ the promise of spring.
An early lunch at Parrish Cafe (Kira had the Hot and Dirty Pig Burger and I opted for the Flour BLT, forgoing my usual Zuni Roll ~ damn that thing is good) followed by some shopping in Downtown Crossing left us more than spent for an afternoon siesta. Mom and Emi were in the neighborhood for an early dinner, so they stopped by to see the condo, and after they left we took a quick nap as the sun slanted through the bedroom windows.
Despite the sun’s arrival, it was no match for the wind and the chill of this Boston weekend, so I was once again on the OpenTable hunt for a nearby restaurant that we hadn’t done to death. We found one relatively close ~ the Westland ~ and it turned out to be a great choice ~ casual and comfortable, with a few old-fashioned classics, like Oysters Casino, which we tried in a moment of ‘Mad Men’ inspiration. (Everything fried is new again.)
The next morning was sunny ~ it’s always sunny on the day you have to leave. Kira and I joined my Mom and Emi at The Friendly Toast for breakfast, then stopped at Cafe Madeleine for some macarons for Andy. Coming full circle, by the time this is posted he and I will be back in town celebrating our wedding anniversary. That seems a fine and fitting place to end this quick Boston weekend recap. Looking forward to the next adventure…
05
May
2019
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May
2019
The Weekend Everyone Went To Boston ~ Part 1
The universe is too often an all-or-nothing type of beast. When it rains it pours. There is no happy medium. Everything or nothing in moderation. Such was what happened last weekend in Boston, when Kira, Sherri, Skip, Mia, Jack, my Mom and my niece all found ourselves in that fair city (with some rather unfair weather). I was thrilled with the circumstances ~ having some of my favorite people in my favorite city at the same time was a happy confluence of events. The stars rarely align in so fortuitous a fashion. (It turns out there was a Cher concert at the end of the weekend too, so Boston was very much the place to be.)
While Sherri and Skip and the kids stayed at the condo, I got to try out the Fairmont Copley Plaza and realize a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. Camping out at a hotel is one of my favorite things to do, and when it’s the Grande Dame of Boston hotels it is a special treat. Carly Copley, the current canine mascot, greeted me at the door flanked by two golden lions, and I strutted down Peacock Alley to check in.
My Mom was hosting Emi at the Copley Marriott, and with the swirling clouds, wind, and rain, I sought out dinner options at nearby places, settling on Post 390 with its cozy fireplace. Emi was on her most lady-like behavior (give or take a bit of bread dipped in a milkshake) and we enjoyed a lovely dinner. Returning to my hotel room, I came back to champagne and candy graciously provided by the Fairmont with a sweet welcome note before heading out to visit Skip and Sherri.
I get to hang out with Skip at the condo once a year, but I never get lucky enough to see Sherri when I’m here, so that was a treat. We played a few rounds of Taboo with Mia and Jack, and soon enough Kira arrived in a maelstrom of pouring rain. We broke out some of Skip’s MacCallan, and there was no cozier place to spend a stormy evening. Outside, lightning flashed, rain pelted the windows, and the trees swayed wildly in the wind, but when good friends meet other good friends there is nothing but warmth.
By the time we were ready to return to the Fairmont, the weather had calmed. We made the quick walk back along Southwest Corridor Park and arrived in the warm glow of that beautiful lobby. We stopped in at the Oak Long Bar for a nightcap (and by nightcap I mean Crab Avocado toast and an order of fries).
The luxury of getting to walk right up to our room after our time in the Oak Long Bar is something we usually aren’t afforded. (Not that a four minute trek to the condo is such a bad deal either.) We went to sleep surrounded by opulent history, resting up for the next day.
04
May
2019
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May
2019
Tiny Threads: An Insignificant Series
“At least I’m having bowel movements, freak.â€
The things one must text to co-workers these days…
Also, “TMFI.â€
04
May
2019
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May
2019
Plum Crazy
At first glance I thought these blooms were from a plum tree – the dark red foliage bordering on violet, and the small white bursts of petals – but then I thought about this tree in the fall. It has tiny little fruits that most closely resemble a cherry, so I’m thinking it’s a cherry after all. However, the title of the post is too fun to change now. We are all a little plum crazy at this time of the year.
Located near the downtown Albany post office, this flowering fruit tree (whatever pit fruit it may be) is a happy sight after such a long drawn-out winter. It makes walking the downtown area so much more joyful. Say what you will, Albany has its pockets of beauty if you know where to look, and when. Spring is one of those whens. Downtown can be too. After living in this area for most of my adult life, I find happiness in embracing beauty where I find it.
I also love sending letters in the real mail, and that’s what a post office is for. (They’re also good for keeping cool in the summer. Post offices and banks have the best air conditioning anywhere. Keep it in mind when the days get unbearable come July.)
All these tangents… like some impossible algebra problem. See, I knew the title of this post would work. Even if it had to be forced. Even if I should have stopped writing long ago.
Enjoy the flowers.
Enjoy the fun.
Enjoy the crazy, whether it be plum or cherry.
03
May
2019
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May
2019
Tiny Threads: An Insignificant Series
What exactly do we mean by the term ‘tempting fate’?
03
May
2019
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May
2019
Cristiano’s Underwear Basket
Cristiano Ronaldo models the latest from his CR7 underwear line. If you can’t fill out your own underwear, well, I don’t even know where that was going. Cristiano has been here many times, mostly in his skivvies. Haven’t heard any complaints yet. (About him, at least, with the possible exception of his full-frontal shot.)
02
May
2019
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May
2019
When Fears Prove to be Well-Founded
