Our Summer of 2015 recap continues with August and September – two very eventful months as befitting these particular tick-tocks of time.

It was the summer that I headed out on The Delusional Grandeur Tour: Last Stand of a Rock Star – my final tour. It began, as all good things do, with Madonna. Thus far it’s seen us through an opening, an entrance, a bunny hop, some Sunset Boulevard, some Joe Gillis, some Norma Desmond, some more Norma Desmond, and even more Norma Desmond. It’s gone to Boston, Cape Cod, Portland, Albany (!) and Seattle, with upcoming jaunts to Washington, New York, and maybe even London before it wraps. This is only the beginning.

It was a summer that saw at least one hottie in a Speedo.

Summer sees beans, not magic beans, but green beans.

Sail away with some summer music.

Summer finds a way in-between.

Summer also found me a publicist.

Summer is poetry.

The sweet scent of Hermes still reminds of the season.

This summer I finally met The Brits. The circle of friendship widens in happy form.

Another Brit, Tom Daley, was not in his Speedo as much as usual, but he did deign to stuff it here.

There were additional Hunks to keep it all hotter than hot: Bryce Thompson, Joe Zaso, Miles Teller, Steven Dehler, Luke Shaw, Ryan Phillippe, Jess Vill,  Sacha M’baye,  Warren Carlyle, Jonathan Duffy, Justin Willman & Jessie Godderz.

It was the summer I turned 40, with some planning, some navel-gazing, some breakdowns, some naked hilarity, some sea pals, and some decadence.

It was a summer of florals.

Introducing Iris Apfel: inspiration, muse, and oh so much more.

It was the summer Madonna launched her miraculous Rebel Heart Tour, and sang one of her best songs in years. (And this weekend Suzie and I hope to see it for ourselves!)

Sometimes summer brings about school memories, shameful or not.

And spewing of shame, there’s this horrid woman.

A jockstrap is fit for any season. As is a Speedo.

Summer is a time to read a classic.

My Dad shares my sign of the Virgo.

My birthday went both heralded and unheralded in myriad ways. It had its special dinners, its secret gardens, a roof-deck brunch, Tom Ford, birthday suits, and solitude. And then it was done.

Kafka & Murakami.

More Ben Cohen.

And still more Murakami.

Farewell Summer… until we meet again next year.

Oh sweet beautiful season of summer, you always depart too soon. You know that by not lingering we will love you more, miss you more, want you more. The promise that you will be back doesn’t mean much once winter comes, but we’ll hold it dear until the spring. You have always returned, and a season of her word is ever noble.

This was a happy summer – the very last one of my 30’s – and I’d like to think I made the most of it. Poolside gatherings with friends and family formed the happiest memories, and the gardens had a banner year to back it all up (the elephant ears are big enough to hear the whole world). I didn’t want it to end… we never want summer to end, so here’s a look back, for those fall mornings when things get dark and cold. Bookmark it for when you need an escape; I know I will.

SWEET SLEEPY WARMTH OF SUMMER NIGHTS

GAZING AT THE DISTANT LIGHTS

IN THE STARRY SKY

This summer, like most summers, or any other season for that matter, was about Madonna and hot men.

It was a time for an Hermes fragrance by way of Mssr. Li.

It was the summer we celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality, no matter what that ugly-on-the-inside Kim Davis is trying (and failing) to do.

It was the summer of sweet peas and Queen Ann’s lace and a stalwart little petunia braving the sidewalks of downtown Albany.

THEY SAY THAT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END SOME DAY

AUTUMN LEAVES MUST FALL

BUT DON’T YOU KNOW THAT IT HURTS ME SO

TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU

WISH YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO GO

NO, NO, NO, NO

AND WHEN THE RAIN

BEATS AGAINST MY WINDOW PANE

I’LL THINK OF SUMMER DAYS AGAIN

AND DREAM OF YOU

It was the summer in which Justin Bieber showed off his naked booty, even though most of us wish it had been Pietro Boselli.

It was the summer I peered over the edge of 40, and examined it with a little fear, and a lot of hope.

I also paid homage to the naked chef, in my own naked way.

Other gentlemen removed their clothes as well, because summer is a time for heat.

Just ask the beautifully beefy Ben Cohen, or a Speedo-stuffed Steve Grand.

Moreover, check out the Hunk of the Day posts for Jon Kortajarena, Casey Lee Ross, Darius Ferdynand, Simon Dunn & Scotty Dynamo.

THEY SAY THAT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END SOME DAY

AUTUMN LEAVES MUST FALL

BUT DON’T YOU KNOW THAT IT HURTS ME SO

TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU

WISH YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO GO

NO, NO, NO, NO

It was the summer that my Final Tour began, and it was christened thusly.

It was the summer of survival, and not just where you bump and Grindr it.

It was the 15^th summer I’ve spent with Andy…

And my first with Diana Vreeland.

It was – and it will be again – a summer of sunsets.

AND WHEN THE RAIN

BEATS AGAINST MY WINDOW PANE

I’LL THINK OF SUMMER DAYS AGAIN

AND DREAM OF YOU

There will be a much more exhaustive summer recap encapsulating the entire season in a bit, but for now a look back at the final full week of the sunniness we’ve so far enjoyed. To be honest, I’m not really sure where I am right now – going back and forth from Maine to Seattle, Albany to Boston, and back again next weekend, makes for a tricky touring schedule, but onward we go! Hell, if Madonna can do it, so can I (and my entourage is far less in number).

My 40th birthday was still going on (and it will be all year, so you’re just going to have to deal with that) and one of my favorite Tom Ford Private Blends came out just in time for the celebration. I wore a special birthday suit for the inaugural spritzing. And then I wore nothing at all (birthday booty warning!)

A wedding video and some magic made Justin Willman a Hunk of the Day.

Kafka and Murakami made for excellent bedfellows, while providing no reason whatsoever for this extent of disrobing.

Andrew Christian model Timmy Thok and Mr. Pec-tacular himself, Jessie Godderz, were named Hunks of the Day.

Ben Cohen was gracious enough to send me a birthday Tweet, so I made him a birthday post.

A quick weekend in Portland, Maine was captured in a single post.

Ginger Eddie Eduardo made his Hunk of the Day debut, as did inked model Jordan Levine.

This week, provided I can manage it, The Delusional Grandeur Tour hits Seattle, Washington. Are you ready to ride with the whales?

We interrupt the 40th Birthday journey with this quick recap, coming later in the day than is usual because I felt like switching things up a bit. It’s taking me a little while to catch up on things here – trips to Portland, Maine and Seattle, Washington are both forthcoming – and right now we are in the midst of my Boston birthday weekend, so there are good things to come. It’s also best to keep people guessing as to where I am. (It deters would-be thieves, not that there are any with a retired police officer guarding the goods. Forewarned is fair-warned.) On with the recap!

In the event that you’re in need of a great read, and have not yet experienced this one, I fell instantly in love with ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.

This is one of the last times I get to say, “It’s still summer,” this year. I’m crying too.

Madonna is back, and better than ever.

It takes balls to wear a Speedo.

My Dad was born on 9/11, many years before that date had such significance, so here was my belated homage to him.

As mentioned above, I’m finally getting around to describing my 40th birthday weekend. An early dinner at Douzo, an almost-secret garden before a massage, and this most glorious brunch at the Taj.

The only place in which I wanted to turn 40 was the Judy Garland Suite.

Or under the sea.

And there is more to come after this recap… so stay tuned.