Gays Of Our Lives Event, March 2010

How about he and I just play a friendly game of pool... and then shuffle board and call it a draw?

Because let's face it. THAT BOY IS TALL! And solid muscle. One bop to my brain and I'm done for.... AND THE DIMPLES.... Mine just aren't strong enough to withstand the power his wields. He might as well be wearing a cape!

Might I suggest plain arm wrestling ?
It brings on more bets than pool, and you still have the symbolic, though peaceful, conflict.
Anyway if it ever came to that, don't worry about his height, just use the hips
The taller they are the harder they fall has some truth, in fact I think you're major problem with his height is not wether you can throw him, but where he can land safely.
Anyway just think about the arm wrestling please tough girl

The moms and I were thinking of taking a mini-vaca and hitting up some of the amusement parks out there. We could have a GOOL day at Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm or Magic Mountain. We're in LA, might as well hit up the amusement parks out there!!

I just had a devious thought that we should pay for the actors to come with us, omg.

But even if it was only the fandom, we could still have a marvelous time of it!! ;D

Awesome people I met that night was the beautiful Brownsugar, the awesome B-Chick, super-photographer Husky, the talented LizG (and her husband!), Softfurbear, and soooo many others, but most especially, Nanna and Tikhon! It's hard to describe Nanna and do her justice. She is sly and funny and a whole lot of awesome. Tikhon is incredibly funny and a nice guy. And a trouble-maker! Thank you both for inviting me to breakfast with the awesome organizers of the weekend! Sorry about the pancakes, Barbara. ;D

Saturday was all kinds of fun. The panels were informative, and after the first couple, the actors really warmed up to the format. The uncensored moments were awesome, and Hal was an experienced and funny host. Gregory and Scott can add their names to the list of actors who were just awesome to meet. Another shout out to Scott's cute bartender-friend Kyle at the Stonewall. Yummy.

The party that night was a blast. Andreas' arrival brought more cheers, and he was very accommodating to those who wanted to take his picture.

What I appreciated most about this weekend was the opportunity for all of us there to interact with one another as human beings. The internet is such a tricky medium, as we sometimes don't have to take responsibility for our comments. But what this event and this venue and these opportunities really gave us all was a period to meet and show mutual respect to one another.

Let's be honest, our more prurient thoughts take us to dark and nasty places, and all of us have an idea what we would do if we were locked in a room with some of the actors...or fans. I barely saw that. This was a respectful event, and for those of you who weren't there, you really can't imagine how really amazing that is. Others who were there probably saw the same thing. A lot of credit goes to the organizers for making this a safe event for the actors, as well as for the fans.

The unflawed mingling of fandoms is also a genuine accomplishment. There was no competition among us that I saw. I was all just a huge, loving party!

I haven't seen that many genuine smiles for such a long period of time as I have that weekend.

Brunch on Sunday was fun, though I could have done without my hangover from Saturday. It was a time for goodbyes. The generous and moving gifts from the EKP crowd to Dennis and Igor and Tom on Sunday were incredible. These men were so moved by that. Well done EKP!

After leaving the party, I saw two more Broadway shows, Next Fall (SEE THIS SHOW!) and Next to Normal (skip this show!). On Monday, after all the parties and shows and good times were behind me, I wasted every possible moment before leaving my hotel before returning home.

This truly was, on every level, a weekend far beyond every expectation I had. I am proud to call those I spent time with my friend. It's a testament to the community we have here, and to the EKP community, and the fandoms from all the other shows.

I will treasure the moments I spent with the actors, usually talking about things other than their shows, engaging them as men with lives away from their careers. Those private conversations with them, will, for the most part, remain private. Those moments are mine to remember for a long, long time.

I must give a special thank you to Jo. First, for his revealing non-answer about the show. Second, for a message he promised he will pass on (after I send it). Lastly, and most amazingly, in a testament to his character as a person, when I was telling him how much I loved Miriam, he handed me his cell phone and let me text a message to Romina. Who does that kind of thing? He genuinely is a lovely amazing person.

Thore is just as amazing! I got to have real conversations with him, and he talked about his real life. He is a really really nice human being.

Finally, Shirley, you are awesome! Next time, dress so every outfit you wear goes well with sneakers. Patricia, you were so friendly and welcoming to everyone. Riboflavin, you are a beautiful person who does not take a bad photo. Sonnenschein, it was a pleasure to hug and kiss you. Barbara and Rrrrrreetta, you are both so classy and nice and fun!

Okay, I've blabbed on long enough.

Thank you all for the weekend of a lifetime! Everyone!
Sign me up for next year!

And YES! YES! YES! to Amusement parks!

*has been reduced to a puddle of water* Love your recap

I miss sneaking up on you and hugging you too! TBH, you only kissed me because someone asked you too ;D

Zam: Thanks for sharing it sounds awesome.

It doesn't seem to matter how many recaps of this event I read I never tire of them (so far at least), it's nice to hear everyone's different perspectives of things and how much fun they had, and next year LA and Disneyland would be awesome!!! I've always wanted to go back there Must start saving now (well as soon as I get back from Scotland) and will tentively book time off for next year sometime

I forgot all about that!!!

Yeah, that bottleneck by the stairs was a bit of a challenge, but I'm so happy you got to come to at least one of the events and meet the guys.

It's a week today since the event ended and I am still unable to get it out of my head - nor do I want to at all, it is a real sweetness to go back to at odd times as all the grind of my normal life returns. My only regret was not having the time to get to New York for the Thursday night pre-meetings as it would have been a transition to the excitement and decibels of Friday night, and a few acquaintances would already have been made. Of course if I had been able to get free from work Thursday I would have been forced to choose which event to go to...How cute it was when Jo registered real but graceful indignation from the stage, that he and Thore had not been told that there were parties Thursday night, while they were having a lonely drink by themselves at their hotel ! So apparently we didn't have to tiptoe around the stars this weekend, giving them time and space for themselves, there were here just for US !

Some of my little memories:
- Having Jo finally forced to notice my quiet round face which like a sunflower was constantly turned in his direction as he talked to other people in the conservatory room at MadameX. He began a conversation by telling me he had an Abercrombie and Fitch shirt exactly like mine. On Sunday I sat next to him, with Megan on the other side, as she showed him on her laptop, some of the greetings for him she had amassed from people on the Oliver and Christian Wiki. And I have the lengths of lottery tickets which I bought and he measured with his outstretched arms - and they are a reminder of how much taller he is than he usually looks on the show.

- Watching a long animated conversation Jo and Thore had at the bar during the dance, with both having to talk right in the other's ear because of the music, lots of smiling, and some stylish hand gestures by the naturally expressive Jo.

- Having Gregory Michael turn and introduce himself very graciously as I stood near him Friday night, feeling extraordinarily stiff and shy. He came around Sunday at the brunch to talk to people again after we were all warmed up and starting to feel we knew each other, telling me I looked like I was having the time of my life on the dance floor the night before.

- Complimenting Igor on the promo video he and Dennis did for GOOL, and hearing that they did it in Dennis' living room with a green screen in an evening, and that they did the technical editing as well. What talented people! Later Igor came and sat right next to me on the steps while I was listening to one of the panels he was not on - one of many moments which didn't seem real at the time.

- Getting to talk to Dennis ever so briefly about some of what he said on the panels. Watching as Miyuki presented him with a 'happi' festival jacket at MadameX and seeing his very creditable Japanese bows after he tried it on. She presented them to the other actors as well but I unfortunately missed those.

- Actually managing to make a coherent, succinct expression of appreciation to Felix when I could pull him aside.

- Hearing Scott's description, on his panel, of the filming of Oliver's first night with Kyle and how moved he was by Brett's improvisations and additions to the lovemaking.

- Talking with Tom Chroust about some of his feelings about the two shows he shaped, and the characters he created.

- Talking to Thore in the bright March sun outside the Stonewall Inn. He was surprised how much the crooked streets and little squares of Greenwich Village were like those of European cities. He talked about how he couldn't wait to hit the road with a powerful SUV, his destination Chicago, for a little fancy-free unscheduled time as his first break in months from the filming schedule. Although for whatever reason I was holding off from asking any of the actors for pictures, I suddenly had to have one of Thore and me in the sunlight in front of the Stonewall and Alessandro came through for me with his camera. That evening I was lucky enough to be almost next to Thore as he picked up Tikhon and carted his trophy around; I also saw him lean forward and dare Tikhon to do the Dirty Dancing leap up onto him. At another point that evening he was relaxing in a chair, his chest adorned with the legs of another member of this forum as a sort of lei...

- Being dragged out on the dance floor time after time by a charming lady from Mexico City, who was not actually in our group but who had come upstairs late-late after our party started to thin out. I was trying to give her all my attention at the same time that I was also trying to watch the sudden Thore-Tikhon spectacle going on on the other side.

- Feeling someone almost stepping on my heels very late Saturday night as I was coming downstairs at the Stonewall, turning and seeing it was the 'Prince of Waldensteyck'. Andreas had been behind the bar, where everybody expected him, except not actually bartending of course but closely watching the DJ as if learning the NYC style of spinning. Downstairs, he gave me a quick greeting and went out into the night.

- Meeting Nanna at the brunch and having a cathartic conversation with her, just when I was starting to feel overcome with sadness that the wonderful weekend was all coming to an end so soon with so much still unexpressed. Remembering something I had emailed her about a while back, she went over to Thore and asked him if he could send her an early (pre-Olli) Christian episode she had never been able to find on the net, part of which may be on his showreel. She then came back and told me he was going to get it to her! I can't wait!

- Getting to talk briefly to Aldi and Lily and to thank them for their dedication and inimitable style. Getting to meet so many wonderful fans, although it was still only a small proportion of the folks who were there. There were a good number of people who were not active on any forum and who had come on their own so it was really enjoyable drawing out the ones I talked to and finding what brought them there.

Overall - a weekend that went so far beyond whatever I imagined. How I hope that all of the same players, and others, will be able to come next year!

We Love Soaps now have up text versions of their Stonewall Inn chats with Hal Sparks[/url] and Scott Evans[/url].

Say 'GOOL CHEESEEEEE'! ;D Danke, moeguy222!...

That was great video and I'm jealous because I couldn't attend. But it looked like a good time was had by all.

What a wonderful mom you are. I'm thinking your kid will be a kind and open-minded human being which will hopefully make the world that much nicer.