Manhattan

March 14, 2015June 27, 2020 ~ Elliott

And so, to continue where I left off: our trip to New York City. We stopped briefly at the hotel to drop off our stuff. We stayed at the Holiday Inn on 57^th Street, right near Central Park. It was nicer than our usual accommodations, because Joey wanted to treat Drew. We had an amazing view. Then Joey and I hurried to the modeling audition at James Weber Studio in Chelsea. As previously mentioned, it was pretty straightforward and painless.

11013021_10205963890192424_4201885907348552976_n — Hotel lobby panorama!!!

There were some pigeons out the window on a ledge. This doesn't really capture how beautiful the lighting was. — There were some pigeons out the window on a ledge. This doesn’t really capture how beautiful the lighting was.

After that, we went to an event at the bookstore BGSQD which is now located at The Center (for the LGBTs) in the West Village. I signed up for this reading last minute, and the writer running the event, Michael Brodus, was very generous to let me join. The event was called Queer Loves and Lusts in a Post-DOMA World. “Celebrating the full range of queer relationship options on the 15th Anniversary of the night Michael Broder hit on Jason Schneiderman. An evening of words and deeds honoring the raunchy outlaw roots of LGBTQ love and celebrating the full range of relationship options in the wake of same-sex marriage—hooking up, dating, living together, cheating, breaking up, open relationships, groups, polyamory, fetish, kink—anything and everything we do to express our loves, lusts, commitments, and refusals of commitment in the era of same-sex marriage.” It was mostly poetry, but I read prose and got a good reception. I read about my relationship with Joey and it felt really good, given that we haven’t had much support back in Syracuse. Everyone was really warm and friendly, and the elbow-rubbing seemed sincere and not gross. Like making new friends rather than just networking. It was pretty awesome. And the other readers were great. I especially enjoyed the poetry of fellow trans writer Trace Peterson.

11043032_10205963010450431_1604286777863399443_n — Hotel view, day

There was a painting that caught my eye in the hotel. It seemed like Courage the Cowardly Dog, but with the male and female roles reversed. I pointed this out to Drew.

Some other stuff happened. We went to our favorite gluten-free restaurant, Risotteria, on the Lower East Side. Drew and I checked out guitars in a guitar shop. Alas, we could not locate a hurdy gurdy, which is one of his main objectives at this time. We got delayed on the drive home and slept over at a hotel in New Jersey. It seems like I’m forgetting a lot that happened on this trip, but really, my brain feels fuzzy and fried, and I am missing my glasses. I shall leave you with this picture of us at Risotteria.

Beacon, NY

March 12, 2015March 15, 2015 ~ Elliott

Currently as I write this, I am sitting in Columbus Library (a New York Public Library) in Hell’s Kitchen. Joey and Drew went to check out some stuff that interests Drew: aircrafts, submarines, some sort of museums (he’s a 15 year-old aspie kid. In many regards, so am I, but our obsessive interests are very different so I decided to go to the library instead). This young guy just sat across from me at the table and gave me a very deliberate look in the eye. Flirtation? Maybe he’s just awkward. There are plenty of other tables to sit at, though. This is uncomfortable. I think I’m just going to keep typing. (He eventually left).

So. The main purpose of this trip was for me to attend a modeling audition. “The shoot is for a booklet that will be given out by healthcare professionals to transitioning (FTM) folks. The focus of the booklet is transitioning safely and healthfully.” It paid pretty well, so I figured why not give it a shot? We ended up doing a lot of things on this trip, though.

Driving through the Catskills was not entirely ugly.

First we had to stop for gas/bathrooms and whatnot in Binghamton. Here are the notes I took while there, because I intended to write about it later. I have so much to get to though, that I think I will just give you the notes. Perhaps in a series of haikus?

Gas station truck stop

Bedazzled pink cowboy hats

Awkward bathroom men

Ok it’s not really working. The best part of that reststop was that they sold these huge wooden crosses with ornate gothic designs and sharp ends that totally looked like vampire-killing-devices. I wish I got a pic.

Anyway, at the second rest stop in Roscoe, NY (“Trout Town USA!”), we observed something very creepy indeed. Notice a difference between the men and ladies room doors?

Then it was on to Beacon, NY where we stopped for lunch with our friends Nora Olsen and Áine Ní Cheallaigh, fellow queer authors and couple. We got to talk about writing, traditional vs. self-publishing, Morrissey, and travels, and cats. Check out their cat:

Also, I tried on their unicorn hat.

So I haven’t got much longer until Drew and Joey are back. I will end this here, and pick up where I left off with our evening and morning spent in Manhattan. Most likely I will write that back when we are back in Syracuse. Until then!

Boston, New York City, and Some Stops Between.

March 8, 2015June 27, 2020 ~ Elliott

11046667_782821191806853_2289378458180124516_n — Reading at the Fazenda Coffee House for “Moonlighting.”

The crowd at "Moonlighting" for my reading. — The crowd at “Moonlighting” for my reading.

Thursday night we stayed in Worcester, MA at a Days Inn. We drove in to Boston for my reading. I was a featured reader for “Moonlighting: A Queer Open Mic Reading Series.” It was located at the Fazenda Coffee House in Jamaica Plains, Boston. This was seriously one of my favorite events I’ve ever done. I read and got great reactions. There was a good-sized, enthusiastic crowd, I sold several books, and the organizers were very kind and generous, giving me the money they raised from suggested donations. I think I rather like Boston, and I’d like to return.

We were told about Queereoke at the Midway Cafe, so we headed over to that as well. Joey likes gay bar scenes even less than I do , but even he had fun. It was a different vibe than I’m used to, partly because it was a queer night at an open-minded dive bar, as opposed to just a gay bar. We had drinks and I sang “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” by The Smiths. I got a little too drunk, and was a little self-destructive. This was upsetting. But Joey and I talked a lot that night and on the drive the next day, and it was ultimately okay. We had really good talks. I just really need to deal with some more stuff in therapy. And get my drinking under control.

IMAG0944 — View of the Long Island Sound

The next day we drove to Stamford, CT, where we stayed at a Super 8. Though we were pretty exhausted, we decided to venture. We were about 20 minutes from SUNY Purchase, where I went to school from 2007-2009. It was the inspiration for the setting of my first book. We first stopped at Rye Playland, which was of course closed for winter, but we looked at the Long Island Sound and the pier and walked some.

Prison-esque architecture at Purchase College.

After that I took Joey to Purchase. We parked and wandered around, so I could show him my old haunts. The campus was pretty deserted for spring break. He couldn’t get over how shitty it all was, it terms of aesthetics and the fact that everything was falling apart. It was clear to him why my years there were some of the worst of my life. But ultimately we had a lot of fun, walking around judging everything, and me telling him sad stories about my early college years.

The next morning, we took a bus and then Metro North commuter train to Grand Central Station in New York City. We met up with Amos Mac for coffee at the Grumpy Cafe. I met Amos once before at the Philly Trans Health Conference, and I was/am a blogger for Original Plumbing, so we’ve exchanged a lot of emails. He’s always seemed like a really nice guy. He bought our coffees, then we went back in to Grand Central for a photo shoot. It was pretty quick and simple, and I had fun hanging out, even if I am socially awkward and anxious, always. The issue will be coming out in April.

Joey chills in a closed area of the park, as per his usual style.

After the photo shoot, Joey and I took the subway to the Lower East Side to eat at a gluten-free restaurant that we love, Risotteria. We both have dietary problems with wheat. We had some amazing pizza and beers, and then wandered around and went shopping a bit. It was sunny.

And then we headed home! That is where I am now. It’s good to see Drew and the cats. Mittens and Snowflake basically went nuts when we got back…whoever says cats don’t love their owners is crazy. I might post some more on this trip later if I feel up to it, and there might be some more small adventures to describe over the next month or so. I’ll be going back to New York City this Wednesday for a modelling audition (more on that to come). But the next big trip is April 20th, when we are flying out to Ventura, CA! I’m really excited to check out where we are going to live, and hopefully take a trip into Los Angeles and see about doing a reading while I’m there. I can’t wait to get out on the West Coast. Anyway, that’s all for now.

Springfield, MA

March 5, 2015March 5, 2015 ~ Elliott

photo1-6 — Where they do transgender surgeries. Note the phallus atop.

Springfield, Massachusetts is dull. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it’s dull. We saw the plastic surgeon today about Joey’s chest surgery. That went pretty well, though it was less than pleasant for Joey. The office was located next to this old, rundown factory/warehouse. I was like, “That’s where they do the surgeries.” I am a very comforting boyfriend, and also hilarious.

The weather was god-awful on the drive here, with snow and ice. And did you know that on the radio here, they not only bleep out “ho” but the entirety of “if you dance on a pole, that don’t’ make you a ho,” in Usher’s “I Don’t Mind?” Like, it goes, “Shorty I don’t mind….. …. ….???” It’s pretty weird. In Syracuse they just bleep out “ho.”

There is a cheap print of painting in the living area where we are staying. It depicts a gate, opening to a garden. The same picture is over our bed in the bedroom. Why? Why two of the same shitty picture?

photo3-3

We got yelled at by a security guard because we tried to go in to Price Rite at 9 PM when they were closing. We still got our milk. He was just really angry about it.

The Jacuzzi in the room is sweet. Our room is pretty plain otherwise, but enough. There’s also a balcony that overlooks the “lake,” which is actually a small pond that’s frozen and covered in snow.

Yep. Dull. I promise these posts will get better… Tomorrow, Worcester and Boston. I have a book reading, and I think we might check out dinosaur bones at a museum or something.

Also I am baffled by this sign:

First Post: Introduction

March 2, 2015June 27, 2020 ~ Elliott

I realized that I travel a lot these days. I’m a professional (ish) writer, so I often have book readings, fairs, and college events and what not. Plus, my partner Joey and I just enjoy traveling. This is my ideal lifestyle, and I’ve known that since I was a child. I could never quite picture what I wanted out of life, other than to write and to travel. So here you go.

I made a list of the places we’ve gone the past 9 months or so, and it includes: New York City, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, the Adirondacks, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Ithaca, and small towns in Canada and the Midwest. Most my recent travel has been on the east coast of the U.S., but I’ve also spent some time in California and England.

We are planning a road trip West next fall, because we are moving from Syracuse, New York to Southern California (most likely Ventura). I originally made this blog with that big trip in mind. We will be traveling by car with Joey’s 15 year old son, Drew, and our two cats, Mittens and Snowflake.

Between now and then, I will also update this blog when I’m on the road. I will share my opinions and anecdotes, because strange stuff always seems to happen. Or I just manage to find the strangeness in everyday events. I’m also a photographer, artist, and musician, so I’ll most likely include some more creative documentations as well.

Tomorrow Joey and I leave for a week long trip. He has an appointment in Springfield, Massachusetts with a surgeon, which is very exciting. He is a trans man and is having chest reconstructive surgery. I had the same surgery in 2010. I am also trans. My gender is complicated and it changes. This blog will only deal with that somewhat. It’s mostly about travel, but I suppose I do have a somewhat unique perspective.

After Springfield, we are headed to Boston, where I am reading at a queer open mic event called Moonlighting. I am the featured reader, so I’ll have 30 minutes to read from my newest book. I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t been to Boston since I was a small child.

After Boston, we are driving to NYC, where I have a photo shoot with Amos Mac for the upcoming “Literature” issue of Original Plumbing Magazine. I’m pretty excited to be featured.

So, whether you have read any of my other work or not, I hope you’ll enjoy this blog that documents my future adventures.