auld lang syne

may the road rise up to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rain fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
may god hold you in the palm of his hand.

matthew | archive |

lampshades are for lamps

in these hectic and complicated times, it is hard to get down the correct ceremonies for our favorite holidays. sure, miss post can tell you when to use the fish fork (er, on the fish course), but can she tell you how to ring in 2003? shit no. so, some tips for a happy new year:

spirits - sure. sparking white wine bottled in madera might fly on those minor holidays, like your fiftieth wedding anniversary, but for new year's, you have to break out the good stuff. something in the 1-2 thousand dollar range should be sufficient, it being an odd year with no significance. of course, if you are a punker, rocker, or ghetto fabulous, any malt beverage will do.

dress - new years is a sophisticated holiday, unlike those disheveled holidays (i'm looking at you, thanksgiving). this is the time to dress your best. be classy. and nothing says class like silver lamé.

ritual - many people in countries without indoor plumbing light candles on holidays. and new year's eve is the last day to have a christmas tree up and still not look stupid. so why not kill two birds with one stone? at midnight, light your tree on fire. (a fire exrinquisher or hefty home owner's policy might be useful, too.)

resolutions - they're not going to last past valentine's, so you have two options: make 'em big, or make 'em small. resolve to conquer china. when in december you still have not entered beijing with your forces, you can at least say it was harder than you thought, but at least you tried. or resolve to urinate, preferably every day or so. you'll be the envy of the christmas party when you gloat about keeping your resolution.

oral hygenine - new year's is a time to spend with loved ones. and if you can't be with loved ones, love the one you're with. brush your teeth and carry some mints around, because this is the one night a year where people are socially obliged to let you stick your tongue down their throats. now's a good time to pressure your girlfriend into giving it up. and if you don't have a significant other, please tip your hooler extra--'tis the season, after all.

i hope these tips help you ring in a wonderful new year!

matthew | archive |

el nino

i'm not sure, but i think after tonight i might have to see a therapist again. or a counselor. or just have a big cry.

matthew | archive |

observation deck

i would be remiss in not proclaiming to the world that chris and jessie, besides being cute and cuddly, are also great hosts and late night diner companions.

and even though i slept with byron upon first meeting him, i will still respect him. some day.

and i hope that mark and rich are enjoying their new furniture, and not cursing ikea as i type.

and if someone else doesn't get their hands on jhames soon, i'm calling him all for myself.

matthew | archive |

the house on pine street

i'm not sure which house it is. i don't even know which block it is on. or even if it is still there. neither do i know where on parker, 20th avenue, or bush (though grandma kay's bar was on the corner of jones, i do know). but even though i don't know the addresses, i do know that these streets were home to my ancestors. our irish catholic clan is made up of some of the founding families of san francisco, and no matter how far we have spread, the city is still very central to the family.

i was taught at a young age to love the city, though i'm sure i would have loved it nonetheless. we made frequent visits when i was a child, and i always loved parading down market street (just like my great grandmother did every sunday) staring up at the tall buildings, and stumbling upon geese hanging in market windows on grant, and the smell of salt and fish on the embarcadero. it was always such a busy city, a jumbled city, a city with hidden treasures.

as i've gotten older, and experienced the city outside of family excursions, the city no longer seems the mythic home of patriarchs. but i still feel connected to it--in fact, more than ever--and i still make a point to drive along pine street every time i go there, just to remind myself from whence i came.

matthew | archive |

rope 'em and brand 'em

i'm a dude!!!!!



matthew | archive |

unwrap me, baby

over the past month of holiday shopping, i have perfected the art of gift wrapping. using only tissue, ribbon, some evergreen, and the occasional box i can turn a pair of diesel jeans into a winter wonderland. now, armed with swedish paper and ribbon, i will set about wrapping the gifts i am giving (or is it gifting? damn you, j. crew).

have a very special holiday (not like the special bus, the other kinda special). i'll see you in the new year!

matthew | archive |

the unhotel

i have eaten at the standard hotel three times this week. this has utterly no significance. i just thought you should know.

matthew | archive |

by the bay, by the beautiful bay

i think i'm gonna be in san francisco next friday. anyone wanna fa la la my las?

matthew | archive |

abrigados! tierra mojada

angelenos love their outdoor malls. they just can't get enough of them. and it's perfect, because, you know, it never ever ever rains here.

ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at a very drenched matteo.

matthew | archive |

night with the christmas trees and pie

so, the company christmas party was last night. the party could easily be described as such: a bunch of fashionistas gathering at the tastefully designed home in the hills of the threesome that owns the company for delicious desserts and presents. this was not the kind of party where rubber pants make a stir (my heavily distressed and ass-loving diesel jeans were well received, and one of the owners was wearing leather pants himself). we were serenaded by shirely bassey and miss minelli. we were served by cute boys (one of whom lives with me, another of whom ended up sleeping on my couch last night). there was roast turkey and ham, mulled cider and cosmopolitans. new boyfriends were paraded and i got a lovely candle and holder. there was also kissing in the cabana by the pool, but i won't bore you with the details. needless to say, i thouroghly enjoyed myself.


matthew | archive |

let the music play

so, i'm really sick of holiday music. i was sick of it thanksgiving weekend. it doesn't help that my place of employ plays it twenty-four seven. so yesterday, when the boss man was going out to buy more christmas music, i suggested that they pick up south park's cd. i got a few wry looks from my boss when it came on, but of course our clients loved it. i mean, these guys probably just got blow jobs in the showers at crunch, i don't think they're gonna be offended by introducing some fucks and shits into our festive music repetoire.

matthew | archive |

turn, turn, turn

two years, and i'm still on blogspot. ah, well. happy birthday, spasticblue.

matthew | archive |

i feel pretty

okay, so my skin is still mad at me, and therefore the the webcam is still on hiatus. but nonetheless, i do feel like a giddy puerto rican. we talked on the phone last night, each of us tucked into our cozy beds, each of us getting more and more sleepy and incoherent, but not wanted to hang up. this is how it is supposed to be, right?

matthew | archive |

in the stars

wow! jennie's blog and my blog are both sagitarians. maybe they should go on a date together.

matthew | archive |

after plato

so, i've been kinda lame lately. not really writing much of interest. i guess you could say this has been going on since june, really. but i don't know what to do. i certainly don't want to stop. but i just don't have the time to write much. and my thoughts have been pretty centered on one or two subjects, and i don't want to dwell.

maybe i just need to get drunk and let it all pour out.

matthew | archive |

roll out the holly

what is this? might i actually have a date for the christmas party? o me, o my!

matthew | archive |

what's the use of wond'rin'?

i just curled up this morning in bed and red my books, and listened to music i haven't heard in months. (i have been on a bit of a showtunes bender since dave came to town and ethel merman came up.) and i drank my hot cider and ate pumpkin bread, and watched the palm tree outside my window sway in the breeze and looked at the homes in the hils. i was happy and warm and cuddly.

but there was an emptiness. and i sighed, and smiled at it, and brought it next to me, and decided to just let it be.


matthew | archive |

the beautiful people

i have a huge blemish on my upper lip. plus, my skin is really dry for some reason--probably a combination of the sudden chill in the air and the santa ana winds. which all in all makes matteo look a little freakish.

i'll be holed up for the next in my bathroom with a mud mask, vanity fair, and a bottle of jose cuervo. ciao belli!

matthew | archive |