Gay skateboarder speaks up …

Hi, friends and readers:

It’s been a busy day for me. I worked on my Maine story all morning, then I spent  all afternoon caulking and painting my bedroom, making substantial progress. I think I’ll finish the job in one more afternoon. (Yes-s-s-s …)

A gay skater from Redwood City, CA named Samuel wrote me today. Sam is sixteen. He says he enjoys my posts on gay skateboarders and he likes reading the comments I receive from skaters around the country. He says, “I have a boyfriend, but we keep our relationship private. He doesn’t skate, so he doesn’t know my crew from the skatepark. I kind of move between these two worlds: the one with my boyfriend and the grinder subculture. None of my skater friends know I am gay and I think I’ll keep it that way. Gay is not considered cool by the skaters I know.”

Thanks for writing, Sam.

It’s damp and windy, but warm on the island. I’m having a friend over for a bit of wine and conversation. Then I’ll cook dinner for myself and a guest. I just finished a three-mile run and a walk afterward on the beach, and I’m a little tired. Time for a beer!

Enjoy your Tuesday evening, all.

Anyone need a shower? Gloomy day on the island …

Hi, friends and readers:

I like photos of cute guys in the shower. Don’t you? Anyone feel like joining him? (Sorry, I don’t have his address.)

I went to bed early last night; I was tired from my travels. I woke this morning to the sound of the garbage guys collecting all the limbs blown off my tree in the storm this past Friday. They hauled away almost everything, saving me a lot of hard work. Thanks, guys!

Yesterday we had nice weather. I went to the beach to watch sunset and it was beautiful down there. But it’s overcast on the island this morning. Our weather’s supposed to turn cold for the next several days. When will this stuff end?

I have a full day ahead: writing, then getting busy on my painting project. I think I can complete the job in two or three afternoons if I stick with it. I’m getting tired of my place looking so disorganized. So … I must go.

Have a nice Tuesday, everyone.

Martin’s back in Florida, warm weather feels good …

Hi, friends and readers:

I had a long day today. I rose at six AM, showered, and grabbed a quick breakfast at the cafe next to my hotel. Then it was off on the express bus to the airport.

In Toronto, you go through U. S. Customs at the Toronto airport. (Why?) The customs people were grossly understaffed, lines were long and slow. The same was true for airport security. I barely made my flight, and it left 45 minutes late.  But I arrived at Tampa Airport around three PM. The sun was shining and the temperature was around 65. Perfect!

Once I got home I unpacked, then I took a three-mile run and it felt so good to be able to exercise outdoors. At six PM I walked to the beach to watch sunset, it was gorgeous tonight. As much as I enjoyed Toronto, I am so glad to be back in Florida.

Tonight I plan to drink a bit of wine, catch up on correspondence, then dine on leftovers from my freezer. I’m tired and won’t stay up too late. While I in Toronto a tornado ripped through the Tampa Bay area and the high winds knocked a couple of huge limbs off one of my Brazilian pepper trees. What a mess! I’ll have to call a tree service to clean up the damage, as I don’t own a chain saw.

Anyway … I’m glad to be home, but I’ll always have fond memories of my visit to Toronto. Have a nice Monday evening, all.

Two sexy, shirtless guys; goodbye, Toronto …

Hi, friends and readers:

Does everyone like the photo I have posted here this evening? I think it’s kind of cute; two good friends getting shirtless and a bit drunk and dancing to club music.

Okay, my host and I took our hike through the park, and it was pretty. We passed ice skaters on a pond, guys playing ice hockey. Snow was everywhere. Once the sun went down it became quite cold and we had to hustle to the car.

We had drinks in Little Italy, and dinner at a nice place down the street. Now I’m back at the hotel and I must get ready for my early morning departure tomorrow. Ugh.

Okay, this has been a good trip. It’s always nice to experience a new place and meet new people. I enjoyed the cuisine, the diversity of people on the streets, and the big city feel of this place. But I am also ready to return to Florida’s warmth and the comfort of my little island. I haven’t done much writing since Wednesday and I need to get busy on my Maine story. It’s ready to bubble over.

Have a nice Sunday evening, all.

Sunny day in Toronto; Martin’s having fun …

Hi, friends and readers:

Well, my host had to go to church this morning. I had a nice breakfast around the corner, then took a walk. It’s still quite cold outside, though not as bad as yesterday, I think. The sun is shining and there is only a light breeze, so if you are dressed warmly and walking on the sunny side of the street it’s not bad.

This afternoon my host and I will take a hike in a park here in the city, which will be nice. I’m eager to spend some time outdoors today while the weather is nice. Plus tomorrow morning I have to leave for Florida already. (Oh, no …)

It’s taken me a while to adjust to wearing heavy winter clothes. Every time you go outside you must put on your sweater, scarf, overcoat and gloves, then must must remove them once you get inside wherever you are going. This takes a little practice so you aren’t slowing yourself down too much. Also, you must find someplace to put all the stuff you removed once you’re inside. (“Where are the coat racks?” and “Don’t forget your gloves, Martin.”)

Yes, the air outside is cold, but it’s kind of invigorating. And people are all over the streets; it doesn’t bother them in the least because they know how to dress for it. If I lived here I would buy myself one of those fur hats with the long earflaps. They look like they keep your head warm, plus they’re kind of cute. My host says they are called “trapper hats.”

Would I come back here to visit again? Definitely, maybe in spring or summer, as I’d like to see the city’s greenspaces when they are, uh … green.

Enjoy your Sunday, all. Since I’m not an NFL football fan I won’t be watching the Super Bowl, but if you’re into that sort of thing, by all means have fun.

Nice watercolor; busy day in Toronto …

Hi, friends and readers:

I’ve had a busy day in Toronto. I had breakfast at a coffee shop next to my hotel, good food and way more than I could eat. Then my host picked me up a 10:30 AM and we visited High Park, a pretty place with a small zoo. Snow was everywhere. It was quite cold today, around minus-7 degrees Celsius, but the sky was clear, the sun shining. Good thing I brought my sunglasses. We had lunch in Chinatown, just noodle and beef soup, then we toured the Tutankhamen exhibit at the art museum, a very impressive place. By the time we were done it was past five, so we visited Little Italy for drinks, then dined at a very nice place in The Village, Toronto’s gay district. Now it’s 11:30 PM and I’m a bit tired, but it’s been a great day.

When you are outside here you must bundle up: sweater, scarf, jacket with hood, and gloves, and still it’s quite cold. But Torontonians don’t let the weather stop them from doing what they please. One negative note on the city: the parking situation is terrible. You must spend a great deal of time looking for a space, and the parking patrol’s quite aggressive.

I came across the watercolor I’ve posted here tonight, several weeks ago. I really like the painting, it reminds me of the beach at my island. And tonight, it sort of warms me up inside, thinking of sunshine, warm water and sandy shores.

I hope everyone’s having a nice weekend like I am.

Martin’s in Toronto; it’s cold but the city’s hot …

Hi, friends and readers:

I arrived in Toronto around six P.M., took the shuttle bus to downtown and checked into my hotel. First purchase: a pair of fur-lined leather gloves. I am two blocks from Tornoto’s gay district, it’s called The Village. I walked down there to purchase a six-pack of beer and two bottles of wine and … WHOA, cute guys were everywhere, many holding hands as they strolled down the sidewalk. Everyone here is so friendly. I already love this place.

Okay, it is COLD here, about 20 degrees F, and there’s a bit of a breeze. Everyone is bundled up to the maximum, but it did not stop them from going out tonight, the streets were full of people.

My friend I am visiting, Max, picked me up at the hotel around eight and we enjoyed a fine meal at a restaurant in The Village. The food was excellent and our waiter was cute as hell and so nice. I hated to leave.

Max took me on a driving tour of downtown, then we visited Lake Ontario and actually walked on the boardwalk for about ten minutes. It was freezing, but invigorating. Max is a very sweet young man, quite intelligent. He speaks English, Italian and French fluently.

Max dropped me off at my hotel a few minutes ago and now I am sipping from a beer and looking out my 16th floor window at the Toronto skyline. I can see the CN Tower and all the major buildings. What a beautiful sight. I LOVE traveling to new places I have never been to before, especially when a friend who’s local is there to show me around.

Tomorrow, Max and I will visit High Park and take a hike, then maybe do the Tutankhamen exhibit at the museum. We’ll have dinner at a nice Italian restuaurant downtown that I learned of from friends who come to Toronto often. It’ll be a full day for us.

Okay, I’m going to do a little writing, as I’m a bit keyed up from all the day’s activities and I need to settle down. I’ll post another entry tomorrow evening. I hope your weekend’s going well, everyone.

Naked guy on the stairs; Martin’s packed and ready to go …

Hi, friends and readers:

Do you like the photo I’ve posted here this morning.I sure do. Now, why would a young man be sitting naked in an apartment building’s stairwell? Did his boyfriend kick him out after they argued? Where are his clothes? Is he weeping? Why? And what’s up with all those tattoos? What kind of person is this guy anyway. Sensitive or tough? Is he mentally ill?

I love photos that raise such questions in the viewer’s mind. In fact, I may write a story using this photo as a starting point.

Another cold front is on its way to Florida. Today it’s just windy and overcast, but tomorrow it’ll be down in the 40s at night. Of course, I will be in Toronto, where the high Saturday will be 21 degrees F. (B-r-r-r.)

I spoke on the phone last night with my friend in Toronto. We pretty much have the weekend planned out. He’s so nice, I know we will have a good time. So … I am packed and ready to leave.

I will try to post something this evening from Toronto if I have time. If I don’t post tonight, I definitely will tomorrow. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a nice Friday. Stay warm!

Beautiful skateboarder sends Martin a pic and a comment …

Hi, friends and readers:

Gay skateboarders who write me don’t usually include their photos. This guy did, and he said, “Go ahead, post it. I WANT you to.” He’s cute, isn’t he? Even better, he’s articulate. His name is Evan, he’s seventeen. He did not tell me what city or town he lives in.

Evan explained that he is what is called a “Hessian skater”, which is a sort of free-form style of skating as opposed to “tech skating” which focuses more on competitive technique.

Evan is a high school senior. He is out to most people he knows, does not have a boyfriend (I can’t imagine why.) and he says his skater friends have been “cool” with his announcement last year that he was queer. “No one’s ever given me any crap about being gay and if someone did I’m sure my friends would stick up for me.” He says, “I will apply to U. C. Berkeley for admission next fall. My SAT scores are good. My GPA is 3.8, so I think I have good chance of getting in. I hear the Bay Area has a large gay population, plus there are good skate parks there.”

Thanks for writing, Evan. You seem to be a confident, well-balanced and intelligent guy. I don’t know why so many people think all skateboarders are ignorant punks and social miscreants. Good luck at Berkeley; it’s a great school.

Okay, I got all my errands done and my bag packed. I’ll spend a quiet evening here on the island, doing a little editing and drinking a bit of wine. It’s been a beautiful day weather-wise — warm and sunny with a light breeze. I took a run at 3:30 PM and barely broke a sweat.

Enjoy your Thursday evening, everyone.

Evan Geiselman photo, a gift to all you gay surfers out there …

Hi, friends and readers:

A lot of gay surfers  follow this blog; they send me comments, and I always enjoy hearing from them. So, guys, here’s a little gift from Martin: a nice photo of Evan Geiselman, one of the most respected young surfers on the scene today. He’s not on the WCT yet, but he will be soon enough. Evan’s from New Smyrna Beach, FL, not far from Cocoa Beach where I normally surf. He’s good-looking isn’t he?

Well, today is all about getting ready for my Toronto flight tomorrow: doing laundry, going to CVS to buy little “travel size” stuff I can take on the plane, packing, and so forth. Air travel is such a pain in the butt because of the security crap, but Toronto’s 1800 miles from Tampa Bay and I will get there in two hours and forty minutes on Air Canada. To drive would take three days, so flying’s the only option.

Okay, I must get busy. Everybody have a nice Thursday, okay?