2016-11-12 05:01
I needed to write some kind of random post while I sift through my feelings and the emotional turmoil created over the past few days. The lyrics from my last post keep replaying in my head… Read More
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A Life In The Day Blog
mrgregoc.blogspot.com
Observations about books, movies, music and gay life in the LBC
2016-11-08 00:05
A few nights ago, I dreamed that I sat in a confined room, hunched up close to a desk on the other side of which sat my manager. She handed me a white sheet of paper with the typed words "We… Read More
2016-11-04 04:37
by Doris BettsI admit it.... I checked this book out of the library solely because of the name, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Other Stories. I thought perhaps it had some connection to the… Read More
2016-10-31 20:28
I hope everyone's having a spook-tacular Hallowe'en! One of my favorite attractions at has always been The Haunted Mansion. The stretching room, the creepy animatronics, and of course the at… Read More
2016-10-30 00:58
by Honoré de BalzacAs I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm slowly working my way through Publishing Triangle's 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels. Last week I finished reading my 68th b… Read More
2016-10-27 03:38
by James Weldon Johnson(I'm using the next few posts to play catch-up with my book reviews. You have been warned.) Originally published in 1912, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man was be… Read More
2016-10-24 01:45
I believe that I'm roughly halfway through my fifteen-month course of Invisalign trays. I see the changes each time I remove the trays to brush and floss my teeth: the upper set is almost co… Read More
2016-10-23 03:15
by A.S. ByattI read somewhere that in order to be a good writer, one must read...a lot. I think I have that part of the process down, if you've looked through my past posts. Reading is a fav… Read More
2016-10-22 02:43
I've been in a mood the past few weeks. I sometimes feels anti-blogging. When the urge to post something creeps in or flashes like a lightning bolt in my brain, I procrastinate. I can write… Read More
2016-10-12 23:18
I marked the end of my 46th year with a week-long celebration, which is one of the reasons why I've been quiet with regards to the blog. We saw three concerts—well, four if you include… Read More
2016-10-04 05:23
I recently finished the third video game in Sucker Punch's Infamous series. The games center around individuals known as conduits who can control specific aspects of the world around them, s… Read More
2016-09-22 17:50
This week's iTunes selection is a protest song, of sorts, from one of the biggest bands of the 80s: Culture Club. The War Song, when it was released, was not viewed kindly by the critics. Bu… Read More
2016-09-20 02:58
A few days ago, I posted on Facebook that I listened to Alanis Morissette's Uninvited for the umpteenth time and still had no idea what a stoic squirrel was. Caesar commented, "She said 'sto… Read More
2016-09-19 05:23
Upgraded to the new iOS. Most of my apps now quit on their own. Like Blogspot. (This is my tenth attempt at posting.) Read More
2016-09-14 21:55
Today, I celebrate 18 years with the same company. Quite an achievement these days, I think. I'm not sure what the work ethic is like with the hipster and Millennial crowd, but longevity ten… Read More
2016-09-11 22:40
by Alice SeboldOn a snowy night when she was 14 years old, Susie Salmon decided to take a short cut home from junior high, traveling through the cornfield behind the school. Along the way, s… Read More
2016-09-08 21:09
Proper grammar is very sexy. Just take a look at one of CM Punk's "Grammar Slam" series of Youtube videos: (And he's a fan of The Walking Dead!) Sexy as CM Punk is, this is not the iTunes se… Read More
2016-09-06 00:11
I managed to sneak the word persnickety into an email on Friday. Someone asked why a computer program wouldn't allow a certain function as it was programmed to. I wanted to tell her tha… Read More
2016-09-02 03:42
I finally finished Until Dawn, the horror-themed video game in which eight "teenagers" try to survive a night trapped on a snow-covered mountain while an horrific creatures hunts them down… Read More
2016-08-31 03:16
I haven't responded to or posted a meme in a long time, so why not post one now? I call this one Firsts, and it involves books.1. Open the book that you're reading to the first page of the s… Read More
2016-08-29 03:51
Last night, we attended concert number three for the year--though we weren't quite sure what to expect as the band's opening act happened to be the Los Angeles Philharmonic.Definitely not a… Read More
2016-08-27 03:40
by Joe NelmsChristian Franco's life spirals downwards after the divorce from his wife. His performance at works comes to a screeching halt. His drinking jumps to an entirely new level. And h… Read More
2016-08-25 03:42
We managed to sneak in a mini-vacation last weekend for our anniversary, heading to the small Danish town of Solvang, CA. The village lies to the north of Santa Barbara, probably a 150-mile… Read More
2016-08-22 21:52
We spent our anniversary weekend in the small California town of Solvang: a Danish community not too far north of Santa Barbara. I actually began a post using Blogspot's iPhone app on Saturd… Read More
2016-08-17 04:35
by Thomas Hal PhillipsI try to vary my reading list by including as much LGBT literature as I can—fiction, non-fiction, whatever I can find. I happened upon this particular book while… Read More
2016-08-16 14:44
New to me, that is.Instead of bombarding you with random bird pictures, I decided just to post images of new birds that I've added to my Life List. (That's birding talk for a list of all the… Read More
2016-08-12 20:07
One thing I like about iTunes is the ability to find specific songs that I fondly remember from my younger days—like this week's selection. One of my favorite songs from the 80s comes… Read More
2016-08-10 04:17
I visited with my parents after work on Monday. Much of our conversation before dinner as we sat in the living room and even during dinner was a rehash of everything we discussed on our phon… Read More
2016-08-07 02:54
I hate to say, but regular TV is losing its charm. We rarely watch anything on the major channels, and as far as cable is concerned, perhaps one or two shows capture our interest with any re… Read More
2016-08-03 05:12
One of my favorite singer/songwriters is Sara Bareilles, and this past year, her first musical opened on Broadway: Waitress. I've listened to a few of the songs, and this is probably one of… Read More
2016-08-02 03:33
Last week happened to be a fine bird-watching week for me. I spotted osprey, great egrets, snowy egrets, and even a few turkey vultures. And yes, I took dozens of pictures, but don't worry… Read More
2016-07-28 22:30
One of the main things I always tell people about playing video games is that I feel as though I'm participating in a movie, making choices for a character, battling villains with special po… Read More
2016-07-26 03:33
by Graham GreeneThomas Fowler is a British correspondent, sent to Saigon to cover stories regarding the French's war against the Vietminh to colonize Vietnam. Somewhat settled into his days… Read More
2016-07-25 00:11
Last night, we finally saw one of my favorite musicians: "Weird Al" Yankovic. He performed with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in front of a full house, and it was a fantastic show. He opened… Read More
2016-07-22 03:36
I parked in the small lot behind my bank early this morning, realizing last night that I needed a little cash in my pocket in order to pay for breakfast and lunch at work. My bank sits in th… Read More
2016-07-21 02:26
The Man with the Child in His Eyes is one of my favorites from Kate Bush, released on her 1978 album The Kick Inside. The entire album itself is one of the best, too, and I'm not saying that… Read More
2016-07-18 02:04
Every few months (i.e., once a year...maybe) I carefully sort through my collection of finished books to find books to donate to our local thrift store. These are titles that I know, deep do… Read More
2016-07-16 04:22
I finally finished The Talos Principle and its DLC Road to Gehenna. Normally, I play games involving shooting, stabbing, driving vehicles of all sorts (even pirate ships), dangling precariou… Read More
2016-07-14 03:29
by Karen MaitlandIn the mid-14th Century, the plague finally reached the shores of England, forcing people to flee the villages and towns, trying to get as far away from crowds and potential… Read More
2016-07-13 03:33
I stopped by urgent care on the way home from work yesterday thanks to a chest cold that won't seem to let go. On a normal, scheduled visit to the doctor, I tuck a book away in my bag, knowi… Read More
2016-07-10 20:08
I need to follow urspo's lead and try to post something everyday, no matter how meager the post or how un-bloggerly I'm feeling. I would like to call myself a writer, but in order to do so… Read More
2016-07-10 05:55
I've noticed fewer birds during my lunchtime walks over the past few weeks. It might be due to the heat or a change in the tide levels along the Upper Newport Bay. Though I believe the likel… Read More
2016-07-06 21:55
I first heard this song in high school when we played it as part of the marching band's repertoire. It makes for a rousing song to inspire the crowds at football games, especially the trumpe… Read More
2016-07-03 04:23
I finally took a day off yesterday, and we spent a few hours touring the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank.We scooted around the back lot in our 14-person tram, driving through streets that cou… Read More
2016-07-01 04:55
This section of the Berlin Wall is on display across the street from the L.A. County Museum of Art...and a quick five-minute walk from my company's office. This week was the first time I act… Read More
2016-06-29 05:28
Not the fun kind the chatter and jump around on oversizd plastic feet after winding them up. These particular plastic teeth number five in the series of 34 that I must wear in order to strai… Read More
2016-06-25 23:35
To my Sweet Babboo He's a Rebel by The Crystals Read More
2016-06-22 03:40
I'm watching Caesar as he tries to steer his way through the latest Batman video game, Batman: Arkham Knight. It seems that he spends much of the time driving the Batmobile around the city… Read More
2016-06-21 04:03
I visited my folks yesterday for Fathers Day, and even though I left by 9:00 AM, the outside temperature by the time I arrived had already reached 100 degrees. But that's to be expecte… Read More
2016-06-18 19:37
by Mary Robinette KowalKatya Gould is a dealer in Authenticities and Captures—artifacts and images from the Earth's past that she hunts down for special customers. But everything item… Read More
2016-06-15 02:46
I posted this almost a year ago, but when the song popped up on my iTunes shuffle this afternoon, I felt that I had to post it again. Matt Alber's cover of Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance wi… Read More
2016-06-14 02:39
To keep my mind occupied yesterday—and to avoid falling into the dark abyss of anger and frustration of events in Orlando—I dove into a new video game that Caesar found while at… Read More
2016-06-13 06:03
I wasn't certain that I wanted to post anything today. Waking this morning to read about the mass shooting in Orlando left me a bit numb, not knowing what to think or how to act.... I watche… Read More
2016-06-09 03:53
I finished playing my second PS4 game, this one called The Order: 1886. Set in Victorian London, the new Knights of the Round Table use weaponry developed by a young Nikola Tesla to battle a… Read More
2016-06-06 03:04
Yesterday turned out to be a beautiful day to visit the California Science Center with some friends. We managed to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour, along with the last surviving fuel tank.Af… Read More
2016-06-03 02:21
All good things must come to an end...which means that I sadly finished playing Unchartd 4: a Thief's End—including finding all the treasures, the three strange relics, all the journal… Read More
2016-05-30 05:49
Even with the local branch of the library no more than a block away, it's usually closed by the time I make it home from work. Saturdays, we're out and about most of the day, so I rarely hav… Read More
2016-05-25 20:32
I'm always remarking how my posts seem to be more and more...boring, is the right word. Its either a quickie book review, some pictures of birds, perhaps something out of the ordinary like t… Read More
2016-05-23 03:59
One of the nifty features of my new Playstation 4 is the ability to take screen captures during the gameplay. In the olden days, I would set down the game controller, open my iPhone, and sna… Read More
2016-05-22 03:47
We drove all the way to Oxnard this morning for the California Strawberry festival. As you might guess, the festival offered every variation on strawberries: funnel cake, beer, wine, salsa… Read More
2016-05-20 03:57
by Michael Thomas Ford and Sharon NeedlesAt the DragCon a few weeks ago, any of the drag queens surrounded themselves with items and tchotchkes for purchase: t-shirts emblazoned with catch p… Read More
2016-05-15 19:46
I finally picked up my new toy on Tuesday: the Playstation 4. But not just any PS4--this one displays custom artwork for one of my favorite videogame franchises: Uncharted.After turning the… Read More
2016-05-13 18:19
This has definitely been a rough week, so some fun dance music is in order. And the song that strikes my fancy is a great tune from Sophie Ellis-Bextor called Murder on the Dance Floor. That… Read More
2016-05-12 02:57
I'm in week two of wearing my Invisalign trays. I can't say that I've noticed any visual difference, but I do feel the movement of my teeth...especially with this second set of trays. My low… Read More
2016-05-08 03:08
Last night, we tossed around ideas for something to do today. A movie? Meh.... A play or musical? Meh.... Any concerts worth seeing? Meh.... RuPaul's Dragcon? Hmmm.... So last night, we boug… Read More
2016-05-05 04:11
by Hunter S. ThompsonIn the mid 1960s, author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson spent almost two years living and riding with the notorious Hell's Angels. His book, Hell's Angels, chronicles… Read More
2016-05-03 04:35
Halfway through my walk yesterday morning, I spotted a few Black-crowned Night Herons along the pier. Every once-in-a-while, I may spot one perched atop one of the street lamps that run the… Read More
2016-05-01 19:22
The past few weeks have seen an increase in my workload since a co-worker it out on medical leave. So when I finally arrive at home, I'm exhausted, tending towards eating dinner, watching on… Read More
2016-04-29 06:26
Sometimes, I spend a bit of free time looking through the Words of the Day on my Dictionary app. It's surprisingly relaxing after hours on end of payroll, fees, paperwork, and so on. A… Read More
2016-04-25 02:49
We found an actual "Fork in the Road" while touring Pasadena. Just thought I'd share that Read More
2016-04-21 04:10
My 15 months begins tomorrow.By the end of the day, my first set of Invisalign trays will be in place...after spending an hour having tiny anchor points attached to my teeth at various spots… Read More
2016-04-18 04:34
by Hans HolzerIn effort to add more non-fiction titles to my library, I found something that fits nicely with my enjoyment of all tales ghostly and spooky. Real Hauntings offers a collection… Read More
2016-04-16 21:31
I grew up listening to K-RTH 101, an L.A. radio station that played nothing but the oldies: Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Little Richard, Lesley Gore, The Chiffons, and so on. I loved that… Read More
2016-04-15 05:52
My brother and both are both infected by the Travel Bug, thanks to our Mom and Dad. I know that I've probably written about this before, but growing up, we camped all over California and mos… Read More
2016-04-11 06:00
Unless the drive has to do with some musical or a special screening of a movie or the occasional concert, we rarely venture into the city of Los Angeles for any exploring or sightseeing. But… Read More
2016-04-08 15:59
Back in elementary school, I started playing the clarinet and became a decent player. Marching bands, school orchestra, honor orchestra--I loved playing music. My teeth, however, did not gel… Read More
2016-04-07 05:42
A few weeks ago, I finally completed another adventure from one of my favorite video game series: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. In this incarnation of the game, I traveled about the seven… Read More
2016-04-05 04:04
by Mark OnspaughArchaeologist Daniel Slater is holed up in his New York apartment, front door permanently locked and sealed with mortar around the edges and homemade fetishes stuck to the ou… Read More
2016-04-02 04:05
Around here, if you ask someone how far it is to travel from Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles, don't be surprised by the answer you'll receive: what time are you leaving? The actual mileag… Read More
2016-03-31 05:28
I view driving as a necessary evil.I sat through the driver's ed during high school, practicing my steering snd stopping skills to simulated drving experiences and watching Red Asphalt (whic… Read More
2016-03-26 18:51
We first heard this song while visiting my cousin in Madrid last year, and it's stuck with the two of us ever since. Listening to the song reminds me of our drive through the countryside to… Read More
2016-03-25 04:03
by Hunter S. ThompsonUntil a few weeks ago, I couldn't tell you the name of any books written by Hunter S. Thompson. Yes, I'd heard the name, but it was just that—a name. However, whil… Read More
2016-03-22 01:52
Friday night was made for music, so we honored that tradition by seeing A Great Big World in concert at the Constellation Room. The night began with dinner at Raising Cane's--chicken fingers… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
by Joseph HansenIn the small coastal California of La Caleta, someone killed Police Chief Ben Orton, much to the surprise of everyone in town. Not because he was a good cop, but because he w… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
I reached the 15,000 steps mark using my fitibt, and over the past four weeks, I've dropped from 214 lbs. to 205.5 lbs. My goal level hovers at 195 lbs, which I will hopefully reach by the m… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
Up until last year, I had an account with Blockbuster to receive DVDs by mail. And I used the heck out of it. Old movies, new movies, gay, foreign, romantic, creepy and downright silly, that… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
2016-03-18 19:19
Because we're seeing them in concert tonight, I decided to post this song. Before the show, we are attending a meet and greet with the band A Great Big World, so hopefully, I'll have a few p… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
By Clive BarkerDetective Harry D'Amour travels to New Orleans in search of a house—not a house for himself, but one left behind be a recently deceased magician who doesn't want his fam… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Well, it appears that El Niño has finally begun. News predictions about the storm began popping up in September-October, threatening each week that the big rains were just around the… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
You guessed it...another list, this time of my favorite live events from last year. 2015 was a good year to see plays, musicals, and concerts; in fact, we attended 22 live shows from Las Veg… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
I'm finally getting around to writing my quickie reviews for the last three books I completed reading before 2015 changed into 2016. Of course, I wanted to post this before the end of the ye… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
My first post of the New Year, and it centers on one of the more difficult video games I've played: The Evil Within. It's considered "survival horror", which means...to be honest, I don't re… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
On this final day of 2015, I finally did something that I've always wanted: visited the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. I was born and raised in Orange County, and in these 40+ years, not once did I m… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
As 2015 quickly winds down, it's time once again for my lists of Favorite Reads from 2015. Looking back, I read a total of 40 41 books—while not quite a record for me, I am glad that m… Read More
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