Don't rain on my parade...

So as I may have mentioned previously, Saturday was the 2010 DC Gay Pride Parade. I had asked several people to go, and a few said they would, but in the end, due to various and sundry reasons, none could make it. So I went it alone. I've been to every Pride Parade since 1997 except for 2004 (thanks again ParisPeking wedding!), so going alone was not big deal to me. But going alone was the first of a series of...minor mishaps.

When i got on the Metro, I was in the only car that didn't have air conditioning working. After two stops roasting in the car, I got off and went to the next one, that had the ac working. And two older lesbians did the same. We laughed about when we got to the new car.

Then, we got stopped at a station due to only one track running a bit further on and had to sit there and wait. When I got to DuPont, I walked through the overcrowded circle itslef and then went to Krammers book to use their toilet (I had drank a bottle of water on the way down). After that I made my way to Lambda Rising, the bookstore I love only to find it was shut down. It went out of business in January. What a shame, seriously disappointed me.

The place I usually stand was this time diagonally across the street from the reviewing stand. Which meant that there was dance music playing most of the time, but it was loud. And when I first got there, it was quite humid and uncomfortable. But then a breeze kicked it, and it continued and improved the situation for the rest of the time.

Where I stood was not yet occupied, BUT when the crowd moved out for the parade, people kept jostling in front of me, which never happened before and irritated me. And I was standing near a crosswalk so people kept pushing through just to cross, but that was kinda fun cause I got to see the looks on the faces of the confused/frightened/shocked straight people just trying to cross the parade route.

The parade itself was looooooooooooong! It started at 630. I left before it was totally over and it was like dark and nearly 900! It was never that long before! AND, it was rather disorganized. There were three long breaks in the parade. After the first, a lot of people left, thinking it was over. And it used to be that you'd have the marshal first, then all the politicians, then the churches, then get into the fun/sexy groups and floats. Not this time. There were some churches at the beginning, some at the end. The Results gym traditionally ended the parade, but not this year. I just don't think whoever was in charge of it was on top it where the parade was being organized.

Prior to the Parade I was standing next to these two girls in their 20s. We talked a bit and they seemed cool. They stood right next to me during the parade. But they screamed at every group that passed. Every. Single. Group. At the top of their lungs. It sounded like I was in a concert for Justin Beiber surrounded by 14 year old girls. It gave me a headache. Luckily, they left well before the parade ended.

There was also a little boy named Isaac and his sister there. Isaac worked his way to the front of the line, basically right in front of me, and he got ALL the goodies. He got beads, he got candy, he got stickers. People would walk right up to him and hand him things, he didn't have to try to catch them. I understand it, cause he was quite cute in that little-kid-cuteness kinda of way. But because of him, I got nothing. Just two sets of beads and a pack of candy. That's it. *SIGH*. Isaac's family were a little way back, although one of his dads was just behind me. But like normally happened at the parade, the small group of strangers I was with formed a small bond, talking and joking with each other during lulls in the parade. And we all watched out for Isaac, gently pulling him back if a car or large marching group was coming by. He was kind of our mascot.

The highlight of the entire day was near the end of the Parade, I met VUBOQ! He's even cuter in person than he is in the photos. And funny? you know it! I'm sad we only spent a few minutes together. But I did get to meet Mike (Who Makes Cakes) and Ray or Roy who apparently does nothing but looks really hot while doing it. I can't remember if his name is Ray OR Roy because frankly, when VUBOQ was introducing him I wasn't really listening and instead was just gazing upon him. At ANY rate, VUBOQ and I chatted and got some photos. He invited me to eat with the three of them, and I considered it. But it was nearly 900 and I had a roughly two hour trip home, barring any delays on the Metro. So instead of eating with them, which i wanted to do, I left to come home. But we both agreed I should come down sometime later and we can eat and hang out. VUBOQ's funny, interesting, and everything you'd think he would be. Can't wait to meet him again!

So having left them, I went to the north entrance to the DuPont Metro, which I don't like cause it's like descends like four stories into the ground, but it was closer to where I was than the other one I usually use. And when I got there, with the day I was having, I wasn't a bit surprised to find out the escalators had been shut down. SO I essentially had to walk down a four story building. My fear of heights kicked in but I went anyway, slowly, just telling myself "one step at a time one step at a time" over and over. And I eventually started singing "VooDoo Child" in my head to keep from thinking too much about what I was doing. I made it down safely, although today, my calves are so tight I can barely handle the stairs in my house.

And just to make a nice set of bookends for my day, when I got on the Metro to come home, I got into a car with broken a/c again! I had to change cars, but then rode in air conditioned comfort the rest of the way.

So while this year's parade was a pale comparison to prior years, it was an awesome trip overall, cause I got to meet VUBOQ! YAY!

And now, the photos commence:



THIS is what greeted me as I arrived up the Metro escalator. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a better shot without being totally busted by him. So while this may not be a great photo, he was definitely hot.


Walking into the DuPont Circle itself, I took this photo. Also "Garnett" above with the hairthing was pretty easy on the eyes.


Zorba's Cafe. If you know me personally, you probably know the story and are assuredly laughing like a maniac right now. If you don't know me personally, don't ask. I'm not embarrassing myself again by repeating it.


There was an upside to the heat and humidity and that was views like this, repeated over and over again.


Selling Pride flags.





This was a pretty cute Asian that I only got a photo of from behind. But I was really trying to get his shoes, which had purple highlights all over. Even if you can't see them here, trust me, they're there.


Two cute kids waiting for the parade to begin. She's got rainbow hair ties in, he's wearing a purple cap!


The PERFECT ass.


The PERFECT ass, again.


The PERFECT ass, with it's attached body.


This one the chicks that did all the screaming. I loved her shirt, not only for its sentiment but also cause it's PURPLE!


He was across the street waiting for the parade. And yeah, he totally busted me taking his photo, but didn't care. In fact, he looks pretty apathetic about everything.


The crowd waiting for the parade to reach us.


Yet another hottie spectator. He and his friends (two older gentlemen) stood next to me before the parade started. He had a divine Southern accent, not thick making him sound like a redneck, but just a slight drawl that was sleepy and dreamy and quite sexy. And he caught me looking at him several times during the parade, as well as busting me this time I took his photo.


The crowd. A really tall guy, a really small guy; on the left is a straight couple. And on the right is another cute spectator.


Some members of the DC gay/lesbian unit! Who else just LOVES the fact that DC even HAS a gay/lesbian unit?


More members of the gay/lesbian unit. AND, cute Southern accent guy on the left as well.


Not sure who these guys were, but there was a motorcycle grop and these two were really pretty hot!


Attempted to get a photo of cute Mayor Fenty, but as my luck had been all day, the guy in front of me put his head in the way. But I DID get another shot of cute Southern accent guy.


Isaac waiting in front of me.


Cute guys (you'll see a lot of photos captioned with these two words)


Balloons and crowd.


Cute guys.


two little cute Asian guys. I dont remember what group they were marching with.


I attempted to get a photo of this really REALLY hot and cute redheaded guy and just as I took the photo, my luck kicked in again and the flag blew in the way. But you can see the other cute guys walking with him.


This is the result of me trying to get another photo of the redhead. You still can't see his face, but you can see how nice his body is.


Cute Asian guy in the gay marching band.


Some kids marching in the Parade.


Another cute kid with his scooter, his two moms and a little girl off on the right.


AARP even had a group marching! And I forgot to get a photo, but they had a gay veteran's group marching with vets from the Iraq, Vietnam and even Korean wars! The Korean guy had to be over 70, but he was still marching in it.


Hot shirtless guy


Cute shirtless Asian guy.


And a much better shot of the cute Asian guy. REALLY hot!


Hot guy holding flag.


A drag king and drag queen for some group. Obviously they didn't try too hard.


Not these queens not only tried, they succeeded!


Isaac with some of this beads and stickers. He got more still during the Parade.


PFLAG (Parents and Friends Of Lesbians And Gays) is always a favorite. This is the only photo I got, and as you can see my luck kept up and half the banner was blocked. I didn't get anymore photos cause this is one group that I always put the camera away and clap vigoriously for them. I even got a high five from a lady old enough to be my grandmother. Love the PFLAG, with thier signs (I love my gay son, I love my daughter AND her wife) and their support of all of us, even though they don't know us.


Cute Asian in silly hat and bad shorts.


Puppy in rainbow lai.


Isaac and his sister.


The crowd anxiously awaiting the oncoming DC Cowboys!


Asian member of the DC Cowboys.


The purple shirted girl dancing with some of the DC Cowboys...lucky bitch.


The DC Cowboys.


The DC Cowboys.


The DC Cowboys.


A really cute shirtless guy and...well, a horse. I had meant to get a photo of the two cute shirtless guys, but the horse got in the way of one.


A cute guy riding with drag queen Ella Fitzgerald and her bananas. I assume he's a dancer boy at Secrets.


The Secrets float. Over the rainbow with the strippers in tight undergarments.


Oh yeah, that one walking, with the hairthing...oh yeah.....


A really hot black guy driving a car who, with my luck in full bloom, put his arm up over his face as I snapped the photo.


Some random drag queens.


Girl in prom dress being escorted by cute shirtless guy. Wish he coulda been my escort at MY prom.


Hot shirtless guy.


This guy was marching with the Merry Maid type cleaners. He was quite the hottie even in a flowered apron.


Cute guy.


Nellie's Sports Bar! How that for opposites?


Lesbian pirates?


Hot shirtless guy.


Cute guy.


Cute guy with hairthing.


These were part of a group of gay youth. Aren't they just the cutest?


Yet another horse, only this one isn't blocking a hot shirtless guy.


Cute guy.


Hot shirtless Asian with pierced nipples. Give him a hairthing and he's perfect.


Rainbow dyed mohawk lesbian screaming into her phone. She was trying to give directions to someone and was on the phone an insane amount of time. At least the guys with here were pretty cute, so I could overlook her loud obnoxiousness by looking over her cute friends.


She was wearing the Canadian flag as a cape. I wanted to ask if she was from Toronto, but her redheaded friend distracted me.


Cute guys.


A float with movie icons on it.


The cowboy is a movie icon, right? If they dressed like this guy in the movies, I might actually be interested in watching Westerns.


Cute guys.


PURPLE and pink balloons!


Another cute spectator.


Dont know who these guys were walking with, but I hope its some kind of stripping group, cause the guy on the right had a basket that almost was too big for the undies he's wearing.


Cute black guys, and they're wearing PURPLE!


At some point prior to this, I moved to this side of the street, opposite of where I started the parade. Which was unfortunate. Cause this guy was really hot, and if I had stayed on that side I would have gotten a really sweet photo of him. As it is, this is the best one I could get.


Hot shirtless guy carrying big pride flag and high-fiving SuperCanadaGirl. I got a high five from him as well when he went past.


Cute Asian guy in wifebeater!


Hot muscle guy on the Results gym float.


More Results Gym float guys.


Hot guy walking behind Results gym float.


Yet more cute spectators, this time, shirtless!


Cute sports guy.


The only shot I got of this Asian. It's a nice ass, but his face was even better.


Ex-military gay men.


Cute gay rugby players.


Cute gay swimmer in speedo with watergun.


Dogs going by very quickly. These were near the end of the parade and groups were passing by VERY fast.


Asian, purple shirt, cute and in a shirt.


Friend of SuperCanadaGirl, the really cute redhead. He looked away as I took it.


Yet again, he looked away as I snapped the photo.


Trying from the other side of the street to get a full body shot. But, as my luck was still riding high, he moved as I took the photo. This is the best I got.


Don't know the group, but man it was colorful.


the only candy I got, a pack of Lemonheads. This was kinda indicative of my day.


Hot guy in rainbow lai.


VUBOQ and I! LOVE his smile!


VUBOQ and I again. And again with that smile. Lights up his whole face. And yes, he trule IS so think I nearly wrapped my around his waist like a belt. I'm so jealous.


The purple pants he wore just for me. I wore the purple t-shirt just for him! He claims he also wore purple underwear, and unfortunately, I have no proof of that.


An usually empty Metro car on the way back.


And Sebastian, waiting for me patiently to return.

POLT