It's been a busy summer. Starved for new things to do in the Queen City, I've ventured into some unfamiliar territory...and I have some tales to tell.

Last month a friend of mine (a not-so-single white female) took part in a lingerie show at the Lil' Bit bar down on Vine Street. I'd never been there before, so I showed up...just in time to see Allyson dancing around the bar, clad in black lacy lingerie, pimping herself out for tips. Allyson's straight, but let's face it...lesbians love cute girls in their underwear, no matter what their sexual orientation is. Some of the other girls who performed (mostly lesbians) were knockouts. Watching them bump and grind on top of the bar, I suddenly felt like I'd wandered into the movie 'Coyote Ugly', where the gals talk tough and pour some mean drinks. One particularly striking young woman caught my eye. Yes, you read that correctly. Every once in a while I find myself "intrigued by" ("attracted to" is an expression I'm not ready to commit to yet) certain women. Don't worry, guys, this boy's as gay as a Barry Manilow Christmas special; but it's nice to know that I can find other women both attractive and intriguing. Or perhaps I simply like a nice set of breasts, like everybody else. It's like looking at the Himalayas; I have no desire to climb them, but they sure do look nice.

Gay or lesbian, I learned that one bar is pretty much like the other. The lesbians have their lingerie shows, whereas gay guys can occasionally have their Calvin Klein-wearing go-go boys. Either way it's an evening of good, cheap entertainment. I'll be more than happy to go back to the Lil' Bit. The people were nice and the drinks were potent; and I seriously doubt anyone will ask me to show off my Hanes briefs.

I also dipped my toes into new sexual waters recently. A fuck buddy of mine invited me to his condo a few weeks back and then asked me if I'd ever done "cam2cam." Since computer technology is to me what driving is to Mr. Magoo...I replied that no, in fact, I'd never done the webcam stuff. But David is a real whiz at this stuff (and it's obviously something he really gets into), and he soon convinced me to drop trou and allow him to have his way with me on camera. I was careful to not let my face be seen on screen, for I still hold out hope that one day I will be a major celebrity; I don't want any sex tapes popping up on x-tube the moment I receive my first Oscar nomination, for it would surely ruin my chances of winning (unless, of course, I'm up for an Adult Video award, in which case I'll download the video to the internet myself). An award is an award, no matter how you earn it.

I'll admit the cam2cam experience was entertaining, though my interest waned after the first hour or so. Some of the guys you find on-line are, of course, very attractive (and they love to show off as well). But soon this game of internet peek-a-boo wore off. But it was one more thing I could officially cross of my Sex "To Do" list (the list seems to get shorter each month or so, which means I either get around too much or I'm not very creative in the sex department...or both). At first I let David control the cam, but I did find myself playing Director after a while. I tried different camera angles, zoomed in and out, and toyed around with the lighting in his study. I felt like Cecil B. Demille (or was it Chi Chi LaRue?) shooting his next epic...though instead of winning the Academy Award for Best Picture I'd be given the GayVN Award for "Best Squirting Release" (yes, that's an actual AVN trophy; Joey Amis won it this year for his unparalled work in 'The Mating Season'). In short...I came, I saw, I cammed.

Back in August I attended the first Catholic wedding I'd been to in years. There seems to less pomp and circumstance these days (not as much kneeling, but still lots of stand-and-sit; those Catholics sure do know how to give a guest an aerobic workout...I should have worn my sweats). Sitting there watching the ritual unfold (with my friend Melly, who's an atheist) I began to question my own beliefs. I was raised Baptist, currently attend the non-denominational New Though Unity Center, but find myself becoming less of a believer the older I get. I'm fascinated by religion, I just don't subscribe to one. Maybe I'm agnostic, because I'm a firm believer in having concrete proof of things. Maybe, being a Libra, I just can't make up my mind on one religion. Or maybe all the time with Melly is wearing off.

After the wedding she and I drove to Indianapolis to see Kathy Griffin perform. This is the third time year we've seen her standup routine; some don't care for her, but we find her hilarious. The theatre was, of course, packed to the rafters with "her gays." It provided a nice contrast to the wedding we'd been to earlier in the day. The gay guy and the atheist dutifully attended the Catholic wedding...then high-tailed it to Indy to hang out with our own vulgar, celebrity-obssessed, fashion-driven kind. Only in America...or the midwest.

From lesbians to cams to Catholics...it's been a busy summer. And I haven't even gotten around to writing about this year's Pride night, my second weekend trip to Indianapolis (for a horror movie convention) and my very first ISQCCBE Coronation. I'm not sure which of those last two was more frightening.

Yours in Close-up,

Cecil B.