The Dooryard

Fire Island 2005 - Not a drag

About six weeks ago, my summer on Fire Island came to a close. It ended with a wonderful, long Labor Day Weekend that was capped off with an annual drag party. I went as Daisy Duke - shaved legs and all (and I ended up looking quite a bit like my sister; I sent the pic to my sis, Jessica, without telling her that it was me; she wrote back, "yeah, that girl does look like me a little bit."). It was a blast. As I was telling a couple friends last night, I think everyone should have to do drag a couple times in their life; it just chills people out.

The summer on the Island was better than I had expected. Playing lots of volleyball, meeting new people, getting to know acquaintances better, it was far less the drug-infested swamp I had thought it was.

There was a very good lesson learned, though. I don't think a bad apple spoils the bunch, but it certainly makes the bunch taste worse. There was one very bad apple in the house. Bad apple is putting it nicely. I've never seen someone whose every action, whether it's putting away dishes or opening the door, is violent. I'm big on energy and his negative energy pervaded the house. Lesson learned: be much more careful about who you're spending the summer with, because one person can make you not want to be within 50 yards of the house.

(More pics after the jump.)

Fire Island 2005, Episode VII - The Summer Wanes

It's been a week since I was in the Pines, but last week was a tough week to find time to write about it. So, here goes.

After the opening pitch of the Phillies game, I headed out from Philly early Friday morning and got to our house around noon. On the boat was Dan from The Real World. Sat next to him. Or, rather, across the aisle from him. That's the extent of my celeb sitings this weekend.

Dan and I got to enjoy a few hours in the house with my friend Matt who had been in from LA for a couple weeks. He and Dan had gone out to the house Thursday night, suffering through Robin Byrd's bulge party. When Matt left that afternoon, we were left with a couple hours in the house to ourselves.

It made me long for a place to ourselves out there. One of the things that bugs me about Fire Island is the 20-something mentality of these 30-, 40-, 50- and 60-year-olds; i.e., sharing a house with eight other people every weekend. Most adults just get a place for themselves and their family, or maybe one other family. Not the gays; they stick to their 20s and rent en masse. It's nice for a weekend. Maybe two. But half the summer? I've tired of it a bit.

Still, the weekend was a nice one. I played lots of Frisbee on the beach with Steve, one of the guys from my football league. Another guy, Kevin, joined us for some disc on Saturday before retiring to his blanket for a six-pack.

Fire Island 2005, Episode VI -

Dan and I made a return to the Pines after a three-week stay from the "The Island." I got there late Friday night as I stayed in the city for a fun Queer Eye party Friday afternoon. My football league and I will be featured on a episode of QE next season - more on that as it approaches.

It was hot as hell in our house Friday night. Sans AC, I opted to sleep on the roof. While there were some sprinkles around 1:30, it was an amazing way to spend the night. On the horizon over the ocean was an incredible display of dancing sheet lightning. It lit up the clouds for over an hour as I dozed off.

Derek Hartley and his bf, Sean, were out with us this weekend. They were great to have around. Very relaxed and easy-going. They got in later than I did on Friday night and kept me company on the roof until I had passed out.

The sun awoke me Saturday morning; it was both bright and hot. I swear I got most of my tan that day before 8:45am. I made raspberry and pecan pancakes for the house; and they were damn good. The little secret I've discovered: mix some oatmeal with the pancake mix and use a touch of orange juice. Just trust me.

Fire Island 2005, Episode V - just relax

I love the woods when it rains. There is just an incredible smell that emanates from the forest when it is wet. Add to that a stiff breeze coming off the ocean, and you have my paradise. That's what greeted me at the Fire Island Pines Friday night as I disembarked form the ferry and walked down Ocean Walk en route to our house. I loved it so much, that I turned around once I dropped off my bags, umbrella in hand, and walked around the Pines for a bit. I even came across a couple deer munching on some damp undergrowth. Just lovely.

Friday night, Dan and I found ourselves alone in the house (some housemates were out for dinner, others skipped Friday because of the rain). We made dinner and went to bed relatively early.

Fire Island 2005, Episode IV - A New Hope

What a weekend on the Island. I was lucky enough to get out of work at 1pm on Friday and made it to the Pines by 4pm. It was nice being the first one in the house to arrive - let me wind down by myself for an hour or so before one of them showed and immediately got a cosmo in my hand. Perfect.

Saturday was really a great day. The best I've had out there. I met up with Corey Johnson and a few other guys from the football league on Saturday afternoon to play football. We ended up playing beach volleyball with some guys from the Gotham Volleyball group - a blast! I'm no volleyball stud, to say the least. But, at one point after flubbing my first serve of the day, I served 20 straight points - unfortunately, I missed serving out the entire match by four serves.

Later in the day, I went to fish (I've read the fishing is great right now) when I stumbled across a pick-up football game. It was a total blast as well, albeit it a bit short. We only played to 21, and the other team failed to score. But, it got some much-needed football out of my system.

Fire Island 2005, Episode III - The Lying of the Weathermen

Before heading out to "The Island" last weekend, I had heard the worst weather reports: rain and cool the whole weekend, except Sunday afternoon after I was supposed to leave. We were treated, instead, to a drizzly Friday evening and a wonderful Saturday. My favorite morning activity on the island is OFFICIALLY sitting at Bay Bar and writing on the harbor. You get to see so many people (not the least of which was the guy in the red hot pants with a package you could barely fit under the Christmas tree).

Saturday afternoon, Dan and I played bridge with a couple housemates. It was a little breezy on the roof, but we (make that, Dan) only had to chase one card - the jack of clubs, I believe - to the lower deck.

Below the fold: My own issues & flags of the Pines

Fire Island 2005, Episode II - Revenge of the Fish

Memorial Weekend 2005 will forever be the first weekend I spent at the Fire Island Pines.

I arrived Friday night, just in time to get in my first bit of fishing in about 15 years. My parents sent me a rod, reel and tackle for my birthday (which was Friday), as I have been talking about fishing the shore of Fire Island for months. As a kid, I fished the ponds, reservoirs and beaches of Cape Cod, reeling in striped bass, perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout and far more than my fair share of sunfish. This weekend wasn't about actually catching something (good thing) - it was about practice. 

Fire Island 2005, Episode I

It took some convincing from Dan, but we're going to be spending some time on Fire Island this summer. I was trepidacious about it because I know of the insane partying that goes on there. But, my trepidation has been replaced by an excitement for a quiet reprieve in nature. I'm now looking forward to an awesome summer there.

We went out to the house on Saturday to do some painting and cleaning. The water just got turned on there, so this was the first weekend many headed out there. It was chilly, in the upper 40s with an ocean breeze, and serene. There were only a few folks in the Pines, but they were in good spirits and friendly - a "hi" and a smile every time we passed someone on the boardwalk.

It was just what I am hoping for from the Fire Island Pines this summer - a quiet reprieve from the bustle of New York City, meeting some new people, a chance to write some more and to return to fishing (my parents sent me a fishing pole and tackle last week). We'll be out there about half the weekends this summer. I can't wait.