I TiVo'd The Birdcage and have watched it on-and-off the past several days. We have it on DVD but TiVo recorded it off Bravo. During the commercials, they gave out little factoids on the movie. For instance, Robin Williams was originally cast as the drag queen, but felt he would not have been able to give enough of a flambouyant portrayal. I can't imagine that movie with anyone other than Nathan Lane cast as the drag queen.

One of my favorite scenes is the one close to the beginning when Albert is walking down the street, shopping in a farmer's market-type environment. God I'd love to do that, complete with the outrageous vest, that hat, the little bag (I actually have a few of those, now that I mention it), the glasses with the chain, the whole bit. Just walking down the street, amidst all of that color, all of the personalities... the guy with the lobster. Nothing about being gay or straight, male or female. Just the pure enjoyment that the scene so successfully captures.

Always, remember: Men SMEAR... God I love that...

I've been trying to cut down on the carbs in my diet. That means not so much rice. Yes, it's absolutely killing me. But it's starting to pay off. Between the swimming 4-5 times a week, and the changes to my diet, I feel a lot better. I just wish the atmosphere at the fitness club was a tad more friendly. No one talks to anyone there. Not even simple "Good morning". Of course, I don't care, I'm going to say Hello and Good Morning to anyone that comes within a 6-foot radius, even if I do get the Doe-In-Headlights look.

I just feel so sorry for the girls. Men don't talk because of the machismo. But the girls don't talk because they must, at all times, make themselves clearly intolerant of testosterone-induced pick up lines. I rarely say hello to them unless they make eye contact and say something first. I just wonder how much fun working out can be when you have to have your shields up all the time like that.

Sometimes, I really miss one of my first gyms, called Wolfgang's Gym, in Richmond, Virginia. Everybody talked to everybody, and it didn't matter how big or how small you were.