Today; stamps; "preparing for a snowstorm"; lunch; gaydar; B&N; Mammoth Book of Gay Erotica; "quiet evening with a beautiful, thoughtful man, but that does not appear to be in the cards."

Today was unusually low-keyed even for me. Around 10:00 or so, I got up, tried to make myself presentable and gorgeous for the world, took a couple of looks in the mirror and gave up.

Once I stepped outside I noticed the sky was overcast and gloomy but unseasonably warm. My first thought was that tonight's funsters will be drenched. But the weather has held steady; of course, rain may still appear.

Shambled off to the post office for stamps, to check the box and mail a passel of bills. The post office was so quite it was eerie; not a soul was in line. I slid my $5 bill into the first machine and decided on the American Glassware stamps. Then I unfurled my tongue and began licking. My box contained the usual assortment of mags, bills and unsolicited ads. I was at least hoping for a note from a secret admirer, instead I got a flyer for a computer conference.

I headed up the frontage road for Jitney Premiere. As you will remember, the chain has filed for bankruptcy, which has caused problems with suppliers, so you never know what will or will not be on the aisles. My needs were few: bread, cokes, paper towels, chips. Obviously many folks were listening to the news and "preparing for a snowstorm," for every checkout counter was jammed with carts. By a quirk of fate, the person in front of me had to go back for something, so the wait was quick.

Cruising up the frontage road, I decided to pay Perkins a visit for lunch. They seem to be very busy of late, no doubt because of their high visibility along the Interstate and name recognition for travelers. As I sat waiting, I turned my gaydar on high and did some surreptitious scoping. Not a blip. After a while, two guys did take the next booth and appeared to be family. However, they had that patrician, nose-in-the-air look; the kind who would never acknowledge another human, gay or not.

After my chicken terriyaki salad, I headed for Barnes & Noble. Glanced at the gay/les section, magazines, new paperbacks, new sci-fi, new mysteries. Wound up in front of the anthology section and noticed "Best Gay Erotica 1999." Which I grabbed along with "The "Mammoth Book of Gay Erotica." I've always likes this type of erotica because it has a sense of humor and some originality. Several notches above the type in which the humpy guy is seduced by the cop, box boy, mailman, cable guy, electrician or bible salesman. (I wonder if anyone has written a story about being seduced by those door-to-door religious reps, who normally crop up in two's.)

I have no plans for the midnight hour. One friend, I think, has gone to partake of the debauchery of New Orleans. Several others are spending the eve at a casino on the Mississippi. But none of this holds my interest. I would have preferred to have a quiet evening with a beautiful, thoughtful man, but that does not appear to be in the cards.

PAX!