Today is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Today is Election Day and what has already been projected is that voters in Ohio voted to protect abortion rights, which is a blow to state and national abortion opponents. This should worry the bastards in the cult party called the Party of Chump. This vote is yet another sign abortion access is a key issue across party lines ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In another significant vote, Democratic governor Andy Beshear is projected to be reelected in deep-red Kentucky, “Bitch” McConnell’s state. He defeated a repugnican who was backed by three-time loser Chump and Senate GOP Leader McConnell. On a strong night for Democrats, the party is performing better for control of Virginia’s legislature. Also, Ohio voters are projected to approve a measure legalizing recreational marijuana. What more could we ask for? We can now take a toke right here in Ohio.

As for me, it’s late here since I attended my gay men’s reading group where we discussed Andrew Holleran’s The Kingdom of Sand which is a meditation on growing old and gay in northern Florida. After the meeting which ended close to 8, a few of the guys walked to Julius’, on the corner of Waverly Place and West 10th Street, and I went with them this time. Elliot stayed home since he didn’t read the book; he read over 60 pages or so and declared it “depressing,” which it primarily was.

At the bar, I talked to a few of the regulars. Most of them were intrigued with our trip to Japan, so I was happy to report on our perceptions of the country. I eventually left the bar with another attendee, “Owen.” We walked to the subway station on West 4th Street where I waited for an E. As my train rolled into the station, Owen hugged me and wished me “happy birthday.” He went downstairs to take the C to Bed-Stuy where he lives.

The governor’s race in Mississippi is too close to call of of now. That’s the race where a cousin of Elvis Presley’s is running for the governorship on the Democratic ticket.

Yay, I just heard that Virginia voters have rejected repugnican efforts to take full control of the state’s government, keeping Democrats in power in the state legislature as a counterweight to Governor Glenn Youngkin and conservative policy proposals that include a 15-week abortion ban. Democrats won a majority in the state Senate, the Associated Press reported. And they are also fighting to take control of the state House, which still remains uncalled.

So I’m preparing for my birthday festivities tomorrow which include tickets to the new Barry Manilow musical Harmony at the Barrymore Theatre. The play “tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in 1920s Germany who took the world by storm with their blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics, until their inclusion of Jewish singers put them on a collision course with history.” This is from the play’s Wikipedia page. Thus music is provided by Manilow, while lyrics are provided by Bruce Sussman.

Dinner tomorrow is on the house at Gallaghers Steakhouse on West 52nd Street. Not really! But we are going there before the show.

So in advance, I wish you a good Wednesday since I will be absent from this page tomorrow. I hope to return on Thursday night.

Stay safe and be well.