Mattie, Are You a Zaddy? Part 3

I guess this is the part where I'm supposed to post all sorts of provocative pictures of you in various states of undress; but I don't feel like it.  I do think, that despite whatever mixed feelings you have/had about walking on the wild side (read: gay); you were not averse to working that "boy-toy" vibe early in your career.  I mean, you gave full on butt for School Ties.  And I say, good on yah!  Smoke 'em if you've got 'em, baby!

I do, however, find it amusing that one of your "go-to" poses is the classic "man-spread."  There is no dearth of these of you through the years.

Tootsie bonus!

Ya know, you look an awful lot like a friend of mine from back in the day.  I took a lot of pictures of him.  Let's take a look!

Speaking of back in the day...
I was thinking about this.  I'm sure you've never thought about this; seeing as you don't know me.  But I bet our paths crossed in the past. I mean, when I was in college at B.U., you were in high school in Cambridge, right across the Charles.  For four years.

And then, I got even closer when I worked across the river in Cambridge at a couple of establishments.  One was Action Video, which was on Mass Ave. in Central Square.  It's not there anymore, of course.  I worked there in like the summer of 1990.  There was a pizza place on the same block.  Like on the west side of the street.  Or would that be the South side?  I got the job there because the place I'd been working at since '88 had closed.  Perhaps you remember it.  It was a bar called The Paradise and it was at 180 Mass Ave.  Here's how it looks today:

You probably were never actually inside; but you must remember this sign:

It was like, literally, across the street from MIT.  And right next door to the Necco candy factory.  Surely you remember that!  The air smelled like candy on that block and you could somtimes tell what they were making.  Do/did you like Necco wafers?  Me.  Not a fan.  Kind of like eating candied poker chips.  Blecch!

Or, maybe you were inside.  I mean, maybe you scouted it for a location at some point for some thing.  It was open and active as a club for the  love that dare not speak its name at least until 2018.  I mean, I'm guessing that even if you had wanted to go, your career after 1997 would've put the kibosh on any kind of "incognito" attempt.  No anonymity.  You know, research for a role, that kind of thing.  Although, the Paradise wasn't necessarily "gay" during the day, back in the day.  When I worked there, there was an oil portrait of an older woman in a pink waitress outfit.  She kind of looked like the lady from the cover of the Breakfast in America LP:

She was somewhat before my time there.  Her name was Annie and from what I recall, she was a waitress there during the day; as they served food; and the clientele was mostly working men (who, I think we can assume were not there for the love that dare not speak its name).  I'm guessing the Necco factory has a lot of working men in, around and about it.  Maybe some working gals too.  She became one of those beloved local figures who got awards and such.  I mean, I doubt she herself commissioned that portrait painting.  Another friend from back in the day found this for me:

That's definitely her.  But I have no idea what the story of this picture is.  But you know there's a story!
And who knows?  Maybe one summer you worked at the Necco factroy  and had lunch there with your fellow working men (and women) and had no idea that people went there at night, seeking the love that dare not speak it's name.  And you know I'm talking about same sex love, right Matt?  Just so we're all on the same page.  Speaking of same sex love; and while we're on the subject.  I just gotta ask.  Why Mykonos?  Why did you go on a vacation to one of the gayest places on Earth?  I mean, outside of the Disney commissary in Burbank at lunchtime?  Why were Chris and Liam Hemsworth there?  Hal just informed me that you told Ellen you went "glamping" with Chris Hemsworth.  I'm starting to think you and Chris should do a Challengers-esque flick now.

MOVIE IDEA!
Set in the exciting world of pickle ball, Competitors unfurls the sweat drenched story of Kurt Vandekamp and Avi Frieberger, two up and coming stars of the pickle ball world.  Kurt and Avi meet at pickle ball camp and the story picks up as they traverse the trials and travails of the professional pickle ball tournament landscape.  Under the tutelage of their coaches, Jack "Jackie" Jackson (that would be you, Matt) and Phillip "Phil" Phillipson (Chris Hemsworth, natch) the pair make their way to the PPA, The Pro Pickleball Tour.  Kurt and Avi vie for the affections of Jack's daughter, Marissa; a no nonsense knock-out who knows how to put a nose or two to the grindstone and a pickle or three to the paddle.  Meanwhile, Phil's wife is tragically taken from the world in a hay-baling accident during a Halloween hay-ride.  Seeking solace in the arm's of his long-time friend and sometimes rival, Jack; the two men find themselves fighting feelings for one another they've surpressed since their days at Yale School of Drama.  Yes, Jack is also a playwright and his new play, I Think I'm In Love With My Best Friend and Rival (Who's Name Is Definitely NOT Phil) which has it's premiere at the pickle ball camp he runs, has a lot of people asking questions; not least of which will be the audience!
Will Marissa be forced to choose between Kurt and Avi or will she choose both? Or neither? Will Phil realize Jack's play is about him?  What will happen if he does?  I mean, that is, if he goes to see it; because plays are not really his "thing."  Will he succumb to his unspoken yearnings? And what of his unspoken urges. Not to mention his unutterable impulses.  Who will take home the pickle ball trophy? Find out from your courtside seat at Competitors!

Well, you know, Chirs Hemsworth is a Leo.  You have a lot of Leo's in your life Matt.  Ben.  J-Lo (I mean, I imagine she's in your life a lot, simply by default).  Your wife.  Libra's are attracted to fire signs.  But before we get into that, let's see what Harvey Sid Fisher has to say about Leos!

You know Matt, I mention astrology and astrological signs in my blogs more than I might care to admit.  I mean, it's not like I'm into astrology, or anything.  I mean, I could care less about my daily horoscope.  I have no interest in fortune telling, whether that be via mediums, crystal balls, tarot cards (especially tarot cards), Ouija boards (no thanks!), tea leaves, palm reading, The Farmer's Almanac, Nostradamus, Weekly World News' Year End predictions or even Magic 8 balls (where's the evil Magic 8 ball movie?  Get on that Matt and Ben!).

And "normal" people tend to look down on anyone that has interest in the Cosmological, right?  Who needs that stigma?  Or stigmata?  But I do find the personality aspect of astrology quite fascinating, and yes, I'll admit it: uncanny.  Like, why do you have all those Leos in your life?  Not just in it; but up close and personal.  Why did my only three friends back during school days all have the sign of Sagitarrius, like me?  I mean, the odds have to be astrological!  Oh, I mean, astronomical.  Why do I, a Sagitarrius whose "balancing sign" is Gemini, have Geminis coming out my ears in my own life?  I'm talking like, my mother and my two brothers.  I also am extremely intrigued by the cosmology surrounding days of birth and names.  Like first names.  So let's just get this over in one fell swoop and meet back here in an hour or so!

Sigourney Weaver!  Noice!

There's another book I have to go find; so, I guess this isn't over yet.  We're going into overtime Matt!  So I'll see you in Part 4!!!

OMG...if you add up all those numbers you get 9.  Your lucky number Matt!  

CFR   5/7/24