Me? Perceptive?

Those of you who know me might be aware of my general lack of awareness of other people; their feelings and general bidness. So when I tell you that during my conference in Palm Springs I had a lingering feeling that the town was frequented by, if not overrun with older gay gentlemen, you should keep in mind that this is me talking. There weren't any real factual details, you know the kind I base pretty much all my decisions and assumptions on, just little things. Like pairs of older men walking around together. Could have been anything, and who am I to cast stereotypes?

Anyway, it came to my last day and I was sitting a the bar waiting for my flight. This guy and I started talking a little, he was in town with his family visiting his brother. He's concocted a scheme to have the bartender card the brother and give him a hard time with the ID since he was coming from a botox appointment. Everyone had a good laugh at his disbelief that this bartender was about to refuse to serve him. So we sat and had a couple beer waiting for the wife and kids to show up for dinner. When they got up to leave, the brother said to me:

Good luck... And be careful... A handsome man like you in this town...

This town? Now I'm not one to shirk a compliment but the lingering pat/rub on the back was a little akward for someone of my particular persuasion. So turns out I may have been onto something that whole time. Mothers, lock up your GIS analysts. Who knew?

The US Census bureau and Wikipedia, aparently:

The current gay and lesbian population in Palm Springs is estimated to be about seven times the national average.

• Wikipedia - Palm Springs, CA

Kinda makes me think I should do more homework before traveling to new places.

Don't Eff With Old People

Sure they may look homely with their sky-blue Sansabelts and hairnets, but those octogenarians can get rough. On a side trip in Puerto Rico, a group of senior citizens from a cruise ship were held up by three assailants. An ex-military passenger got a gunman in a headlock and snapped his neck while the others beat the two remaining criminals off the bus. No charges are being pressed in the incident, authorities say the tourists were in the right. All the passengers intend to continue with the cruise. I guess that's why the phrase isn't "like taking candy from a senior citizen."

• BBC News: Tourist Kills Costa Rican Mugger