My poor little pooterbutt. No not my actual butt, but Brian. He had one of the most hellish flights home from San Diego yesterday afternoon. And last night. Until midnight. I'll get to that in a moment.
While listening to him talk on the phone and watching the drama unfold, it brought memories of some of my worst flights back when I was traveling for work.
I left Seattle around 8am one morning, heading back to Dallas. A storm was in our path and in Dallas so we had to be re-routed to Denver. After spending a few hours waiting on news that we could take off, we hopped back on the plane. We weren't in the air a half an hour before we were re-routed to St. Louis. The storms got worse. Unfortunately, St. Louis was getting hit by tornado's that night so we had to circle for almost an hour and a half. We finally got to land but weren't able to pull up to the gate due to no available gates. Many planes were still grounded. We stepped off of that plane at midnight. I didn't get to a hotel until 1am and had to be back to the airport at 6am for a 7am flight back to Dallas. I should have just slept on the floor. My Dallas flight was canceled and moved 3 times that day. I didn't get home until approximately 7pm that night.
Another time involved St. Louis again. I was sitting at the airport at 8am and watched as dark clouds started forming overhead. Our flight ended up getting postponed due to incoming bad weather. Tornado's were on the way again it seemed. After sitting in the airport for almost 6 hours, things cleared up enough for us to board and take off. We started heading towards the runway then started to turn off. Something was wrong with the plane. We sat on the tarmac for almost 2 hours while they fixed the problem. We tried taking off again but it was no use. Another issue came up they said. We were taken back, close to the gate but not quite AT the gate. We sat there for a couple hours while another storm approached. They moved us in the middle of a storm to another plane. We finally got on a 3rd plane (that they magically found sitting around) at 9pm that night. I got home around midnight.
The last time I had issues was coming back from San Diego, after visiting Brian the first time. A storm was raging in Dallas, so we had to fly around it and land in Atlanta! I had left that morning around 7am from San Diego. Around 1pm that afternoon, I started trying to get on the next flight home to Dallas. Every hour on the hour until 11pm that night, I went from gate to gate, waiting on standby. I got on the 11pm flight home to Dallas.
I swore each and every time, I would NEVER fly again.
Brian was excited when he called me yesterday from the airport. He was going to be leaving around 1pm and getting home by 6pm. Much earlier then normal. While he was on his way to El Paso for a layover, severe storms with high winds, hail and possible tornado's was approaching Dallas. I was worried about him getting here, but once he told me he was taking off from El Paso, I figured things weren't so bad. Then he called me from Lubbock. Few hours later, he called me from Oklahoma City. Poor thing didn't get home until 12:30 am.
Traveling during the Tornado season in this country sucks dick hairy vagina (there you go Patrick).
Back in one piece and glad to be home.
I realized a few things while away for work in Tampa. I don't miss my days of traveling for work at all. I used to travel weekly like Brian does. At first it was all glamorous for the first year. The jetset life of going from city to city. Hanging out in airports, eating out all the time, seeing new cities, roomservice, meeting new people. Anymore, I could care less about all of that. Tampa is a beautiful city. But after spending each day from dusk until dawn, schmoozing clients and standing on my feet all day, the last thing I wanted to do at night was get out and see the city. Instead I had to do more client dinners or late nights sitting at the Bar talking shop.
I also realized how much of a homebody I've become. I miss our dog. I miss being in my own bed. I miss our home. Not that I don't enjoy our weekend getaways. I totally do. Yet even then, by the last day I'm ready to be in the comfort of my own home.
Soon, I'll be one of those hermits that never leaves the house.
Plus, I hate how Max acts after being in Boarding and Daycare. He was happy as hell to see me, but once in the car I was ignored completely. He has no energy. I can't tell if he's upset with me, misses his Pack at Daycare, is tired as hell or if he possibly doesn't feel well. He's just not acting like his normal self. I swear he also gets the runs every time he comes home from there.
He doesn't poop normal for days.
I know you all were waiting on the edge of your seats, wondering about Max's bowel movement consistency.
The biggest drawback about working a booth at a Conference, is that my feet are killing me. Otherwise, it's easy to schmooze all day, take long breaks, walk around, eat good food and drink free alcohol. My feet will just have to put up with the pain I guess.
My hotel is beautful, the view is amazing and I get the chance to sit at the Marina to enjoy the water. I'm not on the beach which I'm pretty bummed about, but this will just have to do. I've had numerous psyhics in my past tell me that I have a constant need to find or be near water for the purposes of healing, relaxation and to release stress and that find peace and solitude the minute I'm around it. I'm sure others have this same feeling, it's only natural. Oceans just bring me to tears. It's kind of goofy, but I usually get very teary eyed when I take an initial walk on the beach and hear the sounds of the ocean waves and the seagulls. Which by the way, DO sound like they're saying "Mine! Mine! Mine!" from the movie Finding Nemo. I never paid attention before until now.
I'm not getting much free time as I would have liked. I get my breaks throughout the day to walk around the Marina is all. At night I come back to my hotel room and before you know it, I'm getting a call to meet clients or co-workers to have a few cocktails and dinner.
If I get a chance, I'll upload a few pictures tomorrow. If not, I don't arrive until Wednesday afternoon and I'm sure I'll be beat.
I wanted to clear up a few housecleaning items before I get started. Why was I the last to find out about Gay Robot?
Also, make sure you go out and vote for my buddies Joe, Ajax and Scott-o-rama who have all made it to The Sweet Sixteen over at March Madness. Vote Here! If I can't win this fricken popularity contest, I want one of my friends to do it. Fuck those other bitches and go vote!
And last, so there's not ONE blogger that lives in Tampa who wants to wine and dine me? *sigh*
Moving on.
I should be excited about this weekend. The Bear Prom is in town. At least it's what it feels like. Bears, Cubs, Wolves and Otters and Chasers from all over the country are gathering here in Dallas for four days of Meet and Greets, Dinner Parties, Beauty Pageants, drinking and the occasional hairy bear orgy in their hotel rooms. Literally thousands of them. The Texas Bear Roundup brings in some of the hottest guys. And some of the sweetest. We always have such a good time going out to the bars to see all of our friends and some new faces or going to the main Dinner that's scheduled on Saturday.
This year, the thoughts of furry bellies and beer doesn't even remotely sound like fun. Maybe I'll feel different after I get off work and need some release due to the stress I seem to have had here this past week. Maybe I'm just stressing about having to fly out to Tampa on Sunday morning at 7:45am. Who in the fuck schedules flights that early? I need to kill someone.
Either that or go shopping.
I'm a little bit anal retentive. Ok fine, I'm very anal retentive.
As a kid, my room was always kept spotless. My apprearance was alway neat and tidy. I hated getting dirty. As I grew older, my locker in school was clean and organized and even my Flock of Seagulls, Boy George or Cyndi Lauper haircut still had a controlled messiness to it. In college, my studio work stations never looked like the typical artists, with paint, inks and pencil shavings covering every surface and brushes, drawing materials and tools strewn all over the place. Everything was always cleaned up and put away. Even my artwork reflected my anal nature. It was never freeflowing and loose. Instead, it was always picture perfect and controlled. Something I'm still striving to break free from.
My desk at work is arranged just so. Everything has it's place. Filing cabinets contained perfectly labeled hanging file folders. No work sits on my desk when I leave. It is put away in it's proper place before leaving. I even wipe down my desk with 409 on a weekly basis.
My home is the same way. Except when Brian comes home to visit. You'll find pairs of socks laid down in the strangest of places. We might let things get a little cluttered from time to time on the favorite place to dump your shit. The dining room table. But after a few days, the urge overtakes me and I'm spending a couple hours re-organizing everything all over again before bedtime. If I'm not careful when in these moods, I will have spent the entire evening cleaning the house top to bottom. If you've ever owned a bathroom done in black porcelain and granite, you'll know what being anal is all about.
My reputation of being organized and anal has made the rounds. Steven was in need of some organization in his life. I can't tell you what it's like to sit in a friends apartment and not want to get up and move knick knacks around or open up a box and put things away. Don't get me started when I see their closets.
After a few months of meeting Brian, I started reorganizing his life when he was gone on a trip for work. When he returned home, his closet (my favorite area to tackle) was cleaned and straightened to perfection. All color cordinated by clothing type and season. He loved the results. I think he secretly loves my analness (is that a word?).
Last night I did the same for Steven. Brian kindly offered up my services. Anything for a best friend. By the time we were finished he had a closet that was organized and the homeless people in the neighborhood were digging through the boxes of old clothing within an hour. We have more to do, but we were able to tackle 70% of his loft last night. I stood there afterwards, just looking around. I think I popped a woody at the sight of my handywork
I think I have a sickness.
And no, don't be asking me to come to your house and organize. Unless you want to offer me a free flight, tons of beer and pizza, a comfortable place to sleep and lots of cash.
Well, it's been confirmed. I'm offically that same scrawny little boy from Junior High and Highschool gym class when it comes to the Blogosphere. Although I wasn't picked last this time, I just wasn't picked at all. But thats ok.
I've been voted off the island on the first round. I'm referring to the Popularity March Madness Contest over at The Malcontent. I'm honestly not even sure how I ended up there. I've never even heard of this website. I thank you all for voting for me, but I lost in the first round. I was paired up with some Queer News blog. I can't compete with news of Skeletor Ann Coulter calling someone a Faggot, Self Loathing Republican Gay/NotGay Former Porn Star Matt Sanchez crying over being made fun of or blogs that show pictures of hot muscled eyecandy with their 11" peepees flopping in the breeze or even pictures of cute kittens and puppies like at Cute with Chris. Although I heart Chris and want to bear his kittens, I mean children.
Only thing about losing this time, was that I didn't have to sit in right field waiting for a ball to come flying my way so I could run the other direction screaming like a little girl or be shoved in a locker at the end of gym class.
So go out and vote for all of our other blogger buddies out there who are still in The Race.
In other jawdropping news, I'm addicted to Ebay. I know, shock surprise! I've just won a brand new Kenneth Cole Messenger Bag. Retail price was $298 and I got it for only $91!! That's enough to make me not only moist as a cupcake down there (I know you all love that saying) but I'm even feeling a big warm and gooey like a fresh apple pie down there too. I'm a winner!
SOMEONE, please cancel my Ebay memebership.
After a whirlwind weekend, Monday mornings are always a reminder that Brian's gone and the weekend is over. We wake up early and come to work for a full weeks worth of "back to normal life". I wonder if there's a medical term for this? I'm sure I have it, whatever it is. I'm just tired of my Monday post being this way
We went down to The Ranch on Saturday and Sunday only this weekend. Had a great time partying with everyone like people normally do on St. Patricks Day. Maybe a little too much. Which I'm sure doesn't help our moods on Monday morning.
There was a band there called Laurel. You can check them out here or here. This girl has one of the most amazingly beautiful voices. So rich and soulful. Please go check out her site and listen to some of her music. If you have a myspace account, please tell her hello and what you think. I'm going to try and keep track of them and hopefully be able to hear them live again some day.
I even was pushed to go up on stage by friends, when they asked people to come up and help them sing a Rollin' Like A River by Ike and Tina Turner. Yes, that's how much I had to drink.
Brian left this morning and possibly might have to work over the weekend. I have to fly out next Sunday for Tampa Florida for a few days. Going to be a long couple of weeks.
Anyone up for meeting for coffee, dinner or drinks in Tampa?
I hear there's some sort of contest that's like the March Madness is for Basketball, except they're pitting bloggers against each other.
I hear that I'm falling behind.
I hate to lose.
The Scissor Sisters concert was amazing. They totally rocked. My only complaint is that the concert seemed too short, or maybe it was just me. Or maybe I just wanted more. Our group consisted of Brian and myself, Brad, Steven and his friend Stacey, Jim, Jeff and his daughter Lauren. We ran into a large number of good friends and enjoyed talking and drinking for a few hours before the concert started. Did I mention they had a full bar, including Tequila? Not to worry though, we were good boys and didn't over do it.
Once Brian gets out of bed and uploads the pictures for me, I'll post some from last night later this morning. (See a few pics below)
I've found out recently that I'm going to be traveling to a couple places for work. March 25-28th, I'll be in Tampa Florida for a conference and Palm Springs California for a Symposium that's put on by my client during the first week in May. For the life of me, I can't remember if any bloggers I read are specifically from Tampa. I know a few live in Florida, but not sure exactly where. I honestly never pay close attention to the city. Let me know if anyone out there is in Tampa and would like to grab a bite of dinner. I can't think of any Palm Springs bloggers, but who knows.
We've also confirmed that we will be going to Pride in San Francisco during June, Portland and Seattle in August and Orlando in September for my birthday. Due to all my traveling for work, Brian's traveling on a weekly basis for work, our scheduled mini-vacations and of course a couple of trips back home to see my mommy this year, I'm afraid we're not going to be able to make it to NYC this year unless we get some wild hair (and extra cash) and fly up some weekend at the last minute. Maybe someone can still schedule a GB:NYC4 and make it a huge success. We feel bad, but it just doesn't seem possible this year. Like I said though, I wouldn't be surprised if we make some last minute decision and fly up to see everyone at some point, especially if we find one of those cheap fares. We love New York so much and love the people we've met there even more. You can guarantee that we'll be back.
We should be taking it easy tonight. We're heading to the Ranch tomorrow and Sunday for their St. Patricks Day celebration. They'll be having a live band and who knows, maybe some green beer. Sorry but the thoughts of green beer make me want to hurl.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a Happy St. Patricks Day.
Mark and Brian
Steven and Stacey
Lauren, Stacey, Steven, Mark
Doug and Jim
Doug and some cute friend who's name escapes me
Jeff and Joey
Brian and Lauren
Brian, Jeff and Lauren
Brad and Brian
My readers always have a very strong opinion. I love that about them. I appreciate everyone's kind words, harsher words, opinions and rants from yesterday. I even appreciate the private emails I received. More then likely I'm not going to have the procedure. If I do, I'm thinking that no one on here will find out about it anyways. Probably best to keep it private.
Last night, Brian and I went to the Dallas Auto Show. He was like a little kid as always. On the way into the convention center, he kept trying to walk really fast round people to get ahead, yell at the elevator to go faster, tried entering through an exit and almost forgot to buy tickets beforehand. He was a tad bit excited. I finally had to tell him that if he didn't behave I was going to send him back to the car for time out.
He told me as we walked in the door, "See honey, THIS is my Disneyland." I responded, "And I'm that 60 year old Father that is taking his kids to Disneyland. Not necessarily enjoying it, but doing it for the love of the children."
After sitting in almost every vehicle and pushing every button inside the cars, we grabbed some dinner, stopped by Alexandre's to see a friend who was having a happy hour Birthday party (everyone was so trashed) then headed home. I needed a good nights rest, because tonight we're all heading out to see Scissor Sisters at some club in downtown.
I'm moist as a cupcake down below at the thoughts of it.
I shouldn't care what people think. I shouldn't care what people have said in the past from time to time. I shouldn't be so vain and worry about my apprearance.
Five years ago, I noticed that I had a substantial amount of lipoatrophy in my face, arms, legs and butt. Fatloss. This was due to one of my HIV medications. It's now a widely known side effect. One that I had had no clue about after taking this one mediction for over 6 years. Once I noticed the drastic amount of fat loss, especially in my face, I immediately told the doctor to switch medications. I looked horrible. My face was sunken in an withdrawn and the veins in my arms and legs stuck out like a sore thumb.
Over the past 5 years, I've been able to gain a lot of my body fat back which has made my butt, arms and legs back to normal. My face has been a bit more difficult. Although drastically better then before, I still notice the slight indentation from below my eye and down the side of my nose and mouth.
I can spot an HIV person immediately due to this side effect. Other people can too. I can't tell you the number of people who I've talked to or met who said they could tell I was HIV Positive by looking at my face. Although I know they're not meant to be insensitive or realize what they're saying, it always has bothered me that (at least to me) it's obvious of my status. It's not that I have a problem with people knowing I'm poz. I'll be the poster child for the damn disease if someone asked me to. I dont' care. But I would rather not have it be the first thing people think of when they see me, all due to my face.
I know many out there will say, "But I can't tell" or "I don't see anything wrong". I appreciate those kind words. It might be only a slight problem with my face that many can't tell, but the issue is with me. I know it's there. I can see it. It bothers me that some can see it as well.
Long story even longer, I went to the dermatologist today to see about having a product called Sculptra injected into these areas to make the face fuller. I've been putting off going for whatever reasons. Maybe I was scared. Who knows.
The doctor informed me that indeed I had facial fat loss and would benefit from the treatment. Then the bad news came.
#1 - I don't qualify for any of the study trials.
#2 - I don't qualify for any of the discounts on medication costs due to the amount of money I make.
#3 - Each vial cost $500 each. I would require between 3-4 vials to complete the transformation.
#4 - Administering the drug cost $300 each visit.
#5 - Multiple visits would be needed if my face didn't take to the drug like normal.
#6 - Sculptra is only guaranteed for anywhere between 12-24 months.
#7 - The only permanent solution cost approximately $1000 a cc, totalling between 4-6K for treatment.
Although I'm not an avid baseball fan, from what I remember three strikes and you're out.
I received seven strikes.
I didn't react well once I got in the car and started driving to work. It just hit me and I got to have a nice boohoo'ing session with the hubby over the phone.
Ah, I know it's stupid and I'll get over it.
Late Sunday night and only two blocks away from where we live, an older and very runned down apartment complex caught fire. More then 90 units were reduced to nothing but giant match sticks. One person died and a host of others were sent to the emergency room with various problems. People were even seen jumping from their third floor apartments to escape the fire. You might wonder how this fire caught everyone by surprise. Somehow, not one fire alarm went off and the sprinkler systems didn't work. Most apartments were engulfed in flames by the time the residents even knew anything was wrong.
This isn't the first fire that's happened in this area during the past 13 years I've lived here. Oaklawn, which is know known by the fancy schmancy name of Oaklawn Heights (insert eyeroll here), aka the gayborhood has some spotty neighborhoods. One block will house 300-400K condos and across the street will be extremely low income housing. You will find everything from immigrant families and workers to crack houses and meth labs. Did you know the name change to Oaklawn Heights was only put in place to attract a better, more influential and obviously wealthier clientele?
The strange thing, is out of the blue one of these tragic fires will happen and before you know it, more overpriced condo's are being built in it's place within months. This latest fire is causing a lot of suspicion. They even called in homicide detectives from what I've recently read.
Now, I'm all for cleaning up a neighborhood. Tearing down old runned down complexes. Getting rid of the bad element. Hell, we own a condo in this neighborhood. I want it clean, I want it safe and I also want my property value to go up not down. I'm not stupid. I also know the need for low income, affordable housing and apartments in an area like this. But at the expense of losing lives, causing harm and displacing more then 90 families is completely wrong. All for a brand new, overpriced, cookie cutter Condo's.
You just watch. I'm counting the days before they start building either that, or overpriced apartments in it's place. This area was once a unique area to live. Low end, middle of the road and high end living could be found here. Quaint shops, old neighborhoods and hidden restaurants. Now we're surrounded with unaffordable housing, car dealerships, expensive restaurants and of course Starbucks on every corner. Ok, maybe having lots of Starbucks isn't so bad. I do love me my Latte's.
How much longer before even the gayborhood strip is being forced out? I'm curious to know what this area will look like in the next 5-10 years.
All pictures courtesy of Dallas blogger Steve (different then Steven ) over at Steve in DFW. Go say Howdy!
**Sunset on the lake
Being at Rainbow Ranch during an "off" weekend has its perks. First off, it's less crowded and more of a chance to hang and get to know the permanent people all weekend. Secondly, you can spend time working on your yard, do some cleaning or just sit and relax in the sun. Thirdly, I would normally say that there's no big event going on so the chances of getting toally sloshed at some big party wouldn't happen on an off weekend. Oh no, we took care of that Saturday night.
We had some issues getting out of town. It started off by me losing my wallet which had a lot of cash in it for the weekend. After getting stuck in traffic, we had to head back to the house in search of the wallet. Luckily, I found it laying on the floor. It fell out of my back pocket somehow. Crisis averted. We then had to deal with Max and Abby not getting along the entire trip up there. Abby was tired, hungry and a tad bit cranky and all Max wanted to do was play and be irritating. He's good at that. The dogs were just tired, cranky and not in a good place the first night we were there. On top of everything else, once we got there and tried to open the extension on the trailer, it wouldn't open. Something was preventing it from opening. After two hours of cussing and freaking out, we figured out the problem.
**Our new permanent spot
**Hot enough to have our shirts off almost all weekend!
**Max and Abby relaxing when they weren't fighting
Finally, it was time to relax and enjoy the weekend. We spent most of Saturday working around the yard, putting up our new canopy and taking the dogs for a long run in the fields. They even got the chance to jump in the small pond up by the Ranch House. We hopped in the golf carts and a bunch of us took long rides around the Ranch and started drinking. By the time the evening was upon us, we were all getting a little sloshed. Someone at the campfire showed up with a bottle of tequila. That was the last thing we needed to drink. Even Brian, who does NOT do shots was drinking Goldschlager and Cinnamon schnapps.
**Got to spend some good quality time with Ray and Brad
**The only way to drink and drive
The evening ended with Steven and I, along with a bunch of people, getting inside of this coffin they had up at the Ranch House. It was used for someones birthday party, so we figured it would be a good idea for a photo op.
**Steven in the casket with a friend
I made someone very upset once he saw me in the coffin. Nothing like being Debbie Downer and ending the night on a somber note. Ah, the stupid things you do when you're drunk.
We headed home Sunday afternoon. We crashed most of the day before hitting the sack late that night. It will take a few days to get used to this time change. Luckily, Brian will be back early this week for the Dallas Auto Show which starts Wednesday and the Scissor Sisters concert on Thursday.
Our lives never slow down.
I was a bad boy last night. I didn't go work out. I shouldn't be down on myself, since I've been going faithfully for the past couple weeks. My elbow has been hurting me some and when someone who shall remain nameless **coughstevencough** calls and says "lets go shopping instead", it doesn't take much for me to fall to peer pressure. He made some excuse about needing to pick up his new reading glasses.
It made me realize that I need to get my eyes checked. It's been over 5 years since I bought the pair I have now.
Not that the frames are dated by any means, but I'm finding myself needing to wear them more and more. I'm notorious for leaving them at work so when I get home to work on the computer, watch TV or read a book, I struggle like some old fart trying to focus with his bifocals. Yes, mine are bifocals. Don't judge me. But while I was at EyeMasters, I found some really cute black rimmed glasses kind of like the ones I own now. They're kind of nerdy, but oh so cute. I need to have my eyes checked so I think it's time for a new pair of glasses as well.
Just another reason to shop.
My baby arrived late last night. I love the fact that he comes home Thursday nights now rather then Friday mornings.
Gives us just a little bit more time together. We're all heading down to The Ranch for a nice quiet getaway. Max will have the chance to play with his new girlfriend, Abby (Steven's Great Dane).
Enjoy your weekend!
Brian and I both are big Mama's boys. We're the first to say it and we're proud to admit it. I hope he doesn't mind me writing about this, but yesterday he received an email from his Mother. She was upset that she hadn't heard from him or received an email in a while and was worried about him. Saying that he didn't seem the same lately. Her first inclination was to think that she had done something wrong, which is never the case.
Brian just gets sidetracked easily. He's only really able to focus on his task at hand. He's always wanted to be one of those people who remember to call or to send a card and to be always "in the know". I gave him a few suggestions for remembering to pick up the phone and make that phone call. Even if it's for only a couple minutes, they love hearing from you.
When I first left home, I was so homesick that I found myself calling every single day. Sometimes in tears, othertimes to tell them something I had experienced. My Dad was terminal at the time, so I had a strong need to keep in touch to see how he was doing on a daily basis.
After my Father passed away, school became hectic and life changing events like coming out, my focus became on different things. Calling home became something that I would forget or kept putting off. Not that I didn't want to talk to anyone, but time got the best of me and before you know it, it had been 10 days or more since I had picked up the phone to just say Hi. Mom understood that my life was busy as hell. She also knew how easily distracted I could get.
My Mother is almost 80 years old now. I worry about the amount of time she has left here and it causes me to panic from time to time. Before, I would call home a couple times a week. Anymore, I'm consistantly calling Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, like clockwork. She finally has caller ID after 15 years and knows when I'm calling. It pleases her that I can't call and disguise my voice to freak her out. It's a game we've played for years.
She looks forward to my calls, even though most of the time it's for only a couple minutes just to say Hi and that we're all doing ok. I even call my siblings ever so often which usually causes them to say, "Whats wrong?! Are you OK?!"
We end each conversation with "I Love You!"
Make sure you call someone close to you today and tell them how much you miss them and love them.
I always knew this day would come. I had little doubts, although there were days I thought I'd never see it happen. A day that I will never forget. A moment in time that a person waits for every day of his life and once that moment happens, a sense of joy and peace overcomes them. A day that would fill my heart with so much joy and happiness for years to come. A day that would make any person proud. I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to write about this experience, or even be able to put it into words. How can mere words describe what I'm feeling?
For nine months I've been waiting to utter these small words. Words that sound like music to my ears.
Max stopped peeing like a girl dog and finally lifted his leg.
No longer will we be the dog at the doggie park that everyone points at and makes fun of. No longer will he be bullied by even the smallest of Pugs or the largest of Great Danes. Although he hasn't mastered the act of actually peeing ON something such as a nice succulent tree or ripe bush, he did manage to walk right into the middle of the lawn and magically lift his leg onto his imaginary tree.
Give me a moment.
My only only issue was that he only did it once and peed like a girl dog the remainder of the entire walk, but it's a start. Soon we might just have a fully functional, manly, grown up male dog.
It's all about babysteps.
(No photos were taken at the request of the family)
Friday night, we went to see the movie Zodiac after all of us went to workout. I've had a fascination with seriel killers ever since I was forced to read the book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote as a Sophomore in Highschool. I absolutely loved it. I spent the next ten years reading various books about Charles Manson, Son of Sam and Ted Bundy. The movie was incredible, although a tad bit long coming in at almost 3 hours.
Saturday was spent having working out again, having brunch, taking the doggies to the dog park and shopping. Later that evening, Brian and I went to go see Cirque du Soleil's Corteo. I've been fortunate to see 4 different shows during the past few years. Each one has been a feast for the senses. I've always left with a feeling of awe and amazement. Not this last time. The show should be called Suque due Soliel. Visually, the show was beautiful. The music was incredible as well. The acts? Well, first off one of the best parts about these shows are the hot men. I'm sorry to be shallow, but hot muscle men who are half naked on stage, bending, stretching, flying and shit, just makes for a fun evening. Add some fabulous costumes, funky music and I'm good to go. Corteo's boys were down right fugly. Muscular yes, but from the neck up they could cause a train to derail. The acts themselves were amateurish. Something I remember seeing at the Shriners Circus when I was a kid.
I left feeling very disappointed. I had a wonderful time with Brian. It was like a perfect date night. I enjoyed the show, had a great time with him, but that feeling of awe never happened like normal when I leave a Cirque show.
Sunday we headed to Mattito's for Brunch and unlimited Mimosa's. After two hours of cackling until our tummies hurt, we watched a little Lisa Lampinelli then headed to The Door for the bear beer bust. Drinking from 11am until 6pm isn't such a good idea, although it was good for Brian to be able to hang out with many friends that he normally doesn't get to see.
Today, I'm back to my normal depressed Mondays. After a whirlwind weekend with my sweetie at home, it's always a let down the next morning when he flies back to San Diego.
Did I mention that we didn't see any hot cowboys? The only one we saw from TGRA was Mr. (Miss?) TGRA and he wasn't anyone to write home about.
After our strenuous workout, Steven and I headed to Pastazio's for a slice of heartattack pizza, but only one slice. Steven blames me for buying the chocolate cannoli and ruining his diet, but he's the one that pointed it out and said, "Oooooo, I love those". I didn't eat any of it and made him take it home. I'm not a cannoli fan. I do have to say that, hanging out with me isn't a good thing if you're trying to lose weight or watch your diet.
I'm a bad influence, I'll admit it. But for the most part, I am eating better, working out and drinking 3 protein shakes a day, so eating a bad piece of pizza once in a while is going to happen. Have I ever mentioned that those shakes make you gassy? I was a walking airbag before, but now it's just fucking ridiculous.
Brian was able to catch a flight yesterday afternoon which got him in around 9:30pm, which was quite nice. Once he sat down on the couch to cuddle, we started watching this Back to the Future Marathon. I swear I've seen these movies a 100 times, but for some reason we felt like we had to watch them again. Before you knew it, it was 1am. I could barely keep my eyes open, but for some reason we had to finish. I love 80's movies, especially the classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pretty in Pink and Breakfast Club. If those shows are on, I drop what I'm doing.
Not sure what our weekend plans are just yet. Possibly take our dog, along with Steven's to the dog park to play. Maybe catch a few new movies that are out. Maybe even go out to The Round Up because the Texas Gay Rodeo is in town this weekend.
That means tons of hot men in tight wranglers, hats and logic deflectors (aka, Wonder Woman sized belt buckles).
Yee haw
I purchased a new piece of artwork recently that I finally was able to frame last night. The title is called MY HAPPINESS IS RIDING ON YOUR MISERY and is by Luke Chueh. He's some young/hip artist from LA I guess. It's rare when I find something that I absolutely love and must have. His work has such a dark yet humorous quality to it that I really love.
Although his work is primarily painting in acrylic and ink, he's selling his work as limited edition 100 print run, silkscreens at a store called Metropark. Each print signed and numbered. You can also find links to prints on his website, or contact him directly for direct purchases.
MY HAPPINESS IS RIDING ON YOUR MISERY
