AFriendlyFace

Nopers, I rarely drink milk in the first place. I have never fallen down a flight of stairs

No...but since I don't own a baby either I'm not worried Do you own a fishing rod?

"Por Que Te Vas" - Los Super Elegantes

LOL, what a fascinating poll! I think I'll reserve judgment until later! (Though Graeme would be the obvious choice )

I like this idea. GOOD POINT! I know that's one of the main reasons I couldn't enjoy Mark Twain's work properly was because he so frequently used dialects. It just gets old... great point! Personally I like the stories to have the local flavour without being, as you indicated, knocked over by it. I like the local slang and vernacular in the stories. I just don't the words themselves altered to try to indicate an accent. Hmm, this may seem hypocritical given what I've just said, but personally I do like these. To me they don't so much indicate an accent or even a geographic location as they do an accurate representation of how the average person is likely to speak. For example: "you wanna come to the store with me?" Is, IMO, a more likely way for the average person to pose that question than: "Do you want to come to the store with me?" I think: "Ya wanna come wit me to da store?" would be a bit over the top even though in everyday speech a lot of people would say it just like that. Hmmm, this is a big pet-peeve of mine. Personally, I always get a bit irritated when the author interrupts the flow of the story to stop and spend a paragraph (or more!) explaining something. Like if the story is loosely set in a drag racing cultural I just don't want to hear about what the character is doing under the hood to "sup up" his engine. Just casually say he was making some modifications to it to increase its speed, then move on. Doing much more than that always makes me feel like the author is trying to impress us with his knowledge of whatever subject or else trying to get us to share in his passion for it. So if the story involved American baseball even if it were being told to an English, Canadian, or Australian audience I'd prefer for the author to say "the crowd groaned when John pitched his fourth ball and walked the batter and John knew he had to get his head off Steve and back in the game if they stood a chance" than "the crowd groaned when John pitched his fourth "ball" - a pitch which fails to be in the strike zone (defined as the area between the batter's knees and elbows and within the width of the plate) and thus "walked" the batter, which is to say allowed him to advance to the next base without having hit the ball." I would feel the same way if the story were about Cricket or Rugby. I'd actually love to learn more about these sports, but I'd generally prefer for the author to include enough casual facts about them to make me want to seek out more info on my own than trying to beat me over the head with it. So anyway, yes, I agree with you Graeme, it's important to know how to walk that line! I think you usually do an extremely good job of doing just that Considering that I don't watch the news perhaps I'm the wrong person to be commenting on this, but I wouldn't have assumed that a high school basketball game would make the news, even if there were a fight (unless it were an extremely violent fight and one or more people were seriously injured). Perhaps it has to do with my specific geographic location (football is the "big deal" HS sport here, not basketball or baseball) or because for the past several years I've lived in large cities, or simply because as I said I don't watch the news anyway, but it never would have occurred to me that such an event would make the news. Anyway take care all and have an awesome day! Kevin

Good point, Ieshwar! Personally, I tend to be uninterested in stories that rely heavily on location. In fact I prefer when the location isn't mentioned at all, or more or less glossed over. I just get sick of hearing about "the rolling hills" or the "endless sky" or the "constant rain" or the "expansive ocean" of whichever place the author is using. I like my stories to primarily be character driven and secondarily plot driven, and while geography may have a small impact on these things I'd rather the author do the work of developing them properly outside of that context. In other words I don't want to hear "his parents were liberal and accepting of his homosexuality because they grew up in California" or "since my neighbourhood in Seattle was experiencing yet another storm I had to stay in doors". Anyway those things ARE fine sometimes but IMO they should be incidental as should any mention of geography. I've been planning to write a parody with these cliches since I first read the list too!

I love this song! I'm listening to "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz

Fascinating post!

Hmmm, Tempting! But I think in the long run I'd still end up spending more money on gas if I consistently drove to Kuwait to tank up

"Best I ever had" - Gary Allan

I'm so very sorry to hear this sad news. My condolences and warmest wishes to his friends, family, and bf in their time of grief. I think it's wonderful that you guys are committed to continuing this mission to bring support and happiness to the people whose lives he touched!

Well, how else would I commemorate a new path for my life than by getting a make over? Shortly after writing my last blog I got my hair restyled and dyed. I went for a shorter, messier style and a fairly flashy blond. I got my brows waxed and dyed as well, and hit up a few of my favourite shops for some new outfits. I also started the lastest round of teeth whitening products, and restructured my skin care regimen. Shallow and vail I know, but all in all I'm very pleased with the results. I have to admit that today with my light blond hair and deep blue shirt - which complimented my eyes nicely - I felt like a re-energized, stronger, more successful version of my recent sick and emotionally numb self. Naturally I harnessed all this self-assurance and put myself back into the job market. I spent the day interviewing and generally searching for appealing positions. I could have had a new career in financial services, but I elected to stick to my guns and not accept a job I knew I would ultimately find unfulfilling (ala my last three jobs ). So, now it looks like I'll most likely be working temp office jobs until I go back to school for my Masters (hopefully next August ). Granted, there's no way I'll find these other jobs especially fulfilling either, but at least their transitory nature will make it easier for me to avoid getting tied down as well as provide me with the flexibility to pursue my academic, social, and recreational interests. I'm fine with taking imperfect, little jobs, but at this point I'm unwilling to commit to a long-term career that I simply won't like. (well, in a way I'm sure I'd "like" just about any job, but some just won't ultimately "do it" for me, ya know?). In other news Andrew (ex-boyfriend) and I may get back together...may not...he wants it...I want it, but I'm not sure it's a good idea...well I guess I don't really know what I want at all...which is a fascinating reversal since prior to the break-up I was the one that knew what he wanted and he was the one with the conflicted message. *shrug* Basically, the break up was because it's a slightly long-distance relationship (not even THAT long, about an hour's drive, heck technically we both live in Houston since it's so large), and because he's not out and still dependent on his family. One time we went out in his area and he happened to know one of the other waitresses at the restaurant so we had to pretend to be "friends". and in general we couldn't really go out in his area, and it just wasn't practical for him to always come to mine. Now I was mostly okay with all of this...he wasn't. It was getting really hard for him to be in a relationship and closeted and the distance thing seemed to really be wearing him down. Now I'm just a little reluctant to do it all over again because really nothing has changed and I'm pretty sure he's still going to be hurt, stressed, and frustrated in a few weeks. Anyway, I just keep thinking it's not fair to him or to me, but at the same time he's a really great guy and I just feel like I'd be passing up something really awesome. As for Brian, the friend that "broke up" with me, I received another letter in the mail from him today. Basically it was re-affirming his desire of us to be out of each other's lives. Only oddly enough this one was considerably nicer and more heart-felt...hell, if he'd written something more along these lines in the first place I probably wouldn't have been as hurt and pissed. On the other hand that might simply be the time and perspective I now have on the situation talking. In any case I feel ALOT better about everything now, and I was basically over it before anyway, so I think I'm good to go. Actually the biggest problem here will probably be with our mutual friends and activities. I think we're both committed to not making it weird or hard for them and trying not to put them in the middle, but let's face it they're still going to be uncomfortable, and no matter how much we say we won't, we'll probably both cancel/avoid some activities (even if we have good intentions like not wanting to make it hard for the other person or the other people there). In fact we've already been putting a couple of our friends in the middle even though I'm sure we're both trying not to (obviously it's just hard for them to stay uninvolved) Finally, I have to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who offered support and encouragement over the past week. You guys have no idea how much that meant to me or how much that HELPED! THANKS! :hug: I also realized that I have a really good support system of friends here in Houston as well as in various other parts of the country. It's just encouraging, warming, and ...fuzzy and I have the slightly embarrassing but great feeling you get when you know people have done something wonderful for you and you know you'll never be able to repay them. Anyway, I feel like my life is back on track (mostly ), and I appreciate everything guys

Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to imply that I was out in highschool; I wasn't. I was just saying that I enjoyed highschool. oh goodness, yes!

Happy Birthday, Law!! I hope you have an awesome day and a great year! -Kevin

Wooo Hooo! Happy Birthday, Sharon!!!! I hope you have a fantastic day and a terrific year!!!! -Kevin

I originally cross-posted with Menzo. That also seems very well-reasoned. I'm very sorry you went through that I think it does all depend on the person and the circumstances. Personally, I'm very fortunate in that I've never been ridiculed or rejected for my sexuality. In fact I was quite happy in grade school and high school. I had a bunch of really awesome friends and actually I partied more my last two years of high school than at any other time in my life. Anyway, all I'm saying is that I don't think a socially unhappy childhood is inevitably tied to being gay, and I think even when that happens how the person reacts and what they take with them varies. Just my opinion though, Kevin

I'm very pleased by Houston's recent law change that prohibits smoking indoors completely, even in bars, nightclubs, etc. As I believe I said above, I think this is a bit ridiculous. I mean if people can't smoke in bars where can they smoke? However, that being said I absolutely love it! A good 4 out of 10 times when I decided not to go out it was because I just didn't want to deal with the smoke. So it's so nice to be able to go wherever I want and not have to worry about leaving smelling like an ashtray and with a sore throat.

It's done

I mostly disagree that there is a difference in facial structure, mostly. I admit there there may possibly be, but I'm pretty sure if it does exist I find it more attractive than the straight facial structure, and anyway I'm not sure I do believe it. It's definitely true that out guys are easier to pick out than closeted guys. I very rarely fail to "gaydar" an out guy, even if we're in a non-gay setting and he's not acting/looking especially "gay". I think there's just a difference in the way someone out thinks, feels, and generally conducts themselves. Closeted guys are easier to miss, but some can be picked out anyway, and sometimes I think it's possible to "ping" a guy who hasn't even worked it out himself yet. Yesterday I was meeting a friend at church and I was sitting in my vehicle when I glanced into the rear-view mirror and noticed a guy walking by. All I could tell was that it was a guy and I was thinking "ohh, he's gay", then upon closer inspection I realized it was in fact my friend I'll drink to that! And I'll definitely drink to that! Personally, I was fortunate in that my lashes, and eyes in general, have always been complimented, even when I was a kid and not at all sexual and couldn't have cared less (even found it a bit embarrassing at the time). I do get my eyebrows done though. I've heard that computers/IT/Technology is a good field to be gay in. I really liked your post, Trevor. It was very insightful! -Kevin

Like the song; LOVE the video! (great concept AND the guy is frickin adorable!) coincidentally: "SOS" - Rhianna....Someone save me!

I didn't. I don't smoke and I don't want to, but if I did smoke I'd want to "smoke and not want to quit". The worst condition would be to smoke and want to quit. Not smoking and wanting to is probably healthier, but also a bit silly. So I'm glad I don't smoke and don't want to, but if I did smoke I'd want to.

Happy Birthday! Have an awesome day!

If I could I would be 22 forever.

Hey Nick I didn't read this properly and thought it meant that the only thing you'd never write were sex scenes between Men and Women. (end thought) or sex scenes between Boys and Girls. In other words no hetero sex Anyway, good blog. I quite agree