POST 100: The F Saga Begins

I was about to let this event go on unceremoniously, but then I remembered something that happened about two weeks ago. I think it's post 100 worthy. I will say that for reasons that will become apparent, there are certain details that I can't disclose for the sake of others.

I had been out one night doing a little drinking (not too much I swear). That night, I ended up talking to someone for a pretty long time. It started out about random stuff. Then it moved onto politics (I ended up explaining the power structure of Congress, putting that degree I have to at least a little bit of use). That led to me mentioning I'm gay (we had gotten to why I vote the way I do by this time). I was pretty sober by this time so it wasn't some drunken revelation, I was just feeling particularly open at this time. 

There is also the fact that the two of us had kinda hooked up the weekend after Halloween (emphasis on kinda). That particular night, I was drunk, he was blitzed (I was thinking at the time he might be blacked out). That night wasn't mentioned again...until, that is, the night of this story. 

He ended up asking me if we hooked up that night, and I said yes and proceeded to tell him that story. He told me that he wasn't sure it had actually happened, he had thought it was a dream or something like that (a testament to how drunk he had been those months ago). After having answered a number of quite personal questions myself, I decided it was my turn to ask one. I asked him, point blank, "Are you gay?" Somehow I have never actually asked that of someone, don't know how I managed that. He said yes, with a lot of guilt in his answer. That is most likely because he is in a long-term relationship...with a girl. They have been together for at least a year.

Most of the rest of the conversation was me trying to give him some advice and words of wisdom, such that I have. I did not so much tell him specifically what to do, but I tried to give him at least a little courage, insight, and knowledge as to the consequences of various. He doesn't know how to tell his girlfriend, nor would I in his situation. There is no easy way for him to tell her the truth without her being hurt. I did say that the longer he waits to tell her, the more damaging it would be to them both. I actually led him to a particular blog which is by a guy who has been married for some 20 years (to a woman), has three kids with her, but is gay and recently told her (which you can see HERE). I think this particular blog is something that he needed to see and hopefully he read through it because he is walking down a similar road.

It was a very long night. By the time I got to bed, the night had worn away and dawn was closing in.

This all happened about two weeks ago, I haven't seen him or talked to him since then, so I haven't really followed up. I'm pretty sure I'm still the only person who knows about him. I think I'll probably see him this weekend, probably for the last time (he's moving to, I think, Tennessee), so I'll offer myself as a sympathetic ear and a source of strength should he need it...which he will (at least from some other source if not me). Hopefully I helped him come to terms with who he is, or at least set him on the road to doing so so that he can be who he really is and find some true happiness.

Back in Action

A guy came into work today wearing a Chicago Bears T-shirt. I really wanted to make some smart-ass comment, but that wouldn't be professional (plus he was kinda bear-ish himself which just wouldn't end well for me). For those who don't know, the Bears and the Green Bay Packers (my favourite team) are bitter rivals who met 3 times last season: they beat us early, we won the second time during the regular season (which got us into the playoffs), and we beat them again in the NFC Championship which got us into the Super Bowl which we won (and was the second one that we won since the last time Chicago won it in 1989), so the Bears can suck on that for a while.

As you can probably guess, I'm really happy that the lockout is finally over and we can get to some football news. This baseball crap is killing me (I fell asleep during the one and only MLB game I actually went to...so boring). Meanwhile, a guy that I work with, also a Green Bay fan, is going to see them play in Charlotte against the Panthers this season (lucky bastard). Also, a friend of mine from grade-school is currently in Green Bay for a shareholders' meeting (lucky bitch). All of this has me incredibly jealous. I've never been to an NFL game, let alone one with the Packers. It's definitely on the life to-do list, especially if it's in the holy land (i.e. Lambeau Field).

Strap in cause I'll have football on the brain for the next 7 months.

The Promised Land

One Year & Counting...

I'm a big fan of the Olympics. Even in years when I have no intent of watching for some reason, I end up watching hours and hours of coverage. Admittedly, I'm more of a Winter Olympics guy (it's the skating events...pretty much all of them), but Summer draws my attention as well. Hey, without the Summer Olympics, no one would know who Matthew Mitcham is (gold medal winning diver in the Beijing Games from Australia). That's reason enough to love them. But seriously, I'm looking forward to next Summer's games.

Seriously, so cute.

The Bane of Summer

When you're in school, you look forward to Summer more than pretty much anything else. No more learning, no more books, and all that. Of course, I was no different in that respect. Sleeping in, doing nothing, no responsibilities (except for marching band during high school, but that was completely voluntary...and awesome). However, there were several Summers where there was one thing I was forced into completely against my will: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!!! Sure it was only a week during a three-month holiday, but still, I couldn't stand it. No matter how much I begged those years, I had to do it. There were even a few Summers where I had to do it twice: once for the church that we went to (which was in another part of town) and a second at a different church (which was a couple of blocks away that the neighbours attended). It felt like torture. That one (or two) week(s) every Summer was the bane of the season. I never really felt like I got anything out of it, even to this day. It was probably something my mother and grandmother had me do just to get me out of the house, which I think could have been done in a more productive and less boring way. The activities were mostly pretty cheesy. We had to sing songs that I, never being a particular Gospel fan, had no love for. There was no joy for me in that setting. What little solace I had was when we had to attend VBS at that second church, at least I had some friends there to save me from the dullness (to the extent that they could). Whenever the week was over, there was a huge sense of relief, possibly more than at the end of the school year. At least there, I felt like I achieved something. I have no plans on making any children I have in the future attend VBS or any other such thing against their will (unless I feel like they will have a sense of accomplishment after the fact).

I will say this though. All these years later, I know how to make a God's Eye. Time well spent...or whatever.

Photo Funnies: Thank You MSNBC

Enter lube joke here_____.

MyTunes Monday: Little Lion Man

Go Get'em Ladies

The U.S. women's soccer team is on the edge of glory. Unfortunately, I have missed pretty much all of their games during this World Cup run because of work (which has been epic...or so I've heard), and today is probably not going to be any different. If you get the chance (at least those readers I have from here in the States), watch the game and cheer them on (it's at 2 Eastern Time). Here's to hoping against hope that I can see at least part of it live.

Also, a girl I work with has a girl-crush on Hope Solo, the U.S. team's goalkeeper. I think even I can understand why.

I See "Little People"

Some years ago, I bought "The Hobbit." I got maybe half way through it before I had to throw my hands up and quit. For some reason, even though I love the other stories of Middle Earth (i.e. The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion), I just could not get through this one. It seemed too childish to me. I put it down and have not touched it since. Hell, I forgot at times that I even owned it unless someone brought the story up.

Fast-forward to a few days ago. I came across a video (I think through AfterElton.com but maybe somewhere else) that showed a little about the films based on the books (coming out in December 2012 and 2013). It was the second of two behind the scenes video blogs on the filming that is underway. It got me really excited, and it doesn't hurt that I heart Ian McKellan (i.e. Gandalf the Grey). I decided that it was time to try reading the book again. So far, so good. I guess it helps that I have read a lot of peripheral stuff about what is going on elsewhere  in Middle Earth during when the book takes place and I'm having a good time connecting the dots. Actually, that's one of the things I like about reading LotR even after all these years.

Meanwhile, I can't believe I have to wait a year and a half for the first film to come out. I went through the same thing with X-Men: First Class. Ugh...

And yes, I realize I sound like a huge dork. I came out of the dork-closet years and years ago.

MyTunes Monday: The Blower's Daughter

USA Ladies Defeat Brazil

And they say no one watches women's sports...

Now onto the semifinals. Good luck ladies.

Photo Funnies: Something Special

I really wish I could take the credit for finding this.

Dirty school girls...

Photo Funnies: No Wonder It's Hot

MyTunes Monday: Not Ready to Make Nice

I choose this song because it's an ode to the freedom of speech (if you know the story behind this song, you'll get the connection) and today is, after all, a celebration of what makes America America. I'm not usually a country fan but this song is awesome.

HAPPY 235th BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!

Media Saturation

It doesn't really need to be said that the death of a child is tragic, whether accidental or intentional. However, it seems like whenever I turn the television to a news channel, any news channel, they are talking about this Casey Anthony case. I really don't understand what it is about this particular case that has the media in such a frenzy, not to mention stories about things that actually affect the population (which this case does not). There have to be tons of cases of similar significance around the country at any particular time that aren't seeing the light of day, let alone to the magnitude of this case. 

Well, I guess the good news is that this case is almost over and these media people can go back to talking about the train wreck that is Lindsay Lohan. That's good television.

(Very) Poor Decision

There is a guy I work with who recently at the age of 24 or so married a woman with two daughters. Now he and her are planning on having a child. When I first heard about this I thought it was that it was just that she wanted a child by him but he wasn't really about it. I have since learned that they are actually currently trying for this child.

He mentioned this at work Friday night around about six or seven of us. Pretty much all of us were saying to him how bad an idea this was but he wasn't hearing it. In one ear, out the other. He and his wife are pretty much going to depend on government aid to support their family, which bugs me to no end (it's that conservative streak I have, not to get overly political here). I have certainly made my share of bad life decisions, but this is a whole different level. What kind of life is this kid going to have? What kind of opportunities will it miss out on because Mommy and Daddy were purposefully irresponsible in the timing of having this child? I don't even like thinking about it because I find it so frustrating. I just really needed to vent about this.

Happy Canada Day...& Thanks For This

A few reasons to be thankful for our neighbour to the north on Canada Day:

Photo Funnies: Sophie's Choice