Merry Gay Christmas!!!

All I Want For Christmas...

Merry Christmas!!!

MyTunes Monday: Zat You, Santa Claus?

The Winds of Winter

I have made my disdain for Winter fairly obvious. Like the people of Westeros, I pray for a Summer without end (although that would technically bring environmental devastation). Winter means less sunlight, less warmth, less green outside, and fewer fit lads running outside shirtless (the ones that do are probably not too bright). Since the coming cold is inevitable, I'm forced to find some positives:

1) Fewer bugs. I hate bugs. Luckily the cold kills them off.

2) Snow. I don't like it nearly as much as a kid. It's hard to get around in. That's great when you want a snow day off of school, but it tends to not give you snow days off of work (unless you're a teach). At least it's pretty to look at and makes for some great photos.

3) I can really work layers of clothing.
4) After the Winter Solistice, days start getting longer again. It makes it easier for me to deal with the cold, the lack of colour, and all that other stuff Winter brings. I may or may not have S.A.D. to some extent, but just knowing the days are steadily getting longer helps to deal with my tendency towards Winter depression (or whatever it is I have, assuming I have something since I've never actually been diagnosed).

As I'm writing this, the wind is howling outside for the second day and tomorrow will bring a third day of similar weather. It will probably keep me up late into the night. Whenever I do fall asleep, hopefully the night brings me a dream of Spring.

THE END OF THE WORLD!!!

Seriously though, I doubt anything will happen other than people getting drunk at end of the world parties.

MyTunes Monday: Snow (from "White Christmas")

Humour Files: This Week's Forecast

Can You Turn A Straight Guy Gay? (NSFW)

Caution: your screen may melt. Viewer discretion is advised.

Early Christmas Present (You're Welcome)

A Drinking Game of Thrones

MyTunes Monday: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

I Turn My Camera On

From another picture outing

Since I was off on Monday, I decided to head out this afternoon about an hour before Sunset to get some pictures. I've been compiling pictures of sunsets over the past few months. I'm not exactly sure what I'll end up doing with them, that is yet to be decided. Anyway, I rode my bike out about a mile and a half from home for some shots. I went around midtown, rode out a bit further to a pond and got some more shots, rode out even further to some farm land, and then rode all the way home (which was two, two and a half miles or so).

While I have been getting a lot of still photos, I also got some film as well. I have yet to check that out, but there were some ducks by the pond and horses on the farms, a few pans across the clouds, some planes leaving trails in the sky, etc. I didn't have a rig or a tripod or anything like that, just my hands. Hopefully the footage isn't too shaky, and hopefully what I got is usable.

Meanwhile, as I was out and about, there were a lot of other people taking photos as well. It was a very photogenic sunset.

I really should check this stuff out soon.

MyTunes Monday: Waltz of the Snowflakes

Cat Friend Vs. Dog Friend

 Dog friend FTW (plus he's cuter)!!!

Cyber Monday Haul

I despise Black Friday. I don't want to deal with all of those hoards of people fighting each other for this years' electronics which will be irrelevant by the same time next year. I stayed in and slept, then went off to work (ironically, I had to deal with hoards of people there). Almost 30 hours at work over the course of 3 days. Some bitches almost got cut.

I really don't like how the season of togetherness, good will towards men, and being thankful starts with ridiculous amounts of buying stuff on DAY ONE!!! How hypocritical.

Black Friday is terrible. I much prefer Cyber Monday. In fact, I just ordered a bunch of stuff from Amazon:

-The Vampire Diaries: Season One (one of my favourite shows)

-Fifth Element

-American Dad: Volume 4

-Serenity

-The Federalist Papers (which should be required high school history reading)

-A Team of Rivals (a book about President Lincoln's cabinet by the very awesome Doris Kearns Goodwin)

Just under $90. I would have also gotten "Soapdish" (one of my top 10 films) and "A Chorus Line," but they were out of stock when I made the order...but were back in stock moments later. Uhhh... (first world problems).

I'm excited for this arrival.

Gay Things Straight Guys Do

Black Friday, Should The Tradition End?

Shag, Marry, Stake: The Vampire Diaries

This is from one of my favourite shows, "The Vampire Diaries." Love, love, love this show (which recently started its fourth season and is still going strong in terms of ratings and overall awesomeness).

Apparently, everyone would shag Matt...as would I. P.S. This is Matt (on the left):

 

MyTunes Monday: Skyfall

I saw the film last week and it was pretty good. I recommend seeing it if you haven't already.

The Science of Morning Wood

So Fresh & So Clean

Despite being tired, hungover, and completely lacking in energy on Sunday morning (this is what happens when you drink until past 3am and then walk a mile and a half home), I somehow managed to do a fair bit of cleaning in the kitchen (as well as doing some laundry). When I was done, I sort of basked in the cleanliness because I knew it would not last. I live some fairly messy people. Sure enough, within 24 or so hours, there was mess everywhere again. It was nice while it last.

 

I just got home 30 minutes ago and the entire downstairs, after having been messy for what seems like ages, was astonishingly clean. My jaw almost hit the ground in complete and utter shock. The kitchen, the living room, all of it. I like to think that I inspired some of them to do this by example. Be the change you want to see and all that.

Yet again however, I will bask in the cleanliness because it is not likely to last. I know, I'm a cynic.

MyTunes Monday: Devil's Work

Weekend Update: Speakeasy

For those who don't know, bars here in Virginia close at 2am. It's so unfortunate and I wish they were open until 3 (although that would probably mean less money in my bank account).

I went downtown last night to try and catch up with some people. I ended up not finding them ( *sad face* ), but I did catch up with some other people who I hadn't seen in quite a while. It was already late but we went to a local pub until last call. We then started walking north and I wasn't really sure where we were going. We landed at the back door of another bar and were just hanging around there for a little bit. There was another group of people standing nearby and we were waiting for them to leave (and someone I was with kind of almost got in a fight with them). After they left, someone opened the door where we were standing and let us. We had to walk through a kitchen and down some stairs to the lower floor of a bar that was at this point really dimly lit. I couldn't help but note the Prohibition Era auro that I was getting from this scenario. It probably helps that there's something about that era that I think is really awesome. The Great Gatsby is one of the few books that I liked reading in grade school...not to mention that was the best fashion era of all time (yes, I realize how gay that sounds :P). We were there until around 3:30 or 4 in the morning drinking, dancing, conversing), after which I walked about a mile and a half slightly under dressed for the weather. This was an unexpectedly fun night and luckily, I didn't have to work today.

Honestly, I wish there was a Speakeasy kind of bar here. That would be so awesome.

To Those Who Serve...

We will never be able to thank you adequately. What you do and have done is incalculably important and this country would not be what it is without you. America is the light because of the sacrifices you and your families have made.

VOTE!!!

MyTunes Monday: St. Augustine

What I Learned About Wearing Fangs (& Other Halloween Stuff)

When I was a kid I really wanted to be a vampire for Halloween. For whatever reason, vampires help a special fascination in my mind. I've actually had a pair of fangs since before last Halloween, but I didn't use them then. Well, I finally used them last night. There were some things about them I didn't really expect so here are some things you should know before using them:

1) They feel slightly awkward at first, but then you get used to them.

2) You will salivate more than normal.

3) You will have a slight lisp, but it was easier to speak than I thought it would be.

4) If you wear them for a long period of time and then take them out, it will feel like they're still there for quite a while (the phantom tooth effect).

While I was downtown last night, I hit the mother-lode. Not only did I find Waldo, I found seven of them in one place. There was also Quailman which always brings a smile to my face since it reminds me of my childhood. There was a girl dressed as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, and her costume was legit, all the way to half of her ass hanging out of the...I guess I can't call them pants.

There were two things I found puzzling. One of them was that apparently some guys think that merely wearing a jersey (without pads or anything like that) constitutes a Halloween costume. Fail. The other thing is that I saw a bunch of guys throughout the night that were wearing flannels tops and short-shorts or cut-off jeans, the kind of pants most people would think gay guys wear in San Fran. I'm pretty sure most of these guys were straight (not that I asked), so...I just don't get it. Not that I'm complaining about that one, some of them had some nice legs.

HAPPY GAY CHRISTMAS HALLOWEEN!!!

101 Sexy Halloween Costume Ideas

MyTunes Monday: The World is Not Enough

MyTunes Monday: Red Right Hand

A Conservatives' Guide to Staying in the Closet

Happy National Coming Out Day!!!

MyTunes Monday: Hide & Seek

September Ratings (& Other Stuff)

I'm not really sure how it happened, but managed to have a record month of ratings for my blog political Commonwealth Commentary last month. The previous high was about 5400 in July. September, I managed to rack up almost 6200. I'm quite happy about that. Whether or not I can approach those numbers this month, I'm not so sure, but I'll give it a try  One thing that I haven't been doing so much of lately is original content. Pretty much all of what I've posted of late has been videos and news articles and not so much of my own stuff. In other words, I have not been putting the "commentary" in "Commonwealth Commentary." I need to change that. Since I have several free hours tomorrow before I have to be at work, I'll get started then. It's the end of an election cycle, so there should be tons of fodder.

~

In other news, I'm supposed to be going to a mates wedding this coming weekend. The reason that I sound uncertain is that there are a bunch of obstacles in my way. First: travel arrangements. I have no car, so I can't just drive there myself (it's in Northern Virginia...or somewhere thereabouts). I friend in town is going so I hope I can hitch a ride with her, otherwise, I'm screwed. Second: work. I requested that weekend of but got scheduled the day before and the day after the wedding. Bovine excrement. I'm seriously pissed off about this because of the way requesting time off works at my job. This is primarily because it doesn't work. I don't want to delve into that too much because it will just get me pissed all over again and I'm trying to get to sleep soon.

If you remember my various posts about a person I called "N," he becomes relevant here again. It's his sister who is the bride at this wedding. Though I don't feel for him the way I once did (FYI we're not talking about love), something about the fact that he'll be there makes me a bit nervous. I'm really looking forward to going to the wedding other than that, I'm just dreading potential awkwardness.

One thing is for sure though. Assuming I actually make it to the wedding, I'll be looking good. This past Monday I picked up a green dress shirt and a silver tie that catches the light in a really nice way. I may or may not be wearing my waist-coat (the one I was wearing in the wedding photo I posted a week or two ago). Green and silver are my two favourite colours. I also have some super dressy shoes to wear.

I should probably learn how to tie that tie...

NOOOOOOO!!! NOT YET!!!

I'm supposed to be going to a wedding in a week and a half and I've known exactly what I wanted to wear for quite some time. The thing was that I didn't own much of what I had planned. Since I had today off, I hopped over to the next town (which is where the nearest mall is) to pick some stuff up. So I'm in this store looking for the specifics I had planned. At some point I looked up and what did I see across the store? Christmas decorations. Seriously. Christmas is just short of three months off and this store is already putting up decorations. I can't handle this. I may have already said elsewhere on this blog how I'm one of those people who despise the extreme commercialization of Christmas. I don't even like hearing Christmas music before Thanksgiving (with some exceptions...very few though).

The good news is that I found just what I was looking for, so that cheered me up. I'll be looking good for this wedding. ;)

MyTunes Monday: Black & Blue

Butt Chugging

This is why I weep for humanity. Ironically when I was in university, my fraternity (Pi Kappa Phi) was in a rivalry with our campus' chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, so I find this a bit on the funny side. Still, these people are idiots and I feel like either their synapses will start firing or Darwinism will take care of them in a very unpleasant manner.

Bovine Excrement

This football season is not going well. In fact, I would go so far as to say that  it is a joke. Monday night's game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers is exhibit A.

For those who are unaware, there is a contract dispute going on with the NFL referees. Because of this, the league has had to bring in substitutes which are from...wherever (I'm not sure where offhand). They have been screwing up royally across the league. As to the aforementioned Monday night game, it ended up coming down to the last play with the Seahawks driving while being down 12-7 with only seconds left. The call on the field was...dubious. One ref said touchdown, another said the Packers intercepted the ball. It ended up being ruled a touchdown, giving Seahawks the victory. Everyone I know, including people who have no love for the Packers, is calling bullshit: from friends to commentators.

I'm left thinking that if this is how these "refs" are going going to operate, I would just rather not watch games until dispute gets resolved. Hopefully, this doesn't take long.

MyTunes Monday: I Saw the Sign

Morandir: The Dark Rider

It's been about a year and a half since my last bike was stolen. Besides the fact that it had cost me just south of $600, not including maintenance, parts and such during the 2.5 years that I owned it, I loved that thing. Lorindol I named it, which is Sindarin (common Elvish, I know, I'm a nerd) for "golden head" because of the bike's colour. Most likely some drunken asshole took it and stupid me didn't lock it up properly. Well, what's done is done.

Now I have a new bike yet to be named, though I have a name in mind.

I worked a double today but had a few hours between shifts. I got out of the first one in time enough to head to the place where I got Lorindol and all of its maintenance. It's that as soon as I walked in, one of the guys said "How's it goin' Rob?" I was seriously surprised that he remembered me by name after not having set foot in the place (East Coasters) for 18 months. Then again, they are really nice guys, great service and I never had any complaints about them. Another one of the guys said that he finally got why he had seen me walking around town so much (since I am sans vehicle).

I managed to get almost everything I needed since I knew exactly what I was looking for unlike the last time around. I got the bike, a new lock, some lights, ordered the fenders (they didn't have what I needed in stock) and some lube...for the chain (get your head out of the gutter). I was in and out in about 40 minutes. I rode the quarter mile home. It was the first bike ride I had made since Lorindol was stolen, and my quads were on fire. It didn't really help that most of the ride was uphill and I haven't gone running in too long a time.

I said to the guys at East Coasters that I felt naked not having a bike. Seeing people ride by on theirs always made me a little sad. 18 months of that really took its toll. Luckily, I'm finally a rider again. Sooner or later I'll post a picture of my new baby.

The Hobbit (Trailer #2)

NERDGASM!!!

MyTunes Monday: You Give Me Something

Finally, I've gotten back into the habit of doing this regularly.

I Knew I Was Gay When...

MyTunes Monday: More Than Words

Weekend Update: Wild Wedding

Aww...

It's been a while since I've been to a wedding. The last one I went to was when my mom married my step-dad, 10 or so years ago. This wedding I went to yesterday was...interesting.

I went with my friend JP on the 3.5 hour drive from here to Chesterfield. I was not looking forward to the drive. The weather was being rather schizo Saturday. The first 30-60 minutes were okay. The rest of it, we were in and out of rain. We went through at least for bits of rain. The second to last storm was also foggy (somehow), which made it even worse. The last storm was the worst. It was an actual storm; thunder, lightning, the whole schtick. Visibility was practically none existent. After we passed through that, I text Rachel (the bride) that this storm may be on the way. I found out a bit later that this friendly warning only served to stress her out even more when she was already on pins and needles. Oops...

We had left around 1 and got there around 5. The last 40 miles took us an hour because of that last storm. The actual ceremony was supposed to start around 5:30. JP and I were taking some photos of the venue and such when I noticed that the sky was starting to look rather ominous. over the next 30 or so minutes, it just started to look worse and worse. I was getting worried that there would be a huge hiccup in this wedding ceremony, which was being held outside. Eventually they herded us into our seats and the ceremony began. Rachel was wearing an absolutely beautiful dress and she looked gorgeous in it. While the ceremony was going on, the wind was picking up. It got so strong that a tree branch a few yards off snapped off and fell, as did a hanging plant on the gazebo a few feet away from the bride and groom, which just made everyone laugh. I could only hear about half of what the priest (or whatever clergy person she was, I don't know her title) was saying despite the fact that she was mic'ed. Somehow, by the grace of God, they got through the ceremony before the storm. A mere few minutes later, it started pouring. Luckily, everyone was inside the tent (where the reception was held) or inside the building. 

JP and I ended up leaving around 8 or 9 on the 3.5 hour long drive home, which went far more smoothly.

Also, Virginia Tech curb-stomped some school in football. Seriously, I have no idea where this school is (Austin Peay???).

Damn, we're fine!!!

Gay Jokes

MyTunes Monday: Enter Sandman

For those who don't know, this is the song that gets played at Lane Stadium before every Virginia Tech home football game and today is the first (home) game of the season. Seems fitting to have this song today.

LET'S GO HOKIES!!!

Brothers or Boyfriends

Guess What I Bought?

I decided to reread the first book, then I decided to buy the DVD this past Thursday. I'm waiting until I've finished rereading before I watch Season 1. I have less than 100 pages to go (it's 810 pages total and I started reading less than two weeks ago, this is the fastest I've read anything EVER...120 pages in 1 day).

MyTunes Monday: Gravity Rides Everything

MyTunes Monday: Wicked Game

Tribute to Team USA Men's Gymnastics

Me being the Tolkien nerd/band geek that I am, the first thing I notice is how that first piece of music is from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (right after Gandalf's fall).

Back to the subject at hand, DROOL!!! Jake Dalton is super-hot, which is why he won the "King of the Hardwood" tournament this year.

Film Shorts: "Curious Thing" Trilogy

The first of these videos I had posted earlier, but thought it was worth re-posting them all together, that and I just found out that it was actually a trilogy.

MyTunes Monday: Still Lovin' You

 

There's also a version where you have the band backed up by a full orchestra (that version is about 7:30 long) and that's was the first version I heard in 2000 or 2001 ( I remember the year because it was used by an ice dance team that season).

The Hobbit at Comic-Con

Relationship Hell

A bunch of people I work with are having some relationship issues.

One guy was just broken up with by his girlfriend of five years. She said she felt she was holding him back (which sounds fishy to me). They're somewhat in limbo, but I think it may be really over given what he's told me.

Another guy, in a long distance relationship, is apparently bad at comforting his girlfriend who is complaining about her job. They may or may not have solved this issue, but now there is apparently another guy that likes her (even invited her to a wedding, sketchy) who may be trying to move in on his "territory."

A girl who has been with her boyfriend for a number of years was more or less left to fend for herself a week before having surgery on her foot while also caring for their two dogs. He went to the other side of the country at the beginning of Summer. She is, understandably, pissed. His attempts at making up for it have fallen very short. They have not spoken much in the ensuing months. They're still together...at least for now. By the time he comes back, she will be going to grad school up North.

Another guy is crushing hardcore on a girl (we all work together), but she isn't having it. Smart decision on her part. I've mentioned this guy before and he is (still) very immature. From what I can see, they would be a terrible match.

What about me you might be asking? Well, I'm still trying to read the situation I mentioned in a recent post. I'm probably not going to be able to go to the birthday thing, but that's because of work. Last Sunday, I tried to get him out to hang with some mutual friends after he was done working for the day. It was a no-go. He was sort of (physically) touchy with me this week. I'm getting mixed signals so I still have no clue what is going on here and thinking about it is rather frustrating.

So much drama. It's simultaneously interesting, hilarious, and fucking with my head.

MyTunes Monday: Girls & Boys In School

A Reading Problem

There is this guy with whom I've worked for quite a while. Recently, I've developed something of a crush on him, but I think this may mainly be because he may or may not be interested in me. I'm not sure and I'm having a rather hard time reading the situation. I'm in a strange position of feeling like if this went nowhere, it wouldn't be a big deal while at the same time, if given the opportunity, I would like to see where this goes.

It seems like that opportunity may have just presented itself. We were working together tonight and he asked me if I wanted to go to his birthday party, which is at his hometown (an hour and a half away) in mid-July. Seriously, I froze for a few seconds when he asked me...before saying sure (gotta sound nonchalant after all). Honestly, I have no idea what to make of this. I'm completely flying blind. I'm just hoping I don't pull a Hindenberg (i.e. crashing and burning).

I forgot to mention that we'll be at work essentially alone together for an hour and a half tomorrow morning (unless it gets busy).

Locked Out Hottie

He looked something like this.

I was coming home from the grocery store yesterday. As I was coming up the sidewalk, there was this guy just standing there looking in my direction. I was a little put off and confused because this was someone I had never met before. He kept looking at me as  I was walking towards him for what seemed like an uncomfortably long time. When I got within speaking range of him, he sort of flagged me down and asked if I had an old credit card or something like that because he was apparently locked out of his apartment. I said sure, just give me a sec to drop my stuff off (I lived a few doors down).

Did I mention this guy was hot? Yeah, he was hot. He had been at the river with some people and there was some miscommunication which ended up with him being locked out. He was also not wearing a shirt. Definitely a fine male specimen: cute, cut, and made me feel bad about the fattening food I was about to eat. He also seemed nice, if you're into that sort of thing.

Where was I? Oh, yes. So I dropped my stuff off and came back out to help him get into his place. We walked up to his door and I handed him my old debit card that I've been to lazy to cut up and throw away for the past few months (I'm such a procrastinator). He got into his place and then turned around and introduced himself.

I know what you're thinking, this sounds like the beginning of some thousands of porn flicks. Yeah, I would agree. Sadly, it didn't and like any of them. I WILL have to be on the lookout for this guy...just in case ;)

HAPPY 236th BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!

Photologue: Storm Damage (Part 2)

Luckily the storms were not too bad around here, but there are still a lot of people in Virginia without power. I decided to break out my camera and take a few shots from a running trail that I use which has been turned into more of an obstacle course over the weekend.

Photologue: Storm Damage (Part 1)

Luckily the storms were not too bad around here, but there are still a lot of people in Virginia without power. I decided to break out my camera and take a few shots from a running trail that I use which has been turned into more of an obstacle course over the weekend.

MyTunes Monday: For the Widows in Paradise...

"For The Widows In Paradise; For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti" by Sufjan Stevens

MyTunes Monday: Seven Devils

Between laziness, illness, and forgetfulness, I've managed to not do this feature in about a month. Oopsie. So, I thought I'd come back with a truly awesome song.

HAPPY NAME DAY TO ME!!!

And ice cream cake is the best cake. Sadly, this is not my cake (it looks SOOOOO delicious).

Lube-Tastic

MyTunes Monday: Peace of Mind

Weekend Update: A Long Recovery

I pretty much got my ass kicked last weekend. in 4 days, I worked 7 of 8 shifts (someone asked me to pick up an eighth shift, my response included the phrase FUCK NO, caps and all). 2 of those days were 12 hours long, one of which I got no break, the other I had 20 minutes. On the plus side, there's a little overtime in there and I made a lot of money. The down side was that I was exhausted. I slept in on Monday until 11am, though I didn't get out of bed for another hour. That hasn't happened in weeks if not months. I did pretty much nothing that day except some writing. Definitely nothing requiring physical exertion. It was just a really (and deservedly) lazy day (hence no MyTunes, I didn't even think about that until late in the day). I should have asked off on Tuesday also. Unfortunately, I didn't foresee exactly how tired I would end up being. I'm still not full recovered, even though it's several days later. What I really need is a holiday and a road trip.

Luckily, all I plan o doing for the rest of the day is some writing.

How To Be a Manly Man

King of the Hardwood 2012

This year's competition just wrapped up and yet again, the championship match was tight. When I say tight, I'm talking about a match that was 50.4% to 49.6%. It came down to last year's champion Eric Decker (who plays American football with the Denver Broncos) and Jacob "Jake" Dalton (an American gymnast). Personally I voted for Eric Decker (of whom I have many pictures on this blog, just search the football tag at the bottom). However, Dalton took the championship. I'm definitely not complaining though. A big congratulations to Jake.

If you want to see how the rest of the tournament shook out, you can find the website HERE.