Channeling Giovanni - Rambling thoughts from outside the cha cha...

Me: Interesting, peculiar, awash in contradiction, sensitive, easily distracted, odd, thoughtful, odd, political, philistine, romantic, laid back, clever, sweet, puppy dog, introspective, hyper, odd, Bohemian, untrendy, jock, and all around good guy.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Giving Michael Buble' a big hug!

I'm sort of embarrased to say, but my boy fiend dragged me to the Michael Buble' concert the other night. Don't get me wrong, Michael Buble' is an awesome entertainer. Call me a philistine, but my scene is a little more in the direction of the Goo Goo Dolls, Greenday, or Journey. Nonetheless, it was a great concert.

About half way through the concert, Buble' jumped off stage and walked through the aisles shaking hands and getting hugged by girls. At one point, a guy walked up to him and hugged him. The audience gave him a big round of applause. Buble' was unfazed by it all and hugged him back.

Where are the members of this audience when our doofus politicians are talking about stopping same sex marriage?

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Lance Bass is gay! Big shock there! Gutsy move, though, Lance!

Okay, so, is it a big shocker to any of us that Lance Bass from NSync is gay? That mischievous smile would tag him as gay at PTA meeting in Lynchburg Virginia (with apologies to Armistead Maupin for stealing that line.) Come on, Lance. You set off my gaydar a long time ago; and I'm not even an NSync fan (Not a single CD or even an MP3 - I'm more of a Goo Goo Dolls kinda guy.)

However, all kidding aside, what you did took guts. Way to go! I hope that you stay successful or become even more so. If you ever release a solo album, I'll buy two copies just to show my support.

Former Spokane mayor Jim West dies

Former Spokane mayor Jim West died this week. West is another example of hypocritical Republicans. For those you that don't remember, West was the guy that was promising young guys jobs with the city in exchange for sex. While I don't revel in the death of anyone, even a stalker like West, I do love the stories in the news about Republicans getting caught in gay sex scandals.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Don't call me baby...

One thing that has always gotten under my skin is gay guys that don't even know me, but want to call me "Mary", "Miss Thing", "Queen", etc... In my opinion, this is diminutive and condescending. Cultural, maybe? But I have always taken it to be an insult when delivered by someone other than a friend.

I was at a party a few weeks ago in Zurich and met a few fellow Americans. This big strapping fellow had had a few too many margaritas and as soon as I was introduced to him, he said "What brings you to Europe, Miss Thing?" I was kind of flustered and did not want to say at first, but finally said (in my best California surfer accent) "Dude, like, I'm a dude, man.)

In the words of Joe Jackson, "So don't call me a faggot, not unless you a friend"

Monday, July 24, 2006

Warning, if you sit in the Costco parking lot....

Warning, if you sit in the Costco parking lot and eat things that you have just bought in said Costo, you are well on your way to being known as El Chubbo. (Just an observation on seeing two cars in the parking lot of my neighborhood Costco, said future El Chubbos chowing down on their bounty.)

The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing. -- Joseph Addison (1672-1719)

Friday, July 21, 2006

Superman is a loser?

Why else would a guy that has it all going for him go after Lois Lane? After all of the Superman movies over the years, I have wondered why Superman is attracted to her? She is the most self-centered person on the planet and treats the rest of the world like they don't exist or should be serving her agenda.

I don't care how hot the guy is, I would not take that; neither as a friend or an object of my affection. If you want to know what someone is really like, watch how they treat others. Or as someone once said "If you want to know the character of a person, what how they treat the waiter or waitress."

The Bible has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies. -- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Who you calling "odd"?

Okay, in my banner, one of the words that I used to describe myself is "odd". Why? Sort of long story, but here is the Reader's Digest version. A guy (K.T.) I used to date frequently and affectionally called me "peculiar". I don't disagree; I'm the first to admit I'm different. :-) After we broke up, but remained friends, he begain to just say "Gee, you are odd."

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Want a "mix CD"?

I posted that I'm a geek. A guy that I used to date thought it was funny enough that e-mailed me and reminded me that I was the first person to give him a "mix CD" instead of a "mix tape." Of course, blank CD's in those days were $10 each.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Web surfing at work

I'm a geek. No belt, suspenders, "coke bottle bottom" glasses, or pocket protectors, but a geek nonetheless. And, I'm pretty specialized. Not the general purpose geeks that work on a help desk and do general networking. I do directory system, messaging systems and security. So believe me when you read this.

Anything that you do on the Internet while at work (well, at home, too) is visible to your employer. Every web site you visit is visible. Every e-mail you send and receive. If your employer's IT department is really bored, they can even read the web pages you are seeing AND they can see your web-mail (Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc...).

So, please, don't do anything that would compromise your reputation while at work. Wait until you get home.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Happy Fourth of July from Paris

I have a new 2nd favorite city in the world. Paris. I am here for the second time this year (if you don't count 2 other times just changing planes). I found it very appropriate that I am in Paris on July 4th; the French, after all, financed the American Revolution.

This city is absolutely the most beautiful city I have ever been in. I even find the people cordial and welcoming. The food is great. And an evening boat ride up the Seinne was a great way to cap off a day of walking.

Late in the afternoon today, I passed by a gay bar, and stopped in for a drink (well, a Coke Light). I talked to the bartender for a while and he was quite interested to hear about life in the U.S. We even talked politics for a while and he was suprised to learn that our doofus president is not all that popular here.

I get the impression from most Europeans that their opinion of the U.S. (well certainly our current government/administration) is they view us as a misbehaving child. Not quite so bad that we need to be punished, but sort of a "oh, there go those Americans again. Aren't they mischievous." But a word of warning to my fellow Americans (the next time you vote), even a misbehaving child gets ostracized sometimes and we are on our way there.

Don't get me wrong. I love the U.S.A. and I believe with all my heart that it is the greatest republic to ever stand. If asked, I would fight to the death to defend the U.S.A. and her people. But I'm embarassed by my government, the president, and by some of the Red States' voters.

Happy July 4th!