Last Post

So we end up at the last post of the year.  I suppose it's befitting that I make it one of those 'year in review' type posts or do a top 100 countdown list.  So let's get started!  Read more [+/-]

Ha!  You didn't think I'd do something that cliché, did you?  Don't answer that.

A lot has happened within the past year, and if I didn't have all these errands to run, I would summarize my year.  But before I go, Thank You for coming to visit my little bit of e-space, and a big hugs to everyone wishing me a Happy Queeriversary.  Ya'll really know how to make a girl feel special.  (I can now refer to myself as 'girl', right?)

Happy New Queer!

One Year Later

I came out one year ago, today.

So a Fabulous Fest-kwa-nu-mas to all, and to all a gay Christmas!

Isn't this Sacridiculous?

Did you hear about the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism?  It's Bobby Henderson's answer to the proposed teaching of intelligent design in public schools.  Read his hilarious, and life changing, open letter at http://www.venganza.org/.

Wired News has this great interview with him about his upcoming book.  I almost fell off my chair laughing when I read Henderson's response about the '[intelligent design] nuts':

"[Scientists] need to be out there calling these people retarded all the time. Nonstop. The [intelligent design] people are winning because the scientists think if they ignore the issue, it will go away. Plus, I'm sure it would be therapeutic to make fun of the [intelligent design] people."

I totally agree!  Teaching creationism in a public school science classroom is ridiculous; and scientists need to speak up!

So make sure you take time during this holiday season to celebrate FSMas!  I hear the tradition is to have Italian.

When Trains Stood Still

I support unions.  I support collective bargaining.  I even support crazy wacked-out demands (knowing eventually they'll be toned down to something more reasonable).  But I don't support this strike.

It just gets me how ridiculous the Local 100 union leader, Roger Toussaint, is to call on a strike even though it's illegal and without the support of the parent union; plus they planned it during the time of year that it'll hurt people the most.  And then there's all those fines.  Who's going to pay for that?  The union members, that's who.

Did you know that transit workers made more money than teachers, firefighters and police officers? (quote from Mayor Bloomburg)

And because I live in Brooklyn, for the past two days I had to haul my ass 3.29 miles to work and back.

That might sound like I'm complaining, because I am.

But I recognize some redeeming factors:  I haven't been to the gym in a few weeks, so walking the 3 miles was welcomed.  The view from the Williamsburg bridge is amazing in the morning early afternoon.  The Red Cross had set up "disaster relief" triages at the ends of the bridges with free cookies and hot coffee/cocoa.  (Note to self: get some Nestle Dark Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix.)

And now I know exactly how your grandpa felt when he walked 3 miles to and from work everyday, uphill, and in ten feet of snow.  Err, minus the snow part.

Signed,
Delicious J. Tickle

Thoughts on Brokeback

In short, I liked the movie.

But in long (warning: I might mention parts that can be deemed 'spoilers')...

I don't see what the big deal everyone is making.  I've read many reviews of this movie from bloggers (both gay and straight), critics, bloggers who think they're movie critics, etc, and most of their reactions were not only that it was a good movie, but a great movie.

And then it dawned on me why.  It was because of my personal experience, and lack thereof.

Firstly, gay subject matter in the movie wasn't a big shock to me; like it was to the women in the audience.  Some of them 'eww'ed (quite audibly) the first time they kissed and it took all my power not to stand up and scream 'Grow the fuck up.  You're seeing the gay cowboy movie, what the hell did you expect?', but I didn't, because I'm a big boy now.  Then again, I've probably definitely watched more gay porn than most of those women.

I realized I was using gay porn as the basis for my comparison, not just because it was my fantasy to see Ennis and Jack get on all freaky hardcore (which Ang Lee miserably failed at doing), but because I'm a horndog.  But really it's because I haven't watched many other gay romance movies; is that why Brokeback Mountain is 'groundbreaking'?  Because it's made for mainstream?

Secondly, I haven't been in a relationship with another guy that was forbidden, and on that level, I didn't relate.  I guess that's one of the benefits of living in New York City.  Though I still don't know why the biggest liberal city in the world isn't on the forefront of gay rights and marriage.. don't get me started!

In the genre of forbidden love stories, I conjure into my mind Romeo and Juliet, but as a movie it wasn't as great as the epic, Titanic.

The reason why I loved Titanic was because of the great character development of the two characters, Jack and Rose, and I fell in love with both characters and how both characters fell in love with each other.  I didn't feel the same way with Brokeback Mountain; I wasn't convinced that there was a strong connection between Jack and Ennis (similiar to something I felt in Titanic).  Ennis was the silent, stoic type whereas Jack was more vocal about his feelings - this made it seem like a one-sided relationship and less believeable as a love story.

Their relationship was forbidden, and that in itself makes it a good basis for a tear-jerker; I got misty-eyed when Ennis learned what happened to Jack.  But are tears the main criteria for a 'great movie'?  I get the feeling some people (esp. gay bloggers) think so.  This was a good movie, but I wouldn't call it great.  But then again, I was comparing it to gay porn.  I think I'll go see it again, and probably get the DVD, if not to pick up some of the other themes and nuances, then to freeze-frame all three times they get naked.

Now you know what I think, am I going about this movie the wrong way?

Brokeback Manhattan

This was (one of) my costumes for Halloween 2004.  I'm reposting it in honor of Brokeback Mountain.

I read the short story before I watched the movie.  My reactions to come.

Eternal Flame

One of my favorite karaoke songs.  Quite fitting if you ask me.

Karaoke, our favorite pasttime; aside from window shopping, eating in fancy restuarants, and dressing up for Halloween.  We went once more, last Friday, as a tribute to her time in America.  D. was going back to Sydney, Austrialia.

We sang 'our' song, "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson, neither of us being able to hit the right notes still.  This time, I think I'll blame the subpar food at Cooper 35 (redeeming value were their $4 drinks).

It was a grand ol' time.  As the night wore on, we sang tributes to D. causing her to tear up on more than one occasion:  "You Were Meant for Me" by Jewel,  "The Rose" by Bette Midler, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, and my personal solo dedication, "Confessions Part II" by Usher.  I know, I can be so emotionally sadistic sometimes.

We sang our hearts out, she bawled her eyes out, and I hope our melodious tunes will carry her on cloud nine as she takes her one-way trip back to the Land Down Under.  Damn, now why didn't we sing that?

Have a safe trip back D.  You'll be missed.

This is the New Pink

One of my outfits during Move Against AIDS Dance-a-thon (because it's required to have at least one outfit change during a high-profile event):  Me in my friends' free Wendy Williams baby-tee.  And the obvious question is, "Could I BE any more gay?"

But as the idiom goes, when in Rome... er.. how does it go?  (make sure you gay it up, too)

Know How to Work It

Note to all volunteers: When you sign up to volunteer, please realize that you're signing up to do work.

Sure, you get some benefits like a snazzy t-shirt, dibs at the free food, or a better chance to meet B-list celebrities.  Personally, I like to know I'm making a difference; even as I'm walking into restricted areas with my 'special clearance' status, munching on free snacks in my fancy 'Volunteer' t-shirt (which I didn't get this year because they ran out.  Yes, I'm still bitter).

Not to mention the 'official volunteer' power-trip.  "Ha ha! I'm a volunteeeeer, nyah nyah nyah!"  Not that I do that.

But hey, if I want to, I can; because I earn it.  You should have seen the snack table at the AIDS Dance-a-thon this past Saturday.  With me on display duty, I switched on my anal-self and got to work.  The supervisor commented that he'd never seen a more beautiful spread.  (Did I just.. never mind.)

To the volunteer couple who just stood behind the tables eating their burrito: take a hint from the woman with the broken foot sitting who still stood up from her chair to replenish snacks - do something!

To the volunteer brats who took a break to dance every five minutes (for half an hour!) to come back and sit behind the table to rest and snack on food: I'm glad the supervisor kicked your asses out.  If you want to dance, go dance, just don't come back and block our way.

It's all about selflessness and slyly taking advantage of your volunteer status to reap benefits... slyly!  If you can't play by the rules, don't play at all!

It's December!

Today is World AIDS Day.

I will be volunteering again this year for Move Against AIDS: The crazy five-hour dance-a-thon that benefits GMHC.  And rumor has it that I will be performing.

Just kidding!  The extent of my performance will be juggling water bottles in the food area.  So if you're attending, stop on by and say 'Hi'; if you ask nicely, I might even give you a lil' squirt.

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Since the holidays are coming up, here are some fun holiday links for your enjoyment:

• Got a Secret Santa to run?  Elfster makes it easy to coordinate and keeps it a real secret.
• Vote Chris Christmas Rodriguez to replace Santa this Chrismas
• Want to be the talk of the town with some super-crazy-fancy-music-synchronized lights [wmv link]?  Planet Christmas got you covered.

Thanks! Now for the Giving

Thanksgiving went as expected: low key turkey dinner with the family.  I even missed all the excitement of the annual parade by waking up after noon.

Black Friday also went as expected: waking up at 5 in the morning for 8 hours of outlet shopping at Woodbury Commons.  And as expected, I bought more presents for myself than anyone else, including this, this, and this.

Saturday I had my last minute "Left Overs Luncheon".  The premise is to have all guests bring over their Thanksgiving left overs (hopefully coupled with some freshly-made dishes).  Unfortunately, I gave very short notification and only two guests made it.  I got over the lack of attendance quickly as we stuffed our faces with herb-crusted turkey, roasted rosemary-garlic potatoes, and chocolate chip cookies from scratch (baked by yours truly).

After the luncheon, I went to see Rent with my new boytoy.  It was okay; some songs just don't do anything for me.  I saw the play nearly six years ago and I was impressed by the movie interpretation.  The vocals were amazing, and Taye Diggs is just delicious!

Sunday was dim sum at a vegetarian place in Chinatown (don't ask why).  It was so horrible I had to find some meat.  It led me to Bodies: The Exhibition at the South Street Seaport.

The exhibit was amazing: real corpses preserved and sliced open so that muscles, bones, nerves, and organs are displayed.  After seeing a tarred lung, it definitely reinforces my choice not to smoke.  (And it should for you too!)

Ack!  Kwa-hanu-mas is right around the corner!

Weekend and Thanksgiving Week

After volunteer tutoring this past Saturday, I went to volunteer again for Out of Bounds at the Gay Life Expo.  Kimberly Locke did her 7 days and 7 nights song.  She was looking fine, but her hair was all done up wrong in braids.  C'mon girl, stop the madness.  Get your hair did right.

JPG (that's Jean Paul Gaultier) was there promoting their men's skin care line; or as a friend put it, 'repackaged women's makeup'.  But I thought to myself if Greg Giraldo was brave enough to get a make-over, so was I.  Pictures coming soon.

The rest of the weekend was nice, including a dinner at the all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet, Minado, but didn't include me seeing the new Harry Potter.  I just can't stand being a statistic.

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Seems like a few people have decided to hibernate for a while.  They must have seen the calendar because it sure ain't the weather telling them.  What I mean is: We're in the middle of November and it's still 50 degrees (fahrenheit) over here!  I wonder if global warming has anything to do with it... and if migrating animals have decided wait until the busiest time of the year to travel, Thanksgiving.

I'll be spending Thursday trekking the whole 8 miles into Queens to be with family, and possibly spending Black Friday (or is it Green?) putting into practice my 'belly-dancer hip bump', 'rhino shoulder smash', and 'crouching-tiger sweep kick' as I make my way through the throngs of other shoppers trying to get presents for myself.  I wish you all luck; especially if you come between me and anything 70-80% off retail price.

But in case I don't see ya, Happy Thanksgiving!

All Because of An Email

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You'll never know dear, how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

I started singing that today because being happy and skipping down the office corridors without singing something is borderline crazy.  And then the more I sang it, the more bittersweet it sounded.  Now I'm just kind of melancholy, and I feel like I should mope around the office in an emotional breakdown state while wailing the song.  I swear I don't have PMS.

Nevermind, I just made myself laugh with the thought of it all; not that being sad is funny, but imagining my co-workers reactions to my emotional instability.  Not that I would ever do such a thing.

Thinking about it, it's one of those songs you can either sing it happy or sad (to be dramatic).  I even have a vague recollection of it being in some horror flick: some little girl sings it in the background, then *STAB!*, everyone dies.  Any ideas?

It's Never Easy, Is it?

It's never easy for me to stop talking to someone.  I think it's because of my desire to please everyone.  Or my insatiable desire to be liked (as a friend, of course).  As if this blog doesn't scream 'Love me, Love me' enough.

So when McW said he didn't even want to be friends with me, I felt like I've failed.  I felt like Superman in the presence of kryptonite: a weak, blubbering fool, unable to save myself from a dire situation.

But it does help when the other person is being sarcastic, hurtful, and serves up ultimatums.  Like a soft, comforting iron curtain.

"...just as friends."
"If you can only hear what's going inside my head right now, you'll see you're not my friend ... you are acting like such a child ... but thank you for telling me now so I'm not wasting another [Friday night] ... so, no, we can't be friends ... deal with it ... enjoy wearing your sign around town."

The passion, the intensity!  I've made a big mistake!  This is the guy I want to spend my life with!

Not.  I'm moving forward.

Also, there's no justification for being mean.  Not even if it comes from a 'hurtful' place.  And another thing, don't serve it up if you can't take it, okay?!¹

Okay sanity check people.. am I just being petty now?

¹ I'm talking about sarcasm.

Accolade

Last Friday I was invited to Accolade, Heritage of Pride's annual pride awards ceremony at Crobar.  Free vodka, hors d'oeuvres, dancing.  Oh yea, and awards.  Read more [+/-]

And one for me!

I was one of two recipients of the Spirit of Stonewall award because I was mad as hell and I wasn't going to take it anymore!

Or more like tricked, annoyed and decided to contact the media.  Same difference.  The other recipient was my partner in crime being victimized.

Due to an oversight, I was notified about the event the day before, and only had a mere 24 hours to round up my own cheering section.  A flurry of emails later I managed to gather a gaggle of gays and a handful of straighties.  I even thought it would be a good idea to wear my Halloween costume.

My instincts were right.  The crowd loved my stunt, almost everyone had a good time (and I won't go into why some didn't), and the rest of the night turned out most favorably.

So Yay me!

By the way, isn't my new profile picture sexy?!

Dinner for Two

"A recipe is just a story that ends with a good meal." ~ Pat Conroy

Last Thursday I tried out my own original recipe for salmon soft tacos (for two).

The story was new and exciting.  The ending was amazing.  And I'm not just talking about the food.

---

Thanks for all your thoughts and affirmations on my 'break up situation'.  While this might weigh on my mind, I'm still looking toward the future.

Friend or Foe

I recently stopped dating this person, let's call him McW.  He emailed me with, "Do you think we should still see each other?" and I replied, "No.  I think we should just be friends" and citing my reasons.  I know this is bad form, but he email me first.

It turned out to be a harder break than I anticipated; my reasons did not go over well with McW (his were different reasons) and he thought I was being unfair and resented the fact I used those reasons as the basis for my decision.  After a heated exchange which included him bringing up old arguments, he decided that it would be okay for us to be friends.

Was I stupid to believe it was going to be that simple?  As I tried to carry forward as friends, our conversations have been rittled with his sarcastic remarks (more insulting than teasing, referencing the reasons I used to stop dating).

He was a nice person when we were dating.  But after these episodes, I realized how bitter he could be.  Could it be that he was on his best behavior?  Is he trying to make me feel guilty now for the breakup?

But the more important question I find myself asking now is, "Do I want a friendship with someone like that?"  One thing I'm absolutely sure of now is that we would never have had a healthy relationship.

Halloween Weekend (Part 1)

Halloween.  The only time of the year you can dress up as someone, or something, else.  Well, unless you're an actor.  Or a drag queen.  Or a Christmas elf.  Or pretending to be a sailor during Fleet Week.  Read more [+/-]

Anyway, my Halloween was nice.  I didn't have a costume change like I did last year, but this year I came up with the best idea ever drawing from my 15 minutes of fame: being a No Stopping Or Standing sign!  For those wondering, I made it myself.

Donning my own publicity armor (that's right, it was also self-indulgent; I always say, "If you got it, flaunt it"), I went to a few parties.

The first party was thrown by a friend of a friend.  It turned out to be an apartment turned sardine can.  And wouldn't luck have it that the hot, straight boys left right when I arrived.  It didn't matter, I got to see the life of the party anyway (which K thought drove them hot 'stroys' away when she started performing).

At one point during the night, I recognized someone from across the room.  "Was she from my past?", I thought to myself.  At first I gave her a chance to approach me; but when that didn't work, I went up to her to play 20 questions.  "I know you.  Where are you from?"  And so it went on until I finally realized that she was a friend of my sisters' from junior high.  That was all that was interesting to say about that.

The second party I went to was at M1-5.  I met up with Little Miss Muffet, her lil' tuffet, and some of her friends.  And since there was more room and an actual DJ, I finally got my dancing fix.  I even brought a few snap lights (aka glow sticks) and we got our groove on.  Ah, the amazing power of shutter speed.

As the night wore on, the crowd got smaller.  When the hot trojan warrior left with the Ambiguously Gay Duo, I decided it was my time to head on home.

(to be continued...)

My Halloween Costume

If you just said to yourself, "Huh?", this is my inspiration, with more here, and here.

You may now lavish me with praise.

Work and 'Ween

First off, I'm glad everyone's doing fine while I was at my wits' end.

I just thought it'd be ironic to write about this article at work.  My favorite line being:

Corporate America has also been alarmed at the prospect of workers actually writing blogs from their desks.

Isn't this ironic?  And not like Alanis' ironic.  (Right?!)

In my opinon, reading blogs is not the worse thing people could be doing during working hours.

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It's Halloween!  I've got an idea for a costume in mind, I just have to make it.  If it turns out the way I want it to, I'll share.  Otherwise, forget I said anything at all.

Have a fun and safe weekend!  And remember to look out for the little ones - Safety First.  Like my momma always says, "Check to make sure their parents are not looking before you knock 'em down and steal their candy."¹

¹ Okay, she never said that.  My mom's one of the nicest people around!  How the hell did I turn out like this?

Perspective

Been busy.  With work, with life, everything.  I hope things slow down soon.

Even though things didn't work out as planned on Friday, it turned out to be an okay night.  Even though it rained Saturday, I found someone some way to help me take my mind off of the dreary weather.  Twice.  Thrice.

So, how are you?

You... Complete Me

A hobby of mine is to figure out how compatible I am with someone I'm attracted to.  Since Brad and Raoul won't return my phone calls, I've had to settle with figuring our astrological compatibility.  Actually, it's one of my favorite hobbies.

I'm a Gemini.  And one thing I've learned is that I'm compatible with Aries, Aquarius, Leo, and Libra.  Sadly, Brad is a Sagittarius.  Thankfully, I don't just limit myself to celebrities; I've started scouring blogdom in search for some perfect astrological match(es).

First I will be drawn in by their writing.  Who am I kidding, first is their cute little head shot.  Then their writing - thoughts, opinions, personality.  And when they put up their obligatory birthday post, shwing!  I look up their astrological sign, compare, and start fantasizing!  With astrological ammo in hand, I dream about our imaginary relationship, our house with white picket fence, our upper west side apartment complete with our teacup yorkie, Mr MoochyBoochy, our escapades to Paris.  That's after the first few fantasies of getting FDDSN¹, of course.

I'm not going to divulge who I've been fanta-stalking (however, you're welcome to), but there's one virgo out there who I would quit my job to be his slave (even though our passion will fizz out quickly) and an aquarian where I have a hard time finding anything better than being his bottom boy sex toy.

In the end, I don't really take these things too seriously.  It's entertaining and hours of fun.  And the best part is you can use it to convince that hot guy to head back to your place and "figure out how compatible you both really are".  Can you believe that actually worked?  It was probably the Gemini in me.  The one on me didn't hurt either.

¹ FDDSN means "Freaky-Deaky, Dirty, Sweaty, and Nasty".

Flied Lice

A strange thing happened this afternoon, but to fully understand the complexity of the situation, I believe a prologue is necessary.

Fall has finally arrived.  The weather in New York City has taken a chilly turn.  I celebrated this change by digging out all my Fall and Winter clothing.

Among the heavy coats, chunky merino wool sweaters, and cotton thermal undergarments I found a gift that a family friend bought for me when she went to Shanghai: a dark blue silk jacket embossed with a distinctly shimmering pattern of circles; the larger ones depicting dragons - the Chinese symbol for royalty and power.

Silk is a good insulator, coupled with light padding, my blue Shanghai jacket was perfect for the cooler city weather.  It was time for me to take it out for a spin.  I tried to update the look by donning a FCUK corduroy flat cap, but the reflection in the mirror told me "Chinese paper boy from the 60's".

That's fine.  It's vintage.  And vintage is always in.

For lunch, I thought it appropriate to visit my favorite Chinese restaurant.  I picked up my order of spicy ma-po tofu with white rice, chatted briefly with the manager who complimented me on my coat and headed back to the office.

And then the lobby security guard stopped me.  They've never stopped me before.  "What floor?" he asked.  "Six" I said as walked by him, flashing my I.D. badge.  It was only after I got off the elevator that I realized what had just happened: the guard didn't think I was a fashionista, he thought I was a delivery boy.  Can you believe that?  [Click here if you can!]

When was the last time your pork fried rice was delivered by someone dressed like this?!

Thanks?

So I got reviewed¹ by From 35000 Feet.  Not too bad.  One category I got a low score on was 'Hotties', and so did Groovy.  Uhm.. hello, hello, and hello (click link).

Okay, so they're just pictures of me and my torso.  But hey, this blog is about me.  And my life.  And the naked porn stars I see having sex on stage.

Regardless, I appreciate your review, BSB.  Now all of you go bombard him with review requests!

¹ The review was solicited. Heh.

Catching Up

Okay, I think I redeemed myself from the "preservative pasta" by cooking fresh vegetables.  Yes!  Fresh!  As in from the market!  With them, I made a delicious wild mushroom herbed rice pilaf with onions and garlic and a side broccoli.  And it was good.

Columbus Weekend

Even though it rained last weekend, I braved it.  On my adventures, I flirted with my piano player, got burned by him, and got treated nicely by him and her.  I even went to my first (and last) DaitBait in the torrential downpour.

Although it was nice to meet some new people, most of them were over 30, and the only person I found interesting and attractive decided he didn't feel the same way about me.  Having that glass of red wine with dinner really did make the evening go by quicker.

All in all, I had a great time.  The best part were the priceless things people said to me:

"I'm not gay, but do you want to dance?"
"You're my rival!  Stop it!  Stop making me laugh!"
"If anyone can turn him, you can."
"Seriously, I was the only kid in junior high with a tailored blue velvet suit!"

Picture Perfect Porn

On Columbus Day, I went to the Gay Erotic Expo.  Just $15 got me a ticket to browsing discount dvds, a free movie ticket, and watching porn stars have sex on stage.  It proved to be the most popular picture I took so far (link nsfw?).

It was my first Gay Erotic Expo, and I just don't get it.  There really wasn't that much there, and after a few moments, the novelty of it all wore off.  I'd rather be a participant than a spectator.  That, and just being around a whole bunch of fat, old, sleazy guys was just, well, fatoldeazy.

The only redeeming factor was the free condoms and lube.  Okay, fine, seeing hot naked porn stars was kinda cool, too.

Dinner and Dessert

I made pasta last night.  It's what I like to call, 'Fresh? You don't need fresh!' pasta:  Garlic pan-fried spam (can) in a thick spicy arrabiata sauce (jar) served over a mound of al dente rotelle (box).  It was delicious.  Read more [+/-]

This isn't it.

For the story behind the picture see here.

C'mon Out!

Surprise, it's National Coming Out Day!  Considering Human Rights Campaign's theme this year is "Talk About It", it's surprising there isn't a lot of that going on.  Well, I guess most gay blogs "Talk About It" every single day.  But I digress.  Check out HRC's coming out stories.  I might even contribute my own.

More info about NCOD at wikipedia.org.

Ah, coming out.. seems like it was only last year that I came out to my family.  Of course I'll never forget the support I solicited had.

Happy Blogiversary!

Woohoo!  It's been a year since I moved from xanga and started this blog and I'm still here!  Check out the post I made that very first day!

Yea, well, I didn't say it was a good post.

Luckily, my posts have gotten much more interesting since then (if I have to say so myself); from meeting Augusten Burroughs to my coming out to living my life the way I want to and meeting some really great bloggers.

And OMG!  I just saw a big black wretched rat in my new apartment!  And by big I mean tiny.  And by rat I mean mouse.  And by wretched I mean I killed it (it ran behind a box and I squealed like a schoolgirl as I pounded the box against the wall with a broom).  And then my big straight man of a roommate picked it up, pretended to eat it, and put it in an empty spaghetti sauce jar (with some cheese of course; we had to give it a proper burial).

Eep!  That's enough excitement I've had for tonight!

Say what?

Who still gives O'Reilly credibility?  This time, he's comparing Irish immigration to enslavement of African-Americans!  For those who are dense like me (it took me a few minutes to realize this critical point): Africans did not have to leave!  What an idiot.

Regarding yesterday's post about the 'credible threat'.  Does anyone else think it's more than coincidental that that news story breaks right after the one about Bush vying for support on his war against terrorism?

On a brighter note, I've finally finished gathering all my pictures from Costa Rica!  There are hundreds I could have included, but after a month, I've cut them down to my favorite 71.  Enjoy!

[slideshow]

And on a sexy note, Sexual Theme Park!  Who wants to cum?!  (Sorry, I couldn't help it.)

Careful Out There in NYC

There's a "credible threat" (via 1010wins.com) for all you subway riders out there.  Remember, "If you see something, say something."

Most important of all, Don't panic!  Just be wary of every brown person you see out there with a backpack.

Also, this just in: Record Anti-Muslim Racists Poppin' Chubbies.

Story in the NYTimes.

Confidence: Food for Thought

Hi.  My name is Jase and I'm a Potato Queen¹.

Is it then hypocritical for me to complain about Rice Queens?

Okay, I won't.  But I will tell you that I'm starting to become more proactive when it comes to dating.  I'm done with being passive, waiting for the next Rice Queen to come hit on me.  I've always been told that if you want something, you need to go out and get it.

Prior to a few months ago, I have never told another guy I liked them (in the 'All I wanna do is zooma-zoom-zoom-zoom in a boom-boom' way).  I can trace it back to when I was in the closet.  Being in the closet, you didn't want anyone to know you liked boys, and admitting to another boy you liked him seemed just a tad counterintuitive.  I would compensate my lust for him by being rude, distant, and uninterested.  I even convinced myself they wouldn't be interested in me, not even as a friend.  Basically I was being a dick in denial.

The one time I did show some amiable feelings toward another guy, he accused me of being gay and then proceeded to tell everyone.  That pushed me even more into denial.  What's funny is if a guy friend I'm not attracted to accused the same thing, it wouldn't bother me.  But I digress.

Fast forward to now.  I'm out of the closet; but out of sheer habit, I continue to raise those mental warning flags, "Warning, he's attractive!  Don't look at him!  Start acting distant and rude so he doesn't know you like him!".  Old habits die hard.  I even catch myself acting hyper-masculine when meeting new people so they might think I'm straight.

I'm working to change that.  I'm going to be confident.  I'm going to take risks.  I'm going to go out there and get what I want.  That way, I have no reason to complain about Rice Queens and how I seem to only attract them.

And last Friday, when I was out with Groove [his account], Watersea, and TribecaT, I built up enough courage to approach two extremely hot men (that everyone at the bar was obviously staring at) and introduced myself.

I'm actually really proud of myself for doing that.  And it can only get better from here.

¹Potato is slang for a gay Caucasian male (something to do with Irish people and potatoes).  Check out Todd Wilson's Rice & Potatoes.

Young Daddy Can You Hear Me?

It warms my heart to see a father and son bond as they walk down the streets of Chelsea, their arms wrapped around each others waist.  Did I say 'father'?  I meant 'Daddy'.  Read more [+/-]

To those who don't know what a 'Daddy' is, he's an older gay man (by that I mean "old enough to be the father of") who dates younger men, showering them with the fortunes of his success.  They date younger men because they want to relive their youth; the most popular reason being they came out late in life and never had a chance to openly party like it's 1999¹.

On the flip side, these younger men, generally referred to as a 'boi', fully take advantage of this generosity and enjoy fancy dinner parties, vacation trips to exotic destinations, and the latest fashion accessory that is neither practical nor necessary²; and all he has to do is look like a pretty trophy³ and give up the booty.  Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

Before all you Daddies (and trophy bois) go on the defensive, I'm not attacking your lifestyle - do whatever the hell you want.  That was just a prologue.  What I'm more interested in discussing is this new (to me?) concept of a 'Young Daddy'.

So what is a 'Young Daddy'?  He is a mature, young, and independent gay man.  In a relationship, instead of being the trophy, he acts as the 'Daddy' of the relationship - being the decision maker, paying for dinner, buying the latest fashion accessory, that is neither practical nor necessary, for himself.  He is attracted to older men because they are looking for a mature partner, having 'been there, done that' with the party/club scene.

And it makes sense: the gay community has made progressive strides in the past few years, and gay men are coming to terms with their (homo)sexuality at a younger age.  With more families/communities being accepting, they have little reason to stay in the closet.  As a result, they party/fnck/club/do drugs/go crazy along with the rest of their age group.  Hence, they mature and establish themselves at a younger age.

Some older men like dating Young Daddies because it absolves them from always making the decisions⁴.  And it's nice to be taken care of once in a while.

What about me, you ask?  I fall somewhere in between.  As you might know, I didn't come out until after college so I never experienced 'adolescent dating' like my straight friends did.  (I didn't let that stop me from going to parties and having fun though.)  Now that I'm out of college, and out of the closet, I'm mature, independent, and financially stable.  But because I didn't live out the gay lifestyle when I was an adolescent, I just wanna rock n' roll all night (and party everyday).

I feel like a 'Daddy', just 20 years younger.

And since I've started dating, I find myself attracted to older men because they are more mature, established, experienced, use big words like 'hence' and 'therefore', and have their own source of disposable income (so I don't have to pay every time we go out).  But I find it hard to relate to them due to the fact that when they were watching the Golden Girls, I was probably still doing poo poo in my pants.  Not to mention that time has taken a toll on their bodies⁵.

Perhaps I need to find myself another Young Daddy.  Someone young, smart, and established who also finds time to appreciate Janet, Britney, and Christina by getting down and dirrrty.  If you find this person, kindly send them my way.  You'll be handsomely rewarded.

Young Daddy Jase is an expert in relationships that has gone on 20 numerous dates with 5 many people.  He graduated from Stony Brook University with a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology.  He wrote this because he read the article 'Who's The Daddy' in Instinct, issue no. 77.  He can tie a cherry stem into a knot with his tongue.

¹Since I have no statistics on this, this claim is just hearsay.
²Does anyone really need a $500 leather thong?
³Check out this Washington Post article about trophy boy, Andrew Cunanan
⁴I've dated this older man who loved it when I made all the decisions, took control of the situation, and 'told him what to do'.
⁵Yes, I am superficial, too.

Roommates: Raunchy and Rancid

This past Tuesday I went to another WYSIWYG Talent Show (what's this?): First, Last, and Insecurity: The World's Worst Roommates.  To be honest, I didn't have high expectations as a friend told me these things could be incredibly boring.  No expectations = no disappointment, right?  But to be fair, the four previous shows I've been to were incredibly entertaining, often to the point where I peed myself.

Quick shoutout to my peeps I saw at the show: him, her, him, him, him, him, him, her, and TribecaT and his roommate.

In the spirit of the occasion, I was going to offer a short roommate horror story of my own; but most of my roommates were okay.  Read more [+/-]

There was one who started to have sex with his girlfriend while I was in the room.  But I can't complain (even though I did at the time), he was comfortable with it, and really, I wanted to catch a glimpse of his package.  (What?  I was still in the closet, I was not getting any action, and he was a football player.)  And the fact he let his blonde hair, blue-eyed, 6'2" football buddy sleep over when he was away more than made up for it.  (And for those curious, he was a tight end and slept in very loose boxers.  Mmm hmm.)

And then there was this roommate I had when I studied abroad in London.  Let's call him Eri.. I mean Dino.  Dino was Jewish, an only child, and raised in Staten Island (or as some of you might know, Shaolin).  Yes folks, this meant that he was well-off, spoiled, and treated like a prince at home.  This also meant that he had no social skills, lacked manners, and worst of all, didn't know how to take care of himself or perform the simplest sanitary tasks, like putting a cup in the sink or covering his mouth when he sneezed.

However, the most disturbing part was not that he had braces, but that he would display them to us... when he was eating... while making a pursed-lip sucking noise... as he constantly sucked the food out of his braces as he chewed.

Thankfully the four other flatmates I lived with were much more considerate.  They more than made up for Eri.. I mean Dino.  I don't remember a specific story that involved him because the four other flatmates and I generally tried to avoid him.  Or for the purpose of self-perservation, sanity, or karmic balance, I subconsciously erased them from memory.  And there you have it.

And now for some real entertainment, my personal style for Fall 2005: preppy/military chic!

Get the Memo?

Can someone please tell her that getting ticketed to get publicity is SO two months ago?  And, c'mon, did you have to do parks too? (Thanks Rich)

Monday Musings

I've been accused of being an obsessive stalker on multiple occasions, but isn't that just someone who knows what they want and determined to get it?  Some would call that passionate and goal-oriented.  And having goals is good.

I'm beginning to think that being young, gay, responsible, and determined is rare.  I recently read a semi-related article about 'Young Daddies' that piqued my interest (Instinct no. 77, "Who’s The Daddy?"); I'll write about it when I get the time.

In anycase, I don't think being a stalker is that bad.  It's only when you get all stabby, shooty, or I-wanna-replace-you-eg-SWF that it's out of hand.  But who hasn't dreamed of being Bridget Fonda at one time?  Wait.. maybe I'm thinking Jane Fonda.

Determined

I found the place where my new obsession plays piano, and successfully stalked talked to him.  Interestingly, during our conversations he alluded to the fact he was straight by mentioning an ex-girlfriend.  Do you think I let that stop me from flirting, touching, rubbing, hugging, grabbing, or cupping?

Oh hell no.  I don't give up that easy; and his embarassed reactions were so cute!  Besides, it's not unusual for closeted gay men to have relationships with women.  And if not, well, a hole is still a hole, right?

When I put my mind to it, I can be quite pursuasive.  Let me just say that by the end of the night, it wasn't me that bought him a drink.

And now, more pics from Costa Rica.

[slideshow]

Why? Why?! WHY?!?

Why do people say they'll call and then not call?!

He said he'd call me on Tuesday to make plans.  He didn't.  When I still didn't hear from him on Wednesday I texted him, "I hope you have a good reason for yesterday.  That's strike two."  He responds, "You don't see me all weekend and now you're being demanding?"  Uhm.. What?!

When you say you'll call me at a certain time, I expect a call.  If you're not sure, use alternatives like, "I'll call you later" or "I really busy so I don't know when I'll get to call you" or the ever popular and simple, "Talk to you later."  Don't say "I'll call you tomorrow" when you don't intend to!!

Why didn't I go see Wicked when Idina Menzel was still the green one?

I paid $100 to see it last night.  The seats were great; the performance wasn't.  Shoshana Bean was the green one.  And while she is talented in her own right, she could not fill the part; sometimes singing a full octave lower!  It was not 'money well spent'.

Why did Snape do that to Dumbledore?!

And who the hell is R.A.B?!  Damn you Rowling!

Why am I still at work?!

That's it.  I'm going to the gym.  I need some way to work out all this disappointment.  They say the steam room is good for that, right?

A Weekend of Fresh Meet

I had dinner on Friday at Shabu-tatsu (thumbs up) with Fash Mag Slag, Groove, and Tribeca T. (thumbs up to them too); then went and hit up a few bars.  This was the first time I met the elusive Groove so we had to do it big!  And even though we didn't end up going to The Web, I still had fun.  Read more [+/-]

First stop was to Gym Bar (muscle hotties), then to Secret (some cuties), then XES (cute 'tendies), and after an unmentionable amount of drinks, we headed to Restaurant Florent, where I met her (super awesome!), him (Happy Birthday sexy thang!), and french onion soup (delicious!).  And yes, as he said, I did flirt uncontrollably with this guy (yay or nay?).

By the end of the night (4am), I was sleep-walking my way back home; at which time I gave a new meaning to the word 'incoherence'.  He walked me to the station, all the while in conversation, I suspect to keep me conscious and my legs moving.   Just imagine this hypothetical conversation (because I don't remember what two drunk people could possibly talk about at 4am in the morning):

Him: "I wonder what stupid thing Bush is going to do next."
Me: "Blueberries grow on bushes, too!"
Him: "What the hell are you talking about?"
Me: "The government should drink taxi cab."

Ah... fun times.  And I think I've found a new obsession.

And now, more Costa Rica

[slideshow]

Found my journal!  Along with some new 'postcards', I've selected a few passages to share.  Enjoy!  Read more [+/-]

Sunday, August 21, 2005
Got up at 4 o'clock this morning for a 7am flight ... the shuttle ride from the airport was short ... while I took pictures of giant mangoes ... and even the popular areas were littered with trash ... hopefully I'll be able to pick up some spanish on this trip.

Monday, August 22, 2005
I'm writing this under a mosquito net ... this morning Sylvia, a travel planner, planned our week ... we drove to the Caribbean side ... passed banana plantations ... and a Chinese cemetary ... Cahuita is a small town ... walking back to Sia Tami ... buying beer and rolling papers.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005
I finally got up around 9 ... put on my speedo ... with rice and beans ... there was also a television ... played Wonder Woman in spanish, fast-forward ... then Diff'ren Strokes ... our snorkling tour guide ... was nervous that a dip in the wave would send me crashing on top of a spikey coral ... needed to pee ... afraid that urine would attract dangerous sealife ... and buy a new speedo! ... a bit hairy, blue eyes behind dark sunglasses ... goodness he was CUTE ... ran back to the bungalow ... stopped by the trashcan and let it rip ... garlic potatoes were fantastic ... arms like maple brown sugar .. definitely edible ... and we saw an amazing amount of stars.

To be continued...

Speaking of Postcards (Discutir las Tarjetas Postal)

To everyone who I sent a postcard to that didn't let me know they got it, your ass is grass.  And to those bloggers who didn't immediately post it on their blogs, the audacity you have not to dedicate a post to me!!  That's the last 905 Costa Rican Colones (including postage) I spend on your non-appreciative grassy ass.

Oh, if you didn't get a postcard from me, let me know and I'll send a digital one your way. :)

I Love New York (Yo Amo Nueva York)

[slideshow]

Costa Rica was beautiful, tranquil, and serene, but after three weeks, like a true urbanite, I started to miss the hustle and bustle of city life.  I'm glad to be back in New York.

To my surprise, I had a hard time finding the hot papis.  For a tropical, beachy Latin country, they really let themselves go.  I blame it on the fact they're very Catholic.  Keep gays in the closet = no one to keep a high standard physique = no one to criticize your fat, sloppy ass.  I'm glad to be back in New York.

I also couldn't blog (or post pictures) while I was in Costa Rica.  Instead, I wrote in my journal.  I was going to select choice passages to share here, but I can't find the damn thing.  So while I go look for that, you can enjoy the picture-postcards I've added.   Aren't you glad I'm back in New York?

A Preview (Una Inspección Previo)

[slideshow]

21 days.  1511 pictures taken.  512 mb memory card.  It's a good thing.  But it'll take me a while to go through them.  So I'll release them a few at a time; and in postcard form!

In high school, I opted to take French (like every closeted gay), instead of Spanish.  But after spending time in Costa Rica, I've decided I'm going to learn Spanish.

By listening to latin music.

I think it'll work.  And just think, I'll be able to speak in rhythm too!  My life will be a Spanish musical!

By the way, Shakira's new song, La Tortura, rocks my socks.  She rocks too, just check out the the video and you'll see why.  LOVE her!

I Don't Know What to Say

What's scarier than finding your fridge empty after being gone for three weeks?

Finding the exact same things in your fridge as when you left.  And a science project forming on each one.

Damn roommate.  Now I know why he agreed to live with me.  Howard Florey's roommate was probably straight, too.

Anyway, I'm back.  I had a great time in Costa Rica.  I took about 1,400+ pictures on my trip, so it might take some time to remove my 'accidental' nude beach shots sift through them.

Special Thanks! to the great guest bloggers (in order of appearance): Freddie, Wayne, and Jon!  You guys rock.  And thanks to you for your continued support and patronage.

In case you missed them, here's what the fabulous guests had to offer:

Freddie of CosmoBlog:
Surprise Guest Blogger #1
Sorry, I'm not Chinese!
Let's talk about Jase
Coming Out
Thank You

Wayne of Watersea's Ocean Bloggie:
Surprise Guest Blogger #2
A day in the life of....
The Beauty Queen Summary
Thank you.

Jon of The Fash Mag Slag:
Life. by Jon
Wrong on so many levels

Wrong on so many levels

Hi, everyone. Jon here. I wish I could have posted a few more times while guest blogging for Jase this week, considering that he's due back from vacation soon and this is only my second post! It's just hard to write for someone else, as is evidence by 2 posts in less than a week. Shameful, I know.

Anyway, in keeping with the 'life' theme of Jase' blog, and not knowing what else to write about, I was propositioned in the restroom at a movie theater Wednesday night. Not a porno movie theater (why would I go to one of those when I have a computer and a DVD player?), it was the restroom at the Sunshine Theater on East Houston Street. I had simply drank too much water before the movie started, and the soda during the film didn't help. Needless to say, I had to pee like a race horse by the time the credits started rolling, so I told my friend I'd meet her outside.

The restroom was empty, or so I thought. I usually don't like using urinals, but since I didn't see anyone, I unzipped and used it.....moments later, I noticed that the door to the nearby stall was open just a crack, and a pair of eyes was on me, or on a part of me, let's just say. I was immediately on guard, my heart was racing. What was the person going to do? Were they going to kill me? Rob me? I didn't know what to do, but I was in the middle of peeing. I couldn't stop.

The door to the stall opened a litle wider, and what I saw mortified me. There were actually two guys in there, one guy standing on the toilet seat and another standing on the ground. I didn't feel threatened anymore, but this sense of depression came over me. I'm not so much of a prude that I've never heard of 'public sex scenes'- it's just that the guy standing on the toilet seat looked to be quite young (he was probably a young looking college freshman, but he looked like he was 16) and the other guy standing was a very large, overweight man in a cheap suit complete with a mustache and mutton chop side burns. Ewwwwww! Why couldn't the young kid find someone more attractive and closer to his age? They both had their dicks on their hands (the old guy's was lost in a pubic hair forrest), and the young guy motioned for me to come into the stall and join them.

Um, hell no. HELL TO THE NO. I finished peeing, and quickly ran out without even washing my hands. What I had just seen was so creepy, kind of like a father/son scene that was, well, wrong on so many levels. My eyes hurt- I wanted to disinfect my eyes with bleach and take a shower. On my way to the exit, I passed an employee of the theater, probably a nearby NYU student. I told him while blushing what I had just seen, and his reaction was one of annoyance. 'Oh, the old fat quuen strikes agaib, huh?' he said, with a charming gay diction. 'I'll get security- I'm sorry you had to see that'.

'Me too', I said. 'Me too'. I walked away, feeling unsettled at what I had just seen. I'm sure they would just throw ugly hairy guy out, and not press charges, but if they did, he could have all the sex he wants in jail. I had my doubts that the young guy was of legal age. It was just nasty, nasty, nasty. At least when I jerked a guy off at Twilo back when I was in college, he was cute, in the same age range, and we did it in the stall with the door locked ^_^

*********************

This concludes my last entry guest blogging for Jase. Hope you enjoyed it, now back to our scheduled blogger already in progess.

Life. by Jon

Hello readers of Jase's blog! This is Jon, friend of Jase and the man behind The Fash Mag Slag. Let me introduce myself to those of you who may not know me. I live in New York and love to walk around and take advantage of all the city has to offer in the cultural and culinary fields. I'm very sarcastic, and am irreverent without being loud. I'm oppionated yet quiet. I have 6 tattoos, like cats, artsy films, travelling, and am a smoker (don't be hating smokers, y'all). I'm 26 years old and while a bit jaded at times, I enjoy having a laugh and a good time. My favorite Sanrio character is Chococat, or as I like to refer to him, 'Hello Kitty for smart people'. I have a chicken pox scar on my back from childhood, and sorry ladies, I'm gay. I know, I know, try not to cry and jump off the roof of a building. There's simply no Jonny for yo' punani.

Now that that's out of the way, I hope I do a satisfactory job in guest blogging for Jase. It might be a tough act to follow, considering that the first 2 guest bloggers were the popular Freddy and Wayne, but you know what they say: save the best for last ^_~

I've known Jase since late fall/early winter of last year. He sent me an email right before Thanksgiving of 2004 in which he introduced himself and came across as well spoken and friendly. To be honest, a little TOO friendly, but you can't realy fault someone for that, can you? We began exchanging emails and phone calls shortly followed- as we got to know each other a little better, I was surprised to hear that he wasn't out of the closet yet! He said that he started his blog as a means of support and to find a gay community to make friends with and give him courage when he finally decided to come out, not an easy thing for anyone to do, even if you are sure the reactions will be positive.

The first time I actually met Jase in person was early December of 2004. There was this blogger get together at a midtown bar called Therapy, and I was excited and nervous about going. I felt that most of the other bloggers there knew each other, and that I would be getting in the way of established friendships. Yeah, I don't always have the highest self esteem. But anyway, I arrived the bar before Jase, walked in, and began searching for the bloggers who were there. I looked all over the place- the front, the back (where they all were but I didn't recognize anyone due to the dark lighting and large crowds), and all over the upstairs section. Again I searched the whole sea of mostly well dressed, urban gay men, but was unable to see any of the group pf bloggers there. Frustrated, I went outside and called Jase's cell phone. I recall he was coming from a get together on the Upper West Side/Morningside Heights area, and I stood waiting for him outside in the crisp air, having a smoke to calm my nerves. Just a few minutes later, I could see Jase crossing the street- I recognized him from the pictures he uploaded on his blog, and we went inside the bar- this time we found everyone in the back. I ended up having a great time that night- Jase was easy to talk to, and the other bloggers were so cool and friendly. It was interesting meeting the people behind the words I had grown to love. Oh, and Jase admitted to me that it was his first time in a gay bar- he seemed so relaxed!

Later in December, I had the priviledge of going out for Korean food with Jase, followed by a trip to a nearby Korean cafe where I must have had 4 large mugs of grossly overpriced coffee. The conversation was again interesting and not awkward in anyway. Christmas was approaching, and Jase was planning on coming out to his family on that day. Later, I walked Jase to Grand Central Station so he could take the subway home- we hugged like friends do on saying goodbye, and I promised to call him once Christmas rolled around to see how the reactions were. Once that day came, we spoke and things seemed good for the most part. No crying, screaming family members, no getting disowned. It was from this point forward that Jase could start living life the way he wanted to, without worrying what other people would think, without hiding a part of himself.

There was another fun night in January where Jase and I hung out with this blogger for a night of Japanese food, bar hopping, and a late night cafe trip in the cold, January rain/sleet. On entering Phoenix that January night, Jase seemed to want Rich and I to show him how to act, or what to do in a gay bar. Our responses were slightly sarcastic, saying things like 'Um, get a drink'. While was new to the 'scene' (I hate that phrase, by the way), we wanted to convey that there is no 'way' one has to be, and that he should just be himself. The fact that he wanted Rich and I to act as his 'gay teachers' was almost laughable as Rich and I have a tendency to be quite jaded and cynical at times. But, this was a while ago now. Jase seems happy and comfortable in his own skin. Being gay doesn't define you- it's just one aspect of oneself, and from observing Jase recently, he seems to have learned this. So go Jase, and get down wit' yo' bad self ^_^

Thank you.

Today is my last day of blogging, and the next surprise blogger has some good posts for everyone. I would like to thank everybody who continued to visit Jase's blog despite his absence. And to my blogger friends who made the time to read both my blog and Jase's ... I owe you guys!

Okay. So I'm a moron. I stole Groove's post.

*Ahem*

Thank you all very much for your patience and - well, putting up with my wacko-ness.

The next blogger will sure dazzle your visual sense as well as sexual desires. (OH wait. no. he's not like me. Don't worry. He's normal.)



Have a wonderful Weekend. :) And be F A B U L O U S!!

The Beauty Queen Summary

I've noticed that more and more and more and more men are going to the gym.
When I go to work every morning, I see suited men carrying gym bags going up and down the stair.
Aside from the buff and puff body, they've also worked on grooming their hair. (Thanks to Ryan Seacrest, the ultimate metrosexual.)

But aside from toning the body and gel-ing the hair... Do these men take care of their skin?!

I mean, a man can have the body built of Hercules, and yet the skin feel like pine tree in bed. (Hey, budy-rubbing is important)

It's like, a candy in golden foil wrap, and yet taste like sh*t.

That is why we should all pay attention to the texture of our skin. Our face and our body.

Since I'm a nature-freak. I will introduce you guys some of the products that I have used... And gotten great results. (But remember, everyone has different skin type. A product can work like miracle on me, and yet, can turn your skin into rotten tomato)

Let's start with our beautiful face:

* Exfoliate - Guys & Girls, doesn't matter what type of skin you have. Dry, Oily, or Combination, you've got to exfoliate your skin at least ONCE a week. Aside from cleaning the pores, it will get rid of dead skins, polish the texture, and promote new skin growth. One of the best facial scrub that I've ever used, is the Tomato Scrub by Bath and Body Works. (If you have dry skin, this is probably not the scrub for you.) However, $18 for a tube of scrub is pretty expensive. So, keep an eye out for this fabulous scrub during their Semi-Annual Sale. If you want to exfoliate your skin everyday - make sure you use a gentle scrub. (Example: DOVE Exfoliating Facial scrub)

* MASK - Oh, My, Gawd. This is a MUST. Use a Mask on your face Once or Twice a week. This will SUCK all the toxin and dirty out of your pores - It also firms your skin, to give you that more youthful look. (That's why when you use a mask, make sure you apply to your neck as well.) Personally, I have combination skin, and I find Bath and Body Work's Pore-Refining Neem Mask as one of the best. However, this thing STINGS. I mean, heck, whenever I used this product, tears would spew out the corner of my eyes. If you think you can endure 2 minutes of massive pain on your face, then you're still in the run for American's Next Top Model. For those of you with dry or sensistive skin, you can try The Body Shop's Evening Primrose Firming Mask. This stuff smelled great and doesn't dry-up at all. (Wait, I think someone told me that this mask has been discontinued?! Ahhh....)

* Scrub Mask 2-in-1 - Not everyone has the time to do Scrub and then Mask everyday. That's why there are those magical "Scrub/Mask 2-in-1" stuff out there. Origin's Never a Dull Moment is *THE* ultimate Scrub Mask out there. You rub it on your face. Massage for 1-2 minutes, then leave the mask on your face for about 20 minutes. Rinse off. Oh gosh, because this product contains papaya enzyme, it actually dissolves excess oil and dead skins that was trapped in the pores. Also, it gives your skin that amazing radiant glow - Mmmm! I love this stuff!! There's also The Body Shop's Honey Oat Scrub Mask that's good for Winter time.

* Cleanser - I haven't find one cleanser that I like. So, screw this part.

* Tonder - See Above.

* Serum - Serums were never popular back in the 90's. Now days, they are all over the place. But it does your skin wonders. Serums are usually applied on skin before the face lotion. My favorite serum is Origins' A Perfect World. People with oily/combination skin who don't want their face to shin like mirror, yet still want certain degree of moisture... Can use serum instead of those oil-free lotions. (Those usually stay Oil-Free for to 2 hours, then they will turn into salad dressing on your face) Usually, the purpose of the serums is to provide your skin the necessary nutrient to maintain skin health. Kiss My Face's Ester C-Serum is not bad either. Cheaper. But kinda liquidy. You can also use Serum as night cream too.

* Face Lotion - This can be tricky. Usually the purpose of a face lotion is to maintain the moisture on your face and to protect from environmental damage. UV Ray, of course. The number cause for skin cancer, premature aging and AGE SPOTS. (Ahhhh!) So, Gentlemen, make sure your face lotion contains SPF -- and Ladies, get the foundtaion (powder or liquid) that contains SunBlock. I remember one of the Talent Agent told me..."Always. Always. Always use Sun Block. Always!" Currently, I'm use Yves Rocher's Pro-Retinol 100% Végétal Self Defense Day Shield SPF 15.

* EYE Treatment - We only have one pair of eyes. And we've got to take good care of them. (And those lines around them) During the day, I use Yves Rocher's Pro-Retinol 100% Végétal Self Defense Eyes. Aside from the smooth texture, the cream contains micro-light reflectors. Which, does a very decent job reducing the appearence of my dark circles. At night, I use Bath and Body Works' Eye Do Miracle Eye Treament. (I finished the last drop this morning, I'm going to try A Perfect World for Eyes.) - As you can see, during the day time, I pretty much use "protective" stuff - and at night, it's the "Anti-Age/Repair" time.

* Bath/Shower - I love bath. I love taking bath. And believe me, I have used more Bath Salts than mermaids. Anyways - Taking a hot bath will really de-tox your body. (Same with the steam room.) It makes you sweat. Sweat out all the toxin. There are two types of Bath. One, is the de-tox bath, where you use Bath Salt and/or Essence Oil to improve your blood circulation. (Home-Made Bath Salt: Salt, 2 Spoons of Honey and a few drop of Oilve Oil) The other type, would be the soothing moisturing bath - Bubble Bath gel, Bath Lotion, Bath Frizz Balls... (Home-Made Bath Lotion: Baby dried Milk powder, Vitamin E oil, few drops of your hair conditioner) These will give your skin added moisture, and leaving your skin feel like silk. But I'm not sure if it actually CLEAN your body though. I usually feel slippery coming out of the tub. But remember, Boys and Girls. When you are taking a hot steamy bath, make sure you only stay in the tub for 20 minutes. Anythign after that, the harmful soap, or whatever crap you added in your tub may start damaging your water-soaken fragil skin.
For Showers, I would use body-shower-scrub at least once a week. Again, exfoliate to remove the dirty and dead skin that clogged the pores. Scrubs also have 'massage' effect on your skin. That help to tone and improve the texture of your skin. If you want to tone up your tummy, don't forget to massage your tummy with scrub in clock-wise circulation motion. (If you dont' have any scrub, you can use regular salt!)

* Body Lotion (DAY) - I'm all about firming up my skin. I've already been reaching the top of the hill, and I want my body to stay firm. (And bouncy, at the rear) I used to be a big fan of Bath and Body Works' Skin Firming Body Treatment. Aside from smelling good (I love Coconut Lime) - it firms up the skin, makes my skin feel very tone and smooth...and it contains GLITTER! But the price really killed my credit card. ($14 for 8oz?! I know. Expensive) But recently, I discovered Aveeno Daily Firming Lotion. It's light, smooth, and WORKS. ($8.00 for 10.3oz!!) - Oh, for those of you who have seen the ads for Dove's New Intensive Firming Lotionor L'Oreal's Sublime Slim Gel... Yack. Yack. Yack. I can't believe it's not BUTTER. Because they should be. Grease. Grease. Thick Lathering Grease that won't go away.

* Body Lotion (Night) - Especially after a nice hot bath. Where your skin is ready to absorbe moistures... Your night-time body lotion should be light enough so it won't stain your sheets or grease up your pajamas. One product that I would recommand, is Bath and Body Works' Lavander Vanilla Body Lotion. It's very light and absorbs very fast. Smells heavenly as well. But again, the scent might not suit some of you. I have a friend literly felt like throwing up after smelling it. During Summer time, instead of using night time body lotion, I'd use Body Mist instead.

Okay. I don't use all the products every day - I'm not crazy like that. :) But hey, you've got pamper yourself sometimes... Love your body!!! And your body loves you!!!

*********Letters**********

Dear MzOuiser,

If you met a really hot guy on the train - like in talking to him and all - and didn't get to exchange phone numbers before you had to switch trains - would you hop the wrong train to prolong the conversation? Or bid the unknown a sad adieu? Or breathe on the window and write your number like in that cell phone commercial?

In today's world, I believe that everyone's a diva. Instead of me chasing after the guy, I think --- if he was really interested in me, he should have already gone on his knees and wrote his contact info on purple laced-cotton paper (with floral prints on the edges) and sing Britney's "Slave 4 U" as he hands it to me.

Or else, I'd move onto my next victum... I mean, that gym-bag carrying hottie with the broad shoulder, dark hair, lustful tan, strong arms, big chest, flat tummy, and that ultra firm bums.

**************************
Dear Jon,

I would make you knit me a sweater from the sheep's wool while I took a nap.

As if, I can knit. But we can pet the sheep together. Or pet eachother's sheep.

**************************
Dear GrooveTheory,

Ok, you, me and a sheep. Hmmmm. Have you ever had roasted sheep?

Yack. Sheeps are so cute. I'm Chinese, and yet I don't have the heart to eat them.