Many of you didn't know that I have this unnatural fascination with severe weather. As morbid as this sounds, I get a thrill out of watching a tropical storm build into a hurricane, or thunderstorms build into huge, severe cells that may cause tornados. Maybe it's the tension and the uncertainty of the storm. Or maybe, it's just the drama of it all. I am after all, gay, and most of us gays like a certain amount of drama as long as it isn't directly affecting us.
I in no way want these storms to cause damage, injury, or even death even though I know that it's likely that they will do one if not all of these things. For me, the thrill lies in the build-up of the storm. The suspense of where exactly the storm will go and what exactly will happen when it hits. I will sit on the computer and keep refreshing CNN, Yahoo News, and The Weather Channel for up to the minute information. You can call me a freak, or whatever else you'd like but for me it's fascinating.
Stay tuned for the next post...I'm back to work so I'm SURE there will be a new tirade soon enough!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Can I Get A....
Can you spare some change? Can I bum a smoke? Can you help a guy out, I need seventy-five cents for the el? NO, NO, AND NO!
Lately I've been approached by homeless people every time I walk around my neighborhood. If I gave change or a dollar to every person who asked me in the course of a year, I'd be homeless myself. Now how would that help the homeless? There'd be one more person out there begging for money, there by reducing the amount of change one could take in.
Twice in the past two weeks we've been out at a bar and fellow bar patrons have approached me to ask for a cigarette. Now don't get me wrong, I am a giving person at times (just ask the poor lady from Habitat For Humanity) and if one of my friends asked for a cigarette I'd have no problem giving them one. However, I draw the line at people I don't know for two reasons.
1) Cigarette cost $8 a pack in Chicago now.
2) If you are going out and you like to smoke when you drink, BUY A DAMN PACK BEFORE YOU GET TO THE BAR!
Now don't get me wrong, as I stated above, I give to many different charities. I don't however, think that giving to homeless goes to a good cause. I've seen too many homeless people drinking forties out of a paper bag at the corner of Belmont & Clark. It's probably some poor suckers change that helped to by that beer. As for cigarettes... As I stated before, they're too damn expensive to be handing out like they are candy!
Lately I've been approached by homeless people every time I walk around my neighborhood. If I gave change or a dollar to every person who asked me in the course of a year, I'd be homeless myself. Now how would that help the homeless? There'd be one more person out there begging for money, there by reducing the amount of change one could take in.
Twice in the past two weeks we've been out at a bar and fellow bar patrons have approached me to ask for a cigarette. Now don't get me wrong, I am a giving person at times (just ask the poor lady from Habitat For Humanity) and if one of my friends asked for a cigarette I'd have no problem giving them one. However, I draw the line at people I don't know for two reasons.
1) Cigarette cost $8 a pack in Chicago now.
2) If you are going out and you like to smoke when you drink, BUY A DAMN PACK BEFORE YOU GET TO THE BAR!
Now don't get me wrong, as I stated above, I give to many different charities. I don't however, think that giving to homeless goes to a good cause. I've seen too many homeless people drinking forties out of a paper bag at the corner of Belmont & Clark. It's probably some poor suckers change that helped to by that beer. As for cigarettes... As I stated before, they're too damn expensive to be handing out like they are candy!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Riding the bus
Not having a car, I get around the city using public transportation. When I first moved to Chicago I will admit I was afraid of the bus. You never knew where it went (unless you did a lot of research prior to boarding) and half the time I would miss my stop not knowing where I was. As time went on I became more comfortable with the bus when I realized that most bus routes either go north and south or east and west. Eventually I would hit a street I knew and could always navigate from there if I needed to.
Today, I like to think I'm pretty damn good navigating this city by bus. However, there is a new fear about riding the bus...The fear that I'm going to lose it and go off on another rider. You see, I suffer from what is known as impatience and when it comes to the bus, I have NONE of it. Here is my example:
The bus is stopped at a stop, it let's people off and let's people on. Sometimes this process take a few minutes (for families and handicapped passengers.) The bus will then start to go on it's way when "DING" someone has pulled the "Stop Requested" rope...Indicating they want to get off at the next stop, which is just one street (sometimes not even that far) from the stop the bus was just sitting at. Why can't said passenger just get off while the bus is stopped if they are only going up to the next street? The MINUTE the bus starts rolling they pull that damn rope. "Walk you lazy asses" is the thought that runs through my head!!!!
This may sound trivial to most but it happens ALL THE TIME here in Chicago. I'm beginning to think that I should take a break from the bus, therefore ensuring mine and everyone else's safety should I go completely crazy on someone.
This rant was brought to you by a disgruntled CTA rider!
Today, I like to think I'm pretty damn good navigating this city by bus. However, there is a new fear about riding the bus...The fear that I'm going to lose it and go off on another rider. You see, I suffer from what is known as impatience and when it comes to the bus, I have NONE of it. Here is my example:
The bus is stopped at a stop, it let's people off and let's people on. Sometimes this process take a few minutes (for families and handicapped passengers.) The bus will then start to go on it's way when "DING" someone has pulled the "Stop Requested" rope...Indicating they want to get off at the next stop, which is just one street (sometimes not even that far) from the stop the bus was just sitting at. Why can't said passenger just get off while the bus is stopped if they are only going up to the next street? The MINUTE the bus starts rolling they pull that damn rope. "Walk you lazy asses" is the thought that runs through my head!!!!
This may sound trivial to most but it happens ALL THE TIME here in Chicago. I'm beginning to think that I should take a break from the bus, therefore ensuring mine and everyone else's safety should I go completely crazy on someone.
This rant was brought to you by a disgruntled CTA rider!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
PEOPLE AND THEIR BIG VEHICLES
It's times like this that I'm grateful that I don't own a car. It's bad enough when I sit in the passenger seat and watch Adam fill up Bonita (his faithful Honda) only to watch the gas pump spiral upward to thirty some dollars. I can only imagine owning one of these big monstrosities that a lot of people in America drive.
Which brings me to the point of this blog. Why on earth do you need a huge vehicle? Unless you work in construction, live in the Rocky Mountains, or in a swamp you should have no need to drive a vehicle that costs a hundred dollars to fill up. I see people everyday in Chicago (and other cities for that matter) driving these Tahoe's, Expeditions, Hummers, and all the other names of mountainous vehicles. They take up two and sometimes THREE parking spaces and dwarf other vehicles on cramped city roads. Seriously, unless you live in Iraq or Afghanistan there is no need to drive a Hummer. The only reason people do it is because they have small dicks (men) or use it as a status symbol (women). What happened to the BMW and Mercedes as a cure for your little dick syndrome or status issues?? I know a woman who drives a huge SUV. When I asked her why she drove one, she replied smartly "to protect my two small children." Oh, I see...So when you lose control of your moving mountain and slam into a Saturn that is carrying a mom and her small children, oh well?? At least you're kids are safe!!!
All across Europe there are small, economical cars. I've seen Delivery Trucks there that are smaller than some of our SUV's here in the states. Maybe it's because people in Europe don't need cars to prove their status in the world. Maybe it's because they aren't materialistic. Or maybe they are...Who knows. My point is that no other place on earth I've been to do they drive these huge vehicles. Why?
Which brings me to the point of this blog. Why on earth do you need a huge vehicle? Unless you work in construction, live in the Rocky Mountains, or in a swamp you should have no need to drive a vehicle that costs a hundred dollars to fill up. I see people everyday in Chicago (and other cities for that matter) driving these Tahoe's, Expeditions, Hummers, and all the other names of mountainous vehicles. They take up two and sometimes THREE parking spaces and dwarf other vehicles on cramped city roads. Seriously, unless you live in Iraq or Afghanistan there is no need to drive a Hummer. The only reason people do it is because they have small dicks (men) or use it as a status symbol (women). What happened to the BMW and Mercedes as a cure for your little dick syndrome or status issues?? I know a woman who drives a huge SUV. When I asked her why she drove one, she replied smartly "to protect my two small children." Oh, I see...So when you lose control of your moving mountain and slam into a Saturn that is carrying a mom and her small children, oh well?? At least you're kids are safe!!!
All across Europe there are small, economical cars. I've seen Delivery Trucks there that are smaller than some of our SUV's here in the states. Maybe it's because people in Europe don't need cars to prove their status in the world. Maybe it's because they aren't materialistic. Or maybe they are...Who knows. My point is that no other place on earth I've been to do they drive these huge vehicles. Why?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Stupidity
Looking back on my previous posts, I noticed that it's been a while since I wrote a tirade-type blog. So without further ado, I give you today's tirade!
What is wrong with people? Why are they so stupid? I come in contact with so many people that need their hand held from the moment they walk out their door. I want to scream in their face "how have you lived to be an adult? You are so damn stupid!" Or the people that do something, only to have you tell them they can't and then they say..."I know." If you KNEW then why did you do it, especially when I'm looking RIGHT at you!!!!! Then you have the people that ask you a question, such as..."Can I do this?" you tell them no, unfortunately for whatever reason they can't and then they go and do it anyway. FIRST OF ALL...AM I NOT STANDING RIGHT HERE? DO YOU THINK I'VE GONE BLIND IN THE FIVE SECONDS SINCE YOU ASKED ME? SECOND...IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO SAID ACTION ANYWAY, WHY WASTE MY TIME???? DO YOU THINK I WANT TO STAND HERE TALKING TO YOUR STUPID ASS???
As each day passes I wonder how long it will be until pack up myself and Adam and move to a deserted island. No stupid questions and no stupid people!!!
What is wrong with people? Why are they so stupid? I come in contact with so many people that need their hand held from the moment they walk out their door. I want to scream in their face "how have you lived to be an adult? You are so damn stupid!" Or the people that do something, only to have you tell them they can't and then they say..."I know." If you KNEW then why did you do it, especially when I'm looking RIGHT at you!!!!! Then you have the people that ask you a question, such as..."Can I do this?" you tell them no, unfortunately for whatever reason they can't and then they go and do it anyway. FIRST OF ALL...AM I NOT STANDING RIGHT HERE? DO YOU THINK I'VE GONE BLIND IN THE FIVE SECONDS SINCE YOU ASKED ME? SECOND...IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO SAID ACTION ANYWAY, WHY WASTE MY TIME???? DO YOU THINK I WANT TO STAND HERE TALKING TO YOUR STUPID ASS???
As each day passes I wonder how long it will be until pack up myself and Adam and move to a deserted island. No stupid questions and no stupid people!!!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Indiana
This weekend we did the Tour de Indiana. From Chicago to Fort Wayne to Wabash to Bloomington to Chicago we spent a lot of time on Indiana's roads. I know Adam was excited to be able to show me all the sights of Indiana and I was excited to see just what was so damn important about Indiana.
We've done the Chicago to Ft. Wayne and Ft. Wayne to Wabash drive a few times so that was nothing new to me. The Wabash to Bloomington drive was new for me and even though I took a nap it was still exciting. Adam was like a little kid pointing things out to me along the way and at times I felt like I was dissapointing him with my sometime less that enthusiastic responses. (After all, Indiana is not unlike Ohio.) Once we got into Bloominton however, my unenthusiastic responses became enthusiastic (even though we both had to pee) and I couldn't wait to see the city that played such an important part in Adam's life.
After a night with friends from college we spent this morning driving around Bloomington. I got to see a lot of the places Adam lived, where he practiced with the Marching Hundred, where he learned how to be a great teacher, and where he liked to unwind after a hard day of classes (ie...his favorite bars.) I even went and bought myself an IU shot class to add to my collection.
After lunch with one of Adam's old college friends we hit the the road (I-65) and began our journey home. It was a nice drive until our little tire mishap...i'll let Adam explain that one in an upcoming blog.
All in all, it was a great weekend and I'm so glad I got to experience yet another part of Adam's life.
We've done the Chicago to Ft. Wayne and Ft. Wayne to Wabash drive a few times so that was nothing new to me. The Wabash to Bloomington drive was new for me and even though I took a nap it was still exciting. Adam was like a little kid pointing things out to me along the way and at times I felt like I was dissapointing him with my sometime less that enthusiastic responses. (After all, Indiana is not unlike Ohio.) Once we got into Bloominton however, my unenthusiastic responses became enthusiastic (even though we both had to pee) and I couldn't wait to see the city that played such an important part in Adam's life.
After a night with friends from college we spent this morning driving around Bloomington. I got to see a lot of the places Adam lived, where he practiced with the Marching Hundred, where he learned how to be a great teacher, and where he liked to unwind after a hard day of classes (ie...his favorite bars.) I even went and bought myself an IU shot class to add to my collection.
After lunch with one of Adam's old college friends we hit the the road (I-65) and began our journey home. It was a nice drive until our little tire mishap...i'll let Adam explain that one in an upcoming blog.
All in all, it was a great weekend and I'm so glad I got to experience yet another part of Adam's life.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
More Paris
Adam wanted to bring the laptop on our vacation so that he could write a blog each night. I nixed that idea and also got a little upset that he was going to come home and write blog after blog about our vacation, leaving me nothing to write about.
Well, here we are at home and he has yet to write a blog (although he is obsessed with getting all our pictures uploaded so that everyone can look at them online). I however, will have now written two blogs about Paris...this being number two!
I have to say that there were times I was highly impressed with Paris and other times I wasn't. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time and saw some amazing things. There were times that I was in awe of the architecture. As my friend Terina said to me yesterday, "they just don't build stuff like that anymore, do they?" That is so true. We went through all these amazing places and I thought, I wonder what it was like to actually LIVE here. The craftsmanship and detail that was put into buildings is stunning.
The people are pretty much like you hear. Nice but not overly friendly. We made an attempt to speak french as much as we could but still had some trouble communicating. Once someone learned that we knew a little french, that's all they would talk to us in. I understand that it's France and french is their language but most, if not all of them, speak some english, so it was a little irritating that they didn't at least try to speak some english when we didn't understand what was being asked of us.
Instead of going through everything we did (I'm sure Adam will do that in the coming week) I will just limit it to one thing. Versailles. While the gardens and Marie Antoinette's Hamlet and Castle impressed me more than the actual Chateau Versailles, the chateau is still impressive and worth the money you spend to go through it. I enjoyed hiking through the gardens, having a jambon et fromage baguette in a secluded spot, and running through the pouring rain like the two homos we are. If you ever get to Paris, you HAVE to go to Versailles and get the ticket for EVERYTHING. It's an all day event and you walk miles but it's SO worth it.
That's all I'm going to say about Paris. Feel free to read adam's blog for the full, day by day account of our vacation. Until next time...
Au Revoir!!!
Well, here we are at home and he has yet to write a blog (although he is obsessed with getting all our pictures uploaded so that everyone can look at them online). I however, will have now written two blogs about Paris...this being number two!
I have to say that there were times I was highly impressed with Paris and other times I wasn't. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time and saw some amazing things. There were times that I was in awe of the architecture. As my friend Terina said to me yesterday, "they just don't build stuff like that anymore, do they?" That is so true. We went through all these amazing places and I thought, I wonder what it was like to actually LIVE here. The craftsmanship and detail that was put into buildings is stunning.
The people are pretty much like you hear. Nice but not overly friendly. We made an attempt to speak french as much as we could but still had some trouble communicating. Once someone learned that we knew a little french, that's all they would talk to us in. I understand that it's France and french is their language but most, if not all of them, speak some english, so it was a little irritating that they didn't at least try to speak some english when we didn't understand what was being asked of us.
Instead of going through everything we did (I'm sure Adam will do that in the coming week) I will just limit it to one thing. Versailles. While the gardens and Marie Antoinette's Hamlet and Castle impressed me more than the actual Chateau Versailles, the chateau is still impressive and worth the money you spend to go through it. I enjoyed hiking through the gardens, having a jambon et fromage baguette in a secluded spot, and running through the pouring rain like the two homos we are. If you ever get to Paris, you HAVE to go to Versailles and get the ticket for EVERYTHING. It's an all day event and you walk miles but it's SO worth it.
That's all I'm going to say about Paris. Feel free to read adam's blog for the full, day by day account of our vacation. Until next time...
Au Revoir!!!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
My Paris Top Ten
Here are the top ten things I learned in Paris...
10) Asian tourists are the same in Paris as they are everywhere else. Rude and completely oblivious to the fact that there is anyone else around them.
9) Even though it may seem exciting to take the stairs to each level instead of taking the elevator at the Eiffel Tower, it isn't. We only made it to level one!
8) You can walk for miles and miles without finding an ATM. Then, there are five banks in one block with ATM's galore.
7) Something good finally came of those stupid medians in every street. You can stand in the middle of the Champs Elysee and get a great picture of the Arc de Triomphe.
6) Fumer Tue... Smoking Kills. This is in huge letters on packs of cigarettes. You gotta love the French for being so direct. Our packs of cigarettes have this in small print on the side of packs.
5) If you've seen one church, or three churches in one day, they all start to look the same. Although I did learn about the stations of the cross (Thanks baby!)
4)Wine is cheaper to drink at dinner than water or soda. Can you believe it??? We were in heaven!
3)"It's hard to live with you white people" This was screamed at me by some angry non-white guy first in french, then in english. Apparently, he was unhappy with us white folk.
2) After riding the metro all week in Paris, I realized that the CTA in Chicago SUCKS!!!!!!!
1) Yes in French is "Oui" NOT "Si".
10) Asian tourists are the same in Paris as they are everywhere else. Rude and completely oblivious to the fact that there is anyone else around them.
9) Even though it may seem exciting to take the stairs to each level instead of taking the elevator at the Eiffel Tower, it isn't. We only made it to level one!
8) You can walk for miles and miles without finding an ATM. Then, there are five banks in one block with ATM's galore.
7) Something good finally came of those stupid medians in every street. You can stand in the middle of the Champs Elysee and get a great picture of the Arc de Triomphe.
6) Fumer Tue... Smoking Kills. This is in huge letters on packs of cigarettes. You gotta love the French for being so direct. Our packs of cigarettes have this in small print on the side of packs.
5) If you've seen one church, or three churches in one day, they all start to look the same. Although I did learn about the stations of the cross (Thanks baby!)
4)Wine is cheaper to drink at dinner than water or soda. Can you believe it??? We were in heaven!
3)"It's hard to live with you white people" This was screamed at me by some angry non-white guy first in french, then in english. Apparently, he was unhappy with us white folk.
2) After riding the metro all week in Paris, I realized that the CTA in Chicago SUCKS!!!!!!!
1) Yes in French is "Oui" NOT "Si".
Friday, August 04, 2006
Welcome Home!!!!
We're back from Paris!!! After some rest, I'll begin to post a blog or two about the vacation!!!! You can also check out adam's blog
Talk to you all soon!!!
Talk to you all soon!!!
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