The World's Ugliest Dog

This is clearly the World's Ugliest Dog. Damn. But sadly, he passed on last week. He is now Heaven's Ugliest Dog.

How Donkey Got His Groove Back

There are times in your life when you feel a bit down, dejected, lost, confused, non-directional, self-doubting, do I need to go on? Your friends and family try to pull you up and pull you out of your funk, but man, it's difficult. This past week I went to Buenos Aires. Let me just say that first of all, I'm so happy and fortunate to have my Chicos with me in the big, Spanish speaking city. It was amazing to be down there with them and my trip would have been so much different if they didn't join me. I think that there are moments in your life where you just feel recharged, recognized, your eyes open up and you realize that life is what you make it. Last year Hawaii, did that for me and this year Buenos Aires was the boost I needed. Now, not only does Buenos Aires have the most attractive people in the world that I have ever seen, everywhere, but the Chicos are drop dead. The ego is an interesting balance in human tranquility. Too much? Bad. Too little? Bad. The balance is hard to achieve and the confidence that follows is almost impossible in a country that focuses so much on perfection. Not to mention the gay society and the impact perfectionism has on all of us. Being in Buenos Aires with the beautiful city, beautiful people, amazing culture and getting the recognition we did, was quite an eye opener. Let me just say that when I walk around the ATL, I'm going to do so with my head a bit higher and my eye contacts a bit longer. There is nothing wrong with saying Hola - Hello, to whomever, and being confident in yourself. My balance is intact and I'm back, it really does help get an ego boost from the boys south of the border. Argentina, (Theo), you da best.

Bon Voyage

Is that Spanish? I've brushed up on some key phrases for my trip to Buenos Aires tomorrow.

• Donde está el cuarto de baño?
• Usted es el coger caliente!
• Un redondo de las cervezas para todos!
• Dónde el infierno es yo?
• Usted tiene un condom?
• Soy de Canadá, eh
• No voté por él... no me culpo
• Sí usted puede volverse a Atlanta con mí y ser mi houseboy
• Usted desea poner su qué, en mi qué qué?

I'm sure it will be a lot of fun...I'll try and report back during the trip...Adiós!

Brad Paisley

Was watching the CMA (Country Music Association) Awards last night to catch a glimpse of Sugarland, see post below. And ran across Brad Paisley. I'm hooked.

On a sad note, I read that Arrested Development was cancelled. This show was on Fox and even won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series last year. This show was funny as hell. I would laugh-out-loud during this show. I fully understand the TV business and ratings impact, but I hope this show gets picked up by HBO, Showtime or Bravo, etc...it has a strong following and on cable, the writers could get a bit more risky and it would be that much better. I'd actually get HBO to watch just this show.

Crazy Isn't Only a Song by Patsy Cline

Sometimes I wish I were crazy...you know...off the wall with antics and attitude. But I'm not. I think things inside my head and they are witty, let me tell ya, but I come to my senses because I always realize that either the person(s) would be highly offended or it would not be the best option for me at the time. Human Socialization has killed the majority of my off-the-cuff remarks, out-right honest comments (that shirt is just hideous) and crazy tendencies...to be honest, it bugs me. As my friends know, I can be a bit Donkey-like and if you don't know what that is, just think of Donkey in the Shrek movies...endearingly annoying...but that's me. And there is more where that came from, but I resist. I say let's all just say what we want...just once a day. If you feel like you should say something, but your conscience says no...say it anyhow...it's open communication and better for the world in general. Not to mention, you'll feel a hell of a lot better in the end. And isn't that what we all want out of life, to feel better at the expense of others?

Jarhead

Went to see Jarhead yesterday. That movie was a bit long...almost 2 hours of drawn out combat action, which actually never really happened. Almost like getting worked up rolling around and then having your special friend say "I need to go, I have an early morning tomorrow." But there was Jake and some interesting sub plots. I'd give it 2.5 out of 5 packages of gummy bears. When I was waiting in line for my popcorn I began thinking. Why is it that the lines for food/drink at the movie theaters are the slowest moving lines, EVER. Is it that difficult to scoop up some popcorn, pour a diet coke and move on to the next customer...the popcorn is already made, the candy is prepackaged, the soda pours in about 5 seconds...what's the delay? It's not like we have all the time in the world...we are going to a movie! At least they are trying and have a job, but come on...set some standards...this would be a field day for an operational/organizational consultant. Regal Cinemas...give me a call...let's talk.

Sugarland

About 7 years ago, my friends brought me to a concert for a band called Soulminer's Daughter. The lead singer was a woman named Jennifer Nettles. She had an amazing voice, but was still learning how to control her power and direction. We all followed her here in Atlanta...she left Soulminer's Daughter and started her own band...great album and she was really honing her talent. She left her band to go solo and met up with two fellow Atlanta musicians...Kristian Bush and Kristen Hall...both amazing singer/songwriters. This combo generated a new group called Sugarland...now I'm not a huge Country fan, but Sugarland is more a Country/Pop fusion. They are great. In their first year, with their first album, they are well on their way... Don't say I didn't tell ya so when they blow up next year. Check them out... www.sugarlandmusic.com ...

Weekend in Review

This past Saturday was my last GaTech home football game of the season...spent it with the usual suspects tailgating and then drinking our asses off at the game. We beat Wake Forest and the weather was amazing...almost 80 degrees, in November...I used my red neck skills and brought in half a bottle of Crown in a zip lock bag, the easy way to get bourbon into a game. Went out to the new Wetbar on Saturday night and didn't touch a drink at all. Completely 100% sober. I guess that is what drinking all day will do to you...I just can't hang like I used to. The new Wetbar is enormous. It has a huge outdoor patio/area with fireplace, bridges, streams and a great view of the skyline. The inside has a couple different areas, including a rooftop deck and elevated, revolving dance floor. It is actually quite impressive and will be a great addition to the Atlanta scene. I just hope that we are able to support a couple options of bars in this town. Sunday was beautiful...packed a bag and went up to David's Mom's house. Wow. This place is amazing. Infinity pool with hot tub/waterfall. Huge outdoor fireplace, patio with outdoor kitchen and koy pond...and that is only the outside...the game room and media room are amazing as well. In bed by 10PM...I need to rest up for my trip to Buenos Aires, I'm WTFO...

I Can't Wait!

Only 2 more weeks until my trip to Argentina! Can you say Canadian, eh?

Virtual Proximity

When I was in college, a lot of my friends initially were people that lived in the same Freshman dorm as me. We saw each other all the time; we studied in the same lounge, shared the same bathrooms, threw illegal "around the world" parties and looked out for each other when the RA was coming. These people became my friends, through shared experience and most elementary, through proximity. Proximity is an interesting phenomena. We see this today through-out neighborhoods, apartment communities and through frequenting of the same watering holes. Repetitive behavior and frequent interaction ultimately develops into the foundation of shared experiences and more times than not, friendship. Proximity relationships still happen today, although with our busy lifestyles and our frequent comings and goings, at a lesser rate. I see the same people in my loft community every day, but we are so busy moving through life that I am no more than a 'Hello' to them and vice versa. Traditional proximity relationship building has evolved beyond the neighborhood to the arena of cyberspace. No longer do you have to be in physical proximity to a potentially new relationship, you merely have to run across them in a ‘virtual neighborhood’ on the web. I find this fascinating. Virtual Proximity. Technology has enabled like-minded socialization and taken proximity relationships to the next level. We blog, we e-mail, we share common interests, we socialize in sub-groups, we visit the same websites and we live no where near each other. The basic element that formulated the basis of relationships for centuries has evolved. Technology not only effects the way we do business and the methods for our communication, it also changes the simple methods of psychological interaction, so primary to our underlying need for socialization and acceptance. The overall effects of taking proximity out of the neighborhoods and moving it to a world-wide stage has yet to be determined. I'm sure that there will still be the neighborhood associations, block-parties and "around the world” parties in college dorms for years to come. However, the more people are satisfying their fundamental needs for relationships in cyber space, the more we will just say “Hello” to our neighbors and carry on with our lives behind closed doors.

Weird Call

I just received the weirdest call...a guy, we will call Stephen, cause that's his name, just called me. He sounded all nervous and at first I didn't know who it was. He started off by apologizing to me for Saturday night. Now I won't say that I was in the most sober state of mind, but I always had my wits about me on Saturday. He continued to tell me that when he gets drunk he needs to hang on people. Ok. That's interesting. And he was apologizing for being so aggressive. Either he was completely mistaken or his definition of aggressive and annoying completely doesn't mesh with mine. I truly do not recall this, at all. Maybe he was just saying this? But why? I told him, no worries and not to sweat it. It was Saturday night, we were out drinking, these things happen. Crazy.

Motivation

I wish there was a pill you could take (a legal one) that would give you a lot of energy/motivation/vision...sometimes, like all of us, I get sucked into a demoralizing state and find it almost impossible to go to the gym, go on runs or eat healthy. I think the term comfort food was aptly named and I greatly enjoy gorging on it. I've set a goal to run a marathon next year and was targeting Austin in February, but I think that may have to be pushed out. I just can't get myself dedicated to the cause and therefore motivation is hard to find. I know that I will find my mojo again, but it takes me a bit longer, the older I get. Maybe I will try mixing it up and working out in the morning...I will do it at least once next week and see if that makes a difference. I heard once in an interview with Renee Zellwegger on how she gets in shape for movie roles and she was all, "if I don't, I get fired." I think that's a good way to think about it...set dates, goals and measure yourself against them. It’s the only way to truly keep yourself in line and measure success/progress.

Happy Birthday to my boy Timber out in LA! Also, spent last night with the gang celebrating De La Plage's b-day...good times. Also, congrats to James for becoming a Daddy...a father that is!

Buenos Aires

The count down to Buenos Aires has started! Two weeks from this Saturday Twon, DC and I will be spending 10 hours in a Delta jet on our way to Buenos Aires. We have not secured a place to stay, just yet, but are vigorously looking. Initially we thought a hostel would be fun, meeting people, being around native Argentineans, etc, but have since decided that renting an apartment would be best, trouble is, not many are available. Hopefully we will find one soon. I hear that the nightlife in Buenos Aires is amazing. I also have read that the culture, people and food is a lot like Europe. We are really excited and will be able to breathe a bit easier once we have a place to crash and lay our American heads.