eye candy

i spend a great deal of time on my blog as well as viewing other blogs of interest. if you are looking for a little visual stimulation you might consider checking out peter's site "boybox" (from turkey) for a sweet collection of unforgettable images. here is just a sample of what you'll find...things could get messy, so come prepared!

the jolly green giant

Voice of Jolly Green Giant dies

The American entertainer whose voice boomed out "Ho, ho, ho" in the Jolly Green Giant vegetable adverts for decades has died at the age of 80.

Elmer Dresslar, originally from Kansas, died of cancer, his daughter announced in California where he had been living since his retirement. Dresslar periodically re-recorded the famous jingle and sang a fresh "Ho, Ho, Ho" about 10 years ago. "If nothing else, it put my sister and I through college," said daughter Teri. "He never got tired of it," she added.

The phrase, one of the most distinctive taglines in advertising history, was created by Leo Burnett. A spokeswoman for General Mills, the owner of the Green Giant Company, said Dresslar had been "the most consistent and most frequent voice of the Jolly Green Giant over the years - the one consumers are going to recognise". The figure viewers saw on screen was Keith Wegeman, an Olympic ski jumper. A navy veteran, Dresslar studied voice in Chicago in the 1950s and by the following decade had carved out a career singing in clubs, on television and in advertising jingles, the Associated Press news agency notes. He recorded 15 albums with The Singers Unlimited jazz group and appeared on the CBS television show In Town Tonight from 1955 to 1960.

Other jingles he recorded advertised Rice Krispies cereal, Amoco oil, Dinty Moore canned beef stew and Marlboro cigarettes.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4380434.stm

Published: 2005/10/27 01:29:13 GMT

© BBC MMV

the banana

After reading this, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!

Bananas containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just
allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood
pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.
It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby
reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

george bush remains...

64 things about me you might want to know

1. Be honest, it's not that hard.
2. Please don't ask about anything to do with George Bush.
3. Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks, pop secret homestyle.
4. Pieces are far too romantic for today's world.
5. It sucks that we are controlled so much of our time by someone else.
6. At my age I still have problems spelling, it's embarrassing.
7. I never attended college and barley graduated high school.
8. Common scense is my strong point and intellect comes second.
9. I recently learned a few things about automotive repair and I liked it.
10. The right to marriage should be available to all regardless of sexual orientation.
11. I wish my relationship with my sister was better.
12. I hope to live to see the day when cancer & aids are gone forever.
13. Gerry Anderson'’s "Thunderbirds Are Go" is a favorite.
14. My top 2 favorite bands-The Blue Nile & Everything But The Girl.
15. Advertising in general has become too sexual.
16. I would imagine life in the 50's to be better.
17. Chicken & Fish preferred. The red stuff is out.
18. Pot is illegal because it's bad for your health… so why is'nt fast food illegal?
19. My drink-Johnny Walker Black w/water.
20. Bottom, always.
21. Love deep, sexy house music.
22. I feel incomplete without a partner.
23. The BBC and not NBC.
24. Keith Haring's art has always interested me.
25. I have a cat named Graham.
26. My MS buddy is Joan Fornataro- AKA Mummsy.
27. I want to go back to Montreal once more.
28. Sometimes technology makes people become lazy.
29. Aren’t there enough cable channels already?
30. No one should die alone.
31. Intimacy or sex? Intimacy.
32. I sleep on the right side of the bed.
33. My favorite season is the fall.
34. Schools should spend more time talking about current affairs.
35. If more people were happy inside, the drug abuse problem would lessen.
36. There isn't always tomorrow..
37. A right turn on red is a cultural advantage living in NEPA.
38. If people choose to accept money for sexual favors, so what. Everybody’s happy.
39. I think Meryl Streep or Dianne Keaton would make a good leader for our country.
40. If only more men approached things from a compassionate perspective...
41. Corporate control has gotten too strong for our own good.
42. If your minutes hang like hours, you better refocus.
43. Why most straightmen can't dance boggles my mind.
44. The term "Metrosexual" is a cop-out.
45. I have tons of respect for Martha Stewart.
46. If we are as "wise" as we are told then why hasn't minimum wage gone up?
47. I think it would be cool to be a butler for an old english family.
48. Steam your vegetables.
49. There should be more diners.
50. $40,000 for an automobile? That's fucked up.
51. Disposable razors are bad for the environment.
52. My relationship with my father died years ago.
53. Game night with friends is good.
54. Read the ingredients.
55. A friend once said I buy all the right books.
56. Don't have children if you don't have the time for them.
57. We spend too much time working, just to get by.
58. Masturbation is healthy.
59. The x-files was one of the best television series ever done.
60. When rich folks "break the law" why are they given different treatment?
61. What's it all about, Alfie?
62. I fell in love with my best friend in Boston, then i lost him.
63. I'm amazed that I survived my childhood, it was a sad and dark time.
64. You should be able to borrow against your car insurance expense; do the math.

Chances are good I‚’ll have more to share‚…

the new GJLA

I'm happy to say that the time has finally come when being in your teens isn't so terrible after all; especially if you happen to be gay.

as i have said in previous articles, i think that it's great that young gays & lesbians are "out and about" more than ever before. when i think back to my teenage years, i can vividly recall all the secrets we kept to ourselves and the times spent together were always somewhere in the "dark". we didn't have any safe clubs to go to. there were little to no support groups to share our fears with and no one who would look upon us with respect. when i collect all that i can remember, it amazes me that we have survived all the hate and brutality that we had been wrongfully subject to. yes time does have away of healing some of the social scars we bare but it also empowers future generations to continue the fight for acceptance.

today's teens are the new hope on the horizon. they have stepped up to the plate in unusually high numbers and made their thoughts and feelings publicly unavoidable. the right wing and the religious groups wouldn't hesitate pointing the finger at one of us, we're adults and we care too much sometimes what the "others" are thinking. teens on the other hand are bold and brass and only their parents can point the finger. even so, the chances of them listening to their parents advise aren't always so good.

gay teens today have made a voice for themselves. they have stood up and demanded to be counted. they have formed strong alliances with one another as well as developed large numbers of support groups. their information network s are strong and their "other" supporters are very powerful people and organizations. they are the new GJLA (gay justice league of america) and their not about to stand down to anyone or anything.


recently time magazine ran a feature article on gay teens and their new powerful awareness revolution. in the segment you'll find some interesting facts and figures on gay teens as well as a few points of interest should you want to learn more about them and their agenda. one of the most interesting and informative sites that were mentioned was inqueery, a site devoted to gay & lesbian teens. founded by chad thompson, the organization addresses lgbt issues on high school and college campuses. the site offers a wealth of information for both teens and adults. i applaud chad's efforts and hope that you will share his site with others.

my health & wellness

health & wellness...

here, my intention is to speak of my illness, ms (multiple sclerosis) kind of as an endless stream of facts, feelings and everything else.

the official word came from my neurologist, dr. farell, in april of 2003. oddly enough i think i handled it pretty well at the time. i had done some research on my own in the fall of 2002. after just a few weeks of comparing my symptoms to a few possibilities, i had a good idea what was wrong. i also had some help & endless support from a woman i barley knew. she would later become the one person in my life who knows exactly how and what i feel; sadly, she feels it to.

near the end of august 2003, my friend of many years (dan) was going to move away from his parents home in hazelton, pa to our capital city harrisburg. there he had accepted a teaching position in the hershey school district and was about to begin a new life. the plan in motion was that i would take the weekend off, drive to haddock friday late afternoon, accompany his dad for the ride down then return the next day to return the moving van. that friday morning i woke up and started getting my flat ready for my weekend away. phone calls, emails, extra cat food...normal stuff. as the day continued, i packed my bags and then showered. got dressed and started gathering a few things i had forgotten earlier.

all of a sudden i started feeling really "zippy" like i just downed three expresso's. i started literally racing around the apartment. within a few minutes my heart rate seemed to double and i started feeling nauseous. then i started getting dizzy followed by a cold sweat. i put up with it for about ten minutes then i got scared. what the hell was happening? i remember at that point deciding to go nextdoor to kate & art's since no one else was in the building at that time. kate works for a vet and has two kids so i thought she might be able to give me a little insight as to my condition. i couldn't even stand still for a second all the while she listened to me babbling about everything that was happening to me. she wanted to take me to the hospital but i declined. i said i would call my doctor and then thanked her for being there for me. so i phoned the doc and he called in two scrips for me-one for anxiety and one for the dizzy stuff. from the time this all started till three hours later, i spent all of my time either trying to lye down while the room spun around or pacing the apartment from front to back. it was a cold hell where i was. i dreaded the call to dan canceling my trip and my help. he was counting on me for this and i really wanted to be there for him; something else had other plans for me. happy to say dan was understanding about me not coming and was also concerned as to what was happening to me.

a month or so later, i started getting these pains in my head which weren't your typical headache's. they continued even though my doctor was treating me for allergy-sinus issues. nothing seemed to be working, still had the headaches, dizziness and the anxiety. after sharing some of my ideas, a few arguments and a variety of silly excuses from the doc, he agreed to have an mri done. at the time i had no idea how difficult it was to have an mri approved let alone the cost, $3,000.00! i think it was mid october around 9 am. i remember the cold breeze and how nervous i was...oops maybe it was anxiety?



time to pause, i'm tired. they didn't build rome in a day! i'll be back tomorrow...

i think, october 2005

i think...
this is the part where i spill all my marbles, regardless who might fall!

1 october, 2005
i've just gotten home from yet another shift at the big b! today wasn't very different from any other day; more of the same. it amazes me that someone can do the same thing, every couple of days, and only grasp most of its patterns. after being with them for at least seven months and asking the same routine questions, the stupids can only reply...oh, yeh, sorry. the response i wish i could say: "I'd ring your buzzer but i see the wiring is missing! what compels you to lay the dvd's on the counter where i have a difficult time reaching them? you know you can't "go home happy" if i don't scan the rentals and you pay the bill! it's always been our policy, to rent you need a membership card. with that in mind don't you think the member card is vital to your transaction? it would be nice, just once, if i didn't have to ask you for your god-damn member card every time you come here." once we are passed the initial exchange, its time to pay. isn't it wonderful, we haven't changed our rental rate for at least a few years; still $4.23. yet every time i wait on one of these stupids, they ask "how much?" then i have to wait till they root through their bag or pocket, rounding up the funds. then i notice, three persons down the line, miss lilly has that disgusted look on her face again. great, this stupid is taking too much time getting it together and now i'll have to deal with lily's anger. merry fucking christmas and thanks for all the anger i have to absorb because you just don't get it! now our time together is coming to an end. you re-educated yourself, magically, yes you added the change correctly! i know once i have the cash, you're gonna ask another dumb question, whens the movie due back? perhaps i gave you too much credit because you counted your own change? hey, look at that! its a bright yellow sticker on the cover of the rental box. it's in english and says 2 day rental...hum do you really need more time to figure it out? and if for some reason this process is too perplexing for you, we have delt you a bonus card answer! when you get home, read your sales receipt. look at that, right smack dab under the title of the movie you rented...due back 10/05/2005. aren't we just too clever for words?

lets step back a few, shall we...as i mentioned before, you need a membership to rent. all you need to do is fill out the new member application, provide us with a photo id and a major credit card (no deibt cards excepted) or a photo id and something else with your complete name and address on it (check, piece of mail, utility bill). most of them understand the photo id part although i have had a few ask "why the picture id?". what i wish i could say..."0h, thats for the talent scout from the ford modeling agency. they are always looking for a fresh face!". part two of this is the major credit card. to this i've gotten "what about my bank card?" how on earth did you miss that silver sequin from Phyllis Diller's prom gown they embossed on the front that says "debit". and now you're angry at me because thats all you can manage?. the final request is the complete name and address...you ask "can i use my social security card?" lets think about that, gosh it only has your name on it. poor poor you, the answer is now ding bat! a few have said "i have my driver registration card out in the car" dont tell me where the damn card is, just be polite and excuse yourself and go out to the car. every now and then i get one more moment to waste and step into the bonus round....after all we've been through, thanks to your silly questions, you decide to complain about how long it took just to open a membership. i wish i could..."i think first thing tomorrow you should quit your job and become a teacher. think of all t he children that would benefit from your flawless intellect!"

one of my favorite customers is the one that hears things that aren't even said...i had a guy come up to the counter and asked if we had the ken burns baseball documentary's to rent. i was sad to say that we didn't. he then got this puzzled look on his face and asked, so you don't carry documentary's? wow, did you drive yourself here?

wonka vision

11 september, 2005
when i was just a little boy, i asked my mother what would i be? would i be handsome, would i be rich, here's what she said to me..." just be careful".

as i look back, i have to wonder what she really meant. i remember having a hundred or more questions to ask about the things that were going through my head, thoughts not every 13 year old has mind you. the response of "just be careful" certainly wasn't the best answer to all of my questions then but it did help me survive a few things over the years. there is one other important question that i arrived at later on in life that i wish now, i had asked back then..."what if he's straight?" better yet, "can we even be friends?" i don't think that anyone on the planet has the right answer to any of these, although some may qualify simply based on personal experience. in the end the reality of it is we all decide how we act and how we react. the path we travel is wide. there's no need to make it straight or narrow. just relax, listen, respect one another and open your eyes. chances are, you will see a world of pure imagination...

as i have mentioned before, i have been spending a lot of time with the boys downstairs (ed & matt) and as each time ends and the next one begins, i can only think of all the fun and countless hours of laughter we have, every time. hey, don't get the wrong idea...its not always hours and hours of drinking, smoking and dirty conversations. we have each spent a fair amount of personal time doing things for one another, simply as a means of helping a friend. ed's been working on the final repairs on my jetta (such a well toned, greasy mechanic), matts been sharing his music and playing his acoustic guitar for me (yeah, thats my soft side), i got to splash just a little color and added a few pieces of furniture to their apartment, ed's taken on the laundry detail knowing well off the department of health was soon to call, matts put more miles on the vacuum cleaner than ever before, ed's still trying to let other people talk once in a while but fails most times, matt has finally publicly spoken aloud of his dark secret love for "the buzzer", i found out what "dropping a duce" means along with what "dsl's" are. yeh, ed shaves it, matt loves to touch his stomach and i actually find a peacefully place to be myself amongst them.

of course there are times when some of our ideas clash, the views on pleasure are north & south and the definition of "clean" has three different versions. beyond all that, at the end of each day, we all have a few things in common...graham loves our hair, regular or menthal doesn't matter when it's the last three cigarettes and we all have come to love one another for who we are, not what we are.

if i had to choose one, the answer is easy...they already had.

to be continued...

film september, 2005

film...
it's a mental and visual experience i crave daily.

11 september, 2005
well it's finally arrived, ang lee's brokeback mountain. it comes as no surprise to me that it won the highest honor, the golden lion, at this years venice film festival. the next big question...will america embrace this controversial love story with an open mind? or will they spit more venom and blame the film makers for promoting our" "evil" lifestyle? time will tell what will be said. here is the movie poster, a brief synopsis and a link to the trailer.


Set against the sweeping landscapes of Wyoming and Texas, this epic love story tells of two young men -- a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy -- who meet in the summer of 1963 while driving cattle on a mountain range. They unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.

HELLBENT

Opens in select cities. September - October

hellbent-themovie.com

The first ever GAY Slasher film!!!

HellBent is the terrifying original new feature from writer/director Paul Etheredge-Ouzts and Joseph Wolf, the co-creator of such horror classics as Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street. With a serial killer on the loose during West Hollywood 's Halloween Carnival, four gay friends will have to fight for their lives to make it through a night filled with flamboyant costumes, beautiful people, drugs, music and sex.

A wild, relentless ride that combines appealing characters, unexpected surprises, and shocking scares, HellBent is a refreshing new classic for the horror genre.

between page 30 & 35 september, 2005

there are many "other" stories that are news worthy. unfortunatley they get lost in the middle.

Eleven US children 'found caged'

Eleven children have been removed from a home in the US state of Ohio where they were apparently locked up in small cages, the authorities have said.

The children, aged one to 14, said they slept in cells only one metre (40in) high. They had no pillows or blankets, according to a Huron County sheriff.

The children's adoptive and foster parents denied abusing or neglecting them at a custody court hearing.

The 11 children have now been placed with foster families.

They were removed from the house in Wakeman, northern Ohio, after a children's services investigator spotted one of the children in a cage.

Lt Randy Sommers, of Huron County Sheriff's Office, told the Associated Press that they had found nine cages built into the wall of an upstairs bedroom.

The cages had alarms that went off if opened, he said.

One of the boys said he had been made to sleep in a cage at night for three years, Lt Sommers said. The doors to some of the cells were blocked with heavy furniture.

Prosecutors are reviewing the case against Sharen and Mike Gravelle, who are foster or adoptive parents to all the children. No charges had been filed as of Monday night.

County prosecutor Russell Leffler said the couple claimed a psychiatrist had recommended the children be caged, AP reports.

The children were said to have a range of disabilities including autism and foetal alcohol disorder.

music august 2005

music...
there isn't a day that goes by that i don't listen to something old or something new. still have one of those but cd's are the thing these days!

1 july, 2005
once again i'm on a "simply red" heavy rotation. nick's voice is amazing. his lyrics are honest and the music all this is set against is tight!

29 august, 2005
yesterday, i finally got to watch the new seal "live in paris" dvd. WOW! it was everything i hoped for and then some. i remembered the first time i saw the video for "crazy" and how much the visual aspect of it took hold. this was a performer who spoke of things most men would never, through his songs. of course i bought the cd instantly only to begin a journey that has lead me to this. i'm happy that his career has survived this long, amongst all the highs and lows of the music industry. he is a gentle giant and a true artist. the paris concert is a solid performance which showcases all of his abilities and his power to hold an audience in suspense, in just under 2 hours. i think it's safe to say that he could easily become this generation's donny hathaway.

a few other mentionables...i recently heard the new mix from ford of the theme song from willy wonka "pure imagination". brilliant trance rendition of one of my most treasured childhood memories. in my travels i also found a cover of the same song performed by maroon 5...Awesome! last weeks download drive was all about grace jones. found a few things i hadn't heard before along with a c&c mix of "love on top of love". i'm always happy to put some grace in my face! still find myself falling back on the "sandcastle" remix's featuring vocals from the lead of the beloved. anxious for the new simply red release as well as jason mraz's new full length. my buddy ed has forced me to listen to a few sublime tracks during our chess match's and i have to say i did like a lot of the lyrics. it's always best to keep an open mind otherwise it doesn't mature.

i think-august 2005

i think...
this is the part where i spill all my marbles, regardless who might fall!

10 august, 2005
a few months back i mentioned stupid parents who take their kids along shopping and don't keep their eye on them. today at work was yet another example of this...there was a young girl, maybe 5 or 6 who was actually pretty bright for her age. she and her parents made their way to the comedy, where the family spent about ten minutes wondering around. at some point mom and dad changed isles and eventually made their way to the front of the store without the little one. so while mom and dad are way up front indulging themselves in what they want, little miss left alone is still standing in the isle far from the "grown ups". i later found out the following from an customer who was in the next isle next to the little girl. not long after her parents went their own way, ms left alone began to quietly call out to her mother. seems little left alone had to take a #2, real bad! the calling continued for about a minute and oddly enough the girl remained in the same spot without trying to walk around to find her parents. i guess she reached a point of discomfort and did the unthinkable. she calmly squatted down, lowered her pajamas and left her mark right on the carpet. once the scent hit the air, the customer near her came to the front and informed me what had just happened. so i located her parents, explained the situation and handed them several cleaning supply's. they cleaned things up, rented their movies and went home, happily together.

i think it's safe to say that milk, bread and eggs are and have been staples for quite some time. i can't recall anytime when the government recalled all breads and ordered them to be impounded for an undisclosed period of time. maybe they hoped we would forget what bread was? i got this story from a guy who works across from our location in a restaurant... in his own mind perhaps, sam had been asked years ago to get rid of all knowledge of bread. forty some years later, he decides to visit ollie's, a local pancake house near my work. yes folks, sam the salad man recently had lunch, along with something he didn't seem to recognize? while at the salad bar, he called the bar prep person over towards him. before he even said hello, sam says to the guy "why are all the breads different colors?" can you believe this? so the prep guy decides instead of telling him which one is rye, pumpernickle.....he says (an example of why i like this prep guy) "well sir, we actually dye the breads different colors to make the salad bar more appealing." sam bought that story immediately then asked one more question "is the dye gonna make him sick?". had it been me who had that questioned posed to them, my response would have been... no but the shards of glass that are in your stomach will since i plan on turning your mouth into vegetable only septic tank!

wilkes barre, pa is well know for its pot holes and overall crappy road conditions. i once saw an older honda civic go front end first into one of the larger ones! the elderly couple driving the car just sat in it, with this puzzled look on their faces. good thing they buckled up! seems no matter what part of town you're in or what ever street you're traveling on, you can count on one annoying obstacle course. i remember once tossing the idea around of starting a web site, souley devoted to all the wb pot holes. i would assign an id number to each one, provide detailed images of each to then be posted on the web site and offer a tour program on the weekends. sounds like a real money maker, yes? to the current...about two weeks ago i noticed a few signs on river street that read "uneven pavement". i thought, christ it's about time somebody warns the tourist's what their in for. turns out, it wasn't anything to do with "concerned thoughts". there intent was to warn us that in a few days river street would be resurfaced. yeh, i got that from the sign? yes they did in-fact resurface river street but only a few blocks of it. why, maybe the asphalt truck ran out of gas? maybe buck & leroy (the two flagging traffic controllers) were run-over and killed instantly, leaving no one who knew how to direct traffic? maybe the major took the rolling crew out for cocktails and got so piss drunk they all forgot to go back to work? maybe someone decided to recreate the george michael video for "outside" in the back of one of the yellow dump trucks, realizing that once they got in-touch with their feminine side, the moment was too fucking hot to stop? hey, don't ever deny yourself, take a load off! for what ever reason the projects over and we still have hundreds of pot holes still available for your front ends. no reservations necessary! warning: no signs posted.

29 august, 2005
and the dumb customer award this week goes to this guy...i was recently running the vacuum at work somewhere at the far end of the store. a customer entered at the front, walked by two service reps who were at the counter without any customers, and proceeded towards me. i did have my back to him so i didn't see him coming at the time. a few minutes later i felt this tap on my shoulder...what and asshole! i turned the rug sucker off and turned around. "hey buddy, do you have a copy of the ring 2 in for rent?" i hesitated and thought of how much i wanted the vacuum to suck him up alive! "sir, there are none on the shelf at the moment. you might ask at the counter. perhaps one has been returned". then he says "oh" and walked away. he's a regular and always blurts out his requests at the counter, demanding immediate attention. what made today any different? i kept on cleaning, anticipating yet another tap.

the f's...friends & family

the f's...family & friends

friends (continued)
24 august, 2005
there are two other friends that i want to mention as i continue to add to the f's section...joseph is a person whom i met some 20 years ago, it seems. if i'm vague on the exact amount of years it's because i feel like i've know him most of "adult" life. if the phrase "heart of gold" had an image, it would certainly be a photo of joseph. he's always been there for me, through the good times and all the bad times. several years ago, after an ugly breakup, i was at the lowest point in my life than i had ever known. i was about to loose my aparment, i was completely broke and i had a really bad drug problem. had it not been for joe, i would probubly not be here today telling you this. it's something i'll never foreget. he's always concerned about my health, my wellness, my happiness and not to mention, my vocabulary ; always in need of refinemnts! i have always tried to expand my vocabulary and joe has this gentle way of telling me i'm incorrect. it's a great combination! joe is currently working as a systems tech at one of our local universitys and enjoys many things (yoga, reading, technology, ti-chi and gardening). kate thinks the world of joe; no other vote matters more to me. you can also visit joe's blog here!

up next...
i had written about my downstairs neighbor ed last month but i left some of you hanging on curiositys string. a few of you even wrote, asking to know more about the mystery guy! here goes....act II opens: my reference to the act II has nothing to do with any acting only the show aspect. for any of you who have had the privlage to spend any amount of time with him, you know ed is a one act show that never ends. he has and endless collection of stories and adventures to tell. most of them are pretty wild and but a few are not even close to being calm. i look forward to them every time because, every time it's a different one. life in the fast lane? i dont think so. ed likes to stay "moving" as apposed to standing still on one particular reason. to me, he's more like a free spirit. the more hours of adventure for ed, the better the time spent. he's one hell of a chess player and the first real "buddy" i've ever had. who said a 20 year difference in age could be a problem? what one lacks, the other gives. i've spent more time these days massageing my face, because i laugh so much when he's around, that it hurts. if nothing less i love him for that alone.

family (this post is incomplete and will be added to on a regular basis)
9 july, 2005
like most american family's, my story isn't very different from anyone eles's. there have been unions and devorces, births and deaths and all the happiness and pain one would anticipate coming from a group of people that arent perfect. for the most part, in our own personal way, we all have survived time. but time has also taken its toll on some of us. as i look back on my life, there are some good memories but they easily get lost in the dark periods that i can vividly recall at any one time. some of you may not like what i have to say about the past. some of you might even dissagree with facts but these are my feelings and my personal experiences and i will not alter any of them just so your comfortable. i choose not to foreget them nore do i want any pitty from any of you. they are what they are and they have made me the person i am today; good or bad. this is a puzzle that i will piece together even though i know the end result will not be some beautifull perfect picture. i bare the scars of my life and celebrate my survival every day. if youre hopeing for a bed of roses, stop reading this and head towards your nearest garden center. if you want to know how i really feel, continue on and you just might have a better understanding of what it is, being ron b...p.s. there are some bright spots because life isnt always tragic.

here are a few things about my family (not listed in any order of preference) : my mom (sandy) graduated from high school and had a variety of jobs that were business accounting/secretarial services related. she currently works as an office assistant for a resturant supply company in berwick, pa. one of the earliest photographs i remember of my was when she was seated at her desk in front of a smith carona at the grants department store more (to come) my sister wendy, whom also happened to marry my best friend from boston david, is a (more to come) they live in wooburn, mass and have two remarkable children, ethan & sarah. my brother in law david is an established and well respected architect dealing with projects all over the eastern coastline. (more to come) my niece sarah is 8 and is surely becoming a talented writer. my nephew ethan is xx and is also equaley talented. (more to come). my brother kennet (aka ben) is a young and gifted man. my grandmother kathern (aka kate) had spent most of her entire life working in a sewing factory to help support her family. after retireing from the mill, she spent the rest of her years caring for our family when ever it was needed. kate has always been there for all of us, putting her needs second. she's an amazing cook (love her corn fritters!) who at any given moment would be more than happy to wip-up a home cooked meal at a minutes notice. while in her late 60's she still continued to make her famous apple pie, completely from scratch! i see so much of myself in kate which i am very greatfull for. she has always been an insperation for me and a good role model.


friends (this post is incomplete and will be added to)
9 july, 2005
pictured here to the right (me, joan & dan) is a snap of what i call my "second family" the fornataro's. before i mention some specifics about any of them i would like to say that here is a "real family", one of which i am very close to and very much apart of. if i were to write a piece on what a family means to me, the fornataro's would be my example. they care about one another, support each other and are some of the kindest folks you would ever want to meet. if you are someone like me, i can only hope someday that you are fortunate enough to meet a family like theres.

i met dan (jr) along time ago in bloomsburg, pa through my friend jeff. if i were to ask dan now for the time and date he would know it; when it comes to numbers, dan has this amazing gift or recall and perhaps that's why he's a math teacher!


11 july, 2005
i've just awoken, it's now 1:oopm monday afternoon. i recently had the opportunity to meet an extrordinary person, who also happens to be a published writer (6 book's!) named john vore. we have had several lite conversations thus far and last night we finally got together at his place for what was to be an intense conversation about his body of work, some of the new projects he is currently working on and a small glimpse into a mind that i could only refer to as a "timex". i remember at one point in the evening, he reminded me of "fox mulder"; he pursues the answers to many things with such drive, commitment and agression. it's the information that is the key which unlocks the doors to further inquires for him. for his sake, i hope he never finds the "key maker". it wasn't that we ran out of things to say, we just ran out of time. i remember leaving at 5:30am just as the new day began to show itself thinking "i'm fortunate to have had those few hours with him". as i think back about all the different subject's we touched upon, it helps me realize that there are still endless possibilities out there waiting to be discovered. finding them isn't always easy and sometimes if your lucky, they somehow seem to find you. life here in northeastern pa isn't very stimulating and somesetimes it's down right depressing. john is a diamond in the rust, who like most of us, are chased by the depressing shadows that linger all around us.

night life-august 2005

night life...
5 august, 2005
so, it's another morning after a night out. yet another packed crowd on friday night at twist. since the addition of the under 21 night in the club, young nepa teens now have a place to go where all are welcome, straight or gay.

when i hear the words "drag show" i get one of two visions...a prom dress once worn by your grandmother that you stole from her attic. honey, be a good girl and return it quickly! the other vision is one of style, class and originality. every now and then i get the second one and last night's performances were just that.

without any discredit to all i would like to mention two of the new faces at the most recent twist drag show...one dark lady who was really racked, stage name isis. when this chick kicked it in, honey the crowd went crazy! if the booty shakin' at 101 times a second didn't blow your mind, the cartwheels must have then. with two performances that turned the nepa crowd upside down, under her wife beater, isis is sure to be in high demand.

the other "just in for the weekend" performer was none other than baltimore's very own miss chris le'bitch. the first thing i saw was that fabulous wig! next it was her drag...groovy babby! then the magic happened...dj debbie hit the play button and on came an etta james song. it was all i could do not to run screaming! within just a few steps you knew this was no back alley betty! she had it all down, the walk, the attitude and the drag. if you weren't instantly transformed back into the 60's attending some groovy shag party, you better change the battery's in your remote. sad to say miss chris had time for only three numbers but she left me and many others with some amazing memories. go to your computer now or pick up the phone and let the boys at twist know that you need her back a.s.a.p.!

holiday august, 2005

holiday...
3 august, 2005
well, sad to say the harrisburg weekend is now behind me. the peace and relaxation are over and life returns to its dead in the water existence here in nepa. i'll spare you the rest of this thought and move on to the "up side" of the weekend!

my drive from wilkes barre to hazelton was fine with the exception of the traffic jam at the base of the mountain. it was bumper to bumper for about half an hour. i think in the entire time being stuck, we only traveled a mile or so. since i had extra time to look around without the risk of crashing, i decided to study the expressions on other drivers. had i been a lip reader, i certainly would have come away from this disappointed. almost all of the drivers were on cell phones talking about something. i would imagine that the majority of them were complaining about the jam. i was able to pick out a few "puffed up veins" along with several left arms that were busy waving about as if it was some kind of protest. to be continued....

feelin groovy july 2005

feelin' groovy...

8 july, 2005"ron, did you have to go and put that on your blog?"...
the answer is obvious. my thought has remained for many years...why is something organic, which just happens to make you feel good, illegal?

9 july, 2005
here are a few places to visit filled with a wealth of controvery and information on the continued trials and tribulations of weed. mpp "the marijuana project policy", "marijuana.com", "the science of medical marijuana",

life-styles july 2005

life-styles...
1 july, 2005spending time in the kitchen is FAB! the whole domestic thing is fun: grocery lists, hunting down the best coupons, getting upclose and personal with all the latest products and running into one of the girls at the market always makes the trip even better! if there's a secret sale, i will find out one way or another.

1 july 2005
don't underestimate the special powers that every good market has. so go ahead and ram your cart into that "special someone". all you need to do is say oops...they wont even question it because they know how congested the isles are and that everyone is late for something!

6 july, 2005
"limited time only"...don't you just hate that. on any shopping trip you are bound to run into one or items that are only available for a limited time only. at times i think many other products not marked, should carry that label. its been my experience from time to time, finding an item i just can't be without so i buy it every time i go. after a few months, the item if off the shelve and no one knows when it will be back. damn those company's! why tease us only to turn-turn-around and walk out the door. enough said but during today's shop i did discover yet another "limited time only" item that you must experience; that is if you like dill. i remember when i was younger my mom would bring home fresh dill from the market. the entire house would soon smell like dill. i couldn't wait to pace around taking in as much of it as possible. back to the present...pringles has just released their crunchy dill chip as part of the american roadtrip promotion. before i put anything in the trunk, i opened the can and took my first chip. WOW! talk about a zesty sting! several chips later the flavor did calm down abit but was still most enjoyable. i will be back for another can as long as they are still available.

i decided today to go down the "plastics isle", the one with all the storage containers, water bottles, plates, cups, chest of drawers, martini glasses, lunch box's, sandwich keepers....christ everything is plastic anymore! and what's with all this neon colored stuff? maybe it hides stains better? or maybe they know something we don't. anyway, i saw two new items that i never knew existed- a hot dog storage container which is shaped just like a package of weenies! also there were these long, slim tube things designed to keep your ritz crisp. soon everything in the fridge will look like a clone of its original. the only difference is one will be real and the other a plastic replica. had i bought the blueberry neon med. size square container (bland by comparison) to store my left-over chicken in; imagine what the meat would look like several days later if i looked through the container. green eggs and ham please.

25 july 2005
this past wednesday, dan and i made our way to the wal-mart super center. it certainly is the bargain capitol of wilkes-barre! once inside, we were smothered in the latest trends, surrounded by today's most popular summer colors...all of which are beautifully lighted by 2287 white fluorescent bulbs. as we got closer to the main isle that leads you straight to the entertainment section, i felt very anxious. this isle has always been a proven winner on my shop till you drop meter, and i couldn't wait to see today's presentations. i'm happy to announce the good old rubber maid has finally decided to back to it's roots and recreate a totally retro collections of household bins & tubs! the colors were right on...boring brown, lime sherbert, "it's a boy" blue and one other one neither one of us could decide on. i instantly started picking up examples of each item, admiring their craftmenship and becoming one with the mood of the colors. deep breath...i feel like sissy spacek for a second...back to shopping. about 12 candles, six dvd's and a quick peak at the plastics isle later we ended up in the food center area. this is the only place in town that has the new peanut butter oreo's in-stock all the time! for a summer cooler, try sticking them in the frig for a few minutes before serving. remember, don't ever take all of them to the table at once, you'll want to indulge yourself in private later. trust me, they will be back for more! we just turned a right into the pasta & rice isle... out of the corner of my right eye, i noticed a "new" box of rice i have never seen. picked it up and read the title. instantly, i yelled to dan "d, what the hell is dirty rice?" we then both took a closer look. it was white rice mixed with wild rice. we both laughed and agreed that it wasn't the least bit appetizing. reminded me of the bottom of the easter bunny's litter pan one hour before the annual egg hunt begins! we got to the frozen section and i remembered i have to get a new micro wave! christ more money to spend! check out was speedy and the temp outside had risen considerably.

film july 2005

film...
it's a mental and visual experience i crave daily.

1 july, 2005
here are a few recent dvd's that i spent time with:" immortel" one of the best sci-fi/cgi based films i've ever seen. a few episodes from the bristish crime series "prime suspect" w/hellen mieren.

2 july, 2005
well the peter jackson remake of "kong" has shown its face with this trailer! my first thoughts, i'm unsure. i need to see more. no additional breaking news from the set of ang lee's brokeback mtn., most of the love scene's have been shot. jake seems to be ok with everything so far. once i find a good site for detailed information, i'll link it.

4 july, 2005
over the past few days i've spent more time working on my new bloggs so view time is less for now. recent views: the machinist (christian bale), denied (lee rumohr), hannibal-spl. edt. (anthony hopkins) and the lord of the rings-two towers extended edt. i've been waiting a while to see the machinist (so few rental copy's) but it was well worth the wait. dramatic, dark, suspense and interesting to look at. you've got to respect bale for loosing almost 100 pounds to take on the role. denied was a title that several of my friends had recommended. i'm always a little leary watching gay themed films from some of the smaller g&l studios because their budgets are small and the actors are often hit or miss. the open scene has this crazy girl who screams and hollers far too much. at least the scene is short. at the core of the story are situations and emotions we all can relate to, even if you're not a jock. hannibal has always been a favorite. no i'm not a closet serial killer i just find the film gripping and the performances exceptional. anthony hopkins is one of the few remaining gentlemen, julian moore can do no wrong and gary oldman truly becomes anyone he plays. the lord of the rings trilogy always delivers everything you could want from a film and this 3 hour version had so many additional facts that were removed from the original release. it's a shame to see someone's vision get diced and sliced because of "time".

DVD date for final Star Wars film

The final instalment in the Star Wars saga has been given a DVD release date in the US of 1 November.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith completed George Lucas' double trilogy, which began in 1977. The two-disc DVD will include a documentary produced by Lucasfilm, and features on stunts and Anakin Skywalker's turn to the Dark Side. Lucas said he wanted to chronicle everything that went into making the final film for the DVD release.

Cross generation

"Now fans old and new alike can enjoy the entire Star Wars saga whenever they want," said Steven Feldstein of 20th Century Fox home video. Other special features on the DVD include an internet documentary series featuring 15 segments produced for the web. A new video game, Star Wars: Battlefront II, will also be released on 1 November. Revenge of the Sith has taken $376m (£215.5m) at the US and Canada box office since it opened in cinemas in May.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/4716777.stm

Published: 2005/07/26 07:56:54 GMT

© BBC MMV

night life july 2005

night life...
2 july, 2005
my time spent in the clubs has mostly been as an employee rather than a patron. i think it's been something like 15 years or so (my poor liver). started out watering, cocktail service, bartending and in the end i've been in the booth spinning and designing the visuals. what i've seen and heard aren't "wonders of the world" but many are certainly worth mentioning. surfaces darling, surfaces!

2 july, 2005
so, it's another morning after a night out. yet another packed crowd on friday night at twist. since the addition of the under 21 night in the club, young nepa teens now have a place to go where all are welcome, straight or gay. i think it's a great thing. when i was younger we didn't have anything like it. we would find places to hang (house party's-parking lots) always lurking in the shadows. having a club open its doors to the younger ones, this congregation of mixed life-styles, lends itself to a more positive attitude about their sexual orientation and improves there self-esteme. The kids love the loud music, the lights and resident dj debbie. they dance non-stop from 11 till 2; this is their church! under 21 night is a blessing in oh so many ways.

6 july, 2005
this past friday night party for the under 21 at twist was once again, shoulder to shoulder. the boys were hot and the muisc kicked ass! everyone was also treated to yet another FAB drag show! this new breed of queens got it all goin' on...gone are the prom gowns from the 50's and the 1" heels. these bitch's are up to the minute drag runway girls! their sporting the latest styles in hair, make-up and gowns along with today's hottest club remiss. If only their CD's were as flawless as they are!

last Wednesday, while most of us were thinking "just two more days till the weekend", a few guys i know had something else in mind...news flash!!! 2 loyals spend one hot night with a royal. yes kaj & dan dove into new jersey to see one of today's hottest soulful house diva's. shortly after their arrival, they were personally escorted to the upper vip table which included their own private server! within a few minutes, the boys got to have a one-on-one with her majesty ms. suzanne palmer! for those in the know, kaj has been friends with ms palmer for quite sometime, exchanging emails and lots of phone conversation. when ever possible, kaj will do whatever it takes just to see her perform. he's so driven, that boy! the crowd was wild, the drinks were fierce and the performance was exceptional as always. oh and the queen, ms lady palmer, looked FAB! remember what your mother told you boys...you must always bow before a queen!

24 july, 2005
so, it's another morning after a night out, well sorta...the story goes a little like this...three months ago two young dudes moved in dowstairs from me. names are ed and matt. my first encounter soon followed while i was trying to fix the drivers side window in my mercury lynx. seems it fell off the track and won't roll up! as i'm trying to think of a solution, the blond abercrombie should be, pops out onto the porch and shout's "dude, try shoving a board in the door". i was tounge tied if you can believe that! i was in such a spin i can't even remember what i said back. days later, turns out the boys had done a little redecorating of their own...ed opened his entrance door as i entered the building "hey buddy, hows' it goin"? i think my eye-brows were somewhere on my shoulder blades at that point..."hey" i say and then he proceeds to invite me in and show me the new titles he laid in the kitchen and bath. i then knew how sparticus felt as he stood on fake marble...the floors looked great, the choice of color & pattern was excelent! then he lead me down the hall ("goin to the chapel...") straight to his bedroom...this does sound naughty already! sad to say it was just more "moments in the light" for ed...i never saw a "straight boy" so excited about a new bed and a designer comforter. i tried not to scratch my head. we bullshited a little and then i went up to my space. so as the weeks past, i would run into one or both of them. it was a church moment! both of them are friendly and well manored, which surprised me at first. to be continued...

holiday july 2005

holiday...
26 july, 2005
i am counting the days...this weekend i'll be away on a holiday with dan. 3 days and 2 nights in the state capitol, harrisburg. friday morning i'll drive up to cape haddock (hazelton) to visit mummsy & dan sr. where i'll meet up with dan. from there we'll head for harrisburg for a fun filled weekend i'm sure. we've got a few points of destination picked out and i'm sure one of them will be the mega salvation army! i'll have lots to tell you when i return.

fish tv july 2005

fish tv...
3 july, 2005
perhaps it's only natural that i'm so fond of my fish's! there very relaxing and very colorfull inside and out. diva calls my sitting with the fish's, me watching "fish tv"! she has a point, i spend many hours watching them.

3 july, 2005
more to come!

test post

i love to shop! price and selection are always my first two considerations. you can never have too many hats, gloves or shoes sweetie! here are some of my favorite places and some i think might be of interest to you. i will continue to add more links as i discover them. i'de rather not have all these on the right side of the blog so instead they are all here in one place, as one post. have a ball! oh, and don't foreget to support your local salvation army or thrift store..

ron beck designs