Thursday, February 26, 2009

100 Books


Bl0g note: I'm still on sabbatical, but I wanted to share this post Hester sent to me. For those of you who sent well wishes, thank you. Don't worry. I should be back to posting in full force next week. Just been in a glorious snit these last few weeks. Slowly, I'm climbing out of it....

The BBC believes most people will only have read SIX of these 100 books. How many have YOU read? Be honest!

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.
2) Add a '+' to the ones you LOVE.
3) Star (*) those you plan on reading.
4) Tally your total at the bottom.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen ( )
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (x)
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (x )
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (x and +)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (x and +)
6 The Bible (x)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (x)
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (x)
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( )
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (x)
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (x)
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (x)
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ( )
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ()
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ()
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (x)
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk ( )
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (x)
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (*)
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ( )
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (x)
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x)
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ()
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (x never have finished though. I hate this book!)
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (x and +)
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ( )
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (*)
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck ( )
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (x and +)
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ( )
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ( )
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens (x)
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (x and +)
34 Emma - Jane Austen (x and +)
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen ( )
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (x and +)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini ()
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ( )
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (x)
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne ( )
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell (x)
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (x and +)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ()
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving (x)
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ( )
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery (x)
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ( )
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood (x)
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (x and +)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ( )
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel (x )
52 Dune - Frank Herbert (x and +)
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons ( )
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (x)
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ()
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (x)
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (x)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon ( )
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (x and +)
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ( )
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ( )
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ( )
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (x)
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ()
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ( )
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ()
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ( )
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville (x)
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (x)
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker (x and + )
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (x)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ( )
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ( )
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath ( )
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ( )
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ( )
80 Possession - AS Byatt ()
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (x)
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker (x and + )
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ()
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert (x )
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White (x)
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom (x)
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ()
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ( )
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad ()
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery ()
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams (x )
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ( )
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (x)
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (x)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl (x)
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (x )

OK, so I added up my total and I've read just about half at 49! That's not bad.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Shh, but thanks Taylor & Darius...

Note: copycat post from Chocolate and Salsa. Pardon the lack of originality. So the blog isn't ending, but I am taking a break for a few days. I'm just tired...and overwhelmed!

Now, I'm gonna break the rules here, but Taylor's blog, SGL Cafe, is one of my favorite blogs! EVAH. Oh, I have tons of favorites really, and I try not to go on and on on some less I hurt somebody's feelins by not mentioning them...but Taylor just wrote something really awesome comment. Believe me, I was touched.

Anyhoo, I haven't been postin much on any of the three blogs. I'm going through my changes...again. Ain't I moody sum'bitch? LOL. Whenever I get my boxers outta snit, I'll be back. For now, here's a shout out to Taylor. Got these from his Flickr page awhile ago...when you get the chance, meander over to SGL Cafe.

While I'm at it too, lemme give a proper thanks to Darius T for make me feel included! Your comment this morning was also appreciated! You know I love your blogs too, so, not playin' too much favoritism. Check out both of Darius T's blogs here and here! Bring some munchies, cause his Everyday Cookin spot is definitely gonna make you huuuuuuuungry! For food that is, get your mind out the gutter! LOL.

For now, here's splendid photos from Taylor that caught my eye....








All photography courtesy of and copyrighted by Taylor Siluwé.

Done? Or Potty Break???


So this is it? Huh. For some reason I thought there would be bells and whistle stops, mass applause, outcry, and what not. Instead of a fervor, it's just a quiet Tuesday wee hour morning. Chilly. Humming of the computer. No unusual fanfare. Sigh. Way to go Ian, boy-o!

One of my favorite movies of all times is Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure. Cheesy 80s flix, but ever so poignant in it's zany message. Have fun and be excellent to one another. If wishes were horse, eh? Much like Keanu Reeves acting talent, my mindset has not much changed either since the 80s. LOL. Oh, I'm not dissin' Keanu. I love him, it's just the apex of his career, I'm still hearing "duuuuude." Dangerous Liaisons. Duuude. Speed. Duuude. The Matrix. Duuude. Constantine. Duuude. The Lake House. Duuuuuuuuude! Sorry bruh, but I'm not buying it.

But all silliness aside, recent events have caused me to ponder, reflect, and give pause to life. Where am I headed? Where is I, where is I at? Dunno. Nothing makes much sense anymore. Well, it does really, but the pieces of me are a strange fit, even to the person who has lived this journey. I'm not sure what I expected to do while I was here, not sure what purpose I had, but maybe I did something right and worthwhile. I hope so.

A week from yesterday, I turn 39. Not a big deal for me. Thirty-nine is that quiet stop before 40. Just another turn of the page, flip of the calender. Not planning much fanfare to mark the occasion. Spending a quiet evening at home. This weekend E.J. is taking me out to dinner. On the actual day, I'll pause and thank God I live another year, then go about the normal routine of physical therapy and the daily grind. Whatever God gives me, I'll be pleased with. Even though 39 is no milestone birthday, it's a new chapter for moi.

So is this the end of my blogging experience? Um, probably not. I got the other two blogs, MALE and Chocolate Salsa, going strong (rest assured I'm having fun there) but for now I'm taking a break from the Axe. My hands are heavy from carrying that blade. There's nothing much I wanna say about myself right now anyway. The words and thoughts are there, but I can't seem to get the spirit right, the tone the way I need...

Who knows? Maybe this is another one of my mini-midlife crises? I could be back tomorrow for all I know. But for me, the greatest measure of oneself is how you're weighed through the eyes of others. Perhaps immature thinking, but I believe if we serve the common good, and people come away with positive thought about us, then we did something right. I'm sooooo not feeling that about myself today, yesterday, or honestly, for most of 2009. Time to envelope myself with positiveness and create change. The Axe isn't about change. It's just about yesterdays and trying to make peace with the past. As the title says, here I reconcile past so that I might comprehend future. Hm.

So. Ummm...

I hate goodbyes. They suck. I hate change, but change is necessary for growth. So there are a million mindless words I could post. So MUCH to say. Not sure if this is or isn't the end... Let's just call it a break. While I'm gone though, carry these wonderful words from the Bill And Ted's, "Be excellent to another." Can't think of a better ending.

As a dear friend would always end his letters..."All my burning words,"
-Ian

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Another BSG Double Standard?


So far the final 10 episodes of Battlestar Galactica was been disapointing and most annoying. The big hype, You will know the truth..blah, blah, blah. Yawn already. More explanations! More drama! More Cylons!!! With the exception of last week's episode, five of the six aired episodes have been fairly predictable.

With four eps remaining, the writers have many answers to cram into the show. Why does Baltar/Caprica Six see the "head" Six/Baltar? Who or what the frak is Starbuck? What is the significance of the Opera House, all those damn visions, and Hera, the hybrid child? Best of all, why do we never, EVER, see the sexy Black guy Cylon Simon?!?! (You knew I had to go there!)

Last night, with the return of the Fifth Cylon to the Colonial Fleet, was just so damn slow. Plus a few points in the storyline jumped the shark in my opinion. Um, Head Six? Whasupwitchu? Where have you been the last couple episodes? Um, Galen? Why your vote when you just helped Galactica get her overhaul? Tory...well no real question for you. You're still in character, but I thought you couldn't become even more a bitch than last night. I can't stand your character!!! Um Roslin and Adama? Why are you trusting Baltar? Again!. Um, Final Cylon of the Final Five? Why last week were you the benevolent, surprisingly delightful, creator, only to return to the fleet to return to vapid, scornful, trite "human" you were before you left in the first place? I suppose hell hath no fury afterall..."little girl." Little girl indeed. See, watch yo' mouth. Now your little girl got issues, all cause of you! Guess your spite backfired?

Ugh. For better or worse, I'm sucked in.

For fellow bloggers, Wonder Man, Andy Caldwell, and Nude In DC, or anyone else who watches the series....what did you make of the big break down scene with Colonel Tigh and Admiral Adama? Curious. Thinking back to a post Wonder Man (read it and my comments here) wrote concerning the footnote admission onFelix Gaeta's sexuality and how Ron D. Moore handle the situation. Undermining it by only implying it in episodes and make the clear distinction in webisodes, something most viewers would not see. At first, I agreed with BSG creators and how underscoring Gaeta's sexuality would actually villify him more. Given what happens to Gaeta this season, the LGBT community would cry foul for RDM creating a negative homo-stereotype. However, Friday's episode went the over direction and has me now wondering.

You remember the scene... Our good Colonel shows up at Adama's state room, "britzing" (PA Dutch term) his head off, all pathetic, and dispondent because Liam died. Ah yes, the big ole break down. A sad moment until Tigh falls apart in Adama arms, broken man, lovingly looking for comfort, but CLEARLY has to insert "its not like that you know..." And the Fifth Cylon, moments before, got their jab in, pushing the point that Tigh loves no one else in the Universe more than Bill Adama. So of course, Tigh has to defend his manhood, even in the depth of misery. I ain't no homo!

Haven't read anything on the blogsphere yet. Have yet to surf over to the BSG message boards, but I'll be surprised if nobody makes a stink about this. Here you have them sweeping the issue of Gaeta's homosexuality under the rug, while going out of their way to prove Tigh's heterosexuality. Fair? Or discrimination? You tell me.

-Ian

"Before I Knew Him"

Blogger note: Since a few of my co-bloggers on MALE have been brandishing their powerful works of poetry, I decided to further open the door into who I am by posting a few pieces of my own. Now for me, my poems are a private matter. Garbage really. I wrote a poem earlier this year in honor of Barack Obama's inauguration to the Presidency back in January. Piece of crap, but I tried my best.

So going through a little journal I keep in my nightstand, I found a poem I wrote three years ago about Napoleon. Surprisingly, there a great element of truth in what I scribbled. For those of you who've been reading the Axe long enough to know my trials and errors with my ex, what do you think?

I named him "Napoleon"
but perhaps "king" would have been more apropos.
With an air (or is "heir") apparent,
he walks with gentleness,
but stubbornness to a fault.
He challenges anyone who dares
give him a double take,
question his correctness or entitlement.

Perhaps in deeds,
the actions are unforgivable
but where else does on go
when seeking such dubious promises and empty hope?
Napoleon.

His is a fire that burns inside,
fueled with strange passions and oft white lies.
Something unimaginable yet mysteries.
He's the perfect Gossamer,
a hybrid creature,
there's danger beneath that smile.

Who else knows where he goes behind closed doors?
Who understands the dictates of his motivations?
My reason is a gift,
His are only afterthoughts.

No,
the passions are his alone,
launched into unusual tirades
but deeper lends the mystery
and I am curious all the more.
In turns,
his love can be greater,
most sweeter than honey and wine.

Though I glimpse him with one eye closed
this "king-child,"
How amazing in this short time
I've observed a man I want to call mate.
A lifetime of events
crammed in few sessions
(more than one person should experience).

The future may be,
but in time only will I really know
if someday I'll give pause,
and regret the past,
score myself for unwise decisions...

But today I live in the here
and the now
and all He does is makes me feel warm and right.
Let tomorrow worry about itself.

egane
Written about "Napoleon"
penned 26 July 2006
titled 21 February 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Leftovers

Excerpts from "Adore" by Prince

Can I talk to you?

Tell you what you mean to me?

Every time you wander
(Until the end of time)
I'll be your eyes so you can see
(I'll be there for you)
I wanna show you things
(You own my heart and mind)
That I show no other, I wanna be
(I truly adore you)
More than, more than your mother
(If God one day struck me blind)
More than your brother
(Your beauty I'd still see)
I wanna be, like no, like no other
(Love is too weak to define)
If you need me, I'll never leave
(Just what you mean to me)


I've always loved Prince's Adore. Dunno why, just have. Never had anyone particular in mind to sing this song for or about, just wanted to post these words with the picture.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Journey Home...


A boy sits in the sands, feet buried in the grit, enjoying the warm summer afternoon. Its so peaceful. Not a care in the world to think about. Beside him sits a tiny pale and shovel that got much use that day. Building imaginary forts and castles, conquering worlds, building dreams outta tiny grains of earth...

The ocean roars; accompanying our tyke in his solace. Waves crest and fall, foam rushes close to where he sits, but never quite reaches. Such resplendent joy to be here. If only the moment could last forever. But soon, alas, all good things must come to an end. A man's shadow creeps from behind him.

"Gather your things kiddo. We gotta be headin' out," Father pronounces.

Disappointed, our young fellow slowly climbs to his feet. Stricken with a pang of sadness, like he'll never enjoy the sun, waves, or the ocean breezes like this again, he picks up his assortment, takes one last glimpse at the surroundings, then takes daddy's hand and they walk back to the car. Somber and sobering, the day's treat is done. Time to go home.

As Father straps him in the back seat, there's water and a sandwiches next to him. Nourishment in case he hungers on the long drive back home. Maybe they'll stop for custard at Dairy Queen just outside Lightfoot? Or perhaps stop at Aunt Sarah's or Stuckey's? The drive is so long; just reaching Richmond will take an eternity.

In anticipation of this, Father's filled toys and books on the backseat with our little boy. This should keep him preoccupied for several hours. Father hopes little boy will sleep too, but he never does. Prepped to go, the key turns in the ignition, the engine purrs, now casual and slow, the orange Nissan reverses out of the space, from the parking area, and begins its trek West up Route 64 homeward bound.

With doe eyes, a mist of tears forming, our tyke wonders with naive innocence. In young, immature thoughts, he wonders why the day went so fast? Wonders how long it'll take to get home? Wonders what mommy will think of his bronze copper skin once he runs up those steps home? How will Pammy and Rinna like their gifts? Summer is over.

Time to make the journey home...

Perspective


Watching CNN report on the Australian Bushfire, I sit in utter awe and amazement. Puts proper perspective on loss. The story has been in the news for a few weeks. I've caught the pictures, but never gave it a second thought. Wildfires seem such a normal occurrence anymore.

Every spring and summer, some part of Southern California seems to burn. I hate to admit it, but I've been desensitized. Oh, this is not to say my heart didn't go out to the Aussies, I feel their pain, but my attitude was "They can overcome. The Californians do."

Oh how ignorant Ian! People Down Under are loosing lives, property, and hope. The devastation unbelievable. So, this morning, I must chastise myself for not being more sympathetic....

Albert Pujols

Lord knows, I'm no fan of the St. "Screw-us" Cardinals, I do enjoy watching Albert play.

Thank God baseball starts in two months. I'm soooo tired of winter. Baseball always means Spring is near, which leads to warmer weather! My hope is to catch as many games as I can, between Camden Yards and Citizen's Bank Park, as possible to watch the Boys of Summer this 2009 Baseball season. Probably will only be able to afford the nose bleed section, but hey! Cheap-o seats are still seats at a game, right?

You know that's right!










Saturday, February 14, 2009

Through The Night


As sung by Gladys Knight

I'm imagining lots of happy people
And most of you are with someone you love
Well you are the lucky ones

All over the world there are
lots of people who are alone tonight
I imagine most of us have been in
that situation at some time or another
I know I have

Recently I heard a most beautiful song with a dynamic lyric
that really expresses this feeling of loneliness
It means a lot to me personally
and I like to share it with you
I think you'll see what I mean...

Take the ribbons from my hair.

Shake it loose and let it fall

Lay in soft upon my skin

Like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side

'Til the early morning light
All I'm taking is your time
Help me make it through the night...


I don't care what's right or wrong

I won't try to understand
Let the Devil take tomorrow
For tonight I need a friend.

Yesterday is dead and gone

And tomorrow is out of sight

And it's so sad to be alone

Help me make it through the night
...

Lord it's so sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
Lead me through the night
Come on and take me through the night
Through the night....

Ian's Point:
Just clearing some thoughts. Sums up what I'm feelin'. I'm not especially sad, though, perhaps overly annoyed and angry with myself, bored, and tired with my life at the moment, but C'est la vie. Is it's another sad-sack, pity party post? Probably.

Half contemplated going down town for a drink or two, but I know what would end up happening. I'm not going to waste 7 months of purifying abstinence for cheap, meaningless Valentine's Day hook-up. I'd only feel like shit tomorrow morning if I had. No. I know I'm in a vulnerable moment, so the best place for me is right here at home.

Hope you are having a memorable occasion tonight at least.
-Ian

Friday, February 13, 2009

Penultimate Male: Wolverine

Out of all the movies coming out this summer, more than any other, I'm most eagerly awaiting Wolverine. Talk about intense and masculine. If you ever read the Uncanny X-Men, then you understand the background behind Wolvie's total bad-ass attitude. Hugh Jackman fits the character so well too.

So for you loyal Marvel comic readers, who was/is your favorite Superhero? We've had Iron Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spiderman movies, so who's left? What movie still needs to be made?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

200 Years Old? So Effing What!


Now y'all know I love our President. I do. I support him without reservation. However, I must post my first criticism of President Obama. It'll be brief and simple: Stop worshipping at the boots of the greatest racist in American history!

The reverence afforded to Abraham Lincoln is so disconcerting. Lincoln was a racist. Period. I don't care what other accomplishments he did for this country. Without a doubt, Abe Lincoln would've spat on our current President rather than break bread with him at the same table.

So I really don't want to hear anymore how Lincoln did this or did that for America. What he did was to benefit his political career, and dare I say, for a certain group of Americans only. Study your history. Lincoln wanted to ship America's Negroes out of the country, back to Africa, or to somewhere in the unclaimed Northwestern Territories. NP! Lincoln was just another bump in the road for true social justice for the Black community. I'm curious what would have happened with the remainder of Lincoln's term had he not been assassinated by J. Wilkes Booth. What would Lincoln's true legacy have been?
I'm tired. I'm sick. And I just don't wanna hear no more about Good ole Abe.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Nighty, Night Nightcrawler


Next to Storm and Jean Grey (Phoenix/Marvel Girl), Nightcrawler is my favorite X-Man. I hope, if they ever decide to do a fourth X-Men movie, they'll bring back Alan Cummings to reprise his role as Herr Wagner.

Sent To Me....

Continuance


Whatever illness that has it's grips on me is taking its time letting go. Last week I had the flu, this week I have a head cold and have been achy as hell. Yesterday I made a conscious decision not to go online at all. Of course this morning, my email boxes runneth over. I'll spend the better part of this morning emptying and reading mail.

I can't think of anything pertinent to write this morning. There's nothing really going on with me. Nothing. Since I've been sick on and off these last two weeks, I haven't been to Physical Therapy or even left the house much. Sunday I managed to drag myself to church, then came home and crashed on the couch for three hours afterward.

Today, my challenge is to get myself together, work on a few posts for the blogs, do some cleaning around the house, workout a bit, and continue to shake this cold. Boring, but life goes on whether we're sick or not....

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

New Male


In every man's life, he comes to a crossroad where its imperative to decide where he's going with his journey. What do you really want to do with your time here? For me, I'm finding my wings in blogging. I'm not the greatest writer, but I've got a story to impart. Time to focus on what the Creator has relayed to me. Time, in this man's quest, to grow up.

"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways..."

Thus, a new blog, simply called Male, began. Male will approach issues from a more mature angle than I've done with either the Axe or Chocolate Salsa. Here, I can continue to expound on self-interests and silliness. Likely, on Chocolate Salsa, I can continue to showcase my wonderful masculine images of men of color.

Male
takes on 39-year-old (We're down to 3 weeks folks!) Ian. Not in a curmudgeonly expression, but with redeeming value and wisdom on social awareness issues on what it means, in my point of view, to be a man. Corey gave me the greatest motivation speech earlier today...

"...{move} into a more inspirational zone with social commentary because it's where we ARE right now. WE as a people. WE as a country. WE as LBGT folk of color. It's WHERE we are. Something WONDERFUL has crept through all the crap and a lot of us are grabbing at all the positivity we can. DO IT as only YOU can DO IT!"

True that. And so I shall. I'm also looking for a few co-authors, folks willing to contribute er'ry now and again, without detracting from your own projects. How I'm conceptualizing this blog is along the lines part GBM website, part Gayte-Keeper's blog, part sexiness like Aaron's Masculine Curves, part social commentary like Darian's blog, and occasional sports, politics, and entertainment, like Rod's Rod 2.0. Just to name a few...It's gonna be a whole lotta something.

Ian's Point: This "something" is the universal testimony that binds us all together. Aspects of male life, regardless of creed, language, color, race, faith, or sexuality, we all know and experience as it affects all us brethren. If you got the "equipment," at some point, some words on Male will pose significance for you...

Check out the introduction post here.
-Ian

Monday, February 2, 2009

Champions

Congratulations to the SuperBowl XLIII Champions, Pittsburgh Steelers!!!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

In Sickness & In Health

Blogger's note: Here's an amended re-post from my other blog, Chocolate Salsa.

Fellas, fellas, fellas....I've been sick!

If you haven't done so by now, then tomorrow, walk, if not run, to your nearest vaccination center and get your flu shot!

God. What an ordeal the last few days have been. Spent more time moaning and groaning than a l'il. This morning? I feel somewhat better. Waking, my clothes were drenched in sweat, fit to be burned.

After I managed to crawl into the shower, I feel human again. Can't conceptualize eating, but least the aches, chills, and vomiting are gone.

Life changes on a dime. What sucks about getting sick is I had plans. The local Q alumni chapter are having a community function to celebrate "Big Game Day" over at the Manna Cafe (aka "The Frat House"). Was gonna go over there for a bit, then over to friends, plus I wanted to go to church. Well, those plans quickly got the kibosh. Since I'm not sure if I'm contagious or not, I don' wanna infect nobody. Best keep my black arse indoors today. What a way to start February, huh?

Ian's Point: Every year I say I'm gonna get that damn flu vaccination, and for whatever reason, I always put it off. Well, Mister Influenza bit me in the ass this year with vengeance. Remember too, much of the common cold and other Winter time nasties can be prevent by simply washing your hands to decrease germs....

Disclaimer

While this blog is not really intended to show adult content, I can't guarantee that an occasional image of male nudity won't appear. Be advised that this blog is intended to be read by people with an open mind. I don't claim any rights to the images nor do I have any knowledge of the sexuality of persons featured (unless they are openly gay...duh). Enjoy yourself and take a small step in my every day life and pondering... Feel free to email any comments or opinions.

President Barack Obama!