It's a Walled World After All

I live in an area crowded with old brownstones from the ’50s, low-rises with big windows, balconies, and narrow streets between them. The illusion of it being an intimate neighbourhood is exceedingly well done.
For all its lack of imposing, stacked up against the major metropolitan downtown that’s only a few kilometres from here, it’s amazing how little I’ve met the people I’ve lived around for a decade. Maybe a third of those in my alleyway have lived here for the decade I have. Of them, I know perhaps five.
For three months now, I’ve wondered where one of them, the neighbour I overlook from my kitchen, was. I assumed some big trip around the world, since more than a few people around here have turned out to be travellers.
But then I saw her Friday for the first time in three months — more than 100 pounds heavier, looking 15 years older, tired, worn, and just about to quit — life, not just her job. My heart went through the floor. Continue reading →

Sugasm 172 and TGIF, Baby

How nice! Sugasm picked me as Editor’s Choice for my story about tomato plant pollination. 🙂
This morning I got interviewed by a national print health magazine about my weightloss of 70+ pounds and my total-life-reconstruction thingie. I’ll get a little feature with a picture of my smilin’ face. That’s pretty cool.
But tonight, it’s more cooking. I’m in a cooking competition tomorrow, my first ever, and I’m looking forward to how it all works out. I’m looking foward to just being DONE, actually.
So here’s your Sugasm list instead of a “real” blog post. Lots of great writing on here. Including mine. 🙂 Dig eat, eat some Sugasm, you know you’ll love it.
Sugasm #172
The best of this week’s blogs by the bloggers who blog them. Highlighting the top 3 posts as chosen by Sugasm participants. Want in Sugasm #173? Submit a link to your best post of the week using this form. Participants, repost the link list within a week and you’re all set.
This Week’s Picks
A Hot Fuck in a Parking Lot
“We got more daring and soon clothes were a hindrance to our insistent hands.”
I Think I’d Rather Misbehave
“I bet the secret thrill of this has your cock already climbing to attention.”
The Painter
“He says something, small talk, and I stutter something back, lost in the blue depths of his eyes.”
Sugasm Editor
Strildo?
Editor’s Choice
Yet Another Reason You Should Buy a Vibrator
More Sugasm
Join the Sugasm

Dating Options 101: Whatchagot

I had too much wine on Saturday night, wrote this. Didn’t publish it for fear I might’ve said too much. In vino veritas and all. So here’s the version you see. 🙂
I’m being antisocial. Again. I’m at that point where people are draining me, so I know I need my time to myself.
Some guy’s aggressively pursuing me. I could be shagging this weekend, not lounging around in ugly clothes. The thought fills me with a little doubt as I look down at my yoga pants and my shitty concert t-shirt. God knows it’s been long enough. If landscapes were sex-life allusions, then mine would be the Sahara in a drought. I’m okay with this, though. Except, you know, at those moments when — SCHWING — I’m so not. Fortunately, self-inducing oblivion helps avoid those moments.
I’ve been rebuffing said attempts. Pretty sure he’s not really my type. It’d be just sex. Incredibly-hot-guy-with-no-mental-connection sex. If things were less complicated, maybe. Like I say: A dry season in the Sahara. The problem with hormones is, once you turn ’em on, it’s like the switch gets broke. They get this mind of their own. I’d prefer not to fuck my mode and just avoid sex entirely unless it’s for the “oh, YOU might be a sidedish of WOW” kinda manly potential right now. Continue reading →

When We Were Kids: Growing Up John Hughes

I’ve been foiled by the evil estrogenies on my long weekend Monday, and my monthly female visitor is making its presence known. Happily, I’m now medicated.
More happily, TiVo ate some Breakfast Club and is serving it up fresh for me this morning — one of those few movies I can recite more than half. It’s surprising how many of those movies I can recite are of the John Hughes Library.
I  _am_ the John Hughes Generation. I’m so sad he passed away before 60, and bitter he stopped his brilliantly insightful teen movies when he did, back in the ’80s. I always wanted to go through college with John Hughes as my guide. Thank god Cameron Crowe peaked when he did. I’ve not yet written about Hughes’ death, though, and have been meaning to say a few words.
Everyone in my crowd has their own John Hughes memory. This is the biggest of them all, for me: The Breakfast Club. Continue reading →

Social Media Pecking Order? Must We?

I believe I’ve put my foot in it, so I thought I might as well squish it around and make a real good mess. What the hell, right?
I’ve sort of smack-talked Vancouvers “social media” scene when I read the always-awesome Raul/Hummingbird604‘s blog post on same [Where is the Diversity…?] earlier today. First off, I should say I think that getting out to “tweet-ups” through Twitter, as a social tool, is one of the best choices I’ve made in years. I am making great new friends. I love what it’s doing for me.
But there’s a definitive class-system out there, and its obviousness at tweet-ups is GLARING. So I’m tackling my two cents from a different, more pointed perspective here. Continue reading →

My Lesson for You, and A Question

This morning I’ve done my rehab exercises for the second time this week, which is the first time I’ve done them twice in a week since June. I’m aiming for a third time this weekend, and four times next week.
I disagree with a lot of folks who want you to just be positive when tackling this shit. I think it’s important to acknowledge all your shortcomings, accept where you think you’re failing, but then you gotta put that shit aside and just Get it Done. This is my method. It works for me. The soft-love approach of coddling myself and telling myself I’m worth it and I can do it, that never did much for me. Instead, I tell myself I’m better than how I’ve been behaving, that I’m stronger than that, that I owe it to myself, and that if I keep on with the destructive behaviour, the climb out of it’s just gonna get harder and harder.
I think it comes down to whatever works for you. Don’t question why it works, just do it.
ALSO…
I’ve tried a couple versions of Twitter-rehashing for this blog, so people could see what I’m saying. SHOULD I put it on the blog? Or not? I can’t decide, but I don’t want to piss you people off with anything that may be perceived as “filler”. Thanks!

Twitter Rehash for 2009-09-03

Oh, Those Sticky Mindfucks

There’s an oppressive pall out there today. Low, bland clouds, void of distinction, interest, or drama. Ominous for us Vancouverites who are seasonally affected, as daylight hours have already quickly ebbed away by four hours in just the last two months. There’s another 6 or so to lose, and countless certain dreary days that loom.
Winter and I aren’t on the best of terms. It’s safe to say I loathe it. When I’m older and in the money, I’ll certainly be a in-Mexico-from-January-to-March type. I dread the depressive grey. My hydro bill for December and January could be a teaser for any marathon horror movie session. HOW MUCH? EEK! Fuck Climate Change; if it lights up, I’m plugging it in.
As if it’s not a moody enough day, I might add that I’m not entirely thrilled that I started therapy yesterday, by the way. Oh, that. Continue reading →

Rehashing The TweetStream

  • I’m caught in the emotional hangover of a shitty weekend. Still haven’t heard back if my walllet’s at someone’s place, need to act anyhow. #
  • KFC’s new Double Down sandwich uses fried chicken unstead of bread: Estimated 2000 calories–3 times combined fat/cal/sodium of Big Mac. #
  • But the “sandwich” is only being offered in Rhode Island and Nebraska right now. Let’s hope the test market fails and people are smarter. #

    • Continue reading →

On Summer's Last Real Weekend

Sigh. It’s the last Friday in August.
It’s bittersweet. It’s that time of year when I’m enjoying the rare rainfall, thinking about the quiet solace of the colder months. We Canadians, we hibernate. More reading, more nights with a glass of wine and slippers nearby.
Soup. I could write an ode to soup right now. Steamy, wet, by the cupful… But, um, I won’t. Suffice to say, I miss soup.* Continue reading →