2009-02-19 
 

a meme to pass the time

Did I mention I've been abducted by Facebook? Yes...but I have a secret goal for this blog and haven't reached it yet so...a meme! (thanks to Brian who is indeed made of fine materials)

1. Mike is made of stories.
   
2. While all the others are resigned to defeat, Mike is made of sterner stuff.
   
3. Mike is made of stupid.
   
4. Mike is made of very soft rubber.
   
5. Mike's is made of laminate construction that conceals the outline of the gun and also cushions the wearers leg.
   
6. Mike is made of muscle!
   
7. Mike is made of jelly.
   

Watch me wiggle! See me jiggle!

Labels: blogging, memes

* posted by me at 5:23 PM

(1) comments



2009-01-14 
 

mikey, he likes it

So I talk about taking a break, but then M and B both hit me with a meme and I find myself posting again within 24 hours. Since I go by different monikers, I typed in each of them. They were too funny to keep to myself, but I kept the total results to five for each.

Rules: Go to Google and type in quotation marks, your name and then "likes to" (E.g. "Mike likes to"). Type in the first ten things that come up and repost in your own note.

1. Mike likes to grunt to indicate his pleasure/displeasure.
   
2. Mike likes to whip stuff.
   
3. Mike likes to film.
   
4. Mike likes to fly
   
5. Mike likes to produce.
   

1. Michael likes to get up in Heidi's face and touch her nose or put his palm on her head.
   
2. Michael likes to be needed as well as to cherish and protect his loved.
   
3. Michael likes to DANCEmix.
   
4. Michael likes to Dance.
   
5. Michael likes to sleep in a high-security environment.
   

1. Mikey likes To have fun alot.
   
2. Mikey likes to count.
   
3. Mikey likes to call me a bitch.
   
4. Mikey likes to write on himself!
   
5. Mikey likes to shop.
   

Amen to that last one! (And many others actually, but I'll let you figure out which are which.)

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 6:59 PM

(2) comments



2008-12-31 
 

year end meme

Who am I to ignore a meme? The year in review via the first words I wrote on LAOD each month.

January: Spent a good part of my day continuing the search for the paper.

February: G and I have been having a pretty wonderful time playing house this week, but reading TNTP's blog the other day did make me long for San Francisco.

March: Sorry for the bad pun of a title, but my body feels like a wet noodle right now.

April: I'm back!

May: A good friend of mine is directing a play in New York called F*ck Me, B*eat Me, L*ve Me, but given the difficulty of pronouncing an asterisk in normal conversation, he also refers to it as the dirty gay play.

June: Gram had a psychotic episode this morning.

July: Dude inspired me to start exercising again.

August: I'm glad to be living in a state that's willing to recognize and repeal a discriminatory law.

September: Spent most of today getting the house cleaned up for the aunties who arrive in about 15 minutes.

October: We are all, always, revising our own personal history.

November: Don't believe the polls.

December: Milk, it does the body good. (and the brain and the heart.)

Labels: dose of mikey, memes, memory lane

* posted by me at 5:21 PM

(0) comments



2008-08-12 
 

5 4's meme

This was an email I recieved, but I'm turning it into a blog entry. It also had evolved into 6 questions before it got to me, but I deleted the one about who would respond. Blogger's perogative.

1. Four places that I go to over and over: Tufts Library, Derby Street Shops, Niles Street in Abington, Myrtle Street in Hanover

2. Four people who e-mail me (regularly): Maggi, Chris, Greg, James

3. Four of my favorite places to eat: M&T's on Myrtle Street, Tsang's, Chow on Church Street, Home (as in at home where G and I can cook, not the restaurant of the same name in San Francisco)

4. Four places I would rather be: Hawaii, San Francisco, Ogunquit, Maalox Manor

5. Four TV shows I watch: Lost, BSG, How I Met Your Mother, Olympics

Aside to coconut shampoo: You did help write my blog!

Labels: linkage, memes

* posted by me at 1:57 PM

(0) comments



2008-08-07 
 

mosaic meme

Found this meme over on yaniblog and thought it sounded fun so I tried it. Lucky you, I turned it into a quiz!

The concept:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below the mosaic into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick an image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into mosaic maker.

This is what I ended up with: (click to enlarge)


The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food?
3. What school did you go to?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favourite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favourite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you?
12. Your nickname?

Having trouble figuring out what I answered? Here's a clue via the original photo links on Flickr.

1. Michael in the morning light, 2. LA Peeps for Obama, 3. Shovel Museum, 4. The Emerald Coast, 5. Oh. Oh, Jamie., 6. Pink Elephant, 7. sunset road, 8. Chocolate Volcano Cake, 9. Heart's Content Lighthouse, 10. Greg Vaughan, 11. Everybody needs some time...on their own, 12. london punkz!

Still can't figure out the Peeps when you know I crave savory instead of sweet? Highlight below for the actual answers.

1. michael 2. steak 3. stonehill college
4. aquamarine 5. jamie bamber 6. gin and tonic
7. iceland 8. chocolate volcano cake 9. content
10. greg 11. mercurial 12. mikey

Labels: dose of mikey, memes

* posted by me at 5:22 PM

(0) comments



2008-02-24 
 

oh romeo, romeo

Yes, I am addicted to Lost.

Which Lost Character Are You?

More on Lost. Created by BuddyTV

Labels: linkage, memes

* posted by me at 11:37 AM

(0) comments



2007-12-21 
 

christmas meme

Been a while since I've posted a meme and this one seems quite appropriate to the season. Feel free to tag on.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Bags. I love unwrapping things, but bags are reusable and better for the environment. (and honestly, while I love unwrapping things, wrapping them up is a bit of a pain)

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real tree. Even better is a real tree that you get to plant in the spring. (oh for a yard of our own!)

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the second Sunday in December and keep it up through epiphany.

4. When do you take the tree down? Whoops, I just answered that.

5. Do you like egg nog? Yes, especially spiked with a bit of whiskey.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? There were many, but I still remember the Christmas morning I found a brand new stereo system waiting for me. (I was probably 13 or 14 at the time and feeling a bit jaded about the holiday, but that morning I was like a five year old again. Probably more so because I realized who was truly responsible for the gift and that maybe, just maybe, they understood me after all.)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't, but Mom and Dad still proudly display the little scene of wax figures I made when I was 6 or 7. Even though it looks exactly like you'd imagine, I still think it's the best one out there.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Gram. Doesn't really need anything and I've never really been able to figure out the perfect present for her.

9. Easiest person to buy for? I would almost echo m on this one and say little e, but she's actually a bit hard to buy for since I want to give her EVERYthing. That means G is the easiest. The hard part with him is waiting until Christmas to give it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like both of them. It's nice to get something tangible in the mail, but I'm too technologically inclined to diss the email version as impersonal. It really is the thought that counts.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm. I got a second hand little dragon bursting out of an egg once from someone at work. (like you'd find at a Renaisance Faire) Then again, that thing sat on the window sill above my desk for several years and the little chipped guy grew on me so maybe it wasn't all that bad.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? For many years this was A Christmas Story, but I finally saw Elf on DVD last year and I gotta admit it won me over.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I've been known to purchase something months in advance, but for the most part I'm a November/December shopper. (and someone who has been saved by the internet on occasion)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No shame in that. In the words of a good friend, "Recycling is saving the planet!"

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? The sandwiches made from leftovers Christmas night.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear. I'd have real candles if they weren't a total fire hazard.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Traditionally I guess it'd be "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlman". Something about the minor chord it's written in always appealed to me. Non-traditionally I'm a true child of the 80s and go with Do They Know It's Christmas (warning, this link's for YouTube video which played pretty loud on Dad's computer)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? So glad to already be with everyone this Christmas. Worst Christmas memory is spending the night at a hotel in LA because of weather. Far from family, far from G. No minibar. No leftover sandwiches. A real rotten night.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Nope, just tried and stumble somewhere around four or five. (and then say, oh and Rudolph!)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A wooden star that I've always loved. Figures, me being a bit pagan in my sensibilies.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Why not both?

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People being rude because they are so frazzled... (I agree with that!)

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My Gram used to make everyone in the family ornaments every year. Still remember the first Chritmas G got one. Very special.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey with all the fixings. My family likes Thanksgiving dinner so much, we basically repeat it a month later.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? "World Peace." This was someone else's answer, but isn't it about time?

Note, something about typing this in suddenly got me all giddy for the holiday. Thanks m! (and whoever posted the BandAid video)

Labels: linkage, memes

* posted by me at 6:32 PM

(0) comments



2007-09-30 
 

rather long meme

Saw this meme over on Yaniblog and it's a bit fresher than most, at least to me. Please feel free to ignore as it's rather mundane. I'm thinking this mini capture of myself will be interesting to myself in a few years as it showcases my current mental state. Yes, I'm navel gazing.

Does someone love you?
I'm happy to report that several people do.

Do you know anyone named Dave?
I actually know many people named Dave.

Ever kissed anyone with the name starting with a J?
Yes, both men and women actually.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for a family member?
This used to happen quite a bit on the phone. When I was little they'd think I was my mom which was always a bit mortifying. Now it's either my dad or brother.

What colour are the walls of your parent's bedroom?
What an odd test of memory. I believe they are beige.

Do you think that hair extensions look skanky?
Really depends on who's wearing them. If you can't tell that they're extensions, then obviously it's fine, but it takes a certain chutzpah to pull off the obvious ones.

Are you named after a grandparent?
Nope, but I think my middle name comes from an uncle.

Say you were given a drug test right now. Would you pass or fail?
What kind of test? I'd pass blood or urine tests, but some of the longer hairs on my head might betray me. Not going to go all Britney though.

Are you taller than 5'6"?
Yes. I have nothing against shorter folk, but I'm very glad I'm not one of them. I'd really handle it badly. I'd either bulk up to ridiculous proportions or chunk out way more than I have today.

Do you know anyone in jail/prison?
Not currently.

Ever see a dead body?
At wakes and increasingly on the news.

Do you like the colour green?
One of my faves.

What is your best friend's Dad's name?
This is a tricky one, but I'll go with G's dad. It's Lonnie, but everybody calls him Dale.

How old are you?
37, otherwise known as three years from forty.

Who was the last person to send you a text message?
The stupid Cingular advertising service that I'm too lazy to unsubscribe from. As for a real person, it was G.

Ever drove into the ghetto to buy drugs?
I've always been fortunate enough to have some version of a fakery to buy drugs from. Not that I've visited Agrestic any time in the near past. (Hear that potential employers? I'm clean...well, unless you count scotch or coffee, then I'm a dirty bird indeed.)

Last restaurant you went to?
Butterfly...no that was lunch and then Blow Fish Sushi was dinner. Actually, the next day was Slanted Door. All very good, and all paid for by somebody else. (The biggest advantage of moving is that EVERYone wants to take you out to eat.)

What is the weather like today?
Typical SF that I'll miss dearly. Foggy morning breaking up into midday sun. In the high sixties.

Last voice mail you received?
Mr. Burgreen.

What did you do yesterday?
Packed! (and watched The Holiday which was way cuter than I thought it would be.)

What's the first thing you would do with five million dollars?
Put it in the bank. Five million dollars is an awful lot of money to be carrying around. Then, assuming that I've already paid the taxes on that amount, I'd pay off debt, buy a home in SF and one on the Cape. Pay off Mom and Dad's mortgage, help Dude and Dudette get a house and live off of the remaining interest for the rest of my life. (Which, as I figure it, comes to 60K a year at 2% though I'd hope to be able to get a higher rate of return.)

What nationalities are you?
Scotch and German mostly with a little French thrown in for good measure. Oh, and the Scotch comes by way of Canada...eh.

How many hours did you sleep for last night?
Somewhere between 7 and 8

Any upcoming concerts you want to attend?
Not really.

Who's the last person that you felt was stalking you?
I had a rather uncomfortable experience back in 96 with a guy named Randy, but I'm pretty sure in retrospect that it was all in my head.

What jewellery are you wearing?
Hmmm...let me digress to note the British/Canandian spelling of jewellery. Eh?
Seriously though, I'm just wearing my en-gay-ment ring. Meaning the ring G and I exchanged back in 2002 to represent the foreverness of our love together regardless of what society dictates. We may actually get a chance to have more traditional wedding rings now that we're moving back to a state that recognizes it.

If all of your friends were going on a road trip, would you?
G and I are about to go on a pretty big trip. Anyone who wants to convoy along is welcome.

How much money do you have?
On my person at the moment? Nothing. (I'm in my sleepy clothes.)

Do you swear at your parents?
I sure hope not.

Is your phone right beside you?
Nope, it's...actually, I just realized the cordless from the living room is on top of the desk.

Have you cried today?
Not this morning, but being a bit of a weeper, I did tear up towards the end of The Holiday last night. So yes, within the past 24 hours, I've cried.

Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now?
I'm pretty sure G is since I type pretty loud. And in a time twisting sense, whomever is reading this in my potential future is definitely thinking about me as they read it in their current present.

Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?
Most of the shoes I wear lack laces.

What is the colour of your bedsheets?
I wish I could say that there's flannel monkey sheets on the bed, but right now we just have the beige linen on.

Have you ever crawled through a window?
On several occasions.

Are you photogenic?
My head has a tendency to pumpkinize in photos, so I'm going with no on this one.

What's your star sign?
Cancer. Krebs.

Where do you spend most of your money?
Rent. I have been living in SF after all.

What was the last thing you did?
I made coffee.

Do you have a tattoo?
Yes. Mark helped me design in and got a matching one. Been thinking of getting a monkey on my back in honor of G. (and yes, I appreciate the wordplay in that statement)

Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings?
Nope. But I watch Cartoon Network when flying on Jet Blue.

Is there a secret you've never told any of your friends?
I'm sure there is, but you're not getting it out of me that easily.

Have you ever told someone you loved them but didn't mean it?
Once, when I was very high, back in my crazy youth. It's one of the reasons I won't do hard drugs anymore.

Have you ever changed your clothes while in a vehicle?
Not in recent memory, but I'm sure I have.

What are you doing in 2008?
Hopefully owning our own home.

What is your ring tone?
This is rather complicated as there's several.
Cell: Sing Sing Sing
Home, G's parents: Star Spangled Banner
Home, my parents: Beethoven's 9th
Home, Dude/Dudette: Fur Elise
Home, M and E: Aura Lee
Home, TNTP: Flicker
Home, G and my Cell: Lightening Bug
Home, Hugs: Irish Eyes Are Smiling
(note, not sure why Hugs got that one instead of M and E)

What were you doing at 2am last night?
I believe that's just about when G woke me up on the couch and helped me stumble to the bed.

Are your parents married/divorced/separated?
Married, and for that I'm very thankful.

What are you doing tonight?
Watching some left over premiers on Tivo and eating Ikea meatballs in order to clean out the freezer. (and because they're yummy)

What are you doing tomorrow?
That would be my last day of work.

Who did you last message on Myspace?
That would be nobody since I don't use Myspace.

What's your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?
I have no issues with it as long as both parties are aware that there's no emotional commitment. (this is harder for some folks than they'll admit)

Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call but never do?
Yes, this does annoy me. This explains why I'm so vague when making potential plans with friends since I never want to commit before I'm sure I can follow through. This, in it's own way, is also annoying I suppose.

What did you dress up as for your first Halloween?
Either a woman or a baker. Can't remember which photos come first.

Favourite Disney movie?
I was about to type in Finding Nemo, but I think Ratatouille has edged in to the top spot. (As I type this I realize that Big Business and others I've laughed at could be counted as Disney films under their Touchstone division, but I'm sticking to the traditional idea of a Disney film.)

What is the wallpaper on your cellphone?
A shot of the shoreline up in Ogunquit, ME.

Labels: dose of mikey, linkage, memes, random review

* posted by me at 4:16 PM

(0) comments



2007-09-14 
 

100 things

It seems that no blog is complete without one of these lists laying around somewhere. I'm going to be kind and give it a page of it's own so that you can feel free to ignore it if you wish. Also, please note that the page this links to has been available since March. I just now realized that the entry announcing it never got published. That said it, I reread it today and it's still all true.

RANDOM LIST OF 100 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME

Labels: blogging, dose of mikey, g, memes, memory lane, random review, rant, reading, san francisco, sharketing, shout out, spirit

* posted by me at 8:18 PM

(0) comments



2007-02-01 
 

you may not know meme

TNTP tagged me on this.

Four things you may not have known about me! (but probably do if you're a regular reader of this blog)

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Paper Boy

2. Ice Cream Scooper

3. Parking Attendant

4. Writer for local GLBT Magazine

B) Four movies I would watch over and over:

1. ST: First Contact

2. Star Wars (original theatrical release)

3. Big Business

4. Labyrinth

C) Four books I have loved:
1. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

2. Dragon Song - Anne McCaffrey

3. The Mouse and His Child - Russell Hoban

4. Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling
I know it's the obvious choice, but with the release of Book 7 having just been announced, I'm all giddy again.

D) Four places I have lived:

1. Weisbaden, Germany

2. Weymouth, MA

3. Quincy, MA

4. In my car (while crossing the country)

E) Four TV shows I love:

1. Lost

2. How I Met Your Mother

3. The Amazing Race

4. CBS Sunday Morning
This last one's thanks to Tivo...don't think you can be calling me before noon on a Sunday.

F) Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Germany

2. Austria

3. France

4. Hawaii

G) Four of my favorite foods are:

1. A nice, rare to medium-rare filet mignon with asparagus and small portion of lightly cheesed macaroni on the side. Must be served with a slightly oaky Cabernet.

2. My Mom's lasagna

3. G's squash soup with home made G Bread on the side.
G Bread is a variation of sour dough that makes regular sour dough look like wonder bread. It is, quite likely, the most delicious bread in the universe.

4. G's Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie

H) Four places I would rather be right now:

1. I'm actually pretty happy right now where I am

2. But wouldn't mind a jaunt back to Weymouth, MA

3. Or a stroll down the Champs-Élysées

4. Still want to get over to England and Scotland someday

I) Four friends I think will respond first:

1. I don't usually tag people

2. Besides, Michael tagged me first, and he's the one who I normally tag

3. Chris might, if he's bored, but no pressure

4. Anyone else want to surprise me?

Labels: memes, shout out

* posted by me at 11:04 PM

(0) comments



2007-01-25 
 

tuna test

A recent post on TNTP helped me rediscover Tuna Girl's site. I used to surf there when I needed a break from work because she usually would type something diverting, but then I started bloglining and I missed adding her in. Well, that's been remedied.

Anyway, I took the "What's My Fine" quiz she'd posted. My fine was a bit steep, but going back over it I discovered that about $130 of that is pretty much due to the gay thing. (That is, the sexually active gay thing.)

Even so, I guess I'm not Ivory Soap.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 9:14 PM

(1) comments



2006-12-19 
 

2006...briefly

Got this little meme from peace of cake: Post the first sentence from the first post from every month of 2006. Thought it was a fitting thing to steal since February's first sentence was about him.

January: Only it's not my hands feeling balloonish, it's my head.

February: I met Brian in college.

March: When you let all the air out of a balloon, it seems to loose its beauty.

April: In a surprise announcement today, the Bush administration admitted that the past six years have been all about pushing personal agendas and not at all about the will of the American people.

May: Trabby pointed me over to this Monopoly site where you can vote on updated properties.

June: Spent most of this week doing some minor copy writing at work and some pretty major document creation/manipulation.

July: Well, vacation's officially over as I'm back at work as of today.

August: Dust.

September: I'm tired of being a renter.

October: Decided to venture out into the 33rd annual Castro Street Fair.

November: The title for the day references the odd movements my legs have been making this eve, not the Disney Halloween Movie that aired the other night starring Tia and Tamera.

December: LED Christmas lights are a bit like Lite Brite in 3D.

Labels: memes, memory lane

* posted by me at 3:31 PM

(0) comments



2006-10-22 
 

book meme 2

Found this meme on Yaniblog and couldn't resist. Books, books, books! Love 'em.

Instructions: Bold the ones you've read, italicize the ones you might read, cross out the ones you won't, underline the ones on your book shelf, and place parentheses around the ones you've never even heard of.

Note: I loosely interpretted bookshelf to mean both the ones I have here in SF as well as the ones left back east with Mom and Dad. (I've slowly been carting them across the country, but there's miles to go on that project. I may end up carting the SF books back before all of the Weymouth books make it here.)


The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
1984 - George Orwell
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
(Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell)
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
(Atonement - Ian McEwan)
(The Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon)
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Dune - Frank Herbert

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 4:30 PM

(0) comments



2006-09-22 
 

book meme

Found this over at Brian’s and decided to tag on because I love books.

1. One book that changed your life: The Bible. (sorry Brian) Close examination of the Old Testament and an increasing interest in Judaism when I was 15 made me realize that the whole book needed to be taken with a pinch of salt, and was open to interpretation. It was that same year that I had my first conversation with God about being gay and God was fine with it. (I should mention this was also the same year I first read Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land which had equal impact on my personal philosophies.)

2. One book that you've read more than once: Just one? Are you trying to spin me out of control by limiting things? I'll list some I've read more than thrice. Chronicles of Narnia every few years, Harry Potter Series whenever a new one comes out, almost everything by Heinlein, The Pern Series by McCaffery. All have been reread numerous times.

Oh, and the early books of the Old Testament because they’re really handy when confronting fundamental folk. Confronting them with the rules listed variously in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy usually confuses them and may even open their minds a bit. Conversely, if they stubbornly agree with those books verbatim regarding slavery, rape, general inequality of the sexes, and…what’s that other thing? Oh yes, homosexuality. If they agree with all that, then I know to run far and fast.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island: The Complete and Unabridged Collected Works of Everything…and an internet connection to read it through. That sucker’s too heavy to carry around with me.


4. One book that made you laugh: ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy had M and I in stitches for a good hour or so and still provides me with a chuckle when I think back to that day. Shamu in mysterious ways!

5. One book that made you cry: More than one has, but Bridge Over Terabithia was the first. It stunned me that a story I’d been living in my head could have such an effect on me and made me hope that someday I’d be able to do that.

6. One book that you wish had been written: Not sure about a book, but how about a headline? Religious Right Owns Being Wrong, Bush Resigns and Peace Breaks Out All Over. (Headline on Food Section would of course extol the virtues of a Red Wine and Chocolate Diet.)

7. One book that you wish had never been written: None. I believe too strongly in free speech to censor anyone, even the idiots.

8. One book you're currently reading: There's two right now. Erich Kastner’s The Flying Classroom and Aldous Huxley’s The Island (yes, still reading the latter…I got halfway through a few months back and was distracted by several other books – back again)

9. One book you've been meaning to read: Oddly, I can ditto Brian’s answer for this one. Guns, Germs and Steel. For quite some time now it’s been sitting by my bed and coming on vacations with me, but I’m still only a few chapters in. Pretty interesting so far, not sure what my block is on this one.

10. Now tag five people: How many times do I have to tell you? Mikey don’t play that. If you want it, it’s yours.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 7:31 PM

(1) comments



2006-08-17 
 

muppet meme

There seems to be a plethora of blog entries about muppets lately...at least in my corner of the blogosphere. Thought of trying to start up a meme around that, but then I thought that might be just a bit too involved for this evening. So I did a quick google and found:

You Are Rowlf the Dog

Mellow and serious, you enjoy time alone cultivating your talents. You're a cool dog, and you always present a relaxed vibe. A talented pianist, you can play almost anything - especially songs by Beethoven. "My bark is worse than my bite, and my piano playing beats 'em both."

The Muppet Personality Test

I'm no Heifetz, but I get by.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 8:42 PM

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2006-08-12 
 

more me me

I've bumped into/been sent several different memes over the past few days and figure it's an easy way to refresh the page. (I've mixed and matched the questions to suit my mood.)

How tall are you barefoot?
5' 10"(ish)

Have you ever been cheated on?
In life or in love? Either way the answer's yes. (both happened long ago, you learn from these things or you're doomed to repeat them)

Do you own a gun?
Does a glue gun count? A water gun? Even so, the answer's still no.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes, big pink beasts that they are.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Probably, though I'd rather skydive again. It seems safer somehow.

What do you think of hot dogs?
Best food to eat at 4 a.m. in NYC. (Gray's Papaya of course.)

What's your favorite Christmas song?
It's a toss up between Carol of the Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Inability to accept my body as it is.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Mark

What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
COFFEE!

Have you ever done ecstasy?
Yes. First time was the most amazing experience. The subsequent times, not so great Â? thatÂ?s why I stopped. (my answer is the same as Michael's, so I kept it)

Do you have a boyfriend?
No, but I have a husband, regardless of what the government says.

Do you own a knife?
Other than a kitchen knife? Sure, there's a couple pocket knives with the camping gear and also a ceremonial athame. (though the latter's pretty dull to be considered a knife)

What do you smell like?
Right now? Before a shower? You don't want to know.

Full initials?
MCS

Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
What?
Oh, that was a stupid thought.
I wonder what Jen will think of this?

Name the last 3 things you have bought today.
Too early for today, so I'll tell you the last 3 from yesterday. Curry, Frankincense and Macaroni Noodles.

Name five drinks you regularly drink.
Water, Coffee, Ice Tea, Red Wine...Hmmm...Diet Coke fell off the list after Tara's Tale of Terror and hasn't been replaced yet.

LAST THING YOU ATE?
This scrumptious Settler's Pie G made for breakfast. (with the curry)

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The wind outside and the music box G's playing with on his computer

FAVORITE SONG?
Night Swimming by REM (There's actually a few answers to this question depending on my mood, but Jen's answer works for me right now, so I'm keeping it.)

Current worry?
Being in debt.

Current hate?
Having to be an adult to get out of debt.

Where would you want to go?
Lot's of places, but Australia's been on my mind for a while now.

Do you own slippers?
Several pairs, but G usually has to remind me to put 'em on.

Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?
I pray, where ever it may be, that G's still there to remind me about the slippers.

Do you burn or tan?
If I remember to use sunblock 6000, I tan.

Yellow or Blue?
Blue. Most definitely.

Would you give up your current life to be a pirate?
Well, not the traditional bloodthirsty rape-and-pillage type, but I'd think about the postmodern sail-around-the-world-on-your-fully-equipped-yacht type...if I had the money to own a fully equipped yacht. Arrrg.

Last time your cell rang?
Well, it didn't ring, but I suddenly had a voicemail last night. It was Samuel Jackson telling me to get my mother-f'n self out to see Snakes on a Plane. Still not sure who sent it to me, but it was hilarious.

What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
Aliens. Which explains why E.T. freaked me out so much.

What do you have in your pocket right now?
I still haven't showered, remember? Who sleeps with things in their pocket?

Last thing that made you laugh?
The crossword G and I were doing earlier.

Favorite bed sheets as a child?
The Sunday Comic bedsheets from Cape Cod that Mark thankfully saved before the sale.

Worst injury you've ever had?
Ummm...does needing a colonosopy to remove a tumor count? That was pretty nasty.

Who is your loudest friend?
Probably Kerri or Becca or Jen or Paula or Shay. I've had quite a few loud women in my life and I miss them all madly!

Who is your most silent friend?
Brian (but once he starts talking he's also the funniest person I know)

Does someone have a crush on you?
I think that someone at work has a small one. She's known from day one that it's hopeless, but if it didn't hurt a bit, they wouldn't call it a crush. (shout out to Chris for the profundity that is 16 Candles.)

Do you wish on stars?
Sure, it's like the lottery, you won't win if you don't play.

Do you believe in magic?
I believe the universe is way more mysterious than any of us has yet figured out.

What song do you want played at your funeral?
Just one? I had a whole mix tape for this once. REM's End of the World, Peter Gabriel's Salisbury Hill, etc.

What were you doing 12AM last night?
Watching this DVD G got about a colonial midwife...appropriately titled, A Midwife's Tale. Very interesting and a pretty amazing lead actress too.

WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
Sid Meier's Civilization IV guide (yes, this is an instruction manual, but it's a BIG one)
Ian Philips' See Dick Deconstruct
Paul Mandelbaum's collection First Words
Stephen Baxter's Coalescent
Oh, and a shout out to little E, I just finished A Cricket in Times Square

So, that's where my head's at. If you'd like to spend a while being introspective, consider yourself tagged.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 3:54 PM

(1) comments



2006-05-27 
 

and then?

You Are Chinese Food

Exotic yet ordinary. People think they've had enough of you, but they're back for more in an hour.

What Kind of Food Are You?

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 12:31 PM

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2006-04-25 
 

yet another meme about me

Been doing quite a bit of thinking the past few days. Saw this over at TNTP and wanted to see where it led me.

I AM: trying to live a truthful life

I WANT: more gumption

I WISH: i had three more wishes

I HATE: injustice and intolerance

I MISS: thinking i had the universe figured out

I HEAR: the hum of the computer and the click of the keys as i type

I WONDER: about everything

I REGRET: i'm too happy with where i am and who i am with to regret decisions made in the distant past, though i sometimes wonder what it would've been like to spend a semester in germany instead of just visiting during the summer of my junior year

I AM NOT: afraid of feeling

I DANCE: by myself in the living room while listening to old songs, at night on the beach, in the kitchen with G, and sometimes spontaneously on the street...as if my life were suddenly a musical

I SING: in the car, in the kitchen with G, and sometimes spontaneously on the street...as if my life were suddenly a musical

I CRY: when i'm very happy or very sad

I AM NOT ALWAYS: sure that i'm on the right path career-wise

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: cookies, presents and stories

I WRITE: to make myself feel better and to share what little wisdom i've gained with others (which also makes me feel good) i'm a rather selfish person

I CONFUSE: the trees by talking about the forest and vice versa

I NEED: occasional solitude

I SHOULD: eat less and exercise more

I START: at the very beginning (it's a very good place to start)

I FINISH: leftovers

I TAG: anyone who wants to be tagged

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 1:10 AM

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2006-03-06 
 

me me meme

Why another meme?
Because I find them to be a fascinating phenomenon. Oh, and because I'm sitting in a hotel room feeling bored.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
Hotel Services Book: With more than 300 days of sunshine, enjoy the outdoors during every season.

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What can you touch?
The edge of the desk.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Oscar recap.

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
10:30

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
10:42

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
Television. Distant roar of traffic on I-10

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
9PM: Coming back to hotel from work.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Secret Thoughts of Stuffed Animals

9. What are you wearing?
A Hotel Robe

10. Did you dream last night?
G and I were on a beach looking for shells.

11. When did you last laugh?
In the rental car coming back from work.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Sappy portraits of entryways done in a half hearted Bob Ross paints Monet style.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
The aforementioned paintings.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
Different enough from the standard question meme to keep me interested.

15. What is the last film you saw?
The first half of SpongeBob Squarepants. (before we fell asleep the other night)

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A home in SF, a home on Cape Cod. A little old fashioned corner bookstore that wouldn't make much (or any) money, but would make me happy. Presents all around.

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know.
I enjoy the scent of skunk in the distance. (not too close, but far away I find it pleasant)

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I'd arm myself and trusted folk around the world with N Guns. (That's Niceness Guns for those of you who might not be watching Bewitched reruns on TVLand.)

19. Do you like to dance?
Yes.

20. George Bush:
Dangerous Puppet.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Charlotte

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Stephan

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Sure.

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Good job!

25. 4 people who must also do this meme in THEIR journal:
I don't believe memes should be forced. Anyone who feels like it.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 1:37 AM

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2006-02-10 
 

odd words

Found this fun meme over on yaniblog.

Here are the rules:

Grab the nearest book
Open the book to page 123
Find the fifth sentence
Post the text of the next 3 sentences (#5,6,7) on your blog, along with these instructions.
Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! Just grab what is closest. No cheating.

The closest book to my computer is one I've admittedly never read called The Outlaws on Parnassus. G rescued it from a sidewalk in Cole Valley a while back, and it eventually migrated to my computer/writing shelf. My sentences are:

...This day, because it was the first day of her French frock, she regarded as her début in the dizzy life of capitals. She existed in a rapture of bliss, an ecstasy which could feel no fatigue, either of body or spirit.
This writer could probably have given as exact a description of any dress worn by the lady.

Wonderful.

The book has a blurb on the cover that reads, "Delights and devices of the novel from Homer to Orwell." Which explains the odd coupling of sentences.

Side note: When G originally picked up the book he could see Parnassus Hill. Synchronicity.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 2:35 AM

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2005-09-16 
 

3 scary lists of 5

It's been a long week with extra long workdays, but that's no fun to write about, so I'll turn instead to several lists I've been writing in my head this week.

5 Things That No Longer Scare Me

1. Hailing taxis. (Figured I'd start out with one of the oddest. This used to freak me out for some reason.)

2. Death. (Mind you, I'm in no hurry, but being scared of it seems pretty silly now. How else would I find out what's going to happen in Mikey, the sequel?)

3. Admitting that I'm gay.

4. Drag Queens. (I'm sure this particular fear was linked to #3. Since then I've realized that while Drag powers often include SuperGaydar, it's rarely used against scared twinks.) Hee hee! That comment caused a random memory montage...sometimes I miss being a twink!

5. Putting my thoughts out for the world to read...and possibly misinterpret.


5 Things That Still Scare Me

1. Open closets in dark rooms.

2. Creepy Crawlies with lots of legs.

3. Ominously quiet sunny days.

4. Not being able to breath.

5. Skydiving. (I've done it, but the thought of doing it again still frightens me. Which means, of course, that I really want to jump again because part of the thrill was facing the fear.)


5 Things That Never Used to Scare Me...But Do Now

1. Wrinkles...on my face.

2. Hair loss...from my head.

3. The fact that my ears and nose will continue to grow...for the rest of my life.

4. Losing my sight completely.

5. Never losing my fear of aging and becoming a freak. (Never realized just how much I was obsessing over it...until just now.)

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 9:07 PM

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2005-08-26 
 

tag you're it

My good friend Michael just tagged me with a meme. For this meme, I'm supposed to list out 10 tunes I've been listening to a lot lately. (For some interesting quotes about what a meme is go here.)

Note: there is a difference between 10 tunes you love at the moment and 10 tunes that you can't seem to get out of your life at the moment, but for me, almsot all of this list falls into the love category.

Two more points of explanation before the list begins.

1. I've recently become quite addicted to Sim City 4. As with the other Sims games, there's an option that allows you to input your own mp3s so that they'll play in the background, and I've made good use of this feature.

2. Point number one aside, my mp3 catalog is minimal and consists mainly of college memory music with some random new stuff sprinkled in. Okay, enough stalling.

My 10 songs in no particular order:

How Soon is Now - The Smiths
I no longer feel black on the inside, but I still wear black on the outside.

Bach – Brandenburg Concertos
It's great for the Region part of Sim City 4. Helps me feel like a real deity.

Ariel - October Project
Just a beautiful song that haunts me.

Love is a Stranger – Eurythmics
Such a soft spot for the whole Sweet Dreams album. (Yes, I remember owning vinyl, so I'm allowed to call them albums.)

Savage – Eurythmics
From a later album, but still gotta love lines like, "These are my guns, these are my furs, this is my living room…"

Filthy Gorgeous – Scissor Sisters
Already loved the Sisters, but when the video for this particular song came out it completely sucked me in. Reminded me of a very specific time in my life and inspired me to finally go buy the whole album.

Comfortably Numb – Scissor Sisters
My first glimpse of the Sisters. How can you not love a song that sounds like the BGs singing Pink Floyd?

Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
Can't say why, but this song almost always makes me happy.

Never For Ever - Kate Bush
Yes, I'm cheating on this one. The whole album is on the playlist and it's hard to say that one song sticks in my head more than any other. (Hounds would be on here if I'd moved that folder over into
the game instead .)

One Word – Kelly Osbourne
Well, I am a gay man after all.

SO, to make this a true meme, I need to propogate it. I tag Chris because he seems to like lists lately, though his list will probably be devoted to either Elmo tunes or songs from a certain group that starts with an R. I tag James because he needs a good excuse to write an update and has a nice eclectic taste in music, and...well Simon's on a break, though I'd be interested to know what the young folk are listening too.

Fact is, most folks I'd tag who also read this site don't do the blog thing. Dude and Dudette...no blogs. Brian O...no blog. M...out of the country, but also no blog. Michelle J....how I'd love to see your list!...but alas no blog.

Most of the other blogs I read, I'm too shy to tag. (Yes, I understand that the preceding statement may sound strange coming from someone who types his life out for all to read, but you'll have to believe me...it's true.)

So random blogger reading this. If you'd like to share your current 10 with the world, I say go for it.

Labels: memes

* posted by me at 12:39 AM

(2) comments



2002-04-04 
 

i'm here, i'm queer

I've taken this test before, but every once in a while I like to go back and see if it's changed. Seems I just get gayer with every passing month.

Labels: dose of mikey, memes, the gay

* posted by me at 6:58 PM

(0) comments



2002-04-01 
 

know you now

so, i'm a sucker for those questionnaires that pop up from time to time, although, i must confess that i rarely leave them as is...i often change the questions in order to best express my mood of the day...after all, the internet is a living medium

anyway, here's the latest:

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
I'd take over the top of Twin Peaks in San Francisco and build a castle, but I'd let them keep the observation deck down below, because beauty is meant to be shared.

2. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?
I'm very fond of a long sleeve RadioHead t-shirt that G and I share. On the front it says "Most people gaze neither into the past nor the future; they explore neither truth nor lies. They gaze at the television." and on the back it says, "he knew that if he died tonight, he would die happy because he was loved" I like this for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because one of my fave things to do is sit in front of the television with G.

3. FAVORITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF WHATEVER GENDER(S) YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO?
I like faces. Bodies are nice of course, but it's mostly about the face and what it looks like in different moods.

4. WHAT'S THE LAST CD THAT YOU BOUGHT?
I actually bought a record this weekend. It was Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - South of the Border. Very fun. My last CD purchased was around Christmas time. Sigur Ros "Agaetis Byrjun" Truly syrup for the ears. Check out the first two videos here. (if you can get them to work.)

5. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
Surrounded by people I love. Or all alone, but with people I love nearby.

6. WHERE'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
Out of bed on a cold morning when G's still sleeping and looking all comfy.

7. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED?
On the head, but only by someone I trust completely. Random people touching my head get a nasty look and sometimes a shove.

8. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN BODY?
I'm all about balance, but I lean towards the mind.

9. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE IN THE MORNING?
Around 7am on weekdays and 10am on the weekends. Unless I'm tired.

10. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
I'm fond of the breadmaker. Love the fridge, it keeps things fresh. Stove and micro heat 'em up real nice. Toaster too. But my favorite? Without reservation I'll have to say the Gibson 2000 multipurpose baking machine.

11. WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?
This: http://tolerance.org/maps/hate/index.html

12. IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
The harpsichord.

13. SCARIEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE?
Waking up at 3:30 am all alone and feeling like I was going to die, leaving my body to be found days later by the smell seeping out beneath the door.

14. IF THERE WAS A MOVIE MADE ABOUT YOU, WHAT CURRENT/FORMER MOVIE STAR WOULD PLAY YOU?
probably ricky shroeder - or jennie mccarthy

15. WHO WAS YOUR FIRST LOVE AND AT WHAT AGE?
I was in love with Michelle at age five. She rejected me and I decided to try for Tim instead. I'd like to say a big thanks to Michelle for that one!

16. THE SONG YOU WISHED YOU HAD WRITTEN?
Anything by J. S. Bach

17. WHICH DO YOU PREFER: SPORTS CAR OR SUV?
Hmmm...this smacks of the old croutons or bacon bits question. An Orwellian illusion of choice. Doubleplus ungood.

18. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE?
Been there.

19. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
Depends which of my inner children you ask. I loved Who's Mouse are You when Mom was expecting. Anything by Beverly Cleary for a while because the kids seemed so normal and I knew deep down that I wasn't...then I discovered the world of scifi and the realm of fantasy. The Girl With the Silver Eyes, The Mouse and His Child, and The Phantom Tollbooth being early favorites. And of course, The Chronicles of Narnia...in fact any book describing the adventures of children exploring magical worlds...or not just advanced...A Wrinkle in Time (and Wind at the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet)

That takes you up through 7th grade at which point I started to read books I found on the shelf: Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me and Portnoy's Complaint. Didn't understand them totally, but was influenced enough by the first to go back and reread Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of the Brothers Grimm with a new eye and by the second to start reading Eli Wiesel and anything else Jewish I could get my hands on. OK, this was probably way more than you needed to know, but it's like asking a Deadhead about their favorite trip. Reading always has been my drug of choice.

20. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Spring - whenever it decides to show up, be it February or September. (both of which are completely normal times for spring in SF)

21. WHAT'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE HOUSEHOLD CHORE?
Moving.

22. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Teleportation. Then I could have a cuppa with whomever, whenever I wanted.

23. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
It's a symbol created by Mark and myself when he was crashing in SF, that we both have on our upper arm. It's a bit of the recycle symbol crossed with the yin-yang symbol with infinity loops running around it.

24. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
In my profession, it's called mulit-tasking.

25. WHO IS THE ONE PERSON YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND TALK TO?
My grandmother. While your at it, could you give me the ability to speak fluent german instead of this pigeon deutsche? Then the two of us could REALLY have a nice chat.

26. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
My birthday.

27. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?
Clothes for the homeless, clothes in case I get very wet, random car stuff (ie a jack, motor oil, rope to tie things up with) and an old army blanket that we used to take to the beach when I was a child.

28. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
I prefer Ahi Tuna, otherwise I'd choose a Niman Ranch burger over random sushi. McDonalds is evil.

Labels: dose of mikey, memes

* posted by me at 12:25 AM

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