Starry Eyed Surprise

Having a great time back home. Having a pool party today, getting drunk, eating good. Heading to Baltimore tonight to go out to some clubs and dancing.

Random Pictures of Friends

Lancaster, PA

I love summer.

On My Shoulder

For a friend....

Hanging Out With The Farm Boys

Back in Pennsylvania. The beautiful scenery, the lush grasslands, the blue skies, the smell of cow and horse manure in the air.

Everywhere you turn, there is a creek to jump in and take a swim. It was very hot today and that is just what we did in the late afternoon. It felt so good to get in the cool water.

An Amish boy out doing his errands.

Tonight I am hanging out with some friends. We made a big dinner and decided to watch some movies. Tomorrow we are going to ShadyMaple (I love that place) and to Strausburg to take a ride on the railroad. Then we are going to hit some of the local bars and have a night out on the town.

Back In The States

I am back in the states for a visit. I was able to catch me friends with a surprise return. They all thought I was coming next week for a visit. One of me friends was in on the secret and helped me plan it.

The plan was to surprise me friends at the Celtic Fling and Highland games in Manheim. A friend of ours was playing with his band there during the festival. As me friends sat down to get ready for them to sing, I was able to sneak up and sit one row behind them. As they waited for the show to start, I wore a hat and hid behind a program, while the friend I came there with who was in on the secret met up with them.

I sat and listened to them talking. Part of me wanted to just grab them all and hug them, but the other part was enjoying sitting behind them waiting to surprise them. When our friend came out to set up for their performance, the friend who was in on the secret turned the talk to wishing that I was there with them. Before long, they all started chatting about how much they missed me and how their life had no meaning without me. OK, maybe they didn't say it quite like that, but its me story so I will tell it like I want. lol

I was feeling sorry for them, which is not hard to do if you knew this sorry lot of people I call friends! So I made me precence known. I tapped one friend on the shoulder and asked if he could move his big, fat head. He turned around ready for a rumble and the look on his face was priceless. It took him a moment to register that it was me in front of him and he started to cause a scene. As the others turned to see what the commotion was about, the look on each of their faces was just as priceless. I only wish I could have gotten some photos of their faces, but I was being jostled too much to take a picture.

I thought later on the people around us must have wondered if I was someone that came back from the dead or was a terrorist the way they pounced on me. After all the hugging had subsided, we enjoyed a great show from our friends band. Actually the whole night was great and the Celtic bands that played put on one of the best concerts I have ever seen. At the end during the Ceilidh the bands all came together and sung and danced and the crowd joined in and we all had a great time to start me visit back.

I am still suffering from jet lag, time difference, and late night partying. I've even caught a bit of a cold. So tonight I am just staying at me friends house. Thought I would update the blog before me and a couple friends watch a movie.

Its Friday

Dublin, Ireland

Its Friday, the weekend is almost here. Happy dance.

For Budajsguy

Jason Stathom for a friend and I will take that deal. Although the top picture may make me think twice.

Gerard Butler

When I come home from work today, I am going to finally get around to watching the 300 with Gerard Butler. Seeing him half naked is a nice way to start a Wednesday.
He gives new meaning to the word hump day!

Feeling Good

When I first saw this outfit this morning, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go play polo or have a picnic. But I can't do either, because I am off to work. And I think he needs to go shopping for some new clothes. Just kidding. It looks cute.

I am off to work. Everyone have a great day. Here is a video to start your day with.

When Squirrels Go Wild

I love squirrels, but they do have a temper.


BERLIN (Reuters) - An aggressive squirrel attacked and injured three people in a German town before a 72-year-old pensioner dispatched the rampaging animal with his crutch.

The squirrel first ran into a house in the southern town of Passau, leapt from behind on a 70-year-old woman, and sank its teeth into her hand, a local police spokesman said Thursday.

With the squirrel still hanging from her hand, the woman ran onto the street in panic, where she managed to shake it off.
The animal then entered a building site and jumped on a construction worker, injuring him on the hand and arm, before he managed to fight it off with a measuring pole.

"After that, the squirrel went into the 72-year-old man's garden and massively attacked him on the arms, hand and thigh," the spokesman said. "Then he killed it with his crutch."

The spokesman said experts thought the attack may have been linked to the mating season or because the squirrel was ill.

What Irish Gays Want

Technology tops list in gay market research

From the Irish Examiner:

MOBILE phones, computers and concert tickets take precedence over cars among members of the gay community in a survey of their top five purchase intentions for 2007.

More than a third plan to buy a new computer and more than one-in-five intend to purchase high-speed internet access, compared to one-in-five intending to buy a new car this year.

The statistics, contained in “Out Now 2007 GCN Ireland Gay Community Market Report” reflect a strong interest in information technology — particularly surfing the internet — and in the world of entertainment among gays and lesbians.

They also indicate a high level of disposable income and above-average earnings — the average pretax income in the survey was €44,614 compared to a national average of €32,000.

Almost two-in-five members of the gay community are in professional/managerial jobs.

According to Out Now, the international consultants who carried out the survey on behalf of Gay Community News (GCN), the value of the pink pound is underestimated in Ireland.

Chief executive, Ian Johnson, said historically, corporate investment in the Irish gay and lesbian market has been slow.

However, he added: “We expect to see an increase in brands actively developing gay marketing strategies now that brands can see what an opportunity exists, with many gay people meeting the high educated, double income, no kids criteria so highly-prized by most marketers.”

Mr Johnson said there was no longer any stigma from attaching a brand to gay consumers.

“In fact the opposite is now largely true — a brand is seen as leading-edge by developing a gay market affinity.”

The figures were extrapolated from information provided by a GCN readers. The country has a gay/lesbian population of approximately 200,000.

The average GCN reader puts €703 onto credit cards every month; spends €100 on beer, €94 on wine and €59 on spirits during this time.

While the survey shows gays and lesbians are not shy of indulging themselves, it does show quite a few are still reluctant to “come out” at work — only 50% of those surveyed said they can be totally open about their sexuality in the workplace.

Among family and friends, the percentage who are “out” is higher, at 60% and 79% respectively.

Dog and a Deer

Isn't that just too cute.

Reflection

Did you ever have one of those moments in life that you know will be a moment you will always remember until the day you die? I had one of those moments tonight.

Me guy and I went out to dinner at a Japanese restaurant. At one point, this song Sukiyaki came on in the background. He took me hand and looked into me eyes and said in his deep Irish accent, "This song that is playing. Someday I will be listening to it,thinking of you. I'll be wondering where you are and how you are doing. I will remember this moment, this night." He leaned over and kissed me, in front of the whole restaurant, he kissed me.

The song stuck in me head and when we came home I decided to download it and add to a play list of slow songs to listen to as I did some reading for a meeting I am having with IBM on Monday at work. Me mate fell asleep on the couch.

I sat in the chair next to the couch and as I read, I noticed him roll over and his pillow fall off the couch onto the floor. I saw him reach around the couch sleepily for it and when he could not retrieve it, he just fell back to sleep. But he didn’t look comfortable. So I got up quietly and picked up the pillow. I tried to slowly lift his head to put the pillow back under it. As I did this, he awoke and opened his eyes. He looked at me with this sad look on his face. He reached up, put his hand behind me head and pulled me to him and gave me a strong kiss. Then he whispered in me ear, "I love you. Don't leave me." Just as quick as he woke up, he rolled back over and closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

I sat back down in the chair and thought about what had just happened. This was the first time he has told me he loved me with any real feeling towards it. It made me smile. Then I thought about the second part of what he said, "Don't leave me." It made me realize that I had some serious thinking to do concerning him and I. When I first moved to Ireland, I was planning on staying a year at the most, having some fun. Then moving back to the States. I was not planning on falling for a guy here.

As he slept, I sat there watching him. This song Sukiyaki came on. The words suddenly became clear to me. I realized that I have fallen in love with him too. I realized that things have now just gotten really complicated.

So I put my reading to the side and have just been sitting here thinking about life. I realized I had not done this for a while. In today’s world we are usually so busy doing something, anything that we rarely just take a moment to ourselves and think about our lives. To take a moment and reflect on where you are in life.

I was always the one that watched me cousin or friends go off and travel and live these different lives. But moving from America to Ireland has been one huge change for me and I never really stopped to think about all I had to do to get this to happen. Of course I never would have done this if not for me cousin. Still, when I think back on it now, if I knew what I do now, I probably would have thought twice about it and scared myself into staying at home back in the states.

Now that I am here, I have finally within the past couple of months found that I feel at home here. I do get homesick quite a lot for those back home. I will see them soon when I go back for a visit in July. But I realized tonight, I am no longer just here on vacation. This is me life.

Dublin Pride

And now for a public announcement. Dublin pride is continuing.

Although I don't get into all the Pride events flamboyant atmosphere, I have listed one event below that I will attend.

I can't stand that the flamboyant and the odd are what the media will focus on during pride. Not that I have a problem with people being outrageous and having fun ala Mardi Gras style. What I do have a problem with is that the straight world will only focus on that part of the "gay community" during Pride events. You never see a well dressed gay couple, maybe out with their children, being the center of attention during pride. But you can be sure the most outrageous will be splattered all over the news. Then the straights sitting at home think that is the way all gay men and lesbians behave. You never see or hear straight people comparing themselves to the scenes from Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Spring Break. But show some gay people in the same situation and we immediately get all lumped into that group.

The pride events run until next Sunday. Yippee!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Monday 18th June
Ceremony of Love & Remembrance
Gathering at the Pride memory tree, an informal candle-lit ceremony in remembrance of those we've loved and lost. Originally planted on the 25th June 2001 at the Civic Offices Amphitheatre and subsequently moved to its new home.
Venue: The Millenium Peace Garden, Nicholas Street.
Time: 9.30pm
Admission: Free.

Some Irish Music

Brian McFadden, Irish Son


Brian McFadden, Demons


Brian McFadden and Lean Rhimes, Everybody's Someone



The Kooks, She Moves In Her Own Way (UK Band) But they sound Irish. lol


The Cranberries, Zombie


The Corrs and Bono, When The Stars Go Blue

Sex In A Kilt

I love him!

Some Video Of Dublin, Ireland

Patience

French Open

The French Open just ended and Rafael Nadal once again denies Roger Federer the last jewel in his crown. I love watching these two play each other. Its the first real rivalry in years in mens tennis. It reminds me of Borg-McEnroe, Lendl-Conners. Nadal became the first player since my favorite tennis player Bjorn Borg won three straight French Opens.
"I am very happy," Nadal said during the trophy ceremony. "But I am really sad for Roger. He is a friend and I know he is a great champion, whether he wins or loses." Nadal shows what a class act he is by making a comment like this.

I am going to try and get some tickets to Wimbledon since I am so close. It may be the only chance I get to go see this event live in my life.

Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited. There is no other television show or movie that I have ever watched that has moved me like this mini-series moved me. I bought the series yesterday, but I haven’t been able to open the plastic wrap and pop it in to watch. This mini-series holds a special place in my heart. For you see, when I was just a young lad trying to figure out who I was in this world, I came to the conclusion very early in life that I was gay. But I didn’t quit know what that meant at that young age. I was at an age in life where I was torn between the boy in me who still wanted to cling to his childhood and the man in me who was ready to leave the comforts of that youth to discover what this world, this life was all about.

Even though I had heard the word gay before and knew what it meant and that it applied to me, I was never around anyone gay. Because of that, I had never really dealt with this issue that lurked in the back of my mind. I had gone to school dances and had the obligatory girlfriend. Yet whenever I kissed a girl, it was just a kiss. It had no meaning to me, no passion.

But then one day I saw a commercial for a mini-series called Brideshead Revisited. The preview showed these two men, being close, being comfortable. It immediately drew my interest and I made a note to watch it. I had a television in my bedroom and I waited anxiously for the show to start. Just as the show was about to start, I heard a knock on my door. Annoyed I replied for them to go away. My mothers voice responded to open the door. Since I respected my mother, I did what she asked, but was annoyed that she was going to interrupt the start of the show I had been waiting to watch for what seemed like forever and a day.

I can’t even remember the reason of why she came in the room, but I remember the opening scene started and the theme music started to play and it drew her attention. Before I knew it, she was sitting next to me on my bed watching the mini-series. Now let me mention here, that I was a lucky young man in the fact that I grew up in a household that did not judge someone based on the color of their skin, the religion they worshipped, or their sexual orientation. But as a young man trying to find his way in life and hoping to see something “gay” happen, I didn’t want my mother sitting next to me as I watched.

At the end of the first episode, my mother mentioned that she had heard about the show and that she really liked the show and was going to start watching it. But she never came back into my room to watch it. She did watch the rest of the mini-series but in her own bedroom since my dad worked nights and my two sisters monopolized the living room television.

As the series continued on and Charles and Sebastian became closer, I was mesmerized by the show. I had never seen two men be this sweet, this loving, this caring to each other. It made me feel sensations I had never felt before. It made me laugh and cry all at the same time. I had always known in the back of my mind I was gay. Now for the first time I was able to see two men love each other and know that I was not alone in this world. I realized for the first time, I had proof, I had seen it with my own two eyes, that there are others like me out there. What a wonderful realization that was.

After each episode, my mother would come to me and we would talk about the episode. She even bought me the Brideshead Revisited book and music. Even though I didn’t realize it at the time, looking back now, I realized that she knew why I wanted to watch the show. Mothers always know. She understood why I had red eyes from crying, why I gushed like a schoolgirl when talking about Sebastian and Charles, why I was sad when Sebastian died, and that I wanted to go to England to see where this was filmed and secretly fall in love with an Englishman.

While I sat alone in my room watching two men love each other for the first time in my life, my mother sat just down the hall alone in her room with her own thoughts of what her son must be going through and wondering where his life will lead him. Would her son end up like Sebastian? I have no idea what she must have thought or felt inside, she kept that hidden to herself. To me, she never once showed any bit of shame, remorse, guilt, or sadness. She never once told me to stop being different than others; in fact she encouraged me to be me. In her own way, she tried to be there for me as I discovered who I was. It was a learning experience for her as well as for me. As the years went by, my mother was always there for me. She never stopped loving me until the day she died.

I had trouble sleeping last night and woke up early today. Many thoughts are filling my mind. Bringing back many memories I have long since pushed to the back of my mind. Now I sit here, about to open the package and put the mini-series in. But I sit here nervous, putting off opening the package by writing this blog. I know when I see the first scenes and hear the main theme; a flood of memories will come back to me. I will be taken back to a time when I was just a young boy taking his first steps to understanding the man I am today. It was a time of youth, a time of innocence, a time when a mother in her quiet way, was there for her son.

If she could see me now, living in Ireland, in love with an Irish man, I am sure she would smile and be happy for me. I only wish that she were here with me, to sit next to me and we could watch Brideshead Revisited together, not alone in our rooms. As Sebastian said, I’d like to bury something precious every place that I’ve been happy. That when I am old and ugly and miserable, I’d come back and dig it up and remember.

Friday Night Party

Its Friday night, or actually early Saturday morning. We went out for drinks and to some clubs in Dublin tonight. I consumed just enough alcohol combined with not much sleep and me judgement became very clouded. So clouded I even got out on the club dance floor. Something I don't normally do. But it was all good.

After the clubs we came back to me friends place. Some friends came over and we had a little party. The party is winding down now, most of the people have left. Some are hanging on sitting in the kitchen having a gab fest. Someone just played this CD of Daniel Bedingfield and I liked the song and the video is sexy. So I thought I would post it.


After listening to this next song, I am ready for bed. I have been up almost 24 hours and I only had about 5 hours sleep the night before. So I am going to sneak off to get a shower, gather up me cats who are having a sleep over here tonight with me and then curl up in bed and fall asleep. I just finished making a copy of Daniel Bedingfields songs to CD. I am going to go put this CD on in the bedroom and listen to it as I fall asleep. I'll leave whats left of the night and the party to those who had more sleep than me to carry on without me.


To all my friends going out tonight, have fun and be safe. To my friend in Kansas, go Ducks! They did it!

Some Views Of Dublin, Ireland

We had a late night tonight. Went out for dinner, drinks, and took a long walk around the city. It was a nice cool night. There is so much to see in Dublin that everytime I go out, I find someplace or something new that I didn't notice before. Although I have lived here now for more than half a year, there is still alot I have not discovered. Well, time to get to bed, morning will be here before I know it. I think I will sleep in tomorrow and get me mate to drive me to work.

Save The Last Dance For Me

This guy is a cutie. I think he does a good job singing. It made me smile, so I thought I would share this before heading off to work. Everyone have a great day. Remember to smile. Your happiness will piss off those who don't like you.

This Is Just Wrong

These people have great imaginations.

Even Super Hero's Get Old

Even superheros start to show their age after awhile.

She-Ra of the 80's.....

She-Ra today......

New Surfboard

I decided to look into buying a new surfboard. I am thinking of getting a flower or paisley design in dark blue, light blue, and white. Sort of like the cloth below. If anybody has any good design ideas, let me know. I am going to be thinking about this for awhile before I decide. I want to call off work and go surfing again today. But I can't, so off to work I go. Have a great day everyone.

Make sure you check out the French Blog link to the left of this page. My friend has some X-rated surfing pictures. (No not of me! lol)

Some Dedications

Last weekend at my cousins house, he had a Michael Buble CD in his car. Now, I have heard of Michael Buble, liked his music, but never really check much into it. But today on the way back from Sligo, me mate put the new Michael Buble CD on in the car and we listened to it on the way back. Since two of the most important guys in me life liked his music, I decided to give it more of a listen. I have to say it is really good. So I thought for today I would just make a quick dedication to those two and say thanks for giving me some new music to listen to.

To me mate, thanks for all you do. I want to dance with you to this song some night.....


To me cousin who told me this song reminded him of someone he once cared alot about. Even though he won't admit it, I could tell he is still missing a friend he once loved dearly not too long ago....

My Favorite Place To Rest

I love to lay down on my guys chest and watch television or listen to music. It is my favorite pillow and my favorite place to rest. It just makes me feel close to him. (I don't mean close to that...and you know what you're thinking!)

I like being able to hear his heartbeat, feel his chest rise and fall as he breathes, the warmth of his body, the touch of his skin. Its just my favorite place to spend a quiet moment.

So with that being said, I am off to go lay down there and rest for the evening. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.