Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Working Weekend
Finally getting over the flu, I went back to work on Friday. I'll be working throughout the weekend and since our season is coming to a close, I'll be spending most of next week working from 6am to 8pm. Even though I mentioned I'm getting over the flu, I still have a bit of a cough. When I'm outside, this cold sea air goes right into my lungs and I can feel my chest getting congested again. I have to make sure I stay bundled up and inside out of that air or I have a feeling I'll be getting sick again real fast. One of the guys brewed some coffee and even though I don't usually drink coffee, it smelled so good that I had to have a cup. Glad I did, it feels good to have a hot drink this morning instead of my usual OJ. Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Clive Owen - Handsome Man
I'm watching a Clive Owen movie. He is one of my favorite actors and very handsome too. Look at that stomach above. Maybe its just me because I like the rough boy types, but that bandage on his nose makes him so sexy to me. Makes you just want to crawl in that tub with him and kiss all his boo boos doesn't it? lol
You're Being Heard!
An article by Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir has resulted in a record number of complaints being made to the UK's Press Complaints Commission.
The article, published in Friday's edition of the paper, the day before Mr Gately's funeral, has so far prompted 21,000 complaints - the highest ever for a single article in the UK.
It was not carried in the Irish edition of the newspaper and the Office of the Press Ombudsman has said it only deals with complaints relating to material published in Ireland.
The PCC says it will write to the Mail to seek a response even if Mr Gately's family did not make a formal complaint. It usually requires directly affected parties to complain before acting.
Police in the UK have also received a complaint about the article.
Some gay rights campaigners said the article, headlined 'A Strange, Lonely and Troubling Death', was homophobic.
Ms Moir has defended herself by claiming that allegations her article was homophobic were 'mischievous' and that the reaction was a 'heavily orchestrated internet campaign'.
In the article, she claimed: 'Healthy and fit 33-year-old men do not just climb into their pyjamas and go to sleep on the sofa, never to wake up again. Whatever the cause of death is, it is not, by any yardstick, a natural one.'
She also wrote: 'For once again, under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see.'
An investigation by Spanish officials found that Mr Gately died of natural causes when he suffered a pulmonary oedema, an accumulation of fluid on the lungs.
The article, published in Friday's edition of the paper, the day before Mr Gately's funeral, has so far prompted 21,000 complaints - the highest ever for a single article in the UK.
It was not carried in the Irish edition of the newspaper and the Office of the Press Ombudsman has said it only deals with complaints relating to material published in Ireland.
The PCC says it will write to the Mail to seek a response even if Mr Gately's family did not make a formal complaint. It usually requires directly affected parties to complain before acting.
Police in the UK have also received a complaint about the article.
Some gay rights campaigners said the article, headlined 'A Strange, Lonely and Troubling Death', was homophobic.
Ms Moir has defended herself by claiming that allegations her article was homophobic were 'mischievous' and that the reaction was a 'heavily orchestrated internet campaign'.
In the article, she claimed: 'Healthy and fit 33-year-old men do not just climb into their pyjamas and go to sleep on the sofa, never to wake up again. Whatever the cause of death is, it is not, by any yardstick, a natural one.'
She also wrote: 'For once again, under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see.'
An investigation by Spanish officials found that Mr Gately died of natural causes when he suffered a pulmonary oedema, an accumulation of fluid on the lungs.
Working From Home
Because I have the flu, even though its not H1N1, I'm not allowed to go in to work until I'm completely over it. Because I work on a ship in cold, wet weather, I normally catch a lot of colds and I get the flu a couple times a year. But usually I can take some medicine, get some sleep, and it clears up in a day or two. But I have had this flu for a week now and I'll probably have it a few more days. This is a strong virus going around. Several children in the neighborhood have been out of school over a week now. A few others I work with called off today from being sick. I was even taking precautions, spraying my paperwork and computers with disenfectant, washing my hands, using hand sanitizer in between and still I caught the bug.
Five people have died from swine flu in the Republic of Ireland, the last one on the same day that the first batches of swine flu vaccine were delivered to some GPs.
The HSE says the campaign to vaccinate around 400,000 people in at-risk categories will begin in two weeks.
Around 1,800 GPs have agreed to administer the vaccine but the Health Service Executive says it could be two weeks before all doctors are supplied.
The first round of vaccines will be made available for high-risk groups, which are defined as pregnant women and people with chronic illness aged between six months and 65 years.
Elsewhere, the Irish Medical Organisation has claimed that up to 1,000 GPs have concerns about the HSE's plans to vaccinate people at risk of the swine flu.
Dr Michael Mehigan of the IMO said that while GPs want to support the campaign, an increasing number are unhappy with the legal indemnity issues.
He said it had nothing to do with vaccine safety but that the issues needed to be resolved before the campaign begins on 2 November.
The IMO also said batches of vaccines were delivered to two GPs in the south-east and south of the country this morning, despite the fact that the doctors have not agreed to participate in the vaccination campaign.
The HSE said it would be responding today to queries raised by the IMO in a letter late last week.
The Executive said that it would run a public information campaign and that the onus would be on patients to self-identify themselves to their GP if they were in the at-risk group.
Five people have died from swine flu in the Republic of Ireland, the last one on the same day that the first batches of swine flu vaccine were delivered to some GPs.
The HSE says the campaign to vaccinate around 400,000 people in at-risk categories will begin in two weeks.
Around 1,800 GPs have agreed to administer the vaccine but the Health Service Executive says it could be two weeks before all doctors are supplied.
The first round of vaccines will be made available for high-risk groups, which are defined as pregnant women and people with chronic illness aged between six months and 65 years.
Elsewhere, the Irish Medical Organisation has claimed that up to 1,000 GPs have concerns about the HSE's plans to vaccinate people at risk of the swine flu.
Dr Michael Mehigan of the IMO said that while GPs want to support the campaign, an increasing number are unhappy with the legal indemnity issues.
He said it had nothing to do with vaccine safety but that the issues needed to be resolved before the campaign begins on 2 November.
The IMO also said batches of vaccines were delivered to two GPs in the south-east and south of the country this morning, despite the fact that the doctors have not agreed to participate in the vaccination campaign.
The HSE said it would be responding today to queries raised by the IMO in a letter late last week.
The Executive said that it would run a public information campaign and that the onus would be on patients to self-identify themselves to their GP if they were in the at-risk group.
Donal Og Cusack
A man, still playing his sport and very good at it, comes out and states he's gay and the reaction is....so what, keep playing. The times are a changing. Since I personally know he's not the only gay athlete out there, I hope that he and his community who've shown him support, can become role models to others in the same situation. I can also relate to this quote:
"Since I was 13 or 14, I knew I was a bit different. I hate labels though. That's the way I am. I live with it and I am fine with it. People close to me will tell you there were never any tears. There was never agony. I just know this thing.
I've had to say this to people I'm close to again and again. This is who I am. This is what I do. I spend a lot of time trying to work things out but once I know something about myself, I know it. I don't agonise. It's logical to me. I thought about this but never had any problems dealing with it."
GAA stars and hurling fans have urged Donal Og Cusack not to hang up his hurley amid concerns about the reaction to his decision to come out as a gay man.
The Cork goalkeeper was overwhelmed yesterday with messages of support from teammates, Rebels fans and GAA supporters in his native club, Cloyne.
Senior Cork GAA stars including Ben O'Connor, Brian Corcoran, Sean Og O'hAilpin, Tom Kenny, Timmy McCarthy and Cathal Naughton stressed they respected Cusack's decision to go public -- and admired both his honesty and courage.
Cork hurling star and GAA commentator Tomas Mulcahy said he expected Cusack to continue.
Yesterday it was announced that Donal Og will be a guest on the 'Late Late Show' on Friday night.
However, some Cork GAA officials have privately expressed concern about the possible reaction of a minority of fans.
The GAA -- which has proudly led the way with multiculturalism, integration and tolerance within sport -- is now expected to adopt a hard-line stance to any unacceptable reaction from fans.
Fans flooded Cork radio stations 96 FM and Red FM yesterday with calls supporting Cusack.
The only criticisms were from fans worried that his comments about Cork Co Board could reignite the bitter strike by players that ended earlier this year. Others expressed concern that former manager Gerald McCarthy could be hurt by some of the commentary.
The players' strike only ended when Mr McCarthy stepped down as Cork hurling manager amid concerns for his family.
Cusack -- whose biography 'Come What May' will be published on October 23 -- has already been staunchly supported by both Cloyne GAA members and his fellow Cork hurling teammates.
Veteran Cork forward Timmy McCarthy said: "Of course he has my support."
Cork and Newtownshandrum star Ben O'Connor paid tribute to Donal Og Cusack as a true sportsman of great integrity.
"He is a top man. (Donal) is one of the best and most genuine GAA men around. He will be supported by Cork players and all genuine GAA people -- absolutely 100pc," he said.
Others pointed out that Corkonians traditionally stood by their own.
Star forward Cathal Naughton said true GAA fans would remember how much Donal Og had given to the game over the past 15 years.
"We are all fully, 100pc behind him. (Donal) is a great man and has (done) so much for all of us. This won't change anything," he vowed.
Locals in Donal Og's native village of Cloyne also rallied to show their support yesterday.
Tom Canavan, a neighbour and friend of the Cusack family, said Donal Og's courage and honesty should be an inspiration to all Irish people.
"There are 100,000 people playing GAA in this country and he is hardly the only one who is gay. I hope his comments will be a help to other gay sportspeople," he declared.
Others admitted the revelations in his biography left them startled.
"When my son told me yesterday, I was hit for six. But the main thing is he was able to come out," Cloyne woman Kitty Ryan said.
The Cork goalkeeper was overwhelmed yesterday with messages of support from teammates, Rebels fans and GAA supporters in his native club, Cloyne.
Senior Cork GAA stars including Ben O'Connor, Brian Corcoran, Sean Og O'hAilpin, Tom Kenny, Timmy McCarthy and Cathal Naughton stressed they respected Cusack's decision to go public -- and admired both his honesty and courage.
Cork hurling star and GAA commentator Tomas Mulcahy said he expected Cusack to continue.
Yesterday it was announced that Donal Og will be a guest on the 'Late Late Show' on Friday night.
However, some Cork GAA officials have privately expressed concern about the possible reaction of a minority of fans.
The GAA -- which has proudly led the way with multiculturalism, integration and tolerance within sport -- is now expected to adopt a hard-line stance to any unacceptable reaction from fans.
Fans flooded Cork radio stations 96 FM and Red FM yesterday with calls supporting Cusack.
The only criticisms were from fans worried that his comments about Cork Co Board could reignite the bitter strike by players that ended earlier this year. Others expressed concern that former manager Gerald McCarthy could be hurt by some of the commentary.
The players' strike only ended when Mr McCarthy stepped down as Cork hurling manager amid concerns for his family.
Cusack -- whose biography 'Come What May' will be published on October 23 -- has already been staunchly supported by both Cloyne GAA members and his fellow Cork hurling teammates.
Veteran Cork forward Timmy McCarthy said: "Of course he has my support."
Cork and Newtownshandrum star Ben O'Connor paid tribute to Donal Og Cusack as a true sportsman of great integrity.
"He is a top man. (Donal) is one of the best and most genuine GAA men around. He will be supported by Cork players and all genuine GAA people -- absolutely 100pc," he said.
Others pointed out that Corkonians traditionally stood by their own.
Star forward Cathal Naughton said true GAA fans would remember how much Donal Og had given to the game over the past 15 years.
"We are all fully, 100pc behind him. (Donal) is a great man and has (done) so much for all of us. This won't change anything," he vowed.
Locals in Donal Og's native village of Cloyne also rallied to show their support yesterday.
Tom Canavan, a neighbour and friend of the Cusack family, said Donal Og's courage and honesty should be an inspiration to all Irish people.
"There are 100,000 people playing GAA in this country and he is hardly the only one who is gay. I hope his comments will be a help to other gay sportspeople," he declared.
Others admitted the revelations in his biography left them startled.
"When my son told me yesterday, I was hit for six. But the main thing is he was able to come out," Cloyne woman Kitty Ryan said.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday Morning
This weekend went quick. Gareth and I tried to video connect with each other today, but we kept losing the connection. He looks good, lost some weight and has a tan. Of course I'm recovering from the flu and looked like shit and my voice sounds like the cookie monster. He suggested that he was alone in his room and I was alone here, so........but, before he could finish that thought I started sneezing and hacking and coughing and blew my nose a few times, cleared my throat and by the time I finished with that I asked him "You want some of this?" to which he laughed and replied all that I had going on wasn't going to work for him and changed the subject and the doctor in him came out and started talking to me about my medicines. We went on to talk about what has been going on in each others lives and he had some really interesting stories to tell me about things he's seen in South Africa.
At one point I asked him if he was glad to be in South Africa so he doesn't have to hear me whine while being sick. He stated with an almost serious face that he wishes he was here with me to take care of me. I almost believed him until I saw him doing a happy dance off to the side of the camera. I think I'll call him later on this evening and see if I can interest him into having a little dirty talk with the cookie monster.
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