tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647711471243546402008-07-03T08:04:10.199-07:00ink2metal works it outdanny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-54338268730601519092008-07-01T09:59:00.000-07:002008-07-01T13:13:51.378-07:00pi-nipples! get your fresh pi-nipples right here!yes, folks, there is a story behind the title. specifically, this story is one about pride...gay pride that is. and it shall unfold in pictures as well as words. so hold onto your pi-nipples and enjoy...<br /><br />as we prepared ourselves for a full day of frolicking amongst the homosexuals this past sunday, i thought it a smart idea to bring our own beverages; because damnit!, the drinks are expensive at the street kiosks and we have a high tolerance against the ice-filled, watered-down dixie cups of alcohol-tainted drinks that they sell for around $10 each. not financially feasible for a group of nine <i>healthy</i> drinkers during a six hour period. so i filled every starbucks commuter thermos we owned, and i mean the tall venti-capacitied thermoses, with either cranberry juice and gin or straight rum; there were eight in total. you can't just walk the streets drinking out of liquor bottles wrapped in brown paper bags, right? it must be done in style. and what's not stylish about a stainless steel starbucks thermos?<br /><br />but wait, there's more...stephanie and candace were supplying the vodka and seven up. the only thing missing was the coke to mix with the rum. that issue would quickly be addressed with a trip through the mcdonald's drive through; four large cokes, please!<br /><br /><strong>okay for the next part of this story, i must pre-face with this advisory: do not attempt to replicate our actions. the following which i am about to recount should be performed only by experienced professionals.</strong><br /><br />as we made our way to the freeway, we chugged down, er, i mean we quickly imbibed large amounts of coca cola to make room for the rum. as soon as we could, we emptied two rum-filled thermoses into a new inconspicuous plastic-cupped cuba libre incarnation. somewhere along the way as we performed quality control over the flavor of our freshly mixed rum and cokes, we agreed that we had done a piss poor job of finding the right balance between the captain and the coke. way too much captain, even for our low standards, where too much alcohol is more the norm than it is the exception. the other thing working against the captain was that we also had a great mix of coconut-flavored malibu and coke already. so as we complained of the captain's obnoxious spiciness, anthony said something to the effect that pineapple juice would have made for a nice flavor addition, but as it seems to happen whenever we are on quality control duties, and because we do take our quality control duties quite seriously, we were too concentrated on fixing the flavor that what we heard became something about <i>pi-nipples</i> making for a nice flavor mix. and being that we were on our way to celebrate pride in san francisco, it made perfect sense to us that we needed pi-nipple juice. therefore, once we were on the streets of san francisco and within proximity of passers-by on the sidewalks, offers of and solicitations for pi-nipples were yelled from the car windows, much like you would hear from the food vendors at any self-respecting sporting event.<br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGpl_hfpBPI/AAAAAAAAFF4/z_O3esCtxfA/s1600-h/DSC03210.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218095260259386610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGpl_hfpBPI/AAAAAAAAFF4/z_O3esCtxfA/s400/DSC03210.JPG" border="0" /></a>as you can see from the picture, stephanie, candace and i were quite pleased with our efforts although we were unsuccessful at acquiring any fresh pi-nipples. unfortunately we don't have any pictures of anthony's embarrassment; we were way too busy laughing at ourselves. but not to worry folks, there are definitely embarrassing pictures to be shared. luckily, we're not too proud to share.<br /><br />anyway, by the end of the after parade street party this is what we looked like...<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGp8rwmBhNI/AAAAAAAAFZU/kPszOzxBwi0/s1600-h/DSC03357.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218120209482745042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGp8rwmBhNI/AAAAAAAAFZU/kPszOzxBwi0/s400/DSC03357.JPG" border="0" /></a>eeewww, these pi-nipples have over-ripened!<br /><br />hm, before anyone should get the wrong idea that our exuberance for the drink is par for the course, there are some valid reasons for our over-indulgent behavior at this year's parade festivities:<br /><br />1) this was going to be andrew's first time to experience pride first-hand<br />2) anthony and i haven't participated in pride festivities for the past four years<br />3) this was going to be san francisco's send off for stephanie and candace since the next day we would be helping them pack up the moving truck that would whisk them away to las vegas this morning.<br />4) that's just the way we roll, peeps!<br /><br />to highlight the craziness of the day, i have chosen a few choice pictures...<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCbY7MWFI/AAAAAAAAFZc/lzmGejg0Ggc/s1600-h/DSC03216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218126525320943698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCbY7MWFI/AAAAAAAAFZc/lzmGejg0Ggc/s400/DSC03216.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="left"></a></p>trish, a random fairy godmother, andrew and stephanie<br /><br /><p><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCbittZOI/AAAAAAAAFZk/pXDtgIKaePE/s1600-h/DSC03218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218126527948743906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCbittZOI/AAAAAAAAFZk/pXDtgIKaePE/s400/DSC03218.JPG" border="0" /></a> pepe, jeff, tia, anthony, candace, stephanie, trish and me</p><br /><p><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCb8wZyeI/AAAAAAAAFZs/Gzh7xotJTTg/s1600-h/DSC03240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218126534939363810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCb8wZyeI/AAAAAAAAFZs/Gzh7xotJTTg/s400/DSC03240.JPG" border="0" /></a> me and the girls</p><p><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCcCWgQMI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/0GNvsKNga3k/s1600-h/DSC03242.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218126536441348290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCcCWgQMI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/0GNvsKNga3k/s400/DSC03242.JPG" border="0" /></a> party-foul recompense: spilt alcohol had to be licked off the offended body part</p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218129826995697442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqFbkny9yI/AAAAAAAAFaE/CIHXZH3v4vs/s400/DSC03289.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCcSpaVMI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/IET2Upa6E9k/s1600-h/DSC03252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218126540815619266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqCcSpaVMI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/IET2Upa6E9k/s400/DSC03252.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218129854854592674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqFdMZ3-KI/AAAAAAAAFac/ueTBMY6xGlw/s400/DSC03259.JPG" border="0" /> for some reason, there was a lot of tongue action happening all day<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218129831737242114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqFb2SRMgI/AAAAAAAAFaM/Q3IO362ilLA/s400/DSC03301.JPG" border="0" />...and then some!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218129848348442498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqFc0Kr_4I/AAAAAAAAFaU/YvNSGAvSRLg/s400/DSC03268.JPG" border="0" />anthony's face being violated<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqFdWtxcTI/AAAAAAAAFak/ZNkwabJq_1o/s1600-h/DSC03275.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218129857622405426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqFdWtxcTI/AAAAAAAAFak/ZNkwabJq_1o/s400/DSC03275.JPG" border="0" /></a>me, candace and stephanie shakin' it all the way down to the street<br /><br />if you can't tell from the pictures, let me just reassure you that we had a blast. we also even ventured over to the eagle for a beer with pepe and jeff, which we never get to do. and because the world really is that small, i ran into an old college friend whom i haven't seen in over a decade. <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqLAV1PcAI/AAAAAAAAFa0/UubovHDG364/s1600-h/DSC03318.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqLAV1PcAI/AAAAAAAAFa0/UubovHDG364/s400/DSC03318.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218135956238856194" /></a><i>(hey robert ayala, if you google yourself and come across this picture, e-mail me. we didn't get to exchange numbers)</i><br />that was a pleasant surprise even though it was tempered with a tears when candace and stephanie said their goodbyes to pepe and jeff; but there were promises made to visit the girls soon once they get themselves settled in.<br /><br />then we headed to our fave caribe/cuban restaurant cha-cha-cha's in the haight for some deliciously spicy dinner fare. hm, poor stephanie! she doesn't even remember eating a fallen piece of bread off the floor. eeewww!<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqKWGFOeGI/AAAAAAAAFas/9vb5DuX2NHY/s1600-h/DSC03358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SGqKWGFOeGI/AAAAAAAAFas/9vb5DuX2NHY/s400/DSC03358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218135230456428642" /></a>good thing she didn't partake of the sangria!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ink2metal/Pride2008/photo#5218115342615671826"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/ink2metal/SGp4QeGfdBI/AAAAAAAAFY8/HMuBNp6U2aE/s400/DSC03332.JPG" /></a><br />oops! i just realized that there was a friendly offer of pi-nipple juice from a stranger while we were at the eagle. gosh, those leather-loving guys are so generous!<br /><br /><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fink2metal%2Falbumid%2F5218113426627849313%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss"></embed><br /><br /><br /></p><blockquote><br /><p><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /><br />-unknown</p></blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-1217234850716138162008-06-23T00:32:00.000-07:002008-06-23T03:08:08.858-07:00i suck at life...or at least i suck at blogging. and sucking at blogging must have a direct correlation to sucking at life, right?<br /><br />okay, that's really just inappropriately dramatic since life has been pretty good lately with some incredibly awesome "ups" mixed in with some of the frustrating "downs".<br /><br />so here's a synopsis of what has been going on during my absence from the blogosphere:<br /><br /><em>in the month of may</em><br /><ol><li>the weekend before my 39th birthday, i got roofied while out drinking and dancing at our usual watering hole in the city. within an hour and a half of arriving at the club i was being dragged out by anthony and our friends with the assistance of some very annoyed members of the security staff. the security guys just thought i was a light-weight drunk, but everyone who drinks with me knows it would take more than three gin and tonics to make me throw up and pass out the way i did. something was terribly off-kilter that night. none of us knows for sure, but we've all agreed that someone had to have drugged my unattended drink while i was dancing. i still have no recollection of most of the evening but have come to accept that even at 39 i am still cute enough for someone to want to date rape drug me. woo hoo!</li><li>my girls, stephanie and candace, along with anthony surprised me with a fabulous birthday dinner at NoLA's in palo alto. i love new orleans cuisine so i really enjoyed the food and the company. and of course, the girls ordered me the 60 ounce hurricane that the restaurant affectionately calls the "moron bowl". the menu has a disclaimer that only one moron bowl will be served per customer and that there must be a designated driver for the "moron". needless to say, i approached the task with a bit of trepidation since i knew that 1) more than two regular 16 ounce hurricanes has an adverse effect on me and that 2) it was just a mere five days since i got roofied. so with a little help from the girls, i managed to weather the storm and survive the hurricane.</li><li>just two days later, anthony and i joined claire and stelios in an intimate celebration of claire's 40th birthday at the left bank restaurant at santana row in santa clara. claire went all out in a fantastic baby blue betsey johnson lacey ensemble with matching betsey johnson glittery silver heeled stilettos, of course. she turned heads wherever we went and it was totally fun to be part of her "entourage".</li></ol><p><em>so far in the month of june</em></p><ol><li>the month started badly since we had to deal with the passing of our beloved sasha, but he no longer suffers from the pains of old age. and because he was such a great part of the family, he is fondly remembered.</li><li>something truly extraordinary happened in my relationship with my dad; since talking to him last year on my sister's birthday, he's finally gotten over the fact that anthony and i are a couple. it took my brother and soon-to-be-sister-in-law's "jack and jill" shower to bring us all together. after more than twelve very strained years, my dad was actually able to greet me and anthony with complete sincerity and he even had the gumption to hug the both of us. totally unexpected but extremely welcomed by ananthony and i. looks like my brother's wedding won't be stress-filled and uncomfortable after all. woo hoo for that!</li><li>then exactly a month after my birthday, we helped stephanie celebrate her 23rd birthday with two bottles of champagne and a midnight swim in the pool. it also happened to be father's day so it turned out to be an all-day food and drink fest in the backyard. surprisingly, yet thankfully, no one drowned. yay!</li><li>two days later, claire and the kids left for summer vacation in france like they have every year since we have known them, only this time they won't be coming back after the summer is over. it was such a hard farewell; just like being nine again and having to say goodbye to the only person you ever thought would accept you despite your awkward and quirky weirdness. but thank god for the internet and yahoo messenger!</li><li>the same day that claire and the kids left, i got to meet some blog buddies in real life: my lovely ladies of the northwest, lorraine and the hat. of course, i also got to meet <em>the child that belongs to lorraine</em>, as well. she is a really great kid, a wonderful spirit, and endless fireball of energy. surely she gets that from her mom...hi dylly!...and along with anthony, andrew, stephanie and andrew's bff chris, we spent a wonderful afternoon poolside. i did, though, uncharacteristically overcook the tri-tip and the chicken on the bbq. i suppose i can blame it on the excitement of meeting up with blogbuddies for the first time.</li><li>the following evening, we found ourselves at NoLA's once again, but this time in celebration of candace's 21st birthday. let's just say i returned the favor and took a few sips of candace's moron bowl just to help her out. dinner was once again de-lish and was topped off with a penis-inspired dessert made of a banana and two scoops of ice cream which just made me jealous since the restaurant failed to deliver me a banana and ice cream penis when we celebrated my birthday just a month before. some girls have all the luck.</li><li>and then, since there wasn't enough celebrating going on, andrew graduated. more food and drinks poolside and yet another midnight swim. thank god for really great neighbors who put up with our inability to utilize our swimming pool during more considerate hours. since then, andrew's been enjoying the company of one of his best friends that he doesn't get to see often since she lives up north at fort bragg in mendocino. she's a really good kid and has been tried and true friend to andrew. we are more than happy to have her staying with us.</li></ol><p>and those my friends, are the days of my life...at least for the past 6 weeks. there are pictures involved which might be forthcoming. just depends on how lazy i remain and how much i suck at life.<br /><br /></p><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /><br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-69564059217079478922008-06-04T19:24:00.000-07:002008-06-04T20:43:17.893-07:00the first farewell of the summer...<blockquote>for sasha<br /><br />run on sand and<br />swim in sea,<br />your spirit is now set free.<br /><br />you were a good and loyal friend. the best.<br /><br />rest in peace.</blockquote><br /><br />i had the most heartbreaking event to deal with this morning...while taking care of some cleaning on our side yard, anthony turned towards the pool and alerted me to our dog sasha's lifeless body floating in our pool. anthony was too shocked to move and i had to run to pull sasha from the water. apparently sasha had fallen in and drowned during the night, too old and too weak to get to the shallow end. ironically, he was a very strong swimmer and loved the water in his younger days. i suppose it's been a while since he'd seen his younger days.<br /><br />any<em>waterygrave</em>, i bawled for a good two hours just sitting with him in the middle of the backyard trying to let the sun warm his cold, rigor-stiff body. all i could think was that it wasn't supposed to happen this way. no one should die alone, not even a dog. <br /><br />anthony, andrew and i had just been discussing on monday that we would take sasha to be put down sometime between this week and next weekend. we wanted him to know that we were there when he took his last breath. unfortunately, life just happens. there are things that you just can't plan; so, we couldn't give him the send off that we hoped for. but we have something special planned that we know he would have loved. when we get his ashes back next week, we will be taking his ashes with us and our other dogs on a camping trip to the coast and let the wind take the ashes out to sea. sasha really would have loved it.<br /><br />well, i really didn't want to have my first post in a week to be such a bummer but i believe sasha knew we were having a difficult time trying to figure out when to put him down and as unfortunate as his last day was it finally put an end to his suffering and our anguish. had he lived to father's day, he would have been with us for 18 years. that in and of itself was more than we could have ever hoped for. he was an awesome dog and a true part of our family.<br /><br />anyway, i also wanted to say thanks to a whole bunch of you all out there that have given me the strength to put this sad news out there. it's made me feel a lot better to not have to let the sadness just fester within. anthony, andrew and i have been supporting each other of course, but just knowing that i have my blog buddies are out there for additional support is so great. so thanks again!<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-60676203242259522482008-05-28T18:16:00.000-07:002008-05-28T21:19:22.263-07:00despite my best attempts at trying to ignore and avoid the inevitable...i find that as a consequence, i have turned my attentions away from something i really enjoy: blogging.<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SD4uUrc-Z4I/AAAAAAAAFFY/Uz2anw49EyM/s1600-h/ap_54.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SD4uUrc-Z4I/AAAAAAAAFFY/Uz2anw49EyM/s400/ap_54.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205649152083388290" /></a><br />the thing is, blogging for me is supposed to be about the fun stuff that happens in my life. sure there is room to share the not-so-fun stuff as well but i like to focus on the fun. the other thing about blogging is that it is a chronological record of the moments that make life, well, life. of course this is the double edge sword that has kept me at bay; as much as i would like to look back upon these days of my life with fondness, they are tinged with a sense of melancholy. big changes are soon to happen and i don't have the fortitude to face them.<br /><br />i have been trying to avoid the fact that our social landscape is about to become desperately barren and desolate. by the end of june, the people who have been the closest to us over the past almost decade are no longer going to be just a few minutes away: claire and stelios and the kids will be moving to france and our girls, stephanie and candace are moving to las vegas. theoretically, those are awesome moves for them and indirectly awesome for us as well. seriously, who doesn't want to visit france or vegas and have a place to crash with friends? but the flip-side to that is that i would give up france and vegas to have my friends at my beck and call...because i can be needy like that. of course there's the phone and the internet but it just won't be the same. these are the kinds of friends that just show up on your doorstep and walk right in should the front door be unlocked knowing that they are always welcomed; they are family. now the sound of the front door unexpectedly opening will give us cause for alarm. damnit!<br /><br />so what does this have to do with dropping from the face of the blogosphere? well, you see, back when i wrote my last posts, i suppose i was subconsciously feeling the swift pace at which time has been running lately...hello!?! the end of another season of american idol was upon us...while at the same time, since we had been doing so many home projects, change had been the only constant of not only my physical environment, but that of my mental and emotional ones also, not to mention the fact that chronologically, i am growing up. oh, boo! yeah, somewhere amidst the mental and emotional turmoil, i turned 39. ironically, turning 39 was the least traumatic of the changes. i had already decided a while ago that this year would be my last official birthday. from here on, i will celebrate 39 at least five more times before i just stop telling people how old i am. see? took the trauma right out of it. anyway, all this to say that i have been avoiding anything that would remind me of the passing of time; this blog being one of the primary ones. since i have been diligently blogging almost daily since last year, it just seemed logical that if i stopped blogging, time would stop as well. then i wouldn't have to deal with the quiet and loneliness left in the aftermath of everyone moving away. totally logical. and completely retarded. but that's just me.<br /><br />okay, so that really wasn't a practical approach. and here i am again, back to blogging. diligently? on a daily basis? i don't know yet. i do know that there are some of you who i consider to be blogbuddies that have been concerned and whose contact and interaction i have missed as a consequence of my recent disappearance from the blogosphere. so hugs to you all as a small gesture of 'hello' and a reminder that i shall be around and leaving witless and inappropriate comments yet again. so don't say you haven't been warned.<br /><br />hm...maybe tomorrow i'll tell you how i got roofied? rufied? the weekend before my birthday and share all the other fun things that have happened over the past few weeks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /><br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-81902595901982307582008-05-07T22:16:00.001-07:002008-05-07T22:43:03.472-07:00and your dream of becoming the next american idol ends here, week 8the highlights of the evening:<br /><br />david archuleta is the first to be told he is safe.<br /><br />david cook is also told he is safe.<br /><br />they premiered the <a href="http://www.americanidol.com/videos/?cat=506">new ford commercial</a> with the guys wearing toreador outfits; um, that means they were wearing really tight pants. i almost fainted...<br /><br />ryan introduced maroon five! adam levine! in a skinny suit! totally deeeeelish!...i fainted!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RETa4BfEm2g&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RETa4BfEm2g&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />bo bice came on and rocked! he could have won over carrie but they were really a well-matched top two. <br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NQ7dGh15AQA&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NQ7dGh15AQA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />jason is sent home this week. oh, boo! but it had to be done.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q9M06YYGtbU&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q9M06YYGtbU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-32509872607678159242008-05-06T22:37:00.000-07:002008-05-06T23:21:12.541-07:00recap: the american idol top 4tonight's song choices are widely varied since the idol hopefuls get to choose from catalogs of the rock and roll hall of fame.<br /><br /><strong>david cook</strong> start the show with <em>hungry like the wolf</em> from duran duran.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KhJgtWTHHf4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KhJgtWTHHf4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />the vocals were fine but the performance was lackluster. after having just seen duran duran in concert last friday, this felt too constrained. it lacked the wild abandon and savage feel of the original.<br /><br /><strong>syesha</strong> goes for it with a tina turner classic, <em>proud mary</em>.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5lv49lsJOWE&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5lv49lsJOWE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />not bad, but two minutes doesn't give this song enough time to heat up like it's supposed to. maybe not the best song to choose ecause of the time constraints. overall her vocals were okay.<br /><br /><strong>jason</strong> does a really jason-obvious choice, bob marley's <em>i shot the sheriff</em>.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/st9zozEktQI&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/st9zozEktQI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />but it turned out to be more like he shot himself in the foot. as much as i love jason's island sound, it tweaked the original too much. it almost felt rushed and not laid-back.<br /><br />david archuleta ends round one with stand by me by ben e. king<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uPjcCyMT0s4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uPjcCyMT0s4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />he lucked out being the last to perform because he easily blew the others away in round one. his vocals were on fire and he really showed his heart and soul with his performance...despite the little shout out to the "beautiful girls". someone's trying to hard to look straight.<br /><br />and before they show breaks for the commercial before round two, ryan made me jealous by man-handling my jailbait lover. hm!?! what's ryan up to?<br /><br />going into round two:<br /><br /><strong>david cook</strong> shakes off the bad juju of round one and sings the who's <em>baba o-riley</em>.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gDdgze8tH9E&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gDdgze8tH9E&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />he manages to get back in his zone. solid vocals and a very david cook rendition. it rocked.<br /><br /><strong>syesha</strong> picks another big song, <em>change is gonna come</em> by sam cooke.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cLS7fZwRCr4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cLS7fZwRCr4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />it was a very emotional performance from her.<br /><br /><strong>jason</strong> goes with the bob's tonight and sings bob dylan's <em>mr. tambourine man</em>...and misses some lyrics.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CZUpQHPqB5E&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CZUpQHPqB5E&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br />and david archuleta ends the show with love me tender by elvis presley<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3fuwukvbgsQ&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3fuwukvbgsQ&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />hot damn! after tonight's show david archuleta has me wrapped around his little finger...you know the one. the little one that sticks when he picks up his teacup for a sippy sippy. and jason has me disappointed. there's no way he should still be in the competition after tomorrow, but...you never know. it could be syesha just because; i bet more girls will vote for jason than for her.<br /><br />anyway, i see my prediction of a vocal beatdown between the two davids becoming a reality.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-52196297641210371842008-05-05T06:30:00.000-07:002008-05-05T06:58:51.383-07:00the weekend rundownsaturday: <br /><br />anthony and i finished the electrical wiring of the new accent lighting for the living room. yay! he had connected something wrong on friday and blew out the light switch. but it all works perfectly now. <br /><br />some of anthony's cousin's stopped by to wish his mom a happy birthday and to watch the <em>de la hoya v. steve forbes </em>fight. it was all very butch with beer and chips and barbeque.<br /><br />fought off the urge to drunk-blog, er, maybe it was more like i was too drunk to blog. these particular cousins are fond of beer, vodka and tequila. and not necessarily in that order, not that it would matter considering they would all get mixed once imbibed.<br /><br />sunday:<br /><br />woke up surprisingly early sans hangover. lots of water before bed always does the trick for me.<br /><br />we put up the crown molding in the living room and i caulked and spackled all the nail holes and wonky gays on the wall. (that was a funny typo i decided not to correct: wonky gays!?! hee. it was supposed to read <em>gaps</em>, but really, what's the difference between a <em>gay</em> and a <em>gap</em> after all, especially when they're wonky?) now i just have to do the painting touch ups...eventually. don't rush me!<br /><br />andrew and anthony got the wallpaper down in the hallway so all i have to do is some spackling and we can get the primer on and and hopefully two coats of the green paint on. then we'll decide if we want to do some trim molding in the hallway again before we do the bathroom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-29890286611639758992008-05-05T04:47:00.000-07:002008-05-07T19:04:28.596-07:00when soccer moms and dads still rock...so after my drunk blogging escapade of thursday night left me in a chipper and cheeky mood, i had a special treat for friday night still to look forward to: i was going to see duran duran on their red carpet massacre tour with my longtime friend misa. she and i had gone to see duran duran in 1984 at the oakland coliseum for the seven and the ragged tiger tour. that was the concert when they filmed the live version of <EM>the reflex</EM> video where the waterfall comes crashing down on the crowd.<br /><OBJECT height=355 width=425><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/HF-ds-pPYh8&hl=en"><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HF-ds-pPYh8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></OBJECT><br />she had to remind that we were there for that taping. hello!?! we were 14 back then. yikes! now 24 years later, we were going to see them live once again.<br /><br />it was fun even though we didn't have the same youthful exuberence. i suppose we're a bit jaded since we didn't have to ditch school for the day and manage to traverse the san francisco bay on public transportation without adult supervision. somehow this time just didn't have the same sense of excitement, but the show was a great trip back down memory lane nonetheless. we even ran into someone we had gone to junior high with. the irony was that i had spotted him in the crowd and commented on the t-shirt he was wearing (which was a re-issue of a t-shirt that was sold back in '84) yet failed to recognize him. then, a little later, misa saw him again, but this time a bit closer and was able to make the connection. see? old-age is taking it's toll. bad eye-sight, bad memory.<br /><br />anyway, misa's memory played tricks on her too because she was excited that we had run into matt <EM>tamony</EM>, when in actuality it was matt <EM>tolosa</EM>; a small technicality these days when it's hard enough to remember the names of people you see everyday, let alone someone 24 years from your past. in any case it was nice to see that we weren't the only ones still holding onto a bit of nostalgia. because nothing makes the experiences of your youth seem so antiquated as when you tell your kid that you're going to see duran duran and he has no idea who they are even though he'd heard their music while growing up. oy! as i do my best simon le bon and warble: <br /><BLOCKQUOTE>Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand<br />Just like that river twisting through a dusty land<br />And when she shines she really shows you all she can<br />Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande</BLOCKQUOTE>he nonchalantly says, "oh yeah. i <EM>think</EM> i remember." then rolls his eyes and walks away. jerk! <br /><br />in any case, unlike in 1984 when a cell phone with photo and video-taking capabilities were still something in a james bond fantasy, i did try to capture a bit of the concert with my phone...for my own reference, in case 24 years from now i might have to explain to andrew's kids who duran duran was. for some of you these might bring back fond memories as well. and for the rest, well, maybe you just had to be there; in either 2008 or 1984. <br /><br />you'll have to pardon the sound and video quality since these were taken from my cell phone and because you might hear some bad-auditions-from-american-idol style singing coming from me. you have been warned...<br /><br /><em>all she wants is with warm leatherette</em><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=1676146704389809909&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=4439591775651604112&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=5924788777137305380&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=7728666983858196579&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-6530001501911208266&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><br /><em>save a prayer</em><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-739069857883752153&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=9011389868166031065&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-6493371297782475188&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=3432530935948556835&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-424507024303150608&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" flashvars="" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=136188049812129148&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><br /><br /><BLOCKQUOTE><B>but before you leave, let me remind you...</B> “Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.” -unknown</BLOCKQUOTE><A href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</A> <A href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</A>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-10356285078210586102008-05-01T23:27:00.000-07:002008-05-02T00:16:02.510-07:00wheeeeee! i'm drunk blogging...hey blog,<br /><br />i've missed you today! <br /><br />what are you doing tonight? do you want to get together?<br /><br />you know you want to...<br /><br />damnit! why don't you pick up!?! why don't you ever pick up when i call you? <br /><br />i bet you're screening your calls.<br /><br />um, well, i don't care. i'm just going to keep blathering anyway. not that you ever show you care either way. <br /><br />gawd, i hate you.<br /><br />no, forget what i just said. i didn't mean it. please forgive me.<br /><br />i'm drunk. <br /><br />it's my mother-in-law's birthday and i've had too much to drink but that doesn't mean my feelings for you aren't real. uh, well, except for when i said i hate you. but you didn't take me seriously, right?<br /><br />i love you...<br /><br />huh?<br /><br />this is your voicemail, isn't it?<br /><br />wait a second, why did the message say that i had reached someone named doug?<br /><br />who is this? and why is your number the same as my blog's!?! i don't know any <em>doug</em>!<br /><br />blog, are you cheating on me!?! why is doug's name on your answering machine?<br /><br />did i do something wrong? was it something i said?<br /><br />blog, please pick up!<br /><br />i swear i won't be mad if you and doug have something going on. i totally understand. i haven't been there for you lately, but i promise things will change.<br /><br />i'm sorry.<br /><br />i know. it's my fault.<br /><br />please forgive me. just pick up and tell me you forgive me.<br /><br />geezus, i haven't got all night. would you please just pick up already!<br /><br />well, fuck it then!<br /><br />forget i ever called you.<br /><br />not that you give a shit in any case.<br /><br />you suck!<br /><br />yeah, you!<br /><br />you suck!<br /><br />i've had too much gin and too much sparkling wine and birthday cake and it's giving me a sugar high and a drunk buzz and i thought i'd give you a ring-y ding-y but i see i was wrong to call you...and doug.<br /><br />so, whatever. i hope you're happy with doug.<br /><br />i'm done with you. okay?!<br /><br />so don't bother to call me back when you get this. it'll be too late.<br /><br />i'm moving on.<br /><br />uh...wait. maybe i'm being too hasty. i'll give you one more chance. i just don't want you telling people that i didn't want to try to work things out with you. it would make me look like an asshole. <br /><br />anyway, call me.<br /><br />i know doug means nothing to you because you love me; even if you don't always show it, i know you do.<br /><br />we'll talk. but don't call me too early tomorrow morning; i'll still be hungover. and you know how i am when i'm hungover.<br /><br />blog, i love you.<br /><br />talk to you soon, okay?<br /><br />bye.<br /><br />oh, and don't forget, i was drunk when i left this message.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-26265873817395664932008-04-30T22:49:00.001-07:002008-04-30T23:13:23.403-07:00and your dream of becoming the next american idol ends here, week 7there's too few of the idol hopefuls left to really do an involved recap. the only noteworthy thing said or done outside of the final elimination was ryan's mention that the rumors about paula were false. hm, what ever could he be talking about? paula was rumored to be drunk or on drugs? i would never have guessed. i'm just glad when she acts drunk or on drugs. oops! did that sound cynical!?! beside that controversy there's not much to add in terms of drama and suspense.<br /><br />i will just say that once jason castro was called up to center stage first and then told by ryan that he was safe, the elimination result was going to be interesting. surprising, no. interesting, yes. even though it seemed that jason had the weakest performances, i loved jason's voice and the way he looked in tight jeans, so it was nice to know that we would have at least another week with him.<br /><br />anyway from the moment that he was sent to the sofa, i knew the one going home would be either brooke or syesha. unfortunately, it ended up being brooke. her performance of <em>i'm a believer</em> cost her. and i'm disappointed. i still hoped it would have been syesha to go home first, but i suppose it doesn't really matter since the finale really seems destined to be between the davids which is just fine by me. but the kicker will be next week when we find out if america does something weird with the voting and surprises us by getting rid of one of the davids.<br /><br />but whatever, tonight was difficult to watch as brooke sang her swan song. she really did come a long way from where she was at the beginning of the audition process. big hugs to her...i'm going to buy her cd whenever it comes out.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WKFLuLBkLgc&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WKFLuLBkLgc&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-21699750132130886032008-04-30T21:40:00.000-07:002008-05-01T01:06:09.900-07:00color me bad...so here they are folks, the before, during and after shots of what we have been working on since last week. but before we get into the photos, let me just warn you that anthony tried to get some "creative" angles or something with some of the pictures so hopefully you won't get motion sickness as you twist and turn your heads to make sense of the photos.<br /><br />the first two pics are just to show how generally uninteresting the wallpaper was. it was a nice paper, but it had served us many years and really needed to be put to rest. anyway, if the right side of the this first photo seems fussy and crowded with the floor lamp and the display cabinet overshadowing the framed print, that's because it was. the cabinet is actually part of an entertainment system that we no longer could use once we mounted the flat screen on the wall. so it had to be separated into it's two towers and the media console; the towers are currently helping frame the bay window while the console is in andrew's room housing his "media". we want to get rid of the pieces completely along with the floorlamp since it doesn't work, but we didn't want to have to drag the pieces to a storage unit and our garage is already overrun by miscellaneous household furnishings which need to go as well, so that was not an option.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlKIyW4YVI/AAAAAAAAFDI/-U50MpDLDU8/s1600-h/DSC00002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195265159965729106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlKIyW4YVI/AAAAAAAAFDI/-U50MpDLDU8/s400/DSC00002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlKVyW4YWI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/-1NM4A2bPPo/s1600-h/DSC00003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195265383304028514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlKVyW4YWI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/-1NM4A2bPPo/s400/DSC00003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />just behind the tower in the picture below, you can see the wallpaper seams had already split open. it had been like that for a while and we temporarily solved the problem by covering it with the display cabinet. i would tell you all how long it had been that way, but then you would get a bad impression of us as homeowners.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlLeSW4YcI/AAAAAAAAFEA/AyA3LGJh4rM/s1600-h/DSC00248.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195266628844544450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlLeSW4YcI/AAAAAAAAFEA/AyA3LGJh4rM/s400/DSC00248.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />in this next picture you can see the progress of getting through the top layer of paper down to the beige-y colored liner that was actually the glued surface that held it to the wall. i wish anthony had taken close ups so you could see how removing the glued liner tore away at the dry wall surface. that just meant that i not only had to spackle over the holes left by nails and other sharp objects but i also had to re-texturize the walls in the torn away spots. luckily i am quite handy with spackle and a splatula. i managed to re-create the texture so that it blended in with the existing surface.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlLdiW4YaI/AAAAAAAAFDw/xahyLB2Uqnk/s1600-h/DSC00245.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195266615959642530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlLdiW4YaI/AAAAAAAAFDw/xahyLB2Uqnk/s400/DSC00245.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />me and andrew in the foyer just off the living room. you can kind of see the bay window in the background with the other display cabinet moved in front of it. andrew and i were trying to be safety-oriented by removing the nails from the trim molding we took down before just tossing it all in the garbage. last thing we needed was for one of us or the pets to get a nail stuck in a foot or a paw.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlLdCW4YYI/AAAAAAAAFDg/7bwCKIt-EjU/s1600-h/DSC00243.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195266607369707906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlLdCW4YYI/AAAAAAAAFDg/7bwCKIt-EjU/s400/DSC00243.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMUiW4YdI/AAAAAAAAFEI/SEzg7cqyqqY/s1600-h/DSC00270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195267560852447698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMUiW4YdI/AAAAAAAAFEI/SEzg7cqyqqY/s400/DSC00270.JPG" border="0" /></a>so here is a shot of the room apres painting. the red is called "daredevil" and the silvery gray is called "sparrow". it seems apropos that the names are so diametrically opposed as the colors themselves.<br /><br />fortunately we have a large window in this room and that it gets a lot of natural sunlight otherwise we wouldn't have been so bold as to paint the wall red. oh and don't bother to ask anyone to play the piano. no one does; and not because we don't want to. no one knows how to play. practical, no? actually andrew was supposed to take lessons but his mother's selfish needs ruined that, but that's not up for discussion right now. at least all of andrew's experience playing guitar hero has piqued his interest in learning to play the guitar, um, and then maybe one day the piano. otherwise it does make us look like we're musically sophisticated...never mind the house-shaking electro-techno beats that normally blare from our stereo.</p><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMViW4YgI/AAAAAAAAFEg/CEPxIHQYQ20/s1600-h/DSC00273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195267578032316930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMViW4YgI/AAAAAAAAFEg/CEPxIHQYQ20/s400/DSC00273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the following two pictures are purely gratuitous shots of the t.v. anthony was just so pleased with himself for making the bold decision to paint daredevil behind the t.v. instead of sparrow. he loves how the images on screen contrast off the wall. andrew and i are indifferent to the t.v. image. we just like having a bright red wall. wheeeeeeeeeee!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMUyW4YeI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/4nGmgXKA9Vc/s1600-h/DSC00271.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195267565147415010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMUyW4YeI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/4nGmgXKA9Vc/s400/DSC00271.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMVSW4YfI/AAAAAAAAFEY/2v0HCBKegpU/s1600-h/DSC00272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195267573737349618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMVSW4YfI/AAAAAAAAFEY/2v0HCBKegpU/s400/DSC00272.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />so these last two pictures are the wall in the foyer which visually ties in to the family room. in the second photo you can see how the mirror reflects the red wall into the foyer. and actually in the first photo you can see the hallway wall which we have already stripped the wallpaper down to the beige-y glued surface. we will be stripping the rest and painting it most likely next week. we want to put up the crown molding in the living room first. we are going to incorporate recessed lighting into the corners of the crown molding. so more pictures are warranted and shall be posted as soon as possible.<br /> <br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMyiW4YiI/AAAAAAAAFEw/42YSdSPbKAA/s1600-h/DSC00275.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195268076248523298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMyiW4YiI/AAAAAAAAFEw/42YSdSPbKAA/s400/DSC00275.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />anyway, we picked a fresh green called "honeydew" to add color to the rest of the house. the guy at the paint counter thought we were weird for putting the green and grey together but whatever; we are not shy when it comes to colors and we're willing to take a risk. it is just paint after all. which reminds me, i am planning to do some fun cabana stripes in the bathroom at the end of the hallway. of course it's going to be bright too. i'll be using another shade of green with an orange for the wide stripes and then a thin white stripe to separate the green and orange. i'm feeling funky and andrew and anthony are all excited about the change.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMVyW4YhI/AAAAAAAAFEo/4ZUCNgHiySc/s1600-h/DSC00274.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195267582327284242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SBlMVyW4YhI/AAAAAAAAFEo/4ZUCNgHiySc/s400/DSC00274.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />anyway, we aren't so sure we like the way i propped the foyer. i think my years of managing a pottery barn are showing through. we would be okay with it if we actually lived the life portrayed in the catalogs and in the store dispalys, but we don't. life is messy and so are we, but i suppose we can pretend for a second, even if it is just for one picture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /><br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-46881928234577348282008-04-30T00:01:00.000-07:002008-04-30T00:52:17.917-07:00excuses, excuses!i've been such a shifty/shady blogger lately. i'm pretty sure it's due to the paint fumes. today was the first day since last friday that involved no major painting of primer and then a top coat color. of course, there was lots of cleaning and reorganizing. andrew and anthony had me on my last nerves because i couldn't get them to realize that because they didn't wipe up the specks of paint that drizzled onto the floor yesterday, that today cleaning them up was just going to be a giant pain in the ass. and it was and still is, but i'm trying not to be anal about it...ha! i said <em>ass</em> and <em>anal</em>...as long as the big drips are gone i'll get over the miniscule specks left on the hardwood floor. the only reason i noticed them is because i had to get down on my hands and knees to <em>edge</em> the baseboards to get a nice clean line of color all the way down to the baseboard edge...because i am anal about that kind of stuff. anyway, usually when i'm on my hands and knees the last thing i'm worrying about is miniscule paint specks on the floor. hee...see? paint fumes are making me ramble and go into fantasy mode.<br /><br />so we've been moving stuff around the house and looking at different ways to "prop" the house with our chotchkes. we still have some crown molding to put up in the living room but all the touch ups have been done. i just have to prime and paint the frame around our the bay window a bright, crisp white. our foyer got done too which is nice since we changed the visual perception of how it connects to the living room. we painted the foyer the same silver gray as in the living room so that it wraps around the walls and then we positioned a mirror in the foyer that reflects the red. now the foyer and the living room are no longer spaces separated by color. instead the hallway which connects the foyer to the bedrooms will be visually a new space. <br /><br />we'll be painting the hallway a bright green, something along the lines of a chartreuse. it should look really good with the silver gray. of course this will require that we refresh the bathroom at the other end of the hallway too before we put away the paint brushes. we're thinking it will change from milk chocolate brown to a creamsicle orange and with a darker shade of green that should complement the hallway green. pictures will be forthcoming but we're tackling this project day by day with no real deadlines. it would be a different story if it entailed the moving of furniture. luckily the majority of the hallway is closet doors and the rest of the wall space will require just rearranging picture frames.<br /><br />hopefully, this post will explain my absence from the blogosphere and garner your sympathy and forgiveness. just don't expect me to kiss any more ass. even if i am on my hands and knees...um, painting!<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-19824693120446238692008-04-29T22:18:00.001-07:002008-04-29T23:58:02.737-07:00recap: the american idol top 5so it's neil diamond week for the final five...yikes! we're down to five...and they each get to sing two songs. the only thing is that the judging will not happen until the contestants sing their second song.<br /><br />first up is <strong>jason castro</strong> with <em>forever in blue jeans</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b8zLEWZvqK4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b8zLEWZvqK4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />it was a good choice for his style and his voice. i don't think it was spectacular but definitely a solid performance. <br /><br />next is <strong>david cook</strong> with <em>i'm alive</em> a lesser known song.<br />he gave neil diamond goosebumps, so it should be good.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VU9CRTsKm8w&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VU9CRTsKm8w&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />nailed! david made the song sound like something you would hear on the airwaves now. just hot!<br /><br /><strong>brooke white</strong> follows with <em>i'm a believer</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JMg49V5TYJo&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JMg49V5TYJo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />hm, it was a strange performance. not sure if i'm a believer. <br /><br />and then <strong>david archuleta</strong> comes up with <em>sweet caroline</em>. neil diamond called him a prodigy. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VccwVlB-XLk&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VccwVlB-XLk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />well, it was nicely done but not blowing me away.<br /><br />lastly with her first song was <strong>syesha mercado</strong> with <em>hello again</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5CorLt048gc&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5CorLt048gc&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />very nice performance on her part but all i kept seeing was her singing it in a broadway production.<br /><br />after round one ryan asks the judges for some quick commentary...<br /><br />randy says:<br />jason was better than last week but just okay.<br />david was very strong; he was in the zone.<br />brooke was better than last week but still it was a little karaoke.<br />david was the bomb. brilliant.<br />syesha was in the zone too. strong vocals but not amazing.<br /><br />paula says:<br />she loved hearing jason's lower register. then she went into some meandering rant about his second song. now if you're paying attention, you'll notice that he hasn't sang his second song yet. apparently, the entire nation of t.v. viewers noticed this fact, but she didn't. so paula is again hearing those voices in her head. gawd i love this show!<br /><br />so a bunch of hub-bub ensues between the judges and ryan where simon asks paula who her favorite was but then she looks up at david cook and tells him he was fantastic. at that point simon cuts her off, because who knows what other things she might say or do that would <em>ruin</em> the show's reputation. oops, too late! so simon goes on to say that they are all lucky that they get two songs, i.e. two opportunities to wow the audience. <br /><br />unfortunately for the idols, simon says:<br /><br />jason was forgettable.<br />david cook was just above average. <br />brooke was a nightmare.<br />david archuleta was amateurish.<br />syesha was old-fashioned.<br /><br />OUCH! these are the top five singers of the competition and he wants to hear the performance of a lifetime tonight.<br /><br />so round two...<br /><br /><strong>jason castro</strong> sings <em>september morn'</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W4kproCFoYc&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W4kproCFoYc&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />another sweet rendition but he is proving to be a bit of a one-note wonder; not even a one-hit wonder yet. all the weed has made his too mellow.<br /><br />randy says it was just okay. a "whatever" performance.<br />paula says he took the same liberties as the first song. they were too safe and he needs to get out of his comfort zone.<br />simon says he's not the jason they put into the competition. there was no attempt to make the songs his own. both of his songs were forgettable.<br /><br /><strong>david cook</strong> sings <i>all i really need is you</i>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OKOqfFkPxuQ&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OKOqfFkPxuQ&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />another performance he rocked! i don't know what simon was yapping about his first performance being just above average.<br /><br />randy says he's a huge david cook fan.<br />paula says she's proud of him. he's the only one who took two less familiar neil diamond songs and was able to pull them off. she's already looking at the next american idol.<br />simon says he thought the first song was okay but the second song was brilliant.<br /><br /><strong>brooke</strong> sings <em>i am, i said</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NOKg6KFit-Y&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NOKg6KFit-Y&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />i think she managed to save herself with this performance. she was really channeling her carly simon with this song.<br /><br />randy says it was one of the harder songs to sing since it moves around a lot melodically but she did a nice job.<br />paula again showed her vulnerablity and how she connects with the audience. and it works.<br />simon says he really hated the first song but this performance was the brooke we like. it wasn't incredible but it was a million times better than the first song.<br /><br /><strong>david archuleta</strong> follows with <em>america</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/isWyM3NmEW4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/isWyM3NmEW4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />proving once again that he'll do great in the inspirational, religious pop genre. gawd i just want to corrupt him a little bit; roll him around in some dirt, if you know what i mean. hee.<br /><br />randy says <em>alls</em> he can say is that for a young man he was definitely in the zone.<br />paula says it was the absolute perfect song for him.<br />simon says it was a smart choice of song. his fans will love it.<br /><br />and <strong>syesha</strong> closes the show with <em>thank the lord for the night time</em>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oeAy6Tr9D-U&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oeAy6Tr9D-U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />and again i just see her on broadway in something like <em>hairspray</em> or <em>grease</em>; anything that's got a throw back 50's 60's feel to it. she most likely won't win this season but she will most likely be on the stage doing some big song and dance production.<br /><br />randy says she's finally realizing who she is. she was in the zone.<br />paula called her "brooke" in case you weren't paying attention; an easy mistake to make...when you're stoned. anyway, she likes how she showed her vulnerability on the first song and then showed a different side. this performance highlighted her theatrical talents and then she compared her pop singing to corrine bailey rae and minnie ripperton because she has that softness in her voice.<br />simon says what she demonstrated was that she is a very good actress slash singer but he thinks she might be in trouble tonight. <br /><br />so it looks and sounds pretty obvious that jason is done this week even though simon thinks syesha is in jeopardy. i thinnk that simon has been saying that jason's performances were forgettable that he actually forgot that jason should be in the <em>hot seat</em> and not syesha. so i won't be disappointed by tomorrow's elimination if he goes home, but i will be surprised if syesha is sent packing before him. even though i'm a bigger fan of jason's...but then that could just be the gay boy in me lusting...he just didn't outsing or outperform the others.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-71754368786233007002008-04-24T22:44:00.000-07:002008-04-25T00:16:24.679-07:00music to strip by...no pole required!hmm? i think you all might feel a bit disappointed that this post has nothing to do with taking my clothes off. actually, you all just might be relieved that my clothes are staying on. at least for this post...<br /><br />any<em>exoticdancer</em>, the stripping to which i am referring is wallpaper-related. yes, folks, we are at it again. ever since we re-built our front deck, we have been re-examining the rest of the house for more projects to tackle. and our latest project is to strip the wallpaper we put up about a decade ago...yikes! wallpaper in the nineties!?! that's so 1980's! actually the paper we put up is very subtle and is only bugging us now because we want to play with new colors in the house.<br /><br />we already did the kitchen/dining room/family room just a couple of years back by painting a bright orange on one side and a citrus-y yellow on the other. it sounds garish but we have big elements along the walls like the fireplace, a china cabinet and the bar/entertainment center. so the colors basically blend away yet are a nice background for those things to <i>pop</i> off of.<br /><br />anyway, our family room has been neglected for too long; mostly because it was always the "well, if it ain't broke, why fix it?" room. the only time we really pay attention to the room is during the holidays since our tree sits in front of the bay window. but we did get a flat screen for the room last year and it just seemed about time to update everything else to go with it. so off with the <i>blah</i> wallpaper; it was a white textured paper with barely there black, red and silver lines intermittently spaced along diagonals. not horrible, but not interesting either. ironically, we are still keeping the black, red and silver color scheme for the room. the furniture will remain black while three of the walls will be a silvery grey and the fourth a bright red for accent. yes. bright red. hello? remember, this is the room where our christmas tree will live so we are psyched that we won't have to decorate ~that~ wall! woo hoo!<br /><br />so tomorrow we finish getting the remaining bits of paper residue and then prime the walls. if we're lucky, we might even get at least a first coat of the red on and see if it is as bright as what we want it to be. we're hoping it gives the room a clean, modern edge.<br /><br />and for those of you who remembered that i mentioned <i>music</i> in the title of this post. <a href="http://ink2metal.muxtape.com/">here's what we were listening to as we stripped bare...</a>the walls, people. the walls! <br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /><br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-31069926269215367822008-04-23T21:50:00.000-07:002008-04-23T22:31:37.714-07:00and your dream of becoming the next american idol ends here, week 6the top six perform their ensemble piece, <em>all i ask of you</em>, accompanied on the piano by none other than sir andrew lloyd webber himself. it's probably the best performance they've pulled together all season.<br /><br />so to begin the separation of the bottom two from the rest, the two davids are called up front first. and after some banter and nervous chit-chat especially on little david's part they are both sent to the sofas. even a blind person could have seen that one coming.<br /><br />then to break the show up a bit, leona lewis, this year's <strong>x factor</strong> winner performs her debut single <em>bleeding love</em> which i have totally been digging since i first heard it a month or so ago. the funny thing is, anthony is only now godsmacked by leona lewis after seeing her perform the song on t.v. apparently all those times i tried to get him to listen to this song over the past few weeks were not completely for naught. he won't let me finish this post because he keeps re-playing the performance over and over.<br /><br /><br /><br />but back to the serious business of the evening, *after watching leona lewis sing ten times back to back*, syesha and brooke are the next two called up on center stage. you all know that i was hoping that brooke would still be in the running for next week...and she is! <em>woo</em> to the <em>hoo</em>!<br /> <br />so the last two are obviously jason and carly. and here we go again; another upset...jason is declared safe! over carly!?!<br /><br />doh! syesha and carly are the bottom two this week. i knew it. the season is at that point where it is really becoming a popularity contest. and i don't feel badly for either one. it's obvious that carly will finally get her recording career started after the idol tour is over and syesha will make her way to broadway like other previous idol contestants. but in a bit of a surprise twist, carly is done.<br /><br />goodbye and goodnight to you, carly!<br /><br />so next week is neil diamond week and i already have a feeling that it will be a good week for all of them. i can almost pick the songs that each of them will sing. i guess the only thing that will separate them is going to be a huge flub where someone forgets the lyrics or maybe throws up on stage from the pressure. now wouldn't that be dramatic?<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-9567038787625867222008-04-22T21:27:00.000-07:002008-04-22T23:20:34.396-07:00recap: the american idol top 6it's andrew lloyd weber week...yikes!?! good luck to the top six! as if mariah carey week wasn't hard enough...<br /><br /><strong>syesha mercado</strong> sings <em>one rock and roll too many</em><br /><br />randy says it was her element and that she could be a huge broadway star.<br />paula says she brought the house down from the bginning of the show.<br />simon says she was sexy. it was one of her strongest performances so far.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i2QRmVFOr2I&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i2QRmVFOr2I&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />so syesha has found herself a career on broadway. duh. an actress who can sing. she really put the pressure on the others with her opening performance.<br /><br /><strong>jason castro</strong> sings <em>memories</em><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RVidOcvkIb4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RVidOcvkIb4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />randy says vocally it was a train wreck. too much melody and too big of a song.<br />paula says everyone is used to hearing the song by a female power balladeer but it was a wise choice for him since he still sounded like himself.<br />simon says it was probably the longest two minutes of his life.<br /><br />poor jason. someone get him some culture, please. he didn't know the song was sung by a cat!?! any<em>meow</em>, surprisingly, the tone of his voice was really nice for the song. it was totally a change of pace from what you normally hear of the song. i don't know if it will help him though since his performance didn't really push the envelope. <br /><br /><strong>brooke white</strong> sings <em>you must love me</em><br /><br />randy says it wasn't great but she believed what she was singing.<br />paula says she didn't overact and her emotions carried her through the flubs in the song.<br />simon says it was so dramatic, the beginning. she will be very disappointed when she watches this back.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GtQZ7Vc0_mQ&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GtQZ7Vc0_mQ&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />wow...i'm all teary-eyed after that performance. geezus! she flubbed the beginning and got a bit tense as she worked her way through the song, but something about her personality shined through the rough patches and kind of made up for the boo-boos.<br /><br /><strong>david archuleta</strong> sings <em>think of me</em><br /><br />randy says if you can sing, you can sing anything. this boy is the one to beat.<br />paula says it was absolutely perfect. he was able to turn a well-known musical tune into a pop ballad.<br />simon says it was pleasant but not one of his better performance.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o7jzNIP2_xA&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o7jzNIP2_xA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />oooh, baby! i'm thinking of you all right. i think we all know that david has a thing for singing diva songs...he is pretty enough to do drag, right? anyway, he really spun that song into aural gold.<br /><br /><strong>carly smithson</strong> sings <em>jesus christ superstar</em><br /><br />randy says it wasn't her best performance but it was definitely good.<br />paula says she loved how it was so unexpected.<br />simon says it was one of his favoprite performances of the night.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bV-jUAVgiD0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bV-jUAVgiD0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />jesus christ, that was super...hehehe! she really rocked that performance. her voice was on point and she just seemed in it.<br /><br /><strong>david cook</strong> sings <em>music of the night</em><br /><br />randy says he'll say it again: if you can really sing, you can sing anything. that was an amazing vocal performance. <br />paula says this song proved that he's a well rounded performer.<br />simon says it's not the side of david he likes but he made the most of the song. <br /> <br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JOcpwazvTwU&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JOcpwazvTwU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />whoa-whoawhoa! i don't think it was a great performance but his voice sold it. considering he said he grew up doing musical theater you would think it would have made his performance more convincing. his voice was great but his performance seemed a bit detached. he just didn't have the same connection that he's had with the other songs he's performed.<br /><br />*****<br /><br />so we are getting down to wire and tonight proved who really can still be contenders to be the top two. if i were to pick the top two already, i would go with david archuleta and carly smithson. david cook and syesha mercado would be the runners-up <br />leaving brooke white and jason castro to work on their vocal skills. but that's just based on tonight's performances.<br /><br />although brooke and jason seemed to have the weakest performances of the night, i would hate to see either one leave before syesha. so i've got my fingers crossed that brooke and jason make it through even if it is just for one more week; neither one is going to be in the finale.<br /><br />i still think it would be very cool to see the two davids sing for the finale.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-73822122151515129132008-04-19T23:15:00.000-07:002008-04-20T00:00:51.636-07:00before they were idols...<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SAridQYoMlI/AAAAAAAAFC4/KpL7nsoZbIk/s1600-h/songsfromtheattic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SAridQYoMlI/AAAAAAAAFC4/KpL7nsoZbIk/s200/songsfromtheattic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191210512740266578" /></a>as i was going about the blogosphere today i discovered that brooke white had already released an album as a solo artist on an indie label. her album is called <em>songs from the attic</em> and is apparently a collection of covers. these are a few of the songs i managed to find.<br /><br /><object width="300" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/pl/iZGfdMbLJg/aus=false/"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/pl/iZGfdMbLJg/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="340" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SArhZAYoMkI/AAAAAAAAFCw/4Xobpd6785c/s1600-h/analog+heart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SArhZAYoMkI/AAAAAAAAFCw/4Xobpd6785c/s400/analog+heart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191209340214194754" /></a>brooke isn't the only one to have released a solo project. david cook had already released a cd, pre-idol, called <em>analog heart</em> in 2006 and these are songs from that album.<br /><br /><object width="300" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/pl/hyivsFVWYW/aus=false/"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/pl/hyivsFVWYW/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="340" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /><br />and more music from some of my other favorite idol contestants can be found on my music player in the sidebar. the studio versions of songs sung on american idol by carly smithson, david archuleta, jason castro and michael johns are on there. just click on the music player where it says <strong>launch standalone </strong>on the bottom left-hand corner for access to the complete play list. the a.i. songs are towards the end of the list. enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-52573009730210679212008-04-19T08:48:00.000-07:002008-04-19T09:40:18.607-07:00we are the cat's meow!so, remember how i had woken up yesterday with a cat's ass on my face? yeah, i know, great visual, right? well, this morning i found this first video over at my friend's blog, <a href="http://www.jestertunes.com/">jestertunes</a> and i had to post the second one as well.<br /><br />anyway, i know anyone with a cat will enjoy these.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w0ffwDYo00Q&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w0ffwDYo00Q&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4rb8aOzy9t4&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4rb8aOzy9t4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />ironically, anthony and i had always been dog people; somewhat anti-cat. hm, no, maybe not so much <i>anti-cat</i> but more or less cat-indifferent. so when we fell into cat ownership it was out of familial obligation and not out of unfettered willingness. but we are cat people now; much to the chagrin of our four dogs. you can see the insecurity in their faces whenever the cat parades in front of the sliding glass doors that keep them separated. the cat can be such a jerk!<br /><br />anyway, i bet our cat did some breathe-in-the-owner's-air type supernatural trickery, like in that scene from cat's eye with drew barrymore, that have turned us into his subservients.<br /><br /><em>must...scratch...cat's...head...now...must...scratch...cat's...head...now...must...scratch...</em><br /><br />see?<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /><br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-14094927838037035652008-04-18T13:34:00.000-07:002008-04-18T14:03:59.626-07:00hmm!?! they nailed it on so many different levels...<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" align=center><br /><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><br /><strong>Your Slogan Should Be</strong><br /></font></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/theslogangenerator/slogan.jpg" height="100" width="100"></center><br /><font color="#000000"><br /><center>Danny Keeps Going and Going and Going</center><br /></font></td></tr></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/theslogangenerator/">The Slogan Generator</a></div><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-84318929757318796952008-04-18T10:06:00.000-07:002008-04-18T10:57:53.253-07:00when life sends you strange messages<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SAjhCIrcsoI/AAAAAAAAFCo/fGcocGn1yO4/s1600-h/crystal_ball2_bmwPreview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_4M0LiHriaVw/SAjhCIrcsoI/AAAAAAAAFCo/fGcocGn1yO4/s400/crystal_ball2_bmwPreview.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190645997350204034" /></a><br />at about 4:40 this morning, i was totally startled out of a deep sleep...and that was long before my cat decided he would smother my face with his butthole! that cat always seems to know the best time to assert his ownership of my face as his sitting perch.<br /><br />anyway, i awoke with such a sense of dread that has since then kept me awake with a feeling that something ominous was going to happen. i would have loved to just blow this feeling off as some sort of remnant of a bad dream, but i couldn't. i've had feelings like this before, and thankfully they are a rare occurrence, but unfortunately, when i do get them something not-nice happens. i won't give examples for fear that i might hasten the passing of whatever it is that is causing me this sense of dread. it's bad enough that i already spent the first hours of my morning frozen to my bed just laying quietly, listening to the day begin: the birds outside were in full-on chirp mode from 5:00 on.<br /><br />so from 5:00 to about 6:30, i just listened to the noises of the house like anthony's semi-snoring next to me; andrew's rumblings as he got ready for school; and then the cat and the dog beginning their playtime by chasing each other up and down the hallway just outside my bedroom door. as the day seemed to be starting for everyone else, i remained immobile, frozen to my half of the bed. something in me still felt like any movement on my part would surely send some cosmic waves rippling into the universe resulting in some kind of tsunami-like destruction that i would later have to deal with...yeah, what a suck-ass way to begin a day, let alone a friday going into the weekend.<br /><br />surprisingly, i think i did manage a quick nap because i found my eyes popping open under the furry mask of my cat's hindquarters when i heard the front door slam closed as andrew ran out at 7. then anthony woke up, cursing andrew and the horrible habit he has of slamming the front door. and from then on, it started to feel like the world was back to normal. so i am going into my day somewhat cautiously but with some optimistic thinking.<br /><br />hopefully what happened this morning was just a weird fluke and i won't be posting a follow up recounting bad news.<br /><br />cross your fingers!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><b>but before you leave, let me remind you...</b><br /><br />“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.”<br /> <br />-unknown</blockquote><br /><a href="http://gaycampguide.blogspot.com/">visit GAY CAMP</a><br /><a href="http://gayvilleannex.blogspot.com/">visit GAYVILLE</a>danny/ink2metalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564771147124354640.post-61919871256657975902008-04-17T08:29:00.000-07:002008-04-17T08:55:41.067-07:00a chain e-mail worth sharingi got this e-mail sent to me from my princessa stephanie and found it's message to be truly inspiring enough to share.<br /><br /><strong>How To Dance In The Rain</strong><br /><br /><blockquote><p>It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his<br />80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.<br /><br />He said he was in a hurry, as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.<br /><br />I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.<br /><br />I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.<br /><br />On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.<br /><br />While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.<br /><br />The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.<br /><br />I inquired as to her health; he told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.<br /><br />As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.<br /><br />He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.<br /><br />I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are'?<br /><br />He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'<br /><br />I had to hold back tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arms and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life'.</blockquote><br /><br />True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.<br /><br />With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message.<br /><br />This one I thought I could share with you:<br /><br /></p><span style="color:#000099;"><blockquote><span style="color:#000099;">The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of<br />everything; they just make the best of everything they have.</span> </blockquote></span><br />I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><blockquote><span style="color:#000099;">'Life isn't about how to survive the storm; but how to dance in the rain.'<br /></span></blockquote></span><br /><