Yippee-Kay-Yay Motherf@*ker!
[d1noli @ Monday, August 30, 2004]
Windy City Rodeo 2004
(Okay. I know the title is a line from
Die Hard and as nothing to do with being in a rodeo but, heck, I wanted to use it anyways! It just seemed sooooo appropriate for this week's entry! Heh!)
So, what have I learned from going to my first (gay) rodeo ever? Well, for starters, be prepared for a lot of mud and flies. Oh, and get used to the stench of horse crap. Yes, I know what you're thinking. The pictures don't show it. But then again,
PICTURES LIE! =)
It wasn't all that bad though. I did manage to have fun at the event. And to think, all it took was four beers! I did, however, have to chug them really fast so I could feel the full effects. After that, everything was good. I could have been wallowing waist-deep in the mud by then and still be happy.
Oh, speaking of mud, be sure not to wear your designer threads when you head on over to one of these things. I made the mistake of wearing my trendy faded jeans and fine Prada knock-off shoes. Needless to say, it'll take more than a little to soap and water to clean my stuff. Ugh!
Now, as much as I whine about this whole thing, the gay rodeo was actually quite an experience. It's so amazing to see how diverse the gay culture really is amidst the pervasive stereotype that exists in mainstream thought. There are those who love to box this culture in, saying that gay people are nothing but a bunch of sissy hairdressers. Yes, I know the image is a little extreme these days, but I still know individuals who actually think that. (What's more tragic is the fact that some of them are my own relatives.) Well, this event just goes to show you that they're wrong. There are gay people in every walk of life just as there are for any other group --- straight or otherwise.
This rodeo proved to be more than just a fun time for me. It served the more important role of reaffirming my individuality. Too often I get lost in the everyday noise of life, even more so because I am a minority in a foreign land. Conforming becomes second nature becuase all I want to do is to fit in. No, that's not quite right. The reality is that
I make myself believe that I want to fit in. But how do you fit the cowboy into an environment he is not from? It's like trying to fit a 300 lb man in size 32 jeans.
The plain fact of it all is that this will never be. Why you ask? Well, simply because it is never meant to be. Sure, one will have to adapt to the environment he/she is placed in, but this in no way means that they will ever blend in. There will always exist a "mis-fit". Yet, it is precisely in these differences that one gains true strength and identity. That is what I came to realize as I watched all these "misfits" at the gay rodeo that Saturday.
As the day wore on, my awe for these cowboys and cowgirls grew. Whether they knew it or not, they had overcome adversity to stand out, to be an individual amidst the status quo. Each event lay testament to this. From the calf wrangling contest to the line dancing, here were individuals that took pride on who they are. No mud, no flies and no horse crap was going to stop them from having a good time. And that takes true courage.
So I guess it's time for me to buy myself a pair of cowboy boots and a ten-gallon hat.
It takes four sides to make a square.
[rgucci @ Friday, August 27, 2004]
Where's everyone else? Not to complain, but I would like to have more variety, more than Oli's wild and drunken sprees dressed in nothing but a yard of fabric. That was metaphorical, of course. We all know it takes more than a yard. Somehow, the image of theater curtains comes to mind...
Chris, how's the studying going? This is usually the part where I make jokes about post-grad education being useless as a nun's titties, but I will be nice and move on. Good luck for September!
Ken, how is the trans-atlantic migration coming along? Have you hexed your previous (or is it still current?) boss yet? Are they going to be shipping you over in a cardboard box? Or a crate?
How's everyone else coming along?
Countrymen, Lend Me Your Ears
[d1noli @ Tuesday, August 24, 2004]
I went to my very first ever toga party last Friday night. Why someone would want to wear such a thing to a party simply eludes me. Heck, but I did it anyways. Still, togas are not my thing (so unflattering to the legs!). Just goes to show you why I don't like attending Halloween costume parties.
For me, the concept of dressing up to have fun is contradictory. I'm the type of guy who doesn't want to take any effort when going to parties. If I have to dress-up and look all pretty for these kind of things then it just ain't for me. My type of get-togethers are the ones where I can come as am, no pretensions. I'll dress up if I want to and not becuase I have to.
Still, it was interesting to see all these people in their togas. Contrary to what people may think of me, I was
not one of those who choose have to no clothes beneath their togas. There were a couple of people who did though and boy, did they have no problem letting everything hang out.
Anyways, the whole point of the party was to consume the massive amounts of alcohol the host had accumulated over the years. His icebox in the basement had finally bowed out due to the sheer number of bottles it was trying to keep cool. Thus, being left one refer short, our host had no option but to liquidate the liquid. And what better way to do that than share it with friends (or a bunch of alcoholics --- take your pick). Sadly, I could only down four drinks before I gave up and paid my respects to the Toilet God.
Saturday ended up being a day of recuperation for me. I wanted to watch this Japanese horror film called
Ju-on (from the makers of Ringu) but quickly remembered my stomach queasiness from the night before. Feeling sick two days in a row would not be my idea of fun therefore I opted to see it another time. In it's place, I filled my time up with the tried and true time-eating pastime of videogames.
I had just finished
Xenosaga: Part 1 the week before (and what an emotional philosophical rollercoaster of a game that was!). Now, I've my sights set on
Disgaea. So far, I've pumped 30+ hours into the game. (Did I also fail to mention that I took Thursday off just to play this?) Strategy RPG's can be so terribly addicting.
Next up on the confessions of this middle-aged drama queen --- The Illinois Gay Rodeo. Keep y'all posted...
Confessions of a Middle-age Drama Queen
[d1noli @ Monday, August 16, 2004]
So I got to watch the Lindsey Lohan movie,
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, this weekend amidst my vehement disdain to do so. (Mark's idea. Not mine.) The story centers on Lindsey's character who desperately seeks to be extraordinary amidst seemingly ordinary circumstances. The movie, while extremely cheesy at best, did spark many of my thoughts this weekend.
As much as I hate to admit it, I am just like the teenage drama queen in that movie. I, too, want to be extraordinary in some way. Watching the Olympics this weekend only heightened that emotion ten-fold. When I see someone like Michael Phelps win a gold medal at the age of 19, I can't not help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Why can't I be like that and why in the bloody hell am I not doing something about it? Why do I exist in the mediocre rather than be deemed for greatness? Here I am, a 30 year old nobody whose done nothing to mark his exsistence in the world. What a depressing thought!
It's an awful feeling. There is an emptiness inside of you that doesn't seem to go away, a dull numbness that persists. I wonder what it will take to fill that void? Should I even pursue that means or am I destined to fail? Kenneth seems to be headed the right way by choosing to leave his life here and move to Germany. Not a choice I would make personally but it will still fill up his own personal void if I understand his motivations correctly.
Or maybe I have been extraordinary and don't know it? In the movie, the drama queen realizes that being extraordinary does not require one to do extraordinary things but rather to live life the best way you know how. It was only when she grasped this concept that she found true fulfillment. Maybe my own void is filled by living a good life with my significant other, by dealing with the challanges we face as a (bi-racial) couple. That is, after all, no small effort.
We went and watched a very good indie film last Saturday called
Touch of Pink. Not only was it funny and higly recommended but it does show the strains that a bi-racial couple must endure when dealing with everyday life. Although the couple portrayed was that of an Indian and Brit instead of a Filipino and American, I could not help but reference my own relationship through out the whole film. From the parents who wish that their child marry their own race, to the search of one's true self within the reality of couple-dom, the movie points out a lot of issues couples like us have to overcome.
I guess in the end only God will truly tell if I've been extraordinary or not. I do not regret the choices I've made in life though I've made my fair share of bad ones. Moreover, I am where I am now becuase of the decisions I have made, the roads I have travelled. For me to still be living in this world and having the opportunity to better myself everyday is extraordinary in itself.
I don't know if this void will go away anytime soon but at least the mere fact it's there does validate my "drama queen" existence. That for me is just as important as winning a gold in the Olympics.
Consumatum est
[Cocooned @ Thursday, August 12, 2004]
It is done.
Today, I finally told my boss that I decided to go for my Masters Degree. My last day at work will depend on when I get my student visa. This process takes 25 days. Before I could apply for the visa, I also have to renew my passport, and this process takes 7 days. It looks like I'll be around for several more weeks. Most likely, my last day at work will be the end of September, and my last day in America will be the first Monday of October.
Growing up, I always had a problem sleeping the night before the first day of classes. The same thing happens the night before a big family vacation to Lingayen beach or Libis ng Nayon in Laguna. Or when somebody's scheduled to visit us the next day. Or when I was going to get a new puppy. Do you know
that kind of feeling? This excitement that's impossible to contain? Something bubbling up inside you that you're almost ready to pop? That's what I feel right now. Not as intense, but it's bringing back many great memories I didn't know I still carried with me.
I didn't realize I could still feel this. In fact, I didn't realize I could still
feel.
I better drink a warm glass of milk tonight!
Abba, Abba and more Abba
[rgucci @ Sunday, August 08, 2004]
I finally got the chance to watch
Mamma Mia last night. It's this musical inspired by all these Abba songs. I'm not much of an Abba fan, but I heard it was a good one so I went with a friend to watch it.
I was expecting it to be good, but it just blew me away! It was fantastic! Music was brilliant, actors and dancers were great, among other qualities I won't mention here ;) .
To put it simply, I've been humming and singing Abba songs since then, even last night when we went to a disco pumping out techno beats.
At the end, the musical turned into a mini-concert. After the x number of curtain calls, they put on real flamboyant outfits and started doing musical numbers! Needless to say, people just got up from their seats and started singing and dancing. It was a ripping sight.
Oh, and by the way,
I have a dream is not a Westlife original? Well, one learns something new everyday!
Kenneth and Chris !!!
[d1noli @ Friday, August 06, 2004]
Where are you two?!?!?!
Write and post something dammit!!!
Even if it's just to say hello.
We can't have naked pics of Russell all the time.
Just curious, but you guys did click on the link to show the pics from the event right?
[Yep, and here is my picture commentary!
[Who took them? Does he/she have an ass fetish? Normally, one takes pictures of people's front side! Ass shot.
Yet another ass shotDancing assesAss with a green shirtAnother ass shot. At least he bull had the modesty to turn away his derrier!Girlie assI am in a polite mood so I will not say anything about the figurative asses.
:D
Innocent here! The picture taking was done by other people. Besides, why would I want to take pictures of people's butts anyways? He he he!
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