Reach Out and Forget Someone

My mom asked me tonight if I have heard from a certain ex BF recently. As I replied no, I realized how strange it is that neither he nor I have made the effort to reach out to each other in over a year. He is just simply not a �keep in touch� person and I honestly don�t think about him enough to remember to. That being said, after our conversation, I started thinking about the 4 years we spent together, realizing that despite our many and varied differences, we had a pretty good thing going for while. It�s funny how time tempers emotions and helps push memories back over to the positive side. Our breakup was relatively painless and absolutely called for. It ended my misery and helped set certain important things in my life in motion. That being said, It does bother me that he does not feel compelled to keep in touch.

While wondering how people can detach themselves from those kinds of situations so easily, I realized that�s exactly what I�ve done. So I�m throwing stones in a glass house here I guess. Moving forward, I only involve myself with people who I feel are post-relationship contact-capable. I�m tired of carrying all of the keep-in-touch weight.

Francisco calls me internationally twice a day, everyday. Yes, it�s too much�but I don�t mind right now. It�s nice to know that despite your relationship being over, you can still connect as human beings who shared an important life experience. It's worth the $5.00 a minute.

Southern By the Grace of God

I�ve spent the last 5 days with my Family in my hometown in the deep south. Everytime I come home I feel more and more disconnected from the traditions of southern culture. While many people may look down on southerners due to their set (often antiquated) ways, I must admit, I do appreciate the sense of style and grace that my people wear on their sleeves. Don�t let NC�s motto fool you (The Old North State), North Carolina is chocked full of southern charm and culture, there�s nothing �Northern� about it.

I put together my version of the Southern ABC�s in case I ever need a little reminder:

Azaleas
Bowl Weevils
Cheerwine
Debutantes
Egg Salad
Fat Back
Giblets
Hurricanes
I.O.U�s
Jogglin Boards
Kin
Low Country
Magnolias
Northern aggression
Outer Banks
Pig Pickin's
Quilts
Roaches
Sleeping Porches
Tomato Aspic
Uncle Tom�s Cabin
Virginia Dare
White gloves
Xxtra sweet tea
Yes Maam
Zinnias

Long Distance Dedication

It's almost Christmas and I'd like to dedicate this entry to a good friend of mine in Austin who recently had a falling out of sorts with his family, and as a result is spending the holiday alone. I just want him to know that Im thinking about him tonight.

Memoirs of an Upgrader

I�m wondering if people agree with me that children under 16 should not be allowed to upgrade to first class on airplanes? I have had several flights lately where I have been joined by multiple children taking up desirable seats in the front of the plane thanks to their executive platinum millennium diamond flying parents. Luckily, I have not been displaced out of the premium class by any kids, but I see it coming soon. I watch all the other would-be upgraders walk by on their way to misery class and get very upset when they see a 3 year old sprawled out in the big seat wiping their shitty diapers all over the nice leather seats. I don�t blame them.

I�m not sure when the �kids belong everywhere� memo got sent out. It certainly wasn�t before I hit adulthood. It was always understood that there are certain places that children just don�t belong. Nice restaurants, bars, concerts and yes, first class on long flights. In fact, plane trips were not really much of option for us as kids. My parents knew better than to subject 250 other people to our consistent fighting and tantrums.

I think I�m going to send a letter to American Airlines suggesting a ban on adolescent upgraders. They need to do their time in the back of the plane like I did. Im off to catch my connection home..Im keeping my fingers crossed that I wont have to babysit along the way.

Gift Idea #1

Ok...so it's low (low, low, low) brow...but you gotta admit its damn funny.

Mayan Melee

I enjoyed 4 days in Mexico this past week. 7 friends from around the country convened in the Yucatan for some pre Christmas sun. Beautiful weather framed a fantastic time. We sailed, jet skied, swam, sunned, ate, enjoyed free flowing libations and found as much trouble as humanly possibly. It was a perfect precursor to the holidays and all the hard work the New Year is going to bring.

Our room with a view



















Poolside















NY Tom takes us sailing














One for the scrapbook

One night in Mexico

Because there are reputations and jobs at stake here..my vaca recap has been limited to photographs...oh, and one video that could bring down a future white house. Names have been included solely for the purpose of embarrassing the guilty.

Steven, Jim and Charles looking collegiate



















Steven and Jason in between a spring break inspired licquor shot














Stevens underwear ends up in his hands....somehow...














Charles beligerency caught on tape

Here in Limboland

Until my new place reveals itself, I�ve been playing bedroom bingo and crashing in between several friends� places. One is in a suburb of Austin called Georgetown. Georgetown is home to Sun City, and about 25,000 Christmas sweater wearing, �my kid is an honor student� touting, �watch me simultaneously drive my 2 ton SUV and talk on the cell phone� soccer moms. It�s amazing how the demographic changes proportionately to the distance from the center of Austin. To the north we have mostly the aforementioned demo. To the South, most of them don�t remember much about the 60�s and have let their now-million dollar properties fall into ruin as not to disturb the rodent and insect life cohabitating in the walls. To the East, Well�Hola Como Estas! Fiesta forever and Katrina victims/refugees/survivors/whatever they're called now. And to the west, the Californians and Nuevo dot comers have dotted the landscape with grotesquely large homes, even bigger egos and their bratty, oxycontin jacked-up kids.

Central Austin is clearly for me. It�s a mix of it all, but really mostly has retained it�s WASPY vibe. I rented a perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, then had renters remorse and cancelled the transaction. I just have a hard time throwing down 1700 a month and not getting at least a dishwasher and a walk in closet. I�m determined to find something feasible to tie me over until I find a something to buy. I�m totally working against the grain here as the government session is kicking in January so all the congressmen, lobbyist and other hanger-ons are here looking for rentals, and the landlords are very familiar with their deep pockets. I know the tide will change, I just hope it�s soon�those Christmas sweaters are looking nicer everyday and I will for sure lose my gay card if I spend one more Friday night drinking margaritas at a themed chain resturant with a 1 hour wait.

Travel Ease

Tired of scouring all the travel sites for the best deal? If you haven't already, check out my new best friend, Kayak.com. It does all the work for you. I love it when someone "gets it" and creats a worthwhile product. Two thumbs waaay up.

IKEA Identity

Like a Penguin living in Miami, IKEA has hit the suburbs here in Austin. The store has opened in Round Rock, which is about 15 miles north of Austin. IKEA typically locates itself adjacent to major metropolitan areas (Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas) and caters to hipster urbanites who appreciate high style at economical prices�Round Rock Texas is pick-up drivin, tobaccao chewin�, deer hunting, bonafide �mom jeans� territory. These people spend their days scrap booking and sponge painting their country kitchens; they typically don�t appreciate scandi styled home furnishings and accoutrements. I heard a lady today comment on the store �What the hell kind of stuff is this?� Her shopping companion replied �its total shit, you gotta put everything together yourself and it all looks like cheap space furniture�. I thought to myself; god bless these ladies. Not only do they have terrible Texas hair and jeans with elastic waste bands�they wouldn�t know sophistication if Jesus Christ himself showed it to them at church on Sunday.

I browsed the aisles watching the Round Rockers react poorly to just about everything in the store. Confused looks, and empty stares everywhere, it was priceless. Every once in a while Id pass a wayward Austinite or random gay man who clearly appreciates the simplicity of Euro style. Like peas in a pod we would gravitate towards the same items and look for acknowledgment from one another before venturing out into another isle filled with style-less rednecks.

FYI: IKEA: Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunaryd

Death Metal Mayhem

I've had this scary goth metal (yet indulgingly catchy) Eurotrash video on my ipod since I discovered these people in Italy this summer. I watched it last night and had nightmares about needles and razor blades. Dont ever mix Tylenol PM and terribly executed vampirish videos before bedtime. Im left wondering (1) How they shot this video with a straight face, and (2) Did they ever get all that eyeliner off?

Looks Familiar

After lugging 4 huge suitcases in a cab, landing in a snow in Dallas and experiencing a wind shear that almost took the plane down on approach, I finally made it back to Austin in one piece. I am glad that I will not ever have to endure another conversationless first class flight to/from Costa Rica again. Those flights seems to attract very tight lipped Expats who look at you like your crazy when you ask them anything about themselves. I should probably get caught up on the US Most Wanted list so I can cash in on Oprah�s 10K catch-a-criminal giveaway. Im positive I have shared seat space with at least 5 of them.

I�ve just started to acclimate to my life back in the US. I noticed last night that I didn�t �shake out� my bedding for the first time since leaving Costa Rica. The insect quotient here in the capital of Texas isn�t nearly as life threatening. I went to the grocery store and enjoyed browsing thousands of products rather than a select few with quickly approaching expiration dates. I enjoyed a true piece of Steak that didn�t relegate me to the bathroom for 3+ days. I had a halleluiah moment in Target, bought some sneakers for under 100 bucks and kicked back in my Starbucks addiction once again. It didn�t take much for me to realize how spoiled we are here in the US. The civil road behavior alone is enough to convert any Tico to the American way of life.

I�m quickly reassembling my life back together. I bought a big boy car on Saturday so now I can pull up in my office in style. Stratocade hosted another famous Sunday Brunch so I got to reconnect with my local peeps. I�ve got an appointment to check out some houses this afternoon. So hopefully soon I can retire my houseguest status. Everything seems to be going smoothly.

I�ve already started working, so I haven�t missed a beat. I�m kinda proud of myself for dealing with the inevitable, pulling it all together and executing a big transition while avoiding a major disaster. Snaps for Jason.