*grumble* *GRUMBLE*
I have no Idea what to write about today. I feel like I should write about something but there really isn't that much happening. Let me see...
Well, last night I went to Chris and Dion's for pot luck dinner with James. As per usual there were quite a few people there. As usual a good time was had by all. My mood was something of a mystery to me last night. I was not my usual self. I felt inhibited. I think there is too much going on right now. Work is crap. I mean, CRAPOLA. I have no idea what the future is going to be like. But I guess I dont have much say in the matter right now. I should just hold on tight.
Lately I have been cranky and tired and impatient with everything. It seems I just can't get enough sleep. I need a vacation. A BIG LONG one. Which I am not going to have. I do get to go to New-Brunswick for a week. I leave in 15 days. That, I am actually looking forward too! I can't wait to get out of here for a while and not worry about anything and just relax and hangout and do nothing. NOTHING. I dont think I am even going to workout or anything while I am there. Well, not unless I really want too.
Speaking of working out, I am in a tremendous amount of pain right now. I must say, the home gym is getting lots of use. I am totaly in love with this machine. I am so glad I got it. It has brought a whole new dimension to working out. Doing stuff inside your own appartment rocks. No dumb jocks staring at you. No waiting around for machines to be free. No wipping off other idiots gross sweat of the seat. No gay sex addicts cruising you in the shower. Its fantastic. I am currently doing a three day workout. day 1 is chest and abbs, day two is shoulders and arms and day three is back and legs. Its pretty cool. I am still waiting on the replacement part for the upper lat tower. Its been a week now and still nothing. I will probably call Bowflex support when I get home.
I am scheduled to go camping this weekend with Jon, Suzanne, Chris, Dion and James. I think there might some others coming but I am not sure!! I am actually very excited at the idea of going camping somewhere!! It should be very cool. I don't even know where we are going.
Anyway, I better get back to my Detailed Requirements document review. Yes, its as exciting as it sounds.
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Friday, July 23, 2004
My New Toy
| Do you recognise this magnificient piece of machinery? Hmmm. I am sure you do. Late at night, munching on some chips and drinking soft drinks, you have seen this before. Its the Bowflex. |
Yesturday, I received my Bowflex after a long battle with Purolator. And I must say, that I am very impressed with the craftsmanship of the equipment. It is extremely well built and designed. I was impressed by how easily I was able to assemble all the components, and there were many. I took me about 3 hours to unpackage all 4 boxes, and assemble the machine. The only downfall was that one of the bars was dammaged during shipping, so I could not install the Lat Pulldown component, but I called customer service and they are shipping me a replacement component at no extra charge.
I was also concerned about the effectiveness of the movements. Well, they are all very smooth and really work out the muscles that are targetted. You have resistance in a very smooth natural way, it does not feel mechanical like in a ordinary gym.
So I am now preparing my workout schedule. I think James and I are going to set something up so that we can workout together, might be easier to stay on track that way. I will give you guys regular updates.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Evil Dead Part 1 and 2, The Musical!
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present to you, what can only be considered, as the most original idea for a musical since the Rocky Horror Picture Show: Evil Dead Part 1 and 2, The Musical.
My brother had suggested that we go see this performance after he had seen in Toronto. He said not to sit in the first few rows because there is a risk of getting blood splattered all over yourself. Well, he was right. He also said that my favorite part of the performance would be the song "What the fuck was that?" Once again, he was correct.
It was campy, it was funny, its was cute, and it was charming. I think the most endearing thing about it was that it was unpretentious. I mean it. The set, the sound, the "effects" the script, it was honest and visibly, true to the writers' artistic vision. I LOVED IT!
Mark my words people, the show will be around for quite some time. I predict a world-wide tour... Well, maybe not world-wide, but at least North-American. It pokes fun at campy horror movies from the early 80's. If you have ever watched Evild Dead, Friday the 13th or any other 1980's thriller flicks, you need, no you must go see this musical. It will tickle you until you can't laugh no more.
Word of caution : don't expect a high glam performance like you would see at the Place des Arts, but trust me, thats a good thing. If you want something refreshing, new and innovative, go see this play. Buy your tickets through www.ticketpro.ca or Just For Laughs website for more info.
My brother had suggested that we go see this performance after he had seen in Toronto. He said not to sit in the first few rows because there is a risk of getting blood splattered all over yourself. Well, he was right. He also said that my favorite part of the performance would be the song "What the fuck was that?" Once again, he was correct.
It was campy, it was funny, its was cute, and it was charming. I think the most endearing thing about it was that it was unpretentious. I mean it. The set, the sound, the "effects" the script, it was honest and visibly, true to the writers' artistic vision. I LOVED IT!
Mark my words people, the show will be around for quite some time. I predict a world-wide tour... Well, maybe not world-wide, but at least North-American. It pokes fun at campy horror movies from the early 80's. If you have ever watched Evild Dead, Friday the 13th or any other 1980's thriller flicks, you need, no you must go see this musical. It will tickle you until you can't laugh no more.
Word of caution : don't expect a high glam performance like you would see at the Place des Arts, but trust me, thats a good thing. If you want something refreshing, new and innovative, go see this play. Buy your tickets through www.ticketpro.ca or Just For Laughs website for more info.
Friday, July 16, 2004
Hot Times! Summer in the City!
HA HA!!I got myself a new Air Conditionner today! An LG no less!! Thank you Future Shop for making my life so wonderful! It was so cheap, I wanted to buy two! But I stopped myserlf! ;)
In other news, my brother Joel is visiting this week! Thats always fun. And James is coming back from Miami today! That is defenately cool.
More New For Out in the City!
The show is finally coming to the Life Network tonight at 10pm Eastern Standard Time. So if you didn't get a chance to see me on the french network, now is your chance!!
In other news, my brother Joel is visiting this week! Thats always fun. And James is coming back from Miami today! That is defenately cool.
More New For Out in the City!
The show is finally coming to the Life Network tonight at 10pm Eastern Standard Time. So if you didn't get a chance to see me on the french network, now is your chance!!
Saturday, July 10, 2004
The Straight Men In My Life
There exists a great divide between straight men and gay men. I think that most straight guys do not have male friends who are gay. Or if they do, these friends are not usually close friends. I have always wondered why, in general, straight men treat gay men more like girls than guys.
Growing up, I was always surrounded by girls. All my friends were girls, and they naturally included me in everything they did. I was one of the girls. If I was going to an all girl event, it was ok. The girls would say : "Its Gabriel. He's one of us." Talk about confusing. I was lucky enough to have a couple of real guy friends. And I cherished their friendships immensely.
Marc
My first "guy" friend was Marc. Marc and I met when I was taking the bus for the first time in Grade 1. He was a third grader and I was in awe. I remember thinking he was so smart and so big and strong. He had all the cool friends. He was the big brother I had been longing for all my life. Pretty much for next 7 years, Marc was my big brother, my mentor, my advisor and he was very proud of that. I remember one day he even pulled me aside to tell me about girls. Explained it all to me because he thought someone should. He was probably the nicest guy I had ever met. At school though, I had to make myself scarce. I mean, who needs a yappy little brother around?
Jerome
Jerome and I met at Scout camp when I was 12. We became instant best friends. We made our parents drive an hour almost every weekend, for the next few years, just so we could hang out. Jerome was the first guy to treat me like a regular guy. We hung out, got in trouble, played in the woods, drove our bikes, picked on his little brother, did everything we possibly could think of together. I loved him to pieces. I think what I loved the most was that I truely was his friend. Like, a real, guy-guy friend. There is an incredible bond between men, when they are close, that is unspoken. Guys just simply won't admit that they have a strong love for their good friends. Jerome would have layed down in traffic for me, and I would have done the same. I wonder where he is sometimes. I have not seen him since high school, over 12 years ago now. I miss him dearly.
Tobi
Tobi and I met when he started dating my, at the time, best friend Nadine. I'll have to tell you about Nadine another day. Then, in grade 11 we had the same French class, and we ended up partnering up for some homework. Tobi was mysterious, dark and poetic. He was passionate about everything. He was also vulnerable. There was an honest vulnerability about him that was magnificent. He portrayed himself to everyone else as a tough guy, once you knew him and you could break through the walls he had around him, he was a sensitive guy. Tobi was the first of my straight guy friends to whom I spoke of being gay. It was a very difficult time for us both. He did get over it and our friendship continued for years. I have not seen him in almost 3 years. I don't even know where he is now. I hope he is well.
Mario
Initially, Mario and I were friends by default. His mother (who ended up being my grade 10 math teacher) and my mother were childhood friends. So, I went to Mario's house a lot and Mario came over to my house quite a bit. We were eventually together so often that we became friends. It was either sit there and stare at each other or do something fun while our mothers chit chatted for hours and hours. We became very close over the years. Mario was part of my gang when I was a teenager. The bond we all shared as part of the gang was very strong. Even today, that bond is there, even though we all have lives of our own, scattered across the country.
Luc
Some guys are just way too cool for their own good. My friend Luc, thankfully I am still in touch with him, is one of a select few that I can actually say I know, for a fact, that he doesn't see me any differently than any other guy. I think Luc is beyond cool actually, he is genuine and the fact that we can fight over the dumbest things and get mad as hell and still remain friends is not lost on me. When I told Luc I was gay, we went for a long walk and talked until the wee hours of the morning. He was the first person who actually listened to me about being gay. He has no idea what a big part he played in getting me to feel good about myself. Today, he lives not too far from my hometown with his wife now. Good for him. I am hoping to see him when I go to NB this summer. Its been too long since he and hung out.
Mike aka Duke
I met Mike, or Duke, at a summer camp were we both worked. We only started to hang out when he started dating my friend Gina (aka Willow). Eventually we became good friends, and then we ended up renting an apartment with his good Friend Tim. Our friendship lasted longer than his relationship with Gina. The year that Tim, Mike and I shared that apartment in Fredericton was probably the best year of my life. There was another apartment down the hall, "The Girls". We were "The Boys". It was cool.
Patrick aka Newton
I also met Patrick at summer camp. Patrick and I have been through everything together. I mean everything. We have cleaned shit, driven 16 hours on a bus, 12 hours in a truck, gone camping with psychos, done triathlons together, went swimming together, ridden together, and so much more. We have shared more cups of coffee and large pizzas than anyone else. I know all of his deep darkest secrets (hehehehehe) and he does mine. And for some strange reason, life keeps putting us in the same city. He is in Montreal now. I think our bond is probably the strongest of all. Patrick is my buddy.
My Father
There is one person with whom I had a different type of bond. This person defined me as a male, a boy and now a man. Without him acknowledging it, or maybe even without realizing it, had the biggest impact on my life... Not always positive, but that's life. That person is, my dear readers, my Father. My father taught me that to be a man you must stand up for yourself. My Father taught me that men don't cry, or act silly. Men shoot guns, hunt, fish and work with their hands. Men are the breadwinners, men are solid, men are brave and most of all, men fuck women. Well, you might think my father is extremely diseapointed as I am none of those things. But, I taught my father that men are sensitive, men are proud, men respect nature, men respect people, men laugh, play jokes, and men care for each other. Today, I know, my father is very proud of me. I am proud of who my father has become.
So to Marc, Jerome, Tobi, Mario, Luc, Daniel (aka Baloo), Michel B, Michel L, Jason, Kevin, Adam, Newton, Wolf, Duke, Yogi, Beast, Tim, Jean-Guy, Jean-Pascal and the Mis-Understood Venture Company and my Father : You guys rock!
Growing up, I was always surrounded by girls. All my friends were girls, and they naturally included me in everything they did. I was one of the girls. If I was going to an all girl event, it was ok. The girls would say : "Its Gabriel. He's one of us." Talk about confusing. I was lucky enough to have a couple of real guy friends. And I cherished their friendships immensely.
Marc
My first "guy" friend was Marc. Marc and I met when I was taking the bus for the first time in Grade 1. He was a third grader and I was in awe. I remember thinking he was so smart and so big and strong. He had all the cool friends. He was the big brother I had been longing for all my life. Pretty much for next 7 years, Marc was my big brother, my mentor, my advisor and he was very proud of that. I remember one day he even pulled me aside to tell me about girls. Explained it all to me because he thought someone should. He was probably the nicest guy I had ever met. At school though, I had to make myself scarce. I mean, who needs a yappy little brother around?
Jerome
Jerome and I met at Scout camp when I was 12. We became instant best friends. We made our parents drive an hour almost every weekend, for the next few years, just so we could hang out. Jerome was the first guy to treat me like a regular guy. We hung out, got in trouble, played in the woods, drove our bikes, picked on his little brother, did everything we possibly could think of together. I loved him to pieces. I think what I loved the most was that I truely was his friend. Like, a real, guy-guy friend. There is an incredible bond between men, when they are close, that is unspoken. Guys just simply won't admit that they have a strong love for their good friends. Jerome would have layed down in traffic for me, and I would have done the same. I wonder where he is sometimes. I have not seen him since high school, over 12 years ago now. I miss him dearly.
Tobi
Tobi and I met when he started dating my, at the time, best friend Nadine. I'll have to tell you about Nadine another day. Then, in grade 11 we had the same French class, and we ended up partnering up for some homework. Tobi was mysterious, dark and poetic. He was passionate about everything. He was also vulnerable. There was an honest vulnerability about him that was magnificent. He portrayed himself to everyone else as a tough guy, once you knew him and you could break through the walls he had around him, he was a sensitive guy. Tobi was the first of my straight guy friends to whom I spoke of being gay. It was a very difficult time for us both. He did get over it and our friendship continued for years. I have not seen him in almost 3 years. I don't even know where he is now. I hope he is well.
Mario
Initially, Mario and I were friends by default. His mother (who ended up being my grade 10 math teacher) and my mother were childhood friends. So, I went to Mario's house a lot and Mario came over to my house quite a bit. We were eventually together so often that we became friends. It was either sit there and stare at each other or do something fun while our mothers chit chatted for hours and hours. We became very close over the years. Mario was part of my gang when I was a teenager. The bond we all shared as part of the gang was very strong. Even today, that bond is there, even though we all have lives of our own, scattered across the country.
Luc
Some guys are just way too cool for their own good. My friend Luc, thankfully I am still in touch with him, is one of a select few that I can actually say I know, for a fact, that he doesn't see me any differently than any other guy. I think Luc is beyond cool actually, he is genuine and the fact that we can fight over the dumbest things and get mad as hell and still remain friends is not lost on me. When I told Luc I was gay, we went for a long walk and talked until the wee hours of the morning. He was the first person who actually listened to me about being gay. He has no idea what a big part he played in getting me to feel good about myself. Today, he lives not too far from my hometown with his wife now. Good for him. I am hoping to see him when I go to NB this summer. Its been too long since he and hung out.
Mike aka Duke
I met Mike, or Duke, at a summer camp were we both worked. We only started to hang out when he started dating my friend Gina (aka Willow). Eventually we became good friends, and then we ended up renting an apartment with his good Friend Tim. Our friendship lasted longer than his relationship with Gina. The year that Tim, Mike and I shared that apartment in Fredericton was probably the best year of my life. There was another apartment down the hall, "The Girls". We were "The Boys". It was cool.
Patrick aka Newton
I also met Patrick at summer camp. Patrick and I have been through everything together. I mean everything. We have cleaned shit, driven 16 hours on a bus, 12 hours in a truck, gone camping with psychos, done triathlons together, went swimming together, ridden together, and so much more. We have shared more cups of coffee and large pizzas than anyone else. I know all of his deep darkest secrets (hehehehehe) and he does mine. And for some strange reason, life keeps putting us in the same city. He is in Montreal now. I think our bond is probably the strongest of all. Patrick is my buddy.
My Father
There is one person with whom I had a different type of bond. This person defined me as a male, a boy and now a man. Without him acknowledging it, or maybe even without realizing it, had the biggest impact on my life... Not always positive, but that's life. That person is, my dear readers, my Father. My father taught me that to be a man you must stand up for yourself. My Father taught me that men don't cry, or act silly. Men shoot guns, hunt, fish and work with their hands. Men are the breadwinners, men are solid, men are brave and most of all, men fuck women. Well, you might think my father is extremely diseapointed as I am none of those things. But, I taught my father that men are sensitive, men are proud, men respect nature, men respect people, men laugh, play jokes, and men care for each other. Today, I know, my father is very proud of me. I am proud of who my father has become.
So to Marc, Jerome, Tobi, Mario, Luc, Daniel (aka Baloo), Michel B, Michel L, Jason, Kevin, Adam, Newton, Wolf, Duke, Yogi, Beast, Tim, Jean-Guy, Jean-Pascal and the Mis-Understood Venture Company and my Father : You guys rock!
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Outta ma control
Ugh.
Well I managed to get an extension to my assignment that was due yesturday. YAY! Boooo. I don't know it just means I have more time to procrastinate. No. No. No. No. No. I will not procrastinate. I will bolt down and work hard and hand in my assignment on Monday after a well rested night of sleep. I will not be scrambling at 2 am to get my work done. I will do research and writing every night and every day until the deadline. I will not procrastinate. No sirrrreee Bob!
I am actually busy busy busy at work too. Website launches are soooo much freakin work. I have been trying to get these two websites going for a while now. Clients are being difficult, and there is tons of work to do. On top of if I have to do analysis on a couple of other projects at the same time. Did I mention there is only 24 hours in a day?
I don't know if its because I am getting old (the big Three Oh next September), but I need more and more sleep. I used to be able to get away with 6 hours of sleep. Now, I can barely get by with 8. This is a real problem for someone like me who is a night-owl. How the hell am I supposed to stay up all night and go to work in the morning (on time) if I need 8 hours of sleep? This is a huge delima in Gabeland.
JR is going to Florida next week. Hehehe. Good for him. I hope he survives the humidity and mean old people. I remember when I went to Frt Lauderdale/Miami, the only thing I could think of the entire time was : "Get me outta here!" I even cut m yi trip short by 2 days because I just couldn't stand it anymore.
Tomorrow night is the second and last episode for my show on Canal Vie. Cross your fingers, this could get ugly.
Well I managed to get an extension to my assignment that was due yesturday. YAY! Boooo. I don't know it just means I have more time to procrastinate. No. No. No. No. No. I will not procrastinate. I will bolt down and work hard and hand in my assignment on Monday after a well rested night of sleep. I will not be scrambling at 2 am to get my work done. I will do research and writing every night and every day until the deadline. I will not procrastinate. No sirrrreee Bob!
I am actually busy busy busy at work too. Website launches are soooo much freakin work. I have been trying to get these two websites going for a while now. Clients are being difficult, and there is tons of work to do. On top of if I have to do analysis on a couple of other projects at the same time. Did I mention there is only 24 hours in a day?
I don't know if its because I am getting old (the big Three Oh next September), but I need more and more sleep. I used to be able to get away with 6 hours of sleep. Now, I can barely get by with 8. This is a real problem for someone like me who is a night-owl. How the hell am I supposed to stay up all night and go to work in the morning (on time) if I need 8 hours of sleep? This is a huge delima in Gabeland.
JR is going to Florida next week. Hehehe. Good for him. I hope he survives the humidity and mean old people. I remember when I went to Frt Lauderdale/Miami, the only thing I could think of the entire time was : "Get me outta here!" I even cut m yi trip short by 2 days because I just couldn't stand it anymore.
Tomorrow night is the second and last episode for my show on Canal Vie. Cross your fingers, this could get ugly.
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Reality TV... ok sure... reality.
Well, the TV show has finaly aired. Friday night, me and a dozen of my friends crammed into my appartment to watch the first of 2 episodes of which I am featured as a gay man in Montreal.
So far... so... well.. I don't know. I am not very excited about the editing. The comments I have been hearing so far are interesting. Some said the show was very interesting, others said, and I would have to aggree, that the way it was edited they saw a flaming queen on TV, not Gabriel. That part pisses me off. They portrayed me as this happy go lucky prancing queen, when I think in reality, I am more of a sarcastic son-of-a-whatever. Happy go lucky is defenately not what I am about. As for the prancing queen, well, I have my moments, but I don't think its 24/7... far from it actually.
So next week's episode should be of me doing the final big Esprit Triathlon and some stuff from one of my trips to Moncton. They made me keep a video diary of the trip I took when I went to Moncton in October 2003 so I got to play director and show off my family and friends. I am really anxious to see the results from that. You can go see the show synopsis for yourself.
Of course, I videotaped the whole thing. I am going to have to figure out if there are any ways of moving this into my computer somehow so I can email it around.
If you have seen the show, I would love to hear your comments in the comments link at the bottom of this article!
So far... so... well.. I don't know. I am not very excited about the editing. The comments I have been hearing so far are interesting. Some said the show was very interesting, others said, and I would have to aggree, that the way it was edited they saw a flaming queen on TV, not Gabriel. That part pisses me off. They portrayed me as this happy go lucky prancing queen, when I think in reality, I am more of a sarcastic son-of-a-whatever. Happy go lucky is defenately not what I am about. As for the prancing queen, well, I have my moments, but I don't think its 24/7... far from it actually.
So next week's episode should be of me doing the final big Esprit Triathlon and some stuff from one of my trips to Moncton. They made me keep a video diary of the trip I took when I went to Moncton in October 2003 so I got to play director and show off my family and friends. I am really anxious to see the results from that. You can go see the show synopsis for yourself.
Of course, I videotaped the whole thing. I am going to have to figure out if there are any ways of moving this into my computer somehow so I can email it around.
If you have seen the show, I would love to hear your comments in the comments link at the bottom of this article!
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Happy Canada Day
I am sitting here watching our Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, giving her speech on Parliament Hill for the Canada Day Celebrations. And I must admit that I was impressed by the acknowdlegement given to the 400th annniversary of the Founding of Acadia. There were quite a few Acadians waving starred blue, white and red flags. Living so far away from my Acadie its an amazing feeling to see your flag beeing showcased on national TV.
That makes me wonder about Quebecers. Next month, I will have been a resident of Quebec for 8 years. Its amazing how fast time flies by when you are having fun. And yes, I must admit, its been an interesting and fun 8 years. Through this time, I think I have managed to meet and interact with quite a few Quebecers and get a good grasp on Quebecois culture.
So why is it, that there are hundreds of thousands of Acadians, Happy Acadians, living, working, and having a great time in Canada while the Quebecois seem to be so disenchanted by the idea of being in Canada? They would like us to think that it is impossible to marry Canadian Culture with any other. Well, let me tell you...
Acadians were the first ones to arrive from Europe in Canada in 1604. They arrived in New-Brunsick in late June, first discovering the St-John River on June 24th 1604. It was so named in honour of St-Jean Baptist day, which has always been a staple of French culture, even in 1604. Do I need to remind you that June 24th is the Quebec "National" holiday? Acadians kept coming for next 150 years, until 1755. At that point there were tens of tousands of Acadians living very happy and prosperous lives in Nova-Scotia, New-Brunswick and PEI. Quebec was also populated since 1606 and doing very well. So for the first 200 years or so French was the main language of pre-confederation Canada. Well, a few wars, a deportation/genocide and a confederation later, there is aout 1/2 million Acadians in Canada, living in french, proud Canadians, proud Acadians. That being said, Happy Canada day, EVERYONE.
That makes me wonder about Quebecers. Next month, I will have been a resident of Quebec for 8 years. Its amazing how fast time flies by when you are having fun. And yes, I must admit, its been an interesting and fun 8 years. Through this time, I think I have managed to meet and interact with quite a few Quebecers and get a good grasp on Quebecois culture.
So why is it, that there are hundreds of thousands of Acadians, Happy Acadians, living, working, and having a great time in Canada while the Quebecois seem to be so disenchanted by the idea of being in Canada? They would like us to think that it is impossible to marry Canadian Culture with any other. Well, let me tell you...
Acadians were the first ones to arrive from Europe in Canada in 1604. They arrived in New-Brunsick in late June, first discovering the St-John River on June 24th 1604. It was so named in honour of St-Jean Baptist day, which has always been a staple of French culture, even in 1604. Do I need to remind you that June 24th is the Quebec "National" holiday? Acadians kept coming for next 150 years, until 1755. At that point there were tens of tousands of Acadians living very happy and prosperous lives in Nova-Scotia, New-Brunswick and PEI. Quebec was also populated since 1606 and doing very well. So for the first 200 years or so French was the main language of pre-confederation Canada. Well, a few wars, a deportation/genocide and a confederation later, there is aout 1/2 million Acadians in Canada, living in french, proud Canadians, proud Acadians. That being said, Happy Canada day, EVERYONE.
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