LipDub

I just spent my evening YouTubing LipDubs from all over. I would love to be part of one. Here are some for your viewing enjoyment.








And of course, the one from the TV show, The Office.

We Just Want Tomorrow To Be Better Than Today - HEY!

Another new video from Kylie?!!? What is it, Christmas already?!

Better Than Today is the third single from her Aphrodite album! My favourite part comes at the 1:28 mark when she kicks her legs in time w/ the music!

What's the point of living if you don't want to dance?

Robyn Knows How Much You Hurt

I have previously complained about the lack of energy and overall lameness/rudeness of audiences in Vancouver, but not last night. Last night at an intimate nightclub, packed with fans who were more than happy to be there, I attended the Robyn concert. And it was phenomenal. She came out and was super cute and super tiny and the entire room FREAKED OUT!!! And she proceeded to whip the crowd into a hot and heated FRENZY!

Three songs in, she brought out the big guns with Dancing On My Own. Someone managed to stand still and capture the moment, skip to the 2:20 mark for the magic to begin:



I wasn't the only one crying my eyes out when she closed off the main set with her hit With Every Heartbeat. She got the entire room, and I mean everybody, chanting at the end: "And it hurts with every heartbeat!" You tell 'em, Robyn!!



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She did all her best songs, including Hang With Me, Konichiwa Bitches, Be Mine (which I nearly lost my mind to!!!), her latest anthem Indestructible, Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do, We Dance To The Beat, Fembot, Cry When You Get Older, and even a mini ode to the supergroup of her home country - ABBA. She just did NOT STOP once! She kept things going like a machine, and there was no real downtime for anyone, least of all the enthusiastic crowd!

At one point, she took out a banana, peeled it and ate it. Then she threw the peel into the crowd, and guess who caught it?? ME!!!! I think she was having a really good time, because at the end of one song, she dove into the crowd for a bit of body surfing!!! As evidenced on her Twitter: "Vancouver!! You made me stage dive!"

She finished everything up with a stripped down version of her very first international hit when she was just a teeny bopper, Show Me Love. And that's exactly what we did.

Adventures in the Capital

I was in Ottawa last week for work, and I stayed at the Lord Elgin hotel, which is an old school hotel that ranks up there with the Chateau Laurier. I don't understand why these high end hotels insist on charging their guests for internet service. If you go to a boutique hotel, or hell, a Holiday Inn, it's all included for you for free!! But nope, here at the Lord Elgin, nice as it was, it cost $20 a day to use Internet service. So, having lugged my laptop all the way across the country, I was not impressed that I essentially brought a giant door stop with me.

Anyhow, I was there for work, not really for play. But I did get to see some sights, and even went on a date with a cutie law student. We went to watch the play Martin, Yesterday, by Brad Fraser, and it was HORRIBLE. It was dated and the acting was atrocious. Blah.



I managed to see the National Gallery of Canada, which was big but sorta boring. However, the monstrous piece outside the front door was amazing. This giant spider, titled "Maman" meaning "Mother" in French, is one of a series. I believe there's also one at the MoMA in San Francisco.



One exhibit on architect Moshe Safdie was interesting though. But that was on the second floor, and I was exhausted from walking through rooms and rooms of painting after painting. The Safdie stuff was much more interesting with models and photos of his buildings, including this one in Montreal called Habitat 67.



I didn't eat anywhere particularly interesting. In fact, I tried to eat healthy with salads for lunch, oatmeal for breakfast, and a sensible dinner. I did a lot of walking, including a jaunt across the Rideau canal and into Quebec, where I visited the Museum of Civilization.



The building itself was something to look at.



Inside, they had several exhibits, including one on the horse, and their permanent exhibits including a First Nations section which would have been way more impressive if I wasn't from BC, where I see First Nations art, totem poles, and museums all over the place. In fact, the one at the Royal Museum of BC that I visited last weekend in Victoria was better than what they had.



I also managed to sneak in a quick tour of the Royal Canadian Mint, but it was basically the same sort of deal I got to see here in Vancouver when I went to visit their pavilion during the Olympics earlier this year.

One thing that I am stoked about is the fact that I managed to carry home three bottles of wine in my luggage. I wanted to get some wine that could only be bought in Ontario, and I remembered drinking some with my friend Krista a year ago and she kindly reminded me of the name: Sibling Rivalry. Loves it!! I can't wait to pop them open and transport myself momentarily back out East!

Taio Cruz feat. Kylie Minogue!!!

Unfortunately, this won't make it to the US but it will everywhere else! What's with that?! It's a great song and Kylie looks gorgeous in it!!!

A Weekend in Victoria

There's nothing like vacationing close to home. It's relaxing and there's no jet lag to deal with, yet there's still friends to visit and new things to experience. This past weekend, The Ex and I went over to Victoria, which is a mere 2 hours away at most, including driving and the ferry trip across the water. The ferry ride was serene as we crossed over to the island and it added to the feeling of journeying somewhere remote.

For the first time ever, I visited the Royal BC Museum, and was surprised and just how excellent a place it is!!


(photo from Victoria Daily)

The exhibits they had were interesting and educational, from the First Nations gallery to the history of BC exhibit, and their current featured exhibit that lets you in on a behind the scenes look at all the different animal specimans they have at the museum. Fascinating and a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!

Of course, I went to eat at a bunch of fabulous places over there! We hit up the hipster block and ate some local organic food for brunch at Mole...



had coffee next door at Habit...



... and jaunted over to Cafe Bliss for some healthy eats the next day.



We checked out Stage, a small plates and wine bar located in the up and coming/already amazing Fernwood neighbourhood, that was absolutely brilliant. The risotto there was to die for, and I had a delicious glass of Burrowing Owl wine. The place was very cute/chic with exposed brick walls, candlelit tables, and friendly hot servers!



Finally, our last stop before heading back home was at Pig, a southern bbq place that was perfect for a casual lunch of deep fried mac 'n cheese and a pulled pork sandwich.



There were more places I wanted to check out but didn't have time to, including two Italian spots that were recommended to us by people. Will have to make another weekend out of it!!

Movember Week 2

Sorry I've been away for a bit. I went to Victoria this past weekend to relax and enjoy the local eats and treats. Here's a photo of me at the end of Week 2 of Movember. Please donate to prostate cancer research and awareness by going here.

I am now off to Ottawa for a week for work! See you when I get back!

What's The Point In Living If You Don't Want To Dance?

I Want This To Happen To Me!!!

Why can't someone like Darren Criss sing Teenage Dream to me?!!?!

Mo-vember!

It's true, I'm taking part in the Mo-vember campaign to promote support and awareness around men's health, specifically prostate cancer. To do this, I'll be joining the thousands of other guys around the world in growing a moustache this month. It's the end of Week One, and all I could muster up is evidenced below. It's a start though! We'll see how it gets by November 30th!

My father passed away from prostate cancer when I was 13 years old, and as an immediate family member, this makes me at high risk for it. So, the cause is near and dear to me. If you want to support me this month with my attempt at growing a stache, you can donate to the cause on my Mo-vember webpage! Your contributions are appreciated! Thanks!

One Day

This book tore my heart out. It held my hand, embraced me, made me cry, made me laugh, then made me want to throw it out the window. It angered me, it melted me, it absolutely enraptured me. The story revolves around Dexter and Emma, and each chapter follows one day in their lives - but each chapter, a different year. Beautifully written, touching, smart, and relatable. A MUST READ.

Tricks and Treats and the Dating Life

For Halloween, I dressed up as Kato from the Green Hornet. Of course, I was flying solo, so I didn't actually have a Green Hornet to be a sidekick to.



I was happy with my costume since I'd been planning it since late September and didn't actually pull it all together till the morning of!! Anyhow, I went to a gay dance Halloween party and was thrilled whenever someone would actually recognize my costume! I even had requests to have my photo taken! Sweet!!

And if that weren't enough, guess who else was at this club? The Guy!!! He looked good dressed in his recycled cowboy outfit from last year, the year before that, the year before that, etc. etc. Now, if he and I were together, he could've been my Green Hornet, yes?

Anyhow, it was great to see him. He told me I looked "sexy" which made explosions go off in my brain. But then... when I was hugging him and telling him how much I love him (as I'm prone to do), his reply was: I love you too.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!! What just happened?

I don't know. I still don't know. I'm enjoying it, because I've only waited forever for him to say those words to me. However he meant it, my heart skipped several beats and it brought me so much joy. Of course, I know, I am taking it with a grain of salt. Several grains, in fact. Here I was all ready to get over him, fresh from my Eat Pray Love journey, and he goes and pulls out this card!

What The Frick.

He said, "I love you too."

It's a big deal. It's a big deal for me, and a big deal for him to have gone out on that ledge and say that. He knows what those words would mean to me if he said them - to me, especially. He wouldn't just throw them around like that. He never has before. So, it was a bit of a milestone. NOT that I'm reading into it that we're going to be together forever and ever, but I'm just saying, it was kind of a big deal. To have someone that you absolutely love with all your heart and who is aware of that, say those words in return to you? I've actually never really had that before, so... it was pretty amazing.

Anyway, in my attempts to move on with my life and to not completely obsess over him, I'm making it a mission to go on dates and meet more people.

My shrink told me I should just try to concentrate on other areas of my life and enrich them. That's great and all, but it doesn't hurt to dip my toes into the dating pool at the same time, does it?

OR DOES IT.

Today I had a lunch date with a guy. Met him online last night and we have been chatting. On chat, it's all flirty and good conversation. In photos, it's not bad. Though, he insisted on sending close-ups of his dick and a rather far-away shot of his face. Peculiar.

We met today for a coffee/walk on our lunch breaks. I knew in the first 10 seconds this was not going to work. See, that's the problem when you are not up front about how you look. Physical attraction is an important measuring tool, and if it's not there at the get-go, it's not going to be. In person, it was not flirty, but awkward. Maybe he wasn't into me as much as I wasn't into him. Who knows? Whatever it is, it was tiring and exhausting and a bit of a bummer. Makes me want to back away from that dating pool, but no I will go forward, maybe even dive into the deep end... I'll keep you posted.

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I just searched for some local gay groups I could join up with. Why does it all seem so forced? Like, do I really care that much about gay square dancing? None of the sports leagues interest me because well, I hate sports. Maybe gay bowling, but that's pretty much only if I want to meet a lesbian or coupled gay guys. I don't know, this whole dating thing is... not working out. We'll see.

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Went to a meet a guy later that night who answered my ad. My ad, by the way, is NOT a sex ad but a "Hi i'm looking to meet new people and date around and all that jazz" type of ad. Still, this guy managed to turn it into "Come over here and I'm going to fuck you!" Well, his photo looked ok so why not at least meet him?

Zoiks. He looked skinny, like unhealthy skinny, like gaunt. He was a borderline vampire. I literally ran the other way. He kinda noticed that too. He said, "Are you sure you want to come in? Your face looked like you wanted to run the other way." So I did. I bolted.

Okay, so that didn't work.

Maybe I'll go offline for a bit, and instead of a gay sports league, I can look into a different type of activity, not necessarily gay. I think I'm going to join a tai chi class. At the very least, I'll get my meditation groove on!

Taio Cruz featuring Kylie

Loves!!!

If You Only Knew What The Future Holds...

... after a hurricane, comes a rainbow....

In the current climate of gay youth committing suicide all over the place, there's no better message that Katy Perry could've come out with in a more timely manner. Her new single Firework is an anthem for individuality and embracing and loving yourself.

Baby you're a firework.

Robyn - Indestructible

I'll be at the Robyn concert in a few week's time. Can't wait to see her live. Here's her new video!

How Did You Get This Number

Just finished up Sloane Crosley's second book, How Did You Get This Number. A bit more mature but just as insightful and funny and intelligent as her first one, which is now being developed into a TV show. Light read and fun.

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of

Okay, so I upped and left for New York last week. If this was another leg of my Eat, Pray, Love journey, then it was definitely, DEFINITELY, the EAT portion. Not just food, mind you, but this trip also fed my hunger for Broadway shows, in spades.

I won't bore you with every minor detail or who I went to meet up with there (friends from Montreal, Toronto) but I will say there was a botched attempt in there to go see Tiffany live in concert at a tiny club in Tribeca. Yes, Tiffany. THAT Tiffany.



Instead of dwelling on things that Could've Been, I'll just thrill you with the details of what I did get up to.



Saw Promises, Promises, starring Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth, and Molly Shannon. Wasn't sure what to expect, as it was only a "maybe" on my list of shows to see. However, I was very charmed by it and quite enjoyed myself. Molly Shannon stole the show.



Then I saw Green Day's American Idiot musical. Meah, it was okay. The storyline was VERY thin. It did remind me of the good songwriting that Green Day does.

One show that completely took me by surprise and had me bawling through the entire thing was Billy Elliot. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. It is definitely worth seeing! Here's a performance from the 2009 Tony awards:



I didn't escape with all musicals under my belt, mind you. I managed to take in one play and it was a bloody good one at that.



Time Stands Still starred Laura Linney as a photo journalist who gets injured when taking photos of war in the middle east. It is so well written and well acted. Dealing with post-trauma, relationship issues, and trying to explain your craft to people who don't understand how you can stand there taking photos of people whose children have just been blown up by a bomb. Powerful and moving and brilliant.

Finally, my last show of the trip was a toss up. My friend wanted to go see The Addams Family musical but I'd heard mixed things about it.



Sure, it had Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuworth in it. I hate Nathan Lane, however. But would've given an eye to see Bebe Neuworth. But it wasn't enough. So instead... I went to see....

The Pee Wee Herman Show!!


Jealous!?!? I know you are, but what am I!? It was buckets of fun, as you can imagine. They even served drinks in sippy cups, so that's reason enough to go!!! Pee Wee came out afterwards to say hi to everyone, but he didn't sign any Playbills or anything.

Ok, the food.

The most memorable meal I had was at The Spotted Pig, which has to be hands down my favourite spot in New York right now. I've been there before, and went apeshit over their deviled eggs. They are literally to die for. It's like putting heaven into your mouth.

But what to have as a main? I opted for some gnocchi stuffed with sheep cheese, and came swimming in a bowl of brown butter and sage. O M G. I didn't want that meal to end. Like, ever. Amazing.

For dessert, we hiked up to Union Square to track down the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck in its last days of service for the season. I'm so glad I got to catch them, as last year they had already closed for winter by the time I got there.

I had an ice cream cone they called The Bea Arthur. Amazing. It was vanilla ice cream, decorated and stuffed with dulce de leche (even in the cone!!), and then covered with wafer crumbs. It was a giant mess, but a delicious one. Like, the crumbs flew everywhere! But I got to tell people, "Everytime I licked Bea Arthur, she fell apart!"

Oh New York!! I can't wait for another go round! See You soon, lover!