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This was supposed to be a long post about a great weekend with Scooter and his friend Eric who visited, or about running into Justin, Danny, Greg, and then Ivan downtown Saturday night and having a blast, or about how I had a paper selected for an academic conference in Chicago in October, or about spending Sunday and Monday with Adrian, or about the great meal we had out last night where the pastry chef is one of his clients and she took very good care of us, or about how Adrian and I are doing much better and the problems of the last year are being worked through pretty well.

But instead, it's a short post because Tracy will be here in an hour to take me to the airport for my journey to Afghanistan. I'll be back in August. Everyone be good!!

Labels: Life

Counting down to Afghanistan. Looks like it'll be a photo finish as far as getting my paperwork ready. I should be getting my gear Wednesday or Thursday, and I'll feel a little better after that.

Labels: Life

Today we went to the DC Dragon Boat races to watch the team from AQUA. We knew a few of the guys rowing this year (YAY for Scott, ET, Vu, Danny, Reggie, Aldrian, and for everyone else too, of course) so we figured we should cheer them on, especially as they were the only gay team in the race (and yeah, we ran into some guys who were VERY happy to watch this particular team).



They won the GOLD in their division, and set a speed record as well in the 500m race. Very cool, and a very fun time. Next year maybe, just maybe, Adrian and I can row with them. Good people all.

Later in the day we wandered back and finally met up with Ivan, who's been reading my journal for a couple years now. He's a friend of my college roommate's gay stepson, so we're practically family. Anyway, he's left the academic world of Penn State to wander down here and take a real job -- if I were him, I'd run back to school! But he's a very fun guy, we're happy to have finally met him, and we look forward to spending time with him. Welcome, Ivan!

BTW, this is one more person that has gone from being an electronic friend to a real-world friend. I'm not kidding when I say I like to meet the people I know pretty well online. So Derek, Nyk, Alex, Ash, Dr Paul, David, Paul, Joel, Frankie...watch out! Next time I get to Singapore, KL, Chicago, NYC, Ohio (well, maybe not Ohio) I intend to meet up and put some flesh where the electrons are (which sounds a little kinky). Before you know it, you'll join the ranks of Allan, Kai, Jerwin, Scooter, Alcan, and all the others who -- like Ivan -- have fallen into my trap.

Labels: Friends

Following up on the six degrees discussion from a couple weeks ago, it happened again tonight but closer to home. We went to a party at Sean and Mike's (the "Boy-B-Que") and I got to talking with one guy who, as it turns out, went to the same high school I did. Not all that surprising, until you realize we went to high school in Nebraska, about 1500 miles away. As a matter of fact, his favorite teacher was also my favorite teacher. Also, he lives a block away from us. Tiny world indeed.

Of course, he went there 18 years after me, but that's not important.

Labels: Stuff

This evening I suddenly felt nauseous, and later I noticed a small acne outbreak along the top of my forehead. Since I spent much of today being trained on how to wear a chemical/biological protection suit, and have been studying all about different weapons someone might try to use, I have now convinced myself that I have somehow been exposed to a nerve agent, or maybe botulism.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

The visit with my folks was nice. They are nervous about my upcoming experience in Afghanistan, but they are dealing with it better than when i went to Iraq. The fact that it's only 2 months probably helps. The fact that I won't be there over Christmas this time probably helps even more.

Labels: Life

A good son visits his parents before he goes to Afghanistan. And I am a good son! So, I'll be back Thursday.

Labels: Life

Whenever I think I have problems, the universe reminds me there are other life-changing events out there that haven't struck me.

Everyone think good thoughts for Dancin' Mike. He has suffered a tragic loss this weekend, and all the good energy of people thinking of him can only be a help. I hope I will never go through what he is going through, because unlike him, I am not sure I would be strong enough. Just wish I could be there for him.

Peace, Michael.

Labels: Friends

Adrian and I watched Step Up the other night, which features Dancin' Mike. I really, really miss Dancin' Mike.

I was hoping to get a weekend in NYC before going to Afghanistan, but it's just not going to happen.

Next year the Olympics are in China. I want to go but haven't even begun to look into it.

We meet interesting people at various friends' parties, but they're never interested in getting to know us outside of those parties.

Sometimes I think Jude Law is just trying to piss me off.

During the last week, as I've been dumping projects onto co-workers or finishing them up in preparation for my 2-month absence, I've had a real feeling of relief.

While out on a shooting range recently I ran into someone who made my professional life hell 4 years ago. I was tempted...

I like going back and reading my journal archives. Though it would help if we fixed our external hard drive so I could get my remaining archives uploaded.

I have some friends I'm trying to spend more time with, but they don't seem too interested in spending time with me. I think pulling back and isolating myself from people during the troubles between Adrian and I is having a long-term effect on those friendships. And my 2-month absence isn't going to help.

Labels: Stuff

You may recall I spent Valentine's Day at a sleep clinic getting evaluated for my snoring, about a month after asking my doctor about it. 4 weeks after that evaluation, per my doctor's direction I called him for an appointment to go over my results (which I later learned were ready after only 1 week). I made the appointment, which was not for another 2 weeks, and when I met him he said "yeah, I can't really help you, I need to send you to another doctor." Um, couldn't you have just said that on the phone?

So...it took a month for me to get an appointment with an oral surgeon to look at options, including different types of surgery as well as possibly wearing a mouthguard when I sleep to open up my throat a little more. This was what my doctor thought I would probably do, since I only have a mild case of sleep apnea causing the snoring, so something as invasive as surgery probably wouldn't be needed. So after a 2-hour appointment the oral surgeons I had gone to see suggested that I might need surgery (no surprise...after all, they're surgeons). They said my tonsils are really big, and that's likely a big part of the problem. Of course, they don't do tonsillectomies, I have to go to a throat doctor for that.

So...I have an appointment with a throat doctor 5 days before I leave for Afghanistan. Naturally, all he can do is evaluate me, there's no time for surgery, which means I (and whoever I'm sharing a room with) will have to live with this problem while I am overseas for 2 months. And who knows, the throat doctor might not recommend surgery...but even if he suggests the mouthguard option, it'll be too late by then to get one fitted.

So...last Saturday I went to a sporting goods store (yes, I do know how to find a sporting goods store, thank you very much) and bought a mouthguard you'd use for contact sports. I tried to fit it to me as best I could, softening it with boiling water then fitting it onto my teeth. Adrian tells me that, while I do still snore a little at night, it's not as loud nor as often as before, and he's now able to sleep without earplugs and without waking me up to shut me up.

It has been 4 months since I first asked my doctor about this, and the only solution so far is one I came up with myself.

Labels: Life

At the Cinco de Mayo party the other night, Adrian's co-worker Luis commented on the smallness of the world, pointing out how he had cut my hair once before Adrian and I met. Adrian and I later met Angelo, who, three years later, now gets his hair cut by Luis, which led to Luis and Adrian working together at their current salon.

Then Luis tried to figure out if he was within six degrees of Kevin Bacon, and even though I made a mistake when Adrian told me about it on the drive home (I placed two actors in a movie together, but one wasn't in it), I realized Luis was closer than he thought.

Luis cut my hair in 2000.
I was an extra in Big Fish in 2003, which starred Alison Lohman.
Alison Lohman was in Where the Truth Lies in 2006 with Kevin Bacon.

So Luis' Bacon Number is 3. Not bad. Heck, Steve Buscemi is only a 2, and he's been in lots of films.

Labels: Friends

Okay, I am going to bed RIGHT NOW.

As soon as I finish this.

I wonder if I am so sleepy because I worked so hard today. Or because I got a bunch of shots, including anthrax, typhoid, and hepatitis vaccines. Or because of the three lychee martinis I had when Adrian and I had dinner with Lan from Chicago (and Aaron, a nice guy who we met at a New Years party, worked our table, so yay that!).

I'm guessing it was the second reason. And by "second," I mean "third."

But before going to bed I should

1) congratulate Derek and Nyk (they know why), and

2) say that I'll be shooting at the range tomorrow. In about 10 hours. So if you're in DC, stay indoors.

Labels: Friends, Work

Today's date is written 05/06/07 (at least here in the States...you other countries often do that differently, I suppose). It occurs to me this is the last time for 100 years the date will have that sequence of numbers. Adrian brushes that off as unimportant, but I'm convinced there's a hidden meaning...

Last night was spent at a Cinco de Mayo party at Angelo and Josh's. Much fun was had, they have some really nice friends, most of whom we only see at these parties. Too bad, many of them seem like they'd be nice to get to know on their own.

Oh, and I've so far failed to mention that 2 weeks ago at Apex with Justin and Richmond Michael, we had our photo taken by the Washington Blade. And it made it into the paper. It's a really cute picture, which is surprising since those guys are photogenic but I'm really not. Of course, the photographer DID have to take more than one shot.

Last item: my departure for Afghanistan is set for 30 May. It was originally going to be 21 May, but of course, I would have missed the season finale of Lost. I mean, hey, war is war, but Lost is, well...so much more.

Labels: Friends

Yes, Puerto Rico was fun. But was there ever any question it would be?

We flew down on Friday aboard Spirit Airlines, thanks to a tip from Ethan. Since I am a cheap bastard, I am all about the low cost carriers. Pity they don't fly to NYC. Or Singapore. Or Barcelona. But hey, they do go all over the Caribbean, and that's nice.

Anyway, we got down there around 2pm and it was gorgeous. A few little clouds, a light breeze, and it was basically like that the whole time we were there until we were headed to the airport and it started raining. There was a little drizzling during our 3 days but that and the breeze kept things from getting too hot, so really, it was just about perfect.

Our suite wasn't ready until 4 so we had a quick bite at the pool bar. It turns out our hotel is where the pina colada was invented, so I had to have one with lunch, and a few more during the weekend, you know, just because it's the polite thing to do. Once we got checked in we ran downstairs to the pool where I greased myself up with 45 SPF sunscreen, which was to be my friend during the weekend (Adrian adds to his naturally dark skin nicely, but I go right from "extraordinarily white boy" to "pre-cancerous lobster red" without stopping at "tan," so I need a little extra protection). The swim up pool bar was a nice touch for our trip.

We'd gotten up before 5am to catch our flight, so we took a little power nap, then got a little something to eat, then took a somewhat longer power nap, then...well, then we realized we don't have to prove anything to anyone by going out clubbing on Friday night, so instead we rolled over and got a really good night's sleep. Saturday was spent by the pool and on the beach, then we went into Old San Juan for a great dinner. The restaurant was known for its ceviches so we got their "sampler," which was a collection of their 6 versions, along with some fresh oyesters, and of course, a couple mojitos, since if all you drink is pina coladas they might lose their appeal after a while (truthfulness disclaimer: Adrian quit drinking a few months ago, but I managed to convince him to have a mojito and a pina colada during the weekend -- I'm such an enabler).

Later we went out to a club and learned a bit about San Juan's gay culture. For instance, we learned that people don't really go out dancing until after 12:30 or so, even though we were there before 11:30. Silly people. It also seemed that most men don't come out of the closet until they're at least 35...there were some young'uns, yes, but the crowd was a little older than we see in Dc (of course, there's another big club n town, maybe the younger men were there?). Lastly, when they have a stripper show, they go all out. The theme was "Super Heroes" and the dancers came out in thongs, capes...and body paint. Yes, Superman, batman, and Wonder (Wo)man, with the costumes all done in paint. And they looked GOOD. The costimes, that is, more so than the strippers. Superman was porn-star/model hot, and we agreed we would do him if the opportunity arose. It didn't, but later when he was dancing on the bar and I went to give him a dollar he DID bounce his balls on my forehead. Nice. And then he gave me a kiss and caressed my cheek, after which Adrian reported I had blue paint on my face. Dammit.

Sunday was another day of pool and beach. Early evening we went to another bar, this one an outdoor place on the beach in the lobby of a gay hotel where we almost stayed until we read online reviews (shudder). Seemed nice enough, but as with the club the night before, no one talked to us, so after a while we went off for another great dinner and headed back to the hotel.

I should mention that it's OK we didn't stay at the gay hotel because ours was gay enough. There was one group of 5 guys in their 20s, not sure if they were gay but if not, they should be. There were some other couples and small groups of friends, all older than us. One guy seemed particularly taken with Adrian, and I'll never forget waiting for an elevator and him saying, "mmmm, I smell something I want to eat." We were near a restaurant, so MAYBE that's what he meant, but I don't know...

Adrian also had a 3-year old walk by and smack him on the ass. Not sure what that was all about.

Monday I floated around the lagoon and figured out that when it comes to my job, it's time to not gve a damn anymore. That's helpful. Thank goodness for the wisdom of the ocean and lagoons and stuff. We laid around, then cleaned up, then headed for the airport where the flight was late coming in and getting out, so we missed the flight to DC and had the airport put us up in a nice hotel in Fort Lauderdale. And despite my initial frustration, I really didn't mind missing another day at the office. Plus we had a cool waitress for dinner.

Bottom line: go visit Puerto Rico, it's nice.

Labels: Travel

We're back, and a very good time was had. We didn't return until today because our flight was late leaving San Juan yesterday and we missed the connection to DC, so we spent last night at a fairly nice hotel in Ft Lauderdale courtesy of Spirit Airlines.

Anyway, tales to follow. Nothing too wild, just nice relaxing times.

Oh, and Azhan Rabi, can you send me an e-mail please? Thanks!

Labels: Travel