Shhh, don't wake the puppy.

After a crazy & hectic week of getting settled into the new place and desperately needing some down time, John invited his friend, Sigma and his partner, Dennis to go to the Hillcrest Farmers' Market with us. Following that, John and I planned to drive up to La Jolla to PetSmart where they were having a dog adoption from the local Labrador Rescue. Even though we were still hesitant to commit to owning a dog together, we were just going to "look".
Sigma and Dennis arrived and brought us this housewarming gift.
"We have to get it ready," they shouted from downstairs. I couldn't imagine what they had for us.
In a cardboard carry box, was this little bundle.
"He's sleeping." Dennis informed us.
I was peering through the cutouts, trying to figure out whether it was a rabbit, a gerbil or--heaven forbid, a kitten. It was this little pup.
"We figured, since you guys might not get a dog that we would get this one for you." Sigma explained. John and I, both were struck--by its realness.
Our little puppy, is battery operated and when you switch it on, it moves to look as if it's breathing. They told us that they'd found it while in San Francisco and thought it to be the perfect gift.
They were so right!
Later in the afternoon, after driving all the way up to La Jolla only to be told that there wasn't a rescue adoption going on--"...otherwise, I would've known about it, " the sales lady told us.--John and This Man were driving back down I-5 when I spotted, way above us, on top of this cliff, Mt. Soledad.
"I don't see what's the point of that memorial being way up there, " This Man began. " I mean, you can't see it from the freeway unless you know where to look and not too many people know how to get up there to it."
It was then, with sweet clarity and the simplicity of a 2 year old, John replied, "God knows."

Mahalo

' Twas the night before moving day
and all through the house.
John was running all over the place
This Man was being a louse (well, not really--but it rhymes).


Up to this point, packing up for the Big Move had seemed to be a bit of a dream, yet I was watching John as he packed, all the while telling myself that this was it. We were moving in together. No, I wasn't having second thoughts about it. It just seemed surreal. This Man was actually going to live with another man. And that's what made me nervous.
How would he handle me? What about my moments when I want total silence? What about those times when I just want to be with myself? How would he tolerate my bad habits?
How? What? Why?
Ohmygod, I was getting anxious again. Once my anxiety resided and I was able to continue packing the kitchen up, This Man grabbed my camera and snapped these pictures of John working like a Trojan.

We were moving in together. And just like that, the anxiety turned to excitement.

Mahalo

I only miss my former friend, Scott because I finally got a new frisbee and wish that I had someone who could play just as aggressively (and FOR HOURS) like he did. I've yet to find such a person.
I only miss my former friend, Scott because I finally got a new bicycle and crave someone to ride all over San Diego with me (until our legs BURNED) like only he could.
I only miss my former friend , Scott because sometimes I miss hanging out at the park, getting stoned and bonding. I still haven't found a replacement.
Whenever I think about how much I miss him, then This Man thinks about how badly he hurt my feelings.

Mahalo

This whole misunderstanding started when This Man sent my friend, Jason the following online message:

To which, he responded with:

I KNOW! This Man was shocked by it also!
Not only that, but he blocked me so I couldn't respond to that message. So I did what any guy in this predicament would've done. I switched to my backup screenname (DON'T act like you don't have more than one online profile--again, I can't be the only one) then sent him this counter response:

Lying in bed with John after dining at a Greek cafe, we were fooling around with his laptop and looking up some word definitions. Over dinner, he'd used a few crazy adjectives (none of which, This Man dares to list here) to describe my personality and when we'd came home, he was showing me their meanings.
But one word that I didn't expect that there would be a definition for what the word, Byronic.
According to the Oxford American Dictionary, Byronic (adj.) means:

• characteristic of Lord Byron and his poetry.
  
• (of a man) alluringly dark, mysterious or moody.
  

I'm not kidding. It's actually there.
" Hmm, wait a minute!" This Man exclaimed. "Let me chew on that." Instantly, I reached for my small spiral notebook that's always nearby and scribbled down the definition. Then I started getting an idea.
" I think I can work with this." I told John. "How does this sound, 'That's so Byronic!' ?"
HA!
So I'm chewing on that name and I'm thinking about changing the name of this blog.
Chew on it and let me know what you think.

Mahalo

She's blue and she rides like a dream.
This Man planned on buying the yellow 2006 Diamondback Sorrento bicycle that I'd seen for months at the pawn shop in North Park. Finally, with cash in hand, I rushed down to the store only to find that the bike had been sold already! Never mind, that for months that bike was in the window (I know because I checked periodically), but once I was finally ready to commit, it was gone!
Off to Mission Hills Bike Shop I went. Since I couldn't have the yellow bike, I was going to have to spend a bit more instead for the 2007 Diamondback Sorrento in Electric Blue which was cool, considering it was my backup choice.
" We may have it in black, " the sales guy told me. But they didn't.
It didn't matter because finally, I was getting a new bicycle which meant that I could finally get past having my old one stolen (remember that).
My new Bitch. I haven't named her yet, but I will. She rides like a dream and I'd barely made it around the block before a guy stopped me on the street to compliment it.
So here she is.


And for the last time, This Man will post a picture of My Old Lady. I still miss her.



Mahalo

This evening, while on my way to John's house, This Man stopped at McDonald's in Hillcrest for a quick bite. Walking in the restaurant, alone, I had the privilege of this exchange with the cashier.
" May I take your order?" The unmotivated Mexican woman asked.
" Yeah, let me have the...6 piece chicken McNuggets Mighty Kids meal."
" For here or to go?"
" Um, it's for me. I'll have it here." I said and reached into my pocket through the wad of bills.
" Will the toy be for a boy or a girl?" She asked without looking up from the register. And at this moment, I decided to be a smart ass.
" What's the toy this month?"
" For boys it's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and for girls..."
" Well, give me the girls' toy." I interrupted, "I never liked the Ninja Turtles."
She gave me a sidewards glance, but when I nodded my head, she got with the program. After all, this was Hillcrest, she should've been used to such gender bending.
When I got my Happy Meal, This Man immediately looked into the bag, past the nuggets and past the french fries to the bottom of the bag and there she was. A miniature doll in plastic. Her name is Madame Alexander. She's about 4 inches tall, wearing a white smock with yellow flowers and a white dunce cap also with yellow flowers. With blonde hair that can be fingered to resemble the old Farrah Fawcett-feathered look. She was mine...all mine!

I gave her to John once I got to his place.

Mahalo

So walking from John's house to the condo development that This Man has been doing some painting at combined with playing frisbee whenever I can find someone that wants to play with me and the fact that I've become so conscientious of what and when I eat, I've slimmed down from a whopping 205 pounds and a 36 inch waist to a nice 185 pounds and a 32 inch waist.
But the real fruit of my labor came when I made a pit stop at American Apparel in Hillcrest today and dared myself to try on the new Slim Slacks black skinny jeans.
SIZE 32s BABY!

Hell, I was surprised and amazed. I've always thought that skinny jeans looked great on skinny people and I've even thought that slim-fitting jeans looked great on men with nice, muscular calves, but I would've never imagined that This Man would be trying a pair on. But here I was--in the dressing room, reaching into my backpack and grabbing my camera.
I checked myself out from every angle, mentally thinking about what I could pair these slacks with and where I could wear them to (which was funny, considering I never go anywhere), but it all came to a screeching halt when I dared myself to flip over the price tag.
68 bucks!
Fuck NO!!! Not today, not tomorrow and not anytime soon.
However, if they do put them on sale, This Man will be all over it.

Mahalo