Did someone say road trip?

My plan for a weekend road trip around the Mojave National Preserve, what do you think?

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Dancing Queen (No not me)

I have to say, if your feeling blue and need a pick up then pop in the just released Mamma Mia DVD, it is sure to put a smile on your face. Fun, funny, and in parts moving you will find yourself smiling and crying from some of the more touching scene. I never even heard an ABBA song before I saw the show, so goes to show you don't have be a fan to enjoy the movie.

The story: Girl thinks she needs her dad to walk her down the isle at her wedding. Girl has three possible dads, so she invites them all to the wedding in hopes of finding the right daddy for lasting happiness. Then there are some great musical numbers. Including a  'Dancing Queen' number that ends in dozens of women of all ages along a dock. If a Greek Grandmother dancing along to ABBA doesn't put a smile on your face, seek medical help. As with all good musicals their is a revelation and that leads to a happy ending. Turns out girl doesn’t need dad to giver her a way, she asks her mom, that brings a tear to my eye.

 

Meryl Streep is fantastically fun and funny playing Donna the mother of the bride.

  By the end of this movie you will want to take a vacation on some small Greek island and find some Greek man, or is that just me?

Oh and if you have seen the show, they though in an extra song, and a twist to the ending that i think you will enjoy.

So take a chance on Mamma Mia! (Pun totally intended!)

 

View the trailer..

Oh no she didn't!

So I was in Atlanta over the weekend and Friday night I thought I would check out a local gay bar called Blake's. I really enjoyed myself, it had a cool neighborhood feel that I really liked.
Well as the night wore on I noticed a gaggle of women walk in, and the for of them were openly straight and one of them had a veil on. Bachelorette party. Now before I go on my rant I want the reader to know that I have nothing against strait women, infact my own mother is straight. I even had a cocktail or two with my friend Jennifer in a gay bar in during her bachelorette party.
Now back at Blake's, the gaggle of women start pulling guys and dancing with them while one of them took pictures. Like some type of side show. This isn't the worlds largest ball of twine its a real person who deserves to be treated with respect. Then I started getting pissed (not drunk for our UK readers).
I thought to myself, how tacky of her to come into a gay bar and flaunt her upcoming marriage. Does she not know what is happening around the country? What just happened in Florida, Arizona and California? Or does she know and just doesn't care?
But I didn't say anything, I figured if she didn't know why she could be offending I assumed by telling her I would make her upset and I cant do that to someone getting married soon. On the other hand if she new and didn't care confronting her would of not do any good. So I will be content in ranting here, on my blog.
I just wonder would she stand next to me when I was protesting Proposition 8?

He-Man Gay?

Hulu  just started posting He-Man cartoons. Now having watched them as a little kid I decided it would be fun to watch a few shows. Well during the intro He-Man explains how he came out came into his powers. To quote the opening,

"fabulous secret powers were reviled to me the day I healed aloft my magic sword"

Yep that right fabulous secret powers, and they apparently involve loosing his clothing, getting a tan, and a 6 pack. What gay man doesn't  want those fabulous secret powers?

I have an intrest experation date

3.25 weeks

I have done the math, on average after eliminating the extreme and non frequent high values I came to 3.25. I could probably set my outlook calendar to remind me that I am being dumped.

From a first date a countdown begins, after 3.25 weeks the subject suddenly stops returning calls texts and I am one friend short on myspace.

Do they make some kind of preservative that can extend my expiry date?

No Signal!

Here in Marcellus Michigan where my mom lives and I was born there is hardly any signal with my Verizon wireless card! What am I to do? Does this mean I have to spend quality time with my family?

Well they have all lapsed into a turkey coma, and my sister isn't speaking to me. I think it was something I said. Maybe I should ask her fiancé for advice. He has the market cornered on getting her to forgive.

 

Letter To Whoopi Goldberg

Dear Whoopi
I wanted to thank you for your support in our fight for equality. I was extremely moved when I saw you standing side by side with us during the New York protest; I only wish I could have been part of it. It is wonderful to see that we are not alone in this, that we have friends.

I also wanted to say thank you for what you said on The View a few days ago. I have been wondering why I haven’t heard this more often as it seems to be such a valid point. So often I hear people saying, with regards to gay marriage, let the people decide. Or people are angry at ‘activist judges’ who ‘set policy from the bench’. I don’t think the majority have ever given rights to a minority. I thought it was a judge’s obligation to protect the minority from the oppression from the majority. Weren’t protections like the Miranda rights and desegregation first come from judges? So if in protecting an individual’s rights and freedoms make a judge an ‘activist’ so be it. They are doing the right, moral and the thing their very positions as judges call for them to do, so be it.

I wanted to leave you with this quote from Ayn Rand I feel it is appropriate:

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual).

Thank you,
Kevin Hibbs

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The front fell off?

 

 

We're gonna miss this guy...

Just a little bit!

Damn Florida

While the presidential race is still too close to call in Florida it is safe to say that; unfortunately, Florida amendment 2 will pass (as of now its winning 63%). Amendment 2 will change the Florida constitution to ban Gay marriage. So while I am ecstatic about presidential election, I am still saddened about the result.

California proposition 8 has not been reported yet.

 

Long Lines

So I think that the long lines seen over the past weeks during early voting and today in the early hours of the election is a good sign for Obama.

I somehow doubt the rich elite republicans will stand in line for 4+ hours to vote, they have very important businesses to run and the middle class won't destroy itself you know!

So who has time to vote, oh maybe the Hundreds of thousands of people who have gotten layed off?  Young students looking for any excuse to get out of Early English Lit 101, I can see these people waiting in line to vote.  I wonder who they will vote for?

Like my mom says, this year people are biasing there votes on there wallet.

What about me? Why do I have time to write a blog when i should be in line? Well I voted early, anyone wanna guess who for?

Blog Post From Word!

Ok so lets see how this works, I am using word 2007 to post directly to my blog.

 

 

Test Pciture

Chick-fil-a rocks!

Chick-fil-a rocks!
Originally uploaded by unlvgrad03

One of the simple pleasures of traveling is experiencing local cuisine that may not be available where you live. One of my favorite places to go when I travel is Chick-fil-a, home of the best chicken sandwiches!!

Wait I am confused...

Bad Day In Eden

 

 

 

 

Best Commercial

Last night I had a cyber sex dream, what the hell?

Ok so I think this might be a sign from the gods of the internet to lay off for a while. Last night I had a very distinct dream, and yes it was sexual in nature. So all those squeamish better go to Disney  or something now. Actually I will spare you the details. I am sure everyone past the age of puberty has had a sex dream before. Your normal dream may of included you with some hot representation of the opposite, or same (for all my mo’s out there) sex. However this dream was unique because in my dream I was not dreaming of a person, but my dream consisted of a picture of a person on the internet. I will let you imagination continue on for a moment.

So what on earth could all this possibly mean? Am I destined for a life with no intimate contact with a real person, only endless hours in front of a PC? Is it my subconscious mind telling me to (pardon the pun) get off the internet? Or is it my subconscious struggling with my worries about STDs?

Well I am not sure what it really was about, but it was odd. I think I’ll send a note to my favorite podcast Feast of Fools , see what they make of it. I am sure they will have a unique take on it. Then again didn’t Sigmund Freud say “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”?

Best Debate Ever!

Another Great SNL

Best SNL Ever

See what 59000 medalian miles gets you

One bloody mary down! And a cute flight attenant too!

Craving Mexican

Craving Mexican
Originally uploaded by unlvgrad03

Well here I am at On the Border, for the second time since I got to Atlanta. I guess I must be craving Mexican, food that is. I know what you’re thinking, kevin Mexican food is so fattening and you are trying to loose weight! Well doesn’t worry, On the Border have new healthy selections. Like my new favorite the Grilled Fajita Chicken Tacos with only 570 calories 9 grams of fat and 18 grams of fiber! It is fantastic!

2008 Goals

Well as some of my faithful readers (or should I say reader) will remember that back in January I put forth 5 goals for the year 2008. Here, for better or for worse is where I am today more then half way though the year.

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Get down to 200 pounds.
Well this one is not going to be happening. Although I am happy to report that when I wrote the blog back in January I was 281 and now I am 275 so that’s like 6 pounds, or a pound a month.

So I have decided to reevaluate my goal to getting down to 250. I think that is a little more realistic. With me not traveling as much and being home a lot more, I am going to establish a routine of eating right and hitting the gym. I figure 25 pounds by December is a reasonable number. Ill keep you updated.

Why the sudden interest in my weight loss? Well it’s always on my mind but a post from a favorite blog of mine had posed a blog CITIZENDANGERX about his goals of getting into shape. His blog is open and frank, he even offers up a picture of his current appearance.

Get my floors done.
Well this is still a possibility, the only thing holding me up is my own procrastination. All I have to do is make a phone call and get the process started. This is still doable.

Spend a week in London.
This one I did accomplish! I spent a week in London and it was spectacular! I can’t wait to go back!

Paint and decorate my walls.
Again the only thing stopping me is my own procrastination. All I need to do is get a bucket of paint and a drop cloth.

Pay off my credit card.
This one is going to be more difficult, looking back I don’t think this was a reasonable goal to get done in just one year. But have cut down on my spending and am slowly chipping away at the debt.

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Me 7/24/2008

View from my dinner table.

Great view and so peaceful, except for all the damn kids.

I really shouldn't

I am soposed to be watching what I eat, how many ww points you think this is

It's everywhere you want to be

If you remember to bring it! So i am on my way to the airport to fly to Minnesota and realise i forgot my debit card at home! So now i am freaking out just a little. I had gotten 20 bucks back from my last trip to Wal Mart and that's all i have on me. Luckily this is a really short trip, only 3 days. I guess i should be able to make the 20 last, right? I mean i still have my corporate card so i am not totally without money.

I am sure it will be fine :)

Duh, you think?

Taken at the Cincinnati airport, it says 'Yield to Aircraft'. Lets see a golf cart pulling my bag vs. a 767, who will win?

Shoe shopping and dating, not as different as you would think; an introspective.

I have big feet. And you know what that means; I have a hard time finding shoes that fit. I ware 13 wide, and that is not as easy to find as one might imagine. I can look at all the pretty shoes on the shelves and I know that more then likely they won’t fit me. So what I end up doing is not looking at the shoe, but looking at the boxes. I scan the shelves for that ever elusive wide sticker. Once if find it I take a look at the shoe and hope it is something that I like, but most of the time its not, and because I need a new pair of shoes I buy them anyway.

So how does that relate to dating? Well this revelation came about from a night on the town with my two gal pals; yes they really were girls, lesbians yes but still girls. They wanted to take me out to the club and they were determined to be my wing men, and there mission was to get me a number. Well you would think with two fiends like that I would have been swamped with attention. I wasn’t, mostly due to my own shyness and introverted nature. Throughout the night they kept asking me what my type was. I remember looking around the room and seeing so many guys that I liked; not unlike shoe shopping. But fining one that would like me, that is the hard part. Unlike scanning the shelves for that wide sticker, it is a bit more difficult to find a guy that will like you. So what is my type, if I am your type your my type.

So there you have it, dating and shoe shopping. Where it is not so much picking out what I like but finding something that will fit, or like me.

San francisco trip day 2

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So after a late night arrival and a quick trip to the Castro (gay ground zero) for a bite, drink and a groap or two we headed back to our hotel for some much needed rest.

After a morning latte and a brand muffin, to get things moving, its off to union square for some shopping. Westfield mall was so fancy, you didn't even have to though your own trash away, and they did it for you!

During lunch we met up with a new friend Adam for some shopping. After shopping we decided to head to fisherman’s wharf. There are two ways to get to the wharf from where we were. One you can walk around the embarcadero, long walk but on level ground. Or you go more direct, up the very high very steep hill. I was quite proud of myself as I was able to keep up with the duo.

Once at the wharf we indulged in some chowder in a sour dough bread bowl, we did after all work up quite an apatite after that grueling walk. After a walk around the wharf and a stop in the Hard Rock for a t-shirt it was off to Ghirardelli’s for some free chocolate.

Then its back to the hotel room for some rest before hitting the Castro for some clubbing again! Love this city!!

Confucius say.....

Changs that runs out of white grape juice, can not make clean martini.

AC, again…

Here I am in Atlantic City again, with an unexpectedly extended length of stay. I was scheduled to go home this Saturday, but unfortunately my project had different plans. It’s ok though, it’s my job and I love it, even if it means staying in Atlantic City longer.

Atlantic City is a magical place; the sea, the boardwalk, the crazy people yelling at pigeons for there role in the Holocaust. One thing I noticed here is the men, well I usually notice the men but this time for a different reasons. The men here seem to be the same guy. All in there late 40’s, sport coat, button down shirt with the top 3 buttons undone exposing 25 years of chest hear growth, gently swaying in the breeze. While several gold chains nestled gently in that salt and pepper mane. Manscaping is a term that this particular group has never heard of; maybe that is why the younger generation takes it to the other extreme. Waxing off all there chest hair and sculpting there eyebrows until they look like a drag queen that has stopped caring. Two things both groups have in common is the lack of understanding how cologne works, it’s meant to be a stubble way to draw attention, not a way to cover up the fact you haven’t bathed since you started your gambling marathon 28 hours ago. Seriously if I can still smell your cologne after you get off the elevator, its too much. The other is they all feel they are the sexist, smartest, highest roller in the joint, and they aren’t afraid to announce it, over and over again. I could only imagine what a night at club must be like here.

Kaye interface tech extraordinarire!

Pink is the new flannel

Portrait of an Install Manager

What can I say, a cold case of beer for a job well done; and a friend to keep you company when the going gets ruff.

Every time a conversion balances, an Angel gets its wings. - Miracle in the 34th hour.

Drunk Video Blogging

So danni is here making up songs about LMS, so funny as shit!

Ready for takeoff

So as we sit here waiting for every one to wonder onto the plane, I can't help but smile when I watch someone trying to stuff a suitcase that they really should of checked into the overhead bin. I cat count how many times the flight attendant has to tell you to step in to the isle to allow others to pass. I mean come on people show some common sense. I am a big guy and if I can put my stuff in the overhead bin and still allow people to pass anyone can. One of th nice things about frequent flying is free upgrades. Bigger seats free drinks and dinner! What more can you ask for? Well ill tell you, on delta they carry coke zero!! What's better then coke zero? Coke zero and rum! How can it get any better? Free coke zero and rum!

Well they are closing the boaring door, so I got to turn off my phone. Later!

Meth addicts must have really clear sinuses

So last week when I was in DC I went to buy some Sudafed for my extremely congested head. I also had a cough and one of the people I was working with recommended Mucinex D as well as Sudafed. I figured I would get both and try the Mucinex and if it didn’t work I would have the Sudafed, I figured I should stock up because I don’t know what London will have in the way of cold medicine. Well I knew going in that I can’t just go in and buy Sudafed, I had to take the little plastic card up to the counter. So I picked up a Sudafed card and a Mucinex card and walked up to the counter. Now let me just explain that I did look like death warmed up a few degrees, and meth addicts are really skinny too, so I doubt they thought I was buying the Sudafed for anything other then my runny nose. So I had to give the check out lady my license so she can scan it a put me in the system. Then she informed me that I can’t buy both the Mucinex and Sudafed at the same time, because combined they have too much Pseudoephedrine. So I had to make a choice, go with the tried and true Sudafed, or try something new and try the Mucinex. Me being such a risk taker I took the Mucenex, and it worked out pretty well. I just hope that I don’t get sick in DC again anytime soon, I might have the cops at my hotel door!

London Day Three

Well today is the day I need to check out of my hotel and head up to Cambridge to do my install at Wyboston Lakes. I had instructions from my contact here at our London office, all I need to do is catch a train up to St. Neots from kings cross. If that sounds familiar to you it should, it was made famous as the gateway to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter Series. I was quite tickled to walk to my platform, 9 and see to my left a wall labeled platform 9 ¾. I will have to get a picture on the way back. The train ride was quite easy, a few stops less then an hour and I arrived. There were a couple of taxis waiting and they took me right up to the hotel. It all worked out.

My contact from our London office offered to take me out for a drink and dinner at the local pub, but i had to decline, i had conference calls that i had to attend. But i hope tomorrow night I'll get to go out and see as Martin put it "an authentic English pub".

Cheers!

London Day Two

Well after waking up at noon, way later then I wanted. I ventured out into the streets of London. Walking up to Leicester Square, and then over to Piccadilly Circus. The big neon signs remind me of New York and Times Square. Wondering a little more I found Hyde Park and across the street Hard Rock Café. The original Hard Rock is right across the street from the park not more then a 3 minute walk to Buckingham Palace. I had a burger and did a little souvenir shopping, then got on the underground at Hyde Park Corner station heading to Waterloo. Waterloo is the station closest to the London Eye. I was glad to see not much of a line to get on; I had read the lines can be tremendous. I got my ticket then got on the Eye. Getting on and off was the most interesting part, they don’t stop the giant Farris wheel; they just have you walk on as the capsule slowly moves. It was quite a ride, except for the kids running around, and if it wasn’t for the sun setting behind Parliament I would have got some great pictures. After the ride I walked over Westminster Bridge and back to my hotel, grabbing dinner at Pret’s again. I tuned in early because I have to get moving tomorrow to get my train up to Wyboston Lakes.

London Day One

Just before boarding the plane I go buy a bottle of water to take on my flight so I can take something to help me sleep as soon as we take off. I get to my seat, second from the last row, and realize I left my bottle of water in the waiting area were I was sitting. So I decide to ask the flight attendants who were in the back galley chatting if I could have a small glass of water. As obviously painful it was for them, I got some water, got back to my seat and promptly spilled the glass of water. By this time the isles are packed with people trying to put 25 pound carryon luggage into a 10 pound bin, I decided to wait till they serve us our drinks after we take off. Well we sit at the gate for 30 minutes because the food isn’t on board yet. Then another 30 as we load some last minute bags. Just when we are about to push back the captain announces that it has just started snowing, so they have to come de-ice us. We finally take off and I get tired of waiting for them to serve us some drinks so I swallow some pills with out anything to drink. I sleep pretty much the whole flight. We landed at Heathrow and had to sit and wait almost another hour for an American Airlines flight to get out of our gate. Great start right?

I was feeling really good when I got out of customs and on my way to the underground. The underground was a straight shot then a short walk from the station to my hotel. I got checked in and up to my room. Then decided to just do some waling and explore the area. Before I new it I found a sign that lead me to Trafalgar Square, from there I spotted Big Ben and walked over to it, passing Downing St along the way (I think that is where the prime minister lives). Once at Big Ben I could see the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey. I decide to walk and take a look at Westminster, passing a group a protesters outside of Parliament, they were not happy with the current involvement with the ware in Iraq, but then again who is. I walk around the Abbey for a while then head off in another direction. Soon I pass Scotland Yard and head into a park. As I enter the park there is a map showing the layout of the part and what is near it. Buckingham Palace is on the West end of the park! The flag on top was not the Royal Standard, so she wasn’t home. Well at this point it’s getting late and I haven’t eaten yet, so I head back toward my hotel and pass a gay bar. Although when I went to go look for it again I can’t seem to find it.

I stop in this place called Pret for lunch, smoked salmon sandwich and coffee, it was great. I swing by a ticket booth that I saw on the way to my hotel from the underground earlier that day. So I score a ticket to see Wicked, good but a kind of anti-climatic ending number. After the show it’s about 11:30 PM. I take the tube back to my hotel and stop in McDonalds for a bite to eat; I couldn’t find anything else open. There were groups of people going from bar to bar, some already lit others just starting out the night, the ones who were really drunk were singing. I couldn’t tell what they were singing, between the slurring and the accents. I would of liked to stop in and have a drink and people watch for a bit, but I am about to fall asleep standing up. So I head back to my hotel, eat my McDonalds, and fall asleep a few hours later. It was a good day.

San Antonio

Well I made it to my hotel in san antonio. The flight wasn't really that bad and I even made a friend on the plane. I know how unlike me to be social. But then again the flight was only 45 minutes so I guess I could be social.

My hotel is vary nice, its got a good view of the city. We are up in the hills away from everything it is really nice.

Jody is unpacking, then we are off to dinner. Later this week we are going down to the river front everyone says its great.

So far, I hate to admit it, texas isn't that bad.

So far.

American Gladiators 2008

What a blast from the past! I remember watching the original American Gladiators when I was younger. The only difference is now the gladiators are new and I understand why I am so drawn to the show, and turn the channel during the women’s challenges. Eye candy like Toa (crazy hard abs) and Titan make it worth a look. Trouble is I don’t see it lasting very long, at least in prime time.

Here is an idea for a ratings boost (pay attention NBC) cross some gender lines. The standard format is boys versus boys and girls verses girls. What would happen if there was a girl challenging the guys and boys challenging girls? I am sure there are some women out there that could take on some of those boys, and win. Oh and every single female gladiator could kick my ass.

Ratings boost idea number 2; out one of the current gladiators or add an openly gay gladiator. Can you imagine how many people would tune in to watch the gay gladiator get beat week after week, only to see the gladiator kick ass repeatedly.

Image from nbc.com

Got a couch

Well friends i finally broke down and bought a couch. RC Willey had a great New Years day sale and i picked up this couch. What do you think is this one better then my last choice?The bad news is i got there late in the day and they were out of stock, so it is on order. I hope to have it in my home in a couple weeks, maybe less.



I even bought the fabric protection plan, that protects against food, drink, any animal or human fluid.



Pizza: $24
2 Bottles of wine: $33
Wild sex on the couch without worrying about stains: Priceless

Should have been more specific

UK - London: Tower Bridge at night in the rain
Originally uploaded by wallyg

Goal number 1 for 2008 is to make it to London for a week. Well I guess I should be careful what I ask for, I just might get it. My boss told me today that I get to go to London for a week for a project. This is freaking awesome! I am so excited! Only problem; it is too short notice. I was hoping to bring my boyfriend along when I go. Oh well I guess ill just have to make a second trip over there. The funny thing is the ticket was only $150. True I am flying from DC, did I mention ill already be in DC for another project? With taxes the total ticket costs about $400. That seems really, really good; I have paid more for flights to Memphis! Even though it is work, I still will have a day or two to explore. Ill keep you posted!

Great start

So not the best start to my 2008, as you may recall from my last blog entry one of my goals for 2008 is to get down to 200 pounds. Well I weighed in today and I was a whopping 281! Holy crap, that’s like two and a half twinks! But on the up side 80 pounds isn’t an impossible goal that’s like 7 pounds a month. Hey if they guys on The Biggest Looser can loose 20 in a week, I can do 7 in a month.

I am so into The Biggest Looser, not only is it motivational you get to see trainer Bob with his shirt off. The first challenge this season was a race to the top of a hill and back. The prize was the winners could pick the trainer. If I was on that show I would have been up and down that hill so fast! I need a hot trainer like Bob yelling at me, encouraging me, hugging me, sneaking into my room, oh well sorry the line between reality and fantasy is a little blurry. But hey whatever motivates!

I even put out my sweats, socks, shoes to go for a jog this morning. Well not a jog so much as I haven’t jogged in years. But I didn’t go, I even set my alarm extra early to go out, I just hit snooze. I thought it was too cold, and I was too tired, but those are just excuses.

Maybe tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

Well its 2008, last year was great and this year is going to be even better! I only have one New Year’s resolution, to not make any resolutions, but to set goals for myself. I am hoping by publishing them I will be more likely to achieve them. Wish me luck and stay tuned for updates.

My 2008 Goals:

1. Get down to 200 pounds.
2. Get my floors done.
3. Spend a week in London.
4. Paint and decorate my walls.
5. Pay off my credit card.
   
   
   
   
   
   

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The January 2008 me: