I thought I recognized that smell...

dammit!

Donnie (<-- link) snuck back in amidst my divorce and move.

Glad you're back in the blogging world!

LOVES IT!

Verizon vs. Cingular

I was catching up on my blog-family's postings this a.m. and was thinking, I'm about to get my chops busted because I've not posted in a few days and I don't really even have anything to post about.

WRONG!

So a few weeks ago, I got a bug up my rear that I want (read: need) an all-in-one email/phone/pda device, for my own personal use. It will not be receiving work email, thank you very much. They don't pay me enough. So I went to the Verizon website and logged into my account and was poking around. Because my wants and desires are not properly timed, I found out I am six months early to the "new every 2" party. If I want the Treo, I have to pay retail.

Yes, I swore. Retail. There, I did it again. It's a nasty six-letter word I don't care for when used in conjunction with wireless devices. But here's the really vile part. For the Treo 650 (which is the latest model they had, last time I looked...funny because I think the Treo 750 (yes, 2 models later) is about to come out at Cingular), they expect me to pay $619.00. Just push me down on a pool table in the back of a seedy bar and call me Jody Foster.

At this point, I rang up Cingular and inquired as to what new customers get, blah blah blech. So all in all, I could get a Treo that is two models NEWER, a 2 yr contract with rollover minutes AND pay the Early Termination Fee at Verizon of $175 and still come out roughly $150 CHEAPER than if I stay with Verizon and pay the full price for the 2 models-old Treo 650.

I know. I keep thinking of the definition of insanity: repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. But I feel like it is Verizon who is collectively insane.

So liking that old gameshow Press Your Luck (big money, big money, no whammies....STOP!), I called up Verizon again today. I chatted with a nice guy and he basically told me that I MIGHT be eligible for an early exception upgrade in January. When pressed, he couldn't guarantee it. So I asked to be escalated.

I got EJ, the supervisor. I asked him for an early exception upgrade and he said no. I told him my choices were either to get the upgrade or leave Verizon after being a solid customer for over 6 years. He told me if they wanted to give me the upgrade, it would "be because we value you as a customer, not because you threaten to leave." This was the point where I almost hung up.

GB: "If you value me as a customer, then you want me to stay. It's the same thing as not wanting me to leave. Let's not get caught up in semantics. It's just you trying to put a positive spin on it."

EJ: "We cannot give you an early upgrade."

So I confirmed with him that I was quite unhappy, but that I wanted it abundantly clear that at this moment, I did not wish to have my account closed.

I know they don't care. Everyone knows this. But I wish someone inside a cellular provider would show me the math that they do which makes their denial of my request make financial sense to them. I did some math of my own:

$480 additional revenue (b/c if they give me the upgrade, my 2 yr contract date renews now, extending me for another 6 months at $80/month plan)

$960 additional revenue (adding 2 yr commitment for a $40/month data plan)

$X.XX? additional revenue (their margin on the equipment that I want to buy)

So that's $1440 additional revenue over the course of the next two years.

How does that compare with $175 early termination fee, losing $80/month for another 22 months (I had to restart my contract when I moved my number West) and a lost sale on equipment. I just don't understand it.

So my options are:

1. write a nasty letter to Verizon explaining all of this and requesting the early upgrade one last time

or

2. just quit and go to Cingular.

Peeps - CHIME IN.

everything in MODERATION

Hey y'all. Yep, my southern-ness comes out when I'm hanging around my family. Especially in Tennessee - YIPES! So of course I performed the prerequisite of eating too much (should have practiced moderation!) and basically only ate one "real" meal today, consisting mostly of starchy carbs, butter and cheese. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Oh - and somehow, a spam comment got through to my blog... even though I have word verification on. So I turned on Comment Moderation. I will not be filtering comments, but they may take a bit to show up, FYI. And that's why. Because I won't put up with bullshit spam. GROSS.

And here are some random pictures I took since arriving for T-Day:

Dog feet and hiney on the hardwood floor.

Close-up of neck on lesbian.

Dog's hind quarters.

Olive mix sparkling in the sun.

A glimpse into the insanity of food we had to choose from!

Happy Triptophan-induced comas to you all!

GOBBLE GOBBLE

So I'm out first thing in the morning, headed to Nashville. My whole family is convening there, as that's where my brother who recently returned (SAFELY, THANK GOD) from Iraq. So it will be filled with tons of laughter, food, fun and booze.

I can't wait to see my family. They are incredible. A wonderful support system and a good group of friends too. I realize all-too-often than I am blessed and am constantly reminded to be thankful that I do have such strong, healthy relationships with my immediate clan. Lots of people, for one reason or another, do not.

Oh, and so hopefully there's going to be an abundance of cream cheese pound cake...my favorite cake in the entire world. And no one makes a better one than my fancy lawyer-boy brother.

And some shooting. Gina's pretty proficient with a .38 - so I'm going to the firing range and pop some caps in some silhouttes. Gotta practice my gansta hold - barrel in, palm down. Use it or lose it bitches.

And some Harley riding.

Yeah, go ahead and say it - I know you're thinking it. Damn, GBoogie is getting all the butch activities out of the way for the whole year in one, single trip.

LOVES IT.

I'll keep reading my regular daily blogroll, but I'm figuring most, as I, won't be posting.

So whoever your family is for this Thanksgiving - enjoy them, enjoy yourself and some comraderie. Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday.

ADDENDUM, BITCHES:

So I also have a few more things I'm thankful for - and I would feel remiss if I didn't speak to them here:

My Blog Family - you know who you are, and I love you each in your own unique way. The internet is an amazing tool - so sad that some abuse it - but so great that others like us can make connections not otherwise made and enrich and broaden each others' lives.

My Right-Coast Family - you also know who you are. At the same time, you are all both what made it so easy and so difficult to leave the Right side for the Left. And this group is small, but that's because you are the cream of the crop. Stack, the Mssrs. Vogel, Chenda, Gately, Hoof, Dx & clan, my work Wizzife, mother of TCC, Almost... RO w/ your [proverbial in some cases] CO.

My Left-Coast Family - who have made my transition as painless as possible - EPL, JT, Bunky, KevyKev, Chuck, JimB and all the nice mens I've been meeting that are soon to be future ex boyfriends but hopefully always friends.

THANKS, BITCHES. To copy a biscuit - I <3 U

G, she 'bout ta sting, so stand back.

mamma, it speaks to me

Ok - I'm just going to start off by telling those of you who read my blog regularly that I am ready to take the abuse I'm sure to endure by my next admission: I like Nick Lachey. But I ask that you open your minds a bit and just read and appreciate what the timbre of the song lyrics below are and I think you'll see how they really do relate to me and my recent changes, which, while all are good and all are my choices, are nonetheless at times sometimes challenging emotionally, to say the least. Now on to the real post:

So I totally bought into the poor-me, dejected-and-rejected routine Nick Lachey's been peddling since his fortuitously-timed "breakup" reintroduction onto the pop charts. I feel bad for him. I think he's not a bad-looking man. The body rocks. The face isn't terrible. And his voice isn't horrible either. But the concept of a breakup album appeals to me at this particular time in my life. It just does. Go ahead, start throwing rocks at me. But have you listened to some of it? Whether the emotion be heartfelt or chart success-induced, some of them are still pretty good.

Below (eventually) are the lyrics to the final cut from What's Left of Me, titled "Resolution". I'm trying to push myself forward in my development as a man and a human being, rather than just carelessly hurtling myself in general directions and hoping things "stick" as I've done in the past. This is a way that I strive to have similarites with my friend Matt. He's going through an incredible journey. I've been through a similar journey, except he is being smarter about it than I was. I'm feeling a little raw emotionally right now (not in a bad way), so just stay with me...

Matt - I try to tell you this as often as possible, but you truly inspire me. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. I look forward to continuing to watch you become the best man you can be (see the lyrics below) and also continuing to build our virtual friendship and then our gathering with the Reverend and Auntie P. in 2007. It's going to be an unforgettable time!

Anyway - beyond that diversion (I know, random for some, but not to me), here are the lyrics. I like them, a lot. The song is beautiful in it's simplicity on the album version. Just voice, lyrics and a single piano. It translates into the fragility I sometimes feel at this point in my life. Yet at the same time, the simplicity also belies a strength that I know I possess and why I know I will come out a better person. I will continue to grow. I may not make it to my absolute best, but as long as I continue to learn and continue to grow, that's just fine by me...


Nothing but an empty page
Breathing in an open space
Captured by a moment's grace…again
There's so much I left behind
Even more that waits in time
Everything's so undefined
I'm standing on the edge of my fears, and I see it clear…

Here's my resolution - I'm letting go
All I need to learn is along this road
And I just want to be the best man I can be
…breathe...
It's my resolution.

Living life without a plan
Finding solace where I stand
Learning how to love again
And all I want is something real, and that I can feel…

Here's my resolution - I'm letting go
All I need to learn is along this road
And I just want to be the best man I can be

Here's my resolution - I'm letting go
All I need to learn is along this road
And I just want to be the best man I can be
…breathe...
It's my resolution.
My resolution.

(and now back to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress...)

#6

Thank god! I have been toiling over what my next tattoo will be.

Finally, I have the answer:

that's such a cute top

In Da Hood

Here's some more pics of my neighborhood, taken yesterday (kinda overcast) on the a.m. walk. Also, a few pictures of my apartment, which is finally beginning to look a little more lived-in. Now if my dumb couch will just get here...

What do you think of this top?

hmmm. i know we're going to sea world today. i bet there's gonna be lots of hot chicks there. i'm a good-lookin dude. i should be turning the ladies' heads.

inventory:

- tan? check-mark

- shades? got's 'em

- legs? long -n- lean

- short shorts? yep

- shirt? hmmm.

it's gotta be something sweet. i should show off my bod. the ladies will want to see it all....

where is that shirt? i know it's here somewhere....it's freakin' PERFECT.

A HA! (<--link)

...until you're blue in the face.

Artist: Coldplay
Album: X&Y
Year: 2005
Title: Talk


Oh brother I can’t, I can't get through
I've been trying hard to reach you 'cause I don't know what to do
Oh brother I can't believe it's true
I'm so scared about the future and I wanna talk to you
Oh I wanna talk to you

You can take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung or do
Something that's never been done

Are you lost or incomplete?
Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece?
Tell me how do you feel?
Well I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak
And they’re talking it to me

So you take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung or do
Something that's never been done, do
Something that's never been done

So you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk
And you feel like you're going where you've been before
You tell anyone who'll listen but you feel ignored
Nothing's really making any sense at all, let's talk
Let's talk, let's talk, let's talk

now I'm that person

So I had a rather unfullfilling online shopping experience with gap.com today. So during the focockta BizRate feedback experience, I went a little p-sycho and ranted. After re-reading my comment, I think they must think I'm a 1200-lb person or potentially homebound, clearly someone for whom regular bricks-n-mortar shopping is not a routinely viable option.

Dear gap.com Customer,We appreciate your comments to BizRate and wanted to reply to you. Thank you for your feedback regarding the enhancements we have made to our website. We were sorry to hear of the difficulty you experienced attempting to enter your address. Customer feedback is very important to us. In an effort to improve the shopping experience for everyone, please be assured your comments will be forwarded to our Technical Team.We appreciate the time you have taken to share your concerns with us andhope you will give us another opportunity to serve you in the future.If we may be of further assistance, please contact us via e-mail at custserv@gap.com or by calling 1-800-GAP-STYLE. Our Customer Service Consultants are available 24 hours a day for your convenience.Sincerely,Sarah Customer Service Consultant

Original Message Follows:--------------------------------------------------
the auto address validation program that runs when entering shipping/billing information is CRAP. You ask for me to enter the billing address EXACTLY as it appears on the statement, but when I do, you tell me the address is WRONG. I end up having to make up Suite numbers (which are NOT necessary for successful delivery to the deliveryaddress) just for the stupid website to take the address. I have this problem EVERY time I shop online with any of the gap business. I am so frustrated (can you tell) now, that I am likely to never shop again, andI do not shop in stores very often as it's not convenient for me.

Confessions with the Reverend

GinaBruce: so there is this hot guy on [random website] who I tried chatting with before I moved
GinaBruce: and he wasn't interested
GinaBruce: so I left him be
GinaBruce: he msgd me last night - saying hi - didn't remember chatting
GinaBruce: my friend Bunky said my pictures "are vague enough"
GinaBruce: do you think my pics are misleading?
GinaBruce: i don't think they are. I clearly state in the first sentence my height and weight and that I have some extra pounds.... {sic}
Reverend: Well yes, that is true.
Reverend: But weight looks different on different people.
Reverend: I mean, people tell me that they would never think that I weigh [mind your own business, bitches].
Reverend: But [mind your own business, bitches]on a 5'10" frame is clearly a bit heavy.
Reverend: You are not going to be a tight man with a 6 pack.
Reverend: Or me for that matter.
GinaBruce: right - but I'm always told I don't look like I weigh [mind your own business, bitches] either.
Reverend: You are my twin
Reverend: let's have twin sex.
GinaBruce: ha ha
GinaBruce: the version with and without hair on their heads! LOL
GinaBruce: pls. people here - if they've got it - they SHOW it
GinaBruce: and I mean all of it. there's a kid on bear that keeps saying hello and he's a bottom. his pics are 1) shot of him, with sunglasses, smiling and clearly his niece/nephew has been cropped out (you see a baby arm)
GinaBruce: 2) cock shot
GinaBruce: 3) another cock shot
GinaBruce: 4) profile view of him with his mouth full of cock
GinaBruce: 5)ass shot
GinaBruce: nice, huh?
Reverend: Lovely.
GinaBruce: yeah.
GinaBruce: and I think I communicate that I'm not really looking for a quick hookup via that profile.
GinaBruce: w/o stating so, b/c I think to state so is a little presumptuous
Reverend: True.
GinaBruce: like - oh I'm so hot to trot that i'm going to let you know off the bat that I'm not looking just to hook up, since so many of you will be after me like a piece of meat.
GinaBruce: LOL
Reverend: That is funny.
Reverend: But so true.
GinaBruce: yeah - I don't presume to be nearly that desirable...
GinaBruce: and gauging by the quantity and overall quality of those who contact me, I'm feeling pretty grounded in that assumption! LOl
GinaBruce: not to say the odd diamond in the rough (or buff as it sometimes is) doesn't reach me, but overall, I'm going through lots of slag to get to the pure goods.
GinaBruce: but one man's slag is another man's fag. right?
Reverend: Right.
Reverend: That is so funny.
GinaBruce: oh - and something else to ponder on this Tuesday afternoon - as you near your time to go home
GinaBruce: if we are bears.....
GinaBruce: why WOOF?
Reverend: I don't woof, I grrrr
GinaBruce: I don't either.
GinaBruce: but lots of bears doo
GinaBruce: do
GinaBruce: well, actually all bears doo doo
GinaBruce: but you know what I mean
Reverend: Yes, I know what you mean.
Reverend: LOL
GinaBruce: it sort of annoys me.
Reverend: But do bears do that voodoo that you do so well?
GinaBruce: no - but I'd like some of them to do something to me.
GinaBruce: and I'm happy to get into specifics!
Reverend: You are?
Reverend: Hmm.
Reverend: Please tell me it does not involved doo doo!!!
GinaBruce: oh NO.
GinaBruce: NO WAY JOSE
Reverend: Good.
GinaBruce: so I sent you a song via iTunes.
Reverend: Ok, I will check it when I get home.
GinaBruce: it's that song from SFU that I asked you about yesterday. I think you will like it
GinaBruce: so Rev, since you're Gina's #1 and closest betch of all the blog betches....
Reverend: I hope so.
GinaBruce: I am going to make us t-shirts for Pride.
Reverend: Yes.
Reverend: No way?
GinaBruce: and I want your input/help.
GinaBruce: yeah - i have that friend w/ the queer tshirt company
Reverend: Just shirts for you and me or all 4 of us?
GinaBruce: she'll make 'em for us
GinaBruce: all 4
Reverend: HOT
GinaBruce: that'd be rude not to give shirts to everyone
Reverend: You know I am graphically challenged.
Reverend: So true, but I am a rude betch.
GinaBruce: oh - my friend can draw her cooch off
GinaBruce: all we need to do is give her concept
Reverend: Great.
GinaBruce: but i was thinking that we need a slogan
Reverend: I think we should invite Kelly to come stay with us too.
GinaBruce: HA HA HA
Reverend: Oh a slogan.
Reverend: Hmmm.
GinaBruce: could you freaking imagine! ?
Reverend: No.
GinaBruce: i just had one pop into my head.
GinaBruce: oh my god....Pride
Reverend: To bad, we couldn't rape the words.
GinaBruce: and put on the back "you're a fat fucking betch 'cause you won't give me that fucking shirt"
Reverend: I can see it now.
Reverend: oh my god.... Pride
GET IT BETCH
GinaBruce: but then again, kelly will be yesterday's news in another 7 months probably
Reverend: Probably.
Reverend: We need something hip, now.
GinaBruce: for then
GinaBruce: right
GinaBruce: a specific point in time
Reverend: They should say something like the, "We are the next out celebrities"
GinaBruce: "do you suck as hard as your blog does?"
GinaBruce: H A
Reverend: That is funny.
GinaBruce: or a tshirt that's plain on the front
GinaBruce: wait - I'll draw it up
GinaBruce: can I send to work -no nudity and no foul language
GinaBruce: just a single slide in ppt
Reverend: Sure, you can send to my work.
GinaBruce: sent
GinaBruce: not for our weekend, but just funny shirt idea
Reverend: That is funny.
GinaBruce: maybe i should suggest those to my friend for her site
Reverend: There you go.
GinaBruce: b/c it gets you around the copy right infringements
Reverend: lesbians don't have tops or bottoms. What do they have?
Reverend: diver and muff?
GinaBruce: ha
GinaBruce: they do subscribe to a top/btm concept
GinaBruce: think
Reverend: Strap on and strap off?
GinaBruce: ha
Reverend: Just curious.
GinaBruce: that's a shirt suggestion
Reverend: I think you should blog about this.
GinaBruce: The Strapper
GinaBruce: ok
GinaBruce: I'll have to replace my name, but I'm happy to
Reverend: Get to the root of the lesbian labels.
GinaBruce: sure.
GinaBruce:I'll consult with my lesbian contractors
Reverend: I think in every relationship there is a dom and a sub.
GinaBruce: of course
GinaBruce: not even just sexually
GinaBruce: DEF emotionally
Reverend: exactly.
Reverend:And it varies in the activity.
GinaBruce: sure
GinaBruce: yeah - you'll all be receiving gift bags upon arrival
Reverend: Damn, you are planning this.
GinaBruce: you'll have to help me think up contents along the way.
Reverend: Wow.
Reverend: If you feeling really giving you could give away dildos.
Reverend: hahaha
Reverend: Do you have toys?
GinaBruce: one sec
GinaBruce: umm - a few. i used to have a dildo a LOONG time ago.
GinaBruce: it was HUGE.
Reverend: hahaha.
Reverend: I am interested in trying one.
Reverend: And I am very interested in trying a double ended one with someone.
GinaBruce: ah - i don't do well with the same-time same-action thing.
Reverend: Huh?
GinaBruce: i like to either really concentrate on me performing an action, or me enjoying someone performing an action on me
GinaBruce: unless of course there are two men involved and then all bets are OFF
Reverend: Oh, I see.
Reverend: Right.
GinaBruce: like, my philosophy is blow or be blown.
Reverend: Ah, ok.
Reverend: Well we all have our things.
GinaBruce: b/c if I'm blowing someone and they're blowing me, I get all into enjoying the bj I'm getting and then I do sub-par work on my end.
GinaBruce: and I don't like to give bad blowjobs. it's a skill i am proud to be strong in
Reverend: Oh, ok.
Reverend: Well I will expect one in my gift bag.
Reverend: Because I love getting them
GinaBruce: a dildo or a bj?
Reverend: a bj
GinaBruce: snorting out loud at my desk
Reverend: or at least a certificate for one.
GinaBruce: ok.
GinaBruce: yeah - maybe if you're at the oven/stove making biscuits and gravy, betch.
Reverend: That would be hot.

bayview=happiness (on a sunny day)

I've never understood people when they say "I have to be/live near the water...."

I'm beginning to understand at least the visual appeal:

Mind the Gap

Ceiling Cat is Watching You

Stick THIS in your Pipe and Smoke and Smoke It!

nataliedee.com

SNACKTIME FOR LESBOs!!!!

Ain't Nothing But a Bay Thing, Baby

This is what I have to look at all day long, just above my laptop.

But don't cry for me. The quality is poor as it was taken with my camera phone. It's actually sunny and quite beautiful today. In the mid 60's. No outerwear required.

LOVES IT!

Talking in My Sleep

So I very, very rarely remember my dreams. They say you are constantly dreaming...just sometimes you forget them. I literally remember about 1 dream per month.

So I don't know if it's that I am so much less stressed and so much happier than I've been in a long time, or if it's the fact that I have a deliciously comfortable new mattress upon which to sleep, but I have now remembered two - count 'em - TWO - dreams in as many nights of sleep.

Now, the first dream, I can't recount. It was shameless, but let's just say, the man was hot, I fucked like a rockstar and everybody was happy in the end. Next...

So last night's dream:

Me and my brother were on a large leather settee inside a Gap store. We were having a conversation and in walk two actors.





















Yes - Seth Green and Peter Paige. Fucking random..

And some of you are saying, "damn! I never have seen Peter Paige looking a) so un-queeny and b) so smokin' hot. But I searched for this feel of a picture for him, because THIS is what he looked like in my dream. And although still unmistakably gay, he was not as flaming as I would have thought he would be in real life. Hey, it's my dream, right? Maybe I'm learning to cast during REM?

As they walk by us, my brother says, "Emmett, Emmett Honeycutt....." and Peter says hello. Apparently this was a joke, as Peter appears to know my brother and then my brother says hello to Seth and he says hello back, using my brother's name. Who knew my brother knew these celebrities?

So we chit chat, I'm introduced and then hunky Peter Paige flops down on the settee, basically laying down with his head on my thigh, looking up at me, and proceeds to carry on a full conversation with me, resulting in him asking me out on a date. Sweet, not weak.

Then my bladder screams "CUT!" and I wake up because I have to go piss in the middle of the night. Someone needs to fire the bladder as Assistant Director and put another, more fun-oriented body part in that role.

Unfortunately, since I can barely remember my dreams, I'm not so good that I can go back in and pick back up where I left off. First casting, then directing during my sleep. Maybe someday. A girl can dream, can't she?

what are you guys blogging aboot?

CHRIST!


It better not be me, eh?

Friday in the Street with Chuck

I know I've been MIA, but give a bitch a break. I've been sort of busy over here. This morning on my walk with Charlie, I snapped some photos of some of the things that speak to me in my new neighborhood. Enjoy!

Some typical architecture


Some not-so-common although not entirely atypical architecture.

Palm trees, y'all...

This is what the government subsidized housing looks like here.
Cute, right?

My favorite sign right now.

This is a statue of some valiant warrior (I'm not quite sure who),
and I feel good that he is standing guard outside the Gay Safeway,
keeping the homos and their groceries safe.