BLOGALDO...

Forward: BLOGALDO.COM

2011-07-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

I guess I never really made it official but Blogaldo has moved. Please come see what's up with us at...

BLOGALDO.COM

Love you

I have so much art to make tonight

2010-12-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

Convertido

2010-12-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

I'm horny for life right now. I need to travel. be around people. I want to ~~come~~ cum art. there is a shivering inside and a vibrance and a heat and that shits all bouncing around and the music is getting louder and misunderstood. And I hear things I used to and I understand them so much I don't understand them at all anymore. Lo que tuvimos. Un bella historia de amor. Like the sangria. That I'm making for us right now. Its sweet and temporary. The door has closed. But then I hear that beat again and shit it turns out I can still dance. Till my thighs are soar like bikram yoga. Like dragqueens on acid. like a wailing songstress. like the little things that glow in tides. like the sultry whispers of a spanish affair. Convertido en rio. I miss san franciso. I long for new york. romance cobblestone anywhere. ador my little phoenix. And dare not burst with wanting. go down in flamers. flyer to many cares. smile too many times. be late to to many parties. es que no se como. decir. no. NO. Fuck no. siempre con esto. I miss my journals. Brainwash. Sending people there. Defending my name. whoring it out. having a cat. oh my gatos. The ocean. my family. my mother. my little mother. Not knowing. knowing. knowing everythign. The rush. the freedom. the heavy heavy freedom.

Eddie Detroit and other great finds

2010-12-11T17:00:00.004-07:00

My iPhone has been warning me lately that I have too many picture stored and I should delete some. So yesterday I finally emptied out every picture onto my computer and rid my iPhone once and for all of that visual clutter. This way I could start all over.

But as I peeked at my collection during the transfer process I began to get a little sentimental. So many photos I'd snapped and never shared. So many versions of so many Photoshop express projects I'd worked on and done nothing with. So many missed blog opportunities.

But opportunity is everywhere. Can't one man's iPhone clutter be another man's treasure? And cant' those two men actually be the same guy? Me. See where I'm going with this? Are you down for a little treasure hunt? I am. Let's see what we come up with.

My handsome novio getting all creative on this downtown mosaic.

I made this for last year's Dia de los Muertos alter at Lola.
And I have no idea what happened to it.

This hotel is just blocks away from my apartment.
I would love to get wrapped up in a mystery there.

Can you believe she whipped that hat up out of a bag of avocados?

You can find her at the downtown public library.

Remember SB1070?

I found this friendly little amphibian on Pandora.

I just really liked this girl's look.
I could draw it.

Eddie Detroit. I ran into him on the metro one day and we swapped life stories.

The Westward Ho.

Shaka what

2010-12-10T19:12:00.002-07:00

So I met this guy a few weeks ago at work. I was behind the bar and he was on the other side having a screwdriver. He was a nice guy to talk to. Hawaiian. 50 years old I think. He showed me pictures of his grandson Ben, who was named after him. He was at a time an extra on Hawaii Five-O, playing of all things, a bartender. And he taught me the meaning of the Shaka sign which I alway happened to associate with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So all and all he was your average guy who walks into a bar. And then he went and asked me "What is the one thing you want most right now?"

And I said "to graduate."

"You will" he asserted. "And after that? Then what do you want?"

I said I wanted to travel. And to just keep making art.

"Oh you will." He smiled and so did his eyes.

Then he pulled out a necklace from underneath his shirt. He asked me to lean in closer and showed me an iridescent, black orb that hung from the necklace. He said it was a piece of comet. A stone from out of this world. And he put it in my hand. Then his hands around mine. He closed his eyes for a moment. And maybe I did too. When he opened his eyes he said "There, we are connected now." And a tingling trickled down my spine.

We chatted some more as the night went on. I passed him a few more screwdrivers which eventually turned into just OJ with no ice. Before the night got too busy and we both got lost in the bustle he stopped me and asked "Are you right handed or left handed?"

"Right."

"The next time you make art, use your left hand."

"Ok. Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" And he smiled again. That smile that beamed with light and colors.

Leather Dugie

2010-12-09T20:34:00.003-07:00

So one of my favorite blogs Red Means Go, is having a giveaway. What's at stake? Literature. I'm vying for a chance at winning my very own used copy of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. Would you believe I've never read it? The only stipulation is that after I'm done reading it I too have to throw a big, giant blog giveaway. Something I've always kind of wanted to do anyways. The thing is I've always fancied giving away this wierd pair of leather pants that have been haunting me since halloween 2002. It's a long story. But now I can just give away both.

Anyway I may have mentioned that to the blogger in question and she's asked for visual representation of said leather pants. So here it is. Let's hope this gets me that book. If not. I'll definitely be giving the leather pants away on this blog either way. I just have to think of a competition worthy of a pair of turn-of-the-millennium, leather GAP pants.

First Friday @ CityScape

2010-12-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

Feel that buzz. The bite in the air. That jolt of life that can only be found on a December night in a downtown pulsating with wanting. We all want it don't we. To feel alive in our own city. To breath in the bustle. Rub elbows with the metro bound. Revitalize the hustle. Rise from the winter ashes. We are Phoenix. The downtowners. The artists. The musicians. The locals. The poets. The transplants. The snow birds too. Fuck hibernation. We're downtown. You should be too.

Go show: your love

2010-12-03T16:29:00.001-07:00

So I have two events to tell you guys about today. So lets get started. The first is called Cancer Smash and it's actually happening in the far away land of Hemet, California, very close to where I grew up. One of my very best friends from way back is throwing it and headlining with his band F.O.S. and yes I do know what that stands for and no I am not going to divulge. These things have to remain elusive.

The other is happening tonight right here in Phoenix. First Friday at CityScape There's not much more I can tell you about this event that the flyer (which I happen to think is dope) doesn't already cover. But I will tell you that I know there is a lot of heart and pride going into this event. I mean if you're Phoenician and you love art, music or all things downtown than just go.

Cancer Smash

2010-12-03T15:21:00.004-07:00

My buddy's mom has cancer. And wouldn't you know it, they can't afford her hospital bills. So my friend, whose name is James by the way, is in a band called F.O.S. and they've decided to throw the biggest, baddest benefit show this side of Aguanga. If by any chance you are near Tap Daddys tomorrow in Hemet, California, it would be most badass of you to make it to this show and help support a good cause. My friend's mom's name is Darlene and I've known her since I was a kid. The fourth grade to be exact. She was that cool mom who always chaperoned on field trips and drove us all to the movies (which were like 30 minutes away where we grew up). She's always treated me with nothing but kindness and respect and I all I can do in return is ask you to hit this show up and show some love.

Where's Blogaldo?

2010-12-03T14:38:00.001-07:00

Ok so maybe I have been writing. Just not for Blogaldo. Which is a terrible habit of mine. I feel bad when I don't. Like I'm not being true to something. Myself? The proverbial "you guys?" Who am I even writing for? Who am I not writing for? Um... Probably the first answer should be myself... and it is. But hell yeah I'd love to have a you guys to be writing for. A real, honest to goodness following. I'm just I guess not that mature of a writer. I keep just kind of fucking around with it. Like I'm afraid of taking it seriously. I don't even know how to use a goddamn comma. I keep thinking this switch is just going to flip and I'm suddenly going to get my shit together. Do my assignments on time. Proof-read my work. Write something every day (now this one I actually do, I just don't necessarily do it the way a writer should; every day at five a.m. at a small ikea desk in her closet). I don't read as much as I should either. I don't revise my work. I certainly don't submit. Come on at least I should be doing that. I'm excited about rejection letters. I look forward to that kind of you suck motivation. There are just standards I guess, that I hold myself to, that I fall miles and years short of and at the same time I totally, kinda think are bullshit. I think one of the reasons I stay away from this blog at times is because it really isn't just mine. People do actually read this every now and then and sometimes, a lot of the times, I'm writing about the unbloggiest stuff. Like my fiction lately, goddamn if I haven't been having a guttural, emotional reaction to almost every story I have written in the last few months. And I'm just not the biggest fan of angsty posts like this one. So I try to keep it off the blog you know. But I do want to make sure this blog continues to grow into a healthy expression of my creative outbursts. And more importantly yours. Some may say I have control issues. Robert my love. But with Blogaldo, I'm seriously ready to let this be ours. I'm ready to do fun things. I'm ready to look forward to signing in every morning and bugging you guys on facebook. I dare say I think some of you even like that sort of social media vexing. Well I'm up to the challenge. Believe it or not I even have some great ideas floating around in this cabezota of mine. I thinks its about time we celebrate them.

Word

2010-11-24T12:53:00.002-07:00

La doodlita

2010-11-23T18:03:00.002-07:00

Hazel nut

2010-11-23T17:58:00.002-07:00

Little black dress

2010-11-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Converged brow

2010-11-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

A sketchy affair

2010-11-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

I've been fighting with writing lately. And it hurts.

So I started hooking up with my ex. Drawing.

Muffin muse

2010-11-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

Anxiety

2010-10-24T16:05:00.001-07:00

My boyfriend is in San Diego right now. I miss him.

This piece was done by a family friend Dan Corona.

The muralist and the bartender

2010-10-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Um sometimes we bloggers let things slip through the cracks. I always do. I meant to put this on blast a long time ago but I don't know I'm sure at the time I was too busy freaking out about writing a short story or having to go to work in my undies or something.

Photo by Claire Lawton, mural by Joerael Elliott

This is a Phoenix New Times blogpost featuring two talented friends of mine Joerael Elliot and Darren Gordy. I've had the pleasure of watching both do what they love in action and it makes me happy to see their names together in a publication I devour weekly.

This series entitled Mural City by Clair Lawton definitely deserves a good read and if you live in Phoenix it should be followed by a cruise on a Sunday afternoon.

Sapna Cafe trots the blogosphere

2010-10-22T15:28:00.001-07:00

Anyone want to meet me for a bite of world delight? Come on its just down the street at Sapna Cafe. For real it's been too long since I've had a brie and onion marmalade quesadilla. I know, not fair if you don’t live in Phoenix but I promise I’ll show off some tantalizing food photos to rub it in even more.

For those of you that aren’t going to be in our hood anytime soon, I’ve got some good news. You can keep up with Sapna Cafe and owner turned blogger Ana Borrajo at SapnaCafePhx.blogspot.com. Share this link with your foodie friends ok and hopefully I'll see you there.

On guest blogs

2010-10-22T14:45:00.001-07:00

Ok I admit it. I can't keep up with my own blog anymore. So I'm having my good friends and favorite bloggers do it for me. Every now and then of course.

This first of many guest blogs to come is called Forever 29 and is brought to you by Man of the Year at latenightwith.blogspot.com. Please do blow his ass up with comment love. He can't get enough of it.

Forever 29

2010-10-22T14:27:00.002-07:00

A guest blog by: Man of the Year

I'm almost 29. I throw up a little every time I think about it. It's just a number, but what 35 year old woman* would shop at a store called Forever 29? I don't look 29. I sure don't act like it, but what matters are my old man memories.

I remember when you didn't want or need to know everything. No, knowing the definition of fecundity or settling a dispute among friends regarding the difference between Chris Tucker and Chris Rock will not make you a better person, it will just add to the list of things you'll look up and never use. I wonder if celebrities ever google us to see what cellphone camera movies we’ve starred in, what malls we've worked at, or the community colleges we went to?

So in a sense the older you get the more you get displaced from the present. Your memories don’t allow yourself to be present.

I'm sorry the impossibilities are over. Mommy isn’t there to say, you can be anything you want, even president. I can't quit my job and join the NFL or NBA anymore, I can't go to school again and choose a new major, I can't become mayor. It is a fuckin tragedy, like that guy who invented a cell phone that could play music because it had a cassette player built in. It boasted having dual cassette decks so you could have twenty, count em, twenty songs on your five pound phone without opening the deck to insert a new cassette. He was a laughing stock when his coworker presented the cellphone/mp3 player at the annual stock holders meeting.

But,

Maybe instead of the memories serving as concrete points in time for comparisons, they can serve as stepping stones. Maybe we can reflect on the improvements around our world and in our selves. Maybe I’m an adult prodigy. There is a stigma with youth and genius. When I was in Mexico, no one was amazed at my Spanish skills, they said my grammar sounded like I was in Middle School, but if I was a first grader and sounded like an eight grader I would be a prodigy. See? You have to have your breakthroughs early. Keep these things in mind, Kobe Bryant didn’t become great until he was in his late twenties, same with Kanye West. So age doesn't limit possibilities a long as your're improving. Age can be viewed as a door opening wider and wider rather than a door closing ever so slightly everyday.

Above is Brad Pitt at 39 and Will Smith at 39. I guess my best days are yet to come.

*speaking of 35 year old women

Why does she look hella old? She’s only twenty one. And why does she have a voice of someone much, much, hotter?

Blog zombie

2010-10-19T12:31:00.005-07:00

I've been absolutely buried lately.

FCKH8.com

2010-10-08T21:01:00.001-07:00

It get's better

2010-10-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Don't let them fuck you around

2010-10-08T17:50:00.003-07:00

I was a bully when I was a kid. In the sixth grade there was this new student with gangrene scars on his arm. I remember chasing him around during nutrition break with a pack of friends. The cruelty was exhilarating. There was this other guy in the seventh grade who was gentle and bigger than me, but I bugged him till the day he finally blew up at me, just to entertain another friend of mine. I must have looked like a chihuahua to the guy. There was another kid that everyone made fun of in school though I remember distinctly that that was not why I made fun of him. I mean the guy just annoyed me. His flamboyance. His charisma. His audacity. We called him Fairy Michael. And yes that is a fake name but the point is that I was part of that we and I was the first and the loudest to think that he deserved that scarlet nick name. Why?

Come on Freud. Because he was so much gayer than I was. It was a lot easier to hate him for being gay out loud than to admit how much I hated myself at the time. And you know what I really hated about Fairy Michael? How none of it seemed to phase him. He kept that gay little chin up and he hung out with the coolest girls and had the best god damn X-Men trading card collection I ever did lay my eyes on. Boy just handled it. And I learned a lot from hating him for it.

I ran into him at the mall of course some time after high school and girl did we catch up. He was doing well and so was I. We had both long since come out so there was no pretense. Just a lot of dishing about so and so from middle school. And that was it. We were cool.

Now when I wasn't terrorizing my peers with self loathing and misguided angst, I was actually a pretty good kid. I liked to read and draw and make friends with the class clowns and the underdogs. I liked day dreaming a lot. Every now and then I was picked on too. In high school all three of the guys that I remember calling me a fag in ninth or tenth grade were trying to chill with me in eleventh or twelfth grade. Why? Cause I had the hottest girl friends. I told you I learned a lot from Michael.

But I knew back then what I sometimes forget now. I was one of the lucky ones. When I think about those boys who were driven to take their own life rather than endure the daily harassment that comes with being a gay youth in some parts of this country it makes me shiver. How lonely and terrifying it must have been to believe that there was not some better lives out there, than to be terrorized for who you are. Why didn't they think there was someone they could turn to? Let's not kid ourselves. That's where we messed up right?

I'll take the blame. I know I don't blog enough about how fucking great I think it is to be gay. I love being gay. I'm proud of being gay. And I wouldn't change it for any one's approval. It's my fault too because, try as I might, I do not actually cock my neck and wag my finger every time I hear the word fag used in public. It's my fault because I don't use Blogaldo enough to remind you to do the same. Celebrate gay. Please do it everyday. But we also have to defend it and especially those around us, that don't know yet what the hell that funny feeling is when they see a cute boy in class or when a Glee commercial comes on TV or when they hear a Lady Ga Ga song pop up on their iPods. They need our help.

Bullies aren't just in the school yard anymore. The one's who are smart enough have access to Facebook and worse yet blogs. But the epidemic of underdeveloped brain activity and good old fashioned hatred runs infinitely more rampant on facebook and twitter than it does at recess. Whether we lose five lgbtq young people or just one we have to ask ourselves where we are when all of this bullying is going on. Do we pretend not to see it? Do we not care? Do we really just forget that this kind of shit still happens everyday? It does. And those kids need us. They need you. I'm curious and I hope you drop me a comment because I'd really like to know. Have you ever had this talk with your kids or the kids in your life? The "it's not ok to make fun of gay people" talk. Have you ever told your kids that its ok to be gay?

Franco my heart

2010-10-08T17:27:00.002-07:00

Blog jobs five dollars

2010-09-29T12:23:00.006-07:00

So as usual I've procrastinated something very important. AIDS WALK Phoenix is this Sunday and I haven't generated a single donation. Well that is I guess if you don't count the countless jello shots I've hustled at work. But I don't count that, I just like to mention it. I however as a blogger, facebook enthusiast and lover and friend of yours should have been hitting you up for donations a long time ago. If you have time and a few bucks to spare in your accounts (I know I never really do either) click here and sponsor my ass por favor.

By donating I want you to know that you'll be having a blast vicariously through me, because I have the honor of walking the streets of Phoenix with Barbra Seville's Wonderful 100. I know. Hot. And in the interest of continuing with that motif I'm going to be, as some bloggers like to put it, whoring out my blog for some donations. Any amount will get a smile out of me and an eternal thank you, but five dollars or more gets a blog post. Got that? Donate five bucks here and let me know what you want me to blog about in the comment box down there. Easy enough right? So lets raise some money and even more awareness. See you on Sunday amigos.

Romy and Michele and Dugaldo's high school reunion

2010-09-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

That's right. It's been ten years since the class of 2000 graduated from high school, and tomorrow I'll be reuniting with mine. I don't really know what I want out of the experience to be honest. I haven't accomplished half the things I thought I would ten years ago. I don't own a house. I don't have an established career. And I still haven't graduated from college. Eeek! On the other hand, I've done some mind blowing things I never imagined I'd do, and for that matter wouldn't dare put on this blog. I do hope to blurt them out drunkenly at the reunion though.

I have maintained friendships with a small handful of alumni, most of which I recently found out aren't even going. So I guess I'll be squinting at name tags and reconnecting with old lab partners, people from Spanish class and straight guys I hooked up with in cars.

Speaking of guys I hooked up with, I do happen to have the honor of showing up tomorrow night with my high school sweet heart, that just so happened to have gone to our rival school. And by high school sweet heart I do mean guy I hooked up with. But we did end up falling in love and all that stuff. (Although I always new he'd be mine).

I guess what I want out of the experience is the experience. How could I not. I'll be blogging about it soon.

Dear Hypstercrite

2010-09-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

This was actually a comment I wrote on Hipstercrite, in response to her post Self-promotion and Blogger. After I finished reading it, I figured, it might as well be a goddamn post. That's her right there. I know, I'd totally love to be seen with her too. But she's also great writer and clearly knows her way around bloggerlandia. So I thought I'd hit her up for some advice. If you guys have any words of wisdom or suggestions for what you'd like to see on Blogaldo, spit it right down there in the comment box for me me will ya. Don't forget to check out her blog. You shant regret it. And without further ado:

I got over feeling self-conscious about self-promoting a long time ago. More because I found myself doing it in every day conversation anyway. So I started doing it online. I never hated twitter, but I never got it either. It wasn't until I started competing for an online writing gig (which I didn't get) that I started realizing how helpful it is.

I feel you on taking 30 minutes to construct the perfect status update for FB, but man when I was on twitter a lot more, I didn't give a flying fancy how many times people saw my annoying tweets about voting for me, or checking out my blog or adding me on so and so. I didn't that is, until I started annoying myself. You are very right, these things have to be calculated properly for a better return.

I have a question for you. Now maybe this is something I missed along the way because you've been blogging a lot longer than I've been following, but, how exactly did you get so, famous if you will? I mean duh, the content is great no doubt, that's why I come back, but in terms of the networking and the self-promoting... was it all by accident? a little more thought out? At what point did you feel like you, took off?

My own readership boomed for a while just cause I started to get to know a lot of local Phoenicians who are down to support an artist. And I even got some publicity on some local publications. But I truly had no idea how to celebrate it and use it to my advantage. I kinda silently freaked out to be honest. Lately, I'm wallowing in some sort of blog limbo (and maybe a little laziness too). My content is suffering for it. I have so many ideas in my head, which I'm sure you are familiar with, but when it comes to sitting behind the keyboard and busting out a quick post, I don't ever feel like its me anymore. Do I write about my personal adventures? Pop culture? Cats? Like, my blog needs a facelift. A resurrection. A new direction. A certain... je ne se quoi. Yes, I went there.

For some reason I feel like ending this with a Savage Love-esque acronym.

Desparately Unsure Guy All Like Duh... Oh.

Battle of the Civic Space Jam videos

2010-09-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Has it really been a year?

Love thy neighbor

2010-09-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Pa Vida y Michelle

2010-09-11T19:07:00.002-07:00

For the love of tacos

2010-09-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Another work of snark from my li'l bro's blog.

Artistic indulgences

2010-09-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

"Giggly, groggy, and drunk from our potions, the girls seemed to have enjoyed their treatments."

Are you intrigued? Read more of this post Eat, Love, Stay (at home) on my friend Felicia's blog Modern Frida. Its super fem and fresh just like her.

The body and blog of Christ

2010-09-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

I haven't officially introduced you to my little brother, have I? Well he's cool. I like him. He's funny, quirky, more neurotic I think than even I am and some may even call him handsome. His name is Christian and he's just started a blog called Christ Estrada.

Now. I want you to know that my little bro is a creative little shit. His writing not only makes me laugh, like his jokes did when we were kids at the dinner table, but sometimes it even makes me shake my head and think "damn why didn't I think of that?" Be for warned, he's a smart ass, sometimes to his detriment, but I honestly think he says things he believes should be heard for better or for worse.

Sometimes I take him for granted because he's my little brother. I have that luxury. But you're not related to him. So if I were you I'd get on the Christ bandwagon before he blows up.

Go shower him with comment love so that he blogs more. Oh, and if I find out that any of yous messes with 'em, you'll have to answer to me.

Here's a picture of him I yanked from his FB.

We have did, have doned: Barbra Seville portrays Jan Brewer

2010-09-03T16:26:00.003-07:00

If you do nothing else from now until November to show you're support for the right side of history here in Phoenix, Arizona; just watch and repost this brilliant video by Phoenix's own Barbra Seville. Oh yeah and then there's that whole voting thing. Do that to.

More blogs about porn

2010-09-03T16:15:00.002-07:00

And now, on the importance of proper grammar in today's pornography. That's right another riveting piece by the creative genius behind latenightwith.blogspot.com.

Good versus Well

Fuck me good. INCORRECT! Correct form: Fuck me well.

Click here to read the rest.

Fast hands

2010-08-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

So for a while now, I've had a blog crush on this funny little vampire ninja from way over there in Latinolandia USA somewhere. Her blog is called Red Means Go and this post about her hands on experience in the porn industry is sure to have you begging for more. (Pornuendo.)

Here's a little sneak peak for all you voyeurs out there.

"Heather: This week we are interviewing all potential actors for a reality tv show for Fuck Me Enterprises (fictitious name obviously). This will sort of be like The Real World but with actual televised sex. Are you okay with that?

Me: How much did you say this paid?

Heather: $20.00 bux an hour cash. Eight hour days with lunch included.

She had me at lunch."

Suspended

2010-08-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

prettyyoungmen.com

Meet me at the ice cream truck

2010-08-07T14:40:00.001-07:00

Ok Sr. Paletero. I'm mean I'm still gonna chase your ass down for my tamarindo, but you got some stiff competition over here.

Thanks Davey Wavey for posting this on your fan page.

Back to the Grindr

2010-07-30T03:00:00.001-07:00

Guess who's all up on Grindr. Rarr... That's right. Yours truly. And I'm only 0 feet away. Now if you don't know what Grindr is than you're probably not a gay man with an iPhone. And for those of you who aren't that lucky, its basically an app that makes it really easy for men to hook up (how ever you might want to define that) with other men who are near by. Yup, it tells you how close you are and if they're cut or uncut. Download it. Have fun. Its another great way to once again see everyone you already see at the three bars you frequent.

Anyway, when I first got Grindr. My name was like Tony! Toni! Toné! and I probably had an artsy pic up or something. Didn't chat with anyone. And shyly checked for cuties in my proximity, in the safe corners of the light-rail metro cars. So I got bored and deleted the thing.

But just recently, and in the midst of this whole GayTravel.com promotional e-tour extravaganza, I've found myself thinking outside of la caja a little bit, with new ways to put my work out there. Or at least my name. My stats? My ISOs?

So I re-downloaded Grindr and threw my pic up, used my real name and even linked it to my facebook. Man, I wouldn't think I would do something like that even two weeks ago. I'm like, you know, pretty all up in yo face most of the time. But there's definitely an irritating conservative streak in my M.O. that keeps me from doing things like, say, meeting guys on apps specifically designed for hot and immediate NSA sex with neighbors. So when I do do something like this, I feel, like I've grown.

Now, you know those men who say they read the articles in Playboy? Well, I just might believe them because that's kinda how I feel about my relationship with Grindr. You see, after I set up my account all pretty like, my iPhone crapped out on me and I had to replace it, along with my Grindr app and all of my local, little favorites. But the cool thing was that when I re-re-downloaded, I didn't mark my location, so boom, all of a sudden I was connected to men from all over the world. I'm talking Brazil, France, Barcelona, Australia, China, Israel, Hawaii, my home state Cali, Colorado, and I even got a shout out from a New York friend in Istanbul. What can I say? I love meeting people from all around the world, especially men. But, I'm not going to lie, the torso pics are also fun.

An international gay men's hub, right there in yellow and black and in the palm of my hands. Makes you want to reach out and touch someone. But the beauty of having Grindr friends from far, far away, is that you don't have to. Touch 'em that is; unless you really want to I guess. But for me, for now, I just talk to them. Ask them questions. Make lame jokes until they block me. Ask them when they came out. Or why they haven't. Where they like to go out. Are they monogamous? Do they have a wife? A girl friend? A boyfriend? No friends at all? A face pic? I ask them what they do for a living and what they want to do. And these guys tell me. They just spill it. And I do too, right back at them, all over their faces, and maybe even more than once. Why not, I'm a blogger after all. And these are just men, gay men, bi, str8, curious, discreet and loud and proud men who when it comes down to it really just want to connect. Just like I do.

I wonder if there is a Grindr out there for just people? Latino queer boy here... looking.

Fabulous familia

2010-07-27T14:52:00.001-07:00

I have no shortage of truly fabulous people in my life. But damn you wouldn't know it from my blog. So, I'm going to try to stuff it full of fabulosity to the extreme, a virtual extract if you will, of the splendor that is my circle, my loved ones, my homies, you guys.

This is my brother Eric and his jaina Jaenette.

And these are their adorable kids, Ariel and my newest little nephew London.

I know, it makes my heart swell with double rainbows just to think of them. And yes that is their prom picture. Tre fresh no? But as youthful as they look, no they did not try to pass their SATs while raising two beautiful kids. This weekend Jaenette celebrated her 25th birthday, which is today, with what I think was her very first prom. I wasn't able to make and thus missed my opportunity to debut what would have been a most excellent prom outfit.

Oh well...

Happy birthday my bloggin' momma.

Calavera hauntings

2010-07-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

I was scavenging my email this morning for people to pester with solicitions for votes on GayTravel.com. And I found this, a cell phone pic from myself dated April 30, 2006 at 4:54pm. That makes it San Francisco. Now to place the boy that was probably standing next to me when I took it. Who could it have been? Who...

Tortuga shore

2010-07-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

Um... I've never even seen this show really. But, this is hilarious.

Represent

2010-07-22T11:00:00.001-07:00

I am surrounded by people who do amazing things everyday. Charis Elliott comes to mind. She runs her own non-profit, Las Otras Hermanas, which by the way has entered the blogosphere, she has an amazing kid named Afton, and besides all that she's gorgeous.

There's Jonathan and Leah, I just met them, but they came all the way out to Phoenix from Illinois just to canvas for the Democratic party. I'm supposed to be volunteering for them, but I don't think I've quite pulled my weight just yet.

And then there's Dan Cortez, I don't even know his exact job title, but he was one of the first people I met in Phoenix and I have always looked up to him. This guy has his good name all up in everything from education and the arts, to issues affecting Latinos in the Southwest, eh hem, and he even makes a mean tequila squirt.

The list goes on, no doubt. All around me people are doing great work and I'm never lacking for inspiration. They make me want to do things, to be a part of something, a movement, a cause, a revolution. I mean I see a pretty flyer for a meeting to raise money for [insert marginalized people here] and I'll go. I'll brush my teeth. Put on my iPod. Get on the metro toward whatever church, office space, or living room I feel I have been called too, and fantasize the whole way there that I'm finally going to save the world.

I've always been a little driven by the idea that I have to take on a finite identity in order to do some good in this world. What is that identity? Do I have it in me to be a voice for immigration rights in Arizona? For gay marriage? Do I know enough about Phoenix restaurants to yelp? Should I take a stand against domestic violence? For the animal shelters? The homeless? Diabetes? And what about the decriminalization of marijuana? Am I queer enough? Should I just stick to writing?

These days I've focused my efforts on becoming the North American gay travel guru for GayTravel.com. What? I mean if that's not a finite identity I don't know what is. But, its different this time. I don't know, maybe its the application process but something in me has changed. I'm ready for this. I have never had to put myself out there so much for a gig. I've done my own video editing. Suped the blog up a little, introduced myself to countless people, and asked for help from people who responded with nothing but love.

The real difference though, is in that I've figured out that the best thing I can do for any other cause out there is just be me. Dugaldo Estrada. If there's one thing I'm good at its spreading the word. I love words. I want to use them as often as possible all over your faces.

Yes, I want to land this amazing travel writing job because its been a dream of mine since before I could even put the idea together. But more than wanting the job, I think I'm ready for the platfom. So I'm going to ask for help again. And this probably wont be the last time. If you have time in your day and you're down to help out, please sign up at gaytravel.com and vote for me. I'm ready to represent, but I can't do it with out you.

Friendly vibrations

2010-07-22T09:23:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning to find this in my inbox. It was sent to me by someone in one of my fiction classes. A pretty girl who wrote stories about cemetaries and lost boys on train stations. A girl I now consider my friend. I'm totally going to party with her (and/or nerd out on some fiction convo) as soon as possible.

So yesterday, I emailed everyone I could from my writing classes at ASU for help and for votes on GayTravel.com. Jessi promptly responded. She voted for me, left a comment on the my application page and hit me up on facebook. And then, as if that wasn't enough she whipped this up in what? A matter of hours?

I have to say I was absolutely dumbstruck when I saw this. I hadn't even cleaned the gunk out of my eyes yet. If you want to check out more of her work go directly to her blog Vibing On... She does promotional work for bands and I was just lucky enough to get in on that before this girl blows up. Come on Phoenix, and the rest of you for that matter, lets plaster her work all over the city. The cities that is.

The valley is a buzz

2010-07-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

What is that supposed to mean?

2010-07-14T16:57:00.001-07:00

Everything that rings true about this also rings so sweet. Oh god could it be? Am I marriage material?

Putography

2010-07-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

Check out my friend Young's new tumblr blog SNAP & GO. Notice that the name of salon in this photo is also the name of my mother's home town. What could this mean?

I know exactly what this one means. He likes to eat. If you want to know what he ate, check out What I Ate and take on some of the shame he should be feeling for his ongoing gluttony.

I must be lucky

2010-07-14T15:31:00.001-07:00

Every now and then I meet people who renew my faith in humanity. Today was one of those days. Meet Kennesha Jackson. She's a journalism major at ASU, getting her masters in criminal justice. And she's only twenty. What? That's not what I was doing at twenty.

But besides all that, she's a real cool chick who was down to help out a complete stranger. Me.

So I waltzed into the computer lab at the ASU downtown and basically told anyone I could find that I needed help making a business card. A few help desks and phone calls later, Kennesha comes down stairs from what looked like her lunch to be honest, and started helping me out. We sat together at a computer so we could work on it. But about five minutes into it, I swear I saw a gleam in her eye and she got in the zone. She whipped up this business card for me in 15 minutes tops. Something she herself said usually takes a good two to three hours at least.

Did I mention she usually charges for these services? Needless to say I am eternally grateful. But since she'd already had lunch and she doesn't drink coffee, I thought the least I could is post a little blog. Check out her resume and see what she can do for you. I know I'm happy.

In honor of Bastille day

2010-07-14T14:59:00.002-07:00

This is Mr. Meeble. I recently met the one with the big smile. The really big one. And he was nice enough to pass this mp3 my way and I wanted to share it with you guys. This stuff is melodic and dreamy so be prepared to be whisked away for a bit. Oh and I dropped a little vid down there just cause I thought it was really pretty. Devin... I shall see you around town my friend.

This song is called Gift, so please do re-gift.

It's been a while

2010-07-13T23:50:00.001-07:00

Wit'Sith emphasis on the H. I miss my little blog but I promise I've been busy. I actually took on a side job at this great little place that I will be blogging about soon. Consider this, my uh, junk post by the way. I just need to get some writig out and, I don't know how many of you do this but, so me times you just have to write shit out. Get it out git it out like a little garbonzo in the back of your throught that just want s to stink everything up. Because, thats what it is. Filth. Shit. Shitty first drafts. I hate them and normally I wouldn't want to post them but my god its been so long. I feel... something creative comgin on. lets hope this works.

Round two

2010-06-29T10:30:00.004-07:00

That's right I made it to round two . I got enough heart from all of you to continue vying for the most interesting job I've ever gone out for. Once again I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone out there supporting me. For real, I could not have done it without you.

As a little thank you. I'd like to present this most excellent video that my boyfriend made last week. (I helped.) I really like this piece because it blends two of my favorite Phoenix cultural phenomena: Civic Space Jam and Flamenco por la Vida.

It is my pleasure to pass this little nug on to everyone. Many more to come.

Saturn what?

2010-06-29T10:15:00.003-07:00

Xinthia. I know you recognize these little fotos because I just yanked them from your comp. Thanks for always letting me blog from this little lap top, that has seen me through many an emotional type fest. I think for your __th birthday, we should go to Disneylandia.

Make me a GayTravel.com guru

2010-06-25T10:59:00.004-07:00

So I'm applying to be a travel guru for GayTravel.com and I'm very excited about it. Normally I wouldn't put my job hunting on blast, but this is a little bit different. Something about this job feels right. Or at least the application process feels right. Straight up, to apply, I have to write about gay friendly places I love and ask my friends, family and followers to read and enjoy it. That's all. I already do that.

So this is the part where all of you get to be my references. I don't need your number or address, just a little heart. Are you guys down to help? The first thing you do is sign up at GayTravel.com, just like you would for facebook, twitter and youtube. Oh and make sure to check your email to confirm your account and then log back in. Then you just click on my profile and my photos and articles will pop up.

Now here is the most important part. To read a story you click on the title so that the article opens up, and right there above you'll see next to the title, there should be a little heart. Those hearts are the keys to my success, the more of my hearts you click, the more chance I have to be America's next top model.... uh... I mean gay travel guru. So if you have the time please click as many as you can. All of them?

For anyone that goes through the motions I really appreciate it. Make sure to check the site out too, there are a lot of great tips on there from people all over the world. And if you know anyone out there that wouldn't mind helping a blogger out, send this message their way for me. Thanks again dudes.

Alright. Crazy huh. Let's hope this works.

I heart everybody

2010-06-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

I had a busy little day today. But I got out. Re-connected with my city. Saw people I know. Had coffee I'd been hankering for. Talked to local business owners. Had Sonoran hot dogs with good friends. And found out there are a lot of cool people in my life, that are down to help me out when I ask.

Oh and I narrowly escaped jury duty too. Life is good.

Network like a ninja

2010-06-22T11:23:00.005-07:00

I started a new blog. Yeah just like that. I've been clicking away at this computer non stop for the last few weeks. See, for the first time since I started blogging I've admitted to myself that if I really want my writing (and I mean my writing, writing) to be successful, I can't just sit on a cute little blogspot and expect opportunity to knock. Believe me it couldn't get past Irma in the lobby anyway. She's a ninja ass security guard who loves cats, but if you want in to my building, you have to go through her. Anyway I gotta get out and find that opportunity myself. I gotta get all up in the mix. There's no choice anymore.

So I've been putting myself out there so to speak, on twitter and facebook and networking sites galore. It's really quite gruesome and exciting. I even have a youtube now. Yeah get ready for that one. I'm going to get so sick of myself. But I hope you don't.

I have to get back to writing about other things. I'll be back soon with updates but I'll leave you with a clip from said new blog. It's supposed to help me find new followers and get more clicks and things like that. Andale pues. Enjoy.

Can you even count them? Your blog posts? Tweets? Retweets? Status updates? Links. Emails. Texts. Sexts. Pokes. Forwards. Comments. Spam. Honey roasted ham. And what was that one thing called… myshpashe? ...

Ah and you know what? Just so I don't leave you without a little visual stimulation, here's a vid from one of my favorite YouTube homegirls from way back. Thas raight fools.... It's Little Loca. Un... What?

Pink Hair Yellow Scarf

2010-06-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

I don't know that anything can distract me, relax me, more than to just stop, drop and draw. On a napkin, on a paper plate, even an empty cup of coffee. There is something other worldly about the experience. I've been doing it since I was a little mocoso kid and I'll probably do it until I'm senile.

Last night I didn't go to sleep until about 4am. I wasn't even partying, though I did do my fair share of that this weekend. The BF and I were actually collaborating on a video project that I hope to share with everyone very soon here. And by collaborate by the way, I mean that he did most of the work, while I sat next to him and sketched away.

Out of the dozen or so index cards that I lost myself in, this little Betty one top drawing.

Can I buy a vowel?

2010-06-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

No I did not shorten my name. I just stumbled on to this guy's blog whose name is eerily similar to mine.

Flamenco thoughts

2010-06-20T13:29:00.003-07:00

Now if you're in Phoenix, I know of something just as good.

The best kind of love...

2010-06-19T21:10:00.006-07:00

... is only in your mind.

A Junky's Christmas in July... uh June

2010-06-19T15:39:00.001-07:00

IT was Christmas Day and Danny the Car Wiper hit the street junksick and broke after seventy-two hours in the precinct jail. It was a clear bright day, but there was warmth in the sun. Danny shivered with an inner cold. He turned up the collar of his worn, greasy black overcoat. ...

-William S. Burroughs

Cola-Cao trip

2010-06-19T14:51:00.002-07:00

A tenth of a penny for my thoughts

2010-06-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

So two weeks ago tomorrow. I worked my last night at a job that I not only loved, but that kept me, my boyfriend and our cat, somewhere between paycheck to paycheck and comfortable. I admit I avoided blogging about the emotional toll it took not only on me and my little family, but everyone who was a part of the best job I ever had. Those emotions have found their way into a journal somewhere around the apartment.

Today though, I have made a little headway in this existence we call unemployment. Things are looking up. I feel like Scrooge McDuck over here. I'm even thinking of rocking some spats.

Stoned

2010-06-18T09:43:00.002-07:00

There other day I was at a stoplight waiting to make a left turn while in front of me a stream of cars were making theirs. I people watched as I always do and that was it. I might as well have been watching stones making their way down a stream.

One car that whizzed by though, had two men in it, good looking enough, groomed but not over done, some blend of aloof and stoic at that point in the day. They were like slightly polished stones going down that stream. I saw them for only about three seconds but I knew. And though I've 'known' like that, so many times before, I had the strangest feeling in that moment, like a bubble trying to come up through my chest. It was just a simple question really. How did I know?

Turning clicks

2010-06-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

I'm officially whoring out Blogaldo. And for fractions of cents too. That's right. Adsense baby. So every time you read my blog I'll be Vivian to your Edward. Or whatever you want my name to be. Go on now. Click.

Vamonos A Harvard

2010-06-17T13:04:00.002-07:00

So I just finished reading Eddie E. Aranda's post about this girl he met a little while ago, named Silvia Rodriguez. A friendly girl, a friend of his sister's in fact, so friendly that though they were strangers, she made him feel like he wanted to ask her about her mother. Such warm feelings, no?

Well, then he goes on to explain that Silvia, with the warm smile and mother you just want to know about, was recently accepted to Harvard. Harvard of all places. I don't know the girl but damn, I'm excited for her.

Mind you, Eddie started his post by asking the question, "How many people do you know, who are Americans by birth, who have been accepted to Harvard?"

You see where this is going? Silvia is undocumented. She's getting her masters in education at Harvard and she's undocumented so her financial aid opportunities are significantly limited. What? Universe? Really? Somebody just pay this girl's way into Harvard please.

Ah but there is a way. You can help out by donating whatever you can here. Yes, I know we are in the middle of a recession here. Believe me I know. Fair enough. But there is something else you could do and its as easy as telling everyone on Facebook that you are rooting for the Lakers. Just repost this link. Share her story. Comment. Like it. Tweet it. Retweet it. Digg it. Tell your chismosa neighbor about it. Do what you gotta do to get this girl to Harvard.

http://harvardsisepuede.wordpress.com/

Come on let's help our hermanita out, so that some day she can help out all those other little chamacos out there too.

La Virgencita

2010-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

So if a li'l birdy hasn't told you yet, I'm all up on twitter now. And I think I just had a spiritual moment.

Don forget to tweet jur prayers to Our Lady @Gagalupe. She'll make joo chake jour nalgas.

Look it Tocaya

2010-06-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Led Poisoning

2010-06-16T11:02:00.001-07:00

The universe has been telling me I need a little Zeppelin in my life. Here goes noth'n.

Notice How I Spell Proofread

2010-06-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Alright so one of my favorite things to do is to troll around the internet and leave snarky ass comments on people's blogs and never really hear from them again. I mean, its like chatroulette, you're not going to hurt anyone's feelings by jerking off instead of saying hello. Right? Well, apparently, like I should have learned during my Friday nights as a kid absorbing the doctrine of the T.G.I.F. line up, words do hurt.

I was indulging in a li'l daily Musto action the other day, when I came across a piece that was actually sent to said blogger, by artist Jessica Blinkhorn. Her selling point is that she's "an obese, tattoo'd, smut-mouthed, wheelchair-bound, bitchy artist... (but wait... there's more) ...who is fucking fed up about the utter lack of individuals with disabilities not speaking up!" Ok sounds like most of the managers I worked for at Starbucks. Sounds like my people.

Any way I proceeded to devoure the piece entitled "How to Fuck a Wheelchair Woman or Me," and I totally enjoyed it. But true to form, what's the first thing I do? Not praise her for her work. Not google her to learn more about her as an artist. Not even hit the like button. Nope I didn't do any of those things. Here, why don't I let you read for yourself what my first instinct was.

Dugaldo says:

I'm all for smut-mouths of any ability, but can we proof read our rants please?

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 2 2010 @ 3:13PMOk I'm sorry, I'm still cracking up about that one. But yeah I mean, like Carrie Bradshaw, I went straight for the scrunchy. There were a few typos and I just couldn't help myself. Anyone who's ever heard of Freud would say that's a clear cut case of me being jealous that this girl actually had the balls to email Michael Musto and say "Hey, here's my work, please share it with the world." And I am jealous. I should be doing that. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the girl's work. But wait, there's more. So as it turns out, I guess I pissed off this other reader, who actually commented back:
Savannah Montgomery says:

I think it's called "style" what you want proofread.

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 2 2010 @ 5:18PMOuch. To be honest, I was giddy. Striking up a comment bitch-off with perfect strangers is quite a rewarding experience, and I'd recommend it anyone. Until that is, someone gets hurt. I don't know, maybe I threw in the towel to early but after I left another comment, which I'll just let you find on the comment thread, the artist herself actually commented back apologizing for the typos and saying she felt a bit foolish. Alright universe! I get it. I'm despicable.

For the record, I don't think this girl is foolish. But I don't think I am either. Like the clap, we all get typos from time to time. But lets face it, they are both an easy fix. Jessica, if you ever want to cyber, let me know.

Damn Jawa Drivers

2010-05-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

Warped

2010-05-12T13:26:00.003-07:00

I found these under curiosities on slightlywarped.com. Ok, I'v been found out. That's the kind of shit I'm into. This particular collection of weird stuff is made up of different artist renditions of random cartoons, video games and pop culture icons. But mostly cartoons. I snagged some of my favorites for you, but check out the site yourself, you might find your favorite childhood cartoon looking a little off.

This is Zoidberg and Bender from Futurama. For me this show is right up their with 3rd Rock from the Sun. There's just something I get about using aliens, robots and mutants to point out the ridiculousness of humanity. The artist is Dylan Marvin and if you check out his blog, its full of this kind of stuff.

Heeellooooooo Nurse. Watching the Animaniacs over a bowl of cereal everyday after school, I think, may have played a role in shaping my comedic stylings. Or it just made me more inclined toward being a pest. Here are Yakko, Wakko, and Dot as real life cartoon children.

This reminds me of a tatoo I saw once.

Now if you've been paying attention, you've noticed that I'm kind of a dreamer. I've always loved to make shit up in my head and flyaway with it (which by the way I wouldn't recommend for relationships). When I was a kid I got my exposure to fantasy from a healthy blend of TV, books, comics, maybe a little prozac, I don't know, the boredom of growing up in the boondocks, and of coarse Super Mario Bros. This piece by Winonan Nelson makes me shutter a little. Oh the worlds we could encounter at the other end of a pipe.

Ok, Now Show Me Fierce Cheetah

2010-05-10T21:53:00.002-07:00

So check out what I just stumbled upon by photographer Nick Brandt. Pretty breathtaking, no? I mean its like Calvin Klein ad for animals.

I'm Talking to You

2010-05-04T21:01:00.007-07:00

Alaskantinas

2010-05-02T11:49:00.004-07:00

I've never had any interest in Alaska. Not to take a cruise. Not to see Levi Johnston. Not to save Christmas. But I do now. Cause I have a little shining star up there and her name is Sandra. She's on my mind A. because I miss her of course and B. (and this is the one that would make more sense to her) because of something she said about me (to me).

See for a few days now I've typed and deleted probably a couple dozen sentences. The way in which they might in a movie montage, clacking away at an old school typewriter, shaking my head, then ripping away a piece of paper with only two sentences on it and wadding it up. Except for that I have an amazing iMac, not a typewriter. So, what have I been trying to write? Something I've actually been pretty excited about. Blogaldo made Phoenix New Times, in an article called Blogaldo: blogs that make us happy, by a certain miss Niki D'Andrea. And I've been trying to blog about it since, but every time I write a couple of lines, I find myself rolling my eyes, or gagging myself, or tearing the flesh off my forearm with my own teeth. Nothing I've written has felt right.

But as soon as I stumbled upon the article I sure as hell posted it on my facebook. I wish blogging came as easily to me as updating my status. And by the way people totally threw their comment panties all over me and I reveled in the glory for my 15 minutes. It was great. But the best comment I got, the one that cracked me up the most, went like this: "Sandra Ponce aww bubu dont get big headed tho." How could I function in this world without one of the Ponce girls to bring me down a few notches? Just the other day for example, Michelle let me know I'd put on a few, and I haven't eaten a bite since. That's the kind of mutually deprecating love I thrive on.

The point is, Sandrita reminded me to keep going forward. Big heads tend to float away you know, especially those with starving bodies dangling from them. In this big head, there's nothing but ideas, and fantasies, and quarries, and musings, and bitching, and moping and all the shit that should be typed up and posted and then moved on from. So thanks mija for keeping me going, all the way from Narnia or wherever the hell it is you say you live.

Ponce Madness

Tsela Love

What's a MySpace?

2010-05-02T10:35:00.002-07:00

Que Raro

2010-05-02T10:23:00.005-07:00

But Will There Be Hip Shaking?

2010-04-28T20:29:00.001-07:00

So Shakira is set be in Phoenix tomorrow to meet with Mayor Phil Gordon in opposition to SB1070. Now, I've shaken Phil Gordon's hands a few times. Does that make me just one degree away from everyone's favorite she wolf? Who am I kidding, if I'm counting that logic, the odds are I've probably slept with someone who's dressed her, danced with her or did her hair. Either way I'm excited that these two people that I'm a fan of, are joining forces for some serious ass shit.

Promised Pretty Words

2010-04-26T11:50:00.003-07:00

On a morning in which I've already missed two metro trains, realized that I forgot my wallet after I ordered the latte, and missed anthropology lecture, again, this song pumped me full of some much needed, misguided creative energy. Special thanks to the better half for downloading the new MGMT, Congratulations. If I stumble upon a song that inspires me to get my shit together and just finish out this semester with whatever is left of my intellectual dignity, I'll let you know.

Don't Eat Me

2010-04-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ok Dugaldo. Let's just get through this week without loosing our head.

Shake Your Blog Blog

2010-03-31T13:00:00.001-07:00

Why do I choose to blog instead of complete my assignments? I'm losing points daily to this addiction. Can someone grade me on this humpday post or something? It may have something to do with a certain Don Rickyyy.

Brain Stain

2010-03-30T19:50:00.001-07:00

It seems that every time I finally fucking get through something, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in, only to realize I still have much yet to accomplish. Yeah I know, you guys feel it too. But damn, I never thought my brain would get so fried it would just start leaking out. Check it, a real life nose bleed.

Exhaustedly Excited

2010-03-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'm super tired. I've missed a lot of class in the last two days due to delayed flights. I have the post New York blues. I'm late on two assignments for my favorite class this semester. I have a shit load of writing to do. And did I mention I'm tired?

But I'm back in Phoenix now, about to get on said writing, but before I do, I just wanted to share something with you, and admit, I'm totally excited about life over it.

Tit Bit

2010-03-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hey um, I Noticed You Around... You Don't uh Blog, Do You?

2010-03-04T16:31:00.001-07:00

You know how when you're in another country, and you've been trying to speak French, or Italian or Cantonese for a week straight, and there is that moment when you hear the familiar twang of American English (or which ever language you grew up speaking), and you feel this quick but honest kinship with that speaker, if only for the simple fact that you can understand what they are saying. Or you know when you're on the metro during rush hour, and you bump a little to close, a little to face to face, with that person that's been next to you for seven stops, and you can't help but smile at each other (or sneer?). Or, remember your first boy on boy kiss? That exhilarating sense of just connecting with someone. If only for a moment.

I love that feeling. I'm always looking for it and I'll take it from who's ever giving it out. But that doesn't mean that from time to time, I can't feel that curious little tingle, when I wasn't even expecting it. Over this last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet up with a hand full of bloggers from right here in Phoenix (and the rest of the Valley). Queer bloggers too; or queer enough anyways. We where brought together by Stacy Jay Cavalier (doesn't that just roll off your tongue?) for a story he's writing for ECHO magazine on LGBT bloggers. And man, I had a blast. Within two hours time, I'd virtually met the kids, made inappropriate jokes about a reported shooting at a downtown gay bar and almost set up a face massage train. Almost.

I mean either way these people were just cool. But it was nice that, we were all brought together, because we all like to do what you and I are doing right now. Blogiterating. I felt like, I don't know, I was in Oprah's book club or the red hat ladies or something. I just felt like, yeah these people get me. Anyways I'm following their blogs now and I wanted to share them with you.

Cicely is a straight girl who is as adorable as she is funny. She owns an her own event planning firm, which I didn't know at the time I was chillin' with her. I thought she just blogged for them. Very cool Cicely. Very cool. You can find her blog at lifedesignevents.com.

Lonnie is boy who, go figure, I actually already knew from working the coffee and tapas scene in Phoenix. You know how when you see another boy who is, well you know, and you just, know? Well, I'm not going to lie, just by looking at him, I wouldn't guess he was a blogger. His blog is fun and fresh and its actually where I pulled the photo for this post from. He was doing a little live blogging. You can keep up with him at lonnietapia.com.

Jen and T are a super loving couple, with three kids, who represent one blog between the both of them. We couldn't pull these girls apart. They blog about hippy ass shit that I am totally fascinated by, but I'm trying to hard to be a city boy to allow myself to dabble in right now. So, I've been enjoying hippying out vicariously through them. You can learn about organic, locally grown veggies and stuff and how to make chicken coops by reading their blog, appropriately called Two Queer Hippies.

Single & Fabulous?

2010-02-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Because I don't know quite how to say it in words...

Is it Possible You Were Hurt Worse Than Me?

2010-02-26T13:41:00.001-07:00

I stumbled upon this one on humpdaynewsletter.com and I want to dedicate it to all the boys out there.

Book Worm

2010-02-26T13:28:00.002-07:00

I got a text last night, from my long time friend Renato. At 11:27pm a crisp, cryptic message read: Check your email soon. I checked it at 1:27am. This what he sent me.

And yes, I often do fall asleep, looking just like that.

Misunderstood, in a Very Beautiful Way

2010-02-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

I had a curious thought the other day: What did Conan O'brian look like in 1993? I mean we've all been watching Conan for years now, and as with anyone we've known so long, its easy to forget what they were like when we first met. So I youtubed that shit. The cool thing though, is that I was rewarded for my endeavors in early 90s vids, with an unexpected glimpse at our beloved Björk, as cute and magical as she ever was. I dare you to watch this and not fall for her just a little bit more.

Some People Want Nothing and Need Nothing and are Free...

2010-02-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

...We just want to have a good time. If you aren't yet familiar with the triad that is Xinthia, Robert y Dugaldo. It goes a little something like this.

We Don't Even Look at Each Other Like That

2010-02-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

This is an old youtube favorite. And I'd like to present it today, to my friend Ryan, who makes fantastic homemade burgers and a mean apple pie to boot. Happy Birthday dude.

Doodle Marketing

2010-02-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

I've always doodled. Siempre. Siempre. Siempre. The thing about doodling though, is that you always end up with little splatters of art here and there, on things you don't necessarily want to hold on to. Napkins. Syllabi. STD brochures. In my closet, or somewhere out there, I still have a box of little ripped up pieces of paper dating back to when I was just a little mocoso, with sketches of anything from skulls with mohawks to masked crusaders, and of course, those lovely ladies that still swim their way into my daydreams, mermaids. But I just hate clutter. And that's all I'm really creating for myself, if no one else is going to see my five minute master pieces. Unless....

So I'm always up in the school library right. Reading. Writing. Cruising. Just kidding babe. And at the computers conveniently located, just about everywhere, they have these perfect little rectangle pieces of scrap paper, and little yellow pencils, no erasers. You've all seen them. You know, to write your call numbers on. Well, these computers, they take a little while to load and I just can't help but draw while I'm waiting. I mean I can knock three out before I even check my email, so I usually just leave them around, and hope someone appreciates the sketches, or throws their gum away in them, or something.

Recently, the marketing fool in me just started writing dugaldo.blogspot.com on them. What? I mean if someone likes it, maybe they'll like the blog. Or maybe they'll think its stupid or amateur or... gay? blasphemous... uh Yeah. Funny. Contrived. Self-important? Whatever, either way. Shit, getting people to click a link is half the battle, when you blog.

Well, recently, I started taking pictures of them, and messing around on my PSMobile App. Which I adore. So, at this rate, I'm gonna end up with a series for you guys. doodles.

Winter Fresh

2010-02-12T10:14:00.002-07:00

Except for meeting some adorable boys from Vancouver at Charlies a few weeks ago, I haven't given the Winter Olympics much thought. This morning though, I signed onto Yahoo and came upon a pale faced boy dressed in all black, with a glowing reverie in his eyes. I got a familiar little tingle, like I'd just walked into a book store or the lobby at a theatre house. My interest was piqued. Gay boy. Olympics. Gay boy. Olympics. There are gay boys in the Olympics! That just makes my heart all kinds of red, white, and blue and the rest of the colors in the rainbow too. Good luck Johnny Weir... I wonder if I could rock that outfit at work.

Maaaan...

2010-02-10T17:38:00.002-07:00

Today was a straight up bust. I missed school. Then I went to school anyway, for a jobfair which had no particular interest in anyone who could write a fucking sentence (PBS was cool though). And then my cat broke a lamp. MAC!

Work, its up to you.

Bones, Stones & Human Evolution

2010-02-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

No titular witerature necessary for this post. That’s actually the name of the anthropology lecture I sit in and zone out too, three days a week. It’s nice. I’m down to chill for an hour and listen to someone tell me how my people (humans) and I, came to be. It’s like church, for people who get it. For the most part I’m super engaged, but you know I’m only homo sapiens, so sometimes I tend to drift. But every now and then the doc busts out with a little nug that perks my ears up like a Deutscher Schäferhund’s. Like the time she was telling us about a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. Yeah you know, Down Syndrome. Ok we’ve all seen “Life Goes On,” we know what that is and may know someone with it. But what killed me, and had me turning my head left and right for some sign of a fellow student who was also frantically wondering, “are you kidding me with this?” was her power point slide. Here let me just show you.

Yes, that is actually a headshot of actor Chris Burke or “Corky” as we all knew him growing up on said ABC family drama. She also sometimes features Star Trek characters in her slides, which, also pleases me. Since you can’t really tell what she looks like in this pic, I went ahead and drew a picture of what she looks like in Dugaldolandia.

And for good measure, here is the video for one of the songs that came on my iPod, while I was writing this post. This song reminds of the ol' BF.

Drifting

2010-02-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Iron & Wine. You've drifted back there already, a song here and there, hiding behind my daydreams. But dammit. Was it really necessary to throw Flamenco into your video? I may never come back to reality...

Thanks Felicia, for sending this my way.

Drunkaldo Strikes Again

2010-02-01T08:11:00.003-07:00

So I got a little wasted on Friday night. Thing is, my boyfriend didn't. And you all know how it goes when the inibriation scale is tipped, either you're gonna get down, or you're gonna throw down. Yeah I got kinda crazy on him. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't like an episode of Cops or anything. We are some what civilized. You know like, I'm sure he wouldn't want me blabbing about this, but I'm also sure he knows that I already did. It's cool though, we already made up and laughed about it. The reason I'm blogging about it is for the rediculous one liner I threw at him in the process of telling him to get out (of the guestroom/den/lounge). I seriously told him to, I shit you not, "get your fucking Vampire Weekend shoes off of this carpet and onto the hardwood floor."

What!?

For the record, I happen to love his Vampire Weekend shoes.

Well, Will You?

2010-01-12T16:19:00.001-07:00

I was totally just asked to marry someone. Details at eleven.