Non-Sequiturs

Election primary ads have begun for the Georgia governor's race and watching the Republican candidates is fascinating, and not in a good way. Fascinating in that the ads almost look like they could be from another era. All of the Republican candidates have jumped on every fear-mongering issue they can find: universal healthcare, immigration, gun control, abortion, gay marriage/benefits/adoption. And the Republicans seem to be trying to outdo each other on who is the most conservative, and the gloves are off and the campaigning is getting nasty. Doesn't bode well for the actual election when they will have their sights set on the opposing party. And I am not leaving Democrats out of the equation, I am sure they will have just as many negative ads as well. I really wish candidates would focus on their own track records and what they can accomplish instead of trying to show why they are the less evil of the candidates. It is way too much to ask, I am sure. I am almost considering not voting because I am so fed up with all the negativity.

This is strange week in Atlanta, at least for the places I generally hang out. It is Bear Week in Provincetown so the town is basically deserted of almost all men of the ursine persuasion. The Starbucks we frequent, which is nicknamed Bearbucks, has been empty, and tonight when I would usually go to Mixx for a Bear happy hour will likely not happen, as my two friends Ken and Chris have journeyed north for the fun and frolic. Tomorrow night should be interesting at the local Bear bar Woofs; I am anticipating it will dead.

Because of my new work schedule, I have been going to the gym at 5am in order to get it out of the way so I don't have to fight the crowds in the evening. Aside from having to get up that early, it really isn't that bad. There are only a few die-hards that go at that hour, so it is fairly easy to get through my workout quickly. Now that I have been going for two months there are regulars that show up each morning and who I now have odd nicknames for because of their strange rituals and behaviors. There is Crackwhore Tina, a guy that goes through the most painfully elaborate and speedy cardio/weight lifting routine that he has to be jacked up on something to do what he does that early. I literally fear his heart is going to explode. There are two very short bald muscle guys who I can't determine whether they are partners or are just friends. I call the smaller one (he's about 5'3") Jerry Lewis, because his voice sounds like Jerry Lewis and he never shuts up. There are like Spike and Chester on the Bugs Bunny cartoons.



I keep expecting the bigger one to slap the little one and say "Shadddddddup!" There is also The Grunter, a 20 something straight guy (my gym is probably 90% gay) that seems to lift only chest and grunts and groans throughout the entire workout and is constantly checking himself in the mirror. I dread the mornings he is there with me. And finally there is Jazzercize, this man who comes in right as I am about to finish up and does a series of stretches and warmups that can only have been learned during the days of Jane Fonda. But he does them in such a bizarre and over-the-top manner you cannot help but sit and stare at him. I am sure I do things at the gym that beg comment, but I sure hope nothing as attention grabbing as this cast of characters.

Aside from my handsome man Kurt, is there anyone as hot as Ben Cohen?



Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"I'm down on my hands and knees every time the doorbell rings
I shake like a toothache when I hear myself sing
All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new

I would like to salute the ashes of American flags
And all the falling leaves filling up shopping bags"

Wilco
"Ashes of American Flags"

"I can't seem to make you mine
Through the long and lonely night
And I try so hard, darling
But the crowd pulled you away
Through the ribbons and the rain
And the ivy coiled around my hand"

The Clientele
"(I Can't Seem To) Make You Mine"

"I have got to find the river,
bergamot and vetiver
run through my head and fall away.
Leave the road and memorize
this life that pass before my eyes.
Nothing is going my way."

R.E.M.
"Find The River"

"What's around me?

Liquid washed down my throat like soap, yeah
I don't wanna think about the shit that's warped
But I don't wanna be deep on this beat
But I can't fucking let go of what's around me

Cap locks are still on when I log off to sleep
My baby stays awake for every dream i try to keep
No matter what they say, I'll carry on thinking this way
I oversee my life and what's happened to me"

M.I.A.
"Caps Lock"

"No matter gay or grim,
it's those tiny little sparks
Daily life that makes me
forget my wounded heart
It doesn't matter when,
it may rain or it may shine
Blurry memories of us
come back from time to time"

Royksopp
"Sparks"

Appealing Things

Ben Cohen
Baths: Cerulean
Inception
A quiet weekend with no plans
iPhone4
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Annoying Things

Delphic on tour in the US and not coming anywhere near Atlanta
Working on a weekend
Sprint
The opening bands for Sleigh Bells