Saturday, May 30, 2009

going gaga for lady gaga

oh my effing god.

lady gaga's paparazzi video is out now.

i've had this song in my head for forever!

and the video does not disappoint!

thank you GOD!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

dove

i was very pleased to find that one of the supermarkets i frequent had the dove energy bar. and the dove pro-age soap. and there was dove with the extra cream thing. i really forgot. i think it must've been the minutes i stood there, sniffing each variant, trying to decide which one i like best.

and then i found out that dove also had a buy-three-free-one bar deal for their original cream bar.

someone definitely broke the bank that day.

dove has always had a special place in my shower. i remember as a kid, we used dove before we were told not t0. not because it was bad for the skin. but because dove, way back then, was associated with the lalatz-for-hire. apparently, because dove was so prized, these lalatz-for-hire would often bathe themselves with dove to appear more enticing to their johns for the night. the girls were told not to use dove in case they be mistaken for lalatz-for-hire, and the boys were told not to use dove in case they be mistaken as having used the services of the lalatz-for-hire.

flash-forward to current times. dove has become a beacon of light for all. it's continued to champion the definition of real beauty. it's also continued to develop its market. i think i've never had better skin with dove. i also love its shower gel variation, which i used for the first time in high school when an aunt from spain sent it to me. i can't wait to start using dove again, as i've experimented with olay's soap, which is good, but not as good (for me) as dove.

i've experimented with a lot of products, and so far, in terms of quality and price, dove still beats its competitors in the same price category in every way. i just wonder why they haven't done the men's skin line yet. or at least create a campaign that's more unisex. i think they should. men, specially gay men, are very particular about grooming, and have been one of the biggest market with the highly-dispensible income, even in these trying times. just look at the abundance of massage parlors popping up all over.

who knows? that whole dove unisex campaign might take on a life of its own.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

heal the world

i've recently succumbed to one of the most dreaded addictions ever: gardening.

situated in the city, i don't even know why i pursued gardening in the first place. i hardly have direct sunlight, much less any ground to nest my plants in. so i opted to buy pots, pots, and pots. i do have several old world plants with me at the moment: sampaguita, rosal, gumamela, sanseviera, ground orchids, a yet-to-be-identified jasmine-like plant, and forget-me-nots.

maybe it is because there isn't any flora around that drove me to seek out planting these wonderful greens around. plus, i've always loved plants and trees and flowers ever since i was a child. i remember growing up in the then suburban area of pardo with a caimito tree, several tambis trees of different colors, the local bayabas (with the deliciously soft and sweet pink flesh) shrub, and even a cacao tree. we also had calamansi, chinese jasmine, tiger lilies, the ever-reliable santan, san francisco shrubs, african daisies, rosal, vanda orchids, and of course, the sampaguita. just the memories alone make me smile, when i ate tambis every summer.

i now realize how fortunate i was to live in such wonderful greenery at that time. so now, i attempt to recreate the spirit of my childhood. i shudder to think that this may be my mid-life crisis. lol!

currently, i have this plant i'm having problem identifying though. it starts out with a five-leaf cluster, and then some of these five-leaf cluster become six, seven, eight, or even nine leaves on one cluster. everyone says this plant is a lucky one because of this effect. so whoever knows the true name of this plant, i'd really appreciate it.

i am still awaiting several other plants to come in: chinese bamboo, money tree, and tuberoses. and maybe the ylang-ylang. will experiment with lavender and mint too. i wonder how they'll grow in a semi-shade environment that is my terrace. i'll have to see.

yes, i have a small little terrace in my place, which i later plan to make my little getaway. even though it is very near the hot exhaust and grumbling noise of several split airconditioners. lol!

plus, with some greenery around me, at least i'll be reducing some carbon footprint. even if that footprint turns out to be a little toe print. at least, there's a print. lol!

all the grayness and the mechanical noises around me in this concrete jungle of the city can make me a little too tense.

thank god for plants!

Monday, May 25, 2009

budbud kabog

just enjoying this scrumptious treat from tuburan.

(super happy mode)

Sunday, May 24, 2009

scandal galore

i really don't understand what the big hoot is about the belo-kho-halili scandal.

i mean, just the conglomeration of their last names alone makes me giggle.

say it again. belokhohalili. makes me think of halitosis.

so they had sex.

so they made a sex tape.

so it was released.

in hollywood, it's how one becomes known. paris hilton wouldn't be paris if her sexual romp with the hung rick salomon didn't "accidentally" leak out.

who else? pamela anderson and tommy lee. colin farrell. kim kardashian. though there were those others who released their sex tapes, didn't take, and their careers became major flops, pardon the pun. it's how people fuel their careers, to become bigger celebrities than they are.

we can't deny it. it's done its purpose. the whole country is in uproar over it. also, please note the correct usage of "it's" and "its" in the same sentence.

i've seen the hayden videos. nothing groundbreaking. just a hot guy having sex with some girl. if they were doing the dirty sanchez, now that would be something else.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

trey's basic marinara sauce

the marinara sauce, for me, is one of the most multi-function sauces ever.

it can serve as pasta sauce, as dipping sauce, as pizza sauce, and as a base for soups and rice dishes.

so here's my take on the classic homemade marinara.

fresh tomatoes, seeded and peeled
garlic
onion
salt and pepper to taste

1. in a pot of boiling water, gently throw in the tomatoes for 30 to 45 seconds, then scoop them out into cool ice water.

2. peel off the skin, and remove the seeds.

3. sautee garlic and onions, salt and pepper to taste.

4. add deseeded and peeled tomatoes, simmer for 10 minutes.

5. pour mixture in processor or blender, then puree.

6. cool and store mixture in the refrigerator (or freezer) if not needed immediately. for the best taste, consume within a week.

of course, this is the homemade artsy fartsy version for those who have the time to do this. there is a very quick version of the sauce, specially if meant for pasta, which i will post another time. i only make the drawn-out version when i have the time to do so. otherwise, i always use the quickie marinara cheat sauce.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

promise yourself

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Christian D. Larson

Monday, May 18, 2009

trey's salacious seasonal salad

cucumber, seeded and sliced (or cubed)
carrots, cubed
potatoes, cubed
fresh apple, cubed
fresh pineapple, cubed
bacon bits, crisped
chicken, cubed
cheese, cubed
yoghurt, chilled
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large onion, minced
salt and pepper to taste

1. boil chicken meat for 15 minutes, then add potatoes and carrots. boil for another 10 minutes. this will also give you chicken stock, which you can later use by itself or in other dishes.

2. while boiling the chicken and vegetables, crisp the bacon bits until golden brown.

3. mince the garlic and onion, then stir into chilled yoghurt with salt and pepper to taste, which is to be separated from the salad until serving time. place seasoned yoghurt in the refrigerator to chill.

4. cut and core the apples and pineapples into cubes. combine both immediately, so that the acid in the pineapple juices prevent the apple from browning.

5. combine the cheese cubes, bacon bits, chicken meat, carrots, potatoes, and cucumber into the fresh apples and pineapple, mix, and then chill if you're serving it later.

6. when serving, pour chilled yoghurt over the salad.

7. enjoy.

notes:

cucumbers - i like them seeded, but not peeled. or go for seedless if you can. just wash them carefully if you want to retain their skins.

potatoes - i also like to leave the skin on. just make sure they are thoroughly washed. you can also substitute yams for a different take on the salad.

apples - i like them seeded with the skins still on. they make fantastic visuals against the green of the cucumber, the orange of the carrots, the yellow of the pineapples, and the brown of the potatoes.

of course, this is a basic recipe, and you may choose to alter it to suit your taste. but basically it's figure-friendly with mostly fresh and homemade ingredients, with little or no msg. you control what goes in. you can even make it totally vegetarian.

other ingredients you may choose to add or substitute:
fresh seafood, steamed (or buttered)
turkey, cubed
cauliflower
broccoli (my favorite)
roasted eggplant, cubed or sliced
cooked beans, drained
olives, pitted
fresh corn bits, steamed (or sauteed lightly in butter)
bulgur pilaf, cooked
tabasco sauce or rubbed chili flakes, for that spicy kick
citrus fruits, sliced
ginger, minced
vinaigrette (olive oil and balsamic vinegar, seasoned)
fruit dressings (olive oil and citrus juice, seasoned)
cebuano dressing (olive oil and pure tuba vinegar)
asian dressing (soy sauce, vinegar or citrus juice, sesame oil, with or without honey)

what i love about this salad is that you can make it as summery or as hearty as the seasons (and moods) change. i made my first one in the summer, so it was pretty light. i soon tried different dressings, and i discovered that each one created a different mood. the cheese choice also influence the overall taste. blue cheese, goat cheese, even your common cheddar cheese at the grocery. add spice for that middle eastern flavor, or olives for that mediterranean feel. the choices are endless.

bon appetit!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

and so the wheel turns

i took another online test.

and it's fun.

plus i love the card that showed up. dragon, phoenix, tiger, and turtle.

and i totally agree with its symbolism.

what goes around comes around.

sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down.

very me.

char.


You are The Wheel of Fortune


Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success


The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.



mirror, mirror, on that wall...

holy crap!

while reading mcvie's blog, i checked this out.

kinda true, the way i see myself. but not sure that this is how others see me.

but either way, it's a very very easy online test. i did it less than five minutes.

Friday, May 15, 2009

radio gaga

i'm still behind on catching up on my sleep. yes, i'm one of those people who count sleep debt.

i should have known that a night out with bubz meant the following: coffee, massage, and then downing bottles of beer at the bar.

not that there's anything wrong with it. well, maybe a little. if i am going to age, i want to age well. and bubz's routine is not the way to do it. lol.

well, massage is one way. coffee is okay too. the bar scene can be okay. but not all mixed up in one night.

a few nights ago, bubz laid it out for us. by us, i meant bernz and me. it was to be in the following order: coffee, then massage, then the bars.

i was slightly disappointed that the spa we were going to was the birdland. it was not a spa that i was expecting to have a relaxing wholesome massage. and i was not wrong. the therapist assigned to me was a hustler. quick to cut to the chase, he almost immediately massaged my balls, then my cock, and asked if i wanted a happy ending.

no, i said firmly. i'm not here for that, i wanted to add, and your fingernails are too long and remind me of a woman's hands. but i kept quiet.

i glanced at the time. he spent less than 40 minutes 'massaging' me. but what did i expect at this place? i would've probably changed my mind if the therapist was hot. but he wasn't.

and he kept disturbing my nap by tweaking my nipples. it was annoying. but i slept for a bit anyway. in short, the massage i got was terrible.

good thing that i was able to accumulate points that it turned out free.

bernz joined me afterwards, all quiet and contemplative. god knows what went on his mind. bubz took longer. i could only guess what went on inside, as he was the first to get in his cubicle yet the last to come out.

let's go for a nightcap, bubz said.
yeah right, nightcap, i thought while rolling my eyes. i knew what it meant. it meant going to the bar and drinking beer and cruising. ugh.

so there we were, bubz, bernz, and me at the bar. having that 'nightcap', according to bubz. i now have very low tolerance for alcohol, unlike when i was in my teens. and soon i was flushed. maybe it was the redness of my face that caught the attention of several people. but let's be clear. i wasn't there to pick up guys. i was there out of respect to bubz, who does this ritual each and every time we go out. it never changes. and i was insane to think it would.

one guy was bolder than the other 3, and came over. you're cute, he said, and would it be okay if he went home with me. and mind you, he wasn't fugly.

but i was not in the mood for one night stands, so i just smiled back at him and said, maybe another time.

he smiled, and leaned in. when you go home, let me know, because i want to make sure you get home safely, he said.

sure, i said. and i turned around to face my inquisitors.

why'd you let him go? bubz wailed as not-fugly guy left.
i'm not here to pick up guys for one night stands, i retorted.
who said it was? it could be the start of something beautiful, bubz insisted with a vehement shake of his head.
bernz merely smiled inscrutably.
bubz rolled his eyes.
hurry up and finish those bottles and let's get out of here, i shot back at bubz.
not before you do something with not-fugly guy, bubz glared.
fine, i'll kiss him when we leave, i said, now hurry up!

and so i did kiss not-fugly guy when we left fifteen minutes later, but not before he asked for my number. i had the feeling i gave him the wrong number. i was sleepy and slightly intoxicated. i think i scared him off by kissing him impulsively. lol.

bernz insisted i was drunk. i like to say i was tipsy. bubz went off to go to another bar, being the social bar-fly that he is. as we stood in the taxi lane, i noticed 2 guys looking at bernz and me. one was sort of cute, with a ponytail. he came over, but i looked away, so he ended up talking to bernz. turns out, they were asking where a club called the host 78 was.

i've heard it was nearby but i've never been. a third guy overheard them, and joined the other 2. bernz gave instructions, and they went off and got into a taxi. being tipsy, i called bubz immediately.

i remember you wanted to go to the host and review it, i said.
yes i did, he replied.
well, it's nearby, so you wanna go?
wait for me.

so there we were, inside the place. turns out to be one of those macho dancing clubs, but without dicks showing, hard or otherwise. and the men? not really my type. a little too short, a little too trendy, and not muscular at all. the guys that had asked for directions turned out to be macho dancers called in to audition, and were done auditioning by the time we arrived.

some queens were there, obviously enjoying the show, with a few of the dancers at their table. the curvaceous floor manager sashayed over in a scandalously scarlet dress.

which ones do you fancy? she intoned in a deep voice to bubz.
bubz smiled and shook his head.
just sit there and i'll have them all go to the stage and you can pick from there, she commanded.

there were none that we fancied.

and the whole place was too... ho-hum. it wasn't exciting. it wasn't even hip. i think i saw old-fashioned ruffled curtains. a few framed artwork hung on the rough cement wall. i guess they were not allowed to paint over the wall. one of the wall hangings was a framed needlepoint of a ballerina. there was also a framed poster of mickey mouse. maybe they're some sort of metaphor to the penis? i didn't get it though.

if it were up to me, i'd have painted the whole walls black (or scarlet red), put in mirrored walls onstage, get some metallic accents and phallic decor. and no blacklights at all. get hot wait staff. and more diverse dancers. the beer was expensive. san mig light at 85?

someone should finally open a dance club here that has hot men in their underwear dancing in cages, i thought for the millionth. but would the concept be too western for us pinoys?

we stayed at the place for 30 minutes and then we left to go home.

having stumbled home at 3 in the morning, i made a half-assed attempt at sleeping soundly. but i failed and merely closed my eyes, drifting in and out of consciousness. and all too soon, i woke up at 6, with still a buzz on and my mouth tasting like a rat died inside.

all in all, the whole affair left me a little hung over, a little exhausted, and a little ambiguous.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

a promise i make to thee

When I'm feeling like there's no love coming to me...

And I have no love to give...

When I'm feeling separated from the world...

And cut off from myself...

When I'm feeling annoyed by every little thing...

Because I'm not getting what I want...

I'll remember that there is an infinite amount of love available to me.

And I'll see it in you.

I'll remember that I am complete within myself...

So I'll never have to look to you to complete me.

And most of all, I'll remember that everything I really need I already have, and whatever I don't have will come to me when I'm ready to receive it.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

the art of gagaism

"Some people didn't get it. Some people still don't get it. I read reviews sometimes and I'm like, 'Wow, that guy really doesn't fucking like me.' Like, they really don't get it, but that's cool. You've got to create some kind of stir. You've got to say something that's got to upset some people, and that's the risk-taking that makes music so fun. The real struggle is that they didn't want to play my music on the radio. We fought and we fought and I played every club. I had chicken dinner with every program director I could get my hands on. The turning point for me was the gay community. I've got so many gay fans and they're so loyal to me and they really lifted me up. They'll always stand by me and I'll always stand by them. It's not an easy thing to create a fanbase. … Being invited to play [the San Francisco Pride rally], that was a real turning point for me as an artist."

- The Lady tells MTV News about last year, 2008, before the world's current GaGa obsession

Sunday, May 10, 2009

paparazzi



this song has been haunting me ever since last year.

and it only took jessie's cute friend sid to jar my memory, to listen to lady gaga's album again.

and i found it! paparazzi.

much thanks, sid.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

neverending story

i've been starting and stopping on a story i've been trying to get out of my head. it is longtime dream of mine to have this story out in the world. it's a very mixed genre, and i guess the nearest classification and the broadest one i can think of is plain fiction. lol!

it involves a mysterious young boy who is hunted down by a secret organization. as the story unfolds, we learn that the mysterious boy is not as young as he seems, and he holds secrets that may preserve or destroy the human race, but he has lost his memories in the process of escaping from his enemies. he slowly regains some of his memories, but he is not sure if they are real or illusions. he encounters several people who might be able to help him: a beautiful socialite, a failed scientist, a dark goddess, and a shadowy assasin. oh, and yes, he's gay.

this is just the general outline, but of course there is more underneath. everyone has a reason for doing what they have to do, but the reason, or reasons that they have, doesn't have to be told. there is a lot that i've borrowed from myths and legends too, but with a twist, of course.

my dream is to have it written down, finalized.
and the ultimate dream? have it become a graphic novel.
oh. my. god.

if only i had the talent to draw like comic artists. i have already the vision of how it looks in my head. it's just pulling everything together to make it tangible.

i've tried posting it on multiply. i've posted a few entries, but that's as far as i would allow the posts to go. the next stories, i want to keep editing. omit, add, change.

so it really is a challenge to me. do i make it simpler? or make it more complex?

i would love to meet with someone who can create a rough graphic novel, with panels and everything. but first, someone who can help me with putting down my ideas into words. i would also love to meet with people with the same interests. i know b is one. i think he's already almost finished his drafts.

i keep having ideas. putting them down is another thing. lol.

it's looking like it's gonna be sequelicious. and i haven't started on the first one!

help! :-)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

the name of the game

few days past, i happened to see married guy with a much older guy, probably twice his age. i passed by their table accidentally, and married guy and i made a nanosecond eye contact. i sensed that he didn't want me to say hi to him, which was fine, as i was in a hurry to get to the supermarket for some groceries. beetroot juice, yum.

less than a minute, i received a text message from married guy.

"sorry, i can't talk to you while i'm with my boyfriend."

i didn't mind the people who were staring at the insane person who suddenly burst into hysterical laughter after reading the text message on his cell phone.

let me see if i get this straight-bi-gay. married guy is cheating on his wife with another man.

i wonder, does the other man know that he is being cheated on with other men?

Sunday, May 3, 2009

threesome redux

seeing how a threesome piqued my interest, i went back for seconds.

it was still with the married muscular guy, but this time, the third guy was a friend of his who was joining a contest in a few days. i was quite surprised to see him, as he seemed familiar to me. then i recalled having seen him before in a contest a year back.

i remember him because of his bubble butt. though shorter than me, he was very cute and very muscular. wide and hard, his body was a work of art. he shook my hand, said his name was ed. warm, hard, and rough his hands were. he smiled, and his eyes twinkled.

he suddenly stretched, allowing us to see his muscles through his worn shirt. sorry, he said sheepishly. he was tired, he had been working out the whole day. it was as good as any opening could be.

maybe you need a massage, my married friend said while looking at me.

he didn't reply. instead, he took off his clothes and got on the bed. and soon, we were on top of each other, writhing and rubbing against each other. we made a delicious bed sandwich. nay, a delicious napoleon dessert.

here we were, each so different physically. married guy was smooth, dark, and rough. ed was tanned, muscled, and cute. and me, chinoy and with more hair on my legs than they did.

suck me, ed whispered. we took turns sucking him, then each other. married guy did not lie. ed was packed too. all too soon, they mentioned that they wanted to fuck me. they looked around for condoms. without warning, the lights went out.

it's a sign not to fuck me, i blurted out.

they laughed, and we continued pleasuring each other in total darkness. married guy suddenly moaned. he was cumming, he groaned. he felt around for my face and forced me to accomodate him while he released all he had. he liked to cum in my mouth, he told me once. truth be told, i didn't expect him to cum so soon that night. maybe the darkness turned him on.

i felt someone grip me close to his chest, pulling me on top of him. it was ed. every part of him was like stone. he had been working out straight for a week to prepare, he had said earlier. i felt him poke around, looking to find the hidden hole.

i don't have condoms, i whispered loudly in the dark. i lied. i heard married guy laugh softly. he knew i wasn't so much into it.

ed sighed underneath me. i'll just jack off then, he said. i straddled his muscled body in complete darkness, taking control of my own explosion. i felt hands all over me, squeezing and rubbing. they were either ed's or married guy's. i didn't know, and i didn't care much because i was suddenly on the brink. then i toppled over, spent and exhausted, over ed.

i could feel ed still furiously pumping himself as i laid on top of him, our skin sticky with sweat and with... something else (grin).

i want to cum in your mouth, i heard him whisper. i guess they both had that fetish. i didn't reply, but instead pressed myself closer to him. he gripped me closer. we were panting, him from excitement, and i from exhaustion. suddenly the lights came back on.

married guy was beside us, looking on with a smile as he watched.

there i was, on top of his friend, our mouths beside each other's ear. ed was moaning. and then he suddenly pushed me down. i was caught off-guard, though i couldn't utter a sound as my mouth was suddenly filled with... a lot of things (lol).

many minutes later, after having sexily washed up and gotten dressed, i ended my weekend.