Makeup for Men?
Why am I always the last to know about these trends?
I guess men wear makeup now. Lots of men. In fact, when I first started dating again, it was something I immediately noticed. My boyfriends wore makeup.
To be fair, I do kind of like my men to be a bit girly. Yeah, I said it. You’ll find hundreds of personal ads out there that say “Straight-acting only, no femmes.” Well, fuck that. I like my men with a bit of swish to them. But I digress…
At first I didn’t think anything of the trend, but then I started analyzing it. If all these young, pretty 20-something boys were wearing makeup, maybe I needed to also. I don’t want to be the only guy left with a shiny forehead and gaping pores.
So I started with the obvious consultant… my Mom. She has been an Avon sales representative for over 3 decades now, and knows everything there is about being young and beautiful. Her first reaction was just what you’d expect from any Mom whose son wanted to wear makeup. But once she got past her judgmental fit, she agreed to help me out.
We decided to start with a line called MagiX. It’s a very light foundation/powder combination that is supposed to do the job without looking like you’re wearing anything. Sounds good to me. I obviously want it to look natural.
The first is a clear cream that is supposed to prevent shine for up to 10 hours. I had my doubts… 10 hours? I was blessed cursed with very oily skin. So 10 hours without shine would be a miracle in itself. By the end of the day, I look all shiny and flushed, like I just got done fucking someone. I call it my “sex glow.”
MagiX Face Perfector
This clear cream is called MagiX Face Perfector. Hmmm… Well, it didn’t look like my face was magically airbrushed, as the reviews had suggested. I don’t know what kind of trolls are writing this stuff, but it was not a life changing experience.
However, I will admit, the stuff did a decent job. My face did seem smoother, less shiny, and more “put together” after 4 or 5 hours of wear. It didn’t last 10 hours, but it was still good. I’d recommend it.
MagiX Tinted Face Perfector
Again, I don’t know what trolls are buying this stuff and claiming it’s the ultimate in makeup. It’s only tinted, which in theory makes it look more natural since it doesn’t cover the face as much as it just “blurs” it. Sounds good on paper and God knows women talk about it like they’ve never experienced makeup before.
I personally had a really bad experience. It was not smooth at all and looked completely artificial. I suppose a woman could have pulled it off, but I think all makeup should look like it isn’t there.
I’ve tried it several times, and have to wash it off each time. Damn… This was the one I really wanted to work out.
Too much…
I give up. This makeup stuff is too complicated. I guess I’ll just continue dating men who wear makeup, and they can look beautiful and fresh faced. I’ll just endure with my regular old skin.
I was a bit disappointed because my Mom wears Avon and always looks great. I’m inclined to think the problem is me, or I’m not doing something correctly. But I really don’t feel like trying any other makeup products.
Just for the sake of asking… Do any of you readers use makeup? If so, what products?
Food, Family, and Fun
I’ve had a really good couple of days.
On Sunday, I went to a family reunion on my Dad’s side, which I hadn’t done in… hmmm… 12 years. Eeek.
After a ridiculously humid week, the heat finally seemed to ease up and the temperature was perfect. I even got to have some fun in the pool. I don’t think I’ve been swimming in years.
The food was also great. I went back for seconds with the baked macaroni and cheese… yum. I had a good visit with everyone, but got a stern lecture from my uncle for not visiting more often. I know, I know… I’ll do better.
Before heading back to Tennessee, my Dad took my to Dairy Queen for some ice cream. This DQ was the real deal. Everything about it felt authentically 1950s. We sat in a corner and talked for an hour. A really nice time.
Monday evening was yet another great time. Nathan came over and we went for a very long walk by the river. We shared life stories and talked about all kinds of random stuff. We came across a path of rocks that you could step onto and go right out into a shallow area of water. The view was beautiful.
After our walk, I took him to a nearby Japanese restaurant that we’d wanted to try. The service was extremely slow, but that was fine with us because we were talking non-stop for 2 hours.
I’m really growing to appreciate the value of food and its effect on relationships. I grew up in a household where it wasn’t a big deal if we didn’t eat dinner as a family. My parents certainly made an effort, but it wasn’t a rule.
This behavior carried into my adult life, and my partners and I have often skipped meals together. Or sometimes, we’d each fix our own food and just go to opposite places in the house, completely ignoring each other.
I think that’s common in many modern relationships, but eating together has become an extremely important aspect in my relationship with Nathan. No matter how busy we are, we try to make time to get together at night and eat together. We always have really deep conversations, and share stories, share feelings… All kinds of good stuff. It is not uncommon for a meal to go cold because we’ve talked so much.
This is such a Southern post, isn’t it? Well, I do think there is some significant value to eating together. Food, family, and fun has definitely been a winning combination lately.
Still Here, Still Fabulous
To my minions of adoring fans, I’m still here. I apologize for my absence. I say this with great modesty and humility, of course. 
Let me throw a topic out there, which I will elaborate on later.
In my own warped mind, I’ve convinced myself that vaginas talk and have their own inner dialogue, moods, and expressions. I really don’t know much about vaginas, other than they scare me and I try to avoid them at all costs. I’m afraid I’ll somehow trip and fall into one.
So there’s my thought of the day. I would like to explore this in more detail later. And this is not a new thing, by the way. I’ve thought about it for years and just never told anyone.
My apologies in advance to any vaginas (and their owners) that I may have offended. It’s not you, it’s me. Wait, actually… well it is you. But more specifically your vagina, which scares me.
Always Read the Instructions
People have tried many different methods to politely describe my whiteness, and I’ll admit, I’m pretty white. I don’t want skin cancer, I don’t want wrinkles, and I avoid the sun at all costs. I’m a bit of a vampire.
But it does bother me, especially around the summer time. I’ve tried many types of store bought tanners, many of which people rave about, but none of them work on me. They are either streaky, or too orange, and I just don’t care for them at all. I think I’m just so white that they don’t even have any pigment to work with.
Anyway, tonight I finally took the plunge and signed up for VersaSpa treatments. Apparently it’s one of the most popular spray on tanning options. The price for my sessions was a bit high, but I knew they would be. I agreed to a 6 month commitment, which brought the price down a lot. Plus, I also get unlimited regular tanning too.
An employee gave me a brief run-down of the way to do it, and it seemed pretty straight forward to me. There was an instructional poster on the wall to answer all the specific questions, which helps make sure I do absolutely everything right. But did I bother to read it? No, of course not. I just stripped down and hopped in. (Well, I waited until the employee left the room first, of course.)
Hmmm… Apparently when you put the cap over your hair, there are very specific instructions that say to let a little bit of your hairline show. I did not do this. Instead, I pulled the cap over my hair and covered a tiny bit of my forehead too. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about how it turned out.
Laugh if you want. The rest of my body is looking hottt. 
I’m Just Sayin’
With HIV and general STDs continuing to rise, you would think, perhaps, that it might be a good idea to make condoms as accessible as possible. But hmmm, nope, not at the local Kroger.
I went to Kroger to buy some condoms, thinking I could just grab a box and go through self-checkout. I’m not necessarily embarrassed to buy them, but I do prefer discretion. I usually just buy them online… but the details don’t matter… the point is, at this particular time, I was choosing to buy them in person.
So I went to the Kroger nearby, and was very annoyed to find them locked up in a glass case in the middle of the fucking deli! What a convenient place to put the condoms. Are they going out of their way to make it difficult for shy men to buy proper protection?
I didn’t really feel like finding someone to “let me in” to the case like some child, so I just walked out and went to another Kroger nearby.
Again, same damn scenario. I actually watched a man and woman go up to the case, see that it was locked, and walk away. Proof that people actually are discouraged from buying the condoms due to the way they are locked up. I can only hope this couple went somewhere else to get condoms and didn’t do anything careless that evening.
But I digress… I walked up to a female employee and told her I would like her to unlock the condoms case. She was much younger than I am, and visibly embarrassed and uncomfortable. She told me she didn’t have a key, so I had to walk with her through the store and up to the customer service desk, where she told another young female employee that she needed a key for the condom case. At this point, the other employee looked at me, and she didn’t know what to do. So she told the employee helping me to go ask a manager.
Fine. So I stood patiently at the desk, now feeling judged and as if I’m somehow “wrong” for buying condoms. Clearly these employees have not been trained on how to deal with this, and that’s very disappointing.
Finally, the employee re-emerged with her key, and then we had to do the same awkward walk back through the store, over to the condoms. She unlocked the door and hurried away, thankfully not sticking around to monitor what I chose.
I made my selection and then went through self checkout.
Anyway, I’d just like to say a great big FUCK YOU Kroger. There is absolutely no logical reason to made it so damn difficult to buy condoms.
Who are you protecting? Minors? If so, you should be glad that a minor has enough sense to go buy condoms. Thieves? If so, you should be so thankful that people are stealing condoms because at least they’re being responsible with their sex life.
This is ridiculous, and I’m wondering if this is a policy at all Kroger locations?
The Friendly Ghost
Sometimes, when I’m sitting downstairs at my computer, I hear footsteps on the ceiling above me. Well, that’s kind of a problem since I’m renting a two story townhome. The second floor is part of my home, and therefore I obviously should not hear any sounds upstairs. If I go upstairs to check it out, there is nobody there and all is quiet.
Well, let me give you some background info…
This townhome I rented is located on the Stones River in Tennessee. Ever heard of the Stones River? If you haven’t, it was the site of the bloodiest battle in Civil War history! 23,515 people were killed here. Yep, in my own backyard, dead bodies were piled up during the Battle of Stones River.
It’s extremely plausible that my home was built right over a spot where someone died. Spooky.
Another oddity is that sometimes I lose phone calls. Again, it’s while I’m standing in this same room where I always hear noises. The signal strength is extremely high on my phone, and there is no logical reason to lose the call. I never had problems like that until I moved in here. Oh, and when that happens, I can’t call out either. Perhaps a ghost is blocking my path. I politely ask him or her to move, and things seem to be resolved.
I’ve just accepted that I probably have a friendly ghost here. I assume they’re friendly. Why wouldn’t they be? I always expect people to be friendly to me. I’m idealistic in that way.
Has Obama Alienated LGBT Americans?
Slowly… quietly… hesitantly… LGBT Americans are turning their back on the President that promised equality for all.
When he failed to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a quiet storm started. Some were critical, while others were quick to defend President Obama, pointing out that he had a lot to deal with in his first term. Most of us were rational, patient, and willing to give him more time.
But the most damning example to date has been silence. When it came down to Prop 8 last week, the President didn’t seem to have anything to say. Nothing to say, huh?
Perhaps it is all part of a larger, behind-the-scenes plan that Obama is cooking up. But I’m beginning to have my doubts. He has promised transparency time and time again. If he has serious intentions about helping LGBT Americans, he needs to do or say something, anything to calm our jitters.
This article on Yahoo! points out that 40% of Americans now favor gay marriage. Not civil unions, we’re talking the real deal. Marriage. Even crazy Dick Cheney said recently that he supports gay marriage. Wow.
In a quickly evolving society, President Obama is suddenly becoming the one who has lost touch with reality and has outdated ideas. My fear is that he’ll re-emerge with a new campaign promise for us in 2012. I just hope it doesn’t come down to that.
I haven’t turned my back yet. I realize it’s a hard job being President, and his term is still very new. So I guess I’m having faith in him, as I promised I would.
What are your thoughts on President Obama? Is he still a friend to our community, or has he alienated us?
Why Do People Cheat?
A storm has been brewing over at PlanetOut for awhile now, and I’ve been following it to see the responses. It started with an article called Do all gay men cheat? and the response was overwhelmingly “Yes, because it is part of a man’s animal instincts to have multiple sex partners.” Mmm-kay…
The follow-up article, Why do people cheat?, has received similarly toned comments.
I have to admit, I’ve become a bit skeptical, after having been with someone 8 years, only to find out he was cheating on me. I truly thought we were the invincible power couple. But I guess not…
I do kind of see the point about a man’s animal instincts. But having said that, there are many instincts we must keep under control as part of a civilized society. For example, when an animal is threatened, he will violently attack (and maybe even kill) the enemy. As humans, we cannot attack and kill others.
I do understand that it’s natural to have attraction to other people. I can be in a committed relationship, but still find another man attractive. That doesn’t mean I have to act on it, even if that does trigger my own natural instincts.
Cheating hurts others, sabotages relationships, and sometimes even ruins lives. We can’t just turn a blind eye, saying we’re animals and we can’t help it. That’s lazy, irresponsible, and immature. When you make a commitment to someone, you should honor it. That’s something humans can do, which animals cannot.
Having said all that, I do think there are some big misconceptions about why people cheat. I’ve read study after study that suggests it’s for emotional reasons, not sexual. Well, nothing is 100%, of course. But I’m saying many people do it because of an emotional disconnect in their current relationship.
So how do you prevent it? Communication.
I feel that communication is such an often overlooked trait in relationships. As long as the door is open to communication, a couple can work through any problem before it escalates. But as humans, we are also flawed, as we are sometimes unable to communicate effectively.
I don’t really have a solution to wrap this post up with. I just wanted to get on my soap box and talk about it a little. I do feel, very strongly in fact, that we can’t just call ourselves animals and use that as our reasoning. We are a step above the rest of the animal kingdom, and we have to deal with the responsibilities that come with it.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
The 80s was a bad time for fashion and concept videos, but I didn’t realize it was this bad. Check out this hilarious video of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” You won’t be able to turn away, even though you’ll want to. (Found through Chris.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA
Life Is Wonderful
I was driving through Illinois on two lane highway in the country. Jason Mraz’s song “Life Is Wonderful” was playing on my iPod. The sky was a bright and vibrant blue with the sun shining down on me. The grass was green and lush, with flowers in bloom and the early signs of summer peaking. I looked over to my right and saw two deer running through a meadow together. There were birds and butterflies passing by in good cheer.
I felt an incredible amount of peace and happiness in my heart. Everything is coming together in my life, better and more amazing than I could ever have have imagined. Something wonderful and amazing is happening, and my eyes are wide open to see it for all it is. I am appreciative and grateful, and ready without resistance.
