I am a prisoner in my own home (help)

I have a baby lizard living in my home and I am terrified. Every time I walk through the kitchen it dashes across the room and sends me screaming and running like a little girl and I don't know what to do. I know I shouldn't be afraid of a tiny defenseless animal but it always catches me off guard. I can't kill it because that would just be wrong but I don't want it living with me. Doesn't it miss his/her mamma? Doesn't it want to go back home?

If you have any good lizard catching tips let me know.

Welcome to the Family

As many of you know I have been wanting a dog for a very long time and since I never got one I have decided to adopt a virtual pet. Her name is Fatima, isn't she adorable?

California

I had such a great time in California. I am finally back in TX (not that I want to be back) and enjoying my busy life once again. Although I have been back for exactly a week I still keep hoping that I will wake up in the morning and find myself in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
It was a great vacation, Chico went with me and we went out every night we were there except for 2 days. That is 10 days of going out and staying out until at least 1 a.m. and up to 5 a.m. When I got back I was exhausted. I don't regret it though, we met some great people and I came back with a GREAT tan. I know, I know, I am Mexican, how much of a tan could I have gotten...but let me tell you...I have the perfect color now. I wish I was this dark all of the time.
Here are some highlights of the trip:
Saw Family (Mom, Dad, Sister)
Took Chico to see some of the tourist stuff
SPENT TIME AT THE BEACH
Did some great shopping
Went to San Francisco
Had some time to think

I know the recap is short and it doesn't have a lot of details but I can't bring myself to bore you with 12 days full of stuff in one entry. I will just say I had fun and I can't wait to go back again.

One more thing...I did some shopping while I was there and bought some great casual clothes. This past Friday I was at a local bar and I came to the realization that I would never be able to wear the clothes I bought. The new clothes are casual and I live in an uptight, pretentious city. I guess I will have to put them away until I go on vacation again.

I Confess

My confessions

[ ] I am bisexual

[x ] I am homosexual

[ ]I've run away from home

[] I listen to political music.

[ ] I collect comic books.

[X I shut others out when I'm sad

[X] I open up to others easily -

[X] I am keeping a secret from the world

[X] I watch the news

[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs

[ ] I own an ipod they jacked IT!

[] I own something from Hot Topic

[X] I love Disney movies.

[ ] I am a sucker for brown hair

[ ]I don't kill bugs.

[x] I curse regularly.

[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.

[] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation.

[ ] I love Spam (wait.. spam maill?? or food spam?? well either..

[ ] I bake well

[x] I would wear pajamas to school.

[] I own something from Abercrombie

[X] I have a job

[X ] I love Martha Stewart.

[X WELL, IN MY OWN WAY] I am in love with someone.

[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS

[X] I am self conscious.

[X] I like to laugh.

[] I smoke a pack a day.

[] loved Go Ask Alice.

[x] I have cough drops when I'm not sick

[ ] I can't swallow pills. - i have to break them in half

[ ] I have many scars

[x]I've been out of this country

[ X] I believe in ghosts.

[ ] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room

[x ] I am really ticklish.

[x] I LOOOVE chocolate.

[X ] I bite my nails

[X] I am comfortable with being me

[] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored

[ X ] Gotten lost in the city

[] Saw a shooting star.

[] I had a serious Surgery.

[X] Gone out in public in your pajamas

[X ] I have kissed a stranger.

[] Hugged a stranger.

[] been in a fist fight with the same sex.

[] Been arrested.

[]Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.

[] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator

[X] Made out in an elevator.

[] Swore at your parents.

[] Kicked a guy where it hurts

[ ] Been skydiving.

[ ] Been bungee jumping.

[] Broken a bone.

[x] Played spin the bottle.

[X] Gotten stitches

[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.

[X] Bitten someone.

[ ] Been to Yosemite Falls.

[X] Gotten the chicken pox.

[] Crashed into a car.

[ ] Been to Japan

[X] Ridden in a taxi

[] Shoplifted.

[] Been fired.

[X] had feelings for someone who didn't have them back

[ ] Stole something from your job.

[x] Gone on a blind date.

[x] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.

[] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

[X ] Been to Europe.

[x ] Slept with a co-worker.

[ ] Been married

[ ] Gotten divorced.

[] Saw someone dying.

[x] Driven over 400 miles in one day.

[X ] Been to Canada.

[X] Been on a plane.

[] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[] Thrown up in a bar.

[X] Eaten Sushi.

[ ] Been snowboarding.

[ ] Been skiing.

[X] Been ice skating.

[X] Met someone in person from the internet.

[ ] Been to a motocross show.

[x] Going to or have gone to college.

[] Done hard drugs

[X] Taken painkillers.

[ ] Cheated on someone else ..

pass this on with your own confessions

Kids are a zest pool of disease.

My 2 nephews and my niece are here from California on vacation. The boys have been staying at my house a lot and I really enjoy having them there, they add laughter and life to my house. Last week, the boys went to stay with one of my sisters who had sick children and late last week my nephews got sick. One of them had fever, diarrhea and was throwing up. While the other starting coughing, had blisters in his mouth, had fever, and was throwing up.

Well, on Sunday I got it. It all started around 1 and from 1 to midnight I was throwing up about every 15 minutes. I couldn't even keep down water, it was horrible. I felt as if I was going to die. I have never been that sick in all of my life. While I was doubled over the toilet I kept thinking about how those kids are a zest pool of disease and then...the oldest boy came over to the bathroom to check up on me and to see if I needed anything. I thought it was the sweetest thing in the world. My own bother didn't even do that. He was so cute, I took care of him while he was sick and I would keep bringing him medicine, seven up and crackers and he wanted to do the same thing. How cute is that? I now know that all liquids make it worse so I was actually making him sicker rather than helping him out, I didn't tell him that though.

Other than having a HUGE headache, being a little dizzy, and having a throwing back pain I am all better now. I am still afraid to eat so I have only had a yogurt and a glass of orange juice since yesterday morning. I am very hungry but I am afraid to eat. On a positive note, I am 5 lbs skinnier today :) Aren't diseases wonderful for diets?

My friend Juan

I have a friend name Juan, yes just one friend named Juan and for his birthday party he decided to change outfits several different times throughout the night to see if anyone noticed. Well, today I have done the same thing, although it wasn't planned. This morning when I left the house I didn't look at my schedule and I didn't realize I had a meeting this afternoon and I was wearing a work shirt with a logo. So I went home for lunch and I changed. I am now waiting to see if anyone notices.

Gray Hair

If I hear "You have so much gray hair!" ONE more time...I swear I am going to start shooting someone.
Yes, I do have gray hair!
Yes, I am getting old!
No, it is not because I worry to much!
No, I don't color my hair!

I feel better!

I am not a quitter but I am going to quit

I am officially done smoking. I was sitting at home tonight working on some non profit stuff and I had a huge craving for a cigarette. Luckily I had some left over from this weekend so I went outside and smoked one. Although I recently starting smoking socially it is starting to become a bad habit. The more I smoke the more I crave it. Smoking is so relaxing, after you take your first drag you become so relaxed and it feels oh sooo good. While I was sitting outside I realized that I don't want to be a smoker anymore. I am taking the cigarettes I have left and I am going to take them with work with me tomorrow and throw them in the trash.

How could something so bad make you feel so good?

It's been a long, long time

So much has happened since my last post but most of you that keep up with me know most of it. I am going to try to get back intoit and keep most of my life online...well not most of it but the part that I want to share online.

Toronto, The Weekend, and other happenings.

My trip to Canada was good. Just good. I have always enjoyed taking trips by myself because it lets me clear my head, relax, and give my vocal cords a rest, but this time my trip was uneventful. It is all my fault, I know, I am usually very anal about planning my trips down to the last detail but this time I decided to just figure it out when I got there which was a big mistake. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the city and what it had to offer.
Before I left I kept monitoring the weather in CA and it was always in the 40’s and low 50’s so I was ready with my coat and lots and lots of sweaters. When I get to the airport I noticed that everyone is wearing shorts and t-shirts so I knew my coat was probably a bit overboard. Although for me 50 is still cold, apparently in CA 50 is great weather. When I get to CA the weather is beautiful and I was kind of disappointed because I was looking forward to wearing my scarf that doubles as a shawl, it even matched my coat and everything. Perhaps I will get to use my scarf next winter.
When I first got to Toronto my first impression was of a NYC pre Gulianni. Do you remember NYC when it was full of graffiti and dirty? That is what Toronto reminds me of, although it isn’t as bad and it is a lot safer that was my first impression. I really didn’t do anything on Friday because I got in kind of late and I was really tired. Saturday was spent walking through the different neighborhoods and relaxing in many of the public squares they have in Toronto. I did all of the typical touristy stuff like going to CN Tower, Rogers Center (?), China Tow, The Gay Village, Greek Town, some sort of market, etc. I had the BEST Dim Sum, EVER!!! I went to this little place in China Town off of Padina and it was amazing, the best dim sum I have ever had by far. That night I met up with Carlos and Kim and they took me to one of their favorite restaurants where Kim ordered all of our food in Cantonese for the three of us without asking what we want to eat. I was a little disturbed by that, I LOVE food and I like to have a say in what I am going to eat. Soon after, the staff was bringing lots of food to the table, by a lot I mean 8 different dishes. 8…….there were only three of us. Needless to say we hardly made a dent in the food but it was good.
After dinner we went out to the gay bars in Toronto. Have you ever seen the show Queer as Folk? Have you noticed how gay, crowded, and lively their gay neighborhood is? Toronto is nothing like that. I have seen the show once or twice before and I thought the gay district looked very big and so full of people. Well, when we got there the hood is only 2 city blocks. I was a little disappointed but the clubs were good. They played good music and they are very small so they don’t let a lot of people in at the same time. I think they must bus people in from the surrounding cities when they film the show because there was hardly anyone there. I met some people from Dallas that night and it seems a lot of us fled the DFW area for the weekend. We exchanged numbers so we could get together when we got back to town but I already misplaced their numbers. Maybe they will call me.

I was suppose to go to Niagara Falls on Sunday with a tour from the hotel I was staying at but I did something I don’t normally do, I slept in. I forgot to ask the hotel for a wake up call so I didn’t wake up on time. So instead of Niagara Falls, which I was really looking forward to going to, I walked around the city and did some more shopping (see previous entry).
On Sunday there was a protest in front of my hotel, it seems protesters like to follow me wherever I go, so I walked over to the group to find out what they were protesting and it turns out that it was the Falum Dong school of thought from China. Recently, Wade has become a big follower of their philosophies and has started practicing but he has never been able to explain the philosophies to me in a manner in which I can understand so I sat through a little lecture and a meditation session that helped me get a better idea of what they are all about. I still don’t understand all of their ideas and philosophies but I have a better grasp of the whole thing.


I really didn’t get to do much after the conference started because I had to try to get some work done in the afternoons while I was in Canada. I had to switch hotels to be closer to the conference and it would have cost me CAD50 to get to downtown Toronto so I decided to stick around the hotel area. There really wasn’t much to do in the afternoons around the hotel so we all (including my new love) hanged out in the hotel and drank. A lot. The conference had a social hour immediately following the conference and we all took advantage of the free drink opportunities. It was great, I love drinking with compliance people, they get so passionate about compliance issues that it is kind of funny. They had raffles every afternoon and I won twice but I had to pass on the opportunity because of the luggage situation. Next time I am going to pack an extra bag just in case.

That is really all I have to report. I met some interesting people and I learned a lot about what is going on in the industry.

Toronto, The Weekend, and other happenings.

My trip to Canada was good. Just good. I have always enjoyed taking trips by myself because it lets me clear my head, relax, and give my vocal cords a rest, but this time my trip was uneventful. It is all my fault, I know, I am usually very anal about planning my trips down to the last detail but this time I decided to just figure it out when I got there which was a big mistake. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the city and what it had to offer.
Before I left I kept monitoring the weather in CA and it was always in the 40’s and low 50’s so I was ready with my coat and lots and lots of sweaters. When I get to the airport I noticed that everyone is wearing shorts and t-shirts so I knew my coat was probably a bit overboard. Although for me 50 is still cold, apparently in CA 50 is great weather. When I get to CA the weather is beautiful and I was kind of disappointed because I was looking forward to wearing my scarf that doubles as a shawl, it even matched my coat and everything. Perhaps I will get to use my scarf next winter.
When I first got to Toronto my first impression was of a NYC pre Gulianni. Do you remember NYC when it was full of graffiti and dirty? That is what Toronto reminds me of, although it isn’t as bad and it is a lot safer that was my first impression. I really didn’t do anything on Friday because I got in kind of late and I was really tired. Saturday was spent walking through the different neighborhoods and relaxing in many of the public squares they have in Toronto. I did all of the typical touristy stuff like going to CN Tower, Rogers Center (?), China Tow, The Gay Village, Greek Town, some sort of market, etc. I had the BEST Dim Sum, EVER!!! I went to this little place in China Town off of Padina and it was amazing, the best dim sum I have ever had by far. That night I met up with Carlos and Kim and they took me to one of their favorite restaurants where Kim ordered all of our food in Cantonese for the three of us without asking what we want to eat. I was a little disturbed by that, I LOVE food and I like to have a say in what I am going to eat. Soon after, the staff was bringing lots of food to the table, by a lot I mean 8 different dishes. 8…….there were only three of us. Needless to say we hardly made a dent in the food but it was good.
After dinner we went out to the gay bars in Toronto. Have you ever seen the show Queer as Folk? Have you noticed how gay, crowded, and lively their gay neighborhood is? Toronto is nothing like that. I have seen the show once or twice before and I thought the gay district looked very big and so full of people. Well, when we got there the hood is only 2 city blocks. I was a little disappointed but the clubs were good. They played good music and they are very small so they don’t let a lot of people in at the same time. I think they must bus people in from the surrounding cities when they film the show because there was hardly anyone there. I met some people from Dallas that night and it seems a lot of us fled the DFW area for the weekend. We exchanged numbers so we could get together when we got back to town but I already misplaced their numbers. Maybe they will call me.

I was suppose to go to Niagara Falls on Sunday with a tour from the hotel I was staying at but I did something I don’t normally do, I slept in. I forgot to ask the hotel for a wake up call so I didn’t wake up on time. So instead of Niagara Falls, which I was really looking forward to going to, I walked around the city and did some more shopping (see previous entry).
On Sunday there was a protest in front of my hotel, it seems protesters like to follow me wherever I go, so I walked over to the group to find out what they were protesting and it turns out that it was the Falum Dong school of thought from China. Recently, Wade has become a big follower of their philosophies and has started practicing but he has never been able to explain the philosophies to me in a manner in which I can understand so I sat through a little lecture and a meditation session that helped me get a better idea of what they are all about. I still don’t understand all of their ideas and philosophies but I have a better grasp of the whole thing.


I really didn’t get to do much after the conference started because I had to try to get some work done in the afternoons while I was in Canada. I had to switch hotels to be closer to the conference and it would have cost me CAD50 to get to downtown Toronto so I decided to stick around the hotel area. There really wasn’t much to do in the afternoons around the hotel so we all (including my new love) hanged out in the hotel and drank. A lot. The conference had a social hour immediately following the conference and we all took advantage of the free drink opportunities. It was great, I love drinking with compliance people, they get so passionate about compliance issues that it is kind of funny. They had raffles every afternoon and I won twice but I had to pass on the opportunity because of the luggage situation. Next time I am going to pack an extra bag just in case.

That is really all I have to report. I met some interesting people and I learned a lot about what is going on in the industry.

I am in love

I knew it was bound to happen in Canada, I just didn’t know with whom. I fell in love. His name is (say it with a Yugoslavian/French accent) Hugo and he is absolutely adorable. He has the sexiest accent I have ever heard, and although he doesn’t know it yet, he is mine, all mine. I sat by him for most of the conference just to hear him speak and I got chills every time he said my name…uhhhhhh. Wait, I need a moment……. Alright, I am ready now. He works for a company that manufactures paper and paper products and he gets a discount on toilet paper. Isn’t that fabulous? Toilet paper, we all use toilet paper and it’s not like you could ever have to much toilet paper. Just when you’ve given up on using the facilities you have to go again. You always need more. I seriously think I am in love, if nothing else just for the benefits that would coming with dating someone like Hugo.

I have an addiction.

I am about to make a confession, a confession that I hope my friends and family don’t use against me later or judge harshly. Just remember, I am only human and I am allowed to have flaws.

I have an addiction. Yes, I have a problem. I have kept it a secret for many years now but this weekend forced me to look at myself from a different angle and it showed me that I am a weak, weak man. I can’t help it; sometimes I just do it because it is there. I don’t really need it, but I can’t seem to stop myself. My addiction is shopping. More specifically, shopping for shoes. I have more shoes than anyone I know, I really don’t need one more pair but I couldn’t help it. There are so many shoe stores in Toronto it was like being in heaven, a dirty heaven but heaven nevertheless. I started shopping on Saturday and I did pretty good, I bought a few shirts and some other things I don’t need and will probably never use. On Sunday, I broke down. I walked into a shoe store, just to check it out, I didn’t want the shoes to feel neglected, and I walked out with a pair of shoes. I promised myself that I wasn’t going to buy anything else that day because I didn’t have room in my suitcase. Later that day I was walking passed an Aldo’s shoe store and I couldn’t help but go in. There was a sign on the window that said 50% off. Yes, 50%. I love Aldo shoes and I normally buy their shoes for the full price so I had to go in. How could I not, it was half off. At first I didn’t see anything that I liked but give me 15 minutes in a store and I walked out with two pairs of shoes. If you are keeping track, that is 3 pairs total. Keep in mind that I don’t have space in my luggage to take them back home. Aldo’s is based in Canada and they are the Starbucks of Canada, they have stores in every corner. As I am walking through the city I keep running into more Aldo shoe stores and I am starting to believe that they were strategically placed in my path to test my will power. I seriously saw and went into at least 5 Aldo shoe stores within a mile radius. All said and done I ended p with 4 pairs of shoes. WAIT, before you judge me, they were on sale and I got a GREAT deal on all of them, except maybe the first pair I bought, but I love them and I would never think about taking them back.

I go back home tomorrow and I am wondering what trick I will need to pull to get all of these shoes back home. I am at a conference full of logistics and compliance professionals, perhaps I should propose my situation as a case study and have them provide a solution and a rate quote by the end of the day.

Oh, one more thing. All of the boots at Aldo’s were on sale. Had they had them in my size I would have bough two pairs. Guess what I am doing this weekend? I am going to the closest Aldo’s in TX and looking for my boots.

I am ready for an intervention.

Week in review

The whole time change has really screwed me up three times now. I think I have updated all of the watches, clocks, alarms, etc that I have so it should not happen again. I can't be late anymore.

I finally reserved my hotel for my trip to Canada. Thanks to my friend Noboru I got a reeealy good deal at a really nice hotel. I still don't know what I am going to do while I am there but at least I have part of it taken care of. The hotel I am staying at is close to everything so I may just plan it in when I get there. I can't wait to get out of town.

I talked to W. today and him and his 25 closest friends are going to Vegas in June/July. I am considering joining them. They are staying at The Palm, I am not sure I can afford that. But who knows, it will be nice to go to Vegas with people who actually like to have some fun. I can finally have the Vegas experience I didn't get last time I was there. Who knows.....it will be a good opportunity to spend some time with W. and get out of town again.

WOW Weekend

Climbing
Originally uploaded by kai7710.

Here are a few pictures of my weekend and the ropes course I took as part of a leadership course. It was the most amazing time I have had with a group of strangers in my life. If I could do it over again....I would.

Sunday I took part of the Tarrant County AIDS Walk but we were a little late so we missed most of the people.

Tight Wire

Tight Wire
Originally uploaded by kai7710.

Tight Wire Pose

Tight Wire Pose
Originally uploaded by kai7710.

Log

Log
Originally uploaded by kai7710.

Transfering

Transfering
Originally uploaded by kai7710.

Tight Rope 4

Tight Rope 4
Originally uploaded by kai7710.