usonia

Spoken like a man. If I could reach you, I'd shake your hand. You're a stand-up guy!!

I should apologize for interjecting myself into something that isn't any of my business. I guess it's just all the craziness going on in the world and my frustrating mood I've been in lately that pushed me post something. I don't know buickman at all, and to be honest, over time, I think his posts have become repetitive and a little tiring. But, he's got his opinion and his supporters and they are all entitled to think whatever they want. I may disagree, but I wouldn't attack anyone because of it and I don't think personal attacks are ever necessary. I like the give and take of discussion and I can respect and admire anyone with strong opinions backed up by logical arguments. If we can agree to disagree, all is good in my book. Having said that, if I don't like what someone says I just move on, or I don't read the thread to begin with. The world sucks enough as it is. We don't have to make it worse. Again, sorry for getting in the middle here....

From the friction that surfaced in this thread, there is obviously stuff going on behind the scenes that I'm clueless about. So, that makes me the perfect person to give an unsolicited judgement. Josh is right, on all counts. You started it and this was uncalled for. This was way out of line. To call Josh out, with no mention of the prior two posts is unfair and biased...and you're supposed to be an admin!!

Um, I'll plead ignorance, but why is British Petroleum controlling anything of our domestic oil production? OMG! That would kill me. I can get to work in 7 minutes. I'm spoiled and I know it.

I'm so glad that New York banned smoking in bars. I can go out and come home not smelling like an ashtray. As for the bars themselves, I'm not sure why I even bother. All of my friends are 'partnered' up and have been for years. They rarely go out anymore. So, when I do go out, it's by myself but I don't mind that so much. I am a bit of a loner so I prefer it to the feeling of always being a fifth wheel which I truly hate. I don't go out much so I don't know many people and I also don't drink much so I rarely even get buzzed. Apparently, I'm also a freak magnet because a lot of bizzare people talk to me. For the most part, I just try to be polite and laugh it off. But, seriously, it gets to be tiring. I don't like to listen to people gossip about and critique other people in the bar. I don't like to listen to the drunken ravings of screaming queens who seem to think the louder they are, the funnier they are. I don't like to listen to someone point out all of their 'conquests' and rate their performances. I don't like to have to tell touchy-feely people I barely know to keep their hands off me. Granted, it isn't always like that when I go out. Typically, I go out at off times when there aren't many people to begin with. But, even then it can get too weird for me. I can honestly say that I have never met anyone in a bar that I would want to do anything with socially. All of my current friends that I socialize with, I met outside of the bars. I just can't figure out where all of the 'regular' single gay guys go?

This is just one more example to prove my theory that when people get elected to public office, something happens to them. They must get taken into a secret room and get whacked in the head or force fed stupidity drugs.

I can do it but since I don't do it often, I'm much better at it by the end of the meal than I am at the beginning.

I went on my usual Sunday morning drive through the car lots to see what's new and saw my first Compass at the Jeep dealer. It was top leve model, 4x4, black with gray interior. It definitely looks better in person and bigger than I expected. I know it's taller than the Caliber, I'm not sure about the length. The proportions look better on this vehicle. I'm not sure about the lighter colors, but the black one looked good. It's not the vehicle for me, but now having seen it in person, I think these are going to sell very well.

Well, I guess it had to happen. Yesterday, I saw my first Lucerne with a fake convertible top. Black on black with gold anodized trim. Why people continue to do this crap to good looking cars is beyond me.

We've been in the 90's the past couple of days with high humidity. I hate this kind of weather. Oddly enough, since it was so hot yesterday, I decided to go see a movie to cool off. I went to see 'An Inconvenient Truth', the global warming movie. It was interesting, scary and sad. I thought it would be more preachy, but it really wasn't. Mostly just facts presented. If you haven't seen it, it's worth seeing.

I would look so good in that!

Yep, I went and saw it this afternoon. I liked it better than Superman and I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I don't think the story had enough to it to carry the movie for two and a half hours. The special effects were really excellent.

I've never heard of this one. I'll have to do some reading. Thanks!!

I went back and read through this whole thread. You know, you guys are great!! I really appreciate your willingness to share some of your experiences. It’s good to have various perspectives about things. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I guess I’m skeptical about the usefulness of seeing a counselor/therapist. I don’t mean in general, but specifically for myself and my situation. Maybe it’s arrogance on my part, but I think I know myself pretty well. I know myself far better than a stranger could. I know my strengths and my weaknesses. I can honestly say that I don’t like some of the things I know about myself, but I’ve never pretended they didn’t exist or that they were anything different than what they are. So, I find it especially frustrating that I haven’t been able to get a handle on this and take care of it. I took the Myers/Briggs personality test years ago and it confirmed what I knew. I’m definitely an introvert. I am far more of a logical/analytical type person than an emotional type. I think I could easily take what is bothering me, push it aside and get on with things. The odd thing is, for some reason, the emotional part of me won’t let this one go and the logical part of me isn’t fighting it. This is a whole new situation for me. I’ve never had an emotionally dominant thing going on before and I don’t like it. I can't say this hasn't affected me, it has, but it isn’t like it prevents me from doing my day-to-day stuff. I do find it annoying and unsettling. I’ve thought about it from all angles and I’m tired of thinking about it. I don’t even know how to explain it to myself so I know I wouldn’t have the patience to try and explain it to another person. I can just picture a counseling session where I sit there in silence for an hour because I can't tell them why I'm there. I hope something is happening subconsciously and I’ll wake up some morning and it will all make sense or go away. * * * Trinacriabob, you are right, I have no talent for it, but I do have a big interest in architecture. I don’t know a lot in general, but I do know a lot about Frank Lloyd Wright. If I ever win the lottery, I WILL build a prairie style house. I chose my screen name because I like the ideals behind the development of the Usonian homes.

Yeah, I suppose the chances of a dragon having ketchup are pretty slim! Actually, I didn't make it up. I read it somewhere and it made me laugh, so I borrowed it.

XP715, that was a funny story and a good way to begin my Friday! The whole idea of talking to a stranger about stuff weirds me out in general and I never even considered the question of male or female. That complicates things. This whole idea gets less appealing the longer I think about it.

This is purposely vague, but I'm curious if anyone has ever talked to a couselor or therapist about anything? Did you find it helpful/useful? Was it worth your time? How did you go about finding someone you felt comfortable with? I'm not looking for anyone to give specifics. An answer in general terms would be appreciated.

I absolutely believe the Kinsey scale has it right, sexuality is a spectrum and we all fall somewhere on it. I'm on the extreme homosexual end of that scale. I can honestly say I have never felt any sexual attraction for any women. As far back as I can remember, that feeling that you get when you see someone you find attractive, has always been from a guy. I also have to disagree with Burns, I think a guy who is in good shape (I mean muscular, but not like a competitive bodybuilder) is way more attractive than a woman. It is definitely a masculine versus a feminine thing for me. I don't exactly find the nude female body revolting, but pretty darned close. Those boobs, ugh! Now that's not to say I can't see a (clothed) woman and say she's attractive, but there is definitely nothing sexual about it. I compare it to having a favorite color. I like green, but I have no idea why. It just appeals to me. I do wonder at times what it would be like to see an attractive woman and get that same feeling I get from seeing a guy I find attractive. But, the truth is, I'm am so glad I'm 100% gay and not some shade of bisexual. It is just so much less confusing for me this way.

I really wanted to like it, but I didn't care much for it. I thought the story was kind of lame and that whole thing with the kid just ruined it for me. The special effects were great though.

"Then again Brokeback Mountain confused me, was that a realistic portrayal of 1960s gay men?" The author of Brokeback Mountain said the story is about rural homophobia, so I think the most you can say is that the movie is a very realistic portrayal of two men caught up in that situation. Then or now, the gay community like the straight community is way too diverse to make too many generalizations. I guess I'm lucky in that I've never felt the urge or whatever it is that makes people want children since I'll never have any. I'm also very lucky having the gay friends I do. I can't imagine what it would be like to only have straight friends. I would feel so isolated. There are times where I would like to have a partner, but I also know that there are certain aspects of my personality that would make that difficult. That bothers me at times, but it is what it is.

I do want to see this movie, assuming it actually comes to a theater near me. Maybe the answer to this question is in the movie, but if not, do we know what the story is behind the destruction of all of the EV1's that GM built? It seems bizzare and a bit conspiratorial. I know somone in California who had one and he fought like crazy to be able to keep it, but they wouldn't let him. He ended up with a new Prius and pretty much hates GM now.

Seeing as how the universe has decided to hate me lately, I'll be working.

I don't think it's discriminatory at all. It's another one of those things that we really don't control. I know multiple flamboyant people and I certainly don't dislike them just because of that. But, it is a character trait that kind of irritates me so the chances are that I'm not inclined to become close friends with them. I don't feel guilty about that at all.

There's one straight guy I used to work with and we've maintained contact since we both left the company. We still get together every now and then for dinner or a beer. He knows all about me an he's cool with it. It's a non-issue between us, which I like. I have one straight female friend, which is kind of odd because most women make me crazy. Beyond that, all of my other friends are gay. I have a pretty small social circle. I just don't 'click' with that many people to the point where I want to spend time with them socially.

Hmmm, makes you wonder what kind of 'expert' would know that....