Whirlwind

So, here I am once again, after a whirlwind of interesting tidbits and experiences.  Shall I start chronologically or just sort of have a mental explosion and see where things end up.  Hmm.

Let's see.  I watched the movie Kinsey earlier, since we have a DVR and I can now record shows.  (And have gotten my roommate J addicted to it as well, which is all part of my master plan, [insert evil laughter here]).  While watching this movie, I was struck by the thought about what sets apart people who end up fighting for socio-cultural change?  Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jr, Galileo, Sir Issac Newton, the list goes on and on (and naturally includes Alfred Kinsey).

I mean if you think about it, all people are born with the capacity for that sort of radical change.  Most people accept social norms about the way things are because that's the way they have been for X long and leave it at that.  Others get so far at achieving socio-cultural change and give up or are stymied by the very status-quo that they are fighting to change.  Still others get just to the point of being martyrs for the cause of change, and falter at that one pivotal moment.  But then there are those who give the most and sometimes the all for the things that they believe need to change.  These are the ones that go down in history as famous or infamous for the changes they enact.  But my question is, what spark of passion exists in the beings of these few individuals of history that doesn't exist in everyone (or at least isn't snuffed out by the status quo)?  Or maybe a better way of putting it would be: what ignites that spark into the blazing inferno that allows them to pursue their desire to see things change without regard for other things?  I haven't an answer, but it's certainly something to ponder.

Now for a completely different change in mindset, let me just address an issue that has been bothering me for some time now.  And since I've moved (mostly) beyond caring what other people think, I'm going to give away some "man secrets" [insert impending doom music here].

For those of you who don't know (or haven't had the pleasure of a male public restroom) it might behoove you to realize that there are some unspoken rules to these places.  One of them is that once you cross the threshold of this place, you mustn't speak to anyone.  Nor, do you make eye contact.  Number 2 is dependant on the number of urinals in the mens room.  If there are 2 urinals, only one may be used at any given time, and it is taboo to use the open one if the other is in use.  You are expected to go to a stall.  If there are 3 urinals, the ones on the end may be used, but NEVER the one in the middle.  Woe to you who use the one in the middle, as you will inevitably raise the level of unspoken sexual tension that pervades this place.  If there are more than 3 urinals in the rest room then you can use any of them, provided that you leave a 1 urinal buffer in between the ones being used.  (now we're getting to the really weird ones) If you are at a urinal, you must look straight ahead, or down (to make sure that you're not making a mess of yourself, naturally).  But you must NEVER look to the right or the left, as this is taboo.  Although the occasional look up to the ceiling is acceptable, but don't overuse it.  And then there are those guys for whom the sexual tension in this place is too much to bear and they always use the stall to go #1.

Why am I telling you all this, you may ask?  Because I think it's high time that men realize how effing paranoid we are and also how stupid.  So you can get naked in front of a bunch of guys in a locker room and shower and joke and saunter around comfortable in your own masculinity, but you can't pee in front of other guys without it being awkward?  I'm gay and this makes me confused.  Maybe it's the presence of the lockers or something.  I dunno.  It can't be the smell, because if you've ever been in a mens room in the summer, then you know there is no difference in smell.  Which should shame all men, everywhere. 

As a side note, if you're reading this and I seem to have neglected to mention an unspoken rule of the forbidden mens room, please, by all means, comment and let me know what it is I've forgotten, so all can share in the glory of male sexual tension paranoia.  =)

I turned 25 a couple of weeks ago, and naturally I only remember part of my birthday, which means operation quarter century was a success.  I don't want to say that successfully completing 25 years of existence has changed my outlook, but a few things have been updated.  And I think they are good.  So all is well there.

I finally had the pleasure of attending Gen Con this year.  And was amazed at a few things.  Firstly, there is a physical gamer archetype which 80% of gamer men fit.  I was also heartened to realize that there is a ever growing subset of gamers who carry the moniker of gaymer.  You can infer what that means by the spelling.  Hopefully the group of them that reside in Chicago will have an event or get together that I can attend.  Scheduling is the bane of adult existence. 

Found some really interesting t-shirts and other things at Gen Con and met some really awesome people. 

So that's all for now, a few rants, some updates, and my promise that I will attempt to be more attentive to this blog, but working is stressful.  Although the good news on that front is that tomorrow I have an informational meeting for benefits which start Sept 1.  Which means I can finally open that bottle of wine I've been saving for almost three years in celebration. 

The story behind the wine is that when I lost my job(s) a couple of years ago, I had bought a bottle of wine which I had wanted to drink at a good celebration.  Well after I lost my job, I decided that I wouldn't open that bottle of wine until I got a full time job that came with benefits.  Well Sept 1 is the day those kick in, and I'm going to have a party and open that bottle of wine.  So, keep yourselves open in Sept, as there is going to be a party!