"Love Is Beautiful In Every Season... Live Fearlessly"
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
"Selfie Love..."
"Selfie Love" - those beautiful, grainy, out-of-focus self-pics that capture the truth of true love...
"Same Gender Loving People - No. 2947"
"Happiness Is A Home Of Love..."
Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.
"The Truth About Love..."
- Andrea Briseno
"I Am Always Remembering..."
"Lover's moon is high on the sky...143"
Stephen Christopher Harris, July 21, 2008, 4:38 AM
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
"The Truth About Love..."
- Simon May
"The Poet's Corner..."
And you tempt me into your House of Love--
I, who have come from far
Through wintry forest and homeless heath,
Friend of the wind and star?
Ah, I fear the warmth of the ingleside
And the depths of your dear caress
Will make me forget what I learned out there
In the stubble and loneliness!
from "The Moor-child", Blue Smoke
by Karle Wilson
"Same Gender Loving People - No. 2946"
"Love At Home..."
Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.
"Selfie Love..."
"Selfie Love" - those beautiful, grainy, out-of-focus self-pics that capture the truth of true love...
Monday, January 29, 2018
"A True Love Story..."
I’ve had very few chances in my busy life in 2017 to meet guys. Mostly it was a booty call. But I made room for one date.
He started sending me messages in August. He initiated conversations with a ‘Good Morning!’ or a ‘How are you?’ and it was charming how he kept up with this for a few months even if I would return his messages a few hours or a few days after. We all need something constant in our lives and for a time his messages were that to me. Something I expected when I opened my inbox that would make me smile and feel wanted.
My presence on Twitter was consistently inconsistent. One day I’m all talkative and then silent after a few days or weeks. I was consumed by work. I am just glad I have an audience that forgives my absence and picks-up conversations like I never left.
At the back of my mind, this guy is probably like the others and will probably end up as one horny hook-up. I generally do not treat Twitter as another Grindr, but I guess with the nature of the account that talks openly about sex and with the audience I have, it is unavoidable to get sex invites.
With him, we didn’t talk about sex. Well we didn’t talk much. He would always express his desire to meet me in between his usual ‘Take care!’ and ‘Rest well.’ So when he tweeted, ‘December na!’ I felt guilty for being non-committal for a long-time with such a nice guy.
So soon as my schedule permitted, I sent him a message asking about his availability and then quickly made arrangements to meet. I was telling myself that I think I deserve some romance back in my life. But I also wasn’t sure what his real intentions were. Typical me, I asked, ‘Is this wholesome or a hook-up?’ He said that he wanted to get to know me. Perfect answer right? So movie date it was.
I don’t ask for face pictures because I don’t share mine. He has wholesome photos of himself but his face is covered with stickers. From what little I saw, I can say that this guy is attractive. But you can never tell right? Ours was a version of a blind date.
So we met one fateful night in December. I remember feeling confident at that time since I dyed my hair a week ago. Temp bye-bye to white hair. I felt good about myself. I arrived early and waited. I didn’t mind because I was nervous. I needed time to calm my nerves. I haven’t done this in a long while. Count years. I waited at a stall that sold used books. My comfort zone.
My phone rang. Him. He is here.
I saw him. He was wearing this green shirt. He smiled. I smiled. Sparks were flying everywhere.
He is chinito, maputi, deep voice, taller than I and manly. Check. Check. Check. Check. Malaking check. Not that I have a specific type. I dated different guys in my lifetime. There’s a moreno, a chubby guy, a lanky one, effem, nerdy, etc. (Links in this paragraph were added by the editor of The Unbearable Truth... for ease of reading and understanding what the original author is refering to.)
As we moved closer together, I can feel our smiles widening. When we were finally face to face each other, I don’t remember if he offered a handshake or we just walked side by side. But I remember how close our skin was to each other. I’m a touchy guy. It’s my love language. So it didn’t take long for us to hold hands. He got the message. And he reciprocated. I think at some point we even hugged. I can’t remember everything. I was intoxicated by his presence, his smell, his voice. All of it.
We decided on a movie. Both options were very wholesome. It took us a while to decide and we were both concerned about what the other really really really wanted to watch. Honestly, I didn’t care. I just wanted to be beside him. Soon as the movie selection was settled, we were off to dinner.
Have you ever been on a date with a gentleman? Someone who would ensure you were comfortable, who would get the utensils for you at a self-service counter, who splits the bill, who asked you if you needed anything. I got that. (Dear reader, stop stepping on my very long hair please! I need to continue this story. =D)
He sat beside me. Anyone who saw us would quickly conclude that THIS was a date. Probably a date between official lovers on a honeymoon. Our body language was too obvious. He even initiated to take a photo of both of us. There was a selfie. And that didn’t satisfy him. He asked for a waiter to take our photo. I was over the moon by then. These are signs! He likes me!
If you have ever felt like you were kissing too many frogs while hoping that maybe someday one of them will turn out to be a prince, you’d know what I mean when I say that I was at that moment pretty overwhelmed to meet a prince. My prince. I was almost speechless and wanted to savor every moment of it.
We talked about our background and that side of the Twitter-world where we both met. We also enjoyed some comfortable silence in between where our hands spoke for us. Soon as dinner was over, we had time to go around and check out the stores in the mall. I told him I need to buy a shirt for a wedding I’m attending the following week. He accompanied me and gave his two cents on my choices. Going smoothly so far.
When it was time for the movie, he asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink. I was full but he still got this tub of popcorn and some drink, just in case.
At this point you could imagine that the movie, its contents or its merits, are not my primary concern. I really didn’t care what was on. It was all an excuse to be with him. If he was a so-so date, the movie would have saved the day still because it was a good one.
In between this wholesome movie, we were feeling each other. It was not groping. It was not below the belt. It was emotional, some physical, sensual. We kissed. Lightly. Lips brushing lips. Our cheeks slowly and slightly rubbing each other. His face breathing on my neck. It was HOT. But it was also sweet. It was coming from a space of deep longing. There was giving, sniffing and then some holding back. We aroused each other without going too far.
The sensual contact was a sign. This was going great for a first date. I was beyond happy.
Soon as the movie ended, we found our way through the dark maze of the mall on closing time. It was clear to me that we weren’t going straight to the motel. In my history, sex on the first date will not amount to anything after. Any chance at romance will be doomed. So behave.
He was tired. I needed to go back to work. He escorted me to the taxi bay. He opened the door for me and we bid our goodbyes. This time a little tamed. Knowing smiles. We were out on the street and were conscious about other people watching us.
This was how my one date in 2017 ended. It was perfect while it lasted. It was a reawakening of my body, of my soul, of my heart. It felt familiar and soon enough memories of ex dates came flooding. I am glad I allowed myself to take a chance. If only for the experience, it was a series of good moments that allowed me to feel human and much of a man again.
I’ll let that one night, with that one man, stay with me this way forever. Seemingly ordinary from the outside, but magical inside. At least for me.
*******
Postlude: Now you might be wondering why I posted this as "A True Love Story," after all, the author doesn't share with us what happened next... are they on their way to a happily ever after story or was this a flash in the pan that died out as quickly as it started?
My reasoning for calling this a true love story is that it opened the author's eyes to the possibility of something more than mere sex... to quote him, it was "a reawakening of my body, of my soul, of my heart. It felt familiar... it was a series of good moments that allowed me to feel human and much of a man again" and that is what has been lost in the age of hook-up apps and meaningless sexual encounters. Philippine society is still rooted in the beliefs of the Catholic church and so perhaps as a gay man he had not considered the possibilities for real love in a long time. Maybe that one date was enough to remind him that love is real and that there can be something more. If that's not a love story, then I don't know what is.
"Fear Eats the Soul"
"This Made Me Smile..."
Because grooms deserve to be celebrated too.
Buzzfeed
By Rachel Wilkerson Miller, Jessica Probus, Matt Ortile, John Gara and Lauren Zaser
The editors at BuzzFeed Life recently threw wedding showers for two of our male co-workers.
Because we love them. And because wedding traditions deserve to be fucked with. We called these parties for the grooms-to-be "bro-dal showers."
Our first bro-dal shower was a casual afternoon party for Ahmed Akbar, who will
marry his fiancé Salimah in July.
Since this was a guys-only party that included several Brooklyn residents, the masculine ~lumbersexual~ theme felt appropriate. But! This theme would work just as well for a "Lumberjill" bridal shower, a couples shower, or any gathering of lumbersexuals.
There was a meat and cheese board piled high:
Beer and bacon trail mix:
It's so delicious. Learn how to make it here.
Get the recipe here.
See the instructions here.
Get the recipe here.
And, of course, a cake:
See how we made it here.
This Tumblr-inspired beard-decorating game was made for Instagram-worthy photos. (Which guys do care about, even if some of them pretend they don't.)
We got fake beards from a Halloween shop and set out a bunch of DIY supplies.
Guests were paired off and had five minutes to create a fancy beard.
Even though some of our guests had real ink, everyone had fun with the temporary tattoo station.
The moonshine may have helped the guests unleash their inner lumbersexuals.
The second bro-dal shower was for Tommy Wesely, who will marry his fiancé Matt in October.
There's long been a connection between gay men, comic book superheroes, and camp, and we wanted to show how to turn comic books (or any geeky love) into a more elegant affair. (Turns out: lots of metallics and matte gold spray paint.) This sophisticated theme would work just as easily for a birthday party, engagement party, or swanky dinner party.
Use of the phrase "tablescape" was encouraged. As in "Wow, that Gotham-inspired tablescape looks great."
The buildings are inexpensive 3D puzzles with a couple coats of matte black spray paint added.
Pro tip: All desserts look better when they're stacked.
(The macarons were not given a coat of matte black spray paint; we had them custom-made.)
There was a tasting menu of seven cocktails, all inspired by different Batman characters.
Like the Bruce Wayne and the Boy Wonder. See all of them and get the recipes here.
A seven-cocktail tasting menu = everyone had a pretty great time.
The guests played classic shower games (like answering trivia questions about the couple) while getting increasingly drunk and therefore bad at playing them.
Go forth and bro-dal!
Styled by: John Gara, Lauren Zaser, Rachel Wilkerson Miller, Jess Probus, Matt Ortile
Photography: Lauren Zaser
Lumberjack recipe development and styling: Christine Byrne
Batman cocktail recipe development and styling: Rachel Sanders
Invitations, menus, and games: Justine Zwiebel
Lumberjack party products: Black disposable dishes; round galvanized charger; galvanized tray; moss; vintage copper shot glasses; moonshine and cherries; mini chalkboard sign; wooden utensils; tin planters; succulents; wooden ax; photo booth backdrop; photo booth props; camping tattoos; bear tattoos; bear pillow; beard oil; beard comb; napkins; moss table runner; tablecloth; lanterns; tiny trees.
Batman party products: Flowers; black macarons; silver geometric vases; long black planters; Chrysler Building puzzle; Empire State Building puzzle; gold flatware; napkins; place mats; tablecloth; gold confetti glasses; gold candle holders; Batmobile; candelabras; photo booth props; photo booth backdrop; black geometric votive holders; silver chargers.
Some of the props and decor were loaned to BuzzFeed Life or given to us free of charge.
Originally published on Buzzfeed - June 2015
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