Oh yes, and a quote from today's edition of Metro Today (the story is about a hot dog eating contest):
"Takeru Kobayashi amazed onlookers as bits of his last bun oozed out of his nose."
Just who are these amazed onlookers? And how else do they get their kicks?
Wait, I don't think I want to know.

You want the boys to like you? Have a member of your family come visit. I went out to eat with my sister tonight, which apparently gave everyone outside the illusion that I've "got it goin' on" (or whatever it is the kids say these days).

CUTE, INOFFENSIVE STORY - you know, for kids!
On a somewhat lighter note, this morning on my way to the subway I saw a squirrel crossing the street. A car came along and it looked like that would be the end of the line for Mr. Squirrel. I'm not sure exactly what happened next - maybe its tail got caught under a tire a bit or something - but it sent the squirrel spinning. When it came to a stop it took off real fast and climbed up a fence. It stopped up there and looked around. I could almost read its expression: "What the fuck just happened?"

I had an interesting post-Pride incident yesterday. I was talking about the parade with our IT guy at work, and he (unexpectedly) started saying some pretty foul homophobic stuff ("they should put them all on an island", etc.). I was shocked; this is a guy I've gotten along with great for over a year, and he had this ugly side I'd never seen. This was the first time something like this happened to me, and I couldn't just sit there. So I told him, "Just so you know, I'm gay, and it hurts me when you say stuff like that." I was pretty emotional and had to walk out of there. When I came back later he apologized. Usually when people apologize I just say "that's okay" or something, but I couldn't bring myself to say that in this case. I told him he didn't have to like it or even understand it, but that he should accept people even if they're different from him. I wish I'd had the chance to talk to him a bit more about it, but I'm glad I got as much out as I did. I think I actually had a positive effect on him.
In the end, I'm glad this incident occurred; it made me feel proud.

Pride was good this year, despite a few moments of trepidation. I mostly just walked around alone all weekend, stopping to spend time with groups where I knew someone, which made for a different experience. (I must say by yesterday I was getting tired of it all, though; I actually went home around 8.) I took tons of pictures, which I'm really looking forward to seeing, and I met some really nice people, which helped renew my faith in humanity. Of course, there were the usual attitude cases floating around, but this year I used Pride as an occasion to see these guys in context, and how little they matter.
I can't believe the amazing weather we had. You won't catch me complaining about the heat, that's for sure, because 1) I complain about the cold all winter and whine about summer being so far away, and 2) I now have an air conditioned apartment, so the only real disadvantage of hot weather - trouble sleeping - doesn't affect me anymore.