F'n Planetary Alignments...

I'm guessing Mercury must be in retrograde again cause communication is all kinds of f'ed up.

First, my Adium goes all haywire and all I can get out of it is the little beachball of death. For Mac users, you know it as the beachball, for PC users, it's pretty much a spinning color wheel that means "Error, You're F'ed." Also for PC users, Adium is a nifty little program that combines your AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and MySpace Chat into one box.

Next, I try calling Ferg and his outgoing message says that his voicemail box has not been set up. Umm, yes it has, I talk to it on a regular basis.

Now, RB has claimed to hang himself if I'm not online to talk him down off the chair. That may be a little extreme, but it's nice to know I do some good in the world.

Finally, ninja DG lost his tennis racket in a cab. This really has nothing to do with this post, but I kinda think it's funny. And, we all know how much I like to end things on a funny note.

ADDENDUM:
Ok, so if you're using Adium and you have AIM, MSN and MySpace on there, you're bound to have difficulties. Go ahead and disengage the MySpace Chat cause that's what's fucking you up. If you MUST have it, disengage it prior to shutting it off and then enable it AFTER you sign on.

Just One More Hit, I Promise i Can Deal With It

This past Tuesday, I scored some tickets to the Kelly Clarkson concert up in Cobb County. Apparently, it’s only the second show in the venue with Annie Lennox being the first. Yeah, I’m still kicking myself for missing that.

For the record, I’m a semi-Kelly fan. I’ve dug most of her releases. Would I have gone if the tickets weren’t a business write-off or really good seats? Eh, probably not. But, I’m glad I did.

The funniest part about getting the tickets was my back and forth IMs with my ninja boss, DG. It went something like this:

DG: I got your tickets for tonight…
ME: Oh to the Miss Independent/Miss Almost Dropped From My Label Tour?
DG: No, that was last year, this year it’s the “Break Away from the Billboard Chart” Tour
ME: I hope she goes in chronological order of her singles and opens with “A Moment Like This”
DG: I doubt it, now is not a moment she wants to remember

Yeah, we can be pretty vicious all jacked up on caffeine. At any rate, Ferg was able to go with me and for business purposes I also roped along RB and AS. Ok, so here’s my thing, if you have to do stuff for business reasons, make sure the people you’re doing it for are actually pretty fun. And, this time around, they definitely were.

As with most concerts, I had my short list of songs that I hoped she would perform. They’re both of the darker and rocker variety, so I knew the chances were really good that she’d do them. And, yeah, she did. The two were “Addicted” and “Walk Away.” And, I have no shame in reporting that I sang along to the former and wiggled it a little bit to the latter.

Ferg, RB and AS however were bouncing up and down every single time Kelly did her little onstage hop. Can we talk about RB knowing every single f’n lyric of every f’n song? I ain’t mad atcha playa, I would have been that way for the Annie show I’m quite sure.

Did I mention we were all pretty buzzed too? Well, we kinda had to be. A) We were in Cobb County B) there were a lot of kids in there and that’s of the under the age of 15 variety and C) there were some pretty killing queens there too. Oh, and a little tip to anyone that is thinking about heading out to a show in Cobb, your choices of shots are pretty limited. There’s Grand Marnier and low level tequila (no Patron) but everything else is just everything chilled or neat.

Umm yeah, three shots of vodka chilled and a Jack Daniels neat for RB, thanks. Just driz-uunk.

I digress, back to the show. Kelly’s wardrobe was a mis-fire as per usual. One outfit the entire show with the exception of the very beginning where she had the signature red gown on from all of “My December’s” promotional material. Underneath she had the outfit she would wear the entire show, a royal blue empire waist top and black slacks. At half time she would throw a black vest over it.

Yeah, boring. Can we get some pretty sparkly things on her please?

The set design was pretty weak too come to think of it. The girl is definitely concentrating on her mega-hits and her personality to carry her from show-to-show. I ain’t mad at her though. Those are her strong points. She really does have this uncanny ability to draw the audience in.

She did most of her chart-toppers and a lot of stuff from the new album – my favorite being “Chivas” a song she claims to have written on a bunch of bar napkins according to the pre-cursor story she told before performing it acoustically.

Wardrobe was a 6.5; Stage Setting also at a 6.5; Song Selection was a solid 10; Crowd banter was a strong 9. At the end of the day, I’m definitely glad I went and was really happy with the crew that I went with.

Now, the afterparty at Swinging Richard’s is a whole other blog…

Mmm, bananas. Ha, Ferg.

Merge and Keep With The Flow of Traffic

Anyone that knows me knows that I do my best to take the High Road. I think it's because I believe in the old Grand Puba cut - 360 - What Goes Around Comes Around. However, this totally conflicts with my current mindset which is "get them before they get you."

Now I'm at this point in the road where the High Road and the Low Road kind of merge. I think it's about time to just keep with the flow of traffic.

After some thought, yes, things in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear. This just means that what goes around is coming around that much closer.

Bored now.

Anti-Social

So, after Thanksgiving, I've spent the past couple of nights just relaxing by myself. Usually, in one weekend I see an entirely different rotation of friends each day. This past weekend, however - zip.

I think I'm just feeling anti-social. Perhaps it's the Holidays, which always tend to make people feel one way oor the other - no grey areas there.

Either that or it's the Buffy-crack I've been addicted to. You see, I caught one episode on tv and randomly asked my buddy RB a question about the Vampire Slayer. Low and behold, the man has the entire series of Buffy on DVD (and has even given me the Angel crossovers to boot). So one by one, he's been loaning them to me like a Buffy-dealer.

Honestly, the show is really good, a fact backed up by actually ranking in TV Guide's Top 25 Best TV Shows of ALL TIME.

Wow, I'm actually defending my addiction.

A true sign of an addict.

Ok, I'm going back to being anti-social again.

Gobble Gobble, Bitches

All right boys and girls, just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. All apologies for the mass message, but you know I’m quite popular.

If you’re traveling, please be safe as there’s a bunch of alcoholics like me on the road.

Have fun, stay away from the tofurkey and most importantly, enjoy the time with the friends and family.

Cheers,
Arman

Dear Tyler,

I know you're not feeling well, so I'll cut you some slack.

I just ask that you stop projecting, stop trying to "own me," and furthermore, please stop acting like you ain't from 'round here.

Enough with the "sod," "bloody," "wanker," "sort," and any other British lingo you may have picked up.

I'm all about progress, but seriously? C'mon now.

Love Always,
Arman

PS I hope you feel better soon and I can't wait to pimpslap, I mean see you in a few weeks.

Go 'Head Mary...

There are several artists that would comprise the soundtrack of my life. Annie Lennox, Everything but the Girl and Mary J. Blige would definitely have the most tracks on that soundtrack.

Well, the latter done did it again. Here newest single is just sick.



The lyrics:
You know I love music
And every time I hear something hot
It makes me wanna move
It makes me wanna have fun
But it’s something about this joint right here
This joint right here
Its makes me wanna…..Woooh

Let it go……
Can’t let this thing called love get away from you
Feel free right now, going do what you want to do
Can’t let nobody take it away, from you, from me, from we
No time for moping around, are you kidding?
And no time for negative vibes, cause I’m winning
It’s been a long week, I put in my hardest
Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
No stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my mind right
I aint gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
Keep your head up high
In yourself, believe in you, believe in me
Having a really good time, I’m not complaining
And I’m a still wear a smile if it raining
I got to enjoy myself regardless
I appreciate life, I’m so glad I got mine

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
Aint worried about you and what you gonna do
I’m a lady so I must stay classy
Got to keep it hot, keep it together
If I want to get better
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

I aint gon’ let nothing get in my way
(I ain't gone let nobody bring me down, no, no, no)
No matter what nobody has to say
(No way, no way, no way)
I ain’t gon’ let nothing get in my way
No matter what nobody has to say

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
It’s a really good thing to say
That I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I won’t change my life, my life’s just fine

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
No stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my mind right
I ain’t gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…..

Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooooh
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine

Copy that, Mary J.

Too Many TImes Before

I've had Maroon5's "This Love" in my head since I woke up this morning. I have no idea why, I haven't heard it in weeks.

Patti is in town again this weekend for WETbar's 2nd of its Two Anniversary Events. Which I designed. Anyway, bygones.

She's so on LA time. I crashed at around 2am last night, she was still awake watching Harry Potter when I got up to use the bathroom at 6am. And, now? Well she's totally passed out on the couch - she never made it to her bed.

I love that she crashes here everytime she's in town - it's kinda great.

Any who, Phil, Kristine and JP are in town this weekend. We're all supposed to have dinner either today or tomorrow.

Updates on that later - this love has taken its toll on me, she says good-bye - damn it. I hear you Adam Levine.

Big GAY Survey

Answer truthfully so your myspace friends can know a bit more about you. It's fun!

Body:
1. How Old Were You When You Knew You Were Gay?
Don’t remember the age – I came to grips with it at around 17 though.

2. Have You Ever Had Sex With The Opposite Sex?
Once. We were f’n plastered. Come to think of it, I dunno if I was good.

3. Who Is The First Person You Came Out To?
My dear friend Yanique. She knew before I did.

4. Are You Out To Your Parents?
Parent. She rocks about the entire thing.

5. Do You Want Children?
Perhaps. I love my nieces and nephews to pieces so based on my adoration for them, yes.

6. Do You Have More Gay Friends or Straight Friends?
I’d like to think a fair balance, but the truth of the matter is that they’re mostly of the rainbow flag carrying persuasion.

7. Were You Out in School?
Nope, not in that backwoods town. College was a different ball game. Ha, balls.

8. Is Your Best Friend The Same Sex As You?
I don’t have a best friend. I have a very close circle of friends. And they’re of a variety of sexes – male, female, m-t-f, f-t-m and I love them unconditionally.

9. If Your Best Friend Is The Same Sex, have you ever kissed them?
Yes, I kiss my friends. But, not in the tongue wrestling kind of way.

10. Have you ever done crystal meth?
Yes, the mid 90’s fried the hell out of some of my brain cells.

11. Have You Ever Been In A Sling
Nope, not my gig.

12. Have You Ever Done A 3-way??
Nope, not my gig.

13. Have You Ever Dressed In Drag?
Again, not my gig. I book them on a regular occasion though.

13a. Would you date a Drag queen?
Trying to remember if I have.

14. Are You A Top/Bottom or truly Versatile?
Not without dinner and cocktails first…

15. Have You Seen An Uncircumsized thingy?
This is America…

16. Have You Had Sex With Someone of A Different Race?
Yes.

17. Have You Ever Barebacked?
Not without dinner and cocktails first…

18. How Many Cher CDs do you own?
Umm, at least three. Hey now, in a former life I was a music critic for a gay magazine – you do the math.

19. Name Of Your First True Love?
Wes

20. Do You Still Talk To them?
Not really, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

21. Does size matter..?
Not as much as chemistry.

22. Biggest Turn Ons?
Quiet confidence, intelligence, sly smile, fashionable tastes
23. Biggest Turn Offs?
Trying too hard, obnoxious, being inconsiderate

24. Ever Been Harrassed Because You Are Gay?
Honestly, I can’t say that I have been.

25. Worst Gay Stereotypes That Applies to you?
Label whore, extracurricular activities, snide comments

26. Ever Been To A Pride Rally?
I’ve helped organize them.

27. Would You Marry If You Could?
Definitely.

28. Would you rather be rich and smart or young and beautiful?
Rich. The other three I’ve got down to a science.

29. Do You Sculpt Your Eyebrows?
Yes, they’re trimmed.

30. Do You Trim Your Body hair?
I almost put this down as Number 25.

31. Ever had sex with more than one person in a day?
Yes, also in the mid 90’s.

32. Ever been to an orgy?
No, I don’t even watch them on pornos.

33. Have you dated your best friends ex?
Negatory – that is such bad form.

34. Would you vote for Hilary Clinton if she ran for president?
With no hesitation. I hope Barrack considers running as her Vice.

35. Do you want monogamy in your relationships?
Isn’t she a tranny in Orlando?

36. Do you believe in true love?
I’m back and forth on this one

37. Do you have any tattoos?
No, too permanent.

38. Do you have any piercings?
Several.

39. Would you date a smoker?
Every guy I’ve ever dated has smoked.


42. Do you know what Stonewall was?
I personally think it should be a requirement for anyone that attends any Pride event across the country. In short, yes I do.

43. Wonder Woman, Xena or The Halliwell Sisters
Kristine W., Deborah Cox, Ultra Nate’

44. Strangest place you have had sex?
I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to that – showers, bed, couch.

45. Strangest place you've woken up?
Bathroom floor.

46. Are your best years behind or in front of you?
In front of me, for sure. The past was just a warm-up.

47. Favorite porn movie?
Don’t have one in particular, I have favorite scenes though.

48. Are you in love now?
Yes, with myself. It took a while.

49. Ever been in love with a straight guy/girl?
I’ve lusted after, but not fallen in love with one.

50. Did you ever have sex with them?
No, but I’ve made out with some “straight” guys before.

51. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
Yes, completely on accident.

52. Have you ever been to a bath house?
Yes, years ago when my roommate did the financials for one and his car broke down. I took a tour when I picked him up.

Just Missed It

So, CC decided the old theme of my blog was orange. Umm, not so much. It's green.

After he mentioned it, I decided I wanted my old template back. I'm keeping the new tagline though. It's where I am NOW.

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day...

Today was an extremely productive and good news yielding day.

I'm so f'n excited.

To celebrate, I actually changed up the look of my blog for the first time in like over a year. I really like it.

Thoughts?

Yawn

So, I just checked out a couple of my favorite bloggers and realized either a) they've gotten really domestic and boring or b) I can't relate to them anymore. There are certain bloggers whom I have a certain affection for simply because of the way they zing up an otherwise ordinary tale (see: boysbriefs), but even their concentration has been off its mark as of late.

Not to say that Guest List is that much more interesting, cause truth is even I get bored with myself talking about various gigs, family and friends.

Fuck me, I'm getting old.

(Sidebar: I've been keeping a journal of a side project I'm working on and when that comes into the execution phase of the project, I'll probably backtrack and post it. Right now, it's in the conceptualization phase which is proving to be a nice swift kick in the arse to the creative mind, not to mention an inspiration to the creatively stagnant. You guys can thank me later.)

Get On It, Wench

Dear Tyler,

I have successfully comment bombed you on your blog and Ferg's blog. If you're going to be up for hours before Ferg or me, then you better get on it, wench. Please have something clever up on your blog or a witty retort for a previous day's post.

All this "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE UP" nonsense is so beneath you. You are, after all, up against my exquisite wit.

Love Always,
The Supreme Master of the Universe (say it with me now)
Arman

PS For those of you who do not know the dynamic of our friendship - this is pure sarcasm. Don't think of me as too much of a jackass. Cheers!

Free Your Mind, Indeed

If someone told me a year ago that I'd be negotiating a contract with En Vogue, I would have laughed in their face. Yeah, I really am. Neat.

So, in honor of the occasion - my favorite En Vogue videos - "Whatever" and "Free Your Mind."





Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'ISM!

Can I Get WIth Ya' Baby?

"Let me think about it."

I am so f'n addicted to this track. LOVE IT. My dear friend BH sent me the extended mix and then the link to this video. Needless to say this track has been on repeat all day.

I love the fact that cutie vanilla latte jumps his happy ass in that pool of go-diva chocolate.

Yay for the Danish! All I'm saying is they needed to do something to redeem themselves from f'n Aqua. Barbie Girl, indeed.

I am not mad at the black light friendly finge either.

It's All About Me

I haven't been feeling top shelf lately. I think I'm battling something - I blame JD. He was under the weather last week and convinced all of us he wasn't contagious. Well, at least I might have that really sexy, deep voice he was sporting towards the end of his illness - pure baritone.

At any rate, I discovered this personality test while I was incapacitated so I figured I'd go ahead and take it to convince myself I'm not neurotic. As it turns out, I'm "low neurotic." Yay, me.

Here are the rest of the details:

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have high extroversion. You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends. You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation. Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!" Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have low agreeableness. Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all. In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted. And you're skeptical that anyone else really feels differently. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test