!Stressed!

Apologise for not posting in a while, but I've been under an unbelievable amount of stress these past weeks. Not only do I have shit loads of reading to do, inlcuding learning a new programming language (C++) for the first of the John Hopkins workshop meetings here this weekend (resulting in my whole weekend being taken up and missing my friends birthday on Sat) , but Im trying to run a load of experiments and write a paper before this Friday - which has led to me being stuck in college till 8 most days last week. All this plus trying to spend time with the boyf and my friends at the weekend, Dave R moving to Brummie-land (we're gonna miss you Dave!!), getting my US visa sorted out and paying bills and rent has led to a complete lack of proper sleep, bad skin, shin splints from shitty shoes and an overall complete head-melt.



I just can't wait till this fucking week is over. At least I've Kylie to look forward to on Thurs night, that is if I can get everything else done in the meantime.

We Want Konnt

I had a ball last night at the eleventh Alternative Miss Ireland in the Olympia, a take on the Miss World pageant and organised to raise money for charity. It was my first time going, so didn’t know really what to expect – another drag show of men in dresses miming out of sync, or something really awful. Well it was a fabulous surprise, in the best sense of the word surprise, and fabulous. The stage was set with a hilarious opening act, with Panti, Veda miming to an excerpt from Gone with the Wind, the two of them being completely upstaged by Shirley Temple Bar riding in on a stuffed horse and hilariously colliding with a makeshift fence.

I have to say I was extremely impressed with the amount of effort each of the contestants put into the event (apart from one or two ‘touched’ individuals), especially Miss Wexford O’Grady and Miss Heidi Konnt and her Von Tramp family, who after a hilarious rendition of the Sound of Music’s “Do-a-Deer-Fist-Me” and Madonna’s “Hanky-Panky” with the revised chorus of “all you want to do is Fist Me” beat the competition to claim the crown, with a cheer of “we want konnt” bellowing up from the crowd. I especially liked the way she kept on propositioning Senator David Norris. She was borderline offensive, and even went over a couple of times but it was all in good fun.

Other honourable mentions include Davina Devine and her whole take of the Barbie thing complete with gorgeous Ken, who in actual fact is a friend of the BFs, and Sade O Saphic who did a great routine to “Mein Heir” from Cabaret and later mimed to Turning Japanese while topless with black electrical tape over her nipples, being tied up Japanese rope bondage-style. Ah lesbians, you gotta love ‘em.

Check out more photos.




Speaking of the Sound of Music – check out these lyrics.

Eight weeks of Solitude

In the past few weeks I've found out that I'll be going to John Hopkins University, Baltimore for 6 weeks in July/Aug to attend a research workshop. I wasn't particularly keen on the idea. I know it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and is a very prestigious workshop to attend etc, but I wasn't too sure if I really wanted to go. For one, it reinforced the question in my mind about why I really am doing what I'm doing especially if I'm not into it all that much. This means that I'll be away working with a top-class research team, all of whom are probably extremely intelligent/nerdy/interested in their research, which will just probably make me feel more of a fraud. Also I'll be away from friends and loved ones for a considerable amount of time. It's not as though it's even a fun trip - it's a work trip. Ill be there with my supervisor and his family, and maybe a post-doc from college, but its not going to be exactly a great social event.

However, on hearing that I will be paid quite a reasonable amount to attend, I warmed a bit more to the idea. My boyf also said he'd come over for a week or so to visit me, which would be fantastic, although he wasn't too happy about the whole idea of me being away for so long, understandably enough. Plus I might get to see my relatives in New York as its not that far away.

But a huge dampener has just been put on things as I've just found out that I have to go for eight not six weeks. That's basically my whole summer - the end of June, all of July and most of August. Six weeks I could just about cope with, but eight. It's just too long to be away on my own. Am I being unreasonable? Maybe it won't be so bad, or maybe it will. It's the latter that worries me. And from the reports I've heard about Baltimore, apparently it isn't the most exciting place to spend a week, let alone eight.

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

Tales of the Weird

Came across this while surfing the web. Looks like something out of the National Enquirer, but apparantly it's true.

Egyptian Doctors Remove Baby's Second Head (from Reuters)

Springfield, Springfield, it's a hell of a town...

Simpsons' Springfield to legalize gay marriage from CTV via Towleroad.

The whole gay marriage issue is a contentious one. My own opinion is that although it may/may not be something that I wish to do in the future, the option still should be there for us gayers. Sure, what difference does it make - gay or straight? Let people live their lives whatever way they want. One argument against it is that they say that marriage is for straight couples to have children - so what about all the childless couples? Should they be forcibly divorced? That's my two...well one and a half...or maybe more like just a half...cent.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's. It really is a day to make single people feel worse about themselves, but I'm actually glad its here this time around. For those who are interested, the history of Valentine's Day. I spent ages making a card last night (that's right - by hand), so hopefully the BF likes it.

And as a respite from the general soppiness...here's my alternative Valentine's card.

This is scary news, and links in nicely with my previous post - new strain of HIV discovered.

A date at the STD clinic

So I went and did it, being the responsible gay adult that I am. I went and got tested. I had been thinking about doing it for a while now, but never seemed to get around to it, especially with current news like this making headlines. There is always that niggling doubt at the back of your mind – “What if”. The fact that I’m actually in a happy relationship helped give me the push. The two of us went about two weeks ago. Oh, the romance! A date at the STD clinic – holding hands during the syringing, swabbing, scraping and sampling, who could ask for anything more, I hear you say. I, for one.

It wasn’t as bad as expected. The staff at the clinic couldn’t have been nicer. The worst thing about it was the waiting time – we were there for almost 4 fucking hours before both of us were finished, and we ended up only getting our blood taken because of the huge post-christmas crowd, which is to be expected, I suppose. We went back two weeks later for the results and also for the swabbing part. I can see all of you crossing your legs right now. Well it isn’t that bad, really, apart from the weird sensation you get when she sticks that thing down you-know-where and makes a few little scratches and the uncomfortableness that lasts for an hour or so afterwards. I got the results of that there and then, and thank god ‘twas all clear.

I had been so nervous waiting for the blood-test results. At first I was worried that I might have something, but then I became even more worried about what if he had something – what would he do, but more importantly, what would I do – how would I react. It made me quickly realise how much he does actually mean to me (excuse the soppiness), the fact that at a time like that his well being was more important to me than my own. It is a nice thing to realise.

So I encourage all of you who are in a relationship and are maybe doubting it to take an improptu trip to the STD clinic. Maybe even bring some champagne and a lobster and make a night of it. Well, it would be original at least - Darling, would you care for more champagne to accompany your anal swabbing?

*Sniffle*

I just spent 18 fucking euro on a bloody antibiotic prescription! I've been trying to get rid of this cunting cough for the last week, so I told myself I better get it checked out. Surprise, surprise I was put on an antibiotic, the usual doctor fix. I'd say they spend about 85% of their time writing prescriptions for antibiotics, 10% writing sick notes and the remaining 5% counting their riches. Well I hope it makes you happy Dr., if that is your real name. Does your money make you feel better, does it hug you at night and tell you it loves you?
It does?
Well, fuck you.


And apparantly, for those of you interested in real estate, a big dick helps to sell houses.

Paris Photos

So much has happened since the last post, including Christmas, my fantastic appartment-warming party which everyone turned up at - hey hope you all had a good time. The last few hours or so are a bit fuzzy, but the reports I've gotten back tell me I didn't make too much of a fool of myself! Photos from that should be up soon enough, for those of you who know where to find them. There was also New Year's which I spent in Belfast, but unfortunately didn't go out. Twas alright - was nice to ring in the New Year with the boyf though - cause they always say you should always start the year how you want to finish it. Anyway, I've eventually gotten around to sorting out the multitude of photos on my camera, and here are one or two from the trip to Paris back in November. I will get back to regular posting pretty soon, well as soon as I've gotten rid of this fucking flu. At the moment it feels like someone is sitting on my chest, and not in a good way.

Eiffel Tower at night





Walkway in Pompidou Center





Cathedral de Notre-Dame





Clock at Museé d'Orsay





Champs Elysées from Arc de Triomphe