I have lost faith in gay men around my age again...

This morning, Feb. 20, 2006, I got an e-mail with my speed dating results back.

Of the 30 participants there, 29 of whom I dated, only 14 people mutually wanted to be friends with me. This means that the other 15 didn't want to be friends... I got no matching dating results.

I suppose that the 15 people who didn't want to be friends with me really miss out... I'm grateful for my friends, and I'm always happy to meet new people. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be friends with them. Anyway, I prefer to have a few close friends, than to have many acquaintances.

So, I guess I'll be taking my Gloria Gaynor - The Anthology CD onto the train.

(I will survive...)

A friend who sent me this song by Melanie C, perhaps I am feeling that too. The title of the song is called Better Alone.

I understand your point of view letting me go
But I thought you had more faith
Everything I've done for you
You made the mistakes and now you throw this in my face
And I have worked so hard for you all of this time and you cast me aside
I understand your point of view

But I can't seem to get my head around
All the things that I feel good about always seem to disappear
And every time I think I've got this all worked out
Something chews me up and spits me out
But there's nothing left to fear I'm better alone my dear

You couldn't pick a better time to give me the news
Why don't you kick me when I'm down?
I'd always believed in you
Defended your name but you have not been true
I gave you so much of my life I've compromised and you tell me goodbye
You couldn't pick a better time

And I can't seem to get my head around
All the things that I feel good about always seem to disappear
And every time I think I've got this all worked out
Something chews me up and spits me out
But there's nothing left to fear I'm better alone my dear

I know I really should thank you for setting me free
It's really amazing the changes I'm starting to feel
It's not gonna be long till I'm fit and strong
Deliverance helped me heal still I wonder if you ever wish you still had me

Will I ever get my head around
All the things that I feel good about that always seem to disappear
When every time I think I've got this all worked out
Something chews me up and spits me out
But there's nothing left to fear
No No No

I can't seem to get my head around
All the things that I feel good about that always seem to disappear
No No

And every time I think I've got this figured out
Something screws me up and drags me down
But there's nothing left to fear
I'm better alone my dear

Imagine Me & You

It's Valentine's Day (Feb. 14, 2006), aka Commercial Romance Day 2006, and the guy I met for coffee two weeks ago told me that he didn't have time to see me tonight. So, I had my own little movie date.

I went to see Imagine Me & You. The major critics were not happy with it, but the site Rotten Tomatos had a mixture of reviews of good and bad. I believe this is a movie where you have to see it to find out if you like it or hate it. It seems that you cannot be in the middle of neither liking it or disliking it. But, that's how I felt. I didn't dislike the film, but I didn't like the film. Yes, there was a bit of humour in it, but I didn't think the humour was overdone. However, I also didn't think the story flowed too much either.

Although, I have to say that Matthew Goode, who played another character in Match Point, did a good job. In Match Point, he was an asshole. And in this movie, he is the one whom people feel sorry for.

I actually wanted to sneak into a theatre playing Brokeback Mountain after the end of my movie, because my movie only lasted about 1 hour and 33 minutes. There was a theatre playing Brokeback Mountain that started at 10:15 p.m.. When I got into the theatre, it was about the middle of the movie. But I decided that I would not break the rules and go home.

Aside: What is it with people and the lack of respect for theatre etiquette? We had someone tonight who answered a cell phone during the movie, and then didn't exit the theatre to talk. So, there was the dialogue in the movie, and his phone conversation!

Wicked guitar clips on the net!

A friend of mine sent me these wonderful links of people who are awesome . Here they are:

This link is of someone who uses an electric guitar to play Pachelbel's Canon.

This link is of someone who uses an electric guitar to imitate Super Mario Bros on the guitar.

And this link is of someone who plays a two part guitar piece by himself on his own guitar.

Enjoy. I supremely enjoyed them.

Speed Dating

This evening, Feb. 11, 2006, was the Concordia Speed Dating. This evening has restored my faith in gay men, somewhat.

There were 30 gay/bi men in total tonight, some of whom I have already met at Jeunesse lambda, but most of whom I have never met before. I had a great night, I met a lot of people, had some great conversation, and had some good veggies with dip.

After the speed dating, I was able to catch three people who went to Université de Montréal, and we went to get some food. They wanted something quick, so I suggested Chinese food, but they didn't seem up for it. So, I suggested pizza. However, we went to the pizzaria, and the pizza looked like it was there from two hours ago. (Nothing was moist, it looked very dry). So, I suggested that perhaps we can go to resto du village, since they want to go clubbing after, and they'd be in the village. Thus, we set off to resto du village. There were four of us, including me. There was one Swedish guy, who spoke French very well. Anyway, I was telling them about the story of the creepy old man who told me that he wanted to pinch my ass at Guy-Concordia metro station. And further on in the conversation, I used an expression that I learned from the Swedish guy (avoir peur bleu de = to be very scared), and I said that j'ai peur bleu des hommes blancs dans leur quaraintaines qui veulent toucher mes fessiers. (I'm very scared of creepy old men in their forties who try to pinch my ass), and then the Swedish guy pinched my ass!

At the end of the night, before we parted ways, the Swedish guy gave me his e-mail. He invited me to this festival on the 25th of February. I do not know whether or not he's interested in dating me, (well, I guess I'll find out, once I get the results of the speed dating). I mean, he's a nice guy, and I would like to be friends, but if he's interested in dating, that would be cool too. I personally don't know any guys who isn't interested in someone who would pinch their ass. But I suppose there's always one... I know I wouldn't pinch someone's ass if I wasn't at least somewhat interested in dating them...

Valentine's Blues...

Suffering from a big dose of Valentine's Blues...

It's four days from Valentines, and I see so many people around who are couples. Then I look at me, and I'm still single... Though, there are strings that are being thread, so who knows.

But, I've been struck with the Valetine's Blues, and it's usually not this bad... It also doesn't help that I found out the guy whom I met last month at Jeunesse lambda, the guy who is from Alberta, has a boyfriend. So, that's out of the question, but I'm glad that he at least told me and was honest about it. He also brought it up in a very light way.

I mean, I still have speed dating tomorrow, two guys for sure who are gay, and one guy who may be gay. So, not all hope is lost.

As well, I also found out an anti-Valentine party. For girls who feel lonely. There will be cake and bitching about men. Perhaps I can get in on that.

Rip off place!

Last night, Thursday, Feb 9, 2006, I felt like wings. There was this diner (resto-pub), that offered 25 cent wings during happy hour (8 p.m. - 11 p.m..). This was advertised on a page, which has now since been ripped off the window.

So, I went into the restaurant and ordered 20 wings. However, when I got the bill for the wings, it came to $15.95. This got me wondering, because I thought it was 25 cent wings... So, 20 * 0.25 = $5?

And then, I was told by the manager that it is only 25 cent wings, if you buy a pitcher. This was not advertised on the sheet of paper. So, I asked how much for a pitcher? I was informed that the pitcher was $10. Thus, me being the mathematician that I am, I added $5 + $10, which is $15, which is still cheaper than $15.95. So, basically I have paid for wings, and drank water, when I could have had beer.

The boss informed the chef that I get a free beer. He tried to pawn me off with a free bottle of beer, the small bottle for $10... What a stingy boss! I was adamant about getting about my pitcher to go, and he told me that he can't give me a pitcher because that was the special for eat-in...

I didn't want the actual pitcher, I just wanted the equivalent amount in beer that I would have gotten in a pitcher. If he had given me five or six bottles of beer, I would have been satisfied. Anyway, I basically gave up on the stupid boss, and to make the chef's life easier, I said, "Listen, just pour me a pitcher, and I'll have it here."

I like surprises, but not cheap/dingy bastardy type surprises. Do you think I'll be returning to this establishment for food?

Match Point

I went to see Match Point today, not because I was told or urged that it was a good movie, but because I stumbled across the fact that Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who starred as the coach in Bend It Like Beckham, was in this movie. So, I went to see the movie for him.

I have never seen any Woody Allen movies, that I know about anyway, until tonight. The only other Woody Allen movie I knew about, but never saw was Mighty Aphrodite. I found the movie good, but the script a bit weak, especially when it was nearing the end of the movie. I thought the way that the ending was wrapped up was kind of rushed and cheesy.

And what is with the recent barrage of actors who star in two different films within a close period of time? I'll give some examples:

Heath Ledger - He was in Casanova and Brokeback Mountain;
Jake Gyllenhaal - He was in Brokeback Mountain and Proof, and in some theatres, Jarhead is still playing;
Anne Hathaway - Brokeback Mountain and Hoodwinked!;
Scarlett Johansson - Match Point and A Good Woman;
Matthew Goode - Match Point and Imagine Me & You (released in some parts, soon to be in others);

It is possible that there are other actors and actresses who fit this model, but I can't recall them right now.

I also read an article online how Scarlett Johansson forbade Jonathan Rhys-Meyers to look at her breasts while they were filming intimate scenes. What a drama queen? And she doesn't have any breasts. How highly does she think of herself? As well, I believe she does not fit the criteria of femme fatale. But that's just my opinion.

It's nice to see Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in a role that is more serious and has more substance to it, rather than some side roles in other movies, or the coach in Bend It Like Beckham.

The new Canadian government and the cabinet...

Oh goodness, what a dark day for Canadian politics. Not only have Stephen Harper and the Conservatives been sworn in on Parliament Hill, but their lineup of awesome Cabinet has also been revealed. This indeed is a sad and dark day for Canada. (Which is probably now known as either the 53rd state, or Christiana)

Our finance minister, Jim Flaherty, managed the budget in Ontario from 2001 - 2002 during the Harris era, and the "Common Sense Revolution", which was anything but. He is a big proponent of tax cuts. In fact, he wanted to implement a tax credit to parents to send their children to private school. (This is of course after the Harris government completely destroyed the old curriculum and replaced it with a crap one). So, I guess they will roll back the income tax break, and implement the GST one...

And to make it worse, we have a Liberal person deflecting to the Conservatives! That's like selling your soul to the devil. Why would you ever join the Conservative Party of Canada, which is basically the Canadian Alliance in disguise?

I suppose now we get to see the damage that was done to Ontario from 1995 - 2005 be implemented to Canada from 2006 - 20XX? Let's hope that this minority government does not last long. I can see the social justice being rolled back already.

Hmm... So Confused!

Today, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, I had a really nice chat with the guy I had coffee with last Thursday. For simplicity sake, let us call him Pete. So, I had a really nice coffee with Pete on Thursday.

After I got home from my brunch, Pete was online, so we chatted for a bit. And then we went and did some work separately, and chatted some more. At the end of our chat, Pete said, "Have fun at speed dating."

Now, I don't know what to make of this, since I am registered for speed dating, but only to keep my options open. I think that Pete is cute, intelligent, kind, and sweet. In fact, I wouldn't mind dating Pete. And of course, if I dated Pete, I wouldn't need to go on speed dating. I don't know, I'm so confused... I don't know how he sees me: Either as a friend, or as a potential love interest. I think the chemistry is there, but I don't know if he believes the chemistry is there. I mean, I wouldn't mind taking the risk and date Pete, to see where things go. What really puzzles me is the fact that on Saturday night, before going to see Hoodwinked! Pete logged on to say hi, and to see how my day was before he went to bed.

It was suggested that the next time I see Pete online, I should ask him if he would be interested in going for a movie and/or dinner sometime. I may try that next time I see him online.

Hoodwinked

This rainy evening in Montreal, on Feb. 4, 2006, I decided that instead of going out to a bar, I would go and see a movie. I went to see the animated feature Hoodwinked! featuring Anne Hathaway, who was also in Brokeback Mountain. There were others, but that name stuck in particular because I know her in several movies.

This movie was a very clever animated feature on a classic fairy tale, with a bit of new stuff thrown in. The classic elements of Little Red Riding Hood is still in, but there are now a lot more depth to the characters. Also, the wolf has a more positive picture than in the original fairy tale.

Anne Hathaway really played a different character in this film. When I saw her in Brokeback Mountain, she was a cold, heartless bitch, who was a very good businesswoman. In Hoodwinked! She's a playful little girl, with big ambitions and wants to travel the world.

And a complete aside: The guy I had coffee with on Thursday briefly talked to me and see how my day was going... That was sweet of him, since he told me he was going to bed shortly, and he just thought he'd pop in briefly. :)

Outwrite! Submissions

I got an e-mail today from the Outwrite! committee. I submitted three pieces and none of them got chosen. Oh well, we are not the judge of our writing, as others are. And I don't know of anyone whose writing pleases everyone. It's too bad that I didn't get published, but it was important that I got my feelings down on paper, and at least I tried.

It's too bad... If I had gotten published, I would have asked them to send me a copy, and perhaps they could have sent a copy to the Queer Union at Concordia University. Now that my work isn't going to be in the publication, I'm less inclined to get/ask for a copy, and their chance of sending it to some other universities is one less, at least. But everything happens for a reason.

A nice coffee today

About a week ago, I met a really nice guy online. He's doing a MA in Educational Studies at Concordia University, and we had great conversation when we have chats online or on MSN. He has been busy with work, and I went home for Chinese New Year, but today, we finally had an opportunity to meet in person, have coffee and chat.

I really enjoyed our chat, as we talked about many interesting topics. He's cute, but I don't know if he thinks I'm cute. I believe that there is chemistry there, but I don't want to get my hopes up. He said that we will do it again, so that's a good sign, but again, maybe he just wants to be friends. I don't know... We'll see where this takes us.

So, here's to another coffee or dinner or something. He seems like a decent guy.

I have also registered for queer speed dating. Maybe I won't need to pursue that at all...

Memoirs of a Geisha & Nanny McPhee

Yesterday, on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, after working from about 2:00 p.m. to about 7:30 p.m. (or 8:00 p.m.), I decided that I needed a break, and went to see Memoirs of a Geisha, since it was highly recommended to me by a friend, who has similar tastes in film than I do.

I went to see the film, and the comment from a friend of mine exactly echoes what I feel about the film: "It's nice cinemagraphically, but not very true to the book." (I haven't read the book, and I guess seeing the movie does not make me want to read the book either).

This film shows the nastiness of human nature. When people are competing for wealth and/or fame, all the gloves come off, and some will resort to nasty tactics, like spreading rumours or saying nasty things to the person's face. I really think that Ziyi Zhang's character, Chio/Sayuri took the high road, and got to the top fair and square.

The other thing that bugged me about the film was getting Chinese actresses to play Geishas... We really don't need to fit into the stereotype about how all Asian cultures are alike, and how all Asian people look alike. The music also was not as good as I thought it was... Considering this movie beat out Brokeback Mountain for best score, it sucked royally to have won. I have the soundtrack for Brokeback Mountain, but I do not want to get the soundtrack for Memoirs of a Geisha. Yes, Yo Yo Ma has some great cello solos, but nothing too exciting, in my opinion. I felt that the music didn't go anywhere, there was no peak, no climax. But obviously, I do not know scores, since the people at the Golden Globes picked that movie to have the best score.

And then tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, I went to see Nanny McPhee. I did not know that Emma Thompson, who plays Nanny McPhee in the film, wrote the screenplay. I was supposed to meet a friend at the theatre to see it with him, but we missed each other. When I got there, he went to the coffee shop to get a coffee and sit down. I thought he was already in the theatre, so I went in, and looked for him in the theatre. I didn't see him there, so I went on the DDR machine, because I told him I would be at the DDR machine. But he also didn't show up. I thought I had missed him. It turned out we missed each other. He spent his time at the coffee shop, outside of the theatre.

The movie was good, it was fun, clever, entertaining, and a good family film. However, what ruined the movie was these three people who did not have any knowledge of movie etiquette.

In a film, especially in one where it is funny, it is okay to laugh. However, it is not okay to laugh every bloody minute, because not everything is funny in the film. As well, it is not acceptable to make comments constantly. If I can hear you, and you're one or two rows above me, that's a problem. I will not go on a rant about movie etiquette here, but these were the two things that the three idiots constantly ignored. That really diminished my enjoyment of the film. I did however get another free movie pass, so that's good.

All in all, this was a good day. Despite idiotic people who went to see Nanny McPhee and laughed at every bloody thing. I even glared at them, and they still didn't get the hint... * rolls eyes * Here's where I wish the phrase: "You! Off my planet!!" would actually come true!