this is me...

Taking the Train

2009-09-12T11:49:00.001-05:00

Sitting on the train headed for Union Station. This is the most boring 50min ride I have ever taken. I hate taking it by myself, but I have no one to travel with. It's especially hard when I'm traveling into the city to meet up with people.

I'm going to Millennium Park to watch some folk band perform. And the making my way up to Lincoln Park for a hot dog joint and back to Bucktown for a block party. I think it's Bucktown. There's a U2 tribute band performing this afternoon at 3pm.

After listening to Vertigo for a bit, I'm making my way to Division st. for the Renegade Craft Fair to check out what people make, how they make it and see if there's anything worth buying. I do love handmade gifts.

Frustration

2009-06-23T14:27:00.001-05:00

I'm so frustrated with work. If I could change one thing in my job description, it wouldn't be hard to decide what it would be. I would take out that last line that says, "other tasks as assigned.". Since when is it part of my job to drive myself and 3 other staff in MY vehicle to a field trip? Isn't that what we pay bus drivers for?

And if it was up to me, a lot of the staff that did go on the trip would be looking for a new job.

I'm just frustrated, I can't wait for this day to end to go home and listen to some music.

private viewing

2009-06-19T17:44:00.002-05:00

i went to the movies last night, just me and the guy. we went to see the brothers bloom. we paid fourteen dollars for our tickets, another nine for our beverages. walked in the theatre and we were the only ones there. the movie started, a man walked in, sat a few rows up. three people, one movie theatre, some cuddling in the back row. it was a great night.

handle with care

2009-06-17T23:19:00.002-05:00

i went to the emergency room on tuesday. i woke up with a ache in my eye. i didn't think anything of it, as i usually do. just thought i slept on it funny, maybe slept on my hand or something, ya know.

i went to work, my boss noticed that there was something weird going on with my eyes. i was having trouble blinking my right eye, unless i made a conscience effort to blink it. then she had me do these other regular, very natural motions with my face. i could not move the right side of my face.

i called my mom, she took me to the emergency room right away and i was diagnosed with bell's palsy, a form of paralysis of the face due to an irritation to the facial nerve. i was the third case this week for the hospital i went to, which even they thought was a lot.

the doc had me take a cat scan, which came back clear and sent me home with two prescriptions. one for a steroid and one fore a anti-viral medication. i am ingesting huge amounts of medicine into my system with hopes that it will help, however, there is no proof that the medication helps with the cure of bell's palsy.

getting in front of the camera

2009-06-17T18:33:00.003-05:00

for a while now, i've been thinking that i want to get back in front of the camera and start making videos again. i know that someone out there in this huge world that we live in will watch it. even so, if nobody watched the video that i make, i would survive. i would not be offended nor discouraged to make more videos.

tonight. that's the goal. tonight i will put together a new video, edit it, and post it no later than tomorrow night.

In the Dog House

2009-05-15T00:13:00.002-05:00

I work in less than 7 hours, but I'm not really that tired. I want to go to bed, just can't fall asleep. It sucks 'cause I know I'll be exhausted in the morning.

Anyway, on Monday morning as I was about to walk out the door to go to work, my mother comes home with not 1, but 2 puppies. They are from the same litter and are Yorkie Shitzu. Angel (girl) is mostly black with 3 white paws and a little white patch on her chest. Joker (boy) is a perfect blend of black and white... sometimes you can see a brown in his fur.

I'm not entirely in love with their names, but my mom doesn't want to change them so I'm kind of S.O.L. on that matter. One day I'll get my own puppy one day and with give him a great name.

All week I've been excited to wake up and see them. I've been so busy that getting to spend time with them has been hard, but I make sure I'm up an hour earlier than usual just to hang out with them.

Okay!! off to bed I go.

Wow

2008-11-11T02:09:00.002-06:00

Wow! Where the hell have I been. It's like I fell off the face of the Earth, right? I can see how that is a possible way to view this situation. But I'm here, alive and around. At first I was enjoying the nice weather we were having here in Chicago, and then the voting thing came up (yay! Obama) and through that all I was getting my school work done like a good pupil and creating things on my own for sale.

I've set up shop online, selling some hand made goods that I've accomplished in my free time (when I have some). Check it out.

http://www.lifesprototype.etsy.com

Let me know what you think

Thanks and I'll work on having more virtual "face" time.

-Bryan

Cheesy Movies

2008-09-15T21:13:00.004-05:00

I must say, I do enjoy a good cheesy movie, and not even like the kind that you know what happens before it happens. I like the low budget movies that try to show big screen quality, but the story moves so quickly because "time is money" and the longer the movie, the more money it costs.

I just watched Bollywood Queen, it's a movie that moves quickly, James McAvoy is in it. I've found a fancy for him ever since I saw Into the Wild. Either way, I thought that Bollywood would be quite entertaining, but frankly I thought it was a cute cheesy movie. A bit of a Romeo and Juliet story line that moves so quickly you really need to keep up with it.

I hope is next Romeo & Juliet plot turns out to be a bit better. It's a movie called Gnomeo and Juliet and has a very similar plot. Good for him, always enjoy a movie with Mr. McAvoy.

Red Bull Flugtag

2008-09-07T10:41:00.002-05:00

I traveled into the city (which I just absolutely love doing) and we got down to North Avenue Beach for the Red Bull Flugtag. We weren't anywhere close to the actual ramp, but we did get to see all the flights from the HUGE screens that were set up on the beach for the event.

There were SO many people there. I love big crowds like that, I have more fun doing nothing. I'm a huge people watcher and I really enjoy just see different faces, different clothes, how people interact with others, etc. etc.

Unfortunately, I forgot my video camera in the car, back in my home town. So I didn't get any footage of the event, but that's ok, cause the memories are good enough for me.

Have a good weekend.

Stephen, you got two in a row

2008-09-04T23:24:00.002-05:00

Stephen, I know who you are too. That's what confused me when you made that comment. Maybe because I look in the mirror all the time, and I analyze what I look at ALL the time, that when I look at the picture you attached, I see no one that looks remotely like me. Maybe I should go on the show, how to look good naked. Maybe when I look in the mirror, I don't see what everyone else sees.

Who knows.

Thanks,

Bryan

This one's for Stephen

2008-09-02T22:01:00.003-05:00

there are about 300 million people in the United States and out of that crowd, you're the only one that stands out and recognizes me for who I am. Who'd a thunk that I'd be noticed. Well, come to one of the shows sometime and maybe we can meet.

Only joking. Actually, I'm not Chris, I'm Bryan. born the Name Bryan Michael Clemente in Chicago, IL and raised in the suburbs of the Windy City. Schaumburg is where I reside, with plans to move out and a whole world to explore to find the place I'll someday call home. I'm at University, studying Fashion Design and will be finishing up this December. Plans to continue? yes, someday, but not a year or so. I'd like to find a stable job that I don't mind getting up in the morning to go to. I love my job, but it's so... repetitive, to say the least. As you may have told from previous posts, I enjoy sewing and creating one-of-a-kind casual wear garments. T-shirts are my preference, as they are the easiest to make. And probably to most purchased clothing item in the country.

Sorry I'm not who you thought I might have been, but either way, I hope you enjoy what I have to say.

And It Continues

2008-09-02T21:48:00.002-05:00

Still ill and it's not getting any better. In fact, it's getting worse. It started in my nose, a little congestion that I could blow out and it would be gone for several hours. I didn't think anything of it. Then... it took over my nose and before I knew it, I was blowing every 15 minutes. Today, I woke from bed to find myself in excruciating pain. I couldn't feel but the chapped skin around my nostrils and the dryness of the back of my throat. I could feel the congestion in my chest and every time I coughed, it felt like the fire from a thousand dragons. My voice, deeper than usual, a bit more scratchy and definitely more hoarse, but at least I still have it. Right?

All day I've been popping pills like it's my job. Every 4 hours I reevaluate the situation and determine the worthiness of increasing the dosage of medication. Is it worth it? will I get better from this? "1 pill every 4-6 hours. do not exceed 4 pills in 24 hours" Do that mean after 4 for the day I should switch to another brand? will that work?

I took a tablespoon of NyQuil. I thought it was supposed to make you drowsy and want to sleep. Quite the opposite for me, wouldn't you say? Here I am, laying in bed, trying to get a little shut eye and nurse myself back to health, but all I can do is open my eyes, and run my fingers across my keyboard in hopes that the words being formed from my fingertips makes sense when it's all finished.

Sick in the Summer

2008-08-31T11:42:00.002-05:00

I have boogies! :(

I woke up this morning and I'm not feeling well at all. I'm all stuffed up and my head hurts. I have so much to do today, but all I want to do is eat soup and drink orange juice.

Someone come over and take care of me...

I need a new job

2008-08-27T16:12:00.002-05:00

I love my job. I really do. It's lots of fun to know that I was the one that planned the event that went so succesfully, but it's too "office job" for me. I'm a much more active person, at least I used to be. When I sit at a desk, stare at a computer screen and do all the running around in the office, I get so tired that when I get home, I don't feel like going to work out. Not to mention at that time EVERYONE is there so I'll never get a chance on a machine.

I feel this job has made me lazy. I wish I could go back into the field and work directly with the kids again, but I can't afford the pay cut. Who knows, maybe next year. We'll see.

Nothing New Yet

2008-08-26T22:38:00.002-05:00

I haven't made a new t-shirt recently and I'm kind of sad about that, but I do have another project I'm currently working on. I'm making custom curtains for a girl that works with me. She has an odd sized window in her room and either way she would need to have custom curtains made for it, so she wanted one-of-a-kind curtains to match her one-of-a-kind personality. I think it's great. So I showed her some design ideas and some color swatches and I've been working on that for the last week. I'm going to finish that up this week and I'll post some pictures to show you what they look like.

The Purple Shirt

2008-08-23T18:36:00.008-05:00

I made another shirt, it's purple. I added more blue bands along the bottom, three to be exact and a horse that I got off another shirt. Oh, and guess what? You can actually buy it, if you like it. go to www.lifesprototype.etsy.com to purchase it. I'm also going to try to post new stuff I make there for sale, so keep that in mind if you're interested in buying hand made things from me.

Stuck at Work... Alone

2008-08-18T14:52:00.002-05:00

It's a Monday afternoon, I've been at work for 6 hours now and am extremely tired. I don't have any desire to go out tonight, but I have to stay here for a couple more hours... hmm... 6 down; 3 more to go. YAY, for 9-hr work days.

On another note, I'm also in the office alone. Normally there are four other people, but they're all gone. I'm stuck here alone, in the silence, still hung over/tired from last night (bad idea) and the phone isn't ringing (thanks). If the phone was ringing, at least I'd have someone to talk to.

Please...
SAVE ME!

Ridiculous Facebook

2008-08-18T14:38:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I got an e-mail from a couple people on Facebook that reads:

Attention all Facebook members.
Facebook is recently becoming very overpopulated,
There have been many members complaining that Facebookis
becoming very slow. Record shows that the reason is
that there are too many non-active Facdebook members
And on the other side too many new Facebook members.
We will be sending this messages around to see if the
Members are active or not,If you're active please send
to 15 other users using Copy+Paste to show that you are active
Those who do not send this message within 2 weeks,
The user will be deleted without hesitation to create more space,
If Facebook is still overpopulated we kindly ask for donations but until then send this message to all your friends and make sure you send
this message to show me that your active and not deleted.

Founder of Facebook
Mark Zuckerber

Are you serious people? This is CLEARLY spam e-mail and you're just adding to it. If facebook can't tell that you're active by 1. signing in every 10 minutes to see if anything changed. 2. all the applications that you add to your profile daily. 3. the update, upload and tagging of pictures, or even 4. the constant posting of wall comments, picture comments and messages that you're sending, then frankly, maybe Facebook isn't a good site to be on.

Another thing too... Did anyone notice all the spelling/punctuation errors in this e-mail? If this was true, the e-mail would have been sent from Facebook directly to all of the members and wouldn't have grammatical errors. They also wouldn't ask you to send the e-mail to 15 of your friends because they're not going to encourage spam e-mails being sent out. It just doesn't make any sense... Why are some people so dumb?

Make A Shirt Monday

2008-08-16T21:34:00.002-05:00

I made a screen print and it actually worked. I'm so excited. well... it's not the best printing job ever, but at least it worked. I printed the image in black onto a lime green kids t-shirt. It's going to be my Make a Shirt Monday T-shirt for Monday August 18th.

Things Might Be Fixed

2008-08-08T01:41:00.002-05:00

I called my school today, cause they DIDN'T call back, Go Figure!

Well I was able to talk to the girl that was helping yesterday and she informed me that they were going to drop the charges, but I still needed to follow up with the manager I spoke with.

So basically, bottom line... I checked my bill, the charges are still there, and I have yet to hear back from the school when the charges are dropped.

I hate my school...

2008-08-06T18:18:00.002-05:00

... And not for the reasons most hate their schools. Cause in fact, I actually like my school. I like being able to go in, take my classes and leave. I can stay and use their free internet or dine in one of their several cafeterias. I can research things in the library or I can register for classes that interest me at a discounted rate. I enjoy the college in my community. Thank you for being there.

What I don't like about William Rainey Harper College is the fact that the people working in the registrars office, business office, and anything else to do with registration are all grouchy. I'm sorry... you could find another job that makes you happy, because frankly, I don't want to listen to you give me attitude when I call asking for answers to my problems. If you've already answered 50,000 people that had the same question today, I'm sorry. That's not my fault that people think alike.

And I definitely don't like when I register online and change my mind. Cause when I change my mind and remove classes from my schedule the bill doesn't reflect the change. Can you fix that? I really don't want to pay $600 more than I have to for a class that I'm not registered for, and when you finally realize the mistake, I really don't want to wait several months to receive my money back.

Positive People

2008-07-31T13:09:00.002-05:00

HIV is such a serious virus that it scares me to abstinence. I just found out a friend of mine is positive, but the best part is I heard through the "grapevine" so I don't know what to do. Do I confront this friend and ask them, what if that makes them uncomfortable? Do I wait to see if this friend will tell me?

I'm a bit confused, but either way, when I found out I got really sad. As if the person had just died. And said person didn't die. they're happy and appear to be as healthy as can be.

So... What should I do? Wait for the friend to tell me, or confront the friend and ask them?

Buffalo Exchange

2008-07-20T22:21:00.004-05:00

I went to the Buffalo Exchange in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago today. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be a store packed with original designs from local clothing designers. I as wrong. It was just another thrift store, but has a chain name attached to it. LAME!

I got the number of the store though, so I'm still going to try and see if they'd be interested in buying and selling the clothes that I make.

What's the worst that could happen, they say no?

Early Morning

2008-07-13T03:06:00.002-05:00

I just woke up a little while ago, like 2. I wanted to get some sleep before I wen to work, but that didn't really happen. I got 4 hours, so I do have some time under my belt for today. I got woken up form my neighbors fighting outside (a normal thing) at 2, and I just thought I'd stay awake. I couldn't really go back to sleep, they were yelling for quite a good amount of time tonight. Usually it doesn't bother me, in particular, because I'm usually out.

Now I'm up, talking to Devon online, reading people's Twitters and listening to a message from my friend Dunielle.

I was supposed to meet some friends for breakfast at 3. They were going out, and I was waking up... well now it's 3:15, I called them, and still no sign of them. Doesn't surprise me. Shannon blows me off more than a friend should.

Triathlon

2008-07-12T16:10:00.002-05:00

The Schaumburg Park District, the company I work for, is hosting a triathlon tomorrow morning. I get to "volunteer" for it. YAY! As if I chose to do it. I'm sorry, but by choice, I would not wake up at 3:45AM on a Sunday morning to go work a triathlon if I didn't have to. I'd rather be out Saturday night and still be up at 3:45AM, but be able to go to bed by like 6AM (cause that's normal for me), but I have to work 4:15AM-8:45AM tomorrow, so that's a little bit harder to do.

So... I get to be the lame ass who stays home on a Saturday night and goes to bed by like 10. Even my parents will still be up.

It's fine!!! it's only one day a year I have to do this. I could be worse.

Post Office Traveler

2008-07-12T14:57:00.002-05:00

I've never been to the post office as much as I have been lately. As I've stated earlier, I'm selling stuff on eBay and things are actually going really fast, which is nice, but I don't like making a trip to the post office. I wish it was like a block away (I mean it's only like 5 blocks away now, but still) So I go there, send my stuff, and by the time I get back home, other people have purchased more things. So then I have to package them up, and get those shipped within a reasonable time.

UGH!!!

Oh well, it's nice, cause I like the money flow in from it all.

Rock Climbing Bill

2008-07-11T18:13:00.003-05:00

Monday I went rock climbing at this indoor location out in the West suburbs of Chicago. I had so much fun. I went with the summer camp that I work for. I've only been there twice, but I've enjoyed my self both times. It was good stuff.

The best part was Bill. This guy that works there was so nice, friendly, and if I read body language correct, gay. Which is nice when you're a single homo.

Long story short, since I wouldn't even know how to tell it, I wanted to ask for his number, but I'm a too nervous to ask someone for their number without being for sure about their sexual orientation. I'm not afraid of rejection, that's not it at all. I'm afraid of offending someone.

So here's what I wanted to do. I wanted to call the rock climbing place, ask for Bill and tell him who I am, and see if he'd give me his number? yea??? um... I won't but it's something, maybe one day, I will be able to do.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm just kind of rambling cause I don't know any other way to get this out.

E-mails Rape Me

2008-07-11T17:42:00.003-05:00

I love e-mail. It's great. You get updates about many things through it. You keep in contact with your friends and family. Easy/fast way to send pictures and documents.

But, every now and then you get bombarded by spammers that tell you that you have just won a million dollars, euros, yen, pesos, etc. It's kind of funny how gullible they think people are, but the unfortunate thing is that some people really are that gullible. Some people give into stuff like that with high hopes that they actually did win the money.

Here's the e-mail that I just got today:

LRP,
Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Strasse 2
DE-56073 Koblenz,
Rheinland-Pfalz,
Germany.

Reference Number: LRP/19-DE/9317
Batch: LRP/06/41

This Email is to inform you that you emerged a winner of
€1,000,000 (One million Euro) on our online draws which
was conducted last month.Your email address
drew the lucky numbers 9-29-1-15-4-8 which consequently
emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this
category.

Mr.Wilson Gart
Phone: 00 44 70457 30177
Email: wilsongart01@telkom.net

What I like about Gmail, is that I can filter this to be deleted. I think that's great. So now I'll go, set a filter against this sender, and be done with the situation as a whole.

Room For Sale

2008-07-08T22:08:00.002-05:00

I don't know how this happened, but one day I walk in my bedroom to find that I have no room to walk. My room is a disaster, to be frank. It looks like a tornado hit it. So, I'm in the process of cleaning out everything and down sizing my life. I'm selling it all... kinda like a yard sale, but more of an internet yard sale.

I opened up a eBay store and began posting stuff that I had in my room. High School books that are all noted up and highlighted... college text books... CDs, DVDs, craft supplies. I've got it all. I'm looking into how to ship a mannequin and then I'll post that up there too.

What am I planning on doing with that money? I'm going to move out of my parent's house. I'm going to move to Chicago (out of the suburbs) and live on my own (or with a roommate). But I need to live in the city, I'm a city boy... what can I say?

Hard C0re Friday

2008-07-06T15:55:00.002-05:00

Friday night I was all over the place. Out and about for 15 hrs straight. Always on the go. like Whoa!

We went to the Taste of Chicago, but started at a Starbucks for some nice Iced Tea. W00t!

At the Taste... I ate too much, drank too much and peed too much. We stayed for the fireworks where I cuddled with Robert's "straight" brother. And then he got me all wet. ;) haha. we went and played in the fountain like we were all little kids.

Now... Picture 8 homos on the train, all soaking wet and most drunk. Being loud and obnoxious. YEA! Oh well.

Made it to the liquor store for a nice handle to keep us going. Watermelon Smirnoff anyone? 1AM we finally get going. Make it to Berlin for some hard core raving. The music louder than life, and people hotter than death. <-- IDK.

Met some Brits who were here to learn to freestyle "the right way" but I say they were really fun to watch either way.

The night ended with morning, when I sobered up from the ride home and was ready to go again at 6AM.

I went to bed though.

Jason, this one's for you

2008-06-25T19:24:00.003-05:00

"Jason"

Could you explain swaptree to me. This is how I think it goes down. I find a match, we want each other's stuff. We switch addresses and the ship it to them?

Let me know

ME!

Nice refreshing nap

2008-06-25T19:18:00.002-05:00

I got off work today and laid down in my bed. OH it was so comfortable. I was really excited to just stretch out my body and lay down. I ended up falling asleep and woke up all refreshed and energized. That's the best kind of nap. I hate when I wake up and feel groggy and disoriented after a nap.

NOW... I'm watching SYTYCD and I'm looking forward to a well danced show.

Swaptree

2008-06-25T01:30:00.002-05:00

Dear readers,

I discovered this website called Swaptree. It seems like a really good concept, but I'm wondering if it's worth the trade. There's lots of things that I'm a bit skeptical about, but it is worth giving a try. I think.

Is there anyone out there that has actually traded with people? Please let me know.

Thanks

LOVE Bryan

http://www.swaptree.com

I was outta the loop

2008-06-24T00:12:00.001-05:00

I was far out of the loop about my home city, but I just subscribed to ChicagoMag and I'm really looking forward to getting to know what's going on in my city. I'll let you know, in case you life in the area, or you planning to come out this way.

Sell my stuff?

2008-06-23T23:48:00.002-05:00

I think I'm going to start selling the clothes that I've already made.

What do you think?

Hmm...

Actually Getting Started

2008-06-23T23:26:00.002-05:00

Alright, Alright.

After reading my last post about how unmotivated I am, I thought to myself "nothing happens on it's own" So I got out my sketch book and began drawing. I got down to business and I started sketching out some ideas of garments I'd like to create this summer.

I know it's not an actual product yet, but I am at least making an effort and... getting started. So that's fun. When I have a bit more time, I'll add some photos of things.

I'm Lazy

2008-06-19T18:03:00.003-05:00

I'm sitting here in front of my computer and it's June 19th. I told myself and everyone else that wanted to hear it that I was planning on sewing clothes this summer in attempt to sell them to Buffalo Exchange (http://www.buffaloexchange.com). Wanna know what I got completed so far? Nothing! GUH! I'm so lazy. I have no motivation to make a pattern, get fabric (which I already have plenty) and sew it together.

If I really wanted to, I'm sure I could create a new dress every night if I truly wanted to, but I'm don't have a sewing area in my [parents] house. So, by pulling out my machine to sew and get all creative. I have to get it cleaned back up before I go to bed. That's no good.

I need to move out.

Graduation Party

2008-06-07T11:50:00.002-05:00

Wow. I haven't posted a blog in a really long time.

I know why now. I sat here for a half hour writing down all my feelings and what was going on in my head, but when I went back and read it to myself. I realized that if I posted something like that, I'd be looked at as an asshole. Is it right? No, but I'll deal.

So, today is my sisters graduation party, congrats! to her. I'm excited for her. Starting college was such a good point in my life. Even though now I'm not to happy with school, I like the "easy" scheduling. You pick times that you take classes, and you decide what days you'll go to school, and you plan it all on your schedule.

I invited a couple friends over to celebrate with my family later on. So, we'll see if they show up. Alright, well I better get back to cleaning, cause I'm sure someone will be looking for me soon wondering where I ran off to. :)

Gay Marriage

2008-05-07T21:52:00.003-05:00

I am a gay male residing in the Chicago land area. It's great living in the windy city, there's a neighborhood that is marked off as a safe haven for people like me. Everyone is accepted, everyone is equal, but once you walk outside those boundaries reality hits. We live in a country that is named the land of the free, but why don't I feel I am truly free after I walk just one block outside of this neighborhood?

The United States may be a free country, but our law tells me who I'm allowed to love. And love is an emotion that cannot be controlled. It is a feeling so strong, that no matter what someone says or does, it won't be taken away from me.

How do I feel about gay marriage? Let me start with marriage in general, I think it's a government regulated institution that has lost any, if not all, respect for itself. Do I want a piece of paper that tells me I am bound to someone for the rest of my life? NO I don't need it, my feelings alone are enough, but the government gives other rights to the spouse... so of course I want it. Unfortunately, for me being gay, I am not allowed to have it in the state of Illinois.

I think that gay marriage should be legalized worldwide. Seriously, let's not focus on the little state... Let's look at the big picture. It's 2008 and we still don't allow people to be treated equally. I am a legal US citizen, I pay my taxes, I do my part to help both the environment and the economy, but I'm not allowed to marry who I want. That's ridiculous. People in this country marry foreigners all the time just for the sake of keeping them from being deported. That's bullshit. Why isn't that looked at with a closer eye?

My whole life, I've always wanted to grow up, have a good job, a spouse that I love, children to take care of and a house in the suburbs to go home to. Is that too much to ask for?

I'm sure now you're thinking about my thoughts on gay couples having children. Well, I see nothing wrong with it. Anti-equal rights people always say that a child growing up in a family with two fathers or two mothers is not healthy; they don't get a balanced life. Um... what about children of divorced parents? Some of them end up with two fathers AND two mothers. Many children grow up in a family with a single parent, they don't have the opposite gender parent to "balance their life" and they grow up to be just fine. And orphans that don't get adopted, they have NO parents, most of them end up alright.

So why is making gay marriage legal so important to me? It's not because I'm gay and I want the same thing the straight people want. I just want to be looked at as an equal, not an outsider.

Priceless

2008-05-04T16:35:00.002-05:00

Cab fare from Wrigleyville to Union Station = $21.00

3 train tickets from Union Station to Lisle = $12.90

Walking from the train station back to the apartment = $0.00

Getting home on our own = Priceless

I went to Chicago with Shannon and Rachel. Their friend Tony drove all of us. We went out to the bars, and had a great time. We did a bit of a bar crawl kinda thing. Oh, it was so much fun. When we went back to this guy Brad's house, where we were supposed to stay, Tony got upset or something, and left us. WHO LEAVES 3 PEOPLE IN THE CITY WITH NO CAR OR WAY HOME? Well we made it home finally and it was worth every penny. The feeling of independence, and knowledge that no matter what, I can get myself home, is more rewarding than knowing I have my car with me.

The Hang Over

2008-04-27T22:58:00.002-05:00

So I did end up going out last night. I went to Heat, a club in Schaumburg. It used to be called Bamboo Room. It was so much fun. Now, it's mainly a straight bar, but me being gay, didn't mind going. I was with to girl friends of mine and I had a blast. When we first get there, who gets hit on first? ME! haha, I was standing with the girls and this guy comes up and starts hitting on me, and then he introduces me to his friend and we start talking. They were a couple, so I don't think they were hitting on me, but that's what I thought at first.

Later, we found two guys on the dance floor that were dancing with each other. Rachel tried dancing with one of the guys, and he gave her a dirty look like, "eww girl, get away." We kept watching them and they did it to EVERY girl that tried dancing with them.

Shannon was dancing with loser type guys and got them to buy a round of beer for all of us. I loved it. I paid for three drinks all night, spent like $15 total (after tipping too) and managed to consume like 6 beers and a shot. Which is not a good idea when you only have an hour and a half until the bar closes. I was really wasted which ended badly.

Woke up today with a really bad hangover, even after throwing up.

Hurt

2008-04-26T23:23:00.002-05:00

About a month ago I was invited to a bowling fundraiser for Carrie Burke. Danielle was going to be my partner. But... for whatever reason it is, she's upset with me. Well today is the night of bowling and Danielle never gave me the information of when (what time) or where the bowling was.

The best part of it all: I text messaged her twice today and called her cell phone a couple times. I then tried to call her house, but it was busy. I even made an attempt to try calling Lou for the information, but she didn't pick up, and I didn't want to leave a message and have her think "why didn't Danielle just tell him."

It's unfortunate, you know, I've gone to this event annually for the past 3 years, and this year I miss because Danielle is mad/upset/whatever at me. That's ridiculous. She could have been mature and come to terms with the fact that tonight was not about her. It was about Carrie, her cousin.

http://www.carrieburkefoundation.org/

I found the website for the foundation at 11:00pm, only to have found the flyer that told the time and location of the event. Had I seen it sooner, should I have gone? And, since I didn't go, what does her family think of me? What information was given to them?

I'm done.

I'm sorry

2008-04-23T00:36:00.004-05:00

I want to apologize to both my blog and myself. Mainly, 1. no one in their right mind reads this shit, nor would I expect them to, and 2. I've been busy with school coming to a closing in a couple weeks, I had many projects to complete before their deadlines arrived. I made a couple garments, as I've posted in a previous blog. I made another dress and a leather piece that I showed in one of my YouTube videos... which I included in a different blog.

Damn! all of a sudden I have this mood to show off my work. I don't know what to do with myself. In the past I kept everything a secret until it needed to be shown. It's either I have more confidence in my work or I just don't care anymore. Maybe there's a combination of the two in there.

Anywho... Here's some pictures of the dress I made last Wednesday. It has to be pressed... I know, but oh well.

I'm done.

T-Shirt Dress!

2008-04-15T23:19:00.005-05:00

All semester in my Wearable Art class I've been working on a dress made entirely out of recycled t-shirts. Tonight I finally finished it. I absolutely love it and everything is made out of recycled materials. The dress is knitted together and has wood painted purple and cut to look like knitting needles holding it together

What do you think?

Super Quick

2008-04-15T18:01:00.003-05:00

I only have a little time to talk cause I want to take a nap before I get started on my homework, but I really needed to say that I had an amazing time last night on Stickam. I was chatting with Andy (Nanooboy) and I think the conversations were all over the place. Besides thinking everyone is just the cutest (StevieProductions, Artteacher, mrhat, etc.) and telling them. The people there were just crazy wild. The conversation went all over from super casual to totally inappropriate and I loved every minute of it.

I'm still shocked that Andy spent 8 hours on camera just sitting and chatting with people, but I guess I can understand because, well, besides being in conversation with many people, talking online is quite addicting. You only want to be one for a little bit, and before you know it, it's 3AM and you have work in a couple hours.

Alright, that's all for now.

I'm done.

Now that I'm 21...

2008-04-12T23:12:00.002-05:00

... my friends want to be friends again. Now that I'm 21, my friends have been texting me to hang out with them. I've received messages from people that I haven't seen since last summer asking me to meet them at certain bars. That upsets me that you now want to hang out with me, cause I can meet you at the bar and we can hang out.

Late Night Stitches

2008-04-10T23:12:00.003-05:00

Yesterday when I got home from school, I had to make a garment for my leather class which was due today. Now I've know about this assignment for a couple weeks now, but when do I wait to start it? The day before it's due. Fidiot!¹ I ended up staying up all night long sewing away, and that's not a good thing, cause when the tiredness hit, that's NOT a good time to sew.

I did take a break around 6:30 cause I had to get ready for work, that's right, I still had to go to work, and at this point I'm almost up for 24 hrs. YUCK! I go to work and actually manage to stay awake.² At 8:30, I call my boss and tell her that I'm not coming in. I didn't finish my assignment yet, and school is more important, and I have to do it. She understood cause she's AWESOME. I went home, finished my garment, it's a leather jumper, and went to bed where I slept until I had to wake up to go to class.

Which brings us to my next topic. Class. I brought in my garment which is made of awesome³ where I discovered that for the fashion show I need to have a girl with a larger bust⁴. Ok, so the pattern that I made on our schools CAD program didn't work. I don't know if it was my fault when creating it or if it was the Bitch's fault when she was printing it. It was supposed to print in full size and I think it was almost double in size. UGH! It was horrible, but of course Jules⁵ came to the rescue and gave me a brilliant idea and I went with it to create the pattern for my dress which is due... Next Thursday⁶

I'm done.

¹ F***ing idiot

² I had to stay on my feet or I would have fallen asleep

³ You can see part of it in the video below

⁴ Huge boobs

⁵ One of the greatest teachers I have ever had. Even though we had a little tiff one semester, I am still grateful to have met her and to have been her pupil.

⁶ Ok, this one I only knew about last week. But, the pattern is done, and it's not leather, so it will be a lot easier/quicker to sew up... no more Late Night Stitches for me.

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint

2008-04-08T23:04:00.005-05:00

After work I went to Hobby Lobby and ONLY bought the things that I need (even though I forgot to buy one, VERY IMPORTANT item). I went home and began my homework, like whoa! I got my entire pattern cut out of everything and I started sewing it up. I didn't get very far there, cause after I started sewing it, I realized I didn't put interfacing on it. UGH! but that's ok cause I didn't sew any piece of the top yet, yay!

However, once I got on a roll and started getting really far, I stopped. I got bored with it, and chose (<<---why does that look like it's spelled wrong?) to stop for the night. Oh, and it was 10pm and I wanted to try and get to bed early because I have school tomorrow and lots of work to get done in class, so I did spend time tonight getting things together so I don't have to run around looking for everything. WOOT!

I can't wait for school to be over, so that I have more free time for more important things, like... my friends, making videos, going to bars. haha, ya know, the important stuff in life. Just kidding. But I am really looking forward to this summer, cause I know it's going to be a very fun, eventful, exciting one and I plan to document it for "reflection".

Alright, well good night!

Oh, one more thing, I saw a video on YouTube (view below) and I think it's really amazing. It got me thinking, maybe I want to participate in this and make a video that might get viewed all over the world. My idea right now is super classified, area 51. The only clue to this is that I want to make a video that will ultimately become the ultimate collaboration video. I'll need a lot of people to help out and be part of it. I hope I can accomplish it.

I'm done.

Work, Court, School, Homework

2008-04-07T19:09:00.004-05:00

This blog comes in 4 parts.

Part 1:

This morning I made it into work, ON TIME! WOOT! While I was there, I didn't do any work. Meghan's birthday was yesterday so we celebrated it today. When I wasn't participating in the festivities, I was doing my homework at my desk. Shh, don't tell my boss.

Part 2:

I left work this afternoon at noon to drive all the way to Downers Grove. For court. Ok, so back in December I got pulled over on my way to Shannon's school. I got a ticket for speeding and not having a front license plate. My court date was back in February, but I didn't have enough cash to pay the $435 fee. Oh yea, court fees have gone up RIDICULOUS amounts. Well, since I didn't have enough money at the time, I had to get a new court date. I've paid since then, but they never told me I didn't need to show up. So I sat there for TWO hours.

Part 3:

I went to class, and NOT to my surprise, it was boring. I ended up falling asleep. All I can remember was the teacher telling me that I have to redo the assignment. The other thing is the new assignment, which I doubt I'll have time to do this week, but I'll do it half-assed and I'll get a passing grade on it.

Part 4:

I got home, made dinner, and now I have to start my homework for Thursday. I have an entire leather outfit to make in three days and I haven't even started it. Yuck! Well I have started, I made the pattern for the jumper which is the hardest part to the whole production. Now I just need to cut it out and sew it up.

I'm done.

My Poor Baby :(

2008-04-07T00:27:00.002-05:00

Saturday night I went out for my birthday with my friends in the city and it went really well. People were giving me Happy Birthday wishes all night long... I love it!

The entire night was just one huge event in my drunk mind. Unfortunately, since I don't remember it, I can't tell you about it. damn! I should have video taped it so we all could know what happened. Oh well, next time.

Sunday afternoon, when I was getting ready to leave and drive my tired, hung over self home, Sal asked where I parked. When I told him that I parked on Irving Park Road he immediately jumped onto his computer clicking away at the internet. oops! There was a Cubs baseball game today. Grrrr!

My car was towed because I was parked in game territory. After several blocks walked, a phone call to a friend, a 20-minute car ride, 30-minute waiting time, and $160 later I got my car back... with window paint writing all over it.

Just my luck.

I'm done.

Tonight's The Big Night

2008-04-05T15:07:00.002-05:00

I'm getting all tucked into bed to take a nap before the big night. Tonight is the celebration night for my birthday (which was actually Wednesday). I'm going to downtown Chicago to go bar hopping with they boys. I'm quite excited as I just turned 21 so now I can go out with my friends (cause they're all older than me).

I'll be in Boystown in case anyone wants to come by and visit... Who am I kidding. No one reads this except myself. Oh well.

I'm done.

So Far, So Good

2008-04-05T01:51:00.002-05:00

I missed a day! Whoa! I didn't even realize that I missed a day on here.

My grandma called me on my birthday to wish me a happy 19th birthday. Luckily before she got on the phone with me, my uncle told her that it was my 21st birthday.

OK, so, what I did...

After going to class, I went home and did a very slight amount of homework and then went to dinner with Steph¹ and Mike² at T.G.I.Friday's where we had burgers and beers. Then we stopped at another restaurant where we met up with some friends who bought me a shot. Now here's the best part :) Steph told me that we had to pick up her friend from the train station. I didn't think anything of it, just thought her friend was coming out her for a meeting and that she was going to hang out with us for my birthday. So as we're at the train stop, I'm looking for this short, petite asian woman. Who do I find? Sal³ is standing there, with his back pack (he never leaves home without it). That was such a surprise for me cause I hadn't talked to him in weeks and wasn't expecting to see him until Saturday (oh, I guess that'd be today).

So now it's me, Steph, and Sal in the car. We go to Hoffman Lanes Bowling, get there at 9pm for some Bowling & Beer and people start showing up. With gifts. People were showing up with gifts. I was not expecting that at all. "buy me a beer" is what I said to everyone that asked what I wanted.

The Rest...

12:30am Bowling is over, Bryan's drunk, time for Deny's

2:30am Done with Deny's, time to drive Sal home; to the city. I'm still drunk, Steph drives

3:30am I'm home, finally!

4:30am Finally get to bed after talking to my dad who woke up when I came in.

8:00am Woke up to go to work

I'm Done.

¹ My boss which whom I've grown so close to that she is a really good friend to me. We would do anything for each other, that's how well we've bonded. She hates surprises for herself, but sure knows how to plan good ones for other.

² Mike and I went to the same high school, but we never really talked much back then. When I got my job with KASPER, that's where we actually started talking. Him and I become really good friend from work and now we are constantly texting each other and we're both still working for the same program.

³ My boyfriend since Thanksgiving 2007. He makes me smile at all the right times.

My Birthday

2008-04-01T16:10:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is my birthday.

I'm not the type of person that gets SUPER excited about their birthday. And I'm not the Emo kid that hates his birthday either. I'll be turning 21 tomorrow. I am excited about that; all my friends are over 21 so that makes me happy that I can hang out with them when they want to go to the bars. But, school is coming to an end and all my final projects are starting to come to their due dates. That adds a lot of stress to me and right now, thinking about fun is not something I can do. Three months ago, now that's when I was stoked about my birthday. I was all like, "what am I going to do?" "who am I going out with" "Let's go out EVERY night"

Now that the day is upon me, I just want to lay in bed, hibernate, and not come out until summer. When the semester is over and everything has settled down. Part of that may have to do with being ill, and some of it may have to do with school, but I think my friends scare me the most.

I've always been the youngest person of any group that I've hung out with, and everyone gets so excited for my birthday cause I'm getting closer to the legal drinking age. Well I'm just scared that I'm going to be pulled in every direction all at once.

UGH! I don't know.

I'm done.

On the Other Side

2008-04-01T15:15:00.003-05:00

I actually got up and went to work today, which is a step FAR in the right direction. I'm still congested and ache throughout my body, but a half day of work, that's not so bad to go back to. Right? :)

I have loads of homework that I have to catch up on and I return to classes tomorrow. :/ I hope I can finish it all in time.

When I got home this afternoon, Danielle was in her room, what a shock. Still sleeping, I woke her up to make sure she was doing ok and it turns out that she was just up laying in bed watching YouTube. Well, at least she stayed in her room today.

Alright, I don't have much to say today.

I'm done.

I'm sick, you're sick, we're all sick

2008-03-31T15:05:00.000-05:00

As you know, I'm sick. I don't feel good, and all I want to do is crawl into my bed and sleep until I'm not ill. Unfortunately I can't. I have to get up and do my homework, which is lame, cause I was just on Spring Break and I got sick at the end of it. People think it's because I spent so much time around the kids¹. The only person I was around that was sick was this woman that I work with and if she's the one that got me sick, I'll be pissed. Well honestly, I'm pissed that I'm sick either way cause 1. I don't like being sick and 2. being sick makes me miss a lot of my life.

Oh yea, I remember why I was originally typing. I HATE it when people in my family are sick and they don't stay in their rooms. When I'm sick, I hibernate in my room only to leave for food breaks and bathroom breaks. But my sister, Danielle², has no respect for the others living in our house. She sits in the living room watching tv, using the blankets that everyone uses, while laying on the couch that everyone sits on.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!

Seriously, go in your room. You have a laptop, bring a DVD if you want to watch a movie. When you're not sick, wash your sheets and stuff and you won't have to worry about keeping the germs around you. That's just rude and inconsiderate to the rest of your family by coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose in common areas of the house.

I'm done.

¹ Refer to my first blog to know what kids I'm speaking of if you don't know.

² My younger sister (by 2.5 years) and not to be mistaken for Dunielle who is my friend.

When will this end?

2008-03-31T11:06:00.000-05:00

I don't really have much to say since I haven't done anything to have something to talk about. So I'll keep it with an update of my health, and let you go back to your day.

It's Monday morning around 11:30 and I am still in bed. I went to bed early (around 10pm) on Saturday and have been in bed ever since. The fever went down, which is nice, but I haven't taken my temperature recently so I don't know what it's at.

I did get out of bed twice yesterday. Both times were to eat something and pee. As I was never hungry yesterday, I know that going a whole day without food is not a good move on my part. I can't let illness rule my life.

I'm done.

Day 1 of The Ferocious Fever

2008-03-30T11:22:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I made a comment that I was going to bed early because I was feeling a bit ill. Well, guess what? I woke up this morning with a fever. My head is throbbing, I have a horrible cough, my body keeps shaking with the chills, and my eyes ache when open.

I've now been in bed for 12 hours. I fell asleep early thinking that if I got enough sleep last night then I'd be ok today. I was wrong. Now I lay awake in bed, with my eyes closed, typing away my feelings. I have so much homework I have to accomplish today. I had all of spring break to complete it, and typical me, I waited until the last minute (or at least day) to start working on it.

I have no desire to go out driving, but I've left my sewing machine at Dunielle's¹ house this weekend. The worst part is that I need my machine for my homework today. Really, I should have been doing it earlier in the week.

Today's goal, if I can accomplish anything, is to complete my illustration homework and get my wearable art garment completed. I don't need a sewing machine for either one of those, so I can get it tomorrow².

Sorry it's short, but I'm going to go take some meds and go lay down again. This fever will be sweat out³.

I'm done.

¹ I mentioned Dunielle in my last entry, but never explained who she was. She's this amazing girl that I met one night while out with a good friend from High School. We hit it off, and have been hanging out since then.

² Hopefully I'll be well enough to

³ Slight reference to Panic! at the Disco's first album entitled The Fever you can't sweat out Which I am listening to right now. ;)

The Start of the Begining

2008-03-29T22:27:00.000-05:00

Let me start by trying to explain who I am.

My name is Bryan and I'm 20 years old. I live in Schaumburg, IL with my parents and two sisters. I'm studying fashion design at Harper Community College in a neighboring town (Palatine). Besides going to school full-time, I'm also working for KASPER.¹ My title is Trips & Enrichment Coordinator, but basically I plan the field trips that the kids go on when they have a day off from school.

Here's my weekly schedule:

Monday- 9am-3pm Work

3:30-5:10pm Illustration Class

5:30-11pm Homework²

Tuesday- 9am-5pm Work

5:15 Drive Rachel³

6pm-9pm Hanging out with Robert⁴

Wednesday- 10-2:30pm Wearable Art Class

3-10pm Homework⁵

Thursday- 9-4pm Work

5-10pm Leather Class

Friday- 9-5pm Work

6pm-Saturday Hang out with Dunielle

Saturday- Homework⁶

Sunday- Homework⁷

Now you have kind of an idea of what I have on my plate. I have many things to talk about, but to be honest, I just don't feel like continuing to type. I'm starting to not feel well, I think I may be getting a cold, which I really, REALLY don't want. So I'm going to call it a night, take some meds and go to bed.

I'm done.

¹ Kids After School Program with Enrichment and Recreation

² Probably watching YouTube videos

³ Rachel is a neighbor girl I drive home on Tuesday evening

⁴ A friend that I met during the Harper fashion show last year. I also ran into him at an event in Chicago. I think it was Market Days, which got us start talking and hanging out.

⁵ Same as number 2

⁶ Probably not accomplishing much, maybe watching YouTube, probably going and getting something to eat.

⁷ Eat and wander around my house while the sun is up. Maybe make an excuse to go to the store, and when sun down comes along, I actually start my homework.