Welcome to the 12 of 12 project, created by Chad Darnell. On the 12th day of each month you take 12 photos showing how you spent your day, post them on your blog, and then link the post back to Chad.

10:24am- Chase the Morning Greeter

10:37am- Time To Leave

3:53pm- Afternoon Clouds Breaking

4:22pm- The Welcome Wagon

5:25pm- Thai Express

5:46pm- Dinner- Pad Si-iew

6:22pm- Chase Loves Sleeping On My Pile of Clothes

6:46pm- Browsing PRINT Mag

7:34pm- Mario Kart- Nintendo Wii

8:21pm- Polygamy as Entertainment

9:46pm- Researching Healthy Recipes

10:24pm- Ahhh Bubble Bath

In Rotation: Heart- Barracuda

Warm weather signals the time to start walking around downtown Cincinnati and over the river into Kentucky. That’s exactly what Matt and I have done the last two Saturdays. With our camera’s in tow, we walked a good 5-6 miles both Saturdays, taking in the sights and sounds of downtown living. This year is a stark contrast from last spring. People are slowly leaving the burbs and enjoying what city life has to offer.

In Rotation: Coldplay- Viva la Vida

Sushi Shop
Montreal, Canada- May 2007

In Rotation: Goldfrapp- A&E

You know things are dicey, when I have to bring Amy Whino back. I did allow myself about 4 weeks to put things in perspective before I ranted. This way, I cut the expletive use for this post to half. My issue is job related, and I have since started a new job a few weeks ago, so everything is going great now.

I was recently working as a project coordinator for a tech company, and the job was o.k., nothing special but somewhat challenging, which I liked. I first should say that I’m the type of employee that takes pride in their work and strives to do their best. I also like to feel as though I’m part of a team environment, and enjoy the personal relationships you typically forge in the workplace. The job I left in Phoenix when I moved to Ohio pretty much set the bar high in various aspects. I worked my ass off, but learned a lot, and moved up the ladder because of the hard work. This job, not so much.

The main issue was with the people, whom I am just completely dumbfounded about. It’s a small company, say about 30 employees so you’re definitely not just a number to them. One would have thought that you were working in the “village of the damned” though. I’ve never worked for such lying, racist, homophobic asshats in my life! This company is just begging to be sued for various types of harassment. Looking back at all of it, I’m still shaking my head. Like I said earlier, I’m the type of guy that will say “good morning”, or “how are you today?” to break the ice with new coworkers, and in the past, would usually get the courteous replies. Not here! I just got blank stares, or the “looking through you” type of stare. It bothered me that this type of stuff was happening from most of the people working there. Geez, even the two owners of the company could not even be bothered to introduce themselves to me, or say “hello”? They definitely had no problems talking and joking around with other coworkers seated near me. Whatever.

What crossed the line for me though was when a fellow coworker, a black woman whom I became friends with, asked me if I was gay. Well, actually she asked, “Did you ever want to ask someone a very personal question, but didn’t know how to ask”? Yeah, I knew where this line of questioning was going! No problem. I don’t flaunt being gay at work, most people are actually surprised to find out that I am, but if someone asks me I will be honest. Apparently, in my entrance interview I mentioned that I had a partner, which I honestly don’t remember saying, but whatever. I guess you get to a point in your life where you’re comfortable with who you are and forget that others may not always see things the same way. Well the “gay” word spread like wildfire, and this particular office didn’t take kind to fags. She wanted to clear the air, and let me know that my project manager was a total homophobe. I laughed, saying that most of the tech guys I’ve seen in this place, are desperately holding onto their last vestiges of heterosexuality. She said that they’re a bunch of assholes and are probably closing up shop soon anyways. She began to tell me how there was a class action lawsuit, filed by several companies for non-payment of services, and it looked like they were going to lose the case. Nice. I should have thought something was really wrong about this company when I found out that when 4:30 strikes on Friday afternoons, it becomes “beer-thirty”. Yeah, the dumbasses have no problem liquoring up the employees before their drive back home. Lawsuit, anyone?

Anyways, I just did my job while casually looking for other employment. There was an instance where a guy came up to a girl sitting near me and said, “What’s up Sissies”?? I looked around, and it was only her and I in the room, so I guess he was talking to me. O.K., I don’t think I’ve heard words like that directed towards me since grade school. I just rolled my eyes though and moved on. A few weeks later, we got word that yes, in fact they did lose their court case, and would be cutting peoples hours, and even layoffs. I was actually relieved. It gave me the push I needed to find something else, and I did rather quickly, thankfully.

The day before I gave my two week notice, was definitely the worse day there. For some reason, that morning I had a bloody nose. I can’t remember the last time my nose has bled. I think it had to do with the dry air or something, but it was under control when I left for work. Not soon after arriving at work, I felt what I was hoping was not blood running down the one side of my nose. I got up and headed to the bathroom with a tissue up to my nose. As I’m about to walk into the bathroom, this guy asks what’s wrong. I said, “Oh, my nose is bleeding for some reason”. He says, “Oh, are you positive”?? I said rather loudly, “Fuck off, asshole”! Of course, it was loud enough to land me in the bosses office, and of course it was just shrugged off like everything else around that place. I was so pissed off though. I was close to just saying, “I’m out of here”, but I did have a second interview later in the afternoon with another company, and thankfully landed the job.

I just have never had to deal with such blatant harassment at work before. A few people told me to sue, but I just wanted out of the place, and to put it all behind me. It did remind me though, that unfortunately, there are people out there who still continue to be close minded and bigoted. Oh, and the good news is, as this friend from work mentioned, “They are like the Titanic, and are now hearing the band play that final tune, as their ship slowly sinks into the abyss.” I say, good riddance.

In Rotation: U2- Acrobat

Back for another installment of T-shirt Tuesdays. This week’s shirt is again from Threadless. I swear that all my t-shirts are not from Threadless, but I do have quite a few. The shirt is entitled, “Runnin’ Rhino”, and as you can see the rhino is a runnin’. He does have some inspiration for all his hard work on the treadmill. One day he hopes to transform himself into a beautiful unicorn. Isn’t that what all good gay boys wish for?

In Rotation: The B-52’s- Deviant Ingredient

Unique Hairdo on the Metro
Prague, Czech Republic- Jan. 2008

In Rotation: R.E.M.- Horse to Water

I’m hoping so!! The decision was made last week to approve the plan to build streetcars in Cincinnati, connecting the downtown area with the uptown. Support for the streetcars now seems to be going back and forth with the typical political bs. Drew over at Design Cincinnati wrote a great letter urging our state legislators to allow tax money to help with costs of this important downtown endeavor. Just in the year I’ve lived in the downtown area, I’ve see firsthand how the city has been making great strides in getting local businesses up and prospering. We need to do more to revitalize our city, and the streetcars can only help keep us on track (pardon the pun).

The streetcar line in Portland, Ore., is credited with attracting $3.3 billion in private investment since it began operations in 2001. Cincinnati officials hope a similar plan here will help revitalize the city and spur development. THE ENQUIRER/MARGARET A. MCGURK

**Also, speaking of Cincinnati, here are some great local blogs in and around the area. Some I’ve met, others I hope to.

Chris Glass
Design Cincinnati
Die Fledermaus
Divas Never Die
ekalb
My Cracked Viewmaster
Queen City Survey
Reality Check
Urban City

In Rotation: Madonna- Give It 2 Me

It was a very odd Sunday. Matt and I decided to go fly our kites, which have been boxed and sealed and just begging to be flown on a beautiful day here in the Nati. I wanted to head over to Sawyer’s Point, a park which runs along the Ohio River, and is a good open area for kite flying. We got down there, and the park was taken over by booths, etc. for “The March of Dimes” walk. So Matt suggested Devou Park, which is just over the river, and into Covington, KY.

On our drive over, we passed by the ballpark, which had hundreds of motorcycles lined up and down the side of the road. I forgot that the ballpark was hosting a public tribute for Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, the 20-year-old Army Reservist who was identified last month, as the victim of a brutal attack in Baghdad some four years ago. After noticing all of the motorcycles parked, I noticed hundreds of bikers on the sidewalks from the Patriot Guard Riders, facing the stadium. They had their backs turned to the protesters from the Fred Phelps group, who are just despicable wastes. I’ve read about these protesters spreading their hate at the funerals of fallen soldiers, but to witness it first hand, it was just really disgusting.

On a lighter note, we finally made our way over to Devou Park, to try out our new kites. My instincts told me that there were too many trees around, but the little kid in me said screw it, I want to fly my kite. Well, not soon after Matt helped me launch my cool dragon kite, it flew beautifully right into a tree. Shit! We tried to work it off the branches for about 30 minutes, but I finally gave up and donated my kite to the tree gods. Lesson learned. We still have Matt’s kite though

Madonna- Confessions Tour
Phoenix, AZ- June 2006

This weeks t-shirt is inspired by one of my favorite movies, from one of my favorite directors, Stanley Kubrick’s- “A Clockwork Orange“. I luckily found this shirt the morning it was released on Threadless.com, and snagged one.

One thing about Threadless is that the good shirts sellout fast! I had wanted another shirt from them back last year that was inspired by “A Clockwork Orange”, but it sold out and still has not been reprinted. This one is a more solid design, and I like it better. It’s entitled, “A Clockwork Kit” which is a play on the plastic kit pieces you find in model kit cars, planes, etc. This one has “pieces” from the movie, like Alex’s cod piece, milk (plus), eye liner, etc. I love it. I get cool comments and long stares whenever I wear it.

Now, if only I had the naked girl tables and the milkbar, I would have totally been able to replicate that cool long, pullback shot from the opening scene in the Korova Milkbar. I figured I could make do with what I had, and shoot something that’s more “inspired” from the film. Thanks to Matt for being my photographer, and having the patience to take direction well from me

To commemorate our one year of living in our new townhouse, I decided to start painting a few of our rooms last week, in an attempt to add some gay flare to the walls. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a living space. So far, everything looks good, even better than I had anticipated. I’ve already finished our guest room downstairs, and the bathroom on the second level. I only have one more coat to finish the master bedroom on the third level. I’ll finish that tomorrow, as well as our main bathroom and water closet. I’ll probably finish up on Tues/Wed with painting my walk in closet and Matt’s Ikea-Office bathroom.

I’ll have to share some before/after shots when everything is finished. I find it amusing that most people cringe when there is painting to be done, but as long as I have good tunes, necessary supplies, and proper ventilation, I tend to find it very relaxing. Now, don’t ask me to paint your house, unless there are benefits. I have an affinity for muscle bears and diet Dr. Pepper.

Not sure if this was a cosmic joke, but a few days before Earth Day, we felt the tremor of an earthquake here in Cincinnati. The 5.2 quake registered 180 miles away in SE Illinois, and was felt here around 5:37am. No damage or anything, just the thought that, “Hey was that an earthquake we just felt?” Earthquakes aren’t too common here, but I do remember a few times growing up, feeling tremors. I have a vivid memory from seventh grade of my choir teachers’ piano rolling past her fingers as she played, “Sloop John B.”.

We plan to attend Earth Day festivities at Sawyer’s Point tomorrow afternoon. Lots of good “green” information available there as well as arts/music/entertainment. But shouldn’t everyday be “Earth Day”? Of course, we’ll walk the 2 miles there and back, unless it storms here.

Another great pre-Earth Day surprise, was waking up to tree plantings in our park across the street. I believe a local company donated some 30 trees, which are being planted around the perimeter of the park as I type. Cool! Have a Happy Earth Day, and plant a tree or few!!

Goslar, Germany- Dec. 2007

How cool is this? A new game for the Nintendo Wii, that actually has you exercise and measure your fitness. The Wii Fit has been selling out over seas, and will drop here in the states on May 19th. The game is packaged with a Wii Balance Board, which kind of reminds me of the Jane Fonda step aerobic workout. It’s this balance board which the player uses to play mini-balance games, have their BMI checked, do aerobics, strength train, yoga, and even follow your own personal trainer. Nintendo really has done a great job at marketing the Wii, and have pushed the limits of interactivity with their gaming system.

Oh how I love thy t-shirt. I’m totally a t-shirt/jeans kinda guy by choice. I am picky though about my shirts. They have to be of good quality, comfortable, and totally fit my mood for the day. I recently went through my stash of tee’s and donated around 40 of them to goodwill! I’m still left with about 30 of them. A few were 10+ years old and should have become car wash rags long ago.

Anyways, I thought I would share one of my tee’s each week, until I’ve exhausted all of them. I will be your model, and I will give some background info. on why this particular shirt is special to me.

This inaugural week, I start with “Champion Runner”, by Threadless. If you’re in the market for a t-shirt that’s different, affordable, creative, and possibly designed by someone you know, head over to Threadless. This was my first purchase from them last summer, and I’ve been hooked with their service ever since. I chose this shirt because I like to run, and who hasn’t found themselves needing to urinate at the most inconvenient of times.