This Could Save Your Life!

The Centers for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally, by hand, and even electronically. This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues, or anyone else via any means whatsoever - DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely.

If you should come into contact with WORK you should immediately leave the premises. Take two good friends to the nearest grocery store and purchase one or both of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) and Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER).

Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system. You should immediately forward this medical alert to five friends. If you do not have five friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.

Why not?

"Why not? Why not you? Why not now?"AslanHeroic lion in "The Chronicles of Narnia"

Oh the Dress...

...Is finally done. For all of you that know when I take on sewing a dress, it is somewhat like giving birth. There is always a learning process that takes place. Here are a couple great sewing tips that may guide you.

Check online for answers:

1. Threads Magazine's website was of ueber help. I loved them so much I subscribed to it. Here's why: The had the best article on how to create your own dress form using either duck tape, paper tape, or plaster. http://www.taunton.com/threads/


2. Also really helpful is the website for the manufacturer of your sewing machine.

LastManOut

Oh California, I daresay it's been a long haul.

This week is a landmark in the rights for proponents of same-sex unions, commonly known as "gay marriage." We do not forget the recent history when Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered that GLBT people should be able to wed, in San Francisco, 2004; It was a day full of Political Bravado. I remember the news and the spewing of opinions by everyone as our country watched in some shock on both sides of the issue as to what had just happened.

As we know, the affair was quickly shot down and the marriage licences granted that hopeful day were rescinded. Four years later we have a decision from the Supreme Court in California by a majority of Justices who were appointed by Republicans stating that Mayor Newsom's earlier decree really is supported by California's Constitution. While the decision could be put off, it probably will not be.

What does this mean. Well for starters the State of New York has said recently it will recognize gay marriages performed from outside the state. However, NY is not currently on board for granting them in NY. So the Gay New Yorker will now be flocking to California to get married. You still have to be a resident of Massachusetts to get married there.

There is always a trade off however when big decisions like this happen. I find it interesting that both of these landmark items have happened in an election year. I feel some trepidation that instead of truly focusing on the economic and social issues that so plague our country, we will let yet another hot button social issue dominate our Presidential election. It's just the sort of fire the right wing wackos need to slander an Democratic candidate. I hope they look foolish doing it, because Lord knows these people were raised with righteous anger and hate. It makes for great TV, but piss poor public image.

I do not like to speculate and I certainly do not want to start any sort of rumor. Food for thought though: A Republican appointed Supreme Court in CA made a decision regarding a hot button social issue during a Presidential election year that is dominated by Democratic candidates. First, it's probably the only time the justices will scathe through without terrible reproach from Republicans. Note: Republicans can always use this opportunity to triangulate. Second, it could be great sabotage. Third, something really great could happen: a Republican candidate commenting on same-sex unions might reveal just how short sighted their positions really are for our nation.

Personally, I pray that same-sex civil liberties are not advanced this year in vain. It is too painful for the people who live these issues in every day life. If the Republicans manage to come into power again, we will just have 4 more years (or more) of the same.

LastManOut

Attitude

"Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill." -Charles Swindoll

Why Walmart Works

Sometimes it's more subtle when it comes to a pricing strategy. And very often, you may not even realize when your getting deal or when you are paying too much. A couple weeks ago when I did my grocery shopping I was in the market for a new green tea. I found a variety at Festival, our neighborhood grocer, and it was a little over $4 for the box. I thought it was a little high, but said to myself, "I probably can't get this just anywhere."

I was mistaken. Yesterday I got a few pickups at Walmart; I try to stay away from shopping there too much. However, when going down the tea isle, there was my gourmet green tea. It was priced a little over $2. Now I said to myself, "What the fuck!" I was so pissed that the chronic shopper in me bought not just one box of tea but three boxes. To be fair, I bought one of each kind.

Sitting here now I realize that in the whole scheme of this shopping experience I've really been had. Walmart under prices so that you'll buy more than you need and spend more than you would have. Other retailers either just mark things up too high, or they are not getting a competitive price on the goods. Isn't there any place that I can shop in Green Bay that is just sensible?

Today's Fortune's

Jerad and I had Chinese again for lunch today. Here were the results:

Josh - Don't pass up a once-in-a-lifetime offer.

Jerad - Keep your feet on the ground even though friends flatter you.

:)

LastManOut

Gays On Ice

Sometimes I long for some good old fashioned gay fun. Wouldn't it be just splendid to have an entertainment feature like Gays On Ice? You can just imagine all the skinny bitches stapped in spandex twirlling around the rink. Totally Hot. The guys could toss each other in the air, wear sequenced costumes, and imitate their favorite Disney characters. Oh wait ... what's the difference between this and any other "On Ice" show. Sad.

Hitch Hiker II

I seem to take particular notice of the occasional hitch hiker along Hwy 29 each time I drive by during the noon hour on my way to United Health Group in Howard. Hwy 29 is what connects Green Bay to such great Western places as Wausau, Eau Claire, and The Twin Cities. Today's particular Gentlemen was holding a well made cardboard sign with thick black letters that stated, "Wausau."

The hitch hiker was wearing an African looking cap, large and bowl shaped, with sage, ivory, and terracotta stripes. There was a green army coat and a bag of some sort, a rustic beard completed the ensemble. I noticed that he would flash his sign as people drove by. I found this interesting because, if I was advertising for a ride, I would want to bear my sign proudly. The entrepreneur in me also thinks the hitch hike effort is possibly more successful if the sign lists the benefits of having you as a travel companion. I, at least, have the expectation that if I'm going to pick up a hitch hiker, he or she should be a good conversationalist. They wouldn't last long if they just sat there like a bump on a long.

Returning to the reason why I'm writing about him, as I looked at this guy on the side of the road today, I wanted nothing more than to stop and say, hey buddy, hop in let's drive to Wausau. Instead of wasting my life away today in my boring corporate existence, I was seriously thinking of having a skip day. I was actually jealous of this guy. He was like totally just standing there on a Friday afternoon and bumming his way to Wausau. I would give anything to have a Friday afternoon where all I needed to do was kill time. That just doesn't ever happen anymore.

LastManOut

Facebook

Ok kids ... I'll admit it. I have a problem. I'm getting addicted to Facebook. In fact, before I got my new Blackberry, which has Facebook piped directly into it, I had never even visited their website before. I think the really huge thing for me is that all of the people that I know and love from college, high school, church, etc are all right there. I honestly haven't felt so connected to the people in my life in a long time. I was a total junkie about uploading photos. However, What I'm really jazzed about is that my friends, many of whom I hardly ever see, have been there, just waiting for me. I guess I've finally crossed over.

Visit me there: Joshua M Steger.

:)

LastManOut

Today's Fortune's

We got chinese for lunch. Here's what came of it:

Jerad: "Theories get you thinking. Sweat gets you results."

Josh: "You need to talk to somone about what's on your mind."

If you only knew how appropriate these really are right now.

Go figure.

LastManOut

Easter Egg

What did the easter egg say to the boiling water?
-Its going to take awhile for me to get hard I just got laid.

Lily ... Taking a Load off at Home

Such a sleepy baby!! And a space hog.

Such a Sweetie!

She destoyed It

The green rattle bone never stood a chance. She killed it with cuteness.

Vintage Steevie

He was so macho when we met. Photo taken January 2005. If you look closely you can see his little goatee!

Happy Birthday Steevie!

As many of you know today (March 20th) is the birthday of the nearest and dearest person in my life. He turned 24. I wanted to recount some of the memories over the last four years. Jerad and I met when he was 20 and one has to wonder where all the time has gone that we are celebrating birthday #4.

Ok, So let's fess up a little ... How did Jerad and Josh really meet? It has been perhaps a contentious item of speculation among many. Truthfully, Jerad and I met online, and not on some warm fuzzy place like Match.com or Eharmony. It was more like the back alley behind a gay bar ... only digital. We emailed for a couple weeks, almost lost touch because Jerad was without the Internet for a couple weeks. But then, He sent me a message not long after New Year, 2005, We hung out one night at my place (Jan 8th the boys "anniversary") and hit it off by "watching a movie."

It was not long after our meeting that Jerad extended the invitation for me to sleep over at his place, which I was more nervous than he knows because he lived with his mother. It was winter and I was living on Michigan St, De Pere, the trappings of independence at my old place were well tempered by a lack of heat. Before long I was more or less living with Jerad and his mom and Mark (her BF) stayed over quite a bit as well. I'll never forget that Jerad was not out when we first met, and came out to his mom after I made him promise to tell the truth the next time she brought it up. The many many conversations that my mother-in-law and I had regarding the gays stemmed from the new revelations during this time. It was truly an educational time for all, Jerad really discovered and opened up to who he is and in new ways, so did I.

Neither Jerad or I will forget the moment that I accredit to us seeing the need for our own place. Mama, bless her, was not shy that the boys slept together. In fact Jerad and I were naked as jay birds under the sheets when she climbed up on the bed between us. I don't recall what we talked about specifically, only thinking that I hope neither of us tent the sheets.

Running along throughout Jerad's formative gay years is our relationship with St. Anne's Episcopal that continues to evolve to this day. I credit a large portion of the success of our relationship due to the support from our Church family. Without our good friends that we have made along the way, I'm not sure that we would have the strength and skills to make it long term. The couple that prays together .... Stays together. There's a lot to be said for a spiritual connection as well and a community connection with a shared faith and passion. I'll always have Lynn to thank for being the organist at St Anne's, and funny enough for breaking her wrist (the first time around), for bringing be back to St. Anne's. I took Jerad along with me, hehe.

Jerad and I moved a bit in the first couple years. First from my place and his mom's to our apartment, and then 11 months later we moved into our house. The moving did no really stop when we got our house because our families are still finding things to have us move to our place. And, Jerad's Dad's basement ... well that was a household and a half.

Jerad and I have had two business endeavors develop since we met. It was not long after we met that we launched his landscaping business. Everyone was very excited to see him grow into this new role. Also May 1, 2007, Jerad and I opened the doors of Buds 'n Bloom Design Studio, http://www.budsnbloomdesignstudio.com/. Living, Loving, and Working with someone is an experience that not all couples are able to accomplish. One of the unique things about Jerad and I is our ability to work together as a team. The things that we have accomplished could not have been done by either of alone at this point in our life.

Well, Sweetie, I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I know I have. And even though we face many new challenges and tests this year, I have faith that we will pull through and be better for it. I know you'll do your best yet this next year.

Happy Birthday Steevie,

LastManOut
(Joshy to You)

Logic Quiz

Questions:

1. If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?
2. If you have only one match and you walked into a room where there was an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one would you light first?
3. How far can a dog run into the woods?
4. A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half hour. How long would the pills last?
5. Why do you always find something in the last place you look?
6. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.
7. A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern exposure. A big bear walks by. What color is the bear? Why?
8. What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end, and the end of every race?
9. Divide 30 by 1/2 and add 10. What is the answer?
10. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents; the woman is the beggar's sister, but the beggar is not the woman's brother. How come?

Answers:

1. 2
2. The match
3. Halfway
4. 1 hour (Other exceptable answer: not long enough.)
5. You would not continue searching other places after you found the item, therefore finding it in the last place you look.
6. The men were not playing together or The men played a total of 10 games against each other and each won 5.
7. The bear is white, a polar bear. The house in on the North Pole.
8. The letter "E"
9. 70
10. The begger is the woman's sister.

The Bishop

A new Bishop came to town and after he was settled in he decided to go visit a church downtown. So the Bishop started out on his walk downtown and out from the side street a hooker jumps out and says, "Hey Father, how about a blow job, $25." The Bishop is dumbfounded and just keeps walking. As he gets downtown another hooker jumps out at him and says, "Hey Father, how bout a quickie, only $15." The Bishop is not sure what is being offered and politely refuses; he decides it is time to return home. When the Bishop returns to the rectory Sister Mary is sweeping the steps, he stops her and asks, "Sister ... ah ... what is a quickie?" Sister Mary replies, "$15, Same as downtown."

Stress

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, Raised a glass of water and asked "How heavy is this glass of water?"Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, As the burden becomes increasingly heavy, We won't be able to carry on. " "As with the glass of water, You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, Let them down for a moment if you can. "So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while. Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,And some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet,Just in case you have to eat them.
* Always read stuff that will make you look goodIf you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can beRecalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, You're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today... I did.