Behr Blather

Beard

2012-02-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Gotta love it.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Says Aarrr!

2012-02-01T15:29:00.001-08:00

I'm having one of those days....

Update - Monday Morning

2012-01-30T05:35:00.000-08:00

Dad has been moved to a convalescent home. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. Hopefully they won't keep him doped up on morphine like the hospital; it interferes with his ability to stay away and then the sleep apnea kicks in. Every few minutes it's "Breathe, Dad, breathe."

Thanks for all the good thoughts. I appreciate it.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Update

2012-01-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

So for those who haven't seen my post on FB - here's what's going on....

Yesterday when I got home from work - and after a stop at the grocery store - I found two phone messages from my mom...she and my dad were at the hospital. He fell again and preliminary x-ray reports show a fracture of his pelvis.

My dad did this back in 2003 only that time he was standing on top of a ladder. This time he was standing on the ground. My dad weighs probably 130 pounds soaking wet. Anyway, he's still at hospital and hopefully today we will find out the complete diagnosis/prognosis. I'll be helping my mom a lot this weekend; thankfully they still have some of the equipment needed to help him at home, like a shower bench and walker. We'll need to get a wheel chair most likely.

While I'm confident he will recover, his previous accident, age, and other health issues make me wonder how long he will be with us. I know some of you have recently lost parents...and my heart goes out to you. I'm lucky that both of my parents are still living; but I also know the time will come one day when I will lose one of them. Although my relationship with them can be tenuous at times, it is a fairly good one. I don't know how well I'll fare when it happens.

That's about what's been going on. I just wanted to let everyone know that now the randomness of my posts has a reason.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Exchange

2012-01-27T09:23:00.001-08:00

Behr: Whatcha doin?

Him: Just sittin here at work, fukken sleepy.

Behr: You're having sex with a dwarf at work?!

BEHR HUGS

Furry-Faced Friday

2012-01-27T04:52:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of GROWLr....each bear is SO handsome!

BEHR HUGS!

Behr Pick: Heroes

2012-01-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge...

BEHR HUGS!!

Men of GROWLr: Couples

2012-01-22T04:30:00.000-08:00

The only thing hotter than the men from GROWLr are the couples from GROWLr.

BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 71

2012-01-22T03:30:00.000-08:00

Unsurprisingly, I am mesmerized by this beautiful picture.

I do not think I will ever tire of pictures with bearded, furry, masculine men.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Pick: Bears

2012-01-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Golden Globe Congrats

2012-01-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the cast and crew of Downton Abbey on the Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Golden Globe.

Total costume crack.

BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 70

2012-01-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Outside it's cold and damp...the perfect day to cuddle and watch movies and make out.

Any volunteers?

BEHR HUGS

Behr Bits: Jan 2012

2012-01-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

Well here we are, half-way through the first month of the new year already. Where the fuck does the time go? Seriously...is there a black hole swallowing up time?

Late last year I switched to the "new" Blogger...although I sometimes click on the wrong thing or something happens that isn't quite what I wanted I'm finding it to be very user friendly. Including pictures is way easier except for the whole how to order thing...they now go in in the order you've selected them. Before uploading though, you can rearrange them. You can also include captions, and move the pictures individually. I also like the way you can schedule and label the posts. AND...perhaps the best part for a visual person like me...the preview shows you exactly what it'll look like.

I'm sure I've mentioned that about 2 years ago I drank the Kool Aid and became a MAC owner. I've never looked back. I also own an iPod and an iPhone, which is perhaps the best thing to happen to me since I learned to jerk off. So for two years the PC, monitor, printer, and other accessories have been collecting dust in my spare room. I have a friend I could have asked to help with the PC but he'd already helped once and I don't like people thinking that I can't manage a stupid computer. This past December I gave the PC and an old laptop to O. I also gave him the monitor, printer, an old router, and all sorts of software discs, cords, ethernet cables, et cetera. O is going to school to learn to service computers and thought he could use them for whatever. I asked him though to see if he could extract my files.

I heard from O yesterday...he tried but couldn't not recover the files; evidently they were erased at one point. He was very apologetic. I didn't really think they were recoverable but thought it didn't hurt. My only disappointment is that I had a TON of pictures, both of the personal nature and the pornographic. I had a lot of pictures of S and friends that are now lost to me forever. *sigh*

It's a long weekend, thanks to the Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday. I don't have big plans; tonight I'll be seeing friends in a production of Romeo and Juliet. And I think a trip to Disneyland is in order for Monday. Other than that, it's fairly status quo: laundry, yard work, house cleaning, etc. It's overcast and currently 45 degrees here; I know I need to go out and start the yard work but I'm enjoying my coffee and the news.

Hope everyone is well and that you have a great weekend!

BEHR HUGS

Behr's Truth

2012-01-10T18:41:00.000-08:00

Cute guys abound in Los Angeles.
But cute guys wearing Crocs?

Now that is special!

BEHR HUGS

BEER

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

It does a body good.

BEHR HUGS

2012: Day 3

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

It's back to work today....

BEHR HUGS

Welcome 2012

2012-01-02T11:24:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful (and safe) New Year's Eve and Day.

BEHR HUGS for a fantastic 2012!

Men of GROWLr: 2011 Last Look

2011-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

A last look - for 2011 - at the variety of hotness found on GROWLr....

HAPPY NEW YEAR BEHR HUGS!

Behr Adventure: 6th Street Bridge

2011-12-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

There's an online blog, blogdowntown, that provides information about what's going on in downtown Los Angeles. Unlike New York or San Francisco, Los Angeles has struggled as an urban center for many years. That is changing, however, with the Broadway Street project, new construction, and the conversion of many of buildings into lofts.

Not too long ago, my coworker found a story about the 6th Street bridge, which spans the Los Angeles river. Erected in 1932, this bridge provides a major artery into downtown from East LA. You may remember the "I Love LA" song by Randy Newman; part of the lyrics talk about 6th Street and Whittier Boulevard; unknown to non-Angelenos is this is the same road! But I digress.

It seems that the 6th Street bridge is slowly eroding from the inside out. This, you can imagine, is not a good thing. So in time the bridge will be torn down and a new bridge built. The project isn't slated to begin until 2014. My coworker, P, and I talked about walking the bridge long before we found out that the bridge is slated for demolition. Yesterday she and I did just that.

We started out having breakfast then driving to the bridge and walking over it. I took the following pictures with my iPhone. Click on each picture for a larger view.

One of two "gates" on the east end of the bridge

Looking west toward downtown from the east end of the bridge.

The sign announcing that you're traveling over the LA River

Steel support in the middle of the bridge.

The LA river; it's more of a cement eyesore used in many films.

Downtown LA in the distance; still looking west.

The bridge also crosses over the major railroad tracks that lead to Union Station.

The dedication plaque of the bridge; it's located on the west end, opposite the gates in the first picture.

Looking across the bridge; this was on the walk back on the other side.

Looking east; that's my friend taking pictures.

Graffiti on a steel girder. There's surprisingly little on the bridge itself.

Looking at one of the many businesses that exist along the LA river; note the elaborate graffiti.

Looking toward the 7th Street bridge, which is a "double" bridge. The original bridge was built then a newer bridge was built on top; you can see the lower portion still.

Proof that there's beauty everywhere, even on a bridge.

Looking to the end of the bridge where we started; you can see the gates.

Looking across the bridge toward the Pasadena hills; a very iconic Southern California picture.

After our bridge walk we drove to Angeleno Heights to see the Victorian homes; on the way back home we stopped for a couple of beers at a dive bar...it was still decorated for Christmas.

And there you have it, the Behr's adventure!

BEHR HUGS

Behr Movie: War Horse

2011-12-28T15:19:00.000-08:00

This morning my Dad and I saw the movie War Horse, which had opened locally on Christmas Day.

For those unfamiliar, this all began as a book, which was then rewritten into the Tony Award-winning play of the same name. In the play, life size horse puppets were used, making the story come alive without use of real horses.

Steven Spielberg made this movie, based on the play, substituting live horses for the puppets.

WARNING: Possible spoiler alert!

The film is about a young lad who trains a horse that is eventually commandeered by the military at the dawn of WWI. Through a set of circumstances, the horse is reunited with the lad and they both return safely from the war.

The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. The lushness of the English countryside in the beginning of the film and the beautiful orange sky of the ending both complement the grayness of the war. I have no doubt that this is not an accident. Spielberg sends a message about the harshness and sacrifice of war not only in words but in images.

Like most Spielberg movies, I found myself crying toward the end. I knew I would and was prepared with a handkerchief. I thought I might be able to get through to the end but when horse and lad are reunited...waterworks. I'm not ashamed to say that yes: the Behr is a sentimental old fool who cries at the movies. If I'm not moved, Spielberg didn't do his job.

I anticipate it being on the short list of Academy Award Best Picture nominees; it's inevitable, in my opinion, as it has already garnered a Golden Globe Best Picture nomination. And while it is a wonderful picture, I look forward to the day I can see the stage production with the puppets.

After the movie we went to lunch, which was delicious. It was a wonderful morning/early afternoon with my Dad.

BEHR HUGS

Men of GROWLr: 10

2011-12-27T00:30:00.000-08:00

One of the joys of being gay is the variety of men. Thanks to a friend, I've come to appreciate the sexiness of men who wear glasses. There's something hot about a bespectacled man who also has facial hair. Submitted for your approval is the following baker's dozen of cute Growlr guys who wear glasses.

BEHR HUGS!

Men of GROWLR: Explicit

2011-12-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

I continue to be fascinated by GROWLr and the men willing to show their private pics...here are two such men.

Ironically, the fur stud didn't continue out chat after I shared MY private pic - LOL. Oh well.

BEHR HUGS

Christmas Eve Eve

2011-12-24T13:36:00.001-08:00

Yesterday afternoon I got together with O, who is admittedly very handsome, a great kisser, and an even better cocksucker. That's probably impolite but you may as well know the score up front!

O and I have been hanging out a bit for the past few months. We met online, naturally. I enjoy his company, he's pretty laid back, and we do share quite a few common interests despite the 23 year age difference.

Yeah yeah yeah. I'm a cradle robber. Sue me.

So I picked him up and we went to have ice cream. After that we decided to see a movie and headed over to the theater that was showing My Week With Marilyn. We were about 2 hours early so we walked through the nearby mall after purchasing our tickets.

O is a gamer - among other things - and when he saw the Grab N Go he had to try to win something. There was a particular item and I told him if he won it for me I'd be his boyfriend. He tried but failed unfortunately.

Later on, when we were passing the machine again, he insisted on trying. So we got some change and VOILA! He won the item - a Kenny doll!!

O proceeded to win Desperaux doll and a Curious George doll. At the end of the evening he gave me the Kenny doll.

The movie was quite good. For those who don't know, it's a true story about a young man's interactions with Marilyn Monroe while she was filming The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier and Dame Sybil Thorndike (played to perfection by Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench, respectively). Michelle Williams plays Marilyn in what I can only assume will be an Oscar-nominated performance. Sadly, there were only four other people in the theater.

After the movie, we went for a bite to eat. Before going into the restaurant, I gave O his Christmas presents, which he liked. We had a nice dinner then I took him home.

As he said, it was a really awesome date. Especially since it was all unplanned! It was a very nice start to the holiday weekend.

Christmas Eve has so far been a lazy day. Isn't that what holidays are about?

BEHR HUGS

Men of GROWLr: 8

2011-12-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

My addiction to the men of GROWLr continues and I'm bringing you all along for the ride...just try to pick a single favorite...double-dog dare you.

BEHR HUGS

Winter Solstice Tradition

2011-12-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

Back in 1986, I performed in my first community theatre show. It was at the encouragement of my friend Raun that I auditioned. It was during this show that I met Roxie (who produced) and Lauri (who was a fellow on-stage thespian). I have shared the stage with both a few times and have worked for Roxie in various capacities over the years, including stage managing and doing lights.

In 1987, Roxie, Lauri, Raun and I first met around Christmastime for a meal and good company of friends. I sort of "crashed" that first year, not knowing that it originally was to be just the three. Roxie and Lauri, however, said nothing, and it's become an annual tradition. Tonight was our 24th year!

Raun was always hit and miss; he eventually went MIA and shortly after his reappearance in the area, he passed away from HIV complications. There are times I miss the old pre-sick Raun. We always toast our fallen friend.

That first year we met at Mimi's Cafe. Then for a few years we met at a Velvet Turtle (anyone remember that restaurant?). A few years we travelled to Burbank to the Falcon Theater to see a performance put on by The Troubadour Theatre Company. For quite a few years we've been going to Portofino's, a fine Italian restaurant in a neighboring city. No matter where we went or what we did, it always ended up being on Winter Solstice. We've continued this tradition and tonight was no exception.

From the start we started exchanging gifts. For many many years, Lauri has given us homemade truffles; sometimes in a wrapped box, often on a holiday plate. I have one plate displayed in my kitchen; it's a teddy bear dressed in a Santa suit. I've given them holiday-themed items and theatre-related items. And honestly, it's never about the gift.

It's really simple, really, why we do this: amid the hustle and bustle and stress of holiday preparation it's a special evening to meet with friends, break bread and share wine, engage in lively conversation, and bask in that rare condition called friendship.

It's the best night of the season.

There are so many of you with whom I wish I could share an evening like this. I value each and every one of you and wish each of you a Happy Winter Solstice.

BEHR HUGS

Men of GROWLr: 7

2011-12-21T08:51:00.000-08:00

More men of GROWLr for this Hump Day.

BEHR HUGS

Holiday Flash Mob

2011-12-21T08:01:00.000-08:00

The Flash Mob hysteria continues...however, I found this one to be very moving. Check it out.

Holiday Flash Mob

BEHR HUGS

PS: Ignore the creepy mascot looking through the window!

Behr Vacation: Day 1

2011-12-20T04:01:00.000-08:00

I hate to rub it in, but I'm on vacation this week and next, returning to work on January 3. In my line of work, the last two weeks of the year are slow and it makes sense to take the time now. Although there are issues of weather at times, and the holidays, I enjoy having these weeks off.

Today I went to the Disneyland Resort (DLR), mainly to try to get into the holiday spirit and also to do some shopping for a last Christmas gift for my sister. I started off at California Adventure, which is under renovation and improvement since this park never really took off. Whenever I go to DLR, I must - absolutely MUST - have a corn dog.

It is one of my guilty pleasures. Thank goodness for iPhone!

I only rode a couple of rides at California Adventure, The Little Mermaid ride, which opened earlier this year that I had yet to ride and Soarin' Over California, which takes the riders up into the air with hang glider movements over a film of Southern California locales. I then went over to Disneyland, which was so horribly crowded I didn't ride anything. I had a bite to eat then left the park to go to the big World of Disney store in Downtown Disney to shop.

On my way home I stopped at a few stores and finally found a last gift for my mom. This completes my gift shopping! This is a huge relief, as I'm sure you can imagine.

The rest of the day was spent wrapping presents, doing a little laundry, and watching movies while Winston slept on my lap. Bliss!

If the rest of my vacation days go like this it's going to be a very good vacation!

BEHR HUGS!

Sunday Favorite: 69

2011-12-18T07:47:00.001-08:00

No need to explain this one, I'm sure.

Enjoy.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Returns and Catches Up

2011-12-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

I'm back home from my trip to the Bay area...it was a good trip! The work part went well, I was able to spend time with my best friend, and enjoy the holiday trappings of one of the best cities in the world.

Here's a shocker about my trip: not once did I eat at Grubstake! On my first night, I went by Opera Plaza where Bear works; we stopped by his place so he could change clothes. We walked toward Mission/4th to eat at Mel's Diner. After that we went to Lone Star for a beer. We were out on the patio and it started to sprinkle. We left there and went to Hole in the Wall (a bar I prefer over Lone Star) for a second beer. We ran into an acquaintance of Bear's; this man is awfully cute. I felt a little embarrassed because I felt myself flirting with him. He later checked me out on Growlr and I left him a message that said "Hey! You're that cute guy I met at Hole in the Wall!" We've been exchanging messages. Like I said...cute guy.

The next night, Bear came to the hotel and from there we walked down Market to the Embarcadero. We ate at Gott's Roadside, which is inside the Ferry Building. I think it would have been a better lunch spot than dinner spot but it was good. We then roamed around the Embarcadero Plaza, ending up at the movie theater. We saw "Shame" with Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. More on that another time. After the movie we walked back to the hotel where we talked for a while before Bear took off for home.

Growlr played a small role in my trip, mostly being contacted by the following men. Being "new meat" has its advantages! I was slated to meet the last guy but cancelled because I wanted to spend some "alone" time in the city. As you can see, the men are a variety of types. I'll share the others as well as the more "private" pictures another time.

BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 68

2011-12-11T04:08:00.000-08:00

More men from Growlr...I'm off to San Francisco (again) for work.

BEHR HUGS

Growlr Guy

2011-12-09T05:07:00.000-08:00

For regular readers you'll have noticed I turned on the "adult content" warning...I've been considering this for a while because I wanted to keep this PG-13...but fuck it...bring on the nudity!

I love Growlr...especially the new feature where one can share "private" pictures with other users. The following pics I received via message from a guy in Istanbul...damn I love men.

BEHR HUGS

Random Behr Thoughts

2011-12-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Random thoughts and questions.....

When did corduroy pants come back in style? Or have I missed something? "Cords" as we called them were popular between 1970 and 1985 as far as I remember (both as a wearer and seller in my college days). Today I noticed several men wearing them, both "wide wale" and standard. What gives?

Is it me or are homeless people - as a general rule - nicer than non-homeless people? Almost on a daily basis I pass the same homeless guy near my subway stop....he almost always wishes me a good day or says hello. People who are also commuting to work can bump into me and/or nearly knock me down and I get a dirty look and no apology. I'm the one who says "Sorry!" Is it because the homeless guy doesn't have to be somewhere and the commuter does? Or is it a case of better manners?

Why is it that in advertisements for fitness products the guys always have shaved chests? What's wrong with showing a muscle bear? And while we're on the topic of fitness equipment, why are all the models 20-something muscle studs? Show me a fat guy using your piece of equipment and the results on him!

Is pre-cum underrated? I was watching Titan Media's Funhouse the other night and one of the performers had this long thick string of pre-cum from the tip of his cock to the floor (he was on his knees). It was the hottest thing in the film. I can only remember seeing one other porn scene in which pre-cum was blatantly displayed (Ray Dragon in Titan's Woodsmen). Is it a conscious choice of directors? Or do actors not produce enough memorable pre-cum?

These are some of the things keeping me awake at night....

BEHR HUGS

Sometimes How I Feel

2011-12-01T08:04:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Bears!

2011-11-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

I thought equal time for the big bears was a bit over due. Woof!

BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 67

2011-11-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

I found this picture over on Growlr...yes I'm addicted! I don't chat much and I've never actually hooked up with anyone...but strictly as a voyeur it's one of the best apps on my iPhone.

And I don't think I need to share why this is a favorite picture.

BEHR HUGS

Men of GROWLr: Black and White Edition

2011-11-26T00:07:00.000-08:00

These are a few of the hot men on GROWLr who have posted black & white pics....

BEHR HUGS!

Bearded Friday

2011-11-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

Today in America is the day our country stops to express thanks for the blessings or good things we have in our lives. Here's my short list of that for which I am thankful:

This Country. Despite the societal and economic problems, it still is a country based on freedom and liberty. The grass is not greener on the other side of the border/fence. We are basically a free people.

My Family. Despite the occasional disagreements and lack of understanding for each other's personal characteristics and lifestyle, they love me and I love them. I personally am lucky that I can go "home" and feel the warmth of familial relationships.

Winston. I can't lump him with family because he is my own family. I often sit in wonder that I allow this animal to roam through the house and basically "run" my life. But his love is unconditional and - as much of a cliche as it may sound - my house is a Home because of him.

My Friends. They support me, love me, and give me the strength to be a better person. They include people from the theater, work, school, the social world, and definitely this blog-o-sphere. Especially the blog-o-sphere. Although I have never met many of you, you are all very special and I thank you for being a part of my life.

My Job. I enjoy my job and I work with a good group of people. It's true there are times when it can be frustrating and filled with stress but I am compensated for the work I perform. I have a great benefits package which, as I can attest to recently, has really been a blessing.

My House. Just a few days ago was the 10th anniversary of the day I moved in. I still cannot believe that this is mine. There's always something to fix or improve and that can be stressful and full of money worries. But this is the place I can call my own. I was able to purchase this home on my own, without financial help, and for that I am thankful and proud.

My Best Bear Friend. Yes, he's miles away and I don't get to see him or hang out with him as often as I would like. But he's very special to me and I am thankful he is in my life.

So there you have it, the short list. There are many other blessings I could name but these are the top seven (a lucky number!). If you spend the day with biological family, adopted family, friends, or that special loved one, take a moment to ponder those things for which you are thankful.

Don't forget the cranberry sauce!

BEHR HUGS

Men of GROWLr: 6

2011-11-23T04:11:00.000-08:00

What are YOU thankful for?

BEHR HUGS!

Men of GROWLr: 5

2011-11-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 66

2011-11-20T07:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much to say lately and I have wanted to avoid this becoming a "pictorial" blog despite starting out that way. So in the absence of my own creativity, I'm reproducing this meme that I saw over on Patently Queer. He in turn stole it from Spo-Reflections, who stole it from Tiger by the Tale. If you haven’t stolen it for yourself, go ahead, it’s fun.

1. How old were you when you knew you were gay? I was 17 when I started suspecting. This is despite having a crush on another 5 year old boy in kindergarten and fooling around with other boys at the age of 11. I was always a bit slow about such things.

2. Have you ever had sex with the opposite sex? Eeww no!

3. Who was the first person you came out to? The first person I came out to was myself. I struggled with self-acceptance and couldn't share my discovery with anyone until I was comfortable with it. I was always afraid of disappointing other people or hurting their feelings or even being rejected. Thankfully I really only lost one friend over it. Maybe I'll blog about that some time.

4. Are you out to your family? Yes. And no. It's complicated. I came out to my parents over 20 years ago and we still don't talk about it. They made me promise I would not tell my brother and sister. To this day I've not talked to either of them about it.

5. Do you want children? I knew I didn't want children long before I knew I was gay.

6. Do you have more gay friends or straight friends? About 50-50 I think although it seems most of my FB friends are men.

7. Were you out in school? Not in high school. I was fairly out in college.

8. Is your best friend the same sex as you? Yes. He's a very handsome bear.

9. If your best friend is the same sex, have you ever had sex with them? No, we never had full on sex although we had an incredible make out session when we met.

10. Have you ever done crystal meth? Never.

11. Have you ever been in a sling? No. There's a curiosity but the opportunity has never presented itself.

12. Have you ever done a 3-way? Absolutely!!

13. Have you ever dressed in drag? Does Halloween count? Years ago I was the only male in my department and we dressed up as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. I was Snow White.

14. Would you date a drag queen? I have often found myself attracted to men who are outside my conscious realm of what I find attractive...so I'm not sure. I think that packaging is important in terms of initial attraction but it truly is a person's character that is important. Often I've met men who I didn't think were my type physically but once I got to know them I saw their beauty.

15. Are you ‘fixed in your ways’ as it were? I'm not sure I understand this question...

16. Cher or Bette? Are we talking Davis or Midler?

17. Have you dated someone of a different ethnicity? Oh yes....in college I dated a black man from Belize and I have a strong attraction to Latinos.

18. Been to Fire Island? Saugatuck? Key West? Ft. Lauderdale? Palm Springs? No. No. No. No. Yes.

19. How many Madonna CDs do you own? None.

20. Name of your first love? Oscar Mayer. I wanted his wiener mobile.

21. Do you still talk to them? No but I sing his name frequently.

22. Does size matter?

Are we talking bed size? Because size does matter when it comes to a bed. But in terms of cock size...as long as it isn't too small, size doesn't matter much to me.

23. Biggest turn on? A full beard.

24. Biggest turn off? Bad teeth.

25. Ever been harassed due to your orientation? Yes absolutely.

26. Worst gay stereotype that applies to you? My favorite actress of all time is Bette Davis

27. Ever been to a pride rally? No. I have no need to wave a flag or mingle in a crowd of drunks to feel good about myself.

28. Would you marry if you could? I was proposed to back in 1989 before same sex marriage was even on anyone's radar. I said yes. However, nowadays I believe I'm too set in my ways to actually be someone's life partner.

29. Would you rather be rich and smart or young and beautiful? Intelligence is a total turn on. While having enough money to not worry about tomorrow is great, being comfortable is fine with me. I've never been beautiful and I still sometimes think I'm in my 20s rather than pushing 50. So I'd rather be my age and smart.

30. Do you sculpt your eyebrows? What's sculpting eyebrows?

31. Do you trim your body hair? NO!

32. Ever had sex with more than one person in a day? Yes. Several times.

33. Ever been to an orgy? Yes I have.

34. Which character in “The Women” best reflects you? As much as I'd like to be Crystal Allen or Mary Haines...I'm afraid I'm Lucy.

35. Favorite gay expression ? Hey Gurl!

36. How may ‘ex’ do you have? More than one less than ten.

37. Do you believe in fairies? The radical kind, yes.

38. Do you have any tattoos? No.

39. Do you have any piercings? Yes.

40. Would you date a smoker? As a former smoker, this is an interesting question. I would have to say for my present nonsmoking state, no. If you're talking 420...a casual user is fine.

41. If you are male, do you know many lesbians? What's 'many?' I know some mostly at work.

42. Do you know anyone who has died from HIV? Yes.

43. Are you part of a gay organization? You mean like a gay mafia?

44. Is your gym cruisy? What is a gym?

45. Grinder or Scruff? I was never on Grinder; I was on Scruff for a short while.

46. Are your best years behind or in front of you? They're right now.

47. Got Porn? Yes.

48. Make out music? Classical, preferably Shostakovich or Rachmaninov.

49. Ever been in love with a straight guy? Of course...my best friend in high school.

50. Did you ever have sex with him? No.

51. Have you ever been to a nude beach? Yes.

52. Have you ever been to a bath house? Yes. I went all through college and as recently as 4 years ago.

53. Ever had sex in public? Yes.

54. What gay gene did you miss out? None - I'm the full package baby!

So there you have it...some amusement for this Sunday. Feel free to comment. And why not copy and repost into your own blog for the rest of us? BEHR HUGS

Red Letter Day

2011-11-17T04:45:00.000-08:00

Today is my "Friday" since I'm taking tomorrow and Monday as vacation days. I have officially entered into my last 16 work days of 2011. And that includes another trip to the San Francisco area for work. Definitely something worth celebrating with any one of these men.

BEHR HUGS

Posted Without Comment

2011-11-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Men of GrowLr: 4

2011-11-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Training the Cub

2011-11-08T11:09:00.001-08:00

There is the cutest cub in my computer class...unfortunately he mentioned a pregnant wife. Still....I could train him all day & into the night. Grrrr!

BEHR HUGS

Men of GROWLr: 3

2011-11-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 65

2011-11-06T07:26:00.001-08:00

From Growlr...of course. All together now: Grrrrrrr!

I'm back from my trip to the San Francisco area. As I mentioned previously, the work part was rough. Thankfully I've been doing this long enough to know how to quickly modify my approach to ensure that the participants get maximum benefit. The last two days of training went well. I met some new colleagues, which is always nice, and reacquainted with others, which is always nicer.

On Wednesday, my second day of training, I went back to the hotel and took a nap. I woke up just about 7pm. I threw on some clothes and walked over to Sutter/Market and picked up a burrito bowl from Chipotle. I took it back to the hotel where I ate and enjoyed "Survivor." It was nice to just stay in.

On Thursday evening, I walked over to the theater where Bear works. I had mentioned to him that I wanted to see the Helena Bonham Carter movie Toast but it had already been taken off the schedule. He told me that the film was sent back but they still had a digital copy. So after all of the patrons left and his coworker, he played the film for me. He had work to do (paperwork and such) so he didn't get to watch the film with me. He still had a couple of quick things to do after the film was over and then we walked over to Mel's Diner on Polk St. where we decided to just keep going to - you guessed it - Grubstake. This made my third time eating there during this trip. I'm usually lucky to get there once! We both had tuna melts that really hit the spot since we were both hungry. After Grubstake we caught a cab to my hotel.

We cuddled for a while while talking until I started passing out on him and we went to bed. Because I live alone, I often have a difficult time sleeping with another body in the bed. Bear is one of the few with whom I can share a bed and still sleep. I did wake up early but went back to sleep. I finally got up - I forget what time - and took a shower and got dressed. I had packed the previous night before meeting up with Bear at the movie theater.

I eventually made some noise that woke Bear up and he asked what time it was. Since it was almost 9 am he got up and dressed and off we went to breakfast. I didn't have a class on Friday morning so Bear and I talked about going to his favorite breakfast place. I didn't need to be in Walnut Creek until 1pm for my last class. We caught BART to the 24th St exit in the Mission. And just let me tell you I love the Mission; it reminds me a lot of East Los Angeles and yet it's got it's own SF vibe. We swung by an ATM - Bear insisted on buying breakfast - and we went to Boogaloos. Being who he is, Bear didn't need to look at the menu so I made him order for me. You know I trust him if I let him order my breakfast! So he ordered each of us the Boogaloo Classic and substituted a Temple o'Spuds for the home fries. It's a pile of home fries topped with cheese, salsa, sour cream, and green onions. YUMMY! And the biscuit in vegan gravy was delicious. To drink, we had coffee, water, and a mimosa. Bear asked if I wanted one and he later told me he could see me debating then I decided "what the hell?" It was delicious!

After breakfast we walked back to BART and he left me at Civic Center and I continued on to Montgomery St. I hated saying goodbye to him. I got back to the hotel, finished getting my stuff together and checked out and headed to Walnut Creek. The rest of the trip was uneventful.

I was very happy to spend so much time with the Bear. It was great to see him. I unfortunately opted to not follow through with seeing other friends because I much preferred Bear's company.

Now I'm home here in So Cal and it's cold and raining. I had to finally clean the heater and light the pilot light yesterday. Winston has stuck close, probably because he's happy I'm home and because it's cold. In a bit I'm off to visit the parents as usual.

I hope everyone is staying warm and dry. BEHR HUGS

Behr Trip: 2

2011-11-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

Don't even ask me about my first day at work here in the Bay area. It was less than fruitful and less than stellar. In fact I had a momentary thought to call my boss and quit. I quickly got over that silly notion.

The hotel where I stay does the complimentary wine bar every evening. When I arrived at the hotel it was in full swing so I basically walked up and stuck out my hand and voila! A nice merlot was placed in my hand. I took it back to the room where I unfortunately downed it fairly quickly. I needed that!

Last night I met up with Bear. It was good to see him, better to hug him. My poor friend has been through a lot these past few months since he visited. Thing are looking up for him and I'm confident he will soon be back to his normal self.

So we met at Civic City BART station. I always get confused at that particular station, I don't know why. But I only waited a few minutes before Bear showed up. We walked up Polk street to - yeah you guessed it! Grubstake. It's always interesting to eat at an establishment two nights in a row, once alone and once with someone to see how different the experience is. I had Shepherd's Pie. It was good, but not nearly as tasty as the pork piccata from the night before. My excellent company more than made up for that.

After dinner we walked to a bar, Cinch, and had a couple of beers. We sat out on the back patio, talking and drinking and enjoying each other's company. From there we walked over to his place of employment (movie theater) where he was going to screen a movie for me. Now get your minds out of the gutter! Not that kind of movie! However one of the less than nice managers was there and he didn't want to get into a hassle. So we left there and went to his apartment where he screened his recut "That Darn Bear" movie. I will share more of this later but it's his homage to Charles Martin Smith. Peaches Christ herself handpicked his little film to be in the next SF Underground Short Film Festival! More on that later.

We talked until quite late and I finally needed to get going since I do have to work. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I have the patience to get through today. Wish me luck!

BEHR HUGS

Behr Trip: 1

2011-10-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in previous posts, this week I am in the San Francisco Bay area for work. I flew up this afternoon.

The flight - Jet Blue out of Long Beach - was a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10; there was slight turbulence and the cabin felt overly warm to me so hence the deduction of one point. Otherwise it was a quick and painless ordeal. I always fly into Oakland and my luggage appeared rather quickly. That was a first!

I was able to board AirBART to the Coliseum BART station rather quickly as well. And at the station, as I came up the escalator my BART was sitting there waiting! I found a seat and the ride was fairly uneventful. I say fairly because a young lady was asking if that particular train went to downtown Berkeley and I answered I didn't know. Two queens started dissing her as the door closed. "Oh honey! Wrong train! And get a better outfit!" I always thought SF people were kind.

I'm staying at my usual hotel in the Financial District. Although I will commute to Walnut Creek (a 30 minute +/- BART ride) I stay here because I know where things are and how to get around. It's home base, so-to-speak.

This evening I rode the California Street cable car - something I enjoy doing although the cost went up - to the end of the line. I then walked a block or so to Grubstake, which is one of my favorite places here in the city. It's near the corner of Polk and Pine and serves an array of menu items, including the Portuguese dishes. Tonight I had one of the specials, Pork Piccata. Delicious! It came with a large portion of steamed veggies and scalloped potatoes. Yummy!

I then did the unthinkable...I walked down Polk and made my way to Market Street. I walked Market all the way to Kearney, which is where the hotel is (Kearney/Sutter). I'm pooped! I considered getting on BART at Civic Center but decided that the exercise would do me good AND there were lots of people out. Some of them even had costumes on! It was a good walk.

I am now safely ensconced in my room, updating this here blog thing, and trying to decide whether to turn the TV on or read my book. Hmmmm.

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Hallowe'en. BEHR HUGS

Sunday Favorite: 64

2011-10-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

It should be no surprise that this is a favorite. He's the perfect bear: bearded, furry, beefy. Be sure to click to embiggen. You won't be sorry.

As I mentioned, I'm off to SF this week for work. I fly up tomorrow (Monday) and fly home Friday evening. I'll have some free time tomorrow and each night; I'm looking forward to catching a couple of movies that don't play down in So Cal, having dinner at a favorite restaurant, drinking at a favorite watering hole or two, and of course seeing friends including Bear.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing Hallowe'en night, whether a movie or perhaps just staying in the hotel. I've been warned off the Castro and I think it's a good idea since I do have to work the next day. Whatever the rest of you may be doing, enjoy! Be safe and remember the 4 rules: wear a costume, give out treats, check your candy, and don't blow out the jack o' lantern!

BEHR HUGS

Furry Friday: Leather Edition

2011-10-28T05:34:00.000-07:00

FINALLY....it's Friday. I have no idea why it took so long to get here but it did and I am happy. The weekend does not hold anything special, just the usual chores. There is an added task of packing for my trip to the San Francisco Bay area next week (I fly up on Monday).

Enjoy your day! BEHR HUGS!

Men of GROWLr: 2

2011-10-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

BEHR HUGS!

Men of GROWLr: 1

2011-10-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

For the uninitiated, GROWLr is a social networking phone app that allows men to find nearby bears, cubs, otters, chubs, and chasers to find one another. There are several galleries of member profiles that fall into categories such as Bears, Cubs, New Members, Super Hot, Most Viewed, et cetera. It's a voyeur's delight. I present here a cross section of men.

BEHR HUGS

Puzzle Fun?

2011-10-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

Naive, passionate, sweet, peaceful.

Oy!

Stolen from Bear of a Man.

BEHR HUGS!

Autumn is Here

2011-10-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

It's become a bit cooler at night here in the LA Basin...time to slip on our comfy sweaters.

BEHR HUGS

Monday Update

2011-10-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

Although we're in mid-October the Los Angeles area is experiencing higher temps...from the mid-70s to upper 80s, even into the 90s in some areas. I'm just waiting for that crash of cold to come in (expected around Halloween).

Friday night I had a date: we got a pizza and watched Trick r Treat and Creatures from the Pink Lagoon. The first is a well done horror movie that intertwines four stories; I liked it a lot. The second was a campy romp shot in black and white - except when the gay zombies attacked then the screen got a pink hue. The movie was silly and fun and had one really beefy stud who was always taking his shirt off.

There's more drama at work. At the beginning of the year I was moved out of an office into a cubicle to help make room for a higher-level officer. This week two others will be moved out of offices into cubicles to make room for a new hired and to accommodate others. Unfortunately, I too will be moved again but just one cubicle over. It's an opposite cubicle so it'll take some getting used to the flip-flopped environment. This moving about is supposedly to be completed by the end of this week. We'll see.

In a couple of weeks I will travel to the Bay area for work. In fact, I'll be flying up Hallowe'en day. No plans for the evening yet although I've been warned off the Castro. So if I don't hit SoMa it may be a quiet evening in the hotel.

I believe I'm recovered from my biopsy. I should get the results at my next doctor appointment, scheduled for late November. In the meantime, I need to concentrate on exercising more and eating less, two things I'm not very good at.

That's about all I have. I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.
BEHR HUGS

Furry Friday

2011-10-14T04:50:00.000-07:00

Here's wishing everyone a great (and cooler) weekend....BEHR HUGS

Coffee Behr Update

2011-10-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

This morning my cute papi barista informed me that tomorrow is his birthday.

He turns 21.

*sigh*

BEHR HUGS

Behr Update: October

2011-10-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

I realize I haven't been updated this like I wanted/should. A lot has been going on and I've not felt very communicative. So...here's a quick update.

First, to those who I emailed about my friend, thank you so much for your prayers, good thoughts, and words of encouragement. I truly appreciate them. I understand he's doing ok and may be released from the hospital today.

At the end of September I went to Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Night with RA. We had a good time. There were new mazes that were incredible - namely Alice Cooper's Welcome to my Nightmare and The Thing (based on the upcoming movie). The only problem with going so early in the season is that I feel as if Halloween is over!

BTW.,..RA and I are no more. Suffice it to say he's fallen for someone more bearish and younger than I (but ironically lives in the same city I do). I'm not too upset although I was enjoying his company and wondered if perhaps he was what I was needing in my life. Our communication has fallen from daily texting to the random text. But don't cry for me, Argentina....another young man has been pursuing me. In fact, we met for dinner last week and had some nice cuddle time. We're planning pizza and movies at my place one night this weekend as part of our "getting to know" each other.

On October 1, I attended Gay Days at Disneyland with my friends Phil and Evan. I really enjoyed hanging out with these guys. Interestingly enough, I ran into those who I used to hang out with...and greeted them with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, naturally. It was good to see them, truly good. But I didn't have a moment's hesitation in walking away. It was very crowded and not only with the GLBT community. We were able to ride quite a few rides though and had a very enjoyable day at the park.

I'm back to work after a 4-day weekend. I took last Friday off to have a kidney biopsy. Yesterday was Columbus Day and therefore a holiday. I'm recovering nicely although I do have the occasional twinge in my side. I should be back to myself by end-of-week. More on this topic later.

It appears that I may be traveling to the Bay area for work again, possibly in a couple of weeks. Still organizing and trying to get things arranged.

That's about all I have for now. I hope everyone is well.

BEHR HUGS

REMEMBER.....

2011-10-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

...no matter how dark it may get or how alone you may feel...someone somewhere loves you and would do anything for you.

Saturday Silliness

2011-10-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Hump Day

2011-09-28T05:04:00.001-07:00

Ahhh....Wednesday...where we find pictures of hot men in wifebeaters over at Metro Dystopia...and incredible buttocks over at Visually Speaking...is there any doubt why we love this "middle-of-the-week" day?

BEHR HUGS!

Behr's Weekend Recap

2011-09-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

The weekend went well. Our Friday night show went well and there was a lot of excitement about the show winding down. Because I still felt punky with a cold, I didn't go out afterwards.

On Saturday I met an online acquaintance for lunch. He was visiting the local mortuary park and wanted to meet up. We ate at this little cafe spot, Mimo's, and sat on the patio. It was nice and pleasant and no awkwardness. Or at least very little. We walked back to our cars and he gave me three bottles of wine! I thought that was very sweet of him.

The show on Saturday went very well and ended on an exceptionally high note. The boyfriend of one of the female leads, Heather, stepped out onto the stage right at the end of the curtain call, dropped to his knee and handed her a ring. You could have heard a pin drop! Poor Heather didn't know what to say. Another girl said "You're getting married!" to which Heather finally said "YES!" The entire cast and crew were caught up in the moment and there were a lot of tears and laughter. Couldn't have happened to a nicer girl.

Sunday was the charity walk for the National Kidney Foundation. My mom went with and did the 1 mile option while I attempted the 3 mile option. I'll be honest: I didn't quite finish. I was in desperate need of a restroom and decided not to try to "hold it." I ended up cutting through a parking lot. Still...I walked 95% of it! And the important thing was raising the money.

I'm taking Friday off so it's a short week for me. I just hope it goes by painlessly!

BEHR HUGS

Weekend and Awkward Moment

2011-09-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

It's another busy weekend for the Behr.

It's closing weekend for "Good News" at the theater. It's always bittersweet because it's over (yay) but also because it's over (boo). Usually the crew doesn't really bond much with the actors but this show we have, probably because this is a younger cast who are so into Facebook and several have friended me (oh their poor innocent eyes!). It can be frustrating at times but there are some good people involved and I have many friends in the theater; love 'em all dearly. So two more performances and it's all done.

Tomorrow I'm meeting an online friend for lunch. He will be going to Rose Hills Mortuary and since I'm sort of close by he asked if I'd want to break bread with him. We're meeting at a CBTL and will decide where to eat then (too many options). He's a nice guy, older, and really into food.

On Sunday I'm participating in the 2nd Annual Los Angeles National Kidney Foundation 5K walk, which will be held at the infamous Rose Bowl stadium, home of the Rose Bowl football game every New Year's Day. I exceeded my fundraising goal (yay me) and my mom may be walking with me (depending on her health). Just like I support her and the Arthritis Walk, she's supporting me and the Kidney Walk. The unfortunate part of this event is the walk begins at 12:30 p.m.! Hopefully the weather will cooperate and not be blazing hot. I also hope to be able to gather some information from the information/vendor booths.

I did laundry last night but still need to do the other weekend chores. Hopefully I'll also be able to slip a nap or two in there too.

So this morning, after visiting my favorite papi barista (who looked exceptionally cute this morning...damn I just want to eat him up), I got to work to find that my coworker had left a donut on my desk. Fuck! I had bought a plain bagel with my coffee. So I returned the donut (it was in a white bag) and thanked her and told her I couldn't eat it because of my health issues. She acted a little hurt but that's what she gets for springing something like that on me. She usually asks via text. So in a way it serves her right. Although I didn't tell her details, she knows that I got not great news at the doctor this past Monday. I felt kind of bad but also kind of vindicated because she's one of those controlling personalities. There's always the possibility she was being nice but knowing her there's an ulterior motive. I hate to think like that but I've known her too long. So that was my awkward moment this morning.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Friday - BEHR HUGS

Coffee Behr

2011-09-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with my barista.

I used to be a die-hard Starbucks fan. I even have one of their "gold" reloadable cards that earn me stars and eventually a "free" beverage. But after realizing I was spending a small fortune on coffee and being slightly abused by the staff - and not in an S&M dungeon fantasy way - I slowly backed off and left the Starbucks family. I drop by occasionally for a late afternoon pick me up but otherwise, they lost my business.

About a month or so ago, I decided to stop in a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, which, here in the Los Angeles area, is the "rival" coffee stop to Starbucks. CBTL is slowly growing but not at the fanatic "let's take over the coffee world" pace that Starbucks has grown. They have their own line of coffees, teas, mugs, machines, pastries, etc. and their prices pretty much equal that of Starbucks.

So like I said, I stopped in one humid hot morning for an iced Americano, which is four shots of espresso to the two at Starbucks. Anyway, I started popping in to CBTL every other morning or so and one of the baristas, Nick, quickly learned my name. He's a cute papi with a tattoo on the inside of his right forearm (I think it's a name). He's also got this cute little dusting of hair on his upper back just below his neck, a small little patch of chin hair and a slight moustache. He has one of the nicest smiles too.

But more than the fact that he's cute, it's his warm smile and his conversational "How are you Mark?" that makes me feel appreciated as a customer. I know the game of baristas and cashiers and checkstand folks: kill 'em with kindness and they'll come back. In the case of Nick, it's working. As long as this cute papi is taking my beverage order, flashing that smile, and giving me that look like he'd like to drink me...I'll keep going back.

Besides....the coffee is far superior to that other place.

BEHR HUGS

Saturday Look

2011-09-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm pretty much over the "friend" situation although every once in a while when I think about it I still feel a twinge of hurt and sadness. In talking it over with one of my best gal pals, I came to the realization why I felt hurt and it's my own insecurity and fear of abandonment that is fueling the hurt.

This is the second weekend of the community theater show for which I'm on the stage crew. Because of one fuck up during last Saturday's performance (really woman, how many fucking times have we done this and you can't remember that that set piece does NOT go where the scenery being lowered from the rafters goes), we had to attend pickup rehearsal. No lights, no orchestra just a piano, and lots of teenage and young adults with too much energy. Oy. Somewhere in all that really is a love of theater. Last night's performance went very well with a receptive audience. The show has received two very good reviews so hopefully that will help draw in the audience. Two more performances this weekend: tonight and a matinee tomorrow.

I continue to be contacted by twenty-something year olds who are desperate to meet me. I'm not complaining. (I'm also not meeting them as most live out-of-state.)

RA is good. He makes me smile and laugh and I enjoy his company. I don't think he knows how much his spontaneous lunch idea this last week really helped me. We'll be going to Universal Studios-Hollywood's Halloween Horror Night in late September. I'm SO looking forward to holding his hand through the dark mazes!

It's currently overcast and yet a comfortable 64-degrees. It'll burn off later, just about the time I'm done inside the house with the chores (where the fuck did so many dishes come from?) and contemplating working outside in my dead yard. Oy.

Enjoy your weekend everyone. And again, thank you for the kind and encouraging comments. Keep them coming!!

BEHR HUGS

Furry Friday: Daddy Edition

2011-09-16T04:01:00.000-07:00

With thanks to Jason's Woofs (Facebook) for the image and Metro Dystopia for the inspiration.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Update: Post-Cranky Behr

2011-09-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you to those who commented on my Cranky Behr post. And to those who texted/called, I'm okay. I'm still feeling hurt and pissed off but perhaps not as much as yesterday; RA made me smile today, which helped lighten my mood.

I fully understand that my friends had every right to do what they did; but it hurt me deeply. It just seems that eventually everything gets taken away from me. Is it wrong to want one thing to myself?

I'll be absent for a while longer; aside from licking my (imaginary?) wounds, I feel like I'm coming down with something again. And there's the pickup rehearsal and three performances of the show this weekend. Plus work. And the usual weekend crap.

In the meantime, be good to one another.

Cranky Behr

2011-09-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because it's Monday.
Or maybe it's because I'm still not completely caught up on my sleep.
Perhaps the full moon has something to do with it.

People are annoying the shit out of me.
I'm finding myself feeling hurt by the actions and words of others, especially those who I consider friends.

I want to scream "FUCK YOU" to the world.

I'm one cranky Behr.

Behr Bits

2011-09-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

I had planned to start blogging a little more regularly but life somehow has gotten in the way. Here's a quick look at what's been going on:

* I'm involved once again with the local community theater, this time as part of the stage crew pushing set pieces around. So far it's been okay but the lack of sleep is starting to make me one cranky behr. I've been getting home from rehearsals at about 11pm every night. The show is "Good News," which was originally staged in 1927. Yeah, no contemporary, provocative material here! It's actually good wholesome fun. The cast is made up mostly of young teenaged and college-aged kids. And yes, there are some not unattractive male members of the cast. I'm not quite certain what it is, but a couple of these seemingly straight boys have gravitated over to the Behr. Maybe I really am putting out the vibes!

* Work is work and basically going well. I finished the project I was working on and although I don't think the training module I developed is that good, I'm getting a lot of positive feedback. I need to remember to thank my boss for giving me the project because it's put me in front of some of the more important movers and shakers and it's helping me to get known in the higher echelon. Which can't be a bad thing, right?

* On the dating front, because of the theater I'm a bit pressed for time. However, where there's a will there's a way. RA came by work the other day, picked me up, and we went off for some smoochies. I continue to be contacted by guys from all over the world who are a bit effusive with the compliments. I'm not going to complain. There's one or two who are nearby who "would love to meet" me. Gotta love Growlr.

* I'll be walking in the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Kidney Walk at the end of September. I just hope the weather is on our side. We're currently suffering through an incredible heatwave with high humidity. I'm trying to stay hydrated as well as cool. It's not working.

That's about all. I desperately want/need sleep. Any sleep donations you have will be cheerfully accepted!

BEHR HUGS

Catching Up with the Behr

2011-09-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

As you may remember, this past Friday night I had a date with the guy who I had met for lunch earlier last week. Let's call him RA. So because he got off work at 9 it was going to be a late dinner. He called me when he was almost home and I left to pick him up. It was after 10 I believe when I did. He looked adorable and when he got into my truck he leaned over and gave me a hello kiss. It still makes me smile.

So we took off for the restaurant, Toi on Sunset. This is a totally cool place...rock-n-roll posters and crap adorn the walls as decorations and the hallway and restroom are covered in graffiti; I'm assuming most of it from patrons! It's very cool. It's "Americanized" Thai food. So RA ordered Thai toast and fried rice and I ordered Yellow Curry with Chicken. The Thai toast was really good, especially with peanut sauce on it. The fried rice was uninspired and a bit bland, for my liking. But the Yellow Curry was outstanding! I could have eaten the entire portion by myself. It was almost as good as an orgasm in your mouth. Truly. To top it off, soda for RA, regular ice tea for me. It was a really nice dinner. AND...he paid.

Afterward we popped into a store next door that was full of Japanese-style kitschy items and clothing and cool fun stuff. Because of RA's living arrangement, we couldn't go back to his place and it was way too late to go to my place then try to get him back to get ready for work at 9 am on Saturday, we went "parking." LOL - yes we drove to a little side street next to a park to talk and kiss and enjoy each other's company. Let me say this for RA: he sure knows how to tweak a nipple. *grin* Eventually I dropped him off and went home, falling into bed at about 2:30.

Saturday night I was supposed to meet a guy, Josh, at The Hookup, a gay bar that is about 30 miles from where I live. I had committed to this before meeting RA and I would have much rather spent time with RA. I drove to the place, and walked in and realized there was a Bingo game going on! There were no Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, just lots and lots of lesbians. The Bingo ended and I sat there for about an hour. No one approached me other than the barmaid. I ended up having two 32 ounce mugs of Blue Moon. I wasn't really surprised I got stood up. I left and headed home. As I was approaching my exit from the freeway, I decided I was sober again and headed to Pistons.

I ran into a couple that I know, Steve and Jay and spent the evening with them. They were hanging out with their friends Paul and Jim, two really nice guys. I had a couple more beers (Bud Lite for the hell of it) and we laughed throughout the night. I finally left and was safely in bed by 2:15. Yes, a.m.

Yesterday morning I went to my parents' and, along with my sister, we went to breakfast. This was in lieu of a holiday BBQ or dinner, mainly because of my involvement with the theater. We went back to my parents' for a little while and I then went to change into my grubbies and headed to the theater.

Yesterday was Hell Sunday. Most people in the theater now call it Tech Sunday but I stick to the old school vernacular. We moved the remaining set pieces onto the stage, hung the pieces that will fly in, and put finishing touches on the set pieces. The stage crew, which consists of myself, Gabe, Julie, Candace, Lindsey, Karen, and Monica our stage manager we ran through the show twice. This involved coordinating when set pieces get moved into place, at what times the curtain comes down or backdrops are flown in. One scene in particular has really big, really heavy pieces to move. Over all, we thought we did a great job. Tonight will be the challenge: we'll have actors on stage!

I gave Gabe a ride home and I was home shortly after 5 pm. I texted RA to see what he was up to and - because I had originally told him I was busy because that's what I had been told - he had plans to go out with friends. I thought about maybe showing up at the place they were going to but was too tired (and sore) and called it an early night. I was so tired I slept through my neighbor's party!

And now it's Monday, Labor Day! I plan to laze about until tonight's rehearsal at 5. There are a few things I want to do around the house but I'm not going to expend too much energy.

So that's the latest in Behr World. What's happening in your neck of the woods?

BEHR HUGS

Friday Fur

2011-09-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

It's finally Friday...and a three-day weekend to boot. Does it get any better?

I'm over a week late with this but - and despite the absence of pictures - I wanted to share a little exciting occurrence I had. My coworker's partner has been in the entertainment business for quite a number of years doing hair and in fact has a couple of Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Achievement in Hair for a soap opera.

His latest project is a dream, at least I think it is. He's working on Ringer, the new Sarah Michelle Geller (Prinz) show on the WB. In fact, he's the lead hairstylist. So the other day my coworker says "Want to take a field trip?" It just so happened they were filming not too far from where we work. Despite my cold I said "YES!" and we hoofed it over six blocks in the 90 degree heat to meet his partner and - you got it - SMG herself. She was SO nice. She shook my hand and I of course said I was a big fan. I wanted to ask if I could get my picture taken with her but decided it was not a polite thing. She is, after all, just a person. And she's so beautiful in person! It's like she's still Buffy Summers. (Ok, she will always be.)

We stayed quite a while and watched as they filmed a scene about 3 times. I've been around film shoots before, so I don't really get excited. Usually more annoyed because the film companies tend to get in the way of traffic. But this was a lot of fun and that I actually shook Buffy's hand was a great experience. My coworker's partner is adorable (and short!) and it was very nice of him to invite us down to watch.

I just may have to blow my coworker in thanks.

BEHR HUGS

Bear Necessities

2011-09-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

With a nod to Disney's The Jungle Book...this made me smile.

Well...among other things making me smile.

BEHR HUGS

Dating: Near Disasters + Success

2011-08-31T05:41:00.002-07:00

I realize that first impressions can some times be wrong. But this past week had I had two bad first impressions of guys I had yet to meet.

First, there was the guy who kept hounding me on the "big boy" site to meet. Let's call him G. I finally acquiesced and gave G my phone number so we could set something up. This was at the beginning of my cold, btw. So G calls and proceeds to ramble on for over an hour about his friend's dating situation. THEN he wanted to know what I thought. I basically told him my opinion, including he sounds too invested in this friend's drama. So we set up a time to meet - again at a coffee place - for one night the following week. I unfortunately had to work late that night and my cold was starting to blow up; so I texted the guy and cancelled. There was miscommunication and he didn't realize I was cancelling. (This is where the lesson of reviewing all text messages first comes in handy.) I haven't heard from him since. He may be waiting for me to reschedule.

This past Sunday I narrowly missed another dating disaster. A guy from one of the bear social networking sites asked if I wanted to meet for coffee. I agreed and suggested a meet up time of 6:30 pm. This was due to it being Sunday and I had existing plans. This guy's response was "Okay! Are you HIV negative? I'm free of STDs and am clean!!"

WTF? Do I really need to know this to have coffee? Unless "do you want to meet for coffee" is code for "do you want to have sex," I failed to understand why this would be his response. I'm sure you already know what I did....I waited until 6:15 and cancelled on him. Not nice of me, I fully realize. I just didn't understand his line of thinking...unless he didn't want to waste precious coffee time.

It was the same evening I got a request from yet another guy to meet (one would think I'm popular but I'm not since most of these guys don't cut the initial grade). I was honest with him upfront and said that I wasn't looking to hook up. He said OK and I apologized for being blunt. I then asked when/where he wanted to meet (since he's about a 1 1/2-2 hour drive). He named a bar - called The Hookup - that's about 30 miles from me - and a time. I've yet to respond but I feel a bit obligated to go.

I know I should give these guys a second chance (or even a first chance). I know I need to put myself out there if I ever want a relationship or at least new friends. I'm sometimes ashamed at myself for being so selective and not overlooking minor faux pas. But let me tell you another story.

Yesterday I met another guy with whom I've been chatting on a bear social networking site. We met for lunch. It was completely impromptu; we found out we work semi-close to each other and when he asked if we were ever going to meet, I thought "What the hell?" I really expected him to come up with an excuse not to meet but he didn't. So I hoofed it the six blocks south and four blocks east to meet him (my feet are killing me today). I had to wait a few minutes for him - which didn't bother me. I really expected this to be a "meet, eat, say goodbye" and that would be it. I was wrong.

When he walked up to me, he reached out to shake my hand. A gentleman! We fell easily into conversation. We walked a few blocks to a fast food joint and ordered. When we got to the table, he excused himself to go wash his hands. I laughed because I'm the same way; I have to wash my hands before eating. Our food arrived and we both ate slowly; I think we were subconsciously drawing it out. We talked about our jobs, where we live, rollercoasters, amusement parks...it was a nice conversation. We walked to his car and he drove me back to my building (and my feet thank him). After he pulled up to the curb and as I unbuckled the seatbelt, he said "I hope we can meet again soon." I turned to look at him...and I started to ask...but didn't. I just said "I'm going for it." And we kissed. Not a full on, tongue thrusting kiss, just a very nice, lips on lips kiss. I said "Oh we are definitely seeing each other again."

I have no idea what prompted me to meet him. I have no idea why I'm feeling completely smitten with him. We texted all through the afternoon/evening. He even texted me a picture of himself holding a guitar at the beach and he says he'll serenade me. Flattery and romance: they get me every time.

I could worry about a few things: the age difference, the distance between where we each live, the lifestyle differences...but I'm not going to. For once I'm going to enjoy the fact that someone who likes me did everything right and I'm going to enjoy the ride. I'm seeing him again on Friday night. He wants to take me to his favorite restaurant. How cute is that?

I admit to the inability to stop smiling. There are worse things, right?

BEHR HUGS

The Bear Says Goodbye

2011-08-22T04:09:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I recounted how Bear and I went to Disneyland and stayed well after midnight. After we got home, Bear packed and I got my stuff ready for my return to work. We got to bed about 2:15 am.

The alarm went off at 4:20 am. Yes, we got 2 hours of sleep! Bear's flight left Long Beach at 7:10 am and he wanted to be there by 6. So we hustled in the morning, taking showers, getting dressed, and getting out the door in a little over an hour to get on our way.

The drive was uneventful and we soon arrived at the airport. We got parked and got Bear checked in with his luggage. We found a bench to sit on to talk. I think we talked about inconsequential things to cover the fact that I didn't want him to leave and he didn't want to leave. I explained where he would be going to get through Security...and I mentioned that the line was getting long. Of course he panicked, being a bit nervous, which was fine.

We hugged and mumbled our thanks and appreciation and regret for having the long weekend end. He went to get in line and I left the airport, not being able to stay to watch his plane take off.

At 8:58 a.m. I received a text from Bear announcing that he arrived in SF safe and sound.

Later, I posted on Facebook: It wasn't easy saying goodbye to Bear this morning.

Bear commented: Aw, it was hard for me too, behr! But we were good! We kept our composure and barely cried at the airport! HUGS!

And thus ended the Bear's first visit to Los Angeles. Quite the success I would say. I'm looking forward to his next visit

So....who wants to visit next?

BEHR HUGS!!

Bear Gets Magical!

2011-08-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

Bear's last day in the Los Angeles area...what to do? What to do?

As it turned out, with his windfall winnings for looking so fucking hot in a borrowed toga, Bear was able to swing the 1-day 1-park admission price of $80 to Disneyland! I cannot tell you how excited this made me. I am an annual passholder and love sharing Disneyland - or DLR as I call it - with a good friend. We actually made this decision on Sunday and decided to get up and be at the park when it opened at 8 am.

At 8am when we woke up...lol...we decided to get going so we could make the most of our day. We showered and were out the door rather quickly...or so I thought. Bear needed a snack so we stopped at the local Burger King. I snapped this pic with my cellphone; it's one of my favorite picture of Bear from his whole visit:

By the time we drove to Anaheim, parked the truck, got on the tram, got through security, bought his ticket, and entered the park it was about 10 am. Not bad! And off we went. I'll be honest, we didn't take a lot of pictures but right after entering some girl asked me to take her and her friend's picture (they kept looking at Bear and giggling...I think he made them wet). After doing so, I said to Bear "We need to make sure we get people to do the same for us." Of course he readily agreed.

While walking over toward Tomorrowland,Bear asked if there was a special or favorite restaurant where we could have dinner. I felt so stupid! I immediately pulled out my cellphone and called Disney Dining. We made 4:10 pm dinner reservations at Blue Bayou! I don't know why I hadn't thought of it. The woman on the other end of the line - I wish I remembered her name - was so wonderful and asked if this was a special occasion. I told her it was my friend's first time at Disneyland and she said "Well then you are celebrating something!What's his or her name? (I suspect she can hear a gay man's voice from 50 paces.)" After all was said and done she told me to tell Bear (and she used his name) to have a "magical" day. Poor Bear didn't know what was going on because I was getting all choked up. It really was a special day.

Onward. We decided to go hit Haunted Mansion so we jumped on the Disneyland Express (train) to travel half-way around the park rather than exerting too much energy that early. After we got on, some women of foreign extraction asked us to take their picture. Here's Bear doing just that:

Of course we asked that they return the favor. The first one came out dark; here is a slightly better one:

Here's a practice picture of Bear that I took:

I'm not going to be able to recap the exact order in which we rode the various rides...so I'm going to list them as I remember and include a few pictures. As I mentioned, first up was Haunted Mansion, which we ended up riding again at night so Bear could see it lit up. This is one of my favorite attractions....it's a dark ride! I behaved myself and only kissed Bear once. Maybe twice.

Next up was Splash Mountain where we both got drenched. Bear was impressed when I pulled out Ziploc baggies to hold our wallets and cellphones! I told him I've been on the ride before. The backpack we carried (with light jackets, bottles of water, and sunscreen) got soaked! Here's the official Disney picture:

We then got in line for Winnie-the-Pooh, which replaced the Country Bear Jamboree attraction years ago. I pointed out the Moose, Elk, and Deer heads that remain hidden on the ride as tribute to the former attraction.

We were both feeling peckish and Bear suggested that we eat something light since we were only about 4 hours from our dinner reservation. So we visited the Hungry Bear Restaurant, where we feasted on Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches with Sweet Potato fries. Delicious!

We decided to wander over to Fantasyland and stopped in front of the castle so I could take pictures:

No, in this second picture Bear isn't being a teapot; he was lowering his arm after pointing to something afar off!

Disneyland employs people to walk around with cameras for "photo ops" throughout the park and the Hub (the area in front of the castle) is no different. We asked about the photo pass cards we were given and evidently they would take our pics, scan the card, then we could download pictures from home. So the cute-ish guy took our picture three times, one where they put Tinkerbell in someone's hand. (Bear! You have the card with those photos and I think it expires soon! I want those pictures!)

We proceeded to Fantasyland to ride Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Snow White's Adventures, Alice in Wonderland. and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. We decided to quickly do the Sleeping Beauty's Castle walk-through which wasn't bad at all! We wandered over to Toon Town to check out Roger Rabbit's Car Toon...we got in line and then there was an announcement that the ride was no longer operating. Oh well!

To be honest, I'm not certain what else we did at this point! I do know that Bear asked what time we had to leave...I could tell he was having a blast (I was too) and wanted to experience as much as possible. So basically we decided to stay until the park closed at midnight.

About this time we probably headed off for dinner, arriving about 4 pm and only had to wait a few minutes for our table. Now, Blue Bayou is the "nice" restaurant within Disneyland, second only to Club 33 which is upstairs and for which a membership is required. It's like fine dining in shorts and t-shirts. Tim, our waiter, took good care of us. We weren't quite at water's edge but the next table over. Perfect. Bear ordered the Crab Cakes and I ordered the Goat-cheese Stuffed Grilled Salmon. We scarfed down the bread Tim brought and our salads before the entrees came. While waiting for the main course, Bear asked "What's that over there?" I said "That's the Pirates of the Caribbean ride." Earlier Bear had said he didn't care if we didn't go on it...now he wanted to! So after dinner we did so. I think we also rode it again later.

Earlier in the day we had obtained a Fastpass for the Indiana Jones Ride and Space Mountain. A Fastpass let's you avoid the regular standby line and "take cuts" of sorts. So we utilized that Fastpass and rode the Indiana Jones thrill ride. I think after that we did the Tiki Room attraction, where the birdies sing.

At one point in the day - and I'm fairly certain it was post-dinner, we wandered through Main Street. Bear wanted a picture of himself in front of the Cinema (where they continuously play six black and white cartoons, including the groundbreaking "Steamboat Willie"). I had to get down on my knees to take these but it was worth it. The first is the best; someone walked into the shot in the second.

As I struggled to get my fat ass up off the pavement, a cast member (a bearish John) offered to take our picture in front of the Cinema poster. I think John thought Bear was cute because he snapped two pictures:

I believe we headed over and used our Space Mountain Fastpass (we still had to wait an incredibly long time) and we continued to talk about various topics, both Disney and non-Disney related. Space Mountain is one of my favorite rides. We were lucky enough to get in the front row:

Sometime between 8:30 - 9 pm we decided to stake out our spot to watch the fireworks, which is always spectacular. We decided to watch them from a spot on Main Street; we had gotten snacks and sat on the pavement with all the other people. Finally it was time! The announcer begins "Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Disneyland Resort is proud to present the fireworks spectacular - Magical!" The lights go low, then out, as the music starts....it started with "Second Star to the Right" from Peter Pan...and there's the famous single star shooting over the castle. The crowd applauds and screams its approval. We got to see Tinkerbell and Dumbo fly over the castle. The fireworks were shot off to various Disney songs from various classic movies such as Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, and others.

Now here's a little something that I need to share. For me, watching the Disneyland fireworks show is always an emotional experience and I like to hold someone in my arms while watching them. Or at least hold hands. Earlier in the evening while trying to get through the crowds I took his hand in mine; he dropped it and apologized because he's just not as comfortable as I am. I understand that totally; I once was like that until a big bear of a man kissed me while standing in the middle of Main Street. But I digress. When the fireworks started I hesitated, then took the chance to wrap my arms around his chest and lay my chin on his shoulder. He laid his arms over mine and I knew it was okay. So that's how we watched the fireworks...which were truly magical. When they were over, Bear turned around and, crying, said "It was beautiful!" We stood there hugging and crying into each other's shoulders for at least two minutes which, in Disney time, is forever. I was so happy that he enjoyed them and was as moved as me.

Here from YouTube is the entire show...it's not the best but you'll be able to experience what we did. And keep an eye out for Dumbo!

After the fireworks we rode Astro Orbitors, which are rockets:

The silly Bear got all excited when he saw the Michael Jackson glove with LED lights in the fingertips. So he bought it and we tried to get a photo of it lit...but it being nighttime and all it didn't show well. Here's Bear though and you can barely see the lights.

The last ride of the night was Space Mountain again. We had to wait in the standby line and when we got off the ride, it was well after midnight. We then headed out of the park and toward the tram to get the truck. We went straight home so Bear could pack.

To sum the day up, let me say that there's no one else with whom I would want to spend 14 1/2 hours with at Disneyland other than the Bear. I've been hundreds of times; but this particular trip was extraordinary because I got to see the park through a first-timer's eyes. Bear is a phenomenal man who I am proud to call friend. And so the fitting end to this day is to share my absolute favorite picture of the day: the Bear and the Behr on the Peter Pan ride just before we take off toward the second star on the right.

Remember...."Wishing makes your dreams come true."

BEHR HUGS!

Bear Goes Hollywood! Part II

2011-08-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday brought even more Hollywood adventures for the Bear. He had arranged to meet his friend E, a former coworker and San Franciscan who now lives in Hollywood with her boyfriend. So while I went to visit my parents as per usual, Bear returned to Hollywood to visit with her and explore other areas that we hadn't seen.

Because I wasn't there, I am only relaying this third hand. Unfortunately, Bear didn't recharge his phone and he didn't take the camera so the pictures are from the Internet.

Bear started out visiting E and her boyfriend at their apartment, which isn't too far from Hollywood Blvd. They caught up on all the gossip since E and her boyfriend had moved.

Bear and E then had lunch at The Waffle. It is known for being open late on the weekends and its unique waffles. Here's a funny story: the next evening Bear was in a panic because his poop was red! Then he remembered he had red velvet waffles and his panic vanished.

After eating, they wandered along a part of Sunset Blvd, where they popped their heads into Amoeba Music. Now, Bear says they only looked in but knowing him they spent time browsing!

Bear and E evidently wandered around the Sunset Blvd, Vine St, Hollywood Blvd. area. Bear took E over to Grauman's Chinese theater; she's been living in Hollywood for a few months now but hadn't been by there, probably because it is a tourist trap. Bear convinced her that she and her boyfriend should see Final Destination 5 there; Bear says they did and they were both thrilled with the interior of the theater.

In the late afternoon, I picked Bear up at Union Station. He had exited the Red Line at the opposite end of where I parked and so I was able to show him the original station and the main waiting area. We drove back to the house and relaxed together, catching up on our separate adventures of the day and recapping the night before. Bear took a shower since he'd been wandering around in the heat and we then went to dinner. We returned to Scotty's where Bear had the Tuna Melt and I had the pot roast dinner.

Back at the house we cuddled on the couch and attempted to watch Sunset Blvd.

Needless to say, we both dozed off and stopped the movie at one point and went to bed. I was glad that Bear was able to spend time with his friend and see another part of Hollywood. I believe that the time apart on Sunday only enhanced his last full day here in So Cal.

Up Next: Bear Gets Magical!