Lifestyle HNT: I'm sort of there

Stay tuned for a very serious Half-Nekkind Thursday. Well, a less sexy HNT anyways -- because I ain't showing my parts this week. Instead, you get ghost Wes! I'm haunting your dreams tonight, bitches.

I always feel like I'm sort of there. I'm never quite where I want to be. To be sure, the last 5 years have seen a great deal of self-improvement and yay I'm no longer a drug addled party slut and all that stuff. And yet...there is still so far to go! For example, I'm still pretty much a disorganized mess (although it's getting better).

Truth is, nobody ever "gets there" and there is no top of the mountain. It just sort of keeps going until you die. Sorry about that!

Realizing this is a very important part of self discovery. For all the things we may want to change about ourselves, there are certain things we have to accept as well. Like, even if I end up with a squeaky clean pad I'm still going to throw my shoes off in different directions when I get home late and tired. That's just me. I'm sort of there.

Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday!

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Lifestyle: Heaven just got a little more hotness

I don't like to fill this blog with the sads, but sometimes people die. People who used to be hot but then got really, really old and even though they were still good looking describing them as "hot" was maybe a stretch; like Tony Curtis.

You never know when somebody is gonna get called up to heaven. It can be devastating to lose a loved one when there is so much left unsaid. Tell them all those things NOW because if you wait it will be too late. Call your mom, your grandma, somebody you hold in your heart, to tell them they're special. Yes, it sounds supremely cheesy. Mmm...supreme cheese...

A few years ago, when I'd gotten myself cleaned up, no longer clinging to my party boy ways and finally in stable enough shape to travel back home to Ohio, I was flat broke and could not afford a birthday gift to give my dad, grandfather and younger brother as they all share the month of February. Instead, I wrote them an essay detailing how they have influenced me and are a part of my life each and every day. It totally made them cry. Then I cried, and we all cried. Point is, they know how I feel. Not only did I get to say the things I wanted to say, but it changed the dynamic. Now we always say "I love you" when we talk to each other. It makes a difference.

Relationships: Bromance

'Dancing with the Stars' besties Mark Ballas and Derek Hough make a cute couple.

When two dudes get close, it's bromance -- a relationship between two guys that has the appearance of a romantic entanglement.

These guys know what I'm talkinabout.

Even to the casual observer, the attraction is obvious and they must be doing it. When two people become intertwined in each other's life, assumptions are made no matter what your sexual orientation.

If the two parties are attracted to the same type; a hetero guy-girl or homo girl-girl/guy-guy, it's immediate fuck-talk fodder. I mean, they must be doing it!

My BFF and I have been hanging tough since the late '90s. We've never done it, even though we're both gay guys. Everybody naturally assumes we're together. It can be such a cock block sometimes.

In my life, friendships have been far more enduring than any boyfriend situation. While I have a small glimmer of hope that one day I will fall in love and partner up, is that really necessary? Must that be the ultimate goal of a relationship? One thing I know for sure: You can't turn a friendship into romance. Tried it, multiple times, and it doesn't work. There's a dynamic in place for a reason; it is what it is.

A marriage, or best friend you have sex with, seems attainable for others, so finding a husband may even be possible in my lifetime. Until then, I'm totally satisfied with good friends and a side piece. Not everything fits into one container!

Health: Poke my prostate

ASScuse me, have you heard the latest about prostate health?

If you look to the right under my twitter banner you'll see my first paid advertiser! (UPDATE: the ad is now gone because the term ran out) That's a big moment for a blogger, it means I've officially sold out! Please click this link right here: "Three Diseases of the Prostate"

They already paid me, so I don't really care. Actually though, prostate health is really important, you guys. Cue rainbow, "The more you know," etc.

My solution, as usual, is to take a pill or something. I've listed some supplements that are said to help prevent prostate problems. Oh, this stuff is only for guys because girls don't have a prostate. Sorry if you invested this far and didn't know that, female readers!

Saw palmetto -- European studies have confirmed that saw palmetto berries are a statistically significant therapy for enlarged prostate.

Zinc -- Zinc prevents prostate enlargement, while a deficiency can result in enlargement. USAGE NOTE: As with all things you can take too much Zinc, so remember to count doses in food sources. Toxic levels (above 500mg daily) cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and headaches.

Vitamin C -- helps prevent infection. Additionally, men with enlarged prostates report that vitamin C's modest diuretic effect makes going number 1 easier.

Vitamin D -- A Stanford University report says, "...we postulate that vitamin D may have protective actions on the development and/or progression of prostate cancer ... We further hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation may have beneficial effects on retarding the development and/or progression of prostate cancer."

Soy -- consumption of soybean products appear to lessen rates prostate cancer, according to studies.

Lycopene -- The natural antioxidant pigment that makes tomatoes red, eating lots of fresh tomatoes has been shown to radically reduce prostate cancer risk.

Lifestyle HNT: The Hot Gay Nerd

Talk nerdy to me. Being a geek used to be considered the lowest of the low, on a social scale. Nobody wanted to be friends and getting laid was hardly an option. The thick framed glasses, pocket protectors, ill fitting fashions, little-to-no muscle mass; it all added up to a manifestation of the least desirable type. Today's modern brainiac is one hot bitch!

Just when you've lost hope that the world is full of dumbass skanks, some smart slut changes the game. Although the rarest of the homo subspecies, the Hot Gay Nerd has a major fan following. Comic books and tech gadgets? Bring it on, boys! This HGN is ready and waiting.

Figure out who you are, no matter what stigma may be attached, and fuck all else. All hail the geek!

Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday (:

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Health: Smoking Still Ain't Sexy

This dude smells. FACT. Forget his sexy shaved head and suggestive tattoos leading your eyes down to his perfect tan-lined bare ass. Bitch is ripe.

Cigarettes stink and that ain't sexy.

This past weekend I fell off the wagon, you guys. As I've been harping over the past few months, I quit when I had my surgery and it was a pretty big deal.

It sort of continues to be a big deal and I really hate that I'm struggling with it now, when I should be in the clear. Whatever. Enough with that. This week, I'm starting all over again!

"What matters most with any regimen, whether it's to lose weight or stop drinking or smoking, is your willingness to seek help and your desire to say 'no more,'" Ewan McGregor says. "The voice in your head that says 'I choose not to' is what ultimately makes the difference between not changing and making changes that last."

Fitness: Workout kitteh

This bitch is gonna be BUFF. Or is that...fluff?

Fitness formalities: Pet peeves

GET OFF YOUR FUCKING CELL PHONE AND WORKOUT!!!

Because I'm sure you care, here are my biggest gym peeves. Please, don't be like this.

* Workout or get out
People are plugged into their iPods and of course most gyms have television sets. I will admit watching TV is the only way I can make it through a session on the elliptical. Otherwise I'd be bored to death. It is when these devices impede progress that it becomes a problem. Oblivious individuals in a gym environment lead to accidents. Also, cell phones do not belong on the gym floor -- at all. Not only is it rude and distracting to others, it airs your personal business for the world to hear. Nobody cares and it's annoying as hell. Texting instead of using a machine while others are waiting is even more so annoying. PUT THE PHONE DOWN! If you're so fucking important that you can't be without your phone for an hour, get an assistant to take your calls like any respectable professional. Additionally, all those guys standing around gabbing like Chatty Kathy are still fat for a reason -- they're not doing shit! Workout or get out.

* No, you can't work in
It disrupts my flow than when some dumb bitch wants to work in with me. I don't care if he's hot, either. Even when working out with a friend, sharing a machine is the perfect way to kill momentum. This is especially true when the whore taking up my space has to readjust the weight and seat setting. It takes three times as long to do the same exercise and is just plain annoying. Leave me alone, I'm in a zone! Sit and be hot on the machine across from me and ask to use it when I'm DONE. Upon being met with this request, my standard reply is that "I'm almost done, you can use it then," or "I only have one more set to go." This indicates very clearly that no, you can't work in.

* H2Outta my way!
Holy fuck, get away from the water fountain! I hate waiting on people in general; therefore I make every effort to get my shit done and out of the way. I don't spend half an hour at the ATM (how people take so long is beyond me) and I don't need more than a few seconds to get a drink of water. If I bring a bottle of water, it is full upon entry and I don't waste everybody's time filling it up at the damn public water fountain. FUCK OFF WITH YOUR TIME WASTING AND GET OUTTA MY WAY!

* No jeans
Gym equipment is fitted with padding and covers that are nowhere near indestructible. When they are met with buttons, zippers, back pocket grommets or really anything that isn't smooth fabric that is in contact with the full weight of the user, the shit rips. Then the gym looks ratty and other patrons are in discomfort because the seating is trashed. Buy some fucking gym clothes, asshole -- no jeans!

* Steam queens
Most gay hos have probably hooked up at the gym. Whatever, no big deal. After you get all that blood pumping, surrounded by sweaty, muscular men in an extremely testosterone filled and rather homoerotic environment, it would be a crime against your increasingly blue balls not to pop one off with that stud in the next shower stall. However, these experiences are the occasional sprinkles on top of the gym cake. A cake does not always require sprinkles, but it's nice once in awhile. The main focus should be the cake = working out. I don't care if you want a look. Get a good gander. Still, don't presume that because we're two guys occupying the same space it means you get to suck my dick. Get an eye full and then avert your creepy gaze, because it unsettles me. Hanging around the steam room, stalling in the showers or otherwise stalking people in the locker room -- no matter how hot and hung you may be -- is totally pathetic. These types are of guys are telling the world they are either closet homosexuals or have no value besides a rushed romp in secret. Go away, steam queens.

* Grunting guys
My friend Sean (@seanasimpson) tweeted me his peeve is when guys "grunt unnecessarily loud for attention [and] try to act all intimidating," which I agree is totally annoying. Granted, you have to breathe. Continued life sort of depends on it. Proper breathing is very important when doing physical activity. You'll even find that you can lift more by breathing correctly. When in extreme physical strain, loudly exhaling is surprisingly effective when pumping out that final rep -- sometimes even involuntary. However, this is a fairly rare scenario and only works in very specific conditions; not every single time you do an exercise. Shut up, grunting guys.


(p.s. I gleefully swiped borrowed from Cogent Ascending (re: Gym Etiquette) to come up with today's topic)

Lifestyle: Transform your attitude

I've got bad news -- and you'll just have to deal with it.

That's how life works, basically There's no immediate cosmic balance between good and bad, we just get shit on. The rest is up to us.

Lately I've had a real attitude problem. I hate everything. It's not even like terrible things are happening to me; more so a bunch of little frustrations creating a state of perpetual annoyance and a short temper in general. I'm a wonderful, carefree person trapped inside the body of a sexy sourpuss.

The negativity begins to contaminate everything around me; my interaction with others, ability to work effictively, overall efforts at the gym, commitment to my diet, etc. I just don't give a fuck.

I'm working hard to transform my attitude.

This might sound like some new age bullshit, but these are the times when I need to be my own cheerleader. I have to rah-rah myself out of the situation. You're awesome, Wes! You win at everything!

It sort of helps.

Funny, random shit always makes me smile; like this bear doing yoga. I mean come on, that's fuzzy and adorable. Makes it hard to maintain a frown (in that moment anyway).

People who impress me the most are those who do not let the situation at hand alter their outlook. When some snobby fuck gives them shade, they smile right in their face. To anybody watching, it's rather obvious who the asshole is, so why let some dick ruin your day? I don't want others to determine my mood. I have to be more of an Optimus Prime.

Keep it upbeat, even in defeat.

Lifestyle Lessons: How I travel

Whenever traveling, take at least 1 day to do tourist shit. While on vacay in Toronto, I tweeted the hell out of everything I did, also creating a virtual map on Four Square. Geek stuff, basically.

My point is that I found a ways to record my experiences besides a few snapshots. Shopping is a good way to create a keepsake, too. My mother collects decorative bells from vacation spots, generally depicting scenery the area is known for. People do all kinds of things. I usually add another notch to my belt, often remembering locations by the guy I banged there.

There's little room for keepsakes whenever vaudeville cutie Justin Kredible travels, as he packs everything but the kitchen sink. "I would love to be able to pack light, but traveling with a magic show requires me to have two pieces of checked luggage, a carry-on, and a backpack," he says.

Still, he plans ahead. "Worst case scenario, if the luggage gets lost, my carry-on has enough stuff for me to do an hour show."

He keeps his personal stuff on backup too, smartly saying, "I photocopy all of my credit cards, my license, and my passport. Then I take those copies and stash them in another piece of my luggage. Just in case my wallet gets stolen. That’s something that I’ve heard has saved people’s asses before."

In all the hustle and bustle, remember that good manners never hurt anybody. “Gratitude is a great overarching attitude when you travel," Justin says. "I try to be as effervescent and sweet as I can to the skycaps, bag guys, and ticket checkers - because most of the people they meet tend to be in bad moods. They’re meeting people who are always tired and rushed, so I try to be a breath of fresh air for them and it definitely pays off."

See more of Justin's travel tips here

IN CASE YOU MISSED MY SUPER FUN VACAY PICS

Toronto trip pt 1: Enjoy the trip

Toronto adventures pt 2: Clothing optional beach

Toronto pride pt 3: parade of sexy cavemen

Toronto sightseeing pt 4: The CN Tower

Fit celeb: Guess the star booty

This hot bitch proves that you don't have to buy a gym membership, hire a trainer, employ a personal chef or subscribe to an expensive diet program to get bodied.

Sans trainer, he gets his pump outside the gym with old school push-ups, sit-ups, hitting the track and running stairs. Can you guess the celeb? Scroll down...


















It's Ryan Phillipe, who points his crotch at 36 today. Ready, aim, fire!

Happy birthday, cowboy!

Fit Lifestyle: Wordless Wednesday Hike

Health: C'est la vie

French bitches (like rugby hottie Frederic Michalak) are known for their divine beauty. They smoke, drink and eat carbs. Why aren't they fat and dying young?

They drink...
Red Wines versus calorie loaded beer or other alcoholic mixed drinks. Red wine is also supposedly good for the heart.

They eat...
Natural Fats {avocado, omega-3’s, coconut oil, free range & organic meats, etc.)

They also eat...
Smaller portions and consume meals slower. It's all about savoring what you eat, not gulping down huge portions.

They smoke...
As far as smoking, France has one of the best survival rates in all of Europe. It appears that the French believe "you have to die someday anyway." Parisian puffers don't calculate life by longevity, but by moments of pleasure. NOTE: Smoking is still terribly bad for you and I still quit.

The French have a saying, c'est la vie, meaning; "such is life." Unlike many uptight Americans, not everybody gets thier panties in a twist over every morsel of food they put in their mouth.

We worry about shit too much, basically. Lighten up a little. C'est la vie: This is just the way life is. Enjoy!

Fitness HNT: Pound it

I needed it so badly.

I didn't want to go to the gym; I'm lazy. I didn't want to workout in any way. I certainly didn't want to do a grueling leg day, because those are the worst. Lots of grunting and sweating. Pretty much the entire body is involved in a squat, making those workouts far more intensive than isolating chest or arm muscles.

So hell to the no, I didn't WANT to, but it was NEEDED.

Sometimes you gotta beat the hell out of yourself. Sometimes you gotta get pounded. Work to exhaustion. Only issue is that it's two days later and my legs are rippled with sore spots.

I can barely sit down I pounded it so hard.

Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday!

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Deskstyles: How clean is your space?

After doing some spring cleaning to my home office, it occured to me that I also have a desk at work.

I made over my home space (see pics here) -- thankfully I've always kept my work desk clean of clutter. Funny how that works out? Clutter is my secret shame, so I hide my messy tendencies in public. Part of blogging about it was meant to get it out in the open and be accountable in an open forum. You guys are my therapy group, basically.

Point is, although free of debris, how CLEAN is my office desk really? It appears neat, organized and dust free (I use computer cleaner to air blow dirt away). Appearances can be deceiving.

Supposedly your work desk can be riddled with germs and dirt -- and surprise! These things are invisible to the eyes.

Starting today, I pledge to Silkwood scrub Lysol wipe my work desk once a week. Or at least once, this week, because I just did it and can definitely commit to things I've already accomplished. The future isn't so clear, but I can try.

How often do you clean your work space -- the phone, keyboard, etc.? Tell me your tips!

I also gave my computer monitor a happy by creating a scene with sunshine, clouds and beach feet.