stop shopping at grocery stores and find your local co-op. When shopping at http://ping.fm/qYLWZ I feel at peace.

I think Dudamel leading the L.A. Philharmonic is about the most beautiful thing I've heard in a very long time. http://ping.fm/b7woS

I am excited for AIDS Walk Portland this Sunday http://ping.fm/kMdiC

Thrilling mornings

Started the day at the top of Mt. Tabor Park. It was a wet and grey morning, but I couldn't get over how good it felt to be up and so high above Portland. Toby (the mutt) and I shot up the hill in the hopes of stumbling across the other dog-owners and their 4-legged masters. Sadly, I think we were too early. Only two rain-filled water bowls waiting for us at the top of about 60 near-vertical stairs.

We rounded the reservoir and up the hill behind it to a bench-lined ledge at the top. Portland is beautiful. Early mornings just after sunrise are beautiful, no matter how rainy.

Legs burned a bit coming back down the hill and stairs -- a reminder to get my ass to the gym. Dog collapsed in the middle of his hamburger-shaped bed while I got ready for work. Anxious to get home and lunch and see if the view from the mountain is as good in the afternoon hours.

Chivalry

First, chivalry isn't dead.

Second, the finer art of being a gentleman isn't dead either.

We Gay men love to bitch. We complain often to our straight friends about how hard Gay love or life is -- even go so far as to use our bitching as the shaky common ground necessary when first meeting someone.

I know now more than ever that there is really little difference between straight and gay love. At the core of each one of us is the desire to be respected, and the opportunity and ability to be respectful of others. Critics can get laughs and cheers, but rarely find love.

Gay men - I love us. The more honest I am about my goals, standards, hopes and dreams, the more you share with me that you feel the same. You're beautiful. Your recognition of this fact will do more for the attraction of others than any pair of jeans, car, house, or job.

Favorites

More and more often I find myself coming across certain experiences, smells, tastes, feelings and other experiences that bring me comfort, or that could be considered "my favorites." Each time I come across such an experience, I think to myself, "I should really keep a list of these things so I can refer back to them." So, this is the list. It'll grow as I think of new things.

1) The sound of the sigh my dog makes just before he falls asleep.

2) The smell of previously dry pavement having just been rained on.

3) The smell of new leather.

4) The feeling I get when I've cleaned-out my email inbox.

5) Two cosmos. Two people and a couch.

6) The sense of adventure I get when I start a new book.

7) The sense of accomplishment I get when I finish a book.

8) The excitement I feel when I meet a new friend.

9) Knowing a person well enough to know their flaws, and love them deeper because of them.

10) The feeling I get when I am finally unpacked in a hotel room & have arranged the furniture.

11) The excitement my puppy shows me when I return home.

12) Any child's laugh.

13) Anyone who sings to their dog.

14) The smell of tomato vines.

15) Green olives, especially in martinis.

16) Innocence in any person, young or old.

17) Life experience in any person.

18) A child's perspective.

19) Gum-ball machines

20) Kissing someone who knows how to kiss back.

21) The feeling I get when surrounded by friends and I realize that the moment we're in will soon become a favorite memory.

22) They way most of my friends make fun of dance music, but are the first to dart to the dance floor when we're out.

23) Trips to Home Depot and resulting projects which go as expected. The ones which don't do not make this list.

24) The smell of wood-burning fireplaces, only after dark and while walking down damp, leaf-lined sidewalks.

25) The smell of grilled cheese for dinner.

26) Making pot roast -- buying the ingredients, preparing them, eating them -- you name it.

27) Anytime a child uses the term "pet'ed" as in "Does your dog like being pet'ed?"

28) When cookies come out of the box stuck together -- that only counts as one!

I did Dog Mountain

Wow. 3.8 miles up, then 3.1 miles down. I've been on plenty hikes before, but none where the first steps out of the car are up, and continue up for the next 3.8 miles. I was up at 6 a.m., picked-up at 7 a.m., at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m. and back to the car by 12:30 p.m. What an incredible hike! Ironically, my dog stayed home and guarded the side-yard. He's not so good with long hikes where he can get cold and wet, or near shear cliffs.

I was with a great group of seasoned hikers. They all had hats, gloves, camel bags and BIG sandwiches. I had Adidas shoes, cute cargo shorts, a t-shirt, brown leather belt and fashionable backpack -- South Beach Diet snack bar and a small bottle of water. lol

We stopped twice during the climb. I took some pictures & posted them below. Between the lower body workout last night, and the hike today, I am fairly certain I won't be able to move tomorrow. It's worth it -- the climb, the burn, the hard breathing, sweating, burning hot, freezing cold and then the quick descent.

It's not a hike I could have done a year ago, at least not easy. 23 lbs. lighter, 6 lbs. of muscle heavier, 4.5% less body fat and far more endurance, engery and stamina.

Here's a link to the trail map:http://www.imacnw.org/maps/dogmountain05_b.jpg