Cats V. Dogs

I feel like I’ve already written this. Something feels familiar, but I was out and about the other night and I overheard a conversation that got my blood to boiling.
“I love dogs, but I can’t stand cats.” was said by some old man. He went on the expand that kittens were okay, but in a warning tone reminded that they grow up to become cats. He also mentioned that cats are high maintenance, unlike dogs? He said that dogs have masters, and cats have staff. He said cats have no personality. Now this is where I begin to push back. First, you want to be something’s master? Sounds like you want a slave, not a pet. Cats do not have staff, they, like most pets, become family. I am speaking as someone who loves both animals and have grown up with both. I pick no sides in this age old debate, but seek rather to hopefully enlighten any out there who hold some irrational disdain of a particular animal.
First, cats really do have personalities. If you think that they don’t all that says is you haven’t taken the time to get to know a cat. They aren’t like dogs, who will jump in your lap and lick you right out of the box. They have to get to know and trust you, just as you should get to know them. Yes, the affection of a cat must be earned and there are those out there who think since you board and feed the animal, the love must be automatic, but that’s not the case at all. To earn the trust of any living creature takes time and patience. One of the best feelings in the world is when that cat comes right up to you, jumps up and curls up in your lap. It is showing it trusts you. That is a gift not to be taken lightly. When you spend time with the cat, you’ll find it isn’t a pet, but under the right conditions, it is a friend. They listen to you when you talk. No joke. Watch a cat as you speak. They will look at you. They are listening. They don’t understand, but they are listening. Sometimes they even talk back, but you won’t understand, but you can return the favor and listen.
High maintenance? Not even. With cats, all you need to do is pour a bowl of food and water and they’re good. When I was growing up, the bowls would stay full for a couple days or more. With dogs, you have to pour out their food every day in single servings. They can’t be trusted with an always ready food supply or else they’ll eat themselves to death. Cats go out on their own to do their business or they do it in the litter box, which only needs changing once every couple weeks. Maybe more if you have multiple cats, and these days they have self cleaning boxes. With dogs, you have to pick up their droppings every day. When you get home, cats don’t come running and jumping up on you begging for attention. This depends on your own preference. I consider this a plus since if I had a bad day, I prefer to be left alone for a bit. Cats come to you in their time, maybe because they sense something in your demeanor that tells them to keep clear. Dogs won’t leave you alone, which you may like so that would be a pro, but for me it isn’t. I need my space at certain times and sometimes dogs can intrude upon that.
When taking your cat to the vet, just pop them in a pet carrier and that’s that. May be some fighting, but how would you react if some giant was trying to shove you in a box? Dogs going to the vet, depends on the breed. Small dogs are not a problem, same as cats, but your larger breeds increase difficulties. I can’t imagine taking a Mastiff for its shots. Or a St. Bernard. I remember what a struggle it was getting the larger dogs in my family to their vet visits. It was a production.
Some would argue also that dogs offer some protection, and I won’t argue that point, but I will raise a point that cats have been proven just as heroic and loyal as dogs. That cat in Russia that saved that baby from freezing to death. I also read a story about a cat in PA that traveled across county lines to get back to her owner who had been put in an assisted living center. Keep in mind, the cat went to her owner, not where she had lived previously. These are just a couple of examples. I’ve seen cats rescue babies, dogs and many other animals. I’ve seen them defend against snakes, wolves and crocodiles. You still don’t like cats? Well, you’re missing out on one of the most enigmatic, beautiful and loving animals put on this Earth, and I’ve seen plenty of cats that could kick your dog’s ass, hands down.

“Looking” Review

Well, I finally saw a few episodes of HBO’s show ‘LOOKING’ and after that taste, I feel ready to render my verdict. It was terrible.
Take this review for what it is. One may think me slanted because the reality is if not for this show, you’d be watching ‘Jason Of The Valley’ on HBO instead, but I swear to you all this is an honest, unbiased opinion. I watched these episodes and this is the impression I walked away with.
First, who likes this garbage? I mean, the characters are so flat and boring. Haven’t we seen these archetype characters in almost every single independent gay film ever made? We have the cute yet insecure lead, whose world seems to be populated by nothing but good looking gay men who all fall for his disarming lack of confidence and self-awareness. The whore who possesses no real moral limits because they have seen the world for what it is and thusly, dispenses most of the wise advice. The vain/picky queen who is paired with a man who is exactly the opposite of what he want so that means they obviously end up together and their relationship is clearly a means to fuse in some spicy scenes.
The action of the show is slow and stilted and it seemed to me like they spent more screen time having characters dissect every aspect of what is perceived to be the modern gay lifestyle and pontificating on the psychological workings of such a thing. I was waiting for them to get around to an actual story, but I guess they have to save something for season 2.
The acting was fine. It got the job done. The casting is good. A very attractive cast. I’d say one of the few things going for it would be the cast and the other thing is the very authentic scenes of love making. Of course, if I wanted that, I could just watch porn.
My other complaint goes back to the characters. They all seem to have their shit together and are really on top of their respective games; so completely out of touch with reality. It also depicts these guys’ search for love and something special. Noble, but I feel like it’s feeding into some ‘Cinderella’ fantasy about finding the ‘perfect’ mate. So many guys out there believe there is one perfect guy out there for them to marry and start an open relationship with. Having spent my time in the trenches, I can tell you, and I’m sure many of you out there can back me up on this, that gay unicorn does not exist. We can’t all marry handsome go-go boys who are also CEOs of their own companies.
Ultimately, I was hoping to see a show that focused more on the characters and stories rather than getting wrapped up in its message. A show about a group of friends who happen to be mostly gay would have been much better than a show about how a group of friends are gay. The general public doesn’t need a detailed breakdown of what it’s like to be gay and the gay public already knows so how about we move on now?

2015

As the dwindling lights of 2014 fade, I can feel the optimistic glimmer of 2015 begin to fill my sight. Although, is it a true feeling or my own emotions playing a horrible joke on me as they did the year before this one? 2014 began with heartbreak and abysmal betrayal and while I’d like to say it got better after that, it really didn’t. I’m afraid I’ve had to file 2014 as one of the worst years of my life to be honest, and in continued honesty, 2015 doesn’t hold much promise either. I’m tired of proclaiming that next year is going to be my year. The last ten years have been my years, yet they haven’t been at all, so I have given up the pretense and have decided to accept the fact that this year will be just as all the others before it.
However, this year I opted out of any parties or festivities in favor of a quiet night alone. I did not do this out of self pity or depression, I simply chose to spend my new year’s eve in the quiet solitude of my room. I didn’t feel like celebrating this past year and I have little enthusiasm to ring in this new one as well. Okay, I can see how that can be seen as self pity, but I swear to you it’s not. I guess in a way, I chose to do something different maybe in some kind of hope that if I do different things, different things will happen. Even if that different thing is boring as Hell. I wish all who bother to read this blog a safe and happy new year, of course, and I guess there is still that little voice in the back of my mind that urges me on to hope that this year will, indeed, be different. The little bugger just refuses to go away. Let’s hope that this year, at very long last, it will be right.
Happy new year, everyone!