Rio - my pics

Hey guys,

First of all, for all you guys who took part in the contest this has nothing to do w/ it. I haven't won anything, I'm just here as a contributor.

So now how about I take you guys around my neighbourhood? A while ago I went around taking pics n I'd like to share some:

So these ones are of the way I take to ride my bike. It goes along this huge beach. Funny thing (you guys are gonna hate me for this) summer is coming here while winter is coming up there. Also I'm already in daylight saving time so I'm 2h ahead of ET n soon your daylight saving time is gonna end n I'll be 3h ahead of ET. Well back to my bike, this red painted side road is the "ciclovia" which starts in a residential area n goes into this protected wood area.

This is the rain forest. I believe Rio has the largest forest inside a city. But it is decreasing cuz of urban area increase. I've gone there a few times for hiking but sadly it's impossible to camp, the woods are too dense n the terrain is too steep. It's incredibly humid but some tracks take you to very high mounts w/ amazing view. You can also go hang gliding (someday I'll work up the nerve to do it).

This beautiful view is my way to work. See that bridge down there?

N finally a lil social aspect of class inequality. See the slums along side some big houses in the mount, Brazil has one of the highest social gaps in the world. The middle class is only 25% of the population against, what I think is, 85% in America. The statisticians say that Brazil is an Africa w/ a Belgian in the middle (statistically the middle n upper classes are similar to the Belgians n the lower classes are similar to Africans).The slums are also where things get dangerous, they're home to drug trafficking, drug lords n gang wars w/ AK47s.

But in these last decade things have been improving, thanks largely to a more stable economy (our stock market had a huge rally, we avoided the global crisis completely cuz here it's illegal to trade mortgage-backed securities or ABS... n Brazil's GDP might grow something like 5%) hey we're part of the BRICs.

Well I guess this is it. Thanks for coming. See ya soon.

Luke

guest contributor

P.S: All these pics are mine.

Hey guys- ive been missing the old dynamic. im gonna get started with a contest.

all you have to do is be a reader or commenter on this site, have something to say, and want the whole world to hear you.

i know- all you want to know about is THE PRIZE!
First place: you win a weekly column on my blog for the whole world to see. no registration, no set-up, no hassle. just a few emails or pms.
Second place: you win a one-time post on my blog, good for one month after winners are declared.
Third place: wins a paragraph blockquote in one of my blog entries, good for one month, just like second prize.
Honorable Mentions: win a couple sentences in the next entry after winners are declared.

How to enter: tell me how you would use the opportunity to tell the world something, with no strings attached. whether in formspring, forum, comment, or pm. BE SURE TO TYPE "mikeytoo's contest" SOMEWHERE IN YOUR ENTRY!

The Fine Print:
("Mikeytoo" consists of the author pseudonymous as Mikeytoo, any judges he employs, site administrators of hockeykidil.blogspot.com, and anyone employed, as an employee or volunteer, under the name "Mikeytoo".) Mikeytoo reserves the right to change any rules/conditions/times/dates/acceptance criteria without any prior notice to participants, spectators, guest judges, administrators, or moderators("users"). Participants agree that any information, intellectual property, and any statements made are on the public forum and therefore can be used by Mikeytoo. Participants may "opt-out" or terminate participation by deleting any post or comment, or sending a private message/email with the wanted redactions included. Mikeytoo is not affiliated with "BDNY", "BDNYNation", or any of their affiliates. The author takes full responsibility for their words and any formal charges brought forth involving these words. Mikeytoo intends to keep privacy and confidentiality as well as customer satisfaction its highest priorities, but accidents happen; should you be dissatisfied with any actions taken by Mikeytoo, contact it privately. Mikeytoo reserves the right to terminate a participants participation in the contest for any reason without prior notice to any "users". (You do not own content submitted to this contest, but are responsible for requesting redaction/withdrawal in a timely manner if you wish your application redacted/withdrawn from consideration)... NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

About a hug

A few of days ago Mikey invited me to comment here, that just goes to show you that he's a really generous n selfless guy. We were chatting about the different aspects of hugging, yeah hugging, go figure... n he thought that'd make a nice post. I hope he hasn't totally regretted it... Mikey is a pretty big hugger but I, on the other hand, like being hugged better, I'm the opposite. It's just that I like it when a big guy completely envelops me, I like the weight, the warmth (not just physical), the feeling of beloging n fitting in that right spot.

You feel protected, sheltered n also powerless but it's a good powerless, giving up power to someone you trust is exhilarating. It's kinda like you were in a rollercoaster, you just surrender, have fun n trust that everything will be all right. The truth is that you're not really giving up power but that they're so attentive n kind n caring that you feel like you're in the centre of the world (at least their world, which is pretty great). What an awesome feeling! N the opposite is also true, their hug is so huge that it surrounds you completely n they become your world.

I'm not a fem n I don't fit the gay stereotype either but I know there are heterosexual tensions in homosexual relationships. But hey, there are straight guys wo like being dominated by women n that doesn't make them less of a man. It's a fetish like many others but it's also much more. It's also about closeness, being ther for each other, intimacy, trust n acceptance.

A hug is more intimate than a lot of things, even a kiss, imo. Western culture is pretty much about individuality n "personal space". There's inhibitions, shyness n we think that tenderness is a weakness, that being sentimental is silly. We're also afraid of not being hugged back, that we won't be correponded so we don't put ourselves out there.

N this computer stuff doesn't help either. I think that's why teens today hug waaay more than they used to, they miss human touch. That's a good thing. Plus ppl are always doing massages n shiatsu n stuff not cuz they need massages but I think cuz they need human touch yeah so now you gotta pay to be touched.

But I think we gotta put ourselves out there more often (at least I do). We think we can retain power n be strong n all that but I read somewhere that to gain power you gotta give it up first n it's true. For example, think of a singer, he goes to thousands of ppl n sings n opens his heart out n says very intimate, personal things n what he gets? lots of fans, respect n love back. He doesn't lose but gains power.

There are lots of things that we can say are hugs like: cuddling, spooning, holding... there are fake hugs, hugs w/ taps on the back that's like saying "enough hugging pal", hugs that rock sideways (these are awesome), w/ rubs on the back... as long as they're honest n you mean it, it's all good.

So don't know what's my point cuz I don't really have one. So I guess that's it... hope you liked it. Don't forget to check Madeleine's blog, she's got a new post n go to Tyler's blog too, he's a good guy who's asking for our help. Thanks Mikey for everything, this was fun. N I really hope someday we can all meet n, what the heck, hug.
Luke
guest contributor
P.S: This is a painting by a famous Brazilian artist, Romero Britto, called "The Hug"

yawn.

hockey season has officially started here. you can tell by the bags under my eyes and the freshmen who consistently talk bout how theyre on the team. oi. i never know what to say bout that. i didnt flaunt my hockey career (mainly cuz i never did anything awesome... but neither did they) and i still dont. its odd. yeah. between morning practices and workout sessions im pretty wiped. but you gotta do work to get work done (tantology, anyone?).

so. what you all give a damn about- boys. irish is lookin pretty good right now... but hes an alcohomo... so i gotta do some work with him before i can get anything. breaking peoples misconceptions about homo is harder than convincing that fat girl who cries a lot that shes really attractive. dont get me wrong, mikey can do it- but mikey needs to stop talking in the third person first. i either need hours alone with him or copious amounts of alcohol. the latter, even in this age, is easier. ill have to hit him up after he comes home from a party. easily done. i always see him wrestling with himself- especially bout hanging out with me. he knows im a 'mo, and hes kinda awk bout it. i gave him an amazing massage- but then he "had to leave" i think he meant to say "was embarrassed he had a boner"... w/e. i know he'll come crawling back. its how guys work. im like a siren. except for how this is all proably just a dream sequence.

my next point- how often do you get your hopes up bout a guy only to realize he, for one reason or another, doesnt think its right to be with you? you ever been there? i seem to attract closet-dwellers(hot ones, at that) only to realize they live so far in the closet they couldn't turn the doorknob if they tried. that ever happened to you? howd it turn out? you ever do a deep closet rescue?

I'm kinda lonely...

so... last saturday or sunday, while i was sleeping in, all i could think about was boy after boy. you might say "mikey- how is this not normal?" to which i answer "it is not extraordinary, but it hurt this time." im not unhappy or depressed, but it just seems like im missing boys more than ever. i long just for physical contact. just a cuddle or a hug- maybe- just maybe- a kiss. it eats me alive. i feel like a cutie with soft skin and a warm smile is what i need right now, but i have little chance of finding him. i hope im wrong. sometimes i just lay and pretend like im not lying there alone. pretend i have french, b, or awk holding me. that someone needs me, and that i need them. it leaves me feeling empty. i enjoy spending time just with myself, but i just wish there was someone i could count on to make me happy and to make happy. i guess thats all i really wanted to say. morning practice- better get to bed. ill see you, family #2. m#2, out.

just a quick question

think its worth signing up for adsense? a little kickback wouldnt be bad, i could use a little dough. but ill leave it up to you guys to persuade me.

my current sitch

so. i noticed i havent really gone into details about my friends and stuff. i realized that its important to let you guys know how awkward my situation really is. ive got about three really close friends who i hang out with most of the time. theres other people i occasionally hang out with, but its almost always the four of us. we have the quiet kid, the annoying/whiny kid, the awkward kid, and me- the funny kid. excluding the times i want to kill the annoying one, i enjoy my friends a lot. we spend almost every friday together and most saturdays when nobodys got a game are with each other. its amazing. we spend a bunch of time together, know each other well, and are always there for support. we have so many inside jokes that i cant even write down. but heres the awkward part. the awkward one is attractive... and i mean attractive... he knows im gay- but hes really still getting used to it. i know hes straight, and i know i have no chance, but i just cant get over him. its hard cuz i'll be sitting close to him, see his smile, and then melt. which is hard to work around. hey- you wanna watch a mov-(melt)*squeee*-ie. considering him, my other friends, and i are pretty much inseperable- im stuck with it.

comment question- wtf am i supposed to do with this? i feel like im gonna die when im five feet away from him- its like fantasy-fuckin-land. any ideas?