And this week's weight is...199.6 pounds - for a total loss of 25.4 pounds!

Wow, what a speech by Obama tonight! Compelling, inspirational, and right-on-target, it was truly an amazing thing to watch...the sense of history being made was palpable and beamed right at you from the television screen. Truly electric.

The gals at the office threw me a surprise Hawaiian-themed wedding shower today! We had a robust local boy lunch: pulled pork, white rice, potato salad and pineapple upside-down cake - those fab tropical print shirt things I'm holding were the plates. Barbara decorated the room, not only with all manner of Hawaiiana, but she also had the whole history of my relationship with Philip mapped out around the conference table, with captions and pics (swiped from my website). We had a great time - if you would have told me when I was a kid that one day my co-workers would throw a wedding shower in my honor...sigh. A close-up of my lunch:

You don't see too many hitchhikers in the United States these days, though that may soon be changing with the soaring costs of gasoline and air travel. Back in college, I was pulling a different kind of "all-nighter": driving the Florida Turnpike from Miami back to school in Gainesville. I stopped at one of the turnpike's "Service Plazas" to take a leak (really the only reason one WOULD want to stop at one of the state-sanctioned service stops, except for the cool machine that used to press molten plastic into fun Florida shapes, like an alligator). I was driving my new Pontiac Firebird (you know the one, with the glass t-top roof and a screaming bird decal on the hood) and had just scampered across the dark parking lot to lock myself safely into my new car - when there came a knock at the driver-side window.

A scruffy guy in his 40s peered at me through the tinted glass. He was mouthing something - what? I lowered the window and he asked if he could get a lift to the end of the turnpike. When I hesitated, he explained that he was a long-haul trucker and he was scheduled to meet up with his new driving partner at the final exit - Wildwood. This all sounded plausible to me, and being 21, I agreed to let him ride along with me. We exchanged a few pleasantries as I pulled back onto the highway, but the conversation soon became awkward and stilted as we realized we had nothing in common to talk about. As he grew silent (and brooding!!) my mind started to race: WHAT HAVE I DONE? AM I CRAZY? THIS GUY IS A KILLER! OH MY GOD - WHAT AN IDIOT I AM!! I stared straight ahead at the white line on the highway, fearful that the next glance at my new passenger would provoke his rage. My mind reeled. I kept this up for at least 30 minutes, cursing myself endlessly - then the guy let out a huge snore.

Yeah, he pretty much slept to Wildwood. When we reached the truck stop, I had to jostle his shoulder and shout to wake him up, in fact. He thanked me profusely, gave me a couple dollars for gas and was on his way.

Woo! The gays brought home the gold at the 2008 Olympics - six of the thirteen lesbian and bisexual women openly competing at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing ended up winning gold, silver, or bronze medals. And the sole openly gay male athlete, Australian diver Matthew Mitcham, took home the gold in the men’s 10m platform event - with his partner watching proudly in the stands. Oh, didn't see that bit, you say? That's because NBC never mentioned Matt's sexuality or his personal life (but why - network anchors breathlessly discussed the various spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends of the hetero athletes). Anyway, yay my team!

Downloaded the demo of "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" on Xbox LIVE last night. I enjoyed the "Knights of the Old Republic" video game more than any of the three recent "Star Wars" films (and it's the only game I have ever played all the way through to the end). The demo version treats you to an early level and it is AMAZING! The "force push" power offers great gameplay as you hurl objects (and people) through the air. The environments are incredibly detailed and it looks like the story will be a thrilling addition to the "Star Wars" canon. Wow, something good from George Lucas for a change!

One last wedding choice taken care of...we've hired Alyson Montez and Brittany Cotto to play a violin duet throughout the evening. Alyson is lead violinist for the Mariachi Divas,a renowned all-female mariachi band, and Brittany is currently running the String Project with the American Youth Symphony and LA's BEST.Can't wait to hear them play!

THIS is why the current crop of parody movies suck. The one-sheet for the new film "Disaster Movie" shows you that what is mostly being satirized doesn't have ANYTHING to do with disaster cinema: Batman, Juno, Indiana Jones, Hulk, Kung Fu Pandas, Iron Man, Enchanted...umm, why not just call it "Parody of Summer Movies?" Like "Epic Movie," the satire is so scattershot that it just becomes an unfunny jumbled mess.

You know you've reached the mainstream when Hallmark starts offering a card based on your "niche." Pictured above, some of the same-sex wedding cards that Hallmark has added to its collection since gay marriages became legal in Massachusetts and California.

Exceedingly disappointed with George Lucas. Apparently the new animated "Clone Wars" film features an effeminate villain named Ziro the Hut, who sounds suspiciously like Truman Capote and wears make-up, feathers and jewelry. Has Lucas lost all touch with reality? Why insult gay people with crap like this - it's 2008! What happened to the creative genius who gave us the original trilogy? Must we concede all the goodwill those first three films generated to the bad judgements that are on display in the last four?

Well dang, I only hope I look half as happy as these two on my wedding day! How could you vote yes for that hateful Prop 8 after seeing this kind of joy?

Another hilarious video from Los Angeles singer/comedienne Mandy Steckelberg: "I Hate Everyone." A sentiment I often share. Some lyrics NSFW, in case you're listening with the boss nearby. Love you, Mandy - hope you break big one of these days! (If only "The Mike Douglas Show" was still around - HE would have you on!)

Just got my copy of a new coffee table book from Harry Abrams about one of my favorite childhood memories: Wacky Packages. The book features images of all the stickers from Series 1-7 released from 1973-74, as well as interviews with creator Art Spiegelman AND, wowzers, exclusive bonus stickers:

Lost another 1.4 pounds this week - up to a total of 22 now!

My manga avatar. Create your own at FaceYourManga.com.

The long lines have finally subsided here in Pasadena, so I succumbed this week and purchased a new 3G iPhone. Love the faster network - but I don't think the black plastic case is all that great - I miss the stainless steel backside.

Prior to our fab time at the Eddie Izzard show, Philip and I ate at Geisha House, a wild Hollywood set-decorator's vision of a sushi bar with a traditional Japanese brothel feel. It's a hip scene kinda place where clubkids go to pose and be seen, but suprisingly, the food and service were great.

Philip and I went down to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood last night to see British comedian Eddie Izzard in his new stand-up set titled "Stripped." He was brilliant. Looking dapper in a black tuxedo jacket and jeans, he started the two-hour-plus set (!) by stating that he was prepared to talk to us about "everything," and he did: Wikipedia, the beginnings of the world, iPhones, life, the universe, dinosaurs, hunters vs. gatherers, how giraffes could possibly hide in the wilds of Africa, how there were millions of ducks after the Noah’s Ark flood because they couldn’t drown, and long riffs about how there could not possibly be a God up there manipulating all of this. Very funny, very insightful and very intelligent, it was a great evening of theatre.

Awe-inspiring, magnificent, wonderful, amazing, stunning, staggering, imposing, stirring, impressive, mind-boggling, mind-blowing, jaw-droppingly excellent.

...and George Bush, seen on camera in the stands, looked bored and checked his watch.

Lost 2 more pounds this week - up to a total of 20 now! Woo!

Am I the only gay man from the South that doesn't think this is all that great - or funny? I get what it is trying to be - but it just doesn't work on so many levels. It's just a clumsily acted, long-winded cornpone satire that makes "The Beverly Hillbillies" look like Shakespeare. Loud and obnoxious, but not in the least bit "sordid."

One reason to wish you were in Beijing for the Olympics this summer: a dazzling botanical display in the Olympic Topiary Gardens, located at the Science and Technology Park near the Olympic Village.

Went with Philip and co-worker Jeannette to see the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium last night. Even though the Dodgers lost (which they seem to do every time I attend), we still had a great time, munching on peanuts and ginormous Dodger Dogs despite our Weight Watchers diets. Got a chance to try out my new camera and captured some nice action shots:

Lost 3 more pounds, for a total of 18 - really hasn't been that much trouble to do at all. Might keep going after reaching my goal.