CYBERSOCKET MEETS LA TIMES... FINALLY

I am guilty of not deeply reading everyones profile or checking all of my friends pictures on Facebook. Not only is it almost impossible to keep up-to-date with all the postings and pictures that are updated daily -sometimes every other minute.
Last night my friend Rossmar posted a random story *or so I thought* about porn in the Los Angeles area. "I'll get to it and breeze over the article to see what it says.... eventually," I thought to myself. Fast forward 12 hours and I have a few minutes before I step out for my morning coffee. I open the article and am shocked that the story wasn't SPAMMED, being sent to 20 of his closest friends *not that Rossmar does this but it's a common occurrence on Facebook and MySpace. I was also shocked that my former place of employment, Cybersocket, was mentioned in the article... totally crazy.

The article is written by popular columnist Steve Lopez and of course has his old-fashioned humor and interjections, keeping the story light-hearted, yet informative.

Click here to read the story: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez22-2009feb22,0,4761196,full.column

NEW YEAR, NEW NICK

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DAILY DOSE VOL 1:02

performer: Casey Stratton
song: On and On

When it comes to openly gay artists in music I have my favorites, among those I follow religiously are Levi Cross, Cazwell, and Casey Stratton.

Today I am going to focus on Casey Stratton and his new album that came out this year "Orbit." Besides from being world's away from what any other gay artist is producing nowadays, his new album follows the same as previous albums, and this isn't a bad thing. I have all of Stratton's old material, but I had no idea that "Orbit" had hit iTunes more than six months ago - shame on me, bad Casey Stratton fan!!

While I previously worked at Cybersocket Magazine I often reviewed his material and wasn't shy about calling him a "living diva." Of course his manager didn't care for that depiction of him - I'm sorry, I can't help the fact that his voice beckons visions of Sarah McClachlan, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor and other female songstresses that have that seductive, sensual voice like Casey.

Although I haven't heard Casey's entire new album yet but one track that has already struck me as one of the best engineered songs he has ever produced is "On and On." If you enjoy timeless songs that have a current central theme as well as raw emotion than this track and his previous albums are well worth your purchase.

My apologies but there is not a version of "On and On" on the YouTube site so your best bet is to log onto the following tiny url site: Casey Stratton's Site and preview all of the songs on the new album. Instead, I decided to put a song that is dedicated to any Tori fan out there - I'm not one fyi. I think Casey kills this song - in a good way, and it reminds me of my high school girl friends who used to adore Tori. Oh, it also reminds me of Jason Sechrest who also worships Tori. Overall I hope this post has paid off for you and Casey has a few new fans...

SUPPORT PORN

When I used to work at Cybersocket I shared an office with Rentboy's Brandon Baker. Brandon's desk was a melting pot of sweets, treats, fun toys and amusing trinkets. One day he was kind enough to give me a the bumber sticker/magnet (above). I lost it for a while but recently found it... I think of him everytime I see it on my car!

CATS ARE THE DEVILS PRODUCT

Today was a beautiful day in Los Angeles. I think that when I eventually move out of LA the weather is one of the things I will miss the most!

My posting today is not going to be about weather - believe me, it's beautiful but not worthy of two paragraphs!! If you've been reading my blog lately you know I've been hooked on funny reporters and the crazy things that happen to them while they're LIVE.

To preface this video I've never been a feline fan. No, not a Celine fan, a cat person. These animals are unpredictable and scary to be around. When I used to work at Cybersocket, my coworker Michelle always told me that in her opinion cats were for people who were independent since cats don't rely on their owner so much she always feels that dogs are for codependent people! Well this video below goes out to Michelle and if you're watching/reading this clip is the reason why I don't f**k with p$%sy... literally or figuratively!

UPDATE!!!!

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PARTY HARDY

These last few days have been very adventurous for me. Typically my Thursday nights are not that eventful, and I guess the same thing could be said about my Friday nights too!

Thursday my company Cybersocket hosted a party at Rage for the first ever GayVn Webmaster Retreat at the Rennaisance Hotel in Hollywood. Bringing together the industry professionals from across the States, I had a feeling the party would be a success - usually all parties that we host are. I was very excited to attend these parties for a number of reasons: one being that it would be my last official Cybersocket party as me acting as EIC, second: a former coworker and now friend of mine Jose was going to be at the party (he's technically straight, but we still love him - and he works for Randy Blue now, behind the camera!!) and finally because Tommy D was going to be there too!


Before the party I drove over to Brandon Baker's house to shower and shave, and if I haven't said this before I love going over to his Porno Palace (as he calls it). When you're at Brandon's house you might as well be at home because that is how he makes you feel. When I got there I was so impressed with the new entrance of his building. Called "The Victor" they made the entry look like a Hollywood hot spot - I believe he blogged about it a few months ago but I hadn't been there since the remodel! Brandon was sweet, he assumed that I was spending the night so he got blankets and pillows out for me and was genuinely dissapointed when I told him that I couldn't sleep over. Rusty has been out of town and so he deserves to have his privacy I think!


If you've ever been to Brandon's swanky studio then you know that taking a shower is a 24/7 party. When you get in the shower there is a disco ball right above you (check out the photo to the left) and he has all sorts of different shampoos, body washes and conditioners you can play with while you're in the shower as well.

Brandon also let me borrow a Sailor top for a party I am going to tonight! Stay tuned for the pictures... we're going to have lots of fun!

Okay, I have so much to talk about regarding Tommy D and his friends!
Tommy and I were able to hang out on both Thursday night and Friday night. Thursday was only briefly since one of his fellow models got a tad sick (he shall remain nameless but he knows who he is) after drinking way too much! Tommy left early so I ended up hanging out with his behind the scenes bud "Marcus". Marcus was only 18 but very mature for his age - and hot for a white boy! Looking more like an Abercrombie model than anything else Marcus and I got to talking about his life and his background. After we had enough of the party we took off around 12:30 to go over to The Eagle in Silverlake. Thursday night it is the wet underwear contest and felt that if we could get him in then he'd have no problem winning the contest!! With his almost crystal eyes and knockout features he was a shoe-in ( I will post some pictures if anyone got some of us.)

When we arrived to The Eagle they were carding and didn't let him in. Two guys suggested we go over to MJ's,which was a great idea because it was Jason Sechrest's porn show night so that's where we went, however I didn't want him drinking at an establishment that was 21 plus! It was bad enough that he was in the bar when he was underage but I didn't want to incriminate the bar anymore by having a underage guy drinking beer - I suppose I was trying to pick the lesser of two evils!

I ended up taking him back to his hotel, but not before we sat in my car and just talked for like 30 minutes about each others lives. No there was no indecency on my part or his. This kid is going through a lot and is not quite sure if he likes men or women, I didn't want to try anything and get him anymore confused. I believe he told me that he did a few things with guys but it was all GFP.

I wish him the best and I hope he keeps in contact with me - I know I will try my hardest to keep in touch with him. It is crazy but virtually all the Next Door Male models I have met I have become pretty good friends with - I guess that's a testiment to Stephan and the company he has built - kudos, kudos!!!

Friday night was also a good time, I am really glad I got to see Tommy again and spend some quality time with him. I will write about that tomorrow... I gotta jet to this Halloween party. Have a good night and as always... Stay Tuned!!

DREAMS

Last night I had a dream... No really, I had a dream about the restaurant I work at -this is the second night in a row I have had a dream about Beckham Grill. When I used to work at Mimi's Cafe and we had a nightmare about waiting tables there we'd call them Mimi-Mares (Mimi Nightmares - drop the night, get it?)

Last night I was at a wedding of some hot guy and he was a sorta of Journey Man/time traveler - yah, I know it's strange. He and I traveled back in time to reverse his wedding. Although he was straight I wanted him and even though I was trying to get him to marry his wife again I secretly was hoping he would take me instead! It was pretty intense, and my speech that I delivered to him was what Oscar winning soliloquies are made of! I remember he was showing me pictures of a restaurant where he once dined at and it was Beckham Grill, in the background I could see various servers that I have met in the last few days.

After the dream had ended I then was with friends and family in a pool at nighttime.
David Beckham was naked... wait I just made a connection David Beckham, Beckham Grill. I wonder if that is a coincidence or my brain actually put them together for my dream? Come to think of it I think the time traveler was David Beckham... hmm, I just woke up five minutes ago so I will have to think about that one as the day progresses.

The dream after that gets too involved but also in my dream was all my cousins, my mom, and Brandon Baker had just returned from Germany. Ahh, I am going to miss seeing Brandon Baker everyday when I leave Cybersocket. I have mentioned him before in my blog but Brandon is one of the nicest people I have probably ever met. Okay, I am getting sad, so I will stop.

Today I am going to go watch TJ and Andy play softball at Whittier Narrows Field - I like going and taking JJ with me, it gives us both a chance to get out in the beautiful sun and have some fun!

I hope you too make it a fan day!

STAY TUNED...

MY FIRST TIME....

Thanks for the emails asking me how my first night back in the restaurant business was – I really appreciate those who check my blog out everyday and either comment, email or call to let me know they are reading!

Last night I drove straight from Cybersocket to Beckham Grill. Actually I had to drive home to grab my Social Security card and then back to Beckham Grill – major waste of gas! I arrived at 5:45 to the restaurant and instantly was introduced to my trainer Lorraine.

I have to admit that it was a bit peculiar being on the receiving end of being trained. At Mimi’s Café I trained new workers for six or seven years and am currently training my replacement at Cybersocket, so to be trained and know that I am not a PRO at what I am doing is pretty humbling.

Lorraine was sweet and so was another server named Rachel. Actually I was a bit taken back by Rachel’s forwardness. After barely introducing herself to me, she looked at me and said “So what is your story?” Yah, just like that!

I told her the truth – well except that I work for a gay magazine that specializes in porn ads. Instead I told her that I work for a web directory magazine, I didn’t lie, I just didn’t give her the entire focus of our magazine! =)

She told me that she was attending USC and wants to get her Masters… Honestly I wasn’t fully paying attention to her. My main priority was to memorize as much of the menu as I could, however I was polite with her and told her that my good friend Leslie works at County USC – so I was friendly.

I also met a few other people who were also extremely nice – including the managers!

Yesterday before I left to the new job I was speaking with my gym buddy Kenny about my hesitations and how I will give the restaurant a few months to grow on me. (Is that a negative comment?) Something interesting that Kenny told me was that I didn’t have to give it a few months that I would know pretty much right away and as much as I hate to admit it – he was right! I felt a good chemistry there and besides having to memorize a lot of the menu items I think I will like there.

Yah, I am not good at memorizing things. I am more of a experience person… If I look at food and menu items enough I will memorize the stuff but I am not a textbook guy who can memorize things quickly, maybe it is time to change my study habits!

Anyway, I was on the floor from 5:45 until 8:30 following Lorraine around and observing her. As far as the customer service goes I rock, but what I do need to work on is the small stuff – that will get you every time!

I finished off the night with trying two different salads – the Stilton and the Spinach Salad. Plus the fried artichoke hearts, peppercorn steak, Julian veggies, some potatoes that were stacked like cornbread… I will find out what they were tonight, and creamed spinach. Of course all this was free and the manager said that every night that I train I will need to have another new food item to get familiar with the menu – that shouldn’t be a problem as long as it’s not fish – BLAH!

Tonight I want to try their famous Raspberry Cobbler… yum, I am getting hungry already!!!

Stay tuned…

MY NEW JOB

I have been so incredibly busy this week I have not had a chance to update my blog. I am so sorry to my friends who depend on this to know what is going on in my private life, you know I don't hold back much!

So I did get a job at a restaurant since my last posting! =) Saturday I went in to The Beckham Grill in Pasadena and interviewed with two different managers before getting the job! The restaurant is pretty well-to-do and the menu is the same! Pasadena old (and new) money is known to go to the establishment that has been around since 1978 - my year of birth! The menu isn't exactly Mimi's Cafe cheap. Two people should expect to pay anywhere from $35 to $40 a person... yah and if you want wine tack on more money bub!

It has been very strange making the transfer from editor to waiter but this is what i wanted so i have to be okay with it! For the next three weeks it will be very hectic working two jobs but it will be extra money and who doesn't like that? What I won't appreciate about being a waiter again is the following!

*I have to shave
*I have to wear a uniform
*I have to work nights
*I have to work weekends

The positives about working at Beckham Grill are the following:

*I get my weekdays free!
*Hopefully Beckham's has a great employee meal program
*I will save money on gas by not driving to and from Hollywood everyday, five days a week!
*I will be on track with what I want to do with the rest of my life

So there are good and bad reasons associated with leaving Cybersocket - we all must go through changes in life... it's inevitable!

Talk soon. Stay tuned...

RESIGNATION

It is 9:41 and I just logged onto CraigsList and I saw a job that looked interesting... it was Editor in Chief for Cybersocket magazine! Sound familiar?

Today I gave my notice at Cybersocket magazine. Many of you knew this was coming, few friends actually were aware that today was the day.

Overall it was a mixed bag of feelings today. The last few weeks leaving, Cybersocket has weighed heavy on my heart. Few people take the time to sit down and figure out all the sides of leaving a job.

Right now, I am a bit numb... I went to the gym, hung out with my friend Kenny and then drove home. I called up a few of my old friends, caught up with them.

I know, I know I am rambling right now... I will be more level headed tomorrow.

If you know of anyone who wants to pick up where I left off have them send a resume in....

Stay tuned..

SjB