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JUNE <strong>2014</strong><br />
ARIES<br />
(<br />
RON PRICE<br />
P. 52<br />
get it on!<br />
MAKE<br />
SEX<br />
HOTTER<br />
Get The<br />
ways to let loose<br />
together<br />
V-Shape<br />
Body<br />
WHAT<br />
GUYS<br />
In Just<br />
DON’T<br />
15 Minutes<br />
TELL<br />
I SURVIVED<br />
YOU AND<br />
PRIDE<br />
WHY<br />
summer<br />
your<br />
best places to<br />
eat, drink, & be merry.<br />
sexiest<br />
Get Ready FOr...<br />
• DRUNK SEX<br />
• HOT SUMMER DATES<br />
• 1 GUY - 4 DATES<br />
ever !
ARIES<br />
MISSION<br />
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR<br />
DAVID HEXBERG<br />
VICE DIRECTOR<br />
DANIEL SCHULTZ<br />
ME, MYSELF, & I<br />
LEYLA LUANNE<br />
TAMISHA SEALS<br />
TRISTAN BRIGGS<br />
GAY NEWS<br />
ALEX AIKENS<br />
HOT SEAT<br />
TRACY ELLIOT<br />
BEAUTY<br />
SABRINA ALCASAS<br />
LACEY STULTZ<br />
SURIA AKHTAR<br />
FASHION<br />
JAAKE CASTRO<br />
JUSTIN LIVINGSTON<br />
SUGAR & SPICE<br />
MATTHEW EMBREY MCCLAIN<br />
RONNIE STAFFORD<br />
KENDAL RILEY<br />
MENOLOGY<br />
ALLISTER DEAN<br />
ANDY MCBRIDE<br />
DESTINEE GAMBLE<br />
Mehbuba Al<br />
ILLUSTRATIONS<br />
MATT SKINGSLEY<br />
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
VIC CRULICH<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 2<br />
“With Men In Mind”, <strong>Aries</strong> is<br />
the life-stylist and advocate<br />
— for courageous, dynamic,<br />
men who hunger to be the<br />
best they can be in every<br />
range of their life.<br />
<strong>Aries</strong> is looking to change the<br />
name “GAY” to be a finer and<br />
respected definition of each<br />
and every community, rather<br />
than the definition that everybody<br />
has come to know.<br />
Here at <strong>Aries</strong> we strive to<br />
provide info on relationships,<br />
romance, the best in fashion,<br />
beauty, the latest in men’s<br />
health/well being, and what<br />
is happening in pop culture<br />
/ entertainment. Everything<br />
that courageous dynamic<br />
MEN want to know about.
3 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 4
Letter From The Editor<br />
Fun In<br />
The Sun!<br />
Sun, Tahoe, and of course the best drink that<br />
my Auj had ever made. Thank you Pintrest! All I<br />
can tell you is that it was made with Malibu rum,<br />
fruit punch, and cut up strawberries for some<br />
fun. Nothing beats when you head to the becch<br />
for the first time of the summer—breakin’ it in.<br />
Since that was the case, a new outfit was in order.<br />
So heading to my fav store H&M, going from<br />
rack to rack, I put together an amazing look,<br />
thanks to my best pal—GALEN! As the sun got<br />
higher and higher, the deeper our buzz became.<br />
I finally met<br />
the amazing<br />
Tory. She is a<br />
wild one!<br />
Drink of<br />
Choice<br />
Hippie<br />
Juice<br />
-1c. Smirnoff<br />
Watermelon<br />
-Vodka -<br />
1/3c. Triple<br />
Sec<br />
-1/3c. Malibu<br />
Coconut<br />
Rum<br />
- 4 scoops<br />
Country<br />
Time Pink<br />
Lemonade<br />
Mix<br />
-Water, and<br />
Strawberries<br />
David Hexberg<br />
David Hexberg<br />
Editorial Director<br />
davidhexberg@ariesmag.com<br />
Twitter@ ariesmagazine<br />
ariesmagazine.com<br />
5 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
IN EVERY ISSUE<br />
5 Letter from the<br />
Editor<br />
8 Behind The Scenes<br />
11 <strong>Aries</strong> Inbox<br />
112 <strong>Aries</strong>cope<br />
116 Red-Hot Read<br />
119 <strong>Aries</strong> Quiz<br />
<strong>June</strong><br />
COVER STORIES<br />
38 In The Scene<br />
40 <strong>Aries</strong> Guy -<br />
Matt Ryanz<br />
44 Ron Price<br />
50 Courageous,<br />
Dynamic, Men<br />
ENTERTAINMENT<br />
12 Celeb Buzz<br />
15 Street Crush<br />
16 Bitch It Out<br />
18 Gay Cinema<br />
20 10 Things To Do<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 6
CONFESSIONS<br />
23 Confessions<br />
24 Worst date ever<br />
27 Dirty little<br />
secrets<br />
ME, MYSELF, & I<br />
28 I Survived My<br />
Wedding<br />
32 Friends Vs.<br />
Boyfriends<br />
37 Your Guide To Pride<br />
NEED TO KNOW<br />
52 Philly Guy Killed<br />
From Grindr App<br />
BEAUTY<br />
54 Shaggy Pomp<br />
56 Ask Sabrina<br />
58 $10—tops!<br />
61 The Skinny On—pH<br />
Balanced Skin<br />
FASHION<br />
63 Must Have!<br />
64 To Heal or<br />
Not To Heal<br />
66 Your Go-To<br />
Summer Outfit<br />
69 California Dreaming<br />
71 Ask Jaake<br />
72 Scout Sixteen<br />
SUGAR & SPICE<br />
77 Keep Your Sex<br />
Life Alive<br />
78 Have Drunk<br />
Sex Sober<br />
80 Sex Q&A<br />
81 Sex Position<br />
of the Month<br />
MENOLOGY<br />
83 Make Your Summer<br />
Dates Hot!<br />
84 Your Guide To The<br />
Male Brain<br />
86 1 Guy,<br />
4 Blind Dates<br />
92 Secrets to The One<br />
Year Relationship<br />
97 Relationship Q&A<br />
ARIES WORK<br />
100 Starting A Business<br />
With Your Bestie<br />
IN & OUT<br />
102 I Like The Stubble!<br />
HEALTH<br />
107 Take A Break!<br />
110 Sex Won’t Torch<br />
Calories, But<br />
We Still Love It!<br />
112 Get The V-Shape<br />
Body You Deserve!<br />
7 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Ron getting his makeup<br />
and hair done by our<br />
Beauty Director Sabrina<br />
Filling out his<br />
<strong>Aries</strong> Quiz<br />
He brought<br />
his own boots!<br />
Behind<br />
The<br />
Scenes<br />
Ron Arrived at 2pm wearing his Starbucks<br />
uniform. He had just gotten off<br />
of work. While waiting for our Beauty<br />
Director—Sabrina—and photographer—Vic—<strong>Aries</strong><br />
had him fill out his<br />
<strong>Aries</strong> Quiz. He was so ready for the<br />
shoot. “Hey if something like this<br />
comes your way, then it must be a<br />
good sign to take it.”, says Ron .<br />
Setting Up!<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 8
9 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 10
ARIES INBOX<br />
{ }<br />
AFTER<br />
MY MAN DOES PULL AWAY<br />
“I would have never thought to<br />
put those 3 reasons into play. The<br />
reason “The Chemistry’s Fading”<br />
really puts it into perspective. We<br />
used to be so close. Talking to<br />
me about how I feeling sparked<br />
the flame again.”<br />
—Harold, B., Williamsport, PA<br />
PRANK AWAY!<br />
“Got my guy really good this year, and never<br />
saw it coming. He always gets me and I<br />
wanted a good ideas to get him. I didn’t just<br />
prank him once, twice, but three times. Next<br />
year will be even better. ”<br />
—Cain M., Reno, NV<br />
STREET CRUSH<br />
“This is by far the best page in the entire<br />
magazine. God such hotties, where do I find<br />
them and get their number. Keep this in the<br />
magazine! ”<br />
—Brant P., Reno, NV<br />
What You Thought<br />
of the April Issue<br />
BEFORE<br />
We had a hunch that some of you were wanting to see<br />
a guy who wasn’t toned, but still was fit. James was<br />
our guy. Most of you don’t know is that he used to be<br />
a little chubbier. During the photo shoot he whipped<br />
out his phone and gave me a sneak peak at what he<br />
used to look like. All I can say is this....KEEP GOING<br />
JAMES! He looks amazing, I love hearing/seeing people<br />
taking control of there lifes and making a change.<br />
Really takes empowerment to a whole new level if you<br />
ask me. Some of his friends actually emailed me and<br />
wanted to thank me for putting him on the cover. Somebody<br />
like this needs to be recognized. This inspires me<br />
to even hit the gym and get that beach bod! Totes Jelly<br />
over here.<br />
WIN THIS SHIRT!<br />
ONE LUCKY READER<br />
WILL SCORE AN ULTRA<br />
AMA-MA TANK FROM<br />
HUNTLEY HOMME!<br />
Here at <strong>Aries</strong> we love to help out<br />
fellow gay businesses! HuntleyHomme.com<br />
is a clothing shop for gay men where you can<br />
express yourself! A lifestyle brand dedicated to<br />
the homosexual and homocentric. All you have<br />
to do is facebook <strong>Aries</strong> Magazine why you’re an<br />
<strong>Aries</strong> guy. #IWANTTHIS....#ARIESGUY. All<br />
I can say is the product is fantastic and that it is<br />
super comfortable. Don’t Miss Out!!!!<br />
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ADULT<br />
“This has always been a tough subject for me to swallow. You never<br />
have too much fun. The consequences are just that, boring as hell.<br />
I have been in jail 5 times in the pass year and It’s something that I<br />
don’t want to do or end up in again. So where does the line end for<br />
fun and the begin for adult. This article really helped me find that<br />
line.”<br />
—Jerry T., Asheville, NC<br />
Talk to us! What do you think about the issue?<br />
Visit <strong>Aries</strong>magazine.com to comment or<br />
e-mail your thoughts to davidhexberg@ariesmag.com<br />
11 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
ENTERTAINMENT<br />
PLAY BALL!<br />
Ryan P. out at<br />
his son Deacon’s<br />
Baseball<br />
Game.<br />
Batter Up!<br />
Flynn making dad<br />
Orlando Bloom<br />
look to see the<br />
camera. LOOK!<br />
Happy<br />
Hot-Dads’ Day!<br />
We’re not going to try to<br />
ake “DILF” happen, but<br />
there’s something about a<br />
hot guy with his kid...Question<br />
is, who’s cuter: these<br />
celebs or their little<br />
snugglebugs?<br />
Chris<br />
Hemsworth’s<br />
biceps may be<br />
bigger than his<br />
daughter,<br />
But he’s<br />
he’ll protect<br />
her while in<br />
INDIA.<br />
CELEB<br />
BUZZ<br />
We dig Mark<br />
Wahlberg<br />
and son<br />
Brendan’s<br />
matching<br />
kicks more<br />
than they dig<br />
the game.<br />
Ever wonder what<br />
kind of dad Dawson<br />
would be? James<br />
Van Der Beek is super<br />
cute with Olivia<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 12
13 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 14
Street<br />
Crush<br />
We asked some of you to send<br />
in the hotties from your area.<br />
15 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Maybe you should have worn<br />
an undershirt!<br />
Bitch It Out!<br />
Working your last nerve! There<br />
are people who tend to get<br />
under your skin so here is a<br />
place to vent!<br />
I am not sure<br />
about what<br />
the hell he is<br />
wearing but<br />
the knee pads!<br />
The latest<br />
trend...The<br />
Lohan<br />
Denny’s really<br />
wants you to<br />
feel like you’re<br />
at home!<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 16
Who’s Ready<br />
To Get Dirty?<br />
SEPTEMBER 20TH —<br />
RENO, NV<br />
REGISTER @<br />
EVENTBRITE.COM<br />
17 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
GAY CINEMA<br />
The movie Geography Club (2013),<br />
directed by the twin actor/director/<br />
awesome Gary and Edmund Entin, is<br />
the movie adaptation from the book<br />
(2003) of the same name by Brent<br />
Hartinger. Despite the generation<br />
gap between the alternate media<br />
releasing, the fundamental themes<br />
of life that cause people to live in<br />
fraudulence and desperation for<br />
the prized status quo that Hartinger<br />
originally wrote into his novel are<br />
presented without obfuscation by the<br />
Entin directors in this easily relatable<br />
high-school teen dramedy.<br />
Russell, the main character played<br />
by Cameron Deane Stewart, is an<br />
average guy with a quirky sense of<br />
humor and a good general optimism<br />
about life.* He doesn’t question his<br />
sexuality, but that doesn’t mean that<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 18<br />
navigating high school isn’t going<br />
to be particularly farcical for him<br />
or any of this Breakfast Club-esque<br />
cast of characters. Russell with his<br />
comically compensating friend Gunner,<br />
played by Andrew Caldwell, and<br />
a few other courageously relatable<br />
friends embark along a modern take<br />
on the road to age-appropriate self<br />
actualization through love interests<br />
and the social turbulences of high<br />
school.<br />
Since more people gain a rapid understanding<br />
of their sexuality in this<br />
decade, Geography Club focuses on<br />
the struggle for what to do with your<br />
identity in this world of peer pressure<br />
after you have already accepted<br />
yourself, rather than retell the story<br />
of the ‘one’ who needs to be shown<br />
who they are. Because really in life<br />
“this is your thing, run with it.” Mrs.<br />
Toles.<br />
I gave Geography Club 6 out<br />
of ten <strong>Aries</strong> Ram horns. Don’t let<br />
my score fool you into not watching<br />
this fun-times-with-friends movie<br />
though. Geography Club is loaded<br />
RATING<br />
B-<br />
July’s Next<br />
Gay Movie<br />
Review
with ridiculous unpredictable scenarios<br />
that kept me asking “what’s gonna<br />
happen next!?” The only conspicuous<br />
issues that really rammed this<br />
movie in the nuts were the fact that<br />
some stories shouldn’t be condensed<br />
into one movie, just like this one…<br />
The depth of detail allocated for this<br />
film is a far cry from what must be<br />
held in the pages of the book from<br />
which it was adapted, but it’s now<br />
modern. (Hartinger-book author- did<br />
make a whole series…) But really,<br />
this movie isn’t on a H.P. budget, so<br />
dismount the hippogriff and blow off<br />
the cinematic expectation of a Hollywood<br />
smash hit and enjoy the incredible<br />
acting, WTF’s, and the awww’s<br />
this movie has to offer.<br />
On a more analytical note,<br />
I was surprised to find that by the<br />
time I was done watching the movie<br />
a second time I had generated 16<br />
pages of notes on a wide variety of<br />
topics from the directing and editing<br />
to the acting and character development.<br />
While I do not have the<br />
space necessary to extrapolate on all<br />
reasons why I think there are pertinent<br />
reasons to watch the film, there<br />
are a few key story lines and character<br />
archetypes that really caught my<br />
attention.<br />
All the relationships in this movie<br />
seem to tell the same story on<br />
slightly different avenues. One of<br />
the greatest things you can do in life<br />
is to find someone who you can be<br />
yourself around, often times though;<br />
we don’t have the ability to find that<br />
person until we can come to terms<br />
with how we want society to treat<br />
us. Geography club explores several<br />
different relationships in which each<br />
person has a completely different<br />
take on how they want society to<br />
view them. As the movie develops<br />
you are sure to relate one of these<br />
situations. Interestingly enough,<br />
many of the characters depicted in<br />
the “Geography Club” were direct<br />
parallels of people I knew.<br />
Ever person alive can relate<br />
to having less than their fair share of<br />
integrity on more than one occasion.<br />
Self reflection is a necessary break<br />
away from the abstract falsities of<br />
our everyday lives that can bring us<br />
back to self actualization. Though<br />
there is only one perspective telling<br />
the story, the times during which<br />
Russell becomes self reflective are<br />
excellent parallels to his evolving<br />
feelings towards being alone in the<br />
world.<br />
As the “geography club”<br />
comes together it’s obvious that each<br />
person inherently shares a common<br />
fear of being judged for who<br />
they really are by their peers. This<br />
emotional theme is experienced by<br />
everyone alive, so the importance of<br />
a fun, safe and therapeutic support<br />
group has almost become a requirement<br />
for maturity. Because all of the<br />
members of the “geography club”<br />
are open to each other about the intricacies<br />
of their fears, through their<br />
connection, they are able to support<br />
one another and lift weight from the<br />
daily trials of high school.<br />
Of course this movie has many<br />
other plot lines and themes that are<br />
a guaranteed accompaniment to any<br />
LGBTIQA movie, and if you are<br />
one of those people who enjoy films<br />
about inspirational quotes based on<br />
simple yet profound statements such<br />
as “learn to be yourself,” trust me<br />
you won’t be disappointed.<br />
NOTES FROM<br />
THE AUTHOR<br />
“When I was writing Russel<br />
(the main character<br />
-- spelled “Russell” in the<br />
movie version), I thought<br />
of him as pretty autobiographical.<br />
He’s not “me”<br />
exactly, but he has my<br />
sense of humor, my general<br />
optimism, and my<br />
sense of not being crazy<br />
about being in the spotlight.<br />
I see him and his<br />
friends as being very very<br />
quirky. I figured a lot of<br />
gay guys could relate to<br />
him and his friends, especially<br />
the nerdy intellectual<br />
types, but I didn’t<br />
particularly think he’d<br />
have massive crossover<br />
appeal.”<br />
19 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
10 Things to d<br />
Rock Out<br />
Go See These<br />
Lucy Hale<br />
From her hit series<br />
“Pretty Little Liars,”<br />
Lucy’s coming out<br />
with a country album,<br />
<strong>June</strong> 3<br />
HOW TO TRAIN<br />
YOUR DRAGON 2<br />
The heroic Viking Hiccup<br />
and his faithful dragon<br />
Toothless must protect<br />
the peace -- and save<br />
the future of men and<br />
dragons from the power-hungry<br />
Drago.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 3<br />
The Purge 2<br />
A couple are quickly trying<br />
to get to their home<br />
before The Purge starts<br />
but their car runs out of<br />
gas<br />
<strong>June</strong> 20<br />
TRANSFORMERS 4:<br />
AGE OF<br />
EXTINCTION<br />
As humanity picks up<br />
the pieces, following the<br />
conclusion of: Dark of<br />
the Moon, Autobots and<br />
Decepticons have all but<br />
vanished from the face of<br />
the planet.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 27<br />
Miranda Lambert<br />
She’s back again but<br />
this time with a glitzy<br />
album.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 3<br />
22 JUMP STREET<br />
Officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and<br />
Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep<br />
undercover at a local college, but<br />
when Jenko meets a kindred spirit<br />
on the football team, and Schmidt<br />
infiltrates the bohemian art major<br />
scene, they begin to question their<br />
partnership.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 13<br />
Read These<br />
50 Cent<br />
Get in sync with the<br />
animal inside!<br />
<strong>June</strong> 3<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 20<br />
How to be Gay<br />
Far from being deterred<br />
by stereotypes, Halperin<br />
concludes that the<br />
genius of gay culture<br />
resides in some of its<br />
most despised features.<br />
Drama Queen<br />
Drama Queen is fast,<br />
funny, and delivers a<br />
healthier option than<br />
accepting the worst<br />
and expecting the<br />
world. For many gay<br />
men, drama is an essential<br />
spice of life.
o this Month<br />
Tune In<br />
Attend This<br />
Pretty Little Liars<br />
The girls are back for another<br />
season. Now that “A” knows<br />
the girls have to deal with new<br />
hits. <strong>June</strong> 10<br />
True Blood<br />
Season 7 of True Blood is<br />
the seventh and final season<br />
of the show. For those who<br />
wanted to watch the show<br />
catch up before it’s all over.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 22<br />
Orange Is New Black<br />
Netflix cleverly told us when<br />
the new season starts. Let’s<br />
see what’s in stock. <strong>June</strong> 22<br />
San Fransisco Gay Pride<br />
The two-day celebration takes place in Civic Center<br />
Plaza in downtown San Francisco the last full<br />
weekend of <strong>June</strong> each year. The Parade, which<br />
takes place the Sunday morning of the event, kicks<br />
off from Beale Street along Market and ends at<br />
Market and 8th St. in the heart of downtown San<br />
Francisco. <strong>June</strong> 28-29<br />
21 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 22
CONFESSIONS<br />
You reveal your most<br />
embarassing, RIDICULOUS,<br />
what-was-I-thinking moments.<br />
“I decided to visit my Grandma<br />
that I have not seen in a long time.<br />
When I arrived in to town, I didn’t tell<br />
her I was and wanted to surprise her.<br />
I got to her house and when I entered<br />
I witnessed my G-MA and a stranger<br />
younger man doing the nasty.”<br />
—Jesse D,. 20, Reno, NV.<br />
“I have a Family Guy<br />
addiction. I’ve seen every<br />
episode. I can predict what<br />
the characters will say.<br />
Every Saturday, I’m secretly<br />
happy, because I can<br />
watch Family Guy all day.”<br />
—Taylor J,. 24, San Fran.<br />
“I<br />
have every<br />
other month a new<br />
roommate. I think it’s because<br />
I walk around naked<br />
every chance I get. I tell them<br />
that I do, but I don’t think<br />
they believe me until they<br />
see my man<br />
meat.”<br />
—Taylor J,. 24, Reno,<br />
NV<br />
“I was with a guy at a club, and we were<br />
heading down domn some really steep stairs.<br />
I turned to give him a sexy look, instead I<br />
ate it. I scraped my knees and everyone was<br />
laughing at me, but I think he might have<br />
liked me even more for it..”<br />
—Izzy G,. 21, Carson City, NV<br />
23 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
WORST DATE EVER!<br />
He Wasn’t<br />
Gay<br />
& Thought<br />
It Was A<br />
Double<br />
Date!<br />
“I thought<br />
he was a<br />
nice, gay<br />
guy. He<br />
thought I’d<br />
like a date<br />
with a girl.”<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 24<br />
I<br />
usually don’t go out with a<br />
guy I meet online before I see<br />
what he looks like. I usually<br />
ask to do camera to camera,<br />
but this time, I looked like a<br />
mess, so I exchanged numbers with<br />
one guy and we talked for 10 minutes<br />
through the phone. He seemed<br />
nice, so we arranged to meet the next<br />
day for coffee. We decided to meet<br />
in Jabal Amman in front of this nice,<br />
old café.<br />
I arrived there and waited<br />
for 10 minutes outside before he<br />
arrived. He picked me up and we<br />
went to Rainbow Street. But, when<br />
we reached a place called Batata,<br />
I started to worry! There were two<br />
girls waiting in front, one of them<br />
wearing a short, red dress and the<br />
other wearing jeans with a cute top.<br />
He stopped at the girls and<br />
said, “Oh, these are my friends, let<br />
me pick them up, maybe they need a<br />
lift.”<br />
I kept quiet because I knew<br />
this was some sort of game from the<br />
looks on the girls’ faces. It looked as<br />
they knew he was coming.<br />
He introduced me and then<br />
informed them that I was gay. They<br />
said, “Really? Oh, how cute.”<br />
I tried to excuse myself and<br />
said that I had to leave, but they were<br />
so insisting that I found myself having<br />
dinner with them. After awhile,<br />
they started asking me all types of<br />
questions:<br />
“What do you do?” “Do<br />
you have a boyfriend?”<br />
“Does your family<br />
know?” “What’s gay sex<br />
like?” “What’s your religion?”<br />
It all made me really uncomfortable.<br />
Enough was enough. I looked<br />
at my “date” and told him, “Nice<br />
one, disrespectful much?” Then I<br />
headed to the door. He wasn’t gay!<br />
Very interesting to meet a straight<br />
guy on Manjam (a gay online dating<br />
site). What a scene!
25 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 26
Artwork By: Matt Skingsley<br />
DIRTY SECRETS<br />
So you couldn’t keep it to yourself!<br />
“I sold your<br />
iPad to pay<br />
for my addiction.<br />
I don’t<br />
regret it.”<br />
“When you’re at<br />
work, your boyfriend<br />
comes over and we<br />
have amazing sex.<br />
Tells me that it’s<br />
way better than<br />
you.”<br />
“GIVE IT UP!<br />
YOU WILL<br />
NEVER FIND<br />
THE GUY<br />
LIKE YOUR<br />
EX. ALONE IS<br />
CALLING YOUR<br />
NAME.”<br />
“I started losing<br />
weight cuz I hate<br />
how our community<br />
labels us gays.<br />
I’m not a bear and<br />
don’t want to be.”<br />
“I hacked into<br />
your facebook<br />
and saw that<br />
you like me.<br />
Why won’t you<br />
tell me that you<br />
like me?”<br />
“The next time you<br />
start talking crap<br />
make sure that I’m<br />
not friends with<br />
someone you like.<br />
He’s never gonna<br />
like you now. ”<br />
“In high school<br />
you said that you<br />
tried to commit<br />
suicide with a<br />
paperclip, little<br />
did you know<br />
that everybody<br />
was ready to<br />
give you one”<br />
“I am patiently<br />
waiting<br />
for you<br />
to die so I<br />
don’t have<br />
to worry<br />
about you<br />
being alive<br />
and coming<br />
near my mom.”<br />
“All I ever want<br />
to do is just<br />
leave you. I<br />
was in love<br />
with you until I<br />
found out you<br />
cheated on me.<br />
#Waiting”<br />
27 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
LIVE IT UP!<br />
I Survived My<br />
Wedding By: Tamisha Seals<br />
There it is, he’s on one knee after a romantic night out. He pulls out a<br />
beautiful red velvet box, opens it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring.<br />
He then asks that magical question, “will you marry me?” Of course<br />
you say yes! Here begins a long journey. No one is thinking about it at<br />
first, but suddenly it sinks in. You’re getting married and now there’s a<br />
wedding to plan. You think about the colors, suits, dresses, venues, the<br />
reception, food, etc. Even with a wedding planner this will take some<br />
time and hard work. I’m going to help out a little bit to help you survive<br />
the wedding.<br />
All For The Right Reason<br />
You said you would, and you both<br />
know one thing, you’re madly in<br />
love. So getting married seems like<br />
the thing to do, right? Well before<br />
you plan every detail and have<br />
everyone show up for the day (only<br />
to have someone get cold feet) make<br />
sure you’re are getting married for<br />
the right reason. Now a good reason<br />
to marry would be you’ve both<br />
known each other for a significant<br />
amount of time, and have got to<br />
know each other well enough that<br />
you are willing to deal with their<br />
whole package, family included. The<br />
last thing you need is to be getting<br />
a divorce because you can’t stand<br />
your partner’s mother. Family has a<br />
big impact on relationships. You also<br />
have to be willing to stand behind<br />
each other, even in disagreements.<br />
Another good reason is that you<br />
communicate well with one another.<br />
Though you won’t always agree with<br />
your partner, you must learn to argue<br />
respectfully. If you love that person<br />
you shouldn’t hurt them no matter<br />
the circumstances. Communication<br />
is the key to a healthy and happy<br />
marriage. A friend of mine explained<br />
his reason, “it wasn’t ever really a<br />
thought, it was more of a feeling. It<br />
was like my heart could read theirs<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 28<br />
and vice versa. We didn’t even<br />
have to speak it into words, we just<br />
knew!”<br />
Planning The Wedding<br />
Planning the wedding doesn’t have<br />
to be as stressful as you might think.<br />
The key word here is to PLAN! Keep<br />
in mind that things may not go as<br />
planned, and it’s a good idea to keep<br />
an open mind. If you’re searching for<br />
specific things, plan to have back ups<br />
in case something goes wrong. The<br />
more prepared you are the better results<br />
you’ll have. Just don’t go over<br />
board from nervousness. I’m sure<br />
every couple has their, “must haves,”<br />
so make a list of those things and<br />
circle which ones you are willing to<br />
alternate or change on sudden notice.<br />
If you simply must have something,<br />
then make sure you give extra time<br />
in order to obtain it. Try to have at<br />
least two options for things like your<br />
venue, cake, flowers, or decor. It’ll<br />
help ensure you don’t come across<br />
many disappointments. Be willing to<br />
compromise and most importantly<br />
take breaks from planning and relax<br />
with your partner. You wouldn’t<br />
want planning your wedding to pull<br />
you apart. Let your wedding planner<br />
do all the hard work. Picking<br />
out your decor should be fun and<br />
excited, not a headache. Remember<br />
they are there to help you that’s why<br />
you hired them. They are an expert<br />
at what they do and can make sure<br />
your special day is as magical as you<br />
have ever dreamed. If you and your<br />
partner choose not to hire a wedding<br />
planner, and have your family help<br />
instead, be sure they understand it’s<br />
your wedding and you guys call the<br />
shots. Some good tips from Theknot.<br />
com are: 1.Know how many guests<br />
will be there, so you know where<br />
to plan your venue. 2. Beware of<br />
wedding blackout dates, know ahead<br />
of time if your wedding date falls on<br />
the same date, like a special event<br />
that would affect traffic or hotel<br />
availability. 3. If you need to cut cost<br />
then start with the guests, if you cut<br />
ten guest at $100 a person, that saves<br />
you $1000.<br />
Choosing A Venue<br />
I’ve included this in this guide because<br />
I’ve come across some great<br />
tips that you should know. Picking<br />
the location of your venue is going<br />
to take some research. Get a folder<br />
to store important vendor numbers,<br />
dates for meeting, and pictures that<br />
get your idea out. Though the location<br />
of the venue is entirely up to the<br />
two of you, and with so many places<br />
that offer a wide variety of commodities<br />
and accommodations, this<br />
decision can be tough. Like I mentioned<br />
before find out ahead of time<br />
how many guests will be there, and<br />
keep in mind the closer you schedule<br />
the date the more money you may<br />
be able to save. Theknot.com says,<br />
“Your wedding vendors should be<br />
your go-to, most-trusted experts<br />
during the planning process. When<br />
working with them, you should feel<br />
free to really explore what it is you<br />
want.” You may also want to consider<br />
a location where your friends and<br />
family won’t have trouble making<br />
it to the ceremony. Another thing<br />
I’d like to mention, is that Mother
29 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
to have many people that will want<br />
in that top ranking position in the<br />
wedding then good creative way to<br />
avoid disappointments is to to have a<br />
playoff. That’s right! It’s competitive<br />
and fun! Have everyone that wants<br />
to be in the wedding party sign up<br />
for both sides. Find a few wedding<br />
friendly games and let the games<br />
begin. Everyone has a fair chance<br />
to be in the wedding party and no<br />
disappointments made. You can also<br />
host a party where you have a drawing<br />
to find who’s in and who’s out.<br />
Some exceptions to this would be<br />
who your florist and photographer<br />
are. In this case you’d want to check<br />
out their portfolio, and some satisfied<br />
customers.<br />
Nature isn’t always on our side. If<br />
you plan to have an outdoor wedding,<br />
see if you can make an easy<br />
transition to an indoor wedding in<br />
case it’s raining cats and dogs. You<br />
wouldn’t want your guests too leave<br />
to early either because it’s too hot<br />
or cold out. You might even want to<br />
consider some kind of pest control.<br />
Before you sign a contract with a<br />
venue see if they’ll throw a few extras<br />
in there, like an hour longer for<br />
cocktails. Decide whether or not you<br />
want a combination of the ceremony<br />
and reception at the same place. You<br />
may be able to save some money if<br />
your ceremony is held at the family<br />
church, and reception elsewhere, but<br />
then that means your guests will also<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 30<br />
have to do some extra traveling.<br />
The Wedding Party<br />
This might be the easiest decision to<br />
make, or the nightmare of decisions.<br />
If you don’t have many friends or<br />
family that live in the same state, or<br />
country, then deciding who’s going<br />
to be in your wedding party can be a<br />
piece of cake. Realistically, everyone<br />
is going to want to be included. First<br />
of all, there shouldn’t be any doubt<br />
who the person of honor is in both<br />
parties. Best friend, brother, sister,<br />
favorite cousin, someone who has<br />
a close and loyal relationship with<br />
you and you know in your heart who<br />
that person is. If you just so happen<br />
The HoneyMoon<br />
Now this has got to be every newlyweds<br />
favorite part of getting married.<br />
All the running around, and nervousness<br />
is finally over. Everyone is partied<br />
out, the families are joined, and<br />
now it’s time for some one-on-one<br />
time. Hopefully the two of you have<br />
already picked out a destination.<br />
Most people have, but not everyone,<br />
and some people don’t even go. If<br />
you’re choosing to go on a honeymoon<br />
and spoil yourselves, I don’t<br />
blame you. Being newly married is<br />
a great cause for celebration. Taking<br />
time for intimacy in seclusion so that<br />
you relationship can bond is wonderful.<br />
Some top spots to visit are<br />
The French Riviera, Italy, Rome, and<br />
Venice. The exotic and romantic setting<br />
can bring the two of you close<br />
together, not to mention the beautiful<br />
scenery, great food, and nice people.<br />
Many places offer a honeymooners<br />
discount to save you money as well,<br />
and some places will even wine and<br />
dine you for free. Visit Priceline.<br />
com for a full list of honeymoon<br />
destinations and package deals. I<br />
hope you’ve survived your wedding<br />
and I wish you a lifetime of love and<br />
happiness.
31 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
By: Leyla Luanne<br />
FRIENDS<br />
BOYFRIENDS<br />
We’ve all done it.<br />
Leaving for a trip out<br />
of town, we’re all<br />
packed and ready to<br />
go. We’re halfway to<br />
our destination and we look back with a<br />
wrinkle on our brow, a familiar feeling<br />
tickling at the back of our mind. We’ve<br />
forgotten something, we’re sure of it.<br />
Reaching back, we sift through all of<br />
our belongings, but nothing jumps out at<br />
us. We’ve got our wallets, our IDs, our<br />
toothbrush. We’ve got three extra pairs<br />
of underwear and three or four pairs of<br />
socks. We’ve got all those loose, little<br />
odds and ends. Anything and everything<br />
we could’ve thought of and a few we<br />
didn’t and still, there’s that certainty that<br />
something is undeniably missing.<br />
It isn’t until about an hour later,<br />
or maybe after our arrival that we realize<br />
what it was. That the horrid, nagging<br />
sensation of absent minded neglect was<br />
real. It was certain. It was there all along.<br />
And of all the things we could’ve<br />
forgotten, this one time, we forgot our<br />
best friend.<br />
Except it isn’t just this one time.<br />
We’ve done it before. More than once.<br />
Too often. But we’ve only just now realized<br />
it, because it began before we knew<br />
it. It was a moment, it was a breath, a<br />
glance, a smile, a laugh and suddenly<br />
our entire world has changed.<br />
Suddenly every waking moment<br />
is spent dreaming about that one, special<br />
someone and every night is spent in<br />
anticipation of the next moment we’ll<br />
see them again. If it’s love, all the better,<br />
but even if it’s just that fiery poker in the<br />
hearth of our loins, the fact of the matter<br />
is, our world now revolves around that<br />
certain someone. And that certain someone<br />
is the only axis we tilt on, spring,<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 32<br />
VS.<br />
When you start dating a new guy, be<br />
ready for some friendship fail-out.<br />
Here’s how to help all your relationships<br />
coexist...and, hopefully, grow.
summer, winter and fall, every season<br />
from now until global warming takes<br />
us all.<br />
But at what cost? Is it friends<br />
and family be damned? Is it all the<br />
plans and gatherings meant for you<br />
and your friends and family are left<br />
by the wayside while you moon and<br />
swoon over your new lady or beau?<br />
Is it always going to be that you’ve<br />
forgotten, misplaced the plans outside<br />
of the immediate and desperate desire<br />
to be nearer, just a tiny bit nearer to<br />
everything and anything having to do<br />
with the candy draped on your bent<br />
arm? And if it comes down to it, if you<br />
have to choose, what do you do? How<br />
does the decision between beau and<br />
bro bring about a tie-breaker in this<br />
dog-eat-dog world of friendship versus<br />
lovers?<br />
Your man-candy wants to see a<br />
movie. He chooses the newest, romantic<br />
chick-flick and you agree without a<br />
second thought, without so much as a<br />
bat of the eyelashes, except immediately<br />
after you’ve given your consent you<br />
remember that your bestie bought you<br />
two tickets for the midnight showing.<br />
How do we reconcile? Do we lie in<br />
wait as your bestie dresses in her best<br />
imitation of the heroine, fluffs, curls,<br />
trims and primps. Do we hide? Do we<br />
come forward or do we come up with<br />
another solution?<br />
Do we suggest a threesome?<br />
Do we hint at the amount of missed<br />
opportunities we’ve had in which the<br />
two could have bonded like Elmer’s<br />
and palms and insist that the time is<br />
now? That the time is long overdue?<br />
That we cannot believe it has taken<br />
this long in the first place. Do we haggle,<br />
finagle and smooth talk our way<br />
out of the tough spot we cannot believe<br />
we were foolish enough to drop ourselves<br />
into?<br />
Is this a solution or a greater<br />
problem? Does your friend bite, take<br />
the bait and jump at the opportunity<br />
to finally be a part of your life once<br />
more, or do they see right through your<br />
sneaky, little scheme? Will they feel<br />
like you’re including them, or is this<br />
a pity invite? Will they feel like one<br />
of the crew, or a third wheel? Do they<br />
excite at the prospect of meeting this<br />
infamous stranger, or does their enthusiasm<br />
deflate as they realize, with cold,<br />
deadly certainty, that you have once<br />
again forgotten that the two of you had<br />
plans long before this perfect stranger<br />
came into your life?<br />
And what about the second<br />
scenario? The one that didn’t really<br />
occur to us? The one that would have<br />
us break plans with that certain someone<br />
to honor our promise to our bestie?<br />
Do we give up those warm, fuzzy,<br />
90 minutes of cuddling in the dark,<br />
fluorescent glow of the neon exit sign,<br />
setting the stage for the promise of a<br />
later night than an hour and a half beneath<br />
the silver screen could ever hope<br />
to endure?<br />
Do we risk upsetting our beau?<br />
Making him feel as though he is not<br />
your top priority, that he or she is<br />
second best, second thought, not your<br />
number one?<br />
Do we promise one or the other<br />
that we’ll make it up to them next<br />
time?<br />
Where is the solution? Where<br />
do we draw the line at integration over<br />
integrity? Is there a balance to be had<br />
at all? Or could it be that we simply<br />
need to make time for both, together<br />
and separately? And what if it isn’t<br />
always about you? What if the neglect<br />
can become something smothering on<br />
the opposite end? Does your beau not<br />
need a night out with their best buddies?<br />
Does your bestie not need some<br />
time to themselves and their friends<br />
as well? Is it possible that sometimes,<br />
just sometimes, you might just need to<br />
spend some time by yourself as well?<br />
The fact of the matter is,<br />
you need to find that elusive middle<br />
ground, the infallible balance of the<br />
justice scales. When we make plans<br />
with the bestie, we need to honor those<br />
plans, we need to set aside that time<br />
33 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
and let it be that not every sentence<br />
that comes out of our mouths begins<br />
with the name of that certain someone.<br />
We need to resist the urge to text<br />
them every couple of minutes. To<br />
check their check-ins, their statuses<br />
and their picture blogs.<br />
We need to understand that<br />
we are not their wardens and it’s ok<br />
to let them slip your mind every here<br />
and there. We need to accept that we<br />
if you do so. They are not mutually<br />
exclusive, they are not oil and water.<br />
In fact, if the one does choose to stay<br />
around, they may need to become<br />
one and the same.<br />
Much as your bestie has<br />
become your family, so too might<br />
your beau become your bestie or one<br />
day be your family. In the end, all<br />
roads lead to home, so in the interest<br />
of making it a happy, peaceful and<br />
bring them together. Cook with the<br />
oil, throw out the water, replace it<br />
with wine. After all, when everything’s<br />
said and done, don’t we<br />
all love a gathering of family and<br />
friends that comes together at dusk<br />
and stays firm long past the break of<br />
day, through shadow and light and<br />
laughter and the promise of bonds<br />
that strengthen with time and time<br />
again?<br />
should slip their mind every here and<br />
there. Because few people are whole<br />
without friends and family and we<br />
wouldn’t want to be the reason they<br />
lose that, nor would we want to<br />
throw that away ourselves.<br />
By the same token, there’s no<br />
need to separate that two eternally,<br />
especially considering that either one<br />
might stick around or leave at will<br />
harmonious place, make sure that<br />
your priorities are where they belong,<br />
in each given moment, in each<br />
plan, for better or for worse, bound<br />
by the bonds of affections that differ<br />
in many ways, but are, ultimately the<br />
same.<br />
Love and love alike. Share<br />
and dare alike.<br />
And when the time is right,<br />
Never forget where you’ve<br />
come from, who was there and who<br />
will always be, but never neglect<br />
the promise of a tomorrow in which<br />
you can stand firm in the promise of<br />
another who might stay by your side<br />
the same in the present and time to<br />
come.<br />
Family is family, after all.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 34
35 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 36
GUIDE<br />
Your<br />
To<br />
PRIDE<br />
There comes a time when you go<br />
to your first Pride, like a right of<br />
passge, if you will. Some of the<br />
new gays—or gaybies—just don’t<br />
know what to expect or how to<br />
really get the best out of their first<br />
Gay Pride. We got you covered!<br />
San Fransisco<br />
San Francisco throws one of the<br />
more colorful and prominent Gay<br />
Pride festivals in the world, with the<br />
key events taking place over the last<br />
weekend in <strong>June</strong> (on <strong>June</strong> 28 to <strong>June</strong><br />
29 in <strong>2014</strong>). Of course, San Francisco<br />
has a rich and lengthy history of<br />
gay rights, and the city’s Pride events<br />
are well-attended, well-organized,<br />
and great fun for visitors - it’s also<br />
one of the largest Gay Pride celebrations<br />
in the United States.<br />
WHAT TO EXPECT:<br />
There is going to be a lot of people<br />
every where you turn. And be prepared<br />
to be waiting. Try to hit all the<br />
venues before the crowd starts to hit.<br />
That way you can enjoy the parade<br />
and anything else you want to do.<br />
You will meet people from all over<br />
the U.S. and even out of the country.<br />
LIVE IT UP!:<br />
You’re in the sun, you’re seeing hot<br />
guys in barely anything, and there<br />
is a lot to do. While you’re enjoying<br />
pride, head down to FISHERMAN’S<br />
WARF, great place to find some amama<br />
items. If you have time take the<br />
Muni to Castro, located just outside<br />
of San Fran, the gayest town ever!<br />
New York<br />
New York City celebrates Gay<br />
Pride each <strong>June</strong> (<strong>June</strong> 27 to <strong>June</strong> 29,<br />
<strong>2014</strong>), to honor what many consider<br />
to be one of the foremost events in<br />
the history of lesbian and gay rights,<br />
the Stonewall Riots, which commenced<br />
early in the morning on <strong>June</strong><br />
28, 1969.<br />
WHAT TO EXPECT:<br />
Whether you’re marching or watching,<br />
make like a good scout and be<br />
prepared! Charring your torso to<br />
crimson is sure to ruin your night<br />
of bumping and grinding, whether<br />
you’re heading to the pier dance or<br />
your favorite club, so bring some<br />
sunblock. Finally, if you’ve got<br />
yourself wedged into a good spot,<br />
you’ll be unwise to leave it to forage<br />
for food, no matter how light-headed<br />
you feel.<br />
LIVE IT UP!:<br />
If you’re planning on heading down<br />
to New York for your Pride desitnation,<br />
then you’re in for a ride. Most<br />
of the events that happen are : Dance<br />
on the Pier, The March, Teaze, Vip<br />
Rooftop Party, and the Rally.<br />
Boston<br />
Boston’s always-vibrant Gay Pride<br />
celebration takes place this weekend,<br />
with the Parade and Festival on<br />
Saturday, <strong>June</strong> 9, and then the traditional<br />
block parties the following day<br />
in the charming Back Bay and funky<br />
Jamaica Plain neighborhoods. This is<br />
one of the earlier <strong>June</strong> Pride events<br />
of any major cities on the East Coast,<br />
and it tends to attract visitors from<br />
all over New England<br />
WHAT TO EXPECT:<br />
In a different climate and enviroment,<br />
this is town that you really<br />
don’t need to worry about. Just make<br />
sure to get out of the sun and that<br />
you are drinking water. Save the<br />
booze for the nightlife.<br />
LIVE IT UP!:<br />
This town is a little more traditional<br />
with their Pride Queeraoke, Flag<br />
Raising, Boston Gay Men’s Chorus’<br />
Pride Concert: Can’t Stop the Beat<br />
– feat. Alex Newell, and all of their<br />
famous block parties!<br />
37 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
IN THE SCENE<br />
Unity<br />
Vanity’s annual Unity Party prings all the<br />
gay organizers together for one night!<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 38
39 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 40
ARIES GUY<br />
Matt Ryanz<br />
QWhat is the style of<br />
your music?<br />
AWell i’m a hopeless romantic<br />
so I tend to write songs about<br />
love. I like to say I write pop songs<br />
but I draw from a lot of influences<br />
like dance, rock and electronic.<br />
What do you hope to achieve<br />
Q in the next 5 years?<br />
ATo move people through music.<br />
That’s all I ever wanted to<br />
do so If I can still be doing that in 5<br />
years that would be amazing!<br />
How did you get your start?<br />
Q<br />
Well I always loved to sing and<br />
A perform but you could say my<br />
first real “break” was getting accepted<br />
to NYU’s music program.<br />
That really set the foundation for<br />
everything I have done as a songwriter<br />
and musician.<br />
QIf you could collab with any<br />
music artist, who would it be?<br />
AMiley Cyrus hands down!<br />
QWhat does love mean to you?<br />
Wow thats a heavy question!<br />
A Love is something that has<br />
shaped every aspect of my life.<br />
It doesn’t matter if you’re gay,<br />
straight, a different ethnicity or spirituality<br />
- most people want to spend<br />
their life with someone. That has<br />
influenced everything that I do not<br />
just as a musician but as a man. I<br />
guess thats what love means to me<br />
Check Out<br />
Matt’s<br />
Latest Music<br />
VIdeo, -It’s Love<br />
To Me-<br />
41 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 42
43 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
on<br />
price<br />
Photography By: Vic Crulich<br />
Makeup & Hair : Sabrina A.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 44
45 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 46
47 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 48
NAME:<br />
Ronald Vernon<br />
Price<br />
NICKNAME:<br />
Ron or Ron Bro<br />
Frat Dude<br />
MY BEST FEATURE IS:<br />
My Smile or<br />
My Abs<br />
THE PERSON I SPILL ALL MY<br />
SECRETS TO IS:<br />
MY BEST FRIEND<br />
MY FIRST KISS WAS:<br />
Cailin<br />
YOU’D NEVER BELIEVE IT,<br />
BUT I ALWAYS HAVE:<br />
Rescue Seuba Diver<br />
THE CLOTHING ITEM THAT I<br />
CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IS:<br />
Jeans and T-shirt<br />
MY BIGGEST CELEBRITY<br />
CRUSH IS:<br />
Sara Jean<br />
Underwood<br />
THE BEST LOVE ADVICE I’VE<br />
EVER RECEIVED:<br />
Don’t Settle for<br />
someone who isn’t<br />
completely there<br />
for you.<br />
WHO TOLD ME:<br />
My Father<br />
THE FIRST THING I NOTICE<br />
ABOUT A GIRL IS:<br />
HER EYES<br />
THE BEST THING ABOUT<br />
BEING IN A FRAT IS:<br />
Brotherhood<br />
THE LONGEST SECRET I EVER<br />
KEPT:<br />
Fraternity Secrets<br />
that over 100<br />
years old.<br />
THE ONE THING THAT I CAN-<br />
NOT LIVE WITHOUT IS:<br />
Family<br />
THE WORST PICK-UP LINE I<br />
HAVE EVER USED WAS:<br />
Are you a ticket?<br />
Because you have<br />
fine written all<br />
over you!<br />
MY ACHIEVEMENTS:<br />
Military Career and<br />
Athletic Awards<br />
MY HERO IS:<br />
Arnold<br />
Schwarzenegger<br />
49 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Shepard Smith<br />
Fox News discriminated against longtime anchor Shepard<br />
Smith because Smith is gay and decided last year to finally,<br />
officially, come out. If true, Fox News’ actions could constitute<br />
a violation of both New York city and state (2002) employment<br />
law, which bans job discrimination based on sexual orientation.<br />
While I wouldn’t expect Smith, a longtime and loyal Fox<br />
News employee, to sue the network for discrimination, all bets<br />
are off if the network pushes him too far, and/or lets him go.<br />
Smith is also now in an odd position. If the allegations are true,<br />
Fox News may want him to publicly deny them. Of course,<br />
such pressure from Fox News could only add to Smith’s ultimate<br />
damages in any future court case.<br />
courageous<br />
dynamic<br />
men<br />
Men and even yes...<br />
women. kicking ass<br />
and making a<br />
difference.<br />
Op-ed: My<br />
Two Dads<br />
I am standing outside the steps of city hall<br />
in San Francisco. Jonathan on one side of<br />
me, and John on the other. It is August 13,<br />
2009 and after 23 years of a domestic partnership,<br />
the state of California is finally recognizing<br />
my fathers’s marriage. Other gay<br />
and lesbian couples are here too, celebrating<br />
what they only had dreamed possible.<br />
All I can wonder is how could any of these<br />
marriages possibly affect the detractors of<br />
gay marriage?<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 50
51 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 52
GAY NEWS<br />
the case, and it is not being investigated<br />
as a hate crime. DA Whelan<br />
tells me, however, that “we heard<br />
through the grapevine he may have<br />
been part of the gay community.<br />
We don’t know if he was targeted<br />
because of that, but we’re looking at<br />
any avenue necessary.”<br />
Dizdarević and McBee<br />
moved to Philadelphia from Kentucky<br />
last year when Dizdarević got<br />
a job as a chemical engineer at the<br />
Stepan Company. The pair had been<br />
together since December of 2012. “I<br />
loved him so much,” McBee says.<br />
“We had so many big plans for the<br />
future.”<br />
Gay Philly Man<br />
Murdered By<br />
Grindr Hookup<br />
Philadelphia police believe<br />
that 25-year-old Dino Dizdarević<br />
was strangled and beaten to death<br />
by a man he drove to the city from<br />
Chester, Pennsylvania to meet after<br />
talking with on Grindr.<br />
Philly Mag has the gruesome details:<br />
G Philly has learned that a<br />
25-year-old Philly man was murdered<br />
last week after he drove to<br />
Chester, Pennsylvania, to meet a man<br />
he had connected with on Grindr.<br />
The Delaware County District<br />
Attorney’s Office confirms the<br />
body of Dino Dizdarević was discovered<br />
in a lot on the 900 block<br />
of Parker Street in Chester early<br />
on Thursday, May 1st. He had been<br />
strangled and, according to DA Jack<br />
Whelan, sustained “multiple bluntforce<br />
trauma injuries to the face.”<br />
On Wednesday, April 30th,<br />
Dizdarević told his boyfriend, Nick<br />
McBee, with whom he was in an<br />
open relationship, he was driving to<br />
Chester to meet a man he’d met on<br />
the app. McBee began to fear the<br />
worst when the night wore on and he<br />
hadn’t heard anything from him. “He<br />
was a responsible person. He always<br />
called to let me know where he was,”<br />
he says. “I knew something was<br />
wrong.”<br />
McBee filed a missing person’s<br />
report with the Philadelphia<br />
Police Department on Thursday<br />
morning, and was called to identify<br />
a body in Chester that matched<br />
the description. It was Dizdarević,<br />
though, according to sources close<br />
to the couple, he had been beaten so<br />
severely that he was only able to be<br />
identified from his clothing.<br />
Dizdarević and McBee<br />
Dizdarević and McBee<br />
So far no arrests have been made in<br />
What Do You Think?<br />
“Some of you people need to<br />
have respect!!! A man is dead<br />
and this could have happened to<br />
anyone grinder scruff plenty of<br />
fish or fuckin Christian mingle<br />
don’t hate on a guy for using a<br />
gay app he’s only human like the<br />
rest of us.” —Benjamin<br />
“What can one expect from an<br />
app called “GRINDR” it sounds<br />
like a brutal slang term used to<br />
make ground round out of slabs<br />
of raw beef.” —Mark<br />
53 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
BEAUTY<br />
Must Have Look<br />
Shaggy<br />
Pomp<br />
Remember how the<br />
Pompador was the it<br />
style to have. The hairstyle<br />
has been relaxed<br />
a bit creating the shaggy<br />
cut. For those men<br />
who don’t agree with the<br />
style this is an alternative.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 54
55 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 56
QA<br />
<strong>Aries</strong><br />
&<br />
beauty director<br />
Sabrina Alcasas<br />
answers your<br />
most<br />
burning Q’s<br />
Ask<br />
Sabrina<br />
Q<br />
.Is last year’s SPF safe to<br />
use?<br />
A<br />
.Sunscreen generally has a shelf life of<br />
about three years. Try to use it by the<br />
expiration date on the bottle. Of course, any<br />
change in color, scent, or consistency, it’s<br />
probably better to discard it and purchase a<br />
new bottle.<br />
Q<br />
.Why do some sunscreens leave my<br />
skin chalky?<br />
A<br />
.Zinc oxide is an ingredient in sunscreen that<br />
can leave a white, chalky residue on skin.<br />
Which is unfortunate, because it is also a powerful<br />
sunblock. Finding a sunscreen containing zinc<br />
or titanium oxide but one that will not leave your<br />
skin a disturbing milky-white color is a process…<br />
the following are a few that have been tested and<br />
apparently do not leave that residue: Zinka Clear<br />
Zinc-Oxide Sunscreen SPF 30 (9.99 at Surfshop.<br />
com), Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Suncsreen<br />
SPF 45 ($10.00 at Whole Foods), Kiss My Face<br />
Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 ($13.00 at<br />
Whole Foods).<br />
.My face gets grimy in the heat.<br />
Q Should I wash it more?<br />
A<br />
.Wash your face daily to remove dirt and excess<br />
oil, but over washing can dry out skin. Instead,<br />
carry a few refreshing facial wipes during those hot,<br />
sticky summer months. Try Neutrogena’s Hydrating<br />
Cleansing Towelettes, about $5.00 at drugstores. A<br />
quick wipe-down over your face, hairline and jawline,<br />
and the front and back of your neck can keep<br />
your pores clear and skin non-grimy.<br />
Q<br />
.How do I treat a<br />
sunburn?<br />
A<br />
.Immediately, you could take ibuprofen<br />
or aspirin to bring the painful<br />
swelling down, take a cool bath or<br />
shower, or apply a cold compress to the<br />
area. Aloe Vera, either store-bought or<br />
squeezed straight from the plant, is very<br />
soothing to burned skin. Cold aloe-vera<br />
feels great-keep a bottle in the refrigerator.<br />
You can find aloe vera at any drugstore,<br />
and it’s usually only a few dollars.<br />
Cortisone cream gently applied to the<br />
area will bring down swelling as well.<br />
Make sure you keep properly hydrated by<br />
drinking plenty of water as you’re treating<br />
your burn, and when your skin starts healing,<br />
gently apply a non-scented lotion to<br />
the area to keep skin moisturized. If your<br />
skin is blistering, you could gently rub an<br />
antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin, available<br />
at drugstores, on the blisters to help<br />
them heal and to prevent infection. Wear<br />
loose clothing while your skin is healing to<br />
avoid further irritation.<br />
57 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
TIKI BAR<br />
Start the day in vacay<br />
mode with sea grass<br />
scented soap.<br />
Caswell-massey sea grass<br />
soap, $10<br />
TUBE-ULAR<br />
Not like traditional sunscreens,<br />
it blends in with<br />
your skin without leaving<br />
a white residue.<br />
Zinka Clear Zinc-Oxide<br />
Sunscreen SPF 30,<br />
9.99 at Surfshop.com<br />
SOAK IT IN<br />
Argan oil creates soft,<br />
shiny, envyinducing<br />
hair...in just one wash.<br />
Got2b oil-licious Golden<br />
Shimmer Conditioner, $6<br />
BY : Sabrina A.<br />
$10—<br />
Tops!<br />
Budget-friendly buys<br />
that make you look and feel<br />
like a million bucks<br />
DETOX<br />
Used weekly, this mask<br />
detoxifies sweaty pores.<br />
Formula 10.0.6 Deep<br />
Down Detox Mask, $6<br />
SPF STICK<br />
Way convenient when<br />
you get stuck with the<br />
bright seat at brunch.<br />
Sun Bum SPF 30+ Face<br />
Stick, $10<br />
YES<br />
Yes To Cucumbers<br />
Natural<br />
Sunscreen Stick,<br />
approx. $7.00 at<br />
Target.com<br />
WIPEOUT<br />
Coconut scented<br />
towelettes were<br />
made for the beach.<br />
Pacifica Purify<br />
Coconut Water<br />
Cleansing JUNE Wipes, <strong>2014</strong> $6 / ARIES 58<br />
BOAT RIDE<br />
To cure sunburns this<br />
green liquid is amazing!<br />
Banana Boat Aloe After<br />
Sun Lotion, $5.00 – 7.00<br />
at drugstores
59 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 60
Olay Age<br />
Defying Classic<br />
Cleanser, $6<br />
Pro+Therapy MD<br />
Skin Balancing<br />
Cleanser, $30<br />
pH-<br />
Balanced<br />
Skin<br />
By: Suria Aktar<br />
THE SKINNY ON...<br />
Dry, tight, or breakout-prone<br />
skin is often a sign that your<br />
pH levels are out of whack. Get<br />
ready to get centered.<br />
A New Sort of Scale<br />
You probably haven’t even the term pH balance<br />
much since high school chem, but the state of<br />
your skin depends on it. A quick refresher: pH<br />
refers to levels of acidity and alkalinity, 0 being<br />
the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline.<br />
Your skin’s protective barrier is happiest at a<br />
slightly acidic 5.5. “There, it retains moisture<br />
and keeps out infection and irritants,” says<br />
Rosemarie Osborne, PhD, research fellow at<br />
P&G Beauty. But everyday habits (even simple<br />
ones like washing your face—see boxes at right)<br />
can send your pH slidng away from the magic<br />
number.<br />
Is Your pH<br />
in Check?<br />
A well-balanced complexion<br />
is smooth, moist, and comfortable.<br />
If you are more in the<br />
flaky, sensitive, or breakout<br />
prone camp, tweak your routine<br />
with these derm-approved tips,<br />
and expect happier, healthier<br />
skin in two to four weeks.<br />
Another reason<br />
to monitor pH:<br />
Men with chronically higher<br />
pH levels have more wrinkles<br />
than those with more acidic,<br />
well-balanced skin, to a study<br />
published in the British Journal<br />
of<br />
Dermatology.<br />
Aveeno<br />
Positively<br />
Radiant<br />
Brightening<br />
Cleanser, $6.49<br />
Sebamed<br />
Cleansing Bar,<br />
$13 for 3<br />
Watch Out For Water<br />
H20 with its Ph of 7, makes<br />
skin more alkaline. Moisture<br />
right after washing to<br />
rebalance the barrier, says<br />
Sherry Ingrahm, a Dermatologist<br />
in Houston, Texas<br />
Beware of Soap<br />
Most contain harsh detergents<br />
that grab on to grime<br />
and skin’s protective lipids.<br />
Avoid ingredients like sodium<br />
stearate, and palmate.<br />
(or try washes below)<br />
61 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 62
FASHION<br />
POLKA DOT<br />
PRINT SHORT<br />
SLEEVE<br />
SHIRT£28.00<br />
riverisland.com<br />
Must Have Item<br />
On the runways of fashion week,<br />
it’s been “spotted” that the lastest<br />
trend for men is the Polka<br />
Dot print. There’s something<br />
very approachable and likeable<br />
about a guy in polka dots. If<br />
you’re still not convinced, try<br />
a pair of swimming shorts on<br />
holiday or start with a simple<br />
t-shirt. For those of you worried<br />
about resembling a male Minnie<br />
Mouse, remember, polka dots<br />
are as masculine as you are<br />
63 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
News<br />
To Heel or<br />
Not To Heel!<br />
A new trend is on the rise and, you may have guessed<br />
it, it has to do with men’s love of high heels. It’s not<br />
drag, supporters of the trend insist: it’s called being<br />
up to speed with everything.<br />
The other day, the NY<br />
Times ran a piece on the<br />
fashion at some of the<br />
hippest, exclusive parties<br />
in town – and noted that<br />
countless men attending<br />
them were wearing high<br />
heels.<br />
Mind you, we’re not<br />
talking Simon Cowell-high<br />
type of shoes, but heels<br />
that would probably make<br />
even a woman feel dizzy.<br />
Some of them are<br />
lucky enough to fit into<br />
designer sample / women<br />
sizes, but others have to<br />
look everywhere to find<br />
a manufacturer willing to<br />
customize their offering to<br />
fit them.<br />
All of them, though,<br />
insist that wearing high<br />
heels doesn’t mean they’re<br />
going out in drag. As they<br />
see it, men have far too<br />
few options when it comes<br />
to fashion, whereas the<br />
ladies have more than one<br />
could (care to) count.<br />
“I never leave the<br />
house with less than eight<br />
inches [20.3cm] on my<br />
feet. It helps you see over<br />
the cattle,” 23-year-old<br />
Sean Wagner says for<br />
the publication. Promoter<br />
Luke Nero says<br />
Wagner is not the<br />
only man to have<br />
a diehard passion<br />
for towering<br />
heels.<br />
“I went<br />
to a loft party<br />
yesterday, and<br />
there was a guy<br />
in normal shorts,<br />
normal tank and<br />
really hot red<br />
pumps. That’s<br />
it! Everyone<br />
was like, ‘Oh<br />
my God, I love<br />
those shoes!’”<br />
Nero explains for the same<br />
publication.<br />
Some men are even<br />
willing to pay upwards of<br />
$2,000 (€1,447) for a pair<br />
of their favorite designer<br />
shoes and it’s all in the<br />
name of diversifying their<br />
wardrobe.<br />
“I love the height.<br />
It helps when you’re in a<br />
club. I’ve bought Louis<br />
Vuitton. I’ve bought Gucci.<br />
But a lot of designers<br />
don’t go high enough for<br />
me. I found a company in<br />
Arizona that will do 15-inch<br />
heels for $3,000 [€2,170],”<br />
Wagner says.<br />
This Guy<br />
Does Not<br />
Look Happy!<br />
WE<br />
WOULD<br />
LOVE TO HEAR<br />
WHAT YOU THINK<br />
ABOUT THIS!!!!<br />
SEND IN ALL YOUR<br />
COMMENTS TO<br />
DAVIDHEXBERG<br />
@ARIESMAG.COM<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 64
65 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
BALD PEAK TANK<br />
$18 abercrombie.com<br />
Shirt $24.95<br />
hm.com<br />
Flip-Flops $14.94<br />
oldnavy.com<br />
PONTO BEACH<br />
DENIM SHIRT<br />
$29.97 hollisterco.com<br />
Sunglasses $7.50<br />
aeropostale.com<br />
Shorts $20<br />
oldnavy.com<br />
Your Go-To<br />
Summer Outfit<br />
Switch up your jeans-and-a-tee combo<br />
shirt $25<br />
homokind.com<br />
Sleeveless Shirt<br />
$34.95 pacsun.com<br />
PREP SHORT $25<br />
ae.com<br />
BOAT SHOE<br />
$109.00 tommy.com<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 66
67 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 68
City View Tank Top<br />
$29.95 pacsun.com<br />
DENIM JACKET<br />
$39.98 hollisterco.com<br />
Swim Shorts<br />
$12.95 hm.com<br />
Liam enjoying his<br />
days in the summer<br />
sun<br />
California<br />
Dreaming<br />
What up, Cali? Bold prints,<br />
neon swimwear, and metallic<br />
accessories combine surf<br />
style with look-at-me<br />
L.A. accents.<br />
Get inspired by<br />
The Mamas & The<br />
Papas<br />
Rusty Surfboard<br />
$259.00<br />
surfstationstore.com<br />
Carpe Diem<br />
$43.96<br />
SurfandDirt.com<br />
Head<br />
phones<br />
$200<br />
norstroms.com<br />
Eros<br />
$108.00<br />
macys.com<br />
Board Shorts<br />
$39.95 zumiez.com<br />
Tykho Rubber Radio<br />
by Lexon<br />
$75<br />
lexonusa.com<br />
BACKPACK<br />
$34.99 quksilver.com<br />
69 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 70
QA<br />
<strong>Aries</strong><br />
&<br />
fashion director<br />
Jaake Castro<br />
answers your<br />
most burning Q’s<br />
Ask<br />
Jaake<br />
Q<br />
. Recently helping my dad clean his closet,<br />
I discovered that he has skinny jeans that<br />
are acid-washed. They fit me but not him anymore.<br />
Can I wear these? Are they in?<br />
.Firstly, kudos to your dad for being a bad ass.<br />
A Secondly, ask your dad, can I have his hand me<br />
downs? No, seriously, can I have his hand me downs?<br />
Q<br />
. Is it appropriate to wear a dress shirt other<br />
than white to a formal black-tie event? Are<br />
checked shirts ever appropriate, for instance?<br />
.You have to understand the vibe of the black-tie<br />
A event. There are some instances where it is not ok<br />
to deviate. For instance, funerals and baptisms should<br />
be strictly white. Late night parties, weddings, and<br />
work conventions warrant you some more freedom.<br />
Even in the most liberal black-tie events I would avoid<br />
prints and patterns. So while I wouldn’t recommend a<br />
checked shirt, a solid color of your choice would be a<br />
good choice.<br />
Q<br />
. I have unearthed my old HS Varsity Jacket.<br />
I have seen that they are in. My biggest<br />
concern is that people my think that I am trying<br />
to relive the past. What is your take on this?<br />
.Are you trying to relive the past? If not, then why<br />
A are you bothered by what people may think? Setting<br />
my preaching aside, you are definitely right about varsity<br />
jackets being in. You are lucky to own an old pair. I was<br />
homeschooled,<br />
Q<br />
. Sometimes when I see<br />
a certain style or look in<br />
your magazine, I try to imitate<br />
it. However, even when<br />
I have all the elements of the<br />
look, I feel less put together<br />
than the guys on the pages.<br />
What am I missing?<br />
.This is where personal style<br />
A comes into fashion. It’s important<br />
to remember that anyone<br />
can buy fashion, not everyone can<br />
have style. The first thing is making<br />
sure you’re aware of your body<br />
type. Fashion is an art form that<br />
requires a lot of self-knowledge.<br />
What looks good on me is not<br />
going to necessarily look good on<br />
you and vice versa. You have to<br />
know what will flatter your body.<br />
The second thing fashion requires,<br />
is total confidence. I could put you<br />
in the most flattering clothes for<br />
your body and we could spend a<br />
lot of time and money on the look<br />
and you may still FEEL less put together.<br />
I am guessing it’s the second<br />
piece, because I could put on<br />
an oversized tshirt and neon pink<br />
underwear that don’t fit and I’d still<br />
be fiercer than half the people I<br />
walk by on the street. Say it with<br />
me, “I’m Fierce.”<br />
71 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 72<br />
scoutsixteen.com<br />
Black<br />
Magic<br />
Hydrogen-1 Shoe / Kenneth<br />
Cole Leather Jacket (similar) /<br />
Zara Shirt / Vintage Bandana /<br />
DL1961 Jeans
scoutsixteen.com<br />
Finding<br />
the Light<br />
7 Diamonds Shirt / Polo Ralph<br />
Lauren Shorts<br />
73 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 74<br />
scoutsixteen.com<br />
Desert<br />
Cities<br />
UGG Australia Boots / 21Men<br />
Shirt / DL1961 Denim (cut into<br />
shorts) / Topman Suspenders /<br />
Topman Bandana
scoutsixteen.com<br />
Hawaiian<br />
Nights<br />
7 Diamonds Hawaiian Shirt / Globe<br />
Jogger Pants / 7 For All Mankind<br />
Jacket / Converse Sneakers<br />
75 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 76
SUGAR & SPICE<br />
Keep Your<br />
Sex Life Alive<br />
So things between you two<br />
have run a little dry. Try<br />
these tips to get back on<br />
your game.<br />
Be Graphic<br />
Telling him how much you want him,<br />
gets his blood flowing. Be a little dirty<br />
when you’re sharing your feelings. Also<br />
don’t be afraid to be touchy or grabby.<br />
Be Surprising<br />
Remember what he likes best sexually<br />
and surprise him with it from time to<br />
time. Nothing beats a surprise BJ when<br />
he gets into the shower. Take advantage<br />
of him when he’s watching T.V.<br />
Try Something New<br />
Be selfless in bed, ask him about what<br />
he’s in the mood for sexually and do<br />
your best to make it happen. He may ask<br />
the same question to you.<br />
77 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
HAVE<br />
DRUNK<br />
SEX<br />
SOBER<br />
(Seriously!)<br />
A few drinks can make a guy go from<br />
mortal to god in the bed. But sober sex,<br />
if done right, can feel tequila-crazy too<br />
(that’s a promise or next round is on us).<br />
Seven shots of Fireball and two<br />
cups of strawberry vodka soda, who<br />
hasn’t said something he would never<br />
say IRL—”Smack my ass and tell<br />
me I’m a bad boy!” —while assuming<br />
a very complicated, very unflattering<br />
position in bed. A little liquid<br />
courage goes a long way in terms of<br />
loosening inhibitions and giving us<br />
the body confidence of Zac Efron.<br />
A recent survey of 1000<br />
gay men across the U.S. on C-date<br />
found that 50% prefer to have sex<br />
while tipsy. Sex under the influence<br />
is often a little crazier, a little dirtier<br />
than what you get on your average<br />
Tuesday evenng. But the downside and games until you wake up the<br />
to a boozy romp is that it’s harder to next morning unable to remember<br />
climax. “Alcohol slows your blood your wild hookup. Or worse, you do<br />
flow,” explains Tammy nelson, PhD, remember and realize with horror<br />
Author of Getting the Sex You Want. that last night’s striptease was more<br />
“That prevents blood from reaching sloppy than seductive (which totally<br />
the nerve endings at the tip of your happened to “a friend” of Mine—<br />
penis —which has to happen in order ahem).<br />
for an climax to occur.”<br />
So the question is, can you<br />
Not to mention, it’s all fun<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 78<br />
have the fun of drunk sex without<br />
actually drinking any alcohol? Yes,<br />
you can still get a little freaky, have a<br />
happy ending, and not want to crawl<br />
into a hole the next morning. Try<br />
these tips, and bottoms up (literally...<br />
depending on how you feel about<br />
that, of course).
1TEASE<br />
IT OUT<br />
Flirty banter over beers and a game<br />
of Big Buck Hunter, hips grazing<br />
as you push your way up to the<br />
bar, those hungry eyes...drunk sex<br />
is marked by a heated buildup that<br />
culminates in ripping each other’s<br />
clothes off, banging into furniture,<br />
and tripping your way to the bed.<br />
Cultivate that feelings of anticipation<br />
by planting a sexy seed. “I<br />
texted my boyfriend at work that I<br />
was wearing sexy red underwear<br />
he loves,” says Alexander, 28. “We<br />
were both champing at the bit by<br />
the the time we got home.” Whether<br />
it’s a look you give him in the<br />
pharmacy or a quick make-out<br />
in the hallway, do something that<br />
serves as the appetizer to really<br />
wild, (faux) waste-y sex.<br />
CREATE 2A<br />
(BLURRY)<br />
VISION<br />
When you picture a bar (a nice one,<br />
not your local watering hole), you<br />
probably see good-looking people<br />
rubbing elbows in an intimate,<br />
dimly lit space. That sets the mood<br />
for things to come...Bring that sexy,<br />
hazy feeling into your own boudoir<br />
(must be said with an exaggerated<br />
French accent) with a red lightbulb.<br />
As one reviewer on Amazon.com<br />
says, “Not much of a light scource,<br />
but sets the tone in a dark room<br />
where you are enjoying anyting<br />
that’s cool to do in a dark room.”<br />
That’s the kind of review that’ll<br />
make you click Add to Cart without<br />
thinking twice.<br />
3RELOCATE<br />
The novelty of getting it on in and out of the ordinary space mimics<br />
the rush of alcohol-assisted sex. “I used to prefer drunk sex<br />
to sober sex, but since I’ve made the effort to have more sober<br />
sex, my boyfriend and I have since been trying it in the craziest<br />
places—like on top of a picnic table by the lake,” says Robert, 22.<br />
“We replaced the adrenaline factor of getting drunk with the risk<br />
factor of getting caught.” If you’re a play it safe kinda of guy, do<br />
it in a different room of the house, in the shower, on the floor, or<br />
against the wall. Or try a hotel room —you will reap the novelty<br />
benefits, without having to explain yourselves to an officer of the<br />
law while half-naked.<br />
DROWN OUT<br />
AWKWARD<br />
BODY<br />
NOISES<br />
When you are all liquored up, it’s easy<br />
to not give a damn. Whether you haven’t<br />
been to the gym in a while or you<br />
fart so loud your neighbors hear it, it’s<br />
NBD. To channel that carefree attitude,<br />
create an environment where the sex<br />
sounds are not skanky. Music is a key<br />
part of that. “Silence can be a scary<br />
thing,” says Jayme Waxman, author of<br />
Hot Sex, “You hear the bed creaking<br />
or focus on the weird sex sounds your<br />
bodies are making. Drown that out<br />
with a play-list that makes you want to<br />
move in a seductive way.”<br />
4UNLEASH THE<br />
BADASS<br />
WITHIN<br />
The whole point of drinking before sex<br />
is to help you let go of your inhibitions,<br />
so do something that signals to him<br />
and to your brain that things could get<br />
a little out of hand. 5A few moves that<br />
work like Jager-bombs: A well timed<br />
expletive (“that feels so f&^%ing<br />
good” right as he enters you), your<br />
nails in his back, or grabbing a tuft<br />
of his hair while you kiss him. Drunk<br />
sex is like really good cardio—you are<br />
rolling around, flushed, sweaty, and out<br />
of breath. So initiate postion changes<br />
to up the physicality. He may be surprised,<br />
but it’ll make him want to up<br />
the ante too.<br />
6BREAK OUT YOUR<br />
NIGHT MOVES<br />
There’s soemthing about the middle of the night that feels illicit,<br />
so next time you wake up at 2 a.m. to pee, don’t go back to<br />
sleep—go to town on him instead. Fall into that bleary-eyed, no<br />
words needed kind of hookup that’s the touchstone of drunk sex.<br />
Because you’ll be in a slightly dreamy state, the next morning<br />
will feel almost the same: Did that really happen...or did I imagine<br />
it? Knowing you can rock his world at any given moment is a<br />
bigger turn-on for both of you than three vodka sodas on Friday<br />
night.<br />
79 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
SEX Q&A<br />
NO-BS RESPONSES<br />
TO QUESTIONS YOU CAN<br />
ONLY ASK ARIES<br />
by Matthew Embrey McClain<br />
QWhat is the<br />
most sensitive<br />
part of the<br />
penis, and<br />
how should I<br />
touch it?<br />
AEvery penis is an individual.<br />
Though, many have reported that<br />
along the underside of the penis just<br />
below the glands and following the frenulum.<br />
Touching a penis doesn’t require<br />
a degree, nor will it ever. However, since<br />
every person’s penis is their own, every<br />
person will be stimulated in a slightly<br />
different manner. Just experiment with<br />
your S.O. until you both establish which<br />
areas are the most sensitive and to which<br />
type of touch. With lube or with-out? Soft<br />
caresses, or grip ripping tugs? With food<br />
or with-without?<br />
Q.<br />
Every time I have<br />
doggie-style sex I experience<br />
pain. Is there an<br />
angle or a technique that<br />
will make it feel good?<br />
AHey the myth is true. Some people are<br />
cat people, while others are doggy style.<br />
Sounds like you might be a cat person. Not to<br />
discourage though. Try using a quality lubricant<br />
and don’t let your S.O. “pound the f$&k out of<br />
you.” Butt sex causes micro tears in lining of<br />
the intestine walls. Micro tears aren’t that big<br />
of a problem. Macro tears are. Don’t get macro<br />
tears. Macro tears mean you, your doctor and/or<br />
the emergency room become un-sexually intimate. Plus it could<br />
mean that you wouldn’t ever get to experience those micro tears<br />
again… And no one wants that type of work restriction.<br />
Q.<br />
I love how lube feels but<br />
hate that it gets all over my<br />
hands and sheets. How can I<br />
reduce the mess factor?<br />
A<br />
Thank you so much for asking this question. Not many<br />
people choose to be choosy when it comes to commissioning<br />
their slippery sexual coatings, but I will be willing to<br />
wager that by switching it up to a well manufactured lubricant<br />
that slides right into your needs can increase your sexual pleasure<br />
by 10% alone. I have spent copious spans of time studying lube<br />
and have come to one conclusion. IF IT AINT MESSY IT AINT<br />
LUBE!!! By definition lube is meant to coat objects in order to<br />
reduce friction force. Just choose a lube that creates a mess that<br />
you can better deal with. Also reduce the amount of lube you<br />
use. Many lubes become gunky or cause you to lose sensitivity<br />
if too much product is applied. If you are more conservative<br />
when it comes to the application process then stay away from<br />
silicone lubes as many will permanently stain fabrics.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 80
aries sex-position<br />
of the month<br />
THE<br />
FIREMAN’S<br />
CARRY<br />
This position offers the deepest penetration,<br />
nor are you going to be able<br />
to really go at (unless you make it<br />
your own and use the chair a little<br />
differently) you’re able to settle in<br />
for some comfort sex. The friction<br />
from this angle of entry feels really<br />
stimulating for both playmates and<br />
it’s worth giving a shot. Team work<br />
is the key—there’s some co-dependent<br />
body balancing needed to<br />
see this one through, but one you<br />
get the feel for what’s going on, it<br />
shouldn’t cause you too much hassle.<br />
Solid thrusts from the waist will see the<br />
maximum enjoyment derived by your partner<br />
or by the top, While an arched back and<br />
slightly widened stance from partner bottom<br />
will make sure that this sex position packs<br />
some extra punch—or depth!<br />
81 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 82
MENOLOGY<br />
Make Your<br />
Summer Dates<br />
HOT!<br />
By: Luis Marroquin<br />
Yard Sales<br />
With summer temperatures soaring,<br />
there’s no better way to beat the heat<br />
than getting up and starting your<br />
day early. Yard sales typically start<br />
before 9 a.m., so get there right when<br />
they begin before all the good stuff’s<br />
gone . Rummaging through someone<br />
else’s stuff may seem strange at<br />
first, but you’ll likely find all sorts<br />
of items to laugh about together, or<br />
something that brings up a special<br />
memory. And, you never know,<br />
you might find something great for<br />
your home at an incredible bargain.<br />
What’s more romantic than saving<br />
money?<br />
Outdoor Movie Night<br />
Movies are everyone’s kind of “last<br />
resort” date option, but summer is<br />
when the big, exciting blockbusters<br />
come out. Give yourself a break and<br />
get out of the heat by taking in a matinee<br />
instead of the standard Friday<br />
night appointment. For something a<br />
little different, check your local paper<br />
for public outdoor screenings of<br />
classic movies. Lots of metropolitan<br />
areas do it, and all you usually need<br />
are a blanket and a snack.<br />
State Fair<br />
The state fair is great for so many<br />
reasons. The gluttonous food oddities,<br />
the corny but yeah OK kind of<br />
scary haunted houses, and terrifying<br />
rides that look like they’ll break at<br />
any second. Best of all, it only comes<br />
once a year and now is usually the<br />
time. Going together is likely to<br />
bring back childhood memories, and<br />
that’s always a good thing. Split a<br />
deep fried pizza (or whatever they’re<br />
doing), play some rigged carnival<br />
games and enjoy an evening together<br />
on the midway.<br />
83 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
your guide to the male brain<br />
By: Allister Dean<br />
HOW<br />
TO HAVE<br />
THE<br />
“What<br />
Are<br />
We?”<br />
Talk<br />
One minute you two<br />
are lovey-dovey in<br />
the street and acting<br />
like a total couple.<br />
The next, he’s giving signs<br />
that you may not be as<br />
exclusive as you though.<br />
It’s hard to bring up, but<br />
you need to set the record<br />
straight because guys can<br />
get weird about commitment.<br />
“When it seems like<br />
time to define your couple<br />
status, men often freak<br />
out and wonder if there’s<br />
someone better or if they<br />
want to give up their carefree<br />
single-guy role,” explains<br />
relationship expert<br />
Harlan Cohen, author of<br />
Getting Naked. You deserve<br />
to know if your guy’s<br />
going to waste your time.<br />
here’s you three step plan.<br />
Hey, Guys!<br />
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SECRET YOU’VE<br />
KEPT FROM YOUR BOYFRIENDS?<br />
These secrets are bad enough—but what’s worse<br />
is the twisted logic guys use to “justify” them.<br />
Brace yourselves, guys!<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 84<br />
1Choose<br />
The Right<br />
Time<br />
Unfortunately, there<br />
isn’t a magic formula<br />
that determines when<br />
you should have the<br />
talk. But generally<br />
speaking, it’s go<br />
time when you have<br />
your first “You’re<br />
killing me Smalls”<br />
moment—you get the<br />
sense that you two<br />
may not be on the<br />
same page, and the<br />
where-are-we suspense<br />
is nagging at<br />
you so freaking badly<br />
that it’s all you can<br />
think about.<br />
2Choose<br />
The Right<br />
Place<br />
Bring it up during an<br />
active moment like when<br />
you’re walking in the<br />
park or making dinner<br />
together—that way, the<br />
question isn’t the center<br />
of the universe, which<br />
eases the intensity. FYI,<br />
fancy dinners out are a<br />
terrible idea—the formality<br />
adds pressure, and if<br />
the talk doesn’t go well,<br />
you’ll both want to leave,<br />
but you’ll still have to<br />
deal with the blll. Pillow<br />
talk also isn’t ideal. If he<br />
says he doens’t want to be<br />
your BF, you’ll feel extra<br />
vulnerable since you’re<br />
naked and just did intimate<br />
things—so it’s best<br />
to do it fully clothed.<br />
“I save cute guys in<br />
my phone under girls’<br />
names. So if my BF<br />
sees our texts he thinks<br />
it’s a gal pal.”<br />
—Tom M., 22<br />
3Choose<br />
The Right<br />
Words<br />
The key is to stick with<br />
an open-ended phrases<br />
that give him a chance<br />
to share his thoughts<br />
without forcing him to<br />
answer. Say, “I’m dating<br />
only you right now,<br />
and I want to know<br />
if we’re in the same<br />
place,”o r“My cousin’s<br />
wedding is soon, and<br />
people will ask what we<br />
are...I’d like to know<br />
what to say.” If he says<br />
he’s down to commit,<br />
sweet—Grandma will<br />
be tickled pink to meet<br />
your BF. If he gets all<br />
“Uh, I don’t know....,”<br />
then move on, and wear<br />
your sharpest suit to<br />
that wedding.<br />
“When we met, I was<br />
actually trying to hit on<br />
his friend, but I never<br />
told him so he wouldn’<br />
get mad.”<br />
—Damien G., 28
DECODE HIS...<br />
FAVORITE SUMMER DATE<br />
Sadly, covering your naked body with ice cream<br />
and licking it off is not an everyday option—due<br />
to the calories (him), the cold (you), and the<br />
cleanup (probably you). But these other go-to<br />
dates reveal tons about his boyfriend MO.<br />
CONCERT<br />
QUICK TAKE<br />
Since he got tix<br />
ahead of time, he’s<br />
clearly a plan-in-advanceder<br />
(score),<br />
and he likes to<br />
shake it (score<br />
again).<br />
DEEPER DIVE<br />
Loud music makes<br />
talking hard. So he<br />
could be more into<br />
his music cred than<br />
he is into you.<br />
WATCH FOR<br />
If he’s a little more<br />
into his music, be<br />
sure to watch his<br />
alcohol in-take. He<br />
may be one of hardcore<br />
rocker.<br />
THE BEACH<br />
QUICK TAKE<br />
Hitting the sand with<br />
you is just his excuse<br />
to see you half<br />
naked, so he can<br />
picture you riding,<br />
uh, more than the<br />
wave.<br />
DEEPER DIVE<br />
You get to peep at<br />
his hotness too—oh<br />
six pack! Be warned<br />
he may be a little<br />
more into your bod<br />
than your brains.<br />
WATCH FOR<br />
If he’s an image<br />
guy, then try to see<br />
if he’s looking at<br />
guys. Then he’s not<br />
really into you<br />
A PICNIC<br />
QUICK TAKE<br />
If you manage to<br />
find a guy who will<br />
voluntarily plan a<br />
date by definition<br />
(all talk and no<br />
action, go ahead<br />
and give him some<br />
action.)<br />
DEEPER DIVE<br />
He wants to get to<br />
know you for you—<br />
aka he’s BF Material.<br />
YAY!<br />
DEEPER DIVE<br />
Be sure that it’s not<br />
too good to be true.<br />
Guy’s have a bucket<br />
list & this may be<br />
one of them. Keep<br />
everything in check.<br />
ARIES SEXICON<br />
vintage<br />
boyfriend<br />
(noun.) An old boyfriend who’s pretty<br />
lame, but you find yourself going<br />
back to him in between better guys<br />
because, well, he’s around. And he<br />
knows what you like in bed. Kyle:<br />
I’m pretty sure I’ve hit an all-time<br />
dating low. I’m hooking up with my<br />
vintage boyfriend again. He’s just<br />
so easy. How lazy can I get?<br />
The Rise of<br />
the (Viral)<br />
Grand Gesture<br />
Okay, so maybe he’s not<br />
going to stand outside your<br />
window and blast In Your<br />
Eyes from a boombox like<br />
Lloyd Dobler did, but we’re<br />
in a new age of the viral<br />
grand gesture. Recently, am<br />
anonymous NYC guy put up<br />
600 fliers with the hashtag<br />
#ThisIsHowImGoingToWinHerBack<br />
all over the city<br />
to try to win his ex back. His<br />
efforts, alas, didn’t work, but<br />
he’s just the latest in a slew of<br />
men who are trying to dispel<br />
their growing rep as wimpy<br />
beta boys by posting love<br />
declarations online. While<br />
public gestures like viral proposal<br />
videos seem natural to<br />
them since they’ve grown up<br />
in a social-media world, let it<br />
be known: Flowers work too!<br />
That said, we’ll take romance<br />
anytime we can get it.<br />
t<br />
“I told him I was one<br />
year older at first to<br />
seem mature. Now<br />
it’s this stupid lie that I<br />
have to keep up!”<br />
—Chris C., 25<br />
“My boyfriend’s roommate<br />
is so hot, but I tell<br />
my him he’s average so<br />
my BF won’t get jelly<br />
over it all.”<br />
—Greg Y., 23<br />
“I have sex dreams<br />
about his dad, but i<br />
keep it secret from both<br />
of them for obvious<br />
reasons. ”<br />
—Nick G., 24<br />
“When I found out that<br />
he cheated on me,<br />
I slept with his twin<br />
brother to get back at<br />
him in my mind. ”<br />
—Brian T., 26<br />
85 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 86
4BLIND<br />
DATES<br />
ONE<br />
GUY<br />
Blind dates are making a come back,<br />
but this time, apps are involved. The<br />
big question: Are they worth trying,<br />
or are they just the latest in a slew<br />
of seriously questionable date fads.<br />
Remember speed dating circa 2009?<br />
One brave reader goes on four blind<br />
dates—arranged by apps and one<br />
good old-fashioned setup. Meet Lee,<br />
the man of the hour.<br />
87 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
In today’s dating landscape, it’s practically unheard of to go out with a new<br />
guy without having online-stalked him first. So we were fascinated and wanted<br />
to try this out with three of the most popular dating apps known to gay<br />
men. So we set out to find the right guy and see<br />
what types of guys are on each of them, plus we<br />
wanted to see what it was like going on a blind<br />
date with one guy that wasn’t from the virtual<br />
world. The types of apps —Grindr, OkCupid,<br />
Scruff.<br />
DATE #1<br />
HOW THE<br />
APP WORKS<br />
Once you’ve downloaded<br />
Grindr and set up an account,<br />
the next step is filling<br />
out profile and getting your<br />
picture approved. After that<br />
you can see the radius of<br />
men in the area. This app<br />
really doesn’t match anybody,<br />
merely a picture of<br />
either a persons face or for<br />
those who are afraid —just<br />
their chest /member. Before<br />
Lee could take a look to see<br />
who caught his eye, the men<br />
of Grindr started to message<br />
him like a fresh piece of<br />
meat. He only has about 2<br />
photos of himself that were<br />
just selfies (fully clothed).<br />
*Names Have Been Changed<br />
THE DATE<br />
After uploading myself, I was a little<br />
scared to even talk to anybody on<br />
there. Guys came in a lot of different<br />
guys fof different shapes and sizes<br />
and they all messaged me either<br />
looking for sex, saying hi, and evening<br />
trading picks.<br />
One guy really stood out<br />
to me. He was clothed, no penis/<br />
shirtless pics, or his idea of a first<br />
date was really sweet. We talked<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 88<br />
for hours chatting about life<br />
and what we want to do in the<br />
future, a conversation I hadn’t<br />
had contact with for the longest<br />
time. BTW, his name is *Jared.<br />
Tall, blonde, somewhat built<br />
and great smile. Yes, that seems<br />
what everybody looks for these<br />
days, but can’t help myself.<br />
After a week of exchanging<br />
elegant words together,<br />
it was decided that we both<br />
needed to see each other face to<br />
face. A little nervous I had my<br />
straight guy friend come over<br />
and help me find the right look<br />
that said, “I am very much interested<br />
in you”.<br />
The local bar was the place to<br />
meet, both of us knew where it was,<br />
so there was no way that he could<br />
be late. I was the first to arrive and<br />
ordered myself a “Manhattan”. As<br />
the jumping leg was going off under<br />
neath me, “Lee?”, turning around<br />
and looking at Jared we shook hands.<br />
The night was young, meaning that<br />
it was only 10pm. Throwing back<br />
a few drinks between us, I noticed<br />
throughout the evening he kept<br />
taking out his phone and checking<br />
somethng, then putting it back in his<br />
pocket. It really didn’t bother me<br />
until he left if on the bar and messages<br />
from Grindr popped up. Right<br />
then and there I knew that he really<br />
didn’t mean what he said and was<br />
only saying what he’d could to get<br />
me out and probably get me hammered.<br />
Looking at my watch, I told<br />
him that I had to be at work the next<br />
morning, hugged and he walked me<br />
out the door. An hour after the date<br />
he message me a pic of himself on a<br />
bed with a jockstrap on saying that<br />
when I was ready, come on over.<br />
Can you believe some guys!<br />
This guy really had me fooled and<br />
thought I was going to fall for his...<br />
whatever you want call it...”Nasty<br />
Mojo”. Deleted the app from my<br />
phone when I had a moment of peace<br />
and the trama has left my body.<br />
Never again!<br />
THE SCORE<br />
This was my least favorite<br />
app. No only did I not have<br />
a spark with *Jared. But left<br />
me feeling like an idiot for<br />
not seeing his signs.
DATE #2<br />
HOW THE<br />
APP WORKS<br />
This free app comes on<br />
either Iphone or the Android.<br />
Once downloaded, you have<br />
the option of setting preferences<br />
and answering questions.<br />
The questions match<br />
you up with people who<br />
have answered the same.<br />
It even tells you if you are<br />
more of friend or if you two<br />
are compatible with guys in<br />
your area. From there you<br />
decide the next step.<br />
*Names Have Been Changed<br />
told him where to go meet me. Let<br />
round two begin.<br />
As he walked in, his attitude<br />
seemed more of, hey I am interested<br />
lets talk. But I still kept my guard up.<br />
Drinks were ordered and the<br />
conversation went a little deeper. We<br />
talked about work, family, and what<br />
we would like to accomplish in life.<br />
Before I knew it, we were laughing<br />
up a storm. Everyone around us look<br />
as us like we were crazy people. No<br />
matter.<br />
Around 1pm Alex* stated<br />
that he had to go, couldn’t leave his<br />
dog home by itself for any longer.<br />
Understanding his request, I walked<br />
him back to his car. Handshakes before<br />
turned into a hug and a request<br />
for a text later. God this guy was a<br />
great choice and amazing to talk too.<br />
Over the sparks were flying<br />
and I enjoyed the conversation that<br />
we had between us. I was a little<br />
scared at first, but I am glad that I<br />
stuck it out. It’s very rare to ever find<br />
a guy who is looking for a good time<br />
that doesn’t involve sex.<br />
OkCupid is a great app that<br />
can really help you narrow down<br />
the guys so you are not wasting time<br />
with guys who are looking for that<br />
one thing. I hope that he calls me for<br />
another date. He really grabbed my<br />
attention.<br />
THE SCORE<br />
A lot different from the grindr<br />
app and scruff. This app is<br />
something that I would come<br />
back to. It was legit & did the<br />
work for me.<br />
THE DATE<br />
This app didn’t seem so scary, hell<br />
even the icon seems invitable. Ok-<br />
Cupid def is a better choice. In one<br />
night I set my preferences, answered<br />
the questions that seem a little<br />
ridiculous. Poof, guys were already<br />
at my front screen. Diggin’ around,<br />
checking the guys that the app had<br />
said was good for me. Most of the<br />
guys that I saw, looked a little better<br />
to choose from. Not so many pics of<br />
guys shirtless or of their members.<br />
I had a few messages from<br />
guys—not like the massive mob of<br />
messages from Grindr—and Alex*<br />
seemed to catch my eye. Not going<br />
to be fooled again, I combed<br />
over his profile making sure that he<br />
seemed legit, like he really was looking<br />
for love.<br />
Feeling like I was comfortable<br />
to talk to him, the convo started.<br />
Alex* seemed as genuine as his profile.<br />
He cut right to chase and asked<br />
me out to drinks, little did he know<br />
that I was already at the bar. So I<br />
89 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
DATE #3<br />
HOW THE<br />
APP WORKS<br />
Another free app that you<br />
can download. Much like<br />
grindr it has the same feel<br />
to it. There is no questions<br />
to answer. This app is very<br />
easy to use.<br />
*Names Have Been Changed<br />
THE DATE<br />
The following weekend, it was time<br />
to download SCRUFF. Much like the<br />
first app the type of guys you find<br />
are a little older—when I say older<br />
I mean 30’s and above— and more<br />
like the bear/cub type. Don’t get me<br />
wrong I found guys that had 6 pack<br />
abs and hairy as well.<br />
Once again when I upload<br />
photos, published my profile, the<br />
guys were instantly sending me messages.<br />
Hi how are you?, What are<br />
you up to?, and one that never get’s<br />
old....Wanna FU%K? Nothing makes<br />
me laugh harder than when I get a<br />
message with that in it. If that’s a<br />
pick up line, you might want to stick<br />
to something else.<br />
I wasn’t really<br />
interest in this app<br />
and the guys that I<br />
was encountering<br />
on it. Really was<br />
going to give up until<br />
one guy—Kyle* —, decent,<br />
decided to message<br />
me. Kind of a nerdy guy, but<br />
man was he built. HOT GAY NERD<br />
ALERT!<br />
The convo started like usual,<br />
sharing life stories, family, etc. We<br />
agreed to meet in person. I always<br />
like to be the early person,—at least<br />
I thought I did—but he was already<br />
sitting at the bar waiting for me. The<br />
wow factor jumped up even more.<br />
His pictures really didn’t do him<br />
justice, his looks were much better in<br />
person.<br />
We talked more, got into<br />
some deep conversation, exchanged<br />
some laughs, and even kissed. Yes a<br />
little too soon, but I was feeling him.<br />
He really wasn’t a drinker and asked<br />
if I would like to have dinner instead.<br />
Brownie points! So we came to the<br />
nearest restaurant, which was Chili’s<br />
..YUMMY! Plus I was starving.<br />
Such a gentleman, he made<br />
sure that I was taken care of before<br />
himself. Maybe this app wasn’t a<br />
complete waste of my time. As the<br />
convo started up again and we<br />
waiting for our food, his phone went<br />
off and I thought, this is a date, how<br />
come you didn’t turn your phone off.<br />
He surprised me again by apologizing<br />
for the cell, turning it completely<br />
off and putting it in his jacket pocket<br />
which was on the chair. Nothing<br />
makes a man hotter than when he<br />
gives you his undivided attention. I<br />
was melting inside for him. I wanted<br />
to get to know him more and more.<br />
As we finished our meal, he<br />
asked me if I wanted dessert. Guy,<br />
you are dessert!. Asking him what<br />
he wanted to do, he replied, “I have<br />
a sweet tooth, I’ve got to have my<br />
dessert early”. Right then and there<br />
I wanted to take him home. But I’m<br />
not that type of guy and just smiled<br />
from ear to ear. Not getting the deseert<br />
he paid for everything. I tried to<br />
at least pay for half, but he insisted<br />
that he was the one who was going to<br />
pay for the meal.<br />
As we headed back to our<br />
cars, he walked me to mine. Locking<br />
eyes, without saying anythi ng<br />
hekissed me. It wasn’t one of those<br />
kisses that meant that I like you, it<br />
meant more of....I had a really good<br />
time and I’m glad that I met you. I<br />
felt like popping my foot like one of<br />
those chicks in those campy films.<br />
He gave me his number and said text<br />
me. The best night and date that I<br />
ever had!!!!<br />
THE SCORE<br />
Really didn’t care for the app.<br />
But if you dig deep you can<br />
find a diamond in the rough.<br />
This app is like C+.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 90
DATE #4<br />
The Old Fashion<br />
Blind Date<br />
<strong>Aries</strong> Editor set up Lee up<br />
with Ron*. A 25-year-old<br />
construction worker. We<br />
told Lee that he has dark<br />
brown hair and works with<br />
his hands. We told Ron* that<br />
Lee was 28 and gorgeous.<br />
We asked them to meet at 5<br />
p.m. at a local bar. That’s it.<br />
*Names Have Been Change<br />
THE DATE<br />
I had a lot of anxiety going into this<br />
once. I didn’t even know what he<br />
looked like—what if I couldn’t find<br />
him? Luckily, when I got there, I<br />
saw a guy sitting and looking at the<br />
door, so I figured it was him. “Ron?”<br />
I mouthed and he nodded. He was<br />
cute—medium cut hair, jeans, and a<br />
collared shirt. I introduced myself,<br />
and ordered a vodka soda, and then<br />
got to it. “So I know nothing about<br />
you!” I said. He laughed and started<br />
to talk about his life and how he’d<br />
got this point.<br />
The rest of the date was wonderful.<br />
We didn’t have a romantic<br />
vibe, but I was cool with that. It was<br />
more like a meeting of the minds.<br />
We spent an hour at our current bar<br />
and hopped to another one and talked<br />
more. We parted ways with a friendly<br />
good-bye hug.<br />
THE SCORE<br />
Although I didn’t know anyting<br />
about Ron*. I had a good<br />
time. The convo was great.<br />
It’s great having a new friend.<br />
THE FINAL VERDICT<br />
No matter how you swing<br />
this, I like the OkCupid<br />
app the best of all. It gave<br />
me a chance to express<br />
myself a little more & see<br />
who thinks the same. It’s<br />
a shame that I Kyle* happened<br />
to be on SCRUFF,<br />
but hey! Ron* & I are still<br />
dating to this day, we have<br />
clicked! We have a lot more<br />
in common than I thought.<br />
Grindr was something I<br />
didn’t care for & would<br />
never go back too. Just too<br />
many hungry men who are<br />
just looking for one thing.<br />
#CRAZYHOOKUPAPP<br />
91 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 92
Secrets<br />
of the<br />
First Year<br />
Relationships<br />
By: Allister Dean<br />
You know handing your<br />
partner a key will change<br />
the obvious. The way you<br />
act around each other,<br />
number of kitchen gadgets,<br />
who you go out with,<br />
and etc. Some of us want<br />
to know what it takes to<br />
stay and hit that 1 year<br />
mark.<br />
93 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Let’s be honest<br />
here....we love<br />
the feeling that<br />
we get when you<br />
are in a new relationship<br />
and<br />
want to keep<br />
that. Over time<br />
things become<br />
routine and less<br />
fun. We have<br />
why!<br />
You Flirt With<br />
More Randoms<br />
Even though my guy makes me<br />
feel like the most handsome man in<br />
the world, I still can’t turn off the<br />
flirt-dar. “I want through a phase<br />
right after our fisrt year, when I flirt<br />
shamelessly with guys when I went<br />
out with my friends,” says Gary 28.,<br />
who’s been with his guy for almost<br />
five years. “It feels good to know<br />
that you are still desired.” When your<br />
guy (and there is even something<br />
dumpy sounding about that title to<br />
some), there is this fear that you will<br />
lose that somethin’ somethin’ that<br />
makes men turn their heads, so you<br />
may even go into flirt overdrive, “it<br />
is always nice to be reacted to as a<br />
guy,” says Pepper Schwartz, PhD,<br />
coauthor of The Normal Bar, “As<br />
long as it is only a little flirting there<br />
is no harm done.”<br />
You Think About<br />
Breakup<br />
“This is effed up!”,says Max, 29.<br />
“But in those early months, if my<br />
guy really pissed me off, I though,<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 94<br />
I’ll just break up with him!” You<br />
might even dream about what life<br />
would have been like with an ex—<br />
with time, even your douchiest<br />
former boyfriend can take on a Ryan<br />
Gosling-like glow. But—scouts honor—thinking<br />
about a breakup won’t<br />
doom you to it. “Even happy couples<br />
have considered a breakup,” says<br />
Schwartz. “Being in a relationship<br />
is hard work, but a lot of men have<br />
a fairy-tale view on it. It’s normal<br />
especially in the beginning to doubt<br />
that this is the right person when<br />
your fantasy doesn’t align with the<br />
reality.” When your boyfriend does<br />
sometihng annoying, you have to fix<br />
it or you feel like you are stuck with<br />
it forever. That’s helps getting past<br />
the big bumps in the road.<br />
Your Skinny<br />
Jeans Get Tight<br />
A loving relationship has a direct<br />
correlation to love handles. A recent<br />
survey by Southern Methodist<br />
University shows that the happier the<br />
union, the more likely it is that you<br />
will gain weight. Not only that, but<br />
so many men go on crazy diets to<br />
just to get back to where they were<br />
when they first met. “I was in shape<br />
to begin with, but I lost around 15<br />
pounds for my 1 year anniversary,<br />
Aaron, 30, “Over the course of the<br />
year following, I returned back to<br />
the weight I was and the jeans that I<br />
wore on our first date fit once again.<br />
You Are Not<br />
Attached<br />
At The Hip<br />
I was out of college, I envisioned<br />
marriage like so: coming home every<br />
night to snuggle and eat a homemade<br />
quinoa salad with fancy silverware.<br />
The only part of that fantasy that<br />
became reality was the fancy silverware.<br />
“I was also surprised that my<br />
boyfriend and I didn’t send more<br />
alone time together,” agrees Angelo,<br />
25, and have been together for<br />
3 years. “I thought we had become<br />
homebodies, but I was still playing<br />
the intramural soccer on weeknights<br />
and still wanting to party with our<br />
friends on the weekends.” Turns out,<br />
this is a sign of a healthy relationship.<br />
“If you are feeling validated<br />
by your partner and you know that<br />
person loves you and is committed<br />
to you, you are going to do your own<br />
thing and not feel paranoid about<br />
spending time apart,” says marriage<br />
therapist Eris Huemer, PsyD. And<br />
research shows that couples who<br />
maintain their independence tend to<br />
be happier in the long run.<br />
Sex Gets Better...<br />
File this one under pleasant surprises.<br />
“People tend to think of relationship<br />
sex as routine, but it gets better,<br />
not worse,” says Marco. “There is a<br />
new depth to your relationship, and<br />
the sense that you are really going<br />
through life together makes you feel<br />
connected during sex. That makes<br />
everything so much more intense.<br />
... But Less<br />
Frequent<br />
The flip side is that the promise of<br />
forever also means that the chase is<br />
ovah. Also, running a household is a<br />
lot of unsexy work. There is a learning<br />
curve when it comes to being in<br />
a relationship with a guy you run a<br />
household with to the guy you get<br />
naked with. “I keep tabs on how<br />
often we have sex and try to have<br />
it,” says George., 23. Smart, because<br />
regular sex will keep strong. “It’s all<br />
about keeping each other less unhappy<br />
and more in sync.”
95 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 96
QASK HIM<br />
ANYTHING<br />
Love advice from our guy<br />
guru, Andy McBride<br />
Is it possible to<br />
go from friend<br />
zone to romance<br />
with one of your<br />
guy friends if you<br />
have only ever<br />
been platonic. If<br />
so, how do you<br />
do it?<br />
A. I’m sure the majority of us<br />
have been in this situation where<br />
you start to develop feelings for a<br />
friend. Depending on the depth of<br />
your friendship, it may be as simple<br />
as just being straight up and<br />
asking him if he would consider<br />
going on a date with you. If you<br />
aren’t that close of friends then I<br />
would recommend trying a group<br />
outing first so it’s not awkward<br />
and try to make it a point to spend<br />
more time with him than you<br />
normally would and then you can<br />
follow up with a text saying that<br />
you had a lot of fun and that you<br />
two should do something together<br />
sometime with no one else. The<br />
worst that can happen is he won’t<br />
feel the same way towards you and<br />
only like you as a friend, in which<br />
case at least you’ll know for sure<br />
and it shouldn’t make it weird between<br />
you two since you’ve been<br />
friends from the start. And who<br />
knows, he may feel the same way<br />
towards you and hasn’t wanted to<br />
say anything out of fear of losing<br />
your friendship. I’ve personally<br />
known a few relationships that got<br />
started that way and they are still<br />
together. Just remember: You’ll<br />
never know if you don’t try!<br />
97 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Q.<br />
I’m dating<br />
a new<br />
guy, and he’s<br />
great except<br />
that he’s somewhat<br />
of a slob<br />
when he eats.<br />
He gets food<br />
in his teeth, on<br />
his face, and<br />
sometimes...<br />
on his clothes.<br />
It’s embarrassing!<br />
How do I<br />
get him to eat<br />
like a civilized<br />
adult?<br />
A<br />
This can be a tricky subject,<br />
given your relationship is<br />
still fresh. You want to approach it<br />
in a positive way so you don’t come<br />
off confrontational. Being a sloppy<br />
eater is acceptable when you’re 5,<br />
not when you’re out on a date with<br />
your boyfriend and in public. It can<br />
absolutely be embarrassing and make<br />
you feel uncomfortable when you<br />
go out. It’s a reasonable request and<br />
is definitely something that can be<br />
changed if it’s approached the right<br />
way. All men can be messy eaters<br />
and some may not realize it until<br />
someone points it out and it can take<br />
someone he cares about to bring it up<br />
before he can consider changing his<br />
ways. Be kind when you are trying<br />
to let him know. It may hurt his ego<br />
at first, but hopefully he thinks about<br />
it and realizes that he does look like<br />
pig in public. Be gentle!<br />
Q.<br />
I go on a<br />
lot of first,<br />
second, and<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 98<br />
third dates. It<br />
seems that the<br />
guys are interested<br />
in me as<br />
I am into them.<br />
But then they<br />
disappear. Why<br />
is that?<br />
A<br />
Well depending on what you<br />
do on these dates, the other<br />
guy can think it’s moving too fast<br />
or too slow. Some guys just like to<br />
“play the roll” and expect you to<br />
put out after a few dates and if you<br />
don’t then they just move on. If you<br />
are looking for an actual relationship<br />
then those types of guys are not for<br />
you. On the other hand you may<br />
be taking it too fast on these dates.<br />
Taking it too fast isn’t a good thing<br />
unless you two are on the same page.<br />
You want to leave room for imagination<br />
and if you spend so much time<br />
with each other at first and rush into<br />
things, it makes it so you don’t have<br />
anything to look forward to. Relationship<br />
work out best if you take it<br />
slow. Nothing beats a relationship<br />
that has a really good foundation<br />
beneath it.<br />
Q.<br />
My boss<br />
and I have<br />
been dating<br />
in secret for<br />
some time. He<br />
has promoted<br />
me to a higher<br />
rank in the<br />
workplace. He<br />
told me that<br />
when we make<br />
it official that<br />
he won’t get<br />
into trouble. I<br />
feel like if we<br />
decide to break<br />
up, is he going<br />
to demote me?<br />
Should I feel<br />
this way and<br />
be worried?<br />
A<br />
Having office relationships<br />
can be tricky, especially<br />
when it is with your superior. Hopefully<br />
when you got promoted it was<br />
based on your capabilities at your<br />
job and not on your relationship<br />
with the boss. The type of guy that<br />
your boyfriend is, or the cause of<br />
your potential future break up, will<br />
determine if this will have an impact<br />
on your job title or not. If you have<br />
a mutual break up then I don’t see<br />
too much concern how this can affect<br />
your job, but on the other hand, if it<br />
is a messy one or if it was something<br />
you specifically to cause the break<br />
up then that’s where you run the risk<br />
of having him take it out on you at<br />
work. That’s part of the risk though<br />
when it comes to dating your boss.<br />
Most likely if he is already a boss<br />
then he would have had to have good<br />
justification to promote you and he<br />
will be questioned if he decides to<br />
demote you if things don’t work out<br />
and he probably won’t want to risk<br />
that and keep things how they are at<br />
work. Either way it is a tough situation<br />
to be in so I say that feeling worried<br />
about it is definitely appropriate,<br />
you may feel it is worth the risk then<br />
making it official is the next step<br />
in your relationship and it can even<br />
strengthen it since it shows you two<br />
don’t care what others think and in<br />
the end you’ll be happier since you<br />
don’t have to feel like you are sneaking<br />
around or keeping any secrets.<br />
Make sure to keep it professional at<br />
work and pleasure outside it.
99 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
WORK<br />
START A<br />
BUSINESS<br />
WITH YOUR<br />
BESTIE<br />
(Without Killing<br />
Each Other)<br />
You have secrets, So it<br />
makes total sense to create<br />
a business with your BFF.<br />
Most people don’t know that<br />
they are good co-owners<br />
til it’s to late and you end<br />
up getting a professional<br />
divorce. You can avoid an<br />
ending with a few precautions<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 100
1<br />
Give credit<br />
where credit is<br />
due. Acknowledge<br />
each other’s<br />
contributions<br />
quickly<br />
and often.<br />
3<br />
Admit your<br />
mistakes. When<br />
you don’t, it’s<br />
a relationship<br />
killer.<br />
CAN THIS WORK?<br />
Steps to take before you sign<br />
for that small-business loan.<br />
Start With<br />
Baby Steps<br />
How do you find out whether you<br />
have the right work chemistry?<br />
Test the waters by doing a project<br />
together that has a defined beginning<br />
and end. You can evaluate<br />
it and see how well you work<br />
together before you invest all<br />
the time and energy in starting a<br />
business.<br />
Determine<br />
Your Roles<br />
Friendship works well when<br />
people are similar , but a business<br />
partnership can benefit from<br />
personalities that naturally create<br />
checks and balances. Matching a<br />
big-picture person with someone<br />
2<br />
Keep your eye<br />
on the prize.<br />
You have shared<br />
goals—that’s<br />
your priority.<br />
who loves details...or someone<br />
who’s great at marketing with<br />
someone who’s great at numbers.<br />
You can move twice as fast when<br />
you have everything covered. Put<br />
each person’s responsibilities in<br />
writing and review those roles<br />
every few months. Writing brief<br />
updates of daily accomplishments<br />
to keep each other connected<br />
and motivated.<br />
Give Yourself<br />
A Way Out<br />
Draft a partnership agreement.<br />
You might start on the same<br />
page, but you can end up having<br />
radically different visions. An<br />
independent business consultant.<br />
Lawyers are great at figuring out<br />
what the worst -case scenario<br />
is and starting a conversation<br />
around it. Having an exit strategy<br />
in place takes away the<br />
fear of what could happen. And<br />
deciding what you will do with<br />
your assets—do you need a non<br />
compete agreement to keep your<br />
clients if your partner leaves?<br />
Who owns the materials you create<br />
together? — your future.<br />
Find A<br />
Referee<br />
An impartial third party, such as<br />
a business consultant or someone<br />
you know in your industry,<br />
can help you and your partner<br />
solve problems in a strategic—non-emotional—way.<br />
Get<br />
an adviser on board who really<br />
believes in both of you and cn<br />
understand your business when<br />
growing plans do arise.<br />
Schedule<br />
Check-Ins<br />
Talk with your partner outside of<br />
the work, so it’s just the two of<br />
you and there are no distractions.<br />
In this meeting talk about the<br />
uncomfortable issues at hand.<br />
The more you communicate with<br />
each other, the better the both of<br />
you are off. This will make those<br />
big decisions easier to make and<br />
help you get to the top of your<br />
game.<br />
Make Time<br />
For Your Friendship<br />
In the office, take the friendship<br />
off the table. But after-hours,<br />
have some work-free fun. No<br />
feelings are going to get hurt and<br />
both of you can be bosses instead<br />
of friends. When you leave<br />
the work place go back to having<br />
fun and leave it at the door. If you<br />
talk about work in your free time,<br />
you both will be angry with each<br />
other and never take time away<br />
from the place that brought the<br />
two of you closer.<br />
101 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 102
IN & OUT<br />
I Like The<br />
Stubble!<br />
By:Zak Baldridge<br />
So I want to get a little personal and<br />
why I have beliefs that I do. I came<br />
out to my parents six years ago this<br />
Labor Day Weekend. I decided to<br />
tell them before anyone else because<br />
I needed their support more than<br />
anyone else in this world. I’ll get to<br />
their reaction later, have to build up<br />
steam right?!<br />
Looking back over the years<br />
of my life, I somewhat always knew<br />
I was gay. I didn’t know what to call<br />
it but I knew I was different. When<br />
I was growing up, I thought the<br />
attractions I felt towards my gender<br />
were just a normal thing. I wondered<br />
if this was something that everyone<br />
eventually feels and those thoughts<br />
would go away. Fortunately, they<br />
never did.<br />
I pride myself on being<br />
different and because of being gay, I<br />
am the person I am today. It doesn’t<br />
define me but it’s made me a stronger<br />
individual.<br />
I always had friends that<br />
were girls. I had very few friends<br />
that were boys. I always received the<br />
sympathy of girls and thought this<br />
was just the way it was going to be.<br />
When I was a kid, my nickname was<br />
“Bawl-baby.”<br />
I cried when something<br />
didn’t go my way or when I was<br />
embarrassed. It was a mechanism so<br />
I wouldn’t get teased more because<br />
it would bring sympathy or make<br />
the other person uncomfortable and<br />
they’d leave me alone...WIN WIN,<br />
right!? Not so much. I was teased all<br />
the time.<br />
I don’t remember a lot of<br />
good times in school. I was made fun<br />
of for not being good at sports. I was<br />
made fun of for being skinny. I was<br />
made fun of for not doing well in<br />
school. You name it, I got made fun<br />
of. I remember one memory that is<br />
burned into my brain.<br />
It was my 8th grade graduation<br />
and I didn’t get my hair cut<br />
before the date. My hair was long but<br />
instead of just being a “cool” kid and<br />
leave it as is, I combed it over like<br />
a 65 year old man trying to cover<br />
a bald spot. Needless to say, my<br />
nickname from then on was Donald<br />
Trump. Not a good memory.<br />
Things are about to get a little<br />
more personal. I remember a time<br />
that I was made fun of by someone<br />
very close and dear to me and that I<br />
looked up to very much. They called<br />
me names and teased me because I<br />
acted differently, called me a fag and<br />
I was supposed to just take it. I stood<br />
up for myself at the age of 13 and<br />
tried to stand up for myself but they<br />
won out. This was extremely hard<br />
to deal with but like all kids, we just<br />
use it to build ourselves.<br />
I remember that this was the<br />
same time that I moved in with my<br />
grandparents. I moved back to the<br />
small town of Pawhuska and started<br />
my sophomore year of high school<br />
with all the bullies that teased me<br />
in elementary school and wouldn’t<br />
you know it, they didn’t forget my<br />
nickname of “Bawlbaby.” I had that<br />
name till graduation.<br />
Around that time, I noticed<br />
that I wasn’t dating girls like all<br />
my friends were and didn’t have<br />
the desire. I was never attracted to<br />
girls although they were some of my<br />
closest friends. I knew what gay was<br />
by then and thought that I might be.<br />
I remember looking a pictures online<br />
of men, you know what I’m talking<br />
about, and realizing this isn’t something<br />
that “normal” boys do. I hated<br />
myself and felt that<br />
I was a dirty person and no<br />
one could ever know about these<br />
thoughts. So I started getting very<br />
involved in church activities because<br />
I knew this wasn’t something that<br />
God wanted me to be and if I prayed<br />
hard enough, I could pray it away. I<br />
also knew that this wasn’t a healthy<br />
lifestyle because I was taught in 6th<br />
grade that when a man has sex with<br />
another man, he will automatically<br />
get HIV/AIDS. I was pretty terrified<br />
of being gay.<br />
I got involved in one of the<br />
most conservative churches to help<br />
me pray it away, Assemblies of<br />
God Church. Well, that didn’t work<br />
because I still had these “awful”<br />
thoughts. I graduated from High<br />
School never having a girlfriend but<br />
thinking I wanted to marry my best<br />
friend, Jayme. She was always my<br />
date to the prom.<br />
I then started college and<br />
what a difference a day makes. I felt<br />
so empowered going to college and<br />
thought, this is where I’ll stop being<br />
attracted to men and I’ll find the girl<br />
of my dreams. I started going to the<br />
Church of Christ which is a little<br />
more conservative than Assemblies<br />
of God. They don’t have instruments<br />
103 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
when they sing and women can’t<br />
pray in front of men. I thought that<br />
weird but thought,<br />
“This church<br />
will change<br />
me!”<br />
I tried this for four years. I<br />
remember going to visit my parents<br />
that first semester in Oklahoma City.<br />
It was around September and I’d<br />
been in college for just a few weeks.<br />
I thought that I would stop having<br />
these thoughts but they got worse<br />
and worse.<br />
I was driving on Interstate<br />
35 and crying so hard I could hardly<br />
see. That’s when I thought it would<br />
be so much easier to just drive my<br />
car off a bridge than to have these<br />
“awful” thoughts and one day die<br />
from HIV/AIDS because that’s what<br />
I was taught if a man sleeps with<br />
a man. Needless to say, one of the<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 104<br />
lowest moments of my life.<br />
Thank God I didn’t do anything<br />
like that. I met a good friend<br />
named Cary, who now goes by Patrick.<br />
He and I hung out all the time.<br />
We clicked and I felt good about<br />
just being alone the rest of my life<br />
surrounded by friends and ignoring<br />
these thoughts would be easy. He<br />
was dating another friend of mine<br />
and was a great friend.<br />
Through the years I had a<br />
couple of friends come to me and tell<br />
me they were gay. Cary first then my<br />
best friend Vince. I thought, “They<br />
must be coming to me for help and<br />
just to talk.” I was a little slow minded<br />
back then ;) They were telling<br />
me one for support and two because<br />
they were hoping that I would finally<br />
come out as well.<br />
Before my first<br />
senior year,<br />
I was a<br />
“super-senior,”<br />
I went on a couple dates with<br />
this girl named Lauren. She was<br />
exactly what I thought I wanted my<br />
wife to be. I thought, this is how<br />
it’ll work. But I still had attractions<br />
to men and couldn’t stand to fake<br />
my life. I called Cary and talked to<br />
him for hours. Then I went down to<br />
visit him in Houston. Granted, I still<br />
hadn’t told him that I was gay but we<br />
talked about a lot of stuff. I finally<br />
came back to Still-water to start the<br />
new semester and couldn’t just lie<br />
to myself anymore. I was telling<br />
my friends that there isn’t anything<br />
wrong with being gay! I was telling<br />
them that God loves them no matter<br />
what! I finally took a sip of my own<br />
medicine.<br />
I told my parents first. I knew<br />
that I needed their support and I got<br />
it. I was terrified. I made a special<br />
trip Labor Day Weekend to Albuquerque<br />
where they were living and<br />
I remember it being on the tip of my<br />
mind the entire weekend.<br />
I wouldn’t talk the whole<br />
time pretty much. Then we were sitting<br />
out on the back porch the night<br />
before I was going to leave the next<br />
day. I thought, “Now or never!” So<br />
I told them that I came in for a reason<br />
and I was mostly worried about<br />
my Dad’s reaction. I knew my Mom<br />
wouldn’t have a problem because<br />
she asked me if I was gay SEVER-<br />
AL times! Of course I always got<br />
super-defensive when she asked but<br />
back to the story.<br />
I told them and before I could<br />
get the words out, wouldn’t you<br />
know it, I was bawling my eyes out.<br />
I was worrying I’d be disowned by<br />
my family, they’d never talk to me<br />
again, and tell the entire family that<br />
I was a freak. I tend to over think<br />
things.<br />
They were amazing! My
Mom was sitting there crying with<br />
me and my Dad was just quiet for a<br />
bit. I remember it vividly. (I’m tearing<br />
up as I’m writing this because<br />
I’m amazed at how blessed I am with<br />
the parents that I have.)<br />
I then remember my Dad<br />
looking over at me telling me that<br />
they loved me no matter what I was.<br />
It didn’t matter to them. At that exact<br />
moment, years and years of guilt,<br />
self-hate, and a multitude of other<br />
problems just fell off my shoulders.<br />
It was like someone took a hundred<br />
pound weight off each side of my<br />
body, it was an amazing feeling.<br />
I also remember the next<br />
morning before I left, my Dad walks<br />
up to me and just says, “with this<br />
decision, just be sure to wear a<br />
condom.” I was like, WOW, that’s<br />
good enough, thanks! It made me<br />
laugh. Oh and by the way, I learned<br />
my sophomore year of college about<br />
how a person contracts HIV and<br />
once I figured that out, my whole<br />
thought process changed!<br />
I told my parents to not tell<br />
anyone because I wanted to tell them<br />
but you know how parents are. My<br />
Dad called my brother and my sister<br />
and told them both and said<br />
“Zak’s going to<br />
tell you that<br />
he’s gay and<br />
if you have a<br />
problem with<br />
it, you’re out of<br />
the family and<br />
we’ll never talk<br />
to you again.”<br />
Who can ask for more supportive<br />
parents than that!? Mom was<br />
very excited and happy that I had<br />
finally been honest with myself and<br />
she had the love and compassion to<br />
not say, “I told you so!” ;) Love you<br />
Mom and Dad!<br />
So I told my sister at dinner<br />
one night that I was seeing someone<br />
and his name was Nick. She almost<br />
choked on her salad! She was good<br />
at acting like she didn’t know.<br />
I told my best friend Vince lastly<br />
because I wasn’t able to be there<br />
for him like he needed me to when<br />
he came out to me and I felt guilty.<br />
I told him and it took him a couple<br />
days to deal with it but then he took<br />
me out on my first “gay-outing!” We<br />
decided to do it up big and it was<br />
Halloween. Amazingly fun! I’ve<br />
never looked back.<br />
Still to this day, I have never<br />
slept with a woman, nor wanted to,<br />
and I’ve only kissed one girl. It was<br />
a random event and quite funny in<br />
my opinion. I was with a group of<br />
my friends and we were at a bar and<br />
she asked them if they had all been<br />
with girls.<br />
They all had and I said I<br />
hadn’t. She asked me if I had even<br />
kissed a girl and I said no. She said<br />
well how do you know you’re gay?<br />
I said, “you just know ;)” Then she<br />
came up and started kissing me! She<br />
was quite the firecracker! She was a<br />
gorgeous blond and I was flattered<br />
but then she had to ask, “so how was<br />
that?” I said, “I miss the stubble!”<br />
105 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 106
HEALTH<br />
Take<br />
A Break!<br />
So summer is finally here<br />
and all you want to be is lazy.<br />
Do that! Giving yourself a<br />
breather—whether it lasts minutes<br />
or a week—makes your<br />
body stronger, your sleep<br />
sounder, and your<br />
mood happier.<br />
A LEGIT VACATION<br />
Studies show that taking regular<br />
vacations—that means a couple<br />
of times per year; now’s a good<br />
time!—substantially lowers the risk<br />
of heart disease. Plus, you can count<br />
on banking extra hour of high-quality<br />
sleep during trips lasting at least<br />
seven days—and 20 minutes more of<br />
solid shut-eye for a few nights after<br />
you get home—according to research<br />
by sleep scientist.<br />
A WEEKEND<br />
GETAWAY<br />
Even if you only have the time or<br />
cash to go away for a couple of days,<br />
plan something. People anticipating<br />
a vacay feel more enjoyment<br />
and less gloom as soon as the trip<br />
is scheduled, according to a study in<br />
Applied Research in Quality of Life.<br />
Book early to maximize the benefits<br />
of that I can’t wait mood.<br />
A DISCO NAP<br />
Studies show that 20 to 30 minutes<br />
of sleep can boost your mood, alertness,<br />
and performance. It works like<br />
a mini vacation. Treat yourself to a<br />
nap after work on nights you plan to<br />
go out.<br />
107 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
SEX<br />
WON’T TORCH<br />
CALORIES, BUT<br />
WE STILL LOVE IT<br />
Those reports that say you can<br />
burn a cheeseburger’s worth of<br />
calories in bed? Wishful thinking.<br />
A new study annoyingly found that<br />
the average bonk session only<br />
burns 21 calories. (Come. On.)<br />
But(!) sex still has delicious health<br />
benefits.<br />
IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP<br />
During sex, the hormones<br />
oxytocin, vasopressin, and<br />
melatonin surge in your body,<br />
helping you get a solid night of<br />
shut-eye.<br />
BE MORE ZEN<br />
The release of oxytocin during<br />
climax can reduce stress levels<br />
for several hours (yes, we said<br />
hours) by inhibiting a major<br />
stress hormone.<br />
PROTECT YOUR BALLS<br />
Arousal and climax cuase a<br />
surge in oxytocin and DHEA,<br />
hormones that are associated<br />
with a decrease risk for breast<br />
cancer.<br />
FEND OFF A SUMMER<br />
COLD<br />
In a study, people who had sex<br />
once or twice a week had immunoglobulin<br />
A (IGA) levels<br />
30 percent higher than those<br />
who abstained. IgA bolsters<br />
your immune system, so get<br />
it on and maybe you will skip<br />
that next cold or flu.<br />
LOOK YOUNGER<br />
A 10-year study of more than<br />
3,500 participants found that<br />
people who had sex three times<br />
per week on average looked 7<br />
to 12 years younger than they<br />
actually were. Experts aren’t<br />
sure why...but do you care?<br />
sources: SARI ECKLAR COOPER, LCSW;<br />
DAVID WEEKS MD, COAUTHOR OF<br />
SECRETS OF THE SUPER YOUNG<br />
DOWNLOAD<br />
OF THE<br />
MONTH<br />
There’s an App<br />
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Thought that would get your<br />
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pelvic-floor-muscle exercises<br />
in your 20’s and 30’s. You<br />
could score more intense climaxes,<br />
a stronger core, and<br />
reduce lower-back pain. The<br />
free app KEGEL AEROBICS<br />
reminds you to do them and<br />
takes you through daily sets of<br />
squeeze-and release moves —<br />
think holding in urine when<br />
you need to pee.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 108
109 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
YOU BURN<br />
50%<br />
MORE CALORIES<br />
JOGGING<br />
ON THE SAND<br />
THAN YOU DO ON<br />
ASPHALT<br />
WHO’S UP<br />
FOR A SUNRISE<br />
BEACH RUN?<br />
Short Swim<br />
Shorts $24.95<br />
hm.com<br />
Surfer-Guy<br />
STYLE<br />
Active Mock-<br />
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oldnavy.com<br />
SPORT<br />
JACKET<br />
$59.97<br />
hollister<br />
co.com<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 110<br />
Your city<br />
tour guide is<br />
a trainer!<br />
SIGHTSEE<br />
WHILE YOU<br />
SWEAT<br />
Such a great idea:<br />
CityRunningTours.<br />
com sets you up with<br />
a running tour in<br />
10 major cities. You<br />
choose the distance,<br />
sights, and area you’d<br />
like to check out....<br />
they’ll schelp your<br />
camera, water and<br />
wallet.<br />
A trip to the water<br />
is more fun when<br />
you actually get<br />
wet. Whether you<br />
are swimming,<br />
paddleboarding,<br />
water-sking, or<br />
whatever, these<br />
rad rash gaurds<br />
will protect your<br />
bod from sun and<br />
board burn.
111 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Workout<br />
1<br />
The<br />
15-minute<br />
V-shape<br />
workout<br />
To sculpt a defined torso you<br />
need to zero-in on the most<br />
neglected muscles in your<br />
back. You’ll know which<br />
ones they are when they’re<br />
sore tomorrow. Perform<br />
the moves in a circuit with<br />
60 seconds rest between<br />
each exercise. Rest for two<br />
minutes after completing a<br />
circuit. And repeat. If Chord<br />
Overstreet can do it, so can<br />
you!<br />
3<br />
Dumbbell<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 112<br />
Dumbbell bench press<br />
Lie on your back on a<br />
bench, holding a dumbbell<br />
in each hand level with<br />
your chest, palms facing<br />
in. Keeping your elbows<br />
tucked in, push the weights<br />
up above your chest. Pause,<br />
then gradually lower the<br />
weights to the starting position.<br />
Do 10-12 reps.<br />
2<br />
Rack pull<br />
Set a barbell at knee level<br />
on a squat rack. Stand with<br />
your knees slightly bent<br />
and gently touching the bar.<br />
Bend to grasp it with an<br />
overhand grip. Your hands<br />
should be just outside your<br />
legs, your back arched.<br />
Now stand up, keeping the<br />
bar close to your body.<br />
Perform 10-12 reps.<br />
row<br />
Hold a pair of dumbbells and<br />
lower your torso until almost<br />
parallel to the floor. Let the<br />
weights hang at arm’s length.<br />
Pull your shoulders back and<br />
together, hold the position for 2<br />
seconds, then row the weights<br />
up to either side of your rib<br />
cage, still squeezing your<br />
shoulder blades.<br />
Perform 10-12 reps.
Alternating dumbbell shoulder press<br />
Hold a pair of dumbbells just wider<br />
than shoulder width with your arms<br />
bent and palms facing each other.<br />
Bend your knees slightly and press one<br />
dumbbell up until your arm is straight.<br />
As you lower that dumbbell, press the<br />
other one up to complete 1 repetition.<br />
Do 10-12 reps.<br />
5<br />
4<br />
Pull-up hold<br />
Hang at arm’s length from a pullup<br />
bar with an overhand grip,<br />
your hands about shoulder-width<br />
apart. Pull your chest up to the<br />
bar and hold for 10-20 seconds.<br />
Perform as many reps as you can.<br />
Once you can manage more than<br />
5 reps, add some extra resistance<br />
by placing a dumbbell between<br />
your feet. Do 10-12 reps.<br />
Diagonal cable raise<br />
Attach a handle to a floor-level<br />
pulley. Stand left-side-on and grab<br />
the handle with your right hand<br />
in front of your left hip. Without<br />
rotating your torso, pull the handle<br />
up and across your body until your<br />
hand is over your head and your<br />
thumb is pointing up.your feet. Do<br />
10-12 reps, then switch sides to<br />
balance your muscle.<br />
6<br />
113 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
ARIES ASTROLOGER<br />
Gemini<br />
(May 22 - <strong>June</strong> 20)<br />
STELLAR GIFTS<br />
You are thoughtful and curious.<br />
BLIND SPOTS<br />
You can be scattered and moody.<br />
FASHION VIBE<br />
Bold colors and unique looks<br />
INDULGENCE<br />
A day poring over your favorite<br />
activities for inspiration.<br />
Birthday Boy<br />
John Cho<br />
<strong>June</strong> 16, 1972<br />
SEDUCTION STYLE<br />
You like to ask for what you want!<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
Follow your curiosity. Do you have a<br />
hidden talent that you want to develop?<br />
This is the month to explore<br />
new interests and make little life<br />
upgrades. Go for a new haircut or<br />
splurge on a pair of new sunglasses<br />
to amp up your style.<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 114<br />
Cancer (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Tying up loose<br />
ends. Complete old projects before<br />
you burst onto the summer<br />
social scene. Also think before<br />
you speak. Gather all the facts<br />
about a challenging situation<br />
before charging ahead. Don’t<br />
bother overcommiting yourself.<br />
Practice saying no politely so<br />
you don’t get overwhelmed<br />
with obligations. SEXY CAST:<br />
If you have nagging doubts<br />
about the guy you are dating,<br />
wait a week before making any<br />
major decisions. THINGS TO<br />
DO: Go on a music hunt. Try<br />
different types of music. There<br />
maybe a chance that you might<br />
like an artist that you never<br />
though you would.<br />
Leo (JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Expanding<br />
your group of friends. Don’t<br />
wait for invitations—you can<br />
host a party yourself! You are<br />
a social butterfly this month.<br />
So spread the love. Let your<br />
freak flag fly. Embrace your<br />
quirks and unique insights—<br />
they make you who you are<br />
and attract people to you. Don’t<br />
bother micromanaging. A team<br />
effort will yield the best results.<br />
SEXY CAST: Flaunt your body<br />
and show your dominate side.<br />
This month he may let you take<br />
control and be on top. (For the<br />
time being). THINGS TO DO:<br />
Don’t let a bad day get the best<br />
of you. Strug it off and head to<br />
the beach and soak of the sun.<br />
Virgo (AUG 23 - SEPT 22)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Speak up! You<br />
have a shot at major career success<br />
this month. Be willing to<br />
put yourself out there and stand<br />
up for your ideas. It’s time to<br />
grow a pair! Take a risk and<br />
ask someone new out on a date.<br />
You’ll feel exhilarated when he<br />
says yes. Being brave never felt<br />
so good. Don’t bother holding<br />
onto grudges. The negative<br />
vibes only hold you back when<br />
you are ready to move on.<br />
SEXY CAST: A former flame<br />
could reemerge . Hear him out,<br />
take it sow, and let him prove<br />
he’s serious.THINGS TO DO:<br />
Blast from the past. Rekindle<br />
an old hobby that you haven’t<br />
done in a long time. Something<br />
so simple can make you happier<br />
this month.<br />
Libra (SEPT 23 - OCT 22)<br />
LIFE/WORK: A guy getaway.<br />
<strong>June</strong>’s fresh air has stirred your<br />
need to explore. So plan a road<br />
trip to visit an old buddy. The<br />
fun antics will lift your spirits<br />
and remind you that guy<br />
friendships rock! Start your<br />
own trend. Come up with your<br />
own fashion-forward look and<br />
watch the domino effect take<br />
hold. Don’t bother signing up<br />
for a million activities. Commit<br />
to just one and it wil be more<br />
rewarding. SEXY CAST: Your<br />
inner sex god walks on the<br />
wild side. Use your imaginations<br />
and spice up your moves.<br />
THINGS TO DO: Go buy<br />
yourself some happy. After the<br />
last few months you deserve it.<br />
Scorpio (OCT 23 - NOV 21)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Transform<br />
yourself. You are shedding your<br />
old skin, and you will emerge<br />
stronger, clearer, and more focused<br />
than before. Donate your<br />
old stuff to charity and release<br />
the past. Take care of you. You<br />
are so supportive of your loved<br />
ones. But now is the time to<br />
priortize your personal needs.<br />
When you feel stronger, you
can lend a hand. Don’t bother getting<br />
possesive with a friend. It will burn<br />
you out. SEXY CAST: Your sexual<br />
chemisty is sizzling. Bring props into<br />
the bedroom for a seduction you will<br />
both remember. THINGS TO DO:<br />
Sleep in. Take a day off and sleep in,<br />
getting the well sleep you need will<br />
recharge your battery.<br />
Sagitta. (NOV 22 - DEC 21)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Your closest relationships.<br />
Evaluate your standing<br />
with the most precisous people in<br />
your life. If there’s a brewing issue,<br />
talk it out. Someone important will<br />
be glad you cared enough to take the<br />
lead. Pay it forward. You’re naturally<br />
generous, and your good karma will<br />
come back to you in spades. Don’t<br />
bother being a diva. Chill out and<br />
don’t stir things up. SEXY CAST:<br />
You have got the magic touch with<br />
guys this month. Play the field<br />
until one stands out from the pack.<br />
THINGS TO DO: Surprise your man<br />
with a little naughtiness. You will<br />
get the response that you have been<br />
looking for.<br />
Capricorn (DEC 22 - JAN 19)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Approaching a<br />
work challenge from a fresh angle.<br />
The new moon will help you find a<br />
creative solution to a difficult problem.<br />
Trust your talents. Tap into your<br />
natural abilities and incorporate them<br />
into your everyday life. Find one<br />
thing that brings a burst of happiness<br />
in your day, and do it more often.<br />
Don’t bother procastinating, when<br />
your tempted to head to the beach,<br />
run one errand before you go then<br />
you’ll deserve the break! SEXY<br />
CAST: Small gestures, like a back<br />
massage, will go a long way with<br />
your guy this month. THINGS TO<br />
DO: Try something new. Give your<br />
creative flow a chance to come up to<br />
the surface. It will open doors that<br />
you never knew could open.<br />
Aquarius (JAN 20 - FEB 18)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Indulge your sily<br />
side. See a comedy show with your<br />
friends, and crack jokes with the<br />
sexy guy at the next table. Your<br />
humore is on fire. Declare your love.<br />
Be the gutsy heroine of your own<br />
love story, and make your affections<br />
known to your cursh. He’ll<br />
be impressed by your boldness and<br />
confidence. Don’t bother pushing for<br />
consensus. Make your own Saturday<br />
night plans and you will have a<br />
blast with those who jump on board.<br />
SEXY CAST: An unexpected romance<br />
will be introduced. So keep<br />
your eyes peeled! THINGS TO DO:<br />
Host a party like never before. Show<br />
everybody your party and fun side.<br />
You will be the talk of the town.<br />
Pisces (FEB. 21 - MARCH 20)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Shake your pad<br />
up. Your eye for design is keen this<br />
month. You will find some beautiful<br />
items that reflect your signature<br />
style. Hit flea markets or antigue<br />
stores for some steals. Lead the<br />
pack, put together a brainstorming<br />
meetings at work. Getting the team<br />
together works wonders for office<br />
morale. Don’t bother being pessimistic<br />
about a family issue. Think positive<br />
thoughts. SEXY CAST: Open<br />
up to your partner and he’ll also<br />
share his softer side. He’s all about<br />
growing your emotional connection.<br />
THINGS TO DO: Let someone wait<br />
on you. You deserve the attention<br />
after you have been with others.<br />
<strong>Aries</strong> (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Your social media<br />
presences. You’re busy worrying on<br />
several new projects. Use your posting<br />
savvy wisely, and get your word<br />
out there. What’s old is new again.<br />
Reconnect with old friends by having<br />
acquaintances by having a get-together.<br />
Don’t bother glossing over<br />
details. Check your work and avoid<br />
careless mistakes. SEXY CAST: A<br />
friendship could turn romantic if you<br />
are single. in a relationship? Plan a<br />
group date, and try a new hot spot.<br />
THINGS TO DO: Take it slow this<br />
month. Rushing things will only dig<br />
holes for you.<br />
Taurus (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)<br />
LIFE/WORK: Dedicate a few hours<br />
to your new favorite hobby. You will<br />
love the satisfaction that you will<br />
feel as you improve. Dream big.<br />
To reach your potential you have to<br />
summon your confidence and am<br />
high. Make a list of your best attributes—there<br />
will be more than you<br />
think. Don’t bother playing mind<br />
games. You will benefit from being<br />
honest about your intentions. SEXY<br />
CAST: Plan a date night —and sexy<br />
seduction—at your place. THINGS<br />
TO DO: Don’t bother with cheap<br />
men. Go out and spurlge on yourself.<br />
Gemini<br />
BEST LOVE MATCHES<br />
LIBRA<br />
He’s into the idea of<br />
building a solid partnership,<br />
and so are<br />
you. When he commits,<br />
he only has<br />
eyes for you.<br />
SAGITTARIUS<br />
His thirst for adventure<br />
pushes you<br />
beyond your comfort<br />
zone. You share<br />
many common interest,<br />
and yet he finds<br />
your independence<br />
sexy too!<br />
115 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 116
117 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
Red-Hot Read<br />
EXCLUSIVE ARIES EXCERPT<br />
Liam’s vision of a tropical vacation<br />
with cocktails and cabana boys faded<br />
away with the tide and instead there<br />
was this, a special hell, surrounded<br />
by screaming kids and overweight<br />
moms. Alex really knew how to give<br />
his best friend a good time.<br />
Liam leaned against the glass and<br />
sighed. Somewhere up there, Alex<br />
was laughing at him. The bastard<br />
could have given him a train ticket<br />
to anywhere; the Orient Express, for<br />
instance. The lyrics said a “Ticket<br />
to Ride,” not fucking Ryde. But no,<br />
Alex loved the Isle of Wight after a<br />
summer vacation during college and<br />
he would not be moved. So a ticket<br />
to the ass end of nowhere it was.<br />
Maybe Alex had secretly hated him<br />
all these years.<br />
hen Liam Marshall’s best friend, until Sam Owens comes to his<br />
Alex, loses his fight with colon rescue.<br />
cancer, he leaves Liam one final<br />
Sam’s family has vacationed<br />
on the Isle of Wight ev-<br />
request: buy a ticket to Ryde,<br />
on the Isle of Wight, and scatter ery year for as long as he can<br />
Alex’s ashes off the pier. Liam is remember, but he’s never met<br />
tired, worn out, and in desperate anyone like Liam. Determined to<br />
need of a vacation, but instead of make Liam’s vacation one to remember,<br />
Sam looks after him—in<br />
sun, sea, sand, and hot cabana<br />
boys, he gets a rickety old train, and out of the bedroom. He even<br />
revolting kids, and no Ewan Mac- introduces Liam to his entire family.<br />
But as Sam helps Liam let go,<br />
Gregor.<br />
Liam would have done he’s forced to admit that he wants<br />
anything for his friend, but fulfilling<br />
Alex’s final wish means letting life, but to Sam and what they<br />
Liam to hang on—not to his old<br />
go of the only family Liam had have together.<br />
left. Lost, he freezes on the pier…<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 118<br />
The Isle of Wight was obviously<br />
a popular destination for families,<br />
because from the second Liam had<br />
gotten on the ferry to the island he<br />
hadn’t been able to get away from<br />
whining brats. Liam wasn’t one of<br />
those men whose life was going to<br />
be completed by progeny. He liked<br />
Kathy well enough, even though<br />
he’d deny it if pushed, but she was<br />
Alex’s kid, so of course Liam liked<br />
her. Children en masse were hell on<br />
earth. Particularly the little fucker<br />
behind him.<br />
The train eventually reached Ryde.<br />
Could any train ride be so slow? The<br />
island was the size of a handkerchief.<br />
The majority of the crowd got off,<br />
to Liam’s relief. He was particularly<br />
pleased to be rid of the evil kid<br />
who had spent most of the journey<br />
kicking the back of his seat. After<br />
days of riding this train from hell, he<br />
had no patience for some bored brat.<br />
He’d glared at the monster when the<br />
kicking had started, and then tried<br />
glaring at the mother. The woman<br />
had stared back with sublime indifference.<br />
Liam thought about moving
to the seat behind the kid and kicking<br />
his seat to see how he liked it. He<br />
could just imagine how that would<br />
go down. Pervert On Train Attacks<br />
Small Child! Liam’s imagination ran<br />
wild as he visualized the headlines. It<br />
might even get on YouTube. Somebody<br />
would record it on their cell<br />
phone and upload it. Liam shuddered<br />
as he imagined the small clip going<br />
viral. His mother would never speak<br />
to him again. The nightmare had<br />
kept him occupied until the train<br />
disgorged the horrid child and his<br />
equally horrid mother at Ryde Esplanade.<br />
For the couple of minutes it took to<br />
get to Ryde Pier Head station, Liam<br />
leaned against the back of the seat<br />
and closed his eyes. Forget the last<br />
few days riding this God-awful train.<br />
Today was the day to fulfill Alex’s<br />
request. Then he could go home and<br />
get on with his life.<br />
His empty life.<br />
Mingling with the few passengers<br />
waiting for the catamaran that left<br />
from the pier, Liam got himself a<br />
latte from the coffee shop in the<br />
terminal building, taking it to sit<br />
outside on one of the benches. He<br />
sipped it carefully, having learned<br />
from previous experience that the<br />
baristas made their coffee extra hot.<br />
Liam’s bottom lip was still recovering<br />
from the last time.<br />
It was blustery outside of the protective<br />
shell of the terminal building,<br />
but Liam appreciated the feel of the<br />
wind and sun on his face. Alex was<br />
right. He had spent too long inside,<br />
not wanting to leave the sick man<br />
alone for any length of time. Digging<br />
inside his backpack, Liam drew out a<br />
small rosewood container and placed<br />
it on his lap. He stroked the box gently.<br />
The wood felt warm to the touch,<br />
as if it contained the spirit of the<br />
man within. Alex had wanted a small<br />
amount of his ashes to be sprinkled<br />
in the sea at Ryde after Liam had ridden<br />
the train. It was a simple request<br />
and one Liam intended to honor.<br />
He finished his coffee, taking his<br />
time to appreciate the rich flavor.<br />
Overhead, seagulls wheeled in<br />
circles, looking for scraps of food.<br />
Contrary to Liam’s expectations,<br />
it wasn’t raining. In fact, it hadn’t<br />
rained the whole time he’d been in<br />
England, a fact that seemed to dominate<br />
the news headlines. Seriously,<br />
two weeks without rain and there<br />
was a drought?<br />
It was the right time now. The sun<br />
was glinting off the water and there<br />
was a light gust of wind that should<br />
scatter Alex’s spirit far over the<br />
waves. Taking a deep breath, Liam<br />
went to the rail, intending to open<br />
the box and send the remains of his<br />
friend into the four winds.<br />
It was simple. He could open the<br />
box and then he could go back to his<br />
home in Michigan. His fingers fumbled<br />
at the clasp, unable to complete<br />
the simple task. Liam’s eyes filled<br />
with tears: frustration and anger at<br />
himself for being so useless, grief for<br />
the loss of his friend.<br />
The loss of Alex in his life was profound.<br />
For more than twenty years,<br />
Alex had been the mainstay of his<br />
world; not his lover but his friend,<br />
brother, partner in crime. Disposing<br />
of his ashes would leave Liam with<br />
nothing left of Alex. He would lose<br />
him all over again.<br />
The tears spilled over onto Liam’s<br />
cheeks, and he dashed them away<br />
impatiently. He fumbled at the catch<br />
of the box only to be thwarted by a<br />
large hand over the clasp.<br />
“I wouldn’t do that here if I were<br />
you.”<br />
Annoyed at being stopped when he<br />
had finally worked up the courage<br />
to open the box, Liam looked up to<br />
glare at the man, only to be caught<br />
by the sight of beautiful brown eyes,<br />
framed by long, dark lashes.<br />
“Why not? Is there a law against it?”<br />
Liam snapped.<br />
The man smiled gently. “Probably<br />
not, but if you chuck the ashes here,<br />
you’ll end up with them in your face.<br />
The wind’s blowing in the wrong<br />
direction. You need to move over to<br />
that side today.”<br />
“Oh.” Liam’s hostility faded in the<br />
face of such a reasonable explanation.<br />
Feeling like a complete idiot,<br />
he looked around for another place,<br />
where he wouldn’t get a mouthful of<br />
ashes. Alex would have loved that.<br />
“Do you want to go over there? I’ll<br />
look after your bags for you,” the<br />
man said helpfully, pointing to the<br />
other side of the pier.<br />
He had a kind face, Liam noticed.<br />
He was probably in his late twenties,<br />
although Liam was dreadful<br />
at guessing ages, with blond, wavy<br />
hair caught back in a ponytail. Not<br />
a stunner, but kind and gentle, with<br />
those amazing golden-brown eyes<br />
that were very expressive. At the moment,<br />
they were completely focused<br />
on Liam.<br />
“I promise not to nick anything,” the<br />
man assured him.<br />
Liam started to walk over to the<br />
place where he could throw the ashes<br />
and then stopped, his feet rooted to<br />
the spot. He couldn’t do it, couldn’t<br />
throw Alex away. It was too soon.<br />
Liam needed more time. He needed<br />
forever.<br />
119 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 120
ARIES QUIZ<br />
Are You<br />
Acting<br />
Your Age?<br />
1 2 3 4<br />
Flipping through the<br />
channels, you are<br />
most likely to stop and<br />
watch...<br />
What’s your current<br />
living situation?<br />
What’s your favorite<br />
dessert?<br />
You’re having lunch<br />
with a few friends. After<br />
lunch you’ll probably going<br />
to...<br />
a. The O.C, - that has<br />
a some-what concept<br />
about life<br />
b. CSI - all about<br />
murder and who did<br />
it.<br />
c. SpongeBob<br />
SquarePants - A cartoon<br />
about a sponge<br />
and his underwater<br />
adventures.<br />
a. You live with your<br />
boyfriend.<br />
b. You live alone or<br />
with roommates.<br />
c. You live with your<br />
parents and you are<br />
loving every min of it.<br />
a. Tiramisu- is so pretty<br />
to look at I don’t<br />
want to touch it.<br />
b. Creme Brulee, it’s<br />
the adult thing to eat<br />
after you eat an adult<br />
meal.<br />
c. Candy! I need my<br />
sugar rush.<br />
a. Run around outside<br />
and have fun<br />
b. Scope out some<br />
hotties to talk to. He<br />
might be my future<br />
husband!<br />
c. Take a nap. That<br />
really wore me out.<br />
BREAKDOWN<br />
1 to 4<br />
GROW UP!<br />
You are a kid at heart. You never<br />
quite really grew up.You still have an<br />
optimistic life view - and you look<br />
at the world with awe. Playful and<br />
fun, you bring a lighthearted attitude<br />
to every part of life.You’re a little<br />
irresponsible, but your charm makes<br />
up for it (in most cases)!<br />
5 to 8<br />
JUST A LITTLE CHILDISH!<br />
You are a teenager at heart. You<br />
don’t quite feel like a grown up yet,<br />
but you don’t feel like a kid. You<br />
question authority and are still trying<br />
to find your place in this world.<br />
You’re quite rebellious, and you<br />
don’t like being told what to do.<br />
You like to do things your way. You<br />
have your own unique style, taste in<br />
music, and outlook on life.<br />
9 to 12<br />
FEELING UP IN THE YEARS<br />
You are a thirty-something at heart.<br />
You’ve had a taste of success and<br />
true love, but you want more! You’re<br />
responsible, wise, and have enough<br />
experience to understand a lot of the<br />
world. You’re at the point in your life<br />
where you understand yourself pretty<br />
well. You are figuring out what you<br />
want... and how to get it!<br />
1. a - 1 b - 3 c -2 2. a - 3 b -1 c -2 3. a - 2 b - 1 c - 2 4. a - 3 b - 2 c - 1<br />
121 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>
ariesmagazine.com<br />
JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 122