POLOpalooza

This past weekend was amazing. Not only did I play some really hard water polo, but I met a ton of really cute guys. I also got the chance to bound with my teammates and get a taste of what the Gay Games is going to be like. The energy was awesome and I loved that three different languages were being spoken at the water polo tournament in Toronto.

We went into our meets as the underdogs, and even though we placed sixth out of nine teams we still proved that we were a force that deserves respect. Not only did other teams have more depth, but they out numbered us 2-1. In this sport that is a lot, because you need substitutes to give people a rest. Needless to say many of us swam 35-40 minutes straight, and sometimes 2-3 matches a day. My body is still recovering, but I wear my bruises, scratches, and ‘battle wounds’ proudly.

Aside from the game, I got the chance to meet some really cool people from NYC, DC, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and a number of other cities. Unfortunately I forgot about my camera for most of the trip, but the last two days I took a ton of pictures. Click on the link to see what happened: PICTURES OF TORONTO

Toronto and Beyond

In just a few days I head to Toronto, where I’ll be playing in my first water polo tournament in nearly 12 years. Although the rules are basically the same from when I played in high school, getting into shape and playing with people 8 years younger has been one of my biggest challenges. However, I must be doing a good job, because for a long time a good number of my teammates thought I was in my mid-twenties. I guess I'm just a different pereson when I get in the pool, because I zone out all my stress, worries, and loose myself in the game.

Don’t be foiled by the tight Speedos and splashes, because water polo leaves no room for the weak or timid. In fact, at times it can be more aggressive and dirty as football, hockey, or soccer. The only difference is all the hits are done underwater, and then there’s always the chance of getting smacked in the face with the 5 pond ball or swallowing water as you’re trying to sprint to the other side of the pool.

As the Gay Games approach just over the horizon, the Toronto Water Polo Tournament will be one of my team’s only chances to play together in an actual game. We may be the newer team and we may not have the strongest or fastest players, but as history has proven sometimes it’s the less experience underdog that puts on the best game face.

'With but few exceptions, it is always the underdog who wins through sheer willpower."
--Johnny Weissmuller

Guidelines to Life

Life may not come with instructions or a manual, but there are some simple rules you can apply that may help you on your journey. Here they are:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson
3. follow the three R’s (Respect for self, Respect for other’s, and Responsibility for all your actions)
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day
9. Open arms to change, but don’t let go of your values
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality
15. Be gentle with the earth
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

T.G.I.G. F. (Thank God It’s Good Friday)

This week has gone by quickly, and hardly seems it’s already Friday. I’ve been in sales training all week, learning the in’s and out’s of how to properly and effectively complete a sale without being a schmuck. Needless to say, I haven’t been at my desk most of the week, which has been a blessing and headache.

I’ve been highly anticipating this weekend, because I’ve got some good friends from LA and Detroit coming into town. Today just seems like a lazy day, and all I can think about is getting outside to meet up with my friends.

Yesterday I was walking down my street thinking about my friends coming to visit me, moving into my new apartment, my new(er) job, and all the good things that are going on in my life. Suddenly this extremely positive feeling came over me and I couldn’t help but to smile. I probably looked like a crazy person walking down the street, but I didn’t care. I have this feeling of something extremely positive coming down the road for me that is going to be absolutely amazing. It’s that kind of feeling that you get by being a part of something much larger than yourself or beyond any one individual’s capability.

Today is more than Good Friday, it’s fantastic!

Friend, Lean on Me

After a tumultuous day at the store yesterday and dealing with the stupidity of the general public for nine hours, I came home to another headache…

It’s only been a few months, but in the end things just weren’t working out and my winter romance came to a close. Call it chance, destiny, or fate, but I truly believe there is a reason for everything in life. People come in and out of our lives to serve a purpose, whether its’ to teach us a life lesson, fulfill a need, or even prepare us for the next season of love.

Honestly, at this point I’m not really sure what to think about everything, but I know in my heart that he didn't mean to hurt me and that this is for the best. I don’t have harsh feelings toward him, and I respect the way he ended things. Although our time was short, I want to believe I added some value to his life. I guess you never really know what people are thinking deep down, but for me it’s a belief that I have to hold onto…otherwise I just may go insane.

When we went our separate ways, I met-up with my core friends. We ate Mexican food, drank strong margaritas, discovered each others parent’s names, talked a lot, and laughed. They were my sounding board, my shoulder to lean on, and gave me a hug to remind me everything was going to be OK. Friends are good for that, but finding good friends can be hard. I really am lucky, because I’ve been fortunate to find a group of guys that are that uncommon friendship.

Despite being surrounded by friends, I just wasn’t feeling like being out anymore. I left the bar around 11:30, and texted another good friend to tell him what happened. I can always count on this guy to cheer me up or help put life into perspective…this time all he said was “well, honestly, Troy, you’re too pretty. Fuck him, because he doesn’t realize what he gave up. Go get drunk.”

Unbeknownst to my friend, later that night the guy he was dating was about to drop the bomb on him.

When I finally got to bed I tossed and turned, and then was up by 7am. At 8:30 my friend called me and asked to meet up. Moments after he walked into my apartment he broke down and started crying. Suddenly, my problems were irrelevant and I needed to tend to my friend, like my buddies did for me last night. I grabbed him and gave him a big bear hug. I could feel his pain as I stood there hugging him with his lifeless arms at his side. For the first time in our 6 year friendship I saw a side of him I’ve NEVER seen. We all have pain and we all have sorrow, but you can’t expect someone to fill your needs for that what you don’t let show.

Today my friend let down his walls, opened up, and showed me his needs…his broken heart. I can’t even express how honored I am that he felt comfortable enough to come lean on me. Trust these words my brother, I am your strength when you are not strong. Call on me anytime.