tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533712223857546722024-03-05T06:59:51.117-07:00Jezza Smilez Presents:Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-75907107211323116742018-05-07T09:48:00.001-06:002018-05-07T09:48:41.783-06:00PATREON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.patreon.com/jezzasmilez" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CAxA300THV7-dKeA5dBC4skWeTS3PG6dk9SKZ4N_FZ16P1KD8di4ZVa_445jUJicrPaOzB7w3ssSDASvdUkaAN2cxoWrMXUdnh6YO56U9lOz48OLS1eXhzEaZzmHKsDSbPhSgbpOSpw/s320/HosemanWang-%25C2%25A9-JezzaSmilez---Censored.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.patreon.com/jezzasmilez" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtdACEzdfrhCcgoOEkK_hlB8FYgcGhA-OJ9AZwvar2sKWZyGe13a8W6rhfYemWVdaP9HUndwnWiwyDlqhEM0g1IWBme08SzW0YffnXhWBXVfW9-aAavYEQ_MEo-pl8Hx_OqaKt9lYab8/s320/JezzaSmilezClassics-RedWrangler_CENSORED.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.patreon.com/jezzasmilez" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJb8aZON8cyEgZXss_o1RYv70AUnbkL2z6r8hg4cRV5pArh-x6qTxKfcZkeYdA71iXw-K1Z_pTYvO7kB43eoXL_i9gG044p2kyc1Yc0hZGqyD2xGlF6a1JRXpuY-cqa68T0E7dC2jfOk/s320/OfficerPig-%25C2%25A9-JezzaSmilez--CENSORED.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi Everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've finally found a new home - on Patreon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be posting WIPs, Blogs, and exclusive art works on there. I'm working at resuming my monthly calendars, artist Q&As, blogs, as well as a few surprises I have in store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can support my goals by becoming a patron at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/jezzasmilez">https://www.patreon.com/jezzasmilez</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your patronage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sincerly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Jezza Smilez</span></div>
Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-47111827224543871562016-02-29T11:50:00.001-07:002016-02-29T11:50:42.015-07:00A Survey for ADULT Comic Book Readers<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, Folks! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a grown up survey for the grown ups! Give us your thoughts on this survey!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AdultComics</span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-6036895261759401702016-02-29T11:47:00.000-07:002016-02-29T11:47:14.002-07:00UPDATE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKrjxPQTbK4b9O-F4zSk-XH7PpFvlezqS0tq5k9hy3anNiX-AOyelwt6A3Q1d1pOk2m_2LO6rpU5hMD2wi8Pael80f-FxD0V_RESLEzFxzMF9rXCzzhX2rXzk68Xm_gF1WESq4HlIIKU/s1600/Classics-Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKrjxPQTbK4b9O-F4zSk-XH7PpFvlezqS0tq5k9hy3anNiX-AOyelwt6A3Q1d1pOk2m_2LO6rpU5hMD2wi8Pael80f-FxD0V_RESLEzFxzMF9rXCzzhX2rXzk68Xm_gF1WESq4HlIIKU/s320/Classics-Preview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey Everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a good minute since I've posted on here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plan was to transition to Tumblr and continue from there but Tumblr's format didn't work for the direction I wanted to go with the blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then life happened and I had to put it on hold all together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm excited to announce that I've been bit by the bloggin bug again. I'm putting a team together to deliver an all new, bigger, and better blog celebrating erotic art,comics, and geekness!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So stay tuned!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great week, everybody!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-33325267754593412172014-05-15T21:24:00.000-06:002014-05-15T21:24:19.595-06:00JezzLOADS has moved!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ0LHq4uGa6Di6kQ0M65pmKEP_ZEh-rEE0U7ByJQwmHVUf_2j9QNRLEQ0k_KKLiRmRTJIJOFFQ_g32U5-ZFWS5ammGTEluT-daMNOf_Zm24m0eDFCzrBk3EQJi2m5a2LE7nb3Qcp3Ug4/s1600/JezzaSmilez_May2014_1920x1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ0LHq4uGa6Di6kQ0M65pmKEP_ZEh-rEE0U7ByJQwmHVUf_2j9QNRLEQ0k_KKLiRmRTJIJOFFQ_g32U5-ZFWS5ammGTEluT-daMNOf_Zm24m0eDFCzrBk3EQJi2m5a2LE7nb3Qcp3Ug4/s1600/JezzaSmilez_May2014_1920x1200.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JezzLoads has moved!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JezzLoads is back and has resumed it's monthly festivities at its new home on <a href="http://jezzloads.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow for new art and interviews!</span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-77077443805296636222013-12-11T14:28:00.000-07:002013-12-11T14:28:23.666-07:00Nathan and the Adonai - Concept Art<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcTW08TGOMtryylNqAAh7wB2RIv6DB8zyZtRVsrATMb0lnsd3i0Hi_Clz4ltj-F1UjqxUfvudDL7vCyt9Ih0G4BcTw2C_NdBdAsoPruMUJ6qCPRIKIXpLCxfDcLlWsggLykjliVxTO-0/s1600/NATA-PreviewPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcTW08TGOMtryylNqAAh7wB2RIv6DB8zyZtRVsrATMb0lnsd3i0Hi_Clz4ltj-F1UjqxUfvudDL7vCyt9Ih0G4BcTw2C_NdBdAsoPruMUJ6qCPRIKIXpLCxfDcLlWsggLykjliVxTO-0/s320/NATA-PreviewPoster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A preview of who's to cum in future episodes of Nathan and the Adonai</span></div>
Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-61529453825432525312013-11-13T12:57:00.002-07:002013-11-13T12:57:53.761-07:00Pics from Comikaze and Bent-Con<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjwN8GWWQh-kvoIoMv68SCZfsarbHeqojHww1V_ttR9k5n2XKh4er-vR7x5Jf51METDJqCTEzGa9uBO1CGXGhK4Sf185FNvFhFlOgTrMe1gMnfurMr75WJprr3gSN9tTizTJACRrleOM/s1600/2013-11-09+20.19.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjwN8GWWQh-kvoIoMv68SCZfsarbHeqojHww1V_ttR9k5n2XKh4er-vR7x5Jf51METDJqCTEzGa9uBO1CGXGhK4Sf185FNvFhFlOgTrMe1gMnfurMr75WJprr3gSN9tTizTJACRrleOM/s320/2013-11-09+20.19.08.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have uploaded the FULL gallery of pics from Comikaze and Bent-Con on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jezzasmilezfanpage">Facebook Fanpage</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.577146749007035.1073741830.256574227730957&type=3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy ^_^</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-42798084600781939042013-11-07T09:10:00.001-07:002013-11-07T09:10:31.098-07:00TRANSITIONING<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi Everybody!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only 1 more sleep to <a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con 2013</a>!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just so freakin excited!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BENTCON">Bent-Con</a> is so much more than a convention for me. It's almost a family reunion. It's the one time of year that I get to catch up with so many of the artist that I admire and now call friend. I get to meet fans and hear their direct feedback. I always leave with new friends, fans, and motivation. I learn a lot and more importantly - I have A LOT of fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year is extra special because my very own comic is finally making it's debut!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won't bore anyone with the struggles of getting to this point because if you've been following my blog for a while you'll have somewhat of an idea already, but despite how frustrating or depressing any of those struggles were, I'm grateful for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's here and the joy taste all the sweeter because of all those struggles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Allow me to share some of the lessons I've learned getting to this point...</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My experience with being part of the Bent-Con Team, has revealed to me just how many amazing artist out there will allow themselves to be deterred by any obstacle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are our own worst enemies as artist, writers, - Creatives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're our own worst critics, we're harder on ourselves than anyone else, and as a result we doubt ourselves way too often. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When these feelings are combined with circumstances that we have no control over, it's overwhelming. So overwhelming - that giving up will seem like the right thing to do. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been disappointed with just how many amazing creatives I've seen who do just that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last 2 years have not been easy at all for me. I was pretty much past the place of self doubt and over criticizing. Those things had become ambient noise that I rely on to check myself and motivate myself to push myself out of my comfort zones. But I wasn't prepared for the onslaught of circumstances that were just out of my control.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alpha personalities like mine don't accept the concept "It's out of my control" very easily. It's mostly a strength to a fault, but when it's a fault, though - it often makes for more stress than is necessary. Alphas will most likely try to FORCE something rather than accept and go about it another way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I've learned anything in the last 2 years, (and I've learned A LOT), it's just that. The fight isn't always won with stronger punches, sometimes you just gotta roll with them and strike when you can and prevail through endurance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you're a creative and theres a project you've been working on but shit just keeps happening - Keep at it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If you're going through hell, KEEP GOING." - Winston Churchill</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said - THANK YOU to all of the fans and followers who have stayed with me through such an "Off and On" couple of years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The remainder of this year is gonna be a transitional one for the blog as I prep for a BIG year of celebration in 2014. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've recently experienced some of the advantages of Tumblr and have worked out what seems to be a good plan to continue with the direction I'm taking this blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, follow me on Tumblr!</span><br />
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<a href="http://jezzasmilez.tumblr.com/"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeIqUusCvD_vInMpjaLJB5paoDnckVX5X_n6PqUiT2i-aeh_LGeL4hmvTrrQUDsFffcIm0zq0s3l7rX5xEKOfGjjlkysZa3t_Rp8OjvIm5dDXpuny0ua-l2CB1yAX-SWS62oIewtRyT0/s320/tumblr-icon.314121639_std.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There isn't much on there just yet, but you'll have the jump when I do start uploading art and interviews. In the meantime, you can enjoy the pics I post from this year's <a href="http://comikazeexpo.com/">Comikaze</a> and <a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also on <a href="http://instagram.com/jezzasmilez">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JezzaSmilez">Twitter</a>. I also have a new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jezzasmilezfanpage">fanpage</a> on Facebook that is in a very similar state as my tumblr at the moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feel free to follow me on any of those and all!</span><br />
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<a href="http://instagram.com/jezzasmilez"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQWeWphMVZw2NpYHVty2IR8hFVYWP2m1MFub-cciWGwoj4ng0LXgtkj7NT14Ru9oqHE5bFn-tUkquFQ6J8cS10rylSGHe19bnmKR8b5CP4k8q1fl3A01DV-DA4HmsXDe9yID46xDR8mI/s320/instagram-app-icon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/JezzaSmilez"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVYsw6K9xzHWBTylYJ7zPIf0lhbT_PogiK-wJGiISl2Wl7SCz3yK_5veQ-IcuI1pglOuZ7g1B3pvpq1OJBZDtxDQ5fFMPWzS-ygIMzACm3mCbBE9VSpY0AUOhK1YalczIMUpuRveung8/s320/twitter-icon.png" width="316" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jezzasmilezfanpage"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BfYcMCD7OKu-oIhaMc8Ni7syB4jLXRTOvybDZyhSVG3tTAAe7HDGZIw8qLPe4xXIb8bLRdbn0Z18SiMReEGrgGx6MBh4KaLg7E_3nFrYM13op9NEE5B-iaVbBg-3nfLk47GnEYcngQw/s320/Facebook-Icon.png" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I know it's silly to think ALL of you will be at <a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con</a>, I hope that all of you who will be - will stop by and say hello</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ...and buy my comic book LOL!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy the rest of your week, Folks!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-89404078523713129652013-10-28T17:08:00.000-06:002013-10-28T17:08:06.576-06:00It's Here! It's Finally Here!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's here! It's finally here!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a rough road and long journey but my own comic is finally making it's debut at this year's <a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con</a>!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrDAFRx-B9A54ewwKw8KPFl6UBglYj1ko8cRBg7DOTFmcmHdHPreRGCyaPYXiecqbrpH0L0mkKDbTj27vKPFtIl99_fl6UBtyjrEh3LbMXInhs2D_WaNTOZZ6uhjY0tm4gOLHGdOIP3k/s1600/NataCover-Bk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrDAFRx-B9A54ewwKw8KPFl6UBglYj1ko8cRBg7DOTFmcmHdHPreRGCyaPYXiecqbrpH0L0mkKDbTj27vKPFtIl99_fl6UBtyjrEh3LbMXInhs2D_WaNTOZZ6uhjY0tm4gOLHGdOIP3k/s320/NataCover-Bk1.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the premise: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>Nathan isn't your ordinary hero. Actually, he's not a hero at all - but that's not going to stop him from trying to be. Recent events have put him on his first quest to seek out a great sage renown for training some of the world's greatest heroes. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Nathan's just begun his quest and it's already been derailed. Before Nathan can get on with his quest, he has to save someone - a task littered with all of the classic hurdles that face new adventurers. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book is just the beginning of a tale filled with magic, monsters, and lust!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't express how excited I am to finally be sharing it with you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you at Bent-Con!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-25750159929652689562013-10-25T08:05:00.002-06:002013-10-25T08:05:21.572-06:00Beautiful Proposal for One of Our Own<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey everyone!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I meant to post this a couple of days ago but time got away from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you who are familiar with the works and talent of writer, <a href="http://ericarvin.blogspot.com/">Eric Arvin</a>, probably already know that he recently got engaged to his boyfriend, TJ Klune. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I post this for the benefit of those who aren't familiar with<a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/"> Dreamspinner's</a> dynamic duo or have not been given the news. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CvpSvVScIOg" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not physically met Eric, but ever since my <a href="http://jezzasmilez.blogspot.com/2011/02/eric-arvin.html">interview</a> with him a couple of years ago, I'd like to say we've become buds. Since he started dating TJ a year ago, I have enjoyed watching them geek out together and display a genuine new love for each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eric and TJ, I could not be happier for the two of you and wish you a lifetime of Love, Laughter, and Orgasm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations, Boys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span></div>
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-6813557152071010942013-10-08T07:58:00.000-06:002013-10-08T07:58:09.127-06:001 Month till Bent-Con!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://bent-con.org/"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhyEDudJBsF9aMqRwwBrXobmaSqPE4WUyhsY27PPemFhH4CuAbErA9kVMnqFJ2UXIL_EE5SYvXNwkQEC3oDoj6bM5cOK20fwbKii9oWYfQj2l-yFV1xGPevcGV6y9cuOEcmB5ozIO1nQ/s320/67326_502323319831823_1013268075_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con</a>'s comin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BENTCON">Bent-Con</a>'s comin!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/234569383361257/">Bent-Con</a>'s comin!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year's show is gonna be ROCKIN'! <a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con</a> returns with a plethora of geeky creators, celebrity guest, and it's famed <i>Costume Catwalk</i> while adding more events that encourage more cosplay - a Dance Party and an Atlantean themed Pool Party!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If any of you are struggling to find a room, looking to carpool, or need some other kind of assistance with organizing your<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/509891542379383/"> Bent-Con weekend</a> - There's a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/234569383361257">Bent-Con Community Group</a> on Facebook to help people with such dilemmas connect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-42513837426580137372013-10-02T16:51:00.001-06:002013-10-02T16:51:27.732-06:00October 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVxKZJ-KjzGhNBlJKWcilHlpNl08KxkxSFT_2pxIP5HU7b459F_KguygXBjANPkZy0XK-xkahNN3zQPUTFSp1zsF0oAMqcfvlRn3t0hJtw0lKCB_pStK3ipdTiVek9sARMpGTqJ0yBAQ/s1600/JezzaSmilez_October2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVxKZJ-KjzGhNBlJKWcilHlpNl08KxkxSFT_2pxIP5HU7b459F_KguygXBjANPkZy0XK-xkahNN3zQPUTFSp1zsF0oAMqcfvlRn3t0hJtw0lKCB_pStK3ipdTiVek9sARMpGTqJ0yBAQ/s320/JezzaSmilez_October2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy October Everybody!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's October! - So that means two of my favorite events are approaching: Halloween & <a href="http://bent-con.org/">Bent-Con</a>! Are you as excited as I am?!?!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've recently moved. So my return to blogging will have to wait till once I'm settled and set up. Realistically it will be after Bent-Con, but I at least have a Calendar Guy to hold you over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great Month everybody. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BENTCON">Bent-Con</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-33289612124710526772013-09-02T21:09:00.000-06:002013-09-02T21:09:05.306-06:00SEPTEMBER 2013<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlI9xp-Utu4Y_YWbXyb7n8e76YZ4Q7YlH6-6gWrt_5V1x15ALLBEquf9CZW97xD-FMrzfcKuLqBuoQq-uSgZteoX3_cMnphOs8bU3Za9wnciTp65P9a5m0-J-vVRroatoqAAXc_Cmkqk/s1600/JezzaSmilez_September2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlI9xp-Utu4Y_YWbXyb7n8e76YZ4Q7YlH6-6gWrt_5V1x15ALLBEquf9CZW97xD-FMrzfcKuLqBuoQq-uSgZteoX3_cMnphOs8bU3Za9wnciTp65P9a5m0-J-vVRroatoqAAXc_Cmkqk/s320/JezzaSmilez_September2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Labor Day, Everybody!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope everyone's had a nice weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I gotta admit - I'm a little surprised to still see that my blog is up. I'm sure I was low on the list for those that Google was getting rid of, but their email was so cryptic that it sounded like I was a gonner for sure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still not taking any chances. I'm still working on moving the blog, but since I am still up and I have a new computer (Yay!!!) I figured I'd give an update with another calendar guy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually just got my older computer back today. I'm assured it's in working condition again, but sadly I've lost all of the data that was on it. This has been a reality I've been struggling to accept for some time now. Losing that data, means I've lost about 7 years worth of work - not an easy loss to accept.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now you may be asking why didn't I have it backed up...well one of the primary problems I was having with the computer was that it wasn't recognizing my external hard drives or dropbox. So backing up was one of many problems that progressively presented themselves as it became harder and harder for the bloody thing to just turn on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The damage of just how much work I've lost is still revealing itself, but I've grieved long enough. I'm back at work and have used this time away to create and RE-create a body of work that I am excited to share with you all very soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So stay tuned, my friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then, have a GREAT week!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-88134788158625902392013-06-29T11:05:00.003-06:002013-06-30T08:38:12.937-06:00UPDATE...Goodbye, Blogger?Hey Everybody,<br />
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I was preparing for my return to blogging when I learned that Blogger has made the decision to shut down porn blogs. Apparently they're only going after those who only "monetize," but their language is so vague that it's never elaborated on what they define as monetizing blogs so they can shut down any blog they want.<br />
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Those of you who have followed me for a while, know that I have had a very frustrating relationship with Blogger for a while now. I see this as the push I needed to explore other options.<br />
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So, my return will be delayed slightly while I explore/learn other blogging options.<br />
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In the meantime, enjoy a free comic strip I did with Class Comics!<br />
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<a href="http://www.classcomics.com/newsletters/extras/index.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=springsupersale&utm_source=YMLP&utm_term=This+month+Jezza+Smilez+puts+h..."><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpEs7ODuLJ7lWBLS5Z9ZJbVCT1ZCW0EBZrunATM_n4gcsTXvAhJoN6ve6mfdsLoJZCzk1p0SGvRBlX0_1E28s1lyUyRjEUcC5n2RZGb4ufUuQItLzg39Vb6xPn8sb6ZDUEsQy14Hg7So/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-06-30+at+8.36.42+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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In case I'm unable to access this blog when "The Purge" comes, please sign up for updates. I have a lot of Big revelas coming in the next couple of months you won't wanna miss!<br />
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<a href="http://ymlp.com/xgjmuujjgmgj" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://btn.ymlp.com/button_gjmuujjgmgj.png" /></a><br />
<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-27835584836097429222013-04-02T07:20:00.000-06:002013-04-02T07:20:18.192-06:00OFFICIALLY On HiatusThere were so many "Blog Ending" fake-outs yesterday for April Fool's day, I waited till today to announce that I officially need a new computer. <div>
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It's gonna be a minute before I can get one. I will attempt an occasional post in the meantime, but I will not be able to keep up with my regularly scheduled post for a while. </div>
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Sorry, folks.</div>
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Any donations made to the link in the sidebar would certainly be a big help and appreciated greatly. </div>
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Until next time, Have a great week and love each other - love each other a lot :)</div>
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-Jezza Smilez</div>
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-22452182110405186932013-03-01T11:40:00.003-07:002013-03-01T11:40:54.546-07:00My Favorite Harlem Shake So Far...<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="displayclick=link&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesword.com&stretching=fill&skin=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.thesword.com%2Fsword%2Fstories%2Fsword_skin.swf&volume=92&logo=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.thesword.com%2Fsword%2Fstories%2Fswordlogo_bug.png&image=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.thesword.com%2Fsword%2Fstories%2Frugbypic.jpg&file=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.thesword.com%2Fsword%2Fstories%2Frugby.mp4&plugins=viral-1d" height="250" src="http://video.thesword.com/sword/stories/player-viral.swf" width="400"></embed>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-6867379130573086902013-03-01T00:12:00.000-07:002013-03-01T00:12:57.322-07:00Persistant Problems...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was the last day of February and I posted the remainder of the questions I had planned to post weekly through out the month. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can not begin to express how irritated and disappointed I am that I was not able to post them when I wanted and I wasn't able to include some of the art pieces I created to go along with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am currently having some VERY frustrating problems with my computer. It's not old enough to be giving me the grief that it is. If I could afford a new one, I'd really enjoy using my current one as a piñata!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While my computer is hopefully fixed, I won't be able to post new art for a little while. Once it is, I will go back and add the missing art pieces to some of those February post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will hopefully be posting again very soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry for the delay, Folks</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Really wishing I had paid for more space on dropbox right now >:( </span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-6471718703089611032013-02-28T23:54:00.000-07:002013-02-28T23:54:09.256-07:00What does Black History Month Mean to You? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lived in Australia for several years. My time there allowed me a taste of what it's like to not have a Black History month. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be perfectly honest, I forgot all about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Australia, The Civil War, The Civil Rights Movement, and even Obama becoming the first Black President isn't "black history," it's all part of <b>America's</b> history. I look forward to the day when "Black History" is told and taught along with everyone else's history in America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The presence of a "Black History Month" or any other "Minority History Month" means that there is still an "us and them" type mentality in this country; so much so that minorities need their own history separate from the rest of America's History. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't as negative as it sounds, though. It also means that America as a nation agrees that minority contributions to America's history are important enough that at least a month's recognition of them annually is necessary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said, here's my final question for this year's Black History Month:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What does Black History Month mean to you?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what some of them had to say:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What does Black History Month Mean to you?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Black History Month is when I make a point of listening to the best of black music (from Billie Holiday to Aretha to Ray Charles to Janelle Monae and Frank Ocean); and have my own Black History Film Festival: 'Gone With The Wind,' 'Stormy Weather,' 'Cabin in the Sky,' both versions of 'Imitation of Life,' 'Rasin in the Sun,' and (this year) 'Django Unchained.' "</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Choklit Daddy (<i>Choklit Daddy's Sketchbook)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Black History Month used to be a bore in school but now I think it's a time for exploration. There are so many amazing figures in black history that they are just out there waiting to inspire you and give you perspective in your life. It can be food for the soul."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Jubell (<i>U.R. Elevated</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I've always felt blacks should be celebrated during the entire year just as everyone else is and/or should be. But any positive recognition, no matter how small or short, is better than none at all."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Will O. Tyler (<i>Carabosse Comics</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"A time of reflection for all the achievements we have accomplished over the years."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Viktor (<i>Maybe It's Just Me...</i>)</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Acknowledging where we've been, appreciating those that sacrificed and created opportunities that are no longer scarce to us and having the blue-print in place to create more for others today and live into even more in the future."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sean-Z (<i>Rated Z Studios</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"30 Days of obnoxious candlelit commercials with some choir humming or ooing soulfully."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- JC Etheredge (<i>Anti-Heroes</i>)</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Although it's the shortest month of the year (28 days, folks!), it still means that my people will be honored, acknowledged, recognized, and celebrated. I'm glad it exist. But, I do believe there should be a bigger celebration than what actually happens. As a people, we can still do more. We have a Black President and I love him!!! I love the First Lady and the girls.</span> <span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I LOVE my First Family! That's ON the record! It's not something I ever thought I'd see in my life time. And, I have the pleasure and honor of living in this Nation's capital with ANOTHER four years of the Obamas!!! It's a great achievement for us and America. Black History Month reminds me of what WE went though in order to get here. Come on!</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We used to be considered P-R-O-P-E-R-T-Y!!! The Civil Rights Movement wasn't <i>that</i> long ago! There's still time for "the first black this" and the "the first black that!" Black History doesn't deny us our achievements and celebrates our CONSIDERABLE contributions to society."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Victor Hodge (<i>Black Gay Boy Fantasy</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There you have it folks, Black History Month 2013.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether you are black or not, I'd love to hear what Black History Month means to you and further more what do any of the "Minority Months" mean to you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leave a comment below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-20021669216249061932013-02-28T23:48:00.001-07:002013-02-28T23:48:12.371-07:00Black History Month 2013: Role Models?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cast of diverse characters allows for a diverse audience to have the opportunity to relate with any of those characters. Factors like the character's appearance and/or their situation or circumstances are among the most popular reasons someone would relate with a particular character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's question is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What black toon do you most identify with?"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I asked this weeks question, I couldn't help but think about how I'd answer. I struggled to settle on one. I have always been obsessed with the elements, so I've "identified" with most characters with elemental powers , regardless of their race. My lightning fetish would lead most to think that toons like Storm or Black Lightning would be an obvious choice, but in reality the toon I sincerely identify most with would be Foxy Love from Drawn Together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can totally identify with how ghetto fabulous and slutty she can be! Haha!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's how some other black creatives answered the question...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WHAT BLACK TOON DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Foghorn Leghorn. Even as a big white chicken, he's really a black comedian. Just watch him and listen to him."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Joe Phillips (<i>Stonewall & Riot</i>)</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Felix the Cat. He's a wonderful, wonderful cat (and I like to think I am too). </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And like him, I have quite a bag of tricks."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Choklit Daddy (<i>Choklit Daddy's Sketchbook</i>)</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Storm. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone said Ororo Monroe. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you kidding me? Pagan, poetic, deeply in touch with her strong emotions, She was the reason I felt it was okay to read comics. I remember my mother and I first seeing her in the cartoon and our mouths just dropped. Before that we'd only ever seen stereotypical representations of Africans and African-Americans in comics and cartoons and she was SO...amazing. </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If not for her, I probably would never have gotten into comics so deeply."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Jubell (<i>U.R. Elevated</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Despite the difference in gender, I would say Princess Tiana from <i>The Princess and the Frog</i>. She's a perfect balance of dreaming big and hard work, of having fun but taking things seriously."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Will O. Tyler (<i>Carabosse Comics</i>)</span></div>
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Storm, because she always takes the bitter with the sweet and learns from her mistakes. I try to live my life in that manner."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Viktor (<i>Maybe It's Just Me...</i>)</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The new, ultimate Spiderman, Miles Morales. He follows his heart and does what he feels is right, regardless if it's deemed acceptable. He questions himself but he always tries, despite his intentions often being misunderstood and odds that are unvaryingly stacked against him. I personally identify with him on many levels because of his character."</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sean-Z (<i>Rated Z Studios</i>)</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Huey Freeman of 'The Boondocks' - I too am often called borderline militant."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Lucky Sanford (<i>Lucky Sanford.Com</i>)</span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Daffy Duck. Because he used to be all cheerful and fun-loving but now people fuck with him all the time so he's always angry."</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- JC Etheredge (<i>Anti-Heroes</i>)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I was very intrigued with Jackson Hyde, the new Aqualad. Unfortunately, I'm disappointed that he disappeared into DC Comics' New 52 Oblivion of Character Uncertainty. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anybody seen Donna Troy or Wally West?!? </span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I like Jackson's strong family bond with his adoptive parents. I loved how he just fell into a natural role with Aquaman and had a <i>place</i>. And, I was looking forward to seeing him in the Teen Titans being treated like just another kid superhero. I even loved Kaldur, the animated Young Justice Aqualad. I like seeing these young men knowing who they are and what their roles are as people. I feel like I know what mine is too. And, let's face it --- both Jackson and Kaldur are HOT!!!"</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Victor Hodge (<i>Black Gay Boy Fantasy</i>)</span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Were those answers just as surprising to you as they were to me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now it's your turn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What toon (of your same race) do you most identify with?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-21831025348788701292013-02-28T23:30:00.000-07:002013-03-01T09:14:44.007-07:00Black History Month 2013: STEREOTYPES - The Good, The Bad, The Truth?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu0174glg_QSBopgwioFuG-Rra6RvQuFOymjzzmfecRVAQ-n0OWmQTlC4n3TTkmLYqbAYDUy8E9pATGjy0IzjHja7STwLSmrqzJrYiuatdXkqrA7ibIr2YJ2Koi94Xnc1T_dcEvIHzL0/s1600/JezzaSmilez-Stereotypes2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu0174glg_QSBopgwioFuG-Rra6RvQuFOymjzzmfecRVAQ-n0OWmQTlC4n3TTkmLYqbAYDUy8E9pATGjy0IzjHja7STwLSmrqzJrYiuatdXkqrA7ibIr2YJ2Koi94Xnc1T_dcEvIHzL0/s320/JezzaSmilez-Stereotypes2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I once had a conversation with an Asian friend (who has a big dick) about stereotypes and asked him, "Which do you think is worse- being black and having a small penis or being Asian with a big dick?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The black man with a small penis will never live up to the expectations society has put on him and the Asian with a big dick will always have to prove it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless how false or exaggerated stereotypes may be, they exist for one reason or another. Some work in our favor, some do not. I, myself, measure up to many of them and yet I'm still surprised when people are shocked that I don't really care for watermelon or fried chicken or that I can swim. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's questions were:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>What 3 stereotypes about blacks are actually true about you?</i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>What stereotype about blacks is the most false about you?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what some of the Erotic Arts black creatives had to say...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qM5NqrfOAWZdzaiJZzt06O7nYcewLoG3q3YmCJr1xQHl5Ki8iR7FYnA5QapIt5rPUnsJm8LSf2nj2t2d4mui5eFhHDfAA-q8UTU8hMo2wigEAiz9tpE8Wuzx_rA09Ihmm5r6OhABdBY/s1600/JezzaSmilez-Stereotype.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qM5NqrfOAWZdzaiJZzt06O7nYcewLoG3q3YmCJr1xQHl5Ki8iR7FYnA5QapIt5rPUnsJm8LSf2nj2t2d4mui5eFhHDfAA-q8UTU8hMo2wigEAiz9tpE8Wuzx_rA09Ihmm5r6OhABdBY/s320/JezzaSmilez-Stereotype.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</span>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What 3 stereotypes about blacks are actually true about you?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"LOL! 3?! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aren't we supposed to be dispelling these? HaHa! </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Um, Let's see... I love R&B, hate the cold, and lug a third leg around."</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- JC Etheredge (<i>Anti-Heroes</i>)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">"One: that I spend more money than I save.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Two: that I'm angry. (Only onthe bus commuting to and from work - But, I have 'Bus Drama').</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Three: Yes --- I LIKE watermelon and friend chicken."</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">- Victor Hodge (Black Gay Boy Fantasy)</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I have a huge cock, I love fried chicken & watermelon, and I like a round butt.</span><b>"</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Joe Phillips (<i>Stonewall & Riot</i>)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I have a big willie. I have rhythm. I like fried chicken and watermelon."</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Choklit Daddy (<i>Choklit Daddy's Sketchbok</i>)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I love grape soda and hot fries (so ghetto), My lips are thicker than most white peoples, and I totally voted for President Obama (please and thank you)."</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Jubell (<i>U.R. Elevated</i>)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm a great dancer. I absolutely love chicken and eat it almost daily. I also love watermelon"</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Will O. Tyler (<i>Caraboose Comics</i>)</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I love Hot Sauce. I drink Kool-Aide. I have a lot of cousins"</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Viktor (<i>Maybe It's Just Me...</i>)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hmmm. Let's see, I'll stick to the physical ones: I'm a great dancer, I have full, thick, luscious lips, and I come bearing 'gifts.' "</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sean-Z (Rated Z Studios)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Aren't we a modest bunch?And now for the other side of that question:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_2wAl1CyhCgIjugi_4rHGC28q4xuLUfDh-eugVPSHlG4-mowG3Qa8BKLNCFZRfObx41Cc-1mb83Ks6qi79LttiNg3I9VjZBbX5OuNVOvEpabhAa99wuHJ4GZS_n-Djv7sNYUTz-eMlY/s1600/JezzaSmilez_AntiStereotype.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_2wAl1CyhCgIjugi_4rHGC28q4xuLUfDh-eugVPSHlG4-mowG3Qa8BKLNCFZRfObx41Cc-1mb83Ks6qi79LttiNg3I9VjZBbX5OuNVOvEpabhAa99wuHJ4GZS_n-Djv7sNYUTz-eMlY/s320/JezzaSmilez_AntiStereotype.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What stereotype about blacks is most false about you?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I am embarrassingly unathletic. Thankfully, I don't look it, but yeah</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> - can't catch a ball to save my life."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- JC Etheredge (<i>Anti-Heroes</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"One: That I'm lazy. It's not true. I can't be lazy if I actually sit at a drawing table and get the things done that I do. And, what I do isn't <i>easy</i>. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two: That black people don't get along. I get along with other black people. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three: That we haven't gotten anywhere as a people. Our President is black and so is the First Lady."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Victor Hodge (<i>Black Gay Boy Fantasy</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I don't rap. My dancing skills are dubious and I don't smoke weed."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Joe Phillips (<i>Stonewall & Riot</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I don't play basketball or any other sport involving teams and a ball."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Choklit Daddy (<i>Choklit Daddy's Sketchbook</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I don't give a damn about designer or name brand shoes. BET is the bane of my existence and I don't want to be a baller, a playa, or have my own hip-hop number 1 single."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Jubell (<i>U.R. Elevated</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I suck at basketball and all other sports for that matter."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Will O. Tyler (<i>Carabosse Comics</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm not always late, I don't praise God, and I'm not a thug."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Viktor (<i>Maybe It's Just Me...</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I've never been in jail, I'm the complete opposite of lazy, and I don't speak 'Jive.' "</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sean-Z (<i>Rated Z Studios</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There you have it. The "truth" about stereotypes - at least for this select bunch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What about you? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What 3 Stereotypes about your race are true about you and which is the most false?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanna know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-24873379713242288012013-02-26T12:32:00.001-07:002013-02-26T12:32:46.448-07:00Happy Belated Presidents Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I had planned a big presidential blog celebration for this years Presidents Day, but due to technical issues, I am now 2 weeks behind on blog post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will reserve the planned celebration for next year's President's Day and just share the caricature I had planned. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TuZVOD7yJ-2TeDoo52LS3paZUdDqpCqS4Ct7eZSFoZvU-EoF7B6uu7u1Uba1GHnmKRXyY6wt_o6vyHiZFjSnL_X3pbky1BwQmN9jHbJsNNbPzRw-OtPJsIpCCb18Sk8F8fs9PL75zOA/s1600/JezzaSmilez_PresidentObama2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TuZVOD7yJ-2TeDoo52LS3paZUdDqpCqS4Ct7eZSFoZvU-EoF7B6uu7u1Uba1GHnmKRXyY6wt_o6vyHiZFjSnL_X3pbky1BwQmN9jHbJsNNbPzRw-OtPJsIpCCb18Sk8F8fs9PL75zOA/s320/JezzaSmilez_PresidentObama2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 years ago, when I first started this blog, I did a toon of President Obama. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time, I was just getting back into illustrating and learning how to color digitally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see how far I've come by comparing this one with <a href="http://jezzasmilez.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-presidents-day.html">my first attempt</a>.</span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-9774952970789396052013-02-26T12:10:00.003-07:002013-02-26T12:10:53.014-07:00UPDATE: What's The Hold Up?!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey Everyone,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been having some computer problems. I think the worst has been resolved and I will resume regular posting shortly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-16194254959510822013-02-18T09:00:00.000-07:002013-02-18T09:00:04.460-07:00Supporting Our Cheerleader, The Dinosaur Prince <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoxd3XXrT_4fQyOjwC_HcZzs3NnaZl-oIPJX-DTE5zTgpnLmOdxJj01tJIaqi4q9ly1eU1cJdJ0ZCfyCMFFZhuo813vac7x7kw9jCkAQOLdAHOqLFhdTWHbh4iJO8YMdHvEw0rrj2LDQ/s1600/dpk_banner_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoxd3XXrT_4fQyOjwC_HcZzs3NnaZl-oIPJX-DTE5zTgpnLmOdxJj01tJIaqi4q9ly1eU1cJdJ0ZCfyCMFFZhuo813vac7x7kw9jCkAQOLdAHOqLFhdTWHbh4iJO8YMdHvEw0rrj2LDQ/s320/dpk_banner_5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little over two years ago when my dad died, you guys sent messages and emails full of love and support. I can not and will never be able to express how much that helped me through one of the most painful times of my life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday <a href="http://dinosaurprinceskingdom.blogspot.com/">The Dinosaur Prince</a> unexpectedly lost his father. The Dinosaur Prince has been a huge support to erotic artist through patronage and promotion. I am posting this today in hope that you will rally around him and support him with the same love that you showed me when I went through such a devastating time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In times like these, it's not easy to know what to say. When I went through it, I did not know what I wanted to hear, but anything positive was helpful to get through each day of pain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please take a minute to <a href="mailto:DinosaurPrinceOriginal@gmail.com">contact The Dinosaur Prince</a> and give him any words of support or wisdom that you can offer. You can email him <a href="mailto:DinosaurPrinceOriginal@gmail.com">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Because I don't want this post to get overlooked, I will postpone my scheduled postings for today till tomorrow. </span><br />
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-61937360603902727562013-02-14T21:17:00.000-07:002013-02-15T00:55:01.970-07:00Boy Meets Hero - 20 years of Love and Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzqlaI8MvFBCrnh3j3N_JzfwnCXoCkheRve5aao0x6cL7jiZtcn4dvKiPbeKc9virhHawQgsl789glmJr86fSX5bVqnGYihQ0WM97eSkHmJGhqXDm2H4vrVAFJ9wJidCtFxZZWTLx7qA/s1600/JL-BMH20130210_3-12-20_956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzqlaI8MvFBCrnh3j3N_JzfwnCXoCkheRve5aao0x6cL7jiZtcn4dvKiPbeKc9virhHawQgsl789glmJr86fSX5bVqnGYihQ0WM97eSkHmJGhqXDm2H4vrVAFJ9wJidCtFxZZWTLx7qA/s320/JL-BMH20130210_3-12-20_956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 4 years of JezzLoads, you've never seen a Valentine's Day post. I personally feel Valentine's Day has to be the most redundant of holidays. People who are in love know they're in love and don't need a holiday to remind them. And if they did, they have birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas - come to think of it; <b>most</b> holidays are designated as a time to remind loved ones you love them. Valentine's Day appears to be a big commerical ploy to get everyone to spend money and is used too often as a means to make single people feel bad about being single. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said and out of my system, this Valentine's Day serves as the perfect occasion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the boys behind <a href="http://www.boymeetshero.com/">Boy Meets Hero</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The creators of Boy Meets Hero, Chayne Avery and Russell Garcia, both recently celebrated their 40th birthdays and next month will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to say, I have a hard time imagining being with <u>anyone</u> for 20 years, but seeing these two guys interact with each other certainly inspires me to try. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have the privilege</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of hanging out with these guys regularly. They are a team; both romantically and professionally. They're not one of those annoying TV couples that finish each other's sentences or always bicker. Instead, they interact like best friends - an interaction that is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more romantic than any of the hollywood interpretations I've ever seen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to know, how do they make it work?! Here's what the two had to say when I questioned them separately...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BOY MEETS BOY:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka2-S2ZMJQlyU_clu8poHfnTc3KPJur9iXaxg0322mhrJyg8Mx4DbVI3t0hULgSA1zREzRWqvugG2kUvOG6OtM5FnRHYphnOYScIHD5sFrkQx5Kph3Gg3EJl6CFBBUlWa1KVtohgrJk4/s1600/85d52d12f2dc828e65df9b3ca555d7a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka2-S2ZMJQlyU_clu8poHfnTc3KPJur9iXaxg0322mhrJyg8Mx4DbVI3t0hULgSA1zREzRWqvugG2kUvOG6OtM5FnRHYphnOYScIHD5sFrkQx5Kph3Gg3EJl6CFBBUlWa1KVtohgrJk4/s320/85d52d12f2dc828e65df9b3ca555d7a1.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>How did you meet?:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Chayne and I attended the same university where we were both Art majors. We sort of knew each other when we were freshmen just from having the same classes and roaming the same parts of campus. It wasn’t until our sophomore year that I took a real notice of him... and I thought he was stuck up, lol. We’d pass each other in the halls and he wouldn’t really acknowledge me so I’d think 'What a jerk!' </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn’t until later in the first semester, before Christmas break, that suddenly Chayne started chatting me up before class. We would geek out about Star Trek: The Next Generation mostly. So then I thought 'Wow! I finally found a cool guy I can be friends with!'Then after the break, actually the very first day of class, we were walking back to our respective dorms from a drawing class and we paused at a corner still talking, but clearly each of us stretching out the goodbye, hoping for an invitation for more hang out time. So after an awkward silence I invited Chayne to come check out my room (I didn’t have a roommate at the time, luckily). So he did and we listened to music and talked more geek talk. Each of us didn’t want our time together to end. It wasn’t romantic yet but there was definitely a spark. So I gathered up some courage and asked if maybe he’d wanna go see Aladdin with me at the local theater. He said yes and the rest is history."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CHAYNE</b>: "We met in college. We both took basically the same art classes. I used to sneak glances at him in class and one day I decided to go talk to him. We hit it off right away since we both liked Star Trek: The Next Generation and Seinfeld. Russ asked me to go see Disney's Aladdin and that was our first 'date'."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How long did you date before you were "officially" a couple?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "We saw each other A LOT over the next couple of months. Just hanging out after class, watching Trek, lunches, Pizza Hut/Movie Thursdays and many, many late nights. I’d say we were 'officially' a couple on the Pizza Hut/Movie night that we playfully wrestled for the VCR remote and ended up making-out on my bed."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "I'd say it was around three months. At the time we weren't out yet, so we thought we were just 'hanging out.' Then on March 17th 1993, we shared our first kiss and made love. It's that date that we consider our anniversary and was when we became an official couple."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>How and When did you know you were in love with your partner?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "It was a week before we sealed the deal, so to speak. At that point we were still just friends, each of us attracted to the other but unsure of our feelings or how to proceed. We spent a lot of time together but that was all. So anyway, Chayne worked on the weekends in Roswell at a video game arcade in the mall and I would spend that time on my own back at school. I remember distinctly a Saturday afternoon, standing at my art desk in my dorm room, dreamily thinking of Chayne and the thought hit me like a ton of bricks... 'Am I actually in love with him? Wow, I think I’m in love with Chayne.' The thought alone was intoxicating and it was a week later that we became a couple."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "It was well before we actually had sex. I realized I couldn't stop thinking about him and wanted to be with him as much as possible. I remember thinking to myself 'Wow, I think I love Russell!' "</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do you keep your love fresh?</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Luckily it’s 'freshness' has just sort of been self sustaining over the years. I’m not sure what works exactly but lots of communication and honesty definitely help."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "By having fun as a couple. We always do things that we enjoy when we have free time together." </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> What has been the most challenging thing to accept about your partner during your time together?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "I think the most challenging thing to accept is how Chayne views finances. He’s sort of a 'live for the moment' kind of person and I’m more of a 'no, no, no, we must save and plan for the future!' Thats probably been the single biggest cause of arguments over the years."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "I suppose it was early on in our relationship when Russell wanted to keep our relationship hidden from people and I wanted to be “out and proud.” We certainly struggled plenty of times over that. Eventually he reached a point where he felt more comfortable letting other people know we're gay."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>What is the easiest thing to love about your partner?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "His childlike good nature... innocent and accepting, kind and generous."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b> CHAYNE:</b> "Russell is very kind hearted and the sweetest person I know! Plus he's soooo cute!"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> What famous love story would you describe your relationship to be most like?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Any relationship fraught with deep friendship, loyalty and simmering passion: Butch and Sundance, Oscar and Felix, Eric and Bill... You know, the classics."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b> CHAYNE:</b> "I'm not very familiar with a lot of famous love stories. I guess from my experience, Id' say we're like Han & Leia from Star Wars. Russ says 'I love you' and I respond with 'I know!' "</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> The longer we're with someone, the more we change, evolve, or even merge. What would you say has changed the most about you since being with your partner?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Honestly the line between Russ and Chayne is so blurred at this point we are just now 'Chayruss.' "</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "I can't really think of anything. I'm still the same sweet, adorable guy I've always been! And the most modest... " </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> When is the last time you guys did something for the First time?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "We do a lot of small things together for the first time all the time, but the last first something we did together was a few years ago when we started spending the Holidays with each other’s families instead of us each going our separate ways. I think that was really the beginning of each of our families seeing us as a couple and not just 'special friends' or 'roommates'."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "That's a tough one... I think it might have been in 2008 when we went to Las Vegas for the first time to see the Star Trek Experience for the first time for the last time because it was closing after that summer. " </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LOVE & ART:</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2_3KTttJPQj7Sf6CE1yQ9VsnPTypbLfebxqQKmO_G14RW8CBGDP_QwHdQE9NMSDEr5g6hrVTl_4AlAFJrZfFru-M6U74a75Y9QYyVXJtPJXUQytp3g5Wlr-XnV052Vx4E5acV3ZYey8/s1600/Hyper_Form_Heroes_by_Boy_Meets_Hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2_3KTttJPQj7Sf6CE1yQ9VsnPTypbLfebxqQKmO_G14RW8CBGDP_QwHdQE9NMSDEr5g6hrVTl_4AlAFJrZfFru-M6U74a75Y9QYyVXJtPJXUQytp3g5Wlr-XnV052Vx4E5acV3ZYey8/s320/Hyper_Form_Heroes_by_Boy_Meets_Hero.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> When artist get together, there can be a clash of egos.</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever had a clash of artistic egos?</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Yes, yes aaaaaaannnd.... yes. "</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> " Oh, yes! It happens quite a lot with us." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> How do you resolve them and find balance?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "We resolved it simply by continuing to work together. Every project we tackle has within it an argument waiting to happen but working together over twenty years has taught us when to push and when to back off. Although I have to admit I sometimes tend to push one teeny tiny teensy weensy step too far and then it’s KABOOM!!! ARMAGEDDON!!!"</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "Well, first we argue and things get heated. Then after we've settled down, we re-examine the issue and diplomatically find the resolution that works for us both. But man, it's not easy!!! " </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b> You guys make BEAUTIFUL work together! How do you do it? What's your process in creating art together?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "First of all thank you! Our process is fairly simple really. Chayne and I will discuss the project then he will work out a sketch and then final drawing. We used to do the finals in ink but we now have a process of taking Chayne’s detailed pencil illustrations and using a digital process to get them to appear as sharp as if they were actually inked. Then I take the now digital illustration and color the hell out of it!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "Why, thank you! We both utilize our strengths. I do the initial rendering using my skills with the pencil. Then Russ will give the image life with his vibrant coloring skills in Photoshop." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> What's the easiest part in working together?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "We each have our strengths that we play to. Chayne knows how to handle a pencil and an art board and I’m no slouch at the digital stuff. We compliment each other and that’s what makes it so easy."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> " We both sorta gel with our styles. We both appreciate color so we like our art to really pop. We never go dark and gritty, our style is light and colorful. " </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> What's the most challenging part in working together?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RUSS:</b> "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most challenging part in working together is getting criticism and then really considering it without getting bruised feelings. Creative people are notorious for having sensitive egos and we’re no exception. We’ve had some knock down, drag out fights over our art but we always manage to find a compromise... especially because I’m usually right, LOL. (Crap, is Chayne gonna read this?)" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "Making sure my drawings will be easy for Russell to color in Photoshop. I have to keep in mind how certain shapes can be selected with the magic wand tool. Over the years we've pretty much mastered how to work together."</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LOVE & LUST:</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR2GexMErqiGXTuphidy8W8QwWBeNTx-fF6b573tBEFeHscdGhFpSy52nNPEhQxiL5sAg3sxcDrc_bPU8e56nEmLsEE1tjFQ1y7XT9LRIn1SoXRzjSFJJC2YQ0hNRJrfrne-EYFrNIJE/s1600/JezzaSmilez_BoyMeetsHero-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR2GexMErqiGXTuphidy8W8QwWBeNTx-fF6b573tBEFeHscdGhFpSy52nNPEhQxiL5sAg3sxcDrc_bPU8e56nEmLsEE1tjFQ1y7XT9LRIn1SoXRzjSFJJC2YQ0hNRJrfrne-EYFrNIJE/s320/JezzaSmilez_BoyMeetsHero-01.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan art by yours truly for the love birds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Are you monogamous?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Interesting question so I did some research on the word “monogamy” and found this definition that applies:</span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Monogamy: refers to two partners living together, having sex with each other, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cooperating in acquiring basic resources such as shelter, food, and money</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I think the answer is a definite, yes!" </span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> "My gracious, what kind of questionnaire is this! Why yes, of course we are! You made me clutch my pearls! " </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> How do you keep the sex hot?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "We keep a small space heater in the bedroom."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> " Our sex is usually pretty hot because we're still very much into each other." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> How often do you have sex?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "We’ve been together for 20 years... how often do you think? LOL."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> " Mostly on the weekend. Come Friday evening, our neighbors know to shut their windows!!! " </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b> What is your sexiest memory of your partner?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "March 17th, 1993."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> " Back when we we in college we took nude photos of each other! I remember how hot Rusty looked in those pics! When we were apart during the summer breaks, I'd sneak a peak those sexy pictures of him! " </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One final question: What advice would you give anyone in a new relationship?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>RUSS:</b> "Oh good, this my chance to go all fortune cookie! Let’s see...</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give in to the experience of new love. (in bed) </span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be open and honest and open-minded too. (in bed)</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t be too quick to dismiss the relationship over small stuff... no one is perfect. (in bed) "</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CHAYNE:</b> " Be conscientious of your partner's feelings. Be as understanding as you can. We all make mistakes, so be forgiving. Most of all, love each other for who they are. " </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There you have it folks, the secrets to 20 years of geeky bliss. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anybody else out there wanting to go back to school to hit up that college crush? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, Russell and Chayne, for an awesome interview. I appreciate your good sportsmanship with how nosey I got. Believe it or not, I was doing my best to be as respectful to your privacy as possible, but it wouldn't be a <a href="http://jezzasmilez.blogspot.com/">JezzLoad</a> interview if I didn't ask about the goods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their official anniversary is March 17th, but stop by their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boy-Meets-Hero-Comics/95973772681">fan page</a> and show them some Valentine's Day love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's Day, Folks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-79417031959301128472013-02-14T20:59:00.000-07:002013-02-14T20:59:45.294-07:00A JezzLoads Valentine Bonus: Interviews with 3 Creative Couples Who Make Love Last Easily<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so amped up from the Boy Meets Hero interview that I sent a few of the same questions to some other Creative couples that have been together 10 years or more.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpE4wpdXLRVppsLswqi-itL9UNV_ywcUO4zPAXn30RaiPh2vBIIJHcIsFhG4sNtGfSMFjW6m-kUfyNgfL-eC8tLjHfDa1biUY3ndds2ht14LXmNZonOkYkR2ci8qh_6a9UvjPFVBFkY4/s1600/JL-Duplechan-0071-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpE4wpdXLRVppsLswqi-itL9UNV_ywcUO4zPAXn30RaiPh2vBIIJHcIsFhG4sNtGfSMFjW6m-kUfyNgfL-eC8tLjHfDa1biUY3ndds2ht14LXmNZonOkYkR2ci8qh_6a9UvjPFVBFkY4/s320/JL-Duplechan-0071-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Artist, Choklit Daddy (right), and his husband,Greg, met at a Glee Club audition at UCLA in 1975. They have been together almost 37 years and are legally married.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66fuzxA1zrjy-tnLi9B1k-HOibtNb7UmtQe1rLzw2aOU7KNomDYm9Awx8GpmBIpTOWcyZ_u2sf7OL6LlMlkokTCtfhdSDnL7DlZx12FR7NZl5NQ-f3BOYHEY6mSACJPiNRmGUiWr2IG4/s1600/JL-image-WIll%2526David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66fuzxA1zrjy-tnLi9B1k-HOibtNb7UmtQe1rLzw2aOU7KNomDYm9Awx8GpmBIpTOWcyZ_u2sf7OL6LlMlkokTCtfhdSDnL7DlZx12FR7NZl5NQ-f3BOYHEY6mSACJPiNRmGUiWr2IG4/s320/JL-image-WIll%2526David.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will O. Tyler of Carabosse Comics (right) and his partner, David, met on the Metro in Washington, D.C. and have been together 12 years as registered domestic partners.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone should have someone they can be silly with.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Patrick Fillion (left) and Robert Fraser of Class Comics were introduced through a straight friend of Fraser's. Last year they celebrated their 10th anniversary by getting married.<br /><br />Here's how they separately answered some of the questions I asked them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>How long did you date before you were "officially" a couple?</b><b style="color: #783f04;"><br /></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #783f04;">CHOKLIT DADDY:</b><span style="color: #783f04;"> "We were buddies for about six months (I thought Greg was straight at first; then I thought he was bi-curious). Then one night, he kissed me, sucked my dick a little bit. I have been his ever since." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "About three months."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "I think we heavily dated for about a year before making it official, but now we just look back at it being official the entire time." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "It just happened so I can’t say for sure. Maybe a few months?"</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "Not long! We knew pretty much right away that we belonged together." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "6 hours."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>How and When did you know you were in live with your partner?</b><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "As I remember it, I was in love with him after that first kiss."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "I knew I was in love when I couldn’t leave him after graduating from UCLA in June 1976."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "I’m not sure I can pinpoint an exact moment. It just was."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "From the beginning. I felt an instant connection."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "It didn't take me long to figure that out either. I don't remember the exact moment I realized I loved him, but I know it was relatively soon after we started dating. I dunno if this is cheesy or not, but I told him I loved him in bed after we'd just finished fooling around. LOL! Good timing? Bad timing? Who's to say – but it felt right to me, so I told him. LOL!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "When my chocolate lab stole his pancakes right off his plate and he didn't mind. (Or pretended not to.)"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>How do you keep your love fresh?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "It hasn't always kept fresh (which makes love sound rather like a box of saltines). There have been ebbs and flows, on both sides. I still fall in love with him."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "We express physical affection multiple times daily."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "Every now and then we do something without planning. Going for random drives to nowhere is great for re-bonding." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "I don’t feel like it isn’t fresh. It just is."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "We don't generally have to work at keeping things “fresh”. We love having fun together. We make each other laugh a lot and we keep things from getting stale by being playful, creative and inventive with one another. It's worked really well all this time, and I can't see it not working. We have a lot of love for one another, but we also have a lot of trust and respect. I think that these are all key ingredients to keeping things fresh, fun and exciting." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "I don't think that we've actually 'worked on' this yet... it just still is. Maybe our love is kept fresh because we're always doing something different. Ask us in another 10 years."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>What has been the most challenging thing to accept about your partner during your time together?</b></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "He dated other men for a while, basically told me he was going to do it and did so, quite without regard to my feelings. It was one of the biggest hurts of my entire life; and it took some time to get over it."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "His disinterest in financial matters."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "David is a sagittarious who likes to explore while I’m a leo who wants all the attention. That doesn’t always mesh! Haha" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "Participation in house duties."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "How loudly he sneezes and how many times he sneezes in a row! LOL! That's pretty much it! XD" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "The Fillion fire! Maybe it's the French side of him, but driving, moving furniture, and poor craftsmanship sure set him off!"</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>What is the easiest thing to love about your partner?</b><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "His admiration for me – my looks, my talents. He thinks I'm pretty wonderful and he doesn't mind telling me or others that he does."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "His trust in me."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "He is always himself. He will do whatever he wants, wear whatever he wants, and go wherever he wants without feeling uncomfortable and unashamed."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "His artistic tendencies and easygoing attitude."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "He's very kind and considerate. Those are some of the qualities I love about him the most." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "EVERYTHING! I even love the Fillion Fire!"</span> </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>What famous love story would you describe your relationship to be most like?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "I was going to say 'Krazy Kat and Ignatz' – he keeps throwing bricks at my head and I keep falling down with little hearts twinkling around my head, whispering, 'Lil angel …' But honestly, I can't think of one: most famous love stories are brief and end tragically."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "<i>Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner</i>"</span></span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "Well, clearly we are Donald and Daisy Duck. Now which is which?"</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "I don’t pay attention to love stories in general so I don’t know what I would compare it to."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "That's an interesting question. We make a true team, Fraser and I. I really believe we have the ultimate 'team-work' going between the both of us, both in life/love and in work. As for the 'famous love story' I'd compare us to... I dunno. Maybe the Reed Richards and Sue Storm – you know, if Sue were a guy! LOL! See, when one of us gets emotional, the other remains cool and level headed. And when one of us needs the other to be logical and grounded, the other steps up to that plate. We balance each other. I think Reed and Sue have or at least, had a lot of that. So I guess I can see myself relating us to them in that way." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Jack and the Beanstalk."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When was the last time you guys did something for the First time together?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "Probably about six years ago, when we shared a steady boyfriend; for a couple of years."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "Stumped. We’re routine oriented."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "Since we’re always together, everything we do for the first time is together....we finally got iPhones together!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "We are set in routines so we haven’t done 'new' things a lot recently."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "We try to keep having 'firsts' together as often as we can, even though we've been together almost 11 years. I guess that latest really 'big first' we had together was when we got married! LOL! But there are little 'firsts' here and there between that. We try for fun new firsts as often as we can." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Yesterday and last week and last month. All the time. We're actually asking ourselves when things will calm down all the time."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LUST:</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>Are you Monogamous?</b></span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHOKLIT DADDY:</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "No. Though we prefer to say we are not sexually exclusive. And we don't fuck around much anymore; mostly because we're in our 50s and not that many people want to fuck us anymore." </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "Of late, mostly."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "No." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "We are allowed to play. I probably should cut mine down a bit."</span></span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "Yes we are."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Yes. It's something we established very early on, and it lets us be completely free with what we try with each other."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>What are the rules in playing with others?</b></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> " Keep it safe (don't be bringing home any STDs, please). Husband retains the power of the veto: if one of us is interested in having sex with another man, you ask the husband if it's okay; and it's the husband's right to say no it isn't – for any reason or no reason. What happens in another city when you're away from your husband, happened in another city (provided, of course, you don't be bringing home any STDs)."</span></span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "We used to have rules, but that just made things more complicated. As long as we end up together at the end of the day."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How do you keep the sex hot?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "Fortunately, I still find him very attractive physically, and vice-versa. And he knows where all my switches are; and (I believe) vice-versa. Sometimes we'll have porn playing on the TV, sometimes not."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "I try to keep a positive body image of myself."</span></span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "Make it a surprise and spontaneous and always try something new."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "It has always been hot."</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "Sometimes sex can be vanilla, other times it can be really naughty. We try to mix it up. Neither one is really afraid of pushing our sexual envelope." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "The internet is so full of fun things to try! See it, like it, try it! :)"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How often do you have sex?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "Usually once a week. Saturday or Sunday. Except for vacations, when we usually have sex every day."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "At least once a week."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "Clearly, not nearly often enough for me!"</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "Every few months – I should probably make this more frequent; I get myself stuck in a routine that doesn’t include sex."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "That really depends on mood, how you feel, how much we've worked that day! LOL! We try to be as intimate with one another as often as possible. Often one of us will get the ball rolling, and it can often happen when you least expect to have sex! LOL! But that's the fun of it all. Spontaneity can be a real turn on." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Depends what else is going on. Twice a week to once every two weeks. That being said masturbation is 100% encouraged. We tend to see a LOT of porn throughout the each day. If we didn't let off steam, we'd either always be having sex, or always have blue balls."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is your sexiest memory of your partner?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "The look of utter and complete bliss on his face as I enter him."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "When I first saw him naked."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "The apartment he had in D.C. had extremely sexy lighting and a bed hidden away behind a bamboo wall. At night time there was always a happy place for me. Then there was that one time in Brasil when David became a top....surprise!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "Bedding down during a hurricaine that hit Washington, D.C. years back."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "This is just one of my fondest 'sexiest memories' of him, mind you... but this one day I come home and Fraser has this great big smile on his face. He takes me upstairs and unveils this AWESOME massive kit of special order sounding toys that he'd gotten for us. I mean these things are FANTASTIC! We had a lot of fun with those – we still do in fact." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "A private photo shoot in the garage. :) "</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What advice would you give anyone in a new relationship?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "If you think he's The One, then don't be afraid to work at the relationship: relationships are not easy. Nothing of any value comes easily. If you seem to be the only one willing to work at it, then he's probably not The One."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "Learn to compromise and in times of trouble, remember why you got together in the first place."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "Enjoy your puppy love. It doesn’t last, but that doesn’t mean the best years together are over."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>DAVID:</b> "Be willing to compromise."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "Be honest, be yourself, and be sure that you trust the person you're with and that they can trust you... but above all, have respect for one another. These things keep partnerships strong and solid, and I think they're super vital to any love." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Listen, respect and kiss. Seek first to hear, then to be heard."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gave these couples instructions to answer their questions separately and to go over their answers together after they each were done answering. They were then to answer these two questions:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Which of your partner's answers surprised you most?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "Guess Whos Coming To Dinner (clever …).</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>GREG:</b> "No big surprises for me."</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "None of the answers were a surprise. We can almost read each other’s minds at this point."</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "None of them really. We really know one another super well by now! LOL!"</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Lust Question #1... Just kidding!"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Did you have sex after sharing your answers?</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>CHOKLIT DADDY:</b> "No. Maybe a bit later in the day."</span></span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>WILL:</b> "David was laughing too histerically from the answers and then Lady and the Tramp came on TV, so no. We did not."</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>PATRICK:</b> "We had sex before. After the questionnaire, we got back to setting up our new place! LOL!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FRASER:</b> "Nope! Beforehand!"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to thank all three of the couples for sharing some of the goods on their relationships for both our entertainment and aide. Hopefully your experience and advice was useful to anyone on the fence about their current relationship and maybe motivated a slut somewhere to invest in something more meaningful - I know I'm now considering it HAHAHA!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentines, Everybody!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jezza</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Please forgive the inconsistant formatting - Blogger is being a complete Bitch this week.)</span><br />
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Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-653371222385754672.post-91385178305045583092013-02-13T10:35:00.000-07:002013-02-13T10:35:03.127-07:00Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Ravi Prince and Paris Prince<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" height="245" id="msnbc486ef0" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=50161319&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc486ef0" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=50161319&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><div style="background: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 420px;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Valentine's Day is tomorrow. So I'm spotlighting the couple, Dr. Ravi Perry and Paris Prince, who were part of history last year when JET Magazine profiled their wedding in their popular "Weddings" section.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to the topic of gay marriage, the African American community has been slower than the rest of America to change their attitude about the issue. According to a <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/Gay-Marriage-and-Homosexuality/Religion-and-Attitudes-Toward-Same-Sex-Marriage.aspx">Pew Research Poll from October 2011</a>, 62% of black protestants oppose same-sex marriage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't that crazy?! Blacks more than anyone in this country should be more empathetic to the concept of equal rights for all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not gonna dwell, though. We are progressing. With the President's supportive stance on same-sex marriage, Black organizations like the <a href="http://www.naacp.org/news/entry/naacp-passes-resolution-in-support-of-marriage-equality">NAACP</a> have progressed to a more supportive role in favor of gay marriage while more current <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/27/153735584/polls-show-obamas-support-for-gay-marriage-influencing-blacks">surveys</a> are showing an increase in the number of blacks in support of gay marriage.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIRwblfzItrE7tcC1G68vw7RQv2l2Qx0-p3VtDEBZggTNPP0TiP4dz7h-W6po8Vig67ZXagZkkq-0lLbmduicREsxJvYebNqzVJmRgO2iEWFno2g2HdgX0RHpQr053KD_DYX6vZW1FHU/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIRwblfzItrE7tcC1G68vw7RQv2l2Qx0-p3VtDEBZggTNPP0TiP4dz7h-W6po8Vig67ZXagZkkq-0lLbmduicREsxJvYebNqzVJmRgO2iEWFno2g2HdgX0RHpQr053KD_DYX6vZW1FHU/s320/original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, back to Dr. Ravi Perry and Paris Prince. As <a href="http://jetmag.com/life/msnbc-features-jet-for-highlighting-gay-male-wedding/">JET Magazine's</a> first gay male couple to be celebrated, they've give a face to homosexuality in the black community. By doing so, they've inspired other black gay couples to stand openly and proud while dispelling or at least putting in perspective the destructive stereotypes of black men on the DL.</span><br />
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<br />Jezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932870647687245008noreply@blogger.com1