Xtra. ca was down yesterday, but I've been given the all clear to post so here goes.

I have 10 weeks left on the LL Cool J Platinum Work Out which means 10 weeks to go on Abtastic 2009 and a lot of gym time ahead of me.

If you're wondering what a week off in Mexico does to a fitness plan...well, your first guess is probably right. After 6 weeks of busting my ass in the gym and finally seeing some results, I came home with a small Mexigut...and, surprise, I also came home to an invitiation to do a boudoir photoshoot with an incredible photographer (Ellen - www.hong-photography.com) and an amazing make up artist (Ai - www.ainagasawa.ca)...and, of course, my good friend Rob. Check out the "Boudoir" section of their sites and hey, if you're looking for a unique gift for that special someone, you just found it.

So, in lieu of candid ab shots, I'm going to post some of the more "abby" shots from our shoot on Wednesday. Have a great weekend.

I had a photoshoot this morning with my buddy Rob, helped my ex move and then worked all afternoon. I'm wiped. Which is why I can't tell whether the following video is funny or offensive. It's probably both and on further thought, seeing as Rob is the one who showed it to me, it's definitely both. The left hand screen at 1:10 is priceless. Enjoy.

Thanks to my sister Lindsay for sending this to me...Oh Neil Patrick Harris...As a former make believe doctor, you are delightful!

Yeah yeah...I know I said no more Mr. Gay World postings, but I have been DYING to post something about Ben Edwards/Mr. Gay Australia. You know, I've sorta reached the stage in my life where the starry-eyed romantic has been beaten off...I mean out...of me. At 28, I'm starting to believe that the mythical great guy is actually just that: mythical. I'm talking about those charming guys, the ones who can make you laugh effortlessly, who take care of their bodies, have a taste for adventure and are handsome enough to make you smile in spite of yourself. 

Well look at that, I guess the romantic is still there after all.

Anyway, my friends and I got to hang out with Ben for a bit during the compeition. Let me tell you: I have never seen someone not "work" a room but have the room work its way towards him quite in the same way as it did for Ben. People were drawn to this guy. I don't even know what sort of quality that is and can't even describe it properly, but hell, it's something else.

If you're heading down to Mardi Gras next week, make the effort to find Ben and say hi. And hey, make sure you tell him that I still have a bit of crush on him too. When he starts talking, you'll undestand why. 

Since I'm back early from my holiday to Mexico City and Playa del Carmen, loyal UYA reader, I have a short tale and a lesson for other queers who may be confronted with similar travel plans in the near future:

Turns out that traveling with two straight guys, I was the gay man out. My friends and I originally planned to stay in hotels and save money by getting rooms with two double beds. The original pitch to me involved a rotating sleep schedule so everyone got their own bed once, which made sense, seeing as I had known these guys for about 5 years and they had known each other for about 15. Good friends, good way to save money on accomodation, so wouldn't have thought that there would be weirdness about who sleep beside who in separate blankets? Yet guess who came home earlier than expected? The homo. That's who. Which was a good thing anyway cause I needed the catch up time to prep for a brutal upcoming month and got to fly first class by default.

Still, I just want to say: despite all this new, sexually progressive, no-labels-for-anyone bullshit that 20-somethings are promoting nowadays, I'm hear to tell you firsthand: when the chips fall between gays and straights, you will find yourself on the gay side of the table (which is how I spent many a dinner, I might add, down south).

All of this has left me wondering: straight male friends, what are they good for?

As always, I welcome your comments. Tell me your thoughts, as the following reader did after last friday's posting: