Reblogged from This Just In:

The founder of a French company that makes breast implants linked to a health scare was arrested Thursday, the French national police said. Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas was detained in Six-Fours-les-Plages, near Toulon in southern France, police said. PIP director Claude Couty was arrested around the same time nearby in La Seyne-sur-Mer and investigators searched his home, according to CNN affiliate France 2. PIP implants have sparked health scares in the United States, Europe and …

Tattoo: What should your first be?

This is a question I have been thinking about for over a year now off and on.  I have spoke to friends who have Tattoo’s (some have over 40% of there body covered) who were really objective and offered me good advice about my first tattoo.  So what should your first tattoo be?  Here are the following answers I recieved:

1. Something you love- Family member, activity, date etc
2. Religious-Dedication to your religion or faith
3. Something small- So many people have a understandable fear of getting a large first tattoo.

Great Tat Video

Here is where my design started:

(Photo’s are not me, but the design is hot)

FRONT

Back

This design though great and detailed, really did not express me completely.  I kept looking, and here is what I finally decided on.

Tribal band down his back and arm will combine and create a strong front design, complementing my equally strong back piece.

Cold Turkey Quit Day

Have you been keeping up with my blog?  Then you know about a month ago I made the public announcement that I would give up a year long addiction to cigarettes.  I finished my last cigarette and said good bye to the slavery that has held me captive for so many years.  I would like to thank many of you for the supportive emails and tweets encouraging me to stick to my goal.  In particular I would like to thank DeMichael Hooks for the motivation to beat my addiction, he encouraged me set my quit date and stick to it.

I will update this site on my progress as I go along, thanks for checking back

Smoking- Choosing my quit day

I have smoked on and off since early 2004, with very little success in quitting.  Compassionate friends, family and acquaintances have pleaded with me to resolve my dependence on nicotine and until I woke up this morning and realized cigarettes played a larger part in my life then I previously thought.  I took inventory of the number of cigarettes I smoke in one day (10 cigarettes, keep in mind cigarettes come 20 to a pack) and noticed why I spent $8 a pack every 2 or 3 days.  How did this habit start?  I am honestly not completely sure where it started and why it continued that this long, but one thing I am certain of I tired of my tongue being coated with the remains of smoking and the smell on my clothes.  I am finished with the days of remembering to bring along my cigarettes, truck keys, wallet and iPhone.  Smoking has become as common to me as brushing my teeth.

I decided to share this with the world because my days of smoking away my stress and problems will be replaced with other habits.  Don’t worry I am doing this process cold turkey, but I am determined to make my goal this time.

Giovanni

When my brother was a little boy, he used to bang his head against the wall whenever he was frustrated. My father would tell him that the best thing about banging his head against the wall was that it would feel so good when he stopped. I think it’s time that we stop banging our heads against the unyielding wall that separates us, and maybe we will feel better, too. Two years, one separations, counseling, and countless screaming matches have proven that we are hopelessly incompatible. This isn’t necessarily a negative reflection on either one of us, but rather proof that the combination of fire and petroleum will produce a combustible mixture with predictable regularity.

I’m afraid the passionate natures that brought us together in the first place are proving our undoing now. But life is too short to live with so much tension and stress, and I’m sure it’s unhealthy to do so. That’s not to say that we still don’t have our good times, but they continue to get fewer and farther between. Even when we are getting along fairly well, the anticipation of our next blow-up hangs over our heads like the sword of Damocles. Perhaps this is because we always feel like old issues have never been completely resolved.

Years of trying and numerous counseling sessions have not been able to teach us to speak the same language and understand what the other one is trying to say. If we attempt to have a serious talk about something, one of us usually gets offended where no offense was intended and the conversation goes downhill from there. Soon we’re having another nasty scene filled with tears, tempers, and slamming doors. I don’t believe it’s possible to maintain a healthy relationship without productive interchanges and a certain amount of intimate rapport, do you?

I think it’s commendable that we have both stuck it out as long as we have, but neither one of us is happy or satisfied in this relationship at it’s current level, and it should be clear to both of us by now that we never will be. Let’s part now while we can still leave on reasonably good terms and wish each other well. I certainly wish you better luck in choosing your next love. I’m sorry I wasn’t the right one, and hope that in the future your spirit connects to a being patient and creative enough to support your inner lover.

As I did when I chose you as my lover, I now present your heart back to the earth, may the spirit’s keep you safe until your heart finds another home.

• School- I have completed year one of school online at Full Sail University.  I am currently in my sophomore year, and challenging myself daily to learn new things about the internet marketing industry, and where I will eventually fit in.
• Work- February 15, 2010 I celebrated my 1 year anniversary with Superb Internet Corporation.  It has been a great year and I have learned so much  about the web hosting industry, customer service and that it takes many years in the industry to earn the respect of your peers.  On a few occasions I have spent quality time with ex-coworkers and “shipmates” from my navy days and noticed my passion for career development has truly grown.

So what are my future plans?  Where am I going in the next few months?  Recently I reaccessed commitments in my life and made some rather drastic changes (full details to come), causing some of my friends, family and even the dog next door to look at me rather strange.  Though another life is not to be understood by all, I will confirm a few things that I have been asked in the past few weeks for the general public:

Did you recently test HIV positive?

No I did not test HIV positive.  My last test was about 6 months ago and it came back negative.  My weight has fluctuated due to poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

Did you and your lover break up?

Though I live a pretty open life to the public me and my lovers relationship has not ended.  We have had some rather rough times in the last few months and we have spoken about making changes in our relationship.

How is your mother doing, I heard you lost her a few months ago?

I am not sure where is rumor started, but my mother is safe and sound in her home in Chicago.

Sorry to get so deep on you guys, but I have received so many text messages and emails asking me the above questions I decided to put my cards on the table and answer everyone and the public once and for all. Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of my relationship and and respected and nourished my friendships.  I appreciate you guys more then you can imagine.

Giovanni

2010 New Decade-New Life

Originally uploaded by MAC_MAN

I would like to thank so many people for such a great year. I have so many things to be thankful for, but most of all I am thankful for my life. Last night I spent over 5 hours with men and women gathered together to celebrate a year of joy’s, laughter and sadness. Many of our friends could not join us, but they are not forgotten. Thank you 2009 for teaching us what it’s like to not take anything for granted, and 2010 we welcome you with open arms. Check out the video from last night great party!

Here is a short video of my god daughter Natalia first Christmas.  Selina & Ikaika thank you for allowing us to share her life, we are very thankful for the opportunity.