GusH Brunch Photos

These are the digital ones. I have a batch taken via a disposable camera. I'll have to get them to the computer somehow. Sadly, there are not any good Beth/Ricky pictures. I tried getting some, but they came out too dark. :(

GusH/Cooper Brunch Recap

Remember that this was my very first time meeting both Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers.

I went with my mom and grandparents as a college graduation gift, and we got there with about 45 minutes to wait in line outside. It was a LONG wait, LOL! And I had trouble breathing the whole time because I was so excited & nervous. Boy, I’m glad we were one of the first groups in line! As we were approaching the check-in table, Beth arrived, and I was totally star-struck. She walked in and stood next to us for probably just a few mere seconds, and it was awesome. I kept thinking it was so surreal. With that, I was smiling through brunch. I met Debbie (jaimeGL from the message boards) when we checked in, and then we were off to Table 8.

We were at our table for a while as more and more people poured in. My mom was the one who informed me that Ricky arrived, and I freaked out a little, LOL! I think I let out a gasp or a small scream. And my mouth might have dropped when I first laid eyes on him. It was from a good distance, though, since I was still at our table. We were seated at a corner with two other women, and two people didn’t show up. So there was just the six of us. There was candy, soap, and candles for everyone to take with them. The candle was the same for everyone… It’s in a tiny mug in a box tied together with ribbon, and it has a tag that says: Gus & Harley The Perfect Blend. I totally gushed over that tag!

Eventually, everyone was seated and Ricky & Beth got everyone to be quiet as they talked. I got a couple of pictures of them from my table, but they might not come out good. They talked a lot about leaving GL, the Emmy Red Carpet show, and being on AMC, and they were very honest with us. They both talked their heads off, lol. Beth explained the GL producers telling the other Cooper family actors not to come, and it was very disappointing that they weren’t there. To me it’s more meaningful to have the brunch at a Greek restaurant if ALL the Coopers are there. Ricky and Beth mentioned how they couldn’t use the names “Gus” and “Harley” to advertise the brunch because they don’t own the characters. Beth talked about her decision to leave GL: not wanting to be there without Ricky, Harley’s future not mattering without Gus, she and Ricky not being finished telling Gus & Harley stories. Beth was crushed when she found out Ricky passed; she said he’s “a dear, dear friend” and the person she texted with complaints about GL. Beth was fine breaking up with Ricky on-screen because she believed Gus & Harley would reunite. Ricky did too. That’s what happens on soaps: “You break up, but you get back together,” Beth exclaimed. They were surprised by how separated they were due to being in totally separate stories and not even being in the same room most of the time. Beth mentioned how Gus & Harley never bumped into each other and also weren’t having sex anymore. Ricky replied, “And that’s why we’re gonna have sex right now!” LOL! And everyone cracked up and cheered. It was hard for me to stop laughing. Beth responded while still laughing, “I hope we have sex as Jake and Taylor.” HAHAHA! I so wish I got that part on video!

Beth said she was sorry for stealing Marina’s boyfriend, and she said she played Harley as if she was having a mental breakdown. Someone might have her asked this, but Beth said the best part about playing Harley for so long was being a member of the Cooper family. The Coopers were like a real family, and I agree. Frank was really her brother, and Justin was really her dad. And so on. Ricky and Beth brought up the beginning of GusH…how it wasn’t a typical love story because Beth (and Harley) was pregnant. They didn’t expect to be so popular and neither did The Powers That Be. They were just playing Gus & Harley they best they could, trying to make them work.

All My Children was discussed. They urged us to watch them on their “new show”. They didn’t say much more than what we already know. But what they did say must stay in that room. “Everything stays in the room, right,” Ricky said. They talked about their story and their new characters. Beth said Taylor is 32 and laughed at how her characters keep getting younger, LOL! Ricky said he has learned a lot from playing a doctor. He told a story about picking up cold medicine at a pharmacy where he tried helping a woman there with her medicine. He had said, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one of TV.” And the woman was like, “You’re Jake on All My Children!” Ricky is too funny! Someone said they tape AMC and only watch Jake & Taylor. Ricky and Beth laughed and said, “That works! Just watch us! You don’t have to watch the rest of the show.” HAHA! Someone also brought up voting for them in 2005 for the Irresistible Combination Award, and Beth said, “We were shocked.” There was a Q&A Session, but I don’t remember what all was asked. Someone did ask if they were going to Super Soap Weekend. Ricky was a definite yes, but Beth was a no… Beth explained how Will has a broken arm now; Hank had one last year. She joked about the three of them breaking their arms, but not her ex-husband. She went on to explain her reasons for not attending Super Soap: she wants to do Disney World with her boys since they’ve never been there. She didn’t want to be saying goodbye to them as they go on a ride with someone else. She said something like, “Who would watch them?” A bunch of people said they would, and Beth was touched by that.

I’m not sure how they wrapped things up or what the last question was, but I know Ricky was like, “I’m sure you’re all starving.” So, they finished speaking, and then they were surrounded by people taking pictures of them. I was too nervous to go up there to get pictures, so, sadly, I do not have any really good or cute photos of them together nor any photos of me with both of them. I was too timid! The door prizes were handed out. We got tickets when we checked in with numbers on them. It seemed like there were six prizes, and my group didn’t win anything. Someone at our table won an autographed script, and someone at a nearby table won an autographed pack of cigarettes, representing Gus’s smoking habit of course. I cracked up so much at that, and the woman said she didn’t smoke. My grandmom got me to go up to the crowd surrounding Ricky, and that was nerve-wracking because it was my first time being close to him. I got three pictures with him, and I was in heaven, LOL! He had a hand on my waist, I had an arm around him, and our heads touched. *SIGH* I think I said hi to him, and I told him I was nervous. He replied, “Oh, I’m nervous too.”

Eventually, the photo mob stopped taking pictures, and it was a matter of waiting to be told to stand in line for the buffet breakfast. It was a long line that ended near the restaurant’s front entrance. While in line, I did see Ricky and Beth get a little bit to eat. And I saw a cute moment between them… Ricky was standing while talking to a few people at Table 2, and Beth was behind him trying to get his attention. I think someone wanted another photo of them. I also think Beth said something about him never shutting up. She kept calling him “honey”, but he wouldn’t stop his conversation. And then she gave him a fake kick in the ass. If she kicked him, it wasn’t a hard kick. Probably just a nudge, LOL! Oh, they are adorable! I didn’t see when he finally turned around to see what she wanted.

So, we got our food, got back to our table, and ate. Of course I was keeping track of where Ricky and Beth were. And I wasn’t all that hungry because I was too excited. Ricky and Beth started out together visiting each table, but at some point they ended up in separate directions. We were visited by Beth first, and she is just so lovable & adorable. I think she stood the whole time, and I got a couple pictures with her. She signed the welcome/thanks card/poster (or whatever it’s called). I think she asked if we watched AMC, and I told her I had been watching for 12 years and that I grew up with it. I also said it’s weird seeing her and Ricky on there. I had three more things for her to sign: the July 29th 08 SOD cover, an 8x10 photo of Ricky & Beth kissing at the 04 Emmys, and the back cover of my GusH Book (a journal with all kinds of Gus/Harley stuff in it). She loved the Emmy photo! She commented on how great her hair looked, LOL, and pointed out that it was the year Ricky was nominated. I had a couple things I made for her and Ricky: 5 signs/posters that said different things and a disk for each of them. I gave it all to Beth and tried explaining the disk is for the computer and the sign are for her and Ricky to share. She was amazed how much was on the disk (wallpapers, poems, music, etc.), and the signs moved her, especially the last one with 3 GusH sayings & a small picture. Since I gave them all to her, I don’t know how Ricky reacted to them. I could have given the signs and Ricky’s disk to Ricky, but I wasn’t thinking, lol. Beth adored the GusH Book. She flipped through it and saw some pictures, a colored map of Greece, and the wedding plans I had made for GusH back in 2004. I pointed out that I even wrote the vows. The book simply amazed her. And I enjoyed my time with her. It was comfortable being with her, and she was easy to talk to. It was almost like I had known her for a while.

A little while later Ricky visited the table, and he sat next to me!!! *SIGH* I got more pictures with him. I also told him about watching AMC for 12 years and that I grew up with it. I had him sign the SOD cover and the Emmy photo. We told him how Beth loved her hair, and he chuckled. He really liked that photo too. He signed the GusH Book, and I explained how it’s all about GusH with pictures, transcripts, and more in it. He flipped through it briefly and said he wants a copy of it when it’s finished. I said I’d copy it if I knew how, and he told me to go to Kinkos. My mom asked him what it was like working with Michel E. Knight (Tad, AMC), and he told about how much fun they have on set. There were two bar scenes where something went wrong, but they kept going with the scene. One scene at The Comeback one of them was calling the bartender the wrong name, and the other tried correcting it. Another scene Michael was sitting in the wrong barstool, and Ricky tried to get him to move. Both scenes kept rolling with those unscripted moments. I was cracking up so much at that story. Ricky is so funny! And I felt very comfortable with him too. It was wonderful being so close to him. I remember staring at his stubble, his eyes, and everything else, hehe! Oh my, he is gorgeous! I think I’m in love, LOL! As he left our table, he blew us a kiss, and of course I blew one back.

Besides meeting Debbie, I also met a friend from MySpace – Brandi. She got a cute picture of me sitting with Ricky since her table was just across the room. She told me about the picture of the Coopers she had the actors sign at the other GL events over the weekend. It’s a very good recent one of them. She said Frank Dicopolous (Frank) got really choked up over it because he misses Beth. To him she really was his baby sister. I teared up just hearing that story. I watched when Beth signed the photo. She just held it & stared at it for a while and let out a huge sigh. Very sad indeed.

The brunch went way overtime. When leaving, Ricky and Beth were visiting the back tables. They were so gracious to make sure they talked to everybody, signed autographs for everyone, and got a bunch of pictures taken. They’re wonderful, and I had such a terrific time with them. I love them even more, and I cannot wait to meet them again. It was extremely sad to leave with the realization it was all over. I would have liked to give hugs and say goodbye to Ricky and Beth since it felt like I was leaving very good friends. All in all, it was the highlight of the day and one of the best times of my life.

I'll post pictures soon. I'll also post pictures of the signs I made them and the items they autographed. And I'll explain more about the disks I made them and the GusH Book. Stay tuned! :)

Here is what the special, unique candle looks like:

Cooper Brunch TODAY!!

It's the event no Gus & Harley fan should miss. It's a final farewell and celebration of Gus & Harley. It's one last party for the Cooper family. It's the most special soap opera function EVER. I was determined to go, and I will be there!

Read all about the Cooper/GusH Brunch here: http://www.rickypaullgoldin.com/brunch.html

This will be my first time meeting Ricky Paull Goldin, Beth Ehlers, and the other actors. I've never met any famous person before. So it's extremely exciting, and it's a dream come true. I think I'll cry once I lay eyes on Ricky and Beth, and I won't believe that it's happening until I'm there. I'm attending with my mom and grandparents as a college graduation gift. I bet it will be a blast for us, the actors, and everyone else there. Fun for all the fans! And bittersweet because we all love Gus & Harley so much. I expect for this brunch to be all about GusH & the Coopers. There will be a lot of love and tears in the room. And it'll all be worth it.

This is posted an hour & a half before the brunch begins. That means we are on our way to Manhattan via train right now! If you're reading this, that most likely means you are not going. You're missing out on a fun time. I promise to post photos and a huge detailed recap of the event. For me a wonderful and memorable time is ahead! We're spending the day in Manhattan. After the brunch, we're off to the Empire State Building and maybe a tour bus, which would symbolize Ricky Paull's first fan club weekend event - The Gus Bus Tour of 2003 (I think). It'll be a day to cherish forever since I love New York City as well as GusH.

I can't promise I'll post/report tonight once I'm home, but you never know. See you when I return! Hope everyone has a terrific Sunday!

Favorite Gus & Harley Places

Top 10 GusH Places (as chosen by me)

10. Olivia's Bar - Gus & Harley shared few moments here, but one was very special and sweet. It's an unforgettable one. In winter 2004 they were arguing, and it kinda slowed to a stop. Gus bent down to take her shoes off, and they danced without music as if there was no one else in the room. How romantic!!

9. The Beacon Hotel - Gus & Harley have spent numerous nights and afternoons in their room here. Most of the time they went to escape reality and have sex, which is always great. But there's one time that really stands out when GusH were truly being their fun, adorable selves. Harley showed Gus the honeymoon suite in preparation for their 2004 wedding. She told him about all the perks (hot tub, snack bar, massages), and he convinced her to try out the bed.

8. Pennsylvania - Gus & Harley had a real adventure in this state in 2002. They drove there in Gus's mustang to gather evidence for a case. So many things happened! They broke down twice in the middle of nowhere, danced as the car battery died, slept in the car, gazed at the stars, and ended up at a hotel. Gus surprised Harley with a very romantic room, where they started a fire when he threw his shirt into the fireplace. They heated things up in the car but were caught and sent to jail for the night. It was quite a memorable trip!

7. Harley's Angels Office - Harley ran her own PI business once upon a time and spent a couple times here with Gus. One time when they weren't technically together and Gus lived here (in 2005), they spent the night together sleeping. Another time (in 2003) Gus got to see Harley in a poofy wedding gown, which both of them didn't like. But the best moments occurred in the fall of 2003 during the Lori Jenson case when they made a side bet. They bantered about the case, him looking through evidence first, etc. Of course it was all about who would win the bet, and it was just hilarious. Good times!

6. Greece - Gus and Harley were never actually shown here, but they honeymooned here for about three weeks in 2005. So it is an important place for them. They were probably in Santorini because Harley had always wanted to go there. They also probably did some sight-seeing; maybe they ventured onto the main land and into Athens to visit some ruins and museums. Or they could have just stayed in their room a lot and relaxed on the beach. And I'm sure they had lots of sex.

5. Springfield Police Station - Gus and Harley were detectives; they were partners for many years. Their work is the reason they met. Obviously they have spent lots of time here, sometimes working and sometimes canoodling. They worked very well together. Their best moments were when they hated each other throughout the year 2001. They shared a tiny office and bickered constantly, which was SO funny. And the sexual tension was always there. You know they just wanted to kiss and go at it like crazy. It was agonizing yet very entertaining to watch.

4. Gus's Hotel Room #5 - This is where Gus lived during 2001 and 2002 before he loved in with Harley. There were quite a few moments here, two of them more significant than others. Their official first date was the most hilarious time of their whole life together. It was the first time Harley ever saw where he lived, and the place was a complete mess. But he cleaned up, and they had a very fun evening. She met his inflatable carpool doll, she discovered his messy closet, and he saved her from exploding lasagna. Freakin' hilarious!

A couple weeks later they discussed vacationing in Greece, but the timing wasn't right. Gus transformed his room into Greece. He had travel posters, vines, a tiny miniature beach, Greek music, and Greek food including an ice cream Parthenon. That proved how romantic he was, and she spent the night. Gus & Harley made love for the first time (and a few more times), making it one memorable date.

3. Company Restaurant - Harley's family owns this place, so of course Gus and Harley spent a lot of time here. They've had numerous moments inside as well as outside. Inside... In 2002 Gus gave Harley his mom's ring as a training ring. They weren't ready for engagement or marriage yet. And in 2004 during time apart one thing that led them towards a reunion was a long, loving, passionate kiss at Christmas. Outside there's a bench that I think is sacred to them because there have been many sweet times there. They said their first "I love you"s, decided to move in together, made romantic plans, and have had several conversations - not all bad or serious. That bench holds little cute, affectionate moments. One of my favorites is when they met up after their dance at Olivia's Bar. Harley sat in his lap, and they talked about them in terms of still getting married and remembering to say, "I love you." They went home after she promised to woo him in the bedroom, bathroom, and his car. Yum!

2. Harley's Old House - She had bought this house with Phillip, but I've always thought of it as Harley's house. She has many memories with Gus since they lived here for about two years. And since they lived here, they've done everything here. The main place for action was the living room. And in this house Gus and Harley have worked together, fought, made up, played with Zach & Jude, welcomed each other home, and a slew of other things. Two memorable events occurred here...both in 2003...

In May they had their hottest love scene EVER. All fans agree it's their best; it's everyone's favorite. Gus and Harley had been with Alan most of the episode with few moments alone. Thus, the love scene came as a pleasant surprise, and it was downstairs... Gus had Harley against a wall, ravishing her stomach. Then he had her on the coffee table, planting kisses up her thighs. Then they were kissing wildly, and they fell back on the table. They SO had sex on that table! It is one hell of a love scene. Fans call it The Wallbanger, and it's something to see with your own eyes.

In June GusH had their most romantic moment in this house. They had dinner with Alan and were talking after he left. Harley felt Gus was slipping away from her, but that wasn't the case. Gus was late for dinner because he stopped at the jeweler's to buy an engagement ring. He proposed and got down on one knee, and what he said was so beautiful. Harley said "yes", and I cried happily. They got engaged right in their living room, which is what makes it such a romantic, wonderful proposal. It was unexpected and unplanned. I like that.

My favorite room of this house is, of course, the bedroom because we all know what went on there. Gus could hardly keep his hands off Harley every night (from what we heard). But unfortunately, they had very few scenes in that bedroom. Such a shame!

1. GusH's House - Harley needed a new house after Phillip had her old one demolished. Gus is the reason construction began on a new house, and it ended up being Gus and Harley's first house together. It was unfinished for about a year & a half. They were even married for close to a year before they finally moved in. They spent many times in the house while it was unfinished, and thanks to Gus it became livable.

In 2006 Gus and Harley separated for a little bit. Gus returned to his pain pill addiction, and Harley took a vacation. While she was away, he got his act together. He kicked his addiction and became determined to make things right. When Harley returned, they finished their house together and moved in with Zach & Jude. And that was one hell of an episode! Very memorable! Gus clearly didn't know what he was doing, but he had help as he tackled plumbing, electricity, doors, bathrooms, etc. Since Harley knew Gus was clueless, it was a very comical episode. Working on their house really brought Gus and Harley back together. But even though they moved in, the house was never 100% finished.

Of course since they lived here, they did everything here. They lived a fairly happy life with the boys, and for a good couple months life was normal. That's what I like the most about their time here - there were so many scenes of them together & with the boys that made it seem like a real home. Gus and Harley had photos, drawings, and personal things everywhere that made it homey. They also tried expanding their family and welcomed a baby girl into their life & home. She brought the Cooper family together, and GusH wanted to adopt her. They loved her so much, but it wasn't meant to be. Gus and Harley still had Zach & Jude, and the four of them made a cute, wonderful family.

This house is the best GusH place because it's THEIR house. It will always be special to them and their fans. We will continue to reflect on all their times here and every place they have ever been on screen (and also off, such as their Greece honeymoon). Hope you all enjoyed this list I made, and sorry the first couple aren't as detailed as the later ones. This countdown is what it is.

A Great Marriage

It had been a few months since GusH were married when I decided to make this wallpaper. I wanted to experiment with picture frames/shapes and also show that marriage is working out well for them. They were having a fun, sexy marriage. Lots of great kissing scenes and whatnot. They were living a great life together.

So, I chose three pictures to showcase their marriage thus far. I think they're pretty self-explanatory. For each of them I drew a unique frame. I chose purple for the background because it's a pretty color and perfect for the other colors I used. This is the second time I used purple for a background.

I wrote "GusH" and "Love" on the one frame because there were those spaces on there that were begging for something to be written on them. And I had to write something that kinda explained what the wallpaper was all about. That's what the "Marriage seems to be good" is for. I could have written something else, though, that would have been a bit better. There were a few ideas running through my mind.

I drew white cloudy flowers in the corners to represent their wedding. Remember white screams wedding in my book. I drew those green designs at the top & bottom to add even more prettyness and to fill in those spaces. It's hard to tell if they're perfectly centered with each other. Sometimes it looks like they are, and other times they look off. I did the best I could.

Those pictures must have been my favorite at the time from their few months of being married. Right now I'm thinking the one in the oval frame is the best because of what was going on. Gus was trying to convince Harley to "play hooky" and have a second round of sex before attending her press conference (or whatever it was). He whispered who-knows-what in her ear, but his attempts didn't work. So, he told her that they would do some roleplaying later. Hehe!! GusH was one sexy couple.

GusH's Valentine's

I think it was around Valentine's Day that I created this wallpaper. Valentine's Day 2006, that is. And that year they were forced to be apart, so I made this to show the two best Valentine's Days that GusH spent together.

On the left we have Gus & Harley's very first Valentine's together, which was in 2002. They weren't actually a couple yet, but they were getting there. And this Valentine's helped a lot. They didn't expect to be together, but they were at Company all alone. Gus gave Harley a Valentine, and they bickered until he finally blurted out, "You make me happy is what I'm trying to say." That led to tons of kissing, and they were going to go to his place to "talk or not talk". But their night was terribly interrupted, and Harley's brain kicked in, telling her to back out. So, it was a memorable Valentine's even though it didn't go past a few scenes at Company.

And on the right we have 2005 Valentine's, in which Harley's murder trial was wonderfully postponed by someone dressed as Cupid. They weren't exactly together, though, or at least they weren't suppose to be since Gus was her lawyer. But in this episode they seemed like a happy, normal couple. GusH snuck away into an unknown room, and Gus backed her against the door to kiss her. Turns out there was a minister there, waiting to marry someone, and once the engaged couple showed up, GusH helped them through a problem and served as their witnesses. When it was time to kiss the bride, GusH were also kissing. And Harley caught the bouquet. It was just a sweet, happy Valentine's to escape from the horrible drama GusH were going through.

Besides showcasing the best Valentine's shows, I made this wallpaper because I never made a Valentine's one before. And I wanted to use the best song there is for this holiday: Marina McBride's "Valentine". I think it's too obvious why I put hearts with those pictures. And the text is pretty much a space-filer. I chose three romantic and pretty colors, and they stand out the most on a black background.

I believe I put this wallpaper together fairly quickly. I say that because I don't like how I positioned the pictures. If you look at just them and how they're spaced out, they look sloppy. It bugs me so much, but what's done is done. See, I like things to be perfect (or what I think is perfect). There are more minor things from other wallpapers that drive me nuts, but this spacing "problem" tops them all. Yeah, I must have made this wallpaper too quickly...without even thinking of improving the pictures' positions.

Anyway...try to disregard the last paragraph if you don't want to see the imperfection I see. The reason I told you about it is because it was something else to tell. All part of the wallpaper-making business, I guess. There are always things to share/tell.

This is still a lovely, romantic wallpaper, though. And GusH is a very romantic couple.

From Work To...You Know

In October 2005 Gus & Harley were getting settled in at the Spaulding Mansion because Harley was named the new CEO of Spaulding Enterprises. This wallpaper shows GusH in their room at the mansion. They had had a stressful dinner with Beth (who was married to Alan Spaulding) and I think some of Harley's family. Afterwards in their room, Harley was trying to get some work done and Gus tried to help since she was new to the business world. But Gus had other things on his mind, and it getting take long before her mind was there too. She did not get much work done, and they had a very passionate kissing scene & also a nice afterglow. So, in celebration & praise of those two scenes, I created this wallpaper.

I used my favorite pictures of what I have available to use. The two left-corner pics are suppose to show that she was trying to get some work done. The others show what GusH do best - make love to each other. For three of them I used the marquis tool to "cut" them out. Two of them I decided to rotate a little. Three of them I added effects to spruce them up. With the bottom center picture I wanted a spotlight on that hot n' heavy kissing, hehe.

The background is red because that's a color that screams "passion" and "sex". The white of the text matches the background. And that saying is really clever... "Look how easy it is for GusH to turn work into sex." It's perfect because it's obviously 100% true.

Even though this episode didn't have a love scene, these two scenes featured were really wonderful and unexpected. They made up for not having a love scene. So, I made this wallpaper showcasing all this hotness. And my favorite picture is the one in the middle, overlapping the two rotated ones. Harley had rolled on top of Gus, and they started making love again as he pulled the sheet over their heads. So hot!

And Now The Vows

Here's another wedding wallpaper, featuring the vows. I used two pictures from the ceremony and my two favorite pictures from their moment on the staircase. I wanted to jazz the wallpaper up with the staircase pictures having unique effects and the ceremony pictures being rotated a bit. I think they all look amazing.

I chose pink for the background because it's so romantic; it goes with the white text. I wanted some flower shapes in there for decoration, and that light green/aquamarine is just so pretty. All three colors (pink, aquamarine, & white) go together so perfectly, I think.

The best part of this wallpaper is, of course, the vows. They are SO beautiful! They're the best vows I've ever heard on daytime TV. I picked out the sweetest part of Harley's vows and Gus's vows. I believe you can figure out whose is whose. Allow me to share their lovely vows verbatim:

Harley: I think you'll like them much more this time. Gus, are we really here? I would ask you to pinch me, but if it's a dream, I don't want to wake up. I want to stay in this dream forever because it almost didn't happen. You made a mistake, and then I made one, too, and I couldn't forgive you because I became afraid. I was afraid because I still loved you with all my heart. And in the past love has hurt me. I'm not afraid anymore because I am ready to spend the rest of my life with the most wonderful man in the world. I love the way you look at me, like right now, like there's nobody else in this room. We've been together a long time, and still when you look at me like that, my heart... thank you, for opening your heart to me and my children. Thank you for loving my children. That is the sign of a real man. I couldn't love anybody the way I love you. You kept me calm when I was frightened and alone, and so now, here in front of god and all these beautiful and handsome people, I, Harley Cooper, promise you, Gus Aitoro, that I will love you more and more with every passing day, through the joy and adversity that life throws our way. I will support you and encourage you and believe in you the way that you have believed in me for the rest of our lives.

Gus: Well, you make it sound like a big deal that I stuck by your side this whole past year, and the truth of the matter is I didn't really have a choice. You're it. You're it for me, end of story. That smile-- I mean, how could that not hook a guy forever, and just never let him go? And then you introduced your crazy family into the picture-- sorry frank-- and your kids. I also know that everything good that has happened to me is because of you, and anything bad is just part of the price that had to be paid to be able to be here right now at this moment so that I could say to you in front of god and all these... these people and witnesses that I want to thank you, because I feel blessed and I feel honored that you said yes and that you would be mine. And I promise you that I will love you each and every single day, no matter what joy or adversity is thrown our way, that I will encourage you and I will love you and I will support you and I'll believe in you just the way that you believed in me, every single day. And I will take care of you and our children. But most importantly, I'm just going... going to be grateful for you every day for the rest of our lives. Okay.

That's some good, romantic GusH right there that I'll miss forever.

Still Honeymooning

Like I've said in a previous entry, Gus & Harley honeymooned in Greece for about three LONG weeks. And we didn't see ANY of it (still ticked off about that). So, of course, when they returned, it was exciting for us fans.

They came back a day early and didn't want anyone to know they were back. They wanted to continue honeymooning. Well, they found Coop passed out, so they had to help him. And they went to Company and reunited with Zach, Jude, Buzz, and Frank. They were working on a huge Welcome Home banner. GusH had gift bags of who-knows-what for the boys. Gus tried to explain what all they did in Greece. For the most part they did some "unmentionables" and spent a lot of time together, hehe.

Gus had to head to Spaulding Enterprises for some stuff (he expected to be the new CEO), and Harley ended up following him. The honeymoon was definitely NOT over for them, and they had sex on the conference table in the boardroom. How hot is that? And later they were kissing in the hallway, and Gus pulled her to the floor. Oh, I just love that they were still honeymooning; I bet they had a damn sexy time in Greece.

So, since Gus & Harley were gone so long, I wanted to make a wallpaper focused on their return. I used the best pictures...One of them kissing when they had just gotten back, one of them at Company, and three from their SE romping. The two kissing pictures are my favorite. In the top corner she has her arms so tightly around him, and you can't even see their mouths. But you know they're so into kissing each other. In the bottom corner they're holding hands, and I love it when they hold hands like that. They're so passionate for each other.

I rotated two pictures for effect, but when I rotate and drag the picture into the wallpaper, more than the picture is dragged. I have to fill in the rest of the space. Purple didn't look right for that space, so I used the blue to go with the lines.

And about the lines... I wanted to do something different, so I ended up drawing a big "X". I chose purple for the background because I had never used purple before. The green heart is to fill up the hole of the "X" intersection. I made the heart and text a bright neon green because it goes with the purple. Not sure why I made the "X" blue; it's not very easy on the eyes. And I could have filled in the "X", but it is what it is.

All in all, I think it's a pretty cool-looking wallpaper.

Wedding Dance

I wanted to make a simpler wedding wallpaper using a few lyrics from their wedding song, and here it is.

The song is "There You Are" by Martina McBride. I wasn't happy with it at first because it was another country song (the first being Lonestar's "Only You"). Since when do GusH like country music? Not that I know what kind of music they like, but I didn't think they liked country. However, having listened to it many times and payed attention to the lyrics, it's the perfect song. Gus has always been there for Harley, more so than Harley for Gus I think. The song works, and it's really beautiful. Too bad we didn't get to see their entire dance.

Gus is definitely Harley's angel, always guarding & protecting her. So it made sense to use that lyric with "there you are". And again I put their names and their wedding date. All the yellow text, of course, is to match the daisies. I chose a white background because white signifies wedding. The pink flowers are just pretty decoration for opposite corners. All the colors used are lovely together.

I chose the three most romantic photos from the wedding. The first one is the best professional shot there is; GusH look so cute. In it they're at an angle, not standing straight. So, because of that, I rotated the photo a little bit. The second picture is of course their kiss during the ceremony. The third one is when they are dancing. Those two moments out of the entire wedding episode were the most special. They're great at kissing, and they dance so well together. It was the most important dance of their life.

WEDDING!

This is the wedding collage, featuring all the good stuff from Gus & Harley's wedding. It was damn good wedding. It was everything I had hoped it would be. It was perfect. It was a simple outdoor ceremony & reception.

Taking place at Company Restaurant's courtyard, Harley walked down the aisle with her father, Buzz, and her sons, Zach and Jude. Greek music played for her bridesmaids, but she had to walk to the country beat of Lonestar's version of "Only You". I didn't like that because it was too country; it should have been the original version by the Platters. Ross Marler married them, and their vows were very romantic. In fact, the actors, Ricky & Beth, helped write them. They held hands and exchanged rings. The moment for kissing the bride was so wonderful because Gus dipped her and planted and long, lingering one on her.

The reception wasn't much. They had a few little moments together; one was on the staircase. They talked about how her name wouldn't change and her ring would be glued to her so it would never come off. And they kissed and sipped champagne. So cute! We didn't see much of their first dance, but what was saw was beautiful (more on that with the next wallpaper). We didn't see them share cake, and I think she threw the bouquet. There was also a family dance to "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge.

Gus and Harley left in a hurry because they had a plane to catch. I'm so happy they went to Greece because Harley is part Greek and she had always wanted to go there. They were so excited for their honeymoon. They honeymooned for about three weeks, and it sounded like a VERY GOOD time, if you know what I mean.

I had many pictures to work with for this wallpaper. I chose the best ones to represent the entire wedding. We got one of them with Ross, two for the ring exchange, one of the dipped kiss, two of their dance, and two from that moment on the steps. I don't recall how I decided to place them where they are.

The background is suppose to be daisies, but I know they're not. At least I don't think they are. The important thing is that they're YELLOW. The purple lines are for decoration; they're suppose to be streamers. The purple circle... I had to put their names and wedding date, and it had to be a romantic-looking font. I chose purple for the lines and circle because it matches yellow so nicely.

It's hard to select a favorite picture. They're the best pictures of the wedding. So I can't have a favorite. I shouldn't have a favorite.

This wedding is bittersweet because we fans had been waiting a couple years for it and GusH were only married two years. It was the happiest time of their life together.

Simplicity

Here is another one made in anticipation for their wedding. I wanted to make a simple wallpaper using just that photo (minus the invitation of course).

I chose the blue flower background because those flowers look like daisies. The box is yellow because it matches the daisies in the photo and goes well with the background. And of course the blue text matches the background and also Gus's shirt. The font had to be beautiful and fancy because the occasion is a WEDDING.

I like the size of the photo. I didn't want it to take up much space because I wanted the background to surround it. And I think this wallpaper is gorgeous because of its simplicity. It's not crowded. And it couldn't be because that picture was the only one to use.

This wallpaper provided more excitement for GusH's wedding. Wallpaper-makers had visions of more wedding wallpapers in their heads, and all fans imagined what the wedding would be like.

Stay tuned for MORE wedding wallpapers. I made quite a few.

Re-Engaged

This wallpaper shows the scene AFTER the July 05 love scene. It's a very significant scene because they got engaged again, and it was such a loving scene. They talked about how things are better when they're together, how he always had her engagement ring with him when he didn't have a place to live, and how they want to be married more than anything else. And she always had his mom's ring with her (it was a "training" ring before they were engaged). They sealed their re-engagement with a kiss, and I'm sure they made love again.

So,of course I had to make a beautiful wallpaper in celebration of their engagement! I chose the pictures of Gus sliding the ring back on her finger and the kisses they shared afterwards. It was good kissing. And she had his tie around her neck...love that! The wavy lines and hearts are for nice decoration. And the colors...pink is a lovely romantic color, and black matches pink (or vice versa).

I don't remember how I decided to arrange the pictures so that one is in the middle like that. I think it's a pretty cool look; no other wallpaper has that arrangement. The text in the middle photo had to be that because that's what the wallpaper is all about. And yes, you'll notice how everything isn't quite centered. Everything is closer to the right side, which is something I didn't see until it was too late. That's just something else we'll all have to deal with and ignore.

Just focus on the beauty that is Gus & Harley. :)

Recent Avatars & Banners

Check out my most recent artwork:

Wedding Invite

Us fans had been waiting for what seemed like forever for Gus & Harley to marry. So we were completely ecstatic when an invitation and a photo was released (somewhere on the internet). An invite like that definitely means that there will be a wedding, that they will get married. I just HAD to make a wallpaper, especially since we were still weeks away from the wedding. Might have been close to a month away. And it was agonizing to wait since we knew when the big day was and what GusH would wear.

Thus, we have a very simple wallpaper here. I wanted to be able to gaze at the invite and the photo at the same time. The pink background and heart matches the roses in the invitation. The text had to be white because that color screams 'wedding'. Now, one flaw I've found is that I wrote "almost here". I put "almost" because the event was still weeks away, but the invitation is saying that it's HERE. Their wedding is finally HERE. So, the word "almost" could be omitted, but it is what it is. Gotta deal with it.

Aren't the photo and invitation lovely? Gus & Harley look beautiful, gorgeous! Good colors for a summer wedding, and I love the daisies. And Harley's hair is perfect. They both look the way I hoped they would for their wedding. The invitation is SO beautiful and elegant. Love the font! Both pictures had me excited for my couple. It was a day we fans would always remember...

That's The Beauty...

This wallpaper showcases Gus & Harley's second love scene in 2005. This was after their on-the-run story, and Harley regained her freedom. Their new house had been in the works for a couple months. Still unfinished, Gus took her there for a night of romance. After some uninvited guests left, they were alone. And this love scene was smoking hot! They didn't have to be slow this time. Actually, they were on the slow side, but there was such a hot, sexy feel to it. So, of course another love scene means another wallpaper.

I made a collage here with all the pictures I had to work with. And they're in order. But unfortunately, there's more to the love scene that wasn't captured. Harley ran her hand up his back, Gus kissed down the side of her body, her foot was rubbing his leg, and more. There was a good amount of skin in this scene, hehe.

I made the background black and the main text red to convey the hotness of the scene. Black with red is a sexy color combination. The pink text is the song used in the scene - "The Beauty of Who You Are" by Marc Broussard. It is such a sexy song; it's got a seductive beat to it. Thus, it (and the candles) set the whole tone of the lovemaking.

I don't know what was going through my mind in terms of how to position the pictures. All I know is I wanted a collage feel to it, so I had them be connected and not hugging the corners. But it does have a tiny sloppy look to it, I think. Still looks great, though.

It was one hot love scene that was over too soon.

Tribute To Gus Aitoro

Note: I began writing this entry on 3/31/08 at 10 a.m.

As most online people know, Ricky Paull Goldin had decided to leave Guiding Light and Gus will perish from injuries of a motorcycle accident. His heart will go to Olivia, who is dying and needs a new heart. Harley will have a tearful goodbye with Gus, and every Gus/Harley fan will be emotional wrecks this entire week. It's a sad time, especially for GusHers, but we will always remember the character of Gus Aitoro and Ricky's excellent portrayal of him. He'll forever be near and dear to our hearts. His relationship with Harley will be treasured and never forgotten.

Gus (and Ricky) will be missed so much, but as we grieve, we'll also look back on his amazing seven-year history. I present to you now Gus Aitoro year by year.....

In April 2001 we were introduced to Gus as an FBI agent. He came to town to investigate the Santos family with the SPD. His and Harley's first words to each other were along the lines of, "Who the hell are you?" He became Harley's boss, and they shared an office. But it was not love at first sight. They hated each other, and they bickered constantly. Gus was an arrogant jerk set on destroying the Santos's, and he belittled Harley many times. It was difficult to like him, especially since he was brought on to be Harley's new love interest. But as the year went on, we saw glimmers of humanity. There was much more to him that meets the eye. He slowly showed Harley that he does have a heart, feelings, and compassion. It was also eventually revealed that his dad, Joe, was killed by a member of the Santos clan and his real name is Nick August. He opened up to Harley about his dad, and he even delivered her second son, Jude. Harley began having feelings for him even though she repeatedly denied it. Gus began pursuing her; he knew there was an intense attraction between them. They shared a few kisses, but Harley was still in denial. Only she knew his soft side, though, while the rest of Springfield hated him completely. As the year ended, Gus contemplated leaving town but stayed because of Harley.

In 2002 we witnessed the glorious first year of GusH being a couple. They slowly built a wonderful, magical relationship despite her family being against them. Gus was no longer with the FBI; he became a SPD detective, working side by side Harley. He struggled admitting his true feelings for her on Valentine's Day, their first date, and other moments. He stumbled with words, he didn't like talking about his past, and he didn't want to rush their relationship. He respected the fact that she wasn't fully ready to be in another committed relationship. Gus had a major breakthrough when he finally let go of his vendetta against the Santos's. He didn't need it anymore since he now had Harley. With that, he showed what a good, funny, romantic, and adorable man he is. And only Harley understood him and saw him for who he truly was for the longest time. Her family thought he was a bad guy and so did her children's fathers. But Gus and Harley fell in love and moved in together. And Gus showed that he's good with children; he could care for Harley's kids just fine. Gus and Harley's love proved to be very strong against obstacles: Marina setting up Gus to look like a pedophile; Phillip gaining full custody of his & Harley's son, Zach; Gus's sister, Eden, coming to town. Gus was torn between Eden and Harley for many months because they didn't get along. Gus & Harley even took a short break so she could get Zach back, but they couldn't stay away from each other. They were in love, and nothing could come between them. The year ended with Gus and Harley winning a huge police case and Harley becoming suspicious of Gus's dad (details of which I can't remember).

In 2003 Harley and Gus stuck by each other through everything. She got her son back after he had a terrible accident. And then she and Gus were on the personal mission of their lives. They investigated Gus's past and realized he had been adopted. Gus how so much to deal with when he discovered his was the son of Alan Spaulding, and his mother was a former Spaulding maid, Lucia. It was a tough adjustment and a real shocker. Gus wanted to get to know his Spaulding family, but he knew the warnings of how deceitful Alan was. Alan also never liked Harley, so Gus tried to get to know the Spauldings without being sucked into their wealthy world. The hardest thing Gus dealt with this year was Harley being shot on the job during a domestic disturbance. She almost died, but she wasn't ready to leave Gus and her children. Then they were no longer partners because Harley quit the force, but their love was as strong as ever since Gus proposed at their home. He had given her his adoptive mom's, Angela's, ring as a "training" ring the year before, but this year was the real thing. They were engaged for over a full year. A big case that put GusH at odds was the Garden of Eden murders (referring to Eden's escort business). Harley wasn't a cop, but she was investigating behind Gus's back. She believed that Eden was the murderer, but Gus had trouble dealing with that. Turns out that Eden was innocent. Then GusH were on to another case but on opposing sides. Harley began a detective agency, and her first client was a woman looking for her missing daughter, The police picked up the case too, and GusH made a bet with each other about who would solve the case first. Gus had always been competitive with Harley on the force; they always bantered at work. During this case they had lots of fun bantering, and the competitiveness proved to be a huge aphrodisiac. They did take the case very seriously, and the daughter was found. Harley technically won the bet, but it was a close call. They called it a tie and celebrated by "getting a room" at the hospital (hehe). The year ended with Gus not knowing about Harley working for Jeffrey O'Neill. He was kept in the dark a couple times over the years, unfortunately, but it was never anything too serious.


In 2004 Gus also began working with Jeffrey. He had to infiltrate the Spauldings by joining Spaulding Enterprises. He and Harley were both working for Jeffrey behind each other's back, but soon they worked together. It was a big case involving drug smuggling. Gus had some undercover assignments while Harley had to worm her way into another man's business, which almost went too far. But nothing disrupted GusH's relationship...yet. Gus had to deal with saying farewell to his sister when she had to go into the Witness Protection Program. We saw a new side to Gus once the drug case was solved; it was a side we never thought we would see. His aunt Alexandra was the person in charge of the drug smuggling, and Alan begged Gus to keep the secret. What was Gus to do? He was forced into protecting his family, and everything went downhill from there because he even kept it from Harley. He was not the kind of man who would keep something like that from his girl. The secret was a big burden for Gus, but it was not revealed until one and a half months later. Frank, Harley's brother, was set up for something, and Gus could have stopped that from happening. It was bad. But in the mean time, GusH finally planned their wedding, which was to be a grand Spaulding affair. Gus had decided to tell Harley the truth right before the ceremony occurred, but he was too late. There was a security tape showing Gus deciding to keep the secret, and Harley viewed it. She was crushed. He tried to explain, but she would not hear it. She exploded at him, and they were over. No wedding. He chose his family over her and betrayed her. Gus was then labeled untrustworthy; how could the trust ever return? Gus was longing for Harley for months; we saw how much of a mess he is without her. What brought them slowly together again was Phillip's "murder". Anyone could have shot him since he became a terrible person (and even demolished Harley's house). Gus found Harley after it was already done. She looked a wreck, and he helped her. That was only the beginning. The year ended with GusH sharing an amazingly long kiss on Christmas and Harley being the prime suspect in Phillip's "murder".

2005 brought us renewed hope for Gus and Harley. Gus proved that he is trustworthy and that he would do anything for Harley. He gave Harley her land back and immediately began planning to have her house rebuilt. We saw how much GusH truly and deeply love each other. They faced one of their toughest battles: Harley going to prison. She was innocent, but so much evidence mounted against her. Gus became her lawyer, and defending Harley was his first trial. He had no doubts about her innocence, and he stayed true to her. He stuck by her through the whole ordeal. Harley wasn't sure of her innocence because she could not remember what happened to her that night; she wasn't nearly as optimistic as Gus. There was a month of bail hearings and whatnot before the actual trial, and together they tried finding Phillip's "killer". No luck, though. The events of the trial didn't help Harley at all, and she prepared for a guilty verdict. Through all of this, Gus was determined to keep their relationship professional, but they were gradually falling in love all over again. He also did just about everything he could to prove her innocence, but she was guilty of 2nd-degree murder and sentenced to prison for 15-20 years (I think). While she was in there, Gus was held captive by Olivia Spencer for a while (for reasons I don't remember). It was rough, and he imagined Harley being there with him once. Harley dreamed about Gus often while in prison, and he did sneak in too see her once (he stole a guard's uniform). Harley was only in prison for about two months; there was a huge prison break with the help of her ex-husband, Mallet. Gus caught up to them, and GusH became lovers of the run. They were on a mission to find Phillip's real "killer", which led them to New York City. While on this fun and dangerous adventure, they became a couple again. They re-connected on many levels, and their love was stronger than ever. Eventually it was revealed that Alan shot Phillip, and Harley won her freedom. GusH became engaged again, and a month later they were married in a simple yet beautiful ceremony outside Company Restaurant in the courtyard. With Harley's sons their family was complete but not their house. The remainder of the year showed GusH mostly happily married, but Harley had trouble getting Mallet out of her head. The year ended with Alan being released from an asylum and Gus worried about him going after Harley. Gus left home to take care of Alan, making sure his wife was safe.

In 2006 we saw more obstacles for Gus and Harley. Gus was gone for a whole month before even viewers knew what happened to him. We knew he went after Alan, but we didn't know where he went or what he intended to do with him. He was out to protect Harley like he has always done. Harley didn't know anything either, just the reason he was gone. She searched for him, and for three months she tried not to give up hope. Poor Gus had been in a car accident with Alan, and they were retrieved by Beth, Alan's current wife. But for some reason she held them captive at a cabin. Both men were seriously injured, and she did what she could to "help" their injuries. Gus fought to leave and get back to Harley, but he couldn't. Meanwhile, all signs pointed to Gus being dead, and Harley had no choice but to grieve for her husband. She and Mallet had been growing closer during this ordeal, and they took comfort in each other for one night (meaning, they slept together). Harley gained a renew hope in Gus being alive, and she eventually found him. Gus shared a long, joyous reunion with his girl before everyone else knew he was back. But damage had been done. While in the cabin, Gus became hooked on painkillers. He had a very powerful addiction and a very sore leg. Harley didn't know of the addiction for a while, but she discovered it on her own. He tried going to rehab, but he left immediately because he couldn't handle not being able to have contact with Harley. All he needed was her. At the cabin with her and sheer willpower he faced 48 hours of detoxification. It seemed he was done with painkillers, and on a whim he and Harley renewed their vows. They had wound up on an island for an investigation and discovered that Phillip was alive and in hiding. Also while there, Gus discovered Harley and Mallet's fling, and he was crushed. He began popping pills again. He didn't let on about him knowing at first, but soon he couldn't keep his cool anymore. He had a huge confrontation with Harley, and they were over again. His addiction was back, and he was a mess again. But he picked himself up and got back in shape. He realized that he could get past Harley's mistake, and he was determined to win her back. Harley returned to town after a small trip to find Gus doing well, completely clean of drugs, and attempting to finish her house. The reunited and built their house together, but it still wasn't 100% complete. They were happy the rest of the year with Zach and Jude. They became partners on the police force again, and an abandoned baby, Sidney, kind of fell into their lap. They took care of her for one night and realized it was the right time to expand their family. They had always thought about having children together. They talked about it, and Gus wanted twins - a boy and a girl. They tried to make a baby...and tried...and tried. But they learned that Gus was sterile from a chemical exposure during his FBI days. They had no chance, but Sidney re-entered their lives. And Gus was so smitten with her; he wanted to have a child of his own more than anything. The year ended with GusH beginning the battle to adopt Sidney.

In 2007 we saw the slow, step-by-step destruction of GusH and a personality change in both of them. But it began with them being united and living happily in their house. They tried to adopt Sidney, but her family from another state wanted her too. The biggest barrier was the fact that Harley gave up her daughter, Daisy/Susan, when she was just 17. She wasn't being a good mother to her now since Daisy had so much freedom at her boarding school. Daisy was forced to move return to Springfield, and GusH saw just how rebellious she was. They had their hands full with her. Harley was dumbfounded while Gus had to fight off Daisy's crush on him. The worst thing Daisy did was lure back Gus's first love, Natalia, into his life. Everything was fine at first. Harley and Natalia got along while Gus remained completely devoted to Harley. But while Daisy was in juvenile detention for a few months, it was discovered that Gus and Natalia have a son together, Rafe, who was also in juvie. That's when Gus and Harley slowly pulled apart. And Dylan, Daisy's father, returning to town didn't help either. Gus tried making things right with Natalia and Rafe while Harley felt drawn to Dylan and raising Daisy with him. GusH had trouble handling their teens together, especially since they began dating. Everything fell apart; the once-happy home came tumbling down. Gus went trough a change when he believed Harley slept with Dylan (she didn't), and he slept with Natalia out of rage. That is an act that Gus would never do; he was never the cheating type. But he made that one mistake and tried making things right with Harley. They really tried to fix everything as their second wedding anniversary passed, but they ultimately chose to end their marriage. Harley pushed him away, and he went straight to Natalia - something that he wouldn't do. Normally, he'd fight for Harley, but he just let her go. He tried making a family with Rafe and Natalia and eventually proposed to Natalia. Meanwhile, Harley became smitten with Cyrus Foley, her niece's boyfriends at the time. That's something out of the blue for her because he wouldn't hurt her niece like that. And both Gus and Harley wouldn't be able to move on from each other so fast, but strangely, they did. Gus's life didn't include Harley much anymore. A terrible annulment occurred between them, but it didn't quite go through. They divorced, and that was that. Gus continued to be there for Zach and Jude, though; he was their father in a sense. The year ended with Gus beginning a close friendship with Olivia, who had a heart condition, and Natalia being suspicious.

In 2008 we saw the end of a wonderful man. Before that, however, Gus began dividing his time between two women. He did marry Natalia, but Olivia wanted him for herself. The two women battled for him, but nothing physical occurred of course because of Olivia's condition. That condition was an advantage for her because she could always pretend she had trouble breathing or was feeling faint, and Gus would be there if she needed him. He was always a protector; I think he was a sucker for damsels in distress. He did get pretty close to Olivia, but he claimed to love Natalia. He wasn't in love with Olivia. Harley was barely a part of his life; they bumped into each other every now and then. He was still around for her sons, of course. But most of his screen time was divided between Natalia, Olivia, and Rafe. Olivia heart gradually turned worse...eventuall to the point where she would die if she didn't get a new heart. It was only a matter of time for her, and Gus and Natalia supported her and her daughters. Olivia wanted to marry Gus as her time started diminishing, but she married Jeffrey, who would look after her daughters. Gus remained a great friend to her till his tragic end... Olivia was whisked to the hospital, and Gus's final scenes alive and uninjured were with Harley first and then Natalia at the new house he bought for them and Rafe. Unfortunately, when he finally received news of Olivia, he borrowed a motorcycle. And that's when tears began for everyone.

As it says at the beginning of this entry, I began it on Monday of this week. It is now Wednesday. Gus had to have surgery to stop bleeding in his head. Harley sensed he might not make it, and GusH shared a tearful goodbye. Natalia got to say goodbye too. When the surgery was over, Dr. Rick Bauer said he was barely hanging on. He didn't hang on much longer, and that was the end of a heroic, funny, offbeat, endearing character. He was all about saving other people and making sacrifices for others. Like Harley said today, "He died the way he lived," because his heart has gone to Olivia.

Gus Aitoro was one in a million (as is Ricky). He had a wonderful seven-year run. We will never forget him. He'll live forever in our thoughts and hearts. We'll always love him and miss him. And we will miss his amazing relationship with one Harley Cooper. They were the light of Guiding Light (in my opinion).

LONG LIVE, GUS!
GUS & HARLEY FOREVER!

At Last

This is another one featuring their "on the run" love scene. I wanted to do a simple wallpaper using just a few pictures. I chose the three that I love the most. Aren't they sexy and beautiful?

You can see that two pictures have the feathered effect, making them even more lovely. I thought pink would be a good color to match the feel of the scene. "At Last" is the song used while they made love. (Eva Cassidy, remember?) I thought a heart in the center would look great with their names in it. The sky blue matches wonderfully with the pink. And the little pink hearts are space fillers. But lovely space fillers, right?

My take on each picture... The first one of them lying down is sweet. That was near the beginning of the love scene, and he eased himself on top of her nicely. They began kissing immediately and moving their hands over each other. *sigh* Really romantic! The second is a close up of their hands, which I consider to be really sexy. His hand was over hers and interlocking with hers...as you can see. Mmm!! She's also clutching some sand in her hand. One reason it's so sexy is because it makes you wonder what they were doing while their hands were coming together like that. The third picture shows the hottest part of the love scene! OMG! His hand was doing who-knows-what and then moved up to her neck while he was planting kisses on the back of her neck. And she was pressed against him... Wow! Hot!

Such a beautiful wallpaper for a beautiful love scene. *SIGH*

Heaven

This one is beautiful and very creative.

Gus and Harley had a major love scene on the date specified; it was special because they hadn't been together like that for almost a year. A whole year! And this happened during their "on the run" story. They became much closer during this time. They felt safe with each other and thought it was just the two of them on the run forever. Cue the romance even though there was danger lurking right behind the corner. It was as if for a moment time just stopped, and there were no worries. They took time to just be, thinking that no danger existed.

Also, this took place on a beach set of a soap opera. Even though it was a fake, I'm glad they made love on a beach.

This love scene was wonderful. It was exactly what I hoped it'd be - slow and loving. So, because of that and since I really enjoy GusH love scenes, I made this pretty wallpaper. I thought purple was a good romantic color. There are pictures from almost every moment of the scene and two from their lovely afterglow. I used some different image effects for a couple of the pictures just to spruce up the wallpaper, make it more than just a regular collage. The text are lyrics from the song used in the love scene - Eva Cassidy's version of "At Last", which is so beautiful. It matched the pace of the scene perfectly. The circles of blue ripples are to fill up space, and they represent the ocean even though there wasn't one.

The position of the pictures... I knew I didn't want the corner ones to touch the sides (for some reason I don't remember). And the other six just sort of fell into the places they're in. It's definitely a unique look to this wallpaper.

IMO, this is GusH's most romantic love scene. It didn't have to be hot-n-heavy or fast-paced. They needed to rediscover each other and reconnect on the sexual level. Gus and Harley made the romance and brought pure adoring magic to our eyes.

On The Run...In New York City

This one showcases Gus & Harley's little adventure in New York City. In 2005 they had a montage of walking around the city searching for a specific building. Sounds like a difficult task, right? They eventually found the Brooklyn Bridge and a hotel, where an important person was staying. In the montage the song "New York" by Smith Point played, and there were a lot of different places within the city where Gus and Harley went. So, I figured I had to do a wallpaper because it was a cool location shoot.

I wanted this wallpaper to be busy because New York City is quite a busy, bustling place. Therefore, it has a number of pictures and text and circles. A lot if going on. I thought some pics of the city would be appropriate, so they're in the four corners. The green text is from the song mentioned earlier. The GusH pics are in chronological order, the first row then the second. And the pink circles & ovals...that was a little experimentation. I thought plain colored circles would look good and fill some space. The faded 'NYC' text is just filler; I get picky about too much space sometimes. I don't know why I chose pink for the main color theme; I think I chose it because their ice cream truck was pink (as you can see in the top right corner).

Speaking of which...what ever happened to that ice cream truck? They left it parked there, found the soap opera set to hide in, and never went back to it. As far as we know, it's still parked there! Too bad they abandoned it. It was a fun place for GusH. They never starved.

Anyway...I like this wallpaper because of how hectic it is. There's plenty more than just GusH going on for once. Brilliant!

First GusH Wallpaper

For many years I had admired those people who created wallpapers; I always wished I could make brilliant ones like theirs. I eventually did, but my first ones were more experimentations than anything else. They were not brilliant in my opinion. I don't even know how long ago I made them.

But I'm still proud of them; they still count. And this is my first Gus & Harley wallpaper:


I used a couple of lovey dovey pictures to experiment with and two different tools in the previous program I used for making wallpapers. This wallpaper looks good; the pictures look good. But it's not perfect.

The sentence in the middle is my motto for Gus & Harley. I had one for another favorite couple, so I came up with one for GusH. It's cute. It's sweet. It's the truth in my eyes, at least in the world of daytime couples.

So, since this was one of my first wallpapers, I kept it pretty simple. There wasn't much to it. It's definitely not my best work, but I had to start somewhere.