Tick Tock

Some people have a biological clock constantly ticking away the seconds left to get married/start a family/grasp the life they imagined. Mine is counting down the time I have to make a move. I think I've been pretty clear about my feelings on the current stagnant state of my work/creative life. And while I'm not sure what the next step is, I won't make it anywhere standing still. Change, by nature, is scary. I'm a thinker, so to talk myself out of doing I can stack up the "what if's" higher than Mt. Everest. But then what? What happens when I look up, 30 years are gone, and I'm reflecting on what could have been? True, life isn't defined by a job or a location, but what you do with it. But if I'm not doing, am I living? It's time to stop contemplating everything and take a step out on faith. The only way I'll ever know is to just do it. Wish me luck!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

A Cut Above

I'm watching one of my favorite shows, CBS Sunday Morning, and one of today's stories is about Vidal Sassoon. He was arguably the first signature hairstylist in the 70s & 80s. I remember using Sassoon shampoo and vaguely recall blowing my mane out with a Sassoon hair dryer, but that's not what caught my attention. He made a statement about a bout with pneumonia that almost killed him. When asked how he felt about his ordeal, he said he was okay with dying, as he's had a great adventure and done more than he imagined. I instantly wondered if I could say the same. Am I happy with the life I've led so far? Parts of it are great, but others can definitely use improvement. Here's the thing though, Vidal used his skills, determination, and stubbornness to turn his nothing into something. I don't need a hair empire, but I definitely need to hone my talents into something more worthwhile than a job I merely tolerate. How? I don't know. But I can't make any progress standing still. So thanks Vidal Sassoon, for providing today's kick in the butt. And on that note...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Mama's Meatloaf

Today's stew is actually meatloaf.  Here's my recipe, which is actually a mix of my dad's, mother-in-law's, and a couple of other sources.  But, this is how I make it, and I'm Mama, so there ya go.  Enjoy!
Prep time: approx 20 mins
Cook time: approx 1 hour

Ingredients:
1 to 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
(1) 8oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 of a medium-sized onion, diced
1/3 c. green pepper, diced
1 egg
6-7 crackers, crushed (or substitute breadcrumbs)
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Put ground beef, egg, onion, green pepper, and crackers in a large bowl.  Add seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Do not mix; set aside.  Open can of tomato sauce and add Italian seasoning and sugar directly inside can.  Use a spoon to mix ingredients thoroughly.  Pour half of sauce mixture into bowl on top of ground beef.  Using your hands, mix all ingredients in the bowl together until they are well blended and form a ball in the center of the bowl.  Mash into an oval shape and put into a deep baking dish with lid.  Pour remaining sauce on top of raw meatloaf until entire top is covered.  Bake on 375 for about 1 hour.  Cut in center; if juices run clear, it's done. 

Blessings and Birthdays

I'm so excited it's ridiculous. I decided to treat myself to my first concert since Kings of Comedy. I'm going to see Kem, Musiq, and Ledisi next week. If I were any happier, to use my daughter's expression, I'd be farting bubbles. And since this small token of my self-affection has brightened my week, I plan on celebrating every day of my birthday month (March) by doing little things that make me happy. I'm blessed and I deserve to acknowledge it.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

The Little Things

Simple as a phone call just to make it known that you're gonna be a little late/
pure as a kiss on the cheek and a word that everything will be ok/
call in the morning from my little sister singing to me happy birthday/
in the quest for fortune and fame, don't forget about the little things

India Arie's song "Little Things" puts it perfectly.  I think we can all appreciate how the little things can completely change our perspective.  A concert ticket, a smile, an hour of quality time with someone you love.  These things are minimal, but mean the world to us because of what they represent.  It's easy to lose sight of the brighter side of life when we're bombarded by gloom and doom on a daily basis.  Between wars, joblessness, money woes, hatred, murders, natural disasters, etc. it's a wonder we don't all go jumping off bridges.  When we find ourselves inundated with nothing but the bad and the ugly, good seems virtually non-esistent.  This is when we need the little things to remind us of why we keep living, why we keep going.  I read an email a while back about a young kid who was ready to commit suicide until he received a random act of kindness that renewed his faith in God, humanity, and himself.  It may have been a chain letter, but the point of it is true.  Once upon a time, I was that person wallowing in depression and confusion, seriously doubting anyone cared about me or would care if I was gone.  And it was when I was deepest in that internal abyss someone I least expected came along and made a gesture showing yes, someone does care about me.  Yes, life is worth living.  Yes, things can and will get better.  It's been a very long time since my last bout of depression, probably because I take time to focus on the little things.  Just saying "hey" can change someone's whole outlook around.  So while we're grinding, hustling, making money moves, making dollars out of fifteen cents, remember to dedicate a few moments to the little things.  It can make a world of difference.

It’s Baaaack!

I had some technical difficulties last night, so here's yesterday's post.

It caught me by surprise when I saw that America's Next Top Model’s newest cycle started tonight.  My usual routine came to a screeching halt to check out this year's crop of questionably anorexic, always dramatic aspiring models.  This season looks pretty promising, with a change of format that eliminates the melodrama of casting and goes straight into the show.  In honor of Cycle 16, the models were welcomed to their L.A. home by Tyra’s 16 year-old face plastered on the walls.  The first challenge, walking inside a clear plastic bubble on a 12" runway submerged in water, proved to be hilarious when two girls fell off and had to flail their way back to dry land.  One or two of the remaining hopefuls able to stay on the foot-wide contraption had decent walks distinguishing them from the rest.  All of their names will be lost to me; their faces will stay in my memory when I see them on a commercial or magazine.

This season is a far cry from the Top Model I swore off a few years ago.  I don’t remember the cycle, but it culminated in “Miss Jay’s” shoulder pads growing until he looked a linebacker by the final episode.  The CW must have told Tyra she had one shot to keep her show from the TV graveyard.  She definitely took it; revitalizing the format with new judges and less cheesy gimmicks.  It’s worth watching now.  I can’t wait to see what craziness they have in store for these women next week.

Git R Done

We've already established I'm a procrastinator from the 3 year bathroom door disaster.  But I have a door, it closes and locks, so I won't even discuss that now.  I've been in sort of a funk since my bubble burst a few weeks ago, but today I'm buoyed by my buddy Kim's posts.  She's going through some way heavier stuff than I am, yet she remains progressively more positive everyday.  I respect that.  And, in light of her being able to move on, I should be able to as well.  I decided I would do two things when I got home:

1. take a nap, and
2. get back on my grind.

I slept great and am energized to tackle my to-do list.  I can't succeed if I don't try. 

Check out my buddy's blog here

Facebook Faux Pas

Awhile ago I wrote an article called "How to Tell You're Addicted to Facebook."  The article is long gone, but it's time to update it with a part two - How to Act on Facebook.  I've seen a rash of Facebook faux pas lately, so I'll take a moment here to list a few.  If you see any you may have committed, well damn.
Things we should never see on Facebook

1. During labor pics.  Yes, people take pictures of themselves giving birth.  Not the before, not the after, but the during.  The miracle of life is a wonderful thing, but if I really want to see it, I'll sit in on a high school health class or check out Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues.  I'd rather not see your baby's crowning head pop up in my news feed.
2. Shirtless/underwear pics.  Unless you are an underwear model or trying to be discovered, I can do without seeing your nips.  You can make a special folder for those, call it "audition pics", put all your photos in there like an online portfolio.  It'll be great. Try that out.  And speaking of underwear...
3. I better not EVER see any pics of you with none on.  Enough said.
4. Questionable status updates.  I don't care if you're horny, or you just took a nasty dump, or if you've got a uti/bladder/staph infection, or if your pus-filled big toenail just fell off.  I don't want to damn know.  What do you want me to say about it?  "You're horny?  Here's some lotion and a roll of paper towels.  Knock yourself out." Or "oh you've got an infection? I have an extra penicillin prescription!  Care for one?"
5. You getting mad about people being in your business, when you put ALL YOUR BUSINESS in your status updates.  "How did you know I just got off probation for slashing Lisa's tires?"  Ummm, you put when you were stalking Lisa, how you found Lisa's address, how the GPS gave you bad directions to Lisa's house, and finally when you figured out the dull blade wouldn't cut the rubber on the tread.  You don't want me to know?  Quit telling me.

I know Facebook is about speaking your mind and all, but I don't think your itchy rash is exactly what our forefathers had in mind when they talked about free speech.  I also have the right to hide, remove, block, or simply ignore you.  And I do that too.  But do all of us a favor -  remember if you don't want to see it about me, I probably don't want to see it about you.

That's it, she's DEAD

I was watching an episode of Martin today. It was the one where Gina had to prepare an important presentation for work while caring for sick Martin. She had the option of letting his mother take care of him, but didn't want anyone to think she valued her career over her man. My friend brought up a similar subject the other day when she mentioned a woman's guilt over having to hire a nanny. Both of these incidents got me thinking: when did regular women turn into Superwomen? It seems like the happy homemaker ideal would have died with women's lib. But instead of trading in pots and pans for briefcases and businesses, they just got tacked on to the unreasonable list of things women are expected to do. A typical day for most women I know consists of going to a job or school, caring for children, cooking, cleaning, running errands, and finding time for her significant other. And all that is on top of any personal stuff she needs to take care of. These are the lives we chose. While we don't regret our choices, we don't have to do it all nor should we feel guilty about asking for help. I stand proud saying I'm not Superwoman and I don't want to be. Matter of fact, I have my Superwoman trapped in my trunk and I just bought some rope, gasoline, and a box of matches. I'm going to take her out once and for all. What are you going to do with yours?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Ow

So I just got my micro braids redone and all I have to say is "ow." I have excellent reasons for enduring 8.5 hours of torture, but my head still feels like someone is snatching my scalp out through my hair follicles. Despite the pain and the price, I'm happy to get it done every 3 months or so. If it means I don't have to figure out hairstyles in the morning, or fool with curling and flat irons, or deal with breakage or split ends, I'll suck up my discomfort. Thankfully, I'll be able to smile and blink again without pain in a few days. Until then, I'll grab my bottle of knock off tylenol and some moscato.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

No kids = selfish?

A friend of mine, who happens to be childless, asked if I thought people who consciously decided not to have kids were selfish. I said no, I thought they were smart. I love my kids, but what's wrong with wanting to enjoy marriage/life/career b.c. (before children)? If a person made a habit, or better yet a hobby, out of having kids, we'd be wondering why they never learned how to use a contraceptive. But when someone realizes they don't want to be the next paternity case on Maury, they're selfish? That doesn't seem fair. The reality is we don't know why people decide to wait to have children, or not to have them at all. Maybe they know something we don't - their relationship isn't that strong; they work crazy hours and don't have time to devote to parenthood; they like to travel and can only afford one ticket. Whatever the case, procreation is a personal choice. I'm glad people are smart enough to choose what's best for them.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Power of Promotion

I'd like to try something with you all. A Butch Gibson Show introduction. If you'd like to be a part, call 513-549-3344 and say your name, where you're calling from, promote yourself, and say 'THIS is the Butch Gibson Show!'

This post was made on Facebook by my buddy Butch, who had this great idea about promotion - promote yourself by allowing others to promote themselves on your venue.  Think of it as pyramid promotion, except there's no money to be won or lost.  The sole item on the line is popularity. By promoting yourself, you gain more interest in your cause; by saying you're doing it on the Butch Gibson Show, he gains the same recognition as your venue.  It's a commonly used marketing tactic which seems relatively successful.  And seeing as he put it on his Facebook page, if a fraction of his 5 billion and 5 friends participate, he should be in great shape.  So in the spirit of promotion, I'm giving a shout out to everyone who took the time to follow, check out, or promote my blog...click on some of their links and help them out as well!

www.sirlucien.com - all things barber/hair related.  Good blog, check him out.
www.butchgibson.com - Butch Gibson, DJ Extraordinaire
http://giantleapforwomankind.com - Divorcing mother on a journey to find herself
http://robynsproject365.blogspot.com - Robyn's photo project
http://dwana365ish.blogspot.com - Dwana's photo project

2/16/11

I'm a day late and a dollar short.  I missed my post yesterday as I was entangled in mounds of hair.  I got this novel idea to finish removing my micro braids - a task that started at 5:30 and finished up 5 hours later.  Add another 2 hours to wash, condition, blow dry, grease, and flatten the afro on my head and the night was shot.  But I digress.  Consider this post yesterday's stew, and I'll do another for today.

As I picked my way through unbraiding the mess atop my head, I left the TV on for some background noise to my neverending task.  After I saw UC beat Louisville, I watched the Nuggets/Bucks game, or should I say I watched the commentators debate over what jersey Carmelo Anthony would wear after the All Star break.  Ok, to say I'm not a huge basketball fan would be an understatement.  I couldn't care less about stats, points, jerseys, or players unless they pertain to my 6th grader's team.  It was the figures that caught my attention; the sheer amout of money these players make per season.  Carmelo stands to make roughly 22 million a year if he signs a 3 year contract with the Nuggets.  Did you hear what I said?  $22 million a year.  I can barely fathom making $100k per year, much less 22 MILLION.  And while it's a nice chunk of change, he by no means is one of the richest athletes in the game.  He's most likely somewhere in mid-range, moving towards the top.  The main thing that came to my mind the broadcaster said aloud.  It was something to the effect of, "Anthony's challenge now is deciding if he wants to sign the contract for $65 million over 3 years, or if he wants to go to another team.  I'd like to have those problems."  That summed it up for me.  I'd love to have the "problem" of do I want to play a sport I love for 65 million dollars, or put on a different jersey and play for more than that?  Take all the x factors - if he got hurt, who his teammates are, can they win a championship, will the city support him, etc. - away from it and focus on the problem.  Sign for $65 million, or go elsewhere and most likely make more money.  I say damn.  I'd much rather have that conundrum than "which bill gets paid in full, and which one do I pay on?"  I'm glad Mr. Anthony and the rest of the professional athletes with that problem chose the path of professional basketball and made it.  But on behalf of us poor schmoes who sit and watch from the barstool or the couch, we WISH we could have those issues.  Good luck, Carmelo.

Wake Up

I'm in need of some motivation, and since I haven't been able to find it within myself, I rediscovered a nice kick in the butt a friend gave me awhile back.  This is the Hip Hop Preacher and his message is about success.  The part that hit home for me was about people wanting to sleep more than they want to be successful (because that's me all day).  Check him out. 
Here's part 1...

Love

Valentine's is all about love and gushy feelings and gooey sentiment. So in honor of February 14th, instead of researching the history of the holiday and how much Hallmark makes in revenue, I'll say a few words about love. Love is often glamorized by people who don't know, haven't experienced, or forgot what love is. Real love, at least in my experience, is all consuming, often drowning us in a flood of emotions the size of a tsunami. Eventually the waters subside, leaving a sediment of reality in it's wake. Those leftovers are love. True love runs the whole gamut of emotions, including those we'd rather forget. True love is un-dolled up by card makers and chocolatiers; it's raw, naked, and unashamed. It is accepting the beautiful highs and ugly lows that make us who we are. Love is life, and without love, life wouldn't be worth living. So this Valentine's day, leave the sentiment at the store and embrace true love. Because once the infatuation wears off, love is all you've got left.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Mind over Matter

I am not sick. Despite coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, and irritability, I have no symptoms. And if mind over matter is true, then just my saying I'm not sick means I'm not, right? I'll contemplate that over a nyquil cocktail. G'night.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

In o'er my head

My daughter told me this funny story today that I instantly thought would make a great game. My kids and I took the story and ran, coming up with levels, characters, a background, and an objective. We kept going, and I remembered this news clip about a young boy who programmed a popular game by himself. I figured it couldn't be that hard if a 7th grader can do it. Well, I was definitely wrong. Our initial search online turned up several blogs and a bunch of links, all using language I recognized as English but couldn't decipher to save my life. I realized then I'm in over my head. So I'll take this moment to make a desperate plea to app developers everywhere. If you know what you're doing and care to do some pro bono work, maybe we can talk.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Use What You Got

I like to consider myself a pretty resourceful person.  Here we are, still days away from payday, and I was able to mix the sparse contents of our refrigerator into a dish to feed four people.  Interested in the recipe?  See below.

You'll need
(4) medium potatoes, peeled and diced into large pieces
(3) stalks of celery, diced
1/2 small onion, diced
(1) package of link sausage (turkey or chicken), cut up
3/4c. water
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Heat oil in a medium skillet on medium-high heat.  Add potatoes, celery, and onion and let cook until potatoes start to turn clear, stirring frequently.  Lower heat and add half of the water.  Add sausage and season to taste.  Cover and let cook until water starts to bubble, stirring occasionally.  Add the remaining water and cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.  Serve and enjoy!

Also...
Today marks the one month mark of my Twitter experiment.  Since joining Twitter, downloading Tweetdeck on my phone, and updating my Facebook daily with my new posts, my stats have increased exponentially.  Page views over the month are up by 300; I have 9 people following my blog; and 10 followers on Twitter.  Not spectacular stats, but in all the experiment seems to be working.  I'll keep soliciting and see what happens in February.  Follow me @cerebralstew if you don't already!  :)

Dewey, Screwem, and Howe

Why is it everyone wants something for nothing?  My mom put it perfectly when she quipped, "people want Saks Fifth Avenue merchandise for Goodwill prices."  There's nothing wrong with wanting the best value for your money.  Anyone who knows me knows I stay up on sales and keep my coupon book in my purse.  The difference between catching a sale and what I'm talking about is when you hit a sale, you pay the sale price and feel good about it.  When you want something for nothing, you acknowledge what you want is worth more, but for some strange reason, you feel YOU deserve a discount.  Why is that?  Why do people think that just because we're cool, or because I work with you, or because your cousin's best friend's husband went to school with my little brother's ex-girlfriend's friend that they should get a discount?  If you went to Macy's you wouldn't nickel and dime the sales clerk.  So why do that to someone who is providing a service for you?  I think people have this misconception that their business is your ONLY business.  So while you're doing a favor for a 4x removed friend in addition to everything else you've got going on, they're constantly trying to figure out how they can annoy, harass, and cheat you out of what you're already doing for damn near free.  I've seen people come up with every excuse in the book to keep from paying what they owe, i.e. finding phantom flaws in your work; claiming the amount isn't what you agreed on; having mysterious emergencies conveniently arise when it comes time for payday; and finally just outright saying they don't have it and can they give you what they've got.  Again I have to ask, do you do that at the counter at Macy's?  Let's examine this scenario.  I go to Macy's to cop a pair of boots.  When I get through the line, I find a faint scuff in the boots and point it out to the clerk.  Then I tell her the sale price written on the boots isn't the price I want to pay.  Then I say my kid is sick and I have to pay the doctor bill.  And I offer her $20 for the pair of $100 boots I have in my hand.  If this scenario sounds familiar to your typical Macy's run, that's fine.  Do you.  At least I'd understand this is how you are and not take it personally.  But let's say you're in line behind me and you're witnessing me going through all these motions.  You'll have another question.  Why did I bring my broke behind in the store in the first place?  This is the same question I pose to you.  If you are one of these people who nickel and dime and try to get something for nothing, please take it elsewhere.  I have no time to deal with you trying to screw me over.  There are people waiting to pay full price for what you won't.

Profile of a Stalker

Maybe it's because Valentine's is in a few days, but I've become acutely aware of the stalker-esque lyrics in love songs.  It didn't hit me until earlier today when Pandora started playing a mix of some '90s and '00s classics.  Monica's "So Gone", Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together", and then the newer hits by Rihanna & Eminem and J. Holiday...all sound like Stalkers Gone Wild.  Listen to some of the lines: I can't sleep, can't eat, I suffocate when you're away from me; I'm driving past his house every night in an unmarked car; when you left I lost a part of me; I'm gonna burn the bed if you try to leave me.  Ummm, these are LOVE songs?  I know love is about giving all of yourself and really pouring your all into the relationship, but once you've crossed the line from thinking about me to driving past my house in an unmarked car, you've officially become a stalker.  I'm about 3 seconds from dialing 9-1 and then waiting to hit the last 1 if I see your unmarked car again.  And nothing says lovin' like pouring gas on a bed and watching me burn.  Mmmmmhmmm.  That's good loving right there.  All of these love songs might as well be written by Charles Manson or Ike Turner.  I'm not saying they're not good songs - I know the words, I like the melodies, I sing along.  But there's something morbid about loving me so much you want to crawl in my skin and be me that doesn't sit well.  It's rather creepy.  If you want to show your affection, buy some flowers, treat me to dinner, revive me if I pass out.  Don't suffocate if I'm suffocating.  Don't follow me around in unmarked cars.  Don't strap me to my bed and burn me alive to show how much you care about me.  If that's your idea of love, I'll just call you Ike.  "Don't die on me Ann...Anna Mae, if you die, I'll kill ya.  Hear me b**ch?  If you die, I'll kill ya."  Now that's some love for your ass. 

Never heard of these songs or noticed the lyrics? See below for the youtube vids:
Monica's So Gone
Mariah Carey's We Belong Together
Rihanna & Eminem's Love the Way You Lie
J. Holiday's Suffocate

and if you don't already use it, check out http://www.pandora.com/

Nothing to Say

Apparently, I have cyclical writer's block.  I have a lot on my mind, but not much I want to say.  So, instead of my typical post, I'll ask for feedback for my survey.  If you've got a laptop, please participate.  Something better should be bubbling in the stew tomorrow.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7JV5QNK

Liars!

We all know people who lie for the sake of lying. They lie about their friends, conversations, middle name, etc. for no reason at all. They'll tell you the sky is purple just to see if you'll believe it. Those folks I can do without. But there's another group of liars that we all need - the ones who, in the interest of sparing your feelings, tell you that no matter how bad your situation is things will get better. Those liars, aka your friends and family, genuinely want you to be happy. They're always there to point out the bright side, even when both sides seem mighty dim. Although at times we need to wallow in our sorrows, steep fully in grief, and eat ourselves into an ice cream coma, we also need those voices pulling us back to reality, reassuring us times will get easier. And no matter how hard it is to accept at the time, we eventually realize it's those voices, those fibs, that keep us going. So I'll use this post as a thank you to all the people in my life who so politely lied to my face over the weekend...I appreciate it. Now I just have to believe it.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Super Bowl, Song Edition

If you've listened to the radio in the past 3 months, you've heard Wiz Khalifa's song Black and Yellow, a tribute to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Lil Wayne came out with his own response in favor of the Green Bay Packers over the same beat.  In the spirit of a good contest, who do you think won this Super Bowl, Song Edition?  If you haven't heard either song, the links are below.

Wiz Khalifa's original: Black and Yellow
Lil Wayne's response: Green and Yellow

Comment with "Wiz" or "Wayne" if you want to vote.  And if nobody votes, I'll pick who I want.  I'll publish the winner tomorrow.

Hallelujah

It's amazing what good company, a couple if long islands, and an unconventional church service can do for the psyche. Yes, I know liquor and church don't usually mix, but today, they were just the right cocktail to get me through my bout of depression. You see, I'm bummed. I'd been waiting for good news, and today found out I didn't get it. I didn't feel like leaving my house, much less meeting with smiling happy people I'd have to explain my mood to. I decided to go anyway; at the very least, I could drown my sorrows in something harder than cran-apple juice. Turns out some sympathetic company and a super bowl sermon were just what I needed. While I realize my situation could be 1000x worse, I needed a reminder that everyone goes through trials on their roads to redemption. And as I lament over my temporary road block, I know things will get better. Everything isn't for everyone. My opportunity is still out there; when it's meant for me it will come. And although I'm not done being bummed, my spirits are a bit buoyed. Hallelujah!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Lame!

When did I get lame? Here it is, Friday night, I'm temporarily kid free, and hubby and I can't come up with anything interesting to do. Of course, there's the usual "quality time" suggestion, but then what? We aren't big on clubs, our closest friends are 400 miles away, and everything we come up with (bowling, movie, sports bar) is promptly shot down. There's gotta be something more stimulating than WWE wrestling and blogging for a couple in their thirties. When did I become the type of person who'd rather laugh at stupid commercials from my couch than get out and see the world? When did I get lame? Maybe having kids does that to you...you get so used to not having a sitter, you end up sitting around when you do. Or maybe we need to stop being lame, grab the keys, and just go. So I'll take my own advice, and with that...I'm gone!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Finally

I think we can all agree that the media has a lot to do with how we perceive our world, especially those in it.  And, while I'm as amused as the next person by A&E's Police Women of Cincinnati, it's about time we put some positive images of black people to the forefront.  The link below is to a young man, Alan Lawson aka "Alwizzy", who not only uses his talents for entertainment, but is creating a name for himself that isn't preceeded by "Fugitive Captured." I figured if the media can't put his name out there, I can at least reach as many people as possible between my blog, Twitter, and Facebook page.  Hopefully you'll be inspired and do the same.  Check out his classical twist to a popular song (although I'll never support the black and yellow/black and yellow/black and yellow/black and yellow).  Maybe the next time you see this kid, he'll be out of the shadows of negative black images and center stage.  You'll know which one he is (look for the violin).

Click here for his video

Get ya hustle on!

On snowy days like today, I think of one thing I haven't seen in a long time...kids offering to shovel the driveway. What happened to all the enterprising youth, knocking door to door, eager to make some money? When I was younger, it was a battle of who could get bundled up first, get out, and start hitting their neighbors houses. We even had to do good work, or the next guy would get the business. Now, I'm doing well to see a random kid walking across the street, much less deliberately outside with a shovel. What happened? Is the draw of technology (xbox/ps3, computer, tv, phones, etc) greater than the prospect of having their own funds? Or is the thought of doing actual physical labor the deterrent? Maybe it's simpler...cold + no gloves = snowy sidewalks. Who knows. I know I could use some extra gas money, so children in snowy states beware! I have gloves, I'm not afraid of hard work, and I bring my own snow blower. Don't be surprised if you see my 30+ year old behind getting my hustle on, throwing snow in your direction. And I'm taking my hustle to the bank.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Game Over...?

If you're not familiar, The Game is a sitcom based on fictional professional football players and their spouses/loved ones/groupies. It premiered on the CW, then was dropped a year or so ago when the network restructured its programming (read: took off it's black shows). I and everyone else who were avid fans lamented over how abruptly it ended, just when things were getting good. But after a year's hiatus and a big push by it's aficionados, it was resurrected by BET. I was anticipating the return as much as anyone, but was supremely disappointed in the first few episodes. Instead of the fresh, unpredictable, offbeat show we all loved, it became 20x more dramatic. It went from funny semi-drama to super high melodramatic Days Of Our Lives as rich crazy people. Today's episode had some redeeming qualities of old - quirky comments from Jason Pitts, bad boy behavior of Malik Wright, and church-centered Derwin Davis came back from his stint as a confused playboy. It was a rocky start, but I still have some hope. The Game may not be over yet.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5