In the last post, I introduced this segment, a look at some of the more interesting things I've witnessed in my travels through the city of Chicago. Maybe they're interesting overall, or it just seems that way because of the consistent lack of sleep, but there's always comedy to be had. So, without further ado, today's installment of "The World, Through Sleep Deprived Eyes."
- Summer = a great time to be Black. Why? Well, I kinda feel bad for all the tomato-faced people I see walking around. They look like they just finished a half-marathon, and haven't done anything but walk around the corner to the store. Different body parts are either bright red, or that orange-reddish mix if they're making a consistent effort at tanning, and (according to friends), it can hurt like all hell if you're outside even five minutes too long.
I always make a joke about having a "biological tan," but I do get darker during the summer, just from being out and about so much (it also promptly peels off somewhere around Labor Day...never fails). I'm going to go ahead and assume that it sucks to have various places on your body that are excessively sore for extended periods of time, and be thankful that I've never experienced it.
- Skinny Jeans can make you look, well, not skinny. One of the most recent "not for everyone, but sooo many people want to try it" fads is something I've made a bit of noise about in the past. It's a look that takes a pretty balanced figure to pull off well, and I've seen a lot more misses than hits since their inception (re-inception?).
However, I HAVE seen a rapid increase in the amount of exposed underwear, muffin tops, knock-knees (think Tommy Pickles of "Rugrats" fame), and overall uncomfortableness in the name of fashion. Wasn't there a time where we made fun of people whose pants were so tight, their feet looked swollen from all the pressure it took to get the pants on?
- Where Da 'Rats? Most of us city-dwellers are well aware of the fact that once the temperature hits a certain level, it gives certain girls free reign to break out their shortest shorts and skirts, their tightest or skimpiest tops, and hang out on the back of someone's motorcycle over on South Chicago Ave.
Over the last couple years, the appeal of the "Summer Strip" has lessened exponentially. Maybe it's just because I'm getting older, and the girls still look the same age (or, God forbid, younger). Maybe it's just my own idea of what's fashionable (at least, what looks nice) that doesn't agree with what I've seen. I'm not saying that it can't be an attractive look, but I'm definitely more of a t-shirt and (not skinny) jeans kinda guy. Hey, whatever gets you hot. Or keeps you cool. Or gets you home with someone tonight.
- Driving Etiquette, anyone? This weekend gave me more than a few examples of why some people should never be behind the wheel of a car. Let's check a few out.
First: If you don't use your turn signals, and someone cuts you off, you deserve it. Car companies made them so you wouldn't get half your car torn off by someone in the next lane. Or better yet, half your arm torn off from signaling by hand. Don't honk and get pissy when someone doesn't let you over. Get it right, and try again. (Also, don't leave the damn things on for miles on end, especially if you're cruising. It's like waiting for a bus that never comes!)
Second: Speeding during thunderstorms. I think we can figure out why this a bad idea. Kicking up water in someone's line of sight going 75 miles an hour can easily turn tragic if something malfunctions. Never mind hydroplaning, blowouts, and my personal favorite...
Third: Traffic jams. Speed limits were put in place to prevent these from happening. Of course, jams happen for plenty of reasons -- accidents being the most common. But is it really that hard to merge onto the expressway? It's pass, merge, pass, merge. It's surprising how many people are assholes about it...like they're really accomplishing something by being a few feet ahead of another car. All you're doing is making a mess. On a side thought, I always wonder what has to be going on at the front of a traffic jam when there aren't any accidents reported. Are there just two or three cars going 40 miles an hour, and close enough together to where no one can move around them? That's my best guess. Any other suggestions?
There's more, but my bed's calling once again. Until next time!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Formal Apology, The Countdown Begins, And Something To "See."
First things first...yeah, it's been a while. It happens.
Now then...the editors of "The Life And Times Of..." (that is, me, myself, and I) usually issue a disclaimer with every post, encouraging readers to provide both positive and negative feedback for any content that appears here. However, there are times when things are said, lines are crossed, and feelings are hurt, sometimes to the point where you want little or nothing to do with certain people or situations in the future, whether they realize the extent of the damage they've done or not.
That being said, I'd like to apologize to OriginO for a few sentiments expressed in a previous post. It stemmed from the interpretation that I got from what we were talking about, and it would have been much more positive for the two of us to discuss it in person, or on the phone. I don't know how long you had been upset...and I really wished you would have called me about it...but I don't expect, nor can I expect, you, or anyone else, to communicate the way I find works for me. The gist of it is this: I didn't understand where you were coming from (and maybe I should have), and I felt as though you didn't understand where I was coming from. I started writing to try and gain some perspective on the whole thing, and it came out the way that it did. I'm sorry.
On a more general note...I had no idea that you even read this thing. Not saying that I should spout off about things at random, but I honestly didn't think that you did. It's a not-very-great way of finding out that someone might give a little bit more of a shit than you give them credit for, to say the least. But I did realize that the amount of time that we do talk or hang out or what have you is just a part of the dynamic that's been established between the two of us, and it's not something that can be used as a point of contention or hostility. I think we get on pretty well when we're around each other, and at the time, it would have been a really good distraction from some of the side drama that happened to be going on. Sometimes, you just want to goof around, and you're one of the biggest ones I know! Haha.
If I have it in me to put my thoughts, good or bad, in a public forum, I have to have it in me to admit when I've made a mistake in the same thread. I think you're an amazing girl, and if we've reached the end of our road, I think that the people in your life should be blessed to have you, if they aren't already. You, for lack of a better way to put it, made me be social when I didn't want to be, and while I've never really mentioned anything, it's helped me stay focused on what's going on, rather than what's already gone on. If nothing else, there's an excellent chance that I'll think of you whenever I smell barbecue. (I know that might sound weird to the rest of you out there, but trust me when I say that she understands it perfectly.)
If you didn't know before...now you know, and the world knows, too. I hope that we can try and work something out...maybe a guest editorial on "The Life And Times Of..."? *shrug*...haha. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I'm bound to do and say things that aren't always reflective of my heart. This is my own way of saying, "forgive me."
In other news...there's less than three weeks left until that fun little thing called school is back on. I know you're not supposed to be overly excited about summer classes, but my educational itch has been begging to be scratched for a long time, at least in the structured sense. That, and it pays in the long run to have the piece of paper that says "hey, I know how to do (XYZ), let me show you!", regardless of the extent of your ability to do whatever it is what you do.
I've been working like the proverbial Hebrew slave to make sure things are well in place, and the only thing left to do now is be patient. The IT certification process is coming along, slowly but surely. Thinking that the only formality with that is coming up with the loot to pay for the exams. Which reminds me...I do quite a bit of freelance computer work in my spare time! We live in a society where some of us are completely lost without our laptops, or cell phones, or PDAs, or whatever your personal for of electronic communication may be...if you guys are having issues, or know someone that does, and want a cost-efficient alternative to taking your stuff to Best Buy, or tossing it out altogether, hit me up! I'll do my best to get you back in working order, ASAP. You'll be Facebooking again in no time, and supporting a very worthwhile cause!
People Watching...
So, working downtown has opened my eyes to a lot of things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Some things are a bit sad, others downright hilarious. That being said, I'd like to introduce a segment I like to call, "The World, As Seen Through Sleep-Deprived Eyes."
- The amount of people who drink on the job (or before the job!) is RIDICULOUS. Anything that can be tucked away in a pocket or briefcase is fair game...a bottle of vodka, a 24 ounce can of beer, a couple six-packs if you're smart. Clearly, this isn't a new development, but seeing it firsthand is still a bit unnerving.
- Gambling, in its many forms, is only fun when you know when to stop. A perfect example of this is an older gentleman who frequents work, who has an affinity for scratch-off lottery tickets. A co-worker of mine started keeping a tally of how much the guy spends in a given day, and he puts down about a stack ($1,000, just to clarify) a week (Monday-Friday). Who DOES that? I mean, if he's got the money to do it, then go for it, but good lord!
- Like with any group of people in society, the homeless aren't as bad as people make them out to be. Of course, there are still plenty of assholes, but some know how to clean themselves up every now and then. There are guys with no shame left, and the money that they ask for goes toward that next drink, or that next ounce to smoke. Seeing the same faces, in terrible positions, is all the encouragement I need to keep pushing forward.
- And now, a quick Public Service Announcement: it may be time to lose weight if you have to walk around your own thighs when you walk. I'm totally accepting of the "Big Is Beautiful" movement, but it just didn't look comfortable. That P90X keeps calling my name...haha.
- Apparently, I give off a vibe that tells people that I know my directions. Case in point...I was downtown last Thursday, and at least five people stopped to ask me how to get somewhere, in the time it took me to walk from work to Borders, which is only 5-6 blocks if I roundabout my way there. Thankfully, more often than not, I've known where they were headed, and I've been able to help, but it just seems odd. I would say that it's because I look like a local, but it's happened in other cities I've visited. Maybe it's the glasses?
It's a beautiful day outside, so I'm off to enjoy the sun for a little bit, before I resume the previously mentioned Hebrew slaving. Until next time, world.
Now then...the editors of "The Life And Times Of..." (that is, me, myself, and I) usually issue a disclaimer with every post, encouraging readers to provide both positive and negative feedback for any content that appears here. However, there are times when things are said, lines are crossed, and feelings are hurt, sometimes to the point where you want little or nothing to do with certain people or situations in the future, whether they realize the extent of the damage they've done or not.
That being said, I'd like to apologize to OriginO for a few sentiments expressed in a previous post. It stemmed from the interpretation that I got from what we were talking about, and it would have been much more positive for the two of us to discuss it in person, or on the phone. I don't know how long you had been upset...and I really wished you would have called me about it...but I don't expect, nor can I expect, you, or anyone else, to communicate the way I find works for me. The gist of it is this: I didn't understand where you were coming from (and maybe I should have), and I felt as though you didn't understand where I was coming from. I started writing to try and gain some perspective on the whole thing, and it came out the way that it did. I'm sorry.
On a more general note...I had no idea that you even read this thing. Not saying that I should spout off about things at random, but I honestly didn't think that you did. It's a not-very-great way of finding out that someone might give a little bit more of a shit than you give them credit for, to say the least. But I did realize that the amount of time that we do talk or hang out or what have you is just a part of the dynamic that's been established between the two of us, and it's not something that can be used as a point of contention or hostility. I think we get on pretty well when we're around each other, and at the time, it would have been a really good distraction from some of the side drama that happened to be going on. Sometimes, you just want to goof around, and you're one of the biggest ones I know! Haha.
If I have it in me to put my thoughts, good or bad, in a public forum, I have to have it in me to admit when I've made a mistake in the same thread. I think you're an amazing girl, and if we've reached the end of our road, I think that the people in your life should be blessed to have you, if they aren't already. You, for lack of a better way to put it, made me be social when I didn't want to be, and while I've never really mentioned anything, it's helped me stay focused on what's going on, rather than what's already gone on. If nothing else, there's an excellent chance that I'll think of you whenever I smell barbecue. (I know that might sound weird to the rest of you out there, but trust me when I say that she understands it perfectly.)
If you didn't know before...now you know, and the world knows, too. I hope that we can try and work something out...maybe a guest editorial on "The Life And Times Of..."? *shrug*...haha. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I'm bound to do and say things that aren't always reflective of my heart. This is my own way of saying, "forgive me."
In other news...there's less than three weeks left until that fun little thing called school is back on. I know you're not supposed to be overly excited about summer classes, but my educational itch has been begging to be scratched for a long time, at least in the structured sense. That, and it pays in the long run to have the piece of paper that says "hey, I know how to do (XYZ), let me show you!", regardless of the extent of your ability to do whatever it is what you do.
I've been working like the proverbial Hebrew slave to make sure things are well in place, and the only thing left to do now is be patient. The IT certification process is coming along, slowly but surely. Thinking that the only formality with that is coming up with the loot to pay for the exams. Which reminds me...I do quite a bit of freelance computer work in my spare time! We live in a society where some of us are completely lost without our laptops, or cell phones, or PDAs, or whatever your personal for of electronic communication may be...if you guys are having issues, or know someone that does, and want a cost-efficient alternative to taking your stuff to Best Buy, or tossing it out altogether, hit me up! I'll do my best to get you back in working order, ASAP. You'll be Facebooking again in no time, and supporting a very worthwhile cause!
People Watching...
So, working downtown has opened my eyes to a lot of things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Some things are a bit sad, others downright hilarious. That being said, I'd like to introduce a segment I like to call, "The World, As Seen Through Sleep-Deprived Eyes."
- The amount of people who drink on the job (or before the job!) is RIDICULOUS. Anything that can be tucked away in a pocket or briefcase is fair game...a bottle of vodka, a 24 ounce can of beer, a couple six-packs if you're smart. Clearly, this isn't a new development, but seeing it firsthand is still a bit unnerving.
- Gambling, in its many forms, is only fun when you know when to stop. A perfect example of this is an older gentleman who frequents work, who has an affinity for scratch-off lottery tickets. A co-worker of mine started keeping a tally of how much the guy spends in a given day, and he puts down about a stack ($1,000, just to clarify) a week (Monday-Friday). Who DOES that? I mean, if he's got the money to do it, then go for it, but good lord!
- Like with any group of people in society, the homeless aren't as bad as people make them out to be. Of course, there are still plenty of assholes, but some know how to clean themselves up every now and then. There are guys with no shame left, and the money that they ask for goes toward that next drink, or that next ounce to smoke. Seeing the same faces, in terrible positions, is all the encouragement I need to keep pushing forward.
- And now, a quick Public Service Announcement: it may be time to lose weight if you have to walk around your own thighs when you walk. I'm totally accepting of the "Big Is Beautiful" movement, but it just didn't look comfortable. That P90X keeps calling my name...haha.
- Apparently, I give off a vibe that tells people that I know my directions. Case in point...I was downtown last Thursday, and at least five people stopped to ask me how to get somewhere, in the time it took me to walk from work to Borders, which is only 5-6 blocks if I roundabout my way there. Thankfully, more often than not, I've known where they were headed, and I've been able to help, but it just seems odd. I would say that it's because I look like a local, but it's happened in other cities I've visited. Maybe it's the glasses?
It's a beautiful day outside, so I'm off to enjoy the sun for a little bit, before I resume the previously mentioned Hebrew slaving. Until next time, world.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Weekend Six: March 29 - April 4.
Well, it was a big week for most of Chicago's sports franchises, and there have been more than a few fans (as well as haters) of what's gone down. Add in a pleasant surprise, a couple head-shakers, and the comedy of downtown Chicago, and you have The Weekend Six.
1. The 'Hawks are relevant again. Who Knew?
Normally, you'd never hear me talk about hockey, and that might be partly playing into the stereotype that black folks don't play hockey (not true, of course...see: Jarome Iginla, Grant Fuhr). But I am loyal to my Chicago teams, and it's good to see them back in form. It's been seven years since the last time they were in the playoffs, and 17 since the last time they played for the Stanley Cup. Let's see how they do.
2. How NOT To Get Caught Up In A Lie...
Example The First: If you're going to tell someone that you're not single, don't make any appearances on any online dating sites. It looks bad for all parties involved. Very interesting points to consider -- Not Single, but looking? Single, but using the Not Single line as a buffer/filter/way of flirting? Not really sure which way to go in general? The world may never know, and I don't particularly care to find out. The lesson: honesty works wonders.
Example The Second: For the love of all that is good and holy, if you're going to play the field, DON'T put yourself directly in position to get caught up! That means anything on Facebook/Myspace/Twitter that may indicate that there's someone special in your life. Or, if you're going to have it, don't be friends with whoever else is involved. It's called "The Game" for a reason...if you're going to play, know what the hell you're doing. Too many Associate Pimps, not enough Baby Powders...shout outs to Hall-Of-Femme for inspiring this one. Keep your head up!
3. It Might Have Been A Hustle, But It Was A Good Hustle Nonetheless.
So, I'm picking up an item for my sister, and getting dinner at one of my favorite places here in the city, and there's a guy hanging around outside the stores, asking for change. Now, in most cases, the guys in this position are usually crackheads looking to raise a couple dollars for that next hit, or someone trying to sell bootleg DVDs. So, I initially brush him off, and get the item from the store.
I walk over to the store, and at that point, the guy had walked over to the restaurant, and was just kinda standing around. He didn't have that kinda shameless sense of self those who have been homeless for years have built up. I get my food, and I take him outside; turns out, it's a 13 year old kid. As the story goes, his mom's trying to make ends meet, but this night, there's no food in the house, and he walked up to the plaza area to try and hustle up a few dollars, maybe a little food. Very rarely am I at a loss for words, but this was definitely one of those moments. I gave him a couple dollars, and told him to keep his nose clean.
I'll never know if that's the real reason he was there, but if it was, he's getting his grown man experience well before his time. It really puts a lot of things in perspective.
4. Opening Day. South Side.
It feels like it's been FOREVER since the last game of the season, and being able to at least brag about the fact that we lasted one more game than the Cubs. Seriously...97 wins? And you get destroyed at home? Kill yo'self! But on Monday, we get to do the whole thing all over again.
My goal for this season is no less than five games...should be at least ten, considering I'm 15 minutes from the damn park. But I'll keep it simple. If I end up at more, it's all the better. I'll have to recruit people to come with...people who actually pay attention to the game! I'm poised to see if they can keep up the blue-collar game, and add a little bang to it. And Ozzie Guillen is by far, one of the funniest guys ever in life. If nothing else, just show those North Siders what real baseball looks like.
5. Is It Spring Yet?
So...not to beat a dead horse here, but Chicago's weather has to be the most bi-polar mess I've had the, *ahem*, "pleasure" of being in (and I've been around some bi-polar messes...whoops...did I say that?). We'll get up to 50...55...60...you can finally leave the jacket at home! And the second you do...30. Rain. Snow. The wind blowing it all in your forehead. Damn it, it's April! I want my sun back!
Oh, yeah...it's supposed to snow tomorrow. This may be one of two reasons why I hate my hometown. The other is a very important political figure, which I won't name here, cause I'm sure there's a goon squad that checks on things like these...haha.
6. "Jay Is Our Quarterback."
Aww...did you really think I'd let the Weekend Six go by, and not mention this? Of course, if you follow your football, you fully understand the reason behind this being #6. This was not only the biggest pickup the Bears have made since, well, TVs were in color, but by far, the boldest move GM Jerry Angelo has made in his time. The Bears finally sucked one up, took a hit, and took a chance; and at the moment, it paid off.
In my lifetime, there have been a long list of half-decent to why-are-they-playing guys behind center for the Bears...most notable: Jim McMahon, Jim Harbaugh, Erik Kramer, a past-his-prime Kordell Stewart, head case Cade McNown, Henry Burris (a disappointment to all Black QBs), Jim Miller (to his credit, he did get the Bears to the playoffs), "Good Rex/Bad Rex" Grossman, and now, Kyle "The Beard" Orton. Plenty more, but none worth mentioning. In Jay Cutler, there is, at least, the potential to succeed not unlike the first man on this list.
Did the Bears give up too much to get him? We won't know for a few years. Is Jay really as much of a crybaby as the media makes him, or was he just really pissed at how the Broncos handled their business? Maybe a bit of both. Will he throw a bitch fit once he realizes that he'll have to spend half the game handing the ball to Matt Forte, and the other half throwing 7-yarders (on third and 8, naturally) to Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark? That's probably a given.
But keeping on the positive, the move, coupled with picking up Orlando Pace to watch his backside, instantly moves the Bears into the top spot in the NFC North. It establishes a healthy young rivalry between Cutler and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, forces Minnesota to either stick with Tavaris Jackson or start over, and leaves Detroit still searching for answers (relatively speaking...they ARE the Lions). It makes the free agent market more appealing, as the Bears have finally shown that offense is a priority...the opportunity to pick up a higher caliber receiver, such as Torry Holt or the recently released Plaxico Burress, suddenly doesn't seem like such a crazy idea. Bring in a guy with experience, give Devin Hester the opportunity to continue to learn the position (and get back to doing what he does best), and watch the magic unfold.
Of course, there are still issues to be had on defense...Brian Urlacher's not getting any younger, and the Bears secondary has always been disappointing. Never mind the fact that they released oft-injured-but-emotional-leader Mike Brown after this past season. The offensive improvements can actually lead to defensive ones as well...the longer the offense stays on the field, the less work the defense has to put in, the lesser the chance of guys being fatigued and/or hurt. Of course, it's time for some of the younger guys, on both sides, to step up and put in good work, so the seasoned veterans won't have to run on empty.
As the custom goes on The Weekend Six, here's The Recap:
- Blackhawks Fan? Yep. Welcome back.
- If you have to lie, you shouldn't be doing what you're doing, and you know it.
- Hustling knows no age.
- Go Sox. Enough said.
- I'm sick of getting warm, then freezing my ass off.
- Daaaa Bears. Thank You.
Get it? Got it? Good. Still a little lost? Feel free to write. Until next week!
1. The 'Hawks are relevant again. Who Knew?
Normally, you'd never hear me talk about hockey, and that might be partly playing into the stereotype that black folks don't play hockey (not true, of course...see: Jarome Iginla, Grant Fuhr). But I am loyal to my Chicago teams, and it's good to see them back in form. It's been seven years since the last time they were in the playoffs, and 17 since the last time they played for the Stanley Cup. Let's see how they do.
2. How NOT To Get Caught Up In A Lie...
Example The First: If you're going to tell someone that you're not single, don't make any appearances on any online dating sites. It looks bad for all parties involved. Very interesting points to consider -- Not Single, but looking? Single, but using the Not Single line as a buffer/filter/way of flirting? Not really sure which way to go in general? The world may never know, and I don't particularly care to find out. The lesson: honesty works wonders.
Example The Second: For the love of all that is good and holy, if you're going to play the field, DON'T put yourself directly in position to get caught up! That means anything on Facebook/Myspace/Twitter that may indicate that there's someone special in your life. Or, if you're going to have it, don't be friends with whoever else is involved. It's called "The Game" for a reason...if you're going to play, know what the hell you're doing. Too many Associate Pimps, not enough Baby Powders...shout outs to Hall-Of-Femme for inspiring this one. Keep your head up!
3. It Might Have Been A Hustle, But It Was A Good Hustle Nonetheless.
So, I'm picking up an item for my sister, and getting dinner at one of my favorite places here in the city, and there's a guy hanging around outside the stores, asking for change. Now, in most cases, the guys in this position are usually crackheads looking to raise a couple dollars for that next hit, or someone trying to sell bootleg DVDs. So, I initially brush him off, and get the item from the store.
I walk over to the store, and at that point, the guy had walked over to the restaurant, and was just kinda standing around. He didn't have that kinda shameless sense of self those who have been homeless for years have built up. I get my food, and I take him outside; turns out, it's a 13 year old kid. As the story goes, his mom's trying to make ends meet, but this night, there's no food in the house, and he walked up to the plaza area to try and hustle up a few dollars, maybe a little food. Very rarely am I at a loss for words, but this was definitely one of those moments. I gave him a couple dollars, and told him to keep his nose clean.
I'll never know if that's the real reason he was there, but if it was, he's getting his grown man experience well before his time. It really puts a lot of things in perspective.
4. Opening Day. South Side.
It feels like it's been FOREVER since the last game of the season, and being able to at least brag about the fact that we lasted one more game than the Cubs. Seriously...97 wins? And you get destroyed at home? Kill yo'self! But on Monday, we get to do the whole thing all over again.
My goal for this season is no less than five games...should be at least ten, considering I'm 15 minutes from the damn park. But I'll keep it simple. If I end up at more, it's all the better. I'll have to recruit people to come with...people who actually pay attention to the game! I'm poised to see if they can keep up the blue-collar game, and add a little bang to it. And Ozzie Guillen is by far, one of the funniest guys ever in life. If nothing else, just show those North Siders what real baseball looks like.
5. Is It Spring Yet?
So...not to beat a dead horse here, but Chicago's weather has to be the most bi-polar mess I've had the, *ahem*, "pleasure" of being in (and I've been around some bi-polar messes...whoops...did I say that?). We'll get up to 50...55...60...you can finally leave the jacket at home! And the second you do...30. Rain. Snow. The wind blowing it all in your forehead. Damn it, it's April! I want my sun back!
Oh, yeah...it's supposed to snow tomorrow. This may be one of two reasons why I hate my hometown. The other is a very important political figure, which I won't name here, cause I'm sure there's a goon squad that checks on things like these...haha.
6. "Jay Is Our Quarterback."
Aww...did you really think I'd let the Weekend Six go by, and not mention this? Of course, if you follow your football, you fully understand the reason behind this being #6. This was not only the biggest pickup the Bears have made since, well, TVs were in color, but by far, the boldest move GM Jerry Angelo has made in his time. The Bears finally sucked one up, took a hit, and took a chance; and at the moment, it paid off.
In my lifetime, there have been a long list of half-decent to why-are-they-playing guys behind center for the Bears...most notable: Jim McMahon, Jim Harbaugh, Erik Kramer, a past-his-prime Kordell Stewart, head case Cade McNown, Henry Burris (a disappointment to all Black QBs), Jim Miller (to his credit, he did get the Bears to the playoffs), "Good Rex/Bad Rex" Grossman, and now, Kyle "The Beard" Orton. Plenty more, but none worth mentioning. In Jay Cutler, there is, at least, the potential to succeed not unlike the first man on this list.
Did the Bears give up too much to get him? We won't know for a few years. Is Jay really as much of a crybaby as the media makes him, or was he just really pissed at how the Broncos handled their business? Maybe a bit of both. Will he throw a bitch fit once he realizes that he'll have to spend half the game handing the ball to Matt Forte, and the other half throwing 7-yarders (on third and 8, naturally) to Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark? That's probably a given.
But keeping on the positive, the move, coupled with picking up Orlando Pace to watch his backside, instantly moves the Bears into the top spot in the NFC North. It establishes a healthy young rivalry between Cutler and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, forces Minnesota to either stick with Tavaris Jackson or start over, and leaves Detroit still searching for answers (relatively speaking...they ARE the Lions). It makes the free agent market more appealing, as the Bears have finally shown that offense is a priority...the opportunity to pick up a higher caliber receiver, such as Torry Holt or the recently released Plaxico Burress, suddenly doesn't seem like such a crazy idea. Bring in a guy with experience, give Devin Hester the opportunity to continue to learn the position (and get back to doing what he does best), and watch the magic unfold.
Of course, there are still issues to be had on defense...Brian Urlacher's not getting any younger, and the Bears secondary has always been disappointing. Never mind the fact that they released oft-injured-but-emotional-leader Mike Brown after this past season. The offensive improvements can actually lead to defensive ones as well...the longer the offense stays on the field, the less work the defense has to put in, the lesser the chance of guys being fatigued and/or hurt. Of course, it's time for some of the younger guys, on both sides, to step up and put in good work, so the seasoned veterans won't have to run on empty.
As the custom goes on The Weekend Six, here's The Recap:
- Blackhawks Fan? Yep. Welcome back.
- If you have to lie, you shouldn't be doing what you're doing, and you know it.
- Hustling knows no age.
- Go Sox. Enough said.
- I'm sick of getting warm, then freezing my ass off.
- Daaaa Bears. Thank You.
Get it? Got it? Good. Still a little lost? Feel free to write. Until next week!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Weekend Six.
So, every time I get ready to write something, or I start in on something, I get distracted, and by the time I get back to it, I've either lost my train of thought, or it's somewhat irrelevant. So, I had to come up with a way to cover all the things I wanted to post about, without letting them get too far out of my mind.
And from that, The Weekend Six was born...a healthy mix of personal news, social commentary, random thoughts, and important info, all wrapped into one. Why six? Well, if you've been paying attention, you'll realize why the number six is important to me. There's gonna be something for everyone and no one at the same time. Let's get started, shall we?
1. Why is Blake Griffin such a beast?
Proof here:
And here:
First, I gotta give the kid props for staying in school for more than one year...that NBA money is tempting. He's showing, night in and night out, that he's definitely close to being ready for the grown man's game. Almost guaranteed double-double? Yep. Constant double and triple teams? Yep. Coaches sending in goons to take him out? Oh, yeah. He's ready for prime time...now, let's see what he does against Tyler Hansbrough.
*Update" - Not well. UNC gets the W, which does my bracket justice. Hopefully, they'll end up in opposite brackets next year.
2. No More Tom Joyner In Chicago?
I was on my home from Targe', and I hear the news that Steve Harvey is moving to V103 in the morning slot, replacing one of the most famous and well-respected DJs in the city of Chicago.
You can get Joyner's take on the situation here.
Now, I'm not a hater of Steve Harvey in the least, but Tom Joyner's been a part of Chicago all of my life, and he's always done an excellent job of being a beacon for the Black community. Thankfully, national syndication keeps his show online, but it's still going to be weird not hearing "It's Your World" or J. Anthony Brown acting a grown fool in the AM. I am, however, looking forward to finding out how well Tony Sculfield works in the hot spot. And whatever happened to Howard McGee?...
3. It Takes A Special Man And Woman To Be Friends.
Before I get into this, I preface it by saying that I am, by no means, an authority on this subject. In fact, I might be at the bottom of the list of people to accept advice from.
Now...this stems from a conversation I had with a female friend on Friday evening. We were going back and forth about details for plans, and I said something that could very well have been taken as innuendo, but had no intention of being so. But, since the conversation was happening via text, it was easily lost in translation, and she felt inclined to remind me that "there is boundaries." Never mind the grammatical error...
Usually, if I'm going to head down that flirty/double meaning road with someone, I'm going to laugh about it...I was pretty serious about what I was getting at. And I CANNOT stand when people take what I've said, and form their POV, without some form of clarification. Now, for back story's sake, it's someone I met for dating purposes, and it didn't work out, but...we haven't physically been in the same place in seven months, we've dated other people, and there's been no mention of the original reason for us meeting since. Why would I be inclined to hit on someone, when there hasn't even been a real effort to hang out as friends?
"Oh, but you always slide in slick lines," she says. Well, I do admit that it's something that I do with female friends, but only when I'm assured that they're comfortable with jabbing back and forth about different things, and understanding that things are, well, understood. I've known you for almost a year, I barely see you, and you STILL think I'm trying to hook up with you? Maybe I missed the memo. What are *you* thinking? Note to the masses: texting = fail. I'm not a phone call person, but I'm definitely starting to realize that it's a better option, and not utilizing it says a lot more than people think. Pick up the phone in the future, mmmkay?
4. Newsflash: The Job Market Is ROUGH.
This is coming straight from the Department of Redundancy Department, but Wednesday afternoon really made me want to drive this point home. I went down to apply for the new hotel opening downtown in a couple months, and the line from the building they were hosting this "job fair" was, I kid you not, up the block...around the corner...halfway down the block...up the back alley...and all the way back down the other side of the alley.
There were people from all walks of life: couples wanting to start something new together, multiple generations looking to support each other, seasoned professionals either looking for something new, or looking to save the things they still have. There was a woman in front of me who does payroll-type deals...usually a solid career, but she was at the point where she was struggling to pay her bills through unemployment, and needed to find a job to keep her place. I took pictures of the scene (which I'll have to upload later), did what I had to do, and finished my day.
But yeah...upwards of 3,000 people, and 300 jobs. You know that it's a sad state of affairs, but you don't really take it in until you witness live and direct.
5. Two More Months To Go.
I'm itching to get back to school, and it's right around the corner. I don't care that it's summer session, I just want to go. I'm sure I'll have to work like a Hebrew slave until then to make sure it's paid, but it's a price to pay.
I think about the relationships that have been either permanently damaged, or completely lost, by the fact that I've yet to finish my post-secondary endeavours. Not because I haven't finished, per se, but because there's this idea that I'm too smart not to have a degree in something. I could really go into how much it pisses me off that no one seems to care about what *MY* take on things were at the time I left school, what I feel about the entire realm in general, and all that falls in between. But...it really doesn't matter at this point. To them, it was, "You should be doing this. I don't want to look bad. We can't be around each other anymore."
It's sad that you have to lose so much to regain yourself...I guess it happens that way, though. However, I've come to terms with with the fact that if I'm going to get through life, I can do it my way, but I'm going to have to give the "company response" to anyone who asks about this particular subject. I'm not against asking for advice or assistance, but I expect absolutely nothing.
And while it's fresh in my mind...English/Journalism/Computer Science/Information Technology, with emphases in writing and web design. PC maintenance and repair by request (hardware and software). Developing and expanding "The Life And Times Of...", including audio and video updates, and eventually connecting with more commercial sites. Being a positive male role model for the little dude.
That...is what I'm doing with my life. I'm not really inclined to document every little step I make, which takes Twitter completely out of the equation. But if we talk (or talked) fairly regularly, and you can't seem to recall things we talked about less than a week ago, that's a problem. If you're curious about anything, you know how to reach me. If you couldn't care less...it was nice knowing you.
6. Today...I Walk Alone.
The drama that unfolded in Point #3 made this decision a lot easier for me. I'm putting in a "relationship freeze" until I finish school. Not just in the dating sense, but in the most basic of basics. In the last year or so, I've let a lot of people into my life that, for lack of a better way to put it, have patronized me cause I happen to be nice to them.
While it may seem like a bit of an outlandish option to some, there are times of leniency to be had with this. Mostly, it's an effective way of establishing friends from people you happen to talk to every once in a while. That, and I'm a sucker for social experiments. It's like watching rats in a maze!
So, to paraphrase for the week:
- Blake Griffin = beast. But experience counts.
- No Tom Joyner? Bad news.
- Hmm...a few can go here. A few to consider: Nothing can substitute for the human voice. Ask, don't assume. Keep your ego in check.
- Hopefully, the economy is at its worst.
- School needs to come, and fast.
- Nothing wrong with a little personal time.
Get it? Got it? Good. Until next week, everyone.
And from that, The Weekend Six was born...a healthy mix of personal news, social commentary, random thoughts, and important info, all wrapped into one. Why six? Well, if you've been paying attention, you'll realize why the number six is important to me. There's gonna be something for everyone and no one at the same time. Let's get started, shall we?
1. Why is Blake Griffin such a beast?
Proof here:
And here:
First, I gotta give the kid props for staying in school for more than one year...that NBA money is tempting. He's showing, night in and night out, that he's definitely close to being ready for the grown man's game. Almost guaranteed double-double? Yep. Constant double and triple teams? Yep. Coaches sending in goons to take him out? Oh, yeah. He's ready for prime time...now, let's see what he does against Tyler Hansbrough.
*Update" - Not well. UNC gets the W, which does my bracket justice. Hopefully, they'll end up in opposite brackets next year.
2. No More Tom Joyner In Chicago?
I was on my home from Targe', and I hear the news that Steve Harvey is moving to V103 in the morning slot, replacing one of the most famous and well-respected DJs in the city of Chicago.
You can get Joyner's take on the situation here.
Now, I'm not a hater of Steve Harvey in the least, but Tom Joyner's been a part of Chicago all of my life, and he's always done an excellent job of being a beacon for the Black community. Thankfully, national syndication keeps his show online, but it's still going to be weird not hearing "It's Your World" or J. Anthony Brown acting a grown fool in the AM. I am, however, looking forward to finding out how well Tony Sculfield works in the hot spot. And whatever happened to Howard McGee?...
3. It Takes A Special Man And Woman To Be Friends.
Before I get into this, I preface it by saying that I am, by no means, an authority on this subject. In fact, I might be at the bottom of the list of people to accept advice from.
Now...this stems from a conversation I had with a female friend on Friday evening. We were going back and forth about details for plans, and I said something that could very well have been taken as innuendo, but had no intention of being so. But, since the conversation was happening via text, it was easily lost in translation, and she felt inclined to remind me that "there is boundaries." Never mind the grammatical error...
Usually, if I'm going to head down that flirty/double meaning road with someone, I'm going to laugh about it...I was pretty serious about what I was getting at. And I CANNOT stand when people take what I've said, and form their POV, without some form of clarification. Now, for back story's sake, it's someone I met for dating purposes, and it didn't work out, but...we haven't physically been in the same place in seven months, we've dated other people, and there's been no mention of the original reason for us meeting since. Why would I be inclined to hit on someone, when there hasn't even been a real effort to hang out as friends?
"Oh, but you always slide in slick lines," she says. Well, I do admit that it's something that I do with female friends, but only when I'm assured that they're comfortable with jabbing back and forth about different things, and understanding that things are, well, understood. I've known you for almost a year, I barely see you, and you STILL think I'm trying to hook up with you? Maybe I missed the memo. What are *you* thinking? Note to the masses: texting = fail. I'm not a phone call person, but I'm definitely starting to realize that it's a better option, and not utilizing it says a lot more than people think. Pick up the phone in the future, mmmkay?
4. Newsflash: The Job Market Is ROUGH.
This is coming straight from the Department of Redundancy Department, but Wednesday afternoon really made me want to drive this point home. I went down to apply for the new hotel opening downtown in a couple months, and the line from the building they were hosting this "job fair" was, I kid you not, up the block...around the corner...halfway down the block...up the back alley...and all the way back down the other side of the alley.
There were people from all walks of life: couples wanting to start something new together, multiple generations looking to support each other, seasoned professionals either looking for something new, or looking to save the things they still have. There was a woman in front of me who does payroll-type deals...usually a solid career, but she was at the point where she was struggling to pay her bills through unemployment, and needed to find a job to keep her place. I took pictures of the scene (which I'll have to upload later), did what I had to do, and finished my day.
But yeah...upwards of 3,000 people, and 300 jobs. You know that it's a sad state of affairs, but you don't really take it in until you witness live and direct.
5. Two More Months To Go.
I'm itching to get back to school, and it's right around the corner. I don't care that it's summer session, I just want to go. I'm sure I'll have to work like a Hebrew slave until then to make sure it's paid, but it's a price to pay.
I think about the relationships that have been either permanently damaged, or completely lost, by the fact that I've yet to finish my post-secondary endeavours. Not because I haven't finished, per se, but because there's this idea that I'm too smart not to have a degree in something. I could really go into how much it pisses me off that no one seems to care about what *MY* take on things were at the time I left school, what I feel about the entire realm in general, and all that falls in between. But...it really doesn't matter at this point. To them, it was, "You should be doing this. I don't want to look bad. We can't be around each other anymore."
It's sad that you have to lose so much to regain yourself...I guess it happens that way, though. However, I've come to terms with with the fact that if I'm going to get through life, I can do it my way, but I'm going to have to give the "company response" to anyone who asks about this particular subject. I'm not against asking for advice or assistance, but I expect absolutely nothing.
And while it's fresh in my mind...English/Journalism/Computer Science/Information Technology, with emphases in writing and web design. PC maintenance and repair by request (hardware and software). Developing and expanding "The Life And Times Of...", including audio and video updates, and eventually connecting with more commercial sites. Being a positive male role model for the little dude.
That...is what I'm doing with my life. I'm not really inclined to document every little step I make, which takes Twitter completely out of the equation. But if we talk (or talked) fairly regularly, and you can't seem to recall things we talked about less than a week ago, that's a problem. If you're curious about anything, you know how to reach me. If you couldn't care less...it was nice knowing you.
6. Today...I Walk Alone.
The drama that unfolded in Point #3 made this decision a lot easier for me. I'm putting in a "relationship freeze" until I finish school. Not just in the dating sense, but in the most basic of basics. In the last year or so, I've let a lot of people into my life that, for lack of a better way to put it, have patronized me cause I happen to be nice to them.
While it may seem like a bit of an outlandish option to some, there are times of leniency to be had with this. Mostly, it's an effective way of establishing friends from people you happen to talk to every once in a while. That, and I'm a sucker for social experiments. It's like watching rats in a maze!
So, to paraphrase for the week:
- Blake Griffin = beast. But experience counts.
- No Tom Joyner? Bad news.
- Hmm...a few can go here. A few to consider: Nothing can substitute for the human voice. Ask, don't assume. Keep your ego in check.
- Hopefully, the economy is at its worst.
- School needs to come, and fast.
- Nothing wrong with a little personal time.
Get it? Got it? Good. Until next week, everyone.
Friday, January 9, 2009
NUTS Is A Massive Understatement: Looking Back On '08.
A few disclaimers before I begin...
1. This is NOT for the ADD crowd. It's a long read. Grab a snack before you sit down.
2. There will be no strings pulled. This is entirely different than just being evil. This is just my opinion.
3. Only a small part of what will be written is a look into my current thoughts and feelings. (See #2 & #4.)
4. I can't stress this enough...if you have questions, comments, or just want to cuss me and tell me how wrong and full of myself I am, DO IT! I'll make it easier for you...here's how you can reach me:
2008 was, by far, the most upside-down and inside-out year I've experienced on this earth. I was alive for history in the making...I gained a lot...lost it all...was nearly broken...and found a silver lining in the night. I met some amazing people (some a bit more...let's say, "interesting" than others, but amazing nonetheless), saw a bunch of new places, and, dare I say it, found my soul along the way. Let's start from the top, shall we?
January
The beginning of the year showed a lot of promise. I had a new job that I loved, was meeting new people every day, and was still getting acclimated to the trauma known as jet lag. Of course, it didn't come without a fair share of hard work -- 16-20 hour days became the norm, and sleep was at a premium. I took my first (real) trip to Texas, down to Dallas. Got up early, stayed up late, found a Chinese buffet (!), ate steak till I couldn't breathe, found one of the few malls that could be more expensive than Woodfield (for anyone who knows, this is a task), as well as something that was once lost. That, and a 30-second spot that turned on my personal music light for the first time since high school.
Song Of The Month: "Upside Down," Jack Johnson. "I don't want this feeling to go away..."
February
Fresh off getting my feet wet at the job (and still working like a Hebrew slave), things were coming together very well. There were a couple of tumultuous situations with close friends, neither of which ended very well (by the way...I'm sorry. It wasn't one of my high points.), and I had a lot of catching up to do. I found myself back in California, this time in Walnut Creek. Up to this point, I had yet to find another place I could see myself calling home, but the Bay Area grew on me pretty damn fast.
San Francisco is needlessly expensive, but amazing at the same time. That, and apparently, it's the only place where you can walk down a crowded street, downtown no less, smoke your weed, and no one pays it any mind (it was crazy...I would have caught contact from this dude if I didn't walk around him!). I had more than my fill of Chinese food (notice a pattern here?), got a ridiculous amount of exercise (screw you, California hills. Screw. You.), and a meeting a year and a half in the making finally happened. And all was well in the land.
Song Of The Month: "California Dreamin'," Bobby Womack. "California dreamin'...on such a winter's day..."
March
March was a breeze, to say the least. Work was starting to come into some sort of normalcy, and I was slowly getting used to the expensiveness that was California (jet lag still sucks). I found myself back in the Bay Area, and in Sacramento. Both places I had seen in the past, but in much different contexts.
I found it interesting that the state has so much open space, but consumers costs are still as spiked as they are. To compare...as pricey as Chicago tends to be (thanks, Mayor Daley!), $900 a month can actually get you a house in some areas. In California...maybe a 2-bedroom in a lesser-known suburb? A waitress at a restaurant I had dinner at one night in San Francisco told me that she and her boyfriend had an apartment in the city. $2100 a month. Not a house. Not downtown. Just wrap your head around that one for a second. Now stop complaining about how bad things are here!
At any rate, my thoughts were moving toward the idea of living 2,200 miles, give or take a mountain, away from home. Would it be worth it? Would I be able to deal with the people, the lifestyle? And what's to come of Chinese food? Only time would tell.
Song Of The Month: "Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)", John Legend. "You know and I know...through all the battles..."
April
Well, the beginning of April was pretty sweet...work was on point, I negotiated my way into an 11 day vacation (eat on that!), and love was in the air. Company sports took me to new places, and my own itch for travel led me all over the place. It was back to the Bay, then off to a place I'd only seen on TV: Los Angeles.
It was kinda funny walking through the same paparazzi-filled airport that tends to pop up on "TMZ" almost daily, and not seeing a SINGLE recognizable celebrity or cameraman. I made my way to my hotel, passing through neighborhoods made famous by movies like Boyz In The Hood and Friday, and countless music videos from the likes of Snoop, Dre, Pac, Game, and even Skee-Lo ("I wish I was a little bit taller..." haha). Compton, Watts, Chinatown, just to name a few. I've written about my trip to LA previously, so I won't get into more detail. There was a Chinese place down the block from the hotel that was AMAZING, though.
The middle of the month (April 12, to be exact...I'll never forget it) was the beginning of what would be a complete and utter personal hell for me for the next few months. I won't go into what happened, because I'm very much set on keeping face professionally, if nothing else. But it took two weeks to go from top to bottom, and have my life turned upside down. The person I expected to have my back turned theirs, and the support of some very good people (you know who you guys are...I'll never be able to repay you...) probably kept me from floating on my own personal island.
Song Of The Month: "What Hurts The Most," Rascal Flatts. "What hurts the most...was being so close..."
May
More drama ensues. I follow the rules, and find out that there was a lot of dishonesty going on in my professional world. Soon after, I would find out how needlessly complicated the Illinois legal system can be. It's a fight that's still on the burners as we speak. I tried getting to know new people to get my mind off of things...didn't work. More on that later. I got back into my writing, back into my music, trying any and every way to keep my mind away from what had happened, and focus on the next move.
Song Of The Month: "Money In The Bank," Swizz Beatz. Sometimes, you just gotta bump.
June/July
Both June and July were a blur of lord-only-knows-what. I did some things I've never done before: I started writing my own music, entered a music competition, and began putting serious thought into publishing written works, rather than just blogging. I lost out on a couple friends, mostly due to my own circumstances, but I often tell myself that it was for a greater good. Oddly enough, a vacation during the Fourth of July holiday turned out to be the beginning of the end of a couple things, and the start of something new. But it took a late-night conversation, and some very strong words from someone, for me to hit the bottom of my self-imposed freefall. I had officially had enough; something had to be different. People had to know where they stood, lines had to be drawn, life had to change.
Song Of The Month(s): "Flashing Lights," Kanye West. "As you recall, you know I love to show off...but you never thought that I would take it this far...what do you know?..."
August
Times were changing. Not just in my life, but in my family's life as a whole. My oldest sister was getting married, and I was getting the brother I had waited nearly 24 years for. Granted, he'd been there for the last eight years, but there was still something deep in the officialness of it all. Mentally, I was coming back around, and enlightenment followed. It took one baseball game to find out what friendship does (and doesn't) mean in the bigger picture. New people popped in, and older friends disappeared; while it was disappointing, and I wanted things to be different, the pain and sadness didn't override the goals I had set for myself. It was like that little light in the back of the closet had finally turned on, and I could see that there was so much of myself that I was missing. Now was the time.
Song Of The Month: "Can't Tell Me Nothing," Kanye West. "La...la-la-la...wait till I get my money right..."
September
I was back on my "mini-hustle," so to speak. The road I walked was definitely a bit bare, and the amount of people I talked to with any regularity could be counted on one hand. But somehow, it worked. I spent my 24th birthday alone, as I had the previous two. The obligatory calls were there, as were texts from people I'd barely had a full conversation with up to this point in the year.
Despite its proximity to Labor Day (and the numerical simplicity), my birthday is apparently an easy one to forget. Even my own father managed to pull it off, calling me five days later on my older sister's 27th birthday. I've always said that you can gauge how important you are in a person's life by their remembrance of birthdays...of course, people can be forgetful, and I'm not condemning anyone for that. I suppose it's more along the lines of seeing the effort made by the person to remember said info, combined with how long you've known each other. But after a little thought...when a sibling's birthday is less than a week away, and on a MUCH more memorable day, and they're easily the social butterfly of the group, you tend to shrug and just leave the whole thing be. The whole "if I were there, I would..." and "I wish I would known, or I..." lost its meaning before I graduated high school.
In current events, I was resolved to keep myself open to some of the things life had to offer, while being mindful of (yet not intimidated by) the challenges presented. Put in work, save like mad, but don't forget to have a life (still working on the last one). The "palm," as I've come to think of them, were solid, and good things were beginning to grow.
Song Of The Month: "American Boy," Estelle. "Take me on a trip, I want to go someday...take me to New York, I want to see LA..."
October
Well...I'll be honest. October was pretty boring. Stayed on the hustle, and I was slowly regaining my soul.
Song Of The Month: "I Want Those Flashing Lights," Colin Munroe. "But all this nothing I've got...is all that's keeping me tough...maybe this nothing I've got...is enough..." (If you've never of him, YouTube it. It's hot!)
November
Let me begin with this...I will contend to this day that November 2008 was by far the single greatest month in my lifetime to date. Done. If you've read "So America...", you know my take on the biggest event of all. I stopped giving as much of a damn externally as I did internally, and it worked wonders. The people who got it stuck around, and those who didn't slowly faded into random association. I slowly went back to a place I hadn't spent a lot of time, and ended up finding a group of friends from all over the place in the process. My soul was getting back to full form, and good times were in full swing with good friends.
Song Of The Month: "Closer," Ne-Yo. "Turn the lights off in this place...and she shines just like a star..."
December
The year wound down with a sense of familiarity, and dealing with the fact that things would change for good come January. Lines had been clearly drawn, and new opportunities were on the horizon. The holidays came, and old friends from better days returned. The little dude celebrated his first (memorable) Christmas, and it reminded me of just how simple life can be. There had been twelve months filled with happiness, anger, sadness, hurt, confusion, and I-don't-know-what. But watching him rip open his boxes, and throw around all the new toys he had gotten, made me forget about all the drama that tends to come with being an adult. At least for one night. And, just like that...2008 came to a close, as quietly as it had come.
Song Of The Month: Well, there isn't one. I downloaded a lot, and looked into doing some damage with my own pen.
With the year in the bag, I'd like to take a little time, and talk about the people who helped make this year as crazy as it was. Keeping in line with previous episodes of "The Life and Times Of...", no real names will be used. That being said, some people may be easily identified, and some may have to do a little thinking to find their place. But all the names are fairly connected to the bond that we had/have. So, in no particular order...
I'd love to explore the realm of writing beyond "he's just bitching about (XYZ)" blogs and formal (yet sheer emotionally-based) diatribes involving unnamed victims. I've come to notice that the number of people that can accept that blog-based writings are, in majority, personal opinion, is shrinking. Everyone's so sensitive to things these days...the "we're all winners" mentality makes us cringe at the thought that someone might not agree with whatever comes out of our mouths at any given point. I understand what comes from writing what I write, and I actually encourage people to speak their peace about it. Do I expect to change the world? Nope. But knowing that I've stirred up some emotions and sparked some debate? Totally worth it.
There's that, and I'm inclined to stop fighting myself, and delve deeper into music. Singing more often, writing my own songs, finding the right connections. And all it took was an addiction to "American Idol" and a trip to LA to make it happen (the first wasn't mine, I swear!). I've always been able to find the right song to describe how I've felt in different times of my life, and it's time I started creating that same feeling with those same feelings. I've gotta get past that perfectionist streak I have, and stick to what's written once it's out. I'd never let a corporation like Fox have creative control over me, so "Idol" is out, but I also know that it won't be solely for attention, either. There's going to be some digging in the crates...you might end up in a song, and never know it. No worries...it won't be Jasmine-Sullivan-busting-windows-out-of-cars hostile!
To sum it up...to everyone that's here, thank you. To everyone that's gone, I'm sad about it, but I thank you for what you gave me while you were here. To my family...thank you for letting me do my own thing. I made it through 2008 for a reason, and I'm ready for everything that 2009 has to offer. Change is here.
- Emmanuel JaSon Johnson
1. This is NOT for the ADD crowd. It's a long read. Grab a snack before you sit down.
2. There will be no strings pulled. This is entirely different than just being evil. This is just my opinion.
3. Only a small part of what will be written is a look into my current thoughts and feelings. (See #2 & #4.)
4. I can't stress this enough...if you have questions, comments, or just want to cuss me and tell me how wrong and full of myself I am, DO IT! I'll make it easier for you...here's how you can reach me:
- Facebook - Emmanuel JaSon Johnson
- Myspace - www.myspace.com/FalconBaller9
- E-mail - emmanueljason@gmail.com
- Here on Blogspot, of course
- And if you have my number, the line's open.
2008 was, by far, the most upside-down and inside-out year I've experienced on this earth. I was alive for history in the making...I gained a lot...lost it all...was nearly broken...and found a silver lining in the night. I met some amazing people (some a bit more...let's say, "interesting" than others, but amazing nonetheless), saw a bunch of new places, and, dare I say it, found my soul along the way. Let's start from the top, shall we?
January
The beginning of the year showed a lot of promise. I had a new job that I loved, was meeting new people every day, and was still getting acclimated to the trauma known as jet lag. Of course, it didn't come without a fair share of hard work -- 16-20 hour days became the norm, and sleep was at a premium. I took my first (real) trip to Texas, down to Dallas. Got up early, stayed up late, found a Chinese buffet (!), ate steak till I couldn't breathe, found one of the few malls that could be more expensive than Woodfield (for anyone who knows, this is a task), as well as something that was once lost. That, and a 30-second spot that turned on my personal music light for the first time since high school.
Song Of The Month: "Upside Down," Jack Johnson. "I don't want this feeling to go away..."
February
Fresh off getting my feet wet at the job (and still working like a Hebrew slave), things were coming together very well. There were a couple of tumultuous situations with close friends, neither of which ended very well (by the way...I'm sorry. It wasn't one of my high points.), and I had a lot of catching up to do. I found myself back in California, this time in Walnut Creek. Up to this point, I had yet to find another place I could see myself calling home, but the Bay Area grew on me pretty damn fast.
San Francisco is needlessly expensive, but amazing at the same time. That, and apparently, it's the only place where you can walk down a crowded street, downtown no less, smoke your weed, and no one pays it any mind (it was crazy...I would have caught contact from this dude if I didn't walk around him!). I had more than my fill of Chinese food (notice a pattern here?), got a ridiculous amount of exercise (screw you, California hills. Screw. You.), and a meeting a year and a half in the making finally happened. And all was well in the land.
Song Of The Month: "California Dreamin'," Bobby Womack. "California dreamin'...on such a winter's day..."
March
March was a breeze, to say the least. Work was starting to come into some sort of normalcy, and I was slowly getting used to the expensiveness that was California (jet lag still sucks). I found myself back in the Bay Area, and in Sacramento. Both places I had seen in the past, but in much different contexts.
I found it interesting that the state has so much open space, but consumers costs are still as spiked as they are. To compare...as pricey as Chicago tends to be (thanks, Mayor Daley!), $900 a month can actually get you a house in some areas. In California...maybe a 2-bedroom in a lesser-known suburb? A waitress at a restaurant I had dinner at one night in San Francisco told me that she and her boyfriend had an apartment in the city. $2100 a month. Not a house. Not downtown. Just wrap your head around that one for a second. Now stop complaining about how bad things are here!
At any rate, my thoughts were moving toward the idea of living 2,200 miles, give or take a mountain, away from home. Would it be worth it? Would I be able to deal with the people, the lifestyle? And what's to come of Chinese food? Only time would tell.
Song Of The Month: "Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)", John Legend. "You know and I know...through all the battles..."
April
Well, the beginning of April was pretty sweet...work was on point, I negotiated my way into an 11 day vacation (eat on that!), and love was in the air. Company sports took me to new places, and my own itch for travel led me all over the place. It was back to the Bay, then off to a place I'd only seen on TV: Los Angeles.
It was kinda funny walking through the same paparazzi-filled airport that tends to pop up on "TMZ" almost daily, and not seeing a SINGLE recognizable celebrity or cameraman. I made my way to my hotel, passing through neighborhoods made famous by movies like Boyz In The Hood and Friday, and countless music videos from the likes of Snoop, Dre, Pac, Game, and even Skee-Lo ("I wish I was a little bit taller..." haha). Compton, Watts, Chinatown, just to name a few. I've written about my trip to LA previously, so I won't get into more detail. There was a Chinese place down the block from the hotel that was AMAZING, though.
The middle of the month (April 12, to be exact...I'll never forget it) was the beginning of what would be a complete and utter personal hell for me for the next few months. I won't go into what happened, because I'm very much set on keeping face professionally, if nothing else. But it took two weeks to go from top to bottom, and have my life turned upside down. The person I expected to have my back turned theirs, and the support of some very good people (you know who you guys are...I'll never be able to repay you...) probably kept me from floating on my own personal island.
Song Of The Month: "What Hurts The Most," Rascal Flatts. "What hurts the most...was being so close..."
May
More drama ensues. I follow the rules, and find out that there was a lot of dishonesty going on in my professional world. Soon after, I would find out how needlessly complicated the Illinois legal system can be. It's a fight that's still on the burners as we speak. I tried getting to know new people to get my mind off of things...didn't work. More on that later. I got back into my writing, back into my music, trying any and every way to keep my mind away from what had happened, and focus on the next move.
Song Of The Month: "Money In The Bank," Swizz Beatz. Sometimes, you just gotta bump.
June/July
Both June and July were a blur of lord-only-knows-what. I did some things I've never done before: I started writing my own music, entered a music competition, and began putting serious thought into publishing written works, rather than just blogging. I lost out on a couple friends, mostly due to my own circumstances, but I often tell myself that it was for a greater good. Oddly enough, a vacation during the Fourth of July holiday turned out to be the beginning of the end of a couple things, and the start of something new. But it took a late-night conversation, and some very strong words from someone, for me to hit the bottom of my self-imposed freefall. I had officially had enough; something had to be different. People had to know where they stood, lines had to be drawn, life had to change.
Song Of The Month(s): "Flashing Lights," Kanye West. "As you recall, you know I love to show off...but you never thought that I would take it this far...what do you know?..."
August
Times were changing. Not just in my life, but in my family's life as a whole. My oldest sister was getting married, and I was getting the brother I had waited nearly 24 years for. Granted, he'd been there for the last eight years, but there was still something deep in the officialness of it all. Mentally, I was coming back around, and enlightenment followed. It took one baseball game to find out what friendship does (and doesn't) mean in the bigger picture. New people popped in, and older friends disappeared; while it was disappointing, and I wanted things to be different, the pain and sadness didn't override the goals I had set for myself. It was like that little light in the back of the closet had finally turned on, and I could see that there was so much of myself that I was missing. Now was the time.
Song Of The Month: "Can't Tell Me Nothing," Kanye West. "La...la-la-la...wait till I get my money right..."
September
I was back on my "mini-hustle," so to speak. The road I walked was definitely a bit bare, and the amount of people I talked to with any regularity could be counted on one hand. But somehow, it worked. I spent my 24th birthday alone, as I had the previous two. The obligatory calls were there, as were texts from people I'd barely had a full conversation with up to this point in the year.
Despite its proximity to Labor Day (and the numerical simplicity), my birthday is apparently an easy one to forget. Even my own father managed to pull it off, calling me five days later on my older sister's 27th birthday. I've always said that you can gauge how important you are in a person's life by their remembrance of birthdays...of course, people can be forgetful, and I'm not condemning anyone for that. I suppose it's more along the lines of seeing the effort made by the person to remember said info, combined with how long you've known each other. But after a little thought...when a sibling's birthday is less than a week away, and on a MUCH more memorable day, and they're easily the social butterfly of the group, you tend to shrug and just leave the whole thing be. The whole "if I were there, I would..." and "I wish I would known, or I..." lost its meaning before I graduated high school.
In current events, I was resolved to keep myself open to some of the things life had to offer, while being mindful of (yet not intimidated by) the challenges presented. Put in work, save like mad, but don't forget to have a life (still working on the last one). The "palm," as I've come to think of them, were solid, and good things were beginning to grow.
Song Of The Month: "American Boy," Estelle. "Take me on a trip, I want to go someday...take me to New York, I want to see LA..."
October
Well...I'll be honest. October was pretty boring. Stayed on the hustle, and I was slowly regaining my soul.
Song Of The Month: "I Want Those Flashing Lights," Colin Munroe. "But all this nothing I've got...is all that's keeping me tough...maybe this nothing I've got...is enough..." (If you've never of him, YouTube it. It's hot!)
November
Let me begin with this...I will contend to this day that November 2008 was by far the single greatest month in my lifetime to date. Done. If you've read "So America...", you know my take on the biggest event of all. I stopped giving as much of a damn externally as I did internally, and it worked wonders. The people who got it stuck around, and those who didn't slowly faded into random association. I slowly went back to a place I hadn't spent a lot of time, and ended up finding a group of friends from all over the place in the process. My soul was getting back to full form, and good times were in full swing with good friends.
Song Of The Month: "Closer," Ne-Yo. "Turn the lights off in this place...and she shines just like a star..."
December
The year wound down with a sense of familiarity, and dealing with the fact that things would change for good come January. Lines had been clearly drawn, and new opportunities were on the horizon. The holidays came, and old friends from better days returned. The little dude celebrated his first (memorable) Christmas, and it reminded me of just how simple life can be. There had been twelve months filled with happiness, anger, sadness, hurt, confusion, and I-don't-know-what. But watching him rip open his boxes, and throw around all the new toys he had gotten, made me forget about all the drama that tends to come with being an adult. At least for one night. And, just like that...2008 came to a close, as quietly as it had come.
Song Of The Month: Well, there isn't one. I downloaded a lot, and looked into doing some damage with my own pen.
With the year in the bag, I'd like to take a little time, and talk about the people who helped make this year as crazy as it was. Keeping in line with previous episodes of "The Life and Times Of...", no real names will be used. That being said, some people may be easily identified, and some may have to do a little thinking to find their place. But all the names are fairly connected to the bond that we had/have. So, in no particular order...
- Hall-of-Femme: You've kept me very well entertained for quite a while now. We've talked about everything under the moon, and you were there for me when the chips were not only down, but crushed into little pieces. You've gone from a girl that had very little idea about, well, a lot of things, to a girl that knows...slightly more about those same things...haha, just kidding. You're coming into your own as an adult, and other things will happen in due time. Don't rush.
- OshKoshB'Gosh & CarolinaPanther. I put you guys together for reasons I think you both are well aware of, but I'll still address you individually. First...I'm sorry for how things turned out. Although there are things about you that irritated the hell out of me, you were still really cool, and I enjoyed the time we spent together. I'm sure we'll probably only see each other in passing in the future, but I wish you all the best. Second...you're a good friend. Do I think it's to a fault? Yeah, but that's directly in relation to what we've talked about. I'll never know how much you really knew about what was going on, and I'll always have the strange feeling that you enabled a lot of time to be spent on a lifeless endeavour. I do know and fully accept that you guys are separate, and the seen-in-passing sentiment carries, but maybe we'll stay in touch. Who knows.
- OldNavy & JoeBlow. Was I ever glad to run back into you two! It brought back a part of me that had basically been put to sleep for the last 7 years, and it feels good to just catch up, and pick up where we left off. It was a good reminder of what a good friendship looks and feels like...BS-ing about everything and nothing, no beef, no drama. No matter what, The Family lives. Dude...I'm coming to the VA real soon!
- Jugganaut & JazzePha. My people! We've known each other for what, 12, 13 years now? That's crazy. We all went our separate ways, and I was out for a minute, but I'm glad y'all didn't forget about me. Again, it's like we never left, except we got grown-folks business going on. Let's make it happen this year.
- WisMiss. Wow...where do I start? We've fought...a lot. We've laughed a lot, and we've hurt each other's feelings, whether it be intentional or not. But you were there when I absolutely didn't deserve it, and there are no words to describe the debt to which I owe you. We've talked about more than I could ever write in this little space, but I hope you know that I have nothing but love for you. Continue to grow, see what the world has to offer, and know that there's a light at the end of every tunnel.
- OriginO. Believe it or not, you taught me a few valuable life lessons in the short time that we've known each other, and probably not intentionally. How important my family really was to me, regardless of what's happened...real friends are honest, yet accepting...and that timing is everything. In a different world, had we met a month earlier, things may be quite different. I met a good person at a very bad time for myself, and the entire situation suffered. I'm glad things are better for you now, though, and I hope they stay that way for a long time. You deserve it. By the way...I thought we were supposed to be doing lunch? The hell!
- My OKCers. I'm glad I decided to stick around and get to know you guys a little bit. You come from every part of America, and all over the world, and all the personalities are beyond entertaining. Let's see...
- CaliZonaBlonde. Like there was any way you COULDN'T be first on this list! I've never met anyone with such an addictive personality, as off-the-wall and all-over-the-place as it is. But you're always upbeat, always fun, and we can talk about everything. Not very often has my first conversation with someone lasted as long, and kept me laughing the entire time. I promise I will visit at some point! I may not be alone, but I will be there, and we will hang out, no questions asked.
- AussieKat. I will admit that I did not expect you to have the career path that you've chosen, but I give you all the respect in the world for doing it. I can tell that it takes a toll on you every now and then, but we both know that it'll make a little one's life better in the long run. You're a welcome break from the random banter that tends to go on in our little group, and it's more than appreciated. I hope you make it to the States soon!
- FloridaFeek. Dude...you make me laugh. What can I say? The back-and-forths you get into are pretty much priceless. All things aside, I can tell you're a sweetheart. Let the world see it, too.
- TexaSooner. The little band geek that keeps her face buried in her pillow...I swear, if you don't smile more, I'm going to come and shoot Botox in your face, and make it permanent! Haha. You have a lot to offer...multi-talented, studying abroad, very hard-working. Seems like something's missing, but it may be nothing. One thing I can say, and it's something I've told you before: don't be afraid to let things happen. Life's going to happen, too.
- VadaUnLeashed. We've had our fair share of pow-wows, and learned about each other and ourselves in the process. You've got a big heart, and you're not afraid to share it. Of course, it can lead to more pain than most of us may experience, but that's the trade off you get in comparison to someone who chooses to lock theirs away. I hope that everything turns out positively, and you're always in my thoughts and prayers.
- Orrinegon, aka T-2. Thought I'd forgot about that, didn't you! Haha. You've got a lot of stuff goings on...a LOT...but when you're settled, you're one of the best people I know. I contend that we're not as polar as our sun signs or gender may dictate, and I do think that you're a fairly potent mix of pride and sensitivity. I'll share something with you that I got from watching a very close friend almost drive themselves crazy...the more you try to control what goes on in your life, the less you'll change. I hope the new year brings all good things. And I want apple juice, not orange!
- The Guys. You know who you are. We're all pretty much partners in crime. I got nothing but respect for you, and it's been a crazy ride so far!
- CaliforniaDream. If anyone knows me fairly well, they know that I could write (and have written) an entire novel with you being the subject. Our time was both the best and worst of times...you brought out a fire in me that few people had been able to tap. Not in the sense of anger, though that was definitely there, but in the sense of really finding ways to turn my dreams into reality. I will formally credit the true beginning of my music career to your living room. I pray every day that you find whatever it is that you're looking for...whatever it is, just know that it will never be perfect. It's going to be hard. And you're going to have to work at it to make it work. Let's see...year and a half, three fallouts, two months, 18,000 miles. If that's not proof, nothing short of moving to Sacramento would have done the trick. At any rate...keep up the good work on the court, and I really hope you've held on to that sapphire. It's as beautiful as you are. Anger doesn't mean that love fades. Don't ever forget that.
- ChippewaChick. You grew up quick...almost too quick for your own good. And the same maturity that you've acquired in that time is what makes other things not as great. I was not happy with you for a while there...it's since faded, but I know you're getting a chance to do your own thing, and I'm sure it's very liberating. All I can say is, for the love of everything, if something's on your mind, TALK! Your soul will thank you when it's all said and done. Keep up the good work. And...I don't know if I'll ever write a book, but other things may come.
- GreekGoddess. Last, but certainly not the least. The last few months have been nothing short of amazing...we've talked about everything imaginable, and somehow, we still manage to find out new things about each other. I see us getting along more and more with each passing day...you make me laugh, smile, and think in ways I hadn't been able to in a long time. You've been nothing but supportive of me, and I've been able to maintain my drive, without feeling pressured into getting things accomplished, lest it negatively affect the bond we have. Initially, I thought this would be a lot longer, but there's not too much that you don't know already. This year looks very good, on several levels.
I'd love to explore the realm of writing beyond "he's just bitching about (XYZ)" blogs and formal (yet sheer emotionally-based) diatribes involving unnamed victims. I've come to notice that the number of people that can accept that blog-based writings are, in majority, personal opinion, is shrinking. Everyone's so sensitive to things these days...the "we're all winners" mentality makes us cringe at the thought that someone might not agree with whatever comes out of our mouths at any given point. I understand what comes from writing what I write, and I actually encourage people to speak their peace about it. Do I expect to change the world? Nope. But knowing that I've stirred up some emotions and sparked some debate? Totally worth it.
There's that, and I'm inclined to stop fighting myself, and delve deeper into music. Singing more often, writing my own songs, finding the right connections. And all it took was an addiction to "American Idol" and a trip to LA to make it happen (the first wasn't mine, I swear!). I've always been able to find the right song to describe how I've felt in different times of my life, and it's time I started creating that same feeling with those same feelings. I've gotta get past that perfectionist streak I have, and stick to what's written once it's out. I'd never let a corporation like Fox have creative control over me, so "Idol" is out, but I also know that it won't be solely for attention, either. There's going to be some digging in the crates...you might end up in a song, and never know it. No worries...it won't be Jasmine-Sullivan-busting-windows-out-of-cars hostile!
To sum it up...to everyone that's here, thank you. To everyone that's gone, I'm sad about it, but I thank you for what you gave me while you were here. To my family...thank you for letting me do my own thing. I made it through 2008 for a reason, and I'm ready for everything that 2009 has to offer. Change is here.
- Emmanuel JaSon Johnson
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