One Day At A Time

It was all fun and games
Til she fell in love
And realized that it’s real
And now she’s feeling stuck
She slipped in the abyss
And was like “what is this?
This is not what I meant
Let me get up out this shit!”
And she pulls back a bit
Tries to shake the feeling
But it wont go away
Plus they all usually dogs
And they all usually stray
So scared to play the fool
Or at least look the part
She’s overthinking in her head
But not listening to her heart
So tired of false starts
But she’s been this route before
After the last time she swore
She wouldn’t go this route no more
But you know how it goes…..
You stress the past
And you’ll only be stressed
You block the blessings
And you wont be blessed
Besides this was just a test
That they must endure
To make sure they were sure
And that it was pure
I tell ‘em write their own story
Go line for line
And most of all take it slow
Like one day at a time

PLEASE DO NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

Listen....I'm all for any and everybody who wants to get behind this movement that is Barack and help see to it that he is elected prez-o-dent.....but please people. You gotta respect the game of politics and know how low down and dirty it can be! I love Luda's sentiment and him wanting to express his support of Barack and get some of his vote - eligible fans behind him, but c'mon Luda! You're a smart dude. You HAD to know this wasnt the move! If you havent heard the song "Politics : Obama Is Here" peep some of the lyrics.

About Hillary he said..... “Hillary hated on you/So that bitch is irrelevant.” And while this line couldnt be any truer, it doesnt help all of Hill's supporters swallow that big ass jagged pill of her losing. Obama needs Hill's people on his side.

And regarding McCain he wrote...“McCain don’t belong in ANY chair unless he’s paralyzed/ Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped/ Ball up all of his speeches and I throw ‘em like candy wrap.” And again Luda Im with you man...but the politics of the game dog. Of course Obama had to denounce the song! If he's gonna win this office he has got to pull off the most incredible tightrope walk ever!

I keep saying this but it bears repeating : I know HillBilly and 'nem seemed low down, all of Hill's tactics and tricks were jabs compared to the roundhouses and haymakers Republicans are gonna throw.

So.......just in case you are unsure of who should or should not speak up publicly for Obama let me help you. And read along good, mmkay? The following people SHOULD NOT publicly support Obama....

If you jaywalked in 1972 PLEASE DO NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

If you ever plucked a grape at the grocery store PLEASE DO NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

While in said grocery store if you didnt actually put a quarter in the lil box for the Brach's candy, but still took 3 pieces....PLEASE DO NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

If you ever worked in a fast food restaurant and hooked your friends up with extra fries PLEASE DO NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

If you ever ran across anyone giving out free samples of anything and you tried to go back a 2nd time PLEASE DO NO PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

If you ever bought an item of clothing, left the tags on, wore it once and returned it to the store PLEASE DO NO PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

If you ever snuck and used a hall pass that you werent supposed to have PLEASE DO NO PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

If you leaned over and "borrowed" an answer or two from Carla Washington's quiz in 5th grade PLEASE DO NO PUBLICLY SUPPORT OBAMA!!

Trust me when I tell you that the Obama campaign appreciates your support, but please for the love of God keep it to your damn self or they will try to use it against him

All About Love (Love Quotes 2)

"You know you are in love when you see the world in her eyes,
and her eyes everywhere in the world"
-David Levesque

"He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser,
sees newly every time he looks at the object beloved,
drawing from it with his eyes and his mind those virtues which it possesses"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You never know what you're gonna do
whenever true love takes hold of you"
-Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds

"Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just wont adhere to any rules.

The most any of us can do is sign on as it's accomplice"

- Tom Watson

"Love is brave. It flies in the face of fear.
Wherever you want to go, love'll take you there"
- Talib Kweli

Some say we are responsible for those we love.

Others know we are responsible for those who love us.

-Nikki Giovanni

Love is like sand held in your hand.

Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is.

The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold on to some of it, but most will be spilled. Love is like that.

Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact.

But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the love slips away and is lost.
- Chicken Soup for the Soul

"It takes a fool to learn that love don't love nobody"
- Charles Simmons/Joseph Jefferson

"Love is friendship set to music"

-Pollock

There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy.
- Lope De Vega

"Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence"

- HL Mencken

"Sometimes love can feel like the closest thing to heaven
Sometimes love can feel like you've been run over by a car"
- Jon B.

Love is strong yet delicate. It can be broken.

To truly love is to understand this. To be in love is to respect this."

- Stephen Packer

"General opinion makes that we live in a world of hatred and greed,

but I don't see that.....When the planes hit the Twin Towers,

as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board

were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love.

If you look for it, I've got a sneaky suspicion love actually is all around."

- From the movie "Love Actually"

"I've learned to respect the power of love"
- Angela Winbush/Rene Moore

The "GIVE US FREE!" List

1. "And Im feeling like 'FUCK THE WORLD/DONT ASK ME FOR SHIT!'" - Notorious B.I.G. Feat. Method Man "The What?!!?"

2. lol...and that about sums it up at this exact moment as I type this

3. Teej is hella mood if you didnt know

4. Teej also refers to himself in 3rd person alot

5. I really hate when I get halfway through my day and I realize I forgot to put on deodorant

6. *shrugs shoulders* What can I say? Im far from perfect

7. To let Erik and the gang tell it at Dave's housewarming....I have some sorta superpower or something lol

8. Perception really does become reality it seems

9. How's it go again Ani?

10. " ...because everything I do is judged/and they mostly get it wrong/but oh well!/'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged/ and the (man) who lives there can tell the truth from the stuff they say/and he looks me in the eye/ and says 'Would you prefer the easy way?/ no? well okay then/ dont cry!'" - Ani Difranco "Joyful Girl"

11. That might be the 3rd time Ive included that quote in a list but I swear I mean that shit more and more every single time I use it!

12. You ever have one of those runny 'pea soup green' colored doo doo's and wonder what the hell you ate or whats wrong with you?

13. I knoooooooooow Im not the only one

14. Disclaimer : In case you are new to one of these here lists.....there isnt much that isnt discussable 'round these parts

15. I dont have much to say about the Yung Berg thing

16. Dude is like what? 22 or something? With age comes wisdom I suppose....

17. ...but yeah here we are in 2008, on the cusp of having a black president and nigs is still stuck on some light skin/dark skin shit. GIVE US FREE!

18. "Am I not fabulous? Am I not beautiful? I even cook! Sometimes my rice is crunchy, but overall....." - Anonymous

19. May Senator Jesse Helms rest in piss

20. Definitely worth checking out and spreading the word : http://www.shecaresfoundation.org/

21. C.F....Im confident in time that we'll get our friendship back on track. I like to think that we are/were too good of friends to not to

22. Somebody tell Eddie Murphy that the Sci-Fi genre is not his cup of tea

23. Gotta admire him for continuing to try though

24. Me : 'What's that Chinese girl doing on 35th and King Drive??!?!' Jan : 'Nails!'

25. Did that heifer really have her dog all over the furniture in the hotel lobby like she was at home?

26. THEY are something else I tell you!

27. "U got it bad if you miss a day without your friend/Your whole life's off track/You know you got it bad when you're stuck in the house/You don't wanna have fun/It's all you think about...." - Usher "U Got It Bad"

28. *sigh*

29. Jody Weiss needs to get it together. This gun violence is past ridiculous!

30. Sparkle, you and your fam are in my prayers

31. Keir I know it's a tough thing to go thru.....Im praying for you and sending you good energy

32. I may be in the minority on this but I think the Jesse/Barack thing was overblown a bit

33. Yeah I know what he said but....in the context in which he said it..I dont think it was the most horrible thing said about Barack

34. I dont think his probable jealously had much to do with that particular quip

35. "Why are people so worried about Black (or White people) voting for Barack "just" because he's Black? There are people that WON'T vote for him, just because he's Black. Go bother those people!" - Illseed (AllHipHop.com)

36. The writing is clearly there on the wall...in like bright pink bubble letters!

37. I just need to stop acting like I cant read when I can

38. At a certain point you just gotta face shit and deal with it for what it is

39. For the record : Being lethargic sucks sea monkey nuts

40. One of the beauties of this life is that for the most part.....you pretty much can create and regulate your own reality

41. That is if you are bold enough to do so

42. So just how bold are you?

43. "The Martha Stewart/that's far from Jewish/Far from a Harvard Student/Just had the balls to do it!" - Jay Z "What More Can I Say?"

44. Getting started aint as hard as you make it out to be

45. What do you do when you realize that you have gluttonous tendencies but dont quite know what to do about it?

46. The poor child still has to look at the keyboard to type....how unbelievably cute is that? lol

47. Make Im just biased though

48. Aaaaah I see the finish line to this list (which is good b/c I sorta feel like I whined and pouted all throughout it)

49. But thanks for reading along if you did

50. "I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." - Will Rogers

Talking To The Mirror

"I fight with myself in the ring of doubt and fear/the rain aint gone, but I can still see clear" - Common Sense "Gaining One's Definition" 1997

I've got some living to do
and I'm tired of making excuses as to why I cant start
Its time I started coming up with reasons why I can
At a certain point you just get sick and tired
of being sick and tired
At least you should
I pray you all find that point
You do what you gotta do to motivate yourself
Lord knows aint nobody gon do it for you
It aint about greed
It aint about living how they live on TV
It shouldnt be anyways.
Its about doing for you
Doing for your fam
Doing something that you can be proud of
Something that you can speak loud of
Everyone has ideas
Believe it or not most of them are actually good
but the difference is in those who follow through
on their ideas and those who just continue to come up with ideas
So which one are you?

What's your mark on the world gonna be anyways?

You, Me & He (What We Gonna Do Baby?)

So Im reading this book, right? And it's about a lady discussing how she came to discover that she needed to be in a open marriage and how monogamy doesn't exactly work for her and the such. And so needless to say that this book has me thinking. Im almost scared as to what it means that Im agreeing with so much of what Im reading concerning her views on monogamy.

Funny how 'monogamy' and 'monotonous' are nearly the same word, huh? Things that make you go Hmmmm......

Anyways....I've always pictured in my head that I will marry a great woman and that will be that. Me and her til the wheels fall off. But temptation is a mu'fucka yall! That fine chick that you wanted to smash for the last 5 years always decides that she's ready to get down the day after you commit to your relationship. Such is life I suppose. Still doesnt make it any less fucked up though.

At this exact moment in time the thought of an open marriage, to me, is one of those things that sounds realllllllllly good in theory, but isnt actually practical. I mean the thought of me being able to get up with another chick when the feeling hit, with my girl fully knowing, and shit STILL BE OKAY?!?!?! Man the thought of that makes a nigga feel like this or maybe even this, but the flipside of that is that your girl can do the same. Im a jealous scorpio. The thought of another dude smashing my girl isnt a pleasant one. And so yeah...no open marriage for me I dont think.

Or is it? Yall know I always say that I want that 'Ossie and Rubie Dee' love, right? Well if you didnt know, they apparently had an open marriage. So what does that say? I dunno. Shit is confusing yo.

What say you?

Is monogamy natural?

Is all the talk of those who say it's "not natural" just a cop out by people who wanna have their cake and eat it too?

What do you REALLY think about open marriages?

The "Babymama's Terrorist Fist Jab" List

1. "Sometimes I think I'm from another world/When I try to tell a woman just exactly where I stand at/I want a girl when I want a girl/And when I don't want a girl I want a girl who understands that/And that's some hard shit to explain/to a woman that's in love with you/It's a pitiful thing..." - Phonte (Little Brother) "Slow It Down"

2. I swear I be giving yall my life in these here lists

3. This shit more or less equates to therapy for me

4. It's how I get all the thoughts in my head from ganging up and jumping me

5. So Puffy is back to being Puffy again?

6. Honestly I never really referred to him as 'Diddy' so it makes me no nevermind

7. Crazy rarely realizes that it's crazy.

8. And with that said....who's to say what crazy truly is?

9. But still....sometimes you just know

10. "...Until I had to figure/That I don't wanna play around, but I don't wanna settle down/And that's a man's dilemma/'Cause every man remembers how his daddy and his uncles did it/'Cause more than likely that's the way they're gonna do it/I know it sounds fucked up and most wont admit it/But yo, I gotta face it 'cause I know I'm living through it" - Phonte (Little Brother) "Slow It Down"

11. *sigh*.......my life!

12. Remember when Michelle gave Barack dap on stage after he pretty much clinched the nomination?

13. Yeah...that got referred to as a 'Terrorist Fist Jab' by Fox News' E.D. Hill

14. LOL @ fucking clueless white people!...it's called a POUND and/or DAP

15. LMAO at news coverage calling it 'Fist bump', 'Closed fist high five', 'Knuckle Bump' and everything else these idiots came up with

16. Oh and then Michelle got referred to (again by the fabulous Fox News) as Barack's babymama....nevermind the fact that they been married how many years now......before they had kids? WTF?

17. I say all that to say....the back and forth between HillBilly and Barack was essentially in-house fighting compared to the shit McCorpse McCain and the GOP are gonna pull so brace yourselves yall

18. "Tomorrow is never promised so it's quite a good look to tell someone you love them today." - Jonesy

19. Kelli Im glad ur here hon. Shit like that lets you know that you are truly here for a reason, ya know?

20. Purchasing a hot single by a flossy, semi-famous "ballin" rapper via itunes...... $.99

21. Watching said rapper and crew struggle to pony up a a few hundred dollars to rent a room in your hotel...... PRICELESS!!!!

22. Then seeing said rapper and crew being forced to ask their bust downs/groupies to use their credit cards to check in b/c none of them have any........DOUBLE PRICELESS!!!

23. I swear you couldnt pay me to make this shit up!

24. Sitting around waiting for inspiration to strike is pretty pointless

25. You gotta be proactive and find a way

26. At the end of the day all you really got to rely on is you

27. "I'd put that on my wedding invite entitled 'We Gon Be Fucking Forever Yall : So Watch What You Invite Us To!'. That quote will be in calligraphy...all fancy and shit" - Chante

28. I dunno about yall, but if I got an wedding invite with that title I would MAKE SURE I'm there!

29. Believe it or not....this might very well be the most difficult list I ever put together

30. This shit took me forever.....stuff would come and go before I could add it

31. So Steen was like.....'I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you today. It's Father's Day and I know you lost your dad so you're in my thoughts'

32. To which I replied.....'Thats really sweet of you but I aint thinking about that nigga. Is that mean? I kinda feel bad for not feeling bad. I actually have a couple of friends on my mind who lost their dad within the last year so Im feeling bad for them.'

33. I actually do feel bad for not really feeling bad. Such is my reality I suppose

34. There's obviously unresolved issues there that I need to tend to.....eventually

35. "Fast food got me sick!/These mu'fuckas think they slick/by trying to make this bullshit afforadable..." - Cee Lo Green (Goodie Mob) "Soul Food"

36. No...for real! Eating right is hard! And expensive!!!!

37. Im tempted to say 'Fuck it. Somebody is just gon have to love me, fat belly and all!'

38. LMAO @ KY Jelly holder on the wheelchair

39. I really have no words about the R.Kelly verdict other than that I hope gets some help now that he has dodged that big ass bullet that I was sure was gonna lay him flat

40. What else is there to say other than when Phonte of Little Brother said.. 'The social hierarchy according to the American legal justice system goes something like this: Dead dogs >>>>> bullet riddled Black men >>>>>> sexually abused Black girls' in his blog entitled "Would R.Kelly Be In Jail If He Had Pissed On A Dog?"?

41. Speaking of LB....did they sneak a new album out without my knowledge??!!?!?

42. Everytime I find myself rushing to get the dishes done before roomie comes home it reminds of rushing to get them done before my mama came home. I have to remind myself that 'Im grown as hell, dog'.

43. "Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." - Life's Little Instruction Book Vol. 3

44. I fucking love that book.

45. Sad Reality of Life : Stupid people procreate at a far faster rate than Smart people are capable of

46. And this is so mostly b/c smart people got shit to do other than just fucking

47. God bless Myshell and her family and Tim Russert's too

48. Cindy Im so thankful that your mom is now cancer free!

49. Viva la WINFEST......another great one in the books!

50. "I hate Verizon. I hope they all get fucking syphillis!" - Lesley

Al Sharpton for VP!!!!!

While Im literally ecstatic that Barack will be the Democratic nominee for President, I am now fearful for him and his family.

Shout out to Fox Brown Fox. She blogged that Obama should be protected by Black Gangster Disciples, Black P Stones, El Rukns, Four Corner Hustlers, Gangster Disciples, Imperial Gangsters, Imperial Vice Lords, La Familia, La Raza, Latin Kings
Latin Queens, Maniac Latin Disciples, Mickey Cobras, Sisters of the Struggle, Vice Lords, Bloods & Crips, Irish Republican Army, Chicago Teamsters from the 80s, La Cosa Nostra, TD Jakes' Women that have been Loosed, National Organization of Women, Lesbians with Guns, Trannies with Poison Darts, and Drag Queen Super Heroes.

And I couldnt agree more.

Let's face it. This country, and even the world in general, but mostly this country, has shown us over and over again that if you shine too brightly, think too radically, try to do too much right, or make too much damn sense, they have no problem taking you out. Think Medgar, Malcolm, Martin, John or Bobby Kennedy to name a few.

And speaking of Bobby Kennedy.....Im not feeling Hill as the VP at all. This dirty bitch may plot to have him "taken care of" so she can step right in. Sounds far fetched, but shit not really. She has proven that there really isnt a new low that she wont stoop to.

And that leads me back to the brother with the perm. Al Sharpton needs to be Barack Obama's running mate for the simply fact that any would be harm do'ers will think twice b/c Lord knows they dont want that nigga to be President!

And that may make you chuckle a bit, but a good part of me is dead serious.

In The News 6.02.08

This Obama/Trinity thing is weird. On one hand, it aint like Rev. Wright or Father Pfleger lied in anything they said. But I guess something is to be said for timing. Especially with Rev. Wright's 2nd flare up and now Father Pfleger. There is no question that they are for Obama. But they saw the backlash that was faced when Rev. Wright's first sermon hit the airwaves. So for Father Pfleger to go into Trinity, knowing all eyes were still on the church, AND that they do live video streaming across the net, and say what he said, might coulda been a bit of a dumb ass move. And again...he shole aint never lied, but timing yall, timing! Wait til the nomination is completely locked up. You know white folks cant handle the straight up truth like that!

Did 50 burn down his own damn multi-million dollar home to force his babymama out? Did ol girl figure 'since you want me out so bad aint NOBODY finna live in this bitch!!'? Im not sure which way it was. But the fact that the house went up in flames like it did is maaaaaaaaaaaaaad suspicious. If you are unfamiliar, 50 wanted his babymama out by the end of the school year. He said she has a bunch of people living in there, of which he isn't (and shouldn't be) responsible to pay for. She says he promised her the house and since it's hers she can pretty much do as she pleases. Tricky situation indeed. What's obvious though is one of them got tired of the constant back and forth and had someone torch the place. Ol girl and her kids (including 50's 10 yr old son) all were treated for minor smoke injuries. I think whomever simply wanted the culprits to set one part of the house ablaze and cause a little damage, but said culprits went overboard and damn near killed er'body inside! This one is gonna be interesting to see as the truth comes out.

Kimbo Slice had his network TV debut over the weekend. If you are unfamiliar he is a former street fighter/web phenom who just turned pro in Mixed Martial Arts league. There was a huge "debate" as to whether WHITE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 35 America was ready to see him on prime time TV. You know...Big Scary Black Man and all. The only thing is......THIS NIGGA IS REALLY FUCKING SCARY! It aint like the LeBron cover thing. This is the real deal. Dude is terrifying. You see the picture, right? Wouldn't you try to stay on his good side too? I love the Lil Wayne lyric "I aint never ran from a nigga / and I damn sure aint bout to pick today to start running", but uhhhh....dude looks like he can retrieve the bitch outta just about anybody. Im not sure there are enough digits you could put on a check to get me in the ring with son, but that's just me.

The "World's Smartest Dummy" List

1. "I solemnly swear/to change my approach..../Cause I be doing the most/But everytime I felt that was that/it called me right back/Man, it called me right back" - Jay-Z "Allure"

2. Sometimes I do the most. Like when I drink 'til I throw up and pass out while standing up in bathroom stalls

3. Can you say "Excessive"?

4. What the hell was in Lena's jeezus juice anyways?

5. You would think that by age 30 I'd know better than to drink like a fish on an empty stomach but apparently not

6. Teej = World's Smartest Dummy

7. (I can just see your face now.) Dont worry Andy. Im cool.

8. HillBilly still aint shut their shit down yet?

9. Did they not get the memo that it's "Barack Time" or something?!?!?

10. "You should get a beta. They are pretty easy to take care of. We had one that lived for years, even through a fire... until Eric fed him Velveeta. That's a pet care tip for you: no processed cheese food for fish" - Lesley

11. Do you think it's a coincidence that in the midst of all his Sean Bell protests, the US District Attorney has 'uncovered' that Al Sharpton supposedly owes $1.5 million in back taxes?

12. Trust me....if this is indeed the case, these fools ARE NOT just discovering this

13. Screw "Sex and The City" when is the "Girlfriends" movie come out?!

14. If I know your first and last name, more than likely I've googled you

15. It's simply what I do....dont ask me why

16. The Celts sure as hell are making this championship run hard I tell ya!

17. "I love my nigga for the fact that he's real/and nobody on the faculty squeal/And if you facing capital pun(ishment)/then pass me a gun/and Imma give you time to run/while I rapidly peel!" - Jadakiss/Styles P "We Gon Make It"

18. Aint that some loyalty for your ass?!?!? Now that's what Im talking bout!

19. No Ronnie, it doesnt surprise me that Morehouse's 2008 Valedictorian is white. I mean Tiger Woods has been the world's best golfer for what? Like 10 years now? Shit had to even out somewhere I figure

20. People keep trying to "buy" me on myspace. It's kinda fun on facebook, but the myspace version looks wack

21. Why do they keep jacking facebook for their applications anyways?

22. Stop being a beatbiter and dope style taker Tom

23. OMG a cyclone in Myanmar killed 78,000 and a earthquake in China killed like 33,000

24. God Bless them all

25. We really gotta find a way to work better with Mama Earth. Im sure all these natural disasters are a result of us doing too much to the earth, ya know?

26. We all play a part yall....for real http://www.earthshare.org/get_involved/earth_saving_tips.html

27. "Did you ever stop to notice the crying Earth/The weeping shores?" - Michael Jackson "Earth Song"

28. I swear I have never felt more loved at the hotel than when they wanted me to sign up to play basketball against our sister hotel

29. They dont even know if I can play or not!

30. Speaking of basketball.....when I wrote the blog about Candace Parker I never imagined in 122 years that she might actually lay eyes upon it

31. But thanks to the homie Chanteeeeezy she prolly will

32. I hope she sees the humor and satire in it

33. She really is the truth tho....setting a record for most points in a WNBA debut, plus she was 2 assists shy of a triple-double

34. *steps down from Candace's jock*

35. "You cant wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club!" - Jack London

36. I need to tattoo that shit on my forehead!

37. So this dude goes crazy, shoots his girlfriend 8 times, leads popo on a high speed chase that ends at a crowded park (where he promptly drives through the baseball field of people)! Then he jumps out the car, pretends to have a gun and screams "I want to be shot!".Needless to say he was white, therefore he didnt catch 50 shots. They just tasered him and took him into custody. Go figure! http://www.%20msnbc.%20msn.%20com/id/24522525

38. Thanks for passing that story along Michelle

39. You know those people who never send regular emails, just maaaaad forwards?

40. So yeah I think my mama is one of those people, bless her heart

41. Anyone (besides you *wink*) aware of where my current screen name is from?

42. I really aspire to be that shit

43. "This man ish is heavy, works on the nerves, you live to be a strong leader, protect and serve/But on the inside I long to be little me again, and see how it works when you have the lesson blended in" - Jaxon

44. Brother please believe I feel you!

45. I've DJ'ed the last two house parties Ive been to from my ipod!

46. Add DJ to the list of things Im gonna do too

47. Man....the Cubs might be really good this year. Dont worry they'll blow it in the post-season

48. Rude.com has thoroughly pissed me off with this pay shit

49. And to think....I almost didnt do 50 b/c I worry about people reading the stuff I write in these lists!

50. "I mean what if they pulled a chick wit our pics...they cant fuck...cuz soon as they show up lookin like John Witherspoon.....its ova!!" - Vice Verse on dudes stealing our pics to use on their profiles

I Now Understand.....

...why this country and world is so fucked up!

As most of you know, I work as a concierge at a ritzy boutique hotel (and no, I dont have the hookup for you, so dont ask!) in downtown Chicago. And Im sure those of you who read my blogs have at some point read when I reference my job as 'getting shit for white people'. (Yall think Im being funny, but Id say 85% of the guests are white so Im just telling the troof!) If you are unfamiliar with the term 'concierge' lemme give you the textbook definition as told by everyone's favorite source for info about anything....WIKIPEDIA!

"In hotels, a concierge assists guests with various tasks like making restaurant reservations, arranging for spa services, recommending nightclubs, procurement of tickets to special events and assisting with various travel arrangements and tours of interesting places to visit. In upscale establishments, a concierge is often expected to "achieve the impossible", dealing with any request a guest may have, no matter how strange, relying on an extensive list of personal contacts with various local merchants and service providers."

Now with that said....you can imagine that I run into and deal with ALL types of people every single day that Im at work. Everyone from your typical well to do types, to business class types that run multi-million dollar companies, to foreigners visiting this country who barely speak English, to the dude tricking off trying to impress a jumpoff and so on. All these people have one shining attribute in common.......

.....THEY ARE ALL FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!

I now understand how Bush got (s)elected and re-(s)elected. I mean really....when Kerry lost I was just dumbfounded as to how anyone can vote for this prick a second time, but now I get it.

As Ive told the homie Andrea (What up Hutch?!?!) many a time......we are the minority b/c the vast majority of the world is stupid. Plain and simple. Its just one of those clear cut things......much like the fact that water is indeed wet and Paris Hilton is a trick. It just is. Most people in general can not think for themselves or make their own decisions and so they'll believe everything they are told or see on TV or read in the newspapers. They repeatedly believe the hype even though PE warned 'em not to.

There's a saying I heard a while ago that says 'Common sense aint so common anymore'. And this is what I just cant wrap my brain around. Much like most white people cant fathom police brutality and racism even existing, I cant fathom how and/or why people are so damn dumb. Most times when I have to deal with these idiots it just pisses me off. And my coworkers wonder why I get all riled up. "Are you fucking slow? MACY'S IS ACROSS THE STREET! THERE....RIGHT THERE! SEE WHERE MY FINGER IS POINTING? IT'S RIGHT THERE! THAT BUILDING RIGHT THERE!" My patience just wares then. I get irritated when people dont do the common sense/basic shit.

I feel like Im ranting now. Actually I pretty much know that I am so let me wrap it up for you folks so you can continue with your day.

In short, about 88, maybe 89% of the world is either slow, stupid or retarded. Those of us that dont fall into those categories must remember that we are severely outnumbered. They are everywhere. At our jobs, at our places of leisure, even next door to you! Stupid people do stupid things.......and it makes sense to them. So when us non-afflicted people try to do something the non-stupid way everyone looks at us like we're out of our mind. Dont buckle under the pressure. Dont let stupid prevail. And by all means when you are forced to deal with an obvious idiot just take a deep breath, remind yourself of the fact that it's them and not you, then say what you need to say to them as slow as possible til it sinks into their tiny little brains.

Smart people unite and let's all get down!

On The Sean Bell Verdict...

"Fuck tha police/coming straight from the underground/ A young nigga got it bad becuz Im brown/and not the other color so police think/they have the authority to kill a minority" - NWA(Ice Cube) "Fuck Tha Police" 1988

He emptied his clip, reloaded, and emptied the second clip into Sean Bell's car for a total of 31 shots.............by his damn self!

Do you know how much fucking time it takes to empty two magazine clips? Especially when you have to reload?!?!!?!??!

The other officers combined for a total of 19 additional shots. Claimed they believed a gun to be in the car. Said one of the cars' occupants made a sudden move. Of course there was no gun in the car. In these cases there usually never is.

In 1999 Amadou Diallo's wallet was mistaken for a gun. They shot at him 41 times before it was over...............................You ever seen a fuckin' square shaped gun?!?!?!?

The next time a black dude runs from a cop you'll will know why. Or maybe they'll finally know why. They have repeatedly shown us that our lives dont mean shit to them. As a black male this shit is disheartening. Actually it's frightening is what it is. It could be a videotaped beating in the middle of a highway or a pre-dawn raid where it is proven that the cops let off 99 of 100 shots, and that 1 shot was a reaction of being shot, and it doesnt matter. For these fuckers to get off basically scott free...to not even be convicted of so much as excessive force, b/c you'd think 50 shots at unarmed people would be excessive, it's more than a slap in the face. It's more like a clear message.

This all traces back to fear. Black men are so fucking feared in this world it makes no sense. Hate to sound like Im on a "Woe is the Black Man" soap box, but when the fuck have you ever heard of a unarmed white man being shot at 50 some odd times? I sure as hell cant think of any instances. But again this all boils down to fear. Im pretty sure that those cops didnt go out looking for some black men to kill that night, but in the heat of the moment.........

Fear + Adrenaline + Guns = Alot of dead people....in this case, black men people. Maybe someone did make a sudden move. Its said that the officers didnt clearly identify themselves before drawing guns. At 4am I'd think I was being carjacked too.

Before I go off on too much of a tangent, you cant tell me that those cops didnt need to be held accountable. 50 fucking shots is at the very least excessive force when you arent being fired upon! Gimme a fucking break!

"Hard to be a spiritual being when she is shaking what you believe in..." - Talib Kweli "Respiration"

My Plan To Impregnate Candace Parker

Alls I gotta do is wait til the next hot party where she's one of the special invited WNBA players that's supposed to come. Yup! Then Imma make sure Im there wearing the jeans that show off my package so she can see what Im working with. Then Imma somehow work and/or sneak my way into VIP where she gon be popping bottles and making it rain on dudes and shit. She gon have to notice me. I know I stand out. I mean sure, I might play myself a lil bit, but it's worth it. She just got drafted No.1 overall by the LA Sparks! You know she finna be balling for real!

So maybe I'll dance on her all suggestively in the club or even give her a lil head in the back of VIP. That way she'll wanna invite me back to her hotel. We can ride back in her '09 Navi thats fully equipped sitting on 56's. Man ALLLLLL the dudes gon be sick when they see me hop in the passenger side. I can hear them hataz now : "Who the fuck is that nigga?!?!? He aint even fresh! His A1's got a scuff on 'em!!!", but whatever!

Then we gon get to the hotel and be chilling in her suite. And she gon be trying to get at me b/c Im buzzed. Imma play hard to get a lil bit at first b/c I dont want her to think Im some hoe that be scheming on ball players even if I really am. Hell, she aint gotta know all that! Imma play the role though and let her know that I dont usually do this, but there is just something about her. Then after a couple hours Imma finally give in and let her smash. Imma let her smash allllllllll night, but Imma poke a hole in all the condoms and then BAM!!! She gon have my baby and Im gon be set for life.

The End.

The "Silly Mortals Havent A Clue" List

1. "Mama Earth is dyin and cryin because of you
Raining cats and jackles, all shackles disintegrate, to residue
Silly mortals haven't a clue as to what the fuck is goin on...
Mamma Earth is tossin and turnin and that's our sign...
Hope I'm not over your head but if so you will catch on later...
Guess she could not take it anymore
Raping her heavenly body like a hoe, coochie sore
from niggaz constantly fuckin her, never lovin her, never showing appreciation
bustin' nuts in her face when they done!" -Andre 3000 "Da Art of Storytellin" Pt. 2

2. Did you participate in observing "Earth Hour" on 3/29?

3. If you did, know that what we did was the equivalent of reducing nearly 1.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and taking more than 1 million cars off the road for one hour

4. If you didnt well I suppose you just suck urine soaked Panda balls, now dont you?

5. My new favorite blog : http://www.verysmartbrothas.com/

6. That shit is straight comedic hilarity but oh so true!

7. Lovely Lesley I wish you the HAPPIEST OF BORN DAYS my sweet!

8. Sorry Cub fans but they'll suck again this year too

9. Hey it's what they do and they're damn good at it might I add!

10. "But when you love someone/you just dont treat them bad/Oh, how I feel so sad/Now that I wanna leave/She's crying her heart to me/'How could you let this be?'/I just need time to see/where I wanna be" - Donell Jones "Where I Wanna Be"

11. Where the hell is Donell anyways?

12. Did I really hear someone saying that the chicken at Chicago's Rosscoe's "tastes like wood"?

13. I didnt know that was really possible. I thought the Sugar Hill Gang was making that up!

14. btw as far as Im concerned : Chicago's Rosscoe's = McDowell's

15. And yes they really did add an extra 's' in Rosscoe's to make it 'different'

16. I only wish I were making this shit up!

17. "Here's a tip : Buy land!! They've stopped making it!!!" - Danisha

18. Im sure all my real estate broker friends are gonna love that one!

19. To this day that Cucumber Melon stuff reminds me of KK

20. Boy that stuff usta get her the BIDNESS fresh out the shower!!!

21. Alls I know is this "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" movie had better be DAMN good with the marketing campaign that has been set forth for it!

22. The Speed Dating event was pretty good save for a couple of hitches

23. Namely that we neglected to enforce the 'speed' portion of it and then the maniacal madman took over. lol

24. So the one dude fucking puts his baby in a microwave......and then this other dude fucking drowns all 3 of his kids b/c he and his ex were in a middle of a nasty custody battle....

25. ...They really need to do some extensive testing before people are allowed to have kids!

26. God bless Kneesh's fam, Niena's fam, and the LeVert family

27. "And as you journey into outerspace/May the angels help to lead the way/May the prayers that our families make/shine up on your soul and keep you safe/And all (our loved ones) that have passed away/be there to greet you as you pass the gates/And as you headed to the tunnel's light/I hope it leads to eternal life" - Scarface Feat. 2Pac "Smile"

28. Is it bad that I wanna send a BIG FUCK YOU to Charlton Hester though?

29. I mean really on some 'muthafuck him and John Wayne!' shit

30. The life of an artist is a lonely one

31. And yet....I strive to be an artist. Go figure.

32. Damn did ATA get gangsta or what?

33. That shit could be a new hustle yo : Make a company, offer a service in which peeps pay up front, then file bankruptcy and keep er'body money!!!!! Shit sounds foolproof to me!

34. Naila is a blogspot blogger and so is Keir now, and DJ is listing....pretty soon I will convert the world I tell you! *Insert sinister laugh*

35. How could my Tarheels go out like that? (Hush it up Leach! lol)

36. "Anyone who saw the 'King Kong' thing prior to it being pointed out should be deleted at once! This is like a mental stability quiz. =)) " - Steen

37. That "GTFOHWTBS" blog really stirred some controversy I tell ya

38. Seems we'll have to agree to disagree on that one

39. I just dont think it was that deep

40. On a completely different note..... I noticed that the bottom of my right butt cheek is slightly more hairy than my left butt cheek

41. FYI : It's my list and blog. TMI doesnt exist here so much.

42. Myspace drama is like the movie "Gigli": Completely unnecessary and should not be tolerated whatsoever!

43. "And I...mean all these words I said/And you don't have to guess what's going on inside my head/Just try to know all the things that our heart says/Listen to love and always get love to lead the way" - Luther Vandross/Gregory Hines "There's Nothing Better Than Love"

44. Yup that one's for you Sunday Morning Sylvi

45. So Bey-Z (Beyonce' and Jay-Z for you short bus riders) finally made it official huh?

46. Hope they dont go the way of Whitney and Bobby. Speaking of which.....

47. Did Bobby really say Whitney used their marriage to clean up HER image!?!?!?!?

48. Correct me if Im wrong but....it wasnt til AFTER their marriage that we found out Whitney had some hood in her, right?

49. Prior to that we thought she was the pristine pop star diva as wholesome as nun's liver!

50. "Music kind of sucks. Nobody's into being a musician. Everybody's getting their mogul on. You've been so infiltrated by this corporate mentality that all the time you'd spend getting great songs together, you're busy doing nine other things that have nothing to do with art. You know how shitty Stevie Wonder's songs would have been if he had to run a fuckin' clothing company and a cologne line?" – Chris Rock

GTFOHWTBS!

"When Vogue announced its April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, the magazine noted with some fanfare that James was the first black man to grace its cover. But the image is stirring up controversy, with some commentators decrying the photo as perpetuating racial stereotypes. James strikes what some see as a gorilla-like pose, baring his teeth, with one hand dribbling a ball and the other around Bundchen's tiny waist.

It's an image some have likened to King Kong and Fay Wray.

"It conjures up this idea of a dangerous black man," said Tamara Walker, 29, of Philadelphia.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz shot the 6-foot-9 NBA star and the 5-foot-11 Brazilian model for the cover and an inside spread. Vogue spokesman Patrick O'Connell said the magazine "sought to celebrate two superstars at the top of their game" for the magazine's annual issue devoted to size and shape."

(From USAtoday.com)

Thanks to Reez-y for bringing this to my attention. So what do yall think? Does this cover conjure up a King Kong/Damsel in distress image to you? They had a big discussion on it on The Today Show this morning. It was a black woman's argument with the whole King Kong depiction theory? I think that's a bit much. Come on black people you know we can be a tad sensitive and extra sometmes! This is reaching. Whats the problem b/c he has his mouth open? LeBron even said himself he is "pleased with the cover" and "was just trying to show a little emotion".

I mean shit....the cover article is about Secrets of the best bodies of the world's top athletes (LeBron) and models (Giselle)....so WTF? Is it b/c he is big and dark skin?

I mean would this shit even be being discussed if it were Tony Parker on the cover instead?

Dude Im so fuckin' going back to Saturn! I knoooooooooooooow we got better shit to talk about.

If yall dont GTFOHWTBS

FUCK Rant Part Deux

FUCK being set free after serving 25 years for a crime you didnt commit!
FUCK weighing in at 270lbs!
FUCK the Chicago Bears for making the team WORSE during the offseason and not BETTER!
FUCK Geraldine Ferraro!
FUCK being a pack rat!

FUCK Corporate......once again!
FUCK only being scheduled for 2 days this week!
FUCK their so called retaliation b/c I refused to work any more overnights!
FUCK the hypocrisy of that place!
FUCK teetering between stability and complacency!

FUCK being addicted to bossip.com and thee-biz.blogspot.com!
FUCK that...them shits are funny and I know better than to believe EVERYTHING I read!
FUCK not having home training!
FUCK anyone who is uneasy and uncomfortable with quiet and silence!
FUCK the fool on the train that HAD TO break up the peacefulness by talking loud as shit on his cell phone!

FUCK strawberry milkshakes for being soooooooooo good!
FUCK the whole Bear Stearns fiasco!
FUCK all these upsets in NCAA tournament for fucking up EVERYONE'S brackets!
FUCK being indecisive!
FUCK those damn white people for letting their dogs play with each other in the hotel lobby! If yall dont take yall asses to a damn dog park with that shit......!

FUCK the unrest in Tibet!
FUCK the fool who bought a corn flake shaped like the state of Illinois for $1350 on eBay!
FUCK misplaced priorities!
FUCK 'the world. Dont ask me for shit!' - Biggie Smalls & Method Man 1994
FUCK you if you cant dig this story.... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080323/ap_on_fe_st/message_in_a_bottle

FUCK being propositioned by a swinging couple!
FUCK the entire Eastern Conference of the NBA for being wack compared to the West!
FUCK fast food for being soooooooo affordable when you're trying to eat right!
FUCK having to be on a budget!
FUCK my brother for being halfway partly serious about that whole 'secondary son' tangent he went on!

FUCK annoying people who dont even realize that they are annoying!
FUCKING waiting 8 years and counting for Dr. Dre to release "Detox"!
FUCK everyone who is trying to use Pastor Wright's words against Obama!
FUCK McCain for vowing to remain in Iraq until "the job is done"!
FUCK reaching 4000 American casualties in this dumb ass on-going war!

Stacy's Isaiah (I LOVE THAT!)

I was gon write a long explanation of this story but why bother? As you'll see it's pretty
self-explanatory. If it was some crazy story about a bad parent going crazy on their kid I might've been moved to write about it so why not accentuate the positive, ya know? Besides this just blew my mind. It's an IM convo between me and my good friend Stacy. Peep.......
____________________________________________________________________

Stacy: My son Isaiah says 'I love Etta James'. I ask him 'Why?'. He says 'She has a beautiful voice'.

Me: WTF? Really?!?!?!?! I love that. How old is he?

Stacy: He is 6! Dude he asked if I could get him one of her CD's!

Me: I LOVE THAT!!!

Stacy: He had been playin it all day and night.

Me: U got the CD for him?

Stacy: Yep! And guess what his fav songs are? "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "Oh Happy Day" and "Let's All Go Down To The River". I'm like 'Wow he is developing his musical taste'.

Me: Are you crazy!?!?!? He is sooooooooo far beyond developing musical taste. He KNOWS what he likes!

Stacy: U think? Amazin huh?

Me: REMARKABLE!! I mean when I was 6 I asked for New Edition and Prince BUT that was only b/c they were on the radio. He aint hearing Etta on the radio right now!

Stacy: He said to me 'Mommy you ever listen to Etta sing? Come listen!' Had me in his room clapping along with him

Me: Are you serious? I LOVE THAT!

Stacy: Yes! He said he was gonna wake me up in the A.M. and play the CD. And yo...he listens to the words! On "Oh Happy Day" he's like 'What does that mean when Jesus washed. And what are sins?"
____________________________________________________________________

Is that not the best story ever? For a 6 year old to out of the blue damn near DEMAND some Etta James and then get into the lyrics like that? That is just mindblowing to me. Stacy keep doing what you are doing and definitely keep nurturing whatever that is that's brewing inside of him.

*Goes to listen to "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "Oh Happy Day" and "Let’s All Go Down To The River" to hear what the 6 year old prodigy hears* ;)

The "May As Well Tell It To Your Shoe" List

1. "No you wont be naming no buildings after me/To go down dilapidated/No you wont be naming no buildings after me/My name will be misstated, surely/This world done changed so much yeah yeah/This world done changed since I been conscious....." - Erykah Badu "A.D. 2000"

2. Am I the only one who feels as though the jury is still out on Erykah's new album?

3. I suppose at the very least I should thank her for not dumbing it down and actually making me hafta think, huh?

4. Nothing politicians do really surprises me anymore

5. Even if they get caught in a prostitution ring...or if they get caught soliciting gay sex in a airport bathroom....or if they have babies out of wedlock with staff members....or if they get caught getting head in their office from an intern.....

6. You get the point, right?

7. I guess it just goes to show that they are just as fucked up as the rest of us....possibly even moreso

8. WTF is with T-Pain and that damn top hat anyways??!?!!?

9. Do yall wanna just jump him too?

10. "See, that's a sign...your ass dont need to be meeting black people!" - Steen

11. I think you woulda had to been there to hear it in context

12. Oh why oh why do I *heart* Havana Ginger like I do?

13. It's really weird/hard to listen to some of my favorite MC's and musicians b/c I know people who've dated them

14. And to hear stories of their shortcomings juxtaposed against their lyrics and songs and image.....

15. In the end I guess we're all human and no one is perfect, right?

16. My vacay was going great until I got sick!

17. Then it's like WTF is the point of being on vacay if you're too sick to enjoy it?

18. "If there's a camera up in here/Then it's gonna leave with me when I do (I do)/If there's a camera up in here/Then I'd best not catch this flick on YouTube (YouTube)/'Cuz if you run your mouth and brag about this secret rendezvous/I will hunt you down/'Cuz they be all up in my business like a Wendy interview/But this is private between you and I..." - Mariah Carey "Touch My Body"

19. Hate on Mimi if you want, but this shit is kinda hot

20. Can you tell Im excited they brought Jesse and Angie back on 'All My Children'?

21. Like for real....they might've been my very first image of hardcore black love.....maybe even before Cliff & Clair

22. Im not sure if that previous statement was sad or ironic or what, but dammit it's my truth

23. Sylvi Im praying for you and your family hun

24. And yes honey....COUNTLESS more Sunday mornings to appreciate and simply bask in each other ;)

25. God bless the family of Jamiel Shaw as well

26. Life Lesson #395673 : Some people are just beyond helping. Try and try all you want. You may as well tell it to your shoe. Some people just need to learn or experience shit the extremely hard way until it sinks the fuck in

27. "Chunk them the deuces…...IN JESUS' NAME!" - Summer G

28. My sentiments exactly!

29. The child sold her old bras and some unused panties on ebay for like $80

30. What can you say except 'Cant knock the hustle', right?

31. I might buy alot of shit online....used CD's, used books, but I aint buying nobodies old drawers, but maybe that's just me!

32. Somebody get the word to Janet that she needs an entirely new sound

33. I love ya Jan, but most of your new album sounds like it coulda easily fit in 4 albums ago

34. Hot Damn! This grown man swag of mine is a muthafucka at times I tell you

35. "My charm is a felony" - Fabolous "Trade It All"

36. If you couldnt tell.....yeah Im feeling myself a bit

37. Janel....I love you to pieces and Im sowwy I missed ur party, but trust in the condition that I was in on Saturday....I did you a favor homie!

38. Sometimes Im a lil trife as far as lotioning up after I get out the shower

39. Hell sometimes Im a lil trife about getting in the damn shower....lol

40. It's my shit. I can say what I damn well please!

41. Do people really believe me to be in danger when I dont log into myspace for a few days?

42. Ya know....sometimes I do participate in life away from my keyboard

43. "You got me day dreamin/thinking bout rings and switchin up my whole life style/I call you on the phone on my way home/Treating you is on my mind/I’ll be cutting up greens, picking pinto beans/I know you like rice and gravy/Be at my door before eight, you bring the cake/Babe tonight will be fine..." - Algebra Blessett "You Do It For Me"

44. Dude if you are sleeping on Algebra please wake the fuck up! Sis is THE TRUTH! GO COP HER SHIT, SON!!!!

45. The lady on the plane back to Chicago had on a surgical mask b/c she said she got sick the last 2 times she flew Southwest

46. Am I wrong for wanting to turn around, smack fire out of her, and tell her dumb ass to fly another fucking airline if that was case?

47. How in the world did I live with no Sportscenter for a week?!?!!??

48. I havent had to 'get shit for white people' in almost a week and a half....and Im really okay with that!

49. This list took a kinda melancholy turn if you ask me

50. "You know how it is when you go to be the subject of a psychology experiment, and nobody else shows up, and you think maybe that's a part of the experiment? Im like that all the time" - Steven Wright

Some People.....

Some people just dont get it
Some people really hate to see others do good
Some people do intend to do you harm
Some people wish bad things on you
Some people always think negatively
Some people try to hold you back
Some people have no morals, soul or concious
Some people want you to stay stagnant
Some people have to always be right
Some people cant give anyone the benefit of the doubt
Some people hate kids
Some people thrive in chaos and confusion
Some people dont like quiet and feel a need to interupt it
Some people cant imagine doing something nice for someone w/o expecting something in return

Some people are just simply mean

Stay away from those people if you can
Dont pay them any mind
They are bad for your soul

Know Your Role (The Remix)

"You should be stronger than me..../Why'd you always put me in control?/All I need is for my man to live up to his role..../Always have to comfort you every day/But that's what I need you to do - are you gay?" - Amy Winehouse "Stronger Than Me"

I must admit that I was totally tapped for blog ideas in time for my weekly Monday post. On the way to work today I was listening to Amy Winehouse's first album "Frank" and this "Stronger Than Me" joint came on and it got me to thinking about the roles within a relationship. Plus Shan and Paula had both recently written something on the subject that got me to thinking too.

In October of '06 I originally wrote this blog (http://teejsays.blogspot.com/2006/10/know-your-role-2.html)
and so this is the remix. ;) Didnt know you could do that with blogs, didja? lol.

What I've learned since then is that some people prefer that the man lead and the woman submit. And when I hear it put like that I cant help but to think of a some overbearing dude running all over his woman. I realize that this probably couldnt be further from the truth, but thats always my immediate thought when I hear it put that way. Personally I think that it should be that both sexes do some leading and some submitting.

Im talking give and take people. Essentially I guess it boils down to the two people. It's all a matter of their experiences and views on the subject. Talk about some vital, need to know shit while getting to know a potential significant other!

Who knows exactly what Amy was going thru or the events that lead up to that lyric? Maybe dude just NEVER EVER stepped up and I can see how that could a problem. Like if she asked his opinion and he NEVER had an opinion. Just always gave a "Whatever you say hon.". It's like "Nigga do you got a backbone!?!?!? An idea of your own perhaps?". Some women like when the man orders for her at dinner. That may be her idea of him leading. I'd personally choke a bitch like that, but that's just me. I need my woman to have her own ideas, opinions and thoughts. I also need her to check me when I need checking. Dont just let me run wild. I can be doing a bit 4much (Thats 2 x too much for those of you not hip to the hip talk) at times.

I need a strong woman. A woman strong enough to fall back and let the man do it when she knows that she can do it just as well. But on the flipside the man should be secure enough to not be threatened if the woman can do it just as well. Take pride in that shit! You got you a winner, son!

The perfect couple to me would work like a well oiled machine. Filling in for each others deficiencies. Switching back and forth with the dominant/submissiveness and all. Holding each other down regardless. Truly having each other's back. The man protects and provides. The woman nurtures and supports. Or vice versa.

Again......give and take people. For real for real!

"Not 70/30, not 60/40, Im talking 'bout a 50/50 love.....yeah!" - Teddy Pendergrass "When Somebody Loves You Back"

The "Piss On His Grave" List

1. "....because they never really know 'bout what you going thru/They see your accomplishments, smile and compliment you/creep behind your back and spy instead of talking to you/and lie about what you doing instead of asking you/What them bastards do is terrible/Im telling ya Joe!" - Teefa (Infamous Syndicate) "Here I Go"

2. Did I ever mention that my 20,000 song holding ipod kicks mucho ass?!!?!?

3. Apparently there are still folks sitting by the closet door waiting for me to come out

4. Eh well, you diduntdidunts will be waiting awhile.....b/c not only am I not in the closet, I aint even in that house, son!

5. Hey Hillary...did you see that flash of light zoom by you? Yeah that was Barack!

6. Speaking of which...yall know that story of the KKK endorsing Barack is some bullshit, right?

7. When the hell did they start endorsing candidates (other than David Duke) anyways?

8. And trust if they did...they wouldnt endorse a black guy over a white woman...hell they'd definitely go for McCain Im sure

9. Im know it's wrong to say but......doesnt John McCain look as though he is about to keel over and die of a heart attack like any minute now?

10. "We won!/We won!/We beat your dirty gun!/You lost!/You lost!/You ate tomato sauce!"

11. Anyone else remember that?....or was that bragging rights chant just around my way?

12. Les Im glad you found time to write again

13. Im pretty sure that if a black actor made the exact same movies that Will Ferrell makes the NAACP and most black folks in general would be up in arms accusing him of buffonery and making a fool of black people overall

14. See what happens! You try to do all you can to dispel ethnic stereotypes or at least try not to pay attention to them and then something like this happens....

15. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22978449/?GT1=10856

16. How in the hell do you allow yourself to be towards the back of a 10,000 car traffic jam?

17. I mean after like 400, maybe 500 cars the thought to find an alternate route has got to pop in your mind at some point I would think

18. "There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity" - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

19. Drea I really am proud of you and your blog. Your shit is HOT, son! Can you hook mine up?

20. Yall check my DreDre out @ idkwhat2say.com

21. I suppose that "FUCK List" was popular b/c in the long run its something we can all relate to, no?

22. God Bless those kids at NIU but this is some bullshit

23. How many more school shootings are we gonna have to endure before the gun lobbyists, NRA and conseratives realize that too many guns are a fucking issue?!?!??!

24. They'll try to argue you down with the whole 'The right to bear arms is our constitutional right!' spiel. Yeah well that shit was written like 250 years ago by 7 white men who didnt forsee this shit. It's a different world like Dwayne Wayne and them that we're living in now. Why dont they see that?

25. Man sometimes I swear I wanna find where the dude who invented the gun is buried and piss on his grave!

26. Everytime something like this happens living in Canada begins to look better and better to me

27. "Life aint meant to come around twice/that's why I gotta get it right...../but sleep on it, that's why God give you night" - Lupe Fiasco "Real"

28. Im a little unclear as to why the United States Congress has decided to involve themselves and their "services" in the whole steroids in baseball saga

29. Seems to me that them fuckers ought be concerning themselves with running the country we elected them to run

30. Okay so say Roger Clemens did take all that shit......why dont yall let Major League Baseball govern it's self and deal with it?

31. I'll never understand why the position of the toilet seat is such a big deal to women. Ive never heard a dude nag his woman about her leaving the seat down. You know what he does when he goes to use it and finds the toilet seat down? He lifts it up. The end.

32. Lili you literally just came out of nowhere (perhaps fell out the sky even), but Im so impressed with you. You are gonna be a star and Im happy to call you my friend

33. What can I say? Im a big sappy mush bag

34. Its almost like Borders is timing my shit. Why do they send me notices of 2 days sales they are having like 3 days before I get paid? Fuckers!

35. "This God Theory overcomes the worst of weathers/As long as you willin to try, you on a good start homie.. you on a good start...../A yo yall, we need to hold on" - De La Soul "Trying People"

36. Dave my dude hold your head

37. I know it seems like NBS week but this too shall pass

38. How a 30 yr old man gon break up with his woman on Valentine's Day is beyond me?

39. I mean unless it's the day you find out she fucked ur boy or maybe pushed your mama down a flight of stairs.....that's just in bad taste dog.....what are you? 12?

40. Aside from a couple great dunks during the dunk contest, NBA All-Star weekend this year was kinda ehhhhh

41. Hope all tourists and festivities and all stimulated the economy down there somewhat

42. Steen you know they aint ready for us, right?

43. "Lust sometimes can override trust" - Lupe Fiasco "Real"

44. As fucked up as that sounds and as much as it shouldnt be, 'tis true.....and to be quite honest it scares me to death at times

45. I know how impulsive I can be at times

46. "Them bitches aint me! They dont make your ass wet and they dont bake you cookies.....so fuck 'em!"

47. Did I mention how much I love mindless randomness sometimes?

48. My uncles kept telling me how proud they are of me.....

49. .....and all I could think is "....but I aint done shit yet!"

50. "It's sad that when someone tells me in February that they are getting married in May I automatically think "she must be pregnant" - Veronica

According To Pastor James David Manning....

....you should not trust Barack Obama to be President of the United States b/c he hasnt been to jail

.....Bill Clinton was the REAL first black president so if elected Barack Obama would be the 2nd!

.....Barack aint even really black!

....the fact that Barack and Hillary are even running is a big Hollywood conspiracy so that they can make a movie or television production of it

....God (apparently with in the last 25 years or so) decided to rename 'Harlem' to it's new moniker of 'Atlah'

For more of his rhetoric be my guest to check out these links....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Op5or_vkcc&eurl=http://www.bossip.com/10983/ho-sit-down-5/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygWExq7g2F0&feature=related

*sigh*

This dude is certified 'El Pollo Loco'. The really scary thing about this is that he is a PASTOR of a church that people go to for guidance and religion and the whole nine. How is he gon spew this kinda senseless bullshit w/o even making any clear points as to the reason for his clear disdain for Barack Obama?

Now listen.....as far as I know....all my fam and friends who are pulling for Obama are not doing so simply b/c he is black! We'd be idiots for that. When you listen to the mans politics and his views for changing this country, THAT is what is really resonating with us. So Pastor Manning has the right to have his opinion, but as a man that other people look up to, he should at the very least offer some real reasoning behind his frantic ranting......

......or just shut the fuck up!

*walks off singing "When we start the revolution, all they'll probably do is snitch...." *

A FUCKING RANT

FUCK my metabolism for slowing down after 25. I fucking hate working out!
FUCK having $0.89 in my checking and $1.96 in my savings account
FUCK a co-pay!

FUCK you if can, but dont vote!
FUCK stupid guests and their outrageous inquiries. Im a concierge dipshit, not God!
FUCK people who want to have entire conversations on my comments. Call me. IM me. Message me. But dont think we're gonna go back and forth having a convo in comments. That shit is and looks dumb, son!

FUCK followers!
FUCK the fact that I aint rich yet
FUCK people that dont respect personal space. Dude my nerves is bad. Back up before I jap out and lay your ass down!

FUCK the powers that be that turned our Marshall Fields into Macy's!
FUCK the powers that be for cutting afterschool programs
FUCK the powers that be in general!


FUCK the ignorant black minister (if it is indeed true) that said in regards to Barack Obama : "Don’t trust any Negro to be your leader that hasn’t been in jail…if the White man ain’t put him in jail he ain’t qualified to be your leader." I mean really...what the fuck kinda mu'fuckin ga'damn bullshit is that?
FUCK a rapper named BIG KOON.....and while Im at it....
FUCK Lil Jon's Eastside Boyz for be named Big Sam and Lil Bo


FUCK Corporate!
FUCK J. Edgar Hoover for a myriad of things but mostly fuck him for COINTELPRO
FUCK smokers who cant get it through their heads that there is now a city wide ban that prohibits smoking in all public places. So dont have the hotel staff calling around trying to find a restaurant that you can smoke in b/c there aint none. Unless you wanna go to Waukegan, take your ass outside and 15 feet away from the door!

FUCK unnecessary drama and the people who revel in that shit
FUCK stupid rules!
FUCK japanese architects and their non-tall people friendly designs

FUCK working on weekends.....especially on Super Bowl Sunday
FUCK having to wait a month! FUCK the NFL for having Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as the halftime show headliner after Prince killed it last year. What the hell?
FUCK anyone who doesnt support music. Bootlegs are wack, son!

FUCK dreamkillers
FUCK having a varicose vein in my leg b/c I have to stand at my job!
FUCK those that believe any and everything you see and read.....if you only knew!

FUCK my mama for buying me the remote car I always wanted as a kid.....for my 30th birthday!
FUCK me for saying 'fuck my mama' even if it was in jest
FUCK you if you dont feel me. You 'are not real to me, therefore you dont exist.....'

The "Whip Out The Jammy" List

1. "Let the president answer a high anarchy/Strap him with a AK-47, let him go fight his own war/Let him impress daddy that way/No more blood for oil/We got our own battles to fight on our own soil/No more psychological warfare to trick us into thinking that we ain’t loyal" - Eminem "Mosh"

2. As disillusioned as I am with the whole voting process at times (especially after Bush won
the 2000 '(s)election'), I still feel a need to vote every chance I get

3. Especially when you think of the fact that people were still being killed for helping to register black people to vote merely a couple years before some of your favorite rappers were born

4. Hillary is really starting to be like a bad bladder as of late though

5. FYI that means she's pissing me off

6. Alls Im saying is......the place had a 'VIP' room called 'Ron's Champagne Room'

7. I dunno....maybe Im becoming an elitist or something

8. Nah fuck that!.....Im no elitist. I just have to be in the mood to do something THAT HOOD

9. Just warn me first yo! You cant be sneaking the hood shit on me!

10. "Swearing is an art form. You can express yourself much more exactly, much more succinctly, with properly used curse words." - Coleman A. Young

11. Speaking of (Former Detroit) Mayor Young.....it aint looking so hot right now for the current one at the moment

12. Damn Kwa! This is not a good look homie!

13. Yo Drew....you gotta take that picture down man

14. My elbows are ashy I think.....you know The Teej cant go out like that

15. Im not ashamed to admit that I really dig John Cusack movies

16. Some of these so called 'black leaders'.....man the way they be hating on Barack makes me think 'when we start the revolution, all they'll probably do is snitch!'

17. Word to Bob Johnson!

18. "My first impulse was to run up on you and do a 'Rambo'....whip out the jammy and flat blast both of ya. But I didnt wanna mess up this $3700 Linx coat. So instead......I chilled! That's right...chilled. Then I went to the bank.....took out every dime! And then I went and cancelled all those credit cards. Yeah...all your charge 'counts....yeah. I stuck you up for every piece of jewelry I ever bought you!" - Oran "Juice" Jones "In The Rain"

19. Tell me that aint some pimp shit!

20. Speaking of 'Rambo'.....Stallone's ass aint got nothing better to do than make MORE 'Rocky' and 'Rambo' sequels?

21. Fuck....Gimme a 'Tango and Cash 2' or even another 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot' or something!

22. On second thought....somebody get word to dude to just stop making movies altogether

23. I like Michael Baisden's show and all but I think he'd be better off staying on radio

24. Maybe Im late to the party but uhhhh....Lauren London is fucking GORGEOUS!!!!!

25. Tell me that these 2 quotes dont go to together.....

26. "Most of the time.....niggas just need to shut the fuck up!" - Fox Brown Fox

27. "Nigga the Lord dont wanna hear all that shit!" - Steen

28. Cant nobody tell me I dont have the dopest, most diverse, and craziest array of friends

29. Do you realize there is a whole generation of 'Hip Hop fans' who were born AFTER 'Pac and B.I.G. died?

30. Crazy, right?

31. Sometimes Im scared that I may turn out not to be the marrying kind at all, and instead Im destined to be 'one of them fishes'

32. But then again I shouldnt allow myself to think such dumb shit

33. Everybody....if you can remember to do so.....please never ever utter the word 'Chillaxin' in my direction

34. For some strange reason that shit is like fingernails down a chalkboard to me

35. "Are there not enough hobbies in the information age to keep bored bitches busy?" - Merci

36. I feel ya Merci!

37. God bless Mr. Powell, John Stroger and Eugene Sawyer

38. We must remember they arent gone so much as they have transformed into spiritual form

39. Mama Ackie...I'd like to thank you for your compliments.....and of course for birthing Naila as well ;)

40. If stupidity were a crime....dude would be serving triple life in prison, with no parole, in solitary confinement!

41. ...and its fucked up b/c Im forced to deal with him

42. I constantly wanna tell him to sit his dumb ass down like Martin told dude in that one episode but I have to keep it somewhat PC at the workplace, right?

43. "I'm smiling all the time. That doesn't mean a goddamned thing except I think people who go around solemn-faced and quoting the Bible are full of shit." - Coleman A. Young

44. Some people think anything outside of plain ol vanilla sex is weird

45. And well....that just sucks for them!

46. Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words.......47. Yeah...I think her look about says it all, no? lol

48. Get out and vote on Super Tuesday!

49. It'll make you a better person I promise

50. "People get ready, there's a train comin'/You don't need no baggage, you just get on board/All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'/......Faith is the key, open the doors and board them/There's hope for all among those loved the most/There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner whom would hurt all mankind just to save his own/Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner/For there is no hiding place against the kingdom's throne" - Curtis Mayfield "People Get Ready"

And Yet Another 10 Weird Things....

* I wrote on my myspace page that I have more quirks than you have fingers and toes and I have continued to prove that over and over again. I keep finding more shit to tell when asked to do these so here goes....*


1. I absolutely HATE writing in blue ink. It's a holdover from a really militant stage I went thru when I was about14. It was right around the time of the LA Riots. I bought "The Final Call" religiously, stopped eating most pork (Lord knows I cant do away with the bacon!), and I was listening to alot of Ice Cube, Lench Mob and X-Clan and shit. Anyways I stopped writing in blue ink then b/c it reminded me of "the blue eyed devil", and to this day I pretty much dont use blue ink.

2. There is a dried blood patch at the tip of my right index finger that people often mistake for a weed burn.

3. Speaking of weed....We learned when I was 7 and needed surgery on my foot that I have an unusually high drug tolerance. The doctors had a hard time sedating me and ended up having to operate on me while I was awake. Anyways.....this is why I dont really mess with weed much. I'd need to smoke a couple dubs by myself to feel the high.

4. I absolutely WORSHIPPED T-Boz from TLC from about the ages of 15-25. As my luck would have it, the only time I got within 10 feet of her I had a panic attack and had to get to a bathroom to compose myself.

5. Here I am 30 years into this life of mine and I still cant snap with my right hand!

6. Chante Moore's "Precious" was the first CD I ever bought

7. I still have a childhood speech impediment in which I sometimes slur words with an 'L' in them. My tongue just refuses to lift. Next time you see me... have me sing "La La La" to you

8. Sharon Stone will forever be in my heart b/c the first sex scene in the movie "Basic Instinct" was the first time I "discovered" myself. btw for those who care...that scene is approx. an hour into the movie. ;)

9. Back in high school when I wasnt so secure with my 'girth' I stuffed my trunks during swim class. Only thing is....my dumb ass stuffed my trunks with TISSUE. Now granted I was still pretty smart at 14, I didnt really think it through as to how the tissue would hold up under water.

10. Once my mom sent my cousin and I to store for something she needed to finish cooking. It just so happened that between my house and the store was my boy Charles' crib, which was the neighborhood spot to play ball. So what started as us 'just stopping by to see who was playing' turned into us actually playing and being gone 2 hours. I needed a really good excuse to tell my mom and us playing ball wasnt it. I lied and told my mom we got chased by some skinheads(b/c they were really around our neighborhood at the time) and we hid in someone's backyard. We called the police and I filled out a police report. Hey if you're gonna lie...you gotta be commited to it!

Faith Without Works

"Black folk got too much damn religion anyways" - O Dog "Menace To Society" (I think!)

So the lady in D.C. obviously goes crazy and kills her 4 girls ranging in ages from 5 to 17 years old. Said that the kids were possessed by demons and died in their sleep. It looks as though she just couldnt handle the stress of raising the girls after her husband died of cancer last February. It would occur to me that if thats the case she really shoulda reached out for help, but you know how stigmatized the black community is regarding mental health issues and all but thats not the point......

Now it appears that the social worker who had previous contact with the family is speaking out AFTER THE FACT and saying that the woman, Banita Jacks, appeared to have mental health issues when she visited the house in April to investigate why the 17 yr old had stopped going to school. The social worker even went so far as to say she thought that Jacks was holding her own daughter hostage inside the house. So the question begs to be asked. WHY THE HELL DIDNT THEY JUST GET A WARRANT AND GO IN THE HOUSE THEN?!?!? Simple answer : Somehow someway they came under the impression the family had moved to Maryland!!! Not their problem anymore! But you know what? That isnt the point of this blog either. That social worker system needs some overhauling anyways. This we knew.

My problem is with the rest of the family. While it is true that the Jacks' have family in Maryland, they never moved there. The deceased husband's mother said that she tried to visit a couple times but was not allowed in the home. Then she said she received an abusive voicemail berating her for trying to visit. Now wouldnt all of this raise a red flag? If I were the grandmother I would be ready to kick in the door on some Biggie shit....or have some able bodied people to do it for me. But what does she do instead?

"I had been praying to God to bring them home to me."

You had been praying?!?!?!!? Listen, I do believe in the power of prayer. However I also feel as though prayer is useless in most cases if you dont follow through with some sort of action (if possible) towards whatever you are praying for. In this case, this lady coulda been more persistent if she felt something was truly wrong in the household. She's their grandmother for crying out loud! Anyone feel me?

Sometimes I feel like black folks rely upon religion too much and dont act. Remember 'Faith Without Works......' people. They go hand in hand.

"'cause even when you pray/the next day you gotta try/Cant wait for nobody to just fall out the sky!" - Cee-Lo "In Due Time"

The "You Decide If You Like" List

1. "Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears - it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. But for many of my neurological patients, music is even more - it can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. For them, music is not a luxury, but a necessity. - Oliver Sacks via the side of another Starbucks cup

2. I mean really what more is there to say?

3. btw this particular list will have more quotes than usual

4. As you'll soon see I have some fucking hilarious and insightful friends

5. I had no intention of even listing again so soon, but this one was sorta begging to be written

6. So Obama takes Iowa (and as of this listing prolly New Hampshire too), huh?

7. I really really want him to have like double the secret service.....and even some more security to watch the secret service dudes

8. You cant put nothing past those good ol boys

9. But with that said........

10. "If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

11. I aint no ordinary nigga/Look around/This aint what ordinary get ya!" - Jay Z "Say Hello"

12. How'd you allow yourself to get played by a dude named JuneBug!!?!!

13. Shit he had betta had hella game with a name like JuneBug in 2008!

14. Im a little pissed b/c the Milli Vanilli CD I ordered thru amazon didnt come with the CD case

15. And yes I said Milli Vanilli......that album is classic. You cant deny that!

16. There arent many things I love more than bending over and spreading 'em for amazon.com

17. Les I know you feel me on that *pat pat*

18. "Hey if I fuck her, I fuck her. If I dont fuck her....fuck her!" - Ontario circa 2003

19. Dude said that in the midst of conversation. He didnt stop to think about or put it together. He just said it. Fucking brilliant!!

20. A tad misogynistic I admit, but brilliant nonetheless lol

21. Im becoming more and more guarded of my time as of late

22. Like I need a super fantastic reason to go out....otherwise I'd rather go home, watch The Golden Girls and laugh my ass off

23. My time (and yours) is waaaay too valuable to be putting up with people and their bullshit

24. If the bullshit they bring far outweighs any possible joy I advise you to take up Mina's newfound interest.....

25. "I've developed a new found interest in watching people partake in the sport of rock-kicking!" - Mina

26. Say word!!!!!

27. Sometimes I wonder if some of these hotel guests are slow, stupid or just a little retarded

28. If stupidity were a crime I would be forced to make citizen's arrests about as often as I inhale!

29. "And Im back on my grind/A psychic read my lifeline/Told me in my lifetime/My name would help light up the Chicago skyline/....I'm a star, how could I not shine?!?!?" - Kanye West "I Wonder"

30. Yup....SMG 2008....watch us!

31. D'Leo and I are finna turn this mutha out MC Hammer style!

32. I guess I dont have to send the search party after all, huh Nai ;)

33. So people really used pigeons to send messages and letters back and forth, huh?

34. When you think about it, unless someone was Dr. Doolittle out that mug and able to effectively communicate with the pigeons, how the hell could anyone be assured that their letter would get to its intended location?

35. You see the type of randomness listing lends itself to?

36. "Come on now! How the fuck you in the McDonalds drive thru beggin and trying to make mu'fuckas feel bad but you whip out a cell phone while walking away?" - Andrea

37. I dunno what to tell you Drea.....the world is a hustle. I once tried to offer a street dude some spaghetti that I didnt touch that came with my meal and he said he didnt like italian!

38. My follow-through sucks Malaysian monkey nuts at times

39. At least I recognize this problem though. I suppose it gives me a better chance at fixing it, huh?

40. I think The Pats will finish the season undefeated

41. Am I the only one who thinks Fox's new show 'Moment of Truth' is just wrong on so many levels?

42. For the love of any and everything sacred PLEEEEEEEASE give the writers what they want!!!

43. "When you listen to the list of side effects of almost every drug on the market, every cure, it renews my faith in vaseline, vapor rub, a poultice of onions, aspirin, uncoated, and a lot other old timey remedies, peroxide, iodine, and the like." - Mama Ackie

44. Im saying...a decrease in blood pressure and rashes among other things aint worth 'restless leg syndrome'.

45. And really tho....is that even real? They be making shit up to get you to take all these damn drugs

46. "Take your time/Baby dont you rush a thing/Dont you know I know/we are all struggling/ I know it is hard/but we will get by..." - Mary J. Blige "My Life"

47. I tell you about trying to give trifling black folks the benefit of the doubt.......

48. It is possible to give of yourself too much at times

49. Effective time management allows for so much more to get done

50. "And this here's the next chapter in my life/An ongoing saga I decided to write/I decided it's right!/You decide if you like/You decided you like/God bless and goodnight!" - Rapper Big Pooh "When Everything Is New"

Brand New

Im through with making resolutions. Instead Im opting to focus on 'just doing'. Ya know, not talking about it but being about it? So with that said I just wanted to post some quotes

about fresh starts and the like.

Happy New Year. Make it your best one ever!

"Beginning is easy.....continuing is hard" - Japanese Proverb

"The first step towards getting somwhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are" -Anonymous

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want" - Ben Stein

"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning..." - Joseph Priestley

"If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down" - Mary Pickford

"Every person should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one according to the circumstances; but on the first of January let every person gird themselves once more, with their face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are the past." - Henry Ward Beecher