Random Thoughts this Wednesday Evening

1. Sherri Shepard is now synonymous with BET to me. Every time I hear it or see it... I cringe and feel we have been set back another 10 years as a people. The now 41yo has never voted. Seeing she has missed the past 5 Presidential elections alone was bad but her comment that she never voted because she "never knew the dates or anything." just made me hang my head in shame.

2. Why do people always compare artist against each other as if you can only like one or only afford to buy one CD? ie: Beyonce vs. Janet, NeYo vs. Usher, Danity Kane vs. ok let me stop...

3. I was thinking that I wouldn't have anything to watch on TV with this writer's strike but I am actually quite fine. Don't get me wrong I miss some of my shows but I don't think their strike is working.

4. No John Edwards... Super Tuesday may be the real Super Bowl. It will at least be an interesting day.

5. Damn... I'm hungry.

6. So the late Dr. King and Coretta Scott King are finally going to be grandparents... even if posthumously. We know the child isn't coming from good ole Dexter or loud mouth Bernice... but from MLK3, who happens to also be the only married King child.

7. After visiting ATL a few weeks ago I realized I don't really miss the city but just my crew. Not surprised seeing I felt the same way about DC when I originally left.

8. Analysts, on average, expect Exxon Mobil to report earnings of $1.95 per share and revenue of $114.89 billion during the fourth quarter, according to a survey by Thomson Financial. Gotta love that Bush!!

9. I wonder can I squeeze Blogtopia and Cat on the Hot Tin Roof into the same weekend.

10. If everyone who owes me money would pay me back... I could afford to buy the new LCD for the living room, get a new set of mattresses, pay for my trip to St. Kitts... but it was just a random thought.

Shit Your Mother Should Have Taught You #4

One reader who I met while living in Atlanta and that I stay in contact with via Yahoo! IM, has constantly complained about his teaching job in Bumfuck, GA. Week after week it always something about his class or school...

For the past six months an acquaintence has been dating this one guy, that I have yet to meet but you would think I knew him for years. For the past four months I have had to hear about how emotionally unavailable the guy can be; how he is always out partying with his friends to only call him afterwards so he can cum through; how he wishes there was more time for him between the guy's busy travel schedule; and the list has gone on and on since October...

For the past two years my cousin has complained about how the family is rude to his fiance and how they really don't accept her. (I could do a series of posts on the Baptiste-Williams and their standards of dating and maybe one day I will.) Recently after spending the holidays in St. Kitts with the rest of the clan... his fiance called off the wedding (I'm not surprised) ...

We all go through shit and need to vent from time to time. Sometimes we have one of those days were if just one more thing happened or one more person would have said something... it would have been on and poppin'. Hopefully we all have someone we can vent to whether it is your partner, friend, or mother... but there is one thing your mother should have taught you...

No one and I do mean no one wants to hear your ass complain constantly about the same thing.

Especially me... I, like most people, have enough shit going on in my own life to want to hear anyone constantly complain about the same thing over and over. Especially if they are not making moves in their lives to change what is upsetting them. Don't you think I have worked a job that I was unhappy at? Don't you think I have had a current that needed to be an ex? Don't you think this family gets on my nerves from time to time. But instead of complaining and nagging off someone's ear all the time... I prefer to make changes so that I can cope and deal with the situation if not eradicate it.

Don't take this the wrong way... we all got things we have to release and just vent about. And if we are friends I will listen... but you also know as friends I am going to be the first one to tell you stop fuckin complaining and do something about it... and if I ever slip up and forget what my momma taught me I hope you remind me as well.

Powell's 13 Rules to Live By

In my early years of living in Washington... on the third day of working at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts... I met a man that I had always admired; one of the most powerful black men in America; and a man I felt was one of the most brilliant men in Washington. As we were setting up for the event, out of the elevator banks and around the corner came General Colin Powell. I had been in Washington only a few weeks and always wondered if I would run into any politicos... and the first one I did meet was one of my heroes. Over the next few years of working there I had the opportunity to talk with him several times and really get to know his fabulous wife Alma Johnson-Powell.

Well the past few days I have been playing catchup on all the shows I DVRed and I got to see Secretary Powell's appearance on the View (guilty habit just to see Sherri Shepard piss me off once again). During his appearance he mentioned his 13 Rules to Live By that I had heard once and keep at my desk...

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

2. Get mad, then get over it.

3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

4. It can be done!

5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.

6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.

7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.

8. Check small things.

9. Share credit.

10. Remain calm. Be kind.

11. Have a vision.

12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.

13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

An Extended Weekend

Wednesday, January 23, 2008... back to work and tired. This past weekend was full of activity from flying Delta... to hanging out with friends... meeting new people... and trying to at least see some of my old friends in ATL.

Three from Jersey, me from DC, the three ATLiens, and our Iraqi transplant made it a full weekend even though we only hit up 2 house parties and 2 clubs it seems as if we were going nonstop. Friday we hit up Trademark at the former Palace. Due to the abnormal cold weather we skipped the general admin line, for the VIP line which we were told as we got in it would be $20 admission. Two minutes later as we stood at the cashier we were told ummm no $25.

So while waiting for some drag queen waitress (sorry if that isn't the proper term) to bring back some drinks for my friends... this attractive short guy that I will call Esquire grabbed my attention, we talked for a few, exchanged numbers and decided to meet up later in the weekend. After several hours of dancing, drinking, and sweating... we decided to bounce hit Checkers and call it a night.

The club promoters gouging the kids for all their leftover holiday money left a bad taste in our mouths and prompted us to skip going out Saturday and just check out a house party or 2. When we finally made it to subdivision where the first party was located it was quick to see this is where everyone was.... cars were parked everywhere. When we made it to the door... we were told no more people could go in because it was crowded. I informed the doorman I was an invited guest and threw out the name of one of the residents and me and the crew walked in. As soon as the door opened I realized the party wasn't crowded. It was absolutely crazy. There had to be at least 400 people in this house. No Way in Hell I would ever have that many people in my house!! Ever!! We were there less than 30 minutes when the cops came and put everyone out... just in the nick of a time seeing a fight was about to ensue right in front of where we were standing. So with the help of some queen with an annoyingly screechy voice we all flooded out of the house and off to the next party. We never made it because the party was in a new subdivision that even GPS couldn't find.

Sunday we went to see DJ Sedrick the District House Mutha at Club Europe. That is where I met Baller... a mid 30s ex pro athlete. Our eyes met when we first walked in but I like to check people out and see how they act and interact with others before speaking. As I exited the restroom after what had to be my third drink... Baller grabbed my arm and struck up a conversation. Exchanged numbers with the promises to get up later the next day... which never materialized but I did get a phone call explaining why which at least showed he was considerate of my time.

Monday was a pretty chill day... tried to visit a couple friends and lunch out with my boys I came to hang out with. Something told me to check my email before I started packing for my 6am flight the next morning to see... Delta cancelled my flight and others due to weather (mind you there was no bad weather out) and rescheduled me on an 8pm flight that evening. How you go from a 6am to 8pm I still haven't figured out but after talking to two CSRs I was finally rebooked on the 220pm. The delay in flight was a good thing it allowed me to have more time with Baller and Esquire. But while I love ATL and enjoy my friends... I was ready to get back to DC, my own bed and my own bathroom... always good to be on the go but even better to be able to go home!!

Off to spend 4 days in the A with my boys... partying, hanging out and of course remembering the dream. I am sure I will have something interesting to post about on Tuesday when I return to DC.

Other MLK weekend posts:

Welcome Back to Atlanta

Is It Time for the Gay Pride Travel Tour Already?

Growing Out of Addictions?

Ok so I was going to post on something else but as I was signing into Blogger, a news story came across the screen about the cause of Ike Turner's death last month... a cocaine overdose. Immediately images of Lawrence Fishburne as Ike doing a line of coke in What's Love Got to Do With It, came through my mind.

The second thing that I thought of was do you ever out grow your addiction? Do you ever become just too damn old to be doing the same bullshit? Whether it is cocaine like Ike or alcohol or shopping or eating or unhealthy relationships, not only a date but friendships as well... do you ever get old enough, mature enough, or wise enough to say enough is enough.

Just like I can't imagine my grandfather snorting coke at his age... I can't see myself in a relationship where I am not getting as much as I am putting in. I can't see myself in a relationship where I don't feel complete. I can't see myself in a relationship where I feel the only thing that we have is the time we spent together and as friends. So what a better wake up call for myself and maybe for you to remove some of those addictions out of your life. And what better time of year.

When I called my mother to tell her about good ole Ike Turner, the first thing out her mouth was, "At his age..."

Shit Your Mother Should Have Taught You #3

We already know how I feel about passive people, but nothing irks me more than someone to ask me, "When are we gonna...". That question is usually ended with go out to dinner, hang out, go to a movie or something. But the way the question is asked just pisses me off to no end.

The statement "When are we..." suggests that I know your schedule, I know your commitments, or I can just pick 8am Monday morning and it will be cool with you. So in case your mother or father never told you how to ask someone out... let me pitch hit for a minute. The correct way is "I would like to... when is good with you." or even better, "Would you like to... on Friday." Stop being a passive ninny passing off what you want to do on the other person. Man up and just ask!!

New Year... New Start

A friend emailed me to say one aspect has been missing from HisStory for a minute. I think "so wassup with my life..." were his exact words.

To say I am somewhat of a control freak can be an understatement at times. But when things do get out of hand or out of my control... I tend to put them away and think about them only when I can solve the issue. Bills are a great example of this. If I can't afford to pay it why open them... I just throw them in my nightstand and get to them when I am able to. No sense in looking at an outstanding balance I can't pay. Luckily for me I haven't been in this position in awhile.

But to say my personal life has been in a little disaray the past two years is quite the understatement. If you been following HisStory... you only know half of the story, its been a lot worse than I have written about but somethings are reserved for my journals. The transition back to Washington has not been as seemless as I thought it would be. Work and the social life have had a few bumps in the road but it is what it is and Xs are Xs for a reason. A new friend of mine wrote in his blog:

Would the world go on without me?
How would the grass continue to grow?
Could people survive without me?
Or am I to them the Sun?
Of course things would continue without me
And though I am just a minnow in this sea
Even minnows make waves - DL 8/24/2006

But with the new year the waves are becoming a lot calmer. In the past few months I made the change and finally left the nonprofit world and ventured into the world of hospitality. The job change isn't unfamiliar territory, I am actually going from client to supplier. And I am loving it. In 18 months, I will be up for a promotion and more than likely I will be leaving Washington once again. My mentor/supervisor told me being open to move anywhere would be best for my career, so if that means I have to move to our property in Paris well hell so be it!! LOL

Redating an X has proven to be a difficult situation. While we never gave a title or definition to what we were doing... we were doing a lot of it. When he told me that he wasn't able to fully committ till things that were going on in his life that were out of his control were back in order... I heard but I didn't listen. So once again, I put myself in a position of giving more than I was getting and not being totally happy. While things are still in a awkward state, I have allowed myself to be open to meeting new people.

And so I did... one person, TheNutCracker (if you saw his thighs you would understand), actually the one's poetry I referenced above, I had actually talked to on IM before leaving DC however we only met face to face in December. He is definitely the type that grabs my attention: intelligent, great conversationalist, sexy thighs, committed and thought provoking. The only bad thing is that he is in a relationship so we have both remandided ourselves to being friends.

Then there is Texas not sure what I want to write about him just yet but he is cool and I definitely see a good friendship there.

This past Sunday I did something I wouldn't normally do. I went out by myself and actually had a good time. I know a lot of people so even when I do go out with friends... I am always off in a conversation with someone I didn't come with. But I don't like going out alone because I always think who will I sit there and talk to. Well with the few people I knew and the new cutie I met, I wasn't at a lost for conversation the entire night.

But for the most that is what has been going on in my world. Oh yeah I saw The Great Debaters yesterday (still upset at an $8 matinee) but it was well worth it. Excellent movie you all should see... especially if you are tired of the typical, nonsense black movies out there like that Santa movie with Gabriel Union and Morris Chestnutt (yeah I slipped that jab in for you NutCracker)

Lessons Learned in 2007

Like I said last year, Life is nothing but a string of decisions. Some decisions can make it better, some can keep it from growing, and others can change things for the worse. 2007 was definitely yet another of decisions and revelations.

Just like us, friendships evolve and change as well. At first I was hurt and dismayed when two of my four closest friendships changed for the worst in the past two years. But now when I think back on both of them I only think of all the good times and years we had. People grow and change over time, we can't expect our friendships not to evolve as well.

Faith goes beyond a church, a religion, and a Bible. My grandfather was a minister so church has always been a constant in my life. Twice on Sunday and every Wednesday for Bible study. Since leaving home my belief system has changed much to the dismay of my mother. I finally believe that the Bible is a good guide but it was written by man; i choose to be more spiritual than religious; and finding the right church that gives you spiritual nourishment is important regardless of the denomination.

HIV is real. Simple enough we have gotten careless and often think never us. HIV isn't the same disease it was in the 80s and early 90s and because of that many gays don't think about it as much as we should. In the past 2 years several friends have came out to me as being HIV positive... in the past 3 months, I have learned about 2 very close friends. HIV is real and we need to take it serious.

You can't plan life. One of my favorite movie quotes comes from Love and Basketball, when the character Monica says, "It's a trip, you know? When you're a kid, you-you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that it's not gonna turn out that way." The past two years of my life have made me realize that and I think this quote summarizes my 2007.

Hope all of you have learned some lessons that will help you get through 2008. Happy New Year!!

Shit that Celebs Say

This past week, I think I have been rolling my eyes and letting out sighs because of dumb shit that celeberties are saying...

"I can't point the finger at the white media. They don't care about us. So when you hear crap about us, it is coming from our own community, which hurts."-- Gabrielle Union told Essence.
Well dear Gabby... stop putting out bullshit like that Christmas movie and you won't hear crap. It is time for black consumers to stop accepting the bullshit movies that are coming out. And you wonder why you aren't at the Oscars.

"The number one thing you can give people is consciousness, to remind them they are already rich." -- Russell Simmons
Don't you hate when a multi millionaire tells you that you are already rich. Shut that shit up Russy.

"I am loving me some me. This is the happiest I've ever been. I made it through the fire." -- Chaka Khan
Well hopefully next time you sing the song you will remember the damn lyrics.

"Unlike other rappers, we've had physical altercations with this guy. We whipped his a** and he sued us. So, it's deeper than just words...it's a real beef." -- Irv Gotti on his and Ja Rule's beef with 50 Cent
I wish rappers would just rap. I mean please trying to be hood and gangsta with several million in the bank is really played and tired... look at T.I.

"I'm the hottest bitch out. I'm real cocky these days, huh? I'm loving it." -- Lil' Kim.
The hottest mess... she is 3 surgeries and a couple bleach treatments from being Mike's twin.

"A flat stomach is nice. Let me get my first 'View' paycheck." -- Sherri Shepherd on liposuction.
Everytime she opens her mouth I cringe

Boys in Bandanas

Can someone please explain to me this whole boys in bandanas thing?

Stand By Your Man

ok at first I wasn't going to say anything because I hate speculating about people's sexuality or relationships or lifes but... nevermind I ain't gonna say anything.

Because I am Tired of Being Asked about Xmas...

Repost from Friday, December 09, 2005
Don't Confuse my Lack of Xmas Shopping for Lack of Xmas Spirit

"Are you done with your Christmas shopping?"
"Well seeing I don't do Christmas shopping I guess so."
"Oh why aren't you into Christmas?"

When did going into debt, spending outrageous amounts of money on gifts, waking up at 3am the day after Thanksgiving to go stand outside in some long ass line at WalMart to get that off brand DVD player for $40 become synonymous with Christmas.

While I don't think I will ever raise my child into believing in the entire Santa Claus theme... I believe the aspect of the holiday is only for kids that do not know any better. For me Christmas and the Holiday season is a time to reflect on the gifts that God has given us, and like the Three Wise Men we should bring gifts to him. For me over the past few years these gifts have been volunteering through my church, Metropolitan Baptist Church, raising money at work to purchase gifts for a needy family with young kids, and cleaning out my closets (yes closets its quite sad at times) to donate clothes and shoes to the homeless. I will never forget last Christmas I went to the DC Central Kitchen, a homeless shelter that teaches and educates the homeless in culinary arts and management, to deliver a turkey after hearing on the news that they were short of what they needed to feed all their people. What started off as me dropping off a turkey led to me volunteering 3 additional hours, and became the most rewarding experience of the season.

So while you are out finding a parking space at the nearest mall or typing in your credit card number into the box... don't forget to give a gift in honor of the birthday boy.

Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds

Just one day. Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds. That is all I ask.

Let me first say that I recognize and enjoy the talent of Beyonce Knowles. She is my homegirl you know, we are both from Houston, albeit vastly different sides of the city but we both still represent. Ole Bey is accomplishing things many twice her age would kill for. But I still need just one day. Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds. That is all I ask.

I mean just check out her list of awards on wikipedia... it goes on and on and on. She is hooked up with Jay, a poetic legend and mogul. And how many people do you know can ride one fucking album for three years. But you know what please, jJust one day. Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds. That is all I ask.

I would like just one day. Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds without hearing one of her songs; seeing one of her commercials; thumbing through one magazine without seeing a story, ad, or review; or even hearing someone mention her name.

Seeing that she went strong and basically crushed her sister's 2nd solo release, when most thought she would take a step back... I have totally given up on the notion that she may take a vacation for a month or two and will settle for just one day. Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds.

House of Deréon, Pepsi, L'Oreal, Samsung, American Express, Empirio Armani, DirecTV, Ford, Milk, McDonald's. The girl is raking in the dollars (can I just get a few thousand to pay off these student loans). But just one day. Just 24 hours. Just 1440 minutes. Just 86,440 seconds.

Maybe I have to just stay in my house alone, not watch TV, turn off my radio alarm clock, dare not to open my Black Enterprise or Essence, not even go near my DVDs and not talk to most homos or my girls. And if you think I am playing start counting now and count for one entire day how many times Beyonce filtrates your life.

Not MyFault Suicide

Often in response to different stories in the news, me and my friends begin to discuss What is Wrong with America?? Well the discussions this past few days have covered many topics from Redskin's Shawn Taylor's death to the recent MySpace death in Kansas. The latter story has been annoying me the most.

For those who have been living under a rock the story goes like this:

The hoax centered on a MySpace profile that appeared to belong to a boy named Josh Evans who contacted the girl, Megan Meier, in September 2006 when she was 13. After a month long flirtation, Josh’s e-mail suddenly turned nasty, and he and Megan quarreled online. Megan hanged herself on Oct. 16, 2006, the day after she received a message from Josh saying, “I don’t like the way you treat your friends, and I don’t know if I want to be friends with you.”

Lori Drew, an adult neighbor who lives four houses from the Meier family, said in a police report that she created the Josh Evans character to gain Megan’s trust and learn what Megan thought of Ms. Drew’s daughter, a former friend of Megan’s.

Reaction to the case has been strong, with angry postings on the Internet identifying the family behind the fake profile. The household has reported vandalism, including a brick through a window, once word got out about the circumstances surrounding the death.

Now let me preface this by saying that Lori Drew, needs her ass whipped. But after initially hearing this story my first thoughts weren't will Lori be charged but where the hell were Megan's parents?

I believe we always want to pass of blame for situations on other people but never claim our portion in the mess. Megan was 13, her parents should have been monitoring her internet activity and better yet if their child was that insecure and lacked self esteem, she had no business on MySpace or any other social networking site. But no of course Megan is the victim so her parents can now go on national tv snottin and cryin about their being no justice, since Lori is not being prosecuted. I say Lori should serve some time and so should her parents for child neglect and raising a child with out any self esteem. But that is just me...

Dirty Laundry in NYC & LA

In case for some reason you have been under a rock and hadn't heard... Maurice Jamal's Dirty Laundry hits theaters this Friday in New York and Los Angeles, with other cities opening later in the month.


http://www.dirtylaundrythemovie.com

DIRTY LAUNDRY IN THEATERS OPENS:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007

LOS ANGELES
Mann Beverly Center Cinemas (Inside Beverly Center)
8522 Beverly BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90038


NEW YORK
Clearview Chelsea Theater
West 23rd Street (b/t 7th & 8th)
New York, NY 10011



BUY TICKETS & SPREAD THE WORD

Living in the Midst of an Epidemic

To coincide with World AIDS Day today, Saturday, December 1, the Fenty Administration released new statistics that show striking findings on the severity of the District’s HIV epidemic.

The major findings of the new statistics are:

• Between 1997 and 2006, almost 70 percent of all AIDS cases progressed from HIV to AIDS in less than 12 months after the initial HIV diagnosis, primarily due to late testing, compared to 39 percent nationally.




• Although African-American residents account for 57 percent of the District’s population, they account for 81 percent of new reports of HIV cases. African-American women constitute 58 percent of the District’s female population, but account for 90 percent of all new female HIV cases.


• Heterosexual contact in the District is the leading mode of HIV transmission at 37 percent of newly reported infections, while nationally men who have sex with men lead new transmissions.


• The District’s rate for newly reported AIDS cases is higher than rates in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Detroit and Chicago.


• The majority of newly reported cases were among residents ages 30 to 49.

It simply amazes me that 25 years later this disease is still ravaging us the way it is. I know seeing Magic Johnson walking around looking great and even more wealthy, may have people thinking it isn't a big deal. But why would you want to live with this if you do not have to?

In the past two years I have learned about more friends and aquantences that are HIV positive, than I have ever known before. It baffles me to meet people in their late 20s that do not get tested regularly. It disturbs me that people engage in unsafe sex with randoms. And disgusts me that people who know they have it and don't demand safe sex with others.

In the end we must all take precautions for our own health, but we must also have a sense of community to help reverse these disturbing statistics. So go get tested and take a friend or two.

Times are a Changing...

When I decided to return to Washington, I knew there was only one area that I truly wanted to live in and that was the Southwest quadrant. If you know anything about DC, you know that the city is only 61 sq miles and is divided into 4 quadrants. Southwest is the smallest of the 4, and sits right on the Potomac River. If I walk out of my door and walk 7 or 8 blocks north or east, I would be in another quadrant. One block south I am at the Potomac.

It amazes me that I was gone a little less than 2 years, because the city has developed and gentrified beyond belief.

This was the National's New Stadium right after I left.

Less than 2 years later this is the National's Stadium at 11:25am yesterday. Almost ready for the new baseball season and the Papal visit next spring.

Do any of you remember partying in the early 2000s in that hole in the wall Jenny's? Well... And when the wrecking ball makes it way to the otherside of the mall and destroys this raggedy, shit hole of a Safeway I am going to be out their rejoicing. This Safeway is literally 2 blocks from me but never has shit on its shelves and never has pulp free OJ, which forces me to drive 10 minutes to another store.

Memorable Movie Quotes...

Lately I have been having conversations with friends and certain moving quotes that fit the situation have been popping in my mind so today here are just a few of my most memorable movie quotes that I have quoted in the past two weeks.

"It's a trip, you know? When you're a kid, you-you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that it's not gonna turn out that way." - Monica Wright, Love & Basketball (2000)

"Romance is dead, is what they said while sittin around cheating at pool the very last frame of this nine ball game, the cat who had the date on the top of the empire state is the one who got hustled like a fool" - Darius Lovehall, Love Jones (1997)

"Ain't many women allow they husband's ho to lay up in they house." - Old Mr., The Color Purple (1985)

"Boy, you goin' let this ol' nappy-headed girl cuss you out like that? You sittin' at the head of your own dinner table and actin' like a waiter." - Old Mr., The Color Purple (1985)

"You're so resourceful, darling, I ought to go to you for plots. " - Nancy Blake, The Women (1939)

"Yes, trick. As in slut, whore, tramp. You don't know your name?" - Angela, Why Did I Get Married? (2007)

Holidays in Atlanta

So with so much time on my hand and not as much money in my pocket I decided to drive down to Atlanta, instead of flying and renting a car once there. I couldn't find a flight for uner $350 and renting a car would have been at least another $120 for the week. So seeing I spent less than $200 on gas I think I came out ahead.

I spent a lot of time with my mom and extended family, Wednesday and Thursday. While the dinner wasn't all that great, talking to my grandfather's brother and sister and learning more about their parents and childhood was worth the 8.5 hour drive. I am not all that close to my family but it is so funny to sit back and watch how they share so many of the same characteristics and habits.

Thursday night was spent working and schmoozing at the Ryan Cameron Foundation's 16th Celebrity Bowling Challenge. So many of Atlanta's music and entertainment community came out to support and raise money for the foundation, I only wished I would have watched a good week of Rap City before going. The event went from 8pm until 3 in the morning... and as soon as I thought I was going to cut out early to meet my friends at the bar in comes ubersexy, music producer Polow the Don... which prompted me to stay a little longer. The YoungBloodz were there, as well as many others including Young Joc or Young Dro or some youngin. I really miss my RCF fam, we always have a good time when we are actually working the event.

On my way back to my cousin's house, I stopped by to visit with my boy, Mr. Valentino of ATL. Definitely good seeing him, even if I was forced to watch the Beyonce Experience (just joking). He is definitely one of the few friends I miss in Atlanta.

Friday, I totally avoided any store, mall, or shopping experience. Watching the madness on TV and experiencing it last year was more than enough for me. Besides the only thing I need is a new TV for my living room and I can't afford the 42" LCD right now so that will have to wait. Friday night my crew reunited for food, drinks and a lot of partying at the Palace. Aaaah fun times for sure... can't wait until the rest of the fam from Jersey and Baghdad reunite MLK weekend.

Saturday I hit it back up 85/95 north to avoid the traffic and get home to my own bed. I love visiting and traveling but there is nothing like going home... all in all good times.