Robin, John, and him....

Last night Robin Thicke and John Legend put on a show... and a damn good one at that. The Tabernacle was packed to the rafters and hot as a 5 fat girls in a Ford Focus in Arizona. Even Usher came out to take in the show.

Robin Thicke opened the show 30 minutes late giving an energetic performance, with relatively strong vocals on R&B--tinged pop tunes from his album The Evolution of Robin Thicke and his first album that I can't recall the name of. But after his strong performance I will be picking them both up.

In true diva like fashion.... what had to be at the very least an hour after Robin left the stage, Legend's band and backup singers took the stage. To think just two years ago a then-unknown John Legend was setting up a keyboard on the sidewalk outside of Philips Arena 2 blocks away, ready to croon "Ordinary People" for pretty much anyone that asked.

So when the now three-time Grammy winner finally took stage backed by a band that included three flawless backup singers, two keyboardists, a guitarist and a drummer, Legend slid behind his own baby grand piano and banged out hits from both albums including my favorites Heaven, PDA, and Stereo. Just like the album, he alternates between '60s-era Motown soul and lounge music throughout the concert. I think every single is so retro that even my mother would enjoy nearly every track.

Attending the concert with not only a fan of Legend... but a fan of music made the night even better. The surprising highlight of the evening was while John was singing P.D.A., him was staring at me singing along and leaned over to kiss me. At first I was shocked... like did this dude just kiss me in the middle of this concert. And then the row of ladies behind us hit me with an, 'awww i wish i had a date to kiss me too', which led to my embarrassment. But I must say it felt good.

A late night dinner with great conversation just topped off a memorable evening.

An Evening with John Legend and Robin Thicke

This Thursday evening I will have the opportunity to finally hear and see John Legend perform live. The Once Again Tour sponsored by Bailey's is coming to the Tabernacle here in Atlanta and of course I scooped up a couple tickets as soon as I heard the tour was coming to town.

John Legend's brand of sexy, sophisticated music was a needed surprise that seem to come out of nowhere in 2005. His style of music is so different and so fresh from most of what's out in contemporary R&B right now, it remained to be seen if he could duplicate the success of his Get Lifted album. And unlike some new artist, who come out with a second album and try and flip the script... John gave us a new album that was even more sophisticated, more grown and even more sexy. Now I am by no means saying this new album is just a duplication of his last. This album has no guest appearances and is more ballad driven than the first.

I am so looking forward to hearing the mix of soul, blues, and gospel influences that have shaped Once Again into yet another masterpiece.


As an added bonus Robin Thicke is opening for John. While I have only heard a couple tracks of his Evolution of Robin Thicke... the ones I have heard like Can U Believe and Wanna Love You Girl, I know the boy can sing. So I will definitely be looking forward to his set as well.

It should definitely be a memorable evening.

Will Michael Richards wake up Black America?

It's been a couple of weeks since Michael Richards went crazy at the Laugh Factory and revived his stale career, albeit this time he will have 15 minutes of infamy, and not much else has occurred. He has apologized on Letterman and the Jesse Jackson show and reiterated time and time again… that he may think of black people as niggers but he isn’t racists. The guys Richards belittled in the club have come forward, demanding an apology and in true American fashion, money as well. Can someone tell me how do you monetize racial epithets anyway?

Since that time everyone from Jerry Seinfeld to my coworker has chastised Richard’s behavior but I want to know when will we, as Black America, also wake up and realize the damage this word is doing to us. For years I have always said I could careless about the use of the word be any racial group. I always believed I didn’t use the word and black person using it as a term of endearment is about as bad as a white person using in it in disdain.

In the United States, the word was commonly used by some whites and blacks, until the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s when the word acquired a pejorative connotation. Today, the implied racism of the term is so strong that the use of nigger in most situations is a social taboo. Even the media here in America will not even print the word in full, instead using n*gg*r, n**ger, n——, or simply "the N-word." But for some odd reason our hip hop generation has adopted this word, changed the spelling and use it as a self-deprecating term that is suggestive of familiarity and endearment. I have heard people explain it as turning a negative into a positive. But when mainstream America sees us using this word… what do you really think they see?

What makes this even sadder is this ridiculous assertion being spouted by some brothers who will point out that there's a big difference between the word 'Nigger' and 'Nigga'. It baffles me to think you have some people who take this word and flip it so that it empowers them, or at least so they think. So that now nigga is a good thing... However when some white or Asian kid comes rolling up to me talking about 'What's up my Nigga'?, should I embrace him because this kid is down with hip hop culture or kick his ass because he has disrespected me?

We as Black people must understand that when the word nigga is used in public or in lyrics, other ethnic groups also hear them. And yes, these other ethnic groups may understand in which context blacks mean and use the word nigga and may recognize this as a term of affection and friendship. But at the same time it still reminds people of the word nigger. The two words nigga and nigger will never ever be separated. If blacks use the word nigga as a greeting, then certain people from other ethnic groups will want to use the word in the same light. And why does skin color have to depict the true intentions of the use of the word?

Shouldn’t we follow the lead of other ethnic groups who vehemently step to folks who use such hateful epithets? For example, the Jewish community or even the gay and lesbian community. There's an old saying that goes 'What you say or allow to be said about you is what you will become'.

Surviving Black Friday

Over the years I have been to quite a few Black Friday sales... but this year was a totally new experience. Since my Dell Inspiron died earlier this year, I have been anticipating the notorious sales of this day to replace it. Well it didn't quite die, just the screen went out and I have had it looked at twice and each time I was told it would cost approximately $400 to repair. Of course this manufacturer defect didn't happen till after my warranty was over (BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN BUYING DELLS... I know of 3 other screens that went out). So after researching the Black Friday sales courtesy of the number of websites dedicated to posting all the ads before they are released, I decided that Best Buy would be the start of my Friday morning.

Best Buy had advertised an HP for $374 and a Sony for $599. And it was my goal to secure one of those laptops. The Best Buy ad also stated that the doors would open at 5am however they would start passing out tickets for the advertised specials at 4am. So I was thinking ok getting there around 2.. 230am would be fine. Well of course I was wrong. I arrived at Best Buy in Hoover, AL (I was in Birmingham with my mom for the holiday) at 230am only to see the line stretch past 3 additional stores. After debating whether to go home or stay for about 5 minutes and seeing the line still growing I decided to stay. Who would have ever thought so many people in Alabama would be going after these damn laptops.

I will say that the Best Buy handled the sale very well. Only letting in the first 100 people, then 10 people at a time till they reached their 375 capacity limit diffused the trampling often seen on the local news. Another line to get into the computer section prevented the workers from being overwhelmed while at the same time giving every customer personal attention.

Needless to say I didn't get either of the advertised laptops. While in the checkout line I had the opportunity to talk to #4 and #5 of the original line who told me they had been outside since 1pm Thanksgiving afternoon. (not that serious for me). However they scored 6 laptops between them.

After checking out I went buy Circuit City which was a mad house and I quickly retreated back to my truck and hit it to WalMart to score a TV for my mother. I was quite surprised at how empty WalMart was. I have heard the stories but I think since WalMart decided to only advertise online this year it really hurt their usual crowds. I talked to 4 other friends that all hit Best Buy early in the morning... only one got the advertised $599 Sony laptop but my purchase was a better computer for a $100 more.

All said I was back home and back in bed around 830am. With my $5.99 Janet CD, my $699 Laptop and a new tv for moms. Would I do the early morning again.... na not worth it.

Growing up in Relationships

I truly believe my upbringing has not only shaped and formed the person I am today but also the type of people I choose to date. My maternal and paternal families couldn’t be more different. My mother’s family were working class, devout Christians, that seemed to never judge people by their material possessions but more so by their merit and actions. They were truly down home, good people that would give their last for someone in need. Now my father’s family at first glance could be polar opposites. They were Caribbean immigrants that epitomized the E. Franklin Frazier’s Black Bourgeoisie. If you brought a date to a family function, you could rest assure their pedigree, career/school, and complexion would be under scrutiny. It wasn’t until I was in the 5th grade after spending time with them in New Orleans did I realize that my skin was much fairer than my other cousins and mother. I often overheard ‘Thank God he was blessed with the good genes... instead of them others.’ But back to my point I definitely think that this has shaped who I have chosen to date.

So back in September, I met a guy from Texas out and about here in Atlanta. So on the basis of a Texan bond and the need for people to hang out with here we formed a friendship. It didn't take long to realize being from Texas was one of the very few things we had in common… but I guess what they say opposites attract. His hood and quick to fight temper is quite hilarious and disturbing at the same time. I always have to ask him… what does that solve? The stories and experiences of his childhood often baffle me. So over the past 2 months our friendship has been just that friendship… until this weekend when he asked me if I would ever date someone like him.

We always make those broad, generic statements…of who we would and wouldn’t date. And while I slipped up once or twice in the past, I quickly got rid of those mistakes (yes they were mistakes but thank God for the life lessons). For some reason I have always been attracted to tall, light, educated, with careers and goals. Retail workers (unless you were store manager or higher), strippers, ghetto, porn stars, uneducated, and the have-nots (A couple of those would apply to my new friend)… would have never stood a chance at a long term commitment.

So how did I answer that question… I simply said I am not sure but I wouldn’t rule it out. Who knows maybe I am maturing and recognizing the faults from my classism, bourgeoisie upbring? But for now the friendship is working so I think I will leave it at that for awhile.

My Favorite Things... again

Well Oprah took the high road this year and probably had the most noble of all of her Favorite Thing Giveaways.

Over the years, Oprah has given away cars, homes and much more, but nothing compares to today's giveaway! "I can honestly say that every gift I've ever given has brought at least as much happiness to me as it has to the person I've given it to," Oprah says. "That's the feeling I want to pass on to you." Every member of Oprah's audience is going home with $1,000 and a Sony DVD Handycam…but there's a catch.

Oprah is challenging more than 300 audience members to donate their money to a charitable cause."You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person," she says. "Imagine the
love and kindness you can spread with $1,000." --- taken from Oprah.com

After working in the nonprofit world for over 6 years and I must say that my prayers to God often include the wish to be in the financial position to help others. I, like Oprah, believe that feeling of happiness is unmatched. However at this point and time I am in no way in that position right now. I will say it was hard to top most of the 14 items that made my list in 2005, so just consider this year's list a continuation with just a few changes:

1. The inconsistency of the iTrip made me seek out another saviour from radio... luckily the helpful and quite attractive salesgirl at the Dunwoody BestBuy helped me find the Belkin TuneFM for Ipod<>A>.

2. My new favorite cologne came from my best friend and when I tell you it not only smells great but it makes you feel good too... Bond No. 9 The Hamptons. After taking the last little corner he had left in his... I quickly made my way to Saks for my own.

3. We already know that I am not big on Christmas gifts, but on the rare occassion that I do give gifts I usually give something that could be considered a new family tradition started by my Grandmother when I was quite young. The Neiman Marcus Holiday Cakes, specifically the Liqueur Cakes. Now you can buy a single cake or what I tend to give the mini cake sampler of six individually-wrapped cakes which include Irish whiskey, apple pecan bourbon, chocolate champagne, lemon with vodka, vanilla rum, and amaretto cakes.

4. The JOQ Men's Spa in Midtown Atlanta. Early this summer I treated myself to the JOQ Bronze Spa Package that included a 50 minute massage, a facial and a manicure and pedicure. They successfully pull of a relaxing day spa for men without the 'girly' affects.

5. Grey's Anatomy is one of, if not the one, favorite show I must catch every week. It is great to see a show written and created by a black woman, with 4 main minority characters that isn't a bunch of joking and jiving or set in a ghetto with Shaniqua and her 4 kids.

6. After having a hamburger from 5 Guys... McDonalds and Burger King begins to taste like welfare food. They have the absolute best burgers I have had in quite some time. Currently only on the east coast (like most of the good stuff)... they definitely make my favorites list this year.

7. One of my favorite stores has finally made it to DC... Barney's Coop. Whenever I need a 'fit' for a function that is the place to go, without worrying about half the party having on the same shit.

8. Yellowman is definitely making some hot shirts that go perfect with jeans. They are called tattoo shirts because they basically look like very intricate tattoo designs.

9. Thanksgiving Day... by far my favorite holiday. Great food, family... and a day set aside to just to say thanks.

Random Thoughts about the BET Hip Hop Awards

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

So happy BET Hip Hop Awards weekend went off without one shooting, stabbing, or good ole fashioned pimp slapping. Atlanta Police spokesman James Polite said there have been no reports of crime or violence associated with the BET event.

I guess everyone gave their stylist the night off because almost everyone looked a hot mess. I mean what was Monica thinking… liker her album, she looked a hot shitty mess.

I have no clue to why Flava Flave and Deelishous (or however he ebonically spelt her name) are news and even better yet why people are so fascinated with that train wreck of a show.

Why are all the local radio shows reporting that there was hardly any applause during the entire show??? Was it that bad.

I wonder are people dreading that MARTA ever brought “that crowd” to the Buckhead area after it taking an hour to get to the too crowded Lenox Mall parking lot turned car show.

Why did this young fag (sorry but that is the only word that can accurately describe him) tell me he had ordered some new Gucci outfit and him and his friends were renting a Phantom… as he sleeps on his friends couch in a low budget apartment building and sits in the balcony at the awards.

Why did the news show the sole protestor of the award show holding a sign telling video vixens to put on some clothes… as she stood there in a midriff in the middle of a cold November evening.

Why must our community always have alcohol sponsors events. (i.e. Courvoisier Presents The Official 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards After Party.)

FINAL WORD: I didn't invite the awards show here, but I should have," said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. "It just makes sense with our music industry that they be here, and I hope they return."

Courteous or Controlling??

So this weekend started off pretty decent. Dinner date with Mr. SprintPCS (that makes 2)... and Saturday I spent the day with Mr. Iraq (more to come on him later). After a long day of rollercoasters and long lines at Six Flags we chilled at his house watching tv and just talking.

In the midst of our conversation, he mentioned that he was going to cook dinner on Sunday and invited me to come over to eat. Me not ever passing up a free meal, especially home cooked, agreed.

Fast forward to Sunday around 12noon I sent him a text confirming dinner and to see what time... no response.

At 3pm, while out with another friend, I still hadn't heard back from him, so I called and got no answer. So I played it no mind and just went on with my Sunday. So around 5pm he sends me a text asking me what am I up to?? So I tell him I am out with a friend and thanks for getting back to me 5 hours later. He then goes into this long tyrade about how he has "no obligation to when he has to contact me... and notices that I am controlling and that pushes people away." I respond to him saying I was just trying to be courteous since we allegedly had made plans. (a little background... he often responds to texts messages late or "didn't get them")

So am I being controlling or was I just being too courteous?

Oprah on HIV|AIDS in America

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Finally Oprah does a show where the spread of HIV and AIDS is placed on unsafe sexual behavior. After talking with Magic and Cookie Johnson (yes he still has it, no they don't have any special drugs, and yes they are still having sex), she spoke with 6 women who contracted the disease through heterosexual sex. Most of her questions focused on their life with HIV and why they didn't use protection. There was only a brief clip of Peter Jennings interviewing 'DL' men but the definite message of the show was get tested, be safe, and you can live with this disease.

She is At it Again.... Damn I love her

Naomi Campbell Arrested Again for Assualt

SouthernVoice reports 2 Gay Bashings in Atlanta

Two anti-gay hate crimes alleged in AtlantaWeekend of violence leaves three injured
By Ryan Lee
Taken from The Southern Voice

The Atlanta Police Department is investigating a pair of weekend incidents where individuals were allegedly attacked for being perceived as gay. Officer Darlene Harris, gay liaison for the Atlanta Police Department, said she is investigating two weekend incidents that were reported as anti-gay hate crimes.

Late Friday night, a white male was pulling into his apartment complex on Cheshire Bridge Road when he asked the drivers of two cars that were blocking his parking space to move, according to a police report filed with APD. After he parked, the man was confronted by one of the drivers, who allegedly yelled, “Faggot, you don’t tell me what to do,” according to the police report.

“He then pushed [the victim] to the pavement and said ‘Get up faggot,’” the police report states. The suspect then fled the scene, leaving the victim with scrapes on both of his hands.

Two African-American men suffered more severe injuries when they were allegedly attacked by six or seven men in Southwest Atlanta early Sunday morning. The two men were robbed, beaten and pistol-whipped, resulting in one of the men’s face being covered with bruises, according to a police report.

The men told WSB-TV that they were attacked because the group of men believed they were a gay couple. None of the victims could be reached immediately, but Southern Voice continues to follow the story and will have a complete report in Friday’s edition.

Link to WSBtv.com story

Even though I attempt to get to my desk by 9am... I usually don't begin work till around 1030am. The first hour and a half is usually spent reading emails, reading personal emails, reading the WashingtonPost.com, and various other websites for the entertainment news I have missed out on over the weekend... and when I tell you today my head is spinning.........

1. Jermaine Dupri quits because he is upset that Virgin didn't promote Janet's album the way the should have... umm doesn't that title he has over there give him any clout?? Why are you pissed after the fact.

2. Nicole Scherzinger is going solo... but wasn't she solo already? I mean I thought the other dolls were just there for show anyway.

3. So allegedly Isaiah Washington on my favorite show Grey's Anatomy is a homophobe?!?!?! Apparently in an argument with Dr. McDreamy on the set he was quoted as saying, " I’m not your little faggot like Knight,” referring to a fellow cast member T.R. Knight {George on the show} who recently came out of the closet to People magazine.... innocent till proven guilty even though it doesn't look so good.

4. So Madonna is allegedly going to be on Oprah talking about her recent adoption of the little African boy... I mean why she has to defend herself makes no sense to me but ok....

5. Did you catch the Times write up on my favorite male R&B singer, John Legend (and USA Today's and Rod's post on his November GQ spread)... whose album is in stores tomorrow....

Small World After All...

To say that the past 6 months have been a true testament to my strength and faith would be a slight understatement. So while in DC this past weekend, I took a lot of time out of visiting friends and former coworkers to do a lot of self reflection and thinking with the help of my best friend. The end result was me deciding on concentrating on only 3 things… my health, getting my finances back in order, and making decisions about my career path. Everything else would take a back seat for awhile until I got myself back to my pre Atlanta days… including men and dating.

So believe that events of yesterday evening were quite a surprise. After work I raced to the Sprint store in Buckhead, because my trusty companion and lifeline, my Treo, is dying. It will not charge anymore and although I have backed up the phone on my computer I am afraid of what will happen when the battery finally dies out. As I was awaiting the technician to order me a new phone, this guy walks in with Treo issues of his own. He immediately caught my attention. From the odd smile he gave as he walked in to the way the jeans were fitting… but for some reason this Sprint store (which was about the size of my kitchen) had at least 10 employees buzzing about with only 3 customers in the store. I didn’t want everyone all up in my grill when I spoke so I nodded from a far and as he left I just chucked it up to a lost moment.

Only to my surprise that this wasn’t the first time I have spoken to him or even seen him before and it wouldn’t be the last time I would see him that day. Mr. Sprint store happens to be my neighbor. Long story short… we ended up talking in the parking lot for about half an hour as he walked his dog and made plans to go the movies the next day. Apparently he had noticed me a few months back when I left my lights on in my SUV and had to get a jump, but had only seen me a few times since then. So when he walked into the store he immediately recognized me. He is a full time student and works full time… which I find quite attractive. Seeing someone actively pursuing their goals is such a turn on for me. Anyway still being somewhat new to the area it is always good to meet new people and potential new friends… so we will see how it goes. Stay tuned…

ooooooh before I forget... so you know while you are waiting in a cell phone store for service you always want to peruse the new phones. Well I was checking out the new Treo 700 with windows and was checking out how better the access to the net is... well why when I look in the history of internet explorer the first website I see is adam4adam.com. Welcome to Atlanta!!

What and Why ?!?!

What was I thinking taking a 6:55 am flight back from DC this morning… and going directly to work?!?!

Why is there an Asian tour group of about 25 going through my office building… each taking a picture with the security guard by the antique mail box on the wall?

Why did they remove the McDonald’s out of the terminal at National Airport… when I had my heart set on a McGriddle this morning?

What time do you think I am going to bed tonight?

Why was the club last night in DC, the only time I did go out this entire weekend, lame?

Why do some lame movies come out on DVD in like 3 months after opening where as I am still waiting for The Devil Wears Prada hoping to cop the DVD before the end of this year?

Why is The Last King of Scotland only in one theater in Atlanta… several weeks after it was released? Oprah got me all hyped up like this was going to be in ever theater!!

What will VH1 and Flavor Flave do now that he has found the one… again?

What’s for dinner?

Ooooh yeah… why the hell is Solange Knowles dating Lil Wayne when she is married to Daniel Smith?????

· Talk show host Maher and John Legend surrounded by adoring women at Friday's post-taping party at DC restaurant, IndeBleu. The Post reports "the hunky singer dropped by an overhyped "Evening With John Legend" at Zanzibar but stayed only a short time, disappointing the crowd of fans expecting a concert."

· Karrine Steffans is still jonesing for her ex-boo Bill Maher. The New York Daily News reports she said "I will never be with another man." Karrine Steffans I guess is just entertaining herself with Whitney's former pot belly husband while she awaits reunification with the man she calls her "perfect match."

· I can't believe Wendy Williams, Queen of Talk and Gossip, allowed her husband Kevin to wear this getup at the Alize sponsored live airing of ‘The Wendy Williams Experience’ over at Gotham Hall this weekend.

· As if Tyra's show needed one more bootleg element... now we can expect to see Tina Knowles become a regular contributor to The Tyra Banks Show . Knowles will oversee a show feature called "Tina's Takeover Makeovers," where she'll perform head to toe drag queen makeovers on Banks' guests that would likely incorporate her own line, House of Dereon.

Love at First Sight....

Love at First Sight….


When I love, I love hard… When I hurt, I hurt forever…
It was almost two months into the first semester of undergrad when I finally found two gay friends that I could explore and share this new found life. I would soon learn two valuable lessons about friendships in the gay community, but that is another post for another day. Mike and Adrian constantly talked about Mr. D… oh how tall… oh how sexy… he is such a dog… I just wanna go down on him one good time… I have gone down on him one good time….

For weeks this seemed to go on and on… one day driving through campus, Adrian recognized his car passing us on the opposite side of the street. This brief encounter led to at least 30 more minutes of the constant talk and for me that was enough. I was tired of hearing about this mystery man and fellow student. So I convinced Mike to invite him over for dinner. Not being easily impressed and especially by the 2 of them’s opinion on a man… I did nothing to prepare for this life changing dinner.

When Mr. D arrived, I was sitting on the floor of Mike’s bedroom checking my email and the now defunct site, WBS. Mike walked him back to the room where I was to introduce us. When I looked up at him, he smiled. That same smirky smile that would drive me insane for months and years to come. It seemed like minutes before I could speak a hello as he nodded and walked back to the living room. I quickly ran into the bathroom to give myself a look over and dash back out to the living room to be near this man. We did the getting to know you 20 questions over the stir fry Mike prepared and talked about me looking for a job on campus.

Dinner was over and Mike was getting ready to take me back to campus when Mr. D suggested that he could take me since he was on his way. Mike protested and said it was necessary he would take me but I interjected and agreed with Mr. D. On the ride home, Mike called my cell twice asking questions and being nosey and seeing if he had dropped me off yet. We arrived at my campus apartment where we sat at talked for a few minutes. He said that he would look in his department to see if there was a job available and would give Mike a call to let me know since he didn't have my number. Me in my blondness didn’t see the hint… but raddled off my number and told him he could just call me. Mr. D didn’t write the number down, so I just assumed he wasn’t serious... so I jumped out the car and continued to my room. As soon as I hit the door my phone was ringing… it was Mr. D. He inquired to what I was doing. A huge smile ran across my face as I told him looking for something to eat.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry we could have stopped and got something… come outside.” As I walked out he was coming back around, I hopped in as my then roommate was driving up giving me an odd look. We knew all the same people, so for me to be jumping in some strangers car had to spark his curiosity. We got some fast food and ended back in his dorm room eating and playing video games… I awoke the next morning not knowing my life had been changed. And from that day we were together for the next 3 years. It was my first relationship and a life changing few years. Mr. D taught me so much about the life, about love, about dating, and most importantly about myself.

In the background: Blackstreet "Before I Let You Go"
Mood: Remincing

Random Thoughts this Friday morning...

1. Now that the CW Network sees the error of their ways by moving 'Black Night', you know Girlfriends, Everybody Loves Chris, and the rest of them shows, back to Monday... will Girlfriends still be the same without Jill Marie Jones?
2. So doctors think marijuana may slow Alzheimer's disease... is this a step forward for the legalization of weed or at least medicinal mary-j??
3. Why do people feel they can tell others how they should feel about something???
4. I still do not understand how Noah's Arc can be Logo's 'breakout series' but yet only get 8 episodes. Trying to wrap up old story lines and create new ones... was just a bit too much for 8 episodes.
5. And since I am on Noah's Arc... as much as I think this season was an improvement from last season... the acting in episode 207: Baby Can I Hold You was absolutely dreadful. The fake tears and emotion... I demand that episode be reshot before it makes it to DVD.
6. Don't take this the wrong way because I love Michael Knight's vision and style... but was I the only one rejoicing while watching the reunion episode when he flashed that smile and showed.... braces!!!
7. Why do people I never talked to, thought about, or even met while living in DC, think I want to "chill" with them just because I am coming back.... UMM NO!!
8. Now that the Bushes and Bill Frist are rallying behind Hastert is his job safe again????
9. Only 3 more weeks till Once Again, John Legend's sophomore disc...
10. Don't you find the ball photos on Frank Leon Robert's site somewhat intriguing???

GoGo'n Back to DC

Well next week will mark 6 months in Atlanta... and when I left DC I said that I would try to get back every three months to visit the many friends that I left behind.

As most of my close friends know it has been a truly challenging 6 months and I have often questioned if this move to Atlanta was the right decision. The great job opportunity that prompted this whole move is nothing but a sour distant memory... friends that I thought I knew and were close to for the past 10 years have shown a new side and have too become nothing but a memory... once being able to feel that my home was my refuge from the world and that I was completely safe, is gone as well. But I totally believe in God and have faith that he started me on this journey for a reason and I will sit patiently and wait for that to become apparent....

But on a better note next week a good friend is having his 35th birthday party with the theme of keeping it sexy which is why I will be back in DC next Thursday till the following Monday morning. It wasn't till after I had purchased a ticket on my favorite carrier USAir and reserved my midsize with Hertz that I found out that next weekend is also Howard's homecoming. So what a more perfect weekend to get back to the city, hang out with friends and party. So to all of my friends and my invisible readers... I am back and ready to have a good time!!

Violated

Yesterday I came home to find my apartment locked from the inside. The naivety in me assumed that somehow the deadbolt must have turned a lil bit. After calling for maintenance and waiting for 15 minutes... Glenn (the maintenance guy) told me that the door has been locked from inside. Hmmmm I am outside that is impossible. So we walk around the building and down a hill, through a field of ivy to get to my patio that I have cherished since moving in. Upon arriving and trying the sliding door off my bedroom I see the door is locked... try the other door off my sunroom and it slid right open. An eery feeling immediately came over me as I walked in and saw my 20" LCD monitor was missing... my CPU was pulled to the middle of the floor and wires and debris was everywhere. Slowly the realization has come over me that my private space... the space I go to relax and get away from it all... the space that I have worked for and bought everything in... the space I called home and been burglarized.

Two years ago during my first year in grad school, my Mazda 626 was broken into and the radio was stolen... but someone coming into your home is a totally different feeling.

My room was trashed... hair clippers, a couple fitteds, all my watches, all my rings and bracelets, all my earrings, all 10 bottles of my cologne, my iHome, and all the change I had been saving for 3 years in my water cooler bottle. And to make matters worse they took my 600tc pillow cases to carry away my valuables. Now one of my favorite sets of sheets have to be trashed.

A lot of other stuff was taken but the most important thing that I lost was the feeling of security in my own home. It just absolutely amazes me that some people think it is ok to come into someone else's home and take the things that they work for.

And people laugh when I say we should go back to the times of Hannibal... eye for an eye. Or at least incorporate the caneing of Singapore.

Growing up, I never quite understood why my mother’s baby sister, Sharon and her ex, Harold weren’t married anymore.

They seemed to be good friends and as long as I can remember I have never heard either say anything bad about the other or ever even argue. All I knew that Harold was still good friends with everyone in the family and always gave the best presents. Their son JeMel was always a top priority with him. He always lived in the upscale neighborhoods of Houston and they always looked like a magazine photo spread taken out of Architectural Digest. And I remember music… there was always music playing in his house. O and his roommates, over all the years he only had 2 that I can ever remember but they were always so stylish and fun. My father passed when I was still in elementary school, so I always spent time with my two uncles, Terry and Harold, while growing up in Houston. At least one weekend a month I was at his house with my cousin, JeMel.

I always wanted to grow up to be like my uncle Harold. A successful executive at one of the largest oil companies in Texas… always driving a nice ride… dressed in the best clothes… and so many friends.

I will never forget not long after me and my mother moved to Birmingham, JeMel and Harold had gotten into a fight and one went tumbling down the stairs in the house and the police were called. I had never seen my uncle upset but JeMel always had a problem with his temper. When I asked why… I was told he found out his father was gay. At that moment I had a stream of flashbacks to growing up and realizing damn yeah he was. Maybe 4 years after that incident on Thanksgiving day, my uncle passed away. I remember driving back to campus wishing that I could have reached out to my uncle and told him my secret, although I am sure he knew.

I always wondered what it would be like to have him in my life right now. Someone to talk to that understands. For those that have parents that are accepting and understanding you are truly lucky. No real point to this just thoughts on my mind...