Keep your opinion (and your religion) to yourself
Thank you very much
Yes, I've been taking the train to work for 2 weeks now. I think I might actually be getting back into shape. It's kind of nice to take the train in DC because you can grab a free newspaper. One of the great things I remember about taking the train in NY were the occasional handouts. Maybe there was a new chewing gum or breath mint on the market or possibly coupons for a new restaraunt. Any New Yorker can assess what the handout is and decide whether they want it or not without breaking their stride.
So (yeah, here it comes) there I am, coming out of the train station, listening to my iPod (Thanks Fox!) and trying to figure out what I'm writing in my blog this morning. At the top of the escalator are 2 early-twentyish people with handouts...pamphlets. I quickly scan the cover as I step off the escalator: somethin sumthin sunthin..."Soldiers of Satan." I didn't know what it was as this is DC, it sould have been political or religious. One thing I did know is that it wasn't for me. The young man offers me one. I politely say "No Thanks" while keeping my pace.
As I'm walking he says to me "Good Luck."
I'm not one for arguments and fortunately I was running late this morning. I didn't have time to ask. So I'll ask now. Good luck? WTF?? Do I need some purported luck because I have not accepted your leaflet? Is my life doomed because I did not accept your flyer? Am I missing out on Milk and Cookies? Why not "have a nice day" or "God bless you" or just plain silence? I actually would have preferred silence.
You know what that really means: the volume on my iPod was too low. Anyway, that's my rant. That's my morning. I'm done bitching (for now).
What next?
IVY League has safely arrived across the pond and now I have to ponder what next?
I am always proud to see someone progress in their life. It shows that hard work and focus (and sometimes a lil luck) can really make things happen. The drawback, for me, is that it makes me reflect on my own life. Am I where I want to be? Am I doing the things that make me happy? Is there something better out there for me?
No
So now I have to plan my next steps...
Lessons Learned
So this weekend was big because Red Room VIP,
Ivy League, is about to work in another country for 2 years. I believe it will be a great experience and he will come back a changed man.
This weekend...
I saw friends come together support someone as he begins a new chapter in his life.
I realized people mean more to me than I thought.
I watched my sister and was proud she is vibrant and resonates an inner joy.
I saw some people do some not nice things yet I was not pissed off by it.
I was patient and insightful.
I laughed.
I lived.
I've been tagged
I've Been Tagged
"List ten songs you are currently digging....it doesn't matter what genre, or if they have words, or even if they're no good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists and the tens songs on your Blog. Then tag five other people to see what they're listening to.
- Brandy - Say you will
- Solitaire - I like love (I love love)
- Memphis Bleek - Like That
- Kaskade - Everything
- Five Star - All Fall Down
- Armand van Helden - Flowerz
- Lemar - 50/50
- Tierra Mari - Franchise
- Brownstone - Don't cry for me
- Christopher Cross - Sailing
I tag you guys...
whatpeopledemsay Thefoxybrownshow MsPerdie catty ideas Let the church say amen
Stepping Out
Stepping out on a limb.
Putting your neck on the line.
Taking a stand...it's not easy. We all feel strongly about certain things in our lives but most people don't want to hear everyone else's opinions. That's what makes voicing your opinion such a difficult thing to do.
Besides, not everyone is going to agree with you. That's a form of rejection...and not everyone deals well with rejection. So sometimes, when I see someone take a stand knowing it might not be the most popular thing to do, I may or may not agree with them but I gotta give them a little respect. That takes courage.
Remember,
one person can make a difference.
Here I stand...
Here I stand with my eyes closed
Hands in the air....
Here I am
Hearing God for the first time all over again
Here I am
at peace
in love
ears open
Happy
You know you're getting older when....
...reality sets in.
Yesterday and today I did something I haven't done in a long time: Took the train to work.
As a New Yorker I used to commute on the Subway all the time. I loved it! All the different people, crowding, the arguments, the noise, My music, bad subway manners, the grime and smell of the stations, new trains, hot sweaty stations, broken PA system...it all just felt so real.
Since relocating to the Washington DC area things have changed. I now drive to work everyday. Even in traffic I feel like I have more control of my surroundings. My car, My CDs, My radio, My air conditioning...it is sometimes a moment when I can reflect and just be at peace.
Long story short: I arrived at work dripping sweat because taking the train and walking 4 blocks to the office is not at easy as it used to be.
It was a gentle (and icky) reminder that I'm not as energetic as I used to be. Maybe it's a reminder that I sometimes need to slow down. Maybe I need to go to the gym.
City life. You gotta love it.....
What's in a number?
I stumbled across this on someone's blog. It's kinda freaky how accurate it is for my birthday.
I think not.
I refuse to be defined by some by-the-numbers-textbook-astrology-dice-rolling-website thingy. OK...I'm done with my rant. Give it a try...see if it's accurate. Then we can all bitch about it together.
| Your Birthdate: August 4 |
Being born on the 4th day of the month should help make you a better manager and organizer.
You may be more responsible and self-disciplined than you realize.
Sincere and honest, you are a serious and hard working individual.
Your feelings are likely to seem somewhat repressed at times.
The number 4 has something of an inhibiting effect on your ability to show and express affections, as feeling are very closely regulated and controlled.
You are apt to be much more practical, rational, and conscious of details.
There is a good deal of rigidity and stubbornness associated with the number 4. |
It's MY day
Yeah.
In honor of my birthday I decided to revisit me:
Thursday, May 12, 2005
You must be..... You must be...
Crazy if you think I'm here to make life easy for you. I'm not. I'm here to help you make your own decisions. You live your life, I'm busy trying to get mine right. Hopefully we'll get where we need to be together.Wrong if you think you're always right. If you don't make mistakes you don't grow and learn.Mistaken if you think you know me. If you really knew me you wouldn't have to ask about me.Half out your mind if you think I don't see through your smoke and mirrors. I learned so much about you by watching from the sidelines that when I enter the game I already have your playbook.You MUST be...
On another planet if you think negativity is going to be allowed into my space. In my world I am the center of the universe. I am the sun and sky and stars. I am gravity and time, north and south, alpha and omega. In my world I am supreme and I must let you into my space in order for you to affect me.Stupid if you believe the actions you make today don't affect your loved ones. There is a cycle to life and everything comes back to one. Start off on the right foot.Under the wrong impression if you think it's all about you...Not when I'm standing right here!
Buggin if you think I'm gonna change. I like being underestimated...it makes the results surprising.I'm the shit.You know who you are?Today's song: Erykah Badu - The GrindIt's nice to look back once in a while. As I reflect, I realize I AM the shit. Who are you?
Shout-Outs
Shout out to mother (Big) Red.
You forfeited a birthday to give birth to me. Your grace and presence continues to amaze me. Your heart and love overwhelm me. I love you for all that you are and all that you made me.
Shout out to everyone who plays music, makes music and listens to music.Music reminds us of life and struggle and progress and possibilities. It is abstract and concrete. All our lives have soundtracks. I only wish more people took the time to listen.
Shout out to brother Fox.The brother I never knew I needed until it happened. Sometimes people come and go in your life, sometimes they stick around. I'm glad you are the latter and not the former.
Shout out to Comic books.Spider-Man, X-Men and Daredevil honed my appreciation for the English language. They also stoked my imagination. They took me to places I always wanted to go. Storm, Black Panther and Luke Cage (Power Man) taught me being black did not mean I make any less of an impact than anyone else.
Shout out to Fatima, the ghetto Princess.My cat, roommate and friend of 8 years. She loves me unconditionally as long as I feed her (and she'll forgive me if I forget). She's gotten me through many a tough time and she has a fierce mean streak that has taken many people by surprise.
Shout out to the people who keep me grounded.A Dot,
The *,
Rev,
Tiny,
Pelau,
Pip Pip,
Mini-B (welcome back girl!), the list goes on. There is no rhyme or reason to friendship. It just...is. Thank you all for being yourselves and being sounding boards for my hopes, dreams, trials and tribulations.
Shout out to growing up in the ghetto.Saturday morning cartoons with my cousins, Quarter Waters, Chic-o-stix, Atari, nosy neighbors who really cared, fistfights, throwing shredded newspaper out the window on New Years, going to the laundromat, records, getting jumped, off the wall (the game), Off The Wall (the album), boom boxes, going to the movies, hand-me-downs, listening through the pipes, roaches, broken elevators, broken dreams, broken promises...
As I sit here in the last few hours of my thirtieth year I reflect and give thanks.
