Category: General

Well it’s been about 6 months or so maybe since I last posted (I think) so I think its safe to say I’ve been fairly mum for some time now. Not that there hasn’t been much to talk about – but rather I’ve been keeping more of my thoughts within my head away from mass judgement by those that frequent this site. Please don’t think that everyone’s opinions aren’t valued on here. It’s just that some of you have other agendas, are offended easily, or take this way too seriously sometimes – you know who you are.

So 2005 is behind us now – what crosses your minds when you think back over it. I think of the extensive travel that I did outside of Michigan to places old and new such as Europe, the beautiful newcomers/oldcomers to my life who have made it worth living just that much more (my European, Malaysian, Mexican, Austrailian, Brazilian, and US people – you know who you are and if you don’t…that might tell you something ;)) I think of the relationships that were built up and the relationships that fell apart… I just think really all in all it was full – emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

There were some tough losses – probably the biggest was losing my closest Aunt Myra to Lou Gehrig’s disease. That was hard and I don’t think I cried that hard in a long time. It was tough to hold it in while being there for my mom and my cousin, but at the funeral I was a bit overcome. I realize we all come and go so I don’t ask God why, but rather thank him for putting such a wonderful woman in my life who always made sure you said “yes ma’m” and taught generations of children how to tie their shoes like no other 🙂 She took it all in stride and passed on her terms and when she was ready – not a moment sooner or later.

I signed on to buy my second condo in downtown Detroit and unfortunately I’m still waiting for it be completed some 3 months behind schedule…. It allowed me to do some key things though which I’m grateful for. I became a landlord. I broke free mentally from a home that had a fiance and child missing in the back of my mind.

I’m really finding a new place and direction for my life right now – at work, socially, and physically but I feel comfortable in my ability to go wherever I want in my life right now. I’m back taking some classes to educate myself more formally again and I’m continuing my pursuit of knowledge at the dinner table weekly with a slew of books, CDs, and the Internet.

A past-time is still perusing BlackPlanet.com in my spare time seeing who’s visited my page and shared a note to say hello. My pool game is getting better and better. My basketball game is making a comeback. I’m gaining weight and getting stronger. I’m working more towards eating better and becoming the greatest me ever than anyone’s seen before. Quietly and surely, one foot in front of the other I’m building the momentum to launch to the next level and make some waves. This year is going to be about taking the cruise control off which has provided a steady pace and accelerating towards the legacy.

I hope 2006 is a new and positive year for all of us. We need it so we might as well get busy and have it together. But while we’re busy, be sure to enjoy the ride along the way 😉

Well hello world! Right now I’m in one of those moments where my mind is racing with thoughts as I weigh some potentially big decisions in what transpires for me this point forward. Too fast to write…but too much to not say anything. Even if you prepare yourself for the fork in the world sometimes you get there and you still just aren’t sure which way to go.

Since travelling to Europe for a while I’ve returned home and began working myself back into a routine on the home front. I left some things behind in Europe which may have been for the best, but I left some of my best over there too hopefully having a positive impact for the long term on what people think about African-Americans in general and males in particular.

I recently read over a review of a movie I enjoyed, Drumline, since it was touted as generating a lot of hate mail from marching band lovers around the country. It was written by Larry Carroll and I must say that it was so brutal it was…funny…to me at least and I’m a marching band lover.

I spent all 4 years of high school dedicated to the marching band as a drummer and was even the drumline captain my last two years. From reading the review, it’s quite apparent that Mr. Carroll is certainly not a band person and has no appreciation for it whatsoever. With that in mind I can understand his review, but probably think he was more critical of the movie than it really deserved.

I find that most movies have highly questionable aspects to them if you truly take the time to forget about “suspension of belief” and begin analyzing the movie truly as real life events. I thought the movie Drumline was enjoyable for most including kids and didn’t need a Star Wars level plot to enjoy. Nick Cannon was a jerk in the movie – no doubt. But not un-typical in real-life he still got the girl being one 😉 Carroll’s review also criticizes the R. Kelly music being played by the band in the beginning. He obviously doesn’t recognize that despite R. Kelly’s situation and Michael Jackson’s, their music will always be enjoyed by plenty of people…

While he praised the musical content of the movie and the presentation of it, as a former marching band member, drumline captain, and someone knowledgeable of Drum & Bugle Corps International(DCI), that was the content I found somewhat worthy of fair criticism. Depending on where you go to college and play in the marching band, the style and musicality of what is played will differ drastically. What is constant however, in my expert (lol) opinion is that DCI is the highest level of play and competition for marching band style music. No where else is it required that your skill level be amongst the highest in the country, your physical fitness be able withstand a grueling schedule and athletic performance, and you’d be considered lucky to even get to audition to be down…

But anyhow, check out the review here if you haven’t already and let me know what you think about it 🙂