Since this guy (among every other thing in my hectic life) is the reason that I have been so sporadic in my blogging, I thought I'd dedicate this week's Cool Pix to him...
My all-kinds-of awesome son!
My all-kinds-of awesome son!
liFE oF a wORkiNG mOM.....
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"I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you my prince has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of his grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face"
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you my prince has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of his grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face"
- Lauryn Hill, Zion, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
You spend 9 whole months creating him, you've bonded before birth and after he's born, you spend close to 3 months of one-on-one time with the new man in your life. You learn all the quirks, have many a sleepless night and you realize that your heart no longer resides in your chest, but is a 14 pound ball of smiles and laughs with a face that looks half yours. And then--you have to go back to work.
Maternity leave is up, bills need to be paid and frankly, you are going stir crazy in the house. After months of calling and interviewing, you finally find someone who you trust to take care of your little guy while you're away all day and the moment you walk up to the door to drop him off for the first time you think, "what the heck am I doing?"
I recently had that revelation of sorts when I dropped my son off with the sitter for the first time. We walked in the door I gave my detailed instructions (because no one else in the world besides me is capable of looking after a baby) and as I make a big fuss waving goodbye, my son briefly glances my way and his attention is immediately diverted by the sitter waving a singing panda in his face.
What am I? Chopped liver?
I walked you to the sitter's door like I was going to the electric chair and reluctantly hand you over because it was almost unbearable to let you go for a whole day without me and all I got was a glance?
But that glance gave me comfort and made it a little easier to leave because I knew you would be fine and well entertained. It showed me you were comfortable which helped me breathe easy.
But gosh kid, can't I a least get a goodbye laugh next time?
inADVertenT weDDINg cRASheR....
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My simple errand to pick up my son's birth certificate from the court house turned into the wedding crashing event of the millennium.
Me: (Walks in building and to the front desk) Hi, where do I go to get a copy of my son's birth certificate?
Front Desk Lady: Room 148
Me: Thanks!
I walked to room 148 and there were two of them--148a and 148b...I walked into A.
Me: (Opens door to a wedding in progress) Oops! I'm so sorry! (As I shamefully hang my head and try to back out gracefully)
Random Wedding Guest: No, no, no, no! Come! Come in! Please!
Me: Oooookay
Random Wedding Guest: (Hands me a glass of sparkling cider as the wedding is in progress) Welcome!
So, I drank my sparkling cider and watched this wedding--which was beautiful by the way and once the wedding was over, I said my congrats and attempted to leave out.
Random Wedding Guest: No, no, no! Pictures! Please!
Me: No, I couldn't...
Random Wedding Guest: Yes! Come! (As he pulls me into the pic with the ENTIRE family...including the bride and groom)
I finally finagled my way out and got my son's birth certificate, but what a way to spend your lunch!
True Story.
Me: (Walks in building and to the front desk) Hi, where do I go to get a copy of my son's birth certificate?
Front Desk Lady: Room 148
Me: Thanks!
I walked to room 148 and there were two of them--148a and 148b...I walked into A.
Me: (Opens door to a wedding in progress) Oops! I'm so sorry! (As I shamefully hang my head and try to back out gracefully)
Random Wedding Guest: No, no, no, no! Come! Come in! Please!
Me: Oooookay
Random Wedding Guest: (Hands me a glass of sparkling cider as the wedding is in progress) Welcome!
So, I drank my sparkling cider and watched this wedding--which was beautiful by the way and once the wedding was over, I said my congrats and attempted to leave out.
Random Wedding Guest: No, no, no! Pictures! Please!
Me: No, I couldn't...
Random Wedding Guest: Yes! Come! (As he pulls me into the pic with the ENTIRE family...including the bride and groom)
I finally finagled my way out and got my son's birth certificate, but what a way to spend your lunch!
True Story.
I can't make this stuff up!
'rOCk rAP...
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"They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes-man" - Jay-Z, Volume 3: The Life and times of S. Carter
I try to tell em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes-man" - Jay-Z, Volume 3: The Life and times of S. Carter
A couple of days ago, VH1 had a special--I forget the name--dealing with Crack and Hip Hop. It was pretty darn interesting. They chronicled the rise and fall of the crack generation, how it inspired Hip Hop and how Hip Hop inspired it. What I got from it though, and from the artists that grew out of that era, was that a lot of young brothers didn't see that life as glamorous at all. I mean, yeah, they got money and cars and popularity from it, but for the most part that was the only way that poor, undereducated, disenfranchised black youth saw as an attainable way to provide for their families.
Now I could write an entire book about why this was the case, but the purpose of this post is to point out how weird it is that most of the Old Guard in Hip Hop used their music (fueled by the drug money) to GET OUT of that life but all you seem to hear now with rappers (who never even lived that life) is them glorifying it. It's so crazy how backwards people are!
Here's this man who is so poor and whose mind is so damaged from Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, whose community and its leaders are being picked off one by one--and then you have a person wanting to rap about this man's life like he's sitting on top of the world? Are you dumb? Were you not paying attention when he got shot at his friends funeral? Or when his son was held hostage and killed by a rival? No? Well, maybe you were there when he went on "vacation" for 25 years and missed his daughter's ENTIRE life.
Why would you want to emulate that life? You say that this man was your inspiration but I think you were inspired by the wrong part of his journey. Maybe you should've been inspired by his best friend who decided to cut his losses and get a record deal rapping about the things people shouldn't do. It's really weird the turn that Hip Hop took in regards to the crack/cocaine lifestyle. It's like it went from a news report to a video game where the only avatars to choose from were dope boys, stick up boys or king pins--and nine times out of 10, these same rappers couldn't walk two blocks in Felix Mitchell's/Rayful Edmonds'/Azie's/Rick Ross' shoes--and they shouldn't want to either.
alRIGht, ALRigHt, aLRiiiiiiiiGht....
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It's been a while my friends. Between being put on bed rest for a month, going through 51 hours of labor (an entire post in itself), more bed rest and burping,feeding, changing a 7lb (now 13lbs as I write) man--life has been pretty hectic to say the least. But, alas, I have returned!
So, one of the first things I've done since getting back in the swing of things was go see Kevin Hart's, "Laugh at My Pain". I figure after everything I've been through in the past few months, I needed a good laugh and Kevin Hart is seriously funny--get i? No? You didn't laugh? Ok. That's cool.
Anyway, I was was watching the movie and near death from laughing, I started to think about the jokes he was telling and realize that this man's life is a hot mess right now. Between his divorce, his mom's passing and the family drug problems I didn't know whether to laugh at his jokes or give him a hug. So, I'm now sitting in the theater utterly confused as to how to react. Like, I'm literally laughing at his pain.
Every time he said something funny, I cracked up laughing, then immediately felt bad, like I needed to go confess or something--it was a mess for my emotional stability. But I'm good now, and I'm glad I went. Now I'm waiting for Katt Williams to get back at it--although with the way his life has been going lately, I feel like I'm setting myself up for failure again.
Peace.
rATTleR pRIde...
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This happened to me in undergrad while at a greek step show when I was at home in D.C. On break. True story.
Guy: Hey, I was wondering if I could call you some time?
Me: Sure, but I'm going back to school this weekend so I won't be here for long.
Guy: Oh, I go to school in Florida so I'll be leaving soon too--but I'd still like to get to know you.
Me: I go to school in Florida too! What school?
Guy: BCC
Me: *walks away*
cOOl Pix WedNEsdAYs....
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Decided to make myself the subject this week. Did a maternity shoot recently and here's my fav ....
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After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world,--a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his twoness,--an American, a Negro; two warring souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.
The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife,--this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self....
W.E.B DuBois
muSt rEad...
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Should probably be used as a text book in college classes. Very insightful. Pick it up.
cOOL pIx WEdnesDayS... thE LasT drAgON ediTioN
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Because I just watched this movie..for the millionth time. Because I died laughing (like litterally had to be resuscitated) watching this movie..for the millionth time. Because this movie is probably one of the greatest spoofs (right up there with I'm Gonna Get You Sucka) of all time, I have dedicated this Cool Pix Weds to ......dun dun dun!!!!
THE LAST DRAGON !!!!
"Well, well, well. If it ain't the serious, elusive Leroy Green. I've been waiting a long time for this, Leroy. I am sick of hearing these bullsh*t Superman stories about the Wassah! Legendary Bruce Leroy catching bullets with his teeth. Catches bullets with his teeth? Ni**a please"
"Those bound by desire see only that which can be held in their hands."
He's got the Glow!!!
Sho'Nuff: Alright Leroy, who's the one and only master?
Bruce Leroy: I AM!
uGH....
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So how about my friend and I were lost in San Francisco today looking for this restaurant. We pulled up next to this guy and rolled down our window to ask directions--and he promptly looked at us and sped away post haste. I mean, did we offend you sir? Do we look like deranged thug lords that were out to get you? How rude!! Maybe I'll just stick to the other side of the Bay....
wELp...iT's oFFIciAL..iT"s haPPenEd to ME tOO...
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So I'm officially pregnant. I mean, of course by the 5 month marker I would know from all the other indicators--namely the huge belly with a little man dwelling in it who makes it his personal business to do the people's elbow on my bladder and pile drive my ribs. I've always heard that extreme fatigue accompanied this wonderful condition and thought that I'd experienced the worst of it during the first 3 months (which I affectionately dub hell week quarter of a year--kind of the hazing part for moms-to-be). Boy was I wrong!
No longer will I laugh at those poor tired pregnant women who've had the misfortune of tinkling or sleeping in a not-so cool place because now--I have joined their ranks! Adding this to the unreasonably long list of things my son has to make up for when he's on the outside.
As I hang my sleepy head in shame and finally walk to my bed--I bid you adieu and hope to never have to write of such things again.Peace.
tEAcHErs aRE aMAzinG...
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So, I started a new job Monday as a Career Advisor to High Schoolers and the like. I was (and still am) very excited about going in and helping to mold the youth into productive citizens and all the coolness that it entails. I was not--however--prepared to be thrust into a teaching role my second day on the job.
Turns out the Professional Development teacher caught a bug which resulted in his class being unattended without a substitute on deck--enter poor unsuspecting guidance counselor (me).
In any case, my supervisor asked (told) me to take over the class for the day so I put on my brave face--having never taught a day in my life--and made it happen. I walked in to 15 bright faces who, when I told them I would be their sub for the day immediately took that as a free period to do nothing--how wrong they were. No, I wasn't the crazy sub from hell, but yes, they were going to learn gosh darn it and I was going to teach them.
I asked them all to show me their resumes (because Tuesday was resume perfecting day) and after looking them over I thought "boy, do I have LOTS of work to do." I prepared myself for the longest most grueling day ever and to my delight, it wasn't all that bad. As I got into the class and eventually sat down one-on-one with them to review what they'd learned from me thus far (this is at the end of the day), my heart was immediately warmed at how these kids soaked up EVERYTHING (some of them even used my words verbatim on their finished resumes..lol) I taught that day.
I even had a few kids who were dead-set against not doing work because "they didn't see the point" who turned out to be my MOST AMAZING students of the day. Although my feet, my back and just about everything on my body ached at the end of the day, it was all worth it when I saw the impact I made and I knew they left the class with a little extra knowledge.
No, I haven't found a new passion--teaching is not really my thing, but I commend all of those who take up the task and I think you guys are amazing!!! (Especially my mom because she's better than everyone else :) )
cOOl pIX WEDNesDayS...bLAck hiSTOry eDiTiON...
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Tupac. He IS black history. And this is my JAM!!! Groove with me people. Groove with me.
cOOl pIx WEdNesdAYs...
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In honor of the official (since we learn everyday) Black History Month, Cool Pix Wednesdays will feature black leaders that inspire me. Enjoy!
Peace.
Elaine Brown. First and only female leader of the Black Panther Party of Self Defense. Activist. Lawyer. Politician. Inspiration.
Michael Jackson. Need I say more.
Garrett A. Morgan. Next time you're stuck at a stop light, or have some sort of use for a gas mask, think of him--he invented it.
Peace.
Elaine Brown. First and only female leader of the Black Panther Party of Self Defense. Activist. Lawyer. Politician. Inspiration.
Michael Jackson. Need I say more.
Garrett A. Morgan. Next time you're stuck at a stop light, or have some sort of use for a gas mask, think of him--he invented it.
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When conforming is done because of an imposed and internalized disdain for one's natural features....then it's self-hate.
-Random FB user
tOP 10 rEasOns tO beCOMe a raPpeR...
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Now Playing:
I'm takin' out this timeto give you a piece of my mind (cause you can't knock the hustle)
Who do you think you are?
Baby one day you'll be a star
....I'm just tryin to get mine, I don't have the time
to knock the hustle for real - Jay-z Ft. Mary J. Blige, Can't Knock The Hustle
, Reasonable Doubt
My loves!! It's been a while I know. I've been on a slight hiatus from the blog world for about 3 weeks--but I swear it's not my fault. I happen to have a little man/woman who lives in my belly, eats away at my life force, rejects all food, hates sleep and makes me fatter day-by-day--who I also happen to love endlessly. So please excuse my absence. Good news--I'M BACK!!
Which brings me to my top 10 reasons to become a rapper:
1. You don't have to be talented. And if you are talented, you don't have to use your common sense 99.8% of the time.
2. You can be a thug safely from your own home and/or tour bus (and even be a regular on Degrassi).
3. You don't have to finish the 3rd grade (or at least you don't have to sound like you did--well in Soulja Boy's case he did make it at least to ninth grade...twice).
4. All your friends can be somebody by association (wait a minute, ain't that Brandy's brother?).
5. You can be a crackhead (on tape--re: my all time fav Soulja boy) and still be accepted by the masses.
6. Even if you're not a crackhead, if you sound like one on wax, you WILL sell records (Pink Friday sold 40,000 copies on the first day).
7. Going to jail isn't the necessarily the end--it's actually a plus that could even land you your own reality show (right Tip? Kim?).
8. You can have immense amounts of self-hate and people will defend you until the death (apparently Lil' Wayne isn't too keen on the chocolate sisters--somehow I feel like his little chocolate daughter and her chocolate mama may grow up feeling some type of way about that).
9. You don't ever have to have a radio hit to be famous (50 Tyson--Minnesota, Twin Cities that's where he's from-- is blowing up on youtube as we speak).
10. Even if you do lack the talent, the masses will build you up and make you famous if only to laugh at your expense and make themselves feel better about their own messed up lives (re: 50 Tyson--you know--Minnesota Twin Cities that' where he's from?).
All in all. Who am I to throw salt on game?
Peace.
kID'S sAY tHE dARNdeSt thINgs....
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Thought this was HILARIOUS!!
BILL: Do you try and do the things that Jesus told you to do?
KID: He didn't tell me to do nothing!
BILL: I mean things like turning the other cheek.
KID: What's that mean?
BILL: If somebody hits you, you don't hit him back.
KID: Jesus said be a wimp?!
BILL: No, not a wimp, a lover of peace.
KID: It don't sound so smart. Why don't the guy who hit me love peace first?!?
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"When you go through all your life processing and abusing your hair so it will look like the hair of another race of people then you are making a statement and the statement is clear"
- Assata Shakur
She is so real...
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