Gotta get the hell outta here

OMG!! Drama abounds in the land of little children who think they're grown. Yeah, sure you may be 19,20,21...and on your own...but you act like a freakin child and it is now my time to get away from you and hide in the solace of my annoying ass family, who no matter HOW BAD they get on my nerves, I love them and I have the best times with them.

Y'all mufuckas in Birmingham are PISSING ME OFF!!! Y'all are like that annoying ass paper clip that used to show up on Mic.ro.sof.t W.ord and hop around talking asking if I need help typing my paper or spelling a word.



BITCH! I GOT THIS!!!

For real though, I just need a break from all the madness that is UAB. I got folks texting me on some messy bullshit asking me if I'm still cool with this person and that person...like how random is that? Like the text just exuded HATE. And it's kinda fucked up because I feel like the person texting me was trying to get me to be extra messy on some shit I have nothing to do with. I don't have a problem with the person you beefin with...so I'm not gonna bash them just because you and a couple other folks do. Somethin just ain't sitting right with me about this...DAMN that shit threw me for a loop. Just random shit like that is making me want to go home and STAY home...but I got a job to do, and I won't stop just because a few folks wanna act foolish. It is what it is.... I just know that I GOT TO GO!!! Holla on the other side (The Gump).

Please Don't Be So Generic In Your Thinking!

THANKS!!! So, mama fowards me this email, and in her message she says, "SO TRUE...LOL". Now I don't know if she felt that way for real, or if she just wanted something to say. My mama is a VERY intelligent and "smart" woman, but when it comes to bull-shit email lists, I noticed that sometimes she just says stuff just to say it. In any event, I am going to post this little laundry list of things you should tell all girls about men...hmph...my thoughts included


15 PIECES OF ADVICE TO BE PASSED ON TO YOURDAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, YOUNGER SISTER, NIECE, COUSIN... all the GIRLS!

1.. Don't imagine you can change a man... Unless he's in diapers. (okay, I agree with this tip...You can incite change, but you can never ever force it or CREATE it...a man has to want to change for you HIMSELF!!)

2.. What do you do if your boyfriend walks-out? You shut the door. (sure...maybe...I wouldn't suggest running after ANY man, even if it is YOUR fault. There is a time for all of that, and right after an argument probably isn't one of the best.)

3.. If they put a man on the moon... they should be able to put them all up there. (didn't get this one)

4.. Never let your man's mind wander... it's too little to be out alone. (what weak-minded men are these women messing with?! If his mind is wandering, there is a reason, and his brain capacity can't be that small if he has the ability to think of someone else!)

5.. Go for younger men. You might as well... They never mature anyway. (hell naw, though I typically end up talking to guys slightly younger than me, there is no way I would exclusively date obviously younger men...I don't have time for the immaturity. It is true that with age comes maturity, so stop fuckin with young boys just because you assume men will always be immature.)

6.. Men are all the same... they just have different faces so that you can tell them apart. (I semi-agree. They all have the same WAYS, some are just less/more severe than others. Some have more tact. But just like women come wired the same, so do men...it's nature.)

7.. Definition of a bachelor: a man who has missed the opportunity to make some woman miserable. (eww, I have to disagree. a bachelor is a single man, and he has VERY much potential to fuck a sista's life up, please believe! Single men are ruining lives and breaking hearts EVERY day!)

8.. Women don't make fools of men... most of them are the do-it-yourself types. (sure, whatever)

9.. Best way to get a man to do something... is to suggest he is too old for it. (you can tell some white woman came up with this list...*sigh*)

10.. Love is blind... but marriage is a real eye-opener. (ok, thanks for the heads up...)

11.. If you want a committed man... look in a mental hospital. (not funny)

12.. The men of Israel wandered around the desert for 40 years... Even in biblical times, they wouldn't ask for directions. (ummm)

13.. If he asks what sort of books you're interested in... tell him chequebooks. (This bitch is from Europe!)

14.. Remember a sense of humor does not mean that you tell him jokes... it means that you laugh at his. (ok, WORD. Because a lack of sense of humor is a deal breaker for me. I need somebody who constantly keeps a smile on my face and laughter in my heart. Laughing reduces stress, something I have lots of!)

15.. Sadly, all men are created equal. (really now?)

So yeah, after reading through the list a few times, I have come to the conclusion that this list was contrived by a middle-aged white Brittish woman (or Canadian). In any respect, I appreciate her little words of wisdom, but uhh, no thanks for real! And how could my mother, a strong, black educated woman think that majority of the things listed held some truth?!?! Man, whatever! Anyhoo...

I can't stand generic ass thinking when it comes to men (hell, ANYBODY), because all of these negroes are different...these lists are fine in some ways, cuz sometimes you can generalize to make a comparison...but this list just hinted a tad bit too much "white woman's" opinion to me, and I honestly can't identify. Now, I'm a good daughter, so I won't get on mama for sending me this list, but this is definitely not something I will be passing on to my friends, little cousins, nieces, and MOST CERTAINLY not my daughter. God willing, when I have a little girl, she will know what she needs to know through me and other strong-minded women like me...not from some generic ass, Eurocentric minded list. Please and Thank you! Good night!!

There is ALWAYS some Truth in Hilarity

Take this comment, for instance, made by a person under the alias of Lo.uis Far.rak.han in reference to the R.Kelly acquittal situation:

R. Kelly could rape the cast of Golden Girls in Times Square and get away with it at this point. Nigga is untouchable. He'd probably dress them up as cheerleaders and pee in their diapers first, but rape is rape.
-Lo.uis Far.rak.han

Okay, I initially laughed my ass off at this statement. Because it is seemingly true in that R.Kelly has managed to make the general public believe he is some crazed sex pervert who can't get it from women within his own age range...Also, he seems to be impervious to serving time for his crazed sexual behavior. In fact, a lot of people revere him as a hero of sorts. SICKENING!

But then I looked at the quote again, and realized that R.Kelly would never rape the cast of Golden Girls because he does not like oldER women. What makes this alias think he'd want grannies? They do say, however, that once you reach elderly-hood, your ways revert back to child-like behavior. I can attest to this observation, because my great-aunt shits on herself and doesn't clean her ass, and my great-uncle would leave the house, wandering around the neighborhood. True, you can attribute these behaviors to mental disorders, and true my uncle suffers from Alzheimer's/Dimentia...but still... Older people get whiny and ornery, just like little kids. So maybe that's the correlation the alias was trying to make...

But anyawy, back to my observation. R. Kelly wouldn't touch these women with a 10 foot pole, because they are old enough to be his grandmother. He only seems to be interested in GIRLS aged 13-20....hmmm....so yeah. Funny quote, and yes, some truth exists in it...but then you have to look at the facts and realize this person was just tryna get a laugh.

He succeeded.


Disclaimer: I love the Golden Girls just as much as anybody, but that shit was funny...sorry. :-(

What's In a NAME?!

K y'all...There will be no WOD for a minute. I just don't feel like being extremely techincal about things at the moment. But I do have something else for you to take a look at.

What, pray-tell, is in a name? When you think about the name your parents gave you, do you view it as a blessing or a curse? Some names have a "white" ring to them. Which means that the race of this child is typically indistinguishable or the child is presumed to be white upon first seeing it. Then there are those of us who have not necessarily "black" names, but ethnic sounding ones that give our race/ethnicity away to folks who otherwise would not know a thing about us.

It has been said, that when naming a child, parents should look to the future and take into account: a) if the child will have problems saying and spelling his/her name by the age of 3 b) if the child's teachers will have problems with the same, particularly pronunciation c) if other kids will have issues with saying/spelling the child's name d) how the name will look on important, official documents e) how an 87 year old woman name Bonquisha will look to others.

Of course, it doesn't matter what she will look like to others, as there will be many adults like her. My name is pretty common, but not so much that it's Ashley, Jessica, Tiffany, Brittany or anything like that. But there are many girls out there with my name. My thing is, is there a 85 year old woman named Candice out there somewhere? If so...cool...

Parents should be mindful of trying to be so unique to the point that they screw their children over. Finding jobs in corporate America is already hard enough. Tack on race and gender (for females), and it's damn near impossible (at times). I'm not saying name your child something boring, generic, or typical. Your child has the right to be unique. All I'm saying is be classy and considerate with name choices.

According to a website, the following names are considered the BLACKEST names to give a child. Should you avoid them? Depends...

The 20 Blackest Boy Names
1. DeShawn
2. DeAndre
3. Marquis (know one)
4. Darnell (middle name of about 5 guys I know)
5. Terrell (know 2)
6. Malik (know one)
7. Trevon
8. Tyrone (know 2)
9. Willie (know 1)
10. Dominique
11. Demetrius (know plenty)
12. Reginald (cousin's name)
13. Jamal
14. Maurice (know 2)
15. Jalen (a lot of little black boys are getting this name)
16. Darius (know grown men named this)
17. Xavier (know 2)
18. Terrance (know too many)
19. Andre (same as 18)
20. Darryl (same)

The 20 Blackest Girl Names
1. Imani
2. Ebony (if I could count them all...)
3. Shanice (know 1, my MI)
4. Aaliyah
5. Precious (know 1)
6. Nia
7. Deja (know 1)
8. Diamond
9. Asia (my cousin, and a lil girl from church)
10. Aliyah
11. Jada
12. Tierra
13. Tiara (roommate)
14. Kiara
15. Jazmine (cousin)
16. Jasmin
17. Jazmin
18. Jasmine (too many)
19. Alexus (cousin)
20. Raven

Now, I'm not sure why several forms of the name "Jasmine" are considered different names, but whatever. I didn't make the list up. And none of them are terribly ghetto. Some just lack creativity, and are common to our group of people. We need to get more creative, y'all...but of course not go over board! I love baby names, and I have an ongoing, extensive list of them. I'd like to share some of my favorites...

1. Ari
2. Binae
3. Calandra
4. Devani
5. Elle
6. Faye
7. Giselle
8. Hannah (love this name)
9. Isis
10. Justice
11. Kaimana (Kah-ee-mah-na, hawaiian)
12. Lakera
13. Mahria
14. Nayana

1. Santino
2. Tariq
3. Dedrick (Dee-drick)
4. Yamin
5. Emery
6. Cassidy
7. Lonnie (one of my faves)

So yeah, unique and classy. I HAVE PLENTY MORE. But of course I can't give y'all the ones I many want to use for my 3 kids. So yeah...if you ever need help searching for a baby name, with meaning (which is something I specialize in), hit me up!!! 90% of the names I have own legit meanings and have histories behind them. Anyhoos...I'll HOLLA.

P.S. also check out BabyNamesWorld.com in the links section. It's very informative! :-)

Cookies and Juice

Is this a fuccin day care or something? When I get off of work, I don't wanna come home to no damn shortbread cookies and sunny D. We carpooling, on the way home, I notice you sippin out a Subway cup, but when I ask you to get something to eat FOR DINNER (since I haven't eaten in 5+ hrs) you tell me, "We'll see". The night ends with you cooking some rice and viennas and telling us (me and my lil brother) to have at it...at damn near 10 o'clock at night...

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Is this how my summer is going to go? Don't even go there about how I should or need to spend my money. While I agree that one's earnings should be spent and allocated in a fashion that the earner sees fit, If you got kids in your home, or better yet, your OFFSPRING, --your children-- regardless of if I'm 20 years old or not, I expect you to at LEAST go to the grocery store. Maybe I give off the impression that i want to eat fast food every night, but that is totally NOT EVEN the case!

Instead of buying cookies and juice, dad, and putting $12 in her gas guzzling truck, you could have bought a bag of salad greens, some cheese, dressing, and some chicken and we could have made a NICE salad. You could have bought some beef and buns, and we could have fried up some burgers...but naw...who are you doing a favor for? Not me!!! I didn't ask for cookies and juice, and neither did Isaac.

You buy it, thinking it will appease us somehow, quell our hunger...YOU'RE WRONG! It does nothing but ignite our appetites even more. And don't buy cans of pringles and think they are gonna last a life-time. CHILE, BOO! Do you know how GOOD pringles taste? Plus, like we say every evening, WE BE HUNGRY! And while y'all thinking I'm the one eating up everything, you should check your growing boy!!!

He's the one sneaking pringles off to his room in the early morning hours, cookies and juice too!

I need for y'all to take a little more responsibility in your purchases. One complains all the time that the other spends too much money. I know what she is doing with it, it's obvious...but you won't put the necessary restraints on her to make her stop. WHY DID YOU PUT GAS IN HER TANK if you were just going to the Dollar Store which is UP THE STREET?!?! You lose your right to complain when you put $ in her tank and buy cookies and juice. You've only eaten 5, huh? Yeah right, but whatever. Those cookies are almost gone, and trust, it wasn't I who nearly demolished them....*looks over at Isaac*

And one is over here complaining that he don't spend ENOUGH money, and that we (the kids) don't WANT to spend our OWN money....well...lady...why SHOULD WE???? You are the parent, first and foremost. And we are not asking you for new clothes, shoes, or toys...(or at least, I'm not). All I ask for is basic SUSTENANCE, some damn nourishment, and not even all the time! Hell, I've gotten used to not eating around that damn house! But I get fussed at because I'm not willing to spend MY money on something I shouldn't have to pay for...GO TO FOOD WORLD, DAMN IT! I never asked you to go to Wendy's or McDonalds...go to FOOD WORLD, which is LITERALLY walking distance from the house, if you are worried about wasting gas!

But whatever, I digress. You spend your money as you please, but it amazes me, that you pay minimal bills in the house, don't by food, yet manage to buy new clothes and shoes when you get ready, or buy that bottle of whatever to sip on for the week/weekend. GET OFF. I see how it is tho. Don't fix your mouth to question me about my spending habits, then, sweety! I have self-restraint and discipline, and I know that me being able to do what I need to do at the close of this week is more important than buying a bag of potato chips...for 50 cents...child, please...

I can't win for losing, and I half-way don't blame my daddy for acting the way he does, MOST of the time...

The 16th will be the dawn of a new day, tho baby. My money will not get frivously thrown to the wind, as in previous years. I have a plan, and I plan on enforcing it! This past check, I could play around with, but honestly, no more room or time for that...

Anyway, I think this about does it for this rant. I just sighed, which is a sign that I'm pretty much over it. Boy, I tell ya, I love writing.

But if I get home and see more cookies and sunny D...I'm going the hell off!!!! Somebody gone get they 48 year old ass told! And that's love.

Oh and good morning.

And I Quote..."

"Handle your business; don't let your business handle you!" --A smart person

This quote holds so much truth. Too often we are too busy worrying about what's going on in other people's lives to pay attention to our own. I've always had the attitude of what I do is MY business, especially if what I am doing is in no way affecting you. Friends take that title "Friend" to a whole other level and want to know ALL your business...I simply say, "MYOB, or get some business, please!"

As human beings, we are somewhat naturally inquisitive, and hell, that's okay. But PLEASE don't come up to me asking me what color bra/panties do I have on, or who I was on the phone with last night, or even who I'm seeing. You worried about me...and your draws ain't even clean!

I feel like, don't ask, don't tell --first and foremost. I do not voluntarily hand out information about my personal life unless I'm just itching for somebody to know. And even when someone asks something I'd rather not divulge, I usually go around the truth and leave out pertinent details. Shit, they do it to me! It's a viscious cycle that can be well avoided if people just mind their own business. Just because you are my "friend" doesn't mean you have to know every aching detail about my life. Shit...don't tell me that "secrets don't make friends..." Bitch, I got enough friends to worry about you being mad because you couldn't get in my business. See how STUPID that "secrets don't make friends" shit sounds? Really, and truly, ask me if I care...AND DON'T!!

Get the word NUN-YA in your vocabulary, people!!!! It may hurt a few feelings, but it keeps folks' noses out of places they shouldn't be. I mean, some people need to get a hobby for goodness sake!

I really do try to limit what I say to so-called friends and associates. Even my bestests are sometimes guilty of talking too much, as am I on occasions. But shit, for the most part I can trust them both with my inner most secrets, and dare I tell theirs.

But these folks I'm in school with now...

HA...

Only a few I trust with my business, and not necessarily because they won't tell, but because they don't judge or scrutinize my behavior. They offer solutions, advice, or encouraging words and leave it at that.

On the other hand, you have those who seem sincere when getting into your business, but turn right back around and discuss it with associates, aquaintances, classmates, parents, sisters, brothers, cousins.......etc.

Don't...and I mean DON'T EVEN! So yeah, as I get older I am learning more and more to guard my tongue. What I say not only has the potential to mess me up, but others as well. I began to learn this lesson at age 12, and every year I get better and better at it. I used to be flip-mouthed and would TELL ALL...but now, I choose my words wisely before I speak, or say nothing at all. The times that I have spoken prematurely have landed me DRAMA or an ass-whooping (not really...and never from a peer. The only hands to ever be laid on me were those of my parents), SO...

And don't be fooled. Being in a sorority does not mean telling your business to sorors...Don't discuss with them what you wouldn't discuss with an acquaintance if you're not comfortable with them like that. Oh and keep SORORITY business JUST THAT! Business, Business, Business, PEOPLE!

If you ain't got none, get some! I'm OUT!

WTF...naw really...what the fuck?!

What is going on?!?! I want to talk about these two guys I know...and their issues...and I hope they never find this (at least no time soon..), but I mean, what's wrong? I guess I won't focus so much on them as I don't wanna cause no drama or confusion.

I guess the topic I want to touch on is why can't these hopeless mofos just enjoy being single? Now before you think I'm being cold and heartless, let me explain...

I have this male friend (who will remain anonymous) who is always telling me about his latest relationship endeavors. No matter how much I express to him that maybe, just maybe I don't give a damn, he still manages to drop me a line on facebook telling me what's going on. Now it wouldn't bother me so much, normally...but my problem with him is...I'll tell him stuff and give him advice from a female's perspective as a genuine friend, and he (and another guy I know) will take that info and basically shit on it. They do not take heed, and frankly I'm tired of wasting my damn breath!

Case 1: Dude, don't keep coming to me tellin me that you met this girl and you think she's the one. Save that shit for someone who cares. You should know by now that I just don't give a fuck! I asked him today, HOW ARE U SO SURE THIS GIRL IS THE ONE??? Didn't you just kick one off the team a couple of days ago...you said she was the one too...Get your shit straight, or just stop coming to me with this mess.

But I think I know what his issue is...and I mentioned this in a previous post...this guy feels that (thinks that) if he tells me about what all girls he's talking to, all the females he's pulling and the play he's getting and all that shit...that i'll get jealous or some shit and start liking him...NEWSFLASH BOO, I stopped being like that BEFORE I met you! WOW! And he still hasn't caught on. And I am determined not to fall for him, because doing so would be settling for less. I'm sorry, but these things I'm saying would be also said to his face. I have no qualms about that! But yeah, he thinks he has me pegged, but he is oh so wrong.

I've been single for nearly 3 years, and he's been on-again-off-again with a whole bunch of broads. I haven't come crying to his ass yet and don't plan on it.

Case 2: I love this guy to death, I really do. And what's endearing is that he's like a little brother to me (or younger brother, my "little brother" is literally little--7 yrs old). I really feel like my words of wisdom can do this guy some good, right? Well, he's in a situation with a highly detested female on our campus (not saying I DETEST her, but she works my nerves on a constant basis). He's liked her since the moment he laid eyes on her, he also fell in love with her wild/loud/crazy personality I'm supposing. But I mean, she's shot him down since day one of his expressions of love for her, and our 2nd year into school she is still treating him like shit, if not worse than before.

And so he comes to me and two other amigas for words of advice, encouragement, opinions. We, seeing the pain this GIRL is causing him, tell him to leave her alone and move on...does he listen? NOOOPE! And I mean, we've broken shit down for him and everything, but for whatever reason, he can't seem to lose that grip. Well, I finally told him I'm tired of voicing my opinions on the situation (more like advice), and it falling on deaf ears. Sure opinions are opinions and mostly one-sided but in his situation, It's not like I'm telling him to do anything that I think will cause him pain or suffering (in the long run). But I mean, he'd rather endure that long-term pain and neglect than go ahead and be thru with her, chunk deuces, hurt a little and then start looking for someone who will truly make him happy. I told him I'm through with THAT situation and I will not be offering anymore WORDS on the subject. But because I haven't given up hope on him totally, I will listen to anything else...deeming that it doesn't end up like this here situation.

Which leads me to my final point. Why the hell can't these dudes just enjoy single life? What the hell is wrong with being single? ESPECIALLY IF UR SHIT NEVER SEEMS TO BE IN PLACE WHEN U ARE WITH SOMEONE!!! They bitch and moan about being alone, but don't know the first thing about being truly committed to someone and how to maintain a relationship (not saying I do, but I have an idea). It seems as if these dudes want to have their cake and eat it too, and buddy...maybe in real life that's how it works, but metaphorically that shit doesn't fly too often.

I can't say I'm ready to make that leap to Committment Land, yet. I HAVE A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW...that's why I make the situation clear with anyone who has an interest in me that I am mutally interested in. I just wanna cuddle, watch movies, chill, laugh, take walks, maybe go out sometimes-type thing with you. I don't necessarily have to be your girl...but it needs to understand that we're "something" (again...a whole 'nother post). I gotta get these grades so I can make this money; when things start to slow down, then we can settle down, ya know? EVERYBODY IS BUSY (or should be), and if you ain't I can't deal! SORRY! This type of situation sets the tone and foundation for the rest of a pretty decent, if not beautiful courtship and possibly long term relationship. But maybe I'm just living in a damn fantasy world. But seems like I got a better grip on reality than some of these mofos...ANYWAYZ...

People need to learn how to love self, before they can love someone else. Case 1 does not fully love himself, because if he did, he'd have confidence in himself (something that I find attractive), and he would have BEEN told me that he liked me. Who knows (then) what would have happened? But his ways disgust me so badly today, that he has a snowy chance in hell that I'd see what's up with him. He's the main one that needs to chill the fuck out and take some self-help/love/discovery classes! DAMN!

Case 2 doesn't love himself either, because if he did, he'd know that he's worth a hell of a lot more that that bitch gives him credit for. He'd know that he has something to offer to a girl and that she obviously doesn't see it and therefore is not deserving of him. He'd know how to decipher real from fake and who is for and against him. A TRUE friend will tell you the mother fucking TRUTH...point...blank...period. And when it comes to guy friends I don't really feel anything is at stake so I let it all out. (With girls, it's different, shouldn't be but that's another post in itself).

I promise you I tear into Case 1's ass every chance I get, because he says some of the most stupid shit and THESE DAYS tries to justify it (weakly, but nonetheless). I don't buy it tho, bro. And I mean, I'm calling this brand of truth TOUGH LOVE...I love them niggas, but they are extremely foolish when it comes to matters of the heart. I don't want to see them hurt, but a lot of the pain and anguish they experience are brought on by bad decisions and choices on their part. Very rarely do they follow my advice...

Oh and recently Case 1 came to me with a success story (so I thought). He had actually taken my advice (so it seemed, but he took stuff I said and twisted it to fit his situation...he didn't actually do what I said). Ultimately things didn't work out, cuz the girl wasn't for him in the beginning. He can't blame it on me because he started dating chick a wk after meeting her....whatever...

Word to the wise: take time to get to know some of these girls before you start getting all excited or boosting up they're heads about what you can/will do for them. In the end, the time it takes for you to get to know them and figure them out will be well worth it when you have that "ultimate" prize on your arms" --this goes for ladies too!

And I'm out!

Black & on the Beach

So I took my vacation last week, and trust me, it was much needed! I only visited this blog once and I see I have some maintanence issues to tend to. *sigh* Although this vacation was much needed and deserved, I felt uncomfortable about 55% of the time I was there.

Now my family and I have journeyed to Orange Beach for 6+ years, and have lodged in the Phoenix properties for all but one of those years. Each year has in turn presented a new problem to me but with the same background. YT (whitie) don't want us there! But I'm forever like WTF?! That beach we go to is a public mother fuckin beach and no one has the right to THINK we're not supposed to be there. You can think that shit, but it ain't gone get you no where...

Anyway, Gulf Shores, and especially Orange Beach is full of people who don't like blacks. I mean, you should have seen the looks on their faces when my family showed up at a location they probably thought blacks would never be able to find or afford. Well, GOTCHA BITCH! We came in full effect (20+ deep) and stayed in those expensive ass condos for a whole 8 days...We all ain't on welfare, in jail, or dead!!! We work hard to do it big, and I know for a fact my family has worked their ass off to earn that damn vacation! We start saving for the next year's vacation right after getting back from the previous.

Man, when we got to POB II, we had YT folk staring, glaring, and gauking. Little YT kids were looking frightened...lookin like they were gonna piss their pants. My folks wanted to get loud and reckless right there, but I and a few others insisted that we ignore and avoid them all together. To no avail, however! And now I realize that running away from the problem would have been a cop-out and a waste of a perfectly good vacation. I was not about to stay locked up in 307 the whole trip.

Me, being non-confrontational, I stayed "in my place" until that fateful Tuesday night when one of them lil YT mother fuckers thought they was gonna get smart. Me and my two cousins were in the pool still swimming (the adults had already gone up to the condo). I was back-floating and next thing I know, I hear one of my cuz's go "OUCH!" I lift up immediately and I see my cousins looking up, so I do the same. Tell me why two lil YT boys are up on the top floor of the property, throwing shit down into the pool at us...YOU KNOW THEIR FOLKS WERE PROLLY UP THERE RAGGIN ON US (prolly since Sunday when we first got there)! It's at this point all hell in me broke the fuck loose. I was trying to keep my cool despite the looks and snide remarks, but damnit if that shit didn't send me over the edge!

I could tell the lil muhfuckas were young, probably between ages 7-9. I saw them looking content like, "Yeah we scared those niggers!". I rolled my eyes so hard I swear they could have rolled right out of my damn head! My cuz Chell (17) went on a cussing tyrade (all kinds of "fuck this and mother fuckin that") as I got my ass out the pool. The water wasn't cooling me down any more. I'm actually glad Chell cussed out loud for the YTs to hear, because I believe up to this point they felt like we were what...*gasp* scared of them or something? BITCH PLEASE! Once I started cussing it was all my cousins could do to stop me.

What really got me 38 hot was when I heard one of the lil mother fuckers say, "Ay YOU"...

First of all, bastard, my name ain't no damn "AY YOU", neither is that either of my cousins' names. GET OFF...leave the racism to your parents...and I WISH their folks would have started some shit. I would have made my way right up there to 812 and kicked some pale ass! When that fucker said, "AY you" I knew that he KNEW what he had done and that he was trying to egg the situation on further like the little jackass that he is.

So we (my cousins and I) are cussing and fussing amongst ourselves (my cuzs are still in the pool), when this nice white lady comes up and asks if we were having problems, and if someone had thrown something at us (she saw us looking up). We explained the situation to her and she seemed genuinely concerned. Her words were, "You shouldn't take that crap!" And by crap I assume she meant racism. But be for real lady, there's only so much we could have done. She insisted that we report the little bastards and we did (but I heard nothing else of the incident, whether they had been reprimanded or whatever). She was one of the few nice openminded people we met this year while in the area. We met these two lil white girls the day before and they were cool, but the last day we saw them, they acted like they didn't see or even know us... But I figure since another black family had arrived on that same Tuesday (we saw them last on Wednesday) the little girls probably felt we all looked the same and opted to save themselves the embarrassment by thinking the family was us.

But my case in point is that regardless of these people's feelings towards us being at "their" vacation spot, we paid our money to be there just like some of them did. We didn't win the trip and we ain't never been on no fuckin time share, so they can GET OFF!!! My fuckin money is green just like theirs and I can spend it just as well as any of them can! My mother fuckin blood is red JUST likes theirs, as well. Let my anatomy teacher (who is white) tell it, we are 99.9% THE SAME! The only difference (if you want to call it that) is the pigment and tone of our skin. And bitch, if you hate my skin color so much, why is it that half of these muhfuckas run to the sun or a tanning bed to GET LIKE ME??! HUH? And don't give me that shit about, "the sun is good for you" BULL SHIT! Some of y'all can't get enough, and it gives most of y'all skin cancer...where's the benefit in that?

Wise the fuck up and let go of this 1500s-1950s slave master mentality! Black folk done came up in the world and if that means that we'll be frequenting your lil precious beaches, then mother fucker, so be it. Get used to it and get over it! We'll be back, same time, same place. Mark your calanders so you can avoid us! :-P

Disclaimer: this post is not aimed at all white people in general, but the racist mother fuckers (patrons and condo staff) who frequented the Phoenix on the Bay II this past week. If you feel hurt or embarrassed by my words, please remember that they are just that...my words, thoughts, and opinions. If you don't like what I write, for future reference, I suggest you keep it moving...

--SHY

Update on the "READ A BOOK" Situation

Well, not really an update, but remember how I said I was browsing thru some GW Bush pics? Well, I found something that disturbed the hell outta me. Now, because he's our President, I automatically give/ or had given him respect, and honestly did not think he was THAT DUMB until just recently (2006). I am aware of a lot of the mistakes he and his administration have made in running this country, but I didn't know it was THIS BAD! All I can say, is come January 20, 2009, if you (as in readers of this blog) are/were a supporter of Bush, be ready to be offended, because I am going to let his dumb ass have it! I'm sorry...his stupidty has breeched new levels, in my eyes. I will probably be dedicating a post a day to him for a whole week leading up to 1/20/09...*sigh* it's a damn shame. But Imma save my rant for then.

Now, to my point...I don't know when this picture was taken, may have been years ago, but I'm just now seeing it, and I'm over here shaking my head.

click on the picture to make it bigger

I don't care if this picture is old, and true enough dumb mistakes like this may have been less frequent over the years. But it doesn't erase the fact that he had the damn book upside down!! I'm not one to just criticize someone for nothin. People make mistakes, and really I just wanted to post evidence of his stupidity. I'm sure someone informed him that he had the book upside down...but are you telling me he was looking at the kid so hard that he didn't notice? Okay...you're not there to stare at a kid, man...

I'm just sayin, I agree with the whole message of READ A BOOK, and who it's trying to target, but we all need to understand that a message such as this needs to reach broader audiences (whites, blacks, hispanics, and asians). And maybe that is also READ A BOOK's intention (though I believe it's initial intentions were to target the black community). Like I said, it may be an old pic, and I'm not saying Dubya can't read...but this picture sends a bad message and it is loud and clear. Do better in 2008, America. My voter registration card came in on Monday or Tuesday. Best believe I will be filling that bih out and voting Nov '08. I encourage you all to do the same.

But anyway...I just thought I'd share this gem. They'll be more soon. 'Til then!

** Disclaimer: The only relevance this picture has to the READ A BOOK song is that Bush is holding a book...and it's fuckin upside down...:-(

Shallow side of Me: What I Usually Look for In A Guy (physically)

1) Light-skinned boys (this is totally a preference and subject to change, cuz I honestly like them in ALL SHADES!) make me wanna drop my draws (lol, for real, but only the cute ones). And I haven't met too many UGLY light-skinned guys. I mean I know they're out there, but then again I don't know many light-skinned dudes to begin with. And the only reason a few of them might be ugly to me is if they're light and SHORT (something about that is not very attractive, imo, but I have made an exception in the past--only to get slighted! Darn those short, light muhfuccas [except you RM and GS]!!).

2) Average-to-tall height. This means they are taller than me (I'm 5'4), but no taller than 6'6. I can't do nothin over that, cuz I'm naturally drawn to "shorties" (5'6-5'8) anyway. But some tall dudes, like this one basketball player at school (WHOOO) do it for me!

3) Built or a little meat on the bones. I don't do obese, and I'm just keeping it real. I'm not completely in shape, and by a doctor's standards I may infact be "obese", but I look no where near it. If anything, I'm "thick" (size 10-12, and have a big bust), so that puts me around 140-155 mark...hate it or love it, baby girl got something to hold on to. But I really really love musuclar and toned "slim" dudes. I don't like meat-heads or bean poles (EWWWW). And I love "chubby" boys too, but you gotta carry that shit WELL, and have a CUTE face (no Sean Kingston). I'm really not that picky. If some of you saw who I find "attractive", you'd probably slap me and ask me am I blind. But sometimes personality wins them over for me!

4) Big hands and feet. I know that sounds funny and stereotypical, but I don't want to date someone whose feet are smaller than mine. I've been dealt a bad hand which included size 10 feet (snicker all you want muhfuccas). But my hands are small and dainty :-). Just please have appendages that are larger than mine, that's all I ask.

5) ALL OF YOUR TEETH!!! Nuff said

6) Good hair (as in waves, braids, or dreds) is very attractive to me. My friend EB has the cutest hair. When it grows it gets really curly, but when he cuts it, NATURAL WAVES appear. Not too much brushin fa my boo! Braids imo, are getting played the fucc out, especially on GROWN MEN! Take them shits down and get some twists or dreds. Worn correctly, I believe dreds and twists look more professional than braids, anyway! And I'd love to run my fingers through a guys hair...that shit is sexy, IMO!!!

7) Guys with a MEAN LIP GAME! It's not hard to find a black guy with big juicy, succulent lips...just make sure they stay that way, fellas! And lick them often, cuz that shit is a KILLER!! I promise!!

8) Pretty eyes. Everybody ain't blessed with hazels, greys, or even color contacts...so I label this as a plus.

There's this one guy that I KNOW fits every one of my criteria, including the eyes and naturally wavy hair...he's light skinned and JUST THE RIGHT HEIGHT!! But guess what ladies....



Naw, he's not gheigh (gay for slow folks)....


HE HAS A GIRL! HELL!!!! But man, he looked at me during Church this past Sunday, with those green-hazel eyes...and I MELTED! We were separated by my play-play "brother", and both asking him at the same time what Bible verse the pastor had just called out...WHOOO...I wanted to die!

SB...look me up if YOU EVER become interested. I'll drop everything and we can hook up and hang out! (LOL...) But yeah, I might be missing something, but oh well, who cares. Every guy is different, and where one is lacking in a certain area, he probably makes up for it in the others...

**AND THIS IS JUST APPEARANCE-WISE....
Cuz guess what folks, no matter what anybody says, you don't see somebody's PERSONALITY, VALUES, MORALS, OR BELIEFS FIRST...you see their outside. Whether or not you get to know them for who they are determines if they are beautiful, sexy, and attarctive to you on the inside as well. When I see someone and they're "fine"...yeah, that catches my attention...but can they keep it...cause looks alone, JUST WON'T DO!


And with that, I'm out (for now...) "Peace be still."

Michael muhfuccin Ealy (wit his fine self)!!!

READ A BOOK

How many of us can honestly say we read books? *raises hand* I do...I mean, not very often, but I am reading one now...(embarrassed to say I've been on the same page for about a week due to being lazy). There was a time when I couldn't keep a book out of my hand, would skip meals to read, and write my own stories--pretending that they would soon be published in some kind of series. I LOVE BOOKS!

But As I got older, I started reading less and less, opting to play a video game, talk on the phone, watch TV, and as of late, surf the net. I've picked up quite a few books over the past year and not been able to finish ONE of them. I always get close...but...

Well, there's a recent controversy concerning this very subject and it has a lot of black folks fuming at the intended message and the way it was delievered.

Bomani Armah, educator, activist, and poet is the mastermind behind one of BET's most controversial videos to hit air: READ A BOOK.

The premise is set up like your average "Lil Jon" video, but with a twist. It's animated. There are guns, cursing, animated video girls, and the like through out the video, and it all seems to be pointing back to the prevelance of these kinds of things in todays hip hop and rap videos.

I've discussed this topic many times on the BET message boards, and I will stand by my initial belief that this video is GENIUS, and was NECESSARY!!!...

I will post some of the ignorant comments toward the video, and follow them with educated and open-minded responses from other BET forum users...sit tight and get ready to "read my little book"...on this controversy.

Ignorant response #1: My family and I just watched the "read a book" video and I thought it was the most shocking and offensive video I ever saw produced and programmed by a company that "serves" the black community. HOW did this video ever get the green light. Or was this video designed to shock some sense in us. To shock our kids how about showing rappers like KrsOne,Talib Kweli, Immortal technique to uplift our kids instead what we witness daily on your network. Don't tell me that the above rappers doesn't fit your demographic. Just program their video's down our throat like you do the rest of the videos you play. As responsible adults our job is intelligently stimulate our kids,not dumb them down. Don't blame the rappers blame our weakness as adults, business leaders and community leaders. Thank God for TV ONE.

Open-minded response: The video was great. A reflection of BET. Anyone who found this offensive must not watch BET much. Nothing is more offensive than the trash they show ech day on 106 and BET all together. The 106 hosts can dance and applaud songs that are degrading to women, but they were in shock when a video with a concept was shown. That is sad.

Ignorant response #2: What is really going on on bet today? I really don't understand why we have cartoon type videos talking about read a book with a black female shaking her behind with "book" written on it and a whole bunch of cursing going on in the song. What kind of message is being put across the minds of our black people and the children’s minds for the most part! it is summer time and kids are home from school and they choose to watch bet and they see that provocative video ("Read a book") and some other bet commercial that I just seen about a man in a store naked showing customers two mirrors and moving the mirrors which reveals his private parts. I think that, that is beyond disgusting. This is bringing me to believe why white people look at us the way that they do! Because these people in the commercials represent us as black people! Now I’m only 17 and I feel betrayed by my own people! Imagine what my elders and ancestors feel like? Knowing that they went through so much just to get us to be able to read a book and now look what we have come to?

Open-minded response: Sometimes the truth hearts BAD, and in this case, people rather try and ignore the hurt and fight through it for the perpose of self satisfaction, meaning, these kids & some of the so called grown ups will not accept the fact that the rap videos and some hip hop videos are destroying the culture today. Instead of facing reallity, they choose to call it entertainment and that's it. Now, as far as this video and the perception people have of it, it's confusing, I can't believe how many people say they hated it, when they see it everyday in other forms, Oh, because it uses more curse word? Or should I say BLEEPS. Any record that requires you to have to bleep out words just shouldn't be played. But I love the concept of the video, the idea, and the controversy it is causing. The entertainment business is full of modern day slaves that don't know they are slaves. So like Harriet Tubman says,,," I have freed 1000's of slaves, and could have freed many more if only they knew they were slaves". I stay on these boards, and have been for a whole year telling people that BET is just bad for kids, and getting worst, I thank this gentleman for bringing this message straight to 'em.

Ignorant response #3, 4, 5: WHAT THE HECK!!!!! That is obscene, and pathetic that someone would create a song to get kids to do positive things, but include sexually explicit images and language that shouldn't be in that song, knowing who the song was directed to. The theme was good, but the presentation was trash. This was probably meant to be a good message, but think about the message that was actually sent. Yours truly, Genesis M.

WHAT A NEGATIVE IMAGE! I FEEL THAT IT VERY WAS DEROGATORY AND STEREO TYPE THE BLACK COMMUNITY. ALL THE PROFANITY AND BOOTY SHAKING WAS VERY NEGATIVE. HOW CAN YOU SHOW THAT VIDEO TO KIDS AS BEING EDUCATIONAL? IT REALLY SHOW HOW IGNORANT SOME PEOPLE CAN BE. IT SEEM TO ME THAT THE MESSAGE PORTRAYED WAS THAT WE AS BLACK PEOPLE ONLY ARE EDUCATED IN GUN PLAY, BOOTY SHAKING, AND PRISON LIFE. THAT VIDEO SHOULD NEVER BE PLAYED AGAIN. LYDRELL N, BAMA.

To all of the employees that work at BET and especially MY BROTHERS AND SISTAS: I just have one question, “Does anyone actually watch the videos before allowing them to be aired on NATIONAL TV????? I mean come on people if that doesn’t scream stereotype I don't know what does. As a proud member of the African-American race I felt very disrespected, embarrassed and most of all betrayed by the only one television station that has the ongoing reputation of representing our race to the highest altitude, but instead you allow this "video" to be aired. TO THE CEO AND ALL EMPLOYEES OF BET I HOPE YOU HAVE RELIAZED THE REFLECTION YOU HAVE INSTILLED ON YOURSELF AND THE REFLECTION YOU HAVE ALLOWED TO BEEN SEEN BY OTHER CONCERNING OUR RACE.

Open-minded responses:

This video was necessary for us to make a change. I liked this video because it got a reaction. The reaction isnt a positive one..but its one that we have to take notice of. The purpose of the video was to bring attention to the idiocy of it all. All it took was a change in medium and some exaggeration to get everyone riled up when in reality we've been watching videos of this nature for some time now. We should be pissed off! Thats the purpose! This isnt who we are! And the truely sad part is.our next generations are growing up to this..Its our duty to change that.
You cannot be mad at the video,..you can only be mad at rappers who created this stereotype because without them this video would not have been possible. There are plenty of videos like this out there. Its all around us!.
All in all..This video is an exaggeration of how hip hop can be. Violence, constant profanites, alcoholism, womenizing, materialism and ignorance. Are we going to let this become the norm?..or will we let the big media kno we dont want to be portayed as people that encourage this? Hate it or love it...the video made its point.

LOL this is causing some uporar eh? first off - this video is nothing but social satire and euphamism done at it's best. second: I loved the video third: why? because i found that d'mite is getting his message accross to the targeted audience. NO not only black people watch BET, and the hegonomy of BET has extended itself to a ridiculous level. Don't restrict or tarnish your arguments based on race. What the video is directed and intended to do is change the hegomony and dominant influence of negative rap and misinformed hip hop "rap" culture. I don't understand why everyone is taking offense to a video that is nothing but a response. Ignorance will breed responses that require adressing. This video is EXACTLY that. Many of you argue that this video is a TERRIBLE way of promoting the virtue of education, because young kids will get offended by the language and profanity. OR that it will do nothing POSITIVE for our community because it perpetuates these "negative" steroetypes about black people. But when 50 cent comes on about his amuesent park singing about Sex using his "magic stick" in euphamism ya'll bump your heads and look the the other way. FACE THE FACTS, BET has done absoultely NOTHING positive to shape the conception of black ethnicity. It is a network, like fox, like BBC, like MTV or anything else = it is designed not to promote ideals, but to MAKE MONEY. ALL these new rappers on here makin money glorifiying false virtue should be directed some attention. But when this guy televises a video (satire BTW) that does nothing but expose the harshness of our realities, everyone jumps on the racist and ANTI black train! if anything, this is the most positive thing to Hit BET IN YEARS! The message is simple; reduce consumerism, make intelligent decions, reduce dependancy, increase productivity, increase self sufficiency and enterprise, and take steps to improving your mind. ANYONE Will know that education sparks informitive decison and thought. As an artist, d'mite can only hope that the audience will intrepret it correctly (just like any other artist). Take what you will, but arguments such as "it's contradicitory to black"; "it's got curse words", "it's bad for kids".....ARE SIMPLY REFUTED; because of the other *73* that BET loves to keep on high rotation. High rotation so they make HIGHER dollars, so that leaks on to clubs so THEY make higher dollars. BET, because it has a network has NO responsibility to promote value, its sole purpose is to create wealth in free market. Think about why you are offended by this video; then ask yourself why you aren't writing letters to BET for misinforming black people or people in general with the BS they regularly air. OH and BTW; 50 cents original's can be find on limewire UNCENSORED. so get off the tip.

and the mother of them all:

not only have seen the READ A BOOK video, I was around for the inception of the song. First let me say, that the artist Bomani Armah is an EDUCATOR, ACTIVIST, ARTIST, FATHER, HUSBAND COMMUNITY LEADER AND OVER ALL EXTREMELY INSIGHTFUL and INTELLIGENT brother who I would tell ALL young men to listen to, learn from and emulate. He is also a CRITICAL THINKER. Which clearly most of the people on this site are not. I am not shocked by this after all these are folks who regularly watch 106 & Park. However, as a friend of Bomani's and his family I have to say I AM BAFFLED at the lack of insight we have. The fact that we are appalled by cursing but not appalled by the low aspirations of our children who only want to emulate these rappers, athletes and N*gg'as who make it RAIN on B*thces is saddening. Children who spend the entire day after school (if they went at all) staring at THESE VIDEOS. If your child were not spending every waking hour tuned into BET this video would probably be a lot less interesting them. IF YOUR CHILD IS WATCHING BET UNSUPERVISED, YOU MIGHT BE A BAD PARENT! IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SEE THAT EVERYTHING AIRED on BET NOT ONLY CONTAINS THE SAME “LANGUAGE” AS READ A BOOK BUT ALSO INSTRUCTS YOUR KIDS TO NOT READ A BOOK BUT "BUY HER A DRINK, GET HER DRUNK AND TAKE HER HOME" OR POP, DROP AND LOCK IT OR MAKE IT RAIN ON SOME *27*ES IN A STRIP CLUB, YOU MIGHT BE A STUPID PARENT. IF YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT THIS VIDEO AND HAVE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT IT, YOU MIGHT BE AN IRRESPONSIBLE PARENT.
The video was meant to shine a light on the contradictions we embrace as a community. The point was, " How unfortunate that the only way to infuse a message of substance in our culture is to wrap it in HO's, *27*es, and Rims. But we have created that. We have allowed it to permeate our televisions, our radio stations, and our children’s brains. Now if we want to teach them the alphabet we should line up some strippers, bend them over and spray paint it across their bouncing asses! OF COURSE, IT IS SATIRE. Let me define SATIRE for those who do not know what it means:
Satire: the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to attack the vices and follies of humankind
People who are taught to be critical thinkers, understand subtext; understand what something is saying without them actually saying it, understand this point. The video wasn't for them it was FOR YOU! School teacher who doesn't even get it. The reason our kids listen to the current crap that exists on the radio is because we have failed to teach them CRITICAL THINKING skills. They don’t understand subtext. Which is why you can’t say I need Sexual Healing, like Marvin Gaye. You have to say, “I want to *8* you, On the Floor” like Akon or the following excerpt from the Number 4 song on Billboards HOT 100 “A BAY BAY:
She Trying To See Where Imma Be.You Gonna Let Me Get Up InYour Mouth Well Dats Where Imma Beyou gon let me get up in your mouthwell thats where imma beI Don't Pop Trunk Wit Lights DatsWhere Dey Choppa Be. Straight To The HotelDone Fell Out In Da Dance FloorAnd Now I can't get upJs On Your Feet But You Cant Get TheseLouis Vatton brown White, And Yellowtrick pleaseIll Go To Saint Louis Let My Chain Hang LowCanary Yellow Diamonds Mixed Wit Rose GoldI Shine Real Bright In Da Light Because Im A Star8 Shots Of Patrons Now I'm Standin' on Da BarProbably Get Drunk as a skunkN put da keys in da wrong carAll Da Bad Chick Followin' Me
Now let’s ignore the fact that I haven’t seen English dialect like this since the first slave learned to write back in 1798, nevertheless, good sweet kind Hurricane Chris never curses but he has by the end of this song fellated the girl or several girls at the club, purchased a small home worth of jewelry (at a cost that the average LEGAL income does not allow for) and then proceeds to get very drunk and drive home in the WRONG CAR! BUT THANKS FOR NOT CUSSING CHRIS!!!!! Way to go!
PLEASE PEOPLE, teach your children. Teach them what satire means. Teach them to be people who are capable of ANALYZING THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN,THE VIDEOS THEY WATCH, THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND WHAT THEY ARE BEING TOLD TO BELIEVE ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR CULTURE, and THEIR COMMUNITY. Puppets only listen and don’t think. Stop raising puppets! And in the words of my favorite NOT A RAPPER. READ A BOOK, READ A BOOK, READ A FUTHAMUCKIN BOOK!!!

myspace.com/sonyareneeisreal
www.sonyareneeis.com

Big ups to Sonya for keeping it REAL for REAL and dropping that knowlede. My comments only reiterate their statements. But people need to stop bitchin and moaning and realize that a mirror is being put up to our faces...and like I told this one girl..."Just like kids are watching READ A BOOK, they are at the house watching 'Buy U a Drank', 'Shawty', 'Amusement Park', 'Coffee Shop' etc....you tell me what's the difference..."

For those of you who haven't seen the R.A.B. video, I'm pretty sure it's on Youtube (and not goin anywhere any time soon). It's also on BET's webpage and I believe there may be a link to his myspace page in Sonya's response.

And with that...I'm OUT!