Lately

  

Nah, this aint the beginning of a Stevie Wonder song but latey I've been having the strangest... umm funny things been happening to a brotha. Seems like I'm always running into folks who just want to tell me something. Maybe this is something that's gonna turn into a weekend ritual. A complete stranger opening up, telling me stuff and me having absolutely no idea why they chose me.. Last weekend was Raymond who I actually enjoyed chilling with at Starbucks. This past Saturday it was Yvette at the gas station. Thanks to a very slow chick behind the counter unable to figure out how much change to give someone, Yvette who stood next to me simply started talking... I saw her when she walked up. I looked at her for a few reasons. One was that she looked like a female wrestler with way too much muscle. Two was that she was showing a lot of cleavage. Three was that her face was so manly-like and her lipstick looked like she put it on blindfolded... And the main reason I looked at her was that she walked up and stood right beside me rather than behind me as most folks would do standing in line. I was almost about to give her that "WTF" look but despite her having too much muscle, her boobs looked soft so that caught my eye for a moment..lol. *smile*

Anyway, Yvette just started talking. She told me she had just come from a wedding and that the groom kept his eyes on her rather than the woman he was to marry. She said the groom even followed her to the bathroom at one point and let her know that he wanted her. Yvette was at the wedding because she's a friend of the bride. She said she couldn't stay at the reception for fear of messing things up. She looked at me and said in a dumb blondish sort of way, "I dont know why he was acting that way, geez!" The lady behind the counter approached so I said "I'll have twenty on number eleven, please..."

"Eleven on twenty?"

"Nah, twenty on eleven!" And then I replied to Yvette before walking away. "Perhaps next time you should wear a turtleneck, some long pants and an overcoat."

As I walked away she asked "is my dress not right for a wedding?"

"What dress?"

You could see her thong through the fabric of the dress and it had one string around the waist which made it look more like a skimpy outfit for bedtime. One pull of the string and that dress would open completely... Who's gonna be next to tell me something that makes me ponder the question "why did they just tell me that?"

Wait

  

I saw this brotha watching with envy a man and woman in the distance as he waited. I took the shot from my car and then pulled over a few blocks down to write the words that grabbed my attention...

Love makes you wait, unsatisfied like the morning dew drops that wont stop hitting your car. It blurs your vision. It's beautiful yet scrapes you deep enough to leave a scar. Something so lovely; a million miles dont even seem that far. It keeps you waiting no matter the struggle or the pain you go through. Proving yourself like you should be ashamed of something untrue. Like holding a mirror when there's nothing out of place. Seeking advice after you've proven to be strong; surviving unnecessary games. You wait because it's time. It would be nice to live again... Not unlike the love of a good friend, but more.. Like that good shit that makes you feel as close to wanting to confess a sin. That merry-go-round of life when you feel so high.. even with your eyes closed you can still see the sky.. Lean back for now and wait... Wait because you know you want to...

You

  

It wasn't you.. I knew that from the start. You with the three kids and a life with another man, spread so far apart. What we had was beautiful but friendship is all it was meant to be. If we were together you'd get tired of me. I'd need much more than you could give.. Time... be it in short intervals that placed emphasis on the kind of romance that a brotha like me needs to live... Together we are not capable; compatible...at least not in that way... So, offended by words you slid away mysteriously.. Kicked me to the curb so gently.. stopped caring so easily... so easily which is sad..almost hypocritically....thus... It wasn't you..

The one is out there looking for me unconsciously... The one whose heart mirrors my own. The one who right now is finishing every thought I make. Listening to every word I say because even without words, we speak the same way... She knows me.. she's the reason these words flow from the top of my head, tippy toeing from the bottom of my heart...

It wasn't you... the one who shared more with me than anyone else I've ever known. The one who I convinced myself would be the kind of love I could forever call my own. The one who believes she was born many lives ago in a place she knew nothing about until I took her there... Eating meat pies and walking amongst the spirits, you'd have to discover humility, sacrifice, and selfless-ness in order to truly hang with those people. No mood swings 'cause the moon is full. No trippin 'cause you cant force another to pay for what you owe.. The kind of love you want from one man and one man alone is easy... You got rid of the one who could... thus it wasn't you...

The one knows my eyes, she can read my soul...tell if I'm lonely, the kind of lie that feels old. She knows my shirt size, favorite color, what makes me laugh the hardest. She knows what makes me cry, what makes me tired...She knows the words that can put out my fire.. She represents everything I want but have yet to see.. She recognizes what's in my heart, my soul, and everything I believe.. She can embrace with a passion the kind of love we both crave. She'd have no worries about the responsibility of making sure I rest peacefully in my grave..

It wasn't you..the one who embraces negative change... Kick a friend to the curb because new man is insecure... I wish you well because I remember the stories, the hours, the effort to remain as friends... The times you shared family photographs on a beach front balcony with me. A night when I brought to life the very same white horse galloping through your dreams and disappearing in your heart. I showed you no matter what that sort of love was never far from your grasp...reachable...attainable... A dream is a beautiful representation of your sincerity...at least for that moment... Thus..I thank God it wasn't you but I wish you love no matter what you do... yesssss...it wasn't you...

The one laughs at me right now, trying to speak poetically, paving the way which leads me to her... Though actually, I'm not looking nor is she trying to find me. We both recognize that when it happens, it happens... When the moment is right, it's right.. It is what it is, when it is sort of thang... I thought I saw her today, laughing at me as I changed my flat tire. She said sorry. Told me I was the best looking flat tire changer she'd ever seen and then drove away in her black Escalade. But I didn't envy her. It made me laugh.. I enjoyed the moment for what it was and thus it made the frustration a lot more bearable... The one isn't waiting for me at happy hour. She's not at the movie theatre or in the bookstore. She's not on Crenshaw Blvd. She's not in Beverly Hills. She's not in another state. She's not anywhere that I can imagine but then again... she could be... maybe...perhaps..

On the set

  

Sunday I spent a little time on the real life set of a story I'm working on. It was a trip being in Compton on 108th Street, listening to the sounds of life. There was something always going on but it was a beautiful day too. It was crystal clear blue skies until a couple of fires broke out. Life over there keeps the local firemen constantly busy. I counted three times that the fire trucks were called to that street within a thirty minute time frame. Two were for an actual fire and one time was paramedic related. There was a bridge near a train track where I noticed an old pontiac trans am parked at. All of a sudden it caught on fire. The dark smoke filled the air instantly like one of those clouds before a tornado hits. The entire street was dark for a moment. It smelled like burning rubber and before you knew it, the fire trucks came rushing in. People filled the street for as long as the fire was burning. Some looking at the sky and holding their noses while others maintained their fascination with the burning car and the firemen preparing to put out the fire. Once they put it out, everyone returned back inside or behind the gates of their apartment buildings and homes. Further up the street there were a group of latino males yelling at each other and two police officers with their arms folded, standing and watching with amusement. Across the street from where I sat there was a black family, three male and one female in their front yard playing dominoes and listening to Julio G's westside radio show. Young kids would dart out into the street every once in a while just to chase a dog or a ball that got away from them. It was funny to watch this street. There was a certain rhythm to it that stayed the same until the occasional interuption occured like those fires breaking out, the fire trucks speeding by, and an occasional police car zooming by with flashing lights but no siren. The rhythm never stopped when those kids darted in and out of the street but when one lady shouted "Kenny get your ass out of that street!" everyone within earshot of her voice including the domino playing family stopped what they were doing for a few seconds to watch little Kenny walk with his head down as he returned to play behind the gate of his front yard. 108th Street was pretty cool. Absorbing the whole vibe of it in about 45 minutes time was a fun trip. I'll be back to capture more of it, visually and spiritually...

Hanging

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Listen

  

Seems to me like our past goes unheard and we forget to listen... remember...

Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black body swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh,
And the sudden smell of burning flesh!

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for a tree to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

Grandmother

  

The power of prayer is working strong.. Grandma is hanging tough.. Her last words to me today as she lay in intensive care were "be careful and I'll see you tomorrow."

God bless my grandmother, Alzata Moorings...

Avalon

  

Sometimes when eyes connect there can be an exchange between two people that renders one or both of them helpless or in this case...wanting? I pulled up to a neighborhood corner, waiting for a chance to make a right turn. The traffic was pretty heavy and parked cars to my left made it almost impossible to see when I could safely make my turn. Then as I looked to the left a strikingly beautiful young lady came into my focus. Our eyes locked; so much so that she stopped for a split second before continuing on. She smiled and then she looked down. She walked in front of my car and I watched... She had short hair, almost looking like a twenty something year old tomboy with green shorts and top to match. Her body was tight, sort of athletic looking. Her face was somewhat innocent...Her eyes were light hazel. Her skin glistened with little sweat beads due to the extreme hot temperature outside. She looked like she definitely needed to find comfort in an air conditioned room.

After passing in front of my car, she stepped up on the sidewalk and again looked in my direction. She gave me a bashful smile. I'll call her Avalon; named after the street she was walking on. The picture above is actually her, blurred out to protect her not so innocent way of life. Somebody called out to her and she turned to the left. It was an older man sitting in a beat up Toyota. That was also the moment I snapped the picture. I turned right and caught Avalon again looking at me. Our eyes connected long enough for me to say something and for her to know exactly what I said. I mouthed the word, beautiful. It froze her in her tracks as though I'd given her a shot of oxygen that she didn't know what to do with. She seemed like she wanted to cry. Maybe no one has said that to her and meant it without wanting anything but to see her take that compliment and store it some place in her heart.

That last moment as we made eye contact felt like the longest two seconds ever. I continued on as I could see Avalon in my rearview mirror. She got into the car but I'm just hoping that whatever she felt when I said that word which seemed to give her life, continued to linger inside of her long enough to force her to think about what she does with her body. What I saw in her today wont last very long as I imagine each moment after accepting a ride only deadens her spirit until there's nothing else left but to live unconsciously without any ounce of caring. Unfortunately, if she continues that's probably the best and only way for survival.
Ride safe, Avalon...

Eye on a little more...

  

The fire beneath a man that gives…

From time to time, the fire burns low.. The inspiration teeters back and forth between full blown and fizzle.. You find yourself seeking, searching; hanging in places where discovery is close to nothing. You can have fun; yes. You find the kind of rhythm that puts a smile on your face with lust splattered against the walls of your mind but you never exit feeling fulfilled… You hang in locales where the decibels are high and all that glitters holds you down long enough to keep you busy for the weekend but then the 9 to 5 grind returns and reminds you what’s missing… Where’s the purpose? Where’s that reason for wanting, fighting, striving, climbing, desiring that which you crave but hate to admit even to yourself that you crave this? And then you see the reason walking by… A new spark in your lifetime journey… A little hello turns into a question mark. Her whole vibe got your mind swimming; trying to figure out the best approach as if she'd put a brand new spin on living.. You want to show her something unique that has you standout as one of those never-had-a-man-like-this-before-dream-come-true's... A challenge you sometimes ache to demonstrate as a natural born reality.. I grew up so that I could love but along the way I met tragedy, game playing, triflin behavior, selfishness, poor judgement, fantasy, and those winding curves that blur your vision leading you down highways of stupidity but not for long with a good heart and enough wisdom to put patience before desire... The waters are calm. The river is flowing.. I'm thinking clearly and soaring; lifted up by the wings of chance and determination.. I'm ready to let you know what I want, once I find you and once you show me you're brave enough to listen and wont run when you begin to feel... something... And I leave you with this feeling, hoping for the chance to continue this conversation as one heart to another...

I was thinking about you the other day and thought I would send you something that was a reflection of those thoughts...

Salute

  

A salute to my friend Kim who is making the move to Atlanta and will soon become a southern girl! I can hear the Frankie Beverly & Maze song already playing in the background. Kim got a little southern twang in her voice already but that sound comes from South Central LA! I guess she's about to add a little something extra to it pretty soon.. LA will miss her and I will too...

Q

  

I found this questionaire on the My Space page of a fabulous lady with an incredible website and warm personality... Yes indeed.. If you want some incredible music in your life, checkout HoneySoul.com! This questionaire is cool.. short and to the point.. I couldn't resist after reading Honey's responses...

The Pivot Questionnaire

1. What is your favorite word? Weird
2. What is your least favorite word? Neat
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, and physically?
Creatively: Music, art, and a flowing couple of sentences that give you a whole chapter's worth of thought...
Spiritually: Peace and connecting with a woman through conversation... Physically: Presence, voice, and a great walk...
4. What turns you off? Constant complaining to the point where I know what you're gonna say before you say it because you say the same shit every day!
5. What is your favorite curse word? Seems like shit pops up the most frequently...no pun intended...
6. What sound or noise do you love? Music, silence, a woman's voice when she's tuned in who she is, a woman moaning, and water...
7. What sound or noise do you hate? Angry voices, crying for reasons of pain, Kem singing that song that I hate..lol.. *wink*, and car horns...
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Photographer
9. What profession would you not like to attempt? Politician or anything that requires I not be real with my own reflection..
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "I'm not so sure they got it but you were the perfect example of a man that knew how to love. I enjoyed watching you on your journey through the highs and lows of each moment. You had a good heart."

How do you catch a fallen angel...

  

The door was unlocked; the living room empty. I felt a breeze from behind. It pushed me further inside. Actually, it wasn't that strong but something about that cool air caressing the back of my neck inspired me to take a few steps forward. That's when I heard music coming from one of the rooms. The cool jazzy sound was like a satin rope pulling me in the direction of where it came from. I couldn't resist. There was turmoil flowing through my veins like an uninvited guest who knew better than to step foot inside a place they'd never been before. That was me; uninvited. I didn't know why I was there but I was-there. The music was oh-so seductive, yet a little bit sad. The beat was mid tempo and yet it hypnotized you into timing your steps, carefully... The voice was familiar. It sounded as if she were singing with pain in her heart, clutching whatever she wore as if trying to rip her clothes off. She was one of those beautiful legends that you wish whoever knew her could've done something to save her... Still, inside this house I wondered who was in the room keeping company with the voice of that songstress from the past. I almost didn't want to turn the corner. I'd reached the room where the music was playing. The words of the song at that moment were "I can't take this living all alone..." and then I heard the sound of someone fighting back tears followed by the ruffling of paper. I looked inside and found a fallen angel sitting on the floor. She was releasing everything she held inside of her onto the page in front of her. I couldn't see what she was writing but I could only imagine how it echoed the sentiment of the song that filled the room. It was Phyliss Hyman's, Living In Confusion. I was at a loss myself. I didn't know what to do.. How to proceed and/or how to intrude... A moment of rescue.

A few days later I had lunch with her. We talked. Her smile was guarded. She appeared embarrassed but thankful. We parted with a hug and said goodbye. Recently, she sent me a card from North Carolina that included a picture of two kids and a man standing next to her with a smile and spirit that glowed as if he were born again. This time I was able to read her writing very clearly. She wrote:

Thank you for intruding. *smile* I'll never forget what you did for me. I know its been a while since we've been in touch but just know that you will forever remain close to my heart. Even in your silence that day as you struggled to figure out what to do, you still inspired me. I smile at the memory of your nervous hand reaching out to wipe my tears and I laugh when I think about how you warned me you were going to give me a hug as if you thought I would punch you. I've told my husband about that day and he thanks you too. Maybe one day you'll visit and we can all smile together... You could fill the empty space that would make this picture inside complete. That of a dear friend. A man who can inspire a woman to try life again. I can't thank you enough...

Sincerely,
Sabrina

All Day

  

Errrrrrr....day! Pick it up... Checkout the review below..

Saturday

  

Sat-urrrrr-day

  

Tis Saturday

  

Saturday

  

My Life

  

It's been a minute since I posted anything about the book so I wanted to share a review that came in today from Urban Books Review. This is a good example of quite a few cool reviews I've been getting despite the ONE review recently where the young lady was real mean to me and had absolutely nothing constructive to say..lol.. Thus, her mean spirited review gets filed under "T." But anyway, peep this out as I'm really enjoying the diversity of the reviews. Each person has a slightly different way of talking about my story and each person seems to point out a different scene(s) as well... This story has so much to it that no review has yet to touch on every aspect of the journey this young lady is still on(sequel in the works)and that's a good thing... Surprises keep you staying up all night. *smile*
--------------------------------------------------
Leesha Tyler’s main goal is to leave LA. She wants to leave the hopelessness of her childhood which her own mother is a part of. Leesha and her mother are always at odds especially when her mother runs after no good men. When her mother decides to move in her latest loser boyfriend, Leesha decides its time to move on and make something of herself. She wants to move to Atlanta but first she needs the cash to do it. Leesha soon comes up with a dangerous bank robbery plan and involves two of her close male friends to get the money she needs. All of those plans could change when she finds out a devastating secret about a close family member that will change her perspective on life forever.

My Life Is All I Have is a powerful novel by V. Anthony Rivers. Rivers did a masterful job in telling this story through the eyes of Leesha Tyler. I felt the frustration of Leesha about her home situation and how through it all she still wanted to make something of herself. I also felt the anger and sympathy she felt for her mother. I would love to see if Leesha makes it on her own and if her mother ever comes to her senses. This author really showed how making the right or wrong decisions can determine the path of your life. This novel has the perfect blend of grittiness and deep emotion that grabs the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go. My Life Is All I Have is gripping and insightful. V. Anthony Rivers is definitely an author on the rise.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Hustlers, Sellers, and Beggars

  

Today was the end of a beautiful weekend, especially with respect to what's going on with the literary career aka "book stuff" as I affectionately love to call it.. *smile* I had a beautiful time chatting with the PWOC Bookclub. A special wink and a smile goes out to Nellie and Toni B. for allowing me to speak with them via my publicist Marlive Harris' new fangle conference call system.. Ha haa.. It was a blast... A beautiful time... And then after all that was done, I decided to get out of the house!! Whew.. Despite the fun with the book stuff, I do love to be outside soaking up experience after experience. Its been much too hot to be couped up inside... So, as I always do, I hit the streets! I didn't have much time to enjoy the sun. Maybe an hour and a half left of sunlight that quickly faded into LA darkness. That time when a whole nother vibe comes upon the city and everything looks and feels...different..

One thing that I noticed tonight more than anything else was the amount of people on the streets and in cafe patio areas trying to get something. Trying to get paid, I suppose.. Hustlers were out and about like crazy.. One street had so much prostitute action you'd think they were giving away some kind of buy one and we'll let you have another nut on the house, so to speak. Ladies lined up on the corner and traffic at a stand still as car after car blocked the street trying to get at these ladies.. Took about fifteen minutes to get through that block which would normally take a blink of an eye to drive past on a normal night. And around the corner there was a police officer writing a traffic ticket that made me say, hmmm... Then I took a left headed down Slauson, all the way until I got to La Brea. Took another left and headed to the infamous Ladera Center to treat myself to a delicious white chocolate mocha; my favorite hot Starbucks drink that I haven't had in a couple weeks now. As I'm sitting in the cafe area, a young child no more than five or six years old walked up to me with a box of butterfingers asking if I wanted to buy one for a dollar. Mind you, she didn't look like she was selling it for her school and she appeared to be alone although I figure her parent was somewhere in the vicinity waiting for her to bring back whatever money she made. This is a little past 10:30 at night and a little kid is out selling candy to grown folks? Something wasn't right about that but on this night like I said, everybody was out trying to get something; trying to get paid.

I didn't stay out that late. I wanted to get back home and write down a few thoughts and situations for future characters to explore. I stopped by the gas station before heading home and was approached by several that wanted money. One guy looked so messed up and could barely speak but he knew how to squeeze out what sounded like "can you spare change?" Another guy approached wanting to pump my gas for some change in return. Another guy had CD's for sale. Them CD selling dudes be showing up everywhere these days.. I've encountered them at the mall, at the movie theater, the gas station, the liquor store, the stripclub, in traffic trailing behind the incense seller, the muslim selling bean pies, and the young revolutionaries dressed in fatigues asking for donations. Everybody's hustling, selling, and begging.. Nothing is for free, huh? Well, I saw this young lady waiting on the bus. I turned down my music and said "hey, I wanna give you this book, you mind?" She asked if she had to pay me for it and I told her, no. I said, "if you love it, tell somebody about it..." Her face lit up as she said "wow, are you serious? Thank you.." I drove off with a smile that matched hers. It was a great feeling to be responsible for giving somebody something good to feel about. Wasn't no hustling involved in that. Just pure sincerity though I definitely understand and feel for those who must hustle every second just to get by. This town is a shining example of hustle mania gone wild...

Happy Father's Day

  

Happy Father's Day to all and especially my own father who's no longer with us but no doubt enjoying himself in heaven, hopefully chillin with grandma and grandpa.. I pay tribute to dad as I pipe the blues all through the house, especially some of his favorite songs by Muddy Waters, Lightnin Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and that beautiful song by Etta James singing about a "sunday kind of love..." I grilled some incredible BBQ and spent most of the day working on my weekend project of removing wallpaper... It's been tough but it's been fun too. My father would be proud because he loved doing anything that had to do with remodeling and fixing up a house.. Happy Father's Day....dad..

Leave The Song Behind

  


My blogging homegirl, Bloop left me with some old memories after I read her latest entry... It was kind of funny because it totally slipped my mind why I have a natural tendency to turn the dial whenever a song by Kem comes on. I mean, even a couple months ago as I stood waiting for my white chocolate mocha at Starbucks and that very same song that Bloop mentioned(I Can't Stop Loving You) came on, a frown came over my face and I just wanted the person behind the counter to hurry up and make my damn drink. Even she commented by saying "you know it's okay to smile?" I didn't smile. I was probably doing my best Ice Cube imitation with the kind of look I had on my face. As soon as the young lady placed my drink on the counter, I scooped it up and headed out the door... Yep, I cringe whenever that song comes on... When I made it outside and could no longer hear that song, I started to laugh at myself. I remembered an old episode of Jerry Seinfeld when Kramer would always go into convulsions everytime he heard that lady's voice from Entertainment Tonight(Mary Hart). I'm not that bad but- pretty close! *smile*

Why does this happen to me? Because it reminds me of someone I USED to be with, loved, etc etc... Kem's music reminds me of her selfishness and I hate to put that on the brotha's creativity but it is what it is- to me... I'm reminded of long trips with no compromise. Times when in order to avoid seeing the ugly frown that she was always too good at displaying on her forehead and in her eyes, I would let her have her way. She'd take over the CD player and put in Kem. Then she would need to hear the entire CD again... and again... The only break I'd get would be when she'd put in Jaheim.. I like Jaheim but after a while, I got tired of him too... She didn't care that I'd spent extra money to have a rental car with satelite radio in it so that we could enjoy some kind of variety with the music as we traveled. Nah, I compromised... Never got to listen to the variety that I love..Hip Hop, Neosoul, Old School, and everything in between... Thing is, it was a good example of how life would be with her.. Non compromising, never changing, no growth, stifling, trifling, and silly... Yes, we had good times and the love was there but when things weren't going 100% her way, 24-7, with me fixing all issues that she brought to the table from her life before me, there was no more oxygen left in the relationship and thankfully she ended it. I wish I had walked away sooner but I was holding on, hoping it would get better, and believing that the beautiful times we shared during the first four months would return. My apologies to Kem but yo dude, I just can NOT listen to you!

Journey

  

Thursday of last week I woke up anxious and excited. I hadn't traveled in quite a while. Over six months since going somewhere out of state is a long time for me and I was truly missing being on the road. This time I had a special reason and mission to accomplish. I had to get a headstone for my grandmother; something that was long overdue. I took my mother along with me on this journey. I wanted to show her this special place that I go to whenever I head south. I mention it often as my special piece of heaven on earth called Natchitoches, Louisiana. Not only is the town really cool but a few miles away in what is known as the Cane River Plantation area you will find some of the most beautiful country and people who never hesitate to wave hello as you pass them by on the country road. It's a far cry from my day to day life in and around LA(Los Angeles) where hands typically raise up with that middle social finger in full view for you to ponder. I also got a chance to introduce my mother to the delicious delicacy known as a meat pie at the infamous Lasyone's restaurant. You haven't lived until you ate their meat pie. If you try one at the local gas stations that also sell them, you'll be extremely disappointed but if you go to Lasyone's? Whew.... you'll want to come back sooner than later just for the meat pies alone...

It was a great trip, riding through parts of east Texas where my family is from, purchasing the headstone for my grandmother in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and eventually making my way to Natchitoches as the entire time I was able to show my mother the beauty of life in the country. I could tell she enjoyed herself completely. She even got a thrill out of the cool music they were playing on the radio as we traveled the backroads between Jefferson and Mt. Pleasant, Texas. There's a station broadcasting from Texarkana that plays the blues everyday from noon until 2pm. They were playing a lot of BB King songs, a song by someone who sang "I've got three women in my life. My mama, the other woman and my wife..." and a song called Willie Mae Don't Play. All the songs seemed to be about relationships from one extreme to the other but it was all good... Now I'm back home in the city of extremes where peace can be a struggle and fun can blind you but its home so let the craziness begin. *smile*

Time

  

Country

  

Bloop

  

What's up to Bloopty Bloop! I stole these question from her blog(http://bliggidybloop.blogspot.com) and couldn't resist putting myself to the test... Always interesting to put your thought process to someone else's inquiry of the mind, if you will... Here it goes..


1. If you could be doing what you really want to be doing for a living, what would it be?
I've answered this question before and my dream thang still remains a photojournalist. Just let me have my Canon Rebel Digital and a cool Sony Vaio laptop and its on! I would love to hop in the ride and travel from coast to coast snapping shots, learning and telling stories about the experience along the way.. That would be amazing... Second dream job would be to write for television and/or movies..

2. If you could slap the shit out of any famous person, alive or dead, who would it be?
hard to think of anyone famous that I would want to slap because I dont really trip off of so-called celebrities too much. My blogging friend Bloopty Bloop mentioned the President in her responses so I'll just add to that by saying Dick Cheney because he seems like someone who has needed to be slapped but no one ever did and that's why he grew up to be the in denial, power hungry, constantly lying to cover up his dirt, asshole that he is today...

3. What's the dumbest decision you've made in the past 5 years?
Taking an ex with me on a trip a couple years ago though actually it wasn't dumb because it revealed to me that her decision to kick me to the curb two years prior to that was better than somebody stuffing a million dollars in my pocket! Life has been filled with blessings ever since.... So, it was dumb that I spent the money on the trip but that dumb decision had a positive result...

4. Give up one for a year: (good) sex or (good) music.
I'm probably in the minority but I would actually give up the "good sex." The music I listen to is like the soundtrack for my life. I've been blessed to hear some incredible stuff and have a connection through my father to various musical eras that still blow me away from the late 60's up to the present... I frown at anyone who puts down today's music in an effort to elevate what they listened to in the past... I'm here to tell you, you can fit it all in your musical listening pallette... Every generation and musical era has whack stuff as well as the incredible stuff..

Giving up sex for a year is actually very easy for me to do... I'm a man who can make a hug feel like the most incredible lovemaking experience you ever been a part of in your life... The actual sex is like an extended remix with a super funky beat! Ahhh haa!

5. Dudes, would you rather have a big dick or a great sense of humor?Ladies, nice tits & azz or common sense?
Ummm...that one is a toss up...lol.. First I'd investigate as to whether or not those tube things make your ish bigger and longer.. And if they do? Then this question is a no brainer.. I'll go for the sense of humor and then buy one of those enlarger thangs and make my stuff looooong and big! Ha!

6. So you've been invited to an all expense paid Blogger Prom in The Bahamas. You're sitting at the bar on the beach. Which blogger do you want to join you for hours of good convo?
I'd have to give the nod to the young lady that does the Young, Black and Fabulous blog because I think she'd have me laughing so hard that I'd be making funny noises.

7. Which blogger would you most like to cuddle with on the beach?
I'd have to give the nod to Bloopty Bloop since I stole these questions from her and because she seems like she'd be a lot of fun to cuddle with...

8. You're going on a 5 hour road trip...which 5 CDs do you bring?
1. Sign O' The Times- Prince
2. The Dogg Pound's first CD
3. Tennessee Slim Is The Bomb- Joi
4. A whole bunch of downloaded itunes songs mixed with 70's music and neosoul from today.
5. A podcast from my favorite, Honeysoul.com

9. Would you rather bury your children young or have your children bury you young?
I'm not blessed with any children but I'd rather have them bury me young. And before I'd go? I'd make an impact on them that will keep my spirit alive within them for the rest of their lives, similar to how my grandfather did with me... It aint the amount of years, it's all about what you do with each second, each minute, each day..........
10. What's your biggest insecurity?
Ummm.... I dunno... *smile*

11.What's the first blog you read every day...or however often you read them?
Bloopty Bloop, Slish, Young Black & Fabulous...

12. When's the last time you peed your pants?
Can't really remember because its been a while and me being a man, I just whip it out and take a leak pretty much anywhere and everywhere... ahhhh haaa!

13. Which was better, your first kiss or your first pay check?
First paycheck because my first kiss felt nasty! Well, I will say this.. My first REAL kiss with all that tongue business was nasty but when I was a little boy I had a kiss from a little girl and that was real quick, no big deal.. But later on when I had to kiss somebody for real, I hated it. I went home, drank a gallon of grape koolaid, brushed my teeth, ate a couple of chilli dogs, drank another gallon of koolaid and then tried to forget about the kiss... Nothing worked but I wore out the carpet walking back and forth to the bathroom all night... Ahhhh haaa!

14. Do you have kids? Want kids?
Would love to have kids but wont be disappointed if I dont... Always dreamed of having a daughter. I think I'd be an amazing dad to some young lady.. That's sort of the main inspiration for my first book, Daughter By Spirit. I wanted to do a story where a woman would raise her daughter into believing that good men still do exist in this world and she used as the example her bestfriend(male). Of course when this young lady grew up and discovered that the man she thought was her father actually wasn't it devastated her but that concept of making an impact on someone's life to the point where they'd want their own to search for someone just like you? Whew... That's powerful and just imagine if you can actually be that kind of father to a young lady or even a young man.. Someone to look up to and be proud of...

15. You get dropped off at home after the office holiday party by your bitch azz boss that you can't effing stand...you exit the car and he peels out, runs a red light at your corner and rolls up on an unsuspecting midget. The next day the midget watch groups are on TV outraged at the heartless hit and run, and are calling for any witnesses to please come fwd...that half dead midget has a family at home waiting on C-mas presents. Would you take $1000 hush money? $500? $100? A six pack?Six pack of what, Corona Lights??
After I stop laughing at this question and try to decipher it, ummm.. I'd probably get rid of the boss..

16. Live the rest of your life without your eyebrows or your fingernails?
I'd say no fingernails so I wouldn't have to keep cutting them like I do... Men without eyebrows looks kind of strange...

17. What makes you angry?
People who stare without saying anything.. Women who look away or go out of their way to prevent you from saying hello to them in passing.. The mean spirited-ness you find in and around LA. Black people who dont recognize the beauty and strength of supporting and loving each other.. Take away the macho shield, the jealousy, and uplift each other with a simple but sincere greeting...

18. What makes you horny?
Long embraces mixed with beautiful conversation...

19. What makes you nervous?
Women...lol..

20. What makes you smile?
A woman with a cool ass walk and confidence to match...