Gaining One's Definition

Common and Cee-Lo have this one track that is ill mellow, yet very powerful.

Curiosity killed the catechism
Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to
And became a slave to master self
A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health


Some of the stories today's teens can tell you they've been through are sure to raise many people's eyebrows. No wonder the generational and cultural gap was so evident and on display in the city council chamber this week. Sht is real in the field, B. But roses do still poke through those concrete pores. No doubt.

We been struggling since single shot gauges

Without the guidance of our fathers
All we know is how to double clutch revolvers
-Billy Danze (of MOP)

we seem so free in throwing around the words at-risk and high-risk to describe our city youth. at times, it can be maddening when you come to the realization that many things - no matter how hard you work or pray - are simply out of your hands. it can be frustrating. downright depressing. but you can never give up. that only begets a cycle of endless apathy.

so as i literally criss-crossed the city today, i had the chance to interact with a wide array of people. i should write a book about all of the disparate character studies that can found in a daily sweep.

we throw out suggestions and gripes and complaints, but offers solutions far and few between.

we rally for business and economic development, but don't really lend much credibility to entrepreneurial cultivation.

and some people talk without thinking. methinks that is a cardinal sin all by itself.

and boston city concilor jerry mcdermott is a d!ckhead. quote me, homie. he showed his a$$ yesterday. mad youth rolled through the city council's chambers because they were to vote on the new budget. everybody got up and gave their little monologues. but apparently, after too much talking, heads started getting antsy. but then mcdermott started puffing his chest out. so, like a wave, cats started standing up and turning turning their backs to the center (mainly because of mcdermott's comments). very dramatic from what i heard. you can peep the entire meeting online. scroll to the 2-hour mark to listen and see for yourself. i only heard consalvo and mike ross speak. i left right after ross played himself by speaking in favor of the budget. let's see how accurately horace's prediction will play out with that one. so anyways, after it got a little rowdy, they called in the blue boys and escorted much of the people out of the chambers. just unfortunate how flaherty got all shook up. hey, what can ya expect from city government. democracy at its finest, right?

we clamor for safer streets, yet don't truly put the effort in to make them safer.

a year ago today, one of the youth from Project Hip-Hop lost his life at the hands of an unknown assailant.

i had just met son a few days prior when PHH had its summer retreat for youth who were going to be participating in the summer program.

this afternoon, this year's teens will venture out to the burbs for the same retreat. it's a way for them to bond, and gain new insight on being young leaders and activists, etc.

he was supposed to roll out a few days later with the group on a road trip across several states to get out of Boston and see some new sights and have some new experiences.

but obviously, that was not so.

though i only had a brief encounter with him, it is still very fresh in my mind.

i often think back to when i was 17.

the run-ins i had were obvioulsy not that bad since i'm still here to write about them. but yet, i cannot help but rationalize about the state of my peoples. not our people. my peoples.

matter of fact. last evening, i found myself unexpectedly roaming some roxbury blocks because of rumors of some drama popping off with youth from another hood.

it can be frustrating. nauseating. overwhelming. how do you balance that line of doing something with not overdoing it. well maybe overdo it is not the right word. but i haven't had the best way with words lately. so let's just say progress is only as evident as your perception of the initial problem. i met two mothers last night of teenage boys. you could see the anxiety in their faces. your could feel the vulnerability in their hugs and handshakes.

until shT truly hits home do you realize the importance of something that was previously insignificant or even irrelevant. but now it's an issue. now, it's a priority.

so although he didn't make it onto our to-do list, please do what you can.

rest in peace, kareem. your spirit lives on along with all of the other youth we've lost to the evils of the streets.

I manifest who I be on your chest just like a name chain

I'm the nicest, like almighty Isis
You want my flow? No, it's priceless
Got to set it, G, to let 'em know my pedigree
If your skills ain't rap, then perhaps you should let it be
-AG

still a bit stuffy w/ a slight cough. but i read an article over the weekend on diane patrick. very inspiring woman. she does her thing and reps for her set too. but anyways my crib got flooded this weekend. that fuqing sucked. still trying to get things back in order. and the midget has left the building. good timing, huh? a month of freedom ensues and dry sheets shall ensue.

so word, yo. riddle me this, batman. obviously something is wrong if there are over 500 guns that have been turned in to the city's gun buyback program. i think someone was quoted in an article in 2004 that we got our own damn terrorism on inner city streets to deal with. a damn shame. but tis true in many respects.

but i wonder what the hell happens to those guns. obviously, a lot of people's mistrust of police stems from past incidents involving crooked cops. do they destroy them or lock them away in "storage"?

as a matter of fact, what abotu all that illegal money that gets conficated? where does that factor into the city's budget? you'd think there'd be enough dough like that to cover the extra $1.2 million our city's kids are screaming for.

the city council is scheduled to vote on the budget on wednesday (tomorow). mad heads are supposed to bumrush the spot to give a visible presence of the the community's request that the line item for youth jobs be increased from where it is now at about $3.8 million to $5 million.

Menino bumped it up a notch by $300,000, but really though. the more i break it down, the less i am feeling his jekyl and hyde style. i recall last summer meeting him and then writing that i should have asked him about his retaliatory ways. now, i've come across two recent articles that refer to the menino effect and to the egotistical ways by which some things get ignored or dismissed. i'ma ll for the little shut down of construction crews on city streets he pulled last week, but if we really break it down. who was really clamoring for that action? he just happened to hit a bumpy block in dorchester. maybe he's really step it up if something got caught sleeping and some kid ran up on him and told him to run his shT. i gurantee it would be swift action to get these shorties employed like 2 snaps and a twist.

but speaking of mysteries, how in the hell are there so many social service agencies in this city, serving a large population os disenfranchised, disadvantaged, and largely Black and Latino population. but none of them got Black folks on their staff? had some eye-opening conversations last friday night with the OGs. They put me on to a whole new realm of breaking this shT down. Sure, all of these foundations like it when the darling on-profit has a Black man on their board. But can you employ some brothers for crying out loud!

still a bit stuffy w/ a slight cough. but i read an article over the weekend on diane patrick. very inspiring woman. she does her thing and reps for her set too. but anyways my crib got flooded this weekend. that fuqing sucked. still trying to get things back in order. and the midget has left the building. good timing, huh? a month of freedom ensues and dry sheets shall ensue.

I never let a statue tell me how nice I am

You can be a black man and lose all your soul
You can be white and blue but don't crap the roll

Somehow, I just noticed that I do not have the Award Tour mp3. This is very troubling. Not cool at all. My peoples from way back in the day and the song that has held me down all this time. And it's not in the rotation. What an oversight. This is madness! I remember venturing out dolo to a concert as a chubby 9th grader to this club for an all-ages show featuring Tribe and De La. What an experience. It was at the height of the intoxicating spell that was Midnight Marauders and Buhloone Mind State. Reciting lyrics word for word at the top of your lungs to people you really feeling like that. Wow. Ain't nothign like it. Breakadawn was my shT. The best of times and the worst times. But some good, classic memories nonetheless. Word.

you got served

about time...bumpy roads and BS contractors get sonned: Mayor halts construction on Boston's streets

I drive all over this damn city. for work. for play. let us count the ways...in which there are SO MANY streets that are poorly paved that it is literally maddening to drive down them.

amarican legion highway heading from blue hill ave to morton street. the left lane is ridiculous.

lambert and norfolk streets in roxbury. they're only one block long, but they keep digging them up.

hyde park avenue between the readville commuter rail station and cleary square. fuqing annoying!

blue hill ave in Dorchester heading north between american legion hwy and columbia road.

south & centre streets in jamaica plain from south huntington to forest hills. just rip up the damn tracks already! the T trolleys will not fit. it just ain't happening, son.

Warren Street northbound in Roxbury from Quincy St to Dudley St

Recommit to Peace

Saturday, June 24th 2006

"RECOMMIT TO PEACE"
The 2nd Annual Summer Rally For Peace In The ‘Hood
Rap, Spoken Word, B-Boying, Live Music and much more!!

@ Jermaine Goffigan Park
(on the corner of Blue Hill Ave. & Quincy St.)

12noon – 7:00pm

With performances by:
4-PEACE (Twice Thou, Edo.G, D-Qwest & Wyatt Jackson)
COOL G-ZUS
K-DUCE
DIVINE MATHEMATICS
THE FLOOR LORDS
ZERAHKYAH aka Z-GOD
UNO THE PROPHET
VCR
TANGG THE JUICE
And many more!!

Music by DJ BLACK

STOP THE KILLING – START PEACE!!

The pain of not reflecting the range of our complexions

This is a shout-out to my girl Monif. She is a sista doing her thing trying to make her mark in the world by empowering women to be free and expressive and comfortably beautiful in their own right.

I keep her hair braided, bought her a black Barbie
I keep her mind free; she ain't no black zombie

I've know ma for over seven years now and she's always kept it real. Real hectic. Nah, but on the reals, we've been good friends. Helped move and cope and flirt and move and study and network. Had a brief bean stay then went on to make more moves. I walked in shoes she once held and she held me down many a time. We clowned each other. We hugged each other. I have even hooked her up with the ill assist. We shared breakfast at Mike's Diner in the South End. We watched NBA playoff games at her first crib in Southie and hit up the cookout and potluck circuit over many summers. You kepp it real with me; I'll keep it real with you.

I see the picture clearer thru the stain on the frame
She got a black girl name, she livin black girl pain

From being an engineer/computer scientist to non-profit technology guru to consutant, she has now distinguished herself as one of the illest up-and-coming fashion designers. Simply put, Monif C. is an unapologetic stand for high fashion style for plus size women; conceived to reaffirm every woman's desire for an inspired life, luxury, and unadulterated sex appeal. She's a dear friend of mine and I'm commited to spread the gospel of her business because it's that kind of reciprocity and respect that works wonders when it matters most. Like Gangstarr said, gotta give the credit where it's due.


My pretty black princess smell sweet like that incense
That you buy at the bookstore supporting black business

So in light of the theme I got going here, naturally there's some lateral connection. My dunny at GhettoUprising has an ill editorial up at Nobody's Smiling about the short-sightedness of Jay's Cristal boycott. In addition, here are some other business ventures by some folks who are doing their thing and I personally feel like if given the chance, just making a link to check out their goods is a step in the right direction. Patronage by choice is the norm; but like affirmative action, they don't have a chance if you've never heard of them.

So if you want some greeting cards or custom t-shirts or stationery, holla at SoapBoxTheory.

If you want some pictures, holla at Mr Kelley of Studio 10 Photographers or Lolita Parker Jr of Parker Digital Imaging.

For custom kicks, holla at the young dunny over at Blak-Out.

If you're in the mid-atlantic and need IT consulting services, holla at the fellas of Nvidius. (If in New England, holla at me. ahem.)

Reaching out from hood to hood like jumper cables

It's always a wonder how reactive we can be at times.

I visited two clients today in Fields Corner, home to many of Boston's Vietnamese community.

A young lady got shot on her porch last week and it troubles me to no end when I hear and read all these crafted reactive quotes about street outreach and mentoring and yadda yadda yadda. Just do it continuously throughout the whole fuqing and we'd be a lot better off.

It's too cliche or even risque for me to yap about how i be up in the hood reppin this and that. yadda yadda yadda. boring. And I don't even do nearly as much as I lot of other peoples I know. But really though. I like peace and quiet, but there's something about city blocks that has always intrigued me more than suburban life. And it's not like i'm slanging or posted up on the block chilling with dudes with random habits and no real set schedule. I just like shopping in my community. I like going to the 99 cent store in Uphams Corner instead of CVS. Sometimes I like stopping to say whattup to random kids and talking to them about school and technology. Sue me. You should see the reactions and facial expressions I get when I'm at a school and I shake a hand and then tell them to give me dap too. Priceless.

But i guess that was too much of a tangent. so anyways, rev. eugene rivers was quoted in an article on Sunday about his plans to launc a coalition to confront violence. and then on Monday, another article came out wih him talking about hiring ex-cons and paying them to work the street daily earning teens' trust.

I'm all for it, yo.

But peep Bruce Wall's thoughts: Asked for comment on Rivers's new plan, Wall said yesterday : "This will be one more of many plans that are on the table. What needs to happen, is that rather than having five plans on the table, we need to have one plan that we all agree to throughout the city.

Say Word.

Enough with the press conferences and pretty shT. Just roll yoru sleeves up and do the damn thing, son. Too many muthafuqas are content just going to work, eating out on occasion, and hitting up the club. Life will pass you by. And I swear I try to get some of the many folks I know in this town to try and come through to stuff when I slide through, but it just weighs so heavy on your head, like I'm a PO chasing somebody down to do mandatory community service. You wouldn't think the shT was voluntary. Nah, son, don't get it twisted. You literally gotta twist a muthafuqas arm to get them out to a neighborhood event.

But let me have an open bar.

Niggas will be up in there like swimwear.

Acquire more couth before you get poofed

Happy Father's Day

We present these flares to put fire to your ears
to lay smoke like rusty exhaust pipes
We run mics, let Sean run the marathon
Yo raise that money son, we raisin these kids
-Dave (from De La), "Verbal Clap"

Be A Father To Your Child

This video is a classic throwback. But I suck. There is much for improvement. I dont read to him enough. I don't talk to him enough. I don't even whoop him enough. He doesn't have enough room to play. And I've caught myself relying to much on the DVD syndrome to keep him occupied.

We went on a neighborhood walk tonight. I had been seriously slacking. I hadn't been out with them for a few months now. So I finally made it and dragged my man NS to come through as well. Suffice to say, it was a somber experience. We ended up splitting into two groups; with one staying in Grove Hall and the other trooping to Codman Square. We walked up and down Washington Street in a visible display of ....something....he right word escapes me right now. Most sobering though, was the scene of the memorial to James Green, a brother who lost his life last Monday. It was by far the most robust and bustling such scene I have seen. Far from the usual teddy bears and candle vigils that surround a lightpost, this memorial was much more than a mere memorial. We stopped briefly to pray, but not to encroach during this time of grief and bereavement. We can only pray for peace on these evil streets.

But to connect my dots...Bill Cosby and Michael Eric Dyson come to mind. It is up to those who have their mind right to lend that helping hand. Even in the face of self-doubt of our own parental skills, it is still our onus to be a father figure to those who need that visible presence in the lives. It is the only way - in my mind - to stem the tide of ignant shT that occuries on city blocks daily.

If I should die, don't cry my n----s
just ride my n----s
bust bullets in the sky my n----s
And when I'm gone, don't mourn my n----s
get on my n----s
when it's real, say word to Shawn my n----s
-Jigga

Wanna Be In A Hip-Hop Video?

The PeaceBoston movement will be turning a new leaf tomorrow. On Saturday June 17th at 10:00 AM, the 4 PEACE project will continue to film its video on-location at the Washington (Malcolm X) Park basketball courts in Roxbury.

Edo is the man and DQuest is good peeps (except when we're balling. lol). So it should be all love. And the location is great in concept. Hopefully, the song will eventually warm it way on me as well. Anyone who slides through is encouraged to wear their Start Peace gear or at least some purple. (I wonder if Smoke Bulga will be there?!). Hmmm.

I drop jewels, pick 'em up, put 'em back on my neck.

late night thoughts made me sift through the files...

Through The Wire

when you think you have it bad, someone else's struggle makes yours pale in comparison

I hit up TechBoston Academy's graduation ceremony yesterday. With both elation and nostalgia, the event - held in Faneuil Hall's Great Hall - formerly the home of Boston's greatest political debates and decisions throughout much of its storied history - was an happy one. It was the school's first graduating class ever. as in ever. numero uno.

I had the pleasure of highlighting in my program book the names five students with whom I had the pleasure of working with, coaching, or supervising during this past year. In some respects, i feel like a teacher even though i'm not. however minor and insignificant the work that you did amounted to in the grand scheme of things, it still mattered at some point. yet, to see such an accomplishment come full circle is always a marvelous wonder.

It took me back to those serious days of turmoil i endured throuhgout high school and the ecstatic joy and rush i had when I crossed that stage at Sterret Hall. it made me recall all those headaches i used to give folks who had no idea of all the juggling i was doing behind the scenes. i remember my aunt once telling me that a co-worker of hers who also happened to be one of my basketball coaches at on point had apologized to her a few months after I graduated. I read a snippet about me in the local newspaper and felt bad for all the drama and arguments we got in for my perceived lack of effort. i'm saying yo....i'm just run slow, nahmean.

But anyways, at the graduation there was a special presentation by a former Dorchester High graduate who wnated to endow a scholarship to a deserving Dorchester resident. But the major wrinkle was the NO ONE knew about the award or who was going to receive it. I the end, the senior class president, a young woman from a single-parent home, walked away with a $50,000 scholarship that she didn't apply for, but I'm sure will be very useful. just beautiful.

And then i read this article about another young woman who's been through some serious drama and ended up being the valedictorian of her class. For anyone who knows Bromley-Heath (or Heath St projects as they say around the way), it's always a beautiful struggle when you see butterflies fly into the distance with their wings aglow.

But I'm a champion, so I turned tragedy to triumph
Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire

And wouldn't you know it, but as I'm picking up some pizza from Arizona's for Project Hip-Hop's social night this afternoon, I run into this kid that I was supposed to be mentoring through NBCA. Yet, we both acknowledged our shortcomings and vowed to link up. Add to the to-do list. Plus, he just graduated and is headed to Delaware State in the fall. beautiful. And then I spot another TechBoston student of mine waiting for the bus at Dudley. And what does she tell me? She just graduated and is headed to Boston U...on a full scholarship. tears, son.

And yet, shootings are still almost daily occurences. i even got hit up by my man in Philly with word that shT is outta control there as well. kids are still getting clapped but we gotta find the beauty in the hideous.

How do you console my mom or give her life support
Telling her her son's on life support

Pass it over here so I can get irie

Headz Aint Ready for what my clique got in store
cause what we got in store keeps us prepared for the war

riddle me this batman: how the hell do you catch a cold in Jamaica?!

keep the AC and the fan on because if you don't you will melt....

my man KY got married this past weekend. In Jamaica. Not Queens.

Yes, son did his thing. And it was a beautiful sight.

And somehow I ended up being the best man.

What's that aroma in the air? Trees
So what that means, son?
Son, that mean it's huntin season
Time to stack papes do you got what it takes
Can you react when your life's at stake?

And Jamaica was straight. I gave the whole trip a good B plus / A minus.

The spot we stayed at could have been a little better, but oh well.

My boogie threshhold has been exceeded. I'm not a fan of people waiting on me hand-and-foot or however the expression goes. I like to carry my own plate from the buffet back to my table, please. thank you. geesh.

I had a great travel companion in her that made the vacation all the more relaxing.

But now I'm back in the Bean, trying to recover from the sniffles and a thumping headache that had me on the verge of tears on the trip back.

Naturally, mad shT to do this week, starting with something in the morning across town that I'm doubting I'll make it to with all this extra-hard-core sneezing that started happening after I got to my crib. Fuq that.

And of course, back to the same ole bull. Staying up for the sake of staying up when I should have hit the sack the moment I got home. Oh well. The more some things change...yeah word.

Raising a black boy

The Young Apprentice: Marcus's Parents Agonize Over How to Protect -- and Prepare -- Him

another in the Being a Black Man series from the Washington Post (WP site or MSNBC). they didn't abandon the concept for his series yet. I hope it continues with this kind of quality without the queasiness.

I'm tryin to switch to mortgage payments instead of this rent

Defari and Dilated Peoples make some real good music. I've been sleeping on this track, "Los Angelinos," longer than I should have.

Yo in any place that you stay
The day is what you make it
Any given day in L.A it could be taken
For any given reason like fraud types caught for treason
Or just in the line of fire its Duck Season

Obvioulsy, I'm a bit too lazy or sleepy to write about anything substantial other than music. Oh well. What's new. Thursday is a busy day as I try to cram 27 hours and 45 minutes into a 24-hour day. Hmmmm. I wonder how this'll pan out.

(I have to). Go all out. 100 percent.
I'm tryin to switch to mortgage payments instead of this rent
I do it on my own. Handouts ain't condoned
Imagine someone paying the bills for my home

So let me see. What's next on the menu. Attend some meetings. Get a tight line-up. Pick up (and try on) my tuxedo. Do some work. Pack (gasp). Go to the PHH event. I won't be able to play any ball (sigh). And The Weather Channel is still fronting on the forecast for this weekend. Apparently, this fancy-smancy resort that I'm forced to stay at has some sort of attire policy to which I will beocme a conscientious objector come Friday. Because I will be rocking jean shorts and white tees all weekend. Formal wear? Huh, what, muthafuqa, I'm on vacation. Fall back. 27 hours and counting.....

I can't help it if I drink and use my laker tickets
I gotta bubble. Hennessey. Make it a double
I play it cool while you fools play for trouble

How come nigga$ don't know but they front and don't ask?

How come the industry build careers that don't last?
How come nigga$ don't know but they front and don't ask?
...
Yo, why they say never say never, when they know that ain't right?
Cause to never say never you done said never twice
...
How you got high expectations but got no patience?
How come this joint named "The Questions" is so John Blazin'?
-Common & Mos Def, "Questions"

As much as I'd like to think I am a creative and artsy cat, the following concept was borrowed from the secret bat cave, so let me cite my sources and give credit where it is due.

how come...

when I'm in for the evening, there's stuff going on that I'd like to do
when I'm free, I end up at home half of the time

when life seems to suck, it could be worse
when life gets worse, it sucks even more

when it's time for my vacation, weather reports suck
when it's time to pay off my debts, extra random bills come through to crash the party

when i'm horny, it's every few hours
when i'm sleepy, it's every few days

when it's a special occasion, something goes wrong with my face or hair
when it's a random, boring day, i have on my flyest outfit

when i'm being quiet, i get asked why am i so shy
when i'm talking a lot, i get asked why am i so outgoing

when i'm about to call her, my phone rings
when it's time to wrestle the midget to sleep, we both knock out on the same pillow

when i'm drawing a blank, i can browbeat my procrastination into submission
when i'm being all artsy-fartsy and come up with some ill ish, i never master the art of memorizing it

when i'm explaining what i do on the daily, i tend to draw blank stares
when i'm asking for help, it's like n!gga$ don't care

when i'm searching for meaning, i find myself
when i lose my way, i still feel grounded

Stop the madness!

I remember Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz had this one joint where the chorus went something to the tune of, 'gangsters wanna be rappers. rappers wanna be gangsters." Yet, it seems nowadays rappers wanna be actors and actors wanna be rappers. (and n!ggas wanna be taken seriously, while Black men want to not be typecast. go figure.) So anyways, Busta's joint with Gabrielle Union just flat out sucks donkey balls. It's really that bad. And to top it off, can we get a penalty flag on the backwards progress?! This has to be the most ignant shT of the year. And I will confess, I listen to plenty of ignant shT. Hell, Ride or Die from the Lox is my joint. But really though. This is just pure madness. And no, I will not be linking to that bullshT. I'm sure you can find the video on YouTube with minimal effort. That's just sending the wrong message to be sending outbound links from my domain. Fuq that.

At the Corner of Progress and Peril

I should be in a coma right now, but oh well. This Washington poast article is long, but very interesting. I am very intrigued to keep track of the series as it develops. It's so long, that I'll have to read it a few times before I can really write about it, but others can feel free to chime in. I'm about to go kiss my pillow.

I offered her ones, she wanted hundreds

I offered her ones, she wanted hundreds
She don't even drink, shorty sips SunKiss
Caught me on the one on one, always try to tongue kiss
She aint the type of girl that I'll have my son with
-Nature, "Young Love"

Hmmmm. Call me crazy, but I had the mis/fortune to attend a bachelor party tonight. Very interesting. Remember that wedding I'm going to next weekend. Yeah, the one I'm in. It was an entertaining show to say the least. There's something about paying a women to shake that thang that just ain't all that intriguing to me. Now, I understand the whole symbolic concept of it being the last time you can technically be all up on some other woman before you officially tie the knot. But I am just not feeling strippers like that. Hell, I'm in love with a nerd for crying out loud. But son might have to elope. On the reals, I'm sitting there watching the show and so many songs went racing through my mind. It's really sad with this whole live and breathe hip-hop thing that I cannot help but have some random lyric pop in my head at the utmost random a$$ time. But it ain't the obvious ish neither, like Luke or T-Pain's wack a$$ song. It's stuff like the Round & Round joint that Red & Meth did with Jonell that in turn inspired 50 to flip with his own little remix. So anyways, I guess I can be conservative. I am down to do all kinds of freaky stuff in the privacy of my own bedroom, but with my woman. Feel me? I just don't want no random chicks up in the mix. But man, I swear some dudes should not be drinking liquor when they'll be seeing some flesh that night. Let's just say that shT was pure comedy. Matter of fact, I wouldn't be suprised if a few dues propose next week just so they can start planing their party. LOL. So, yeah strippers are aiight, but have a back-up plan please, because I wasn't all that impressed. BET has spoiled me I guess (Where's the rest of her a$$?). I'll save my Ones for my sons. Or maybe I'm just immune...since I had my HS graduation party a a strip club. Comedy. Especially when my dun FO asked her if they were in elementary school together. Like I said...comedy. Good night. I need a drink and a back massage. Five days and counting until fun and sun.

Stakes is high, so I eat at Taco Bell now

We buildin' more beef than cattle ranches
Against the snowstorms and avalanches
-Little Brother, "So Fabulous"

I should be playing more ball.

I should be reading more (yes, still BSn on that one).

I should be lifting more weights. (maybe if I played less ball)

I should be trying to cop this crib I just saw a few hours ago.

I should hire a private speech therapist.

I should do a better job of keeping a normal schedule.

I should sell the truck. (gasp. sigh. teardrop.)

I should commit to playing Sudoko, Crossword Puzzles, and Scrabble more often.

I should get back to writing and performing my pieces.

I should renew my Verizon contract.

I should cop some new Tims.

I should take some classes.

I should do more marketing and bring in some new business.

I should wear more suits and ties.

I should cop some more white tees.

I should tell her how I feel.

I should cop a time-share crib.

I should wear shorts, Timbos, and wife-beaters all summer long (when it gets hot).

I should be asleep right now.

I should be chilling in Jamaica in less than a week.

I should relax and take more pictures.

I should really learn how to work this damn camera.

can't nobody can hug you the way your grandma does

Ain't no place like home
Uh, I feel like Dorothy so I tries it
Kicks my heels but my Jordans wouldn't 'ize it
-DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, "Ain't No Place Like Home"

Myrtle and Willie.

They both are great-great-grandmothers in every sense of the word. Firmly at the helm of the fifth generation, each of them has an uncanny sense of humor and resiliency that is umcomparable.

And still be runnign shT.

Like Cagney and Lacey. Cheech and Chong. Cooper and Swoopes. Sanford and Son.

Every few months or so, we get the two of them together in the same city for some sort of family gathering. Whether it's a reunion, random travel, graduation, funeral, or celebration of some sort. As you would think, they are kind of the focal points of the occasion because we all derived from them. They are roots of the tree. It is their shoulders we (figuratively) tip-toe upon.

Just three weeks ago, we had both of them up here for Slow Sis' graduation. Mad fun. Mad jokes. Mad good times. Maddeningly enjoyable.

And as a matter of fact, we even granny-napped Willie for two extra weeks so she could chillax and do some shopping and get her lounge on. Different restaurants. Filene's Basement. Work visits. Filene's Basement. The Wrentham Outlets. Filene's Basement.

Yesterday, Myrtle turned healthy 89 ( she still dirves her PT Cruiser) and Willie, a lively 82, suffered a mild stroke.

Tonight, I reflect on the collective pearls of wisdom these two women have bestowed upon me.

I've learned to be selective in my dealings with people, yet comfortable enough to befriend anyone.


I've learned to brush my teeth in the morning. every morning.

I've learned to (try) and save half of what you earn.

I've learned to "iron" pants by usng your hands when they are fresh out of the dryer.

I've learned to love your children no matter what foolishness they do or short-sighted decisions they may make.

I've learned that the cyclical nature of parenting is a learning process for all involved generations. From those adjusting to having their first child, to a mother adjusting to becoming a grandma, and so forth.

I've learned that even old folks can be as hip (and sometimes hipper) than teens.

I've learned that age ain't nothing but a number (especially if you stay healthy).

I've learned to love your family and make sure you let them know you'll always hold them down.

I've learned to let those you hold dearest closer when you least need to because we you most need them, that's when they'll be there for you.

So this is a shout originally meant as merely a reflective birthday wish for Myrtle, but is now also a somber prayer for Willie as she recovers in NYC. Like the say in those radio shout-outs, "We'll hold you down 'til you get out."