Songs in the Key of Life

Like most people, I love music. I think in particular, certain songs and/or albums paint a portrait of a particular time span in your life, imprinted in your hearts and minds forever.

But there are SOME albums, that speak for an entire generation; an entire culture. Transitional, breakthrough albums that either put people on the map at that TIME, or created indeliable impressions that, even if you put that album on TO THIS DAY, bring back memories, both good and bad, and words that you thought you had forgotten over time.

I could never, within the scope of a reasonable sized posts, go into all of my favorite albums. Truly, I had a TON of them from the 70's and 80's, but I had to really scale them down. I had to actually struggle to take some of them off, that to which I hope you include in some of your favorites.

So, without further adieu, here are some of all time favorite 'Classic' Albums.

Abraxas - Santana. I love Carlos Santana. His music, his style, and his deference to not only his culture, but to mines. You don't have to know espanol to appreciate the sounds of his music, and to enjoy what blends our cultures together - a love of music. Oye Como Va, Se a Cabo, and the Haunting Black Magic Woman are my favorites on here. VIVA Santana!









Off the Wall - Michael Jackson. BY FAR A SUPERIOR ALBUM TO THRILLER, this is one of those releases that you know EVERY word to EVERY song and enjoy them equally so. Before a commercialized, vitiligo-ized, Michael Jackson came to fruition, this fluid, rhythmic release captures and enraptures the essence of what good music is all about. And, of course, who can forget MJ bawling at the end of "She's Out of My Life?" - or sniffling, whatever you may want to call it. :P







Rumours - Fleetwood Mac. With the powerful leading lady Stevie Nicks (who has one of the most distinguishing, powerful voices of any woman) coupled with a band that, despite personal/professional drama, did nothing but deliver the goods on a release that was spirited, (Go your Own Way) Inspirational (Don't Stop Believing), and Caressing (Dreams), this is more than classic rock. This is just classic.







What's Going On? - Marvin Gaye. I remember seeing this in my home as a child. I enjoyed the music, yes, but I cannot say that I appreciated it until much later. Nor did I realize the social/political climate that this was written/produced/released in. This dynamic release is only eclipsed by the man himself, delivering us songs that are embedded in us, ring true to life even now, and allow us a snapshot into the genius that is Marvin.







Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette. The first thing I heard about her was probably the first thing that EVERYONE HAD HEARD ABOUT - that she was talking about a particular sex act on one of her songs (You oughta know). Me, being me, wanted to hear the song for that very reason. And I decided to listen to all the tracks. This girl has some madd octaves. She can go from screaming like a white banshee to raspy, to sweet. I like her!








The Chronic - Dr. Dre. I don't think I have to get into much detail for this. I remember when this came out. It was smack in the middle of Gangsta Rap Meets MC Hammer Meets C. Delores Tucker Meets Commercialism, meets all things Hip Hop. With samples coming every which way from every music genre imaginable, all that is left to say is "Deez Nuts!"







BloodSugarSexMagik - Red Hot Chili Peppers. My first official foray into what I thought was hard rock, I was hypnotized by their sounds, which to me sounded like rock with an urban flair. I also think I just liked the way the moved around on Give It Away.










My Life -Mary J. Blige. The reason why I chose this one instead of "What's the 411?" (WHICH I LOVE) was for several reasons: One, I think that this was the release that took Mary J. from star to superstar. Two, I remember, I was driving home from work when I heard her on the radio promoting a CD. I promptly went into the nearst record store and purchased it and never regretted it. Three, I think that both her and I was going through many of the same feelings that she is expressing on their at the very same time. Great LP.





Illmatic - Nas. East Coast Rap at it's finest. Pure sounds. Rhythmic. He keeps it gangsta in a philosophicizin kind of way. And he hasn't lost his touch. I was working in a music store at the time this came out and my first thought was "What's up with the lil boy on the cover?" :P But this superior album works because it the subject matters blend, and come from an urban perspective. Nas.Is.The.Man.








Best of Sade - Sade. Okay. I know this is a compilation CD and I am cheat-en, but hell, I just couldn't leave Sade off. You know what she sings, and you know most of her favorites are on here. Had to be said, enough said. Bssides a had a VERY memorable valentines day with this CD playing in the background (or foreground, depending on what position you want to put me in). :P









The Songstress - Anita Baker. The first time I saw Anita Baker was on Soul Train and I was around ten years old. She had on a peach dress and she was swaying back and forth singing "No More Tears". I remember my friend's mother having this album and we played it over and over, swaying back and forth like we were here. Although I love all of Anita Baker's music, I think this one, and the limited songs that are on there, (but powerful, nonetheless), are packed full of pain, love, joy, and redemption. Furthermore, I don't know the skinny behind these songs, but I know you will NEVER hear her perform them in person, and for that reason, I appreciate them on this release more than ever.





Love Jones Soundtrack - Various Artists. See, I wasn't going to put this on here, because I know this post is already long in the tooth. . .But there are so many different artists on here (Coltrane, Maxewll, Xscape, Trina Broussard, Amel Larrieux, etc.) that I just couldn't pass by. I truly love this CD, from start to finish, not to mention the first 'song' is the spoken word that Darius drops on Nina, and the last one is what Nina drops on Darius. It's almost ten years old, but if you can find it it's worth your money.





There are so many more: The Mothership Connection, New Moon Daughter, All Eyez on Me, Appetite for Destruction, That's the Way of the World, At Last, Bitches Brew - Ooh on the TLC Tip. I could go on and on. But now it's your turn.

What are some of your favorite releases of all time?

It's Been A Long Time, I Shouldn't Have Left You. . .

What's crackalackin? I've had a long and difficult past two weeks both personally and professionally, but I'm pulling out of it.

I'll be back to you in a few. . . And that's real talk!

To give you a room with a view of what I'm going through in the wireless world from an HR perspective, click here for additional information.

Peace!

I Wanna Sex You Up

"Though your girlfriends a friend of mine

Here's my number and a dime, call me anytime. . ."

Skyy - Call Me.

Recently, a girlfriend of mines (who is a lurker but not a commenter) confided in me about an incident that happened with a good friend's husband. In the interest of keeping track of things, we will assign names:

Michelle: My friend
John: her dude
Becky: Her friend
Mark: Becky's Husband

What had happened wuz, my girlfriend and her dude had an overnight visit to Becky and Mark's house. Mark, Becky's husband, had a little too much likka in him. Michelle and Becky crashed in one room; Mark and John in the other.

Becky sleeps very very hard and Mark knows this. Without going into all the sordid details out there like that, Mark approaches Michelle at three thirty in the mutha fucken mornin drunk as all get out, commences to attempt to feel her up in her SLEEP (her breasts) and then tells her he has been desiring her for years and wants to perform on her in every way possible. He tells her that he thinks she is incredibly sexy and that he knows she is a freak, because he KNOWS she is. She is appalled, shocked, angry, everything in between. Most of all, she is sleepy, and this is almost surreal for her. She told me that he was looking at her in 'that way' that a man looks at you. He was BEGGING her to let him copulate her. What happened after that is irrelevant to the topic (for the record, she DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH HIM), just put it this way: She ain't one to phuck with. Her father will blast anybody who messes with her, and her uncle lives not too far from where it happened, and if she told him, would come by and I quote "snap a nigga's neck and keep it pushing". She handled her business, case is closed.

In any case, this incident triggered a lot of memories of similar incidents that have happened to me.

The first one was when I was in the eleventh grade. My friend was going out with this guy that we all grew up with. Since we all grew up together, we all had each other's personal information/addresses, phone numbers, etc. Well one day we were all on the three way (remember this was the S**** back in the day!!!!) , and she had to get off the phone. So me and dude, we kept talking. Long story short, he went on to profess his feelings for me, and asked me could we hook up on the side for some fooling around. I was authentically shocked! It took me a long time before I confronted my friend with this, who in turn confronted him. He denied it. Our relationship was strained for awhile, but after that, we resumed our friendship. She even went to the prom with that cat. Incidentally, a year later we (me and the guy) ended up scrapping over some bull****, no doubt because of the tension of all of this. In this case, I think she believed me; she just chose to get back with him.

The second incident was more on the ADULT SIDE with my friend's 'baby daddy' about ten years ago. . .I went to elementary school with HER, but I went to high school with HIM. When he was trying to reconcile with her, he was coming at her STRONG. One day he called me expressing her feelings to her about me (remember, I knew HIM before SHE did), and then suddenly there was a shift. It went from talking about her, to it's late why don't you come on by here so I can break you off, considering I had a crush on you and your big booty way back when. FURTHERMORE, he indicated that no one had to know, that we could keep in on the down low, and wouldn't that arrangement be great if he got back with her???

((insert crazy look here))

I was floored. I didn't tell her and this was why. . . Everybody had told her about that fool (and he was one). At that time, she was so blinded by him it was unbelievable. See, he had scorned her before and all she was concerned about was losing him. She had received phone calls from others (friends, strangers and Ex's) warning her of his indiscretions. She went on to five years of marriage and two more before she was truly sick and tired of him.

I have had both male and female friends indicate to me similar incidents. I know for sure, that one of my male friends had some of his girlfriend's WOMEN try to approach him on the DL because she was bragging on him being a freak-a-leek, (a definite rule breaker in my book), so she went all out on a smear campaign AGAINST HER OWN GIRL to try and get it on the DL.

Has this happened to you before?
Have you done/thought about this?
(Anonymous posts are okay)

February Old Skool Joint

This was my JAM back in the day!

Starpoint _ object of my desire

Blackout Ad Nauseum

28 Days overloaded with jam packed festivities, documentaries, dashikis, annoying office celebrations where you, the resident black girl/guy, is treated better than a field slave, a dash of kinte cloth overdosing, and links to various Mr. & Mrs. Who's Who in Black History has descended upon us.

Truth be told, I like this month, if for nothing other than all of the useful information that I get out of it - most of which is provided for us via internet, TV, radio, print media and all things where we can disseminate information provide some entertaining, and often thought provoking history into the Black Culture, and what has happened over several hundred years.

Without going into a history lesson, the purpose of what was initially supposed to be Negro History Week, was developed to bring insight into what Black Folk have brought to the table, often information which was ignored in history books. It was eventually broadened to extend through the month. Mind you, I understand the initial purpose was to inform and educate, and I truly believe there was a SEVERE need for this, and not too long ago.

However, even though I respect that media outlets that take the time to come up with creative new DNA techniques to determine what tribe you came from in the motherland, and/or providing us with a live slave narrative starring Angela Bassett, and Samuel L. Jackson, why limit it to the month of February? Why are any types of events relegated to the shortest month of the year, torturing others to participate in outside celebrations that they dare not decline for fear of being branded at the very least, racially insensitve, and at the very most, downright intolerant.

365-28 equals a whole lotta other days where all things black have happened, and are equally and important part of the fabric that makes up this country. Personally, I actually benefit from reading online many of the historical, scientific, and entertainment 'firsts' that have occurred within history; but I would prefer that this information be readily available at all times, not just relegated to the front page feel good section of "Today in Black History" on msnbc.com, and then remain virtually ignored (sans Sports, Scandal, and Entertainment) for the remaining portion of the year.

Do I think there are still some discrepancies and some funky things that go down? Hell yeah! Do I believe that people still have racial sterotypes and profiling. You dayum straight.

But I also believe that it's not just Black History - It's history. (I stole that from a Coca-Cola commercial).

Sidebar: Here's some history for yo Azz: Here is a report on the State of Black California - from the California Legislative Black Caucus.

What do you think?

100 Bottles of Beer On the Wall

This is my 100th Post!!

Y'all thought I was well past a hunnert, huh?

Thank you to everyone who has been a source of inspiration, guidance, and even suggestions. I think all of you write in your own way, and everything is colored with your unique personality, and that's what makes your blog important to YOU. Not because we read; not to titillate our interests, but because that came from your heart, and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

All of us have gained new bloggers, lost a few, been privy to their tragedies and losses, joys and pain, and hell, even seen some folks resurrected from the dead.

Thanks to the regulars, the formers, the lurkers, and, everyone else in between. Here are links to some of my favorite ones: I mean, truthfully, I like all the posts; if I didn't like them I wouldn't have posted them, but you know what I mean - Kind of like your favorite outfit.

Where In the World is My Bluetooth? - Something that would ONLY happen to me!

A Bloggers Tale - Specially cooked up, just for YOU!

Turning Up The Heat - And NO, I'm NOT talking about G. Garvin.

Corporate AmeriKKKa Jargon - A Day in the life of our jobs.

Wind Beneath Your Wings - On Love

Three Years Probation - On Loss

August Old Skool Joint - My first official one.

Trapped in the Closet Chronicles - Y'all Phreaks

The Itch is Here - What do I Do? - Some of my friends are phreaks, too.

Mac and Cheese - What Would Life Be Like Without A Little Family Drama?

You know what? Forget the beer, and the Cristal. . .Pass THIS!

Holla At Your Girl. . .

Anatomy of A Firing

Dear Isaiah. . .

I think you're cute. I really do. I think you're actually quite Sexy. So do other bloggers. My first post on this site was regarding the Men I love. . .And you were one of them. I want to talk about what is going on with you and the little Faggot fiasco that's turning into your swan song of anything and everything regarding the American Broadcasting Company.

First of all, even though I don't watch your little show, it must be such an honor - and equally a laboring task, to be on the number one show on television, considering it's hard enough for us to get a role on anything. . .NOT TO MENTION: long hours, strict schedules, and a black woman at the helm, who has to answer to ABC executives. Television is marketed towards women, which is why certain women (generally Becky's) get so attached to shows like Sex and the City, Friends, and now, Grey's Anatomy. I don't, but that's because I've never been that kind of a chick.

Surely, during these laborious hours, there are heated tensions, just like any work environment. . .And during that time, things are said that needed to be left unsaid. It happens to the best of us. . .

What also happens to the best of us, is, if we pull a Latrell Sprewell on the job, and then call other people faggots, we get punished, up to and including termination, you see. Don't you know that Hollywood rule 101 is to not say anything derogatory about Jews and Homosexuals? Now, Christians, Muslims, fat people, minorities, and anything else in between is fair game. . .But then, it turned into a mini blame fest, with the character going on Ellen (who else) and confirming his sexual orientation. For the record, I do think that by TR Knight going onto Ellen and saying "He called me a faggot, everyone heard it", that he was acting like a bitch and that should have been kept in-house. . .What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, okay? But it all kind of died down, and you were removed from the pages of Enquirer, US and Entertainment Weekly.

But then the Emmys came up. Perhaps you felt like a caged animal. Perhaps you were thinking about that steady salary that will make you and your wife independently wealthy. Perhaps you were thinking that the newscaster was hoo-banging on you. I don't really KNOW what you were thinking, but you denied something that you had previously admitted to. Then you used the word again. That's when TR Knight's BFF on the show, Katherine Heigl said that you should just keep your mouth shut. And now, GLAAD is involved. That's bad. That's like anything happening to a woman and then NOW pokes their face in the middle of it. I kind of wish you would have just sat down to be quiet and not say anything, but now since it's out of the closet, no pun intended, it's on, now.

This is about being responsible. I am unsure if all precautions were taken for you to do this. I also know that the leverage and margin that we have for error is lower than a pregnant ant, and I don't think this was exercised by you. I'm no expert, but I personally believe that worse things are said by directors and producers that would probably sting our ears. I'm no expert, so she probably knows more about this than I do. . .But overall, I think you've done it this time. You've effed up good with Mr. Charlie and Becky. I also don't believe that you give a phuck. I think your PR representative did damage control for you, and you already know that your days are limited. I think you should kiss Sandra Oh goodbye right now. I think you're either going to be replaced by a resident brother, or you're going to catch a communicable disease that's going to wipe you and your deep salary right out the memory of Grey's Anatomy. But I also know that everything has a season, and we are forgiving people; so you'll reinvent yourself, show up in a Spike Lee movie, or get cast in another movie eventually. Just not the ABC movie of the week.

I still think you're sexy. Not Hollywood PC, but sexy, nonetheless.

Love,
P

Bonus: **CLICK HERE** for a Glamorous, Pop-Couture blog post on the same subject. (Ironically written the same day, in the same manner and almost the same time as this post!)

Reinventing the Wheel

Now that y'all have gotten past the picture, you are now free to read the post. :P

Years ago when I was a teenager, (and I do mean years - as in January Old Skool Joint years ago), I thought I was doing something by working 'security' at the 3rd Annual (YEP, I said it) Soul Train Music Awards. I wasn't doing anything but supposedly guarding Patti Labelle and Dionne Warwick's door (read: Gawking over Bobby Brown and Guy). It was there that I laid eyes on one of the finest men I had ever met, who was also on vacation, was in the Navy, and lived out in Los Angeles, who also happened to be doing 'security' at the awards show. He approached me and I gave him my number.

Our relationship didn't quite pan out to be boyfriend and girlfriend/but after our pillow talk died out, (hehe) we remained good friends.

In 1999, he became disabled and is now in a wheelchair (freak accident playing baseball). It was difficult for me to go see him at first, because I knew him to be one way, and then he was now another. It was another good friend of mines who told me "If you think it's hard for you, think what it must be like for HIM". That prompted me to see him.

We were IM'ing the other night, and I had my picture up. I haven't talked to him in awhile due to work, school, and other scheduling conflicts (men), but I had been thinking about him and wanting to see him. So I reached out to him. He told me that he is now driving. We continued on our little conversation, and he's telling me that my picture is taking his breath away, and that I'm looking good ((insert awkward stare here)). So, me being, me, I decide to turn on my web came (nothing sordid, y'all, just so that he could see me), and so once again, we are just continuing on with light banter, me asking about his kids (he's a single father), his parents, etc. Then the conversation shifts. (This is a condensed version below):

J: "So when are we going to go out?"
P: "Huh?"
J: When are we going to go out. Let's go out.
P: "Oh, whenever, I mean it's cool, sure, we can hang out". (WTF else was I supposed to say?).
J: "Tuck your hair behind your ears".
P: "Ok." (I then do it). "Why, Big, J, you can't see my face or sumpin?"
J: "No, I'm trying to find the spot that I'm going to kiss"

((Insert WTF stare on my face, but trying to play it off because I'm on webcam)).

I wrapped up the conversation w/o really confirming a day and time, and that was that. I don't know why I was embarrassed by what happened, but I was.

Now, I'm not one for discriminating. I remember seeing this fine azz mofo at my school that was just ridiculous looking, and he was in a wheelchair. I was looking at him I ain't gone lie. I think I was intrigued as to what happened that landed him there.

But this, this is different. I don't have those kinds of feelings for him anymore. Not one bit. I didn't feel that way BEFORE the accident; I haven't for a very long time. He wants to go out, but I don't know in what manner, and I don't want to have to karate chop this boy. . .And I certainly don't want him to get the impression that I am turning him down because he is in a chair. But my thoughts have been of what his personal life must be like now, what may be going through his mind (his girlfriend left him about a year after all this went down - I don't know WHAT his dating life has been like sense) - I mean, y'all this man is PHOINE; he certainly had his issues of women beating down his door with a stick. . .And because of him, I've been more cognizant of folks that are in chairs, including the guy that I saw at my school, and I started wondering: How many beautiful girls and guys are in chairs and are overlooked/ignored? Are they date-able, desireable, attractive (sexually), and would I want to hook up with one (the male one). I don't have an answer to that, because I've never been in that position. I wonder what would have happened to me had he had this accident while we were together? As for me, and for him, right now, I'm simply not interested.

These people have beauty contests, marathons, dating services, driving, and hold productive jobs and contribute just as we do. It's not uncommon to see them in very good shape, sometimes even better than us!

So, the twenty thousand dollar question is:

Would you date a disabled person? (Whatever the disability may be). . .Would you give them some? Be honest or anonymous. . .

January Old Skool Joint

This song is 18 years old!!

Video Killed the Child Star

The days of coming in when the streetlights come on are no more. Waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed has gone by the wayside in favor of glassy eyed and intensified.

Enter the arena of video games. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Kiddie orgasms packaged by way of Wii, Playstation and XBox. An ordinary, extraordinary box that has our children captured, and entraptured in an area that doesn't include dodgeball, kickball, double dutching, and hide and go seek (Hell, I would even take hide and go get it at this point)!

Though the number of children have declined in knowing the symbol for Pi, you have an innumerable amount of children who can tell you how to get to the 'next level' of video games, and who can manipulate a console better than Jeff Gordon navigates his race car.

Sure, I know that in my antiquated state of being, my experiences with Frogger, Combat, Centipede, and Pac Man pale in comparison to Grand Theft Auto, Black, Hitman, Blood Money, and John Madden Live. However, even in my Atari induced age, I knew for sure that I still had a healthy balance between staring back and forth with my black joystick with the red button, and going outside for playing a good old fashioned game of Y.E.S. spells yes and you are not it (FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE).

I don't see this with children now (and quiet as it's kept, some adults). Most children, can carry on a full fledged conversation regarding shortcuts, intracies about the game, and then go online for additional features, and waiting for the next version to come out, that which cost their parents the equivalent of one week's gas. It is all that they request on their birthdays, Christmas, Bah/Bat mitzvahs, and general by the way begging while mom and dad peruse through the shopping center. A trip to your local electronics store will bring you privy to children crowded around the nearest game console, and or, jockying for position as to "who got next". Moreover, you have children who will scream like a banshee if the gaming is limited, or worse, revoked as a result of punishment.

With parents (by often times, through no fault of their own) working more and more, traffic getting worse, and hand held heroin like blackberries bringing you both farther and closer to the workforce, what often turned into an extracurricular activity for the children evolve into their main source of entertainment.

Radio Flyer Wagon, where are you?

Here is a good article regarding Video Game Addiction.

What do YOU think about the Video Game Revolution?

'Tis The Season. . .

Merry Christmas!



Portate Bien. . .



BE SAFE!

For Better or For Worse

I had a conversation with a girlfriend about the drama associated with weddings and funerals. Here are some of my pet peeves of the events up to and including the service(s):

I don't like the little dance steps that bridesmaids/groomsmen do coming down the aisle. Just walk, dammit. It's distracting.

I don't approve of tiny children (circa 2-3) being flower children/ring bearers. The poor little chaps have prolly been up all day and virtually all night getting all fru-frood up for the wedding, then having to endure the coos, oohs, and aahs, of the guests as they sashay down the plank that must be a mile long to them. Dog gone near amounts to quasi-torture for the littles.

The only thing that should be large in a wedding is the dowry. Not the wedding party. I could do without the junior bridesmaides, the double ring bearers, maid of honors, etc.

Wedding planners who look more flustered than the wedding party. Aren't you supposed to be the voice of reason, the sound of calm, and the leveler. I would prefer that you not walk around in your house shoes looking ragged.

The "I didn't plan my speech very well and now I am liquored up and so I've talked too much" bridesmaid. Get to the point.

The bouquet/garter ceremony: I never participate in this. You have here a bevy of beauties that are languishing in front of the bride, jockeying for position so that you can claim the title of "I Got Next", yet when the garter ceremony comes along, the floor is scattered wider than a pack of marbles, the men few and far between.

That dayum "new" electric slide. I can't stand it. The one that has the 'cha cha' in it. It drives me absolutely nuts. And you have to focus too hard on what you're doing and the words, Give me the old one, to the tune of "Candy' - a la "The Best Man" which is more fluid and thought-less, and that's good enough for me.

Why is everyone so intent upon watching the family mourn? Everyone wants to see how "his momma, sister, wife, daughter" is going to 'take it'. (I must say, I have participated in this macabre scenario).

Family members arguing about who gets to ride in the family car, what the deceased is going to wear, who is reading the obituary, and who put in on the flowers - and who didn't.

Something about that "Sunrise/Sunset"on the obituary drives me nuts. It's not cute to me. I don't know where it originated but it's annoying.

It bothers me when people say that the deceased is doing what they normally do in the afterlife. "I bet Tim is playing the great football game with Moses", or "You know Mama Jeanne must be cooking up her famous spaghetti for everybody to enjoy". Um, probably NOT.

Little screaming children running around like banshees during the service, and the parent sitting there like the child doesn't even BELONG to them (add that to the weddings as well).

Why does everybody hug, kiss, talk, etc., and say "It shouldn't take a funeral for us to get together/see each other. Let's keep in touch". THEN. . . you don't see hide nor hare of the mofo until the NEXT funeral.

The prodigal son/daughter, who clings/wails/falls out-or any combination thereof, when they view the body, knowing good and well they raised more hell than heaven to the parent when they were alive.

Those are my pet peeves. . . (Thanks, Nicole, for help with the post)

All I Want For Christmas is Christmas

Why is Erry-boddy so scurred and are so interested in being politically correct? People are breaking their necks, bending over backwards trying to find substitutions for the word Christmas, when in fact, nobody has really made a stink over it. Now the 'N' word, and 'Gay Marriage' - people ARE making a fuss over.

Oh how I long for the days of old where Linus from Charlie Brown mulled over the fact that Christmas was so commercialized, versus the actual holiday in itself it getting dizzolved into a maze of Season's Greetings, and Happy Holidays. All these ads, which are obviously targeting Christmas shoppers, are actually so PC they are bringing a hoard of attention to the fact that the word is being skipped over altogether. After all, stockings are not hung by the Chimney on New Year's Day, nor are visions of sugarplums dancing in your head on Thanksgiving. Cranberry sauce, yes, but sugarplums, no.

Christmas is a holiday, in which 95 of the Americans celebrate. So, why is erry-boddy's panties in a bunch over this particular day? I could go into my own philiosophicizin on THAT but that's not advancing the story. I mean, do you think that telling someone "Merry Christmas" is going to get them so worked up they are going to get the ACLU involved? Hell if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I could go on and on, but I will just summate here (thanks to a very special person who helped me with all of this - now this I knew but I didn't have many of the holidays straight):

Most holidays are result of a compromise that the Catholic Church (I am not Catholic I am trying to get to a point here) made with the pagans in order to spread the gospel. Christmas is a combination of the pagan festival of lights and the Catholic Christ-Mass and later combined with his birth. Easter was the pagan festival of harvest. . .Thus the connection of eggs and the bunny. St. Valentine was a pagan who worshipped cupid and cupid was a warrior and it is not have anything to do associated with love. Halloweeen was the day of the dead to honor spirits and keep them happy to they don't haunt you. . .Hence the connection of scary people dressed up coming to your house, and you giving them an offering for them to go away.

Come on, do you really believe that most of the people that celebrate Christmas the way Christmas is celebrated in it's fullest in our Western society (Black Friday, Christmas Eve, After Christmas Sales), are truly worried about anything that has to do with gold, frankincense, and myrrh?

If you really want to get specific and PC on all the holidays, then let's not stop there:

Change MLK to: "Happy Assassinate a World Leader"Day

Change Independence Day to: "British People Take the Land from the Native Americans, call it their own, and then have a Group of British People Claim it as their own By a Declaration" Day.

Change Thanksgiving to: "Happy Slaughter the Indians and Contaminate them with Diseases" Day

Change Kwanzaa To: "Happy Black People's version of Hanukkah" Day.

Change New Year's to: "Happy Another 365 days worth of Bull Sh**" Day.

I could go on and on but you get the point.

Most people KNOW how I celebrate Christmas and what it means to me from a personal perspective. I take stock in that, let people do what they do, and concentrate on me and mines.

My personal belief: No, the Messiah was not born on 12/25, he was born closer to the summer. Had to be said, enough said. . . but I DO celebrate Christmas, in the general sense of the world, and what value the day has FOR ME.

So, Bah, Humbug to anybody that sells Holiday Trees, Holiday Presents, and Holiday Egg Nog.

Merry Christmas!

The Big Move

Three years.

Three years with two wonderful supervisors who:

- Cared About Their Employees
- Made sure that Christmas and Thanksgiving parties were a blast
- Randomly bought lunch and/or dinner in for the crew
- Could go to them and get a loan for any reason, interest free, taken out of your paycheck in convenient bi-weekly deductions.

Laid back. Jeans atmosphere. Most of us shared the same spiritual background, beliefs and principles.

All was well in the world, and a good time had by all.

Until the Big Move.

We moved into a building that was twice the size of our former building, complete with a state of the art breakroom, (really - I mean leather couches, mounted televisions, the whole nine). All the principles had their 8 ball in the corner pocket offices. Life was good. But the mortgage was not. It had doubled.

Sidebar: I did not participate in the weekend company move, because I, too was in the process of moving from one location to the other, the same weekend, so I was given a free pass.

So, when I came back from the move, I attributed the fact that I wasn't able to locate my desk to fatigue from my own move.

Perhaps I didn't look hard enough. Perhaps, in the disarray of the move, some of the desks were not assembled yet. I chalked it up to that.

Until I went into the receptionist area. In the lobby. With all of the phones.

And there were my boxes. And my nameplate.

((INSERT BLANK STARE))

WTF? Click on this link to view the EXACT desk, company, and location (I was on the right hand side).

According to the principles, I was to answer the phone for the receptionist if it went over three rings (the receptionist by the way was a lazy son of a *&$#% who never came to work on time, and totally took her time answering the phones)

So:

I was supposed to do the marketing for the company (I designed the silver sign you see), put out the company newsletter, plan special events, pull data queries and reports, analyze data, AND answer the phone saying "Welcome to Nelson & Associates, your source for PVC Pipes" on the third emma effen ring? AND sit with my back to all the Mr. Charlie's that come in the office. Um, Hell no. Strike One.

Second incident: I am nodding in the breakroom (Not laying out on the couch, feet up like Rick James on a Dave Chappelle Episode), but just sitting down on the couch, with my elbow on the arm of the couch. One of the principles came in here and said "No sleeping in the break room" I was like "On the couch?" He was like "No, in the breakroom".

He might as well told me No Parking on the Dance Floor. Strike Two.

Final Call: I was at my desk, helping the file clerk (who reported to me, who sat in the left chair) do something mundane, and in the process of it all, I was trying to take some adhesive off the back of a magnet. The principle passed by me, saw me picking at something and then called me in his office.

He asked me was I filing my nails.

At that point I could care less. I actually moved around to the side of his desk, and told him "You thought I was filing my nails? You thought I was filing my NAILS? I have worked here three years, never call out sick, always on time, and you are harassing me like I'm on parole. Why would you say something like that to me. AND anyway, I have acrylics, I don't have to file my nails." :P

He turned beet red. Strike Three.

But he wasn't mad as me. We moved in there in April, 2000. By August, I made the big move my own self; with 10K more to boot. I myself was raising the bar. I attributed the fact that their mortgage doubled could have attributed to the stress and/or weird behavior, but I don't have to partake in that.

Have you moved on, or are looking to make that big move? And tell us why!

December Old Skool Joint

I know every word - And I know YOU.DO.TOO!

Fresh Squeezed OJ

Let's get some basics out the way.

I believe he did it. Whether or not as an a principle, or accessory - details are irrelevant. (Sidebar: Peep out the 'accessory' link).

I believe that he is a hot mess that gives me a headache everytime I see him.

I say all this to say that what I say is not in defense of HIM. It is questioning the rage of AmeriKKKA and their intense devotion, fascination, and preoccupation with Orenthal James Simpson and the subsequent murders that are forever linked to his name, even more so than the Heisman, Naked Gun, and Hertz Rent a Car. . .

Apart from the grief that the Brown family and the Goldman family have to endure from losing a loved one in the most brutal way possible, OJ, and all of the variables surrounding his case brings out the worst in society, where what is said about him cleverly masquerades what is felt regarding: black men and the supposed criminal element that surrounds them, interracial relationships, (black men and white women in particular), and how the racial dynamics of this entire case were a platform for those to discuss how they 'really' feel without discussing how they really felt.

This case is over a decade old. Yet, the mere mention of OJ into a conversation with liberal and conservative Mr. Charlie's and Becky's bring these words to life:

"He is scum"
"He is an animal"
"He deserves to be tortured and bludgeoned just like he did his victims".
"The lowest form of human being"
"Those jurors were idiots".

It is never an intellectual conversation. It churns the clock back, counterclockwise, to October 03, 1995, where lines were drawn on levels that had nothing to do with the OJ case.I have yet to hear a logical, valid argument that sounds similar to this:

"Yes, I believe he did it. I also believe that the prosecution put on a very poor case, and that, in that, the jurors had to make a decision based on holes in the prosecution case"

And, it IS true. The prosecution put on a VERY poor case. It was a circus. It was disorganized, emotionally charged (and a lawyer's projection of such should never be that way, until it is opening and closing argument time). The case could have been stronger, but the DA's office did not take measures to prevent this from occurring. You have two individuals (Marcia Clark, Christopher Darden), who behaved like new booties on the trial floor and petulant children at trial's end - and, have also, subsequently profited richly as a result of being associated with this case.

Switch reels. ROBERT BLAKE, where, not even two years ago, he was accused of murdering his wife, perhaps not the dime piece that Nicole Brown Simpson is projected as in the media, but a person, nonetheless, that left an infant daughter behind. You have mounting evidence that points the way of guilt for Baretta, enough where he went all the way through the trial process. He, too, was found not guilty - HOWEVER. . .

There was no public outrage. . . There were no comments from the National Organization of Women. . .NONE of the matching variables that occured with the OJ case, that virtually turned society into folks that transitioned mass hysterial reminiscent of the cabbage patch doll craze of the 80's

Baretta is now free (no pun intended) to move on with his life.

And then you have this here. . .



The beating of a grown man on tape, where the "Not Guilty" verdicts sparked a recipe for disaster that began on Florence and Normadie. Did this affect people long term? Where is the outrage for that NOW, as that area still struggles to rebuild? When Mark Furhman wrote books, was their outrage from an officer who has turned calling suspect and other people of color niggaz into being a correspondent and lucrative speaking engagements? Is any of his money, or city money, being used to rebuild that area of Los Angeles?

Yet, in the case of OJ and "If I Did It" (which by the way, is ridiculous in and of itself), brings people out of the woodwork, brings the all the racial epitephs (disguised as other monikers, such as 'animal', un-human, etc), back out the closet.

Open Wounds. Fresh Squeezed OJ.

You tell me. . .What angers people about OJ IN PARTICULAR. . .where they don't project the same resentment with, say, any other so called "miscarriage of justice?" Do you agree, or disagree with the statements posted here?

Mac & Cheese, Peach Cobbler, Bullshit, and Hell No

Thanksgiving, 2005.

Last year, my father came to visit. No one in the family had seen him in several years. Now, my family is not as close as others, but it was a great experience to have him back in town. Before I go any further, let me give you the players of the game so you can follow the story. The names have been changed to protect the guilty:

Rose Colored Glasses: My Mother
Rich and Stingy: My Brother
Queen of Sheba: My Sister in Law
Diamond: My niece
Frick and Frack: My sister in law's two kids
The Ying Yang Twins: My brother's two kids
P: Yours truly.

Considering that my mother wanted to plan a big event for the family to be around, I insisted that it be held at my place. People could just come in and out all day, and do what they do. However, my mother suggested that we have it at Rich and Stingy's house. I didn't want to, but hey if my mother likes it, I loved it.

Queen of Sheba doesn't know how to cook. All she knows how to cook are greens. So, my mother and I prepared the entire meal. I wasn't going to cook much, but I know my mother would have tried to go all out by herself and I was only trying to help HER out. . .Really. If anybody knows me, it was strickly because of Rose Colored Glasses and her idea of what a holiday should be.

Everything I am about to tell you now, I did NOT find out until a week after Thanksgiving, because my mother knew that I would blow my turkey feathers. Rich and Stingy initially told my mother that if we had the dinner over his house, there could be no kids allowed. (I have 12 nieces and nephews - 2 of which come from him). Rose Colored Glasses then said "We won't have it there, then. I am sure the Ying Yang Twins and Frick and Frack will be there, and I'm doing all the cooking? You must be crazy."

He calls her back and says: "Okay, well kids can come". Later on Queen of Sheba calls my mother and let's her know that she is not cooking anything because she's too busy to be bothered with that kind of stuff. (They have been married for two years. She doesn't clean nor cook - he married the wrong woman, that's another story).

Then we find out that Diamond's brother (my sister's children), a man/child who has had some er, trouble with the law, was promptly seen as Bin Laden himself by Queen of Sheba and Rich and Stingy, because they were in fear of their lives (buh-leeve me when I say it wasn't that serious).

(reminder: I know none of this until a week after).

After I stay up until three am doing everything, and then packing the food in my mother's SUV, and then going to sleep for awhile. I get over there, her family is not speaking to anybody, they are lapping up the food like there is no tomorrow and taking plates home to boot. I had to hoo-bang on her sister, who was blocking the back doorway, looking at me. I asked, "Are you going to move, or am I going to move you?"

So, immediately after eating, the Queen of Sheba revs out the door with her Louie Vuitton bag and her family, no doubt to hang out with her mother and discuss (read: gossip) about everything and everybody.

Trust me when I tell you that I am making this sound good. . .

Fast Forward - Week of November 18, 2006: Email Received:

From: Rich and Stingy
To: P
Re: Mac and Cheese, Peach Cobber

Need to contract with you and mom for Thanksgiving. Think you all help? Food for about 10-15 people. Let me know. Thanks.
((Insert Blank Face here)). WTF??
1. Who are the 10/15 people? Must mean a pre-scheduled list that you and the Queen of Sheba make up, considering you and yours and hers make up 6? And I'm supposed to be cooking? Are you NUTS?

2. Does Rose colored glasses and P look like indentured servants?

3. Does he think I give a phuck after what happened last year, not that I wanted to participate, THEN?

4. See 1-3.
So, as you know, my prompt response to all of this was:
Bull Shit, and Hell No.
Do you have any NERVY friends/relatives? Or, have you had a memorable Thanksgiving to speak about (Good or Bad - but of course, you KNOW we love drama here at KPAT-FM).

Trouble Standard

I have always expressed discomfort with double standards. Not because I am this "I am woman, hear me roar", but because I have always believe that it is damaging to both genders. I think women utilize them even more heavily than some men do, often times selectively choosing the standard that is appropriate for their needs.

I feel bad for some of the brothers! They don't know if what they do is seen as overly aggressive, passive, or anything in between, based upon the variance of attitudes that women have (liberal, moderate, conservative). As for the 'fairer' sex (hehe), sometimes we can't feel out way through, seeing one thing and then hearing another, or vice versa.

I couldn't think of a fancier way to say this, so here are some of the double standards that get on my nerves: Those that are not fair to EITHER ONE OF US. I have a lot of the ones that are unfair to the guys in there, because I think they catch a lot of flack from this as well, but it's indoctrinated in our cultures, effecitively psychologically castrating them. Might not go that far, but using the phrase 'psychologically castrating' makes me appear to be somewhat intellectual. So, without further adieu, like to hear it, hear it goes:

If a woman has custody of her children, then nothing of it. If a man has custody of his children, then something 'really' must have been wrong with the mother, (versus him just being the more appropriate one to rear the child).

If a man takes care of a woman and showers her with gifts, he is taking care of business and keeping his woman happy. If a woman does it, she's stupid and being taken advantage of (as if someone can MAKE you do this).

A woman cheats; its emotional; a man cheats, it's purely sexual.

If a man is agressive in the work force, he has a take charge attitude; if a woman does it, she's overly ambitious and a bitch, to boot.

A man opens the door for you, he is a gentleman. But if he encounters a "I am woman hear me roar" woman, she thinks he is being condescending. So, he doesn't open the door for a woman, and then he's considered unthoughtful. (Poor guy can't win).

A girl wears a "Boys Are Dumb" t-shirt; folks laugh; a man wears "Girls are Dumb", he's sexist and ran out of town.

A man sleeps with a lot of women - well, that's da MAN! A woman does it, she's the freak of the week!

If the woman seeks alimony, well, hell, she should, all that she had to put up with. If a man seeks spousal support, he's a pussy, whoremongering gold-digger.

A man dates a younger woman; he can't handle a 'real woman'; a woman dates a younger man, then she's just exploring her options and meeting a mate compatible with her sexual energy.

Woman tries to get in an all male academy - well, she SHOULD be let in, why not? Man tries to get into an all-female academy, well, he's up to something, just trying to make a point, and THIS SHOULDN'T BE TOLERATED!!

If a man is angry, something must have really made him mad; if a woman is angry, she must be PMS'ing.

If a man keeps a woman 'in check', he's controlling. If a woman keeps a man in check, she's being strong, or keeping him in line (or, she could be married to Doug Christie)

Guys 'get' a girl pregnant. (Like he's a sexual predator or something).

Brokeback Mountain? UGH! Beyonce starring in a lesbo movie w/Eva Longoria? Well, that's another story!

Speaking of sexual predators; if a teacher has an affair with an underage girl and get's her pregnant, he's a sick bastard that deserves to be put under the jail. If a teacher (female) does it to an underage boy, then she's bipolar (with a husband named Vili).

Whether or not I AGREE with any of these is NOT THE POINT HERE!!!! (hehe). I'm just sayin. . .

So, Ladies, and Gentleman, boys and girls. . .

Any double standards you've experienced? Have you thought/used/been a victim of any of the above? Open Forum!

"Positive" - Or Negative?

November 7th is my friend Jamal's birthday. It's also the day that New York elected it's first black mayor, David Dinkins. This is also the day of the fiasco that occurred between George Bush, Al Gore, and the Sunny state of Florida, home of fresh squeezed orange juice, Jeb Bush, and shady polling places.

Those are some of the things that happened on November 07. But what happened on November 07, 1991, - well most of us remember when we were when we heard this - just like knowing where we were when the OJ Verdict and the Rodney King Verdicts, when we heard about the Aaliyah, and when we heard about Tupac Being Shot.

It was Ervin "Magic" Johnson, basketball player extraordinary, face of the Lakers, personality to die for (pun intended), one who adored the ladies and won the admiration of men - it was this Magic Johnson that stunned, paralyzed, and sent shock waves that reverberated through out the world as he announced that he was retiring after testing positive for the "HIV" virus.

We were all stunned. Not stunned in the since that we didn't know how he contracted it, but stunned in the since of:

- Oh, so you CAN get this by heterosexual contact, and not just homosexual relations, dirty IV's, and blood transfusions?

- This is a man, a black man, a strong black man, who got it. Just from being a FREAK

- He's going to DIE. He won't make it to see the hall of fame.

And any other combination thereof.

It made the men of this world take stock - of what they had been doing - who they were doing it TO, and when. It made women's minds race, wondering how much that third drink 'really' may have cost them. The sale of prophylactics skyrocketed; everyone was playing it safe and keeping their noses clean.

Ah the good old days. Are we back in the nosebleed section, now?

With a resurgence increase in sexuality, (both teens and adults alike), and the hedonistic attitudes that pervade our culture, I believe that the message has been lost regarding abstinence, safe sex, or any other practice that is deemed appropriate for your respective lifestyle. It is difficult enough to swallow (no pun intended) the fact that many teens don't consider oral sex 'sex'. Now whether they got that message from Bill's spiel on his relationship with Monica Lewinsky is another story; the fact is, it is so. It is equally difficult to know that there are now more people trapped in the closet than an R. Kelly Video.

This is no gender blaming incident - we are all responsible for our behaviors and actions. Nor is this particularly the forum to discuss whether or not people are 'going to do it anyway', even though you are open to discuss anything you wish. The bigger, prevalent issue that I see here, is that so many people get 'caught up' in what they doing, indicating "Well, it only happened once", or "I've been with them for so long", that there is an ongoing game of Russian Roulette playing, and that the bullet has pieced many who have sung that mantra, and more often than, not, it was that time that "It only happened once".

Most of what we see now endorse sexuality. Videos. . .Songs. . .and everything in between. 16 year old Keisha Castle Hughes, the sister in whale rider, is expecting a baby with her boyfriend of three years. We can go on and on with that but I don't want to overlap messages.

I want to turn it over to you. . .

Do you think that both adults and children have returned to the days of old, being careless and reckless in their sexual escapades?

November Old Skool Joint