Dream-12/28/09

*****It's been a while since I blogged about one of my dreams. I have been having dreams but I just haven't been feeling motivated to blog about them. *****

In this particular dream I was back in college only I went to a school that actually had a football team that had a big time football program. My best friend played defensive end for our school's team and he was thought of as being a very high draft pick in the upcoming NFL draft. For some reason he asked me to come to the combine with him. If you don't know what the combine is, it's where all the potential NFL draft picks come and perform tests. Like the 40 yard dash, bench pressing and even written tests.

While there some of the coaches asked me what position I played. I told them that I was there strictly for support. I kept getting asked over and over until I eventually told the coaches that I played wide receiver. They had me run the 40 yard dash and I shattered the record with a time 4.02 seconds. After that I excelled at most of the other drills and tests. Pretty good for someone who never played college football.

Come draft day this is where it gets weird. I was invited to the NFL Draft and all my family was there. I got picked third overall by the St Louis Rams. Once home my parents threw me a huge party and all my friends and family were invited. Funny thing is all my ex-girlfriends (except for one) showed up. I was wondering why my parents would invite them but they came. It really was on some Mike Jones sh*t. You know: "Back then they ain't want me, now I'm hot they all on me."

*****This dream was so weird. Usually if I wake up mid-dream and I fall back to sleep I usually have a completely different dream. Last night I woke up maybe 3-4 times and my dream kept picking up where it left off.*****

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Football- To dream that you are playing football or on a football field, represents your competitive nature. Alternatively, you are not getting enough cooperation in some area of your life. You are faced with many demanding challenges.

Ex- Past lovers often highlight the positive experiences you had with that person. It could also signify aspects of yourself that you have x'd out or neglected.

The Ugly Truth

Today one of my friends, @Khalisha1981, posed this question on twitter:

Twitter Fam,how important is physical attraction in ur man/woman?

After not much thought at all I replied that looks are and will always be at the top of my list as far as a relationship. Its not rocket science so it's not hard to understand that when a man and a woman first meet it's usually physical attraction that beguiles them to each other. I know that looks may bring a person in and it's the personality that makes that person stay but something has to reel that person in. After I posted my response I was called superficial and shallow. #cmonson o_0

You mean to tell me that you could be in a relationship with a person that you don't find attractive? No matter how much you want to believe deep down inside I know you don't believe that. I think there could only possibly be four reasons why you would in a relationship with a person that you don't find attractive.

1. Freak Accident:

This is where personality and love would probably play the biggest role. Looks don't last forever and I think if one person in the relationship were to suffer some kind of freak accident that left them mutilated or disfigured then at this point looks should be the least of any one's concerns (see I'm not really that shallow?).

2. You're just plain lying:

Most people like to be politically correct. Saying that looks matter isn't PC so most people think it but most people don't like to own up to it. You should mean what you say and say what you mean.

3. You're not actually dating that person:

There are some women out there (yes you) who would date a man regardless of what he looks like because he has a certain amount of money or he has a certain status. I really don't think this counts because that woman is not dating that man. Rather she is dating his money or his status. There are other words I could use for these type of people women but that's for another blog.

4. You're not attractive yourself:

I'm calling a spade a spade. If you aren't attractive yourself of course you're going to say that looks don't matter. #shots Understandably there is a HUGE difference between looks and attraction. If we find each other attractive that's all that should matter but if NOONE else finds you attractive then that also speaks volumes. If you are offended by this point then you just might be a spade. #youmad?

My homegirl @seeomora had this to say on the subject:

If I can't imagine u naked then I don't want to look

I think this about sums up how I feel. So how bout it? How important are looks vs. attraction in a relationship to you? Am I really the 2009 version of Shallow Hal?

Big Booty Judy

I was on twitter today and I noticed the trending topic #playedout. As I read the various responses I was slightly amused by some and I was generally annoyed by the majority of them. Anyway, it caused to think about some things that are played out. One thing that I think is played out is... *drum roll*

Phat Asses (over all thickness for that matter)

Now I know what you're thinking. I'm tripping right? Or maybe I'm delusional? How could I say that about the one body part on a woman that most men can't resist? Hear me out.

I used to always find myself lusting after in relationships with thicker women. It used to be something about a phat ass and double D breasts that sent me over the edge. I mean don't get me wrong they still do but I have come to appreciate the petiteness of a woman. There is nothing wrong with a B cup (or a full A). I'm from the state of mind that all you really need is mouthful. Honestly, anything more than that is extra. You don't need to have the body type to fill out a pair of apple bottoms if you just as sexy in a pair of 7 jeans. The only advantage I could imagine to having a bigger ass (from a guy's p.o.v.) would be back shots. As someone who really enjoys that there really isn't that big of a difference unless you going from say Pinky to Amy Winehouse. So for all you women who aren't as blessed in that area, there is hope for you yet. Just joking (a little). [*1]

Next I think we all are in agreement that the majority of men are visual creatures. Reading this blog Lost in Brook Lynn (Magic City Dancer), she did a question & answer session with the manager of Magic City. Here is an excerpt of the dialog:

Do you ever stop caring that there are a bunch of nude women around you ?

-Definitely, it’s overrated. Most women look better with their clothes on.

Now this is coming from a man who sees probably the best looking strippers in the country. In my opinion ass dimples and booty do's is not what's hot in the streets. These are things that can look good in clothes but when those clothes come off all that thickness just isn't as appealing.

Probably not so much

I don't know maybe if more men thought like me then women wouldn't feel the need to try to fool us into thinking they have what we desire (breast augmentation, butt pads, underwire pushup bras, etc.). I for one would be disappointed if I managed to be fooled by such tricks, deception and swindles. A classic example are of this is Nicki Minaj. If you were to see her without all that crap she wears she's actually a pretty decent looking woman. I believe she has fallen victim to industry packaging and feels the need to sell sex. Either way, its rumored that she wears butt implants. Compare her to one of my celebrity crushes, Keri Hilson, who embraces her body and doesn't feel the need to try to bamboozle us. I would roll with Keri any day of the week.

Queen of Butt Pads

-OR-

Slim & Slender

I don't want this post to be misconstrued as me trying to degrade or put down my thicker sisters because that's hardly the case. This post is just something that I thought has been over emphasized and is now getting kinda played.

With that I leave you with a quote from the philosopher Malice of Clipse [Counseling track ft. Nicole Hurst off their new album Till the Casket Drops]:

"I used to be all about a phat ass

then I found a cutie with a flat ass

good hair, nice smile but a flat ass

2 outta 3, shit I couldn't let that pass" [*1]

[*1] I am in no way saying I like flat asses. I'm actually more of an ass man than a breast man. Just wanted to put that out there.

Call Me Mr. Flintstone

So many jokes could be said here.

I've never really blogged about sex and I really don't have a reason why I haven't. I mean I love sex. Everything about it. How it makes me feel. How I can bring multiple orgasms make a woman feel. When sex is good it can make life that much better.

Laying in bed I just watched the Bedrock video by Young Money. I actually like this song for some reason even though the only artists I really like from Young Money are Jae Millz & Gudda. I actually think Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Mack Maine and this Chucky character are garbage. But getting back on topic I couldn't help but chuckle at this line:

"Call me Mr. Flintstone, I can make your bedrock."

In my sexual experiences I have learned that women who talk a lot about what they can do often leave much to be desired in that department (maybe in the comment section some women can speak on their experiences). There are so many songs that would have you believe that its cool to brag on your sexual prowess but in my opinion that's like peeling a ripe banana only to find out its rotten on the inside (see what i did there? lol). I did a search on my iTunes on the word sex and these are the songs that I got:

I Invented Sex- Trey Songz ft. Drake

Sex Therapy- Robin Thicke

Sex in Crazy Places- Gucci Mane ft. Bobby Valentino & Nicki Minaj

That's just a couple. I'm not going to get into some of the things that come out of Nicki Minaj, Trina and Lil Kim's mouth or goes in. I would put money up that these three chicks are probably terrible in bed [*1]. Once again from my experiences it's usually the ones that are quiet and don't have to talk about what they can do that will knock your socks off literally.

Be honest. Who's been here before?

I'm quite confident in what I can do (or can't do) but I don't see the need to broadcast that to whomever. If they are fortunate enough then they can have my actions speak much louder than my words (yeah I did that lol). Ladies, do you brag on your good good? No Ashanti. Fellas, are you in these streets telling these woman how you can have them walking funny the next day? Maybe you're like me and don't talk about it, you just be about it. Speak your piece/peace. lol

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[*1] I have nothing against these women and I could be absolutely wrong but even if I had the opportunity to see for myself I think I would pass. Well maybe not on Trina. She's Still Da Baddest B*tch.

Man Law or Common Courtesy

Study them, learn them

There are man laws that I believe are universally accepted like:

Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella. And if you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer. Also, there is no reason for guys to watch ice skating or men's gymnastics. ever.

On the flip side there are man laws that are accepted by the majority but not observed by some. This could be total ignorance on part of the individual (which is no excuse) or that they just don't care. The man law that brought me to write this blog is:

If you are interested in a female or you vice verse and you've been out on dates, dated etc. then said girl is off limits to me.

Kind of looks suspect, right?

I'm not speaking on women who my boy may have just smashed off because that opens up a whole new can of worms and the dynamics in that situation works very differently. Like why would I seriously pursue a woman who my boy used to date or has dated, casually or seriously? It would just make for an awkward situation and that's not my style.

Previously I've done blog posts about thirsty broads. (You can read them here and here.) In my disdain for the broads that brought me to write those blog posts, I neglected to mention that dudes in fact can be thirsty. I feel as if you would go as far as to try to scoop your friend's leftovers [or current(s)] then you are indeed a thirsty n***a. Excuse my bluntness but in my life I've learned that p*ssy comes a dime a dozen but real true and tried friends are hard to come by.

What say you? Have you ever tried to get with someone your friend dates/dated? Do you have that one thirsty friend who acts like they've never seen a member of the opposite sex? How did you handle it? Is that thirsty person you and you just haven't realized it?

I love you

You gave birth to the woman who gave me birth

A great woman who I wished I knew better

But we lived an ocean and a world apart

You no longer being with us is bittersweet

I guess I'm just selfish, because I want you to stay

But I know you're in a better place

No more suffering, no more pain

You are now with the love of your life

I guess it's the cycle of life

You were my last living grandparent

So now I just have my parents

And I fear the day I have to say goodbye to them

This is my goodbye

Grandma, I love you and I always will.

Stupid Dope Fresh Lyrics

I think I have a pretty good ear for music. I love listening to hip hop songs that have tight lyrics. Lyrics that actually make you think. I think as far as the rap game is concerned so many people get caught up in the beat of a song and hook that they believe this makes a quality record. The craftsmanship of actually writing a verse that makes the listener think was starting to become a thing of the past.

With the freshman class (Wale, Drake, J. Cole, Kid Cudi, etc) the art of writing dope lyrics is making a comeback. One of my favorite up and coming rappers is J. Cole out of Fayetteville, N.C. At first I slept on son but then I took a hard listen to his latest mixtape, The Warm-Up. Two verses stuck out to me on that mixtape. The first is his verse off of The Badness ft Omen:

Believe in God like the sun up in the sky

Science can tell us how but can't tell us why

I seen a baby cry and seconds later she laughs

The beauty of life, the pain never lasts

The rain always pass, the sun don't always shine

When its gone I'm lonely but when its there I'm fine

I hate the winter time because the nights come quicker

The light make the whites think I'm a nice young n***er

But at night they think twice and walk a little faster

Funny 100 years ago I woulda called this n***er master

How the tables turned but still the fire's burning

I feel the heat, the world is a dryer turning (turning)

I'm looking for some higher learning (learning)

Girl you what I desire, yearning (yearning)

You say I'm easily distracted

I think the problem is that I'm easily attracted

by the dark side,

the temptation got me questioning where my heart lies

I'm trying to separate myself like apartheid

But hey the liquor keep swallowing

I swear I walk with God but the devil keep following

The second verse is off another track that i am really feeling. Its called Losing Your Balance. I love guitar in the background and the song is a song meant to uplift. The entire song is dope but I really feel the first verse:

Ms. High Profile, caught you shopping on Canal

I guess it make sense, it seem as phony as your style

Your hair and your nails just as phony as your smile

Fake eyelashes you drew your eyebrows

Make a brother ask do you pride yourself

Your makeup like a mask trying to hide yourself

It seem on the outside you thinking you the sh*t

But its a soulless inside that you ain't even knew exist

So you so out of touch that the world mistreat you

Rich n***as f*ck you and broke n***as beat you

Hope that this will reach you and you understand

That your value ain't determined by another man

Cuz right you let them brothers get the upper hand

And you just tell 'em go deep like Cunningham

And just let em OD like Len Bias

And that pussy so good he let his friends try it

If you want to download The Warm Up mixtape click here.

Just Black...?

*****After having a good discussion, I asked my favorite, Milan, to write a guest blog post. I think she has an interesting perspective. Enjoy. Also laides if you want to know about the latest make and beauty products on the market hit up her blog. Click HERE to see it. *****

So I was actually pleased when my boy Tunde suggested I get on and write this post for his blog because it’s a topic I feel strongly about and have some ‘not so great’ experience with. It’s actually a follow-up to a post he wrote HERE that I thought was extremely thought provoking.

After reading Tunde’s post, it brought back a ton of memories I had of situations in the past (that were essentially the reverse of what he was talking about) where I was made to feel inadequate or “less than” because…well…I am ‘just’ black or ‘just’ African-American, if you will. Yes you read right, JUST black…as if being so was simply not good enough. I’ve heard some Africans and even Afro-Caribbean people say African-Americans are “lost, lazy and lack true heritage”. Instead of embracing African-Americans as an extension of who they are and the cultures they represent, many have chosen to shun us or write us off as “lost”. This is mind-boggling to me. And hurtful.

I identify myself as black or African-American. I tend to use the two interchangeably a lot although African-American speaks more to my culture whereas black can include people of various cultural backgrounds with a common tie to African ancestry. I was born here in the United States, so were my parents, so were their parents and several generations before them. Yet, I know I am a descendent of Africa. I know my roots and heritage can be traced directly back to that continent. I know my ancestors were taken from Africa, brought to America as slaves and that’s essentially where my family’s story in this country begins. I’ve had family members trace our ancestry back to the early/mid-1800s. I know my people were slaves in this country. I even know what states some of them lived, who may have owned them, how they married, what children they had, how they moved and migrated across this country, and how I came to be born and raised in California. These are things I know.

What I do not know is exactly what country in Africa my people came from. I do not know what village or tribe I am a descendant of. I do not know what region I am from. I do not have names of my African ancestors. I myself do not have an African surname. But my heart is there, I know it, I feel it and there’s nothing anyone can say or do to take that away from me or any other African-American in this country. I am proud of who I am, I am proud of the ancestors that struggled in THIS country for me to have the opportunities I have, I am proud of what African-Americans here represent. I am proud of my family and my name.

When I was in college, I had a Nigerian guy I liked tell me although he liked me too…his parents would never accept me because I was ‘just’ black. I think this was the first of many of these types of comments I would encounter throughout the years usually from well-meaning African friends of mine. At the time I didn’t even fully understand what that meant…’just’ black. But it did stick with me. I guess I was naïve and looked at us all in much the same way. Yes, I was aware of cultural differences, however, black was black to me. Whether you were Haitian, Nigerian, Belizean, African-American, Trinidadian, Jamaican-American, Eritrean, etc. It was the first time I started seeing the major division that WE create amongst ourselves. The various sects that had arisen, the “culture snobs” (as I tend to call them) that existed…those that shun anything and everything that is different from the specific African culture they were a part of. The “oh you can’t know ANYTHING about this over here because THIS is Naija”. Yeah, that attitude. I have more stories along these lines, but in the interest of not writing an epic novel (just a short book apparently LOL), I won’t share them all. But you get the idea. I’m all for cultural pride. I get that. I love seeing it. I think blacks are some of the most diverse and interesting people on this planet. But when that pride turns to elitism, that’s when I have a problem.

I think we have enough “outside forces” that try to divide and conquer black people and that try to make us feel inferior that it’s sad to me that we do it to ourselves as well. That internal rejection tends to hurt more than the rejection you receive when you expect it from “others”.

I used to feel bad when I would hear the “you’re JUST black”comments. Like I was lacking something that made me inadequate. Now that I’m older, I don’t feel bad…I’m extremely proud to be JUST black or African-American. Black people in the United States have had to endure incredible pain and suffering and have had to overcome numerous struggles to be able to live equally and fairly. We STILL struggle for that. But we have a fighting spirit that can’t be matched. We’re survivors. And not for nothing, I think that strength was born and fed in Africa and has been passed down from generation to generation and still exists to this day in this country and around the world. We are resilient.

I have always been interested in learning about various cultures, especially various African/Afro-Caribbean cultures. It’s fascinating to me. Not because I’m searching for something that I lack, but because I tend to discover an aspect of these cultures that has translated into African-American culture in some way. I think that’s pretty special and I would encourage other African people to do the same. Especially those that are hung-up on the idea that being ‘just black’ isn’t good enough. They may discover that what connects us if far greater than what separates us. They may also discover that when they look at us, they’ll see themselves more often than not.

Ethiopian, Nigerian, Ugandan, Eritrean, Belizean, Trinidadian, Jamaican, Bahamian….yeah, I think African-Americans are all of those mixed up and rolled into one. I think that’s pretty dope and I’m extremely proud to be JUST black.

Capital Punishment

***Before you read any further please know that I'm writing this blog based on my own opinions and views. If you disagree or have different opinions take it up in the comment section. Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.***

After the execution of John Allen Muhammad I have many thoughts about the views of others. Do I think that Muhammad was a monster? Of course. Do I believe that he got what he deserved? Of course not. I'm absolutely do not believe in capital punishment. The past 24 hours or so I have been having conversations about whether capital punishment is wrong. I've been getting mixed reviews.

I feel like it is no man's place on Earth to judge whether another man lives or dies. That is for God to decide.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7).

This is not to say that adultery is the same as murder but is all sin not equal? In the Old Testament the Bible describes various sins that are punishable by death. These include kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), bestiality (Exodus 22:19), adultery (Leviticus 20:10), homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13). Based on this a lot more people in this world deserve to die then.

Another issue I have with people who are for capital punishment is if you were given the choice to pull the lever, inject the needle, let the gas in the chamber, etc. could you? If you couldn't because your conscious or religious beliefs couldn't/wouldn't let you physically take another life then I don't think you are really for the death penalty. In a way it is being cowardice because you want an individual to die but you just don't have the balls to do it yourself.

What about those people that have been wrongly accused of crimes and were sentenced to death? Yeah I know they all say they didn't do it but what about those cases when they actually didn't? It happens a lot more than you think, click this here to see some statistics. Here are two examples:

Earl Washington, a Virginia man with limited mental capacity, was sentenced to death after he allegedly confessed to committing a 1982 murder he didn't commit. He served a decade on death row, once coming within nine days of execution before receiving a stay. He would serve a total of 17 years behind bars before DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project cleared him in 2000.

Frank Lee Smith died of cancer on Florida’s death row after serving 14 years for a murder and rape he didn't commit. He was cleared by DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project 11 months after his death.

Where is the justice for these men? What if they were actually executed then who should answer to God for that? I wonder how many people in this country have actually been executed for a crime that they didn't commit.

Yesterday on twitter I saw a barrage of tweets that really had me questioning people's moral integrity. People actually went in on a girl who asked for other to pray for Muhammad. How can you actually get mad at someone who asks to for prayers for another individual? I don't care how much evil that many has done. Once he passes over into the next life he has to answer to whatever higher being he worships.

Do you believe in Capital Punishment? Are you glad that John Allen Muhammad was executed? Am I being overly sensitive? Do you care either way?

The Masks We Wear

**In honor of Halloween, the one holiday where everyone tries to be something that they aren't, I decided to write this post.**

We all have a variety of masks that each of us wears daily. These may be the identities that have been given to us, or ones that we have assumed over time.

As long as we recognize that we are wearing a mask we should be in good shape. But when the mask becomes a seeming reality for us, then that's when trouble begins. We confuse the mask with the person, and if we are to consummate enough, so do those around us. Gradually the mask becomes a trap, and we become the mask.

I see so many people who wear masks in their every day lives. They attempt to be something or someone that they are not, failing to realize that sometimes who they are under the mask is better than any mask that they can attempt to wear. It's easy to believe that we we really are is simply not good enough.

On the flip side not every use of a mask is negative, however. Masks can help us build our own defenses for the time we need them. They can give us power, or at least the illusion of fortitude, in a time when we may feel powerless. As long as the masks remain flexible and breakable, we can alter them at will, still realizing that we are not what we wear on our face as the mask we present to others.

Hater

I was listening to my iPod last night and this song came on my shuffle. I thought to myself that the premise of this song is really some hater sh*t (worse than the premise of 'I Luv Your Girl'). The title goes perfectly with the song.

We've all been there before whether you want to admit it or not. You meet her/him and there's an instant attraction to the point where you want to get to know this person better. That is until they drop the bomb on you and they tell you that they are involved. At this point I most people would cut their losses and keep it moving. But what if you don't want to give up that easily? I mean they are giving you time and opportunity for a reason right? Why should I (speaking in generalities) care about who she/he has at home? I don't owe them a damn thing.

What if you actually know of their significant other but you're still not cool with them like that? Do you still give them the respect of not trying to scoop their man/woman like a Marion Barber fumble? I've actually come across this situation twice in my adult life. And like the Dream said: "...the cool n***a in me was like don't do it but the other n***a was like man f**k that n***a." In both of these situations I took the other n***a approach. This line of thought got me what I wanted only half the time and even in that situation it was years later after they broke up. The other situation I feel could have been something great were it not for the wrong time/place.

I had to ask myself in the end was it worth it to hate on the next man because he had what I wanted. Have you ever hated on the next person? Do you believe in karma and someone might try to jedi mind trick your significant other into believing the grass is indeed greener on the other side?

Dream-10/24/09

Last night I went to sleep particularly early for a Saturday night (before 2am). I had just came back from going to a haunted house (maybe this has a lot to do with the nature of my dream). So in my dream I had I was sleep in my bed and someone was banging on my front door. In my dream I woke up and I looked at my alarm clock and it was 3:26am. As I was going to see who was at the door I heard someone kick in my back door. At this point my heat turned on and since my house is older it has a lot of creaks and cracks. I awoke in real life thinking someone actually was trying to break in my house.

It took me about 10 minutes to fall back to sleep. It seemed as soon as fell asleep I had the same dream with the same result. This happened 3 times. The last time I fell asleep I had a dream that I heard someone near my bedroom window. These individuals in question lit my house on fire. At this point in my dream I was looking at myself sleeping and I was telling myself to get up and get out of the house but for some reason I couldn't get up.

When I finally awoke in real life my heart was pounding out of control and I tried to move but for some reason I couldn't move my arms or legs. I really can't say how long this feeling lasted but when I finally looked at the clock it was after 3:30. I didn't fall back asleep till after 5 at which point I don't remember what I dreamed about.

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Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).Our bodies protect us from acting out our dreams by paralyzing us. Sometimes, the paralysis lingers after you wake up.

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Burglary- is an untrustworthy individual; ulterior motives; someone who will end up taking something.

Arson- stands for willful destruction done in a person's life.

Dream-10/17/09

One of the greatest heroes

This past Saturday I had a dream that I was at an amusement park in Nashville (no such thing exists in real life) and I was having a great time with my friends. I haven't been to an amusement park since maybe 2002. All of a sudden I see a bunch of people running and I hear security on the loud speaker telling everyone to exit the park in a calm and orderly manner. This only made people run towards the exit fast and more disorderly.

Nashville Skyline

As I looked towards the Nashville skyline I saw missiles being fired at the batman building. It was crazy because I couldn't exactly tell in what direction the missiles came from. All I know was that Nashville was under attack. Next thing I know there was a massive earthquake. The ground literally cracked open and a giant tripod (re: War of the Worlds) came out the ground and started killing people. As we all ran for our lives I saw missiles being fired at the tripod. I thought that it was entirely too fast for the military to get there. As I looked behind me I saw Optimus Prime firing missiles towards the tripod. Next thing I know its like 6 tripods fighting Optimus. He ended up killing all of them and saving the day.

Evil tripod

I know for a fact that I watch too much tv and way too many movies. Sad part is I don't plan on cutting back anytime soon.

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~Amusement Park- To see or be in an amusement park in your dream, indicates you need to set some time for leisure and more enjoyment in your life. Consider how everything in the park is an expression of some aspect of yourself. Alternatively, you may be too easily distracted lately.

~Robot- To see a robot in your dream, indicates that you are going about life in a mechanical and rigid way. You have lost the ability to express your feelings. Alternatively, a robot may symbolize the way you view your working life.

I'm African, What Are You?

Downtown Lagos. Not a hut in sight.

African American is a term used to show racial origins. The term itself is not racial or even political, but cultural since 'African American' is a cultural group. Even though the term is cultural I still feel that it is used to divide people of color. Growing up it was deemed such a negative thing to be associated with Africa. There were so many stereotypes about Africa. Types of questions I would get asked were “do you walk around naked in Africa?” Another person asked me “do you live in huts at Africa?” Whenever people asked me these questions, it really used to bother me. I used to actually be ashamed of my heritage because I was young and didn't know any better. Now I love the fact that I am African.

Most people don't know what the life in Africa looks like because they got these stereotypes from movies and internet sources. My family is from Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa. Lagos is one of the biggest and busiest places in Africa. It is filled with airports, hotels, restaurants, and some industries. Countries outside Africa even have business and vacation sectors in Lagos. The official language of Nigeria is British English along with traditional languages. Nigeria has more than 200 tribes. Nigeria is not the only advanced country in Africa; there are countries like South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, Togo and other countries that are advancing.

Personally I feel if no matter what country you are from, if you are a person of color then you are African. If you are Dominican, guess what? Your people got to that island from somewhere. If you are a black French, you definitely are African. My friend Azza, sent me this video the other day. It's refreshing to see someone try to unify black people, from all over the globe. I think there is too much separation as it is.

Birthday Month [recap]

**I know it's been a while since I blogged but I was home living life and getting it in. Can you blame me (don't want to hear anything Ms. Minx)? Anyway, I'm back. I know you missed me.**

First I want to thank all my friends who helped me have a good time. My Nashville friends, my DC/MD friends, family. Big shout outs to my brother, Tai, for quarterbacking my birthday party and looking out my birthday week to make sure I had a great time.

So I flew home the actual day of my birthday party, which also happened to be the same day as my 10 year high school reunion mixer (yes I'm that old). It all worked out because we had our mixer at Indulj on U street and my party was at Republic which was on the same street about four blocks down. It rained heavily the whole day, but I wasn't about to let that ruin my good time.

High School Reunion Mixer

The homie Arneisa

The homie Nancy. Known her forever

I had a good time. I saw some friends that I've always kept in contact with (read: Club2300) and people that I haven't seen since graduation. I even saw people I forgot I went to high school with. All in all I had a good time. Some people looked really good, better than they did in high school. I guess age can do that to you. Some people looked the opposite and looked kinda bad. I guess they hit their peek in their late teens.

My Birthday Party

My bday flyer

Tai pouring drinks at the table

The reunion mixer was from 7-11 and my party was 10-until. So naturally I got to my party around 12. The four block walk seemed like 10 because of the rain but a lot of people did end up leaving the reunion and making the walk. I had a pretty good time and the turn out was a lot better than I thought it was gonna be because of all the rain. I'm glad my dad didn't show up like he said he was lol. My brother asked me what type of liquor I wanted for my table. I told him champagne, vodka and patron was cool but absolutely no Nuvo (if you don't know how I feel about Nuvo click here). It was good times had by all. They even played Atomic Dog and made me set owt a hop. I think I had too much Stoli because I obliged.

Wedding

The Six and Deuce

The Four and Tre

This past Saturday my line brother got married. 6 out the 7 off the line were in attendance. That many of us haven't been together since 2003. It was really good seeing my line brothers. The wedding was fun and he got married to another one of my good friends. Once again alcohol took over and when Atomic Dog came on, my four and I set it owt. Then came the Bmore Club music. That might have been the highlight of the reception. My tre is known for his footwork on the dance floor and he didn't disappoint. I had a good time at the wedding.

Overall I had a great 10 days at home celebrating my birthday and spending time with family and friends.

Reverie of Self

"It is not so much the example of others we imitate as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words." ~Eric Hoffer

Seeing has how my 28th birthday is in 9 days I've come to a point of reflection in my life. I think that I've accomplished a lot on in my short time on this Earth but I think I have so much more to do. When I was in high school no one could have told me that by the time I was 30 I wouldn't be married, have 3 kids and have a Nobel prize in Biochemistry. Obviously none of that is going to happen by 30. Life never goes according to plan and I'm cool with that.

Occasionally, events will occur in our lives that cause us to stop so that we may reflect and re-evaluate all that which comprises the many facets of our life. These periods cause us to re-prioritize things, abandon what does not belong or is making our lives more difficult and stressful, and seek out what truly matters to us.

During the next few months I will be transitioning into the work world (at least for the time being) for the first time in my life. I have many decisions to make about what I want to do, where I want to live, etc. During this time, I think I may be able to gain insight from my dreams, for dreams are the gateway to the subconscious. They can reveal truths that I am unable, or unwilling, to see when awake. If this is true then my past couple of blogs have me more confused than ever. lol

During periods of reflection, you may learn that you must release your fears to be able to move beyond what is holding you back and preventing you form reaching your true potential. You may not know what your fears are, so reflect, meditate, journal, do ritual or divination, or something else altogether, to help you see what fears need facing. It has also occurred to me that there is absolutely no reason why we should have to wait until moments such as these to begin reflecting. Wouldn't it be better to re-examine things at times when there isn't already stress weighing us down?