Maxwell is Back!!!!

I am so happy to see that Maxwell has returned! I really like this song. I have been playing it a lot the past few days. Maxwell has cut his hair but he seems to not have lost a step with the music. I have all of his albums and for a second I thought he was on permanent hiatus. The rumor is that he will be releasing 3 albums over the next 3 years. If he does that, I will not complain at all. First you have Robin Thicke's album now Maxwell is back. Maybe good R&B is not dead....

Best I Ever Had

Drake - Best I Ever Had

I love this song. It has been on constant rotation on my playlist. I hear it and it makes me miss my girlfriend. I do wish it could have been a little more romantic. However, that may just be me getting old lol! I hope you enjoy it.

5 Year Reunion

I had my 5 year high school reunion this weekend. I went to a private Quaker school here in Baltimore. There were several surprises:

1. I actually like my classmates

Seriously, I thought when I graduated, there would only be a few people I would like. I thought my classmates were immature (Im sure they felt the same about me). However sitting with them Saturday, I had a realization: they have turned out to be really good people. I really believe my classmates to be good folk. I would actually call them up for a drink just for fun. They turned out into some genuine, nice, caring people. I was surprised and just felt glad I went to my reunion.

2. Several of my female classmates look good

My female classmates are attractive. I was surprised. I knew we had some lookers but it seems like they have just gotten better with age. I am very surprised. Me and some of the fellas were definitely caught staring. There was one classmate who went to Howard. I was dancing with her and it caught me by surprise. I whispered in her ear, "You must have learned some new tricks at Howard.". She smiles and said 'I taught some tricks at Howard". I left well enough alone. I am going to keep it simple: My female classmates are lucky I have a girlfriend.

3. Many of them stayed local

I figured most of my classmates would have been spread across the country. In high school, they seemed to be the wandering type. The broke struggling artist who roams city to city. Not at all. Most are right here in Baltimore. I am surpised by that

Overall, I really like how my class has turned out. I am soooooo glad I went to the reunion. 

PS: Check out the blog C-Nel and I share, Two Brothers 

Monotony

My life has gotten quite boring lately. At work, my routine is exactly the same. Plan, teach, eat lunch, teach, go home. After I leave work, I go to the gym. I come back from the gym, cook dinner, watch CNN. I will talk to the gf for a while then go to sleep.

Is this what being an adult is all about? This blows. I need some excitement, some adventure. Where is an earthquake when you need one?!?! I need something to happen to break this monotony! It is killing me! Aaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!

The Wonder Years

The past few weeks are starting to stress me. I am trying to find a job and it is requiring more patience than a little bit.

But I recently downloaded a series called "The Wonder Years". I am sure some of you are familiar with it. It is about a middle school-aged boy in suburbia during the late '60s. The main character's name is Kevin Arnold. He talks about everything from girls, to his family, to his fear of growing up.

I have realized that the show is legitimately the shiznit! I love it. During my lunch breaks I watch an episode or two. The show really captures the feeling of suburbia. How isolated it was from the rest of the nation. But the show also captures the awkwardness of being a middle school boy. It made me realize I was really an awkward kid. I had low self-esteem and I was timid. I had no control over my body. I would randomly trip and fall. I was definitely not athletic and girls definitely did not like me.

But I would like to think I turned out pretty well.

PS: I just saw Lorenz Tate on an epsiode!!! He was soooooooooooooo young!! No one told me he was on the Wonder Years!!!

In My Life

Things have been coming along ok. I am still looking for a job. I have a few promising leads. However, it is hard to be patient when I do not know what is coming next. It is very difficult. Thus, there are days that I feel frustrated and upset because I have not gotten a phone call or email. I know I have to be patient but is sure is not easy.

Teaching has become frustrating. It is rewarding in many ways but it is definitely frustrating. There are days I come home and just want to sleep. I don't want to eat, I don't want to watch tv; just sleep. I wonder if I am even reaching the kids. There are plenty of days I question whether I even want to continue. Switching to the non-profit industry is something I am considering. I believe that my skills and abilities may fit that industry better. Who knows...

Also, I am now a contrubuting writer for another blog called Brother's Man Law. Check it out and leave some comments. My first entry is there so leave some love.

Exercise!!

Today I went on my first run in a super super long time (first since high school football). I ran 2.5 miles today! I feel like Rocky. I can take on the world!!!

Me and the gf have set up a challenge for ourselves. We are going to try and run 100 miles by the end of her semester. We will log our miles and by the end of the semester we should have 100 miles. I know I can do it. I will keep you up to date!

Lesson Learned

Story:

I am currently back at my old college. It's spring break so I decide to travel back to Erie. Last night, me and a few friends decide to hit up the old campus bar. The special was 50 cent well drinks. That was something no one would ever turn down.

It was a rough night.

I had fun but I had one too many. I knew I had one too many when I fell down the steps. I normally dont drink cheap liquor (Bankers' Club vodka was the well vodka). But I fell down the steps and felt embarrassed!! I have never done that before. Once I fell, I took my behind home. I knew it was time to go.

Lesson Learned:

Need to improve my balance. Cheap alcohol does not mean I need to drink as much as possible

Moving Forward: The Job Search

In late January/ early February, I found out that my contract at the school I am at is not being renewed. Thus, I have been looking for a new job. I am looking in the non-profit and education sector.

Someone recommended me to apply for an Executive Director position for a non-profit organization here in Baltimore. I received an email stating they are interested. It is an organization that I am familiar with. I love the work that they do. I believe in their mission with my whole heart. The pay is nice. It puts in a field that I have always wanted to be in. I love doing non-profit work.

It is with great humility that I am going to decline the offer to apply. I looked at the qualifications and the responsibilities. I have been doing some work for years in the non-profit field. However, I do not have enough professional experience to think that I could be Executive Director.

Now, it is hard to admit that there is something I cannot do. I really truly believe that I can do anything I set my mind to. However, I do not have the experience necessary to be able to do that organization a great service. I would be in way over my head. If I would be an Executive Director, I need to work my way up. I do not want to use the connections I have to get in. I believe I would fail at this position. So I am declining it. I need the job, but I realize that I do not want to ruin a beautiful organization.

Life As it Is

I am well. I really have not too many complaints. My job is not stressing me. My love life is good. Friends and family are cool. I have nothing to complain about. But here are just some random things:

• I am excited for the new Terminator movie coming out in May! I saw the trailer and felt siked!

• I am also excited for the new Transformers movie too!

• If they are going on this whole relics from my childhood, why not make a Thunder Cats movie. Thunder Cats Hoooooo!!!

• I went 24 hours without watching the news last week. I felt so lost when I finally got around to watching some news. I cannot do that again. I might just die

• I was not a youtube junkie until recently. I have subscribed to J-Smooth, who is a hip-hop video blogger. His videos are deep. His name on youtube is illdoc1. I think I have actually seen all the video he has posted, mostly while at work lol.
  

• The Mafia Wars application on Facebook has me hooked! I get to be a gangster and not worry about getting shot! It is a dream come true!

• On my way to work one day, this crazy evangelical woman approached me. She asked me if I kill babies. I was confused. I guess she was talking about abortion so I told her it is not possible, I am male. She proceeded to tell me that the Lord was going to strike me down if I dont believe or go to church (I know, had nothing to do with her earlier question. I dont ask questions about crazy people). I told her thats not possible. I told her that God gets a rash everytime I come into his house. She left me alone.
  

Chuuuuuuch!!

I am not much of a churchgoing fellow. I go about 3-4 times a year (never on Christmas or Easter). Also, I am not the biggest gospel music fan. I hate to say it, but I just do not be feeling it.

However, there is one gospel song that hits me hard. Whenever I hear it, I feel choked up. The song called "I Need You To Survive". I remember the first time I heard it...

I was visiting my friend Jessica once during my junior year. I did not want to spend the weekend in Erie so I went to visit her at Pitt-Johnstown. Plus, she asked me to come see her sing at her church. I told her I am allergic to Jesus. She laughed and said that comment was even more reason to come.

After spending the weekend drinking and attempting to fornicate with her friends, I go to church with her. Jessica, being a white girl, went to the most Black church I have EVER been in. It felt like I was in Atlanta, not northern PA.

So the chorus gets up and starts to sing. And they start singing the song. I feel slightly emotional as I hear the words. As the chorus continues to sing, I get even more emotional as I sit and listen. I feel myself start to shed a tear. I quietly, in this church, start to weep slightly. I bowed my head and felt myself connect to God. On the inside I guess I felt myself open up. I was receptive to the message of the song. It really seemed to fit how I view my relationships with other people and God

I never "caught" the Spirit before. I always thought it was fake. But I guess for me, maybe that was a moment I caught it. Maybe for me, the Spirit is not dancing and shouting. The Spirit is a quiet opening of my heart to the message being shared. It is a introspective, reflective moment in which I feel that God has spoken to me. I do not feel extreme joy. I don't speak in tongues and break dance in church. I feel open and receptive. I feel as if God had spoken to me.

Big Ups

I just wanted to let you all know that recently I was a winner of a poetry contest! It was called the "Lyrical Bullets" contest held by a writer and artist whose blog I read (check it out here). I am definitely excited! It is a bright spot in my rough life here is the poem that was selected as a winner

The Most Terrible Voice

The most terrible voice there is...
Silence.
Silence is an act of violence vilified by the fact that it keep me from writing.
With silence ever present, probing, and penetrating my mind,
Motion of clear thoughts cease.
Creativity is chased from my head,
Haunted by the most terrible voice there is...
Silence.

Welcome To Real Life

" I hate to have these kind of meetings. I do not want you to take this personally. I really do like you. You are a great person. I have to let you know that the school is not renewing your contract for next year."

I just stared at him and kept my professional smile up all the while feeling like I was just hit in the chest with a hammer. I nodded my head in understanding, but not really understanding.

" We will talk later about specific reasons. I think you need time to adjust."

I again just nodded my head in assent. Why not tell me now and get the closure now? Why wait?

Rising out of the chair, I shook his hand and walked out the office. I felt like a weight was lifted off my chest. There was a sense of relief. While I love teaching and all that it entails, this school year has been rough. There is no other way to put it. I have had several issues to deal with. I personally felt that my learning curve was not that great. I put in tons of effort but I did not get the results. This was partially due to me but there were some things I cannot control.

So walking to lunch I kept my head held high. I have no clue what I am doing next. I am ok with that...

Fighting Fair

"Growing up is not a straight line, but a series of advances and retreats" - Kevin Arnold of The Wonder Years.

The gf and I got into an argument recently. I was upset by something she said and we started arguing. However, the argument went from me being mad to us arguing about how I argue.

My gf stated that I am condescending when we fight. She says that the way I talk to her is as if I talk to her like one of my students. It is as if she cannot possibly understand my point of view. She says it sounds as if it is either my way or no way.

Now, I try not to be that way. I try to stay calm while fighting. I try not to accuse. I try to fight fair. Yet I see I still have to improve. With other relationships, I would openly express how I felt without consideration of my words. I guess in my effort to remain calm, it has turned to sounding condescending.

I do not want her to think I do not value her opinion. I really do. I often ask for her advice (which is something I have always struggled with). Her advice has become precious to me. I love when she expresses her opinion and I value it. I told her that. I now know that I need to work on fighting fair. Making sure that I express my opinion without downgrading hers.

Just A Little Ticked...

I believe that my coworkers and me have finished our honeymoon period. Here is the situation.

First, my job has a special situation. It provides housing for the vast majority of the faculty. Thus, not only do we work together we also live in the same apartment building. This means that we share professional lives and private lives.

Recently, a line has been crossed. I had a female friend stay with me for a few days. I introduced her to my coworkers and and all of us went to dinner.

The problem came later.

After my friend left, my coworkers start asking questions about if I had slept with her. Now my friend is attractive. I didn't sleep with her so thats what I told them. They started giving me the side eye. I could care less. I know the truth so I did not even stunt what they were saying.

Fast forward to Tuesday night.

We are all out at a bar. We were there for about several hours. Everyone was starting to feel good. I know I was a little buzzed. We were talking about what sexual chemistry. Now, one coworker said that he has to feel something. I said sexual chemistry has nothing to do with love. It has to do with how comfortable people are with themselves and thus their willingness to explore. I said I know this from experience. The wife of a coworker was surprised and told me I shouldn't say that. I told her "their opinion of me is not important. I do not do things and feel ashamed. I do not hide. Their judgment does not matter". People gave me a look.

It is true. I have only known these people for 6 months. I have friends who support and love me. My coworkers are not the only people I spend time with.

Later, one of my coworkers started to talk trash a little bit. He is from Long Island and he always gets a little rough when he drinks. So he starts to bring up my friend. Now that I had a little drink in my system, I was peeved. So I told him this: "I answer only to God, my mom, and my girlfriend. Fuck the rest of you".

I was pissed because they keep bringing this up. I still am a little pissed. First of all, quit accusing me, especially if you are only assuming. I am innocent. Secondly, man-law states that you do not put yourself in the relationship of another man. One of my best friends cheated and we did not talk about it until he felt willing to vent. You just do not involve yourself in someone else's relationship. This makes me want to keep a little distance with them. if I need someone to judge me, I will ask

Brooklyn Girl/ Day n Night

Here are two songs that I have been bumping recently from some artists who are not quite famous yet.



This dude is Charles Hamilton. I "created" a remix to it called "Cleveland Girls". I dedicated it to the gf who is from Cleveland and to all my friends who are from Cleveland. I have several of Charles Hamilton's mixtapes. They are definitely hot.



This is Kid Cudi. His song does not have an official video but there are several remixes already. I prefer the original. This joint would have me in club dancing, eben though the lyrics are depressing.

What I Have Been Up To

I have not blogged in a while. Let me update you on my life:

Love Life:
I spent the week of New Years with the gf. We had a blast! It was a great time. We went into Cleveland and did it up for New Years. I enjoyed this trip.

We made a decision and it is solid. She is moving in with me this summer. Once she graduates, she is moving to Baltimore. I am sooooooooo excited. We are in the process of finding a job for her. She wants to do something in education. Thus, at the end of February, she is attending an independent schools job fair in Baltimore. So we are making moves to make this thing happen.

Work:
My students are insane but I love them dearly. I treat them as if they are my own sons. My classroom has been getting better. There is a steady improvement that has been showing up. I am definitely happy.

Things I Hate About Christmas

I am not a Christmas person. I dislike Christmas, truly dislike it. Here's why:

1. I hate Christmas music

Christmas music makes me want to hide my head in the sand. I cannot stand it. It is so corny. Christmas music is too mushy and happy-go-lucky I just cannot do it. It seems, however, that my friends do not take my dislike of Christmas music seriously. Every year someone sends me a music if Christmas music. I do not throw gifts away so all it does is sits in my desk and collects dust.

2. The Christmas Tree

Who the hell wants a fire hazard sitting in their living room. Throw in the messy needles and I am not a fan of this at all.

3. Gift Giving

This is the mot stressful part of the whole thing. First, there is the stress of buying or making something that someone will actually appreciate. You have to make sure the gift is something they like. Then, you have the actual going to the stores to get the gift. Long lines, cranky people, dreadful weather; its not for me. I hate doing it. Yet, every year I drag my ass out to get gifts because of the societal pressure by friends/family/girlfriend to participate.

4. The Snow

Another reason I hate Christmas: it never snows on Christmas in Baltimore. Just once in my life I would like to wake up and there be white stuff on the ground. I never got one of those traditional snowy Christmas. I have been deprived of the best childhood pleasure. Damn Baltimore!!

The Way Life Goes

Let me update you all:

Holiday Party
The gym I (rarely) attend hosted a holiday party (No, Sheila Dixon was not there. Read the last post to understand). It was crazy fun! Here are two reasons: free alcohol, free food. Any place that has those two things, I AM THERE!! So this woman hits on me the moment I walk in the building. She goes, "You are looking sexy tonight. Purple is definitely your color". I just smile, say thank you, and keep it moving.

All night I was on the dance floor. My coworkers are not much for dancing but I was getting my groove in. I found me several attractive women to dance with. I do not know how many times I electric slided my partially drunk behind across the floor. My (white) coworkers just watched from the side until they became drunk enough to feel comfortable. I danced my night away. It was really fun.

I have no photos. My camera batteries died and I forgot to charge them.

Weekend
Friday night was quiet. I spent it talking to the gf on the phone. We talked for like 4 hours. It was because we do not do that often. I get up too early during the week to stay on the phone forever. I really enjoyed that time with her.

Saturday my friend D, several coworkers hit the town. We hung out at a bar near Hopkins. I sang some karaoke. Then we went to a place called the 13th Floor. It is a club on 13th floor of a hotel called the Belvedere. On Saturdays they have a live salsa band. It was nice. I also salsed my way across the floor. The next time the gf is here, I am going to take her there. It is really nice. There is a great view of the city, The drinks are a little expensive, so before I take the gf, we will just pregame elsewhere.

Sunday, I went and played basketball. I had to get some exercise in. I do need to lose a little weight. The doctor told me to start exercising a little more. To be honest, I have been slacking. It is really hard to incorporate exercise in my daily routine. I come home from work exhausted and not feeling like doing anything. That gives me a hige excuse. But starting today, i am going to try and hit the gym at least 2 times a week. I am going to start off small. I may also do push-ups and sit-ups at home in the morning. I will update you on that one

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

I snuck back to my place from work so I can blog. I am having a good day. I woke up feeling like a champ. A million dollar baby right here!!! Nothing can take me down! Nothing. Nada. Nihil (that's Latin for ya lol). Kids want to get rowdy in my class? BOOM!! Drop kick to the face! Coworker wants to give me the stink eye? THROAT CHOP*!!!! Ok, maybe I cannot do all that. But as U2 says, ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!

Tonight is the holiday party at my gym. I have a membership at the Merritt Downtown Athletic Club provided to me for free by my school. Its a very chic gym. Our fine mayor, Sheila Dixon works out there. If given the opportunity, I would kick her in the vag. This woman would sell Tuesday in order to get a fur coat.... anyways. They have a holiday party every year and it is open bar and free for all members. I am going to go and sneak into the VIP section.













Why you may ask.













I AM GETTING ARAB MONEY!!!



























*Throat chop brought to you in part by Humanity Critic*