Coming Back!

Hey ya'll, I'm back!!!

Sort of good bye?

Greetings all!

My job has finally blocked blogger, which means that I can only post from home. Since my schedule is pretty tight at home, this will be my last post on this blog. I will post weekly on my Celebrating Fathers blog, and try to get around to others' blogs that I know and love. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Love, peace, and soul.

Complaints about American Idol? Go here.

I'm not sorry for saying this, but the judges IMO are not too mean to some people. Can you believe the nerve of some to think that they can sing when they don't have an ounce of ability? We are in a generation where being honest is considered to be mean. Everyone has a gift, but each person's gift may be different. Some people can sing, some can be taught to sing, and some people just can not sing. That is just reality. I suck at baseball, but you don't see me pitching a fit about being told that I should leave the game alone. I play to enjoy myself. You will never see me on Baseball Idol. I know my limits.

Its that time again

In a world of war, discimination, and greed, there lived a man whose legacy would be the antithesis of those traits.

Feel Good story

I got teary eyed while watching this story on each channel I saw it, and on each website that I read it. I can not imagine having my children taken away from me, and then found to be in good condition. I know more will come out about this story, but in the meantime, it is a better heart warmer than that usual cup of coffee you drink.

In preperation for Black History Month

An incredibly moving song by one of the most unique voices in music history.

Anti-drug website

This website has some useful info. Just when you think you know it all, there is a new language being invented by youth. Lets keep up with the times!

Report Card for 2006

I've seen memes that seem to share this idea, but I wanted to grade myself on how I handled or mishandled things. Its sort of like when that teacher or professor allows you to grade your own work, except that I will try to be as objective as possible about myself. Feel free to borrow this one with a link to my blog.


My grading scale will be the traditional alphabet scale.

1. Relationship with God

Grade - C+

Faith in what God can do has always been my strongsuit, I read biblical stories to my kids, and I pray every night. What is missing is consistency in giving money and time to the church and people. That test alone brought my grade down.

2. Family

Grade - B-

I spent a great amount of time with my kids, and not just fun activities. I waited and pushed heavily for my relationship with my wife to grow in positive direction. Those are the ones I am directly responsible for. What needs work is encouraging my wife more, and spending time with other family members. This dropped severely, and there really is no valid reason for it.

3. Friends

Grade - F

Except for a few forwards, and maybe three phone calls, I really sucked at being a friend in 2006, and since my friends still contact me, I know that they love me because I have been horrible. One of my resolutions is to improve vastly in this area.

4. Job

Grade - B+

The job was tough when I had personal issues going, but once those began to subside, I became a shining star once again.

5. Community

Grade - F

I didn't do a single thing in my community. What else can be said

6. Self

Grade - D

And this low grade explains everything. I ignored myself a lot last year, which turned into misery transferred to others. Other than this blog and the other one, I've done nothing much for myself. This has to change if the others will change.


Predicted grades for 2007

1. A-

There will always be room for improvement, and I have already begun taking steps by joining the choir(be quiet Dawn!) and will be rejoining the Mens' group.

2. A-

I have a lot of family to contact, but I will do it.

3. B

This area needs a lot of work, so I'm trying to be realistic.

4. A+

Don't touch me or you will surely burn. I'm hot!!

5. B

This area also needs lots of work.

6. B+

I am incapable of being selfish, so this may be struggle for me, but I hope to make progress.

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays

Yes, and all of that good stuff.

Can you believe that my internet has been down for so long? Perhaps it was meant to be that way. I spent a lot of time with my wife and kids. We had a wonderful Christmas, especially since my boys had been fighting over the PS2, so with my three year old getting the V-smile, they have two video game systems to share instead of fighting over one.

My daughter is a huge Dora fan, and got loads of Dora stuff including a kitchen, table set, and book with accompanying CD. She loves to dance and plays the music all day!


How have your holidays been?

I'm not dead, will be back soon!

See title!

Some say cheap, I say smart!

Somebody recently told me that I'm cheap because I still use my college ID card(graduated in 98) to get a student discount at the movies. So what! Am I the only one?

Most embarrassing junior high school moment

This was a prompt that I gave to my students . . .

and it made me laugh because I actually have one.


When I was in middle school, my oldest sister bought me a jogging suit that was a little too fitted for me. You could see what I had to eat the previous night! Not literally, but you get the picture.

At any rate, walking around school all day, gasping for air, I was talked about a lot. But what made it worse . . . .

was that I had raging hormones at the time. Anytime I saw a cute girl, I had to hold my binder downstairs to prevent further embarrassment. And it happened a lot!

One of my friends said that I looked like I was wearing huggies. Kids can be so cruel.

What is your most embarrassing junior high school moment? We all had at least one!

Borrowed from Richmond(see Blogroll)

What Color is Your Brain?

ORANGE:

At work or in school: I need to be "hands on": I like to play games, to compete, and to perform. I enjoy flexibility, changes of pace, and variety. I have difficulty with routine and structure. My favorite subjects are music, art, theatre, and crafts. I often excel in sports. I like solving problems in active ways and negotiating for what I want. I can be direct and like immediate results.
With friends: Planning ahead bores me because I never know what I want to do until the moment arrives. I like to excite my friends with new and different things, places to go, and romantic moments.
With family: I need a lot of space and freedom. I want everyone to have fun. It is hard for me to follow rules, and I feel we should all just enjoy one another.
Take this quiz!








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Cool Website

Really cool pics!

21 Things

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.


TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.


THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.


FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.


FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.


SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.


SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.


EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.


NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.


TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.


ELEVEN Don't judge people by their relatives.


TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.


THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a
question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"


FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.


FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.


SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson


SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.


EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.


NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.


TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.


TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone

Superbowl Halftime Show

I can't wait for the show. Prince rocks!!

Wow, this cut deep!

You are The Fool

The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. The bag on the staff indicates that he has all he need to do or be anything he wants, he has only to stop and unpack. He is on his way to a brand new beginning. But the card carries a little bark of warning as well. Stop daydreaming and fantasising and watch your step, lest you fall and end up looking the fool.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Maybe because I see it myself.

Holiday Meme

From Drawcircles

Holiday Meme

NAME: John

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog without alcohol. I have given it up!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? His elves do all of the hard work. I wonder how their benefit packages look.

3. Colored lights on tree/house colored or white? I like both.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. Only came . . .er, never mind.

5. When do you put your decorations up? At some point. Whenever it happens.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Jambalaya. Its my favorite dish anytime of the year.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? This was a tough one, but I remember getting my first bike with a banana seat and my grandfather taught me how to ride it. Best Christmas ever before my own kids.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I stayed up one night and he never showed. I knew it all along. I was the only black Hardy boy.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Never!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? With whatever decorations we have.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, but I have only seen it once.

12. Can you ice skate? Never tried yet.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My bike with the banana seat of course!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being around family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? New York Style Cheesecake.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I don't really have one, but I plan on resurrecting one we did with my grandmother which was to decorate the tree the day following Thanksgiving.

17. What tops your tree? Whatever we have.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving ? Giving for sure. I never even know what I want.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Jackson Five "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" and the Temptations "Silent Night".
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? They are okay. Especially when I have a sore throat.

Beef

Not the meat, but the slang term for issues although I don't see this as an issue. LL says he is not stupid, but why would Jay-Z not promote his album if its good? I get the feeling that Jay-Z is about money as much as the next businessman and wouldn't jeopardize the profit he would make from LL's album. But hey, that is just me.

Attempt at courtesy causes emergency landing

This was a funny yet true story.

Remember this?

Music Video Codes By VideoCode.ORG

Been slow writing

Sorry about that. I am also the Theatre Arts teacher, and we have been working vigorously on this Christmas play. I'll check in from time to time. Don't spend too much this season!

Women speak, right?

Words Women Use:

1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome.

8.) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F@!K YOU!

9.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking, "what's wrong", for the woman's response refer to # 3.

Death at a boot camp

I think excessive force was used in this particular case, but I don't believe that boot camps should be shut down. Some kids only respond to order, and what better way to incorporate order than to use military techniques. Usually if a juvenile does not respond to boot camp, he or she is sent back to jail. Although this was an unfortunate incident, if the guards felt that this type of force was necessary, the boy should have been sent back to jail.

Have a blessed turkey day!

I'm taking some time off, but will be back by the end of the month. Take care!

Game of the year!

I have to endorse this game. Its been a staple of New Orleans for as long as I can remember. If you've never been, you should check it out. Did you enjoy the movie Drumline? If so, this is what it is all about.

Dead Gentleman (or perhaps only sleeping)

I don't remember if I talked about this before,

and quite frankly

I don't fell like doing the research to see.

But I've noticed that my old chivalrous ways have pretty much gone out of the window.

I still occasionally open doors for females, and still say "Good Morning", and "God Bless You" when someone sneezes, but apathy is there.


I can sometimes really care less about other people sometimes. That is why I got out of counseling, and now I teach.

The weird part is that I'm not bothered by this shift. I can remember loving my reputation for being a nice guy.

Now I could care less.

Serve it hot: Immigration debate sizzles in Dallas

What do you think?


This is a sticky subject because illegal immigration has been happening for years. I don't think that criminalizing the illegals will solve anything. We need to help the Mexican economy so that this country won't be so attractive to others. Also, make it cheaper to become a citizen, but make the tests harder and limit their privileges to where they must be earned. That is my spill.

Thanksgiving Fun!

Why not do something different today than play gamefudge or solitaire today?

Gerald Levert, R&B Legend dead at 40

Wow. He was only 40! Count your blessings as you never know how or when it will be your time.

Farewell

Farewell to one of the most influential journalist of our time.

Anniversary of Magic Johnson

On that day, I remember coming home from school. I had stayed late because we had Glee Club rehearsal(yeah I was in the Glee Club). I walked in and noticed my mother glued to the television in an unusual manner. She told me what he had just said, and I just could not believe it.

Magic Johnson? He was not gay.

I believed, as many others, that HIV was a gay disease. It didn't help at the time that I was very homophobic, so there is no telling what else I said about it.

But you would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't heard of HIV. Unfortunately, looking at the stats, some people just don't care.

Astonomical marvel

This Wednesday, watch the planet Mercury trek across the sun!!!

Attraction Type

What type of person do you attract? Your Result: You attract geeks! Your stunning intellect and love of sci-fi and video games allures the geeks like nothing else. Maybe it is the sparkle in your eye that makes them want to text you, who knows. Geeks make good partners, but tend to be arguementative. If you are a TRUE geek magnet, you will know if that was spelled correctly, and actually care. If it is a bad-boy/bad-girl you are seeking, you are barking up the wrong tree, unless they are just 'bad' behind a PS2 console.
You attract Yuppies!
You attract artsy people!
You attract rednecks!
You attract unstable people!
You attract models!
What type of person do you attract? Quizzes for MySpace

I attract attractive geeks! That part was missing!!! Borrowed from Tragic.

For my daughter

Music Video Codes By VideoCode.ORG

Although my daughter is only two years old, I think this is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time that has a positive message for young females. Tell me what you think.

His name is Lyfe Jennings.

WTH?

National make a guy cook dinner day? WTH? I cook most of the time in my house. Does that mean that my wife has to cook today? What if she has been doing most of the cooking lately? Does that we mean we should eat out? What is she's going out of town? Does that mean that we postpone it until tomorrow? WTH?