So About Dark Man X...

Yes, you guessed it. DMX was arrested again this week. At this point, it’s like the movie Groundhog Day. Another day, another DMX arrest. His rap sheet reads like a Jerry Bruckheimer flick mixed with a tad bit of Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married, which is a question I’m sure his estranged wife Tashera has asked herself for years. At one point, I thought he was just doing what most rap artists do – drinking, cheating, doing drugs, and just living reckless. However, I now believe this man is mentally unstable, and he seriously needs to be treated.

Just last year, DMX and Tashera appeared on VH1’s Couples Therapy. I have so much to say about that show, but I digress. Then, earlier this year, he and his oldest son Xavier appeared on the season two premiere of OWN’s Iyanla: Fix My Life. He was as high as a cumulus cloud on that show. It was hard to watch. He told Iyanla to “Shut the f*** up.” At that point, I just knew the Brooklyn was on its way out of Iyanla. However, she kept her cool because I think she knew it was much deeper than anyone could understand. During that episode, I realized that it was more than just drugs and alcohol. It’s so much deeper than that. Iyanla CANNOT fix what is wrong with DMX – only Jesus and a psychiatric hospital can truly help this man.

I would love to go back to my grammar school and high school days when I was rapping DMX lyrics and wishing that he had mentioned my name in “What These B****es Want” (PLEASE do not judge my former ratchet ways). I miss the DMX that rapped alongside baby girl Aaliyah on “Back in One Piece” and starred in several movies. I miss the DMX that would break out into an abrasive prayer in the midst of his concerts. Now more than ever, he needs someone to pray for him, and I am definitely doing just that. Iyanla can help “fix” many situations and people, but DMX is certainly not one of those people. I sincerely hope he gets the help that is long overdue in his life.

 

Repeat Worthy: Shaggy ft. Ne-Yo "You Girl"

If you know me, then you know that I absolutely LOVE reggae music. Maybe that's why I only have stamps on my passport from Jamaica so far. My love for reggae music (and jerk chicken and rum punch) is just that serious. I may move a shoulder or give a little leg and take it right back when I'm in the club listening to just regular hip hop and r&b songs. However, when the dj moves into the reggae portion of the night, CLEAR THE DANCE FLOOR! It gets serious lol. I drift off into a world of my own, and I dance like no one's around.

So, of course, it should come as no surprise that I tune into the hour long segment on VH1 Soul called "Island Soul." All reggae for an hour? Yes!! Sign me up. Normally, they play songs by artists that are not very well known, at least not here in the US. However, I look up the other day and saw Shaggy and Ne-Yo. Oh! What is this goodness that I'm hearing? Lo and behold, it's a song called "You Girl" that was released over a month ago. Now if you like to pon di river, you may not like this song. It is reminiscent of Ne-Yo's normal work but with a reggae/dancehall feel. I think of my favorite movie Love Jones and the scene at the Wild Hare when I listen to this song.

Now I'm not necessarily a Shaggy fan, but Ne-Yo has been a favorite of mine since he released "Stay With Me." So go grab your boo, head to the middle of the floor, and dance like no one's watching as you enjoy this song!

My Crazy and Emotional Personal Journey to Derrick Rose's Return

April 28, 2012. I remember like it was yesterday. My friend and I decided to hit the bar and celebrate the start of the Bulls postseason.  As far as I was concerned, we were on our way to the Finals in a few months. We just had to conquer several teams along the way, starting with the Philadelphia 76ers. Easy, right? We were the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference facing off against an overly confident #8 seed. According to Evan Turner, the Sixers were happy to face the Bulls since the Heat were a tougher team for them. Oh really? Well, let the games begin. That Saturday afternoon, they did.

Throughout the game, the bar would cheer for every massive dunk, every great defensive play, and every time a Bulls player connected from beyond the arc.  Although it was only Game 1, we were well on our way to winning this series. So, while finishing my second martini with the Bulls up by 12 and less than 2 minutes on the clock, you couldn’t prepare me for what would happen next. Derrick Rose was bringing the ball up the court and started to drive towards the basket. This was all normal. However, suddenly he went down. That could be considered normal as well during a physical game, as the defensive-minded Chicago Bulls are known to play. Only problem is, he didn’t jump back up and head back down the court. Instead the game came to a halt as did the city of Chicago. The United Center began to chant MVP as the trainers worked on Rose. At the bar, we all sat trying to figure out what could possibly be wrong. It would be a few hours before we would receive the official word….the 2011 MVP Derrick Rose had torn his ACL. Deep, long sigh.

I remember getting on Twitter when I first arrived back at home. Some Miami news source had taken to their Twitter page to report that Rose had torn his ACL. Ummm, how would you all know first? Although something told me it was true, I refused to believe them. The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat DO NOT like one another and neither do the fans. Trust me, I know firsthand. So, of course I just knew this was a practical joke that stupid Miami press was playing on the Chicago Bulls fans. It wasn’t April 1, but it was still April. This HAD to be a joke. It just had to be. Then, I turned to Channel 5 news, and my heart sank as they announced that Chicago’s native son, Englewood’s pride and joy, little brother in my head Derrick Rose had torn his ACL. Once the Bulls announced it the next day, it was really official.

Yes, he had gone through injuries all season and missed 27 games, but I wasn’t prepared for this. If anyone knows me, they know my love runs deep for the Chicago Bears and the Bulls. I will defend my teams until the day I leave this earth. I remember traveling with my family down to Grant Park each time the 90’s Bulls would win the championship. My dad would come home with t-shirts, and I would wear them proudly throughout the year. I was already preparing for the Bulls to take the title, and then the unexpected happened. I still had faith in my team and continued to watch even without Rose, but we went onto lose the series to the Sixers in 6 games. Deep, long, dramatic sigh.

There was nothing to do but rebuild and prepare for Rose’s return to the court. During the offseason, we signed Kirk Hinrich again and added the loveable Nate Robinson. While no one can take Rose’s place, I must say we had a pretty good squad. But I, along with the rest of the Chicago Bulls fans awaited The Return. I watched commercial after commercial from Adidas hyping us up for Rose’s return to the court.  I know that’s not an injury to play with, and I definitely wanted him to follow the doctor’s orders. But I still waited anxiously. Then, came the day when we found out he was cleared to play. To say I was excited is an understatement. I just knew we would see him take the court after the All-star break, right? Wrong. Week after week, I would hear the rumors fly that this was the night that Rose would return. We were doing great without him, but there’s just a sort of je ne sais quoi that Rose adds to the team. His explosive, fearless play was definitely missed. Needless to say, after much hype and speculation, he never returned for the 2012-2013 season. After a hard fought playoff run riddled with sickness and injuries, the Bulls lost to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the semifinals and were eliminated. Oh well, it was time to look forward to the 2013-2014 season and The Return.

On October 5, 2012, one day after his 25^th and 18 months after he went down and Chicago took a collective sigh, D. Rose returned to the court to face the Indiana Pacers. If this was someone’s first time watching him play, they would never know he had suffered a torn ACL. It was still the same Derrick driving to the basket, creating contact and finishing as only he can do. So, why was I smiling yet cringing on the inside? Even for his return to the United Center on October 16 to face the Detroit Pistons, I jumped around like a crazy fan at home as the crowd roared on the TV and the announcer introduced him. But I went back to cringing as the game went on. Yes, I have wanted to see Rose back on the court since forever. Now that he’s back, I can’t seem to handle it. Seeing him fall to the floor every time he gets knocked down takes me back to April 28, 2012. I know, I know. I need to get it together, but I’m a fan who takes every loss and injury to heart, especially injuries to my favorite players. He looks like the Derrick of the past as he plays, but I think of him as a fragile individual now. But again, I need to get it together and take my crazy emotions out of it. He’s out there playing fearlessly and with ease. He’s still the same Rose that all Bulls fans have grown to love. Therefore, I just need to sit back, relax and watch as he does work (maybe through my fingers and with a cup of chamomile tea to calm me down – don’t judge me lol). No matter what, I’ll still be tuned in to every game as he hopefully goes for an injury-free, MVP-worthy season and leads my Bulls to the Promised Land known as the NBA Finals. Let us pray, and let’s go Bulls!

Repeat Worthy: Sevyn Streeter ft. Chris Brown "It Won't Stop"

Let me introduce to some and present to others Sevyn Streeter. Formerly a member of TG4 and RichGirl, this talented singer and songwriter is the truth! Although she has been in the music business since the age of 15, I only became familiar with her music after she signed with Chris Brown's CBE label in 2012. Her song "I Like" was one of my favorite songs last year. Oh, but she outdid herself this year with the release of her single "It Won't Stop" in May. This song takes me back to the days of Aaliyah (sidebar - keep an ear out for an Aaliyah reference in the song). I grew up listening to powerful gospel singers in church, but I also love to hear a soft, melodic voice especially when it's paired with a hot beat and dope lyrics. Well, Sevyn hit the nail right on the head and achieved that sound effortlessly. Then, here she comes adding Chris Brown on the song. Yep, I was completely sold after that. The only thing that could make this song even better was a hot video. Welp, they did that. The first day I saw the video, I kept replaying it. After telling my friend to go watch the video, she text me saying "it makes me want a man and a warm beach." That about sums it up lol. So, enjoy this repeat worthy song "Sevyn Streeter ft. Chris Brown "It Won't Stop."

What To Do While You Wait

I choose to keep my personal life just that…personal. However, I wanted to write about what I’ve been doing since I was laid off last month. Before you feel sorry for me….DON’T! God is just setting me up for something better and preparing me for my future in marketing and communications. Anywho, I’ve been applying to jobs nonstop so I can land a great position. In the meantime in between time, I’ve also been doing some other things, mainly enjoying life. I mean seriously who has time to sit around and feel sorry for themselves? Not I. So here’s a short list of things to do while you wait for that call or email saying you got the job.

1.       Get a Hobby

For me, I started what you see here before you today – a blog. I’ve always loved to write, but I always stuck to pen and paper. Now, I get on my laptop and update my blog. Find something that keeps you occupied.

2.       Learn Something New

The day after I was laid off, I started teaching myself to play some of my favorite songs on the piano. My mother is a beast on the keys, but I’ve never truly gotten into playing. Now I enjoy going to the piano and teaching myself new songs. I think I’ll do the guitar next. And you should also take the time to explore and learn something new. It may not be a musical instrument for you, but learn something new.

3.       Exercise

Yes, I know no one really likes that word, but we all need to do it. I am certainly not in great shape, but I’m trying to get better. I cancelled my gym membership so I could save money. However, that doesn’t keep me from exercising. I own workout DVD’s, but I hate them. Therefore, I go to the walk path to walk/run a lot of days. I also work out at home. I’m a year and a month away from 30 years old. I want to enter into my 30’s looking amazing. So, exercise (and eating right) is the key. While you have the free time, you might as well take advantage of it.

4.       Enjoy Your Family and Friends

Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the time of my life with my friends and family. I also gained a new nephew in that time. I’ve been able to spend lots of time with him, go pick up my niece from school, and spend time with the rest of my family. I’ve also enjoyed concerts, rooftops, picnics, and drinks with my friends. Sometimes you’re so tired after work and just want to go home and pass out. Now is the time to get back to your social life. Once you’re back to work, you can then find a way to have a healthy work-life balance.

5.       Network, Network, Network

I could add a lot more to this list, but I’ll end with this one. NETWORK! It’s all about who you know. Thank God that I’ve met some amazing people in my desired field. I’ve attended networking events, and I’m meeting with some mentors to put me on the right path. I refuse to be out of a job for too long. Nope, not going to happen. That’s why I’m on a mission to network and get my name out there. If no one knows you and how great you are, why would they want to hire you? Don’t just hide behind your resume and cover letter. Actually, get out there and network.

My Experience With Senegalese Twists

My story goes a little something like this. I have wanted to get Senegalese twists for the longest. Being the researcher that I am, of course I did a Google search for the best place to go in Chicago. A couple of places came up. However, there was a blog post by Ishea at www.sixtwentysevenblog.com that really caught my eye. Her twists were gorgeous, and she spoke very highly of the woman who did them. After reading the comments on her blog regarding their experience, I was sold. So, I put the information in my phone, called, and spoke to Nana (773-363-0711). Sidenote – it’s her house number. So PLEASE do not try and text her.

Anyway, back to my story. I asked Nana some general questions and then proceeded to set up an appointment for the following Saturday. She did warn me, however, that the process is faster during a weekday, but I was working at that time and refused to take off just to go get my hair done. Therefore, Saturday it was….or not. After having some reservations about the price and also not wanting to deal with being there for an entire Saturday, I cancelled. And I went through all of this a second time as well since I can never make up my mind. Finally, one day I was really fed up with my hair. I am natural, and I was not trying to deal with this Chicago humidity. Nor am I an expert on natural styles just yet. So I called Nana again and asked for an appointment….the next day (a Thursday). She told me that it wasn’t guaranteed since she had other customers. But if she finished them by early afternoon, she would give me a call. That next morning, I washed and blow dried my hair just in case she called. Around 3:00pm, she called and asked if I could come over right then. She said she would have two women working on me. Needless to say, I made my way to her place quick, fast, and in a hurry.
She has a room set up just for doing hair. There were two other women being serviced, but they were almost done. Around 4:30, one of Nana’s helpers started on the front of my hair. Around 6:30, a second helper started on the back. By 10:30, I was making my way to my car and going home. I don’t know about you, but I think 6 hours is amazing especially for how thick my hair is and how long the twists are. I opted for the long twists, which go all the way to my butt. They were $250. However, you can also do medium which is $220. And Nana provides the hair. Although, Nana didn’t actually twist my hair, she finished the process by dipping my hair in hot water and putting the twists in a bun. Be prepared for your edges to be extra sore, but that soreness goes away after about 2 days.

A few days after getting my twists done

Overall, I love my twists. I’ve had them in for 4.5 weeks, and I still receive compliments on them. I’m only keeping mine for 6 weeks because I’m ready to occupy my scalp and get back to my regular hair. However, they will definitely last longer. If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to ask in the comments section. Otherwise, give Nana a call. You won’t be disappointed.

 

4 weeks and 2 days after getting my twists done

We Are The Champions, My Friends!!!

In the words of Mr. West, “If you don't know by now, I'm talkin' about Chi-Town.” What does that line have to do with anything? Not much. I just felt like starting off with a line from a song that so perfectly describes this great city. For those who may not know, I’m totally obsessed with this amazing city that I call home. Okay, I live in the suburbs, but whatever. You get the point lol. Chicago is everything and more! We, by far, have one of the BEST skylines in the world. Summertime in Chicago is unmatched. We’re a city with great museums, eateries….and sports fans. We ride with our teams through thick and thin. I’ve sat in the rain and the freezing cold to cheer on my Bears. I’ve traveled to Miami to cheer on the Bulls in a very hostile environment and would quickly do it again. I LOVE my teams! So, of course, I would go to Wrigleyville on Monday, June 24 to cheer for the Blackhawks as they were on the brink of securing the Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins in an electrifying Game 6.

Before I left the house, Boston had already scored. Yikes! However, while in route to Wrigleyville, my Blackhawks tied it up. Whoop whoop!! Finally, we arrived up North and tried to find parking as far away from the chaos as possible so we wouldn’t be stuck in traffic later. We had faith in our team, hence our trip to Wrigleyville, and we know how Chicago likes to party. Although just a few short hours before, the sky had turned a dark shade of gray and the floodgates of heaven opened on the city of Chicago, it was now clear. Perfect for a night of celebrating. As we walked along Clark trying to find the perfect bar to watch the 3^rd period (yes, we missed all of the second period L), we heard the screams and sighs from all of the passionate Chicago Blackhawks fans. We had to quickly make our way to a bar so we could share in the melting pot of emotions. Thanks to a kind bodyguard at John Barleycorn, we were able to get in and get to celebrating with our fellow Chicagoans. Only one problem, we were now trailing 2-1. Eeeek!!! Come on, Hawks!! 

 

Although, I was prepared to wash out my Hawks shirt and travel to Wrigleyville again IF a Game 7 was necessary, I was hoping that they would make our trip worth it that night. Well, God clearly heard our prayers! My friends and I found a nice spot right in the midst of all of the drunken fans and tuned into the TV. What happened during the short time that we actually watched the game is nothing short of amazing. With 1 minute and 16 seconds left, Bryan Bickell scored to tie the game. *cue Chelsea Dagger* The place went wild!! In the midst of jumping up and down, giving high fives, and singing, beer was flying EVERYWHERE. I’m soooo glad I had my hair in a bun. Just when we had settled down from that brief celebration, the unthinkable happened. We scored again….in a matter of 17 seconds. Unbelievable!!! Repeat the full celebration. Except this time, it lasted much longer. Why? Because by now, there were only 59 seconds remaining. The Boston Bruins never scored again, and the Chicago Blackhawks were the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions! It was a complete madhouse, and I loved every minute of it.

Chicago was now on top again! After my beloved Bears failed to make the playoffs and my Bulls played their hearts out but didn’t make it to the Finals, Chicago sports fans needed a reason to celebrate. For one night, we could unite as a city and do just that. We all came together and had a great time. Somehow, the party spilled out into the streets. Pure pandemonium!!! We danced. We cheered. We jumped up and down. We gave high fives out left and right. When I arrived home around 2am, my feet felt like I had walked on rocks for a week straight. Yet, I went to bed with a smile on my face. Once again, my city was on top. Next up….parade time!

 

 

 

 

 

Repeat Worthy: RaVaughn "Best Friend"

Just FYI, I'm not actually going through this. However, I can always appreciate a great song no matter what the topic is. RaVaughn says some things on this song. I could have done without all of the F-bombs, but beyond that, there's no denying this is a hot song. I'm sure most women AND men have experienced this at least once in their life. That friend zone is nothing nice. And let's not even talk about the guitar on the song. Yes, lawd! I live for guitars. But anyway, enough about all of that. Without further ado, check out my repeat worthy song this week....RaVaughn "Best Friend". Enjoy!

How I Fell Out of Like with LeBron James

For those of you who know me and my total disgust with everything that is the Miami Heat, you may find it hard to believe that I was once a Lebron James fan. Let me tell you why that all changed...

So, it was June 26, 2003. I had completed my first year of college about a month beforehand. My dad had just celebrated a birthday the day before. The San Antonio Spurs were crowned the 2003 NBA champions after defeating the New Jersey Nets. And now, it was time to look forward to the 2003-2004 NBA season. On this night, David Stern stepped to the podium and announced,

''With the first pick of the 2003 NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select . . . LeBron James.''

 And just like that, the city of Cleveland had a reason to celebrate. I mean let's be serious here. People weren't necessarily saving their pennies to attend a Cleveland Indians game. The Cleveland Browns had celebrated a playoff appearance the year before, but they were still a joke. Then, here comes The King, as he affectionately became known as. Grant it, he was a high school phenom, but now it was time for him to take the NBA, actually the world, by storm at the tender age of 18. Was he ready for such a challenge? You better believe it!

I don't even need to go into detail about LeBron's career. We all know what he accomplished while in Cleveland. He was the 03-04 Rookie of the Year, 6-time All-Star, 2 NBA MVP's. And like I said, that was just while in Cleveland. He pretty much carried that team on his back. Yes, it's a huge back, but it wasn't meant to carry a whole team. Yet, that's what he did. Thanks to him, they made it to the Finals in 2007 against their current opponent the San Antonio Spurs. Of course, one man can't carry a team. Therefore, they were swept. I'm praying the Spurs win the current series as well, but I digress. Back to the story.

Anyway, what does all of this have to do with how I fell out of like with LBJ? Glad you asked. Fast forward to May 2009. The Cavs were facing the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. As had been the case so many times before, his supporting cast let him down, and they lost. No finals for the Cavs. So, what do players do at the end of a series? They shake hands with their opponent. Nope, not LeBron. He moseyed on off the court...and skipped the press conference following the game. Umm, what? Strike 1. This bothered me because I was once an athlete, and never once did we not shake our opponents hand after the game. That's just bad sportsmanship, especially since he was probably more upset with his team. Therefore, why shun the Magic? But whatever, I got over that, kind of.

Then came Strike 2. After the 2009-2010 season, it was no doubt LeBron was pretty much done with the Cavs. And I, for one, didn't necessarily blame him. Like I said, one man can't carry a team. So I, like most people, knew LeBron wouldn't return. He, along with a plethora of other players including D. Wade and Chris Bosh, were free agents. For some reason, this group of friends thought it would be fun to pretty much play games visiting teams to see who was making the best offer. The only problem is I believe that they already knew where they were headed. So, on July 8, 2010 came The Decision and the infamous phrase,

"I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat."

Listen, LeBron, all of that WAS NOT needed. I guess he thought all would be forgiven since The Decision raised money for charity. I mean, that's all fine and good and all, but no. We didn't not need to see him and that non-existent hairline sit on our tv screen and tell us what him, Pat Riley, D. Wade, and Chrissy Bosh already knew. Like I said, that was Strike 2.

THEN, before I could even get over my annoyance from The Decision, here comes the welcome party...which I was not here for whatsoever. Ugh! I just got upset thinking about it all over again. Why are you all celebrating before even playing one, single, solitary game together. Have several! And then you go on to predict not one, not two, not three....well you all know the rest. Needless to say, Strike 3. You're out, and I'm out.

I'm a HUGE basketball fan. My heart aches when my team (hey, Chicago Bulls!) lose. I love the game, and I respect great players. I'm not a Kobe fan due to his cheating ways, but there's no denying his talent. The same goes for LeBron. I respect his game tremendously. He's clearly the best in the game currently. There's no denying that. But what I'm not here for is players turning this game into a joke with their antics. Go out and play the game, and leave the theatrics for those with a SAG card.

I would love to still support LeBron as I did when he first came in the league. Here was a guy born 3 months after me (although he can pass for my great uncle) representing for young, black kids and young adults. From what I can recall, I don't remember hearing about him caught up in any mess off the court. He came in and dominated the game and still does. However, somewhere along the line, he became the type of player I love to hate...ok dislike. Maybe once he leaves the prima donnas down in Miami and joins another team, I can fall back in like with LBJ. But until then, this remains my story for how I fell out of like with LeBron James.

And just like that....

I finally started a blog! I've always been a writer, but who has time for a notebook and pen these days? I'd rather put my word processing skills to good use instead. So, here I am.

Let me just warn you...I'm always thinking of 10,000 things at one time. Therefore, PLEASE don't be surprised if one day I blog about 10 different subjects. That's just how I am, and I don't apologize for it. Just go with me through the melting pot that is my mind and the journey that is my life.