1 week of vacation down, another to go...

Well I have made it back to Columbus after a week in the Middie! My trip home started off with attending my uncle's (my grandma's brother) funeral. It was very sad. I hate when family has to get together for funerals. It's really depressing. I felt really bad for my grandma. She broke down at the grave site. She has lost two of her brothers in the last year. That's one of the unfortunate things about life is dying. Imagine watching your brother or sisters being laid to rest. I only have one sister and I know it will be extremely tough if I ever have to do that.

My great aunt made her infamous caramel cake for the dinner following the funeral. It was the bomb as usual. If you all ever had it you would understand where I am coming from. This cake is infamous in my family and we lov eit when we get it.

During the week I was able to catch up and hang out with family and friends. I had more time this trip to visit some friends that I didn't get to see when I was home for Thanksgiving. It's great to go back home to visit, but I am seriously reminded that Middletown isn't the place for me to live. I have really out grown the city. I am grateful for where I grew up and will always claim Middletown, but it's good to get out and explore the world. That's what I am doing. Most of you know that I live in Columbus, Ohio now and I am sure I will probably moe in the next couple of years. Anyways the week at home was great and very relaxing. I got a lot of rest and am just sad that it flew by so fast.

Donald vs. Rosie!!! Has anyone been hearing/reading about there feud. It's amazing what rich people will fight about. I think Donald is using this to hype up the Miss USA pagent and the new season of The Apprentice. I agree with Rosie's initial statements about Donald. He definitely shouldn't be trying to be the moral compass of the world. Miss USA should have been fired. What 20 year old has to go into rehab? I was like is he serious. This must be a joke. Could Donald be racist and not want the winner up to take over the crown? The first runner up is black. I don't understand Donald, I am sure I never will, but he has to admit that he should be ashamed for allowing that girl to stay on as Miss USA. I definitley won't be tuning into that pagent. (It's not like I ever did).

The one thing I hate about the holidays is that everything is a rerun. It makes me sick. I love TV, probably too much, and want to see some new episodes of my favorite shows. I guess I have to suffer through one more week of reruns before new episodes come back to me.

Oh yeah I have to mention that I went to see Dreamgirls on Christmas Day! Let me tell you, that is truly a good movie. Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy definitely made that movie. They both did a fantasic job. Overrall I think the whole cast did really good. I am still confused on why Beyonce is listed as starring in the movie when clearly she is just a supporting player. I don't recall her character saying much. If she didn't sing with the Dreams then she would be forgotten. She didn't deserve that golden globe nomination. Lead actress? yeah it's a joke. For those that seen the movie I am sure you agree that Jennifer Hudson is the lead actress in the film. Anyways I encourage everyone to go out and see this movie. It was very good.

Tomorrow I am leaving to go to Maryland for New Years. I am excited and it should be good times. I will post about this when I return. I am America's Nightmare...

Black People who Have Embarraased Black America

Black People Who Have Embarrased Black America

I got this off of another blog. I thought you all would enjoy this! I don't necessarily agree with each person on the list but I do agree with about 90% Enjoy!!!

Flavor Flav and all the women that have ever appeared on the Flavor of Love (especially New York) - no explanation needed!

Clarence Thomas- for having the audacity to vote against affirmative action and then declare that he will one day be greater than the late great Thurgood Marshall

Condoleeza Rice- for shopping for Ferragamo's on the day when people were dying due to Hurricane Katrina was enough by itself to get her placed on the list.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown- too many reasons to count

DC snipers- Black people are not serial killers

Marion Berry- too embarrassing for words

Kobe Bryant- for snitching on Shaq (it's one thing to be a rapist, but to be a snitch on top of that is just taking it too far)

Rae Carruth- for having the audacity to hide his black ass in the trunk of a car in Nashville after having his baby mother killed

Terrell Owens- speechless. totally speechless

OJ Simpson- well, the Bronco ride by itself was enough to make the list

R. Kelly - pissing on little girls and having the audacity to record it

Puffy/P-Diddy - cooning and shining and denying he's gay (DANG!) (and still keeps stringing Kim Porter along)

The sister that cut the baby out of the pregnant woman and killed her other children by placing them in the washing machine and dryer

Armstrong Williams- for being on the GOP's payroll to praise No Child Left Behind when all it is doing is leaving children behind

Mike Tyson- biting Evander's ear was enough to land him on this list

50 Cent- thinking he has enough clout to hate on Oprah. And for just being a punk and crying when someone associates with someone he doesn't like.

Wendy Williams- for always looking a Hot Ass Mess, and having the nerve to talk about other people

Dennis Rodman- too easy…..

Diana Ross- for getting a DUI. But she got points for continuing to be a diva during it!

The entire cast of Soul Plane- self explanatory

James Brown- beating his wife and that infamous mug shot

Jesse Jackson - for the love child

Bishop Don "Magic" Juan - for portraying every stereotype that white people believe to be true about black people

Snoop Dog - for having those sisters on leashes at the MTV Music Awards and introducing the world to Bishop Don "Magic" Juan (and let's not even mention Girls Gone Wild)

Michael Jackson - for his many, many, many, many, many, many, many plastic sugeries

Bob Johnson - for selling BET to the Man

The entire BET station and staff members - for giving us Un-Cut and for taking away BET news

Nelly - for the Tip Drill video

The Ms. Peachez videos - cooning and shining at its finest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGrqW3nx5HM)

Terry McMillan - for going on the Oprah Show acting like she didn't know her husband was gay before she married him and then being in the hot tub with him after she talked about him so bad

Al Sharpton - for rocking a perm in the '06 and having the audacity to run for President while looking like a pimp

Ike Turner for beating the shit out of Tina and dragging her ass through the house and locking her in the bedroom.

Tina Knowles - for giving us House of Dereon

Karrine "Superhead" Steffans - for being the Black Monica Lewinsky

Omarosa - she gave intelligent Black sisters a bad name

The Source and the Vibe Awards - for all of its MESS!

All the Black wannabe models on America's Next Top Model that come on the show with a straight up attitude (see this season: Monique)

Coral from the Real World/ Road Rules challenge always having to come on the shows portraying the angry Black woman

Ron Isley for tax evasion and stealing from his decease brother's estate

Wesley Snipes for tax evasion

I am sure there are more that people can add to the list. I got a nice laugh when I first saw the list. I hope this was enough to put a smile on your face during this holiday season. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I am heading home for the next week. I will update one more time before my trip to Maryland/DC for New Years!!!

I am America's Nightmare...

6 months on the job...

Well hello all I was sitting here thinking and realized I have been on the job for almost six months now. It's hard to believe its been that long. It really does seem like I just began my career a couple of weeks ago. One thing that is definitely true is that time flies when you begin working. Working 8-5 or more like 8-8 recentaly for me is exhausting. I thought life would be much better when you began to work. No school or homework which is something I couldn't wait to be done with. In all I miss it a little. Being so far away from my close friends is tough. Sometimes I wish I did live closer to them. Who knows I could decide to just up and leave columbus.

Anyways is anyone else tired about hearing about the presidential election. Yes this election is going to be very important, but aren't they all. We just got through a brutal election season and I like to take time away from it all before being ambushed with nonstop media attention on who will be running for president. They at least could have waited until after the new year before all this mess. Right now I am not worried about if Sens. Obama, Clinton, or McCain are running. I am trying to find a baby alive for my little cousin. She wants this crazy toy for christmas and of course its one of the hottest toys out. Which means its not in stores and everyplace on the internet is out of stock. My mom did say she saw one today at Wal-mart so hopefully my sister will go pick it up today when she gets off from work. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I am only working 4 days this week and then on Friday my christmas vacation begins. Yes, I am so ready and excited. It will be a great vacation. To those I haven't told I am going to Maryland for the new years. I have been saying I was going to go to MD for a while and never made it there so I decided to go and spend the new years with my friends and frat brothers. It should be good times. I am hoping to get to go to DC to look around. I have never been to DC so I am excited about the chance to possibly see the nation's capital.

Just in case I don't get to post again this week I want to wish everyone a Happy Holidays. Enjoy these days because you never know when it could be your last. God Bless to all. I am America's Nightmare...

Top 10 Highlights from a week of training in New Jersey...

1. I saw Rick Flair in the airport when I arrived in New York. Ric Flair is a pro wrestler who I grew up watching. Too bad I was stuck on the phone trying to figure out where the car service was at that was supposed to pick me up. I missed my chance for his autograph and a picture.

2. First day of class we were asked to stand up and say something interesting about ourselves. Well one guy took it upon himself to let everyone know that he hates his job, and he seemed to be very serious about that. LOL!!!

3. Tuesday night, the other people from my office and myself went out to dinner. Well we decided to go to a nice steakhouse. I had a very good 22 ounce steak. Let's just say we all definitely went over per diem that night.

4. Hearing stories from everyone about how busy they have been at their office. I thought my office was the only one that was ridiculously busy. It was nice to hear that other offices were actually working like crazy also.

5. Going to NYC on Thursday night. It was nice to go and walk around the city. I even got to ride the subway. (Dirty!) I saw the tree at Rockefeller Center. It was ridicously packed with people at 10pm at night.

6. One of my colleagues decided to tell me why Florida should be playing Ohio State in the national championship game and not Michigan. I thought to myself does this guy realize that Florida is playing Ohio State and he doesn't have to justify it to me! Yeah just a little weird.

7. Internet access at the hotel sucked. I missed the Russ Parr Morning Show all week and at night I couldn't get on with the wireless because everyone was signed on. Yeah I was not happy about that.

8. Getting out of class early a couple days last week. For those of you who are wondering what kind of training we were doing. Well we were studying different stuff for tax. But the crazy thing is that we would be in a classroom from 8am to 5pm with an hour for lunch and a couple of breaks mixed in. The days were long and exhausting. It was funny when I would glance around the room and notice everyone either falling asleep or on their computer playing games. Yeah training was real productive.

9. I saw a man and woman fighting in NYC. The girl slapped him a few times and jacked him up. He eventually grabbed her and ran and left her on the street by herself. She was yelling some spanish stuff to him. It was pretty interesting to watch. Only in NYC.

10. Switching my flight to come home two hours earlier. It was nice. I got home at six yesterday instead of 8. Which means I got to go see The Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith and his son. All I have to say is everyone needs to see this movie. It started off a little slow, but it is so good. I definitely recommend it to everyone.

Well that's all for now. I am America's Nightmare...

The use of the N-word...

As many of you know the use of the N-word has been of much discussion in the public lately. Since the now infamous outburst of Michael Richards, I have found myself thinking about the use of the N-word. Last night, while watching MTV’s Real World Denver, one of the cast members used the N-word. No he wasn’t black either. He was drunk and called one of the roommates of the house this word. I was shocked and appalled. Why are people going around and using this word like it is okay? Everyday I read the USA today and fo course there was another rstory about about the use of the N-word. Comedian Andy Dick was mocking Michael Richards at the Laugh factory comedy club and got up on stae and used the N-word. I was like this can’t be true. What the hell was Andy Dick thinking. So then I stepped back and thought who should use the N-word? Are Blacks the only ones allowed to use the N-word?

Well I know many people would like to get rid of the N-word, but lets face reality. It’s not going to happen. This word is here to stay regardless of whether we want it to. It isn’t going anywhere. Whether you like it or not. One thing that does need to stop is the use of N-word by individuals other than blacks. I know this may take some of you by surprise. Yes I feel like only Blacks can use this word. For such a long time Blacks were ridiculed and mocked with the use of this word. Whites used this word when talking about their slaves or when they were talking reckless about Blacks. I would be lying if I said I didn’t use the word. I am careful when I use the word. I don’t use it in the presence of anyone who isn’t Black. Is it hypocritical for me to use the word? Some of you reading are probably saying yes, but deep down inside I feel like Blacks are the only ones who have the right to use the word. I don’t want to hear anyone of any other race using the word. I am not ignorant though. I know, in many homes behind closed doors, many other people (non-Blacks) still use this word. Why I don’t know. Many are still afraid of Blacks and think we are a subordinate race. Many don’t want us to have rights or any privileges. Some even say we should still be out in the field picking cotton. If you are sitting here reading this and think this doesn’t happen then you are wrong. You are living in a fantasy land. Racism does exist and will always exist. There are still people out there teaching HATE. It’s very unfortunate, but it’s a reality of America. That’s one of the many reasons why I may never see a Black or woman president in my lifetime. Many think that white males should rule and run everything.(This is not intended to offend anyone it’s just the truth!).

With all that said, I am no longer going to watch the Real World. I was appalled that the guy that used the N-word was allowed to remain on the show. It was very evident that he has more than likely used this word before. Of course, like Michael Richards he took the easy way out and said he has this rage in him that he couldn’t control. That’s BS! If you are an adult there is no reason why you can’t control what comes out of your mouth. That’s a poor excuse for anyone to use and people need to take responsibility for their actions. Quit coming up with excuses. I’m not stupid and I hope you don’t think you are fooling anyone else. MTV should be ashamed for letting this guy stay on the show. They know this word can cause a lot of problems and to watch one of their castmembers use this word to purposely try to invoke one of the Black guys into hitting him is sad and very dangerous. You never know the reaction you will get from a Black person when they hear someone who isn’t Black use this word. This guy should have been dropped from the Real World cast. Since, they didn’t drop him I decided I will no longer watch the show. I am done with the Real World. There needs to be some kind of consequence for someone other than a Black person using this word. I am tired of people just getting a slap on the wrist for the use of this word. I am taking a stand against the Real World and never watching it again. That’s the sacrifice you have to make when you feel strongly about something. I encourage all of you to also take this stand and not watch the Real World Denver again.

I am America’s Nightmare.

Blacks & HIV/AIDS

Blacks & HIV/AIDS: The Hidden Costs

Taken from the December 2006 issue of Ebony Magazine.

-Blacks account for nearly half of the roughly 1 million Americans living with HIV.
-Nearly 70 percent of the new AIDS cases among women are Black
-Black females are diagnosed with HIV 20 times the rate of White females and more than four times the rate of Hispanic females.
-Among Black females, roughly 78 percent of the HIV diagnoses were attributed to high-risk heterosexual contact. Intravenous drug use accounted for 19 percent.
-Black males are diagnosed with HIV at seven times the rate of White males, more than two times the rate of Hispanic males and almost twice the rate of Black females.
-Blacks represent more than 56 percent of the new AIDS cases among youth
-Blacks account for 38 percent of all AIDS deaths in the U.S. since the beginning of the epidemic.
-In 2002, HIV was the No. 1 cause of death for Black women 25 to 34 years of age.

Get tested!

Have you been tested?

Today is World AIDS Day and I was reading the USA Today and of course they had a couple special articles about the AIDS virus and how it is affecting people's lives. Well in case you haven't heard African-Americans make up 50% of the new AIDS cases that are reported. If you are black this should scare you!!! Our people are being infected at an alarming rate. No other ethnic group has a higher rate. Why is this? While I was sitting at my desk today I began to think. Why is this disease running rapid in the black community and what can we do to stop it?
Well I think I know why it's running rapid. I have a couple of reasons why.
1. If you talk to most black people you will find out they are ignorant to the disease and what all it can do to you.
2. Most black people don't talk about the disease!
3. Many of us still think it is a gay disease.
4. Most think it couldn't possibly happen to them.

(PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT) BLACK PEOPLE WE HAVE TO GET TESTED AND START TALKING ABOUT THIS DISEASE. IT IS KILLING OUR COMMUNITY AND WE NEED TO TRY AND GET IT UNDER CONTROL.

Most of you are probably wondering well how do we get this under control. The first step is getting tested. Don't be afraid. Once, I was talking with a friend and they stated that they were afraid to take a test. They didn't want to know if they possibly could have any disease. I said to them that you want to possibly kill yourself and anyone else that you potentially have sex with. They kind of looked at me weird. I told them that yes you could possibly be killing yourself and other people by not knowing if you have any STD. After that conversation I thought, man that is really scary. I am sure there are many people that think the same thing. We need to stop being afriad. You should want to know.