Summer Hiatus

Summer Hiatus

I have been in the “real world” for almost a year now. That’s right I have been on my job for a year on June 26th. It’s very hard to believe that I have been out of school for a year and been working. This year has flown by. I have had many ups and some downs in my first year of employment. Overall it’s been a good year. I am going to be off from work for the next two weeks so I thought that would make a great time to take a break from the blog. I have received so much positive feedback that it’s a treat for me to share my thoughts with you all. I will be in DC next week for a training session for my job and then I am going back to my hometown for a few days and then back to Maryland for one of my line brother’s wedding. Yes, it is going to be a busy two weeks. I will enjoy the time out of the office. I don’t even feel like I have had much of a summer. I guess summers aren’t the same once you are out of school.

My break will probably be around three weeks to a month. I just am going to take some more time to enjoy myself. With that said I am leaving you all with some food for thought. I found this on another blog and liked it so I felt I should share it with my readers. Enjoy!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you haveor sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others ;Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it asecond time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquilharmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than yourneed for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. ART TOO!

Until next time, I am America's Nightmare...

Happy Father's Day

He was born 52 years ago to two loving parents. His parents just loved him unconditionally. He was the only male child out of his parent’s six children. This man was my father. I don’t really know much detail about his childhood. I do know that he grew up with both his parents. His father didn’t abandon him. He was there for him, but I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t be there for his own children. What could have happened to make him want to abandon his own children? Did my grandfather not provide the love that every young man needs? I don’t know. I have no idea. Not even the slightest clue. I would like to sit down and have a conversation with my father and ask him why? Why wasn’t he there for my sister and me? Why didn’t he make it to my high school football games? Why didn’t he send us at least one birthday card?

I have always wanted to tell people that I have a great father and mother, but instead I avoid talking about my father. Most of my close friends can count on one hand the number of times I have talked about him to them. Well I have a confession. I am embarrassed at who my father is! I talked to him about six months ago and we couldn’t even hold a five minute conversation. He was a stranger to me. That’s probably why our phone conversation on lasted four minutes. I, at times, am jealous of my friends who have had the privilege of growing up with a father. Its hard for me to type those words, but deep down inside that’s just how I feel.

My life wasn’t disrupted from not having a father. I never had one involved in my life so I don’t really know what I would be missing. I think it’s just the TV fantasy that everyone has. I, always thought that if I did have a father I wanted him to be like Dr. Huxtable from The Cosby Show. I never much thought about him not being there until I got to high school. That’s when I vowed to never abandon my children, like he did me.

Most of you know that it is Father’s Day today. For those of you that are blessed to have both parents that are actively involved in your life just say thanks. I sent my mom a gift in the mail to thank her for being my mother and father. Let your parents know that you appreciate them, even through the arguments.

Here’s what I would like to say to my father. “I have grown up. I am a man now. I feel hurt and anger when I think about your neglect and abandonment. Whether you blame it on the drugs or whatever excuse you have it wasn’t fair to my sister and me. We didn’t ask to come into this world. But with that said, it’s time for me to move on. You can either continue to brag on me to your friends and pretend that you know what’s going on in my life, or you can actually get to know me. It’s your decision, but I am moving on. I can’t continue to hold on to the anger and resentment that I have for you. You’ve already missed 24 years of my life, hopefully you don’t want to miss anymore.”

10 things on my mind

1. Did anyone know that the national minimum wage has increase? I am guessing now, because I don't think there has been much mention of it. The increase was added to the Iraq spending bill. I think in about another month it will officially go up. I can't remember all the exact figures for the increase, but it is going to happen. I guess we should be happy that the Democrats at least stuck to one promise that they made the voters. They definitley have let us down on Iraq.

2. I've been thinking about moving in the next 12-15 months to a new city. I think I need a change and have become very bored with Columbus, Ohio. It's a great city and my job is good, but I just need a change. Some of you are probably wondering where I would move to? Well I have an idea, but I'm not sharing with you all. LOL.

3. I have no credit card debt and it feels so good. I paid my last credit card off last month. To be honest I only had about $1000 in credit card debt last year when I decided I was going to pay it all off. I know that's not much compared to some, but I did recognize that it wasn't good to have. I am thankful that I didn't go all crazy in college and rack up tons of credit card debt. Credit cards cause many people heartache and I am fortune not to have to deal with this. Now if only I could get rid of these student loans!

4. What the hell is going on with Facebook?!?! Everyday there seems to be some new application added and it's getting on my nerves. They are doing too much. It's nerve racking and I might just have to take a break from the book. Well I guess there is always Myspace.

5. I love Oprah Winfrey and personally, I think she is the best African-american celebrity role model. I have been DVRing her show lately. I really do enjoy her, but I am so surprised at the number of black people that don't like her. I don't understand why she receives so much hate. Like I told my friend, no other black celebrity has done more for black people than Oprah! So black people quit hating on her and start hating on those lame rappers who are wannabe thugs!

6. I am really thankful for the Russ Parr Morning Show. It helps me get through my days at the office. I listen to it Monday -Friday on my computer and am constantly rolling at the jokes and commentary. He talks about many important topics affecting people and I am grateful to be able to listen to his show. If you aren't listening to it I encourage you to do so.

7. I really need to start studying for the CPA exam, but I have no motivation. I need to get it done by early next year, but everyday I am less motivated. I am going to try to get myself kicked into gear and just get it done. I will be very happy when I am finished with it. Why can't just having a Master's degree do the job?

8. I have been exercising like crazy for the past month and it's been rough. I tell you I should have never stopped going to the gym during busy season at work. I set myself back and its hard to get back in shape, but I am determined to get it together.

9. Did anyone watch Tyler Perry's new show, House of Payne? Wasn't that one of the worst tv shows you have ever seen? I didn't really find much humor in the show and the chemistry with the cast just isn't there. It's definitley not like classic sitcoms, The Cosby Show or Martin. Oh how I miss those shows. I am going to give the show one more chance this week. If it's not any good then I will be taking it off the DVR recorder.

10. Big Brother begins in a couple of weeks. I am so excited. I love this show and it helps me get through a summer of reruns. I am hoping this year's cast is full of crazy and controversal people. I really did enjoy all stars last season, but it will be nice to see a fresh new set of faces. I should really be on that show. I love it and have been considering joining the show for the last couple of years. Who knows if I would actually get on though.

Well I am America's Nightmare..

Random

Well I haven’t really felt like posting one of my thoughtful posts, so I am just going to keep it simple today. There has been a lot going on in the world. I’ve been wanting to post on everything, but I just haven’t had all the time to do it. So here we go.

Rosie O’Donnell is off The View. I was definitely upset that she left early, but I understand her reasoning. The View probably doesn’t realize it now, but Rosie helped that show get an edge. I vowed to never watch the show after Star Jones was fired, but starting watching again when Rosie started. She definitely added a spark to the show and I don’t know who they could get to fill that. They are going to have a hard time finding a replacement. The View might just be done!

I went home last weekend for the Memorial Day weekend and had a great time. I got to visit with friends and family. It was all time well spent. It had been five months since the last time I had been home, and I really did miss it. My hometown is a place that I would never live in, but I do like to visit. Well I guess if it wasn’t for my family being there, I probably wouldn’t’ ever go back. My hometown isn’t a place for those who have graduated college and are trying to start a career. It’s for those who want to raise a family, in a nice small town. I am glad that I grew up there, but I knew I wasn’t going to live there. I will probably go back next week to visit with my cousin who is coming home from the army.

Speaking of the army, I was talking to one of my friends and they said my cousin might get sent to Iraq. I was definitely not happy to hear this news. I have been adamantly against this war from the start. I never imagined that I could possibly have a family member that would have to fight this unjustifiable war. When the Iraq War began I thought for sure that one of my good friends would be sent there. One of my best friends, Dennis, was in the army when the war began. I was terrified that he would be sent over to fight the war. I believed I asked him a couple of times how he felt about the possibility of going to war. He told me that he understood when he signed up to join the army that going to war was a possibility. He seemed very content with what his fate could be. He was fortunate not to have to go, but now I am worried that possibly my cousin will have to go. I want this war to end and I want it to end now!

The other morning on Russ Parr Morning Show they were talking about dark skinned and light skinned women. I don’t think I have ever really paid that much attention to light skinned or dark skinned people. My twin sister is dark skinned and my mother is light skinned. I never thought one was better due to the color of their skin. I don’t really understand the hang up on this. It’s okay to have a preference on what you like, but to simply judge people on the basis of the color their skin is crazy. I was very surprised at some of the caller’s response. We, as black people, need to move on from this hang up.

Well that’s enough for today, I am America’s Nightmare…