Did You Hear We Got Ourselves A New President?

So, I’m just squeaking in under the wire with this week’s post. It’s been an eventful one starting off with the inauguration of our 44th president Barack Obama. And, right on time, too. I was getting tired of saying president-elect Barack Obama. It’s quite a mouth full. Well, technically the week started off with the remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both events have now become keystones of Black history to be discussed and celebrated for years to come.

After viewing the speech and seeing the throngs of people who trekked to the nation’s capital just to hear it live, I asked myself, “How big of a Barack fan am I?” You’ve got admit the man has charisma and style. And, his star power currently is off the charts. But, there’s a tough road ahead for him. If he navigates it smoothly, he’ll sail right into the Presidents Hall of Fame. If he doesn’t, the love America has for him will dissipate quickly and he’ll become a scapegoat for everything that’s wrong with this country. Maybe it’s my love for the underdog, or the hope he’ll actually change things for the better. Either way, I’m definitely rooting for the guy.

Random.

So, my friend Tracie has started this random video posting on her YouTube page. I say that to give her a shameless plug and to make myself feel better about this random-ass blog I’m about to post. There’s no theme, so if you’re expecting one well, sorry.

School is back in session. This is quarter ten of what was supposed to be eight, so forgive me if I don’t do sommersaults. So far, it looks like another three months of the usual. Got my seventh-quarter application back. Has that come up before? Maybe not. Okay so, at the end of quarter six, students are required to submit fifty pieces of potential work for a final portfolio. The application comes back the beginning of quarter seven with suggestions and advice for formulating a completion plan. My feedback was pretty straight foward, which means operation “Complete Portfolio” is underway.

Did you know my first art director/creative partner is from Brazil? He’s a fourth- quarter. Student, not an actual fourth quarter. Like in the making of dollar or fiscal year? He’s from Brasilia or somewhere near there. His first name is pretty hard to pronounce, so he goes by his last because it’s easier. Kind of how I started going by Ty, because people couldn’t pronounce Tyrese to save their lives. Well, that is until Tyrese Gibson. Thank God for that! Our partnership is working out okay. Communicating sometimes isn’t easy, but it’s basically a lot me guessing what he’s trying to say and vice-versa. We’ve got two weeks to work it out though. No worries.

Apparently, a worsening economy means vending machine inflation. At school, it now costs $1.40 to get a twenty-oz bottle of Coke; $0.70 for a twelve-oz can. Which begs the question: why would anyone purchase the 20 oz bottle when you can get four extra ounces for the same price? I guess if you’re really into recycling or like the feel of cold plastic in your hand, it’s pretty tempting. Remember when a can of soda cost 50 cents? And, now I’m officially old.

Why is it I never remember to bring a towel with me when I go to the gym? And, by gym, I mean the one at the 2012 lofts. The one I have unlimited access to because of a friend who lives there. And no, not that type of friend. Secretly, I sweat like no body’s business. In fact, my forehead is getting shiny just typing this sentence. But, for some reason, in those times of deliberate exertion, I forget a sweat towel. And instantly, I’m that guy. The one whose getting sweat all over your favorite machine. The one who after he’s done with his workout, looks like he’s taken a shower with his clothes on. It’s okay though, because one day you’re going to ogle this sweaty bod. Mark my words!

I went to a new club this weekend. Well, it’s an old club, but new to me. And, on a Sunday, too! Who goes out on a Sunday? Apparently this guy. The place is called El Chaparral. It’s only “family friendly” on select nights, hence the Sunday night outing. Music selection: hip-hop, house, reggaeton, and r&b. Overall, pretty cool. A little too young for my tastes (damn! Getting older by the second here). Not to mention, the DJs have a touch of ADHD. As soon a song is recognizable they’re off to the next one. Not ideal for getting your groove on successfully.

Rating: 

Okay, my rambling is coming to an end. Thanks for hanging in there. Allow me to leave you with this parting act of passive aggression. If someone asks you for lemon pepper, always verify if they mean seasoning or marinade. If you don’t, they may unintentionally make you feel like an ass for making the wrong choice.

Rude!!!

 

So, here’s the story of my meltdown on New Year’s Eve.

Dressed fly, my friends and I had a plan for success. Dinner and a bar for drinks. Nothing too crazy. Simple, right? Well, it started off that way. We got off to a late start, but dinner was great. Copelands. If you have one near you, go. Food and ambiance is great. It’s Mardi Gras with a lot more class.

We leave the restaurant and head towards one of our usual hangouts Blake’s on the Park. Now, my close friend loves this place. Me? I can take it or leave it. For one, it’s crazy small. Now, I know all the folks reading this are saying Blake’s? Small? It’s two floors. Yes, that’s true, but both floors are ridiculously small. And, to make matters worse, the space is not feng shui or people shui for that matter. The bars are way to big, making walking room obsolete. Sometimes I don’t mind. You know when there’s a hottie “brushing” by it’s cool. But, most of the time it’s a rude-ass queen who thinks his shit doesn’t stink. You know the one who thinks he can push you aside, step on your shoe, talk shit about your behind your back because some horny dude sometime, somewhere told him his ass was made of gold. Reason #2 for my dislike of the place. But, I digress.

Though I’ve had a couple of bad experiences there, tonight was going to be the exception. The game face was on. When we got there, it wasn’t that crowded. Folks were buzzed and not drunk. And, the nice gay folk were out. As the clock move closer to midnight, the good gay folk disappeared and the pushing and toe smashing began. But, I was cool as cucumber.

We rang in the New Year with a drink and some hardcore dancing. Around one or so, one of my boys starts getting antsy. The snottiness is increasing and it’s getting on his nerves. I actually start calming him down which is a first for me. I’d had my share as well, but the will to keep calm was strong, the sufficient buzz helping out a lot.

Two o’clock rolls around and I’m starting to sober up. I’ve missed dancing to three really good songs because there’s no room to stand let alone dance. I’m huddled up with my boys, when this prissy guy walks up behind me. Seeing that he’s trying to get through, I try to make as much room for him as the space we’re standing in will allow. Obviously, I’m not moving fast enough, because he proceeds to push passed me, stepping on my heel in the process. He pushes me so hard that I almost fall onto one my friends. At that point, I’d had it. I took my hand, placed into the small of his back and gave him a good shove right back. In retrospect, it was a pretty childish thing to do. But, wait it gets better.

I turn back around. Behind me, he’s bitching up a storm about rude folk and I’m getting more and more irritated. Then he says, “I don’t know what everyone’s fucking problem is. It’s fucking New Year’s. One of those three guys just pushed me and I don’t know why.” At this point, I whip around and proceed to identify myself as the pusher and tell him (rather loudly) why he got pushed. He cops an attitude and immediately, I’m in his face, so fast in fact that my friend (who was initially angry) almost trips throwing himself between the both of us. At this point, he’s talking shit, I’m talking shit. His fag hag is trying to calm him down, my boy is trying to calm me down. Somehow, the confrontation ends without any physical violence, but I’m pretty much rattled. And, pretty much that’s how the night ended.

Conclusion: I’m barring myself from Blake’s awhile. This will make incident #2 where I’ve literally lost my cool and the place is totally not worth an ass-whooping. Yeah, the guys are cute, but it’s Atlanta, baby. I can run into cute guys in the grocery store and you better believe they’ll have better attitudes.

Rating for Blake’s On The Park:

Rating for my behavior:

Overall rating for New Year’s Eve (sans confrontation):

Resolutions 2009.

 

So, ringing in the New Year last night was a blast, despite a minor incident of rudeness (details to come in a later post). Today, I’m taking it easy and thinking about personal improvement. Last year’s resolution experiment was a personal success. But, this year the resolutions are tougher. The drama is more intense. And, if all goes well someone will walk away a better person. Hopefully, me. Welcome to Resolutions 2009!

1.  Lose 20lbs.

Yeah, baby! I thought 10 was hard, but 20 is no joke, seriously. Loosing the 27 last year required actions uncharacteristically me. Now, those actions have become routine, so duplicating the same results will require me to go even further. Like, actually getting serious about giving up fast food. How do you say goodbye to something that’s been apart of your life for so long? Since my first Happy Meal, fast food has seen me through the best and worst of times. Chances are good we’ll probably hang from time to time this year, but seriously, I need some space.

What else. I should probably start weight training. Not as much to become all muscly and stuff, but just enough to gain some definition where it counts. And, if nutritionists and physical trainers are right, the added muscle mass will help me shed pounds as well. Success on this one will put at my ideal weight.

2. Finish school. 

It’s back! I was pretty bummed to take this one off my list last time, but this year it’s going to happen. There’s a slight chance of not graduating, but as God as my witness, formal education and I will part ways! Well, for awhile at least.

3. Become more outgoing.

This may seem like a shocker, but I have hermit-like tendencies. If left to my own devices, I’d probably recede into the shell of my dwelling, never to come out again (no pun intended). First recognized this characteristic when my friend Jamen moved up. Before he was here, I didn’t do much. I didn’t know many people outside of school, and even then, I was only really cool with a few of them. When it comes to “family” friends, the picture is even more pathetic. I’ve blamed it all on school being hectic to Atlanta just being one of those solitary, individualistic places. But, when it comes right down to it, I’m part of the problem as well.

What am I gonna do? Don’t know. Start small I guess. Introduce myself to people I don’t know. Maybe accept some of the invitations to do stuff, instead of chickening out and going home to watch SpongeBob.

4. Stay positive.

Didn’t do so hot with this last year, and wouldn’t you know it, on the very last day of the year, another meltdown. Remember that one incident of rudeness? Yeah. So, my work is cut out for me on this one.

5. Blog more often.

Ha! This one was coming for awhile. If you’ve noticed, I seem to abandon this thing when life gets hectic. I realize now coming here during those times may be more of a relief  than a hindrance. So, here’s the deal: A post a week. If I can’t blog 52 times this year, then what’s the point really?  

Okay, five resolutions. Pretty good. Stay tuned as Resolutions 2009 unfolds.