Break-Up Songs

I have been listening to a lot of break-up songs lately. I guess I like the drama of it all. The complacency of something steady can be nice but there is just something about those words that speak of rollercoaster emotions and love gone bad that keeps drawing me back to listen once again. Songs like “Epiphany” and “Blame It On Me” by Chrisette Michele, LeToya Luckett’s “Not Anymore”, Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings”, good old Carl Thomas' "Emotional", and the old standard from Gladys Knight and the Pips, “Neither One Of Us.” I could come up with an extensive list but I'll stop here. It probably would make more sense for me to ‘feel’ these songs so deeply if I were actually contemplating a break-up. But I’m not, not at all. In fact, I don’t have anything going on that is serious enough to even warrant a break-up. Maybe this is just what good music is all about: songs that make you think and feel even if you’re not currently experiencing the same things.

Blogs Need Love Too

This post is dedicated to the “friends” (and I use this term loosely) who have yet to show my blog some love, consistent love. It’s been around for two months now and I’m still hearing excuses about computer problems, losing the link, not having access to the site at work, too much work. All BS! I’m not writing a book here! It only takes a quick few minutes to see what the heck is on my mind on any given day. I’d pay your blog the same courtesy, if you had one. And yes, there are some days when I have nothing I really want to talk about and I throw something up anyway. I’ll excuse you on those occasions but can you at least meet me halfway and at least skim a few posts so that when I ask if you’ve checked out my blog yet I won’t have to think along these lines? I’m really thinking about cutting you all off completely but I don’t think you’d notice even that. I know my blog is not for everyone and yes you might even find it boring but when I told you that I was going to do this and then sent you the link didn’t you think I would want your support? I mean, I read it but do I have to be the only one? I thought we were better than that. All these years you’ve known me, I’ve kept in touch with you through time and space and still you disappoint me this way. I really have to start shifting my priorities because obviously, my blog isn’t anywhere on your list. I realize that I am coming off as whiny but you have driven me to this point. And yes, I do realize that my plan to shame you into showing the blog some love is pointless since you don’t read it and won’t know I posted this but I will make sure you get this note. Happy Friday!

Me, Controlling? I Think Not!

A male friend told me that I was controlling, that I want to be the one in control especially as it relates to my relationships with the opposite sex. I usually dismiss him when he makes stupid comments like that but since he’s known me for many years and is my go-to for a male perspective, I humored him, heard him out, and asked for clarification. In a nutshell, he said that I always like things to be on my terms, to go where I want to go when I want to go and do what I want to do. When I asked for a basis for his assessment, he informed me that it was due to a combination of information that I shared with him and his experience in the role of my friend. His problem is that he thinks he knows me better than I know myself and I also know that his reasons are purely selfish ones. I’m more than happy to go with the flow from time to time, to let someone else take control. I want to be able to sit back and have someone else exert some energy to get things going- as long as I don’t have to wait too long for that to happen. If I like your idea better than mine I will acknowledge that and act accordingly. If I think my idea is better then it will take a lot to get me to budge but ultimately, I’m not one to cut off my nose to spite my face. I’m nothing if not agreeable! Do I like having my way sometimes? Yes, but things don’t have to go my way for me to be okay with them. And really, who doesn’t like having their way once in a while? Maybe he just used the wrong term because that doesn’t necessarily make me controlling but in any case, “S”, you can just take your stupid opinion and shove it!

"N" Word What?

This little guy is schooling grown folks on why the "n" word should be eliminated from our vocabulary. Love it!

Over My Limit But Under Control

I have never been drunk a day in my life. I’ve been pleasantly buzzed and a little bit tipsy on several occasions but never drunk. I am happy that I can continue to make that claim but it was a near thing, and at a work related event no less.

Last night, the law librarians association of which I am a member held its annual meeting at a wonderful locale (river view, park vistas). Very nice! As a committee co-chair, I had responsibilities to fulfill beyond the usual socializing/networking. But I didn’t allow myself to think about them when I grabbed my first glass of red wine off the tray of a passing server as soon as I arrived and proceeded to smash a cream-filled appetizer into my jacket. Or when I spilled my nearly empty second glass on my hand and on the floor a mere minute before I saw my co-chair walking to the front of the room and realized that our names had just been called. That’s right, we were expected to speak to a room filled with close to 200 of our peers and I was a mess! But thankfully, I didn’t realize it at the time. I just knew that I was ready for anything and that whatever was coming out of my mouth seemed to make sense to the crowd I was facing despite the jumble in my head. I'm sure that we could have improved on execution but it looks like we got effort covered.

There is something to be said about the power of alcohol. I can give a good speech if I really know my topic and practice ahead of time but knowing that doesn’t make me like doing it any more. While last night’s audience was much larger than any other that I’ve faced in the past, the speech was also the shortest that I’ve ever been expected to give. Basically, I didn’t have to memorize anything- just make sure I mention a few things. But after a couple glasses of wine, the warmth in my tummy was spreading all over and it all seemed like it would be a piece of cake. I was buzzed. And with my third glass, lots of giggling, flirting, and declarations about having had too much to drink, I realized that I was moving towards tipsy. One more and I would have been drunk but the sensible part of my brain refrained and got me on my way home. Nobody wants to see a drunken me, least of all me!

Lebron the Brat?

I usually don't concern myself with the antics of professional athletes but I'm annoyed on Lebron's behalf re this article. The writer essentially describes Lebron James as a spoiled brat after he walked off the court without congratulating his opponents after his team was kicked out of the NBA finals over the weekend. Instead, Lebron kept his head down, got dressed in a corner in the locker room and silently waited for the team bus to leave the arena. Obviously, he was devastated by the loss. Could he have put forth a better attitude? Certainly. But I understand why he kept to himself. I understand the pain he must have felt after he had given his all and it still wasn't enough. For a guy who has consistently and singlehandedly carried his team on his shoulders, I understand how it would seem that he was the one most affected by the loss. Camaraderie goes out the window when you look around and see that you're all alone--in good and bad times, but especially the bad. I'm not surprised that he chose to internalize alot of what he was feeling. So I say to Lebron, if you want to be a brat, I don't blame you. Now. When he finally gets some help and he's still a brat, then I'll be more than happy to call him on it.

Another Article Criticizing Obama Politics

In light of GM's intent to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (a temporary measure), this article criticizing President Obama's politics seems relevant. How will Obama manage this process? Not only will there be more job loss but another $30 billion of U.S. federal funds will be infused into the failing company. I'm finding it hard to see a win for the people. There has been calls for Obama to take a more hands-on approach in managing this and other failed enterprises that the government now has a stake in but is this really where we want our president to focus his attention? Granted, our failing economy is perhaps our greatest trouble spot at the moment but there has to be a better way to turn the economy around rather than sinking money into big businesses that continue to let go of their most important resources, their workers. Something has got to give, and soon.