One of the many reasons why I do NOT miss BART!!

So I didn't witness this firsthand. But I can honestly say that I've seen this happen before. Different people, different train...but something like this is bound to happen on BART. (Hilarious--glad I wasn't on that train.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiBHLkTlMsA

That makes it okay...

So I only drink on "special" occasions. This time: to mark the end of a long couple of weeks. I indulged in a jello shot, a few Malibu rum "shots" and two margaritas. Pretty impressive, huh? Especially considering I consumed the most alcohol in 24 hours than I have in an entire month. So I figure for my next "special" occasion, I deserve to indulge in a bit more than that. When the time comes, I know I will more than deserve it.

Washington Post: Black Men Series

The Post has been running a "series" of stories about black men in the 21st century. The latest installment is about a black woman in Washington looking for a good black man. Her story, unfortunately, sounds so familiar and definitely hits close to home. The story brings up a lot of the issues I've discussed ad nauseum with friends and associates and read about all too often.

Here's an excerpt of the most poignant parts:

Then they went to a dinner party with some of her lawyer and journalist friends. He was uncomfortable and quiet all evening. Her friends later told her they didn't like him, either.

Soon after, he was always calling her stuck-up or "bougie." And she began to think of him as "ghetto." She mentioned wanting to hire a housekeeper when she married. Bougie, he thought. He bought bootleg movies. "Straight-up ghetto," she told him.

She stayed with him for several more months, not ready to muster the courage to be alone again and lose the comfort of having a hand to hold, a Friday night date and the sound of a man on her phone at night.

I'm a lot like the woman in the story: hopeful that I'll find the right man...preferably black but more importantly, perfect for me.

For the full story, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/07/AR2006100701070_pf.html

P.S. Nice job, Krissah!

Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!

I rediscovered the simple yet delicious delight of the peanut butter jelly sandwich today.

I realize that I needed a solution to coming back to my room every time I need to eat. The good news is that I have done a great job of preparing more than 75 percent of my own meals.

The flipside: Time spent traveling to and from my room is about 15-20 minutes--this means that I automatically lose 40 minutes a day going back and forth.

So my solution: PBJ! I'll pack sandwiches more often to avoid the walk back and forth.

Simplistic: Yes. Practical: Yes. Tasty: OF COURSE!

P.S. If you have any other (obvious) time-saving suggestions, please pass them along.

Stages

Life, obviously, comes with different stages including stages of loneliness. It doesn't matter if you're surrounded by family, living in a big city, or in college. It can happen. It doesn't matter that you are surrounded by people. It can happen. These stages have a lot to do with life changes in general and growing up and figuring out what life is about. But the bottomline is that I realize that in experiencing these feelings, I am not alone.

Afeni Shakur

I was able to attend a lecture at the University of Chicago with Afeni Shakur on Friday night.

For me, it was a blessing and a pleasant surprise because she offered insight on two pieces of history in which I'm most interested: the Civil Rights movement (via the Black Panther Party) and hip hop (via the late Tupac Amaru Shakur).

Ms. Shakur was visibly excited to have the opportunity to speak about things she is most passionate about. She connected almost instantly with audience speaking about the reasons she joined the Party and how it has shaped her life and her road to recovery (from drugs and violence).

To illustrate this dramatic change, she said, "I'm not against anything." I don't have to time to be against something because there are too many things to be for. To drive this point home, she bragged about the recent opening of the new performing arts center in Georgia, which includes a peace garden. The whole purpose of the center is modeled after Tupac themes: Thug Mansionz and Underground Railroads--a safe house to figure out how to get things done.

A key question posed by an audience member: What should young people, especially children, take away from the memory of Tupac?

"I want people to admire his work ethic--it was the most powerful thing he had. Everything he did had a purpose and nothing was intended to be destructive. He was taught to disagree but to stand up and defend his position."

The most key memory/insight of Tupac:
"As a 25 year old black man he said everything he wanted to say."

To me, that thought/realization is so key. I think about the young twentysomethings black men I know now. Of those, who would be able to say the same? Who would have fought for that opportunity to demand the world's attentions to pain and suffering and hope and peace that can all be found within the black community?

If nothing else, for me, Tupac has inspired me to keep writing. If he was able to get all of his thoughts out in 25 short years of life, why cant I? Why can't other people my age work towards this goal?