Heart Broken

Cleveland


I must go back in order to go forward
I need to say goodbye
Farewell to what I’ve come to love

My love for you took me by surprise
The idea of you was inviting
The reality of you was too good to be true
I was intrigued, my interest sparked

You had much to offer, much to share, much to teach, much to give, much to take
I explored you, I learned about you – from you

I shared in your seasons
Shivered with you when it was cold
Smiled with you when it was sunny
When you were unsure what the season was, I decided for you
I stood tall in the strongest of winds
I stayed in the shade so you could shine

One of the things I loved most about you was that you were rugged and refined
Suburban and urban
You fed me from your lake
I cooked local crops and made aromatic dished in my kitchen
We drew closer in the serenity of your green courses
You offered an arena to my passion
A harmonic dance of sport

But as the earth spun, so did the love affair
My love was no longer enough to keep you wet like the summer raindrops on your sidewalks

There wasn’t enough space in your harbor for me
You cast me out like the tall ships at the dock
So subtly you let me go
I didn’t realize the departure would be as it was
I didn’t get the closure I needed to what I thought was going to be my final resting place
When I do finally rest, I will remember the welcome not the farewell.

Better Homes and Gardens

The last day of finals for my kiddies was last Thursday (thank GOD). After work I had to go a retirement shindig for the social worker here. It was at this psychologist house in Greenwich, CT. Let me tell you just how fabulous this house was. It looked as if I had just stepped into the pages of Better Homes and Garden or one of those magazines where they feature homes of the rich and famous. First of all to get there I was driving on streets that had horse ranches on them and farms. I get to the street that the psychologist lives "Private Road". Only 7 houses on the street if you want to say that was a street. I get to the house - I pull up to a gate and had to be buzzed in. This house was PHAT - long circular driveway leading up to the front of the house where 7 visiting cars fitted. Mind you they already have one garage and are building another one. The new garage looks like a small house.

So as you walk in the house all you see is space. To the right is the formal living room and off the formal living room is a den. Mind you there is a fire place in both. To the right of the entrance is a staircase leading to the second floor. I didn't have an opportunity to go upstairs, but I can only imagine. Past the staircase was the formal dining room which can seat 22 people. The table looked fit for a King. Off the formal dining room was, for all you cooks out there, the kitchen to die for. It was so big. All the appliances were flushed to the walls. It had two islands and a full size (seats at least 8) dining room table. It had a two sinks and the refrigerator was on of those stainless steel joints. The stove was the kind made for a serious cook. And get this on one of the islands there was a draw you pull out and it was an ice maker. I was blown away. Off the kitchen there was a butler's pantry. Very nice. The back yard was designed for entertaining. They have two full service grills out there. They have plenty of seating areas. They have an infinity pool, a grass tennis court and a putting green. To top it off they have a pool house.

It was sick to think about how much this house would go for - about $10million (someone asked). I got to go into the pool house to change my clothes, I had to leave from there and go to a graduation where I was speaking at. The pool house has to be at least 10,000 square feet. The bathroom alone was huge. It puts the pool house that the "Fresh Prince" lived in on the show to shame.

All I can say is damn - it must be nice.

New Jack Swing Concert

If you take you love away from me I'll go Crazy....... BlackStreet

This past Friday night me, Lightweight and her girl Take No Mess (TNM) went to see the new Jack Swing concert for Lightweight's birthday. It was a surprise for Lightweight. All she knew was to be ready to go out and I was picking her up at 5:15. She kept asking where we were going so I told her we had a 6 pm reservation at Gray's Papaya. For those of you who don't know about Gray's it's basically a store front hot dog stand with several locations in NYC. Of course Lightweight didn't believe this and figured out that we were going to her favorite restaurant Tony DiNapoli's (very good Italian food - 43rd St and B'way). She was all excited. She still didn't know about the concert. As we were eating dinner we told her that there was a part 2 to the evening. So TNM and I started to sing songs from the artists performing.

So we get to the Theater at Madison Square Garden and the place was packed. Black folk were out that night. So with that comes the fashion disasters. OH MY GOD - I can't believe people stepped out of their houses looking the way many of them did.

Fashion police was giving out summonses: Okay for the big girls - yall can't wear everything that your size 4 homegirl wears. Stop with all the tight spandex and little ass tank tops with no bra. 38 DD should not got without a bra - I'm sorry you just can't. Now for the skinny girls - great your skinny but I don't want to see you butt cheeks hanging out from under your too mini mini. And ladies what is up with the hair styles from the 80's I know it was a concert with music from the late 80's and early 90's but damn yall took it to far. Fellas weren't any better. Why was there this dude - he looked like he could have been Flava Flavs brother, in a cheesy white suit with a jacket that cam below his calf and the sleeves were too long. No lie. And he had the nerve to have on cheap black dusty shoes with it.

We had great seats. But why was there a reformed crack head sitting next to me. She said to me , "yo who performed first?" (cause you know she got there late) And to top it off it wasn't even her seat. She ended up having to move. During Tony Toni, Tone's set she broke out a piece of aluminum foil with some smelly shit in it. I was thinking to myself "hell to the NO she didn't!"

After Seven performed first. They are looking very old but they still did their thing. My only complaint with them is that they sang with tracks not a live band. Also the cousin was not there (babyface's brothers performed with some new dude). Next up was Tony Toni Tone. They rocked it out. Raphael Sadiqq no longer performs with them but the lead singer was their cousin who sounded and looked just like Raphael. They were as good as I thought they would be. Third up was Blackstreet. Now yall know that during their day they had several members leave the group. Well Friday we were introduced to some guy from NC that took Chauncey BLACK's place. They sounded excellent. The harmony was tight. They even had some dance steps going. And ladies member Mark Middleton's body was hot. He took his shirt off and had on a wife beater. Let me just say that his biceps were a thing of beauty. But he went further and took off the wife beater. His six pack was divine. If he would have been butt naked he would have given D'Angelo a run for his money in that video. Ooo ooh, I was having a flash back - sorry. They did all their hits. It's a shame the Chauncey BLACK wasn't there. Teddy Riley did some of his songs with Wrek's N Effect. Then GUY came out. The Hall brothers still look the same - goofy but they did their thing. At one point they started doing the running man across the stage. That had everyone laughing. Aaron sounded the same. What I didn't like about their show was the Aaron was trying too hard to have the same shine he had back in the day. "Your old damn it. Girls don't want you." He had the nerve to take his shirt off. Now if you all remember how skinny he was back then - well he is just as skinny now. My nephew when he was ten had more muscles then Aaron Hall has right now. Shame! Anyway the the concert was a great success in my opinion. I just wish that all of the groups that performed would come back out with some new material. It would sure be music to my ears and sound better than much of the garbage that is out nowadays. If you have the chance to see the concert go check it out. It was well worth my money.

Here I Am

I haven't hit yall with a poem in awhile. Here is one of my favorites. It was written back in 1999.


HERE I AM

What’s that you say
You don’t know me
Don’t recognize me
Shh – it’s more like you just ignore me
I’ve been here all along
Biding time – Waiting
You heard me – waiting
Umm hmm, I’m tired
Sick and tired of wanting you to acknowledge me
Me and all that I am, was and ever will be
You have tried to strip me of everything possible
Education, goods, services and even a good man
But you know what?
There are two things you can’t take from me
No matter how hard you try
You can’t take them
My powerful voice and my beautiful brown skin
That’s right
You try to make these my liabilities
But they are my greatest assets
I know you admire my dark skin that I am in
Why else would you bake out in the sun for hours
You envy the intelligent and poetic words that flow from my full lips
So you continue to leave me out of my rightful place in society
Don’t get this sista started
I have had plenty of time to hone my skills to perfection
No longer am I willing to be pushed aside
I am taking charge of my future, my education, producing goods and services that I can be proud of
And no longer will I allow you to pit me against my man
I don’t think you heard me
Let me say it again a little bit louder
NO LONGER WIILL I ALLOW YOU TO PIT ME AGAINST MY MAN, MY GOOD MAN
My time is now
I will not be denied
You may try all you like
But you will not succeed
I won’t let you
My voice is too loud
my brown skin too radiant
So what’s that you say?

Update on the Postman

Well it's been a minute and I thought I give you all an update on how things are with the Postman. Improving.

Since my first encounter with him, I did run into him while I was doing laundry one afternoon. He still was trying his damnedest to get into the pants. Not happening. He saw me standing at the elevator an proceeded to try and hold a conversation with me. I wasn't rude but I wasn't polite either. I spoke to him as if he were just another person standing at the elevator with me. He on the other hand kept running his mouth. He even got on the elevator and rode up with me when he was on his way out when he saw me. Of course he said some ignorant shit as I was about to get off the elevator. All I kept thinking was I hope he doesn't go touch my clothes that were in the dryer. YUCK!

The next encounter was about a week later. He is sitting in his car as I'm coming out the side door to the building. His windows are rolled up and tinted, but I could tell he was in there. Know how - cause the negro immediately rolls them down to speak. I give it to the brotha for being persistent. Anyway he say hello and I say hi and keep walking. Don't you know this fool follows me up the driveway and says, "hey did you get my text the other day?"
Me - "yes."
Postman - "well I thought I'd hear from you.?"
Me - "No, I have nothing to say."
Postman - "What do you mean? I thought we could hang out again?" (This was said with a pout on his face as if he were 5 years old.)
Me - "No, you don't listen."
Postman - "what, can I have another chance? "
Me - "NO, You don't listen."

Thank goodness just then another car needed to turn into the driveway cause I was about to flip on this Nukka. I made a bee line to my car, got in and left.

Next encounter - sort of, was last week at work. Me and 2 co-workers decided to go out for lunch. As we are driving don't you know we see the Postman on his route. But the worst is - he sees us. He is waving all hard making sure that we see him. It was hilarious if you could have seen how silly he looked. Me and my coworkers are cracking up cause I tell them the story of how he is an idiot.

Now earlier this week I stop to get gas at this little no frills gas station down the block from my house and don't you know as I'm pulling out of the gas station who is right behind me - the Postman. "Damn it. If I don't have the worst timing." I'm talking to myself by this time cause I'm in a state of disbelief. Not once have I ever seen him around the time I get off of work. Any way I can tell he speeds up a little just enough so that I notice him. I continue toward my apartment, but as I get in front of the building I keep driving. The heck if I was going to end up walking in the building the same time as him. I ended up driving around for about another 5-10 minutes just to be sure that he was in. When I got back to the building he wasn't there - whew.

Now today, I'm coming home from a glorious morning of worship (church for you heathens) and I see this man and woman standing next to a car. Now upon second glance I notice it was the Postman with an attractive young lady. I park my car and begin walking up the street toward the building. I see him glance my way but he doesn't say anything. As I get closer I can tell he is speaking more loudly. Now it's wasn't necessary for him to be speaking that loud to her, only if he wanted someone else to hear the conversation. Mind you I really didn't pay attention to what they were saying but I did notice she was taking packages out of the her trunk. They began to walk toward the building as well but they were several yards behind me. At this point I was torn as to what I should do. There were 3 things going on in my head: a) run, b) turn to her and say girl don't do it, he is CRAZY and c) or keep my composure if we end up on the elevator together. Well GOD was with me that moment, they decided to take the stairs - hallelujah!

I hope this is the end to the Postman saga........