~ Crown Royal On Ice ~

Back...

2009-08-30T10:21:00.002-04:00

So, I pretty much haven't blogged all summer. It's been a crazy few months, and I really just didn't have time to update anything. I've been missing my blog though, and the release I get from it, so I'm making it a point to dedicate more time to it like I used to. So much happened in the past few months, I don't know how I would have even had time to blog about it all...

I celebrated my birthday, I had a crazy girl's trip to Miami, I got a promotion at work...then I get into a car accident, and spent 2 months doing rehab. I'm still not finished! I thank God that it wasn't worse, but it still put a dent in my summer (pun intended).

This summer has been one of challenges. After working so hard to obtain the promotion, I received absolutely no training in my new role, and have basically been teaching myself. I'm still learning things every day, and I feel almost like a little boat drifiting in a big sea, trying to find the way to shore...but from what I've been told so far, I'm doing well - so this little boat ain't too shabby!

The accident also taught me a LOT. How to handle things in the heat of the moment (when the guy that hit you is about to drive off, what would you do?), how to deal with insurance companies (yuck), how to relax (did I really think I could take one day off and go right back to work?), and just how resilient I am and can be...

I've received a lot of other lessons peppered in here and there...the usual. Lessons on friendship, relationships, money, family, health, the world, and myself. As 2009 winds down, I think I'm going to be more prepared for 2010. I feel like I'm moving forward with a clearer mind, and I think this is where the greatest possibilities are available to me.

While the weather SUCKED this summer (I think we got 2 good weekends of summer weather), this was a summer of some huge learning lessons that I feel are going to make me a better person in the days, weeks, and years to come, and for that (among other things), I am thankful.

Help Me Find My Way...

2009-05-17T17:59:00.004-04:00

Literally and figuratively...soooooo much has been going on the past month or so...my bday came and went, I'm trying to make some moves up the corporate ladder, and I have a Miami trip coming up in a matter of days...needless to say, I barely have time to sleep, let alone blog. Ah well. I'm livin' life, so I'll get back to being a good scribe soon.

In the meantime...

This is one of my FAVOURITE tracks eva...eva eva, eva eva! No Andre 3 Stacks.
I had the biggest crush on Q-Tip around this time. I swore if I ever saw the blonde chick in the streets, she was catching a beat down for doin' him so dirty when I loved him so much from afar...sigh.

In celebration of unrequited love, deezed up Q-Tips, and truly finding one's way, I present ATCQ...

...and we sip champagne when we thirst-ay

2009-04-26T13:48:00.006-04:00

I read lots of different blogs, and I always laugh when bloggers take a photo with a celeb, then caption it by saying "Me and my good friend so-and-so", and I pretty much figure they're just trying to name-drop on the photo-op. But now I have my very own celebrity friend! Meet Vaughn Martin.

Vaughn and I go back to high school days...he's been good friends with my younger brother, and we've all been tight like briefs in batty creases. Years later, after South Secondary, parties at Jim Bob's, and chillin' at the twins' house (lol), Vaughn decides he's going to make history by becoming the first Canadian underclassman to enter the NFL draft. Was he crazy? As of today, not only did he accomplish that, but he was also the second-highest selection ever for a player from a Canadian school! As Vaughn is now the newest addition to the San Diego Chargers, I know which home game I'll be traveling for when the next NFL season opens! Whether he plays in the first game or not, I gotta be there to support. That's what friends do.

With all the hype surrounding Vaughn, none of it has gone to his head - he's still the same Vaughn he's always been, and I love him for that! All too often, people are quick to switch it up and start feeling themselves a bit too much, but not Vaughn. Not only am I ecstatic for him and his new venture, but he's kind of given me a kick in the pants and reminded me that I don't need to be complacent in my own life. I need to go out there and get what I want out of life, create my own opportunities, and not wait for someone to hand something to me - especially in the face of people telling me that I can't do it. First Obama, now Vaughn...on so many different levels, people are constantly proving the status quo wrong, and I'm loving it!

Go Vaughn - it's ya draft day - we gon' party like it's ya draft day! Corny? Yes, I know...lol!

Click here for an insider's look at Vaughn's story, courtesy of TSN.

P.S. - most bolded items are a link to an additional site...not sure why they don't all come out blue :(

She's A Bad Chick...

2009-04-24T20:43:00.001-04:00

Potent Quotables

2009-04-24T18:53:00.001-04:00

"...And he said: you pretty full of yourself ain't chu.

So she replied: show me someone not full of Herself

and I'll show you a hungry person."

- Nikki Giovanni

Message!

2009-04-23T23:46:00.002-04:00

I'm Being Tested.

2009-04-21T20:51:00.002-04:00

So, for the past few days, I've been babysitting a friend's little girl. I'm just in the middle of my tour of duty, and I've learned so much more than I thought I would have...let's just say, I'm exhausted.

First of all, she's a GREAT child. A very well-mannered, smart, and happy child, which I love. However, going from my "bachelorette" lifestyle to one of a temporary mommy has had its eye-opening challenges. As a teen, back when I wanted to be a paediatrician, I surrounded myself with kids every chance I could get. Working at summer camps, volunteering at children's hospitals, you name it, if it involved kids, I was down. Since moving on from those days and those dreams, I've been a pretend adult faking it amongst real adults, and seem to have lost my kiddie vibe. I for sure thought this favour was going to be a disaster.

Let's just say I never knew how hard it was to put a child to sleep. My mom had the bomb "hushing" skills, but I'm fairly rusty. Kid-friendly food portions? What are those? It's a big guesstimate of how much will be enough to fill her, but not stuff her. And it seems like every day and every meal, that amount changes. Grr.

Add to that, the picky eater. I almost cried from hurt feelings when I slaved to cook dinner the way she likes it...not too spicy, not to hot, just right. Then, after 2 bites, she whispers to the BF that "I don't want anymore". Thoughts of my mother explaining "how much food costs" and "don't think about wasting that food!" zoomed through my head. NOW I know what she was talking about all those years ago when I just pushed food around in my plate, or purposely chewed up a huge bolus until she made me spit it out for fear that I'd choke.

Why do kids always want to chat when you're in the bathroom? That seems like prime discussion time. And kids always want to ask you to do something that you can't possibly do while on the toilet or in the shower. Then when you come out, they don't need you anymore. What's up with that??

Now I've had a taste of how my mommy friends are livin'. I have to throw my hat down to all of them and bow, because I don't know how they do it! I can't just pick up and go to the movies. I'd like to go out on Saturday night, but who's going to watch her? Shit - can't watch Family Guy this evening because some little eyes are too curious for their own good! Plus, I'm the "getaway" temporary replacement while Real Mommy is away. That means kids have higher expectations of you - you have to be just as fun, just as cool, and just as awesome as all those times you were in their presence for a short period. It's hard being consistently cool to a 6 year old! I'm pooped. I'll try to post again and document some more, but we'll see if I can find the time :S

Big-ups to all the Mommies out there, and a special holla to the single moms...phew. Y'all are good. Everyone tells me when I have my own, my personal momma instincts will kick in, and it won't seem so foreign and hard. Right now, the BF has more mommy skills than me, and I'm kind of doubting myself. Ah well...when the time is right, hopefully I can still be a cool, bathroom-chattin', perfect meal cookin', bomb-ass putter-to-bedder mommy, and still be a fabulous, sexy chica in every other dimension as well :)

Va$htie's Violette Line...

2009-04-14T21:52:00.003-04:00

This Trini renaissance woman ("music video director, artist, creative director, and party promoter" as per her website) is now dabbling in the fashion world, and her stuff is pretty hot...Va$htie's personal steelo is the lick, so I know this line will be the bomb as it develops...

Check http://violettenewyork.com/ for all the details - my favourite shirts are the Campbell's design (Naomi perched up beside a can of Campbell's soup) and the Eff You shirt...you've gotta see it for yourself ;) Plus, the prices are right...$25? Yes please!

You can also read her own blog in the finesse link...homegirl is livin' life in a major way...

Fever-Induced Thoughts...

2009-04-14T17:09:00.000-04:00

It's been a very introspective past few days. I found myself thinking a lot about different relationships, and wondering exactly what the point of it all was. In reflection, it seems that the more I've opened myself up to people, the more I've been burned. Maybe I need to chalk it up to people taking my kindness for weakness, I don't know. I hate thinking back to the past, especially when the future looks so much more promising, but you never know where you're going until you know where you've been. I guess that's why I often revisit the past in order to gain a better understanding of things and take a refresher course on how to not make the same mistakes again.

Where some people drink, gamble, or smoke their pain away, I have a weird fascination with running towards it instead of away. I find myself getting lost in thinking about the past, the different people who've hurt me, ways I would have handled situations if given a second chance, and what I might do or say to some folks if I ever saw them again. Its like having the chicken pox....it feels so good to scratch the itch, but scratch too much and you're left with scars.

I know I'm completely over some situations. There may be some residual sadness when I look back on them, but the anger is gone, and I'm calm. Some situations, I'm not over yet. How do I know? Because I'm still angry, still want to hurt some like they've hurt me, still want get back at you and let you feel some pain yourself. I know its only a matter of time before the anger dissolves, but I can at least admit I'm not there yet with some. The most frustrating of all are the situations where I have no idea how to compartmentalize my feelings. Do I sit down and have a heart to heart, laying everything on the line to come to a mutual understanding? Do I say f*ck that, and use anger to fuel my thoughts? Do I just bask in your insignificance and ignore it all? I still don't know what to do sometimes. I'm trying to figure it out.

Maybe it's just the fever and medications talking right now, but I just needed to get this off my chest...memories can be a bitch sometimes, but good or bad, they're necessary.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

J*Davey - Slim Chicks Unite

2009-04-14T11:42:00.003-04:00

I'm sick, so I won't type too much. All you need to know is:

J*Davey is the duo.

Miss Jack Davey is the bomb frontwoman.

Check http://www.missjackdavey.com/ for "the electronic mayhem"...thoughts and photos from Miss Jack Davey herself (aka Briana Cartwright).

Check http://www.myspace.com/jdavey for more photos and tracks from the duo...it's the hottness.

Checkin' In...

2009-04-07T20:20:00.003-04:00

Ok - so I don't know if I'll ever be one of those bloggers who can post something EVERY DAY. I want to be that person, but with my work schedule, I doubt it's gonna happen, Cap'n. However, I can't slack off like I have been the past few weeks :( It's cool when people get to read what I've written and comment on things, but I've found writing to be very cathartic for myself...and I start feeling pretty backed-up when I don't write enough. So I need a serious dose literary Metamucil right about now.

So here we are, 1/3 of the way through 2009. I have to say that personally, I can't complain too much right now. No major catastrophes, no real sickness or reason for torrential tear-shedding. As frustrating as my job may be at times, I still have one, which is more than I can say for a lot of other people. I've been to the Bahamas and back. I've not just met, but connected with some really great people, but I'm still trying to figure out what to do with some other folks in my life. Sometimes subtraction leads to addition, but you have to be careful not to pare your circle down too much. I've been on my recession work out at home, and have just started an Afro-Cuban dance class. It feels like a part of me that was starved for artistic food has been made full again. Sheeeit...I might just go out and buy me a violin too. I feel like slowly, but surely, I'm coming into my own.

I've often wished to have things that other people have, wished to look like other people look, wished to share the same childhood memories of friends. Sometimes, I felt like what I had, and what I was, wasn't good enough. I can't lie - every once in a while these thoughts still creep into my head. Wishing for a likkle bit more bumpa roun' a back or kicking myself for telling a corny, stupid joke is a lot easier than just accepting me for me. However, somewhere along the way, it just became a lot less exhausting to just drop the facades and be me, unapologetically. It's so refreshing to wake up in the morning, look at myself in the (literal and figurative) mirror, and accept everything I see, even if I don't like it all yet. I've learned that some of my flaws are my biggest assets...and I love knowing that after years of thinking I was never good enough, of feeling awkward and homely and just plain weird, I can now accept and embrace the things that 9, 17, and 21-year old B couldn't. Maybe it's maturity, or maybe it's just tired of being my own worst enemy. Whatever it is, it couldn't have come at a better time. It's time to live life authentically...

Put A Smile On My Face...

2009-03-20T10:10:00.002-04:00

What made me smile today (thus far):

- the woman who actually said "good morning" on the elevator (a lost tradition of politeness) and her well-behaved dog who didn't slob all over my shoes

- popping in a nondescript email from the backseat of my car, and hearing not only Lauryn Hill + Bob Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low", but rockin' out to R. Kelly's "She's Got That Vibe" on the way to work

- rekindling my love/hate relationship with cinnamon buns...love the sweet, sugary, icing-y taste, but hate the headaches I get from all that sweet goodness :)/:(

Just trying to keep it positive, y'all...it's Friday and the day is going by slower than drunk snails :S

Workin' On My Fitness...

2009-03-19T23:31:00.008-04:00

So, a while back, I wrote about my Recession Workout Plan. I do have to say that 3 months into 2009, I'm making more progress now with my cheap-ass workout than I did with any gym membership I've ever had. And the main catalyst would have to be Wii's My Fitness Coach!

I wrote a pretty decent review on my ChickAdvisor page, so check the link to get the full run-down. Long story short, this is a Wii program (NOT the Wii Fit) that doesn't require any extra equipment, other than any home equipment you may own (weights, exercise ball, etc.). Your personal trainer, Maya, guides you through fitness assessments and tailors workouts geared to whatever your personal goal is. You set up a schedule, and meet up with Maya on your designated days. She whoops your butt into shape, all while in the comfort of your own home.

Granted, you would have to purchase a Wii console and the disc itself (got it for $29.88 at Wal-Mart y'all!), but the results I've seen since buying the program in late January can't be beat...

When I'm bad and don't feel like working out with Maya, I still take my exercise ball and free weights and work it out in my living room (usually while watching my Martin dvds). There a tons of sites online that provide home workout routines, and lots of videos you can watch on Youtube to make sure your form is right. I personally just need to get my cardio up (which I plan to do with running and rollerskating in the nice weather), and I'll probably be at my most healthy and physically fit level. And it feels GREAT!

I see that for right now, the narrow structure of a gym isn't what works for me...I have more motivation knowing I can come home and do a workout, and when I'm done, I'm just as sore and sweaty as when I used to push myself at the gym. Shoot...it's still a recession, and my gym wasn't cuttin' it. So I cancelled the membership and rock it out with Maya and my weights at home :)

Up next - I might jump on this P90X bandwagon...reviews to come if I can get my hands on a burned copy...it's against the values of my inner recessionista to be paying over $100 for fitness equipment these days!

Gettin' Funky

2009-03-18T19:06:00.012-04:00

I found the coolest site yesterday - perfect for days when you're bored and websurfing without a care in the world...

BeFunky.com is a photo enhancing site. Upload one of your own photos, choose from a multitude of "effects" (i.e. Warholizer, Cartoonizer, Inkify, Charcola and others), and watch your pics take on a life of their own.

Below are a few of the ones I did while playing around:

Cool, huh? Try it out!

Nuts!!!

2009-03-17T22:12:00.002-04:00

A special inside joke...I'm the one winking :)

Give T(h)anks An' Praise

2009-03-13T19:11:00.003-04:00

The other morning, I tuned into Flow 93.5 on the drive to work. I only caught the tail end of their segment, but it seemed like they were playing clips of calls from listeners who were telling the world what they were happy about and thankful for in their lives. In all my time of listening to Flow, I think that was the single-most brilliant thing I've ever heard on that station. What better way to start your day than to think positively and give thanks for what you have, especially in a time when so many have so little, and others are losing what they DO have so quickly.

Callers' clips ranged from generally giving thanks for their health and families, to more specific things like just finding out they were pregnant and closing a big deal at work. It made me think...what am I thankful for? I do have to say...by the time I got to my parking space at work, I was in a better mood than I had been any other morning this week.

***I'm grateful for my health. Even with the health issues I do have, they're relatively minor compared to the patients I work with every day.
***I'm thankful for my family - though we're a small clan, we're a close group and hold each other down everyday without fail.
***I'm happy that I have some great friends. This is an area where I've had difficulty trusting people, but I think that now, in my mid-20s, I've been able to see what's real, and I'm thankful for those good-hearted folks :)
***I'm thankful that I have money in my pocket and I'm able to travel the world and see different things.
***I'm glad that I have all my senses - I wouldn't want to miss out on anything this world has to offer. Now, sense? Like in the general term of the word? Most people think I'm crazy, so I may be missing a bit of that...lol.
***I'm happy that the winter is finally fading away, and spring/summer is almost here. When the good weather hits, that means my birthday is close, and I'm especially thankful to be able to see another year.

Now - I'm waiting to have something major to CELEBRATE...that's a different story. Celebrating is more indulgent than being thankful, but both are necessary in life. With so much negativity surrounding us, one must be humble enough to be thankful, but still be able to celebrate all the extraordinary things that come along...

So keep this in mind...when you're having a bad day, or even when you're having a great day - take a moment to think about what you're thankful for in life. And whenever you have something to celebrate - a new job, getting engaged, having a baby, breaking up with someone (lol) - don't do it on a small scale...do it BIG!

Brother To The Night (A Blues For Nina)

2009-03-12T21:20:00.003-04:00

"Say, baby... can I be your slave? I've got to admit girl, you're the shit girl... and I'm digging you like a grave. Now, do they call you Daughter to the Spinning Pulsar... or maybe Queen of 10,000 moons? Sister to the Distant yet Rising Star? Is your name Yemaya? Oh, hell no. Its got to be Oshun. Oooh, is that a smile me put on your face, child... wide as a field of jasmine and clover? Talk that talk, honey. Walk that walk, money. High on legs that'll spite Jehovah.
Shit.
Who am I? It's not important. But me they call me Brother to the Night. And right now... I'm the blues in your left thigh... trying to become the funk in your right. Who am I? I'll be whoever you say. But right now I'm the sight-raped hunter... blindly pursuing you as my prey. And I just want to give you injections... of sublime erections... and get you to dance to my rhythm... make you dream archetypes... of black angels in flight... upon wings of distorted, contorted... metaphoric jizm.
Come on slim.
F#*k your man.
I ain't worried about him. It's you who I want to step to my scene. 'cause rather than deal with the fallacy... of this dry-ass reality... I'd rather dance and romance your sweet ass in a wet dream.
Who am I?
Well, they call me Brother to the night. And right now I'm the blues in your left thigh... trying to become the funk in your right.
Is that all right?"

- DaRiUs LoVeHaLl (Love Jones, 1997)

When I Loved Larenz Tate...

2009-03-12T20:36:00.005-04:00

This is my all-time, FAVOURITE movie... *sigh* Love Jones...

When I first saw this movie, I didn't realize Larenz was a short man. I was just so in love with Darius Lovehall that it didn't even matter to me...I changed the title of his spoken word piece from "A Blues for Nina" to " A Blues for B"...I had a serious love jones for that man and that movie...

And tell me Nina Mosley wasn't a bad chick! I learned what cynicism was from her failed engagement, and learned the fine art of playing hard to get from how she held off Darius' advances...

Also - and very importantly, I learned that you don't CLAP after poetry...you snap your fingers...I was the dopest, most soulful 14-year-old around.

Hollywood was DEAD ASS WRONG for fronting like Nina was his girl when her and Darius split...
Eddie had me weak when he said "Poetry is the possibility of language"...
Josie's hair was the BOMB...made me want to go natural years before I actually did...
Savon was the most intense character to me...I love him more than I love Dr. Burke.

Darius playing records for Nina in the record shop? Nina stepping out of her comfort zone and reciting her own written piece for Darius?? *sighhhhhhhh* I yearned for some deep, artistic love like that - yes, even at 14...lol. I adored what this movie represented - the possibilities of young Black America, the exhibition of the arts (at a time where I went to an arts' school and was considered the biggest geek of all time in the 'hood), and the display of love between two people who didn't know what they were doing, but were trying to figure it out. The honesty was amazing. It made this 14 year old, violin-playing, journal-writing, chiaroscuro-understanding Black girl feel like there was a place in the world for her...unfortunately, it existed in my VCR (reel life) and not in my real life.

Damn. I just worked myself up reminiscing about this movie and I don't even have a copy. And don't even get me started on the soundtrack. Weekend goal confirmed...

Public Service Announcement

2009-03-11T21:51:00.004-04:00

People...PLEASE check yourselves. There's a steady epidemic growing in our society, and it needs to be curbed before it gets out of hand. What is this epidemic you may ask? A disease known as "nosyasscantmindmyownbusiness-judgmentalhateritis". It's a long name, I know...but that's how serious it is.

It seems that people have suddenly become experts on any and everything under the sun. I've seen this exhibited in public realms, especially when dealing with the Chrianna situation - where everyone is now a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, therapist, doctor, lawyer, or CSI forensic specialist. I've also seen this play out in personal realms, where I come across people who act like the woman Bernie Mac (R.I.P.) was talking about in Kings of Comedy...wanna tell you where to sit, how to sit, when to get up...stop! Don't do that! Go over there! Come right here! Go right! Go left! Shut up!

I know how the old adage goes: opinions are like assholes - everyone has one. And that's great! I can value someone's opinion and appreciate as just that - an opinion. Not a general fact...it may be your personal truth, but it may not necessarily be mine. I think that's what a lot of people forget.

Too many people are more concerned with what you're doing than with what they're doing. Then they get left behind, and want to get mad when you're doing better than them. If people put as much energy into self-development as they did into getting into people's business, they'd get a lot further ahead.

Too many people think they know the "right" way to live...and if you're deviating from their personal truth, you need saving. Granted, there are some folks who need to get their ish together and need a swift kick in their backside from time to time (we've all seen Intervention). However, it's not necessary to try to get every triangle to fit your square mold. I'm a proud triangle, and love my squares, but the beauty of it is that we're not all the same...

So, as the cartoon says, don't forget to check yourself before you check someone else...and protect your neck. Nosyasscantmindmyownbusiness-judgmentalhateritis is real.

DWL...Sexy People

2009-03-11T21:46:00.001-04:00

If you ever need a quick pick-me-up, go to http://www.sexypeople-blog.com/ - whoever is runnin' this joint has pictures galore of the most special kind of sexy people I've ever seen...gotta love the mullets and 1980's lazer backgrounds...check it out!

Ego Tripping by Nikki Giovanni

2009-03-11T10:07:00.003-04:00

One of my favourite poems of all time...Ms. Giovanni is a bad chick! Read it this morning and it made me smile, so I thought I'd share...

Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)
I was born in the congo
I walked to the fertile crescent and built
the sphinx
I designed a pyramid so tough that a star
that only glows every one hundred years falls
into the center giving divine perfect light
I am bad

I sat on the throne
drinking nectar with allah
I got hot and sent an ice age to europe
to cool my thirst
My oldest daughter is nefertiti
the tears from my birth pains
created the nile
I am a beautiful woman

I gazed on the forest and burned
out the sahara desert
with a packet of goat's meat
and a change of clothes
I crossed it in two hours
I am a gazelle so swift
so swift you can't catch me

For a birthday present when he was three
I gave my son hannibal an elephant
He gave me rome for mother's day
My strength flows ever on

My son noah built new/ark and
I stood proudly at the helm
as we sailed on a soft summer day
I turned myself into myself and was
jesus
men intone my loving name
All praises All praises
I am the one who would save

I sowed diamonds in my back yard
My bowels deliver uranium
the filings from my fingernails are
semi-precious jewels
On a trip north
I caught a cold and blew
My nose giving oil to the arab world
I am so hip even my errors are correct
I sailed west to reach east and had to round off
the earth as I went
The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid
across three continents

I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended except by my permission

I mean...I...can fly
like a bird in the sky...

Swagger On A Hundred, Thousand, Trillion...

2009-03-10T22:21:00.007-04:00

My man is KILLIN' it right here. This is true confidence.
If this dude can rock gladiator sandals with the pedicure, booty shorts, an extra smedium silk shirt, and some bling with a cute purse over his shoulder - with his 5 foot self - there's no reason why everyone can't feel fly everyday.
Whenever I feel self-conscious, I'm gonna look at this picture and tell myself, "It can't be THAT bad."

Thanks YBF! And thanks to Niecy Nash for having this dapper don at her b-day party.

Thought 4 The Day

2009-03-09T21:39:00.002-04:00

My Love...

2009-03-09T21:11:00.002-04:00

So...this is Mariah's new track feat. The Dream, called "My Love". And I hate it. Here are a few questions I have for Mr. Carey, who's been the main "director" for his boss's - oops, I mean wife's - latest videos....

What was The Dream doing wildin' out with that frying pan? And did he ever raise a skillet in Nivea's face? Something tells me she wouldn't be havin' all of that.

Why was Mariah giving herself and everyone else in her crack house diabetes by pouring a 1-lb bag of sugar in her red Kool-Aid?

WTF was in the bottom of her frying pan when she was cooking up her egg and hotdog "hood breakfast"?

Why do I wish this song just had The Dream in it?

How is The Dream telling her "it takes time to get money", then going back to his pentouse with golddiggers sitting on his couch, eating fruit & bonbons?

How many times did Mariah have to practice saying "all up in our bidness" and "in love wit yo ass like crazy? Beyonce was more believeable saying she's "on the hot block, like errryday".

When is MC going to realize it's ok to age gracefully? Sure, she looks good...but she's got that Michael Jackson disease, thinking she's perpetually 17...stop it. That shit should be in the DSM-IV.

That is all.

What's Really Real...

2009-02-12T21:49:00.004-05:00

"I'm not scared of lions and tigers and bears

But I'm scared of loving you

I'm not scared to perform at a sold out affair

But I'm scared of loving you

Am I the only one who thinks an impossible task?

Why it don't last?

Is that too much to ask?

Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?"

As if I didn't love Jazmine Sullivan's voice before hearing this song...and she's spittin' la verdad on this track. Gotta love it.

Makes my blood pressure rise...

2009-02-11T21:34:00.003-05:00

If there’s one website I loathe right now, it would have to be Yahoo! Canada. There’s nothing that makes me say Yahoo! about it. It has nothing to do with their layout or their search capabilities, or even their news content, which is sometimes questionable and riddled with spelling mistakes. It has to do with the fact that they allow comments on their news articles, which show me the real ugly side of Canadians.

I should actually be grateful to the web lords of Yahoo! Canada for allowing the comments section on most of the articles. For anyone who needs proof of the fact that Canada is not as Kumbaya-holding-hands-in-love-with-multiculturalism as it’s proposed to be, look no further than Yahoo! Canada commentary. It’s rife with racism, sexism, and any other ism/schism that you can think of.

Any shooting in Toronto? It has to be one of those rabid Jamaicans that keep coming to Canada. A cabbie gets robbed or assaulted? Someone scoffs at the fact that he may have been a doctor or lawyer back home, and now can only settle for being a taxi driver. Don't let there be a story about a rapper or R n' B singer - they're all "thugs". The lady who put Maxime Bernier on blast? She's a "fame-hungry whore". Don't be a woman in some station of power - someone will comment that she has no idea what she's doing, and needs to be "home baking cookies". And don't forget - those women are also the ones tearing this society apart - a woman trying to do it all will fail at everything, confusing her kids and tainting the next generation in the process. Make sure you don't post a story about a breaking-news topic from another country - we should ONLY be reading about Canadian news, dammit!! It's enough to make you want to scream, "Oh, Canada!" Okay - that was corny...lol.

This isn't to say that there aren't people who are openminded, progressive, and intelligent, like all good Canadians are "supposed" to be. It just seems like those folks get drowned out by the amount of vile and ignorant comments that get posted on a daily basis. I wish more people opened their eyes and read some of this commentary. It makes me wonder if any of my coworkers are lurking behind screennames, smiling in my face while secretly wondering if it was my brother or boyfriend who licked shots downtown last weekend.

Sigh.

This has nothing to do with being patriotic vs. unpatriotic. I personally love Canada, but I can at least understand it for what it is, not what other countries around the world think it is, or what I dream it is when I close my eyes real tight. Social internet constructs like open commentary provides some real insight to the communtity around us. And yes, while some people may merely exaggerate and post things for shock value, I don't think that's the case 100% of the time. However, everyone has their right to voice their opinion. The saying goes that opinions are like assholes - everyone has one...and apparently, Yahoo! Canada's just got a lot of assholes.

Ok, I'm back....

2009-02-05T21:37:00.014-05:00

Yeah, I've neglected CROI for a hot minute, but I have a good reason.

Two words: Nassau, Bahamas.

But I'm back now...pictures are all you'll get 'cause what happens in the 242 stays in the 242 :)

Bikinis + Rum + Strawberry Slush = Yum!!

Sun lickin' off the water...

Hot tubs and cold drinks :)

Snorkeling shots...but I can't swim though.

See...I did it!

Sunshine on bare legs? Gotta love it!

Woo-sahhhhhhhh...

Alright. Back to real (and blog) life...

January 20th, 2009 - A New Day

2009-01-21T21:46:00.014-05:00

It’s hard to not smile today, after witnessing what I did yesterday. The word “historic” sounds as played out as “bling-bling” does, but I don’t know if we have a better word to describe the magnitude of President Barack Obama’s inauguration yesterday.

I knew I wanted to blog about Jan. 20, 2009, but I knew I wouldn’t know where to start – there were (and still are) so many emotions going through me, but above it all is a strong sense of pride. And it’s honestly one of the best feelings I’ve felt in a while. After seeing all of yesterday’s events, I want to do better, be better, walk taller, speak clearer, and just generally improve on everything that is me, to see how far I can really go in life. This is really just the beginning, and I’m so excited to see how things roll out for the U.S., minorities, and the world in general.

Maybe throughout the week, I’ll be able to have a better grasp on my words, and I might be able to write something a bit better…but I know I’m going to live off of these feelings for a while, even if I can’t find the words to express them…

Recession Workout Plan

2009-01-13T21:26:00.003-05:00

I got fed up.

I've been trying to go to the gym, the same little gym that I've worked out at since March, and I got fed up. Since it's a new year, the gym is filled with well-intentioned but misguided newbies who are desperately trying to stick to their new year's resolutions. I can't hate on them really, because I'm always happy to see people doing something positive, and being proactive in improving their lives. However...I can't ever get a damn machine!!!

Let me explain something about my gym. It's small. Not one of those big, intimidating gyms that have fancy commercials and shyt. It's a small, simple, practical gym, with all the machines you need, and nothing you don't. Over the last few months though, there's been a decline in the quality of my gym. People are swiping free weights, machines are constantly broken, and it seems like the word "repair" doesn't mean a damn thing to the management. As if that wasn't bad enough, now I've got a ton of new people coming in, grabbing up the remaining weights and working machinery.

So here's what I plan to do...cancel my membership. And get on the Recession Workout Plan.

It's no secret that the recession block is hot right now. People are scrimping and saving, trying to hold on to their jobs and pennies as best they can. While I like to think I'm a big baller/shotcaller, I need to hold on to my wallet contents just like the next chick. So cancelling my gym membership will keep a few extra $$$ in my pocket every month.

I hit up Wal-Mart the other day, and what I would spend on a month's payment for my membership, I used to pick up some free weights and an inflatable exercise ball. Weights + Ball + Internet + Motivation = the new Recession Workout Plan. From my research, the fitness goals I want to achieve should be attainable with those few items (not sure about you, but the RWP can be tailored to anyone). Throw in my running shoes for when I'm ready to take a wintery, alveoli-freezing run, and I think I'm good to go! Strengthening my core on my exercise ball and doing bicep curls while watching House most def beats running to the gym to just watch a bunch of people throw their backs out on the few good machines left.

If I can keep up on my RWP, I'll be lookin' good come summer time, with extra cash in my pocket. What's better than that? It's all abut getting creative and learning how to pimp the system ;)

Could It Be????

2009-01-12T15:12:00.005-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/12/winehouse.divorce/index.html

Might this be just the thing that all selfish Amy Winehouse fans like myself have been waiting for? No more Blake? No more drugs? A new man after a rejuvenating jaunt in the Caribbean?

Hopefully Amy Wino is as positive as the British tabloids say she is, and cleans her act up (as much as it can be cleaned). 'Cause the other side of this ugly coin is that she might end up spiraling into a worse hole than she was in with dude. A toxic love like theirs is like a car wreck...you want to turn away but you just can't help and watch what happens.

Ah well. Time will tell. I just (selfishly) hope she puts out some new music soon. But hopefully she still keeps some of her grit and rawness and doesn't get too pop-happy-sunshiny-in-love on me...

Either way, I'm down for the Wino.

Thursday Night TV Thoughts

2009-01-08T21:30:00.007-05:00

UGLYBETTY

* Well, damn - if Ugly Betty tonight wasn't a snapshot of my life, I don't know what was...what scene, which character? I'm not telling...you can try to guess :)

* Wilhelmina is one bad bitch.

* Poor Papi :(

30ROCK

* I want to be Tina Fey's best friend. Sarah Palin can go t'hell.

* I need to watch this show more often.

GREYSANATOMY

* L'il Grey got some bawls. She got McSexy sprung. Never thought I'd see the day.

* The "COME ONNNNNNN!!" lady had me laughing and annoyed at the same time.

* WTF happened with Christina and Meredith? Ah, good ole tense moments between friends.

* I love me some Denny, but my girl Shonda needs to explain this one, and QUICK.

NISSANCOMMERCIAL

Man 1: "Wow, a Nissan - I heard they're pretty cheap these days."

Man 2: "They aren't cheap, they're inexpensive."

Man 1: blank stare

Man 2: "You cut your own hair. That's cheap."

Man 1: even blanker stare

LOL!!

My take...

2009-01-08T19:22:00.005-05:00

There once was a girl

With a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead

When she was good, she was very, very good,

But when she was mad she was horrid.

Sorry.

I’m A Bass Girl

2009-01-05T12:10:00.002-05:00

I was driving to work this morning, listening to some tunes, and I realized something. I love bass. Not bass the fish, but bass in music, as in that thump that rattles in your chest when the beat drops. Don’t ask me what it is, but something about a serious bassline makes a song sexy to me.

I think I’ve been this way since I was a child. My dad worked in a factory, but held a side gig as a “selecta” and would regularly host weekend dances in our basement. The laundry room held 2 huge club sized speakers that were conveniently located right under our kitchen, so when the bass hit, pots on the stove jumped to the beat and plates shook out the cupboards to join the party. My mom would rush in the kitchen screaming, and my dad and I would laugh, and in true Jamaican form would take a swig of his Heineken and say “Jus’ cool man, di music sweet, eee?” Mom would laugh too, and I couldn’t help but link bass to warm fuzzy feelings.

There’s nothing I love more than to be in my car, or in the club, listening to a real bass-heavy song and feeling the vibrations move through my body. In the car can be a bit dangerous, because I find myself banging out the bass line on the dashboard with one hand while driving with the other. Not a good look in the wintertime. At the red lightbulb basement jams back in the day though, you best believe I’d be knocking out a bassline on somebody’s mama’s furnace with no hesitation!

Go listen to Timbaland (circa Aaliyah “One In A Million” days) and you’ll see what I mean. I have to give T-Pain props for his production (and dutty bassline) on “Chopped N’ Skrewed”. Drum and Bass says it all (don’t even dare call it techno). Find some early 90s gun-man reggae tunes (Bounty Killa anyone?) and tell me if the bass in those songs don’t add something serious to the track. Nothing like this tinny, jiggy-jiggy crap that’s been out for a while…sounding like a song that hasn’t gone through puberty yet. I’m a grown-ass woman, I like grown-ass men, and a song with a heavy bassline sounds like grown-people music to me. Get familiar.

~The One~ Happy Birthday I.A.E.!

2009-01-04T15:17:00.013-05:00

When: Jan. 3, 2009

Where: 6 Degrees Nightclub

What: The One - Ian Andre Espinet's birthday celebration

The girls and I got free tix to Ian's birthday party and rolled out last night. Let me just say, this was the most fun I've had in a while. The club was RAMMED (yes, bolding AND capitals - it was that rammed), but I think the Belvedere I sipped on prior to the club + the music and company @ the club helped me to still cut a rug like nobody's business. Here in point form are some of the special moments of the night:

* seeing the long ass lineup down Yonge Street, jumping in line and still getting in within 5 minutes - from my experiences, the bouncers at 6 Degrees are the only ones who know how to move a damn line.

* getting in for free :)

* the red carpet rollout right after coat check, leading to a "The One" backdrop for an impromptu photo shoot

* Lindo-P mashing up the club with Kelly Clarksons' "Since You've Been Gone"

* seeing tons of old friends - erryone and their mama was out at The One

* Tasha Rozez holdin' it down for the female DJs

* the fight the broke out right behind me - con: getting doused with liquor and licked in the head with a glass - pro: all the wack UFC rumblers got removed from the premises, leaving a lot more dancing space

* meeting Jully Black - she's a bad chick!

* seeing a girl bust her ass on the stairs from the 2nd level - I could see it coming 'cause homegirl was skipping down those steps in stilettos like it was nothing - staircase handles are there for a reason...

* Dr. Jay and Soca Sweetness making everyone get their chip on upstairs

* seeing coworkers who are usually stiff as hell WINING to some soca

* the folks who actually took the time to pay respect to the dress code and come out looking fly

* hype music the whole night through

* seeing a dead pigeon on the ground on the way to the car and cracking up by myself thinking about the "My Mama Bird" episode of Martin...

All in all, I had a great time, and woke up still feeling it this morning. Can't wait til next year Ian :)

New Year, New Style, New Dance Ah Lick...

2009-01-01T21:39:00.004-05:00

So, here we are, one day into the new year...I'm still in that weird purgatory of looking back and analyzing 2008, and looking forward and anticipating 2009.

If there's any evidence of how different this year may be from last for me, it's how I spent my time ringing it in...last year was full of bottle-poppin, jamming at the club with my girls, meeting Teedra Moses, and just basically getting into a lot of (fun) trouble throughout the night. This year, everyone was more low-key, and thanks to a few friends who decided to host home-bound get-togethers, I spent my night bouncing from house to warm house, enjoying drinks, food, and fun with new friends and old ones. Boring? Maybe at first glance, but I guess you don't know my friends ;) It was all about the Recession limin' this year, and it was definitely the type of celebration I needed this year. I needed to really pare things back, go very minimalist and simple, and get myself really ready for everything I know '09 has in store for me.

I learned so many lessons last year, and in the past couple months, I've been doing a lot of analyzing of myself, and having small (and some big) "Eureka moments", where it's like Tinkerbell has just fluttered by and tapped me on the head, and all of a sudden, an insurmountable obstacle or problem becomes clear. I love those moments, because even when the next problem comes along, no matter how much I think I can't figure it out, I think back to all the others that have gotten figured out in time, and I know I can do it.

I've lost some friends and family, which was extremely hard, but undoubtedly made me stronger in the long run. Sometimes my mind runs across someone who is no longer in my life, and I cringe inwardly, waiting for the wave of pain to hit me. And I'm amazed and proud of myself when it doesn't come. I know I've grown. I've made new friends in the most unexpected places, and I'm so grateful to them for coming along, when I was pretty much ready to become a hermit. I don't know if they'll ever know how much they mean to me, but 2009 will be the year I really try to show them.

2008 was the year I started to really feel unfulfilled in my career/job/life path, and while I haven't completely figured out what I'm going to do next, I'm at that sweet moment of desperation where I KNOW I have to do something, because I can't do THIS anymore. I've been soaking up inspiration from some unlikely arenas, and I'm at the bursting point...I know I'm meant to do something good, something meaningful, and something damn fabulous, and I owe it to myself to do it NOW.

I'm so thankful to be seeing another year, because I know there's a lot of folks who didn't make it through for countdown on December 31st, 2008. I know I've got a lot of life to live, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. My horoscope says that this is the year to celebrate myself, and I'll be doing a lot of self-redefinition. Shoot...that's what I was planning anyways, so I'm ready to make 2009 be the best year since 1983 when I blessed this earth :) Make every day count...

Merry Xmas - And A Festivus For The Rest Of Us!

2008-12-24T12:00:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

" So Beautiful"

2008-12-21T10:16:00.003-05:00

I peeped this video on Youtube and had to post it: FlimGrl4Lyfe put video footage of the Obamas to Musiq's new track, "So Beautiful", and I personally think she did a damn good job. Watch Barack's winin' skills at 2:33... *my man!* (Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas voice)

Check it:

In times like these, I think we need to see a strong couple who are in love...a lot of people are with someone, but they're not with someone. They're not truly down for their other half, and then they wonder why shit doesn't work out. People are so scared to be alone that they're willing to settle and hitch up with any ole somebody that comes along. I always hear dudes wanting a real ride-or-die, intelligent, and beautiful woman like Michelle. And I hear even more women who want a "swagger on a hundred, thousand, trillion", loving man like Barack. You'll never get your very own Michelle or Barack if that Significant Other slot is filled by dude/lady that you don't REALLY want to be with. So check yourself first, then go get the man/woman you want and deserve.

Put down the pipe, Amy....

2008-12-10T21:06:00.002-05:00

...and sing more songs like this:

Testing The Limits...

2008-11-24T18:58:00.004-05:00

Life is full of limits, restrictions, rules, and regulations. Sure, on a large scale, these help us to have a safe, controlled, prosperous society, but on a personal level, are they really that necessary?

Don't you ever get tired of following the same routine, day in and day out? Don't you ever want to do something crazy? I know I am, and I do. As the image above suggests, it might just be good for your life to take a risk every day. However, a lot of folks love that warm blanket of security that they can clutch on to every day. There's a quote from Helen Keller that I really like:

"Security is mostly a superstition...life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

Security = that great, high paying career, or that sh*tty office job that you have to go to until you get something better.

Security = that loving, satisfying relationship, or the one that's boring as hell, but you're comfortable and just know that you have SOMEBODY.

Security = taking the same route to work every day, just because it's easy.

Security = choosing your neighbourhood Chinese take out place over that Moroccan place you always wanted to go to...why? Because if you don't like the Moroccan food, you would have wasted your money. Fried rice and sweet n' sour chicken has never looked so comforting.

The point is, security can be a good thing - when it's keeping something secure and close to your heart, because you truly value it. On the flip side, it can also be bad, when it's acting like a barbed-wire fence, keeping you sheltered from Big, Bad, Scary Life.

When I was little, I hated balconies. Sure, I had a fear of heights, but I also wondered what it would be like to stand on that balcony rail with my arms outstretched like that chick from Titanic. I had dreams of buying a parachute from Canadian Tire and jumping off my balcony in the summer sunset. True, I lived on the 3rd floor, so it wouldn't have been a great ride, but it was always something I just wanted to do. I'm on the 20th floor now, and have no plans to parachute off my balcony anytime soon, but parachute out of a plane? Maybe - why not?

I got one tattoo when I was 18. I loved it then and still do. I've been plotting my next tattoo for ummm, maybe a year and a half, and I think I'm done thinking. I'm going to the tattoo parlour next week.

I might just up and go work at a resort in Bali for a while. Leave my job, my man, my snow tires, and everything else that keeps me secure. Why? Because I'm ready to really shake things up. I'm ready to do some unexpected shyt. I'm ready to walk out into the "808s & Heartbreak" period of my life.

And from the amount of miserable-ass, sourpuss looking people I see every day, I think a lot of people need to take the stick out their bum and do the same.

If you don't live life now, when are you going to start? No one makes it out alive, so you better make it do what it do, baby :)

Live Your Life...

2008-11-10T22:30:00.002-05:00

No, this isn't a post about T.I. and Rih-Rih.

Today I talked to a young woman who knows she's dying. She has her youth, she has a loving family, she has her whole life ahead of her, but short of a miracle, she'll be leaving the physical soon. The part that amazes me in all of this is that she's doing it on her own terms. She's listened to the doctors and been in the hospitals for long enough, and now she just wants to live her life. It breaks my heart, but it shows me how fleeting our time on this earth as we know it really is. Please live your life to the fullest - even though this is a cliche, it means so much when you're given a timeline that you cannot change.

Stress is the first foot in the grave as far as I'm concerned, so I'm making a resolution to let go of all the nonsense that I don't really need to be stressing about. Work, friendships that have come and gone, money, traffic, whatever. There really isn't time to eff around. You have to worry about things that matter in life, not the frivolous, cotton candy shit that's just there for decoration. And once you learn which category things belong in, whether it's Stuff That Matters or Cotton Candy, things will be so much easier. Don't mix it up - that's where trouble sets in.

This post is already longer than I wanted it to be, so hopefully the message isn't lost in my wording. Get the most out of life that you can...that's all I have to say.

::: pop champagne ::: HIStory, HERstory, OURstory In The Making...

2008-11-05T20:26:00.007-05:00

It's the first day of the rest of all of our lives.

Barack did the damn thing yesterday, and I'm still pretty speechless.

There are so many questions...is he REALLY the first Black president? Will he really be able to mend the wounds in the U.S. and in their global relationships? How did he manage to pull it off? But regardless, here we are, and there he is - the next President of the United States.

There are so many beautiful sentiments wrapped up in this. Everyone recognizes the historical feat that was accomplished last night, and it's amazing that we can see that others' sacrifices really were not in vain. MLK, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and all the unknown and lesser known names that contributed to this moment must be immensely proud right now, watching this unfold from wherever they are.

Then there is the effect this has (and will have) on today's youth. Not only did youth come out in droves and really steer this election, but now youth are taking ownership for their nation, which hasn't happened in decades. Back in the '60s, it was all about rebellion, which had its merits. In 2008, it became a movement of another kind, with the youth not showing disdain for leadership, but becoming active participants in defining it. And for any youth who thought they were forgotten, or who thought they didn't matter, may now be rethinking those thoughts. From speaking to friends and fam in the U.S. and elsewhere, those my age and younger are more inspired and motivated than I have ever seen. These young men and women are driven today, and want to accomplish the best of the best for themselves. They have some of their cynicism melted away with the idea of Black love - good men and good women that are still out there, and still find each other without the draw of money or fame. Barack and Michelle had each other when they didn't have much else, and that's a resounding comment I hear when people discuss their relationship.

Barack is breathing life into a country that has been on life support for a long time. There's going to be a strong Democratic leaning in the next 4 years in the U.S., and for a country that seems to be on it's last leg, this may be just the thing for it to stand on. Still, with Barack's desire to avoid heavy partisanship and have more of a coming together of ideas, this showcases that this is definitely a movement bigger than just if your state is red or blue. An interesting thing happened during both Obama's and McCain's respective speeches last night. When McCain mentioned his gratitude towards Obama [I was definitely impressed with McCain's speech, by the way], the boos and jeers of the audience were loud and clear. However, when Obama brought up his willingness and readiness to work hand in hand with McCain to rebuild the country, you heard applause and cheers. Hopefully McCain's supporters that bask in that negativity will soon realize that they're in a distinct minority, and will definitely be left behind. Maybe the U.S. will be better off without them anyways.

Now, for the global effects, which is one of the reasons why I'm even commenting on the U.S. election in the first place. Obama (and this election on a whole) has electrified the world like nothing I've seen in my 25 years. From India, to Japan, to Kenya, and Germany, to right here in Canada, EVERYONE was watching this unfold, and the worldwide support for Obama was mindblowing. I'm almost positive Obama himself didn't expect to have such an effect on people all over the globe. Not only do people around the world love Obama for being Obama, but they love the U.S. even more for finally waking up and embracing change. This is the same country that incredulously re-elected Bush for another term four years ago, and look how far they've come. The U.S. undoubtedly has the strongest hold of any country over the direction of the rest of the world. Our Canadian brothers and sisters might not be fighting in Afghanistan if the U.S. didn't insist on it. Omar Khadr's life may have taken a different path. Who really knows, but all we know is that we are living in a global society, and ripple effects can be felt from one country to another. Now, we have Canadians inspired to be even more engaged in their country as they witness what has played out in the U.S. Hopefully Obama's ripple will finally spread some positivity in an increasingly dismal world.

- France - India

I'm just glad I was around to see all this happen, and I'm even more excited to see how things unfold. Like Obama said in his speech last night, it may take more than one year or one term, but I think this is definitely a step in the right direction. This is a story I'll be able to tell my children, and hopefully my kids will be able to say "Geez Mom, that's old news - look what we're doing now!" Well, I hope they aren't that flippant, but I hope they respect and revere this moment in time, and I even more so wish that this is just the tip of the iceberg of change in tomorrow's world. Much work is to be done, and I believe the American people have picked the right man for the job.

Did I actually say I was 'pretty speechless'? LOL!

Wazzzzzzup???

2008-11-04T18:35:00.000-05:00

Loves this video...so appropriate for November 4th, 2008.
I'm keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for Obama* tonight!

* yes, je suis canadienne, but I still care.

Strippers, Movers, and Shakers

2008-11-01T20:36:00.000-04:00

So, I like to get around to different events, and will pretty much try anything once. Last week, within a matter of days, I hit up America's Most Wanted and Sway Magazine's TV Issue Launch. These two events could not be more different.

I can sum up AMW in a few key points:

Uno. Apparently, America's most wanted men are all midgets. Buff, yes - nice packages, yes - but short as all hell. Me, being the tall drink of water that I am, wouldn't be able to take these dudes seriously if I had to encounter one face to face. Or should I say waist to face (which apparently wasn't a problem for some of the ladies who ended up onstage...).

Dos. Hungry, beggin' ass women love this shyt. You would swear that women have never seen a penis in their life. I mean, a lot of women there were enjoying themselves, but didn't go overboard with it. Some ladies, on the other hand, were grabbing dyck so voraciously that I saw at least one dancer get pissed and slap women's hands away.

Tres. Some women are very serious about this stripper business. As I mentioned in my last post, one young lady actually arrived at the venue with no panties on. How do I know, you may ask? Well, upon entering the "Dutty Wine" contest (prize: $100 spa gift certificate), she took the 'duttiness' very literally. She proceeded to lift her dress to her waist, showing her elephantine ass cheeks, clapped them for a bit, then lay on her side, cocking one leg up and shaking her bikini wax in every one's faces. Even the dancers were speechless. My question is, what would she have done for $200?????

Quatro. You get the best slow jam sets at a strip club. Instead of selling show dvds, these brovas need to be selling mix cds...I was hearing old and new tracks that were getting me more excited than the live entertainment.

Cinco.

The stage costumes are wackkkkk, but you have to give it up for dudes who aren't afraid of makin' it clap for some twoonies.

Now. Sway.

TOTAL 180 degree event of AMW. This was a classy, swanky event held at an exclusive condominium showroom (sorry Onyx - great marketing tool, but I still ain't buying a condo). I initially thought that this would be a boring event - one where it seems like everyone knows each other except for me. I couldn't have been more wrong. Well, a lot of people knew each other, and I didn't know anyone, but people didn't make you feel like an outsider. Everyone was greeting each other and making small talk, so eventually I felt welcomed into the fold. I met funeral directors, real estate agents, motivational speakers, news broadcasters, and folks from all arenas of Toronto's upscale urban community.

A lot of Toronto's well-known faces were there, like Farley Flex, Master T, and Dru of In Essence. The hors d'oeuvres were deeeelish, and I found my new pre-drink drink: Ting + Appleton's = yum! All in all, it was a successful event in my eyes, and I have to hail up Mr. Miller for including me on the invite! Keep an eye out for Sway or check their site (http://www.swaymag.ca/) for more information!

Here are some quick pics:

The New Strip Club Anthem: Usher's "Trading Places"

2008-10-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

Thoughts:

1. This song is the shiznit. Ursher saved himself with this one.
2. Male strippers work it for an extra dollar or two when this track comes on.
3. Tameka must be VEX.
4. This song speaks to an unspoken truth - any ladies who aren't "trading places" every now and then aren't even up on game.

More on the strip club antics to come. One question though - what thoughts does a young lady have going through her head when she decides to attend an all male review with no draws on? No draws? Are you serious?

A post on these (and many more) thoughts coming soon.

Cro s s r o a d s...

2008-10-23T23:27:00.000-04:00

What Women Want's Literary Journey that was held this past Sunday (holler @ Shannae!) still has me thinking about some different topics. Namely, different types of relationships and what happens when you reach a crossroads in them...whether the relationship in question is of romantic or platonic nature, your husband or your girlfriend or your bestest gay friend that you always go shopping with, crossroads always seem to pop up...nothing ever moves smoothly in real life.

What happens when Person A feels disrespected by Person B? Or when Person A feels like they're giving their all, and Person B isn't reciprocating? Or when Person A and Person B aren't that close, but a situation brings them to a point where they're mutually questioning whether there just might be something worth exploring in their relationship?

How do you handle crossroads? Whether positive or negative, what do you do? And once you've made a move, is it possible to one day head back down that road, and head in a different direction?

Two of the scariest things in a relationship (for me anyways) are either a) to end one or b) to dive deeper into one. Unfortunately for me, I've found that with a few recent situations, I've done b), run into crossroad (insert crisis here), then ended up at a). Double the fear, no reward.

Well, I shouldn't totally say "no reward", because sometimes the end is the most freeing thing, and it might be just what the doctor ordered. Also, when I'm lucky enough to get into relationships that follow this pattern: b), crossroad, followed by b) again, it's double the fear, but a definite reward.

Anyways, at the end of this mumbo-jumbo, late-night post, the point is that there might not be a point. Just like you can never explain why 2 people fall in love, or why a wife will take her husband back after he cheats, you can't really explain why a relationship that was strong for years will dissolve into nothingness, or why you might get replaced on your best friend's speedial by that girl she always said she "couldn't stand".

I guess Nas said it best..."love changes, a thug changes, and best friends become strangers". You know it's true.

Guess Who's Bizzack...

2008-10-21T19:58:00.000-04:00

Damn...I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month :S

A lot has happened since I last blogged, but meh - I'll get into that another time. Some big things are "coming down the pipe", as one of the VPs at my company likes to say when he's trying to excite us into not noticing that he's really just piling more work on us...but while I'm working those kinks out, I think I'll keep this post on the up & up and comment on a few of my current favourite things. I think I'm going to do this every once in a while - whenever I find some new fave item, or whenever I'm riding the Negative Express and need a shot of positivity...either way, I think it'll be fun to indulge my mind into thinking about my new ultimate favourites...so here goes...

New favourite hairstyle: The Big Crazy, usually accomplished by a stretched twist-out or braid-out (my Naturelle sistas know what I'm tal'mbout) - exhibit A:

This topic deserves a blog all of its own, which I don't have time for (but I have Fotki for that!), but I loves it...I don't mind doing a wild, crazay look every now and then...

New favourite TV show: It's a tie between Gossip Girl and True Blood. Okay, so GG isn't NEW per say, but it's new for me. But what better indulgence is there than a bunch of rich, spoiled-ass Manhattan teenagers, who are pulling off more diabolical things than I ever did when I was 17? Hot damn...Monday nights at 8 is like crack. I still catch my Prison Break on satellite, so it's all good!

And True Blood...good golly miss Molly. If this show isn't some good ish, I don't know what is (other than GG). A time when vampires are the new Black folk, living alongside the living and doing pesky things like Blacks used to do, like try to obtain the same rights as everyone else. Sookie Stackhouse reminds me of one of my best friends in elementary school, minus the telepathy and being a Vampire-lover. Tara is a down-ass chick, but I hope she doesn't go for that exorcism shyt like her mama did. And Sookie's brother needs to stop sippin' on the REAL sizzurp...homie can't handle the vamp blood. Don't know what I'm talking about? Want to know what I'm talking about? Want to act like you don't want to know what I'm talking about, but you really do? Well, find out when TB comes on for you...for me it's Sunday nights @ 10 on HBO... www.hbo.com/trueblood :) It's not as gory as it sounds...well...it can be.

New favourite jewelry: My new ring by i candi by tracy (http://www.icandibytracey.com) - exhibit B:

Check her site and guess which collection its from - all her collections are named after her best girlfriends, which makes you just wanna say "awwwww!" But seriously, her stuff is the bomb. True, I gots mine for free, but I'll definitely shell out some dollas for her jewelry.

New favourite video: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"? "Gettin' Up"? "Womanizer"? Umm...no. This one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ith1TFrBj80

You can thank me later, while you're wiping the sweet tears of laughter from your eyes.

New favourite past-time: Taking random pics of people and things with my BlackBerry. Especially people. So hopefully when I start posting some of the FUNNY shyt I've got on my phone, it won't be you, or your mama or your cousin too...there's too much hilarity on our everyday streets - why not document it?

New favourite song: "Pretty Angel" by Maxwell. I was lucky enough to be serenaded by him on Thanksgiving Sunday *sigh* So what if all the rest of Massey Hall got serenaded too...he really meant that song for me. *faints* See if you can find it online, but I hope not...y'all bootleggin' asses better have to wait til his cd drops.

New favourite quote:

Cole: What's $150?

Tommy: Oh - that's how much it's gon' cost to bang that dent out of Sheneneh's bumper.

Cole: I ain't know Sheneneh had a dent in her ass?!

It's not me, it's you. No, really.

2008-09-17T23:16:00.000-04:00

So, I'm getting my computer ready for its detox session, saving all of my photos and personal files before my hard drive gets cleared out. Lo and behold, I came across some old emails and conversations I've had with various people over the years, which were apparently significant enough to be saved.

A few of the conversations were with gentlemen who I was in various stages of "like" with. Either it was a crush (one-sided or mutual), heading towards a relationship, or post-break up, but there was one theme that came across a few times. That theme was the questioning of my sexuality. Let me explain.

I don't mean sexuality in regards to me being straight or not, I mean sexuality as far as my attraction to the male in question, and how readily I would portray that to them. Really and truly, there were a few who seemed to think that my sexuality (maybe I should day 'sensuality'?) was "dormant" or "non-existent" simply because I wasn't all over them. And to that I say, it's not me, it's you.

By nature, I'm a private person. Can be very guarded at times, and I like to play my fear of openness as being mysterious. Also, I'm a total health freak, and very careful with what I do with my body. So some men need to understand that I'm not going to sleep with you because you pay me a compliment, or because you may truly, genuinely have feelings for me. Some guys barely got a kiss, let alone anything more than that, but would seemingly pat me on the head and tell me "it's ok, we'll bring it out of you soon!" as if I had some kind of defect. And what would make me laugh is that as they tried harder and harder, I grew less and less interested. Eventually it seemed like it became a game to some men, seeing how quickly they could "break" me, but that just made me more hard-headed.

I think some men didn't realize that my sexuality/sensuality is more sensitive than they think. I'm a Taurus - we're the most sensual signs around. So I watch how you do certain things. I watch how you move your mouth - if you chew with your mouth open or insist on talking with your mouth full, having food spew everywhere, I take note of that. I watch your hands - if you constantly have oil and dirt under your nails, I don't want those hands on me. If you have that one long-ass pinky fingernail, I don't want to risk you drawing blood if you touch me. If you don't seem to be able to discern between a strong touch, a rough touch, and a soft touch, then this ain't gonna work. I'll ask you for a massage - if I feel like you're treating my skin like a football or basketball, that ain't cool! If I tell you to go harder or softer, and it all feels the same, that's not a good look for future activities. I watch your mannerisms, the way you carry yourself, the way you move, the way you smell. And I'm sorry, but if I get turned off, I'm OFF. My expression of my attraction to you goes back in its little box, and you're sitting there telling me I'm dormant. I think part of this might be my fault, because in those days, I was too nice to just tell someone, "I don't like you like that anymore", but then to have such a vague reason as to why ("you don't move right"? "your massage sucked"?) would just lead me to have to do further explanation. And I figured a gradual cut-off method was preferable at that time.

I can guarantee that those who have actually been lucky enough for me to truly express myself haven't been disappointed. I'm a woman, and while I'm a strong and independent woman, I don't want to be thought of as any less of a sexy, sensual woman either. So I just hope that some men will realize that just because a woman isn't all over him, doesn't mean something is wrong with her. It's probably just you.

And if you're reading this and wondering if I may be talking about you, feel free to ask. I've gotten past the "be nice to spare people's feelings" thing, and I'll give it to you straight ;)

Inspiration, a.k.a. the "I'ma Make It Do What It Do, Baby" Bug - I've Been Bit.

2008-09-04T16:12:00.000-04:00

So, I went to my friend’s wedding in Maryland over the long weekend. Needless to say, I left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, as most people tend to do after any extended period of time away from the redundancy of work and home. However, I also left feeling extremely inspired, which I wasn’t expecting. And as selfish as this may come across, the fact that I left so stimulated was kind of a testament to me that you can still find really good things in unlikely places.
As a tactile person who likes to use all available senses to experience things, the wedding ceremony and reception had me enraptured. The color palette of deep purple and burnt orange were beautiful, the music and Bible reading selections were actually relevant and didn’t have me yawning in my pew, and the emotion shown by bride, groom, and other attendants made you feel like you were witnessing something real. The reception knocked me off my feet for a few reasons. First of all, and for my worldly possession-loving side, the mansion it was held at was ridiculous. The cabbie told us “I don’t think there’s any reception halls in this area…” and he was damn well right. Who needs a reception hall when you’re in a mansion more impressive than the Banks’ in Bel-Air? So yes, I definitely did walk around the place saying, “I want one of THESE one day soon!”
I loved the speeches during the reception, and if I thought I saw emotion at the ceremony, I hadn’t seen anything yet. It’s a beautiful thing when tears are shed (whether for joy or sadness), because it shows that even in a world like ours, people are still able to FEEL. And that’s rare with the amount of cynicism amongst men and women today. Strength is such an admired quality, as it should be, but there’s a part of me that still wants and needs to see people being vulnerable to each other. I think the vulnerability between a husband + wife, girlfriend + boyfriend, or even between two platonic friends gives way for strength to be shown in other areas. [ I think I just rambled my way through that sentence, but hopefully it makes sense!]
I felt a taste of true, true friendship in seeing how appreciative my friend was of my coming to share his day. And you know, sometimes you don’t see people everyday, sometimes you don’t talk to them everyday, but some people are just present, and you know they’re there if and when you need them. I’ve learned that nature has a way of brushing people out of my life whenever they’re unnecessary, sometimes before I can even see that for myself. So it always makes me wonder at the fact that some people who aren’t a constant presence in my life can still be a strong influence on it. I was stimulated to come home and tend to the gardens of friendships I’ve somewhat neglected, and also stimulated to go through those gardens and weed out the people who are doing nothing for me. Because I know when my wedding day comes along, I wouldn’t want anything less than sincere friends with sincere well-wishes. I saw and felt that this weekend, and can’t go back to anything fake.
Also, let me say that this was probably the most attractive wedding I’ve ever been to! Obviously the groom was his handsomest, and the bride was SO radiant [her dress was like woah, as Mya might say – aside from the ceremonial singing and Bible reading selections, sadly the bride’s dress is the next most boring thing to me. But the Mrs. definitely had her wedding dress game on point, and I loved it] – but you usually get to see whose cousins are busted, whose uncle can’t dress, and you can count how many wigs are present on both hands (and sometimes feet). But at this wedding?!?! I was in shock and awe. Eye candy everywhere – and that goes for the men and women! I saw so many gorgeous hairstyles I wanted to try (on majority Natural heads), dresses and shoes that I thought were cute, and men that were close runner-ups to the one I had on my arm
[ ;) ] I just wanted to look better, smell better, smile better and feel better when I was around all those people.

So, besides the obvious inspirations of maintaining Black love and celebrating love in general, of walking down the aisle in a beautiful dress and having Mr. Man put that ring on my finger, there were so many hidden inspirations awaiting me on this trip. I’d probably sum it all up in just the inspiration to live life, and to live it well. So many successes are around the corner – financial success, relationship success, career success, and self-love success – we just have to go out there and get it. And that’s what I plan to do.

* Sorry for any errors...I wrote this off the dome @ mi trabajo...shhh! *

Tell Dem Fi Gweh!

2008-08-21T20:46:00.000-04:00

So, the IOC president, Jacques Rogge, seems to have a problem with Bolt's celebratory antics on the track in Beijing. As per this page from Yahoo.ca - http://ca.news.yahoo.com/indepth/olympics/s/afp/080821/sports/oly2008_athletics_bolt_rogge

- Rogge feels that "He should shake hands with them after the finish line. However, he is only 21 and he will learn. I have no problems with his showboating (prior to the race) but a shake of the hand or a tap on the shoulder immediately after the race would be a good gesture."

Fool, are you serious?

I for one, haven't seen ANYONE in these Olympics shake hands or tap anyone on their shoulder, maybe except for their own countryfolk who might have been in the same competition as them. But to have a winner from one country go around and shake hands with all the losers of the other country? Maybe I'm missing all those great examples of sportsmanship in the Olympics, I don't know.

When the US swim team won their relay last week, did Rogge have anything to say about Phelps and his boys jumping up and down, celebrating their win? I didn't hear him give any press release on that. Did he chastise the French swim team for talking shit to Cullen Jones right before the relay? I must have missed that. Rogge needs to stop shitting on people expressing their competitive feelings in a responsible way, and go investigate why the Chinese gymnastics team are all supposed to be in their late teens, but still don't have all their adult teeth yet.

But no - when a 21 year old Jamaican man not only wins, but SHATTERS world sprinting records, he has to have his spirit dampened by a stuffy ass dude who seems to have nothing better to do than pass judgement on a champion. This man has Jamaica in a frenzy right now! The gunmen have put down the heat for a few days! Shoot, Ding Dong and Elephant Man are probably working on di Bolt dance right now! What more could a boasy, just-turned-22 young man want? And Rogge wants to say Bolt isn't supposed to celebrate what his wins mean to him and to his country? Bitch please.

I'd write more, but I'm too busy watching Jamaica kill it in the 4x100 relay semi-finals. Bolt (and Jamaica) to di world!

Blah.

2008-08-19T09:44:00.000-04:00

I’m determined not to let my latent ADD get the best of me and have me drop this blog thing like a hot potato. But after a few days where you’d think I would have a ton of stuff to write about, nothing is really inspiring me. I hate when this happens. It’s not really Writer’s Block, because I can write something if you really want me to. But it probably wouldn’t be my same witty self. So I call this period Writer’s Blahs.

I could write about this whole new “natural hair” movement that me and some of my girlfriends have going on, and how it really came to fruition for me on Friday, when I did my “big chop”. But I don’t feel like it.

I could write about the foolishness that’s running rampant among urban celebrities…no, not having a baby. No, not adopting a baby. No, not even the overkill of Herve Leger dresses and this new black feathery vest that every chick is wearing. No, I’m talking about HOmewreckerism. As in Swizz Beats – Alicia Keys – Mashonda, and Premier Misick – Rocsi from 106 & Park – LisaRaye. Yeah, this isn’t anything new, but shit didn’t get really real until blogs started reporting about LisaRaye (aka Diamond) running up in Turks & Caicos, busting her man’s ass and probably wishing Rocsi was still there to catch a beatdown too. But ehhh, I don’t wanna get into that right now.

I could even just write about how I’m trying to plan my next tropical getaway from work, but really and truly, I could write about that any day.

All this is probably just related to my general feeling of “Meh” right now. You ever just feel like you need something new? That’s me right now. Everything is just kind of grey, and I’m trying to find a way to inject some color into my day to day. Given the work that I do, I make sure I never take a day for granted, because all too often, I speak to people who may not have many left, or may have to live out what they’ve got in less than ideal circumstances. So I’m happy with what I’ve got. But me, being the eternal ambitionist (yes, I made that word up), have to find a way to do things bigger, better, and brighter. The problem is that I’m stuck right now, with few new ideas and inspiration. And of the few ideas that I do have right now, I’m struggling to find a way to make them become something tangible.

Ah well.

I’m sure at some point, my mental levees will break, and I’ll get back to writing and living with passion. Until then…well, I just hope this case of the Blahs doesn’t last for too long.

"I'll Be Your Computer Girl"

2008-08-13T19:03:00.000-04:00

The other day, I went on a mini-shopping spree in HMV. Picked up a few CDs, but I found one that I didn't even realize I had been looking for since May...Zaki Ibrahim's Eclectica (episodes in purple).

Zaki is hailed as Toronto's own. Born to a S. African father and Scottish/English mother, she was actually born in Vancouver, B.C., and raised between Vancity, Cape Town, South Africa, and Toronto, ON. For more background info, check her site http://www.zakiibrahim.com/ecard/ for a full bio and breakdown of her latest CD. That may be the "proper" breakdown, and might be exactly how Zaki meant to put her songs across, but as a listener and a fan, I'll give you my two cents :)

First of all, I first heard Zaki when she opened for Erykah Badu in May at Massey Hall. Everyone was slightly impatient, waiting for the divine Miss E to grace the stage. People paid good money for their tickets, so why wouldn't they be? People anxiously sat in their seats while the crew finished setting up the stage, and any dimming of the lights was met with cheers - usually for nothing, since the crew was still just testing the lighting. Finally, the lights dimmed for real, background singers took the stage, and...

...some chick who didn't quite look like Erykah took the stage.

Some guy beside me yelled "I LOVE YOU ZAKI!!!!" and I just thought "shoot...I guess the Roots aren't opening in T.O. after all." But I was in for a more than pleasant surprise. Zaki killed it...her background singers killed it...and I ended up wishing she stayed on longer than she did. I missed her CD release party at Mod Club, but I took a fateful trip to HMV, and lo and behold, Eclectica was waiting for me to take it home.

If you have to put Zaki's sound in a box, the angles would be neo-soul, hip hop, electronica, and maybe folk, for the lack of a better word. Eclectica is a bit of a teaser, since it's only 7 songs deep, but she's smart - her first cd, Sh (Iqra in orange) was only 6, so she's giving us a taste here and there, but still saving something for the full length cd expected to drop soon.

On Eclectica, a few tracks have already stood out to me: Computer Girl, Grow Again, and Connected. "Computer Girl" sounds like a fairy tale set to electronica. The melodies are light, but the sound is futuristic. Fitting, since the track is an ode to her lover...or her Mac. The lyrics are so clever that I was listening to it thinking, "hey, I play this for the BF on a romantic night in", but then a lightbulb clicked and I realized that I could very well sing it to my computer monitor.

I started playing "Grow Again" and wondered "where have I heard this before?" The same thought hit me when she performed it at Massey Hall. Then I got it - the "woah woah woah woah woah" part was used in a MuchVibe commercial! I had to curse her though, because everytime I saw that commercial, I was singing "woah woah woah" incessantly for the next few hours. The bass in "Grow Again" is my favourite part of the song, and gives this song a hip hop/soul vibe that I love. I'm a bassline type of girl, so I always see how hard a song can make my chest rattle. The layering of her vocals is amazing too, but the problem is that I never know which part I want to sing, so I have to put that baby on repeat a few times...lol.

I love "Connected" for a simple reason. Even though I know Zaki is her own woman and her own artist, I adored the way she almost sounded like Sade on this track. This song just has such an easy, sensual groove to it...it almost sounds like Zaki is Sade and Prince's love child. Plus, it has a decadent 80's feel to it, so it makes me want to puff out my hair, put on some bright-ass blush, and recline on a leather couch with a glass of wine and a cigar, playing this track while I wait for my man to come home in a Members Only jacket...sigh.

Needless to say, I'm sprung off of Eclectica right now. And to make it even better, it was only $5.99 at HMV!!! So there's really nothing to lose people...go out there and cop it for yourself.

Still Right To Be White?

2008-08-13T15:37:00.000-04:00

Well, isn’t this interesting.

In my usual routine of blog reading and website lurking, I always love to hit sites like Afrobella and I Love Her Style! for all things beauty and style. Just to do something a little out of the norm, every once in a while I’ll look at international sites to see what honeys around the world do to keep looking (and smelling and feeling) good. But today, I was a bit shocked.

Somehow I ended up on the Yahoo! Answers page, and came across this posting, asking “How can I become more pale and have perfect skin?”: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060908175922AA2YZho

The answer was: L’Oreal White Perfect.

I read the reply to the above question, and was amused, confused, and insulted all at the same time. And when I did a bit more searching on this “wonder product”, those feelings were strengthened. L’Oreal White Perfect is a skin-lightening cream this is very popular in regions of Asia, where the “lighter is righter” notion is still heavily in place. With things like this, it’s always hard to know where to start if you want to tackle the topic. Prejudice and self-hatred is such a dense topic, it really doesn’t do justice to skim over details, but can lead to a major headache if you try to wade through it all.

For a brown-skinned chick like myself, it’s so disheartening to see things like this. Sure, there are conditions such as hyperpigmentation that people are treated for all the time. However, when items are on the market for people who choose to lighten their skin because they believe a shade is “better” than the one they were born with…there’s a problem there.

I remember on a trip to Japan last year, I wondered why so many people walked around outside looking like they were in the middle of a viral outbreak. EVERY piece of exposed skin was covered. Lace gloves, huge visors to cover their faces, bandanna/sunglass combos, and long pants or high socks were worn all the time outside. I was like, “is everyone here sick???” But it wasn’t anything some antibiotics could cure, unless they have one now for Heliophobia (fear of the sun) or Melasmaphobia (fear of darkening skin – I just made the term up :)). But back to the White Perfect.

The name alone tells you what the deal is…you can be perfectly white if you use their product. You won’t be that imperfect shade you are now, so give L’Oreal your dollas and they’ll get you right! If only it were so simple. I’m surprised they even used a black bottle for their night cream.

Sigh. Remember that headache I mentioned at the beginning of this post? It’s starting to come on now.

The First Sip...

2008-08-12T21:41:00.000-04:00

So, welcome to my new blog! I'm sure this blog will do just as much (if not more) for me than those who choose to drink at this blog of knowledge and nonsense...a nice escape from work, something to do on those rainy days, and just a place to put all the random thoughts that go through my head on any given day...so sit back and enjoy :)

Today, I was hit with a serious case of musical starvation. It hit me hard. Since Caribana just passed, all I've been listening to lately was soca and reggae - which I love. But I missed my hip hop, r&b, and other genres. I was in my cubicle today, long after my coworkers left. Pulled out my speakers...plugged them into the comp...and hit youtube like there was no tomorrow (all while getting all of my work done :))...and what did I run into?

How about a lil ATCQ? Tribe was one of my faves back in the day! Still are if you ask me...didn't Nas just say at Rock The Bells that they're the best group in hip hop? Some may debate it, but you can't deny their impact...can anyone say "Electric Relaxation"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQzl4xDpXk - if you don't know, now you know! Phife was my favourite on this track..."Hun, you got the goods/like Madeleine Woods"...but why comes I can't find a picture of this blasted Madeleine Woods that used to be on BET? And yes, I said "why comes"!

Poor Rell. Poor, poor Rell. If you don't know who Rell is, that's the point. I don't know what this man is doing with himself these days, but this man basically got the Diddy treatment back in the day on Roc-a-Fella Records. Well, maybe he didn't get done dirty like how Diddy does, but this man had one serious track come out, then it was back on the shelf for him. "Love for Free"? Hotness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gStOu09Ub8. I remember I memorized the background dances and used to do them when the video came on X-tendamix/DaMix Saturdays on Much. Jay-Z was well skinny those days, but the swagger was still mean...and Rell did his thing with the vocals. This song had the perfect ingredients, but things didn't blow for Rell like people thought they would. Ah well...as long as this video is immortalized on Youtube, I'm good!

Then, I ran into another gem. Pretty much the namesake for this blog, "Crown Royal" by Jilly from Philly, aka Jill Scott - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwXdJqsUPz8. No official vid for this one, so I picked the clip with the lovely Black Love art.

How.

Sexy.

Is.

This.

Song?

That's all I have to say. Anything else may not be suitable for any youngstas that might be reading this...and I'm not gonna have guilt on my head about tainting anyone's child. This is some real grown folks' music...just might make you wanna do some thangs ;)

Or might make you fall into a deep depression if you have no one to do "thangs" with. Sorry.

Another hot track I bucked up in was "Green Light" by John Legend, featuring none other than Mr. Andre 3000 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue0mxDiyibg. Love, LOVE, LOVE this song! I pretty much love Andre 3G's on anything, so he definitely helps me to get into this song, but I love what JL did with it, and would probably love it the same if Andre wasn't on it. Well, maybe I'm lying...I'd love it a lil bit less...lol.

Anyways, I think that's enough for now...just something to whet your appetite and put you up on game about tracks you may have forgotten or not even known about...you're welcome!