Today I heard a phrase that I had not heard before. While having a conversation with a wise, more “mature” coworker, we started discussing why people have less patience and respect for each other. He told me the reason is that everybody wants to have a say about everything, but nobody wants to listen to anything. Then he said, “The reason we have two ears and one mouth is because we should listen twice as much as we talk.” Never heard that before, but I’m wiser for it! Thanks J-Dub from your “young brother”. For all of the talks and the wisdom….

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Full disclosure: I am not a veteran. Many of my family and friends are. Thanks for your service Dad, Step Dad, Sister, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Nephews, Nieces and Friends.

For Day 7 of my gift list, I WANT ANY VETERAN WHO STOOD ON ANY BATTLEFIELD IN DEFENSE OF AMERICA TO HAVE A HOME  FREE OF COST! RIGHT NOW! IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT A NATION AS WEALTHY AS OURS TREATS SOME OF OUR VETERANS LIKE THIRD WORLD CITIZENS. ALL THE WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THEIR SACRIFICES LIVE LIKE ROYALTY, WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AS IF “THEY” EARNED THE RIGHT TO. THE PHRASE “HOMELESS VETERAN” SHOULD BE THOUGHT OF LIKE ANY OTHER WELL KNOWN OXYMORON!

UNCLE SAM”, THE VETERANS NEED YOU! Thanks Veterans for all you’ve given us.  The country owes you more…’Tis the Season.

Can you believe that there are only eight days until Christmas?  Man the time goes by faster each year!  Thanks to all who follow my blog and read my posts. I hope you enjoy my experiences and perspective.  I appreciate your interest. 

Well I have eight more gifts on my list. Today I need your undivided attention.  I need all hearts and minds open and aware. Today’s gift wish is real in every sense.  I wish that all who are able will donate to a reputable charity of your choice this Holiday Season.  Any resource that you have would be sincerely appreciated.

Several years ago my then current employer started an aggressive campaign for all employees to donate to the United Way. Through this organization a person could donate to a local community based nonprofit.  Many employees, including myself, participated.  I, along with a few other guys from the area, chose the local Boys and Girls Club and we were proud to help support the cause. 

We participated for a few years until it was reported that the CEO of United Way was “misappropriating funds”.  Over the years I had donated sparingly to other charities but not at the level I had with the Boys and Girls Club. 

Three years ago, a new employer this time, offered a similar opportunity.  However, this employer had specific charities that they supported, all for children. Many of them focused on children unfortunately suffering from illnesses including cancer. I participated once again and felt good about my contribution helping in some way.

Cancer cures and treatments are very personal to me as my family has been affected by this disease for some time.  And so, this year I appreciate the gift of being able to donate once again.  Pediatric cancer, to me, is the most difficult to imagine and to accept. That’s why I’ve decided to donate to organizations that offer support to kids and families dealing with this heart wrenching issue.  If able, please find a charity of your choice and offer whatever you can. It will make the Holiday Season better for us all. ‘Tis the Season……

Laughter is a good thing. It’s a good thing for two reasons: one, you have to smile on your way to laughing and two, laughter is great for the body’s biochemistry. Doesn’t everyone like a good laugh? So I have an idea.

For today’s gift idea I hope that we all share as many laughs as we can possibly handle this Holiday Season. I’m serious! Share a funny story, make someone laugh.

I have two Holiday stories that I’d love to share and when time allows I will. They are rather long but never fail to deliver big laughs whenever I tell them (just ask my brother-in-law CJ!) . In the meantime I have a suggestion. I love comedy and recently I’ve been catching up on some of my favorites.

Whenever you get the chance please check out Tracy Morgan’s “Prince” story with both Queen Latifah and Conan. The facial expressions and “attitude” had me dying! Also watch Dave Chappelle’s skit about Jussie Smollet. Man if you haven’t seen this……..just watch what I tell you!

If you have a good story or a suggestion please share. Oh, one more thing. If you are not familiar with a comedienne named Nikki Glaser (adults only!) check out her “hastily packed suitcase” routine. It will make you smile (and blush)……Remember I owe you two of my own stories: “My Dirtbike is Alive” and “Dodge Ball is Not a Game”. Lol! ‘Tis the Season…..

It is getting really close.  December 15, ten days away!

My children are young adults, long past the adolescent years of awaiting the newest toys. Their parents are way past the ages at which they had to to stay up all night to wrap gifts.  And even though the luster of the commercial side of Christmas has diminished over time, there is something about Christmas music that always puts you in the spirit.

Every year around December 1st I start to play Christmas songs.  The old classics, the new classics, the black artists, the white artists, I like them all.  These songs take me back to my childhood, to all of my family and friends. And every Christmas for the past twenty I remind myself to send Christmas cards to as many people I can gather addresses for.  Which brings me to today’s gift wish.

For Day 10’s Christmas gift I ask for forgiveness.  Yes, I truly ask all of my family and friends to forgive me for procrastinating.  Each Christmas I plan to collect addresses and send actual Holiday cards via “snail mail”.  I plan to have them mailed by the 10th, two weeks from the 25th.  And every year I miss my self imposed deadline and then not send cards at all.  So please forgive me for this.

So, through the wonders of modern technology, and with the help of my S10 Plus (no iPhone) I’m sending EVERYBODY my version of an e-card this year. I am going to re-post these pictures with names attached as we move closer to the Day.  Whether named or not these cards are for everyone who reads them. I sincerely wish you all the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest Holidays! ‘Tis the Season….and much love!

Eleven days until Christmas. Everybody got their shopping done?  Hey, I have a gift on my list that doesn’t cost anything. 

I own this Samsung S10 Plus and this JBL Charge 3 speaker. Problem: can’t get the S10 to connect. I was really looking forward to using my new phone with my speaker. My S6 connected just fine. I’ve tried everything. 

Now MY speaker is the “family’s” speaker.  And they are all iPhone snobs. I don’t want an iPhone.  I want my S10 to connect to MY JBL Charge. So anybody got any advice so I don’t have to hear “get an iPhone” from my family anymore?  Thanks in advance for your help. ‘Tis the Season……

Ever see somebody act out in public? Makes you think, “Why would anybody be this way, right?” Have you acted out in public? Been about 30 years since I “showed out” in public, or as some like to say, I was “out of pocket”!

Had to go to Walmart this morning. I didn’t mind that, but the problem was the time I arrived there. I like to get there early, say, before 8am. I am usually there by then, but this Sunday morning was different. I had a passenger with me.

My wife does the majority of the shopping for us, usually during the week. To make it easier for her I do my own personal shopping on my time because my needs change and sometimes I haven’t made up my list before she goes. This works for us. I like weekend mornings because the crowds are definitely smaller and the people tend to be a little more patient and friendly.

And so, I had my usual weekend morning Walmart trip planned for today. Yesterday my wife asked to tag along so that “we” could go to ANOTHER store to figure what we’d have for Sunday dinner. Ok. She asked me to wake her up so that she’d be ready on time. Remember, I am up early on the weekends due to the fact that I’m up at 5:40 am during the week. My wife, on the other hand, has been working from home since March……….

So I get up at 7:20am this morning and hop in the shower. I’m ready to roll at 7:50. The wife gets up and gets moving. Surprisingly I hear the BATH WATER RUNNING as I sit patiently downstairs. Not a good sign as far as time is concerned. Running bath water means a one hour wait time for her to get ready. Again, I’m usually at the store by 8am!

At exactly 8:33am she comes downstairs and wants to discuss the list. NO TIME. LETS GET INTO THE CAR AND GO! I go start the car and wait for her to exit the house. Finally we arrive at Walmart. This is when the story begins.

I knew I was in trouble when I saw the parking lot. Upon entering the store I see the dreaded long lines, particularly at the self-checkout lanes. I am understandably pissed, right? So now with blood boiling and not wanting to rationalize I quicken my pace and sigh heavily. My wife, sensing my frustration and trailing a few steps behind, decided to “help” by suggesting that I should shop at the other local Walmart which has more self-checkout lanes….. I couldn’t take it. Before I could censor myself I yelled, “IF YOUR ASS WANTED TO HELP YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGT ABOUT IT AT 7:30! WHAT THE FUCK! She was behind me so as I turned around to address her directly she was gone. Just like that. Disappeared into thin air. Now I was left alone to be a spectacle for the other shoppers around me. My COVID mandated mask hiding my full identity lessened the embarrassment which was a good thing. Honestly though, I did not care.

I crumbled my shopping list into a ball and shoved it into my pocket. I shoved my shopping cart up against the shelves intending to leave it “right there”. I reached for my phone to check the time and to tell my wife I was leaving. My glasses fogged up and hindered my vision so I headed outside so as not to be a spectacle any longer. On my way to the exit I had to cut through the long checkout lines. As I did one customer who witnessed it all said good bye and told me to have a blessed day. Hearing this, I calmed down a little bit. Slowed my pace. Took a few easy breaths. Then I thought, “I made my wife disappear. I nodded my head in agreement with myself, smiled with relief and said, “I MADE MY WIFE DISAPPEAR”.

I didn’t know this was possible. I’ve heard that lots of strange things happen at Walmart sometimes, but I’d never heard of husbands making wives disappear. The stress left my body and I realized I was free to shop on my time. I pulled my list out of my pocket and uncrumbled it. Went back and retrieved my shopping cart. Starting filling my cart as I intended in the first place. After about ten minutes I had most of what I needed. Three things left! As I left the grocery section headed to pharmacy (man of a certain age…) another strange thing happened: she appeared out of thin air, seemingly out of nowhere. My wife was back.

Though my anger was gone and I had cooled off, I didn’t want her to know. So I picked up my pace, started breathing heavy again, didn’t say a word to her. Again she paced a few feet behind, occasionally putting things into the cart without looking in my direction. That was a good thing. I settled for going to a register with a cashier as the self-checkout was still overflowing. Finally able to exit Walmart I was relieved, but it almost 9:30, an hour later than usual.

We were headed home, or so I thought, so I was good. Then I remembered. She was with me so “we” could go to BJs Wholesale Club. Ugh.

We arrived at BJs. I saw the parking lot and I knew I was in trouble. Entered the store and saw the long ass lines. Unbelievably my wife says, “These lines move pretty fast”. All I could say was, “What the fuck”. I turned to see if she had disappeared again, but this time she was still there.

I guess it only happens in Walmart…….

Aaah. 12 days left. Here is a trio of gifts shown from the most practical to the least practical. It’s difficult to choose just one, so let me make a case for either of them.

At the top is the Ryobi electric riding lawn mower.  I don’t have a huge lawn, but it is just at the edge of being too large for a walk behind mower for a man my age.  It takes me about 40 minutes to cut, not counting edging, trimming and cleanup.  The Ryobi riding mower could do the job in 20 to 30 minutes.  In addition it can accept a plow and pull double duty removing snow. And it’s the least expensive at about $3000.

Next we have the Can Am Renegade ATV. I would use this primarily for snow removal (a plow can be attached) and recreation.  If I had one I’d clear snow for all of my neighbors, just in case they are reading this……Not as practical as the lawn mower and more than three times the cost at about $9000, but the bad ass looks and tough stance would add some serious “cool cred” to my garage.

Last but most certainly not least we have the Triumph Street Triple RS motorcycle.  As it does not cut grass nor remove snow it provides the least practicality of the three.  However its appeal is twofold: there would probably be no snow in sight while riding AND it would make me forget about cutting my grass. I’m in! Toss in these specs: 430 pounds, 120 horsepower. What more need be said?  The $12,000.00 price tag makes it more expensive than the other two combined, but in return it provides exponentially more fun!

Tough choice I say.  Hey, notice that they all share the same color scheme? Coincidence?  May be, but maybe its a sign.  Maybe SOMEONE WANTS ME TO HAVE ALL THREE!  I know I do. Just think, all three could be had for $24,000.00, one tenth of the price of the McLaren 600LT! Thanks family and friends. You are too kind! ‘Tis the Season…..

Condoleezza Rice should be more respected and accepted, particularly in the black community. Her life, her career, her accomplishments and her legacy are SECOND TO NONE, regardless of race, gender, creed, religion, background, beginnings or political affiliation.

Her accomplishments are too many to list here, but you are missing out on a tremendously great American story if you don’t know hers. As a Republican and George W. Bush appointee (National Security Advisor and Secretary of State) she was under appreciated and her achievements not fully accepted.

Joe Biden’s choices to fill positions in his administration are drawing praise for diversity and inclusion, especially for the number of women. Many are women of color, including Vice President elect Kamala Harris. This is noteworthy and Joe Biden should be commended. So please consider this…..

About fifteen years ago Condoleezza Rice was the fourth ranking member of the United States government as Secretary of State. As a classically trained pianist she performed with world renowned Yo-yo Ma (look him up too). As if that were not enough she recently served on the College Football Association playoff board. That ain’t even half of what she’s done. Oh yeah, did I mention that she’s a black woman?

Put some respect on her name y’all. Think about it. Smart, talented, accomplished, diverse, wealthy, connected. Her political views (understandably opposed by many in the black community) simply aren’t enough to overshadow what she has done and they should not anyway. Condoleezza Rice. A real, modern American success story that black America should know and be proud of.

This is never a good sign. Not any time nor any place. It is even more dreaded around the Holiday Season. Its a sign we may see more than ever in our communities due to the effects of the Corona Virus. 

Imagine that you are a small business owner. I’m talking about a “real” small business, not the government defined (500 employees or less) small business. I’m not talking about the franchises who qualify as small business. I’m talking about the mom and pops, the family owned, the community based, the corner store, the specialty shops. Those who employ fewer than 25 people.

Yea, imagine being told that you have to operate at less than 25% capacity. Imagine not being able to operate your core business. Now imagine not earning revenue, turning a profit. Not able to pay employees and therefore losing employees as well as customers. All this with bills to pay and family to support.

Many small business owners face this situation everyday during the COVID pandemic. Over 100,000 closed this past year alone, which leads to today’s Christmas gift. I WANT TO PUT “GOING OUT OF BUSINESS” signs “OUT OF BUSINESS”.

CAN CONGRESS PLEASE PASS A STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT EMPHASIZES SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF? THE ECONOMY IS COUNTING ON YOU! AMERICA IS COUNTING ON YOU! THE PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON YOU! ‘Tis the Season…….