Ok, gonna get right to it today, day 21 as we countdown to Christmas. The gift I want is either the Northrop/McDonnell YF23 “Gray Ghost ” or “Black Widow”. I’ll take both if you’re asking. While it may seem outlandish and unrealistic to want this initially, you’ll realize that it’s not as crazy as it sounds.

The most advanced plane used by the U.S. Airforce is (those in the know may not agree) the Lockheed F22 Raptor. This may be a little TMI but stay with me for a second. When our military needs new planes they put out bids to contractors who build them. The top two or three bids are selected and then the government helps to finance the development with tax payer dollars. Keep this in mind. Way back in the 1980s the Air Force needed a more capable jet fighter. Two companies, Lockheed and Northrop were awarded contracts. Lockheed built the F22 and Northrop built the YF23. The Lockheed F22 won the competition and the Air Force chose it over the Northrop YF23. So whatever happened to the Northrop YF23? EXACTLY!

These planes were developed in the 1990s with TAX PAYER DOLLARS. THEY BELONG TO US. In essence, I……I mean we, already own them. I think an F23 costs about $400,000,000.00 to build. Think thats a lot? How much have you paid in federal taxes since 1990? Now multiply that by a few hundred million people. We’ve paid for these jets many times over. Facts! Even in the movies you see the commanding officer tell new pilots, “Son this jet belongs to the American tax payers so don’t be reckless out there.” It’s true.

So I want my jets and I want them now. They don’t belong in some far off museum or secret military installation. I……I mean we, should be able to see them whenever we want. We did pay for ’em. Do we pay rent or mortgage and give someone else the key? Do we pay for cars and let other people take them home? I think not! I’m not trying to fly the planes. Just want them available to the public. There are plenty military bases within driving distance of me. I want the Northrop YF23 at one of them. ‘Tis the Season.

Smile.  That’s the gift for today.  I want to see the prettiest smiles this Holiday Season.  It has been a trying year as we all know, and sometimes it takes more energy and effort for good to overcome bad.  But, if we start with the basics we can do a little at time to recharge our positive energy.  So share your best smile and hopefully it is returned in kind.  To have my best smile ready when needed I practice by looking at the beautiful Ducati Streetfighter V4 in this picture!  It makes me smile a lot…..Just in case you have trouble finding your best smile I’ve included, for your benefit, this image of Lupita Nyong’o.  See how easy she makes it look? I do. ‘Tis the Season…….

‘Tis the Season.  The Christmas gift countdown continues.  I hope you all enjoy these gift ideas as much as I do. Now this next gift is really down to earth.  Some of you may already have one.  Here it is. 

I want a personal assistant for Christmas.  Yep, I really do.  I’m not rich nor famous.  I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV, but a personal assistant is essential to my health and well-being.  Let me explain. 

I do not like washing clothes, but I manage to wash mine regularly.  However, when it is time to fold clothes and put them away I go into a mini depression.  I’m serious. All jokes aside. I get the clothes out of the dryer, pour them on my bed and stare at them for hours, unable to move because of the overwhelming thought of folding and putting them away.  The item that causes the most stress is the dreaded white tee shirt.

As I stare at the clothes, the prevailing thought is how many white tee shirts can a person wear in one week?  There are only seven days.  I’m only one person.  Yet somehow, every weekend when I wash my laundry, I end up with about 25 white tee shirts to fold.  Crew neck, V neck, recently purchased, comfortably worn, where DO they come from? 

After being shaken out of my catatonic state of fear and shock by a concerned family member, I sit on the bed phone in hand to stream music to ease my tension.  They feed me cheese steaks, honey buns, ice cream and soda to ease my heart rate, help me to relax and to lower my blood pressure.  Sometimes I get Tylenol too. These do help at times but are not 100 percent effective.

Some days I manage to get the shirts folded and put away but it’s a mental struggle. Most days I don’t. They usually stay on the bed and I ask my wife to call the doctor or take me to the emergency room and then she’ll put them away for me. Some days, when it is really emotionally challenging, I “unwittingly” put the clean shirts in the dirty clothes basket so I don’t have to fold them until the next week. My sons, in an attempt to help me I think, will come and take MY shirts and wear them and then put them in MY dirty clothes basket. I see the pile going down so I’m feeling better!

So now you see. I really need a personal assistant to handle my laundry. I would settle for someone to just handle my white tee shirts. I’m serious. I asked my wife and SHE AGREES! Serious inquiries only please. ‘Tis the Season……

Ok, one gift down, twenty four to go. Thanks to all who contributed to my first gift. Hope you saved a little. Remember I’m asking for 25 total presents. 

Which brings us to today’s gift.  The first was relatively inexpensive, right?  Well, you’re really gonna have to dig deep for this one.  Some of you may not be willing or able to give this time around.  So what do I want? Simple.  For gift number 24, all that I ask is that we have the courage, the character, the manners and the “spirit” to speak to one another during this “Christmas” season. That’s all.  That’s it.  “Hello”. Or “Hey what’s up?” Or “How you doin’ today?  Easy enough right?  You would think.  Mind if I share a couple or three stories?

These incidents stuck with me because they showed me just how easy we can become insulated (yes I meant INSULATED people) from our own humanity and take ourselves for granted.  Because of the language involved I decided to discuss this now so as to not offend anybody as we get closer to Christmas. Please accept my apology now.

A few years ago I was taking a class at the local community college. It was around the Holiday Season and the semester was about to end.  I walked down a hall towards a small group of students who were approaching me. There were two men a little younger than myself among them.  As they got closer one glanced in my direction.  I nodded once and said, “What’s up fellas?” As they walked by without speaking I heard one ask the other, “Yo, you know ‘dat mawfucka man?” The other replied, “Naw man you?” “Uh uh”.  I couldn’t help but to laugh as I heard them go on and on about NOT speaking because they didn’t know me. A simple, courteous “What’s up man” would have saved them a lot of energy.  ‘Twas the Season……….”

A few years ago during the Holidays again I was out shopping.   While standing in an isle, empty handed and minus a shopping cart, a woman in a hurry turned the corner and hit me.  Seeing the shock and what I perceived as embarrassment on her face, I said simply, “Hello miss. YOU ok?”  Without responding or speaking she took a breath, made the eye roll of death and gave a long sigh like “huuuuh”.  Now, I had never spoken or written the word “BeJesus” in my life, but this…….. woman……..boy I wanted to slap the “BeJesus” out of her ass for real!  That’s not me.  Besides, it was Christmas Season right…….?

Last one. Again during the Holidays. Leaving a store I walked towards my car in the parking lot. About 50 feet away in the same path a woman headed towards me, staring the whole time. When she got about 10 feet away she crossed the road, still staring, to go around me. Never spoke. Now let me tell you, it was early in the morning and we both were dressed in our “hope nobody we know sees us” attire and therefore were mutually “unattractive”. But manners don’t cost you nothing. So me being me, I spoke anyway. She managed a reluctant smile and said hello. I then asked,”Hey, why you cross the street when you saw me? A “sister” can’t say hello to a “brother” during the Holidays? We had a good laugh and talked about black family traditions for Christmas. No names, no games, just people showing courtesy during the Holiday Season. ‘Twas the Season.

So, ‘Tis the Season. Be bold and courageous. Share some courtesy and manners as a gift to yourself this year. Return the favor if extended to you first. And to those who don’t wanna speak, I guess I don’t know y’all mawfuckas either. Sorry I couldn’t resist. Lol.

10pm and it is already past my bedtime. I go to work at 7am.  I usually wake up at 5:40.  Thankfully I have a short commute of around 20 minutes.  Even still, I shouldn’t have to go to bed so early to get up on time. 

Man I recall a time when I could go to bed at ANYTIME and make it to work with minutes to spare.  One time, I left Atlanta, Georgia (driving) at 6pm on a Sunday night, made it home to Maryland and then to work before 7am Monday morning to fall asleep at my desk.  I also recall, way back in my twenties, going to bed after 2am every night (or morning!) for three straight weeks and making it to work on time everyday thereafter.  Slept from Thursday evening until Sunday morning the following week!

Those were the days. I routinely went to bed around 11pm or midnight.  Up by 7 at my desk by 8 MOST every day. Now however, I have to be in bed by 10, which means preparing for bed by 9. Truthfully, I’m just waking up at 6pm. I had always been an evening/night person. Not anymore. 11pm is late according to my current biological clock. Even on Friday nights I have to force myself to stay awake past midnight. I still enjoy staying up late, though I pay a higher price physiologically.

But now…..for me and my recently recalibrated biological clock, 10pm is my bedtime. And tonight I’ve gone past it. Hopefully I wake up on time tomorrow…….Goodnight.

It is December 1, 2020.  I know it is cliché, but man this year flew by.  Its been trying and challenging but we’ve gotten this far. 

Thirty days post election.  Thats all I have to say about it.  Christmas time is here. Another cliché: know the reason for the Season.  More on that later.  Right now I wanna reveal my Christmas list to whomever it may concern.  I’m starting today because I have 25 gift ideas that are perfect for me.  Great timing as there are 25 to go. And, just so you know, these are very “practical” gifts as you will see.  Let’s get started.

Today’s gift idea is the 2021 Triumph Trident motorcycle.  Check it out. A new model, it will not be available until January 2021.  However I will accept the gift of a down-payment whenever you’d like to send it.  Cash App, Venmo or PayPal accepted.  Family and friends are welcomed. Remember, giving is better than receiving.  Lol! 😇😉🤗 Don’t like this gift idea? There are 24 more where that came from.

Many, many years ago, way back when I didn’t have to think so hard to remember, I decided that I’d keep a journal.  I wanted a recorded history of my daily life so I could assess the choices I was making.  Long after I should have, I started making a daily and weekly schedule to better utilize my time.  These two things combined, I hoped, would guide me to more efficient use of the all too important time/money continuum.

I enjoyed keeping a journal.  Every evening I would recall the events of the day and script them in a sort of stream of consciousness writing style.  I would then adjust the next day’s schedule to include tasks not completed during the current day.   It was fulfilling its purpose. I seemingly had more time to get things done and felt less stressed about time in general.  Money was a non issue because I budgeted proactively. It was around this time that I coined the phrase, “JUST BECAUSE I CAN PAY FOR SOMETHING DOESN’T MEAN THAT I CAN AFFORD IT”.  You know,  I wish I could convince my…………..never mind.

I managed to maintain my journal for about four years, my schedule for about five or so.  It wasn’t until recently that I was reminded as to why I stopped writing.  Yea my life got busier and I became a little bored so I just stopped making time for it.  However, the reality is that my journal revealed that my life was too static, not enough variety.  I noticed patterns in my choices that repeated far too frequently. So I decided to do something about it

I made a conscious effort to make different choices. I forced myself out of my comfort zone(s). Won’t bore you with the minutae and details because there are far too many. Changed careers, changed eating habits, changed life approach. Funny thing though. Thinking of the last 3,650 days has brought me to the realization that it is time for yet another personal renaissance. I like that word. This blog is a creation of that realization. My educational aspirations are as well.

So thanks for your interest and support. I will continue to share my thoughts and opinions of my evolution as long as you continue to find some value in them. Who knows. Maybe we’ll still be talking in about say, 3,650 days……….

3,650 days.  You know, I celebrated a wedding anniversary recently.   That, along with the Thanksgiving weekend obscured another anniversary that I almost forgot about.

One year ago, November 25, 2019 I left the company that I had worked at for almost exactly 3,650 days.  I started there November 29, 2009.  I am grateful for the opportunity. At the time I started I needed a position with a traditional (9-5 Monday thru Friday) schedule.  Got more than expected.  I actually was allowed flex time, starting my mornings anytime between 7:30 and 8:30.  Great. Had to work a few Saturdays though…..

October 2019 was a pivotal month in my life.  It was my time.  I had gotten all I would get from from that particular position. I had to face the fact that I had become comfortable with a job that had nothing more to offer.  Conversely, I had given all I had.  Initially I felt like the company didn’t appreciate my efforts, commitment and accomplishments. As I assessed my situation I came to realize that I needed a new challenge and it was not my employers responsibility to provide it. So I resigned.

3,650 days is ten years. Do you know where you were 3,650 days ago? What have you been doing for 3,650 days? Ten years is a good bit of time in a person’s life. Plenty of time for life lessons. Number one lesson for me: make sure to get a complete return on my time investment for the next ten years. Whether its a career, a relationship or a financial commitment, be sure your efforts are reciprocated.

Ok. Five days in. 3,645 days worth of lessons coming up. God willing…..

Back to September 1983. My first days at my new school.  I notice a whole lot of new faces.  Some notice me.  One day while in the cafeteria a young, shy girl approaches me.  There is a fundraiser for the track team and she is selling candies, among them……..you guessed it!  Snickers bars!  She asked if I would buy one.  I said I’d “buy” two, but “pay” for one…..lol. I did buy one Snickers.  As time went on I noticed her maturity, her easy smile, her friendly personality, her athletically toned well-developed body, and her ability to be a part of the “in crowd” without needing to “follow the crowd”. I noticed.  I may have bought more Snickers, but that first one lasted a lifetime.

I went on to marry that girl on November 23rd 1996.  We’ve come a long way from where we started. Owning our own homes, raising good kids. So today November 23rd 2020 we celebrate  TWENTY FOUR YEARS OF MARRIAGE!  My wife has not aged one day.  (I have done all of the aging for her……..) I’ve driven her as crazy as she has driven me.  You don’t even want to know.  (If you’re married you already do know!) But, remember the Snickers?  Remember I said I like chocolate?  Who knew it would provide 37 years of friendship and 24 years of marriage?  Happy Anniversary Carla.  We are just getting started.

It’s difficult to be your best at all times and even more so when faced with adversity. In light of the current Corona pandemic it seems as if the entire world is being challenged more than ever. And yes, it has been burdensome on many levels, but let us be cautious and take a broader look at how it has affected us.

Many have lost something because of COVID 19. Whether it be a home, a paycheck, a savings account, a job, a car, a semester, a material possession or worst yet, a loved one. This is a painful reality not easily overcome. And so what I am about to say I do not take lightly, but I do think important as we another season of uncertainty.

Do not let COVID 19 get the “best of you.” Try to be “the best of you” as often as you can. The three things that we must not let waver during this time are our humanity, our decency and our spirituality. Please respect one another as we all are dealing with similar circumstances. Please respect yourself by reinforcing your values and maintaining your character. Finally, seek a stronger sense of spiritually to help support the whole you. We are gonna make it through this. History proves that we always do.