Just Thinking Out Loud!: June 2006

Some 2K10 Goals by God's special grace n power

Paint entire house
Set up entire downstairs including garage
Reduce credit card debt by at least $2k
Pay off any miscellaneous debt
Most definitely get into a committed relationship
~~Most definitely send money to mom for a new car~~
Take time to develop relationships
At least, 2 patents
Aggresively work on developing iPhone App dev skills
Create a webpage for DJing
Expand my career breadth
Visit London
Join Toastmasters
Create a will and a Power of Attorney 4 Healthcare
Take complete control of soda drinking
Work on taking a CPR class

SO, HELP ME GOD!

Some 2K7 Goals by God's special grace n power

~~Finally buy some Nyja stocks~~
~~Get a loaded Thinkpad or Sony Vaio~~
~~Join MentorPlace n consistently mentor~~
~~Put at least $2K in stocks apart from investment club contr. & 401k~~
~~Take complete control of coffee~~

SO, HELP ME GOD!

Some 2K6 Goals by God's grace

~~Have a white paper published~~
~~Work on increasing pay~~
~~Get to the next band at work~~
~~Help renovate mom's place~~
~~Give mom n bro at least $*K each for wedding~~
~~Finally visit Nyja!!!~~
~~Take a real estate class~~

My Videos

Go Getta. R. Kelly

Music I'm Feeling...

2Face
Ebenezer Obey
KWAM 1
Cassandra Wilson
Pharell
Ne-Yo
T.O.K
Don Moen
D4L
Teddy Pendergrass
ColdPlay
DMB
Notorious B.I.G
Delirious
Dem Franchise Boyz
Frank Sinatra
Evanescence
All-American Rejects
Billie Holiday
Seal
Obesere
KEM

Books I'm reading...

~~Zero Debt~~
~~The Millionaire Next Door~~
~~The Street Lawyer~~
African Women: Three Generations
Communication, Sex & Money
The J2EE Tutorial

Cities I Have Visited

ATL, GA
Austin,TX
Detroit, MI
Houston, TX
Charlotte, NC
Corning, NY
NYC, NY

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Life is not fair...for real!

You can't force it, but you can at least try your best, see what happens and possibly move on or see it work.
~ Eyan

Haven't written in a while as usual. Just too lazy. That's why I started this thing anyway. I really commend the people that write daily. For real!

That's beside the point. During last weekend, I went to check out some stuff and I remember seeing a book by Robert Schuller called, "Life is not fair, but God is good." When I saw it, I thought that title was incredibly the reality of so many lives and told myself I had to read it. However, that title couldn't have been made more true by any situation or circumstance than the Brazil-Ghana game.

I just got back to my desk after watching that game (though I must say that I saw only the second half) and I just can't imagine any other loss that could be more painful than that. This was a team that everyone thought Brazil would just ride over. But as the game started, Ghana proved that was not going to happen. During the 1st half, I was on IM throughout with a friend that was watching it and he kept me abreast of how the game was going. He kept on telling me how Ghana was playing a great great game! By the time I got to my friend's place to watch the 2nd half, I saw what he was saying. He couldn't have been more on point than that. I mean Ghana plaaaaayed! They played much better than Brazil played. And that was without Michael Essien. They played a great game for sure.

To me, they played Brazil with their own style. It was a great passing game, though they pissed me off really bad some of the times they were off on their passes and allowed Brazil to steal the balls, but hey...that's soccer. The first few minutes that I saw, I thought Ghana didn't even have a goalkeeper. They were in Brazil's Box 18 area for a while mehn. I was impressed. They did everything. The shots, the passes, the aggressive ball stealing, etc. But to no avail.

Got to admit, everytime the Brazillian team had the ball, it just looked like they were going to score. The way I see it is that Ghana played excellently and had Brazil defending most of the game but each of the few times they(Brazil) had a chance, they maximized it. Hence, the 3-0 loss.

Yes, Brazil scored the goals, but this was just one of those games that the final score did no descriptive justice to what the game was really like. Like my friend said, the Ghanians played the soccer, the Brazillians scored the goals. Very annoying! But that was just what happenned. Though the score seems to prove otherwise, Ghana did an excellent job with ball, but it just wasn't their day (kind of reminds me of Game 7 of the 'Canes and the Oilers). They showed that they were underdogs that could bark really loud, and that, with no empty threat. However, they just could not get the ball in. Ghanians should definitely be proud of their team. They played an outstanding game against Brazil and deserve a lot kudus for that. They made me proud to be African. The final score that everyone now sees is an indubitably diamteric portrayal of what the game was really like. It just really shows that the better team in the game doesn't always win. Though, next time, they need to work on their shots cos their shots were completely screwed; they were way off most the time. It's all good Ghana, Life is really not fair, but God is good. Like someone said, you guys are definitely in my hall of fame! And next World Cup is another one anywayz. ;)

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 1:24 PM 5 comments

Monday, June 26, 2006

Word Up!

Mama always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get."
~ Forest Gump in the movie, Forest Gump

Immeasurably true! One can only try, at least.

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 1:54 PM 1 comments

Friday, June 23, 2006

Word Up!

...there are hardly any so dull or slow of understanding as to be incapable of apprehending good opinions, or even of acquiring all the highest sciences, if they be but conducted along the right road.
~ Descartes

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 12:05 PM 0 comments

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Word Up!

I can't give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.
~ Herbert Bayard Swope (1882 - 1958)

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 12:53 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Word Up!

I define polyamory as a love of many. One person can not be all things to another person. Our lives are a reaction to, a reflection of and are infuenced by the many people in our lives. Why not include many loves in that?
~ Valerie Hartzer, Ferndale

Just thought this was absurdly interesting!

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 1:42 PM 1 comments

Monday, June 19, 2006

Word Up!

Experience is the best teacher. You can't buy it!
~ Someone but heard it from Mom everyday of my life growing up. You were dead right, Mom!

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 2:40 PM 1 comments

Friday, June 16, 2006

Word Up!

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
~ Somebody

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 1:33 PM 0 comments

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Word Up!

Money can't buy love, but it improves your bargaining position.
~ Christopher Marlowe

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 9:13 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Refreshing weekend...

This last weekend was extremely refreshing for me. Not sure why but it it was one of the most serenely relaxing weekend for me. I think the last time I had such a completely relaxed and at the same, inexplicably euphoric weekend must have been....hmmm...I don't even know. ok...maybe the last time I had a COMPLETELY great weekend hanging out with s*j.

It started on Friday night with me trying to convince a friend to come with me to a nice lil' party. It took me a while to, but I finally did. I mean for God's sake, he' has been to one of these events and he knows they always have the finest ladies and music in the area. ALWAYS!!! And gorgeously pretty, single working class ladies too. Hmmmmmph, Hmmmmph!!!! You really can't beat that! After convincing him and another friend of mine to come out, on my way to one of the folk's place, suddenly, I saw the dreaded annoying "rainbow" lights racing after my ass. Dammit! Not another one! I GIVE UP!!!! WTF? I wasn't even speeding. He came down, I tried to plead for clemency but the bastard refused to heed. Anyway, he gave me a ticket for 48 on 35. Apparently, the speed limit in the area was 35 and not 45 as usual. The asshole said he reduced it to 45 on 35 in order to save me 40 bucks. Ori e! Ko ni da fun e! You are mad! 40 bucks ko, 40 bucks ni! Like he was doing me a favor! Please! What favor!!!! Just step out of my face and bounce! I didn't even say one word after getting it. I just zoomed off!!! Fucking bastard!!!! lol!

Anyway, you would have thought I would go home from there. Hell fucking no!!! The fucking popo especially was not going to mess up my day!!! I just don't believe in turning back except for dire reasons. I have been on journeys with people numerous times that stuff will happen or we get lost for hours and they will be like, this guy, let's go back home, but I just can never do it! Anywayz, one of my peeps changed and we headed out to the event. It was organized by my colleagues at work. They always have these parties every now and then. They are usually packed with nice young working-class black folks in the area. I LOVE THAT! It's amazing how they started like joke like joke (they causally started) and now they have really made a name for themselves. But I'm mad they made me pay to get in this time around. They normally let me in free but this time around they just kind of stayed away from the door to avoid letting people in free. I can't blame them at all cos I have always wondered how they made money. They know almost everyone there personally. How do you make profit if you know all the attendees at your events and now have to let them in free. So I wasn't mad at them at all. I paid for the 3 of us and got in. Dammit though! That expesne was just not part of the plan though...especially after getting speeding ticket less than 2 hrs before. I don't do this every weekend like I used to anywayz!

This party had a whole lot of new faces. There were so many gorgeous women. They had some fine ass ladies! Ladies that make you want to holler... Met up with other friends there and just hung out the rest of the time with many of my work buddies and friends. It was a lot of fun. Women just amaze me, sometimes, for real. I had this chick that I met last year at one of these events (Nigerian but born and raised here) - nice, dark-skinned, perfect stature with these really neat locks and lovely eyes and persona - just what I call simple beauty. I talked to her back then and she said that she had someone she was talking to and all...same old line. Since then I have seen her at few of the events and we barely said hi to each other and all. This time around, she saw me with one of the finest ladies out there (just a friend) and we were chitchatting, laughing, dancing crazy and just goofing off jokingly like I usually do (my friends call me the crazy African dude at the parties and events cos they always think I'm drunk but I'm never even close to that). You would have thought we were together too. We are just really cool. I call her, my best African American sister/mentor. I knew my girl noticed all that as I saw her looking. Not to my surprise, she came around to tap me and say hi. What! Believe me, this chick has never initiated an exchange of pleasantries between us. Not once! I always initiated it. I mean, it was a shock to me...and possibly to her too as I somehow saw on her face. We have always said hi but she has never come to tap me to say hi. Not once! She tapped me and was talking and actually trying to have a decent conversation. I had to ask her if she was ok for real. She was like of course yes, I am. Why do women (actually we all) do that? Why? This is someone "you had in the palm of your hands pretty much" and decided not to deal with, but now, you see him with someone and bam, you want to say wassup like you have never done before. Hmmm...maybe, she was just in a good mood and just trying to be friendly. I guess one can't always assume that the she was trying to go where I was trying to go to back then cos such gestures from me have been misconstrued too. I got to say though, not all the time, as I know for sure, but many times, it's a case of her trying to holla back now. Anywayz, the event was great. Great music with all genre - my favorite house music and reggae, dirty south, etc. Met some new folks in the area and it was definitely very relaxing.

Next morning, it took everything on the planet for me to get up (after going to bed at 4.15am) at 5.30am to go to a Race For The Cure volunteer event, but I managed to and I thank God I did. I love such volunteer events. Done a whole lot of them in my life and I advise people to do the same. It's very self-fulfilling. It was really great seeing everyone there doing their thing - the compettive racers, the fun racers, the walkers, etc. It was definitely worth it. Saw my friend there and she said her sister refused to come cos she thought it was a sad event. Hmmm...that's a different perspective. Never thought of it like that but that could be a valid point. I think it just depends on perspective. I saw it as a celebration fo the survivors and even the victims really. It just really depends on how you see it. I was there helping with the cutting of bagels till about 9.30 or so and then went home to sleep only to miss barbershop appointment at 1pm. Made it there afterwards at 2 on which my barber said he was going to charge me 5 bucks. Like Michael Blackson says, morasucker, what do you mean you're going to charge me 5 bucks? I mean...this guy is black and he is dealing with black folks and he's talking about making precise haircut appointments or get charged extra for missing them. You know we black folks are not good with appointments and shit like that for haircut. WTF? I mean, I still made it the same day, so you're still not losing a dime from me! I was pissed but, hey, that is his policy. You don't like it, jump! I love him though. He's doing his thing big time.

Then at about 5.30, headed out to an appreciation dinner with a friend of mine at the Hilton. We thought we were late but as usual, negroes mehn, I mean, the event didn't start till about 2 hrs later than the starting time. My friend and I, coincidentally (and I mean conincidentally :) ) wore the same color, so the guys at the dinner didn't let us rest. She kept telling them we were just friends but they were like whatever! lol! They'll be aight! This life is just amazing for real. You just never know who you are influencing. Apparently, the lady that organized the dinner organized it for her barber as appreciation event celebrating "a Husband, a Father, a Friend and a Husband." At Hilton!!!! I was dead impressed. The celebrant was shocked and just couldn't believe it. I mean, he was stunned! That he would be appreciated so much by a customer! Wow! He said one thing during his remarks which is so true: A woman and a man can be friends without sex or anything like. It is possible! He is a married man with a kid and his wife knows the organizer very well. It is funny, I was having that conversation with some friends just days before that and we talked about the same thing. I think it's hard but it is more than possible especially when you, as a guy, grew up around women. The event went really great with special numbers from friends. I tell you mehn, my kids got to know how to sing for real. They have to! They have no choice, though if it is left to their dad's DNA, good luck on that one! I sat with these people that were just freestyling on the table and I was tripped straight up! They were really good! They made R. Kelly sound like me! lol! It was really a lot of fun. And the hotel's food? The best hotel food I have ever had. I mean forever ever! I don't really care for food at all. I just eat to stay alive (odd, I know), but the Salmon was goooooooooood! I was really impressed.

Anywayz, heard about Arrested Development performing live free in downtown at the event, so of course, we headed out there afterwards. The whole concert took me back to my NYC days straight up! The days of free concerts during lunch. Parking took forever, so they had started before we got there. They started while we were in the vicinity looking for parking space. Mad that I missed some of it, but glad I made it there regardless. From what we saw while looking for parking space, we thought they were checking ID and I had forgotten my wallet at home (first time in years, if I remember), but there is always a way out! :) I had my work ID in the car with my name on it. And I had my speeding ticket in the car too. The speeding ticket had my name and date of birth and the work ID had my pic and name, so I took both. Problem solved! My friend thought that was hardcore, some crazy shit. Hey...you got to do what you got to do. We went in. The concert was the best I have been to in YEARS!!!! I guess, I don't really go to concerts like that but I have been to quite a number. Loved it! Saw the crew. Baba was there, the main guy (Speech), and 2 of the ladies. It was really nostalgic seeing them live. Watching them evoked so many memories. I remember listening to them in high school. People Everyday, Mr Wendal, Tennessee, Mama's always on stage, Eaze my mind, etc. I remember having to tell my friend (we didn't have cable) when I was in high school to help me record their videos on BOP TV, MTV, etc. I had their videos on tape with It was a Good Day, Postive K's what's ur man got to do with me, 2 Live Crew, Wrecks N' Effects, etc. I couldn't believe I was looking at these guys live. They gave an outsanding performance! Excellent excellent job! Speech did his thing as usual with Eshe (the crazy bald-headed dancer and chipper-in. she got nice slightly colored twisted braids now) and Baba Oje (now 74 yr old but did his thing like a 24-yr-old guy on stage). They had this new face in the group - Nicha. Apparently, she has been with Speech for a while. Damn! She was not just fiiiineeee, she had a perfect body and I mean purrfeect body (something that you usually don't see together). If not for my age, I would actually get a poster of her (India Arie and Kimberly Elise too. love them all) and put it in my room. lol! She was like an afro-centric version of Alicia Keys but even finer. And mehn, she was was blowing like crazy. She is an excellent vocalist! DAMN!!!! Great vocal range. I was feeling her voice like mad....and her body too by the way! lol! Eshe did her crazy dance routines as usual. I don't know where she gets her energy from mehn. And she just had a baby too. Incredibly in shape for someone that just had a baby (I really don't know how women get in shape after having kids for real. It must be tough. taking care of the newly-born and trying to get rid of that extra loose skin? Mehn...I don't know). And Baba Oje? That guy was doing his thing on the stage entertaining folks. He even went down flat and did the Hoola or whatever they call it. A 74-yr old guy! Wow! Then they had this new guy that was rapping too. He was quite good. He kind of reminded me of Eminem. The fast-paced, almost tongue-twisting, rap. The best part of the concert was when they called it out for the night, left the stage and as people dispersed, came back again to give us one LAST GREAT ONE! It was their best of the best - MR WENDAL! The whole crowd went agog, screaming and jumping. They gave us a powerful, crowd-moving rendition! LOVED IT! My so-far conservative, left-right dancing self, went crazy myself too. My friend and her sisters were just looking like this guy must be on crack all of a sudden or something. And then they started my best part of the song...Go Baba, Go Baba.... Baba went on fire doing his thing. It was hilarious seeing a 74-yr old man giving us steps. I couldn't believe it. It's ironic to see that that was the first time I ever knew they were actually saying Go Baba, Go Baba... I always said, Jabala, Jabala, Jabala.... LMAO! I know, right! You will think I will know the lyrics for my best part of the song I love. Hey...what can i say? And yeah, they also sang this very heart-warming, highly soothing, nerve calming version of Bob Marley's Redemption Song. The concert was, like we used to joke around as kids, not just fantastic, it was cokastic!!! yeeaaa, yeaa, i know, lame right! The drummer, outsanding! the acoustic guitarist, WHAT! the bass guitarist, phenomenal! Pls, you got to see their concert. It's great. I will be buying their CD (SINCE THE LAST TIME) when it comes out later this yr for sure and pls people, buy it too!!!! Check out their site: Arrested Development

After that, rather than go out to club as planned, just went home and chilled the rest of the night.

On Sunday, went to church. Nice service as usual. I wore shorts, pretty much, for the first time ever today. I don't even wear shorts at all on a regular day but I must say I have been missing out for real. Where have I been all my life not wearing just a pair of shorts and T-shirt. It is very relaxing. It just feels very different. I think that shit even makes your mind relaxed. :) You just feel like no stress. Nothing seems to phase u cos you're just relaxed with the weather. All that wearing of jeans 24/7 might be over for me for a while now.

After church went to see my pastor's wife who just had a pair of twins. Haven't really taken the time to hold a less-than-2-weeks baby in my life but did so and it wasn't that bad after all. God is really amazing for real. Just looking at those little kids. You just wonder...WOW...so these kids will grow up to become my size and even more. WOW! God is amazing. Olorun ku ise mehn!

From there I went to an investment club meeting with some coworkers and friends. My American surrogate mother, as I call her, invited me to one. These woman just links everyone. Everyone there was pretty much invited by her - about 8 or so people. She just makes me wonder the way she is friendly with everyone. That woman has too many friends. :) I love her for that! Anywayz, I thank God for the investment club thingy. I have always wanted to become part of one and this was my opportunity. I remember asking a friend if I could join theirs and he said, nope, too full. I invited 2 of my friends but only one made it. It was at one of my coworkers' place - nice huge house. Makes you want to get married! :) We talked about a whole lot (partnership agreement, bye-laws, backs, brokerages, monthly contributions, etc) and it was definitely worth it. Different members were assigned duties for the next meeting. Check out more info about this on Betterinvesting.com. It is definitely worth being in one as ONE of your investment strategies!

After that went to my friend's place and just hung out the rest of the day fixing wireless connections, watching the NBA Finals and just chilling. I felt really bad for the Miami Heat! Damn! At a point, Dallas led by 24? WTF? What happenned to the Heat. Shaq had only 5 points. Unheard of! I mean...5 points. How in the world did that happen? The Mavs played a great game, obviously! Great defense, great attack! Nowitzki did better than game 1 today. They just pretty much used Heat to practise for real. I mean...how do you stiffle Shaq to only 5 points in a game? I don't get it. That guy just seeems unbeatable once he has the ball and is in the paint right below the basket, but somehow the Mavs made him useless! Great job, Avery Johnson! Though I don't like your team owner, Avery (can't stand Mark Cuban's arrogance), but because of you, Nowitzki and Jason Terry, I am rooting for you!!!! Go Mavs!!!!

From all these, don't really know why, but it was just a great weekend for me! I normally have more events-packed weekends than this last one, but there was something about it that felt so peaceful and refreshing and I loved it. The investment club, Race For The Cure, hangouts, free concert....in short everything was the height of the weekend for me. Thank God! Look forward to many more of such inexplicably tranquil weekends...

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 11:01 AM 10 comments

Word Up!

It's not enough to know how to ride, you must also know how to fall.
~ Somebody

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:59 AM 0 comments

Monday, June 12, 2006

Word Up!

Life is beautiful; Enjoy it!
~ Somebody

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:35 AM 1 comments

Friday, June 09, 2006

Word Up

This country first you gotta get the money, then you get the power and when you got the power, then you get the women -- and then, Chico, you got the world by the balls.
~ Tony Montana in Scarface.

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 11:57 AM 0 comments

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Word Up!

It's not about getting back from who you gave to; it's getting back what you gave in several folds through anyone else.
~ Eyan, based on Mama's quotes

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:07 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Word Up!

If you love someone, how do you tell them without them knowing?
~ A Good Friend

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:02 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Word Up!

No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking!
~ Voltaire

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:09 AM 2 comments

Monday, June 05, 2006

He can't stop surprising me...with His blessings!

God really has a way with me that I don't understand. I haven't been a Christian in about 5 yrs now (cos I just think if you miss the mark and you find yourself no longer living the life don't fool yourself or anyone else) but He still does His thing with me. He gives me things I don't deserve, He takes me where I don't deserve to be in spite of me craze, He blesses me constantly in spite of my misuse of the blessings, He makes things happen for me ALLLLL THE TIME! He has just been great to me in ways that I perfectly know I don't deserve at all. "Not at all", like one of uncountable (haven't used that word in yrs :) ) aunts in London says.

I have been waiting for this for about a year now and it was one of my main goals for the year (didn't put it here cos I was actually nervous that I might not be able to make it, but I did, so, it's here now) and it finally came this morning. I got the promotion I needed to move to the next level that I wanted to in my life. And to top it all, I got something that is very unheard of here at work. I got a double-digit pay raise. God really stuns me daily!!! Like the Good Book says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul ....Who DAILY loads me with benefits. DAILY!!! And He really does do it daily. Now, I can start preparing to make that next move. Thank you God for your mercies and for your grace cos that's all I live by. NOTHING ELSE!!!!

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 11:55 AM 7 comments

Word Up!

It ain't nothing to it but to do it!
~ A Good Friend.

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:24 AM 0 comments

Friday, June 02, 2006

Please vote for Tolu & NYA!

I have a friend that has been nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2K6. She has been doing her thing for a while now and is definitely going places. Here is her website:

TOLUMIDE

She and her organisation, Nigeria Youth Association, need your votes to make it. Please, vote here soonest:

Nigerian Entertainments Award

Please, take few seconds to do this. Every vote counts. : )

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 3:40 PM 2 comments

Great laptop and Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe deals!

$470 Laptop Deal

Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe for $8.99 Just got one of these; had a very old version of Quicken but at this price, I am definitely down.

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 11:36 AM 0 comments

Word Up!

A man that doesn't spend time with his family is not a real man.
~ Don Corleone in GodFather I

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 11:18 AM 0 comments

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Word Up!

I'm beyond redemption...What's the point of confessing if you don't repent?
~ Don Corleone in GodFather III

posted by Just Thinking Out Loud! @ 10:19 AM 1 comments

About Me

Name: Eyan
Email: nyjaguy@gmail.com Home: United States
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