damn, it feels good.

Just think...there was a time when "white house" and "black president" put together in a sentence was downright oxymoronic. But now, hopefully we can all breathe easier knowing that after yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama is officially the 44th President of the United States. There's little controversy surrounding if he's literally the first or not (John Hanson ring a bell? Of course it won't, he's not in the books), but I'll be fair and say that right now it shouldn't even matter at this point, because this one is IN THE BOOKS.

Now, although I'm 30 minutes away from D.C., I preferred to be at home watching history from tv via CNN. Other than the Inauguration itself (I cried enough for everyone on my block), there were definitely some highlights, but here were some things I enjoyed:

-Rev. Joseph Lowery's Inaugural Benediction: classic. He even got his rhyme on toward the end. "The brown can stick around, and the yellow can be mellow..." Who's mad at that?
-Those "Hippies for Obama" buttons. I neeeeeed one!
-Something I did at home: Yelling "Get the fu*k out!" when certain (coughBushcough) people were shown leaving the White House. Glad to see you go, really.
-Spike Lee's fitted: "The NY with the joint!" Spotted him wearing this joint on Good Morning America. It was the topic of discussion for a good 3 minutes before Spike changed the subject.

Definitely a day to remember. We've come a long way, but now it's time for the turnaround. FYI: just because we've accomplished something great does NOT give you the excuse to slack up! This is all the more reason to work harder than before. Personally, I think that as soon as Obama was announced the President Elect, some things should have happened in the atmosphere. It's ridiculous that with this historic change going down, the murder rates in inner cities are slowly skyrocketing. Put the guns down and hug someone. The President looks like YOU!

Peep this, though: Not only do we have a black Pres...he's an African Pres.
I smell revolution...

(deuces.)

psychology.

*before I begin, I'd like to gloat and say...check out my blog spree, kid.

B-)

True, it's not what I've been saying I'll post; truthfully, I know those posts will require more attention and time. This post, the five previous, and maybe more to follow, have been strictly off the cranium. Happenstance, if you will. I'd advise you to enjoy it while it lasts; I'm human, and subject to brain farts, thus; lack of focus/drive from time to time. To be frank: Blogging won't be priority for some time. :)

I'm taking this mental regurgitation as a blessing, because writing is definitely still my second greatest release. Music is still the first love. Although, some would argue that writing/poetry is music. I'm rambling.

To the post.*

I talk about Scuba Steve a lot. But, honestly, at the end of the day; Scuba isn't the one who brought me into this world and basically molded me to love him (ha, my own "I love you", to you babe). I've gotta talk about the woman who knows me better than any person ever will. Seriously. We shared an umbilical cord, man. An umbilical cord.

It's mommy!

Twins, right? Those who know us know that it's terribly difficult to distinguish who's who over the phone; and I've been subject to many an unwanted conversation because people call for moms, assume it's her when it's really me, and keep talking. She's the one who I tell literally everything to; I confide in her even when some things I tell her may hurt her, because she wants to be there for me in any way possible. She helps me when she knows she shouldn't or doesn't have to. We compete against eachother in silly little contests, like the ticket stub count. And no matter how many times she may say it, I really do know a good half of those life lessons she's always talking about. I'm an old soul, and I credit that to her, but she sometimes doesn't give me credit in knowing because...well, she's mommy.
My mother is a mental health therapist. She used to work directly with clients; substance abusers who have mental illnesses, but now she serves as a Grant Director for a counseling program. Smart as a whip. And due to her psychology background, she often benefits in having in-house patients: myself, my brother and father. Last night, my brother and I were tripping because we finally figured out one of moms' tactics. Ha! We finally have it down to a science. It's like this: you're in trouble, and YOUR response could either further the trouble you're in, or kill the whole situation. You can either diffuse the situation, or say the wrong thing and face consequences. The thing about the latter is...she can confuse you; make you think you're off the hook, then the next thing you know, it's 7AM (on your day off) and you're the victim of a random tongue lashing while half asleep. No bueno.

So, moms: we've got you figured out, somewhat. Regardless of the mind games (ohhhhh, the games), you're still an awesome woman. Don't stop being awesome.
I'm only being cheesy-nice because I'm hoping to inherit that psychology gene to use on my children. I've been waiting for so long to say "because I said so!"...*evil laugh*

(deuces.)

random time has come again...

Let me just say...I am friggin TIRED. I had a 4:30 AM wake-up call, which meant nothing because I didn't go to sleep until well after 1AM. Nu World's two shows in Harrisburg were excellent, though. Turns out they bused more than half of the city's middle school students to one school just to see us perform. Pretty awesome if you ask me.

Now that that's out of the way, I just realized that I'm a ninja. B-)
Not literally, but there aren't a lot of things you guys (or anyone else, really) knows about me. I actually prefer it that way, but for the sake of gathering some more readers of my blog, I figured I'd be Facebook cliche and tell you a few random things about myself. I'm 23, so I'll give you 23 facts...and maybe a freebie. Here we go:

1. In elementary school, my mother wanted me to "stand out" from the other uniform wearing children...so she sewed Kinte cloth fabric onto my already custom tailored unis. My family was also the family that always performed during Black History Month, up until my last year of middle school. You can imagine how social I was by then.

2. I'm a lefty, but I taught myself to write with my right hand when I was 10.

3. I completed one semester of 9th grade at a public high school. I finished high school as a home school student.

4. I used to take karate when I was younger. Got my yellow belt ass kicked by a 3rd degree black belt (they were testing ME to move to green! WTF?!), so I quit. But, I took lessons from my uncle afterward.

5. My biggest life goal is to be Chief Mixer/Engineer of my own recording studio. I got a certificate in AudioWorks from The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts in Maryland, but it's pretty difficult to break into that business when you're a black female. Two strikes. Ouch. But, I'm working toward my goal; I've been doing a few FOH (Front of House) gigs for some local bands.

6. My younger brother and I make beats, and we've combined forces to create the production duo known as BlackMuzik™ . Click the link to check out some of our tracks, and add us if you like. We've even got beats for sale. Yes, I'm whoring myself. But it's all about the music!

7. I got the nickname "Ziggy" in 7th grade. One of my classmates randomly started adding extra sounds to my name, so it stuck.

8. I collect knives and lighters from different countries. My favorite knife I have so far is made of pewter and wood. I only say it's my favorite because I got it while in Malaysia, and had to sneak it through customs to bring it back home with me. Yeah, I'm bad.

9. I also save my movie ticket stubs for the year. My mother and I like to see who went to the movies more in a year. She won in 2007, and I won in 2008 with 32 ticket stubs.

10. My father started teaching me to play drums when I was a year and a half old.

11. For some odd reason, men who have nice calf muscles (pause: drool.) are a turn on. I also love facial hair. I have NO reason why, though; so asking will get you nowhere, lol.

12. I had my first poem published by the International Library of Poetry when I was 14.

13. I love animals. When I was younger, at one point my family housed: a cockatiel, two short haired hamsters, one cockerspaniel, one shih tzu, one gray tabby, a snapper turtle and a few beta fish. Zoo, maybe? We've now whittled down to Gracie, our black/white tabby, and Sheba, our Johnson American Bulldog. I'm convinced they're both humans reincarnated to animal bodies.

14. The shih tzu I mentioned? My first pet ever, given to me as a 1st birthday present. He died when I was 16, he was 15. I cried like a baby for days.

15. I was on the fourth season of HBO's "The Wire"...and I played a 7th grader. And I'm so serious.

16. I talk to myself a lot. No, not multiple personality talking, but I like to talk things out loud, even when people are around. It sometimes gets me into trouble.

17. I don't have a good track record with females, so my female friends are very few.

18. Ever since my little brother passed away in 2000 (and maybe before then), my connection and encounters with the supernatural have become more frequent. I think it's pretty neat.

19. I have the habits of chewing the inside of my jaw and cracking my knuckles.

20. I've had three career goals in my life so far: meteorologist (ages 6-12), professional basketball player (12-16) and engineer (16-present).

21. I participated in a citywide campaign to spread the word about the HIV/AIDS epedemic. *click "spread the word" to see the commercial*. It was pretty weird to see my face plastered on billboards and public transportation for a few months. I was officially creeped out when a friend of mine called me from the men's bathroom of a club and said, "Yo, I'm taking a piss and looking at your face at the same time! I was about to take this shorty home, but I came in here and saw your poster...so I'ma chill." Yikes.

22. I have a sneaker fetish. Not just a "ooooh, these are cute" type fetish, no; I have to be different (thanks to moms mention in #1...hindsight is 20/20)...when it comes to sneakers, or anything I wear really, I hate having something I know other people have. So the sneaks have to be some ridiculous color or pattern for me to even consider copping them. I love Chuck Taylors, and my closet is holding...over 10 pair? Something like that. I also love hoodies, but that's another story.

23. I started getting in trouble a lot when I hit middle school. Not for typical middle school stuff, like cutting, or necking some dude in the basement (lmao@ the story I have about that...not about me though!)...I refused to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the school. After a few debates with my homeroom teacher on why the Pledge is a piece of crap, I was sent to the office to have my mother called. You could literally hear the assistant principal's jaw hitting the floor when my mother told her she wasn't coming to the school for that, because "my daughter has her own beliefs, which stem from my household, and she was not raised on saluting the American flag". Ouuuuuch!

*24. My nephew and I were in the same grade together in school. No one believed he was my nephew. Ever.

**25. Throughout my years as a performer, I've gotten the awesome opportunities to open for the O'Jays, The Last Poets, Amiri Baraka, Desmond Tutu, and countless others. I also featured as a drummer with the UniverSoul Circus when they came to Baltimore.

Alright, so I gave you two freebies. Hopefully this gave you guys a little more insight to the random, kind of awesome, enigmatic mind that is me. If not...lol, I don't know what to tell you. Guess you're S.O.L.

(deuces.)

btw: I also like comments...hint, hint.

oh, baltimore pt 3: wtF?!

So...as it stands on January 7, 2009, there have already been twelve murders in Baltimore City. By January 4, 2009, there were already four. Literally one a day.

Around this time last year, there were only three murders.

I need to move. ASAP.

(deuces.)

I Liked It...But Didn't Want to Put A Ring On It.

For the record, let me say I am not a Beyonce fan.
I'm pretty sure some diehard B fan/stalker just stumbled upon my blog and almost vomited onto his/her "I Am..". cd. Grow up. I said I'm not a fan. Meaning, I love (some of) her music; her business ethics are pretty decent, and she's making money; which I'm not mad at at all. But...I believe that once you've captured a certain crowd, if you're as good as critics say you are, your fans won't mind you growing up musically. With that being said, NO, I did not like "Single Ladies" OR "Diva". She's pushing 30, and she's married. And, to my knowledge, a diva is not the female version of a hustler. Or maybe that's just me. Long story short, I think Beyonce is a great performer, her vocals are hot, and she definitely knows how to make people remember her music. Hell, I'll admit to having a (legal!) copy of "Dangerously In Love". "B-Day" and "I Am..."? Not so much. But, kudos to you, Mrs. Knowles-Carter.

To those uttering that over abused H word past your lips: stop. I am not, nor have I ever been a hater. I admire her hustle, and as I said above, her voice is incredible. I love Beyonce, but I don't have to like everything that she does, right? Right.

Now...if you thought what I said was bad, check out one of my Top 5 (of the moment) fave YouTube videos. And to those B fans cleaning vomit off of your concert ticket stubs, see if you call ME a hater after.

LMMFAO. I swear I laugh every time.

Oh. I'll have those 30/30s and the vacation post soon...but I needed to share this with you guys. You're all welcome.

(deuces.)

64...and she's still dope.

I've said it millions of times in this blog, and I'll say it again...Angela Davis is AWESOME! I have yet to meet her (awww), but thanks to Ivan at Hip Hop Is Read, I had the chance to watch her speak out on the Oscar Grant police killing.

If you're not aware of the Oscar Grant story, you can:
1) smack yourself silly for not being aware of the national attention this story has been getting
2)google Oscar Grant
3)check these two videos, smack yourself silly once more...then google Oscar Grant again.

Witness recording of the actual shooting

Angela Davis Speaks About Oscar Grant

Just to brush you up quickly on this story (I don't want to cheat you...do the research!), if you watched the first video you saw the police apprehending a young man on the ground. There's a small struggle, and one officer reaches for his gun and shoots Oscar right in the back. It's been reported that he was shot in the back, but the bullet ricocheted off the ground and through his lung. The officer who shot him has received multiple death threats since the shooting. I'm hoping there's some actual justice brought to this entire situation; the cop needs to be convicted. Point blank.

My prayers go out to Grant's family and loved ones.

(deuces.)

for those who worried....

...if you did at all..
I'm not dead! Yayyyyy!
Seriously, it's been almost 3 weeks (yikes!), and I've missed a lot of poems, random posts from the Bad Sum Bitch, 30/30 challenges, et cetera; et cetera. However, there are perfectly reasonable explanations for my absence. As you know, the family took a vacation toward the end of last year. Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic will definitely miss us, but I have lots of pictures and stories to post, so I digress. As SOON as I got back to the U.S., I was faced with something that I've never experienced before, so my brain's crisis control was a little on the fritz trying to find ways to cope. I guess there are no red buttons to push in my cerebrum, so my brain said "SHUT DOWN...NOW!"...and I found myself basically a hermit for almost a week. But alas, I'm here, I'm alive...and I've got lots of crap to post!

As soon as I can get everything in order, you'll be annoyed by me soon. Funny stuff, vacation pics, the rest of the 30/30 (which I'm thoroughly pissed about; they should have posted automatically!), and whatever random things cross my mind.

Happy '09, peoples. It's late, I know; but it still counts.

(deuces.)