Humbled, Pleased, and Negligent: My first blog award!

I've been awarded my first blog award by the author/blogger at the quickly budding, hot, chic blog: Tica Tattle .

It certainly is not a manly award, but I appreciate any type of accolades one can get. Especially in the face of the summer, where my posts have become few and far between. I'm humbled by the fact that someone with a blog so awesome and a follower number that has far surpassed even her expectations, can find time to give love to a blog that is still very much on the come-up.  Her blog has a lot of character, clever anecdotes and tips on everything from travel, to parenting (she is my co-God-parent for our beautiful God-daughter, Summer!) If you are one of the few people in my personal or blog circle who haven't checked her out, do so by going here .

So apparently the way this goes is that I tell 7 things about myself, so here goes:

1. I relate to Jack Nicholson in "As Good As it Gets" with the OCD.  I used to religiously avoid cracks in the sidewalk while trying to keep the idiosyncracy from being noticed by anyone I was with.  When I stepped on the cracks, I'd feel it.  My mom tried to talk me out of it, to no avail...i masked it well, and she forgot about it, i didn't though!

look @ dem pearly whites!

2. I'm pretty self-conscious.  I'm semi-obsessed with avoiding obesity, maintaining a good physique and I sometimes wish for perfectly straight choppers like Tyrese.

3. I'm also a bit obsessed with finding ways to make more money, either for myself or for others. Those close to me has had to endure countless random brainstorms on making money selling homes, investments, selling water, and even charging for designing blogs *ahem* (that wasn't directed at me by the way, I'm not very good at blog designing).

4. I love the sax, I plan on buying one before the end of 2010. I played for seven years in my younger days and was able to play songs like "In a Sentimental Mood" (think of the sexy, jazzy ballad from the movie Love Jones).

5. I'm pretty dramatic, at times.  I think I'm a weird mix of drama, realism and logic. But I can be dramatic.

6. I get very anxious about things.  I'm a bit hyperactive and I have a hard time relaxing or sitting still.  I think so much that it's hard to sleep.  I move so much that it's hard to relax, and when I relax, I feel like i could be doing something better with my time than relaxing...and the cycle continues...oy vey...

7. I'm a social butterfly.  I thrive in social situations.  I don't mind being the only one dancing at parties. I speak to strangers on the street, just to say hello. I'm a firm believer that the world isn't as big and cold if we would just try to be nice.

There goes my 7 things.

Now to pass the award...hmmm...

1. J Design -- He's a manly man, but my first recipient of the award goes to J at Jaedesign.wordpress.com.  This brother works very hard at making some fresh graphic designs for logos, fliers, twitter backgrounds, streetwear, and the list goes on.  I've witnessed him at work, from the tutorials, to the research to the final product.  I'm proud to say that my first recipient I know personally, for over 26 years (I'm 26 btw)...
J, aka Juny, aka Jonathan.

2. AMOR - Ms. Amor is another friend of mine.  We go way back to the awkward and formative days of HS.  Her blog is a revolution for women who don't fit the status quo standards of beauty.  She's a plus-size model who represents for the sisters who aren't seen or heard nearly as often as they should in the fashion world.  She's also a great writer.

3. Cool Guys Travel - this may seem like a plug, but it's not.  It's dedicated to men, especially men of color, who are reluctant to travel.  It's encouraging travel through pop culture, anecdotes, and, of course, peer pressure.

4. Sam's Chai has a smoothness that's reminiscent of the drink in the title, hence the blog's title is appropriate.  Sam has some great advice...go follow

5. Life's a comic strip .  If you like sarcasm, humor, wit, and illustrations (who doesn't like pictures?!).  Check this blog out. It's sure to put a smile on that cool nerd mug...

6. Single, Infertile Female .  I know, this doesn't sound like something a man would be reading on a regular basis, but I've always wondered what my reaction would be if I couldn't have kids (or my partner).  She explores her own feelings and the alternatives that medicine, love and a persistent attitude brings.  Check her out...it's a triumphant endeavor for us all...

7. Is it against the rules to give an award to something you've contributed to? I hope not, but the Tica cannot escape this. In a matter of weeks the I'd Rather Be Reading blog has become a happening place thanks to the creativity and genius of Tica and her partner in crime Anika, esq.  This blog serves as a place to discuss the read for the month, and some people who'd like to be a part of the actual book club but can't find their way to the blog and let their voices be heard...like Mr. Carson...so for that i say, kudos...because chances are, if you've gotten this far in this post, rather than being at work or watching TV, you've proven that you'd rather be reading...

That ends my post for the day.  I apologize for seeming remiss in my duties as a blogger.  I'm getting my life together...

FatherHood Friday: ComPadre

I'm a new parent.  I have a daughter now.  My daughter is not someone I met on the first day she was born.  I met her when she was like 1 month old.  I didn't know she was mine. I treated her as I treat all new babies I meet: With LOVE AND ATTENTION.

But yes, after careful consideration, I am the father!

Sounds like something straight off the Maury show, I know but seriously I am a new father.  To a beautiful baby girl named Summer. I was asked to be a Godfather.  A ComPadre (as my co-worker of Dominican descent calls them) is a job that I take very seriously. Much like my true fatherhood to my son.  I'm honored to have been asked.  It shows that someone noticed my attention to detail (with most things), my intellect, leadership qualities, and fatherhood capabilities.  Not only this but technically in the event of some sort of catastrophe (God-forbid) and the next of kin can't care for Dear SumSum, We would be next in line (Ms. Tica is also the Godmother) for being her caretakers.

There are thousands of Godparents in the United States, but few who take such a charge seriously. I wonder, though, if this is something that's inevitable, like waning contact with someone you meet who you think is a good fit for friendship, but time, and energy and schedule conflicts work against it.  I don't know how many of my son's 10 Godparents (don't ask, i had nothing to do with that one...long story and I'm not telling).

So wish me luck (though I prefer prayers) as I embark on another Fatherhood journey, a ComPadre (co-parent).  Sharing the responsibilities, triumphs, frustrations, joys and realities of parenting with Summer's biological parents.  And you can read some dope posts by the Tica as she Chronicles our journey from her own perspective.  Happy Friday.

Today's word for the day...J-O-B!

Yes, it's a line from Friday.  Craig was fired from his job, on his day off, and his father was imploring him to go searching for new employment.  I know that movie by heart.  90's classic!

Today isn't Thankful Thursday, a day celebrated by the TicaTattler, but I thought I'd take a moment to give thanks to God for my job.  "

Thank You LORD.  I'm employed, words cannot express my gratitude.  Amen"


There are reports of the economy improving, jobs being added, money being made.  The dollar got stronger as fears of European economic troubles weakened the Euro.  Despite these reports the scope of the job market for NY's finest (The Teachers of NYC) is truly grim.  Hiring freezes, layoffs and budget cuts have those of us who have jobs worried about our security, and those who are trying to get into the DOE looking like the kids on Smooth Criminal, on the outside looking in, wanting and hoping to someday, be a a part.  I pray things get better.  Because after all even after we relent to the fact that adults who are teachers have bills, and families to raise, and apartments to keep, the real victims are our students.  Students who are asked to participate in classes that are too big and get along with teachers who are overworked and underpaid.


I read somewhere that if you want to take the pulse of a nation look at the way they treat their kids and the elderly...America's pulse is feeling very, very weak these days...