Good Black Don’t Crack
“You know he smokin’ that stuff.”
This is a phrase that I have often heard whispered with seriousness by my parents, aunts, uncles–basically anyone 40 and up. I didn’t understand the significance of the phrase until a few months ago. The first conversation was between my mother and I. She’d been losing a lot of weight recently due to a healthy diet and exercise, and I was very proud of her. Being the asshole that I am, instead of congratulating her with praise I decided to make a joke: “Hey Mom. You lookin’ good. You not smokin’ that stuff are you?” The look she gave me took me back to 1997 when she jacked me up on the kitchen counter. That was one of the two times my mother ever got physical with me. I was so amazed by her quick ability to both jack me up by the collar and elevate me off the floor. Let’s just say, I’d never wanna cross her in a dark alley. Anyway, after the look everything went south, and I basically ended up in tears apologizing.
The next instance of me using the wrong choice of words was with my father. He too had lost a little weight. I’m still not sure how that happened because his daily diet consists of frozen pizzas, Bluebell Cookies and Cream ice cream, lunchmeat, and canned stew. Doesn’t sound like a healthly selection to me. Nevertheless, he lost a few pounds and asked if I could send a few of his pants to the tailor for adjustments in the waist. Okay, so when he tried on his newly altered pants, he came to me talking about (slightly bragging) that his pants were still a little big. My response, “Well dad, if you stop smokin’ that stuff, then you might be able to fit in your clothes.“ Then to make matters worse, I added, “You gonna start lookin’ like a crackhead soon.” Why did I have to say that? There were no flashbacks of violence involved, but he gave me “the look” too. From there he went off in a tangent about why drug addiction is a serious matter that shouldn’t be dealt with lightly. He also questioned my use of “crackhead” and wondered why I would say such a thing in reference to his weight. If you’re familiar with the relationship between my father and I, you know that I was thoroughly bored with the conversation and did everything to make him SHUT THE HELL UP feel that I had learned my lesson. Love ya Dad!
Was it me, or just my parents? I felt really bad for, in a slight way, calling my parents crackheads. My generation uses the term so loosely, so I figured they knew I was just joking. I thought about it for a while and realized that back in the day there weren’t a fleet of crackheads on every corner. These crackheads we have today are most likely people around my parents age, or slightly younger, that just got caught up. Question: How are these crackheads still alive? I’m convinced that crack has given a small amount of crackheads super powers. How the hell else are they still living? You never hear about them dying of anything other than an overdose or gettin’ shot or something like that. What’s going on with that?
Sincerely, ty
P.S. I love my parents.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Kicking someone to the curb is never fun. There is just no good way to go about it. You don’t wanna be the bad guy, but you’ve come to grips with the fact that the relationship is headed to hell. When you try to be nice and mature about it, the situation backfires and you eventually end up with a stalker. Your intentions are to be nice, but that only steers you into the “let’s just be friends” category that often leads to amicable conversations, which in turn cause the other person to believe your disdain for them has changed–and it hasn’t. Just as so, being mean and childish about a break-up gets you nowhere either. Your daily routine of ignoring their calls or having your co-workers lie for you can potentially lead to a stalker as well. Technology doesn’t make it any easier. Imagine dissuading yourself from using the IM out of fear that you-know-who will give you the usual “Hey”, or the ever so lame “W’sup. Where you been hiding?”
Face it, lust (distant cousin to love) makes people crazy and irrational. Why do these equations make sense to a person who won’t let go:
- she never calls + she never returns my calls = Maybe she’s just busy.
- she’s not answering the door + I can see her car in the driveway + I see her peaking out the window = I’ll just wait on her porch.
- she told me she wasn’t feeling me anymore + she’s dating other people = I still have a chance.
Crazy, huh?
When I was younger, I always wanted my mate to be crazy, head-over-heels in love with me. Not anymore. Crazy in love is great during the good times, but hell when you’re trying to shoot someone the dueces. Now this doesn’t mean I have a penchant for assholes, but I don’t have time to deal with anyone’s abandoment issues.
Sincerely, ty!
P.S. Assholes need love too!
It A’int Easy Being Greasy
Photo Courtesy of www.tunetimers.com
Lunch, which is usually the highlight of my work day, was filled with frustration. I started off on a good note by making an effort to actually accomplish my lunch agenda: eat, run errands and return for a quick cat nap. I had a to-do list and everything.
So I’m full speed ahead with my lunch plans when decide to run my errands first–I figured I could endure the hunger a moment or two longer. My new cell phone had been giving me some drama so I decided to stop at the carrier to have it fixed. Waiting patiently in line, I was quickly scooped up by a African guy who was delighted to help. He wasn’t bad looking at all, but I did notice that his hair was slicked to the highest level of slicketivity ever witnessed on earth. I can usually appreciate a good selection of hair products, but his usage was a tad bit excessive. First of all, his hair was short–really short like the average black man fade that is often adorned with a bounty of waves. It wasn’t anything a doo-rag or wave cap couldn’t tame. So why all the extra product usage? Second, it was extra greasy. I didn’t plan on touching his hair, so the greasiness really wasn’t a problem for me…or so I thought.
When it finally came time to trouble shoot the issue, the man had to man-handle my phone to find the problem. By the time I got it back, it was greasy as hell. Most people (well at least black ladies) are used to a little product build-up (via make-up or hair) on the ear piece. That’s nothing that a quick swap can’t take care of. Other than that, one doesn’t usually have phone keys so greasy that you have to balance the phone in both hands just to dial a number. I wouldn’t have minded all the greasiness, but as usual the employees in the store don’t know sh*t about the phones when it comes to technical issues. We sat online with technical support for about 45 minutes until I finally said, “You know what, I’m on my lunch break. I’ll just give it to one of the IT guys at work.”
For what it’s worth, the guy really did try to help me. Due to his thick accent, he had to repeat everything over and over again to the technician, who probably had an accent as well. So ‘Thank you’ African man at the ATT store on MacArthur. Thanks, not only for your assistance, but also for subjecting me to an afternoon of alcohol pads and windex. I tried everything and still couldn’t get that greasiness off my phone.
Sincerely, ty!
P.S. I love all my African brothers and sisters–greasy or not.
You Can’t Trust Love
Woe is me. Today I got dumped by a janitor. The good news–we weren’t really a couple. He was just an annoying co-worked who adored me. The bad news–I’m gonna miss crushing his hopes and dreams of me and him together, sitting side-by-side, blowing kisses in the wind–I can only imagine what he was fantasizing. Nevertheless, he and I are no longer one.
Here’s how it went down: Usually my #1 fan strolls in with his industrial-sized trash can and comes directly up to my desk for some mid-day conversation. We chat about our weekend plans, then I kindly reject his offers for dinner, dancing, watching a movie or any other date he proposes. After the let-down, he heads back down to his office/electrical closet and returns the next day with the same routine. Not today. All I got was a “¿Que paso” and a head knod. I figure he must have finally grown tired of the rejection and decided to kick me to the curb. So yes, woe is me. I actually blame myself and the constant flow of mixed signals, but I like being extra friendly to “the help.” Now I’m back to square one. I wonder who’ll be my next victim?
In spite of today’s heartache, I did recently experience true love at it’s best. Taimak, aka Leroy Green aka Bruce Leroy, accepted my friend request (ala myspace). You might remember him from The Last Dragon and one of my favorite Janet Jackson videos, ”Let’s Wait a While.” Awwwww!!! I loved him more than anything…and then came Bobby, but that’s a different story.
Sincerely, ty!
P.S. For the record, Bruce Leroy is still lookin’ good.
Photos courtesy of www.Taimak.tv
You Got to Cool it Now
Cakeplow.com
For those of you who’ve been keeping up with my blog/life/weekly ramblings, you know that I’ve been contemplating checking myself into rehab. So far, I haven’t had the urge to kill anyone, take a hanful of pills, or jump off any tall buidlings–guess it’s safe to say the storm has passed. This weekend I came to find out a few things about myself that just make me the person I am and ultimately rule out my need for rehab.
Throughout the weekend, I have truly become in touch with myself–thanks to the 2 1/2 hour flight delay. I am the quintessential VIRGO and I love it! Coming to grips with all that is Ty has helped me to realize that I really like myself, and I appreciate all my family and friends who put up with me day after day, year after year. So, I say thanks for putting up with my madness for 28 years (today’s my birthday), and thanks for keeping me out of rehab for at least one more month.
Sincerely, ty!
P.S. “Joyeaux Anniversaire. Joyeaux Anniversaire.”
When did that happen?
Over the last few days, I’ve come to realize that I’ve been missing out on some events and situations. I watch the news, read the news, and even give wasteful hours of time to online gossip. So, how and why did I miss out on a few things?
Why didn’t anyone tell me…
…Bob Barker no longer hosts The Price Is Right? I didn’t find that out until today. It’s always been me and Bob. When I was younger, I’d see Bob Barker’s face and know that I still had about three hours left until I could watch cartoons. Anyone who had an old lady for a babysitter knows the schedule–The Price is Right, Young and the Restless, and then the mid-day news. It seemed like torture looking at Bob–whose hair never seemed to move nor change. But I always got a kick out of the spinning wheel. For some reason, Santa overlooked that request on my Christmas list—Cabbage Patch doll, crayons, and the wheel from Price is Right. Nevertheless, I’ll miss Bob.
…Alfonso Ribero had a break-dancing instructional video back in the 80’s. I’d forgotten all about Alfonso and his Michael Jackson impersonation gig from back in the day. Remember the Pepsi commercial? I can’t believe someone actually convinced him that his breakin’ skills were so tight that he needed to teach aspiring breakers all around the world how to perfect their ’pop-lockin’ technique in a step-by-step guide. From this day forth, I ban all instructional dance videos–Dancin’ with Darrin included.
…the lawyers on tv don’t know sh**! About three weeks ago I got a speeding ticket. I’m always reluctant to go to court–something about hanging around too many people carrying loaded weapons makes me feel like I’m in Iraq. So I asked around and a few people mentioned they’d used a traffic lawyer. A co-worker recommended me to a lawyer who was supposed to be able to work magic. I called Mr. Magic, and after only five minutes of speaking with him I got that I’m-just-gonna-take-your-money-and-run vibe from him. I asked him my options, and he was telling me stuff I already knew.
By the way, someone has been trying to frame me. Upon my arrival at the courthouse, I found out that I had an outstanding from 2004. I’m looking at the ticket clerk like, “Oh, no I don’t. I don’t remember running any stops signs in 2004.” Bastards!!! Get your database straight FWPD!!! Those fools put a “U” and a “T” in my last name, created some imaginery person, and then blamed me for her sh**. Now you know that aint right. Sorry, but I had to get ghetto on y’all.
Sincerely,
ty
