I've Been Punked! (No, this really happened)

A while back, my resourceful brother-in-law recommended this mechanic that had done great work for him in the past. Of course, if you are good for family, you are good for me. So while I was in Nashville, a friend of mine took the car to the shop in South Memphis.

When I got back, I asked my friend was there a way to slide the repair money under the shop's door. He said no and went on further by saying that the shop reminded him of Sanford and Son (Bad Sign #1). Then we left to drop off the money at the shop.

If the first bad sign was how the shop looked, then the second bad sign had to be my mechanic with the beer in his hand (He was on the job). Amazingly, the story gets better! I gave the mechanic the money and he told me to pickup the car tomorrow.

On the next day, I call the shop at 11:30 am, and they said the mechanic would be in later. Fifteen minutes later, he calls me and says that my car has been towed. In total shock, I start to ask him what happen. Immediately, he starts talking fast and says that I will go with you to get your car (Not I will pay to get your car) To make a long story short, he blames the towing service saying that a few towing companies have been falsely towing cars trying to steal them.

As soon as I finish talking to the shade tree mechanic, I call the towing company. What I thought was going to cost $75-$100 actually cost $185 (Thanks friend for lending me the money). During the conversation, I asked where was the car towed from. He said The Exxon at Poplar and Danny Thomas. I know you all want to know where is the shop located (near Mississippi/Southeast Parkway). Hmmmm, somebody has been joyriding:-) You know that I had to go by the Exxon to talk to the manager on duty. Come to find out, the mechanic parked my car in the Exxon lot and walked downtown to take care of some personal business (But you know that he will never admit to it).

Needless to say, I still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come out of no where to say "You've been Punked!)

Oh yea, I got my car.

The Best Blue Sports Week Ever

11/14 Monday Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia W21-20
Memphis Grizzlies vs LA Lakers W85-73

11/15 Tuesday University of Memphis vs Wiscounsin-Milwaukee W79-52

11/16 Wednesday Memphis Grizzlies @ Phoenix W115-103

11/17 Thursday University of Memphis @ #14 Alabama W87-76

11/19 Saturday Memphis Grizzlies @ Utah W80-72

No need to say anymore!

Can I get a Hookup?

If you have ever had a job in your life, you have heard these very words. Whether it was at the beautyshop, barbershop, mall, auto shop, fastfood restaurant, bank, school, or the club. The hookup is just as synonymous to Memphis as barbeque is.

For those who know me (Not those who know of me), they can confirm that I rarely, if ever, ask for special treatment. But I have been involved with entertainment events that gave preferential treatment to customers who paid more for it. So is it the same as giving lavish gifts to politicians that vote certain ways on legislation?

I would be remissed if I did not address at least one of the rebuttals to the bribery that exist not only in Memphis but also nationally and globally. (Sorry, I meant lobbying:-) A select group of people that vividly remember the times of Boss Crump and other powerful politicians sometimes say,"Well, white folks been doing it for so long, bout time we can take advantage of the situation". Now be very careful with this mindset because there are kids out there that will be waiting on your explaination about when is it okay to be dishonest or not.

Within the past year, the Commercial Appeal has done MANY articles on political corruption and bribery. In my first draft of this post, I really wanted to call out specific individuals but I will refrain from doing so because the media has done a great job of exposing them.

To the government officials, why should you receive extra compensation for what should already be doing and to the public, when are you going to put a stop to the misrepresentation by politicians?

In the words of a voice from the Spike Lee joint, Do the Right Thing, WAKE UP! (This means YOU!)

"That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong." William J. H. Boetcker

Today's Word Is

Recently a friend and I started to get emails from Merriam Webster's website to work on our vocabulary. Temporize, detritus, zenith, and others have been included in the daily email. Most times, I forget the meaning before I can go to the next email (You notice that I only put the words and not the definitions:-)

By getting these emails, it brought back some funny memories about times when people created their own words.

Word: Cumuffb'tween
Sentence: Boy! If you don't cumuffb'tween them bushes!!
Meaning: Come from between
Source: Excerpt from Steve Harvey

Word: Runt
Sentence: I bought this ground beef yesterday, and it is runt!
Meaning: Ruined; spoiled; outdated
Source: While in Kroger, I witnessed a lady use this terminology in order to explain her grievance to the customer service rep. Luckily, I used my context clues, and then explained it to the rep. (LOL!)

Word: Idear
Sentence: I have a wonderful idear for the church banquet.
Meaning: Thought
Source: Occasionally, you may hear this word from the elderly. I know my great grandmother used idear (Please don't come from heaven to get me Shemama), and I always wonder why people would put letter r at the end of certain words. If you know why please let me know.

Create a word today and help laughter stay!

P.S. If you have any creative words or commonly misused words, please post them to the comment section; and I will add them to the posting. Please use the same format that I used. Thanks!

The Tale of Two Cities

Have you ever had a close childhood friend and his/her life turned out different yet similar than yours. This is where my story begins.

From the 1970's to mid 1980's, I grew up in Whitehaven (now known as Blackhaven). My friend and I met at a church off of South Parkway East in South Memphis. Over the years, we became good friends. Together, we had sleepovers, played basketball, talked about girls, and participated in church services. He was the one who taught me to brush my tongue with my toothbrush (At that time that was a remarkable revelation.)

As time elapsed, our neighborhood began to change noticeably. My parents made their career choices and my friend's parents made their choices. In 1986, those parental choices and luck forever changed both of our lives. By my family moving to Germantown, that changed my neighborhood, school, friends, and opportunities. By his family staying, that severely altered his life.

By going, I received a quality education, made friends that took me on their family trips to the beach, stayed in a nice neighborhood with little crime, and most importantly positioned me to take advantage of future opportunities. On the contrary, my friend stayed in a declining neighborhood with increase drug activity, received a subpar public education, had friends that came from the same background, and was positioned for limited opportunities in the drug game.

Fast forward to 2003, I found out my friend owned a business so I went by to support it. On that night, we talked until 3am. We discussed politics, government, business, family and women. Amazingly, we were able to talk about everything, but he was highly uncomfortable with telling me that he had sold drugs (Of course, I already knew). Also he told me about the federal case that he was involved with and the possibility of him going to jail.

Candidly, he expressed how he deeply admired my dad. He said,"Your father always had your sisters, mom and you looking nice. He always provided for y'all and moved y'all to a better neighborhood". That was the first time that someone passionately said such nice things about my father to me. With a sincere look in his eyes, you knew that he meant every word.

All that I could think about throughout the conversation was why was I so blessed. Through the years, I have become a father, businessman, and learner of life and my friend in many ways has achieved some of same things. From my opportunities, I was able to learn business through legitimate opportunities, and my friend honed his business acumen in the streets through illegitimate opportunities (FYI He was able to do something that I was unsuccessful in doing and that is create a thriving restaurant).

With all that said, I am not condoning the wrong choices of individuals but I am supporting the mission for "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". Everyone needs to relize that it is difficult to live if you are dying in poverty, it is difficult to be free if you are hancuffed by inferior educational systems, and it is difficult to pursue happiness if you are roadblocked by nonexistent opportunities. We must continue to create viable opportunities for all young people, and not take away opportunities like recent loss of 300 youth jobs due to the closing of Libertyland. So always remain thankful and never get the BIG HEAD because there is somebody out there in the hood, barrio, ghetto, or trailer park that could outperform you anyday if only they had the same opportunities, resources, and blessings.


"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race".
Calvin Coolidge 30th President of US (1872 - 1933)

Hey Mama,

Throughout life, you meet people that have a deep and lasting influence on your life. Usually, the first person that you ever see is the one that will teach you some of your first life lessons. That person is YOUR MOM! You only get one so you better take care of her!

20 Things that I have learned from my mama...

1. When you can, always try to help people.
2. Chivalry will always be alive. (My mom knows at least I will be opening doors)
3. Keep your family close.
4. God should always be your foundation.
5. Pursue those things that are important to you.
6. Fall down 7 times, stand up 8 times. (Sorry, that's the new slogan for the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade's new tennis shoe)
7. Forgiveness is right there with godliness.
8. It is cool for a man to know how to cook, clean, and communicate.
9. Education is numero uno!
10. If you just be yourself, people will most likely respect you.
11. Love cures all things.
12. Take pride in the way you look. (I know that you are shocked considering how many wrinkled clothes that I wear. I knowwww. If you know better, do better!
13. Make time for your children.
14. Never use your prized possessions. (Meaning use your special dishes for Thanksgiving/Christmas, put plastic runners on the carpet, place plastic covers on the couch and lamp shades, and never sit on my bed cover. (Just kidding, LOL!)
15. If you were bad growing up, you shall reap it back from your kids. (Boy, I sure hope that this does not apply to my sweetie.)
16. Community service is a must!
17. Keep a clean house. (Don't always follow that one!)
18. Never burn bridges because you may get stuck where you are.
19. You can afford to lose everything but your character, identity, or principles.
20. Say "I love you" to the people that you love.

Mama, thank you for giving me life lessons.

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give".
Sir Winston Churchill British politician (1874 - 1965)