It's NYE!

I know its been a minute since I checked in, but I'm on vacation. That means I've vacated any and all responsibilities. Sorry. lol

Since its New Years Eve, I figured I should put one last entry in the books for 08. Right now Connecticut is getting dumped with almost 7 inches of snow. Can you say, its time to cancel any thoughts of NYE plans! LOL What a buzz kill! Who wants to party in the snow? If you think people drunk driving on new years is bad, try adding snow and ice to that equation. I'll let you marinate on that.

With every new year, comes new years resolutions. Strangely I really don't have any this year. The only thing I really want to do is something different. I know that sounds vague as hell...but its exactly what I mean. I don't want to do the same things I've always done. Someone wise once said, you can't do the same things, and expect different results. So with that in mind...i'm going to do the unexpected. I'm talking Crossy 2.0. Crossy Reloaded. The Emancipation of Crossy. Hmm. That has a nice ring to it. ;) You get my point. It's time for the remix of me-me.

On the Today Show they asked people to sum up 2008 in three words so here's mine:

RIGHT ON TIME

Stay tuned for my next post where I explain, WHY 2008 was RIGHT ON TIME. I know I know, the suspense is killing you. But you'll have to wait till 2009 to get the scoop.

As always I love y'all like play cousins.

Thanks for staying classy in 08.

Happy New Year!
~Crossy~

Can You Ball in a Low-Top? Kobe says Yes.

It's going to be the hottest sneaker on the market. With a price tag of $120.

It's called the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 (IV). It contains Nike's flywire technology, herringbone pattern sole, and lunar foam. Skills not included. LOL

There are three color combos of the Nike Zoom Kobe IV, and the first pair will release in January 2009. Availble in stores by February. I personally dig the white ones. What do you think?

Here's a peak:

I don't have an M.D. after my last name, but aren't low-tops bad for your ankles? If you try to make any kind of lateral movement...I think you might get hosed in these kicks. Please tell me if i'm wrong. Now if you're going for style...then these kicks are on point like Stacey Adams! I'm just not convinced you can truly ball in these shoes. I might need Kobe to jump over another maserati before I believe the hype...

Kobe will debut the Kobe IV low-top today as a webcast on nikemedia.com.

Here's a video of Kobe talking about why the low-top works.

Stay Classy People!

*Crossy*

Flaws and All

I'm a thinker. You know, I'm one of those people who overthinks things almost to a fault. I always weigh my options and compare the pros and cons. I told y'all I was a Libra. It's somewhat of a gift and a curse.

One things for sure -- I am the definition of a 1,000 piece puzzle. And the missing pieces are...well, scattered on the table.

Beyonce recently performed one of my favorite songs on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

It's called "Flaws and All." It's not on her new cd (which is horrible by the way), but I love it all the same. If you listen to the words, it might bring you close to tears. It's a beautiful song.

To you (the reader) I'm not sure why you do it, but thanks for accepting me for me.

Here's the song:

Beyonce - Flaws & All

Carolina Panthers are NFC South Champs!

Did you know Tampa Bay's defense is rated as 4th in the league?

Well not last night.

The Panthers obliterated the Bucs in a 38-23 win to claim the NFC South title.

It came down to two major things:

Running Backs: DeAngelo Williams and Johnathon Stewart combined for 301 rushing yards. As I predicted in my preview blog, I knew these two would be key in Carolina's win. Williams and Stewart not only demonstrated skill, but they showed strength and toughness coupled with the will to win. You can't teach that, it's a gift. This tag team is a close contender for the best duo since Shaq and Kobe. I'm just sayin...

Offensive line: Can you say domination?

In my Panthers Preview I said...

The Panthers would win because of home field advantage... they did, and now they are 7-0 at home!

Jake Delhomme would have to avoid the INT.... he made 2 INT's but his back's made up for his mistakes.

Julius Peppers needs to step up...... he blocked an extra point after a touchdown and had a big sack on the Bucs' Jeff Garcia! [Thanks B-Moore, (see comments) lol]

It would come down to coaching.... Fox out-coached Gruden. The Panthers' defense played smarter, and tougher. And the Bucs failed to find a way to stop Carolina's brutal O-line.

The Panthers would wear black helmets... Well, they didn't.

Top 3 Moments in the Game

3. When Julius Peppers blocked the Bucs' PAT

2. Late in the 4th when the Panthers made a 4 play drive for a TD in 2 minutes!!! Who does that?!!! (all four plays were rushing yards by J.Stewart and D.Williams)

1. In that same 4-play drive...when Ronde Barber got stiff armed TWICE in 2 different plays back to back. I was laughing so hard, I think a single tear fell from my eye.

And I think this picture says it all:

TAMPA TELL ME HOW MY A** TASTES!

Is it Monday Yet?

If you're a fan of any team in the NFC South. This is thee weekend of the regular season!

This Monday, the Carolina Panthers will play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. Its a game I've had marked with a special star on my Panthers schedule since the preseason.

I love this team.

This is our 2nd appearance on Monday Night Football since ESPN took over 2 years ago. I'm no expert, so I'm going to leave the X's and O's alone. Instead, I'd like to focus on the facts.

Here it goes.......

Home vs. Away

Carolina is undefeated at home. All 3 of the Pucs losses have been road games. The game kicks off from Bank of America stadium in Charlotte. We haven't come this far to lose. Advantage: CAR

D-D-D-Defense

On Thursday the NFL named Carolina defense end Julius Peppers as the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month for November. Thank GOD! I hope he gets it for Decemeber as well. Pepp was starting to scare me for a while. Did you know the Panthers have had 13 sacks in the last 5 games? However, Pucs QB Andy Garcia has one advantage here...he does a heck of a job escaping the pass rush against us. Somehow he seems to get sacked consistently by everyone else. Sounds like a fluke to me!

O is for Offense

The Bucaroos will have to utilize their run game. If they can somehow pull that off, then it will open up their passing game. At running back, two of my favorite guys - rookie J.Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will rotate for Carolina. D-Wills is coming off the best game of his career against Green Bay. [Nuff said] Plus - Smitty (WR Steve Smith) is always ready to strike. The key for Carolina is consistency. Jake Delhomme must find open receivers (like Smitty) and avoid the worst three letters on the stat sheet: INT.

In the Huddle

This game is ultimately going to come down to coaching. In a sense, Panthers Coach John Fox is playing for his job [but aren't all NFL coaches?]. He still has a lot to prove despite their record. Plus - Carolina needs this win to claim first place in the division and, perhaps, the No. 2 seed in the NFC. [I'm gonna need a side of potatoes with all that's at stake here. Whew! ]

Black Panthers? Yes, it's that serious.

I hope the rumors are true. The Panthers may unleash a new Black helmet under the Monday night lights. Here's the story.

Is it Monday yet?

I know I'm not alone when I say I am literally bubbling with anticipation for all the great games going on this weekend. But Monday is by far the only thing that could hold a candle to Christmas Eve in December. I never thought I'd say this but... Is it Monday yet?!

~Crossy~

A Crush on Technology

Do you get annoyed when someone checks a text message, missed call or email while you are with them?

I don't.

I guess I figure it's just part of your everyday existence. Now, some people can take it overboard by checking their phone every two seconds. Some will even go as far as to have a full blown conversation by text while they are out on a date. [Not cool.]

A few people have mentioned that I am in love with my phone. [I'm not going to confirm or deny that] I don't think that's true. However, If I spend the majority of my day with you, you would probably notice that I check my phone from time to time. That doesn't mean my phone is more important than the person I'm with at the time. It just means that what you're talking about is not important. [Oops, did I just say that?]

I personally find it annoying when a guy turns his phone off. What exactly are you trying to hide? I once dated a guy who always had his phone off around me. I questioned him about it, and he said he did it out of respect for me and our time together. [Um, what?] In my opinion, if your phone is OFF, it means you are trying to hide something. Why don't you just put it on SILENT? [To make my point more clear, that same guy finally kept his phone on a few times while we were together and it turned out there were numerous borderline texts and PICTURES!! Case closed.]

If there is some random woman texting you from your past, be honest about it. I would! I'd probably make a joke about it...like, "look at what this silly guy just text me..." If you're going to be in a committed relationship, why fake the funk? Just be straight up and it will resolve an issh load of problems.

Are you crushing on technology? Well, it could be crushing your chances of getting or keeping that man or woman in your life...

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

~Crossy~

Untitled

Can I get, "I'm exhausted for $1,000 Alex?!"

I know I said I'd get back to y'all on Monday, but here we are at the end of business on Wednesday and I am just now logging into my blogger account. Shame on me. I know. However, I have something called a j-o-b. If you're unfamiliar consult Webster's Dictionary.

At any rate, i'm so tired that I couldn't even think of a title for this blog. Therefore, "untitled" seemed fitting.

Today was a big day for me. I got my braces off! Whoo-hoo! Now, this is not the first time I've worn braces. I had them back when I was 15...and then lost my retainer a gazillion times throughout college. Thus, creating spaces that I would eventually have to get fixed. Well, now -- they're fixed! LOL

*take a picture, click click!*

Other than that... I had the busiest day ever!!! I didn't eat lunch today until like 4pm! My goodness...

Hopefully I will have time to post something wonderful and insightful for y'all tomorrow. Until then, stay classy!

~Crossy~

Weekend Classifieds

I'm about to dip to NYC for the weekend. I need a break from the same ol' same in Connecticut. I didn't want to leave y'all hanging, so in the meantime here's a couple things you WON'T want to miss this weekend. Stay in the know, and as always......stay classy people.

1. Our boy, President-elect Barack Obama will be doing his first post-election interview on 60 minutes this Sunday at 7pm ET.
2. Two great NBA games tonight - Nuggets vs. Celtics and the Lakers host A.I and the Detroit Pistons. *Special note: Kobe is 3pts shy of tieing Larry Bird's all-time scoring record.

I'll holler at you beautiful people Monday. Enjoy the weekend!

~Crossy~

The Purple & Gold Enter the Bayou

A little voo-doo won't be enough to rock the L.A Lakers. The New Orleans Hornets are gonna need Chris Paul to put up beau coup ("a lot" in French) points to outlast L.A. The battle of the reigning MVP, and last year's runner up (CP3) should be interesting.

The Lakers are joined by the Atlanta Hawks at touting a pristine 6-0 record. In each of those wins, L.A has held its opponent to under 100 points. If L.A can do the same tonight, they will surely be 7-0.

Here are some points to consider in tonight's matchup:

• Trevor Ariza: Have I mentioned this guy lately? lol Well, the Lakers bench is one reason the team has been so successful. Late in the Mavs-Lakers game Tuesday, Ariza blocked Stackhouse as he was pulling up for a three that would have gave the Mavericks a one point lead. Ariza is starting to make L.Odom look less and less valuable.

• Paul is Potent: Offensively, Chris Paul is vicious. Therefore, the Lakers D' has got to be consistent and strong early on. Jordan Farmar and Fisher will be trading off on defending Paul. They struggled guarding J.Kidd Tuesday who managed to put up a triple-double. However, he also had five turnovers. Did I mention, CP3 has put up at least 20pts/10 asst in all six games this season? He's gaining on Jordan who holds the record for 10 straight games of 20pts/10 assts. Don't worry, we'll end that streak tonight.

• Kobe in the 4th: Kobe Bryant is like late breaking news. When he strikes, everyone scrambles. I'm glad the Mamba hasn't had to play as many minutes. But when he steps on the court in the 4th -- It's over. Ariza and Jordan Farmar have stepped up, while Derek Fisher and Radmanovic have yet to impress the masses.

• Bynum vs. Gasol: As excited as I was for Andrew Bynum to return to the lakeshow, I'm still not blown away by his performance thus far. Will he ever be as good as Pau Gasol? Let's hope he turns it up a notch tonight! He just inked a hefty contract of $58 million. Um, check please! Oh yeah, watch for Gasol to throw some bows in the post tonight.

Pick: L.A Lakers (Who else?)

Score: 101-98

Last words? We're taking the bzzzzzz out of those bees in the Bayou...

Hopefully, we'll wake up tomorrow to two unbeaten teams. I hope ATL's Mike Bibby makes it rain on the C's tonight. Enjoy the games!

~Crossy~

What's Your Zodiac Sign?

I'm a Libra. Almost to a fault. If you're not into horoscopes, shame on you. Get your zodiac game up! I am a fan of horoscopes not because I think they will really tell my life story, but because I am a living testament of my sign. Are you?

Here's a breakdown of common Libra traits:

On the Good Side
Diplomatic (true)
Urbane (true)
Attractive (check!)
Romantic (for the right person, true)
Charming (always)
Talented (America's next top...)
Poised (I'm always classy)
Easygoing (i'm cool as a fan on high)
Social (true)
Idealistic (true)
Peaceable (can't we all just get along?)

On the Bad Side:
Indecisive (I'm not sure, lol)
Changeable (Very)
Gullible (I'm gonna go ahead and say false)
Easily influenced (depends)
Flirtatious (I'm not going to confirm or deny that)
Self-indulgent (Who isn't? ;) )
Procrastinator (that's a bad thing? lol)
Discouraged easily (see "Diva on a Diet" post lol)

It's funny because I've read that most Libra's do well in the arts and entertainment fields. We also make good writers, lawyers, and designers. Hmm. I guess I'm living the dream... ;)

Oh yeah, and no horoscope would be complete without knowing who your compatible sign is...

Allegedly my compatible sign is GEMINI. Hmmm. Other compatible signs include: Aquarius (because of our mutual love of society, beauty and people), Scorpio, Pisces and Leo. My worst match is VIRGO.

Funny, all of my exes just happen to be LIBRA's.

I'll let y'all marinate on that...

Stay Classy!

~Crossy~

Even the Experts Agree!

If you're a sports fan, turning on ESPN or visiting ESPN.com is a part of your daily ritual. As many of you know, I love the NBA. Specifically, the Lakers. At the end of September I wrote a Lakers Preview post. In it, I talked about how Andrew Bynum's return was huge, and why everyone should watch out for Trevor Ariza this season.


Was I right?



Survey saaaaaaaaaaaaaaays? (*DING*) Yes.


Here's why:

I stumbled across NBA analyst J.A. Adande's article about Trevor Ariza today. Adande writes, "Trevor Ariza might be a stealth player, but he's showing up exactly where L.A needs him this season." Click here for the entire article. It's a good read.

I mean, if the expert (Adande) agrees with me then that just co-signs my point! Now, I won't name any names, but a few of my buddies disagreed with my Ariza observation. I mean truth be told the dude is explosive in a hush-hush kinda way. He adds energy, athleticism, and for lack of a better word: a body. When he's on the floor he literally blends in. However, as J.A wisely pointed out -- you can't miss em in the stat sheet!

Did I mention the Lakeshow is STILL undefeated...?

*Ahem* I rest my case...

Stay Classy!

~Crossy~

Results: Diva on a Diet?

Yeah right!!!

If some of you recall, I wrote a blog titled "Diva on a Diet" back on October 13th. I was anxious to try the Special K diet that I had heard so much about.

I started the diet on November 3rd and ended the diet on November 5th. I lasted 2 DAYS!!!!
Let's just saying dieting is NOT for me. I don't see how people do it. Seriously, I'm just gonna put it out there --I love food! hahaha Now, by no means am I a size 12 (no offense to anyone who is) but I was simply looking to shed a pound or two. Is that even significant? No. But look, that's not the point, okay!

The one thing I took away from the Special K diet was better eating habits. Those of you who are not familiar with the diet should know that it encourages you to eat an unlimited amount of fruits and veggies in between meals. This is one piece of advice I will carry with me.

I guess all is not lost...

I learned dieting is for the birds. It's all about eating right.

You heard it here first! The truth is never classified!

Stay Classy!
~Crossy~

A New Dawn of American Leadership

My heartbeat went from zero to 60 in a matter of seconds when I saw the words:

CNN projects: BARACK OBAMA IS PRESIDENT!

What?! No? Yes! Oh my GOD! We did it!

Wait... flip to FoxNews to make sure...

OK! Great, FoxNews projects him as the winner too!

So many parts of me wanted to run laps around the world until I passed out, but after belting out a few good yells all I could do was stand there in awe.

Dude, this is really happening.

Even though it was a semi-warm autumn evening, I had chills man, chills.

Not only do we have a Black president, but he is the right president. He is the face of change. He is the voice of reason. He is an ambassador for Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, disabled, non-disabled...you heard the speech! We are the United States of America! I never fully understood the meaning of "united" until today.

What a proud moment.

What an historic feat.

From fantasy to reality. From the Cosby's to the Obama's. Our dreams have unfolded right before our eyes. Contrary to popular belief, Barack Obama is not a messiah. He will not cure the hate and bigotry in this world. However, Obama's presidential victory puts a spotlight on the thought that: Anything is possible.

Here are a couple Obama nuggets I found today:

• 68% of newly registered voters voted OBAMA! And 93% of registered voters in Washington D.C. voted OBAMA! In Diddy's words -- take that, take that! :)
  
  



• Even Sherri Shepherd from ABC's The View got emotional over Obama's win.
  
  



• I'm a sentimental person. Dates, pictures, momentos -- I love them. Am I the only one who has been collecting every newspaper with Obama on the front page? Check out these frontpages from around the globe.

Stay Classy!

~Crossy~

Election Day

On Election Day Eve I was unable to sleep. I tossed and turned and on two occasions I got up and walked around and then returned to my bed. It was one of the most anxious evenings I have ever experienced. It reminded me of the night before Christmas -- a night every child loves because they can't wait to wake up and open their presents from Santa. Well, in that same light, I couldn't wait to wake up and VOTE OBAMA.

I mapquested directions to my polling location which ended up being only 4 minutes from my house. When I got there the parking lot was packed and the grass surrounding it was littered with OBAMA/BIDEN and MCCAIN/PALIN signs. As I stepped out of my car, I was bombarded with people handing me pens advertising various candidates. When I entered the door I felt like I had purpose. It was a thrilling feeling to be able to hold such a critical decision in your hands. My vote mattered.

I triple checked my ballot...and made sure everything was accurate. Not that you can really mess up filling in a bubble, but I'm just sayin'....

I'm nervous. Happy. Curious. Excited. Motivated.

And most of all......I can't wait for CHANGE to come!

As the confetti falls down on Obama and his loved ones tonight, I know his grandmother will be smilling down on him from up above too.

Decision 08....

~Crossy~

My Favs!

Need a photographer? I stumbled across this photography blog while crusing the internet today. I must say that Jessica Claire definitely has an eye for the perfect shot. Check out her most recent photos from October...and don't forget to flip through some of her archived posts. They are simply amazing.

Since we're talking about photography, check out my boy Carlos Imani's gallery. It features pics of people, places and attractions. If you're trying to build your portfolio or just want to capture a special occasion. Hit my boy up. Oh, he has a Myspace page too.


and this is probably my favorite gadget on the market right now. It's basically an i-pod for books. Amazon has released it's latest creation called the Kindle. Oprah is endorsing it, so you know they are flying off the shelves. She's even offering a special $50 off code here.

That's it for my favs...

until next time - Stay Classy!

~Crossy~

Honest Mistake?

I was getting ready to leave work for the day, when I came across this ---










Remember former ESPN anchor Danyelle Sargeant? She got canned for dropping an F-Bomb on air. Well she now works for FOX and recently left the studio to make her debut as a sideline reporter. You won't believe how a producer at FOX threw her under the bus by releasing a blooper clip to the media. She talks about it here in this interview with Dan Patrick.

I personally feel bad for "the Sarge." It's hard enough for women to compete with men in the sports journalism business, and now this?


Remember to stay effin' classy people! lol

~Crossy~

Charlotte: The Departure

I arrived at JFK in a tizzy, because I was running a little late. By the time I reached the kiosk to check-in for my flight on Delta, it said that I couldn't check my baggage. As if! I thought to myself, I hate airports. Long story short, I used the Sarah Palin approach (winking, acting dumb, and smiling) to hustle this guy behind the desk to get my baggage checked. Moments later I was scurring off to my gate in a cute, I'm in a rush type of way. When I sat down, this older gentleman sat down next to me, and in unison we both let out a long sigh.

Noticing the coincidence...we laughed.

Gentleman: Are you from New York?
Crossy: No, I traveled here from Connecticut, but I'm from Seattle.
Gentleman: Oh, ok. I'm traveling from Barcelona.
Crossy: Oh for vacation?
Gentleman: Kind of. My wife and I went to watch our son play basketball.
Crossy: Oh, he plays for a team there?
Gentleman: No, he actually plays for the New Orleans Hornets.
Crossy: (blank stare) Oh.
Gentleman: (smiles)
Crossy: WHO is your son?!
Gentleman: (smiles) Chris Paul
Crossy: (thinking to myself, how old is Chris Paul again? And is he married? Dad can you introduce me?) That's cool.
Gentleman: Do you like sports?
Crossy: I guess...I work for ESPN.
Gentleman: (Smiles) Oh wow. I hope this conversation is off the record...(we both laughed)


How random is it that I sat next to Chris Paul's father on the flight down to Charlotte? He was even toting a little black Wake Forest duffle bag. I usually knock out as soon as the plane takes off, but Mr. Paul and I talked about everything from sports, to politics, to cars, and True Religion jeans. Oh yeah, for all you True Religion fans, Mr. Paul tells me that he got a pair of Truey's for $25 in China. For those that don't know these jeans run about $200/$300 here in the United States. Sounds like my next departure needs to be en route to a different country! O-kaaay!

Mr. Paul also mentioned that his son has a huge home right next door to Reggie Bush in New Orleans. It was funny because he asked me if I knew Reggie's girlfriend. I said, "Of course, you mean Kim Kardashian right?" He said, "Yes, she's a very nice girl."

Um, nice? Dad, you've got to come up with a better adjective than that. I laughed so hard, I was fighting back tears. Just about every guy I know would pay to be within 30 feet of that woman. Case closed. Let's just say nice is an understatement.

I also found out that CP3 was online pledging for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. but he couldn't finish the process because he left school. I always thought he was a pretty boy, and I think I'd pay to see him do the Kappa shimmie too. You can still pledge grad chapter CP!


Just before I could motion for the flight attendant to get me another glass of Cran-Apple juice, we landed in Charlotte. I guess it's true...you never know who you're sitting next to on a plane.

That's it for "The Departure." Stay tuned for my next posts: My birthday, and homecoming...

Till then, Stay Classy!

~Crossy~

Departure Lane Chronicles: Charlotte

So, I'm off to Charlotte for a week.

AHHHHH! I can smell the sweet scent of hot buttery biscuits already!!

I dip this afternoon and I won't be back in New England until the following Sunday.

Thank God for airplanes, and cheap airfare. I managed to cop a ticket for under $130. BOO-YA!

Wednesday, Oct. 22nd is also my B-day!! Feel free to send gifts! ;)

Needless to say, it should be an eventful week.

By the way, I will not be toting a laptop or blackberry down to Carolina so I'll have a short posting hiatus. But don't fret, I'll have plenty of stories to gush about when I get back. Trust! It's my first time attending my homecoming since I graduated back in 2004.

So I guess you could say...This is a serrrrrrrrrrious matter! [Not really, but I just really felt like saying that. Big ups to my AKA friends reading this ;)]

Time to recline my seat in low coach class... ;)

Stay Classy till I touch down back in C.T.

*Crossy*

Obama's X-Factor is....

.....the XBOX 360.

Too busy playing video games to watch the debate? Well Barack Obama is targeting you, the "couch potato" voter who would rather play Madden NFL '09 than flip on CNN.

Barack is already present on various social networks like Myspace, Twitter and Facebook in an effort to get young voters to the polls. But now, for the first time EVER, Obama is utilizing dynamic in-game advertising on games that are updated through the internet on game units like XBOX 360.

Barack has strategically placed ads and billboards in 18 online video games. Video gamers will see Barack ads in everything from every guys favorite (Madden) to Guitar Hero. The ads appear in 10 battleground states with a picture of Sen. Obama and directions to visit voteforchange.com.

I'm not sure who Sen. Barack Obama's PR director is but, uhm, he or she is on point like Stacey Adams. I'm just sayin'...

This election is truly going to be one of the most historical events in my lifetime...and i'm glad i'm going to be a part of it!

I'm mailing off my registration today...(I know, I know, I should've done it a long time ago, but hey, as long as its done, that's all that matters!)

Remember the deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct.21st!

Hopefully Obama's X-factor is enough for you to place an "X" in the box next to Senator Barack Obama for President.


You Decicide. Decision 2008.

Crossy

Dow down, Pocket Change Up?

In case you haven't noticed: gas is under $3.00/gallon.

Last night I nearly ran over a pedestrian walking through the crosswalk when I glanced up at the board that read "$2.99/gallon." I felt like I had stepped into the twlight-zone or something. Who knew seeing gas under three bucks would be such a phenomenon?

Too bad I already have a half tank of gas. I think I'll wait until I get back from Charlotte to fill up. Maybe gas will be $2.50. ;)

And it looks like House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi is trying to make a push for another stimulus package. Check this out. Ching-chinggggg!

I wrote about the first stimulus package here. It's funny because I have no idea WHAT happened to that money. So much for saving up! LOL

I'll keep an ear to the streets - just keep an eye on my blog. ;)

Stay Classy!

*Crossy*

Diva on a Diet?

Dieting has always seemed like a silly thing to me. Women will binge, go on water diets, become a vegan, go on the Beyonce diet, or just stop eating all together just to lose weight. I'm not an extremist so I would definitely lose interest in an "all water" diet fast. However, I fancy living out every new idea that crosses my path. This is one of them...

[Disclaimer: my goal is not to lose weight, just to tone up and loose a few inches.]

Well, I can safely say that I've never gone on a real diet but I'm considering trying this one by Special K. I found it yesterday while I was randomly perusing the internet. What a novel idea! It's a food plan similar to Jenny Craig minus all the expensive menu items.

A couple of my girlfriends are looking to shed some unwanted pounds so we've made a pact to start this diet together and work out. Yay! Goooo team! :)

Our start date: Mon, Nov. 3rd.

(Until then I will be pigging out on just about everything! I'm traveling to North Carolina next week so I plan on stocking up on all the downsouth goodies I can handle, i.e. biscuits, sweet tea, and fried chicken.)

I love working out however, an injury I suffered back in June which I talked about in this blog, has me operating at 85%. I'm healed, but as many of you former athletes know, injuries never fully go away. Tragic! I guess my dreams of being a back up dancer for Janet are crushed!

The good thing about getting back in the gym on a regular basis will be updating my i-pod with the latest jams. I'm taking suggestions for great workout songs....let me know your favorites!!

And you know what...this could be an excuse to bust out some new workout gear. New gear could generate a lil' motivation in the Crossy camp.

I'll keep you posted on my progress...

Stay Fit & Stay Classy -
Crossy ;)

Hump Day Headlines Pt.2

It's time for the 2nd installment of the Hump Day Headlines. I'm taking a look at the most bizarre, interesting, and funny news of the day. Enjoy!

• The Chicago Cubs are out of the MLB playoff race and their fans are bitter about it! You won't believe what this fan is selling on E-bay!

• The Portland Trail Blazers' Greg Oden finally made his NBA debut! The dude looks like King Kong when he dunks! Now people are talking about a championship in the Great Northwest? Please. That bandwaggon won't be full for long.

• Former Destiny's Child member, Michelle Williams released her album titled, Unexpected" yesterday. **crickets**

• Since we're on the subject of music, Slim (the lead singer of the group 112) is releasing his new album Nov. 18th. His first single, "So fly" is hott! I don't think I'm alone when I say that I can't wait for this cd to drop!

• Also, check out Ciara's new video that dropped last night. As much as I love Janet Jackson, Ciara might be giving her a run for her money with this one. Can I get a pair of those boots she's rocking in the video? I'm just sayin'...

• Esquire Magazine has named Halle Berry as the "Sexiest Woman Alive." Are we surprised? Check out these lingere flicks of Miss Berry.

• Wanna learn English? This could be the funniest commercial I've ever seen.

• And a love lockdown on Ellen? This is creativity at its finest folks...
  
  
  Stay Classy...
  Crossy!

iMusic Monday

For some reason I've been on an R&B tip lately. In my car, at home, my i-pod...everything must be slow jams. With that in mind, I figured I'd put you on to some new joints to add to your repertoire:

I like this new joint from Avant, "When it hurts." The video is pretty low-budget, but I'm really feeling the song. When things go wrong, will you hold on?



Now this one is for my ladies, Usha-Usha..
Usher has released the video for his hit, "Trading places." The first time I heard this song on Usher's album I loved it...but the video just confirms why the song is hott! The video starts out slow but builds up to be a pretty sensual exchange between Usher and his video love interest. I wonder if the soon-to-be ex-wifey Tameka approved of this video? Hmmm.




Last but not least, I can't get this song this song out of my head! Pleasure P, one of the former members of the R&B group Pretty Ricky is going solo. This song has been out for a while, but I've always liked it. It's called, "Rock bottom." It's one of those songs that makes you just sit back and think about that special person in your life. LOL Oh did I mention Lil' Wayne is featured on this joint too? ....Instant classic. Enjoy! By the way, Lil' Wayne is blogging for ESPN.com here.


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VP Debate: Biden vs. The Mavericks

It was a showdown in St. Louis, as Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin faced off in the first and last VP debate in just the final five weeks of the presidential race.

Here are my thoughts about both Biden and Palin's performance:

Let me start by saying that every Republican and woman should feel personally insulted that John McCain would even consider Sarah Palin as his running mate. It's insulting to women and our fight for equality, as well as the reputation of the GOP party.

Her responses to the Katie Couric’s interview were simply ignorant. She couldn't identify one Supreme Court case other the Roe v. Wade. She couldn't name one major publication that she reads in order to stay abreast of international affairs. When asked about her reaction to the economic meltdown, after fumbling through a series of talking points, her only audible response was that she feels that health care needs to be reformed.

What???

Diddy summed it all up in this video...

In regards to last night’s debate, I could have done just as well as Sarah Palin, especially if I had some of the best political advisers in the country coaching me for a week prior to the debate. I could not, however, have spoken with such authority, with such ease, and with such composure as Joe Biden did when addressing the important issues of the economy, foreign policy, energy, education, and so on.

Joe Biden spoke with ease because he has experienced the issues for over twenty years in the Senate. Sarah Palin spoke ‘robotically’ because she stuck to her speaking points, which were vague at best, and relied on rote memory and the cue cards that she had studied over the last week. No offense Sarah, but I don’t want a vice president whose understanding of the economy and international politics is based on random notes and speech coaches.

My Grades:

Sarah Palin: D+

Let me explain. Palin's girlish ways were borderline inappropriate and she lacked substance in her rebuttals. Apparently the pitbull is back...

I mean, how distracting was her bobble head, smiling, winking, smirking, and mispronunciation of simple words like "nuclear" or "terror." She set women in this country back 100 years. Seriously!! I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat, as an American you should feel disgusted by her lack of knowledge and respect for the voting public.

She over used the word 'maverick', to the point that it lost it's punch.

Hockey moms? Soccer games? Trying to relate with the American people through hockey mom references is not going to get your ticket into the White House.

Nor is it acceptable to make a cheap shot at Biden for not knowing what it's like to be a single mom. He's gone through his own struggles. And we all know about Palin's issues. Oh, and don't forget her claims about McCain helping the middle class. Now that's a joke!

Biden: B+

Here are the areas where Biden excelled:

Unlike Palin, Biden was able to answer each question with an appropriate answer. I love the way he repeated things three and four times to embed the message into the viewers head. He made his words memorable. I also appreciate the way he spoke eloquently about international issues, but still refrained from talking over the heads of the average person at home.

His message resonated the highest during talks of changing the economy and pulling out of the war in Iraq. Biden stole the show during a debate about the environment:

Biden said the cause was clearly man-made, and added, "If you don't understand what the cause is, it's virtually impossible to come up with a solution."

Palin stood firm on her choice to NOT debate the cause. Figures...

Overall Biden's biggest strength was his ability to stick to the facts. He rattled off exact times, dates, figures, dates...I mean I know Biden has decades of experience in politics but he was spitting more facts than Wikipedia. I'm just sayin'...

Coming up: The Presidential debate is Tuesday, Oct. 7th at Belmont University. Tom Brokaw is the moderator. Tune in!

Decision 2008. You Decide.
Crossy

Follow my Blog!

Hey Classy people...

Thanks for checking out The Classifieds.

I just added a brand new feature to my blog where you can become a fan. All you have to do is click the highlighted word: "FOLLOW THIS BLOG" and follow directions from there. It's as simple as that.

I encourage you to leave a comment on any post you agree with, disagree with or just plain don't understand. Also, if there's a topic you'd like me to explore - let me know. I'm always open to new ideas for blogs.

Other than that, keep it locked on the Classifieds.

I'm out!
Crossy

Lakers Preview: We're BAAAAACK!

The Staples Center was booming with reporters and writers as Media Day kicked off for the Los Angeles Lakers Monday.

The Lakeshow is officially back with a new look for the 2008-09 season. Here's my take on the latest, greatest, and sitting on the wait list.


The Latest: Kobe, Gasol less minutes?

Coach Phil Jackson says he plans on cutting Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol's minutes. Say what? When I first heard the news I thought I was daydreaming. However, KB24.com reports that the rumor is in fact true. People fail to realize the number of minutes Pau and Kobe put up in the post-season. Bryant averages 38.9 minutes a game. Imagine if you only had 10-minutes of rest during your work day? Survey says: NO BUENO. There are two reasons Lakers' fans should not be worried about Kobe warming the bench longer than normal: Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza. They're baaaaa-aaack!


The Greatest: Bynum & Ariza

• Andrew Bynum is back and bigger than ever! (See pic above) Did he go to jail during the 08' season or rehab? I'm just sayin'!! The dude looks like he could bench Serena Williams and Warren Sapp in one rep! I'm not sure what his hoop game is looking like yet, but I can definitely see him going toe-to-toe with the likes of Dwight Howard or even the guy I love to hate, Paul Pierce.

• 23-year old, UCLA grad Trevor Ariza has always been a favorite of mine. I'm still puzzled as to why Phil Jackson didn't let the Ariza juice loose earlier in the post-season. The guy brought a much-needed boost of energy to the floor coming off the bench with huge dunks and a few major rebounds. He also added a little size to the mix of L.A's old faithful triangle offense. He was injured early on last year, but trust - this year, he'll make a significant impact.

Watch out for these two guys in the 08-09 season.

Sitting on the wait list: Walton woes; Odom, well...

• Luke Walton won't be suiting up for practice anytime soon. Word is that Lukey Dukey is still recovering from his off-season ankle surgery. Walton told reporters Monday that he expects to be out another 2-weeks. While he won't miss any regular season games, it doesn't help that the Lakers are already sorting out the rotation of an uber deep roster. Good luck Lukey. The way the roster is looking this year it seems like he might be coming off the bench like Lamar Odom.

• Speaking of Odom, he won't be starting this year. Yes it's true, reports say that Odom is going to be the Lakers' official 6th man. I smell a serious tiff brewing between Odom and Phil. I'm not a huge fan of Odom. I mean he's okay, but I definitely feel like he did not live up to his potential in the NBA Finals last year. Like K.Garnett, Odom had one standout game and then it seemed he disappeared for the rest of the series. Remember folks, Odom was only starting because Bynum was out. Since the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, Odom is gonna have to take a backseat to Spain's phenom. It's the nature of the business baby! I bet you he won't be pouting when he gets that championship ring in the mail!

***********************************

Overall, it should be an interesting NBA season. Media day is just the beginning.

Stay Classy!
~Crossy~

Chuck Taylors!

Believe it or not, living in New England has a few perks. One of them is living super close to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. This weekend I got the chance to visit it. Seriously, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I've always loved history, and basketball is the drum that makes my heart go ((thump)).

While taking in every detail, picture, artifact and name I came across Charles "Chuck" Taylor's bio. Sitting next to it was none other than a pair of white high-top Converse All-Stars, better known as "Chuck Taylors."

As a west coaster I've always been familiar with Chuck Taylors because anyone who was anyone wore them. It's still a fashion statement today. Honestly, I never knew that this random guy had anything to do with the shoe, or its popularity for that matter.

Did you know that Chuck Taylor's are the best selling basketball shoe in history? They came out in 1917 and Chuck started rockin' them in 1918. These shoes are almost a century old!!!

As I was staring at the pair of Chuck's through the glass I just kept thinking to myself:

"How did they play ball in these shoes?"

Someone could seriously break an ankle! Maybe Paul Pierce was rockin these when he got injured and carried out of Game 1 of the NBA finals versus the Lakers? Lakers in 09'! We will be accepting band waggon applications in October. Thanks.

Anyway...

After having a moment with my Chuck Taylor's I couldn't help but smile. Not only did I learn something today, but now I really want a new pair of Chuck's!

R.I.P Charles "Chuck" Taylor - 6/23/69.

~Crossy~

Lost & Found

Sincerity. It's a practice that has been lost and I'm trying to find it.

The older I get, the more sincerity becomes important. It seems like everyone is out to B.S you in life. It could be a man, a job, your family, a car salesman - you name it. Sometimes I just get tired of dealing with fake people.

Men

It's extremely hard for me to find sincerity in men. Forget honesty or all that keeping it real crap. I just want to know that what you're saying is not fabricated, made up, or some slick talk you've been whispering in a chick's ear since '85. I'm just saying....

Women

Why do we have to hate one another? We constantly back stab, hurt, and talk about eachother. And the number one reason girls are no longer friends.......

Survey says: MEN.

Me

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am the "Album Cut" not the "Radio Edit." Meaning - I am uncut when it comes to saying what I think. I am sincere in the sense that I cannot mislead someone that I care about. I'm a free-spirited person and I run with a wide range of people. Someone wise once said that the friends you choose are a direct reflection of you. Well my reflection must be that of a thousand faces, because no one person can define me. I'm like a six-pronged stool. I have so many layers that it's hard to sum me up in one word. I like to think the word fabulous is appropriate, but something tells me that word just doesn't do it either. ;)

That's it for the Lost & Found files...

Until next time...Stay Classy.

Crossy.

Bounce Back

*Let's up the blinds*

So this is what a hiatus feels like.


Hmm. It's almost been a MONTH since my last post. I've officially treated my blog as though it were the middle child, or a red-headed step child. It's not that I forgot I had a blog, it's just I've been busy beyond belief. If I had one wish right now, it would be to add 4 hours of daylight to each day. Why not have a 28 hour day? That would make life easier. Needless to say, I've had a lot on my mind, so expect my blog posts to pick up over the next few weeks.

Here's the Latest and Greatest in my world...


Sis is Bliss
My little sister is coming to visit this weekend. She has an opportunity to work for Tommy Hilfiger in New York City. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and is currently in Fashion school. The girl is fierce. Her interview is Monday so please keep her in your prayers.

Need an upgrade?
Two things have been upgraded since the last time I wrote. My car and my job. On July 23rd, I purchased a 2008 Honda Accord Coupe. I am literally in love with this car. If you've been following my posts, I talked about the accident I was involved in back in June. It left my previous car which was only a year old - TOTALED. [insert tears] I'm not sure if you name your car, but I am a big fan of giving a name to the vehicle's I own. My last car's name was Carter. My new coupe's name is Boss. It was only appropriate. ;)

The j-o-b
My role at my job [name is left out due to the interesting blogging policy we now have] has changed significantly. In an effort not to bore you, I won't get into all the details...but I'm excited to say that I was offered a promotion. It's a great feeling when you work hard at something and are rewarded for your work. It's not something a lot of people can attest to. I am completely blessed and thankful that I've come to a point where I'm starting to feel like I have a sense of purpose. It's an amazing feeling to know what you want, and get it. I just hope this hitting streak continues. I'm going for Barry Bonds' numbers. I think this one's out of the park....

My Theme
Theme's are so necessary. They set the tone for a week, an event, a year, a party...anything! My theme for this week is: Be the Change you want to See.


Questions on my Mind

Why does Sen. John McCain sound like he sucked the helium out of a balloon everytime he speaks?

Does anyone care about Brett Favre?

Why did Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac have to die?

Are we there yet?

Is New York still the Big Apple?

Is gas going to continue to go down?

How did TomKat (Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes) go from jumping on Oprah's couch to splitsville w/his boo?

Are Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and other NBA greats really going overseas to play ball?


Til' next time,
Stay Classy. Crossy.

Happy Birthday!

[If you don't know this version of Happy Birthday, shame on you!]

Today is my sister Stacee's birthday, she's 22.

Happy birthday to yah, Happy Birthday to yah.....Happy Birthdaaaaaaaaaay!

I miss you and love you even more!

Crossy

Top Black Women Period.

TV One's spin off of Access Hollywood called TV One Access, recently rolled out its list of the "World's Sexiest Black Women Alive." Topping the list for the umpteenth year in a row - Halle Berry.


To piggie back on TV One's idea..I've come up with a Crossy Classifieds exclusive:



The Top Black Women Alive Period

15. Susan L. Taylor - Editor and Chief of Essence Magazine

14. Vanessa Williams - Model/Singer - Just beautiful for no reason

13. Rihanna - Singer - I love this girl. She's young, cute, and has already set more trends than Madonna.


12. Michelle Obama - Our Future First Lady ;)


11. Candace Parker - She's makes the WNBA look good. Oh, did I mention she can dunk?!


10. Janet Jackson - She is an awesome entertainer, and who could forget Little Penny! :)


9. Tyra Banks - First Black model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated/America's Next Top Model/ The Tyra Show

8. Mariah Carey - Best-selling female artist next to Madonna

7. Condoleeza Rice - She's our Secretary of State, and she's a genius. If you don't know, google it!

6. Maya Angelou - Poet/Writer/Teacher - She's a phenomenal woman

5. Beyonce Knowles - Singer/Entrepreneur

4. Serena Williams / Venus Williams - Tennis wouldn't be the same without them

3. Halle Berry - Oscar-winning Actress

2. Oprah - Who doesn't love her?


1. Robin Roberts - A pioneer at blazing a trail at ESPN, ABC, and battling Cancer



Who would you add to the list?

Food for Thought

I was sitting at my desk today, dying of thirstation [yes, I said thirstation] when I finally got a moment to dip into the cafe. After perusing four shelves worth of drinks I finally picked out an Honest Ade. If you've never tried Honest Ade, it's actually really refreshing. My favorite flavor is Pomegranate Blue, so I chose that one.

Before I could even take my seat at my desk again, I was over half way finished with my drink. My drink was just low enough in the bottle to reveal the inside label which had a quote on it. It read:

"To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
- Leonard Bernstein

This is so true. Some of my best work has been done under pressure and in record time! Adrenaline can make you perform like MJ or Tiger in the heat of things. The most important part of this quote is that you first need a plan. Do you have a plan? Do you plan to have a plan? No pressure, just asking. I know I have a plan, however I don't feel like time is a factor in achieving it. The only thing time can do for people where I work is make them comfortable. What if you woke up tomorrow and found out you were going to lose your job? How would you react then? Would the news change up your stride?

For me, just seeing this quote has definitely changed my trot. It tells me that time is a factor in achieving my plan no matter how much I think it isn't.

Just a little food for thought...are you full yet?

"Ohh shh-- handle?"

Have you ever rode shotgun in the car with somebody and had to grab the "Ohh shh-- handle?" You know the handle right above each window in the car. This handle is often grabbed when someone makes an ill-advised decision while operating a vehicle.

It's funny because you don't realize how many unsafe, yet funny things you do while driving until you ride with someone else!!

Here's my list of the top things I've actually witnessed people doing while driving. I would be remiss if I excluded myself from actually doing some of these!! Feel free to add your own... :)

1. Text message / Talk on phone

2. Paint your nails

3. Put on Makeup

4. Put on your shoes / tie your shoes

5. Put on a tie

6. Look for your work badge

7. Rap!

8. Ghost ride the whip!

9. Search for songs on your ipod

10. Play the bubble game, tetris, or solitaire on your phone

11. Run stop signs, consecutively.

12. High-five invisible friends

13. Pick your nose

14. Put in your contacts / Take out your contacts

15. Open a bottle of wine

16. Pour wine in wine glass

17. Drink wine

[Disclaimer: This blog does is no way shape or form promote drinking and driving. All rights reserved. Crossy Ent.]

Stay Classy ~Crossy~

Obama or the Olympics?

Who ever thought we'd see the day that politics would garner higher ratings than the Olympics? Well, this year just might be the year.

Love-Love

Right now we're on the heels of two of the biggest announcements in 2008. Who will be selected to ride shotgun in the White house with Senator Barack Obama and John McCain? The more important question is: when will they make the announcement?

15-Love

Timing is everything. It is important for Obama to choose the right time to make the announcement because positive momentum will only propel his campaign. If you look ahead at the calendar year, there are a few things that may impede his progress. One road block is the Olympics. Although ratings have dropped over the years, it is still a major event. I think Obama would be a strong rival against the Olympics though, as long as it isn't during the opening or closing ceremonies. So when should he reveal his running mate?

Here are some dates to consider:

The Olympics are from Aug. 8th - Aug. 24th

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is Aug. 25th - Aug. 28th

The Republican National Convention (RNC) starts Sept. 1st

With these factors in mind, I think Obama has two options. Either make the announcement the week before the Olympics or do it on Monday, Aug. 18th which falls exactly one week before the DNC. It's all about strategic planning here folks! I believe the Obama campaign is strong enough to level the playing field in terms of ratings. If he rolls out everything the week before the DNC, prepare to standby for a news media frenzy. Interviews, parties, a campaign tour, Obama playing golf with Tiger, a BET marathon of Malcom X...the works.

One nugget to consider: Barack Obama's b-day is August 4th. Could the B-day be D-day? Hmmm.

Advantage McCain

The RNC is a exactly four days after the DNC. To put it simple and plain, McCain has the advantage of knowing who Senator Obama picks as his running mate in advance. This is major leverage for McCain's campaign as he has ample time to figure out how to balance his ticket. [I smell drama lurking like hot trash in the alley.] Let's hope McCain won't completely trounce Obama's lift. We'll see who outlasts who.

Game. Set. Match.

Timing the unveiling of running mates will be tricky.

Obama & ________ vs. McCain & _______

You decide. Decision 2008.

There I am...

No matter where I go, there I am.

I'm what I like to call a regional chameleon. While I won't assimilate to the norm, I somehow can vibe along with it. For a long time I hated Connecticut. I moved here from the South for my job. It was a great opportunity I couldn't pass up-- but what was I to do in a place where I had no family or friends? Needless to say, time passed and my outlook is slightly different now.

Why does the grass always seem greener on the other side? Have you ever thought to yourself....

Man, If I lived in [input your favorite city] I'd be more happy.

One thing I took from one of my pastor's recent sermons is that no place will change your circumstances. No matter where you go, the same issues follow you there. Or even worse, new issues will appear. Running away from your problems is not the answer to solving them. You've got to look inside yourself and really ask yourself, "What do I want?"

Then, pray about it.

Then, let it go.

My spiritual connection is the reason I wake up with a smile each day. It's the reason why I am a prisoner of hope. Giving up is not an option. It's a mantra I plant in anyone I speak with.

Don't let your area code define you. Be the resilient graduating senior searching for a job again. Relive your past successes. Be a champion daily. Focus on yourself, not the haters.

Smile, and know that....

No matter where you go, there you are.

Choosy Lover

When it comes to choosing a mate, I must say I'm a bit picky. I realize that no one is perfect. However, let's be real - everyone has their list of "I could never date a guy/girl who..." list.

I'm a firm believer that anytime someone begins a sentence with the words, "I would never..." they almost always end up doing exactly what they said they wouldn't. In the game of life you never know what card is going to be thrown your way. So while you think you would never fall in love with a stripper or a smoker or the mail man or your best guy/girl friend-- he or she might just be the person you end up with. Love sees no color or boundaries. Even though we all hold our set of rules close to our hearts and minds, love has its own rules. I've come to realize that maybe that special someone who is destined to be your soul mate, is in fact the one person who violates all your rules.

This poem is special to me, I hope you enjoy it.

You've violated all of my Rules...
Made them appear as the utterance of a fool.
Caught me off guard
Took my 'always a strike' pitch out of the yard.
Why have you come?
What will you do?
It is so amazingly good!
But can I really trust you?
I had set up a stair case that all were to climb,
You created your own just like mine.
With ease and confidence, you mocked my rubric's sense.
You make me do things I thought I would not.
You've come in my life and blown up the spot.
Yeah, you makin' it Hot.
You tryin' to put me outta my own kitchen?
I'd leave, but I'm just itchin' to understand,
to comprehend to contemplate
to maybe investigate the tools...
you used to violate all my rules.


~Stay Classy - Crossy~

Nothing like a Sunday

My everyday life is far from normal.

On any given day I can work 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, weekends, holidays, the sun comes up when I go to work, and sometimes the sun comes up when I leave. Story of my life I guess.

One things for sure - my life is never boring, and every day seems to bring a different surprise.

As of late I've been living the good life...also known as "the day shift." You know what I mean, Monday thru Friday...9am - 5:30pm.

Working the good life schedule affords me the opportunity to have weekends off. What a blessing! It's funny because until now, I never knew what a weekend really felt like. See, it's one thing to have days off...but it's another thing to have a real weekend. Pick any two days of the week, and I guarantee you neither one of them really feels like a weekend. Sure you don't have to clock in...but alot of times those days become consumed with so much stuff -you don't get a chance to rest.

This past Sunday put a lot of things in perspective for me.

Sunday is a day to relax...and that's exactly what I did ALL day. It's a day that should only be saved for church, a lot of food, long conversations, sleep, and football. Seriously, it doesn't get quite better than that.

It's funny how Sunday feels so different from any other day. The weather was perfect, almost serene. It was warm, with a light breeze, the sun was barely peaking through the clouds, and my house smelled like cherry pie. [Ok, I didn't make the pie, but it was finga-lickin'-good!] I thought to myself, Man...there's nothing like a Sunday.

Now I know why people go for a Sunday drive. It's soothing. I actually drove around aimlessly with no music on for about 10 minutes with no destination. I let the windows down and couldn't help but notice how quiet it was. Is this what Sunday sounds like? Wow. Everything was vacant, parking lots were empty, and the only thing open was Walmart. Then I passed a gas station and it reminded me that it takes dang near $60 to fill my tank, so I took my tank home. Clearly I was dillusional, but I guess a rested mind can do that to you.

Just taking some time to appreciate the simple things.

Sunday.

T h a n k f u l

I couldn't think of a word more appropriate than, Thankful.

I'm thankful for the breath in my lungs.

I'm thankful for my friends and my family, who have called and shown comfort.

I thank God for allowing me to be a personal witness of His grace.

I am thankful.


Last Tuesday, my life actually flashed before my eyes.

I was rear ended on my way home from work. A car struck my vehicle as I was stopped, waiting for an opportunity to make a left turn. I was fortunate enough to walk away from the accident, but I suffered several injuries as a result.


Questions
Could I have avoided the accident if I left work 5 minutes later? What if I never stopped to fill my tank up at the gas station and just went straight home? All of these questions ran through my head. I felt as if it was somehow my fault, but it wasn't.

Answers
Over the past week I've been couped up in the house, several things have become apparent to me.

1) Tomorrow is not promised.
It's something we hear all the time...but it's important to keep in mind. I tend to think as a "glass is half-full" type of person so instead of thinking of it in a negative sense saying you won't be here tomorrow, I like to say LIVE FOR TODAY!

For the record, I've officially whipped out my list of goals for the year and I plan on really working to achieve each one. Sometimes I find myself to be a goal-aholic. It's a disease in which one thinks they can do everything they want to do at one time.

Survey says.........THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

So back to the drawing board I guess. Luckily I have time to make my goals really happen since I won't be going out or anything any time soon.

2) Friends are Forever.
Not to get all mushy or anything (not my style)...but I am very thankful to those who took the time to call, come by, reach out, give me a ride, cook, bake, smile, pray or just crack a joke to try to comfort me during this tough time. If it wasn't for you guys--I'd be a mess. It's not often that you do something for someone and they say thank you...so i'm saying:

THANKS GUYS! I'm cheesin! (All 62 teeth are blingin!)

It really means a lot to me because I live in CT and I don't have my closest friends and family here. For once, CT actually feels like a home away from home.


Thank you.

Sports Allegiance: Home or Away?

Living in New England has taught me alot about sports.

You're either a Red Sox fan or a Yankees' fan. There's no in between.

There are a number of people here who are Yankees' fans who aren't even from New York, Jersey or anywhere close for that matter.

This brought me to the thought:

Where do our sports allegiances derive from?

[Raising my hand] Um, is there like a rule I don't know about that says it's NOT okay to be a fan of a team in a town where you've NEVER lived? Does living in a state for more than a month constitute enough weight for an allegiance to be born?

Here's my outlook on the Big 3...plus one - NBA, NFL, MLB and College sports.

NBA

With professional basketball, I find that most people are fans of certain players, opposed to being a fan of a team. Prior to this years Celtics /Lakers matchup, not too many people cared about the NBA or it's players. Aside from David Stern enforcing a dress code for it's players, I believe the league just became too ghetto for season ticket holders to bare. There are also several states that don't have a professional NBA team like...Nevada, Montana, South Carolina and...oh, Connecticut. Several Connecticut natives tend to lean towards the Boston Celtics as "their team." As you can see, the NBA is an exception.

NFL

Who doesn't love the NFL? Seriously. There's nothing like curling up on your couch on a Sunday afternoon with some wings, soda, chips-n-dip and your laptop (for you fantasy football fiends). So who holds your NFL allegiance? My allegiance stems from my 5-year stint in Charlotte, North Carolina. I must say, I heart the Carolina Panthers. Prior to 2000, I was never a huge football fan due to how horrible my hometown Seattle Seahawks were...but it was just something about Carolina that won my loyalty. Depending on where your from, football fans are not always for the "home team." I think I've met more Washington Redskins fans in the New York area than I have in Washington D.C! Now that's real talk. I think the jury is out on this one. Some people say you have to be from the team's city that you root for, while others disagree. What do you think? This is also one sport where a lot of people have two teams they like: one being the dominant team, while the other is a closet favorite because of a particular player or coach.

MLB

America's favorite pastime....Baseball. It's about as American as apple pie...well, until steroids came along. But seriously, this is one sport where I think most people are fans of their home town team. It's true that players get traded often, but it's rare that people will switch their allegiance from team to team in MLB. While living in the south I noticed that baseball is not really that popular. Due to the lack of teams in those regions, there's no demand for baseball so there's no allegiance either. History is also a big factor in why people stay loyal to certain teams. You can't deny those who paved the way...for the A-Rod's and Jeter's of today.

College Sports

If you live in North Carolina for more than a week it's inevitable that you'll be asked the question: Are you a Carolina fan or a Duke fan? For the record, I bleed Carolina blue. It's so necessary. I'm not gonna go into the top ten reasons why I hate Duke...I'll save that for another blog. Instead I'd like to focus on the amount of people who cheer for a school they never attended. Sports fans are attracted to dynasties and rivalries. College sports is one place where you'll find alot of that. However there are always those teams like CAA's George Mason who slip through the cracks and make us all believe that the unexpected can happen. It's Cinderella teams like GMason that make sports fun. Who are your favorite college teams for each sport? Are they the same for each sport? Isn't it interesting how people can be say... a UConn basketball fan, but a Notre Dame football fan?

My overall opinion is...be a fan of what ever team you want. I am.

Stay Classy!