Thank You Lawd

Yea I wish I got all A's. I got my grades back finally, after almost a month of agony, re-analyzing my answers as I lay in bed, drive in the car, and over meals, I passed everything. Much thanks to God, and thanks to all who sent prayers out for me. Thank-you!!! I swear it was hard to focus on anything but grades over the past weeks. Woke up thinking about them, went to bed thinking about them. Now, I can focus on summer school.

I don't even know where I want to start.

So I shall enjoy this one day, without thinking about grades, and I will be back with some things that have been floating in my mind.

RIP Mr. Cleavers, AKA "Frog", you were one kool cat.

Waiting

I am waiting on grades, so I took a hiatus to get my mind off of things. I figured I'd take this moment to share some anti-bush humor. First, as I am on the road in east Tennessee, I see a car in front of me with the following bumper sticker, if you have never watched the Lord of the Ring Trilogy, then you will not get the message, it said "Froddo Failed, Bush has the Ring." It took a second for me to realize the message, but once it sank in, I had to give props to the driver of the vehicle. I was able to catch up to the guy, and older while male, and when I pulled up to him, I honked, and gave him the thumbs up sign. At first, he was looking a little scared, likely thinking to himself, why is the black dude, smiling and giving me the thumbs up, then I think he realized I enjoyed the sticker, cause he started laughing and gave me the thumbs up as well. I think he got it. That brought me about 30 seconds of joy. I GOTTA GET THAT STICKER.

Since I am on the loser of a president here are just a few more I like.

Pass the spray paint, I've got an idea.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. Most moms wear a many hats on any given day. From nurturer to punisher, to negotiator to encourager, all in all its a tough job. It's all appreciated though.

Not discounting anyone in my life, I think that I have had four mother figures in my life. Obviously my biological mother has played a big role in my life. With me having three younger sisters, she has to spread the love. She did though make a lot of decisions for me that has gotten me to this point in my life. My relocation put some distance (mileage)between us, but she has still been there for me spiritually and mentally during some of my more stressful moments. I am very thankful to have her in my life. Plus she makes some helluva chicken or shrimp curry and samosas which is always a plus. Love her very much.

My Godmother no doubt has had a major influence in my life, as a matter of fact, but for her, a lot of the things I have been able to get into, education, and career wise was made possible by her. She has always had my back when things got thick. Period. She has always treated me like her own biological and I love her for it. I am so thankful that she and my mom's friendship led to our relationship, I really don't know where I would be without her guidance and support as well. Much love to her.

Granny Tate, talk about a strong woman. She has made some serious sacrifices for me and lord knows I am thankful. When I moved to come to school out here, she opened her doors for me, let me drive her car, or gave me rides when a brotha did not have a car. I must say though, that riding with her was a trip, she was not going to turn the air on in the car even when it was 110 degrees outside, and she was not gonna drive over 40 mph to get some air circulating in the van. Whew, those rides were long and hot. She was one of the first black nurses in Memphis, integrating some of the bigger Hospitals in the City of Memphis. She worked hard in her lifetime. She is a very strong woman too, I remember coming to Memphis on summer break and she would be outside cutting her lawn, and it was a big lawn too, and I don't think my granny is over 5'5. She would be doing the damn thang and even if you offer to do it, she would do it herself. One thing though about my granny unlike most grannies, she wad not gonna throw down in the kitchen. I know I passed over a many of her meals for some McD's. Its funny though, some of the stuff she would prepare in the kitchen. Age has caught up with my granny though, she is no longer as mobile as she used to be, and has lost a lot of her independence. I kiss her on her forehead everyday that I see her, she gives me that smile. I hope she realizes how thankful I am to her for everything.

My great aunt Georgia. I spent a lot of time with her when I was little. She was a true southern disciplinarian. Would make a brotha go outside and pick his own switch, and then when I came back with something flimsy, had the nerve to go outside and get one that was gonna last a good minute. Anyway, she was tough, and stern and did not let me get away with squat. She took good care of me though, God Bless her Soul. Love you much.

No one is promised tomorrow, we think we will be here next week, next month, next year. Remind those you care for deeply just how much they are loved and appreciated by you.

HBCU Got Some Love

One of the newsworthy items that slipped my mind last week was the recent donation that given to Xavier University by an unexpected party. I have to give a shout out to the Islamic nation of Qatar. They stepped up big by making a $17.5 million dollar donation to Xavier, the HBCU that was heavily damaged during Katrina. I think that is outstanding, considering such HBCU's tend to be financially strapped these days. Maybe LeMoyne-Owen can get their hustle on and get few dollars, lord knows they need it. Anyway the gist of the donation is as follows.

"Qatar is giving Xavier, which is in New Orleans, $12.5 million to add 60,000 square feet to its College of Pharmacy so it can increase enrollment. The gift has additional benefits, the ambassador said, because it will provide construction jobs and because students from the university work in community clinics. Xavier will also get $5 million for scholarships for students affected by the disaster. "It's going to allow us to help those students to finish their educations," said Norman C. Francis, Xavier's president. "That's important because Xavier is the No. 1 producer of African-American graduates in the natural sciences, and those students then go on to get admitted to medical school." Read the article if you wanna http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/us/02charity.html?ex=1304222400&en=56eaeae1b9dcdec8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Since I am on the topic of black colleges and universities, how would college sports change if the top athletes in the nation chose black colleges over the bigger named universities. These cats make millions for schools like your Michigan's, Notre Dame's, and USC's. How is it that there is no beef by supporters of such institutions when it comes to exceptions made in getting these athletes in school but all hell breaks loose when the discussion turns to exceptions made to allow your average black student into such schools. Aint gonna debate that today, I am just posing the question.

Bloody But Unbowed

Whew.....it's over. Finals are over. It was rough. I feel ok about it, I prayed on it before the exams, during the exam, and after the exam, plus I had my post exam panic attack, so I am kool. Its like no matter how long and how hard you prepare for exams, there is always some issue that you failed to totally learn the ins out outs of, and it is always that issue that is all over the exam. Go figure. The following pictures properly show how I was feeling over the past two weeks. Lets see.....

First Week of Exams, a brotha was feeling prepared, confidence was on high...

Me after Evidence Exam, good lawd, four hours was not long enough....

Me after two weeks of exams....I'm standing, may not know where I am, but I am still on my feet....

Thanks to all who prayed, supported, or brought a brotha lunch,over the past days, I do appreciate it.

A lot of newsworthy events have happened since I last signed on, but truthfully, at this moment I can't even remember what it was. Lets see, I can't wait for some brothas to figure out a gasoline hustle. It's all a matter of time before you get that phone call, hey man, we got that gas truck, betta come fill up before its empty... Gas is so damn high. I saw this comedian breaking it down the other day, he was saying you used to be able to throw a $20 at the cashier and be like fill it up with some tude, and then proceed to grab a bag of chips and a drink. Or you could start pumping the gas, then proceed to clean out the inside of your car, clean the windows before the pump clicked. Now, you put that mug in, turn around and the dang has clicked before you even get back in the car. Let's see, when was the last time the minimum wage was raised, can you say back when Clinton raised it. How does one with kids on minimum wage actually afford to put gas in their tank. Its got to be really hard.

Leave that Kennedy son alone, he has an addiction and is seeking help, its no more newsworthy than the fact that our current president was a coke snorter, I don't see anyone covering that story, so leave the man alone.

Oh yea, that 9/11 dude got life in prison. Considering the fact that he was not directly involved in the carrying out of the plot, I think the sentence fit. There in no doubt that our country is currently holding in Guantanamo or some other unknown location, individuals who likely had more involvement in the planning and execution of the plot. We can't put those people on trial because they have been tortured and abused while in our custody. They will likely never see a trial in court, cause it would expose the dirt that we do. Bottom line, dude seemed to be a wannbe if you ask me.

Gale, thanks for hooking me up during the National Black Mayor's Convention, I enjoyed the event for sho.

Congrats to Professor Mulroy in winning the Democratic Primary for District 5.

Congrats to all the 2006 law graduates, will miss ya'll next semester. Good luck on the BAR.