We are family

5 pounds of shrimp for a big family dinner: $35
Renting a van and driving from Florida to Colorado for a wedding: $650
3 generations in one picture and no one talking shyt: Priceless

Dammit, they get on my nerves, but I love them.

Back row:

Uncle Sidney, Uncle Russell, Uncle Fred, Me

2nd row:

Carmen, Mom, Tonya, Michelle, Jo, Doug

3rd row:

Auntee Helen, Tiffany, Nicole

Very front:

Mamadear

7 dealy sins...FULL TIME JACK MOVE.

ANGER
1. who did you last get angry with? Ashley E. Yates
2. what is your weapon of choice? My baseball bat.
3. would you hit a member of the opposite sex? No.
4. how about of the same sex? If need be.
5. who was the last person who got really angry at you? I hope it was Ashley. JERK!
6. what is your pet peeve? Black girls that talk spit, then date white boys.
7. do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily? Doesn't matter.

SLOTH
1. what is one thing you're supposed to do daily that you haven't done in a long time? Strecth.
2. what is the latest you've ever woken up? I've slept all day before.
3. who have you been meaning to contact, but haven't? Bianca
4. what is the last lame excuse you made? Ashley is just having a hard time.
5. have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through (one of the long ones...)? NO!
6. how many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock today? 1

GLUTTONY
1. what is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice? Rum Runners at TGI Fridays
2. meat eaters are?: Huh? Yeah. Whatever.
3. what is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting/outing/event? Don't remember.
4. have you ever used a professional diet company? Oh hell no.
5. do you prefer sweets, salty foods or spicy foods? SPICY!

LUST
1. how many people have you seen completely naked (not counting movies/family)? I plead the "fif"
2. how many people have seen you completely naked (not counting physicians/family)? I plead the "fif"
3. have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a member of your gender of choice during a normal conversation? I plead the "fif"
4. what is your favorite body part on a person of your gender of choice? Entire body.
5. have you ever been made a proposition by a prostitute? No.
6. have you ever had to get tested for an std or pregnancy? Not me.
7. is love at first sight really lust? No.

GREED
1. how many credit cards do you own? 0
2. what's your guilty pleasure store? Lids, Fossil, S & K.
3. if you had $1 million, what would you do with it? Figure how to flip it to 2. Then 2 to 4. So forth and so on.
4. would you rather be rich or famous? Rich. You'll be famous and living ther life.
5. would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make megabucks? Yep. Then pimp the game and stike out on my own.
6. have you ever stolen anything? A kiss. But she didn't mind.
7. how many mp3s are on your hard drive? Don't know.

PRIDE
1. what is one thing that you have done that you're most proud of? Believed in myself
2. what's one thing you've done that your parents are most proud of? Gone to college and suceed.
3. what thing would you like to accomplish in your life? To be a good husband and father.
4. do you get annoyed by coming in second place? YES
5. have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors? LOL. YEP!
6. have you ever cheated on something to get a higher score? Maybe.
7. what did you do today that you're proud of? I didn't curse Ashley out for calling me a bitch.

ENVY
1. what item (or person) of your friends would you most want to have for yourself? RJJ's bank account.
2. who would you want to go on "trading spaces" with? Jay-Z
3. if you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be? No one. But especially not that jerk Ashley.
4. have you ever been cheated on? No.
5. have you ever cheated? Nope. I wanted to though. Sorry Audra.

For the record...

For those who kept sending me messages on facebook, let's get this one thing straight. I am NOT a smoker. I got so many messages, I had to change the picture. People I hadn't heard from in a minute was getting at me about this picture. Look, I tried it one time a couple of years ago on a cruise to Mexico. They were selling Cuban cigars (Cohibas), which are illegal in the United States, and I wanted to try one. The end result..I got very sick. And yes, I smoked the whole thing. For the money I paid, I had no choice. Would I do it again? I tried this summer in the Bahamas. It didn't work out. I couldn't even get it lit. Even God didn't want me to have that cigar. No matter where I went, it wasn't happening. Oh well. But just to be let it be known, I'm not a smoker.

If this is

If this is the end, why doesn't it feel like it?

If this is the end, why are we closer now?

If this is the end, why don't we want to leave?

If this is the end, why does something wrong, feel so right?

Maybe, it's not an end. Just a new beginning for us.

End of an era

This is never how you want to remember our sport heroes. Hanging on too long, seeing them perform at a level that as fans we aren't use to. Seeing Micheal Jordan for two years in a Wizards uniform was hard to deal with. The lasting image of him taking that game winning shot in the last of his six championships is the image we care to remember. And yet tonight, we watched the Micheal Jordan of boxing maybe hanging on a couple of fights too many. It wasn't that long ago when Roy Jones Jr. made history by stepping up to the heavyweight division and taking a title from a much larger opponent in John Ruiz. Everything he fought for was maginfied in that unanimous 12 round decision. In retrospect, winning the heavy weight title was Jones Jr's lasting image. Cementing his title as the best pound for pound fighter ever. Essentially, being the best ever since Ali. However, just like MJ, Jones Jr. held on a little too long. When you have dominated 4 divisions (light, middle, light heavy, and heavy) and undefeated in those bouts, the only place from there is down. However, just like Jordan and Ali, as fans we ultimaltey don't care. Because forever in our hearts you are always the champ.

I first met Roy Jones Jr. as a young child while visiting my grandmother early in the summer of '88 before the Seoul, Korea Olympics. He was ultimately robbed of a gold medal, which is opponent said he lost the fight to Roy, but that let down fueled the next 17 years of dominance. Before the first Tarver loss, he was disqualified for hitting his opponent that took a knee during mid punch. That only enhanced his legend. But during those years and those divisions, it was an amazing thing to see. I remember "The Mission Continues" stickers and shirts in the early days when I moved to Pensacola. Jones Jr. made opponents look like mere sparing partners. Before HBO, those fights were at the Bayfront Auditorium. Then he moved to fights on ABC. But what impressed me the most, when he made the promise to make his first title defense at home. So when the time came he passed on millions and told HBO to meet him at the Pensacola Civic Center. The entire world tuned into to see the next great champion. Although the fight lasted only about 3 rounds. It felt good to see a home grown product, put his city on his back and start walking. And walk he did, through 4 divisions undefeated. His critcis would say that he didn't fight anyone. Sorry...he was just that much better than everyone else. He beat legends in Vinny P, and dominated a handful of eventual heavy weight champions, including James "Lights Out" Toney. Maybe even more impressive beating Montell Griffin with a broken hand.

But after 3 straight losses, it seems as the sun has set on aa brillant career. Even though he lost a 12 Round decision to Antonio Tarver, it was inspiring to see Roy give it one more try and walking away with a smile on his face. Two guys who literally hated each other since the day they met at 13, walked away with the up most respect for each other. Thanks Roy for representing our city so well, for so long. You'll always be The Champ to us.

A new start with a old twist.

Just like the title says, it's a new start. Over time, I going to reflect on the past and times in my life that I thought I was all too forgotten at this point. Also, I write because I want this to serve as a documentation for my children one day, and their kids. Something they can always have of me that can't be bought or sold. My life. My experiences. My trials. My victories. Oh, one more thing. To this day I have not shared this entire blog with anyone voluntarily. I would like to share this with her. I'm not sure who she is yet, but one day I want to say "Here is me. The good the bad and the ugly. I've grown/growing into a man of God. " I still pray to meet her one day. Hopefully, she and they will understand my thoughts and my life, and know that life has it's ups and downs, so enjoy life and make everyday your masterpiece.

Ev