Date Tax Break

Mr. Ambitious and I were joking around as we usually do. He mentioned that it would be great if the cost of dates could be used as a tax deduction. Only singles would be able to utilize this deduction. Dates can become serious financial burden for a single looking for that special someone. Boy o' boy Mr. Ambitious and I had a fun time with this one.

Perspective change

Lost Sunday I went to my Pop's deacon ordination. My perspective of my Pop has changed over the years (for the better). As we grow our perspctive of life overall changes; hopefully for the better.

Coming to realization

This is one of my boys...my cousin Alan. He was the best man and I was a groomsmen at his brother's wedding. Although we had a great time, I slowly came to the realization during the event that when you or your boy gets married, things change forever. Not necessarily for better or worse, but change. One can gain a lot be getting married like tax breaks, cheaper insurance, spltting living expenses...just kidding :). But seriously, marriage offers a lot, but hanging with your boys without a care in the world to the wee hours of the morning without worrying about what is going to happen when you get home offers a lot also.

The last of the clan

I was in the hospital visiting my grandmother this weekend. A couple of weeks ago she had a stroke. It was very severe. I was there on Saturday holding her hand thinking that she is the last of the old clan on my mother's side of the family. My mom died of a stroke. My mom was one of the toughest, loving, and resourceful people I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. I have been pretty stoic throughout this situation. I feel like I have been through this before with my mom. That being said, as with my mom, the Lord’s will will be done.

The same thing that make people love you, will make them hate you.

I was in the mall yesterday and saw this girl I used to be involved with eons ago. She was looking like a million bucks. No lie…..serious no lie. She was talking about how she was trying to get her thing going in the world of journalism. We I was asking her whether or not she checked out resources available to young writers, has she thought about relocated to an area of the country where there is more opportunity for journalist, has she thought about grad school at a top notch university, and etc. She stopped me abruptly and said something to this accord, “Travis the same thing that made me love you, made me hate you at times. You are such a driver, you have fire, you push the limits, and you say what is on your mind. But, I never truly felt like I was in a comfortable place with you.” I was shocked. I apologized and we exchanged numbers.....not to hook up again, but to stay in touch. Then last night, I say this Nike commercial featuring Kobe Bryant that had the same premise as the feedback my long lost friend gave me. Food for thought I guess.

Girl from the hood muzzled

It is this girl who works in my work environment. She is someone from a rough neighborhood, so I can relate to her to some extent. But, she is a little boorish. To someone who doesn’t know her and knows that she is trying to make a joke, they can be thrown by her. She is a nice girl and we would always have good casual conversation. But I had a feeling what happened to her, was going to happen. Based off of comments she made I gather that her manager asked her to carry herself in a more professional manner. I saw it coming from a mile away. With the straight-laced work environment we have at my place of employment, I knew that the she was going to be muzzled sooner or later. I don’t think that she tries to be , for lack of a better word, unprofessional. I think she has never had the opportunity to be in a professional setting like the one we are apart of and be cultivated. I know she feels that management is telling her to not be herself. That is a bad feeling when you feel like you have to go in to an establishment everyday and you can’t be yourself.

The Incredible Travis

I was watching this special on women bodybuilders last month and I didn’t know that the last thing they do before they go on stage is gorge sugar (cookies, snack cakes, etc). Apparently, this is done to enhance the appearance of their veins.

I ate a lot of cookies (bad Travis) before my workout this morning and my veins were popping out like the Incredible Hulk. I am generally an “I’ll believe it when I see it” type of guy, but I guess it works.

Dilemma

I have a friend who came to me and ask me what I think about a certain situation. He is married. He and his wife have had their shares of ups and downs but currently things are cool. He mentioned that there is this woman at his place of employment who he has helped train. This woman is attractive and knows that he has a wife, but keeps giving him "singals". He is actually considering having relations with this woman. He mentioned that he has been with his wife so long know that he doesn't know if he loves her or if he is in love with her. They have children together. I mentioned first, he needs to find out whether or not he is in love or just loves his wife. It is not fair to her to just string her along if he is not in love with her. I also mentioned that he can be subconsciously (or consciously) trying to sabotage this marriage because the of the perceived "greener grass on the other side of the fence". I hope if he chooses to move forward with the woman from his place of work, he makes a decision on his marriage first. Marriage should be sacred.

Believe me, I don't think when you get married you loose your eyes, but I do think you agree to a certain standard.

The more attractive, the longer the rope???

I was talking to an associate of mine yesterday and he made a comment about this young lady he was seeing. In a nutshell he said that she was not that attractive to be acting the way she was. I let him talk, and became that listening ear for him. After having some time to have introspection, I asked myself have I ever behaved in the manner as my associate in regards to the opposite sex. The answer is no. No matter how attractive a woman has been, I have never given a reprieve for lacking humanity, character or common sense. But I guess the logic behind my associate’s actions is the follow; the more attractive, the more flaws he will deal with just to be with a particular woman. NO WAY! I can deal with flaws (I have plenty shortcomings myself), but I am not going to give one women concessions over another just because she is better looking. If you have insurmountable flaws, I don’t care if you are Gabrielle Union or Roseanne Bar, you will have to go.