3/30/09

Yesterday should have started out as a great day with my daughter turning 2 months but the day was everything except great. As I wake up running a lil late and feeling depressed about some current events I jump into my work clothes hop in the lex only 2 realize I have a flat. Now I have 2 take the car back and hop in my moms whip. Off 2 work where I great the boss wit a hello only 2 find out he like he too like every1 else is in a bad mood. So 645 am I'm listening 2 a grown man complaining more than a bitch. Anyway I ignore it and go off to work. I proceed 2 bust my ass just like I do everyday but now its a lil more because layoffs is at an all time high and I need my job more than I ever did before. Towards the end ot the work day I get bust in the forhead by a piece of steel not only did it leave a mark it hurt like hell and bust open. So now the rest of the day I have a migrane.

After I get through the day at work I'm thinking I'm home bound 2 a stress free environment and I could kick back. Boy was I wrong before I got home I had 2 kick out a couple of hundred dollars 2 pay bills and get not only 1 but 2 tires for the lex buggy. Now I reach home only 2 be alarmed that I had trouble coming my way. I had nothing to do with it but somehow got stuck right in the middle. I really didn't get 2 upset because I have way bigger fish 2 fry than that situation but it was distrubing 2 even have 2 deal with it. During the time of all this taking place I'm in the midst of trying 2 read a real personal letter from my boy that grew up with me and lived right across the street. He is in florida locked up and is not sure when he is gonna be coming home. All this in one day can I say its all 2 much bs stuffed in the short period of 24 hrs.

Mexico

This one is for all my people who want to go down to cancun and live it up. Hopefully you take this as a warning and keep your gaurd up. Im not saying to cancel your trip or be scared to have a good time but real is real and you gotta respect the facts. Mexico aint a tourist freindly country so one wrong turn or one too many drinks and you might be a statistic. Im sure many people dont watch the news or flip through the paper so imma bring you the facts take it or leave it.

Kidnapping in Mexico

The bad news is that kidnappings in Mexico are on the rise. Both Mexicans and foreigners are victims, because in Mexico there are 3 common types of kidnappings. Unfortunately, children are the most targeted group. Second, tourists and middle- or upper-class Mexicans are at risk for "Kidnapping Express," and lastly wealthy Mexican businessmen are also snatched and held for large ransoms.

Kidnapping Children

Children of middle-class or upper-class Mexicans, yet the problem does span all socio-economic levels, are too often stolen away from their families and homes. Kidnappers can work in sophisticated groups, following family members to learn routines or working with the help of hired domestic employees. This is why it is important to carefully screen all residential employees and to avoid flashy displays of wealth in public places.

The Kidnap Express

Kidnapping express is a rapidly growing crime. People are at most risk for this trap when hailing a taxi cab from the street. Once you are inside one of these unauthorized or "pirate" taxi cabs, anything can happen, because no one knows where you are or is held accountable for your whereabouts.

The most likely outcome of the kidnapping express is your credit card or banking account will be emptied. What criminals are most after are your credit cards, cash, jewelry, cellular phones and valuables, in that order. Once they empty your accounts and physically remove your possessions, they will normally release you. One increasingly disturbing spin is that the criminals may contact your family and not release you until a hefty ransom is paid.

Avoid this situation all together by using the authorized taxis lined up at taxi stands throughout the city. Best yet, request a secure taxi over the phone. This way your whereabouts are known by the taxi company. Also, if taking a taxi at night, call a friend to inform them of your whereabouts; also report to your friend the number of the taxi painted on the doors.

Kidnapping for Ransom

Kidnapping for ransom of people believed to be financially affluent (not that many foreigners are targeted) is on the rise. For the most part in Mexico City these gangs are professional and very well-organized. Lately, however, common criminals are also getting into this activity on a large scale.

Kidnapping of the rich and wealthy is a fast-growing crime. It is becoming much more common now in the states of Guerrero and Veracruz, and remains a problem in Mexico City as well. Behind these kidnappings are well-organized criminal gangs. In some cases the culprits are Mexican or international radical groups that obtain obscene amounts of money, in dollars or euros, from this activity.

The wealthy Mexican worried about his protection is normally escorted by private security guards and plans his moves carefully. However, the kidnapping problem is perpetuated because drivers, guards and security personnel are very poorly paid in Mexico. The lack of a living wage for these employees only makes the temptation to be lured in as an accomplish all the more irresistible.

ez button

The staples commercial makes me wonder what would life be like if there really was a easy button. On a daily basis we are faced with challenging decisions. Some decisions are tougher than others but wouldnt life be that much better if there was a easy button. When you run into a jam where your lost on whats right and whats wrong all you have to do is push the big red button to dumb down life for you. There would be no excuse for failure, but laziness might be at a all time high. I highly doubt that I am the only person to ever wish that commercial was true. If I had the ez button option me and all my people would be living the life.

current mood

As time passes by I wonder if I am moving forward or backwards. I have a plan for the future but I feel so far from it. If I listen to the rest of the world i would think I'm doing fine but I don't go by the standards of others i go by my own. I feel that for the age 24 I am doing kinda bad. I know there are people that are trailing behind me and might say I'm not but what about those dudes my age with the nice house on the hill. I know with my career if i grind it out and keep pushing that i will get to the light at the end of the tunnel. Right now with my life I feel like I am running a marathon with no H2O, eventually I'm gonna run out of gas. I have always been one to give some of the best advice to my friends about anything, family, friends, relationship, future etc. Now when i go look in the mirror to give myself some advice I cant think of anything to say. The only thing that pops in m head is it ain't that bad kid it will get betta. Well saying it ain't that bad is a nice way of saying it ain't that good. I don't know if I put too much pressure on myself or what it is, but I have not been happy for a while. Many may not know because i don't wear my problems on my sleeve or let them leak into my personal relationships. I don't know maybe a change will come soon that will give me a boost of spirit.

Blink of an Eye

Life is a beautiful thing but you gotta chersh it before you know it your life can be changed for good, rather for bad or for worst. Anyday you can hit your highest point or your lowest point you never know what life has is store for you that's why all you can do is ride the wave and appreciate the time you spend here. Imma give you a couple of situations to show you how flexible life is.

You could play the lotto, wake up the next morning and be a millionare. Everyday someone somewhere hits the lottery and gets that blessing of a helping hand. Does hitting the lotto end all of your problems? No but like Fab said " money can't buy happiness but its a damn good down payment". In other worst money can be used as jumper cables to get your life going in the direction you want but its up to you to make yourself happy and keep it that way.
Any day you can wake up, put your clothes on lace up your shoes, kiss the family tell em lata and that can be your last kiss. You can be going to work and get run down like that Asian woman did last week :-/. I'm sure her family KNEW she would be coming home that day. That's why I try not 2 be on bad terms with my loves ones because you never know what could happen. You down don't want to wish you could apologize and make ways right wit some1 who is no longer with us.
You can be down and out not knowing where your life is gonna end up and then suddenly everything change. At one point I was super depressed, going to college & working two jobs without the moral support or guidance to help me better my situation. I would always say if I can just get a career I would cherish it, not knowing that me going to my brother's orientation with kids from his old high school would be the day to change my life. I met the nicest woman Diane Springer who dedicates her time to placing hs kids in a promising career. That quick my life switched from being stressed with no direction to doing anything and everything to make sure I capitalize on my new opportunity.
Your friends can also be a negative force if you allow them to be. I grew up in ENY you meet all kinds of people in my hood from the roughest hood nigga to the smartest computer wiz. By the time I was in jhs I had a circle of friends that smoked daily and was in a gang, it was @ this time that I realized why hang out with them if we have nothing common. I never been a follower so I cut that crowd right out. I got friends from that side that have college degrees and are a stand out compared to the rest, my homie Jerry is proof that no matter where you come from you can have class and blend in with any crowd of people. The reason behind that is because he has a mind of his own and knows that just because you might be successful with your life of crime doesn't mean that he will strive on hope.
Last but not least is the influence of the drugs...... Liquor, weed etc....... There is a limit to anything, or should I say too much of anything is considered a habit. Alcohol could be used during your leisure time and can be a beautiful thing lol. A lil bit of wavy juice on homie night, the club a sports event makes the situation even better. On the other hand you have the down side of the drugs, this is
when bad decisions are made. Some people make some of the worst decisions while under the influence some include fighting, sex driving etc. Thank god for looking over my homie Shari that her & her homies survived after being hit by a drunk driver :-D. You don't wanna do anything you would regret or that could changed your life instantly so you gotta control your vices. All I can say is do what you feel is right & avoid ad getting into trouble......

NY is overpopulated

New York is the center of the world. This small city is a tourist attraction not only to Americans but to people all over the world. As I wake up to go to work 5 am in the morning you would think the roads are mainly clear and calm, no way. The streets are already polluted with people.

Ny is a beautiful city in some ways, you could go to a store anytime @ night and get whatever it is that you want. You could hit manhattan anytime of day or night and enjoy the city life rather its early day shopping or the night life. The best thing about the city is its so diverse, not only do ppl come from all over america they come from all over the world.. You can meet someone from every corner of the world in NY, the reason being is NY is the land of opportunity. The chance of finding a career opportunity is very high but is the price you pay worth it. There is no such thing as privacy in NYC, you gotta be deep in long island or upstate. There is a camera on every other street in manhattan. In bk & queens they are slapping houses in every corner, the city building condos after condos. If ny is already over populated imagine how bad it will be in 10 years time. Me personally idk if I will be here long enough to experience it. I am gonna pack up & head south when I get my money right. I know imma get heat from all you NYC lovers but I had this mind frame since about 16 years old. I guess its that country blood I got that drives me to want house with a lot of land , and personal space for me and my family. Is NY your final destination?

Sean Bell did we 4get

Did we forget about the Sean Bell case. I thought about that the other day. The homie Sean was 23 with 2 kids a fiance and full of life. He went out with the homies to celebrate before his wedding and a new life he was about to begin. A night of kicking it with his homies, drinks and bullshitting in the strip club, now he is approached by NYPD (" NY's Finest" who gave those losers dat title). A couple of trigger happy cops shot him and his 2 friends, ending his life. A slap on the wrist is more of a punishment than what they got. These officers walked off scott free. It is crazy that you can snatch the life of a 23 year old unarmed man and there is no punishment. Is that badge supposed to represent security and justice or is it representing danger and corruption. That could have been me or any one of my closest homies. I would not forget Sean and his case because his two little girl have to grow up without there father and his wife without her husband. I want 2 be around as long as possible to take care of my family, and I'm sure he lived through his family as most real mean do. Those cops should be rotting in jail, they ruined Sean's family but they get to go home 2 there family every night. Whether they are cops or regular civilians when you take someones life that is not a threat to yours consequences have 2 be paid. How would you feel if that was your husband, father, son, brother or friend. Me personally I would need answers.

Recession

We are getting close to old time like when we were in the 1930's. 100's of thousands of people are out of work, major businesses are closing down, home owners are losing there homes. Times are getting rough out here. I
I was watching the news the other day only 2 hear them talking about a job availability. There was a janitor job opening, just 1 job 730 people applied for it. Its crazy that many people showed up for one job opening.
During a time like this you can separate the strong from the weak. People are going crazy because of this crisis. I admit it got worst than I thought it would but imma hustler at heart either way imma be alright. Some people were either so comfortable with there perfect life that they can't adjust to the struggle. Some are getting desperate and committing crimes while others are willing to commit suicide. About two months ago I read a article about a father that took the life of his 6 kids all under age 11, his wife and last he killed himself. He left a note saying him & his wife had been laid off and can't afford to make it, so instead of letting his family be " a burden on someone else" he will take there lives first. That might be one of the most extreme cases but it goes to show you how far this economic situation has gone.
America has all the control and all the resources we need to never be in this situation right now. This crisis goes to show you how important a vote is, the wrong person in control ( Bush) and look what can happen. When Clinton left office we had a surplus of money, two terms later after Bush ruined the country we are in a recession. Hopefully Obama can help turn this around before I am another victim of the recession. What would you do if you had a job for years, house, car etc and you were losing all of it how would you react. Idk what I would do but I would have to try everything in my power before it got that far.

life

The experiences can either make or break a person. Some people have great thing happen and can't handle em while others have horrible things happen and can't handle those. Then there are some no matter the situation they are always humble and focused. Life definitely isn't a walk in the park even for some of the most successful people we come across, there life might look easy but you will never know until you lace up there shoes.

In my lifetime I have been faced with many hardships. The one that seemed to have been haunting me is death. I lost 3 of my childhood friends under the age of 25. Every one took a toll on me and still does as the days go by. I try to look beyond it but almost everything remind me of one of them daily. Still I find a way to live my life and not make my burden weigh nd one down. I had a heartbreak or two in my days. A broken heart can set some1 back, especially when u know u try your best 2 make thinks work. No one wants to believe that there best just isn't enough. Once again life goes on you can't force yourself or your love on some1..... It is there option 2 receive it or refuse it.
Family issues is a major problem. I grew up in a household most would look @ from the outside and say is picture perfect. I got both parents home they both made decent wages but that's not what makes a family. How is it a perfect picture when your parents act like total strangers. There is no communication between the two. As a child growing up watching your mother with tears in her eyes is something that you can and never will 4get. I try my best 2 4give my father for all his pain and stress he put the family through but he will never understand.

My life is all bad. I have a lot to be thankful for. I am 24 years old and maintained a way 2 stay out of trouble thus far. I have a promising career that can carry me far in my future and give my daughter even more opportunities than I had. My love life was never horrible, a few turns came here and there that were unexpected but for the most part I can't complain. I am thankful for meeting Kisha and having our beautiful daughter together. I am also thankful that I have a mother that doesn't judge me but instead encourages me 2 make the best decisions, its still up to me 2 follow.
I say all of this to say if you think you know someone think again there life can be way more complicated than you believe. My life...... Sometimes idk exactly which way its going, when you make 1 step forward sometimes you take two steps back. With that being said I guess I am saying I'm not making any progress. Honestly I don't have time to think about myself, I'm gonna work my best 2 do anything possible 2 better my daughter's life.