Some say I’m negative, but they’re not positive…

What song does that title come from? I doubt any of the people in their 20’s will remember that…

Anyway, I’ve been doing some thinking. Rather, I’ve stopped blocking my thoughts as I usually do. I sometimes don’t like to face the hard truths, even though my brain knows about them. Here is the simple fact: I’ve been becoming more negative lately. I’ve always been a realist, some would say cynical. That’s not a problem for me. I think I see the world as it is, rather than with rose colored glasses. I’m not too far gone to see that although some people are messed up, other people have good, decent or altruistic motives. So, when I say I’m becoming negative, I don’t mean that.

I guess I should just say what I mean. I’ve recently realized that I am extremely proficient in identifying and talking about stuff I don’t like. People, places, things. Its far easier for me to say what’s wrong, than what’s right. I don’t want to be a complainer. I don’t like them (LOL – see I just did it again.) I need to get a positive mindstate. I looked at my draft posts over the last two week period, and 7 out of 10 aborted posts were complainey, or critical. And the thing is I wasn’t complaining about anything big. Just stuff that was getting on my nerves. Either that or I was talking about people. Why spend so much time on the negative? I don’t know, but I think I need to change that.

So starting today, I’m gonna make a conscious effort to not post about annoying people, annoying things or general annoyances unless for comedy purposes. I can’t let it go altogether. I’m gonna try to be more positive and affirm the good for awhile, rather than display the negative. Don’t worry, this isn’t gonna become one of those inspirational blogs. I still don’t like motivational writing (oops, I did it again.) But I just want to try to avoid the negative energy for the time being and see how it works. We’ll see how long I can last.

Thursday Thirteen: Movies I Can Watch Over (and over) Again

Today's Thursday Thirteen topic is :Movies I Can Watch Over (and over) Again. These are not necessarily my favorite movies, but ones that I will watch repeatedly. They are in no particular order, but you'll see that halfway down the list it gets all alphabetical. That's because I was looking at my Netflix 5 star movie ratings so I didn't forget anything. Turns out, I didn't need any help. I got way more than 13.

1 Pulp Fiction My favorite movie. This joint is just sick.

2. Fight Club I fought watching this for years because I wasn't interested in a movie just about dudes punching each other. The movie is so much more and has a crazy plot twist that I wont spoil in case someone hasn't seen it.

3. Friday I watched this movie so many times when I was still a weed smoker. I pretty much can recite this movie.

4. Belly The coolest looking movie ever. Hype Williams was my favorite video director and this movie is like a video turned movie.

5. Happy Gilmore Whenever I feel like a light and silly movie, this is one of my favs.

6. Scarface - I actually haven't seen it in a few years. Mostly because every Black man under the age of 43 likes this movie. LOL Still one of the classics.

7. Mo Betta Blues - Another great stylish looking movie. My favorite Spike Lee joint. It has all his trademarks in it.

8. Arsenic and Old Lace Classic comedy from the 40's I think. My favorite line. "There are thirteen bodies in the cellar" Regardless of how macabre that sounds, this is just a slapstick comedy perfectly done.

9. The 40 Year Old Virgin - I swear I saw at least 10 minutes of this movie everyday for 3 months when it was on HBO (and the litany of HBO channels)

10. The Killer - This is a cool movie. Choreographed gun fights. Slow motion shootings. Doves flying out of nowhere. Get the dubbed version for the awkward, but still somehow compelling dialogue. Also featured in one of my favorite albums: Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.

11. From Dusk Till Dawn - Another Tarantino joint, although he didn't direct this one, just wrote it. Good mindless entertainment with some good acting by Harvey Keitel and George Clooney.

12. Purple Rain - Prince. I don't really need to say anything else, but to see my views on this movie, check this old post from a coupla years ago

13. Fear of a Black Hat - A mockumentary about hip hop that is 1 million times funnier than CB4. Not many people I know have seen this one. Me and my brother and sister used to crack up at this one. Got it from the video store one day when nothing else was out and wound up loving this movie.

Part 2 - cuz I couldn't narrow it down to just 13. Here are 13 more movies...

14. Kill Bill - QT, again. The fight scenes are ridiculously entertaining. The story is good too.

15. The Matrix - Everybody has seen this, right? Started all kinds of trends in film making. I don't usually go for science fiction type joints, but this one got me.

16. Rocky III - Man, everytime I see this, I still root for Mr. T to beat Rocky. Me and Kareem used to crack up at this movie. My favorite quote from Mr. T: "Hey, Woman. Hey, Woman! Listen here. Since your old man ain't got no heart, maybe you like to see a real man. I bet you stay up late every night dreamin' you had a real man, don't ya? I'll tell you what. Bring your pretty little self over to my apartment tonight, and I'll show you a real man." (fast forward to 1:30)

17. Raw - Mad funny, yo! Its like 25 years old and still funnier than any other comedy movie. Plus that whole "It Wasn't Me" thing? I'm laughing just thinking about it.

18. Se7en - I love movies about serial killers. I know that sounds weird, but I do. I like to see the new ways to kill people. I have a list myself... for fiction purposes only, of course. This was one of the best. Plus the atmosphere of the movie was just dope.

19. Shaft - The original, not that Samuel Jackson remake crap. Shaft was a bad mutha...(shut yo mouth)

20 Silence of the Lambs - Classic, right here. Love the Hannibal Lecter performance and the dynamic between the lead characters. I'll watch this pretty much anytime I see it on TV.

21. South Park Bigger Longer Uncut - Hilarity personified! Its crude, profane and politically incorrect, but I kinda love this movie. Blame Canada!!!

22 Tommy Boy - Kinda like Happy Gilmore, its just a dumb, funny movie.

23. A View To A Kill - My favorite James Bond movie. I've seen them all but I think this was the first one I saw in the theaters so therefore its my favorite.

24. Foxy Brown - Blaxploitation? yep! Sexploitation? indeed! Pam Grier naked for most of the movie? I'm there! LOL

25. Amelie - A French movie about a woman who makes it her mission in life to make other people happy and then finds love herself. Its not corny as it sounds. It's quirky, strange and just heartwarming. Don't tell anybody I said that. LOL

26. Love Jones - Another movie I can probably recite. Everything about this movie I like. The music, the actors, the fact that they looked like regular old Black people that I could hang out with, even the *gasp* poetry. I do kinda hate this movie for inspiring legions of horrible wannabe spoken word artists, but taking the film on its merits, I'm still a fan.

July 4th Likes and Dislikes

NEW POST @ 1 PM

A recap of my July 4th, in not so chronological order.


Beginning of the day. Mugging in the mirror(s) before I went out.



Like: Being invited to hang out with friends at Lak.e La.nier for a cookout.
Dislike: Not being told that we would be going to the water park first before the actual food portion of the day.





Like: Not paying to get into the water park.
Dislike: Being mad over dressed. I really need to get some shorts. What I look like walking around a water park in pants while other people are rocking shorts and bathing suits.





Like: Realizing that I no longer have a bad ash problem and that my powerful (LOL) calves would look good in shorts.
Dislike: Totally inappropriate swimwear. We aren't even gonna talk about the adults who were wearing stuff they shouldn't have worn. But can you please stop dressing your 11 year old daughter like a hoochie? Why must your kids be so hypersexualized (is that a word?) at a young age? It's just not right. Protect your daughters, please.





Like: Playing Uno while the rest of the people went on the water slide.
Dislike: Sitting in the grass, because I didn't know to bring a towel or blanket.



Okay, I have to suspend the whole Like/Dislike couplet thing. I'm not generally a complainer, but if I'm keeping it real, then I have to admit that yesterday was my time for things to get on my nerves. Most of these are gonna be dislikes, even some of the likes...




Dislike: People that argue in public. For real, does everything have to be an issue with you two. Can we all just get along?



Dislike: People that smoke in front of their kids. I saw a lady holding a little baby no older than 6 months old in one hand and a cigarette in another. I wanted to slap the Marlboro out of her hand.



Dislike: Non listening people. If I'm trying to tell you a story, I expect to at least to have your attention for the little bit of time it takes to finish. I don't be talking War and Peace or nothing. My story is short, its sweet and you'll laugh. Listen to me, you jerks! Or at the very least, don't complain that I don't tell you nothing.



Dislike: Us against them mentalities. The park ranger telling you to be careful with the grill has nothing to do with you being Black. It has to do with the fact that you are barbecuing on top of dry leaves. And no, he didn't say anything to anyone else. Maybe because nobody else is grilling so he didn't have to tell him. There is plenty of racism in the world, lets not create any extra.



Like: Online booking, DJs (cuz that's my DJ) and the phone convos I was having on the way to and fro the Lake.



Dislike: Hom.othu.ggery... I'm just saying, if you ghey, be ghey. Don't try to be a thug with it too. One of the first things I saw when I arrived at the parking lot was a group of ho.mothu.gs rubbing lotion on each other. Not cool...



Dislike: Unexpected house guests. I figured my friend would stay with me one night after we went out, but to get a call at 4:30 in the morning when I'm chilling in my bed and caking on the phone was a little disconcerting. I didn't even clean up yet. Then after I directed her to the spare bedroom, I went to turn off the lights in the living room to find her in my bed. I'm like, you are in the wrong room. I had to sleep in the couch in my own crib. (I wasn't going in the spare room cuz there might still be guinea pig remnants that the vacuum didn't capture.)



Like: Hanging out with S.enita and her friend at the Pin Ups.



Dislike: Them acting like they didn't want to be there when it was her idea to go to the club. I'm just saying, I'm good on the strip club. I just went last month. Regardless of what some people think, I'm not really the strip club king. I woulda been more than happy to stay home and be on the internet all night. Also, the public urination was a bit unladylike. Don't ask! LOL



Dislike: Being the 5th wheel with 2 couples.



Like: Not subjecting any woman I actually like to the dysfunctional relationships of my friends.



Like: Making mean and sarcastic jokes about said dysfunctionality to their faces.



Like: Firework shows...



Dislike: Fireworks shows that go on for too long. 24 minutes was too long. Trim that in half and have just the good fireworks and eliminate the lull from the not so good ones.



Dislike: Remembering that the day we are commemorating technically doesn't apply to my people because we were not independent on July 4th, 1776. My day of Independence??? November 4th!!!

Like: Role playing conversations!! You should really hear them. You would die laughing.




This picture was towards the end of the night. The Ro.c A W.ear joint had been replaced by a plain black tee. And I was taking pictures of myself while people called me weird. I also might have poured hot candle wax on my arm too.

And that was my July 4th. I hope yours was productive.

Me Likey

"Well, damn Rashan...What do you like?"

I got called out today. I deserved it. I was being extremely critical. One of those negative people that I can't stand. It took just these simple words to snap me back to reality and give me a well needed attitude adjustment. I tend to always talk about what I don't like or what I don't do. Every now and then I need talk about what I do like. Come with me, blog readers as I explore the little things that make me happy.

I like... driving aimlessly at 4 in the morning when nobody is on the road. Its my go to form of relaxation. I can just be alone with my thoughts or vibe with some good music as I explore the open road.

I like... new hip hop music that makes me remember why I love hip hop so much. In the last month or two, I've reignited that spark with new releases from Kanye, Common, Little Brother, Median and Talib Kweli. I've also discovered some new stuff that I had been sleeping on. The hip hop show Sunday nights on Georgia State University's radio station helps too. I've remembered that clever rhymes and pulsating beats are what I love so much about hip hop.

I like... flirtatious conversations even if they don't lead anywhere. It's good to know that I got my swagger back. A smile and some cunning linguistics do something to my spirits.

I like... "Pushing Daisies." This new show is just great. Its strange, quirky, and totally not what you would expect for me to like, but every Wednesday when I get off work, I can't wait to go home and watch it.

I like... writing. Doesn't matter what it is. Even when I can't make any progress on my alleged novels, it always makes me feel better when a new idea hits me.

I like... 5 hours of sleep. I've recently discovered the secret for keeping myself refreshed. Anything more than 5 hours and I'm groggy. Anything less than 5 hours and I'm cranky. 5 hours is like Goldilocks and the baby bear: just right!

I like... winning in Madden 08. I played it for the first time this weekend, since I refused to buy it this year out of fear that it would take over my life as has occurred with previous versions of the game. Last year, I kept getting beat. This year, I represented with a 3-1 record so far.

I like... surprise phone calls from people I thought were done with me.

I like... eye candy at work. Like the dark skinned girl with the natural who sits behind me, or the caramel skinned girl with the long hair who's desk is directly in my eye sight. Or the light skinned girl with the braids that I see as soon as I go to my desk. They say variety is the spice of life, and my job is on some cayenne pepper ish.

I like... that I actually have options for my birthday this year. Last year, I was unemployed and depressed. This year, I'm in the zone. I just might make it a 3 day celebration. My birthday is November 25th, you know just in case you wanna get me something for my 33rd. PhD wants to take me out for my birthday. My co workers (old and current) want to take me out for my birthday. And I can't forget the annual tradition I have of going out with Maybe-Weds and the crew. I don't know how I'm gonna do it, I'll probably have to combine a couple of outings. Like maybe, the old coworkers and the new coworkers can take me out to a strip club together and buy me dances all night. LOL

I like... hanging around my niece and nephews. I know everybody probably feels this way, but I am uncle to the coolest kids in the world. They are all so smart and funny and I'm glad that I am getting a chance to be a part of their lives and to watch them grow.

I like... reading new blogs and becoming intrigued with the way that people think, write and project themselves. That's some good shit. I'm resisting the urge to make someone my blog crush though. Nothing good can come of that. LOL

I like... I like the way you comb your hair. And I like those stylish clothes you wear. It's just the little things you do. That show how much you really care. Wait, that's the DeBarge song.

I like... being finished with this post now.