Tribute to Michael Jackson

" And no message could have Been any clearer! If you wanna make the world a better place, Take a look at yourself and then make a change!"





It is really crazy to hear that Michael Jackson passed away. Being a baby of the 80's, I grew up on MJ. I remember my father and I use to stay up late on Friday nights to watch Music Videos. I use to get pumped to see the latest MJ video.

Michael transcended race!! I believe that he was the very first artist to do so. I told many folks before that no matter where you travel in this world, if a Michael Jackson song came on... every single person around you would know the song, and it would be okay if everyone was singing it, no matter how ridiculous they looked doing it. That's because Michael had a certain sense of swagger and style about him. From his feminine-tops, his jheri-curl, his high water pants and white socks.. he made that look good.. so good people (including myself would try it with no success).

After Michael begin to fade from the pop scene... Pop music died!!! It just became annoying and just another way for radio station to take up air space.. Some of the best Michael Jackson songs made you think and hit your heart in some way... (if you don't believe me.. listen to Human Nature)

I was on You Tube for the past couple of days looking up videos and I found a Concert in Berlin and Michael "packed" this stadium abroad. He had folks fainting, passing out, screaming their lungs out, crying. How does a "black man" get to this status? Michael Jackson was the most dangerous black man on the planet. We will never see concerts and performance like that again.. Even while groups like U2 and Coldplay come close, I just don't know of an artist or band that comes close to the popularity of MJ. Even with the recent Election and Barack Obama, we kind of saw a faint similarity of transcending of race... but it was unmatched!

Maybe its because the media broke MJ down so fast that his influence and "power" were overlooked. From his race and identity being questioned, to alleged charges, and to his own choices, we forgot how Big MJ was.

While I haven't really listened to much of MJ's newer music besides, Butterflies and You Rock My World, that just shows you the power of his music and his influence over a generation, his songs will forever remain in jukeboxes, karaoke song selection books, and be played around with songs like Don't stop believing, Jukebox Hero, We will rock you, Livin on a Prayer, and etc!

In Jackson's last interview, he said and I'm pretty sure that I'm paraphrasing but that he wanted to live on forever. I hope his music does. I can't wait to show Thriller or moonwalk for my kids.. or tell them to hurry their asses up and "Cha'mon" them!!!

Michael may you rest in Peace!!

The Dog Days of Summer Program

i seem to recognize your face haunting, familiar, yet i can't seem to place it cannot find the candle of thought to light your name lifetimes are catching up with me all these changes taking place, i wish i'd seen the place but no one's ever taken me hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...

-Pearl Jam "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town"

Even though I've only posted two or three time since my return from blog sabbatical, I feel as though I should step away for a sec to let you all in on what I do for a living. I am a Director of an After-School program for a non-profit organization called Citizen Schools (www.citizenschools.org).

The purpose of the program is to provide students in low-income and under performing districts with access and equal opportunity to resources and introduce them to caring and mentoring adults who will help them to develop leadership and other social skills. We help students develop study skills along with the 21st century new basic skills such as:
* Data Analysis
* Written Communication
* Technology
* Teamwork
* Oral Communication

Here are a couple of pictures of campus along with pictures my summer program and the field trip we went on today. It was Hot as Hell outside. You may have experience hot summers, but I don't think you have every felt Texas Heat, its a bit ridiculous!

<- This clip is of one of my students hugging me soak and wet, I had the camera in my hand and the only thing I could do was give out a weird shriek!

Hot Town Cool City DAY 3

"I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man,
I've breatherd the mountain air, man.
Travel - I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere!" - Johnny Cash

So I tried my hand at photography.... as you can see my skills are unmatched and the quality is clearly professional at worst!! The Sunglasses are becoming a trademark for me. They are Locs Glasses. I got them on a trip to Volente beach, because students are constantly messing my stunner shades up. I just found out that my "Locs" glasses are Tony Loc ( Funky Cold Medina) HAHAHAHA!!!!

Anyhow thanks to all that have been keeping track with my Blog... This is becoming way too addictive. Exploring is fun... and I am meeting people and just enjoying the experience!!
I may need to figure out another income source to fund this parade, because hitting up town is expensive!!!!

BE SURE TO POST COMMENTS ABOUT THE BLOG AND IDEAS FOR WAYS TO MAKE THIS YOUR "WINDOW TO THE WORLD" and by world I mean Houston!!!

Places I've visited this week:

The Hobbit Cafe (Sunday)
Ruggles Green (Thursday)


The Hobbit Cafe
2243 Richmond Ave. 713.526.5460





" Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo!" So this is a Restaurant themed after the J.R. Tolkien trilogy and Multi-million Dollar movies " The Lord of the Rings." This is a very cool little nook for lunch and dinner. The inside of the restaurant is decorated the Poster, and other Lord of the Rings merchandise. The Sandwiches are all themed and are pretty big sized. There is a cool outside patio and the ice tea is very good. This was my second time going to the Hobbit Cafe. If you are over near Rice Village or on Kirby near Richmond during lunch, you should definitely check this place out.


Next Post will featuring my visit to Ruggles Green. If you know of a cool place that I should visit... please comment and I will go and post pictures!

"Until then Get out, be bold, and feed your Soul!"- Oh Shit that's the my new sign off line!!!

"Stay Classy San Diego!!" Muahahahaha!!

Mellow Yellow

Hot Town Cool City DAY #1: Take 2

http://www.hottowncoolcity.org/view/site/locationsall/


The Chocolate Bar
11835 West Alabama 713.520.8599







The Chocolate Bar....... Again this is one of those places that you could probably loose all of your teeth by simply walking in. It was an extremely overwhelming experience going into this place. It was like a scene out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I expected the entire store including the seats to be made out of chocolate. But, the place it crazy. It is a very cool place to take a date, From Ice cream to just gold brick of chocolate they have it at this store. They also have this really cool Ice Hot Chocolate... Chocolatta, which is BANANAS!!! It was like eating/drinking a frozen chocolate! While I knew it was all chocolate it was still a shock that it was so damn rich!!! I told the woman I was a bit overwhelmed by the experience!!!

The Houston Center of Photography
1441 West Alabama 713.529.4755






So I believe that this is apart of the Menil Collection. This is a cool little gallery. There are three exhibits currently there.. The photography is breath-taking. I have never really got into art like that. They said a picture can say or tell a thousand words! I should take more pictures then!! The photographs really tell stories and have lots emotions in them. If you have any interest in Photography, this place would make you want to take classes. There was this one exhibit where you walked into this dark room and there are two different scenes going on. The name of the exhibit was On Joy, On Sorrow. The scenes are suppose to produce feelings of both of those emotions. I think that it depends on your disposition regarding which one gives you either emotion.

There is a library, dark room, and work studio for people that want to photo shop, edit and print their work. I liked the place. I would like to come back when the artistic are revealing their work. This is also a cool place for a date if you are into art and photography. Plus its FREE!!!

Hot Town Cool City

"Hot Town Cool City"
http://www.hottowncoolcity.org/

His Mission:
Visit every single spot on the Hot Town Cool City website and and review it for other folks that:

1. Would like to visit Houston and Check out some cool spots
2. Are trapped in Houston ( like me) and want to learn to like it!!


So July will equal a year of me being here in Houston, TX. While I wish I could say it has been an exciting year... It has been very low key and boring.. so this summer I have taking it upon myself to get out and explore Houston and all it has to offer. This website above is the key to my learning Houston and getting out and meeting folks along with my enthusiasm and positive risk.

Saturday June, 13th 2009

Nielsen's Delicatessen
4500 Richmond Ave. | (713) 963-8005




So this is a cool little Deli near the Galleria, that has some of the best sandwiches Houston has to offer. If you weren't searching for it, you would probably drive past it several hundred times.

Sandwiches are about $6 and some change, but they are huge and you could probably make two meals out of it. Along with sandwiches, they have all type of different salads: Potato, Chicken, Tuna, Macaroni, and etc. They also serve pastries!

The Restaurant has been around for quite some time. It is a small family owned spot. The owner past away last year. It is a very friendly spot! The customers are loyal returners, whom come in and besides special Mayo, everything is made fresh. The customers order these intrigue sandwiches w/ their favorite toppings as if they were ordering a value meal at McDonald's
(i.e. tuna on rye.. with special Mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, and swiss)

I really liked to place and would probably go back again.

Candylicious
1837 West Alabama
(713) 529-6500

This place is Ridiculous!!! As soon as I walked into the Restaurant my teeth started to hurt!! It is candy galore! Any type of candy ever made is in this store... I'm talking SUPER ROPES, Chicosticks... the tri-color coconut cake candy... COMPLETELY ASININE!!! My sister Tiffany would have died here trying to eat everything in that store. In my opinion I don't think you should be able to sell candy like that!!!

Anyhow... this place not for the faint of heart and for people who once in a while eat candy like me... Take your students, kids, and other candy experts here..

Funny Story:



So this is a Barbie with a bridal dress made entirely from different types of candy. This brother was in the store looking for an anniversary gift for his wife of 6 years. He was asking me if I know about the themes for anniversaries, to which I reply " Oh yeah, like Umoja and Kujichagulia!" We both started laughing out loud! From my answer he knew clearly I was a bachelor with no idea about marriage. He told me that each anniversary there is a theme tied to it and for him this theme was like "sweets" or "candy." So he figured this would be a cool gift along with some other things.

Sunday, July 13th 2008 11:52 P.M.

So instead of giving you a pretty picture of Houston with an amazing skyline, I figured this was the best way to define what Houston looks like. Yeah not too pretty huh?? Not to *&%#ing pretty!!

First off this map and these expressways are very confusing to any new resident of Houston...
So that puts me at twice the disadvantage because
1: I ain't from Houston!
2: I'm new to driving!

All I know is that 610 is the huge circle that surrounds most of the city of Houston ( i could be wrong), and that 45 and 90 cut across.

Oh yeah, I forgot to explain why I am in HOUSTON, TX:

I work for a non-profit organization called

I recently graduated from Citizen Schools' National Teaching Fellowship in Boston, MA at Lesley University with a M.Ed in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, with a Specialization in Out-of -School-Time (OOST or after-school program).

For more info about Citizen Schools and the National Teaching Fellowship visit www.citizenschools.org



I was recently hired as the Launching Campus Director of the Lamar Fleming Middle School. Crazy huh?? I know sounds so powerful, like....( I know, I know) a lot of responsibility.

I figured, I've been shying away from responsibility for the past couple of years and needed to change that pattern. You can't wait for things to fall in your lap or for things to happen on their own.... you gotta make 'em happen.

So I'm here in Houston trying to change my life around professionally and social. (While I was in Boston, I didn't like what I was becoming, I was engulfed in work and socially I was going through some sort of crisis of indecisiveness and struggling to really communicate and let people in.

Go figure, I run an after-school program where we push effective communication, yet I can't really communicate. ( more about me later...)


Anyhow, I arrived in good ole Texas on the 4th of July (because it was the cheapest ticket I could find). I have been staying with my friend from UNION COLLEGE where I did my undergrad ,until I get situated or she gives a Brother da boot!!! (Whichever comes first I guess)

Dr. Ross has been so helpful and a true friend indeed. She is definitely a product of the "pay it forward" idea where people do good things for other because good things have been done for them. While her and I were good friends in undergrad, I never thought that we would have reconnected after UNION, she was doing grad work while I was floating around stagnant trying to do everything but get my life together.

But here we are, she has help me to get familiarized with Houston. I would post a photo of her, but then I think that people would only want to check out my blog for picture of her. Good for her, but not so good for me!!!

So far, I have not found an apartment quite yet. I am close I know it. I can feel it in me bones!!!
I am trying to find something that is in a decent area and is close to my school and for a good price.. I almost sign the lease too a really nice apt but it was extremely small....and madd expensive

I would of signed the lease out of convenience if Dr. Ross hadn't convinced me to look elsewhere for bigger and cheaper. WHY do small?? When everything and I mean everything (flying cockroaches) are bigger in Texas.

Apparently Traffic in Houston is quite the disaster and the METRO Bus line is non-existent!!!

So my goals by August are as follows:

1: Find a the "dream" apartment
2. Get my license
3. Find the affordable "dream" car
3. Get a camera so that I can add picture to this blog

Will these things get done?? PROBS!!!!