I like my freedom

You know, I never realized how awesome it is to drive myself from one place to another until I didn't have a vehicle.  While I went a long time without a vehicle, I was content.  I didn't mind asking for rides from friends because, quite frankly, they're my friends.  They're supposed to do nice things for me.  I do nice things for them.  It's what friendship is all about.  Anyway, I finally got a vehicle this past Thursday.  It was truly a blessing from God.  I'm thankful for all those who helped me along my journey towards a car.  I'm also thankful for all those who helped me get around while I struggled.  Now that I have a car, I'm pretty happy.  I can go to the supermarket and get more than one bag of groceries.  You never realize how awesome multiple bags of groceries are until you're carrying them on a bus full of weirdos.  No offense Valley Metro, you're great and all, but your passengers scare me.  Although, no lie, I'd still ride that bus just for the sake of riding it.  Although the jealous faces when I bring Kroger chicken on the bus makes me laugh.  I will still go on my walkabouts up and down Williamson Road.  That place is a fun walk.  Those folks are interesting.  It was great to stay a little longer at work knowing that I'm not inconveniencing anyone.  It's good to know that I can go to church and serve my Lord with no reservations about getting there or hoping I can catch a ride the night before.  I can go to church with no worries.  I can do more in church.  I'm just so thankful and blessed.  I always say that I deserve nothing.  God blesses me simply because He wants to.  Never forget how big of a jerk you are and how God loves you anyway.  Yes I know a lot of nice people, but if you're not Jesus, you're not perfect.  If you're not perfect...well then.  I'm just happier than happy that I can celebrate this with you all who read this blog.  While you're at it, share this blog with your friends.  I'd like to say that I'm worth the effort of reading.  So share this, tell people about it.  Join the Facebook group.  Well, I'm done.  Thanks again for praying for the vehicle situation.  You're all special to me.

I still hate LMFAO...the radio isn't working in the car yet, so I'm thankful they're not polluting my ears while I drive.

Stop It

Okay, I get it.  Some people have different musical tastes than I do.  I am an old soul.  I'd much rather listen to Smokey Robinson than Kanye West.  I have an affection for smooth jazz as opposed to Dubstep.  However, I am thoroughly disappointed in about 60% of you people.  There is a band, group, duo, whatever you want to call them that gets on my very last nerve.  They have no talent whatsoever.  However you people flock to them and quote them in your Facebook statuses like they're the second coming of Sinatra.  LMFAO could quite possibly be the worst musical artists ever created.  First of all, they can't sing.  Even with that horrible Auto-Tune invention that makes everyone think they can sing, they still manage to be off key and awful.  Second, there is absolutely no substance to their songs.  It's just them saying some pretty stupid things over and over again.  They're like L'il John with 3 more words in their vocabulary.  How in the world can that pass for music? Next, they look like they get dressed in the dark.  It's like they get up and 3 in the morning, grab clothing, and throw it on.  Sometimes they put the wrong article of clothing on the wrong body parts.  And to top it off, their shirts look like they stole their younger brother's baby clothes.  I know they're supposed to be outlandish and strange, but dress like you got some sense.  They look like they're dressed by the State.  Their name is obnoxious, too.  I'm not laughing anything of mine off at them.  In fact, I feel for them.  I feel for their mothers actually.  I bet if you ask their mothers what their kids do, they'd cry.  I'm sure they're saying to themselves, "All them music lessons I paid for, this is what they're doing."  You people are hurting my feelings with your constant  love for them.  I know, people can make whatever choices they want.  However, you're all wrong on this.  And what's worse is that the M&Ms commercial made them an even bigger name.  Now people are saying, "wiggle, wiggle, blah, blah, blah" all day long.  I'm starting my own group, "SMH" Shaking My Head.  Terrible...

Something big is happening...

...besides that football game, my birthday is today.  Yep, I finally turned the big 3 tens and 2 ones.  Not sure what to make of it.  I know one thing, I look dang good for my age.  I'm going to make this short and sweet.  I know you have a game to get drunk for.  However I have to say that I am quite happy.  I got an awesome gift from a lovely couple from my church.  My favorite cookies, Soft Batch Chocolate Chip, and a gift card to Taco Bell.  Yes the food is bad for you, but it's worth the sacrifice of my bloodstream.  I got tons of Facebook posts, a couple of texts, and even a phone call from one of my best friends.  I'm blessed to have so many people in my life.  People who care about me, love me, and want to see me happy.  I promise you that this particular year, I refuse to not be blessed.  I refuse to not be thankful for what God has given me.  I will have joy.  I will find that perfect wifey chick.  Last year's chick was a waste of space.  If you want my heart, you'd better be worth my time.  I'm going to accomplish my goals.  God will be pleased because I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  I know I won't be perfect.  I know I'll make mistakes.  I can count twelve I made this morning.  However I will be quick to make things right and quicker to be apologetic for doing wrong.  I know I like to claim that I'm the smartest and rightest person I know, but truth be told...I can screw up.  Yes I know it's hard for you all to see me admit imperfection, but it's true.  I can be my own worst enemy sometimes.  However what makes me so awesome is that I know all this and will still work on doing better in life.  My 29 years, 36 months has taught me to do right with God's help.  It has taught me to not be satisfied with where I am and to always seek and strive to improve.  I promise that I will be a Better Tyrone than I was during my 29 years 24 month life time.  Anyway, again thank you all who wished me well on birthday.  I'm sure next year during 29 year 48 month day, we can talk about how uber awesome I am as opposed to just awesome.

Life's Rough, Use Exfoliant

You people need to stop complaining.  I mean seriously.  I listen to people fuss about the weather.  The weather?!?! Really?  Seriously people, you can't complain about the weather.  People fuss about the temperatures getting to the 60s in the winter.  They want to blame it on the evil corporations and their pollution. They want to whine about the unseasonably warm weather.  These kinds of things happen on this planet.  It's been happening for years, even before the invention of carbon monoxide and the ozone layer.  Then when the winter gets super cold again, you complain about that, too.  Hey people, it's WINTER!  People complain about the teams in the Super Bowl.  Look, I'm not too thrilled that my favorite team failed to win a game in the playoffs after only losing one game all season, but I don't complain about the teams.  I don't complain about the game being all corporate or whatever.  It's a game.  Just a game.  People complain about politics.  Politics are what they are.  A bunch of rich people taking money from richer people to give the super rich people what they want.  And every once in a while, you take money from the poor people to get that money to the super rich people.  Before you react, this is not complaining.  This is me airing my displeasure with things that are happening.  People complain about prices of items.  There's a reason your shoes costs way too much money...the people who made those shoes know your willingness to be fashionable outweighs your common sense.  In layman's terms, you're a sucker.  If you really want to complain about something, complain about how our children are dumber, more disrespectful, and more spoiled than ever.  Then shut up, teach them something, beat them, and don't give them everything they want.  Problem averted.  Complain about how people are just immoral and jerkier than ever.  Then shut up and be a better example.  I'm saying shut up a lot.  Oh well, it needs to be said.  Anyway, my birthday is tomorrow. I'm sure I'll post something all inspirational and sweet.  Or I could give some cool people that I know a shout out.  It's still up in the air...

Coming Events

Not really sure what to expect when I turn 29 years and 36 months on Sunday.  There will be a big football game that no one cares about in Indianapolis.  Besides that, not sure.  I'll be one year older, one year wiser.  I'll have more experience in the game of life.  Not the board game, I kill people in that.  Not actually kill, that's not one of the life cards you can get.  I'm rambling.  I guess that's another trait of getting older, you tend to talk for long periods of time about nothing at all.  Kinda getting my Abe Simpson on.  Where was I?  Oh yeah, I know more about life and what to expect out of life.  God's help has a tremendous impact on me.  I thank Him everyday for blessing me with wisdom to figure out issues.  I guess what I've learned is that I can't change everything.  I can't change everyone either.  All I can do is respect what's given to me and accept what I have.  God's grace is sufficient for me.  Change what you can, accept what you can't, and know the difference.  Anyway, I'm blessed everyday by what God has taught me.  I guess the advice I'd give you as you get older is to never stop learning.  Enjoy understanding what other people are about.  You don't have to agree with it, but try to see their reasons for doing what they do.  Don't blindly join the in crowd just to be popular.  Also, don't be so quick to align with a cause simply because a political party or television network signs off on it.  You study it, figure out what it means, then make your decision.  Wisdom is a gift from God.  Roll with it.  Never forget your friends.  God gives you a friend for a reason.  I made some complaints about the "Friend Zone."  However I've had an epiphany.  Be honored that you are in the Friend Zone.  It just means that you have attractive friends.  Trust me, most of my friends are uglier than me.  It's good to look across the table and see someone worth looking at.  That's all a joke, I only surround myself with good looking people.  Be a good friend to people too.  Support them in everything.  Even if you don't agree, wish them well and have their back.  Pray for your friends.  Tell God how much your friends mean to you.  Tell your friends how much they mean to you.  I think I'll do that now.

To all my friends.  You all have been an awesome influence in my life.  Your love, support, friendship, trust, and encouragement brings me great joy.  I don't deserve any of you.  I love you all.

Okay that was good.  Anyway, appreciate what you have.  Thank God that you're not in a much worse situation than you're in.  If you're reading this from a telephone or one of those tablets, you're richer than most people.  Just saying.  I'm so thankful for what God has taught me in my life.

Hooray for wisdom.

The Skate Party

This next birthday story takes me back to 1988.  I had just turned 8 years old.  My mom decided that she would have a skate party for me.  Now up until then, I'd only been skating once.  It was someone else's birthday party.  I wanted a skate party, too.  So my mom planned a skate party for me.  She asked me all the names of my school friends.  We then made invitations for everyone.  A healthy amount of my classmates made it.  It was quite fun.  I got better at skating.  The music was pretty cool.  Note to self and anyone else, do not try to do the Kid-N-Play move with roller skates.  Scary results...  Anyway, I was so happy that my mom went through all that trouble to make my 8th birthday so awesome.  That birthday taught me that my mom would do anything within her capabilities to make my life happier.  My mother is way too important to me.  I am blessed beyond all belief to have my mother.  No offense to anyone who is a mother, has a mother, or is planning on being a mother, but my mom is the best mom ever.  I know a few really really good moms, but mine is the greatest.  Everyday I'm thankful for all my mom has done for me from birth through my upcoming 29th year and 36th month of existence celebration.  My mother is an amazing person.  I'm blessed to have her.


On a bit of a side note, I was blessed to finally be able to get a car.  I can't possibly fathom the thankfulness I have to God and friends for their continued prayers, support, and help in my finally getting a vehicle.  It's a nice vehicle.  I can finally take myself wherever I need to go.  It's a blessing I will never ever forget.

I Fought the Law...

This next birthday goes back to 2001.  It was my 21st birthday, and I was a junior at Liberty University.  No, I didn't lose my mind drinking various concoctions of alcoholic beverages.  Proud to say that I still have yet to partake in that.  Nothing deep, just don't feel like it.  Anyway, one of my gifts to myself was a trip back to my hometown of North Charleston.  That trip was to see Smackdown at the North Charleston Coliseum.  The Coliseum was minutes from my mom's house, so I got to chill in my own bed for a couple of days.  I decided I would leave the campus just before curfew and drive to my house during the night.  I drove with a fairly limited amount of adventure until I hit that dreaded spot known as the speed trap.  Now if you're not familiar with what a speed trap is, it's basically a spot on a highway where the speed limit drops suddenly and has a police officer set up withing feet of it.  I found that speed trap southbound on I-77 in North Carolina.  About the spot where you enter Mecklenburg County.  Here's the great part, up until then, the worst trouble I'd ever been in was when a police officer in Myrtle Beach said I fit the description of someone who stole something from a Spencer's at the mall.  Of course that description was black guy in blue pants.  I digress, so while I'm driving, I'm seeing flashing lights coming from behind me.  Me being the concerned citizen that I was, I changed lanes so the nice officer could get to the law breaking criminal he was pursuing.  However, the officer was still right behind me.  So I change lanes again.  When I see the officer still behind me, I realized that I was the rapscallion that was needing justice served on him.  So I pull over.  He tells me I was going too fast and wondered why I was swerving lanes so much.  The final verdict was a ticket and an automatic trip to court.  However I do have to say that the court was very nice to me and lowered my charge and I paid a small fine.  I also got a nice tour of Charlotte, North Carolina because I had drive all over kingdom come to find the courthouse because the officer was so sympathetic to my plight of not being from North Carolina.  He simply said, "you'd better leave early so you can find the place."  Thanks for being helpful, officer.  That was the year I learned about humility and not being untouchable.  I never really thought I was untouchable, so this incident actually confirmed it for me.  I'm a safe person now.  I try to respect every law I can.  If I happen to break a law, it was out of ignorance.  The wrestling show was quite fun, truth be told.  I think the best part was Stone Cold Steve Austin beating up everyone...which is pretty much wrestling in 2001.