What a great gift!!! From my boy Glen in Toronto...http://tinyurl.com/7w38u.

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MUSIC LOVERS/THICK CRUST

Happy b-day to me.
Happy b-day mother.

Birthday Playlist (in order):

1. DJ Lt. Dan The King of What's Poppin (Kana's classic party tribute)
2. Bob Marley & the Wailers Rastaman Vibration
3. Jeru The Damaja Wrath Of The Math
4. John Coltrane Giant Steps
5. Dead Prez Let's Get Free
6. Funkytown Pros Reachin A Level Of Assasination
7.Gang Starr The Ownerz
8.Charles Mingus Let My Children Hear Music
9.GZA/Genius Beneath the Surface
10.Tony Toni Tone Sons Of Soul
11. D'Angelo Voodoo
12. Anita Baker Songstress

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GON' PARTY

Somewhere around this 12 ahoy hour, a joyful, golden child was borne. It was a most monumentous day in history. Look at me now! 31 years under my slack belt. & still tickin'!

Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Juice in your Hood is such a classic parody. The satire is genius. The message is brilliant. It really is on another level. Those Wayans are top-notch. Eye was telling my boy James of Supreme South Magazine the same thing about a week ago. We met up at Raz'z Restaurant in Nashville. As usual, eye ordered the market fish, tilapia. How delicious! Loc-dog's grandma, Helen Martin, is a Pearl High, Nashville-native. She went to Fisk University. Ain't that "some good shit"! BTW- Her filmography blows minds.

Loving this special day! Toast with me...compai!!!

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4 MI FAMILIA

Not until you witness those who have helped you define your life pass on, do you wholly realize how temporary this journey. Over the past two years, 4 members of my extended-immediate family have returned to the essence. Two of them key players in my personal experience; the other two fairly distant, but mad influential nonetheless. At times eye find my inner self conflicted by the overwhelming grief that often pervades with no warning. Mix those emotions with the other devastating situations that have taken place over the last 13 months, & it is my guess that even as an outsider, you can understand how confused eye must feel at times.

It was this day in 2003 that my closest cousin slipped away with her dreams. This - the day before my birth/earth day. It was only the day before that she & eye were laughing, joking & planning for the next encounter. Only 2 months prior (almost to the date) eye phoned her with the shocking news of my uncle's passing. Who could have ever predicted that she would be next to transition?

When you talk to me, deal with me, read my writings, please understand that no matter how dressed up, you are looking at hurt in the flesh. Much of Something To Cope documents this raw pain. Something To Cope is all about learning to deal with it all. At least trying to - one step at a time. Please pray for my family.

Peace be upon you Cousin Joyce. Read "Young New Moon" in the gallery in honor of my dearest cousin. She taught me about living to the fullest. What a novel concept!!!

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NO WHERE TO RUN

HEY! "What's the deal? What's the deally-o?"- (Eye was so glad that she won.)

This has been the first season that the whole fam has come together to share in the network reality show craze. We watch ALL of the entertainment-related, i.e. American Idol, Road To Stardom, America's Next Top Model. We have been great fans of Extreme Makeover Home Edition & How'd They Do That? Even the children know the days & times of the Nanny shows & the family-centered exchanges. We have also watched Survivor, The Swan, and many others, at random. Whether or not we gain much from the content of the shows is debatable, but the fact that we come together at all anymore is remarkable. Unlike most families, we are ALL together -ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. So an hour of TV each night (occasionally 2), watched collectively, serves an all together different purpose than for those who spend their only hour together in front of the tube (that's no judgement, just an observation). Before we had children we swore that they would hardly know what a TV was capable of showing. Well, that was a short lived goal. Fortunately, we have been able to manage their viewing. For the majority of our parenting years we have only had one television in the whole house - in the living room. There will be no sitting up in each room watching individual shows. No way, no how...

Please email if you need to catch me this next few days. You already know the deally-o.
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SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET

Yesterday was Shakespeare's birthday. It completely slipped my mind until eye read it in a message this morning. The mailing included his "Sonnet 144" - which eye have always enjoyed reading. Oddly enough, last night eye wrote a piece that is sonnetish. "A Birthday Present Poem". It has shaped up to be a nice piece of work. When it is edited you will be able to read it in the gallery (1).

IN THE KNOW RETURNS! Monday, May 16 will be the publication date of Volume II. Thanks you all for hanging in there in the lean times! Welcome the new listing editor/reporter, Michelle Whyte!

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R U AMAZING?

Eye love the commercial for the Amazing candy bars where the girl does unbelievable computer acrobatics in order to open the wrapper. That would really be some amazing feat if she could accomplish that with those contortions. Eye am amazing that way, but not as it pertains to candy wrappers - just real ones. As a child, eye never imagined that a rapper would actually be my mate for life. It never occurred to me that a rapper would father the children. What a bugged out lives we lead?!?!

Happy earth/birth day Ekundayo! You are truly joy along this journey. Thank you for your wisdom! 4 is cool!

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