What Would Seth Godin Do?

Imagine you knew you were more likely, than not, to lose your job in the next three to six months? Now imagine that a month later some guy named Seth Godin told you pretty much the same thing? What would you do? What...would you do?

President Obama

I smile every time I hear it. I had a business appointment today at a local V.F.W. Post, and while I was waiting I watched the all-white, working-class patrons glued to a flat-screen T.V., while they nursed their respective drinks. I just assumed they were watching the Celtics, or something. When I paid closer attention, I saw they were watching a rerun of President and Michelle Obama dancing at one of the inaugural balls.

I'm sorry, but having lived in Boston close to three decade, awkward doesn't even begin to describe what I was feeling. I was expecting some off-hand comments about the expense of the inauguration, or the over-saturation of Mr. Yes-We-Can. What I overheard forced me to check my gut reaction at the door, and to really appreciate all that lead to a President Obama. I heard one man say to the other, I don't like the dress, it makes her look big. I heard the other man respond, with a look of disappointment, yeah.

Looking Back on 2008

December 31 has taken me a bit by suprise. Maybe it's because I'm on call, and I have two kids , AND the temperature (with the wind-chill) will reach zero by the time the year is through, and the ground is full-o-snow. No watchnight service this year, except via online (my wife adopts technology when it suits her, amen). No dinners, party, etc. No illness either. Everyone's healthy.

I started thinking back on the year and what I had spend time doing, what my blessing were, what were my regrets, accomplishments, and so on. Back when I wrote in a journal would be easy, just flip back the pages and voila. Now, my blog isn't a good candidate because the audience isn't just me and it doesn't have the frequency my journals did.

Back when I wrote in a journal, I would compare the current New Year's Eve to those of previous years. It's a very cool exercise, I recommend it. This day ten years ago, I was on a flight from Texas to Costa Rica. I was a great way to ring in the New Year. It was the first time I had every seen fireworks, from above.

So back to 2008. Sure I remembered the highlights. Obama '08, check. New son, check. But the details. Then I got an idea. What if I went into my sent e-mail box and looked at all the subject headings? It was a pretty accurate picture of how I spent my time. I spend most of 2008 in school, half of it inquiring or responding to job opportunities, motorcycling, and the last quarter was chock full of celebrations over our latest addition to the family and Barack Obama's election.

All in all, no regrets. Time well spent. So, what's in your sent e-mail box?

Tidings of Joy

So, Merry Christmas people o' the 'net. It's been quite a year and it is a different type of Christmas. It's the first time we celebrated Christmas at home as a nuclear family (our youngest is two months old today). We'll be spending an abbreviated amount of time with my family, so we can spend some time with some of my wife's closest friends (her immediate family is abroad).

It's a White Christmas, and above freezing, and quite sunny. We are all healthy, have love, grace, and provision. Not everything is perfect, but it's a worry free day (even with me having to go to work tomorrow). I'm also listening to non-traditional Christmas songs on Pandora. I normally
stay off the computer on Christmas and other holidays, but this year I realize that a lot of the people I'd like to wish tidings of joy (and vice-versa) can best (or only) be contacted via e-mail
or text message.

I didn't expect to get a single gift this Christmas; not one you can buy anyway. However, I got quite a large gift from an unexpected source. I ended up passing the gift along to my wife and kids (minus the tithe). They needed and deserved it much more than I did. Besides, I already had and continue to receive gifts that you can't buy. Love, hope, peace, health, passion, and grace.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Natal, and Joyeux Noel!

It's A New Day

I haven't been able to get that song out of my head. It's A New Day, by will.i.am. It sums up nicely the sentiment the majority of the voting electorate and dare I say a whole lot more people globally, of President-Elect Obama. It's not just about the first African-American president of the USA, but just the relief, passion, vindication, of it all. In a word...freedom. Or a better word...liberation. I too went to bed election night, tired from the fight, but woke Wednesday feeling brand new.

Peace Out Uncle's Bernie and Issac

Geez, first Bernie, then Issac. I still can't believe it. While I'm not related to Bernie Mac (or Issac Hayes for that matter). Bernie considered America family. So there. :( I feel the loss of two greats. More Bernie, only because I'm more in tune with his work, and he came into his height in my generation.

Losing Bernie also brought back the loss of another similar comedian, Robin Harris, of Houseparty and Bebe's Kids fame. He also died too soon. These brothers were stomach-cramps funny. Their humor was both natural and distinct. Which may lend an explanation to their both having roles in the Houseparty movies of the early 90s.

I first got a taste of Bernie on Def Comedy Jam, years ago. I thought, wow, a brother as dark as myself on t.v., nah. He ain't gonna make it; but he's good. I'm glad I was wrong about the former, and right about the later.

Over the following years I found myself catching everything I could with Bernie in it. The last movie I saw him in was Ocean's Eleven (the remake of course), and he managed to play it straight. I was impressed. Especially with such a star-studded cast.

My introduction to Issac Hayes was back in the late 70s, when I discovered my father's vinyl copy of Shaft The Soundtrack, with that (almost) globally reconizable intro. It still gives me goosebumps, begin so raw and unadulterated. He remained part of my father's generation until...South Park, the animated series where he was the voice of "Chef".

Ironically, these two somewhat polar individuals star in a film called Soul Men (coming this November), starring Samuel L. Jackson who once played Shaft.

Peace out fellas, and our prayers to your families.

Dodo Ati Rice (Fried Plantain & Rice)

One of the beautiful things about being married to a caterer is that I get to be like of of those judges on the Food Network shows. Exacting their judgment with the aid of their discerning palette.

So I begin. Yesterday I had jollof-rice, dodo, and a sprinkling of shakee (tripe), stewed goat-meat, and stewed chicken. I decided, unprecedentedly, to wash this all down with a Dr. Pepper. I usually don't drink soda, but I've been ordered by the missus, to work on empting the fridge of excess baggage.

The jollof-rice was left over batch she cooked for a friend's birthday, a bit spicey, with a complexion resembling the red/orange rice dishes found in Latin American eateries. However, not as wet though.

The plantains used for the dodo were perfectly ripe. Not too early, not to late. This produced firm, but not hard dodo, that allows itself to cook long for thoroughness, without burning on the outside prematurely or soaking up too much oil.

A bit of pepper stew on top of the jollof-rice, although not needed for the rice, provided a little extra variation in consistency and taste. Plus, was a nice bonus to aid finishing off the dodo I didn't devour with the jollof-rice.