Last night I walked around the streets of Orlando, I’m homeless

That is all…

So two Lesbian’s decided to try and enroll a 4 year old child into a Christian School, why didn’t they think that this was going to be a problem. When you cross out the Fathers name on the application, and write in Mother on the Application, then that school would certianly have a problem with you doing that thinking your are now no longer thinking of Man and Woman, I think this is what caught their eyes and made them make a decision based on that alone.

“St. Vincent’s School as a ministry of St. Vincent’s Cathedral upholds the clear teaching of the Christian faith, the Holy Bible, and the Anglican Church in North America,” the Rev. Ryan Reed said.

“We based our decisions about enrollment on what is best for the children of St. Vincent’s as a whole and in conformity with the above standards,” he said. “We regret the disappointment the mother feels, but also do not understand why she would want to enroll her child in a school that would undercut her own personal values at home.”

The bigger issue I have is that they decided to bring this child on the air while we are talking about her, that’s not good parenting IMO.  When are grown ups going to stop having children listen to grown issues and problems that only grown ups can handle.  The child should not be in this video that is the bigger issue for me, not the lesbians.

Ok so I loved this video and had to share it with all 300 3 of you.  Enjoy

I am pretty sure my kids would say one of these guys remind them of me…

Today I received a notice that the SXSW 2011 panel picker was live and taking votes on those panels that have been submitted for review.  A little over a month ago I submitted a panel that I thought was relevant, and very much needed by people who are new to blogging or those who want to start a blog.

The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW is the premier destination for discovery.

The name of my Panel is:  The Cost, Commitment, & Satisfaction of Starting a Blog.  I thought the title was good and would appeal to a lot of people.  I guess the committee decided it was good enough to put up for a vote. So for the next couple of weeks you have a chance to vote as to which panels are interesting, relevant, and just plain old needed for the masses at the SXSW Panel Picker website.  I would encourage you to vote for more than just my panel, I have friends who have panels up for vote also, another blog post soon on which panels are my friends and why I am voting for them.

What I am needing from my faithful followers are votes, tweets, more tweets…  I believe this panel can be a great one that will provide people with the proper information on how to start blogging, what to blog about and how to keep it all going.

So now I have to ask all of you if you can do me a favor and go to my SXSW Panel page and vote for my panel here is the link The Cost, Commitment, & Satisfaction of Starting a Blog. I would also love to see feed back on the panel so that ideas can flow and interesting conversations can be seen by the review committee.  This would probably help my chances so please lets discuss it.

My days have been filled with ups and downs, I think we all go thought this but lately I’m feeling more down than up.  Two people who I don’t know seem to help me get my mind and spirit in the right place. 

One is Steve Harvey every morning I try to get up and catch his 6:00AM thank you to GOD.  I’m not sure if he calls it that, but when I’m listening his words seem to always help me get my day started off right.  Regardless of how you look at the man, he has a gift and IMHO he’s using it to it’s full potential.  Now on the other hand the second person that seems to speak to me is Tyler Perry while both of these people are very different they speak from the heart, and in my opinion from a place that GOD has given them to rejoice and be thankful. 

While Steve has a radio show and can reach people everyday, Tyler has a Newsletter.  While I’m not sure I would want to hear Tyler everyday I simply love his newsletter, it’s filled with lots of inspiration.  I’m posting what I got in his last newsletter update.  I found this helpful and I hope you do too.

This is posted from the Tyler Perry Newsletter you can sign up for it here if you would like.

 To chase down a dream!

Sorry I’ve been MIA but we just finished the movie, For Colored Girls, and
I have to tell you, I have new respect for Ntozake Shange’s 1975 writings.
Listening to these words spoken through the voices of Phylicia Rashad,
Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Macy Gray, Kimberly Elise, Thandie
Newton, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson and Loretta Devine, made me not
only respect the brilliance of the material, but also pull out everything
in me to do my best to give it the care and attention to detail that it
deserved. Out of all that I’ve ever done in my life, nothing has taken
more out of me than this film. It is remarkable.

Being so drained, I decided to take a few days off. Yesterday I was
hiking a mountain in Hawaii with a friend. I was laboring up this
beautiful green pastured mountain, looking down at my feet trying to be
sure of my footing, while at the same time trying to catch my breath from
the altitude. At times, I would make big steps, sometimes all I could do
was take small ones. The terrain was uneven and rough at times. It took
a lot of effort and a lot of thought so, needless to say, I was getting
really tired and at times wanted to stop or just turn back.

I got to one peak and I thought “I’m here, great, we can rest now” only to
realize that just because I was at the top of one peak, that didn’t mean I
had arrived. There were more…more valleys to go through and more heights
to reach. It was interesting to me, that in order to go higher, we
usually had to go down through a valley, and it went on and on and up and
up. I was tired and wanted to sit down but my friend said, “Come on,
let’s go a little higher.” So, not to be outdone by a girl (lol), I dug
my hiking boots in and went a little higher. We finally got to one of the
highest points and she said to me, “This is the best part, now turn
around.” I turned around and behind me was the most amazing view that I
had seen in my 40 years on this earth. As far as my eyes could see,
beauty reigned. The Hawaiian Islands seemed to be leaping up out of the
silver blue sea, stretching up to catch the dust of the sky. The clouds
seemed close enough to catch in my hand and make a wish; rays of sunlight
danced through them trying to find a path to show off their own glow and
power. Not even Picasso could have out-painted the canvas that was before
me. The heavens were declaring the glory of God. I saw Him in motion.

I said to my friend, “When did we get this high?”, and she said, “It was
in the climb.” I couldn’t help but think about life – mine and maybe even
yours. I thought about how hard it had been for me chasing down my dream.
I thought about how hard it can be to believe sometimes. I thought about
the entire struggle, all of the pain, all of the hope, all of the doubt.
I thought about the times I was working a dead end job, trying to believe;
moving through day-to-day with my head down just taking one step at a
time, some small, some big ones, wanting to give up; wanting to stop and
sit for a while; wanting to lay in my sorrow; nobody believing in me;
nobody thinking it would come to pass and never realizing that every step
was taking me closer to higher. That hike was painful, it hurt, but
through it all I was getting higher and had no idea how high I was.
That’s what it’s like to chase down a dream.

Sometimes in life dreams are hard to follow, like that climb. You don’t
know how high you’re going or even if you’re moving, but every step, even
when you can’t see what’s behind you, will take you closer to your goals.
It’s in the climb. I know you may be struggling right now, but you’re in
the climb; things may be hard right now, but you’re in the climb; people
may not believe in you, but it’s part of the climb. They may take shots
at you, but stay in the climb; you may have to stand alone, but you’re in
the climb. Even if you’re not where you want to be right now, I want to
say to you what she said to me, “This is the best part, now turn around.”
Look how far you’ve come. God has not brought you this far to leave you.
Stay in the climb.

So thankful for all of you. Be well. CLIMB!

Tyler Perry

Cancer

Since it has been a minute since I posted anything on the internet, about 30 days to be exact I finally have some time to post about my fathers condition.  He was diagnosed with Cancer over 3 months ago, while at first I wasn’t too happy about this I and the family took this in stride and my father choose surgery to see if they could remove all the traces of Cancer in his body.

Today after just over 1 month since his surgery he has been advised he no longer has cancer and they are about to reverse a surgery so that my dad can get back to normal.  While I didn’t really know what to think, do, or say during this ordeal.  My father was happy that we were talking more and more each day.  His spirits have not been the best lately because he has been having to live in a capacity that he has not ever been used to, depending on someone else.  When all this started I was hoping his wife was ready for the help he would need, and I think the bond they have helped them along.  It seems like yesterday i was feeling depressed about this and the posibilities, but all is looking well and I’m happy I’ll be fishing with my father again very soon.

Jay

As many of you know I was in Atlanta over the past weekend and my father was having cancer surgery. While the surgery was a success, my fathers spirits were not always good. If you know my father than you know how much of a man he really is, he has always done things his way. You know the kind of guy who never ask for directions and has lived a wonderful, non asking for help kind of life, until now.

His surgery was a success and for the moment we just got word the tissue samples are now negative for cancer, so the Doctors dug deep enough on this surgery and at the moment lymph nods are also cancer free. While those two things are great the bad is that my dad feels a little helpless. After surgery their are some things that are gonna have to be different in his life while I won’t bore you with the details of his current future changes, oh and the fact that if I told the world he would give me the whole ” I brought you in this world I can take you out speech.”

I just wanted to let him know I am proud of my father, 1st for being my father, 2nd for going through with the surgery, and 3rd for showing me the way to being the best father to my own kids

I love you dad and your limited movement and food intake is only temporary, soon you will be back to 100 percent. Doing what you do best and that is ” Being the best father anyone could have.”

I can’t wait to go fishing this summer, just like we did when I was a kid, I learned so much from you those talks, the life lessons, I can’t wait.

Jayson

Last night I was fortunate enough to stay with one of my child hood friends and his wife.  While we don’t get to talk much anymore when we get together it’s like old times.  Last night we talked for about 2 hours about life, kids, and marriage.  Then I decided it was time for me to goto bed, I had to be up in the morning to show up for my dad’s surgery before he went into the OR.  My friend was off Thurday morning, I don’t know how that happen but that enabled him to drive me into town thank you Jeasus.

It’s funny how things work out when moons align as we were on our way to the hospital we heard on the radio about a possible stand off on Peachtree street.  If you have ever lived in Atlanta then you know about these calls.  As we were aproaching Peachtree I wondered if this was on our way, but didn’t think much after that.  As we reached 25th and Peachtree we saw the police lights and the blockade.  Yes we had to divert and go another route, the cool thing about that is we grew up in ATL.  So we just hit the e-way and jumped off at Piedmont and came up the back way.

The delay was just enough that we didn’t get to go back with my father by the time we go there, he was still in holding tho and I was able to go back and see him before he went for surgery.  His wife was by his side and she was doing well also.  At first I really didn’t know what to say to him, I just kind of sat there looking at things, and then I decided to tell him more about my bus ride.  I was able to bring my father to tears laughing, that was very cool he was laughing so hard.

Just before they took dad to the back I was able to give him a hug and a kiss, then me and my Step mom went to have cafiteria breakfast, you can guess the story about the food good, or bad I bet you could guess which one.

We have had two updates letting us know that things are looking good and that’s a comfort for sure.

Early this morning about 1AM I was waiting in line to board the Greyhound in Orlando.  I waited in line with everyone else until this lady showed up who was apparently high or drunk.  She was dancing and singing and cursing and cutting the line but nobody wanted to tell her she needs to get to the end of the line.

It was so funny I wish I had taken some video of this she was over the top and I was not looking forward to the bus ride, but after all the drama and the cop being called over she was no allowed to ride the bus and we took off just after 1AM.

While I usually fly to most of the places I go this was a little different and it was not to bad, but I don’t think I will be riding the bus again soon.  I’m not one for riding the bus with people I don’t know.

I arrived in ATL about 10:30AM and that was a good time I was able to visit The Varsity for two naked dogs, fries and a coke.  I also stopped at a couple of Marta train stations to see what the area look like now, and noticed so many changes it looked like I was in another city.

This trip is not all fun, but for what it’s worth I gotta get some smiles out of this trip some how.

Bare and Grin it

While the title seems to be a play on the Jackson 5 hit “I’m going back to Indiana” it’s a thought to give some knowledge to all of you out there.  I’m only visiting the A for the weekend and pretty much will be at one place which is a local hospital in the area.  About little more than a month ago I found out, I mean we found out my father has Cancer.  While it’s the begining stages of Cancer it’s still Cancer no less.

At first when my father told me about it he didn’t want me to tell anyone because they were still doing the lab results I can respect that and while some people might spill the beans I’m good with keeping secrets, a little too good sometimes.  We waited for the results and when they came back Cancerious I wasn’t too happy but at the same time didn’t know what to feel.  I don’t deal with death too well, I guess I sometimes don’t even think about death when it comes to my parents and loved ones.  Although I know one day we will all die.

So as my father told me what was going on, I couldn’t do anything be make a joke about the whole thing.  While they had told him about issues over 8 years ago they never said Cancer and so when he stated talking about 8 years ago, and it’s just now Cancer can’t we just forget about this whole Cancer thing and just live another 8 years of his life out.  Without Chemo, without radiation, and with out surgery.  Those were my thoughts, but the truth is it’s early stage and with modern medicine breakthroughts this might not be something that turns out bad, it could be something that turns out good.  It has done something to me it has brought me closer to my father, the man who taught me everything.

So on Thurday morning I will be in the hospital for his surgery, and will make sure I’m there to help him through as much as I can.