Happy Birthday to me...
Happy birthday to me...
In 366 days from now,
I'll be turnin' 23!!

Some history of my birthday:
On Dec. 19, 1984, Britain and China signed an accord returning Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.

I also share birthdays with the following:
* 1979 Kristanna Loken (actress, supermodel) [From Terminator 3]
* 1972 Alyssa Milano (actress) [From Charmed, Who's The Boss]
* 1963 Jennifer Beals (actress) [Flashdance, I think]
* 1946 Robert Urich (actor) [Spencer For Hire, S.W.A.T.; died in '02 R.I.P.]
* 1944 Tim Reid (actor) [W.K.R.P. In Cincinatti, Sister Sister]
* 1939 Cicely Tyson (actress) [Fried Green Tomatoes, The Women of Brewster Place]

Who Knows?
I may do somethin great like these kats!

Now, my message to all:
Go out to the world this weekend, and put a smile on someone's face!
And if you don't know how, try smiling yourself. Hey, the attempt to smile has gotta make someone else smile, right?
Lata...

Supplemental.

The Gimmie-2-a-evrathang! playlist

Tiger Bone / Sean Paul / Stage One
Infiltrate / Sean Paul / Stage One
Live @ The Garden / The Notorious B.I.G. / The Hits & Unreleased
Hypnotize / The Notorious B.I.G. / The Hits & Unreleased
Trod Mt. Zion / Sizzla / Da Real Thing
Just One Of Those Days / Sizzla / Da Real Thing
Hip-Hop Star / Beyonce / Dangerously In Love
Naughty Girl / Beyonce / Dangerously In Love
Off On Your Own Girl / Al B. Sure! / In Effect Mode
Killing Me Softly / Al B. Sure! / In Effect Mode
Rock With You / Michael Jackson / Number Ones
One More Chance / Michael Jackson /Number Ones
One Night Stand / Kenny G / Gravity
One Man's Poison (Another Man's Sweetness) / Kenny G / Gravity
Sweetness / Beres Hammond / Can't Stop A Man
What One Dance Can Do / Beres Hammond / Can't Stop A Man
Change Clothes / Jay-Z / The Black Album
Lucifer / Jay-Z / The Black Album
Feliz Navidad / Celine Dion / These Are Special Times
I'm Your Angel [w. R. Kelly] / Celine Dion / These Are Special Times
O Holy Night / Jon Secada / The Gift
Silent Night, Holy Night / Jon Secada / The Gift
Vitamin S / Baby Cham / Strictly The Best / Volume 31
Those Eyes / Rik Rok & Shaggy / Strictly The Best - Volume 31

Now, tell me that is not a well diversified playlist. This iTunes 4.1 is serious! I wonder what playlist I'll create next...

As today, I am three steps closer to graduation. First off, despite Hunter cancelling one of the classes I planned to take so I can have the perfect schedule, I registered for the last four classes required of me to graduate. And while the schedule ain't perfect (in fact, I'm at that school every night except Wednesdays), it allows me to work and attend classes at the same time. Yay.
Second, after hearing semester after semester about people getting problems at the last minute graduating from Hunter, I took it upon myself to get the materials (graduation applications, major/minor applications, and senior photos) necessary to get out of this school. I filled out most of it; and truth be told, they're all very redundant. The info I have to provide for each and every paper should be available for them on the computer. But nooo... they gotta make me write it out 5 and 6 times. Oh well.
Lastly, I had my Managerial Accounting final yesterday. Yup, the professor gave us the final on the last day of our class. And how was it, you ask? It was much easier than I had anticipated. So much so, I finished in 30 minutes. Three or four people finished earlier than I did, and the only reason I stayed behind was to make sure that this was in fact, the test I was taking. Only God can bring down such miracles. Hold on a sec...


Control / Janet Jackson / Design Of The Decade
Let's Wait Awhile / Janet Jackson / Design Of The Decade
Angelina Flashback / Jan Hammer / Miami Vice Collection
Evan / Jan Hammer / Miami Vice Collection
Cock Up Your Bumper (Remix) / Elephant Man / Good To Go
Blaze' / Elephant Man / Good To Go
Sade / Kenny G / Duotones
Songbird / Kenny G / Duotones
You Give Good Love / Whitney Houston / Whitney Houston
Thinking About You / Whitney Houston / Whitney Houston

Check this out:
Friday, snow starts to falll, causing slight flutters. I'm in my Timberland's. Tread through the snow to J&R Music World, to Best Buy, to CompUSA, back to J&R (this was to replace my keyboard, by the way.) In the snow, with my Tim's. Get home, no problem.
Saturday. Huge-ass snow storm. I'm in my shoes. Braving through the huge storm, bank closes early. I head to Sears, then to CVS for wrapping paper. In my shoes. I go home, no problem.
Sunday, the aftermath. It stops snowing, but I'm up to my feet in what came the day before. In my sneakers, I help the landlord clear the pathways filled with snow. In my sneakers, I head to Costco, and do some light shopping. I go home in my addidas, no problem.
Monday. Back to work, snow is now slush. Once again, I'm in my shoes. Very dangerous slush gets my feet cold. Someway, somehow, I tread through the slush to & from work. No problem.
Tuesday. School. Managerial Accounting exam on Thursday, so everyone's planning to study the day before (that being the next day after that Tuesday). I'm in my Tim's again, making arrangements to meet with my colleagues the next day. Going home, no problem...

Wednesday. In my shoes. Heading out the door to go to work. Before I even hit the door, I slip on the slush aftermath from so long ago, doing a James Brown split, knee-first on the floor. Now, there's a big ghat on my knee that reddens once pinched. I brave through work, grimacing from the earlier attempt to get-on-up. I'm short at my register. Great.
Running to the train station, in my shoes, to make the study meet with my friends. A-Train is already at the station. As I make my run for it, I slip and trip on a person trying to squeeze her way through the train's closing doors. I nearly fall, again, causing her to nearly fall. She pulls me up, and I push her in the train. And we both are having a nice laugh, giving everyone else a nice laugh in the process.
It was with this moment that I realized I might have caught some bad luck. And with this bad luck, meeting my friends might prove detrimental to my best interests. In other words, to not address this karma that seemed to have a hold on me could work against me come study time. So instead of meeting up with the guys, I went home, took a nice long shower, and washed away the bad luck. I fell asleep shortly thereafter, forcefully trying to omit Wednesday from my memory. It was just a dream... I muttered...

Thursday. Brand new day. Tossed my shoes in the trash, and wore my Tim's to Hunter. Realizing that thanks to The Wednesday that never happened, I got no studying done. So I arrive at the Hunter library 4 hours in advance to prepare to B'ce this test. I meet Brian first, who frets over his accounting class. So with my freshly anewed faith, we went to his professor to discuss the situation. And to his (and my) surprise, she said to pass the class, you pass the final. That's it. Exactly what he needed to hear. Great, maybe my studying will actually have an effect on my performace today, I assumed, and I rushed back to the library to study. With three hours left, I met this Indian girl who has class with me, and is also studying for the upcoming exam. We chill together, and actually managed to get something done. While she didn't have my circumstances, she admits to have slacked up, and worries about the final. So I assure her that as long as we put in the effort, everything will be fine. With two hours left, noise begins to build in the library. Yes folks, we have noise in our libraries. The spanish clan behind us yaked away in increasingly loud tones, while a bunch of other students studying for another exam responded with even louder noises. With this Indian girl getting frustrated, I turned BBU - big, black, and ugly - on the katz, and warned them to keep it low. Now an hour away, I was able to gain walk-away knowledge of all the topics necessary for the final; from direct materials and sales budgets, to calculating several variances to discover discrepancies between actual and budgeted revenue. Meanwhile, the indian girl seemed to have it all worked out, but kept requesting of me to sit together, since I actually had almost everything down-packed. I laughed at the idea, but she didn't. So I let her know that my colleagues had already planned to sit with me; and we really had nothing to worry about.
Test time. My colleagues deserted me, every last one of them, to find hope with other sources. Even Danilo, who graduates this semester, and credits me for helping him out mentally and emotionally, left me for some chick who apparently knew some stuff. And truth be told, I refer to her only as this chick because the only time she seems to know me is when she asks for Danilo. I guess it had something to do with The Wednesday that never happened. Okay, if it's gonna be like that, then it beez like that sometimes. And there, to my left, was the indian girl, waiting for me to give her the final exasperated okay before she sat next to me. I got my exam, started taking the exam, and half an hour later, finished it. From question to question, even the extra credit question. I checked it, double checked it, and triple checked it to make sure that not only this was the test I was taking, but that my answers are actually right. To this day, I still am amazed by the relative ease of the test. You see, do you see how God works miracles??!!

But I've learned my lesson, though. I'm never going to drink at Ozzie's again.
That's 4-sho!

Oh yeah, that Indian girl. Well, needless to say all the panic she had worked against her. So I, in my Cool-Hand-Luke fashion, spoon-fed her most of the answers, to which she was extremely greatful. But I had to admit, this will be a week to remember. And a Wednesday to forget.
But on a side note, I have come short at my register twice in a row! This is bad. And like the Los Angeles Lakers, I'm turing this negative into a postive. Yes folks, my next mission is to prove up three weeks in a row! I came close with two weeks straight proving, but once I get three and up, I'll be set. Wish me luck!

Lata, navagata...

Ever notice how it's a penny for your thoughts, yet you put in your two-cents? Someone is making a penny on the deal!
Steven Wright

or...

With my wife I don't get no respect. I made a toast on her birthday to 'the best woman a man ever had.' The waiter joined me.
Rodney Dangerfield

Que pasa, from da Kat unda da Kangol cap! This week's musings are a bit redundant, but hey, at least they're consistent! It's been a rough weekend here in BK, starting with the great flow of snow on Friday, to the blistering storm on Saturday, to the calming slush on Sunday, to the dirty aftermath of today. I wish to omit today; as if to say it never happened. But, before I pull da plug, let me go over the itinerary:

The book voucher incident. Well, it's been paid off, and now I'm one step closer to graduation. Or, if you at it from my perspective, I'm back to square one. What happened? After going nowhere with the prissy assistant manager (or at least, the role she tries to assume as AM), I phoned the real manager, who just happened to be a guy. I told him everything, and sure enough, he sympathized. Not to extent the whole thing was eliminated as though nothing happened; but at least to the point that the situation is resolved. As a result, I busted out of work today (more on work later), ran to the Hunter Bookstore, returned my practically brand new book, and paid $10 to get rid of this stupid academic stop.
Now, I get to register. Now, I get to graduate. And my only enemy: BIO 102.

O.K. On to work. As of this post, I am making it my business for this to be the last time I blog about my job. I've found blogging about this job on a weekly basis has become very unproductive content-wise, and in the end, serves no purpose. So on my last notes of my job...
• After proving up two weeks in a row, I was short today $5. A reason that might contribute to that fact might be...
• I was stationed between those two female GreenPoint old timers. And today was nothing short of an attempt on their parts to stress me out.
• Janelle came today. You'd think I was up at bat again. But noooo, not when I'm assisting the elderly line, sitting between those two schmucks of trouble.
Alas, it wasn't for me, today.
As to her availability, I had the guy who did assist her today try his luck and see what happened. Now, this kat is a tad bit older, but much better looking physically; so if anyone had a shot, it had to be him. The result: she really has a boyfriend.
Alas, it wasn't for me, at all.
Other than that, the same old story. The associates blaming the customers for their stress; and I blaming the associates for my stress. From accusations of incompetence, to the false understanding of the statement "It was an accident. My apologies." I begin to feel that these people are somewhat jealous of the stress-free relationship I share with my customers...
...And that these cretons have no place on my blog.
Unless of course, it involves a SSF...

Change Clothes
Jay-Z
The Black Album

Part of me still cannot believe that this will be his last album. I really don't want to believe it. He's one of the few rap pioneers that I'm going to miss. He kept it real in his music (not saying that no one else does, but I relate to him moreso); and he really knows how to get a particular mood. I've enjoyed all of his albums, and am a firm believer that he doesn't have to die for us all to appreciate the greatness of his work. His work lives now, both physically, and audibly.

A funny thing happened en route to the formation of this post. While drafting on the bus ride home, this woman comes in and immediately headed my direction; the one person seated-side of the bus, closest to the rear door. I gave her full eye contact as she fidgets with her cell phone, prancing about the area. Figuring she must be retarded or something, I continued with my writing. A couple of stops later, I look up, and she's still pacing about, fidgeting with her cell phone. I looked around to see if anyone else noticed what was going on, and if possible, explain what was up with her. Only to come to one timely conclusion:
She was waiting for me to get up, so she could have my seat.
I look over, and spotted a two person seated area, empty. Then, it also occurred to me why she was waiting for my seat: providing her size, she might've felt uncomfortable sitting in that two-person seat. How so, you ask? Because at times, I feel the same way! As if to say, that when I sit there, everyone who gets on the bus is afraid to sit next to me; either I'll take up too much room or something, or because I'm sort of boogieman. I got up from my seat, and moved to the two person seat. Noticing she got what she was waiting for, she hurriedly sat on the seat, turned to me, and thanked me. With a slight hand gesture, I had to laugh inside. It was just cool to pick these thing up without the use of words...

Why do I write this stuff? To show you how uninteresting my life is, again? Maybe, maybe not. But, I do it show you that at times, it's the little things like this that keep my day going. Also, I write these to make one very startling discovery:
My iPod needs recharging.

Damn.

A funnier thing happened on the way home. I got off the same bus to walk down to the train station, and I pass by this store. A man comes out the joint, and immediately asks me for change. "For the train," he says. I went in my pocket, and shelled out a couple of quarters to send him on his way. But, he continues on to babble about how he's just trying to get home. So, I decided to one-up the dude, and allow him to pass through with my metrocard. Startled, he starts to thank me black-man-ly-like tones. So, I proceed with him in the direction I came from, to get to the A-train. Now, being at Fulton Street and Jay, there really is no difference what station you go down. But this dude was persistent that we go down the stairs closest to the Timberland store. I just knew at that point...
I might be walking into a trap.
With my wallet in my inside pocket, and both fists closed, I escorted him down the stairs to the turnstile, preparing my dukes just in case something was to happen. But to my utter astonishment, there was no drama. I swiped him in, he again thanked me in his black-manly-like tones, and I went about my business.
Looks like the dude, just wanted to go home.
In any case, I stop at the Duane Reade nearby for something to drink. And as the total rang up to $1.38, I gave the cashier a dollar bill, and went in my pockets looking for some change. Only to look at the cashier and say:
I can't believe after swiping him in, I gave that fool my change.
They say that laughter is contagious. Well, all the nearby cashiers seemed to catch it. And they had a nice time about it too; dragging a 2 minute transaction to about 7 minutes. And all I could do in the end, was shake my head.
I love life, don't you?

More later...

Okay, guys.
You asked for it, now you got it.
My official [about me] post.
Hope it serves its purpose.
Will post on Monday.
later...

My mother was an authority on pigsties. She would look at my room and say 'This is the worst pigsty I've ever seen.'
Bill Cosby

or...

There is hope for the future because God has a sense of humor and we are funny to God.
Bill Cosby

Oh dear, I didn't want you to think that I totally forgot about you guys!! So much has happened, and is going to happen, this week that I have lost all track of time! In fact, the days went so smoothly, before I knew it, we were in December, with less than two weeks until Finals!!!
First up, holla from da Kat unda da Kangol cap! I was supposed to be on Rockerfeller Center to witness the lighting of the big Christmas tree. But alas, I am at home, studying for upcoming finals, contemplating on the weeks, and days, to come. What am I contemplating, exactly? Hmm...

One Night Stand
Kenny G
Gravity

I can't believe it! Kenny G did 80's pop! I used to think this was something they thought up on a rumormill. But upon buying Gravity, and having everyone listen so they wouldn't think I was crazy, da kliq and I were totally blown away! Love On The Rise was one of my favorites back in the day, but I never knew that it was Kenny G that took credit for it!! But even though I like that song, One Night Stand is awesome. Any 80's fan should definitely check this one out...

There's something about this Wednesday night that won't allow me to finish composing this post. My iMac DV+ has undergone other activites (shrinking album-cover-art file sizes in Photoshop; ripping Good 2 Go in iTunes) that for one reason or another, everytime I go back to type, the window disappears. My only solace is my "Blackbird" PowerBook 540c.
Yes, Apple PowerBook 540c.
This machine after 5 years of service, and despite its near nine year age, is still kickin. I might want to consider getting a new PRam battery; and I might want to find out via EMMpathy why the computer is not recognizing my 1 year old battery, let alone charge it. But, when I want to type, there are no problems. Talk about obstacles...

Speaking of obstacles...

Fan Dem Off
Elephant Man
Good 2 Go

The latest obstacle in graduating from Hunter is a financial one. In the beginning of the semester, I received a book voucher from the school, which basically means financial aid helps me get textbooks every semester. I've been getting these for quite some time now. But this time, the amount was pretty small. It was $110. And with that $110, I bought a Federal Taxation textbook for Federal Income Tax class. Well, as my luck would have it, my professor is so good, you can B'ce his exam by just reading his notes; which is exactly what I did. As a result, the textbook has never been opened, and is still in the plastic.
The Wednesday right before Thanksgiving, I received a threat notice, letting me know financial aid covered only part of the voucher. Usually, the only way you get the voucher is if there is enough after tuition to cover it. I won't ask how or why it didn't cover the voucher; but according to this threat notice, I had until 12/2/03 (that being the Tuesday that just past), to send a certified bank check ($6 at my bank) for $100. And if I didn't cooperate, an academic stop (usually acquired when you fail more than one or two classes, or if your GPA is below 1.0) on my record, meaning I cannot register next week Tuesday, meaning I can't graduate in June. That's why I called it a threat notice. They're gonna have to better than this, cause I ain't havin' it, I snickered. That Tuesday, I went to the person who sent me the notice, in an attempt to put her in her place for making such threats. And as she put it, the threat notice was just to get the attention of the students; that payment had to be made. It could be paid in cash, or credit card, as long as they have something that says it's been paid. To make that story short, these people are not waiting until the rest of my financial aid covers the voucher (oh yes, there is a remainder in my financial aid; they just won't wait until December 15th to get it...), and want me to pay for it at this moment.
Now, the most obvious question would be: Can't I just take back the textbook, and act like the incident never happened? Maybe in your college that would be possible, but not in Hunter. Wednesday after work, I went to the bookstore in my Eddie Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop face to try and end this charade. But my efforts fail, being that the manager wasn't available, so I got some prissy assistant manager. And on top of that, it was after 4:30PM, where no one feels like really taking the time to do shit. So now, I'm stuck with some b-s stop on my record, and a virtually useless textbook in my possession. Well, not totally useless; while the AM bitched to me that new books are coming, I found out myself they won't be available until August 2004, and that my book still has two semesters of life left (Spring and Summer 2004). So now, I must kick out my hard earned Christmas pay, and give these lazy ass-holes my money so I can continue with this graduation process.
Well, no. I can really bitch about this tomorrow. I can go all out on these people, saying they have nerve giving me something I wasn't supposed to get, and then give me so little, to turn around and still make me pay. I can tell them off, and just get really loud with them; saying that it still your textbook, and that this hold is ridiculous. I could really give them hell if I choose to...
But alas, that's not my department.
And more than likely, I'll pay the $100, just to get it overwith.
Lazy assholes.

But, if all goes well tomorrow, my spring 2004 registration is next Tuesday, and my finals start next week Thursday! Wow, I'm already one week away from finals! But it gets better. My next final is on the 16th, followed by the 19th (and we all know what's happenin' on the 19th), and the last of it is on the 23rd.
December 23rd. The day before Christmas Eve.
I've been trying to get the professor to change the date. In fact, the entire class has been trying to get him to change it. But he's sticking to his guns. And guess what class I have my last final for?
Federal Income Tax.
Ain't that a bitch?!?!

Blase
Elephant Man
Good 2 Go

$7.99 for Good 2 Go!! I can't believe that the introductory price for this CD is just a few more bucks than a bootleg! Why couldn't Sean Paul 's Dutty Rock be so inexpensive? Well, I won't answer that; but you gotta admit, that's a sweet deal. So if you're in the area, and don't mind shelling out $9, support the Energy God and buy his latest album.
While I'm on the subject, I briefly skimmed through what this CD had to offer me. And, I must say, this CD is missing a few tracks. For those who haven't got it yet, here's what I didn't find (and what you may not find either) on Good 2 Go:
• Jamaican Girl
• Egyptian Dance
• Chiney Ting
• Nah Mix Up
• Mad Sick (In da Club riddim)
While some of these tracks may be found on Higher Level, you would think that since he, like Sean Paul, is now crossing into mainstream pop, some of those favorites would join him. Oh well, you can't win every battle...

Christmas shopping. I thought I was done, but it turns out I'm not. I'm now a co-worker, and a friend away from finishing. So slowly but surely, I'm getting my shopping done, person by person, until my time is officially up. And as expected, GAP has their scented candles. These things are a hit in Park Slope, so maybe I can luck out this year...
Interesting. I used the Bill Cosby quote on God having a sense of humor earlier to open up this post. At work, while I attempted to finish proving for 2 weeks straight on Wednesday ( I was one shy that Saturday with the GreenPoint old timer on my backside), the older associates start gathering names for some Christmas bashment. I consider this bashment another version of the Kris Kringle gift-giving session. So, with some reluctance, I put my name in the basket; and hours later, I took a name out of the basket. Before I did though, I happened to notice some of the associates sifting through the basket, looking for a specific name. I'm not used to playing that version of Kris Kringle, so I casually took a name, and left it at that. A nice $50 gift to a lucky chap I'm sure would be appreciated, even if the limit is $25. I close my eyes, unfold the paper, and open my eyes again; and now I must be the secret santa of...

of...

of...

Yup, you guessed it. The GreenPoint old-timer. The same one who messed me up on Saturday; the same old-timer who fucked my flow twice in a row.
Doesn't God have an extraordinary sense of humor?!
Deep down, I was saying to myself, Dude, you need to exchange the name! But, because I already made up my mind to do this thing for real, now I got to cater to that, that...
Oh God, that was a cruel joke!! A cruel bad joke to play on me. I can imagine what that woman is gonna say about the gift I give her. I dislike people like her; they are the ones who can make a kat meticulous about what he says, does, and gives. She doesn't look like the type who'll appreciate scents for her home; nor scents for her body. She acts like the kind that will say I gave her scents on Christmas to say that she smells bad. Yes folks, it's that bad. Perhaps there is a remedy: Just buy her a gift card. Put a $40 gift card in a Christmas card, and give that to her. But then, she'll complain about lack of substance. Damn, this is gonna be tough...

More later...