Long Term Planning

I attended a Nancy Wilson concert a couple of weeks ago. Seeing Nancy Wilson was definitely on my bucket list. I mean the woman is phenomenal! Guess Who I Saw Today, anyone? So I went to the concert and Nancy, Ms. Wilson looked so frail and fragile. I mean the concert had been postponed from April because she had a collapsed lung. And it had clearly taken a toll on her. But when she opened her mouth and sang, man she still had the VOICE! She sounded awesome. Oh and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this was at the Kennedy Center and the large concert hall was packed with people young, old and everyone in between. So then Ms. Wilson announces that she’s been doing this for 55 years. Whoa!

So I had two thoughts about Ms. Wilson being in the game for 55 years. The first was that we probably won’t be going to Jay Z concerts at age 65. I mean for real, let’s keep it funky. Do you think anyone will be thinking about Soulja Boy two years from now, let alone fifty years from now? Me thinks not. And even if by chance there were a Hip Hop MCs from the 90s Reunion concert in 2050 I don’t know if I would want to attend. Awhile ago Amaretto and I were traveling down memory lane by playing “old” hip hop songs. And she put on Dr. Dre’s Explosive. After the first 16 bars, we looked at each other like, “did we really used to rock to this?” I mean at age seventy, do I really want to be yelling, “you more of a b**ch than a b**ch?” And that’s just one of the better lines. And so I scoff at Vh1 and their Hip Hop honor awards. Ha! You can't be serious... Because Ms. Wilson's three musicians were all over the age of sixty and they were still making money off their craft and skill. But as usual I digress...

My second thought was about commitment and longevity. 55 years! I can’t even imagine doing the same job for two years, let alone 55 years! That is commendable. And sometimes when I’m griping about this thing called life, I look to my grandmother and ask her how she did it. How did she work as a nurse in the same hospital for over 40 years? She did it in part because she had to. I mean she and my granddaddy had seven kids to raise in the segregated South. But she also did it because she loved nursing and therefore she loved her job.

My father retired from twenty years with a federal government agency, only to go to another federal government agency where he's been for the past eight years. I remember when Eddie Robinson retired from coaching football at Grambling after fifty six years. He said something along the lines about his greatest accomplishment was having the same wife and job for over fifty years. Well alright now! That as the kids say is what's up.

Yes, the world is a-changing and moving at a fast pace and people will have multiple jobs and careers in their lifetime. But man there's something to be said about sticking to something. I love when I hear older folk bragging about how they've been with the same company for thirty years. They're so daggone proud of themselves. And honestly, I smile inside a little too. There's something about riding it out for years because it's not always about you. It may be about supporting a spouse, children, keeping a home, making a life. And there's something about finding your true passion in life and doing it until you can't do it no more! Hoping that we all get to that point...

That’s my time y’all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!

Ms. Wilson doin' the damn thang!

when a woman's fed up

Way back in July, I told ya'll about one of my favorite artists who was about to blow, Jazmine Sullivan. Sho nuff right after my post her first single, "I Need You Bad," started in heavy rotation across the country. In honor of the success of my predictions and her music career, I give you her second single, "Bust Your Windows." Enjoy.

the homestretch

The final debate will air tonight and I’m actually looking forward to it. Only for the simple fact Barack has finally presented an economic plan with concrete points that middle America can digest hallelujah! I’ve been trying to get him to give a 5-point plan over the summer, but I guess his plan has come right on time. Although, some folks are disappointed about him willing to allow Americans to tap their 401K without penalty up to $10,000—I know for some folks that’s all they need to hear. Remember elections are all about winning, particularly in the United States with this winner-take-all system. Many Americans are single issue voters something Democrats tend to forget. And considering the US economy is cash strapped, that economic point will resonate with voters.

Now, Bellini ain’t nobody’s fool—the latest polls have Obama up by 14 points per CNN. I talked to two different people last night and one guy heard he’s up by 12 points and another woman heard 10 points. Something in the milk ain’t right. Although, I never was surprised about the strength of Barack’s candidacy—he’s still a black man and for him to command these numbers when race is still the humongous elephant in the room ain’t settling right with me. Either pollsters aren’t asking the right questions or they aren’t probing for the right answers. It is evident that there is a solid electorate that won’t pull the lever or touch the screen for a brotha. However, this same electorate that won’t vote for a brotha hasn’t really indicated what they will do on election day. See, many of them already feel Obama will win and that maybe cause for some of them to stay home hallelujah! And eventhough that is wishful thinking on my part, since day 1 I’ve expressed that this election will be close. But like Michelle Obama told urban radio a few weeks ago, this election can’t be close – it’s got be a decisive win. Either Barack wins or he doesn’t, nothing muddled in between.

And trust me, McCain is definitely helping Team Barack by resurrecting ol’ business. This Ayers stuff is old news, but you can count on the GOP to resort to their tactics. There’s just one problem with executing that plan – it’s the economy stupid! White folks could care less if the brotha was the boogeyman. Perhaps, I should have George Will expound on it...

"This, McCain and his female Sancho Panza say, is demonstrated by bad associations Obama had in Chicago, such as with William Ayers, the unrepentant terrorist. But the McCain-Palin charges have come just as the Obama campaign is benefiting from a mass mailing it is not paying for. Many millions of American households are gingerly opening envelopes containing reports of the third-quarter losses in their 401(k) and other retirement accounts -- telling each household its portion of the nearly $2 trillion that Americans' accounts have recently shed. In this context, the McCain-Palin campaign's attempt to get Americans to focus on Obama's Chicago associations seems surreal -- or, as a British politician once said about criticism he was receiving, "like being savaged by a dead sheep."

And if you know me, you know that George Will can get my blood boiling at times, but in his op-ed piece McCain in a Bear Market – he got it right.So, with less than 3 weeks out it’s about to get ugly. So, tune in tonight, be’cuz surely tonight will be the barometer for the madness that we will ensue in the coming weeks.

cheers,

Bellini

The Loneliest Number

“I am not depressed!”

This was my Y-chromosome friend’s retort when I asked him if he would ever go see a movie alone.

Previously in life, I had similar foolish preconceived notions about being out and about in the world all alone. But since I still ain’t married, nor am I part of a couple I recently took myself to a matinee showing of a film I wanted to see because no one I knew was available. Folks, this was a huge step for me! Even though I’m an only child and can do things by my lonesome…movies are a different animal all together. I am that person who enjoys chatting it up when the movie starts…so I wondered what I was going to do to make it through 90 minutes in the dark with no one to share my insightful commentary with. I knew random strangers probably wouldn’t appreciate my “Oh no she didn’t!” exclamations…now that I think about it, I don’t even think my friends like it too much when I do that.

But anyway… To my surprise I had a great time. I laughed out loud and gasped when appropriate. I entertained myself with my witty commentary. All in all, it was like watching television at home. I’m just glad I didn’t miss my chance to do something that I wanted to do!

Though I have found that some men (and by some I really want to say most) have a problem with being all by their lonesome. Once, after church I went to Boston Market to get me chow on and as I was leaving I ran into my friend and his lady. Upon greeting me he started looking around behind me, he then inquired who I had come to eat with. I said no one. You could have knocked him down with a feather ya’ll. “You came here alone?! No one would have come with you?” Well then I explained that I didn’t ask anyone else to come along, but I decided to stop in because I was hungry. But he just couldn’t believe that I was there alone, or that I didn’t have the decency to get my food to-go and eat at home. Okay, of course he didn’t say the word decency…but it really bothered him I was there alone.

And just like my Y-chromosome friend who excused my solo tendencies as some crazy woman behavior. For a man to go out alone he must be disturbed or depressed. Foolishness. Now I haven’t graduated to dining and movie watching during peak date times. Nor have I made plans to vacation solo…yet. But why not? Not everyone is getting married or have friends who are available with shared interests. Like the poor, the single will always be among us. So lets stop assuming that person alone is a depressed, psychotic loser… and maybe just a person determined not to miss out on living.

See You In Seven

You Can't Lose Something You Never Had

Last week Sunday I attended my first MJB concert. If I say she gave an amazing performance I would be understating the FANTASTIC, FIERCE, FABOLOUS performance she gave. (I am officially an MJB fan for life...not that I don’t have all of her albums already.)

While waiting in line, my friend commenced a conversation with the couple in front of us about the subjects of Mary's songs. Not to my surprise, the guy says "she writes songs for the ladies...and that gets on my nerves sometimes."

Well that is right Mr. X!
She says the things that we don't want to hear but need to.
Thanks Mary.

For example, the lyrics from her song The Love I Never Had. When I tell you these lyrics hit home, I mean they rocked me to the core. She had a point. Sometimes we are so distracted by other emotions we don't even realize it...but you can't lose something you never had.

You know sometimes

There comes a time in your life

When you love something

You got to let it go

And even though

You might feel there's still something there

You have to wake up

Stop leaving in a dream

Cause it's over now

You got to think about you

I have always wondered why

Why I can't live without you babe

And I'm longing to be your lady

I understand that you are leaving

Please don't live here without me baby

Cause I think I might go insane

Cause everybody needs someone to love

And I know that it's true

And I know that it's you

I don't understand

Why you can't be my man

So I better wake up

Stop living in a dream

Yes I better wake up

Cause I can't lose the love I never had

Yeah I better wake up

As painful as it seems

Yes I better wake up

I can not lose the love I never had.

- Mary J Blige

Try to keep this in mind ladies!
Peace :)