more talking

Happy 4th! Hope everyone had a blast today.

If you didn't know I am a tennis junkie. It's been quiet around here cause I've been busy watching tennis at crazy hours and searching like a madman for a fairly priced used MAC computer. Many Craig.sl.ist sellers are not responsive to inquiries and eb.ay's deals don't seem like real deals once the auctions near completion. I am determined to find the right unit at the right price. I almost snagged a 60GB macbook yesterday from a CL seller but wasn't completely comfortable with the terms of the deal. The guy was selling the computer for 850 new in the box. He couldn't return to the computer to the store for a complete refund because he lost his receipt, so he said. I tried talking him down from 850 to 700 but he wouldn't budge. I figured 850 was a large liability to take on without any means of recourse in the event the computer was damaged once I turned it on. Apple sells the same notebook with a larger hard drive for 150-200 more dollars plus tax. I just found another deal for used macbook for 950. I am waiting to hear back from that seller. His computer has add'l software that I'll need, i.e. office, and it's still under warranty for another year. I've also got my eye on a few used iMACs but I think I would really be much happier with a notebook. We'll see what happens.

more peeves

1. don't wait until the cashier has given you your total before you start filling out your check. Furthermore, don't wait until the total has been given before you go searching through your purse for your checkbook.

2. don't talk to me when I am at the gym working out. I came to the gym to, guess? Yep, that's right TOOOOO WOOOOORKOOOOOUT you morons. Moreover, if you see my mp3 player dangling around my neck and ear buds in my ears, 10 times out of 10 I am listening to music, therefore, you shouldn't be talking to me 'cause I can't hear you and don't want to speak to you.

I've been inspired to make new t-shirts after my 3 disruptive episodes at the gym this past weekend. "I'm busy! Don't talk to me" and "Please don't speak, I am not friendly."


3. don't ask for ridiculous favors through instant messenger. the least you could do is call but NO you can't have any of my frequent flyer miles. it's not a life or death situation. you're trying to go visit your new out of town bed buddy.

talking

my peeves

1. people who spit their gum on to the ground instead of finding a trash receptacle. at least 3 times this past week I've stepped in abandoned gum as I was getting in or out of my car.
2. people with questionable taste in talent that actually try to engage in me in conversation about why I don't like a particular actor/singer. Seriously, I've been around performers all my life either performing or watching. I see, hear and note things you don't. STOP!
3. talk radio hosts who are prone to laughing attacks while in-studio alone talking to their listeners.
4. america's acceptance and obsession with mobster related entertainment. hearing people heap praise on The Sopranos for being one of the greatest shows in television history is puzzling. Considering the show has a criminal back drop and features criminal behaviors including murder you might think america would have as negative opinion of it as it does for rap music. Some of you may be thinking that's a bit of stretch their Shawn but I see it all the same. Either we, americans, take issue with 'entertainment' that promotes and glorifies criminal behavior or we don't.
5. people who place for sale ads on craigslist but don't return your email. shoot...you're playing with my emotions. i see a good deal and i'm ready to pounce.
6. Isaiah Wa.sh.ington and K.obe Brya.nt. We get it! Shut up already. One of you wants in; the other wants out; you both were lied on and unfairly characterized; yada, yada, yada. We understand you're trying to defend yourselves but it's not coming off very well. Please, for your sakes, SHUT UP!
7. Tyler Perry's feeble defense of House of Payne. That dude can't be serious. The show is terrible. The acting is bad, the writing is bad, the make-up is bad (note: the greying out of the 'grandfather's hair. that's a mess) and the cast is bad.
8. people who kill a story you're trying to share with them by interrupting you with several questions about insignificant details.

First Impressions

I told that fool I wasn't interested. But he persisted, "come out and support me." I relented. I agreed to attend his rehearsal despite my reservations. When I arrived, I was told I needed to be on my best behavior. Excuse me? What am I 12? "For what?" I questioned. I don't know these people, don't want to know these people and don't plan to get to know any of these people. "Shawn!" he said with a beady-eyed look. I stared him down. "Shawn!" the other visiting friend said with a sarcastic scowl. I stared her down. I was neither swayed to consider a change in behavior or amused with the tag team rebuke they were applying.

Anyhoo, after an hour or so delay the AI Tour rehearsal was 'bout ready to begin. That's when a wayward hand made it's way towards my face, invading my personal space. I was sitting, fiddling with my mp3 player while she was standing. I ignored the hand at first. Perhaps this person doesn't realize i'm busy doing something, hence my eyes trained on my player and fingers busy using the buttons to scroll through my song list. It seems a second effort was made by the extendee to make the hand more visible to me. I turned to face the culprit. "Hi! I'm ___" she said. I met her hand with my own and shook. "Shawn," I said with a half-hearted, fake grin. "As I was walking away I realized I came over here and spoke but didn't introduce myself to everyone." I can't recall if I responded or not. I was guessing at that point she wasn't getting the hint "I don't really care." Naturally, the tag team chastising resumed once ____ walked away. "Be nice!" one said. "That was ugly" the other chimed in.

Since I didn't watch the show, it was interesting having my first look at the finalists. I was hard pressed to believe some of these "singers" were 10 of the 12 best the country had to offer. Yikes! A few thoughts I had from watching rehearsal: 1) The chubby, curly haired dude is really out of place. 2) Whomever decided S (the most despised contestant) should help sing Proud Mary needs to be beaten with a bat. Y'all needed to see this boy gyrating and bouncing across the stage. 3) B is a star. He was barely going through the motions, just feeling his way through his portion of the act but you could see it on him. He had that extra something the others didn't.

The highlight of the day, was listening to my friend (that was also visiting the rehearsal) share her experience of walking into Puffy's rehearsal room unaware that she was in the wrong place. She said she walked past right past the bodyguards and took a spot standing against a wall. She saw a female dancers rehearsing their butts off and thought "Oh, they're gonna have dancers on the tour. How nice!" She then noticed that she was drawing hostile glances from a few women that were also in the room. She didn't think much of it until she saw Puffy walking menacingly towards the dancers and yelling "Run it again! Run it again! Her eyes bugged out 'cause she realized she was in the wrong rehearsal hall. She politely excused herself from the rehearsal and wondered why the nation of islam bodyguards didn't stop her when she first entered. For the rest of the day, all I heard this fool saying was "run it again...run it again. Shawn you shoulda seen the look on his face." She even recorded herself

I really thought she was joking about Puffy until I saw him with my own eyes. Lord, if this fool didn't drive off in a 5-car motorcade people. Riding in the backseat of a bentley with mortician curtains drawn on the rear windows.

Some People

say the darnedest things. It seems nary a week goes by without me getting blindsided by a personal attack of some sort. I really hate to call this latest incident a personal attack. It makes it sound bigger than it really was in magnitude and significance in my life. It was less of an attack and more a pot shot seemingly aimed at me.

Yesterday, I had a brief IM conversation with an acquaintance that I converse with once every 7 months. The conversation was initiated by him and began with him asking how I have been and him sharing about the great many things he's been doing of late. So he segues back to my emotional well-being and the following exchange occurs:

Him: last time i spoke with you, u werent happy about a few things
Me: I am still not happy about a few things. But trying to enjoy the journey as much as possible
Him: it really is a good journey. it could be so much worse.
Me: speak for yourself. everything is relative
Him: i am speaking for myself. besides, a grateful heart would know that the journey could be worse

Come again? Did he just imply what I think he implied? Did he go there with the church-speak too? Oh hell no! I contemplated going there with him but I took the advice of another to leave well enough alone.

Charge By Pound

These fools Rob & Big are insane. They'll do just about anything. Last night I wasn't ready for what you'll see in the clip. I was on the floor.

Updated with youtube link. Dailymotion is acting a fool today and I am not happy about it. Let's hope this link works.