Introducing...............

Sunday June 27, 2010

{singing - In K. C. city of fountains where dreams are made of, there’s nothing we won’t do. end verse}

The unofficial start of the summer has finally arrived. And that means the annual pillage of the city’s most famous attribute. Let’s just call it, the tainting of the city’s fountains. I have lived in Kansas City my entire life, 30 years, and I know first hand that fountain swimming is a time honored tradition amongst the city’s most “elite”.

I cannot fathom who the original joker was that decided it was an awesome idea to throw on their two piece suit or nylon shorts, drag the Bebe’s to the fountain right there on Meyer and Cleveland and make it happen. I have to be honest, a little bit of my soul dies every time I drive by one of our City’s fountains and see a 1986 Honda Accord full of 10 people swimming in the fountain like they’re at Super Splash and they paid for admission.

 
Undoubtedly all it takes is one renegade citizen to jump in a fountain and the next thing you know there’s a chocolate parade right there on Brush Creek. My people, my people! Why must we make a spectacle of ourselves ever summer by swimming in the damn city fountains? This is my mea culpa. I will fall on my sword for this cause, black people please this summer just try it. Do the right thing like Spike Lee.

Of course it might cost about $20 bucks to take BonRequisha, Marquanunique, Lil Trey, LaLa & baby Beyonce to the Super Splash on the Thursday special but pride is priceless. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for me. Do it for the rest of the black people in KC that do respective things like go to work, pay the correct admission prices and oppose causing scenes throughout the city.  Let’s try it this summer.  If it doesn’t work, you can go back to your old ways I promise.  Think about it….

D

Wednesday June 23, 2010

Monday night my family and I went to see Toy Story 3.  I can honestly say that it was two of the most fulfilling hours of my life so far this year.  This movie had brains, beauty, smarts and heart.  Succinctly speaking, the movie was perfect.  I was simultaneously moved and amused all in one breath.

The characters are so human like that the love they have for Andy resonants down in the deepest part of your heart.  It’s genuine and pure.  It rivals the love a parent has for their child.  This type of love puts your personal needs and dreams to the back burner while you nurture the soul of the one you love, the one that needs you more than anything else.  It’s very compelling to see in this context. 

When the first Toy Story came out in 1995, I was 15 years old.  I was a carefree teeneager with no responsibility to anything or anyone except myself.  I was coming to the stage of my life where my mother was less and less front and center while my friends, boys and school/work were seemingly more important.  I had started the transition to becoming the woman I would one day grow to be.  An independent upswing. By the time the time the second film debuted in 1999, I was a college sophomore and fully entrenched in my grown woman swag.  Still no responsibilities and still independent.  My how things change in 11 years time. 

As I watched TS 3 sitting with my husband and three children (ages 6, 5 and 22 months) I was overwhelmed with emotion as I came to the realization that one day these three kids that depend on me for their very existence will one day put me on the back burner as well, they won’t need me anymore.  I think a better way to put it is they won’t crave me anymore.  They won’t clamor for my attention or selfishly want all of my time.  That happens to every parent and child relationship.  Soon I will be on the other side of things with them as my mother was with me and her mother before her.  My children will want and need other things and I will want and need to have a little slice of their life.  It’s one of the most powerful evolutions in life. But one that is important to the existence of every human being. 

D    

Hello all!  This past week has been one of many interruptions and road blocks thus leading me to neglect my newborn baby, Confessions.  Well I’m back on the block and I want to discuss a trend I witnessed on TV this week.  Crazytown!?!?!?  I think you’re missing some residents.

Let’s begin my week of TV in review

NBA Finals Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 - Ron Artest stole the freaking show.  As a basketball fan, I recognize that the man put on a damn good athletic show.  I applaud that, however Ron Artest makes it in this post purely for comedic reasons. Way back during the first round of the playoffs when the Lakers where playing the Oklahoma City Thunder, I said to myself “Why are his damn pants so short?”  Something struck me as off with him, living on another planet off. Boy how right I was.  We all know Ron is around 12 blocks short of a full neighborhood, but the truth of the matter is, he’s authentic.  I honestly don’t think he “puts on” for the camera like other public figures.  The fact that he played a major role in his team winning the highest honor in professional basketball and he thanked “the hood” first.  Of course it was obviously hilarious, as was the rest of his post game interview, but more than that his honesty was refreshing.  He’s a street guy from Queesnbridge, good or bad, right or wrong.  No apologies.  And he’s a tax paying resident of Crazytown.

Real Housewives of NY Reunion - Oh where do I begin with this conglomeration of foolishness and fuckery.  Jill with her extreme levels of thirst regarding Bethany’s friendship did not only seem disgenuine, it was pathetic.  Let me give you the reader’s digest recap of this season of NY.

If you watch RHONY you know for the first 10 weeks, Jill did nothing but trash Bethany and say how much she (B) ruined their friendship by not being a good friend.  She told anyone within ear shot that B was “toxic” and she (Jill) made her the success she has blossomed into since the show began.  After all those grand stands and announcements of the end of the friendship, Jill suddenly has a change of heart. 

Bethany tried to apologize and make up with Jill no less than six time during this season before she finally decided enough was enough. The thing that really stands out to me about this reality riff is that B really had no idea they were in this knock down drag out fight when the season began.  How assassinating a feeling it is, to be engaged in something (be it a fight, relationship, danger, etc) and have no idea.  B, found success in her career and she embarked on a new relationship.  One of those things is enough to occupy your time so imagine engaging in both endeavors simultaneously, you’re busy and the friends you used to spend all your time with naturally fall down the priority chart.  With that realization in mind, B attempted to apologize to J for not being around as much as she was and she fell on her sword about how much she loved J and how much their friendship meant to her.  J with certainty and disdain in her voice turned her every time, going so far as to say that B was toxicity in her life.  So where did the change of heart come from on J’s part.

Well, B somehow kept right on living her life.  Her career continued to bloom as did her new relationship, resulting in a preganacy and engagement and guess who missed out.  Sourpuss Jill.  If you watch closely, when things only got better in B’s life that’s when J began to soften and wonder of a reconciliation.  In my opinion that’s the true mark of a snake.  Well, J spent the rest of the season trying to make up with B to no avail.  She went so far as to crash Ramona’s island vacation she declined the invitation to.

Now to the reunion, if I say Jill apologized once, she apologized a million times. When asked why she was so upset or why she didn’t take the opportunity to make up sooner with B, she never gave a straight, logical answer.  Her go to answer of the night was “I don’t know”.  She also did a lot of crying and trying to leave the stage she loves so much.  Overall I found her behavior the entire 3 part reunion to be obnoxious.  She kept telling B how nice she looked and how much she misses her and instead of feeling her pain I just wanted to slap her.  For me, it’s too little too late.

The other major event of the three part reunion was the summation of Kelly’s crazy.  This lady is what I consider to be living on another planet.  The reality she experiences on her planet is nothing like what we have here on good ole planet Earth.  They showed a montage of Kelly’s comments and interactions with the ladies and it was astonishing to hear her reaction.  Kelly claims she turns people down so sometimes she doesn’t know what the conversation is about.  Ok, we all space out sometime but in her case, she stays in outer planet land.  Kelly said she supports PETA but she wears fur because they’re not the same thing.  She also doesn’t eat processed food but gummy bears are awesome.  She doesn’t drink alcohol however Tequila and beer are two of her favorite beverages.  She’s a walking, breathing contradiction.  Kelly is the type of person that you fight with then in the middle of the ma-lay you realize this person is insane and you’re taking advantage of them by arguing.  It’s a little thing I like to call the Kelly Effect. Once you realize the fight’s unaware it must be aborted. 

OK readers, I really rambled on way longer than I planned to on this post but the crazies were in full effect on the screen this week.  Until next time…

D

Anyone that has known me for any length of time knows that I’ve never been a baseball kind of a girl.  In fact, before this baseball season I had been to one professional baseball game my entire life and the mere thought of watching a game on TV induced me to spontaneous hives.  A few adjectives I used to describe America’s pastime, “boring”, “dull”, “slow”.  I just wasn’t interested in the least. My how things have changed.

2010 has been a year of change for me in many ways.  Professionally speaking it’s in my best interest to pay attention to what’s going on the baseball diamond however when I sit at home and watch a game from beginning to end, there’s no self serving person on my mind.  Those three hours immersed in a game are three hours I get to spend with my Dad.

I was never particularly close to my father.  I’m the youngest of three children and there’s a 16 year age gap between my brother and me.  When I was born my Dad was 39 years old and a man firmly entrenched in who he’d grown to be.  My father drank like a sailor, smoked like a chimney, cursed with religion and loved watching baseball. But he was my Dad.

Family relationships are often complicated. I loved my father because of who he was to me.  Without him, my existence is nil.  However, I didn’t like him very much.  I didn’t crave his attention or long to be with him or around him.  I tolerated him.  As I became older I realized that I didn’t want to let my father’s moods dictate mine.  I can only think of a handful of authentic “good” moments with him. 

In 1998, he came to my high school graduation, in 2004 he came to my wedding and sat front and center with my mom (an earlier stroke made it too difficult for him to walk me down the aisle) and in 2003 I had a conversation with him about my newborn baby daughter Samiya.  We eventually lived with him and my mom for 10 months, a very special memory I cherish. 

My Dad had a stroke in 2001.  I remember the way my heart dropped when my sister called me.  I was scared and nervous that I wouldn’t make it to see him in time.  He survived the stroke, however his independence was all but lost.  Where he used to go out in the morning and drink and smoke all day then drive home late in the night, he no longer had that option.  He did stop drinking and eventually stopped smoking as well.  His speech was also severely impaired. It was hard for him to convey his thoughts except his cursing.  He could mutter through a whole sentence and the only words I would understand were “bitch”, “stupid mf,” or some other offensive language.  Classic Charlie. 

After the stroke, Dad was more or less confined to the house.  He spent all his time watching TV.  He loved Westerns, smutty talk shows and baseball games.  He watched whatever team was on and he watched the whole thing.  He would fall asleep but when you tried to turn the channel he would suddenly spring up thus ending your attempt to turn his channel.  He watched the games and he cursed at the TV and laughed at his own jokes. I remember walking through the living room many days and years while he watched the games and just saying hi or bye without engaging in any real conversation.  He always had his games.

This past February, my Dad had a massive stroke.  He never regained consciousness. 14 days after he suffered the stroke he passed away.  I’ve experienced a mix of emotions since he died.  I’ve realized how much I miss his presence, not so much the hateful things he often said but him being there.  I miss the games.   

Ever summer for the past 29 years I could count on my father watching a baseball game.  He died this year before the baseball season began. I have really missed catching him dosing on the games.  After mulling over the same question I’ve been asked by friends and my husband, why am I suddenly into watching baseball, I understand that it makes me feel close to my Dad. 

All the years he watched the game I never bothered to take any interest but now when I tune in, I feel like we’re watching it together.  I can’t turn back the hands of time and make my relationship with my father picture perfect however I can take this one piece of him that was good and pure and let it fill my heart all summer long.

D

Parents out there, you know the feeling you get when the clock strikes 3:35pm and you know you’re out the door at 4:00?  You know the tinge of excitement that comes over you as you start putting away your papers and logging out of your computer?  It’s a feeling of euphoria and excitement and you envision all the chilling you’re going to do once you get off the reservation and get into what you want to do.  And then it hits you like the Anvils that always got the best of Wil E. Coyote, I gotta pick up them damn kids.  Now the thought of the kids alone is really not the problem.  I’ve got three kid friends, they behave and obey so that’s not really the issue.  The thing that gets me about my chitterlings is they talk too much.  Are these kids testing me?

My kids particularly love over talking at the end of a work day.  I pick them up from their respective locations and it begins as soon as eye contact is made.  I try to play the good parent role and ask about their days and whatnot, but no good deed goes unpunished, they won’t stop.  It’s at this stage where I start pulling out ever trick in the book.  I hit them with the slow head nod and quiet “uh huh” they give me more, so I go for the excited head shake with the “Really!?!” Oh no Mom, there’s still more.  After five minutes of straight talk, I’m exhausted, they’ve clearly won the talking fight I had no idea we were in.  But they still don’t let up.  Once they know they have me on the ropes that’s when they go in for the kill shot.  They start asking questions.  Now this is all going on with just one kid in the car.  Just wait for the match up when that second kid friend joins the party.  It becomes an all out massacre.  These little girls, will simultaneously talk to me.  They begin to talk battle each other.  These kids love to talk, they don’t care about what, they don’t care with who.  They just want to talk. I don’t even think they care if you’re listening.  Please tell me my kids aren’t the only ones that do this.  Should I get them checked out?  How do I get them to minimize the excessive chatter?  It’s at this stage of my day, after I’ve put in my full 8 hours at the job that I put in my best work.  I spend the rest of my night trying to figure out how to keep my sanity during 3 hours of kid chatter. Help me Baby Jesus.

D

What has happened to driver courtesy in Kansas City?  The people that get behind the wheel in this town drive me batty, if it’s not a standard rainstorm that temporarily makes everyone completely revert back to their first turn behind the wheel or it’s the rudeness that is levied upon fellow unsuspecting drivers.  The nonsense is at a fever pitch. Which leads me to wonder, is KC starting a new trend or is the trend just now reaching our sleepy city?  So here it is my list of the most annoying driving tactics I’ve witnessed recently in order of pissocity level.

1) The Nonwave

     This shizz pisses me off to no end.  Nothing makes me want to fly off into a road rage faster than an asshole that you let into traffic that doesn’t acknowledge your good deed.  It takes a real sleazebag to ignore a solid gesture like letting you and your big ass car get in traffic when I don’t have to.  Guess what? I don’t have to let you in.  I see you over there riding the shoulder as you try to jump the rush hour traffic that has piled up behind me and I could ignore you.  Most days, I probably would ignore you because jumping into traffic from the shoulder is also on my list, however if I’m having a good day or I’ve just had a convo with baby Jesus about doing the right thing I will go ahead and let you in. Show some respect.  I’m not asking for a ticker tape parade or a blimp attesting to my fabness to sail over 71 highway.  What I do need is a fricking wave.  You don’t even have to give me a full wave.  I will take the two fingers in this situation.  In fact, this is the only time the two fingers is not considered the ultimate disrespect.  I’ll take a head nod, a horn toot, hell I’ll take the flick of a booger.  Acknowledge the good deed.  It’s the right thing to do people.

2)   Rain driving

     These people in KC act as if they have never seen a flicker of rain before, let alone drove in it. Traffic comes to a complete halt if there is a centimeter of precipitation.  People suddenly start riding the breaks and driving 30 miles on the highway when a single drop hits the windshield.  I’m all for safety but is there ever a reason to make a full fledged stop on the highway in the absence of an accident or police command?  I don’t know of any so why are these KC drivers sitting still on the highway in the midst of my evening commute.  Please people for the love of all humanity, please drive normally during any rain events.  There’s absolutely no need to panic people.   Regular rain won’t hurt us. Proceed down the highway and get the hell out of my way.

3)   Jumping Traffic

      We’ve all seen this joker blazing down the highway in the open lane while the rest of us drive in the flow of traffic.  It’s rush hour, everyone is trying to get where they need to be on time so why does this driver feel they have the right to jump pass all the cars lined up waiting for their turns?  It ticks me off because a lot of the time these are the very same jokers that never give the wave.  Coincident?  I think not.  Get it together assholes and learn to wait your turn.

I’ve got pages more nonsense that ticks me off about driving in KC, but the thought of it is making my eye twitch so I’m going to have to call it a night.  I’m one nonwave away from going ape shit on the highway one day.  Take heed Kansas City.  You’ve been warned.

D

Jaheim “Finding My Way Back”

      When this cat said “Always said hope floats, comprehend but I can’t cope.”  I was done.  These lyrics can’t be beat.  Jaheim is really the best of both worlds.  He’s new school sound but he’s old soul.  These new cats out here would sound foolish singing those lyrics.

Billy & Victoria on Young & the Restless

     These two make me smile.  Victoria has been a stick in the mud for so long now, that I’ve forgotten what she looks like when she smiles.  The one word I can use to describe the relationship between Billy and Victoria is “ELECTRIC!”  To be honest, Billy has chemistry with all the ladies but he’s really been able to pull out the fun and human side of Vikki.  It’s impressive.  They heat up my screen and I love it.

William Robinson

    This fella of mine is so awesome. Seeing as this is the month of June and Father’s Day is fast approaching I am ever aware of the importance of my husband.  I don’t say it nearly enough, however William is an awesome father, loving husband and my best friend.  Whooo….felt good to get that off my chest.

Why in the Sam hell is there so many people? This show has been coming on for five years, each year like clockwork 10 people. While some reality competition shows increase each season like The Duggars brood, Next Food kept it simple and manageable. Well not this year. So far, I’m outraged. There are too many damn people. I’m going to try to make it through this episode. Wish me luck.

So I went ahead and watched the rest of this episode dear sweet Alexis was kicked off the show. Why, oh why did he have to leave?  Alexis, was awkward and shakey and quirky but not in a lovable way, a hide your children when he walks past kind of way.  It was classic.  He was perfect.  Had the show have been on Bravo, he would have lasted at least 7 more episodes regardless of the fact that his food was totally inedible and he was the worst on air personality.  Oh well, it was not to be.  Farewell, Alexis.  Our courtship was swift but I will forever remember you.

My name is Danielle Robinson and I am an urban Mom.  I’m 30 years old and I’m living the “American Dream.”  I’m married (five years) and we have three kids, two girls and one 21 month old boy. We live in our own home (starter) and I drive a mini-van.  Yes, I’m living the dream.  

I’ve got a secret though.  I’m tired as hell.  No one told me that the dream came along with all this responsibility and pressure. I love my little family, but every now and again, I look at one of my single friends and instantly want to ”McFly” back to 2001 and take the road less traveled.  An impossibility I know, but when I hit a real rough day it brings a smile to my face.  

Confession.  They say it’s good for the soul.  Well that’s what I plan to do here, unleash my thoughts and feelings for the internet to feast upon.  I love watching The Young & the Restless, Judge Judy and a handful of reality shows.  In between my ever increasing mommy duties, we’ll chat about what I like and don’t like going on in the world….Especially my shows.  I also love sports.  In fact, I’ve recently become a full fledged baseball fan.  Who knew?

Well, I think I’ll stop here.  Let’s take this relationship slow. No need to rush into marriage, let’s do a teaser date to see if we even have anything in common.

ttyl

D