TIME FLIES WHEN ...

Soooooo ....

If my BABY brother ...

Just turned 21 ....

That means he's no longer a baby =( ...

Yea, sitting here thinking about it ...

I'm a little sad ...

No more talking for him ...

No more knowing he'll be in by a certain time ...

Not to mention I'm now old ...

No more baby brother ...

But at the same time, I'm happy ...

And no words could possibly explain how very proud I am ...

Of him ...

He's smarter than any of his sisters put together ...

He's independent, strong willed, God fearing, and wise ...

He's on the best path any sister could hope ...

For her brother ...

And so, 

Happy Birthday TJ ...

Always and forever ...

My big, little brother ...

YOU . . . WERE . . . GASSED . . .

N.E.R.D. - Sooner Or Later from Kidd Izzo on Vimeo.

YES WE CAN ...

"ON THIS DAY, WE GATHER BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN HOPE OVER FEAR, UNITY OF PURPOSE OVER CONFLICT AND DISCORD"

I ... flippin ... LOVE ... this man named Barack!!!

Such inspiration ...

Not one to sugar coat things, we do have work to do ... ou challenges are real ...

But he ... his very BEING ... proves IT (whatever your it may be) ... CAN be done ...

I couldn't help but notice the nuances he made between our American history

And our history as a people (and I mean African American people)

"IN REAFFIRMING THE GREATNESS OF OUR NATION ... IT HAS NOT BEEN THE PATH FOR THE FAINT HEARTED ... RATHER, IT HAS BEEN THE RISK TAKERS, THE DOERS, THE MAKERS OF THINGS - SOME CELEBRATED, BUT MORE OFTEN MEN AND WOMEN OBSCURE IN THEIR LABOR, WHO HAVE CARRIED US UP THE LONG, RUGGED PATH TOWARDS PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM"

It was at THAT moment ...

Standing in the student lounge at school

One of 3 Black faces, out of nearly 240 students ...

At THAT moment, as a tear welled up in my eye ...

I realized ...

We did it ...

All the people that came before ...

All the people that are bustin their asses to make it ...

Amidst all the insanity in the world ...

Police brutality, profiling, our small numbers in the nation's Universities ...

(While they boast of diversity) ...

We did it ...

I took the time to reflect on his words ...

"THESE MEN AND WOMEN STRUGGLED AND SACRIFICED AND WORKED TILL THEIR HANDS WERE RAW SO WE MIGHT LIVE A BETTER LIFE"

Again ... speaking of America ... those who fought for America ...

But I couldn't help but notice the little twinkle in his eye ...

The private wink ...

He was also referring to OUR ancestors ... and OUR people today ...

Fighting ... dying ... struggling ... 

But we can take a moment from that struggle ... and smile ...

We did it and we can continue to ...

"STARTING TODAY, WE MUST PICK OURSELVES UP, DUST OURSELVES OFF, AND BEGIN AGAIN THE WORK OF REMAKING AMERICA"

But I dare to replace "AMERICA" with "US"

"WE ARE KEEPERS OF THIS LEGACY ... THIS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR CONFIDENCE - THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD CALLS ON US TO SHAPE AN UNCERTAIN DESTINY"

Our destiny is only uncertain to us ...

God has wonderful things in store ...

If we would only stop our doubt, trust, believe, and follow ...

There's many challenges, everyday, ahead ...

Things are hard ...

School, work, preparing for what's to come ... not knowing if we're gonna make it ...

"WITH HOPE AND VIRTUE, LET US BRAVE ONCE MORE THE ICY CURRENTS, AND ENDURE WHAT STORMS MAY COME.  LET IT BE SAID BY OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN THAT WHEN WE WERE TESTED WE REFUSED TO LET THIS JOURNEY END, THAT WE DID NOT TURN BACK NOR DID WE FALTER; AND WITH EYES FIXED ON THE HORIZON AND GOD'S GRACE UPON US, WE CARRIED FORTH ..."

So just remember ...

As 2009 pushes ahead and we're met with new challenges ... 

New hardships and trials ...

We already did it!!

We achieved what most didn't think we would see in our lifetime ...

ANYTHING is possible ...

"DO IT MOVIN"

(OK, that was me, not Barack, lol!!)

BABIES ARE DANGEROUS ...

No, you read it right!

Babies are dangerous!!  I've now been blessed to experience the birth of a second nephew ...

And see others ... cousins, friends, random people ... having or expecting babies ...

And the joy they feel ... and it's dangerous!!!

Because you end up wanting to experience that joy!

But don't worry ...

I was also able to help baby sit nephew number 1 ...

Who is in that infamous "terrible twos" stage ...

You don't see the "matured" cry, the fevers, the "mature" poop ... etc ...

Yea, thee best birth control ever ...



Give me 4 ... maybe 5 years ...

So yea, the New Year is off to a great start!

Victor Alexander is here!  My goals haven't failed just yet, and I am realizing more and more each day how blessed I am with my true friends and family!

09 is gonna be sweet ...

New York was awesome

Spent some time with my friends Nnamdi and Jahdai ...

Spent time with my "New York" fam ...

Saw Cadillac Records with Joy and June ...

Went out to dinner with Engy ...

It was a nice break before getting back into the grind ...

Speaking of getting back ... I'm back in the bay =)

It's good to be home ...

Oh yea!

And I'm about to be 25!! ... 

Ok, I got my heart rate back down to a normal level ... 

It's a New Year ...

But in the words of my best friend, it's not a new me ... Just a better me ...
A me that's always striving to grow, to improve, to succeed ...

So, while most people were ringing in the new year drinking champgne, sparkling cider, kissing loved ones, or just partying through the night, I was balled up under a blanket with a dang sinus infection ... What a way to start the new year huh?

But despite the slow start, I have SO much planned for this year! So many exciting things are coming up and I'll be sure to keep all of you posted as they unfold!

I'll be getting my white coat this semester, start seeing patients on my own, I'll continue in my position as class secretary and hope to move my way up to VP then President (thanks Barack), I'm a tutoring coordinator for the optometric honor society Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK), and I'm hoping to get more involved in community service, different optometric organizations, and to become more politically ... aware ...

A professor of mine this semester said if you want to accomplish something, it is more likely to happen if you write it down ... So I did. You know the usual start of the year promises, better control of finances, improving my spiritual connection with God, more focus on school, treating myself more often, spending more time with family and friends, excercise more often ...

Come December I'll let you know how I did ...

But, more importantly, 2009 will be all about positive energy ... So, unlike my past posts on myspace (yea, tells you alot), there will be no man-bashing, no venting ... just the positive ... The growth, the advancement, the happiness that I will strive for everyday. I'm really excited about this year! And I'm really excited to share it with you all ...

So, from here on out, I'll be trying to get on here to post weekly to let you know what's going on in my life ... and to be honest, it will probably trickle down to bi-weekly as school kicks in. But I hope you guys enjoy it and feel free to chime in with comments!