From New Bern..., 2 Charlotte, NC!!!

Mood: Vacation Mode
Music: Gavin Munoff "Live Concert" CD's

2day's Message: "Blood Should Always Be Thicker Than Water... Unless The Blood Is Thin & The Water Is Oh Soooo Soothing!!!" A.L. Jones Sr.

Just wanted 2 say that I'm sitting here in Charlotte, NC trying 2 get my bearings... I DEF Love it down here Bcuz it has that wonderful City Vybe... Reminds me a heck of a lot like home... Fast food, malls, sports team, downtown scene, parks, & night life...

I came South cause I made a personal pact with myself 2 visit my Xtended Family... They live on the East Coast outside of New Bern, NC. They had a Big BBQ Saturday & I surprised them all by sneaking in 2 C them... I actually arrived Friday..., but didn't C them until Saturday...

I have about 2 minutes of video footage & I was like the Returning Conquering War Hero... Folks went krazy when they saw me... The #1 comment was, "I Knew U Were Coming Bcuz U Told Us 2 NEVER EVER Bet Against The Black!!!"

The 2nd comment was, "I Knew U Were Coming Bcuz U Got Quiet On Facebook!!! U Stopped Posting & It Made Me Think U Were Coming Cause U Didn't Want Folks 2 Know Your Whearabouts!!!" WOW!!!

It was great 2 C sooooooooo many people I haven't seen in 5 years... It was equally great 2 C my own family... All 4 of my Aunts & Uncles (Jessie, Geraldine, Maryann, & Charlie)... Countless cousins... My own true only niece (my sister's child)... & a whole generation of NEW kids who I really Do Not know @ all... That was worth the trip alone...

My Family was MAD @ me Bcuz I chose 2 stay @ a hotel in New Bern rather than out in the sticks with them... C'mon Son!!! I do that @ least every other tyme... They should know me by now... I can't handle sitting out there in the sticks... It's Mind Numbingly Boring!!! PHEW!!!

I was also amazed @ how difficult life has been 4 a large sum of my family... Several have done prison time, several had drug problems, several had poor appearance due 2 health issues, & some have fallen upon some hard times... The youth don't seem 2 have strong role models..., lack of hope 4 the future..., nor guidance in what they can do 2 B successful in their own lives...

They all remark on how Amazing I LQQK!!! I smiled 2 myself bcuz 2 me..., it's the way I Always LQQK??? 2 them It's Amazing..., 2 me It's Normal!!! It clearly shows why I've never been able 2 spend major time nor identify strongly with this region of the South... I'm 2 intense, I quest 2 hard 4 knowledge, I'm 2 vain not 2 LQQK GOOD, I'm 2 technical with toyz/gadgets, I'm 2 self motivated, & I need much more culture in my life than they do...

But..., @ the end of the day we R still family..., & I love them ALL dearly... They love me..., they miss me..., & it's up 2 me 2 keep the bonds connected... Leaving them I traveled 4 hours across the state 2 Charlotte..., a city much more conducive 2 my mindset... I'll visit some other folks over here..., then head home on 2morrow...

Still a wonderful trip 2 reconnect with my roots, my past, my history, & my people... Remember..., U can run from many things..., but U can never run away from yourself... That's The Way Life Goes!!! PEACE!!!

aljonessr

Lenny White Anomaly Tour Iridium NYC 08.15.10

Mood: Trippin' The Light Fantastic
Music: Lenny White "Forever" Anomaly CD

Oh Man...,

Sunday August 15th, went to Iridium in NYC 2 C Lenny White’s Band perform his new CD “Anomaly.” DEFINITELY not music for the faint of heart. I slightly bogarted my way in as I circumvented the line outside, spoke 2 the young guy handling the ticket booth, & ended up sitting damn near on the stage. My crew is STILL trying 2 figure out how I pulled that one off… Dumb Luck!!! Shhhhh!!!

Lenny was in rare form as the music & the venue sounded terrific… Two main guitar players, a special guest guitar player, keyboardist, bass player, & Lenny White on drums. His new CD is a “Must Have” for your collection if you do not have it… It’s Hella-Fied, Electrified, Rock Influenced, Futuristic Fusion Inspired Jazz!!! Ole Skool/New Skool Fusion Is Back!!! LOL!!!

Highlight of the night??? After copping my tee-shirt which I’m proudly wearing right now (the oh so vain 2nd picture)… Folks head up to the bar 2 get Lenny White 2 sign their CD’s & who’s sitting there chilling like he doesn’t have a care in the world???

The One & Only Legendary Bass Player Extraordinaire Mr. Stanley Clarke!!! I (politely) shoved a few people out the way & made sure I eased up 2 take their picture & shake this man’s hand…

1st fusion record I ever heard (cause I was a hardcore R&B, P-Funk kinda kid) was Stanley Clarke’s “School Days.” I actually stole…, a-hem (borrowed that vinyl record which is still in my collection 2day) & I’ve been HOOKED EVER SINCE!!! What A Wonderful Night In NYC!!! PEAAACCCCEEEEEEE!!!

What Gets Me Up In The Morning??? LIFE!!!

Mood: NRGetic & Xcited!!!
Music: John McLaughlin & Chick Corea "New Blues, Old Bruise" 5 Peace Band CD

I Have That Innate Fear That If I Don’t Get Up In The Morning (short of the fact that I’m probably deceased), I Might Be Missing Something!!! Life is too short & our frame of reference is so tiny; that to miss out on 1 day is to literally lose a lifetime…

Think Big Picture!!! You are walking along the beach, you pick up a handful of sand, sift down to one single grain of sand, & then you compare that to all the sand that’s left on the beach… That Is Our Life Cycle!!! Every day we are on the verge of being insignificant in the overall scheme of things… So missing out on what 2morrow may bring my way is not a gamble I’m willing to take…

My alarm clock is set for 5:30AM…, I rarely need it… I beat it up (not physically) but time-wise almost every single morning… Although I am a morning person…, I cherish that early morning solitude… This is not the time to talk to me about world events, bills, sports, or the next gig I have on the horizon…

I’m the 1st one up, 1st one in the shower, & 1st one to stir the motion of the day… I meditate in that quiet time as I re-charge my Force Field so I can fully take on this new day… When the weather is nice, I’ll step out the back door onto the patio & absorb the start of the next day of The Rest ‘O My Life!!!

On work days I usually know where I’m going & what I need to accomplish that day… For the curve balls thrown my way (because as a utility company we are a crisis management operation…)

I step firmly in the batter’s box, clench my bat, eye up the pitch, & give myself the best possible chance for success… Whether I hit a single or home run out the park…, my goal is to get in the game & stay fully engaged once I’m in there… We WILL solve the problem because we are a utility & This Is What We Do!!!

On days off…, I live to explore the true beauty of life… You get to go outside & play in your own sandbox to your hearts content… You can do whatever you want to do as you chase the dreams you dreamed as a kid that you should’ve NEVER given up on… (Langston Hughes “A Dream Deferred”)

This is when you put aside all the pomp, the circumstances, the ego’s, & power struggles to Relax & Be Yourself!!! Those are the things that get me excited to wake up every single day to participate in this thing we call LIFE!!!

Thebrotheraj