May The Best Team Be Left Standing..., Welcome 2 NFL Week 1!!!

 

Well Squad After What Seems Like An Eternity…,

I mean I had enuff tyme on July 7th, after 42 years in the game 2 retire, then I graduated college 2 FINALLY cop that Bachelor’s Degree after 23 long years of struggle…, been down 2 Jamaica & back & now the 2023-24 NFL Football Season is upon us. Defending Soopabowl Champion the Kansas City Chiefs kick in the door Thursday night against the up & coming Detroit Lions. Take KC in spite of the absent players…

My NFC East Division goes up against the NFC West on our 4-year cycle as the NFL is just trying to make the road that much more difficult with San Fran, Arizona, Seattle, & the LA Rams on deck. SHUDDER!!!

2 My Man John with all of your high hopes…, your Eagles take on a Patriots team that has been taking on water of late. Last year was a disaster with OC fiasco, so they bring back Bill O’Brien to fix those woes & Mac Jones too. New toy RB Zeke Elliott is in the garage so they’ll bring him out 2 play too. However…, the Eagles are still the Eagles. In spite of losing your OC & DC due 2 your unmitigated success last year, I just CANNOT find myself going against your squad. Until y’all show me that y’all ain’t…, I gotta believe y’all still got everything required to make ANOTHA DEEP PLAYOFF RUN!!! As Jalen Hurts goes..., so goes this Philly Eagles squad. If he continues 2 ascend..., lead with quiet intensity..., & has ZERO FEAR of the bullseye placed upon his City O' Brotherly Love back..., they may just be the 1st team in the division 4 the 1st tyme in like 20 years who will repeat as division champs!!! So sit back & NJoy The Show!!!

Speaking of San Fran they kick the weekend off against a team folks have high hopes for. That would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are well coached as Mike Tomlin was a magician last year even though they DID NOT make the playoffs. They settled in rookie QB Kenny Pickett & now he has a few weapons around him mostly WR Pickens to do some damage with. San Fran had the shot heard round the league as they dumped 3^rd pick in the draft QB Trey Lance down to the Cowboys. Ole boy after multiple years in the system COULD NOT beat out incoming QB2 Sam Darnold the Ex-Jet 1^st round pick. If Brock Purdy can do half of what he did last year, I gotta ride with Harv & Rog’s 49er’s to continue 2 be an NFC dominant team in search of that elusive Soopabowl Run!!!

Then on Sunday night in one of the MANY prime tyme games my damn team is featured in…, we open with division foe The Cowboys at Giants Stadium. I hate opening the season against a division foe, I think that should at least game 3 to set the table. Well, fresh off a new $40 million per year contract for QB Danny Boy Jones & smacking RB Saquon Barkley with the franchise tag, then reaching a standard deal for RB’s with this new ceiling that’s been set, we’ll see if NFL Coach Of The Year Brian Daboll can continue the upward trajectory he has my squad on. We still need WR’s, the defense could be better, but this is what we got.

The Cowboys were simply the Cowboys during the off-season with turmoil surrounding offensive lineman Zach Martin who they placated with cash. They have put Dak on notice as Coach McCarthy is now calling the plays after releasing #1 offense in the league play caller OC Kellen Moore (I guess y’all don’t wanna score no more points, huh???) They got some more financial things to clean up in order to sign Micah Parson’s who’s due to be paid 1^st in front of all the others who are on deck & they let Zeke go 2 the Patriots so itz gonna be different with Pollard as RB #1!!!

Dak’s hefty $60 million dollar cap hit next year is why he’s auditioning in front of QB3 Trey Lance who’s been given a lifeline from Owner / GM / Coach / Scout / Ticket Sales / Concessions Worker / Custodian / Uncle Jerry Jones!!! LMAO!!! Call me krazy…, Call me krazy…, Shasta, Ian, & DeVon but I think this is the game my NY Giants will catch these boyz zzzlpin’ on as we secure our 1^st “W” of the season to start this division fight off right. Sherry, Scottie, Kimbo, don't worry as AJ Got Ya!!! I mean did you see what Danny Boy Jones' Duke Blue Devils did 2 Mighty Clemson??? Rinse, Wash, Repeat!!! LMAO!!!

The next night in Prime Tyme is the anointing of the A-A-Ron ERA as QB of the NY Jets. I CANNOT lie, I am JEALOUS as hell because that move alone stole ALL THE THUNDER away from my NY Giants 1nce it happened. Had my azz watching this years “Hard Knocks” & everythang because this is an intriguing experiment we’ve seen recently. We saw TB12 go to Tampa Bay & Matt Stafford go to the Rams & they both won Soopabowls proving the move was everythang it was ‘sposed 2 be. Can the NY Jets repeat that trend??? I Say..., HELL 2 DA NAWH!!! Bcuz they just CANNOT HAVE NICE THANGS!!! But these ARE NOT your same ole Jets. Not since Rex Ryan coached the team have they been in a better position 2 succeed. However…, they are in the Buzz Saw that iz The AFC East & The AFC Conference in particular. Great teams with great QB’s sprinkled all across the country in that conference.

They kick off week 1 against their divisional foe the Buffalo Bills & them boyz gotta be good & ready as they’re tired of all this NY Jets talk of Soopabowl or Bust!!! Hell…, the last tyme I checked…, Buffalo iz STILL in New York State too??? QB Josh Allen is STILL HIM & they have been 2getha a minute figuring out their identity of who they be. The A-A-Ron led Jets are just starting that journey. How-En-Be-So-Ever as I did with my NY Giants…, I am going out on a limb 2 say Team Gang-Green iz gonna light Giants Stadium green, set that place on fire, & give their fans an opening day they’ve been dying for. So 2 Charles / Chuck / “Le Marquis De La Hate” / Miller (just like his idol Uncle Jerry Jones did u see what I did there???) I am taking YOUR NY J-E-T-S, in the season opening upset. OMG!!! DID I JUST DO THAT??? YEAH U DID AJ!!! DAMMNNNN!!!

Quite Simply…, R U (no not Rutgers, but a good win 4 them) READY 4 SOME FOOTBALL?!? WELL LET’S GO GET IT DAMNIT!!!

	2023 NFL FOOTBALL
	FAVORITE	SPREAD	POINTS	UNDERDOG	AJ's PICK 'EM
1	CHIEFS	5.5	51.5	Lions	CHIEFS
2	FALCONS	3.5	39	Panthers	Panthers
3	Jaguars	4.5	45.5	COLTS	Jaguars
4	49ers	2.5	41	STEELERS	49ers
5	Commanders	7	38.5	CARDINALS	Commanders
6	Bengals	2.5	47.5	BROWNS	Bengals
7	VIKINGS	6	45.5	Buccaneers	VIKINGS
8	SAINTS	3	41.5	Titans	SAINTS
9	RAVENS	10	43.5	Texans	RAVENS
10	BEARS	1	43.5	Packers	Packers
11	SEAHAWKS	5.5	45.5	Rams	SEAHAWKS
12	BRONCOS	4	44	Raiders	Raiders
13	Eagles	3.5	45	PATRIOTS	Eagles
14	CHARGERS	2.5	50.5	Dolphins	CHARGERS
15	Cowboys	3.5	46.5	GIANTS	GIANTS
16	Bills	2.5	46.5	JETS	JETS
	Home Team Is In CAPS

 

P.S. 2day Iz 2 Months 2 The Day Since I Broke The Chains & Stepped Off The PS Plantation!!! Free At Last…, Free At Last…, THANK GAWD ALMIGHTY AJ IZ MFK’N FREE AT LAST!!! LOL!!!

The Tropicana Xcursion 04.15.22

Date: Friday April 15^th, 2022
Music: Soulive “Tuesday Night’s Squad” CD Next
Mood: Energized & Optimistic

As I sit here on the boardwalk on vacation in Atlantic City, it is amazing. Normally I would be home in East Orange, Essex County simply working from home. That in itself is a form of isolation that I’ve come to enjoy. 

Although I am quite the social & people person; the solace one gets in spending time with oneself to truly know one’s self is carthodically amazing. However the disconnection from society & the isolation itself DOES NOT allow one to expand interconnected thoughts.

Being outside this morning on a beautiful Friday morning as the sun warms my body & the crush of people who pass by me is amazing. I see their faces, I watch the pace of their steps, I hear their conversations (even though I have my headphones on) I notice their wardrobe as they check me out checking them out. We have a connected non-verbal exchange in this co-joined journey.

This is what I love, this is why I love life, & I love people so much. It’s in this exchange of NRG & passion that we share that our lives exist. We are social creatures. The pandemic has forced us to LQQK deeply into our own individual lives to truly see just how much we truly need each other. Not just to live, but to laugh, love, survive, & thrive. It’s been a long time since I felt this connected to my fellow human beings in quite a long time. We PO-SI-TIVE-LY need each other.

We arrived in Atlantic City Monday afternoon to spend a chillaxin’ week at The Tropicana Resort. Monday – Wednesday it was a sparse, low-key crowd as everyone was settling in. For many this is a Spring break week so quite a few have time off. Monday after posting up in the room for a bit we hit A Damn Good Bar for an early dinner just to breathe again. We were greeted by a fave waitress Ms. Merta who is all high energy to help you kick the week off right.

Tuesday we did lunch at Tony Luk’s just to have some hot subs to hold us down because we WERE NOT really starving. Later that night I even hit Pizata for that flatbread styled pizza to be dinner. Wednesday morning I stepped off the property to hit Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast. Lunch was @ Broadway Burger Bar where 1nce again a fave waitress Ms. Lynn was holding court. She is such a pleasure & could definitely work in Club AJ as she has her business model down to a science. We even had a sexxxy new mixxxed drink called Purple Paradise that was to die for (the included pic). Mmmmmm!!!

Thursday being extremely lazy it was pizza at 2PM as we were working our way to a comedy show 8PM later that night. Thursday is the day you could feel that shift in the building. Monday – Wednesday was kewl as we all seemed to stay within self as we flexed on like a Level 3. Thursday as more people arrived & The Trop filled out you could feel the NRG level begin to LIFT UP. As you walked through the casino, the crowds began to swell, more people were in the casino, & they filled the seats at damn near all the slot machines. It Was Bananas As Level 7 Was In Full FX!!!

The day before on the boardwalk had us all spread out as though we were still practicing Covid-19 protocols, then on Thursday that distance quickly shrunk as more boots were on the ground than all the other three days combined.

Finally breaking free of being confined it was literally 95% people were mask free vs those 5% who were still masked up. Quite frankly we wanted to break free to escape this endless movie loop we’ve been locked inside of. What better place to do so in than in Atlantic City, because remember, “What Happens In Atlantic City Stays In Atlantic City!!!”

I had promised the comedians in The Quarter atrium that one night we’d attend the show. We settled on Thursday 8PM to be that night. Only 4 people in the crowd wore masks & 2 of them took them off 1nce inside to have their drinks. They had four comedians perform on this night & #1 the show’s opening act from Cuba was also the MC, the timekeeper, & the man working the lights. I expected him to be the star of the show but he came in as my #2 on this night.

The #2 on the bill, Gary G, was the star of the night as he was HILARIOUS!!! His jokes, his mannerisms, his LQQK, & his physical comedy was on point. He had us in stiches up in that bad boy. Comedian #3 was a big man who had some serious life challenges but he was the least funniest of the group. He had some good jokes, but he WAS NOT as good as his peers.

The 4^th comedian was the headliner, he was the oldest guy in the bunch & had done work with radio star Howard Stern. He was #3 on my funny meter but he had some classic moments as he was on his D.L. Hughley use the crowd to your advantage by singling certain people out. He tagged 2 guys sitting next to each other as being gay (they weren't), he killed a 72 year old woman who was loud & obnoxious (she was), he slayed the couple in front of me on swallowing (she said she had no shame doing so)…, & then he got to me. AWWWHHHH ISH..., LQQKOUT!!!

He was like, “Holy Cow I Love This Dude…, But My God He Is  Dark. Thank God You’re Smiling Or I Would Never See You. Wesley Snipes Would Be Jealous Cause He Ain’t Got Nothing On You. I Mean Like Got Damn My Man Is So Dark He DOES NOT Even Have A Shadow!!!”

That last one took me out cause it was funny AF as I thought this would be my opportunity to Will Smith his azz. But unlike this soft generation we’re raising I can take a joke..., I understand I am at a comedy show sitting in the 2^nd row, (smart enuff not to sit in the front row), but I’m still fair game in that room.

We had a few drinks, we left a tip for the comics in the tip bucket, & we copped 2 ACJokes.com tee-shirts to help support their cause. We rolled out the Kiss-Kiss nightclub & headed to the Market Place for late night sandwiches to bring back to the room for dinner. That was a great call because we DID NOT want something heavy, so it hit the spot to allow us a mellow nights Zzzlp.

Now back to Friday on the boardwalk as I sat there soaking up the sun I was reading Sting’s book “Broken Music” his memoir. A passage in this book triggered my writing genes so I pulled my pad out of my forever present bookbag & began to jot down these thoughts so I could turn them into a journal entry later tonight.

I had been on the boardwalk for a few hours & Karoline came out to find me. We decided to hoof down the boardwalk heading towards The Hard Rock Café, but stopped 1nce we got to Johnny Rockets for 2 chili dogs, a burger & fries. We had so much stuff we took a ride back on that little push-push cart thingy so we could enjoy our lunch back in the room quicker than just walking back.

We had a dinner date for the Italian spot Carmine’s because we know how big those family style dishes are. We strategically planned it that way so we could bring half that meal back home for lunch upon our return trip. They DID NOT disappoint as usu-ALJ!!!

The place was packed, the casino is bustling, & if you never knew there was a pandemic, you would think things are back to normal, or that nothing had ever happened. This was a great chance to sneak away, shed some fears, & just kick back to chillax & enjoy one’s self. Don’t be afraid to let go & live just a little. Especially if you’re all vaxxed & boosted up…, just in case. Shhhh!!!

The Brother AJ 

Re-Visit My 2nd CD Never In My Life Released 07.14.21

Mood: Reflective
Muzak: The Brother AJ Never In My Life CD Song "You're In My System."

It took me a WHOLE NOTHA year to write my next journal entry & it’s a year to the day of my last one. I wish it was under the same circumstances because I had dropped my 1^st solo CD in that prior year’s entry. This time, I have already dropped my 2^nd solo CD in June of this current year, making me clearly behind the times. The least I can do is slip in through the backdoor & BREAK IT DOWN!!!

My 2^nd solo CD is called “Never In My Life.” I chose that title because I thought it was fitting of “Who Wudda Ever Thunk I’d Be Releasing My Own Original Muzak @ This Six Decade Point In My Life???” I don’t think I truly did, so I think it’s the perfect match.

On my 1^st project it was a full on one-man show as I was on my Prince vybe of doing everything myself. I wrote the lyrics, composed the music, played the instruments, recorded the songs, mixxxed them, & released it. If you’ve never had an experience like that it is clearly cathartic as it allows you to go deeply inside yourself to purge all those inner demons. I mean, if you have any, LMAO!!!

This 2^nd time around I was much more collaborative as I have songs that were co-written lyrically & musically by others along with me as well as bringing in a few people to perform with me. That was a kewl interesting vybe compared to the 1^st tyme around as you have to figure out how to share that creative space & still achieve your overall goals in a way you feel still represents you.

Track #1 AJ’s Kiss is an instrumental groove that my old co-worker Jimmy Wilson fleshed out & I supersized it into a cohesive jam. It was strictly an instrumental originally called 1^st Kiss, but then I had an epiphany & decided to re-name it after self & add vocal chants by Tasha & Regine aka Da Flippettes. It was a great call as it adds another layer of intrigue to Da Mixxx.

Track #2 I Want 2 Show U is an AJ & Dr. KBJ collaboration that we’ve done in various formats. It was duet, a female lead, & finally a male lead song where I think the resonance of my deep voice truly brings an edge & energy to it allowing it to sparkle & shine. In addition to Dr. KBJ’s background vocals I again had Da Flippettes add some vocal shine. They even added a couple of different things that weren’t originally in the track that I loved.

Track #3 You’re In My System is a AJ & Dr. KBJ collabo Show Stopper. It’s an uptempo burner that comes out the gate just a gunning with this lethal opening descending tom fill. It’s a four verse song that alternates the lyrics between male & female but with both singing the chorus. Dr. KBJ handles the females lead vocal since she wrote them words & digs into them with gusto. Lyrically it just seeps into your psyche & the chorus lifts you up as you join in the sing along. With a hint of that Eastern Indian musical refrain we all know from childhood it starts from a place of familiarity. Da Flippettes make another guest appearance to help thicken out the chorus for an almost stereo flanger FX unit type vybe.

Track #4 Let UR Guard Down has me back on my one man grind as I deliver a mid-tempo ballad of yearning love. The instrumentation has that forward momentum that keeps you leaning in to follow along. The sounds I used especially the string lines are sublime. I also like the way my vocals sit in the mixxx as my voice is crystal clear allowing you to hear each & every lyric. The pleading & yearning in my voice should help you feel the urgency of my love.

Track #5 Never In My Life is what I believe is the best song in the entire The Brother AJ catalog. Jimmy Wilson makes another appearance as his keyboard textures were integral to the song. Dr. KBJ’s lyrics fit the song as though they were meant to be there, however they were not a part of the original session. I found them & added them in later. My vocal delivery on this song (which I worked just a little bit on) hopefully draws you into the story as this man is clearly in love. Dr. KBJ & Da Flippettes provide background vocals & we hit a homerun delivering what fits into a smooth jazz or R&B bucket with ease. Yes I LOVE this track!!! ITZ AMAZING!!!

Track #6 Online Love is an old song I’ve had for years that I attribute to a young lady from Baton Rouge, LA who taught me the internet when I 1^st got my online wings. She was beginning to work in a music studio, so we were mutually beneficial to each other as I taught her how to work how way around that arena. It was an excellent transfer of knowledge. I then proceeded to weave this tale around our extended story from a macro view to make a cohesive music track featuring all those wonderful sound elements from the original AOL library. Back when I 1^st did it…, it was amazing. Now with sampling & DAW programs it’s like old hat, but back then I was sweating bullets to make it happen. It’s a perfect marriage of music, technology, a great story, with great execution.

Track #7 I Wanna Be UR Fantasy is a deep low end funk jam that takes me back 2 my P-Funk days. The bass is soopa heavy, the drums syncopated, & a tambourine adds sizzle during the breakdowns. Itz all about that low end tryin' to make that head knock. I think this has a sultry slow burning feel to it as the story unfolds for a sensual encounter. I break up the vocals with a spoken word cadence in the middle of the song & then a blistering echo-tinged rap in the end. A surprise was finding out through one of my artist resources I believe from Spotify that this tune hit 10 all time plays in the middle of this month. Somebody feels what I was cookin' up on this joint & can appreciate the funk thusly.

Track #8 QX5 Funk is my obligatory instrumental jam. By following the previous track you're already in that uptempo space so it's not a full on shock to the system. It’s also not as frantic & hectic as the last instrumental jam on my 1^st project, but it delivers that same synth work soundscape allowing you space where you can lose yourself inside of it. I try to give you just enuff ear candy to find something inside that groove that you can latch on to as you take the journey with me. It has those soaring string, some brass hits, the deep low end bottom, & a synth lead line that you'll hum to yourself. Oh AJ don't forget that classic Rhodes sound underneath stitching it all together. Nice way to close it out.

Overall I am very happy with this project as it is that perfect bridge. My 1^st project let me go within myself to truly express me to the world & this 2^nd project allowed me to bring a few friends onboard to share that same ride with me. So stay tuned in 2022 when I drop my 3^rd project. I am currently in the studio cooking that sucka up & I’m thinking a 1^st quarter release would be just about right 2 send it out into the universe. No telling where my mind is at & what direction I’m going to go in. But you already know one thing Fo’ Shee-Zayyy…, HELLA YEAH ITZ GONNA BE FONKY!!!

You Can Find This Project On All Your Fave Digital Platforms As Well As Hear Preview Of The CD By Clicking This Link!!! Peace, Love, & Blessings Unto You All!!!

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thebrotheraj/never-in-my-life [distrokid.com]

The Bro J!!!

My COVID-19 Triple Play

 

Mood: Cautiously Optimistic
Music: Earth, Wind, & Fire Keep Your Head To The Sky

I feel as though I’ve had the COVID-19 TRIPLE PLAY. I’ve had three significant experiences during this pandemic each presenting their own unique challenges.

The 1^st experience was my in-laws who live in Charlotte, NC passed away in July of 2020. My 86 year old mother-in-law passed away July 1^st & then 17 days later my 90 year old father-in-law passed away on July 18^th. I flew my wife down when her mother went on life support & she made it down in time to spend three days with her mom before she passed away. I then drove the rest of the family down so we could attend the funeral, cause we didn’t want to fly during this time.

Upon returning home we had to go into the 14 day quarantine protocol. Just as we were coming out of that was when my father-in-law passed away. On top of failing health I believe he passed away from a broken heart as he COULD NOT fathom being without his bride of 66 years & mother to his twelve children by his side.

Nine of the twelve children live in North Carolina, the other three live in NJ. The hard decision was made for the Jersey family to attend his funeral via Zoom as my father-in-law was a military vet who fought in the Korean War & DID NOT want any pomp & circumstance just a simple closed-casket military styled funeral.

The 2^nd experience had my daughter after pushing her wedding date back several times deciding the weekend before Labor Day 2020 was the day. We went up to Mountain Creek in Vernon (the old Action Park) & had the COVID-19 wedding experience. The resort staff was awesome as they had this thing all figured out. It was an outdoor wedding on top of the mountain on the most perfect day imaginable.

We had VIP access to the lift; we had our own private space on top of the mountain with spectacular views where NJ, NY, & PA come together for the ceremony. After the ceremony we returned back down below to the reception in a huge outdoor tent behind the resort.

This MAY NOT have been the ideal wedding my daughter envisioned, but the pandemic forced some hard decisions. It’s already difficult to put together a wedding guest list & now with pandemic capacity restrictions the ticket to this event was like winning the Powerball Lottery. On a side note, as the father of the bride I was slightly happy as that meant the costs were significantly less than a traditional wedding, so I floated them extra Las Vegas honeymoon money!!! PHEWWW!!!

The 3^rd experience was this year March 24^th, 2021 my daughter gave birth to my 2^nd grandchild. As human beings we go crazy over events like this. However with the pandemic still not fully under control, I was trying to wait for my vaccination on March 31^st before making plans to see her. My stubborn, head-strong, (feeling some type of way) daughter was not having it & brought my granddaughter Naomi to the house Monday March 29^th to meet her Pop-Pop face-to-face!!!

We had to mask up, sanitize the hands, & open our hearts up to this newest bundle of joy in our lives. These three events happening during this COVID-19 pandemic gave me three take-a-ways of how you continue to live life in spite of difficult challenges you face.

#1 My in-laws DID NOT pass away from COVID-19 so we take comfort in knowing they lived a fruitful & blessed life, so why can’t we do the same during this time?

#2 None of the seven people in my continual orbit have contracted COVID-19 since it started March of 2020 so we must be doing something right as we practice all the safety protocols of mask wearing, hygiene, & social distancing even as we’ve continued to work & socialize under restrictions.

#3 The most important thing this pandemic makes you realize is what is truly important in your life. That is those who you love, those who love you, gainful employment, the ability to sustain yourself against all odds, being healthy, & trying to maintain your sanity in spite of what seems like a world gone KRAZY!!!

Warm weather is arriving, the vaccine is here, as are solutions for eradicating the most disruptive thing we’ve seen in our lifetime. In the meantime stay focused on what you can control & don’t be afraid to safely step outside to live just a little bit more each & every day, YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!!!  

If Only America Would Allow All Of Us "A Promised Land"!!!

 

Music: Reverend Barry & The Funk
CD: A Thousand Lives We've Lived
Song: LoveShine
Mood: Hopeful In Spite Of Economic, Political, Racial, & Pandemic Stress

I recently completed reading President Barack Obama's latest book "A Promised Land" & I found it fascinating. I posted this review on my Good Reads page & decided I would like to share it here too.

Whether you cared for his politics or not, there is no disputing that former President Barack Obama is a highly intelligent & motivated man. When you frame his presidency with the weight of expectation of being the first Black American to ascend to the highest office of the land it's almost to outrageous to conceive it.

Add in the fact that he had members of the opposing party who made it their singular mission to disrupt or derail anything that he tried to accomplish during a time when the country was on the precipice of economic collapse made the challenges insurmountable.

To hear President Barack explain in his own words his thought process, his decision making, & the people he surrounded himself with as he navigated one of the quickest rises from an unknown Illinois Senator to the President of the United States is revolutionary.

You DO NOT have to like the man, but you do have to respect his journey and what he accomplished in the face of blatant disrespect amidst global turmoil for the highest ideals of American democracy.

He's an oratory gift as the words leap of the pages placing you squarely in the room with him. It's a long 700 page read, so you must get comfortable & commit yourself to absorbing quite a lot. It ends with a proverbial bang, so you must hang on all the way through.

I've gained a new found respect for this man, his family, those who supported him, his enemies (American & foreign), & the grace/class/skill he utilized to navigate these murky waters. He will go down in history as a first, but he needs to also go down in history as a intelligent man who beat the odds under incredible duress.

The Bro J!!!

My Vaccination Experience @ NJIT Newark 03.31.21

Music: Herbie Hancock

Song: A Tribute To Someone
CD: My Point Of View

I Had The "Privilege/Mis-Fortune" Of Getting My 1st Vaccination Yesterday.

 

In my heart of hearts I wanted the Johnson & Johnson one & done…, but when you see 500,000 people have succumbed to the pandemic I took the first available slot which happened to be the Pfizer two shots.

 

I say “PRIVILEGED” because I am grateful to be in a position to get the shot as many others didn’t have the chance.  My safety coordinator put me on the PSE&G list last week & they actually called me Monday to add me to the RW Johnson schedule. However the original list I signed up for on my own with NJ Health came through first for yesterday’s appointment.

 

I say “MISFORTUNE” because unbeknownst to me I was scheduled to get my shot at the state’s brand new largest vaccination facility.  I didn’t know this prior to my arrival because I had an appointment at 1:45PM figuring I would walk in, get my shot, & walk out. Being proactive I arrived at 1:20PM thinking they might take me earlier if they were ahead of schedule.

 

As I rolled down Central Ave, Newark I was surprised to see my normal roads blocked off due to a heavy police presence. I was like, “What Is Going on Here???” I’m thinking there was an accident or something???  HA-HA-HA…, I WISH!!!  Since I know the area well I maneuvered on back roads & found a parking spot as I headed to the building. When  I came up to the top of the hill, this was the first time I saw the crowd.

 

That line snaked back & forth like you were waiting to get on ride at Six Flags Great Adventures. I had a conversation with two co-workers awhile back in Springfield saying I would NEVER stand on some long line to get the vaccination. I would wait until it became readily available where you could walk right in & get it like you do the flu shot. Well…, the birth of my granddaughter last week changed that mantra as I want to protect myself for her, so I got on line & waited it out.

 

Although waiting on line was the bad part, once I got inside the building (almost two hours later) things moved rapidly. This is a FEMA site where the National Guard has jurisdiction. I checked in at Table 23 where they verified me, then I was sent to Booth 7 for my vaccination where they verified me once again.

 

Sidebar: YES I HATE ALL THINGS MEDICAL…, INCLUDING SHOTS!!!

 

However all those attentive young faces of these wonderful National Guard soldiers made the experience dare I say…, PLEASUREABLE!!!  They were all so frigging nice, excited, helpful, & just amazing to interact with. There is hope America, we can do this if we simply come together for the greater good of ALL mankind.

 

P.S. Think About Getting Your Vaccination To Protect Yourself, Those You Love, & Your Co-Workers!!!

 

The Brother AJ