The Big 5.0 Milestone.....

 

In a little over a month, this guy will be reaching the milestone age of 5.0!

When I was 18, 50 seemed SOOOO old!

When I was 21, I didn’t even think about 50!

When I was 25, I can’t even remember what I was thinking!

When I was 30, 50 began to seem somewhat realistic because 40 was nearing!

When I was 40, 50 became the new 40…LOL

 

Now that I am on the cusp of turning 50, I am so VERY THANKFUL to have been blessed to grace this earth for 50 years!  I can honestly say that physically I am probably in better shape now than I was when I was 25-45.  YES there are days when I feel my age (after working out, then washing and waxing my vehicle…THEN working in the yard for hours)…What am I saying about feeling old…heck I probably couldn’t have even done that in my 30’s to be honest…LOL

They say you are only as old as you feel…well in that case, I certainly don’t feel almost 50!  My workout routine keeps me relatively healthy; having family & friends that loves and supports my efforts (although sometimes they get on me to TRY to RELAX) makes the transition to the big 5.0 much easier.  

I’m sure there are those out there that fret reaching 50....but God has blessed me to be here this long…why would I ever fret that??  Embrace & rejoice!

 

October 27, 2013….Las Vegas for the 50^th Anniversary of the day John L. & Gloria C. Brooks welcomed their 2^nd son.

Make up your mind!

I know it's been awhile since I've been here, but today I just need to vent/rant...lol

One day you are posting all about your workouts, proposed workouts, getting in shape, healthy eating and the whole nine......and the next day you're posting about inhaling an entire deep dish Pizza Pizz....MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

Next day you're posting about how good God is, how humble we should all be, etc.....the next day in your posts you're cussing like the MVP of the ignorant All Star game, and wanting to blast the man standing next to the man, standing next to the Man!!...MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!

One day you're driving the family van.....the next day you wanna be some NASCAR superstar driver, driving some big bright @$$ hot rod....MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!

One day you're cool with people, the next day you don't speak to the same people...I GUESS you can just take your fickle @$$ on!  Peace...lol

Emotional Rollercoaster kind of day..

Put LOTS of miles on the shoes and the Jeep this weekend…lol

Saturday’s AAU tournament in Michigan (early morning I might add), my officiating partners were kind enough to let me get my games in so that I could hit the road to Sandusky, Ohio to join my family & friends at the indoor waterpark.

Saturday was a strange kind of day on the court….the Ying to my Yang, then the oil to my water water, or whichever cliché that you’d like to/or normally use.

With my one partner, we roll through games seamlessly as we are almost always in synch on the court.  We have a ton of fun out there, but we are on our P’s & Q’s while doing so, and we make the necessary calls to keep the game flowing under control.

 Now my other partner on Saturday….NOT so sure bro was a “real” official (and the red font was no mistake)…lol   I’m pretty certain that he didn’t know some of the rules, had VERY weak mechanics, didn’t make any tough calls, and just seemed to be going through the motions for the most part.  So imagine alternating between the two partners for 8 straight games….I was in need of a few TALL ONES after that!!

After finishing up my last game (and telling my other partner NO on a couple of occasions that I didn’t want to do his last 3 games..NO THANKS BRO, I gotta go!), I hit the road and headed to Sandusky to the water park, sweaty, tired from being up since 6:30am and working in a hot gym, and just ready to relax.  An hour later I arrive at the hotel and check in, etc. and open the door and I’m greeted by my little one, who runs and jumps into my arms…not caring that dad is sweaty, in need of a shower, tired, or whatever…lol  She really doesn’t understand that her dad works hard in order to provide things like this for her, but at the age of 7,  she really doesn’t need too, she just needs to enjoy herself and let dad worry about all that…LOL.  But she said “thanks dad, this is so awesome”

 I was able to get a quick shower and headed down to dinner & drinks with my family and friends.  After dinner I changed and went straight to the waterpark to access the hot tub…lol  WHOA…. talk about sitting back and letting the day pass me by mentally as I held my feet and lower legs against the jets of water..ahhhhh!

 

AAU basketball has been and is still good to me and my fellow officials.  It provides an opportunity to work on our games/mechanics, to have fun, and to make extra $$, sometimes LOTS of extra $$.... Periodically I’ll bypass a day of reffing in order to do things like the waterpark, shopping, etc.  I know some wonder and will ask why I’m giving up a day of making $$....but to see the smiles and excitement on my family’s faces…THAT is reason enough for me!

 

 

My brother's keeper?

During lunch today, I walked over to a local establishment for lunch.  Upon exiting the establishment, a guy walks up to me and the conversation goes a little something like this:

Dude:  Hey can you help me out so I can go in here and get something to eat?
Me:  Sorry, I can’t help you out
Dude:  Psssssst ( and stomps off)

He walks away a bit then turns around and starts yelling at me “can’t even help a black man out” “MF’s think they too good for other N’s”, and some other crap that I couldn’t decipher.

Am I my brother’s keeper??  Am I obligated to give him $$ that I work hard for to help him get something to eat(or whatever else)  JUST because we are both black men?  Mind you, as I’m sitting in the establishment, I watched him walk out of the establishment right next door with a big @$$ winter coat on and it’s 70+ degrees outside..so I had a feeling of what he might’ve been up too, and the money he was asking for most def wasn’t going to go for food!

I am proud of myself for not turning around and saying anything to him while he was ranting.  For those that knew me a few years ago, that DEFINITELY would not have been the case…LOL

Parental Agenda's....

As parents, we have many agendas in our lives..…work, relationships, children, hobbies, etc.  The past few weekends have led me to wonder JUST want some parent’s agenda really is.

Scenario #1 -  A couple weeks ago at the AAU tournament, a mother (who obviously had a child playing) had on an outfit that made me, and quite a few other’s I’m sure wonder just want her agenda for the day was.  The “mother of a child” had on a pair of spandex( not even Yoga pants) pants, tucked inside of some cowboy/cowgirl boots, the top was made of spandex type material also, and it wasn’t leaving a lot to the imagination either…and she had on one of those little short jean jacket things that women are wearing now a days.   What was her agenda for the day?? 

Scenario # 2 – Saturday’s AAU tournament site, a father comes into the guy with Red sunglasses/shades, matching shirt and jeans, and the brightest red shoes that I’ve ever witnessed..AND had on sooooo much cologne that I could smell it while out of the court.  What was his agenda for the day??

Scenario # 3 – Today’s AAU site, a parent is in the stands being obnoxious, ignorant, and frankly getting on  me and my partner’s nerves.  He’s berating his son in between trying to make every call for us officials.  I stopped the game and gave him is customary warning that if he continued, he would be removed from the gym.  Tough guy says something sarcastic….”whistle blast”.  LEAVE THE BUILDING SIR I manage to say without laughing...so he proceeds to call us “Horse $#1t officials”…LOL  I politely tell him to keep in moving and to exit stage left.  What was his agenda for the day??  To embarrass his son? To make a total @$$ out of himself?  Or try to compensate for other shortcomings??...LOL

TGIF Old School Hip Hop Poll...

Kane                                                    or                           Rakim



Who ya got??

                         
Public Enemy                                           or                          KRS One/BDP

Remember Equality?

Please don’t get upset with someone for treating you in the same way/manner that you treat them.  That old cliché of “what goes around comes around” is still prevalent today, and probably will be until the end of time.

Some of yall believe in Karma, while others believe in the Golden Rule (do unto others…yada yada yada..), but I find it very amusing when someone takes offense to someone doing/not doing the exact same thing(s) that they have done/not done to/for that person.  Not sure why this is, but my educated guess is that they either have short memories, or feel somewhat entitled to the unequal treatment that they dish out…LOL   thoughts??

As I’ve stated previously, I feel that there is a difference between being vindictive, and having a LONG memory(in some cases and Awful Long memory...lol)…. Ginkgo biloba (is popular as a "brain herb." Studies have proven that it can improve memory)!!  

 Remember that :-)

Adios!