"A Letter To Myself!!!!"

Dear World,

I’m about to sit down and watch True Blood with my family. First, I wanted to write you this letter. A friend passed away and I’ve been thinking about it for the past two days. Even though, Toni Washington and I lived nearly a thousand miles apart, she was supportive and inspirational to my family and I.

As a father, I try to be an example to my children. I try to be the best husband to my amazing wife as possible. Rarely do I imagine what would happen to them if I were not around. With my friend passing on, this question has been on my mind.

If I died, would my family be taken care of? Would they be financially secure? I’m sure they wouldn’t be. With the current economic state we’re living in, there’s no reassurance that we‘ll maintain insurance, healthcare, and retirement. As a nation, we’ve become accustom to spending what we earn rather than saving our earnings. My father used to say, “Money is meant to be spent!” Today, with the horrid economic future looming above us, I have to disagree.

Downsizing is a practice I know I need to start. As consumers, we purchase and grow debt. To practice downsizing though, you have to understand bargain shopping and saving. Also, I need to prepare security for them in case of my passing on.

Thank you for your time and patience.

Sincerely,

Me

  

"Excuses Satisfy The Ones..."

When I woke up this morning, I was surprised to hear a group has organized a rally at the West Allis City Hall about the youth violence, which occurred at Wisconsin State Fair this year. The group is a “pro-white” organization with ties to Arian White Supremacy Groups. My surprise wasn’t that someone other than myself disagreed with the youth and their actions. My disagreement isn’t that there are people claiming hatred as their spear against violence. My disagreement is to the many black people in and around Milwaukee County who don’t agree and won’t stand up against these youth and their actions.

         

          As an African-American living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I agree there needs to be a force, which will stand up to the youth who seem to be without direction and moral code. These youth need to understand their actions weren’t taught to them by their hardworking and legacy driven families. Urban youth, which tend to be more African-American and Hispanic, are getting more and more ruthless.

          I don’t on any level liken myself to “white supremacist” or any group, which uses race as a division between different groups of people. My family has been known to support and be advocates for African-American and African cultures. I, on the other hand, have always been involved with multi-cultural groups and friends of many different races and ethnic backgrounds. I believe you as an individual are responsible for your actions. These youth are not being responsible. I don’t think they understanding the magnitude in which they are bringing unwarranted attention to law biding African-American youth in Milwaukee.

We have enough to struggle with living here in Milwaukee during these horrible economic and political times. The last thing we need is negativity from a few destructive individuals. Now there are groups of African-Americans who are, in their disagreement with a “white supremacy group” hosting a rally in West Allis, plotting to protest the rally. As much as I disagree with racists, I’m amazed these African-Americans are not focusing their rage and distaste towards the African-American youth who were being destructive and disorderly.

Milwaukee and Wisconsin have been facing massive program cuts for education and activities for youth. This is leaving youth with nothing creative or constructive to do or to practice. This leads them to collectively find alternative activities. I’m in no way condoning this reckless behavior. Still they have a choice weather to do right or wrong. As a youth, I found it easier to do wrong, but I knew what was expected of me as not my parents’ child, but as being an African-American youth in Milwaukee.

Never would I believe or add life to the belief that ignorance has a color. For one to be ignorant, he/she is lacking cultivation and civilized behavioral habits. These youth just happened to be African-American, but as we make more and more excuses for them, we are advocating for their negative and non-productive behaviors.  

        

Self-Publishing Is Best!!!

Since my last blog, I’ve completed my first manuscript and begun writing my second. I’m pretty excited and it feels awesome. The first one seems a little short to me, but this second manuscript is coming along and I think it’ll be a tad thicker. I need to get the construction of the book and the production of the physical book organized. Also, the marketing needs to be decided on so I can get the books out there and market to the “right” people so I can mange the sale of the books. I’m using social networking as a “free” marketing tool, which arms reach very far.

I will be developing an independent self-publishing house. It’ll be called Pine Hill Road Publishing. The idea is that I’ll publish my own projects and direct them to the audiences of my choosing. The purpose of self-publishing is to eliminate the multiple-middle men usually connected to having your work published. I spoke to another young man who talked with me about having everything done for very reasonable price. I’ve also began networking with many self-published authors and will reach out to them for their advice and expertise on getting their stuff out there.

At my age, I’ve entered a zone with what to write. I have ideas flowing from my fingers, lips, and mind. Everything is open market for me. We’ll see what’s doable.  

"Long over Due"

I want to announce to you, my friends, I’m currently embarking on an awesome project. For the last few weeks, I’ve been writing my first novella. It’s called Pine Hill Road Diaries: “Left For Dead.” Nearly, twenty-five years ago, my family experienced a horror we never expected, which would change our lives forever. My father, who at the time was a police officer in El Dorado, Arkansas, was gunned down during a traffic stop. He survived the shooting, but lost vision in both eyes.

This project isn’t about my father, but more so how his being shot and loss of his sight altered the structure of our family. It’s viewed through the eyes of a young seventeen year old. I want to tell my story. Being a husband and father, I want to express to my wife and children the events, which shaped my thinking were pressed upon me. I do what I do because I was forced to grow up faster than the average person.

I’ve written three chapters and am currently on the forth. As I remember about the time around the shooting, I find myself spinning and flipping in a whirlwind of emotions. Today, I spoke with my very close friend Jeff Johnson. Jeff reminded me of a few things pertaining to the shooting, which I forgot. It was like I slammed into a brick wall. “How could I have forgotten about this?” I wondered.

Writing this project is something I’ve planned on doing several times, but never did. Today with the support of my family, especially my wife, Daniela. I’m feeling really good about completing it.

Thank you, Daiela for your support and positive vide you drought into my life. Thnak you for being the motivation I need to continue pushing on. 3!!