Echoes of My Generation: Journal 015 10/03/06

Its been some time since I've written
Maybe too much has been going on
Seems like everywhere around me people are asking for money
And it takes every ounce of my energy to continue living around those request
Paying those who I can and thanking those who I cant for their time lol!
Funny thanking a bill collector for calling, they are taking away by that
And in the process of all this I have several business ventures and investments going
Trying with all my might to diversify my portfolio
Spreading my talents and money out across ventures
Almost like I have to build my own retirement
So I'm painting again! it's a wonderful feeling
I'm designing websites very selectively
Doing graphic design for those in need
I'm listening to Sleepy Brown's album now
It's a refreshing grown folk offering that hasn’t been heard for quite some time!
I'm excited about it.I also listened to Monica's new album.
Sounds like she backtracked.
Her older albums were more mature.
Her notes were more beautiful and her arrangements were more complex.
Ludacris' new album was ok.
I wouldn’t buy it but I'm proud of it
It offers some well orated messages and nice tracks
But still nothing I can ride my family to and listen throughout
I still haven’t picked up the idlewild CD
Nor the Roots
The longer I wait the further I get behind in CD's I want to purchase
I never did pick up Jean Grae's album
I managed to get a small vacation this weekend
Me and my wife went to Gatlinburg, TN (forgot to take any pictures!)
we had a great time and got to spend some quality time away from kids, work, and business
I think all couples should do that often as we now plan to do
We bought into a timeshare while there
At least for the moment we are owners.
My wife has 10 days to change her mind as the downpayment was made on her credit
I think they are wonderful ways to invest and save money
While saving most people end up spending any money that they have immediate access to
With property you basically pay each month and build equity
The money is very hard to get in cash format
And ultimately forces you to save $10,000 or more dollars in less than 10 years
I suggest you all do that if you can afford it.
Email me or contact me if you want more info and a free vacation (transportation and food excluded)
While in Gatlinburg, I experienced a great many things for the first time
I felt what whites must feel like when in areas or events that’s 98% black
I gained respect for their awkward looks and nervous actions
In Gatlinburg it seemed like I was the darkest thing for miles
I felt uneasy like I wouldn’t be accepted or that I wouldn’t be treated fairly
I immediately apologized in my heart for making fun of whites in the same situation
I felt how easy it was to feel out of place
Even for my two white sister-in-laws that we drag where ever we go sometimes not thinking of how they feel
The best part about it was that in 99% of the situations I was in, the people turned out to be friendly
They showed us love as if we were family
We had two older white couples sit next to us at the dinner theatre
And they cracked jokes right along with us
They were on wedding anniversary dates.
Both married for over 30 years I think!
And to see them still in the prime of love was inspirational
We laughed until our jaws ached!
The star of the play taking extra time to pick with me an my wife
Once again I thought of how the black comedy clubs singled out oddballs
And humiliated them
So I naturally expected to get made fun of
It was totally opposite and I apologized for my thoughts once again
We had front row seats free (courtesy of the Time Share co we had just joined)
And the actors / comedian made us feel right at home
I got a chance to see Ripley’s theater while there
I was rather disappointed at that, nothing outside of what we've already seen on television
My first moving theater experience was great
We did a flight simulator and had a great time being flipped and turned every way but loose
Only I farted right after they locked me and my wife into the compartment! lol!
And I forgot to take my business cards, credit cards and drivers license out of my pocket
So we are just spinning and screaming and all my cards start snowing all inside the simulator
So I spent the last half of the ride hanging upside down from my seat belts
grabbing at cards in the air and all around me!
When they unlocked it and let us out, the guy said "Are you Mario"
I'm wondering how he knows my name when he hands me my MasterCard!
He said "You lost your card in there buddy!"
It was a beautiful weekend overall and the quality time spent with my wife was great!
Each time we travel it feels like a fresh start and you can feel the love growing
I did get a call from work on Friday about an incident
of which I unknowingly was given all of the blame while away
I couldn’t allow myself to get mad because that's only wasted energy
So now I just focus on improving,
whether that means moving on from IBM or moving up within IBMI will have been at IBM for 6 years this month
And if a change doesn’t happen soon I fear the end
Life is so beautiful right now though
My two boys are the highlight of my day!
My wife who is a self admitted "kiss-a-holic" lights up my evenings and nights and mornings and days
She called me this morning and reminded me that I forgot to kiss her before I left
Sometimes I do it just to break the mold
I'm the type that cant stand doing the same routine day in and day outI dress, brush my teeth, kiss my wife while she sleeps, she barely moves but whispers little things,
I leave for work, clients run my blood pressure up,
I go home, straighten up , cook dinner (or at least feed my youngest son until my wife can cook),
take them to football practice, come home shower, eat my dinner, talk with my wife until she falls asleep,
do whatever work I can until I fall asleep and then get up and repeat process....
If my life follows this pattern for more than a week I begin to go crazy!!!
I have to switch it up sometimesso I make extra attempts not to fall victim to routine...
Maybe that’s a problem I need counseling about or maybe not
I have a conference call in a few so I'll log off.

One Love,
Mario D'Andre Robinson
http://echoesoflostgenerations.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deblak