Long Time, no?

So... I haven't wrote for months, but I've been busy. My program is... uh--nah, it's difficult, but definitely doable. I had a very difficult undergrad and nowadays I tend to invite challenges rather than fear for them. I've been exploring a lot of new things lately, and enhancing other explorations. I recently had sushi. ME! The "yeah man, let me get a bucket of wings and some fries-guy". You know what? It wasn't that bad either. It was a very...cultural experience. I also started a stress-relief regimen, which includes skating and working out on my weekends. Probably the most important is my spiritual growth. If you know me, I'm definitely not a Saint. lol. However, that's not to say I'm still not actively pursuing my relationship with God, because I'm definitely doing that. Me and some friends had the idea to have Bible study at my place. So we did, and it really popped off. We are about to start charging people at the door. Nah, just playin' with that part. The dialogue + the text + everyone's experiences aid to everyone's understanding of our supernatural expectations. Plus it's fun. We still clown around and talk about things that I wouldn't want people at my own church to hear. That's why I like it; we keep it real. But yeah, all of these newly found things are helping me cope with a difficult semester, and I'm enjoying it THUS far. I have realized that I had to cut a few things short--people who interfere with my schooling to an inconsiderate degree, people who bring me down when I want to have fun, people who are going virtually nowhere in life (and have no desire furthermore), these random and insignificant relationships with women whom I may have been involved with at some point, and people who interfere or hate on my relationship with God. There's only so much time to go around these days. Dang, I ran out of time. Computer lab is closing. Stay tuned. ~E.Harris

"When Keepin' it Real in the Barbershop Goes Wrong"

Nothing makes me feel more "fresh to death" than a new fade. A new haircut does much more than the obvious; it changes my whole aura. I just feel better after a new cut. Just like portrayed in the movie, barbershops are like clubs solely meant for the enjoyment of guys. Cheaply priced DVD/CDs, sports debates, bootylicious magazines, and just all around keepin' it real. There is no topic that is excluded from conversation in the barbershop. Well, at least I thought...A few weeks ago, I was due to go out of town early Tuesday morning. Most barbers--mine included, don't work at all on Mondays. I guess I was too busy and forgot what day it was. Nevertheless, I really needed my hair cut. I stopped by the shop that I used to go to back in my high school days--Diamond Kutz. When I walked in, it was completely different from how I remembered it from high school. It wasn't packed...at all! There was no Sega Dreamcast. All the barbers I remembered were gone. I had no other choice, so I sat in the chair and told ole boy how I wanted my hair cut. After about 2 minutes, this cat starts asking me if I knew about the Nation of Islam and their leaders. I told the dude that I am a Christian and although I have mad respect for others and their own individual views on religion, Me and Christ have a mutual understanding that our relationship is exclusive. For the next 15 minutes, he and another barber gave me the whole history of Islam and basically kept reiterating that my own spriritual beliefs are B.S. because it was taught to me by the slavemaster. wtf!? Now their whole barbershop has been converted somehow. I'm not looking down on their beliefs, I'm just owning up to the strength and faithful authenticity of my own, and don't appreciate the annoying persistance of these randoms. While may do some good to network and be a mission to young guys who may need to hear positive words, I'm NOT the one for reasons already explained, PLUS with the help of my God and His son, I have direction in my life and don't need anyone elses angry orienteering. Also, good luck on anybody trying to sell me anything. It is so annoying how when "Craig", who is for some reason or another lost in the cycle of the world is given a pea-sized amount of knowledge one day and from then on assumes he knows everything; and that same day he preaches to the world, assuming we are lost too. Brutha I am not lost. I didn't ask for any type of assistance other than a haircut. Unless you are my pastor or one of my deacons, please don't come at me trying to preach. I don't want anybody knocking on my door at my home or soliciting services over the telephone, regardless of what you are preaching or selling. To sum it up, there is a place and a time for everything. And to my people...can we please work together to find everybody a role model...before they turn 30?

Let it be known

We live in a age where it takes straight up courage to stand in something alone rather than stand amidst the consensus of interest of our peers. At this particular stage of my life, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. It's not so much me not trying to be like everyone else as it is me just wanting to be me more and more. I'm at a point when I want to claim who I am, the things I stand for, even the things I consistently screw up at. It's not about being cocky (an attribute most people say is characteristic of my personality). Why would I admit to being less of what I am? There are times however when I act otherwise. Last weekend, I encountered one of my homies from high school. He wasn't doing anything then; still isn't. He asked what I was up to and I just kind of played it off like I was naively taking life day by day carelessly like him. I don't wanna rub my blessings in other people's face, but if someone was to make a genuine analysis of my character, please believe, I'ma let you know what I'm about. I'm all about progress, honesty, and integrity. At the same time, I give myself leeway for improvement. For example, is it a goal of mine to find a relatable woman whose both values and desires compel me to be all that I can be just for her? Yessir! Will I be ready to get hitched if I meet her tonight? Come on now; no! Am I excited about becoming an optometrist? Best believe! Am I ready to pay over $100,000 in student loans back for the education I am about to receive? Obviously not (Pulling lint out of my pockets). These concepts that are central to what drives me can not only aid in a person's understanding of my motivation, but also convey to them what I do not stand for. If you are a B.S.er, you should know better not to associate yourself too closely with me. If you are lazy, you should know that E ain't here to carry nobody else around so scram! Make sense? Anyway, this is my coverletter to anyone who doesn't know me for me. Understand me a little bit better now? Hope so. Anyhow, I'm off to lab. Keep tabs on my blog for my next entry, "When Keepin' it Real in the Barber Shop Goes Wrong". Much luv.
-E.

Quick!!! Do Something!!!

Is it really that bad having to wait for payday? I mean, I am in school and all. Is it that bad being single? Is it really that bad ______ (you fill in the blank)? We humans panic too much. In every unexpected turn of events in life we panic, struggling trying to reorient ourselves as if we actually knew where we were going in the first place. At a time in my life where things seem like they're "standing still", I'm trying to embrace the feeling of peace...sitting still...relaxing. I've been doing a bit of spritual reading lately, and it's really putting things into perspective for me (Thanks bestest bud). I want to try something new; by this I mean working on this relationship with God. Doing things "my way" has only gotten me so far in life; and if you feel like me then you know it HAS to be a different way to go through life than being hardheaded and taking matters into your own hands. Right now life feels dull, boring, and repetitive. Perfect time for some intrinsic rehabilitation. Therefore, if I have to be bored, broke, tired, or single, instead of trying to fight my way out I'll just have to find content if I ever want to witness the feast that God has been setting for me; and please believe that a brutha's stomach is growlin'. He knows better than me. If I try to escape this realm of dissatisfaction by being ruthless and hardheaded (as usual), I'm bound to find another similar one. I'm good. I think I'll just take my chances and sit still. In the mean time, I need to work on some things, like my attitude, faith, and (oooooh) this bad mouth of mine.

Put it in the Box

There was a scene in Bad Boys II where Will Smith and Martin were talking about things they want to forget. Things like accidentally seeing grandma's titties were put in "the box" and closed, never to be spoken of or thought of again. Me and my boys joke a lot about the box and what from our lives belongs inside. Each of us has at least one woman who belongs inside. I have two. Besides women, we've all got a list of experiences, failed opportunities, and bad times that we no longer want to drag around anymore. Now me and my homies are kind of ruthless when it comes to playing the dozens with each other; but we all stand firm on that we can't clown each other about things or people that are in the box. lol. That's just not right. We are thinking about buying a treasure chest and writing the names of the things and people from our box on sheets of paper to put inside, closing the chest, wrapping it up in chains and sinking it in the Mediterranean Sea. We'd have to attach a scroll to it of course just to warn treasure hunters that by opening the box, all the havoc and grief onced faced by the owners (described inside) will wreak once again to anyone who opens it. lol. Shiver me timbers!