MONDAY BLUES

It’s Monday again and you have been at your desk for what feels like an eternity. The deadlines rushing at you give you the shakes and your boss seems just a tad more cruel, tyrannical and unreasonable than he usually is while your subordinates seem that much slower and determined to frustrate you.

So you spend a fleeting moment replaying your favorite fantasy…

The one where you tell your boss to put a sock in it, cast all the files on your desk to the floor in one grand, sweeping gesture, walk out the door with head held high leaving your stunned but admiring co-workers applauding whilst whispering amongst themselves how they always knew you were a wonder.

Naturally you’d walk into your own nicely appointed business where you shall be the benevolent boss of about 300 employees, eating cake and sipping on various beverages during the 4 hour work day.

Alas, this fantasy that will not play out today because you have neither the business nor the resources to set it up just yet.

But you can buy...

JVC Pocket Camcorder $79.00

this beautifully minature JVC pocket camcoder. The resolution is not terribly high, but it's great for easy to share videos...you can surreptitiously record your boss acting the fool and post it on your alternative youtube channel (this will bring you much joy every time you watch it)

Who knows Ranting Boss video might get like 10 million hits and a TV station would offer you a high paying, powerful job as a reality show producer, then you can get back at your boss and all other evil bosses around the globe by playing pranks on them on your new show.

Or you could just use it to make home videos of your home and family and load them on your computer to help remind you why you stick it out even when the going gets tough and every fiber in your being tells you to up and leave.

FASHION WEEK DATES 2010 - THE BIG FOUR

There are lots of Fashion Weeks across the world, but the most important four remain, New York, London, Milan and Paris.

I was searching for FW dates online and I realized there's no one site that seemed to have all the information for the 'big 4' so I've decided to share the dates here with everyone. I've also included links for further information.

Fashion Week kicks off in NYC - possibly the most commercial of the 'big 4' and then it's a mad dash across the pond to London - home of the edgy, then it's Milan next - home of the classic cut, style and fabrics and winds up in Paris the mother of them all.

If you're in any of these cities see if you can get to the venues...while I don't think it's open to the general public, you can get a job as a dresser backstage or work as a member of the crew (if you have the requisite skills of course.)

p.s If you have a blackberry and might be attending LFW there's an incredibly useful London Fashion Week app from Viigo, download here

"This bespoke application, developed by Viigo for the British Fashion Council, allows you to create your own personalised schedule. Receive live updates when shows are running late and access all our official content whenever you need it, wherever you are. The application also provides BlackBerry users inside access to our designer information and biographies, LFW news and photo galleries, along with recommendations of the hottest restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels in town!!"

I just downloaded it and it's wonderful. I wish the other cities would follow suit and do same.

September 9-16, New York, NY
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Spring 2011 Collections
www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork

London Fashion Week
September 17-22
London, United Kingdom
Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden
Catwalk Event
http://www.fashionfringe.co.uk/

Milan Fashion Week
September 22-28, Milan, Italy
Spring/Summer 2011 Collections
http://www.cameramoda.it/

Mode à Paris
September 29-October 7, Paris, France
Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2011 Collections
http://www.modeaparis.com/

WHEN I WAS LITTLE

When I was little (#wheniwaslittle) was a trending topic on twitter a day or two ago and it brought on a flood of memories of a simpler place in time when I had no real responsibilities beyond good grades.

I'll share a slice of my childhood with you....

When was little I used to go to this summer camp with my siblings...we went to a number of different camps but finally settled for summer stints with "The Navigators Camp" a non-denominational, faith based organization, it was a beautiful experience. I had good times there...heck I was even best in camp two years in a row which I found vaguely shocking because I was generally noisy and had very different opinions than most of the campers and I was rather vocal with those opinions.

The end of camp was always gut wrenchingly sad, leaving new found friends and old friends. There was a song we would sing at the end of camp...I believe Scouts also sing that song, it was called 'I Want To Linger' and I'll leave you with the lyrics of the nice, slow and sad song.

I Want To Linger - Lyrics


CHORUS

Mm-Mm I want to linger

Mm-Mm a little longer

Mm-Mm a little longer here with you

Mm-Mm it’s such a perfect night

It doesn’t seen quite right

That it’s my last night here with you

CHORUS

Mm-Mm and come September

We’ll all remember

Our lasting friendship true and strong

CHORUS

Mm-Mm and as the years go by

Remember this and sigh

This is goodnight and not good bye.

FIGHTING WITH A LOVED ONE

Are there any rules when fighting with a loved one? How low can we go before it becomes 'hitting below the belt' and how far should we go in order to make a point, win the fight or best a loved one?
I'm sure each one of us has had an unpleasant epsiode with a loved one at some point and for me it's no different.

I had an unpleasant exchange with a friend I've known for about 5 years a few days ago and I decided to call it quits because frankly I was tired of having the same conversation that led to the same argument which in turn led to the most unpleasant fights. The negative energy of a well meaning friend had left a rancid taste so strong in my mouth that all the rationalization couldn no longer wash away.

I basically cut this friend off to preserve memories of some of the good times we had.

Today I started the day excited and fulfilled and happy to be alive. I had and still have so much to be thankful for. Yet one conversation with one of my dearest and best about vacations and visitations left me feeling blue and frustrated. I get frustrated when people annoy me because I'm a firm believer in the principle of, 'if you let people annoy you; you let them control you' & 'you control your own happiness and sadness'

While our little tiff was very civilized and short...it left me wondering just how much power our loved ones have over us. Strangers and acquaintances rarely, if ever truly make me furious regardless of what tom foolery they may choose to indulge in...yet a few well chosen barbs from a loved one can send me careening for the edge.
 
How safe is it to show yourself to anyone undisguised? Is opening your heart and lifting people into it not as high risk (probably more high risk) than unprotected sex? Can we ever be certain that a loved one will not jab us where it hurts the most in a moment of anger?
 
I'm working my way through these issues....your thoughts and contributions are most welcome.

FRESH FACES

(Bassey, Hoodini, Modivah, Damilola, Pharrouque peeking from behind Dami)

Hello everyone…I’m back from my hiatus from this space. I want to say special thanks to all of you who sent word to ask why I hadn’t updated my blog in a while. I appreciate the outpouring of love and concern.

Witnessing the birth of something new and special can be very thrilling…and I’d to admit that I was thrilled today by three young musicians I met and an innovative young architect who’s broadcasting on 88.1FM from his phone.

I was at Perez Studios a couple of hours ago to meet a PR friend of mine and there were a bunch of insanely talented young people ‘spitting’ their lyrics to beats playing out of a car stereo while waiting for their session to begin.

I have a feeling that someday you’re going to be seeing these kids and so I decided to share a picture of them and their names so that you can watch out for them.

And yes…you can thank me later.

Damilola is an architect by day and singer/actor after hours. She was a contestant on the last Project Fame…she’s a Jacqueline of all trades and seems to be mastering them all…you’ll have to wait for her single to hit the airwaves to experience the tingling sensation of wonder and pleasure I felt listening to this young woman sing.

Hoodini – this is one of those absurdly young and talented types who make you just want to pack up, climb into bed and sleep for a really long time…how on earth does a 17 year old get inspiration for the deep lyrics this boy writes? So help me Lawd!! Watch out New York…Hoodini starts college in NY in September.

Bassey is the only one of the lot who has a single enjoying airplay…I’ll see if I can get a link to a site where you can listen to his songs online. He performed at the last TGI1stF and his performance was simply off the hook!!

 Pharrouque is another young architect who dabbles in entertainment by broadcasting straight from his Nokia phone on 88.1FM all I can say is (1) this might be the right time to go back to the new media class to master what the new media is all about and (2) I need me a new Nokia phone.

Mola who’s bbing away while I take pictures is the friend I went to meet at Perez Studios…she’s a PR aficionado and a total fun bob…if you have an event call her…if you need to turn a debacle into a mere incident, you need to hit her up. And if you don’t believe me, ask people in the DC area.

BAD SERVICE

What's the most annoying experience you've ever had with a waiter?

WHAT WILL YOU NEVER DO?

So I sent a broadcast on my blackberry messenger asking, “What would you never do?” and these are some of the more interesting replies I got…


1. Smoke crack – one of my favorite people on twitter and bbm (male)

2. Kiss you – rich kid, mad fun and totally irreverent (male)

3. Sexually abuse my kids – magazine publisher, life style consultant and total fun bob (female)

4. Be the person I used to be – attorney, crazy man, great friend

5. Be in the same room with a snake, not even for a million dollars – principal consultant, life style/pr company and a total diva (female)

6. Kill – my favorite married person (male)

7. Beat up an old man – journalist with the bbc and close friend (male)

8. Darling, I have no idea – fashion designer and salsa aficionado (female)

9. Sleep with my siblings – magazine publisher and events company c.e.o (bff)

10. Suck someone’s bum hole as they are pooping – blogger, movie critic and funnest person I know (female)


11. Kiss or fuck another man – U.S. Air Force officer, and one of the most dependable of all my friends

12. Stop loving my family and myself – model, geek and good friend (female)

13. Send out this broadcast – broadcast journalist and close friend who I don’t see often enough (male)

14. Watch someone diss me quietly – cabin crew, nutty guy and freakishly well developed sense of humor (male)

15. Fix acrylic nails ever again; they feel like animals on my fingers - communications consultant and arguably the most caring and giving person I know

16. I would never engage in fucking animals or sex with children – my love (let’s leave it at that)

17. No golden showers or shitting on me or doing it to someone – see number 16

18. As far as what? – accountant type (lmao)

Feel free to be part of the fun by leaving your reply in the comment section of this post.

Peace and love,

B