After talking about it for sometime, I finally did it—I cut off my dreads. I did it over winter break. I went back to my old high school barber and it was a wrap! What a liberating feeling it was to release all of the energy held within. There was a bit of sadness, but not for long. It happened so fast, I really didn’t have ample time to cry over lost dreads. Guess I have to get used to going to the barbershop every two-three weeks again.

Many have asked why I decided to do it. Well, after about six years, I decided that it was time to try something new. Even after telling people this, some still assumed that something must have happened in my life (something life-changing or bad) to make me cut my hair. I will admit that there’s been a lot going on in my life. However, it had nothing to do with the cutting of my hair. It’s a new year. It’s time for change. I guess I just don’t place as much value in hair as many others do. There’s more to me than how I choose to wear my hair (too bad many can’t grasp this). Like India.Arie, “I Am Not My Hair.” Plus it’s easier to manage. I can wear a greater variety of hats (which I’ve been doing a lot lately since I tend to get cold more now than ever). I’ve also been getting more compliments with short hair than I did when it was long. So this brotha is still turning heads! I’m not one to brag, but when you’re fine—you’re fine.

Well, besides the new hair cut, I’ll be working to lose about 30 pounds. I have what many have told is football player’s build. Probably would’ve been a good Running Back. My mission is to slim down and tone up. Gotta get right for the summer! Also on slate for ’06, letting go/getting rid of baggage and avoiding drama at all costs. I’ve also need to work on staying in better touch with friends. I have tendency to fall of the face of the Earth when there’s a lot going on my life. I will shut people out, but not purposely. I guess I didn’t really pay too much attention to this until recently. The people that mean the most should be the last people to shut out of your life, especially when the journey gets a little rough. So I’m going to try really hard to rectify my fascination with pulling the disappearing act.

Other goals include finishing my thesis (topic: blogging in higher education), graduating with my masters, and finding a great job/fellowship somewhere outside of Upstate New York. After attending school in Rochester, NY for the last six years I’m praying for a drastic location change. Anywhere but here please! As always, I gotta keep writing, singing, performing, and creating artistic masterpieces. And we’ll see what the year has in store in the love department (so far so good)!

So that’s what’s on my plate for ’06. I’m looking forward to all that life has in store this year. May the year be fruitful and joyous for all!

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I last made a post. It’s amazing how quickly time can escape you. So what have I been up too? I’ll tell you as succinctly as I can. Fall quarter ended on a crazy but a very high note. I got 2 A’s and 2 B’s. I have successfully completed all of my master’s classes. Now on to the next daunting task….The Thesis! I’m in the process of finetuning my proposal for approval by my thesis committee and my department. I’m pushing to have it approved as soon as I come back from winter break. If I can get it approved before break that would be wonderful. But I’m not going to stress it. As for the topic, I’ll be looking into the usage of weblogs in high school education. I’ve been doing a lot research to expand my literature review in my proposal. The findings have been pretty interesting thus far (more about that in a later post).

I’ve also been in the process of looking for a job. I’ve been slowly but surely applying, sending out resumes, attending job fairs and communicating with those I’ve come to know very well in my social network. People have been asking, “So what are you doing after graduation?” My response is, “If I knew the answer to that question I probably wouldn’t be here now.” For many that I know who are graduating in the spring, we are trying to get an answer to that very question ourselves. If you weren’t fortunate enough to be offered a job from the last place you interned/co-oped, you’ll most likely get word of job/fellowship offers in late winter/early spring. I’ve also been asked if I was going to stay at my current school and get my Ph.D. I said, “Hell No!” First of all, it’s time to go. I’ve been at this school for almost six years. It’s been nice–it’s been real–but I’m ready to go! Second of all, a Ph.D is so far from my mental scope right now. I’ll probably get another master’s degree before I go that route. Third of all, can a brotha get a break? I’m so tired of school right now. Thank god I finished with my classes when I did. I had three four-hour evening classes and one online class. I don’t think I could stand another quarter let alone full year of that again . I’m ready to go out and work. Once I become fully acclimated with the workworld, there’s no guarantee that I’ll still be in love with the computing field. It’ll be better to find this out sooner than later. In this life you never know how it’s going to turn out. But whatever is to come my way, I’m going to stay optimistic. I’m looking forward to it. Whatever is to come my way, I’m going to accept it and embrace it with open arms.

Oh well, I guess I better get back to work. I haven’t been feeling too well today. Actually, it’s something that’s been on-again, off-again for the last five days or so. All I’m gonna say is allergies (and upper-respiratory issues) are a bitch! Research is calling my name. Plus, I have to finish getting ready for a meeting I have to lead Monday night about the evolution of music videos over the last two decades. This will be for Emerging Black Artists, the club I’m a student advisor for. Between work, the thesis, meetings and dates (Am I dreaming? Could it be? Yes, dates–it’s about time!), it’s going to be yet another busy week. Oh yeah, I get my refund this week. And I get paid on Friday. Getting out of the poor house–it’s a wonderful thing!

I’m going to try my best to post a little bit more regularly. The length of time between this and the next post shouldn’t so long (I hope). Until then, I wish you all the best!

Rest in peace Richard Pryor (1940 – 2005).

Hope all are well. It’s been a rough two weeks both on a national and personal front. My prayers go out to all the Hurricane Katrina victims. Such a devastating event. So many lives will be forever impacted and forever changed. And never quite the same.

Fall quarter classes begin for me tomorrow. So I’m trying to make sure I’m mentally and physcially in the right frame of mind. I’m excited about the year ahead though. Getting steps and steps closer to my dreams.

Be on the lookout for more posts….More about these last two rough weeks, poetry, gossip, and much more. In the meantime, I have music reviews posted at a friend’s online magazine entitled, Pictures and Frames Magazine. She’s just getting everything underway. Judging from the positive response, it looks like I’m going to be a regular contributor as a music critic. To check out the online mag please go to: http://www.picturesandframesmagazine.com/.

Until then….My best. May you all be safe.

So sad to see it go. My summer break is over. And what a summer it was! I’m now back at school in NY. Wasn’t really looking forward to coming back. But being as though it’s my last year, why stop now? I’m actually back two weeks early. I have to start training for my graduate assistantship this upcoming week. I’ll be working in my school’s community service center. I’m really looking forward to it. After being a lab assistant in the multimedia labs last school year, this should be quite different. It’ll be much more involved, more interactive, and I’m sure I’ll have more than enough to do to keep me busy. The week following training I may have to help out with new student orientation. And on September 5th, classes begin. Yes, classes begin on Labor Day. So while everyone else enjoys BBQs and other celebrations, we’ll have homework. But I’m quite sure some of the students will come to class (and work) under the influence of something anyway.

So goodbye summer. Amidst the family drama (and it seems like there’s always some family drama every summer), the time was still well spent. I had the opportunity to intern at a top-rated news organization. While working, I had the opportunity to produce a story for a news magazine show and complete several projects for their IT department. This definitely was one of the most interesting, stimulating and fun working experiences I’ve had up to this point. I learned so much. I’ve grown. I had the opportunity to meet and work with so many dynamic, intelligent and talented people. I have a strong feeling that many of the people I’ve met and worked with will be lifelong friends as well. I also started my blog (finally). I wrote about 40 new poems and creative prose pieces. Additionally, I got word that some of my poetry may be featured in an upcoming anthology (more on this if and when everything is finalized). Got to hang out with and speak with new and old friends. I couldn’t ask for too much more (except for the all the family drama to subside).

May the upcoming school year be fruitful and prosperous!

Be on the lookout for a post addressing the recent movie and music slump (if you really want to call it a slump). I’ll also put up a few music reviews. More poetry on the way too. I may also put up a listing of the my most anticipated music releases. Come back soon!

Check out something that I wrote a few weeks ago….

Last Night I Cried

Last night I cried. I cried for the families of the young boys who were found dead in the trunk of a car in Camden, NJ. I cried for the Bowie High School teacher who was found shot in the head in his car in Greenbelt, MD. I cried because there’s been over 80 people killed in my county, Prince George’s County, since the beginning of this year. And the sad part is the number does not seem to be slowing down or halting anytime soon. I cried because the war on terror seems to be taking more lives than saving lives. I cried because my family, that seemed like it was coming together, is drifting further and further apart.

I cry because something is really wrong. The world is in shambles. Political unrest. Social unrest. Religious unrest. War. Destruction. Epidemics. Racism. Bigotry. Natural disasters. Nothing seems to be getting any better. I cry because no one seems to believe in any other way than fighting each other. When we fight each other, there are no winners. Everyone loses. We need to work together. We need to put the pettiness aside. We need to banish the hidden agendas and bury the selfish mindset.

Though it may not seem like it, though it may be forgotten, there are ties that bind each and everyone of us. What affects the lives of one group in one place, affects the lives of all groups everywhere else. In this time of upheaval, unity is needed now more than ever. Honor humanity. Respect life. Love your fellow man and the land he inhabits. Or else we shall falter and perish–from demise we’ve long since created.

© 2005 BuddahDesmond