It’s what you do when you don’t feel like it, that determines your character. Positive prayers are accepted.

My side view put it all in perspective.

My twitter rants evoked a response from someone who is also a “vegetarian with pescatarian tendencies.”

My in-between meal snacks consisted of cough drops and mixed berry tea. A brotha’s gotta splurge.

So this is Day 2. I’m hungry, semi-sick, over-worked and sleep deprived…and I thank God for every moment I’m able to feel it.

I expect this lifestyle experiment to challenge me as well expose my mind and body to better practices.

I’m believing and praying that APNF will continue to celebrate the music and artists I love while bringing my childhood dream of becoming a cartoonist full circle.

As I stare out at the mountains, I know that even higher heights of musical excellence, positive energy and fun-filled nights await me in L.A.

I have two titles, but I’m torn between them.

December is usually a time of reflection over the year’s events that are now woven into our life tapestry. This year has been incredible from the beginning, but not without its challenges. Overall, I have enjoyed watching my purpose, passions, mentors and peers function under God’s favor and mercy. My initial plan was to write the ten (10) most significant events of the year in a classic meme format -…

I haven’t posted here in a while so I thought I’d put share some randomness. On December 31, the 2010 Best Albums Round Table (BART) Podcast will be available for download. Six music aficionados: EJ Flavors, Butta, KB, DJ Diva, The Big La and yours truly come together to discuss our favorite albums of the year along with honorable mentions, predictions for 2011 and a whole lot of fun. I…

I recognize that we all function a physical and spiritual world (whether we recognize it or not) and I know the enemy reads blogs as well.

My dream was coming to an end. I was blessed to be a marketing executive for the largest beverage company in the world. In addition to extensive travel, working with world-class professionals and making good money — I got to develop campaigns and creative ventures from online promotions to highway billboards. I loved my job, but it was coming to an end. The Downsize Fairy had paid me a visit…

*I’m celebrating my wedding anniversary all week long. This post is part of a five (5) post series I’m doing about the path to marriage and the lifelong road I’m taking on it.* When I landed at Houston Hobby airport I had no expectations. I had just ended a toxic relationship and needed a little getaway to clear my mind. She was a friend of a friend I met on…

I was compiling a playlist for my revised cardio sessions and stumbled across a handful of recordings I did several years ago. One song in particular is a mashup of spoken word wrapped in a singing hook of encouragement. Ironically, it was just what I needed today. There’s nothing like hearing your own voice give you a swift kick in the pants to push forward. Until next time.

I finally decided to go out of my comfort zone and record a video.

I don’t let much get to me. Especially on the internet. There’s enough going on IRL and, in the midst of leading a family and living my dream (which are intertwined), who has time for the drama? But when I read this post on Why I Stalk a Sexy Black Woman on Twitter, I couldn’t click away in silence. I encourage you to read it and then come back to…

I was mowing the backyard when I slipped on a patch of mud and fell backwards — slightly pulling the mower towards me. My foot went under the fast-turning blade and the tip of my sneaker was sliced off. Surprisingly, I didn’t panic as I reached into the bloody mess of what was left of my shoe. My toes were still intact, but the blade had cut through the underside…

This webcomic is, and will continue to be, my therapy and expression of love for the coolest dog ever.

I am afraid of failure. Not failing, but failure. The former is an action that can be rectified while the latter is a state of being. And what an escruciatingly miserable state it can be. it’s the kind of place that stifles your soul and asphixiates your dreams until you are just a lifeless shell waiting on your organs to catch up with the death of your hope and strength….

I’m flirting with the idea of starting a webcomic. Like any endeavor, I sought out the best in the field to study best practices and discovered a great cartoonist and subsequent YouTube clips on the webcomic-making process. One tool that makes the digitization of drawing easier is the digital tablet. Thankfully, I had one given to me as a gift from my wife some time ago – an Adesso Cyber…

Today I emerge from the other side of what has been the worst weekend of my life. Words cannot capture the imperial level of suckage that loomed over my spirit like a wet blanket dripping of coyote urine. The good news is that I’m still alive, so the weekend was not as bad as it could have been. I have another day, which is another chance to improve and savor…

I’m doing so much and constantly prioritizing so that it doesn’t become too much. I was told to chalk up my uneasy feelings, MBP and iPhone issues, bicycle drama, etc. to the mercury retrograde — which ended yesterday. Now that it’s over, I have no explanation for the current weirdness in my life.

I looked forward to spending years with him by my feet, nodding to the beat of fantastic music. That dream was cut short today.

Today is my half-sister’s 24th birthday. I hope she’s having a fantastic day. I’ve only met her once (when she was 15) and it was under extremely stressful circumstances. Nevertheless, I recall my mid-20s as being some of the best moments of my life and my prayer is she’s enjoying hers even more. Until next time.

I’ve always believed it was my purpose to encourage others through my gifts. We all could use a word of positive affirmation or a helping hand; especially one that is devoid of ulterior motives. I’ve always reached out to people from that space — where the reciprocity of helping someone rarely comes from the person you’ve helped. That’s the cool phenomenon of karma. There are some who view that kindness…

The saga continues. My prayer is today will be the final chapter in my week-long turmoil of (bi)cyclical ups and downs. It was only 48 hours ago when I got caught up in the newness and brimming with anticipation to cruise these Houston streets. I made my usual stops at my usual spots — attempting to bond with my new bike while bumpin’ Dela’s Atmosphere Airlines in my ears. It…

I wanted a GROOVMNT t-shirt that was snazzy, yet economical. Thankfully, three elements aligned themselves to make my dream come true:

So I wait a week to get my bike brakes adjusted and the mechanic at Boone’s Cycles does an amazing job. Unfortunately, 3 miles later I make a turn onto Fannin Street and break a pedal which spins me out into oncoming traffic.

My “green” approach to transportation has been kind to my wallet and my waistline the past few weeks. Between catching the Metro rail and riding my bike, my body is adjusting to the much needed activity and I get to truly see the city. I found a great bike shop that was able to fine tune my bike for its increased usage. After getting my brakes tightened and realigned yesterday,…

This week, Company X = United Parcel Service (UPS) because their service – in my neighborhood – wreaks of suckage.

Word on the street Twitter is Lalah Hathaway is still accepting demos to possibly use on her next project. She had the same call to action on her Facebook status last week — only it had a deadline of 24 hours. I saw it while riding the train, but it didn’t stop me from pulling out my moleskine and writing something for her on my way home. Yes, it’s that…

The first time I heard those words, it was August 20, 1989. My girlfriend broke up with me over the phone. A surge of sadness cascaded through my body as I stood in my parents’ basement filled with unanswered questions and my first, official broken heart. I was thirteen. Fast forward 20 years — and countless “it’s over” phrases said and heard — I find myself slouched in my home…

Day Nine of my master cleanse and I’ve conquered the psychological triggers of hunger while finally gaining a sense of clarity. It took longer than I anticipated but I’m there. I’m still hungry, but I use those physiological prompts to eat as reminders of why I’m going through this process. It isn’t about weight loss as much as it’s about mental dexterity and spiritual focus. I needed to enter this…

I’m halfway there. For the past 48 hours, I have felt the sludge of toxins loosening from my insides and, to my fault, I have not given my body the catalyst to expedite their release. In other words, I need to drink more water. . . a lot more. I don’t feel good and my body feels like compressed energy begging to press through a collage of bad energy. Insomnia…

I started my Master Cleanse process today — I had no choice. I was already contemplating on doing the cleanse as a spiritual and symbolic way to rid myself of all the toxins of 2009; but after getting on the scale, the ugly truth stared at me with its digital-numeric eyes and I realized getting back on the wagon (of better health) was imperative. *cue wife coming in from the…

My first SoulBounce post went up this week – a review of Nicolay’s “City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya.” I’ve always considered myself a friend of SB, but lately it’s felt more like family. To celebrate I created a blend of spices, based on each SB member, to use exclusively use on “chicken wangs.” I call it Fave’s “Soulbounce Pretty Wang” Seasoning 4 the Grown & Sexy (try putting that on…

At the end of the day, it was the women who challenged me, called me on my BS and expected me to show just as much (if not more) initiative – that made the biggest impression on my life.

Today would have been my best friend’s 37th birthday. As teenagers, we would celebrate his special day by going to the mall and the record store. I remember us attending nearby colleges and I couldn’t wait to come down to his school and hang out with him and his buddies on his 21st birthday. He was more than a childhood friend, he was family. God called him home in 2006,…

I want to go where “everybody knows my name.” And if they don’t, they wouldn’t mind finding out. That place for me is Coffee Groundz – a hip, socially conscious, tech savvy coffeehouse in midtown Houston. It has been the backdrop of the best moments I’ve had in this city: tweetups, poetry night, performing live with my band and even hanging out with my kids. When Obama won the election,…

Upon release of iPhone Software Update 3.1.1, I decided to preserve the sexy of my iPhone (Penelope Anastasia) and iPod Touch (Favington Carlisle) by changing their wallpapers. After several hours of mindless surfing through countless websites, I realized there are only so many bikini blondes, race cars, rock bands and abstract art one man can absorb. Where were the wallpapers that captured MY interests (e.g., soul music, eclectic art, etc.)?…

Friday While mixing down my latest FFC edition, I let Fender outside for some fresh air. When I went outside to check on him, he was gone. We have a big backyard and patio, so I assumed he was “off in the cut” somewhere and not ready to come inside. Hours passed and I didn’t hear him scratching on the door as usual. Fender was gone. Saturday I started asking…

Growing up an only child, it’s often assumed that I was spoiled. I enjoyed some luxurious by default (because there was just me), but I was taught the value of work and that no one’s money spends as well as your own. What I remember most is opening presents on Christmas Day – my parents bought me all the latest board games: Monopoly, Sorry, Life, Trivial Pursuit, etc. As early…

At the beginning of 2009, I shared my perspective on Mondays as I sought to strip myself of the “live for the weekend mentality.” While driving this (Monday) morning, I could feel the dreadful energy outside – dreading what should be perceived as the “refresh button” of our lives: a new day, a new week. . .a new beginning that should be welcomed and not loathed. I wanted to capture…

Women are known for underlying currents of meaning in their rhetoric. Men are more traditionally more direct; however, we do have underlying meanings as well. Our “language” is much easier to decipher.

Gentlemen, I’m not about to break the “man code” and spill out our secrets. I’m just attempting to balance the spectrum of knowledge. I doubt anything I write will be a major breakthrough in male-female interpersonal communication, but it should produce a chuckle or two:

My wife wrote a note on FB discussing her plight to transfer her exemplary organizational skills from her professional life to her personal world. Without going into the details of her prose, I responded on FB in hopes she would see my point of view on the subject. My words seemed to spark a flame in my fellow tech/geek/music lover in the ATL and all I can say is that…

I lived a life of late nights onstage followed by a Waffle House breakfast around 2:30am. The alarm clock radio on my nightstand was set for noon. I usually woke up before it beeped.

When we were kids, we’d sleep over at each other’s house. We’d play Atari, talk about girls and listen to music on the radio. We rushed to the corner store between Sunday School and Morning Worship to buy candy. We cracked jokes during youth meeting on Tuesday nights.

This is my weekend, broken down into 12 events and a pic. . .

During one of my ramblings on Twitter, I spoke of becoming a millionaire and a fellow Twitterer replied – asking what I was going to do with the million dollars I “already have.”

There’s speculation that I may be acquiring another dog. Not just any canine, but the breed of dog I’ve wanted since 2002 – THE PUG We got a pitt / lab mix puppy, Clyde, last year and he is growing into an exceptional watchdog. We have a 10+ year old pitt bull that looks more like the Chick-fil-A cows and she’s afraid of her own shadow. When we got Clyde,…

Death forces me to face the reality of those who meant so much and left here too soon. My man, Herman, embraced being a “big guy” way before it became fashionable. It didn’t stop him from being the coolest preacher’s kid in town. His street smarts didn’t stop him from getting his degree from a prestigious university and giving that knowledge back to the streets as a teacher. He married…

I stepped into an elevator with four ladies and a gentleman today. They were discussing last night’s Fiesta Bowl and Texas’ late TD victory. I stood there, holding my environmentally unfriendly food container, listening to their banter on our 10-floor journey back to the lobby. The portly man with thick, Coke bottle glasses contends, “I HATE that Texas won!” The ladies exclaimed, “What?!” almost in unison. One of them continued,…

**DISCLAIMER: this post is brief, yet slightly “stan-ish” but I don’t care..these are my hip hop heroes, dammit.** While on Twitter today, Q-Tip replied to me after I sent him a tweet about his album review on the Best Albums Round Table (BART) 2008 podcast. Kind of cool, huh? I thought so. I love the way artists are flocking to Twitter and truly engaging with their listeners / supporters. This…

I’ve seen this exercise floating around the web amongst my friends and thought I’d give it a shot. Upon completion, it was an introspective experience that helped me take a real look at myself while preparing for the future. And it was fun, too… Here are sixteen random things about me: 1 I am an only child. I lived alone in college. When I pledged, I crossed by myself. I…

I’ve been blessed all year long. Christmas Day was no different. I promised to be marginally jovial and was able to keep that promise. There were moments where I exceeded jovial and appeared very excited.

Because our society blankets the spiritual essence of this season with gluttonous consumerism. Because the memories of the past are filled with more joy than the reality of the present. Because those who look like me won’t see me. Because those whom I look like stopped seeing me. Because being submerged in an ocean of thoughts means you can’t feel the wetness for the water. To feel everything is to…

There’s never a good time to feel bad – but there are times when feeling bad is more of an inconvenience than other (times). Running full throttle on 4-5 hours of sleep per night finally caught up with me. I can’t pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, but my body is telling me to chill…or else. This would be a good thing if I didn’t have so much to do today. It…

The cold air reminded me of the days I used to walk in the wind to school / work in the midwest. I’ve never been homesick and I hesitate to use that word to describe how I feel right now. There’s nothing in which to return for home is moreso a state of mind than an actual place. The people made up my “home” and the majority of them have…

The last installment. Happy Monday… Why do men lie so much? There’s a theory that, if we practice (the art of lying) long enough, we’ll be just as good as women *lol* Just kidding…(hint hint). Seriously, I do not feel lying is gender-specific. I do believe that – when you think of lying – the male species is more associated with the act. This is not because we’re good at…

And another one: Why do men fight and make noises when fighting? When ANYONE fights, the noises make it more dramatic (e.g., what’s a good cat fight without a few screams?). In the case of men, the grunts and growls seem to muster up additional strength when you connect fist to jaw. I don’t condone violence in the offensive sense, but I am a firm believer in defending yourself. The…

13 september 2008 – 3:16am “That’s the wheel barrell!” she blurted. The loud bamming noise shook through our home like a bass drum during a college football halftime show. The vibrations seemed to slamdance with the howls of 90mph winds and tortured trees. I placed the wheel barrell outside – in the back corner of the house – but now it banged as if it was attempting to come through the…

I was going to spend the weekend in the luxurious confines of the Marriott Houston Hobby Airport – the same hotel I stayed in regularly when visiting my wife as her “long distance beau.” My anticipation had built up all week as I daydreamed about plush pillows, down comforters and made-to-order omelets for breakfast. Instead of packing my bags to celebrate our wedding anniversary, I spent most of the day…

I never thought I’d get married. Since I was a kid, I was told I’d be a “good husband.” I came from a two-parent household where dad paid the bills, did home repairs and improvements while my mother kept the house clean and made sure I was neat. I went to church every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday (and sometimes Thursday) -gotta love that Baptist upbringing! My parents taught manners, respect, hard…

It’s no secret that the Friday Favecast did not win the Black Weblog Award for Best Podcast this year. I was initially disappointed that my podcast was overlooked, but I did make it to the finals…which is cool. But let’s be real.

I planned to take it easy this weekend. Somehow I managed to develop a month-long series for my podcast, resurrect hopes of a 15-year high school reunion and contribute my audio editing skills to the fastest growing music blog on the internet. Through the encouragement of my online friends and old classmates, I was able to add to the collective dreams of many and not just my own. That’s important…

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time on my high school’s alumni social network. 80% of alumni on the network were in high school @ some point while I was there (1989-1993) and a third of that percentage consists of my graduating class. There has been a lot of old, positive memories revisited – mostly about coming of age in the late 80s / early 90s. Some interesting forums…

I needed a quiet place. Sometimes the music, the laughter, the characters, etc. can be distracting. I often crave silence; peace from my own creativity. Before the music and podcasting, there was the written word. I needed to come back to that. I don’t always feel like being the “host of the Friday Favecast” with every online interaction. It’s my primary presence, but it’s only one dimension of who I…