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

Dog tired, originally uploaded by fave .

In the age of social media, we use the term “friend” very, VERY loosely.

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

It’s just time to prioritize and make it ALL pop.

Now that Vegan Week is over, do I go back to the way I was? Do I have Papa Johns on speed dial? Is it Baconator time?

Once again, this week’s experience has taught me that a lot of my so-called physical cravings are all in my head.

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

The lesson from Day Four is simple = being vegan is not being hungry.

This morning I was greeted with what looked like scrambled cheese eggs, sausage links and waffles.

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.

These headphones give a true studio sound that makes every song sound they way it was intended — with fullness and richness unlike any headphones I’ve ever owned.

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 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.

Most of us dread Mondays. It’s viewed as the death of the weekend and the birth of long work hours, action items and the mark of five days until the next 48 hour reprieve. We rarely see Mondays as the mark of new beginnings. Vast opportunities await us but we’re too distracted to see them as we lament over a cup of coffee. Today is more than Monday. It’s a…

*This thought was prompted by the onslaught of pointless Facebook event invites and email blasts I receive from promoters who have shoddy websites, poorly updated contact info and underwhelming events.* Strong marketing is found in how well you ENGAGE your audience. A call to action is only as powerful as the level of comfort I have with you and your message. That comfort level depends on your ability to be…

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’m always looking for ways to step my game up with the Friday Favecast. I wanted to create something that illustrated the journey of the show, in a way that was brief, innovative and fun. The Big La suggested I put my energy into Adobe After Effects, a gigantic multimedia app that’s very intimidating at first glance. Through positive coaching (via IM), I overcame that intimidation factor and put together…

It’s no secret that I am a big advocate for the Black Weblog Awards. Having my Friday Favecast (FFC) nominated for “Best Podcast” is an added bonus — even if I wasn’t nominated, I would still rep the BWAs regardless because their mission (of celebrating black bloggers) resonates with me. I debated on whether I would “campaign” during this BWA season. I don’t want to come across like I’m just…

Here are seven (7) realizations I had while strolling through the internet and voting for my favorite black bloggers.

it’s way more involved than a few mouse clicks.

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

My hesitation to make decisions — personal or professional — has often come from my belief that I must wait until I have the ideal situation. Despite the blessings and accomplishments in my life, I’m sure this type of thinking has caused me to miss out on some amazing opportunities or prolonged my development in certain areas. I recently finished reading REWORK by Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hansson. The…

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…

Listen!

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….

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’ve grown, outgrown and re-grown my locs like a tumultuous love affair that always results in my coming back to them and continuing the journey even further than before.

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.

Last January I welcomed 2010 with an eagerness to redefine my online presence. All Things Fave consolidates my creative endeavors into one neat space. The simplistic redesign of this blog encourages me to write more frequently; while the new organization of my music site is aesthetically pleasing. Reformatting the Friday Favecast to a bi-weekly offering calls for a layout change as does the momentum of DJ Markus Gramm. These ventures…

One of my favorite soul singers, Eric Roberson, has announced the five (5) finalists for his “A Tale of Two” remix contest. Although I didn’t make the cut, I enjoyed producing three (3) interpretations of his GRAMMY® nominated single while getting my online networking on with dope producers who inspire and motivate me. I encourage you to check out the final remixes after the jump and vote for your fave…

disappointment |ˌdisəˈpointmənt| noun 1. the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations 2. a person, event, or thing that causes such a feeling (example: I was a big disappointment to her)

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…

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,…

If you don’t get this new Yahzarah single in your life, turn in your soul card immediately. “Why Dontcha Call Me No More” Music: Nicolay Lyrics: YahZarah and Phonte Coleman All vocals: YahZarah Keys and acoustic guitar: Nicolay Drums: Lil’ John Roberts Bass: Zo! Electric guitar: Chris Boerner Handclaps and tambourine: YahZarah and Phonte Produced by Nicolay and Phonte for The Foreign Exchange Music

My son turned thirteen today. I’m thankful that he is a good kid who loves God, respects his parents and has a fantastic purpose for his life. I’m glad he feels he can talk to me about everything from sex to video games. My prayer is that our bond stays strong as the next 13 years of his life will define him as a man. Happy Birthday, son. Let’s do…

I read the story and watched the videos. I encourage you to do the same before reading on.

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…

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…

For the past couple of months, I’ve been working with the cool kids at SoulBounce – a popular online music & culture magazine. This relationship has afforded me to contribute to a myriad of projects. One in particular was the Men Love Mary: A Tribute to My Life mixtape that was released as a free digital download on 2 December. The project features eleven (11) of today’s progressive, male soul…

After debating all summer and re-prioritizing my creative endeavors, I’ve decided to participate in this year’s National Novel Writing Month beginning November 1st. I have a few ideas and posted a poll for my friends and fellow writers to help me decide. In the end, I had to flip a coin to decide on a story I attended the local Kick-Off Party this weekend and got some added inspiration. I’m…

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.

From childhood heroes to legends in the making, these artists maintained a constant flow of funk, jazz, soul, dance and inspiration throughout two days and nights in the sweltering Houston heat.

Love has a body and soul just as we do. The BODY of love is the “feeling” that makes us soar in the clouds or wallow in the mire. It’s euphoric, depressing, unstable, sporadic, invigorating and draining. Like most minerals, love is essential to our proper function but can be toxic if too much is ingested (re: self love). The SOUL of love is the “decision” that transcends circumstance. It’s…

Interviewing Eric Roberson was a great milestone in my podcasting career. This week, I’m fortunate to have Phonte & Nicolay = Foreign Exchange on my show as they prepare to release “City Lights v2:Shibuya” on September 15th. I’m blessed to talk with my “digital heroes (DH)” – individuals I’ve discovered online over the years. I enjoy the fact that they are tangible, real and humble while sharing their extraordinary gift(s)…

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…

Fave is the imprint where I explore several avenues which pave my passions. Twitter has been an avenue leading to so many opportunities from promoting my podcast to meeting new people around the globe and across town. I’ve been reading blogs (i.e., this one and that one) on how to use Twitter to further enhance my imprint while releasing positive energy into the world. Having been in radio for years,…

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…

Always the authoritative type, he presided over my first wedding. I remember him standing there in his robe and sneakers – commanding me to “kiss the bride.” I had never kissed a girl before and it was the ickiest feeling in the world. I wasn’t ready for marriage and, after it was “annulled” three days later, he was there to help me get over my failed relationship with Now&Laters and…

Pulled another all-nighter and I’m still awake. My long awaited Friday Favecast episode featuring Eric Roberson, has just dropped on the site and on iTunes. Aside from the sleep deprivation, I am beyond ecstatic. I dreamed about this day. What it would feel like. How the sense of accomplishment would wash over my senses as I set out to turn a thought in my mind into an incredible tangible.

Eric Roberson is one of my favorite soul singers on the planet. His new album dropped today and his fans have been rejoicing among the 17 new tracks that are incredible. I was blessed to interview Eric for this week’s upcoming Friday Favecast (8/28). His current single, “Can I Borrow You,” paints a playful picture of a young man pursuing another man’s woman for a few shakes on the dance…

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:

I love music. It’s safe to say that it loves me. There may be an overabundance of mediocrity out there, but the pulse of true artistry still thumps. In a world of manufactured melodies, diluted for radio consumption, my universe is filled with incredible gospel, soul, fonk, hip hop, electronica, breakbeat, dubsets and riddims. The life force of creative musicianship shines bright – often blinding my iTunes library. I love…

When I resurrected Friday Favecast (FFC) in 2007, I wanted to go beyond 2-3 minute sound bites and produce a full-length podcast featuring the music of my favorite soul and hip hop artists. Dwele, Sy Smith, Little Brother, Choklate and Raheem DeVaughn weren’t (and still aren’t IMO) getting the shine they deserved and the FFC was going to be my online vehicle to share their gift with the world. In…

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 personal declaration of Thickum Thursday – a moment in time dedicated to acknowledging and appreciating the thickness in our universe.

Derived from the Urban Dictionary:

1 thickum (THIK-um) n. [women] who are a little bigger. . .in a good way.