Black Thought II

Thought it was a cool photo...

Tickle Your Pickle:
List seven songs you're into right now.

* Upside Down - Jack Johnson - OK, yes, it's Jack Johnson and yes, it's on the Curious George soundtrack but I swear it's one of those good, soft happy songs.

* DARE - Gorillaz - I'm a little upset I don't have tickets to see them perform next week but this song even makes me want to dance which should tell you it's upbeat.

* Desahogo - Vico C - All that time I spent in Denver started rubbing off on my music taste...from his 2004 album Desahogo. Couldn't tell you what the hell he is saying in the song...

* The A La Menthe - Nikkfurie - This is what happens when you watch Ocean 12 too many times. This is the song Toulour breaks into the museum with the blue strobe security lights

* Complexity - The Roots ft. Jill Scott - Damn you, Talia.

* Hip Hop (Live from the Block Party Soundtrack) - Dead Prez - Brought back memories from high school of my defiant friends.

* Give U More - Dizzee Rascal - I want to be half as cool as Dizzee when I grow up.


Band for a Lifetime:
Choose a band/artist and answer ONLY in titles of their songs.

Jay-Z

1. Are you male or female?
"Ain't No Nigga" See, I'm a male, but no nigga...

2. Describe yourself:

"Imgainary Player" With the supplies but with none of the qualities

3. How do some people feel about you:
"Friend or Foe" - It's one or the other, nothing in between

4. How do you feel about yourself:
"The Best of Both Worlds" - Need I say more?

5. Describe your ex-boyfriend/-girlfriend:
"You're Only a Customer" - Not Jessica though.

6. Describe your current significant other:
"Lucky Me" - At least I think I am.

7. Describe where you want to be:
"All Around the World" - I need to leave this country for a bit

8. Describe how you live:
"Green Light" - I don't pump the brakes...ask questions second.

9. Describe how you love:
"It's Hot" - Sizzle.

10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish:
"Encore" - So I could go back and do it again.

11. Share a few words of wisdom:
"Streets Is Watching"

12. Now say goodbye:
"Holla"

It's not often I actually blog about a serious topic.

But when 500,000 Mexicans take the streets of Downtown L.A., it needs to be addressed.

Congress is in the process of going over a few major immigration proposals which would greatly impact the over 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Why is Congress and President Bush addressing this now? Probably because Bush had it on his long list of things to do before he is out of office...but that's neither here or there.

The proposals are wide ranging but all have the same idea: To finally try to control who enters into the United States.

Senate Judiciary Committee's bill:

• Allows illegal immigrants who were in the United States before 2004 to continuing working legally for six years if they pay a $1,000 fine and clear a criminal background check. They would become eligible for permanent residence upon paying another $1,000 fine, any back taxes and having learned English.

• New immigrants would have to have temporary work visas. They also could earn legal permanent residence after six years.

• Adds up to 14,000 new Border Patrol agents by 2011 to the current force of 11,300 agents.

• Authorizes a "virtual wall" of unmanned vehicles, cameras and sensors to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border.

• Creates a special guest worker program for an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers, who can also earn legal permanent residency.

• Allows illegal immigrant students with high school diplomas or GED, no criminal record and meet other criteria to enroll in college or university or enlist in the military. Permits state schools to charge such students in-state tuition.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's proposal:

• Requires all employers to verify the identity and immigration status of their employees through an electronic system.

• Assesses civil penalties of between $500 and $20,000 against employers for each illegal immigrant they hire and criminal penalties of up to $20,000 per illegal immigrant hired and up to six months in jail for engaging in a pattern of employing illegal workers.

• More than doubles the number of employment-based green cards, from 140,000 to 290,000, and makes more employment-based visas available to unskilled workers. It also would free up other visas by exempting immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from being counted in the annual pool of 480,000 visas, and increase country-by-country ceilings on family-sponsored and employment-based immigrants.

• Cancels visas of immigrants who have overstayed their visas and requires them to return to their home country to undergo additional screening at U.S. consulates.

• Makes it a misdemeanor crime for an immigrant to be in the country illegally.

• Increases the number of visas available for high-tech workers.

• Does not address President Bush's proposal for a guest-worker program.

House bill passed in December:

• Requires all employers to use within six years a database to verify Social Security numbers of employees or face civil or criminal penalties for hiring illegal workers.

• Requires mandatory detention for all non-Mexican illegal immigrants arrested at ports of entry or at land and sea borders.

• Establishes mandatory sentences for smuggling illegal immigrants and for re-entering the United States illegally after deportation.

• Makes illegal presence in the country a felony.

• Makes a drunken driving conviction a deportable offense.

• Requires building two-layer fences along 700 miles of the 2,000-mile border between Mexico and the United States.

• Does not address President Bush's proposed guest-worker program for illegal immigrants already in U.S.

I can't just get behind the illegal immigrants on this one though. Maybe I'm biased coming from Los Angeles and seeing how the city has changed so much just in 10 years in terms of the community I grew up in.

But something needs to be done.

We can't keep just having an open door policy on people who want to cross the border from Mexico or any other country.



Eventually, you are going to reach a breaking point not only in terms of where are all these people going to live, but then also in terms of the school systems as well.

The big argument seems to be is that illegal immigrants are doing the jobs nobody else wants. I can sort of see that to a certain extent because I'm not cutting grass, but who knows if there are people out there who are actually citizens who would be willing to do the work. But can't because all those type of secondary jobs are gone.

And yes, we are all immigrants in one form or fashion. Some against our better will. But the fact is, I'm a United States Citizen.

I'm forced to pay taxes.

All illegal immigrants aren't.

But here is where the United States brought some of this upon themelves.

In 1996, the IRS started passing out special tax ID numbers for people who are living and working illegally in the United States.

I guess the thinking was if they are making money, we will take their money even if they are illegal.

But until Congress decides on a bill, you can expect more people marching on the 405 Freeway and kids skipping school.

Glad I'm not in Los Angeles for once...

Turned the big 2-3 today.

How is it being spent...

Four classes and a meeting at 9PM.

Sigh.

Ok, who else a.) gets the joke and b.) finds the shirt hilarious.

Easily my favorite Saved By the Bell moment by far.

Damn you, UCLA.

You know I didn't pick you Westwood bastards in my bracket pool.

But I couldn't be happier for Cedric Bozeman for making The Final Four.

We went to elementary school together and he was good in basketball but nobody would have guessed he would be playing for the National Title one day.

But since they destroyed my bracket, I guess I'll root for UCLA...until they face UCONN in the finals and then have to bow dow to the Huskies.

My bracket game is crazy tight, yo.

It's hard to practice self control when you're with your girlfriend and you are trying to check basketball scores as well.

I struggle with it.

I don't want to come off as rude. Or that I'm not interested in her BBQ spare ribs she was eating.

But Villanova was losing.

And they needed my good ju-ju.

Minus that whole George Mason-Wichita State fluke, I went 7 for 7 in my Sweet 16/Elite 8 games.

I am now 6th in the Sports Illustrated pool - still 1st by a good margin in the AOL pool.

But it looks like I can't win the SI pool.

The guy who's in 1st place and I have the same exact Final Four (Memphis, Texas, UCONN, Nova).

So I would have to settle for 2nd which would be still $350 bucks roughly.

Cha-ching.

I went to Foxwoods last night because I just couldn't wait the two weeks before I go to Vegas.

But I figured it's my birthday weekend, I'm going to do what I want for once.

So usually when I go to Vegas, I shy away from the 25 cent machines. Don't let it fool you. It might say 25 cents but by the time you play 5 lines, it starts to add up.

And after little luck on the nickel machines, I headed over to the Monopoly machines.



The Monopoly machines in Vegas was the site of that great photo Frank took which could easily be the photo for a movie on young black gambling. That was the night where we went a good two hours on $20 bucks.

So fast forward back to last night.

I put in $20 and figure this will last me all of five minutes.

First spin, bonus round.

Jackpot.

At this point, Talia walks away so I'm left to make crucial decisions on my own like as to what button to push.

I made the right ones.

When it's all said and done, I had 320 quarters and as any person who spent too much time in Vegas as a youth, I knew that was $80.

So after one spin, I cashed out, and called it a night.

This just means I will have no luck in Las Vegas.

Just one of those nights for Gonzaga.

I really think I am being punished here.

I have a 5 page paper due in the morning and of couse, I don't start until the night before.

And of course, the NCAA Tournament is in full force and on top of that, there was a new episode of The O.C.

This is why I'm still up at 1:15AM trying to write this paper.

But my birthday weekend got off to an early start with all four of my teams winning this evening.

I'm now 1st in one office pool that's for roughly 300 bucks.

But the pool that matters is the Sports Illustrated pool.

I started today 41st.

I figured I had no shot.

I'm now tied for 10th after tonight - still behind Seth Davis somehow. But he picked Gonzaga and Duke for his Final Four so HA! to him.

Did I mention the pot for this pool is nearly $1,500?

Yeah, exactly.

Who says gambling is bad?

Not I, sir.

Not I.

My cover has been blown.

For the past couple weeks I tried to keep my friendship-turned-relatinonship with a certain someone on the low.

We are part of a small circle of folks, black folks at that, and you know how news spreads. I didn't want to do deal with all the "Did you hear about so-and-so" comments.

So we went incognito.

Or so we thought.

Talia and I were finally busted this past weekend so we decided to finally just come clean with the whole thing.

Coons, I tell you. Those NABJ folks....just coons.

I get word today that three people IM'ed my homeboy Darren about this "breaking news"

This is the exact reason why we tried to keep it on the low.

Once you change your relationship status on Facebook, you know it's offical. And somehow word spread less than 24 hours after I changed my status.

*shakes head*

Carry on.

No, that's not ?uestlove.

That's Hofstra senior Adrian Uter after the Pride defeated St. Joeseph's in overtime Monday night.

One victory away from advancing to Madison Square Garden.

Guess I'm ditching class on Wednesday to go to the game.

Bill Lester finished 38th today in the Golden Corral 500. I saw a good chunk of it in between classes today.

He was driving not to crash instead of driving to win. I guess it's a step, even if its a small one.

His next NASCAR race won't come until June. He should take some tips from his wife on how to drive to win - black women drive like a bat out of hell.

So after all that fuss about my computer science midterm and I managed to get a B. Instead of being pissed about the fact that I could have got a better grade if I didn't have to retake the test, I'll just take the B and be happy with it.

When I wasn't studying this weekend, I went outside to make a trip to the store.

As I'm driving along the Hempstead Turnpike, reach a red light and a car pulls up and honks at me.

I figured the guy probably needs directions so I roll down my window.

Him: You drove this car all the way from California?
Me: (Dumbfounded) Um, yes.
Him: Really?
Me: Yes. I go to Hofstra University (for some reason I felt the urge to point behind me as to point out the direction of my school. Just in case the guy was a murder, he could now know where to find me)
Him: Wow. How many miles are on it?
Me: 173,000
Him: Wow. What a great car.
Me: Wanna trade? (He was driving a Nissan, much newer than a 88)
Him: Laughs

Way to go, Betsey. Pimp those middle age white guys.

The Birthday Countdown: 7 days.

Still no plans for next Monday. And since I have 4 classes and a meeting, it will probably remain that way unless I go off the deep end and just ditch everything and do me.

I was all set to watch this man, Bill Lester, run in today's NASCAR race. I was even going to sacrifice the NCAA Tournament to watch it....

It got rained out.

Is that a sign from above?

I'm just saying.

The race is now tomorrow at 11AM.

Lester is the first African-American to qualify for a NASCAR race in 20 years. Yes, 20.

It is 2006, no?

The 45-year-old rookie from Oakland (What up Cali!) will be starting 19th tomorrow. Between him and Danica Patrick, this is good for the sport.

"There are a lot of black people out there who are closet NASCAR fans," Lester said. "They feel uncomfortable about coming to the racetrack because it's hard to identify with anyone there. I'm in a position to change that."

Amen to that.

From the Chicago Sun Times. I couldn't make up this story if I wanted to.

Man severs own penis, throws it at officers

March 17, 2006

BY ERIC HERMAN Staff Reporter

Before cops threw the book at him, Jakub Fik threw something unusual at them -- his penis.

Fik, 33, cut off his own penis during a Northwest Side rampage Wednesday morning. When confronted by police, Fik hurled several knives and his severed organ at the officers, police said. Officers stunned him with a Taser and took him into custody.

"We took him out without any serious injury, with the exception of his own," said Chicago Police Sgt. Edward Dolan of the 16th District.

Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital reattached Fik's penis Wednesday, sources said. He was listed in good condition Thursday, according to hospital spokesman Andrew Buchanan, who declined to comment further.

Smashing car windows

Fik, who lives in the 5400 block of W. Berenice, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of criminal damage to property, said Officer Laura Kubiak. He told paramedics he was distraught over problems with his girlfriend in Poland, Dolan said.

Police arrived on Fik's block at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday after receiving reports he was smashing car windows, Dolan said. Fik then broke into a house down the block. A group of six or seven officers assembled in front of the house, Dolan said.

The occupants were not home, he added.

Fik was bleeding when the officers arrived and may have already cut off his organ, Dolan said.

"At that point, this guy came running out, naked, with a handful of knives . . . and started throwing knives at the police officers that were 10, 20, 30 feet away," Dolan said.

Fik threw his penis during the confrontation, too, Dolan said. He then went back into the house and re-emerged with "another handful of knives," Dolan said.

Dolan sneaked to the side of the bungalow's front steps and stunned Fik with the Taser. Fik fought back when officers went to restrain him, Dolan said.

"About 10 feet from the front porch, right on the sidewalk, was his penis," Dolan said.

Dr. Greg Bales, associate professor of urology at the University of Chicago, said severed penises are uncommon but surgery usually works.

"As long as the penis is placed on ice and reattached within a few hours, the success is usually pretty good," Bales said.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

This is my christmas. Actually, my hanukkah because its the holiday that stretches over many days.

The NCAA Tournament kicked off yesterday and I tried juggling work and watching basketball.

I managed to pull it off. I only jumped out of my chair and yelled once the whole afternoon (when Tennessee took the lead over Winthrop).

The reason why people get worked up in such a frenzy is because of office pools. I am entered in two for money and it has been two years since I have won one so I am due.

I went 11 for 16 yesterday...thanks a lot, Oklahoma and Syracuse for losing.

Today is also St. Patrick's Day.

Could there be a whiter holiday?

Seriously?

I'll wear green (if I own any) just so people don't pinch me and I don't have to flip out on them. It's really big out here in New York compared to Los Angeles where people just go to Dublin's on Sunset and call it a night.

We got parades and stuff going on...folks not going to work...It's mind boggling.

All an excuse to drink some green beer.

I could go for some cabbage though...

10 Favorites
Favorite Color: Brown
Favorite Food: Fried Chicken
Favorite Singer: Bjork
Favorite Song: Juicy - Notorious B.I.G.
Favorite Movie: Christmas Story
Favorite Sport: Baseball
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Day Of the Week: Saturday
Favorite Position: Buy my autobiography for that information

9 Currents
Current Taste: Italian
Current Clothes: Nike shorts, a CSUN t-shirt (Once a Matador, always a Matador)
Current Desktop Picture: A photo of cactus
Current Location: Bedroom
Current Time: 11:54 a.m.
Current Crush: What up T
Current Thought: Why is it only Wednesday?
Current Enemy: Corporate America
Current procrastination: Studying

8 Firsts
First Best Friend: Josh Greenberg (Josh, where are you?)
First Kiss: Amanda Fuckin Huizar - lawd...
First Screen Name: uscwannabe01
First Time: Few years ago
First Yearbook caption: Your not cheating if your not trying
First Crush: Milan Wiley
First Music You Remember Hearing: Anything on KCRW
First Car: 88 Honda Civic

7 Lasts
Last Cigarette: I don't smoke
Last Drink Alcoholic drink: Saturday night (First this year)
Last Car Ride: Earlier this evening
Last Kiss: Sunday
Last Movie Seen: Block Party
Last Phone Call: Mom
Last CD Played: Demon Days - Gorillaz

6 Have You Evers
Have You Ever Made Love to One Of Your Female Friends: Yes
Have You Ever Been Arrested: No
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: No
Have You Ever Been on TV: Yes
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Yes

5 Things
5 Things You've Done Today: Sat in on a conference call, got cheated on my midterm, went to Big Brothers/Big Sisters, cooked dinner, watched the Knicks win for once
5 Things You Can Hear Right Now: The TV, an airplane, my loud ass neighbor fighting with her roomate, my stomach talking to me and me typing on the keyboard
5 Things You Do When You're Bored: Cook, sleep, watch TV, write, drive

4 Places
4 Places you want to visit: London, Paris, Tokyo, Africa

3 People
3 People You Can Tell Anything To: My blog, Frank, Victoria

2 Choices...
A) Black or White: Black
B) Hot or Cold: Hot

1 Thing
1 Thing You Want to Do Before you die: Skydive

So here I am, taking my computer science test on Blackboard.

I'm going back and forth between the online and written portion, filling in answers as they pop in my head.

Finally I am done with the online portion and I go to submit my answers.

I click submit and it asks me to re-enter my username and password.

I type it in, hit enter, and find out that I have been locked out my test.

I figure that's OK, worst comes to worst if the test didn't go through, I'll just go back and re-enter the 30 answers.

Come to find out, when I log back in, its a whole new test...and I have 10 minutes to do it.

I got hosed.

Just like Hofstra.

Now I panic as I'm already a bad test taker but the pressure is on to finish before class is over.

After I submit for a second time, the professor goes do you think you were at a disadvantage because you had to redo the test.

Um, yes!

I think I am going to e-mail him tomorrow before I get my test back and see if he can cut me some slack - he did take blame for what happened at least.

NCAA Tournament starts in 12.5 hours.

My Final Four:

UCONN
Texas
Villanova
Memphis

I am in the Sports Illustrated office pool againt his year. Last year I got worked - I don't know what happened with my picks but I did bad. Also trying to get in on the ESPN.com pool at my old job - I have a thing for gambling if you haven't noticed.

And whoever came up with the idea to stream the NCAA Tournament on the internet is a genius. I'm not doing ANY work tomorrow. I'll have my laptop in the office as well so I will have two games going on that computer and two games going on my desktop.

Here's to an non-productive day at work tomorrow!

The longest week ever drags on - how is it only Wednesday, people?

I have a midterm in three hours followed by my Big Brother/Big Sister program and then a quiz on a book where I am behind in.

I don't even want to look forward to this weekend because I have another test to study for and a paper to write by Monday.

Hofstra is finally starting a chapter of NABJ (National Assocation of Black Journalists) on campus. It was an idea that I had wanted to do since last summer and I just dropped the ball on because of work and school.

Someone else took the idea and ran with it and we had our first meeting last night...sorta. The President didn't show up - we are off to a good start!

NABJ already had a chapter at Hofstra but it was just inactive. Five people showed up - you only need 5 registered members to be a chapter according to NABJ. I hope to really get this going fall semester and use some of my contacts to my favor for guest speakers and what not.

Why do A.J. and Free have an AT&T commerical? Did AT&T not get the memo that they have been off 106 and Park for months now?

I have BS'ed long enough...let me get back to studying...

Where do I begin...

I guess with the fact that Hofstra got screwed out of the NCAA Tournament.

I'm only a little upset because after suffering through many years of bad basketball at Cal State Northridge, I finally thought my school had a chance to make the Big Dance.

Wrong.

They have been banished to the NIT and not even as a #1 or #2 seed but a #3 seed. It does mean a home game this week on campus against Nebraska which is a plus...

Hell week has offically begun as of tonight. I have a computer science midterm Wednesday and a philosophy paper and a envrionmental science midterm on Monday.

Of all the weekends - it would be the start of the NCAA Tournament. How am I expected to focus when its the four best days of the year?

OK, so that whole where do I begin talk....yeah, I got nothing, I'm beat...

Four jobs I've had:
1. Intern at AOL Black Voices
2. Intern at Sports Illustrated
3. Intern at ESPN.com
4. Intern at The Denver Post
(side note - I have never had a "regular" job, like cashier or retail junk, I think I'm missing out in life...)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Christmas Story
2. Ocean's Twelve
3. Coming to America
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Four places I have lived:
1. Inglewood, CA
2. Bristol, CT
3. Denver, CO
4. New York, NY

Four Shows I love:
1. The O.C.
2. Grey's Antaomy
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm
4. Arrested Development

Four books I'd recommend to anyone, anytime:
1. Catcher in the Rye
2. Roots
3. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
4. AP Stylebook

Four places I have vacationed:
1. Maui
2. Las Vegas (2-3 times a year)
3. Boston
4. New York

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. My Pasta Salad
2. Fried Chicken
3. A good slice of NY Pizza
4. Burrito

Four sites I visit daily:
1. ESPN.com
2. Blackvoices.com
3. Thefacebook.com
4. MLB.com

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Los Angeles
2. The Beach
3. London
4. 1086 S. Broadway

Bad news, Hofstra resident!

You are too lazy to walk across the unispan, so you steal the convienent parking from commuter students! You silly, silly, goose, walking is good for you!

Next time don't be a selfish douche, so people coming from New Jersey and Suffolk County aren't late for their classes :)

Love and Hugs
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
"A concerned citizen"
Have a fucking great day, asshole!!


This is what I found on my car after I got out of my afternoon class. I could see the note from far away and my fear was someone backed into my car and left a note.

I open the note and I start reading it and think to myself, is this person really serious.

Not that I need to defend my actions but let me point out a few facts:

1. While technically a resident, I live 1/2 mile off campus. Now, yes, I could make the walk down the Hempstead Turnpike but I can't think of many people who would walk when they could drive to class.

2. There are designated commuter and resident parking lots. The parking lot that I sometimes park in doesn't have a sign either way - so I'll continue to park there until I get a ticket.

3. This one takes the cake. I wasn't even parked in a designated parking spot today. I was parked illegally, along a gate. So to really take the time to write this note for a car that was technically breaking the law, is just mind blowing.

You see the bullshit I have to go through at this school. Only at Hofstra, I tell you.

My only wish is that I would have figured out which car the person who left me the note drove because I figured it had to be one of them in the parking lot. The parking lot only holds 10 cars at the most so I had good odds but I left it alone and went along with my day.

Way to go, fellas. Way to lose to our neighbors up north. You know if USA doesn't make it out of the first round, they are going to scrap this WBC idea real fast...

So I took a Personal DNA Test tonight. This is what it told me:

You are an architect

Your preference for concrete, visually pleasing things, combined with your confidence and your respect for order make you an ARCHITECT.

You are logical and detail-oriented, which allows you to get things done efficiently.

You are quite sure of yourself, so that you tend to know the best ways of doing things.

Your eye for aesthetic beauty and style indicates that you know a lot about design.

Having a routine and sticking to it is important to you; you find comfort in tradition and familiarity.

Self-reliance is something in which you take great pride—you are confident and down to earth.

You have a basic faith in yourself in many areas of your life, allowing you to be self-assured when facing challenges.

Your independent streak allows you to make decisions efficiently and to trust your instincts

You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.

You are independent:

Your inward focus, trusting nature, and sharp sense of right and wrong make you INDEPENDENT.

Your thoughts and actions are not reliant on what others think about you; you have a clearly defined moral structure.

When it comes to others, you are very practical, expecting people to take care of themselves.

You generally believe the best about people, but you hold them to high standards.

Similarly, you believe in maintaining integrity, honor, and a sense of respect for those who have earned their success.

Trust needs to be earned with you; you're slow to forgive when people have violated your trust.

Spending time alone means a lot to you, as does keeping certain things private.

You quietly observe a lot about the world, giving you a keen sense of both how things are and how things should be.

You've learned that you need to prioritize your own feelings, as opposed to always considering others' feelings first.

And just like that, I'm healthy again.

The fever went away sometime Saturday morning on its own. I still have no clue what it was though I did my lab results back today and the nurse said a few things stood out.

The drive for the NCAA Tournament has been put on hold for the week as Hofstra just lost in the CAA Finals. Now we have to wait until Selection Sunday when I am sure the Hofstra players will be huddled at Hofstra USA waiting for the NCAA's decision.

24-6 is 24-6 - I hope they get in and will be pissed if they dont - mostly because I wanted to attend my first NCAA Tournament as a student...I don't want to settle for the NIT :(

It's a miracle - Betsey got a carwash. I remember the last car wash she got like it was yesterday. I was on my way to work at The Denver Post and stopped off at the car wash and remember thinking afterwards, the car really isn't that clean still on the outside.

This was July.

It's now March.

Since then, Betsey took part in a 2,000 mile drive across the U.S., went through 13 straight days of rain, has had foot after foot of snow dumped on her.

So I figured it was only right to pay 15 bucks to get her a wash. Now, if we can only get a radio back in her so I don't feel stupid driving around with nothing to listen to...

My birthday is 3 weeks from today and I'm trying to think about what I want to do. I haven't had the best birthdays of recent so I wanted to do something - at the very least buy myself something nice. I could care less really about a large gathering of people.

I have been craveing Maggiano's for a month now and figured that would be the perfect birthday dinner.

Except they don't have any in New York. Or New Jersey. Or anywhere I could drive to in an evening. Trust me, I checked all three states in the area.

I would have to go to Boston or Philly to clinch my thirst. Who wants to go?

Sick Watch 2006:

Day 6.

Last year around this time I had a similar problem and that lasted nearly two weeks so I'm halfway there!

No, but really, I don't know what the hell is wrong with me? Probably won't have a clue till next week when I get my lab results back.

Till then, 1 Motrin a day takes the fever away....till about 7PM.

I have been walking around with a thermometer in my pocket for the last few days, popping it in every few hours when people aren't looking. It's topping out at under 101 now (I lied, I just checked, 101.3) down from 103 so that's a plus...

But I had to go to the wellness center today on campus to get this lab work.

The nurse calls me and I find out where they hide all the friendly people with hearts on this campus - they are all stuck in the Wellness Center.

Trust me, I was nervous at the idea of one of the typical Hofstra employees jabbing me with a needle.

But the nurse was cool and we had something in common - she has a similar disease that I have so she knew what I have been through.

And that's good because people can think they know what it's like but unless you actually have it, you have no idea. None.

I hop on the table to get the blood work and I warned her about my tiny veins. I even know which needle to request for my lab work now.

She is searching for a vein, thinks she sees one and inserts. Not much pain but I could feel her rolling the needle around searching for the sucker. I make a funny face as it sort of hurts as she pulls the needle out.

"Ok, this is a test for Pat"

Pat is suppose to be the nurse who swears up and down that she can find a vein on anyone. Before my new buddy Carol could even get her, in walks Pat.

She was ready for the challange and said if she stuck me in the hand, then that's a DQ and she loses.

"Roll up your left sleeve," said Pat.

"See, Carol, here they are," as she points to my veins.

Now in Carol's defense, I should have told her that my left arm is my better arm.

Pat sticks me and before I could flinch, it was over.

"Now which nurse do you ask for next time you need blood."

I pointed and gave her the thumbs up.

After I finished, it was another 15 minutes before I got out of there. Carol gave me the lecture about how I need to find a GI on the East Coast.

"What are we going to do with you," as she shook her head in disgust.

If I had a nickel for every person who has said that to me, I would be rich. Rich I say.

Finally she sent me on my way with the name of a hospital in the area just in case I had to go and the name of a GI in the area.

See, there are some friendly people at Hofstra.

1. A favorite political track.

Know Your Enemy - Rage Against the Machine.

2. One of those tracks that make you dance on the dance floor no matter what.

Me? Dancing? Funny. Electric Boogie - Marcia Griffths

3. The song you’d use to tell someone you love them.

Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed

4. A song that has made you sit down and analyze its lyrics.

Jay Z - Song Cry

5. A song that you like, that a two year old would like as well.

Dem Franchize Boyz - "Lean With It..."

6. A song that gives you an energy boost.

50 Cent - In Da Club

7. A song that you and your grandparents (would probably) like.

John Coltrane - Blue Train

8. A song that you really liked when you were 14-16, and still really like now.

Toni Tony Tone - Whatever You Want

9. A sad song that would be in the soundtrack of the movie about your life.

Mazzy Star - Fade Into You

10. A peppy song that would start the opening credits of the movie about your life.

Len - Steal My Sunshine

11. A good song from a genre of music that no one would guess that you liked.

She Wants Revenage - Tear You Apart

12. A song that you think should have been playing when you were born.

2Pac - Me Against The World

13. A favorite artist duo collaboration.

Rick James and Teena Marie - Fire And Desire

14. A favorite song that you completely disagree with (politically, morally, commonsensically, religiously etc.)

Lil Jon - Get Low.

My balls. Skeet Skeet.

15. The song that you like despite the fact your IQ level drops several points every time you listen to it.

Anything from the South. Sorry. Ya'll are making the rest of us dumb.

16. Your smooth song, for relaxing.

Ronny Jordan - After Hours

16a. Favorite Song to Bone to:

Anything Maxwell.

17. A song you would send to someone you hate or are mad at.

Nas - Ether

18. A favorite track from an outfit considered a “super-group.”

Does We Are The World count?

19. A song that makes you reminisce about good times with a family member.

Frankie Bevelry and Maze - Happy Feelings

20. Your favorite song at this moment in time.

Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body

I knew it would happen eventually.

I was going to get struck by whatever bug was going around and I was going to get sick.

I got hit sometime around Saturday when I didn't wake up until 3PM - and only got up because I had to force myself to go to the Hofstra game at 4PM.

Even at the game, I'm sitting there sweating, trying not to get ill in front 5,000 people. After the game when I stepped outside, I felt slightly better and thought maybe the excitment of a 2 point victory somehow defeated the germs.

Two days later and I'm turning down my grandfather's cake - I knew something wasn't right. Who turns down cake?

I took yesterday day off from work and layed in my bed all day thinking maybe I just needed some rest.

It's not even like I'm coughing or sneezing. I have a slight fever, a headache, and the world appears to be spinning.

What kind of fake illness do I have going on. If I'm going to be sick, I want to be all out sick.

Don't tease me with a symptom here and a symptom there.

By the way, I think last night was the end of the road for my girl Brenna. It's one thing for the judges not to like you but when America doesn't, then you are fighting an uphill battle.

I voted - hopefully all of Westchester County voted as well because she does make that show exciting.

Back to sleep I go...