Just My Opinion

* Creative inspiration is difficult to find, but once it lands, it is a beautiful thing to have. * I believe that there should be a law that no one is allowed to get married until they are 25 years old. The level of maturity and sense of responsibility just isn't there before that time. Let people grow up and have their fun before they settle down to a spouse and kids. * Whenever you get in bed with the Devil, he's going to want sex. * A drunk man speaks a sober mind. * Credit cards are financial slavery. * If the only way you refer to your man is "Mother Fucker", then you need another man. * If your man wants to make love, and your response is, "Fine. Let's get this over with", then your relationship has a problem. * The absolutely worst time to take a test is when you have explosive diarrhea. * If someone tells you he or she will pay back your personal loan with their income tax refund, kiss your money good-bye. It almost never happens. * Poetry doesn't have to be complicated. It just has to touch your heart. * If you have been living with your lover for more than two years, and he or she still does not want to get married, and you do, even if you have an engagement ring, you might as well move out. That person is still waiting for someone better to come along. If you want to test it, insist on a wedding date, and see the stuttering and 'explanations' begin.

The Six Month Rule

I am a strong proponent of the "Six-Month Rule". It says that if a romantic relationship can hold up for six consecutive months, it may have a good chance of long-term survival. No one should move in with anyone until the six month period has passed. If you do, you could accelerate too fast for the relationship to develop and bond. Moving in together too soon is one of the main reasons why relationships fail. It is also dangerous, if your lover has anger management, stalking, or infidelity issues. Take time to get to know your lover as a person before you jump in bed with him or her. What annoys him? What about him/her annoys you? Insist that each of you take an HIV test before having sex. You'll never regret taking the test. HIV is a lifelong regret. It's easier to break up with a person and each stay in their own apartment, than to move in together, then have to find another apartment so you can move out. I believe that a couple should wait six months before co-habitating.

Even Steven

I don't like people who do things for me as a favor, then remind me that I "owe" them later on when they want something. Invariably, what they also want is for you to do something that is entirely out of proportion to what they did for you. If you helped me get a bank loan because you knew a person who could be helpful to me, then I shouldn't have to drive the getaway car when you want to do a bank robbery. The two favors aren't equal in scope.

Keep Your Kids Close By

I was in a health center the other day. As I sat in the waiting room, I made eye contact with a toddler, about 14 months old, sitting near me on the same bench. She was a cute little child, with a smile like an angel, and pretty eyes that glistened. We connected immediately, as I waved to her, and she waved back, smiling the entire time. Her mother, who was holding the toddler in her arms, was happy as she watched the two of us play. She was called into another room, and I waved good-bye to the baby in pink as they disappeared. I stayed in the waiting room area. Soon, after, I saw the baby leave the room where her mother was, and start to roam around the hallway. We've seen this all the time; a baby escapes from his or her mother's arms, and wanders around to amuse him or herself. We adults simply regale in their glow. We laugh and smile as the baby falls, laughs afterwards, gets up, and starts to wander around some more, until the mother comes and collects her charge. What bothered me was that the toddler started to head in my direction, smiling all the way. I smiled back as she tentatively worked her way toward me. She stopped at one point next to a chair, and stood by it, all the time checking me out. I could see in her eyes that she was trying to decide if I was acceptable for her to approach further. She wanted to, as we had a positive experience earlier in the waiting room. My prayers that the mother would show up soon were answered, as she discovered her baby was out in the hallway, and went to collect her. The mother smiled at me as she picked up her georgeous child, and they went back into the room. The baby waved her little hand to me as she left. I was frightened at the thought that in those few minutes, that baby could have been abducted. What if I wasn't such a 'nice' person? What if I was a predator, or a kidnapper, or even a pedaphile? I could have easily walked off with the child. The scenario I just described could have turned into a nightmare. It gave me goosebumps of fear. I am not a parent, but I see parents straddle the delicate line between being a nice person, by allowing strangers to have casual contact with their children, and being a little wary about strangers interested in their children. Lord knows, how a mother or father can tell the difference between a good person and an evil one is beyond me. My primary point, to get back to what I really wanted to say, is that the baby would have gone with me. If we had just a few more minutes together, I know that toddler would have gotten over her initial fear of me, and come to me. That recognition scared the living daylights out of me. Parents, keep your children close to you. Don't let them roam around somewhere where you can't see them. This is how children get kidnapped. A simple, friendly gesture could actually mask a hideous monster out to get your baby. I salute every person who is a parent, as these are dangerous times. Those of you who can manage to raise a child to adulthood intact have my deep respect. Keep your children close. Just My Opinion.

Behavior That Drives Me Crazy

Men (usually) who come to work first thing in the morning with dirty fingernails. Did they have to plow a field before going to work? Did they wash up, and if they did, how did their hands get missed? Was soap used? This really baffles me. I always wonder if they have a wife or girlfriend. If he does, what is wrong with her? She should check her man's hands and look behind his ears every day before he is allowed to leave the house. Obviously, the man needs attention and a wash cloth. People who cut a line, then pretend they didn't realize they were cutting ahead of everyone else. This is why we have guard rails at places like Burger King, the bank, etc. to keep the unruly and rude people in check. People who sit on the outer seat on the bus. Then when you want to sit down, get all huffy that they have to get up to let me in. Why should I stand up, when they are taking up two seats? Scoot Over! People who get on the escalator, then try to walk up like they are stairs. They get upset at those who want to merely stand on the escalator and let it carry them upstairs. Hey, Buddy, if you want to walk up some stairs, stay off the escalators! People who shake hands like a limp tissue. You try to grip on, but there's nothing there but skin. If you're not paying attention to the hand shake, you could accidently break bones in the other person's fingers. 6. People who hate their jobs, work with the public, and take their negative attitude out on me drive me crazy. I’m just looking for some service, not your attitude. If you hate your job, get another one! Don’t just sit on your behind and make life miserable for everyone around you. Get a Better Life. But until you do, keep your bad attitude, your disrespectful tone of voice, and your eye-rolling to yourself, thank you.

What Does it Mean to Go Too Far?

I have just read “Addicted”, a book by the author Zane, a one of the First Ladies of Black Erotica. I have heard many comments and commentary’s regarding her work. The most revealing article yet is the one in the Boston Globe, September 7, 2004 edition of the Living/Arts section. Her personal life is probed and even revealed a little. Zane (a pseudonym) is a prolific writer, turning out eight books in the past four years. She is an extremely successful and well-received writer, adored by her loyal fans. Her books are bought without even knowing the subject matter. Yet, she has a reputation for writing ‘too nasty’, or 'raw'. What does that mean? In her case, it means sexually explicit writing, although I think she and I would both agree that it is not so much explicit as honest and real. Pornography in written form is far more graphic than what is contained in Zane’s writings. Her phenomenal success and sales tell the real story. Women are eager to read about sexual fantasies. To read about sexual activities in characters that become real for a reader, is worth the modest price of her books. She takes you away from the boring, routine, mundane world you live in, and allows you to become engrossed in another exciting, suspenseful, sex-filled, yet safe, one. Living a care-free life of sex without thought does have its consequences, but it doesn’t stop you from enjoying the ride just the same. Zane’s book ‘Addicted’ is not as raw as I imagined it would be, nor from what I was told. Still, it hit the spot for me, and I recommend it.