What a week!

Last week was a tough one. I learned on Monday that a good friend of mine for over 25 years was killed a few years ago. I was online trying to track him down and came across his sister's Senior thesis at Yale University. I found an email address for her and communicated, and she told me that he had passed. Malik Gibson and I were friends since the 4th grade in a suburb of Cincinnati and we had kept in touch over the years even though he and his mom left during the 5th grade. I last spoke to Malik in late 2003 after the birth of my son and we laughed and joke at how we are getting old now. I had planned on visiting Malik in Denver in '04, but as usual, life just kept getting more and more hectic and I was unable to see him. Malik's sister stated that he died in early '05 and I immediately thought about the birth of my daughter who was born in February of '05. Why was I too busy to go and see a friend? An America West plane ticket would not have put me in the poor house and my wife would've given me a weekend pass to visit a friend.
I visited friends in Indianapolis this past weekend and it really cemented the notion of how important it is to keep your really close friends close. Work, bills, stress and life. Take a break and remember what is important. R.I.P Malik Gibson!

Welcome Back Spring!

I love the beginning of Spring. The sun gives off a lot of energy and you feel fresh from the cold months of winter(even though here in Baltimore, MD we had no winter this year). I rode everyday this week taking and picking the kids up from school in the bike trailer. It's interesting that people still look at you riding a bike like you came from outer space, but will look at a crack-head like he/she is normal. I am heading out now to take the kids to the park. Happy Earth Day!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The sunshine was out today and the ride around town was perfect. I rode my single speed with the bull bars and gave the mountain bike a rest today. A brother is still unemployed(but sending out resumes like crazy), but the job market is crazy slow at the moment so it kind of sucks, but I give mad love to my wife for holding everything down while I am in transition(I love you Chandie!) Anyway, enough bitching, I just have some questions like why are people still buying SUV's? Why are students beating up teachers(Three HS teachers were beaten up in Baltimore City High Schools last week, see wjz.com), why are teenage mothers giving their babies soda in a baby bottle? Why does the radio suck? Why do black men over the age of 30 wear cornrows and do not own a suit or sports coat? Why is the tint on your car so dark? What the fuck are you hiding? Why does a large chain grocery store like Giant in Baltimore have a bag check(where the majority of the shoppers are black) and not one at any of the other local stores? While watching YO MTV raps 20th year anniversary celebration, why do all of the videos from the late 80's and early 90's look G-rated compared to what kids watch now? Why did Memphis choke last week in the men's national title game? How does Skip Bayless keep his job on ESPN? How did Isaiah Thomas keep his job this long with the Knicks? Why doesn't football season hurry up and get here? Why are people putting so much stock into this election? The US is all about BIG BUSINESS! Democracy these NUTS! The picture is large, get in where you can. I am off to pick up the kids from school!