WCP: Flying The Friendly Skies

Part One to The West Perspective Series:

Papa Red Bear’s gotta laugh at himself with this one! Sure do. LOL. Up until recently a few years ago, yours truly hadn’t foot on an airplane prior to 9/11/11. I never enjoyed flying and avoided it at all cost. Call me crazy, but I think it’s a control thang. Between getting caught up in the aerodynamics of what’s really holding that vessel aloft, incessant ear popping, uncomfortable seats, and obnoxious flight attendants, it was just too much.

Pilots are another entity all together. Please, let that person not be drunk, too tired, or just plain in a pissy mood, so s/he gets me safely to my destination. I rest my faith in your (hopefully!) capable hands. Combine all these factors and you have a passenger that sits quietly in his seat before and during flight. I only get up when time to disembark. Yeah, I know, “¡Vaya con Dios!” Still…

Anyhoo, since my first sojourn a few years ago, I’ve become a pro at traveling now. I have my crazy rituals, but I get by. Would you believe each flight I do my best to spot the Air Marshall? There’s comfort. Once I think I’ve ascertained the official, I ease back in my seat and enjoy the ride.

I’ll be the first person to admit I perpetually run on CP time. Again, laughing at myself, when I fly I tend to step out this tardiness and be as prompt as possible. Rest is almost out of the question. This last trip I was up until three hours before I had to get up to get ready to go to the airport. I don’t know anyone who’s fond of security at airports, but I want the experience over ASAP. When they first started doing the full body screening at my local airport, I said screw it. If I can go faster to the get to my boarding gate, y’all can have as much free peeps as needed. Just get me to the gate on time!

The last few times I flew to Cali, like Ms. Badu, I’ve chosen a window. Seeing the plane take off, watching the clouds around actually brings out the lil kid in me and I’ve learned to relax much more. Take off still grips by the short hair, by it's all good. That sudden lift off the ground makes me giddy and still nervous, but I’m cool with it now. I'm learning to live with the exhilaration or it all.

By far, United Airlines is my favorite carrier. I’ve gotten a tad spoiled because I think I addicted to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue while hearing the in the event of emergency instructions. However this last time I flew Continental which was a better experience! The seats were wider. I had more leg room. And I’ll be damned, I event enjoy the in-flight movie (they showed the Lincoln Lawyer starring Matthew McConaughey. Not bad).

I have to admit each time I fly into Los Angeles, I get a bit mystified. Seeing the sprawling expanse is still strange. I mean, yeah, we got big cities on the East Coast, but generally everything just looks like an urban jungle to me. La La Land seems surreal. Again, the impressionable child in me, still gets awestruck.

My boy Jay was waiting for me when I got to LAX this trip. After getting my eat-on, my only agenda was to get to the beach, which we did. We ended up in Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. Cool, though I still hadn't been to Long Beach and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I got there eventually, just not the day I landed.

After that we caught up with brother-in-blogging, Wonder Man, and hung out a bit. Some how every time I meet up with Wonder Man I always ended up on Rodeo Drive! LOL. Maybe it's that Louis Vuitton influence that he's a compelling spell over me. But Rodeo was a trip 'n a half. I longer feel like a tourist when I can laugh at other folks posin' and primpin' in front of the high-end shops.

Later, we left that scene to party at a BBQ at another friend’s house. That was some interesting shizz there and is worthy of it's own post.

Definitely a great start to a wonderful vacay….

In Joy and Hope,
-Ian

West Coast Perspective

Tomorrow will mark a week that I've been home from my trip to the West Coast. After taking some time to digest what happened, I'm ready to write up my review.

So much occurred, some good, some not-so good, but all a learning experience. I've decided to divide the post into several parts and write up an analysis of what I gained. Below are the main topics I wish to highlight:

• Fly The Friendly Skies!
• Friendship & Brotherhood
• Fathers & Sons
• The Cards Speak
• You're Opinion Of Me Is Not My Business
• Going & Coming Home

Knowing it takes me forever to get to point, I figured it'll be easier slicing up my thoughts into multiple posts. Overall, the trip was a success and I came home with a new attitude...

In Joy and Hope,
-Ian

Be Grateful For Something...

Greetings and Bienvenue! It's Hump day. This week has been amazingly busy at work and the heat has been more than uncomfortable, but I'm still making it. Life has been a bit quirky, but this morning I recounted my blessings and gave thanks where I could. I today I'll try not to let those nasty parts (anger, jealousy, envy, and fear) keep me from doing what needs to be done.

I keep reminding myself I only have two more weeks until vacation. Plus babes, I recently got a promotion at work, so I shouldn't complain. Especially when there are so many yet unemployed in this economy.

Mmm. Vacation. Well, sorta. It'll be a working vacation for the most part. Spending the majority of it at a conference for my part-time job with the financial firm. Again, I'm diving out of my element to better myself. There are days I ask myself What the hell did I get myself into!?!?! Me? I'm usually broke as a joke and I'm trying to teach someone about finances? Oh that's rich indeed! But then I realize most of us have to start from somewhere and event though I live pay check to pay check some months, I'm keeping myself on good ground.

I'm looking forward to time off. I'm staying absolutely focused on my goals. I feel good, encouraged, and well dammit... happy life is finally fallin' into the groove. I have to laugh at what's coming up. I never know what to expect when I head out West, but overall I think spending a few days at the beach will be just what the doctor ordered. Plus I'm hoping to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while...always good for fun or at least a lil brotherhood drama. Ha!

So my inspiration for today is to continue to believe in myself, even though there are moments I don't think I'll make it through.

"Oh yes you CAN!"
-Late

The Soul In My Purse

With permission from Jamal, here's a video he's released on his latest project "The Soul In My Purse." Please watch it. Brother Story is looking for a l'il help with financing the project, so I've included the link for those interested in donating. Hurry though! The site is only accepting contributions until June 24th!

...And Your Dirty Draws!

Hmm. So I wonder. Is this a question for Self?

OK, here's the deal. A few days ago I was textin' with a friend trying to crack his brain for ideas on blog posts. Writer's blog had set in and I wanted to do something humorous, refreshing, and interesting. The Axe, in Ian's humble opinion gets a bit dry most of time.

So my dear and cherished friend suggests I write about how much I miss him. Really???? (Catch-phrase of incredulity he ALWAYS seems to over emphasize...God Help me I'm doing it now!) Uh-huh. I text back him "Why?" His response?

"Because you love me and my dirty draws!"

Lord Jesus above! OK, let's examine this. Until I met my friend and his crew, I honestly never heard this expression. Never. Think about to long and it just seems bizarre. Oh understand the meaning behind it, but really?!?!

Maybe it's just me, but I just a tad put off by the expression. Even though it's become a part of my everyday lexicon in dealing with my l'il brother, yuck! Hahaha. Personally, I think this just reinforces my bruh's underwear fetish, but that's a whole 'nutha blog post entirely.... LOL. Of course I would never throw stones. I live in that same glass house.

Moral of the story? Yeah, my friend has been one of the best. Just the laundry detergent handy please cause I don't love you THAT much, dammit!

-Respectfully,
Big Little Bro

Fly Above Negativity

So what's crackin'? Praise the Heavens! I'm back on my laptop. For the past few days I've been using my Blackberry to write blog posts because I was too cheap to pay for wireless in my hotel room. For the remainder of my trip I'll be visiting with locals here in Vegas/LA so I can use their wi-fi service.

I really don't feel like leaving Tuesday, dammit. Why is it once I get to Pacific time its always time to return home???

So ole Ian been going through it the last few days. Feelin' a bit inadequate not only in the circle of his peers, but in the glory (or the lack their of) life. Something is missing, again. For awhile I thought I'd found it. I was riding momentum but now that's gone the empty space leaves me wanting. Sometimes it's hard when your less than stellar in a crowd of folk who fly. I haven't felt loved, which is strange here cause you're constantly surrounded by people. There's been several faux paxs, humiliation to the Nth degree. A friend, (actually, the gentleman in the picture to the left. Mama always said give credit where credit is due. Buy Jamal's book while you're at it! ) recommended owning the situation, then moving on. Old habits die hard. But I'm making the effort...

I could use a good shoulder to cry on, but I refuse. For once, maybe not once OK, I'm going to pull it together and try. Use all the tools and resources I know are at my disposal, attempt to make the best of what I have. Hey, for what he's worth, Pharaoh is across the room. He's jammin' out to some music, but he's always willin' to listen when I need his ear. His brotherly love is enough to tell my crazy ass the truth, unlike other people I often surround myself, so best align myself with the truth, the fabulous, and the Divine. Yes, I'm leaving, but I'll be back. This is my resolve. And when I'll be back, I'll be a stronger brutha...

Aftershocks

Yesterday was a real shitty day. Period. I don't want to rehash the details but it was a day just to try my patience and push me to my limits. This morning I've woken up with a knot in my stomach and a heavy, heavy heart. I need to deal with the residual but am not sure how to proceed without making the situation further complication. It's one of those deals where I need to best leave well enough alone, but know who I am, I can't or won't.

I'm going to sleep on things, write it out, then ceremonially burn it so I release it to the Universe to deal with. One thing is for sure, I learned a valuable lesson from one situation. Sometime when someone hurts you, hurts you bad enough, you just need to live with that pain awhile. I had a terrible argument with a friend that I'm mulling over yet this morning. Supposedly we kissed and made up, but my friend really said something hurtful and deep to central issues, I wanna pop them in the mouth for it! Of course, I can't say I'm entirely blameless because I might have antagonized the sitch to a degree. My intent was to make my friend laugh and instead they got frustrated and upset. Words were exchanged. Apologies exchanged. But the jabs and undercurrent still existed. Hm.

The sad thing about it is if I approach or say anything to my friend, it will change the nature of our friendship, which might not be a bad thing. At the same token, I enjoy the status quo. I need to think on this a little more before I proceed. The biggest question is this, God, when and why did I become so damn dramatic? LOL.

I'll deal with this.