Here are The Rules: You have to come up with twelve thoughts and one picture (totaling 13) to describe your weekend. Try using quotes, events, links to blog entries and websites, etc.

Romance is mush
Stifling those who strive
I'll live a lush life
In some small dive
And there I'll be
While I rot with the rest
Of those whose lives are lonely, too . . .

-- John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
"Lush Life" (taken from John Coltrane's "ballads" album, John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman)

01. My one-year relationship (or "friendship") with a woman was terminated last week. Nearly a week before Christmas, she decided to discard me for another nigga personal reasons.
02. Apparently, I don't know how to "sustain" her.
03. So with that, does anyone know how to mend a broken heart during the holiday season?
04. And since I can't "sustain" a woman, I'm going to focus on two things that have sustained me in my life -- music and money.
05. So my motto for 2005: "Fuck love, let's get this money."
06. Yes, I'm upset and saddened by all of this.
07. John Coltrane's "ballads" album is my salvation right now. Thank you, John. Please save my soul. (Favorite song: "Lush Life")
08. Meanwhile, my twin brother recently revealed to me that he has a new girlfriend. I'm glad at least one of us is going to have a merry Christmas.
09. My anticipated post of the "Top 10 Albums of 2004" will be a little late while I'll try to get my mind right.
10. In the meantime, please check out Bol's protest against Kanye West. His Mindset Army wants to ban the acclaimed beatmaker from the upcoming Grammy Awards because they feel he is a douche bag. Like Jay Smooth says, it's great media satire.
-- And while I support Kanye and his endeavors -- despite his character flaws -- I have to give props to Bol for his determination. Bol is the real deal, y'all. I'm not mad at cha.
11. Well, my Christmas shopping is almost done.
12. And I wish everyone a Happy Kwanzhannakamas!

Peace and God bless.
Cherish the one you love.

Holla!

Where has my love gone?
How can I go on?
It seems dear love has gone away.

Where is my spirit?
I’m nowhere near it,
Oh yes, my love has gone astray.

But I'll blame it on the sun,
The sun that didn’t shine,
I'll blame it on the wind and the trees.

I'll blame it on the time that never was enough,
I'll blame it on the tide and the sea . .

But, my heart blames it on me.

Who poured the love out?
What made this bitter doubt?
Is peace not here for me to see?

Wish I could tell you,
But, words won't come for me to speak.

But I'll blame it on the sun,
That didn't fill the sky,
I'll blame it on the birds and the trees.

I'll blame it on the day that ended once too soon,
I'll blame it on the nights that could not be,

But, my heart blames it on me.

-- Stevie Wonder
"Blame It On the Sun" (taken from his soul masterpiece, Talking Book)

Holla!

I love my 20G iPod so damn much, I'ma hit y'all off with another "mix it up" blast. This is a special "Mix It Up" because the songs selected below were the actual song-by-song selections in my iPod after I turned on the player and instantly pressed "shuffle songs." After an hour of head-nodding, I said to myself, 'Damn, I have good taste in music.' I had to break y'all off. These song are playing in my iPod, like, right now. I mean . . . RIGHT NOW!

01. k-os : The Love Songs
02. John Legend : Ordinary People
03. Lalah Hathaway : Admit It
04. Mario : Let Me Love You
05. Snoop Dogg (Lil Jon & Trina) : Step Yo Game Up
06. Lloyd Banks : Karma (Remix)
07. Destiny's Child : T-Shirt
08. Gang Starr : Take Two and Pass
09. The Foreign Exchange : Downtime (Remix) (Feat. Phonte of Little Brother)
10. Leela James : Rain
11. Fabolous (Feat. Mike Shorey) : Baby
12. Leela James : Mistreating Me
13. Allen Anthony : Lady Baby
14. Nas (& Keon Bryce) : War
15. Copywrite : Size 12's (from an advance copy of indie rapper Copywrite's upcoming CD Cruise Control due in stores in Jan. 2005)

** Added Bonus: Play What's That Song?

P.S.: For all you iPod heads out there, blogger largehearted boy recommends the iPod Fan Book to help music lovers utilize the full potential of their iPods.

P.S.S.: My "Best Albums of 2004" list will be up near or around the Christmas holiday weekend.

Holla!

Here are The Rules: You have to come up with twelve thoughts and one picture (totaling 13) to describe your weekend. Try using quotes, events, links to blog entries and websites, etc

01. What women really want: Sex. (work safe)
-- This reminds me of that old Ray Parker Jr. lyric, "A woman needs love . . . just like you do."
02. I was on a much-needed weeklong vacation last week from the J-O-B.
03. Santa Clause must be listening to Snoop Dogg's new CD: He's smacking bitches women with 2x4s.
04. I'm still compiling my year-end "Best of" Album List.
-- It's coming! It's coming!
05. Two family members are getting iPod this Christmas.
06. Blogs I'm reading: Todd Kelly, A Bitter Review and Tofu Hut. Link them up!
07. The greatest bachelor food in the world: Birds Eye Voila! Teriyaki Chicken.
08. I miss 2Pac. But every time I try to miss him he comes out with a new CD.
09. Next weekend's DVD matinee double feature: Collateral and I, Robot. Oh, Yeah!
10. Jigga is Def Jam's new President. Cam'ron already jumped ship. (Damn, homie?!).
11. "Oh, I'll get it next Saturday." -- My procrastinating ass telling my brother that I'll get a Christmas tree next weekend. Yes, I'm waiting till the last minute to get a tree. What??!
12. I hate Mondays. I need to go on vacation.

Holla!

I copped this meme from KB, Honey Soul and EJ.

Below are three things (x20) about me. Play along if you like on your own blogs:

Three names you go by:

1. Trent

2. Big Man

3. Asshole (I hear this word once or twice yelled at me in any given week.)

Three screennames you have:

1. TF

2. N/A

3. N/A

Three things you like about yourself:

1. My creativity

2. My mean attitude

3. My sense of humor

Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:

1. My short pockets

2. My obsessive need to have everything be so perfect.

3. My stubborness

Three parts of your heritage:

1. African

2. Jewish (I'm the proud owner of three Barry Manilow albums -- there must be some Jew inside of me somewhere. -- just kidding)

3. Irish

Three things that scare you:

1. Being broke

2. Unemployment

3. Spiders

Three of your everyday essentials:

1. My pad and pen

2. My iPod

3. My breath mints

Three things you are wearing right now:

1. A button Up w/ high-end denim jeans

2. New Timberland boots

3. A dope thermal skully cap

Three of your favorite bands/artists (at the moment):

1. Earth, Wind & Fire

2. The Roots

3. John Legend

Three of your favorite songs at present:

1. "Potion" by Ludacris

2. "Donkey" by Federation

3. "Ordinary People" by John Legend

Three new things you want to try in the next 12 months:

1. Actually, save money and invest in some stocks

2. Travel outside of the United States

3. To find an editorial gig with a major magazine

Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):

1. Trust/Honesty

2. Commitment

3. Growth

Two truths and a lie:

1. I love Hip-Hop

2. I have a twin brother (who is not a journalist)

3. I'm a millioniare

Three physical things about the opposite sex (or same) that appeal to you:

1. Lips

2. Legs

3. A nice, round, rotisserie "donkey" (aka "the boo-tay")

Three things you just can't do:

1. Give birth

2. Rap

3. Kill someone (although I have come close on several occasions)

Three of your favorite hobbies:

1. Making Mix CDs

2. Blogging

3. Listening to music

Three things you want to do really badly right now:

1. Fuck

2. Eat

3. Sleep

Three Four careers you're considering:

1. Senior Editor

2. A&R Assistant

3. Lottery winner (without the bad luck)

4. CFO

Three places you want to go on vacation:

1. Hawaii

2. Japan

3. Africa

Three kids names:

1. Lil Man

2. Shortie

3. Baby Girl

Three things you want to do before you die:

1. Get Filthy Rich

2. Have children (Hopefully . . . in the future )

3. Own and run my own production company

Three people who have to take this quiz now or die painfully look like a loser:

1. You

2. Angelique

3. Lynne (She's too much of an intellectual to do a meme like this. )

Holla!