#1 - what in the world was I eating that has the quotation mark button not working
#2 - this is a random thought entry

Anyway, I was browsing around and I saw this quote by Talib Kweli on okayplayer.com -

I am growing and changing every day, and this business is like the wild wild west right now. There are no rules, and the ones who are successful are making up their own rules. My journey has taken me to dizzying heights and pitiful lows. Just wanted to share where I'm at now.

So what do ya'll think about Talib's quote? (makes me think of the Ralph Emerson (?) quote where he talks about go where there is no path and leave a trail.

I underlined the part that stood out to me the most. I was at birthday party this weekend, and there was a comment made by someone that the Philly scene was dead...then someone else said that its happening all over and that in Chicago the poets and artists have started doing plays. Mystery dinner plays where the audience has to guess who did what (like the game CLUE). I thought that was creative and different and hope to get up there to check them out (happen on weekends).

I finally got things situated with my transportation, so I will be getting back out and being able to hit up ALL the spots and not have to leave early ...starting next week. Feel like a bear coming out of hibernation...only they come out in the spring. I plan to watch a lot and be nurtured and then get back on the mic with some new stuff.

...recently I was feeling like I needed to be mentally challenged. I felt like the routine was making me dull in the head and not being intellectually challenging...things around me, conversations and tasks didnt seem to require enough thinking...Felt like cobwebs were growing on my brain ya'll (don't laugh, lol). So I pulled out some old math books from school, and I started re-reading Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison...(I really want to play chess but will have to find a playmate...so this book, Invisible Man is the closest my mind will get to playing chess until then).

I didn't start doing any math yet...(just kind of looked at the books, lol), but I will this week if this feeling continues.

I'm not sure if its a restlessness or something else...All I know is I need to be doing and thinking more. I started working on the layout and website for the Februry 09 issue (that is the re-launch). I noticed that was a big help too and getting my mind challenged again...I guess that hiatus has definitely run its course...thats good news.




I was wondering, if you are an artist or poet reading this...how often do you create new material? Has your motivation changed over the past 2 to 3 years?

I find it strange that metropolitan cities expeirence the same changes at the same time? I even see it on the mainstream level.

The main lesson for me though...is that no matter what is or aint, keep looking forward and create the things you want to see if you don't see them.

Looking forward to re-connecting

Playing chess on the computer can be good if you can't find a partner...

a couple of things:

1. on talib's quote: i agree with him, but i think that's true in any profession. in order to be successful you have to be willing to: a) think outside the box, b) take risks, and c) keep moving forward despite set backs.

2. on the philly scene: i think that it has been dead. there's hardly any diversity in thought and i can see why poets from other areas classify philly poets the way that they do. i think it's dead for a number of reasons, but i was happy to hear a friend in a rock band say that philly is not a nuturing place for musicians either. at least it's not just poets that aren't feeling the brotherly love. the one bright spot on the philly scene (for me) are the youth poets. i think that it's nice that poets are branching out and doing other things outside of poetry and music. not only does it open them up to a brand new audience, but it provides another means of expression.

3. on writing...i haven't written a thing in years. i have ideas and a list of topics that i want to write about, but the day-to-day stress of work and trying to do everything at home, is taking a toll on my mind. for me, it all boils down to energy. at the boys and girls club, i invested so much emotional energy on those kids, that i didn't have anything left over for my own kids and my own self. now at my current job, i give so much of my mind solving other's problems, difusing situations, and playing mediator that by the end of the day i just want to sleep. it's getting so bad that my friends commented that i no longer correct grammar mistakes and i mixup my homonyms. . i'm going to start reading again to keep my mind sharp. especially now b/c i tend to hibernate in the winter. i'm also thinking of cutting my cable off for a little while again. as long as i have the internet I won't need the news.