Morphological Confetti

Good morning! It's been a really interesting weekend and I'm still not back from it. I was supposed to go to work on Tuesday, but that didn't happen. It's now Wednesday and I'm still not back. Well, the reason for this is because I've been sick for the past two days. I caught a cold and I haven't been able to shake it as quickly as I thought I could. I got up on Tuesday morning with every intention to go to work and my wife looked at me and said, "Are you crazy, Bess? Look at you! You're sick man!" **smile**So, I got back into bed. I did the same thing this morning and she just looked at me and gave an emphatic "NO!" So, I got back into bed, but I got right back up after she closed our front door. Anyway, I just wanted to peek in to say hello. I miss my friends here. I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week! The weather is scorching here in this swamp called DC. It's supposed to mellow out by the weekend. Well, peace to you...

Good morning! On my way to the subway station yesterday I was talking to a young lady that I work with about the diversity here in DC. We soon got on the subject of Immigration and the apparent fear that some people in this country have of immigrants (especially immigrants of color…black, Latino, etc.). This conversation only lasted for our ten-minute walk to the subway station, but in that time we both agreed that this country has not yet seen it’s true identity. What will an American look like in 50 years? What changes will we see in language and culture? These are legitimate questions because America is in an adolescent stage of existence in comparison to Africa, Asia or Europe. America gained independence in 1776. That makes us approximately 230 years old as a nation. That is fairly young for a country. It is my hope that the constant blending of languages and cultures will soon force this country to shed it’s separatist attitudes and eventually embrace diversity. I know that this...

Oprah recently honored a weekend of legends. Where was Lena Horne? I know that she is now in her 80's, but I wonder how she's doing? Update 5/11/10:   Lena Horne passed away at the age of 92 on Sunday, May 9, 2010. Now, everyone is honoring her life.  Photo source:   freewebs.com

Happy Birthday ratu!! I thank God for you. This is just a little something that I picked up on my way to work this morning. **smile** Enjoy your day. Ke ya o rata!

(99.9% of this is from a previous post dated: Thursday, May 19, 2005. I had only been on blogger for a month. There were no comments. *smile*) Quote: "Look at yourselves. Some of you teenagers, students. How do you think I feel and I belong to a generation ahead of you - how do you think I feel to have to tell you, 'We, my generation, sat around like a knot on a wall while the whole world was fighting for its human rights - and you've got to be born into a society where you still have that same fight.' What did we do, who preceded you ? I'll tell you what we did. Nothing. And don't you make the same mistake we made...." (Malcolm X 1925-1965) I wanted to dedicate my blog today to one of the greatest figures in American history. I was not always an admirer of Malcolm X. I was in elementary school when I first learned of him and the Nation Of Islam. I didn't like them. They seemed to be filled with hate and my young mind could not understand why? living ...

Photograph of an alley way next to The Casbah (now closed). The Casbah was club on U street here in DC during the 1950's.

I hung out at the Mocha Hut Saturday afternoon on U street here in DC. This place is really cool. It has great atmosphere, comfortable seating, gracious host and a delicious breakfast menu that includes delectable snacks! I had a really good breakfast/brunch while I was there. I went there to meet my cousin and his friend who were engaged in a friendly game of Chess when I arrived. Well, I thought it was friendly until the young lady would get frustrated with the game and knock over the pieces. LOL! :) She did this about 5 times as I sat there eating. I would just laugh everytime and she would give me that one trembling evil eye. **grin** She was a sweetheart afterwards and we talked a little before I went out to do a little exploration. It was a nice day and I got a lot of good shots in and around the neighborhood. I'll have to share some more with you soon. Your move

"Out of body" experiences (OBEs) are personal experiences during which people feel as if they are perceiving the physical world from a location outside of their physical bodies. At least 5 and perhaps as many as 35 of every 100 people have had an OBE at least once in their lives" (Blackmore, 1982). Good afternoon. First, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the world. I enjoyed the time spent with my mother yesterday. I wanted to share a photograph that I took not long ago. This is actually a picture of my cousin looking in the direction of someone that resembles him from the neck up. :) It's as if he is observing himself. What if you could oberserve yourself? Do you think that you would want to make changes about yourself based on your observation? Perhaps, you would be amazed at how wonderful you really are? What do you think?

"How much time must one take to know what one feels?" Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965) was an American playwright and painter, whose A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1959) was the first drama by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. I find it incredible that her legacy has surpassed her time here on Earth by many years. I wasn't able to find this quote anywhere online? I had to look for it in the book, but it is the one line that stuck with me the most. By the way, have a great weekend! Photo source:  http://www.faculty.roosevelt.edu/

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen -(Hebrews 11:1) It is a rainy day here in D.C. Work is slow and I am thinking about what I want for lunch. I have the radio playing quietly at my desk. Al Green is singing about love & happiness. I glanced out the window to see if the rain was still coming down and fell into a gaze. In that moment of gaze James Baldwin crossed my mind? Well, hello Mr. Baldwin...sir.

© Stephen Bess 2006 I just have a taste for some Red Stripe. This is a picture of the now recycled bottle that I had last Saturday. My wife calls her my Jamaican girlfriend. I love this beer, but I only drink it once in a while. Don't worry, If I do have one there will be a designated driver. I don't drink and drive....anymore (can't lie). Have a great weekend! Peace~

“Yo, I had a Queen named Amina, height 5'7" Caramel-complected, body like heaven. Met her through the sister of my man Big Vince...Like some shit from out the flicks we been in love ever since.” (Roots, Do You Want More?!!!??!-1995) …The hostess smiled as if she knew what my intentions were. I smiled back at her to confirm her thoughts. As I walked towards the table I thought only of her. She is my ideal, Amina. Amina is a natural beauty. She’s a soul stirrer and a muse for men with poetic potential. Just like Black Thought I raised her high and hoped that she would give me the time of day and she obliged. Her hair… Amina’s hair reminded me of a Minnie Riperton album cover from back in the day. It was all natural…just juices and berries. She’s my perfect angel with natural curly kinks that drape over her chocolate glazed face and large brown eyes. Her lips, the lips that I longed to kiss appeared full and soft. They were beautifully formed and slightly glossed as she smi...

A friend of mine is working on a book and she wanted a male perspective. Below is her request and what I was able to come up with initially. I just have to come up with my description for her. The character names are Saint and Amina Stephen: AT YOUR CONVIENENCE, would you please be Saint, and describe from the moment you pull up to the restaurant, until you are actually seated next to Amina. By the way, you’re startled because of how naturally beautiful she is, and the vibe you both share during the initial eye contact. Thanks!! The moment that I walked through the door our souls connected. It was like seeing Amina for the first time. I knew from that very moment that I desired her. I don’t mean that in a sexual way, but a spiritual form of possession or maybe I wanted her to possess me. I stood at the door for a moment as we both locked eyes. We were smiling at each other as if we both had good news to tell. “Can I help you sir?” The host at the door asked as I stood there watching Am...

© Stephen Bess 2006 Saturday night in D.C. on U street. I saw this poster and decided at that point that I wanted to attend. © Stephen Bess 2006 Dinner at Busboy's and thoughts about a headwrap. © Stephen Bess 2006 The beginning of the rally sometime around noon on Sunday. © Stephen Bess 2006 The rally is picking up in momentum. There is a growing excitement in the crowd. © Stephen Bess 2006 Support button. Get yours!

This is the end of a great weekend hanging out with my younger brother, Thomas. We started on Thursday night and went full speed ahead until Sunday morning! Well, there was a break on Friday night. We stayed at home so that he can spend some time with the rest of the family. On Saturday we mostly played around the U St. corridor and 14th St. We hit the Mocha Hut and Cafe Nema. Our cousin, G Bess lives close by so we hung out a little at his place indulging in music and a few drinks. Overall, it was a great weekend. I haven't run that hard in a long time. Thanks bro, I had a great time! I love you man! I dropped Thomas off at the airport around 8 am, went home and decided that I was going to attend the Save Darfur rally on the National Mall. It was really inspiring. For me, the highlight of the day is when a small group of Africans (They seem to be from the Darfur Region?) led a rallying chant through the crowd. I smiled and cheered them on wishing that I could join in. I didn...