The10Spot: While You Were Here

Happy Saturday! I hope that everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and that you all got your fill of turkey, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and collard greens!

Let’s do this, shall we?

10 – Black Friday

In a time long since past, I was one of those folks who set the alarm and woke up to be at the Walmart or the Best Buy before the crack of dawn. My aunties and I would coordinate a schedule of stores that we would hit on Black Friday, and usually spent the entire day in the car, running from one store to the next. I admit, we got some great deals and have equipped our homes and gotten some wonderful toys for the children in our family by these early morning runs. The sheer tiredness that we would be overwhelmed with eventually won out, and we stopped these runs, deciding that our sanity was more important than saving 100 bucks on a television or DVD player.

So when I hear of stories like a Walmart worker getting stomped to death in Long Island, NY, and two people shot at a Toys ‘R Us in Palm Desert, CA, I am saddened. Saddened because it doesn’t have to be this. Saddened because commercialism and the allure of saving a buck on a plasma TV has overcome what the meaning of this holiday season truly means. And at that NY Walmart, the folks rushed in and trampled that man and kept shopping as he lay on the floor, dying. Is it really that serious? Where has our compassion gone? Where has the humanity disappeared to?

9 – Hell To The Naw!

There is a rumor going around that Whitney and Bobby have reunited. The rumor has even gone so far to say that the couple has been seen around Georgia “looking romantic.” What the hell does that mean? Did they have dinner together? Were they walking to the car and they hugged? Or maybe he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek as they departed company? I swear I hate the media… 

Whitney immediately put out a statement denying the rumors by way of her publicist, calling the speculation “a complete fabrication.” Well, at least that…

8 – Role Models

In an article on MSNBC.com, Barack and Michelle Obama are being painted as the new role models for relationships. I must admit that I look at them and smile, but I don’t want to put them in a bubble. I don’t want to call them perfect, because I think that would be an insult to them. They are a married couple who I’m sure have to work hard at sustaining their marriage just like everyone else. I’m sure they have had ups and downs and arguments just like everyone else. Of course, there is much to be said about their commitment to each other, and the affection and love that you can plainly see when the two are together (and for that matter, apart), and I admire that. It’s not a bad thing they are being labeled as relationship role models; but I think people have to have realistic views. Both Michelle and Barack were and are their own people who bring 100% to this relationship. You can look at them and want to have a love like that, but you have to take a look at yourself and work on you before you can get there.

7 – Plaxico, Plaxico, Plaxico

Plaxico Burress, of the New York Football Giants, accidentally shot himself in the leg while at a nightclub last night. Apparently he was trying to take the bullets out of the gun and shot himself in the thigh. This dude…

6 – When You Think Of Me

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on January 15, 2007 by spanishjoint

5 – Superior Scribbler Award

PJazzy gifted me with the Superior Scribbler Award…my thanks to you! I am supposed to pass it on…here are the rules:

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award. and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor am passing the Superior Scribbler Award to the following diverse five who have inspired me through their unique insights, providing me with a more diverse perspective. Y’all keep up the good work!
4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit This Post
5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

So I’m passing this one along to (and they may be repeats; I seem to travel in the same circles as everyone else):

Symphony @ Essential Presence – Because she has a pulse on all the good things that are happening in the world, even in this time of bad things happening.

Jack @ Jack’s Gay Chronicles – Because he is an amazing daddy.

Cynthia @ Love.Self.Entirely – Because she bares her soul and invites others into her world.

Viv @ Songs In The Key Of Life – Because she has excellent taste in music.

Manchild @ When Least Expected – Because he is my inspiration and a true blessing to me.

4 – Uber Amazing Blog Award

Wow, I’m raking ‘em in…hee hee! The Uber Amazing Blog Award I received from Mike…thank you! Here are the rules for this one:

The award is given to sites that:

• inspire you
• make you smile and laugh
• give amazing information
• are a great read
• have an amazing design
• and/or any other reason that makes them Uber Amazing!

So I’m giving this one to:

Invisible Woman @ Black Cinema At Large – Because she is my girl, and I always learn something new over at her spot.

Tha Connoisseur @ SoulAfrodisiac – Because she shares what is on her mind, and ends each post with a song that touches my spirit.

Sharon @ The True Urban Queen – Because she is perhaps the realest blogger I’ve ever read. 

3 – Jilly From Philly

Another rumor…this time, that Jill Scott is pregnant with her first child. Remember that she is engaged/married to the drummer in her band, Lil’ Jon Roberts? After reading several of the comments left on different articles reporting this, you would think that folks have a personal stake in what goes on in Ms. Jill’s life. Who are we to decide when is too soon for her to move on with her life and fall in love again? That is entirely up to her! I love Jill (“she is me, I am her”) but this is one area that I am not going to touch. I can only be happy for her and continue to support her artistry and music.

2 – CNN Heroes

I was up at midnight last night, watching the CNN special, CNN Heroes. There were some remarkable stories highlighted, about regular people who are doing extraordinary things. It just goes to show you that we all have a purpose in life and I think if we are called to serve, then we must act upon it. One of the people highlighted was Anne Mahlum. She started a program, “Back On My Feet” in Philadelphia where she takes homeless people running. But it is so much more than that. She used to spend her time running past the homeless folks but one morning stopped and decided to help them. The Back On My Feet program has a job training program and really is a support group for folks to motivate themselves to do better.

It is stories like this one that makes me realize that humanity, however small it may be, still lives inside of some people. How easy it is for us to walk past and ignore the less fortunate, but this young lady, by doing something that she was already doing, has changed people’s lives. That is highly commendable.

1 – While You Were Here

I’m on an Eric Benet kick…

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on May 27, 2008 by joebloggs242

Have an excellent night all!