Touched!
May 21, 2009
iPod Touch
I am almost two years late with this purchase but about two weeks ago I went to my local Apple store and bought the popular gizmo that comes along with those ubiquitous white headphones. Yes, the iPod Touch!
I love love love this amazing four ounce device and more particularly what it can do. Designed by Apple in California and assembled in China, (as inscribed at back) I am finding that I have to grudgingly peel myself away from it on many an occasion.
As I rebuild my once lost music library, Michael W. Smith, LadyGaga, Green Day, U2 and Daughtry are quickly becoming my most listened to musical artists. On a side note, get the new Michael W. Smith album; Deluxe Edition.
On another note, the seasonal fitness buff in me particularly like the Application known as ‘Spinning’ which among other things track the amount of Calories I burn in my almost daily Reaction Cycling class.
Ok, I need to cut this short and get back to work, so I have to summarize this this way: Get one!
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Vanessa Vanessa Vanessa Williams!
May 15, 2009
Vanessa Williams performing at the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City, NJ at her May 9 show.
Last Saturday (part yearly tradition) my best friend and I went to see singer and actress Vanessa Williams at the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. As in times past, her performance was stella.
It was especially thrilling because we sat just two rows from the stage as she belted out familiar tunes including ‘Colors of the Wind’, ‘Oh how the years go by’ and many others from her soon to be released album ‘The Real Thing’ in stores June 02, 2009.
Below is a video I recorded at the concert. Click here for pictures from the show.
Akhenaton,
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
The Civil War
May 15, 2009
The Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC before the presentation of 'The Civil War'
A couple weeks ago, at the invitation of a friend from my faith community, I went to the Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC to see The Civil War. This Tony-nominated musical directed by Jeff Calhoun, I have to say, was quite entertaining.
The performance, according to the information booklet attempted to “put a human face on (this) American tragedy”, telling the stories of Confederate and Union Soldiers, slaves and abolitionists. The director and his cast did a good job at this, drawing from many musical genres including, but not limited to gospel, country, blues and rock.
It would be remiss of me to not mention the ‘religious’ experience of this performance. Many a time, with the many rousing gospel renditions, I felt like I was in Sunday Morning ‘Black church’. I’m pretty sure that a few in the appreciative audience caught the spirit. Well, maybe not. But, the gospel music was well done. Well done.
Now ‘The Civil War’ would not take the prize for substance, but I’d give it a ‘B plus’ for entertainment value. It is certainly worth the stop if you happen to be the Washington, DC area up until May 24, the last showing. Tickets can be found on the Ford’s Theater web site at www.fordstheatre.org
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Appreciating life’s journey through Cards
May 7, 2009
A few years of my life's journey are summed up in these Greeting Cards
While doing some Spring Cleaning today, I stumbled upon a stack of Greeting Cards I had been collecting from years past. There were cards for almost every season and occasion.
Later, I sat on my bedroom floor and pored over those cards, reading the notes written therein; some hilarious, others flattering, many sentimental. This took me about an hour. Each card was special in their own way; unique by color, shape and size, each person who sent them to me were also unique in their own way.
As I reflected on how these people impacted my life, I remember the saying that we so often get caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet on the way.
I was so glad to have stumbled upon those cards. Tonight I felt a better appreciation for the journey that God has blessed me with.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Two Red light Pictures and Stories
May 6, 2009
Street Sign for First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville, MD
Thanks to the red light, I was able to catch a glimpse of and take a picture of the sign for my neighborhood United Methodist Church. Just in case you cannot read the caption, it says “God is never in a hurry, HER timing is always perfect”. Yes, “her” timing. Now my personal belief is that God is gender neutral. Does that make me a (United) Methodist?
Street Preacher?
Thanks to the red light, I was able to (finally) take a photo of this guy. He can be seen walking up and down the Maryland side of Pennsylvania Avenue with Bible and other Christian paraphernalia in hand every day. Usually he has his middle finger up, pointed at and cursing at motorists. As you can see, he was happy to pose for my picture. Must have been a good day.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
The past couple weeks by numbers (and pictures)
May 5, 2009
Baby Rene's hand in mine
3
Time flies quickly when you’re having fun; doesn’t it? Well, that’s if all you do is eat, sleep, cry and poop. That’s my three month old baby cousin. I’ve been spending a lot of time with her lately. She is incredibly adorable. Incredibly so! Well, except when she poops. I have not, neither do I ever intend to clean her poop. I do not clean poop. Period. Period.
My feet in the water
2
How many feet are needed to go on a relaxing stroll on the beach? Two. A couple weeks ago, after church, I went to Sandy Point Beach Resort near Annapolis, Maryand. I was reminded then and there how being around water is so therapeutic. I had dinner the next day with a good friend on the waterfront in Washington, DC.
Miles...
487
487. That’s the number of miles I drove last weekend, that is running to and from church, meetings, errands and hanging out with friends and family. I love driving; driving when there’s little vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic and when the slow pokes are not in my left lane (yes, MY left lane).
Now in Lizard Heaven
2
Two. That’s how many days it took for that stinky reptile I found in my office 7 days ago to die. What did I use? Bug Spray! Who knew?! Now I feel a little bad. Note to PETA: I made several attempts to get him to voluntarily leave the office. And Animal Control did not show up. What’s a guy to do?
Reaction Cycling
550
550. That’s an average of how many Calories I burn during a 45 minute Reaction Cycling Class. I take Reaction Cycling four times a week. Love it! My legs hate it.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Unwelcomed visitor
April 27, 2009
The lizard (or whatever it is) that greeted me this morning.
Here’s a picture of what greeted me when I walked into my office today. Of course I did the manly thing and called Animal Control. Well, that is after a friend suggested that it might be poisonous. Poisonous or not, I DO NOT mess with any creature that creeps, shrieks or crawls.
UPDATE: Animal Control never showed up.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Recycle!
April 27, 2009
656 lbs of Paper loaded and ready to go
The 90 degree temperature today was incentive enough for me to do my part to help thwart Global Warming. Today I took 656 pounds of paper from my office to a local Recycling Mill. That is in lieu of the regular trash receptacle.
It is estimated that using recycled material to make paper products saves between 40 and 60 percent of the energy that it takes to create paper products from raw material.
The recycling of 1 ton of paper material will save about 3 cubic meters of landfill space.
This is about the size of a common bathroom or utility room at 8 foot long by 8 foot wide with 8 foot ceilings.
The United States EPA has found that using recycled materials in paper production causes 35 percent less water pollution and 74 percent less air pollution; however it does produce a polluting by-product called sludge.
Paper usage and waste is seen in massive amounts in the business world with American businesses generating enough paper to circle the globe 40 times every day.
Destination- World Recycling in Cheverly, MD
You can take the initiative to help reduce this waste by recycling and reducing your usage of paper products by using used scrap paper for notes, bringing a washable cup for your coffee and using cloth towels for clean ups instead of paper towels.
Source: environment-green.com
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Virginia Tech- two years later…
April 16, 2009
Today marks the two year anniversary of the Virginia Tech Massacre. On the 17th, the day after that tragedy, Poet and Activist Nikki Giovanni delivered a soul-stirring speech that offered hope and consolation at a time when it was sorely needed.
Her speech centered on prevailing in the aftermath of the April 16th tragedy, while touching on recurrent worldwide tragedies like children dying of AIDS (among other things). Read my account of the Virgia Tech Tragedy and Giovanni’s speech here
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Not a book review
March 16, 2009
I have to be honest; Christian Fiction or Christian Literature for that matter hardly finds it’s way to the top of my ‘have-to-read’ book list. I caved in, however, at the insistence of a fellow sports enthusiast (Go Wizards!) that ‘The Shack’ by William P. Young was an awesome book.
I concur; it was! BUT.
Little did I know, it was fate that lead me to reading ‘the Shack’. A few weeks after picking the book up at my local bookstore a cold January afternoon, I received a call that my best friend died in a vehicular accident. I was devastated.
At the risk of giving away the story of ‘the Shack’, the author told the story of the tragic loss of a daughter who’s father, because of this tragedy struggled to reconcile his relationship with God, or rather, who he thought God was. Understandingly, there was a profound sadness in his heart and like me, he was angry with God.
I would not delve further into the book because I’d rather that you read it yourself, but I would go as far as to say that it is a great read if circumstances in your life have created a rift in your relationship with God.
For me, it has helped, or rather, it is helping me put into perspective the tragic loss of my best friend, something that is difficult to do, but something that I am successfully doing. It is also helping me see God’s love and grace in this tragedy.
Sometimes I think about how the act of reluctantly picking up that book that cold winter afternoon was part of or the start of a journey that included my own tragedy, a shocking loss. Shocking was the loss, but more shocking perhaps was that I would have been able to so profoundly relate to the main character of ‘The Shack’. God set things in place, knowing that I needed that book, weeks before my own tragedy.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Visting the Vegetable Section
March 9, 2009
Today I took my uncle grocery-shopping. We spent a lot of time (25 minutes!) in the ‘vegetable section’ of the Supermarket. I cannot recount the last time I’ve been to the ‘Vegetable Section’; I personally think most vegetables (97%) are disgusting.
Grocery shopping for me typically involves going to the Health food section where I’d pick up (among other things) ‘healthy’ frozen dinners, granola bars, Green Tea and water.
Life as a bachelor rocks!
Remarks at Lisa Francois’ Funeral
February 20, 2009
Full (unedited) text of my remarks at Lisa Francois’ Funeral Service February 20, 2009.
Like a Comet blazing ‘Cross the evening sky she was gone Too Soon. Like a rainbow fading in the twinkling of an eye; she was gone too soon. Shiny and sparkly and splendidly bright; here one day, gone one night.
Like the loss of sunlight on a cloudy afternoon; she was gone too soon. Like a perfect flower that is just beyond your reach; gone
too soon.
Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight; here one day, gone one night. Like a sunset dying with the rising of the moon, gone too soon.
Funeral Service for Lisa Francois at New Life Adventist Church in Brooklyn, NY
And many a time, I’ve asked God why so soon? Why now, why then, why that way? Why Lisa? Why would He take away my best friend of over eight years? The person who mother, Marie Jeffers considered to be her second daughter of over 12 years. The person that took care of my little brother when my parents traveled.
She had such a such a promising future; such bright eyes, (PAUSE) that bright smile, very simple. She was also very competitive, I remember her teasing me for going on roller coasters that I wouldn’t dare go onto. She gave great advice, but more importantly, she was a great listener. And I keep asking God, why did you take her away?
But while, while the answer to that question remains elusive, even now while my spirit is broken; through all the sadness that has swept over me, there is a deep rooted sense of hope in my heart.
I feel a deep sense hope for all who have been touched by the virtuous life that Lisa Francois lived. I see hope for her family and friends and everyone gathered here to celebrate her life because if only we were to emulate just a few, just a few of her qualities, we would help make this world a better place.
While the road is tough right now, even while we may never understand why she was taken away from us so suddenly, I know for certain, I know for certain that we will be okay. We will be okay because even though right now our spirits may be broken, we are resilient.
We will be okay because we have HOPE that we will see her again one day . We will be okay because we will get through this valley together.
More importantly, we will be okay mostly because the same faith that Lisa held on to; that mercy seat where Lisa Francois found hope, comfort and solace, it is available to us- this very moment.
May she rest in peace, but moreover, may WE find peace in this storm.
Click here for photos
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Opening remarks ‘Gone too soon’ adapted from Michael Jackson’s song ‘Gone too soon’ 1991
Eerie message on my Starbucks cup
February 20, 2009
I seldom read the messages on my regular (Starbucks) cups of Green Tea, but the message on the cup I just picked up at the Starbucks Cafe on my way home from my best friend’s funeral most definitely stood out. Here’s what it said.
The way we get to live forever is
through memories stored in the
hearts and souls of those whose
lives we touch. That’s our soul
print. It’s our comfort, our
emotional nourishment at the end
of the day and the end of a life.
How wonderful that they are called
up at will and savored randomly.
It seems to me we should spend our
lives in a conscious state of
creating these meaningful moments
that live on. Memories matter.
~Leeza Gibbons
(Television and radio personality)
Overcoming Temptation
February 15, 2009
Presented by Pastor Ann Roda of New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fulton, MD.
