new amsterDamn!!!!

you hear the train about 8 seconds before it rushes by, end to end silver gray cars, the squeaking breaks and bursts of air... flickers of faces inside a moving car blur by... silhouettes of graffiti barely visible and the cool darkness of the station below the concrete surface. The iron horse, galloping through the station, resting for moments only and then off again, express transit raising the blood pressure of the city. On schedule and round the clock, coursing through concrete and steel vessels and arteries... New York is an Organism. A microcosm of planet Earth, the stark diversity of the city allows me to stand next to cultural representatives from across the globe. Right here, right now...bunched on a sunday afternoon or at 4:45 am...

There is nothing like Harlem. The serene nostalgia of the Apollo Theater, the Soul Food spot on Malcolm X Blvd (owned by Asians), the Brownstones around 136th, near Columbia, and the popularity of Manhattan's sole IHOP. This place is exponentially urbana. I am just beginning to understand my love for her, Brooklyn. Bodegas 24-7, parties and booming peace and regulation in g-code. And the depths of hip hop culture and its uptown residents... like our first kiss... NY places a delicate one on my ego before politely asking me to fuck.

After our fist date?! Damn. And to think so many men, GREAT MEN, BEAUTIFUL SOULS, sistas, dancers, faces, bootys, brains, and talents. And she looked at me, long and slow... yeah, you could get it, NY...I'm f'n witcha vibe.

-delano

D ealing with it

Ya boy is doing his thing in school... 2 As in Statistics.... and Physics is being handled as well.

holla!

shawty yeah!

I was called back for a second interview with this great Physical Therapy Clinic!

I hope to learn front office operations, as I plan on owning a clinic one day myself.

• medical billing and coding
• insurance policies, practices, and procedures
• scheduling
• yoga / pilaties

Tomorrow I have an orientation at one of the top brain and spinal cord treatment facilities in the nation... hopefully I'll be able to make time to work the new job, keep up with school ,and log some time volunteering at this state-of-the-art Hospital. Valentines-WHAT? Friday should be a great day... going to New York Saturday...

-delano :c)

In Da Hizzouse

L5P - where all the cool people pass through once in a while...this artistic district is Atlanta's version of Greenwich Village... Last friday I stopped through to check on one of m favorite music spots and to take care of some business with an artist. It worked out great, me having a piece of artwork completed by the artist who started it about a week prior. To my delight I ran into an old aquaintence. She's doing well. She asked what I was doing for money. I told her what the deal was and she was like, "oh they make good money!" Mooooving along, nice to see you too.

SiDEbaR - I seriously missed out on RnB growing up! Attending private school and not being connected to the rest of the black community I toyed with few notions of like, let alone love.

Now in my mid twenties and with someone special in mind, I've found I really dig rhythm and blues. That reminds me of this really great book title by an author I can't recall at the moment: Sometimes Rhythm, Sometimes Blues.

That describes the life of some forms of love. But, in pursuing perfect, God-like love we try to love others without condition. For me, I'm impressed with God. I'm awed by what God can do for people... it's like how much of my interaction with this certain lady was mine at all...

It was nice to see my homegirl in L5P. She reminds me of you...being caught up the way I am makes me wonder how much of what I feel is really me... and there goes Lauryn Hill again, "I just want You Around..." Jesus. please be patient

-delano

The Stats

It's a sunny day somewhere else! But that's not stopping me from feeling warm and fuzz on this dreary Atlanta morning. I'm at Grady, gettig my career move on... Over the past few weeks my efforts have really been appreciated by both clinicians at Crawford Long and here at Grady. I'm excited about the field and am on top of the application process - December will be here before I know it!

Classes are going slightly better than expected...We'll see how I did on that Stat's test come thursday or next tuesday. I'm having fun studying, going out less, and still vibin to GREAT MUSIC!

My song of the season is "I'm Still Standing" by UK acid-jazz vocalist Omar. A blast from the past I can live with today! Also, I've been doing GREAT with not smoking black n milds and cloves... 2 blacks, 0 cloves in the past 5 weeks!

Alcohol consumption is at a minimum and I've been celebate for almost 2years... wow.

This is my grind. I know what type of job I want, just a matter of time before I'm able to begin my Doctoral program.

Rock Star is chillin. We had fun flirting over the weekend and even saw a show! The Jaspects opened up for singer song-writer Anthony David. Of course the night cap was bomb. We each had one drink at Beleza Lounge, a hip Brazillian themed chill spot. Cheek biting, need I say more? I think not. Well, space cadets, stay tuned for my next log... the life and times of a revolutionary gentleman...jazz crusader for justice, and prize fighter for freedom and poetry.

peace!

-delano

I am anxious. I am on the launch pad for my career in physical therapy and I'm starting to itch. With all this wonderful motivation, all I am to do is complete the process and contribute to the health and well-being of humanity.

In preparation for applying, I am volunteering at Grady Memorial Hospital and with BenchMark PT at Crawford Long Medical Center. Also, I will be observing at The Shepherd Center, a leading facility in the nation for brain and spinal cord injury treatment. I am excited about working in a top hospital and with the individuals who shape the lives of needy patients daily. I ache to be one of these people.

I have one chance at life and quite frankly being so close to being complete is awe-inspiring! I've already made some health choices to cut out clove and bland n mild smoking... Also, I try to do some push-ups daily and dance at least 4 times a week at home for about 30 mins.

I have so much to look forward to! I've been prepared for so much. I am glad I know where I want to be and am working towards my goals...but because this won't happen over night, I am anxious.

I want to be the man I am to be. For my self, for my family, for my Creator, for my community.
On a side note, I've also put in some work on my non-profit and am developing the logo! The First drafts are looking good, when I figure out how to upload it here, I will!

You all take care and remember I love you just because! Please continue to pray for me as this life is not a crystal stair and success can be measured by many pieces of tape.

tha Deal or No Deal

I've got this friend from The Wire. One of Baltimore's most fortunate to make it out. His story is incredible... he was actually banned from college b/c of an "intent to distribute," charge. In an attempt to leave this life behind he actually snuck back on campus in order to complete his transfer process to Atlanta's Morehouse College.

He is now a math major, minoring in chemistry... his record may taint his ability to practice chemistry professionally, but he's giving it all he's got. I'm proud of him for that!
As much as he cares about finding a better way to keep at least 5stax in his bank account at all times, he struggles to maintain his self image and combat torment from his past lifestyle of indulgence, distrust, violence, and debauchery.

He is an exceptionally strong person who has discovered many of his own creative talents. Also in his grab bag of personality traits is a strong sense of self preservation and emotional self defense. When he goes on one of his self-affirming kicks, he's pretty difficult to reason with.

He can even be quite anal about getting his point across while affirming his intellect and machismo. Girls probable dig this, I find it annoying. So, he tried to/ threatned fighting me about two weeks ago. It was odd. I pretty much convinced him that fighting wouldn't solve anything and that he shouldn't get all huffy over someone who supports his own convictions as strongly as he does. It was like a wake up call..Mr "i'll beat your face" was very quiet... but my goal was not to "win" but to save my own life... Fighting puts lives at risk and believe me, that is a side I don't like showing. I consider this to be civil and life preserving, though I'm up for a good'n if there is something worth fighting for.

We've worked on a a few projects and now my most recent ones are on hold because of our supposed beef. I don't really know what the problem is... I convinced him not to fight me and now he's acting extra distant. Well, the show goes on with or without the rapping monkeys.

Ironically, it was haters trying to smite his creative venture that led his paranoid/ justifiably cautious senses to be heightened in tha ATL. For the last time, I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY!!

Having male friends is not easy, as we spend a lot of time changing ourselves, yet are constantly analyzing others' position in the cognitive, social, economic, and spiritual world extremely critically.

Brothas need each other to be individually strong and collectively minded. Somehow amidst all the jealousy you all (ladies)continually work together...deep down either loving or hating the sista you're breaking bread with, wondering whats the deal with the brothas...