The Charlie Mack Celebrity Weekend

I have been trying to get on and blog for a sec but things have been majorly hectic. First, I feel as though I should be featured in one of my favorite blogs YBF! I did the whole red carpet thing and of course had the ensemble together to make it hot!

The event was held at Miss Tootsies’ in Philadelphia on uber trendy South Street. It was the Charlie Mack Celebrity Party for Peace. For those who don’t know, Charlie Mack is Will Smith’s best friend and former manager. He is known for his generosity and love for the community and through this event he gives thousands of dollars to local charities each year. With Philadelphia leading the country in murders, this was a chance to get some of the top names in sports and entertainment to take a stand. I was happy to take part.

The event featured Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Mo’Nique, Rahiem Brock and Dwayne Martin. There were also many other actors and athletes there but the biggest of the evening had to be Rush Hour Star and Comedian Chris Tucker. Charlie grabbed me up when I arrived and made me walk the red carpet with him and Chris. I had done the red carpet thing before – but never with a member of the 20-million-a-movie club. I think that this is just God’s way of letting me know that the BIG stuff is just around the corner.

I had a chance to kick it with Adetukunbo one of the most

beautiful models on the planet. Indeed it was all an experience.

By the way, if you are ever in Philadelphia, check out Miss Tootsies’. The owner Kevin is really c

ool and the manager Rian, makes everyone feel right at home.

I still have to get to my post about falling for someone too quickly but for now enjoy the pics and look forward to the outing with Nicole, Thais Stunna and I.

By the way, I am at the hospital with Stunna. He was bitten by a spider while

we were moving event equipment. We have been here about three hours now so hopefully they will get to him soon. Keep my little cuz in your prayers.

Light!

Friday the 13th is Finally Gone

I am so happy to be done with Friday the 13th unit I don’t know what to do. It was so bad by the end of the day I had to take a few Happy Campers “my herbal mood enhancer” to deal.

At the last minute I got the call that I was to go to the movie set for my last day of shooting. So I went about booking travel and re-arranging my schedule to be there. There really is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this project so I am really trying to my best. That coupled with the fact that my frat is having our bi-annual KONCLAVE in Minneapolis. Also the Charlie Mack celebrity weekend kicks off in Philadelphia and my main marketing client is the sponsor. This is finally coupled with the fact that the area Greek Picnic is this weekend as well. I just couldn’t do it all but it is nice to be in demand.

My NY trip was pretty uneventful, until on the trip my phone went dead and they couldn’t get in touch with me. I did not have the number for the assistant director and so they didn’t know where I was. Needless to say, they shot the scenes around me without me being there. All the while I was stuck in the horrendous hell that is New York traffic. Usually on most productions, they send a car for you and you can plan out how things are going to work. I was not so lucky here.

In fact they were upset with me, though I was the one sitting in traffic. I guess that this will be one more story to tell as I travel this acting road. I know that it can only get better from here.

Once I finally made it back to Philadelphia, I had to drop by a local event at The Corner Pocket and get set up for the celebrity event at Miss Tootsies. I plan on trying to get a little rest today but as I lock out of my window, the sun is creeping over the horizon. Oh well!

The lesson for today, “Let me love you for who you are as opposed to who you aren’t”. Mad shouts to my girl Lisa from VA! She just jumped on the blog and showed me some love. Got head to VA soon to check that out. I still owe a post on Babylon Sisters but first. Is it really possible to care deeply (almost love) someone after just a few days? Well discuss that soon!

Until then . . .

Peace and Light!

Hang Wit My Frat

So this weekend the company did a concert at Shampoo with Fat Joe, Tony Sunshine and the Terror Squad. Pretty hot talent huh?

I have some pics from the whole thing. I will more than likely put them up once I can sort through them. The good thing was that I actually hung out with one of my fraternity brothers – Smooth B. He is the man! I met him through his cousin here in Philadelphia. He has really been a big help. Ima try to get him on staff to join the team. I hope we can make this work.

I also still have to do a post on Babylon Sisters. It was such a great read. I'ma get on it next.

So, the show was hot but you know what I can't get out of my mind? How can you fall from someone in two days? See, the last think that I wanted to do while I was here in Philadelphia was to find a little lady to hook up or hang out with. Truthfully, I had not planned on being here that long but you know when fate intervenes you have to allow yourself to just exist.

As far as the office, you know things have really gotten better. I have been able to manage and run things now that stunna is here. You never really realize how much one person and their persona can change the day and allow you to be the you that you know you can be. I so appreciate Stunna for that.

As I sign off, I am trying to find my way to Minneapolis for the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated bi-annual convention. I have to work but hopefully I will be able to get away and get up there with the frat and make it happen. I'll keep you posted.

Until then . . . .

 

"The Secret" Cures Cancer / 7-7-7 PERFECTION!

I am sitting here chillin with John Coltrane and a cup of tea enjoying Philadelphia with a definite story to tell. I was on an airplane this morning and just finished reading the Pearl Cleage novel Babylon Sisters. After her poem "We Speak Your Names" and of course "Flyin' West" (a great play), I have become a huge Pearl Cleage fan. My thoughts on the book will probably be reserved for tomorrow.

There is a lot going on here tonight. I am sponsoring a concert with Fat Joe, Terror Squad and Tony Sunshine. A lot of Reggaeton and all the Latin Fellaz and Females will make Club Shampoo LIVE. I must get ready for an eventful day but I felt obliged to share this.

About two weeks ago I was in a small neighborhood bar in Philadelphia. As a part of handing marketing, often I go out to solicit feedback from consumers and just "buy the bar". For those that don't know the speak, that means that I buy drinks for those people in the club hanging out as a courtesy for their time during our engagement process. During this night I met a lady who was pretty blasted. Of course being the guy that I am I engaged her in conversation. We talked for a few moments and we immediately became comfortable with each other.

One thing led to another and she told me that the reason that she was there drinking was that she had just been to the doctor that day and he told her the cancer was back.

"I am just getting over breast cancer and chemotherapy", she said sadly. I was wondering how she could be sad when she beat cancer.

"See these tits?", she questioned.

"They aren't real".

When we finished talking I learned that she was a survivor of about a year and a half and that she had a double mastectomy. Her new breasts looked amazing. And that she was the mother of a beautiful young adult daughter. I felt like we had a connection and that we had known each other for years.

"The reason I'm getting drunk tonight, is because the doctor told me earlier today that the cancer was back".

Now I am not usually one for the self-help mumbo jumbo but if you know me you know I read the bible constantly and truly believe in "The Secret". The Secret is a book and DVD by Rhonda Byrne. It is something I have lived my life by for as far back as I can remember. It simply puts into words – The Law of Attraction. SO YOU THINK . . . SO IT IS!

Knowing this concept and with my faith in God I began to tell the lady that she was not convicted by the sentence that doctor had given her. If she thought properly and changed her way of thinking then she could indeed beat this thing. Having been much worse off than she, I know the power of prayer and belief.

As I told her about it she kept insisting that she had felt the knot of cancer in her chest and tried to get me to put my hand there. "NO!", I told her immediately. I couldn't touch what was not there! I urged her during our brief talk to just say with me, "THERE IS NO CANCER". She kept telling me there was and trying to get me to touch it but eventually, I broke though.

"OH, there IS no cancer"!

She finally got it and her friends gathered around and in a bar in the middle of the night we lifted a prayer for her continued healing. I know it seems strange praying with drunk people in a club – but you never know where God will do his thing.

Stunna was there with me and by the time that we left everyone in the club was chanting, "There is no cancer!"I made her promise me that every day at least seven times a day she would remind herself aloud that there was no cancer.

Well the kicker to the story is that "she" sent me an email to say that when she went to the doctor yesterday to make a decision on her options, there was no decision to be made. The lump was gone! That's' right the email said that there was no explanation, the lump was gone and she was cancer free!

It was fitting that I got this news on 7-7-7! Today is a day of completion and I believe that there was a reason that I was able to help this lady begin her journey to healing. In the most basic level, through helping her I helped myself.

Cargo Shorts: The Me That I Am -- OK?

Aright so I am sitting at the office this afternoon. I am finally able to enjoy some quiet. My office is very busy and bustling but there have been some personnel changes and things are starting to just become more fluid. Often people can bring an aura with them when they come into a situation and even though we think positively sometimes we need others around us to amplify what is there.

I am listening to Busta Rhymes New York ^*&&$# -- it is the deal. I guess that I have recently been into the NYC thing. Nowhamean!!!

Well another young lady that works in the office today had a couple of issues in her life coupled with the fact that some people had touched things on her desk. Well it just so happened that I received the brunt of her wrath. I mean she went on and on and even though I wasn’t the one who did what she said, I caught it. After a few minutes I asked her to step out of the office and we discussed the situation in a rather heated manner. I tried to be cool in the office but couldn’t so I had to “go there” just so we could discuss the issue with civility. I guess sometimes it just takes that to handle business. I really like the young lady so it was done once it was over but sometimes working in an office full of ladies can be challenging. Luckily I was allowed to hire a brother who knows my style and how to deal professionally. “Stunna” is also a pro. He was there early this morning and he was on it! But I didn’t expect anything less.

Oh yea, I bought some cargo shorts yesterday and rocked them with a pair of Adidas’. Man why didn’t I get the memo before now that cargo shorts were hot like that! I got them a little bigger than my actual size and figured that I would try them out – I am in love. I wish I could wear them year round. Is this a new period for me? Am I going from upscale casual to grunge? Hummmm?

OK on the philosophical tip – Does being the me that I am, mean that I will never change? You know change is always good and necessary. [Song change Corinne Bailey Rae – Enchantment] Hopefully, the man that I am today is not the man that I was on yesterday and prayerfully, I will not be the same man tomorrow. The reason I ask this is that I recently had a conversation with someone to which I explained that one of the reasons that though I know a lot of people, I usually abstain from establishing a lot of majorly close relationships because the closer that people are to you – the easier they can hurt you. Don’t get it twisted, I’m not around being a hermit but you have to be judicious about who you allow into your circle. You know what my friend offered me a piece of advice recently, “Show some sincerity”. I was initially taken aback by the statement. But after quizzing my friend, basically he was saying allow yourself to be vulnerable.

I am sincere, passionate and considerate. Sometimes to a fault. But he was right sometimes I spend so much time shielding myself from everyone that miss who is really there for me. As an actor – I use that emotion for my characters. The hurt or loneliness or vulnerability, I use to bring characters to life. Nevertheless, I suppose that it makes me the individual miss out on some things.

I appreciate that advice. Sometimes it is good to experience the hurt just so that you can be ready to identify the good things when they come along. Keep bangin’! I got some realness coming, so stay tuned.

Back Again for the Fourth Time

So here it is. Another one of those blogs that say, I am back. I cannot begin to tell you that I hate doing that kind of stuff. So I will try to make some time in each and every day to write. If for nothing else, it's therapeutic for me. See – ya'll my therapist and didn't even know!

I am here in Philadelphia for a few days sipping a cup of Acai Zinger Herbal tea and listening to Music Choice – it is a poetry set with Keseema Kalifa and it with the tea is definitely hitting the spot.

Yesterday, we continued filming on the Wendy Williams Movie Queen of Media. Yea I know you probably have forgotten by now. I almost did! I play her dad Mr. Williams. Of course the dad to young Wendy. Since when did I look old enough to play the father of a college student? Oh well, I still look good don't I? Huh – answer me! LOL.

The movie was shooting in Staten Island, New York at Wagner College. It was my first time ever in Staten Island but the trip was a pretty cool experience. The staff was nice and professional and I was able to get one of my frat brothers to take the drive with me. He used to live on Staten Island so that made things pretty easy getting there.

I arrived shot my scenes and they even made my boy one of the extras. It was pretty cool all in all. Of course I'll leave the juicy on set stuff to come later. Yea, you gotta tune in.

On the way back, I stopped by the AT&T store to pick up the new I-phone. The guy at the store told me that my Blackjack had everything I needed so say with that and my 80GIG I-Pod. Cool with me!

The most interesting thing about the day I think was hanging out with my frat. I put on the pledge CD and we ended up reminiscing and singing pledge songs all the way back. How's that for a road trip?

The night ended with an event back in Philadelphia at Grape Street Pub. I was one of the sponsors so I had to go make an appearance. Little did I know I would be upstaged by Sir Charles Barkley! Nah, he was in the house enjoying himself and it was just a mad cool time. I forgot that Sir Charles was in the area. Maybe I should have challenged him to a game of one on one.

Nah. I think I was right to leave well enough alone!