Docked At The Shores Of Tranquility

#50 Continued...

2008-01-02T08:18:00.001-05:00

Here's the next batch of haikus:

Wings stroke Heaven's tip
God's roar fades briskly upon
deep craving; Content

Guardians await
the single soul never seen,
he hath frozen fate

(In two weeks I'm flying to Arizona to visit Crystal while she's with her family. And, of course, the familia is anxious to meet the fine fellow who enchanted their precious daughter, and provoked the incessant reminiscent ramblings. Is Mr. bIdEuX nervous? Yeah, a tad...seeing as her dad owns a big gun! But that matters not, for I chuckle in the face of danger!)

Muscles strain under
heavy loads. Confidence gained
lay with ocean's waves

Glorious blanket
chilling winds pierce skin layers
deeply. Where's the warmth?

Tomorrow brings the Final Four...stay tuned!

#116 Choose a football & basketball team to follow for 2008
Since the beginning of puberty when patches of hair grew in various places and my 'balls dropped', I've always felt left out in discussion about sports. Yeah, I'd catch a game every now and then, but when the talk of statistics and prominent players arose I felt utterly lost. Well, it's time to banish that feeling of ostracization, and take hand in the festivities! My chosen teams are:

Green Bay Packers

and

Atlanta Hawks

And to further prepare myself for this year's season I've purchased Football for Dummies. I know pretty much everything there is to know in order to enjoy a game, but I'm sure there are many aspects of football I can't readily identify. Call me pathetic, call me unmanly, but after I've finished this book you can no longer call me a football fan wannabe, si? Plus, I only payed $8 for it. Gotta learn sometime. Mr. bIdEuX out!

Not Quite As The Japanese Did It...

2008-01-01T08:20:00.001-05:00

I've recently been enveloped in a spirit of creativity; and I'm spiraling deeper into the depths of my dormant poetic nature. My muse? Life's hopeful and tragic temperament! At first glance, haikus appear to be simple and, frankly, elementary. Having been withdrawn from poetry for quite some time, I, Mr. bIdEuX, chose this particular form to ease back into the scene. However, I experienced more challenge (and fun) creating these initial four than expected...mostly because of the added rule I've implemented with haikus:

Original Rules

Use of three (or fewer) lines of no more than 17 total syllables (the usual format is three lines with five syllables on the first and third line, and seven on the second);
Use of a season word (kigo);
Use of a cut or caesura (sometimes indicated by a punctuation mark) to contrast and compare, implicitly, two events, images, or situations.

bIdEuX's Rule

Metaphorical usage is a must (metaphors are absent in most haikus)

All of my haikus will relate to my life in some way, regardless of how odd or insignificant. I've decided that one haiku out of each posting will include an explanation...just so you can get a closer peek into my life. Without further ado:

Dear love departs
beautiful flaring eyes weep
Peace, Winter begins!

(The haiku above symbolizes the emotional turmoil senorita Crystal and her family are experiencing after the lost of a cherished loved one. Her grandmother passed away around 1:30-2:30 a.m. est December 25, 2007. She is in Phoenix, Arizona now tending to her mother and funeral arrangements. All will be well boo!)

Lustful heart clouded
simmering Helios rays
brighten--truth revealed.

Barren grassless fields
breeds purpose; roots birthed bearing
scope undoubtedly.

Travel earnestly
amongst arid twigs and leaves;
Phoenix awakens!

This is the first post of three. Expect one on Wednesday and Thursday to finish up task #50. bIdEuX out!

2007-12-31T22:37:00.001-05:00

The Project: (Courtesy of Meg Pickard):
At the end of every year since 2000, we invite readers to look back on the last twelve months of their lives and reflect on what has been important , defining or constant during that particular year, and then sum their year up in just 24 words.

We believe that embracing the constraint of summing up the last year in a handful of words helps to focus on what really mattered.

Here's my entry for 2007:

Pathetic, dismal beginnings.
Drama never ending, relationships disappointment.
Quit dead-end, financial status improved.
Found direction, back to school, encontró el amor mexicana!
C'mon 2008!

That's pretty much the gist of 2007. Let us look forward beyond the horizons to a totally magical life. It's gonna be great!

SHAMEFULLY SELFISH!!!

2007-12-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

"Vanity": the effect of unwarranted grade school teasing or being drenched in images of photoshopped models prancing around in revealing speedos and bikini bottoms? Or perhaps it's the combination of the two...maybe one precedes the other. Whatever the cause of this self-hindering personality trait isn't important. The only thing remotely significant at this moment is that Mr. bIdEuX has been stricken with this sickly ailment! I've realized now that I'm deathly self-conscious, which, unfortunately, is affecting my quality of life. So much so that I've failed, YET AGAIN, #70! The fear of being filmed for the local news was just too overwhelming...but in a pathetic attempt to regain some dignity, regardless of how little, I must say that there existed a war of morality in my mind. "Who cares what you look like on television? Your purpose for being there is to help those who are currently unable to help themselves!," says the logical, yet unheard voice. "But...but...look at yourself! Do you really want to be seen in the public eye as you are now, even for half a second?," declared the voice of anarchy and pessimism. Yeah, it's obvious who won here, right? *Sigh* This poor characteristic of mine has also been linked to my bouts with mild (not clinical) depression. I mean, it's so bad that I'd sometimes decline requests of my magnetic presence to fun, interesting events just because I hate the way I look in a T-shirt, or the pair of shorts shows too much of my 'chicken' legs. So, it seems that the majority of my insecurities would disappear if I'd just buckle down and act on my bold-faced tasks to the left. Horrible...here's Kanye to describe my pain in the gift of music:

On another note, I've added task #117. Why sponsor a child/family if you're just going to be feeding them money? The Christian Children's Fund encourages communication between the sponsor and the recipient; and personally, I think it'd be neat to watch lil' Ester grow up and see how my contributions are helping her family. Maybe I'll even plan a trip to visit...maybe...

Really...Who Would Do This To Their Child?!

2007-12-25T02:49:00.000-05:00

Look closely at this shameful picture...do ya recognize that obviously frightened child?! Yeah, you've guessed it! Mr. bIdEuX in his full blown, innocuous youth...an interesting concept, yes? Now, let's overlook for a second the awful Christmas ornament inspired sweater, vibrant cotton-bearded smile of a black Santa Claus, and perturbed stare of a traumatized boy, and concentrate, instead, on the perpetual idea of jolly ole' St. Nick and yo' homeboy from above 'J Creezy'. How hypocritical of us (by the way, 'us' in no way whatsoever includes Mr. bIdEuX) to insist upon children that lying is a criminal act, and then when we're absolutely sure no one is looking encase them in a holiday composed entirely of lies (well damn, in this case it's not done discreetly but broadcasted openly and with pride)! "C'mon Semaj, you're being unnecessarily judgmental! It's just a way for the children to have a little fun while celebrating the birth of our savior." 'Savior'? HA! Thou hath filled me with much merriment and laughter! Go forth with haste and drink cannibalistically from thy chalice to quench thine insatiable thirst for blood and ale! Personally, I haven't been saved from a damn thing...at least not by some hyped up, self-proclaimed prophet that was whipped like an overly aggressive African slave. No, this is not an intentional Christian bash because, obviously, it cannot be considered lying if many believe it to be undeniable truth. But DAMN Santa Claus...and damn Coca Cola for the most up-to-date artistic rendition of the jackass and his old ass reindeer (Thanks Coke! Oh, and loved the 'Taste It!' area of NEW World of Coca-Cola. Superb!)! And hey, what better way to rub in the deceit than to sit down with your children and...TRACK SANTA'S INTERNATIONAL ROUTE?! The bastards....

Loooonnggggg Time, No See!

2007-12-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

Damn! How long has it been since we've last spoken? 3 weeks?! Well, Mr. bIdEuX solemnly apologizes for any soul damaging disappointment you may have endured over the past 3-4 Sundays. Originally, the plan was to test my patience and skill by creating a completely self-inspired layout for the blog. I accomplished that feat, although mostly haphazardly, but decided in the end that I enjoyed the simple layout that I've had all along. I've made some mild progress during my absence, but not in the areas I've liked to the most.

Thanksgiving:
Leaves bursting with reds, golds, and browns; for many, this natural yet colorful miracle signifies the agony of being surrounded by obnoxious, overly aggressive in-laws and shoveling pounds of turkey down the esophagus. For me, it meant babysitting my 3 cute little imps, and listening to the sound of leather meeting flesh and cries echoing throughout the house. My solution? Video games! Oh, a couple of cousins and Starbucks frappuccino made an appearance:

#69 Sponsor a child from a 3rd world country

This beautiful little girl is Esther Mwelu Musyoki from Nairobi, Kenya. She and her family are practically destitute with probably $150-$200 annual income. Hopefully, my contributions (which doubles her family's annual earnings) will provide her with a better life. Soon, I plan to increase the amount of charity to $50 a month which would triple her income. Really, everyone should participate in this...what's $24 f*ckin' dollars a month? Seriously, people probably spend much more than that on junk food alone.

#5 Get 360 waves
Okay, let's ignore the vain nature of the pictures to follow. With that being said, I've made some progress in this area. I have to allow my hair to grow for another 3-4 weeks starting today. It's hell walking around with a damn bush on my head, but it'll be worth it in the end (forgive the greasy forehead shot):

#63 Own the "Top 100 Grossing Movies of All Time"
I've added a bulk sized addition to the collection (oh God, thank you for the 'After Thanksgivings Sale")! The happy orphans were:

Spiderman
Spiderman 2
Casino Royale
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible II
Ocean's Twelve
Rain Man
Superman Returns
X-Men
X2
X-Men: The Last Stand

#108 Find that damn game from Gamefly & send it back
I completed this task sometime last week...well, not exactly. After lazily searching throughout the house for the game (which has caused much more trouble than it's worth...the game was hot, steaming garbage), I accepted the fact that it's not going to be found (most likely the imps somehow got their hands on it). So, I just bought the game from them to clear my account, which was the main purpose of finding the video game anyway. I'm going to count this as done.

#66 Make 3 new unique & true friends
Latinas! I've known these girls for about 2 months (I only count one as a friend) and they've acted more like friends in this short amount of time than others I know. We had a pretty fun day Friday...the aquarium, ice skating, horse carriage around downtown Atlanta...just laid back fun:

That's it for now, hopefully more progress will be made in the next couple of weeks. Mr. bIdEuX out!

I Feel Horrible...

2007-11-21T17:29:00.000-05:00

#70 Hosea's Feed the Hungry...I missed it. Argh! I was extremely excited about participating and helping the needy, but the damn alarm clock strikes again! 6:00 p.m. (but they wanted you to be present at 5:30) is when it started, so to allow enough time I set the clock for 3:30. Well, I awake thinking I've plenty of time because the awkward, heart pounding noise has yet to fill the room. When I glanced at the clock my veins were instantly flooded with adrenaline. State of Emergency! The clock read 5:15...so, I had 15 minutes to get ready and make a 35-45 minute drive. I rushed to the restroom to wash my face and brush my teeth, but then the realization hit me: I was not gonna make it in time. I don't believe that you're allowed to be late, so I reluctantly decided I'll give this another shot for the Christmas season. Oh, and to make matters worse I couldn't even get a haircut today for Thanksgiving...*sigh*

Early Week Announcement...

2007-11-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

The idea of an additional blog...has been scratched. I've come to the realization that this blog could be used to couple both the posts of my grueling ascension to a heavenly being and the posts that will hold my random thoughts, opinions, and prejudices! I mean, why go through all the trouble of choosing layouts and creating new lists when I could just simply add to this one. Anyway, I'm adding task #115! Affording dance classes is not going to happen until another month or so...and I've been itchin' to get back into it. So, I'll take the poor man's route and compile a collection of dance tutorials from the internet and use them as practicing tools. It's better than simply sitting idle and ignoring this urge to pop-lock and krump. So, that's that...you can continue with your formerly scheduled engagements, such as allowing your brain to die a little while watching ridiculous reality television (don't worry, I do it too).

Disappointing Results...

2007-11-18T19:00:00.000-05:00

A week! A week is how long it's been since I've restarted my goals. Well, guess what! I have to restart AGAIN! "Huh? You were so enthused the last time we spoke! Why Mr. Bideux, the zeal practically dripped from all of your known orifices! How could you have possibly allowed for this treachery upon your renowned dedication stand?!" I know, I know...and I do apologize to you my patient and ever-loving audience. I pray that you forgive my shortcomings and allow for this battered hero to arise from the heavy fragments of a shattered dream! A bit over the top? Yeah, I think so too....

#1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 103, & 107...
The shame is unbearable! I was doing great! MAGNIFICENT (except for #1)! And then the storm came (which will be explained under #54). I'm going to hold true to my rules for this project, which is: the project must be restarted even if one session is missed. Nothing much more to say here, well...except that those damn Listerine dissolving whitening strips DO NOT dissolve within 10-15 minutes! Lies! It takes at least 30 minutes to disappear and even then you still need to break out the toothbrush to brush away any remaining residue. F*ckin' false advertisement! The bastards!

#43 Read 100 African American classic/contemporary novels
The Color Purple
I've finally finished The Color Purple. In it Walker weaves a tale of personal strength, growth, and unexpected triumph. I'm not going to get into a full blown synopsis of the story here...I think it'll suffice to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the novel's touch on the importance and power of love, which I believe to be the novel's focal point (that's not to say that there weren't any other issues, such as racism, homosexuality, temptation, fragility of the male ego, etc., that Walker felt compelled to delve into).

The next novel I'm starting is Richard Wright's Native Son. This book was a required reading in my 11th grade honors literature class, so I've read this story before. However, as is the usual outcome of required reading, I glanced through the novel and retained only the information that'd get me an A in the class. So, this time will be a very different experience.

#54 Fix the CIVIC and supe it up...catalytic converter
ARGH!!!!! Oh the plot twists I experienced with repairing this SMALL piece of equipment! So, about a week ago I visited my friendly neighborhood MIDAS to get an estimate on parts and labor. They quoted me $575. I was cool with that and asked for them to go ahead and order the part. $200 up front...which leaves a cool $375 to pay, right? WrOnG!!!!! They get the part in on Friday and I drop the CIVIC off to the ole' OB/GYN. Well, I get a call from the mechanic about an hour later:

Mechanic: "May I speak to Mr. Bideux?"
Semaj: "This is he"
Mechanic: "Hey man, ummm...well, I noticed after removing the catalytic converter that you also need an O2 Sensor."
Semaj: "Yeah? Well, how much is it?"
Mechanic: "$229"
Semaj: (GODDAMN!!! That sounds a bit steep!) Well, do I have to get it now?
Mechanic: "Pretty much...or your car will sound like a truck. You can come take a look at the part before I install it if you want. I could show you the crack in it."
Semaj: (Sigh) "Na, just go ahead and throw it on and show me when I come to pick it up"
Mechanic: "Okay, sure thing"

I've no idea what it was that he put on, but he showed me the part that was in my car. It was rusted and cracked from the heat and emissions of the engine that the catalytic converter is supposed to reduce. Well, the converter, O2 sensor, and labor added up to be $912 (with tax)! And yes, I know I could have found someone and gotten the hook-up. I know this, BUT the converter requires welding and if this were to take a wrong turn I'd be sh*t outta luck! With hook-ups you get no receipts and no real accountability on the part of the mechanic. But if something goes wrong in a real shop I could always make them pay for the damages. Sigh, that was some of my tuition money too...ah well, back to the overtime we go! Oh, and to add insult to injury, I spent all day waiting for my car, which caused me to miss a couple of tasks. I was kidnapped by momdukez and taken to a MetroPCS store, which killed some of my time. Only had 4 hours of sleep that day....

#18 Take a cruise to the Bahamas
I'll have to reevaluate this cruise to the Bahamas. Or maybe I just need to look at different cruise options. I took a look at the Carnival site, but for some reason their cruise wasn't running during the time I wanted to jump aboard. If I have a difficult time finding a cruise here I'll just have to change this to the Caribbean.

#4 Construct 15 new ideas for wardrobe not influenced by hip hop
Okay, you're going to have to bear with me on these ideas...I'm trying to experiment with things I normally wouldn't. I think the outcomes would be pretty nice though:

Okay, the theme behind this outfit is Preppy/Rock. Now, you see the V-neck sweater, dress shirt (which obviously will be worn underneath the sweater), and watch. Those three items go in the preppy category. Then you see the claw ring, pants chain, bootleg jeans (I'm going to distress them myself), and skull wing belt buckle which is rock. The shoes are extremely 'safe' and they act as my last resort. The shoes that I want to get are here. It feels good to break from the terrible mundane that is hip hop....

On a side note, I surprised momdukez with a bag (cannot wait till I can get her a real one):

And this great smelling perfume:

She squealed with surprise! It was a great feeling and I think I'll do these type things more frequently...now to think of something for my popz!

Task Progression...

2007-11-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

Ya know, I really didn't expect this to be all that difficult...but it's turning out to be a hell of a chore. The cause of the added frustration and distress? Laziness! That or fatigue (65-70 hour work weeks are detrimental to not only your physical health but your mental stability as well). I've started to tackle some tasks though:

#103 Keep room, bathroom, & car interior clean & organized for a month
Okay, in order to keep it clean I must first clean it, yes? How hard is that you ask? Well, see for yourself...

here is the before picture:

And here are the after pictures:

See those bags? They're full of the crap that's been piling up in my room! It feels so much better to be in an organized, human friendly environment. To walk freely around my room with my head held high is a breath of fresh, non-polluted air. I almost suffocated while dusting off my ceiling fan and dressers. Clouds of dust violently arose as I slid the damp rag across the damaged surfaces...so disgusting! Two words describe my thoughts after the monumental task was complete: shame and satisfaction. Ashamed that I allowed for the trash, grime, and un-organization to occur to begin with; and satisfied that my room was finally a place where the living could reside. Oh, and another thing, my popz was given a T.V. from one of his customers. Know what happened with that device? You guessed it! I politely confiscated it and placed it in my room...better than what I had:

Before you ask, the answer is yes. Yes, that is the 1960's version of "Astro Boy" on the television...hey, Cartoon Network is running it and I just happened to be on the channel. Got a problem? If so, then I insist that you introduce your lips to my ass!

#70 Particpate in "Hosea's Feed the Hungry"
I finally signed up for Hosea's Feed the Hungry. I'm excited about the whole experience...the sensation of cutting fat off of chicken and turkey, the joy of digging arm length into a bowl of collards, and the glory of baking pounds upon pounds of cornbread. This is my first time participating, and MomDukez says, "you'd better be ready to work cuz they do put you to work." It'll be okay though, I'm coming equipped with my lucky boxers!

#1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 107....Still In Progress (starting over tomorrow 11/12/07)
*Shakes Head* Argh...tsk tsk tsk. I tell ya these tasks are giving me the most trouble, which is a good thing methinks. In order for me to finish these goals I'll need to develop an acute type of determination because the tasks have to be done in constant succession, which means one miss and I have to start all over. I've seen that, for the majority of the tasks, if I make it a habit to complete them in the a.m. I'll have a better chance of completing them. Sigh....guess I'll reaffirm and give it my best shot.

#10 Get out of Debt...
I cannot WAIT till I get this done. I've paid off debt #1 already, and I'm almost done with debt #2 (probably about a payment or two left). I haven't decided if I'll pay off debt #3 or #4 first...#4 has the greater balance, but affects my credit score more directly. I was thinking of the method of paying down #4 a little then switching gears to pay off #3. Still deciding...

#43 Read 100 "African American great classic novels"
I'm currently in the middle of finishing The Color Purple. The format of the novel was unexpected. Chapters are nonexistent within this novel, instead Walker develops the novel as if it were a diary. So far, each new entry begins with 'Dear God". With that aside I must say that I'm actually enjoying the novel. I'm not deep enough to give a full analysis on the plot and subplots, however I will say that Walker's method of developing characters in a indirect manner is interesting.

Well, that's it for now...till next Sunday...

Lupe Again...Nice Song...

2007-11-11T04:14:00.000-05:00

Man! This song embodies the feelings and thoughts of damn near the entire male population! I must say that this skill to relate to the public is what makes Mr. Fiasco so damn dope! Oh, and Matthew Metoyer...you've definitely some fye skillz. Kudos

Scheduled Updating....

2007-11-07T10:23:00.000-05:00

I've decided that there should be a scheduled day that I update this blog. As of now I'll only be posting and updating on Sundays, that way I can actually have time to make some progress on my goals. Yes, the updates (including posts, pictures, new music, layout changes, etc.) will probably be huge...but at least with me that'll stand to be 'sum gud ol' readin'! As I've mentioned in an earlier post, another blog will be created soon. Here you'll find my thoughts and ideas on particular subjects and international events. Also, it'll serve as the breeding grounds for any other goals/interests that I may think of throughout the next 2 1/2 years. To end I'm just going to share a little CRS (destined to be one of the best 'super' groups in existence [Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell]!) with ya (the lyrics are below too):

"Us Placers"
(Feat. Kanye West, Pharrell & Lupe Fiasco)

(Lupe Fiasco)
Yeah, Just a lil bit (just a lil bit) And it goes
Lifestyles of the rich and famous
Bought a big house and a whole lot of rangers
A fresh new couch and a whole lot of trainers
A closet full of clothes and some brand new dangers
And
Some Mexican floral arrangers
A great big TV that'll entertain us
Some colorful commissions for some high paid painters
Someone to take the wrap so that I stay stainless
And
A new relationship with a banker
Two pinky rings for my manicured fingers
A trained German Shepard that bark when it's angered
To watch my possessions and look out for strangers
And
A 50 foot yacht with an anchor
Young supermodel that shall remain nameless
Ups and the downs, the sames and the changes
All the money in the world don't make it painless (no)

(Chorus)
(But they love it and they love it)
The more you try to erase me
(And they love it and they love it)
The more that I appear, oh
(and they love it and they love it)
The more, the more you try to erase her
The more that You appear

(Kanye West)
(Plain Pat what up?)
Lifestyles of the broke and famous
Let you know how crazy this game is
Look at all the new beautiful faces
At home supermodel, myspaces
Long for their shot on the TV screens
American Idol never seen these dreams
Just last week they want to see ID
Now they got you in VIP, huh?
How many people almost famous
You almost remember what they name is
Like “Hey, didn’t you play in..? No it couldn’t be, quit playin”
I try to keep that balance
After MTV that’s a Real World Challenge
Back on that train
Never to be heard from again…

(Chorus)
(But they love it and they love it)
The more you try to erase me
(And they love it and they love it)
The more that I appear, oh
(and they love it and they love it)
The more, the more you try to erase her
The more that You appear

(Pharrell)
G.R.I.P P.I.M.P
I, any spelling bitch come on that’s me
I bring a burning sensation to the urban eye
Like an eye-drop of Turpentine
You can listen to the serpent, fine
But the earth got gas once it burps its fine
Someone around me they talk about the grease
Not G.H.G, how to cook a quarter ki
Talking all nasal, he aint over that cold
No glove scrub, Manny just over that stove
Perfect paradigm
Wrong place wrong time
Should have been Phizer, GlaxoSmithKline
Number one chemist
Look at him no blemish
Egg shell off white like a DuPont finish
Young, dumb, high strung, who could handle us
I wonder how Gods gon’ paint today’s canvasses
Cause who knew that day that man would just
Go to VA with a Tec and spray campuses
What a way to see the cover of Time
I know that ***** wish he was standing in line
To see it….As if he didn’t do it.

(Chorus)
(But they love it and they love it)
The more you try to erase me
(And they love it and they love it)
The more that I appear, oh
(and they love it and they love it)
The more, the more you try to erase her
The more that You appear

Till Next Time...

# 63...MovieGoers Rejoice In The Ecstacy!

2007-11-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is the list that I'll be using for task #63. I've always wanted a collection of movies, so this is my chance to put this desire to rest. Again, I've calculated that I can complete this list by buying 4 movies a month, which, of course is a movie a week. Over the course of the next 2 1/2 years, I'm sure this list will change as new movies are released. However, I'm sticking to this particular list for this task:

1. Titanic (1997) $1,835,300,000
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1,129,219,252
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) $1,060,332,628
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) $968,657,891
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) $958,404,152
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) $936,251,968
7. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $922,379,000
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) $921,600,000
9. Jurassic Park (1993) $919,700,000
10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) $892,194,397
11. Spider-Man 3 (2007) $885,430,303
12. Shrek 2 (2004) $880,871,036
13. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) $866,300,000
14. Finding Nemo (2003) $865,000,000
15. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $860,700,000
16. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $848,462,555
17. Independence Day (1996) $811,200,000
18. ~~Spider-Man (2002)~~ $806,700,000
19. Star Wars (1977) $797,900,000
20. Shrek the Third (2007) $791,106,665
21. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) $789,458,727
22. ~~Spider-Man 2~~ ~~(2004)~~ $783,577,893
23. The Lion King (1994) $783,400,000
24. The Da Vinci Code (2006) $757,236,138
25. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) $756,700,000
26. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) $738,809,845
27. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $735,600,000
28. ~~Transformers (2007)~~ $700,759,914
29. Forrest Gump (1994) $679,400,000
30. The Sixth Sense (1999) $661,500,000
31. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $653,200,000
32. ~~Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)~~ $648,200,000
33. The Incredibles (2004) $624,037,578
34. Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) $623,829,763
35. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) $614,300,000
36. ~~~~The Passion of the Christ~~ (2004)~~ $604,370,943
37. War of the Worlds (2005) $591,377,056
38. ~~Casino Royale~~ ~~(2006)~~ $587,607,184
39. Men in Black (1997) $587,200,000
40. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $572,700,000
41. ~~~~Night at the Museum~~ (2006)~~ $571,063,268
42. Armageddon (1998) $554,600,000
43. Ratatouille (2007) $552,092,872
44. King Kong (2005) $547,051,260
45. ~~Mission: Impossible II (2000)~~ $545,300,000
46. Home Alone (1990) $533,800,000
47. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $533,800,000
48. Monsters, Inc. (2001) $528,900,000
49. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) $527,939,919
50. The Simpsons Movie (2007) $522,835,843
51. Ghost (1990) $517,600,000
52. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) $516,800,000
53. Aladdin (1992) $501,900,000
54. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) $494,800,000
55. Twister (1996) $494,700,000
56. Toy Story 2 (1999) $485,700,000
57. Troy (2004) $481,228,348
58. Saving Private Ryan (1998) $479,300,000
59. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) $471,856,431
60. Jaws (1975) $470,600,000
61. Pretty Woman (1990) $463,400,000
62. Bruce Almighty (2003) $458,900,000
63. The Matrix (1999) $456,300,000
64. Gladiator (2000) $456,200,000
65. ~~X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)~~ $455,260,014
66. Shrek (2001) $455,100,000
67. Cars (2006) $454,752,771
68. 300 (2006) $454,592,590
69. ~~Mission: Impossible~~ ~~(1996)~~ $452,500,000
70. Pearl Harbor (2001) $450,400,000
71. ~~Ocean's Eleven~~ ~~(2001)~~ $444,200,000
72. The Last Samurai (2003) $435,400,000
73. Tarzan (1999) $435,200,000
74. Meet the Fockers (2004) $432,667,575
75. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) $427,936,103
76. Men in Black II (2002) $425,600,000
77. Die Another Day (2002) $424,700,000
78. Dances with Wolves (1990) $424,200,000
79. The Matrix Revolutions (2003) $424,000,000
80. Cast Away (2000) $424,000,000
81. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) $423,200,000
82. The Mummy Returns (2001) $418,700,000
83. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) $418,200,000
84. The Mummy (1999) $413,300,000
85. Batman (1989) $413,200,000
86. ~~Rain Man~~ ~~(1988)~~ $412,800,000
87. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) $411,874,905
88. The Bodyguard (1992) $410,900,000
89. Signs (2002) $407,900,000
90. Madagascar (2005) $406,800,000
91. X2 ~~(2003)~~ $406,400,000
92. Mission: Impossible III (2006) $395,382,309
93. Gone with the Wind (1939) $390,500,000
94. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) $390,500,000
95. ~~Superman Returns~~ ~~(2006)~~ $389, 569, 408
96. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) $383,900,000
97. Grease (1978) $379,800,000
98. Happy Feet (2006) $378,992,827
99. Beauty and the Beast (1991) $378,300,000
100. Ice Age (2002) $378,300,00

Task #99...Black Calendar! Coolness Abounds!

2007-11-04T01:34:00.000-04:00
I originally had hoped and prayed to find a calendar with a collection of Takashi Murakami works, which OBVIOUSLY would have been awesome. I mean, just check out some of the interesting (understatement of the year!) stuff he's created...cRaZy:

Ahhhh, so gorgeous and unique. I love it! Sorry, I digress...but the calendar I chose has some really different abstract images. There are a couple of the designs that I didn't care for, such as May, July, and August, but I really liked December, September, and June. So, I'm satisfied for the most part. #99 complete! Oh, and another task is being started in the place of this one...#9

Lupe Fiasco's Freestyle @ EMU

2007-11-03T09:26:00.000-04:00

This is the illest up and coming artist alive (well, as far as I know)! His flow is like poetry...INTELLIGENT poetry! Many people say that they just 'ain't' feelin' him...but how could you NOT be vibin' with this idol?!

“Motivation Is What Gets You Started. Habit Is What Keeps You Going.” --Jim Rohn

2007-11-02T09:40:00.000-04:00
The initial purpose of me creating this list was to banish a couple of devilish habits to Hell. Therefore, I've decided to begin my journey by developing a few habits and acquiring items to help me do so (and a couple of things for entertainment to boot!). Also, as time passes my mind keeps searching for more goals to accomplish, so I'm going to create another simple blog to link to this main one (unless I can develop the gift of creating pages). Blah, Blah, Blah...enough of that:

#1: Workout 4x/wk. for 6 weeks
The vain nature of us human beings is vile and disturbing...and yet it's the concept behind #1 on my list! Ha, the irony! Anyway, this has always been a tad difficult for me simply because of the gym is practically a thriving ground for sexual mental activity, such as 'undressing her with your eyes'. Plus, it ALWAYS seems that all eyes are on you for some odd reason.

#2: Eat at least 2500 calories a day for 6 weeks
Plain and simple...I'm skinny. 2500 calories isn't a lot (it is for me though) but it's a start. Plus, muscle needs those extremely sexy nutrients to ensure proper growth. But damn, eating 6-8 meals a day is hard as hell! That plus all the preparation involved will make this task a stressful one. Hopefully I can find some type of strategy to tackle cooking all the food needed.

#3: Take multivitamins everyday for 6 weeks w/o fail
An easy but beneficial task. I've finally settled upon which vitamins I'm going to shove down my throat everyday. Some vitamin made by GNC...yeah, got tired of searching. Call me lazy, but who gives a sh*t?!

#5: Get 360 waves
Argh! I've been at this for ages, but I'm starting to see some mild progress. The way I'm going to measure this task is to add this stipulation to it: I must brush hair for an hour/day for 30 days...should have a pretty good pattern going after this condition is met. Then it'll be all happy happy, joy joy, sunshine!

#6: Floss and use whitestrips 2x/day everyday for 6 weeks
I've always been told I've pretty teeth, but hell, why not make my teeth even more gorgeous?! Crest Whitestrips...the bastards! They're all gunky and it takes concentration to keep the strips from maneuvering around in your mouth. But it'll be worth it in the end...

#10: Get out of debt
Stupidity breeds negative outcomes. Is it worth it? Really? The Enyce outfit or fresh white air forces every month? How about the Banana Republic V-neck cashmere sweaters? Yeah, it isn't...and guess what?! My parents tried to warn me, but did the thick headed "urban youth" (Sarcasm noted? Please tell me it has been...) wanna listen? Oh no, know why? Because I was a "single black 'male' addicted to retail"--_{Kanye West}

#43: Read 100 African American great classic novels

My bookshelf is filled with books with little substance...so, I figured I'd give my own culture a shot. This is my way of starting to look into my heritage. I thought I'd start with "The Color Purple" since I've never read the novel or seen the film (book to movie adaptation is rarely done well anyway). I'm going to be using Half.ebay.com, so I'll start this task when I receive the book.

#99: Get a unique calendar
I really need a calendar. I mean REALLY need one. So, I thought if I"m going to get one, why not make it a lil' unique?

#103: Keep room, bathroom, & car interior clean & organized for a month
Ever been lost in your own room? Well, I have! Not to mention that I can never find anything when I need it (funny thing is that when I DON'T need it it's in perfect view). Plus, it's just an issue with cleanliness and organization.

#107: Follow a written schedule every day for 6 weeks
I've come to realize that making a schedule every day makes life easier. Not only does it act as a comprehensive to-do list for the day, but it also motivates you and keeps you busy. If only I could stick to it! Life would be so much better with this in full effect hence the task...

#63: Own the "Top 100 Grossing Movies of All Time"
I've always wanted a collection of DVDs since I love movies. I figure I'll complete this by the end of the 1001 days if I just buy 4 movies a month. Once again the lovely Half.ebay.com rescues this damsel in distress.

That makes 11 items that are going to be in full effect on Saturday 11/3/07. By the way, my battery for my camera came in. I've ordered a 2GB memory card from Circuit City that I'm going to pick up tomorrow, so there'll be plenty of picture updates for ya in the future.

Task #38, #57, and #62...Yes, Updates!

2007-10-28T05:40:00.000-04:00
So, there are a couple of tasks on the list that I've already completed:

#38: Create a blog with an actual effort in its design and post list
Okay, this one is an obvious one...but it gave me hell. Took me TWO weeks to get this page up! Why, you ask? Oh, that's just because I'm completely ignorant of basic java script and coding, that's all. But, I'm good now...still learning, but good. Eventually I'll be adding a couple of pictures and possibly some music through podcasting.

#57: Buy a nice digital camera

This is the little guy that I purchased from Circuit City (but in red). The Casio EX-Z75 w/ 7.2 Mega pixels. According to the store and reviews he is supposed to be a pro at what he does, and I'm sure he would be...IF HIS DAMN BATTERY WOULD WORK! Anxious to play with my new toy I earnestly unwrapped the package...albeit a tad disappointed because I had been beckoned to the industrial hell hole for mandatory overtime. So, I threw the battery on its charger and headed to work. Upon my return home, I grabbed the battery and shoved it in the camera (yes, I know, a bit overeager) only to be shocked that the screen remained blank. Like any typical disgruntled customer I jumped in my small, yet impressively fuel efficient Japanese car and angrily drove to Circuit City intent on exchanging the camera (without unloading a barrel of profanities of course). After dealing with a couple of apathetic store associates, I headed home. And guess what?!!!!!! The same thing happened with the new camera!!! Argh, the good news though is that the tech support was surprisingly congenial and had a new battery shipped to my home. Therefore, no beautiful pictures of moi until the middle of next week. Sorry ladies...

#62: Buy a wireless router that actually works

Technology abounds in my household! The old Netgear that I had was complete and utter garbage...so I switched to the Rangebooster G Router WBR-2310. This baby had some pretty good reviews and so far has been working nicely. Great addition to the family I'd say!

Embark On A Journey Of Self Discovery, Shall We?!

2007-10-28T04:37:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, the sweet smell of inspiration makes life worth living! Through some web surfing I came across "Day Zero", which is a website created by the inventor of the "101 in 1001 days" craze. The exhilaration that rushed through my veins as I browsed through the various lists was literally overwhelming. Oh the joy and impatience I experienced! So, through many bouts with web jargon and time constraints I finally came up with the list to the left. True, I've a few frivolous tasks on my list such as #89 or #106, but the majority of my tasks have an actual purpose. Wha'?! #54 has a purpose beyond that of being flashy? Why yes, a lot of the items can be grouped into 3 categories--regaining confidence, creating a pleasing family environment, and stretching myself to overcome fears and be a more well rounded, interesting person. You'll discover that I've chosen 6 weeks as the duration of many items on the list. To be brief, the explanation is that I'm an firm believer that it takes no less than 3 weeks to break a bad habit and 3 weeks to build a new one to replace it. Also, some may seem impossible for a young college student to accomplish, particularly the ones that involve large amounts of money. I agree with that, but I tend to see it this way:
‘As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think BIG.’--Donald Trump
So, let's get to it, yes?