1) Go read my latest article please. Basketball season is about a month and a half away, and this will hopefully be my second season covering the team, which means I need to make some marked improvement. I have friends who consistently edit, read and comment on my writing, but can never have too many eyes. Even if you don't give a good goddamn about sports (specifically basketball) I am quite sure someone in your circle does.

2) Check out my friend Nichole's pictures of Bilal from his LA concert last week. She's a mainly a writer (and one of the people who edits my articles) but she's also a talented photographer. I'm not sure if she wants constructive criticism or not, but you can still look.

3) I have decided not to work out at all while on my vacation at the beach. I have been working hard the last several months, I deserve a break. I won't go crazy on the eating and drinking, but I damn sure won't deprive myself of any fun.

4) Today is my son's 12th birthday. In fact Carlton officially turns 12 at 5:05pm today. On the day he was born, I was working in Fairfax, VA, and his mother was in Hampton, Virginia. My son was not due to be born for another two weeks, but on that day at about 1:30pm, I got a call from his mother saying her water broke, and she was headed to the hospital. I hopped in the car, sped down to VA, got a ticket doing 80 in a 65 in Spotsylvania County, VA, but the cop was nice enough to lower it to 79mph so I wouldn't catch a reckless driving charge. But that 15-20 minutes on the side of the road cost me the chance of seeing my son born. I arrived to the hospital at 5:25 on the dot, and he had already been in the world for 20 minutes. The nurse directed me to the room where he was resting, I looked at him, smiled, and then out of nowhere starting crying and crying. Then I looked around and realized that the nurses had gathered around, and I manned the hell up, and finally held my son.

I've told that story countless times, and it never gets old. Never. Yes I have regrets about not seeing my son born, but to be honest, I don't really care for his mother too much, so its not that big of a deal. I'll get another chance very soon. So Carlton if you're reading this, and I hope to God you aren't because my blog is not for you just yet, happy 12th birthday. On your next birthday, I'll officially be old.