I have been in a real shitty mood the last several weeks. Some shit happened where my entire grip got kidnapped by my creditors. They called my shit in like when China will flex on the U.S. debt.
Except I don’t have the guns, bombs or lawyers of the U.S. government so instead my shit got straight ganked. Checks were busy bouncing on bill payments already late to begin with. Your boy’s cable got cut off. Again. Phone service deaded. The mortgage holding company was pissed off like fuck.
Even though I was certainly in dire straits for some cash money I didn’t get too down on myself. I had been to zero before and made a comeback. I stay winning because I lose so much. What I can’t afford to lose though is the love of my life. The mother to my expensive collector item Steiff Bear collection. She’s actually the step-mother, but they don’t ever treat her that way.
If I didn’t have my own Chocolate Snowflake I would have to draw one for myself.
Here was someone reminding me that love doesn’t live in a bank account. Money is something that will never take the place of my love, but you can best believe I thanked GOD for granting me the chance to propose with an actual ring. I would give this woman my heart if her’s had only one beat left. If she and I have a daughter I will name her Faith.
Keep the faith…
This is a holiday weekend for those of us celebrating Passover. As I think of what GOD might be telling me as I stare at some uncertainty in my future is that now is the time to keep my faith. When your great-grandparents were slaves in Egypt they kept their faith that one day their great-grandchildren would be free to drink Welch’s grape soda. There’s a lot more to it, but I don’t have time to tell you the story now. For now, just keep your faith in GOD.
GOD was walking with me through SoHo last night. Even though GOD didn’t let me get inside the adidas store for the Rap-Up magazine party I still got to meet up with some friends from the site. Jaislayer from D.C. was in town on some business.
He and his homey tried to politic their way into the adidas party along with me but we were summarily dissed. Even my dude that works for adidas couldn’t swing me inside that piece. It looked like a scene. Hennessy a/k/a Negro Evian was the beverage sponsor so I imagine this event was high on the Black Bullshit meter.
As a matter of fact, I already know…
We ended up falling into a nice little party at Madame X on Houston Street. The drinks were quite on point and I enjoyed a few rounds of Goose and tonic. Meeting someone that has been a commenter on this site and getting drunk with them makes for a good time in itself. How about you meet one of your greatest influences earlier in the evening?
I have spoken to you folks ad nausem over the last week about RALPH BAKSHI. Seriously, if you don’t go to the screenings of ‘Heavy Traffic’ and ‘Coonskin’ tomorrow at Anthology you might consider asphyxiating yourself with a pair of your mother’s pantyhose tied to your kitchen faucet. No, really. ‘Coonskin’ will blow your fucking mind.
RALPH BAKSHI looked just like I hoped he would. He was a warm and gregarious character and he spoke to all the people on the line like we were his friends. He even offered me the chance to read for the Brother Bear role when he films ‘Coonskin 2’ in Nevuary 3008.
RALPH BAKSHI and ERNIE PANICCIOLI are very similar characters. They are both true dodger-blue Brooklynites that grew up in the poorest precincts in this city, but they had dreams, and they had faith. Read this interview of BAKSHI in BlackBook magazine.
RALPH BAKSHI and ERNIE P both see clearly through the well-coiffed veneer of opportunistic hustler AL SHARPTON. There is an AL SHARPTON type preacher in ‘Coonskin’ who makes his money by creating discontent in the community with no solutions or answers. Brother Rabbit deals with him in much the way he treats all of his enemies.
Brother Rabbit > Bugs Bunny.
And you know that sentence is a lot for me to admit.
I’ll say this again…
Tomorrow!
Saturday, April 19th
Anthology Film Archives
7:00 PM Heavy Traffic
9:00 PM StreetFight a/k/a Coonskin (on a restored 35mm print)
32 2nd Avenue, NYC
Tickets $8 at the door, good for one or both features.
So I will tell you
As for me, I’m good. I’m keeping the faith.
