Back in the day,,,

I made mention that today feels a little nostalgic. I'm seeing visions of cable rope chains, Bally shoes, four-finger rings and some good old-school hip hop music. The year is 1988 and I was in the eleventh grade living in Oakland, CA. These times seem to be fun as I was just coming into my own. Getting comfortable in my own skin and thinking I was the Man. I chuckle now seeing some of the things we use to do and places we use to go. Wow, what a time...

Warriors, SF Giants, (Current day) SF 49ers fan

They are ALL pissing me off right now.

NUFF SAID.

A poem I wrote for a couple just recently married.

Here is my latest poem. I home you all enjoy it.

To you, reside my affection where you make home. Its bright glow assures I won’t catch cold feet while holding your love’s heat. I am ready.

I choose you to make me whole. I am a must-have selection in your most desired collection. Take me, need me, complete me & cherish me as I do you. Give to me like the rich with long arms and shallow pockets. I am ready for completion.

This is no Cinderella theory. I plan to be in your company late into the evening & onward. She & Prince Charming are jealous of the love we have as fairytales seek our example of happily ever after. I am ready to exemplify.

The heaviest burden in life is having nothing to carry. I carry you in my heart, my thoughts and in my most sincere ambitions. My reward is testimony knowing that you are with me every step of the way. I am ready to go with you.

Your fragrance of love seizes my awareness with the wonderful scent of valentine. My poise, reminiscent to bursting of fireworks. It is going to be a life-long holiday season. I am ready to celebrate with you.

I will become, in your eyes what you will see me as. Like Braille, you have to feel me to know what I am saying. I am ready to communicate with you.

Appreciate me from afar; empower me up close. Share my faults seldom and acknowledge my gifts often. I am judged not by what I do; but what I do for you. I am ready to make good with you.

I will never ask you to journey where I have not yet gone. Though together, I see us traveling to new and exciting destinations. They who say, “it can’t be done by us” shall stand aside to witness our doing. I am ready to work with you.

Our Wedding date is where love and our commitment to one another meet. I am ready, I am ready, I am ready…

Written by LaMar Vinson ©

Love is a house. make sure your foundation is strong for storms ahead.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

One quick question to you...

If you pick a hero with super-duper powers, who would you be and why?

I am interested in hearing your answer.

When things seem a bit tough

When things seem a bit tough, try as hard as you can to smile. These are the moments that define who you are. Ask yourself this: In spite of everything that is going on in my life, do I stand in the corner, cry and wet myself or do I fight the good and get past this momentary setback?

What say you?

Where family can go wrong...

I read a very disturbing story today involving a gang rape of a 7-year old girl. What makes this story worst (as if it isn't bad enough) is that the violated girl was SOLD to the group of heartless thugs by her older step-sister (Age 15).

The story is inserted here:

TRENTON, N.J. – Two adults and three juveniles have been charged with gang-raping a 7-year-old girl who was sold by her 15-year-old stepsister during a party at a crime-ridden apartment building, police said Saturday.

Details on the arrests were announced at a Saturday night news conference at police headquarters in Trenton, the state's capital city.

The arrested people include a 20-year-old man who already had been charged Friday with having sex with the 15-year-old. The other four are a 19-year-old Trenton man and boys ages 13, 14 and 17. Each was charged with aggravated sexual assault and child endangerment.

Police said further arrests may be made in the case, which shocked residents of the gritty Rowan Towers apartment building.

Authorities say the 7-year-old girl was offered for sale by her stepsister on March 28. They say the stepsister went to a party with some men at Rowan Towers and the younger girl tagged along because she worried about her stepsister's safety.

Police say the 15-year-old sold sex to men, then took money to let them touch the younger girl. They say touching turned to forcible sex as at least seven men raped the 7-year-old.

Before Saturday's arrest announcement, the 15-year-old had been charged with promoting prostitution, aggravated sexual assault and other crimes; police have not released her name, and she remained in juvenile detention Saturday night.

Mayor Doug Palmer said he met with the victim's relatives at his office on Thursday to offer help and make sure they were able to move out of the neighborhood over safety concerns.

"We made sure they got out of the area," he said Saturday afternoon, before the news conference.

He credited the police force for its hard work but said "we're still not finished." He pledged to spare no expense "to make sure that everyone responsible is brought to justice."

"We're still asking the community to let us know if they have any more information on this heinous crime," he said.

Palmer met with the parents, the 7-year-old girl and her two younger siblings. The woman is the mother of the 7-year-old girl, and the man she lives with is the father of the 15-year-old. The man and woman also have two toddlers together.

He said police officers had taken the case "very personally."

Police Director Irving Bradley would only say "it's still an active investigation."

Police earlier in the week were urging residents to come forward, but neighbors said they were scared of retaliation from gangs that prowl the streets if they spoke up.

Rowan Towers sits on a stretch of West State Street near downtown Trenton and is surrounded by blocks of abandoned, boarded-up homes. It's fronted by a well-manicured lawn and features a colorful playground and a basketball court. An American flag hangs from a pole to the right of the front door.

My take on this:

The Mother needs to consider life without the child's father. Reason, how can the mother move forward without worry of the younger siblings? The men involved will get their payment in HELL IN FULL. whatever the statue of time is for a crime of this kind should carry special circumstances where additional time is automatically tacted on. These folks are monsters and should never see the light of day (Speaking of freedom). Even in the penitentiary there are rules and the inmates will surely make them rue the day they acted like animals. THEY WILL BE TREATED AS SUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

Where is the humanity? SICK, SICK, SICK.

Helping those who helped us...

My Mom just had surgery and is now recovering (The procedure went well, thank you for your kind thoughts). My mom, a woman for whom I hold in high esteem, is getting around slowly these days is soldiering on with such grace. I am paying close attention because I want to see where I get my inner strength. From the time I was a baby until I was in high school (Where I thought I was grown), my mom raised me and showed me the traits needed for being a responsible adult. In her time of need, I am returning the favor and I am enjoying it. Sharing what my Mom shared with me. I feel privileged more than obligated to serve and I am doing it with a smile.

Getting back in the swing of things.

In this game called "LIFE" we are told to get back in the game and compete. Aim higher, reach further, walk the second mile and so forth. How are you feeling these days. I ask because with the economy in a mess, sarcasm is at an all time high, politics over politicized, we have to focus on try in efforts to stay in the game. How do we find our groove when we don't feel particularly like our position?

The first thing we need to do is take stock in our efforts and value the opportunity to contribute. Secondly, evaluate the people with which we surround ourselves. This will allow us to find a rhythm and get some traction. If success breeds confidence, let's celebrate the small victories to get to larger, more meaningful ones.

Getting into the swing of things mean continuing to try. I urge you to try and try often. I ask that you share the same advice for me. :-)

Lata until next time...