Random Thoughts: 27 & 28 Are Prime Numbers

My last girlfriend always lamented the fact that she didn't have me when I was 21. She always said that was my prime. I guess so... I was at my physical best at that time.

Recently, I was chatting over IM with my bud Sandy about it and she said "No way, you're in your prime right now silly boy."

It really made me think. So I decided to look into it a bit more and do some research. Here's what I found:

Micheal Jordon wasn't in his prime until he was 27
Bill Gates made his first billion around 27-28 with Microsoft
Kobe Bryant scored 81 when he was 28

The list goes on and on...

So a couple of weeks ago, I was having lunch with Cathy and we were talking about our lives and after I said my peace, she just had the grin and nod going on and it came up again. To quote her, "Life must be really nice for you right now, Enjoy it John. You're in your prime." It made me do a double take because it brought me back to what Sandy said to me.

So I asked Cathy, "How do you figure?"

She said, "Well, you're at a point where you have worked a little bit so it's not so hard for you to find a job and you've also saved up some so you have financial freedom to do whatever you want. Also, your established but at the same time you have direction and you still have a challenge. It's a great place to be."

I took all of it to heart.

For the last year, I was in the mindset that I'm getting up there in the years and I didn't have much time before I became the old guy in the club. But all this really started to sink in so I started working out again and it all just kinda turned from there.

What I noticed now is that my body is a lot stronger now and my metabolism isn't crazy anymore. I can hold more weight naturally without all the crap I used to take (No, never any steroids). And although it sounds a little self-indulgent, it really helped me realize that your prime isn't just the physical. I'm also in the best spiritual & mental health of my life. I have a few years under my belt and I just get things now. I know how to treat people and I know how to balance my life. I have the strength to say "no". It's everything.

Yes, I have a long ways to go. But isn't it great that you have direction and something to work for? And yes, there are many aspects of life I haven't even touched upon yet like being a father or a husband. But isn't it wonderful that I know that I'm ready for those challenges. So yes, there still is a lot to be done. But please don't forget... YES, I'm having the time of my life.

Birthday Blessings

Hey everybody,

Just really quick, I’m totally low key about my b-day. It truly isn’t a big deal to me. I never have asked for anything but the non-stop IMs, the emails, the little notes and the phone calls from 12:00 am to 11:59pm just put me somewhere else.

The gifts, the cake, the little get together and just everybody showing up… I was totally surprised. Yes, I’m somewhere else right now.

With the deepest gratitude,
JT

Random Thoughts: Sneaker Culture & Shoe Racism

I love all things hip-hop. I love watching rap-battles, and b-boys breakin' n poppin' it off on youtube. I love the diversity that hip-hop music brings and the fact that it's able to break so many cultural boundries in the search for the next hot beat. Two weekends ago, I was able to be part one of it's sub-cultures that surrounds customized sneakers or in sneaker-head (a shoe lover) terms, "kicks".

My buddy James was in a finals for the nation's best shoe customizer and he was the regional representative for Los Angeles. That alone to me was just incredible but to be going head to head with the nation's finest just makes your appreciate your friends and what they have and are accomplishing that much more. In any case, the competition was being run throughout the day and finally at night... the party (along with the ridicule) began.

Being just an outside spectator, I quickly realized that I didn't belong at this party. Yes, there were people of all ages, races and quality of life however they all had one thing in common. Nice ass shoes. Guess who didn't belong?

The night quickly turned sour as people would throw me dirty looks as I was walking through the party. Actually, it was more like they would first look at me, smile and then look down at my plain white, torn and tattered shoes and they all just shook their heads. Each mini trial was completed as they looked up and visually pummeled me with their looks of disdain and disapproval. It was as if my presence was bringing down the quality of their event. Step and repeat.

There were a few other outcasts just like myself at the party and we all found ourselves in the darkest corner all huddled together like the lepers that we were. No words were said... just envious stares at the shoes others were wearing. It was a total David Copperfield moment.

OK... so in all honesty, it wasn't that bad. But I do have to admit, I did feel like I showed up with no pants (or in this case, no shoes) to the party. It was a killer time but next year when this rolls around, I'll be sporting a pair of James See Specials and then I shall be able to throw looks of disdain and disapproval behind my wanna-be shoe lover facade.

Here are some of the hot kicks that were at the competition and some pics from the event. Oh and don't forget, if you don't have a pair hot kicks to sport at least keep what you have clean. ~Peace.