O.M.G

I fail. It's been over a year since I've posted something. I was having lunch with a friend and somehow Reinaldo Arenas surfaced and I couldn't think of his poem "My Love the Sea" so I had him search for it on his iPhone. The first result was my blog! I was like damn...completely forgot.

So, what's been new?

I started a job as an Assistant Media Buyer in April 08. Just over a year later I am a Media Buyer, but with all my assistant duties. NYC is cool. Unless you're not okay with being lonely in the midst of millions of people, it's a great place to be.

In a few weeks I head to Tokyo. This will be me and two other friends. Should be fun. This year saw lots of travel. Miami, Mexico (Cuernavaca), San Juan, and soon Tokyo.

I'm not even going to promise keeping up with this though I'd love to. Maybe I can discipline myself to a weekly post. Something manageable.

Shall see. :)

Interviews!!!! And other stuff.

So the past two weeks have been ladened with interviews--not a bad thing at all. I had my first interview with a male today! This whole experience is fun and eye opening. The Executive Directors, Senior Directors, Vice Presidents, and Supervisors are women--which I truly have enjoyed. All the workplaces, too, are really laid back and open. Super fun! The guy with whom I interviewed was nice and talked a lot. I mean A LOT.

So if I get all three job offers I'm going to have a tough call. I really enjoyed all three places so I need to sit down and decide what I REALLY want for my future. One job is not with a nonprofit, which alone is very appealing to me. After three and a half years of working in the nonprofit sector, I may have the opportunity to break into media buying/advertising industry. So yeah I hope I'm offered at least one of the three jobs and am working soon.

In other news, I'm so over this election. It wasn't too bad until I moved in with my friend. At first I would get the occasional update from reading the paper, watching a bit of TV, etc. NOW I'm enveloped in the major news networks ALL night. My friend comes home from work and sits down in front of the television and flips through all the channels. I can't imagine living like that. Seriously this election is packed with emotion and to watch it all day means it's really soaking in the brain. And considering how passionate my friend is about this election, it might be in his best interest to take a break. Otherwise it's going to take a huge toll on him emotionally--and it has. His performance at work is suffering and his confidence in his candidate is dwindling. Unfortunately he doesn't realize the connection between watching and reading negative press all day to his feelings regarding his candidate. This is all happening to a person who's not great at managing emotions.

Anything else...? Friends are coming next month!! April 11-14, 17-20, 25-28. Yay! Seriously, when I get my first paycheck I'm getting fucked up! Like...sloppy drunk...like...dangerously drunk...like hell-t0-the-muthafucking-yeah! I so need a night out.

Ok...be back later!

Little Boy in the dress, why are you crying?

I'm part of this young professional organization and we're being asked to read this book, The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly, before a face-to-face meeting in April. Three pages into the first chapter I start crying. Immediately I pull myself together because I was sitting in the barber shop--the manliest of places in the Black community. At any rate, I found myself disturbed at my crying. Only a couple days prior I was reading an article in Essence when the water works came on. It took me 10 minutes to get things under control and I still can't finish the article without tearing up. A day after that I started reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Again...more crying. What's wrong with me?

The readings were simple and rather mundane. It's not like I was reading some extraordinary story. What they readings did share, however, was the idea of living--whether it was living out a dream or surviving life. At this point in my life I'm sorta doing both. I moved east and I'm broke! Lol. Didn't really realize I was relating to the readings until now.

That's all...just wanted to share. More to come later.

New Developments

Aye!! It's been three to four months since my last post. I always say I'm going to keep up with this damn thing and I never do. :-/

At any rate, I'm writing to update everyone on my recent development. I now live in the New York metro! Staying with my friend in Jersey along the river. I'm about a 20 minute bus ride from Port Authority so I get to the city everyday. Once I get a job, I'm going to consider moving to Brooklyn or Jersey City. Damn NYC tax, though. hmph!

It doesn't seem like I live here. Maybe when I am working like the rest of world will I feel I'm not on vacation.

Ok, done typing. Ciao!

HIV/AIDS in DC Highest in Country

Click Here for More Info

Highest rates of infection in country. According to someone...an Elephant Graveyard for black gay men. Although, the infections are primarily through heterosexual contact.

According to the article, federal won't allow a needle exchange program. Would that curb infections? If so, does that hold the gov't responsible?

Revelations Pt 2

In an effort to find answers to what's wrong with me I am starting some volunteering and joining organizations. I'm working with Jr Council of CMH doing fundraising and volunteer with children. I figured social service is a great way for me to learn about myself while helping others. Yes, part of my intentions are selfish...but I think everything we do should involve "What can I get from this?" And it doesn't have to be fiscal. Damn it could simply put a smile on your face or the warm feeling of helping someone else.

Besides social work, I have been re exploring my Black Gay community. Oh how I miss you! After my friend passed in 2006, I honestly lost track of all the news and happenings. I tell you, I use to be the go-to man for everything. Books, clubs, events, etc...if it was black and gay...Aaron knew! And I use to feel really good about myself, but there was so many positive activites occurring--community service projects, food drives, pot lucks, or poetry sets. Well I'm getting back to it and my first stop was http://www.blackgayusa.com/.

I'm getting back to my reading! Finishing school has taken a lot away from me and I miss my reading, a whole goddamn lot. I recently came across Dayne Avery (check out his link to the right). I want to read his two books, then return to Oprah's Book Club selections.

Get Ready...Aaron's coming!

Revelations

It's midnight...damn I should not have taken that two hour nap! I won't be sleep until 2 or 3 AM at the earliest. Thank God there is On Demand.

Well this past month has been pretty okay. One of my brothers and I had lunch and I realized how much he loves me and really looks up to me. I need to keep that in mind in everything I do. My Army brother and I talked for 1/2 an hour. That was super refreshing. He's back home on the 13th then returns on the 4th of January. He'll miss my birthday get together :( I'm trying to organize a few activities while he's in town. Basketball game, tourist stuff, quick trip to NYC. Ah yes....I love my brothers. They are, hands down, my best friends.

A friend recently "came out" as a lesbian. That's been interesting. Interesting because she's remding me of when I first proclaimed it to the world. Trying to find your place in one more community, ya know? Where do I fit in? How can I belong? At 23 it's going to be a tough road. Especially considering she's halfway through grad school and about to start a professional career yet doesn't have any close friends who have a similar background. I'm definitely going to do what I can to support her, but I have to remember that I can't carry her.

One of my biggest issues is that I'm probably one of the nicest people in the world, but I put on this facade of being a no-nonsense-tell-you-like-it-is-I-don't-give-a-damn jerk. I play the role so much that I think that's who I am. That's dangerous because I begin to lose sight of myself. People don't know how to respond to me...Is he going to be nice or is he going to be an ass? Will Aaron like this? What DOES Aaron like? It's like multiple personalities. ...And why? Why am I protecting myself? From what? Who? Ah...yes...these are the questions I am too explore...and answer. But where do I begin? I use to have this amazing source, but his work has taken him away and he's not available like I was use to for YEARS. So maybe this is a chance to see how I help myself? What can I do for me? Yes! Yes! It is! I'm suppose to pick my own Goddamn self up and find my own damn answers! There's no waiting for someone to say "Aaron, here's your problem..." Nope...I have to go out there and find the root of my issues and confront it...acknowledge it...own it....make it mine.

Only on CTA

So on my way to work yesterday a funny ass incident occurred.

The bus stops at Roosevelt Rd and Ashland Ave and a gentleman in a wheel chair boards. The bus I'm on is older and requires the ramp to the person up stairs. Now the man in the wheel chair appears to be 65/70 years old. As the ramp is lifted in the air the old man is making small talk with the bus driver, which is cool. The talk continues as he's paying his fare. The talk continues some after he's done paying his fare. Allll the while, the wheel chair is in front of a lady sitting next to the door. After a brief moment, the lady spitefully asks "Gone ahead and board the damn bus!" That was funny as hell. So the old man starts moving, but while he's working his way to his section the lady loudly mummbles "taking all goddamn day, folks got places to be." Man oh man. When she said that, the old man swiveled his wheel chair around like he was in a derby, and rolled up on this lady! I mean he got all in her face and was like "Say what?!" "huh?!" "What was that?!" Mind y'all I'm in the middle of the bus giggling my ass off. She didn't say much on that one. I don't think she was expecting him to roll up on her (and her literally did). She turned her head, shut her mouth, and the old man clicked himself in.

Entertainment on the CTA is endless.

Conversations on the 9

Saturday morning on my way to work I over heard a very interesting conversation on the No 9 Ashland bus. The conversation was about men who sleep with men while in prison. It was one of the best conversations I've heard in a really long time.

Initially the conversation was about something else, so when I got on the bus I was slightly turned off because there was a large amount of swearing and the conversation seemed like nothing. After a minute or two I finally caught wind of the discussion. I couldn't see their faces, only hear their voices. Two young women and a young man. The young man had some accent...he's from the south, but not too far south. Tennessee, North Carolina? It was obvious they were from the hood...because of the bus route my guess is Englewood.

They discussed the rise of HIV/AIDS amongst black women and the link between men who sleep with men while in prison. The conversation was very real and very raw. They talked about people in the neighborhood (and they said names) and who had HIV/AIDS because of sex while in prison and linked it to the rise of women in the neighborhood with HIV/AIDS. And guess what? It didn't take them millions of dollars and years of research!

I came across this:

According to CDC report authored by Dr. Robert Greifinger, formally the Department of Correction's chief medical officer, and cited by Fox Butterfield in a New York Times article ["Infections in Newly Released Inmates Are Rising Concern" dated January 28, 2003], an inordinate number of inmates are leaving prison with one infectious disease or another. In 1996 alone, 1.3 million releasees had hepatitis C; 155,000 had hepatitis B; 12,000 had tuberculosis; 98,000 had HIV; and 39,000 had AIDS. Presumably, the numbers for 2003 are considerably higher.

Those numbers are for 2002, but I wonder if the issue's been addressed?

So often this discussion is had by doctors, researchers, politicians and entertainers and do not involve those who live in the middle of whats' going on. Let's move these discussions from the cushioned couch on television to the hardwood floors of someone's living room or the local recreational centers. By having these local dialogs we create an opportunity for the community to unite and better educate the entire community.