There is always a method to the madness...

Post-VMA morning, I have a few thoughts about last night's show - bullet-point style because I have to run to a meeting...

• I thought the Michael Jackson Tribute was highly appropriate and definitely a celebration moreso than a memorial. I can only imagine that it was emotional for Janet but the entire performance was very thoughtful and executed well. Plus, "Scream" is one of my top 3 MJ songs so it was a treat.
• I would be okay if they never asked Russell Brand to host again - I think the world isn't quite ready for him or the other way around....
• Kudos to Wale as the House Band. I admittedly don't know much about him and am still trying to get a grasp on the DC music scene but it's nice to know that there is a scene that is getting noticed.
• Although he didn't win, I expect Kid Cudi will clean up next year. Check out his album on Tuesday when it's released!
• Lady Gaga - whoa. Different but interesting - talented yet strange. At any rate, since I don't know much about her, I will need to do some research.
• Oh, Kanye. At the end of the day, he was outrightly rude and inconsiderate. He did apologize on his blog however it could have totally been avoided. He apologized to her mom and plans to call her today to apologize (per the blog). I am somewhat of a closet Taylor Swift fan and I think she deserved the award she won. To be 17 years old with that type of talent is something special. At the basic level, if you have to have an outburst, at least have an outburst that makes sense. Rightfully so, he was escorted out the building and watched the rest of the show on TV like the rest of us. Given that it wasn't a category that he was nominated in or even related to (he didn't write, produce or direct the song or video), it was in poor, poor taste. But when I woke up this morning, I thought "Kanye strikes again." I believe that Kanye West is one of the artists that truly believes that any publicity is good publicity. He was nominated for a couple of awards that most people wouldn't remember the next day for a video that most people didn't like (I happened to like it but I'm only one person) - and didn't win in either category. He didn't wear anything outlandish. He attended the VMA's with Amber Rose, no shock there. He needed something to keep people interested in him. So today, blogs, radio shows, websites and television shows will all be talking about him. It doesn't matter that it's not favorable - without his stunt, no one would have a memory of him at the show. But there is a not-so-fine line that he crossed. As in life, you don't burn bridges in the industry because you just never know what may present itself later. You know that I am 200% a Kanye fan but I can't respect a lack of integrity and respect. I am still a fan of his music because I think he is way more talented than he is humble or appropriate. But be forewarned, you always have to remember your karma, Kanye.
• Although I was not a huge fan of the song or video, I believe that Beyonce did what she does best with her performance. And kudos to her for allowing Taylor to reclaim her moment and formally accept her award. She handled the situation with grace and poise and saved her karma.
• Still undisputed, Jay-Z also did what he was born to do in creating a live art through music. Always simple and understated in the physical sense, his songs and performances transcend most in taking you along on a personal journey with him that chronicles his life and the story of where he has come from. You don't have to a be a rapper or even from New York to understand a struggle. Can't wait for the tour. (Alicia Keys looked great and was a nice accompaniment)
• Just a little suggestion for MTV - please brief your security on who is and is not allowed on the stage during said performances and distribution of awards. It was really out of hand. Really.

Now that Kanye has got you talking, check out his performance with Jay-Z and Rihanna tonight on Jay Leno. Have a great Monday!

~S

Just some Friday thoughts...

Living in Maryland and working in downtown D.C. I have the pleasure of taking a 45 minute train ride to and from work. I don't mind it because unlike the CTA (no offense, Chicago) it is much, much quieter and most people are commuters so they respect the serenity. Because I can't sleep on the train, I'm wide awake and take advantage of the time for good people watching. Some of them are pretty amusing so I thought I'd share.

As a pretty motivated commuter, I move at a moderate pace. Not because I'm in any particular hurry but because I guess that's just what commuters do. However, I am amazed and even sometimes appalled by the commuters who will literally knock you, a child, a blind person and an elderly couple over to catch the next train. Understand that D.C. Metro trains are on schedule practically down to the second and one comes literally every 4 to 5 minutes if not sooner. Seriously crazy commuter, is it that awful if you have to listen to one additional song on your iPod until the next train comes!

A fan of technology, I get to observe a number of really cool gadgets in the variety of phones, Mp3 players and PDA's that D.C. business people are glued to. Earlier this week, I saw something that I had never seen before. A man was standing reading what looked like a book but there was light coming from it. I peeked over and saw that he had the Kindle. I first learned about the Kindle around Christmas last year and had seen ads online but I hadn't seen one in person. Initially, I thought it was a complete waste of money. (FYI-The Kindle is an electronic device that allows you to purchase books that same way you purchase songs for your iPod, download them and read them on the screen.) Retailing at about $300, I felt it wasn't a huge deal to continue buying standard books like everyone else. Originally a skeptic, let me tell you, this thing is pretty f'ing cool! I'm not sold enough to run out and buy one but I must say, good job Amazon!

I can't forget my fellow iPod listeners whose music is so loud that everyone around them can hear it and I can hear it over the music I'm listening to on my own iPod. One thing that Apple does well is sound quality, it's not necessary to listen to your iPod at its most exaggerated level, no matter how much you like that new Lil' Wayne song.

Because it's summer and it's summer in D.C., the city is ridden with tourists. Every afternoon I leave my office feeling like a celeb walking through a crowd of paparazzi (not in a good way) with all the tourists taking pictures. (It's kinda creepy to think about how many vacation pictures I'm probably in the background of. ) But you gotta love the tourists that get caught on the Metro during rush hour. I can't help but to feel bad for them because it is immediately evident that they're not from D.C. nor from a large city with a large public transit system. If you look close enough, you can literally see the joy and delight on their faces turn to horror once they enter the underground tunnels of the Metro. I have literally seen families huddle together so as not to get eaten alive by the D.C. commuters. But I usually flash them a smile and answer their directional questions to try to reassure them that it really will be okay.

Every day is different but the 45 minutes is usually pretty well spent. If nothing else, I get a few giggles out of it in between reading my newspaper. As if I didn't know this already, people are really interesting. If you observe long enough, you can learn a lot about someone you don't even know. So, the next time you have a free moment, instead of struggling to fill the time with doing something, sit back and observe. You may learn something about someone else or even yourself.

~S

I'm baaack!

If my blog were a plant, the poor thing would have died after not being taken care of since the beginning of June. I know a number of people who just don't have a green thumb and end up tossing out dead plants and buying new ones at Home Depot for a fresh start. Well, I just got back from Home Depot.

The past couple of months have been a whirlwind. Just a little over three months ago I was recovering from graduation and had learned that I had just secured a position with a new employer that I had been literally dreaming about for almost two years. The next few weeks involved packing like a mad woman and building a new life for me and Jamaal in the Metro DC area.

Well, three months later, we have moved and started a new life that I never saw coming a year ago. I look forward to each day and I sleep like a baby at night. The air I breathe in the morning is fresh and energizing and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy it. I miss Chicago of course but if all goes as planned it will be there when the time comes for a visit in a few months.

For graduation, one of my dear friends bought me a journal with quotes on each page that I keep at work and write important details in each day. All the quotes are timely but yesterday's quote seemed very apropos:

"Unless you walk out into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low." ~Tom Peters

I say all of this to say that change is never a bad thing, challenging sometimes but not bad. And albeit risky, if it doesn't work, do something different!

~S

P.S. - My deepest apologies to everyone who I appear to have ignored on Facebook - not intentionally though I promise! After receiving a sad little email from Facebook itself, I plan to rejoin the social networking world soon.