A Long Walk

Let's take a long walk around the park after dark
Find a spot for us to spark
Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation
Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
Elevations, maybe we can talk about Revelation 3:17

Or maybe we can see a movie
Or maybe we can see a play on Saturday
Or maybe we can roll a tree and feel the breeze and listen to a symphony
Or maybe chill and just be, or maybe
Maybe we can take a cruise and listen to the Roots or maybe eat some passion fruit
Or maybe cry to the blues
Or maybe we could just be silent

(Jill Scott – A Long Walk, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1)

Last night, I experienced this song down to every note. I met a young man several days ago and initially perceived it as a B.U.D.D.Y. situation (check out Musiq Soulchild's song). But I think this is going to be much more. I haven't felt this comfortable in a long time. His smile makes me smile and his body makes me ... well, let me keep this G-rated guys!

I came home from work, showered and “change[d] clothes and go.” I took the train back into Boston and Haymarket was the rendezvous. Twists instructed me to call first but I glimpsed him from across the station and after making eye contact, we were both grinning like Cheshire cats. We walked through the North End to Billy Tse, a Chinese restaurant. He had never been to the North End and seemed tremendously fascinated with everything. He was especially quiet at first but once we were seated, we talked about music, art and family. While jazz played in the background amid slightly dimmed lights, I found myself gazing intently at his stunning cocoa skin and reveling in his reserved presence.

We left the restaurant and walked to Government Center and watched a free concert. A jazz/big band was performing songs from the 20's, 30's and 40's. A small dance floor was set up in the front and some golden-age couples were swing dancing to tunes that reminded them of old times. We sat on the plaza steps observing and listening when I noticed he had laid back trying to slide over closer. I did the age old "hand-on-the-thigh-during-convo-to-see-if-he's-feeling-me" and I got no resistance. Before I knew it, we were extremely close, not quite touching, but near enough to occasionally rub legs or lean in for a kiss.

The concert ended and we trekked to the Commons and came upon a Shakespeare play. We didn't have a lawn chair or a blanket so we stood at the back of the crowd to watch. He likes theater so I relinquished my distaste of Shakespeare and allowed him to watch. Not sure what play it was (I only know a handful of the Bard's works) but it had the crowd roaring. We meandered through the Commons and found a bench in front of the Frog Pond, a small man-made splash pool. Customarily, it is filled with children and pets during the day, however, it was quiet and peaceful and the ideal place to sit and converse.

As the water trickled and lapped in the background, Twists and I spoke about education, his plans for the future and his past. I discovered he likes old-school music even though he's young. He's never been to a concert and admitted that he never had a real relationship. Moreover, he claimed he had never been kissed! I found that hard to believe but I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. Additionally, I learned his family originated from the South so we discussed different types of soul food. He's wants to major in psychology but has a passion for poetry. Finally, I learned he has a twin brother which, of course, I found rather intriguing.

As we sat on the bench, couples strolled by on the other side of the pond but no one came past our bench. I guess that made him feel extremely comfortable and soon his hand was on my thigh and my arm was draped across his shoulders. Believe me, I wanted to just get to it right there but I was cool. I've never been exceedingly affectionate in public however, the attraction we shared negated all our fears. At one point, we didn't really have anything to say! We both agreed that sometimes, just being in one’s presence and enjoying the moment is relaxing and peaceful.

We made our way to Downtown Crossing to catch our respective trains and that's when I decided to kiss him. We had intensely flirted on the bench at the Commons and I was mentally berating myself for not kissing when it was more romantic. Man, I have such crummy timing! Nevertheless, the kiss was out of this world! His lips were extremely soft and it turned me on so much. Once I arrived home, we conversed a little before I hit the pillow. The end of a wonderful evening.

There's definitely a second date on Friday and I'm literally counting the hours until I can see him again. I haven't been with anyone romantically or sexually in several years and I had forgotten what it was like. I buried myself in my studies and adopted the attitude:

"I don't need no n***** rollin' over, lookin' after me"
(Erykah Badu - Certainly [Flipped It], Baduizm)

I like Twists a lot and feel confident and animated around him. He's still not out to his family and he's never been to pride so I've got my work cut out for me. And speaking of family, I found out that he's actually the son of a friend of my father's. Talk about six degrees of separation! That blew my mind three ways to Sunday! It's got me a bit nervous because I can't tell my family; the grapevine is a bit too connected. I don't want to be the cause of serious problems.

Originally, this was just supposed to be a booty call, but now I'm too interested and can call it anything but. I'm genuinely feeling him on numerous levels. I'm trying not to get too excited. I'm taking it for what it is and I’m going see what happens, where it goes. In the meantime, I just hope we have more walks around the park, after dark ...

Let's Do The Twist

Over the past few months, I've been wearing a style known as yarn locks. For the past two years, I've had cornrows and worn just about every pattern under the sun. My former friend, Thai Guy, introduced me to the yarn locks and I went to the shop while he was having his put in. They came out great and thus I decided to try out the style. Essentially, yarn locks are long strands of yarn woven into your natural hair; an extension. Over time, your hair locks and grows and when you reach the desired length, you can cut out the yarn, leaving only your natural hair.

I've had them since March and many people have given me great compliments. I've learned how to adjust to life with longer hair and I'm really looking forward to the day when I can cut the yarn out and my hair has finally locked. In the meantime, I've endured the trips to the salon to have the locks retwisted and while it's sometimes painful and a bit more expensive than the cornrows, the result looks fantastic. However, the retwisted hair stays in place for about two weeks and after a good wash, the hair puffs up and looks raggedy at the roots.

I reviewed a few web forums regarding hair care for dreadlocks and I'm considering “do-it-yourself” retwisting to save money. Although I lack a few of the necessities (and skill), I have most everything I need. Nevertheless, I'm not quite sure I can do this. Some individuals stressed leaving the locks alone and occasional washing. Others suggest frequent washing will lock hair faster. Still, other individuals stated that retwisting only damages the hair and doesn't promote locking at all. I'm not sure who or what opinion to believe now.

I want to know if anyone out there knows how to retwist locks themselves and whether or not it is a good idea? Do you know anyone with locks and have they shared any of their personal preferences for maintaining their look?

Take Everything In

During my daily commute, there is a tree I face on the other side of the train tracks. Back in late May, when most trees had blossomed, this tree was virtually bare. Two years prior, I discerned a railroad spike lodged in a branch. Subsequently, I was convinced this iron thorn had poisoned the tree and inhibited any type of growth. The few leaves that did emerge were brown and withered. I assumed this was the end of the road for this tree. However, several weeks ago, the tree began sprouting leaves like crazy. Throughout the week, broad, green leaves budded and covered nearly every visible branch. Without a doubt, this tree was alive and in five years, more exquisite than I had ever imagined.

I'm not a great philosopher or wise man and I'm not proficient with analogies and morals but observing this tree everyday reminds me of the necessity for love. Although I still have issues with religion, trivial events like this inspire me and reaffirm my wavering faith in miracles. To me, this tree symbolizes love, life and faith. While the following line is cliché it is reasonably pertinent: even when you think all hope is lost, there is a miracle. I just wanted to share this small story with everybody.

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 5)

Last night, I went to the supermarket and bought my first batch of healthy food. I'm so glad I'm not married with children. I spent nearly $100 just in an hour of being in there! I started picking out items that weren’t on my list. I bought wheat pasta (never tried it before), peaches, apples, pineapple, Honey Nut Cheerios, yogurt, granola bars, salmon and lean boneless chicken breast. There was more but I'm not going to drone on. You get the idea.

Additionally, today was my first early morning cardio workout in several weeks and I managed about 2.5 miles on the treadmill and I didn't have to stop in between runs. You see, I'm lousy at stretching. I end up getting hip or leg cramps during my cardio workout. There are some days I've managed close to 6 miles (I’m on a roll) and still others when I can barely make 2 miles. It basically depends on my mood and physical stamina. But when I’m feeling good, I love to freak people out. I'm short and thick so people think I'm going to run for a minute and quit or slow down. After an hour, they're walking out the door and I'm still cruising at 6 MPH in the zone! I love running!

I recently read a post on Deonte' K's Spot, titled Deonte’s Top 5 Gym Pet Peeves, and he suggested that most gyms should provide a separate area for SGL guys to concentrate on our workout. I agree wholeheartedly! The buffed up tatted guy I see all the time on the train and in the gym, was there this morning (I've got to find him an alias: suggestions?). Not to mention this hot 30-something black guy with a nice tight ass which I ended up intently gazing at while running. Extremely distracting! Why can't there just be old white fat guys there?!?!

To Boldy Go ...

Okay, I'm curious to know if any bloggers out in the blogosphere have something you enjoy (hobby, television show, activity, movie, drug, etc.) that you seldom disclose due to judgment or persecution by friends or family …

:: exhales ::

All right, I'll start. I'm a huge Star Trek fan and almost to the point where it borders on obsession. Initially I was introduced to Star Trek: The Next Generation and then turned to Deep Space Nine and Voyager. I don’t particularly care for the original series or Enterprise. I've watched every movie and even have old starship models and books I read regularly. I'm a walking encyclopedia when it comes to any and everything Trek-related. So there, I admitted it!

I don't typically reveal this to anyone because I get slapped with the label of nerd. I especially don't share that with potential dates until it gets significantly serious. I'm not embarrassed about it because I know everyone has an unusual enjoyment and I'm hardly in a judicial position. I say, "to each his own."

What's your guilty pleasure?

Emotional Rollercoaster

I'm the real thing,
in stereo
I got a little highs,
I got a little lows

(Jill Scott - The Real Thing, The Real Thing: Words & Sounds, Vol. 3)

The above lyrics sum up my weekend perfectly!

I came home Friday and did absolutely nothing. I ended up banging around on the keys (I haven't played in a quick minute) and then watched TV. Total laziness.

The Lows
I was curious about a site I heard about via some bloggers called BGCLive. Several individuals had stated it wasn't a trustworthy site so I didn't go into it with many expectations, maybe a hookup. Yeah, bad boy in me was coming out! I saw a few ex's on there (one hit me up) as well as many fine ass brothas. The dating site I'm on doesn't have many black guys so I was in Nubian heaven! Yes, I like flavor. I'm like the guy in a recent KFC commercial:

(as he bites into a piece of chicken) "Whoa! What's that?"
"Flavor..."
"I like flavor!"

Subsequently, I became depressed. You see, I have green eyes. I start checking guys who are hot and start comparing myself to them. It's a nasty flaw but it's what makes me human and imperfect. I'm working on it. So after a few hours cruising the site and feeling really down, I decided to turn the computer off and focus on what's blessed in my life. Gradually, I pulled out of it.

I was also in a foul mood because my dad wanted to push my buttons and Rugrat decided he wanted to be an ass toward everyone. He was supposed to perform in a hip-hop show that night and I offered to support him. However, the show was cancelled (much to my relief, not really my scene) and I ended up back on BGC that night.

The Highs
Needless to say, I met someone on BGC and we talked online all night, early into Sunday morning. After my first trip back to the gym (sidebar: I got my monthly membership lowered to $24! woo-hoo!), I spent the day finalizing my resume and then started talking to my new friend. I don't have an alias for him yet. He reminds me a lot of SideKick (ironically he has one too) however, he’s a lot more mature. He's really smart, driven, has a sexy smile and is brutally honest. Major turn-on! So last night, I was up until 1 AM on the phone with him. I was laying in bed, lights dimmed real low, under the covers, just talking about anything we could think of. It was real nice. I haven't had a convo like that in ages. Eventually, we started getting freakier and needless to say, a few pics were traded via his sidekick. I’m not usually a top but after seeing the booty, I’m jumping the fence! I'm definitely sprung on this kat. I don't think I want to talk relationship but in the meantime, I need to cure these celibacy blues and I think he might be the one.

Oh yeah, SideKick called me yesterday and he confirmed he was robbed at gunpoint. He still doesn't have a sidekick but at least he’s okay and alive. I was especially relieved to hear from him. Needless to say, he figured I was feeling someone and if you thought my eyes were green, his are dark green! I ain't sweating him but I still like him ... maybe there could be a threesome ... hmmmm ... "oh behave!"

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 4)

Many individuals have extended their support regarding my workout plans and I want to say thank you! Due to the deluge of encouragement, I'm shifting into overdrive. I have exactly three weeks (8/16) until I revisit my personal physician.

One blogger said he lost 40 pounds and looks fantastic (and mad sexy!) from the many pics I have observed. In addition, I saw a huge buffed dude at the gym during my early morning workouts and he was always eyeing me every time I came through the door. This past week, I saw him on the subway twice (in a suit which hugged his body deliciously!) I believe the gym is haunting me based on these signs!

I can feel the weight gain (I've gone from 200 to 205) and I'm fed up. So I'm going to set up a better plan. I am not a diet believer and thanks to my nutrition class last semester, I learned a lot about how the body processes food. My professor emphasized avoiding supplements and utilizing natural foods to maintain your health.

Initially, I'm setting my alarm and forcing myself back into the early morning workouts. I am a sleep-lover but that's got to change. I'll probably get used to the early morning workouts again after a few days.

Secondly, I plan to change my eating habits. The cookout is over so I'm going to start buying my own groceries instead of relying on my family's food. My family doesn't really buy healthy stuff. Pops always has potato chips, cakes or other sweets lying around which lead me to "binge" when I come home from work. Essentially, every healthy thing I eat (Cheerios, salads, fruit) throughout the day is irrelevant once I come home. Smaller portions, no seconds, more fruit and veggies and water and I should be on course. Additionally, we love to order out, however, I won’t be able to partake in that for a while.

Finally, I'm going to concentrate on weights and the ab machines. I'm a cardio-fanatic. I love sweating and I'll take a treadmill or stair climber any day over weights. Nevertheless, ::sigh :: I know I need to firm and tone. A month ago, I was starting to feel rock hard abs underneath my gut so I know I was doing something right.

Do you mind if I’m narcissistic for a moment? Good! I was going to anyway! I don't think I'm a bad looking guy in the face and legs (they're in good shape from all the running I've done) however, the foremost problem area is my torso. Therefore, my target weight for the next three weeks is hopefully 195. That's approximately 10 pounds. Once I’m into a routine, it shouldn't be hard to maintain. I'd really like to dial it back to 180 but you have to crawl before you can walk.