Radio Interview Aftermath/Adventures in Laptop Hunting

First off...the radio interview was GREEEEEEAAAAT!!!!  :-D

I had such a wonderful time doing the interview!!!  The interview on Dock Radio went on for a little over an hour, but it was great.  The show's host Donya Craddock and I really hit it off, and had a great conversation talking about my various book titles, and my two current books that I recently released.  I got the opportunity to discuss my networking group the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement, and talk a little bit about my overall activism.  All in all...this was probably THE best radio interview that I've ever had.  Most of my other interviews were rather blah, and it felt like the interviewer never even really paid attention to whichever book I was being interviewed about at the time; this time was different. Donya was very engaging, and was really interested in my work.  The interview flowed really well, and we ended up going a little over our time.  That's what happens when you really enjoy the discussion :-).  I hope to do a return engagement on the show, and also to make a trip out to their bookstore The Dock Bookshop in Ft. Worth,Texas, once this pandemic is over. :-D

Secondly....my old laptop died last Friday, the day after the interview.  :'-(

It was to be expected.  My old laptop was actually old; I'd had it for 9 years.  It wouldn't hold a charge anymore, and it was coming apart.  Once it broke, I was a little frazzled; I didn't really know what to do.  I know that I needed to get a new one, but...with this mf pandemic going on, I didn't know how to get my hands on a new one.  It's my only means to getting online, and writing my books...

Then...I saw a TV commercial for Target...

Wait a minute!!!  Target is considered an 'essential business'!!!  Target is still OPEN!!

YEEEEEEES!!!!!   :-D

Since I don't drive, I figured out which bus line I needed to take to get to the local Target out here, and made plans to go the next day.  I got on the bus, took the ride, and made my way to Target.  Once I got there, I made my way to the electronics department, and started looking at their available laptops.

The pickings were really slim.  There weren't any laptops in the cases.  I was lucky enough to have a really, really cute salesperson come up to me, and ask me if I needed any help.  I let her know what I needed, and that's when she dropped a bomb on me....

"I'm sorry sir...we're out of laptops.  If there aren't any in the display cases, then we're really out.  Because of telecommuting, and schooling from home, we got smacked..."

:-O!!!!!!!

I was SO hurt!!!  This was NOT good!  I really, REALLY needed to get my hands on a laptop.  But, then she said the magic words...

"They should have laptops at Best Buy.  Did you try there, yet...?"

?!?!?!?!?!?!

YEEEEEEEEES!!!!!  :-D

She told me what i needed to hear.  She told me where the nearest Best Buy branch was located, and I went.  I didn't know that they were going to have me stand outside, while they were going into the store to get whatever electronic device you needed.  You basically have to rely on the knowledgeability of the salesperson to fit your needs.  Oh well...I got what I needed, and made my way back home.  Luckily for me, I'd backed up all of my files on my flash drives prior to the old laptop going kaput.  They're now all saved on my new laptop, as well as being able to download all of the programs that I use.

On another note...I was able to shoot and upload the latest episode of "The Rough Draft"; episode number TEN!!!  The show is now in the double digits!!!  I'm proud of myself for that!!!  If you go on YouTube, please watch the episode, and leave a comment!!  And don't forget to subscribe to my channel!!  :-)

Well, that's it for now.  I'll keep you updated on my progress.  Now that I have a new laptop, I can continue with my projects.  Hit you guys up soon!!!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind      

OnyxCon: Sankofa 2017

It's that time again!!  If you're in the Atlanta area, PLEASE come out to support OnyxCon: Sankofa!!!  Part of the Black Age of Comics Movement, this annual event takes place every winter during February/Black History Month.  It is a way for us to celebrate OUR images from our perspective.  Full of comics, art, cosplay, film screenings, and SO much more!

OnyxCon: Sankofa
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Wolf Creek Library
Atlanta, GA

www.onyxcon.com

BE THERE!!!! 

The Chronicles of The Black Fist---Celebrating Halloween

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Brooklyn, Ny--As Halloween draws nearer, and you are looking for a hero for you or your child to dress up as for the holiday season, choose to embody a hero of the people, for the people, from "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" (CreateSpace, 2015), the premiere action-packed novel by Kevin Alberto Sabio.  In this day and age of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, here is a hero for us, by us, told from our perspective.  Action packed and culturally relevant, this is a hero for you in the modern age, protecting us from both the criminal element, and corrupt cops alike.

The Chronicles of The Black Fist is published through CreateSpace, and is available in paperback format through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.  The novel is also available in eBook format, and is available through carriers such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, and 24Symbols.  Digital ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies) are available in PDF format upon request for review purposes.

KEVIN ALBERTO SABIO is an author and activist, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  His is the youngest son of Honduran Garifuna immigrant parents.  He is the founder of the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement. His is the author of SEVEN published books of nonfiction and fiction.

Keep the fist raised,

Kevin Alberto Sabio

Author/activist

 https://www.createspace.com/5341559

Da Latest News.....

We're in interesting times right now, aren't we....?

Job Search
     As of late, the job search continues.  I'd previously written about my desire to relocate, and an adventure that I'd had for a particular job interview called "Adventures In Job Hunting".  I finally heard back from that particular job, and I ended up getting turned down.  Oh, well...back to the old drawing board.  :-(

Local Events
     I was able to go out, and enjoy the West Indian American Day Carnival out here in my hometown of Brooklyn (or, Brooklyn Carnival, as we call it out here).  Went with one of my peoples this year; it was cool vibez, but kinda on the boring side.  It wasn't like I remembered it to be when I was younger.  We left by late afternoon.

Celebrating Latino Heritage Month
    I am celebrating Latino Heritage Month by re-releasing my first two books, Raise Your Brown Black Fist books 1 & 2, in eBook format.  Book 1 was always released in eBook format when it was first published, and I just recently converted Book 2 into an eBook.  I've been sending out e-blasts promoting their release.  So far, I have a potential interview in the works to promote those particular books, as well as my career as a writer (it's about blasted time!!!).  Just sent out the complimentary copies of my books, and hope to shoot the interview by October at the latest.

Brooklyn Book Festival
     I was lucky enough to hook up with one of my peoples, and participate in the Brooklyn Book Festival.  I volunteered to work the booth for his organization, the Caribbean Cultural Theatre, and helped them to sign up people to their mailing list, and sell the books of participating authors of the organization (as well as sneaking in a few of my own).  It was a great experience, and I'm always glad to be back in my literary element.  It was an enjoyable weekend, and I got to feel like my old self again, if only briefly.

Future Projects
     I'm getting my writing mojo back.  I'm currently writing three new novels; a sequel to "The Chronicles of The Black Fist", a YA novel that's pretty much an Afrocentric version of 'The Karate Kid' called "Walk Like A Warrior", and a science fiction novel that I've been working on for a hot minute called "Umoja: A Stellar Conflict".  I'm considering doing another erotica novel, and I'm fleshing out the storyline and characters now.

So, that's what's currently happening with me right now.  I'll keep you up to do ate on the TV interview, and the job search, as well as the new literary projects.  I probably won't publish them until 2018; I'm trying to take this currently time to promote my titles that I already have out.

Keep the fist raised.

Wilmington Hispanic Parade & Festival 2016

2016 version of the Wilmington Hispanic Parade & Festival!!!  Now extending to three days in Wilmington, Delaware!  If you're in the Wilmington, Delaware area, please come out and support this event!  I hope that I get the chance to make it out there, myself!  :-)

Wilmington Hispanic Parade & Festival
September 9-11, 2016
Wilmington, DE
www.wilmingtonhispanicfestival.org

Please support, and spread the word!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! Updated Author Book Trailer

I just wanted to wish all of you happy holidays.  To those of you that have stuck by me as true friends, and fans of my literary and activist work...thank you SO much for all of your support!  It is truly appreciated.  I know that I've gone off a few time on here, so I need ot thank you for bearing with me through the low times.   Here's to a better 2016!

I've updated the Author Book Trailer that I'd created.  I've changed the music up from the last time.  I hope that you'll be able to view it and enjoy it.  You can (hopefully) see the trailer here:

I hope that you'll be able to enjoy it.  So, may you enjoy the Winter Solstice, have a very Merry Christmas, have a VERY Happy Kwanzaa, and may you all have a blessed, prosperous, and positive New Year.  Here's hoping that things will change around onto the positive side in 2016!

Paz!!!  :-D

Books & Breakin' in the South Bronx

Just found out about this earlier this week.  Obviously, I need to check certain email inboxes more often, or cut down on the number of email addresses that I have...

This will be going on in the Bronx, NY.  The event will run from 3:30pm to 5pm on the corner of 163rd Street and Simpson Street.  I believe that the best way to get there is on the 2/5 train to Simpson Street.  The event is being presented by Total Equity Now Harlem, and Casista Mamita Center for Arts & Education.  It is FREE and open to the public.

Hope to see you there!  Help to spread the word!!!

AFTERMATH: Big Literary Weekend

It too me a while ot get around to writing this.  This is actually quite a positive post.

I had a really good weekend, this past weekend that just passed from the 18th to the 20th.  I was able to hook up with some literary contacts that I had, and involve myself in some activities that were going on around here.  Considering the string of bad luck and misery that I'd been going through lately, I would say that this good fortune was much deserved.

I was able to hook up (at the last minute) with my peoples at the Caribbean Cultural Theatre, an organization that focuses primarily on Caribbean-American and Caribbean authors/poets based in the United States.  I know the founder/organizer personally, and we have been in contact with each other for a few years now (primarily through the internet).  When I finally moved back home, was when we finally got the chance to meet each other in person.  Anyway....I knew ahead of time that they were supposed to be having a "bookend" event on Friday, the 18th; a literary event leading up top the Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday, the 20th.  I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to attend either event due to my serious lack of funds.  That's when the brother offered me the opportunity to work as a volunteer at his event.  (It helped that he offered to compensate me for my services).

Of course...I jumped at the chance to help.

I basically worked as a "gofer" for his event on Friday (go for this...go for that, lol, lol).  I actually had a lot of fun, when I wasn't running around like a mad man.  I got to enjoy the program, and not have to pay to attend.  it reminded me of back when I used to volunteer for some Black film festivals in NYC in my younger days.  It also helped that i knew a few of the authors that were there participating in the event.

The big one was on Sunday, the Brooklyn Book Festival.  I helped to man the booth for the Caribbean Cultural Theatre, which was shared by two other organizations representing Caribbean authors; Read Jamaica (obviously based out of Jamaica), and Caribbean Reads (based in St. Kitts/Nevis).  I had a lot of fun, and really enjoyed interacting with the attendees in the crowd.  We signed up a good number of people to the CCT Mailing List, as well as selling a number of books by the associated authors.  I even snuck a few of my own titles in there, and sold a copy.  ;)

So, the weekend ended very well for me.  My spirits have been renewed, and being that the Autumnal Equinox has just passed, a renewed sense of purpose has filled my being.  I hope that this bodes well for my future plans at relocation as well.  I am now refocused, and charging ahead.   

Until next time...

Literacy Across Harlem March, Book Drive, & Community Celebration!!!

I'm hoping to make it out to this event up in Harlem.  It's on this coming Saturday, September 19th.  I've already been sharing it on FB and Twitter.  It's being organized by a great organization called Total Equity Now, based in Harlem.  To find out more about the organization and their upcoming event, please go to their website for more information.

www.totalequitynowharlem.org

Literacy Across Harlem March, Book Drive, & Community Celebration
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Harlem, NY
12pm to 3pm

Please come out and support, and help to spread the word!!!!

Demure Nights (Paperback)

My latest book is now available in paperback format!  Trying my hand at writing Erotica!

Available in paperback format through CreateSpace!  Purchase through amazon.com, CreateSpace.com, or Barnes & Noble!!

https://www.createspace.com/5549938

Demure Nights (Ebook)

The latest literary endeavor!!!  Trying my hand at Erotica this time around...

"Darius Delgado is in dire straits when he loses his job as a Graphic Designer.  He struggles to make due, but can barely cover his expenses.  Desperate to change his fortunes, he turns to the world of the sex trade as a Male Escort...
    Will he be able to keep the two worlds separate, or will he lose himself, and others that are important to him, in the process...?"

Currently available only in Ebook format through Nook (Barnes & Noble), iTunes, Kobo, Page Foundry, and Scribd. 

Paperback version to be coming soon.  Will let you know when that version drops.

SPREAD THE WORD!!!!  PLEASE SUPPORT!!!! 

Afro/Latino Magazine Parade & Festival 2014

Reading, PA stand up!!!!

Afro/Latino Magazine Parade & Festival
June 14, 2014
@ the American Legion
237 N. 3rd Street
Reading, PA 19601

Looking forward to actually attending this event this year!  This will be my first time coming out to support.  Will be rolling with two of my comrades, my fellow scribes.  Won't be vending, but I just wanted to come out and support.  :)

Hope to see you there!!

Garifuna Nation Summit!!!

GarifunaNation Summit
Aptil 11-13, 2014
Bronx, NY

Please check the flyer for times and locations!!!!

SPREAD THE WORD!!!  PLEASE SUPPORT!!!

In My Lifetime: Funny Stories of Life Experiences

http://outskirtspress.com/inmylifetime/

"Originally meant as a writing exercise to fight through writer's block, IN MY LIFETIME became a creative outlet and a labor of love.  From youth to young adulthood, these stories are meant to, not only make you laugh, but also to inspire...
Via Facebook Notes, this book takes a humorous look at one individual's life, and how you can arise above the bs..."

Celebrating the release of my THIRD book (FINALLY!!!) through my publisher Outskirts Press.  Spread the word, and BUY THE BOOK!  :)

OnyxCon V (Black Age of Comics-ATL)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!

SUPPORT INDIE BLACK COMICS!!!!

SUPPORT THE BLACK AGE MOVEMENT!!! 

*(Motor City Black Age, located in Detroit, will be held on September 27th.  It's the final Black Age of Comics event of the year.)*

Aftermath: 1st Annual Afro Latino Festival of New York

I have no words....

It was OFF...THE...CHAIN!!!!!!!!

June 29th, 2013 will go down as a day of infamy for me.  I was one of the original vendors to participate in New York's FIRST annual Afro Latino Festival.  It was especially fitting cause it was held in my hometown of BROOKLYN!!!!

I was a little worried because of the clouds that were forming early in the morning.  I was hoping that it wouldn't be a washout.  They had an alternative rain date lined up, but still.  If it would have rained, I don't know if I'd be able to return for the festival again.  Thankfully, it didn't pour down.  It was bright and sunny....and yes, HOT!  But we didn't let the heat stop us.

It was BEAUTIFUL!!!  It was perfectly located.  The festival was held directly outside of the Q Train stop on Parkside Avenue and Ocean Avenue; VERY strategically place.  We had the regular foot traffic, the traffic from the subway riders, AND the foot traffic coming from the bus stops of the B12, and B23. 

I had my table set up, but for me, it wasn't just about the sales.  I got to see some people that I haven't had the chance to really hang with in a long time.  I also was lucky enough to meet some people that I only knew from social media, and finally meet them in person.  I also got to network with other people that I had just met at the festival.  The energy was uplifting and positive.  The local residents seemed to love the festival, and the foot traffic was superb.  The music was FIYAH!!!  We had emcees Negros Americanos, co-found Mai-Elka Prado sang, we had Garifuna dancers perform, DJ Sabine spinning on the one-and-twos, and SO many others!

It was a great experience for me overall; even batter that it happened in Brooklyn.  It's the best homecoming that I've had so far.  Many people showed interest in my books, and took copies of the business card that I had printed up.  And yes, I have to mention...the women were FOINE!!!!!!!

I DEFINITELY cannot wait for the next one in 2014!!!!!

Shout out to founders/organizers Mai-Elka Prado and Tania Molina for putting together such a WONDERFUL event!!!  See you next year!!!!

1st Annual Afro Latino Festival of New York

1st Annual Afro Latino Festival of New York
Taking place in BROOKLYN!!!!!

Saturday, June 29, 2013
12pm-6pm
Q train to Parkside Avenue

FREE!!!!!

Yours truly will be vending there!!!  ;) 

Funny Stories X: End of the series

Was having a problem adding this on to my Facebook page in the Notes section.  since the site wants to act up, I'll just post it here.  This is the very LAST entry of the series.  Of course, it took me FOUR YEARS to write it, lol, lol.  The series was based on experiences that I was going through in 2009, and to get back into my literary flow, I stored writing these snippets about my life.  Considering turNing them into my next book project.  I'll let you guys know how that works out.  ENJOY!!!

"Of All The Girls I Loved Before"

When people ask me about my time living in Richmond, sometimes I get asked if I have any regrets after having lived there for three-and-a-half years. Usually, I tell people that I regret staying there two and a half years too long, considering the sour taste that that place left in my mouth. But, if I have to be honest about regretting one thing about Richmond, it's about a particular lady that I left behind.

Wrote a story about it. Wanna hear it? Like a here it, here it goes...

For those of you familiar with my job at “Da Liquor Sto' ”, I was hating life something serious. The pay and the hours were crap, and my boss at the time was a fucking bitch. Luckily for me, one of my coworkers at the ABC store had a primary job working at one of the local hospitals. She knew that I needed the extra money, and that I wasn't getting it at the crappy job, so she offered to help me get a position at the hospital she worked at. I gladly jumped at the chance to get the hell away from that wretched job, and sent it an application. Considering the fact that I had applied to that same hospital once before and got shot down, I felt that my chances were better this time around now that I was being referred by someone who already worked there, and knows my work ethic. After jumping through a few hoops, and having a few strings pulled, I was hired part time as a PRN (glorified hospital kitchen gopher).

I have to admit, I loved that job! It wasn't so much the work, but I enjoyed my coworkers in my department. We came in, did the dirty work, and had FUN! Every morning while riding the bus on my way to work, I would always hear the theme music to the television show “ER” playing in my head. It was MUCH better than my liquor store job, not to mention that it helped to keep me AWAY from the liquor store. Every day my coworkers and I would joke and laugh, play around, and handle our business with getting the food out to the patients and hospital staff. Other than dealing with the occasional racist ass nurse (and some of them damn kids in our department), I loved that job. The paycheck was consistent, my supervisor “Tee” was cool as hell (not to mention foine!!!), I got THE HELL away from the liquor store, and I got to chill with my best friend at the job.

Let me stick with my best friend at the job for a minute...

“K-Dogg” was cool as all hell. Cat was all types of funny, and made me feel welcome from day one. If I ever felt homesick, I could always count on K-Dogg to make me laugh, reminding me of my peoples that I had back in NY. You never knew WHAT was going to come out of his mouth, especially if he started crackin' on people, especially our coworker Mr. Frank. Those two would go at it all day, every day, and keep us all in stitches. One thing about K-Dogg, though...he had a habit of pointing out certain habits that you have...

I never realized that I had a 'superhero stance' until he pointed it out to me. One day we're running food carts to the different units, and I was waiting for the elevator to go back to the kitchen to get the other carts. Apparently, I was in my 'superhero stance' while waiting for the elevator.

Yo, Kev...I saw Professor X on the third floor. He and the X-Men are gonna be battling Magneto. They want you to meet them up there to help out!

Okay mane, you know what...?!?! [Lip all upturned]

I also never realized how fast I can eat my lunch. Apparently, I can eat my entire lunch tray (entree, big bowl of salad, dessert, and large drink) anywhere between 5 ½ and 6 ½ minutes. Seriously. I know cause K-Dogg timed me! Several times!

Mane, Ima put you in them eating contests! We can win some BIG money. An I'll be your manager...taking my fifteen percent cut of your winnings!

Okay mane, you know what...?!?! [Lip all upturned]

K-Dogg liked and respected me a lot. He respected my political beliefs, and always gave me props for it. Of course, he would crack on me a few times, calling me the lost member of Public Enemy's S1Ws. He would be singing their song, “Fight the Power”, and imitate the dance moves that they would do in the video.

Okay mane, you know what...?!?!? [Lip all upturned]

Other than being a great friend, the best thing that he ever did was to introduce me to her...

Let's call her “Niecey”...

Niecey was one of the cooks in our department. She was also a transplant New Yorker, now living in Richmond. She had moved down several years ago, from the Bronx, and has been in love with the place ever since. Funny thing about me an Niecey...? It took us a while to get together. When I first started working there, we basically had a hi/bye relationship, speaking to each other only when spoken to. She pretty much kept to herself, and I was just trying to feel everybody out (though I was lusting after our supervisor Tee). Not to mention...she wasn't even in my top five of women at the job that I wanted to hook up with (obviously, my supervisor was number one on that list). It wasn't until K-Dogg formally introduced us that we really started talking to each other...

Funny thing about that first meeting. I was working as the pot washer that day, and K-Dogg had gotten us to speak to each other, being on that whole New York vibe. She came over, dropped off her pots for me to wash, and then we had a nice little conversation. Then after our conversation ended, she walked back over to her station, and I noticed something...

????????????

Damn...she got a REALLY nice walk!

That was the beginning of me and Niecey. She was older than me by a few years (okay...more than ten), and was a widow. But the more I got to know her, the more attracted to her I became. And for anybody who knows me, I usually wear my emotions on my sleeve, and let my feelings be know. Hell, my supervisor Tee was one of the first people to encourage me to talk to her like that.

I tried to be discreet in the beginning, but me being me, that act of tact didn't last very long. I ended up kinda putting myself out there one day in front the rest of the staff. It was on one of our weekends that we had to work. Since work is slower on the weekends (depending on the patient count), we have more added time to relax and chill. I was running carts that day with Mr. Frank, while K-Dogg was rotated onto pots. I remember that I was walking around, trying to find something to do until it was time to go pick up the carts. I walked over by Niecey's station, and asked if she wanted me to dump her garbage for her. She just smiled her pretty chocolate smile, and said that I could go with her to dump it.

Hell...I just wanted to spend some time with her. Of course I went!

It's a bit of a trek to get from the kitchen to the dumpster. You have to go through a few twists and turns of the hallways, and a short elevator ride to get there. I was walking along side Neicey, conversating with her along the way. After we turned the second corner, somehow she ended up pulling up ahead of me. That's when I noticed her walk again...

Man...she has a really, really, REALLY nice walk. That thing was swinging EVERY which way!

You send me swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiining! Oh, you send me swingiiiiiiiiiiin!

Hey! If YOU would've seen what I saw....you'd be acting the SAME way too! I started having a Charlie Brown moment at the same time.

Wah wah,wah wah wah waaaaaaaah!

Whatever we were talking about, I soon forgot it, and was too busy focusing on her...walk. Of course, I gave the occasional “uh huh” and “yeah” to let her think that I was paying attention, but I was too busy focusing on her...walk. After we reached the dumpster, I made sure to let her walk ahead of me just a little bit so that I could watch that walk of hers. We make it back to the kitchen, and she heads towards her work station. I'm still focusing on her...walk...when she catches me. She continues talking, stops, turns to me, and responds with, “...Don't you think so?”.

I pause. I finally look up.

She stands there, looking me dead in the eye...trying to hide the smile that I know she wants to wear. Yeah...I saw you looking back there!

BUSSSSSSSTEEEEEEEEEEED!

What could I do? I came clean.

“Okay, I gotta be honest...I ain't hear not one word you was saying...”

Her response? “Uh huuuuuuuuuh...”

“I'm saying though....I was distracted. Can you blame me?”

“Uh huh...okay...”

Niecey just shakes her head, and walks back over to her work station...finally smiling. I go back to my own work area. But not before I hit her with this...

“Hey Niecey...”

“Yeah...?”

“...You have a really nice walk!”

She laughs. “You so silly!”

“Hey...I like what I see!”

Of course, I end up doing that in front of most of my coworkers. I actually had one pull me aside and ask me point blank if I liked Niecey. Quite obviously, I wasn't doing a good job of hiding it. The good thing about it though...everybody like it , and encouraged it. Of course, personally, I wouldn't have given a shit WHO liked it or not; the only thing that I cared about was that I really cared about this woman, and wanted to get to know her better on a more permanent basis.

I wouldn't say that it was a whirlwind romance, but quite obviously, we were very attracted to one another. People had jokes about how I was always around her work area, just leaning around her, flirting, laying on the charm. K-Dogg caught me with a good one once; since sometimes some of the other cooks on staff give Niecey a hard time, I remember making a comment one weekend we worked about taking out anybody that was giving her a hard time during the shift. He started calling me “The Bodyguard” after that, singing Whitney Houston....

And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII......wiiilll alllllwaaaaaaaays loooooove yooooooooooouuuuuuu....

Okay, really mane?! You know what.....?!?!?! [Lip all upturned.]

Things were going pretty good, and it was obvious that Niecey was just as attracted to me as I was to her. Hell, when I wrote my first book, she was the first person that I showed it to. Despite our age difference, it seemed like I was FINALLY going to have somebody special in my life for a looooong time. But anybody who know about my life, knows that with the good, comes the bad. We ended up hitting a rough patch....

She did something that really hurt my feelings. Not to mention, the job started cutting my hours (officially, I was only a part-time employee), so I was only there a few days a week, working only three hours a day. That really hurt me financially, especially since I had finally left that wretched liquor store job. Not to mention, I was stuck working the evening shift with them damned kids.

If I ever really, really wanted to move the hell out of Richmond, it was right then and there. I wanted out of that place, like last year!

That particular hell lasted almost three months. I was miserable, financially struggling, and now extremely lonely. I stepped up my efforts to move the hell away from Richmond, and get the hell away from this darkness that I was experiencing. I hated having my hours cut, and I hated working with most of those kids even worse. It got to the point that I really, really wanted to walk off the job. I left New York to get away from bullshit like this, and here I was, basically back where I started.

After a while, my hours started to pick back up. Having had my hours cut, Niecey and I really didn't get to see each other. Once my hours started coming back, whatever issues that she had had about us were now nonexistent. Issues be damned, she wanted us to get back to the way we were. It took a bit of effort on her part; I still felt hurt from the way that she had treated me before, and wasn't trying to go through that again. But, slowly but surely, we got back into each other's good graces again. I ended up getting her a few gifts, and even asked her out a few times ( she said maybe...maybe is good; it's not a 'no').

But alas....it didn't last....

One of the jobs that I had applied for in Maryland finally gave me a callback. It paid me more money, it was full time with benefits, NO weekends (which ended up being a lie), and it got me the fuck away from Richmond. Suffice it to say, I jumped at the chance. Now I had to break the bad news to Niecey. Quite obviously she was hurt that I was leaving, but tried to brush it off, and hide it. EVERYBODY knew that she was sad and hurt that I was leaving, and I felt like an ass for doing it. She had already lost her husband, and now that she had finally opened her heart to someone else, I hurt her again by leaving. She was somebody who I could have seen myself with for the rest of my life. Looking back in hindsight, even if I already knew the answer, I should have at least asked her if she wanted to come with me. She deserved as much to have a say in a decision as important as this. I felt like I started something that I knew I couldn't finish, and cheated her out of something better in life, some happiness.

SO....

I gave my two weeks notice, made my plans to move, and said my goodbyes. I got the contact numbers of all the people that I was cool with, and left on my last day with my head held high. Though I don't regret moving out of Richmond, I do regret not trying to make a life with Niecey. I often think about her, and reminisce over our time spent together. Sometimes, I think about hopping on the bus, and making a surprise visit at my old job, just so that I could see her one more time. The least that I could do is apologize to her for the way that I left. I just hope that she's now happy, and in a good relationship with someone who deserves her....

….Or, still be single so that I can have another chance with her.

This has been brought to you by the numbers o9, and 10.

And Facebook.

Forever my lady, (ohhh, yeah!)

It's like a dream...

I'm holding you close, keeping you warm, (Ohhh, ohhhh)

If this is ecstasy.......