PODCAST: do you remember your first...

We all have many experiences that shape our memories because it happened for the first time. Maybe it was your first car, the first day of school, or your first kiss? Check out the latest episode of the 12Kyle Podcast as we discuss many of these things. Feel free to comment in the comment section to share your experiences.
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PODCAST: summer madness

On this episode, I’ll tell you about the things that you MUST do during the summertime. I’ll also share some childhood memories of what we did during the summer.

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english 101

Thanks Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Townsend

Both women taught me English when I was in 4th grade and 9th grade, respectively

Mrs. Harris was my all time favorite teacher. 

These two women came to mind as I thought about what to write on this blog. They both had a huge impact on my education. I'm not sure if they knew it or not. Mrs. Townsend would often say..."English is a beautiful but extremely complex language. Don't mess it up." Those words always stuck with me. 

I was reviewing Brandon's homework a few days ago and I was looking at some words that he was using in his sentences. He was using the words...THEIR and THERE ; YOUR and YOU'RE. Surprisingly, he was using them correctly. He's in the first grade. I was baffled at how he knows which words to use at the age of 6 when there are people much older than him who can't do the same thing.

There is not a day that goes by when I get on Facebook or Twitter and see people using words incorrectly. These 4 words are often misused. It's understandable when people are using slang. I get it. More often than not, this isn't the case. Sometimes I read Facebook posts and I wonder aloud if some of these people even WENT to an English class. I'm not saying that you should proof read your posts or tweets. Can a word be misspelled from time to time? Sure! I'm sure I've misspelled more than a few words on this blog because I normally write late at night before I go to bed. But when it's clear that you don't know the difference between THEIR and THERE...then that's a problem. 

I remember Mrs. Harris used to always fuss at us about writing our names in cursive. I hated to write in cursive then and I still do now. But she explained to us that it was important to write your name neatly because it was your signature. She said you'd be using your signature for the rest of your life. If we turned in a paper and our signature was sloppy, then she'd make us write it over again. Little did we know then that she was teaching us to have pride in our names. I don't even know if schools teach kids how to write in cursive anymore. My cursive writing was terrible back then and is still terrible to this day. But my signature isn't. I remember asking her if I could put a star above the "I" in my last name instead of a dot. She asked me why did I want to do that. I told her that I wanted it to look different from any other signature. She said it was fine and I've been doing it since that day. It's funny how these things stick with you.

Sometimes I get frustrated when I read my sons' writings. None of them write like me. They all write well for their age. But not like me. Then, I remind myself that they aren't me. They don't have Mrs. Harris nor Mrs. Townsend. I try my best to show them what I learned. Being able to write well starts with being able to speak well. You have to know which words to use. You also have to read extensively and retain what you read. I've always done that. I'm not saying that you can't use slang because I use it every day. But if that's all that you know then that's all that you'll use. No matter the profession that you are in, it will involve writing and you have to be able to effectively communicate what you want people to know. When you write something...much like with this blog...you are taking people on a journey. It's your job as a writer to get them from the beginning to the end their destination. 

Mrs. Townsend was correct. English is beautiful and complex. Learn it. Master it. Don't mess it up. 

did you page me?

I had a conversation with Deion yesterday. He's 13 and very wise beyond his age. But there are times that I forget about the world that he lives in.

"Dad, if I get all A's can I get an iPhone?"

"Yeah, but you've gotta get all A's."

"What if I get 1 B?"

"I'll get you a pager."

"Huh? What's a pager?"

It dawned on me that this kid had NO idea what a pager was. So I had to break down to him what a pager was. I explained to him how his dad rode around Atlanta with $10 in quarters in my car in the event that somebody paged me. I think I may have been the last guy in the world to get a cellphone. Deion was born in 1999. I don't think I got my first cellphone until 2000.

As I was explaining to him the process of getting a "beep" and then using a payphone to call someone back, I realized how far we have come in technology. Pagers were every thing back in the day. A pager on your hip was a fashion statement that people wore like an accessory. You had to make sure that you had some fresh batteries (i always used Duracell) because you didn't want to miss a page. Unlike cellphones, you couldn't charge a pager.

After my brief lesson in technology, I realized that he was more focused on getting an iPhone than getting a pager. I didn't tell him that pagers are pretty much extinct now. So in his mind...it's all A's or nothing. And that's the way that it should be.

1st day of school memories

Today marks the first day of school for my boys.

Deion will enter the 8th grade...Kameron heads to 5th grade...and Brandon takes his talents to kindergarten. While there are some schools in metro Atlanta who have already started school (they will get out of school before Mother's Day), it kicks off today for the kids. It seems like the summer FLEW by. 

Sending them to school made me think of some old memories that I had when I was a youngster...

rocking new clothes on the 1st day - i'd have my outfit prepared the night before

sleep lite - the night before the first day of school, I could barely sleep. Too much anticipation

Trapper Keeper - always kept a fresh one of these

a good seat - classroom seating is ALWAYS important...especially if the teacher didn't have assigned seats. you HAVE to get a seat next to your friend. most kids want to sit next to the smart kid. that was never a concern for me because i was the smart kid

window seat - having a window seat on the bus was a sign of respect when I was in school. only the cool kids could get a window seat

good teacher / bad teacher - one part of the anticipation of attending school was hoping that you got good teachers and not the mean / bad one. for me, i had to figure out which teacher would let me get away with the most stuff! I was not a bad kid but I was mischievous. most teachers let me get away with stuff because I was a great student. 

the new girl - no matter what grade you were in...each year there was always a new girl in your class. maybe she transferred from another school? maybe she had just moved into your town? for the fellas, it was a MUST to start an early competition for her attention and affection. 

grade school

Guess who is on the latest podcast???

ME

My boy Eclectik had me on his podcast to wax poetic about grade school!

Join us as we discuss back in the days from 1st grade to 6th
The Classes, Teachers, The Girls, Lunch Room, After School … some of everything

Take a listen, love it and leave a comment … email the show at: Podcast@eclectikrelaxation.com

click the link and listen
http://eclectikrelaxation.com/blog/2012/03/14/edp04-grade-school-life/

just schoolin em'

The king of crowd rockers finally is back
My voice is your choice as the hottest wax
True as a wizard, just a blizzard, I ain't taken no crap
I'm rhymin' and designin' with your girl in my lap
The bass is kickin' always stickin' cause you like it that way
You take a step because it's def and plus it's by Cool J.
Cut Creator on the fader, my right-hand man
We rock the bells so very well cause that's the name of this jam
Rock the bells

LL Cool J (Rock the Bells) my joint!!!

"C'mon Daddy, you're taking too long."

Those were the words spoken to me by my soon to be 9 yr old son, Deion. He was in a hurry to attend the open house orientation at his elementary school. He and his brother, Kameron go back to school on Monday. The summer vacation is over. Time to go back to school.

You'd think that he would want a few more days of summer vacation. He could stay up late and he didn't have to do any homework. No. Not him. He's ready to go back to school.

As we walked the hallways at his school. I kept hearing the same things...

"Hey Deion."

"Whussup, Deion."

Well, it didn't take me long to realize that this kid is like the mayor or something. He knows everybody and everybody knows him. The only thing that he didn't do was shake hands and kiss some babies. He had a huge grin on his face when he met his 4th grade teacher. He picked out "his seat" and he told her that he couldn't wait until Monday morning. I don't ever remember being this pumped up for school. LOL

The first day of school always brings back good memories for me. Much like him, there'd be a lotta "hello's and high fives". I remember a lotta stuff...checkin' out the new chicks, rockin your new school clothes, crackin jokes on the bus, notebooks and #2 pencils.

One embarrassing memory was in 7th grade...this chick had her period for the 1st time...and she had on white pants!!! Haaaaaaaaa. Classic

You got any back to school memories??? Hollatchaboi!!!

throwback thursday

Welcome to Throwback Thursday. Take a ride back in time with ya boy 12kyle as we travel to the good ole days

Year : 1996

Place : South Carolina State University

Time : Senior year

I'm a jokester. I like to play pranks on my friends. I've always been like that. I dunno why but I get a good laugh out of it. Anyway, the victim this time would be one of my best friends and teammates at school...my boy Moe. Me and Moe are tight. We've been hangin' since our freshman year. We have a lot in common. We both played on the football team (both of us were wide receivers), liked the same kinda women, liked the same kinda music, and we were usually hangin together at all times. We're still close to this day. Moe is the godfather to my oldest son. We talk every day. When we were in school, our wives (girlfriends at the time) would joke about how we were like twins.

Moe was a marketing major like me. We had took almost all of our classes together. And we needed to b/c we needed to push each other in the classroom like we did on the football field. One day, we were assigned to do a group project for our international marketing class. Our group consisted of me, Moe, and Marcel. As usual, we waited until the last minute to complete the project. We had a week to get it done but we didn't get started until the night before the project was due. I spoke to Moe earlier in the day and reminded him that we were meeting to do the project that night. Each of us had to do their 1/3 of the work and bring it to the meeting at the library. Well, Moe decides that he wants to go to the Pit (hangout spot just like on A Different World). Moe never shows up. I'm furious! In the back of my mind, I knew that he'd pull some kinda stunt so I was already prepared to cover him.

I advised Marcel that we should get him back. I told him "when Moe calls us on the phone...don't answer. If he asks about the project, tell him that we didn't do it and we're gonna get a F." Well, Moe calls me at 6am. I didn't answer b/c I knew it was him. He called Marcel...no answer. Our class didn't start until 4pm. He wasn't able to get in touch with anybody so he knew what he had to do...he had to do the project by himself. He didn't want to do it but he had no choice. He finally finds me around noon and I told him that we hadn't done anything. I also informed him that the "F" really wasn't gonna hurt the "A" that i had in the class. But he knew that an "F" would hurt his "C" average. LOL.

When we arrive in class at 4, Moe is clearly disgusted with me and Marcel. But he did the whole project. Much to our surprise!!! We told him that we finished it the previous night!!!! If you would've seen the look on his face...priceless. He wanted to kill me. I was on the floor ROLLIN'. "Haaaaaa!!!! I got you! I got you!!" He was clearly pissed but what could he do? We put some of his info with what we had and we got an "A" on the project. I got him good!

My joy was short lived. The next semester (our last) he got me back. We both needed to pass financial management to graduate. I hated the class but I had mad respect for our professor, Dr. Cole. Going into our finals, we both had "C"s and we needed to pass the final exam to graduate. The mere thought of financial management terrified me. This class was the sole reason why i didn't send out any graduation invitations to my relatives b/c I wasn't sure if I was gonna pass the class. And Dr. Cole was one of the toughest professors in the School of Business. Anyway...we took the final exam. I thought that I did well on it. Dr. Cole had advised us that he would post the grades in 2 days. I knew if I didn't pass it, I'd have to come back to school for another semester. I couldn't do that.

I sent Moe to Dr.Cole's office to get the results. I shouldn't have done that. He called me later that day. He told me that I didn't pass the final but he did. I was speechless. I kept thinking..."how am I gonna explain this to my momma?" I was pissed off so I told Moe that I'd call him back. I got off the phone and I told my girl (mrs12) that I had failed. I was crushed. Then...about 5 mins later...the phone rings. It's Moe. I didn't wanna talk to him or anybody else. He says..."tell Kyle that I was just joking...he passed. He's gonna graduate." She told me and I was livid!! Arrrrrrgh! How could you play with my emotions like that?

He got me! I can't front. We still laugh about it to this day.

schoolin' em

Here I am, R-A-W
A terrorist, here to bring trouble to
Phony MC's, I move on and seize
I just conquer and stomp another rapper with ease
Cause I'm at my apex and others are below
Nothing but a milliliter, I'm a kilo
Second to none, making MC's run
So don't try to step to me, cause I ain't the one
I relieve rappers just like Tylenol
And they know it, so I don't see why you all
Try to front, perpetrating a stunt
When you know that I'll smoke you up like a blunt
I'm genuine like Gucci, raw like sushi
To stage a rage is what rap did to me
To make me want to create chaos and mayhem
Cold rock a party until the A.M.
I'll make a muscle, grab the mic and hustle
While you stand dazed and amazed, I bust a
Little rhyme with authority, superiority
And captivate the whole crowd's majority
The rhymes I use definitely amuse
Better than Dynasty, or Hill Street Blues
I'm sure to score adored for more without a flaw
Cause I get raw

Big Daddy Kane (RAW)

Oh how I miss those college days. Those were the best times. I'd chop my arm off if I could go back and do it again (minus the work...ha). I think that most of you who read this have either graduated college, have taken some college courses, or are currently in college. If you haven't...that's cool too.

As many of you know, I graduated South Carolina State University. I enjoyed my time there. It was a life changing experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I became a man there and I made some great lifelong friends along the way. I loved it. Was it my first choice??? NOPE! It was probably my 4th or 5th choice. It was a school that wasn't too close or too far from home. But it was the school where everybody in my family had gone. I wanted to do something different. Once I was offered a scholarship to play football, I changed my mind. LOL

If I had to make a decision on college now...would I go to SC State??? Probably not. That's no knock on my school. If I were looking to go to a school where I could get a great education and play football, I'd go somewhere else. The education is still great but the football aspect has declined.

I have no regrets about my decision to attend SC State. I earned a degree in marketing. I won a Black College National Championship in football. I met my wife there. I also met friends like Rezidl, Bacote, Clark, Big Mel, and Steve. Brothers for life. I wouldn't have met them had I gone to Harvard.

I watched this report on tv the other day by Dan Rather that talked about kids and the pressure that they are under to make the decision to go to the "right college". The kids that they interviewed talked about the "image" of the schools that they were applying for and what they thought about college.

What about you? Where did you go to college? If you had to do it again...would you choose the same school that you attended? If not, where would you go?

Hollatchaboi!!!

back in MY day

I just dropped Deion and Kameron off at school. Today is the last day of school. Kameron has completed Kindergarten and Deion has completed 3rd grade. They are soooo lucky. They go to a great magnet school. And they love school. Watching them walk into the building took me back to MY day...

Do you remember...

...when you played at recess.

....when you thought boys/girls were yucky

....when you started liking boys/girls

...when you looked forward to taking a test

...when math was only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

...when you could read books for days

...when you were a hall monitor or a safety patrol

...when you made straight A's

....when the girls could jump rope for ever

...when you could feel a girl on the booty and it wasn't sexual harassment

...when you knew the first and last name of everybody in your class

...when you befriended the "dirty kid"

...when you made fun of the "dirty kid

...when you sang loud and off key

....when you asked her "to go with you"

...when your favorite times of the day were PE, lunch, and recess


...when somebody did the "Solar System" as a science project

...when you got stage fright

...when you performed in front of a crowd and you loved it

...when your parents reminded you how smart you were


...those were the days