Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned. . . .

First off all, that’s a great song by Ms. Keys and if you haven’t copped it yet, do it!

I’ve been a bit MIA, I know. My bad; life called and she needed me to handle some grown woman things, but I’m back now- re-adjusted and more in my element. I know that it’s probably all the seasons cheer, but I can’t help but be a little reflective during this time of year. So before we finish the holiday parties and get dressed to the nines for the New Year, take a moment to think about how you spent last 365 days. . . .


Before you get too sentimental, lets take a quick re-cap of my “Top Ten Best’s of 2007”!
(Why a Best-only list? Because it was a good year!)

Best Comeback: Boston Celtics
Behind the talent and leadership of forward Kevin Garnett, forward Paul Pierce and guard Ray Allen, the Boston Celtics are poised to take their place as leaders of the wish-washy Eastern Conference. This is truly an amazing feat from a team that won a total of twenty four games last season.
Runner Up: Whitney Houston (Divorce-handled; rehab-done; album- working on it. She’s definitely back!)

Best Trainwreck: The Spears Clan
This award would have gone to Britney alone, but Jamie Lynn decided to jump on the boat. The whole Spears clan gave us one sorry mishap after another, making Bobby and Whitney look like the Brady Bunch. But you know you watched every pathetic minute of it.
Runner Up: Michael Vick (You already know this story. . .)

Best Excuses to Run INTO the Law (Tie): OJ Simpson and Robert Kelly. These two just don’t get it. Laying low should be among their top goals of 2008. Stealing your own memorabilia through force is a sure way to alert the authorities. Especially if you’ve been previously accused of murder and wrote a book about what would have happened if you did it. Especially so if you’re name is Orenthal James Simpson. And R. Kelly, who allegedly had a sexual relationship with his former publicist’s teenage daughter, has no excuse for this behavior. It's honestly any wonder this man has yet to serve any time. . .
Runner-Up: Akon

Best Guilty Pleasure: Soulja Boy
DeAndre Ramone Way, better known as Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, has taken the world by storm with his dance craze. This seventeen –year old from Batesville, Mississippi had the whole world crankin it, from ballet schools to grandmas. Now if only he could make a song about voting and we’d be set
Runner Up: Tiffany Pollard aka New York

Best Un-Sung Hero: T-Pain
Okay, follow my reasoning here: think back to the chart-topping hits of 2007. Bet you can’t come across more than three before you come across the whining serenading of one Faheem Najm (T-Pain). Bartender (w. Akon), Imma Flirt (remix), Shawty (Plies), Kiss Kiss (Chris Brown), I’m So Hood (remix), Good Life (Kanye West), Low (Flo Rida), and my personal favorite Buy U A Drank- have all featured T-Pain; that’s why he’s 2007’s Un-Sung Hero.
Runner Up: Ne-yo

Best Reason to Stay In House: Andrew Speaker. While carrying an extensively drug-resistant strain of Tuberculosis, he boarded a trans-Atlantic flight and then gave a “I didn’t’ know I was contagious” as his best excuse. We didn’t know whether to arrest him or quarantine him first, but we surely didn’t want to run into him.
Runner Up: August 8th New York City Transit Stoppage. Yup a little bit of rain shut it down.

Best Reason to Watch Sports: Super Bowl XLI
Lovie Smith, Head Coach of the Chicago Bears
Tony Dungy, Head Coach of Indianapolis Colts
For the first time in the history of the National Football League, not one, but two Black coaches were featured in this prestigious event. No matter what the outcome, we still won.
Runner Up: Barry Bonds home-run chase (whatever, I’m stil not co-signing this)

Best Reason to Watch Cable: I Love New York Season II
New York was in the *$%&#$&%(@$$% house! You know you couldn’t help yourself. We all tuned in, if anything to see if Sister Patterson’s hairline finally grew back in.
Runner Up: Anything else on VH1 (since when did this channel get good?)

Best Reason NOT To Watch Cable: BET
I don’t care what Debra Lee and them have to say, BET programming has never been worse.
Runner Up: MTV (Tila Tequila- ‘nuff said)

Best Couple: Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and Clifford “T.I.” Harris
I’m a hater so Beyonce and Jay were not going to make this list. But for real, Tiny and T.I. were made for each other and their love has withstood its share of trials: a stillborn child, various trials, break-up, pregnancy, and TI’s latest run in with the Feds. And yet they are still hanging in there-gotta appreciate black love.
Runner Up: Nas and Kelis


Without getting too melodramatic, I’d like to leave you with some parting words from ’07, so that you can get your mind right in time for the New Year:

Life is not instant soup; it’s that home-cooked stew your grandmama used to make, you’ve got to add a couple things and ‘em simmer. . . . .

N