Jimmy and his amazing technicolor... friends

A while back, I wrote a blog explaining why it is taking me so long to graduate from college, a two year one at that. I won't go into detail but as I said in the blog, http://diariesofasuperdupersenior.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-mother-of-all-questions-answered.html , unless people are willing to help me pay for schooling, do not ask why it's taking me so long.

Now that that's out of the way, during an argument I had with a family member who shall remain nameless, A question was asked about the ethnicity of my friend base. "You don't have many black friends, do you?" was the question, to be exact. "I have many friends from many walks of life." was my answer and this answer is actually true.

The technicolor dreamcoat is a representation of  my friends, every race, creed, color and sex

I have many friends of many ethnicity from all walks of life. Gay, straight, white, black, pan African to punk. Now, there are times when I become paranoid about my friends, especially when arguments with said relative turns to "Well, if they were your real friends..."

And what makes it worst is this argument (it's come up more than once) tends comes up when I'm at a low point in life, casting doubt in me. In situations like this, I like to think that my friends aren't there for me because they have lives of their own and I'm never the most open person unless I'm EXTREMELY close to said friend. Unfortunately, this doesn't help the question or thought popping up in my head every now and then.

However, this doesn't stop me from making friends. My color is never an issue, at least I hope not. I love being black and I love black people but sometimes fate puts certain people in your life to make it a little better or at least, more humorous, no matter their race.

How else could I explain my current best friend being a tall, Jewish woman insults me 50% of the time we're together, and NO, it's not for fetish reasons.

#BeatHavok (Used to be a fan)

Oh, no, another blog entry about wrestling, yadda, yadda, yadda...

I remember having a huge crush on the dominating female wrestler named Jessicka Havok (yes, it's spelled that way). What I saw in her was the amalgamation of Bull Nakano and "Sensational" Sherri Martel, two of my favorite women in the wrestling industry. Like Sherri and Nakano, Havok is beautiful, fierce and has an affinity for face paint.

Someone obviously pissed in her Cheerios that day.

 I first saw Havok in action on an episode of TNA Impact wrestling and was immediately enamored with her intimidating style but cute face and I was a immediately a fan. The huge thighs helped also. As I kept watching Havok dominate the TNA knockouts division (women wrestlers), I kept wanting for Havok to become the knockouts champion to no avail. Since Impact wasn't in good shape, as if they ever were, I, at least wanted her to leave the clutches of TNA and move on to greater pastures. And then I heard the news WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) was interested in her. Now, I admit that right now, I am not the biggest WWE fan but I was happy to see her move on to bigger and better things. WWE happens to be the biggest wrestling organization in the world, or at least in the U.S.. Then, news broke that WWE decided not to bringing her on. At first, I was angry with WWE, thinking that they didn't hire her  because she wasn't shaped like a Bella or nude photos of popped up of her the moment she became legal (which I wouldn't have minded) but when the reason came out why she wasn't chosen was released, I surprisingly took WWE's side.

It was leaked all over the internet that in the past, Havok had posted some quite racist and homophobic tweets. As much as I liked Havok, a person who could say the things she said in such a jokingly manner pissed me off and I lost respect for her. At the time the tweets were revealed, Havok put out an apology, saying she was "young and dumb". She has recently come out and said that the tweets were set up by internet trolls to ruin her career.

Now, in her recently posted (well, a few months ago) blog, Havok said that she was tired of having to explain herself and the "only God can judge me" defense and that everyone has or done something racist and stupid in their lifetime. Perhaps she's right, I know I've made my fair share of race jokes from time to time (if any of you are concerned whether or not I've said the N word, I'm black, not that that means anything) and as she said, people mature and grow. I know I still am.

How classy of her...

 My problem in the situation is in the beginning of the scandal, she issued a message that sounded a tad robotic and in her blog post, she just sounds so pissed off that the whole situation hasn't gone away, years later. She channels this by saying "if you're a fan, that's cool. If you're still offended, fuck you", and it's not that simple. There will be those who believe her and those who, like myself, who really think she just wants us to forget about it. I know at the moment that because, 1. I was a HUGE fan of hers and 2. You never know what people are truly truly thinking. If I were to say anything to her, it would be that I don't hate her but I've lost a great deal of respect for her. I am not some troll, I'm just a wrestling fan with an opinion.

Havok's blog post can be found here...
https://jessickahavok.wordpress.com/2016/10/18/were-all-the-same-dear-i-have-owned-this-life-forever-ill-always-remain/

2016 Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
 I briefly work at the city newspaper. I enjoyed my limited time there.

2.  Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope. I think I won't make any for 2017 and just see where it goes.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not blood but where do I begin? In 2016, musically: the world lost David Bowie, Prince, Natalie Cole, Maurice White, Glenn Frey and recently, George Michael. The acting world lost Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Ron Glass, Florence Henderson, Alan Thicke, Garry Shandling, Patty Duke, Abe Vigoda and as of today, both Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds. Wrestling world lost Joanie Lauier, Hayabusa, Mr. Fuji, Balls & Axl and Blackjack Mulligan. And of course, we lost the great one, Muhammad Ali.

5. What countries did you visit?
None

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
 Whatever was listed last year still stands but I'm getting closer to that degree...I think.

7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 21st, the day Prince died. I felt my soul hurt.

8.  What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Mostly see Answer 1 for this but also for lacing myself up by the bootstraps and finding myself another, least likable job.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Please read blog entry "Struggle Summer" for the details on that subject.

10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm writing this while getting over a cold. Does that count?

 11. What was the best thing you bought?
A lot of stuff that I really didn't need but brought me even a little happiness.

 12.  Whose behavior merited celebration?
Any friend who was able to deal with my behavior during my darkest hours deserve a merit and a celebration for us all being here.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
America's.

 14.Where did most of your money go?
My money honestly went to monthly bus passes.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
See answer #1

16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
Not to be funny or morbid but "Who wants to live forever" by Queen will made me think of this year, and not just because of the celebrity deaths.

 17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
  I. happier or sadder? Quite sadder
  II. thinner or fatter?: Way thinner, for some weird reason.
  III. richer or poorer? I ain't rich but I spend a lil' bit...

18.What do you wish you'd done more of?
Realized when a situation was beginning to go bad, I should've been prepared for it. I wish I would've done more writing too.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sat and moped when things went bad. Wish I still wasn't 50% suicidal most of the time either.

20. How was you be Christmas spent?
With my family.

 21. Did you fall in love in 2016?
As always, I fall in love all the time

 22. Did your heart break in 2016?
Yes but it wasn't over a person in particular, it was over actions and events in life.

 23.  What was your favorite TV program?
Luke Cage and Ash vs. Evil Dead, Atlanta, beyond that I didn't watch much tv.

24.Did you know anybody who got married?
An old crush of mine, Sarah, got married by her longtime boyfriend, the leader of a band. Beyond that, no one I can think of off the top of my head.

25. What states did you visit in 2016?
Just the one I live in.

26. Where were you when 2016 began?
At home, by myself

27. Who were you with?
 See previous answer

28. Where will you be when 2016 ended?
See answer 26.

29. Who were you with when 2016 ended?
See previous answer

30. What was the best book you read?
Not sure but I'm pretty sure it had pictures and was originally from Japan.

 31. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Honestly, it stayed the same as it normally is, which is all over the place. I've been listening to more commentaries and podcast lately.

 32. What did you want and get?
Knowing that my friends love me, even when I was at my darkest time in quite some time.

 33.What did you want and not get?
My degree (going on year 3 or 4 on that). I honestly always feel like I'm looking for something I can't find.

34. What was your favorite film of this year?
I'd say "Rogue One" but I haven't seen it yet. Um, definitely not "Ghostbusters '16" or "Suicide Squad" 

35. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Invited a group of friends to go eat in the Oregon District, only two showed up. We ate, got hammered and played arcade games. I turned 104.

36. Where did you go on vacation?
 Anyplace that wasn't home

 37. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
January-June: Black Hipster
July-September: homeless man
September-November: Professional adult
November-present: Black Hipster

 38. What kept you sane?
This year, friends, plain and simple. Therapy helped too.

39. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Since I now know for sure what this listing meant by fancying someone, hmm...Shailene Woodley is the only one I can think of right now.

 40. What political issue stirred you the most?
The presidency. To be honest, so many people I know are being affected by the aftermath, myself included.

 41. Did you have to go to the hospital?
No

 42.  How many concerts did you see in 2016?
None

  43. Did you have a favorite concert in 2016?
A Prince concert from 1985. It was magical...

 44.  Who were the best new people you met?
Chandra (though she's technically not new), Desiree, Asha, SonofKaras, Justin.

 45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
 Probably being nosy around my best friend Zippy's personal life. Sometimes I vicariously live through her. Actually bringing myself to a Plasma Center because I was absolutely broke is a close second.

46. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2016?
 See answer 9

47.  Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?
Good or bad, be prepared for anything... and do more fact checks before turning in articles...

 48. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Cos these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now but some things remain
When I look and I find - no change"-Queen "These are the days of our lives"