BBF (Black Best Friend)?!

Can someone please make some sense of this for me?!  I am really missing the point of this article.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  When did the term BBF (Black Best Friend) come about?

7th Annual German Beer Fest

Who doesn't like a good laugh every now and then?  The 7th Annual German Beerfest was a golden opportunity for all.  From 2pm to 7pm, people were imbibing beer at the rate of a beluga whale.  The goal was to obviously, try all 20 brands of beer.  For some this would seem a daunting task; but for the quotidian inebriate, this was only a challenge. 

Thirty-five dollars at the gate gained you access to all the beer you could drink, German music, and authentic German cuisine.  Having lived in Germany once before in my life, I could really appreciate the atmosphere, as the Germans, like the Irish, are notorious drinkers and dancers.  I am really hard pressed to say who is more dedicated.  There was plenty of dancing and singing and, my personal favorite, food.  The aroma of Bratwurst and saurkraut was nearly intoxicating for me.  I had to have one! 

For apparent reasons the SafeRide tent was the second most popular tent behind all of the beer vendors, respectively.  The Atlanta Hawks were out there registering people to win free tickets to the games.  The Thrashers were providing slapshot games.  There was even a guy drawing caricatures on the spot.  None of these vendors got the attention SafeRide did. 

SafeRide provides free breathalyzer tests at all their events.  The fun part is you get to guess your blood alcohol level (BAL).  If you guess correctly, you win a prize, which Budweiser has so generously provided.  Bets begin to float around amongst friends and strangers alike to see who can blow the highest.  Previously, the highest I'd ever witnessed at an event was a .25.  That was eclipsed Saturday by a .28.  There was more celebration for that guy than there would have been if Germany would have won the World Cup. 

I truly had lots of fun.  Walking amongst the crowd encouraging people to use our service was interesting to say the least.  Halfway through the event it rained.  Everyone sought shelter beneath tents and trees and subsequently returned to the festivities.  Clearly, no one was discouraged.  Some people even thought that the wet ground provided an opportunity to do some mud gymnastics. 

All in all, SafeRide is a great organization to volunteer or even complete community service hours for.  You have no idea what you are missing.  It's getting to that time of the year where we need more volunteers.  School is back in session.  But, the events keep rolling in.  There's the Zoo event coming up in a couple of weeks and the OktoberFest in October.  For a great opportunity to serve your community by keeping drunk drivers off the roads and have fun doing it, register to volunteer for SafeRide. 

Motivating The Motivator.

People often say that motivation doesn't last.  Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

-Zig Ziglar

School is back in session and along with my organizational obligations, the motivation seems to wane at times.  A couple days ago, I was given the greatest motivation I could ever want, at this point in my life, and I use it daily. It's funny how simple a conscientious decision can be, yet so life changing.  What is my motivation? My soul mate. In a moment of clarity, I once told her that even the motivator needs a motivator.  Guess she didn't realize I was talking about her.  Now, I renew my motivation daily.  I cherish the little bit of time I get to spend with her and I aspire to give her everything she desires.  Simple as that.

I believe that we all serve ourselves best when we begin to serve others.  The beauty of volunteering is how selfless it is; yet, life is filled with inviolable spiritual laws one of which is "you reap what you sow."  No matter your religion, culture, belief system, philosophy, or motto; the benefits always justify the struggle.

Live for someone other than yourself and they will give their life for yours.  Live for yourself  and you die alone.  Some peoples' muse are their children or their circumstance.  What is yours?  What drives you to do what you do everyday?   If you can't answer that question, then it is time for some serious introspection. 

Volunteering is one of the greatest ways to exemplify your character as a human being.  Everyone needs a little help, now and then.  And, believe it or not one day you will, too.

Back To School

Self Confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.

- Samuel Johnson

The prospect of  new knowledge is enticing enough for me to persevere through the difficulties of school.  Everyday I aspire to join the ranks of esoteric scholars who are financially compensated for their opinions and ideas.  Education is so important on many levels.  Even God has mentioned that "...[His] people perish for a lack of knowledge."  It's not about being smart, but rather enlightened.  Too often people refuse to further their education because they don't believe that it is for them, or they aren't smart enough.  I don't subscribe to that kind of chatter.  We can all do anything we put our minds to do.  Nothing is ever easy but, it is always possible. 

I don't know a single person living who's mind doesn't continue to retain information.  We all have different ways of obtaining, processing, and retaining information.  I encourage everyone to find what best suits them and utilize it.  And, as time grows, teach yourself as best as possible to learn with other styles. 

One must believe in their self. Positive energy attracts positive energy. 

Success?

Well, the National Night Out event was an overall success. Or was it? There were nearly upwards of 500 parents and children in attendance. Courtesy of the Atlanta Institute for Males, backpacks were passed out to all children whom attended 2 ten minute sessions on various topics ranging from Gang Prevention to Crime Reduction.

The FBI, ATF, and APD were all on hand to meet and greet the citizens who make up the surrounding neighborhoods. I must admit I was somewhat dubious of the idea for this event. But, after attending, I feel less suspicious of the true intentions of the event.

As suspected, very few teens attended the event. This was mostly an outing geared towards the younger children. I guess it is appropriate for Atlanta Weed and Seed to sew some early seeds; however, where was the weeding.

More needs to be done to further point these teens in the right direction. The Atlanta Institute for Males has pioneered a great program for young men, spearheaded by Dr. Carter. They help provide the tools and mentorship every young man needs. I repeat, it takes a village to raise a single child. The people who work for that organization are sincere, serious, and passionate about the change they seek to make in the lives of our youth.

As we all know, very seldom does any event turn out as planned. Unfortunately, many of the parents displayed childish behavior. They were cutting lines and fighting over food. This is a great example of how important it is to hold these parents accountable for the direction these children are heading. How can we expect such a drastic change if the parents are not changing themselves?

National Night Out

Today, August 3rd, will be National Night Out for the vast communities across Atlanta.  The annual event is a joint effort of the Atlanta Weed and Seed program and the Atlanta Police Department.  For further information please visit the respective websites by clicking on the links.  I encourage everyone to participate in the community event.  Use the National Night Out link to locate an event nearest you.  I will periodically update from the event and try to include pictures.  For those of us who aspire to start their own non-profit organization or simply want to get more involved in the community; this is a great networking opportunity.  I will personally be working at the event located on 225 James P. Brawley Street next to John F. Kennedy Middle School and Center.   Free school supplies will be handed out.  So, don't hesitate to bring your children out to participate in the community "cookout."

Please view some of the volunteering opportunities available from the list located on the left of this screen.