What’s been going on with me? Well, quite a bit. Here are a few quick snippets. I have more good news to share in June. Stay tuned because it’s really gonna be awesome to share out!

My little sister Sade turned 16 years old last week. I sent her a serious care package with some Detroit love, Better Made potato chips along with some other stuff that I thought a 16 year old would find interesting, (not easy to do for an almost 40 year old guy) but she was quite happy.

She’s been so strong over the past year and has been working hard on making all things positive in her life. She recently became a member of the Alpha Kappa Omega Hearts sorority, A flag girl in her high school band, a member of the school gospel choir and all while maintaining good grades (not counting math but that’s another story).

She makes me happy and I admire her courage! And damn, I can’t believe she’s 16.

I recently started going back to the gym to work my husky body. My goal is to drop at least 20 pounds by my birthday in September. I’ve done it before and I’m about to do it again.  I have to look hot when I hit the beaches of Cancun.

I’ve been crazy busy with work, all kinds of work and I’m enjoying using my talents, skill and abilities to make others happy.

Now, keep in mind that I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit!

I’ll be in DC this weekend visiting and celebrating with friends and I cannot wait. I haven’t been on a trip since February and it’s time to get the hell out of dodge!

I could go on and on about myself but I’ll stop here.

My little sweet baby, Tongi laid an egg today. I noticed her building a nest over the last few days and then today I came home to her little white surprise.

This is her 4th egg in a year. The last time, she laid 3 eggs in the course of a few weeks. I wonder what will happen this time.

I view her egg laying and timing as a good omen because every time it’s happened, I received some great news. Today was no exception and I’m grateful for the Birmingham Family Court for honoring my family and doing the right thing!

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BTW, can you tell which image here was taken with an SLR or which with an iPhone????

A few weeks ago, my friend and birch jewelry designer, Heather Fagan of Bettula hit me up because she had a very exciting opportunity to work with Fab.com. My job? To get great photos for her portfolio to make this happen!

I own some of Heather’s birch cuffs that I rock during the summer months that I totally love so this was a no brainer.

I love when my artist friends find ways to keep their passions alive and active.

Here are a few moody shots from our time together with 1st time model, Amelia White.

The Bettula sale on Fab.com will run through March 9, 2013, so check it out fast!

People usually get happy at the thought of eating cake. Why though? Is it because cakes are comforting, decadent, stir great memories or is it simply because people just love CAKE?

Last week, a friend informed me that she was retiring at the end of the month. It was both sad but happy news as she will be missed. After she broke the news, I promised that I would make her a cake for our next meeting.

Last night, I made her and the rest of our group my super super delicious cream cheese pound cake. But this one had to be a little more special.

After the cake was done and I popped it out of the pan & marveled at how awesome it looked.  The morning, I dusted it with some powdered sugar just because… There is nothing like a well dressed cake.

I couldn’t wait to see the reaction of my friends upon presentation of the cake.

It was all smiles from the room & it made me feel great to see others being excited and celebrating a wonderful person.

Speaking of cake, one of my favorite cake rememories is when my mother made a yellow cake covered in apple jelly when I was probably 12 or 13 years old. My brother, sister and I destroyed that cake in less than 2 days. It was the bomb and I honestly think that it’s the best cake that I have ever had.

It wasn’t all that long ago when I photographed my friends Reggie & Adrienne getting married.. Time is flying and babies are popping up.

So excited about their next phase of life! Like the rest of our friends, I’m dying to know the measurements of Baby Boy Butler. His dad is super tall!!! I need to start a betting pool.

See a few outtake photos here…

My friend went to Brazil and I got a nice string of snail shells.  They are so amazing. The variety of colors, the patterns, the size. Mother nature is quite creative.

A few months ago, my great friend and creative muse, Jasmin Deforrest hit me up to collaborate on the relaunch of her t-shirt line, WordPlay Tees.  You may recall some of our past work together from 2009 (The Remix | The Remix 2.0)…

It’s always great working with Jasmin and this time was no different. Actually, it was HYPE. We worked with new Detroit talent, who embodied the positive energy and spirit that Jasmin’s products are all about.

The photo above with model Brandi Keeler is one of my favorites from the day. That face. That body. That slink inky pose….

The Background:

In 2007, WordPlay, a t-shirt line was created based on the duality and clever use of words.  The owner’s goal was to create a unisex line of t-shirts with positive, witty and sometimes edgy messaging.  Its tagline, “what does it mean to you?” represents the brand’s voice that speaks to individualism and the wearer’s perception of the design displayed.

In June 2012, the brand relaunched with fresh designs that represent the brand’s identity and playfulness.  Twisting the popular saying, F*ck My Life (FML) one of the most popular designs is Love My Life (LML).  WordPlay also has a design that has fun with one of Jay Z’s popular songs, “99 Problems but a B*tch Ain’t One” and through joking with a friend that she should create a design for fans of the tan, she created the concept, “99 Problems but a Tan Ain’t One”.  This design is for those who are naturally tanned and anyone who spends hours in the tanning booth.

One of WordPlay’s most popular design, “Chosen” is coming soon and will be launched as a brand under the company’s umbrella.  The definition for “Chosen” is, selected from a number of possibilities; picked by preference and that’s how the owner wants everyone to feel when rocking a WordPlay tee.

Their blog is set to feature, Word Player’s”, hip hop artists, singers, musicians, songwriters, producers…anyone who honors the art of word play and who’s passion is to create things the evoke words.  The blog will highlight up and coming artists, groups and popular artists.

For more WordPlay, visit www.shopwordplay.com.

You can see a snippet from the day in the video below.

Earlier today, I was with friends working on a project when one mentioned how she wanted a hot dog. She may have said it about 4 or 5 times.  I thought it was funny.

I guess summer holiday weekends are made for eating hotdogs.

Later in the day on the way home, I drove Bill’s Hot Dog Stand in Ypsilanti and laughed. I NEVER noticed it before today. Or maybe I have and it just didn’t register because I’m not a lover of hot dogs.

I had to turn back for a photo. The timing was just right & funny.

My parrot, Tongi and I have been together now for almost 18 years. I got her when she was about 4 months old.

When she came home with me, I was still hand feeding her. This of course strengthened our long father daughter relationship. To this day, she still flies to me for food and she is quite spoiled.

Over the last 5 years or so she has attempted to make a nest in her cage. She once took a brazil nut and cared for it as if it was an egg. It was funny and sad at the same time. Eventually, she gave up on the nut and destroyed her haphazard nest.

About three weeks ago, I noticed her constructing a new nest & was like oh boy here we go again.  Days later, I noticed that she was really sitting in this nest. I leaned in on the cage and she happened to get up and come to me. When she moved, a little white egg was revealed. I actually scream aloud. What the hell? What? WHAT!!!!!!

Yeah, I was shocked.

Because she does not have a mate, the egg wasn’t fertile. Nature just ran it’s course and Tongi officially became a hen.

I did a little reading and found that this was nothing unusual. But still. WOW!!!

Over the last two weeks, Tongi laid two more eggs for a total of three.

I let the eggs stay with her for a while as she seemed to enjoy sitting on them.  Most recently, I noticed that she kicked them to the side and stopped giving them any attention, so I removed them. She didn’t even care.

I’m still in shock but proud of my baby and her tiny clutch of eggs.

FYI, Tongi is a Nanday Conure and you can read about genus here.

“My brothers & sisters.

Black, the original man.

They say that black is back, but when did it leave.

It never left.

Its always been there.

Be Black.

Be Strong.

Be free.

For you are, the Black man.”

Nick Holder – Black Man ~ 2008

Detroit is one of America’s largest city but more often than not, it feels like a small town. Perhaps that’s because the population continues to dwindle or perhaps it’s just because I know a lot of people.

No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I happen to bump into friends. Sometimes in the most random places…

This weekend I was on the East Side of Detroit and popped into a barber shop and smack dab into my Patrick, a master barber.

You may be asking yourself, what I was doing in a barbershop… Well, that’s another story…

Thembi has been my boo for 50-11 internet years! She makes me laugh, she she’s made me cry while laughing, she is an education inspiration, and card carrying member of the Educated Negro Elite. Just Google her name & do her resume.

We had brunch a few weeks ago & I didn’t want it to end. She’s all the way live. Not to mention that she has one helluva side eye.

Anyway, I wish she would stop tripping & get her celebrated blog, “What Would Thembi Do” up & running again.

Yesterday, I visited my good friend Zana, owner of Spectacles (Downtown Detroit). While I went to shoot the breeze & catch up, I wound up walking out with a new pair of shades.

Seems like I have become somewhat of a sunglass junky. High end, cheapies, it doesn’t matter as long as they look good. And everybody knows that a good pair of sunglasses can take your look from 0 to 60 at the drop of a dime.

These huge shades are just what the Dr. ordered for this summer!

One of the highlights from my recent trip to Los Angeles was getting to meet my long time online friend and cousin in my head Liz Dwyer aKa Los Angelista.

Liz and I have been connected since Katrina or maybe a little after when I stumbled upon her blog and fell in love with her matter of fact/in your face writing style.

With me visiting the City of Angels, there was no way that I was not going to leave without kicking it with her. And we kicked it hard! Dinner at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles (I would tell you about the huge roach we saw but I’ll save that for next time.), a picnic lunch at the La Brea Tar Pits, a mini tour of LACMA.

Like with many of my friends that I met through social networking over the years, Liz and I hit it off like we were really old friends that haven’t seen each other in 50-11 years. I love when that happens!

I now officially know that all they hair on Liz’s hair is real and all hers. Trust me, I had my doubts!