This will be up for the next few days. scroll down to see my latest posts.

Yes, this is all about me. The post is long, kinda boring but I had to get it all out or die from excitement.

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Monday I had a test in my math class that I was feeling pretty confident about because I had been hitting the books consistently over a period 3 weeks. This test had to be the test that I made my comeback on because I totally fucked up on got a 69% on the 1st one. So I had to prove to myself that like so many others before me, I could do it.

So I took the test, which took me a good hour. After it was over I felt good, went home, changed into my gym gear, hit the gym, came back home, ate dinner & eventually fell asleep.

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Tuesday: I woke up feeling pretty good but nervous about the test from the day before. Got ready for work, hit the plantation for 8 hours, came home to cook dinner, went to the gym, ate dinner & eventually fell asleep.

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Wednesday: So today was the day I got the results of Monday’s test & I was pretty much on edge all day wondering how things ended up. Work was boring as usual & after 8 hrs, I hit Whole Foods for an in-class snack & some two bite brownies just in case I needed to console myself after getting my test results.

So now I am in class & the instructor said that he would pass the tests back after the break; everyone was like damn.

Anyway, we jumped off into chapter 4 & that shit was not so easy to comprehend but I will be working my ass off over the next few weeks to keep up.

Now it’s break time. I pull out my snack & beverage & await the test results. Five minutes later, the instructor stops in front of me then gives me smirk. At 1st I was like what was that all about, was he laughing at me, was he like great you did it, what???? Bottom line is it was a smirk of you did it. I got a 94 fucking %. So I was so geeked, I could not concentrate one bit after the break.

My come back is now on & poppin’!

After class, I went home, changed into my gym gear, hit the gym & watched ANTM while working the elliptical, came back home, ate a delicious Thai dinner that Suite Suzy picked up for me & eventually fell asleep after basking in the glow of my math victory (can you say run on sentence like a mutha!!!).

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Thursday: I woke up feeling fucking great & glowing because of my successful math comeback. Got ready for work, hit a 9am work mtg, returned to the office for a few hours, then left for the day to pick up Olivia & Sade because they had a half day of school & I wanted to spend some time with them.

It’s now 1150am & the girls & I are on our way to lunch. Lunch was god but the conversation was much better. It is really fun listening to them voice their opinions (sometimes). They are quite strong in how they feel about things & speak with such conviction to be so young. It’s good to see my kids more advanced than I was at their age.

Now it’s 2pm & we are back home after stopping at the store to pick up some movie snacks. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching “Stardust” (rented in iTunes), popping milk duds & whoppers.

OK so now it’s 4 pm & I get an email from Vonnie @ Honey Soul who informed me that singer Anthony David was trying to get in touch with me. So moments later Anthony David & I touch base & he tells me that his record label wants to BUY the impromptu photo that I took of him back in Nov 07. I was like what???

He was then like name your price & it’s on. So at this point, I had to consult with one of my professional fashion photographer friends & he was like don’t accept anything less that ?00 but don’t lose the sale so be flexible at the same time. I was like for real? He was like hell yeah.

OK so now I am back with AD & was like my price with rights is ?50 or you can have all 6 for ?000. He was like no problem, let me hook you up with the record label rep (Universal Republic Records).

Hours later after all negotiations, my price was honored the paperwork was submitted & the images were sent.

So you can imagine I was on cloud 9 all fucking afternoon through the evening. The kids heard all of the discussions & were like OMG is that for real. They were like, we are so excited for you baba/brother. It felt good to her my babies talk that way. I then got in touch with my boo to share the good news & she shared that same sentiments as the kids.

During all of the negotiations & other shit, I attended a talk on becoming a stock photographer by professional photographer Ric Kasnoff. I learned a lot & hope that one day some I can put the information to use.

About 1030, I made it back home did some paperwork, & eventually fell asleep. Notice, I did not have dinner, I was too tired & went to be slightly hungry.

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Friday: I woke up feeling fucking great & glowing because of my successful math comeback & my 1st photo sale!

Eventually, I scroll up into the plantation, work until about 1240pm then hit the Toyota dealership to test drive that Prius that I mentioned a few months back.

After being up in that bitch for 3 damn hours, a deal was made & I am now the proud “pre owner“ of a Prius. The one I wanted was not in stock & had to be ordered. It should be in by Wednesday next week. I am pretty geeked about my new car & the fact that I will be rolling fat like my boy Larry David!!! My car not is 24 bucks cheaper plus all of the gas money I will be saving. Cha ching!!!

The ride on the Prius was smooth, very quite & pretty roomy for a small vehicle. My gas guzzling V6 days are almost over!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, I got mine in the “magnetic gray metallic” color.

It’s now just before 4pm & I roll up to the house & see Suite Suzy off before their 3-day girls weekend in western MI somewhere. I will miss them but looking forward to a quite house, mos def.

So I run in the house to spend some of the money I earning on my photo sale. I now have a new Nikon 85mm & Nikon 12-24mm lens on the way.

It’s now almost 5, so I take a quick leak then hit the freeway to head to the Centaur for after 5 cocktails.

My BFB winded up meeting me & we chilled while talking some shit like we do with some of the other bar flies. About 730 my boy “Bouncer Locs” asked me if I was going to the Jill Scott concert that was jumping off @ 8. I was like no, I could not get tix in time. He then said he had 2 & could not go. He offered them to me for 125 bucks. The wheels in my head were turning big time. I was like hold on let me consult. Fifteen minutes later, BFB had the tix in hand after making the money exchange in a weed smoke filled car (nothing like a contact buzz after a few martinis). Fifteen minutes after that we were up in the Fox in our seats (half way decent seats).

We caught the end of Raheem DeVaughn’s set, which was just OK. I mean, I really like Raheem but that new CD Is wack!!!!!!!

Now it’s a little after 9pm & my boo Jilly from Philly on stage looking good & sounding even better. She burned the stage up for 2 straight hours & totally gave me an eargasm!!!

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I ended my best 08’ week ever on such a high note, unlike that bitch ass Kwame Kilpatrick!

What the fuck is next?

I finally completed a Landscape Management website that I have been working on for months. The client was referred to my by Cousin Dee & the referral was based in part because the client like CD’s website, which is always good to hear.

The job started out as a simple site but grew into a logo design, business cards & other print materials.

I am very happy with the final look of what I put together & the client was as well.

With another website win under my belt & cash in the bank, I am chilling on any more web designing until this semester is over & then I will still not be doing much.

I am kinda over this business venture but the money is hard to say no to, so I will be operating on a case by base basis. One cool thing resulting from this project is it may turn into some landscape photography work this summer, which will be great for me Verta Photography portfolio!

Anyway, check it out, let me know what you think & don’t be afraid to hurt my feelings!

Grace Landscape Management Inc.

It has been a while since I designed a wallpaper (photography took over) & the mood struck the other day. This is my end result & I am so digging it! Then again, I dig most things I do.

If you are digging it & would like to download a full version go her for:

Full Version 1280×1024
Wide Screen 1440×900
Ultra Wide Screen 2560×1024

For almost a week, I have been spending a lot of time with my new friend. No, not a new toy, I’m talking about my new (to me (refurb boo)) MacPro desktop computer. It arrived last Wednesday & I have been pressed to pry myself away from it because it’s so beautiful (men & electronics).

My HP is officially kicked to the curb & my house is now Mac-a-licious!!!

This thing moves like a knife through hot butter (or like Kwame “fuck em’ dry “Kilpatrick through his hoes) & it is coming in handy because I usually have at least 5 programs running at once (Photoshop, Parallels, DreamWeaver, Illustrator & Adobe Bridge), not to mention Mail, iTunes & Fire Fox. Yes, I’m a serious muti-tasker & having 2 19” monitors mos def helps!

The only thing that suffered during my total transition to the Mac platform was my scanner (Canoscan N1240U), which is 7 years old. It does not work with the new Mac OS, which I found out during a 25 minute call to Canon customer service. So off to Best Buy, I “had” to run for a replacement (Canoscan LiDE 600F). The funny thing is that, my old scanner outlived 4 PC’s & at least 3 printers.

So for now, I am on budget lock down for months after an extended spending frenzy like I was rich. Well, I my have to come ff my self-imposed budget lock down if a hot new mini toy comes out & there are a few scheduled for release over the next couple of months.

My HP 520n workstation finally bit the dust yesterday after 3 failed attempts to resuscitate.

This is officially the last PC that I will ever own flat out!!! I have had to totally restore it, seems like twice a year for the last 3 damn years.

The people @ HP support were always nice & helpful when chatting online, but I can no longer take it.

So after death was confirmed, I hopped on Apple.com & ordered a Refurb’d Mac Pro Quad (who could afford a new one???). I should be up & running next week & cannot wait!!! My next thing to get will be that 30” monitor, but that will be a while. Suite Suzy, if you are reading, just kidding about the monitor & thx so much for approving the purchase oh budget master!!!

Luckily I backed up recently on my external hard drive (a must have) so I lost very little. I called my best friend Brion (BFB) to get advice on getting info off the hard drive & he broke off the knowledge & is hooking up with me Saturday to extract what I need. During the conversation he told me how bored he has been lately & I asked why since I new he would be wrapped up into his graduate classes by now. He then said, Oh, I forgot to tell you, I graduated & was like as a matter of fact, I got my degree in the mail today (masters in computer science).

Last time we talked a little over a week ago, he asked me about helping to build a site for him so that he could refer potential employers to it. Nothing was said about this great news. Anyway, I am super excited for him. It seems like he blew through his program in no time. I joked with him & told him that he & his fiancé were going to be the next Barack & Michelle Obama, especially when she wraps up he PhD. We both laughed.

So anyway, I am much more broke n I was 24 hours ago, but at least I will have an “iSlave” soon!

Thx to everyone who helped me help myself in choosing my new business card design! Your honest feedback was very helpful & I am excited about the winning design.

Funny thing is the winner was “C” was my favorite all along! So I get to order my first choice, how awesome!!!

Today, I called up Cousin Dee to tell her about my blog poll on my card & she was like let me see the winner. Through the magic of email, she had it in her inbox less than a minute later.

She opened the message was like ooooooohhh, “I really like this, can you do one for me, I need cards like yesterday”. Since we work together, I could not charge her but she knew I wanted to. Shit, I do not do family discounts; everyone must pay!

I guess since my cards are on the way, I need to finish our damn website (when in the hell will I find the time???).

Anyway, here is the modified winner of the poll.

Peace & thx again,

Tafari

BTW, I am THE king of busy design.

This post will remain at the top of my blog until 11/02/07. If you have already voted, scroll down for newer entries.

Bygbaby
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I need to order new business cards soon; so last night I worked on a design but I need your help in picking the design I should go with.

Should I go with a. b. c. or d.? Help a brotha by Friday 11/2/07!

A little over 2 weeks ago Afrobella announced an open logo design contest for her blog. When I initially read it, I was temped to enter but I was like noooo, I am not a competitive person & I hate losing.

Weeeeeell, after a few days of thinking about it, I gave into myself & created a logo to submit for the contest. It took me about 6 hours (off & on) to get it exactly how I wanted it.

The contest ends Aug 5th & I am nervous but at the same time I am excited for Afrobella because I love her blog, as I’m a frequent reader.

Although her blog covers a lot of beauty stuff, she also covers some great history pieces & pop culture pieces that I enjoy reading.

So now I have about 2 weeks before the contest ends & a winner is announced so my fingers are crossed! Which ever way things go, I am positive that she will have something really good but my boo is really wanting me to win so she can get the $50 Sephora gift certificate & other goodies. I just want to be praised for the world to see for being a great designer LOL.

Here is what I did, let me know what you think (don’t be afraid to be honest, I am a byg boy)!