I spotted this video over on The Prisoner’s Wife blog & just had to post it here. It’s way too funny not to. This guy really has skills!

Yesterday for Earth Day, I decided to take a hoe bath instead of a shower. I may have saved 18 gallons of water but my balls were musty most of the day. It so was not worth it!

Tuesday night, one of my Twitter friends asked me what I was going to do to celebrate Earth Day. I told him that I was pouring the paint in my garage down the rain drain in front of my house & that I was going to burn some tires in my back yard.

He then asked me how was this helping the environment. I told him that it was helping the environment in my garage by clearing it out & will keep my wife from hounding me to get rid of the items. A win-win in my book.

Of course I was just kidding.

On a real note, my family does its part for the environment. We recycle weekly, conserve on lights & gas usage, I down sized my SVU for a small car & We shop at Whole Foods (which really means nothing); blah blah blah

If you are a Negro on the fence about what the environment means to you & how it affects you, check out this great discussion that I heard on NPR’s “Tell Me More” program.

To return back to my original sarcastic tone, did you know that today (April 23rd) is “Fuck The Earth Day?” You have to see this great promo video!

And lastly, does anyone really think that the earth gives a fuck about the 12% of her inhabitants giving her love on one special day or on hour during “Earth Hour.” Why can’t we all be conscious all the time?

I know that it has been almost 2 weeks since I departed for DC to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama & I’m way over due for an update, but a nigga has been on the grind. I know I keep using that as an excuse but it is the truth. I promise to better at some point.

I’m sure by now that I cannot share anything about my experience new because you heard something similar from others so I will share some high points of the trip with you.

- On the way to DC, I got a call from my BFF’s wife letting me know that she got an inauguration ticket for me. Actually the ticket was given to my by my BFF because there were only three & he sacrificed for me. I mentioned this a few posts below but I am still blown away by his act of generosity.

- While in DC, I ate very well. You know that I am fat as hell & love to eat! Of all the food that I ate, I am still dreaming of the pesto chicken pizza that I ate at Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro. That pizza was so damn good, I came on myself a little bit.

- Lola from the “Whatever Lola Wants” blog. We met at Teaism, a wonderful little spot that I wish was near me but that is beside the point.

Like other bloggers that I have met out & about, Lola is cool & is just as animated in real life as she is on her blog. She, like others I have met offline is someone that I would kick it with in real life. It’s so funny to meet online friends (those of us who blog) and you already know them or at least it seems like it. It’s almost like it’s a friend that you have not seen in a while but talk all the time.

Anyway, I now know that the next time I hook up with Lola, we will have to do it in a place where we can talk shit & laugh loudly where people will not be like what the fuck is up with them. I think BFB & the Good Dr. Long were like, you guys are like way too loud.

- I really enjoyed the Blackness of DC. Yeah I know I grew up in another Chocolate City but Detroit & DC are two very different beast. From what I saw, the Negroes in DC seem to be more socially progressive, about their business & they seem to know how to act in a club. While I have an aversion to actually living anywhere along the east coast, DC is some place that I will visit often. As a matter of fact, I will be venturing back in the spring with Olivia for the Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s a little father/daughter photographic getaway trip.

- The actual time I spent on the national mall before & during the inauguration is something so big & I cannot compare it to anything else in my life that I have experienced. It was not as big as seeing my kids born but shit, it was up there. Literally being one in a crowd of almost two million is something that I still trip out on when I think about it. The other day I saw a satellite photo taken during the inauguration & a chill went down my spine. I saw myself as an ant participating in one of the biggest events of my life/the history of America/Black history.

Wow, just fucking wow!

- My one & only regret from my trip to DC last week was not buying that Michelle Obama body oil for Suite Suzy when I was on U Street! I should have also taken a picture of it. It was in a small vile & it was brite flourescent pink & basically almost glowing. The guys selling it, were also selling Barack Obama aprons & spatulas. Hmmmm!

- Not sure if I mentioned this previously but I did drive to DC with a friend. We were going to go & come back together but that plan changed & I had to drive back home alone. At 1st I was nervous about that because like most men, I get lost & I really need a navigator.

- I’m not going to discuss why I had to take a hoe bath the day of the inauguration & why I had on the same clothes & underwear for over 29 hours. It was & I was a hot mess.

Well I had to get over my anxiety & get my mind right for the trip home. I winded up really embracing the idea. It seized the 8.5 hour drive home to reflect on my experience & the significance of it all. I used the time to talk to myself & work a few things out in my head. And I used the time to take a few deep breaths & just enjoy myself. I found that I alone am a good road partner. I now think that there is nothing like a good road trip to help you get your mind right.

Lastly & most importantly, here is a link to a few photos that I captured on my trip. I hope that you do enjoy them.

If I was in NYC right now, I might have to throw a cinder block through this bitches window!

And since when did having a brother in law that is of a different race/ethinc group make a racist a lover of all people? Nigga please!

Since I’ve been back from DC, I have not had my mind right to post any updates or respond to comments & I feel crappy about that. I hope to be back at it in the next day or so with photos too. In the meantime, enjoy this, I know I did!

This is from an article on me & my journey through the election &  inauguration. Tina Reed will be contacting me Tuesday as I’m at the inauguration to get a feel of the environment & I’m looking forward to her call.

I still cannot believe that I have a ticket. My BFF’s sacrifice was large & I appreciate him giving up his ticket for me.
———————————————————–
Behind the Lens for milestone
BY TINA REED
The Ann Arbor News

“When Barack Obama began visiting Michigan on the presidential campaign trail last year, Ann Arbor resident Tafari Stevenson-Howard, 34, started a journey of his own.

Turning to his love of photography, the business student at Eastern Michigan University and employee of the University of Michigan wanted to chronicle history. He began by taking pictures of Obama’s visit to Troy High School.

On election night, he was snapping photos at Obama’s Ypsilanti headquarters where volunteers had gathered to wait for results, then he headed home to celebrate with his family.

And guess what, I was planning on being at the inauguration as one of the millions of people celebrating the momentous events celebrating Obama but today, I found out that I would be more than one of millions, I will be one of thousands, lucky enough to have a ticket to the swearing in. (I know that this is one long run on sentence but how better to say it.)

I found out during my 9 hour road trip that a ticket was waiting with my name on it. My BFF’s boo “The Good Dr. Long” had got tix & had one for me after my BFF gave me his because he knew that I would be willing to kill for it. The trip has now taken on more significance!!!

Anyway, I left the house today at 5am, got to my BFF’s house at 2 something after dropping off my friend who road with me.

All in all, it was a great road trip, that was very smooth. My friends in DC were all amazed that I got in town so fast.

So right now, it’s 730, I’m filled with good food, tired ass hell & looking forward to the rest of my trip. Gotta get some sleep.

BTW, I’m hoping to meet with other DC bloggers. Gotta get my schedule together but still, hit me up.

Sorry that this post is kinda scant but my mind is not 100%, actually, I feel like I’m at 42.7%.

Today I had a pretty interesting & intense day. First of all, I woke up late for work, had nothing to eat good for breakfast & a friend of mine gave me some pretty shocking news. The news was shocking, even my girl Alexyss K. Tylor could not comprehend. I wish I could discuss it but even I can keep some things on the lo-lo.

So after all of this jump-started my day, I had to reserve some energy & professional vibes for an interview that I had this AM with photographer Rosh Sillars for his blog & podcast “New Media Photographer”.

During the interview/conversation, we discussed my photography & my hopes for the future. We also discussed TWITTER and its evils & my favorite site, Flickr. It was a great discussion.

The talk seemed short but when it was all said & done it lasted for 17 minutes (WOW). The podcast will be online next Monday & of course I will keep you posted.

I have no idea how I sounded & I hope I keep it real.

Rosh is really a cool guy & his work is great. We meet at a holiday party last month sponsored by the Michigan chapter of American Society of Media Photographers. I love networking!!!

So after Rosh & I were done, I ran to Quizno’s for a couple of Italian Sammies to eat before I taught my class.

So had class, it went well but my cell phone kept jumping off during. So after class, I check my messages & I had one from Tina Reed of the Ann Arbor News who as calling me to discuss my trip to DC for the inauguration. Thx to my boo’s BFF Ramona Jones.

We had quite a long conversation about what the election meant to me, what I was going to be doing in DC, my accommodations & everything in between.

We are supposed to have a follow up discussion next week & they will also be contacting me the day of the inauguration to get updates on what’s going on. It should be pretty interesting.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Speaking of DC, I’m leaving next weekend & cannot wait! I had planned on driving with a friend but those plans feel through & I am hitting the road solo. Should be peaceful & I will make a kick ass playlist to make the 8.5 hr drive fly by.

I’m staying with my BFF BFB & his wifey. We have been on the lookout for Negro budget friendly events (under 40 bucks) & have been batting zero. That all changed about 1 hour ago thanks to one of my Twitter friends who posted budget friendly inauguration events on the “Soul Bounce” blog.

There are like three events that I must do on the Soul Bounce list.

I am also planning on attending a pre-inaugural reception hosted by my congressional district’s house member John Dingell on MLK day. I got the invite yesterday & have to admit I was excited. The funny thing is, I did not vote for Dingell because he voted on things that pissed me off last year but I am a sucker for a free party. And for the occasion, I’m putting partisanship aside.

On a final DC note, I’m also excited to see BFB, we talk all the time but have not seen each other since he moved to VA in early fall last year. Looking forward to having cocktails with my BFF as we talk shit & argue the way that we have for the last 24 years (I feel old saying that, but we have been friends since we were 10).

So tomorrow, I will be getting ready for my trip to DC by seeing my hair colorist for a touch up, can’t leave town without a fresh dip boo, & I am doing something about these bitch length nails (my cuticles are out of control too).

Anyway, I need to get back to this bottle of dark liquor; I’m in decompression mode like a mutha!

If you are in DC or will be in DC we should hook up, hit me up!

Why come I can’t wait to see my sister’s newest son Asar Nasir? He was born 440am this morning; 7lbs 12.8oz 19″. Her current vagina status is busted & stitched up like a circumcised Nigerian girl.

Why come all of Jonny Depp’s movies are the shit? I just watched the “9th Gate”.

Why come I’m addicted to Twitter. It’s really affecting my blogging?

Why come I’m happy as hell that I passed my last accounting test with an 80% & quiz with a 100%. One more test & 2 more quizzes & I am out that bitch?

Why come I’m geeked that I sold a piece of art at the American Society of Media Photographers “object Art show” benefiting AIDS last Friday? The theme was apples & I sold “A Stranger’s Apple“

Why come my Obama love fest is so over but his campaign keeps emailing me for donations?

Why come CNN is all over Sarah Palin like white on rice asking that Bitch if she is gonna run in 2012. She needs to do a whole lot of reading before we can ask her shit like that.

Why come 70% of voting Negroes in CA voted against Prop 8? And how did the Mormons get so rich to come up with 20 something million to support the ban on gay marriage?

Why come radio host Joe Madison is the shit?

Why come Beyonce wants to portray Wonder Woman on the silver screen? Am I the only person in the world that thinks she should be limited to starring in her own videos?

Why come I can’t stop listening to George Dukes “I want You For Myself”? Disco Jazz is a genre that needs a comeback!

Why come I recently saw a friend’s husband out with another woman the other night & he totally looked busted? And why come I feel like I cannot say shit about it to my friend although she knows that I know that he’s hoeish anyway?

Why come Negroes @ the gym be working out with doo rags & headscarves on? Why not sacrifice your waves & perms so that you do not look ghetto as hell in front of mixed company?

Why come the staff at my senators office acted clueless today when I called to get tickets to the inauguration. I am officially on the waiting list in 4 congressional offices and yes I even called Kwame’s wig wearing momma for some tix.

Why come in 1½ hours, I will be watching the early release of “Quantum of Solace”. Not gettin my usual large mixed icee & medium popcorn though. We I might get the icee.

It’s been a week & it the shit is real! Obama is the HNIC in waiting. 

While I’m over my Obama love fest, I’m still excited about the possibilities.

With the election over the cable news has been wack, boring & my early evening TV watching is giving me a headache.

I am sick of hearing about Obama being the 1st Black this, the 1st Black that. OK we know, we know. So what’s next?