Reggie's Rantings

The racism train is never late!!!!

2014-04-26T17:14:00.009-04:00

There is one simple truth that I try to never forget.....and that is that the racism train in this country is never late.

It would seem that every single time that I tend to forget that, someone steps front and center to remind me of the realities of life in this country....and the world at large for that matter.

I'll be the first person to tell you that I firmly believe in every American's right to freedom of speech. Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't repercussions to the things that people say. Especially when they depend upon the general public for their livelihood.

I don't know what the Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald T. Sterling was thinking...........then again, I guess I do. I can also say that I have an appreciation for Donald Sterling's taste in women.

What he's about to learn though is that there is a direct correlation to making racist statements like "he'd rather not have blacks go to his games" or "he'd rather not have whites that associate with blacks go to his games".......is gonna turn into a big shit sandwich that he's gonna have to take a bite of without the benefit of some cheese or ketchup.

Whats really funny is that in 2009 Donald T. Sterling was awarded the NAACPs "Humanatarian of the year award".

And then there's Cliven Davis. He was the conservative's media darling until earlier this week when he came under fire for being caught on camera making racially charged remarks about "negroes". He said he was "just wondering" if blacks might have been better off as slaves......picking cotton, rather than sucking at the government tit.

That's an interesting thought process from someone who randomly breaks the law and doesn't pay his own debts.

Does it really matter that these two men are as old as dirt?!?

Is that a valid excuse?!?

Don't people like this realize that racism will impact their bottom line quicker than Kryptonite will kill Superman?!?

Oh, you can stick a fork in me, I'm done.

2014-01-10T20:52:00.001-05:00

I guess I've lost both my muse and my mojo.

Truth be told, I haven't much felt like writing this blog for the last year or so. I guess my blog love left me about that time.

So at this point, I'm gonna take a step back and officially say I'm done.

Oh I'll still be around from time to time to comment on some of your blogs.......but for now, I just don't have the energy for this blog.

I've really enjoyed writing it over the years. I've been on Blogger since 2009 when I followed fellow blogger RiPPa over here from Yahoo 360; and I blogged on that site for a good five years or so too.

See you in the funny papers...............

What's your go to dish?!?

2013-11-28T21:16:00.001-05:00

I love this time of year.

I like the holiday season because it's an excuse for family to come together and break bread....while watching football. Don't get it twisted, I love my Steelers and my Crimson Tide!!! Some people are fair weather fans. I proudly support my teams whether they win or lose.

But enough about football....this post is about my love for good food.....and how much I love to cook that food.

I'm quick to say that I've got a wait problem, I can't wait to eat.......and it's true. I love to eat and I love to cook almost as much as I love to eat.

When I say that I really do love to cook, it's true and I've loved to cook for years. Over the years, I've learned to cook a slew of dishes. Some of the dishes that I enjoy cooking the most are found within this post; they are lobster macaroni and cheese, jambalaya and red beans and rice. These are some of my go to dishes. These dishes will keep you warm when there's a chill in the air.

What do you like to cook?!?

...and even if you don't like to cook, what do you like to eat?!?

Some time ago I went to DaenelT's blog called "Living outside the stacks" and she had a recipe in one of her posts for something she called Homemade Potato, Corn and Shrimp Chowder. It sounded absolutely delicious and I keep thinking about it; so much so, that I'm definitely gonna make it before the year is out.

If you're not familiar with her, you should check her out and check out the recipe as well.

http://livingoutsidethestacks.com/throw-back-thursday-homemade-potato-corn-and-shrimp-chowder-in-the-kitchen/

Tell me, what do you like to cook?!?

The "Reggie" movie

2013-10-14T08:27:00.002-04:00

After much thought and consideration (not really), I've decided that when the "Reggie" movie comes out, I'd like to see either.....

Terrance Howard

or Jeffrey Wright in the title role.

Yeah, yeah I know, there's probably never ever going to be a "Reggie" movie.....but we've all gotta have dreams right?!?

Okay, now that I've told you who I'd want to play my title role, which actor or actress (living or dead) would you want to play you?!?

I'm a bit of a nomad.

2013-09-24T17:12:00.001-04:00

Before anyone gives me any grief.........I know I haven't been online much lately.

Just like all of you, I'm dealing with this thing called life as best as I can......and lately it's been kicking my ass!!!!

For the last eight years, I've been living in the state of South Carolina.

But I've always been a bit of a nomad, so when an opportunity to move to the state of Florida came my way recently, I jumped on it.

So this coming weekend....I'll be moving to the sunshine state.

When I said I was a bit of a nomad....I only say that because so far I've lived in California, Mississippi, New York, Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey....and for the next few days, South Carolina.

I'm definitely gonna miss the shrimp and grits!!!

I know people that have lived in the same city for their entire lives and I've lived all over the country. I can't say that I'll always stay in Florida.......who knows where life's journey will take me next?!?

Where do you live?!? Where have you lived?!? Are you a bit of a nomad too?!?

Heil Hitler!!!

2013-08-05T08:41:00.000-04:00

Dammit!!!!

This morning I couldn't sleep, so I got up early, made coffee and started shaving. Then my alarm went off. I don't know why I wasn't expecting it, but it did startle me momentarily. Long enough for me to alter my down swipe as I was shaving....and shave off a little too much of one side of my moustache. After shutting off the alarm, I surveyed the damage to my moustache and tried to even it out.

But.........it ended up being just a tad bit too short. Actually, it was more than a little short, it was noticeably short.

I've been wearing a moustache for years.

Whenever I don't have a moustache, I've been told that I look like I have cancer. This morning though, I didn't have many options. I mean, I know it's just hair and it'll grow back.

I wanted to keep my moustache in the worst way.

Truth is though, Adolph Hitler ruined the little moustache for everybody. I can't walk around looking like Der Fuhrer, so I had to shave mine off. I can't wait for it to grow back.

I guess I'll have to do without.

I can't have people walking up to me yelling "Heil Hitler!!!"

Dammit!!!

I went to see a movie.

2013-07-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to see Pacific Rim. I really enjoyed the movie, I thought it was awesome!! You may not know it by reading my blog posts, but I'm really just a big kid at heart.

Growing up I loved seeing those old movies with someone in a big rubber monster suit. Truth be told, I've probably seen every Godzilla and Gamera movie at least five times.

Last month, I did see Man of Steel. I really enjoyed it as well. Some people go to the movies to be wowed by Hollywood. Me, I'm just looking for a two hour distraction that doesn't make me regret spending my admission..........and the price of popcorn and jujubees on. I liked this Superman movie, but I liked the last one too. I'm a big fan of the superhero genre of movies......don't tell anyone, I'm trying to be all hard and whatnot....and be a dork as well.

What type of movies do you like?!? What's the last good movie that you saw?!?

I've got a weight problem, I can't wait to eat!!!

2013-07-10T08:21:00.001-04:00

I was going through some of my old blog posts today. For no particular reason, other than killing some time; though in truth I was looking for one post in particular. I finally happened upon the post that I was looking for; one that I wrote more than two years ago called Morbidly Obese.

http://reggiesblogspotrantings.blogspot.com/2011/01/morbidly-obese.html

I wrote that post because of two separate incidents where I watched two rather large women devour food in a couple of restaurants that I was eating in when they decided to eat like "a couple of hogs slopping at a trough" (in my best Alabama twang, of course).

I was thinking of that post because of something I witnessed this past weekend at a local Piggly Wiggly. If you're not familiar with Piggly Wiggly, it's a grocery store; and there are many of them here in South Carolina where I live.

Anyway, each Piggly Wiggly has a deli area where they serve hot food on a buffet. Where I wouldn't necessarily be tempted to eat off a buffet at most any grocery store (or buffet in general); I must say that the food sold off the buffet at my local Piggly Wiggly is excellent.

The fried chicken, fried fish, macaroni and cheese, green beans, candied yams, fried okra, peach cobbler, hot rolls and sweet iced tea could have easily come off my mother's table. The food is just that good. So good, in fact, that there is always an ample line waiting to be served.

Sunday I was in the grocery store picking up a few items. I wasn't there for the buffet; but trust me, there were plenty of people that were.

One particular customer stuck out in my mind, because she was very loud and very very big. Without a doubt, she stood out to me because of her size. While I was walking by and lusting after that delicious looking fried chicken, she was placing her order.

A few minutes later when I was checking out, she was in the line ahead of me; and she had opened up her box of food in the line and she was standing there eating a chicken leg.

While that chicken looked damned good....and it did. Nothing was so serious that she couldn't have waited until she got her big ass home to start eating that chicken........and licking her fingers, while waiting to check out.

While I will probably never see this woman again, I will certainly remember her as the big greedy woman who couldn't wait to get home to devour that yard bird she was chewing on in line.

I see a lot of overweight people, I know we all do. You might be overweight yourself. After all, one in three Americans is overweight. That's one hundred million big collard green eating people in this country. That's a lot of big people.

Why are there so many overweight people in this country?!?

It would be easy.....and foolish to say that they're all just greedy like the woman I observed going at that yard bird; and the other two women from the previous post.

I don't believe that greed is the answer across the board, though I do believe it's the answer in many cases.

You don't usually become morbidly obese by mistake. Usually there are a fork and knife involved and not a lot of exercise. Though there are times when health issues do contribute to this problem.

That said, this country seems to have a love affair with greed, both economically and psychologically; and I think that goes without saying.

In the last few years, a slew of "eating events" have cropped up around the country, dedicated to celebrating the man or woman that can eat the most hot dogs, pies, chicken wings, pizzas....what have you.

Is that a good thing?!? Is it pure entertainment or ultimately does that speak to the lower base desires of human nature?!? In a world where people are starving and still others struggle to afford healthier foods, should we be celebrating gluttony?!?

When people around the world look at us from the outside looking in, I can understand just why they hate us. We're our own worst enemy.

It seems to me that healthier foods tend to be more expensive than fattening foods. Fattening foods are usually inexpensive. I think that has something to do with much of what I see in my fellow Americans. Not to mention the fact that healthier foods are not quite as tasty.

One thing that happened as a result of that post I wrote back in January of 2011 was that one of my longtime blog mates took offense to the post. She expressed her dismay over the subject matter and how she felt it was mean spirited and never came back to my blog.

When I write these posts, I use a little humor to downplay the seriousness when speaking to each subject. Though I may be passionate about the topic, I'm not trying to be mean spirited and I don't ever intend on hurting anyone's feelings.

I absolutely love to eat.

I've got a weight problem, I can't wait to eat.

I don't have a problem making that statement because it's absolutely true. I make it a point to try and eat healthy foods for the most part and I exercise on a regular basis. If I didn't exercise and eat healthy at least most of the time, I'd be overweight as well.

I'm sorry, but I'm not calling it "the n-word".

2013-06-23T19:29:00.002-04:00

It's been a long time since I could claim to be anywhere near politically correct; and this late in the game, I absolutely refuse to use the term "the n-word".

I think the term itself is laughable......it's downright silly.

It seems to me that at least once a year, one of our so called heroes or some idiotic comedian or some such drunken fool or lame duck politician winds up being taped using that word that Paula Deen clearly throws around like someone working the cash register at a McDonald's might use the term "Big Mac".

I don't use the word myself, it's just not me. Out of respect for myself, my children, the way I was raised, my family at large, the world and the many fine people that came before me.

I just think that the casual use of that particular word is rather ignorant.

But..... should occasion present itself where I might be forced to use the word, I'm just not gonna call it "the n-word".

But I don't understand why we continue to act shocked by the casual or even not so casual use of this word or other hurtful slurs as part of the regular vocabularies of these people that Hollywood or the media would have us look up to.

This is America.

It is what it is.

It's the land of the free, the home of the brave and our legacy was built on the backs of enslaved people and racist notions.

The racism train in America is never late. Let's not pretend that isn't our countries legacy.

Do we really believe in our heart of hearts that these few people that end up getting busted talking like this are the only ones that do use words like this on a regular basis?!?

I mean......really?!?

So why do we continue to be and act surprised?!?

Why?!?

Anyone who is offended by the use of this word and others like it......shouldn't EVER use this word or other hurtful words themselves.

I don't use the word....or this silly term. I don't use it and I'm not going to.

If marijuana were legal..........

2013-05-26T10:22:00.000-04:00

The times they are a changing........

There was a time in this country in the not too distant past when marijuana was derided as a "gateway drug" or something used by ne'er-do-wells that generally look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo or Snoop Dogg. In the last few years though, attitudes are changing. People are taking a second look at marijuana, perhaps seeing it in a different light. Or maybe it's just all those people that have been smoking it on the low for years are coming out of the closet?!?

In some parts of the country it's a legal substance. And it would seem that more and more Americans think it should be legal.

Pros:
* Stress reliever
* Increased appetite, food subjectively tastes better.
* Reduced nausea
* Induces drowsiness, so it can be beneficial to sufferers of insomnia and sleep deprivation
* Holds usefulness for chronic pain
* mood lift, euphoria/laughter
* creative, philosophical or deep thinking : ideas flow more easily
* increased appreciation of music. More aware of, deeper connection to music.
*A increased awareness of senses. (eating, drinking, smell)
* change in experience of muscle fatigue. Pleasant body feel. Increase in body/mind connection.
* pain relief (headaches, cramps)
* boring tasks or entertainment can become more interesting or funny

Cons:
*Could lead to other drug use

*that funky smell* clumsiness/general goofiness
* paranoid and/or anxious thoughts
*overuse could lead to depression
*dizziness, confusion light headedness
*difficulty with short term memory like forgetting where you left your lighter and rolling papers
*hacking, wheezing and coughing

*having to order a pizza or buy various junk foods due to the munchies

If marijuana were legal in your state, would you smoke it?!?

I wouldn't.....but maybe you would?!?

Yo!!! Can a brotha get a courtesy flush?!?

2013-05-05T19:36:00.002-04:00

It happened again Friday; and every single time it happens, I just want to scream!!! Once again I found myself shouting into one of the stalls in the men's room asking, "Hey....can a brotha get a courtesy flush?!?"

I really hate doing that. I don't want to have to call anyone out. I don't want to have to ask. But we've got a few men in our office that regularly use the men's bathroom on my floor that will routinely emit odors that would offend a pig's nose.

Usually when one of those guys is in there, some decent person will shout "code black" if they see someone else getting ready to walk into the men's room behind one of them.

It's as if they're trying to peel the paint off the walls. They smell the same way I would imagine a wild gorilla would smell if it's diet were too high in fiber. All of them are big burly dudes.....but they've gotta have some serious health issues going on. No one's insides smell like that for no reason at all. In the very least, they need to change their diets for all of our sakes.

There's actually three of them, there's............

Uncle Fester

We call him Uncle Fester, well.....because he looks like Uncle Fester from The Addams Family. His bowels are lethal and he's not opposed to allowing you to smell the full wrath of them. He's actually the reason that I wrote this post. When I was presented with his stench when I walked in the bathroom on Friday, I demanded that he immediately give me a courtesy flush.

He did.........but that was too little and far too late. My nostrils were thoroughly offended by that juncture.

There's Beetlejuice....no not that Beetlejuice, this one. I had to ask him for a courtesy flush one day last month. Dude's so ugly that I don't know what else we'd call him.

and there's 'Squatch, since he kinda resembles a Sasquatch. He's a big burly hairy mofo who spends most of his day eating one unhealthy snack after another and he has the utter audacity to snack on prunes at his desk as well. I've had to request a courtesy flush from him a couple of times since we've worked together. Because of those prunes he's so fond of there's a guy in the office that refers to him as "juicy farts", but that's just too disrespectful....even for me.

The three of them have been known to clear a bathroom quicker than Kryptonite will kill Superman. And the simple truth is, they've got no shame in their game. Although I don't believe that any of them had ever heard of the term "drop and flush", I've acquainted all three of them with it more than a few times.

Nasty bastards.

What is so hard about being considerate enough to respect your coworkers?!? It's not as if they're the only people that actually use that bathroom.

Why in God's name would anyone want to subject another living soul with the smell of their insides?!? Common decency would suggest that everyone employ the drop and flush method.

It's just the right thing to do.

I don't want to have to demand a courtesy flush from anyone, but if push comes to shove, I will.

Why is it so hard for some people to provide the rest of us with a timely courtesy flush?!? It's just the decent thing to do.

She knew damned well her baby was ugly.......oh, and I did get a pedicure.

2013-04-27T18:30:00.002-04:00

The other day I was just minding my own business, trying to get through yet another hectic day at work; when I was confronted with one of those moral dilemmas that we're all faced with from time to time.

This year one of my New Year's resolutions was to just be honest, regardless of the circumstance or situation. Just when I think everything is going well where that is concerned. Here comes this rather "handsome woman" fresh off maternity leave sticking a picture of one of the ugliest babies I've ever seen in my life in my face.

Then she has the utter audacity to ask "Reggie, isn't my baby adorable?!?"

So I looked at her and then I looked at that picture of her baby....and I looked at her again and I said "Well, look at the baby." She wasn't satisfied with that answer so she asked again "Reggie isn't my baby adorable?!?" So I looked at her again and then I looked at that picture of her baby and I said "My my". She wasn't satisfied with that answer either, so she asked again "Reggie isn't my baby adorable?!?" So I looked at her and I looked at that picture and I said "What a smile!!" She wasn't satisfied with that answer either, so she asked again "Reggie isn't my baby adorable?!?" So I looked at her and I looked at that picture again and I said "Well, maybe he'll grow up to be an athlete?!?" At that, she stormed off......fortunately, she took that ugly ass picture with her.

Time and time again I've heard people say that there are no ugly babies. Of course we all know that's bullshit, there are plenty of ugly babies and plenty of ugly people too. Now the baby I saw the other day wasn't the ugliest baby I've ever seen; but he was certainly ugly enough to scare a hungry dog off the back of a meat truck. That was an ugly baby, all it needed was a piece of cheese or a cigar in it's little mouth.

I'm at a point in my life where lying just isn't that cute to me. I don't want to ever lie again....so, if you don't want to know the truth as I see it, then don't ask. Because I'm going to tell you the truth.

Okay.....on to the next topic.

As I was saying in my last post, lately I've seen some pretty busted hooves. I know you've seen them too. The temperatures have been rising lately and I keep thinking......I need to take care of my paws and my hooves too.

See, I think it's important for both men and women to take care of both their hands and their feet. One of the reasons that I was attracted to my wife was because she has beautiful feet.

As a matter of fact, she was the first woman that I ever remember looking at and thinking....."she's got some really nice hooves."

Full disclosure......I just love looking at that woman's feet!!!

If your dogs are barking and your paws are ragged, I'd suggest you take your ass to the nearest salon and get that shit taken care of. It is that time of year and the last thing I or anyone else wants to see is someones busted hooves.

Some of you may have noticed that I was missing in action for a few days, from this past weekend until the beginning of the week. Well I took the wife to Myrtle Beach for a few days of rest and relaxation. Now I'd been to Myrtle Beach a few times, once to fly to Miami and a couple of other times to go shopping. But before this past weekend, I'd never seen the beach except when I was airborne on my way to South Beach. We had a great time and while I was there we stopped and got manicures and pedicures......that's right, Reggie will get them. However, although I did have a manicure six months ago or so, I hadn't had a pedicure in a while.......well, to be honest, in a long damned time. The "lady" that gave me my pedicure kept making faces while she scrubbed my heel. She kept mumbling under her breath in her native tongue to the "lady" (who looked like a dude in drag) sitting next to her giving my wife a pedicure. I took a picture and captured the moment for prosperity below. I shouldn't have tipped her ass, but I did. See, I don't hold a grudge. Besides, she did some justice to both my paws and my hooves.

I almost took a closer picture of my feet, but I didn't want to make any of you jealous. After all, mine are some rather nice hooves........they are now anyway.

She's wrong for that!!!

2013-04-08T21:30:00.002-04:00

Holiday Heart was at it again today at the job.

...and before you say..."Hey Reggie you're foul, stop making fun of the office tranny." I'm not, it's a woman, she just happens to look like Ving Rhames with a wig on....and that's on her best day.

She's a really nice person, she just doesn't think that her appearance is particularly important. That's why she walks around with that wig on that couldn't be move obvious if it came with a chinstrap, that's forever tilted to the side so often that I constantly want to reach up and straighten it out for her. What's really a shame and a scandal though are those crusty hooves she's quick to air out in those open toed shoes that have NEVER EVER had a pedicure.

Sure it was hot today, 80 degrees...but even that isn't a reason for her to have those dogs proudly out and barking.

Would it really hurt her to get a pedicure?!?

Okay before you go off, I realize that many many many people never get a pedicure....and that's fine, provided you take care of your own hooves. But even I will get one at least once a year. I don't want to walk around looking like I've got corn shucks on my heels.

and...is it really necessary for her to walk around with those crusty hooves that look like she walked through flour with dirt under her toenails?!? She's got so much dirt under those toenails that you could probably grow potatoes under there.

I mean, human feet aren't supposed to look like hers look. Someone I know needs to do better.

I'm just saying..........

I watch..............

2013-03-31T20:26:00.000-04:00

Tonight marks the start of the 3rd season of Game Of Thrones. I don't know if you've ever seen it, but I absolutely love the show.

It's rather imaginative and well written; with fascinating characters and interesting plot twists. Those of us that watch the show have waited a very long time for this 3rd season to start.

I realized something today....Game of Thrones is the only series on television that I actually watch on a regular basis. I don't watch anything on network television and I don't watch any other series on cable that isn't news related or some kind of political show. Not with consistency anyway. I don't like the idea of watching reality television shows and I haven't seen anything else that moves me enough to watch it constantly.

I can't wait to see how this season of Game of Thrones unfolds. Of course, if I really wanted to know, I could just read the books by George R. R. Martin. But the simple truth is that I'd prefer to just watch the series.

I do watch television everyday. But I tend to watch a lot of news shows and The Military History Channel, ESPN, The Discovery Channel, The Food Network, Animal Planet and The History Channel. What I do watch occasionally are Real Time with Bill Maher and Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough.

I like Bill Maher, I think he's funny as hell!!! While I don't always agree with him, I find his wit hilarious. I like how he doesn't always take himself too seriously and I like his passion for some topics....even though some of those topics are of things I couldn't possibly care less about.

As a matter of fact, I've been watching Bill Maher's "politically incorrect" shows for more than 20 years now.

Often I will watch Morning Joe before and as I get ready to go to work in the mornings. I like his show because it does a pretty good job of presenting both political sides fairly evenly.

I don't always agree with Joe Scarborough, but I don't always disagree with his political views either. To me, he acts like an adult. He doesn't always just spit out the party line, he forms his own opinions based on his personal experience and what he considers to be logical. He has no problem calling out members of any political party....including his own for their stupidity.

No, I don't always agree with him, but I do respect the man.

Tell me, what do you watch on television?!?

Those damned Girl Scouts!!!!

2013-03-03T19:02:00.003-05:00

Damn those Girl Scouts!!!

I saw them standing in front of the grocery store again today. Those disgusting little wenches!!! Trying to look all sweet and whatnot. Pimping those damned tasty assed cookies and trying to lay that heavy guilt trip on a brother.

You know.....their "Please mister please buy my cookies."

They must go through some serious mind altering psychological training to learn how to make those pleading eye faces like that damned cat from Puss N Boots.

I can't let them get me, I can't be deterred!!!

I'm trying hard....so hard to eat right and exercise on a regular.

I exercise on a regular basis, not to get buff mind you; I'm just trying to avoid getting titties. Titties on a man just aren't cute.

I'm trying to knock this B-cup I'm sporting down. Sure that C-cup looks good on my wife, but it sure as hell wouldn't look good on me. If mine get any bigger I'm gonna need a manzierre or maybe even a bro.

Trust me that's just not a good look on a man.

Truth be told, I'm a straight up fiend for some Thin Mints. Some Thin Mints and a big ass glass of ice cold milk are the business!!!

I've sat and eaten a sleeve or two of those damned cookies many a day.

Do you like Girl Scout cookies?!? I sure as hell wish I didn't!!!

I've got a wait problem, I can't wait to eat!!!

2013-02-23T16:02:00.001-05:00

Yesterday due to yet another hectic day at work, I missed lunch yet again. That probably happens three times a week. I've gotta make it a point to do better.

It's not like I want to miss lunch, it's just that there are times when I'm so damned busy that it feels like one minute it's 10:30am and the next thing I know it's 2:45pm. I have far too many days like that; meeting after meeting, conference call after conference call.

And it's not like my stomach didn't notice, but like always it seems to notice just a tad bit too late. Truth be told, I was so hungry that I could have eaten the boogers out of a dead man's nose and asked for seconds............well, maybe it wasn't quite that serious, but I was sho nuff hungry!!!

For the rest of the day, I ended up fiending on a good steak. While sitting in a leadership meeting from 3pm-5pm, I sat there drooling, thinking of a New York Strip or a nice Filet Mignon from Ruth Chris's or Shula's Steakhouse. Those are two of my favorite steakhouses and what I seem to fiend on when I'm really hungry.

What do you want when you're really really hungry?!? What's your favorite place to eat?!?

Now I'm totally pissed off!!!!

2013-02-04T22:15:00.000-05:00

I rarely watch network television; and when I do, it's usually just to watch football or baseball.

But this evening in a moment of complete boredom and the fact that my television was already on that channel anyway.....since I was watching the SuperBowl last night, I actually watched a little bit of our local news.

....and I wish that I hadn't.

The news is usually depressing enough, but I saw something that really disturbed me and pissed me off all at the same time.

Because the news segment that I saw, had to do with an elderly man that was over 100 years old being "allegedly abused" by a young man that worked at the nursing home that he was living in. The nursing home, I might add, that his family just assumed that he was being well cared for in.

He had apparently mentioned to his granddaughter that sometimes "bad things" happened there.....and sometimes those "bad things" happened to him. From the sound of the news segment, it seemed that either the old dude was starting to lose it and his granddaughter was skeptical or perhaps he was just being cryptic out of embarrassment over what was happening to him.

In an effort to understand just what was going on with her loved one, his granddaughter had left a video camera in his room to record what happens to him when she's not there.

Well apparently the old gentleman was actually being sexually assaulted by one of the young men that worked there......and the final assault was actually caught on tape.

That's right, he wasn't getting beaten up, like what happens to so many elderly patients at these types of facilities (and yes I'm gonna get back to that in just a minute), he was being sexually assaulted. At the end of the news segment, they showed the mugshot of the booty snatching attendant. Yes thankfully, they arrested him and took his ass to jail.

This story really pissed me off, because it reminded me of just what happened to my own dear grandfather.

My grandfather was a farmer who lived in central Alabama throughout his entire life.

He was born in 1913 to a bi-racial farmer in Clanton, Alabama. After just a few years of school, he left school to help my great grandfather work the family farm full time. While he toiled on that farm, tilling the soil and raising livestock, a few of his siblings and all of his children went to college. All of his grandchildren went to college. Many of us have at least one degree, more than a few have master's degrees.

My grandfather dedicated himself to working from sun up to sun down on that farm. He worked hundreds of acres of land; raising livestock, planting crops.....doing back breaking work. He was the most fit man that I ever met. When I was a college student and he was in his 70s and I would help him on his farm, he could run rings around me. He never seemed to tire and like most farmers he worked as long as the sun was up and often times beyond that.

He was a good natured man with a wealth of common sense. He went to church every Sunday and laughed often. He was downright funny and I could tell you stories about him that would have you wetting your pants. Many of the things that I routinely say now, I say because I heard him say them many many many times.

When I look at my generation and I see the many successful, intelligent people that are his grandchildren, I see a little bit of him in all of us.

Well, when my grandfather turned 75 or so, we could all see that he was starting to change. His mind wasn't quite as sharp anymore and within time, he started becoming easily confused, he started forgetting things that he had known like the back of his hand, he forgot our names and sometimes he told us things he wouldn't have in years prior.

Alzheimer's destroyed the man I knew.

So my family placed him in a long term care facility. It wasn't very far from where he lived and my mother, one of my aunts and my uncle regularly visited him there. His children were looking after him. One day my mother went there to see him on her way home from work and they wouldn't let her see him. They made many lame excuses, but my mother wouldn't be deterred. They asked her to come back the next day and she refused.....instead she called my uncle.

When my uncle got there....ready to burn the place down if they wouldn't let him see his father, they finally admitted that there had been an "accident".

One of the attendants that worked in the facility in maintenance; viciously attacked my 80 year old grandfather earlier in the day and beat him to within an inch of his life.

Oh I have never wanted to kill anyone in my life......like I wanted to kill that young man; and I wasn't the only one. The only reason why he is alive today is because he was arrested immediately. I'm sure that someone in my family would have found him if he wasn't fortunate enough to get arrested.

But that's another story, he went to jail and there is a small part of me that's glad that I didn't have anything to do with burying him somewhere down a dirt road in Alabama..........a small part of me anyway.

My grandfather eventually recovered, my family sued that facility and ended up with enough money to pay someone to come by his house and care for him, along with my grandmother, until he died 7 years later.

My family wouldn't have known what happened to my grandfather, if they didn't go and see him on a regular basis.

There are times that I hear of elder abuse even now, years later and I get angry as hell all over again!!!

There's a special place in hell reserved for the type of people that abuse those that can't defend themselves.

Anyone of us, or all of us could end up in a long care facility like this. If you have loved ones that require this type of care, please look after them. If you're not willing to look in on them and make sure that they're alright, maybe no one will. Maybe, just maybe your loved one (or even you one day) could end up in a living hell..........day in, day out for the rest of their natural lives.

Crusty hooves and Tranny-esque style

2013-01-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

Today I was witness to a crime.....a crime I might add that unfortunately I've seen all too often over the years.

Oh I know you're looking at that picture of "Holiday Heart" up there and wondering...."Why is Reggie putting holiday pictures in his post when that ended a month ago?!?"

Right?!?

Well, just gimme a chance here.......

Hear me.....

I'm a man. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it is to be a woman. I realize that women have it tough. I mean, take me for instance....I've been shaving my head for 25 years because I'm too lazy to brush or comb it. But everyday without fail, I rise out of the bed and take a shower and brush my teeth.....and I don't forget the Listerine either. I take the time to take care of the bare essentials.

What I'm saying is....I'm in and out of the bathroom fairly quickly and I know for the most part, you ladies need to spend extra time in there.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing either because I for one realize that you ladies have a lot more stuff to take care of when you're in the bathroom or just getting yourself together; and I'm sure I speak for all the fellas when I say, take that extra time.

Please make sure that everything is together, BEFORE you leave home.

Yeah, I know I haven't gotten to the point yet....but I'm getting there, so please be patient.

Okay okay okay, before I make my point......just one more thing, so please bare with me.

I don't know what the weather's like where you are, but down here in South Carolina, lately we've regularly been seeing temperatures in the 70s.....which is what happened today.

Which has something to do with "said crime".

You see, unfortunately, some of the "ladies" down here....and specifically in my office haven't adjusted to those warm temperatures when it was fairly cold for a couple of weeks earlier in the year.

Hey, I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

So......................

Apparently some of the ladies in my office ended up coming out of that "wrap" or that "wig" or that "scarf" they had on their heads prematurely....before they could properly take care of that bargain basement weave they've been sporting for a couple of weeks under it; and they've decided to jump the gun and put on those open toed shoes BEFORE getting that much needed pedicure too.

In short, with those jacked up weaves and busted hooves they're sporting.....I'm just gonna go ahead and say it, they look like trannies.

Yeah, trannies. I said it. It is what it is.

Please please please don't walk around looking like you've walked through flour or that you're part Wookie or Hobbit on your mother's side or that you've just walked ten miles on a rocky road or cement barefoot. Before you whip out those hooves....please take the time to do that thing that so many of you are decent enough to do.

Do what you want to with your feet......get a pedicure or don't, just don't make the rest of us have to look at it too if your feet are jacked up and crusty and you decided to wear open toed shoes.

If your weave....or your natural hair or whatever the hell you've got up there and your feet look like this........

I................why?!?

Why?!?

Look here, all I'm saying is that if you're gonna sport those open toed shoes, then at least have the common decency to get a pedicure...........before someone loses their lunch and last night's dinner too. Before you share your 'do with the world, get your head taken care of..................please!!!! Don't kick that tranny-esque style. It's just not a good look.

Yeah I know you've heard of Gangnam Style, well clearly there's a Tranny Style too.

Keep your cooties to yourself!!!!

2013-01-09T20:26:00.000-05:00

It's flu and cold season, so I'm seriously on my guard. You know why?!? Because I'm scared of cooties.

Whenever anyone ever calls me a germaphobe, I look directly in their pie hole and say "guilty as charged!!!"

Ya know why?!? Well, it's a simple truth....so why deny it?!? I'm an avowed germaphobe.

I hate it when people sneeze in my vicinity, even if they don't sneeze directly on me. The fact is, that stuff goes everywhere. Anytime someone sneezes and doesn't cover their mouth, their cooties go airborne quicker than Kryptonite will kill Superman. Just about every year, I'll get a flu shot.....I got one about six weeks ago in anticipation of the flu and cold season that's in full effect right now.

Even though I know people will get sick, sometimes even if they've had a shot. I still do it as a precaution. It's not like little elves go to my office and do my work, so I'm forever washing my hands, using hand sanitizer, sucking down cough drops and avoiding sick ass people. To all you sick ass people out there..........please keep your cooties to yourself; and if by chance you're sick or not feeling particularly well.........please stay the hell away from me. It's not personal, it's all about self preservation to me.

If you're sick, please stay the hell away from me; and if you're not, please consider getting a flu shot......especially if you plan on being anywhere near me.

Django Unchained

2012-12-28T17:24:00.002-05:00

I don't often endorse movies. To me, movies are like books, it's best you choose your own because we all have different tastes. That way you'll end up with something that you will be sure to like; and if you don't..........your mistake. However, Django Unchained is in my mind a very very good movie......despite what Spike Lee thinks.

I don't know if you've heard that Spike Lee thinks that all people of color should boycott this film and I don't know that you even care. Of course that's his opinion....but it's not mine.

Now the word NIGGER and all of it's catchy lil cousins was used over and over again during this movie. I don't use the word NIGGER or the word NIGGA as a part of my regular vocabulary. Just using the word in everyday communication is ignorant to me, I don't care who uses it. I've listened to a host of all races use it including friends and family, I just don't. I won't call it "the N word" though, that's just lame and disingenuous. The people that really and truly know me, know not to use the word in my presence. That being said, while I'm not a fan of the usage of the word, it's been used quite a bit in our nation's history, particularly during the time period that this movie takes place. Hell, it's being used somewhere right now by some fool and you can take that to the bank. Our country didn't invent racism or prejudice, but we may have perfected it.

In this country, the racism train and the ignorance train are never late. They are always right on time.

Anyone who has ever watched a Quentin Tarantino film, would have to have heard the word used......a few times (okay maybe a few hundred times).

Still......I enjoyed this film immensely. More so than anything I've seen in quite some time. The acting in it was exceptional too, particularly from Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio and the incomparable Samuel Jackson.

This movie doesn't sugarcoat the depiction of slavery in the years prior to our Civil War. Slavery wasn't pretty, but it's a part of our history. Maybe, just maybe, it's time we came to grips with the reality of it? Maybe it's time that we were honest about it? Maybe it's time that we stopped acting like slavery occurred hundreds of years ago, it's only been 150 years. It's a sad part of our nation's history, but let's not act like it didn't happen; and let's not act like slave owners treated their slaves like their own children. That's the nonsense that many today would have you believe. Who would want their children beaten, raped, tortured, treated like mindless animals and in chains?!?

I must say that there have been more than a few Quentin Tarantino movies that I've enjoyed immensely. His films are filled with graphic violence, witty dialogue and interesting plot lines. This one is no different. I don't know the man, but I think he's a fantastic director. The first time that I saw Pulp Fiction, I was taken aback by the dialogue. Now I watch it and laugh over and over again, it's a very funny film, just like this one was at times.

I encourage everyone to go out and see the film, and then, come back and let's talk about it.

I want to talk about this film. There are disturbing depictions of violence and lamentable depictions of the base nature of people. There are people in this film both Caucasian and African American that aren't worth more than two dead flies.

It is what it is.

It's kinda hard to talk about something you haven't seen though. I'm not saying that it's impossible, it's just kinda hard......maybe Spike Lee doesn't know that?!?

Maybe, just maybe it's time that we talked openly and honestly about race in this country....maybe that would help?!? So even if you haven't seen this film, let's have a frank and honest discussion about race. Let's talk about what bothers you; and I welcome any and all comments from anyone and everyone; and I would prefer that no one come anonymous.

Oh no, I will not be eating your food!!!

2012-12-11T18:31:00.001-05:00

Oh hell no.......and don't ask again. I'm not gonna be eating your food. So don't offer to bring me some of your world famous peach cobbler or that bean salad you make that'll make your tongue slap your brains clean out. I'm just gonna go ahead and take the zero. I'm not gonna be eating your food. I'm not gonna be eating anything at the office potluck.

There is no such thing as the "stomach flu" that's been going around the office. That's just nasty ass people that don't wash their goddamned hands; putting their paws in someone's food.

So don't bother asking me if I will be participating in the office potluck. To me, potluck equals nausea, stomach cramps, violent vomiting and wild bowels (yeah that kind of vicious diarrhea that'll make your ass feel like a flamethrower).

I don't know you, we just work together. I can see how nasty you are at work. Not washing your hands when you're in the bathroom. Scratching your ass or digging in it good and hard and then putting those french fries in your mouth in the breakroom. Digging in your nose right before you grab your cellphone and take that call you've been waiting on. Scratching your crotch and then sniffing your fingers. Sneezing into your bare hands and wiping it on your pants. I hear you talk about those cats at home, I just assume they're standing on your counter while you're making that potato salad....licking out of the bowl.....you nasty cow!!!

Nope, not this little black duck. I'm gonna take the zero. To me, office potlucks will wipe out a slew of people in the office quicker than Kryptonite will kill Superman. But it's not gonna happen to me......because I'm not eating anyting!!!

Nope not me!!! And please, don't ask again. I'm not gonna eat your nasty ass food!!!

Make my ass feel like a flamethrower?!? No thank you, I'm good.

Please leave my penis alone & my brother's milestone.

2012-11-30T19:07:00.000-05:00

It seems that once or twice a week, I end up getting an email promising to enlarge my penis. Why would anyone I've never met before be concerned about the size of my penis? As if I asked someone to send me these emails in the first damned place.

Hey....just send these emails to the "little guys", I'm sure they want them......I don't.

I'm not trying to make fun of anyone; least of all, my "little brothers" out there. I'm just trying to understand why I get so many emails offering to enlarge my penis. Is there really that much money in that?!? While I realize that's a problem for some people, that's just not a problem for me...........I'm good.

Why do I get these emails?!? And yes, I'm sick and tired of getting them. I'm sure I signed into some website....frequented by men with small penises. Or maybe it's because my email name has a male name in it?!? I mean Reggie/Reginald is clearly a man's name. Maybe that is why I get these stupid emails?!? Does anyone else reading this ever get them?!?

Seriously, what type of man actually responds to these emails?!?

By the way, I took some time to look up some "little man" jokes.....

Your dick's so small, you could use a thimble and fishing line for a thong.
Your dick's so small, it looks like one of the California raisins.
Your dick's so small, a cop frisks you and asks, "Sex change?"
Your dick's so small, the doctor wasn't quite sure what you were when you were born.
Your dick's so small, sperm's a tight squeeze.

Yeah I know that was mean right?!? No offense to my "lil brothers" out there.

Do women get emails offering to enlarge their breasts?!?

Oh and one more thing......my older brother Kyle will be celebrating his 50th birthday on January 1st 2013. That's a milestone birthday, of course, and I'd like to give my brother something nice for his birthday.

I just don't know what to get him.

What do you give someone who turns 50?!? A nice gift, something they'll remember.....without necessarily breaking the bank.

Not that I want to be cheap about it, my brother (my only brother) will only turn 50 once.

My brother and I are as different as night and day. We're probably about as different as two brothers could be and still have the same blood running through their veins.

Let me give you a little background on him....

He's a truck driver, he's served in the United States Air Force, he's short and muscular while I'm tall and of a fairly thin build, he's the father of at least 5 children (that I know of), he's been married and divorced 5 times (that I know of), he's never met an ugly woman in his life, he lets both his beard hair (yeah he's got one) and the hair on his head grow long (sometimes he sports that Jesus-esque look) and he takes a bath once a week whether he needs one or not.

Of course, he's my big brother and I love the guy dearly, despite our many differences. I'm just at a loss as to a birthday gift for him. Tell me, what do you give your brother (that's like my brother) for their 50th birthday?!?

I'm serious....I'm looking for some ideas.

Just a few of my pet peeves..........

2012-11-17T18:34:00.000-05:00

Like most people, I have a few pet peeves.

Nothing too serious, mind you, I believe that my pet peeves are probably things that bother most people.

First of all, I can't stand nasty ass people. I've said it before and I will say it again.....and probably again.....I firmly believe that instead of 7 drawfs, there were originally 10 drawfs. But 7 of those 10 dwarfs asked Cheesy, Funky and Nasty to leave.

Is it too much to expect that a grown ass man would wash his hands before he leaves the men's room?!? Whether or not you were in that back stall, yet again, sounding as if you were giving birth....is irrelevant to me. Shouldn't we all wash our hands before leaving the bathroom?!?

Why would a man take a coffee cup into a bathroom stall with him?!?

Why is it that when a man that doesn't wash his hands.....and I've seen him exit the men's room without washing his hands. Why is it that when he extends his hand for me to shake and I just look at his bacteria encrusted paw, rather than shake it......why is it that I would be called rude for not shaking his nasty ass hand?!?

Is it too much in a professional office environment to expect a grown man not to say "dis" or "dat" (even in the south)?!? Please please don't look at me and say "you know how we do". I don't expect the queen's English, but what in the flap jack titty hell does "gooney goo goo" mean?!?

Is it too much to expect that your coworkers in said professional environment would brush their teeth daily so that their mouth didn't smell like bear pussy?!?

Is it too much in a professional environment to expect that you wouldn't be forced to smell another human being's body?!?

Why would any adult smell like onions or a fish market at 8 o'clock in the morning?!?

Is it too much to expect a grown man to go into the men's room and not fill up the toilet before he flushes it?!? What is so hard about the drop and flush method?!? Why must I be forced to shout over the stall and request a "courtesy flush"?!? Why must my eyes water when I go into the men's room after that person leaves......and probably without washing his hands?!?

What kind of person sneezes into their hand and wipes it on their pants?!?

Why are some people so goddamned nasty?!?

What are some of your pet peeves?!?

Getting high for taxes and getting tatted up

2012-11-10T18:18:00.002-05:00

Now that the 2012 presidential election is over, it's time to move on to the many issues confronting our country and we do have our share of issues. The way I see it, our main issue is our national debt. No matter who won the election, that president needed to do whatever possible to pay off some of the crippling debt that our country finds itself in today. Cutting taxes isn't going to help us do that, despite what those brain dead fools on the right are saying.

Political rhetoric aside, someone needs to be the adult in the room where our debt is concerned. At this point, I don't think that anything should be taken off the table in an effort for us to become financially sound again. I wouldn't be upset if we all got at least a little tax increase, especially those Americans making in excess of $250,000 a year. We're spending entirely too much money on our military and we could stand to tighten our belts where a few other programs are concerned as well.

Personally, I'd like to see prostitution and marijuana legalized as a means of gaining a little more revenue. I'm sure that the tax revenue from both would go a long way to clearing out at least some of that debt.

People are always gonna be smoking some herb, so why not utilize that as a means of tax revenue; and we all know that what prostitutes are selling will sell when bread don't. Why wouldn't we legalize both?!? But hey, my focus today is marijuana. I'm not smoking it, but I know many of you do. Hell if we legalize marijuana, every pizza joint and fast food restaurant will reap the benefits as well. I wouldn't be surprised if some of you were high right now. That alone would explain why some of you read this shit I write.

Okay....enough of that, let me move on to something just a tad bit more near and dear to me. Something skin close, as a matter of fact.

Lately I've been thinking more and more of getting my first tattoo. No, this late in the game, I still don't have a tattoo. But right now, I'm open to getting one like I've never been before.

I just don't know what to get. I'm open to any suggestions you might have. I would like for you to keep in mind that at this point in my life I'm fairly lean, but I don't have anywhere near what I would call a muscular body. I've never owned a muscle shirt....and there's a reason why. So whatever I do get, I don't want it sagging a few years from now when I enter my fifth decade.

I don't have enough body to put the Sistine chapel on my back and any tribal bands would probably just look like vines on me anyway. No, I'm not sporting any moobs, but I'm not super skinny either. I've got a semi-lean 6'1, 180 pound frame these days.

Oh and I most definitely won't be getting any facial tattoos....that's out. I'm not really sure where I would put a tattoo either. I'm gonna probably need some help with that too. At this point I'm not sure what I should get, so I'm open to suggestion.

I promise that no matter what I end up getting, I won't be getting any shit like this. So tell me, what do you think I should get and where do you think I should get it?!?

Sometimes we need to look within.

2012-11-03T21:57:00.001-04:00

I know that I'm far from perfect. Lately I've spent a good deal of time looking within. When I take a good look, to be honest, I haven't always liked what I've seen. But everyday I strive to be a better person. I think it behooves us all to look within and take a personal inventory from time to time. When we don't like what we see, it's absolutely necessary to make changes that help us become the person that we need to be.

It's not just important to do that for ourselves, it's important to do that for the other people in our lives.

Being a better person will make me a better husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, neighbor, friend, coworker, citizen and a far better human being.

Looking within is part of our personal growth. I will be a better person and I will strive to grow every day......will you?