{{Tattoo Lifestyle - Might Don't Make It... }}

So - after months of deliberation and a bit of planning - I went and got my fifth tattoo. I've been contemplating what my next one would be, and I finally came to the conclusion that I would put a tribute tattoo to Bar on me. Personally, I think names are unnecessary on the body, therefore I had to find a way to memorialize him that was unique and personal. Funny thing is - he already sent me the game plan in the most subliminal way.

We all know I am a KidRobot fiend. Last year, I purchased over a dozen Munny and Dunny toys via Tate's Comic Book Store in North Lauderdale. The Munny toys come with a surprise accessory in each box - but the Dunny toys are a surprise in themselves. Many are limited edition, and all of them are in a grab-bag format. The surprise takes place after you open the box.

Two of my Munny's I've done...

So, I've spoken about Bar's passing in previous posts - and at one time, after he passed away, he kept visiting me in my sleep and in my room. I'm still not sure why, but it happened for about a week. That weekend I went for my usual comic fix at Tate's, and decided to pick up a Dunny for my car. I opened the box, and he appeared:

It might seem like an ordinary toy to the naked eye - but M.E. are Bar's initials...

I took this as a sign that he wanted something for me to remember him by - so I made it a fixture on my dashboard. When I was making my decision on what tattoo to make for him - this Dunny was the first thing that popped into my mind. The next challenge was to decide how I would translate such a thing to my body - without it being random... I was shopping with CousinJin one day, and encountered a really cute t-shirt that read, "My Heart Belongs to Me."

That was it.

It's subliminal, yet upfront - and I felt like it was the perfect translation of the way I've felt since he left the earth. The only person who's now allowed to ink my body, Leif Olson- was in charge of putting the concept on paper and transporting it to my skin. He is a genius, and an artistic mastermind... He fixed my first tattoo mishap - which you can read all about right here. And You can view pics here. I respect his work, and I expect nothing but the best from him, any time I need work done. This time - he didn't disappoint.

We spent hours in the shop - talking and acting a fool. That's the atmosphere Leif creates. He's down for whatever, but offers his professional advice when needed. He gladly selects colors that will be vibrant to the individual's skintone, and freehands his art, which adds a personal touch...

CousinJin chronicled our adventure - as CousinJan managed to make a new friend...

I am extremely happy with Leif's work - and I really think this is the right tribute for Bar. It pays homage to a life lost and the new life I am embarking on in my future. I hope he likes it. 

R.I.P. Muhammad "Bar" Etheridge - July 20th, 1985 - June 28th, 2008...

It's the Little Things...

Who would've thought that something as simple as lending someone my phone could change their life forever?

I discovered a day after the earthquake that my co-worker could not locate her daughter or sister in Haiti. All I could do is pray for her. What consolation can you offer to someone who can't find their loved ones? It burned me inside that I couldn't do much more, but I continued to pray at night for her family's safe return. When her sister felt the rumble inside their home - she grabbed the daughter and ran out of the house. Seconds after escaping - the entire building began to crumble to the ground. They escaped with their lives, cell phones and nothing more.

That being said - hope existed that she would be re-united with her daughter and sibling. Family had heard from them, and information that her daughter was still alive got passed to her. After days without communication, though - the glint of hope soon was replaced with feelings of doubt and worry. Ferv told me she woke up one night, lurched out of her sleep - ran outside and began to scream. The frustration was too much for her to bear. She managed to bring one child to the states, and this time yesterday - her daughter would have been here as well. Before tragedy struck, of course. Imagine the thought - if you were just a few days earlier, you would have had her in your arms - safe. It would just kill me.

So, last night - Ferv ran up to me frantically - "I missed a call from Haiti. Do you have a T-Mobile phone?" Rumor had it that T-Mobile was allowing its subscribers to call Haiti as a domestic call - meaning the international fees were waived. I called them to confirm - and sure enough, it was true. I gave her my phone and let her hold it for the evening. After try after try - she got through to her aunt - only to find out that they still hadn't heard anything new from her daughter.

It ripped me apart to watch her tell me the story of her agony. How her ulcer had been flaring up, how she had been bleeding internally for the past week. The stress was killing her. I was brought to tears - imagining her eleven year-old daughter, roaming the crime-ridden streets of Haiti. Sleeping amongst dead bodies, no food and just the clothes on her back. I sat in the car and wept. What could I do? The next day, she asked for my phone again - no update after an hour of calling. She was at her wit's end. The anguish in her face was all I needed to empathize with her. September 11th 2001 was the closest I have come to feeling those same emotions - and I never want to feel them again. If there was anything I could do to help Ferv - believe I was gonna do it. She asked to see my phone again before my shift ended, and I promised to bring it to her as soon as I clocked out. Five o'clock hit - and I punched out and zoomed on my way home. One quarter of the way there, I realized I never brough the phone back to her. I turned around in the cleanest u-turn ever - and drove back to work, just for her. That phone call was fruitless, and I reluctantly took my phone home.

Not even ten minutes ago - I got a phone call and recognized the codes Ferv repeatedly asked me to dial. I quickly answered, and somehow - my Spanish and their Creole coincided and I managed to keep them on the line. I conferenced the call and got her on the line. Don't ask me why, but I listened to the conversation as if I knew what they were saying - and picked up nothing.

She thanked me a million times - and told me that her family had located her sister and daughter - and will be picking them up tomorrow and bringing them back to where they are. I was elated!! I hung up the phone and thanked God. All now - I can't stop crying.

All I can say is -

God - is - amazing.

Donating to Haiti? What You NEED to Know...

Picture of what once was - and what will be again...

We've all been informed of the tragedy and turmoil Haiti is encountering right now, and many of us across the world are giving our shares to help save them. I have grown to have a passion for Haiti that I never saw coming - ever since I helped fill a tractor-trailor full of clothes, food and water to help them with the last hurricane. This event has officially brought me to tears. A co-worker of mine cannot locate her daughter - and I have done all I can to make sure she stays connected.

Many people are either uneducated or misinformed about a lot of the charitable things going on right now in light of the situation. I hope to bring everyone up to speed on things - through my experiences over the past week, and what I have discovered today as well...

FIRST: I would like to inform all my T-Mobile subscribers, that the wireless company has changed their policy and waived the "international charges" to call Haiti. This means that your phone calls home will be considered a domestic call, and this lasts until the 31st of this month. I am extremely proud and surprised that the company is actually being this generous, in a time when quite a few companies are capitalizing on the plight of the Haitian people.

Speaking of CAPITALIZING: Have you been texting donations to not-for-profit organizations?

We often assume that when we donate to charities - all of the proceeds go towards the cause. Unfortunately, this is sometimes far from the case - and it is our duty as donors to know where are money is going and how it is being spent. I am priviledged to work with a brilliant marketing director at work, and she put me up on game today.

I have been promoting Yele Haiti - Wyclef's organization throughout the week, encouraging my team members and co-workers to text and donate money to his cause. Today, though - I read articles claiming that a large amount of the funds are being put towards "administrative fees" - almost fifty percent according to some sources. I, personally am skeptical of this. There are media outlets that are quick to denounce big named celebrities and their efforts, in order to shine light on another program instead. From watching Wyclef over the years, his foundation has helped thousands of Haitians across the small island, and he continues to show his commitment to his people. There are not many human beings of wealth who would willingly fly to a third-world country and walk amongst the poor and the dead - no matter the financial gain. I believe we should continue supporting his cause - especially since Yele Haiti will be Fed-Ex flying parcels and pallets of food, water and supplies to Haiti this week. I implore you, though - to be a conscious consumer and donor - and research organizations BEFORE contributing your funds to them. A wise man once said, "Men lie, women lie - numbers don't." Let's see who comes through on the forefront.

Yele Haiti will be accepting the following donations tomorrow, Sunday - January 17th between the hours of 9am and 3pm:

 - Nutrition Bars (i.e. Balance/Cliff bars) in cases/boxes or individually

 - Blankets and sheets - (unopened and in store wrapping)

 - Non-battery radios and flashlights (wind-up or solar)

 - Candles (loose or in packaging)

   Please bring these items to

the Adrian Arsht Center

1300 Biscayne Boulevard

Miami, Florida, 33132

You can also text 'Yele" to 501501 and add $5.00 to your phone bill towards monetary donations. These will be used to purchase the items that are in extreme need, including medical supplies and food.

Consider these the essentials. The people of Haiti have nowhere to cook or wash. They are cold, and exposed to the elements. There is nowhere to charge a phone, change a flashlight battery, there is barely a signal for radio. There is little electricity, because power lines have been downed or damaged for days. They are in dire need of these items. To view Yele Haiti's updates and watch Wyclef denounce the allegations of profiting from his organization - click here.

The accredited organization that I support as well is Food For the Poor. This not-for-profit has been stationed in Haiti for over 30 years, and have bases set up on the island for distribution. After the last hurricane, I assisted my mother at Spirit Airlines in collecting resources with them. These items were shipped within a week of collection and distributed to those in need. Spirit Airlines, my former internship - will be shipping these items free of charge for the organization. Right now, I am collecting clothing, non-perishable food and supplies to be sent to Spirit's corporate office in Miramar, Florida - then picked up for transport by Food For the Poor. I have set up a station at work along with my co-workers in order to accept donations as quickly as possible. I will be picking up donations from those who are unable to drop them off this week, to expedite distribution. This is serious. Food For the Poor's update page can be found here, where you can make donations, find out the latest news from Haiti, or volunteer your services.

At Whole Foods Market, stores in South Florida will be accepting donations of $1, $5, and $10 to help Food For the Poor with their aid efforts. The organization is the number one charity in the country - using only one percent of the proceeds for administrative costs. That is amazing, and we can't help but trust them. Right now they are currently deployed in Haiti - so we are waiting for an update on the distribution of the items.

Please visit sites like charitynavigator.org - to research organizations before you donate. It is CRUCIAL to the aid movement that we put our funds in the hands of those who will use them appropriately. There are scammers and half-cocked groups who claim to help - but have motives that are not conducive to the prosperity of the Haitian people. 

I implore all of you to help in any way that you can. Skip that cup of coffee and spend a dollar on a donation. Cancel that ringtone purchase and text your donation through cell phone. Hold off on that t-shirt you wanted to buy, and purchase a sheet set for a cold child in need. We can all help - and consider the lives of comfort we lead at this moment. Times may be hard for some of us - but imagine your entire world crashing down around you. Most of us cannot say we've experienced that. And we should pray that we never do. For if the time comes that the tables turn - who will help us??

I pray for the day that my co-worker will be united with her daughter. I lay my head at night, thinking of the anguish she must be experiencing every day. The faster Haiti recovers, the faster mothers like her will have their children back.

Pay it forward.

May God bless us all. 

"Paz" (peace) - Kimi

Oh, Haiti...

I noticed that not too many of the blogs I follow have had any insight or info on the crisis taking place in Haiti right now. I find it interesting that many cynics out there are criticizing people's choices to aid in relief. I've heard various comments via Twitter like, "what about America?" and "When will we help our country?"

Take a look around, guys - we live in one of the most privileged countries on this earth. Even in our times of crisis - we are far better off than many countries who are living day to day lives. Haiti is a perfect example of that. This is a country that has been through so much over the years - hurricanes, massacres, political strife - and now - an earthquake.

I believe that a lot of the insensitivities that come from certain people is because they have never experienced extreme crisis in their lives. Being evicted from your apartment may seem like a big deal - but in the grand scheme of things, you have places to go. Imagine sleeping on the street, simply because this is where you live. That is the life of an impoverished Haitian right now. It's nothing to scoff at. How many of us have actually been poor and hungry to the point of near death? I doubt any of us can attest to that. I doubt that any of us can live without our cell phones, our lip gloss, our cars and mp3 players. Imagine not having electricity to charge those things, much less a home to get electricity from. Now take that - and picture your world coming crashing down around you. Does that not deserve attention?

I guess not. I guess we should all go back to our regularly scheduled lives. I guess we should press play on our TiVo and finish watching Bad Girls Club, and go out to dinner with our friends and spend money on that new pair of sneakers we've wanted. I guess it's not our business, duty or concern. I guess it doesn't matter if a child lives or dies under a pile of rubble. It's not our families, friends or co-workers. It's not our hospitals, jobs and homes. It's not that big of a deal. Someone will help them.

Right?

Wrong.

Everyone takes that approach at one time or another, but this is serious! There are millions of lives at stake right now, and it's not the time for passing the buck. Last year, when the hurricane's brutalized Haiti - my Mom, her co-workers and I pulled together and collected donations of clothes and food to send to the island. Food For the Poor shipped the parcels and distributed them to the people in need. I don't get anything for doing this - and I'm not even remotely Haitian - but you know what? Someone has to do it. People have to swallow their prid and reservations and make moves to help others. At least one time in everyone's life - they should know they did something to impact the life of another person. It's an exhilarating feeling.

I give you all the opportuity today.

There are quite a few ways to help right now, and more will be on the way.

To donate through Wyclef Jean's Yelle Haiti Foundation:

Text "Haiti" to 501501 - this will add $5.00 to your cell phone bill towards relief for the stricken island.

If you feel more secure using your credit card on a secured website - you can visit http://www.yele.org and donate directly to the page.

To donate through the Red Cros:

 Text "Haiti" to 90999

 The Red Cross will donate $10.00 to relief, deducted from your phone bill.

Or, you can visit The Red Cross Website Here.

I'll update you guys when I organize my plan as well. I should be ready by tonight or tomorrow morning for sure. There's something that draws me to these causes, and I think God blesses those who bless others. Pay it forward, guys...

More to come soon...

Space Jam Jordans...

 "Hello, it's the Martian - Space Jam Jordans..."

    You don't have to be a sneaker head to have heard of the coveted Space Jam 11's - they've been a news topic lately for various reasons. One of the more prominent causes for this is the fact that a number of sneaker stores and boutiques were robbed on the week of the release date in '09 - simply for these shoes. The anticipation for these kicks were crazy, and in typical sneaker freak fashion - the lines in front of the stores were crazy on the release date.

Not only that, the kicks have been featured in numerous rap songs - months before they even hit the stores. Bun B. and Lil Wayne are two rappers of note who have mentioned them in freestyles or on mixtapes. Wayne throws mention in at the beginning of his Forever Remix verse. Bun B. was actually present at a Houston store's midnight release, and showed the throng of Jordan fans waiting in line for the much anticipated store opening...

Personally, I fantasized about the idea of searching for the sneakers in my size. My options included - driving to downtown Miami and scouring every sneaker store - or stalking eBay until I won a bid, which would probably result in a $200+ purchase. Either one would be painstaking, and quite frankly - I didn't see it happening. Everyone knows the 11's are one of my favorite Jordan numbers, taking precedent over the XIII, the IX and the VIII - so this would be a major conquest for me. After a few weeks, though - I gave up on the idea, and considered them a dream purchase. It's difficult in Florida for me to find certain kicks in my size (6Y), and my work and school schedule make it impossible to plan search expeditions.

On my visit to NY, though - my best friend Alyster met up with me to spend some time together and to deliver my Christmas present. Lo and behold - he pulls out a Jordan box. When I pulled back the tissue paper - I almost died!! He laughed, "You thought I was gonna buy you some cheap ass Dunks, huh?" I would have been happy with those - especially since i didn't expect a gift - but now I'm content! I guarded that sneaker box more than my carryon as I traveled back to Florida... A photo shoot followed...

Ugh! I can't thank you enough, Alyster!! Expect your gifts in the mail next week! 

The Sneaker Freaker: My Eldest Pair Of Kicks...

So, my sneaker obsession officially began when I was twelve years-old. My parents weren't big on spending money for brand names and flashy items and things. They were more concerned with making sure we had food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in at night. So, I'd live vicariously through my (former) best friend. We had been friends since kindergarten, and coincidentally enough, we wore the same shoe size. When we would go out to places the cool kids went, I would go through her closet and pick a pair of sneakers to go with my outfit. I'd gingerly wear them to our destination, then give them back to her when we were done.

One day, for some random reason I never figured out - she gave me a pair of her sneakers. All white Jordan 11's. I was elated! I cherished those sneakers with my life! I'd gingerly clean them with Oxy Clean after I wore them, and put them gently back in the box after they'd dry. I wore them and took care of them until I started working that year and could afford to buy my own. I passed them on to my younger cousin, who was equally as excited to own her first pair of Jordans. Her bitter mother, though - forced her to wear them to gym. I suppose this is what they were made for, but the sentiment was obviously lost in translation.

Anyway - after being exposed to the Jordan brand and lifestyle, I became a fan. After discovering eBay at the age of 14, I learned quickly that I could share the same fashions as my friends, and still keep my hard-earned money in my pocket. Most of those kids had parents who spoiled them, so they didn't understand the value of a well earned dollar. My first Jordan purchase was the "Three Percent's." And I still have them to this day...

On many websites, they're classified as Collectible - if I knew then what  I know now, lol. I bought those sneakers for about $40 on eBay, and I feel that they are one of the best investments I ever made.These kicks retail for over $150.00 now. They're not deadstock, but they are in nearly new condition. Every sneaker head's got that one pair that they love, primarily because there's a story behind it. No matte what it is - how they got it, who they got it from, how much they got it for - there' always something to talk about. These Three Percents are my pride and glory - because they're the only pair of OG's I have in my collection. There's a story behind that, too - one dahy we'l sit down and talk about it. For now, though - I'll let you revel in my Three Percent beauty.

Oh, and to my former best friend - wherever she is - I've got to thank her for making me into the sneaker head I am today... She created a monster!

It's Been A While...

This past week or so has been jam-packed with activities. I just came in from NY yesterday morning, so I'm still getting into the groove of things. Come tomorrow, my camera should be back in action after its tragic falll - so stay tuned for more tings!!

Goodbye 2009

The end of 2009 was whirlwind at best for me. I'm not quite sure where the time went. Love life, career and education were all swirling around - and to be honest, I wasn't quite sure what directions they were going in. For some odd reason - there's something about the impending new year that makes people try harder to get their worlds into order. Some fail miserably - but some manage to succeed gracefully. I pray that I will have the latter in 2010. Still trying to find a cool way to say that.

Twenty-ten?

Oh Ten? 

Blah, 20010 will do for now. I'm sure Diddy will come up with something in the next few weeks or so.

Anyway - here are my resolutions:

    When we were little, my pops would have us hop on the old dinosaur of a Toshiba computer and type up our goals for the new year. Something about being able to visualize the goals on a daily basis makes you want to achieve them. When you keep them in your mind they tend to get distorted and change over time. I've followed this principle for years, and even if all of them don't come into fruition - you can guarantee that at least one will.

Kimi's Goals for 2009:

   Continue Fitness Regimen

         - Find a workout partner for motivation

         - LAY OFF THE SWEETS!

   Move into New Apartment

       - Move in with Rainy Day Money in Tow

       - Agree upon rules and guidelines with roomate

  Start New Business

      - Roll out Plan A

      - If Plan A Fails - bring out Plan B with a vengeance

  Academics

     - GPA MUST Increase

     - Change in Major??

  Work

     - Upgrade!

So far, 2010 has been promising. I definitely feel happier. There are certain things I would like to see change in the near future - but it's up to me to take the reins and make them move. I've got a couple other goals, but I'll write those down in my planner, lol

My New Year's was spent with my Best Friend Jazzie - my other wife cheated on me in DC this weekend. We had a good time, "light drinks" and lots of dancing went on that night.

{{Tangent}} Is 2010 gonna be Year of the Confession?? Lol, I just got someone from High School decide he wants to pursue me - where did this come from??

Anyway - I know there's a lot of transitions and changes coming up this year for myself, my family and my friends. Only positive vibes are gonna be emitted from my system this year. If you exude the right attitudes and emotions - anything is possible. I believe that mantra is going to propel me for the next few months. Let's see how it goes.

I wish nothing but blessings, positive energy and light for you guys and your loved ones. Now let's bring those all to life.

For now, though - peep some New Year's pics (and me partying vicariously with my fam)...

Live it up, guys!! You never know what's in store for tomorrow...