Yesterday we loss one of, if not THE visionary, innovator, creator and great thinkers of modern times.  Steve Jobs succumbed to his illness of Pancreatic Cancer.

As a young student, you read about those that created history, invention and innovation, and you seemed so far removed from that era.  Steve Jobs changed the world with his mind, vision, leadership and testicular fortitude within the last 30 years – our era. 

So we take this time to salute the man who affected the world forever and his influence will spark the next era’s minds to make their mark on technology, as well as humanity.

iAdmire. iInspired. iSad.

AkShone – The Tennessee Volunteer

I haven’t experienced being a father yet and I’m looking forward to the day that comes, but I have witnessed examples of great fathers.  From my very own, to the men in my family, my personal friends, co-workers or strangers just taking their kids out for some quality time.  Fatherhood is a HUGE responsibility, a father pretty much sets the example of the type of adult a kid may grow up to be and how they, themselves will conduct their actions as parents. 

I’ve always felt a sadness for people who don’t know or don’t have a good relationship with their father…and a majority of the time it’s not even their fault that they don’t have that relationship with him.  There’s literally a generation of kids that won’t even know what it is to have a grandfather…that’s crazy to me!  I couldn’t imagine my life with out my father and my grandfather, just from an aspect of those key cornerstones of manhood that they taught me. 

I remember all the teachings, from insignificant things like throwing a football:

“Be sure to rest your fingers on the laces to help you throw a good spiral.”

Tying a tie:

“Keep your index finger in the knot as you push the knot to the neck to create a dimple…”

To more complex things like purchasing my first house:

“F*ck those A.R.M. loans, be sure to get a fixed one with a respectable interest rate.”

Lol…yeah, fathers are pivotal and I just wanted to take a few minutes to celebrate the men out there that do it everyday through all of life’s distractions, obstacles and setbacks.  ALL the dads out there who don’t get the acknowledgment that they deserve.  June 20, 2010 is your day…enjoy it with your kids and loved ones. 

Happy Father’s Day

AkShone – The Tennessee Volunteer 

I was talking to my sister yesterday,  just catching up on her, my brother-in-law and the kids.  All seemed to be going well until she made the statement: 

Sister – “You know I found out your nephew lost his virginity…” 

Me – “What?!?!” 

Sister – “Yes, you heard me right.  Now, I’m trying to figure out how to handle this…I’m at least ten fifteen years away from even being old enough to be a grandmother!!!” 

Me – “But…he’s 16!!!!” 

Sister – “Uh, excuse me, but weren’t you around that age when you lost yours?” 

Me – “…why you bringing up old sh*t?” 

So, this got me to thinking about when I lost MY virginity.  I remember it like it was yesterday, now for me this happened when I was a young lad by the age of 16, also (honestly, I wish I had waited longer due to how much better sex got as I got older…and freakier, but that’s for another blog).  So without further ado, AkShone’s adventure of punanny bliss:  

My first time was with this new cute chick that transferred to our school from Arizona. Me being a country boy, I was already enamored by her previous locale, her west coast dialect and the very notion that at the tender age of 15 she had the type of breast that grown women pay 10 stacks for.  Anyway, after our “getting to know each other” stage, she informed me that she had experienced “bliss” twice and looked forward to when we would get there. Now the kid was shook, because she just assumed that I was Mr. Loverman (Shabba!…I loved that song), but she couldn’t have been more farther from the truth. I fronted, like me…uh, yeah…sure I’ve done it before (lie), but like most kids who grew up in the 90′s, I learned from that surrogate-father we all know and love…yep, hip-hop.  

I didn’t want to fall into the minutemen category and being that she was experienced I figured she would grade me like my high school Spanish teacher – THOROUGHLY. So, when that time came; me and my best friend (he had a crush on her cousin) go over to her uncle’s house (who was a preacher and preaching at his church that night) to kick it and as they say, one thing lead to another and it started to happen.

Yo, I was soooo nervous that initially I was just trying to do everything right (while jogging my memory of various songs, movies and p0rn to emulate so as to come off like I was chief-boot-knocka) and as time passed…and passed; it was getting close to 9pm (around the time when reverend uncle was to be getting back home) and with listening to all the older dudes talk about “coming to fruition” if you will…I noticed that hadn’t happened yet and with time closing in on us…more anxiety ensued, then my best friend bangs on the door saying her uncle pulled up in the drive way!  So we scramble to put clothes on (all the while I tried to figure out how are we going to get out of here) and she let’s my friend in and we hide under the bed until the coast was clear (meaning uncle reverend apparently had some bad Mexican or something and had to relieve himself upon the porcelain thrown) we tip-toed (with Jordan 11′s in hand) out the back slide door as to not trip the door chime of the front door.

So in my afterglow of ”becoming a man” and walking back home while telling my homeboy about the experience, I remembered that I didn’t even bust!!!!!  Which was a bit of a downer, but hey…those times after, I made sure fruition came and came…if I was on my Justin Slayer swag…maybe again….kidding…not really.

That’s my “losing my virginity” story and I’m sticking to it.  Shout out to Q. P.!

Do you remember yours?

AkShone – The Tennessee Volunteer

In honor of the legend, we salute you, we will miss you and you will live on through your music…

When I think back in my days of childhood and the music my parents played at different functions or just them cleaning up the house on Saturday mornings, you were there.  I knew your music before I even knew what you looked like…I was surprised that you favored my father, so that added an additional intrigue.  As I’ve grown into a man I’ve appreciated your music even more for its passion, articulation and melody; even though I’m a child of Hip-Hop.  Through that, I had a renewed appreciation for your music (8 Ball & MJG, anyone?) and had to school dudes on your catalogue for making a panty-dropper mix.

I woke up this morning to some already disheartening news with what’s going on in Haiti and to hear of your passing really made me sad, because I was oblivious to your health issues.  I won’t harp on the obvious loss, but I will celebrate your life and your music in this post and share you with the world and familiarize you to those that aren’t.

Thank you for all that you did, Teddy P…

Theordore DeReese Pendergrass – March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010

AkShone – The Tennessee Volunteer

I'm normally such a COOL cat, really...

Embarrassing things happen to the best of us, it’s a rite of passage that everyone goes through.  I bring this up because I experienced someone having an embarrassing moment yesterday.  It got me to thinking about embarrassing moments in my life…specifically THE most embarrassing moment in my life. 

What was the embarrassment that I witnessed?  Well, I was at the gym putting my miles in on the treadmill (you know, trying to preserve my sexy) and the girl beside me had a bit of a mis-step and BAM!!! I mean, one of her shoes literally flew off!  The gym was packed, so all the surrounding people (including myself, cause I’m a gentleman like that) rushed to her aid to see if she was ok.  She agreed that she was, and admitted to being more embarrassed than hurt.  One other lady brought her the size 6 shoe that flew across the way, lol and after some reassuring we all laughed and got back on the grind. 

So, after my workout I got home and got to thinking about my most embarrassing moment…and yes I’ve had a few.  The most memorable has to do with an ebony goddess I had a crush on back in undergrad.  

I was taking summer classes that semester and I got to class pretty early on the first day, so as I was reading over the syllabus for the class and having small talk with a fellow classmate when…SHE walked in.  Well, “she” happened to be a quite popular AKA named *“Taylor” that I was goo-goo for gaa-gaa over since freshman year.  The summer humidness of the south had created a glazed shine over her mocha brown skin and I was thrilled, nervous and hopeful that she was in the class and I could possibly, somehow strike up a conversation with her and make her fall madly in love with me.  So I got to class everyday early to try and time when she came in (no stalker), so I could sit next to her to try and find my “in”. 

One day towards the end of the semester, luck was on my side and we walked in at the same time.  I threw a little small talk her way with a teaspoon of humor to make her laugh…bingo!  We ended up sitting beside one another and it just so happen to be a class participation exercise and we ended up being partners.  So, with a week being left in the semester, I didn’t have much time to close the deal and with all the other brothas keeping her attention occupied I didn’t have the opportunity, either.  Last day of class, we take the final and happen to leave out simultaneously.  We asked each other how we thought we did, a little more small talk as we walked to our cars (which happen to be parked by one another…coincidence?) and she said those words that would lead me to embarrassment.  

*Taylor: “Nice ride.  Well, have a great remaining summer…maybe; I’ll see you around in the fall.  Your name is AkShone, right?”  

Me: “Thanks…yeah, you too…I’m sure we’ll bump into each other.” (In my head I was doing the happy dance!)  

Well, I had a second class to go to (that I hated for the pure fact of a not-so-attractive girl that was on me like a fungus). 

Fall semester came and I hadn’t seen her, yet.  So after class one day, I head to the ride and there is a note between the windshield wiper and the windshield.  I curiously opened it up and this is what it said: 

“Hey AkShone!  I really liked that we got to know each other in class over the summer. I think you’re really cute and smart and I would like to get to know you better outside of school. 

- *Taylor 

At this point, I’m on cloud nine! 

I couldn’t wait to see her again, so I could tell her I feel the exact same way! 

That Friday coming up, there was a greek show and her being an AKA, I knew she’d be there.  So by this point I had told my close friends (who knew about my crush on her) about the note and they were like, “Dawg, you’re in!  Yo, hook us up with her sorors when you get a chance.”   

After class that Friday, we go to the greek show…sure enough; she’s there with her sorority sisters.  So, I figured I’d go and let her know I got her note after the show ends and ask her to get a bite to eat with me.   The show ends, I walk up to her (in front of her sorority sisters, mind you…yeah, I was on a mission) across the yard from my boys.  She smiles like she knows who I am.  The conversation went as follows: 

Me: Hey *Taylor!  How was the rest of your summer? 

*Taylor:  It was…good! (Now, she’s looking at me like she’s trying to remember who I am.  Her sisters eavesdropping in the background.) 

Me: Great!  Well, I just wanted you to know that I got your note and I was feeling the same way.  I was wondering what you were doing af- 

*Taylor: Ummm…what note? 

Me: The note that you left on my ride…Wednesday. 

*Taylor: Umm, no…who are you? 

Me: AkShone, from summer school…remember.  Wait, you didn’t leave me a note? 

*Taylor: Right! I remember you now.  No sweetie, I don’t leave notes on cars (her sorority sisters giggle in the background…and others who heard the conversation). 

Me: … (Blank stare and I felt like doing this) 

That was the longest, most dreadful and heart-wrenching walk back over to my friends.  As we walk back to the library, I’m telling the fellas how things went and how I didn’t understand what just happened.  I was asking them did they just play a joke on me.  As we’re walking into the library, the not-so-attractive girl from my other class over the summer was walking out and recognized me and asked if I got her note. 

In all my focus being on *Taylor and none of it on this girl, I never even knew her name. 

It was *Taylor also… 

Twofer. 

There you have it, folks.  Can you top that? 

AkShone – The Tennessee Volunteer aka Mr. Embarrassed-Two-Times-Within-15-Minutes 

*Editorial note – Names have been changed to protect the guilty.

I'mma G and by G, I mean gangsta...of love.

Anchorman happens to be one of my favorite movies.  Ron Burgundy…he’s a G.  Why you ask?  Well, he’s at the top of his profession, he stays freshly draped (for the 70’s), he rolls with a deep crew, and he’s not afraid to state the obvious.  I bring this up because it ties into a situation that happened to me a couple of years ago and I have a buddy that is dealing with this right now.  

So, in the movie our heavily mustached hero meets the woman of his dreams, but later finds out that she is an ambitious woman with her mind set on becoming San Diego’s first lead anchorwoman.  Well, Ronnie B. (that’s his “G” name) thinks this is preposterous that she wants to be on his level and he’s not alone (again, this is the 70’s).  He just wants the woman as his “lady” and she’s the least bit interested…at first. 

I don’t want to spoil the outcome of this comedic classic (ok, maybe that’s a bit farfetched), but it speaks to a larger issue.  Being that today, women make up about 50% of employees in business, the single man in “Corporate America” at some point is going to run across the infamous FF&S woman that pales his previous blips in interest.  So what’s a brotha to do?  My personal policy has always been: 

Never dip your pen in company ink 

 But, what if she is what you’re looking for?  That is my boy’s issue.  I mean, he literally said she was the “prototype” and every man knows what that means.  

What happened in MY situation? Well, let’s just say the timing was all wrong and she accepted a position in another state, but who knows what would’ve happened had she not left.  His situation is a bit more stationary, so unless someone gets fired.  The tension will continue… 

In these cases one could either: 

1. Think of Ron Burgundy and go after love and deal with the ramifications later.
2. Leave the company/transfer into another department.
3. Put two bags of ice in your boxer briefs when in close proximity of the Roxy Renold’s doppelganger.  Control your emotions!  This is your career, man!

So, has this happened to you?  What did you do?  Is it worth the risk if both people really feel a connection? 

Speak on it. 

AkShone – aka The Tennessee Volunteer