T Diddy :: Your Friendly Black Dentist

Now that I am back in NYC, I realize that things are the same. Friends have had babies and some have tied the knot. This is for sure. Once thing that is not the same is me returning to work for the man. I have realized that I like doing my own thing and learning by my mistakes without somebody pointing them out to me and then let them hang over my head. Because of this and mainly lifestyle reasons I have to dedicate myself to studying and learning the natural and chemical sciences for the next 10-11 months. Why? Well, I am trying to be accepted into Dental School. I really want to be the only black dentist that my friends know. I want to cause pain to JD's little kid by yanking his teeth out for all the years of torment. I want to numb Monkey's mouth before it rambles to the point of no control. The odds are against me because I have been out of school for 6 years and I do not have the traditional Science background. However, I do have great advantages. With these I will have to leverage to suceed and get in. Basically, I have a great story and I will show the drive and determination to Dental schools as I will ace these next 2 semesters of Biology and O Chem. Once, I ace these classes and relearn Chemistry, I will have to ace this DAT. If I can do these things, my story will tell the rest and lord have mercy if they choose to interview me. I will tear that mutha up.
As I make my mental preperations for this journey, I am also making my economic preparations. Thus, I am getting my hustle on. I now have a business liscense to do business in New York State. I have started to sell footwear and apparel to make the ends meet. I have a website that is growing, but I mainly use eBay as my main channel. It sounds kind of funny, but it is real. It is already growing faster than I thought. I might end up making more money than I did when I was at corporate and this without the effort after I get this engine turning. I am not trying to get rich. All I am trying to do is pay rent, bills, a few drinks on the weekend, and maybe a pizza every 2 weeks as I am in school. I do not want to be distracted by a job or Da Man. The devil will not stop this truck coming through the 4 gap. So while I am studying to be a future dentist, I will continue to get my hustle on. Simply because I choose to and I can.

It is 1045 PM, Michael and I are watching the weekly episode of ER. This is not really my show, but I decide to watch it in order to let out my ocassional, "Oh man, she is fine! She has nice lips." The only reason I am watching it is because it is Michael's show and I am tired of hustling. This episode is about this fine woman, who has African and French blood, and her relationship with Jon Carter. They meet, flirt, argue, and do the whole giddy thing. You am sure you understand the initial relationship ordeal. This is what they were doing. Then my man, Jon Carter, is wrapping up his Christmas gifts to send back to the US when his fine girl comes in. She sits on the bed and proceeds to tell Jon, "I am pregnant." in a soothing calming voice that seems to hint a little excitement. To my surprise, Jon, being the pimp that he is does not show any shock. He answered the her questions by saying he is not mad and he is not sad. He worked it the only way a true player could. ER went to commercial and I ask to myself, "Yeah, what do you say to that?" expecting to have silence to really ponder the question. Then out of the thin air, in perfect tone, Michael confidently proclaims without any sort of hesitation, "Its not mine!!!" This was the funniest thing I have hear in for some time. My stomached hurt and my eyes were watering and I was telling the OG that he was an ass. We both died from the laughter.

There is only one thing that I know can make you go from down to a cocaine electric charged thrill in 2 secs. However, this same thing will take you from a ultimate high to a pitiful dreadful state of depression, just as fast. This one thing will make your Wedding day the best ever or an Anniversary complete crap. I am not talking about love or some girly mess like that. I am talking about fantasy football. There are a few truths that I know in this world besides the the one that, "All I have to do is stay black and die." These truths are simple. One, when you win in Fantasy Football, it was suppose to happen. Players should perform as all research would indicate. When this happens, you can go to sleep knowing you have accomplished something during the day. Something of grand importance. The second truth is that when you lose, it is bullshit. Bullshit! It is nothing else. Only bullshit. There is no reason why a Dallas DT scores 26 point or a Rudi Johnson, who is 2nd string, put up 30 point and make you lose. If you do not believe in these truths, then I dare any women to date a fantasy football guru. This addiction will be worse than drugs and alcohol in the relationship and this is no bullshit!!

Many people stress about going out and making the most of the night. This often includes going to the hotest new club, the trendy new bar, meeting women, and getting drunk. More times than not, the high expectations are never met and the night is not as fun as one would thought. I believe the problem is with the expectations. Why must people go out and do the P. Diddy thang. I say keep is simple. What I am about to say what consitutes a perfect night could be sold for thousands. A perfect night is this: Go out with a friend, order burgers, fries, and brews. Eat and talk about whatever is on the mind. This is usually women, hos, da man, work, and sports. Order a few more rounds to wash down the hidden pieces of food in the cracks of the teeth. Hit a Donut Pub and order a donut and hot chocolate (my preference) and sit there in silence as you both, "yum yum yum" each other. After this, you are completely satisfied, tired and ready for bed. This my friends is a perfect night. My dawg Slavey and I defined this moment. And as he would say, "Women are hustlers too!"

Each day, as I awake, live it, and go to sleep awaiting the next day, I go to bed believing more and more that there is no such thing as independence. We have this concept, especially in the USA, that we have to grow to be independent and we have to depend on other people, then that is a weak being. It seems that we are tought that leaning on somebody is a sign of weakness. If you are not independent, then you have not developed into a fine individual. I vehemetly disaggree with this way of thinking. I am say the opposite. By depending on others or allowing others to assist you in any means possible is a sign of strength. Not only is it a sign of strength, but I beleive that it is a necessity to survive in this word. We, both man and woman, need emotional support. At times, financial support. We need encouragement. We need shoulders to cry on. We need somebody to tell us that we are wrong. We need people to offer assistance from their heart because they want to help you and not that you asked. I am a dependent person. I depend on many things. This has not been clearer than the last few weeks. A perfect example is my good friend Amanda Santana, who I have known since 1993, offered to send me samples of Biology, Organic Chemistry, and Chemistry text books because we were talking about our future plans. I did not ask or expected this gesture. In fact, I totally forgot she was in the publishing business. In this situation, unexpectedly, she offered her assistance, and I gratefully accepted. My point is simple. When I get into dental school, I can look back to this kind gesture from one of my friends and say that she helped me get into school. She may think that it was a small gesture, but in my book, this is huge. She has offered me the foundation and a kick start to my studies of these subjects to enable me to pass the Admission Test (my biggest hurdle of the application process). When I get in, I will have to return the favor big time. Maybe she I can be the dentist of there family if she will allow that. Well, at least I hope I can return the favor and be as good as a friend as she has been over the years. Dependence is not a weak thing. It is something that is composed of strength, love, thoughtfulness, and many other great qualities, which makes you stronger in this tough world.