WOOOOOOOWWWW! Brooklyn!!!!

check this out

There is plenty of sleep in the grave

I need to get my hands on this shirt....lol...sleep is the cousin of death..craaaaaaazy

LOL Happy Thanksgiving TEAM Baaaaallin

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

TURKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!
Yo man all ya'll enjoy the holiday, be safe and keep
baaaalliiiiiiiiiin. Is it safe to say we started a trend
at the Den? Now everyone chimes in with the team.
We were born to shine, lol haha...

keep it tight b*tches.

Goldmember ------>OUT

the answer to the answer (Jamie, don't get me started)

It's not you that keeps me up at night, because truthfully you haven't caused the hole I seek to fill.
You've merely reopened a wound that goes deeper than the shallowness of our interactions
A separation of body and soul, the moment when you're head stops trusting your heart
You wonder why I keep asking the questions,
I ask for the answers to questions I've longed to know,
why did he hurt me like he did?
He's not you, but I'm still trying to figure him out,
or rather
find out why I wasn't enough to make him stay, why our love wasn't enough to keep him still
and you become only a reminder of lessons learned, a path I've already traveled but some how
couldn't avoid the second time around.
As history repeats, I keep wondering, I keep asking, I keep searching for the answers,
So I ask the questions
you think i already know the answers to
but you don't realize that I stopped trusting my heart when he hurt me
and the baggage claim of my bruised experiences taught me to take men at their words
not at their actions
because he acted like he loved me, and he acted like I was his only,
the first one may have loved me, but I guess he loved her too
and the second one made me number one, but he still had a number two
so you wonder why I ask you the questions,
because you think i know whats true
but the couple things I've come to know in love
is that the only person who really knows the answer
is you.

Sour Taste (Leigh, you asked for it, lol)

What keeps you up at night crying, aching?
Wishing like a mother wanting nothing but a healthy child
Living for the love as it dies in your arms
filled to the top with every empty promise
Searching in the dark for nonexistent light
What makes someone walk into love blindly and walk out seeing something they wish they hadn't?
If love actually is blind, then a broken heart's eyes should be wide open, clearly seeing what's what.
Your heart is like a fallen angel who once lived in the golden paved streets of Heaven.
They were dropped from being high on love into a lonely hell.
Forcing the hand of life when trying to 'make it happen,' they could have just let it happen.
Needing an answer to a question that only time can tell.
They're spent, trying to make each other believe the deeply rooted doubt in love they both share.
Have their lies been uncovered?
The distance in between their ears makes them feel they're miles apart.
One is wrong for the other's mistakes.
The only willing losers in the game of love that all hearts want to play.

More Ballin'

Cause three pictures doesnt do the night justice...

JENNIFER HUDSON'S A DREAM

I had to drop a line to say how brilliant Dreamgirls is. As many, may or may not know, I am a die-hard fan of the stage production. Not only have I seen Jennifer Holliday the original Effie White in it, but I own the original and anniversary soundtracks. Im a Dream stan...lol.
Anyhow, I have been waiting all damn year to see the film and I was not disappointed. Jennifer Hudson is my new fav. She will get an Oscar not just a nomination but the trophy for her performance. You all must check the flick on Christmas day. Kurtwurk is checkin it today so he will vouch later on. There's an early screening in December though....see below.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11162006/news/nationalnews/the_25_movie_nationalnews_lou_lumenick__________post_movie_critic.htm

HER MILKSHAKE BRINGS ALL THE BOYS TO THE YARD

Who would have thought a Kelis concert would end with a whole new dance craze…that’s exactly what Kimmie’s bday turned into. From this point on, Kimmie will be Milkshake in honor of her Stan-like affection towards Kelis. I am no fan of the lady, though, I won’t hate, she has some hot tracks. So, because I love Milkshake I rang my Jive gal pal for a pair of tickets. We arrive at SOBs (mind you I warned folks it is no Capitale rather a small, standing-room only, dark, creepy spot) to an incredibly long line. Thanks to the VIP industry love we are escorted in. Immediately Milkshake and Lil 50 get front and center in front of the stage. Did I mention it is 7pm and the show is supposed to start until “9?” Nat and I retreat for tacos and return to find a neo-soul crowd surrounding Team Ballin’. Sara has joined the posse and asks if she can have my Red Bull, to which the hatin’ neo soul chick asks her friend, “Who Carrys Red Bull In Their Purse,” Lil 50 is rolling her eyes and ready to fight as any G-Unit member would be (ha,) but not forreal. I think its hilarious. A nappy headed chick is trying to de-bo Nat, but Miss Decatur says she ain’t goin no where (her words not mine). LOL. Finally at 9:30 Kelis is up…Nas comes out for Blindfold Me. Milkshake swears it’s the best show in the world. We bounce to Arturos’ I’m irritated because my feet hurt after the 2 plus hours of standing. I rest the pups and we chat over pizza with our newest honorary, Sara. Who is incredibly fierce with her outlook on modeling and acting. Love it! Anyhow, Beyonce B’day or LL as I like to refer to her, phones to say she’s leaving the office and will meet us at Stereo. We split up and a small group of us arrive at Stereo only to see over 100 ugly pales escorted in and we are giving the pass by glance from the doorman. We’re told (mind u a band of beautiful chicks) that only a few of us can be comped and the rest of us will pay. RACISM I yell, to no avail. Chicken Noodle and Kurtwurk/Drunker/Bloggin…whatever his name is are with us now. We decide to head to Home. No wait, no worries, we’re in. As soon as we get to the top of the stairs we see why it was no hassle. A trio of Wall Street types are grinding a little too hard at the bar. Chicken Noodle insists the girl is getting gang raped tonight. A couple is cutting moves so tough, you’d think they were trying out for “So You Think You Can Dance,” But get this…not only is the DJ playing tunes circa 2000, but he has no clue who Jim Jones, the Dips, or “Ballin’” are. After a few drinks and shots, I grab Queen and Nat and we head for an alternative. Nice lady at Cain says we “should” be good. Did I also mention a paparazzi-esque photographer was following us around takin flicks like we were Angelina and Brad? (junebug.com) Anyhow, Cain is poppin…old school and isnt that…oh hell no…that’s the Asian Dancin chick from the 80’s Smirnoff party last week. We crowd around her yelling…”Go Head,” and an Asian dude gets jealous, he wants some “Go ‘head” love…so he passes his jacket to LL and breaks too. Kurtwurk/Drunker/Bloggin…whatever his name is…starts off the group dances. Chicken Noodle is doing his usual and Milkshake who is completely falling over by now has created a new jig…the chicken noodle with a moonwalk on the side. She’s insisting she can teach Nat and I “I, 2, left/right, she says.” Pure comedy. We bounce after a soul train line, lemon drop shots, and countless other laughs. On the walk to the car, Milkshake breaks down her “new shit” dance at least 5 times. She thanks us, we bounce, Queen has a headache, Bailey wants attention, I want sleep…another night of debauchery Team Ballin’ style…gotta love it. Now everybody say…Chicken Noodle Soup with a Moonwalk on the Side…and Tequila is the Devil, as Milkshake would say.

Everybody say THANKS COODIE!!! (this one's for you)

(Ok guys this is a double team, Miss Bridge is kicking it off)


So, I’m leaving this GRAMMY panel getting my politic on with entertainment attorneys and the like and decide to call my boy Chicken Noodle…”I’m sure he’s out,” I say to myself. Sure enough, he’s on the way to City Crab to meet John John. So what is supposed to be a small meet-up in actuality is our crew intruding on a 15 deep dinner. Im laughing as I approach the table. In about 10 we’re out and I let the boys know that I have to eat if we’re drinking. So we head to Boston Market, where I take Coodie on a cheap date. Turkey dinners for both of us…Im so happy we didn’t stop at McDonalds. We talk about Once Again and Ivy breaks down “Stereo” to me, but I’m still not feelin it. Done eating…we head to Loft joint. Are we the only ones who didn’t get the memo that this was an 80’s theme jump-off? The bedroom and fridge of 40’s are super live though. I through some of the Now N Laters and Blow Pops in the bag and we do the rounds. DJ yells we gotta a surprise…oh shit…its BIG DADDY KANE. We are all pretty hyped…esp when I hear him do my fav “Warm It Up Kane,” I actually get off the sofa and sidekick long enough to join in. Did I mention that Snoopy didn’t recognize me in his drunken stumpor…and he wouldn’t remove his leather although it was 800 degrees because as he put it “Its part of the ensemble.” Im cracking up…Breezy and LL and Clay Clay come in next…but im ready to bounce…the party is going to Marquee…

(Now I'm picking it up)

We would have been there earlier but after my 23rd straight day in the edit, I decided that if Jay-Z was across the street performing a 10 song set, I'm going to see it. This job is running me in to the ground I deserve a perk or two...so after the edit, I run over to the studio and watch Jay-Z peform about 13 songs actually, (he was caught up) for 106th & Park, loving every second, it was one of the moments when you realize the power of music, and just get really really happy because you get to see and or be a part of it. Gotta love hov...Anyway so yea, it wasn't over til 9 meaning I got home at 9:45 which is why we didn't make it to the party till 11:25, (well that and the cab driver who was ridin dirty and would go over 35 miles an hour). Missbridge is hitting us telling us how lame we are cause we're late, and Chicken Noodle got an attitude talking bout (where y'all at?) My goodness we must be missing out bigtime. We arrive and anxiously enter to what we're expecting to be the jump off, but um it isn't. It's a whole lot of people dressed up like RUN-DMC and Rosie Perez running around. Oh, I'm way to sober for this. To the bar!!!! Free drinks, and keep them coming....back to the table some wierd man picks up my glass and tries to pour a drink in my cup (ew) this party gets wierder by the second. Sky Nellor is on the tables being the WORST as usual. The mood is turning south, we're contemplating making that move right back home, when (insert hero music here) Q-Tip takes over the tables. Yes, the moment we've all been waiting for, or at least I've been waiting for...(I Looooooooooove Tribe Called Quest, like i'm seriously obsessed) "q-tip, I love you, I love you boo" I'm having a serious groupie moment right now...Missbridge is clowning me hard but I don't care, anything for Q.
What? We leaving!!! Aww come on man, I only came to this party for Q-tip....
Coodie says, "Naw we bout go meet some people at Marquee..."
I'm frowning HARD, J-Ivy laughing at me....i'm throwing a slight temper tantrum....
In classic fashion Missbridge pulls her exit move...you know, "ummmm I think I'm going to go home..."
Video girl says, "let's go to Marquee..." I'm outnumbered and dragged out the club kicking and screaming, "Qtip, I LOVE YOU, i love you, i love you....."
BriBri decides to stay behind, like I'll meet you at Marquee, ok, but I've been to Marquee and the door there ain't no punk...I'm leaving with Coodie, he clearly has a plan.
We pile in to the car JIvy and Chicken Noodle try to convince me that this John Legend new shit is a classic (I disagree citing Missbridge and Drunker as cosigners) and start riding when somebody says, "where's Snoop?" uh oh, did we leave him? I hit him up....oops yea we did but somehow when we get to Marquee he's already outside at the door. A middle aged white woman comes to the door, shows Coodie love and we're ushered inside. I have never actually been inside Marquee...wow, it's kind of dope. Lots of white men trying to holla at me, we keep it moving. Make it to a table with lots of middle aged older white people, whatever, someone offers us drinks...
"We have Hennesy, Vodka and Champagne...." Well ok then!
I got my Henny, everyone has a drink, Coodie's working the room and everybody is just chilling...we stand around this little speaker thing just kind of bopping and checking out the scene. Coodie, Video girl and Chicken Noodle are across from me, Snoop running around somewhere, J Ivy is to the right and then I look to my immediate right and realize I don't know the person standing next to me, He turns his head, wait I do know him, oh wow it's Common...
I now have groupie moment number two! I try to keep it cool, as I speak to him briefly (being a total groupie) but oh well I'm drunk and Common is chilling next to me in club...
BriBri finally arrives after I stand outside for 15 minutes waiting for her...though I did make friends with the guys at the door. She arrives, we stay a lil while longer, but soon everybody's ready to go. We leave out, Bribri tries to convince me to stay but I'm over it. Papa Coodie drives everybody home, somehow we start talking about religion (Coodie likes to have really serious conversations in the late drunk hours of the night), I'm starving (as usual) and so is Bri, Coodie denies us food as usual, soon enough we're back in Harlem, I stumble in to my house, and fall fast asleep.

EVERYBODY SAY THANKS COODIE!

Only appropriate if I re-post it for you....lol..great find YAZ

Foolish

im too lazy to fix the friggin posting. so just click on the empty ass box. go about 50 seconds into the clip. STOOPID

ALL HALLO'S EVENING....

So, six weeks ago we decided it was haunted house time again, and Drunk Girl was happy to coordinate the purchasing of tickets for NIGHTMARE (insert scary music here) one of the top 13 Haunted Houses in the nation (yea ok) So we buy tickets, and mark our calenders, October 31st its going down. Some few weeks closer to the date, Queen suggests we go costume shopping...yea never happens. Next thing we know its Halloween, nobody has costumes and everybody is trying to bail on the haunted house. We miss Drunk Girl...but alas, she hasn't gone too far, suddenly we're bombarded with emails with her cussing us out telling us about ourselves. We suddenly feel like going again, and it's on...nightmare here we come.

Midday, my coworker decides she's going to ricky's for costume shopping, and I kindly ask her to pick me up something. After a grueling day of editing I race home to transform in to a super sexy flight attendant and hail a cab to meet Missbridge, Ms Potts and Queen downtown...At a stoplight something smacks the top of the cab. They're egging! I love it, its now officially Halloween.

20 mins later I stumble in to Schuellers on the lower east side to find Ms. Potts without her Pott, Queen in business casual and miss bridge in jeans and a sweater. Oh Hell NO! I will not be the only fool running around dressed up on Halloween. 5 minutes later we're in the ladies room making transformations...Queen morphs in to a sexy army brat...and MissBridge becomes a ghetto ballerina, mainly because I forgot her tights and only brought her one legwarmer but she still pulled it off.

Ok guys lets roll...

Around the corner we enter the haunted house...we've had a couple martinis but we're not THAT drunk...we gotta wait on D-Nice, who must be quite Nice cause she keeps calling hysterically talking about how she's on her way and how she almost got in a fight with some man at the parade in the village...but swears she's not drunk (yea ok).

Finally she arrives, provides Ms. Potts with her pirate get-up and now we're all somewhat dressed for Halloween, picture time!!!!! We've had a couple more glasses of wine and now we're good and tipsy and ready to be scared. We get grouped up with a few white folks and next thing we know we're inside. They give us a mean speech about being respectful to the professional actors aka monsters inside, D-Nice laughs and now we enter. First room, the scary girl gets murdered in front of us...ok yea but this broad got Usher and Omarion posters on her wall, she's not black because if she was she would've bounced before the murderer came, but all we can talk about is the r&b posters on the wall. We ruined that room! Next...we stand around a table and all put our hands on the table...They ask a white girl to come alone to the next room, she says no, so my drunk behind says I'll go...around the corner they're like come thie way hurry up hurry up. I start jogging and oops! they're goes my boob just popped right out the costume! The monsters all break character like your boob! I'm hysterically laughing and so are they, they tell me to hide underneath this television looking thing from the ring. OH SHIT somebody else is back here. Oh it's a girl from the group before, phew no big deal, now that was scary. Some minutes later the group comes in to the TV room, and I'm supposed to jump out. Raaaaaaaaaaaar I say, nobody is scared. I think the costume was pretty unscary. Next we're underneath the TV in this extremely tight corridor. And it's pitch black. Ok if you're overweight you couldn NOT be in this haunted house, these walls are tight. We cant find the way out, for like 5 minutes. Finally the monster comes to get us, like this way dumbasses...he clowns us for being stupid and leads us to the next room. Can't remember what happened in here but it wasn't scary, all i remember is some goul saying, "i like the stuartist," and then hitting on D Nice in her army fit. Ok are they supposed to be scaring us or picking us up. Moving on we crawl over and under something, is this a haunted house or the underground railroad, and damn you gotta be limber up in here. We make it to some room where this girl get murdered and then pukes in a bucket, (oh i'm so scared, not) then walk out to the next room and wait this isn't a room. It's over, you mean to tell me it's over. Oh HELL NO! i'm too pissed. Some white girl gives us free drink tickets to ease our pain...another glass of wine, I'm now at least drunk. MissBridge spots Missy in the crowd. Next thing I know we run out and D-Nice waltz's up to Missy and Olivia (you know they're dating) and tells them the haunted house sucked. They look disgusted and we run out to the street to hail a cab. What's next? Queen wants to go to a house party...I heard about it...after fussing over how to the split the cabs I end up on 135th and Madison...house party ok, where's the house? Right there. Where? Right there...um huh? That's the projects. We're going to a party in the projects. Oh hell no what the fuck, we' going to the projects (I'm really loud as i'm saying this in the projects) Y'all are whilin...oh un un. Inside we bump in to familiar faces. I have Hennesy and Coke to ease my sorrows. 15 minutes later I'm ready to roll, Ms. Potts is beyond pissed, and Queen is over it. My fav hits me up...he's in a bad mood too...alright I'm calling it, Halloween is over at 11:45...

Knock Knock.....Trick or Treat????

Ballin ATL style...

In the A-town there's a different Ballin crew whom I love...and out of all the many things that happened during our glorious homecoming weekend, only this story captures the true essence of my girls...for further understanding see the guide below:

Cherise: Hometown Fort Worth, TX Flavor: The MOST nonchalant person I have ever met in my life. Always goes with the flow never upset, treats men like men treats girls...
Danielle: Hometown Chicago, IL Flavor: The most over analytical person I've ever known, always in deep thought, always thinking the worst...
Ashley: Hometown Wilmington, DE (you met Ashley at the Den a couple weeks back) Flavor: The most dramatic and comical person I've ever met.
Corinne: (you met Corinne she lives here now) Hometown Los Angelos, CA Flavor: Super boughetto, the most EMOTIONAL person I've ever known, kinda a crunk, lots of attitude.

Thursday night I arrive in ATL extremely late, (airtran is ghetto as usual) and take my extremely tired self to Reesie's house where I barely said hello before passing out only to wake up at 2:30 pm the next day to pouring rain outside the window. Un un ATL, it's homecoming this rain business has to stop. If you've ever been to ATL you know that this is not a pedestrian friendly city. You need a car, everybody has a car. Well everyone except Reesie...oh lord now what...my spoiled behind is not having it on the Marta..."Danielle," I say, "call Enterprise, we renting a car." Bet, its' on. Well except I don't have my driver's license on me so Danielle we're gonna have to get it in ur name. That's cool says Danielle, I just cant get pulled over cause my license is suspended (she repeats this statement everytime she gets in the car the entire weekend). No problem, we won't get pulled over it's homecoming and we're in the A.

It's 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. We've all had as much fun as we humanly possibly could in a 3 day time period. We've left our 4 hour brunch to go meet up for 3 hours of drinks, our annual Sunday meetup. Cherise agrees to pick up Corinne from the back woods of ATL. I protest vehemently, no one listens to me. Danielle is acting drunk still from last night, so Cherise drives. This is the first time anyone other than Danielle has been in the driver seat of the car. We drive (as I complain) and drive and drive until we get to Corinne. She hops in the backseat and we're off. The boys are mad at us cause we're late...(I said we shouldn't pick up Corinne). Driving back to civilization from bumblebutt GA we curve around headed to Northside when an entourage of cop cars come in to view...

Me: Oh fuck! Is that a road block?
Cherise: Just wait, just wait be cool, maybe it's nothing.
Danielle: Y'all we cannot get pulled over, Oh my god Oh my God Oh my God, If we get pulled over I'm going to jail.
Corinne: Wait, what the hell is going on?
Cop: Excuse me can I see your driver's license
Cherise: (looks at me) What should I say?
Me: (the look on my face says this) BITCH what do you mean "what should you say the window is down he can hear you"
Cherise to the cop: Um I don't have it on me right now.
Cop: Can you pull over up here...
Danielle: Oh my god Oh my god, (tears streaming down her face)
Corinne: Oh shit, I don't like cops, I'm from LA I don't like cops
Danielle: Weezing, Weezing, what we gonna do, I'm going to jail, I'm going to jail,
Cherise: Silence
Me: Would you two in the back shut the fuck up. Both of you just shut up and relax. Cherise tell him you have a license.
Cherise: I have a license it's out of texas.
Cop: ok do you have an id?
(she hands it to him)
Danielle: (With a solid river of tears down her face) Oh my god you guys, oh my god...what am i gonna do, If they run my license...
Cop: Um excuse me, you don't have a license out of Texas, just a state ID.
Cherise: I don't???
The rest of us: YOU DON'T????
Cherise: I don't, (flippantly) then why did I take the driver's test?
Me: (under my breath) this bitch right here
Cop: Well who has a license?
I point to Corinne, Corinne points to me, Cherise points to Danielle, Danielle points to Corinne.
Cop: Everybody is pointing at each other.
Me: Corinne give him your license, (he checks it)
Cop: You need to drive.
Corrine and Cherise switch seats.
Cop: This is a rental car? Can i have the rental papers...
I hand them over
Cop: Who's Danielle?
Danielle: Danielle's not here right now?
Corinne and I: Danielle wtf are you doing right now?
Cherise: Danielle, Danielle...
Cop: Well the rental papers said only Danielle can drive the car...
Danielle: Um I know but...she let us borrow it and um...
Sidebar: This girl is still lying to the police
The rest of us: Danielle quit lying and tell the truth
Danielle: (tears steady streaming down her face) Ok no, I'm sorry I'm Danielle....
Cop: Why y'all playing games? (the cop is white mind you)
Corinne: I'm sorry we're just nervous, she's just really nervous around police.
Danielle: I'm just nervous I'm sorry I'm just nervous..
Corinne: (cosigning but making it worse) I'm really nervous too, I'm from LA I'm nervous around the cops...
Me: Shut up Corinne
Cop: Do you have a license?
Danielle: Yes (through the tears she hands it over)
Cop: Ok, you need to be driving (hands back the license and walks away from the car)
Danielle: Still sobbing, if he checks my license if he runs my license....
Me: Danielle he can't run your license, its in your hands....
Danielle: (sobbing, laughing, crying, sniffling)
ALL OF US: Hysterical laughter...
Me: Danielle when we get to Slice I'm gonna curse you out something serious over a martini...
Corinne: Cherise you really dont' have a license?
(5-0- comes back) Cop: Unfortunately I still have to write you a ticket...
Cherise: And then what happens?
Cop: You go to traffic court
Cherise: How much is it going to be?
Cop: I dont know.
Cherise: Can I fight it?
Me: Cherise if you don't shut up!
Me: Thank you officer have a nice day. Danielle drive.....

I dunno why that man let us go...I don't know why my friends are so crazy...all I know is that I love my girls, and boy were we BALLLLLLINNNNNNN!!!!