Fate

March 22nd, 2011

I’ve been thinking about you lately.
I’ve been thinking about what role you’ve played in my life.
And I’m thinking you don’t even exist.
Not because I feel like I’ve been slighted by you, but because your presence doesn’t seem tangible. Or reliable.
I don’t believe you’re out there.
I don’t believe you’ve helped me get anything done.
Which is fine because I would rather not ask for your help anyway.
I don’t believe you made me meet the right people or avoid the wrong ones.
I don’t believe you’re as strong as people say you are.
You’re just so inconsistent and finnicky.
If I believe in you what control do I have?
What does that say about my ability to make a decision?
You’re a cop out. A safety net. A footnote at best.
You take all of the praise and none of the blame.
I don’t like you, wherever you are.
I hope you take this personally.
You can tell your friends Destiny and Luck I feel the same about them.

Peace

Everything & Anything

My Letter to Allen Iverson

March 13th, 2011

Dear Iverson,

I want you to come back to the NBA.

I miss watching you play. Not just because of the stats you put up but because of the relentless heart you exhibit. You are the definition of the phrase, “go hard or go home.” I admire your love for the game and willingness to sacrifice your body in order to get things done. Despite what other people think about your resistence to put in the extra work you’re my favourite player of all time and it still baffles me how your career has even gotten to this point.

I believe in you.

I believe in what you’ve done for the game. I don’t understand how a lot of people can act like this sort of outcome was inevitable. Like somehow you single-handledly created the situation you’re in and doomed yourself to choose between sixth man or playing in the Euro-league. It doesn’t make any sense. You’re ALLEN IVERSON. One of the greatest NBA players to ever grace the game. You have left your mark in ways most players can only dream of doing. Head bands, tattoos, braids, elbow sleeves – those were all things you made cool and looking around the NBA now no one can deny some part of you is on the court every day. I know you’ve made some decisions in your career that have tainted the minds of many and on the flip side many people have made some decisions about you that have added fuel to that fire. And let’s face it, you came into the game with a strike against you whether it was warranted or not and yet I still don’t understand why some people are jaded about your relevance to basketball.

I want you to come back to the NBA.

I don’t know what it will take. I don’t know whose keeping you out, if that’s the case. I don’t even know if you want to come back at this point. The fact that low level teams won’t even bat an eye in your direction is ridiculous and unfortunately a very misguided stance on their part. I know it’s because they’ve listened to the trash talking, and believe it to be true. Some people think I’m crazy for still thinking you’re a great player. They think that since the NBA has moved on I should too and that everything that has happened to your career is completely a result of your “bad” behaviour. I’m not stupid and I’ve followed enough of what has happened in your career to see what you’ve done and what has been done to you. I get it and I never once act like you’re faultless in all of this. We all have some responsibility to the direction our lives go in.

Bottom line: This cannot be the way it all ends for you. There has to be a better ending. You are more than this.  I believe you are more than this. I never looked at you as a quitter so my biases towards you won’t allow me to say that’s what you’re doing. I truly hope that’s not what you’re doing. Please come backand turn all of this around, we miss you.

Sincerely,

Crystal Coburn – always a fan

Everything & Anything

I’m Back – UPDATE!

March 11th, 2011

Watch the video. It explains everything.

(find)Peace.

Everything & Anything

My First Time

March 11th, 2011

It’s an oldie but goodie. Enjoy!

My First Time Reciting Poetry
By: Crystal Coburn

I wonder what it will be like
The first time it comes close to my lips
Will I grab the challenge firmly?
Or start softly like a kiss
Will I shy away timidly?
Scared to really blow it
And if I freeze on the spot in anticipation
I’m hoping my hidden talent will take over

Will the one I love support me?
As he yearns to see me breath
Will I dare to stare in his eyes?
While his heart slowly picks up speed
And if my hair falls in my face
Is that part of the experience
Will my stomach feel slightly queasy?
From how strong it’s resonating from my pace
Will I move into the light confidently?
With crazy thoughts racing through my head
It’s getting harder and harder, I can feel it
The shiny top of that black head

This is a lot of pressure you know
You can never prepare enough
Just drink a lot of water
So your mouth doesn’t get dry or rough
My girls all told me to just do it
Once you start you won’t quit
Even though they swear they’re never done it before
They saw it on TV quite a bit
So I shouldn’t be so shy
‘Cause I’ll eventually get it right
When he gazes at you intently
You will know the ending is in sight
Just like that it’ll be over
Especially on your first time
Everyone will be surprised you took it there
Something like a standing ovation in the sunrise

Now think about my words
And the images I just painted
Can you picture what I expressed to you?
I hope I didn’t make the moment tainted
I would encourage you all to go home tonight
And think about how I just made history
I can imagine what you thought I meant
But I was just talking about my first time
Grabbing the mic and reciting my poetry

(find)Peace.

Poetry

Nostalgia

March 10th, 2011

I was watching America Idol last night which I haven’t watched for a few years because I was over the whole talent show type shows. Somehow I managed to watch a few of the first episodes of this season. I’m pretty sure it’s because of my mom since she takes over the TV when it comes on.

One of the contestants, Casey Abrams, sang Joe Cocker’s classic “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Most of you probably remember the song from the show The Wonder Years, which is exactly how I remember the song. I’ve always liked the song but only listened in passing so today I decided to track it down and post it up. It’s one of those songs I love because they make me reminisce about my childhood.

From what my mom says it was my dad’s favourite singer and he had allllll his albums. Take a listen.

Peace.

Everything & Anything

Look, I can be a shark!

March 10th, 2011

So it’s been almost a full year since I’ve posted anything but I’m here today and very excited about that. I wanted to start out with this amazing youtube video I searched high and low for. I first saw this little girl on a commercial and it made me smile at how proud she is of her life. I have something to learn from her! It’s only about 49 seconds but I hope you enjoy it.

Peace.

Everything & Anything

We were there for you

April 28th, 2010

We were there for you when life was passing you by.
We were there for you when the rain wanted to wash you into the gutter.
We were there for you when you were left to die.
And I?
I really just want to see you fly.
This time.

We were there for you.

Everything & Anything

Go For Self

April 21st, 2010

We are all in it for ourselves. But whoever said that was a bad thing did not know their own self-worth.

True story.

Everything & Anything

Say Word.

April 21st, 2010


“If you don’t do it excellently, don’t do it at all.
Because if it’s not excellent, it won’t be profitable or fun,
and if you’re not in business for profit or fun,
what the hell are you doing here?”

- Robert Townsend

Everything & Anything

Kid’s definition of Love

March 11th, 2010

On February 18, 2010 Tyrone Edwards from 1LOVETO posted on his facebook this simple request: “leave a C O M M E N T Describe Love to me -”

Everyone, including myself, replied to his status right away, or so I assume. For the most part everyone had varying definitions of love with some key similarities here and there, while some people had no description at all and described it as feeling you get. But he brought it to my attention one day that someone had posted a child’s definition of love in response to his request and said that it was amazing. I never went back to review what that person wrote and now that I have I’m so glad I finally did.

I would post the name of the lady who responded, but since I don’t know her and I don’t have her permission I won’t. I looked high and low online to find the source of this story so that I could give proper credit, but so far I haven’t found the original writer/researcher.

So here it goes…

A Kid’s Definition of LOVE

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4-8 year olds: What does love mean? The answers that they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
kidsatplay2
“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” Rebecca – age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Billy – age 4

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.” Karl – age 5

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” Chrissy – age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” Terri – age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” Danny – age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.” Emily – age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” Bobby – age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” Nikka – age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” Noelle – age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy – age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.” Cindy – age 8

“My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” Clare – age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine-age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.” Chris – age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.” Mary Ann – age 4

“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.” Lauren – age 4

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” Karen – age 7

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.” Mark – age 6

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” Jessica – age 8

And the final one — Author and Lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

This is simply precious.
Photo by: Mica Wiltshire

Everything & Anything