My Thoughts on Turning 31

“When I turned 30 the first thing I did was watch the sunrise over the water, while in The Keys. Who knew that the sunrise I saw that morning, was the sunrise that showed me a way past the horizon and onto a new adventure in life. Now and forever I will always look to chase that sunrise.” ~ Gregory Modé

When one turns older you start to go through that phase in life when you start putting things in perspective. You look at your own mortality as if it was a fragile egg in your hand, worried that any tremor, ding, bump or accident will cause it harm. You look at past and current accomplishment and compare them to other people. Sometimes you feel proud of yourself, other times you feel like you are limping behind the pack.

You look around at all your material wealth, the people around you, where you are at that moment in time and wonder out loud, “Is this it? How many times can I get by and be lucky, before my luck runs out?”

And there’s that one question everyone seems to ask. “What is my purpose in this world? Do I have a role to play, a part to play on this stage?”

Too much do we look to the future and worry of things that have yet to be and too many times we look at the past and try to grasp at wisps of memories of the way things use to be. Yet we always forget to live in the present. We do not take the time to sit down and enjoy that sunrise every morning. To appreciate the little things that life has to offer.

No matter how you dress it up…

I am 31 years old.

I have been alive for 11,334 days

For 272,016 hours, my eyes have seen many life events, some happy some sad.

And it was not until I hit 30 and I saw that sunrise, that I finally understood what the meaning of life truly was.

Cheesecake and Paradise

Now I don’t normally take on requests when coming up for my next blog topic, but this time I made an exception since it centered around the devious…cheesecake.

First, who could have ever guessed, that going out of your comfort zone would taste so delicious. I may claim to be an adventurous eater, but in reality I stay pretty close to foods that have been proven time and time again to taste good going down. However if I were to compare to that to how one should live their life, I always say to go outside that comfort zone and take a chance. Life is about taking risk and experiencing new things. Not reliving the same old tried and true methods over and over again.

So while out on a date I decided to go out of my comfort zone, both with how I approached the date and with the tasting of my first true cheesecake.  For those that keep up with my blog will know my feelings on the dates, (and don’t worry, what I am currently writing now was already brought up during my date…yes I’m serious!), are basically job interviews.  But I am not here to recount that night’s date. I am here about the cheesecake. There are certain foods I’ve placed on a list that I will not touch (Ranch, Feta Cheese, Deer meat, Cheesecake, and etc.).  And if someone tries to get me to eat it, I politely turn them down and go on my merry way.  But that night I decided to try something new, with of course some prodding by my date to try the cheesecake [side note: tried my first true cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory]. When the cheesecake came out, I have to admit I was nervous. The first thought that popped in to mind was that I really hoped that I don’t throw up cheesecake over my date. But luckily after that first bite, I felt what amounts to an orgasm in my mouth (okay maybe not an orgasm, but it was enjoyable). 

Now as someone who enjoys eating the right things (from time to time, I still do treat myself to a burger every month) and staying in shape. It is a very dangerous thing for me to start loving Cheesecakes. Also I can finally understand why people seem to go ga-ga over this delightful dessert.

In all, the lesson that I left with that night was that…When you start to become comfortable and use to certain things. You close yourself off to some beautiful things around you.

The Tale of Greg ~ Part 1

This is my attempt at writing a alliteration poem. I have to admit that I think I did a good job, but when it came to the end of the poem, there was no clear way to end it. I hope you enjoy the poem as I enjoyed writing it out and coming up with some wonderful rhymes and g-related words.






Greetings, my name is Greg! 

Sit as I tell you a good ol’ great tale.

A story quite minute, yet on a grand scale.

Grievous, grim, gory narrative you will not find.

Only about a gracious, genial giant who fate was intertwined.

A gregarious, gallant, grandiose of a guy.

A gambler, a gangster and a gunslinger, was I.

No gimmicks, no guarantee, please do not worry.

No garrulous narrative, for this here shorten story.

A Gator Graduate, gladly to be.

A guile cunning gambit, majored with the ladies.

Giddy of grin and full of drink

Gaffes abound, while I was made to think.

Grandma once told me long ago

All that glitters is not gold, no?

Glorifying glowing gizmos and gadgets was never the way.

A generally good guy would gain at the end of that day.

I Job, there for I am

I finally have a job!

There is no sweeter sentence that one could write (well actually I’ve been working at this job for the past two weeks, so I’m a little late getting the news out). That sentence sounds so pleasant, so sweet to my ears.  Unlike most people out there in the world today, I was fortunate not to have to spend months or years being unemployed. However, due to a bit of an underhanded circumstance from my previous employers, receiving unemployment checks were always out of the question. Oh well!

The only thing that sucks is that I cannot really write about where I work; don’t worry my place of employment does operate in a legal manner. Disclaimer: To those who are friends of mine on Facebook or Google+ should have an idea of where I work. However, for legal reason and the fact I do not want to lose my job, I will not use the company’s name on this blog. I will simply call it Company V.

My first day on the job, was nothing short of a scene straight out of a sitcom. First Company V had me on standby, since my paperwork had not yet been cleared by the time the Orientation class started. So I did what any able body young thirty-something would do when you have time to kill…I took a nap (well more like I fell asleep on my couch while still in the sitting position). When the phone rang, it was their HR department telling me that I was cleared to start work today and that I should rush to the main building since the Orientation class had just started 30minutes ago. Well I rush down there wearing nothing but a nice pair of khakis, an untucked polo and my running sneakers. My thinking is that training class should be real laid back. That was my first mistake. I run into the class to see everyone dressed up as if they were getting ready to attend Sunday services. Embarrassed? That was an understatement.

Fortunately the rest of the day went smoothly. When asked by my new classmates as to why I was dressed the way I was, I simply informed them that Company V had called me while I was out running errands and had no time to run home and change. (I think they bought that little white lie).  And oddly enough later that week they declared Casual week for the entire site, so I basically saw it that I was ahead of the curve.

So there it is I am working again. (Well more like stuck in Training for a long long long time).  It is nice to have a job and to have some source of income coming in.

There was one thing I learned from my previous, a life lesson if you will. “Once you get too comfortable, you need to do something that puts you out of your comfort zone. That is the only way you will get better personally.”

***Update: As of September 12, I was offered a second job.  A job that I really really wanted.

Moment of Random Thought: Where have all the black TV shows gone?

And I will not count the stuff by Tyler Perry and Ice Cube on TBS and I be damned if I’m going to include anything on BET (sorry guys but come on guys, really!).

One day I came to realization that there are not any shows out there that feature a black person or anyone of color in the lead role. I am not implying shows are devoided of any color amongst their cast. But the days of such great TV shows like “The Cosby Show” are unfortunately history.

I know most of us don’t want to admit it or even acknowledge it, but people of color having their own shows on network TV is something of rarity. If memory serves me right the last show to feature Black lead was JJ Abrams “Undercover” (which didn’t do so well and was later cancelled) and I think before that, there was Chris Rock’s “Everybody Hates Chris” where the entire cast was Black.

And I do apologize if it sounds like I’m getting on a soapbox and preaching (that’s for another time and blog entry). But one of the few memories I have, is of me and my family gathering around the family room TV watching “The Cosby Show”.  “The Cosby Show” was one of those external factors that persuaded me to want to go to college and become a doctor (should have thought that one out since becoming a doctor was harder than I thought). To see those Huxtables kids (Sondra, Theo..I think Vanessa. Denise went but dropped out) go and graduate from college was something inspirational to me. It should people who looked similar to me accomplishing something that I didn’t think was possible at that time. But where are those role models today. Most of the time people of color are being portrayed as rappers/musicians, athletes or gangsters.  Where are the Harvard graduates, military leaders, and other positive role models?

Heavens forbid if someone of color talks intelligently, then all of a sudden he is not “black” enough (which I hear quite a lot). If talking like I have marbles in my mouth and have no sense of the English language means talking “black” then I want no part of it.  When someone talks, skin color should not be attributed to it. It’s either you talk like an educated person or not!

To be continued…

Jobless, Will Work to be able to Watch TV Again

Well it is official. I am still jobless, for now that is! I have those mornings where I look in the mirror, all rough and haggard and mumble to myself “Well don’t you look like a tired bum today.” I should probably rewind this story and give a brief recap as to how I reached this unfortunate predicament.

Previously on, ‘Greg: Mocha Man of War.’  The valiant yet lovable hero Greg, asked his bosses above to have some days to attend his cousin’s wedding (which I was to be a groomsman in don’t forget to add that part when doing the recap). Yes, he was to be a groomsman at this cousin’s wedding in the city of Brooklyn, NY.  However, Greg knew the shit storm that was to be when requesting the days off.  For the day of the wedding was to fall smack dab in the middle of the company’s TURN.  With his work unable to accommodate, Greg was forced…FORCED I say to make a tough decision. Either choose work and the stability of a meager paying job or choose family.  Well it is safe to say our hero chose Family.

All that’s missing from the flashback was Scrooge and some kid named ‘Tiny Tim’ claiming to be my son, who limps to my side either on a crutch or wheelchair.  As I go out on the hunt for a new job, I never ever regret the decision I made. I look at it as a kick in my ass, to move forward with my life. For too long I become complacent, I take things as they are. If I want to make changes in my life and the world around I can’t do that by sitting behind a small dank office looking at screen (even though I am certain the new jobs I’m applying for will have me doing the samething).

As one of my most recent Gregisms, I say, “Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom in life in order to find out what you are made of. Some people give up and some people accept the challenge, rise out of the muck and become a better person because of it.” I can say I haven’t given up; in fact going through this low period in my life has made me hungrier for life and reinforced what is really important to me,  my Family and their well being.

I honestly do not know what the future holds. Things can get a lot worse; things can get a lot better. As of right now Fate is holding the coin and has just flipped it. Heads-Things get better. Tails-Things get bad. But you know what; sooner or later it’s going to have to come up Heads.

On another note, now that my funds are cough* limited, I’ve had to make some cutbacks. One being cable TV and internet (well the Bright House made that decision for me). When my cable first went out, I think I threw a hissy fit because I could gain access to what was on my DVR (Thundercats is so out of my reach). As the days went by, I sort of felt like a junkie detoxing off of some substance. Until one day that TV craving wasn’t there. Now of course it would be nice to have a TV to know if a hurricane is approaching my state or if an earthquake just occurred in a metropolitan city in the US.  

And damn if football season is just around the corner. Oh well!

Thirty years of life lessons summed up in a list.

I would like to say that I came up for the idea for this entry all on my own, but I do have to give credit to [Zen Habits]. I took their idea of condensing one's life and the lessons they've learned to bullet points. I want to somehow sum up what each year of my life taught me (if that is at all possible...there were a few years where things are hazy).  Here's my thinking, spend some time and reevaluate your life. Try to sum up each year of your existence in a few sentences. Could you do that? Well I will damn well try.

1. When sperm and egg unite, good things happen. However, when that good things comes out, bad things happen.
2. Small package, big destructive possibilities and a nemesis [little sister] joins the fray.
3. Nightmares are never fun, but Coca-cola is awesome!
4. Who needs reading and writing when I have a tricycle, Hi-C and Legos.
5. One year in Kindergarten and all I took from it, was me staring at a corner all day long.
6. Catholic schools are not just for Catholics
7. The year that Santa Claus died (and Teddy Ruxpin)
8. Cheaters never win, but they can hold out until they get what they want.
9. Sometimes it's hard to say good-bye to your old life and hello to new beginnings. Especially if those new beginnings are in a place that is humid and hot.
10. Greg, the computer and the time wasted playing Number Muncher
11. The Un-wonder years
12. A diamond in the rough. And someone finally believes in me!
13. Position 69 is what? And what are the other 68? (actually question I had asked someone)
14. High School...it's like OZ, but without the prison rape and killings.
15. Videogames, Girls and Playboy magazines
16. Racism...when it hits you, it's hits you deep.
17. Being smart has it's upsides, being a smart-ass well that's just being awesome!
18. Embarking on a new journey and this time I'm going at it alone.
19. It's great to be a Florida Gator!
20. The first loss is the hardest the bear.
21. How tragedy can bring together a nation and teach you that life does continue.
22. Sister's crashes my non-existent Bachelor pad
23. Breaking out of the comfort zone and knowing to finally hold your liquor and learning how to dance.
24. Graduating from college. Nothing beats that feeling.
25. Graduated from college and all I got was this stinking job.
26. Sake, Sushi and Strippers.
27. Relationships are never meant to last forever
28. New city, new place, new life...new money!
29. House of cards come crashing down
30. Adventures are best served with a cold drink and hot women.

Dating is like interviewing for a job with no chance of advancement [Expanded verision]

Side note: From time to time, if one of my Facebook post receives a few "likes" and comments. I will try to take the time to expand on that quote a bit further. Try to give a quick back-story as to what lead me to say the things I say.

Why do we always succumb ourselves to this sort of torture. We meet someone, either in person or through one of the million of online dating websites. We meet up, do the small talk, have a few drinks, quip about how we have something in common (most of the time At this point I am usually faking this. I mean come on, does it look like I watch Grey's Anatomy. Do I care really care that you have magically powers and can somehow communicate with the animals...No!).


As the "guy", we try to assert that we have that "funny personality" you are looking for (because everyone knows women love comedians...*sarcasm*), we can be your protectors, we are financially sound and not some closeted momma's boy. Now as the "woman" you force yourself to laugh through our endless parades of corny jokes, hope he shares your love for everything cats (seriously this kind teeters on borderline creepy crazy), giving off an aura of being a nurturer, and hoping that the man across from you is not some creepy stalker.

Dating can be described as many things: a delicate tango, a difficult game of chess, a roller-coaster, a boxing match or like interviewing for a job with no chance of advancement or promotion. Whichever analogy you decide to choose, it boils down to this. The whole dating process and having a relationship is never an easy ride. We must all go through it, until we end up with that one person who seems not to want to go away or can tolerate us for more than an hour.


It's this long drawn out process that I find frustrating. There are so many things that go on during a date that must be taken into account. Since I cannot speak for what goes on in a woman's mind, I'll give you my perspective of a normal date. I think as most guys will say trying to read a woman's mind is like trying to find the holy grail--many have perished along the way trying to unravel their secrets. Most of these dates are like trying to figure long complex calculus problems. If she touches her hair a certain way does that mean she likes you or has a nervous tick. When she laughs at your mediocre jokes she either likes you or is trying to disguise a fart. She offers to pay half for the meal...well that's just a sign she's not in to you---I would think that is an obvious sign.


And while all of this is happening, I am mostly thinking: Damn! This girl can eat and this is going to be an expensive meal. I wonder if there will be sex tonight? I wonder if there will be sex tomorrow night? I wonder if she's cool with sex? Stop staring at her boobs! Nod and pretend that you are versed in everything Twilight and girly medical dramas.


I do not know if I will ever be an expert in the ways of dating. I will gladly go through many trials and errors to make sure I get it down pact. And I say this because if I do not do it, no one will.

My Life is a Work of Fiction

It seem now a days that most of the "political" books that appear in bookstore, feature people looking to get their memoirs, autobiography, or unauthorized biography out to the world stage.  Normally these books pop up when someone is trying to run for public office, wants to show off how wickedly smart and witty they are, or are trying to change their public image. And for the most part these stories are the same, cookie-cutter story, to the point you could make a drinking game out of it (and trust me I have, I have gone through many bottles of vodka while reading Nelson Mandela's autobiography). Here are a few of the required must-haves that appear in almost every single book:

• Parents are ecstatic and elated the day I was born. (Apparently this story wouldn't sound right if my mother was crying from the pain of having some huge baby rip her bottom half beyond recognition or  my dad cursing the Lord above that his bachelor days are officially over. Ahh the joys of childbirth).
• I grew up in a hard neighborhood or my family was seen as an outcast in the neighborhood (Most of the time, the author will somehow turn the suburb streets of New Haven, CT to the mean streets of Watts, CA. It must have been a bitch when the local water polo club would not let you enter because you bought your clothes from the Sports Authority.)
• Faced adversity (Ahhh tough decisions...should I go for the Bentley or the Jaguar. Life is so unfair. Any episode of MTV's Sweet 16 will give you an idea what type of harsh adversity these young girls must go through everyday in order to survive. Makes the suffering in Dafur look like a carnival ride.)
• Overcame addiction (It seems anyone who has a story to tell  has the same addiction, drugs, or alcohol. Which for some reason is never looked down upon. I mean both of them can wreck the body and potentially lead to death by overdose. However, if someone where to mention they have a sex addiction they are looked upon like they have leperesy. When was the last time you know someone OD'ing on sex? Exactly! )
• Act of heroism (Standing up to a bully, saving a platoon during a war and even standing up to a huge corporation. Those are huge acts of heroisms. Winning a game of Stratego against my sister, playing basketball in a busy street and living on your own for the first time...not so much).
• Found my calling through religion (Just when you need to run for office or clean up your image, you conveniently find God. Picking the most popular religion in your area is liking playing a game of Family Feud. You have three chances to pick the right one or it is game over.)
• Got rich and/or became successful because I never gave up (We rather read a story about someone who is just like us, that somehow rose above the muck and reached the American dream. I mean who wants to read a book by someone who was born into money telling us what we need to do to get rich. Ha, I mean that is just ridiculous!)
• Writing a book (Nothing like reading an entire book from cover to cover. Then when you get to the end, realizing you are no more wiser than when you started).

The one thing I quite dislike about these types of books is that someone is selling their life-story, just to make a quick buck/dollar. Now I am not saying that there are some legitimate books out there, that offer a story that can uplift a person to do great things. I know there are and they are great books. They do offer a story of someone coming from the bottom to rise to the top and be successful in life. But those stories usually get drowned out, by people who have no business writing a book.

I often wonder what if I were to write a book. A book that was basically one part true, one part fabrication. The ultimate story of how a young kid grew up in the mean streets of Newark (well technically Elizabeth) to rise above the muck and become a blogger on his own site, with what appears to be one follower. I can hear the masses chanting my name!

Under Construction

There comes a time in every website short existence where the prospect of change is a good thing. And thus that is where I find myself. Staring at the proverbial 'fork in the road' wondering what the fuck I should do next. Do I keep this blog semi-private and amongst close friends or broadcast it to the world and let them judge on if I am funny or not. 

Well I think it clear that I'm going for the 'let's broadcast this for the world to see'. With plans to see if I can make this thing go international. 

When I began this blog, I wanted to share what were basically silly non-sense sayings that I would find myself saying to close friends and family on facebook and have a place on the web where I can kind of store my favorite sayings for public record. But as with most things in my life, when I got busy the site suffered. So now I'm am putting a focus on this site and making it better than it was before. If that means I set a deadline to publish an entry, than by Krum I will.

However for now...I can honestly say that this site will be Under Construction as pieces to a giant puzzle start coming into place. I have no idea what this site will evolve to, but it will be better than it currently is (that's not to say that this site wasn't kick-ass before). 

So hold on...and prepare yourself for one good ride.

Dreams are the beginning of a great tale; the start of a great adventure and should never be restricted

It has been a while, about two months time to be exact, since my last official blog entry. As I had previously stated, there will be times when I will write a lot and there will be other times when a dry spell will sweep over me and I have nothing to offer.


Now...well now, is one of those time when I want to write and try to break-in my pen, so to speak, and work on a few pieces of fiction. Each story, about nine in total, are based on dreams I've had ever since I was two years old. Each story will have sort of introduction as to the dream that spawned the story. Some will be great pieces of art...the others probably not so great, but they will be my stories nonetheless.


My writing style, will be broken up between traditional serialized fiction and prosed literature. Let's not kid around here, I am no William Shakespeare or John Swift.


So with no further introduction needed, let's begin this adventure. Hopefully I can provided you with a experience that's worth the price of admission.