Little Michael. Why do I think so much of him?

Well guys, bear with me a moment why I share my feelings. Normally I use this blog as an opportunity to give humor, make political statements or just kid with two of my best friends. Tonight I'm in a different mood, a benevolent mood. See, the other day for no particular reason I had a flashback of that very pleasant day that I joined hundreds of caring people in St. Bernard, Ohio as they paid honor to Michael in dedicating a park in his name. Michael a avid soccer player and best friend to Molly through his life continues to give me inspiration in my life. What he shown me is that even in a short life you can leave a legacy of love and caring that will carry through others over a long period of time. Michael did that for many people that knew him. As time went on I had the pleasant experience of meeting the family, especially his mom Donna. Through it all, I must say we are blessed to have Michael in our presence and as Michael look down on us from heaven he is smiling and saying love each other, I'm fine!

I say all these things because last year I promised Sharon that I was going to do something for the family in honor of Michael. One thing if God continues to allow me to serve you will find out about me is that I keep my promise. Well, I have been involved with a band in which John Pennington, facilities worker for the Children's Home is part of the group. As I watch them practice and seen that they want to give of themselves for the community I spoke to them about doing a benefit. They immediately agreed and wanted to know when. Well Sharon, I'm in need of you to assist me in this venture if possible. First I would like for you to run it by the family. Secondly, see if we can have it at the Eagles. Third, find out the cost for rental and fourth look at dates based on availability. I know, I know this is not blog material but Stally with tears in his eyes want to help and couldn't find two better people to share my "Gift of Love" with this evening. If we can pull it off, all proceeds would go to the family. I never did a benefit like this so give me your thoughts. I include you Chels because you've been my inspiration over the last several years along with sister Walterman.
Give me your thoughts and Sharon give me your email just in case Chels and sneak in on you at Meiner's!

Stally and the Principal are off to California!

Imagine this! Stally and the hip hop Principal flying out to Anaheim, California for an Educational Leadership Conference on March 16th. Does it make sense? NO! Why in the hell is he taking me to sunny California to attend conferences really designed for educational administrators? Does he know something I don't? HELL NO! All he talks about regarding the trip is the social life, renting a car when we get there and the strip. Hell, I would like to know about a little about the conference we're attending. The Children's Home is spending a lot of damn money on a person who is on his way out. I can't keep up with him. I used to when I was young but now I'll be like Walterman at Meiners when she threw up the white flag (nothing racial) (smile) Sharon or like Blazer at the Comet. That's right Chels, we want a rematch. Getting back to this trip. Look what it entails. Round trip non stop to California on March 16th, a stay at the Hilton Anaheim per Diem money courtesy of CHOC and Joe's Bar and sunny 80 degree weather and hot babes. If I don't make it back you'll know why. Doesn't my race car girl Dannica live in California Chels? I got the hots for her. Anyway, Chels where is my poster? Don't worry about it, I'll get one from my baby Dannica when we hook up on the coast. I guess you say I'm crazy as hell! If I'm not a alcoholic by now I will be hanging with Rob in Cali.

When I get back I'll let you know what I learned in the sessions if I can remember. Maybe I will meet with some theater folks, who knows. Just think! Your tax dollars at work. Please, please don't call the I-Team until I get back. I'll like to have some fun before I go to jail.
Holla!

Disclaimer/ Stally!/Moving to St. Bernard/ The Police

Ladies, you know I love you both so don't take offense to my blog. In fact let me put my disclaimer on this blog. This is adult material tonight. It is not to inflame one's emotion. It is not racially sensitive. It is not the intent of the writer to start a civil blog unrest like the race riot (the hell with the term civil unrest, let's call oit like it was, they were beating up white people) in the City of Cincinnati in 2001. It's Black History month, remember? Thanks for giving me the month with the less days. Appreciate it! I ain't stupid! (ebonics in action) Give the old black man a break! Let's reflect on the shit that black people said over the years that makes me shake my head in disbelief. The infamous Rodney King's statement to reporters "Can't we all just get along?" while his black ass walks in the Bank of Los Angeles depositing his 2 million dollar settlement check in the bank) Why didn't he give some of that money to the brothers? Guess what? Can't find him with a search warrant since he got paid. There's a saying in the black community of "who got paidand who got played", well, it looks like Rodney got paid and the comminity got played. Give me a break! The crook Don King's famouus quote, "Only in America" while holding an American flag as he prostitutes and bilks fighters out of millions. The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, our black leader speaking on family values while practicing infidelity inpregnating his Secretary while his wife was out of town. I now know what he means by the word "Rainbow Coalition", women of all colors. You remember old Jesse, the author who said our black youths, "I Am Somebody" That's what i learned at the all black high school I went to (Lincoln Heights H.S.) before the State of Ohio shut our ass down for having 213 school and code violations like teachers teaching out of the major (like my French teacher teaching Math) We didn't mind Ms. Ghee teacing anything because she was 23 and always sat on het desk to teach. What made that so awesome for the boys was she wore mini skirts. Could you imagine the male attendance in that class? It was get there on time to get the best seat or view, whatever you call it. She had all of our attention. Kimnda like a recent teacher at the Hope who said the way she got the rowdy students to behave was to show more cleavage. She said that they were all at awe. That's true, when we were at Jefferson Hall at Newport on the Levee while we were drinking she showed me how she did it, literally! I can see how her students were at awe. We doidn't learn a damn thing but we sure knew our colors.

Moving on! St. Bernard, everytime i say that word I think of the invisible fence. I mean if we made it to Mitchell and Vine it was almost like there was a damn invisible fence at that intersection. The cruisers would stop on a dime and turn north on Vine Street. I would be tired as hell when I got there but I was FREE! I remember the Dairy queen, Ross Field, the police station, the police station, the post office where they use to take my black ass and hit me with a billy club cushion by a phone book out of the trunk (check it out sometimes, same pain, no bruises) East Mitchell Avenue was funny as hell! On one side you would see whites and the other side you would see blacks. It was like looking at Africa and Australia in one view. Have you been to St. Bernard lately? You know that commercial, "I can't believe it's butter", I can't believe the number of blacks in St,. Bernard. No offense Sharon but section 8 is alive and well. Before I leave this world I'm going to move to St. Bernard on Vine Street, the site of my last running from the police and close to three establishments I know very well. Chili Time, Meiner's Cafe and the police station. Moving on! Bridgetown, Bridgetown Elemantary the school I took two ass whoopings from.

Last but not least, the love I have for both of you has no color boundaries. But I want you to know. "Some of my best friends are white" Take a drink and figure out what the hell Stally! is talking about. I am! Until then Holla!

Where in the hell have you been Stally?

Okay, okay! I know I've been absent from my blog. Hell, what you expect from a 53 year old black man? Even slaves got a few minutes out of the cotton fields. He! He! Ha! Ha! What's up y'all? No, I haven't in a nursing home but I sure feel like it. I have been traveling back and forth to Columbus, Ohio preparing for my next show. Also, I traveled to Lima, Ohio to visit the Crouse Hall, the venue for my play after Columbus, Ohio. I'm for real y'all! I'm the ghetto Tyler Perry of Cincinnati. In the mean time I had the opportunity to visit Stephanie at Christ hospital and the baby. Cooper Paul is his name. Even though he weighed in at 3 lbs 12 oz. he is one of the handsome male babies I've ever seen next to Dylan. Sharon., as you see I know how to keep Chels in my corner. The nurses and family call him mini Cooper. Since delivery he has been breathing on his own and is startuing to take a bottle. Amazing! I'm not a woman (even though the staff say I'm like one) sometimes I feel like one for whatever that means it must be hard for Stephnaie to get ready to leave the hospital without her baby with her because he will be in there for at least two weeks.

Well, it's about time to get the Blazer back in the saddle. You know the last time she wasn't able to allow us to drink her under the table. I got it! Let's do the care cab thing. That way the Chels won't have an excuse. I got another idea! Let's let her drive, drink her under the table then when it's time for her to go back to the burbs we can call a tow truck to tow her in while she's sprawled out all over the car. Get it? As you can see, I'm black! I'm sorry, I'm back!

Love y'all
Stally!

I Got It! A Plan To Curb Violence

I'm a scholar. In fact I got my P.H.D. from a school called Common Sense University. I was at the top of my class. I was recently asked by a local writer of a major newspaper what I felt was the answer to reducing violence in this city. I laughed out loud at her question. Not out of disrespect but out of disbelief that people around this city don't have a clue to our growing problem. As I paused to regroup my thoughts, I stared in space looking for a rocket scientist to come down and swoop me up because this is not scientific. I told Ms. Reporter the answer was EDUCATION and REPARATIONS. She paused as if she had a brain surge from my answer. That's right I said, EDUCATION and REPARATIONS.

Let's talk about EDUCATION. One who has knowledge has power. Power opens many doors of opportunity. If you don't believe it check out the education levels of most inmates in jail. Okay, okay, yeah Stally. It's because education wasn't a priority in the home. Probably. It's because they didn't have the best facilities. I don't buy it. Ask Oprah Winfrey. Now days most schools encourage parental involvement like Catholic schools, most private schools and some public schools. So we're able to diminsh those myths. Show me a student with a high school education and the opportunity to continue his or her education and I will show you a student who will probably attend a school of higher learning and increase their chances of being successful and decrease their chances of being involved in crimes and acts of violence as a perpetrator or victim. Obviously, they're exceptions to all rules. Here's the plan! There should be mandated schools in every state that allow students free education. These schools will be funded at the government level. Again, I mean every state! Give reparations (most of you know it as incentives) for state funded schools of higher learningto educate those based on financial and social need. Are you with me? Guess what? You get individuals who aspire to go to school off the streets in lieu of a valued education. Feel me? I talk to inmates at the Queen City Correctional Facility wher I volunteer as a community mentor. In my discussions a majority of inmates tell me that their interest in school faded when they didn't see opportunities. Interesting! Didn't see opportunities. Unfortunately, there appears to be more opportunities on the streets. They're paying reparations. Imagine that!

REPARATIONS. Reparations is a giving of satisfaction or payment for something done in the past or a good deed. Well, let's concentrate on the good deed. I got it! Let's give businesses incentives (I'm sorry, reparations) to hire those who have less, like education and skills. Hold on! Now tie in provisions to their employment such as going back to school, some of you know it as continuing education. While we're at it let's do some extensive job training (everybody needs that), some random drug testing and while we're at it some random background checks. Hmmm! Sounds like everybody wins. The businesses gets tax relief, the so-called hard to serve gets a legal paycheck, education, skills and just as important incresed self-esteem. The community gets reduced crime on the streets that will equate to decreased violence. Neighborhoods strive, especially those who are hard hit by crime waves. Economy flourishes and politicians can realistically hold press conferences and pat each other on the back for a job well done. The only industries who will take an immediate hit financially will be the funeral homes and the Coroner's office. Oh! I forgot to tell you, Common Sense University is free and open to the public. Hmmm! Maybe I will write a play titled "Education and Reparations" to be played out on the streets of Greater Cincinnati. Cost to see this production, FREE. Free to anyone willing to invest in the future of our children. As my late uncle T.J. Stenson said to me. "I'm not the biggest fool in the world today." I will accept comments as payment.

Let It Snow!!

I'm hyped for our first real snow. I felt bad for the kids on Christmas when we didn't get a major snow. Kinda takes the fun out of it. Anywho, I have a burning question to ask you in two parts. Hell, you might as well answer it because we'll be snowed in. If you had 10 people to spend a week with to fellowship and really get to know them. I mean really get to know who they are, their real side and what they really mean to humanity who would they be? Remember, don't include family members and close friends. Take your time, drink a beer or wine or just reflect. Secondly, what in your own definition (not Websters) is the meaning of love? No Blazer, I'm not on any drugs I'm just feeling melancholy. Walterman, how's Donna and herfamily? How's your family? Chels, how's your family? Enough questions!
Stally!

15 Funny and Not So Funny Things To Know About Me!

1) When I was young my nickname was "ping." No! I wasn't good at ping pong. I hated that name.

2) I always wanted to be a firefighter when I was growing up.

3) I have five brothers and one sister. My sister was spoiled rotten.

4) Believe it or not, I'm a big proponent of women issues and rights.

5) My phobia is being in an elevator all by myself.

6) My high school shut down for 212 school violations in 1970 and I went to Princeton High School for my senior year and graduated in 1971.

7) If you see the name Marcella in all of my plays it's in honor of a girl I dated in high school who died in a car accident. I loved her and will never forget her.

8) I give $ 1000.00 annually to the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Cincinnati to send kids with Sickle Cell to summer camp.

9) I got married in a purple polyester suit. I also made last call at the local bar on my wedding night. I was able to have Rose to sleep by 1:30 a.m. What a man! (Not proud of that now!)

10) When my first child is born one night I walked 5 miles to the stoore (King Kwik) to get some high ass price Similac and papers. I then had to log that damn 5 miles back in the dark only to get bitched out by Rose because the baby cried all the time I was gone.

11) I took an interest in writing plays at the ripe age of 39 years old and loving every minute.

12) My favorite singer is Barry Manilow.

13) While working at Altercrest when I was real young I took some male residents to the Rainbow Lake in Dayton, Ohio. We had got paid that day and I was in a very giving mood. One of the boys asked privately if I could pick up his girlfriend to take with us. Obviously I asked if her parents were around and he said that the parent wrote a note that she has. Being the dumb ass that I was I said okay. To make a long story short they told me that I can get a twelve pack and they would not tell. Well, several things happened. One, the girl wasn't the boys girlfriend. She was a friend of the friend of the Altercrest boys if you get my drift. Second, the note was fake and Third I was called on the carpet but didn't get fired. I wondered why she was making visit to the woods with different boys. After a while I couldn't tell the forest for the trees.

14) My first car was a Aqua color with a white hardtop 1968 Ford Torino with bucket seats.

15) I used to get run out of St. Bernard and Elmwood Place. I couldn't understand why when I kept Littrell's Liqour Store open in Elmwood Place and the Dairy Queen open in St Bernard.

My Reflections/Thoughts, Give Me Yours!

Chels, Sharon I'm at a crossraods again. Not with the Hope Academy. Chelsea pretty much helped me with that issue and well as Sharon. As you know I'm an advocate for healthy families. Almost everything I do civic has to do with addressing family issues and giving positive solutions. Not that Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday is here but I always am troubled mentally and emotionally when I pick up the paper and see where there's another young person either killed or killing someone. I know, I know, I can't save the world, not even Cincinnati, Ohio. However, I would like to speak out. Not the speaking out that will just bring cameras like many black so-called leaders do for self acclaim. I feel everytime I hear of a murder involving a young person I go back to what I spoke about at our "Gift of Love" banquet when I said "go get your child even if it meant your life" I was very serious. I'm asking you my dear sisters this question. Should I speak out to the community regarding this matter. I have a reporter friend who is with the Enquirer. I call her a reporter friend because she interviewed me when my granddaughter was murdered by her dad. I told her then that I wanted to use my voice to encourage men to refrain from "Shaken Baby Syndrome" of which my grandbaby Kayla died from in 2003. What I wanted to say in the enquirer would be to make a plea to parents to go get their children off the streets. Not just get them off the streets but find resources ie; educational, employment, job training etc to bring them whole. Am I'm out in left field or what? Let me know. I don't want to be a mortar but I want to NOT bury my head in the sand and count record breaking statistics at the end of the year. NOW a question that you may or may NOT feel comfortable answering because it's racially directed. Okay, here it is if you dare. In your opinion why is it that white teens even in the lower to lower middle class neighborhoods are NOT having the super increase of acts of violence like the black males. If you so chose to answer please do not sugar coat it. You're talking to Stally! I just need to know on the real side what is going on and how those who I real;ly trust believe.

On another note, it was a blast to have two of my best friends at the "Club" Friday. Sharon. I will pay you big money to give me your secrets of how you got the "Blazer" out that night. I must say that we need to have that moment again with her and Brian. Since we didn't have the opportunity to drink Chels Blazer "under the table" we will try Brian. It doesn't matter what Blazer we defeat (smile)

On a more serious note Sharon, I know the anniversary for Michael is coming up and I respect how the family choose to grieve. Just let me know if there's anything I can do. Love both of you and Holla!

Hey ya'll Stally's on Tour!!!

Far cry from my depressed state the other day but I got news for you! I'd made a conscious (when is the last time Walterman you seen Stally! make a decision consciously or soberly) As the Blazer says "Anywho" my next production is in Columbus, Ohio and is titled "The Baby's Daddy." It is a hoot! A romantic comedy about the lives of baby's daddies. You would love it! It has the most romantic ending. Even at my age I love romantic ending even though sometimes I can only write about it. It's going to be at the King Art's Complex 867 Mt. Vrenon Avenue on March 24th. On other developments we will have a interim Assistant Principal next week (Chels where are you?) It looks like it will be either Fulgham or Moorman. I was asked before they brought it to the overall staff and I told the Principal that I would rather be in front of the St. Bernard Police Station at 3:00 a.m. intoxicated with a picket sign saying as Rodney King said so eloquently "Can we all just get along at Meiners? " (smile Sharon) Blazer I heard you wanted to belly up against walterman and I? I heard that back in the day you used to drink folks under the table. What happened? Guess what? Chili Time is still opem and Mackzum's the "Home of the pop up karaoke machine" is stiil in compliance with the State of Ohio Board of Liquor Control. Sharon, we got to take the Chels over to Mackzum's. She'll love it! Country music at it's finest. Sharon's sister Patty gave me my last rites before we went in last year. She asked me if I remember the 60's. That's what scared the hell out of me. I remember running south on Vine past Roger Bacon trying to get to heaven. (Vine & Mitchell) That's when St. Bernard Police re-treated. It was sooo funny. It was like they had an invisible fence there. As you can see I'm back! Blazer come on out, we'll pay for a taxi ride home. Hell that would be probably $ 80.00 to the "burbs"

Holla back!

What I'm Feeling! (At the Hope!)

In all my years I'm experiencing a feeling that I never felt before. I'm feeling a sense of desertion. A feeling of being on a mountain or on a desert without any companion. A feeling of not getting the hint that my world around me was closing in. A sense of not getting the message until it was to late. A sense of not seeing the handwriting on the wall. Why have I didn't watch the developments? I say all this because those who I have worked so closely with are moving on and I feel that I'm left holding the damn bag. Kinda like a young teenager carrying a bag of dope across the street and getting caught while the supplier runs off free and I do five years in prison. On January 16th, interesting enough the day after Martin Luther King's birthday. You remember him, the one who spoke of freedom I will be a slave to a school that is short staffed, no Assistant Principals, an influx of students with all kinds of mental health issues and a future the length of a down trodding alcoholic. What I'm feeling is hopelessness, survival in a tunnel with no light. I'm confused! I want to walk away from the Hope but I feel like it's a drug to me and I'm addicted to it. Waiting for the next fix or should I say promise that things are going to get better. When am I going to get off this drug called contentment. It's one hell of a drug to kick it's habit. No I'm not the only one addicted but I'm the one that will be left holding the blow while others leave for treatment (another job). I feel like I'm in the welfare line waiting to get that check and when I get to the front of the line they tell me that they're closing and come back tomorrow. I look down the list, Walterman, Blazer, Planicka, Hempel, van Gilse, Kirkland, Barker, Lucas. What horoscope are they reading? I must be looking inthe wrong damn paper. It's evident that change of employment is needed. Walterman probably said it best when she said that she didn't feel that she was making a significant difference with the students. I need help in the form of advice. What would you do if you been at the same place for 21 years and the ship is again turbulent but hasn't sunk? Do you ride the tide to retirement or do you jump ship? Sounds like I'm getting ready to jump off the deep in? Nah! Just between a rock and a hard place. Holla back! Soon!!

I'm Back!!

What a virtual tour! This trip with family was probably the most interesting and eye opening of recent years. We had a great trip with the grandbaby considering the distance traveled. The assistance of coloring books, juice, music and a very comfortable seat does wonders. Rose was so helpful in being the world renown backseat driver. She is notorious of knowing every exit, mileage point and direction when she feels I'm going wrong. From this point on she will be known ad DW (Da' wife) Anywho, Rose, relatives and I went over to Tulane University in downtown New Orleans to watch her female cousin who played basketball there have her jersey retired. While riding on Interstate 10 going through New Orleans I witnessed the aftermath of Katrina a year later. I couldn't believe that a year later there are parts of the city that is still deplorable. There is a area call the ninth Parish that poor blacks, whites and mexican resided that looked like a war zone. Then I observed areas like the downtown commercial district and French Quarters that was striving as if nothing happened. That shit made me sick to my stomach. The fact that many people couldn't move back because the political assholes and the government with their bullshit when it comes to allocating money and embezzlement. I can tell you this, the television accounts don't do you justice to what I really saw one year later. The New Year only brings a prospective to me of being better and taking care of myself and protecting and loving family. DW really loves me. She told me that after coming back from her relatives. I asked her what made her say that so passionately and she said that her sister told her that she better hold on to that good man. I promised that I didn't pay her sister off. I really love her too! I tell her that more times than she tells me so I'm ahead in the love catergory. School starts tomorrow and I'm not feeling it. Our Assistance Principal John has resigned to take another position and with the termination of our other Assistant Principal we are up the creek without a paddle. His last day is the 12th of January. I haven't got the message yet. Sharon saw the handwriting on the wall and left, others leaving for bigger and better things and I'm the only fool in town who is hanging around until the building falls. Well, I guess I better retire before I pass out from going back to Hope "depression."