R.I.P. Maya Angelou

A great quote from an incredible mind and a phenomenal woman.

Be grateful in life and live it every single day because you never know when it may be your last day.

Have a great Thursday.

Memorial Day!

'Merica!

Wishing all of you a Happy Memorial Day and a thank you to all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms here in the United States of America.

Thank You.

“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” 

-Minot J. Savage

Lyrical Spiritual 30

What if I told you in person that your day can be great?

Would you believe or push me to side like an unwashed dinner plate?

In this world if it bleeds, then it leads on the TV.

Yet all the bandaging and wrapping go unseen.

As a generation, we're all consumed by negativity lurking around the corners.

Deception, crime, violence mixed with the occasional suing money loaners.

It can be tough finding the light bulb in a pitch black room.

With your fingertips lurking towards it as the warmness consumes you.

Constantly in battle against overwhelming odds.

Fighting in a Mayweather prize fight as the ultimate underdog.

Taking haymakers to gut, uppercuts to the grill.

Yet you continue on towards grasping your next meal.

You've got heart, kid. That's one part of the combo.

You also need a strong spine to handle the weight of the world.

Extra strength needed when fighting for your little girl.

The power of those two elements combined,

Can send a shockwave throughout the borrows of mankind.

Your Day Can Be Great.

Just got to put the work in to add 'Great' to it.

The chaos will try to deepthroat you,

Kindly do a shuffle to the side.

Congrats, you survived.

Now get out there and enjoy this moment that you thrive.

Cheers!

Push Those Humps To The Limit. Then Keep Humping.

Well someone is happy for Hump Day!!

Allo Hello party people! As we all roll over to turn on our smartphones, rip the newest day off our calendar or turn on the telly as the alarm continuously goes off in the background...guess what day it is? Guess what day it is?? It's Hump Day.

Whoop! Whoop!

Personally, I'm feeling a bit shaken not stirred upon sunrise; minus the martini sadly. Nah, the shakiness involves a little bit of futbol (Soccer) from the previous evening...okay maybe not a little...a double-header in fact lol. Fortunate to grab two big wins but man oh man! were they some physical match-ups out on the pitch! Especially during the 2nd round of action....but hey winning heals everything right?

Tell that to my lower body. Ow...

One thing I did notice is that I feel like I evolved in some sort of way. Not like a Bulbasaur eating some Rare Candy and evolving into a Ivysaur type of evolving...although that would be cool! Ever since I dedicated myself to getting back into the gym and pushing myself and my limits, I honestly see the results more and more of my work each day. And they are on full display when I hit the field come the opening whistle, I just feel more awesome physically along with the mental and spiritual sides of myself.

But I'm not yet.

For I have not reached the pinnacles that I want to reach just quite yet. 

So that's what I want you do on Hump Day.

Like Salt n' Pepa would said...Ahh! Push It! Push It Real Good!!

And on that note...this week's quotable trio coming at ya!

"I'm pushing it. (Push!) I'm pushing it. (Push!) I'm pushing it. (Push!) I gotta...Push It To The Limit."

-Rick Ross

"The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today."

-Les Brown

"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."

-Bruce Lee

Viva La Hump Day!

(Kazie's Daily Musical: "Push It" by Salt N' Pepa)

What Is This In My Mouth? (On Tap 125)

Still have no idea what this is...but it was good!

Allo Hello boys and girls, ladies and lads! It is Monday and I got to say I'm feeling pretty good starting a new week...and also stuffed. Very, very stuffed.

You're welcome stomach and/or liver.

My stuffiness is the conclusion of a Saturday afternoon mini-brew tour around the city with my girlfriend and bud which included a peanut butter oatmeal porter not named Sweet Baby Jesus!, some damn good IPA's from Isley Brewing and Triple Crossing Brewery and a very entertaining UNO tournament between the three of us. The misses won because she cheats; there is no way she could have had all those Draw Two's and Reds going her way haha. I'll settle for 2nd I suppose...

Besides checking and tasting local brews over the weekend, I was introduced to the Lebanese Food Festival for the first time ever! Taste Buds Achievement Unlocked! My first impression...Damn! There is a lot of people at the festival!! And they all love their Lebanese Food.

And I understand why now.

I had some shish kebabs, Lebanese rice and meats, cheese pies, sambouseks and other dishes and sides that I can't pronounce correctly plus their Lebanese beer called Almaza which all the above was very, very tasty and fulfilling. If you're ever in the area while the Lebanese Food Festival is in town, I recommend you to come on down and check it out.

Now as for you Monday. You may have an American Bacon Cheeseburger and French Fries awaiting me for lunch but I'm (Burp!) Ready for you.

Gah...I'm having Lebanese withdrawals already...Damn It!

Have A Great Monday Peoples. We all are blessed to see another day in this crazy world. Now let's go out there and make something out of it.

(Even on Full Stomach...)

"I just like having fun. And, you know, sometimes I just like to present myself in that fun energy."

-Katy Perry

(Kazie's Daily Musical: "Part Of Me" by Katy Perry)

Lyrical Spiritual 29

Closer to the edge, clawing my way to the top.

Running like Indiana Jones towards a lost gem.

My body is screaming fatigue, the mind is leaking doubt.

Yet my heart screams fuck 'em both as we continue to run through the ropes.

Recognize my life.

Ridicule my fight.

Words from the City of Angels to your computer screens.

Fighting towards your own success and personal dreams.

You want that one chance, you want that one shot.

Searching furiously through the scraps and ruins for that golden key.

People questioning why is the rat searching for unknown cheese?

As life sets traps to derail while laughing with dark glee.

The city will eat you alive.

Slums will swallow you whole.

What will you do...become life's next meal?

Or rip life a new asshole?

Striving or surviving.

Option A or Option B.

Or maybe write in an Option C.

A chemical nightmare burning the opposition for all to see.

Started as a bantamweight.

Now working as a heavyweight.

What are you willing to work towards making your name heard in every state?

No heart, no pulse, no fire, no chance to survive on the record.

I have all the above as I continue to wreck it.

Whatever it is you do, don't go 100; Increase to 140.

Put that weight on your back and break through like a wrecking ball.

Test yourself. You can always go a bit further.

You can always learn another equation.

You can always push yourself to another level.

Shit does get rough in this hazardous world.

Rise like Kobe draining a dagger from the hardwood floor.

Recognize my life, Ridicule my fight.

We all start with nothing but we have a choice:

Either be a nothing or fight towards making something. 

Cheers.

The Daily: The Richmond Beatdown.

That. Was. Fun.

Allo Hello sirs and madams. It's Thursday here in the city and upon waking up this morning I feel as if I just was at Siegel Center cheering on your Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University!

GO RAMS!!!

Yet I was not at the Stu but I was at Sports Backers Stadium where VCU Men's and Women's Soccer play but not for collegiate reasons. Oh no...on this night it was the first game deemed now as 'The Richmond Derby' between RVA FC and the Richmond Kickers.

And well...there really wasn't much of a contest; not even close. The Kickers outplayed and outwitted RVA FC by a final score of 6-1 which made all the Kickers fans (including myself) in attendance laugh hysterically and thank our players for giving us a great performance in the 2nd round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. You know it was a great time when the players come up and thank you for the support while laughing at our chants during the 90' and after the final whistle.

Good times, Good times.

I think RVA FC's head coach, Grover Gibson, learned a valuable lesson on the night:

Don't start no stuff, won't be no stuff.

(Especially with your neighbors lol.)

Now to make some warm tea because my vocal chords need a wake-up call pronto after all that chanting for 90+ minutes. Have a great Thursday peoples!

"As a soccer player, I wanted an FA Cup winner's medal. As an actor you want an Oscar. As a chef it's three-Michelin's stars, there's no greater than that. So pushing yourself to the extreme creates a lot of pressure and a lot of excitement."

-Gordon Ramsay

(Kazie's Daily Musical: "Ya Mama (Moguai Remix)" by Fatboy Slim)

Humping Upon The Horizon

We got some humping to do upon sunrise.

Allo Hello ladies and gentlemen and I bid you good cheer as Hump Day has arrived! Can I get a whoop whoop!?

Whoop! Whoop!

I'm feeling refreshed, refueled and re-energized thanks to having a day off from the usual bump and grind of my work week. Not gonna lie...it was weird being outside in the sun at 10 in the morning on a Tuesday; I could get use to this being a weekly occurrence though haha. A day to calm my body down while playing some GTA Online with 'The High Life' DLC ironically coming out so that burned a few...alright maybe...a couple hours satisfying my inner gaming nerd and raging psychopath.

But that was yesterday; even though it was a great day as I rip the page off my calendar to reveal that today is Hump Day! You have successfully made it to the mid-point of the week which is good achievement. Pushing through the days filled with trials and tribulations along with the occasional stressor here and there. 

Yet, Here You Stand.

Throughout all that has aimed at your direction to take you down, damage you, maim you or even take you out. Yet you are still here ready to work and ready to fight for what you want out of life. And that sirs and madams, is the difference between good and great. All of you are good to have come this far on your journey but are you will take a few more licks and push yourself beyond your breaking point in order to be great?

I believe that everyone has what it takes to be great.

Today's Question: Do YOU Believe you have what it takes to be great?

(If you say Yes, get out there and show it.)

And now here's this week's Quotable Trio!

"I've always loved a challenge."

-Lana Turner

"You are who you are. What you become is up to you and your actions."

-Kazie

"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us."

-Wilma Rudolph

Viva La Hump Day!

(Kazie's Daily Musical: "Forbidden Paradise" by DJ Tiësto)

Cinderella Man (On Tap 124)

Rise And Shine Peoples. There is some awesomeness to attend to.

Allo Hello everybody! It is Monday and I know some of you just want to crawl back into those sheets and sleep the day away but COME ON MAN! No seriously...you need to get up. Do you really want your boss to be saying 'Step To My Office'?

Don't forget to clock in!

I'm feeling..well...if I was an iPhone battery it would be around 50% and depleting currently after a productive weekend but here I stand to see another Monday in the workings. Enjoyed a little futbol over the weekend with Championship Sunday which I must give NBC a GIGANTIC round of applause for showing all 10 BPL games simultaneously. Even though Liverpool came up short hoisting up the trophy this season at least the following happened:

A) Man City won some silverware.

B) Liverpool landed 2nd place!

C) Arsenal didn't win.

D) Everton didn't win.

E) All the Above.

Also...GRADUATION! Saw quite a few of my friends finally walk across that stage and receive their diplomas over the weekend and I'm very proud of everyone and everybody. I know how difficult it can be going through the years but I also know the feeling when you walk on that stage and the excitement of FINALLY making it to the top! Congrats to all of the grads and good luck in your future careers!

Other than that...Cinderella Man is pumping through my headphones and my battery is charging at a very alarming rate! Also, the world may be pretty sad but today's is going to be a pretty great day.

"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

-Epictetus

(Kazie's Daily Musical: "Cinderella Man" by Eminem)

The Daily: Seis De Mayo.

They told me to find my beach. Found It.

Allo Hello party people! It's been a little while since I've had an update to the blog but I finally had a little bit of free time to log back in and tap tap tappa! on the keyboard in the form of entry.

So what's happening?? Well simply put: working, lifting, tripping and soccer...-ing. And with all those three things happening in one day at time, it's amazing if I can even hit the log in button on Twitter after a crazy day. Yet somehow I managed to this morning...maybe I'm finally getting use to this haha.

From beach trips to daily visits to the soccer fields and all in between...it's pretty nice to finally have some chill time for a couple of minutes; okay maybe seconds because duty calls yet again.

Everything else on my side of the spectrum seems to be going in the right direction currently though so self high-five for that! Especially after Cinco De Mayo celebrations with soccer and margaritas that day.

Yeah...that was very fitting for the fifth lol.

Wishing all of you a Happy Sies De Mayo even though it's not really a holiday but I feel the need to spice up Tuesday a bit.

Now get out of bed an enjoy it but first make sure you're all cleaned up and ready to go!

No seriously...go take a shower!

"There is no advertisment as powerful as a positive reputation traveling fast."

-Brian Koslow

(Kazie's Daily Musical: "Ali In The Jungle" by The Hours)