RyE On Help

With the tragic events in Haiti and the most recent events in Chile (my prayers still go out to all my Haitian and Chilean friends and their families) it seems like a lot of people are in need of help.

Recently I had a pretty bad family emergency. I was shell shocked and I knew the severity of what could be. I was tasked to notify the rest of the family. At the same time I had some immediate family issues that also needed to be addressed. I didn't really think much of anything except to do one task at a time. So as I started to notify my family, I realized I needed to step away from all this.

I called the one that is always there to listen to me when I need to vent. We got some lunch and as I am telling her everything I start to feel this overwhelming cloud start to hover over me. We went back to her place and as I sat on her couch and day light turned to night I just broke down. I haven't broken down like that in Lord knows how long. Recent events along with things from when I was 5 came back and it just wouldn't stop. A side of me jumped out of my body and wanted to slap me and shake me to keep it together. But it didn't happen. I was an emotional wreck and everything just wanted to come out. It was as if my body needed an emotional cleansing.

So just like everyone else, and I hardly ever say this but, I too was in need of help. Call it "walls" or "defense mechanisms" but I just never wanted to ask for help. When I was younger I was what you call a "sickly" kid. Had allergies to everything and asthma. (Editors note: add in the fact that I was like 89 lbs soaking wet and big 4 eyed glasses and it made the nerd cypher complete)

During that time I was always looked at as "weak" and in need of assistance from others. I took daily pills and took my nebulizer three times a day. It didn't really bother me at the time although I saw a world out there I was missing being couped up in the house.

Time went on and I overcame or outgrew these allergies and the asthma subsided with my involvement in sports. Suddenly I became "normal" and no longer felt this burden of weakness that has shadowed me in my childhood. I was close to being a teenager and had my first girlfriend, and started doing all types of sports. I sought out various little jobs that could get me money because what I saw around me was that if you got the girls, could play ball, and have money well...you were the shit.

And with all that I felt empowered! At the same time I vowed to never go back to being that sickly kid before. I made my mind think that medicine, and asking for help was considered weak.

Time would go on and this point I felt like the rock to all my friends and family. You had a problem? I had a solution for it or at least offered an ear to listen. You needed money? I got you. If you needed anything....I was there. Looking back this is the part where I realized I was creating a mindset that would come back and haunt me. See while I was so busy making sure I could be the provider, the helper, the go to guy, I never found an outlet to express my needs.

I internalized it, chopped it up an let it marinate till it ran its course. This lead to many many anger issues. And after 24 years of internalizing it came back to bite me. Ulcers, stress, hair falling out, and ultimately UC.

Funny how life is kind of full circle. I vowed myself never to go back to being on medication and being sick and yet all the things I overcame came back to me in the worst way. I'm back on medication and need to be checked out in a quarterly fashion.

Although this time I'm a bit wiser than when I was younger. I'm still learning that it's ok to ask for help. It's not about looking weak its about being human and you can't do everything.

So to all my friends and family who have always been there for me. As much as I can, I will still always be there for you and I thank you for being there for me...even when I was too stubborn to reach out.

One

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RyE on You're the Best

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RyE On Being Not So Subtle

Dear Friend

I remember you telling me two things.

1. You Love John Mayer
2. You Love being a self pro-claimed asshole

To quote Mr. Mayer

""I hate to come off like an a--hole ever, and thank you guys for believing that I am not an a--hole," he told the crowd. "Never, ever in my entire life did I ever think that it would be a good idea to be an a--hole. But you know what? There's plenty of a--holes who think the same thing, so I have to thank you." "

Take it how you want it

-ONE

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RyE On Being In Love...

In love with...

...with Hip Hop

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RyE On Life after College

In June 2010 I'll have my 5 year reunion.

I guess reunions have a much better purpose before the days of the internet where you can "catch up" with all your old buddies via facebook, myspace, email, linkedin or whatever else social networking site is out there.

I have a love/hate relationship with my college years. They were not the best years of my life but I wouldn't call them my worse either. I think living through it I was in a very blah mood and figured I just need to do my time so to speak and get the fuck back to NYC. But as the years starting coming to an end and the reality of being a "grown up" was more apparent the more I embraced my time in college. And post college years I look back and really did come to appreciate my time there. Not sure if I would do it again but...def a time in my life I will never forget.

I relaxed more and enjoyed the company of all those who I could say walked down Mulberry Street and up the commons. It's been 4 years since I last stepped foot on campus. Through emails and friends I know the campus is completely different from when I was there in such a short amount of time.

I must say that although I've tried to do my best to see all of my friends they are all scattered around this country doing their thing and time passes way too fast. I see the FB statuses and the newly engaged and mom/pops that I use to call classmates. I'm proud of all you guys.

As Rev Pilarz said "There are no friendships like Scranton friendships, because Scranton Friendships don't stop."

He was right when he said we would be at each others weddings, we would be there to be God Parents of each others children, and we will be there when we are old and grey looking back and saying it all happened on Mulberry Street.

So to the class of 2005 I'd like to say...

• To Goodfellaz which is now a club?!
• To $1 slice pizza's
• To Fat Bitches and Fat Bastards
• To Cockeyes and Oscars
• To Snow Kegs
• To St. Patty's Day Parade

.... I'll see you in June!

P.S Not sure how many of you will be able to see this but this is of a great friend of mine who I remember having late night conversations on her stoop about following her dreams and singing for everyone to hear. You Rock Jennie!

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RyE on Saints

Congrats to the New Orleans Saint's for their first Superbowl Championship in their franchise history.

Despite my New York love I very much wanted this team to go all the way from the beginning of the season. That city has gone through so much since Katrina. They have battled through adversity and really came together this year to bring the city some hope. The underdogs with the heart of America behind them. Although I hardy doubt you could call them underdogs as they tried for perfection during the season it was apparent that this team was a team not to be overlooked.

And though they came up short they still won it in the end. And the most deserving award of MVP was given to their captain. The man at the core of the team: Drew Brees.

This guy is a class act all around. I respect everything about him. How he stayed with the organization to help rebuild the city. To all his philanthropic endeavors.

None more touching than this story:



So congrats to the NO Saints. Congrats to the city of New Orleans. And Congrats to Drew Brees.

You inspired me.

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RyE on The King of NY

I ain't got a problem this with....



And what's all the chit chat about? The line "It's no Biggie...I'm just the King now"

First let me say I don't claim to know what Jay is talking about but all those people saying hes wack or disrespectful to BIG and all that nonsense....c'mon now. It's 2010 people stop losing sleep over people you don't know. I'm going to say this cause I feel people just like to talk negative for no reason. And you can stay on your negative tip and call me a groupie, say I'm on Jay's jock whatever. This is Hip Hop. From day one your rhymes has always been about repping your town/crew and bigging yourself up (no pun intended). Its a highly competitive landscape where the best lyrical skills take the "throne".

BIG has been called The King of NY simply because well, he self appointed himself the King of NY by being called the Black Frank White (If you don't get that reference you have no business commenting on this). His untimely death also propelled him to be one of the Greatest of all time. Now please before you get your panties in a bunch I am in NO WAY discrediting Big and his skills. That man was talented and ahead of his time. I respect everything he has done and think that almost every verse he laid on a track and every song is so intricate and well done that had he lived I bet no one could even touch him.

But the reality is that he died over 12 years ago. His place in history is already cemented. You will always have great "leaders," great "kings," but no one holds it forever. I'm sure if you ask people in today's generation they would say Lebron or Kobe is better than Jordan. Federer is better than Agassi or Sampras. Time passes, the greats and heros of yesterday get replaced. Its natural evolution.

Now getting back to Jay. So I am going to break this down from the view point of all the babblers that feel he disrespected BIG and is calling himself the King. If you look at his body of work from his early raps Jay has never been one to downplay his abilities or make himself look like he doesn't deserve to be counted as one of the best that's ever picked up a mic (Check the first verse of Can't Knock The Hustle). If anything the one thing he never self proclaimed was the King of NY title because that was sacred ground held by the fallen Biggie. Yet a bunch of newcomers or even solid rappers like Nas can easily say it and claim it. Yet no one says shit because they don't have the critical acclaim or status that Jay has. Nas never "sold out" though that Def Jam deal and "You owe me" track seems a little sell out ish right? ;) People hate on successful people period.

If he wants it man I ain't mad at him. Take the thrown and claim it yours. There is only so many ways you can say I'm the best. He slapped LL (one of my all time fav's) with the G.O.A.T line "I'm already the GOAT next stop is the billy." So if Jay wants to be witty with his rhyme to say hes the King and pay homage to Big why not.

I really don't see him being disrespectful because he's always put BIG in his rhymes to pay homage to his boy. He always respected Big's legacy even with his line "If I ain't better than Big I'm the closest one." So now one line all of a sudden makes him the devil? You all are mad sensitive.

Consistently he has always been lyrically hot. Even the songs where I was like huh? or "damn Hov.. that was wack!" after a few more listens and breaking down his cypher I realized just how well laced his lyrics were. Outside of his lyrical skills he outsmarted the rap game by his business deals. President of Def Jam, business cut throat mentality to take out your business partners to get sole ownership of the Roc AND get your masters in one swift move? Hate it or love it but that's a genius chess business move. You take all that into consideration + his ability to still pop #1 albums year after year (even after his "retirement") and how can you discredit his belief that he is the King. Name one rapper in the game that has accomplished all that he has done both in and outside of the rap scene.

Your petty arguments are as bad as Cam calling him out for wearing chancletas in the Bahamas. LOL I mean really what do you want him to wear? Timbs? That's not street that just stupid. Stop being so stuck in one lane haters.


Now that I got that off my chest. Let me give you my POV on how I took his whole VERSE and not one line. First off the song is all about Kings. Snoop claiming to be the King of the West I would think would have all the Tupac lovers in a tissy. But before I digress let me get back to the King line. Jay mentioned almost all the greats in his verse and gave each one a little lyrical nod by how he placed their name in the song. If you ask me he gave Big the biggest compliment by associating the "King" line with him.

Again I don't know what he's actually saying but its always implicate enough to be taken all the way, but vague enough that he doesn't have to take responsibility for it. There's so many hot lines in this song I don't know if they all just passed over your head so let me help you out:

Hol' up, I wanna rock right now
My name is Hov and I came to shake the town
Yeah, ya boy's internationally known
But I'm from the hood, got a pocket full of stones (STOOOOONES)
I used to cop +Rob Base,+ turn it into +EZ Rock+
Just to stay +Doug E. Fresh+, all that shit to easy rock
Used to +Chef Raekwon+, give fiends a +Ghostface+
Y'all know my +Forte+, I just might catch a dope case
UGHHHHHHHH!!! I +Mastered+ the +P+
with connects in the Midwest, so I'm +Heavy+ in the +D+
UGHHHHHHHH!!! Ya boy still +Snoop+ around
Since a pup, I been +Kurupt+ and I fuck with +Tha Dogg Pound+
UGHH!! Roc Nation is the gang now
Some dope lyrics is the only thing I slang now
+I Get the Job Done+, I put the +Kane+ down
It's no +Biggie+ - heh, I'm just a king now

He took a whole cocaine/dope metaphor and honored the kings of each region. If you ask me I think the hottest line is really a toss up btw "I use to cop rob base turn it into easy rock just to stay Doug E Fresh" or "Ya'll know my forte I just might catch a dope case."

I co-sign this....but please prove me wrong.

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RyE On Ted Mosby

I Am Ted Mosby....

If you didn't know who Ted Mosby is well let me tell you....hes is NOT a Jerk (Click) lol

I don't know how many of you watch the show "How I Met Your Mother" but it is one of my favorite shows to watch. (Cheap Plug: Tune in Monday's on CBS at 8:00 PM EST. Check local listings :P )

If you couldn't guess, the show is all about how Ted meets the woman who would eventually be the mother of his childern. It is a show told in a narrative format where Ted is talking to his teenage kids about the stories of his early adult life.

I don't think there's been a 30 min sitcom like this since the heydays of NBC's must see TV with Friends & Seinfeld. And though this show is sometimes retardedly stupid in the antics it is so well written. The show after all always has to tie in the fact that there needs to be a history to the stories. So its like knowing the ending before the story began and you go back in time to piece it altogether.

Another great thing about this show is that it tells the world all the everyday things we know but never say. If you don't know what I mean see below for some unsaid "truths"

The "Bro Code"



Haven't we just seen this on Facebook??



AND MY FAVORITE!




AAAANYWAY let me stop plugging the awesomeness of this show. As I was saying... I am Ted Mosby.

Ted is your typical guy trying to find the love of his life. He's a hopeless romantic and thinks every girl he meets is "the one." The fun part of watching his story is finding all the "wrong ones" first. You don't feel bad either because you know he ends up meeting his "one." And though it's him telling the story and he is the main character so to speak, he is often overshadowed by his friends (namely Barney) in the escapades that he tells.

As corny as this sounds I definitely feel the connection there. When I think of all the fun times in my life its generally my friends who are the main source of the story and the ones doing the stupid funny shit that makes you remember. Not that I don't have my fair share too but for the most part I sit back and observe.

Ted plays the wingman on many occasions to Barney and let me tell you after this summer....I know that feeling ALL too well. Just like the Bro Codes states...you never leave a bro behind! (ugh...no matter how bad it gets...shivers)

But beyond all that I too am looking for "the one." I hardly ever speak about my love life nor do I ever really talk about who I have dated or what I look for in a woman. So consider this is a momentary opening of the vault that I so securely lock.

Being raised old school by my grandparents I saw the love that they shared with 50+ years of marriage. To me a woman was to be respected. You never treated a woman inferior to you but as your equal. Though my Lola always took care of the cooking and cleaning as she was a stay at home mom she never once was treated as anything but a queen by my Lolo. He made sure that while he took care of providing for the family that all decisions and all things in the marriage were approved by her as well. And she in turn never made him feel like he was any less of a man because she took care of him like a woman should.

To me that is what I am searching for. I see those same attributes in my mother. So I never dated anyone for the sake of dating. I never tried to get with a girl just to "get with a girl" if you know what I mean. And yes that means I don't just go around trying to play just the tip (lmao) with as many girls as I can. So maybe that's odd to hear from a dude but that's just how I was raised.

When I meet someone and there is interest I want to know that they will fit my needs for a wife/mother of my children. I guess being on the other side of my 20's its a little more common to want to find that but honestly that's just how I've always been. I am a bit of a marathon dater. I have girlfriends for years hoping they turn out to be the one I can settle with. In this day in age its hard to find a woman who can take it back to that old school way of being able to take care of a man while not feeling like shes tearing the foundation of feminists built in the last 30 so years. Don't get me wrong I love a woman who can take care of herself but there's something magical about the old way of being in a relationship.

A pretty girl with a pretty smile. Fun, loving, athletic, outgoing, and intelligent. Not too hard right? Someone who complements me. I haven't found her yet but one day I'd like to be able to sit back with my future kids and tell them the story of how I met their mother.

:)

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RyE on....

Whats up blog world....

Its me your boy Rye. I've been gone for a minute and I know I haven't really contributed much to this ol blog of mine.

Alot of things have gone down in the first month of 2010. Work is work and that hasn't seemed to change since I last left it in 09. It sucks...terribly.

Everything else though is kinda sorta looking on the up and up. I am changing my life for the better. I am tired of talking and complaining about making change in my life.

It is time I set forth and make things happen. There is only so much you can control in life and for the things I cannot I am going to have to learn to let it go. But with the things I can control I will change for the better.

So take a ride with me and come see where this adventure will take me...I promise it will be fun!

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