How a few mpg’s could save you $1500 a year

I’m currently in the market for a new, and by new I mean used, car and as I couldn’t sleep past 7 this Sunday morning, my mind seemed keen to do some calculating. Thanks Android phone for making sure everything I need in life is within arms reach. Google feel free to give me some free stuff for the plug.

So, a car I have my eye on is a fun to drive Audi with low miles for the year, averaging about 29 mpg’s; miles per gallon for the layman. I got to thinking, what’s the driving range in a car like that? So we do the math, 29mpg x 17.4(tank capacity), and we come up with the number of 504.6. That’s almost a full round trip to Tallahassee and back from Atlanta (seminole alumni) #GoNoles. Apologies for the hashtag.

But what does that number mean to my wallet? Let’s divide that driving range by the dollar amount it takes to fill up a tank. In this case, that number will be $4(1 gallon premium) x 17.4, equaling $69.6. We’ll now divide the total mile range by that cost

504.6 / 69.6 = 7.25 mi/$

This number represents the amount of miles I can get per dollar spent. Not too shabby I think. Now we can take this number, and multiply it by the average miles driven a day/month/year. It’s been a busy year for me, so I’m going to say I’ve driven 15,000 over the past 12 months.

15,000 / 7.25 = $2,069, or $173/mo

Good times, but that’s for a car getting about 29 mpg highway. As many good memories that we’ve had, my current Izuzu Rodeo isn’t anywhere near that. I’m sad to say she’s averaging more like 15 mpg highway. Please don’t stone me green peace people; the car was high school gift many moons ago. Little say in the matter. *awkward pause* Let’s use the formula again for my current SUV from start to finish to give you an idea of how to find this information yourself.

**if you don’t know how to find your current highway mpg, divide the max miles you can drive on a full tank, by the tank capacity, in my case

300 mi / 20 gl tank = 15 mpg <—- This is bad. Like, no soup for you, wave your finger in someone’s face bad.

$3.54(Reg) x 20gl = $70.8

300mi / $70.8 = 4.23mi/$

15,000mi / 4.23 = $3547 or $295/mo

This explains why my savings account hasn’t been growing as quickly as I’d like!  So what’s the moral of the story you ask? After all this you still don’t get it?? If your petrol costs are as abysmal as mine, perhaps it’s time to look for a more efficient means of transportation. I understand well the financial argument for staying with what you have, but given what I’ve found here today, you may not be saving as much money as you think. Food for thought.

Happy Driving

Shoes

Shoes.

Shoes are to a bboy as a sword is to a warrior.

Being caught without the right ones is simply unacceptable. Don’t even bother mimicking Maximus’ challenge to the crowd, “Are you not entertained!?”, because if you’re not laced up with the proper gear, you’ll know the answer to the question. In college and even out I had the mentality that no matter where I was, I needed to be able to smash the ‘break only if necessary glass’ and, well break. Pardon my pun but it is true. These shoes, nay even this blog would never have come to be if not for (my forgetting of) this rule. This is all a result of a last-ditch effort to buy a pair of kicks just before a bboy jam in Japan. Worked like a charm, but I later realized that no matter how much I wanted them to, these size 10′s were just not my size.

Alas, good friends, we have had a good run.

Farewell

Hello

Been a while.

Let’s say I took a sabbatical from blogging to get some more life points.  Over the past months I feel I’ve gotten a bit more intentional about pursuing my hobbies and honing skills, while my ability to focus on one thing at a time has diminished.

All in all, I’m going to be posting more of my pictures on the site.  For now, I’m putting up a few from a shoot some months back.  Thanks to Cadence for the invite and Ileana for modeling

Hmmmmm

This isn’t an entry about adoption.

Of course, now having said that you are all thinking, “I bet this entry is going to be about adoption.”

Lol.

But no, it really isn’t.

Although I have thought about it much in the past.  To be honest, it always scared me a little bit.  Not the act of adopting or taking care of child who isn’t biologically my own.  No, I was always a little bit afraid that I wouldn’t be able to love the little boy or girl with every fiber of my existence, the way he or she should be loved.  I just didn’t know.

You look at animals and the entire birthing process and you realize that while genetically things are quite similar, everything else is unique.  Many mammals have to be up and running in minutes in the wild after birth, mother and offspring.  But humans have a much slower process don’t we?  9 months carrying for instance.  During that time, if the coming child isn’t the number 1 thing on your mind, it is certainly the 2nd or 3rd.  There is a proverb of sorts that reads, “A woman becomes a mother when the child is conceived, but a man becomes a father when the child is born.”  There is probably some truth in this, but both mother and father are somewhat mentally and emotionally prepared when the child finally does come.

My apprehension was that if I didn’t daily see the child growing in the womb of my wife, I might not feel like he or she was my very own.  But this past week, some of the things I saw changed the way I see and feel about this.  I spent the past few days volunteering with an organization called ‘Lighthouse Family Retreat’.  Families afflicted with childhood cancer were present, and one family in particular made a continuous, profound impact on me.

My Famliy!

With a Brady Bunch size the 7 children had either been born from the married couple or from a separate marriage.  Some had dark hair, some dusty brown, and some blond!  But even before I was told they were one family, I saw and felt a nearly tangible family bond.  In a day where bigotry and racial tension still run high, I absolutely loved seeing this family of different colors loving one another.  I was caught off guard how quickly I viewed them as my own family!  I realized that this was a small snapshot of God’s family, one that I am a part of.  He has put his name on all of us and we are all equally loved before him.  Through this family, and other bi-racial and single-race families at the retreat, I realized again what I already knew deep down; that people are people and through Christ I just love loving them all.

Some of you know this about me, but sometimes I even forget that I am Black!  Or African American, or whatever you would call me.  No, I never forget where I come from or the struggle my people have to deal with in this world, but God has really given me a desire to see people as just that, people.  There were times this past week where I would look down and see the brown skin on my hands and arms and think, ” Oh yeah, this is how others see me!”,  then smile and not think about it again for another couple of days.  That is a fruit of having my identity in Christ.  I am not defined by my skin, or background, or what society and culture say that I am.  Jesus defines me; again and again and again he reminds me of who I am.

See?  I told you.  Not so much about adoption.  But it’s in there.

But if I ever do get the chance to adopt(and I think I will?) and/or have kids naturally, I look forward to loving them because I just love them, and because Jesus loved me first.

Yep.  That about says it.

Enjoy the pictures!

My Famliy!

Permanent Clothing

A friend of mine recently got a tattoo and it got me thinking, “Ooh, I want one!”  Truth be told, I’ve had a mild fascination with them and the people get them done for the last few years of my life.  As a 25.667 year old, the age where the highest social pressure to get a ‘tat’ has already passed me.  As my peers are increasingly getting married and settling into their respective fields of vocation, it is no longer the ‘thing’ to do; So why do I find myself becoming more and more interested in it?

Anyone who knows me knows that when it comes to big purchases, relationships, or long term decisions I am very slow to choose.  Like, your elementary aged child might be graduating when I’m ready-slow.  Often (but definitely not always) I find that if you wait a bit, you realize you didn’t actually NEED that thing you so wanted, and if you wait things seem to work in your favor.  Again, emphasis on the often.  All that to say, if, and this is a decently sized if, but if I got a tattoo it would have to adhere to some strict criteria of mine.  Here goes:

1.  The design/shape/words/meaning/color must hold a significant meaning or value so that 5 let alone 20 years down the road it will be something I still love and appreciate.

2.  The design has to fit MY physique.  I would think this is a simple one but I’ve seen more than one tattoo that is either too big or too small for the area it was put on.

2a.  This is more of a sidenote or preference, but I enjoy it when a piece looks almost as if it’s flowing out of or within a persons natural body lines.

Ok so it wasn’t all that strict but it was in my mind before I wrote it out.

What got me into it you ask?  Having done quite a bit of research*, the art or tradition of tattooing one’s body with designs or images stems from many reasons.  Some did it as an act of devotion to their god or deity.  Some did it to punish.  Others did/do it to show that they are part of a certain, often elite, group of people.  Many of you I’m sure have heard of ‘Yakuza’.  Dubbed by the Japanese Police “Group of Violence”暴力団　but calling themselves “Chivalrous Spirit Group”任侠団体, they are well known for their body-covering tattoos.

While I disagree with many of the things their groups are known for (sex trafficking, prostitution, racketeering, smuggling, etc), the skill and response to seeing a yakuza member’s tattoo is undeniable.  I’ll never forget the first and only time to date I met some Yakuza.  I lived in a very small rural town in Japan for about 13 months(think Last Samurai but more modern, slightly more) and I would often visit the nearby onsen, which is the Japanese word for natural hot springs or a bathhouse.  If you are unfamiliar with how it works, you undress, arm yourself with a 6″ x 14″ towel, wash off with soap and shampoo and after rinsing step into the hot water.  The first time will be daunting for any Westerner, but having become so accustomed to it, I’ll say that there are few thing more satisfying than a good onsen.  I digress; On a no particular night I and two friends decided to pay a visit to the bathhouse, but were a bit alarmed to find the sauna room crammed full with 20 to 30 something aged men.  That many young people was always a rarity in this town.  We were respectfully ignored, which was normal, but when the group walked past to the outdoor pool we all were suddenly aware of the images covering the entire upper and lower backs of these guys.  We later made some attempts to talk with them, some were successful, some not so much, but we felt that at least having our presence acknowledged was a battle won.

But lets get back to the point.  Granted this is my blog, and I reserve the right to stammer, rant, and monologue as much as I wish, but you’re here reading my words and overuse of buts and commas, and that means something to me.  Plus you reserve the right to ‘X’ out of this blog as quick as my gas tank seems to be emptying itself these days.  For those of you who want more detail on the above event, answers are only a comment away

Tattoos are fascinating, and seemingly very controversial.  They are art, expression, polarizing, celebrated, and hated, and I’m sure in many cases misunderstood.  In closing I’ll leave you with a few questions:

Do you like or dislike tattoos?  Why?

Do you think a person is right or wrong to have them, or is it a non-moral issue for you?

Would you ever get one?

*research involved watching some really cool movies where people who had tattoos had any role whatsoever.

Upgrade your closet and help fight human sexual exploitation at the same time!

Hey guys(or gals), if you have time this weekend make sure to come out and buy some designer clothes!  This is for a great cause, so everything will be discounted!  Hope you can make it out!

Reminder!  This Friday from 3-7 pm and Saturday from 9 am- 3 pm, you can find INCREDIBLE deals on gently used designer clothes and accessories at the Redeemed Clothes for a Cause sale!  Additional Details are below…
The sadness surrounding the commercial sexual exploitation of women and teens leads us to want to help immediately!  However, we understand cash is spread thin these days.  What a better way to make an immediate impact than shop for designer clothes and accessories at a major discount?
If you are not available or interested, just forward this email to some friends! That is an immediate step you are taking to help support the women who so desperately need our community to speak up for them and reach out to them. 
Please drop by this weekend for a few moments and check it out!
Blessings,
Redeemed

—————
When:
Friday May 14 | 3–7pm & Saturday May 15 | 9am–3pm
Where:
5345 North Powers Ferry Road | Atlanta, Georgia 30327
404 252 5926 | zrealty@mindspring.com
 
Does your spring wardrobe need a few new pieces?
Do you want to find a way to help victimized women and girls, but cash is spread too thin these days?

Shop at our Designer Clothes sale and you will help raise money for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse with every purchase you make!

When:
Friday May 14 | 3–7pm & Saturday May 15 | 9am–3pm
Where:
5345 North Powers Ferry Road | Atlanta, Georgia 30327
404 252 5926 | zrealty@mindspring.com
Choose from gently used designer clothes such as sweaters, tops, pants dresses, prom dresses, suits, coats, shoes and purses. You receive a great deal while contributing to a great cause!

Redeemed is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose vision is to see women and teenage girls freed from the sex-for-sale industry and given the opportunity to heal in a new and healthy community.

the road not taken…

What do you get in life when you give up something you love?  I mean really give it up?

The thing that really baffles my mind is that this thing that you love so much, that brings you joy, that has almost become a defining factor in you life; I would venture to say that more often than not it is sort’ve a bad thing.  Not like, inherently bad, but bad for you.  Or becoming bad for you.  Do I have these things in my past, in my life today?  Surely.  I might even mention a few.  But that’s not my question right now.  My question is, what do you get in return?

I have always been attracted to people who are passionate about someTHING.  Aren’t you?  Doesn’t really matter what it is, does it?  I mean, I feel like society and life and THEY start slipping something in the proverbial water, even at a young age.  It stinks of conformity, yes, but we cannot totally blame it.  No, there was a time when you shouted for what you beleived in, held your ground like a mule, and with an attitude like Matt Damon’s when Robin Williams asks him why he chose the wrench in Good Will Hunting you said..well I don’t want to ruin the scene for you.

But have we answered our question yet?  Have we even asked why we’re asking it?  Why did I give up certain things, and why did you?  I don’t mean the peer-pressure, football over band, ill-advised decisions.  We’re talking about the ones where in all manner of sobriety you chose whether by words or deed or inaction to put something down.  To move on.  Growing up as it were.

If this seems scatterbrained its because it is.  Welcome to the trap-door filled labyrinth that is my mind.

Hmm.

I suppose that at the core of this game of getting involved and making an exit, is fear.  It may not look like fear, but it is certainly not void of it.  But of what?  Its some horrible abhorrence of getting in too deep and missing out on whats going on.  If I wanted to be cliche I’d insert a parallelism to that movie where phone lines have become the fastest way to travel.  (The Matrix)

Back to the point.  The problem with that fear though is that it paralyzes the victim in the exact place he or she least wants to be.  Thank you Dr. Phil for that brilliant synopsis.  I think a man fears returning to the dock only to see the boat he once knew so well already out to sea.  He is left with 3 choices: Return home, find a different boat, or get to swimming.  Choice #1 – He realizes what awaits him at home is better than the other options, or that he doesn’t want the new/old as much as he though he did.  Choice #2 – He tries different things until he either finds a new passion or burns out.  Choice #3 –  Well, I don’t think we need an example here do we?

So how about you?  Are there any hobbies/passions that you’ve laid down in the past?  What has been the overall result of that decision?

onehundred and sixtyseven.

onehundred and sixtyseven., originally uploaded by atomic turquoise.

I love this shot. Props to “Atomic Turquoise” for capturing the mood and moment.

I’m going to start taking more shots. Sometimes waiting for motivation doesn’t work. You have to go out and find it. Often, looking for motivation is enough in it of itself.

2010.1

Ugh.  It seems as of late if I do make it around to blogging it’s at a ridiculously late hour.  Oh well.  I’ll keep this one more to the point.  For those of you who are partial to my usual long-winded venting/soul searching, consider this a cliffnotes version.  Or Sparknotes.  Or whatever the kids are using these days.

2010.

I just like the way that looks.  Something about how the ’1′ gets all up in the ’0′s business.

I’ve been listening to the new Star Trek Soundtrack like non-stop lately.  If you haven’t heard it, what are you doing with your life?   Numbers 1  and 5 please if you need inspiration to go after your dreams, 3 if you’re in love or recently have been, 6 and 10 if you have an arch enemy you must vanquish, and 15 if you just completed an adventure and want to embark on a new one.

I turned 25 last fall.  My body is all of a sudden determined to make me realize that fact.  We’ll see who gives in first.

I’m proud to say that I’ve never had an issue dating outside my race.  You’ll be happy to know that after seeing Avatar 2.5 times that fact still remains true.

I like seeing people I know/have met in places I didn’t expect to see them.  And catching up with old friends.  It reminds me that God is sovereign and He actually does got the whole world in his hands.

In all seriousness, I feel very good about this year.  09′ wasn’t the best for my family and I, at least not on paper, but some good lessons were learned, and some foundations were strengthened.  Can’t complain about that.  I feel the seed of those tingly, electric feelings that come with the prospect of a new year.  Which is funny because right now, things don’t look so hot.  Reminds me of the story about the Pilot, the Plane, and the Hurricane.  But that’s for another entry.

I’ve had many an impactful conversation over the past few weeks.  Many an inspiring and motivational conversation.  I’ve been searching, and/or waiting, for that ‘thing’, that passion, that lifelong goal to present itself.  And it has.  I just can’t figure it out.  Like a prototype not fully unveiled or a carving in a dead language; it’s there before me but I can’t decipher it, not yet.  But I can feel it’s shape.  I wonder how big and how weighty and how long it is?  But I promised Cliffnotes. 

Oh, it’s been a while since I posted any photo’s.  After 2 months of saying, “I’ll post these when I edit them” I’ve decided just to put them up.  So save me some time by imagining how much more amazing they would be if edited!

No Lines

Have you ever had a moment where you had an epiphany?  This realization, this truth revealed went off like a light bulb in your head and all of a sudden everything just clicks shifts rolls snaps and slides into place and you can see from here to the horizon in terms of where you’re coming from and where you’re going.  In this moment that can last for a minute or a day, the fog lifts and you get a glimpse of the paths or THE path ahead.  You see the giant obstacles in front of you as always but right now, in this moment..it doesn’t really matter so much, or the thing in your way doesn’t seem so big, or perhaps it’s just your eyes that have refocused.  Things, for the moment, have been put in perspective; You can see the goal, you can see the prize that will validate your sweat and tears and ridicule.  You can remember the heart pangs from dreams failed or lost, from opportunities never realized and time squandered.  But right now, in this moment, you heart beats just a hair quicker, almost anticipating, rather drumming your foot forward.  That first step, then the next, and another one after it.  But you haven’t moved yet.  Something has gone wrong.  The chain of command was broken somewhere, somehow.  There’s a battle raging inside of you; your mind agaist your heart, your fears against your dreams.  Your heart begins to thump thump thump because now, that path, that clearing that had been so gloriously illuminated, is now not quite so much, and you strain your eyes to find the next footing.  Was there ever a clearing? you ask rhetorically, or do you really not know the answer.  You know what you feel, you are still exhilarated, the adrenaline is still flowing through your body, but for what purpose, now, how do you use it?  You look back, 3 steps ahead of where you should be, and the adrenaline turns against you, what could have possibly made me leave your spot.  Now embarrassed, you turn, to return, back to normal, back to gray, back to the comfort of the fog, where nothing stands out, where no one cares if you make a mistake, because everything is whats right before your eyes, gray, everything is the same.  Everything is the same, but, no..that was your imagination.  You didn’t see, you couldn’t have seen, was it a..no, it wasn’t.  And even if it was, you don’t want to leave here anyway.  You know this spot, it’s where you’ve been, nothing too bad has happened to you here.  It’s a little boring, sure, but you can deal with that, for now, for a while.  Besides, when that path shows itself again, you’ll be ready.  I’ll be ready.