B-MOORE.NET 3.0

I know I’ve been a little behind on the album reviews and marathon updates so I apologize but I will rectify one of those now. Training update! Training is still on schedule. I actually have a chance to become ahead of schedule by the end of the week. I’ll know for sure on Sunday when I do my long run. My trainer noticed the weight loss yesterday. My wife tells me about it all the time but she’s my wife you know…her job is to stroke my ego. lol. But it was good that other people are starting to see the progress. A week or so ago when I weighed myself (I only weigh myself every two weeks) I was at 211 (I started at 225), I’m hoping Saturday when I weigh myself to be down to 208. Honestly, even if I find out that I’m still at 211 I wouldn’t be too upset because last week I was on vacation and I didn’t eat the best. I didn’t eat alot but still my fat intake was a high as Redman.  Today marks the one month point before the Epilepsy 5K. That’s going to be my first benchmark to see exactly where I am. The day is rapidly approaching and I’m trying to find that balance between being psyched up and overdoing it. It;s hard because working out has become a secret obsession of mine now. I think I’ve become a real life Nike commercial. lol.

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…Wale. Wale is not the next best thing, he’s the next great thing. When you combine style, lyrics, stage prescience and the oh so necessary swagger you get the compound of Wale. Wale came to Pittsburgh on his “Attention Deficit Tour” last night and tore Shadow Lounge down. What he brings to the game is a new voice with a new sound. His musical influences clearly run the gamut from the typical go-go to rock. When he took the stage the crowd collectively inhaled and when the beat for “Breakdown” dropped the crowd erupted in a frenzy. He ran through his “hits” from the mixtapes but the crowd went ballistic when he did “Back On The Go Go” which sounds phenomenal live. He separated himself from the pack of mc’s, including the opening acts, by being polished and engaged with the crowed throughout his set. It was perfect balance between the “too cool for school” and “the kid who tries to hard”.  It was good when he did some go-go classics especially “Doing The Butt” which showcased the illness of his back up band, UCB. Nothing was like the Coup de Grace which was “Chillin”, “W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.”, and a rendition of “Teen Spirit” that morphed into “Nike Boots”.

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For some odd reason for today’s blog post I couldn’t decide on a good title. I started writing and we’ll see where this leads. In my 31 years on this earth I have done many things and of those things, many of them stupid, some even illegal (feds taking pictures). In all of my experiences I’ve always felt that I have a good support group. My family, friends, and even people who I work with; I always knew that people had my back. First things first, I couldn’t have become this man I am without 3 people; Mamma and Daddy for raising me and my wife for polishing the rough edges. Trina and Terrence my older sister and brother, thank  you for giving me guidance in tough situations. Rather I headed your advice or not it’s always good to get another POV. Shout to Steve because while Terrence was growing himself, he stepped in and became another older brother. I’ve learned alot from you probably more than I could ever thank you for. Shout out to all the people who’ve helped me reach this point. I am completely wack when it comes to call backs and things like that. Honestly my job involves talking to people so usually the last thing I want to do when I leave work is talk more. It’s nothing personal, its just I hate talking sometimes. I’ll text forever, but talking on the phone, naww, I’ll pass for the most part. Regardless, I couldn’t have made it this far by myself. I’ve never been that person that wanted to change. I didn’t want to be that guy that people don’t recognize. I’ll be always be “Third”, “Bert-Ram” (Shout out to Koshon for making that up) or B-Moore. That’s always me. I’m still the dude that will argue sports or music to my last breath. I still get hostile watching the 96 Finals and watching my Sonics go down to MJ’s Bulls. I still feel Nas won. I think Biggie is greatest rapper of all time. These are things that I will never out grow. Probably as time goes on they might not be a primary focus, but sports and music will always be apart of me.

“Envisioning the hereafter, listening to Steve Wonder, on a quest for love that proceed drummer” is probably one of my favorite opening lines ever. This is what I’m vibing to today. “One Day It Will All Make Sense” is the album that is the soundtrack for my early adult years. I think it was the timing it dropped. I would be on the bus in Milwaukee with my Discman listening to this CD non stop. I would drive to Chicago in Terrence’s white Civic with this on full blast. This was the first album that I can remember made think about abortion from a different perspective. This is my favorite Common album, by far. IMO, this is the perfect album. There isn’t a lull or anything, granted I can see how people can say it comes off preachy, but for me, it was the album I needed at that point in time. I also have to reflect on “ATLiens” and “Illadelph Halflife” those were probably the soundtracks to my time at Winthrop. I remember every time I would go up to Jamal’s room to play spades and “smoke” talk about class, we would always play that CD. I’ve been blessed to have some of the most rich experiences of meeting a variety of people, living in various places, visiting various places (shout to Malik for NC College Party tour).

Yes, I’m older and no, 31 is not the new 21 but fam, I’m not old. I can still get it in with anyone. I’m trying to run a marathon, I’m still up on music. Sports is still my blood. Soon I’ll have the crown jewel of my mini me, but right now, I’m good. I’m happy to be me. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stare” but I’m still happy to be me. Granted I don’t have my Quarter to 8 (shout out to Harrison) yet, but eventually I’ll get it. Today, on my 31st birthday I’m even more focused. I’m healthy. Mom, I’m eating vegetables…lol. Feel me? Thanks to everyone who has looked out for me and helped me, trust me you are not forgotten.

…but I felt this was more important and more inspiring.

No matter how much you’ve done; how successful you’ve been, there’s always more to do; always more to learn, always more to achieve - Barack Obama

Now for the sake of full disclosure, in this runs are points where I walked. I did not run the entire distance.

I’ve been noticing that the abundance of negative people around me is growing. I think they are becoming a cancer. It’s the same people who are never happy, who have no goals or goals they are scared to achieve. It weighs me down like a 2 Ton weight sometimes. No matter what, even in my down times; I still have that inner motivation to make myself better. I try to keep active by trying various things. I can’t imagine being intellectually and emotionally stagnant. It could be the weather, its rained like 14 of the past 16 days. I woke up this morning vowing to myself to not let that effect me. I have my own goals and if I get caught up in their bullshit they will drag me down too (happily).

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Hall of Justus

The Away Team (Sean Boog and Khrysis) link up with newcomer and fellow North Carolinian Nervous Reck to create the anticipated album, “The Warm Up”.  This album has sat on the shelf for almost two years as it was recorded during the “Training Day” sessions. This FREE album is a dope product. While on their own Sean Boog nor Nervous Reck will never be in contention for best mc in any category, but what they form on this album is an integral part of what hip hop is supposed to be. Hip Hop is all about the overachiever and the mc’s did exactly that on this project. Khrysis’ production has been soaring in the stratosphere of dopeness. Each beat is laced with kicks and thumping drums that makes head nodding almost a reflex going from track to track.

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I feel good. I feel really good. I’m sleeping better. I’m not winded anymore from just walking short distances. I have no complaints. Well other than after a distance run my knees ache a little; but nothing major, I’m beginning to ice them down to prevent any injuries. I ran this morning and it felt good. I don’t do alot of outside runs because of my work schedule but today was kind of windy and that had an effect. I have one regret about today though; I think I could have pushed myself harder. I think I could have gone further. I still have that little voice in my head that tells me when enough is enough. This experience of training for a marathon has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. I think its always good to find new challenges for yourself and this is mine. I have never looked forward to working out in my life, but I look forward to running. It’s my escape. It’s just me, asphalt and my music. Life is good…

(I have not forgotten about the reviews, just been a busy work week… Away Team, Cam’ron, Eminem…coming soon)

Imagine my surprise when I found out that open registration for the Chicago Marathon was closed already. That sucked but there was a plan B, associate myself with one of the charities and then run that way. Most of the charities have a minimum entrance fee of $500. I hate the having to either a) give that much myself or b) ask for sponsors. Even though I know many people around me would be happy to give that’s never really been my style. I decided that instead of doing the Chicago Marathon this year I will do The Baltimore Running Festival. It wasn’t my first choice but I’m excited anyway. Next year for the Chicago Marathon it will be on, but this year, B-Moore will run B-More (maybe I’ll make that into a T-Shirt).

Today’s workout was brutal. I pushed and pushed until I knew I had reached my peak. I’m exhausted and thankful that tomorrow today is my day of rest. For the first time my feet are actually kind of sore. The good news is that I’m excited about doing my long run on Sunday. I’m going by the stadiums again. It’s a good and relaxing run. I need to do more street training. I have the 5K on 6/27 and that day is rapidly approaching. I’ve been reading different websites and speaking with a trainer at my job and it looks like I’m on the right path. My biggest obstacle is my diet. See, you don’t understand fam, Chick Fil A is like crack. And as you know, Crack killed Applejack (for those that get it, cool, for those that don’t…don’t worry about it). But seriously, it hard cutting that out of my diet, it’s hard eating at the right times, its hard not to snack on candy all day. But it’s all worth it. And that’s the bottom line….