Summer is refusing to officially start this year. We’ve had some warm days but for those part it’s been nothing but clouds and gloomy weather, especially here back home in DC where I’m writing this. You know me though, I even had a song called “Summer In My Mind”; doesn’t matter what it looks like outside.

So here’s my Top 5 Summertime goals. I’m putting out there in the world because I believe that’s the most effective way to make things happen. If you can help, holla!

1) Learn how to swim. My aunt asked me yesterday if I knew how to swim and I shamefully had to tell her no. I get that question at least twice a year and it shames me to say no. Especially because I remember vividly taking an intense swimming class when I was 5 or 6 years old? What did they teach us, how to not swim? Swimming just seems to time consuming and something you do when you’re very young or very old. But those are excuses. Nothing is gonna stop me from becoming Michael PHELps this Summer.

2) DUNK A BASKETBALL. I swear this has been my goal the past three Summers. I always start off good and then due to time and other factors, I get sidetracked. Not this year. I haven’t even started practicing my jumping yet. I’ve just been getting back into the swing of my workout/diet so I can be light by the time June 1st rolls around. If that’s any indicator, this is my year. I’ve dropped a significant amount of weight over the past two weeks and my metaboloism as at an all-time high. In other words, I’ma be jammin baby, I’ma be jammin!

3) Start my book. I want to write two books before it’s all said and done. One biographical type, and the other a self-help kind of book. I’ve done this blog on and off for a little over two years and I’ve said A LOT. I thank all of you for reading, commenting, and absorbing my thoughts and using it how you wish. My plan is to take the top 50 entries out of the 600+ I’ve done and kind of break them down. It’s going to simply be called iamphella.com and will also include the story behind why I started this, why I stopped at one point, and why I started again. Real quick and simple read but I feel those with $10 to spare will be able to benefit. We’ll have it for sale on Da Fam Inc site and if I’m aggressive enough, maybe in stores.

4) Learn Italian. This is the least likely to happen so maybe I should just scratch it off now. Least likely because I don’t think I really even want to do it anymore. I still plan on visiting Italy early and often once I’m financially able to do so but as for speaking the language, I think I can do with out it. So scratch this off my list.

5) Meet and Marry Ciara. Hope no one finds this funny because I don’t. I’ve always had a thing for Ciara but recently it’s just gotten out of control. She has this happy spirit that is rare. It’s not about money or success or anything. You just see someone that’s very confident in who she is and wants to enjoy life. I think I can help her enjoy it even more. Obviously she’s used to the finer things and I’m in the process of getting my weight up so that might slow down the marriage. But at least let me meet her and let her know what’s up.

There it is. 1 man. 5 goals. 1 Summer. Let’s do it.

Woke up this morning and decided I needed some ATL in my life. I needed some somewhere, home is weighing like bricks on my shoulders.

My usual getaway is VA Beach but that's too close and getting played out, plus I've never been to Atlanta.

It's just me,a bunch of music, some Naked smoothies and a few changes of clothes.

If you know about the area and can point me to the best cheesecake spot, I'll love you for live.

Holla!

Did you peep the word play? I'm patiently waiting and impatiently waiting, all in one.

Yesterday marked the 1 year anniversary of me watching Mr.Obama speak at University Of Maryland. That moment was the fire I needed lit under me and it spawned a pretty successful February-December 2008 run.

For some reason or another, Decembers and Januaries are kind of slow and hectic months. Lots of spending, very little earning, lots of reflecting, very little action. Not just with myself, it seems to be the case for most people I know.

Right now I feel like I'm coasting. Like everything is good. Everything is fine. I don't really like good and fine;that's one step away from bad and terrible. I'm searching for great and excellent.

So if anyone out there knows anything that can spark greatness, please share. Last year for me it was the Obama speech and a few books that people recommended. I'll take whatever I can get. A movie, an article, whatever.

It's to the point where I'm ready to move sooner than I originally planned. I think the hustle and fast-walking society in NYC might do the trick but financially I need some more time to setup for that move.

So all my geniuses out there (*cough* Simone*cough*) , what's good? where's the motivation?

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So I don't have my car back yet but happiness and sanity have been restored. Took the scenic route into the city on my way to Einstein Bros. Bagels. Just seeing all these people going to their jobs and schools so early motivates me. Don't know why but it just does.

And it sounds corny but there's just something about a new day that makes things better. It's like no matter what happened overnight, here you stand. Another day full of potential for you to be whatever you want to be. I guess that can be seen as a naive/optimistic way of looking at it. But naivete and optimism is all that's gotten me this far so why abandon them now?

The smooth soul jams that came on the Sirius radio plus this Strawberry Muffin didn't hurt either.

Happy 6A.M. everyone.

After mobster flicks, romantic comedies are my favorite movie genre. Don't know why but joints like "Pretty Woman", "Say Anything", even "Maid In Manhattan" intrigue me.

The reason I'm watching a movie at 4:35AM instead of sleeping is because I'm in the middle of another saga. In the last 7 hours, I've gone out to a great dinner, watched the Grammy's, traded Chris Brown jokes, chased a tow truck driver who unjustly took my car, argued with him in the cold with nothing but my socks, shorts and a Polo tee on, "stole" my own car according to Prince Georges County police department, avoided jail thanks to some slick talk on my part with the female officer, and now I'm waiting to get my car back again at 6AM.

I digress. The reason romantic comedies appeal to me is that in them, after a night like this, the guy will have some genius girl who turns all this into a joke and puts a positive spin on it so that he's forgotten all about the whole saga by bedtime.

But since this is real life, I'll get my car back, get some sleep, get some food and a workout to clear my mind, then be so consumed with my daily hustles that I'll forget about this whole saga by bedtime.

Either way I guess you arrive at the same destination. Just seems more fun in the movies. I'll holla back though. Just typed this and missed 10 mins of the movie…gotta press rewind.

5:15AM Ok this is one Romantic Comedy I don’t like. The 45 minutes I’ve watched seem more like sci-fi and sci-fi is my least favorite movie genre.

5:30AM now and Einstein Bagel Bros in DC opened 30 seconds ago. Bout to grab a muffin and an EGG+Cheese bagel then go get my car.

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Things not pictured that I need:
Soup
Orange Juice
That latest Vibe magazine with Colin’s name on the cover

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas of creative ways to work with Nike or basketball in general contact myself or Christina. Christina@thefamousfirm.com

Sidenote 1:
Shout out to Miles, the voice of DC Basketball.

Sidenote 2:
DC Basketball Scene>The one in your city

Sidenote 3:
Was Sidenote 2 an example of what music people do wrong? Always dividing and competing as opposed to coming together? If so, I apologize.

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Colin Munroe's name can be seen on the latest issue of Vibe Magazine with Kanye West on the cover. That's huge for him/us!!!!

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I got this whole long blog I wrote while driving on why I prefer to write stuff as opposed to saying it, and why I believe people more when they write something as opposed to when they say it.

I think there's something to it but I ended up not posting it. Had to remind myself "no world saving this year."

Anyway here's some quotes from movies I've been watching with my free time.

"Why is he my friend, because he knows my first name?…"-Alonzo in Training Day

"I'm sorry I exposed you to it, but it is. It's ugly, but it's necessary…"-Alonzo in Training Day

"If you make this decision now to be afraid. You will never turn around. Your whole life you will be afraid."-Mr.Glass' mom in Unbreakable

Speaking of movies, time to revisit the 80's and 90's joints. Thanks to Simone for dusting off the classics on her blog. "Lean On Me"? Are you serious? I watched that till it couldn't be watched no more.

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If anyone out there is ever feeling freaky and wants to test my pool game, you're more than welcome to catch a beatdown.

I don't go to the pool hall to play games. Just ask this gentleman (who I whooped 9 games to 3).I'm accepting all challenges. I'll even come to your city.

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