Before there was T-Pain, there was Roger

You can’t listen to the radio without hearing a song by T-Pain or Lil Wayne or T-Pain and Lil Wayne. T-Pain and his vocoder have taken over popular music. He has to be a millionaire several times over from writing, producing and “singing” for himself and other artists. Unless you are over 30 and/or are a frequent listener of the Tom Joyner Morning Show then you wouldn’t know that T-Pain’s style derives from the work of Roger Troutman.
Roger_Troutman
Roger’s music could get any party started. More Bounce to the Ounce, Computer Love, I Wanna Be Your Man (which was the last dance at my prom) and of course California Love. I will admit that I like some of T-Pain’s music and it sounds as if technology has evolved with the musical equipment because you can hear more of T-Pain’s voice where Roger’s sounded more synthesized. And T-Pain doesn’t have that “straw” hanging out of his mouth (see Roger and Snoop videos below). I heard a joke that Roger must be rolling over in his grave because he may have gone platinum once in his career and T-Pain has gotten rich with this style of music. But according to the Wikipedia article, the younger artists have given Roger credit which I am glad. Enjoy some of Roger and Roger inspired music below:

Boy, pull your pants up!!!

Chicago 1941

I love this picture. These are some young boys in 1941 in Chicago. They look so classy. Trends come and go and sometimes I think the older generations can be hard on young kids and the trends they follow. But everybody has to remember that they too were young once upon a time and probably went through some stage or followed a really stupid trend or style. We all did, and I dare anyone to go through their old pictures and yearbook if you don’t believe me. But there is one “style” or trend that is just plain stupid and frankly just ignorant and that’s the “pants hanging off your a** look”. I don’t get it, I think it is vulgar and just ridiculous. The pants started out big, got bigger, started to “sag” off the butt and now are belted completely below the buttocks. These kids can’t even walk and have to hold the crotch just to be able to walk. Just plain stupid!! Too many people have fought, died and sacrificed for you to walk around like this. It’s not cool, you look like a fool!
Boy, pull your pants up!!!!!!!
Ok, I’m done:)

Celebrating the Dream

Technology-You’ve Come A Long Way Baby

Remember the days when you had to remember phone numbers because they weren’t stored in your phone. Or had to type a paper on a typewriter or word processor? What about rewinding a tape? Remember those primitive video games like Pac Man, Colecovison or that original Atari game where you played tennis bouncing the little blip off of the white bars (I found out it was called Pong). We’ll we’ve come a long way baby. Blackberries, CD’s, flat screen televisions, computers that run at light speeds. Technology has truly made our lives easier in a lot of ways but some would say it has made us lazy. People don’t read books as much anymore, people have become more obese because we sit in front of our tv’s and computers. Technology is the same as anything else, you have to use it and don’t abuse it. But still it is a shame that I don’t know my own mama’s number.

Thanksgiving-I Reminisce, I Reminisce

Tomorrow is Thanksgivng.  I can’t believe the holiday season is here again. It seems like just yesterday, we were celebrating the New Year.  This time of year is usually a time when people sit and reminisce over holidays past, the good ole days.  We think about all of our warm memories of times past and loved ones who are no longer with us to share those holidays.  I think about my grandmother during the holiday season.  She would start cooking a couple of days ahead.  She would bake the best cakes you’ve ever tasted from scratch (4 layer german chocolate, coconut layer cake, chocolate cake, sour cream pound cake and about 4 sweet potatoe pies), a juicy turkey, ham and all the fixings.  I would go to sleep with the smells of the kitchen and sound of the mixer as I drifted off to sleep.  The next day, we could not wait to get a taste of the magic she created.  All of the family would come together and eat this meal as a family.  At the time, I guess I didn’t truly appreciate all of this.  I took it for granted.  Now that I am older and have a family of my own, I know how much work it is to plan and make a holiday meal.  Now that all of the family is scattered about and aren’t close anymore, I so miss the good ole days and appreciate them now.  I wish I could tell my grandma how much I loved those meals and appreciated all the work and love that went into them.  And how I will never be able to put my foot into a Thanksgiving meal they was she did.  Tomorrow I will have a nice time but I will think about those good ole days-the smells, the laughter, the love, the sound of Teddy Pendergrass on the old turntable.  And I will think of grandma and I hope that somewhere, wherever she is, she will know.

Somebody is ready for Halloween

This is my son in last year’s costume (looking like me when I need a relaxer).  This year he wants to be Jason…(sigh) 10 year olds.

Lazy Sundays

Sundays have always been a rest day for me.  Most Sundays I don’t even leave my house.  Most Sundays I don’t even get out of my lounging clothes.  When I was growing up, my mom washed clothes for the week and cooked big Sunday dinners.  This is probably what my grandmother did also and it passed down to me.  Eventhough I wash clothes through the week, Sunday is my big wash day and I like to cook a hearty meal on Sunday.  Pot roast with lots of potatoes and carrots, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes.  Since I absolutely hate Mondays, my Sundays are very important to rest/relax and get ready physically and mentally for the upcoming week.

A Beautiful Day

After I listen to NPR in the morning and hear what businesses went down over night and all the doom and gloom, I am going to turn this up real loud as I drive down the highway.  It always makes me feel happy.

Manic Monday

This economy is just too crazy.  I wake up this morning and find out that my bank Wachovia is the latest to fall.  I had to drive around and search for gas today.  Just unreal.  My job has implemented furlough days and aren’t sure how many yet.  Some days it’s hard to feel optimistic with all the negativity in the world right now.  I’m trying really hard.  I stopped today after work and got me and my son an icecream cone.  I drove home enjoying my single scoop of rocky road ice cream.  I guess now more than ever it is important to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.  A delicious home cooked meal.  A walk in the park.  Activities that relieve stress and relax the mind.  I’m trying.

Missin you today Betty Grace