*shaking head* Where do I begin? Yesterday was a very long and interesting day. I feel the need to “blog it out” lest I forget what really went down. Soooo here we go…oh and it will be long…so let it be written…

*flashing back*
Mike: Hey I really want you to come to this premiere on thursday
Me: What movie?
Mike: “The System Within” starring Tyriq Alexander
Me: Okkkk, where?
Mike: Atlantic Station Regal Cinema, you can sit in V.I.P with me.
Me: Ok. Bet.
*end flashback*

*one more flashback to wednesday*
Mike: Can you go to the general public showing with B, cause he doesn’t want to go by himself
Me: Ok *cause I’m thinking, I’m already down here and don’t want to go all the way home*
Mike: alright. I’ll give him your cell number and ya’ll meet infront of the ticket window.
Me: ok. Aside: B has no cellphone *blank stare*
*end of last flashback..I promise*

So Thursday, I get out of class at 3:45pm. I make my merry way to Atlantic Station, which is the shiznit, T&T..we must do it big when you come to the A. So I knew I was early, so I decided to walk around a little. As I ascended the escalator, the DSW Shoe sign was glowing, so I went in! Then I asked how to get to the Regal, and they made me pass Old Navy, so ya know I had to oblige…tried on some stuff, confirmed my weightloss *thank ya Jesus* and then had to remove myself from the premises because I’m broke!

So, it’s like ohhhh 4:45pm by now, so I rest my weary feet on the new park bench…did I mention this place just opened like a month ago! I chatted on the phone, watched several Atlantic Station Shuttles come and go, and no sign of B. But I did see this one dude with the tightest shirt and jeans with the swaybackness. Clearly. Oh and I guess this is where all the “metrosexual” men go to play cause clearly. Aside: I learned alot about what I like in a man. I will have to blog on this :/Aside

So I head back into the theatre and who do I see just sitting on the bench..yep, B. He said he got there at 6pm…that is yet to be determined…got me lookin like I’m lost! Anyyyywaaaay, B is painfully shy, so I knew I was in for a quiet wait. I went as far as to make conversation about the World Clock I found on my phone. I’m over here sounding special talking bout “oh it’s 7:47pm in London, oooo and in Bejing it’s 11am!” Ya’ll, Jesus wept, rended His clothing AND covered His body in ashes! It was painful ya’ll. Aside: I do believe something tramatic had to have taken place in his life for him to be so withdrawn, I can relate, therefore I really am patient with him: end aside

Well, it’s past the time they said the movie would start on the ticket. Next thing I know I’m “overhearing” that one of the people related to the movie has gotten into an accident. So, a lady with a sparkly dress gets up and makes an announcement that the show has been cancelled and that we are all invited to the V.I.P showing. WHAT! You’ve got to be kidding me…I’ve been here for 4hrs, sat with Silent Bob and your canceling…whooossahhh!

You still there…Good!

So, I hit Mike up on his cell and tell him the deal. See, Mike’s press and he was going to get one of his friends from Morehouse. So, he was like ok, well, we’ll be their in a minute. The waiting begins AGAIN! I go buy an overpriced soda and a twix *I was too through* Then my momma calls cause she found some liquor in my room…I will save this for the end.

So *I’m wearing the “so” out*, the 95.5 da beat people are giving away t-shirts. Hey, free stuff, why not! Ummmm when have I ever been able to wear a medium…stop playin! Then, we proceed to get in line for the movie *they had this joint snaked around like it was a billion people waiting to get in…so not right* We’re in line and Mike hits me up and asks to put his stuff in my car, so I leave B in line and take it downstairs. Mike has his friend J with him….ummm the jury is still out on whether he was gay…I’m leaning toward Guilty your honor! But he just could have been bougie *shrug*. Annnnnyway, we handle our business and I take J back up to the line with me. So here I am with two dudes…lookin like a playa…but oh so not true! Looks is decieving!

Silence is reigning supreme so I asked J a couple of questions. He’s from Chi-town, he’s at Morehouse to study Music: Vocal Performance…which was evident cause the brotha was just a singing to himself. I love music as much as the next person but something about it was creepy…dude, ya don’t just bust out with vocal warmup exercises! I sense that you can sing, now please be quiet…thanks. About 10min later they finally let us in. We grab our seats near the front and try to settle in for the movie *they were playin some wack artist over the system and they KEPT putting his single on repeat* The main actor and writer thanked us for coming, the V.I.P came in and they rolled tape.

Jesus wept! I was like “ok, ok, this is an indie film, it’s not what you’re gonna see in the ‘major theatre’”. *le sigh* It was unfocused, it was definitely recorded on B film, the shooting was okay and the acting…lawdy…the acting. BUT the premise was great…it just needed a bigger studio budget and better actors. This would have been a good script to sell to Spike Lee or Steven Spielberg.

You still with me? *crickets* That’s ok, it is long!

The movie was about a young kid who got caught up in the game at an early age. He eventually left the ghetto and became a world reknown model . He returned to the ghetto to give back to his community and to possibly work for a company named PLU. The drug lord eventually caught up with him and was trying to get him back in the game but the he wasn’t having it; he had a new wife and kid to support.
Now PLU was a corporation run by a bunch of racist white men who had a “black” informant in the hood. PLU’s (Prison Labor Unit) goal was to get the black man to sell crack for them and then get caught. Their purpose was to have an unlimited labor force through the prison inmates who made their merchandise for like 35cents/hr. Modern day slavery. Only they had to maintain control, keep ignorant, the men they were using. In this case they were out to use the modeling man. Well, he of course was trying to do his own thing and not sign a contract with them. They got mad and set ole boy up and he was facing major jail time. Through a fellow inmate activist he was schooled on the system within and how black men remain ignorant in thinking that the “bling” and money they get from drug dealing is actually doing anything. The white man was only letting them have as much as he wanted to give. White man was pulling all the strings. The modeling guy *I don’t remember his name* got his revenge and escaped prison while at his brothers funeral. THE END.

I really could have seen some a-list actors taking this and making it the film it was worthy of being. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of a brotha making a film about the system and it’s illusions, I just wished for a bigger budget and better acting *shrug* I’ll give it 1 and a half afro picks.

Aside: I just spent an evening with three dudes and none were my boyfriend *triple le sigh*

Okkkkkkk, onto what my mom called me about before we got in line for this “movie”. Oh and I have never seen so many ‘pretty’ men…it was frightening!

So *hee hee*, my mom asks if i’m busy. I wasn’t cause I was waiting on the thing to start. She asks me to step into a quiet place so she can talk to me *not a good sign*. The convo went a little something like this:

Mom: I was looking for some pads and I found your two bottles of Smirnoff.
Me: Ooook. *ohhhhh shiznit*
Mom: Is there something you want to tell me.
Me: Nope.
Mom: Well, why did you hide them?
Me: Because I didn’t know your policy on alcohol
Mom: well, instead of hiding it from me, you should just ask me. It makes me worry when you hide stuff. It makes me think that you’ll do other things without telling me. I’m fine with experimentation because that’s normal.
Me: ok mom, next time I will talk to you about it.
Mom: ok, well do you drink when you’re alone or depressed cause that’s a sign of alcoholism.
Me: No because I’ve seen what that has done to Dad and that deters me from doing that.
Mom: ok well you may recognize what your Dad did but there are still patterns that you may not see.
Me: Ok.
Mom: well, where were you introduced to it?
Me: Jamii
Mom: Oh well that tells me you’re being responsible and not drinking with just anybody. That also lets me know that it’s recreational.
Mom: Ok, well what is it?
Me: A Malt Liqour beverage. The regular kind tastes like sprite but that flavor is watermelon *I dare not tell her I’ve tried them all and that watermelon is my favorite…I’m not stoopid!*
Mom: Well, when you get home, maybe we can have one together.
Me: Ok. *oh heck no woman, you on antidepressants, I will not be holding you, rocking and making soothing noises…nope…you gets no liqour!*

*sigh* That was a public service announcement brought to you by my mother who has taken one too many parenting classes and watched Arthur *sigh*

Well, I’m done…finally!

Serenity