Published in Better Humans·PinnedMember-onlyHow to Get Fit Over 40The simple fitness and nutrition plan I use to add muscle to my 52-year-old body — First things first: No, I have never taken any steroids or hormones. In fact, I just started taking protein powder a couple of months ago. I guess I have decent genetics, but lots of people have much more naturally muscular bodies than me. I don’t have a personal trainer, and…Health8 min read
Published in The Creative Cafe·PinnedMember-onlyEverything is BeautifulWhen winter comes to Texas — He had gone into the garage and cried when the power went out the night before. Jason had hidden his tears, having no right to shed them. But something within him had been broken when the power went out as the winter storm blew into Houston like a slap to…Jobs8 min read
Published in Be Yourself·PinnedMember-onlyAs a Child, I Was a Casualty of America’s War on DrugsAnd no family was there to save me — When I was six and my brother was four and a half years old, our mother went to prison for the first time. Two Houston police officers drove a squad car into the parking lot of our small inner-city apartment complex, loose gravel crunching beneath their tires. The officers did…Love8 min read
Published in P.S. I Love You·PinnedMember-onlyThe Lost Children of Crack AddictsOur mothers and fathers are the punchlines of your jokes — Readers please note: this story includes descriptions of addiction, suicide, and child exploitation. If you need help, contact the National Helpline. My mother was a crack cocaine addict for more than twenty years. Being her son was a lonely thing. It was not easy. Everyone thought it was a dirty…Drug Addiction9 min read
Published in Better Humans·PinnedMember-onlyRevitalizing Our Inner-City Neighborhood — Without GentrificationI didn’t want to simply have a nice house in a bad neighborhood — I bought a little house a couple of years ago. It sits on a mostly quiet street in a mostly Black subdivision, with a good amount of Latinos. …Gentrification11 min read
Published in Better Humans·Jul 27Member-onlyHow to Pick the Right Wine for DinnerA certified sommelier’s tips for choosing the right wine every time — Five nights a week I work the floor as a sommelier at a high-end steakhouse in Houston, Texas. Houston is America’s fourth-largest city, and we love our steakhouses! Houston is also a city with one of the liveliest and most diverse food and wine scenes in America. …Food9 min read
Published in Be Yourself·Mar 29Member-onlyWill Smith wasn’t Defending Jada by slapping Chris Rock; He was Defending his own Ego.How Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars robbed fellow Academy Award winners of their moment The history of the Academy Awards, or the Oscars, is filled with the jokes of comedians from Billy Crystal to Whoopy Goldberg, Steve Martin, Chris Rock and many more. …Oscars4 min read
Published in Thoughts And Ideas·Sep 8, 2021Member-onlyThe New Texas Abortion Ban is About Right Wing Extremists Forcing their Religion on All AmericansThe Texas abortion ban takes freedom of religion away from all of us — The new Texas abortion law that all of America is talking about, is nothing more than Texas style religious law. American religious leaders are being allowed to force their religious beliefs on all Americans. This law is yet another attempt by the religious right, and the mostly religious white men…Womens Rights6 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Aug 23, 2021Member-onlyWhy I Won’t Follow You Just Because You Followed MeA follow for a follow: the blogger’s drug deal — Since I joined Medium eight or nine months ago, I’ve always seen hopeful writers on Facebook, Twitter, etc, asking for people to follow them in exchange for them following you. Follow for a follow, the blogger’s drug deal. …Writing4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Aug 20, 2021Member-onlyWhy I Decided to Participate in The Medium Writing ContestsBesides the chance of winning one of the writing contests — I’ve seen a number of people express concerns about Mediums writing contests. Some have said they won’t be participating in them for reasons ranging from author’s rights to judging criteria for the writing contests. …Medium3 min read