Lover's Prayer

I pray that our love
Is more than enough
To weather the storm
I pray that you're strong
The nights that I'm gone
And you're home alone
I pray you'll forgive
Whateva I did
That brought you the tears
I pray here right now
As I make this vow
We last through the years

Lover's prayer
When I get down on my knees at night
I pray God we gonna be alright
With my head down and my hands up high
How I hope he will answer my
Lover's prayer

I pray that the sun
Continues to shine
With all that you do
No matter the bad
No matter how low
you'll make it through
I pray that I'm there
Whateve you want whateva you need
I pray that your heart
Carries apart, apart of me

I pray that your smile would
Light up my life won't ever fade
I pray that the trials we share between
Us won't ever break
I pray that you hold all of
Your dreams you will exceed
My final prayer you'll take this ring
And you will bear my seed

Lover's prayer
When I get down on my knees at night
I pray God we gonna be alright
With my head down and my hands up high
How I hope he will answer my
Lover's prayer!


*Inspired by Joe Thomas*

John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

Who Really Deserve The Credit, Of A Child Growing Into A Good Person?

I'm sure we all heard somebody tell a parent "you raised a good son/daughter." It usually comes at a time where this person has formally meet you, maybe had one or two conversations with you, and more times than not, it's usually a compliment directed to the parent, but is the parent always the one who deserves the credit? The person giving the compliment, most the time don't know that much about your life, or your upbringing. They don't know if you was raised by a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, or stranger. This post just come from a random thought, I hear this ol saying a lot, even been referring to me in some cases, but after I say thank you, or see someone say thank you I can't help but to think; "they don't know me.", or "who do I relay your message too, if it make no sense to tell it to my parents?". We learn so much from our parents in the most important years of our life, but at the same time we learn just as much, if not more, on our own. Now days, so much influence us as people, so much other than our parents. Inside my heart, I feel I been on my own since I was about 16 yrs old. Father wasn't there, older brother had his own life to live, baby brother was just that, my baby brother, mama got fed up and gave up. I never complain though because I know without a doubt in my mind, that the last 6 years in my life has shaped me into the man I am today, SO MUCH more than the 16 previous years. I'm still a fairly young guy at 22, so I'm continuing to learn, and develop into a better person each day. The first 16 yrs was like a starting point I guess, can't remember much of it, but we all have to start somewhere. I'm a completely different person now then I was at 16, and 18, hell even 20 for that matter. You'll be reading all night if I had put down every experience in my life that really turned me around, but I'm proud to say that I'm happy with who I am as a 22 year old man. While everybody try to stop aging process, stop the birthdays from coming, me on the other hand, I'm just as anxious for the next one as I was for the previous, because I know it mean a year older means a better ME. In a world that's so screwed up and every which way, good people are rare to come by now days. Now days we live in a world where it's every person for themselves. So sad that there is no such thing as family anymore, good human beings that genuinely care for the next person. What about the foster kids??? People only take these kids in, to get a check. They don't take them in to raise them, teach em right from wrong, morals, integrity and good characteristic. If they did they wouldn't kick these kids out on their asses once 18 come around, and the checks stop showing up in the mail. There is many biological parents that, for some reason, think being a parent stops once a child hit 18, sad but true in so many households. What if one these kids grow up to be a good person? Who gets credit then? To answer that question, to answer the question, "Who Really Deserve The Credit, Of A Child Growing Into A Good Person?" First and foremost God, second I think majority of the credit goes to us. We ourselves deserve credit more than anybody else for the person we are, and I shouldn't have to explain why I'll just say, let it be the other way around, and we become a bad person, criminal, in and out of jail, nobody jumping up taking blame for that, that's all on you, your own fault, so why jump up and take credit for the good? Then it a toss us between the world as a whole and what you took from the ways of the world, experiences that you been through with people of the world and some the crazy things and situation this world put us in. and of course the parents, who as I believe gives you that starting point, them two things battle for that third spot. So next time somebody tells you to tell your parents they raised a good person, take time, a good amount of time to pat yourself on the back, to soak it in as a compliment to yourself and nobody else.


John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

Forced Out The Nest.

I used to always wonder why people turn 18 and they be in such a rush to "leave the nest" or move out of their parents house? I'm 22 now, late learning but I can say I understand it a little more now. I know so many people who was running from the nest once they turned 18, I always wonder why. Everybody situation is different, for some reason, nobody knows why, but we grow apart not only from our parents but from all our siblings the older we get, some more than others. This is most common with Mothers and Daughters, you always see these two banging heads once the legal age is reached especially in the black homes, but I seen it in boys and their parents as well. I'm not going to get into why, it could be many different reasons. I will tell you young people no matter how old you get, as long as your living in your parents house, rather the rules are childish, or ones that you don't agree with you must abide by them. One thing Parents can't stand is seeing a kid grow up into they own self. It's not that they don't want to see their child grow into a sucessful adult, they just have a hard time letting go, letting go or losing that power and control is a challenge after having it for 18+ years. How do I know this without being a parent??? It simple, why do parents cry at graduations, or feel a sense of sadness if a child go away for school? Off to the military? Or just on vacation, out the country, what about marriage? Yeah, of course they care, but it's more cause they won't see you everyday, or no everything planned in your schedule. Don't get me wrong some parents handle these thing better than others, but they all feel the same sense of sadness.
Staying at home once you pass the legal age will only be as hard as your parents make it. If your spoiled, you can stay at home for as long as your parents live and there's never be a problem with it. If not, eventually not long after the 18th, your going to be pushed out one way or another. It's rarely going to be "Get the hell out" most parents never put it that blunt to you, usually they start to nag, or the most common way is they try to put they hand in your pockets, taking some of the little money you make, to as they say, "put on the rent". Parents tend to forget that you have the same type of life they do now, like going to school, working full time, school and work both, trying to get into your desired career, and they treat you like the kid they still want you to be, all because you live under their roof. Sometimes it can be a combination of all these things, which all of them in my opinion, kind of stop you from growing into your own adult self.
When is enough, enough? When is it too much to handle? When is it time to go? Well like most decision in life, it all about the person you are, and most importantly, timing. The ideal scenario, in my opinion, kids, no matter the age should be able to move out when there in the best position too. No young people, this don't mean being in your late 20's, no job, no career path, just living off your parents. This mean keeping progress in school, or work to get to the level where you get the job, or that raise that gives you that financial stability to be able to move out. So many people like to brag about having there own "spot", or living on their own, but let's not forget the emphasis that need to be put on the word "living". See living in a house or apartment where you sleeping on a air mattress, that's not "living". Sleeping on a mattress that's on the floor, that's not "living". Not being able to have company, because there no furniture or T.V. in the living room, that's not "living". When somebody sit on a couch in your living room, and need help getting up off of it, that's not "living". So to all my braggers, I know so many of you have no choice, but before you try to talk about, or criticize or judge people for living at home, I'm sure they rather live at home then to be doing what you call "living".
To close this out, at the end of the day nobody is to blame in this situation. All you can really do is hope, and pray for the best situation. You be surprised how much you can learn form your parents even as an adult. Unlike as a kid, the things we learn as adults from our parents a lot of times are usually things you don't want to carry into the parenthood stage of your life, it usually things your going to do differently to raise your family better. That's expected though right? We grow into our own person, face and solve or own problems, have our own experiences. All parents do the best they can, that's all you can ask of any person, in any situation not just this one. However, you know how they say "you wore out your welcome"? Well, rather you want to believe it or not, this exist even with parents. We all like to be able to leave the nest on our own terms, but sometimes your terms, or plans just move too damn slow.


John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

The Concept Of School Seem So Secure, But Is It Really?

As a kid nobody likes school, We itch for summer recess, winter time, we pray everyday for snow days, and will use almost any excuse to stay home every now and then. Of course this isn't true for all, but I think it is safe to say for most. If you like me, at one time it was this way until late high school and college. As a young student say pre-high school, I absolutely hated school, but it got better and better as I got older and climbed up the ranks in high school and even into college. So what do we go to school for? Most would say we go so that we can make good money. Yes that is true, but not always the case, I only went to college cause in order to be a fireman now you have to. If this was 20 years ago, when college wasn't a requirement, I wouldn't have went. They make college out to believe that it will help you. Longer term it will, but most cases your going to go through hell before the effects of college is good. The biggest effect that college has on most people that go, as we know is the amount of debt it puts you in, unless of course your fortunate enough to come from a wealthy family, be a talented athlete or academic star and earned a Scholarship, which let's face it most of us is not. They want you to believe that your debt is short term, they say after all once you graduate you will be making this salary, and able to pay off your loans in this small amount of time. What they fell to tell you is that, in most field your chances of finding a job out of college is slim to none for who knows how long, oh yeah and right after graduation, you first payment on the loan is due in 6 months. Everybody want to say "go to school", "get a degree", and want to use the fact that they go to school, and the fact that they have a degree to make it seem as if they're better than the person who don't go to school or have a degree. Truth of the matter is it don't make you better, not at all. What it do is make you an asshole, a jerk to use that as power and advantage to be better than somebody, school don't make you a successful person, there is somebody out there that don't have the same schooling in the field your in that's better than you at what you do I'm willing to bet on that. College is designed to put young adults in debt, just as many people who successfully went to college and now is successful in their field, you can find even more people who went to college and didn't find their purpose, didn't find their calling. If school was so important, and a need for all people, why do it cost so much? Why do you only get aid depending on the amount of money you make? Why is it that some of the most successful people have no college background, hell some dropped out of high school, and why is it that there are so many people out here with degrees in one field but working in another? Most of the CEO's and founders you work for after graduations don't even have college degree, they just took personal initiative and delayed gratification and invested time, energy and money into making they own business, then working you like a slave to keep it running. College may prepare and give you the knowledge to work in a field, but seriously do it teaches you anything about real life and living life? Life is so much more than work, everybody don't understand this, and the people who don't are what we call workaholics, education is just an abstraction. It doesn't help you learn how to do things like pay for health insurance, invest in real estate, have successful relationships or lead a life of adventure. I support anybody that wants to go to college and get a degree, hell I'm still in college and plan to be there for a few more years, what upsets me and pisses me off is the fact people use it as if it makes them better than the next person or go for many of the wrong reasons. College don't make me, and I pray to God it don't make you, everybody want to be able to put 'BA', and 'PhD' after their names, to make it look fancy, you put your pants on same way I put mine on, we're all made the same and you look foolish throwing your educational background in the next person face. Is it worth it? Is it worth thousands and thousands of dollar, just to be able to say " I have this degree, I have that degree." College is a industry, education is a industry, it not there to help you, them folks running it don't care about you, and giving you knowledge, all they want is the check, tell a professor they not getting paid today, or a advisor, they advice is free of charge, see how fast they be out the door. What's really sad is some people go to college just to be able to say it, some people go to college and bounce around for years, major to major not knowing what they want to do, just knowing that everybody told them to go to college, so it the right thing to do, the only option.The truth about college is this. Don't expect it to change anything that isn't already there. Education can all too often give one a superiority complex, while people of street smarts or business sense are already out making good salaries and taking in high incomes. Don't be a college drifter. If you do then be prepared to flop around your first couple years after college not knowing what the fuck you should do now. The value of a degree is extremely overrated in my opinion. What does it get you? A matrix type job working for a mega corporation as someone Else's employee, as someone else's business leverage. You'll wind up
sweating it hard to make someone else rich and free and they will be the ones calling the shoots and taking all the credit. I have to end by saying, it is never my intentions to discourage any high school senior headed to college, or any person, anywhere thinking about going to college, all I'm saying is college don't make people, it won't make you better, it won't bring peace to your life, and it won't even teach you how to handle a third of things you going go through in life. You don't need teachers, money, or high powered traditions to learn, you just need a group of people with a will and desire to better themselves.

Karma

To look karma up in a dictionary you'll see the meaning, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation. To simplify that meaning it's the law of cause and effect. We all heard of the saying "what goes around comes around", or good things happen to good people.". Is karma real? Well that depends on who you ask, and what their beliefs is. Personally I never understand how anybody can believe that karma is not real, yes everybody have good in their life, and everybody have bad in their life, I believe karma decide how much of each one of those things we endure. Karma in my opinion is what make good become really good, and bad really bad. Karma, I believe is a sign of a re-do or restart, another chance, and a teaching mechanism as well all at the same. When Karma occur, and you catch it, first it should sink in for a couple second, then if it something bad, you should realize that this happen because I did this, and therefore I'll never do it again. Something good, again you should realize this happen because I did this, therefore I'm going to do it again and do even more next time, can you see why I call it a sign of a re-do or restart, another chance, and a teaching mechanism as well? We all want to be so lucky, we only want the good things to happen, and life to be all good, but do we go about life that way? Do we do everything in our power to make life as easy on other as possible? What about the people we call our enemies? I be the first to admit, it almost impossible to do everything in our power to make life as easy on other as possible, without neglecting our self happiness, but we can at least attempt to make a conscious effort, do we? You can sit their and lie and say you do, but you and me both know you don't. It more than what you do though, so as you read this and say; do I steal? no. Do I lie? no. Am I selfish? no. This kind of stuff is of course important, so even though we all lie, we all our selfish at time, and we all at one time or another have stole, for me these things are less important than: How am I in my thoughts? Your thoughts can bring upon karma as well, good and bad. To me it's the biggest influence on what kind of karma we receive because our thoughts lead to what actions we take, you know think before you act, or speak. Positive action springs from right thought, which means right thoughts or positive thoughts makes positive actions. Positive actions, brings positive results, positive thoughts brings happiness, and when we're happy, naturally we are easier and more helpful on other, which gives our happiness the chance to rub off on them, and make them happy, are you with me? Karma is one them things in life we have to face, and can't put it on anybody else, every person is responsible for his or her acts and thoughts, so each person's karma is entirely his or her own. In closing if you need any type of motivation to do right, to think right, and at least attempt to be a good person, karma is what you should think about, that should be your motivation. When somebody do some to you, that in your eyes is wrong, if not anything else, karma should be the reason you forgive them. Wait I know what you thinking; So you telling me to wish bad on them? No, I'm not saying wish something bad on them, or wish for it to come back on them, my advice is to wish something good happen for them, something that would teach them better, once again good thoughts is good karma for you!

John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

Jungle Fever

Some say we never know who we going to be with in life, or how long until it just happens. That is a true statement in my opinion, that's why I don't discriminate on anything when it come to women. I don't care how old you are, what color you are, short or tall, skinny are fat, wait, no take that last one back ha. But everybody different we tend to know what we want in a significant other so that what we tend to see. What's very rare to see is black women being in a relationship with a white man. Wait a minute I know what you may be think, Why it always have to be black and white right? Well if you know me, you probably know that I really really dislike going racial when I write, sadly racism is still a BIG deal in our world, and in this city. I have been a lot of places and seen a lot things, for reason that I won't get into, my nightlife consist of, what people would call mixed crowed spots, I never heard of a black girl being with a white man until I started hanging in mixed crowd atmospheres. I always wonder about 2 things, Why people frown upon any interracial relationships? and as far as black girl with white guys, on rare occasion Why do it completely changes who you are? For what it's worth, concerning my 1st wondering about this, make no mistake I have nothing against interracial dating. Hell the girl I have probably love the most and my young lifetime, and even though a long term future with, was a white woman. Why it didn't work? Different story for a different day. I honestly lost a few so-called "friends" because of this, I mean like won't speak to me to this day because it, and I just wonder why? It never the guys, it the black women that usually have a problem with it, and you never get a quality answer, if there is a such thing. Can someone tell me why that is, why do black women get so upset, or offended by this? As far as my 2nd wonder, I want it to be known that I support black women dating white guys 110%, I have absolutely no problem with. To be honest, I wish I could introduce some of the good black women I know, to some of my white friends. Oh, please don't look like that! Call it what you want, say I shit'd on all black men across the world, call me a racist against my own race, a sexist, call it what you want, black men especially in my generation, you deserve that, you earned it. There are white women that discriminate against good black men, because of the things you do, which is a part of why I'm writing this, so that's a gift from me to you. Yes I said it, you heard/read it correctly, and I mean it. To get back on topic, I do have one problem with this, why is it that you women dating white man feels like you have to be two different people, and more importantly why do you discriminate on all black men, and automatically frown upon them because of what, maybe the one you had a past with, did. Everybody probably never had the opportunity to see a black girl that in a relationship with a white guy, because it is rare.Among married black women, one in 35 has a white husband. But among married white men less than 1 in 400 has a black wife. Before I go to far off the depend, the real thing I wonder and when I see this, and the question I ask myself is, Why can't we all be looked at equally, why can't we all have a fair, fresh start at anybody we may want to approach, or that want to approach us no matter color, or age? That's a question that I know been ask a million times. Well I come to you with a challenge today. From this day on, let's try to stop judging folks before we even get their name, let's stop the stereotypes, just cause a person looks different, dress different, talk different don't make them a bad person. I know this is difficult to do, because your whole life you been doing it, but I ask that you at least try, you never know who'll you meet if you just talk to somebody, it don't mean at the end of the day it has to be somebody you start to put in your future plan, that not expected at all! But you never know, you might make a new friend that shakes your life up in a good way, present an opportunity to you that will advance or help you jump start a career, they may know somebody, that know somebody that can have this effect on your life. To judge and stereotype people you never get the chance to even know their name, not only is it bad, but you also run the risk of chasing some of the most beautiful people inside and out, away.

John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

Where Is The Love???

Why do we have love for complete strangers? Well, people are different. Truth is WE don't love complete stranger, hell truth is WE rarely love the ones closest to us. I have love for not only family and the ones closest to me, I also have love for any man I walk past on the street, any woman that drive side by side me on any highway or street. I drive past a scene of a car accident my heart get heavy, or to hear someone has an ill family member, I share their pain, you cry on my shoulder don't be surprise to see a tear from my face fall onto yours. Is that so bad? Why do I have to be so different because of this? Why is it so rare? Older people has told me that's how it use to be before my time, I have no idea rather that's true or not, then again I'm 22 and wasn't around. The world is filled with so much hatred now a days, we have not a care or feeling in our hearts for anybody sick and shut in, or down on their luck, but when we are, we expect to be cared for or at least though about. Where do this come from, how do we develop this kind of hatred in our heart. I used that word because right now I can't find anything lighter, hatred is a bit strong, but I hope you get what I'm talking about. We develop this from many different things, many things are to blame, the music we listen to, the type of parents we have, and their influence they have on us, the people or crowd we hang around, or what about our inability to forgive, these are just a few. Don't even get me started on church folks, outside of the church anybody not save, you look at them as if they're the devil, I know that a sin right church people??? People like me, if your out there, find a way to contact me, I need friends and people that similar to me, to be closer to me. You know the best relationship come from the people who is most like you, no matter color, age, or sex. Unfortunately a decent heart, for a stranger is rare now days. I guess the real question I need to ask is not why do we carry love for complete strangers, but Why DON"T we carry love in our heart for complete strangers???

John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

Who Is Jay Gruden, and What Is The Plan?

So as we all had been patiently waiting and hoping, there is officially a new offensive general in town. Coach Gruden, no not the one we famously know as "chucky", but his little brother. When his name first started being put into the same sentence as the vacant job as Bengals offensive coordinator, like many my first thoughts was who the hell is this guy??? Well after doing my research and a conference call later I feel I can tell you everything you need to know about this guy and his plans for the Cincinnati offense. Jay Gruden, 43, was born in Tempa Florida. Younger brother of Jon Gruden who was a very successful head coach with the Tampa Bay Bucs. Jay is more known for his work as Head Coach of a team called the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is what we call a football guy, he has been a successful player and coach, and been around the game his entire life. As a Player Gruden was a four-year letterman at Louisville He finished his collegiate career with 7,024 passing yards, completing 572 of 1049 passes for 44 touchdowns. All four stats still rank in the top five in Louisville Cardinals' history, so he somewhat of a local. He never made it to the NFL but he did play professional football in the AFL where Gruden won four ArenaBowl titles as the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Storm. He was the Arena League MVP in the 1992 season. As a coach, Gruden began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator for the Nashville Kats in 1997. Then, in 1998, he became head coach of the Orlando Predators, the main rival of the Tampa Bay Storm. He won ArenaBowl titles in 1998 and 2000 as head coach. He un-retired and resumed playing in 2002, this time for the Predators, but retired again and returned to head coaching when his replacement, Fran Papasedero, died after the 2003 season. Gruden has an overall AFL career record of 93–61, including a record of 11–7 in the playoffs.
From 2002 to 2008 he also served as an offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League under his brother, head coach Jon Gruden. He left after Jon was fired following the 2008 season.
He also has coached in the Arena Football League, winning AFL titles with the Orlando Predators in 1998 and 2000. In 2009, while the Predators were on hiatus prior to the folding of the Arena Football League, he was selected to be head coach Jim Haslett's offensive coordinator for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. As part of his contract, he was not permitted to remain head coach of the Predators. Instead, former Preds quarterback Pat O'Hara, who led the team to the two ArenaBowls it won when Gruden was head coach, was hired in his place.
In 2009, he was named head coach of the Tuskers following Haslett's departure to join Mike Shanahan's staff with the Washington Redskins. In 2010 he coached the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. For 2011 he will be back in the NFL as offensive coordinator of our Cincinnati Bengals. I am not jumping in the deep end on Gruden yet, but after a Conference called held today I like what I'm hearing and he has given me a reason to believe again. When as of the expectation he has, and will have to take on Gruden said, “I expect great things with the Bengals. I intend on bringing a great attitude and work ethic. We’ll build off the strength this offense has developed and add a system to challenge everyone in the building. I hope to do that. I hope to challenge everybody in the building. We’re going to get after it in a lot of different ways. … We plan on being simple and basic in what we do, but it’s going to look complex. That’s a big part of our offense.” Sounds like what we been wanting to see right? How many of us, could call the play watching the game before Bratkowski sent it down on the field? Everybody know i'm a Carson Palmer fan, one of the few he has in this city, and proud of it might I add. When ask about the Carson Palmer Situation, Gruden responded, "“It’s very important for us to do whatever we can to talk to Carson and get him to come back. I feel strongly that, if given the opportunity to talk to him and sell him on the offense and the excitement we’re going to bring to the team, (inaudible). If he’s adament about not coming back, that’s going to be his decision. We can only control what we can control.” Even though I love CP9 as the QB of the Bengals, from the tone of Gruden voice I felt like, in a way, he wanted to say, we'll love to have Carson, but without him we'll still be successful so I liked that. So what about Cedric Benson and the running game??? “We have to run the ball between the tackles,” Gruden said. “We have to be a physical team up front. We’re going to challenge our offensive line to be physical. We’re not going to spread out and go no-huddle every down and throw the ball 65 times a game. I intend on pounding the ball and being able to pound the ball.” I like the sound of that and hope it true, I find it kind of hard to believe given the fact he has always ran a west coast style offense, No i'm not saying he going to throw it 65 times, there is no way, but I do think will be more pass then run, that's just the style of the west coast offense. Now you can mix it up, and adjust it and many different ways, which is what I think he will attempt to do, because clearly we are a more run fit team then pass. All in all i'm excited about the new change, I would rather had got a more known and bigger name coordinator that is well known at what he do, but I'm willing to give this Gruden a chance, he brother always was my favorite NFL coach, so he at least deserves that. I'm anixious to see how this will turn out.