My Not-So-Secret Crush on Tupac

didn't think much of rap music as I was growing up. When I watched TRL after school, if a rap music video came on it meant bathroom/water break before a Britney or Christina video started. It wasn’t until college that I finally began developing my infatuation with the rap genre. I just love clever lyrics and when it’s delivered with good rhythm and over great beats, ah I can’t get enough. Some girls say that a guy with an accent makes him 20 times sexier, for me it’s a guy who can rap well.

There are many rappers that have my heart, but I always find myself going back to my first love, Tupac Amaru Shakur. If only he was still with us, I’m sure he would have matured and channeled more of his anger into solving the social problems he was always preaching about. He didn’t advertise this about himself, but he was always trying to find ways to help those still in poverty. He could have just been partying, (I'm not denying that he didn’t still do a lot of that) but he also would invite homeless people to stay at his mansions. Tupac would take people in and use his money to help. It's pretty rare for celebrities to do that these days without hoping to get lots of press in return. So many of the current rap stars use their personal stories of living in poverty to rise out but then never look back or help their old neighborhoods unless their PR manager tells them to.

Maybe I’ve watch too many documentaries about him, but he was something different. Not just as a rapper, but as a person. So intelligent, so passionate, so good hearted. Yes, he had his demons, yes this led him to medicate with Hennessey/marijuana mixed with bouts of youthful anger and bitterness, but he had so much to say of real substance.

At the height of his fame he could have just sat back and enjoyed his money and power. Instead he continued to burden himself with the problems of the world. Tupac wanted to change things, not just personally gain. I really admire anyone who is at the top and still remembers the everyday problems of those below.

I think if he hadn’t died so young he would have grown up to be like Malcolm X was later in life (without the Islam aspect). An intelligent and passionate man who wasn’t satisfied with the status quo, who strove to make his society a better place. Side note- Malcolm X is another love of mine. Anyone who teaches themselves how to read in prison by going through the entire dictionary, at the very least should have respect for that impressive feat.

No matter what I say I think Tupac does a better job of explaining himself, so here are some videos...

17 year old Tupac is adorable! After ~6 minutes he starts talking about his respect for the ladies. I encourage you, if you have time, to watch all parts of the interview. He’s super cute and such an idealist. A lot of the interview is devoted to how much he loves his mom and all that she’s taught him (if this song didn’t already explain it enough for you http://youtu.be/JNcloTmvTeA). I love boys who come from strong mothers, so he’s got that going for him in my book too. I love the whole interview, but at least enjoy this section.




Here is one of my favorite Tupac songs. Later in life he was still a feminist at heart.




More about what he thinks about issues, not just money, drugs, and hos like so much rap today.




I could easily post 20 more songs and interviews, but everyone already knows Tupac. I will end with a classic, which also happens to be what first led me to fall in love with him.

Pass It On

n my commute home there is a intersection with a traffic light where homeless people usually walk up and down asking people in their cars for handouts. Each day there is a different homeless person, some with missing limbs, a limp, or a poster explaining how they got there.

My usual protocol when passing this intersection is to avoid eye contact, otherwise I will feel even worse about their predicament and the rest of my ride home will be too sad to handle. (yes, selfish) I don't give money to people who ask like that because, unfortunately, a lot of the people on the streets are just going to use it to fuel some kind of addiction. A lot of homeless shelters turn out people because they are addicts, so I don't want to be an enabler and fuel their addiction with cash so they just continue to stay out of homeless shelters. Ah, ok this can get into a big huge political discussion about homelessness, mental illnesses, and addiction, but that's not what I want to talk about. Anywaysssss...

A few weeks ago, as I was sitting at this red light, I read the sign that that day's homeless man was carrying. I don't remember the exact words now, but instead of the usual pity story, he wrote that he wouldn't be homeless long and that as soon as possible he would pay any help received forward (or "pay it forward," if you want to use the Kevin Spacey movie title). He promised that whatever money you gave him, once he was able, he would put it back out into the world for someone else in need. I know that very easily could have been a lie, but it got me. If someone can think of people other than themselves when they have such enormous personal difficulties, I admire that. I wish more people thought like that and lived that way. So I rolled down my window and gave him $20. I'm not bragging, I never give homeless people anything, and actually for the rest of my ride felt so guilty about not giving him more. He made me smile and I don't think I will forget him easily. When he accepted the money, he felt genuine.  But who knows, I'm a terrible judge of character. Even if he doesn't pass it on someday, he still gave me a little more hope in this world.

Law School Admissions Decision: Admitted

have now officially mailed in my seat deposit to guarantee my spot as a part of an incoming full-time law class. As you can imagine, the excitement/fear of what will begin this August are at an all-time high. 

My next few months are devoted to having fun, traveling a little around the country, enjoying the fact that I’m allowed to sit and do absolutely nothing, and reading any books/articles that might help me successfully get through the next year. 

Three months… wow, didn’t realize it was so soon until right this moment. I have a lot to do before then!

My future!

Just Sick of Being Sick

ven though this year has been an amazing year so far, maybe even the best, it has definitely been lacking in one department-- my health.

Thankfully I haven’t had any major illnesses or conditions (knock on wood!), but I’m pretty sure I’ve been sick more than healthy since January. It’s just been back to back colds and the flu. The worst was when I had to stay home from work two days because I felt like death and didn’t even have enough energy to groan about the pain. I had a cough for more than two weeks and eventually had to get antibiotics that just made me super nauseous. Fun times… Now I have yet another cold. I think it’s combined with seasonal allergies to make for extra excitement at bed time. No decongestant is working and I just feel like complaining about it. So there. I’m sick again and it’s getting really old, fast.

The weird part is that I’m one of those annoying people that is always like, “I never get sick.” So thanks universe for showing me that I’m not Wonder Woman. Or maybe this is just making  up for all those flu’s and colds I didn’t get when I was younger? Eh, since when is life supposed to be fair?

Anywhoo, what I’m really worried about is the fact that I have to get all of my wisdom teeth taken out soon. I went for a teeth cleaning after about six years (yeah, the dentist wasn’t too pleased about that). Good News: I have no cavities and wonderfully healthy teeth, despite my professional cleaning neglect. Bad News: My x-rays showed that my wisdom teeth are impacted and definitely need to be removed ASAP. I know that this is a standard procedure and most people have to remove their wisdom teeth, but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying.

Being the freak that I am, of course I have been researching non-stop the possible side effects of the procedure, how long it takes to recover, what can go wrong, etc. And let me tell you, a lot can go wrong. One of the scariest is that they can hit your nerves wrong causing “numbness in the mouth or lips that does not go away.” What?? Ok ok, it was listed under “rare side effects,” but still! And that possibility is on top of the scariness that comes along with the anesthetics they use during the procedure and the horrible narcotic pain relievers they give you afterwards. I’d also have to sleep sitting up to prevent a dry socket from forming, which also sounds terrifying. Ah, I could go on, but I am only freaking myself out more.

I guess the bottom line is that I have been putting off scheduling a consultation for the surgery for too long. Also, I willingly admit that I am a little bit neurotic about medical procedures.

For now, I am just going to focus on getting rid of my current cold. Chicken soup and lots of fluids for me tonight! Then maybe I’ll eventually get around to calling that oral surgeon…

Welcoming The Year 1390!

Today is the first day of Spring, which means it's Persian New Years! 

Aide shoma mobarak!

Last night, at 7:21 PM EST, the new year began. Although it has only been a few months since we celebrated the start of a new Gregorian calendar year, I'm always in the mood for fresh beginnings. 

All this talk of new beginnings makes me think of that Bob Dylan lyric, "He not busy being born is busy dying." Such a great way to go through life. Sometimes people need a little encouragement to not let their lives become stagnant. There is way too much to learn, see, do, eat, and experience before it comes to that. 

Anyways, if you just want a little fun celebrating music/see some interesting fashion choices then here you go:

And for those of you not that familiar with Persian New Year, here's a little background and information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/18/134656808/Spring-Equinox-Signals-Persian-New-Year