I went to #HarvestSoCal on Saturday and it was nice

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I had heard about Greg Laurie’s Harvest for so long but I never had a chance to go to it because of work and distance for all these years. But for the first time ever, I had the time and I went.

I don’t really respond well to these big gatherings. There’s a lost intimacy to it at times but I still was curious. The drive to Angel Stadium wasn’t too bad and parking was only $5. But it was really me being curious about how people would react to an event like this. It was free, but how many people would show up?

The stadium was packed.

I can’t explain it and I don’t understand it but I get it

Watch live: Suspect in #WDBJ journalists' killings has died; officials give update http://t.co/6k0NfnOXuY

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) August 26, 2015

When I woke up to this news this morning, I was not in disbelief. I guess this is how desensitized I am to violence in this country.

I am saddened that this happened. I am saddened that the man who did this felt that he had to do it.

I am saddened to hear that he claims he was a victim of racism. I am saddened to hear that mentally, he felt that the only way to resolve that issue was to hurt people.

I don’t get it. I don’t understand why we treat each other this way. I don’t understand why and I can’t explain how. But I understand that in this world, especially this country, we have lost our way in how we treat each other. We mock those who are different and ignore those who don’t have what we have. And somehow in the middle, we thrive on so many good things too.

I don’t know what happened exactly, but the fact that this wasn’t a surprise to me shows how much we have made these things a norm. It’s a shame.

More thoughts and thoughts

I don’t know this has become one of the busiest months for me. I have not been able to consistently write for my sports blog. This blog isn’t getting much attention either. Even my final installment of trolling stone may or may not happen.

The busyness isn’t all that crazy really. I still am working the same hours as last month. But the move to a new office drains me because of the commute. Not only that, I just don’t have the motivation to write. Maybe this is a sign of me growing up and maturing into something else? I don’t think that’s the best way to describe it. But then again, that could exactly be it.

But I do know during Labor Day weekend I am hosting a nice BBQ so I am really excited for that. This is the first time I am hosting a party on my own with people that are visiting my place for the first time. I am excited.

Hey when are you writing in the green book?

‘Straight Outta Compton’ was exceptionally wonderful

Yesterday I got to see this movie after trying to find an opportunity for a free screening. I think I want to see it again. It was that great.

I have been a fan of rap since I was in my early teens and this group was so big to my passion for the genre. I wasn’t huge on N.W.A., but I was a fan of the products of the group, especially Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. And I actually knew a lot about the history of the group’s origins and all the way to their split. What made this film great was that they packed 10 years of history into a two-hour film.

Getting an inside look into the origins of the group and their early years on tour was something that was done real well. I had never seen anything like that and how they portrayed everything there was great. I look at the actors and their portrayals of the rappers was so good. I particularly really like the portrayal of Ice Cube and Eazy-E in the movie.

I finally saw The Sweeplings in show and their music makes me so happy

So happy to see and meet @TheSweeplings @camibradley @WhitneyDeanuna! Their music warms me like a hug. pic.twitter.com/tLqf7ncoRn

— Sam (@phutmasterflex) August 13, 2015

Before I even dive into this, I want to tell you a story.

Remember when I first moved here and I attended my first concert here in LA? I have been following the Hotel Cafe for a while in hopes of returning and seeing another show there. So one day in November, the venue talked about an upcoming show that night about this duo called The Sweeplings. I had never heard of them before but out of curiosity, I looked them up. I never really listened much to a guy/girl duo in many of my music tastes, but something about Cami (she’s really pretty and has a super sweet voice — plus she’s from America’s Got Talent) and Whitney (who looks like the coolest guy in the room always) that caught my attention. I jammed their music on Spotify all day while at work giving myself a chance to check out their sound. I liked it. I wanted to go see them that night. But I was stuck at work all night.

@camibradley @thehotelcafe @TheSweeplings I just discovered your music but I got work tonight =(

— Sam (@phutmasterflex) November 12, 2014

@camibradley Hahaha. They'd probably tell me to work from home if I was sick. Next time you are back in LA, I'll be there!

— Sam (@phutmasterflex) November 12, 2014

@phutmasterflex deal!

— The Sweeplings (@TheSweeplings) November 12, 2014

Because I don’t seem to update this enough with my updates

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My last two entries were about my two days in Cooperstown but I haven’t updated it since. I wrote it on my sports blog but I can give a quick summary here.

Following my five-hour drive to Boston, I got a chance to see my mom and just relax for the rest of the night. The following day we had a two-hour drive out to Springfield for the Basketball Hall of Fame. It was a really neat place to check out the history of basketball. It’s a small place and it looks like a Dave & Busters from the outside, but inside it’s packed with the history of the game. It’s very nice.

The next day we did the Freedom Trail through Boston to see all the historical sites. And then after that it was Fenway Park. It’s intimate. It’s small. The place has so much history. I really like the park and I want to go back again. Overall, it’s a very small park that fits perfectly for the history of Boston.