touched...Whitney's Home Going Service...

This is the honest truth...I wasn't attached to Whiteny's passing. I wasn't sure if it was the fact that I felt deep down that the drug abuse at some time mixed with an aging body was going to catch up to her, or what...but when news hit, I was in Atlanta. A text went to my phone, and it was verified for me through Twitter (the world we live in). Odd and unsettling, yes. Unfortunate, absolutely. My thoughts went directly to Bobbi Christina and Bobby Brown. Their whereabouts, and reactions. With the Grammy's, NAACP Awards, and now an impending funeral, I knew it was going to be a week of her, as it should be.

Now, it's here. Just across the water, in Newark, New Jersey. I'm watching the funeral on my TV screen, and I was unprepared for this. My reaction. I have cried through about 70% of the service so far. I didn't even cry like this watching Michael's funeral. It's not just her impact hitting, but that of the people chosen to speak and sing. As I watch Kevin Costner, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Tyler Perry, Clive Davis, Alicia Keys, Rev. Kim Burell, and Stevie Wonder....my lawd Stevie Wonder, I can't NOT be touched. It's real now for me.

It is not a media fest, it has been a genuine afternon of personal anecdotes, and a look into the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston. We get a chance to peek into her life as a person, a human, a friend, a mother,  not just a performer. As it's been said, this family has given us the privledge of sharing her with the world. For that, I thank them. My condolences to the family. Her spirit and voice lives on forever.

transition generation...

I am tired as all hell right now. This weekend had me up in Poughkeepsie for a wedding I found out about on Monday (Congrats Siobhan and Joe), then Jersey for some cooling out with a Tribe Member, but it was tonight's Power Meeting with my two closest male friends, and a new potential business partner that is really panning out the focus of the rest of my night before falling into a deep sleep. I had one of the most outrageous nights of my life last night. Definitely one for the personal history books...I digress.

During our Power Conversation, Josh brought up a concept that had me jotting down blog pointers for the rest of the night ahead:

We are the Transition Generation.

We are the generation that was in college when Facebook started. We witnessed a world before, and after it. We are the generation that remembers working on typewriters and word processors before ever having a computer. We are a generation that knows life before and after the introduction of Reality TV. We watched the creation of cell phones, and their evolution from bricks to touch screens. We are the generation in which Apple went from a bulky barely functional computer, to a techological cult and power house machine.

We are the generation that knows both sides. That is a huge realization when put into the context of business practices going forth. We innately have a knowledge base that comes from both sides. If weilded properly, that fortune alone has the potential for major strides in marketing and productivity going forth.

On my evierobbie. ish....

D Day... RIP for Dwight

I feel like this title would be RIP Heavy D, if I hadn't spoken to him...

Today, Mount Vernon, in Westchester, New York was flooded with fans, celebrities, and onlookers alike for the servces of Heavy D, Dwight Myers. If you don't know him, you don't know hip-hop music at its core.

What brought our inital communication together was that I was always a fan of his Tweets. Every single last one of them was inspiration for my eyes, in particular while I was living out in Japan. One day a Re-Tweet, led to a conversation, led to trying to set up an interview, led to Facebook messages back and forth randomly over the course of a year.

I hadn't 'spoken' to him in awhile, but true to the begining, I was always on his Twitter page, still and always inspired.

When I heard he passed, I immediately went into my Facebook inbox and typed in 'Dwight Myers'. A year struck me. He was gone. The interview had never come into fruition. But whether he knew it or not, he left an impact. For this I thank him.

Dwight, kick it with my boy Rudi up there. He'll show you the ropes. I wish your family, friends, and every lover of true hip-hop my condolences...but please, please remember him in rhythm. Got nuttin' but love for you baby!

-Evie

family.

This photo breathes life...

Jayden and Jada Pinckett-Smith

a tribute to Where's Julian?

Wheres Julian? -Episode 3 (Loch Raven Reservoir) from WheresJulian? on Vimeo.

Bayyina, one of the Nomad•ness Travel Tribe's, new bright personalities hit the Tribe with a very sobering, yet inspirational, moment today. She shared the story of her friend Julian who passed away in a car accident last Thursday. As traumatic as I dare think the situation is for her, she shared with the Tribe (her self-proclaimed extended family) her friend's show "Where's Julian?" I'd love for you all to check it out.

In her words:

I'm sharing this with all of you because I feel like you are apart of my extended family. Julian was put on this Earth to show everyone how to live life to the FULLEST which I feel like a lot of us do in this group. The majority of people in the world aren't travelers and don't have the guts to just get up and BLAST like many of us do. We only have ONE life to live and we've got to LIVE IT! I love you guys!

This one is for Julian, and others who have seen this fate way too young. Rudi, this stirs up thoughts of you as well. Introduce yourself to Julian up there, so he's not alone. Love to you both!

sex and candy...

"What are your vices?"

That's what the IM read. Curious, yet innocent enough, I felt he was oblivious to the key that that inquiry held to a personal Pandora's box. Or maybe he did know.

"Candy," my fingers typed, knowing that was no less valid, as it was the safe answer.
I didn't want to be safe though.

"And love. Giving love too fast to those undeserving of it."

His response, "So sex and candy."

"I guess so."

I'm turned on by many vices, possibly because I feel that's when people give into whatever urges that remind them that, they too, are animals. Everything becomes raw, innate, and under-calculated.

Truth be told, I was turned on by his merely asking. No one has ever asked me that before, and it struck a chord just as much as it lit a match. Proceed with caution. 

homegrown...

Short and sweet.

As my dear friend Keith said this weekend...in between rounds of beer pong.

"No matter how big it all gets, you can never escape this."

As I looked around, I realized how right Keith was. With a male friend who will remain nameless dancing to house music in cut off jean shorts, and an unbuttoned cut off sweater. There were mullets, a bottomless pit of jungle juice, my favorite white boys from Poughkeepsie, and a sense of nostalgia that wouldn't quit. As much as NYC and my world travels have shaped the woman I am...as much as Iona College was such a pinnacle in my life...it all goes back to house parties (mine and others) in Poughkeepsie, and old friends that reminds me that I'm home grown.

great weekend.

PS. For those of you who have never been to Poughkeepsie and seen the Mid-Hudson bridge, it has colored lights on it. Shouts out to PK for lighting the bridge like the rainbow for Pride weekend. I peeped it.

my friend's house burnt down...pay it forward

Sometimes life hits people with real shit. I don't know how else to say it. This weekend isn't about promoting bags, or even blasting Berlin right now because I got a phone call that shook me to the core less than a week ago.

Many of you will remember Jeremiah from my time in Thailand, with Jet Set Zero towards the end of 2010. Close to my heart, I shared everything from food, to Thailand, to a bed with this young man. The trailer of our season is posted below to jog some memories. He's the one laying on the tiger.

Season 8 - Thailand (Teaser) from Jet Set Zero on Vimeo.

Jeremiah called me on Saturday night, while I was leaving Rudi's memorial BBQ in CT, to notify me that his house had burned to the ground earlier that afternoon, destroying everything his family had and killing his two dogs.

Sadly, I can say I know about this first hand as the same thing happened to me but as a very young child. I couldn't imagine it as an adult.

Jeremiah has tough pride. He tried to go without eating for days in Thailand, while I did everything but shove food down his throat, because of lack of money. The kid hates asking for help....so I'm going to for him.

I waited to post this today because Friday tends to be the universal pay day. If you can PLEASE Pay Pal/Donate anything over to him and his family it'd be greatly appreciated. ANYTHING! I'm working on getting an address where things like clothes can be sent. I'll keep you all posted.

I need you all to send this information far and wide!

The Pay Pal email address that will get right to them is: ortnerjeremiah@yahoo.com

Send whatever amount you can there as soon as possible!

Thank you all so much. Note, this will be the story/blog I push the most this weekend because of the urgency. Below is a posted local newspaper article, with photos of the damage. This family is going through it right now. Please help!

NEWSPAPER STORY LINK

PS. Talking to Jeremiah, after the emotion of losing his dogs, the second thing he brings up is his passport. One of the reasons I love this kid. Travelers understand that. Love you Jeremiah!

surroundings...

One should live where their heart is in harmony.- from film "Verticle Ray of The Sun"

Keep this is mind when picking your surroundings.

priorities...

Song of the week. Says it all. This album was my soundtrack to Japan.

life delivered...

There's something about the idea of a new life that is invigorating. One of my best friends welcomed his new son into the world this past Monday. In a summer that has been filled with many people passing, it's so amazing to have a new life delivered.

Since he revealed the "I'm going to be a father" to me, last fall, it's been a real anticipation of events. He started a blog that maps out going from a man to a father, that can be seen HERE.

There is a sense of pride that I have in Elias' debut in the world. I have known his father since I was seventeen. 9 years. As much as he likes to talk about my growth, I too have seen him grow. Through draining relationships, there always lived the dream of becoming a father in him.

He was the first man I knew to have an early mid-life crisis, at twenty-two. So, it's funny to see the circle. Oh life. 'Tis amazing!