A "State"ment!!!

Yesterday marked the fourth and final year that Dee has worked hard and made it to the state finals in track and field (Friday was the preliminaries and Sat. the finals).  For the last three years he has only made it in team events, but this was the first year he made it in an open event (the 400m).  Now, it was a fluke all the prior years that he didn't make it because he is a dynamic runner, so making it this year was truly a gift for him.  He had his usual cheerleaders there cheering him on (mom, dad, (1)sis and (1)grandparent).  Other family members wanted to come, but were unfortunately not able to make it.  They did however send their prayer and well wishes.  He and his teammates ran a great 4x200m relay taking home a medal for third place.  Roughly, about 40 minutes later (which I thought was too close), it was time for him to run his open event.  The runners lined up, the gun went off the race began.  It was a great race and after the dust settled, Dee brought home a 5th place medal.  He was heart broken, because he has worked so hard to get to state and the guy who got first is really not better than Dee.  Yesterday was just his day.  Anyway, his mom and I had to reassure him that he is and always will be a winner in our book and to no look at it as 5th in that meet, but 5th in the entire state of Missouri and that is a great accomplishment.  We also reminded him of all the athletes that have run track all four years and never made it as far as has.  Dee will be running summer track this and the same guy who got him at state will be running as well.  I told him to take that loss at state and use it as the fuel to beat the sleeves off him during the summer.  My son will be victorious because he is and has what it take to be a winner!!!

I saw you...running in the rain

So it's Saturday morning and Dee has a track meet.  I though it started at 9, but I am so glad that he called and informed me that it didn't start until 11.  My mom was going to the meet with me so got to the house at around 9, she ate some yogurt, watched some UFO show on the history channel and then we headed out to the meet.  Before we actually headed to the meet, we had to do a little shopping.  Much to our dismay, it was cold and rainy that morning so we need to get some gear.  I brought us a trash bag from home to sit on so that our butts wouldn't get wet, but I couldn't find my rain poncho and mom did have on enough clothing.  Now mind you, it is May in St. Louis, but he temperature was probably only like 50 degrees and when you are sitting still at a track meet in the rain....IT IS REALLY FREAKIN COLD!!!!  Once we got our $1.49 ponchos, a sweat shirt for mom and some snacks, we headed back to the school to watch Dee participate in the district track meet.  He was in three events (4x200, 400, 4x400) and he made in to sectionals in two of them (4x200 and 400)!!!  He looked great out there as usual and I can't wait to see him run this coming Saturday!!!

RUN DEE!! RUN!!

Got up yesterday and tinkered around online looking for work and updating my blogs and websites in an attempt to wait for the temperature to rise.  I had breaks to put on the Bentley (our 1995 Cutlass Cierra) that I have been trying to install for about two weeks or so.  Dee had the car for about a week and then when  he brought it back the weather was (and still is) up and down.  Anyway, I finally got it done and now the Bentley is back on the road!!  Once I got that done, I did a quick wardrobe change and headed over to Berkly Mccluer South for Dee's track meet.  Now when I left home it was like 65 degrees and kinda overcast, but it wasn't really cold.  By the time I drove the whole 10 minutes to the high school and got out of the car, IT WAS FREEZING and I had no jacket with me!!  Normally when I attend his meets, I record Dee, his girlfriend and his other teammates, but yesterday I only recorded Dee!!  Despite the cold and sometimes rainy weather, he did great!!  He was first in the open 400m (which is his race) and second in the 200m.  He and his team took 2nd in the 4x400m as well as second (I think) in the 4x200m ( I was just getting there when that race started).  For the third year in a row he was awarded the title of Conference champ in the 400m!!!  THAT BOY GOOD AND I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM!!!!  After the last event the sky opened up and the rain poured...I'm glad they were all done and everyone did a great job!!

The video of our weekend...

Brown Family Breakin!!

I need a clone!!!

Today was a very busy day for me and the crew.  It started this morning at 10am with Zuri going to Coachlight Skating Rink for skating lessons with her aunt C.C. and cousin Jelani.  Then Dee had a track meet that started at 9 (even though he didn't run until after 12.  Before any of that could happen though, Zuri had to clean her room and I had to make her breakfast.  I'll tell you what, trying to get that girl out of the house on time is a huge challenge!!  She wants to look around and play with her toes and she's walking slow and she wants to watch me cook and I'm like "HEY, GO GET YOUR BUTT IN THE SHOWER!!"  Then 2 minutes late she is back again showing me this non existent scratch on her and so on and so on!!  Eventually she did eat and get in the shower. We made to the skating rink about 10 minutes late, but we were right behind her aunt.  From there I had to rush across town to Clayton High and meet my mom for Dee's track meet.  Now when we went on Thursday there was no admission, but today its 5 bucks for adults and do you think either of us had any money?  NO!!  So we stood outside the gate and watched for about an hour.  While we were standing there, Dee walked over and informed us that he wasn't going to be running for quite some time, which was cool because we needed to leave and go pick up Zuri from her aunt at a park near my house, so back across town we went.  We stopped and got food, stopped by the house to get the other camera and headed to the park.  Zuri and Jelani had a blast!!  They played on the swings, the monkey bars and the slides.  After about an hour of them playing, Zuri, my mom and I left C.C. and Jelani and headed back across town to finally see Dee run!!  He metaled in 3 events, so he was pretty happy and we were proud.  He piled on the bus with his team mates, I took my and Zuri home and I headed to Dee's school to pick him up and give him a ride home.  Now that we are home, Zuri is outdoors playing and mom is going to babysit for me while I go and host a poetry show!!  Now I'm off to hit the shower!!

Movie Night

Well, we had pizza and movie night last night.  We watched "Old Dogs" with John Travolta and Robin Willams and "The Princess and The Pony".  Both movies were really good!!  I especially liked "Old Dogs", but then again I am a big Robin Williams fan...that dude cracks me up!!  Anyway, both are great family movies that all can enjoy!!

It begins today!!

Today is the day that I begin to chronicle the time I spend with my children.  The reason that I am doing this blog is, during a 30 day period, I get to have about 72 hours with my two youngest children (and lately it has only been my daughter).  In a month, that is not very much time at all to try and squeeze a months worth of love in, but we do.

Let me back up a bit and introduce you to myself and my little family.  My name is Derek and I am a divorced father of three.  Now my oldest, Derek II, is from a previous relationship.  In 19 days, he will be 18 years old and the following day he will be graduating high school!!  I am very proud of Dee!!  In today's society, to have an African American male who has not been in any trouble with the legal system (and doesn't want to be) is a blessing.  He is a scholar athlete and is on his way to college in the fall.  Next in line is Henry.  Now even though biologically he is not mine, I have loved him since he waddled his big head into my life almost 9 years ago.  Henry and I have a great relationship and enjoy every moment we spend together.  The dude is also a educational sponge!!  He loves to read and learn new things any chance he gets.  Last, but definitely not least is my Zuri!!  She is the only girl and she loves every minute of it.  Now Zuri is my little social butterfly.  Any place she goes and anyone who meets her falls in love with her!!  She is as sweet as sweet can be.  She will sing and dance and draw and laugh and hug and the list goes on!!  When she came into the world 7 years ago our lives changed for the better.


These 3 individuals are why I do everything that I do.  They are the reason I enjoy being a father.  There are so many guys who walk away from their children and never look back...how they can do that, I will never understand.  Well, what I am hoping to achieve with this blog, is to give you all an opportunity to see how my children and I can squeeze so much love in such a short period of time.  Even though I hate reality shows, one like this would be nice.  There are some really great dads out here who go through a lot just to spend a little time with their children.  Hopefully this will open some eyes to the ups and downs of being a part-time dad trying to give full-time love.