How do you enjoy a good concert?

As you may have surmised from my blog, I’m a huge fan of concerts. I get much pleasure watching an artist bring a CD to life. For me, there’s nothing better than spending several hours listening to good, live music.

This year, I’ve been to more than 10 shows. Some have been at intimate venues; others at arenas. Whenever I’m in a position to stand and dance, I do.

My idea of having a good time at a concert is dancing freely and singing hard and loud. During the New Edition concert last year, I broke into the dance they do during the chorus of the If It Isn’t Love video. Thankfully, I had most of the row to myself.

It’s perplexing to me when people stay seated the entire show. I saw a lot of this at the Maxwell show I attended a few weeks ago.

For the life of me, I can’t comprehend how someone paid for a concert ticket and they never leave their seat. I mean, it’s a concert, not the ballet or opera!

Maybe they are trying to be cute and don’t want to mess up their outfits.

Maybe they were having a good time, but when you are sitting there with your arms folded across your chest and not even attempting to move to the beat of the music, it makes me wonder why you even bothered coming out in the first place.

I know there are people who will say, “I paid my money and will enjoy myself sitting down,” and that’s fine.

But don’t get mad when I’m standing in front of you, dancing and singing to my heart’s content.

Because I paid my money too.

I can’t live without my iPod

Back in the 80s, rapper LL Cool J made a song titled I Can’t Live Without My Radio.

In 2008, I know how exactly how he feels.

This is a sad day in my life.

I learned today that my iPod is officially dead.

For the last five years, I’ve formed a tight bond with my third-generation iPod. I’ll never forget the day a former co-worker introduced me to this music player. He had a first generation one, and once he explained to me that I could have my entire music collection in the palm of my hand, I was hooked.

A few weeks later, I ordered my own. For $400, I got the iPod, earbuds, a docking station, a carrying case and a USB cable. At the time, I thought that was a lot of money, but it was well worth it.

My iPod and me had our ups and downs. It kept freezing up when I wanted to run. It also would do some other funky stuff.

Instead of giving me a new iPod, Apple gave me the runaround about not being able to replace it because it was engraved. I battled with them for a long while, but they never gave in.

Still, I cherished it. I told everyone I could about it. It took a few years, but my sister and a few friends finally invested in one. They too are now hooked.

A few weeks ago, I dropped my iPod. This was nothing new because unfortunately, I’ve dropped it one too many times – even though every time I did it was in its carrying case.

This time, a piece broke off the bottom. No worries because it still played.

A few days ago, I went to use it and the Apple logo appeared – but it never went away.

That’s never a good sign.

I kept resetting it, but the logo just stayed put.

I made an appointment at Apple’s Genius Bar and received the devastating news. “Your hard drive is shot,” the man said. It costs $249 for a replacement.

I may have jinxed myself because I’ve been eyeing the new iPod Classic. Maybe my third generation caught wind of my desire for a new one and decided to force my hand.

Problem is I’m not sure I like the new iPod. I love that my buttons are above the wheel and not apart of it. I’m used to scrolling through and finding my music really fast.

I played with a friend’s iPod Classic, and the wheel just wasn’t right to me. Still, after my DJ friend told me buying a new iPod was something I should do for myself, I logged onto Amazon.com and hit the “Place your order” button – sans the engraving.

I should have my new 120GB iPod Classic by the end of the week. That’s such an upgrade from my 20GB.

After having music at my fingertips for the last five years, there’s no way I’m going back to carrying a bulky CD player.

Do they even still make those things?

Why voting matters

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 will forever be remembered as the day America decided “Yes We Can” make a change in this country.

Barack Obama, the 47-year-old junior United States Senator from Illinois, will be officially sworn in as President on Jan. 20, 2009. I plan to be there because I wouldn’t miss witnessing history for anything.

I want to be able to tell my yet-to-be-had children’s children that I saw a Black man place his hand on the Bible and say the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

I cast my vote for President-elect Obama on Oct. 25. I really wanted to vote on Nov. 4, but I was flying back from Washington D.C., and didn’t want to chance not making it back in time.

I would have been sick to my stomach had I not been able to vote.

I’ve always believed that voting is a right and everyone should take advantage of the opportunity. Whether it’s for president or a bond measure, I always take time to vote.

As I cast my ballot that sunny Saturday afternoon, I couldn’t help but reflect on what my ancestors endured in order for me to walk into the Alameda County Court House and cast my vote for Barack Obama. For Black people, the right to vote has been a hard-won battle; my parent’s generation marched long and fought fiercely so that when a day like Nov. 4th came, I would be able to exercise my right to vote.

I often think about those who were bitten by dogs and hit with water from fire hoses; my heart aches knowing some paid the ultimate sacrifice just so a race of people could have a better life.

They stood up to fear and hatred, knowing in the end, the struggle would reap benefits for generations to come.

Even though the candidate I voted for won, I’m disappointed in California for passing Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that changes the California Constitution to ban gay marriage. It’s even more disappointing to know the majority of Blacks in the state voted for Prop. 8 – even while casting their vote for Obama who publicly backed the “No on Prop. 8” effort.

I voted against this measure because I believe when you discriminate against one group, it hurts us all.

Despite my disappointment, I’m proud that I partook in the voting process. I know that, no matter the outcome, my vote does matter.