Get Into It: "House of Cards"

Netflix is well on their way to putting mainstream media out of business. Already scoring a win with the hit with their original programming, I can finally call myself a fan. I've been hearing great things about this relatively new show "House of Cards." I finally sat down to check out episode 1 of the first season. I feel like I am super late getting on this "House of Cards" bus. But, nonetheless, I am on it now. This passed weekend I decided to watch episode one to see if it was worth my time. It was. I am now more than halfway through season one. I cannot get enough of Francis Underwood and the rest of the cast.

"House of Cards" is a political show based in the White House. It deals with relationships, politics, good and bad, right and wrong of everyday people. I love how there are no inherently good or evil characters. Everyone has some interesting point of view. This show is entertaining and exciting. I love the way the stories intertwine. Frank and Claire have the oddest relationship. They are married and are partners in every sense of the word. I like them. They always seem to have each other's back. It's the kind of show that seems to be made for me. I am really enjoying it. You guys show check it out if you haven't already. Netflix is two for two with original series. "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" are both amazingly written and acted shows. Get into them on NetFlix. 

Music Review: Frank Ocean & Jhene Aiko

This week's music review consists of something old and something new. The two artists, Frank Ocean and Jhene Aiko, are quite similar. Both projects are great in their own right. Both projects are full of soulful lyrics and tracks. Both Ocean and Aiko are singer/songwriters. Both reside in LA. Both have unique voices. And, last but not least, both have a story to tell that is at first thought unique to them. I was thoroughly impressed with both "Channel Orange" and "Sailing Souls." Let's discuss them.



From the first time I heard of Frank Ocean, I was a fan. Back then he was known as Lonnie Breaux. He was from my hometown. When he released "Novacane," his name became known worldwide. His mixtape was in constant rotation for months. It's just really good r&b. Soulful melodies and lyrics run rampant on both of his projects. His debut "Channel Orange" was one I was waiting for. He lived up to the hype. There are some truly great tracks on his debut. What I love the most is the fact that it just flows. I do not have to skip around. I can press play on #1 and play it all the way through. The constant theme of love and heartbreak is obvious. It's one that everyone can relate to. Ocean is an awesome writer, a good singer and a wonderful artist. His art makes me happy.










I was late getting on the Jhene Aiko train. Her voice is one I've known for a while. I hadn't heard her "Sailing Souls" before last week. I was sold on it from the first listen. Her voice is very light and sweet. But, I really enjoy it. I like her lyrics and her subject matter. She seems to be a lot older than she really is. There isn't one track that I dislike. Aiko really put her heart into this project. She is currently signed to Def Jam and is said to be working on her debut "Souled Out." I cannot wait to hear this as well. Hope you guys enjoy this little bit of old and new music.

Customer Service

Customer service will make or break a business. Bad customer service will be talked about endlessly. I know when I've encountered bad customer service, I will tell all who will listen. Nobody likes bad customer service. If I am spending my money at a business, then you better believe that I expect and deserve good customer service. If I do not get it, I will no longer be a customer. I will not pay to be mistreated by any one. That makes no sense at all. I thrive on good customer service. It makes me very happy. I will become a regular customer.

Perfect example of bad versus good customer service. I have been a Sprint customer for almost 7 years now. for the most part, I have never encountered any bad customer service until now. In July, my Evo's power button stopped working. I took my phone into a Sprint store. the tech "claimed" that my Evo wasn't working properly so he ordered me a replacement phone. In the week that it took for the replacement to arrive, my Evo was working perfectly. So, when the replacement arrived, I called the 1-800 # in the box. I talk ed to a rep who told me that I could return the replacement since my original was working fine. I placed everything that was in the box into the envelope that was provided. I handed the package to my mail carrier on July 9th. A week later, I called the same 1-800# to confirm that it had been received. I talked to another rep who told me that my package was back in the warehouse. Done deal right? Wrong! Almost two months later, I had a $375.19 charge on my bill for failure to return equipment. Say what now?!? I was livid!!

Thus began my month long calls to Sprint to get the charge removed. I spoke to no less than 25 associates. None of them could give me what I wanted. none of them had any answers. I was given a credit for the inconvenience but not a credit for the replacement Evo. If my sprint bill had been a month overdue, Sprint would not have been calling me daily to pay my bill. They would've interrupted my service quickly. It took almost a month, countless hours and 25 associates before I ever received GOOD customer service. Finally, I was able to speak to Rebecca in Mobile. She is the saving grace of this story. We spoke for over an hour. She was the only associate who was able to not only locate the returned merchandise (it was still sitting in the warehouse that I returned it to) and credit my account. She was nice and professional. She exemplified a great customer service rep. She saved me from being a "former" Sprint customer. She has restored my faith back into a company that I was beyond disgusted by.

I am a customer and a consumer. I am paying my money on said company's product. I want the company to do the job it is being paid for. That is not too much to ask. I deserve, demand and expect good customer service when I am spending my money. Bad customer service has pushed me into shopping online more. There are no reps there. It's that important to me. As a customer, I feel that I should be served in kind. I think if I had to talk to another Sprint customer service rep that I would have lost all of my cool. It would not have been pretty. but, I do not like to be overcharged. Especially when I am dealing with a clearly defective Evo right now. Good customer service equals a return customer. Isn't that the whole idea of consumerism?

Let's Discuss Music...

Music is my life. It has been one of the most consistent stables in my life. It's no secret that I am an avid music fan. I think have a unique relationship with it. So, I am always excited about new music. When I am a fan of an artist, I'm anticipating anything new and fresh from them. I tend to take it personally when new music is bad. It truly hurts my spirit. I feel slightly disrespected because I've wasted my money on trash. I love to sit with a new cd for a few days and only listen to it. I like to formulate my opinion of it from this. I complete submerge myself into the music. This is the way I like to get into new music.



In the last year, there has been a plethora of great music released. And, my ears have been very happy about it. The cd's that still get a lot of play in my house are : Watch The Throne, Beyoncé, Adele, Jessie J, Big Sean, Ledisi, PJ Morton, Rhianna, Kanye West, Jill Scott, and Nicki Minaj to name a few. But, on the converse side of that are the really bad ones. The cd's that made me frown and were thrown away after a listen or three. They are Chrisette Michelle, Kelly Rowland, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, and Lady Gaga. I do not know what direction the artist were attempting to go, but they failed in my eyes. There may have been a few songs I liked but as a complete project I did not get it.



Music makes me happy. It can change my mood at any given time. I like to think of myself as a music connoisseur. I love how it can connect people. I get deep into music, the lyrics, and the meaning behind it. I dissect a song from beginning to end. There are a few projects that I am looking forward to this fall. "Take Care" from Drake being number one on that list. One of my favorite artist has a cd coming out soon but I am not excited about it. I feel like Mary J Blige's latest offerings have not been what I want from her. The music sounds too young. And, it just isn't a good look. I will take a listen when it drops but I have a feeling that I won't be purchasing it. That makes me sad too. But, I cannot support what I do not get. Music has to move me. If it doesn't, what's the point? I don't know anyone else who gets music like I do. It is just my thing. Music brings me to a very happy place.

I'm Sending You Some Text Messages

Do you remember the world before the introduction of text messaging? It seems so long ago. I can't really remember my world before texting. Isn't that sad? Lol, I think so. We have adapted to this technology and ran with it. I don't know anyone who doesn't love to text. It is quick and easy. We are a nation of texters. I think anyone from the age of 5 -50 is into it, can do it. Texting has replaced a lot of face to face conversation.

Text messaging has completely changed the way we communicate. It's simple and easy. We can get our thoughts and questions out in 169 characters or less. This is essentially the gift and the curse. Sometimes tone can be misconstrued. Sometimes that "lol" seems forced and outta place. Words typed out in a text can sometimes come across as cold and unfeeling. But, on the flip side of this, one text from the right person can change your whole day. One greatly worded text from the right person can literally make one's day. I am always conscious of exactly what I text and to whom. I am a flirt. It's mostly never intentional. But, I do not want any man to think I'm flirting with him, except for HIM :) I can be very blunt and to the point in person and via text. Sometimes I have to alter my responses to people because of this. I never want to hurt my friends or families feelings. Especially not via text.

Some folks have loss the art of true communication. Because if two people can text all day but have no thing to talk about face to face or via the phone, there is a real issue here. Texting is great. I'm not knocking it. I am the queen of texting. Ask Sprint about me lol. But, I do not fall into that group. I love to express myself, my thoughts. I know how, when and why to use my words. I'm a great listener and am no stranger to holding an intellectual/funny/silly/serious/thought-provoking conversations as well. Sometimes, I think we allow technology to take up too much space in our lives. We need to snatch back some of it sometimes. Communication is the ultimate foundation to any good relationship of any kind.

I also feel that some use texting as a way of growing a pair. I mean, there are some texts that I have received in the past that made me take a second look. Because I know the sender would never be so bold as to ask/say such things to my face. I think that is hilarious. Texts give some a green light to be very fresh. I'm me all the time. What you see on this blog is me. Whatever I text, I would say to your face. But, some take real liberties via text. I will always giggle whenever I get such foolish texts. I am the person who will call you and say "What did you text me? I need to hear you say it." It's not about confrontation. I like clarity in my life.

Texting isn't going anywhere. It is simply a part of who we are a s a culture. I like to express myself verbally and textually. What do you guys think? How do you feel about texting? Have you ever had a misunderstanding because of texting? Let me know! Talk to me!