Sabine National Forest

Because we are all on lockdown and can’t socialize, what do the three amigos decide to do? ROAD TRIP! This camping trip I challenged myself by doubling my longest drive time of 2 hours. Sabine National Forest is only 4 (and a half) hours away let’s hit the road and get out of the house. The drive there was CRAZY! The car almost got stuck in the mud, we had to drive over a tree, and it’s raining! Did I mention I drive a 2013 Honda Civic that’s carrying a kayak and two paddleboards? 

After I thought our demise was coming we finally arrived at the most peaceful campsite I had experienced today! Even when raining this place was paradise. 

Lastly, I can’t forget about the light painting!

I Can't Breathe!

I am black and I am not scary.

I am black and I am not a threat. 

I am black and can you stop shooting us. 

I am black and you do not have to fear me.

 On Saturday, May 30th in Dallas, Texas I woke up to the news that my job will be closing due to protesting. I was excited to have the day off so I took this opportunity to see first hand what is happening downtown during the protest. When we arrived at the start of the march everyone was kind and handed out water because it was HOT outside. You can feel the energy of the community as we shouted chants and kneeled in solidarity. We marched the designated areas TWICE peacefully. 

During our second time around I saw a cop SUV try inching through the crowd. The cop almost ran over a young white woman and so she punched the car. People around joined in hitting and throwing water bottles at the SUV until it finally made its way through the crowd. Nothing happened after that until much later when a cop threw tear gas into a peaceful crowd causing chaos. 

The media portrays the protests as a frightening and violent movement, but it was actually peaceful. If a small percentage of looters discredits the movement then what does a small percentage of bad cops do? I do not condone looting and vandalism but I understand why the people are upset. 

 I believe that all lives matter, but the point was missed when the “All Lives Matter” movement became a response to “Black Lives Matter”. When we say black lives matter we are saying WE ARE HERE and to stop killing us. We are not saying the other races don’t matter, we are saying we want to be treated equally and fairly. I do not understand why we are being judged by the color of our skin.  

The community is hurting for equality. We are in pain because of the injustice to our people. Police brutality must be stopped for a better future. We denounce systemic racism and violence against the Black community. We will continue to work towards a future marked by empathy and inclusion and stand with our black creators, players, employees, families, and friends. BLACK LIVES MATTER!

This is a list of the unarmed and dead.

1. TRAYVON MARTIN (Walking home with iced tea and Skittles. Shot by George Zinneman, who was found not guilty.) FEBRUARY 2012

2. KEITH SCOTT (Sitting in car, reading. Shot by police officer, who was not charged.) SEPTEMBER 2016

3. ATATIANA JEFFERSON (Looking out her window, shot by police officer, who is still under indictment for murder.) OCTOBER 2019

4. JONATHAN FERRELL (Asking for help after an auto accident. Shot twelve times by police, case ended in mistrial.) SEPTEMBER 2013

5. JORDAN EDWARDS (Riding in a car. Shot in the back of the head by police officer, who was found guilty of murder.) APRIL 2017

6. STEPHON CLARK (Holding a cellphone. Shot 8 times, 6 in the back. Officers not charged.) MARCH 2018

7. AMADOU DIALLO (While taking out wallet, officers fired 41 shots by four officers, who were all acquitted.) APRIL 1999

8. RENISHA MCBRIDE (Auto accident, knocked on door for help. Homeowner was found guilty of second-degree murder.) NOVEMBER 2013

9. TAMIR RICE (Playing with toy gun, shot by police officer arriving on scene. Officer was not charged. NOVEMBER 2014

10. SEAN BELL (Hosting a bachelor party, 50 rounds fired by police officers, who were found not guilty of charges.) NOVEMBER 2006

11. WALTER SCOTT (Pulled over for brake light, shot in the back by police officer, who pleaded guilty to civil rights violations.) APRIL 2015

12. PHILANDO CASTILE (Pulled over in car, told officer he had a legally registered weapon in car. Officer acquitted of all charges.) JULY 2016

13. AIYANA JONES (Sleeping, accidentally shot by officer in a raid on the wrong apartment. Officer cleared of all charges.) MAY 2010

14. TERRENCE CRUTCHER (Disabled vehicle, shot by police officer, who was found not guilty of manslaughter.) SEPTEMBER 2016

15. ALTON STERLING (Selling CDs, shot at close range while being arrested. No charges filed.) JULY 2016

16. FREDDIE GRAY (Beaten to death by officers while being transported in a police van. All officers involved were acquitted.) APRIL 2015

17. JOHN CRAWFORD (Shopping at WalMart, holding a BB gun on sale, police officer was not charged.) AUGUST 2014

18. MICHAEL BROWN (Shot by twelve times by officer, including in the back. No charges filed.) AUGUST 2014

19. JORDAN DAVIS (Killed because he was playing loud music. Shooter found guilty of first-degree murder.) NOVEMBER 2012

20. SANDRA BLAND (Pulled over for traffic ticket, tasered and arrested. Suspicious “suicide” while in jail. No charges.) JULY 2015

21. BOTHAM JEAN (Shot at home, which police officer mistook for her own. Officer found guilty of murder.) SEPTEMBER 2018

22. OSCAR GRANT (Handcuffed and face-down, officer shot him in the back. Officer found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.) JANUARY 2009

23. COREY JONES (Waiting by his disabled vehicle, was shot three times by police officer, who was found guilty of murder.) OCTOBER 2015

24. AHMAUD ARBERY (Jogging, shot by two men who claimed they suspected him of burglaries. Both men charged with murder and aggravated assault.) FEBRUARY 2020

The names listed are not the only names and the list keeps growing. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

REST IN PEACE GEORGE FLOYD.

Wine Country

My first trip to Texas Wine Country was amazing to say the least. Who knew such a flat state can produce beautiful hills also! The view alone will take your breath away. While we in Fredericksburg we visited so many wineries including William Chris, Grape Creek, and Becker. Their Cabernet are some of the best I’d ever had! So much variety and their staff was very welcoming.  

The real reason why I was in Fredericksburg was for the Food and Wine Festival! We tried so many different wines (some good some bad) and I had the time of my life! I loved all of the vendors there too. There were hand-crafted items such as candles, soaps, lotions, jewelry, and so much more!

Overall this was a great mini vacation and I can’t wait to go back! I was also excited that William Chris Vineyards used one of my photos on their instagram page!