Someone hit me up not too long ago and asked “I see you writing for all these different sites now. Are you blogging full time?”Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. While I am very grateful to be getting other work from five other sites that I am honored to contribute to (and that this site has grown so much in terms of readership), I am not able to do this as full-time work at this point. I could keep me and Mother Toldja’s cell phone bill paid with what I get from writing, most months, but that’s about it. I’m not complaining, because I love what I do and I am very grateful that 5 years of grinding with virtually no assistance or major co-signs for the first 4 are starting to pay off in terms of exposure.
However, I do admit that the number of posts I have obligated myself to do, in addition to keeping up The Struggler and my 9-5 are taking a toll. Sadly, this site is the one that suffers most; even if the check involved is tiny, I’m not going to leave the other sites hanging because that effects other people AND my professional reputation.
All that to say, I have what I believe to be a modest enough request. I am asking readers of this site to make a donation $1 or $2 per month. While I feel kind of weird asking, I also know that I have spent countless nights up until 2am trying to get these posts done. This is a lot of hard work! And I do feel that folks appreciate it. And what’s a buck or two a month?
If you would be so gracious as to participate, that would be super awesome! There is a donate button at the bottom of the home page that links to my PayPal account. Or, if you are interested, please send an email to sister.toldja@thebeautifulstruggler.comand we can set up the monthly dollar thang that way. I appreciate your support of this site and I hope to be able to continue to provide the laughter, head-shaking and thought-provoking commentary for years to come!
With that out of the way, I thought I would tell you about an unfortunate dinner date I had a few weeks back. I was hobbling along in the Atlantic Center Mall, when a nice looking fella stopped me to inquire about my walking stick. Now, he had on a bunch of Armani Exchange gear (which I consider to be kind of corny, in a Negrodian Jersey Shore sort of way) and he had his name tatted on his neck (which…I mean, I love tattoos, but um…that doesn’t really do it for me right there). But he seemed nice, so I looked past it. You hear that, Steve Harvey? I looked past it.
The convo got a little lengthy to the point where I had to sit down and it was on a bench in the Atlantic Center that I learned that this man wanted a girlfriend more than life itself. And this, my friends, was my first red flag. The next: when his phone rang with Drake’s “Find Your Love”. Yes: a FULL GROWN MAN WITH A DRAKE RINGTONE. I started to wonder if he was the guy from this video. I got panicked. Why do I have to know about his desperate search for love withing five minutes of meeting him? Why does he have a Drake ringtone? And, um, NECK TATTOO OF HIS OWN NAME? How did I arrive at this place and why couldn’t I walk away?
To be continued…
That there was Gods sense of humor, just a little something to write about
I’ll support the cause! SMH @ tattoo nEcked drake ringtone dude…even Tho I like the song cuz of it’s jeff red sample..Don’t hold no punches!
My guess is that you couldnt walk away due to the ailments for which you need a cane.
Or you were waiting for a 3rd strike. Cant wait for part 2!
Thanks Midtwn Jo! And I like the song too (at least the beat), just not for an adult male’s ringtone!
You attracting all kinds with that cane huh?
I think you didnt walk away because u might be starting to implement the idea that u cant always judge a book by it’s cover. We’re so quick to see red flags, but it takes so much to see an actual person behind them. It’s true that a lot of clowns are in the path, but you never know who ur skippin over when u decide to avoid simply talkin to someone…
Ivy Professor: All the wrong ones! LOL
Leroy: He was good looking. I always give good looking men at least a shot. *Kanye shrug*
Sounds “suspect” but will hold off on the judgements LOL
You are lying. I refuse to believe one man had AE gear, a neck tat, AND a Drake ring-tone. Nope. It’s impossible. Do you know how many stars would have had to align for that to happen?
LMAO i have my name tattooed on my neck. It’s reserved for gangstas. I’m pretty dark though so you gotta be up in my business to notice it. #shruglife. Not a diss to you per se, but you gotta be kinda weary of a dude tryna talk to a chick with a walking stick. ESPECIALLY if he’s so hardcore about finding a boo. I’d be like nigga do you think this gangsta walkin’ cane means i’m desperate try again muthasucka *michael blackson voice* But props to you for looking past the neck tat!
Can’t wait for Part 2, but just more proof positive-that it’s hard our here on a sista, and I really did just LOL @ the *michael blackson voice* reference
sent you some funds for ‘the struggle’….call it Xmas in July!!
Ms. Smart: LMAO
J.Full: “you gotta be kinda weary of a dude tryna talk to a chick with a walking stick”
Really? Why is that? What if I always had to walk with a cane? What if I were seriously disabled? It’s not cool to talk to someone who’s injured or crippled? It’s funny you should say that; a few years ago, a friend of mine said “You see how hard it is to find a good man now…what if one of us ever got sick? Or lost a limb? Or…” and she named all these scenarios. I thought it was kind of silly at the time, but I guess she wasn’t so far off. Then again, we aren’t all cut from the same cloth, are we?
Thanks Ms. Jewell!!!
As soon as I read neck tattoo and Atlantic Center Mall, I realized something I hadn’t known about you. You have the patience of Job!! I go to the ACM with the “No” already formed on my lips. The fact that you were able to get past the neck tattoo is amazing!! The ringtone sent me into hysterics!! I didn’t even bother to tweet about it but my most recent experience w/ ACM had me telling a guy that I had 5 kids… And yes I said it with a straight face. It was either that or have him follow talk me around Target w/ “can I get your number” for an hour. I can’t wait to read part II!
@sistertoldja
i mean i’m not saying disabled or crippled people can’t get action or that they shouldn’t. I’m just saying guys generally aren’t like daaaamn look at that fine ass chick wit the cane. Generally you fall for people’s personality in situations like that. I can’t tell your personality from across the mall nahmsayin? buuut the story was hilarious. I’m fortunate enough to have never been on a bad date. *furiously knocks on wood* If i do have a bad date i’ll be sure to make a document though lol
Thanks for sharing this – It makes me feel a lot better about the last guy I dated!
Also, it is my pleasure to donate to your site. The Beautiful Struggler makes my day.