The Deck at 260 Volume 20

Halloween is here in a week and we're enjoying this Fall weather out on the deck. Mosey has went back inside and Spud has now taken over. Here's what we're talking about: 

Ashanti body pics, Internet outage, SNAP benefits, Perfect Neighbor, NBA arrests. 

Ok Ashanti has had two babies in the past 3 years and is going through postpartum. Her body has changed but let's not rush to judgment. She has a lot of confidence and can bounce back to form. People are so quick to judge someone else's body when they don't have the entire story. These same critics have been on Serena Williams for years. 

We've have two huge Internet outages this week alone. Only thing I believe we need to know is not to be so independent on technology, ensure everything is backed up, and keep an ample supply of cash around. 

Speaking of being dependent, the government shutdown is getting real for those receiving SNAP/EBT benefits. Now listen, I've been here before as a child and an adult. There are folks gaming the system and there always will be. There are also good, honest, hardworking folks that NEED to have EBT. It's not a handout, it's part of what our country does for families in need. These past couple of months have made some of you so nasty and inconsiderate. 

Ok by now many of you have seen The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix. This woman is the epitome of Karen, douchecoffin and simply disturbed. It all happened in the state of Florida also where stand your ground laws are prevalent. I'm glad Susan Orincz is serving this time. I didn't like the preferential treatment she got mostly due to her skin color (argue with ya momma). The EBT pushback is coming from folks that claim they can't get any because they're "too white". Welp that is unfortunate; however despite what I said earlier, I would rather be too light to qualify for food stamps than to feel greater danger due to a crime. It isn't the same and I'm glad the entire world could see this sad, disturbed racist put on blast. #schoolsinsessiondrew74. 

Just a few days into the NBA season we have a coach and player arrested for cheating. I say often this isn't the first time this has happened nor are they the only ones. These got caught and yes in professional sports there is a lot of dirty business.  

Next week is Halloween on the deck! 

The Deck at 260 Volume 19

Fall is in full swing out on the deck! We have stew, football, baseball, even basketball going. It will be nice when these spiders are gone until April or May. 

Chris Brown forgiveness, D'Angelo death/neo-soul, MTV going, Angel Reese fashion, Gaffney v Wilson

Ok first of all we do our best when out on the deck to avoid what I call "Coke v Pepsi" or even "Michael Jackson v Prince" debates. To get everyone up to speed, these are topics that are very much similar and are almost siblings in the grand scheme of things. It all boils down to preference and even a sense of loyalty. 

Enter high school Homecomings. There were a few major ones in South Carolina this week (and still ongoing as there are church services/brunches on Sunday). Gaffney and Wilson out of Florence are the top two anywhere you're going to find. This is the first year I can recall in a long time that both were on the same weekend in October. Both are different from a nuance sense but are still great in their own right. I have personally been to many Gaffney Homecomings and will make it a mission to go to a Wilson Homecoming in the future. 

Chris Brown has had a great 2025 with his Breezy Bowl tour. There will be folks that refuse or cannot look past his 2009 mistakes. It's honestly easy not to since Chris Breezy has a history of violent offenses. However at the same token it's almost 2026, time has passed, new evidence has been presented. Why are we still talking about 2025? Are we not giving this man a second chance as a society? It appears millions of women (black women at that) nationwide, hundreds that I know, do forgive him. They also do not tolerate domestic violence. 

2025 has been sad for neo-soul as now D'Angelo has passed away. I felt like I was living under a rock because I did not know that he and Angie Ston even dated let alone had an adult son. I know how rough it is to lose one parent and this man has lost both parents in a 6 month time frame. I really hope (as I said about Angie Stone) that every major musical awards show and outlet properly celebrates these two icons. Neo-soul was indeed a popular and a pioneering era. 

Speaking of music, MTV is FINALLY going away for good.  I feel like MTV is like a hospice patient that fought the good fight but is done. It's truly time to acknowledge what has been and now is gone. I just mentioned the Neo-Soul era. 2025 has not been easy for GenXers like myself. We have lost Ananda Lewis, Theo Huxtable, Hulk Hogan, Ozzy Osbourne and now MTV. I am finally seeing what my elders have discussed for the longest. 

Angel Reese being on the big stage in the Victoria Secret fashion show is a game changer. Angel is doing so much to advance herself and the WNBA. She is a superstar and a brand. Angel has a natural model presence and this show fit her personally. I love seeing more representation in a predominantly white space. 

Next week is likely going to be discussing Halloween and some other deep topics heading in November/Christmas I

The Deck At 260 Volume 18

Ok in the midst of a remodel we're back on the deck with Spud joining us once again and we have one Heck of a bonfire. This week's discussions have stirred up on Heck of a fire also. 

Ayesha Curry, Lebron's 2nd decision , government shutdown , county v state fair, Arby's meat tenders. 

Ok no barbershop, water cooler and certainly no deck talk would be complete without the latest mess from Ayesha Curry. I think at this point Ayesha just wants attention amd should be talking with a therapist rather than the public. I do think her thoughts from 20 years ago are actually valid and obviously Steph Curry knows about them. I think also she continuously tries to outshine him. It's a marriage for a reason, she does want to have her own identity. She just cannot continue to embarrass herself nor her family in that fashion. 

LeBron James (not his wife Savannah) is seeking attention for weird reasons at this point. He did the 2nd decision just to promote another endorsement and for no pre retirement talk.  He does want that Kobe retirement tour possibly after or around the time his son Bryce is eligible for the draft. It's all of the entitlement and being self-absorbed for me.

Welp the government is shut down once again and this is resulting in layoffs and even folks having benefits revoked. I'm not sure aside from the latter it's the worse idea if the government stays shutdown. Playing devil's advocate it does seem the right is blaming the left for this shutdown. It seems unorthodox since the right is the majority power in the Senate and the House. I took government in high school and college and have read up other places so someone without bias can explain this to me more clearly. 

State fairs are back as some county fairs are also going. It boggles my mind how many people not only prefer the state fair over the county fair, some don't realize there's a difference between a carnival and an amusement park like Carowinds. I've narrowed it down to being whatever the person is most familiar with, myself included. I've been to the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia, SC and I prefer the Cleveland County Fair in Shelby, NC. For me, it's proximity, parking considerations and honestly having much of the same types of food. Yes the state fairs typically premiere new greasy types of obscene food. It typically makes it to a county fair within a year or two. As a foodie, it depends on how fast you want to taste that food and how far you're willing to drive. 

Now my folks out there since we're talking about food, did you think these Arby's meat tenders would be that great? I've seen all sorts of negative reviews and even one from a WU classmate with their entire spice rack out implying how unseasoned the meat is. Folks, this is Arby's. They have the meats but it's not like you're going to the meat market. I've gotten so much more conscious of my food as I've grown older. I'm not saying don't try it. What I'm saying is have your expectations set differently. 

Come out on the deck next week and bring some firewood! 

The Deck at 260 Part 17

Ok it's October and we're back on the deck after a week off. Lots to talk about also so hope you're ready 

Laura Loomer, baby boo challenge, county v state fair, Bad Bunny, Cardi B v Nicki, Tina Turner statue, class reunions

Ok with Laura Loomer why is it the ugliest people in looks and/or spirit have the most to say? She definitely played herself. 

We have yet another twerk challenge: the baby boo challenge, concocted by NBA Youngboy. It didnt seem like many of the top models on social media got involved with this one. I think these twerk challenges are getting stale. Unsure it's because women are twerking more and more for the free or cheap. Either way, twerking is everywhere. 

There's a silent debate that we will bring to the deck: the county fair v the state fair. This does not include carnivals by the way although there are some dope carnivals. It seems like it depends on where your parents took you growing up or where did you go with friends and such. For me it's the county fair due to the crowd and overall proximity. If you're me why travel to Raleigh or Columbia when I can get pretty much the same stuff in Shelby, NC? 

We have another controversial Super Bowl halftime performer in Bad Bunny. I did a poll and the responses were beyond interesting. Basically the general public that actually knew Bad Bunny want to see a different genre or a variety of genres represented. It does raise 2 questions: how long has it been since a country music star has performed? 2. Will Weird Al ever get a chance? 

The Cardi B v Nicki Minaj beef on X has been both entertaining and sad. Both rappers released albums within the past month. Cardi is pregnant, Nicki is on drugs really bad. Either way, both ladies should handle this in the booth like real rappers. I also don't see Nicki, straight or intoxicated, coming after someone like Remy Ma. Who besides Clarissa Shields wants that smoke? 

We have another degrading statue with the Tina Turner statue being unveiled in her hometown in Tennessee. I'm not sure who is sculpting these disgraceful statues (reminiscent of Dwayne Wade) but they need to go back to their day job. There are talented sculptors out there and we need them now! 

This is the season of high school Homecomings and class reunions. We will discuss college Homecomings next month (25th for me). I'm coming up on 30 for high school. Many schools combine reunions due to low class size and participation and I'm ok with that. I do admire and love the classes that are able to get together also. Either way, it's all fun remembering the good times. I pray that my high school class does something next year. The officers are basically MIA and haven't been saying much in my class. I hope that changes.  

See you next week on the deck!

The Deck at 260 Part 16

We're on the last week of summer on the Deck. Mosey and Spud decided to join in! Here's the rundown as it consistently ramps up as the weekend nears. 

Charlie Kirk, whoopty doo, Jimmy Kimmel, Gilmore transfer, Dame Dash, young man hanging at Delta State University. 

Charlie Kirk being murdered has really caused division across not only political and racial lines but HR departments also. We'll talk more in depth with Jimmy Kimmel's show being canceled. I will limit and be reserved in what I say. It is indeed sad when a tragedy such as this brings out negative vibes and feelings. I may be disconnecting from social media until October aside from certain matters and content. 

Ok many folks have lost their jobs due to comments being made against Charlie Kirk and even Donald Trump. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel is the latest and perhaps most visible. All I will say is pick your battles carefully when regarding social media and public comments regarding this matter. 

Whoopty Doo is the latest phrase to go viral this past week. I wasn't sure what it meant until I finally Googled it.  Rapper Young Thug said it during an interview and it's caught everyone by storm. It's something how the most unexpected of phrases can be famous when said properly. 

The high school transfer portal in South Carolina is lighting up. First South Pointe High School in Rock Hill's quarterback has transferred and is now at another school. Now at Gaffney, the local powerhouse, Jayvon Gilmore has not only left the school, he's enrolled at another high school in the Midlands region of South Carolina. Gilmore is expected to start for the school on Friday night and has decommitted from Arkansas. That's a lot of drama in just two weeks. Basically Gaffney had a quarterback controversy due to the high school transfer portal and it was seemingly resolved via the transfer portal. I expect this to be very common until the SCHSL gets a handle on this. 

Hip hop mogul Dame Dash is the latest to come onto The Breakfast Club and read Charlemagne Da God a new one. Dame definitely had an agenda by agreeing to the interview and showing out like he did on the air. History will tell us Dame has did this for years and he is definitely salty with Jay-Z and others in the industry. I watched the interview and I thought Charlemagne handled it very professionally. He's had a lot of growth mentally and isn't quite the "shock jock" he used to be. 

There was a possible modern day lynching at Delta State University in Mississippi. A young black man was found hanging in a park nearby the university. Now while mental illness is alive and well everywhere, there is too much suspect about this situation. The law enforcement down there hasn't conducted enough of an investigation just to rule this as a suicide and say there is no foul play. I'm also into forensics and I am curious how does anyone determine whether it is a clear suicide? 

Let's see what next week brings as both summertime and September come to a close!

The Deck at 260 Part 15

September is in full swing on the deck, even got a good bonfire going. Like the fire, we got a heckuva discussion happening out here with the topics you expected and more (no Dad joke intended on Maya Moore)

Charlie Kirk, Maya Moore, Phillies Karen, the NFL being back, the new cellphone rule is here in SC. 

OK we will kick this topic off with the current most intense discussion. To start off with it will be a great day when racism no longer exists. It may not happen in my lifestyle but it will be glorious. That is of course the murder of Charlie Kirk (sorry assassination is a reach). 

I refuse to go with the waves, be an Uncle Tom and I ALWAYS stand on business. See my efforts lifetime and since COVID alone with the ##schoolsinsessiondrew74. We obviously need a handle on both gun violence and having these key conversations. 

Charlie Kirk was not a Christian (I said it). He spewed hate, racism, sexism and tried to insult the intelligence of the inferior. Never mind he was one of Trump's biggest supporters and a staunch right winger since 2012. This stems far beyond politics. He was a manipulator and influencer that should be compared more to Adolf Hitler than MLK or Malcolm. He used and abused free speech albeit being non-violent in the physical sense. 

I say this also: he didn't deserve to be killed at the hands of another person. Shot in broad daylight. My prayers and sympathy are with his community and children. If yours aren't, that's fine. So many across racial and political lines have shown their hate and internal feelings in less than 48 hours. How can you be happy that someone is dead from gun violence that only ran his mouth? Two points of order in this entire situation: 1. There was a school shooting in Colorado and a senator in Minnesota murdered. Remember the media stays busy even when things make sense and 2. If you think Charlie Kirk's murder was justified, why are you moving to have more people like him slain? We need to continue the conversations. This is honestly one reason I founded both #schoolsinsessiondrew74 and the discussions out on the Deck at 260. Full post for this and the Phillies Karen coming on the #imjustdrew blog. 

I watched the video of the "Phillies Karen" from the Phillies/Marlins from three different angles several times. She did not catch the ball and that's besides the point. There's an unwritten rule in sports that says regardless of who caught the ball, a nearby child should be offered the ball at least. This lady has a known history of this behavior at other games and even concerts. I stand by the decisions of ballpark and venues to ban her from entry. However we've had enough time pass and are clearly focused on other issues. It's time to stop bullying and harassing this woman. We've made our point, the child in question has been compensated by the Phillies despite any other damage being done. I will elaborate in a separate post; it seems like we as humans have started dehumanizing others and it's not cool. 

WNBA legend Maya Moore was inducted into the league's Hall of Fame late last week. A phot of her with all of her championship rings with the Minnesota Lynx, UCONN Huskies and high school I believe that mirrored the Michael Jordan photo from the 90s went viral. It ignited the GOAT debate that I refuse to talk about out on the Deck and NBA fans being upset. First upset for what? Maya is one of the sports greatest and most accomplished athletes. She achieved these heights in a world without A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. What she has accomplished outside of and post basketball is just as great if not better. It seems these topics this week have a recurring theme: worrying about the wrong things. 

The NFL is back and that helps so much and honestly drives so many of these topics. The media has the biggest distraction other than 9/11 and wants to keep the news well rounded for 24/7. 16 Black QBs started Week 1. Who spat first in the Eagles/Cowboys game? Should there be a Friday game to open the season. Do the Chiefs look that bad? How did the Ravens blow that lead? I'm so happy football is back and the fair is now in 2 weeks!

Okay South Carolina how are we coping with the new cellphone rule? It's honestly one that should have already been around especially since NC has had a similar rule for years. Texting and driving are dangerous and I see all of these pics and videos while even on a motorcycle. It had to stop somewhere as common sense is no longer the common person's guide. 

After this week, we may need a week off from the Deck. No worries, only one more full week until Fall is officially here!

The Deck at 260 Part 14

We're into the Ber months as we reconvene on Da Deck. Lots of stuff happening over Labor Day weekend and this week thus far: 

Week 1 of college football

Naomi Pilula

Druski pulling a "White Chicks"

Unknown Number 

The school drop-off system being broken

Week 1 of college football already began with drama and speculation. Arch Manning stunk it up at the Horseshoe, Clemson once again "Clemsoned" against a big time opponent, my Irish still can't win in Miami and all of that hype for Belichick's first game in UNC only go be torpedoed! It's only the first week fans, still two more months of regular season to go! My uncle thinks this weekend should only be cupcake teams. I explained to him that weekend is prime time as it's like opening weekend in baseball. Add to the fact that more people are off Labor Day weekend so they're more likely to be tuned in or going to these games. Week 2 doesn't have many if any marquee matchups so all of the powerhouse programs are heavily favored to win. 

Naomie Pilula went viral for posting a selfie and people were basically bullying her for the size of her nose and her teeth. Now I'm a male. I like seeing women that are beautiful on the outside. However I'm following Naomie's IG. She's a very engaging, kind and glowing woman. I can tell she's intelligent and would be cool to hang out with. She also is comfortable in her own skin. Many people could learn from her as she values humanity and has love for herself and others. 

Social media influencer and celebrity Druski pulled off one of the most convincing disguises I've seen: dressing as a Caucasian man at the Darlington Motor Speedway race. He was full on hillbilly: no shirt, sunburn, patriotic tattoos, overalls and nailed the role. He was more White Chicks than Blackface. It was hilarious, period. Blackface was performed in a period of Jim Crow, the Chitlin Circuit and clear oppression. Whiteface is not a thing, many of you couldn't tell that was Druski. Please stop trying to compare! 

The docudrama "Unknown Number" on Netflix was super suspenseful and triggering. The perpetrator will have you shocked. It just shows how sick and demented even adults can be. I definitely recommend giving that a watch. 

Finally there seems to be a pattern lately of young children in the car rider line being placed on school buses and being lost and dropped off in other neighborhoods. How is this being missed in 2025? This has to be the newer generation because this simply did not happen when I was in school in the 80s and 90s. Something has to be done on the state and district level to mitigate this nonsense. 

Next week we'll talk about the NFL being back and among other topics the cellphone rule while driving finally coming to SC (it's been in NC for quite some time. )

The Deck at 260 Part 13

It was extra cool on The Deck to close out summer. That didn't stop the discussions from happening 

-Cracker Barrel (continued)

- Micah Parson trade

- Why Are Men really friends with women? 

- Labor Day weekend

The Cracker Barrel discussion stirred up quite the hornets nest. From hilarious memes to conversations against the "woke media" even what Cracker Barrel actually stands for. I honestly didn't know the elderly man on the logo was Uncle Herschel, the founder's Uncle. Welp after all of the backlash against the CEO, the original logo is being restored. Personally I'm glad and it gives inspiration to other groups of people. When you form together as one and take action, you can accomplish great things. 

Dallas Cowboys fans have began their whining two weeks before their season kicks off. Their star wide receiver, Micah Parsons, has been trading to Green Bay after the Boys didn't wish to pay him what he earned for his contract. It's time for Dallas to see that Jerry Jones truly is the problem and has bottlenecked Dallas for 3 decades. 

Ok as "cuffing" season is upon us why are "men" truly friends with women? We know women will stay friends with a man for 50 years but do all heterosexual men just stay friends with a woman waiting for their opportunity? I will say as a hetero male that's pushing 50 there are women I am friends with and I leave that door open. However I need to have that total connection and openness with any woman before I choose to connect with them physically. It's not that I don't find them attractive, it becomes different. After a while they become one of the guys. I'm wrestling with that right now but I think we will stay friends especially since I went through a heartbreak a month ago. 

Ok Labor Day weekend is here. How many of you know the true meaning of Labor Day? Also how many of you know that "no wearing white after Labor Day" was something that the elite and well off came up with decades ago, in short it's ok to wear all white after Labor Day. 

See you next time out on the Deck!

The Deck at 260 Part 12

This is perhaps the coolest August ever as The Deck is officially christened. My cat Mosey has claimed it as her lair. We have some things to chop up out here. 

- Cracker Barrel logo rebrand

- End of minor league baseball season specials

- Klay Thompson's favorite dinner from Megan Thee Stallion

- Viral Schoolteachers

Ok the big topic before we even get to Friday is about Cracker Barrel. Let's get down to it. DEI is gone, right? However, Cracker Barrel apparently watch Target lose all of those billions and have slowly been rebranding their image. So far the stock is dropping and it could be another fumble ala Bud Light or even the new Coke from the 80s. Who asked for this logo? I know I didn't. Cracker Barrel didn't offend me. Personally I love their breakfast (unsure why my uncle and I haven't been here yet) and their lunch/dinner is honestly bland, basic food. Cracker Barrel needs another rebrand to save sales before the 4th quarter. 

Minor league baseball around the country is ending as the major leagues ramp up before the October playoffs. There are tons of specials to basically see games cheap or get plenty of food. Nevermind the theme nights going on. I remember last year my aforementioned uncle went to a Gastonia game, paid one price for doubleheader and ate unlimited hot dogs. This year the Spartanburgers in Spartanburg have $5 seats and other promotions ongoing. This is of course to salvage the rest of the season and compete with football in the South. I didn't know until last season tickets to see the Atlanta Braves are around $10 in September. 

Some of you have heard the Southern "wives tale" that some women will contaminate spaghetti with blood from their period to trap a man. Meg Thee Stallion has now been accused by the Internet community of doing that to her boyfriend, NBA superstar Klay Thompson. She has been cooking Klay spaghetti, meatballs and fried fish. Klay claims this is the best meal he's ever had. Personally I will need more evidence that Klay is trapped. I do think they are in love. Trust me, I've been there. When that happens, most things taste good because of who made them (not bubbrnt pancakes but that's a story for another day). 

Ok I've seen more schoolteachers this year go viral for wearing tight dresses and skirts than ever before. Going back to DEI, apparently that hasn't hit our public education system since all of these women are Black. I'm not seeing anything wrong. Do they want these curvaceous women to wear moo-moos or robes? I've seen 4 of these photos and there's nothing wrong with the attire. I truly think we as a society have reached our limit on what is truly offensive. I ask you all this: is it a body thing or a race thing? I'll wait. 

Good discussion on the Deck. Let's see what we have as we wrap up Summer.

The Deck at 260 Part 11

We're chilling on the Deck with my cat Mosey who has claimed this (and my Blackstone grill) as her home. Good thing I have a nice cover. 

We're going to talk about these topics out on the deck 

-Hurricane season 

- What to do now that kids are back in school.

- High school football coming

- College move-in.

We have had enough rain the past two weeks and now we have another Category 5 hurricane on the Atlantic coast. Those of us still affected by Hurricane Helene are triggered but slightly more prepared. We'll take rain but we don't want nor need any power outages. 

There's lots of stuff people do when the kids are back in school. Some include even volunteering up at the school and even cleaning. My mom used to say you get the most cleaning done when no one is home and I agree with that. 

High school football is basically back and that's always a good thing. Blacksburg is young but bigger than I thought. Gaffney is Gaffney except having a Black head coach. History will be made next Friday at the Reservation and weather pending, I don't want to miss it.

This weekend is college move-in. I think back to my freshman college move-in and how unprepared we were. I also remembered how much I missed my family and home. Prayers for all of the students and parents. Labor Day weekend and Family Weekend will be here soon! 

Hurricane Erin will definitely be among the topics to discuss out on the deck next week. 

The Deck at 260 Part 10

We're full into August now on The Deck and it's cooled down enough for me to hang out there. Speaking of this cooler weather,...

-Mercury Retrograde

-All of this rain

-Shedeur Sanders

-Jet2Holidays

-Back to School

Mercury has truly been in retrograde with the False Fall currently happening and the strange behaviors of many out there. Crime has been on the rise, people are more edgy for many reasons. I hope with the current moon out we can get some normalcy. 

This rain is annoying. I know it's good for so many other purposes. However, can we get some more sun? Before yesterday evening, I literally didn't see any sun since Saturday I think. That's a huge Vitamin D deficit. 

I'm so glad Shedeur Sanders came out in his preseason NFL debut and performed well. My hope is he continues to perform well and prove doubters wrong even if the NFL uses it as a storyline or narrative. 

These Jet2Holidays that have went viral have been wild! I'm writing in my

The Deck at 260 Part 9

Ok getting back into normalcy full force out on the Deck. Here's what we're talking about

-Cooler August Temps

-Shannon Sharpe

-Tracee Ellis Ross

-Movies Out

-Football is back

I'm definitely excited that it's cooler outside. As I get older, I can't quite handle 100 degree temps as I used to. I only wish the sun were out longer. 

Shannon Sharpe has been officially fired from ESPN. It shows we should have better judgment and discernment regarding who we deal with (good #imjustdrew topic also). 

Tracee Ellis Ross has gone viral for her donk photos. Are they real or is it AI? Tracee is a very lovely woman to be in her early 50s and stays fit. I think she needs to go Live and address this. Unless she loves the attention. 

Two good movies out, Happy Gilmore 2 and the New Fantastic 4. I expected Happy Gilmore 2 to be good as it captured the OG Adam Sandler films and feels. Fantastic Four was a little bit of a surprise that has you looking back at the comics. 

Despite that it's preseason it's good to see football back. Not long now until Fall! 

Stay tuned for next week!

The Deck at 260 Part 8

We're back out on the deck after a month! Joined now with my cat Mosey and my Jack Russell, Spud. 

Ok a lot has been happening besides my 47th birthday. 

Slew of celebrity deaths

Atlanta Braves woes

Schoolteacher wishlists/budgeting 

All-Star weekend in Gaffney

Many celebrities have passed on this week along. Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Ozzy Osbourne, and now Hulk Hogan and Chuck Mangione. I feel like my childhood has been compromised from the grief standpoint. Mercury is already in retrograde again. 

My Atlanta Braves are just going through it. We have 5 pitchers on the DL, bats are cold and just keep losing. Question now is should the head manager go now?

I caught some heat on last week regarding the schoolteacher wishlists that some teachers post. I made the comment about teachers not budgeting properly and whew doggies social media came after me! Listen now and read with understanding: I have given to these wishlists, I'm actually given a bushel of used books to a schoolteacher tomorrow. I also actively participate in bookbag and school supplies giveaways. I don't judge at day's end. However tenured educators know this is their thin season. I'm ok with them having fun and unwinding. It's the classic case of buying champagne on a beer budget. 

This weekend is one of those out the year that is like a holiday weekend or WU Homecoming to me: the All-Star alumni basketball games in Gaffney. It's a full slate of basketball, fun, food trucks, games, giveaways, etc. I'm coming off of one of our busy seasons to work and I cannot wait. 

Stay tuned next week when we hang out on the deck after my work trip to the ATL!

The Deck at 260 Part 7

Ok this may be our last installment out on the deck for a couple of weeks due to a busy July. It's really hot also so we're on the deck in the evenings. 

This week we discuss: 

NBA Finals

Kevin Durant

Swimming

10 years with Amazon

Welp the OKC Thunder won the NBA championship, youngest team to do it. The series got stretched out despite the Achilles curse hampering Tyrese Halliburton. Kevin Durant is now going to Houston at also 40 years old. Unless he's the OG in the room ala Haslem, unsure what the Rockets expect to get out of him. 

I realize why I got out of swimming: self conscious about both my weight and my toe when it was ingrown. I'm getting back into it now as it's part of my fitness regimen. I will be eating cleaner also between work and social functions. You will see me more in pools and creeks far and wide. 

Today marks 10 years since I've been employed by Amazon. I'm very blessed to still be employed, employed with the same company and achieve the heights that I have. I look forward to more growth and opportunities. 

Whenever I do get back on the deck I'm going to talk about grilling, the July holidays, dog days of summer and my countdown to Fall. 

The Deck at 260 Part 6

Here we are out on the deck at 260 after a long week of fun, rain, heat and more topics! 

NBA Finals Game 7

Longest Day of the Year 

More swimming/fitness

Juneeteenth

I'm not going to talk about the obvious: the heat. Summer is here, you all knew it was coming. It's hot, there will be plenty of opportunities to post about that. 

Well OKC looked as if they were going to close out the Pacers especially when Hailburton went down. But the fix was in and now we're going to Game 7. 

I'm getting more into swimming and even diving to add to my fitness regimen. I love it, it's cool, therapeutic and fun! 

I've loved celebrating Juneeteenth this week. I'm unsure why other cultures still have a problem with others celebrating and why Black people won't celebrate the 4th of July in a couple of weeks. I'm celebrating it all! 

I'm doing more cleaning up and remodeling as I'm on the beginning phases of replacing my furniture. 

Stay tuned for a couple of more sessions out on the Deck before I take a small hiatus for Prime Week/my birthday. 

The Deck at 260 Part 5

Welcome back to some more fun out on the Deck! Well technically I'm stuck at a Starbucks of all places since an 18 wheeler has me blocked in. 

Ok here's what we we discuss going in Father's Day weekend: 

Father's Day

Tyler Perry and Straw

BET Awards

Pool parties (cultural differences)

These frikkin Braves

The Deck at 260: Part 4

Welcome back to another week on the Deck at 260 watching the rain fall. This week will will discuss: 

2025 NBA Finals

Bullying 

Rainy day activities 

Breakfast spots 

Tonight the 2025 NBA Finals start with the Thunder v the Pacers. The league will have a first time NBA champion (Indiana won one in the 70s in the ABA). I'm going to watch but I don't expect to be overly impressed. 

Bullying is never ok. Neither is high school/social organization drama. If you're experiencing it in any space, there are hotlines. If you have family and and a circle that loves you please lean on them for support. You have to right to speak out and it's ok to not feel ok. Also if you're bullying others, please stop now. 

It's been raining so much for the past week on and off. Things to do are reading, streaming marathons, planning, podcasting, cleaning and reading. Please resist the urge to sleep all day. Also you can come over if we're cool like that and hang on the deck. 

My uncle and I have been going to different breakfast spots lately, it's our thing. Next will be The Skillet in Spartanburg and Sunflower in Charlotte. 

Tune in next on the Deck at 260 where we discuss pool parties, Father's Day and summer vacations. 

The Deck at 260: Part 3

This week while sitting out on the deck we discuss: 

 Graduations and promotion ceremonies

Chuck Wright

Volunteering 

Taccara Williams

Supporting Family and Friends

2025 Deaths

Wanda Hopper, Gladys Walker, Lee Allison, Pon-Pon, Vince Crosby, Dickie Moorhead, Big Jake, Johnnie Mae Parker, Sam Said, Pranati Davis, Robert Jackson, Tressa Smith, Jeff Mullinax, Susan Wolfe, Nancy Jackson, Mrs.Gold, Charles Bradley, Turkey Craig, Mrs. Peck, baby Ivy, Tom Cobb

The Deck at 260: Part 2.

This week while sitting out on the deck we talk about the beginning of the Diddy trial, Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson having their MLB bans removed, local PYT controversy and the newest Netflix hit Forever.

We can already tell this Diddy trial will be spicy. Cassie is being very graphic and descriptive and she's one of the ladies that actually loved Diddy. Trauma and other factors are real and it's sad so many people don't feel protected nor have a voice. Either way, this trial is already shaping up to be like the OJ Simpson trial minus Johnnie Cochran and the legal dream team. 

Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson can finally be enshrined into the MLB Hall Of Fame after decades of being banned. Now if this were the Mitchell steroid report, that's one thing as it alters player performance. What Rose and Jackson did were foul but were separate from their performances and stats. I'm glad the newer generation has a different set of discernment. 

Locally in Gaffney, SC, the owner of the PYT restaurant (yes I know what that stands for), is now under scrutiny for hiring and dating underage girls. He currently has a 17 year old girl living with him. Now in South Carolina the legal age of consent is 16. However this is very suspect and just morally questionable. Can a 38 year old man not get a woman over 21 or is he just one of those men that preys on teenage girls? Either way, this isn't a behavior I can support and may God judge him.

Ok it's been a while since I had a good bingefest. Forever on Netflix is worthy of that binge. This show comes from the brain of Mara Brock Alil whom created Moesha and Girlfriends. It shows about teenage dating drama. Personally I loved Wood Harris's performance as the father and I relate so much to the Justin character. 

Next week on the deck we are going to discuss the NBA playoffs (especially Knicks/Celtics) and other things! 

The Deck at 260: Part 1

This week while sitting on the deck we have the start of the Diddy trial, Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson having the lifetime MLB bans removed, graduation season and the show Forever on Netflix. 

The Diddy trial is already messy and these are the women that loved him. Trauma and fear is real and Cassie is being very graphic with the life her and Diddy shared. This is already shaping up to be very OJ like minus Johnnie Cochran's dream team to defend him. 

About a year after Pete Rose passes and years after Joe Jackson is gone, they are both going to the MLB Hall of Fame. I always thought in the case of Pete Rose the MLB was very crass. Rose didn't gamble against his own team and it didn't affect his performance. All of those guys in the Mitchell report on steroids is a different deal. We really have to look at all factors and the criteria. 

Graduation season is everywhere from college to high school to promotion ceremony (under high school are promotion ceremonies, not graduations). I'm still on a high from weei

The Deck at 260: Part 1

The new series I have now is The Deck at 260. If you ever drop by my spot and hang on the back deck you can see we have some fun! 

The  big topics this week are Mother's Day, the new Pope,  Food Truck Days and the REAL ID talk. 

Mother's Day is tougher and tougher when yours is gone. However I love to celebrate with the many mother friends and figures I know. Y'all deserve this celebration! 

People are all giddy about the new Pope being born and raised in Chicago. Since I obviously need to do more research, I wonder where that small car (Pope mobile) originated from. 

Here's my take on the REAL ID: just get it. It's not as hard as you all are making. For my fellow minorities, it may be more in future years. You may need it to vote, need it for housing and credit applications, etc. I would rather have it and not need it than the other way around. Hate the DMV as much as myself. Find yourself a small one in the cut. Two I recommend in South Carolina are Fort Mill and Chester. 

Food Truck Days are awesome for us foodies. However us foodies want to see a variety of foods and not just desserts. There are dozens of food trucks out there, please have 2-3 with actual meals and 3-4 with desserts. If your festival doesn't have that, please don't invite me. 

Ok tune in next week on the deck where we may talk about summer movies, the New York Knicks and being and working outside. 

The New Guy Part 17: Goals and New Direction

I had some milestones this month, 15 years of blogging, 9 years with #imjustdrew. I took a well deserved 10 days off. 

That said, I reevaluated myself before my time off and briefly during it. Here are my May goals that I will revisit for June. 

Develop my supervisor/PA to be an AM

Improve my safety scores by talking to all of my associates and ensuring they are answering the questions honestly 

Keep things as simple as possible 

Continue on Project #RiseUp to increase rates and decrease inactive time

Keep SSD running smoothly

Assist the floor when I can

Hold AMs accountable when they're not helping during my operation 

Learn more on gatekeeping and running 

Have 2 Dragonflys submitted daily 

Continue to work on zone callouts daily

Launch Arabs for Amazon by June

I'm about to start another series which will probably be "Sessions at 260 Out By The Deck" or something of that nature. 

The New Guy Part 16

I now end an up and down March and begin April with optimism, knowledge gaps closed, lessons learned and a greater plan. 

Myself and my counterparts have been reading "From Good To Great". The main takeaways from the last chapter was to have a disciplined staff and make a stop-doing list instead of a to-do list.

Here's my stop-doing list: .

Working 12 hours every shift

Skipping meals and snacks

Complaining and making excuses

Neglecting admin and certain tasks until the end

Allowing any disrespect from FLEX drivers or associates 

Failing to update my blog and Twitter

Make clear expectations to the team for stowdown transition, support during PSLO and my role in crash sorts at the end

Doing it all myself instead of delegating 

Just listening: provide feedback

Not having a clear plan from the past, checklist, etc

Neglecting what metrics are needed to focus on

Start doing: 

Focus on DPO routes

Picklist to picklist times 

Follow up with other sites for best practices.

Shadow the best stower and the lower stower.

Have someone for EOS Watchtower daily.

Utilize accommodations associates better 

Dive deeper into high picklist times 

STU/ADAPT long breaks and long staging times. 

Ensure LP2 has enough carts

Ensure enough of every device. 

Follow up with ACES

Have daily, weekly pick contests.

Get safety callouts clear 

Have as many Dragonfly entries as possible and close them in real time

It's time to get this shift to the top performance and cost wise! #StepByStep

The New Guy Part 15

Spring is here and I'm feeling the new season. 

I'm meeting with my higher ups about other things, metrics and such I wish to learn about. I'm seeing steady improvement and some growth all the way around. 

I'm currently trying to keep my associates engaged, reporting safety issues, being as efficient as possible on same day, sharpen my multi-tasking, develop, delegate and migitate all inactive time. I'm focusing one day at a time, one shift at a time. 

Perhaps we could hashtag this #leanandclean since that's how I want my operation to run. 

The New Guy Part 14

The growing process is just, that! 

I'm now trying to improve process efficiency, raise rates and other numbers. I also have more admin to do. 

I am determined to get better and learn and continue to develop methods and solutions for improvement.

Fortunately my company has trainings continuously to assist in this matter plus support is always there. If I don't feel supported I will escalate. 

It's a process right now and I just want to be the best I can be, not get called out so much, reduce the questions and doubts, and run an efficient operation. I set daily, weekly and monthly goals. 

The New Guy Part 13

I'm a month into running Pick and Stage and SSD now, 6 months into the role. I'm now working on tightening up my metrics especially on cost and quality. 

SSD is looking better as I get the associates I want staff there and commit to the ones staffed for safety. I'm also focusing on pad safety and on worse case scenarios. 

Pick and Stage is more of a struggle as I try to keep inactive time down, rates up, and not finish too early nor late. I'm learning my associates, getting a supervisor (PA) soon, determining how to correctly determine cost cutting, and I have an experienced manager whom is helping me get there. 

My long term goals haven't changed. I'm now setting daily and weekly goals. 

The New Guy Part 12.

This week saw me experiencing some worst case scenarios, learning more about inner details of sub-same day and starting and conducting ADHOC sorts (crash sorts). I did them at previous sites but my current one is a little different. 

I'm adjusting my day to get a sharper cadence especially now with added admin and more balance. I won't always work 11-12 days and I'm trying to keep those to 10 hours. 

I did get praised for keeping Pick and Stage running well this week and for delivering the most writeups in a week. I delivered so many my laptop crashed if you needed a number. 

It's almost a month overseeing this department and 5 months in the overall role. I want to continue to fill gaps, communicate effectively with all involved and be awesome! 

The New Guy Part 11

I do love the number 11 as it's one of my special numbers. 

I'm slowly feeling more comfortable running pick and stage as I'm filling in the gaps far as admin, time management, people management and finally inner office politics. I'm ensuring I work well with my counterparts and are setting clear expectations for whomever deals with me and seeing what I want. 

I'm getting a supervisor soon (process assistant) which means so much in my role far as delegation and my flexibility. 

I'm in charge of affinity groups now at my site which I'm happy about as the powers in the executive office attempt to strip away DEI. I'm also working on improving area readiness and career development for those that wish to move up in the company. I see these as site gaps (aside from the affinity groups which I was assigned). 

I got a good review from my manager and will continue to work to be great. 

The New Guy Part 10

Welp it's always Day 1 at Amazon. 

I found out post Cycle 0 that I'll be going to Pick and Stage. It's a later shift that focused on staging the routes for dispatch. I'm also over same day, the early waves. 

I have a solid team around me and have been trained well. It's bridging knowledge gaps, developing a cadence and getting ready to run it alone this upcoming week (talk about a stress test!). I've did parts of it on Cycle 0 but it was slightly different. 

I look forward to yet another challenge and narrowing down my L5 promo doc project.  Currently I'm looking at area readiness, inactive time mitigation and employee engagement. I'll fill it on Safety stuff where applicable also. It's time to get it!

The New Guy Part 9

We're in 2025 now of course. Cycle 0 is wrapping up soon with myself set to go to Cycle 1 as a sort AM. 

I felt like I gained a lot of experience, growth and development the past couple of months. Deion and Shirley were great, knowledgeable mentors. They never allowed me to fail but wanted to ensure I could stand on my own two feet. I had awesome Interim Process Assistants and critical role associates that really helped me and I'll rely on them throughout my year in this role. 

My site lead send out an email for 2025 outlining our cost goals. That's definitely on the list of opportunities for my continued growth. I also want to help create a more safe culture, reduce inferred time, fully utilize Engage and ADAPT to set the proper tone for those associates that need improvement and guidance. Additionally, I want to know more of the ins and outs of the sort floor, continue my growth on the dock and with Pick and Stage. Finally I want to be more adept with running DCAP, routing, the end of shift wash, bridging PerfectMile, writing good, detailed ADAPTS and Thrives, keeping my connection scores favorable.and executing shift plans. 

I obviously have aspirations of getting promoted to an L5 and doing these smaller tasks can help me when it's time to form my promo doc. 

I'm going to start yet another new series and I may return to this one and others from time to time.