MiloStrong

Been a while since I’ve posted. I post too infrequently as well. I know.
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Been writing a lot. Working a bit. Writing even more.
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Finished a fiction manuscript (on my third rewrite - need to lose about 10k words - so not really finished🤦🏾‍♂️). It’s a mystery thriller set in this amazing city.
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I’m not a gifted enough writer to wax poetic about a place I’ve never experienced. So I took in the Crescent City multiple times. Shed tears in front of a sculpture near Congo Square. … Cried again under a tree whose roots once burrowed through the soil of a sugar plantation. … Stayed in the Ritz-Carlton once - for research because the protagonist stayed there as well. Ate at places such as Morrow Steak and Melba’s. Hit the Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone - have a sweet scene in that hotel. Did several workouts by the Mississippi River and explored every place every character visited.
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Want to see a city differently? Write a book.
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Probably my favorite picture from this bunch. Wanted a silhouette. Got that AND a halo around the Louis Armstrong statue.

Wasn’t expecting to get emotional. But there I was, wiping away tears.

Stepping ON the chains. That symbolism got me.

Congo Square

Big Chief Allison “Tootie” Montana

The Tree of Life is more than 50 yards wide.

This is a branch resting on the ground that seemingly blossoms into another whole tree.

Roots of Music

Buddy Bolden

Ritzy figures.

Sidney Bechet

This place helped change the protagonist.

Roots of Music

Minibar in the Ritz is different.

First opened in 1927.

Sadly little has changed.

She was heard throughout my house in my younger days.

Nov. 4, 1986 - the club decided to open it doors to Black members.

Stayed on the 36th floor of a different hotel. Frequently took the stairs.

Watch the second dude … stop making excuses folks.

I don’t have a lot of “braggable” accomplishments in my bag.
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But this - this is one I’ll savor for a while.
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Bragging rights matter when family members are competing on the grill.
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Rub from scratch. Sauce from scratch. Grilled and smoked just right.
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Fam - I’m entertaining all rematches. I ain’t hard to find. You can smell what I’m cookin’ from there.
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Come get some - more.

Had a great time chatting with these brothers.
darien and his twin are both medical doctors and are a part of inaugural Health Care Heroes series, where the magazine shines a bright light on people making an impact in the health care and medical fields.

I was lucky enough to get their first-ever joint interview.

Check out the link in my stories!

Happy Birthday!

A 55-challenge for 55 trips around the sun.
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Happy Birthday to me.
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Stay strong my friends. Stay strong.
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This one might seem easy on the surface. But the different hand positions hit the pecs and tris differently each set of five - yet compounding intensity with every rep.

Spent a day with , and I was thoroughly impressed and inspired by the intentionality, he has placed on his physical, psychological and sociological well-being.
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Check out the January/February edition of to get a more in-depth look at what he has done over the past couple of years. I wish I could show the before-and-after photos because they are unreal!
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Much respect.

Out of the night the covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole.
I thank whatever gods may be,
For my unconquerable soul.

It was sweet spending time with and for this article. Cool people. Sweet vibe.

First food after a 96-hour water-only fast.
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Has been three month since my last fast, which was 76 hours. Had a lot of good results with the last one. Looking forward to testing out this one.
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Will have watermelon in an hour.
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