You Want To Know My Business? Become An Investor

If someone wants to know your business, tell them to invest in it.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 28, 2015

 At what age do you stay out of others' business? I'm just asking because everywhere you turn, some folks have to know your every move: What you're doing, how you're doing it, are you ok, this, that & the other. There are two kinds of people who do this: 1. Those who mean well, and 2. Those who are fishing for information to use against you at a later date. If you're meeting someone for the first time, and their energy is right, those are the people you don't mind sharing your affairs with because you know they'll keep your business between you and them. Whatever issues you and them may have, you two immediately squash your beef and get back on good terms. You seldom have skirmishes with people who mean well because deep down, they want the best for you, and vice versa. You have to watch those in Group #2 because they slide in like a snake. Nobody's gonna come into your life just to cause drama. They're gonna play a wolf even though they're wearing sheep's clothing.

Those who are fishing for information to use against you at a later date, you have to keep an eye on them because you never know when they're going to strike. They act friendly, and want to keke with some tea. So far, things are going good between you until they start showing their true colors. What starts off as little skirmishes turns into epic confrontations. What you told them in confidence starts spreading like wildifre, and they start becoming besties with former enemies. Weren't you just battling with this & that person a week ago, and now you're besties? Get on with that nonsense. I pride myself on being a very private person, which is why I don't lead a drama-filled life. I don't keke with some tea with everybody because although some people may mean well, people are great actors. For those who want to know your business, tell them to become an investor. That's how you stop nosy folks in their tracks.

Cynthia Spills The Tea

After all the mess Phaedra said about Kenya, Kenya has sooooo much dirt on Phaedra. #RHOA

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 2, 2015

Kenya and Phaedra FINALLY have it out. For 2 years, Phaedra has thrown so much shade at Kenya for flirting with Apollo, and Kenya's name was cleared because Apollo confessed to making up those accusations. Last night when all the Atlanta housewives sat down to a nice dinner, Phaedra had some choice words for Kenya (as usual). What Phaedra didn't realize is that Kenya had dirt on Phaedra from Day 1, and Kenya was looking for a reason to go in on Phaedra. According to texts sent to Cynthia and Peter, Mr. Chocolate and Phaedra were sleeping together. Being that Kenya and Cynthia are good friends, you knew Cynthia was going to tell Kenya. Telling Kenya how Phaedra was sleeping with Mr. Chocolate was extra ammo for Kenya to use against Phaedra at the dinner. Never mind that Kenya and Phaedra were battling for 2 years over Kenya's alleged affair with Apollo, never mind that Phaedra treated Kenya like a dog. Going further, a while back, Phaedra said something hurtful about Cynthia previously, so Cynthia used this moment to make herself look good. She gave Peter some tea, then she spills more tea to Kenya and she Kenya sips. Kenya was sitting in the cut chilling because in her mind, she knew Phaedra was creeping with another man before Phaedra and Kenya did battle. I called this from the beginning: I've been saying that Phaedra better tread lightly when it comes to Kenya because after she accused Kenya of sleeping with Apollo, Kenya didn't let that go and last night, she went in on Phaedra. I can't say I blame Kenya because a person can only take so much disrespect until they get you together. Phaedra was trying to get gangster by saying how she would blow Apollo away with a .357 & embalm him, slap Kenya, etc. Phaedra isn't about that life, so she needs to stop with the gangster rhetoric.

Short & Sweet

One thing I like about Twitter is you can make your point in 140 characters or less. I have a gift for making succinct points, and people remember them. I'm going to post some of my famous tweets that have been retweeted and favorited. Here we go:

@RichardMIATL: All of them would be sitting on the side of the road since they want to be slick-mouthed. Marcus handled that! Salute. #ThickerThanWater

@RichardMIATL: @Epitomeoflady WTH Nene talking about? This witch invented the word messy.

@RichardMIATL: After all the mess Phaedra said about Kenya, Kenya has sooooo much dirt on Phaedra.  #RHOA

In response to a Sweetie Pie's episode: @RichardMIATL: @itsKENDRA_xo She forgets that she's not the only one who has a strong personality. She tries to be hard, and those employees push back.

@RichardMIATL: @itsKENDRA_xo @TONYADEAN1967 That's how some people are; they mess up and have an attitude when you call them on it. Hello..you screwed up.

@RichardMIATL: That's God's anointing when you can't read a lick of music and still have a successful music career. #ThickerThanWater

@RichardMIATL: There's nothing like starting your day off with a 5am workout followed by a shower, then a good breakfast. Energy stay on point all day.

@RichardMIATL: Not too many artists have that longevity in the music business. Salute to Ben Tankard for his accomplishments. #ThickerThanWater

Sweetie Pie's: Ma'ri Has To Go

What does Mari know about the restaurant business? She's not in banking, so her mgmt. style doesn't work at the restaurant. #SweetiePies

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) March 1, 2015

Ever since Tim hired Ma'ri as District Manager of Sweetie Pie's, Ma'ri has gotten into it with the ENTIRE staff, and no one likes her. Honestly, I can't say I blame the staff for disliking Ma'ri because of her attitude. She rolls her eyes, which is unprofessional, tries to throw her weight around, and has a horrible attitude, which is why the employees push back. You can't talk crazy to anyone without them pushing back. I've been watching Sweetie Pie's since Day 1, and the atmosphere is real down-to-earth & family-oriented. The employees clown, but they work well together. Here comes Hurricane Ma'ri bringing destruction, and the employees don't like it. Two things are going to happen: 1. The employees are going to quit en masse or 2. Ma'ri is going to be terminated for creating a hostile work environment. When a new boss comes to a company, (s)he can't bring her old style to a new company; it doesn't work that way.

What does Ma'ri know about the restaurant business anyway? Her background is banking, so that's an issue already. Her corporate background doesn't mesh well with the family atmosphere at Sweetie Pie's, which is why she's getting so much resistance from the employees. Tim should've hired a District Manager with a restaurant background. The crazy thing is that there are bosses just like Ma'ri: Horrible attitudes, unprofessional, etc. and as much as employees may not like it, they have to deal with it UNTIL...they can find another job. At the same time, if a boss or employee is creating a hostile environment, it's only a matter of time before management drops the hammer on him/her. Senior management will NOT let anyone get in the way of their money train, even if it's lower or middle management. Maybe if Ma'ri came correct, the employees would be more receptive to her. She's gotten into it with the managers, Danielle, but she didn't try Ms. Robbie because Ms.Robbie's like: There's only ONE manager, and that's me. Ms. Robbie don't play that. 

You Weren't With Me Shooting In The Gym

Pay attention to the people that help you when you're low, so you know who to ignore when you're at your high.

— Life is Good! (@rulesolife) March 1, 2015

 I hate when people say "Success Means Nothing If You Have No One To Share It With". That's the problem, nobody was with her or him when they were trying to come up, but all of a sudden some people feel entitled to share in someone's victory. Most successful people keep their circle small and with good reason: They don't trust everyone that comes into their inner circle. The people that successful folks have with them are their childhood friends; those who were with them when they were struggling.. The reality is that people have agendas for coming into your life. Some people come into your life because they're opportunists; those who see something you have and want it, then they leave without warning; other people come into your life because they genuinely care about you. I'm working on becoming successful, and when I get to where I want to be in life, my humility will remain intact; I'll never get too high & mighty because I know where I've came from. I look at former football star Terrell Owens. Owens was doing very well for himself financially until those around him started taking advantage of him & cleaned him out. Now, Terrell Owens is struggling to get back to where he was financially & professionally. I feel bad for Terrell because he should've done a better job of watching the company he keeps. Everyone that's in your corner, is NOT in your corner. Some people see you doing well in life, and want to come along for the ride. You find out who's really got your back when you're low.  

Trouble In Paradise

RHOA's Kandi Burruss wants marriage counselling with Todd Tucker http://t.co/nMil7jLhUH via @DailyMailCeleb

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) February 28, 2015

From the moment Todd & Kandi got married, they've been having trouble in marriage, and it boils down to Kandi. Why do I point the finger at Kandi? It's simple. She lets Mama Joyce meddle in their love life. All she has to do is tell Mama Joyce to but out of their love life, and everything will be fine between them. Just like a woman expects her fiancee to check his mom for disrespecting her, men expect the same in return. Todd is better than myself and a lot of men because most men wouldn't go for that. Either an ultimatum would be given to a woman to check her disrespectful parents, or he's gone. I truly believe much of the reason why some women can't find a quality man is because she lets her mother meddle in her love life. Mama Joyce is a member of the Disciples Of The Angry Black Sisterhood, and if she's not happy; she doesn't want her daughter Kandi happy either. Kandi isn't slick; we know what's good. Todd's not giving Kandi any action because he still feels slighted by how Kandi refuses to check Mama Joyce. Whenever Todd brings up Mama Joyce's disrespectful nature, Kandi shrugs it off like it doesn't matter. When that's done repeatedly, you have the nerve to ask your spouse for some action. Sorry, but the answer would be negative. I don't blame Todd for turning down loving because they have TOO many issues to fix. If any area in the relationship is fractured, chances are the love department is as well. Let some of these couples tell it, sex can solve all problems in a marriage because you forget what you were upset about. Todd could be using Kandi's desire for a baby to get back at Kandi for not standing up for him during Mama Joyce's tirade. That's Todd's way of controlling the situation. Todd's like: "I'm gonna fix her. She wants a baby, but I've got the sperm." Here's a few comments regarding Kandi/Todd's marriage issues from a Facebook friend's thread: 

Geoff Barlow-You need more than sexual attraction for a long lasting marriage. You can't live your whole life in the bedroom!

Thelma Chong-Kandi would have a better relationship with her husband if she wasn't so controlling. Right now, I feel that Todd was impressed by her ambition but he probably feels that she need to focus more on their relationship rather than her mother. Her mother put ideas in her head so now she wants counseling? I'm gonna tell you by her not standing up for him while she constantly belittling him left him with a bad feeling towards her. He knows she wants to have a baby so this is his way of getting back some control.

Richard Hudson (myself)-I feel for Todd, but at the same time, I don't because he should've bounced the first time Kandi didn't have his back when Mama Joyce went in on Todd. If I'm good to a woman, and her parent(s) still don't think I'm good enough for her, I'm gone. Women let their moms meddle in their love lives too much, but would expect a man to check his mom if she meddled. Yeah, single is continuing to look good for me. 

One more thing, counseling won't always fix things in a marriage.

Richard Hudson-The biggest mistake married couples make is thinking a baby can fix their problems. 

Paying Rent To Ex Husband

Strawberry Letter | Steve Harvey in the Morning on WDAS

This strawberry letter is crazy for the simple fact that a 12-year old is on the streets selling drugs (he's got to be slinging drugs if his mother refers to his money as "street" money). The mother is setting her son up for two places: Jail or death. When you're selling drugs, you have to know what you're faced with. You have to contend with police and rival dealers trying to take over your spot. If your trap is really hot (meaning, it's generating major revenue), then expect fierce competition. The bigger question is why this boy's mother is allowing her son to stay out until 2:45 a.m. on a school night. 12-year olds aren't cognizant of the dangers of being on the streets after dark. If a man takes a single mother and her children into his home, they have to abide by his rules. If the husband wants to charge his ex-wife rent, he's within his right. I see why a lot of men don't take on single mothers because the minute a man tries to exercise authority, the mom has a problem with it. Sorry to say, but someone failed that boy along the way if he's getting street money. I don't see this ending well at all for that 12-year old, especially if he's getting street money. I would've divorced her too if she put her son's street money over my income that's keeping the household in tact. In my opinion, the husband wasn't wrong at all for asking his ex-wife to pay rent. When you're living under someone's roof, you're subject to their rules & regulations, no matter how unfair they may seem.