If you're here, that means the QR code worked-SELF CARE in 2025

 DAYUM, it's been 69 months (I guess I could've lied and tried to assert my youngness by and said that it was 67 months

. I feel like I have lived a whole other life between my last post and now. Where can I even start about actual life? (Not that yall care).....COVID, job changes, life changes, health changes, and now a kid later....

If you are here, it means you are curious and searched a link you saw, or used the QR code....welcome.

I hope that what you saw was similar to how I felt below here 11 years ago: 

BUT let's be real, that's not how aging works, ESPECIALLY after age 30. I just turned 36, it's not even a cool number to be like "oh it's my Kobe year" the only famous 36 I can think of is Marcus Smart?

Quick Rundown of My life the last 69 months:

2020-Covid

2021-New House, niece born

2022-Travel

2023-Travel, nephew born

2024-Travel

2025-Baby born

Ya boi is tired 4 months into having a baby. 

Now I get why my grandma had kids at 16 (and basically every 18 months until she had 10 kids). She had her last kid when she was younger than I was at my first kid....

COVID has allowed me to work from home which has been great for the most part, but the fact that I don't need to fit into slacks on the daily and associate/socialize with people outside of my circle has caused my health, general knowledge, and fashion sense to suffer. As time goes on the people around me are getting older and sicker. It has taught me to spend money when you are able to and travel the world more.

This isn't a travel blog though and it's hard to say what my favorite trip so far has been except for my Mallu Peeps....you HAVE to go to the Maldives when you go to kerala. It's legit a no brainer 1.5-2 hour flight from there. Could we only afford 2.5 days there? yes lol

And the last international trip we took before the baby was Switzerland #bollywood. 

Yes I went to the Yash Chopra statue:

START HERE IF YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT MA LIFE....................

Given the fact that I am now an unc (literally and by age): my opinions on fashion, sports, finances, and politics (will not be shared here in case I get canceled one way or the other) have changed. 

I do have some quick thoughts though for the YN's if you were able to figure out the QR code. 

A. Fashion: I still do not understand the no socks with dress suit/shoes look, but what do I know. Also people don't really wear ties anymore with suits? what's the point of a suit then?

Overall I have noticed a shift towards relaxed-fit clothing. We were getting to a point with ultra skinny jeans that I was not a fan of. 

Maybe it was because I was never skinny enough for them? who knows. As mentioned WFH has made me become more relaxed (aka fatter) and the need for new clothes has diminished especially with most places I frequent being business casual.  

B. Sports-Go Rockets

C. Good debt vs. Bad debt: I am by no means a financial advisor, but financial literacy does not seem to be high in the world these days. Maybe because it is so easy to take on debt and many people are given money without having to earn it 

As time goes on my mentality on money has changed, but my advice has 2 main arms:

1. Find a job where you can make the most amount of money for the least amount of work possible. So if there is a job that pays you 50k but the difficulty or time/mental commitment of that job is 10/10, it maybe better to take a job that pays you 30k but the difficulty of that job is 4/10. Essentially find the highest paying 4/10 difficulty job and use the rest of your time to work on something for yourself. 

2. Put 3 months of emergency funds in your checking account, and the rest put in a High-Yield Savings Account. Pay off any debts that have a higher interest rate than your HYSA. If you have $20k in your HYSA gaining 5% interest, then it is OK to pay off your car loan of $20k at 3% interest. If the interest rates are flipped: pay off the car loan. 

The main point of this blog post will be on self-care, especially as I (and you if you are a long-time fan) age some things take higher precedence than others. 

I. Eat right and exercise

Up until now, my mentality towards exercise was always towards getting into better shape to look better in clothes. Now at age 36, it is functional. What will make it easier to play with my child, play sports, not feel like shit every day. Focus on protein regardless of what you are trying to do, Carbs are OK (don't let RFK tell you otherwise), and in general watch what you eat. Any amout of exercise is better than nothing. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, whatever. Stretching is imperative and strength train more than you do cardio just because cardio is hard on older bones/muscles than it used to. 

II. Sleep properly

This is easier said than done, but without proper sleep there will not be any improvements in physique or overall health. It's hard to put a number on how many hours you should sleep, but 6+ is ideal, take naps too who cares. As you get older, stress increases which makes it more difficult to fall asleep. But you should still try to sleep and relax even using white noise machines if necessary. 

III. Advocate for yourself and your health

Listen to your body. Although I hate when my patients think they know everything, it is good that they (and you) ask questions regarding their health. PSA: Statin's are NOT the Devil's venom contrary to what your neighbor told you. 

The healthcare system currently sucks and everybody is expected to churn out as many patients as possible for the most money. Don't let your provider brush your concerns off. Ask questions, get second opinions. Hell, use ChatGPT. I was fortunate to have an advocate for me, and I advocate for my dad to get treatment that was kinda new at the time. You may have to put in the legwork to find the information, but better to catch and treat things earlier than later. 

IV. Don't be so hard on yourself

It's OK to not have a 6 pack or get back to your high school waist size. It's OK to not always be available for everything and everyone all the time. It's OK to not have your life in order when others seemingly do (they don't). Everybody is in a rat race, and everybody's lives have their own flaws. Focus on your blessings and do your best. Social Media has tarnished our viewpoint on life and we all (myself included) only put our best out there for everyone to see. Let yourself fail, especially in your 20's and early 30's because those lessons will help you along the way. 

V. Pray/Faith

In the last 69 months my faith has ventured to depths lower than it has ever been before. You get to a point where you don't believe anything can get worse so you turn away from God, but then you realize that's the whole point of the journey.

The funny thing about faith is that you are expected to keep praying in hopes that they will get answered. Consistency is key. Whatever your faith may be, whatever your process is just keep at it and eventually you will gain clarity in your situation. Or you won't and you can go back to not having faith and tell me to stfu. The hard part about faith is you are expected to believe without seeing, so saying you won't pray cuz your prayers weren't answered defeats the purpose. 

Until next time....will there even be a next time? Your comments/responses will determine that. 

GG

Aging sucks....don't it? RIP Kobe

26+ Months away from the game...but who's counting right?
"We don't care that you've been gone GG, why are you back?"

Let's just say my fans (3) have spoken, "they must've been drunk and at a wedding right, GG?"

LOL...just kidding... but I was also inspired by some events in my life

I guess you can say...your prayers have been answered.

So what's changed since we last spoke?

An easier way to answer that is....What hasn't changed?

People started asking 

there was a bunch of 

and I even got to 

Let's just say there were some highs and some lows, self-reflection, and some questioning God. But in the end, life goes on and you learn from the lessons and turn out happier afterward. 

let it go

At the end of it all, I am 2 years older and 20 lbs...wiser?

Also, can you tell my grammar is a lot better? I started taking some classes and had to download Grammarly, which automatically fixes ma' errors so shout out to them. 

START HERE IF YOU ARE SELFISH AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE I HAVEN'T WRITTEN IN 26 MONTHS AND ACCIDENTALLY CLICKED THE LINK TO READ

(this is how you treat me).

AGING

So the other day I was talkin' to my cousin as we are trying to lose some weight. I told him how it seemed a lot harder to lose weight now that I am older. 

As you may know, I recently turned 30 and have put on some weight. 

Yeah...that's not muscle

I know, I know "Groominguru it wasn't that long ago you were givin' us sh*t for being too lazy to exercise, eat right, and lose weight"

1. Patience is key

I know how you feel. I go to the gym (especially after being out a week), and work out for like 30 minutes, then I get tired.

The obvious next step? Look at yourself in the mirror fully expecting 6 pack abs. 

But you walk away disappointed in what you see: 

As you get older, your body changes as well. It cannot take the beatings at the frequency it once used to. It will take time and patience to be able to lose weight after you have gotten older. Like I have mentioned before, the longer it takes is actually a blessing in disguise. The harder it is also is a blessing in disguise. 

No, I haven't gone crazy. We tend to take things for granted if it's easy and quick. Which is what happened to me. As I started to gain weight I was thinking to myself "you did it before you can do it again" And although it wasn't easy it made me feel comfortable because I figured if I did it once I could do it again. Also, the longer that your fitness journey takes, the more likely you are to stick to it. Fad diets and new years' resolutions come and go quickly. But if you stick to it for a longer period, you can make this a LIFESTYLE change instead of a new year's resolution. 

In no time you will be as strong as this guy 

2. Get some knee braces/some fly SAS kicks

Another tip to follow is to get some knee braces. Whether you are weightlifting, running on the treadmill, doing elliptical, or just going to work these will help as you age.

I recommend the padded types which will help during your weightlifting as well as cardio. The less stress there is on the joints, the more likely you will continue your workout to the finish, and not be in pain in the days afterward.

I know, I know SAS shoes don't seem hip (these are decent)

But sometimes, style isn't everything which includes your time spent at the gym. There is no point in sacrificing performance on your workout because you tryna' have cute shoes on. It won't hurt to get some ugly shoes because then you won't have ugly toes. 

apparently, people pay good money for pictures of feet? that's for another day...

3. Hair loss


Unfortunately, not everybody has the genes/Bollywood aestheticians to keep their hair looking like this

or this

There are obviously a plethora of products out there that can help. Some haircuts can cover it, products that give you volume, even prescription medications to inhibit the loss or even augment it. Being in the field of drugs, I don't feel like going through the side effects, but let's just say it's probably something that cannot be sustained in the long term and is just slowing down the inevitable. 

Or if you can afford the transplant, etc. like this dude....go for it 

As hair starts going away, spend time on the rest of your body. 

Get yo skin right, get yo nails right, get yo mind right, get yo teeth right

 Basically self-care. Take it from Marshawn...

As I've lost hair (yup even the groominguru has lost hair), and seen how people struggle with it, I've realized that there are so many other ways to take care of yourself and keep you happy that you can control. Above all, take care of your mentals.

4. Conclusion

Aging isn't the end of the world, and you can get everything you put your mind to although it might take longer to achieve. 

A positive outlook, strong faith (in yourself and whatever higher being you subscribe to) can help you keep kickin' for years. 

Some Post-blog reflection:
Kobe...I never thought about you dying, nor did I ever think I would care so much if you did. I grew up hating you. You defeated Pippen-Barkley-Olajuwon the first big 3....you defeated Steve Francis-Cuttino Mobley-Yao...TMAC-Artest-Yao...

That's when I respected you cuz I saw how your hard work made you so much more successful than TMAC (who was arguably more talented than you). I saw the hard work during the scandal going to the hearings and flying straight into your games, you were fighting hard to clear your name of the rape (although the infidelity was not okay either). It showed character to not miss work amidst the boos and the travel. Above all, you fought for your family. It would've been easier to cut your losses and live it up like most other NBA players but you owned up and fixed your marriage/family which I know was a lot harder than calling it quits. I truly respected you after you retired. You were so focused and to yourself until you retired and then you started sharing your knowledge. You were a renaissance man, and most importantly a family man. You were truly an inspiration to others to work hard.

I spent all of yesterday watching his highlights, player reactions, and reading his quotes. The one that stood out the most to me was Spencer Dinwiddie talking about how Kobe reached out and appreciated him. A non-all star, pretty average player was in tears because Kobe appreciated him. That is very contrary to the arrogance most people of Kobe's stature portray. Reach out to the little guys, stand up for the kids being bullied in school, be friends with the "weird" kids, talk to those who maybe have nobody to talk to. That was a real example of him using his power to better the world.

Some things I forgot and remembered in the past few weeks:

1. You can't control everything. People around you get sick, life changes, but God is always there.

2. Don't do things expecting people to understand, and don't question God. Do what you think is right, and the rest will fall in line.


I was spending some time with a loved one recently and I saw a story on the news of a father on his last days due to the extent of his cancer. The son and family staged an early graduation ceremony for the son in case he didn't make it that long and he said:

"We are all terminal, we just need to treat each other like we know it"

9 month's later....and I'm back

I know yall just as excited as I am since I'm back...

No, I did not undergo pregnancy.

Good evening friends/colleagues: I know I've been MIA recently. I've had quite a bit going on, and sadly the blog took a backseat. Life's been up and down and busy. But I have alot to thank God for so can't complain (even though I kinda did eh?).

But my fans never wavered and sincerely awaited a post so finally I decided....

Let's go through the typical.....

I. SKIP THIS SECTION IF YOU THINK THE WORLD REVOLVES AROUND ONLY YOU, AND ARE ONLY HERE FOR THE GIF's

a. January: went to India for my cousin's wedding.

b. February-May: Wut

these months were kinda a blur

c. June: wedding

d. July-August: Sister wedding

e. September: San Diego Trip (0 PTO)

left after work friday and came back sunday. good times

f. September to Present: Friends/Cousins' weddings/ Cancun

relaxing get away, 3rd annual international boy's trip. 

So basically a whole bunch of:

I've sang/done sound at many weddings so I've attended close to (if not more than) 100 and have noticed many little things that help in coordinating one, but Planning this stuff is no joke and there are alot of nuances to deal with. So whether it is yours, your loved ones', or you're just a simple attendee, just have fun. 

II. WEDDING SEASON:

For some, wedding season is a time to kick back, relax, have a few drinks and dance the night away.

For others, it's a time to showcase your fashion... so let's get down to the nitty gritty.

And I know you don't wanna hear it.... 

but it's also where people go to meet hunnies/gents.

"GG, Weddings are like a day or 2, how can you make it happen in such a short period of time?

Sometimes ya just know...

But for others I say......Look at her sari blouse, it's the window to her soul.....

So.... let me bring you to my first topic and new theory.

You can tell a LOT about a girl's personality from the choice of her sari blouse.

I came upon this theory by noticing bridesmaids blouses. Some brides choose to have all the bridesmaids do the same style of blouse, then other brides allow the bridesmaids to choose their own style which is when I started noticing personalities vs blouse choice.

DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING THEORY/COMMENTS SHOULD NOT MAKE YOU SELF-CONSCIOUS WHATSOEVER, KEEP DOING YOU GIRL...

a. Sari Blouses- 

I call this the "hanging by a thread"

This girl is daring, but her "conservativity" is hanging by a thread 😉 if ya know what I mean 

I call this the "small window"

This girl wants to show some skin, but uncles and aunties/parents are around so she's holding it in, probably pretty liberal after you get to know her. 

I call this the garter

This girl is probably one of the least conservative and probably the most crazy, why does she have puff sleeves? These are all red flags so approach these girls with caution. 

I call this "the Plunging V"

This is for the girls with very little back fat, and without pointy shoulder blades. This girl is fashionable and is confident in her body which are both plus points. Downside: if you put on back fat, you cannot wear this anymore. 

I call this the "I ran out of sari blouse ideas"

This girl is definitely trying too hard to be fashionable, which means she definitely is not fashionable. If you want to get with a poser, go for this girl. 

This is the tank top

Some people can pull this off, but a majority cannot and should not. This girl is probably the most fit of the bunch, but is also lazy because she doesn't have to maneuver her arms through the sleeves because there are none. This goes too far from the culture in my opinion and should be avoided cuz this girl is probably not indian enough

I call this the "girrl why are you even wearing a blouse?"

Probably the second freakiest level of girl would wear this. She don't care about any auntie she wants the breeze and wants to have fun. 

I call this the "are your shoulder blades supposed to poke me in the eyes?"

Why....why...These are just scary to see. 

This is the "full conservative"

Contrary to popular belief, these girls are probably the craziest of the bunch and are just putting up a front. 

This is the closed front/closed back

These are very fashionable these days, but you never know what she could be hiding with this blouse. 

Just be sure to give all of them a chance so you don't end up with 

b. Lapel Flowers

i. If you recall from one of my earlier posts: the laper flower also goes by the "2 out of 3" rule. 

The 3 accessroies we are accounting for are : Tie, lapel flower, and pocket square. Pretty easy right?

ii. Your tie/pocket square/lapel flower should not be the same pattern. 

for example: DON'T use the handkerchief that your tie comes with to be your pocket square: 

NOOOOOOOOOO

Gals...Stay away from gents like the above, or who BREAK the 2/3 rule

 Try to catch the color of your tie in your square in some way. 

My favorite combination however is no tie with lapel flower and pocket square, especially in the HTOWN HEAT. 

c. Shoes

i. what's with the new no socks fad?

The first time I saw this I was like... 

Are they wearing....stirrup pants??

And I know you young lads are like...GG you're 28 now, you're too old to know what's cool, I've been there too..

BUT....I must admit this style has been growing on me. 

My thoughts: go for pants that are long enough so in the future when/if this style fades you can still wear socks with them. 

Yes 

No.

Also, I hope you guys are wearing no-show socks under there. The possibility of chafing is not worth it broz. 

ii. my new infatuation:

chukka boots. 

These have multipurpose use (casual, semi-casual, semi-formal) which makes them a great value. They can vary in color to give you that casual look. I however do not have a pair, but will update you on my findings as soon as I get some. But definitely recommend getting a pair to my lads/gals trying to get their man more fashionable. 

This can also negate the shorter pants situation if you got a pair that are justttt slightly too high. 

d. Cuff Links

People will come up to me and be like, yo do you know alot about cuff links?

And im like...uhh

Honestly, cuff links are cool, but are rarely noticeable. If you got EVERYTHING else goin' on like this dude 

Then consider entering the cuff link game. 

What is the only rule for cuff links?

your shirt must be long enough to go past your suit sleeves, but your suit sleeve length should not be too long either. Pretty simple right?

IV. Rockets/Texans/Astros

We were doing okay with flashes of hope, until the injury. Hopefully he gets better soon. 

Doing well so far, and CP3 hasn't even started playing, hopefully it continues. Harden on a tear.

World Series Champs....nothing else to say. 

End Note: If you need prayers, holla. I been slackin' and gotcho back. 

It's November so I have to touch on it: 
a. do NOT grow a goatee

b. no shave November is NOT an excuse to keep this 

go for 

but also remember to have fun with it, and own it. NSN is when i switched from the pervy goatee guy

(I still got a handful of hunnies during these dark times) to the half decent bearded fellow I am today. 

c. RIP to my Wahl trimmer, I bought a new trimmer (different model) but it was too heavy, so waiting on another one. This trimmer made GG who he is today and will be missed. 

What to expect next?
I'm getting a new beard trimmer, also will be going further into hair styling, etc.

Stay tuned.....until we meet again.