I was waylaid with a migraine today…woke up with it; dammit, I hate those damn things! Believe it or not, I think the crazy weather we are having around here is contributed to it…I am not under any stress, and I’m sleeping well…so it’s the only thing I can think of. Whatever the cause, I am tired and feel like I’ve been through 12 rounds of a fight…

So let’s make this short and sweet…

Luda

I’m sure you have heard that Luda has released this song that has angered some folks by its lyrics. Being an Obama supporter, I simply cannot understand why some other Obama supporters do the things that they do. Why release this song now, knowing that the spotlight is on and everything that you say related to this man will be automatic scrutiny for him? There are millions of things that we have to say, and do say, here in the blogosphere, attaching ourselves to free speech. But we are not in the national spotlight (at least some of us are not). What we say here is not going to make Obama have to “denounce and reject” what we say immediately and distance himself from us because we called HRC a “bitch” or said that JM is old as dust.

I know that Luda is covered by free speech as well; but there is a responsibility factor. Knowing that what he says and does as an Obama supporter will automatically be attached should have made him zip it, or keep that little ditty in his back pocket until next year, after the swearing in. It is not needed right now. The fight is hard enough.

Preacher Man

I read this story about this preacher in Jackson, Alabama who allegedly killed his wife and put her in the freezer of their home…in 2004. Apparently, the wife caught Preacher Man abusing one of the children in the bathroom and she put him out. He got back into the house and that is where it goes downhill…

Black In America

I’ve read many things about the Black In America documentary on CNN, and I’ve pretty much stayed out of the discussion. One of the reasons why is because I think we too often jump to the defensive when the focus is on us. We don’t like our business out in the street, and when we are on the national stage, when the troubles of our world are brought to the forefront, we are not happy. I happen to think that the documentary did just what it was supposed to do: start a dialogue. It did not promise any results; problems cannot be solved by a television program. Was it perfect? No, it was not. But what it was, was a glimpse. Whether you were disappointed, or angry, or horrified, find something in it that motivates you to do something to change the views that this country has of us. That is the only way to change things.

Hello all! Sorry I’ve been MIA…my job has jumped into overdrive! I started training my first class this week and I have been so mentally drained when I arrived at home, the last thing I wanted to do was get on the ‘puter and try to form a sentence. But today, I’m good. I feel like I’ve got my legs under me and it’s good. There is still a lot to get used to and a lot of mind shifting that I have to do…when you have been used to things being one way and they are not, you must shift your paradigms…I’m going through that now. Flexibility has become my new friend, and I am embracing it with a passion.

So, let’s talk, shall we?

The New Anti-Obama Ad

Dude is pulling out all the stops…now he has released an ad that compares Obama with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears—he’s a big celebrity, but is he ready to lead? You know, I’m done with the attacks. I’m at the point where I want to compare notes so I can build a credible case against the dude, but all he keeps feeding me is this bullshit. I already don’t like the dude, but I like to have something solid that says why. I don’t like to just lump him into the “Republican” category or because I think he’s too old (both of which are cons, to me) but I like to be able to compare what he’s about and talk about it intelligently. He’s not giving me anything. Or rather, he’s making me dig for it. And I don’t really like digging.

Black Panther

Will Smith has been pegged to play Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale in an Steven Spielberg directed film about the Chicago 7…I’m excited already! Say what you will about Will, but dude can draw an audience, so the film will get viewed, and the boy can do the damn thing. And with Spielberg at the helm, the story should be nice…

Old School Friday

Our Old School Friday theme this week is:

Motown!!

Awww, yeah! Here’s a taste…

Expand yo’ minds…I’m coming strong! tee hee hee…

That’s all I got today…short and sweet…see ya on the flip side!

Desiderata means “desired things”…I found this and was struck by the simplicity. Walking your path requires change, but it is achievable…may this help you along…

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it’s a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantement, it is as perrenial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

~ Max Ehrmann

Hmm, let me paint a picture:

I’m mad, you mad…but I can’t stop thinking about you, and you can’t stop thinking about me. That fight we had last week was terrible, and we both said some awful things. I keep looking at the phone, wanting to call you, because I miss your voice, miss your hands, miss you…but I refuse to give in.

You, on the other hand, are sitting with your boys, watching the game. Only, the TV is on, but you have no idea what is going on. Because you are wondering what I’m doing, and who I’m doing it with. You can hear your boys giving you hell in the background, but you don’t care…you miss me. But you don’t call; that would mean you are weak. So you try to push me out of your mind by drinking your beer and turning your attention to the game.

But then your cell vibrates…you see my phone number…and when you answer, you hear this song playing:

Boyz II Men - Uhh Ahh (The Remix)
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on March 4, 2008 by MusicCentralVideos

You show up at my door and the pre-making up ensues.

Afterward, we talk. Why do we fight the truth? We know that we fit and when we fight we are miserable. I have been in love with you since I met you, and I know that you feel the same way. There is no one that is going to be there for you more than me, and for me more than you. Let’s stop fighting each other…stop fighting us…I love you, you love me; let’s get on with being together, OK?

Boyz II Men - On Bended Knee
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on September 29, 2007 by evilpimping

I realized today that I am old; but not in a bad way. I am a grown woman, for real. One that cares about what happens around her, to her, and I am grateful for that awareness. I used to harbor these feelings towards my mother for being so hard on me, but I wanted to drive over to her house and give her a hug today. Because if she had not taught me how to be a fighter, how to stand on my own two feet, and how to live in this world, I would be in a heap of trouble.

I look at younger women these days and I am concerned. Very concerned. There are a handful that have the work ethic and tenacity that it is going to require to fight the fight, but some are just succumbing. I watched a girl get fired today over some bullshit and she showed absolutely no remorse at all. None. Now, I don’t know what her insides were doing, but her outsides? Attitude, and like it was the job’s fault that she was fucking up. My brother is like that, too. Everything is everyone else’s fault, nothing is ever his fault. Life has dealt him a fairly blessed hand so far, yet he doesn’t even have a clue about how far and how deep. That is sad.

I look around me and I see these young people in their 20’s just movin through life with no purpose and I wonder what the hell happened. I know that it has become the age of video games and television and internet, but there has to be something else, right? Shiftless parents, failing schools, single-parent homes (although I would argue that single-parent homes can and do produce good kids)…where has the accountability gone? Maybe its because I no longer live in the city and I don’t know what life is in the ‘hood anymore that I don’t understand it. But ever since I was a teenager, I knew that I wanted to live. I knew that I wanted a bigger and better life. I knew that I didn’t want to succumb to whatever everyone thought I should be because of the color of my skin or my gender or what I looked like.

So instead of sitting here and asking questions, I’ve decided to do something about it. I am volunteering to mentor 3 young women, to teach them something that maybe they haven’t been taught. When I was young and dumb, I had my mother and my aunts, and older women who told me the things that I needed to know. Maybe this is part of my purpose. That teacher thing in me is wider than just being what I am at work…I need to expand on that and carry it through to other places…

I’ll let you know how it turns out…

I ran into my first obstacle at work today…when change is in the house, not everyone wants to be part of it…

R.I.P. Estelle

I opened up my internet browser to the news that Estelle Getty, aka Sophia Patrillo of the Golden Girls, passed away this morning. I knew that she was ill (she was suffering from advanced dementia) but didn’t quite know the extent. This of course makes me sad and makes me want to curl up with my box sets of all the Golden Girls seasons. I loved Sophia…she put the spunk into the show. And even though she played the matriarch, she was, I think, the youngest out of all four of the ladies.

To Sophia, R.I.P…

video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on July 19, 2008 by greattvads

Playa, Playa!

The Pimp Kwame is now accused of texting additional women in the scandal in Detroit. Dude can’t catch a break, can he? Well, he don’t need one either…any dumbass that uses city issued equipment to converse with his women and then thinks that he won’t get caught deserves everything he is going to get. What I can’t get over is why does he think he is exempt from being held responsible for his actions? And I’m not even going to get into all the other shit that needs to be thought of in this case…I would be here all damn day…

OK, Katie

Katie Couric says that “sexism is more common than racism.” Discuss.

Classic

Back when Lauryn was…

Nas feat. Lauryn Hill - If I Ruled The World
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on January 11, 2007 by MoTv1

Happy Monday…I hope y’all had a good weekend…back to the grind!

Some Missy For Ya…

Missy Elliott - I’m Really Hot
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on August 22, 2006 by rap2r4u

The Espys

I love sports so I tuned into the Espys last night…I must say, JT (Justin Timberlake) did a good job hosting the show; he’s a little bit of a fool. And my boy (KG) and the rest of the Celtics won Best Team (YAY!)…the New York Football Giants (why do they call them that?) cleaned house though. I was almost tired of seeing them on stage. But the most emotional part came when Kevin Everett walked out on stage to accept the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Now that story is a true miracle. That man is here by the grace of God…there is no other answer for that. I still get choked up seeing him, thinking of how far he has come. I was watching that game when he was injured and seeing him now is just a testament of strength and…perseverance.

Balls Of Fire

I read this crazy ass story on MSNBC.com…two friends were drunk and set their passed out friend’s nuts on fire…yeah you read that right. What the hell?!?

Nipple-gate

The fine leveled against CBS for Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson’s nipple during the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime show was thrown out by a federal appeals court, with them stating that the FCC acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” in assessing the fine. I know it is old news, but seriously, do you think this was on purpose…the whole nipple thing?

I Hate The Media

The MSM is so one sided…all weekend long I heard stories of this missing 2-year-old girl who’s mother is in custody and who’s grandmother believes knows where the child is but won’t say…where is the coverage on Lavena Johnson? Or how about the coverage on the child in Chicago that was killed in the alley outside her home? Who decides which child is more important to put on the news? it makes me sick…don’t get me wrong, I think that the story of the missing child is important and that everything should be done to find her, but I also think equal attention should be given to find out who killed the child in Chicago. What makes her life any less newsworthy than the other?

Hey! A day late, yeah…but on time…

10 - MovieWatcher: The Dark Knight

Dark and sinister, with a touch of madness and an underlying current of who’s good, really…this movie was right up my alley. The Dark Knight was 2 and 1/2 hours of pure movie magic, and I loved it! I could have watched it again immediately. I think Christian Bale is my favorite Batman (with Michael Keaton as a close second), although that voice when he’s in the Batman getup is kinda annoying. I know its all for effect, but it kinda grates on your nerves after awhile. But Christian is the perfect Bruce Wayne: playboy pretty, rich and spoiled, but who has a little care in his soul that makes him want to make things better. And as Batman, he is strong and intimidating (sans the voice). I even dug the storyline with this one; and the performances were phenomenal.

Which leads me to Heath Ledger as the Joker. You know you are watching someone who is giving their everything to the role when you look at them and say: I don’t think he’s really trying that hard to be this crazy. It seemed that he was born to play this role; I know you have probably heard that before, but after watching him, it seemed the only correct thing to say. Heath’s portrayal of the Joker was all at once maniacal and brilliant, and it seemed to take him to a place where he would have a hard time coming back from. Maybe he did.

I give this movie a 9.5. It is that good.

9 - Andrea Curry-Demus

Have you read this story? Andrea Curry-Demus of Pittsburgh, Pa. is charged with cutting open another woman’s womb and stealing her baby and then attempting to pass the child off as her own. The mutilated woman’s body was found in Ms. Curry-Demus’s apartment.

This seems to be a regular occurrence, crimes like this. I know insanity is ultimately to blame for this kind of decision, but how do we fix what has gone wrong with our world that causes things like this to happen?

8 - The N-word (Again)

On The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Whoopi Goldberg got into a heated discussion about the use of the N-word. Whoopi used the word several times during the show, and Elisabeth ended up crying because she felt that she couldn’t teach her children not to use the word if society is putting out that it is okay for the word to be used. She also said that we live in one world. Whoopi countered with the fact that we do, in fact, live in separate worlds. It went on, but that is the gist.

Here’s my take: being a lover of words, I am quick to say that I don’t condone banning any word. But let’s be real here: there is a lot of pain and hurt behind the n-word that has carried on throughout the years. It is like a stab wound to some, and I certainly don’t condone that. But it is people that give words power. If you take away the power of the word, then it can no longer hurt or demean. But how do you do that? By discontinuing it’s use? Or by using it in a different way? The word is just at the foundation of the problems that we face here…if we can figure out how to win this one, then we can move on to bigger and better things. I will finish with this: I don’t think we can solve our problems by eliminating the n-word. It may be a start, but it will only be a small scratch on the surface.

7 - Let’s Lighten Up A Bit

Some fun on Sunday…

Fonzworth Bentley feat. Andre 3000 & Kanye West - Everybody
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on July 16, 2008 by Diogo4Joao

6 - TVWatcher: Project Runway

I love cute clothes…and this show gives me an opportunity to see them from the very concept of origination to final product. Project Runway has been on my radar since Season 1 and I absolutely love it. Season 5 has begun and boy are there some…unique folks on there! Tim Gunn, who is considered the Guru and Project Manager, is one of my favorite people and knows how to whip the designers into shape. It’s too early for me to have a favorite, but there are a couple that have shown some real talent, in just the first competition. You can catch it on Bravo. If you love fashion, and could use a laugh or two, this show is good for the soul. Or good at least for an hour of getting your mind off of whatever.

5 - An Added Bonus

You all know that I am going to see Jill Scott on August 7th…well, I was at lunch last week, in my car, when I heard on the radio who her opening act is. There had been no mention until now, and my ticket just has Ms. Jill’s name on it…so I assumed she was coming by her lonesome or with someone who was not so entertaining. But…her opening act is: BILAL!!!

I was so excited I had to pull my car over and start screaming! I’M GOING TO SEE JILL AND BILAL!!! Life is good!

4 - Quote

“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.” ~ Maya Angelou

3 - Taking Your Soul To The Laundromat

Lyfe Jennings…that is all.

Lyfe Jennings - Cry
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on February 24, 2007 by shan2001

2 - Un-Supersize Me

New Yorkers can now see the calories they are ingesting when they order those Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s…a new rule has gone into effect that requires the fast food restaurants (all of them) to post the nutritional information for their foods. That should be a blow to some; having that information staring you in the face should wake you up to what you are doing to your body.

Speaking of which, I have had my eyes opened this past week. I have not been good to my own body, and the effects of it have begun to show up. But thank God, I am willing and able to change the way I look at food and what it does to me. I’m ready to make the change and have started to…what about you?

1 - I Wonder?

Have you ever run into someone that you used to crush on? That happened to me this weekend, and it brought back all kinds of memories. I mean, this dude was prime goods for me, if only I wasn’t at the end of my marriage, and he wasn’t at the beginning of a relationship, and other tangibles…but you know how someone looks at you and you just know? That look was exchanged many a days between this dude and me, and the what ifs and I wonders just came flooding back to me…oh well…

That’s all, everyone…have a great week!

I was regretting the past and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking.
My name is I AM!

He paused.
I waited.
He continued.

When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard.
I am not there.
My name is not I Was.

When you live in the future with its problems and fears,
it is hard.
I am not there
My name is not I Will Be.

When you live in this moment,
It is not hard.
I am here.
My name is I AM!

~ Helen Mallicoat

I am so not in the mood for this one…sorry. I don’t want to relive the sadness of the break-ups (my mind is in a different place) but I’ll play, because that’s how I roll…

A true classic…

Gladys Knight & The Pips - Neither One Of Us
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on December 15, 2006 by Tibaudao