I'm giving this another try. I was told that my earlier randoms weren't very happy. So I've been composing this list for a few weeks now. Happier without even trying. Enjoy!
° Tulips make me extremely happy. Lilac tulips make me ecstatic. :-D This smile is permanent.
° I'm still all torn up about Whitney's death. So tragic.
° I blogged about people talking about people earlier this month. And, now I cannot get Whitney Houston's infamous words to Wendy Williams out of my head. They are beyond appropriate. "Watch...What The Fuck...You Say...!" Sums it up perfectly.
° My nephews and nieces give me so much joy. They are all such natural comedians. So funny. They always make me laugh when I need it the most.
° I've been singing "It's the little things and joy they bring..." for weeks now. That line really resonates with me in my life right now.
° Those Kobe Bryant system commercials are hilarious. I'm shocked because they are kinda making me like him a little. What? I'm not a Kobe fan, never have been. So this is odd lol.
° You know those conversations about nothing and everything? Yeah, those randomly make me smile. Love having those all over the place conversations.
° I believe that it's in the quiet times we figure out who we are and who others are. I've never been more at peace in silence with someone like I am with HIM. These things matters the most to me.
° All Star Weekend was very lackluster this year. I totally blame David Stern and that wreck of a lockout. Oh well there's always next year. But, the opening intro by Idris Elba was everything to me!!!
° I am on a water kick. I am trying to drink more H2O. So far, so good. *fingers crossed*
° I flexi rodded my hair for the first time on Sunday. It was an experience that I'm sure I will blog about this week.
° I've been spoiled this week by my guy. Love spending time with him. Smiling from deep within because of it.
It's a Tag game. I saw this on another blog. It looked very interesting. So I wanted to try it here.
So, here are the rules: You must post the rules. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've been tagged. Comment below to let me know of you're going to participate in this Tag game! Ok here goes:
*11 Facts About Me*
1. I'm so bossy. I'm the oldest so it comes with the territory. 2. I love chocolate. Like for real. 3. I hate my nose. I blame my Dad, it's his nose. Lol. 4. Until I was about 29, the thought of childbirth freaked me out completely. 5. I have extra bones in my foot. It's hereditary. 6. I am lightweight obsessed with the letter K, the color purple and the number 3. 7. I love grapes but hate grape flavored food. 8. I want to go to San Fran just to ride the streetcars up & down the hills. 9. I have a strange sense of humor but it works. 10. I love to use the close captions on the tv. I'd rather read than watch tv. 11. I find myself somewhat consumed by one person and that makes me a little anti-social. But I'm more than ok with that.
*Ariel's Questions*
1. What CD is currently in your CD Player? "Watch The Throne"
2. When was the last time you cried and why? This past weekend. And, sometimes you just need to release some tears.
3. What is your favorite book? "The Enormous Egg"
4. Where is your favorite place to shop online? Amazon.
5. What is your astrological sign? Sagittarius.
6. What is your dream job? Writer.
7. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? San Diego.
8. Name five of your favorite make up products (brand, color, etc). I don't wear a lot of makeup, but I dig shadows by Mac, mascara by CoverGirl, lip glosses by Avon, & liners by Sephora.
9. What is your favorite running shoe? Nike
10. What is your current workout regimen? I need to find some motivation & join a gym. Seriously.
11. What is your favorite reality TV show? I love Bethenny.
*Michelle's Questions*
1. Where did you grow up? New Orleans, La.
2. What was your favorite subject in school? English, Spanish & Yearbook.
3. Do you have an emergency savings fund? Yep.
4. What’s your favorite way to spend free time? Spending it with HIM.
5. MTV or BET? IF I have to choose, BET just for The Game.
6. Do you live in a house or an apartment? Apartment (for now).
7. What’s your favorite snack? Chocolate Covered Pretzels.
8. Potatoes or rice? Potatoes
9. What’s your favorite type of shoe? Flats & platforms.
10. Whose your favorite actress or female actor? Julia Roberts & Sanaa Lathan.
11. Favorite male actor? Nicholas Cage & John Travolta.
*Kiki J's Questions*
1. What is the name of your favorite restaurant? *
2. First celebrity crush?
3. Worst subject in high school? Math
4. You have one hour before an event and you have everything you need but shoes, what is your last minute go-to shoe store? Shoe-nami.
5. Hoops, studs or big bold earrings? Hoops.
6. Spring or Fall? Fall.
7. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Eyes/arms.
8. You have the weekend all to yourself, what are your plans? Spa pedicure, read, write, nap.
9. You've won an all expense paid vacation for one, where would you go? Santorini, Greece.
10. If you had the choice to choose to go back to school for free or travel the world for free, which would you take? Travel the world.
11. Last but not least, what is your dream job? Writing novels while being a stay at home mom.
And, here are my questions. Enjoy. 1. Something you do when you're alone. 2. Your favorite article of clothing. 3. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 4. What was your favorite movie as a kid? 5. Are you living the life you envisioned for yourself as a child? 6. Is there something you want to say to someone but are afraid of the outcome? If yes, tell me. 7. Worst movie you've seen this year? 8. Who do you think will win the GOP nomination, Santorum, Romney, Gingrich, or Paul? 9. Can you survive a day without your cell? If so, is it torturous? 10. Tell me about your best date. 11. What do you love about blogging?
Republicans are stupid or they think we are. It's clearly that simple. I don't know how many of you are actually paying attention to what is going on right now. But you should. The Republican debates have been so utterly bizarre. From their overall stance on healthcare, war to gas prices and birth control. They are all over the spectrum in their beliefs. None of them have been able to land squarely on anything that lines up with me. I don't think I could ever vote for a Republican because our core beliefs, morals and values are polar opposites. This was made clearer by Rick Santorum during Saturday's debate when he said the following: “Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college. He wants to remake you in his image. I want to create jobs so people can remake their children into their image, not his.”
Really Ricky? I wonder if this statement made sense in his head before he spewed such a ridiculous sentence. I know it sounds like crap to me. So, now college is for snobs? Is that right? I have an issue with someone who wants to be President and doesn't think that higher education should be a viable option for all Americans. Why wouldn't it be? Why would one want to limit what a person can achieve? It's been proven in case study after case study that people need more than a high school diploma to make it in this world. Higher education is the way to go to achieve it. This is just common sense. Why would I listen to a man with three degrees tell me that a college education isn't important? That makes no sense.
Furthermore, this statement sounds beyond ridiculous coming from Santorum. This man holds not one, not two, but three degrees. And, in comparison, President Obama only has two. Seems sort of hypocritical right? I think Santorum is jealous of President Obama for a few reasons. The most obvious one being that President Obama has the job Santorum wants. But more than that, Obama has 2 degrees from far more superior and widely revered schools than Santorum. President Obama has degrees from Columbia and Harvard, two of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. That's just my take on it. Santorum said "President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob.” Education makes you a snob? Well, in the wise words of Redman, "I'll bee dat!" If it makes me a snob, I will gladly be a part of that group. Santorum is slyly trying to paint Obama as an elitist. Which couldn't be further from the truth.
How selfish is it to tell people well we all can't smart enough to obtain a college degree? That is exactly what Santorum is saying. This sort of thinking can only end badly. Santorum idea would lead to a wider gap between the haves and the have nots. In my mind, this would make a smaller richer class and a poorer more populated low class or poverty class. There would essentially be no middle class anymore. People move from class to class by way of education, employment and hard work. If we cut out education, how far up could one elevate to? The rich would continue to get richer off of the backs of the poor. Santorum supports this. And, for that, no one (especially the working class) should support him. If I was a voting Republican, I would be worried. There does not seem to be one viable leader in the race. As a voting Democrat, I'm getting even more excited about a second term for Obama. He is still the same change I want to see in the White House.
I'm not a big fan of Miguel's. This song just might change that though. "Adorn" is his first single from his sophomore cd. The song is great but way too short. The moment I heard it I was a fan. Those lyrics got to me as usual. Listen and enjoy.
" Yeah, these lips... Can't wait to taste your skin baby No, no And these eyes, yeah Can't wait to see your grin...
OOh baby Just let my love Just let my love adorn you Please baby, yeah You gotta know you know that I adorn you Yeah baby
Baby these fist... Will always protect ya lady And this mind oh, Will never neglect you, Yeah baby, Oh baby And this thang trying to break us down Don't let that effect us, No baby
You just got to let My love... Let my love, let my love Adorn you Ahh, le, le, le let it Just adorn you You got to know You got to know Know that I adorn you Just that babe"
I first heard of the Galpaglaos Islands in one of those urban lit books I was addicted to. The main character, who's name alludes me, went there in vacation. I was intrigued by the name of the island and the authors description of it. Galpaglaos is right outside of Ecuador. From the pictures I've seen, the islands are gorgeous. The weather never drops below 68°. It stays relatively warm for most of the year. There are daily spontaneous rain storms which keep the greenery of the island very lush.
It seems to be a very touristy spot. The islands are know for their hotels and eateries. The island is populated with many different species of animals and birds. I can look at pictures of this island for hours. Galpaglaos is just a breathtakingly beautiful place. One day, I will get there with HIM and enjoy everything the island has to offer. These pictures are just part of the reason why this place is on my list. Look into Galpaglaos and get into it.
I have been many things in my life. The one thing I have never wanted to be was a nagger. There is nothing positive that can come from nagging. It's overbearing and obnoxious. Women, in general, have this stigma of being big on nagging. That role gets old. No one, in their right mind, wants to be the woman who continues to complain/speak on the same subject. The reality is this people are who they are and are only going to do what they feel like doing.
As a woman, I don't want to have to tell a man what I want, what's right and what's expected all the time. Being that person is draining. Those kind of women often find themselves alone a lot. I am no pushover. I am a very strong woman. But, I also know what's annoying to me. Nagging me annoys the hell out of me. So I am quite sure that a man would feel similarly. Here's a perfect example of a woman nagging her spouse. I read a story on Facebook about a classmate of mine who is insisting that her boyfriend has flowers delivered to her job on Valentine's Day. Insisting is the operative word. Her reasoning for such a thing -she wants her coworkers to know she has a great boyfriend. I see something looming there. I'm sure her nagging about it is not making her wonderful boyfriend feel as great as she claims he is. I've never been that woman. Anything that is done for me by a boyfriend has been 100% their idea and vice versa.
Nagging never gets anything done. I don't want to do that to anyone. And, I damn sure don't want any one to do it to me. It's not a good look ever. If a person repeats the same thing to me, I tend to tune them and their message out. I'm very good at ignoring what ever information I don't want to take in. The bottom line is no man wants a nagging spouse and neither does any woman. It's a bad personality trait. I don't have it in me to pursue that line of conversation. I don't want to argue if I can help it. I just want to discuss an issue, solve it and move on. Life's too short to get caught up in the small things. I would rather exist inside the love and not worry about anything else. Nagging solves nothing. Life's all about the solutions.
I love to read as much as I love to write. Anticipating a new work of art from an author I dig is an awesome experience. This is what I've been waiting for. I can't even contain my excitement for the sequel to Aliya S. King's "Platinum." The first book was this peek behind the curtain look into the lives of the Hip Hop elite. King's characters which consists of Z, a rapper with am addiction; Jake, a rapping CEO; Kipenzi, a soulful singer; Beth, Z's suffering loving wife; Josephine the designer wife of Ras, another rapper; Cleo, a groupie who's written a tell all that mentions some of the other characters; Alex, a writer who ghostwrites Cleo's book; Birdie, the rapping husband of Alex; Zander, son of Beth and Z and a singer; Bunny, singing girlfriend of Zander. Every character is fully thought out and developed. I love the depth of each individual character and the manner in which they interactive with one another.
King has the gift of spinning a story that makes the reader feel as if they are an integral part of the storyline. I have been completely invested in her characters from the first chapter of the first book. And even though I'm not privy to the underbelly of the entertainment world, King through her characters make me feel like I am. From both books, I have wanted all of the characters, minus Cleo, to win. I'm a fan of these characters. They are all flawed and real. They seem like people I know. I can identify with so much of their triumphs and failures, their gains and their losses. These characters became people to me. That's one of the signs of a great book by a great author. I have to address the eerie similarities of King's Kipenzi in "Platinum" and the late Whitney Houston and Aaliyah. Kipenzi was America's singing sweetheart who dies a tragic death. It's so ironic that Whitney and Aaliyah suffered the same fate. I reread both books and that is the one thought I could not shake.
"Diamond Life" picks up in a great spot. The ending of "Platinum" was an equal mix of great happiness and sadness. The characters are different yet the same. The character that is most different has to be Z. He's clean and sober. He's doting on his family and working on being a better person. I was most impressed with his evolution. Any person who has watched a family member battle back from an addiction will definitely know what I'm speaking of. I wanted Z to win the most. His wife Beth is totally different. She has become a shell of a person now that he is clean. This affects their relationship in ways Z's cheating, drugging and abuse could never do. It was very interesting to watch that marriage change throughout the book. Their son Zander is stepping into the entertainment world that his Dad seems destined to walk away from. Talented he is but he seems to lack some common sense. But don't all teenagers? His story was essential in so many ways. It shows that the "business" is brutal and if you aren't tough enough it will chew you up and spit you out. Zander was not prepared for all of the pitfalls. His girlfriend Bunny was another person not built for the industry. She was talented but full of herself and had a bad attitude.
The triangle that is Ras, Josephine, and Cleo explodes during this book. Their story is so intertwined, so deep and so devious. I did not see this epic twist coming. I loved it even more because of that. Josephine is still one of my favorite characters. While Cleo remains the one I hate the most. The woman is categorically flawed. In different spots in the book, I felt empathetic towards Ras and Josephine. Their story really pulled me in. Birdie and Alex had an roller coaster ride during this book. Some things I felt were going to happen did, others I couldn't picture happened as well. I still love them as a couple. Last but certainly not least, is Jake. Jake for most of the book is a drunken, grieving mess. I expected Kipenzi's death to affect him in many ways. His storyline goes to so many different ways. He goes from the lowest of lows to an extreme high. His ending in the book caught me completely offguard. I personally did not like his final choice. It seemed adverse to the man he has been portrayed as. There are a few new characters. None more intriguing than Lily. Her story is one you have to read to believe. I am still shocked about it. Any one reading this will become totally invested in each of these characters.
"Diamond Life" was everything I wanted in a sequel and more. Aliya S. King did a wonderful job of bringing her characters full circle from "Platinum." I was a fan before and now I am an uber fan. I loved her writing style. As an aspiring author, I see her writing as a blueprint for what I want to accomplish. Her books made me feel a range of emotions. Her words made her characters come alive in my head. Her story just flowed. I read both books in one sitting. I did not want to put it down. That is the characteristic of a great piece of work. I suggest all of my literary loving readers get into this book and it's predecessor. You will not be disappointed. Trust me.
What do people say about you when you aren't around? I know, for the most part, people will say very nice, complimentary, flowery things to your face. But, some times they aren't as nice beyond your back. I've accepted the fact that this is just life. I can't say I truly don't care what people say about me. I don't live my life on those comments though. But, to an extent, I do take them in. I want the way I view myself to add up to the woman that everyone else is seeing in me. Am I perfect? Nope. Nor do I aspire to be. I'm just me. I can be plenty things at any given moment of the day. What I am is consistent. I feel what I feel, like what I like, and am firmly planted in many of my ideals. That's just me being me. I watch my words more closely now. It's not always easy because people can push you. I think loads of things. I just don't allow all of them to flow out of my mouth.
I don't play into the he say/she say talk. Whatever I've said once, I can say twice. It's not that hard to do. The likelihood that something you say will find its way back is about 100%. Words are serious and deep. I am thankful that I've learned to not react to what people say. It took me a really long time to get there though. I try to take things that are said about me and then repeated by others to my face with a grain of salt. I've learned to brush it off. It's not worth it. People will say what they will and feel how they feel. I can't control them. I love me. I am so very happy with the woman I am. I stand behind my words because I mean them. I'm not here to impress anyone. The people I love and who love me back know this. . In closing, I think that most should watch what they say.
I have a confession to make. I'm 32 and I've never lived with a man. Never. If you haven't noticed, I am very traditional about a lot of things. Cohabitating is high on that list. I've just never been big on that. So, theoretically, the only man I will live with will be my husband. I don't judge anyone who has done this or is presently doing this. I'm just set in my own ways about some unchangeable things. And, since I've never done it before, I may as well stick to what I believe in.
For me, it's one of those things that I can only share with my "husband." I think it will be awesome to explore this uncharted territory with him. I'm sure it will be full if surprises. I wonder what habits I have that I'm not even aware of. Being single and living alone for a while has me spoiled beyond belief. I like things a certain way. Can't Stand clutter but I'm not anal about it. Cohabitating is definitely an unknown area of expertise for me. But, like everything I do, I'm positive I can conquer it. I know that we will be just fine when that time comes. Any unmarried cohabitators out there? Tell me the good, the bad and the ugly. How have you adjusted? Let's dish.
There has been a topic that keeps popping up on my Twitter timeline. It's the issue of porn and whether watching it is considered cheating. I find that assessment ri-damn-diculous. There are many answers to what cheating is. Porn never crosses my mind when I think of cheating. I mean, unless dude is cheating with an actual porn star. Other than that, my answer is a resounding "NO!" The conversation on Twitter was interesting because I can tell by the answers which age group people fell in. When you're older, you know more or you should. The ideas I had at 22 are so far removed from the ones I have now at 32. With age comes wisdom.
I don't think my significant other watching porn is cheating. It's just dumb to me to think that. Porn is fantasy. Sometimes the most outlandish things one could imagine sexually. I have no issue with porn. I'm a grown woman and I've watched it from time to time. I have no issue with my man watching it either. It's just porn. Now, my only issue with porn would be if he was addicted to it. Meaning he HAD to watch it all the time, or if he was neglecting me for it. That's an major issue.
Porn, to me, is like an appetizer. It can be used to learn some things or get some things going. It's never a replacement for sex and intimacy. Everyone has to decide for themselves where they stand on the issue. But I do believe that a couple should feel similiarly on it. I do think that if I hated porn and he loved it then it would become a point of discontent. That again goes to the fact that couples should have some things in common. I know it's said that opposites attract. I respectfully disagree. The things that connect people are stronger than the things that don't.
Porn is just another thing in life. Not to sound conceited, but I'll be damned if I get my panties in a bunch behind a chick on the screen. I'm confident enough in myself to know what I'm about. I know he doesn't mind at all that I watch porn. And, clearly I have no issue with him doing the same. But hey, that's just us. Maturity also plays a huge part in this. We're both old enough to know better. As couples, people have to find what works for them. Porn may not be everyone's cup of tea. I know there are certain genres of porn that my eyes refuse to view. I also know which ones I like and which ones he likes as well. As I should since he's mine. Is porn cheating? Or is that going too far?
Whitney Houston was laid to rest today. Her homegoing celebration was televised on no less than six cable channels. From beginning to end, it was just amazing. Family, friends, and celebrities all shared personal stories and songs. It was orchestrated beautifully. The New Home Choir sang so beautifully from beginning to end. Tyler Perry's short speech on Whitney was so poignant and resonating. I felt his words so deeply. Kevin Costner, BeBe and CeCe Winans, and Clive Davis all eulogized Whitney in their own way. Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, Kim Burrell, and The Winans all sent Whitney home with their beautiful voices.
The funeral was at different times sad, funny, touching and always loving. Whitney was truly honored. Her voice was praised. Her personality and character were exalted. She was truly lifted up in her childhood church. Bobbi Kristina and Cissy seemed to hold it together as well as to be expected. There was a hiccups that I found beyond sad. It had to do with Bobby Brown and his kids not being accommodated and being hassled. And finally being asked to leave before the funeral began. That isn't right. No one should be turned away. I cried a few tears for Whitney. But, I completely lost it as they hoisted her gold casket onto their shoulders as Whitney's "I Will Always Love You" played. As the casket was passing Ray J, he reached out to touch it. He touched it 3 times and lost it. My tears flowed freely. Whitney sang the soundtrack to my childhood. She will truly be missed. I will remember her for that voice and that smile. I'm thankful that she shared her gift with the world. Thankful that her family shared her homegoing with us. It was honestly a funeral fit for a Queen. Rest in peace, Ms. Houston.
I have been a Kanye fan since he was a virtual unknown. I heard an underground cd of his when he was working with Jay. There was just something about his voice. His words and his delivery caught and held my attention. I wanted more. Kanye would give me just that when he dropped his debut cd "College Dropout." This cd would become my soundtrack for many moons. I played it so much. His singles were awesome but even more so were the rest of the tracks on the cd. Kanye was hungry and I could feel it.
Kanye was amazing to me for one major reason. He released a rap song called "Jesús Walks" that was deep and lyrical and it got major play on radio and in the clubs. That was unheard of. "All Falls Down," "Through The Wire," "Slow Jamz," & "The New Workout Plan" were also singles that did great on the charts. Kanye just seemed to have the golden touch. This cd was executed perfectly. Sonically, it was different. It's been 8 years since it was released. It still sounds relevant and timeless. I still love it. Below are my favorite unreleased tracks from the cd. Enjoy the greatness that is Kanye West.
A random conversation sparked this blog. The reality is people cheat. I do not condone it at all. Probably because I grew up in it. Unfortunately, there is a cycle I've seen repeated in my family too many times. The cycle isn't specific to my family. The men cheat, the women stay. The men have kids outside of their marriages and the women stay. After all of that hurt and pain, how do they stay? How does one trust their husband after this? I don't know. I can't wrap my head around it. I also think its why I know what I will and won't accept in my relationship.
I'm a monogamous type of woman. I don't have it in me at 32 to maintain multiple relationships. I don't truly believe in divorce. But if my "husband" cheated on me and had a kid as well, there will be nothing or no one who could make me stay. It's not even a pride thing. It's more of a respectable issue. If he couldn't respect me enough to be faithful, what exactly do we have? What would there be to save? I watched my Dad repeat the same cheating cycle that his Dad did. In a way, it's almost liked learned behavior. It was acceptable on some levels when my Dad was growing up. My Mom accepted it for a while with my Dad as well. I just know I can't do it. My heart is not here for that kind of abuse. I'd rather a man leave me. That would hurt but not half as much as finding out he's having an affair would.
My Grandmother's era is one that did not divorce. That just wasn't acceptable. It's just not what people did. If you were married, you worked it out or turned the other cheek. Women in my age group are not as forgiving. I couldn't fathom cheating on my future husband. It's just not in me. I'm not that girl. I have my own morals and rules and regulations. Cheating is never ok for me. That's just my bottom line. If you know me, you know this. It's just who I am.
Hip Hop is saturated with men. The female population is very small. I am missing the days of having a variety of female rappers to listen to. I still listen to old cds of EVE, Missy, Remy, Foxy, Kim, and Mia X. Their music moved me and made me think. It started with Salt 'N Pepa, Queen Latifah, and Mia X. They introduced me to the idea of females spitting. They talked about everything. They nourished something in me that Big Daddy Kane, Kid n Play, Tupac and NWA could not. There has never been a huge female population in the Hip Hop community. But there used to be more of a selection.
I can't lie, I used to be a big Nicki Minaj fan. I loved mixtape, no deal having Nicki. I did bump the hell out of "Pink Friday" and still do. But, I haven't even remotely liked anything she's released for her upcoming project. Not one track. I still think "Still I Rise" is her realest track. There is a new crop of female rappers which include the likes of Iggy Azalea, Kreayshawn, and Azealia Banks that I can't readily get behind. They have no substance or flow. I hear Missy's new project is scheduled for a June release. That makes me happy. Now if someone could get EVE to stop jetsetting and hit a studio, I would be over the moon.
It seems like music is in a bad place. 90% of the stuff out now is garbage. I won't support bad music ever. That's not even in me. I just want to hear lyrics that I can feel with a beat that makes me move. I'd prefer to hear some old female rappers though. That's just me though. Music is missing something. It's like our music has lost its soul on the way to getting that money. The music isn't that good which is why people aren't buying the way they used to. I can count the number of Hip Hop cds I've purchased in the last year. It's less than 10. I miss the 90's for just the music alone. It was so much better than what we are allowing to pass as music today. Something has to change. Or maybe it's me that needs to change. I barely listen to popular radio because it's over-saturated with filler music. I listen to old school tracks. They make me smile. Either or, I want my female rappers back. The good ones. Mediocres need not apply. I'm not here for them. Fingers crossed that a musical change will come soon.
° 2012 hasn't been kind to Black entertainers. Too much death in such a short time. It's a lot to take in.
° The Grammy's were mad boring this year. I don't know exactly why but I was less than impressed.
° I did enjoy LL as the host, Chris Brown's Grammy win and Adele's sweep!
° I just read Aliya S. King's "Diamond Life." It was awesome. I need to write a review about it.
° The Superbowl was just ok as was the Madonna halftime show. The sports/music fan in me was not pleased.
° I hate how emotional I am during that particular time of the month. This past Sunday/Monday I was so weepy and on edge. It's so not me on a regular.
° My nephew called me old the other day. I'm better than I used to be with that word lol.
° For some strange reason, I keep stubbing my toes. Last week, I thought I almost broke it. I know I need to be more careful.
° Sometimes, I forget that things/conversations/situations won't always play out the way I imagine them in my head.
° In closing, CHOCOLATE makes any and every situation better. Or so it seems in my world. And, since it's the day after Valentine's, I'll buy some for 75% off & enjoy.
It's Valentine's Day! And this year I just want to share some of my favorite love songs. I want to dedicate them to my Love and all the lovers all over. Hope everyone has a great day. I haven't been the biggest fan of the day but that changed last year. I'm more open to it. Music (and chocolate...and sex) makes everything better ;-) lol. Enjoy the music and the day. Happy Valentine's Day!!
I still cannot get Whitney off my mind. So, it only makes sense that I choose one of her best songs for this blog. This particular song brings me back to my childhood. I remember being in Lemon Gym singing this with my day camp class. We all thought we were Whitney. Her music will last forever. She left us a great gift.
"I found out what I've been missing Always on the run I've been looking for someone
Now you're here like you've been before And you know just what I need It took some time for me to see That you give good love to me baby So good, take this heart mine into your hands You give good love to me Never too much Baby you give good love
Never stopping, I was always searching For that perfect love The kind that girls like me dream of
Now I, I can't stop looking around It's not, what this loves all about Our love is here to stay, stay"
Whitney Houston is dead at the age of 48. She was found dead today. I am totally speechless. I have been a fan since I was a kid. Whitney's voice was literally the soundtrack of my childhood. The little girl in me who used to sing her songs into a hairbrush in the mirror is saddened. Her voice has always been angelic to me. I am so sad. I first say the news on Twitter. I took the info as untrue. I googled her name and was heartbroken when credible sources were reporting it. Whitney is dead. How horrible for her daughter and her Mom. Her Mom has to bury her baby and Whitney's baby has to bury her Mommie. That is an unimaginable pain for me.
In my heart, Whitney will always be that vibrant beautiful brown girl with the voice that gave me goosebumps. She will always be that bright shining star she was for so long. From her music to her films, it was like there was nothing she couldn't do. I loved "The Bodyguard," "The Preacher's Wife" and "Waiting To Exhale." I can honestly say, after reading and loving the book, I was not sold on Whitney as Savannah. But she was ok. The soundtrack for "Waiting To Exhale" was basically perfect. The Whitney/CeCe Winans classic "Count On Me" was even my class song. I haven't been able to hear it without crying for years already (RIP LRT) . Now, with Whitney's passing, I'm sure I don't ever want to hear it again. I know I pulled for Whitney's comeback. I wanted to see her soar again. Wanted to get goosebumps from her voice once again. God had other plans. Better plans for Whitney. The world is missing am angel tonight.
Whitney will always be the voice of my younger generation. I love everything about her, from her clothes to her hair to her makeup. She was always a favorite of mine. I was looking forward her redemption story. She just completed the remake of "Sparkle" with Jordin Sparks. I wonder if she was able to finish any songs for the soundtrack? Her legacy will forever be her voice and her music. She will live on forever because of that. As I sit here blogging this, it's still unreal to me. I'm sure there will be more info in the days coming. Below are just a few of my favorite songs. May Whitney rest in paradise. She will be truly missed.
There is no where on this Earth that I want to visit more than Greece. I have been intrigued by this beautiful country since I was 11. My fascination with the country stems from Mythology. I want to see Athens so I can visit some of the historical buildings. The Parthenon is beautiful in pictures. I am sure it is even more so in person. I also want to see Santorini and Mykonos. The seas in Greece appear like an unbelievable blue in pictures. The houses are all white with blue roofs. I could get lost in the photos I peruse online. Each one more breathtaking than the previous one.
One of my goals in life is to write novels. It's been a long term goal since I was in college. I've always been a lover of literature. Reading has been my hobby for as far back as I can remember. I've always allowed myself to become submerged in the world that authors create. Writers, to me, have long been the artists who painted the most vivid pictures in my mind with their words. I've always wanted to be able to do that. It started with poetry for me. In high school, I wrote for the yearbook and newspaper. I've written a bunch of short stories. This blog has helped me to get into the habit of writing daily. But, honestly, tackling my book scares me. I know it shouldn't but it does. I don't want to mess it up.
I've been kicking around ideas for characters and plots. I don't want to tell a story that's been done before. I don't want to do something that's different from my perspective. I want to develop and flesh out 3 dimensional characters. My goal as a writer is to write something that touches and moves people. I want to be one of the greats. I know I have to just buckle down and write. Just let the words flow from me. The words will come. They always do. I'm blogging about it to push myself into action. I've found that putting what you want out into the universe works. I'm speaking it into existence...amongst other things. I am a writer. I just needed a nudge to get started writing.
The GOP is clearly confused. I've never seen such an odd race. I've been a political buff for half of my life. Politics intrigue me. The inner workings, the elections, the campaigns all make me want to know. I am fiercely a Democrat. I am a fierce believer in President Obama. To date, Republican voters cannot decide on who should get the nomination for the upcoming elections.
Rick Santorum has swept the 3 states on Tuesday night. These shocking results put him slightly ahead of the former frontrunner Romney. There have been so many lead shifts. There is no clear winner here. There has also been low voter turnout. Political pundits agree that this means voters are not pleased with any of the candidates. It's as if the voters don't know who they want to represent their party. It's already February. This is so sad to me. The GOP has clearly fallen from grace. No clear candidate choice. Three totally different men. I left Paul off purposely because no candidate who continually places 4th will ever get the nom. Either or, I'm thoroughly convinced that none of them can be a better President than Obama.
It's going to be a long road before a GOP nominee is picked. I'm sure there will be many more things for me to laugh at. I just cannot wait to cast my vote to re-elect President Barack Obama in November. He is the only choice in my book. No, he's not perfect. But, I still believe in him and his platform. I cannot think of a single policy disagreement I have with President Obama that can be solved by electing any Republican, Tea Party or Independent candidate. That just does not compute in my world. None of the candidates have not said one thing that I can readily get behind. I cannot wait to see who gets the nom. Then and only then will this race get interesting.
I am not a fan of Black History Month. I think it divides us even more. It is my belief that Black History is American history. It should be taught daily in all history classes. That's a discussion for another day. My issue today is something I read on Facebook. My friend's 5 year old son's class was ask to bring in pictures of an influential Black person. My friend is upset because he had to have a discussion with his son about the difference in Black and White.
I think 5 is a bit young for this discussion. The world is full of racism and dividing lines. I think that kids should be sheltered from the ills of the world. Things were so much easier and simpler when we were kids. My nephews don't know the difference. Why should they? Their school friends are just their friends. From Pre-K through college, my friends were diverse. I did not chose them based on their skin tone. I was taught that all people are equal. This is the only lesson kids should know.
I remember being a kid and thinking that everyone was just different shades of brown. That everyone was just like me. I remember the day I realized that people were different. I remember the first time another child called me a "nigga." Those moments still stand out in my mind. They cut like a knife. They made me feel less than. Kids shouldn't be exposed to that level of hurt. That form of racism begins in the home. That ignorance is passed down. I am totally against that. I'm not against Black History being taught. It should definitely be incorporated into every history lesson all the year. From slavery to President Obama, all of its American history. I am against introducing the labels Black and White to 5 year old. That's too young. I'm sort of disgusted with the whole topic. What say you? Let's discuss.
"You’re going to relegate my history to a month?" - Morgan Freeman
Superbowl Sunday has come and gone. The Giants bested the Patriots to win the Superbowl Sunday. As someone who loves football, I was underwhelmed. The game was not interesting or exciting. There was not one breakout moment. There were no great plays, wonderful intercepts or even hard hits. The Superbowl was a snoozefest. I'm not a fan of either team so that could've played a part in my opinion of it. But the overall consensus online is the same as mine. I think the only people who enjoyed the games were Giants fans. Congrats to the team and their fans.
The halftime performance was interesting. Madonna is in her 50's. She was ok to me. She performed 4 songs, 3 old and her current single. It was nice to see Madonna perform with LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, and MIA. My favorite part of her performance was the end. She sang my favorite song "Like A Prayer" with a choir and CeeLo. The Superbowl halftime performances have truly sucked since Janet's nipplegate.
Anyway, next year's Superbowl will be held in my city. I think it would be awesome if my hometeam gets to play in the big game in their own dome!! Yes, I'm already looking forward to it and the next season of football. And then there is the ongoing basketball season, All Star Weekend and playoffs to look forward to. The sports fan in me is smiling. Did you guys enjoy the game? What was your take on it?
Being a newbie to the natural hair journey, I have been cautious about the products I use. I've been hearing a lot of great things about a company called Cantu. I've read numerous blogs about their products. A friend of mine tweeted earlier this week about Walgreens having a buy one get one on Cantu products. This was just the push I needed to try something new. Retailing for $5.79 per item, the price was right as well. I settled on the shampoo, conditioner, leave in repair cream and oil sheen. There are two other items that weren't in stock that I will be going back to get as well. They are the flat iron spray and grow strong cream.
Moisturizing Cream Shampoo
First off, let's talk about the smell. Oh Em Gee!! It smells so good. Good enough to eat. I love when a product smells good. That same smell was still present once I was done with my hair. The shampoo was great. I didn't have to use a lot to get a good lather. I washed my hair twice. I them coated my hair handsomely with the moisturizing conditioner. I loved how thick it was and how slippery it felt. I put a cap on my head and let the conditioner sit for 20 minutes. This was longer than is recommended but I was on the phone.
Moisturizing Rinse Out Conditioner
The best part of this experience has to be the Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream. This cream smells awesome as well. I knew from reading other reviews that less is more with this product. I applied it from root to tip. It felt so good on my hair. I combed my hair out with a wide tooth comb. After blow drying and flat ironing my hair, I sprayed my hair with the Oil Sheen. I was finally done. I loved the way my hair felt and smelled. I think I've found my go to products. For the price (especially with this sale) I am definitely winning in this aspect.
Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream
Cantu has a new fan in me. The products are great. The price is affordable. It's easily accessible since its available at Walgreen's, CVS and online. Cantu is a great product for any new and existing naturalistas out there. I, for one, am so glad I took a chance and tried something new. Going natural has scared since before I started. This makes things easier. Products that make my hair easier to manage. I am about 18 weeks post relaxer. I'm still just doing my hair myself for now. I am a believer in Cantu. Two days later, I'm still a happy customer
Before I get deep into my topic, let me just say that I am a Drake fan. Have been since his second mixtape. But, I do not give him a pass for touching a classic. For turning a straight bounce track to some emo track. Yes, Juvenile's "Back Dat Ass Up" is a 504 classic. The intro alone conjures up a multitude of memories. My girls and I used to lose our minds to this track nightly.
Drake dropped the video for "Practice." Let's actually ignore the actual song. I mean the only part of the song I really dig is "all my 504 girls need to drop it right now" because I am a 504 girl always ;-) The big discussion on Twitter has been about the video. It's very simple and low budget. The video chick is "dancing" in the mirror and on cam. I witnessed guys on Twitter, with the exception of one, going crazy about the girl in the video. Or, better yet, the girls ass. I'm not blind so I see that the video chick has a big ass. Honestly, I did not see anything spectacular in the video. I wasn't impressed with the dancing. I've done better (especially to Juvie's track) and seen better. I will say the video was realistic because what woman hasn't danced in the mirror. It's what we do.
I just don't get the hype over the girl...other than her assets. Clearly, men and women see things differently. The reality is music videos are for men. They all follow the same formula. Nice crib, flashy car, bottles of Ace, video girls who are amply stacked and the rapper de jour. I hardly ever watch them any more. But, the twitter talk was too insane for me to resist. What do you guys think of Drake's video?
My most favorite thing to eat are shrimps. I love them cooked in any way. I love them fried the most. Being that I am a born and raised Louisiana girl, this would seem like a good combo. Seafood is huge here. There is only one problem. I am allergic to them. :( Yes, it's true and so sad. I have not always been allergic to them. I wasn't aware of this particular food allergy until I was 14. Until that fateful moment, I was blissfully unaware that I was ingesting something that wasn't good for me. I used to eat shrimp at least 3 times a week in some form. It was a staple in my family and in my house.
The night all of this changed was a horrible one. We had just returned from a class trip to Atlanta, Ga. While there for 5 days, I believe I ate a shrimp dish every day. After going to sleep, I woke up feeling ill and itchy. Before turning on my lights, I scratched my neck and my chest over my heart and rubbed my eyes. My body was hot to touch. I went into the bathroom and turned on the light to look at myself in the mirror. I was red and splotchy all over. My eyes were swollen. My hands were red and I was watching bumps rise up all over my body. Then, my throat started to tighten as well as my heart. I was in pain and panicing quietly in the bathroom. I got into the shower and stood under the cold water because I was so hot. After getting out, I went to wake my Mom up to show her what was happening. She took one look at me and knew. She was allergic to seafood and recognized the symptoms. It was a terrible experience that I would repeat for years. Sue me, I'm hardheaded. I loved shrimp too much to not eat it.
I finally learned how to control my food allergy. I do not eat shrimp as much as I used too. But, yes, I still have it. It's gotten to a point that I can take over the counter Benadryl for it. I know food allergies can be deadly. I do not take it lightly. I just feel that I am growing out of mine. I haven't had a reaction from eating shrimps in a few years. Which, by the way, is great. I think it's awful to have a severe food allergy. It's the worst. For years, I would just eat shrimps and suffer the cosequences. I have gotten so much better at avoiding eating them. It's a struggle because they are so good. But, for the most part, I persevered. Do any of you suffer from food allergies? If so, which ones? Let's dish.
Dreams are a very interesting thing. I've been having a recurring dream. The landscape and scenario may change but the characters stay the same. In my dream, I am in various stages of pregnancy with multiples. I am carrying and finally delivering triplets. They are a boy followed by two girls. They are adorable babies. Now I've had baby/pregnancy dreams before but not like this. These dreams feel so real. Like I say their names and they respond, I can feel my babies in my arms, hear their cries, smell them. I even wake up expecting them to be here.
Is this a case of foreshadowing? (No, I'm not currently pregnant.) Or more of my mind playing out my hearts true desires? I'm not really sure. The dreams make me happy though. I guess it's because it is my future. I've always had really vivid dreams but not like this. These are very different. I'm intrigued to know what these specific dreams represent. I'm also interested in getting my cards read and/or my palm read. I wasn't always open to those avenues. But my curiosity has been piqued lately. It could just me being nosy. Either way, I want to know. My dreams are great. What do you guys dream about?
Do you remember those all night phone call marathons that we used to have in high school? Weren't they the best? Never wanting to hang up the phone? Those days were crazy but fun. I used to live for the phone. It was my favorite thing. I drove my mother crazy when I was in high school because of my phone addiction. I would talk to all of my people for hours on end. When I got my first cell phone in 2000, I was in heaven. I had a great plan and could talk all the time. I still don't know why I was so addicted to it. I love to have conversations with people. I love to tell a joke and laugh. But somewhere, in my mid 20's, I began to despise it. I'm sure that had a lot to do with the introduction of text messaging. But, I did not want to get caught up on the phone talking about nothing for hours. It wasn't really my thing. I became anti-phone for a while.
Now, I am still not all that into the phone. For the most part, I basically talk to the same people . I am really bad at not answering my phone and returning calls. It just slips my mind. It's not like that with everyone. I am, however, the texting queen. I will text people before I call them. It's just easier and quicker. I am trying to change my feelings on phone calls. I know that I have been kind of anti-social and that really isn't me. I'm a homebody moreso these days. I cannot lie, I love my cell phone. It is my connection to my world.i am vowing to be more open to others when it comes to the phone. As long as it doesn't interfere with the most important phone call I make everyday. Are you guys phone people?
The man who blessed us with the innovative show "Soul Train" has passed. Don Cornelius was found dead this morning in his apartment. He was 75 and the victim of an apparent suicide. This news is beyond shocking and sad. He is most famously known as the heart and soul behind "Soul Train." Mr. Cornelius was the producer and creator of the groundbreaking show. "Soul Train" gave African American artists a place to showcase their talents during a time when no one else would. The show would live on for decades.
I remember vividly watching the show as a kid. I loved everything about it. The brightly colored set, the energetic dancers, the singers, the board and of course the host. To me, the show lost some of it's appeal after Mr. Cornelius stopped hosting it. "Soul Train" will always remind me of my childhood. It's a part of our history as is Mr. Cornelius. I'm still so saddened by his passing. He gave a lot to the entertainment industry. I hope that he is at peace now. May he rest in paradise.
"Southland" is a great show. It's a cop show based in L.A. It's also the little show that could. The show is in it's 4th season on TNT. It started out on NBC. It was a hit. NBC announced that the show was picked up for a 2nd season. Days before the 2nd season premiere the show was abruptly cancelled. The reason was to make room for Jay Leno's now defunct show. NBC's loss was definitely TNT's gain. The show has been a bonafied hit.
I am a fan of the show for one main reason. Her name is Regina King. I have been a fan of hers since her days as Brenda on "227." Regina is a great actress. I love seeing her as bad ass detective Lydia Adams. She is so likable and believable in this role. I only watched this show because of her. There aren't many shows with African American leads. So I try to support all that I can. The storylines are interesting and new. Cop shows can get a tad redundant but that isn't the case here. All of the police officers on the show have great depth. Their stories pull you in. It's one of my favorite shows.
There have been some strange storylines. But all of them have been executed well. Lucy Liu, who I've loved since she portrayed my favorite character O'ren Ishii in "Kill Bill," has been added this year. She plays Officer Jessica Tang. She has been wonderful this season. I hope she sticks around. The show has consistently gotten better each season. This season is no exception. Southland" airs on Tuesday's at 9pm. You guys should check it out. Get Into It.
