* "Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find happiness." - Anonymous
* “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” –Joseph Addison
* “Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.” –Hosea Ballou
* “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” - Denis Waitley
* There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.” -Freya Stark
* “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - Buddha
* People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
* A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.” -Hugh Downs
* “Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” - James M. Barrie
* “Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true.” -Unknown
* "Happiness comes from within." - KC
* Happiness consists not in having, but of being, not of possessing, but of enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself.”-Norman Vincent Peale
To reduce or not to reduce. That is the question. Since I was about 20 years old, I have been going back and forth on the idea of a breast reduction. Not because I think that they are too big. But, I have always had issues with my shoulders and back. I was super serious about the surgery in summer 2005. I had a consultation with a surgeon and had a date set for the procedure. Then, a little hurricane by the name of Katrina came along and changed all my plans. The surgery wasn't important any more.
The older I get, the more I am leaning away from the surgery. Besides the fact that I absolutely hate hospitals. The idea of being put under local anesthesia freaks me out. I do not like pain, I avoid it at all times. So, the recovery from this surgery would not be something I would be looking forward to. The more thought that I've put into this decision, the more I am seeing things differently. I think the main deciding factor is the fact that having this surgery could hamper my chances of breast-feeding when I have kids. I know that when I have kids, I will be breastfeeding. And, to have this surgery could wipe that option out. That's enough for me to not entertain the thought any more.
It's funny how much one's opinion on a subject can change with age. At 20, I was not thinking about kids or my future past school. At 31, these things are always on my mind. I am now quite used to the pain associated with being heavily endowed. So for now, I'll just continue buying better bras until the day I'm blessed with a baby. My Mother has said for years that my breasts will shrink when I have kids. Apparently it's a family trait. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Music is my life. It has been one of the most consistent stables in my life. It's no secret that I am an avid music fan. I think have a unique relationship with it. So, I am always excited about new music. When I am a fan of an artist, I'm anticipating anything new and fresh from them. I tend to take it personally when new music is bad. It truly hurts my spirit. I feel slightly disrespected because I've wasted my money on trash. I love to sit with a new cd for a few days and only listen to it. I like to formulate my opinion of it from this. I complete submerge myself into the music. This is the way I like to get into new music.
In the last year, there has been a plethora of great music released. And, my ears have been very happy about it. The cd's that still get a lot of play in my house are : Watch The Throne, Beyoncé, Adele, Jessie J, Big Sean, Ledisi, PJ Morton, Rhianna, Kanye West, Jill Scott, and Nicki Minaj to name a few. But, on the converse side of that are the really bad ones. The cd's that made me frown and were thrown away after a listen or three. They are Chrisette Michelle, Kelly Rowland, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, and Lady Gaga. I do not know what direction the artist were attempting to go, but they failed in my eyes. There may have been a few songs I liked but as a complete project I did not get it.
Music makes me happy. It can change my mood at any given time. I like to think of myself as a music connoisseur. I love how it can connect people. I get deep into music, the lyrics, and the meaning behind it. I dissect a song from beginning to end. There are a few projects that I am looking forward to this fall. "Take Care" from Drake being number one on that list. One of my favorite artist has a cd coming out soon but I am not excited about it. I feel like Mary J Blige's latest offerings have not been what I want from her. The music sounds too young. And, it just isn't a good look. I will take a listen when it drops but I have a feeling that I won't be purchasing it. That makes me sad too. But, I cannot support what I do not get. Music has to move me. If it doesn't, what's the point? I don't know anyone else who gets music like I do. It is just my thing. Music brings me to a very happy place.
Beyoncé slayed this performance. I love this song. It just makes me happy. Great beat, cute lyrics and amazing vocals all equal a win/win for me. Get into this.
Honey, honey I can see the stars all the way from here Can't you see the glow on the window pane?
I can feel the sun whenever you're near
Every time you touch me
I just melt away
Now everybody ask me why I'm smiling out from ear to ear.
(They say love hurts)
But I know
(It's gonna take the real work) Nothing's perfect, but it's worth it
After fighting through my fears
And finally you put me first
Baby it's you.
You're the one I love.
You're the one I need.
You're the only one I see. Come on baby it's you.
You're the one that gives your all.
You're the one I can always call.
When I need you make everything stop.
Finally you put my love on top.
Ooo! Come on Baby.
You put my love on top, top, top, top, top.
You put my love on top.
Ooo Ooo! Come on baby.
Since birth, I have been into everything girly. I was born into a world of pink. Everything was pink. I loved it. I was the little girl who loved dresses, hair bows, sandals, and barrettes. You would always catch me with a "pocketbook" as my Grandmother Frances called them. I was the first grandchild and a girl to boot. I was spoiled beyond measure. I was the epitome of a girl then and now. I may have a tough exterior but I am super sensitive once you get past it. Getting all dolled up for a night out makes me happy. It's just something about all of it that makes the night more special. I am definitely super girly. While brainstorming about this blog, I started looking at pictures of me from the last few years.
I love getting pampered. I am all about a spa pedicure. Massages are wonderful. I love lipgloss and eye shadow and mascara and polishes. I have always loved these things. I love pink and purple and yellow and most of all blue. I prefer dresses to pants, heels to flats, and I never go anywhere without a purse. I love the way my eyes get really slanted when I am very happy. I have big cheeks and a great smile. I love to laugh. I share the pampering with my nieces, god daughter and little cousins. I think that girls would be girls. They love it as much as I do. My God-daughter is addicted to the type of lipgloss I love and the lipbrush as well. And, what's even funnier is that I got none of this from my Mom. She is so not into all of this. She always says she doesn't know where my love for these things came from. I do not know either. I just know it's a big part of me.
On a daily, women are bombarded with society's idea of what beauty is and what size is sexy. We deal with a lot. As a Black woman, I also have to deal with the Light/Dark skin issue. I am so glad that I do not buy into the whole "skinny, light skinned, long haired perception of beauty." I thank my mother for instilling me with my own sense of self worth and idea of beauty. I absolutely love my brown skin. I have never wanted to be any lighter. there was a time when I wanted to be darker. I absolutely love my breasts and my legs. It took me a long time to be comfortable with my cup size. I developed early and my breast grew quickly. they became a topic of discussion in high school. that was embarrassing. Until I released that the power was mine. So, I took it back. I love the way I look in a low cut top. Cleavage is awesome. I love the way my legs look in a dress and heels. This is what makes me feel womanly and sexy. It's not about anyone else's perception. I feel good about myself because I just do. No image on tv or in a magazine can determine my self-worth. Man, I just love being a woman!
It's that time again. My movie watching days are back. I'm trying to catch up on some good movies. I've proud to say I've finally watched some films that I've heard nothing but good things about. In recent months, I've been slacking on my movie watching days. Just wanted to share my thoughts on these movies with you guys.
Ben Affleck's "The Town" was a great movie. I loved it. Maybe it was a something about the Boston accents or the ruggedness of the shots. but, I just really enjoyed it. The storyline wasn't exactly original but the acting was great.
It reminds me of "Set It Off" but with a bunch of white boys. I loved the bank robbing and car chasing scenes. It was one of those movies where you rooted for the bad guys to win. I know I did. But I was just all into this movie from the opening scene. I have recommended this movie to a bunch of people.
Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie's "The Tourist" was a good film. It took me three days to actually get through it. The movie starts off slow to me. This movie has so many twists and turns. I really did not know how it would end. There was so much going on from the beginning. Angelina was just ok in this movie to me. I'm not a huge fan of hers,save for a few movies. I love Johnny Depp in just about everything he's in. This movie was no exception. He played a great role and surprised me. The ending of this movie was the best because I didn't see it coming.
Leonardo DiCaprio's "Inception" was amazing!! I was enthralled from the opening scene. It took me forever to watch this movie. I thought people were hyping it up too much. I was clearly wrong. The whole idea of a dream within a dream or a dream world was intriguing to me. I loved the storyline and how deeply involved they all were. Leonardo never disappoints me. The way the story unfolded throughout the movie was amazing. I am still unclear about the ending. I've debated it with a few friends and HIM. Everyone has there own beliefs of what really happened. Regardless of that, it's a movie I can watch over and over. It's just that good. I would recommend all of these films to everyone. If you haven't seen them, you should check them out. Happy movie watching people!
Religion is a hot button topic in any and all circles. There are certain people that I will not discuss religion with. I know what I believe. I know there is a God. I know he watches over me. No one can make me believe otherwise. I'm very grounded in my faith. I talk to God all the time. Those talks and prayers comfort me immensely. I love God with all my heart and I know he loves me more than I can imagine. I've seen his mercy and grace bless my life. Things no man can explain. That is me walking by faith. I believe because I cannot imagine any other way.
I have struggled with the idea of organized religion for years. I have a personal relationship with God. I am a spiritual woman. I do not like the politics involved in churches, specifically Black ones. I have seen too many fake and false chosen people of God. They have left a truly bad taste in my mouth. I do not get how a person could basically play with God and his word. That is crazy to me. I haven't set foot in a church in a really long time. That's truly been bothering me lately. I left my last church home because I was not being fed spiritually nor did I believe in the pastor of the church anymore. So now I'm searching for a place that I feel comfortable and will get extra guidance.
Religion has always been important to me. My Grandmother Frances made sure of that. She took me to church with her every Sunday. I loved that time with her. I loved going to the children's church. I took other challenge of reading the Bible last year. I've slacked of as of late. But I need to get back into it. I'm about halfway through. It's interesting to me how much I remember from church as a kid. I also enjoyed learning new things about the Bible. My spiritual journey thus far has been a very winding road. I've taken it into my own hands while carving my on lane. Religion will always be important to me. I want to know about it all. I want to be able to share it with my (future) kids. I want them to be able to believe in something bigger than all of us. That is important to me. My God is awesome. This journey is far from over. I'm interested in religions other than Christianity. I will also be reading the Koran because I want to know. My spirituality is a big part of me. How about you?
"Love is the thing, you know?" - Louise "Sex & the City (the movie)"
Love connects us all. It's the one thing we all fight for, search for, live for, and die for. Everyone loves love. And, that has been the topic on my mind all day. Today, I watched Lil Wayne's new video for "How To Love." It is a video with a real message. This totally surprised me because I am not used to anything conscious coming from Wayne. And, then I read Bryan Michael Cox's blog where he posed some interesting questions about love. His blog made me think about many things. I also think that love is a huge subject in my poetry for a reason. for so long, I was searching for something that was already in me. I had the ability to love but I just didn't know it.
I do not believe in learning to love someone. I don’t think there is anything healthy about learning to love someone. My idea of love is a feeling you can’t fight or deny. It’s something indescribable to me. Love is an emotion that cannot be quantified or held but we all can feel it. The most amazing thing is realizing that you love someone. I def believe in falling in love. It’s the possibility of being embraced by something so deep and knowing that the person you’re in love with will catch you. It takes a lot of faith to completely fall in love. I am no expert on the subject. I have not conquered all the avenues when it comes to love. But, I have learned a lot about the subject. I think I finally understand the basics of it. How to give love and receive love is a great gift.
I don’t think we decide to love. When it’s real and true, it happens without any assistance from us. I know this to be true because it happened to me last year. I do think that we decide to open our hearts to love. I believe that one has to be one to love to fully receive it. Love makes us better, makes us appreciate people and things more. Days are brighter and life is just better when you love and are loved. this extends to all forms of love. Nothing warms my heart more than hearing the people I love tell me that they love me too. They don't have to but I'm so glad that they love me. That is a beautiful thing. Life teaches us how to love, if we are open to it. Love is something we all crave. How are you at loving??
Road trips can be many things. I cannot remember the last time I was on an extended road trip. I believe it could be a great and fun time if you pick the right company. The best of friends, the best music, and an empty interstate is all that I would need. A really great road trip will provide a lifetime of memories with your favorite people if done correctly. The pictures in this blog sum up my outlooks on road trips.
I haven't been on a pleasure road trip in years. The idea of just packing up and heading out to places unknown excites me. My perfect road trip would consists of a cooler full of Orange G2's and ice, chips and of course the ying to my yang. The music for this road trip would be random. I own a ton of music so it would never run out. Conversation would flow like water, jumping from topic to topic. Days would be spent on the highway while nights would be at some hotel. I would want to immerse myself into the feel of whatever city I was in. Try the food, sip the drinks, and just enjoy the city.
I would prefer to drive to and through states I haven't visited before. We would stop in little cities that have a small town appeal. I'd drag my companions to museums and antique shops. I have an obsession with state keychains and shot glasses. I'd make sure to purchase these in each state. Oh, and postcards are great keepsakes as well. I like to remember everything. I would also take a load of pictures, in the car, on the road and wherever we would stop.
Where would you road trip to? Who would you take with you? I know that I would def go with my baby. I also think a girls road trip would be awesome. I don't have a specific destination. Just a plan to get up and go. That sounds like just about the best thing. Road trips can be planned down to the last second or they can be spontaneous. I prefer the latter. An open road and an open mind are the best two accessories to a brillant road trip. Let's go!!
{On another note, today's my brother Ken's birthday. I am wishing him the hapiest birthday a 26 year old can have. Love him lots!!}
I have neglected my blog. This summer hasn't been anything like I expected it to be. I lost my joy for writing for a while. I just couldn't focus enough to make it happen. It was a strange feeling that I couldn't shake for a while. I think that I am ready to try again. Even if what I write is crap. The writer in me knows that I need to write. So, I'm back at it. I cannot say that I am committing myself to writing everyday as I was earlier this year. That may be too big of a feat for me right now. I am just going to write when and if the inspiration hits me. I promise not to stay gone so long in the future. These are just all the thoughts that have been clouding my mind.
It took me a few days to decide which song to chose for LLL. Jay-Z and Kanye's "Watch The Throne" has been on repeat since Sunday night. "Made In America" is the song that I am feeling the most today. So here's some lyrics for you guys.
(Frank Ocean) Sweet King Martin / Sweet Queen Coretta / Sweet Brother Malcolm / Sweet Queen Betty / Sweet Mother Mary / Sweet Father Joseph / Sweet Jesus / We made it in America / Sweet Baby Jesus / Oh sweet baby Jesus / We made it in America / Sweet baby Jesus / Oh sweet baby Jesus / We made it in America
(Kanye West) I told my mama I was on the come up / She said you going to school I’ll give you a summer / Then she met NO ID and gave me his number / Ten years later she driving a Hummer / Ni**as hustle every day for a beat from Ye / What I do? Turn around gave them beats to Jay / And I’m rappin’ on the beat they was supposed to buy / I guess I’m getting high off my own supply / Downtown mixing fabrics tryina find the magic / Started a little blog just to get some traffic / Old folks’ll tell you not to play in traffic / A million hits and the web crashes ...Damn / South Park had ‘em all laughing / Now all my ni**as designing and we all swaggin’ / Ignore the critics just to say we did it / This ain’t no fashion show, motherf***er we live it
(Chorus)
(Jay-Z) I pledge allegiance to my Grandma / For that banana pudding, our piece of Americana / Our apple pie was supplied through Arm & Hammer / Straight out the kitchen, shh don’t wake Nana / Built a republic, that still stands / I’m tryna lead a nation, leave to my little mans / Or my daughter, so I’m boilin’ this water / The scales was lopsided, I’m just restorin’ order / Hold up, here comes grandma, what’s up YaYa? / What’s that smell? Oh I’m just boiling some aqua / No papa, bad Santa / The streets raised me, pardon my bad manners / I got my liberty choppin’ grams up / Street justice, I pray God understand us / I pledge allegiance to all the scramblers / This is the Star Spangled Banner (Chorus)
The Throne has been watched. I have lived with this Jay-Z/Kanye West project for more than 24 hours. I haven't listened to anything else. I can't. It's just the way I am when I'm getting into new music. Simply stated, WTT is amazing. It exceeded all of my expectations. I love the way Jay and Ye shined on this cd. I am clearly in love with "N***as In Paris," "Who Gon Stop Me," "New Day," and "Why I Love You." I also think that collabo cds bring out the best in those involved. Ye is coming off a huge album. His MBDTF is epic. It's like a movie. Did the two of them need to do this? No. Neither career was hurting. They did this for the love of music, for the fans, for the fun. And, I thank them. I have not been this excited about a Hip-Hop cd in a minute.
The rollout for WTT is just about the illest thing I've ever seen. there has been little to no promotion to this project. Even more amazing is the fact that it did not leak. I cannot think of a cd that hasn't leaked within the last four or five years. Kanye first mentioned this project as a 5 song EP that him and Jay were gonna do back in late November. I was uber excited because I am such a fan of both men. There was a buzz single released in January. It was "H.A.M." The single was met with mixed reviews. Then there were the multitude of fake release dates. Finally, on the 4th of July the artwork was released as well as a link to pre-order. Which, I of course, did asap. And, then the world finally received a true single. "Otis" is a soul sample of Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and Jay and Ye spend three minutes being their most flashy, braggadocious selves. The song is a loop of the Otis sample with no hook, no bridge, no chorus. It's just three minutes of Jay and Ye trading 8 bars. Just a really fun song with a great sample.
The excitement was building. IT was a topic of discussion on Twitter leading up to its release. My pre-order via Jay's Life and Times blog was full of surprises. The day that "Otis" was released, I received an email with a download link for the song. It also informed me that I would receive another email with the download for the digital album on 8/8 and my physical copy on 8/12. So, Sunday night while on Twitter LowKeyUHTN tweeted that he had received his digital copy of WTT via iTunes. I couldn't check my email fast enough. At exactly, 11:01pm, my email arrived. I downloaded and started to listen to WTT with the biggest smile! I also watched the Twitterverse explode with reviews of the cd. It was quite amazing to watch so many people react to the same product.
I may be very biased on this but I LOVE it. WTT musically and sonically does not sound like anything else. Lyrically, no one can touch Jay or Ye in my book. I never once doubted that. I was just anticipating what they would sound like on a full project. These men are two of the only rappers that I have all of their cd's. I have never bootlegged either of them. I became even more of a fan of Kanye's after seeing him in concert at Essence Music Fest this year. There is also a WTT tour starting this fall. I cannot wait to attend. I've been a fan of both since the beginning of their respective careers. These two men showed up and showed out of this wonderful 16 song (deluxe edition) cd. "Watch The Throne" just makes me happy. I've read a lot of reviews of this cd. Some I agree with because they hear what I hear. Others I don't, because I have no idea what they heard.
I do not think I can give a song by song review. I like them all too much. Today I have been playing "Why I Love You" a lot. It's my favorite today. Yesterday, it was "N***as In Paris." All in all, this cd was well worth the wait and all the excitement to me. Kanye and Jay gave me more than I wanted in this project. I'm looking forward to hearing this new material performed live in concert this December. If you are a fan, or even if you're not, I suggest you check it out. Get Into "Watch The Throne"
It's my Blogaversay! One year ago, I decided to find an outlet for my writing. That is how this blog was born. I felt that I had something the world wide web should hear. My blog has been, for the most part, my solace. It's where I come to work out things, rant about things, wax philosophically and poetically about my opinions. It's helped me through some rough patches. I love how freeing the written word can be. I am a writer. It is the one consistent aspect of my entire life. Writing frees me. It gives me life and hope.
At the beginning of the 2011, I pledged to blog every day. For the first six months, I was able to blog almost every day. That made me proud. Unfortunately, since June, I've been slacking. I feel really bad about that. But, my head hasn't been in the best place lately. I'm just not motivated to blog. There is something preventing me from creating. I'm trying to work through this intense writers block. I hope to be back to my normal blogging self.
Looking back, I can remember the exact space I was in when I wrote and posted each piece. I have laughed so much at myself this past year. My own words give me insight into myself. This blog has gifted me with that. Before, I could only get that level of deep insight from my poetry. I found myself uninspired to write for a while. Starting my blog forced me to be my true self. I love that about it. I plan to write more in the coming weeks. I'm sure I will get political in tone soon because of the state of things. I'm just really proud of myself for sticking to this. I'm also grateful for all who visit my blog. You are appreciated. I'm looking forward to my 2nd year Blogaversay!!! Stay tuned and keep reading. All comments are welcomed!
P.S. - I will take any opportunity to post this classic Tony Toni Tone' track. I love it still.
I also made a minor changes. My web address has changed from "lovemsk.blogspot.com" to "inbtweenthoughts.blogspot.com." So, now my blog title and web addy match.
I am a fan of Frank Ocean. He recently released a track that I love. As always its about the lyrics with me. This is actually a reference track for RocNation's Bridget Kelly. Her version (which you can listen to here) is as great as Frank's. I cannot wait to hear full products from both artists. It seems that Frank has been given the golden ticket since he has now worked with Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. Things will be very interesting in the upcoming months. Until then, enjoy this latest offer.
"Thinking About Forever"
A tornado flew around my room before you came Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn’t rain In Southern California, much like Arizona My eyes don’t shed tears, but, boy, they bawl
When I’m thinkin’ ’bout you (Ooh, no, no, no) I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout you (You know, know, know) I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout you Do you think about me still? Do ya, do ya?
Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead) ‘Cause I been thinkin’ ’bout forever (Oooh, oooh)
Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead) ‘Cause I been thinkin’ ’bout forever (Oooh, oooh)
No, I don’t like you, I just thought you were cool Enough to kick it Got a beach house I could sell you in Idaho Since you think I don’t love you, I just thought you were cute That’s why I kiss you Got a fighter jet, I don’t get fly it, though...
Amy Winehouse is dead. She was only 27. I am saddened to read that this morning. I was a fan. Her voice was so soulful and full of pain. Her lyrics always spoke to me. I remember the first time I heard a song by her. It was "Fuck Me Pumps" off her first cd "Frank." I was hooked from that point on. "Frank" was a cd that wasn't released internationally but it made me a fan. Amy's voice gave me chills. "Stronger Than Me," "You Sent Me Flying," and "I Heard Love Is Blind" were some of my favorite tracks on her debut cd. I also really loved her rendition of "Moody's Mood For Love." Amy was a star in my eyes. As a musichead, I was beyond impressed with her.
When she finally broke into the US market with her smash hit "Rehab" I had huge expectations for her. "Back To Black" was everywhere and it seemed like Amy was on her way. "Back To Black" was full of those emo-type songs that Amy was good for. My favorite is still "Love Is A Losing Game." Then, came the reports of her addiction. It was hard to watch her fall deeper into it. I was still holding out hope for her triumphant return and new material. But, it seems that wasn't meant to be. Amy's addiction had a tighter hold on her than any of us could see.
Truth be told, Amy Winehouse killed Amy Winehouse. The world just watched her do it. Her first hit "Rehab" was a blatant slap in the face to people who tried to help her. Instead, we celebrated it. We listened to it on the radio. Her addiction was on display as she won five Grammys for BTB. She sold millions of records. The record company put millions of dollars in the hands of a known addict. Amy never had a chance. And, now her story is over. Dead at the age of 27 and clearly taken too soon. I will miss who she was and what she could've been. Here are some of my favorite Amy Winehouse tracks.
Is Justice really blind? I used to believe this wholeheartedly. Now? Not so much. For as long as I could remember, I was enthralled with the legal system. I wanted to be an attorney for the longest time. Lately, I have become very disillusioned with the United States' idea of what justice really is. I've seen people go to jail for long periods of time for small infractions. I've watched people walk away scott-free when they were guilty as sin. Where is the justice in any of that? I do not see it because it is not there.
Case in point: Casey Anthony. Her daughter, Caylee, was supposedly "missing" for 31 days before her mother, Cindy reported it. Casey did not report it. Her daughter was later found dead. Casey Anthony lied at every given turn. The only facts of this case are simple: Caylee was dead. After years, the trial finally started. There were allegations of sexual misconduct, outrageous lies, ridiculous testimonies, and even more ridiculous scenarios. In the end, the just decided that Casey was not guilty. What??? How is it that this woman is now free to walk the earth while her child is dead and was treated like trash? Where is the justice in this? Clearly, I believe that the jury got it dead wrong. Casey should have been found guilty and been en route to a needle in her arm. I have no tolerance for murderers. I am a fatherless woman because of a murderer. And, people who do anything to harm children are the absolute worst. They are the scum of the earth in my eyes. I also know that Casey has to live with what she did. And, she also will have to atone for it as well.
On the flip side of justice, there is Raquel Nelson. A 30 year old mother who crossed the street with her two kids in Georgia. A man struck and killed her son. The man, Jerry Guy, has a past of hit and run incidents. He was originally charged with hit and run, cruelty to children, and second degree murder. The charges were later amended to just a hit and run. Her served a 6 month sentence and will have five years probation for murder. What?? How is that justice? It isn't and the story gets even worse. Ms. Nelson could possibly serve more time than her son's killer. She is being charged with second degree vehicular homicide. This means she is at fault for jaywalking which led to her sons death. There is a possibility that she will have to serve a 36 month sentence. The woman is grieving her son and has to deal with this. Again I ask where is the justice in any of this?? The answer is simple there is none.
One other major point I have to bring up in these cases is race. Casey is a white woman, Raquel is a Black woman. Apparently, that matters. Because how could a woman who definitely killed her child is walking free while a mother who crossed the street with her child and he was killed is facing jail time? My mind can only come to one conclusion. It's racial. Clean and simple. That makes me so angry. Yes, we have a Black President. But, we are not a post-racial nation. Racism is still alive and well. One only has to take a look at the forming of the Tea Party or the way the Republican Party has behaved since 2008. These two cases have literally made me sick. I cannot blindly believe in justice after hearing about these cases. I think the picture I found for this blog is absolutely perfect. Justice is clearly not blind. What do you guys thinks? Talk to me!
*...and my answers will confuse and amuse you. My mind is a complex place.
*"Otis" by Jay-Z and Kanye is 3 minutes of reckless, braggadocious, brilliant one liners. I LOVE!! Cannot wait to get my hands on "Watch The Throne" on 8/1/11. Peep the track here
* I am beyond tired. My head hurts as does my heart. I don't see a resolution in my immediate future.
* (excuse my french but...)People are fucking stupid. There is just no other way to say it.
* I cannot get over the fact that Casey Anthony was found not guilty. Her daughter, Caylee, is still dead. And, justice WAS NOT served in Florida.
* The business of loaning money is a tricky one. It makes you not want to help people. My mindset is this, IF I do loan $, I shouldn't have to ask to BORROW my own $$ back. In the words of Ronnie from "Players Club," "Run Me My Money!!!"
* I feel it deep in my soul that something big has to be on the horizon. *praying for peace until it does*
* I've tried not to wonder/worry about someone. I've failed horribly on that front. I just wish I knew something.
* I've been neglecting my blog...purposely. I have been writing a lot, but it's been more soul searching things that I cannot/will not share. It's a little too raw for the web.
* Sometimes, we all need someone to just listen. I took advantage of my great friend last week. It felt good to release that.
* I've been a bad mood lately. So, in order to not let it rub off on others, I've been isolating myself. I don't wanna be Debbie Downer. That wouldn't be good for anyone. I'm hoping to shake back from this soon.
* I had the best time at my family reunion. Which is funny because I had no plans to be there. Hell, I had planned on being out of town. But, I went and enjoyed it more than I could've imagined. Great weekend.
* My youngest nephew is just about the sweetest kid ever. He always makes me laugh.
* One of my favorite cousins came to visit. I always have such fun with her and her kids. She used to be my shadow when we were kids. So wonderful to see her all grown up with a family of her own.
This is a throwback. I've always loved this track. I can honestly say that I did not know who 'NSYNC was until they released "Gone." I loved everything about it. I especially thought it was amazing when Justin shared that he wrote this song about missing Britney when she was getting her nails done. How cute? I've listened to it three times already tonight. So I wanted to share it.
"There's a thousand words that I could say
To make you come home
Oh, seems so long ago you walked away
Left me alone
I remember what you said to me
You were acting so strange and maybe I was too blind to see
That you needed a change
Was it something I said
To make you turn away?
To make you walk out and leave me cold
If I could just find a way
To make it so that you were right here
But right now..
I've been sitting here
Can't get you off my mind
I've tried my best to be a man and be strong
I've drove myself insane Wishing I could touch your face
But the truth remains..
I don't wanna make excuses, baby
Won't change the fact that you're gone
But if there's something that I could do
Won't you please let me know?
The time is passing so slowly now
Guess that's my life without you
And maybe I could change my every day
But baby I don't want to
So I'll just hang around and find some things to do
To take my mind off missing you
And I know in my heart
You can't say that you don't love me too
Please say you do..."
I hate to be ignored. Like seriously. It bothers by entire being. I find the act very passive aggressive in nature. I'm not that type of person. I either confront my issues with the person or deal with my feelings alone. Because honestly, sometimes my issues with people are entirely of my own doing. Only then will I ignore them. This is because the issue has been stated. And they have apparently decided not to correct it.
Ignoring me is quite possibly the easiest way to piss me off. Especially if I did not do anything to you consciously. If I do not know what it is I did, I cannot ever fix this problem. So what exactly does ignoring me accomplish?? I feel all it does is create unnecessary tension and stress. I don't cut people off without warrant. But game playing is a quick ticket out of my good graces. The bottom line is this:if anyone has a problem with me, address me. We could clear the air quickly. Or if it's that serious we can encourage the friendship as well. Anything is better than being passive aggressive. That's the absolute worst thing. So do not ignore me. Unless getting on my bad side is what you're aiming for. It's not a big thing to many but it is to me. It just reeks of a personality traits that is so opposite to me.
The passive aggressives are a unique, weird group. They aren't my cup of tea. I truly can't deal with it. I don't think it's a quality that I do not see in myself. I just wish the people in my life who do fall into this category would find another way to deal. It would cut down on confusion in all of our lives. I am trying my best to cut these people out of my life. Or at least, limit my exposure to them. I don't need them in my life. I am working on being a better person. Keeping my cool is a great part of that. Passive aggressives are draining to my spirit. Do any of you have these kind of people in their lives? How do you deal with them? Are you yourself a passive aggressive? Do you even know it?
I saw this and the message def caught my eye. Let's just call this a lesson learned. In the words of my brother from another MJ, marinate on that...and take it with you when you leave.
Stevie is wonderful. Simply stated. I woke up with this song and the scene from "Poetic Justice" playing in my mind. I think I have it on dvd and I shall watch it tonight. I have a few favorite songs by Stevie: "As," "Knocks Me Off My Feet," "Ribbon In The Sky," "My Cherie Amour" just to name a few. But, "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" is a different type of Stevie Wonder song. It's very sad and a little melancholy. The lyrics always cause me to become a little teary eyed. But I still love it and listen to it whenever it fits my state of mind. Listen and love!
I never dreamed you'd leave in summer I thought you would go then come back home I thought the cold would leave by summer But my quiet nights will be spent alone
You said there would be warm love in springtime That is when you started to be cold I never dreamed you'd leave in summer But now I find myself all alone
You said then you'd be the life in autumn Said you'd be the one to see the way No I never dreamed you leave in summer but now I find my love has gone away Why didn't you stay...
Ledisi is so underrated in my book. Her voice is amazing. She is great in concert as well. This is a plus for me. Her new cd "Piece Of Me" is great. This particular song has touched me deep. I enjoy the entire cd but I keep coming back to this track. The lyrics are what got me of course. Get into Ledisi!
Lately it’s been hard for me to catch up on sleep
Cause when you walked out, you walk into my dreams
Hearing these memories all in my head
Was it your voice that said?
Come back to bed
I know there was a reason that I had to walk out
But now I can’t remember what the fight was about
I know I was mad,
Said I was pissed
But it wasn’t so bad, not worse then this
[Chorus:] Cause I miss you now (Cause I miss you now)
I miss you now
Maybe you deserve another chance
Maybe your my man
Maybe we should try again
Cause I miss you now (Cause I miss you now)
I miss you now
Maybe it really wasn’t our fault
Wasn’t so bad at all
Maybe I should come back home
Yo mama keep calling me, phoning my house
Asking me why you sleeping on her couch
How could we give up on something so good
I tried not to call,
maybe I should
I don’t wanna be the reason that it didn’t work out
We put too much into it just to give up now
Let’s call it a truce,
got nothing to prove
Been gone for too long
and I’m missing you
I'm very nostalgic today. My friend Lashauna R. Turner is heavy on my mind and heart. I remember the day we met. It was the first week of 6th grade. I noticed her because she was the only other Black girl in all of my Honors classes. She sat in the desk next to me one day. She said "I'm Lashauna, you seem cool. We should be friends." And, we were for the next 14 years. We became fast friends. I integrated her into my group of friends. We (me, Ty, Reese, and Shauna) were all connected at the hip by 8th grade. She was funny, intelligent and very caring. She was one of the best people I knew.
We were devastated by her untimely death. She had a collapsed lung in August. Was diagnosed with a rare form of heart cancer in October. And before we knew it, she was gone on March 16, 2004. My friends and I were in disbelief. Everything happened within the blink of the eye. She was gone and we were left here with so many unanswered questions. I still miss our talks. I often wish she was still here. Today is harder than others because it's Shauna's birthday. I try to celebrate her life instead of mourning it. She would've been 32. Shauna was taken from us entirely too soon. We never got to say goodbye. I know she's watching over us. So, I'll just say Happy Birthday Copper/Butterfinger :) We love you and we still miss you, girl.
It's that time again people. I am an avid reader. You guys already know this. I just want to do a quick review on the last few book I've read. Thankfully, I haven't read a bad book in months. I love when that happens. I was affected deeply by two totally different books I've read in the last two weeks. I have to share with you guys.
I just finished "A Piece of Cake" by Cupcake Brown. This book totally drained me. Like totally. The book is very dark and depressing for a great portion of it. It is the true life memoir of a young girl who's life is anything but a fairytale. The main character La'Vette/Cupcake has her world shattered by her mother's untimely death. The events that follow are utterly unthinkable. She spends well over ten years living a really horrid life. Halfway through the book I was in such a foul mood. I think its because I submerge myself so deep within the things I read. I was pulling for Cup though. She was a character that I wanted to see win. I felt that her story had to have a better ending. This book turned around in the last third of it. I was so excited for her. I smiled while reading. Once I was done, I was so full. I love that great comeback story. "A Piece of Cake" is a great read. I would definitely suggest it to others. I'm actually grateful that it was suggested to me. I will be passing it on to my cousin.
I also read "Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles. I got this as a 0.99¢ download on Kindle. It's a love story about two teenagers from completely different backgrounds. Typical right? But the actual storyline has a deeper plot. I loved that it wasn't what I thought it was gonna be. It was a good quick read. I also enjoyed the ending. It was a little predictable in the beginning. But it got so much better in the middle of the book. It's a young adult book though. Other than that, I enjoyed it.
I have about five more books laying around that I need to get to. I suddenly find myself with a lot of free time. I plan to get to these books starting next week. So there will be more reviews forthcoming. Keep reading guys!
