Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

I t was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. [ cont. ] 1) Was 2005 a good year for you? It was pretty decent. A lot of ups and downs but as bad as the downs were I've had worst in the past. 2) What was your favorite moment of the year? There were quite a few good moments this year, the first being bringing in the New Year with my own family for the first time in years and the last being spendin...

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who comes through here, reads my blog and comments. Have a safe holiday and a very blessed new year. I will be checking on everyone in January. Here is the shorter version of the year end meme. I swiped it from her . My last meme jacking of the year (sniff). Depending on how the rest of the year goes I may do this one as well when I return. 1. What one word describes who you were to someone else in 2005? Example: someone may see you as loving, or faithful or as a friend or as trifling! 2. Describe what was the funniest experience you had in 2005. 3. Describe the best kiss you were given in 2005. 4. Describe the greatest sexual encounter you had in 2005. Provide specific details. 5. Share one of your biggest accomplishments of 2005. 6. List your greatest flirtatious action(s) in 2005. 7. Describe an instance when you let your guard down in 2005 and were disappointed. 8. List one of your biggest mistakes in 2005. 9. What was your greates...

You Are Rudolph Sweet and shy, you tend to be happiest when you're making someone else happy. Why You're Naughty: You sometimes stick that nose where it doesn't belong Why You're Nice: Christmas would be a sad affair without you! Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

I don't necessarily agree with all these but some are pretty funny..... You Know You're From San Francisco When... You take a bus and are shocked that 2 people are carrying on a conversation in English. Someone says TENDERLOIN - you don't think of steak. You never bother looking at the MUNI line schedule because you know the drivers have never seen it. A really great parking space can move you to tears. You know that anyone wearing shorts in July must be visiting from Ohio. You assume every company offers domestic partner benefits. Your boss runs in "The Bay to Breakers"....and it's not the first time you have seen him/her nude. You are thinking of taking an adult class but you can't decide between yoga, aroma therapy, conversational mandarin or a building your own web site class. You haven't been to Fisherman's Wharf since the first month you moved to SF and you couldn't figure out how to drive to Coit Tower if your life depended on it. You we...

A lthough I still support the union, I am annoyed that they are not making any progress as we continue to have below freezing temps and no public transportation throughout most of the city. Each day I wake and listen for the roar of motor coach engines on the busy streets below. No such luck. I guess it was cute at first, novel even, but the people in my neighborhood have been taking it in stride - literally. Yesterday on the walk home I overheard an MTA worker complaining about the loss of pay and his buddy was offering words of encouragement that it will pay off in the long run and we are all fighting for them. That was nice. You could tell the morale of the MTA worker was very low at that point. T his morning, people's patience was really being tested. For the soldiers who have been trudging out in the cold for their third day of transportation hell, it was about to be on this morning at Fordham Station. Contrary to popular belief, New Yorkers will exhibit patience - up to a cer...

Upon the ravings of certain bloggers who shall remain nameless, I stepped foot into the Star.bucks on 125 the other week to try their holiday selection of hot beverages. I tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte and sadly was quite disappointed with it. As a matter of fact, I drank about half and threw away the rest. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who wasn't impressed with their concoction of milk, cafe and spices. The following piece was in The Village Voice. Bites Coffee Abuse Starbucks Christmas Lattes: What the hell? by Nina Lalli December 16th, 2005 6:32 PM What is coffee supposed to taste like? photo: Nina Lalli I've only tasted hazlenut coffee by accident. America's flavored coffee movement, which initially seemed like a fad that would quickly disappear, has really passed me by. I'm starting to feel like one of those kids who grew up without TV, and doesn't understand references to Three's Company or Who...

I t is amazing how quiet it has been around here since the buses have been parked and locked away due to the transit strike. Buses contribute to an enormous amount of noise pollution in this city. Apparently the union and the City have reached an impasse . The union is being fined up the yin-yang but they are standing firm. I don't blame them. Our union also threatened to strike this year but we averted it in the 11th hour. I didn't want to strike but if you have a message to send out and the cats who are running things aren't trying to hear you because you are just peon in their eyes, then you've gotta' take some action to get their attention. I still don't think the big wigs are taking the union seriously, but after they get tired of walking across the cold-arse bridge, they'll get it. Hang in there New York . A s a funny little aside, yesterday evening I went to the store and asked the clerk to give me 4 quarters as change with my purchase. He asked ...

T ransit Strike is in full effect as temps dip into the single digits. The City just needs to just give those people their benefits and leave them alone. Considering the way MTA shuttles folks around this city (with a few glitches here and there) the City ought to be giving the workers anything they ask for. I knew that surplus was going to come back and bite them in the arse. A lthough MTA won't be going my way today MetroNorth , LIRR , NJ Transit and Path seem to be trying to pick up the slack. I am waiting to see what contingency plans roll out. Hopefully the strike won't last long. Some folks wound up with an early holiday, don't say MTA never did anything for you.

Study: In dating, extravagant gifts keep on giving By Michelle Lefort, USA TODAY Tue Aug 9, 7:09 AM ET If you want to win the object of your affection, an extravagant gift that has no resale value is the way to go. That's not the opinion of a battle-weary veteran of the dating scene. It's the conclusion of a mathematical model created by researchers at University College London. Dating obviously involves gifts, and not just among humans. Gift-giving also appears in the mating rituals of some insect species. A team of applied mathematicians created a sequential calculation as a model of dating. The new study, designed to explore the role of gift-giving in courtship, appears online in the biological science journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. According to the model's creator, Robert Seymour, a math professor at the university, this model reduces dating to a collection of numbers. The researchers assigned points to an array of courtship behaviors, including gift-giving...

Your Christmas Song Is Silver Bells City sidewalks, busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In the air There's a feeling of Christmas You like to take in all the sites of Christmas From city lights to eleborate window displays What Christmas Carol Are You?

Make It Affirmative Unfortunately I didn't remember to include the source of the following. For some reason when I found it I thought it might be something to add to the blog. I think because I have a friend who is notorious for putting herself down and engaging in "negative self-talk". It seems relatively harmless but after a while it takes a toll and eventually you start to believe what you are saying about yourself. Yet, it can go both ways. If you revel in positivity it will embrace you but you can't court both positivity and negativity because eventually one will cancel the other out. So why not make it affirmative? A ffirmations are positive statements that you can make about yourself that make you feel better about yourself. They describe ways you would like to feel about yourself all the time. They may not, however, describe how you feel right now. The following examples of affirmations will help you in making your own list: I feel good about myself I ...

S he said I had to do this, so here goes: I guess I really just want to have that certification to fall back on in the future...just in case. ( source: My old blog) I won't impose this on anyone but if you want to do it...help yourself. Can't say I never gave you anything. Happy holidays. The Rules: 1. Go into your archives 2. Find your 23rd post 3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to it) 4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog with these instructions. 5. Tag five other people to do the same.

S o far I have managed to address and mail all of my Christmas/holiday cards. I made an effort to at least pull the tree and decorations out of the closet, although I haven't yet decided if I will put it up since I kept it up way too long last year. I haven't done a bit of Christmas shopping, nor have I checked on fares and flight information to visit familar faces. I have received a few Christmas cards as well as my first present. My apartment smells of holiday spices. The weather outside is perfect for bundling up in warm layers and for snuggling close indoors. It is turning out to be pretty decent holiday season.

Marvin Gaye, What's Going On? >>> Listen Oh don't go and talk about my father God is my friend Jesus is my friend He made this world for us to live in, and gave us everything And all he asks of us is we give each other love. Oh ya Don't go and talk about my father Cause God is my friend Jesus is my friend He loves us whether or not we know it Just loves us, oh ya And He'll forgive all our sins Forgive all our sins And all He asks of us, is we give each other love. Oh ya Love your mother, she bore you Love your father, he works for you Love your sister, she's good to you Love your brother, your brother Don't go and talk about my father, He's good to us, God is my friend Jesus is my friend For when we call in Him for mercy, Mercy Father He'll be merciful, my friend Oh, yes He will All he asks of us, I know, is we give each other love, Oh ya

Pain A feeling I haven't experienced physically or emotionally because of what you have shared with me. Exhaustion Watching you come in after a long day, yet still having a smile on your face when you see me. Relief Knowing that you are safe when I hear your special ring on the cell phone or your buzz from downstairs. Anxious The wondering if taking it to the next level will change things. Swamped What I will probably be after the first of the year. Excited The way I felt when you came through the door beaming. Horny What I will be feeling until I see you again. Creative Finding ways to occupy my time and keep my thoughts clear. Restless Ready to travel and make some changes. Guilty Feeling like I am holding back just a little when you are willing to give 100%. Joy Feeling so blessed that you have been in my life for so long and that we can continue building towards something stronger than what we already have. Pumped When we will finally get to spend more time together. Lonely The...

You rode in on a white horse ready to rescue me from the deep despair that was sinking into my spirit You lifted me up and placed me on the back of your horse you held onto me and made me feel like your princess I could feel your hands damp with anticipation you showed me love when I didn't feel worthy of it I was sleeping beauty poisoned and barely alive you reawaken my spirit with a gentle kiss that turned into many you loved my body like it was the most perfect one you'd ever seen making me feel wanted and you didn't say a word I will ride off into the sunset with you embracing this need for each other as breathe needs air.

B arbara Walters created her top ten , then Cocacy and Terrenc e created their own versions. Not to be left out, I decided to make a top 5 list because I couldn't think of ten individuals who really impressed me this year with their actions and abilities. 5. Kimberly Elise , actress: She played the hell out of her role in Diary of a Mad Black Woman. If people haven't seen Elise outside of her roles in Set it Off and Beloved, then I think they will be pleasantly surprised to see the depth her acting abilities have grown in Diary and Woman Thou Art Loosed . Make it a Blockbuster Night. 4. A n derson Cooper , CNN: I admire the hard work, dedication and professionalism that Anderson displayed while reporting the effects of Hurricane Katrina. He showed compassion towards the victims and in my opinion reported in a fair manner. 3. Leela James, singer: This songstress has an amazing voice...I just discovered her this year and her bluesy, soulful sound takes music back to a plac...

M y friend Conni sent this one and I got a hoot out it. Scary but true (insert huge sigh here). 25 signs you've grown up ... > >1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them. > >2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question. > >3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge. > >4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed. > >5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator. > >6. You watch the Weather Channel. > >7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and "break up." > >8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14. > >9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up." > >10. You're the one calling the police because those Fucking kids next >door won't turn down the stereo. > >11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you. > >12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore. > >1...

S ince December has turning into retro month, I thought this little gem found on Dayrell's site on Myspace.com would be appreciated. Behold, games of the past!

>>> Listen I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad I long to try something I never had Never had no kissin' Oh, what I've been missin' Lover man, oh, where can you be? You were right there all along. Waiting patiently for me. Waiting to quench my longings with your passionate kisses. The night is cold and I'm so alone I'd give my soul just to call you my own Got a moon above me But no one to love me Lover man, oh, where can you be? It was one of the coldest nights of the season. We were anticipating snow yet you and I were cozy, wrapped up into each other. You were there with me. I've heard it said That the thrill of romance Can be like a heavenly dream I go to bed with a prayer That you'll make love to me Strange as it seems My dream came true that night. As you pulled me close to you and loved me like I was the most important person in the world. It was a dream that had played inside our minds repeatedly and it finally came true. Someday...

1 . I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. 2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry. 3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. 4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. 5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them 6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. 7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you. 9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful. 10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened. 11. There's always go...

>>> Listen Leela James Who are you to tell that I cant go on without you Why you tellin me I'm never gonna survive But once upon a time yes I believed that lie But sorry no way no how you can't control my mind 'Cause if I thought you were the end all it might be alright I would've never left you alone and I wouldn't be on my own and I never never woulda grown no no aint no way you gone take away My joy, my peace, my strength no no ain't no way you gone take away My joy, my peace, my strength Thank you for the times of all the pain you gave me The hate you showed to me taught me how to love myself It's funny how you tried to break down my pride and my spirit It doesn't even matter now 'cause I done moved on with my life 'Cause if I thought you were the end all it might be alright I would've never left you alone and I wouldn't be on my own and I never never woulda wrote this song no no aint no way you gone take away My joy, my pea...

M y cousin LOVES to inundate my email box with email forwards. I subtly tried to hint to her that she was hooked on the forward button but she didn't get the clue. Perhaps we need an intervention. In any event, during one of her forwarding binges she sent me a couple that are interesting. I haven't researched the validity of this claim but it is something worth pondering. I used to regularly go get my eyebrows waxed. Then my friend turned me onto threading . At one point I was alternating between waxing and threading but this email convinced me to stick with the threading. It has so many benefits over waxing, including being faster , having a lessened possibility of long term damage from human error, more sanitary and it seems to last longer. Price wise they are comparable. Email #1: The Perils of Waxing I had to take it upon myself to inform all of my girlfriends about Jonsey and today's Funk. Well for my south and central jersey folks who can't get hot 97 I will shar...

R eal life has a way of slowly seeping into one's computer time. On that note, there is the possibility that I will not be posting regularly over the next week. If that should happen, feel free to peruse the archives. When you get bored with that, hit up the blogroll. I'm sure there are a few interesting bloggers out there who you probably haven't had the pleasure of reading yet.

Brought to by: Hasbro, Tyco, Mattel, Milton Bradley, Fisher-Price, Parker Bros. and James. As the follow up to last week's post about being a kid for a day I decided to follow his lead and make a top 10 list of the toys that I really enjoyed as a kid. I present to you now another blast from the past: Berry's Top 10. 10. Black Barbie : Christie ( with the townhouse and Corvette) I never did get a black Barbie doll. I also didn't get the townhouse (with an elevator) nor the Corvette. I seem to remember that we used to go to the store and they would either always be sold out of the black versions or they would be priced more than the white dolls. Going into a toy store and seeing just as many black dolls as white dolls didn't happen when I was little girl. As far as the townhouse and Corvette, my friend had them so everytime I went to her house that is all we did for hours on end. 9. Baby Alive (watc h Commercial) I wanted a Baby Alive sooooooo badly. My (absentee) d...

Considering the fact that I haven't seen Rent since the first year I moved to New York, which was around the time it first hit Broadway, I didn't do too badly. Stolie , here are the results: Category 4 You Have 70 Rent knowledge! WOW you're really close but not quite there yet. Link: The Rent Head Test More Rent trivia

Unfricken-believable that someone I actually know would send something like this to me. Has he has lost his durn mind?! What is wrong with people? I cleared away the incriminating information. LOL! THE GIFT OF TWENTY Please know that it is rare for me to encourage anyone to take a risk with their hard earned cash, but I was recently asked to give a 20.00 bill to a complete stranger ...with no strings attached and no promises...after considering all the things I could do with twenty bucks...movie tickets, two bottles of wine, steak dinner or pay on a bill...I decided to give this money to this individual who lived out of state and who I did not know. You know what, I felt great! There is power in the gift of giving. So imagine what I experienced when six weeks later I received twenty dollars from 4 complete strangers...80 dollars...wow! check out http://www.givexx.com/ email me back. xxxx Conference call schedule: Sunday 8:00 pm Tuesday Noon Thursday 8:00 pm Saturday Noon Call in to l...

Today is International Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman's Day, so please send this message to someone you think fits this description. Please do not send it back to me as I have already received it from a Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman! And remember this motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Thanks cousin! I think I can handle this one LOL!

Today's story is based upon the children's book by Remy Charlip. I loved this book and read it repeatedly because my mom ordered a a personalized copy with MY NAME in place of the character's name. Do you know how awesome it is to have YOUR name as the main character in a book (especially when you have an unusal name) ? Talk about getting lost in a story. That was one of the best presents I ever received. Fortunately it is still considered fall. Unfortunately the weather feels like it is winter Fortunately I woke up to snow on the ground Unfortunately the rain has washed it all away Fortunately it is warm and toasty inside my apartment Unfortunately I need to go do my laundry and a couple of errands Fortunately I've been doing quite a bit of writing Unfortunately I have it saved in draft mode Fortunately I got paid Unfortunately the bank has a hold on the checks Fortunately my friend from California wants to visit Unfortunately I am feeling anti-social Fortunately ...

I felt uncomfortable after watching Kirk Franklin on Oprah yesterday. I think it was primarily because I really didn't get the impression that Kirk wanted to be "delivered" from his "addiction." ...so don't be caught slippin' brotha don't be trippin' brotha 'cause when I see ya' you better not be dippin' brotha.... Although this tidbit of information about Kirk Franklin was already publically revealed, for some reason Franklin felt the need to share his testimony with Oprah on yesterday's show. Naturally it also coincides with the recent release of a new CD . Kirk's story just wasn't gelling with me and even Oprah seemed a bit perplexed by Kirk's delayed admission. She didn't really dig deep with her questions as she tends to do with other "suspicious" guests. I suspect that she was thinking along the same lines that I was, could there be another Terry McMillan situation brewing under the surface? ...

I n my old blog I would occassionally get homesick and post memories of my past. I was reading someone's blog that lead me to someone else's blog where they wrote about a radio station that they fell in love with out while visiting the Bay. I know that this one is the bomb! So just for old times sake I listened to it online and fell back in love with it. There are some songs that just remind me of home. Driving on foggy highways or sitting in the parking lot of Ocean Beach or Twin Peaks listening to the radio with l'amour d' jour. Ahhhh, memories! There is no doubt that it is one of the most romantic cities in the world. I never lacked romance when I lived at home. They played songs I've either NEVER heard played on the radion stations out here or songs that I haven't heard played in YEARS. Songs that basically reminded me of home. I would drive down Highway 5 coming or going to L.A. to see my man Darren (DJ) or to or from Pacifica to see my man Mark. Carlo w...