Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

I intended to go to church this morning but nature called. I decided to go for a walk in the park instead. I really needed the exercise and I am proud that despite being very out of shape I walked to around (the Meer) and back. My feet hurt because I still haven't found the right shoes, that is about all that really hurts. No knee pains or foot pain that was happening last year. Hopefully I am on the road to recovery. I just need to do it consistently. Not going to church and going to the park made me think of an Emily Dickinson poem: SOME keep the Sabbath going to church; I keep it staying at home, With a bobolink for a chorister, And an orchard for a dome. Some keep the Sabbath in surplice; I just wear my wings, And instead of tolling the bell for church, Our little sexton sings. God preaches,—a noted clergyman,— And the sermon is never long; So instead of getting to heaven at last, I ’m going all along!

Good Morning, Been reestablishing my relationship with God and myself. I say my prayers at night, but God and I were long overdue for a deep heart to heart. I am learning. I am growing.  Part of the process is healing my body through better nutrition. I've been serious about it. I feel my energy returning. I am moving back into healthy habits. I have no choice but to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God. I am off to take a walk in Central Park before it gets too hot outside. Have a beautiful day!

There was a time when I was up on every new social media site there was. I had to stake my claim in every piece of virtual real estate whether I used the site or not. I've been on the internet since the 1990s and used different forms of social media (chat rooms, forums, websites, BlackPlanet) since about 2000. I've seen so many different social platforms come and go that I can't even remember them. I've had so many different screen names that I can't remember them either. So here we are 11 years later and I am tired. I am tired of running from one site to the next. Updating this, tweeting that, uploading, downloading, frontloading...whew!!! Enough! So I have slacked off of the social media merry-go-round for a while. I still use my facebook and occasionally send out a few tweets. I tumble every now and then and I have gotten back into blogging. But only my personal blog and reading other people's blogs. I've lost a connection to the world flitting from one f...

Jill Scott's new CD is all about self-affirmation and rediscovering self-love. I can't get enough of her soulful prayer " Hear My Call ." So many of us are in need of God's healing. "Love has turned me cold, I need your healing." I seems when we aren't busy chasing someone down to love us, then we are nursing old wounds. I have so much on my mind right now, but will write about it as it becomes more clear to me.

I know one thing, MJW has grown to be one grown ass sexy man. *smacking my lips*

New toy. Oh boy! http://turntable.fm

I miss those 'red cup' parties with the game of spades over in the corner.

My latest favorite thing! I was told that my previous favorite, DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom had been discontinued. I guess that was just from Nordstrom because when I looked for it online I saw that both Sephora and the DKNY website still sell it. Now I have two favorite fragrances. Things my mother never scrimped on: good shoes, a good winter coat, and good perfume.

I thought I had already posted this but I guess I didn't. Man, listen. A good Mint Condition song reminds me of falling love in the summer. Even their heartbreak songs.

I was going to head out, but then I started reading about Miguel . This kid has a solid head on his shoulders and knows what he wants out of his career . Very admirable! Lesson learned here is know what you want and have the courage to walk away from what's not working for you while having the patience to wait for what you really want. I trust his instincts as I am much more impressed with his current body of work than what he was doing with his first label. Check out his first single from 2006 when the record company tried to pawn him off as a knock off Usher. That first release didn't come close to showcasing his true talent. <p><br><br>a <br></p> A year later he walked away from that record contract and signed with Jive. "Sure Thing" was actually submitted four years ago. Imagine if that song would have hit the scene 4 ...

Esthero is fabulous. I guess she will always have that somewhat "underground/cult" status. She is living her art though. Miguel is nice too. Have a great weekend!

Why can't Kelly seem to get it right? In her videos she comes across as being a Bey knock off. I wish she could disassociate herself from that image. I'm thinking about the video she did with Eve "Like This" as well as this one. This one though is just lazy in my opinion. The choreography and staging just comes across as lackadaisical. I was bored by what was supposed to come across as 'edgy' and dark. The song itself sounds like a Bey cast off. It know it is hard to step out of the shadow of others, but there is so much competition out there until you have have create your own image. People who have created their own trademark style are Beyonce, Eve, Queeen Latifah, Nicki Manaj, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Adele, Rhianna, Missy Elliot. Either it is in their vocal style or their public persona. She needs a mentor because the girl has talent that is just being wasted. There are so many other talented young women who wind up getting passed over because they are lack ...

I am listening to music that is considered popular and I am very disappointed in the state of music young people are listening to these day. Pure unadulterated garbage. Fortunately there are still true singers out there slipping through the cracks.  Bossy invited me to her birthday celebration brunch with a bunch of her friends who I don't know. We don't stay in contact with her. Still salty about her keeping all of our video tapes from the project we were working on. My friend in DC invited me down for a weekend or more next month. Since it seems I'm not going to California this summer I guess I will take him up on it. I have figure out what to do with Miss Thang and the car. I could drive but parking is probably just as bad out there as it is here. He offered a train ticket so I guess any money I would have spent on a real vacation I can use for parking and a pet sitter. I will have to see how the chips fall. An old friend from way back in the day contacted me to say h...

There are just some videos that I can't relate to...this is one of them.

How am I just hearing about her?  She reminds me of Frenchie Davis . Girls that 'sang' don't have to be half naked with 500 back up dancers.

Man, listen! I miss having money tucked away in different places. This recession has taken a toll on me. I was excited because I got paid today. I checked my balance and discovered that the car insurance company took the entire six month payment out in one fell swoop through auto pay. I could have sworn I changed my payment plan. This sucks for me because I still have to pay student loan and car note with this check. I was looking forward to having some 'extra' money around to play with. I'm trying to be good about taking care of business, but these unexpected expenses hurt. The good news is I won't be stretching that expense out. This also affects my plans to take a vacation. I dread the thought of not taking a vacation this summer, but damn I might have to wait until Christmas to head home now. I'm good though. Just need to do a little juggling this month.

I'm really serious about staying on my lifestyle changes this time. I'm in that mindset where I have had enough and this is when I make major changes. The dietary changes are solid. I'm staying the course. It just requires that I shop more often because I am eating fresh food. This is definitely going to be an issue when I go back to work. I haven't yet had the nerve to go back to the gym or start doing any exercise yet. I really wanted to today, but it wasn't enough to get me in there. I'm also getting concerned about this rash on my arm. I don't know if it is related to my dietary changes or an outside cause. Looking it up on the internet is the worst thing I could have done. I'm going to to try a few things out before I go see a dermatologist. Now that I think about it I should probably be taking my apple cider vinegar daily. That usually clears everything up.

I would love to be a guest invited to this party minus the girl drama. 

I really enjoy this show because it really makes me happy to see the young people dancing and doing something that brings them so much joy. Watching the little romances develop is the icing on the cake. I love Ricky and Sasha, but all of the remaining kids are talented and deserve to continue on in the competition. I am a little concerned about Mitchell who has been weak towards the end of the competition. He needs to really step it up and I think his days are limited compared to dancers like Ricky, Marko, Tadd, and Jess. Sasha is a badass! She, in my opinion, is the strongest of all of the girls left. Do you watch SYTYCD? 

I finally changed the template now that Blogger has something to offer that looks interesting. Therefore, all of the old comments are somewhere out there. Sigh. It's all good.

Love this song, but can't get with the video concept.

Blog « Me Ra Koh Photography Blog Great tips on how to create fabulous photos. I really need to upgrade my photo equipment. I also need to take a class. I want to grow with this skill.

Man, I wish I could have deterred some of my old friends from their life choices. This one girl keep messing with a guy who was no.damn.good for her. She had everything going for her. Got pregnant. They guy never married her and has fifty11 children. SMH. All those girls so hot for their guys in high school and didn't handle their business correctly got burned. Thank God for grace because they were able to invest all of that energy they would used for their future into their kids who are pretty amazing! My cousin sent my a FB message that my grandmother had a stroke and to call her. Beside the main issue of grandma (we know Granny and I have issues) being in the hospital I just don't understand why people think it is appropriate to deliver this type of news via text or FB. Seriously, just like you type up this message you can call. Then she proceeds to post a status update about something totally unrelated. I don't know what to do with my family! My rash is back. I determ...

It's always about Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Love this song. Reminiscent of Floetry's hit "It's Getting Late."

Be careful what you ask for because you just might receive...

Like the phrase, but conflicted about the misogynistic message of the song and video. So tired of women being objectified. On the flip side of that, Naomi Campbell is bad has hell!

 This is an old post I found in the draft folder that had never been posted. I guess because it was incomplete. I still like the song though . Just got through listening to Ledisi's "Someday." That song touches my spirit. Last night I missed my mom so bad. I am in the midst of another transition in my life (what's new) and I think I tend to revert...

Peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned

It has been in the low 90s here. Too hot for my Bay Area blood. We are having a Summer Storm and it has brought the temp down to the mid 70s. More like it.

The better I get about improving my diet, the better I feel. It is amazing how certain foods make such a big impact on your health. I wish we lived in a world where it was easier to live a healthy lifestyle and where work wasn't the end all, be all. I've been eating only fruits, veggies, seafood, nuts, and reducing the amount of starches in my diet. I haven't (thus far) had any cravings. I rarely snack and my blood sugar levels seem even. The issue is maintaining this while under stress at work. I will try to formulate the habit now and maintain it when I return to work.

My friend just had another baby. Seems as soon as she was free to move around the cabin now that the first one is 3 here comes this new sweetie pie. This should be interesting watching her juggle the two little ones.

I so get this! LOL! I am a ABG!

Well, I finally buckled down and did the damn reference checks. My whole issue was it was on principle that I shouldn't have had that task dumped in my lap at the last minute. Now one of my coworkers is pushing to get her friend hired. I've already made my decision so there you go. Now maybe we can move on and I can have a proper vacation. I am being so productive. Usually I just sleep my vacations away but since I am changing my diet and sticking with it I seem to have more energy to function. Plus, the weather this year has been tolerable. When it gets too hot I just can't function. I still have a brand new a/c unit in the back of my car. While it has been in the 90s I've been able to manage with fans. If I get lucky I might be able to return it unopened! Next up, getting my passport together! Been researching colleges and still not finding exactly what I am looking for. Getting it down!

So I realized that it's now time that I start living like a "grown up." I also realized that in order to live the lifestyle I want to live I can't do it alone. Not with these student loans on my back. So the next plan of action is to find a husband with a decent salary and good credit. This seems to be the only feasible way I will be able live the way I want to live. In order to make that happen I have to step up my game. Operation find a husband is in full effect for the remainder of 2011. Making sure hair, nails, brows are always tight. Getting the body right and tight. Getting and staying focused on the bigger picture. Changing my priorities. A woman's got to do what a woman's got to do!

It may not seem like it, but I am on the grind trying to find a graduate program that will fit my schedule, is affordable, and doesn't have excessive requirements for enrollment. I said I was going to wait until 2012, but if I can do an e-learning program in the Fall I'm all for it. One of my gripes is the fact that we should be improving as professionals. However, the money for professional development is not a priority. I wasn't even aware that the whole college reimbursement program had been sacrificed, nevertheless that in the (going on) three years I have been here I haven't had any P.D. with the exception of training that is for a program they are considering tossing out the window and another that didn't even apply to me! Mind you, I am on the P.D. committee. You know I will be speaking up about his issue. This is the second summer I have tried to get P.D. and been denied. Mind you, I am trying to better myself as a profession on MY free time. So tempted to...

A couple of Alvin Ailey dancers live in my building A couple of working actors (commercials, etc) also live in my building Maybe I need to stop being so stuck up about my building and the neighborhood Been reading about another blogger who took up my passion later in life and is now working with the likes of my Supastar. Small world! Reading her blogs is really helping me sort through and clear out my ideas and misconceptions about making it work a second time around and helping me realize what I need to do before I just jump right back into the frying pan.  My attitude has been my bigger hindrance. I need to change it.  Spent most of the morning watching episodes of Extreme Makeover Weight loss Edition on the computer to get motivation. Cried because although I am not as bad off as the contestants, their stories really touched my heart. As my man Michael Jackson would say, I'm going make a change.... I need to stop telling myself I am too old to do things. You are never...

I've mentioned I'm on vacation, right? I've written about trying to take care of all of my work obligations before going on vacation, right? So why the hell is my boss contacting on my vacation and expecting immediate response. Yet, when she was getting ready to go on her vacation she didn't have time to deal with anything. GTFOH. Are the vestiges of the old me starting to crop up? Right is right.

Jill Scott - Music - More Music Videos

I thought I was done with school. I mean, I did always have plans along the line, well, someday to finish my second master's degree, but that was just in the back of my head. Well, I've decided that the only way I can move forward is to go back to school. I figured since I need to finish up at Howard anyway I would look into schools in the DC area. As it turns out, Howard has what I need so I am going to see if I can kill two birds with one stone and finish my second master's while earning a certificate in administration in my current field. I feel stuck right now in the position that I am in and unless someone takes pity on me it looks like I have to bite the bullet and head back to school. I'm too old for this! It looks like the doctorate program has pretty much the same course requirements, with the exception of the dissertation. I'm not going there. Bad enough I have to write a thesis. So, it is now in my head that in 2012 I am making that move. I want to enroll...

It's supposed to get up to 90 today. Let's hope it doesn't get that high. Not a huge fan of extreme heat...especially when it is accompanied by humidity. Every morning I wake up I have a green drink. I'm going to see how this works out for me. I seem to be less sluggish than normal so I will stick with it. Not sure what the plans are for today. In any event I am sticking with the vegetarian diet I've readopted. Wasn't really too much of a stretch and I feel so much better. Meat is just so hard for my body to digest. I am going to keep fish in my diet though because I need some protein and I am avoiding lots of carbs. The vegetables just don't stick with you. Not sure how people do those extreme diets because they just don't work for me. I really need to get in the gym though. Need to get my motivation up for that. I really need to go upgrade my phone. It has lost it's everloving mind. I am still on the fence about upgrading to the iphone. When I ca...

I woke up this morning from a nightmare about a gang shooting up a house where I was. I realized that it was a result of reading this article and hearing news about robberies like this that triggered the sub-conscious fear. It can't help that it's fourth of July weekend and all the pop pop popping is disconcerting. I'm also troubled by the fact that Newark, NJ has multiple shooting on a daily basis. My friend invited me to go to a film festival over there Wednesday night. I might have been game if it wasn't for the fact that the last time I was over there (last weekend) a woman was mugged right in front of their office in broad daylight on a Sunday. On a busy street. The door was propped open because it was a warm summery day. That was too close for comfort. Needless to say, I have no plans to visit Newark until they can get their crime under control. It could have very well been me walking from my car several blocks away who was mugged. Thank God it was not and th...

Listening to Ledisi's "Going through Changes" as I type this Sunday afternoon. I'm on vacation and I swear it is the only time I ever feel like I am a real person. Going through the motions day by day wears on me. I get into these patterns and habits that are are smothering me. It's not until I stop and take a look at myself that I realize how much I tend to neglect myself for the sake of my job. It's not healthy. It's not emotionally or physically healthy. I spend my vacations regrouping only to fall back into those patterns. I'll eat better, rediscover my passions, get lots of sleep only to fall back into the same cycle. When it seems that I am able to stay the course then a wrench always get thrown into the mix. I need to start having contingency plans. Number one is restoring my health and well-being. Protecting myself emotionally from adult bullies is also high on the list. I didn't appreciate the fact that I am less than week from going on v...