Unbelievable....

  I am so sickened and disgusted by what has been up in the air the past couple of days, I think my fingers have a mind of their own right now.  I heard about this disgusting display from somewhere a couple of days ago, but thanks to the Twittersphere, this nightmare has been confirmed.  Shawty Lo, a rapper from Atlanta who has 1 maybe 2 hits to my knowledge has signed a contract deal with the Oxygen Network to expose just how classy he is, called 'All My Babies' Mamas'.  This is not the first "reality" show to show people in a negative light, especially not black people and I cannot for the life of me understand why.  Why would anyone want to invite a television crew into their lives to show the world just how pitiful you can be.  I say can be, because I absolutely refuse to believe that these people would act like this if there was not a camera in their face 24/7.  I personally do not watch "reality" shows, but unfortunately I cannot escape the advertisements and weekly wrap up conversations by co-workers or friends, facebook, or what have you.  The commercials that they show on TV for this garbage is sad enough, displays of women screaming at each other for no other reason than to get attention, women being openly loose to garner attention, women so drunk that they can barely walk down the street while clutching at their barely there clothes....

  Please do not misunderstand that I can appreciate that whatever people do in the privacy of their own homes within their own lives is their business and it is not my right to judge anyone regarding their actions, as I am far from perfect myself.  But it is quite a different story when one chooses to display their behaviors on national TV, then it is open play, all bets are off.  How can we get upset with rappers and music videos when women themselves are parading themselves around in this fashion?  How do we begin to teach our daughters  about class, being a real woman, respect, the list goes on and on.  It is especially damning when it is the ultimate low, the minstrel show to end all minstrel shows... a man with little to no success in life whatsoever, creating almost a dozen children with different women, and then there are the actual "baby mamas" who keep indulging these men by continuing to pro create with them?

  What is going on in the black community?  Why is this ok with people?  It is truly disgusting and stomach wrenching to know that this is being publicized.  I am shocked that this is on Oxygen and not BET, MTV, or VH1, considering those are the biggest contributors to the modern minstrel show.  What's funny is that while reading this story at: Newsone, there is a slideshow on the page and in the last box, there is a graphic of a fight starting to escalate on a couch, with the caption: 10 Best Ratchet Reality TV Moments of 2012.  I suppose the site gives some responsible information while never neglecting what will really capture most of our society's attention.  Puppet masters like Oxygen, BET, etc, are the reason why I will be starting a foundation, we cannot afford to lose our young women to the entertainment industry.


  The chains must be broken and we must make a conscience decision that no matter how horribly we are represented by the media, we will overcome them and prove that we are above the labeling of Hollywood.  We cannot allow multi-million dollar companies to look down on our youth and make decisions for them, under the assumption that they are too stupid to understand how they are being manipulated.  It has begun though, as the Newsone site shows, petitions have been formed regarding this isolated grossness (how sad that it has to come to that), but there is still so much work to be done.  As disgusting as this whole one situation is, I refuse to let it damper my spirits or doubt what I know to be true, which is that our youth are not lost, they are more capable than what they are given credit for.  We have to be more diligent as a whole and I can't wait to begin, so do your worst Hollydud...we will win in the end.

My what an unusual name you have...

  So as most everyone knows, Quentin Tarantino has recently put out a movie called Django Unchained.  I want to see the movie, but have not as of yet.  If you have not heard of the movie, here is the synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes: "Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. Django and Schultz's search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of "Candyland," an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie's trusted house slave. -- (C) Weinstein"   If you've ever seen a Tarantino movie, then you should be well aware that he is not afraid of dropping the "n" bomb freely.  For me, a movie is a movie is a movie, and that's all it is, unless otherwise stated it is based on true events. For this reason, I am very rarely offended by them.  I have learned that others do not take certain things so lightly.

  I have seen a few articles regarding Spike Lee's reaction to this movie, that he hasn't seen.  Spike Lee has made it very clear that he does not appreciate what Quentin Tarantino has done with this movie, or any of his previous movies regarding the "n" bomb.  Spike Lee has also criticized Tyler Perry and his portrayal of black people within his movies.  I have an issue with Spike Lee's objections for a few reasons.  One reason I have an issue with his negativeness is because of just that, the negativity.... for what?  If one was so inclined to be such a voice regarding the black community, then I would think that one would be more supportive in regards to those who are contributing to the black community in different ways.  Quentin Tarantino has given many black actors and actresses roles, which I have heard is not the easiest thing to acquire in Hollywood.  I am also inclined to believe had this movie been made by anyone else, it might not have gathered the attention that it has, therefore creating a more broader audience. 

  Tyler Perry has created jobs for black actors as well as created movies and plays that a lot of black people can identify with in one way or another and what's wrong with that?  I cannot for the life of me understand why Spike Lee would go so far as to try to tear down what someone else is creating instead of trying to build them up.  Why create division in such a small community like that of sucessful black figures in Hollywood?  Don't get me wrong, when it comes to Tyler Perry's network shows, you probably won't catch me rushing home to catch it on TV, neither am I devoted follower of Quentin Tarantino's work, but I can appreciate what they are doing nonetheless.

  With so much going on within the black community, why get all riled up about a movie?!  There are so many more important issues that deserve attention.  Understanding and encouragement go much further than sour feelings and angry words.  With all of that being said, I hope that when I see the movie, my feelings aren't contradicted.....

:O

I have branched out again....say whaaaat!! Big moves people, big moves!  I have many hurdles to overcome, but I intend to overcome each and every one of them in due time....in due time...for now though, if you're not following me in the Twittersphere then how about joining me in the Bookfacingsphere!! I now have a page dedicated to my blog on FB...woo woo!! Are you as excited as I am?  Good!  We can be excited together! Hurry up and come join the conversation!!

Just click on the image below!!! Talk with you soon! ^.^

Tis the SEASON!

  While perusing the interwebs, I found an interesting link to a website that claimed to give to others by simply having its visitors "click".  As a functioning member of society, I am all too familiar with the ridiculous ways people try to scam others, whether it be by creating traffic to their website for ulterior motives or trying to send you a virus by clicking on the links.  It's pretty depressing to even sit and think about the possible reasons for why someone feels the need to get over on other people, but we all know that everybody has their own silly, unnecessary excuses that only make sense to them.  I was so excited that my research actually found websites that were true to form!  Being a philanthropist who will be embarking on a new en-devour myself soon, I could think of no better way to use this information, than to share it with as many people as possible!  The websites also include other fantabulous ways that you can help the causes.  As I share these links with you as well as click the links daily (saved to my favorites ^.^), I ask that you all do the same, such a small gesture that can do so much for other people.  So let's all get to clickin'!

P.S.

Above the click buttons is a toolbar with different causes that you can Click-to-help. ^.^

To Help with Breast Cancer

To Help with Animals

To Help with Hunger

A Most Merryful Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you, I pray you all get what you need!  This year has been a rough year for a lot of us, for some people it's been as rough a year as every year before then.  Here is a little poem to remind us that not everyone is looking forward to new cellphones, computers, cars, or other expensive items under the tree.  For some people the only thing they'd like to have is a new job, home, warm clothes, or someone to love them.  Enjoy your day everyone! ^.^

Mama's Christmas Miracle

© Kathy J Parenteau

Mama told me a story a long long time ago not like any that I'd ever heard,
all about a little girl mama used to know, how I remember every word.
Seems like a lifetime ago, though I remember it so well,
it was a Christmas eve I'll never forget as far as I can tell.
We were sitting at the kitchen table, it was only my mother and me,
I was dreaming of Christmas morning and all the presents under the tree.
Dad wasn't doing that well and money was scarce that year,
Mama found a way of telling me without me shedding one tear.
She told me a story of a little girl and a Christmas long ago,
who came from far away, a place where it rarely snowed.
Santa was just a dream to her, but she believed so much inside,
that Christmas was going to be special, so she knelt by her bed and she cried.
"Lord let Santa remember me if not just this one time, I promise I won't ask for much, maybe a dolly I can call all mine." 
She closed her prayer and thanked the Lord for all that she received,
she knew that Santa would really come if only she believed.
She wrote a letter to Santa unfamiliar to most girls and boys,
Though her list was long and full, on it there were no toys.
Only things we take for granted, like new shoes or underpants,
hair bows for her sisters and gloves to warm her brother's hands. 
At the bottom of her list she asked if it not be to much, for a brand new baby doll she could hold and love and touch.
Then Christmas morning came and she looked beneath her tree,
Not a present to be found as far as she could see.
She didn't give up hope as she heard a knocking sound,
When she opened up her door a great big box she found.
She called out to her mother and dad, brothers and sisters too,
She said "my prayers were answered, there's something in here for all of you."
Her daddy got brand new boots, her mother new underpants, her sisters got beautiful hair bows, her brothers warm gloves for their hands. 
Buried deep beneath the box was a brand new baby doll and a note that said Merry Christmas I love you one and all.
I'll never forget that story because much to my surprise, 
I saw the true meaning of Christmas shining in my mother's eyes.
For those of you who are wondering, as if you didn't know,
The little girl in Mama's story was my mother long ago.

Source: Mama's Christmas Miracle, Christmas Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/mamas-christmas-miracle#ixzz2G44fZbqa 
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com 

Maybe it is ME...and NOT you?! (the horror)

  Yesterday as I was driving my daughter and I to her Godfathers' house to pick up, yet more Christmas gifts, (I swear my kids could have their own FB fan pages), I had decided to make a conscience decision to not be such a road-ragey person.  I drove down the street, listening to the Green Bay game, I watched the cars zoom by me as I stayed complacent behind the slower cars, because I would be turning anyway.  Everything seemed to be going fine, until we began our trip home.  Going down a 2 lane street...super slow...feeling as nauseous as possible and I was okay with that, especially since Green Bay was wampin the Tennessee Titans into oblivion.  I was feeling good, for the most part, then came the doofus who actually started to go at a green light....then stopped...for a pedestrian who thought he owned the sidewalk and was going to defy all the huge cars going down the road.
 
  The pedestrian finally looked up, before walking into the street... YET the dinkus in front of me, was not going... Unfortunately my good nature had worn out it's welcome.  I honked at Albert Einstein to go, but he turned out to be one of those people who feels that someone honking at them is a challenge, I mean how dare someone feel the need to alert them that they are being a complete jackass and holding up traffic!  So in return for my wakeup call, Mr. Einstein started to go, then thought better of it, and stopped.....because stopping is the ultimate revenge.  Well, in my newfound state of driving unfrazzedly, I checked my mirrors to ensure that no one was around me to get hit, and promptly went around him, of course cursing him out the entire time.  Once I got in front of Einstein, I of course slowed down as much as I could stand until we got to the turn.

  Now I know that if I had truly evolved into a new patient person, I would have just waited, had the light turn red, sit through the red light, and continue on with my journey.  But I am not discouraged, I know that I can eventually be a much more patient driver if I just continually work at it.  I have to wonder though...wouldn't it just be easier if people weren't so ridiculous and dumb when it comes to driving?  I have from time to time pondered that it could be me, having rage issues....but then again, that would mean it was me....yea right!

We did it!!

Officially at 1000 views!  Thank you all so much!  This is more exciting to me than you'll know!  Awesome!  Here's to 1000 more!!!   ^.^

Classic....

This! This is one of my all-time favorite Eddie Murphy sketches and I just have to share!  A timeless masterpiece:


Incredible Eddie Murphy

What I took away from 2 0 1 2 (part II)

  2012 showed me that official really means official and second, third, or fourth place just doesn't cut it sometimes.  I discovered that in 2012, I am actually a tad bit interested in the olympics; to a certain degree.  2012 revealed a passion and a fire within me to speak up, to fight for what I believe is right.  Throughout the year I have watched in horror as society made idols of faux celebrities, clamored in delight at the latest "breaking news" of what so and so actor/musician/realitard showperson was up to next, praised teen pregnancy and made light of serious situations by doing these things.  The uneasiness I felt in my stomach at the discovery of these things is what fueled the passion within me, the heartbreak and disappointment is what finally made me say, enough is enough.

  I have seen that through the shallowness and inconsideration, that common decency and plain niceness are still around and appreciated.  I had to make a conscience decision to gravitate towards more positive outlets, to make more of an effort to see beauty and displaying beauty myself.  Every year is another reminder that we've made it, when so many other people were not so fortunate.  With each passing day goes another opportunity to make things better in some way. 

  2012 had it's ups and downs as does any year, some things were the worst some have ever seen and some were the greatest.  Either way, the past year contained many lessons to learn or ignore, the question is did we choose which lessons go into the right categories, wisely?

Sounds good to me

What I took away from 2 0 1 2 (part I)

  Here it is...that time of year again.  Christmas decorations everywhere and knowing that a new year is upon us is very much realized.  Even though the years always seem to fly by right before they end, in actuallity the year has been rather long.  There have been ups, big ups, and downs, big downs.  Every day is a new day to realize something new about yourself, the ones you love, things you didn't know, and things that you thought you knew.  Some lessons have been realized, learned and put into play.  Some lessons have been realized and ignored.  Some lessons have been realized and are just taking a little longer to be put into action. 

  This year marks my 15+ years enduring very frequent migraines.  While I've suffered from them for many years, I have not always been in a position to do something about them.  Dealing with these migraines has taught me that the road to recovery is not easy.  The journey will be tough, long, and painful, but the only thing I can do is keep going, keep trying to find a solution and help others along the way.  This past year showed me that America has turned into a very shallow and empty place.   In a society where ass is more appreciated than class, where ignorance and hate outweigh common sense and compassion, the realization is that the American Dream is no longer to educate yourself and become successful through hard work and dedication, but to get rich as fast as possible and hopefully do it by stepping on as many people as you can preferably with an audience.

  Little girls don't want to be the first woman president, they want to be the first woman in front of the camera for the next hottest video/reality show/fight video.  Little boys no longer want to be  educated doctors, they want to be the next rap star/multi-million dollar athlete/thug.  2012 has shown me that it's the "In" thing to try to emulate the woman on the cover of the grocery store magazine, even if it will cause debt, as long as it means keeping up with the Jones'/celebrities/faux celebrities.  2012 has shown me that racism is very much alive, real, and with the help of social media...very in everyone's face.  When an unarmed teenager is killed for no reason other than being in the wrong place in the wrong time, compassion, justice, and accountability take a backseat to racial profiling, assumptions, and a division amongst the people.  I have seen how an election can stir up so many intense emotions and how so many people can have so many different viewpoints regarding the same topics.

  2012 showed me that I am getting older and as a result people around me are getting older, which means more and more people I know will be leaving this earth.  2012 showed me how those far away from me will never be far from my heart.  I lost women I've known my entire life, both personally and mentally.  I lost a Godmother, an auntie, and an idol, and they hurt me to the core.  Losing my family was very hard for me and not something that I could ever get used to.  2012 showed that even during the holidays, the world is still revolving and people are still going to attempt drastic measures to deal with their issues and when that happens innocent people are affected.  2012 showed me that gun laws need to be tightened as well as mental health being addressed.

  2012 showed me that with all the bad, there is still a lot of good.  With all the social media that has the ability to create hostile environments, there are social media outlets that do more good than bad.  Pinterest became a very addicting outlet for me.  I like the idea of strangers sharing and helping one another without ever having to know anything about the person they're helping.  When a bus driver is harrassed for no good reason, a community can come together in her defense.


Part I...hey it was a long year!

Say Whaaa!!!! ^.^

The year is almost over and I am overwhelmed and overjoyed to say that I have almost reached 1000 views!!!!  I am so excited!  Thank all of you so much, faithful everyday readers, every once in awhile readers, and first time/one time only readers!  Being able to reach out to so many different people gives me confidence for future projects that I will be taking on.  Please don't hesitate to share my blog with family, friends, and strangers ;)!  Thank you all so much again for being on this journey with me, this is just the beginning!  ^.^  Here's to the next milestone, 1500!!

 

part II

  I just have so many questions and thoughts in my head about this.  Everything about this is so.... just unbelievable   Here we are 2 days later and my mind is still centered on this.  All I can think about what has happened.  When I leave my house and I see us all going about our days.. I think about those poor families and how long is it going to take for them to have a "normal" day again.  I think about my co-worker who's nieces went to that school and only 1 made it out alive.  I think about the sister who survived and will have to think about this for the rest of her life.  I think about how his niece and my daughter have the exact same birthday and how I will never forget her and will remember her memory every year by lighting a candle on their birthday and saying a prayer.  I keep looking at my children, knowing that I have never taken theirs or anyone's presence in my life for granted, but for some reason feel a little guilty for being able to still have them, when so many throughout the country no longer do.  This tragedy has brought upon a depression like I have never known.  I don't quite think depression is even the word....just....saddened, immensely saddened. It frightens me that I keep having the need to talk to my kids about what to do in emergency situations, such as the bad man who hurt so many people.  It's like a ticking time bomb just existing, as if I'm just waiting for something else to happen.  When will this end? At least I have blogging to get my feelings out, I hope that others are also utilizing other outlets to get their feelings out, no matter what feelings they are.  Everyone needs at least one person they can talk to at anytime for anything, I like to think that I am that person for many, even though I know I am that person for all.  Always reach out and talk it out, even when you think there isn't anybody who cares, you might be surprised at who does.  I can always be reached on my twitter, facebook, and here.  If I can't do anything else, I can always provide an ear to listen.

  December 14, 2012...one of the most tragic days most people will ever have the displeasure to remember. 20 children...dead, at the hands of someone with serious mental issues.  This is a situation that affects everyone, not just the children that attend the school and their families, not just that community, city, or state, but all of us.  Everyone that has a child, a niece or nephew, brother or sister, friends, or simply a heart.  This was an event that could not have been foreseen by anyone at that school, except for those who were close to the assailant.  This unfortunate incident will leave parents and people doing some serious soul searching and putting things into perspective.  Some people think that homeschooling is the answer, personally I don't agree with that.  Shielding our children from the world will not help them, hiding them from the world is not a good reason for homeschooling.  The world will keep spinning and evolving, sheltering them will probably do more harm than good.  Some people are up in arms about gun control.... My stance on that is people will find a way to get what they want, especially if they are sick in the head and determined.  Laws are not brick walls and anyone can get around them if they are that headstrong about it.  That's not my topic of choice, being that I am not up on the latest gun laws, just my opinion.

  We have to start telling our children about things of this caliber at younger and younger ages.  I had to tell my 6 year old daughter about this incident and I could tell by her face that she was reacting to my demeanor more than my words.  She understood what I said, but not the degree of it.  When I asked her if she had any questions, she had a doozy:  Why did the man kill those 20 kids?  I had to dig deep and really think about this in a way that she would understand.  I explained to her that the man was dealing with certain issues and did not know how to express himself in a healthy way.  I explained to her that the best way to deal with our issues and situations is to talk about them and to make sure that it does not affect those around us negatively.  I did the best I could to try to explain the situation as best I could while applying it to real life.  This is not the parental ups and downs that most parents expect to encounter.  The hardest part about this is knowing that this could happen at anytime, to anyone we love.....

UGH!

  I have been attempting to be a better person in every aspect of my life.  This includes attempting not to talk as much $#!t as I normally do about random people (kinda), making sure to lift up others every single day as much as possible, doing more for random people I don't know, things like that, but today I was truly tested.  I don't understand what seems to be women's natural instinct to be catty and on the edge.  Someone I see just about everyday, made it clear, quite a few times today, that because I was dressed a certain way this meant that I was competing with her somehow?!  I am still struggling to understand why if you see someone else, especially someone who is supposed to be your friend, dressed in a way that you feel makes you look bad I'm guessing; you're reaction is to challenge that person.  Why is it a challenge?  Why is this a showdown suddenly?  Why is it that I can give you a compliment just about every time I see you, yet you feel the need to take the opposite route with me?  Why? Why? Why?  This has been going through my brain all day, I wonder if maybe she was just having a bad day, if she wasn't feeling good, or perhaps even going through something crazy in her personal life; leaving her distracted and out of sorts.

  My first reaction was anger and then more anger because her attitude kept up all day.  I even got so upset about it at one point that I had decided to just leave her be and leave whatever relationship we had, in the past.  I have gotten over this irrational thinking and decided that is not the path I want to take, that is a path I reserve for people that I don't know.  Normally when someone above the rank of "acquaintance" does something stupid, annoying, or aggravating, I call them on it.  But the thing about being an upfront person is knowing WHEN to be upfront.  Knowing that she was out of character today, I will leave our come to Jesus meeting for tomorrow when both of our emotions are a bit more stable.  I look forward to having this discussion with her, because I plan on giving her the rundown of her actions today.  Luckily she is a very receptive person and I know that she will take what I am saying as just me talking to her and not me trying to talk down to her.

  We've all had interactions with people like this at one point in our past... isn't it annoying when you know someone is acting out of character and they need a reality slap?  Luckily she has a good friend like me to bring reality right back to her ;)  Tomorrow's a new day!

Beautiful! ♥

I just think this picture exemplifies beauty, I do not know these men personally, but a piece of me wishes I did! :)  2 people being able to finally make their love legal is a heartwarming thing that I just had to share. ^.^ Go Washington!

Too Cool!

 "True story. An anthropologist proposed a game to these African children. He put a basket of fruit by a tree & said whoever got it 1st won it all. They all held hands & ran together. Everybody won! Baffled, he asked how they did that. ‘UBUNTU,' how can 1 of us be happy if all others are sad?’ (‘UBUNTU’ in Xhosa culture means: ‘I am because we are.')"

  Whether this is true or not, this is truly a super cool story!  It's super cool because it just makes sense, it just makes sense because it's so simple.  Even I can admit that I would probably just run to be the fastest, to WIN!  That is our society's theme, most of the population is bred to think to win, win, win.  Be the best, that's how you succeed and get ahead in life.  If we were to all think like these children, then just think of how much could be accomplished.......

Story/photo credit: CODEBLACKENTERTAINMENT

I know you are but what am I....

  Being a self aware person, is not always a good thing.  Even though this means that I crack myself up daily, I do tend to get on my own nerves as well, and that's never a good realization.  Yesterday as I was washing dishes, I was urging my daughter to clean her room.... it was a lot of urging, I kept reminding her to clean her room every few minutes or so, and it got to the point where I actually told her:  I'm not going to tell you again to clean your room, because I sick of hearing my own voice at this point, so just have it clean and I'll be in there soon.  At the time, it wasn't even like funny annoying, I was honestly sick of hearing my own voice over and over, yelling through my house.  There have been many times throughout my life when I realized that something I was doing or actions that I seemed accustomed to taking were not cute or appealing.  I have to say, realizing that you are being a bitch, idiot, moron, jackass, whiny or whatever the case may be is never fun.  Realization has never been the hard part for me, the hardest part for me has always been making the change.  I'm 31 years old and I'm still trying to be "who I want to be when I grow up".

  I have a constant conflict of attempting to be the woman I want to be and who I actually am, it is as if these two parts of me are in a perpetual tog of war, battling it out in the ultimate showdown.  I have an attitude, an attitude that can be pretty brutal and cold hearted at times, but that is a part of me that I love and hate.  I love the fact that I will not be pushed around or let others be pushed around, but at the same time, I wish that it didn't have to be the part that people focused on the most.  Do you ever feel like people only concentrate on the part of your personality that doesn't put you in the best light?  I've always kinda sorta wanted to have the super power to be able to read people's minds, to know what people were really thinking about me, because 99% of the time, we truly do not know.  I've had a recent epiphany where I discovered that people do not see me the way I thought that they did.  People are much more close-minded than I gave them credit for.  I see now that people cannot wrap their brains around someone being motivated, skilled, knowledgeable, intelligent, and hard-working, while at the same time being silly, loud, opinionated, fun, and sarcastic.  It apparently must be one or the other.

  I suppose as an adult, I should have grasped this concept a long time ago, but I guess my "child-like mind" just thought that other people were as open minded as I was when it came to things like that.  I'm not sure how I could be so naive about this one thing, maybe I was just being close minded myself, in a way.

Take Care of Home FIRST

  There is saying, take care of your own home before stepping into someone else's and telling them how to take care of theirs... (or something like that).  I have always enjoyed this particular saying, mainly because it makes sense, a lot of sense.  I think about this saying when I hear about actors and actresses adopting children from foreign countries.  With all the suffering children right here in America, why would anyone go anywhere else to find a child?  Don't get me wrong, I also feel bad about what is going on in other places, because it is very bad, but look what is happening right here, if you want to help, help the people closest to you.  The way I see it is, the more local people you help and influence, then you are able to create a more stable environment to bring others into.  I don't think I could see so many children in need right in front of me and bypass them to help somebody miles away.  But that's just me, what do I know?  This saying applies to many situations though... I just like it cuz it makes sense...to me. 

You call it talking.... I call it being hammered at...

  Have you ever been in a discussion with someone and it begins to get heated?  We all know what happens when one person gets upset during a discussion, even if both people get upset.... It becomes a "listen to me now" shouting match.  The most irritating thing when talking to someone is knowing that they are not actually listening, but only waiting for their turn to talk.  If you're not trying to hear my point, then why are we even having this so-called discussion?  Communication is so important in every single relationship that is formed.  Being a good talker is just as important as being a good listener and vice versa.  Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to get our point across that we never stop and take the time to just listen.  Listening and hearing someone can get you very far, validating someone else's point of view might just help them realize that they also need to listen to yours. 

  It's very frustrating to be having a conversation with someone, have it turn into a debate and then realize (through listening) that you both are talking about 2 different things.  I have seen people go on and on, back and forth, all the while not even realizing they have both drifted off into 2 different directions.  One of my pet peeves is being cut off while I'm talking, and if you know me, then you know this, lol.  If I am in the middle of talking, talking over me is just about the rudeness thing you can do to me, you might as well spit in my face and tell me I'm nothing.  It's so easy to get upset and riled up about the smallest things, and I am definitely guilty of doing this, but we just have to realize that we have to check ourselves before we can decide to check someone else.  Look at yourself and see what am I doing to help this conversation be more productive, maybe I should just stop talking and take a breath and calm down.  When two people are screaming at each other, nothing is being accomplished, just drama being created. 

Just..... wow

  Can somebody please explain to me the lingo that is being used by today's "hot artists"?  Terms like "goodie" and "bruh bruh"...... WTH?  Why hasn't anybody told these people that these words and phrases are just stupid.  "Bruh Bruh" is not a cute term, especially by a grown man.  It sounds like something a toddler would say.  To make it worse, people just latch onto these phrases because they hear them in a song, as if that makes these sayings golden.  Just stop it!  It's amazing that rappers, singers, and actors have been given such control over society.  Why are we allowing these people, some of which are pseudo-celebrities, set the standards of what is acceptable in everyday life?  Hundreds of TV shows, magazines, specials, and internet crap, devoted to what these people are doing.... why?  Why is this so important suddenly? 

  Why is everyone's main objective to have the same purse as the chick on that magazine cover?  Why does that little boy want to wear those shoes just because a Basketball player wears them or has their name on them?  I just find it hard to understand the fascination behind knowing every movement of so and so, just because they're on TV or a movie or on the radio.  The entertainment industry is no longer for entertainment, for a lot of people, it is a lifestyle to be emulated.  Long gone are the days of children aspiring to be doctors, lawyers, and even the president; kids want to be the next big rapper or reality show knockoff.  This is a sad, sad day for everyone.  This should be alarming to everybody with a pulse!  Next year I will be embarking on a way to hopefully stop this trend and I hope you all will join me.... It's time for intelligence and compassion to win over fading trends and fakery.  (yes fakery...I don't know if that is a real word...but it should be!) :)

Another Discovery!

Fb is a playground for new and disturbing information.  Today I stumbled upon a page called American White History Month.....  This page amazes me because, first of all when I was growing up and going through school, I would say 90 percent of the lessons given where about what white people have done throughout history.  This is not a problem for me, it is what it is, no big deal.  What I'm stunned at is the comments on this page.  The people on this page, well some of them, some of the ones that I could stomach reading, put on their big person caps and angrily protest that they are not racist.... As you read their comments though...it's quickly forgotten that these people "are not racist".  One man actually uses the word negro..multiple times... Lemme clear that up for everyone in the world, right here and right now... calling black people negros is the equivalent of calling us niggers.  It's not ok, at all, and I cannot understand why anyone would think that it is.  It boggles the mind that people will say that they are not racist, until they are blue in the face, but their actions and words do not reflect that..

  Is the term so offensive, that people think that they can be racist, but to be called a racist is just too far?!  I saw something that a very well known actor had said about racism, that the way for it to go away is to stop talking about it.  I do not agree with that at all, when has ignoring something ever made anything better?  Racism is already not very talked about and has it gone away?  One of these days I would love to just sit and have a nice long discussion about so many different things going on with people from every race, gender, sexual preference, I would really love that, before I am able to do that, please take a look at an article where I read a very thought provoking essay about a white woman who had a very unique stance on racism, something I have never, in my life, heard articulated as thought provokingly as this woman did.  It's a bit lengthy, but very intelligent and amazing to see someone so self aware:

http://www.pcc.edu/resources/illumination/documents/white-privilege-essay-mcintosh.pdf

When does the innocence and sweetness stop?

  Ahhhhhh, children.  They are so sweet, simple, and honest.  They are this way because they don't know different and it should stay that way as long as possible!  I was reminded of the innocence of children over the weekend at the mall.  Even though I have my own children and witness their innocence everyday, it's somehow different when it is a random child.  While going from store to store, and location to location for my mother, we were on the escalators at Sears, my mom was in front, my daughter next, and me pulling up the rear on my phone.  Suddenly I heard a little voice say something, I thought the little voice was talking to my mom or at least my daughter, so when I looked up and saw the little girl behind the little voice staring at me, I responded ever so eloquently: huh?  The little girl with the little voice, still staring at me, repeated herself and said: You're pretty.  A simple statement that was anything but simple to me.  I looked at her, completely shocked and in disbelief, and all I could do was gush out a stuttering Thank you!  She smiled and skipped back to her place back in the TV section.

  This was one of the sweetest things to happen to me in a long time that didn't involve my fiancee, kids, family, or friends.  It makes my heart smile big just thinking about the innocence a child possesses to just say whatever they are feeling, never thinking about the consequences.  Even though this isn't always the best thing, honesty is always an incredible and admirable character trait to possess.  I thought it was just too precious that this little girl took a moment out of her people watching time to pass on a compliment.  If everybody could take a minute out of their day to pass on a compliment to a stranger, just think about how many people could be uplifted daily!  I will never forget that little girl, she will never know how sweet that was or how much it meant to me, and that just makes it even more memorable!

Inspiration....available in all sizes, shapes, colors, you name it!

I absolutely adore any feel good video, song, poem, quote...anything that gives hope, and promotes positiveness!  I love to see anyone rise above adversity and refuse to let life take it's toll on them.  Inspiration can come from anywhere and most people need it when they don't even realize it.  I could listen to people's stories all day, good and bad, but hearing the good is always a beautiful thing, hearing the good after knowing about the bad is even more heart warming.  :)   This video was so amazing, that I shed a tear, well a few tears, no surprise there, lol.  We all have seen a saying somewhere at some time telling us not get bogged down, not to be discouraged.....but how many of us let those messages actually sink in so that we can give ourselves a break sometimes?  Sometimes the best way to get inspired, is to first allow yourself to be inspired, realize that stopping and taking a breath every now and then allows our brains to settle and be more open to new ideas and thoughts.  Take a moment for yourself today, tonight, this morning, whenever and just breathe... and start over.

No really? You're serious?

I am almost at a loss for words about the discovery I have stumbled upon today.  From the fb page of Marquis De Suave, came the eye opener of all time about some men in this world.  Apparently there are men who think they are being discriminated against because they are men.... yes because they are men.  When I say I looked through these fb pages' posts with my mouth wide opened in shock, I am not exaggerating!  There were so many mind blowing topics and discussions that I'm finding it hard to list them, my mind was that blown, and still is. 

  The men on these pages are seriously under the impression that they are being mistreated in society, most of them white men.  This revelation has me completely perplexed.  I never knew that men had it so tough in life.  Here I am in the dark, while all this neglect has been happening, from the discrimination in the workplace to the constant berating from the media.   I mean, I never realized how rare it was to see a man in a position of power at a company, nor did I pay any attention to the constant missed job opportunities my male friends were passed over for to give to a woman who was less qualified.  How could I not take seriously the general lack of respect for men in general, I mean you see it everywhere; on the streets, in the media, and even in politics.

  One commentator even pointed out how chivalry was making male discrimination worse!  How could I have possibly missed that?  I mean it makes perfect sense, whenever men show respect towards women it totally leaves the door open for discrimination.  I hope you all have learned as much as I did today, and know that together, we can stop this madness!  I mean what is the world coming to when a man feels threatened by women standing up for themselves.... could be the end of civilization as we know it.............

Snapped....I'd say so...

  So I'm at home resting after a visit from my lovely mother, and I'm watching the show, Snapped, on Oxygen.  You know the one where a woman has clearly lost her mind and decided to kill a man in her life.  This show amazes me!  I cannot wrap my mind around the thought of people resorting to murder to solve their issues.  They all start off the same, testimonials from people close to the women saying how great the women were and the fact that they killed someone is shocking!  A lot of these situations are not really "snapped" situations, I don't think.  These stories are about women who end up in various situations, unhappy marriages, cheating spouse, the woman cheating, girls upset at their dad, greed, etc.  The women cheat and then decide they no longer want to be with their spouse, so of course the natural step would be murder.  Women decide that the lifestyle they have grown accustomed to would be so much more endearing without the person who helped make it all happen, so of course, murder must ensue.  Dad disagrees with new boyfriend, so he must die as well.  I suppose this is why forensic psychology is so intriguing to me, I am just super interested in the minds of people and their actions.  I want to know why murder is a logical step in some people's minds, while divorce, breaking up, moving out, or moving on is logical to others.

  It sometimes makes me very nervous to think about how unpredictable people are, even people you have never met in your life, could possibly hold your fate in their hands...scary.

They are human beings, DUH!

  I absolutely love drag queens, going to a drag show on the weekend is definitely my definition of a great time.  I just enjoy the celebration of what they represent, they do what is true to them, and I can always get on board with that.  I record RuPaul's Drag Race every Monday night and watch it in the morning before I go to work, and most of the time, my daughter comes into my room, as I take her to daycare before I go to work.  Someone asked me how could I let my daughter watch that show, and that they thought it was not suitable for children to watch.  I was taken back by this statement, because I honestly did not know or understand what that meant.  This is not a show where they are having sexual relations with one another, there's just nothing outlandish about this show besides the yelling back and forth and sometimes cattiness, and then it hit me that they were talking about men dressing up as women.  How is that inappropriate for children, these men are just being who they are, why would my daughter not be able to watch this?  This is the real world, am I going to shield my daughter from everything that could be possibly taboo?  That is just silly, my daughter loves this show just as much as I do, because they're doing crazy hair, makeup, and just having fun, am I going to tell my daughter she can't watch this?  Am I going to place a stigma on something that doesn't need a stigma?  My daughter is like her mother, open-minded and open-hearted and I wouldn't wanna change that for anything in the world.  I don't let her listen to rap music or watch sexually oriented teen shows or violence, because those are the things we should be careful when exposing our children to it, not people being people.

Classic without Class is just... embarrassing...

  I respect everyone and every culture for their differences, as well as find a lot of them interesting and admirable.  What I witnessed today was....nothing short of grossly ridiculous.  Every year around Thanksgiving there is an event that happens in Orlando that I think is called the Florida Classic.  I'm not the most knowledgeable about this event, I think there is a football game?  There is definitely a car show and herein lies my issue.  The car show itself is impressive to a point I suppose.  It is not something that I can personally validate, spending so much money to make one's car be a rolling Hello Kitty advert or look like a box of Nerds candy?  To each his own, though right?  It is what it is, I have no problem encouraging the celebration of  something that many people enjoy while it brings them together.  What I do have a problem with is grown adults acting like complete fools in the middle of a heavily trafficked street.  My mother kinda made me feel as though I am thinking too deeply about this, maybe I am being a little too cynical she thinks....  I don't know, I feel that I am just sick of the trifling, sad, and sorry things my eyes happen to come upon a daily basis.  I'm tired of so many people not living up to even half of their potential.  I get angry and embarrassed because I know these people can do better and should want to do better, yes especially black people.  We have come so far as a people and at the same time, not far at all.

  Things such as the display I witnessed earlier, sitting in traffic for over thirty minutes while people are acting just plain ignorant is too much for me to bear when I think about it.  This, along with so many other things are a problem, a serious problem.  Yet I see a traveling picture on Facebook of a beautiful black baby with a pacifier that looks like a gold grill, and THIS is what gets black people upset.  Lol, it is maddening that with so much going on in this world, within the black community alone, that a pacifier is what people choose to focus on, because THAT is a huge issue.....a frickin p a c i f i e r.... But I am not one to bitch and moan without attempting to help, one of my favorite sayings is: If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem; because it's so true!  My frustration can only be justified as long as I am willing to do my part in making things better.  So excited to get this organization off the ground and running, because it is so overdue.

Well.... :/

So as we all know from a previous post, I love music and all kinds and for different reasons.  Some music has lyrics that really touch my heart and others just have a really beat.  Although I do listen to some rap, it's definitely not my favorite.  Rap just boggles my mind because most of it is just foolishness with some sprinkled with a few deep thoughts.  The worst part about rap is the portrayal of women negatively and the glorification of certain things that should never be glorified by anyone.

  With regards to the dehumanizing of women, I personally cannot put blame solely on the rappers.  We also have to accept part of the blame as consumers and listeners.  We also have to put some of the blame on the women who help these messages become real by being in the videos and pandering to the rappers.  At the end of the day, rappers, actors, and anyone in the public eye will do whatever they need to do in order to see dollar signs.  It is up to us as a society to ensure that their negativity remain a show and we understand that as well as pass on that understanding to our children. 

  It's all a show and nobody should ever take them seriously.  It's entertainment and will most likely never change, so we have to change our thinking.  Instead of getting upset at the ridiculousness of the media, just simply take it with a grain of salt and realize it's not that serious, look at the people themselves who are in the midst of it. We can't take them seriously, it doesn't even seem as though they take themselves seriously or with an ounce of respect.  It's a big circus and the clowns will do anything for attention.

*this post was brought to you by a very intelligent friend of a friend, thanks Jillian!   ;) *  I am always open to new post suggestions.  :-D

Common Sense, Oh Common Sense....Wherefore Art Thou?

This will be a common post, a collection of funny (to me) stories,  scenarios, and situations about the lack of common sense and how they sit in my mind.  All of these stories are true, the names of the people involved have been omitted out of respect...but you know who you are!
Act I:
Calling into a customer service line for a phone company... the automated voice asks if the number you're calling from is the number associated with your account, you say yes. The automated voice then asks you to punch in the number associated with your account, so you punch it in.  Then the rep who finally gets on the line asks you for your damn phone number associated with your account!  Why do I have to tell yall three different times, if not more?  Common sense people, get it together!

 

EBT paid for that?!

  We've all heard at least one person say: I hate to go shopping with the little money that I have and see someone else, decked out in designer clothes with an iPhone paying with their government benefit card.  This statement is laughable ridiculous to me, so much so that even writing it makes me chuckle.  I know good and well that there are of course people out there who will abuse the system, any system, in some way.  That is what people do, they try to get ahead as much as possible without having to work for it.  Let me clear up one version of the aforementioned statement.... government benefits do not pay for BMWs, Gucci, or nice houses... Yes I have heard this claim.  Let me also clear up something else, there is this thing called a knockoff, they are sold EVERYWHERE!  You can get a Cucci watch for like twenty bucks.  So before you feel cheated by the lazy, no good, welfare abusers; consider this:  Not everything that glitters is gold, and what you think you see, may in fact not be what you think you see at all.  That woman in line paying with an assistance card, while holding her Versace purse and Evo LTE, may be picking up groceries for someone else, that woman you saw get out of her Cadillac, with her hair and nails done, sporting a lovely looking designer bag...might have borrowed the car from someone else to get to the store, be in beauty school, and got a knockoff Versale.

  Assuming anything about anyone you just happen by for a couple of minutes, tells no one ANYTHING!  Never assume, because we all know what that does.... it makes an ASS out of U and ME ;)

Cellphones...

I will be the first to admit I have to constantly keep my phone charging because I am constantly on it.   Not actually talking to people, but texting, blogging, researching online, fb and other things.  But one thing I try not to do is text and drive.  Another thing I do not do is talk on the phone therefore rendering me incapable of doing the speed limit!  I do not understand how anyone can get so involved in a conversation that they are no longer able to properly use their legs.  For the life of me I can't wrap my mind around it. 

  There is an ongoing epidemic that when someone has a phone to their ear, they are transported to another place where they are sitting still or to another universe where everything disappears but them and the phone.  Why though?!  We don't use our ears  to accelerate, we use different parts of our body to drive, only need one hand, foot, and eyes.  What kinda gamma rays or whatever, are being emitted from cellphones to cause a breakdown in the rest of people's bodies?

  Lol, maybe it is just me, but if you are not able to get to point A to point B without your phone paralyzing you, then perhaps it can wait. As if it's not bad enough that we drive crazy without distractions, don't add to it, I beg of you!  Pull over or just put it off until you reach your destination.

  Thank you from the drivers who have places to get to.

Struggle..

I am a firecracker, I get the ball rolling.  I am highly motivated and organized and love starting a project.  The worst thing about starting a project can be one of many things, like time, money, research, getting people on board blah blah blah.  I refuse to give up until I'm on the ground, knocked out, and bloody and someone's wrapping me up in a blanket telling me it's over and it's time to bounce back, and even then it's hard.  I'm facing a huge hurdle right now with a current, not so current project that due to the holidays I cannot really get started and it is driving me bonkers!  I have started the research and it starts to make me weary to think of all the obstacles I will be facing. 

  But I know that through perseverance and faith my want to help others will get this accomplished, even though it's going to take quite some time.  Making a schedule and communicating with my partners in this should help this move along with everyone giving their all.

  Isn't it frustrating as hell though to see others doing what you're ready to do?  Sometimes that can be a deterrent, because we start to assume that they had help, they were given money, or even that they are just better.   The key to that obstacle I think is turning it into a motivational point, seeing their strides and hearing their stories is sometimes the kick in the butt we need.

That's how we doin it?

  So I was in the drive- thru at Taco Bell, a location that provides excellent customer service, and that Lil Wayne song called No Worries is playing, in this song; Lil Wayne says something about some chick bein bad as a hooker....  Lemme get this straight, at one time it was bad was strong and independent was bad, then video chick, then stripper chick and now we have devolved to hooker.

  I mean seriously rappers?  Is this how it's going down in celebrity USA?  All I can do is laugh my ass off and shake my head.

Yayyyyy!

I'm Soooooo excited and humbled, it may not be a lot to other people but I am extremely grateful for 500 views!  Thank you so much to each and every one of you, from the first time readers to the dedicated followers, thank you so much for your time and attention!  Know that it is never overlooked or unnoticed.  I can't stop smiling about this.  Thank you all again and here's to 500 more!  :-D

Infuriating

Social networking has become a mixed blessing...  I enjoy the fact that I can keep in touch with my friends who are so far away yet so dear to my heart, but I also see that ignorance and hate, much like misery, loves company.   Perhaps that is because people who are so hateful are truly miserable.. who knows?  I am a curious character, I like to know what's going on with other parts of the world, how other people are thinking, I often find myself wondering what random people I see do in their day to day lives.  Some call it nosey, I call it curious. :D   Evey now and then a FB friend will "like" something on a page and sometimes I'll mosey on over to see what that page is about.

  Today I happened upon a page for that reason and found some of the most delusional people..  E.V.E.R!  It's always disheartening to come across any group of people banded together in the name of hate, even more so when it's hate towards someone who holds the highest office in our country.  Granted everyone has their own opinions and are certainly entitled to feel however they want, but when the opinions are based on racist hate and intolerance I can't get on board with it.  I'm not going to get all political, but the fact of the matter is no matter who is President, even if you don't like them, you should damn well respect them.  9 out of 10 people will say they want to be respected, but at least 4 of those people don't understand that you have to be respectful in order for it to be reciprocated.  
  I feel sorry for the children growing up in these households where they are being spoon fed hate and ignorance.... if anyone ever thought that these types of things were getting better, please don't be so naïve.  I totally disagree that not talking about racism will make it go away, sorry Mr Freeman but that method has not been working.  And to further make that page more ridiculous is it had common sense in the name!  Pf.

Hearsay...

It's amazing how a rumor or accusation can turn into so much more.. Right now there is a story about the puppeteer for Elmo, a story that states that he had a sexual relationship with a sixteen year old boy, 7 years ago. I believe it is the nature of our society to want to see people embarrassed, to want to see people fall. People's first instinct is to turn this story of an unfortunate yet unproven circumstance into that of a witch hunt.
  This man has been gay and proud for who knows how long, but now that someone has accused him of something horrible, he is the bad guy, despite his achievements.  Logic does not come into play normally with stories like this and it's maddening!
  It drives me crazy that people would rather believe the worst in people before they choose to fathom the best in them, even though everyone wants others to do that for them.  People would rather believe that a dog with blood and flesh dripping from it's mouth is innocent before believing fact and logic about a human being. How sad for us.

 

ummm...CRAZY-AZY!

Man!  Getting all the information to start this Non-Profit Organization is exhausting!! But if you know me, then you know I enjoy a challenge and being busy, multi-tasking is kinda my thing ;)  Soooo while I've been researching for all this, I am finally finishing Cape Fear (the remake), and I know, I know, I should have finished this movie a long time ago.... but hey I forgot!  While watching this movie, I was once again reminded of the extreme cultural difference between white people and black people.  Watching Juliette Lewis in this movie just do whatever she wants and say whatever she wants to her parents just blows my mind!  The same thing when catching up on Homeland earlier today.  For the life of me, I will never understand why white parents allow their children to speak and treat them in whatever fashion they see fit.  I watch these scenarios and on one hand I think, no way, this is so unbelievable, there is just no possible way that any parent would allow their child to act in such a way, but then I think back to when I was younger, visited the homes of my many white friends and I how I was so fortunate to awkwardly witness these situations.  This is not to say that ALL white parents allow such disobedience and disrespect or that ALL black parents do not allow such disobedience and disrespect, this is to say that from what I have witnessed and heard, it proves the theory that white parents are much more inclined to allow their children to disrespect them than black parents are.... Why is that?

Wherefore art thou....

Act III

Walking through the more expensive mall in my city, I stumble upon quite a scene.... A man standing next to the escalators, on his phone, facing away from the escalators, while he has his child on one of those leash things.  The child is basically sitting at the top of the escalators, bound to do what children do.  Where to start with all the things wrong with this picture?  I understand that for some men, dealing with children is a bit difficult, but I can only imagine how difficult it is when you obviously do not care about your child at all!  Putting your child on one of those ridiculous leashes is all but one hard yank from being child abuse, not to mention incredibly ridiculously stupid.  This reminds me of the recurring scenes in Mallrats where Jason Lee keeps going off about the "kid on the escalator."  Not only did this man pointlessly have his child attached to a leash, pf, but he wasn't even paying attention to his child.  Is that why people have these leashes?  So that they can have a false sense of security and think that as long as their child is attached to this leash, (I love that this is a leash...putting children on a leash..I laugh every time I type it, a leash... so sad), but if their child is attached to this leash, then basically their duties as the parental figure who is supposed to monitor their child, are taken care of... Leash = autopilot parent!  Common sense...please!!! If you are going to embarrass yourself and your child by treating them like a dog, the least you could do is watch them like a child..... really?

Orbitz is not enough to clean up this potty mouth...

I have made a conscience decision not to include profanity in my blog, mostly out of respect for my mother, since I was bugging her to read it.   In general though, I see nothing wrong with colorful conversation.   I think profanity is swell and a great way to express oneself.  I've always wondered why people say using profanity makes someone look less than intelligent...  I don't think that makes sense at all.  Summing up someone's entire identity from a few choice words is not fair, one might go so far as to say that is passing judgement without any real basis... i.e. discriminating, which as we all know is in itself ignorant to judge a book by its cover.  Just because I choose to drop a few F bombs here and there does not mean that what I am actually talking about has no substance or merit, I think that would mean that the person offended by my words is so short sided that they got caught up on a couple words and as a result missed the entire point I was trying to make... ADD much?

  There is always a time and place for things of course and I'm a form believer in respecting your elders... but the blanket consensus that profanity=lower intellect is just silly.  I enjoy my "creative" words and try to find as many opportunities to use them as possible, lol cuz they're just words and they're so much fun and oh so perfect sometimes.

So hard it's easy...

The hardest thing to do these days is to go out into the world and be true to who you are...

Smh...

So I was driving today and a recurring thought came to mind.  When I drive I like to let the music take control, like one of the best things in the world is to be driving alone with the windows down, music at full blast, chillin!  But when I'm driving I wonder what the people outside hear.   Does that make sense, lol?   One day I'm going to have to find the answer to the one of many questions in my mind.

Just gotta share this! <3

So I've been bugging my beautiful mother to read my blog, since I started writing it, probably working her last nerve, lol.  And today she told me that she reads all my posts and that they're interesting, they make her want to conversate with me.  That is the biggest and best compliment I could have gotten, even if she didn't necessarily mean it to be a compliment, that's how I took it.  I honestly have the best mother, E V  E R!   For so many different reasons.  <3 so blessed <3