I need to exercise, butt….

I need to exercise. I have been telling myself this for years. It’s hard. It’s hard to get motivated. It is hard to make the time to do it. My God, it is hard to commit to it and make it a regular part of life. But it is time. I have always been a thin person. Growing up, I was tall and lanky with legs that went on for miles. Everybody thought I should run track or play basketball. I was an active kid, sort of tomboyish but preferred to read instead. I was called Olive Oyl, Skinny Minnie and all those names. Once I hit high school, my backside began to grow. No one could figure out how such a skinny little girl could have such a big behind. Skinny arms, skinny legs but a nice size, round behind. And I always had a lot of energy and felt strong.

As I have gotten older, I have gotten “thicker”. I am around 137 and wear an 8 in pants.  Most of my life I stayed around 125 and wore a size 6.  But, I am getting the dimples and dents in places. You know, the dreaded cottage cheese. I feel more tired. I am slowing down. Mind you, I am still fine in clothes and still look pretty damn good naked (yes, I am modest, I know) but I could be better. I could be tighter, more tone. I could be stronger. I need to exercise, not just for vanity but for my health. I want to feel stronger. I don’t want to sit and pant after a flight of stairs. It is time. I am going to have to make the time. No if ands or butts about it:)

Happy Birthday!!

Today is the birthday of my dear friend George! Because he continues to insist he is in his late twenties or early thirties, I will not bust him out:). I met George many years ago and we have been friends now for 18 years. George is more than a friend, he is like family. He has been there to love and support me over the years through all my highs and lows. He has made his way cross country to graduations and flew to Jamaica when I got married when it really was not in his budget. George is an awesome man and a wonderful friend. He is my friend for life and truly a blessing to me.

Happy Birthday Jorge!!!! With all my Love!!

So with that, enjoy the official ghetto birthday anthem LOL!!!

Stuff I Like

I don’t care if this is really filtered Mississippi swamp water.  I like it.  I hate drinking water but I will drink this.

Back 2 School

Tomorrow is the first day of school. The end of summer and the return to “reality” for children and parents everywhere (or at least for most parts of GA). Time to get back to the routine of homework, packing lunches, shuttling kids to practices, PTA meetings etc. I will miss the leisurely pace of summer. The lighter traffic. Being able to come home and relax. Back to business. Back to school.

I Remember…

I remember when I was young summer seemed to last forever. I played from sun up to sun down. Hair braided from sitting between either grandma or momma’s legs. Sun on my face. Didn’t use sunscreen back then. Drank from the water hose. Made lemonade from trees in a neighbor’s yard. Tried to sell it once or twice. It was actually pretty good, we drank it up. Chasing the ice cream truck as the music traveled through the neighborhood streets. Chili cheese Fritos, bubblegum ice cream, Big Sticks, giant pickles, Now and Laters. Little denim shorts and halter tops. Feet sweaty in jelly shoes. Watermelon juice sticky across my face, sticky from running down my arm. Tire swings and seesaws. Swimming pools and Hide and Seek.

They told me enjoy being a child. They said they were the best years. I wanted to be grown. We didn’t believe them. I now tell the same thing to my son. I am sure he doesn’t believe me either. Even if I could, I wouldn’t go back but I sure would enjoy every minute of my childhood even more. And I am thankful for the memories, sweet memories.

Vikter Duplaix

Go Greyhound (Well maybe not)

Decapitation suspect appears in court

By now you have probably heard of the tragic incident on a Greyhound bus a few days ago (see link above). This is a really sad and scary story. I send my condolences to this young man’s family.

Today random acts of violence happen in our schools, churches, malls and other public settings. What is even more troubling is they are increasingly unprovoked. You don’t have to step on someone’s shoe or look at them the wrong way. People are “snapping” and turning on innocent bystanders for absolutely no reason at all.  Is there truly anywhere you can be completely safe anymore?

I have many memories of traveling across country by bus as a young girl. My mother had a fear of flying, so Greyhound was it. Traveling by bus is interesting and that is putting it mildly. You see people from all walks of life. You smell all kinds of stuff ( a lot of it ain’t nice). You hear all kinds of conversations, many of which will make you put on headphones or try to force yourself to sleep. There are people who walk the aisle to the bathroom all night and then there is always going to be that person who sits next to you who either snores or will talk you to death from Texas to California non stop. I remember seeing scared young boys in uniform on their way to their duty stations. Elvis got on in one state. Oh yeah and I remember two little redneck children who got on with two of those giant stuffed animals from the carnival. Their mother tried to stuff them into the overhead storage but the butt was too big and hung out. I remember watching it bounce as we rode down the highway.

The bus depots are another story, especially in major metropolitan cities. They can be just plain scary and nasty. And that is coming from a social worker. And we see it all. These are not places you want to hang around for too long. You will want to gather your things, make sure your ride is there and get up the road.

I think everyone should travel across country at least once in their lifetime. This country is beautiful. The desert. The hills. The mountains. The rivers and lakes. But if you do it by bus know that, you will be tired. You will be annoyed and you’re either gonna say “Hey that was interesting” or “Never Again!” You’re in for one helluva ride.

Can a customer get a little service?

Bad Customer Service is Bad Customer Service

I don’t care what you are selling

I don’t care how good the food is

I don’t care what you are in charge of

If you provide poor customer service

YOU SUCK!! Plain and simple.

Michelle LaVaughn Obama

Michelle O. in Vogue Magazine

I remember back when Whitney Houston first came onto the scene. I thought she was so beautiful. We were the same shade of brown with the same little knobby knees. It did so much for my self image and self esteem to see someone who looked like me. There weren’t a lot of people in the media back then that looked like me. Since that time there are still very few positive images of black women in mainstream media. In many ways it has gotten worse. Where in the seventies and eighties you may have only seen black women in roles as domestics or one dimensional roles. Today the images of black women in the media tend to be more damaging and overwhelmingly negative. You have Maury’s baby mama’s. There are the B.E.T. video vixens ( usually referred to by a more colorful term). And then there are the trashy, loud, tranny images of black women on shows such as Flavor of Love and I Love New York. I do not deny that these women exist in our society but where are the contrasting images? Very rarely do we get to see a black female character who is beautiful, poised and articulate. The world needs to see a balance in the portrayal of black women. We are wives, mothers and teachers. We care about politics, the environment, our children’s futures.

I am in love with Michelle Obama. I love watching her speeches and television appearances. I love what she represents not just to black people but that she will be a positive representation of a black woman that will be seen around the world. Looking at Michelle Obama today gives me that same feeling Whitney Houston gave me as a little girl in the 80’s. She is smart, strong, beautiful and educated. She is what many black women are and what millions of little girls can aspire to be. No matter what their color but especially little black girls. She makes me proud as a woman. And she makes me especially proud as a black woman.

George Michael ( A 25 year love affair)

It’s Hard to Love, There’s So Much to Hate

Praying for Time (George Michael)

Last night I went to see George Michael on his Atlanta stop of his 25 Live Tour. I’ve been so excited about this. I never got the opportunity to see him live during the Wham days or when he went solo. He did not disappoint last night. He came out to greet a very eager, energetic crowd. He performed in front of a huge screen that projected different images during the show. Some of the visual imagery was breathtaking especially during his performances of A Different Corner and Praying For Time (check him out on Youtube). He sat on the stage on a stool with just a mic and this huge screen. His voice as strong and clear as ever. My only complaint is I would like to have heard more of the hits from back in the day (the popish, soul stuff) vs. the newer material (more dance, club sound). But he was Amazing! He put on an almost 3 hr show and the crowd was still begging for more. He seemed truly humbled by all the love of his fans who have supported him over a 25 year career. He acknowledged that he realizes it has not been easy being a George Michael fan lately ( I smiled widely thinking of the ribbing I’ve taken from family and friends when I shared my excitement of the upcoming concert). But he was worth my dime. He was worth my time. Whether you like him or his style of music, you can’t deny the voice. You can’t deny the talent. I am still in love and a fan for life.