Femigog, The Sable Eklektik

Its Raining Cats and Dogs today

2012-01-09T09:40:00.000-06:00

of course the rain was supposed to come two days ago and then it was only supposed to be a sprinkle. Well here it is and there are tornado warnings for the city until 10am I think. Despite the rain, or rather because of it I think today will be a good one...I'm off today as part of my Alternative work schedule and I had planned to wash the car (of course) and get an oil change which I now plan to do next weekend. So...yesterdays rant has been weighing on my mind...wait not yesterday, the day before...see, I'm so concerned about it I feel like it just happened. What do I do to transcend this? I don't feel the hurt that I felt then, not even by a long shot but the embarrassment is just massive for me. That's the thing, I felt so damn embarrassed by the whole affair and I dont know how to shake the feeling. It has nothing to do with the other parties involved, at all. Its about my Ego. I dont like to admit it but I'm a hot head...and usually hot heads have big Ego issues. They get defensive and aggressive because they dont want the world to see them as weak or vulnerable and I can certainly attest to that! But why should I care so much how I am seen? Because it can make you a target? Maybe...or it can make you seem laughable? Sure...but I owe myself better than that and I owe the people I am close to better as well. I'm ashamed of my schadenfreude (shameful joy) over someone's misfortune. I am degraded by my rejoicing, however slight, in that regard and I will work daily to conquer this undesirable attitude. My apologies to the universe for my inability to grow in this most important aspect.
Happy rainy day Monday and be decent...
Us

Wait..I havent been here since November???

2012-01-07T16:48:00.000-06:00

that hardly seems possible! Anyway, the new year is moving along nicely! We had a New Years shindig at our place since the Guthries were coming into town and all. GREAT FUN!! Great food (if I do say so myself), great friends and so much fun...If you have a group of friends you hang with, get the game Taboo! It is Epic! What else? Oh work is going pretty well, I'm gonna take the Certification test this year in August close to my anniversary date for the job and if it goes as I plan I'll move on up the ladder at work. I know that I pretty much write this blog for myself because all of my feedback comes via Facebook but I like having this little known space for my less humors thoughts. I can come here and vent as I please for the most part and that is a good thing. I'm not really in vent mode right now (well I kinda am) but I will say this...Karma is real...well to me anyway. I havent done anyone a bad turn in a very long time because of how bad turns seemed to follow my ass everytime I made a move in the past and yeah that sounds like specious reasoning but hell, I only have to sell it to myself and I'm already buying so...grain of salt and what not.
Anyway, someone who did me a bad turn is getting the turn of the century (yeah I know that isnt the way to really use that phrase but keep reading) and now, their life is a massive FAIL. and I mean freaking Apocalypse type fail. The thing is, this person didnt just wrong me, they left a string of victims in their wake and of course demonized all of us as the authors of his own misfortune. This person has insane delusions about their knowledge base, their capabilities and unfortunately their worth in the lives of others. NOW, and only just now in their 40s are they beginning to see how much SUCK they truly are as individuals and Universe help me, a tiny piece of me, I mean the smallest sliver of me wanted to toast that fucking disaster. How bad is that? Bad right? Sigh, I know its bad but man...they really hurt my feelings and my life with their bullshit (granted really its my fault for being so fucking pathetic and codependent at the time but still) and just knowing that they have to breath in bullshit from now until they cease to be physical mass just made me feel GOOD.
Ultimately of course, I feel bad for them. I pity them completely, but I honestly feel bad that their life is so much in disarray. Not enough to like, tell them that of course, from this day to my last I will live and die never contacting this person or anyone even remotely associated with them (Despite the fact that I'm told that she believes me to have contacted her in some way...and prattled on about me saying things to her. Are YOU fucking kidding me? Why would I ever actually contact YOU? I dont even know what the hell...just...really? Anyway, some anonymous clown contacted me pretending to be someone else (I had the good sense to know better than to believe that mess---you're a real Mental Giant by the way). I'm enlightened but I'm still not up for getting chatty...Ah Vanity...nicely done.
Where the hell was I? Oh yeah, Life's teabagging this person and that sucks but also not on some tiny level and that really sucks...I still have a lot of work to do on myself...I better get to it...
Watch out for opportunities to be decent and for fuck's sake, don't be so oblivious to bullshit---gimme a break!

The Muppets Fell Short but

2011-11-27T08:30:00.000-06:00

Arthur Christmas was a HUGE triumph! Talk about an adorable feel good movie people! Arthur Christmas was heartwarming and sweet and it really made my day. The Muppets movie COULD have been that good but the guy who wrote decided that HE should play the lead role and what an abomination that mess was!!! Dont get me wrong, the Muppets were EXCELLENT in every single scene! That dude however was so freaking dull and boring that he massacred every single scene he was in! it was ridiculous! The movie is still worth it to see even though that guy sucked! LOL! Anyway it is FINALLY cold here! Finally! Two days ago we were still having rain forest type weather. Muggy, Hot and bleh! Now it is wintery and cold and much more palatable! I've been thinking about biscuits for some reason lately. I mean, literally thinking about fresh baked biscuits. I had a dream about some too a couple of nights ago. Why? I want to say it has to do with missing my Grandmother (her homemade biscuits and yeast rolls made me feel so good). I hope its about her because all my memories of her are wonderful! She loved children and you could literally tell when she looked at you! Yeah, there are worse things to think about. I'll keep thinking of biscuits Granny and I love you!
Happy Karma
Us

So I basically just bought Video Games

2011-11-26T09:56:00.000-06:00

for all the Black Friday Shopping there was to be had! I hate shopping, especially for clothes which is why my closet is full of jeans, concert t-shirts and of course costumes. I know, I know, I should be better at being a girl by now but who the hell knew there was no internal switch in your body that automatically set their phasers to CHICK when you got your boobs during puberty (no matter how late puberty decided to show itself). anyway, I got some stuff I'd been wanting and it was a decent haul. Gamestop had buy 2 pre-owned games get one free so I got Fallout New Vegas and the re-mastered TombRaider Trilogy and Afro Samurai was free! I also bought all three of the Uncharted games and they are just ridiculously cool. Not as cool as say a 39 year old black woman who dresses in costumes for Renaissance Festivals, saves all year for a sci-fi convention and of course plays video games where she is an explorer who hunts relics in Boliva but cool enough! I'm not really big on the whole religious aspect of the holidays but I am a fan of people finding the time to be together at least once a year to eat, laugh, play and hug-it-out. I can't imagine how hard it is for soldiers to be apart from their loved ones all year only to have to watch others bitch and moan about other people being thankful. You don't feel grateful, fine! You don't feel thankful for anything, ever, fine! But guess what, you get to feel that way and act on because someone you don't know is holding a rifle in a country you have never heard of because they have the idea that fighting for SOMETHING no matter what it is or means to you personally is a far cry better than working your damnedest to shit on any and everyone else's cheer. Please get the hell over yourself! I got an idea, you could be thankful that you get to sit on your but in a classroom yakking about the arts or whatever and not sitting under an overpass or ass to elbow in a soup kitchen. I know that is extreme but REALLY? whatever! be a dick, and know that somewhere, you actually matter to someone else you douche! Yeah, someone is actually thankful for your cynical ass! ugh...I'm going to play video games!
Happy Karma
Us!

Today is Family day and I

2011-11-24T12:12:00.001-06:00

want to jump on the bandwagon and note that I am thankful for my family, my friends new and old, my job and any of the changes it may bring that make me better at serving my country in my small civilian capacity, people who give the gift of life be it through organ donation, or through their service in the military, police department, hospitals (nurses and teachers have a very special place in my heart because they mold all those other service people and keep them healthy) and of course I am ultimately thankful that I get to get up everyday, comfortable in my own skin, confident enough to be exactly who I am everywhere I go, complete with loc'ed hair, sci-fi references, comic book fetishes, Absolute LOVE of COSTUMES and Classic rock/Barry Manilow obsession. If you know me then you should know that I appreciate you for tolerating my awkward interests and silly disposition. All I want is the chance to keep being myself and embracing others who only want a chance to be themselves everyday as well. Everyday work to Be a little bit better than you were yesterday and ultimately, we'll all be doing a service for our humanity without notice of effort...

That being said I hope that everyone gets to a place where they can see the necessity and opportunity of change in their everyday lives. I just recently had the chance to reassess my wants and needs as they relate to the changes that are coming at my job. I went through a range of emotions from nervous fear to anxiousness and ultimately calm resignation that change is my God and always has been. I am happy, healthy and so very fulfilled by the many opportunities life constantly hands me even when I work my hardest to see obstacles in everything that happens.

You dont have to count your blessings but you do have an obligation to see yourself for who/what you are and see the world for the wide landscape of chances it is and to BEHAVE accordingly. I work to do that every single day and I hope that you all do the same. Enjoy a good meal and good company and tomorrow, find one tiny little thing to see differently, and if can be a new kind of black beans in the organic section of the damn grocery store, but you embrace that can of beans, go home open it up, mash it into dip and enjoy every bite. The next day, you will find another little thing and YOU will get better every single day.

happy Karma

Us!

Renaissance Festival was

2011-11-20T16:19:00.000-06:00

AWESOME!!! We attended Barbarian Weekend this year and our costumes were GREAT! People constantly stopped us for pics and complimented us on our costumes. Here is my favorite picture of myself

Admit it...we look fierce! and we totally just took your village and tread over your crops and sold all of your fair maidens and of course, took your men as our slaves! LOL! Myclette the one with the scorpion breastplate made my costume for me and Jo, the made her own of course! I did my own face paint and let me tell you, that stuff itches! I should have used the kind that is made to last during hot weather because It would have ran less when I started to sweat a bit on the brow. All in all we had a wonderful time and have to start planning now for next years All Hallows Eve at the Ren Faire! Since it is Halloween I think I might try to cosplay and choose a costume from sci-fi genre. If the costume isnt too cumbersome I might even try to cosplay at Dragon*Con next year. Oh here is my favorite pic of all of us at the Ren Faire this year,

Oh and our other friends also attended but only Brandy dress in costume with us, she was a saucy wench but I dont have permission to post her pic so I won't. T didnt do a costume but got her face painted and Watson of course didnt wear a costume. He dressed really nice, sweater vest and all and I joked that he came as the Barbarian Horde's Accountant lest they be unfairly taxed for their acquired Plunder! LOL
That is all for now! Have a great day and be careful what you wish for...you may get and then a barbarian horde may come to your town and steal your stuff! LOL
Happy Karma
Us!

I've always wanted to...

2011-11-13T09:02:00.000-06:00

1. To create my own superhero! When I was a kid I would create comic strips with stick figures and I sometimes had to borrow paper to do it, because I drew and wrote on EVERYTHING. I always said to myself that one day I would create by own comic hero and she would be eat magic and keep balance in the world...I started on it finally this year.
2. Have my own podcast. I listen to some and they are entertaining for listeners and the podcasters. My friends and I like to talk movies, books, comics, and all things nerdy/geeky and I would love to record and cast those conversations. My favorite podcast is on NPR and is called Science Friday. I love that show because its just people talking about their favorite subject and so everyone is entertained. I actually started working on having my own podcast this year. I am still doing research though... I was on a podcast during Dragon*Con and it was a lot of fun! Of course the podcasters were really nice and funny and interested in their subject matter!
3. I have always wanted to write movie reviews for those syfy monster movies. Well I've always written them for fun but I have always wanted a forum to present them in. this year I actually got the chance to share my reviews with others on RevolutionSciFi and now that I have more time I can actually start submitting them more often to that site and others.
4. Hang glide! A friend of mine went skydiving a few years back and the video was amazing! I want to hang glide because frankly, I want to feel like I'm flying...and maybe sass-talk a bird or two while I'm up there.
5. seriously invest or play the stock market or something. I've been building up my emergency savings and getting my finances in line and I have invested in a few things. All related to my job and relatively safe. I have a friend who is doing etrade stuff and while I may not be brave enough to really get down in there I would like to try my hand at the market...I think you have to initially do like 500 bucks with etrade which is not a crazy sum of money but its the deductible amount for any kind of care repair requiring insurance (when did I become such a grown up).

Well that is all for now. Be kind to yourself and others. You get what you give so be generous!
Us!

Happy Birthday Bestie!

2011-11-07T15:12:00.000-06:00

today is the 39th birthday of one of my oldest and closest friends! She looks amazing and I wish her every single happiness! In an effort to help fund the liver transplant that her baby nephew received this year, my bestie is asking that in lieu of gifts that people send 7 bucks to COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association) for little Audric Beaulieu (he is 14 months old and is just a beautiful ray of sunlight). This is an amazing organization that helps parents fund very necessary but very expensive medical treatments for their little ones. Donating to this wonderful organization helps countless families pay for expenses that reach into the millions of dollars. please take a moment to got to the website and maybe donate to the organization even if you don't have a child benefiting from the organization directly.
I am truly moved by the stories represented there and the strength and courage of the children fighting for their lives. It really helps me to realize how precious life is and how time with the people you love trumps any monetary gift one can receive. I really wish I had been more helpful to people as a young person, because I see now that focusing on pettiness and past wrongs kept me blinded to the larger and far more important picture. We have to do whatever we can everyday to be a little bit better than we were yesterday. I see these families and these kids doing that everyday.
I try to be a little better everyday and it isn't always easy but the current big picture tells me that admitting who I am, owning my part in the pain of others and doing something to ease the pain of someone else is the only path to a better big picture in the future.
These families helped me further see that bitterness has no depth of flavor, it spoils an entire dish...
Hey, Check out the COTA page for little Audric HERE and My Besties Video for COTA and her little nephew Audie T right HERE and the reminder right HERE.
Okay, that is all on that for now...
now some stuff I just wanna vent about a litte. For crying out loud people, be kind, be sincere and always, always tell yourself the truth. It's tough but you'll be better off in the end... I have actually witnessed the junk folks rant about bite them in the rear-end and frankly it isn't funny at all-- is pitiable. I can just imagine how much folks pitied me for all the pettiness and meanness I put out in the world over something that in the long and relatively short run was truly of no consequence. When I got it all back, I wanted to blame someone else but the truth of the matter was that it was ALL my fault. All of it. I was smarter than the situation I involved myself in and I will always be ashamed of myself for my behavior, always. I grew up for real and For me Karma is real. I got from the world what I put in, no more and no damn less. So when you get garbage from the universe you have to wonder if you've seen that trash before...is it something you threw out there only to have to digest yourself later? Probably. There are 7 important tenets of Buddhism and one has to do with sincere remorse and it is a doozy! I have sincere remorse for so many things and to make sure I never fall into that mindset again I apologize to the universe if I can't apologize the wronged party (even if they see ulterior motive it has to be done>). I have done that and now the anger is theirs to muck through and sadly...anyway, let's be better to one another and better to ourselves
Happy Karma
Us!

2011-11-03T14:55:00.002-05:00

This year is flying by, sheesh! I am nearly straight with my expenses and with saving, luckily I don't have to do all the gift buying that most others have to do during the Winter solstice. I started reading that Dave Ramsey book about personal saving, debt reduction and building wealth. So far it is pretty interesting stuff. Like off the top Ramsey suggests that we immediately implement the seven baby steps…

1. Save $1,000 for emergencies. This is like a basic fund that just sits there and waits for trouble.

2. Pay off all credit debt with the snowball effect. You pay off the smallest debt first. Once that small one is done you throw all of that amount at that the next debt and so on until all of your credit card debt is gone.

3. Save 3-6 months of expenses in savings. Just in case you lose your job and need to stay afloat until the next opportunity comes along…I know some people who did this and are not quite as bad off as they would have been had they not had the initial life raft. One of them is finally employed after of 18 months of joblessness and the other one is STILL looking for employment. They worked at the same place unfortunately and both got hit during the big business layoffs.

4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement products..

5. Start dumping cash into the college fund for the kiddos. Now this one is a GOOOOOOD one, especially since I am still and always will be paying on student loans from the 2 masters degrees I had to finance on my own…

6. Pay off the home early. Now I don’t own a home but I figure I could just dump cash into paying off my vehicle since I just recently got a new one…

7. Build wealth and give. This is the step I am most intrigued about! I want to really start setting up a comfortable life for my twilight years and for that I need some disposable income for investing and helping others.

I really want to accomplish this list and I am right now finishing up the second one and mid-way through the third. It really frees up a lot of time one would have spent on worrying…So give it a shot and tell me how it works for you and I’ll keep you up to date on my progress as well.

Hurray for Sweet November! And you should always double check those addresses...

2011-11-02T07:23:00.000-05:00

Okay, I meant to ban the annonymous jerk who has been posting things about people I have no interest in provoking NOT my friends who tend to post annonymously. So, if you're my homie then post away annonymously but if you are not my homie, be cool and don't be rude.

Okay, so Halloween was a ton of fun. We decorated the place and the kiddos came for candy in DROVES! The costumes were so adorable that you can’t even stand it! Tiny little princesses, firemen, and ballerinas! Of course I wore a costume as well, and so did my oldest Bestie! I was a gypsy and she was a Pirate! Ha! We went to a costume party at our favorite spot and did our rendition of Salt-n-Peppa’s “Push-It”. I think you know we murdered that hit! So much fun and of course one of our friends captured the whole thing on VIDEO and it is now on YouTube! If you are one of my friends on facebook you can see the video.

Okay so it's national novel writing month and I am participating yet again. This year, Watson and I are doing it together and hopefully this will add motivation for me to actually finish a product quickly without worrying about getting everything just perfect right out of the gate. I took up a whole writing day (yesterday) coming up with a plausible plot which I finally did and while it sort of relates to set of books I want to write I think since I have written nothing on it nor developed any characters for it (except the heroine---loosely) there should be no big deal. I wrote like 200 words last night before my bedtime so you know, only 49,800 words to go LOL!!!!
Be kind to yourself, don't play the blame game and have a little fun...
Karmically
Us!

Boys II Men makes a comeback

2011-10-25T08:29:00.000-05:00

and I LOVE it! Charlie Wilson is on the cd and he and the group blend very well! I dont know why I started my post this way because I have no intention of yakking about music. I want to yak about Renaissance Fair. I found the fur fabric I like and Myclette has no choice but to help me make the darn thing! You should see her freaking designs for her costume!!! In a word AWESOME. She has already finished the top and seriously it is way nice. Hopefull she can help me put mine together. You know, someone recently told me I should grow up. Now I don't know what they think grow up is but I assured them that I am plenty grown. Apparently for most people, growing up means not watching The Cartoon Network and tossing out your comic books. For me it means living life on your own terms and transcending the bull-crap to get to the good stuff. Dude, I'm a nerd and my friends are nerds...and I have to say it, we Rock like a boat! ZING! Anyway, I have started getting annonymous comments again about really old crap. I deleted them but I really don't like them because it's like someone is trying to stir up hot garbage. I blame myself becasue of the public way I reacted to something personal so now any number of people (who likely think they are being my friend in a weird way) could be trying to start junk. Look, whomever you are, please quit it. Just stop. No harm no foul but seriously. I'd rather you didnt start poking at people, especially me. That said, I am going to an event today about Breast Cancer awareness that I am really excited about. The event is THIS, which is pretty nice. Breast Cancer Awareness is near and dear to me as I lost one of the most beautiful people in my life to the disease this year and a Professor I had, Dr. Susan Ahern recently lost her battle with the disease this week. Sigh...
Oh yeah!!! I have ALL of my Halloween decorations up and let me tell you...pretty darned impressive! If you're my facebook bud you can see them so go check them out. The neighborhood kids are pretty stoked about the treats they may get from our spot so YAY Us! LOL!
On that note I think I'll get out in the world and spread some joy...see y'all out there.
Happy Karma!
Us!

Exhausted, But doing pretty well...

2011-10-13T10:52:00.000-05:00

I'm so tired! Not because I'm old mind you, but I of course am pretty old but because I made the mistake of doing a bunch of crap all at the same time. Who does that? Me!

So I moved (to a much much bigger place with lots of space and a huge-ish kitchen)

got A TON of dental work done (shame on me for the state of my teeth!), which has really been tough on my old body! I got the impressions for my crowns done yesterday and was sick as a dog today! Sheesh. Maybe it was that goop you bite down on or the Shots to the mouth or my Anemia or all of the above!

Consolidated my jillions of dollars in school loans (if only I could play deadbeat like some people who will remain nameless),

started looking for a new car (Dodge Charger please! Can I just say that the Charger looks like it could punch other cars in the face or grill or whatever! But I'll probably get something far more economical and practical--I would love a hybrid!).

I finally started on my costume for Renaissance Faire (Barbarian Invasion!)

write my movie reviews AND maybe put them on youtube or maybe podcast them weekly in addition to submitted some to some really cool websites like the review I wrote for RevolutionSyFy which can be found right here.

And to top it off I need a washer and dryer.

I have this idea that I want things to be squared away by my 40th birthday in December and I can just begin fresh and new ya know. I dont know, is there a fresh and new at 40? I think so or rather I hope so...well I have a friend who is a bit older and you wouldnt know it unless you asked her what age she was so I think that gives me hella hope for a fountain of youth sort of life in my years to come.

Oh I forgot, I want to go on some adventures. Not the hairbrained zany kind that end with carnivorous earwigs eating out your frontal lobe in South America but you know maybe some rafting or hang gliding or seeing the Louvre before I take the big dirt nap?

This post qualifies as a sci-fi post because I talked about my movie review on RevolutionSyFy and gave a link to it so there!
Happy Karma Folks!

Moving is just too much work!

2011-10-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

So we moved into a new place. It is bigger and more aesthetically pleasing than our last place. We still have a lot of stuff to clean out of the old place but we have until the 19^th to get it done so no biggie. Whenever I move, I get this rush of excitement and anxiety all bundled into one mega-emotion. I don’t know if it is because I feel overwhelmed by the transition and responsibility of having to take care of a new place or what. I like the feeling because it means that I am not stagnant and comfortable. I also like the feeling if I know that I have the skills to conquer the new challenges or at least can acquire the skills in a decent span of time. My point is coming:

I fell asleep watch Terra Nova last night, NOT because it sucked but because I was really tired from the move. But on the show people were still getting to know the terrain and taking a survival skills class that included making fire for warmth, to keep unwanted predators at bay, for cooking and of course for setting fire to bell-towers lousy with hunchbacks. There was a navigation class teaching folks how to find north using the moss of tree and what grubs make for good eatin’ when the rations run low. I was watching it while nodding off, thinking through a sleepy-eyed haze about how I might fair in such a situation. Can I make fire? Can I find North? Do I know an edible herb when I see one? The answer to all 3 questions is uhm NO! I use my phone’s GPS when traveling on FOOT and driving in my car. I don’t know what plant will keep me breathing, give me a killer rash or close my windpipe; essentially suffocating me with my own stupidity, laziness and apathy. That being said I think I’ll check with leisure learning for a survivalist class or at the very least I’ll watch more episodes of that show with Bear Grylls…yeah, that’s probably enough!

Now that Dragon*Con is gone for the time being

2011-09-21T12:43:00.000-05:00

I have to focus on getting myself ready for my NEXT nerd-a-thon, and that my friends is Renaissance Festival. I think I found the costume I want to wear. It is a little bit of a departure from my usual fairy or gypsy type ensemble but not by much.
I tried to shrink the image but unfortunately I didnt know how without wiping out the entire image for some reason. but anyway I got this idea from a Facebook Friend and I think it is a GREAT look for me! The thing is, I have to move next weekend so I dont really have any available time this week or next to do much in the way of constructing this ensemble. For sure I won't have trouble finding a staff (got TONS) and for sure I won't have trouble finding a side blade (I collect all manner of sharp and point things) the problem I may have is getting some of the deatil stuff correct. I dont have to worry about boots because I got those covered and I have the make-up angle covered also. I think I can find the right fabric for the fur covering at any of my favorite fabric shops (yes, I have favs). and of course accessories can come from Michael's and Mom's house! LOL....
This post was mostly about my costume idea so...yeah...later taters
karmically
Us!

so its Friday you Foxy Nerds!

2011-09-16T08:33:00.001-05:00

and it doesnt mean as much as it could because I'm gonna work overtime again. You know, I was thinking, the more money I make the more I need so the trick is to need less money but still get more stuff. Once I crack that code, I'll bottle it and you all can buy it from at a low, low price that will finally make me as rich as I should be for a person who is really work averse...
Anyway, Terra Nova is gonna start on September 26 and Honestly, I'm a little excited about it. I liked Earth Two...sorta and Earth Sea...sorta so maybe I'll kinda like Terra Nova, maybe. Ugh! I just really want a show that I can sink my synapses into that gives me the right mix of hopeful optimism and impending doom in a way that a post apocalyptic society should, ya know? I mean I like my post world with more team building exercies ala that short lived reality show The Colony and not like that whole Fall Out New Vegas (for PS3) type vibe. I don't like a ton of guns blazing about, but some subtle references to cannibalism or making bread out of acorns or edible flowers is right up my alley. At any rate, I won't say that I've got High hopes for Terra Nova but I do in fact, have some Hopes and I'm pretty sure they wont let me down on ALL of them.
1. Diversity! I hate when the end of the world comes and no one of color seems to have made it through the catastrophe. That's just weird damn-it!
2. Groups of dummies roaming the world together! Yeah, at some point some groups of dumb people have to get together and do dumb stuff like drink the water, or eat old food they find at a supermarket or fail to dress a wound or something. Every group always has like a doctor or a soldier or some dude who can save you from most dumb stuff
3. Violent kid gangs! this is probably not as funny as I think it would be...likely far more terrifying and creeptastic than I can imagine. But still, let's just try it and see what happens...
4. Fat people. Really? No way do all the fatties (like myself) just cease to be in your post world society. At least not at first. I mean once food starts to go and we've eaten the weak and the young, surely our weight will drop. But before that, you have to have those people on the trek to whatever new homestead we are sojourning to bitching about being hungry and needing to take a break. Let's get some of that in there.
5. NERDS inherit the Earth! Yeah! I mean how long would it take for the first convention to be organized after the end of the world? Hello? Is this thing On!
That's all I can think of right now but I know there's tons more... Maybe I'll be back later...
Later gators
Happy Karma suckas
Us!

Let's Review, A Movie Called "Sugar Hill" (1974) Not the one with Wesley Snipes

2011-09-14T08:35:00.000-05:00

Okay so I watched Sugar Hill over the weekend and as promised here is my review of the Blacksploitation-Zombie film made in 1974 in HOUSTON, TEXAS no less! FYI, The Heights Branch of the Houston Public Library was used in the film as a "Voodoo Institute".

The Gist: Basically, white gangsters want to take this black dudes nightclub (Club Haiti). He refuses, and of course they kill him and find that his club has been left to his foxy lady (Sugar) who vows revenge and gets her mom (a 100 yr old voo-doo queen—who also played George Jefferson’s Mother) to stick it to the culprits. The zombies come and avenge her lover’s death and as payment the king of the zombies gets the girlfriend of the lead gangster dude. The Foxy Lady offers him her soul but he doesn’t really “do” souls and she refuses to go live in the underworld with him sooooo, that other chick kinda has to go.

Some Background: This movie had some serious racial overtones and some taboo concepts especially for the time it was filmed and the place (Texas). I mean if you’re gonna give the black king of the zombies a white woman after killing off all the white gangsters (typically referred to as Honkies, Whitey or Cracker in the film) then yeah, you’ve really decided to “go there” as the kids say. The movie has the “N” word liberally distributed which would be disturbing except and I know you may not believe me, but, it was sort of necessary because it was an attempt to illustrate class inferiority and racial tension as fast and effectively as possible (the movie was only about 90 minutes including credits). The zombies are actually slaves circa 1700 Louisiana who were buried in a mass grave with their chains still on after some sort of outbreak.

The Good Stuff: The writer of this flick gets his zombies the good old fashioned way; VOODOO, Jive Suckas! Yeah that’s right, no tainted burger meat or nuclear accidents. Just homegrown, chicken feet, African dance, snake handling, crazy drums that simulate the beat of a racing heart as it runs from the clutches of the undead and of course stuff with Blood. Oh and machetes! Lots and lots of machetes! I mean almost ALL of the dude zombies have machetes. Oh and the Zombie King is apparently a “great lover” and has Zombie honeys with which to “get-down” with.

The zombies were pretty impressive if you ask me. I mean they had these silver eye covers and make-up that must have been a show-stopper in 1974! If you want abs painted on a damn zombie, call whoever the hell painted the abs on these zombies! What I didn’t get was the zombies covered in cobwebs…was there some zombie spider in that mass grave sucking the zombie blood from these things? If so, I WISH they had shown it!

Lame Stuff that I LOVE: B-ROLL! I freaking love B-Roll! You know that footage of like people getting on a city bus, A soccer Mom buying tomatoes or some random stray dog walking down the street…yeah, that’s the stuff! The B-roll for this film is fantastic! It was relevant and meshed perfectly with the film and I am gonna go out on a limb and say its because at the time of the filming, that Mutual Of Omaha Wild Kingdom (1963-1988 and restarted 2002 on Animal Planet) show was pretty popular. Hell I remember racing to the television to watch those nature shows with my brothers. This film had footage of some huge gators emerging like bullet trains from some shadowy swamp and one of those crazy sidewinder looking snakes skimming the murky waters of some swamp. Yeah, its called non-specific “but hella relevant” B-roll fools! Get some!

More Lame stuff I love: Now at first glance the movie seems campy, over the top and downright bad BUT I think what this film does right is FASHION honey! (I just gave you my best right handed finger-snap ala Men-On-Film from In Living Color). These actors are dressed to the NINES in this film). I love the King of the zombies (Baron Samedi), because he was dressed like the Conjure Man from the Princess and The Frog (somebody get my lawyer on the phone—finally we got Disney by the…frogs legs). And what blacksploitation film would be complete without a brother named Valentine (played by a dude who has been in everything! Namely, as Dr. Ben Taylor on the 1983 version of “V”, my least favorite episodes of “Sister-Sister” and oh as Mr. Bostic on that episode of the Cosby Show where cousin Pam applies to college! You remember Pam right? She was Maxine Shaw on “Living Single”). What was I saying, oh yeah, Valentine is a Leiutenant who apparently has no detectives working under him because he does all his own leg work and also pines for Foxy Lady (Her name is Diana “Sugar” Hill in the movie). Valentine’s suits are out of control, even for the early 70s.

The Acting: Let’s not play games here, the acting was ridiculous. Crazy, awkward, pregnant pauses everywhere. People trying not to look into the camera, and my personal favorite, people doing weird stuff with their hands. Like in that Supernatural where Sam and Dean are actors on a set and Sam has No clue what to do with his hands so he keeps lifting them up and out from his body while looking past the person he’s speaking to, remember that? Yeah, LOTS of that stuff so I of course loved it!

Rating: 3 out of 5 Dyno-mites! The gore is actually kept to a minimum and you don’t really see the bodies until after they have been attacked by zombies and even then it isn’t very graphic or anything. It’s too funny to be graphic, not as funny as say…Swamp Shark was but still pretty funny. The only reason this isn’t rated higher is because you can’t watch it with little ones. The language is just really gritty and racially charged although not particularly lascivious or explicit. But unless you’re ready to have a conversation about race and such with the kiddos, you might leave this one in your Netflix queue until the kids are asleep. I say check it out at least and tell me what you think.

Karma out
Us!

So I'm BACK from Dragon*Con

2011-09-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

and I have a bunch of photos and videos from the 5 day event! Nerds and Geeks really know how to get down for theirs! LOL. Okay so I personally met to Sam Witwer from Being Human (the US version) and Samantha Ferris from Supernatural and they were both AWESOME! I have the pics posted on my Facebook thingie so if we are buds you can see them. I will post them here as well I think. OH and I have some video footage from the True Blood Cast Panel and yes it is mainly ALCIDE talking about who the heck knows what! GORGEOUS is an understatement! If you want to check out the vids they are on my Youtube page! I had so much fun and I refuse to go without Watson next year! Unless of course he refuses to go...mwahahahaha. He isnt too keen on Air travel and I totally understand so maybe we have to go by train or suffer an 8 hour bus trip to Atlanta. Which is interesting because I looked at Greyhound and MAN, they have made some serious upgrades in their services and amenities. First of all they removed 5 seats from each bus to give passengers more leg room, added electrical plugs in each row for your laptops and whatnot and get this...they now offer free WiFi on all busses! WTH? When did Greyhound pull the come-up move? Although they have made crazy upgrades, bus travel isnt my first choice but I do really like long bus rides, they remind me of going to Mississippi to visit my Grandparents when I was a kid and I felt like I was a pioneer on an adventure everytime we boarded a Greyhound. Anyway, I'm down for a bus ride so I'm gonna go Greyhound next year and give everyone a report.
Oh, I have to really get into shape. I told some people that this time I REALLY mean it so I guess I have to at least get back on the wagon for show at first. LOL!
Well, gotta go hit the gym...
Happy Karma
Us!

Dragon*Con

2011-09-06T22:56:00.002-05:00

was a blast and I can't wait to load all my pics and give you the recap but I just got home today and I gotta work tomorrow so check with me tomorrow night.
Later Taters!
Karmically Us!

WELL, Today is my Friday,

2011-08-31T15:18:00.002-05:00

So I will be at Dragon*Con in Atlanta on Thursday (it officially begins Friday morning actually) and I’m pretty excited. This year I am gonna really spend some time on the Apocalypse Rising Track because I don’t think there is anything more honest to a make-over than an down and dirty Apocalypse. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I love a good do-over. The problem with do-overs is that people don’t always reflect on the collapse in a way that shows them their part in the whole mess. Sometimes people start again in the exact same way that caused things to fall apart. Those people are what you call gluttons for punishment. I don’t do Jesus really, I think he is a swell guy and a total bad-ass when it comes to men of conviction and prophets but the whole son of God thing I don’t need for my existence, for those who do, more power to you. What I do is severally explicable (I checked with a grammar nerd and she LOVED that phrasing) first of all I place my faith in myself, my ambition, my willingness to try and fail and then try again (hopefully in a new way) and fail again if need be to get the job done. I also place my faith in the people around me. I am thick enough to believe that people really do want themselves and the people around them to succeed. Example: People want to live in a clean area so they will keep their immediate area clean, their neighbor will see this and think “hey, I want my stuff to be clean too and maybe the elderly woman across the way wants her stuff clean—I’ll see if I can help her a little”. Then boom, clean neighborhood and safer neighborhood because I took a second to say howdy to the lady across the street when I rolled her trash-bins out of the drive after the sanitation truck snagged the contents. That’s it. That’s all. I know, it’s simple but shit, it has always been a better bet for me to look to myself and the people around me for help than waiting for some divine intervention from on high. Again, if that’s your bag, do your thang, I aint mad. I digress… I’ve been thinking of starting a story and I am certain that being with my nerd family will inspire me… “I remember the day I condemned the world and started my very own apocalypse” or something like that…yeah I am ready to GO!!! Don’t panic, I will post here while I am there so you won’t miss anything…whoever happens upon my middle of nowhere blog.

Karma Rocks and so do you and I!

Us!

It's almost that time again kiddos!

2011-08-25T10:19:00.000-05:00

Dragon*Con is next week and I am beyond excited! I am going to be all over the place until I leave though because I still have to deal with the fact that we are moving in a month and a half and I should probably start throwing things away. Anyway back to Dragon*Con! where the heck to begin? This year I am going to be there from START to FINISH! I mean I get to Atlanta on thursday afternoon and I leave Tuesday at the end of it all! YES!!! I can't wait! I am like seriously spazzing out! The apocalypse track is where I am headed for some much needed doomsday funfare! (hmmm that looks wrong but it feels right--LOL). Watson isnt going but I suppose I can forgive him...too much work to do which is actually a good thing but he is certainly not excused from the yearly Arizona visit and Grand Canyon Trek (sp). Speaking of which I really have to get into better shape if I wanna hike Bright Angel Trail (yes I know we say that every year but this is the year I crush Ryan on that trail or at the buffet). Well I'm heading over to the Dragon*Con site to see what I can see for next week!

Yippee!
Karma like a ninja (whatevs that might mean)
Us!

18 Days til DRAGON*CON

2011-08-16T12:38:00.000-05:00

and I am ecstatic to say the least! I am so excited that I am constantly checking the website for new information and to reread the old information. Lame right? I know but I can't help it! The apocalypse track looks like it is gonna be fun, fun, fun! The only thing that sucks is that Watson is not attending with me this year. So its me and the happening Guthries this year. Still cool as all get out though!
I started drawing again over the weekend and I think I have now figured out what made me stop trying in my previous attempts at portrait drawing and that my friends is: EXPECTATIONS!
My expectations were unrealistic and of course with everything you attempt and fail to set realistic goals for, you likely fail at the attempt. This time I made some very modest expectations (which is hard when you have too grand an idea about your abilities---even in an area you have never before tested yourself) for my drawing goals. I am most interested in portrait drawing so I plan to focus on human subjects for the most part and honestly, despite my issues with proportions, with practice, I certainly be decent at it.
Oh here is something hilarious! I was being a sass-mouth at my Mom's this weekend and immediately the universe served me up a little shut your trap cummupence, I walked into the garage door and banged my forehead but Good! Grrrr! No big cartoonish knot or anything but there was a little bit of swelling that only I could really notice since Mom immediately forced me to ice my face for about an hour the second it happened...Hey Mom, sorry for the sass-mouth! LOL!
Oh, next month I will have been on my job for 2 years and get this...I STILL LOVE IT! I know! Its crazy right?
We move to our new place in October and YES I was hasty about choosing a place because I was worried about not getting some place decent for a decent price. I like the complex but I don't if Watson is crazy about it, but no fear, we're gonna sign a 6 month lease just in case we get there and wanna jump from a window. The upside is that we will be leaving the craptacular complex we live in now and will FINALLY have washer/dryer connections! WOO HOO! No more broken machines. There should be some sort of mild form of punishment we could inflict when the complex fails to keep their property up. You know, something that happens to the worker-bots in the leasing office; like sci-fi in nature that tells everyone who sees them that they work for a company that has crappy laundry facilities. I don't know what that would look like but still...
Anyway, this post wasnt really sci-fi in nature but it was a chance for me to catch up with my week with whatever poor soul still reads it...
Happy Karma folks
Us!
DRAGON*CON!

So I love a good dystopia

2011-08-11T18:42:00.000-05:00

and most certainly a good apocalypse! You know how I am about a good tear-down and rebuild. I mean razed to the freaking earth! Love it! I also love when people get their comeuppance, it just feels so good. You know sometimes people mess with you and you turn the other cheek and then BAM the universe bends them over without lube and really rips them apart. Good stuff! Sigh...but I digress. I have been watching a couple's apocalypse and ultimate dystopia and it has been so effing healing. When I write, I always think of my heroine and her flaws and the times she was hurt and how she will ultimately make herself feel better. That being said I always wonder just how much anger is acceptable on the page. Like, I know you can't go left in real life but on the page I like to really let the monsters out. I'm really just writing this for myself right now because I've been working on my heroine and didnt realize just how much pent up anger I still had over the wrongs I feel have been done to me until my fingers hit the keyboard. Suffice it to say My female lead "Rachel" is a beautiful beast, so don't think you can cross her and just walk away...If you've wronged me, know that I am rejoicing in your comeuppance and am certainly orgasmic over your sickening lot. And on some level, I can honestly say, I REJOICE in your pain. I'm so glad you're miserable and hurting if you made me hurt or made me miserable because DAMN-IT I know I didnt deserve it.
whew...glad I got that out, now I really don't wish bad will on anyone, but if it comes do a double take in the mirror and ask yourself how much of it really belongs to you. You probably owe someone an apology and I hope they accept it and I also hope they spit in your eye...yeah, nasty stuff when you're being honest, right? Hey, blame my heroine, she's the one feeling all the emotions right now!

Tame that Karma folks
Us!

Review of "Super Eruption"- Hey...

2011-07-26T10:12:00.000-05:00

that's Syfy's title, not mine. Although it is fantastically misleading!

So I had the misfortune of watching SyFy’s original movie “Super Eruption” a couple of weeks ago and let me just say, I; ME; Tammie the Queen of Corny, was horrified by the absolute wretchedness of the film. Now I’m not talking about the acting (YET). I’m not watching anything that will get an Oscar nod…that ain’t really how I roll. The problem was of all things, the utter and just ridiculous disregard for even the idea of plausibility. Okay, to be honest I went into the movie with a bit of an attitude. I don’t like movies that make nature the enemy per se. You know those movies where a killer tidal wave is gonna hit the serene town of some decidedly landlocked place (although that is ALWAYS hilarious). I hate that crap because why not just have people’s garbage begin to eat them and sacrifice their bones to the planet to stave off the revolution Nature will eventually be forced to start? Or something like that…I haven’t worked out all the bugs but you get my meaning and if you don’t then you should not be reading reviews of the craptacular movies I like to see (although I’m glad you are). Anyway, I only knew one of the actors and frankly Watson is the one who noticed him and jogged my memory. Remember The Sentinel? Yeah I know, I didn’t either at first but when I did remember it I thought “oh, that’s cool. I remember liking that show,” so I settled in for what was surely going to be one lava-hot thrill ride at Yellowstone national park. Okay so it opens with The Sentinel parachuting DIRECTLY into the center of the eruption with NO protection whatsoever! I mean no mask for breathing since there was ash and burning cinders from all the shrubbery that was literally blazing out of control. No protective clothing. Just Jeans and a long sleeved button down (He’s aged well. He is becoming quite the Silver Fox) Anyway, He was trying to save his daughter and some other non essential hangers-on so maybe he had you know, some of them “Sentinel” powers. Who knows. well, he’s trying to save them but we don’t find out if he does because the cut scene takes us to like “several weeks earlier”. Now, I see this and I remember “Sharktapus and of course Croc-a-saurus” and think to myself, “awesome, they’re gonna Tarantino this bitch,” so I’m way stoked. Then it happens, the Sentinel, Starts. Talking. WTH? If this dude ain’t a cardboard cutout then I’m not ultra tacky with way too much time on my hands. And I think we can all tell by my taste in movies, my Lepoard print window treatments and my Zebra print with glittered accents water bottle that I am indeed ultra tacky and I need to get out and exercise more.

I digress…so the Sentinel is uhm “acting?” and we meet this science chick and I applaud SyFy original movies for making the women in these movies strong, smart and funny but this woman took the darn cake. She’s…get this…a volcanologist who DABBLES and that’s the word they used y’all, dabbles in 1. geo-chemistry, 2. trans-mutational time travel (or something like that) 3. physics 4. some other obscure and or made up science. Okay, so real scientists, that are like for real, say that Yellowstone has the capacity to blow up some day, cool, I can dig it, but everything else is crazy-town in this movie. But I mean like real crazy not, like silly-get-the-heck-outta-here crazy but serious roid-rage barfight crazy! Because THEN we get to the part where that super-science chick is talking to herself from the future through her computer. Yeah, that’s right! Boom! That was the sound of your mind being blown---right out the back of your freaking skull! This movie was like Dante’s Peak (which was also aired on SyFy in the past) and like a time travel sorta thing thrown in which frankly should have made this movie really POP! So if you get bored and this movie comes on, do something that goes against the very core of the couch potato sci-fi nerds being…get some darn exercise. Sweet mother this film was bad, even with a SENTINEL who frankly should have you know…sentineled or something…This movie was not the gold that was Swamp Shark! Not even a little!

Anyway,
Happy Karma and Syfy
Us!

Swamp Shark! Review

2011-07-13T11:30:00.003-05:00

What can I say about a movie that DARES to transplant a government genetically enhanced bull shark that was initially found in waters so unknown that they challenge the Marianas Trench in mystery AND depth in a Louisiana Swamp?

Well in a word AWESOME!

Dear Kristy Swanson, it was no Buffy but hey what the heck else were you doing really? Some of the best moments of this uhm “film?” were when the shark, literally STALKS its victims before carefully decapitating them! And by Decapitating, I mean the shark leaps from a swamp (which should typically be shallow or at least pretty boggy) and takes off only the head of a policeman who is standing on the deck surveying the area for foul play during the investigation of the town drunk--who of course was already dancing underwater with Swamp Shark.

Mario believes that this shark must certainly have had much practice in decapitation as this one was FLAWLESS (the body stood headless for a minute before crumpling to the ground and the shark disappeared into the swamp water with no splash. That’s a perfect 10 or at least a 9.95).

The film came complete with a smart Asian dude who worked in the kitchen of the Gator Shack (Kristy’s family run eatery) in Louisiana, the “Blue Steel” mugging pretty boy with something to prove, the hometown hero/ex-highschool football champ, the corrupt sheriff (its his fault the bull shark became swamp shark as he was selling black market exotic animals and this one never reached its destination), the out-of-towner law enforcement officer who wants to put a stop to the black market animal thingie and of course the pretty and dutiful shop keeper who just wants to keep her family business running and her family safe.

NOTE: Apparently if something has been living beneath the deepest trench of the ocean and is now living in a shallow swamp and has been feeding off big old gators it is most certainly indestructible. Just a little F.Y.I. from our friends from Swamp Shark. Seriously, the smart Asian dude and the rifle-toting Gator Shack owner had this conversation and she came to that conclusion. You may now take your thumb and index finger and pinch the bridge of your nose while squeezing your eyes tightly closed and furrowing your brow in an effort to understand.

Best Scene of the film is the death of Swamp Shark. I saw it coming but Mario says he just couldn’t make himself believe that they were going to try to do it the way they did. You know those crazy airboat things with the big fan on the back? Yeah! Those are everywhere in this film because of the all the swamp travelin’ so keep that in mind.

Now first they launch a propane tank into Swamp Shark’s mouth and shoot it. Of course the explosion backfires and kills some peripheral characters (you’ve met them but you don’t know them so its no big loss really), well then they decide to harpoon Swamp Shark and get him ashore but he one-ups them and Beaches himself and proceeds to munch on the people on the shore (who for some inexplicable reason race straight into Swamp Sharks mouth…it’s a shark people, it can’t turn its head to nab you so just running AROUND the beached shark should keep in the land of the living.) Anyway, they harpoon the shark and coil the rope around the fan motor of the airboat thing and it proceeds to reel in this mammoth swamp shark WITHOUT burning the motor out mind you! Swamp Shark become ground shark and all is well at the Gator Shack.

Now I don’t care what anyone says this movie was fantastic! There was not gratuitious nudity so the kiddos can watch it with you and the scenes of violence are so over the top and absolutely impossible to accomplish in real life that NO ONE is gonna want Mom and Dad to check the closet and under the bed for monsters (although Swamp Shark seemed fine out of water).

There’s a lot more blood than the usual B movie but it isn’t like all the people have like water hoses for veins so it isn’t utterly terrible. Plus for me that is the mark of a good cheesy movie or slasher-type film.

You can still catch it on SyFy online so don’t worry, you haven’t missed your chance at catching movie greatness. On the 17^th I will watch another SyFy original movie “Super Eruption”---that is some title!

So It's July and...this post is totally Random...

2011-07-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

I'm slightly behind in some projects I really wanted to be ahead of by this time of 2011. Where the heck does the time go? I mean it seems like I blinked and January became July and I'm not as close to my goals as i wanted to be by mid-year. I want to feel guilty about it but I don't. I dealt with a few things but not nearly as much as I wanted...oh well.
Anyway, I recently watched the SyFy movie of the week "Swamp Shark" and yes, it is as amazing as it sounds LOL! My review is forthcoming. It would be done but I had to rewatch the ending of the movie again just to be sure I uhm, saw that right. You should have seen how that thing ended. Seriously, I didnt see the ending coming, and THAT is saying something for your creature feature type movies!
I was looking around some blogs lately and noticed that I have completely stopped posting my food pics here. I have no idea why but I have been taking tons of pics and posting them on facebook so I think I'll go back to doing that here again.
Only 2 months until Dragon-Con and I am over the top excited which means I really have to up my fitness game. Watson likely won't attend this year which I gave him a pass on as long as he makes sure to attend the yearly trip to the Grand Canyon next year so...

Well that is all for now, Later-Gators (that'll make more sense when you see my Swamp Shark review)
Karmically yours
Us!

Super 8, The Green Lantern, and the Absence of Us in Sci-Fi

2011-06-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

So I have seen Super 8 and The Green Lantern Recently and I havent had the chance to really discuss them the way I have wanted to. Okay so Super 8 really hit me in the sweet spot because it had 2 of the 4 top things I really love about horror/sci-fi movies, (there are a ton of other things I dig but these are the top 4)
1. Monsters/Aliens and
2. Enterprising kids!
The other 2 things I dig in Horror/Sci-fi films is a beautiful Apocalypse (which is NUMBER 1) and of course the utter decimation of horny teens with spears through the gut while grunting like pigs in some remote cabin. But I digress...

I love when kids get in on the action and I love it even more when kids are an important element to the story. Super 8 had both of those things. I think the storyline involving the kids was relevant and not overly saccharine. Now I read some reviews that complained about the kids being a bit manic and constantly talking over one another but I think that made them much more real. I mean, teens and tweens dont typically wait for one another to complete a thought or sentence before they start talking so of course the kids were constantly working to be louder than one another. That said the movie did have something I did NOT appreciate. And it has to do with Diversity in Sci-fi. Now there were some people of color in the file, the scientist who, of course is killed and as far as we know, is the first casuality of the film (sigh) but then something weird happened; after seeing NO other people of color for a while, we meet a black soldier who is not only a follower, he STEALS the main kid's locket that contains a pic of the kid and his dead mother. Why did he take the locket? He literally just takes it off the kid with everyone watching, WTH? Then we see the black soldier again (along with a hispanic soldier and another brother) who are all flunkies of the super sinister white soldier in charge. in the middle of the kidnapping of the kids the alien comes and of course KILLS all the minorities first and saves the super sinister soldier last and of course the kids are not harmed. HUGE sigh...I swear, why is it so hard to include the kind of diversity we all live with everyday and is it me or are Asian actors just completely passed over in american cinema unless the movie is about a war or martial arts?

The Green Lantern I did like, although I didnt care for Blake Lively AT ALL! The biggest plus was that Angela Bassett was cast as Dr. Amanda Waller which was a huge plus for me as a sci-fi lover in sable skin. Some people didnt care for it but honestly, if you read or watched The Green Lantern as a kid you'll dig the movie to a certain extent, although the Fanboy critics had a MILLION beefs with it but really they should lighten up! Also, there was a fellow of Indian descent as friend of The Lantern and scientist extraordinaire. He and Angela managed to make it through the entire film, which was a plus. LOL

Well that is all for now. I'm getting over a nasty migraine from the Houston Heat and I need to get ready for work tomorrow. Watson is working on some projects so I can manhandle the PS3 for the evening. LOL

Karmically Us!

Playing Catch-Up

2011-06-06T12:57:00.002-05:00

I keep meaning to blog here more regularly but I never get the chance to do so. Life keeps on moving and stopping to keep a record can be a task. Let’s see…I had a good Memorial Day weekend. It was four days long and I didn’t have to go back until the Tuesday after because of the work schedule I have. I love it. 9 hour days are nothing when you factor in getting every other Monday off, not to mention getting off work at 3:30pm everyday. Pretty sweet. And if your day off lands on a Holiday, because you actually earned the day off, you get the day after the holiday off. Really sweet! Anyway, I was supposed to get a lot of stuff done around the house, like cleaning out the closets and going through the storage unit on the patio but of course I opted to just have a great time with friends and family. I practiced barbecuing again and this time it came out MUCH better. My issue is patience I suppose because it took a heck of a lot longer to finish this last time than it ever had, but it was more evenly cooked than it has been in the past.

Anyway, Watson has a painting commission to start and finish by the end of July, in addition to his other projects, he’ll be pretty busy for June. I have finally started the process of consolidating my student loans and hopefully will have them all sewn up into one nice neat payment soon. Yep, I pay my debts, no matter what…

I am actually losing weight steadily and wearing clothes I couldn’t fit a month ago. I don’t want to talk much about it because I’m superstitious I suppose. I know how silly that is, I just want to continue to succeed and I don’t want to talk myself out of continuing to understand that it is a slow process if I want it to be a healthy process. I’m good at finding the motivation to exercise, my problem is not wanting to stretch for a long enough period of time and that can really be counter-productive when you think of how an injury can keep you off the track…I lost 2 inches! That makes a HUGE difference!

Myclette is doing AWESOME on her weight-loss journey. She looks wonderful and has lost a good amount of weight. I’m so freaking proud of her.

Everyday, I understand more and more that I have no needs unmet and I remember a time when I was ungrateful, self centered and selfish. I am not proud of the person I was. It was a short stint but a very ugly one. My life centered around an arrogant, greedy, lazy and selfish person, Me. That “me” then found another ARROGANT, greedy, lazy, self centered person to be with and ugh…gross is all I can say.

Anyway, I found some GREAT loc-maintenance videos on Youtube so I have been able to do everything to my locs all by my lonesome and they look gorgeous!. I think I need to put an updated photo up soon. The ones that are up now are at least a year of more old!.

Ava-bear is moving and grooving along and Jaionna-bear (my oldest God daughter) is getting ready for her 4^th birthday. She is a beautiful, funny, fashion savvy burst of sunlight and happiness. As a matter of fact ALL of the children in my life are doing stellar and to see them smile is just…sigh…

Who knew one could have a nice, drama-free life once the drama was isolated and removed? I sure didn’t but here I am, enjoying a contented existence. The first step is always the hardest. You gotta find your part in it all and OWN it. Then you address YOUR OWN issues and leave other people to deal with their own stuff. That’s the simple truth.

DRAGON-CON is on the horizon!!!! I can see it! I got my plane ticket and my pass for the entire weekend and my besties from Arizona have the room! AWESOME! I am so freaking excited!

Oh well…gotta go, life is calling!

Karmically,

Us!

The Weekend is of course

2011-05-17T07:51:00.001-05:00

AWESOME! Okay so I had a great Friday, it was my early day so I got off an hour earlier than usual, 2:30 instead of 3:30 and it was fantastic. Now I should have gone to get my pedicure on Friday but I figured I would do it after the gym on Saturday but of course, there was a health fair that Mom and some of her friends had to go to and that meant that I had to drive. It was a fantastic fair to say the least. It was offer for free by CVS Pharmacy and they were doing Diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and bone density testing for FREE and then they had actual physicians to talk to people about the results. It was a great service but I really wish more blacks had taken advantage of the service. We are notorious for not knowing the state of our health especially with diabetes. This health fair is actually a mainstay of CVS Pharmacy and they tour periodically during the year with a number of these free fairs coming up this year. I have insurance and had my annual physical in March of this year, as I do every year but if you know anyone who doesn't this is a great chance to get a good snap shot of their general health for free. The kicker? They give you a list of free or income based clinics to go to in case you find that you need more in depth follow up help. My mom is a retiree (28 years in Houston Independent School District) and she is too young for Medicare/Medicaid--I can't remember which is for seniors--but this was a good way for her to get a snap shot of her general health. She was of course fit as a fiddle, she's a vegetarian who walks everyday, does yoga and of course is a good person. She helps people because she likes to and she thinks about others in a way that I really hope to do one day. She is really an excellent model of good behavior. I know, my mom is genuinely a nice person. Like all the time. I know you think I'm kidding but no, she is really nice to EVERYONE so her life has actually been pretty darn nice. Her kids are doing well (I'm finally not pitying myself and learning from her awesome example). Anyway go to the health fair, go to their website and find out when it will be in your city.
I got my sketcher shape ups and I love them. They were buy one get one half off so me and Mom got ours for 48 bucks a piece! Awesome right?
Then there was the Old Town Spring Crawfish Festival and it was fantastic! The pics are on my facebook page so not everyone can see them but the the funnel cake was as good as it looked!
Then came my Monday off day and wouldnt you know it, someone hit my very parked car and left no note. So I called my insurance company, filed a police report, dropped off my cluncker at the dealership where I was informed that the car would have to be left there as a missing headlight is not road worthy. I picked up a rental right there and was on my way...the smoothest part to the entire incident is working with my insurance company and the dealership! I sailed through that process for sure. But let me say that dealing with the police department was an ordeal to say the least, grrrrr.
But, all in all the experience was not so bad, I have the deductible no problem, I have good insurance, the damage is actually pretty minimal, and most importantly and thankfully no one was hurt so thanks to the universe I had the opportunity to navigate a difficult situation in an effort to practice patience and maturity and I think I performed well.
Well its time to start my work week and finish chapter two of one of the best sci-fi novels ever to be written...Have a great day y'all.
Karmically yours
Us!

I totally understand but

2011-05-09T13:01:00.001-05:00

I can't give you what you're looking for today. Maybe back about 3, nearly 4 years ago sure but today, not so much. I can say that hearsay is just that, hearsay. I can also say that bitter people aren't typically nice, or respectful or even rational so, take the hearsay with a grain of salt. Also, consider the source. What you heard, might not be what was said. At any rate it is ancient history and certainly unworthy of your time and attention. I know why people sometimes, pick at a sore, because there is a familiar comfort in the pain or in the sensation. Unfortunately, if you pick at a sore it doesn't heal and I'm in the healing business these days. Now if you ever want to have a conversation with me, fine, I might engage but attempts to provoke anger will always fall short. I'm just too clear on my path, I know myself too well now and frankly, I'm too damn happy, so, find your truth, your real truth, and get moving. And a wise person once spoke of how easy it is to find courage with these most technical of mediums and I dare say, it goes both ways...I owe you a thanks for the bullet you took and apparently the wound you're now nursing because of it but I owe you nothing else. You, just like the rest of us, got and are getting exactly what you deserve for your choices. No more and no less so stirring the pot seems like a distraction tactic but hey who am I, just some "random chick"....

That being said, what a great weekend I had. It was filled with Happy babies and happier Mommies, good food and great friends and don't even get me started on the laughs. Thor was fantastic! Now, Watson wasnt too keen on how fast the love affair materialized with Jane Foster and the son of Odin but I feel like, in the superhero world it is very possible. I mean the whole life and death aspect of the meeting could accelerate feelings and emotions (just like in real life) so I was fine with it. The test of a good villain is the solidity of his backstory so Loki is one ripe for super villainy. He doesn't know who he is, he is a stolen child, and he feels unworthy and betrayed because of it all. How can he NOT be a great super villain? I love the reference to Tony Stark and if you havent seen it, STAY until AFTER the credits roll for a bit of intel on what's to come for the First Avenger and his evil adopted brother!

I also saw Fast Five which in short, blew my mind! The fight scenes were explosive, the car chases were ridiculously adrenaline pumped and the love interest aspect didn't get in the way of the action. Suspending your disbelief and EVERYTHING you know about gravity and science of any type will be easy once you get a look at the bodies on these fellas. Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel are just gorgeous to look at and you will certainly be compelled to look. Again, if you haven't seen it STAY until After the credits because you get a treat of which you will be pleasantly surprised!
And now I am off to read my bestie's blog before she breaks my neck! LOL

She's a feisty DIVA who doesn't need anyone outside of herself to validate her use of the word, and that is real Confidence. Operas have Divas in my mind but again, who the hell am I? LOL
Karma's calling so get off the phone with me...

Some truths are hard to hear, because if you really hear them - and understand that they are in fact true - then you have to change.
- Al Gore

Us!

Responsibility

2011-04-30T15:41:00.000-05:00

is a bitch sometimes! I mean, owning the crap you do is for the birds on a good day let alone an ugly one, but damn-it, its necessary for growth. You know I talk a lot about Karma because I honestly believe what you give is what you get. Likewise what you do with the shitty stuff also yields positive or negative results depending on your reaction. That said, don't be dickish to people and then bemoan the fact that dickish shit finds you. If you suck, you've got it written all over your face and guess what? You have given more suckiness an open invitation to take up residence with you because you reacted like a douche when the first sucky thing happened along. People love to tell you what Karma is and isn't, myself included but honestly these same folks will give you the same line about Letting Go and Letting God, so, you know, grain of salt. I will never tell you a damn thing about God because I don't go to those parties but I will tell you this, it's hard to take responsibility for your own shit, hell that's why you hear people talking about how "The Devil" was trying to steal their sanity, or faith, or joy or whatever. I don't have the luxury of a go-between. If the Devil fucked something up, I have but to walk to the mirror and tell "the Devil" to get the fuck over herself and then move the hell on. Now I am writing all of this because I had a discussion with someone today and they really got under my skin about my idea of Karma and universal reciprocity. Apparently I have it all wrong, or so I was told. I called Bullshit. I think I got it right, fuck-you-very-much (a phrase on loan from the Myclette collection). I used to be hella dickish and when dickish shit happened I reacted in an even more dickish way. For my trouble I got used, cheated on and basically robbed, so yeah, I think if I were a better person at the time I would have had the life I have now, back then, and I would have passed on the sucky shit that happened (when I failed to responsibly employ a thorough vetting process). But that aint what happened. I got bitter instead and the bullshit kept coming, obviously trying to give my silly-ass a chance to be a grown-up, call the situation a loss and get ready for the great opportunities that followed. When I finally grew a freaking brain I was in time to fight and win an EPIC battle, accept an extremely challenging but seriously worthwhile and gainful position and wouldn't you know it, become attached to some of the BEST individual this planet has to offer. And now, damn-it I am an Amazon Warrior Queen with battle-scars and an even bigger battle-axe. All of this because I stopped being sucky and changed my attitude towards the lessons Karma is constantly offering. So, I'm gonna go ahead and say that Karma works damn well for ME, if it don't work for YOU, I got a mirror you can borrow...
Here's to getting yours and mine too (forgive my harsh language but the people you love the most can really bring out the fire in you--Still love you though)
Karmically yours
US!

Well into April

2011-04-11T16:39:00.000-05:00

and I have yet to blog. It has been very busy and there have been some changes in the world since I last left my mark in cyberspace (well not including facebook which I am addicted too). Where should I start? Okay, well I have a new schedule at work and I love it so far. I work 9 hours per day for a week and 4 days, 8 hours for one day and then I am off every other Monday, now to be fair this schedule was already in place but now I get to come in earlier and so I am off everyday by 3:30pm. No traffic to complain about coming or going and it is delightful. I still like my job a lot and I am nearly 2 years in to it so that is a very good sign. School is good but I think I may need a breather and it seems that teachers are the new scapegoats of late. Sigh...we really seem to be the nation that doesnt give a hoot about education but loves big business and reality TV, how embarrassing for a nation this great to be this backwards about the basics.
We averted a shutdown for now and it's a good thing because who knows what a shutdown might have meant for the nation and of course me and my fellow federal workers.
OMG, Poetry! I took a poetry workshop and it has totally helped to develop my voice as a poet just as the creative writing workshop helped my short stories. I'm serious, it's crazy on the page over this way. LOL!
I lost a very close cousin to a long illness and the memorial service was lovely and appropriate for the mourners in attendance. Although I don't subscribe to heaven, I honestly believe she is in a better place and I love and miss her very much. Her life was celebrated as she would have wished...gobs of family and friends eating laughing and most of all playing cards (you couldnt touch her in a game of Spades) in tribute to her beautiful light. You should all be jealous you arent in my family...I know for a fact how lucky I am to be apart of this particular grouping of people.
Weight Watchers is going well. I finally found a groove and stopped half-assing it. The program is really awesome and easy as all get out (whatever that is). I will be attending Dragon Con this year (September)and can't wait. If I didnt have to fly there I would totally do the costume thing!
The Guthries are well and we had a great time with them in Arizona and the Grand Canyon (I am a winner for sure in the family and friends department. I mean it is crazy how good people can be and how they can enhance your life whether near or far).
Ponies B and C are doing well. Pony B is back from her graduate studies for good soon so the stable will be more...stable (heh heh). Oh, James Taylor in concert on the 22nd and then SADE in July! I know...its crazy awesome. Then it is off to Austin with Trista and Myclette in June for the Chocolate Trifecta yearly trip!
My locs are long and nicely maintained thanks to a new loctician and my health is stellar save the extra weight.
Ava-Bear is just as yummy and delicious as ever. She had the nerve to turn a year old and she has grown finally, what short little thing she is! We have discovered that she is NOT a fan of playground swings or outdoors activites in general which is hilarious to because she very clearly has preferences. Too much! LOL! Myclette and the rest of the Lavalais family are going great, she is doing the South Beach Diet and it looks like it is going awesome for her! I know the food looks great! LOL.
I'm still cooking up a storm and all the pics are on Facebook.
I don't remember the last time I had a shitty year in the last 3 and a half and that is including the fact that I start paying back my student loans this year (yeah that's right, I pay my debts no matter how steep), LOL. My savings is actually something to sing about now and I can't imagine how much more positive things could get but I know they will because I am actually working on my actual draft of the Soveriegn Chronicles, the Artist wants to see the first chapter by May 15.
Keep the positive, dump the negative and pay your debts...yeah, its that simple.
Karmically Yours
Us!

Colonize This

2011-03-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

Okay so I saw Battle: L.A. over the past weekend and I can’t lie, it was really quite good. I love a good war movie and more so I love science fiction/apocalypse scenarios more than anything!!! It had action, it had a bit of drama. It told the story of colonization from the point of view of the colonized so to speak.

Now when I think of colonization I think of indigenous people being massacred, stripped of their language and culture, their progeny corrupted and their women reduced to objects and brood-mares for slavers and industry robber-barons.

This movie showed the invading force as non-negotiable murderers set on destroying the population and strip mining of the territory for resources and honestly it made me feel all warm and tingly. But then, I love an apocalypse! I mean I love a straight-up scorched earth teardown and this movie delivers…for the most part. I mean it started out strong but it lost me a little when three children came on the scene, two white one Hispanic. Now the Hispanic child was with his father, the two white children were with an Aunt, fine. The Hispanic father, upon meeting up with the soldiers, most of whom were Marines, immediately offers up his son of about nine years old for use in any way to the soldiers, no such offers from the Aunt. Hector is immediately made an honorary junior Marine and told to be a good Marine, to be brave, to be a good little Marine (said what seems like repeatedly to me in the film) Okay. The other two kids get no such pep talks, not once (not even when they are holding up the rescue efforts significantly later in the film mind you), what they do get is held and covered almost constantly.

Later Hector’s dad, on his deathbed after being fatally shot by an invader during his act of heroism (he picks up a gun to protect a soldiers life) speaks of his cowardice before the incident and then passes away. Well now Hector gets another speech about being a good Marine and his a brave boy in the face of his father’s death and the continuous onslaught of the invading force (this film seriously moves my friends). I love this movie and would watch it again for the whole apocalyptic aspect but I did not appreciate in the least, the Hispanic dad throwing his son the military nor did I appreciate the sort of G.I. Joe dude (played well by Ekhart) reiterating the importance of Hector as a Marine. Maybe it’s me but that is very uncomfortable, especially since some studies show a disproportionate number of minorities joining the military than their non-ethnic counterparts. Now if ALL three children were told to be brave, be strong, be good little Marines, then I would be just fine but that is not what happened….

Now as far as science fiction goes, this movie is thumbs-up, the military commercial geared at what seems like a particular group---I do not dig that. But to be fair, who the heck am I? I got no problem with military recruitment, not at all. I almost joined the military myself about a thousand years ago and my family is fairly militarily inclined but watching Hector being absorbed by the military before he can even do long division was a bit much to watch…I mean, maybe Hector was the one who was ultimately being colonized...

I made the mistake of mentioning my issue with the film on my facebook page and had to back out of the conversation because discussions of race seem too out of place for that forum.

Later taters

Stay cool with Karma

Us!

I Think a Change is in order

2011-02-19T19:08:00.000-06:00

I used to really focus on science fiction reading and writing on this blog and I am going to get back to that starting now. There is very little representation of black females in science fiction and it is really puzzling to me because the black women I know are living and striving in unreal conditions in reality on a daily basis. I think that Sanaa Lathan’s Character in Alien vs Predator speaks to the resilience of the fairer sex in stressful situations.

That’s not a great picture but you get the idea. Now a lot of folks didn't really dig the movie but I did. I say, put a predator in anything and I’m there! I’m not really looking for reality when I watch a movie with a title like Alien Vs Predator but some people require more in their science fiction cache. Now for some inexplicable reason, every time there is a role for a black woman, Halle Berry or Zoe Saldana get the role. Why are we under-utilizing Regina King, Nia Long, and a host of other black actresses? I’ll give you 3 guesses and the first 2 dont count. Do me a favor, when you get a chance, watch Sanaa in Alien Vs. Predator and tell what you think…

Later, and as always

Happy Karma!

Oh Snap! The New Year is Here! this list is incomplete

2011-01-03T11:44:00.002-06:00

Now I used to be one of those folks who would have nothing but negativity clouding my end of year, but not this time. As a matter of fact last new years was good but 2010 one was GREAT! Man, this year was a lot of transition, the good kind, and a lot of changes, again, the good kind. I had so much to learn, and I did learn a lot and so much to appreciate, and I did that as well. And I actually have resolutions, which I like to call, plans so that I make a serious effort to accomplish my goals.

1. Write for publication to the tune of a solid 100 bucks a month in freelance. Now I did some writing but I wasnt consistent so I didnt really do the earning on the side that I could have.
2. Write a screenplay with my closest friends, The gang of Big Doofus Productions or BDP. We lack follow through on a lot of really good (or rather, so-good-it's-bad, type) projects that I think it is criminal for us not to pursue them fully. I think if someone as scatterbrained as I am can focus then the others of my group will surely be able to stay plugged in!
3. Learn about Wine! My palate for wine is very under developed and I would really like to start learning to pair wines with the fancy-dancy meals I cook. My cousin let me try a sweet red that I adore now. It's German and it is called Funf (which translates to Five in English). It's not terribly expensive and it is more than palatable. It is to be chilled which I really prefer for right now. Usually red wine is really dry to me or at the least, bitter, but this one is delightful!
4. Gym! Okay, okay, I was semi-conscious of my weight loss goals, but life was so freaking interesting and fun that I really did pencil out all my gym time but no more!

to be continued
happy karma,
Us!

Let's See

2011-01-02T03:49:00.001-06:00

I turned 39, Dec 20, 2010 and closed out the year with a killer party at my cousins house. This year has been great! Sure I had some bumps but I put my head down and really dug deep to get myself more efficient at work, and straight A's in school. I connected with family and friends that I didnt know I missed and was all the better for it. I learned more about who I am and what my priorities and goals are and should be in the future. I accepted some important truths about myself and the people in my life. I had a good year all in all and I anticipate that the next one will be stellar as well. My Solstice was fantastic! My aunt got me a new machete (she knows I collect swords and knives), for some reason Mom gave a purse (I think even she thought it was a bit odd because she got me a black pre-lit Christmas tree (yeah for Halloween 2011, what can I say, I'm quirky and luckily, the people in my life accept it) and asked to trade it for the dainty little Dooney and Burke (I understand this is some fancy-pants brand or rather was...whatever). I got fancy towels from my Uncle (every nice towel I have, he and his wife have bought, because they rock!), A nice bottle of wine, from my cousin, and just tons of great company and love. I visited a few places in 2010, DragonCon (baddest sci-fi/fantasy convention on the planet), The Grand Canyon, the Guthries, Cleveland, and a number of local events.
My 2010 was lovely, and I am grateful to have had it.
The universe provides.
Happy Karma,
Us.

The Pagan in Me

2010-12-24T00:19:00.000-06:00

loves this episode of Seinfeld because I would love a holiday that was openly all about the person worshiping rather than the fake platitudes of whats really available....

Enjoy!
Happy Karma
Us

What's With

2010-12-05T19:30:00.002-06:00

with all the crazy weather around here lately. I like to think that it has to do with the changes of the people affected, hopefully for the better. I wonder about where we might be going socially and politically in the Dirty South. I have a lot to keep me thinking we wont ever cease being a region run by fear, oil and good ole boys but the optimist in me wont let me go completely over the edge.

In other news, The Guthries will be here for New Years which is awesome. I miss my progressive, forward thinking friends. To be fair I have plenty progressive, forward thinking friends around me but they don't really share my spiritual point of view as well as the Guthries, Queen Guthrie in particular. So I can't wait. I still wanna visit Suzy-Q in California but I was just too busy and bogged down to orchestrate it this year. Between getting promoted at work (which came with a nice increase to say the least, not having to worry about money all the time eases a lot of stress), getting school straight for next semester, trying for a part time teaching gig at the local community college (I turned down that position with University of Phoenix after doing a bit of research on them. Yeah, no thanks!), travel took a huge back seat after my trip to Atlanta in September for Dragon-Con.
I need to get my annual trip to the Grand Canyon together for February and then there is the trip to Italy and of course Next year's Dragon Con to think about.
My finals are next week and then I will be free and clear until the middle of January. The private Catholic University I attend has a ton of activities planned for the holiday season and even though Christmas doesn't speak to me spiritually, I do love the decorations, the food, the symbology and of course the historical elements of the faith.
I'm happy and I deserve to be. So do you.
I'm still dealing in Karma of course and I try to keep it positive and only invite positivity into my space and let me tell you, I can't believe that it's only been 3 years since my life took a turn for the BETTER and I don't even remember the bitter, broken-hearted soul I was.
I remember when I said that my heart had been broken 3 years ago and I got laughter from the offending party and the partner in residence at the time for my trouble. Oh how I wished some heavy stuff on them and was miserable everyday thinking about how I wanted their lives to fail. I hate the person I was when I wished them ill. I can't even begin to think about how pathetic you have to be to wish someone bad because you feel bad. I really hope they are well and not just because I am. I hope they are well because we all deserve happiness, contentment and respect.
Although I have to say that I still have a hard time respecting women who pursue men in relationships even if they aren't married; I still find it desperate and despicable and if a women believes that a man she shares space with is fair game until a ring is on the finger is a different creature from me wholly. I mean I was living with him and supporting their conversations and instant messages at the time and getting over reading them messages about ME was hard to do but I did. I learned from that that women should practice more solidarity and respect for one another even if it means being alone until the relationship changes organically. I have to appreciate them for that because I really believe women owe one another something and I make it a point to practice this belief completely. Thanks for that folks, sincerely.
That ugly stuff is for sure water under the bridge and I am much better for the lessons learned from my sister females in pursuit of men.
Be kind, respect the space of others and above all, pay your debts.

Happy Karma
Us!

I'm Inspired to Write by

2010-12-03T19:31:00.001-06:00

Reading authors who know and love their audience. When I was a kid, I was emotional, and quiet, Oh I was pretty funny when I chose to open my mouth but mostly I was a shy, crybaby book worm. One day I was sitting in the living room reading Iggy's House by Judy Blume circa 1970. That book made me feel so grown up because it was a young adult book and I was not even close to being a young adult, and it dealt with friends moving and interestingly enough, race. I recommend the book to any kid who just wants to read about something that is not saccharine and doesn't have a multitude of sexual context like a number of the young adult books going around right now.
Anyway, the main character Winnie wasn't a carbon copy of the people around her, she was a kid and she was important enough to write about. I found this so inspiring because I felt, tiny, sad and insignificant with my oddities, gap-tooth grin which I constantly tried to hide, kinky hair and dark skin. That book made me feel important. The writer didnt know me but she me made me feel important. she made me think about life beyond my pre-pubescent melodramatic angsty existence and on the day I finished that book, I began to write myself into being. I placed myself in interesting places and vowed to visit New York since that was where Iggy moved to in the book. I am inspired by writers who know their audience and everything I write is written with my audience in mind and I have Judy Blume to thank for that initially and a multitude of others to thank subsequently.
I am inspired to write by female writers who write about females in ways that matter to females.
I know it's kinda sappy but hey, it's true and it's me.
Happy Karma

To The Veteran's in My Life and Your's--Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T00:29:00.000-06:00

I'm off today, another perk of working for the Federal Government, a good number of days off outside of major holidays. Nothing at all like the special hell of retail, what with the one day off for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yuck. Oh, and since I have that Alternative Work Schedule, I get every other Monday off, and guess what that means for this Weekend? You guessed it, I am working Friday but then Saturday, Sunday and Monday belong to me! I am also off the Monday after Thanksgiving also...and I dont even celebrate Thanks-taking day (too many Native American and Pagan friends)
I am so busy this weekend though so I don't know how much me time I'll actually get. My friends Chuck and J are having their Houston Wedding Reception on Saturday (they got married in Oklahoma over Halloween weekend. How cool is that?), I have to get my pedicure, massage and the other 2 tires I haven't had time to get during the week. We absolutely have to get new curtains or I am gonna lose it! I hate the bamboo blinds we have and oddly enough, the Artist is sick of them now too! Hopefully I can talk him into a new dining table. He doesn't think its a good use of space because it is the perfect place for painting and writing and sticking a bistro table there sends everyone to the den to create and that room is just so small compared to the openness of every other room in the house. No one gets anything done in the living room because of that television and PS3 that seduces you, LOL! Friday I am gonna try to get the dreads maintained after work. Oh crap, tomorrow I have to finish registration for next semester. I really need to start writing this crap in a planner. The Artist tries to keep track of everything but it doesn't help when I forget. Now the plan is for me to make little notes on a post it which I have to carry with me all the time and then give them to him daily. Much better system!
OMG! Ava's Christening is Sunday for the Christian folks in her life and then there is her sage smudging that is gonna be done by none other than yours truly. My little sweet potato wants to walk so bad she can taste it! LOL! I also need to see my God-Big-Girl, Jaoinna Bear. She is getting so big and her vocabulary is growing pretty steady.

I talked to an old professor and she agreed to let me enroll in her graduate poetry class for next semester which is fantastic! So now I have my Education course handled and my elective handled. Oh to get into her class you have to have her permission, and I figured she'd say yes since she published 3 of my shorts in Laurels.
Karma!
Us!

The Path to Enlightement is Within cuz it sure aint at no Mega Church

2010-11-07T21:10:00.000-06:00

Howdy Howdy!

I haven't had the time to come here lately but it's for reasons that are nice and easy breezy for the most part. Today the Artist and I went to the Chung Mei Buddhist Temple (click the link for info). A wonderful experience to say the least. I have a bunch of photos of my time there (you can only see them as my pal on facebook though). The inside of the Colombarium (burial chamber for urns) was off limits today as a health symposium was under way at the main temple. The people were very nice and inviting. I never felt that level of welcome at any church save the one I grew up in back in Mississippi. The structure of prayer and mediation really spoke to the Agnostic in the Artist and the Pagan in me. The grounds at the temple proper are even more impressive. I spied the temple a while ago when taking Mom shopping and told myself that at some point I would come back and speak to someone. So After seeing "For Colored Girls" alone, the Artist has to read the play first, I headed home, grabbed the Artist and headed to the temple. The Monks were wonderful. And invited us to English Buddhist class on Sunday at 1:30 pm. One Monk in particular took us into the main temple and talked to us about the shrines and the sculptures of the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas that graced the walls. I explained that I am a believer in Karma and wanted to really learn the foundations of the Buddhist faith and I would really like a bit of structure to my worship of nature without all the self righteousness and the nastiness I always found in the Christian Church. Rather than just "praying on it" the practice of Buddhism stresses the solving of ones problems and the accepting of responsibility over the choices we make in our lives rather than blaming the so-called Devil. I haven't practiced Christianity in more than 15 years maybe and let me say, I'm no worse for wear, hell if anything I all the better for it. I just dont subscribe to a faith that keeps women in the role of servant and keeps some people from living a truly free existence. Oh but dont worry, Christians usually dont mind if you die for them in war, they just dont want you declaring your love for people they dont approve of...yeah, no thanks.
Now I aint saying that I plan on becoming a Buddhist but I will say any faith that starts with the insistence that we sit daily and work out the problems in our lives, on paper if you have to, but most certainly the major philosophy of the religion is self responsibility and my personal favorite, SELF IMPROVEMENT. Anyway, my salmon and spinach is getting cold and I kinda wanna play a bit of Fallout 3 before hitting the hay.

Peace love and of course Karma!
Us!

Early Voting!

2010-10-23T11:36:00.002-05:00

Off to pick up mom and head to the early voting station nearest the house! The Artist will go this evening, he stayed up late to work or either play Fallout 3, LOL. At any rate get out and vote!

more later my Karmic Cuties!

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2010-10-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, a lame title but what can I say? I'm Happy and Joyful! My time of year is here and I am in the zone!!! I am doing well at work, learning a lot daily! I love the challenge and the money for sure but it is indeed a good challenge. I really want to do well and excel in service to our veterans. I find myself extremely passionate about my roll in caring for the women and men who protect our freedoms and risk life, limb, and family in their commitment to our safety and the safety of people around the world. I have decided to get involved in more projects that aid and attend to the needs of America's veterans.

Anyway, I was supposed to go to the Renaissance Fest today but me and my friends decided that October 31 would be a better day since that will be the weekend that they do their All Hallows Eve celebrations and of course I love all things Pagan in nature! Oh! There is a Buddhist Temple that I am gonna visit and maybe chat with some of the people about the practice of Buddhism and the lifestyle that accompanies a life in pursuit of balance. Its truly a beautiful way of life. Peaceful and purposefully giving to the world and to other people what is deserved; kindness and most of all, Respect. Good stuff!

OH! I went to the farmers market yesterday and OMG! Great haul! Got some really interest things to try!

I am cooking the collard greens and smoked turkey wings for dinner today!

Love and Light my friends!
Karma loves balance...tip the scales in her honor
Us!

test

2010-10-10T15:18:00.002-05:00

this is a test

Do-Overs!

2010-10-10T14:43:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I love a good Do-Over. I mean the total tear-down, build-up sorta Do-Over. It is hard and almost always grueling and painful but the rewards are always worth the trouble. Three years ago I had a Do-Over moment. I was pretty unhappy, a job I didn't care for that was thankless for the most part and there were people in my life that I most certainly would not welcome into my life today---and that really had a lot to do with what I thought I deserved at the time and at THAT time I didn't feel as if I deserved much and so I accepted a normal that was well below what I deserved---well there were a lot of components missing from my life at the time. I was really down for a time and then I decided that I had been given a chance at a Do-Over and I took it and ran. Have not looked back since.
1. I have amazing friends in my life who help me realize my worth and recognize when I squander my potential (a kick in the pants every so often keeps you on task).
2. I have beautiful children in my life to adore and spoil!
3. I have a job that I actually enjoy that helps people and has the added bonus of upgrading my lifestyle drastically! Not that I need to acquire a ton of "things" but having the "option" changes things for the better!!
4. I am back in touch with my spirituality and my Pagan lifestyle. Refreshing is the only way to describe it! Zen!
I firmly believe that every downturn or setback, no matter how devastating and painful is the Universe giving us a chance to learn and start again with knew, knowledge and new circumstances. Honestly, when you lose something you should really take a good look at what you lost and what you gained from the loss will be the new jump off point. Just let go of the loss and jump...let that dead weight eat your dust. Sure life ain't rainbows and butterflies all the time but hell compared to the life I had 3 years ago...I am in a lovely living dream.
Oh SNAP! I almost forgot, years and years ago, my poetry along with the work of many other fine writers and poets was performed by a group called Urban Aphrodite and now the troupe is performing some of my poetry again in AMSTERDAM!!! How freaking awesome is that!? Ann James, the founder of Urban Aphrodite is a wonderful artist and producer!

Happy Karma Folks....Happiness is the ultimate Aphrodisiac! Oh and congratulations to my dear sweet potato Amy who is getting married to day! I cant wait to see her walk down the isle and get hitched to a wonderful man!
Us!

zSHARE video - QFN-CLNY102.flv

2010-10-06T19:21:00.000-05:00

This show (The Colony) is actually on its second season but trust me, if you watch this episode of Season 1 episode 1 you will be hooked. Well if you like apocalypse scenarios which I'm quite partial to. It airs on the discovery channel. As anyone can tell you, I like sci-fi but my particular sci-fi niche is Apocalypse or Doomsday scenarios. I love a good Do-Over! Just Check it out if you get the chance!

Karma's watching, look busy
Us!

zSHARE video - QFN-CLNY102.flv

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

2010-09-23T22:35:00.003-05:00

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX
For the first time since 1991, there will be (or rather was)a full moon on the autumnal equinox. I plane to go outside and commune with the Universe (from the safety of my patio of course). I plan to light some candles and reflect on this change of the season and think about how I can move into a new season of my own life. We always have opportunities to transform ourselves and make changes for the better, especially during setbacks. When things take a downturn we can use that opportunity to sharpen our bounce back skills. Believe me, I know...anyway,
I am taking this time of year to do some fall cleaning and to get ready for my favorite seasons--fall and winter. All Hallows Eve is coming up quick and I really need to get my gourds out and prepare for the Solstice. Nature does her best to give us the chance to change and transform with her. Maybe we should all take the hint.
The cool air here in the Lone Star State is a welcome change! I plan to spend an entire day enjoying the weather and the Museum Day Open House that is all day on Saturday. Free admission for all of the museums in the district and a shuttle to take you from place to place! Can't Wait! My little sweet potato love her vamplet baby that I got her from Dragon Con. It came with a wee baby bottle of blood and Ava can be seen turning the bottle up in an effort to drink the contents...LOL, yep she is apart of the right village!

Karma Kalls!
Don't make her shout...

Hope you had a Happy Harvest Moon!

2010-09-13T13:35:00.000-05:00

Bah! I am editing a story that I had published in my University's Literary Journal a couple of years ago but I can't tell what is wrong with it even though I know for a fact that there is much wrong with the thing!
It feels awkward at the end and the pacing is off as well. Plus the death of one of the characters is just a cop out, seriously. Hmmmm, I was up at 4 am this morning writing, editing and tweaking things with various writing projects but this is the one I really want to fix and submit. Raspberries!
Anyway, I did manage to get in some SyFy(Sci-Fi) channel viewing and let me tell you it was really inspiring. Well, in a weird sort of way. I write sci-fi, speculative and fantasy when I am not writing non-fiction on the topic of women's studies.
Now that I work for the government I have a bit of a boost from a certain technical point of view that I want to now explore.
Wait, I was talking about a movie I saw on SyFy.
Yeah, it was called "Goblin" and it wasnt half bad in that the origins of the Goblin was pagan in nature. Now I of course don't really appreciate the idea of moving everything pagan into some so-called Satanist category because frankly, pagans don't believe in the devil, or Satan or whatever you wanna call him/her/it, but if you were writing for the average monster movie watcher then hey, Goblin=Pagan=Satanic. Anyway the actors were woeful of course and there was the gratuitous death of the young loose blonde girl and the safety of the pretty young and of course virginal bestfriend.
The production values were hilarious! At one point a black blanket flying through the air, pulled by an obvious string could be seen quite clearly. Still, I kinda dug it all, but then I like bad monster movie cinema.
I capped off the night with The Guild (www.watchtheguild.com) and latest episode of The Colony (If you love tales of the Apocalypse like I do then this reality show is for you). The show is shown on the Discovery Channel. It is a social experiment and it can get very graphic and violent in nature. The current season has the 10 volunteers who get NO MONEY for being on the show, living as survivors of a biological extinction level event in a decimated area of the Gulf Coast in an area that was hit by Hurricane Katrina. They sign a waiver stating that they understand the strenous nature of the experiment and that they will not be compensated monitarily. They have to scavenge for food, shelter and components to create a decent existence (Power is a big issue). They do receive off screen help from a liscenced psychologist, engineer, and physician and all must get physicals before being accepted into the experiment. They are chosen from all walks of life and it is amazing to see the kind of skills that are a necessity when the proverbial shit hits the fan. Whew! it is really an amazing study and it gives insights into the human psyche once we are submerged in a certain reality.
Well that is all for now...Kiss Karma like you mean it, she certainly does!
Peace
Us!

Dragon Con

2010-09-07T13:46:00.000-05:00

was AWESOME! I had the best time. I took a ton of pictures and video and really enjoyed some panels that I didn't think that I would have. I loved the panel that the American Sci-Fi Media track hosts that is all about fans discussing old sci-fi shows and trends in contrast to the new stuff that is going on right now. Now we talked about the new SyFy channel line up that features what hearkens back to the old "creature feature" Saturday night drive in movies of the past. You know, stuff like Dino-Shark, Croco-saurus and of course Mega-Squid vs. Mega-Shark, one of them had Debbie Gibson in which for me, was actually a draw. Now SyFy (which is their new name since NBC bought the name "sci-fi" for their own use) contrasts their B movie line up with really good series programming like Haven and of course Eureka! which I now have a new respect and love for.
I love the contrast of trash and treasure and honestly with science fiction I think there really is room for both coal and diamond.
whatever, I lived Dragon-Con, just as I did last year and I already have my ticket for next year. I'll have a better review a little later, I'm kind of under the weather and I havent uploaded all of my pics and vids yet.

I'll check you later

Be good to Karma, she knows where the bodies are buried
Peace and Love
Us!

A while ago I mentioned something about settling

2010-08-23T17:56:00.000-05:00

for less than you deserve in life. I wanted to clarify what exactly I was referring to. You can call it a mid-life crisis I suppose (I do) or you don't have to classify it as anything in particular. Whatever, I'm rambling...I turn 39 this year and honestly I'm okay with it for the most part. Now I'm not thrilled to death to approaching the big 4-0 but hey at least I still approaching things, if you get my meaning.
The thing is, I'm getting on in years and I still have a bunch of things I want to get done, ya know. Not necessarily a bucket list, more like a list of deeds accomplished by the Tammie Snowden Foundation (that's what I sometimes call my collective years of life). I like to think of myself as a company that was established in December of 1971 to enhance the life of the young upstart and founder whom I refer to as Mom. Now since the foundation's inception, there have been many goals and accomplishments, there was the Shoe-tying of 1974, the momentous reading of picture books of 1975 a full year and a half ahead of schedule,
likewise there have been some setbacks such as the great squandering of talent back in 1990 that lasted roughly until about the spring of 1993 when I finally enrolled in college (I had graduated high school in 1991 and took some time to uhm "find myself"). To the foundation's surprise, I wasn't lost I was actually just lazy.
Later milestones included the first House Party of 1984 (thanks Bridget) and of course the First Real Boyfriend of Highschool (that would be you Roderick--you were cool then and you're cool now). Now that the Foundation has matured (well, to a degree) there are some more serious milestones that have been realized like the First Apartment alone of ...can't remember and First car of...get this...2009 (yeah, to be fair I moved around a lot and I didnt know if I would be good for motoring, well that and the crazy debt from that whole first line of credit fiasco of 1994 and the subsequent Paying off a ton of dumb debt conclusion of 2008--this really set the foundation back a few years. Moving along there was the first trip out of the country of 2002 (Jamaica) followed by the Are you Crazy you cant travel overseas after what happened to the Towers of 2003 (English Countryside and London).
The foundation has been busy sure, what with the Published Work in a Literary Journal of 2004 and the Head shaving and dreadlock growing of 2002-Present.
The Foundation has only scratched the surface of the all the things it needs/wants to accomplish. this is how I (the Foundation) ended up with whole settling epiphany.
I have always been a bit of a free spirit and I've always been pretty careful about not getting stuck in a rut, but now I feel like I need to move a little faster. I got no real beefs with work, frankly I like what I do, I got no beef with school, I like that too.
I just have so much on my list that I wondered if I should just scrap the list and cruise since everything's going good and I got my health. Well I took it to the Board of Directors and frankly I was laughed out of the meeting. I think I'll keep having my adventures and grab what can from the Universe. The Foundation was pleased and agreed to fund the turning forty trip of 2012 a full year early in 2011.
At any rate, dont settle, and neither will the Foundation
Happy Karma!
Us!

Alienation of Affection

2010-08-16T14:36:00.002-05:00

I was reading about Fantasia Barino of American Idol fame and apparently she is facing some tough times due to some choices she made regarding the husband of a woman in North Carolina. Reports indicate that the scorned wife could file an alienation of affection lawsuit against Fantasia. The woman claims that she has a tape of her husband and Ms Barino in a compromising position during their marriage.

There a few states left that still allow alienation of affection lawsuits: Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. It seems pretty plausible to me that southern states and Utah would have these laws but Illinois seemed a bit less conservative to me, of course it was an assumption based on what I know of Illinois which is honestly not much.
Anyway, the lawsuit would pretty much hinge on whether or not the married couple were legally separated before or after Antwuan Cook and Fantasia became involved.

There have been successful lawsuits against "home-wreckers" in the past so, I can see how Fantasia might feel overwhelmed by the idea of going broke behind something she may not have been privy to.

I referenced this topic because I wanna know what people think about "alienation of affection" and if anyone thinks this nothing more than a chance to get legal revenge against a woman or man who crossed over into someone else's yard.
I've got my ideas about men and women who cheat. I think dudes who cheat and the chicks who get with them pretty much deserve one another for a couple of reasons,
1. You get what you pay for, and when you get a person who will literally betray someone they claimed to love to their faces, well, you end up paying for it big time.
2. Sometimes, people are meant to be together. I mean, hey, sometimes people really arent meant for one another, and the heart just wants what the heart wants (of course they should let one another know before they set out to betray and lie and such).
3. There's something to be said for a person who chooses to make the mistake that the cuckoled (sp) spouse has no idea they are making. Seriously, you set out to win over someone who obviously doesnt value the committments they make? That's pretty ballsy and certainly ill-advised but yeah, it takes a bullet proof soul and massive cajones.

What about relationships that are not recognized by a court of law? I mean some people believe that cheating is only cheating if one is married. I think that is a big ass cop-out.

Not everyone believes that a piece of paper makes a relationship, I'm one of those people.
Not everyone is allowed to get married in our great United States and they certainly consider their relationships to be quite important and most certainly valid.

If two people make a clear commitment to one another, profess love for one another then fidelity is certainly implied, yeah but nice try.
Think of relaitonships you had as a young person in highschool even. You werent married but the pain of the breakup didnt recognize the fact that you hadnt flown in relatives and made them RSVP for chicken or fish.
People who use this line of reasoning are a bit suspect to me, for reasons I won't mention.

At any rate, can one really steal affection if a significant other is out there handing out the supposed exclusive love and attention they claimed was all for you? What say you?

Happy Karma
Us!

Mama's Got A Brand New Prompt.

2010-08-11T13:07:00.001-05:00

I haven't been able to write as freely as I once could for some reason and a friend suggested that I leave the idea part of writing to someone else. So she sent me over to MamaKatsLosinit.com for some inspiration...So Here it goes.

Lou Holtz (don’t ask me who that is) once said, “life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” Do you believe this? Describe a time when you feel like you could have responded a different way and produced a different outcome.

I agree with Lou Holtz's statement.
Life is about choices and decisions based on those choiceless, sometimes random things that float into our lives and threaten to decide a course for us. Now if we do nothing and just let what happens to us, well, "happen" then we are not living our lives and that, to me, is the biggest offense to the whoevers and the whatevers that put you on this big blue marble.
That being said, how about a story?
Some years ago I was in a relationship (or rather I thought I was, he on the other hand, thought different). Well the relationship went south in a big way.
He left and three months later he was married to someone else.
It hurt, BAD.
The way I dealt with the emotions associated with the breakup are indicative of the amount of control I felt that I had over my life at the time and the amount of worth I placed on the person I was at the time.
I was angry and my way of dealing with it was not all productive and it really added undue drama and trauma to my life.
The truth is that what happened was pretty minor in the grand scheme of things (the dude wasn't the man for me by any stretch of the imagination and I was certainly not the woman for him) but my reaction to it amplified it beyond reason.
I would have healed faster and would have been more open to genuinely good people sooner had I reacted from a place of reason rather than emotion. I should have assessed why I would want such an individual in my life and recognized that focusing on such a train wreck of a relationship only trapped me in place, a bad place. In my case a 10% incident received a 90% reaction and caused 100% stagnation.
I'd say Lou Holtz nailed it!

Happy Karma!
Us!

If you really think that...

2010-07-30T13:52:00.000-05:00

being unemployed is fun or a vacation I'm gonna ask you go straight to ...
The idea that extending unemployment benefits after this whole bank/wall street debacle is creating a hand out system is ill informed at best.

When I was layed off I didnt get the chance to lounge on the couch or anything but I did need the help that unemployment (money that they had taken out of my check when I was working as a conting...ency should one become layed off) gave me. I didnt qualify for any of those 100 grand a year jobs or anything so I had to look for a job that I was qualified for. Since the pool of people looking for those jobs was larger than those in the 100 grand a year range, my search was pretty difficult. I was terrified as anyone who suddenly becomes unemployed can likely attest to, so I never got the chance to weigh the pros and cons of either laying on the couch or earning an honest day's wage.

None of the people I met at the Texas Employment Commission at the time seemed excited about the prospect of getting a third of what they were making as employed citizens from the government and what used to be their tax dollars. You only get unemployment if you were employed and then were let go because of the company could no longer use you or afford you, so you are getting your own money back essentially. You only get a fraction of what you once earned and that is not enough to lay about on.

I didnt qualify for food stamps while I was unemployed, many don't (I'll try and find the numbers on this, I used to know them when I was unemployed).

I was only unemployed for about 6 weeks and I bit my effing nails everyday that no one called me back. I had 2 degrees at the time and took a pay cut (which is tough in retail management) to get back to work. I luckily didnt have kids to feed.

That was a while ago and I dont have these issues any more but that doesnt mean that the issues dont exist for anyone else. The presumption that we know someone else's life is a narrow view and completely irrelevant one.
I say help people who had jobs and lost them because of big business and fancy math that is indecipherable until millions find themselves out of work and summarily demonized because of it.

I've lived around good people who felt desparate and it is dangerous. You dont want desparate people living around you.

That's the last thing we need in the country right now.

Karma--blame it on you, not Me!
Us!

Freedom

2010-07-26T13:21:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about Freedom and what it means to me lately...I know that financial stability is very freeing. I can make plans in a way I couldn't before and that really feels free!
I know that mental freedom means the ability to process feelings in a way that encourages you to rejoice in your victories and learn/grow from your setbacks (I refuse to say defeats).

My meditations (typically done while on the floormats for stretching at the gym these days) help me see how I have freed myself from self-imposed prisons and how I can break free of boundaries that inhibit my success. It's difficult to do because the bottom line is always the Self. How I feel depends on Me, how I behave depends on me and how think depends on me and only me.
I'm free because everything in my little life depends solely on little ole me. While it's freeing it also a little terrifying, because rejoicing in the ups means taking responsibilty for the downs. That is hard but its the truth and living the truth is the ultimate freedom in my book.

Just a little reflection.
Have a Karmically Charmed day!
Us!

Curry was the Case that They Gave Me

2010-07-25T01:21:00.000-05:00

Today I made curry. You know, mortar and pestle to crush the herbs, the coconut milk and jasmine rice. Everyone was please if I do say so myself. It was nice to be back in the kitchen after so long. cover your chicken with the herbs and spices and pan sear briefly in olive oil.

Get the aromatics going. I kept it simple with just onions and bell pepper.

Drain off the oil from your chicken, and add 8oz of either water or in my case, chicken broth, add the aromatics and add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of coconut milk.

Start your rice...cook according to package instructions....This fragrant and taste rice adds another level of flavor to the dish.

Simmer your chicken for about 30 minutes. I didn't add cornstarch because it's summer and it seemed too heavy, so I thought a nice light curry broth would be best.

That's all for tonight.
Watch that Karma so you dont have to watch your back.
Love and Light

Us!

This is what happens when no one fact checks

2010-07-23T13:36:00.000-05:00

So everyone knows about the whole Sherrod debacle by now and my only question is for the left. WTH? No one is in charge of fact checking? Why would you even attempt to take anything these days at face value without giving it at least a preliminary scan if you're just not interested in some long-drawn out in depth probe? I expect what I expect from the Right. Period. They haven't surprised me yet unfortunately. But come on Left...you know better than to hop-to based on anything out of the jowls of the Right.
Now I'm no Lefty nor am I on the Right but I'm certainly a liberal and even I don't take everything I read in my favorite liberal rags and podcasts at face value.
Heads have already rolled, so now what? Unreal!

On another topic :
HUD AND VA LAUNCH $15 MILLION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO PREVENT VETERAN HOMELESSNESS
New effort to benefit homeless prevention programs near five military bases.
Under the new Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Program (VHPD), existing HUD grantees or 'Continuums of Care' located near the following military installations will each receive $2 million: MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida; Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California; Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas; Fort Drum in Watertown, New York; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington. In addition, VA medical centers in the following areas will each receive $1 million: Tampa, San Diego, Dallas, Syracuse, New York; and American Lake in Washington.

Excellent! I am behind any program that helps citizens who are without adequate resources. I know some awesome veterans (and some LESS than awesome ones) and have more than a few vets in my family. I like knowing that we (as a Nation) are constantly working to get it right for our soldiers and their families.
I tell my conservative friends that the one thing you dont want is a bunch of impoverished and desparate people living around you (especially ones with combat training). Rather than running them off, why not help? You never know when someone is going to have to pick you, dust you off and give you back some basic dignities. Everyone is worth something (even if all they do to brighten your life is get their toxic behinds out of your life each person is worth at least a little something).

Anyway, it's Friday so it's Happy Hour night with some friends from my bookstore days (damn I loved that job--before all the crazy changes). No gym today which may change if I can get in a 15 minute sprint directly after work, of course I could always go later since it's 24Hour Fitness, meh, we'll see. I'm trying to get into tip top shape for my annual trip to the Grand Canyon and this time I really wanna get down and back up Bright Angel Trail.
Bah! For Ren Faire I am gonna be a Barbarian Fairy. I know it sounds kinda crazy and really silly but I like Barbarians and Fairies so...why not a marriage?
I know, lame, but I dont mind lame if you have a good time and no one gets hurt.

Love and Light
Good Karma to all
Us!

Other Stuff I Dig

2010-07-21T21:16:00.001-05:00

I use my iPhone at the gym because I can listen to Pandora radio. If you don't know what this is then let me tell you, its only the best internet radio (for free) that I have come across in the hot minute that I have been all tech savvy. You can create a radio station around a song you like by simply pressing the create station tab and typing in the name of the song! Pandora then opens up a world of like music for you (get how I got all box-like). Anyway, I was listening to an old hip-hop group that my friend Troy put me on to called Blood of Abraham and they are awesome. Through Pandora I was able to find more groups like them that I had never even heard of and a number of them that I did, like Del the Funkehomosapien. I love that darn station.

In other news, I'm a little concerned about getting involved in Mayor Bill White's campaign for Governor. That is I was until I read all the stats on the current Governor Rick Perry. I can't believe the stuff Perry has pulled and I just want him out. So I guess I'm gonna be helping out Mayor White who may be too honest for politics (Jimmy Carter). We'll see.

all for now
Wishing you love and light and good karma
Us!

Oh Just a Bunch of Nerd Stuff

2010-07-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

Sigh...I'm concerned about someone who is not even close to being a friend but I think we likely could have been had things been different in our lives. I cant believe I feel any level of empathy for the person but I do. I truly do. I really hope it all works out well for them, and I wish I could do something to help. I cant of course but I would if I could. My spiritual beliefs teach me that the way to enlightenment is to lead another out of the dark, and the way to realizing richness in our lives is to aid another out of poverty (in whatever form, literal or figurative). The way to heal a broken heart (for those who are not obliviously clueless as to what one is--lucky them I reckon) is to love openly through the pain. Man does it hurt though, I mean it is a real S.O.B. but you learn more about love and life during the loss of both. That being said, I hope anyone with Karmic debts gets the chance to make good on them with the universe, with a minimum of collateral damage. Peace. Now on a lighter note-----

Well, today was a busy day at work, I like it but it is challenging, especially for the lowly trainee, who, by the way, becomes a regular cubicle drone as of September. That means my grade changes, which means my pay changes, Yippee! I know, yippee is pretty lame but, yippee. I change tax brackets but I also get to change lifestyles. It's been a long road out of the mud for sure but mud is good for the skin so, I'm gonna guess it was worth it.

I noticed that the chubby chasers were in full force today at the gym. What's that about? When I was in the market for someone who digs the fluff, I dont remember no buff dudes hounding me on the streets, and believe me, I woulda remembered for sure. Now it's all "oh do you need a hand with those weights" and "Here, let me help you set the machine, you sit down and I'll adjust" with my giant manly muscles (okay I added that bit). Still...what gives?

Oh oops, Dragon-Con is in September not in August, I jumped the gun because I'm so freaking excited. I am gonna be in primo, star-gazing/chasing shape. Last year I shook hands with the legendary skin job Saul Tigh from Battlestar Gallactica! I just stood there with my mouth open while he shook my hand. LOL. and Yes he has a real name but it just doesn't seem relevant. If the Dr. Who crowd from this season is there then I am gonna lose it for sure! God, Sci-Fi is fun!

Oh snap, Adrian and I went to see the Eagles last month at the Toyota Center! Awesome seats and the concert was Wonderful! I mean we went to last year's "Hell Freezes Over Tour" and it was sublime but this year's "Long Road Out Of Eden Tour" was even better! Those old dudes still got it! We missed the Doobie Brothers, although I can't imagine how. I watch the concert sites like a hawk for my favs, like Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Knicks, Sting (who is actually coming to Houston's Cynthia Mitchel Woods Pavillion this year) and a myriad of others I dig. Anyway they got by us, con-sarn-it! LOL.

I know, you're checking out my playlist and wondering how you too can be this Cool! hahahaha
Love and light
Good Karma to all,
US!

What a difference self Reflection Makes

2010-07-18T18:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't been here in a while because frankly, I've become a FaceBook junkie and everyone I wanna talk to is there. It's an instant gratification kinda thing I suppose. This isn't to say that I don't have a ton stuff to yak endlessly about, its just a matter of dragging myself over here to talk about it.

The job is going well. I'm learning to be better at serving our veterans everyday and I actually enjoy what I do, I still belong in a classroom though and so I will be heading back to classes next month to keep plugging away at that certification and M.Ed in Secondary Education.

I start volunteer work soon, the plan is to do veteran services outreach so that I can really begin to be a force in politico-activism (if there is indeed such a thing).

DRAGON-CON is coming up in Atlanta next month and of course I bought my plane ticket over a month ago with points I earned throughout the year. Awesome. Who knew that managing your life rather than just pulling a day by day could be so fruitful. The Artist is doing well, he made some amazing progress in one of his young adult tales and honestly, from what I have read it is excellent. The artwork ain't too shabby either, but then I'm biased.

I am still sticking it to my fat cells and am like a gym junkie these days. Water aerobics twice a week break up the monotony of my regular daily workouts (I don't work out Friday nights--party night!).

My friends are wonderful as always and making dramatic changes in their lives for their betterment. I am well loved and I'm thankful to the point of mushy (but then, I've always been the sensitive type).

Positivity yields positivity, believe me. I was so negative a while ago and all it brought was sadness and misery. I had to make a conscious effort on the daily to just find a silver lining. I went nuts with pain for a long time but it got me nowhere. I had a retail management job that I didn't care for, even though to this day I LOVE retail as career. I was eating poorly. I wasn't working out and I was blaming myself for things that were the responsibility of others. I internalized the shortcomings of the people I had in my life at the time. I just felt trapped in my emotions all the time. Then I went into myself and really asked some difficult questions. I found that I constantly put others first (not in the way you think)--I worried about others finding me accessible and useful to them. I never thought about how I could be accessible and useful to me first.
Now, I look out for me. I make myself happy so that I can be a source of happiness for others. I let my friends know when they have hurt me and I apologize sincerely when I hurt them, because I care about them and I value them as a part of my life. I value ME so they value me.
I can't believe that something as simple as self acceptance can make one so abundantly happy but here I am.

Well I'm planning my 40th birthday trip to the Mediterranean with one of my best gal-pals (shout out to Adrian) for 2011 (when I actually turn 40).
This year for my 39th in December I plan to visit California (shout out to you Suzy-Que) and of course in January, I have my annual trip to Arizona for the trek to the Grand Canyon with one of my favorite couples and two of my favorite individuals The Guthries.

Love and Light and good Karma to all.

US!

Sigh...La Cutie Pie

2010-06-07T22:51:00.002-05:00

The paci is nummers!

Dream a Little Dream...

2010-04-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

It's the little things, like a smile in dreams.

Pay your debts, remember the rule of reciprocity--you get what you give.
I give you love,hugs, and peace!
Karmically Yours
US!!!!!

Yes I'm One of those--BABY PICS!!! AVA

2010-03-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

Contemplative

Mealtime

The time BEFORE mealtime! LOL

And Nap Time!!!! Whew!

That's all for now friends...
Lots of love and hugs and most importantly PEACE!

Meet Ava Karynn 2-22-10, 9lbs 4oz! Whew!!!!

2010-03-09T17:14:00.002-06:00

Haven't been about in a while, haven't read any blogs in a while, wont be for a while.

I've got some living and spoiling to do, thank you very much.
Karma---(what does anyone do to deserve a blessing like this?)
Buckets of smiles and hugs and love!
Peace, if I don't see you in a while!

I Think the Secret May very well be in the sauce

2010-01-23T00:44:00.000-06:00

My new favorite place to find smiles has to be on the SITS site! Seriously, with all the serious stuff going on that can turn you sour there are some ladies out there offering sunshine through the eyes of their little ones and for that I am thankful. Sometimes you just gotta see a child's face and just like that, you know it wont end with you. Most importantly you know that Hope, cant and wont abandon you because there are children in the world, counting on us to keep it all together just long enough for them to grow into the people who will carry us when we need a shoulder.
Thanks Moms and Dads! and Thanks ever so Mommy Bloggers I have discovered on SITS!

Now for my List!

Cleveland of all places for 3 weeks starting Tuesday! I am told snow is in the forecast, I need new boots.

The Artist is still cooking up a storm thank goodness. I haven't had to lift a finger in forever.

Classes have begun and I already love my Classroom Management Course.

Everyone thinks I am insane for wanting to teach highschool but I know that is where I belong.

Finally got the third degree framed and it looks awesome, now to get it on the wall (that goes for the two undergrad ones that are also custom framed and still resting on the floor near my completely out of order filing cabinet.

Finally the dreadlocks will get maintained, I'll post a pic, maybe a before and after. Wait, no way, they look far too ratty right now.

It may be time to start seriously thinking about foster parenting in preparation for adopting in the future. I want pre-pubescents but no children younger than 4 or 5 years of age. I am fully prepared to foster siblings in danger of being split up. I couldnt imagine losing parents and then brothers or sisters also. Yeah, I'll definitely take siblings.

Still happy, despite Cleveland trip, there is something to be said for positive outlooks and decisive action for personal happiness and satisfaction.

Could someone please tell me why I got the message that His (the deadbeat,cheating,fake from up North of course) Doctor's appointment is on the 28th of January on my voicemail? He is sucking the life and youth out of someone else now (seriously, I know feel sorry for her. She ended up with a serious piece of work), shouldnt she be getting the calls?
I cant wait to see the Wolfman with Benicio Del Toro!

Turns out union employees get a discount with my cell phone carrier so woo hoo for me!

That's all, stay true, pay your debts and keep your word!
Karmically yours '
Me

A Laundry List Of...

2010-01-19T17:17:00.000-06:00

I have been following the race in Massachusetts, and it looks like Brown's in and Cockley's out. I can't even begin to discuss this. I have a myriad of beefs with the whole Filibuster Business and the Health Care Reform issue. I just can't get started or I may not stop.
I watched the MSNBC special with Chris Mathews, Tom Joyner and Jeff Johnson among many others and while it was interesting and entertaining I think the idea that we can discuss relevant black issues once a year, during what Jeff Johnson calls "Black Season" is rather naive and down right absurd.
I agree with Johnson, trying to cram in all of the relelvant topics and issues into a little over a month (From MLK day through February) is silly. We need to be talking about black issues and most certainly we all need to be constantly dialoguing(sp) about race far more frequently. It has gotten to the point where we (The Collective Nation) knows that different races exist but that is as far as our understanding of one another goes. People of other races are worried that they will offend someone if they even say the word black and WE (Blacks) can't let go of the damn "N-word" long enough for our kids to recognize it for the demoralizer that is and always will be.
Are people still having unprotected sex in this day and age in a country with awareness coming out of its freaking ears? YEP! I spoke to a friend today who found that she had an STD (not HIV but hell, rolling the dice is rolling the damn dice)! This mental giant told me that they met in an upscale night spot and that he, get this..."LOOKED CLEAN". Well dress me in pigtails and call it the 70s! Are you kidding? I can't even....I just can't.
I am not crazy about traveling to Cleveland for 2 1/2 weeks but at least it's a place I have never been and I can get a little bit of exploring done.
I am crazy about the fact that I get to see the Grand Canyon once again with my homies "The Guthries" Ryan would love to read that sentence, he fancies himself quite the hipster.
Last night's pot roast was divine if I do say so myself! The potatoes were too salty though (Yeah I admit it).
Despite my moaning about the world I am still on top of it! I need meditate more often (still trying to get into a routine of organized living, especially since we want to move out of state by 2012). The thing is that I am so disorganized because I am so happy! Go Figure!

It aint too late to live that life you've been meaning to live so get to it!
Drop that coward (you know who you are)
Karmically yours
Me!

And Still, Happy New Year!

2010-01-12T11:42:00.000-06:00

Okay so, the year is humming along. It already feels like it is moving too fast. I can’t believe how busy I have gotten since I decided to change my attitude about life more than a year and a half ago. First of all, there is just too much to do in a day so I need to really try to organize and utilize some time management skills or rather develop some decent ones. I have the info on the training trip to Cleveland (of all places) and I am really excited about it. I plan to go hiking and most importantly I plan to trace the literary steps of Langston Hughes! Exciting. Have I said exciting enough yet? I’m getting really comfortable with the new job and the training so far. I am starting to feel more confident with veteran’s needs and I really feel good about what I can accomplish for our service men and women (yes even a certain loser in particular). Anyway, I received a response from Callalou Literary Magazine about a scholarly paper I submitted, they rejected it BUT, they actually read it and provided detailed feedback! I couldn’t believe it! They discussed specific points I made and offered suggestions on how to improve my assertions through specific research and idea development. So COOL!

My friends and I have started a book/writing group yet again and my goal is to be more consistent in posting and discussing the given book/topics. This will be quite a challenge on top of the fact that cooking is still on a front burner as well (even though The Artist has recently started cooking and is amazing at it due to his great attention to detail).

I wont be able to travel to Nevada until the end of February because my training isn’t over in time for the President’s day holiday so I have to use a day of annual leave at the end of the month to make the trip which is actually a better idea. That way I will have the opportunity to take a breather between travels!

This Friday we have an event with the Museum of Fine Arts after hours that I am looking forward to. We also have to get things ready for the now annual Atlanta trip for Dragon-Con which I still have not posted pictures of here but heck if you wanna see them go to my Facebook page as it is wide open for all to see. No worries there is nothing skanky (well some of the people at The Con were kinda grody) on my page so the kiddies can check it out also.

Then there is the HUGE possibility of moving to Portland. I have friends there already, the art/creativitiy scene is perfect for us as well as the all natural sorta lifestyle we wanna get ever closer too. It doesn’t help that our friends in AZ are planning to move there also so…

Man! Still happy. Is content a better word? Maybe? Either way, the way we view ourselves and our options is indicative of the kind of life that will present itself to us. But hey, I’m just a rogue Pagan, trying to worship Nature and promote peace so what the heck do I know?

Be decent, be true, be brave, dump the cowards and promote good Karma by giving what owe to the world.

Karmically Yours,

ME!

So This Is What It's Like

2010-01-07T10:37:00.000-06:00

to start the New year off right! Already off to a banging start! FORGIVE THE TYPOS PLEASE
I have to go to Cleveland of all places for 3 weeks at the end of this Month, then I am off to my annual Grand Canyon trek with the wonderful Guthries! The Artist will accompany me this year which will be a blast. The Artist got to celebrate his birthday (which happens to be the same Month and day of the year as the bloke who wrote The Lord of the Rings) with our friends for Breakfast/Brunch and he had a great time. He isnt really very hard to please so a small gathering with the funniest freaking people on the planet was right on the spot for him!
I have reconnected with the old roomies which I am exceedingly grateful for and started the New Year laughing and dancing with family and friends. Honestly I have yet to stop smiling, I am happy. Busy, but happy as all get out. I plan to spend this year with the people I care about, working towards the things that will bring us all closer together. That said, a big move is in the works and since a pair of my closest friends already live in desired city and more of my closest friends are moving there as well it is a no-brainer that we should pull up stakes and find a place to plant roots!
I am happy and I hope you are too.
Be decent, keep your word, be brave and be yourself!
Karmically Yours
Me!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T15:39:00.000-06:00

I couldnt begin to talk about the New Year yet because I am still in the middle of celebrating with friends and family. I'll just say that I love my friends, I love my family and I love life. This year is already turning out to be the year of making life happen! If someone had told me in 2007 that 2010 would start this stellar I wouldnt have believed it! Options are the luxury of 2010 for me and mine! I'll get more in depth later but for now, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Trust Nature, trust your gut, keep your word, be decent and DUMP the dead weight or you will surely sink!
Karmically yours
ME!

So I get my car back from the dealer last night

2009-12-30T10:09:00.000-06:00

And guess what? They fixed the whole strut/alignment issue and even fix the lighter (which I never use and didnt know was inoperable) but they failed to fix the light the behind the CD player console. Sigh, I have to now call them again and hope against hope that I don't have to get another horrid rental from the Toyota-Rent-a-car place. That Yaris was not my cup of tea! I much rather my heavy little sunroof-having silver, (lane) surfer.
7 whole days in a strangers car, yuck! But at least I didnt have to pay for it so YAY for the warranty! 50 bucks for 400 dollars worth of work and parts!
Anyway, the New Year is coming and I had said that I would not commit to any resolutions but what can I say, I gave in to tradition and had to compile a list of sorts. (anyone who knows me knows that if you put something in list format I am all over it!).
I have pretty big plans for the New Year so I figure at the least, an outline is in order.

I plan to increase my savings by 15% this year. Last year's goal was to increase my savings by 5% and I did it by 10% so I figure I should be a little more ambitious this year, especially since life will not be contained! LOL.
Maintain my dreadlocks in a more timely manner. Okay, I dont have the matted look or anything but I get so busy that I dont get to get down with the upkeep as soon as might be necessary. No one can tell but me but that's enough!
Move out of the South! This is paramount right now. Unfortunately, Texas is doing well during this economic down turn and so I have to realistic with this goal. The move will not come before the end of 2010 for a fact but it is definetely gonna happen!
Increase my freelance writing income by at least 50%. I dont plan to work a regular 9 to 5 a year from now and so I have to make sure that my freelance life can support my desired/necessary lifestyle. I am only using 1 income to calculate the amount of money needed so that there will be a SURPLUS of sorts when the goal is realized.
Cook, Serve,Bank! Keep chef-ing! I'm a Viking in the kitchen and everone will know it by year's end! You already know! LOL.
HEALTH--enough said! Well, maybe not, get checked for EVERYTHING NOW! Ladies, I'm talking to you especially! Gents, that prostate aint gonna take care of itself. Girls, feel your "girls" for abnormalities or let your significant other check for you but CHECK!

Okay, well this is the loose, vague list of what will be my 2010, if you dont have a list dont fret. Not everybody needs one. Just live a life you can be Proud of. Everyone can tell when you should be ashamed and will likely be ashamed of you (they wont tell you of course but you know when the people you care about are seeing you at your least worthy).
Do yourself a favor and tell yourself the truth. Now the diehard cowards who successfully lie to themselves may be beyond help but they rest of us have no excuses.
Keep your word, don't die a coward, be decent, pay your debts--the Karma you save may be your own.
Karmically yours
Me!

forgive the Typos

2009-12-28T09:27:00.000-06:00

Haven't been here in a while, well since my birthday I think but that is only because life was calling. Well I made it to 38 and ate about that many pounds of food in celebration of the fact. If you want a primo dining experience then Fogo De Chao is the way to go! A Brazilian steakhouse that is not for those trying to cleanse their colons. I posted the pics on my Facebook page if anyone wants to see pics of food (I am assuming that everyone is the same level of foodie that I am of course). At any rate my FB is open to everyone so go on over and take a look at some fun food pics and see how far I have gotten in my Farmville escapades LOL! Well the winter holiday was great, and I spent a ton of time with the extended family. Wait I am getting ahead of myself, let's go back to the day after my second birthday dinner last Tuesday night.
Okay, so my bestfriend (whom I have known since highschool--10th grade) took me to a Chinese buffet and the food was good, until the next morning. Talk about food poisoning. I went to work looking quite green around the gills and didnt learn a thing in my training class. All day, co-workers asked if I was feeling okay and I most certainly could not fake that I was anything less than miserable. Still, I trudged along through the day. Now this was the same day that I got dropped off at work and the car had to be taken in for service. So after the Artist sat at the dealership for hours upon hours they inform him who then informs me that they have to order a part and get us a rental. He makes his way home and manages to pick me up, get me to the dealership to get the insurance card and my GPS out of the car, then to the Toyota Rent-a-Car place to get whatever car they have that is under 25 bucks per day, luckily they have a couple to choose from. We get the Yaris (which I dont particularly care for but is only 20 bucks per day and EXCELLENT on gas mileage. Then we make it home by 6pm which is awesome since I get off work at 4pm everyday and can get tons of crap done before every thing closes for the day. I immediately puke my guts out (even though I have eaten nothing the entire day thanks to whatever parasites existed in that nasty-ass buffet) and I am down for the count. The Artist goes to visit family so the apartment is nice and quite for the evening.
Thursday I am up and ready to live life, I am off work for 4 days (gotta love them gub'ment jobs!) and Mom's is the first stop since all the fam is at her place. We party down! The rest of the weekend goes a little like Cook-Eat-Laugh-Cook-Eat-Laugh (repeat as necessary)! The pics are of course on FB, my lemon pies were the absolute talk of the town (but I've been making them since I was 12 years old). I don't celebrate Christmas per se but my family does and I love to be with good people and good food so I was in Pagan Paradise. I don't exchange gifts but my birthday (and mom's) is in December so I always get something and I always give her something on her birthday (this year she asked for her favorite--bath crap and Clint Eastwood's newest movie Gran Torino). She Loves Mr. Eastwood...
Anyway the weekend was too short but at least I have another long one coming for New Year's and another family party to attend. Hope you all had a great weekend.
Karma is cyclical so watch your back, Be Decent and Keep your Word. Nothing worse than a Man (or Woman) who isn't as Good as his word.
Karmically Yours

fun facts about me and food

2009-12-15T23:28:00.000-06:00

I cook every single meal I consume. No choice, especially right now. All organic, all natural, baked or broiled almost exclusively (I really miss fried chicken from Popeyes!). Wait! I did make fried fish a month ago but I got express permission to do so. Man, it was magical! Sigh. oops I ate at chilis recently because I was over duck and dressing! other than that, I cook at home.
I post almost every meal I cook on Facebook. My friends and I trade recipes and pics. I am a chef (Recently I have had catering jobs), Right now I am a personal chef part-time. I put together dinner parties for couples and such of NO MORE than 8 people at a time. The hardest part has been learning wines (I don't really have the pallet for wine so I have had to go on countless tastings and had to take the wine course 3 times) LOL. Yeah!
In Texas you must take the following courses to get food handlers certification--Basic Food Safety, Personal Hygiene, Cross-contamination & Allergens, Time & Temperature, Cleaning & Sanitation. Pricey and time consuming but necessary & worth it.
I get my love of cooking honestly. My mother was a cook for 28 years, my biological father was a barbecue chef and my step-father was an actual chef for a major Hotel Restaurant (The Warwick) in the museum district in Houston back in the day. The place is called something else now and my step father has long since passed. He made me love reading, photography (I have published photos in 2 local Houston newspapers of the annual International Festival), cooking and of course Writing (I am a published writer with a decent writer's resume and a stabilizing business.
My TV is ALWAYS on the Food Network. Chopped is my favorite show and I watch Top Chef on Hulu, or is it Fancast? No I think it is Hulu.
I keep my word and I pay my debts.
I am no coward and I no longer associate with or worse yet, support them. You will end up supporting a shapeless untrustworthy blob if you even begin to associate with those coward types. Wipe your brow if you dodged a bullet and thank whomever saved you from yourself, I do daily (I really send a thanks into the universe for my saving grace, I hope like hell my words hold them to one another. They kinda deserve one another, I know for sure that no one else in the world deserves either of them. I like to call them the perfect murder/suicide LOL).

Be safe and true and decent.
Keep your word.
Karmically yours
Me

I know that I said I was gonna discuss a quote from "A Mercy" but Rick Warren is once again under my damn skin!

2009-12-10T23:27:00.000-06:00

Are you kidding me? No seriously? Rick Warren seemed to think that Uganda in all of their murder the gay away glory was "A purpose driven nation," and the man in Uganda who is pushing this legislation, which by the way will see homosexuals imprisoned or HANGED for their sexuality, is regarded as a "brother" by Rick Warren's wife and has been an honored guest/visitor to the Warren family California home.
Okay, okay, so you associate with whomever you choose. Fine. But uhm when there is policy in a country to sanction murder based on bigotry then maybe just distancing yourself from the guy pushing the legislation is not enough. Maybe, just maybe, you know as a Christian minister and a follower of Christ you should perhaps DENOUNCE said guy and the proposed legislation. Maybe you should support EDUCATING the people of such a region instead of fueling ignorance, intolerance, MURDER and barbarism. But hey, I'm no Christian minister so what do I know about these things...
Maybe any number of the other Self-Proclaimed Christians in Politics and government over here in the good old USA could publicly denounce murdering or imprisoning homosexuals.
Oh and is there some reason Cohen cant just come right out and say that he effing fabricated those absurd statistics regarding the predilection of gays to
gay up the kids and worse yet, molest them? WTF?
The best he could do was say that with his next printing of the "book" he would remove those erroneous and completely UNFOUNDED statistics involving homosexuals and sexual crime/deviancy toward children!
ugh!
be decent, keep your word!
karmically yours
me

Why is every crack pot's first stop Africa?

2009-12-08T22:55:00.000-06:00

Is Richard Cohen serious? Really? Is this repressed, hate-peddling snake oil salesman really serious? He can cure "The Gay" with some same-sex cuddling and a little tennis racket to pillow wielding.
Okay, clearly I am emotional about this garbage he is dangerously attempting to drag into Uganda of all places! Okay, Uganda has enough to deal with without this clown fueling anti-gay sentiments which by the way are now leading Uganda into a human rights quagmire that is tantamount to the mess Idi Amin left in his twisted wake. Uganda is pushing to gays imprisoned and/or executed if they refuse to be "healed" with Cohen's ridiculous methods!
Uganda has an HIV AIDS pandemic, poverty, housing and infrastructure issues and this man is encouraging ignorance and barbarism in a place that is teeming with both already. Legalizing, persecution, bigotry and murder will not cure the AIDS crisis in Uganda, education, and information on the other hand will go a long way.
I am fuming. Watch Rachel Maddow's interview with this opportunist to get the full story...ugh I just know that I am gonna end up an activist in the near future!

Cowards are dangerous because they masquerade as the brave people. I knew such a coward a few years back. Keep your word, stand for something or at least against something that is wrong....

I wanna talk about a quote next time---

"To be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing."
— Toni Morrison (A Mercy)
Here's to shaking off the hate and releasing the demons ( and dumping the cowards)
Karmically Yours
Me!

"It was a pleasure to burn"

2009-12-06T16:05:00.001-06:00

is one of my favorite first lines. I love that line. Within it you know something about the speaker. The speaker finds pleasure, happiness and most of all ecstasy in flames--regardless of the type. Is it passion's flame or the gift of Prometheus that elates the speaker so? We don't know yet but we are already committed to finding out.

See that's the thing about first lines. Whether it's a movie, a poem, a song, or a book (especially a book) the first line determines whether or not we are going to invest the time and effort into taking a bigger chunk out of whatever it is we are attempting to explore. With this in mind, every so often, I try to think of what the first line might be if I were a book of my life rather than a live action interpretation of said life. Would I start off with eerie pleasure or with a compassionate sort of feel. I like to think that my opening line would be the stuff of epics but I believe the first line of my life would likely start with something far more humble like say,
"It's a girl",
Luckily we can create our own first line as it might indicate the fascinating bits to come, were one to open the book and keep reading...
What's YOUR first line? I write and rewrite my story often these days so that I know that I am constantly moving forward. It is the only way for me to stay focused and motivated. It has worked for me so far and I certainly dont plan to drop the process now. Maybe we need a new first line as a nation...
Don't forget to finish the rest of the book once you get that first line just right.
Pay your debts, Keep your word, write or rewrite your book, first line and all...
I need to get cracking on my first line if you don't mind...
Karmically Yours
Me!

I Have No idea what to Title this

2009-12-02T23:46:00.000-06:00

so I won't.
I watched the President's address last night. After which I watched Houston's Mayoral Debate. I will be voting for Annise Parker and not Gene Locke. He was lawyer for some interesting parties here in Houston and elsewhere and I just don't trust him not to be dollars driven at the detriment to the city. Just my opinion. I will say this, his involvment with damn near every black church in town is disconcerting for me. He is willing to accept money from groups who are oppossed to Annise Parker based on her sexual orientation. I find this guiling because bigotry should never be excused or tolerated and Locke as a black man should know better and be better.
As for The President, My President, Our President, I am truly and ultimately---torn. I don't want more war. I don't want more troops, sons, daughter, mothers, fathers, loved ones, Lost. I just dont. But I am not in Afghanistan, watching my children, my daughters, be subjegated and trod upon, watching my sons and husbands and fathers die for antiquated ideas, and tyrannical, power-hungry zealots.
If we leave Afghanistan now will we have a situation of civil unrest as was seen in Rwanda once of Belgium just pulled up stakes and disappeared before stabilizing a volitile situation.

Wait, I'm far too emotional to keep going in this fashion---
I was listening to an audiobook by one of my favorite political historians, Sarah Vowel and she was talking about John Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity" and how it lead to shaping of this America (albeit on the backs of the indigenous and enslaved). I need to interject here that I am not a Christian. I do not believe that we (America) has some divine, God given right to be the standard for the world. I do however believe that we a good Nation, that strives to be that "city upon a hill" and because of this we have an obligation. I digress---Winthrop talks about up being a "city upon a hill" and how we should be a model for other nations on morality, just law, good will and above all, Peace.
Peace. That's what is missing from our rhetoric today. Are we not even pretending to strive for it any more? I heard, much to my chagrin, a lot of what I heard for the last 8 years--fear mongering, postering.
Now if you tell me we need to send more troops into Afghanistan to stabilize the nation, protect the citizens, and act NOT as colonizers and opportunists but as ambassadors of peace which will require the hard removal of rebel/terrorist forces for the good of Afghan citizens, then I will respect the decision even if I don't agree with it. But don't give me more of the last 2 terms without even attempting to change the tired speech Bush gave not even 2 years ago or not even throwing in a "good faith effort" here and a "peace" there.
I love my country, and I support my President but I want the thing offered during the campaign--CHANGE.
I want our troops home, I want families together, I want a decent, viable and accessible healthcare system, and above all Peace.
I may have to get up off my soapbox and my Ass and go grassroots in a minute....
Be decent, keep your word---something the current administration might want to consider.
Karmically yours
Me

Hmmmm

2009-12-01T23:46:00.001-06:00

For the record, Laurels Literary Magazine is published by The University of St Thomas (Houston's premier Catholic University) and I was published a total of 3 times in said mag. This was for YOU, and we both know who you are...sigh
Anyway you can also look up Callalou, which is a literary mag that focuses on the African, Caribbean and African American writer to a great degree. Ah predictability...taste like hate but then I would expect little else for some people. Yeah, I own my shit and maybe I am not the one who needs an investigation (hint-Hint).

The President's address was..........something. I have some thoughts on this that I am still taking apart and putting back together....more troops, more war, more loss.
No wonder the VA has all of those adds seeking employees. Damn....

Be decent, keep your word, and uhm maybe worry about the right things (this means you).
Karmically yours
Me!

Tuesday notes

2009-12-01T11:18:00.001-06:00

It is AIDS Awareness Day/ month. Get tested! Know your status and recognize that this epidemic runs rampant in the black community with black women accounting for the bulk of NEW cases!
Check your boobies regularly!
Watch your diet, diabetes claims more lives than HIV and Cancer combined annually! Yeah! Pretty freaking staggering considering how many lives are lost due to Cancer and HIV/AIDS!
Take care of yourself first and you will be that much more equipped to take care of the people you love.
Revenge is a waste of energy and time. You dont have to forget but letting yourself forgive is a pretty good idea---ugh! I am trying to take my own advice on this front.
Don't let him/her make you feel inadequate. Take that negativity and flip it. They know for a fact that without them YOU would do a heck of a lot better in business, in love and most assuredly in life.
It is really nice to have people in your life who think of YOU sometimes, I've had the alternative and lets just say that they are likely still only motivated to concentrate on the most important person in their life---Themselves.

Keep your word. Pay your debts. Save yourself (yeah, I'm talking to YOU).

Karmically yours

Me!

Caution--Sweeping Generalizations ahead--So much for being thankful you douche!

2009-11-30T01:03:00.000-06:00

I notice that when you need to get away from misery you tend to do the opposite. You tend to stick it out in the hopes that everything that you have sacrificed (and honey, you are the only one doing the sacrificing to be sure) will make the oh so tiny bit you gained seem worth it. I am so sorry that it is you but I sure did hate it when it was me. It's a most curious thing to have someone who has worked tirelessly not to ever take care of themselves criticize someone who has almost always, exclusively taken care of themselves. I mean they criticize your efforts, basically try to embarrass you for the comfortable life you live, even though they are enjoying the fruits of your labor constantly and with so much brazen gusto. They rag on the clothes you wear but snatch up with greedy hands the clothing you buy them, they rag on the food you cook/eat and gobble down every scrap of protein you so unselfishly provide, they rag about your health and they congeal and stagnate before your very eyes in front of the TV or computer you have worked so hard to pay for...
You know I meditated before my altar today and I really had to send a positive prayer into the universe for all the women I know who are dealing with all I just mentioned, hell the men too for that matter!
Protect yourselves from negativity friends, it will make your body a breeding ground for illness, trust me, I know first hand. Let whomever she/he is take the dead weight off your hands, they did you a favors my loves.
here's to whomever helped you dodge a bullet, consider them gardian angels of a sort...may they find happiness and peace and may they receive blessings for saving someone else from their fate....
Keep you damn word, seriously, just fucking do it you coward(be you male or female)---ugh
Karmically Yours
Me

Boondock Saints II and Tids and Bits

2009-11-28T15:11:00.002-06:00

Well, I had to work until 3pm on Friday so I didnt do any of the old Black Friday stuff. I never do though since I used to work in retail and was always too annoyed with the crowds to be a participant. This year I don't have to work the lines, unlock the doors or make the deposits and man does it feel good.
So I am spending my Saturday ~~getting the car serviced (maybe) at the very least I need to change the rear signal light bulb so Autozone is in my future.~~ Got the car serviced and replaced the signal light bulb myself--yep, I'm pretty dang handy!
Beyond that I have my home office to finally work on ( I keep putting it off and now I can't get around it any longer).
2 short stories to complete, and 2 long projects to pay some attention to.
I refused to eat anymore "holiday?" food and last night had ribs and steamed broccoli! It was delicious!
I Saw "Boondock Saints II, All Saints Day" last night and it was JUST as good as the first one! All the original characters came back and it looks like there will be another one after this! I hope so, this franchise is too bad-ass to let falter.
Tonight I will see Ninja Assassin! I effing love action movies with a little impossibility built in, it must be the sci/fi fantasy freak in me.I mean the mix of story, and the fantastic is just too much for me to pass up.
I just finished Toni Morrison's "A Mercy" for a second time and it is still quite beautiful. The last monologue of the mother at the end really brings tears to the eyes. The theme of female betrayal is extremely prevalent in the novel and the interview with Toni Morrison is just brilliant. She talks about how women betray one another as a way to make what they have achieved seem like what they want. The woman is just a masterful storyteller. Her empathy mixed with Octavia Butler's lean writing style and stark/shark portrayl of the human psyche under extreme stress/duress is kind of what inspires my writing style. Of course comic books, hip-hop and women as saviors also motivate my writing style.

Anyway that is all for now. If you have to tell us how handsome, funny, smart or enlightened you are constantly, it might mean your actions arent really telling the truth of the matter, sooooooo
Yeah, anyway be who you claim to be, do what you can to settle those debts (to yourself and others) and keep your word, always keep your word---when the money runs out, you gotta have something of value that can never be spent in total and that, my friend is your word....

Karmically yours
Me!

Notes for, but not about, what should be a National Day of Atonement...

2009-11-26T12:01:00.000-06:00

Cooking in someone elses's kitchen is weird. Everything is in a bizarre place.
I finished the cooking with time to help my client set the table and jet! I added the photo to my portfolio with the notation that the place setting is NOT an original of mine (they had family place settings for their use), I received payment promptly of the remaining agreed upon sum plus a bonus of ----.
I am a caterer, a writer, and soon a more visible photographer.
Monetary stability is a real soother! Especially when you are orchestrator of your good fortune, you have no drains on your wallet and mind and especially (again) when you have new obligations coming in about 3 months, LOL.
I have to stay off my feet more.
Ladies! Don't wait until 50 for a mammogram. That is surely a death sentence! Please don't wait! Don't! If you are afraid to go alone, ask someone to go with you. If you live in Houston, email me and I'll go with you. Seriously. I have done it before and I'll do it a million times for a million people. Just don't wait.
My biological father is part Yavepai, my mother is part Black Foot (from the Mississippi Delta), and those Nations do not celebrate Thanksgiving, although my maternal family always has, my biological father's family does not and I do not. I don't even pretend to anymore,
but I am thankful for a bounty of things all year and every single day.
I guess today I am thankful to have the courage of my convictions, which is very rare for some people...used to be rare for me. I don't keep company with cowards either (that was my old way). Own your shit and mend your fences before you try to school someone else,please.
It is nice work if you can get it (well if you have a knack for work anyway---there are a lot of folks and ugh---men--who don't), thank goodness for the abscence of sponges!

Karmically Yours,
Me!

When Passive Aggression is Out right Aggression

2009-11-23T17:24:00.000-06:00

Forgive the typos!

Okay, this has been coming for a long time. I thought that I would be all douche-y about it once it arrived and act all ego driven when the time came. But no. It's time to address one of the many wrongs I committed for my own edification. Got that? Mine, Me. This is purely for my benefit and to cleanse a few spots on the old Femigog board. Gotta keep ya'self honest ya know?

I have been terrible to people I care/cared about. I have not done it accidentally in some cases. These intentional cases are the ones I need to address, while the list is not miles long, the items on it bother me and they should. I could have been a better person, a better friend and a better woman in these instances and I knowingly chose not to and for that I am deeply regretful and completely sorry for those things. I called 3 people to tell them personally that I apologize. 2 of those people immediately said that they forgive me for those actions, expressed appreciation that I would even attempt to right a wrong so long in the past and insisted that we talk about the issue at length in an effort to bring them closure and myself atonement. They are far bigger than I might be were the situation reversed. I would like to think that I am mature enough to do the same, and I think I am but I am not completely sure, ya kow.
Anyway, the third person was still quite angry (as they have every right to be) and was not ready to forgive.

"I understand, you don't owe me anything."
"Yeah, but I just can't let it go yet. So..."
"No, No, you don't have to do anything. I just wanted you to know that I acknowledge what I did to you. How I might have made you feel and I just wanted you to know that I'm not that person. I am extremely ashamed of my behavior and you deserve to see that I am indeed ashamed of myself for it and regret the entire matter."
"Okay. Well, thanks. Seriously, thanks. But I don't think we'll be hanging out and what not anytime in the near or even far off future. But thanks and take care."
"You too and thanks for hearing me out. I really appreciate it."

And that was that. I really wish it had gone as well as the other 2 times but ...I feel like I should do something more but I am sure they just want me to stay away. Hell at least they took my call. That took a mature individual, something I wasn't in my dealings with them.
I was a young woman when I committed these transgressions against these people, early 20s to be precise or slightly vague depending on your view. I will be 38 next month and can honestly say that I have not maliciously set out to hurt anyone since being a pill of woman in my 20s. Well, I did right a rather scathing attack on someone in a journal I believed to be private and I immediately apologized for the attack when they announced to me that they had indeed read the attack. Honestly, I have to say that at the time I was sorry for a few things associated with that journal entry. The first thing is that they had in fact read it, the second thing is the fact that I wanted to be hateful to them because I was so voiceless. And lastly I am sorry that I, for a long time was happy that I had indeed hurt them. I am not happy about these things but I did very well do them. I won't repeat them but, yeah, I own them.

The countdown continues and I really need work on wines (I don't seem to have a real pallett for anything that is too acidic or rather not sweet).
Keep your word, be who you claim and claim who you are...
Karmically Yours,
Me.

This is MY Life the way I Lived it Whether anyone likes it or Not.

2009-11-21T20:26:00.004-06:00

Many Diseases of the Body start in the Mind and multiply in the GUT!
If you feel something in your gut, go with it. The human body is not too far removed from it's primal fight or flight instinct. Go with your gut every time. Better to ere on the side of caution, advice I should have taken a number of times in the past. It has been my habit to give the benefit of the doubt to people and situations until I get unequivocal proof, just ignoring my inner voice.
Sometimes I stuck around even after the proof was evident, this is entirely my fault and I take full responsibility for my ignorance and inability to be my own champion.
Yes this is gonna be about me and my relationship past so check out now if you are not interested. I blog for my own benefit and to dump the toxins, so if you can't take that feel free to head in another direction. Yes I'm taking to you Miss Email and apparently some other person "trying to watch out for my girl". With friends like you uhm ladies? who needs enemies?
So I have talked alot about a relationship I had 2 years ago (Well I was the ONLY one in that relationship so, I reckon you cant really call it that can you? )
Had I gone with my gut I would have got the hell out of there far earlier than I did. I think I should have abandoned ship when I read some instant messages passed between He and the object of his affection that included a quip about me "keeping a man who didnt want to be kept". Yeah and she only knew what he told her about me, so much for sisterhood and solidarity huh? I keep getting emails from clowns about...anyway, that shit is too fucking one-sided for me to even consider, but then, that's why I'm me and other people are who they are. Anyway, back to MY therapy.
I wrote one helluva research paper for a small feminist magazine based heavily on my experience with a woman who knew about me through hearsay and made sweeping judgements and indictments against me in pursuit of a man. The paper dealt with black women and solidarity in particular. The saddest part of my paper was that it only proved pre-concieved notions about black women as enemies regarding men. Yeah, sad indeed. Anyway in her defense, he told her he didnt want to be kept and left me out of the loop so to speak. If you have never heard/read 2 people discussing you like they would a couch (you know, with a take it or leave it attitude) then let me tell you that I hope you never do. You dont even want to know about the uhm sexy notes they passed back and forth. How dumb was I? Get this, I asked about it and he literally told me that he "was just getting her hot" and that it was "no big deal". Those were literally the words used. I took that shit like a clown. Another sad proof of my research. UGH! Hindsight is 20/10 in my case. Please tell me none of you were as feckless as I was. I was an opportunist's DREAM. LOL! Anyway, he drained me, cuckolded me and then left me. I lay shaking in a daze and soon was dangerously ill (I believe it was from keeping it all inside and to myself).
The problem is that I knew something was off and I just let it go. I didn't fight or run, I just let it go and held all the shit I was felling inside. The room mates saw it and tried to get me to open up repeatedly (Yeah, ther were actual room-mates who can attest to much of what happened in my life because I invited it into the home we all shared together. Anyway, I refused to tell them anything and my health suffered.
Before I started writing and meditating and stretching out all the garbage I internalized I was literally falling apart from the inside out. I had to make serious changes fast and choosing the proper treatment was paramount to my survival.
Now, I keep nothing in and I go with my GUT everytime. And guess what? I fought off one hell of an invader! I take care of me first! If I'm in pieces then my quality of life is...well..in pieces and I will not let that shit happen again. Never. Likewise I don't hide anything from anyone, including myself. I'm pretty sensitive and I get hurt pretty deeply, I used to be really careful about never letting any of my pain out and that strategy kills, so no thanks!
The new leaf I turned over has changed me in ways that many of my friends found difficult to take, AT FIRST, but now that they know all, they embrace and protect me and I am more than thankful for them. Just writing this here now (I was using a private journal for a while) is extremely theraputic.

Now, I need to buy a frame for my Food Handlers Certificate and finish the menu for the dinner party I am catering for Thanksgiving (since I don't celebrate I decided it was the perfect chance to get another personal chef job added to the old entertaining resume). It's amazing what a little mortal scare will do for getting one to market ones-self relentlessly! LOL. I plan to be the first ever, private chef/writer/photographer and to be independently employed by this time next year. That is gonna be an amazing hat trick, but I am already loving the ride!
Anyway, I got work to do. I won't be able to work too much longer, for a few months anyway (overjoyed is an understatement--the name is already chosen, but I'm not letting the cat out of the bag just yet.)
This is MY life and the way I tell it is the way I lived it, whether anyone likes it or not.
Be decent, keep your word,
Karmically Yours
Me!

Quick Friday Notes----

2009-11-20T18:30:00.001-06:00

It's raining here, which means that the weather is gonna give it the old college try at beginning a winter season.
I'm a lover not a fighter but in the words of Kanye West "The only thing I wish? I wish a nigg* would." Bitch please, you aint shit in comparison to what I just fought off. This is the dirty and as such feel free to jump whenever you feelin' squirrel-ly! You damn sure aint the only one with folks.
Yawn...."Me thinks the lady doth protest too much," this is one of my favorite quotes for a reason. If you have to constantly announce it, you should likely consider just who it is you are trying to convince. Oh and by the way, everyone knows exactly who and what you are and soooooooo, you can probably stop with the hot air.
Double Yawn....you get what you pay for. And sometimes it is a whole lot of nothing with a staggering price tag.
Cancer is a BITCH! There, I said it! I mean remission is awesome but it only offers happiness with ominous-ness (is that a word?). Anyway, Cancer is a BITCH!
Venting gets the poison out and less poison means less Cancer, soooo Go Fuck Yourself Cancer!
Yoga and Meditation are AWESOME!
Self Awareness is Paramount! Telling yourself the truth about yourself is tough but shit, it can only get better from there, right? I mean you will know the absolute worst about yourself and you can dump the poison and keep the sweet parts.
Hate is a waste of ever fleeting time and a WASTER of the body. I do not hate. I vent but never will anyone have the power to waste my time or my body on a wasted ass emotion. This is one of the many things I like about myself.
Remission is FUCKING AWESOME! There, I said it.
I really miss the taste of fast food. Still! I don't miss the damage it does/did but damn-it sometimes I just want "2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun"
uhm if someone says "what you did really hurt me and made me cry" I'm guessing the mystery of whether something hurt them and made them cry is a non-mystery----sooooooo, yeah, you didn't expose them, they pretty much told you, clown!
Just as physical disease can run in families so too can emotional turmoil. I know whole families who are suffering under both physical and mental dis-ease. Damn...Hopefully they will pull through all of it together and with as few battle scars as possible.
I wish everyone peace from disease period. It's fucking hard to live a good life without a bunch of extra shit raining down on you. Really fucking hard! Trying to stay emotional positive and balanaced aint always easy and on some days, it just isnt possible. Treatment is fucking....I can't even begin to tell you....
Stop emailing me whoever you are. I ain't answering no questions about nobody's past but my own. I write MT experiences and MY perceptions of past events. The events are true to me as they are MY impressions and MY perceptions! My blog is open to everyone to read and so is my facebook account. You don't have to be friends with me to read anything about me online because I am DAMN comfy with myself and I aint got shit to hide (trust me, as a federal employee they go over your shit with a fine tooth comb), but if someone else has barred you from getting the skinny on them then you need to respect that shit and press on. Everyone is grown and so you don't need to police adults. Beat feet in the other direction. and damn-it be nice for fuck's sake! Leave these people the fuck alone! Sheesh

In the words of Sade "It's only love that gets you through"
Take care of one another, spread love and chase that poison out, you got no choice, the alternative is to rot alive and that is worse than death.
Karmically Yours
Me!

I Think That Meaning

2009-11-18T11:12:00.002-06:00

What you Say is important. Extremely. I know that was a sentence fragment but still, I mean it. If you tell someone that you feel guilt for something you should mean it, if you tell someone you like/dislike something, you should mean it and damn-it if you say you love someone you should mean it.

I am friends with someone who tells people that they love them all the time to get out of tight spots, to gain an upper hand and to get what they want. They dont mean it and that is fucking despicable.
I have had people say they love me and not really mean it, but that was in high school when people are at their most egocentric (hopefully anyway). I have only had one grown ass man tell me that he loved me and he absolutely, unequivocally did not mean it and it was devastating when I found out the truth. They, of course, were able to happily and merrily skip right on past me and that bullet wound to the heart like nothing ever happened, (seriously, they literally acted as though I had never existed to the point of laughing with me on the phone one day and marrying someone else not even 3 months later without so much as a why or even to just say "Hey bitch, we are through!" Nothing). Now that was nothing for them, truly, but for me it was painful and ugly and completely monstrous. I was heartbroken. I cried and tried to call him (he didn't answer my calls, reneged on loans I gave and just pretended I was not on the planet), after which I cried some more. It was a bad scene, especially after I learned that he was married 3 months later via the internet. Now that dude was seriously not into me if he could perform a stunt like that! I can't even talk about the self esteem issues that came from that...ugh, nasty self loathing stints, really!
I mean this dude was telling me he loved me while he was courting the woman he would marry a few months later. He sat in my house, used my resources and never once thought past himself (He was essentially homeless when he moved in with me. I wanted to help him but I notice that the chick he married was smart enough not to take him in at that point, and surely they had to be courting at the time). Smart lady. Maybe being with a dude when the chips are down is a bad idea. Best to wait until he builds himself up on the back of some other sucker and then swoop in for the less rocky times...
I will give him this, he did tell me that he had "unfinished business" with another blogger and that if he ever got back to Atlanta they both had the inclination to explore some possible options. I don't know if it ever happened but I assume that while he was digging on the other chick, and me he was also keeping in touch with the third woman. Anyway, water under the bridge--thank goodness I managed not to drown. Hope everyone else is keeping their heads above water as well. Really. I don't want pain for anyone even he and she.
Anyway I digress...
I thought he was a lot of things but I had never pegged him for a liar.I believed him when he said that he loved me and he knew when he said it that he didnt, but he looked me dead in the face and lied to me.
If you or someone you know is capable of this shit then I hope your chickens never come home to roost. I really hope you don't get this back because it is demoralizing and a real confidence killer and heartbreaker. It took me a full year for to get over it and then another year to acknowledge how much it hurt me and to even talk about it to my closest friends or even admit it here on this blog.

so when my friend does this to others I respect him less, I like him less and I trust him less. I mean how do I know they havent been lying to me for years about our friendship out of convenience? I don't.
Just be decent to people. Tell them the truth or at least don't lie, because even though I hope he never has to feel the way he has made others feel, I know that he will. Just the law of averages really and not to mention Karmic justice, the old "what goes around comes around" deal...
Just be kind and decent and keep your damn word! Sheesh!
Karmically Yours,
Me!

Just a friendly PSA

2009-11-16T20:19:00.004-06:00

Ladies and Gents, if you are with someone you "took" from someone else, you really shouldn't be shocked if they find their next relationship the way they found you. More and more I am finding that people seem to think that someone who was dishonest when they met them will suddenly find a damn conscience just all of a sudden.
Are you kidding me? WTF?!
The Artist and I have been consoling a friend who was under the delusion that a fucking liar and cheat would actually curb these traits because they were with her now...

ugh,
more on this tomorrow...

Karmically yours,
Me

Weekends are for Regrouping and Relaxation

2009-11-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

No posts this weekend, way too busy!
Still love ya lots but these deadlines are serious business. I still love freelance, I just really need a crash course in time management. Wouldnt trade it for the world.
Have a great weekend y'all!
Karmically Yours
Me!

Let's Get Physical, Physical

2009-11-13T11:24:00.000-06:00

okay, so I don't work out as much as I should, especially since I have a gym membership that is paid without fail each month through automatic withdrawal. I know, I know, I am no spring chicken and I really don't have the luxury of letting my health go until I get the time or inclination to take care of myself on a consistent basis.
I am gonna go to a yoga class this weekend and also I will hit up the water aerobics class that I am already paying for through 24 hour fitness. You know I usually just get on the treadmill for the required 30 minutes, stretch for a measly 10 minutes and then beat feet out of the gym to eat a passable healthy meal.
I owe myself much better than that and honestly I happen to like vegetarian, organic eating but the prep time is my failing....
more on this later, I just got a spark of inspiration for a story I am working on. If only these sparks would translate to my health maintenance. Oh well, if at first you don't succeed....
Take care of one another and always Keep Your Word. Your word is your bond. Be the example you were born to be and the one you purport to be.
Karmically yours....
Me

Catechism for Dummies

2009-11-12T22:13:00.001-06:00

Okay so everyone pretty much knows I don't do organized religion, I don't celebrate Christmas, Easter or what have you. That said I am absolutely obsessed with the study of religion and its hold on the individual and the masses. so much so that I attended a Catholic University for my Masters Degree in English and now again for my Education Masters...
I bought my mother "Inspired By...The Ultimate Bible Experience" a few years ago. You know that CD box set of black celebrities reading the New International Version of the bible? Yeah, that thing. It is complete and it cost me a few shillings. Yeah well she didnt really like it all that much and so never listened to it.
I am doing research for a fiction novel I am writing and the text is greatly influenced by Christian Mythology and so to brush up or rather get deeper insight I borrowed the set from my mother starting with Genesis, I have been listening to the bible to and from work in my car.
I gotta say that the bible works well as a collection of allegorical tales but as a true and original text on the history of God complete with needing to take a load off after working like mad to create the world in a long work week rather than millions of years of evolution.
Anyway, its been fun so far...

Gotta Go, have to get a short done...
Karmically yours,
Me

Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T08:11:00.000-06:00

Going to the parade and the ceremony in front of City Hall. Thanks to all the Vets in my family and the world over for their sacrifice.

Karmically Yours
Me

Parable of the Talents

2009-11-10T08:14:00.000-06:00

I cook every single day. every day. I love to cook and I love to try new ingredients and recipes and experiments. Last night I made a new roast duck recipe with celery, carrots, and various aromatics. pretty nice even though I forgot to take a pic of before chowing down. Cooking is one of my talents that gets stronger each time I take the muscle out for a test drive.

I write every single day. every day. I love to write and think of new realities and possibilities and events. Last night my favorite heroine traveled to a far off place to find her destiny and save the destiny of others. I hate that I have already sold this story to Callalou, because I love it and I don't want to part with it now.

There is a brilliant artist in the house who draws/sketches every single day. every day. The Artist creates on paper the reflection of the soul of people, places and ideas through the medium of graphite. Watching someone, especially someone important to you, create is a high. It is like...religion (only without the preacher/pimp ripping you off and book of allegories being misconstrued and taken literally for some absurd reason) I mean a real deep/complex and soulful experience.

Rejoice in the Talents, yours and theirs...
karmically yours,

me

The Not-So-Young and the Vapid

2009-11-09T16:32:00.003-06:00

I have recently made the acquaintance of a woman who I think is going out of her way to annoy me. I am a bit bookish--okay, a lot bookish and she constantly uses the word "nerd" as if it is a bad thing. On some of her ruder (is that a word?) days she amps things up with "big nerd" just so we all know that she is the streetwise school yard "toughie" in a way.
Today she asked me if I watch the "Real Housewives of Atlanta", I replied that I do not but I hear it was pretty entertaining, not my cup of tea but still I can see how they might be interesting to watch. She immediately launched into some convoluted diatribe about the show being like "real life".
Okay...maybe so but uhm, why should I care?
"Because everyone is watching it and talking about and all you can talk about it books but not everyone is reading books so you can't really talk to anyone"

Wow, I think to myself. Is this really what is going on with the late 20s early 30s crowd these days?
Man, I never felt so happy to be so out of touch. LOL
Be true to yourselves, it ain't easy but the pay is great! The bank of self awareness and confidence will be overflowing...
Karma's peeking in, hope you're decent
toodles noodles

CFLs

2009-11-08T20:29:00.002-06:00

Okay so I am in the middle of going green over here at Chez Femigog and just remembered that I wanted to get some of those highfalutin CFL bulbs for all of the lamps and such. It is my understanding that they cut down on electricity costs and are better for the world, so I am gonna go ahead and get some of those bad boys tomorrow after work and before class!
So the transition back to semi-vegetarianism is going steadily along. Cutting out red meat hasnt been too big of a hassle but I will miss my oh so yummy meatballs made of lamb, sausage and ground sirloin. I will go back to doing red meat once per month and then only grain fed organic, period. Nothing too big going on today, kinda laying low and getting a million things done in anticipation for finding someone to accept my foxy, foxy book proposal...I can't believe how different my life is right now...it was so very difficult for me to get here but, here I am. Thank goodness.

oh well, live long and prosper.
Choose well, wisely and for right reasons, you owe it to yourself and others Karmically
Toodles Poodles

Its a Beauty of a Day

2009-11-07T08:23:00.000-06:00

So I got get out there and enjoy life!
Nothing to report to day but bliss....
sigh, just be happy, choose it!

Karma is....
toodles poodles

Time to change it up a Bit

2009-11-06T07:45:00.000-06:00

I blog on 2 sites, this one (which gets more lurks than responses which is cool) and another which has a more active audience. This is likely true because I read and respond to more of the blogs on that site than I do on Blogger. Anyway, my other blog is about health and fitness, traveling and of course cooking. I post every dish I make on that blog and talk about vegetarian living and exercise (I have had to make some changes in light of my fitness level and blogging keeps me timely in taking care of myself). Anyway I looked at my blog roll and realized that I hardly ever visit the people on the list and so I need to change the list and engage with the blogs I dig on a more regular basis.
Here goes Nothing...
later taters!

Peace, Love, understanding and above all Responsibility...we all need to do a better job Karmically speaking...

Sending Love and Understanding--Forgive the typos

2009-11-05T19:31:00.000-06:00

I had a huge post set for today but the tragedy at Fort Hood, has prompted me to change my plans and just post a simple message of peace and love.

We have to take better care of one another, perhaps this is doubly or triply (may not be a word) for the men and women who protect our freedoms at the risk of their lives and mental health.

My sincerest wishes for peace, love, understanding and forgiveness for all of us...and all of them (whomever your particular "them" may be).

Karma says that the things we neglect manifest themselves at some point whether we like it or not. We have to address the things that cause of fear, grief, regret and despair in healthier ways or the results could be tragic.
Yeah, Karma isn't just a diatribe about getting your due for past errors, it is about addressing mis-steps so that there are no gaping lapses in peace for you and yours---(it is amazing how many people who claim so much clarity missed this glaring detail).

Love without Limits folks...

The Audacity of the Lazy! Forgive the typos--I'm typing this before class...

2009-11-04T17:07:00.002-06:00

Okay, This morning I listened to the Tom Joyner Morning Show as is my custom during my morning commute. The focus was on the local elections held around the nation on Tuesday (yes I voted and no I did not vote for Gene Locke).

Well Cybil (not sure how her name is spelled and too lazy to go and look it up) and Tom were/are of the mind that the Republicans gained so much control because Obama didn't engage black/minority voters in an effort to stress the importance of this election to his administration. They (Tom and Cybil) complained that the President has not been back to their show since January of this year (since the inauguration).
Alright, I'll admit I was completely against their remarks at first. I have had time to reflect and now I agree with them to a small degree. Certainly and engaged President is the friend and champion of his constituents but in his defense, he is probably a little busy since taking office and along with that the blame for the economic disaster left by the last administration. Besides, have we really already forgotten how important it is to vote since last November? Come On TJMS! We should be making his administration a success through active service on our part, the VERY VERY least of which is getting off our buts to cast a ballot for the people who will have power over our lives whether in particular or in a more abstract way. It is absurd to suggest that because someone doesn't hold our hands during every election that person or group is responsible for US not giving a damn about how our city and state is run!
I'm sorry, but I find this completely and utterly ridiculous!
We didn't take care of our responsibilities and now we are going to have to live with what we bought with that bad check. You get what you give, period. We gave little this time around, we shouldn't be all too surprised with what we get as a result.

Yep, you just had my note on Karma for the day...
I'll just let that do for now
toodles poodles

Election!

2009-11-03T12:08:00.000-06:00

Well I cast my ballot for mayor. more tomorrow, way too busy with deadlines today...

No Worries though, Karma will keep you company..
toodles poodles!

Notes on the state of a Christian America, from a liberal, heathen's POV.

2009-11-02T16:53:00.000-06:00

That Shakespeare had it right. Those with rabid protestations show themselves in too much light. Feeling greatly affected by something is not a shameful thing, but to try and corrupt the message that plagues you so is cowardly and so then, are you.

I had the misfortune or rather fortune of dealing with such a person recently. A mutual friend of ours made an observation about religion, belief and how dangerous group think can be if that thinking is fanatical and/or a hindrance to the rights and/or civil liberties of others. I know that sounds a bit technical but I just read a bunch of law books as part of my research on Germanic law codes (don't ask, it would likely bore you to pieces--it does most folks, save a handful of history nerds).
Anywhoo, this one friend was angry because our mutual friend suggested that organized religion and its trappings should not be displayed/practiced in public areas, i.e. schools, government buildings and such. This is a topic of concern for us here in the lone star state because we recently had a case where a woman successfully lobbied for the removal of the bible from the city hall lobby here in Houston. Now our friend feels that the bible (Christianity) is/should be the religion of America. My problem with this idea is the colonizing aspect that is inherent in Christianity. I say be whatever religion you dig, just don't go off peddling it like so many girl scout cookies. And most certainly you can't or shouldn't go around trying to make everyone a carbon copy of you.
Our xenophobia and religious snobbery is the reason our new Christian American President his attacked for being everything but exactly that, Christian and American. See he is not the right kind of Christian American, the kind that supposedly gave us our sprawling American civilization back in 1600s New England. Our Puritan forebears practiced the same kind of xenophobic, colonial zealotry that has a choke hold on us today. The idea that homogeneity is more important and substance, that mediocrity is safer and more palatable than forward change and progressive momentum is why I feel religion, Christian or otherwise, is completely out of place when setting down the laws of the land and the basic tenets of a livable, evolving and thriving society.

And that is my soapbox tidbit for today.
Oh and Anon, I think I know who you are and I apologize for my shortness, I though you were someone else.
Forgive the typos and forgive yourself even if the one you have wronged will not. You make up for your mistakes by owning them and then correcting them without honestly and sincerely. Until then, you prove to all around you that your word is worthless and there for, their allegiance to you is faulty at best.
Another little lesson I learned for myself in Karmic returns...
toodles poodles

Happy November!

2009-11-01T23:10:00.000-06:00

Here's to another month of love, truth and happiness. The best way to reach a place of true happiness is to spread what you want to the world around you.
That being said, here's to getting back what you give, positivity and goodness.

yeah, Karma...
toodles poodles

Happy All Hallows Eve!

2009-10-31T18:23:00.002-05:00

Have a safe and adorable night..,.,oops I got the pics in wrong order but you get the gist.

Another day, another chance to do the right thing...

2009-10-28T17:03:00.002-05:00

*sigh*
yep, that's right, I had a chance the do the right thing and took it. I was available for some shoulder leaning and all involved were better for it. I always thought I would never lend money again (there was a slight fiasco some years back to the tune of more or less 4 grand---yeah, yeah I know and wouldnt you know that the borrower did what it was in their nature and character to do. Who am I to judge character flaws? No one, I have my own as a matter of fact (I've never done THAT to anyone but still I have been less than stellar and have apologized--publically (well in a blog) in some cases. Anyway I lent money again, this time though, I assessed my finances and asked myself if I could afford to live without the amount should I never have it returned to me. I could/can and so I made my decision based on this all important factor, coupled with the fact that this person was in dire straits and would do the same for me (hell or not---who the fuck knows. I've learned that you don't know anyone until you KNOW them. Seriously--here's to learning the good shit the hard way). Anyway, regardless of the past you do what you can to help people and let them do what it is in them to do regardless. So say we all...(a little Battlestar Galactica nerd moment. The Plan came out on DVD today and after class I will be driving to Borders to get it) Borders happens to have 50%off DVD boxed sets now through Sunday I think...

That aside, on to more festive news, I have the honor of well, honoring social commitments, no, obligations in light of the upcoming All Hallows Eve. Don't get me wrong I love playing dress up and eating candy and rotting the teeth of teeny little witches with cute pointy hats and pale glitter lipgloss with bite sized chocolate bars. I just get antsy when I feel obligated to entertain people when all I want to do is sit on my floor going through my cds so that I can update my iTunes folder.
I know, I know, being social is human and to be human is to be a part of humanity, all social and communal like. Plus, being with friends is good for the heart, the head and the soul. So instead of being a stick in the mud I will carve my pumpkin, roast the seeds and watch a Scream marathon with the people who have been on my team even when I have displayed less than sportsman like behavior.
Besides, whether we want to be true or not, we get what we give, in the end and always. So my gift to myself and my friends will be positivity and light, not because Karma looms (and she does, sorry--but contrary to popular B.S., you actually do get what you give. What have you given?)but because that's by bag naturally. I like to keep my word, I like to be honest, and I like not having to keep a bunch of lies straight--especially the ones we like to tell to ourselves.

Anyway, class is starting and I am all giddy with the prospect of learning (that's kinda my bag now too as it turns out).
Love and Light
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon... Don't believe the hype, you damn sure get all the grief you cause and then some...here's to keeping the cup half full of sugar rather that salt... and paying those debts.
toodles noodles!

Forgive the typos!!!!!!