Thursday, February 28, 2008

Living The Good Life





Everybody wants to live the good life. To some people that good life is a great job with benefits and high pay. To others, it's doing what you want when you want. Still to others it's getting over on other people. Some people just take & take and NEVER give.

Is giving really the good life?

What type of giving qualifies as the good life?




Good Life Lyrics


Sometimes I ask myself, "Where do I fit in as far as this good life is concerned?" To me a good life is having that
Peace that surpasses all understanding . Nuff sed.

Blogs talking about The Good Life:

All good blogs describing the good life in 3 different ways. Enjoy.

Other Good Life sites:


What's the good life to you?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Craig Bowers



Craig Bowers was the first boy I really liked, but Pressley Harvin was my first boyfriend.


Pressley lived down the street from me and he had it bad for me. He walked me home from the bus stop everyday. Sometimes he even offered to carry my books. Pressley really liked me except he was afraid of my step-father. All the boys were afraid of my step-father.




My step-father was the type to let everybody know he has shotguns and other weapons and he wasn’t afraid to use them to defend his daughters. Pressley had every right and reason to be afraid of Willie James (my step-father).




One day Pressley got the nerve to actually tell Willie James how he felt about me. I was shocked. I really hadn’t given Pressley much thought until that day. See, I had my mind, my eyes, and my heart set on Craig Bowers.




I had it really bad for Craig. Just like I felt about Pressley, that’s how Craig felt about me. In Craig’s mind, I was just a friend, one of the boys. Craig had a girlfriend, but he still had time to play paper football with me. We talked on the phone for hours and we played on the monkey bars together. I would watch Craig go from one end to the other while Keisha and I would pretend we were on the gymnastics parallel bars. We were pretty good too. I actually took gymnastics at the Y and Keisha actually took dance and Libby’s. So we knew what we were doing (in our little minds).




Back to Craig & Pressley. I never took Pressley seriously until he mustered the courage to tell Willie James that he was in love with me. Pressley with all of his 11 years of wisdom confronted Willie James to say that he was going to make me his woman. I was very impressed by that act alone. That one act along with all of Pressley’s pestering finally made me say yes when he asked me to “go with him”. So at 11 years old, Pressley was my first boyfriend, but I still had it bad for Craig Bowers.



LESSON LEARNED: You never know what a person has to offer until you see them in action. IOW: Never judge a book by its cover.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Forgiveness




Forgiveness



Since my experiences with the holy spirit, I've experienced a certain type of peace I've never known.

As far as the sad periods, I seek God, I write and I roll. I also look around me and see that I am blessed. I look inside and know who I am. This sounds easy, but sometimes it is quite difficult. That gratitude exercise during the month of November 2007 was quite trying for me.

August 2004 when I was going through my divorce, things were all very difficult for me. My ex husband was making life miserable, but only because I let him. My sad time happened over the period of a week. For an entire week all I did was get up, get the boys to school, go to work as a zombie, come home as a zombie, make sure the boys ate, then go straight to the couch and CRY. I cried several hours everyday for a week! I cried myself to sleep every night. And, in front of my sons! They didn't know what was wrong with me. I am not sure if I would recommend this. Although they did witness this sadness, they also witnessed the recovery. So they learned that sad times don't last always. They've learned that we do overcome, grow, and change.

"Mom, why are you crying?" they asked over and over again. Poor babies, I couldn't even answer them. I pulled the covers over my head and I cried some more. I don't even know how they got to bed or where they slept because I was too busy crying. I did this everyday for a week mind you.

Then on the Friday of that week of crying, I was on the couch doing my thing, crying. As I cried, I thought about every bad thing every body I've ever encountered has done to me. Then I started thinking about all of the bad things I'd ever done in my life. All of this bad thinking could have led to more crying, but it didn't. My spirit woman wouldn't let it.

Immediately, I heard the Father say, "For mine own sake I have cast your sins into the sea of forgetfulness. Don't you know who you are?"

"Of course," was my answer. I knew who I was. I kept telling everybody I was a child of God. I knew I was made in His image. If I was made in His image, then I knew I was like Him and have qualities like him. If He cast my sins into the sea of forgetfulness for His sake, then I must cast my sins into the sea of forgetfulness for my own sake. I had to forgive myself for my own sanity and for my children's well being and care as well. I also had to do the same for people who have wronged me. Not for them, but for me. I forgave them and threw their sins out too.

Then I got up, read my Bible, took that Word and applied it to my life at that very moment. Once I learned my lesson that day, I told the boys, "come on, let's go". We got our stuff and got out of that house. Ever since, Fridays have been our days to go out do something. That Friday we went to the park, watched a movie and had a good ole time. We've been having our fun every Friday since that last Friday I cried on the couch.

Now I don't cry on the couch. It took me a long time to even get comfortable on that couch. As a matter of fact, I sold that couch February 2006. (that couch was evil)

Forgiveness is what got me out of that funk. Forgiveness is what keeps me going. Forgiveness is a key element in healing, so I hear.

I must make one aspect of forgiveness very clear. Forgiving a person does not mean you let that person wrong you over and over again. It just means, you don't let what that person did to you poison you and your life. Don't hold on to the act or wrongful deed, but also know who/what you're dealing with so you don't fall prey to the same things that harm again.

Dr. Laura has an excellent example of forgiveness that I prescribe to. She said, if you are in a pool with alligators or pirhanna and they bite and attack you, once you get out of the pool, you can forgive them. The key is not to get in the pool again. Just because you forgave the flesh eating creatures doesn't mean they are no longer flesh eating creatures and that makes it safe to swim with them again.

LESSON LEARNED: Forgiveness is all about the person doing the forgiving. It has little to do with the person being forgiven. Forgiveness is about self cleansing so that you can be the best you possible. The self cleansing of forgiveness contributes to making you a whole person.





Recommended Forgiveness Reading:

Thursday, February 21, 2008

About My Lifetime


I am a survivor. I have been to Hell, Purgatory, Heaven and Earth. This site is about my journey, my thoughts, my questions, my life, my present, my past, my future, my moments in Hell, my moments in Purgatory, My moments in Heaven, my moments on Earth, but most importantly, my LIFE LESSONS.


If you're interested in overcoming, having fun, interesting dialogue, witty conversations, and sharing LIFE LESSONS, then you will find something here on a daily basis. If you are not sure about Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, or Earth, my LIFE LESSONS may give you a clue. Then again, they may not. That's up to you and your perspective.


Starting February 22, 2008, all of my entries will either have a LIFE LESSON, a pondering question, or a link to a blog that specializes in the topic I wrote about that day. I have yet to decide how that will be, but it will develop and we will run with it.


Although I am a domestic violence survivor, this blog will not be about domestic violence. Every October I focus on Domestic Violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Every once in a while I will write about DV, but not very often.


I like to concentrate on living in the here and now, something I learned while visiting Purgatory. My major topics are things I encounter everyday. You may even get lucky and witness a conversation I have with myself.


Who am I? I am a divorced mother of three sons, so I do know something about family life and parenting. I am in my late 30's approaching 40, so I do know something about something. I find that the older I get, the less I care about how diplomatic and tactful I am with my words and actions. That should make for an interesting read, write, or discussion from time to time.



BTW, my wasbund reads my blog on a regular basis; he googled me, that's how he found it. He asked that I be more tactful with my writings for his sake, I am not so sure if I can abide by that one. I'll just pretend he no longer exists.



::giggling to myself:: (GTM)

The Man In The Bay

across the hall from me says he teaches salsa dancing at the Adult Community Center down the street from here.

I am not sure if I still want to do this, but once I make up my mind I will ask him about it.

Vote For MEEE!!!!!

Two days ago I wrote Shameless. Not the Garth Brooks song, but the shameless plea to get my blog more exposure.

I thought Shameless would at least get a response or one vote.

Nobody has voted for me but Keala Brown.

This is another Shameless plea to get you and your friends to go vote for me.

Thank you.

This entry has been brought to you today by my shameless attitude.

Have a nice day.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Confidence

What makes YOU confident?
When everything in my life is on schedule and within the budget, I feel confident.
When I stick to my routines and the children follow suit, I feel confident.
Accomplishing goals and meeting specified requirements has always made me confident.
Knowing that I look
good
great when I leave the house everyday makes me confident.
When I have a good night’s sleep and I wake up with plenty of energy, I feel confident.
Buying sexy lingerie and wearing it under everyday clothes makes me confident. not to mention sexy, oh so sexy
When I go out with my girlfriends and we get in just enough trouble not be in trouble, I feel confident.
I am confident just being me in this beautiful brown skin that I am in. That’s what makes me confident.

So, share: What makes You confident?

this entry was inspired by iVillage

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

What are you doing?

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
3:35pm

I am ready to go home.

I had a long day of doing nothing. I sent a few emails. Completed 2 Work Definition Documents.
Read some blogs.
Read some emails.
Went to the bookstore.
Ate an apple
Ate a peach
Ate some yogurt
Ate a turkey sandwich

Now I’m playing the waiting game. AGAIN
wait
wait
wait

What are you doing?

and

What kind of schemes/reasons/stories/lies can you concoct to leave work 1-2 hours early?

Monday, February 18, 2008

No Worries

No Worries

Worry has not been my friend. I find that when I worry, bad things happen just because I worry.

I don't worry much in this new life I am living.

However, during my separation and shortly after my divorce, I played with worry from time to time.

I must say I was not raised to know what worry was.

My mom was not much of a worrier. My grandmother was not much of a worrier. My dad was more of a dreamer than a worrier. He was/is also good at solving problems. God I love that man.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

time passed since I wrote what's above
i worked
i did some other stuff

It is now 4:01pm on the day after Valentine's day and I have a headache. It's an I'm sick of looking at the computer headache.

I had to take my Valentine some juice and soup for lunch. He has the flu. I patiently await his recovery. The dr. said for him to be inside until Monday. He says he's going to work tomorrow. Poor soul. He works too much.

Well, since he can't go to the play tonight, he gave me the tickets and said to take my gf. My gf and I will enjoy the play. Then afterwards, we may go get into some trouble. We'll see. But like I was saying earlier, "No Worries".

I really have a headache. I might need a nap before the play tonight.

-------------------

Christina and I went to the play. Tyler Perry is a genius. If The Marriage Counselor is coming to a town near you, I highly recommend it. Funny, spiritual, touching, a joy to watch.

We sat behind the lady in the photo. We were fascinated by that gold cat on her back. She has no idea we were taking photos of her cat. That cat was funny man. I had to snap snap it with my camera phone.

After the play we went to Hush, then Sunset, then Elements, then back to Sunset.

Hush is too bougie for me. Sunset is cool, Elements is cool. I do like Elements better than Sunset though. Elements had the Black Diamonds on their TV screens all night long. That was pleasure for my eyes.

What do you think of the Cat Lady?

You have new Picture Mail!

We went to a play and this lady had a cat crawling up her back. I will take a photo of you and post it, so be very careful what you do in front of me.

Shameless!

I nominated my own blog for the Blogger’s Choice Awards in 4 different categories.

Please go vote for it at the following links:

  • Hottest Mommy Blogger Yes, I consider myself a hot mommy blogger. I said I was shameless. :-D
  • Best Blog About Stuff. I am trying to get votes and promote my blog. Shamelessly I might add. I am shameless. :-P
  • The Blogitizer. You can even nominate your own blog. If you vote for me, I will vote for you. Again, SHAMELESS.
  • Worst Blog of All Time. I felt the blog needed some work so I nominated myself for this category in a shameless effort to ask for help if I won or received votes in this category.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Valentines Day 2008

  • The most beautiful bouquet of roses. Awwwww how sweet of him.
  • A golden box of Godiva chocolates. Aw Damn, double sweet.
  • Mary Kay Spa Gift Set.

That man knows what I like. I really appreciate him.

Jo Jo Dancer is HUNGRY. Are you hungry?

Up late flipping through the channels the other night. I stopped on Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling. I have never watched that movie all the way through. I had no idea the little boy grew up in a brothel.

Well, just witnessing that reminded me of my own family. My maternal grandfather’s mother ran a brothel. Yes, Keala is the great grand daughter of a Madame.

Back to Jo Jo Dancer. The main character had naysayers and a peanut gallery to contend with. We all do. His father was the main naysayer and leader of Jo Jo’s peanut gallery.

When he made the pivotal decision to move to Chicago, his woman let him go alone. No support from her. To make matters worse, they were MARRIED. How could you let your spouse go? She chose her other family over her own husband. She was not ready for marriage.

A scene I liked was when Jo Jo was on a bus to Chicago. His stomach was growling loud from hunger pains. Just so happened he was sitting next to a little boy eating fried chicken from a shoe box. Remember the days? Lunch or dinner in a shoe box is a real box lunch. I love it.

I have more than one question for this entry. You can answer them all or pick and choose.

  1. What is your scandalous family secret? I won’t tell. I promise.
  2. Who are the members of your Peanut Gallery and naysayers?
  3. How do you handle your Peanut Gallery and naysayers?
  4. this next question is for married folk. – - How supportive are you of your spouse’s dreams? Would you be willing to move away from your extended family to help support your spouse’s dream/career?
  5. What are your most memorable hunger/eating moments while traveling?

Happy VDAY

We had our monthly department meeting today where we were informed that internet usage is being monitored and if we access sites NOT work related, we will be reprimanded.


I will still blog, just NOT on my blog. I am writing this on Notepad and I will import it into my blog when I get home. Clever? Yes, clever.



The only downside is that I cannot interact with my friends anymore.


I probably won't have time anyway as we have won some new contracts which means more work which means less down time for me. about time. I was getting bored fa real.



Well, today I have done all I can do. I sent out all of my stuff and now I am playing the waiting game. Waiting on the work to come back to me. waiting
waiting
waiting
and more waiting



In other news, Happy Valentines Day! Doug got me good last night. He said he needed me to take him to pick up his truck. I took him to get his truck and he said he wanted me to come back to his place for a minute.


I thought, OK. Just a minute because I have stuff at the house to do.



When I walked into his house, I saw the most beautiful bouquet of roses. Awwwww how sweet of him. In front of the roses was a golden box of Godiva chocolates. Aw Damn, double sweet. Like I wasn't expecting something nice from him (tee hee hee). And there was a gift bag with the purple Mary Kay Spa Collection in it. That man knows what I like. I really appreciate him.



In addition to all of that we are going to Tyler Perry's The Marriage Counselor tomorrow night. Afterwards, "where ever Keala wants to go and whatever Keala wants to do." That is such a beautiful thang. He is the sweetheart I want in my life.



Now, I must go research how to love a Capricorn man? Dang, I can't do that here at work anymore. DAMN.


Product endorsement: Ice Breakers energy - natural and artificial flavor Peppermint Mints with caffeine. I have been popping these and I think I might be developing an addiction to them. Pray for me. Keala don't want to be addicted to nuffin.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

What are your Dating Lessons Learned?

Yesterday I posted an entry titled, Who Da Hail Is Tim?

I came up with the title while playing with my multiply friends on Eddie’s page. See, I think it was Nina, kept posting tests from OkCupid. In order to take the tests, I had to register. When I tried to register, it told me I already had an account and my username was TimsNewWoman. My first reaction to that one was, “Who Da Hail Is Tim?”

Trying to remember who Tim was reminded me of this goal. So I wrote my first entry and titled it Who Da Hail Is Tim?

At the end of the entry was a Lesson Learned. The Lesson Learned from “Who Da Hail Is Tim?” was: Never loan a man money. Never date someone who has no aspirations or whose aspirations, dreams and goals are lower on the totem pole than your own.

What are some of your most memorable dating lessons learned? I am so curious. Please share…

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Who Da Hail is Tim?

I was married for 15 and a half years. During my separation I met a man I don’t normally go for. At first I thought he was ok. Not my type but since I had been out of the dating scene for so long, I figured I would give him a chance. I thought that I shouldn’t be picky. I should keep my options open.

I put it like that because this man was unambitious so to speak. I was not used to that. I was married to a very ambitious man. In high school I dated guys who were in Who’s Who. I knew that I wanted someone with values and goals similar to mine.

Well, when I met FB, I wasn’t so sure about his values and goals. I knew he liked going to church once a week. He played the drums at his church. He got paid for it. He was in a band. They never had any gigs, but he was in a band. Wait, I take that back, they did have gigs. FB was so . . . churchy? No, big on having people think he was a man of God. His band did get gigs in local clubs. FB said he refused to play in clubs where alcohol was sold or something like that.

Another thing about FB, he washed his dry clean only clothes in the washing machine: sports jackets, slacks, dress shirts, ties, everything. His shirts were so worn that the fold on the collars were tearing. I remember standing in his walk in closet on the phone with my girlfriend telling her how I was going to nominate him for What Not To Wear. He really needed it.

So, guess what I did? I went shopping for FB. I bought him new shirts, ties, and slacks. No sport jackets. I just took his tattered sport jackets and threw them away. They needed it. I upgraded that so-n-so.

After dating FB for about 2 and half months, I noticed that he really had no drive and no ambition what so ever. I initially thought he was in his situation because of his break up that was similar to my separation. Nope. He was happy and content with his situation. I was not. I knew I had to make a change.

The only thing that made me stay with FB for 3 months was the good Richard. His Richard was like crack. But I could do without that kind of Richard.

I eventually made the mistake of loaning him money $500. He only gave me a little over $250 back. Whenever I asked for my money, he would get mad at me and give me attitude like I owed him money or something.

Lesson Learned: Never loan a man money. Never date someone who has no aspirations or whose aspirations, dreams and goals are lower on the totem pole than your own.

Who Da Hail is Tim?

I was married for 15 and a half years. During my separation I met a man I don’t normally go for. At first I thought he was ok. Not my type but since I had been out of the dating scene for so long, I figured I would give him a chance. I thought that I shouldn’t be picky. I should keep my options open.

I put it like that because this man was unambitious so to speak. I was not used to that. I was married to a very ambitious man. In high school I dated guys who were in Who’s Who. I knew that I wanted someone with values and goals similar to mine.

Well, when I met FB, I wasn’t so sure about his values and goals. I knew he liked going to church once a week. He played the drums at his church. He got paid for it. He was in a band. They never had any gigs, but he was in a band. Wait, I take that back, they did have gigs. FB was so . . . churchy? No, big on having people think he was a man of God. His band did get gigs in local clubs. FB said he refused to play in clubs where alcohol was sold or something like that.

Another thing about FB, he washed his dry clean only clothes in the washing machine: sports jackets, slacks, dress shirts, ties, everything. His shirts were so worn that the fold on the collars were tearing. I remember standing in his walk in closet on the phone with my girlfriend telling her how I was going to nominate him for What Not To Wear. He really needed it.

So, guess what I did? I went shopping for FB. I bought him new shirts, ties, and slacks. No sport jackets. I just took his tattered sport jackets and threw them away. They needed it.

After dating FB for about 2 and half months, I noticed that he really had no drive and no ambition what so ever. I initially thought he was in his situation because of his break up that was similar to my separation. Nope. He was happy and content with his situation. I was not. I knew I had to make a change.

The only thing that made me stay with FB for 3 months was the good Richard. His Richard was like crack. But I could do without that kind of Richard.

I eventually made the mistake of loaning him money $500. He only gave me a little over $250 back. Whenever I asked for my money, he would get mad at me and give me attitude like I owed him money or something.

Lesson Learned: Never loan a man money. Never date someone who has no aspirations or whose aspirations, dreams and goals are lower on the totem pole than your own.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Watching CNN's Potomac Primary Coverage

Hillary looks tired. It almost looks like an act, ungenuine. How can she talk about our problems? She not living our problems. Her husband still has his Presidential salary. When she leaves the Senate, her salary will NOT CHANGE.

I wonder if she ever made minimum wage? I like having Congress not raising their salaries until minimum wage is raised first. That's what her mouth is saying.

The Maryland polls close in less than 10 minutes. My mom went and voted today. Yes she voted for Obama. I told her NOT to take her friends who were for Hillary to the polls. I'm bad like that.

That Hillary speech did not move me.

Obama beat Hillary in VA. Yall VA folk ain't playing. Now we have to see how MD and DC did.

Barack finally caught up with Hillary in total delegates. He had her in pledged delegates a while ago. Those super delegates are what's keeping Hillary in the race...for now.

This just in. CNN projects Obama to win the Maryland Primary.

I'll finish them

when I finish them.

Right now I am trying to read four books at one time. All four sit on my night stand.

Like I said, I shall finish them when I finish them. Not in a hurry though.

Urban Nirvana

Another gift card. Herman gave me a gift card to Urban Nirvana Christmas 2006.

Yes, I received gift card from 2 different men that Christmas. And I must say I was not expecting such a nice gift from either. I was being difficult with both of them on purpose you know.

Why do they love it when we are difficult?

I have not redeemed that Urban Nirvana gift card yet. I need make me an appointment before they raise their prices.

Urban Nirvana

Another gift card. Herman gave me a gift card to Urban Nirvana Christmas 2006.

Yes, I received gift cards from 2 different men that Christmas.

I have not redeemed that Urban Nirvana gift card yet. I need make me an appointment before they raise their prices.

Another Gift Card

This time to Victoria’s Secret. It made me smile. I was very pleased and shocked at the same time.

Doug gave it to me Christmas 2006. I was expecting a small not so big deal gift that Christmas.

Obviously he made a big statement with me with that one. It took me 2 months to spend it all too.

I still have the stuff I bought with it.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

The Goal About Nothing

Yes, we’ve all done it.

Haven’t you?

Worth doing all day everyday.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Will You Help?



As Americans, we dream of a President who is honest, personable, intelligent, and wise.


We want a leader with courage and integrity who has known the struggles of an everyday American. A lot of people have stopped believing that may even be possible.


I haven’t stopped believing. I support Barack Obama because he is that leader.


Join me in supporting Barack by making a donation to my personal fundraising page:


http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Keala4Obama


This campaign for the presidency is unparalleled in history. Our need for an honest, fresh-thinking leader could not be more urgent. Americans are hungry for change and Barack Obama will bring that change when he is elected.


Please take a minute to check out my page and make a donation of any size:


http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Keala4Obama


Thanks,
Keala Jacobs
Obama Supporter



Another Letter From Barack

Keala --

Make a matching donationOne of the things I'm most proud of about our campaign is not the amount of money we've raised, but the number of people giving it.

As of this afternoon, more than 300,000 people have given in 2008 alone, taking ownership of this campaign by making a donation of whatever they can afford.

This has never happened before. No one has ever built a campaign involving so many Americans as true stakeholders.

It speaks volumes not only about the kind of campaign we're running, but also about how we want politics to be.

So many of us have been waiting so long for the time when we could finally expect more from our politics, when we could give more of ourselves and feel truly invested in something bigger than a particular candidate or cause.

This is it. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

We won the most states and the most delegates on Tuesday because a movement of people decided to take back the political process and participate in unprecedented numbers.

Today we set a new goal: 500,000 people giving to our campaign this year by March 4th.

It's time to take the next step. Please make your first donation now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/match

When you do, one of the 300,000 people who have already given this year will match your donation. You'll see the name and town of the person matching your gift, and you'll even be able to send them a note about why you took the leap.

This has been a remarkable week already, but we are entering what could be a decisive phase of the campaign.

We face contests in Nebraska, Washington State, and Louisiana on Saturday. Maine will go on Sunday. And Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. will vote on Tuesday.

It's going to take every one of us reaching out, organizing, and giving our all to make it happen.

As we headed into the Iowa caucuses, it had taken us nearly a year to reach our first 500,000 donors.

Now, with your help, we will be able to repeat that feat in a little over 60 days as we head into Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont on March 4th.

So many people said we would never get here.

But we're proving every day that ordinary people can still accomplish extraordinary things.

Thank you,

Barack

Thursday, February 7, 2008

I Stand So Tall

I stand so tall

You cannot see because your head is hung so low

I stand so tall

When you look down on me, all you can see are my shoes. You must want to walk a mile in them.

I stand so tall

That I block your light because you crouch so low

I stand so tall

I can touch the moon without reaching up or tiptoeing

I stand so tall

I can see all that is mine in the vast Universe

I stand so tall
Claiming me and mine is like picking up toys in a play room. Quick and EASY.

I stand so tall
Being Mistress of My Domain is effortless.

I stand so Tall

I Stand So Tall

I stand so tall
You cannot see because your head is hung so low

I stand so tall
When you look down on me, all you can see are my shoes. You must want to walk a mile in them.

I stand so tall
That I block your light because you crouch so low

I stand so tall
I can touch the moon without reaching up or tiptoeing
I stand so tall
I can see all that is mine in the vast Universe

h7. I stand so tall
Claiming me and mine is like picking up toys in a play room. Quick and EASY.

h8. I stand so tall
Being Mistress of My Domain is effortless.

I stand so Tall

Hillary on Health Care

What do you think?

Barack on Health Care

What do you think?

Candidate + Issue

vote

FORCE ME TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE?!?! Somebody must be smoking CRACK.

February 03, 2008

CLINTON CONSISTENTLY REFUSES TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW HER MANDATE WOULD BE ENFORCEDFEBRUARY 3, 2008: Clinton Says People Who Don’t Sign Up For Health Insurance “Won’t Have to Pay Fines”; Then Says One Option For Enforcement is “Going After People’s Wages.” When asked about her enforcement mechanism, Clinton said, “Well, they don’t have to pay fines, George. We want them to have insurance. We want it to be affordable.” When pushed again on whether or not she would garnish wages, Clinton said, “George, we will have an enforcement mechanism, whether it’s that or it’s or it’s some other mechanism through the tax system or automatic enrollments…And the reason why I think there are a number of mechanisms, going after people’s wages, automatic enrollment, when you are at the place of employment, you will be automatically enrolled, whatever the mechanism is.” [ABC, 2/3/08]

I wish somebody would garnish my wages to force me to be insured!

DECEMBER 1, 2007: Clinton Said She Would “Look At” Withholding Part Of Their Salaries To Pay For It. On a conference call with reporters to discuss the ad, Clinton policy chief Neera Tanden said the senator would “look at” working with employers to “automatically enroll employees, going through and withholding part of their salaries to pay for it – those are reasonable steps to enforce a mandate.” When Clinton rolled out her plan earlier this year, Tanden hinted that the mandate might be enforced by threatening to deny tax deductions to people who refused to enroll for insurance. [DMR, 12/1/07]

I wish somebody would garnish my wages to force me to be insured!

NOVEMBER 28, 2007: Clinton Surrogate Frank Pallone Said That Clinton Would Have Penalties For People Who Didn’t Enroll in Health Insurance. When asked how Clinton’s plan would be enforced, he said “You can have automatic enrollment so that when you go to school or you go to the hospital, you are automatically enrolled. We will put in place mechanisms to make sure everyone is enrolled. Then we’d have enforcement mechanisms. There may be some penalty for those who are not enrolled. So it’s not that hard to do…There are ways to enforce it and some of the states, you know, like Massachusetts that has it and others, do have some ways of imposing penalties in order to make sure.” [MSNBC, 11/28/07]

I wish somebody would garnish my wages or mess with my money to force me to be insured!

SEPTEMBER 18, 2007: Clinton Said That They Didn’t Have Any Punitive Measures To Enforce The Mandate Of Her Health Care Plan But Probably Would. Hillary Clinton said about the mandate in her health care plan, “At this point, we don’t have anything punitive that we have proposed. We’re providing incentives and tax credits which we think will be very attractive to the vast majority of Americans.” [AP, 9/18/07]

I wish somebody would garnish my wages to force me to be insured! SOMEBODY IS SMOKING CRACK!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Letter from Barack's Campaign Manager

Keala --

Support this campaignI was writing a note to you about the state of the race after Super Tuesday when we got some startling news.

The Clinton campaign just announced that Hillary and Bill Clinton injected $5 million of their personal fortune into her campaign a few days ago.

This is a dramatic move, and a clear acknowledgement that our campaign has the momentum. We saw undeniable evidence of that last night as the results came in.

Barack Obama won the most states and the most delegates on February 5th.

We have gotten to this point thanks to an unprecedented outpouring of support from ordinary Americans.

To date, more than 650,000 people like you have taken ownership of this campaign, giving whatever they can afford.

The Clinton infusion of $5 million -- and there are reports it could end up being as much as $20 million -- will give them huge resources for the next set of primaries and caucuses.

Thanks to you, we have raised more than $3 million since the polls closed on February 5th. But we have no choice -- we must match their $5 million right now.

We're going to do it the right way, with small donations from people like you. It's never been more urgent that you make a donation of $25 right now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/results

Just two weeks ago we were behind by double-digits in many of the states that voted yesterday, but Barack won 13 states to 8 states for Hillary Clinton, with one state (New Mexico) still counting votes.

This is an enormous victory, and it's all thanks to you.

We won yesterday because thousands upon thousands of individual supporters canvassed their neighborhoods, talked to their neighbors and friends, and made phone calls to remind their fellow supporters to get out the vote.

And we accomplished all of this with a campaign funded by ordinary people giving only what they can afford.

Yesterday was proof that America is ready for change -- and that you are the force to make that change happen.

But there's still a long way to go before Barack becomes the Democratic nominee. In the next week alone, six more states will hold their primaries and caucuses.

We need to match this $5 million personal contribution from the Clintons immediately and put these resources to work in the states that will vote next.

Please make a donation of $25 now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/results

Here are some details about yesterday's historic victory. According to official results and exit polls:

  • Barack won 2-to-1 in traditionally conservative states where Democrats are hungry for a nominee who can change the map and help Democrats up and down the ticket win in November

  • Our winning coalition included Americans of every race, background, and gender -- including 64% of women in Georgia

  • We scored wins in every region of the country -- New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Rocky Mountain states, and the West

Americans had a clear choice to make yesterday, and they chose Barack Obama.

Now let's match this $5 million and take this campaign into the next stage.

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Obama on SNL

2008 Live Leaderboard

It's a close race between Hill-a-Whoo and Obama.

McCain is the clear Republican nominee.

Obama passes Hillary in Delegates!

An American Dream

Video of a young Columbia, South Carolina college student telling his story. This video is important to me because it shows Columbia SC and people in my city/town. It is very inspirational.

I need to share this with my sons.

Down to 13 Today

you win some

you lose some

Barack Obama's Plan for Universal Voluntary Service

“Your own story and the American story are not separate — they are shared. And they will both be enriched if we stand up together, and answer a new call to service to meet the challenges of our new century … I won’t just ask for your vote as a candidate; I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency.” — Barack Obama, Speech in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, December 5, 2007

The Problem *

Americans Not Asked to Serve After 9/11: President Bush squandered an opportunity to mobilize the American people following 9/11 when he asked Americans only to go shopping.

Insufficient Federal Support for Service: While more than 500,000 people have served in AmeriCorps, the program turns away tens of thousands of applicants a year because of limited funding.

Need for More R&D in Nonprofit Sector: Research and development in the nonprofit sector is limited and there is a disconnect between charitable foundations that can fund innovation and the organizations on the ground that can test new concepts and bring them to scale.

_Barack Obama’s Plan _

Enable All Americans to Serve to Meet the Nation’s Challenges

  • Expand Corporation for National and Community Service: Obama will expand AmeriCorps from 75,000 slots today to 250,000 and he will focus this expansion on addressing the great challenges facing the nation. He will establish a Classroom Corps to help teachers and students, with a priority placed on underserved schools; a Health Corps to improve public health outreach; a Clean Energy Corps to conduct weatherization and renewable energy projects; a Veterans Corps to assist veterans at hospitals, nursing homes and homeless shelters; and a Homeland Security Corps to help communities plan, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
  • Engage Retiring Americans in Service on a Large Scale: Older Americans have a wide range of skills and knowledge to contribute. Obama will expand and improve programs that connect individuals over the age of 55 to quality volunteer opportunities.
  • Expand the Peace Corps: Obama will double the Peace Corps to 16,000 by 2011. He will work with the leaders of other countries to build an international network of overseas volunteers so that Americans work side-by-side with volunteers from other countries.
  • Show the World the Best Face of America: Obama will set up an America’s Voice Initiative to send Americans who are fluent speakers of local languages to expand our public diplomacy. He also will extend opportunities for older individuals such as teachers, engineers, and doctors to serve overseas.

Integrate Service into Learning

  • Expand Service-Learning in Our Nation’s Schools: Obama will set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year. He will develop national guidelines for service- learning and will give schools better tools both to develop programs and to document student experience. Green Job Corps: Obama will create an energy-focused youth jobs program to provide disadvantaged youth with service opportunities weatherizing buildings and getting practical experience in fast-growing career fields.
  • Expand YouthBuild Program: Obama will expand the YouthBuild program, which gives disadvantaged young people the chance to complete their high school education, learn valuable skills and build affordable housing in their communities. He will grow the program so that 50,000 low-income young people a year a chance to learn construction job skills and complete high school.
  • Require 100 Hours of Service in College: Obama will establish a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
  • Promote College Serve-Study: Obama will ensure that at least 25 percent of College Work-Study funds are used to support public service opportunities instead of jobs in dining halls and libraries.

Invest in the Nonprofit Sector

  • Social Investment Fund Network: Obama will create a Social Investment Fund Network to use federal seed money to leverage private sector funding to improve local innovation, test the impact of new ideas and expand successful programs to scale.
    Social Entrepreneurship Agency for Nonprofits: Barack Obama will a create an agency within the Corporation for National and Community Service dedicated to building the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector.

Barack Obama’s Record

A Lifetime of Service*

Obama began his career by moving to the South Side of Chicago to direct the Developing Communities Project. Together with a coalition of ministers, Obama set out to improve living conditions in poor neigh- borhoods plagued by crime and high unemployment. After graduating from law school, Obama passed up lucrative law firm jobs to head Project Vote, which helped register 150,000 new African American voters in Chicago, the highest number ever registered in a single local effort. Michelle Obama was founding executive director of Public Allies Chicago, a leadership development program that identifies and prepares talented young adults for careers serving the public good.

For More Information about Barack’s Plan

Read the Speech

Watch Excerpts of the Speech

Read the Plan

Ha ha ha

Yeah Right.

And I started reading The Audacity of Hope. The list keeps growing. However, I plan to finish The Audacity of Hope. It is a great read so far.

a unique way of doing things

http://www.barackobama.com

I joined and I receive email updates, request for help, etc.

I like the way they do things on his site. They are even encouraging supporters to phone bank from home.

Visit Barack’s site today and learn something new. Get involved. Help elect Barack Obama.

I am shamelessly supporting Obama and proud of it. What are you doing?

email from Barack to Keala

Keala—

The votes will be counted into the night and into tomorrow, but today we won states and we won delegates in every part of the country.

As of right now, we have won more states and delegates than Senator Clinton. It’s a remarkable achievement we can all be proud of.

Tonight, we know one thing for sure—our time has come, our movement is real, and change is coming to America.

At this moment in history, the stakes are too high and the challenges too great to play the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expect a different result.

This time must be different.

There will be those who say it cannot be done. But we know what we have seen and what we believe—that when ordinary people come together we can still do extraordinary things.

Yes, we can.

Thank you so much,

Barack

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Dave Matthews Endorsement

Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you well.

A question, a reflection, and an endorsement.

Why is our country divided?
Why has this division been growing?

Can we not all agree that we are a country that supports its families, that protects its citizens and respects its neighbors?
A country that educates its children?
Are we not a country that can lead by example rather than by force?
Is ours a government of the people, by the people, for the people?

I would like to think so.
But I believe that corporate greed and its involvement in policy making, along with political cronyism have made it nearly impossible for the people to govern.
So we fight amongst ourselves over the spin of political slogans and half truths.
And so we are divided.

It is time for a change and that is why I support Barack Obama for President.

Respectfully,

Dave Matthews

Crooks and Liars

This is why Barack Obama needs your vote.

With the news that Hillary Clinton is trying to get the delegate votes from Michigan and Florida certified again (Surprise! Surprise! Whether the Democratic party would truly not count those votes has always been questionable), the math has been done and it appears that even after the Feb. 5th “Tsunami Tuesday” with 23 states either having their primaries or caucuses, the delegate count won’t be high enough to pick the official nominee. So all eyes turn to the super-delegates, who don’t have to follow the election results of their state in pledging their support.

Super Tuesday

are you voting today?

Why?

Who are you voting for?

Why?

Yes We Can











It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant …........ We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea—

Yes. We. Can.

Celebrities featured include: Jesse Dylan, Will.i.am, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Adam Rodriquez, Amber Valetta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon

Yes We Can

check this out

I love the video.

Can we post videos on 43T?

Monday, February 4, 2008

Britney's Custody Hearing

Is it about who gets custody of Britney?

or

Who Britney gets custody of?

or

Do you even care?

Why Did I Stay?


"Why Do You Stay?" Traumatic Bonding And The Development Of The Stockholm Syndrome in Battered Women- by Debra Dixon



We hear the question, "Why do you stay?" ask of battered women over and over. Most of society tired long ago of the answer, "Because I love him." When a battered woman says "because I love him" she is describing the Stockholm Syndrome in the best way that she can. She knows that she has very strong feelings for him and can only attribute those feelings to love because of a lack of information. These victims do not have the information they need to accurately describe the dynamics involved in the bonding process that occurs with abuse and trauma and therefore attribute their intense feelings the best way that they can - love.



Theories on why battered women stay have ranged from "learned helplessness" to masochism to feminist theory regarding status and resources. While some of these issues (learned helplessness and a lack of resources) can be contributing factors it is time we look at the bond created by severe, prolonged trauma.



Traumatic bonding was first recognized and acknowledged during a hostage incident in Stockholm, Sweden
. Authorities were amazed that the hostages refused to cooperate with them and actually saw law enforcement as the villains. What they were witnessing was the hostage's identification with the hostage taker. Authorities were even more shocked when the hostages refused to testify against their captors and one of the women later married him. While hostages may bond after a matter of hours batterers usually have many years with the victims without any interference or intervention.



This bond occurs because the well being of a child, a hostage or a battered woman depends upon the hostage taker or the batterer. If a batterer has total control over her money, safety, peace and happiness then it is in her best interest to keep him happy. This bond is not only in the best interest of the perpetrator but is, at times, in the best interest of the victim and is frequently necessary for her survival. If a hostage, or battered woman, is argumentative and provocative they are more likely to be injured. If a batterer or hostage taker dislikes the victim their likelihood of injury increases.



We often berate the victim for staying in these relationships and can't understand how it happened. A violent, controlling man does not take a woman out and beat her on the first date. We all put on our best face when we initially meet people and batterers are no different. If he took the woman out and beat her on the first date there would be no second date. She has no history or investment in the relationship and wouldn't tolerate it. His taking control of her is a gradual process.



Battered women, hostages and prisoner's of war will share some of the same experiences. Some of these shared experiences are that they are degraded, debilitated, they experience the constant threat of violence, the violence is intermittent, their are occasional indulgences, the captor demonstrates omnipotence, isolation etc...



The dynamics involved in domestic violence can be demonstrated by what's called The Power And Control Wheel by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (DAIP). It's interesting because when we compare Bidermans Chart of Coercion by Amnesty International with the Power and Control Wheel they are almost identical.Bidermans Chart of Coercion is how Amnesty International documented the techniques of the Communist Chinese, KGB, etc.



There are many types of service providers coming in contact with battered women who are still unaware of why these women stay. These service providers are unable to address the bigger picture due to a lack of information. The inability to address this issue creates many problems. Law enforcement, and much of society, still blames the women for defending their attackers, unaware of the fact that not only is defending the attacker in her best interest but the bond itself reduces her injury. The victims are not given the information they need to deal with the bond they feel and therefore attribute their perplexing feelings to "love." Allowing them, and their children, to continue in traumatic relationships.



While we advise diplomats who have been taken hostage against confrontational behavior we ask that battered women cooperate with law enforcement who can frequently only guarantee her safety for a matter of hours. I am not saying that battered women should not cooperate. I am asking that we rethink our approach to domestic violence based on the fact that a traumatic bond is occurring and that the bond itself must be taken into consideration and dealt with.



For more information contact VJC Inc for a copy of the book Traumatic Bonding and the Development of the Stockholm Syndrome in Battered Women.





Up to 14

29 more to go.

That means I need to go and make some more friends on 43T

I am so glad I found this site. Very cool indeed.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Days days Daze

Day 16 – Read an email from flylady. Done. I do this often darnit.

Day 17 – Set a specific bedtime and stick to it. Man that’s hard for me. I have to go with the late night bedtime of 11pm. Granted it is now 11:27 and I am wide awake typing this mess. I have to have William at school at 6:30 am for his 4th grade field trip.

Day 18 – Read flylady’s eleven commandments. I did that a while ago. That doesn’t mean I have to obey them though. snickering Seriously, I cannot see myself obeying the flylady commandment # 10. Can you?

Day 19 – Read the testimonial. Done. I cheated and read it several times. Good.

Day 20 – maybe tomorrow.

Good Night

700 Grains

Previous 2880
Today 700
Total 3580

I agreed to donate 10,000 grains?

This may take a while because I do not go to http://www.freerice.com very often. I have almost 7000 more grains to donate. If I donate 700 a day for 10 days, that may work.

We shall see.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Recovery

I’ve been sick this week. Now I’m in recovery. I still have a cough though. Not feeling as weak as I was when I first caught the plague that took me down.

I thought it was earlier than 8pm. It’s 8:42 and I’m going to bed now. I need my beauty rest.

Good Night

Recovery

I’ve been sick this week. Now I’m in recovery. I still have a cough though. Not feeling as weak as I was when I first caught the plague that took me down.

I thought it was earler than 8pm. It’s 8:42 and I’m going to bed now. I need my beauty rest.

Good Night

Friday, February 1, 2008

What I Thought Today

Time for a new day

Time for a different attitude

Time for an unusual approach

It is time for change

NOW

My computer at work is acting funky funny today

I just found out it’s not just my computer

It’s the entire damn network

What could have been

Is not

It is only a lingering thought that dies before realization

When I’m in my car driving, I seem to always think of great blog topics. Then when I sit down to my computer to type the latest and greatest thought, I forget what it was I thought of.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written an interesting blog, a normal blog, one in which an intelligent thought was put into its effort. I’ve just been really busy with this thing called LIFE.

Electric word life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell u
There's something else
The afterworld

A world of never ending happiness
U can always see the sun, day or night

Oops. Sorry lost track of the interesting, intelligent, and thought provoking blog I intended to write.

I’ve also been spending way too much time trying to figure out how to really get paid to blog. I’m about to give up on that goal and go back to blogging as usual. We’ll see.

Sometimes when I look in the mirror to fix my hair I find lint. When I go to pull the lint out of my beautiful locks I am horrified to see that it wasn’t lint at all. It’s gray hair. My gray hair is not gray either. It’s snow white! Oh the horror.

My dad has gray hair. My younger brothers have gray hair. My younger sister has gray hair. My step mom has gray hair. So, it should only follow that since I am the oldest I should be getting gray hair as well.

However, I thought that since nobody really knows the true color of my mother’s hair, I would not be getting gray hair yet. Ok, nature did not give my mom her youthful rainbow of different hair colors. The bottles did. I remember at one point in time her hair was a different color every single time I saw her. She was really busy with some bottles you know. Her hair has been jet black, dusty black, brown, auburn, red, purple (really?), orange, light brown, honey blonde, dark brown, platinum blonde, and all shades in between the shades I have mentioned. I bet there’s gray hair hiding on her somewhere. I’m afraid to mention where.

Again, I posted a beautiful photo that has absolutely nothing to do with this entry. It's William. His dad took the photo at the mall and shared it with me. I had to post it because William is so handsome. Can you see his lazy eye?

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