More servicesWindows Live
HomeHotmailSpacesOneCare
 
MSN
Sign in
 
 
Spaces home  A Woman's SpacePhotosProfileFriendsBlog Tools Explore the Spaces community

Blog

    • View next 20 entriesView last 20 entries
    September 21

    After the Storm

    Last week we were hit with an unexpected windstorm.  It was the back winds from Hurricane Ike.  Winds gusted up to 75 MPH during the afternoon hours.
     
    It was a  frightening experience.  We are a river city and the idea of hurricane force winds here was alien.
     
    I realized that we were in trouble around 2 o'clock.  That is when the trees outside of my home were being battered by the winds.  I kept hearing  emergency sirens and different cracking sounds.  Which turned out to be tree limbs or the entire tree falling to the ground.
     
    Then our electricity went off. For the next three days it was a challenge for everyone who was affected by the power outage.
    Some people are still waiting for their electric to be restored. 
     
    I do not know how people can ride a hurricane out.  We never had any rainfall during the storm.  I cannot imagine what that would of been like.  But I hope and pray that we never experience anything like that again!
    July 20

    ESSENCE.com Black In America: A Special Report

    CNN is going to air a broadcast special titled: Black In America.  One of the links that have been provided is Essence Magazine. 

    This article features a story about children being arrested.  One child was six years old when she was taken to jail for being a disruptive student in her kindergarten classroom.  Her mother is suing the school and the police.  I know that there are young children who can really tear up a classroom when they are out of control.

    However, calling the police was too extreme.  The fact that the school administrators felt this was the best way to resolve the problem~indicates there is a problem. 

     

    ESSENCE.com Black In America: A Special Report

    July 17

    Walking In Ordered Steps

     
    Ordered steps are ones made in the confidence of faith. 
    There is no doubt that wherever you end up on the journey~it is the right place for you to be.
     
    I can bear witness to this truth in my own life.  Just trusting and believing that in the end~it will work out and be alright!
     
    This is my daily desire in  life. To step out on faith  and be lead by the Holy Spirit to the place that God desires for me to be.
     
     
     
    July 13

    There is Peace in the Valley

    Peace.
     
    That sense of well being that fills our spirits.
     
    Peace.
     
    That balance that comes during  trying times and remains
    when that moment has ended.
     
    The birds are singing praises.  Even though it is that  dark hour before the dawn.  They are thankful to be alive.  Willing to  use their gifts to bless the earth once again.
     
    I cannot help but to wonder, would  I be willing to use my gifts?  Would I be willing to be blessing ~even in the  darkest moments of time?
     
    Would I be willing to give up praise without hesistation or thought about what lies ahead on this day?
     
    Can I shine my love light and let it project joy?
     
    I hope so. 
     
     
     
    July 05

    I Think I Need A Cup of Tea

    Ginger
     
    Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale.
     
    Common Names: Black ginger, African ginger. 
     
     Medicinal Properties:  Stimulant, pungent, carminative, aromatic, sialagogue, condiment.  When taken hot it is disphoretic.
     
    Taken hot, ginger is excellent for suppressed menstruation.  A little of the root
    chewed stimulate the salivary gland and is very useful in paralysis of the tongue, also good for the sore throat.  Prevents gripping, good for diarrhea, colds, in grippe, chronic bronchitits, dyspepsia, gas and germentation, cholera, gout, and nausea when combined with strong laxatives and herbs.
     
    From Back to Eden
    Jethro Kloss
    1939
     
    I am sitting here sipping on a cup of  ginger root tea with honey and lime.
    That is the craving that I had while I was pulling weeds in my garden.
    Fortunately the taste that I had in my thoughts was available to be prepared at home.
     
    Now I am sitting here listening to Baby  Brother's Blues by Pearle Cleage.
    A story that I have already read before.  But one I like well enough to revisit.
     
    I am in  the process of a physical cleaning.  When I finish drinking my tea it will be time to get up and start in the front room and work my way to completion.
     
    I'm giong to do a four corner cleansing.  That includes walls,  woodwork and furniture.  While I listen to the book on disc.  With music in between to break up things. 
     
    Earlier today I went out into my garden to check on my plants and to pulll weeds.  One of my tomato plants has produced fruit.  My peppers are doing fairly well.  Flowering and spawning babies.  My collards are looking good too.
     
    There has been a heavy amount of rainfuall during this past week. It is muddy as heck in my plot.  But there is nothing that I can do about that except to wait until the ground dries.  Then I can finish my removal.
     
     
    July 03

    From A Moment In The Hills

    My day has been filled primarily with needed physical rest.  Which was fine with me.  I try to honor times when my physical body demands that I slow down and relax.
     
    Spiritually it was time to journey into the hills.  That is a place that I go to gain  personal perspectives about my life. It is a pleasant trek for me.  The beauty of that moment is like a good cleansing tonic. 
     
    Being in the hills alllows me to have the ability to look in different directions that my womanself dares to venture. 
     
    Ahmad Jamal: April In Paris
     
     
    July 02

    Let the Spiritual Pregnancy Begin!

    I have made steps in the right direction!
    A place to nestle into and let my spiritual embryo grow and develop. 
    Making my way to that space was quite a journey!  One that made me get intouch with  my spitirual kinsfolks, Wisdom and Knowledge.  Their presence made the trek endurable.
    Now I can go forth and make plans that are going to help substain and nurture my idea.
     
    Minnie Ripperton:Adventures In Paradise
     
    July 01

    Taking A Leap Of Faith( With A Safe Landing Plan In Mind)

    I woke up this a.m. with a renewed sense of  my spirit ed woman /self. 
    The reason I feel this way is due to the vision that is opening up inside of my life. It greeted me this morning.  And I like what it has done to my psyche.
    It feels like this is my spiritual child to nurture from this moment until its birth.
     
    The space is being made within my mind to house this child.  To take time to examine the details necessary to help it grow and develop.  Bringing it into  living infancy is the first part of the plan.
    June 30

    A Woman's Space

    Seeds of change have begun to root and sprout.  It is a season of growth in my life.  a time to consider what direction will take me to where I want to go.
     
    It is funny how growth and development never really stop until the life we are living up under the sun is completed.
     
    A woman's space is fertile grounds.  It has to be to conceive life, support it and then birth to whatever manner of vision is meant to become reality.
     
    I am purging this week.  Emptying myself of the menal burden that comes from making hasty choices.  Redesigning my inner vision because I really want it to become my reality.
     
    Looking past this moment into the future to see where my energy will flourish and produce  life.
     
    Make overs are a necessary outcome of imgination 
    June 29

    Swooping Through Like I Do

    I have been very busy lately.  The job that I had secured did not work out.  I turned my letter of resignation this past week.  Which should be freaking me out.  But it actually feels very good to be away from that particular center site.
     
    Dealing with women who want to be surpressive on a job is not what I am about.  I have worked too long to suddenly go butt backwards by accepting shoddy treatment. 
     
    So it is back to square one on that tip.
     
    I now have two new grandchildren.  A girl and a boy.  They were born almost a month apart.  They are first cousins who look like twins.
    Genetics are amazing!  The girl was born first.  She is petite.  The boy is a baby Brutus.  (Okay~I live in the O~State).  But they look like sister and brother.  That brings the total number of grandbabies to five.  Four girls and one boy.
     
    Their arrival into our family is a real joyful event.  I am hoping that we are finished with this particular phase of additions for awhile.  I want to enjoy spending time with this branch of my children.  I am a little upset because my money will be tight for a few weeks.  But God is going to handle that aspect of my business.
     
     
    March 22

    Just Swooping Through

    It has been awhile since I have posted on this site. 
     
    My work schedule is very demanding.  Meeting the demands of four ten hour days is rough on a sistah. 
     
    However, there are rewards for my efforts.  I am in the process of enjoying a four day week end.
    That makes it worthwhile.
     
    I have not done much of anything over the past two days.  I have spent the majority of my time just resting and relaxing.
    It is good not to have every spare moment planned out.  That allows you to do whatever you want.
     
    Rest and relaxation is an art form.  It is not easily achieved by those who feel guilty because they are not doing anything.
    I use to feel that there was something to be accomplished every waking moment.  Those feeling stemed from the Super Woman theory.
    We could do it all!~Yeah~right!  What no one tells you about being that particular woman is the fact that she will wear you low in no time.
     
    I tried and it worked for awhile.  Then one day I began to realize that there was no time for me.  I was so busy doing for my children and being involved in other interests that I had forgotten how to do nothing at all.
     
    The first act I committed when I realized what was happening to me was a serious self 2 self confrontation.  I needed to do that and learn why I felt the need to be busy all the time.  Once it became obvious that I had bought into the myth~I became a woman on a mission. 
     
    I decided to kill off the Super Woman inside of me. 
     
    My method was simple.  I picked up my journal and began to write her death notice.  It was several paragraphs long.  When it was completed, I felt that she would RIP!
     
    I cannot honestly say that I miss her. 
     
    March 11

    Obama dismisses joint ticket with Clinton - Yahoo! News

    This latest gimmick by Team Clinton is just too much to take!  The idea of suggesting that Obama play back up to her forefront is surreal.  Why should Obama consider being Vice President when he is running for the Presidency of the United States?

    Barack was correct in rejecting the idea.  Clinton has made it clear early on that she will use any available tool to help her win the office.  While it is the nature of the political beast in America and it is the way that business is conducted in that arena~she is not acceptable to me as a Democrat.  Even if Obama was not running for the office~I would not be supportive of her bid.  The information that I have found on her has made me feel that this would be a major mistake for the national good. 

    As a woman of color, I am not willing to support her race card playing antics.  The half~ass apology that she gave in the MSM recently did not cut it with me.  The manner in which things have been done by Team Clinton let's me know that they are upset with black people who do not support her camp.  So be it. 

    While many people believe that a Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket is a sure fired winner for the Dems, I do not agree.  While it is true that their political stances are not that far apart~the baggage that the Clinton's bring with them~is not that attractive.  Contrary to popular urban myths, I do not relate to them as a woman of color.  I detest the statement that Clinton is the first black president.  Bull!  His administration was not the pro-black people time that it is made out to be.  Just because they are savvy enough to use pieces of our culture to appeal to black audiences~does not impress me.  It only indicates that they are trying to connect up with us for the moment. 

    I measure that connection in regards to legislation and historical facts.  That is the foundation of my decision not to be supportive of Hillary.  The evidence indicates that she will be about business of self-promotion as usual.

     

    I am supporting Obama's bid for the nomination all the way!   I am glad that he has laid this particular ploy to rest by rejecting the notion.

    Obama dismisses joint ticket with Clinton - Yahoo! News

    March 05

    Talking about Obama's grandmother: No more dirty tricks - Barack Obama News- msnbc.com

    This is an enlightening article about the cultural background of Barack Obama.  It is from the perspective of his grandmother who lives in Kenya.  It gives the reader an explination about his middle name and religious background.  For people who have no idea about African culture this is a good article to review.  You will learn what is acceptable to this portion of the international culture. 

    Quote

    Obama's grandmother: No more dirty tricks - Barack Obama News- msnbc.com
    Skip
    February 19

    Solidarity and Treason

    This article sums up the feelings that I have as a black woman vote during this particular political season.

    I have had to make my position forcefully plain to many people about why I am voting for Obama instead of Clinton.  I have also had to make it plain about the suggested alternative candidates that people feel I should consider instead of Obama. 

    When is going to become obvious to non~black people that this is an historic opportunity for me as a black woman?  I may not see another strong black contender for the office of president in my lifetime.  Our time is now! 

    This article raises some very viable points on the subject of race v gender.  While many women may feel that we should support Clinton, they also fail to realize that they have totally ignored our race in their demands.  I have no problems with women of color who support Clinton.  That is their right and it is about making individual choices.  But I find myself being offended by those who dare to suggest that gender oppression is greater than racial oppression.  From my view point they go hand in hand if for women of color.

    I also am not down with all of the feminist agenda because of the race issue.  That has been a problem since the 70's in my mind.  I find the attitude that excludes dealing with racism is annoying as heck.  Especially when it is obvious that women of color deal with both issues.  

    Solidarity and Treason

    February 14

    The Associated Press: Black Lawmakers Rethink Clinton Support

     

    The Associated Press: Black Lawmakers Rethink Clinton Support

    This whole situation indicates that it is time for our political system to get in step with the mind set that is working in this century. 

    One of the most notable aspects of this article is the warning that is issued by Jesse Jackson Jr. to established black politicians.  If they are not in step with the people who have voted pro Obama~they may find their seats will be in jeopardy in the election. 

    It seems to me that the tendency to endorse early is not going to be that popular in the next election.  I believe that there are many black politicians who thought that Obama would not make it this far.  It also seems that there are superdelegates who now feel that they need to consider what their actual responsibility is within the process. It is to do as the people within their respective states want.

    The leadership of the DNC needs to definitely revise this policy.  It may have been quite useful when it was devised in the 1980's.  But it is now proving to be an albatross around their necks. 

    February 12

    I HATE TROLLS AND SCAMMERS!

    I OPENED MY EMAIL THIS MORNING AND DISCOVERED THIS CRAP:Foundazion Di Vittorio, ITALY
    BATCH NO: (N-222-6747,E-900-56)
    Congratulation on behalf of foundazion di vittirio by the members of
    the
    board as one of the winners of a cash grant for your own
    personal,business
    and educational development. To celebrate the 30years anniversary.
    We are releasing out a donation of US$500,000.00 (FIVE HUNDREDTHOUSAND
    UNITED STATES DOLLARS) to 7 lucky winners as charity donations/aid from
    the
    vittorio foundation, Ecowas, EU and UNO in accordance with the enabling
    act
    of Parliament which is part of our promotion.
    To file for claims contact the payment remittance below with thedetails
    below.

    ************************************************************
    Full Name: Residential Address: Occupation: Country:
    Telephone: Fax Number: Sex: Age: Batch No:
    *************************************************************

    Remmittting Officer: Mr Candy Moore
    Email address:  candymoore@live.com
    Tel:2348036324161

    ________________________________________________

    This message was sent
    using Dodo Webmail - www.dodo.com.au
    I HATE SPAM AND I HATE TROLLS! 
    IF YOU ARE RICH AND CANNOT ESCAPE YOUR NATION~THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM.  I DO NOT PLAY THE LOTTERY AT ALL!  AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOUR LETTERS BEGINNING WITH GOD TOLD ME TO WRITE TO YOU~ARE NOT IMPRESSIVE EITHER.  IF YOU REALLY CONNECTED WITH THE CREATOR~HE WOULD OF LET YOU KNOW THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO RESCUES PEOPLE.
     
    SO STOP TROLLING AND SENDING ME THIS TYPE OF JUNK!

    February 04

    Psychology Today: Edwidge Danticat on Endings

    After reading this article on how Edwidge Danticat survived some difficult times during her life, I feel renewed for the day. 

    I believe that we have to draw strength from out of the wells that are provided for us.  This article gives information about the tragedies that she experienced within her family circle.  Being from Haiti has given her a very different perspective on living in the United States.  Often we forget that many of the people who live in America came here to fulfill their dreams.  Often on the way to experiencing that fulfillment, there are tragedies and detours that happen.  They are events that change how we live, love and feel about life.

    Danticat could be very bitter and angry about some of her experiences.  Instead she grew past the moments. But she did not allow her bitterness to hinder her growth.  Her books reflect a thoughtful and powerful writer.

    Psychology Today: Edwidge Danticat on Endings

    January 17

    Officials probe South Side day-care fire that killed toddler -- chicagotribune.com

     

    Officials probe South Side day-care fire that killed toddler -- chicagotribune.com

    I have some real questions in regards to how the provider responded during the fire.  Was it wise for the provider to try and put the fire out first?  I do not feel that was the best response in that particular situation.

    Removing the children first would of been the best safety procedure.  That is the standard procedure in child care facilities in Ohio.  Children are moved out of the facility first~no matter what the danger is. 

    I understand that the facilitator was concerned about her home.  It is natural to want to save your house if possible.  But fires are unpredictable.  The flames can spread quickly.  Smoke fills up a room quickly and it is deadly.  I realize that she did try to go back to try and rescue the little boy.  That act could of cost the provider her life.  This is not a condemnation.  It is my professional concern about a situation like this one.  Everyday there is a potential for danger in child care settings.  We all do our human best to provide safe environments for children.  When things go wrong and a tragedy happens like this one, it is worth the effort to investigate and reflect on what happened.  There are lessons that can be applied to help prevent another death.

    It doesn't appear that this home setting had practiced evacuation procedures.  I cannot say this for sure because I am collecting information from the article.  The ages of the children are not given so it is difficult to know if they were all toddlers or if there were pre school aged children at her site.

    This is not a condemnation.  It is my professional concern about a situation like this one.  Everyday there is a potential for danger in child care settings.  We all do our human best to provide safe environments for children.  When things go wrong and a tragedy happens like this one, it is worth the effort to investigate and reflect on what happened. 

    It was just reported on WGN News that a child playing with matches could be the possible source of this fire. That is not a not an official ruling yet.

    No matter what started the fire~a child has lost his life in a setting that is supposed to be one of safety.

    My prayers are with the mother and the provider.  Both of these women are surely devastated by what happened. 

     

    I

    January 07

    New Directions

     

    My week is beginning and it is starting on a high note.  I really feel renewed and positive today.  I am sure that there is going to be some form of uplift in my life this week. 

    I posted a really nice video on my page tonight.  It is titled: Why I Love Black People.  The images and the music are very nice.  I discovered it on a friends page.  Listening to the music and viewing the images made me feel good.

    I have an appointment at New Directions in the morning.  I am going to complete my coursework and obtain some networking information.

    I discovered an Ohio based information site about employment opportunities. I plan to spend time there tomorrow.  Hopefully I will be able to pinpoint down at least three employers to contact.

    This week is going to be filled with accomplished goals!

    January 02

    Reinventing Myself

    I have begunn to implement my job search.  That is my number one priority.  I am ready to re~enter the work place. 
    This is a new experience for me.  I have not had to actively seek employment in 18 years.
     
    I am feeling pretty confident about the pursuit of a new job.  I have not been sitting around doing nothing since May.  I have been working on skill acquisition and development.  Conducting research on line that can be used to help me achieve my goal.
     
    Today I developed a profile on Linked In.  I am going to be more assertive in my networking skills.  I realize that I have not been in active pursuit of friends in this network.  That is not why I set this particular site up.  It is a learning experience for me.  I especially like using the Live Writer feature that is offered. 
     
    As time goes by, I will have a nice blog developed concerning my job search experiences.  Perhaps there will be information that other mature job seekers can use.
     
    I am going to start inviting some of my other friends to view this site.  I am also going to be letting others know that I am actively seeking employment.