Meet the Browns Opens TODAY!

I'm too excited about seeing Tyler Perry's latest film, "Meet the Browns". Brown is my absolute favorite TP character and it'll be interesting to see if he can carry a whole movie. Check out this interview with Tyler over at BlackVoices. Go out and support this film this weekend, then come back to the comment box on Monday and let us know how you liked it! Enjoy your Good Friday and Easter Weekend. Be safe, and stay away from the boiled eggs...please!

Teen Mom Arrested After Kids Eat Cocaine

Tyrone Biggums is a fictional character created for a sketch comedy show by comedian Dave Chappelle. Tyrone is a crackhead who sells real estate, wears a FedEx hoodie, drinks Red Balls (cocaine in a can) like water, and loves peanut butter and crack sandwiches. Chappelle made Tyrone a lovable character and pop culture's favorite crackhead with his cocaine white lips, semi-articulate speech, and propensity to sprinkle crack rocks on his meals like seasoned salt.

We were in stitches watching as Tyrone was the guest speaker at a drug awareness day at an elementary school and as he sold a friend's house while the friend was out of town and had a crack party with the proceeds. We laughed while Tyrone went through an intervention, busted a car window to save a baby locked in the car (actually his goal was to steal the radio), and once picked up a city bus just to get to a dime under one of the wheels. He is the closest many of us have ever had to having a live crackhead in our living room. We could laugh at Tyrone, because he's not real. His whole life is a literally joke. A script in the mind of a brilliant comedian. ...I just wish that this news story was a joke too.

This is one of the worst examples of art imitating life. When I spotted this story over at C&D, I was in utter disbelief. This is a mess on so many levels. First of all, this child is 17 with her own two-year old. Secondly, she is babysitting somebody else's 2 toddlers. Thirdly, she leaves them in the house (apparently alone) where cocaine is out in the open, to go out and sell crack. Fourth(ly?) after it became apparent that the kids ate the cocaine, she didn't take them to the hospital until one had a seizure.

Stuff like this just shouldn't happen in real life.

*exhale*

Obama's Speech on Race: "A More Perfect Union"

Here is the video of Barack Obama's speech, on race in America, that many are referring to as "historic". It's about 38 minutes long. Review and discuss. Click here to read the full transcript.



Here are some of my other blog postings related to Obama:
Controversy: Barack Obama and his Pastor
Barack's Grandmother Speaks
What is the Prize?

Controversy with Barak Obama and His Pastor

I was just thinking about this whole situation with Barak Obama and his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, (read here) and it suddenly occurred to me that this scenario is slightly familiar. As this is Holy Week, there is no doubt that you will see countless reenactments of the cruxifiction, the passion, the journey, or whatever you want to call it. I watched a couple of stories last night on the Travel Channel and the History Channel. It's that time of year when we reflect on Jesus' journey leading up to Easter Sunday.

Allow me to draw a similarity here. Jesus was a revolutionary. He was highly controversial and his statements brought an incredible measure of offence to the establishment and the powers that be; hence, their plot to kill him. He was not a friend of the political system nor the governmental structure. He was not embraced by mainstream Jerusalem as a patriot or regarded as a gifted teacher or theologian. As a matter of fact, they hated and despised him. Called him a heretic and a blasphemer. He was so outrageous that the whole nation wanted him crucified.

One of the most notable points in the recantation of Jesus' journey to cruxifiction is the moment where Peter, one of his closest and most long standing followers, chooses to deny him. Three times. We all know the story. Jesus told Peter that he would deny him, Peter said no way Lord, never. Jesus told him that he would do it three times before the cock crowed. Well, not only did Peter deny him, but he cursed (denounced and rejected) knowing him. After Peter realized what he had done, he was broken. He had to go and get himself together, but he eventually became one of the great leaders of the church and author of at least two books of the bible.

What's my point? Glad you asked. Ecclesiastes 1:9 states that there is no new thing under the sun. Character assassination for political gain is not a new thing. The Church being attacked is not a new thing. Spiritual leaders being controversial and making unpopular statements is not a new thing. Preachers offending politicians and heads of state is not a new thing. Followers denying and distancing themselves from their leaders out of fear or for personal gain is not a new thing. Fast forward 2,008 years.

Am I comparing Rev. Wright to Jesus? Not in the sense of his doctrine or teachings. I haven't heard one message that he's taught. He could be right on or way off. Doesn't matter...that's not my point.

My point is, there will ALWAYS be a separation between church and state. The church is supposed to carry out the mission of telling the truth, even when it's unpopular or politically incorrect. For those followers who claim allegiance to the kingdom of God and operate in the political or governmental system, it causes them to walk on thin ice. Many get away for years with having private beliefs and a public agenda. I believe that's what may have prompted Peter's adamant public denial of Christ. Maybe he had political aspirations too. Maybe he was concerned about the financial implications on his fishing business if he were publicly connected to a revolutionary. He knew that his leader was a controversial figure. He walked with him, heard him teach, fellowshipped with him, all the while harboring a secret fear that this relationship could come back to haunt him. Jesus already knew this. That's why he had the foresight to tell Peter exactly what he would do when put in that situation, even though Peter didn't want to believe him.

I wonder if Rev. Wright had that same conversation with Barak Obama. "Barak, before this campaign is over, you will have to deny me."

Did Barak do the right thing? I don't know. Did Peter do the right thing? He did what he felt like he had to do. His leader already knew that he would have to do it and then prepared him for it. Was Jesus betrayed, wounded or offended by Peter's actions? No. He was already prepared for it. He understood who he was called to be and who Peter was called to be. Jesus knew his mission and he knew Peter's mission.

He understood that in order for one to live, the other had to die.

Can You Hear Micheal Jackson Screaming TGIF!

For the King of Pop, when it rains it pours. Michael had a rough week this week, and you know he's somewhere counting down to 5:00 so he can bust somebody's happy hour wide open. "Jesus Juice" anyone?! LOL!

Anyway, on Wednesday some chick tried to break into the Neverland Ranch. Billie Jean Jackson (yes, that's her name), 60, told a security guard at the front gate of the ranch that she was Jackson’s wife and this was her ranch, too, reported the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. (source)

Then, yesterday at the 11th hour he was able to save Neverland Ranch from being auctioned off next week. (source). You think Michael had a adjustable rate mortgage? This foreclosure thing is messing everybody up. I feel your pain Mike.

Billie Jean Jackson, if you're indeed his lover, you need to be giving Mike something on that mortgage. Upkeep at Neverland ain't cheap. And I don't know how you got to the ranch, but gas is too high to be wasting it on a blank trip. Get off the wall Billie Jean. The way to the man's heart is to put a little something in his escrow account.

Michael - here's to the good old days. Happy Friday...have a great weekend!

UPDATE! Sheriff to Press Charges in Woman on Toilet Case!

I told you I needed answers. The sheriff is thinking about pressing charges in the case of the woman who was in the bathroom for 2 years. Sounds like they think she was on the toilet for at least a month continuously. That's 30 days and 23.5 hours TOO LONG!

Check out the story and video here.

On a sidenote...I find it absolutely hilarious and strangely ironic that the sheriff's name is Whipple...as in the famous "Mr. Whipple" from the old Charmin toilet paper commercials...LOL! Maybe she stayed in the bathroom for so long because the Charmin was so soft...and it smelled so good! I'm probably the only one who thinks that's funny.

If you've never seen the old Charmin commercials, here's a sample:

Woman Stuck on Toilet for 2 Years

I grew up in a trailer in the backwoods of north Louisiana. It was a single-wide (eventually we got a house and the trailer and the house were then hooked together...check out my archived posts for more background on me :-)) and we only had 1 bathroom. There were six of us in the house: my parents, myself and my 3 siblings, and with only one bathroom, there were certain rules that had to be enforced for everyone's protection:


1. When using the toilet, lock the door. We all had our experiences walking in on someone who forgot to lock the door. Not cute.

2. When taking a bath or shower, pull the shower curtain but do not lock the door. That way, if someone needs to come in the bathroom for any reason, they can get in and don't have to wait for you to come out of the shower. We got in trouble many times for locking the door when taking a bath. Sometimes we just wanted some privacy even if it meant risking getting a whuppin' later.

3. If doing anything other than using the toilet do not lock the door. Again, with one bathroom and six bodies, we did not have the luxury of hiding from the world in the bathroom for a while. Actually, we didn't have the luxury of hiding anywhere in the house. I didn't have my own room until I was 21...but, I digress.


So anyway, there's this story about a woman in Kansas who stayed in the bathroom for 2 years. How do you stay in the bathroom for 2 years?! According to the boyfriend, he was bringing her food and clothes and she was in there walking around and taking baths and stuff. But, according to police, her skin had grown around the toilet seat and they had to pry the seat off the base of the toilet. That means she had to have sat there for a while.


I prefaced this story with my own trailer bathroom experiences because as I reflect on my own childhood home and most other trailers that I've ever been in, I know that there was probably only one bathroom in the house. With that being said, where did HE use the bathroom for 2 years? When we were very little, one time my brother and I figured out how to both use the toilet at the same time (we had to go BAD!). Of course, as little kids you can do stuff like that and not grow up mentally scarred.


Did he shower everyday while she was sitting on the throne? Did he take long bubblebaths and catch up with her on the day's news while she sat there clipping her toenails, watching them fly into his bathwater?

What did the boyfriend tell his friends when they came over and asked to use the bathroom? ...that his toilet was messed up?

I NEED ANSWERS and this explanation that the boyfriend offered is just not gonna do:

"It just kind of happened one day; she went in and had been in there a little while, the next time it was a little longer. Then she got it in her head she was going to stay -- like it was a safe place for her," McFarren said.


All hail the queen who sits on a porcelain throne.

Sudan Man Marries a Goat

If you check out my archives, I have a post dedicated to some of my wild animal encounters, but I can safely say this one takes the [wedding] cake. You just can't make this stuff up!


Sudan man marries a goat
by Iva Skoch Mar 12th 2008 @ 10:40AM

This is an important security announcement for all of you, who plan on a) visiting Sudan b) engaging in sexual relations with farm animals, or c) both. Stay away from goats in Sudan!

Let this story serve as a lesson to you. A man from Sudan has been forced to take a goat as his wife after he was caught having sex with the animal, BBC reports. The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders and they ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.

The intercourse happened the night before Valentine's day (awww) and as far as anyone knows, they are still together. The newlyweds are registered at Pottery Barn (they should be, at least.)


Story lifted in its entirety from Gadling.com.

1 in 4 Teen Girls in the U.S. has an STD

I SMELL A RAT!!!


Let me tell you something. I may not have inherited my father's fashion sense, but I did get enough of his conspiracy theory gene to know that something is not right here. According to this article in AOL Health News:

• CHICAGO (March 11) - At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group. A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls — nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Uh um. I ain't buying it. I was alarmed by the headline and couldn't believe what I was reading until I got to the line that said "a virus that causes cervical cancer". That's when all the red lights started flashing in my head.

See, first of all, notice who the virus is supposed to be prevalent in - black girls. I don't know how many of you are aware of the marketing strategy that was launched a few years ago for a type of drug called Gardasil. It was a sly scheme that the pharmaceutical company Merck rolled out slowly over the course of a couple of years. The first stage was a series of commercials that featured women on the street and in other situations being asked if they knew that there was a virus that caused cervical cancer. Never mentioning a cure or vaccine, the commercial just "raised awareness" and instructed women to start asking their doctor about the HPV virus. (successful at spreading fear of a new disease)

The next series of commercials was about the "cure" for the HPV virus that scientists had discovered. It was called Gardasil and the women in the commercials were excited about knowing that there is a cure for this virus that causes cervical cancer. (successful at directing you to the product)

Next, the state of Texas and other states began to try to make it mandatory for all girls ages 9-11 (i think) of a certain poverty level (translation: black and hispanic) to be vaccinated against the HPV virus. Keep in mind that this so-called vaccine was largely untested and unproven and there had certainly been no studies showing the long-term effects that it would have on the reproductive system of these children who haven't even reached puberty yet. Their bodies are not fully developed!

So now, you have a study that shows that 25% of teenage girls in the U.S. have an STD and what do you know? The majority have the dreaded HPV! ...and it's largely African-American girls at that! Somebody call Merck and start pumping these ladies with Gardasil stat!

Listen folks. There are two rats here. The first one is Merck. Here's some important information about Gardasil (according to their own website):

• GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important to continue regular cervical cancer screenings.
  Anyone who is allergic to the ingredients of GARDASIL should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL is not for women who are pregnant.
  GARDASIL will not treat cervical cancer and genital warts and will not protect against diseases caused by other HPV types.
  GARDASIL is given as 3 injections over 6 months and can cause pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, fever, nausea, and dizziness.
  Only a doctor or healthcare professional can decide if GARDASIL is right for you or your daughter. Ask about GARDASIL today.

Pharmaceutical companies are in business to make a profit, not to make you well - just like banks are in the business to make money, not to make you rich. Are we connecting the dots yet? Gardasil is the ONLY cervical cancer vaccine for girls age 9 to 26. If there is mass hysteria over this cancer causing STD known as Human Papillomavirus, then a vaccine is found, then states mandate it for a huge slice of the population, and then there is a study that "proves" that your teenaged daughter may be exposed to an STD which can threaten her with cancer...WHO STANDS TO MAKE A PROFIT ON PUSHING AND PUBLICIZING THIS STUDY?!

The second rat is the collective establishment that is knowingly helping to wipe out new generations of MINORITIES by injecting them with this vaccine without knowing what the long term effects will truly be on the girls and on their reproductive system. How many of them will become sterile? The sad part is, we won't know for another 10 or 11 years - when we start to notice that the birthrate among blacks has dropped dramatically. Just watch and see. In about 5 years, the FDA will suddenly find out through "new studies" (like they've done with Vioxx and all the other drugs that were supposed to be the cure all) that Gardasil really is harmful, but by then it'll be way too late.

This company is literally pimping our girls. Taking their reproductive system and using it for profit. One in every four teenage girls - prevalently black girls - will be working for a pimp named Merck. He whispers sweet nothings and tells them daddy's gonna take real good care of them. All the while, he bankrolls their body and they are left empty, sick, and broke down.

I really hope I'm wrong, but I'm telling you something about this study and this vaccine stinks like genocide.

Jill Scott is My BFF

Okay, not really, but she and my real BFF Holly look A LOT alike. They are both gorgeous and oh so curve-a-licious. Bubbly personalities with mega-watt smiles. The kind of girls who know that they're beautiful, but not in a pretentious kinda way. My real BF and my pretend BF are both awesome!





I'm such a HUGE fan of Jill Scott. Everytime she performs she makes tears come to my eyes because she has such a passion for her music. I am absolutely captivated by her voice. She also has a new bra line called "The Butterfly Collection" coming out for voluptuous girls who need a more comfortable fit (I hear all your giggles [especially you MOM!]... no, I don't quite have what it takes to be chosen as a spokesmodel, but that doesn't mean I can't support her. Haters). Check out the Butterfly Bra video at AshleyStewart.com.

Big shout out to my fabulous girlfriend Chanel over at HipCandy for throwing this post idea my way. She's livin' the crazy life at L.A. Fashion Week this week. Check out her blog for Fashion Week pics and updates.

Go See My Cousin Raven in "College Road Trip"

YES!!! Raven-Symone is my cousin. Although we have never met in person, we found out who she was shortly after she started making her mark as "Olivia" on the Cosby Show. My great-grandmother and her grandfather (or great-grandfather...my grandmother is calling me back to confirm) were brother and sister!




Genes don't lie. Pictured are my grandmother, me, and my cousins Dextria, Constance & Amanda (photo taking during an impromptu Christmas hat party).


It's been fun to watch her grow up and we are proud that she has remained grounded and true to herself in the face of all the foolishness that is the norm for young Hollywood.

Go support this movie. Not just because of my family ties, but as we have seen with the success of the Tyler Perry movies, when we support black films we help to open the door for more opportunities for the next generation of black screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors. (more at Black Voices College Road Trip)



Check out the movie trailer:

George W. Bush...the Great Dictator

My life has truly been changed for the better now that I know for sure that it is possible for me to live in peace and harmony....

...with fish.

"Rarely is the question asked, 'how IS our children learning?'" (George W. Bush)

Hopefully, they are not learning by watching you Mr. Bush.

Check this out.


For the original story, check out spinner.com.

Now check out the original Will.i.am video "Yes We Can" which puts excerpts of a Barak Obama speech to music.

The Catwalk

Over the summer I had an interesting conversation with my 9-year-old niece, Janae. She's my older brother's youngest child. They live in the midwest, but she and her older sister, LeeAnn, have spent most of their summers with my parents in north Louisiana. These two are a hilarious pair and this summer, their comedic entertainment was on another level. We were all just amazed at how much they had grown up over the past year.

We had just returned from our family reunion in Orlando and I was preparing to leave the next morning a come back to Baton Rouge. My mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table, as well as Janae. I don't know about anybody else's family, but at my parents' house, whenever anything important is being discussed, it all happens at the kitchen table. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and between meals...the kitchen is information central. With that being said, I can't remember exactly how the conversation began, but I soon realized that I was getting schooled and Miss Janae was the teacher.

Her concern with me was that I was without a husband or even a boyfriend. It just didn't make sense to her. Then she began to offer her services as a relationship counselor. Now, my mother and I are sitting directly across from each other and by now we are both frozen in our chairs hanging on to every word that's coming out of this child's mouth...barely breathing, trying not to miss a word...working so hard to keep our laughter muffled that tears just began to stream down our faces. All the while, Janae is sitting at the head of the table, comfortably facilitating this discussion with the skill of a seasoned therapist.


Janae: So, Ain'Nita, where do you go? What do you do for fun?

Me: Nothing really. Work, church, home. That's about it. I go to the grocery store a lot.

J: Hmm. The grocery store is a good place to meet men.

Me: Really? okay

J: Yeah, but when you meet a man you have to ask some questions to find out what he's all about.

Me: Oh, okay. What do I need to ask?

J: First, you need to find out if he has a job. It doesn't have to be a fancy job, we just need to know that he works. Second, find out if he's ever been to jail or in trouble with the police. Third, find out if he's ever cheated on his wife (if he was married before) or on his girlfriend.

Me: So I'm just supposed to come out and ask these questions? What if he doesn't tell the truth?

J: See, when he gets ready to answer, make him look you in the eye. You can tell if he's telling the truth by the way his eyes look.


Then she decided to prove her theory on my dad. She went into the living room where he was and asked him a series of questions, demanding that he look her in the eyes when he answered. When she came back to the table shaking her head she said, "Grandma, Grandpa is lying. You better watch him." As you can imagine, by then we need a box of kleenex, cause the tears are flowing.

Now, as she continued to teach me how to attract a man's attention, she realized that there was one key element that I seemed to not possess. The Catwalk. As my eyes got big, I asked, "what's the catwalk?" She said that it's sort of just like how the models walk on the runway, with one foot in front of the other. Keep your back straight and your head up. Real smooth like you're walking on a treadmill. She was convinced that this method works because she had advised other friends to do it and they now have boyfriends.

Hmm. Okay. The Catwalk.

The conversation continued on for well over an hour and as ashamed as I am to say it, I was actually listening. It was alarming to hear this level of insight coming from a nine year old, but I have to admit she was right. Men are looking for a certain confidence. They are attracted to a woman who is sure of herself and knows who she is. That is the epitome of the catwalk. Walking tall, back straight, head held high, confident. Going somewhere.

I left that Saturday evening headed back to Baton Rouge. On my way home I stopped at the Whole Foods Market to get something to eat since I had been away and didn't have any food to cook. As I sat at the counter waiting for my order, my phone rang. It was Janae. She forgot to tell me something.


J: Ain'Nita where are you?

Me: At the grocery store.

J: Really?! *in a sly voice* Did you try the catwalk?

Me: *Laughing* Not really. I don't think I'm doing it right.

J: Well, I forgot to tell you something about the catwalk. Try not to do too much. Not too much twisting or side-to-side. Just remember to keep it straight and real smooth like on a treadmill, okay? And be careful when you do it at the grocery store because a man might follow you home.

Me: *Laughing* Okay, I gotta go.


So Sunday right after church, I went back to Whole Foods to get groceries. I didn't even go home to change clothes. I was still wearing my black suit and my red patent leather pumps. As I exited the store and headed to my car, I noticed an SUV circle the parking lot and pull up behind me.


Man: Hey, I like your shoes.

Me: Thank you.

He was somebody's grandaddy, so I wasn't interested in having a prolonged conversation. I hurried up and jumped in my car. Laughing to myself, I realized that he noticed me from across the parking lot. He complimented the shoes, but I don't think that's what caught his attention. It was something more. An aura. A vibe. An energy...


I think I mastered the Catwalk.

Barak Obama's Grandmother: What Did You Say About My Grandbaby?!

Don't ever mess with a black woman's son or grandson. Whether native African or African-American, a black woman will tie her hair up, take her jewelry off, slip out of her high heels (or dust her feet off) and make you regret the day you ever opened your mouth to say something crazy about her boy.

(on a side note, look at the scene behind her...that Kenyan sky is calling me home!)


Barak's grandmother is none too pleased with the way the media has been misrepresenting him (Click here for full story). And who could blame her? American mamas go to bat for their sons all the time. When Junebug goes to jail, who is the one who gets on TV to declare his innocence? -Mama. Who is the one who will let a grown man move in with his family until he gets back on his feet? -Grandma. They are the ones who will cover for their boys no matter what they do. Murder, drugs, theft, babies galore...a black woman's son can do no wrong. She will always stand up for baby boy because she knows who he is, even though he may not act like it.


So how much more should Sarah Hussein Obama stand up for her grandbaby all the way in Kenya! He's a brilliant man who through his personal and spiritual life, career choices and community activism has demonstrated compassion, character and integrity. The scripture says that a good name is to be desired more than great wealth. Despite the sinister portrait that his opponents have tried to paint, Sarah knows that her grandboy has a good name...because it's her name too and she knows who she is.


"They" brought us to this country and stripped us of our identities. They gave us new names belonging to the slave master. Most of us don't really know who we are, who our ancestors are and the rich legacy they left us. We don't feel connected to the rest of the world. We have no idea that we have other family members around the world who will stand up for us if we could only get our names back.


"They" are angry because this African-American won't let them change his identity. He has the audacity to use that name to run for this nation's highest office. Didn't he get the memo? They took names like that and locked them up over 400 years ago. So now, they mock him and try to make him feel ashamed of having such a completely non-American name. They demonize it and plant seeds of fear of terrorism to cover their real concern. I've even seen comments suggesting that he may be the antichrist. (Newsflash: If he is the antichrist, is not voting for him in an election going to halt his agenda? The antichrist has a predestined assignment that can't be changed by human intervention. It's already been written. If you believe your salvation is sure, then what are you worried about?)


You see, it's not the Black man in the White House with the name Hussein who's itinerary they imply is outlined in the book of Revelation that they're really afraid of. They are afraid of the Black man in the White House with the name Hussein who's true agenda is outlined by the prophet Isaiah. He will build the old waste places and repair the breach. He may incite us to rise up. Yes, they fear our ancestral names. They fear that through the eyes of Obama, we will find our true culture, embrace our ancestry and reclaim our names. On that day, we will collectively wake up and realize who we really are.



"What's your name boy?!"
"Barak Hussein Obama! "


Isaiah 58:12 "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."

Uncle Freddy

There is no way possible to explain to you how hilarious I think my family is. I have always thought that we should have our own TV show. My dad is funnier than Heathcliff Huxtable. My mom can run a household better than Claire and my siblings...well, we were a cross between the Cosby kids and the Evans from GoodTimes. Toss that together with the backwoods of north Louisiana and you have yourself an Emmy nominated #1 sitcom!

Anyway, we went to Jamaica last spring and my parents and my grandmother (Momee...I'll tell more about her in another post) flew out of Monroe, LA and I flew out of Baton Rouge. We would all meet up in Atlanta and fly together to Jamaica. Well, my BFF Holly and I were having a conversation on the way to the airport and somehow we got onto the subject of Uncle Freddy's (my dad) footwear of choice. Anyone who knows my dad, knows that he LOVES to wear sandals. His logic behind this choice of haute couture footwear is due strictly to comfort and not just "to show ya'll how to dress your feet". He only wears one pair until he wears them out and then goes on a nationwide quest to find another pair. My uncle once sent some from California and is currently looking for a pair in D.C. I think he has bought them before in the midwest and on the east coast, but never have I heard of a report of my dad buying new sandals at home. His sandal purchases are as carefully planned out as a new vehicle purchase. Shop...compare...custom order...wear until the buckles fall off.

Well, as Holly and I continued talking, I told her that I could GUARANTEE that my dad would have on socks and sandals at the airport. She couldn't believe it. She could not comprehend that my father would wear his trademark sandals AND socks to travel in. Oh, how naive my beautiful BFF is. See, what I know that she doesn't know is that Uncle Freddy is a slave to fashion and he is committed to style and coordination no matter the cost. Not only would he wear the socks to the airport, but they would surely match the pants he would have on. Of course, being the prophet that I am, I told her I would confirm my foreknowledge with a photo as soon as I met up with my folks at the ATL airport. She laughed. I laughed. I got on the plane.

Fast forward an hour or so to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. I caught up with my folks somewhere in the D concourse I think. As we all exchanged greetings and sat down to enjoy the layover, I remembered that I had an important matter to attend to. After fumbling through my purse for a moment, I whipped out my camera phone and in a stealth move, snapped a couple of quick picts.

Gray pants, blueish-gray socks, and sandals. Just as I predicted.

Holly - 0, Anita - 1

We Can Change the World

My goal is to keep you informed, inspired, and accountable, so I want to kick off the "resurrection" of CRL 2.0 by giving a big shout out to Presidential candidate Barak Obama for reviving hope and giving this generation something to get excited about! There are many songs and videos that have been produced saluting Sen. Obama's message of hope, but I was caught off guard at the way I was moved by the first video that Will.I.Am did ("Yes We Can"). A new one titled "We Are the Ones" was also recently added to the website http://www.dipdive.com/.

What is the Prize?

Sometimes we are so naive and lazy. We believe everything we see on the news and everything we read on the internet. Remember the "KKK Endorses Obama" email that was floating around? I heard a nationally syndicated radio show talking about it as if it were the absolute truth. The sad part about it is all one had to do was a little research to find out that it orginated from a satirical publication in the UK. *sighs* Sometimes we seem so gullable and we wonder why "they" don't respect us.

All of the 80's babies should remember R.I.F. - Reading is Fundamental. I guess it was in the 80's but not anymore. People will pass on anything sent via email without thought for whether or not it is true. Beware of mass deception that has occurred and will continue to occur because we won't do the necessary research to stay informed.

Has anybody actually gone to the candidates websites to get the facts for yourselves? I hadn't either. Seemed like too much work, until now. It's not enough that the candidate is black, white, male, female, great orator, great debator, etc. I had a moment of enlightenment when watching "The State of the Black Union" on CSPAN an last weekend (that's a post within itself...why was I home on a Friday night watching CSPAN?! my 9-year old niece suggests that I check out match.com ...LOL!). Panel member Dr. Eddie Glaude, who is a BRILLIANT, young brother and protege of Dr. Cornell West, made a profound statement when evaluating the possibility of our nation's first black president. His thought-provoking question was, "What is the prize?"

Research, think, discuss, decide.

We can change the world. Check out Derrick over at Take Back the Mic.

Look Who's Back!

Well, well, well. I guess most of you had written me off. After all, it's only been a year and a half since my last post. I guess we have a lot to catch up on. Of course I've had some adventures over the last 18 months: movies and commercials, surgery, rental property remodel, another family vacation!

I was thinking all day today, 'what is this blog really about?' I almost changed the name because I wanted to blog on a specific subject or stream of thought, but that's just not who I am. I'm diverse and I like to talk about whatever's on my mind...politics, humor, entertaiment, religion, sports, stupid commercials...so you never know what you might get from day to day. Some may call it scatter-brained, but I prefer 'genius' instead.

It's getting late. We'll catch up later.

Can't Do Without

I've found that there are some things in life that I just can't do without:

1. At least 3 tubes of lipstick in my purse at all times. People always ask me what shade of lipstick I'm wearing. I'm usually wearing at least 2 shades. I haven't found any 1 shade that I like yet.

2. Sleeping with the lamp on. If my nightstand lamp is not turned on, I won't hear my alarm clock in the mornings because my body thinks it's still nighttime. My bedroom window faces west, so I don't get direct sunlight in the mornings.

3. The Whole Foods Market. Literally changed my life. Earlier this year, I got an unfavorable report from the doctor (no, I'm not dying and don't have any diseases!). Instead of taking the lifelong regimine of pills that he prescribed (which in the long term would have done more damage than good), I did some research and immediately stopped eating fast food and processed grocery store foods, and drinking caffeinated, carbonated drinks and went organic all the way. I see results already. I can't wait for my check up next year!

4. A calculator. I have a sad confession. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. I graduated at the top of my class. I tutor in Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus. I was 6 hrs away from a minor in Mathematics...but I CAN'T BALANCE MY CHECKBOOK WITHOUT A CALCULATOR! It's sad but it's true. I can tell you of at least 2 occasions where I attempted to balance it by hand, and ended up making errors to the tune of over $1000 total. Let me tell you, it's not cute to be looking cute standing in line at the bank and be told, "uh Ma'am, you have to have this amount in your account in order to get a certified check." HUH? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I KNOOOWWWW THAT MONEY IS IN THERE! "Ma'am, I'm sorry, here's a printout." I went home, got my CALCULATOR and discovered on that occasion that I had mis-balanced my account by about $500...ouch.

5. A vehicle with leather seats and a sunroof. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind riding on cloth interior in someone else's car, I just don't care for it in mine (no, I'm not bourgeois...refer to the post "What You Probably Didn't Know"). Gotta have the sunroof. Somehow riding with the roof open makes me feel that much closer to God.

6. Football in the fall. Growing up, Friday night (or Saturday morning) football was just a way of life. Every boy in my family played football. My sister and I were cheerleaders. I played flag football in college and for Team USA until a few years ago. It's just a part of who I am.

7. Going on vacations with my family. Sounds boring? Then you don't know my family. Just to give you a taste of one of our last trips, picture this. I'm laying in the bed in the hotel room and there's a knock at the door. My mother opened it and it's my grandmother. At 71, she's one of the foxiest grandmothers you'll ever meet. So I hear her ask my mother how she looked. Then she sashayed over to ask my opinion of her outfit. Honestly she looked okay from the head to the knees. Then the problems started. I couldn't believe that my gradmother is standing there at 9 in the morning with a shirt, shorts, sandals and fishnet pantyhose on. Yes, I said FISHNET pantyhose.

Me: "Momee, where are you going with that on?!"
Momee: "Oh, what you talkin' about? I'm not in style?"
Me: "No Ma'am. Why are you wearing fishnets?"
Momee: "Well, I have these scars on my knees and they just look so bad. I was trying to cover them up. I thought it was in fashion to wear fishnets. I'm glad you told me 'cause I bought them in a few more colors."
Me: "Fishnets are in, but not like that. Your knees look fine without them."

That vacation was over a year ago. Lately, the last 2 times I've seen her, she had the fishnets on. (Most recently was last week) But, she's still the hottest grandma on the block!

You can't imagine the stories I can tell from going on vacations with these people. Like the time I caught my mother in the hotel mirror doing the Beyonce booty shaking dance. Then, she had the nerve to challenge me! She wanted to have a dance-off with me! Has the whole world gone mad?!

8. Music. I go to bed and wake up with a song in my head. Music is just a part of who I am. I'm sure it started before I was born (thanks Daddy!). I have a library of music in my head that is mind boggling. Music energizes me. Music soothes me. Music encourages me. Music comforts me. If it were up to me, every era of my life would have a soundtrack. Right now my life could be summed up in the immortal words of Chaka Khan "I'm Every Woman" or Karyn White "I'm Not Your Superwoman". Lately I feel like I've been doing the work of 20 women. I'm doin' TOO MUCH. I need to get away. It must be time for another family vacation.

Feel free to comment and tell me what you can't do without!

Who is Mr. Eddie?

Recently, everyone has been reflecting on the tragedy of last year's hurricane. I was reading my good friend Chanel's blog http://hipcandy.blogspot.com/2006/08/1-year-anniversary-of-hurricane.html, and it brought back such a flood of memories. One very special memory for me is of Mr. Eddie.

I met Mr. Eddie at the shelter that was here Baton Rouge at the River Center. I think he may have been one of the first people that we met that day. He was very approachable and very content. I don't say that lightly, considering that he was 80 years old, there all by himself and sleeping on a cot in a room filled with hundreds of other people. Mr. Eddie had a toothless smile that was so peaceful in the midst of so much sadness.

Over the next several weeks, I visited with Mr. Eddie often. I even offered to bring him home with me, but he refused. He wanted to stay at the shelter to wait for his money! I think he was just so happy to be alive that it didn't matter where he spent his nights.

Over the course of our encounters, Mr. Eddie told me about his family in Florida and the "friend" in New Orleans who was probably looking for him. We tried calling her number, but of course there was no phone service in New Orleans at that time. I still have Sally's number programmed in my phone. We talked about cooking and church. He told me that he was always the cook of the house, but he doesn't cook much anymore.

Mr. Eddie told me that he was being stubborn and didn't want to leave his house. One of his neighbors came by and forced him to leave. They got out just in time. He was so thankful that she did that. Unfortunately, he had to leave his house so fast that he left his teeth in the cup downstairs. He also left his glasses in the house. He knew that it wouldn't smell too good when he got back because he had a lot of meat in the freezer, particularily a very large turkey. I knew that he had family in Florida and wondered when they would come and get him, but he was in no hurry to leave until all of his checks had been delivered to Baton Rouge.

One day he called me and said that he needed to run some errands, so I went and picked him up. I wanted him to have the royal treatment, so I got permission from the city police who were guarding the shelter, to go through the baracade and pull my car right up to the front door. We went to the bank (yeah, his money was coming in!). We went to Walgreens and Wal-Mart, where he bought socks, sweatshirts, and magic shave. He wanted to buy me something, but I couldn't imagine him spending his money on me. He told me about his wife who had passed away and about his time as a longshoreman. He bragged about being married to the same woman for over 40 years (actually, I think it was 50 or 60 years but, I don't remember exactly). He described himself as a "rascal" in his day, but all I could see was a gentleman through that toothless smile.

The grand finale of the day was going to Popeyes. He had told me once before that he was craving some Popeyes chicken, but that he wasn't supposed to eat it (Dr.'s orders). On this day, his request was for me to take him to Popeyes, so that he could get some chicken and a "cold-drink". I was more than happy to oblige. He got chicken for himself and another guy who had befriended him at the shelter. He made me take $20 for gas. I tried to refuse, but he gave me a stern warning that I had better let him do what he wanted to do.

I didn't know that this would be the last time that I saw Mr. Eddie. I was supposed to go back and pick him up to go and do laundry. I tried twice, but we missed each other the first time. He had taken the bus to the bank that day. The next time I went to the shelter, he was gone. I looked all over for him. I asked the volunteers about him, described him to other evacuees, had him paged over the intercom system, checked the roster of shelter residents, had someone check the restrooms, checked with the medical staff...nothing. They had no record of him checking out, but obviously he was gone.

In reflection, it's amazing to me how much of an impact a person can have on you, when you're the one who is supposed to be impacting them. The Bible says to be careful how you entertain strangers, because you may be entertaining an angel without knowing it. Who is Mr. Eddie? Only God knows. Do I miss him? Of course. Will I ever see him again? I don't know, but I do know that he showed me what it meant to smile in the face of adversity. Because of Mr. Eddie, I know that I should always take time to love someone I don't know, help someone who can't help themselves, and make everyone feel special, no matter what their situation.

Katrina poured out its worst on us, but in a lot of ways, it brought out the best in us.

Thank you Mr. Eddie. Until we meet again...