Songs affect me in a real way, these are the most played tracks on my iTunes
1. Someone Like You ~ Adele - I loooooove sad songs and I adore this one, I just wish Adele would have let me shot her video for this song. (favorite lyrics) "Sometimes it last in love, but sometimes it hurts instead"
2. We All Try ~ Frank Ocean - *sighs* just love this. (favorite lyrics) "I don't believe that marriage isn't between a man and woman but between love and love." swooooooon
3. Love On Top ~ Beyonce- before Queen Bey announced that a baby Carter was on the way this was my favorite song on '4' (favorite lyrics) "Baby it's you, you're the one I love, you're the one I need!!!) and the ending *rubs belly* :)
4. Rise & Shine ~ J. Cole - opening with the Jay-Z quote is everything!!!! The beat, the horns just super, Cole (favorite lyrics) "I spit it, how I live it so when you see me in the street, man, I ain't gotta mimic. Cause I gotta image to uphold this real shit, I ain't got a gimmick I just got a flow that niggas went nuts for"
5. Gotta Have It ~ Jay & Ye - people go crazy for NIP but this right here is my shit!!!!! The Neptunes laced that James Brown sample and made this 2 minute and 20 second song everything. (favorite lyrics) "Wassup, Wassup, Wassup motherfucker, where my money at?" - Jay-z. *jigs*
6. Blow ~ Ke$ha -"dance" I lost my mind and almost wrecked my Focus when I heard this shit. I'm not a huge Ke$ha fan but this gets me extra hype every time I played it. ( favorite lyrics) "we get what we want, we do what you won't"
7 American Wedding ~ Frank Ocean ~ I can write an essay about how much I love this song, seriously. (favorite lyrics) "you can have my Mystang, that's all I got in my name, but Jesus Christ don't break my heart this wedding ring won't never wipe off. But if you stay, you'll probably leave later anyway, this is love made in the U.S.A"
8 The Zone ~ The Weeknd feat Drake - *fans self* I think The Weeknd makes drug music for people high on ecstasy and have orgies but this song is whew. (favorite lyric) "I can't see a damn thing, I can't feel a damn thing" how high are you that you can't feel shit during sex?~~~~~ Drake - "walk your broken heart through that door, sit your sexy ass on that couch" swoooon
9. Take It All ~ Adele ~ I call this the breaking point song where you are just fed up and trying to figure whether to stay or go. (favorite lyrics) "Maybe I should leave to help you see,....." the entire 2nd verse.
10. That Way Wale feat Jeremih & Rozay *swaying back & forward* this song came outta nowhere to become one of my favorites because I'm not a Wale or Ross fan but I can't ignore a great song when I hear it. Jeremih makes the hook butter and the sample is everything!!!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Top CDs of the year
Top CDs of the year (in no order)
21 Adele ~ when Adele released 21 back in March I couldn't wait to get it, I was a new fan of hers and it easily the best cd released this year. The cd is filled of songs that goes through ups and downs of every relationship. Nobody sings about heartbreak like Adele, her voice is just amazing.
4 Beyonce ~ the word came around April that Mrs. Carter was releasing a new cd come June. I wondered with it would sound like because once 'Run The World' dropped stans was worried the song didn't catch on it all. Once she performed it on the Billboard Awards the song grew on me. '4' leaked a few weeks early and I couldn't wait to hear it, and it didn't disappoint from the opening song '1+1'the cd rode like musical trip through each decade. She was inspired by sounds of the past.
'ColeWorld' J.Cole ~ when I become a fan of an artist I soak up everything like a sponge I go through all their old music and learn their background, stalkerish, I know but that's how I am. So on Twitter when Jermaine tweeted "9/27, ColeWorld: The Sideline Story" I jumped for joy after being signed to Roc Nation since 09 all the grooming and pushbacks were definitely worth the wait. Cole World is an amazing cd telling his journey from then to now. Clap for him.
Watch The Throne ~ Jay & Ye ~ "Will it leak?" that was the question surrounding the weird release of the most wanted album of the year. They somehow beat the leak which made the release even more special. Twitter had a listening party for the cd that goes from balling to serious. The two rap titans trade bars back and forward on certain tracks and Ye allows Jay to shine on a few by himself. The cd is the best rap release this year, in my opinion. There are a few mishaps like 'That's My Bitch' and the over produced 'Welcome To The Jungle.' outside of that it's a must have.
Nostalgia Ultra~ Frank Ocean ~ Wow. I'm not surprised that this MIXTAPE is on a lot of publications best of the year cd list, it's an amazing body of work. From him reworking Coldplay's 'Strawberry Swing' up until the last track 'Nature Feels' I allowed Mr. Ocean to take me on a trip. I played this on repeat for an entire day the first time I heard it and I couldn't get enough. Although he's a private star I'm looking forward to seeing him in the future. Hurry up with that debut Frank!
Take Care ~ Drake I couldn't wait for this and although it's taking me awhile to get into it, I appreciate Drake for sticking to his guns and being a rare true star. People complains that he sings too much but he never himself said that he was just a rapper.
21 Adele ~ when Adele released 21 back in March I couldn't wait to get it, I was a new fan of hers and it easily the best cd released this year. The cd is filled of songs that goes through ups and downs of every relationship. Nobody sings about heartbreak like Adele, her voice is just amazing.
4 Beyonce ~ the word came around April that Mrs. Carter was releasing a new cd come June. I wondered with it would sound like because once 'Run The World' dropped stans was worried the song didn't catch on it all. Once she performed it on the Billboard Awards the song grew on me. '4' leaked a few weeks early and I couldn't wait to hear it, and it didn't disappoint from the opening song '1+1'the cd rode like musical trip through each decade. She was inspired by sounds of the past.
'ColeWorld' J.Cole ~ when I become a fan of an artist I soak up everything like a sponge I go through all their old music and learn their background, stalkerish, I know but that's how I am. So on Twitter when Jermaine tweeted "9/27, ColeWorld: The Sideline Story" I jumped for joy after being signed to Roc Nation since 09 all the grooming and pushbacks were definitely worth the wait. Cole World is an amazing cd telling his journey from then to now. Clap for him.
Watch The Throne ~ Jay & Ye ~ "Will it leak?" that was the question surrounding the weird release of the most wanted album of the year. They somehow beat the leak which made the release even more special. Twitter had a listening party for the cd that goes from balling to serious. The two rap titans trade bars back and forward on certain tracks and Ye allows Jay to shine on a few by himself. The cd is the best rap release this year, in my opinion. There are a few mishaps like 'That's My Bitch' and the over produced 'Welcome To The Jungle.' outside of that it's a must have.
Nostalgia Ultra~ Frank Ocean ~ Wow. I'm not surprised that this MIXTAPE is on a lot of publications best of the year cd list, it's an amazing body of work. From him reworking Coldplay's 'Strawberry Swing' up until the last track 'Nature Feels' I allowed Mr. Ocean to take me on a trip. I played this on repeat for an entire day the first time I heard it and I couldn't get enough. Although he's a private star I'm looking forward to seeing him in the future. Hurry up with that debut Frank!
Take Care ~ Drake I couldn't wait for this and although it's taking me awhile to get into it, I appreciate Drake for sticking to his guns and being a rare true star. People complains that he sings too much but he never himself said that he was just a rapper.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Phases
I have started to live life in phases. I have just completed phase one after passing my CNA test, I now have a new job working in a nursing home. I started yesterday and I feel great about it, I'm looking forward to getting to know my patients and co-workers. I'm also taking with me what I've learned from past job. I'm excited about phase one and I can't wait to go into phase two.
7 Lies We Tell Ourselves (continued)
Sure you do. Researchers from Harvard Business School, who've recently studied how people categorize and perceive others, say that within less than a second, we make what are known as "spontaneous trait inferences." These are remarkably consistent. All over the globe, it turns out, people instantly judge each other on two main qualities: warmth and competence. People who are judged as competent but cold—for instance, a wealthy tycoon—elicit envy or hostility. People who are usually perceived as warm but incompetent (such as elderly people) bring out feelings of pity. We're still judging with our conscious mind when we size people up, adds Michelle B. Riba, MD, MS, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan. "Although when we do this, it's ourselves that we're judging, really, more than the other person," she says. "We're trying to figure out how we fit in."
If only I had a million dollars, I'd fulfill my dreams and do_____.
This little self-deluding chestnut? It's disproved every time we see an attorney who aspires to own a pastry shop and bakes cookies to sell on the weekends, or a baker who goes to law school at night. Somehow, though, we are certain—absolutely certain—that we can't take the leap without a financial guarantee or windfall. It's a Truth, we believe, with a capital T. But getting a few friends together and using a workshop exercise from the famed comedy troupe the Upright Citizens Brigade can help convince you otherwise: "It's called 'heightening,' which is one of the fundamental elements of improv," says workshop director Carter Edwards.
"The idea is that the next person must agree with your self-delusional statement and heighten it by adding something funny and absurd to it. 'Right, you can't open a catering business because you need a million dollars, so you have to win the lottery.' Then the next person adds something else, like, 'You can't open a catering business because you have to win the lottery—and see every episode of The Real Housewives first.'" The idea is to continue until the group can't go any further, so that you have to face that your original supposition, the lie you told yourself, is just not viable. "That's the basis of improv," says Edwards, "not to shame, but to support each other and move past what's hanging you up—through humor—so you get at the bigger truth."
Oprah.com
If only I had a million dollars, I'd fulfill my dreams and do_____.
This little self-deluding chestnut? It's disproved every time we see an attorney who aspires to own a pastry shop and bakes cookies to sell on the weekends, or a baker who goes to law school at night. Somehow, though, we are certain—absolutely certain—that we can't take the leap without a financial guarantee or windfall. It's a Truth, we believe, with a capital T. But getting a few friends together and using a workshop exercise from the famed comedy troupe the Upright Citizens Brigade can help convince you otherwise: "It's called 'heightening,' which is one of the fundamental elements of improv," says workshop director Carter Edwards.
"The idea is that the next person must agree with your self-delusional statement and heighten it by adding something funny and absurd to it. 'Right, you can't open a catering business because you need a million dollars, so you have to win the lottery.' Then the next person adds something else, like, 'You can't open a catering business because you have to win the lottery—and see every episode of The Real Housewives first.'" The idea is to continue until the group can't go any further, so that you have to face that your original supposition, the lie you told yourself, is just not viable. "That's the basis of improv," says Edwards, "not to shame, but to support each other and move past what's hanging you up—through humor—so you get at the bigger truth."
Oprah.com
7 Lies We Tell Ourselves
I wish I could do _______, but I can't.
"I can't almost always means I don't want to," says Amy Johnson, PhD, a Chicago psychologist. "I can't allows us to pretend the choice isn't ours," she says. "It feels beneficial in the short term because we don't have to own our preferences or admit that we have a choice in the matter. But Johnson says that habitually saying "I can't" makes people feel disempowered across all areas of their lives. "I tell clients to say 'I don't want to' instead of 'I can't'—even if it's just to themselves. It gives them their sense of power and choice back."
I deserve this dessert...
Or this dress. Or this car. Or...whatever. "I hear this so often," says Johnson. "These lies let us hide from our real feelings with momentary comforts. The problem is, when the comfort wears off, we're left facing the feelings." Johnson once had a client who said she deserved to indulge in rich food after a long day at a job she loathed. "She believed the food was a reward, even though it was wrecking her health and her energy levels," says Johnson. "No one 'deserves' to wake up feeling awful. My client finally came to see that what she really deserved was to work at a job she loved. When her job changed, the desire for the comfort food decreased."
Johnson says another insidious phrase that people use is I need, as in, "I need that new black dress." "If you're alive and surviving without it right now, then you clearly don't need it," she says. "It might sound insignificant, but changing I need to I want is incredibly freeing. I need sets you up to believe that you'll be hurt if you don't get the thing. I want gives you more freedom."
I'm definitely right.
This is one of the most damaging lies we can tell ourselves, says Carol Tavris, PhD, social psychologist, co-author of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. "It's called the basic bias—the idea that everyone else is biased, but we're not." The belief that you know best and that you've got all the facts prevents you from even listening to evidence that you're wrong—that your memory is wrong, your perception is wrong, your explanation is wrong. It's self-damaging, in that it keeps you stuck within the confines of what you think you know, and, says Tavris, "it also makes you a miserable person to be with."
I have no willpower.
You have some willpower. We all do, says Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and author of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. Baumeister discovered in lab tests, though, that willpower is finite—after people used self-control for some tasks, they had less of it for subsequent tasks (so it's probably best not to quit smoking, get organized and go on a diet on the same day.) But he also found that willpower, like a muscle, can be built up over time through regular training. One of his experiments in self-control involved a simple exercise to improve posture. "For two weeks, people tried to stand or sit up straight whenever they thought of it," he says. "Not only did their posture improve, but they showed all-around improvement in self-control, even on laboratory tests that had nothing to do with posture."
I'll never get over it.
"We're not necessarily conscious of how rapidly we recover from adversity," says Richard J. Davidson, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, and co-author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain. (You've probably heard of the research on how people who've been paralyzed are about as happy a year after the accident as they were before; same goes for lottery winners who are no happier a year later).
Richard Summers, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, tells most of his patients undergoing a crisis "to allow themselves to really feel some of the negative emotion and to trust nature—those emotions have really a finite lifespan and tend to abate over time." That said, he offers a benchmark for people who are grieving. "There's a big spread, and it's important to remember that," he says, 'but a good rule of thumb is that after six months there should be at least some sense of forward motion for the person." If not, professional help may be one answer.
Davidson says that people who are slower to recover from stressful events actually have brains that are wired differently. Fortunately, people have the ability to change their brains' activity patterns. One of the most effective ways to do this, Davidson says, is mindfulness meditation, which boosts activity in the prefrontal cortex, and studies have shown this weakens the chain of associations that keep us obsessing about a setback. He highly recommends a course in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, available on the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness website. But, as with willpower, learning a new language, Jazzercise and so many things in life, the exercises must be done regularly. "To change your brain in any kind of systematic way takes practice," he says, "something there's no substitute for."
"I can't almost always means I don't want to," says Amy Johnson, PhD, a Chicago psychologist. "I can't allows us to pretend the choice isn't ours," she says. "It feels beneficial in the short term because we don't have to own our preferences or admit that we have a choice in the matter. But Johnson says that habitually saying "I can't" makes people feel disempowered across all areas of their lives. "I tell clients to say 'I don't want to' instead of 'I can't'—even if it's just to themselves. It gives them their sense of power and choice back."
I deserve this dessert...
Or this dress. Or this car. Or...whatever. "I hear this so often," says Johnson. "These lies let us hide from our real feelings with momentary comforts. The problem is, when the comfort wears off, we're left facing the feelings." Johnson once had a client who said she deserved to indulge in rich food after a long day at a job she loathed. "She believed the food was a reward, even though it was wrecking her health and her energy levels," says Johnson. "No one 'deserves' to wake up feeling awful. My client finally came to see that what she really deserved was to work at a job she loved. When her job changed, the desire for the comfort food decreased."
Johnson says another insidious phrase that people use is I need, as in, "I need that new black dress." "If you're alive and surviving without it right now, then you clearly don't need it," she says. "It might sound insignificant, but changing I need to I want is incredibly freeing. I need sets you up to believe that you'll be hurt if you don't get the thing. I want gives you more freedom."
I'm definitely right.
This is one of the most damaging lies we can tell ourselves, says Carol Tavris, PhD, social psychologist, co-author of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. "It's called the basic bias—the idea that everyone else is biased, but we're not." The belief that you know best and that you've got all the facts prevents you from even listening to evidence that you're wrong—that your memory is wrong, your perception is wrong, your explanation is wrong. It's self-damaging, in that it keeps you stuck within the confines of what you think you know, and, says Tavris, "it also makes you a miserable person to be with."
I have no willpower.
You have some willpower. We all do, says Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and author of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. Baumeister discovered in lab tests, though, that willpower is finite—after people used self-control for some tasks, they had less of it for subsequent tasks (so it's probably best not to quit smoking, get organized and go on a diet on the same day.) But he also found that willpower, like a muscle, can be built up over time through regular training. One of his experiments in self-control involved a simple exercise to improve posture. "For two weeks, people tried to stand or sit up straight whenever they thought of it," he says. "Not only did their posture improve, but they showed all-around improvement in self-control, even on laboratory tests that had nothing to do with posture."
I'll never get over it.
"We're not necessarily conscious of how rapidly we recover from adversity," says Richard J. Davidson, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, and co-author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain. (You've probably heard of the research on how people who've been paralyzed are about as happy a year after the accident as they were before; same goes for lottery winners who are no happier a year later).
Richard Summers, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, tells most of his patients undergoing a crisis "to allow themselves to really feel some of the negative emotion and to trust nature—those emotions have really a finite lifespan and tend to abate over time." That said, he offers a benchmark for people who are grieving. "There's a big spread, and it's important to remember that," he says, 'but a good rule of thumb is that after six months there should be at least some sense of forward motion for the person." If not, professional help may be one answer.
Davidson says that people who are slower to recover from stressful events actually have brains that are wired differently. Fortunately, people have the ability to change their brains' activity patterns. One of the most effective ways to do this, Davidson says, is mindfulness meditation, which boosts activity in the prefrontal cortex, and studies have shown this weakens the chain of associations that keep us obsessing about a setback. He highly recommends a course in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, available on the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness website. But, as with willpower, learning a new language, Jazzercise and so many things in life, the exercises must be done regularly. "To change your brain in any kind of systematic way takes practice," he says, "something there's no substitute for."
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Words of Wisdom Ralph Marston
Beset by a difficult problem? Now is your chance to shine. Pick yourself up, get to work and get triumphantly through it.
Ralph Marston
Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.
Ralph Marston
Every day you spend drifting away from your goals is a waste not only of that day, but also of the additional day it takes to regain lost ground.
Ralph Marston
Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.
Ralph Marston
It doesn't matter how much you want. What really matters is how much you want it. The extent and complexity of the problem does not matter was much as does the willingness to solve it.
Ralph Marston
Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.
Ralph Marston
Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.
Ralph Marston
Success in any endeavor depends on the degree to which it is an expression of your true self.
Ralph Marston
The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen.
Ralph Marston
Welcome those big, sticky, complicated problems. In them are your most powerful opportunities.
Ralph Marston
What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.
Ralph Marston
What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.
Ralph Marston
When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?
Ralph Marston
You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.
Ralph Marston
Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.
Ralph Marston
Ralph Marston
Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.
Ralph Marston
Every day you spend drifting away from your goals is a waste not only of that day, but also of the additional day it takes to regain lost ground.
Ralph Marston
Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.
Ralph Marston
It doesn't matter how much you want. What really matters is how much you want it. The extent and complexity of the problem does not matter was much as does the willingness to solve it.
Ralph Marston
Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.
Ralph Marston
Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.
Ralph Marston
Success in any endeavor depends on the degree to which it is an expression of your true self.
Ralph Marston
The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen.
Ralph Marston
Welcome those big, sticky, complicated problems. In them are your most powerful opportunities.
Ralph Marston
What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.
Ralph Marston
What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.
Ralph Marston
When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?
Ralph Marston
You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.
Ralph Marston
Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.
Ralph Marston
Twitter Tweets
"Don’t fall in love with the blessings. Fall in love with the Blessor. Seek first the Kingdom and God will reward you!" - Joel Osteen
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
More thoughts
Just admit your mistake and learn from it.
Learn how to be happy with what you have while you, pursue all that you want.
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.
Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can't dream it, you can make it so.
We can't become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.
Learn how to be happy with what you have while you, pursue all that you want.
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.
Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can't dream it, you can make it so.
We can't become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.
Random
A healthy attitude is contagious, but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.
To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love, in return, you will receive until peace and happiness.
I reduce who I can be as a wonderful creation of God when I limit myself to what others think I should be.
Meekness is not weakness..... Meekness is strength under control.
There are people whose lives are continous reactions to what others do to them. This puts you at the mercy of others. React to yourself.
If things around you don't change, change the things your around.
All truth is confrontational and you will never change for the better until you are confronted
With the truth.
To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love, in return, you will receive until peace and happiness.
I reduce who I can be as a wonderful creation of God when I limit myself to what others think I should be.
Meekness is not weakness..... Meekness is strength under control.
There are people whose lives are continous reactions to what others do to them. This puts you at the mercy of others. React to yourself.
If things around you don't change, change the things your around.
All truth is confrontational and you will never change for the better until you are confronted
With the truth.
Monday, October 10, 2011
:)
I was stressing about a huge accident I made today but I just got a call telling me not to worry about it and that made my day. God knows your heart and he just proved to me that he knows and sees all. Goodnight :)
Mistakes
When I make a mistake it's hard for me to forgive myself and that is my new issue that I'm tackling on a daily basis. I can admit to being wrong but I still find it hard to forgive myself. People can go on about their life but I still live with my mistakes. I'm going to post ways to get totally over a mistake.
Oprah's Lifeclass
Oprah's new show Lifeclass started today on OWN you can check it out nightly at 7 pm CST. I will be writing tons of post about it.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Steve Jobs
On yesterday the iconic, visionary and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away after years of battling cancer. I know who Mr. Jobs is but as I watched the tribute of CNN I discovered a lot about him and he had so amazing quotes to match his showy personality. Mr. Jobs changed the world and I've heard him being called the Thomas Edison of our time and I agree as a recent owner of an iPhone I can testify to the greatness of his mind. I will leave with some of his words, let them inspire you.
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
-Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
- Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"That's been one of my mantras -- focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end, because once you get there, you can move mountains."
-BusinessWeek, 1998
"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."
-Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish."
-Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
-Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
- Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"That's been one of my mantras -- focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end, because once you get there, you can move mountains."
-BusinessWeek, 1998
"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."
-Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish."
-Stanford University commencement speech, 2005
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
On A Path
Yesterday I was telling my mom I need to start applying for a new job because it's time for me to move on and I know that I should. Apart of me wants to stay with my client but I learned from before I shouldn't somewhere because I am happy there, life isn't about being in the same place, it's about progressing. My mom response was "I'm telling you now, you have one of the easiest jobs you will find in the nursing industry." I sat there and thought about it and it's not about the job being easy it's about moving forward, I'm on a path to a different place and sometimes people don't understand that.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Dollar and A Dream
If someone gave you money to chase your dreams, what would you do?
Mine of course to write in anyway I can, be it leisure or dollar.
"I got a dollar and a dream" ~ J. Cole
Mine of course to write in anyway I can, be it leisure or dollar.
"I got a dollar and a dream" ~ J. Cole
Pushers
Who are your pushers in your life? Pushers are the people who push you to do better and they challenge you to be the best you can be.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Getting off the sideline
I've been trying to write this post all week, and while I am sitting here listening to 'Cole World',I started to think about how I've been a spectator in my own life. I always sit around and watched people and thing progress around and I ask myself, " What are you going to do now?" When I got laid off for my job, I noticed how dependent I was and being comfortable there collecting that check. I have a lot of energy in me that I wasn't utilizing and my light was burning out, day after day going through the motions. I've said before that I felt dead on the inside and it was painful for to say because when I say stuff out loud I had to deal will it. I went through a series of painful personal struggles and I going to CNA school was a way to start taking steps to getting into my own game of life. When I failed my test the first time apart of me wanted to give up and say forget but I decided to retest and I passed. I jumped for joy because for once I started something and saw it all the way through, this is just the beginning of everything. :)
Peace
Peace
Friday, September 23, 2011
Rewind
Tomorrow I will be retaking my CNA test and I haven't been nervous but I'm ready to get it over with. This process has been long and stressful, but I learned a valuable just it seems good doesn't mean it's good for you. I went into this situation trying to save a few dollars and went through an awful experience. I jumped on what sounded good went and against my better judgement and now I am paying the price. No matter the outcome I know God has my back.
:) Peace
:) Peace
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thoughts
I slept six hours last night but I didn't sleep them straight through. I had two nightmares back to back so I was up looking at tv, Twitter and Tumblr, so around four I passed back out. When I woke up for work, I was so tired I was already thinking of ways to get out of working today. Then I changed my mindset and thought there was a time when I didn't have a job and begged and pleaded with God to bless me with any job. So I did a self check of myself, it takes not time for me to start complaining about a situation and then I saw this on Twitter this morning :
"THIS RT @ralphmarston: It's easy to complain. It's better to quietly make it right." I thought to myself God is speaking to me again and what can I do to make it right, instead of complaining. I tend to live in the past or five years in the future, I can see what I want but I don't wanna do the hard work to get there. So I started praying for God to slow me and to start taking things day by day. I prayed confidence and peace. I'm an odd ball, I know that for sure but I gotta take time to enjoy the journey of life and stop feeling like since I hit thirty that I'm running out of time. I'm a work in progress so bare with me.
"THIS RT @ralphmarston: It's easy to complain. It's better to quietly make it right." I thought to myself God is speaking to me again and what can I do to make it right, instead of complaining. I tend to live in the past or five years in the future, I can see what I want but I don't wanna do the hard work to get there. So I started praying for God to slow me and to start taking things day by day. I prayed confidence and peace. I'm an odd ball, I know that for sure but I gotta take time to enjoy the journey of life and stop feeling like since I hit thirty that I'm running out of time. I'm a work in progress so bare with me.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Advice from Twitter
I'm creating a new series of post called Advice from Twitter, I follow some wonderful people who are way more interesting then any celebrity. So I will randomly post some of their tweets on here.
Point of View
Sorry I have been away, I had serious back pains last week but I am better now. To my followers tell me what is your point of view of yourself?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9/11 Stories
The Children of 9/11 from peoplemag.com
Lauren McIntyre, 9
Lauren wears a picture of her father, Donald McIntyre, on a pendant around her neck every day. While picking up an extra shift to make money before Lauren's birth, 38-year-old McIntyre died on duty as a Port Authority Police officer in Tower 2. Lauren understands the weight of her father's actions, her mom Jeannine tells PEOPLE: "Lauren will always say, 'My daddy died a hero.'"
Alexa Smagala, 9
Alexa is saddened by the fact that she has no pictures with her father, firefighter Stanley Smagala Jr., who died on first response to Tower 2. She's happy they share the same blond hair and blue eyes, but she struggles to revisit 9/11. "When I see the people running from the building that day, I know my dad was telling them to get out," Alexa tells PEOPLE. "Now I think he makes the sun shine."
Rodney Wotton, 9
On Rodney's bed there is a stuffed dog that his father, 36-year-old IT manager Rodney Wotton, picked out for him before he was born. He loves the similarities he and his dad share (including a love of spaghetti), but feels the attack on Tower 2 that left him fatherless is unfair. "I think of my dad when I'm really mad," Rodney tells PEOPLE. "Probably because he would take my side."
Allison Lee, 9
For show-and-tell last year, Allison brought in a snow globe of New York City and told her classmates about her father, 34-year old stagehand Dan Lee. "I told them my dad's plane crashed into the Twin Towers," Allison told PEOPLE. "I was nervous but it made me feel better." Allison now lives in Henderson, Nev., and always sends a card to her dad on his birthday.
Parker Fyfe-Kiernan, 9
After his mom Haven remarried, Parker was given the option of choosing his last name. Usually shy, he spoke up before his older brother did, according to Parker's stepdad, Dan Kiernan. "He said, 'I wanna be Parker Fyfe-Kiernan.'" Parker finds it tough to understand the loss of his father, Karleton Fyfe (a 41-year-old passenger on Flight 11), but has embraced his new blended family.
Jamie Gartenberg Pila, 9
Jamie's mother, Jill, believes her younger daughter's friendly and open personality reflects that of her father, commercial real estate broker James Gartenberg. His death in Tower 1 at the age of 35 is still difficult for Jamie to process, but she has realized that her loss goes beyond her and her 12-year-old sister Nicole. "She knows she's a part of history, and she's OK with that," Jill told PEOPLE.
Gabriel "Gabi" Jacobs Dick, 9
Every year, Gabi sends balloons up in the sky filled with notes to his dad, sales executive Ariel Jacobs (who didn't survive the collapse of Tower 1), telling him what happened during the year. "Ten years since my first dad died on Sept. 11, I don't exactly know how to deal with it because I never really knew him," he tells PEOPLE.
Robyn Higley, 9
Robyn wears a special necklace with a picture of her father, insurance executive Robert Higley, who passed away at 29 from the attack on Tower 2. She and sister Amanda, 14, live with mom Vycki and stepdad Rick. "I would have loved to have known my daddy, Rob, but I've always felt that I have a dad," Robyn tells PEOPLE. "It's just more family for me to love."
Ronald Milam Jr., 9
Ronald Jr.'s mother, Jacqueline, sees in her son's brown eyes and bright smile the face of her late husband, 33-year-old Pentagon casualty Major Ronald Milam. She tells PEOPLE, "Ronald Jr. is a happy kid, though when we talk about his dad, you can tell that he wishes he would have known him."
Grace Danahy, 9
Grace used to keep her ultrasound picture in her room because it was the only photo her father, Patrick Danahy, had seen of her before his death at 35 in the collapse of Tower 2. Though she is close to stepdad Andy Sammel (whom she and sisters Katie and Allison call "dad"), she asks her mom Mary to tell stories about "Daddy Patrick," and sleeps every night with one of his bike jerseys.
Lauren McIntyre, 9
Lauren wears a picture of her father, Donald McIntyre, on a pendant around her neck every day. While picking up an extra shift to make money before Lauren's birth, 38-year-old McIntyre died on duty as a Port Authority Police officer in Tower 2. Lauren understands the weight of her father's actions, her mom Jeannine tells PEOPLE: "Lauren will always say, 'My daddy died a hero.'"
Alexa Smagala, 9
Alexa is saddened by the fact that she has no pictures with her father, firefighter Stanley Smagala Jr., who died on first response to Tower 2. She's happy they share the same blond hair and blue eyes, but she struggles to revisit 9/11. "When I see the people running from the building that day, I know my dad was telling them to get out," Alexa tells PEOPLE. "Now I think he makes the sun shine."
Rodney Wotton, 9
On Rodney's bed there is a stuffed dog that his father, 36-year-old IT manager Rodney Wotton, picked out for him before he was born. He loves the similarities he and his dad share (including a love of spaghetti), but feels the attack on Tower 2 that left him fatherless is unfair. "I think of my dad when I'm really mad," Rodney tells PEOPLE. "Probably because he would take my side."
Allison Lee, 9
For show-and-tell last year, Allison brought in a snow globe of New York City and told her classmates about her father, 34-year old stagehand Dan Lee. "I told them my dad's plane crashed into the Twin Towers," Allison told PEOPLE. "I was nervous but it made me feel better." Allison now lives in Henderson, Nev., and always sends a card to her dad on his birthday.
Parker Fyfe-Kiernan, 9
After his mom Haven remarried, Parker was given the option of choosing his last name. Usually shy, he spoke up before his older brother did, according to Parker's stepdad, Dan Kiernan. "He said, 'I wanna be Parker Fyfe-Kiernan.'" Parker finds it tough to understand the loss of his father, Karleton Fyfe (a 41-year-old passenger on Flight 11), but has embraced his new blended family.
Jamie Gartenberg Pila, 9
Jamie's mother, Jill, believes her younger daughter's friendly and open personality reflects that of her father, commercial real estate broker James Gartenberg. His death in Tower 1 at the age of 35 is still difficult for Jamie to process, but she has realized that her loss goes beyond her and her 12-year-old sister Nicole. "She knows she's a part of history, and she's OK with that," Jill told PEOPLE.
Gabriel "Gabi" Jacobs Dick, 9
Every year, Gabi sends balloons up in the sky filled with notes to his dad, sales executive Ariel Jacobs (who didn't survive the collapse of Tower 1), telling him what happened during the year. "Ten years since my first dad died on Sept. 11, I don't exactly know how to deal with it because I never really knew him," he tells PEOPLE.
Robyn Higley, 9
Robyn wears a special necklace with a picture of her father, insurance executive Robert Higley, who passed away at 29 from the attack on Tower 2. She and sister Amanda, 14, live with mom Vycki and stepdad Rick. "I would have loved to have known my daddy, Rob, but I've always felt that I have a dad," Robyn tells PEOPLE. "It's just more family for me to love."
Ronald Milam Jr., 9
Ronald Jr.'s mother, Jacqueline, sees in her son's brown eyes and bright smile the face of her late husband, 33-year-old Pentagon casualty Major Ronald Milam. She tells PEOPLE, "Ronald Jr. is a happy kid, though when we talk about his dad, you can tell that he wishes he would have known him."
Grace Danahy, 9
Grace used to keep her ultrasound picture in her room because it was the only photo her father, Patrick Danahy, had seen of her before his death at 35 in the collapse of Tower 2. Though she is close to stepdad Andy Sammel (whom she and sisters Katie and Allison call "dad"), she asks her mom Mary to tell stories about "Daddy Patrick," and sleeps every night with one of his bike jerseys.
9/11 Stories
As we get ready to mark the remembrance of September 11, 2001, I will be posing stories all weekend of life after that day.
On Sept. 8, 2001, Sekou Siby was playing soccer on a field in Queens with several of his co-workers. At that time, Siby was a line cook and chef who spoke four languages. Like everyone else in the game, he worked at Windows on the World -- an elite eatery atop the north tower of the World Trade Center, and the most profitable restaurant in America.
Among the players were Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians -- a highly international group, but one typical of the Windows staff, which included immigrants from every corner of the globe. By all accounts, it didn't matter that people hailed from dozens of different countries. The Windows workers formed a tight-knit community.
"It was the ideal," recalled Siby, himself an immigrant from the Ivory Coast. "So many different groups. We really got along."
Three days later, nearly everyone who'd been in that soccer game was dead -- victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed 2,977 people in New York, Virgina and Pennsylvania.
Siby, who would have been at Windows that morning had he not recently agreed to swap shifts with a co-worker, was stunned.
"It was five years before I was able to play soccer again," he said.
People who worked at Windows on the World speak about it today in the language of family. The workers prayed together in the building's stairwells, and shared meals on religious holidays in the Windows cafeteria.
But the destruction of Windows, and the tragic deaths of 73 of its employees, did not mark the end of that community. Siby and many of his co-workers would eventually become involved in a new restaurant, one that paid tribute to the people who died on 9/11 and that advanced the principles of fair treatment for service workers.
And even in the aftermath of the attacks, as New Yorkers and Americans struggled to understand what they had just experienced, the seeds were being planted for a new group -- the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York -- which would become a voice for powerless immigrants and restaurant workers across the country.
'TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT'
For Fekkak Mamdouh, 9/11 made one thing clear: a lot of people in New York's restaurant industry needed help.
Mamdouh, a Moroccan immigrant who held degrees in physics and chemistry, had been at Windows on the World since 1996, working as a waiter and union shop steward. He spent much of the week of Sept. 11 in various hospitals and the city morgue, trying to account for his missing co-workers.
When he wasn't searching for the lost Windows employees -- the 73 people he today calls his "brothers and sisters" -- Mamdouh was also helping to process emergency casework for immigrant members of his collective, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Union.
As he did so, he began to understand that restaurant workers and their families were some of the most vulnerable people in the city -- particularly if they were undocumented immigrants.
"Ninety-nine percent of people that work in restaurants don't have anybody to go to," Mamdouh recently told The Huffington Post. "People, when they get mad in restaurants, they just go next door or look for another job. And people are used to this. Like, this is the restaurant business and this is how it goes. Take it or leave it."
Many of the people whose cases Mamdouh handled were struggling with problems -- financial instability, a lack of health care, few or no workplace rights -- that predated 9/11, and that couldn't be resolved in a few hours at an emergency center.
Mamdouh was realizing they had no safety net, and few opportunities to find one, due to the transitory nature of the restaurant industry. And that industry, like many other components of the city's economy, was having troubles of its own during the fall of 2001. More than 12,000 restaurant jobs in New York vanished after the attacks, and by December, almost two-thirds of them still hadn't come back.
In October 2001, as the surge of post-9/11 relief began winding down, HERE officials approached Mamdouh about setting up a sustainable organization for restaurant workers. Mamdouh began meeting regularly with Saru Jayaraman, an accomplished activist and organizer from Rochester, N.Y., and by the spring of 2002, they had a name for the new group they wanted to start: the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York, or ROC-NY.
The group included a number of former Windows on the World employees. Mamdouh said he remembers that having everybody in one place again, at least initially, "was like some medicine for all of us."
The members of ROC pooled their knowledge about job openings in the city and began speaking out against restaurant owners who treated their employees unfairly. Not everyone involved with ROC had been at Windows on the World, but it was the group's ties to the Windows community that got ROC its first moment in the spotlight -- thanks to a well-publicized conflict with David Emil, Windows' former owner.
In June of 2002, Emil was opening a new restaurant in Times Square called Noche. He had rehired 16 former Windows workers -- a number that Mamdouh and Jayaraman considered unacceptably low, given that Emil had once pledged to do everything in his power to help the displaced Windows staff.
At the ROC's urging -- and after a protest in which some 50 former Windows employees picketed the new restaurant and Mamdouh led chants with a bullhorn -- Emil agreed to take on an additional 15 staff members from Windows, a victory Mamdouh said he had never expected.
Not long after, the cable news channel NY1 interviewed Jayaraman about ROC-NY's fight with Emil, and its mission to advocate for restaurant workers throughout New York.
"They put the phone number of the Center on the screen," Mamdouh remembered, "and said if you have a problem, call the Center."
The next day, he said, "the phone never stopped ringing."
'ALWAYS WE'RE TRYING'
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York has grown exponentially. These days, there's also a Restaurant Opportunities Center in Chicago, one in Miami and five others in five more locations.
One of the places where ROC has established a presence is New Orleans -- where, Mamdouh said, some restaurant employees make so little that they can't afford rent. At the end of their shift, he said, they leave work and sleep under a bridge at the end of Canal Street.
In the past nine years, ROC -- now ROC-United, the umbrella group comprising eight chapters and 8,000 members -- has campaigned for paid sick days and minimum wage increases, and has fought against misappropriated tips and workplace discrimination. It's published more than a dozen reports on the restaurant industry, and won more than $5 million in settlements for aggrieved workers.
It has also compiled a list of restaurants where the conscientious diner can enjoy a meal -- places where employers pay fair wages, allow paid time off and make options for health care available. And Mamdouh has become an outspoken advocate for immigration reform (a subject he and a co-author wrote about for The Huffington Post in 2009).
Shailesh Shrestha, a founding member and board member of ROC-NY, told The Huffington Post that his work with the organization has afforded him "full respect and dignity."
"That was my ultimate dream of my life," said Shrestha, who moved to New York from Nepal in 1997 to pursue acting, and worked as a server at Windows on the World for a year and a half before it was destroyed. "I did not chose to come this country for any comfort or luxury, but for self-respect, pride and dignity," he said in an email.
ROC has also opened a restaurant of its own -- though not before a divisive, three-year planning and fundraising process, an uphill campaign that included a trip to Italy to research cooperative models and a number of unsuccessful appeals to banks and post-9/11 revitalization groups.
"We thought, 'It's going to be so easy,'" Mamdouh said. But "nobody was going to give us money." The group's political activism made potential investors wary. In the end, it took contributions from 17 small lenders to get the new venture off the ground.
The restaurant, called Colors -- a name meant to evoke the diversity of the Windows on the World community and the New York restaurant industry at large -- opened in 2006, in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood.
Colors is run as a co-op, meaning that all the members are also part owners. Julio Anzures, the restaurant's sous chef, told The Huffington Post that the Colors staff meets frequently to discuss how the restaurant is being run, and said that all of the employees have a voice in the decision-making process.
The restaurant is scrupulous about paying overtime, Anzures said, and is much better about observing health standards than some other places where he has worked.
It also makes an effort to pay its employees a fair wage -- a practice that may be hurting its bottom line.
"This restaurant is not making a lot of profit," Anzures admitted. "Right now the business is a little slow, but we're trying. Always we're trying. Our first goal is to help the community."
Though Colors only serves food Wednesday through Saturday, it offers training classes for its junior workers seven days a week. Sekou Siby, the former Windows line cook who now serves as a co-director of ROC-NY and as the operations manager at Colors, estimated that Colors has moved more than 2,000 people through its training programs, which teach young restaurant workers the ins and outs of food preparation, serving and bartending.
"There are a lot of people who can't go to culinary school because they can't afford it," Siby said. "We provide training for free."
Both Siby and Mamdouh echoed Anzures's assertion that while business may not be booming, Colors doesn't measure its success solely in financial terms.
Mamdouh recalled running into a woman, not long ago, who had once worked at a foundation that declined to give funding to Colors in its infancy. She'd asked him if Colors was making money now.
"I told her -- you should ask me how many people changed their lives because of Colors," Mamdouh said. "How many people come who were busboys and dishwashers, and now they are waiters. How many families are profiting, and how many families are good just because of Colors."
That, he said, is the restaurant's real goal -- and it's one that Colors has met many times over. The organization's roots in tragedy have given it a set of priorities that go beyond simply making a profit.
"This is all happening because of 9/11," Mamdouh said. "The people that I lost on 9/11 want me to do this ... It's not just revenge, it's not just crying. It's going and helping our community. It's doing something good from bad."
Huffington Post
On Sept. 8, 2001, Sekou Siby was playing soccer on a field in Queens with several of his co-workers. At that time, Siby was a line cook and chef who spoke four languages. Like everyone else in the game, he worked at Windows on the World -- an elite eatery atop the north tower of the World Trade Center, and the most profitable restaurant in America.
Among the players were Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians -- a highly international group, but one typical of the Windows staff, which included immigrants from every corner of the globe. By all accounts, it didn't matter that people hailed from dozens of different countries. The Windows workers formed a tight-knit community.
"It was the ideal," recalled Siby, himself an immigrant from the Ivory Coast. "So many different groups. We really got along."
Three days later, nearly everyone who'd been in that soccer game was dead -- victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed 2,977 people in New York, Virgina and Pennsylvania.
Siby, who would have been at Windows that morning had he not recently agreed to swap shifts with a co-worker, was stunned.
"It was five years before I was able to play soccer again," he said.
People who worked at Windows on the World speak about it today in the language of family. The workers prayed together in the building's stairwells, and shared meals on religious holidays in the Windows cafeteria.
But the destruction of Windows, and the tragic deaths of 73 of its employees, did not mark the end of that community. Siby and many of his co-workers would eventually become involved in a new restaurant, one that paid tribute to the people who died on 9/11 and that advanced the principles of fair treatment for service workers.
And even in the aftermath of the attacks, as New Yorkers and Americans struggled to understand what they had just experienced, the seeds were being planted for a new group -- the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York -- which would become a voice for powerless immigrants and restaurant workers across the country.
'TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT'
For Fekkak Mamdouh, 9/11 made one thing clear: a lot of people in New York's restaurant industry needed help.
Mamdouh, a Moroccan immigrant who held degrees in physics and chemistry, had been at Windows on the World since 1996, working as a waiter and union shop steward. He spent much of the week of Sept. 11 in various hospitals and the city morgue, trying to account for his missing co-workers.
When he wasn't searching for the lost Windows employees -- the 73 people he today calls his "brothers and sisters" -- Mamdouh was also helping to process emergency casework for immigrant members of his collective, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Union.
As he did so, he began to understand that restaurant workers and their families were some of the most vulnerable people in the city -- particularly if they were undocumented immigrants.
"Ninety-nine percent of people that work in restaurants don't have anybody to go to," Mamdouh recently told The Huffington Post. "People, when they get mad in restaurants, they just go next door or look for another job. And people are used to this. Like, this is the restaurant business and this is how it goes. Take it or leave it."
Many of the people whose cases Mamdouh handled were struggling with problems -- financial instability, a lack of health care, few or no workplace rights -- that predated 9/11, and that couldn't be resolved in a few hours at an emergency center.
Mamdouh was realizing they had no safety net, and few opportunities to find one, due to the transitory nature of the restaurant industry. And that industry, like many other components of the city's economy, was having troubles of its own during the fall of 2001. More than 12,000 restaurant jobs in New York vanished after the attacks, and by December, almost two-thirds of them still hadn't come back.
In October 2001, as the surge of post-9/11 relief began winding down, HERE officials approached Mamdouh about setting up a sustainable organization for restaurant workers. Mamdouh began meeting regularly with Saru Jayaraman, an accomplished activist and organizer from Rochester, N.Y., and by the spring of 2002, they had a name for the new group they wanted to start: the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York, or ROC-NY.
The group included a number of former Windows on the World employees. Mamdouh said he remembers that having everybody in one place again, at least initially, "was like some medicine for all of us."
The members of ROC pooled their knowledge about job openings in the city and began speaking out against restaurant owners who treated their employees unfairly. Not everyone involved with ROC had been at Windows on the World, but it was the group's ties to the Windows community that got ROC its first moment in the spotlight -- thanks to a well-publicized conflict with David Emil, Windows' former owner.
In June of 2002, Emil was opening a new restaurant in Times Square called Noche. He had rehired 16 former Windows workers -- a number that Mamdouh and Jayaraman considered unacceptably low, given that Emil had once pledged to do everything in his power to help the displaced Windows staff.
At the ROC's urging -- and after a protest in which some 50 former Windows employees picketed the new restaurant and Mamdouh led chants with a bullhorn -- Emil agreed to take on an additional 15 staff members from Windows, a victory Mamdouh said he had never expected.
Not long after, the cable news channel NY1 interviewed Jayaraman about ROC-NY's fight with Emil, and its mission to advocate for restaurant workers throughout New York.
"They put the phone number of the Center on the screen," Mamdouh remembered, "and said if you have a problem, call the Center."
The next day, he said, "the phone never stopped ringing."
'ALWAYS WE'RE TRYING'
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York has grown exponentially. These days, there's also a Restaurant Opportunities Center in Chicago, one in Miami and five others in five more locations.
One of the places where ROC has established a presence is New Orleans -- where, Mamdouh said, some restaurant employees make so little that they can't afford rent. At the end of their shift, he said, they leave work and sleep under a bridge at the end of Canal Street.
In the past nine years, ROC -- now ROC-United, the umbrella group comprising eight chapters and 8,000 members -- has campaigned for paid sick days and minimum wage increases, and has fought against misappropriated tips and workplace discrimination. It's published more than a dozen reports on the restaurant industry, and won more than $5 million in settlements for aggrieved workers.
It has also compiled a list of restaurants where the conscientious diner can enjoy a meal -- places where employers pay fair wages, allow paid time off and make options for health care available. And Mamdouh has become an outspoken advocate for immigration reform (a subject he and a co-author wrote about for The Huffington Post in 2009).
Shailesh Shrestha, a founding member and board member of ROC-NY, told The Huffington Post that his work with the organization has afforded him "full respect and dignity."
"That was my ultimate dream of my life," said Shrestha, who moved to New York from Nepal in 1997 to pursue acting, and worked as a server at Windows on the World for a year and a half before it was destroyed. "I did not chose to come this country for any comfort or luxury, but for self-respect, pride and dignity," he said in an email.
ROC has also opened a restaurant of its own -- though not before a divisive, three-year planning and fundraising process, an uphill campaign that included a trip to Italy to research cooperative models and a number of unsuccessful appeals to banks and post-9/11 revitalization groups.
"We thought, 'It's going to be so easy,'" Mamdouh said. But "nobody was going to give us money." The group's political activism made potential investors wary. In the end, it took contributions from 17 small lenders to get the new venture off the ground.
The restaurant, called Colors -- a name meant to evoke the diversity of the Windows on the World community and the New York restaurant industry at large -- opened in 2006, in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood.
Colors is run as a co-op, meaning that all the members are also part owners. Julio Anzures, the restaurant's sous chef, told The Huffington Post that the Colors staff meets frequently to discuss how the restaurant is being run, and said that all of the employees have a voice in the decision-making process.
The restaurant is scrupulous about paying overtime, Anzures said, and is much better about observing health standards than some other places where he has worked.
It also makes an effort to pay its employees a fair wage -- a practice that may be hurting its bottom line.
"This restaurant is not making a lot of profit," Anzures admitted. "Right now the business is a little slow, but we're trying. Always we're trying. Our first goal is to help the community."
Though Colors only serves food Wednesday through Saturday, it offers training classes for its junior workers seven days a week. Sekou Siby, the former Windows line cook who now serves as a co-director of ROC-NY and as the operations manager at Colors, estimated that Colors has moved more than 2,000 people through its training programs, which teach young restaurant workers the ins and outs of food preparation, serving and bartending.
"There are a lot of people who can't go to culinary school because they can't afford it," Siby said. "We provide training for free."
Both Siby and Mamdouh echoed Anzures's assertion that while business may not be booming, Colors doesn't measure its success solely in financial terms.
Mamdouh recalled running into a woman, not long ago, who had once worked at a foundation that declined to give funding to Colors in its infancy. She'd asked him if Colors was making money now.
"I told her -- you should ask me how many people changed their lives because of Colors," Mamdouh said. "How many people come who were busboys and dishwashers, and now they are waiters. How many families are profiting, and how many families are good just because of Colors."
That, he said, is the restaurant's real goal -- and it's one that Colors has met many times over. The organization's roots in tragedy have given it a set of priorities that go beyond simply making a profit.
"This is all happening because of 9/11," Mamdouh said. "The people that I lost on 9/11 want me to do this ... It's not just revenge, it's not just crying. It's going and helping our community. It's doing something good from bad."
Huffington Post
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Getting Out Of My Own Way
I'm the type of person who gets real excited about a move I want to make as far as career wise and then I talk myself out of whatever it is I'm thinking. Now on a daily basis I tell myself to stay positive and open up to new experiences. I pray but not as much as I should and I think God speaks to me through music and the word. I've never really set goals in life, I kinda of just go with the flow.
I overthink things and try to figure out what would happen instead of letting things happen. I tend to jeopardize a good thing or situation by overthinking as I type this there are a million thoughts running thru my mind. I remind myself several times aday to calm down and take each second as it comes.
One thing I know for sure is that next year I will be back in school starting over and thoughts creep in daily saying, "How will you pay for this?", "Do you think you are smart enough to compete with the youngins today?" I'm a self doubter but I'm strong work in progress. "Change your thoughts, change your world," I know the saying but it's easier said than done but I know I'll achieve everything I put my mind to moving forward. I just gotta get out of my own way....
I overthink things and try to figure out what would happen instead of letting things happen. I tend to jeopardize a good thing or situation by overthinking as I type this there are a million thoughts running thru my mind. I remind myself several times aday to calm down and take each second as it comes.
One thing I know for sure is that next year I will be back in school starting over and thoughts creep in daily saying, "How will you pay for this?", "Do you think you are smart enough to compete with the youngins today?" I'm a self doubter but I'm strong work in progress. "Change your thoughts, change your world," I know the saying but it's easier said than done but I know I'll achieve everything I put my mind to moving forward. I just gotta get out of my own way....
Getting Healthy
Diet Tips from Weight-Loss Bloggers: Alisa of Eff This Diet
Thursday, 09/ 8/2011 5:10 PM
All this week, we're sharing weight-loss motivation from some of our favorite real-girl diet and fitness bloggers. Today's smart, get-fit tips come from Alisa at Eff This Diet—she's already lost more than 120 pounds!
You'll never believe that gorgeous 24-year-old Alisa from Southern California was ever nearly 400-pounds, but she's got the pics to prove it:
And take a look at her now, more than 100 pounds lighter:
That's quite the reason to turn your ear to Alisa's advice, now isn't it? We love Alisa's Fitblr because her positivity is infectious, and her totally-candid weigh-in posts help us remember that we're not alone in our own weight struggles. Here are some of the tips she shared with us:
Each Sunday, I put together a grocery list of the meals I want to make for the week ahead. Making sure that my kitchen is stocked at all times is the key to success. I am less likely to be tempted by junk food if I make sure and prepare myself for any given situation. The same goes for my office. I keep a drawer stocked with food just in case I'm running late for the day and can't pack my lunch, or I feel the need to snack...I can't even begin to explain how many times that snack drawer at work has saved me from munching on baked goods in the kitchen.
I have not eliminated pizza, pasta, or even donuts completely from my diet. Whole Foods is a goldmine for healthy finds that can satisfy you the same way junk food can. My absolute favorite pizza in the world is Full of Life organic pizza. I promise you—at 260 calories for the entire thing, this is not your traditional diet food. Substitutions always work great, too. Just making small changes like whole wheat pasta for regular pasta can make a huge difference in the long run.
Try to eat whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible. Have you ever tried to pick up one of those frozen diet entrees (and I use this term loosely—they are tiny!) and read the ingredients list? Near impossible. Why does a chicken and rice dish need anything more than chicken and rice? Check out your local farmer's markets and don't be afraid to experiment in the kitchen.
Don't let your size intimidate you. I've talked to a lot of people about the fitness concerns they have because of their size. I took my first yoga class at 300 pounds. Was I terrified of being the biggest girl in the room and not being able to keep up? Of course I was! But you know what? It really wasn't as big a deal as I imagined. Sure, there are certain poses I am unable to do because of my size, but I modify them, and I do the best I can. I would say that 95 percent of the time, I can do the poses just as well as the other smaller girls can do. I push myself and I love every minute of it. Because of this, yoga is now the key to my fitness routine. I am even planning on signing up for teacher training next year. I'd hate to think that I'd have missed out on this because of my fears.
Do not weigh in every day. Trust me, it will drive you insane (I vouch for this with personal experience). Water retention can play a huge role in your weight on a day to day basis (think of that time of the month). Why stress yourself out by a number that might not even be accurate? Weigh in on a weekly basis (or longer). While we're talking about the scale, don't ever walk out of a weigh-in session with a negative mentality. “God, I only lost one pound this week” is not acceptable. A loss is a loss. You are closer to your goal now, are you not? Progress, not perfection.
You're so inspiring, Alisa! Track Alisa's progress and get more of her tips over at Eff This Diet.
Glamour mobile.com
Thursday, 09/ 8/2011 5:10 PM
All this week, we're sharing weight-loss motivation from some of our favorite real-girl diet and fitness bloggers. Today's smart, get-fit tips come from Alisa at Eff This Diet—she's already lost more than 120 pounds!
You'll never believe that gorgeous 24-year-old Alisa from Southern California was ever nearly 400-pounds, but she's got the pics to prove it:
And take a look at her now, more than 100 pounds lighter:
That's quite the reason to turn your ear to Alisa's advice, now isn't it? We love Alisa's Fitblr because her positivity is infectious, and her totally-candid weigh-in posts help us remember that we're not alone in our own weight struggles. Here are some of the tips she shared with us:
Each Sunday, I put together a grocery list of the meals I want to make for the week ahead. Making sure that my kitchen is stocked at all times is the key to success. I am less likely to be tempted by junk food if I make sure and prepare myself for any given situation. The same goes for my office. I keep a drawer stocked with food just in case I'm running late for the day and can't pack my lunch, or I feel the need to snack...I can't even begin to explain how many times that snack drawer at work has saved me from munching on baked goods in the kitchen.
I have not eliminated pizza, pasta, or even donuts completely from my diet. Whole Foods is a goldmine for healthy finds that can satisfy you the same way junk food can. My absolute favorite pizza in the world is Full of Life organic pizza. I promise you—at 260 calories for the entire thing, this is not your traditional diet food. Substitutions always work great, too. Just making small changes like whole wheat pasta for regular pasta can make a huge difference in the long run.
Try to eat whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible. Have you ever tried to pick up one of those frozen diet entrees (and I use this term loosely—they are tiny!) and read the ingredients list? Near impossible. Why does a chicken and rice dish need anything more than chicken and rice? Check out your local farmer's markets and don't be afraid to experiment in the kitchen.
Don't let your size intimidate you. I've talked to a lot of people about the fitness concerns they have because of their size. I took my first yoga class at 300 pounds. Was I terrified of being the biggest girl in the room and not being able to keep up? Of course I was! But you know what? It really wasn't as big a deal as I imagined. Sure, there are certain poses I am unable to do because of my size, but I modify them, and I do the best I can. I would say that 95 percent of the time, I can do the poses just as well as the other smaller girls can do. I push myself and I love every minute of it. Because of this, yoga is now the key to my fitness routine. I am even planning on signing up for teacher training next year. I'd hate to think that I'd have missed out on this because of my fears.
Do not weigh in every day. Trust me, it will drive you insane (I vouch for this with personal experience). Water retention can play a huge role in your weight on a day to day basis (think of that time of the month). Why stress yourself out by a number that might not even be accurate? Weigh in on a weekly basis (or longer). While we're talking about the scale, don't ever walk out of a weigh-in session with a negative mentality. “God, I only lost one pound this week” is not acceptable. A loss is a loss. You are closer to your goal now, are you not? Progress, not perfection.
You're so inspiring, Alisa! Track Alisa's progress and get more of her tips over at Eff This Diet.
Glamour mobile.com
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Free!!!
I should be playing Destiny Child as I type this post,I mentioned a little while ago that my hair started falling out last year, and I didn't know what to do. Earlier this year I started going back to my hairstylist and I tried weave and half wigs but I can't stand the glue and the itching so I was over that and bought a wig. I had been putting off for months doing my hair out of the fear that I would have to cut it all off. After my bf asked me a million times when I was gonna do my hair, we went together to a stylist by my home. My hair was so damaged that the middle section had fell out so bad so I said cut it. As she cut and shaved my hair I had to let go of some insecurities about how I look, I have blemishes and acne scars but I love myself and that's all that matters.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
5 things I know for sure by Blake Mycoskie
Blake is the founder of The Toms Shoes
1. A little imagination goes a long way.
"In 2006, while vacationing um Argentina, I noticed impoverished kids walking around with no shoes on which put them at risk for disease. When I got home to
L.A. I started brainstorming and came up with Toms, which donates one pair of shoes for each pair sold. We've given away more than a million pairs."
2. Stuff can't make you happy.
"When I started distributing shoes in Ethophia, South Africa, and South America, I saw that the people had so little, yet the seemed to worry so much less than my friends and family back home. Instead of stressing over gadgets, they were talking around the campfire."
3. Giving feels good, but it's also good for the bottom line.
"Charity is a viable growth strategy for a lot of companies. Our customers get excited to be a part of what we're doing. If you ask anyone wearing Toms how they first heard about us, most won't mention an advertisement; they'll day a friend told them our story."
4.Your home should inspire you.
"A few years back, I downsized to a sailboat. Now I wake up when the sun finds it's way into my bedroom. I'm more in tune with nature, which has influenced my shoe designs. I'm reminded every day to keep things simple and comfortable."
5. Life is more fun when you stop caring what other people think.
"I've been blessed with a lot if things in life, but God did not give me rhythm. Still, I love to dance- which my past girlfriends always found hilarious. Recently I got onstage at a concert and started bouncing around and hitting a tambourine in front of thousands people. I was probably off the beat, but you have to do what you enjoy."
O Magazine
September 2012
1. A little imagination goes a long way.
"In 2006, while vacationing um Argentina, I noticed impoverished kids walking around with no shoes on which put them at risk for disease. When I got home to
L.A. I started brainstorming and came up with Toms, which donates one pair of shoes for each pair sold. We've given away more than a million pairs."
2. Stuff can't make you happy.
"When I started distributing shoes in Ethophia, South Africa, and South America, I saw that the people had so little, yet the seemed to worry so much less than my friends and family back home. Instead of stressing over gadgets, they were talking around the campfire."
3. Giving feels good, but it's also good for the bottom line.
"Charity is a viable growth strategy for a lot of companies. Our customers get excited to be a part of what we're doing. If you ask anyone wearing Toms how they first heard about us, most won't mention an advertisement; they'll day a friend told them our story."
4.Your home should inspire you.
"A few years back, I downsized to a sailboat. Now I wake up when the sun finds it's way into my bedroom. I'm more in tune with nature, which has influenced my shoe designs. I'm reminded every day to keep things simple and comfortable."
5. Life is more fun when you stop caring what other people think.
"I've been blessed with a lot if things in life, but God did not give me rhythm. Still, I love to dance- which my past girlfriends always found hilarious. Recently I got onstage at a concert and started bouncing around and hitting a tambourine in front of thousands people. I was probably off the beat, but you have to do what you enjoy."
O Magazine
September 2012
Monday, September 5, 2011
Jay-Z's Six Point Best Life Diagnostic
1. Be your own biggest fan: "Believe in whatever it is you're doing. If you don't believe it, no one else will."
2. Take control, then let go: "Work really hard and apply yourself in a way that when the job is done, you can look in the mirror and say 'I've exhausted all the possibities, I've done to make this right' After that, let it go: it's out of your control."
3. Focus on the process, not the result: "People get consumed by the trappings of success. They forget the reason they wanted to do what they do in the first place. Whether you have zero money or a million dollars, it doesn't change who you are. Keep yourself inspired."
4. Never act on your fears: "Card players have a saying: 'Play the cards, not the money. If your hand is good, it doesn't matter if there's $2 on the table or $2,000. You determine your outcome. Don't make decisions based on fear. People can be jealous of you and bait you, but you can be mature and handle the situation."
5. Use money the right way: "For some people, money can be a burden and lead to bad decisions. But money make you comfortable so that you don't have to compromise yourself or do anything just for money. It should give you freedom to do what you love."
6. Don't stop growing: "Growth doesn't stop when you've become successful. That's when it starts."
Men's Health April 2009
2. Take control, then let go: "Work really hard and apply yourself in a way that when the job is done, you can look in the mirror and say 'I've exhausted all the possibities, I've done to make this right' After that, let it go: it's out of your control."
3. Focus on the process, not the result: "People get consumed by the trappings of success. They forget the reason they wanted to do what they do in the first place. Whether you have zero money or a million dollars, it doesn't change who you are. Keep yourself inspired."
4. Never act on your fears: "Card players have a saying: 'Play the cards, not the money. If your hand is good, it doesn't matter if there's $2 on the table or $2,000. You determine your outcome. Don't make decisions based on fear. People can be jealous of you and bait you, but you can be mature and handle the situation."
5. Use money the right way: "For some people, money can be a burden and lead to bad decisions. But money make you comfortable so that you don't have to compromise yourself or do anything just for money. It should give you freedom to do what you love."
6. Don't stop growing: "Growth doesn't stop when you've become successful. That's when it starts."
Men's Health April 2009
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Think Positive
Whew! I've been feeling ill since Thursday due to my lack of sleep, I need to my diet and start back walking this week.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Grateful
As I type this I'm watching NBC Nightly News and there is a segment about the zero amount of jobs added this month by the government. 5,000 people turned out for a job fair that only had 400 jobs, more than 6 million Americans have been unemployed for 6 months or more.
The day I failed my CNA test I immediately was offered a job that same day being a healthcare provider and it pays mininumin wage but after seeing the father who can't explain to his daughter why he can't get a job, I'm grateful. The man said he started at the bottom and worked his way up to the top and he'll do it again all he needs is a job.
The day I failed my CNA test I immediately was offered a job that same day being a healthcare provider and it pays mininumin wage but after seeing the father who can't explain to his daughter why he can't get a job, I'm grateful. The man said he started at the bottom and worked his way up to the top and he'll do it again all he needs is a job.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
My Voice.....
I have been wondering for months what to do with my blog, and today it has come to me, I want to inspire positivity, change and growth. I will daily post of positive things, there is so much negativity in the world.
He's speaking
I have always believed that God speaks to us in strange ways, right after I finished my post this morning this came across my Twitter timeline:
You’ve been designed by God to enjoy life, to experience His peace and His presence every day . . . not just a couple of times each week. ~ via Joel Osteen
You’ve been designed by God to enjoy life, to experience His peace and His presence every day . . . not just a couple of times each week. ~ via Joel Osteen
Inspiring words from Tumblr
Frank Ocean's page
belief in yourself,
is belief in God.
2 weeks ago 1,047 notes
belief in yourself,
is belief in God.
2 weeks ago 1,047 notes
Notes from Oprah's last show
Oprah last show notes
The lessons she learned from the show
2. She realized that people were making bad choices and blaming everyone but themselves. You are responsible for your OWN life....I doesn't matter what your mom or dad did......what is life? Energy. We are responsible for the energy we bring to others and to ourselves. "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space." all life is energy and we transfer it daily for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Do unto others as you want them to do unto you
All the energy you spend trying to hurt someone else comes back to you. And when you get that you are responsible for your own life everything changes. Don't wait for nobody to save you or complete you. When you are responsible for your own life and when you get that you get free.
1. Figure out your destiny and calling is in life. We all are called we must find our calling and get about the business of doing it. A calling lights you up and give you purpose. We all have a platform. The power is to forgive, heal, and change someone's life. Figure out your calling is and use it to serve the world. The purpose is in the heart of your life.
3. People sometimes don't feel worthy. There is a different between thinking you deserve to happy and knowing that you are worthy to be happy. (Iyana Vanzant's return to the show) what she learned was that we block our blessing because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough. Jackie S. Whose face was melted off by a fire or a mother with young daughters who lost both of her arms and legs. Taught Oprah that you are worthy because you were born and because you are here. My being alive makes worthiness my birth right. You alone are enough. 30,000 guest has all wanted Validation everyone wants that. Everybody wants to be heard and want to know do u see me? Do u hear me? Validate the people in your life, tell them you see them u hear them. Try with the people in your life let them know what you say matters to me.
4. Oprah says her team and Jesus helped the show last 25 years. She talks about the same God we talk about the alpha and omega. From Mississippi to Chicago she a miracle and God has been there. The still voice of God. She listens before every decision and the only time something didn't work was when she did not listen to God. God is love and God is life. It could be a whisper very quiet at first and then it grows louder and louder but pay attention to it. What are the whispers in your life right now & what is it saying to you?
6. She has no regrets about her show but she wished she coulda brought more attention to sex abuse. She was set free when she realized it wasn't her fault that a predator prayed on her. Abuse is never the victim's fault.
7. Connect, embrace and liberate and love somebody at least one person make them feel that they mattered. She believes in divine order and the manifestation of God. The viewers and her show has been the great love if her life. She prayed everyday before the show. She thanked all her viewers
her final words were " To God be the glory" Amen ~tears~
Oprah@Oprah.com new email address
The lessons she learned from the show
2. She realized that people were making bad choices and blaming everyone but themselves. You are responsible for your OWN life....I doesn't matter what your mom or dad did......what is life? Energy. We are responsible for the energy we bring to others and to ourselves. "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space." all life is energy and we transfer it daily for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Do unto others as you want them to do unto you
All the energy you spend trying to hurt someone else comes back to you. And when you get that you are responsible for your own life everything changes. Don't wait for nobody to save you or complete you. When you are responsible for your own life and when you get that you get free.
1. Figure out your destiny and calling is in life. We all are called we must find our calling and get about the business of doing it. A calling lights you up and give you purpose. We all have a platform. The power is to forgive, heal, and change someone's life. Figure out your calling is and use it to serve the world. The purpose is in the heart of your life.
3. People sometimes don't feel worthy. There is a different between thinking you deserve to happy and knowing that you are worthy to be happy. (Iyana Vanzant's return to the show) what she learned was that we block our blessing because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough. Jackie S. Whose face was melted off by a fire or a mother with young daughters who lost both of her arms and legs. Taught Oprah that you are worthy because you were born and because you are here. My being alive makes worthiness my birth right. You alone are enough. 30,000 guest has all wanted Validation everyone wants that. Everybody wants to be heard and want to know do u see me? Do u hear me? Validate the people in your life, tell them you see them u hear them. Try with the people in your life let them know what you say matters to me.
4. Oprah says her team and Jesus helped the show last 25 years. She talks about the same God we talk about the alpha and omega. From Mississippi to Chicago she a miracle and God has been there. The still voice of God. She listens before every decision and the only time something didn't work was when she did not listen to God. God is love and God is life. It could be a whisper very quiet at first and then it grows louder and louder but pay attention to it. What are the whispers in your life right now & what is it saying to you?
6. She has no regrets about her show but she wished she coulda brought more attention to sex abuse. She was set free when she realized it wasn't her fault that a predator prayed on her. Abuse is never the victim's fault.
7. Connect, embrace and liberate and love somebody at least one person make them feel that they mattered. She believes in divine order and the manifestation of God. The viewers and her show has been the great love if her life. She prayed everyday before the show. She thanked all her viewers
her final words were " To God be the glory" Amen ~tears~
Oprah@Oprah.com new email address
Getting rid of Pollution
Elimination of elements of pollution:
What is pollution? Pollution is a condition in which cells, organs, glands, feelings, and thoughts lose the purpose of their existence and become abnormal and self-defeating. All vices are pollutants. Inertia and depression lead to pollution.
Every kind of hallucinogenic drug, marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, STDs are major pollutants of the physical body. Hatred, fear, anger, jealousy and revenge are pollutants of the emotional body. Greed, vanity, ego, separatism, and fanaticism are sources of pollution of the mental
body.
What is pollution? Pollution is a condition in which cells, organs, glands, feelings, and thoughts lose the purpose of their existence and become abnormal and self-defeating. All vices are pollutants. Inertia and depression lead to pollution.
Every kind of hallucinogenic drug, marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, STDs are major pollutants of the physical body. Hatred, fear, anger, jealousy and revenge are pollutants of the emotional body. Greed, vanity, ego, separatism, and fanaticism are sources of pollution of the mental
body.
It's what you make it
Lately I haven't been able to sleep
and I'm determine not to become addicted to sleeping pills. Last night I had a little praise session before I feel asleep for a few reasons. I almost made a huge mistake that made realize something quick, you can't take people for granted.
I have a dream and I have had it all my life and when I woke up around 5 the first thing I normally do is read my Twitter account to see how many hours I slept lol and to see what I miss. I follow a blogger name LowKey and lately he has gotten into hosting at events, he almost made me cry he always speaks about his mom & dad and I think it's a wonderful example that all young men should read. He wears his heart on his sleeve and it's rare to see a guy express his feelings to openly. He also said "Ya'll asses can feel this. Folllow ur heart. Yeah its gone be rough. Yep u gone fall on ur face but fuck it. Do it. Why not?" this got me to thinking about my dream if you came across any of my high school papers, you would see the question "Where will you be in ten years?" my answer was always something entertainment wise. When my friends have a question regarding something in entertainment they call me and nine times out of ten they say "I know you know about such and such." Writing as always been a passion of mine from songs, poems and even starting books that have never been completed. I am starting to pick up inspiration of those around me and its amazing what you learn from other people lives.
When Oprah ended her show this year I watched the entire season but what stuck with me the most was her very last show, I cried and took down some notes. People say Oprah is this or that but you can't deny her story.
I like when people live out their dreams it takes faith, patience, hard work and courage to say you know what I am going to do this. I can honestly say a lot of things came easy to me in life jobs and etc but now I am in a place where it is solely on me. I regret not finishing college and I am going back next year as a freshman it will be exciting and scary but I am up for the change. I will also write in some form everyday and expand my circle and hopefully it wil open doors for me. I truly believe that God wants to live the life we want and I know mine is suppose to be far from regular.
Peace :)
and I'm determine not to become addicted to sleeping pills. Last night I had a little praise session before I feel asleep for a few reasons. I almost made a huge mistake that made realize something quick, you can't take people for granted.
I have a dream and I have had it all my life and when I woke up around 5 the first thing I normally do is read my Twitter account to see how many hours I slept lol and to see what I miss. I follow a blogger name LowKey and lately he has gotten into hosting at events, he almost made me cry he always speaks about his mom & dad and I think it's a wonderful example that all young men should read. He wears his heart on his sleeve and it's rare to see a guy express his feelings to openly. He also said "Ya'll asses can feel this. Folllow ur heart. Yeah its gone be rough. Yep u gone fall on ur face but fuck it. Do it. Why not?" this got me to thinking about my dream if you came across any of my high school papers, you would see the question "Where will you be in ten years?" my answer was always something entertainment wise. When my friends have a question regarding something in entertainment they call me and nine times out of ten they say "I know you know about such and such." Writing as always been a passion of mine from songs, poems and even starting books that have never been completed. I am starting to pick up inspiration of those around me and its amazing what you learn from other people lives.
When Oprah ended her show this year I watched the entire season but what stuck with me the most was her very last show, I cried and took down some notes. People say Oprah is this or that but you can't deny her story.
I like when people live out their dreams it takes faith, patience, hard work and courage to say you know what I am going to do this. I can honestly say a lot of things came easy to me in life jobs and etc but now I am in a place where it is solely on me. I regret not finishing college and I am going back next year as a freshman it will be exciting and scary but I am up for the change. I will also write in some form everyday and expand my circle and hopefully it wil open doors for me. I truly believe that God wants to live the life we want and I know mine is suppose to be far from regular.
Peace :)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Alpha Medical
I was blessed to learn to do taxes this year and was given a temporary position for a few months. While I working I chose to save up money to take a class for Certified Nursing Assistant, which would lead me to ultimate goal of being a nursing. Every since I can remember I've had a passion for the elderly, and my mother wanted to go into nursing but as an immature young adult I didn't listen (but boy I wish I did).
As soon as tax season started to wind down I being my search for a CNA school to attend. Alpha Medical seemed to be the place for at the time it was cheaper than other schools and close to home. The class is a month long and I was right on track to start work in June. From the start I had issues with this school, the first week the guy who I thought was the finical aid person was my teacher. He explained to me that he is certified by the state to teach the class. I understood that and I didn't mind being the only person in my class. We bumped heads over what was in the book and what he telling me as my teacher. I explained to him that he needed to be more professional and let me get my opinion across. At the end of each there was a test that was suppose to be given to review what we learned for the week. The first week no test was given because all 5 of their printers were down. SMH
The second week I had a new teacher who was very nice a retired RN from Jamaica. She was a better teacher but she couldn't see and she keep nodding off but I finally got a new classmate. Thursday came around and I finally had a test which was a little hard but I don't know my grade because until this day I have yet to recieve my test back. The owner keep saying how he was being audited by the IRS and he didn't have time to grade my test. So I told him and his wife I was very disappointed in the way they handled business and that I would like my test before the class ended.
Week three was more les the same my classmate missed two lasses so I was stuck with the reading and Q & A. I had another test and still no grades and I was getting pissed. One thing I am nice but whn I am pissed get the fuck out of my way. So once again I addressed my displeasure in the school and told them I had never missed a day and I paid for the class and everything should be given to me. These mofos had the nerve to get an attitude with me. They were trying to shut my down but I wouldn't roll over. For every statement they had I had a comeback. I told them I wouldn't recommend this school this anybody that I know and I should have went to a better school.
Week four clinical week I was all excited for this week because we got to go into the nursing homes. On Monday I showed up with my scrubs on and I was ready to go but we did clinicals at the office the bedmaking and interacting with each other practicing certain skills on each other. The last two days were suppose to be spent at the nursing home, so once I show up scrubs ready to go. None of my classmates showed and we keep waiting and waiting so I had a wasted day because nothing was done. Ugh. So the next day everyone showed up and went on our merry way and I was happy to be there among these older people with their funny stories. We did more skills and included patients, when I get nervous I shake SMH I am not sure why but I do.
After the clinicals were over my next question was when is the test? The owner told it was on May 30th 3 weeks away and I was like ok I can hang until then. The Friday before my test date something told me to call and confirm that Tuesday was a go. I recieve word that the test will be rescheduled because the state examiner quit. Ok that I understood because it is out of everyone's control, but I was pissed because nobody called and told me. So I jumped in my car and drove over there and gave them another peace of my mind. I said once again how unprofessional they were. My new test date is in July and in the meantime every job interview I've heard no response. :( but I remain hopeful. God knows my heart. Until next time stay great :)
As soon as tax season started to wind down I being my search for a CNA school to attend. Alpha Medical seemed to be the place for at the time it was cheaper than other schools and close to home. The class is a month long and I was right on track to start work in June. From the start I had issues with this school, the first week the guy who I thought was the finical aid person was my teacher. He explained to me that he is certified by the state to teach the class. I understood that and I didn't mind being the only person in my class. We bumped heads over what was in the book and what he telling me as my teacher. I explained to him that he needed to be more professional and let me get my opinion across. At the end of each there was a test that was suppose to be given to review what we learned for the week. The first week no test was given because all 5 of their printers were down. SMH
The second week I had a new teacher who was very nice a retired RN from Jamaica. She was a better teacher but she couldn't see and she keep nodding off but I finally got a new classmate. Thursday came around and I finally had a test which was a little hard but I don't know my grade because until this day I have yet to recieve my test back. The owner keep saying how he was being audited by the IRS and he didn't have time to grade my test. So I told him and his wife I was very disappointed in the way they handled business and that I would like my test before the class ended.
Week three was more les the same my classmate missed two lasses so I was stuck with the reading and Q & A. I had another test and still no grades and I was getting pissed. One thing I am nice but whn I am pissed get the fuck out of my way. So once again I addressed my displeasure in the school and told them I had never missed a day and I paid for the class and everything should be given to me. These mofos had the nerve to get an attitude with me. They were trying to shut my down but I wouldn't roll over. For every statement they had I had a comeback. I told them I wouldn't recommend this school this anybody that I know and I should have went to a better school.
Week four clinical week I was all excited for this week because we got to go into the nursing homes. On Monday I showed up with my scrubs on and I was ready to go but we did clinicals at the office the bedmaking and interacting with each other practicing certain skills on each other. The last two days were suppose to be spent at the nursing home, so once I show up scrubs ready to go. None of my classmates showed and we keep waiting and waiting so I had a wasted day because nothing was done. Ugh. So the next day everyone showed up and went on our merry way and I was happy to be there among these older people with their funny stories. We did more skills and included patients, when I get nervous I shake SMH I am not sure why but I do.
After the clinicals were over my next question was when is the test? The owner told it was on May 30th 3 weeks away and I was like ok I can hang until then. The Friday before my test date something told me to call and confirm that Tuesday was a go. I recieve word that the test will be rescheduled because the state examiner quit. Ok that I understood because it is out of everyone's control, but I was pissed because nobody called and told me. So I jumped in my car and drove over there and gave them another peace of my mind. I said once again how unprofessional they were. My new test date is in July and in the meantime every job interview I've heard no response. :( but I remain hopeful. God knows my heart. Until next time stay great :)
New changes
I wanted to keep my blog, but I wasn't sure of what I wanted to write about so I decided to write about my journey back into the workforce. After working at a job for eight years I was laid off ( and it partially because of my mouth) but eh...The road back will be a long struggle but I determine to go for mines. I hope you decide to follow me on my personal quest for a better life. You will still see music reviews from time to time like Beyonce's 4 coming on June 28.....
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Music at my age
I have been wondering with has happen to the stars I grew up with Britney, Christina, and Amerie these stars are the same age as me and they seem to be getting out done by the younger kids these days, and I am not just speaking performances wise, I know you don't move the same at 29-30 as you did when you were 19-20. The younger artist music seems to have more mean..take Frank Ocean for example his mix tape is awesome and he is 23.
Britney doesn't even dances anymore and that was her selling point because we all know she lip sings.... she has lost it and she looks like her heart isn't in her music anymore.
Christina's last CD tanked so bad I can't tell you the name of it but boy she can sang.
Justin Timberlake hasn't dropped a CD in almost 5 years because he has become a "movie star" but I think he is scared he won't be able to live to the awesomeness that was Future Sex Love Sounds but I think he can.
Jessica Simpson has become a billion from her shoe line that is fabulous.
Most R&B stars disappear quicker than anything
What happened to Amerie? her 1st CD was wonderful but her 2nd one was eh and I have the CD.
Eve is a rapper her 1st CD was the bomb she expressed her pit bull in a skirt image very well but after her song with Gwen Stefani she fell off.
Brandy who I love has a difficult road in music as of late, she has downgraded herself to being a reality show star and her last CD Human, I can't name one song beside Long Distance off of that CD
Lauryn Hill dropped the classic, 5 time Grammy winning, diamond plus selling Cd The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and she just lost it and had a ton of children and God knows what else. Recently Ms. Hill seems to be making a comeback by touring..
Bobby V's first CD was awesome and the his wackness just cancelled him out.
I almost wrote Usher off because he took so long to follow-up his diamond plus selling Confessions and then he dropped Here I Stand and people hated it, I actually loved that CD very much it told the story of where he was at that particular time in his life....then Papers almost killed me that laughable tune was crazy and then Raymond vs Raymond came out I was pleased. He should give up on the dancing tho and let Chris have it because he is always out of breath.
Destiny's Child broke up and Beyonce as we all knew became one of the biggest starts on earth and she cancelled many careers in the process see: Mya, Ashanti, Amerie, etc........
Kelly Rowland has been trying to get it together with her solo career and was overlooked she had some hits with Nelly and Eve and has been during euro-pop music overseas but her new single Motivation is blowing up everywhere and I can't front I love it.
Britney doesn't even dances anymore and that was her selling point because we all know she lip sings.... she has lost it and she looks like her heart isn't in her music anymore.
Christina's last CD tanked so bad I can't tell you the name of it but boy she can sang.
Justin Timberlake hasn't dropped a CD in almost 5 years because he has become a "movie star" but I think he is scared he won't be able to live to the awesomeness that was Future Sex Love Sounds but I think he can.
Jessica Simpson has become a billion from her shoe line that is fabulous.
Most R&B stars disappear quicker than anything
What happened to Amerie? her 1st CD was wonderful but her 2nd one was eh and I have the CD.
Eve is a rapper her 1st CD was the bomb she expressed her pit bull in a skirt image very well but after her song with Gwen Stefani she fell off.
Brandy who I love has a difficult road in music as of late, she has downgraded herself to being a reality show star and her last CD Human, I can't name one song beside Long Distance off of that CD
Lauryn Hill dropped the classic, 5 time Grammy winning, diamond plus selling Cd The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and she just lost it and had a ton of children and God knows what else. Recently Ms. Hill seems to be making a comeback by touring..
Bobby V's first CD was awesome and the his wackness just cancelled him out.
I almost wrote Usher off because he took so long to follow-up his diamond plus selling Confessions and then he dropped Here I Stand and people hated it, I actually loved that CD very much it told the story of where he was at that particular time in his life....then Papers almost killed me that laughable tune was crazy and then Raymond vs Raymond came out I was pleased. He should give up on the dancing tho and let Chris have it because he is always out of breath.
Destiny's Child broke up and Beyonce as we all knew became one of the biggest starts on earth and she cancelled many careers in the process see: Mya, Ashanti, Amerie, etc........
Kelly Rowland has been trying to get it together with her solo career and was overlooked she had some hits with Nelly and Eve and has been during euro-pop music overseas but her new single Motivation is blowing up everywhere and I can't front I love it.
Jay-Z wins an Emmy
Hov won a Sports Emmy for Run This Town which was played during this years Superbowl.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Katy Perry's E.T.
Will premiere tomorrow night on MTV at 7:53pm ET, followed by TeenNick's premiere at 10:53pm ET and it features none other than Mr. West and it is interesting because after Swiftgate, Katy was one of the first people to speak against Ye on Twitter. I am glad they have put aside their differences and made this great song which finally knocked Gaga's rip-off of Madonna out of the number one spot on Billboard. The video was leaked early today but pulled from YouTube.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Lyrics....Kelly Rowland Feat Weezy
Yesterday on my Twitter I asked was I the only one who didn't understand the words in Kelly's new song, well here are the lyrics...
Song Title: Motivation
oh lover, don’t you dare slow down
go longer, you can last more rounds
push harder, your almost there now
so go lover, make my mother proud
and when were done, i don’t wanna feel my legs
and when were done, i just wanna feel your head so lower me baby
you can’t stop there, music still playin in the background
and youre almost there
you can do it, i believe in you baby
so close from here
so baby i’mma be your motivation
go, go, go, go
motivation
go, go, go, go
oh lover, when you call my name
no other, can do that the same
? get up out there game, no
so lover, dont it make me rain
and when were done, i don’t wanna feel my legs
and when were done, i just wanna feel your head so lower me baby
you can’t stop there, music still playin in the background
and you’re almost there
you can do it, i believe in you baby
so close from here
uh, girl i turn that thing into a rainforest
rain on my head, call that brainstorming
yeah this is deep, but oh, i go deeper
make you lose yourself, and finders keepers
it go green light, go weezy go
i like to taste that sugar, that sweet and low
but hold up wait, new position
i put her on my plate then do the dishes
she my motivation, i’m her transportation
cause i let her ride, while i drive her crazy
then i just keep going going, like i’m racing
when i’m done she hold me like a conversation
weezy, baby
and when were done, i don’t wanna feel my legs
and when were done, i just wanna feel your head so lower me baby
you can’t stop there, music still playin in the background
and you’re almost there
you can do it, i believe in you baby
so close from here
Song Title: Motivation
oh lover, don’t you dare slow down
go longer, you can last more rounds
push harder, your almost there now
so go lover, make my mother proud
and when were done, i don’t wanna feel my legs
and when were done, i just wanna feel your head so lower me baby
you can’t stop there, music still playin in the background
and youre almost there
you can do it, i believe in you baby
so close from here
so baby i’mma be your motivation
go, go, go, go
motivation
go, go, go, go
oh lover, when you call my name
no other, can do that the same
? get up out there game, no
so lover, dont it make me rain
and when were done, i don’t wanna feel my legs
and when were done, i just wanna feel your head so lower me baby
you can’t stop there, music still playin in the background
and you’re almost there
you can do it, i believe in you baby
so close from here
uh, girl i turn that thing into a rainforest
rain on my head, call that brainstorming
yeah this is deep, but oh, i go deeper
make you lose yourself, and finders keepers
it go green light, go weezy go
i like to taste that sugar, that sweet and low
but hold up wait, new position
i put her on my plate then do the dishes
she my motivation, i’m her transportation
cause i let her ride, while i drive her crazy
then i just keep going going, like i’m racing
when i’m done she hold me like a conversation
weezy, baby
and when were done, i don’t wanna feel my legs
and when were done, i just wanna feel your head so lower me baby
you can’t stop there, music still playin in the background
and you’re almost there
you can do it, i believe in you baby
so close from here
I am proud to say...
I have not seen Lady Gaga video for that Madonna rip off
I have not heard Kim K's song and I don't plan on it
I didn't get caught up in Kim & Kourtnet take NY because I stopped watching mid-way through the 1st episode and decided it wasn't for me without Khloe
I haven't gotten caught in The Real Housewives of Miami and I am glad too that mess looks boring
March Madness had me on edge this weekend Butler and UCONN are on their way to my town
Sunday was a horrible day for me none of my teams won with should make the Final Four interesting congrats to VCU and Kentucky.
I have not heard Kim K's song and I don't plan on it
I didn't get caught up in Kim & Kourtnet take NY because I stopped watching mid-way through the 1st episode and decided it wasn't for me without Khloe
I haven't gotten caught in The Real Housewives of Miami and I am glad too that mess looks boring
March Madness had me on edge this weekend Butler and UCONN are on their way to my town
Sunday was a horrible day for me none of my teams won with should make the Final Four interesting congrats to VCU and Kentucky.
Tamia - You Put A Move On My Heart
I love this song and Tamia is very underrated in the music game. Enjoy!
Angie Stone
Drake host the JUNO Awards
Below is the a skit he did called 'Old Money' check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkQV7C7cUN4&feature=player_embedded
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Music Note: Frank Ocean
I came across Frank Ocean by way of Beyonce if you read my blog this week I went to You Tube to discover who he was and I am so glad because his CD disguised as a mix tape is simply amazing. I can listen to it back and forth no skipping a track and I let it play over, it may replace J. Cole has the most played music on my Ipod.
Frank has a deal with a record company and after so much frustration with the label he decided earlier this month to drop Nostalgia, ULTRA on his own and he went to his Twitter to explain his decision why he chose to put it out, he explained he wrote this CD in early 2010 and I know heads have to roll over this because he has been receiving rave reviews about this amazing body of work.
Strawberry Swing ~ is the first song on the CD and it is his version of Coldplay's song of the same name but Franks tackles the beat and totally makes the song his own, he changes the lyrics to tell a song of a love he had a long time ago and how he reminiscing on that love on the swing they painted strawberries on and how he let her leave him in "dying world" and she went off on a spaceship because there was only room for one of them, but at the end of the song it could have been a dream because you hear an alarm clock going off, and Frank wakes up.
Novacane ~ is where we truly get to hear his beautiful voice where he talks about a women he meet at the music festival, Coachella where "I went to see Jigga " (cool points there) and she gives him a bong and explains she wants to be a dentist but she does porn on the side to pay for school. The bong contains Novacane and it is a drug that he takes and it makes him numb "I can't feel a thing"and it leaves him a high that he is never able to find again.
We All Try ~ Frank is explaining things that he believes and don't believe in "I believe a marriage isn't between a man and women but between love and love" and "I don't believe our nation's flag is on the moon" but "I still believe in man, a wise one ask me why, cause I don't believe we are wicked, I believe we sin but I do believe we try" this track is incredible but I wish it was a little longer..
Songs for Women ~ Frank is a songwriter first but people are surprise that he can blow...this track is basically about how he used to or still "sing songs to get at women" and he uses it to his advantage and (I understand because I love a man that can sing.) No matter how hard he tries he gets over looked by a certain woman "She don't listen to the songs I record, but she be banging that Drake in my car...she stay blasting Trey and his songs all damn day long"
Lovecrime ~ Tells a story of a love crime and how he has "One bullet left in my nine" and he is gonna do a love crime "murder, murder, murder she wrote" and how the girl use to write him love letter with her father's pen and she wrote freaky things in the letter, but he wanna be the baby's daddy. In the background you can hear actress Nicole Kidman going off about how men treats women. It reminds you of an early Dream track but way better.
There Will Be Tears ~ Starts with Mr. Hudson track of the same name at the beginning "I can't be there with you but I can dream" he repeats over and over and then suddenly the tracks takes a turn and you think it was another song altogether, it goes all uptempo with claps (I clap in my car along with the song) Franks tells the story of losing the only father he ever known his grandfather but he doesn't want his boys to see him crying. "Hide my face, Hide my face, can't let them see my crying because these boys didn't have no fathers and they weren't crying" His friends said he can't miss what he didn't have he says "I can, I'm saaaaaaddddd"
Swim Good ~ A brokenhearted Frank "I got this black suit rolling around like I am ready for a funeral" decides to "drive to ocean I am going to try to swim from something bigger than me"and he doesn't want anyone to stop him. "Feeling like a ghost , no Swayze ever since I lost my baby"(nice play on words there) it is an amazing track and I can totally relate to waiting to get away..
Dust ~ He is writing about his muse and he fell in love with her when the "ink dries and pages turn to dust" so will the relationship.
American Wedding ~ Samples an Eagles beat it has to be one of the most amazing songs I have ever heard in my life. It explains a story of falling in love and secertly marrying a girl in the courthouse and feeling on a high to have go away in a blink of an eye when she asks " an annulment before we go to far"
Nature Feels ~ Whew, it is steaming the opening lyrics are "I've been meaning to fuck you in the garden" Frank takes his lady outside for some loving, you can hear Brandy singing in the background. The song goes from Adam and Eve to being a cave women and man and having some Pebbles and Bam Bams.
5/5 stars if Frank Ocean aka Christopher ever puts this out on Itunes I would pay for it that's how much I love it. Nostalia, ULTRA will be in my top ten CDs of 2011, where will it land, check back in Dec. to find out.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Rihanna says......
Via her Twitter that my new fave Jermaine will be going her on tour for her United States and Canada dates...I can't began to tell you how excited I am about this news, as you know I love me some Jermaine and I probably will be purchasing my ticket for the show, here on July 9th. This is a wonderful look for Cole I want him to be successful so I am uber excited for him....but the question remains ,Cole where is my CD?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Deja Vu - Live at the BET Awards
Who is messing with Bey? I mean really give me a name because.........WOW
Nene slams Star Jones again
Nene and Star will not be making up on Twitter soon, as once again Nene talks bout Start but this time it is with Ellen. I remember I loved Nene the first season of ATL Housewives but she turned all Hollywood, and she comes across as a bit of a bully. Star proves she can handle Nene with her tweets about her. Donald Trump said on The View this morning that Nene makes Omarosa look like a nice lady. OUCH! I recall how everybody was going in on Omarosa but Trump knows that Nene will bring him ratings, that's why she is on Celebrity Apprentice.
Jigga & Sade
I hope the rumors of them hooking up to remix her song The Moon and the Sky are true. As you know Jay has been waiting to work with Sade and he calls her, his favorite female singer.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
LeBron James on Ellen
I am a huge fan of Ellen and I stan for LeBron so I'm happy the two of them teamed up to surprise one of Ellen's writers.
The President and First Lady
The First Lady looks wonderful and it is nice to see The Prez smile.
Dancing With The Stars
#Cougartweet Romeo made his debut last night on ABC's mega hit Dancing With The Stars last with his dancing partner Chelsie doing the Cha Cha. I missed it but Twitter told me he was pretty good. I hope get a chance to see him in the future on the show.
Chris Brown Yeah 3x Live Good Morning America By Vanise
Chris Brown performs Yeah 3x on Good Morning America this morning his new CD F.A.M.E. is in stores today and on Itunes. I will not address all the rumors of what did or did not happen this morning. I just wish him good luck with his new CD. I have been hearing great things about the it.
Jennifer Hudson - Where You At - Live - GMA
Here is Ms. Hudson performing her single Where You At on Good Morning America this morning. Her new CD I Remember Me is in stores and on Itunes today.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Let Me Introduce You To
Frank Ocean, I only listened to him because I saw the picture of him working with Queen Bey on Twitter, so I jumped on YouTube and listen to his remake of American Wedding from his mixtape Nostalgia Ultra and I fell in love with his voice and the music is remarkable. The mixtape includes the tracks Strawberry Swing, We All Try, Songs For Women, Swim Good and Novacane. When I got to Novacane I was sold. I am currently listening to Nature Feels *fans self* yeah it is like that.
Mr. Ocean who real name is Christopher Breaux a talented songwriter who has written for many artist including The Biebs, John Legend, and Brandy and he is a member of the rap group Odd Future and they are blowing up everywhere, they are currently on the cover of Billboard Magazine.When you have a chance please check it out, you won't be disappointed will be downloading my copy when I get home.
Correction: American Weddding is an original song but the beat is a sample
Mr. Ocean who real name is Christopher Breaux a talented songwriter who has written for many artist including The Biebs, John Legend, and Brandy and he is a member of the rap group Odd Future and they are blowing up everywhere, they are currently on the cover of Billboard Magazine.When you have a chance please check it out, you won't be disappointed will be downloading my copy when I get home.
Correction: American Weddding is an original song but the beat is a sample
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
I Don't Know...
What to say about this but it would make me uncomfortable to go to a concert and see this ish. Let me say I respect Nicki's grind and hustle to the fullest. She has managed in a short time to become the biggest female rapper artist in the world. But I have to wonder who is her target market. Yes she is a grown women 26 years to be exact but when your image is based on "Ken Barbz and Female Barbz" this image is a little hard to shallow.
As a flirty thirty member, I am not running around saying it's "Barbie Bitch", hell I haven't had a Barbie since I was thirteen years old. Let's be real most of Nicki's stans are young girls in high or even college, but just this week there was a trending topic on Twitter called Baby Nicki, with a young baby with a wig on. I doubt the baby knows any of her songs but still I'm making a point here. She animated with the wigs and customs and the funny voices that doesn't attract me to her at all. Most recently there were videos popped of country star Taylor Swift and Disney star Selena Gomez rapping the lyrics to Nicki's song 'Super Bass' and that brought a lot of attention to the song because Taylor and Selena has a young fan base, but you would never go to their shows and see them with a dildo.
Ms. Minaj has blasted other artist in her interviews for using their sex appeal to sell music.....I am just saying practice what you preach!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Nardwuar vs. J. Cole
Nardwuar does his homework and I love his interviews, here is one featuring my new favorite Jermaine
Dr. Dre - I Need A Doctor (Explicit) ft. Eminem, Skylar Grey
I am late but I really love this video...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sports Break...
1. My MM bracket is done already and it is just day one....but I am riding with Ohio State as my overall winner unless Texas get into the Final Four...
2. The Fab Five Doc that aired on Sunday was so good I had to watch it twice. A lot people are up in arms over some of the comments that were by Jalen Rose and crew. I fully understand they were expressing how they felt 20 years ago and has offensive as the comments were, no one was slandered more than Grant Hill. They called him a bitch, and an Uncle Tom and how all black player who played for Duke were Uncle Toms. I was 12 maybe 13 then so I didn't understand the Fab Five legacy, as I became older I kinda understood some of the story. I was really impressed with how well the story was told by four of the five because Chris Webber decline to partake in the story.
Mr. Hill did issue his response, in a classy way you can read it here: http://nyti.ms/hqxfYE
3. Are you ready for football? Maybe not, if these negotations keep going the way they are now. I am fully aware of what's going but it does not look promising at this point. I know I better see some kind of football on my t.v. come Sept or I will break all the tv's in my house. Not really but you get the point.
4. The East in the NBA is headed for a wild finish, although we know that the Lakers or Spurs will come of the West for the NBA Championship. The East is pretty much up for grabs..The Heat, Bulls, Celtics,Knics, Magic, and Hawks all have a shot to make it to the Finals.
2. The Fab Five Doc that aired on Sunday was so good I had to watch it twice. A lot people are up in arms over some of the comments that were by Jalen Rose and crew. I fully understand they were expressing how they felt 20 years ago and has offensive as the comments were, no one was slandered more than Grant Hill. They called him a bitch, and an Uncle Tom and how all black player who played for Duke were Uncle Toms. I was 12 maybe 13 then so I didn't understand the Fab Five legacy, as I became older I kinda understood some of the story. I was really impressed with how well the story was told by four of the five because Chris Webber decline to partake in the story.
Mr. Hill did issue his response, in a classy way you can read it here: http://nyti.ms/hqxfYE
3. Are you ready for football? Maybe not, if these negotations keep going the way they are now. I am fully aware of what's going but it does not look promising at this point. I know I better see some kind of football on my t.v. come Sept or I will break all the tv's in my house. Not really but you get the point.
4. The East in the NBA is headed for a wild finish, although we know that the Lakers or Spurs will come of the West for the NBA Championship. The East is pretty much up for grabs..The Heat, Bulls, Celtics,Knics, Magic, and Hawks all have a shot to make it to the Finals.
The Carter IV is coming
May 16, 2011 to kick off the YM and em crew CDs for the summer. I read Drizzy's CD, Take Care is coming around September, maybe sooner..
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
It's March
Where is Bey's single? Although I hear rumors of a single coming at the end of April.... ~crosses fingers~
Watch The Throne was suppose to drop this month but after the reception on H.A.M., which was a hot ass mess, it has been cold over at the Roc Nation/ G.O.O.D Music camp.
F.A.M.E is dropping next week and Chris Brown's promo team is working overtime, hair change, peen pics, and he hung up on a DJ when asked him about the pics in an interview recently...I do believe Mr. Brown leaked them pics himself. I was excited to see them though.
Britney's Cd is coming March 29th, if anyone cares
Wiz's cd Rolling Papers is coming March 29th as well ~yawns~
Watch The Throne was suppose to drop this month but after the reception on H.A.M., which was a hot ass mess, it has been cold over at the Roc Nation/ G.O.O.D Music camp.
F.A.M.E is dropping next week and Chris Brown's promo team is working overtime, hair change, peen pics, and he hung up on a DJ when asked him about the pics in an interview recently...I do believe Mr. Brown leaked them pics himself. I was excited to see them though.
Britney's Cd is coming March 29th, if anyone cares
Wiz's cd Rolling Papers is coming March 29th as well ~yawns~
J. Cole - Killers (NEW)
Last night my timeline was lit up as Mr. Cole's 'Killers' was leaked. He explained it is an old track from his vault, that is going to be the 1st single from an artist project. Where is my cd Jermaine?
NOT Ipod worthy ~Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Big Sean & Drake - All Of The Lights (Remix)
~Sighs~ Looking at this line up minus Big Sean, you would think they would knock it out the park but it is lukewarm, at best, Drake had the best verse and his verse was just ok. Ye isn't even on this remix o_O, I hoping the rumors of Mr. Shawn Carter coming through to save it is true..
Don't Hold Your Breath
According to EW. com, there are no plans to release the Put It In A Love video ~sighs~ I really want AK and Bey to do another song together, a real soulful track where they both put their soul's into it.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Biggie Smalls - Juicy
We'll always love big pappa....R.I.P. Mr Wallace, here is one of my favorite songs by him.
Alicia Keys Feat Beyoncé - Put It In A Love Song Preview
The collaboration between these two superstars could have been better, but hell I just want to see the video, like now!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Image over Talent?
Yesterday on my Twitter page I asked the question, why can't raw talent be enough? Why do artist have to add gimmicks to their "brand" to be famous? Case in point Lady Gaga I think she is talented but antics are a major turn off for me, the egg at the Grammys, the condom outfit and just being naked all the damn time like she fine or some shit, but I digress.
I was so pleased to hear about Adele having the number album on Billboard this week selling over 350k *claps for her* but then today Kim Kardashian dropped her single I guess The Dream is on it but I refuse to listen to it because it is just a scheme to bring in more dollars, and I am so disappointed that Kanye West is involved in this mess. He thrives himself on being an artist and being true to his craft but he supports this BS. I shouldn't be surprised hell Rihanna has like a million number one singles and her live performances are horrible.
Just like at the Grammys when Esperanza Spalding beat Justin Bieber and Drake for Best New Artist, I even said on my Twitter "Who?" but come to find she is a very good artist who has played for President Obama and Prince. She is a very accomplished young woman and maybe just this once The Grammys got it right. People assumed because Bieber is more popular that he should win but nope that wasn't the case.
There are tons of talented singers in the industry that will not get the attention that Kim will over her single and I can name artist after artist that is a million times better, but image runs the industry over talent any day and there seems to be no change in sight.
I was so pleased to hear about Adele having the number album on Billboard this week selling over 350k *claps for her* but then today Kim Kardashian dropped her single I guess The Dream is on it but I refuse to listen to it because it is just a scheme to bring in more dollars, and I am so disappointed that Kanye West is involved in this mess. He thrives himself on being an artist and being true to his craft but he supports this BS. I shouldn't be surprised hell Rihanna has like a million number one singles and her live performances are horrible.
Just like at the Grammys when Esperanza Spalding beat Justin Bieber and Drake for Best New Artist, I even said on my Twitter "Who?" but come to find she is a very good artist who has played for President Obama and Prince. She is a very accomplished young woman and maybe just this once The Grammys got it right. People assumed because Bieber is more popular that he should win but nope that wasn't the case.
There are tons of talented singers in the industry that will not get the attention that Kim will over her single and I can name artist after artist that is a million times better, but image runs the industry over talent any day and there seems to be no change in sight.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Music Note Adele ~ 21
I recently became an Adele fan, thanks to B for introducing me to her. I was excited to get her new cd 21 that was released last Tuesday. The British soul singer has an expectional voice and describes her music as "heartbroken soul" with suits her style perfectly. Her cd is breath of fresh air during this time in music, when everyone one seems to be doing that Euro-pop and 80s music sound.
21 kicks off with the heart pounding Rolling in the Deep ~ I was so excited when I heard this single it is a epic building track with drums that sounds like claps and she sings "the scars of your love reminds me of us,... the scars of your love leaves me breathless...you had my heart inside of your hands and you played it" I feel like this before over a relationship "we could have had it all" but oh well.
Rumor Has It is an uptempo track produced by Ryan Tedder (Beyonce's Halo and Kelly Clarkson's Already Gone) it is a risk that pays off for Adele.."rumor has it he's the one I 'm leaving you for" HA!
Turning Tables ~ I am guilty of starting arguments in a relationship but after a while it gets old and one person gets fed up and leave and that is what Adele is saying in this track. The song is beautifully written "So I won't let you close enough to hurt me, No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me, I cant give you what you think you gave me, It's time to say goodbye to turning tables, To turning tables"
Don't You Remember ~ Describes a relationship that is in a state of limbo or on a break and she wanders "were she went wrong" and she wants her lover to remember her "once more" and why he loved her.She sounds like she wants another chance and hopefully he comes around.
Set Fire to the Rain ~ After being healed by a guy, Adele discovers he is a liar "But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew, All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true,
And the games you'd play, you would always win, always win," ............and she sent him on his way, but she still thinks of him "Sometimes I wake up by the door, And heard you calling, must be waiting for you, Even that when we're already over, I can't help myself from looking for you, " that reminds me of my ex although I let him go I still thought of him but I set fire to the rain and threw us in an watched it burn.
He Won't Go ~ Take the risk. Period. she sings... "So petrified, I'm so scared to step into this ride,
What if I lose my heart and fail the climb? I won't forgive me if I give up trying,"Two people who can't live without each other and is willing to stay together through the ups and downs. She singing ....."There will be times, we'll try and give it up, Bursting at the seams, no doubt,We'll almost fall apart and burn the pieces, And watch them turn to dust, But nothing will ever taint us." (story of my life right now)
Take It All ~ is piano driven track that speaks to my soul, Adele is examing her relationship... she sings..... "So is it over? Is this really it?You're giving up so easily,I thought you loved me more than this," WOW I hate when a n*gga made me feel like this, all I did and you're willing to let us go so easily..
I'll Be Waiting ~ Adele is waiting for her guy and she will be better, she has matured and she ready to take on this relationship again. she sings...."You know my heart more than I do,
We were the greatest, me and you, But we had time against us, And miles between us,The heavens cried, I know I left you speechless, But now the sky has cleared and it's blue,And I see my future in you,"
One and Only ~ Adele is trying to convince her guy to open up his heart and to let her love him..They both are scared but you can't let your past relationship control the current one. "So I dare you to let me be your, your one and only, I promise I'm worth it."
Lovesong ~ Is a declaration of how her guy makes her feel when she is near or far. It is a simple but gorgeous track. Strong lyrics and a beautiful melody.
Someone Like You ~ This song reminds me of so many movies I have seen before, as the lyrics played, I keep picturing movies of the same theme. I can see a video for this song. You hear that your ex has moved on and want them " I heard that you're settled down, That you found a girl and you're married now, I heard that your dreams came true, Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you" DAMN but Adele he decided she wants someone else like him "Never mind, I'll find someone like you" and she wishes him the best.
"Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead," one of the realest line ever
I Found A Boy ~ Tells a story that happens everyday you moved on and an ex wants you back "To whisper 'will you leave your man?' and "Look how you want me now that I don't need you!" but she has moved on "Well I found a boy that loves me more, than you ever did you before." OUCH that gotta hurt *Kanye shrug*
21 tells story of relationships overall it starts off rocking but by the end of the cd, Adele finds peace in love. I am 30 and I can relate to every song on this cd. Adele is wise beyond her 22 years and it shows in her music and I can't wait for the next cd.
5 out of 5 stars
21 kicks off with the heart pounding Rolling in the Deep ~ I was so excited when I heard this single it is a epic building track with drums that sounds like claps and she sings "the scars of your love reminds me of us,... the scars of your love leaves me breathless...you had my heart inside of your hands and you played it" I feel like this before over a relationship "we could have had it all" but oh well.
Rumor Has It is an uptempo track produced by Ryan Tedder (Beyonce's Halo and Kelly Clarkson's Already Gone) it is a risk that pays off for Adele.."rumor has it he's the one I 'm leaving you for" HA!
Turning Tables ~ I am guilty of starting arguments in a relationship but after a while it gets old and one person gets fed up and leave and that is what Adele is saying in this track. The song is beautifully written "So I won't let you close enough to hurt me, No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me, I cant give you what you think you gave me, It's time to say goodbye to turning tables, To turning tables"
Don't You Remember ~ Describes a relationship that is in a state of limbo or on a break and she wanders "were she went wrong" and she wants her lover to remember her "once more" and why he loved her.She sounds like she wants another chance and hopefully he comes around.
Set Fire to the Rain ~ After being healed by a guy, Adele discovers he is a liar "But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew, All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true,
And the games you'd play, you would always win, always win," ............and she sent him on his way, but she still thinks of him "Sometimes I wake up by the door, And heard you calling, must be waiting for you, Even that when we're already over, I can't help myself from looking for you, " that reminds me of my ex although I let him go I still thought of him but I set fire to the rain and threw us in an watched it burn.
He Won't Go ~ Take the risk. Period. she sings... "So petrified, I'm so scared to step into this ride,
What if I lose my heart and fail the climb? I won't forgive me if I give up trying,"Two people who can't live without each other and is willing to stay together through the ups and downs. She singing ....."There will be times, we'll try and give it up, Bursting at the seams, no doubt,We'll almost fall apart and burn the pieces, And watch them turn to dust, But nothing will ever taint us." (story of my life right now)
Take It All ~ is piano driven track that speaks to my soul, Adele is examing her relationship... she sings..... "So is it over? Is this really it?You're giving up so easily,I thought you loved me more than this," WOW I hate when a n*gga made me feel like this, all I did and you're willing to let us go so easily..
I'll Be Waiting ~ Adele is waiting for her guy and she will be better, she has matured and she ready to take on this relationship again. she sings...."You know my heart more than I do,
We were the greatest, me and you, But we had time against us, And miles between us,The heavens cried, I know I left you speechless, But now the sky has cleared and it's blue,And I see my future in you,"
One and Only ~ Adele is trying to convince her guy to open up his heart and to let her love him..They both are scared but you can't let your past relationship control the current one. "So I dare you to let me be your, your one and only, I promise I'm worth it."
Lovesong ~ Is a declaration of how her guy makes her feel when she is near or far. It is a simple but gorgeous track. Strong lyrics and a beautiful melody.
Someone Like You ~ This song reminds me of so many movies I have seen before, as the lyrics played, I keep picturing movies of the same theme. I can see a video for this song. You hear that your ex has moved on and want them " I heard that you're settled down, That you found a girl and you're married now, I heard that your dreams came true, Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you" DAMN but Adele he decided she wants someone else like him "Never mind, I'll find someone like you" and she wishes him the best.
"Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead," one of the realest line ever
I Found A Boy ~ Tells a story that happens everyday you moved on and an ex wants you back "To whisper 'will you leave your man?' and "Look how you want me now that I don't need you!" but she has moved on "Well I found a boy that loves me more, than you ever did you before." OUCH that gotta hurt *Kanye shrug*
21 tells story of relationships overall it starts off rocking but by the end of the cd, Adele finds peace in love. I am 30 and I can relate to every song on this cd. Adele is wise beyond her 22 years and it shows in her music and I can't wait for the next cd.
5 out of 5 stars
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Let's Talk About....
Old School Sundays ~Usher - Can U Get Wit It
Damn! How old was Usher here? I love this song, my homie Tay bought me this CD a few years back has a birthday present.
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