Just De

Just De
Just De in Manhattan

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Get yo life!!!

Get yo life! I love that expression. Tamar Braxton sparked something on the inside of me for speaking that little bit of inspiration. “Get yo life!” Powerful. What I think “get yo life” means is pretty simple. Live the life of your dreams. Live the life of your heart. But most importantly, live the life that God has planned for you. What I have learned in the past few months is we often don’t “get our life” because we become distracted. Our faith is tested and often times we get stuck. Instead of getting our life, we get stuck on stupid. Sometimes, we get so discouraged when something doesn’t work out or an obstacle gets in our way and we don’t push ourselves to accomplish our goals. We don’t get our lives because we get complacent and frustrated and overwhelmed. It’s all so exhausting. Minutes roll into hours that roll into days that roll into weeks, months and sadly years. We get frozen. I have neglected this blog and getting my life as of late. I have not done the things that I know in my spirit God has called me to do. I am realizing that life is short on this Earth and there is a specific reason that He has us here. There is a specific reason and plan for each and every one of us to be here. Not just existing and not just taking breath after breath without purpose. It is my decision to find out what exactly it is God wants from me. That is my life’s mission. Hopefully along the way of “getting my life” I will experience many joys and lessons that will influence that cause. The older I get I realize that if I don’t work at constantly getting my life, I know that uncertainty and emptiness will forever fill my time here on this planet. I honestly didn’t think my life would take the path that I have so far, but I also can honestly say I am the reason for how my life has evolved. The words that come out of my mouth and the thoughts that occupy my head are the direct result of me not completely getting my life. I have been off course and it’s been a hard journey. However, I know with God’s continuous grace and mercy, not only “get my life” but I will encourage, inspire and make a positive difference in the lives of others. So how I continue to choose happiness is to invest the time it truly takes to “get my life.” When God gives you a gift and you don’t use it to His glory, you run the risk of not getting your life. Every so-called successful person has managed to embrace that small significant truth. You have to “get yo life” before your life gets you. I encourage my readers to embrace the thought of getting your life. If you have been off course, distracted, uninspired, neglected, mistreated, misunderstood, unappreciated or all of the above, dust yourself off and keep it moving. Like what Bishop T.D. Jakes and many grandmothers have said “eat the meat, leave the bones but keep it moving.” If you don’t, nothing in your life will fall into place. Not only will you not “get yo life”, but life will surely get you. Don’t let that happen. Don’t miss out on your destiny. Don’t stay unfocused and distracted. There is so much greatness out there for each of us. All of those who dare to go out and “get yo life.”

Monday, April 30, 2012

Z is for the end.

And I thought the letter X was difficult to write about. But Z? The final letter in the alphabet. The final blog that I have to post for this challenge. I feel a little disappointed because I wanted to go out with a bang. I even asked my Facebook buddies to help me think of a great topic. I heard many good suggestions. Zenith, Zebra print, Zodiac signs, Zen. All of those were really good suggestions.
But I really couldn't think of anything that would sum up what this experience meant to me. It's been great and I can't think of an appropriate word that starts with Z to express my feelings. I think Z is is a beautiful letter. But I still couldn't think of a great Z word to end this part of my blog. I feel that this has been a very good experience for me. If anything, I learned how to come up with something to say, whether it was the best I have ever written or not. I learned to be disciplined. I knew I had to post something everyday, and it had to be within the rules of the challenge. It kept me on my toes. I learned how to write tired. I learned how to write upset. I learned how to write uninspired. I got a lot of positive feedback, but I also got some negative reactions too. I lost a couple of Facebook friends. (Kinda glad, tell you the truth. They beat me to the delete button, lol.) I got a little backlash on language. It's all good. People are entitled to their opinions. And so am I. And while I will admit I am going to take a little break from writing in this blog for a minute, I will be back. With more structure and tons of new creative ideas. I want to thank a friend of mine from High School who encouraged me to participate in this experience. I also want to take time to thank everyone who took time out to read me. I really appreciate it!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Y is for Youth

I am actually at the age where I am not young. That's not to say that I claim old just yet, but I acknowledge that I am not a spring chicken. Youth is one of the most coveted things in this life. When you are young, you feel as if you can conquer the world. No obstacle seems too complicated and time seems like an infinite thing. Nothing seems as real or permanent and choices are endless. Usually it's in youth where people make the most mistakes in life, but those same mistakes are often times are the same ones that dictate the rest of your life.

Friday, April 27, 2012

X is for XOXOXOXO

I love hugs and kisses! I love to give them and I love to receive them. Even if hugs and kisses are in a letter or a text or a Facebook post, they are one of the most special ways to give love.
I struggled with what to write about for today's letter of X. I mean what is there to write about. X-rays? That's about the only word that I can think of that truly starts with an X. Or like a friend of mine mentioned, Xanax. But seriously who wants to hear about Xanax? Sometimes I could use some Xanax but seriously, not a good enough topic to approach. LOL. So I had to improvise. XOXO is universal. Most people know what the expression XOXO means. According to Wikipedia, XOXO is a term used for expressing affection or good friendship at the end of a written letter, email or SMS text message. The common custom of placing X's on envelopes, notes and at the bottom of letters to mean kisses dates back to the Medieval Ages, when a cross was drawn on documents or letters to mean sincerity and honesty. Many times XOXO is used to end a Valentine or a love letter, but now, XOXO is a common expression in a text, email or post. I want to take time out to give all those who take time to view my blog or write a comment to show support, a big XOXO. It's my way of saying thank you and I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to give me some love. So here is a little love back. XOXO.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

W is for Who Does That?

This is just ridiculous. There is no other way to describe this latest piece of news. There is a woman in New York who faked cancer in order to get her dream wedding. WTH! Who does that? Are you serious? I personally took this way more personal than I should have for several reasons. Mainly because I was personally touched by cancer in my family a few times. My paternal grandmother died of breast cancer. One of my best friend's had a form of cervical cancer. And my sister had a serious form of bone cancer. Point is: Cancer is no joke.
I could not believe that a person would take such a serious disease that effects millions of people everyday and turn it into something that she could unfairly benefit from. I mean really. Obviously this woman has no knowledge or idea of how truly devastating cancer really is. If you are the unlucky person diagonosed with the disease, then you know how scary it is and how fragile your life then becomes. If you are a family member of someone with the disease, you know how equally scary it is to be faced with the outcome of losing a precious family member way too soon.
To be fair, there's still two sides to every story. I can tell you that being a woman of a certain age who is unmarried and wants to get married, sometimes fear does play apart in some actions. Some woman do things to hurt themselves to jump the broom with a potential partner. They do things like settle for a good candidate instead of waiting for their soulmate (whatever that means, lol) or they even stoop as low as faking a pregnancy (which is bad, bad, bad and is in the same vicinity of low as faking a terminal illness in my opinion). But fake cancer. Lawd have mercy. People will do anything these days to get a ring. I can't imagine how this woman thought her plan would actually work. I mean sure, she received a dream wedding. She got the perfect dress, the perfect ring, the perfect venue and even the perfect honeymoon. But she also received divorce papers from her perfect husband. That's probably the only thing she deserved. This woman did the right thing by pleading guilty to these charges. Well, that is a start. But what kind of punishment does she deserve? Well I am not God or a law official so I'm really not qualified to say what her punishment should be. Paying back the money? Definitely. But what else can be done to make amends to such a crime? Perhaps she should visit families who recently lost someone to cancer. Maybe she should be in the room when someone gets that life changing diagnosis and see what it's like to hear those words "You have cancer." Maybe this young lady should sit in on a chemo therapy session when the patient gets too weak to even blink their eyes or form words to speak. Maybe she would go home with a cancer patient and see what it's like to be so sick and dehydrated from throwing up that you can't even think about how to go on. Then again those ideas aren't good choices because they would inflict pain on sick cancer ridden people. But this woman needs to learn a lesson on how serious her actions were. I just hope she did learn her lesson and that cancer isn't the karma that she suffers from one day. Be it herself or a loved one. Why? Because I personally wouldn't wish cancer on anyone. Not even my worst enemy. Not even someone like her.

V is for Victory

I am very happy that I decided to participate in the A-Z blog challenge. It's been an interesting journey. I have to admit that next year I will have a definite game plan, but all in all I am feeling victorious! April has always been my favorite month of the year for many reasons. It's the month of my birth and the first full month of Spring, my favorite season. This April has been especially busy for me trying to keep it all together because I have been working a full-time job and also a freelance as well trying to put something together for this blog. While some of the post feature better writing experiences than others, I will say this. I absolutely have challenged myself to think of new and creative ideas each and everyday. I am getting back into the swing of things again. That also makes me feel victorious. The feedback that I am getting is amazing. Even if people don't leave a comment for me or even if they don't read the entire post each day, I am aware that people are reading my work! That is the best possible compliment for a writer, people that take time out of their lives for a few moments to read what I actually wrote. That is humbling. I totally plan to participate in this challenge next year, God willing. But in the meantime, this challenge has inspired me to keep this blog going on a regular basis. While I admit I don't have the time to write everyday, I have been challenged to write more thought out, detailed post. Thank you again for your support and I look forward to taking this blog to the next level!!!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

U is for Ugly as in God don't like Ugly

I was reading the newspaper and I came across this story that really made me shake my head. There was a local who decided to donate a kidney to help her sick boss who needed a kidney transplant. How did this boss reward the woman for her good deed? She fired her!!! Don't get me wrong, we all have done things to make sure our boss liked us. Maybe we worked an extra shift on our weekend off so the boss could attend his/her child's softball game. We may have sprung for coffee and doughnuts for the early morning meeting. We may even have taken the heat for the boss just to keep the peace in the world of office politics. But donate a kidney!?!?!? And then get fired shortly after doing so???? That is unreal.
Just to be clear, there are two sides to every story. As a journalist, as a citizen, it is my job to explore the possibilities. Maybe the worker who donated her kidney only did it for job security and was really a slacker who wanted something for nothing. Maybe she was chronically late, constantly missed her sales quota and was not a great person to be around. Maybe the employee was not a good fit for the organization and nothing was going to change that, not even a kidney transplant. But I have to wonder how someone in management, who basically was given a second chance at life from a person, has the courage to terminate that same person's employment. All based on the worker not being feeling well, being sick after an operation to help save your life? How does a person live with themselves? The only thing I can think of is, "God don't like ugly." I wrote about karma in a recent blog, and I truly believe that we are all held accountable for our actions. God knows the truth in every situation and I have a firm belief that we all pay for mistreatment of others. In some way shape or form. For example, if the woman who donated the kidney did it for selfish reasons, then obviously the way she is being treated is her karma. But honestly, I can't see much selfishness in donating a kidney to someone else to save a life all the while putting your life in danger.
I just hope this woman can feel good that she helped someone extend their life and that she should feel good in knowing that the good seed she's sown has not gone overlooked. And hopefully she can get some peace and a better job!

T is for Time

My time is so valuable. Everyone's time is. And lately I feel as if I don't have much of it. So T is for time, something that I need to manage better. So hopefully today I will have more time to use on this my passion, my blog. Many apologizes for not managing my time better. Here's to hoping!!!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

S is for Stupid

Stupid. Some people are just plain stupid. Let me clarify. Some people's actions are plain stupid. When you look to what is in the news today, people are just stupid.
For example, the three men in Australia who went out for a weekend of fun, somehow ended up with a penguin from Sea World in their possession. After a night of drunken fun, they didn't know how the animal got there. WOW. Really!?! Well at least the penguin was unharmed and safely returned. But that was just stupid. The recent developments involving the Secret Service men and Columbian prostitutes. How in the world are men who are supposed to be guarding the leader of the Free World caught hanging out with prostitutes on the job? OMG. And one of the agents even posted a questionable Facebook comment about Sarah Palin and "checking her out" on the job!!! STUPID. I mean I would never post anything about my job on FB good, bad or otherwise. How STUPID can you be?
I mentioned this before in a previous post, but the Maryland fast-food worker who claimed to be one of the winners of the Mega-Millions jackpot. So, this lady claimed to have won the prize solo, even though she was in charge of a office pool. Then after outrage from her now former co-workers and heat from the media, she claimed to have lost the winning ticket. STUPID! Didn't this woman know that the real winners would step forward and claim the prize. That's exactly what happened too. The Three Amigos are three happy friends indeed.
The point of this post is: please try not to be stupid. I know it's easier said than done. But really people, lately in the news, a lot of stupid stuff has been happening. In the age of social media, blogging, cellphone cameras and twitter, anything you said and do will be reported and held against you!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

R is for Really?

Every so often, a new buzz word or catch phrase dominates everyday conversation. Lately I find myself being stuck on the word "Really?" When I say really, usually it's in a high pitch annoying voice. "REALLY?!?" It basically says in a roundabout why, "No kidding," or "You have got to be kidding me that you think I am too stupid to realize that. I can't believe this is happening or that you are so stupid that you actually telling me this." Or I can't believe that this situation is actually happening, exc. I like catch phrases. I use them a lot. I'm not the most hype person I know, but I still use the catch phrase of "just sayin." I know, it's so 2009. But I believe it still makes the statement I am aiming for. Shock and sarcasm. I use the expression "Really," for a lot of things. If someone cuts me off while driving. I don't give them the finger (it's not very Christian-like and besides, this is New York. Someone might want to follow up with me. lol)instead I might yell at them (with my window rolled up of course) REALLY!?!?!?!. If someone does something shady to me and I learn of it, again, I don't go off on them blatantly, but I might respond with the ever popular, "REALLY!?!" This expression is classic. People know that you mean business, yet it's not too offensive. Well, most of the time it's not offensive. You get the satisfaction of exploding, yet nobody going to necessarily kill you for your sarcasm. I encourage you all to try it a few times. As a single woman of a certain age, the next time someone tells me that I am getting older and that if I want a family of my own one day, and that I better get moving, I plan to look them straight in the eyes and simply respond with "REALLY!!!???" Or if someone gives me obvious advice about something trivial, the response will be "REALLY!!!!" Try it. It's healing. It's a great form of therapy. It's short and to the point and trust me, people know exactly where you are coming from after you say it!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Q is for Queens, New York


I think my fascination with Queens began when I first saw the movie "Coming to America." In this comedy classic, Prince Akeem, played by Eddie Murphy, comes to America in quest for his princess. What better place to find a woman who is fit for a future king than Queens. And I have to agree. The borough of Queens is filled with things of charm and beauty, not just the abundance of queens-to-be.

For me, Queens is the most logical borough in New York City. It is the borough I visit the most. I live on Long Island so if I want to go anywhere off the island, I have to venture through Queens. And I don't mind. I love the thrill of leaving LI and entering the hustle and bustle of Queens when you enter the City.

Despite the depiction in "Coming to America", Queens is not all that bad. I mean sure, there are places in Queens where I don't particularly care to visit, but that could happen anywhere. As a girl from the Detroit area, I know all too well about undesirable neighbors. And I also know about the beauty of certain communities.

I used to spend a lot of time in Queens. I worked a hop, skip and a jump from the borough so I have had many a meal in Queens. A good friend of mine lives in Queens and I used to go to Shea Stadium to catch the Mets play ball. Like I said, Queens is the most logical borough. (To me, Brooklyn is the coolest, sorry.)

But the thing I like about Queens the most is the culture. Just about anything you want to do in life can be done in Queens. Some of the best museums, shopping, restaurant and nightlife can be found in Queens. And, I just love it!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

P is for Procrastination






I am the world's biggest procrastinator. I am the biggest one.

Even with this blog I procrastinated. All day. It wasn't until about five minutes ago that I decided on a subject that began with the letter "P".


Procrastination. It truly is the thief of time. When you procrastinate, you truly lose so much effort in the thought of accomplishing a task. I remember in college I would wait until the last minute to do homework or write a term-paper. When I worked for a major daily newspaper, I looked at the deadline as a challenge. How much could I procrastinate and still manage to get a decent story done and on time?

There is a thrill about procrastination. Or at least I thought so until someone told me that procrastination is a form or arrogance and pride. It is saying tha people or circumstances should wait on me, because I am so important. Basically when you procrastinate, you are telling others that people need to dance to your tune and not the other way around.


I try not to procrastinate as much, but it's a learned behavior. I have to train myself not to do it. I am working on it because I am a work in progress. I want to work on this today, but if I don't, I promise to start it tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

O is for Options, cause we all have them





Options, options, options.

We all have them people. And guess what? Most of us don't think that we do. I personally think if we thought about how many options we really have in life then we would be better off. For example, many of us struggle with jobs we don't like or relationships that no longer work. The reason that we run the course with those situations is because we don't realize the magnitude of our options. We feel trapped and we feel like there is no other way to be, other than that particular situation.

I am as guilty as the next person. For years I was in wrong relationships, took jobs that I didn't want and dealt with situations that really didn't work. Granted sometimes in life you have to do what you have to do. Sometimes the option that is presented to you is the best one at the time even if you don't like it. It is what it is. But I have learned, or shall I say I am learning that we all have options. It's our jobs as human beings to try and better a situation and once we do that, our options are better and plentiful. I wish I knew the secret formula of what that is. But I don't. I am still learning how to maximize my options.

Life isn't always fair, it isn't always secure and it isn't always nice. But one thing I do know is that it isn't without options. Yes, options change with circumstance, but options are always there.

That's just how I see it.

N is for Nurse Jackie


I love Nurse Jackie. It is one of my favorite Sunday night treats. If I miss it on Sunday night, I watch it over and over again on Showtime on Demand. I have even stored an app on my phone that allows me to take Nurse Jackie anywhere I go. I love the show and I think Edie Falco and the rest of the cast is brilliant.

My interest in Edie Falco started in the late 90s when she starred as Carmela Soprano in the Sopranos. I always thought she was such a powerful actress with depth. And in her latest series is no different.

Nurse Jackie is an emergency room nurse living two different lives. One the one hand she is a amazing nurse with the perfect mix of bedside manner and witt. One the other hand she is addicted to prescription drugs and cheating on her husband with a co-worker who happens to be the hospital pharmacist. The storyline is non-stop action. Add in a talent cast of Dr. Cooper, Dr. O'Hara, Nurse Zoe, and Eddie, the said pharmacist, then you have a television gold. I'm just glad I decided to give this show a chance. It's definitely worth giving up space on my DVR.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

M is for Money

I'm gonna make this one short and sweet.

Money sucks.




Don't get me wrong, I would love to have an abundance of money. It would make my financial life better. Things would be easier. If I were independently wealthy, not only would I have the freedom to do what I choose and go where I want to go. But I would also have the freedom to say whatever I wanted to people.

For example, you ever notice how some rich people are extremely rude. Not all rich people, I mean not every rich person is a jerk. But some are. And that are I have to admit, I am impressed. I'm impressed as much as I am irritated because these people have the balls to say exactly what is one their minds. Sometimes too much of whatever is on their mind. Rude rich people don't have the fear of offending someone so much that a job is loss or an opportunity is shut down. They just speak whatever they want to come out of their mouth, without fear of consequences.

Don't get me wrong, if someone gave me a lot of money, or if I won a lottery jackpot worth millions, I'm not giving it back. Better believe that. But I wouldn't be a jerk either. I promise. Now anyone who doesn't believe me, just hand over millions and let me prove it to you.

Friday, April 13, 2012

L is for LOL

I have a love/hate relationship with the expression LOL. For those of you who don't know what LOL means or what it stands for, it simply means laugh out loud or laughing out loud.


We see the expression everywhere. In e-mails, text messages, in many of the Facebook posts that we read, we even speak it in several goofy conversations on the phone. LOL is truly a blessing and a curse. And it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

And I'm as guilty as the next person. I use the expression in a text or in a FB post probably everyday, several times a day. I love LOL. It's the easiest way to soften the blow in text or a post that might be taken as harsh or insensitive. Tell the truth. How many times has someone said something to you via text or FB post that has pissed you off causing you to write a nasty response followed by and LOL?

It's as if writing a LOL excuses a nasty or insulting response. How many times have to used the LOL in order to get your point across to someone in the hopes that it doesn't sever the relationship altogether? I've done it. More times that I care to admit to. If you don't like an opinion or a statement someone says, let them know. But make sure you add an LOL behind the statement. It is the easiest way to cover up your "true" feelings. They say the truth is often told in form of a joke. That is so true. That's probably why people use and overuse the expression LOL.

So the next time you use a LOL ask yourself why you are? Is it because you are really laughing out loud? Or is it because you are laughing out loud because you can finally get your point across without the backlash of insult? For me, it's probably a little bit of both. LOL :)

Thursday, April 12, 2012

K is for Karma as in Karma is a B**ch!!!

I have to apologize in advance for the language I am going to use. But I absolutely love the expression Karma is a bitch! Why? Because it's so true. I mean how many times has someone done something over the top to you and all you can think is "you'll get yours because karma is a bitch and so are you!"



We've all heard the expressions. "What goes around, comes around", "You reap what you sow," "What goes up must come back down" and I think even the saying from the Bible is applicable in this case. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I think each and every one of these saying speaks the truth in volumes. I really do believe that we are all held accountable for all of our actions. But that doesn't mean that all of our bad behavior will be greeted with bad reactions in response. No, I believe that when good is done to you, something good is bound to happen to you as well.


I try to treat people the way that I want to be treated because I know the Universe allows us to feel the same way we once made someone else feel. So I try to be careful on how I treat others. I remember when my ex-boyfriend started dating someone else and never bothered to tell me, just let me figure it out after I saw the pictures of them kissing on Facebook. It was funny because his wife (yep, they eventually did get married...all under a year's time, but that's another topic) wrote me an email and said she thought that I was a good person, because she had a similar thing happen to her (yet, she did the same thing to me, again another topic... lol) and she totally lost it on the girl. Well not to say that I didn't have a reaction to what happened, but I did decide not to "do anything." I figured that the situation will work itself out and I know all too well about karma. I'm not sure if it's the right thing to focus on, but that was the main reason I didn't do a lot of what I wanted to do. I knew that it was in God's hand and He will work on my behalf. I thought about the situation and I knew that whatever I did, karma would hold me accountable and I would have to pay for it eventually or if I behaved in a decent way, karma would reward my actions. I decided to do the latter.

Believe it or not, I really did make peace with my ex and his wife. They are my FB friends (maybe they won't be after this post, who knows). I did all of that because I truly do forgive both of them, even if I can't forget what happened. And I really do wish them well. I believe they are made for each other because they are the same type of people. I truly believe the best revenge is being happy and living an awesome life. And so far, that's exactly what I have been doing.

The situation also taught me about how things will eventually turn out just the way it is supposed to. I was never supposed to be in a marriage with my ex so it doesn't matter to me who he ends up with. I am cautious about how I treat this situation, because I know how I treat it, karma will pay me back several fold.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

J is for Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious and Jealous

I just don't get it. What have I been doing with my life? If I would have known that I could be a multi-millionaire for partying, drinking and clubbing, I may have given more thought about making it a career option beyond my college days.




Every time I turn on the television, it seems to be a new reality show on the airwaves that glorify drinking, partying and of course gym, tanning and laundry. And it seems that such shows are always based in New Jersey. WTH? Is there something about the social scene in the Garden State that has escaped me? I went to college for five years, racked up thousands of dollars in student loan debt, and I still work two jobs in order to make ends meet every month. Deirdre is not a household name, I don't write for any major entertainment publications let alone grace the cover of such media jewels. But yet if I were a partying, drinking, gym, tanning, and laundry doing-socialite living in New Jersey, I too could be in the living rooms of American homes poorly influencing the youth of American just like these folks.


The reason I bring this subject to the forefront is simple. I am jealous. And yes, I know that jealousy is one of the seven deadly sins. But let me explain the root of my envy. I am jealous of these reality television stars who get paid ungodly amounts of money just to be filmed living "everyday life" or going to the gym, tanning and doing laundry. It absolutely hurts my feelings because they give the impression that such sloppy living is okay and and will be glorified. In the real world, such poor behavior is not acceptable.

But as much as it hurts my feelings, I have to admit that I am a loyal view that watches the show every week. My two favorite shows from Jersey are Jersey Shore and Jerseylicious because they absolutely make my day and thoroughly entertain me.


And can you blame me? As much as it really ticks me off that these people make millions of dollars every year for partying and showing off their perfectly juiced bodies and tan-lines, I admit I watch regularly. It's like watching a train wreck most episodes, but I just can't turn away. When Ronnie and Sammi were going through their relationship drama, I found myself yelling at the television giving them advice to sever ties as if they could actually hear me. Every granade Situation, Vinny or Pauly have brought home, I have voiced my opinion loudly and clearly with disgust. And now that Snookie is pregnant? I can't wait to see what happens next.


It just broke my heart that Frankie and Gigi broke up for good on Jerseylicious. The seemingly perfect couple finally decided to go their own seperate ways after trying to live with each other at first. It's so sad when love goes sour. I know that reality television is anything but real, but it's still sad nonetheless. I stayed tuned to this Jersey Jewel just to see how many times Olivia and Tracy can fight in one scene. I can totally relate to wanting to beat the hell out of a co-worker who always tries to start drama everyday on the job. It's probably why I love the show so much. It's totally something we all can relate to.


I know I am sounding like a bit of a hypocrite by criticizing and praising these shows at the same time. But all I can say is, I wish I knew I could be a star based on "everyday living." Maybe then I wouldn't want to move to New Jersey.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I is for Iphone

Everywhere I turn, I see someone with an Iphone. At the grocery store, nail salon, on the subway and in the mall all I see is Iphone, Iphone, Iphone. And I never thought that I would say this, but I love it!


Since getting the Iphone a few months ago, I have turned myself into a Iphone junkie. The first thing that I do in the morning is check my phone for messages, weather updates, Facebook notifications, missed calls and the latest balance of my bank account. You can even have Siri, my personal assistant remind me of what my schedule is going to be like for the day. Who is Siri? Well she is a friend in my head who keeps me organized and entertained. Not sure about the weather? I just ask Siri what the forecast is going to be like. Not sure where a decent restaurant is located? Siri will tell me where the best Sushi Bar in town is located no matter where I go. I can even speak my text messages into my phone and have them sent to my friends and family. Even when I am driving. No texting and driving for me. The Iphone is amazing.


The Iphone has truly spoiled me. My regular 9-5 is selling cell phones and I am around every type of phone that there is. My first smartphone was a BlackBerry. And while I loved that phone back in the day, I have to admit I can't see myself going back to BB. As much as I like the BBIM, FaceTime on the Iphone clearly trumps it. Mostly everyone who had a BlackBerry has converted to Iphone and that's one of the reasons why. It's the coolest thing in the world to carry on a conversation with someone and look at them while talking. Even though I have to be properly dressed and made up to chat, it is a refreshing treat to make face contact with someone you love.

Another thing that has drawn me to the Iphone is the ease of using the phone. The Iphone is probably the most user friendly device out there in the world cell phones right now. You can teach your grandmother how to use this phone and believe me, I have taught several older customers how to properly use the Iphone. They love it and so do I.




I have to admit, my love affair with the Iphone is fairly new and I used to be in love with an Android device. I loved my Android and in a lot of ways, I can see myself getting another Android in the future because it is a very solid operating system. Some of the features that you can't do on the Iphone, you can do on an Android. For example, Iphone doesn't have flash available on it, but on Android it does. However, I am still sold on the Iphone because quick frankly apart of the appeal is the status symbol. For the longest time, people were considered cool if you had an Iphone. That's still the case. Many people hate the Iphone for that reason. Say what you want to about the Iphone, but I think it's definitely the device that changed the game in communication. It's what the cool kids have and doggone it, I want to be considered one of the cool kids. LOL.

The only downside to owning an Iphone, especially in a place like New York, is the fact that it can get stolen right out of your hands. I guess that could happen anywhere, right? But it's like a major concern here. Thieves will approach you on the subway or on the street while walking and snatch the phone right out of your hands. Scandalous! Good thing that I have the "Find my Iphone app" installed on my phone and I can track it with my Ipad. Yep, I have one of those too. So muggers beware!!!

All in all, I feel like I have a friend in my Iphone. (Don't judge me, many of you have a similar relationship with your cell phones). It keeps me connected with my friends and family. I am in touch with all my FB and Twitter peeps. I can download music, movies and television shows. I find out about the latest news with the many publications and news outlet who get me constant notifications. I can check the latest sports score at the blink of an eye. I can even read the Holy Bible on the Iphone. What's better than that? Yep, the Iphone is amazing.

But as much as I enjoy my new cellular toy, I will never be a Fanboy camping outside a store for hours the night before a new version of the device launches. There is definitely something I love much more than my Iphone and that is SLEEP!

Monday, April 9, 2012

H is for Hometown and I sure love mine!

I am proud to say I am a girl from the midwest. I'm a girl from Michigan. The Mitt. The Motor City. Motown. And I can't say how important it is to represent my city well at all times.

I have to be clear however. While I claim Detroit is my hometown, I have to admit I come from the suburbs. I was raised in a town called Clinton Township, Michigan. Back in the day, it was referred to as Mount Clemens. While Mt. Clemens is actually a town all its own, this was before the maps had defined Clinton Township to its current distinction.

I grew up on Quinn Road, right off of 15 Mile Road and Gratiot. It was a very nice community with a variety of people from different walks of life. There were business professionals, blue-collar workers and young families everywhere. The type of environment I was raised in was people who cared about the community and had a certain amount of pride about the surroundings.

The thing I love about growing up in this place is the type of love and pride that I still have for this neighborhood. Many of my friends and family still live in my hometown with families and new accomplishment all their own. I still refer to it as "Growing Up on 15 Mile." While Eminem's movie "8 Mile" showed the love he has for Detroit, it's the best way I can describe my love for "15 Mile." There is only about seven miles that separate Detroit from my beloved Clinton Township and many true Detroiters say that they are worlds apart. I disagree. The similarities are much more apparent than the differences. I went to church in Detroit every Sunday and have a full knowledge of what life was like in the D. And from what I can recall, but places have a sense of pride and purpose and love of community.

Now that I have moved away to New York of all places, I still have a special place in my heart for 15 Mile, Quinn Road and Motown.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

G is for Glad

Ever since I decided to participate in this A-Z blog challenge, I decided to take my passion, writing, to the next level. No matter how much time I have and no matter how much I struggle with the next topic, I would write consistently and with purpose.

Well today, I am writing about being glad. I am glad about so many things. I am glad that I have a lovely and supportive family that are in good health and spirit. I am glad that I am gainfully employed with a job that affords me a nice place to live, a car to drive and food to eat. I am glad to have wonderful friends in my life that listen to my ups, downs and everything in between.

I am glad for second chances. As a Christian, I am glad that I recognize that God is a forgiving and merciful God and that we are so fortunate to experience His love and grace.

I am glad that I moved back to New York after a brief two-year hiatus back to my home state of Michigan. I am glad that I was able to pick up where I left off with friends and a job. I am glad that New York would have me back.

One of the things I am most glad about these days is the fact that I am writing again. I'm not doing anything heavy-hitting or Earth-shaking, yet, but it feels good to be back in the game.

Friday, April 6, 2012

F is for Fun, Facebook, Fakeness and Friendships

I promise I will be nice today. It's my birthday and I feel I owe it to myself and God to behave :)




But today, I want to talk about Facebook. I have mentioned in a previous blog a couple of years ago that FB is the devil! No disrespect to Mark Zuckerberg because I think the billionaire was a genius when he thought of this social media creation. But FB does have a very dark and not so fun side to it when not used properly.

Like I mentioned before, I love FB. I love finding old friends and rekindling old friendship from grade school, high school, college, church, old jobs and other places where various people have entered and exited my life over the years. My FB reunions have led to countless hours of messaging, talking over the phone, and in person encounters that were plain ole fun.

But there were other times that FB actually sucked. I was broken up with on FB, or shall I say I found out my former boyfriend was dating someone else, moved her in to his place and was engaged all in a matter of weeks. The coward didn't even have the courage to tell me in person, he just started posting pictures of him and his new flame kissing on FB. Classy, right?

Also, I found out about the dynamic of a friendship that I now refer to as a fake friendship on FB. This person is now blocked and I always referred to her as a frenemy, but FB was the medium in which I discovered the true nature of this relationship.

I also realized how fake FB really is. A good friend of mine and I were talking about FB and said it was like one endless high school reunion. Just about everyone on there will only show their lives in a way that is happy, positive and wants to make you jealous. It's all so exhausting. Not to say that I am going to post about me having a bad day or me in a photo that isn't flattering or tell you all about a time that I rather forget, but I do try to keep it real. In fact, when I am in a relationship, I try not to mention it too much on FB. Why? Because it's personal. Me and my significant other have agreed to not spill to much about our relationship on FB. I may or may not be in a relationship right now. Who knows? LOL. I have nothing to prove to anyone!!!

The fakeness of FB is down right amusing. Not to sound like a hater, cause I am sure certain people will take it this way, but I love to read post that over the top about how perfect their romance, marriage, job or life is at the time. Like I mentioned before, I wouldn't post how unhappy I am often either, but happy 24/7. Come on. Sounds to me like they are trying to convince everyone including themselves.




Or the most amusing, when couple write to each other 24/7 how happy and in love they are on FB. Really? Then why the need to post it on FB? Who you trying to convince, yourselves or former boyfriends and girlfriends!!! LOL. If the relationship is so loving and stable, then it wouldn't have the undertone of insecurity and immaturity coming from the ridiculous post. Some classless people even post about their sex lives or post sexual innuendos on FB. When they are called out about it, they some it up to an inside joke or they tell people to lighten up. Or equally amusing, the FB poser who posts about celebrity parties and events and probably haven't even stepped foot on a red carpet let alone know the host of such an event. I could go on and on.

I am pretty sure I have ticked off a few people. Maybe I will lose some FB friends over this, but like I said, I like to keep it real. I love FB, I really do, but I am well aware of its potential for destruction relationships, jobs and self-esteem. I try to view it and read what's on it with a grain of salt.

In the end, it's just like being in high school all over again.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

E is for Emoticons


When I was thinking about a blog idea for the letter E, I had a hard time narrowing my choices down. My Facebook family was very gracious in giving me excellent ideas. Easter, employment, eggs, electricity, emotional intimacy, energy, empathy, elections, education, epiphany, ethnicity on baseball's opening day, and a few others. I really appreciate the support and the variety of feedback.

One of the ones that stuck out to me, was the suggestion by an ex-boyfriend of mine. He suggested that I write about the very popular form of text messaging expressions called emoticons.

Emoticons, or emotes for short, are funny and cool smiley icons used for email, IM, FB, text messaging and chat. I personally use emotes way more than I should and for a long time I was annoyed by the presence of emotes.
For example, is it okay to get a particularly offensive text message or email, followed by a :). Does it take the harsh undertone of the message away ? And what exactly does it mean when someone responds with a :/ or :D? I learned that the first is a straight face and the other is a big smile.

Ever since converting to the IPhone, I too have been a fan of the new emotes available on the latest Apple device. Sometimes using an emote is easier than saying, "You make me happy" or "I want to kiss you" or "I'm winking at you."

Either way, to hear those sentiments every once in a while is still a good thing!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

D: Divorce. I didn't even see this one coming!!!

I am in shock!

I just found out that NBA baller Charlie Bell and his wife Kenya are getting divorced!!! This really hit me hard because these are people who are around my age and two people that I actually went to college with. Yeah, I know I shouldn't be shocked when two celebrities split, but this is different. Charlie Bell was one on the beloved Flintstones from the Michigan State basketball team. He's one of us, one of the regular folk, always such a nice guy. And Kenya, was a girl from the D. Smart, beautiful and down to earth. Or at least she seemed to be back in the day. They were as close as the perfect couple as you can get in the world of celebrity. Or at least I thought.

While I didn't know Charlie and Kenya personally, I do remember bumping into them on the campus of Michigan State University. They seemed so happy each time I saw them together. And on the few occasions that I saw Charlie out at a campus party or out with his boys, no matter how many girls tried to turn his head, it was clear that his heart was already spoken for. That's why I can't believe that their fairy tale romance is over.

Then again, lots of marriages fail. Some of my closest friends have had failed marriages. Some of my family members had failed marriages. Even my parents marriage, after 31 years, sadly failed. It's a sobering stat, but it's an unfortunate truth.

In recent months, several celebrity couples who seemed like they would be together forever have called it quits. Heidi Klum and Seal; Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Laine; Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli; Arnold Schwarzeneggar and Maria Shriver; Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher; Katy Perry and Russell Brand. And who can forget about Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. While we all knew the Kardashian nuptials were probably doomed, no one would have envisioned the sham would have lasted only 72 days.


The common theme in all of these unions is each couple gave the image of unbridled bliss. And I am sure they were all very happy at the time. But unfortunately if people get together for the wrong reasons, no matter how happy they appear on the red carpet, in the media or even on Facebook, they will not last. The more couples try to convince everyone of their happiness, the more unhappy and unstable the relationship usually is. Being happy doesn't require a lot of convincing, it just is. People can only keep up an image for so long and when the honeymoon phase is over, usually the marriage will be too.

I sometimes get frustrated because I am woman of a certain age and unmarried, but maybe that's not such a bad thing. In this day and age, maybe being single and waiting for the right situation is the way to go. But at the end of the day, I still believe in marriage! And I always will.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

C is for Common Courtesy

What is wrong with the world? Have people lost their minds? Have people lost their morals? Did they ever have them in the first place? I remember when I has a little girl, good manners were something that were instilled in me at a very early age. My parents, born and raised Southerners, were very quick to hold me and my older sister accountable for not being polite. There were very specific rules in our house growing up. We were not allowed to answer an adult with saying "what" or a response less flattering. We were not allowed to enter a room with adult people without introducing ourselves and if a grown person dropped something on the ground, it was our job as the younger body to pick it. May seem silly today, but these were just a few of the common courtesy tidbits we were supposed to be aware of at all times.



My very fine home training and upbringing led me down the road of gratefulness recently when I read about the woman who won part of the recent $640,000,000 jackpot in the lottery. This woman was part of an office pool, or shall I say, work pool that put money together in effort to win the grand prize jackpot. Needless to say when she said she won the grand prize with a ticket that she purchased on her own, I was as outraged as many that she decided to exclude her McDonalds co-workers. It's very hard to imagine that the tickets that she purchased with her fellow fast-food workers weren't part of the lucky ticket that won the pot. I guess I have a problem with her selfish attitude that her co-workers shouldn't expect any of the winnings especially since it is difficult to distinguish which ticket was purchased with pool money and which was purchased with her own. Honestly speaking, and I can confidently say this, I would share the money with the workers. Especially since the it is impossible to determine which ticket was for the "pool" and which one was hers and hers alone.


I was a part of an office pool and I was very fortunate. We drew up an agreement, photocopied all the tickets and all planned to share the millions of dollars at stake if our numbers came in. I also bought tickets on my own. Now, if I won with the outside tickets, not saying I would have split the winnings the way I would have if the numbers were on the pool purchased tickets. But I would have given my co-workers a generous consolation prize. No kidding. After all, it's all about common courtesy. I know it seems easy to judge what we would do in a situation like this, but I honestly believe if people practiced common courtesy and politeness a little more often, the right thing to do would be second nature.

Monday, April 2, 2012

B: Bridesmaids, Blessings, Birthday

I was having a lackluster day and I decided to just chill out and watch some feel good t.v. Much to my surprise, the blockbuster comedy Bridesmaids came on one of my premium cable channels. I love that movie because it says it all. For someone who is of a certain age, single, childless, and not where I want to be professionally, I can totally relate to the storyline.


To recap the plot, this is the story of another woman of a certain age who has to deal with the fact that she is not where she thought would be in this stage of her life. She is standing up in her best friend's wedding where she is forced to play second fiddle to another woman competing to be her best friend's new best friend. After a series of hysterical events, the woman comes to terms with being single, being unemployed and being happy to be who she is at this point of her life. And after that realization, she realizes to just enjoy the journey and look forward to the rest of the ride that life has to offer.

This week is my birthday. It is not a milestone birthday and it's one that I'm determined to stay happy that I am it's another one that I'm blessed to hopefully see. Being single, childless and working at a job that is not my career, I learned that I have a choice on how to view this particular stage in life. I can be mad at myself or at God because I don't have that husband, children and white picket fence that I have envisioned for myself. Or I can thank God for the place I am in life and look forward to all the blessings that are yet to come. I don't have those things yet. How I am choosing happiness is: I am choosing the latter. I still feel like that 17-year-old girl with alot of hopes and dreams ahead of her and I am sure she is proud of the 30-something woman I have become. (a lady never tells her real age :)) While I still believe in the fairy tale, I am thankful for all the blessings and lessons that I have experienced so far in life. And most of all, I am thankful for the people I do have in my life.

A couple of years ago, I went through a pretty tramatic breakup and I went to restaurant with my best friend where I met an amazing waiter. He told me that things happen for a reason, things don't happen before its time and God never makes mistakes. I totally agree. While I never saw the waiter again, I still remember those words and I still have hope that I will have everything that God has in store for me. I also remember that blessings aren't necessarily denied, just because they are delayed.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

April Challenge: A is for Awesome.

Today marks the start of a blog challenge that will have me busy during the month of April. For 26 days of this month, I will have the challenge of writing about a new subject starting with the next letter of the alphabet. At first, I didn't want to commit to the challenge because I have been known to be a little unorganized. Sometimes I'm a little overwhelmed. At times, uncreative. But the truth of the matter is, at first I didn't want to commit to this task, because I was nervous.

When I read over the rules of the challenge, I figured it wouldn't be so bad. I could have a routine and writing session every morning (hopefully) before work. Almost like writing in my journal. Monday through Saturday during the entire month of April, I would write about something new starting with a new letter going in alphabetical order. And on Sunday, with the exception of this Sunday, would be my day off.

But then I decided to accept the challenge simply because it would be awesome. That's when I decided to write about the word awesome.

We use the word awesome in some form or fashion just about every day. It is a popular adjective used to describe a person, place, thing or situation in the most extreme way. If an experience, person or thing was a truly momentous, a lot of the time the word awesome will be used to describe it in detail.

Awesome is defined on dictionary.com as inspiring or characterized by awe; very impressive. I believe this blog challenge offers inspiration and explores the possibilities of creativity, which to me is pretty impressive. If I just decided to let go and let my creativity take control, I might be surprised on what I would come up with to talk about. And to me, that would be pretty awesome.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

I've decided to commit

A few months ago, a friend of mine who is a fellow blogger encouraged me to do a blog challenge. For the entire month of April, I have to write on a different topic starting with a different letter in the alphabet going in order. So for the first 26 days of April, I have plans to take time out of my life each day and talk about something blogible (is that a word?).
At first I was hesitant to commit to such a feat. I mean I struggled with different things to write about and besides, how would I fit in consistant blogging on different topics everyday? I have a full-time job. I freelance on the side. And sometimes I struggle with not having enough time in a day with those two tasks.

Sometimes I am not very creative. Sometimes I'm not motivated. Sometimes I don't have anything powerful or funny to say.

Then I just decided, life is short. Even if I write a bunch of crap, at least I would be participating in my passion. Writing. I need to be inspired to get back to the basics of finding a decent subject, writing about it and making it my own with the hopes of finding it fun along the way.

I'm a little nervous because I have a couple days before April starts and I don't know what my first topic is going to be about. All I know, it's going to start with the letter A and it will be something that I enjoyed talking about. Other than that, it's anyone's guess.

How I am choosing happiness, is taking it day by day, letting God and my creativity take control. And, yes I plan to have a lot of fun!