Venting...Radio Without Tom Joyner Is Not A Change I Appreciate

***UPDATED BELOW

Okay, I have been out of pocket since last week’s birthday. Let’s add that with age come other things such as my back giving me the business for over a week. All I am going to say is if you have never had a back spasm before, you don’t realize you actually stop breathing when it happens.

However, I am not back to ramble on about things going on in my life. I am here to vent. Folks, I am mad as hell. On Monday, I made it to work, barely. When I turned on my radio in my office, which stays on 97.1 here in Montgomery because it is the old school, R&B station, I heard Steve Harvey. Now, I was off Friday and I thought for just a second that J, who cleans my office, had changed the station on my radio. I tried to find Tom Joyner on the radio thinking J had changed the station to our Hip/hop & R&B station 105.7, which airs the Steve Harvey morning show. Well, after 10 minutes, it finally dawned on me that Steve was on 97.1. I called my co-worker but she had no clue about what the heck was happening since she listens to the gospel station. I curse too much to listen to the gospel station all day. Well, I do.

So what is a girl to do when she doesn’t know what the heck is going on? I googled. I found the fb page and low and behold a few folks had posted the question what happened to the Tom Joyner Morning Show? No answer, but folks were mad. Hell, I was mad. One, because I don’t handle change well unless I am giving some notice. Secondly, Steve Harvey is now on 2 damn radio stations in the morning. Thirdly, I don’t like Steve Harvey in the morning. Yeah, I said it.

Seriously, change is scary for me at times. If I am given a forewarning, I can wrap my head around the situation and go with the flow. However, if you throw me in without warming me up to the situation I am mad. I struggle with change and even though one of my favorite quotes is “The only lasting truth is change,” by Octavia Butler, I struggle. Badly.

Look, this is my morning routine. I viggle the Today show at 7 am and watch either a Law & Order episode or A Baby Story as I get dressed and made up for work. I get into my car for the 10 minute ride to work and I listen to Russ Parr, because usually by this time they are playing mostly music and I don’t have to listen to silly chatter, gags and such because let me be real, I don’t officially wake up until 10 am. When I get to my office I usually have the last hour of Tom Joyner to listen to, which includes news, music and information. I can handle that before 10 am.

Steve Harvey on 105.7 was fine for me, because I didn’t have to hear him because I listened to TJMS. I give Steve respect for all he has accomplished; however, I ain’t no Stan. I lost a lot of respect for him after his last divorce due to the way he did his ex-wife and yeah his ex-wife had some culpability in the situation as well, but he made my stomach turn. So I am not watching all his shows and listening to him on the radio. Frankly, SH is too damn silly for me in the morning. The stuff ain’t funny it is more irritating. Now his ass in on two, count them two radio stations at the same time. Ugh!

105.7 and 97.1 are part of the iHeart radio thing so I have no idea who thought this was a sound decision. Folks are mad as hell on the FB page and they ain’t happy one bit about being subjected to the change with no notice. We understand the money thing, we understand the numbers thing but what we don’t understand is basically ignoring the demographics that actually listens to the TJMS. SH and TJ have different listening audiences. Just like publishers don’t know what African-American readers want to read the radio big wigs don’t know what we want to hear either. Money dictates so much in this society, it is no wonder there is so much discord and unhappiness. I just want my Tom Joyner Morning Show back.

After I wrote this, I checked the fb page and this is their response:

We have made a change concerning the Tom Joyner Morning Show on WWMG(Magic 97.1). We have nothing but respect and appreciation for our relationship with Tom Joyner and & his cast over these years. He’s a legend and we understand there are people what enjoyed his show. However, we’ve also heard from many folks who welcome the switch to the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Currently simulcast on both Magic 97.1 and Hot 105.7 for this week only. Next Week a new fast paced, entertaining, cutting edge, informative morning show that better reflects what the station is known for “Hip Hop & R & B” will debut on WZHT(Hot 105.7). The Steve Harvey Morning Show will settle in as the permanent morning show on Magic 97.1. It has been a ratings winner and occupied the #1 position in Montgomery since its inception 7 years ago. It is an amazing show that is humorous, entertaining, informative and fund with dynamic personalities Steve Harvey, Shirley Strawberry and Nephew Tommy, It’s already been proven to be a great Adult Urban Show. Thank all for being loyal listeners.

Just as I said…money talks be damned the listeners who don’t care for Steve’s brand of humor because he is #1. Sighing…any suggestions for online music?

P. S. Blogger is on my nerves!  All the symbols and stuff that is all blogger and because I can't really edit my stuff now because it has been acting weird for months now...I am thisclose to ending this relationship.  Yeah, I am mad!

9/24/13 - The Breakfast Club took over Steve's spot on 105.7.  Yeah, SH is still on 97.1.  However, to my delight and sadness yesterday was the last day for the Russ Parr Show and Tom Joyner has found a home on 97.9, which is really the Hip Hop station here.  I was so happy to hear Tom, my eyes welled with tears.  Then I thought about the young folks who listen to Russ and thought they probably feel like I felt last week.  There is no winning.  I am just so glad Tom is still here in Montgomery.  Yes!!!!!!!

Happy Monday...Randoms

Sunflowers

I haven’t felt like blogging. And it isn’t because I haven’t done much in the last couple of weeks, but because I haven’t felt like putting fingers to the keyboard. I have been commenting on other folk’s blogs, so I guess it is only befitting that I finally grace you with some overdue randoms. Hopefully, this will ignite my writing mojo so I can write an editor’s note for my book club newsletter. So here we go, sit back get you some coffee or a drink because it is a long one.


If you live in the south or in Montgomery, we have had a summer of pure rain. Seriously, it rained 24 out of the 31 days in July. And August we just completed almost 2 weeks of hit and miss rain but it has been mostly hit. I can’t tell you the number of days I was soaking wet by the time I got into the house. Give you an example on August 13th I had to go take a Servsafe test for the second job. No biggie, it was bright and sunny when I got to the venue, but baby it wasn’t 30 minutes in when the sky opened and the rains of a torrential variety let loose. I forgot I had left my windows cracked. Seriously. Ugh! And a couple days later while on my main job I left my windows cracked because I park in the parking garage. Well, the sky opened up again and rained and rained. When I left that afternoon it was still drizzling, but where I parked there was a leak in the garaged and yeah you guessed it, my seat had a puddle of rain in it. My car was soaked. This is how you realize how damn dirty your car really is when everything is damp and dirt is all over your hands and clothes. I was miserable driving the 10 minutes home in wet car seat. It took two days to dry my car completely out, because with no sun and nothing but rain my car stayed damp. So I drove with towels on my seat. Very uncomfortable. So this rain isn’t giving me life, but it sure has disrupted mine.

My out-of-control grass and hedges

Due to the excessive rain, my plants and my garden have suffered. My lovely Portulaca (Moss Roses) has been basically killed because of the rain, the poor plant it is hanging by a thread. It is one of those plants that has succulent leaves, well with the rain it couldn’t hold all the water and the leaves started falling off. A mess. I just gave up on the garden because too much rain was causing too much damage on the tomatoes and cucumbers. Frankly, I was getting too scared to pick things out of the garden because ya’ll know I am scared of worms. One morning, I went outside a little later than normal to water the plants because the rain was slow to come that day, and I had been telling my sister something was eating my tomatoes because I find them on the carport looking like something had eaten them. She of course said rats/mice. I was like no it is birds because they want let my sunflowers have life because they are eating the damn seeds because I see them all over the carport. Well on this particular morning, guess what I found? A mama cat and a kitten enjoying the fruits of my labor. I am sorry you cat lovers, but I do not like cats. I am not scared of them like Mrs. TDJ, but I don’t like em. I was like shoo and get out of there. The kitten was all slow and the mama just left her baby, what kinda parenting? But I now knew the culprit to the tomato eating mystery. Anyway, this weekend when my yard guy came to finally cut my overgrown lawn and hedges, I had them cut all close to the raised garden because that baby is done. Dunzo. (My yard alone was systematically bringing the property values down because the grass was thigh high, just kidding I think.) The rain is going to have an effect on your veggies this year because the excess rain hurt them. So be prepared. I froze and gave away a lot of my tomatoes. So marinara sauce and tomatoes for my soup are available, because I ain’t trying to buy tomatoes out of the store because of the cost.

This is ridiculous...Over it!

Those holes are from roly polies, they are voracious this year.  A worm or two, but mostly roly polies...

Sunflowers will make you smile, but if you look on the ground you can see the discarded seeds of the birds. 

I did manage to make a few bouquets with my flowers, but I know next year plant more flowers. I miss my big, vibrant bouquets.

Probably the last bouquet...

A week ago I was reminded why I must have peace in all aspects of my life. I was on my 2nd job and the owner basically lost his ever loving mind. He basically went ham on the workers and tried to do the same to me. First of all, I am too old to be hollered at and told to stand somewhere and don’t move. All the counting in the world wasn’t going to keep me from handling him. Basically, I told him I wasn’t going to micro-manage these kids and I wasn’t going to argue and act a nut because he is having a temper tantrum. As I told my sister, “He forgot I have 3 degrees to his 2. I am here as a courtesy to his father, not him.” I was so mad. I haven’t been that mad in a long time. I was so mad it carried on through the entire weekend. I counted. Recounted. Counted again. I couldn’t shake the mad. The kids were excited that I “handled him”. Whatever, it shouldn’t have gone down like that. I talked to him later that night about the situation and told him with new people working acting in the manner in which he did makes it difficult to keep workers. You can get mad, but you damn sure better show it in a professional manner. Acting like a recalcitrant child gets you nothing, but hostile workers. Were the kids wrong in the situation? Yes, but it was done accidental by one of the new cooks still training. Instead of him listening or waiting until he calmed down he responded in a derogatory and demeaning manner and that isn’t going to cut it with me. I was thisclose to quitting. However, someone has to protect the kids. FYI – even his wife has cautioned him on his behavior.

So as I still blistered from that Friday night diabolical, I had a 50th birthday party to go to. A former book club member was having a big shindig to celebrate. The best part in my opinion was the scholarship she awarded to a student in attendance in honor of her mother who passed exactly a month to the day of the party. I went to get a glass of wine because I was still mad from Friday and when the bartender pulled the bottle out and started to twist the cap off of the Merlot, I declined the glass. I ain’t a highfaluting person, but I need my wine to have a cork. That is all.

I went to the party looking all staid and cute, but when I got home and had a drink I looked too different. See?

 Before I left...

Then the Amaretto Sour when I got home...

After the drink...

Just kidding, I didn't have the drink until I went to bed. My hair was falling out of the bun or whatever I had...so I worked it!

I haven’t been doing a lot of cooking either. Not feeling inspired. Rain man, rain.

Lala likes to scream Aunt Nana in the background when she sees my face on her mom’s phone. However, if you put her on the phone she says absolutely nothing. And I do believe she thinks she is a rock star. Check the pictures.

No photos please!  And she puts on her own sunglasses...

I will get to see Carson this weekend they are coming home to hang with family. Here is a picture of him with his 1st cousins in the pool. Those little muscles are getting ready for the club.

My niece is in college now. Sighing…I am still waiting on her to respond to my text from Saturday. I hate to have to show up on the campus of WSSU and embarrass her, but I will.

My cousin who I call my child will be here this weekend to celebrate graduating with his Master’s in Psychology. He didn’t march because he is heading straight to the PH.D program. So we are having a family get together to celebrate. Unfortunately, I am working but I will stop through after. Nope, didn’t take off because I am not a fan of crowds and folks doing the most drinking and playing cards. I can’t play any card games. Frankly, I don’t have the patience for it. Yeah, I am different.

I love muscadines. But I prefer the purple ones. I also tried some champagne grapes. Good, but too much work to eat them. Yes, I am lazy.

Muscadines

Champagne grapes...

The Guy and I are funny together because we make each other laugh. We do. He was telling me the story of his son who stepped on a carpenter’s nail and it went through his foot and how painful it was because they had to pack it and such. The Guy felt bad for his son and then his son asked if they were going to amputate his baby toe. I am sorry but I couldn’t help but laugh. He was serious when he asked. These kids are so dramatic. He will be fine if you thinking I am insensitive, he has to get another tetanus shot and he is walking with crutches temporarily, but he is fine.

I told my sister that folks are raising kids who may be book smart but they have no critical thinking skills. If they get a flat tire they will be unable to fix it or know who to call if it happens. Seriously. It is kinda scary folks. They can’t figure out the simplest situations without calling their parents. Lawd, help them.

I had book club Saturday. So I made sure to have a low-key day before the meeting because my left foot was hurting. See on last week I noticed there was an ache and it seemed to be more pronounced after working out especially if I was doing the walk/jog interval on the treadmill. So on Friday I decided to just do weights and the elliptical and to my consternation I found my foot was hurting more. Geez! And because I had to help on my 2nd job, by Friday night I was limping and of course I diagnosed myself with a stress fracture. So Saturday I was like early out and early back home to put the foot up. And I took some medicine to combat the pain. When I woke up that afternoon and to my amazement my foot no longer hurt. I had already planned to go to the Primed for an X-ray and diagnosis. It feels okay today so I am doing low key exercising so as not to put too much pressure on my foot. A customer told me I do not want a stress fracture on my foot. And I believed him.

Book club was great. I like our group with the smaller number because it is more comfortable and everyone gets to enjoy one another. Why are strawberry-ritas (in the can) so popular now? Anyway, we discussed The Perfect Marriage by Kimberla Lawson Roby. Of course I had a mini-photo shoot before the meeting.

So Vain...

Make up was cute...

Fantasia was here with Avant on Saturday. Of course I didn’t attend. One member was mad because she wanted to see Avant. I asked why? All his songs sound the same…shrugging.

I tried to watch the re-airing of the VMA’s last night when I got home. I watched Robin and Miley and my response was what the hell? And I saw Justin Timberlake’s performance, which was pretty good. Some of the guys from N’Sync are a bit thicker…just saying. After he finished, I turned and was like I can’t with MTV they do not play music videos except in the early morning. Hell, I watch MTV for Catfish.

See a lot of folks watch Reality television. I can’t say I don’t, but not that much. I prefer scripted television, but with my cable provider I don’t have enough channels for it to matter.

My book club members asked if I was watching the marathon of Scandal on BET. I didn’t. The emotions that I go through watching that show are too damn much! I can’t. But come October, I am back on it!

Labor Day is next week. I plan to do nothing. Seriously.

My birthday is on the horizon and I was asked on Saturday what I planned to do. Well, I will be going to both jobs that day and although I plan to take off the weekend, I have no plans. Oh yes I do. I plan to make ice cream, because I haven’t made any recently because my paddle broke. Oh and of course get a pair of gorgeous shoes. DSW gift cards are welcome. Just kidding…

Will someone tell my niece to text me? Geez…

Have a great week!

 

While Everyone Is Worried About Paula Deen...

The Supreme Court of the United States struck down an important aspect of the Voter's Rights Act and within two hours, Texas' Attorney General has suppressed minority voters.   So far this week, SCOTUS is really showing the party lines.

My heart has been heavy all day.  My sister says folks are talking about the decision and I said not as hard or as vocally as they did about Paula Deen and her Southern ways. Not saying she was right, but when I think about the shenanigans that are about to take place in the next election I can barely breathe.  Every trickery that was tried in the last election will actually become easier now and for me, ladies and gentlemen, this not only scares me, but I see how we are slowly but surely going back to the 60s. 

So keep worrying about things that don't matter or affect you...

And I will be back with happy posts later, but right now I need to marinate on my dwindling rights.

The MLK and 2nd Inauguration for President Obama Randoms

(This is kinda long.  Been working on it for a few days.)

Yeah, I took this before I got sick.  Freshly washed.  I need to dye my hair. The gray is out of control!

First of all, I haven’t been able to post lately, because I have been sick. I wasn’t really sick before I got sick, but damn! This was not funny as my sister seems to think because she laughed. On last Monday, I had a scheduled Drs. appointment to check on my blood pressure because after over a year of normal readings, in December the reading was high in the top number. I refused at the time to get on any other medicine just to insure it wasn’t a fluke. Plus, if you have read this blog long enough you know I have had blood pressure issues in the past and I am allergic to three classes of blood pressure medicines. My allergic reactions range from mild to extreme. What may not bother you may end up killing me. However, my reading on last Monday was up yet again. So, my doctor, who I waited 3 hours to see, prescribed another blood pressure medicine. He assured me there were no known serious side effects from this particular medicine. Um, yeah. Anyway, I started the medicine the next morning because it was well after 5 pm when I left the Drs. office. So I took it that morning about 10 am. At about 11:45 am, my head almost hit my desk because I fell asleep. At my desk. I knew I had to go home because I was so sleepy I couldn’t take it. I went straight home and crashed until 4 pm. So I sleep for almost 4 hours. The next morning I was at work bright and early. I decided to take a half a dose of the med at 4 pm and the other at 6:30 pm and the final dose at bedtime. I went home did a few things around the house ate and was in bed by 7:30 watching television and texting. In the middle of a text I fell asleep. Like completely knocked out for about 30 minutes. Ugh! Then I took the final dose and was sleep within an hour of taking it. I woke up the next morning feeling so lethargic it was ridiculous. I had on full make-up, but there was no way I could walk my tired azz to my car or walk from my car to the building because I was that lethargic. I felt horrible. Absolutely, horrible. After I called in, I got back into bed and 10 minutes later I was sleep and woke up at 10 am. I knew then I was going to take only half the dose and that is one pill at bedtime. So far it is working, there was no way I could continue taking two pills a day when I have to work. And if my blood pressure cannot be controlled by medicine I have to go on this very restrictive diet. Problem with the diet is it hones in on a lot of diary and cheese. Plus, eggs. You all know I am allergic to eggs right?


I finally feel like myself this week and I am so thankful. I am no helpless woman; I work and keep it moving.

My keepsake from feeding the homesless on MLK Day.

Plus, I had plans Monday. I was going to feed the homeless. And I did. The thing is, there were so many young volunteers i.e. teenagers, and there really wasn’t much for me to do. The worker directing the volunteers asked if I minded drying the dishes while the Alpha was there to volunteer washed. Sure no problem. It was interesting watching the process. They probably fed about 40 people that day for lunch. When the kids were done serving and cleaning off the tables, you know they left right? Seriously, they were only there about 45 minutes. The Alpha and I stayed and finished the dishes, I cut up fresh bread for the dinner meal and we both helped unload food donations. I was there to volunteer for the full 2 hours and I kept asking what do you need me to do. And I left there with a smile on my face. The ladies, who work there, said they knew me and the Alpha were sincere because we stayed until the end and asked what we could help them do. I heard them say they were short their dishwasher so the two of them had to cook lunch, then dinner as well as all the cleaning. So believe me they were appreciative as well as the men, women and children who were fed lunch. It was good to see young folks volunteering.

After my stint at the shelter, I went home and watched some of the Inauguration. I had already missed the speech so I was just waiting on the President to exit his car before the parade and he didn’t disappoint. Can I say this? I was just so proud. Really I was. I had to be since I was sitting in my bed crying. A mess. Plus, no matter how many times I see our President walk I am always taken aback by the fact he has a serious swagger walk (ya’ll know I am Southern and I wanted to say pimp walk, but I didn’t think that was appropriate). Then the Inauguration ball. First Lady Obama was wearing that red dress. I loved it. And Dr. Jill Biden, shoot her dress was amazing too. The first dance with President Obama and his wife was so nice. Made me cry a little bit. But for the record, I didn’t like Hudson’s version of my Al Green song. I kept wondering why they didn’t get Al Green to sing, because he still sings secular music. My question was answered the next day because he responded that he was asked but had a previous engagement and had to decline.

Speaking of the Inauguration, folks are all up in arms because Beyonce supposedly lip-synced the anthem. Well, I will say when I saw it on YouTube; I remarked she looked like she was lip-syncing. However, when you listen to the mic version, she is actually singing along with the back-up vocals. And when she took her ear piece out, ya’ll better be glad she did have the back-up vocals because she probably would have messed the song up. She isn’t the only celebrity to lip-sync or sing over the canned vocals and she won’t be the last.

Just lovely...

Another note, Malia and Sasha are growing up into some beautiful young ladies.

Had book club this past Saturday. The host made these wonderful taco salads. And we discussed Eric Jerome Dickey’s, An Accidental Affair. This wasn’t my favorite EJD novel. But it made for a great book club discussion, because some folks loved the book and others didn’t. I did kinda scare the members when I made a statement ***spoiler alert*** “He should have killed her.” And the fact I was so disappointed he didn’t. Yeah, the character made me mad.  (Reminder, I keep our book club website updated, regularly.  With book reviews and sometimes pictures...imanivoices.com)

Wednesday night after work The Guy and I had oysters and drinks, well he had drinks I am too scared to drink with this new med. They were good, but my goodness they were small. I got to get back to New Orleans to get the real, big juicy kind. Good company though. And as usual, I see folks I know when I am out. I was cute, don’t worry.

My sister didn't know this were raw oysters when she first looked at the pictures.  She may need some new glasses.

My office feels like the bowels of the Arctic. It is so cold in here I can see my breath. Okay, I am exaggerating, but I still can’t feel my feet and fingers. It is ridiculous. I have a small heater in my office but my office is too cold for it to heat and when it starts to struggle, it shuts itself off before it overheats. Really, this is beyond ridiculous. I can’t work in these conditions. The custodian, who was subbing for our usual one, came into my office the other day and said, “How can you work in this office?” I was like because of all the files and papers? She said, “No, it is entirely too cold in here. I am anemic and I can’t come in here no more. I am going to tell somebody, because this crazy.” Yeah, she was real mad about the temperature of my office. Sighing…

Do you watch Catfish the television documentary? I like saying it that way so I am not confirming I am watching reality television. This show is my guilty pleasure. Some mornings before work I catch episodes, man this is some captivating television. The stories are remarkable and sad at the same time. I keep asking, “How does one fall in love with someone they have never met?” I am diagnosing these folks and everything. Quite a few of them are suffering from self-esteem issues. Some are looking for substitutes for the things missing in their lives. Some are seriously gullible. I did the online dating thing up until 2010, but I stopped seeing it as an avenue for finding a love connection 3 years prior to that. Frankly, I used it as fodder for my other blog. The stories, the pictures and frankly the outright lies were great writing material. These folks will have “relationships” with folks who they may not have ever talked to on the phone. Seriously? Four years and you have never met? The most recent episode with the guy from Mississippi who thought the girl he had been talking to was transgendered and he seemed to be totally disappointed to learn she wasn’t spoke volumes. Nev kept saying the guy was bi-curious and I have to agree. And the other day I saw an ad on one of the celebrity blogger sites saying black folks who get taken on the internet are Fried Catfish. I laughed. But really is it a laughing matter?

In my town here in Alabama, we have already had 10 murders. I am sad about this, but what really irked me was when our mayor made it seem like crime doesn’t exist here. As a victim, who is still dealing with the turmoil, and no one has been arrested for my crime; it doesn’t sit well with me. We have crime and some more serious than others. And each time a new young man, young woman or just anyone is murdered it is significant their lives matter, so we do have crime and we need to address it and just based on the area of the city you live in.

Before I head out of here to work and enjoy my weekend, I see the GOP in Virginia pulled a fast one to change the districting lines for the electoral votes. It is sad our country has come to this. President Obama’s win has already proven underhanded methods and cheating didn’t help them then, and it will not help them now. The thing is America is this melting pot of all kinds of folks and it is no longer being dictated by those who think they are the majority. The majority now is what was once the minority.

I hope you have a wonderful, fun-filled weekend. I am going to work the second job and relax when I am home. We deserve it!

P. S. You didn't think I would leave without some pictures of the kiddies and me?  Come on, you know better than that!  

Lala being silly, so her mothers says.

Carson wasn't about no pictures, it was all about the drank!  Yes, I said drank.  

Finally got a chance to wear my Fedora and a scarf. 

 

Imma learn how to take full lenght pictures one day. LOL!



Post New Year's Randoms

So how is your New Year’s going? Mine is going pretty good. I am taking a new approach to this year by trying to stay positive and not dwell on the negative. And believe me it easier said than done. So much has happened in the last couple of weeks so I am going to randomly run through them. You may want to get yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine depending on when you are reading this because this is a long one…


My last significant post was on December 21st. Let’s see Christmas was on its way. I got to enjoy a very relaxing Christmas Eve on my couch in my pj’s all day. I also enjoyed some Cupcake Red Velvet wine as I finally was still enough to watch Think Like a Man. It was surprisingly pretty good. I laughed and I thought the way they worked the story from the non-fiction book was pretty decent. Of course, in my mind I wanted them to delve a bit more into the backgrounds of the women and men, but I am no screenwriter.

Christmas Day I woke up to rain. I was like it rained last year on Christmas, but this year it wasn’t so bad that I got drenched while packing up my food to take to my cousins. So, I was okay with it.

Christmas at my cousin’s was real nice and quiet. I mean there were about 20 folks there, but everything was low-key, which I like. The food was good and spending time with family is priceless. I did get to see Carson, but my clubbing partner was not having me holding and touching him. In fact I didn’t even try. Plus, my goodness he walks so damn fast I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with him anyway.

These are my 2nd cousins, their moms are my 1st cousins

Carson and his gift from me.  A clubbing outfit...

The only thing about Christmas being on a Tuesday is most folks have to go to work on Wednesday, and I was one of them. So most of Christmas I was preoccupied with getting back home at a reasonable time and trying to beat the impending storm.

Yes, we had tornado warnings and watches and by 6 pm, I was like I better start heading home so as not to get caught in the storm.

The only problem was I was storming on the inside. You see I got my brand new Samsung Galaxy 3, but as we were talking around the Christmas tree, I saw a warning sign on my phone stating I had gone over my text messaging by 120 messages. First of all, I have unlimited everything. And when I realized the folks at my provider T-mo, were enjoying Christmas, I knew my Christmas was over and I needed to get home. But first, I turned my phone off because damn lie if someone is going to text me and cause me unnecessary charges. I live on a budget. Shit. Yeah, I was mad.

The next morning, because you know I didn’t sleep I was on the phone with T-mo at 5:00 am. It took 50 minutes to get the mess straightened out. Seemingly, when I called to activate my phone on the 18th, the service rep offered me a new data plan that would only cost me a penny. I told her several times I did not want my services changed meaning I was okay with the plan as long as I kept my unlimited phone, text and data and my bill never went over $100. She was so sure that everything would be intact. Even before we hung up I asked her if I still had my unlimited everything and she said yes. Byotch was wrong. My plan was an old plan that they do not offer anymore and I had been grandfathered into. So, Rachael made the mistake and saying to me that her supervisor said I need to be careful changing my plans. I saw stars, stripes and had to count to 10, and then I proceeded to tell Rachel to be careful stating something so stupid. Why would I give up my unlimited messaging when I text all the damn time? She apologized quickly after I stated I have been with them for 15 years. That is loyalty. Anyway, she fixed the situation but those 50 minutes were quite tense. They gave me back my old plan and then I had to talk with the folks with the loyalty program because my January bill was supposed to be free and I would only pay taxes. Joshua was all about business, he knew when I accepted the offer and he took care of that and took off the upgrade fee that T-mo charges now. I swear the cell phone companies are trying to rip folks off. Let’s not mention I got a data alert on my phone today and had to cuss them out again. They fixed it, but this is the shyte that makes folks lose their minds. Also, my next month’s bill is credited except for taxes. Loyalty. And thank God!

Enough of that talk, that is negative and I ain’t trying to hear that. I worked the three days of that week and baby, my desk was clean. You hear me Clean! I worked on my 2nd job as well. I managed to get my tree down and things in storage room all on Saturday. And then I cleaned my house so you know I wouldn’t bring the New Year in with a nasty house. I am old fashion. What of it?

I took New Year’s Eve off from work and I used that day to make a giant pot of soup and watch mindless television. And drink wine. However, I also got some pretty disturbing news. One of the attorneys in my office son was murdered that morning. You read about this type thing happening but this was the first time it hit close to home. Our legal unit is small, but we are like a small family. His loss was our loss and we hurt for him. And the murder was senseless. RIP Jay.

I know you are dying to know what I did for New Year’s Eve night. Tell me you want to know. Ok, you don’t care, but I did nothing. Absolutely, nothing. I watched a movie and by the time it ended I was sleepy and I was in bed at 11 and when midnight came I was sleep. My cousin woke me up wishing my Happy New Year’s. The neighbors didn’t shoot guns much, because the police were out in force due to the murder earlier (suspect was on the run). So…I have come to the understanding I am old. I was where I wanted to be and before I went to bed, I had a heart-to-heart with God and prayed like my life depended on it, which it did. Happy New Year’s!

New Year’s Day, I slept in and then watched hours upon hours of Law & Order: SVU. Yeah, I am dry. LOL!

I woke up January 2nd ready for a great day. When I went out to my car to warm it up, it did a clicka, clicka. (My sound effect is wonderful.) I knew it was my battery. I called my cousin and he got out of his bed and we jumped my car off and I went and got a battery all this took about 20 minutes. My normal way of dealing with setbacks is to cry or get really angry. I did neither. New Year, new ways.

My vision board...

I even did my vision board for 2013. I did it New Year’s Eve. And I spend time reviewing what my goals are for the year every day. 2013 means I will do better to be better and I mean it. Do you ever just wake up and realize how truly blessed you are? I had some things to come up during the holidays that pushed me into a dark place, but I was strong in my belief things will be better. I know this.

Speaking of things, please make it your business not to be a victim of Identity theft. It is the gift that keeps on giving. The thieves managed to take my credit scores down. Now I have one more thing to clean up from this mess, pure turmoil. Don’t be a victim to this if you can help it.

My sister enjoyed her cookies she didn’t know she was getting until they arrived. I had been bitching about the cost of mailing some to my brother that she was totally thrown off by the fact, even when I asked if her box had arrived. When she was feeling better, because she was sick right before Christmas, she ran downstairs to grab up the box, because that is when she realized there had to be cookies in there. Bless her heart. However, you know who loved the Triple Ginger Cookies the most? Lala. My sister said she moaning after every bite in which she switched hands holding the cookie after every bite. Bless her heart. I am still waiting on their Christmas pictures.

Lala and her Triple Ginger Cookie...

Me and The Guy are still together, but he has been sick since right before Christmas. Like he had to have tests done and everything and he still has to have more tests done to figure what the hell is going on. Ya’ll pray for him because I am getting antsy. Geez!

Are people sick at your jobs? OMG! These folks are coming in here sick as dogs. I am around here washing my hand and standing in doorways because they really need to Lysol their offices. And the flu is epidemic now? Everyone should get a flu shot right? Well, I am allergic to eggs and I can’t get one, so what is a woman to do? Wash my hands, sanitize and stay the hell away from all these sick folks. I try not to ride the elevator with anyone. Seriously.

Scandal. That is all that needs to be said. OMG! Last night’s episode was amazing. I was screaming, rolling my neck, crying and jubilant. One should not have that many emotions happening in one episode of any show. Seriously, Shonda Rhimes, is a beast and her writers are amazing. However, I am going to need someone to tell me their secret into winding down in a reasonable amount of time so I can go to sleep. I do have to be at work the next day.

Why are there more reality shows coming on television? T. L. C should be ashamed of themselves. Best Funerals Ever, really? It is too much. I think the only reality show I watch is Catfish now. I can’t with the foolery. Except I will watch 1 minute or two of Honey Boo Boo. Don’t judge me!

Trinidad James. Jerome in the house…I keep saying that about that man and my goodness his mouth. He needs to put the mic down and get to a good dentist, stat!

Shawty Lo? No.

Deception…going to take me a few more episodes to see if I am going to like it and as long as they keep it on Monday there may be a problem. Because ya’ll know Dallas will be back on January 28th, so Deception may not see me anymore, because I love me some Dallas. RIP Larry Hagman.

I baked a pound cake recipe and review coming soon.

Coming up soon in Creative Cooking...

I am in a good place right now in my life and although this is only the beginning of the year, I know there are big things on the horizon for me if I just keep the faith. I am truly grateful. I may not have all I want; I do have all I need. How is the New Year treating you so far?

Christmas hair.  I think it is time to wash it now, any takers?  I didn't think so...

Welcome to Spring, which feels like Summer Randoms...

I know you have seen the commercials for Cuties as they extol the fact they are for children because they are sweet and they are easy to peel with their little hands. Whatever. I eat these joints all the time. I dare my young cousins to mess with my Cuties…they probably won’t anyway because I have yet to see them eat a piece of fruit.


One of the municipal court judges I worked with back in my domestic violence victim’s advocate days passed away this week. RIP – Judge Knight.

Um, I still haven’t quite found my lost hour of sleep. I have yet to become acclimated. I am just so tired, but try going to bed before 11 or 12 midnight, ain’t gonna happen.

I tried out two new dishes this week. Go me!

I really hope my yard guy gets to my yard this week and no later than Saturday morning, because I have finally found an inexpensive raised bed for my veggies and I can use my containers for flowers.

You know summer is going to feel like the bowels of Hell, right?

My attempt at watermarking.  Oh, to show my eye is still red too.

My eye is almost back to normal or as normal as can be. Yeah, it is still red and I am still too afraid to sneeze, but at least it is no longer sore. Now if I can lose the security of my eye shield…

I sent my sister and brother a nice reminder to have a great day. What you may ask? A picture of moi…

My brother's response: "My Big Sister."  My sister's response:  "Oh!  That looks much better!" The Guy's response:  "Sexy"  Enough said.!

Oh and here is the freshly unrolled flexi rod set. Nope the curls weren’t tight at all. But it is holding up well. Probably need to have my hair a bit more wet.

Freshly unrolled.  Back to the Soft Spike curlers...

El Debarge has been arrested again. I am not sure the allure of drugs will ever dissipate for this family. Oh, the charges have been dropped, but still…You want them to succeed, but the drugs seem to have a mighty hold on them Debarges.

I just wish the young folks in my neighborhood would start respecting the elders of the neighborhood. Playing the loud bass thumping music as they are riding down the street is so unnecessary. They do not realize it, but we don’t care about the thumping, we like peace. They aren’t getting the full effect of the music because they are in their vehicles. But with a noise ordinance as tough as ours, you would think the police would put a stop to it. Really, I just want them to respect the elders of the neighborhood. Their ignorance shouldn’t be heard and seen.

Wednesday was Octavia Spencer day in the capital city. You knew she was from here? No, I didn’t go to school with her. But I know some folks who did.

I need to do some Spring cleaning. 1st up is the laundry room area. I need to dispose of all the things no one will ever use to make a sufficient storage space for other usable things. I will try to tackle it this next month. I am working a lot this month so I took off this Saturday to rest and hopefully garden and the next Saturday is book club.

I keep telling folks FB is the devil and with potential employers asking for passwords, um things just got crucial. Seriously, though if you can’t see my page w/o my password, we have a problem because I ain’t giving it to a potential employer. FB can be used as a tool to research potential employees, but asking for a password, is going too far. Lucky for me, I don’t post much on FB and I can’t help what my Friends posts, because they have the right to express themselves as they deem fit.

I really didn’t want to turn on my AC, but 80 and above temperatures make it necessary. Man, I loved my reasonable electric bill.

I find the most intriguing things on Pinterest. Really I do. Are you on Pinterest? If not, what are you waiting for?

Be thankful for your health insurance, because some folks have none.

I guess I need to take the weekend to refresh myself on our book this month, Daddy by Default by Pat Tucker. I am also going to try to enjoy the weather and a day off, because this has been a long month.

Does anyone have an easy method to watermark their pictures?

Justice for Trayvon Martin. Remember the key word here is justice. That is all.

Just so you can smile too:  My 3rd cousin, who I have been contemplating adding to my retirement plan, you know the one, where one of my family members retires me.

Carson, baby! 

Have a great weekend!

Busy October Randoms...

I know it has been a while. Life has been busy and I was in the proverbial dumps last week as I tried to wade through reliving the transitioning of my aunt. By the end of the week I was feeling better, but baby on Tuesday I was done. Of course other family members were dealing with the same thing, some of us better than others. My cousin who does the Thanksgiving dinner, yeah the one, who doesn’t use seasoning on her turkey, said sometimes you can be in a room full of people and still be lonely and the same can be said about grief. Some folks when dealing with death, surround themselves with people and activities but don’t take the time to truly grieve and begin the healing process. I allowed myself a moment to be sad, but I wrote about it on my anonymous blog and shook it off. My aunt would beat my azz to not see me moving oh and living life.


But I have a few randoms to throw out here into the Internet land…

• Speaking of Thanksgiving, my sister has ruined Thanksgiving for me. You can send her an email her about messing up things for me and my nieces later. Seems my sister decided to be on bed rest until her baby is born in January. Don’t side-eye me! She didn’t tell me until a week ago. Yeah. What? I told her she knows I cannot afford to take care of 3 kids, so she needs to make better arrangements. Talking about the oldest will be gone in two years. Unless she has a contract with God, she better find someone who can take all three because just because one goes to college doesn’t negate your responsibility towards them.

• How did she ruin Thanksgiving? Who the hell is going to go shopping with me on Black Friday? I asked one of my friends and she said she had to pray on it? Really? Why prayer? SMH!

• Now I got to figure out how to mail cookies to Virginia. I got to make sure Hunny Bunny gets her sugar cookies because you know she is going to retire me right?

• Oh, but the universe is sending my cousin, his wife and his baby (the baby who came Mother’s day and wasn’t due to June or July) will be here. So Andrea, let’s go! She likes to shop. Loves it!

• I might as well go shopping with her because maybe she will allow me to touch the baby. Talking about she don’t trust me around her child because I keep threatening to still him on Facebook. What?

• Reed Between The Lines is premiering on BET. I wonder if I will watch it. I love Tracy. I just don’t love watching BET.

• I want Satellite television but do not know which one to go with.

• I still want a yorkie, but I just don’t have time right now.

• Fantasia. I am so done. Stupid. She needs therapy.

• My hair is interesting this week. I need to wash it. I should have done that this weekend, but I didn’t. I asked the guy and he laughed. What the hell is so funny about washing my damn hair?!

Side bun, which are my numerous twists I rolled into a bun.  Looks like a cinnamon roll.  LOL!

• The weather is cooler here and it has been raining off and on for the last few days. All I really want to do is curl up in my bed and sleep. But I did that Sunday and realized I wasted the entire day. Not again!

• Best Man 2 is coming. Are you excited? Me, not so. I disliked that movie. I really did. I only liked Terrance Howard and his grimy behind. I hated the concept that the groom could not get over his bride having slept with someone else. Go so where with that, when you have been with numerous other folks, while with her, but she gets with one guy. One guy and you can’t marry her. Yeah, he was your best friend, but you didn’t care so much about that as she gave it to someone else. Ugh! Please do not get me started on this.

• I have several Creative Cooking posts scheduled. Go me!

• It is time for some winter shoes. Let’s go!

• I have already started my Christmas shopping. I am limiting myself this year. I am giving away a lot of cookies that is for sure.

• I hired two people last week on my second job because I am tired of interviewing and waiting on folks to do the reference follow ups. I need to go to work and do so in peace. This Friday is going to be a mess, because I will have a cashier who is only this week training on the register and I will not have a full staff on that day because everyone and there mama wants to be off.

• I had a mother call me to interview her son. I listened to her on the phone and in my head I was like this boy will not be interviewed by me, because his mama is going to think she works here and tell me how to do my job. If your child is seeking a job, parents do not call for them. Why? It means he doesn’t want to work and it makes prospective employers angry. Plus, when your child has on his application he won a spelling bee and he spells Unkle and Ant like this, somebody is lying or he won the spelling bee when he was in kindergarten.

• Have a great short week!

Must See Television

I am a television junkie. When I am not working my two jobs and caring for my aunt, you can find me planted in front of one of our five televisions watching something, um, usually one of the Law & Order franchises. But I am sure you are not interested in my obsession of Law & Order, so I am going to talk about my summer shows I could not miss and the new fall schedule.

I always wait anxiously for the summer shows on TNT because that means, The Closer with Kyra Sedgwick. I love this show. Her southern accent and genteel ways, which actually are manipulation maneuvers to get her suspect to confess without an attorney, enamor me to her character. Plus, she is addicted to sweets. Anyway, this summer was no disappointment and all the episodes were great. I love the chemistry and I love the humor interjected as well. However, the drama still has the same meat of some of my all time favorite episodes of L &O.

Did you all watch Memphis Beats with Jason Lee? OMG! I loved that quirky show. I don’t know why I kept waiting on the Lee’s character to come out with an Earl moment. Anyone who ever watched My Name is Earl knows what I am talking about. It is a good crime drama that combines the grittiness of Memphis with the blues and soul of the town. I absolutely loved the end of each episode where Lee would sing a blues song. Had me swaying in my bed. I even liked Alfre Woodard in there with the power of authority and the fact she has five kids, OMG! It is funny, quirky, thoughtful and just damn good!

Hawthorne hit the mark this summer with Hawthorne and the good doctor getting together physically. I enjoyed how integral her daughter was in this season as well. It added more emotion and depth to Hawthorne. But let me say this, and don’t judge me either…Mark Anthony is sexy. Believe me, this took me quite by surprised and I felt the need to seek some type of therapy. I have never looked at him with adoration. He is too skinny and looks like he is hungry, however, on Hawthorne there was this swagger or demeanor that was the sweet tea. I see why Jennifer loves him. He got It, whatever It is. I cannot wait until next summer with Hawthorne being pregnant and all.

Rizzoli and Isles was great! And the season finale cliffhanger! OMG! Help me I can barely wait. The chemistry of the friends and the tomboyish ways of Angie Harmon helped this show really capture my attention. Harmon as Rizzoli is tomboyish, but she is still a woman and Isles has that innocent thing going for her, but she is so quirky it just damn works. Having Boston as the setting for the show makes it different and original for a crime drama. This is a show one should not miss and it has been approved for next season. Summer can’t come soon enough.

The fall schedule is a bit less enthusiastic for me. Without my beloved Law & Order, I am a bit lost. So I am trying to be open to the new shows, but um I think I am having some issues. Law & Order SVU started with a bang and the most recent episode with Jennifer Love Hewitt, was the best. I won’t be missing any shows this season. Chase is about a female US Marshall and it is gritty and pretty good. I still watch Chuck; it is doing okay so far. I hate to say this and I love me some Blair Underwood, but I cannot get with the Event. What in the name of flashback, present time, years ago; hours ago hell is this shyte? I tried, but for the life of me I am either not ADHD enough or my OCD is out of control because the back and forth between times and shyte are too much. I can’t. I tried, I was lost or my intelligence level isn’t what I thought it was even with 3 degrees. Law & Order: LA – the jury is still out on this one. I tried to watch it Wednesday, but I was multitasking so I couldn’t really engross myself into the story line. Did they do the trademark doink, doink sound? I don’t even remember. I do know it ain’t gritty, it is pretty. LA is too pretty for the real grit I like and felt was part of the L&O franchise. I am going to give them two more episodes to see if I am a convert, but I will tell you if there is no doink, doink sound, I am going to feel some kinda way about it and probably not watch it. Seriously, will someone tell NBC to bring back the original and give me some damn closure? By the way, Donofrio will be returning to Law & Order: Criminal Intent on the USA. Jeff Goldblum quit because there was a question if the show was returning. The first year Goldblum was on it, he made the show much better and had me feening to watch, but this last season the writing was off and we didn’t have the same Goldblum of the previous season. Hell too much was going on in the first two episodes. And pretty much that is all I am watching this fall. So what are you digging on television right now?

BET Awards

Well what has become the biggest summer event for Black Entertainment Television year went down last night. First of all, I am a pop culture enthusiast and I think I am in the know on all things celebrity. So I thought I'd give a brief rundown on the happenings last night: the good, the bad and the down right ugly!

First let me say this year's show was 100 times better than last year's presentation. Last year 50% of the winners were not in attendance this year only about 10% of the folks didn't show up. Also those who saw the show last year knew unquestionably that Damon Wayans bombed! I mean bombed. His jokes were off the mark and he had to get drunk in order to finish the show. Personally, the show is better when it is hosted by real comics. Ya'll know the 1st two years were hosted by Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer and they were off the hook. Okay, I digress...on to my highlights.

I was so glad to see Jennifer Holliday and Jennifer Hudson perform I Am Telling You, omygoodness! They tore that song up and they song their individual versions and it was great.

Although I loved Monique telling LL Cool J to remove her shoe, the performance was just okay for me. Kinda like been there done that.

One of the most powerful performances for me was the tribute to Gerald Levert. I have an issue with blocking my feelings when it comes to death and when someone I know dies I never quite grieve I just push it to the back of my mind. Now I didn't know Gerald, but I knew his music and I knew he loved his fans and last night I realized he was dead. I realized he would never grace the Bet stage again to perform or be the butt of Tom Joyner's jokes. And it felt like my heart just broke all of a sudden. I mean I don't know this man for nothing, but I respected his talent and it is gone. So after a 10 minute crying jag, I accepted he was gone.

Anyone who knows me knows I have always loved Diana Ross. I used to imitate her as a child. I remember watching her HBO concert every time it appeared on the channel. I sang all her songs and knew the words -- I can't say that for the folks giving her a tribute. Erykah Badu did Love Hangover but Chaka and Stevie (Love them dearly)seemed to have forgotten the words. Diana's speech and all her children there to support her was wonderful and she is right you can have a career without all the bumping, cussing and grinding.

I enjoyed P Diddy's performance and was glad to see Lil Kim. Say what you want about him, he has the hustle and the album really is good w/all the collaborations. Folks slept on that joint.

I have much respect for TI for apologizing for the altercation with Chaka Zula of DTP and manager of Ludacris. A real man owns up to his mistakes and he did so last night.

Beyonce's performance was on fire and it was great to see Destiny Child all on stage together. When did Solange become part of Destiny Child? I love Kelly's song, but her vocal performance needs some work.

50 cent performed like he was worth 1 cent. I was appalled that they chose Amusement Park as the song for him and my understanding is when the track stopped he was a bit PO so he did the random walking around looking confused. I called my sister immediately and had her cover my nieces ears because the lyrical content was too provocative and really did we need that after such a soul stirring performance from Eddie, Gladys, Patti and Yolanda? Plan better BET.

And my other favorite performance was Public Enemy's tribute to James Brown, now it wasn't as powerful as the one done at the Grammy's with Chris Brown and OMG Christina Aguilar's performance of a Man's World, but it is one of the best tributes. I had to remind my sister that Public Enemy sampled some of James Brown. Did ya'll see Dougie Fresh doing his signature move on stage? I was dancing until I was sweating and I don't sweat my hair for real, even with Sisterlocks!

As you can see I love pop culture and the BET Awards are one of the few awards shows I enjoy watching. So if you missed it, they will rerun it I think on Friday and plenty more times after that. Of course they will cut some stuff, but I hope they keep the good stuff!