I absolutely adore this picture of my niece. She has such a sweet and sunny disposition. I pray that she stays that way for as long as possible.

*** This is a TMI entry ***

How lovely! It’s Black Friday and I’m stuck at home. Not by choice mind you but because my doctor has requested a 24 hour urine test.

Apparently my blood pressure is high and it is a symptom and potential concern. Too much protein in the urine could indicate kidney malfunction or diabetes and I CAN’T have that.

So while the world is out and about I sit at home peeing into a jug.

Lovely!

Today Power Windows and Siding has come out to install a “picture” window in our bedroom. We took out the three small windows and installed one large window that opens on the sides. It looks very pretty and it is indeed unique since every other house on this block has either 2 or 3 windows on their top floors. This is one of the fun parts of being a homeowner.

Yesterday I learned Wicked is coming to the Academy of Music in January. I so want to go, but I went in New York and I really need to save cash. What’s a girl to do?

I took off work today and Thursday to study for my second nursing exam. Let’s see if I am actually productive and get some studying in.

It would be nice right?

This weekend was absolutely perfect. Why? Because I had no obligations on my time. Clinicals were not this weekend. Family was doing their own thing. It left me free, free, free!

Now ask me what I did? Absolutely nothing! I lounged on the couch, watched TV and vegged. Sunday I did manage to go to church and check out the grand opening of Target at the Springfield Mall but nothing too strenuous. LOL

Unlike some of my friends, I never feel guilty or bored just lounging. I must not keep busy every hour of the day. With the start of school added to the stressors of work and family, my life no longer provides me with an abundance of “Me Time.” Perhaps to some degree it is for the best. That way when a golden “Me Time” opportunity does appear it is appreciated and relished.

I went to the school today to drop off the last of my forms. While there I decided to pay the next installment of my payment plan and to get the books I’ll need for the Fall. In the span of 30 minutes I spent $295 for tuition and $597 for books. I’m still in shock.

I am used to waking up in the middle of the night unable to sleep. It’s very weird though to wake up hungry as if you did not eat dinner a few hours before. I’ve started to keep fruit nearby for this very reason.

Fourteen days until school starts.

Returning to school is a necessary evil for me. I can’t stay where I am right now … a job affectionately known as the “Ninth Circle of Hell”.

Before all the bad press and the allegations of child molestation, I remember the Michael Jackson that I grew up loving. The man who could create songs that made me want to dance, sing and inspired me to take action.

As a kid, I remember going to the street vendors in Center City, especially around City Hall, and collecting my MJ pins for my red and black “Thriller” jacket. I remember the white socks, the white glove and my sad, sad attempt to do the moonwalk. LOL

I will miss the Michael of my childhood. The Michael Jackson who reminded you of Peter Pan … never quite growing up … taking you along for the ride.

In memoriam, I’ve included a link, (for as long as it lasts), to one of my all time favorite MJ songs … Man in the Mirror.

“I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change”

Rest in Peace

Michael Joseph Jackson

I have crossed over from contemplation to action.

After agonizing for a week on how I wanted to celebrate my birthday I finally decided on hosting a murder mystery dinner. I then spent another torturous week trying to decide what murder mystery I wanted to host. The web is chock full of interesting choices and my OCD would not allow me to make a simple decision. It got so bad that I was forced to ask Hubby to choose for me.

Now that the decision has been made I can relax for a nanosecond and reflect. I think Hubby actually made a good call. I can now move on to the planning of the menu. Needless to say, I am very excited.  I hope the party goes over well and everyone has a good time.

If you’re interested in knowing what murder mystery I finally chose you can click here.

I saw this commercial and laughed my ass off. Sad to say, I can relate ...

My 99, soon to be a 100, year old grandmother was interviewed on Inauguration Day by NBC 10. The piece was focused on Centenarians and their viewpoints. Check out my beautiful grandmother and see for yourself why I love her so much.  She’s wearing a white sweater over a purple blouse.

If for some reason you experience difficulty viewing the video, click here, to go directly to the website.

Forty four years before my beloved grandmother was born, the 13^th Amendment of the Constitution was ratified freeing all slaves. My grandmother grew up a free person of color and only knew of distant relatives who had formerly been slaves.

Merely seven years before the start of the Civil Rights Movement, my mother was born.  Segregation could be found throughout the country but in Philadelphia it wasn’t so bad. My Mom didn’t really see Jim Crow in full force until she went to visit family in the South.

My mother has not shared many of these experiences with me. She says she doesn’t remember. However, my grandmother told me once that while traveling the bus to Maryland, she would not permit my mother and my aunt to drink water. Instead she treated the kids to ice cream. Why? Well ice cream was less likely to make the kids want to use the toilet and she hated the idea of taking the kids into a segregated bathroom. She spoke of how filthy and ill maintained they were.

Thirty seven years before another monumental event in the fabric of African Americans, I was born.  Truly spoiled by my mother and grandmother’s perspective I know nothing of slavery and segregation except through the history books and by the stories of those who walked before me. Racism and prejudice were, (and are), still cancers on the skin of humanity but it was no longer as blatant. It was more insidious as it hid out of plain sight.

Regardless, I have always been encouraged by my grandmother and mother. Told that I can do whatever I want to do and be whatever I want to be. And for once they believe in the words they speak because the world has truly changed. Not necessarily as good as it could be but certainly better than it was.

One hundred years from my grandmother’s birth to today. One hundred years of change. Today a man of color is taking the reins of the most prestigious position in the United States of America.  And I, my mother and my grandmother get to witness history in the making.

A representative from the Census Bureau came out to our church this Sunday past. He was taking applications and giving a ½ hour test to those individuals interested in ft/pt employment gathering data for the 2010 Census.

Since I’m always crying broke, I immediately signed up. The assignment will last from 5 to 10 weeks and the pay is not too bad. One of the stipulations is that you must be willing to participate in 40 hrs of paid training. They would try to accommodate your preference of day or evening/weekend training hours but there is no guarantee.

A couple of folks have expressed an interest so click here for the link.

As we come into the New Year we all make resolutions on changes we want to implement in an effort to improve on our physical and spiritual well being. One of the things in 2009 that we as human beings need to learn to do is let things go especially when it will impact or hinder your own personal growth. The following inspirational message was printed in our church’s bulletin and I also found it online under the T.D. Jakes Ministries. I’m not sure who the original author is but the message is powerful nonetheless.

LET IT GO

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

The Bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.

Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.

You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.

Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to …

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains …  

LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth …

LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you …

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge …

LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction …

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents …

LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude …

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better …

LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him …

LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship …

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves …

LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed …

LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to …  

LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things.

GOD is doing a new thing for 2009!!!

LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left. Think about it, and then …

LET IT GO!!!

"The Battle is the Lord's!"

Amen!