sweet sundays: sunshine

Summertime is upon us. Doesn't the brightness that greets you in the morning lift your spirits? God is amazing. Enjoy nature. Go out in the sun and soak in the wonder of it all. Take a deep breath.

I know, I know. The cancer risk etc. but hey, your body needs a little vitamin D sometimes :) I'm an island girl so I apologize for my disdain for sunblock. I know our bodies need it but I'm a regular ole' sunflower.

______________________________

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night"

Steve Martin

sweet sundays: the path less taken

Sometimes our baser human instincts take over in emotional situations and we react poorly. I hate when I overreact and have to backtrack, and apologize or I feel bad like if I saw the person at church or work or they turned out to be a family friend I'd be embarrassed. I'd much rather do it right the first time but since I'm not perfect, that does not always happen. When it does, I feel so much better about myself. There's an important lesson in knowing we don't have to be rude or crass to stand up for ourselves.

Something that happened last week reminded me of this. It's a Raf story. He doesn't want his pics on here but at least I can blog about him lol. For months he'd trained with this company for a position that he's wanted for sometime now. Finally, the training was completed and he began to work with the company. At the outset he explained that although he is willing to come in on Sundays, he would not be avail to work every Sunday. This is totally fair since he works Mondays-Fridays. In addition, it isn't required to come in on Sundays. However, one of the supervisors (a particularly rude one too that consistently gives employees grief) decided that he'd disregard that and every Sunday, he calls Raf. Oh, and even though Raf's requested less work on Sunday so he can get home at a decent time, he's been working past sunset on Sundays, then heading in early the next morn. Last Sunday, Raf decides he isn't going in. He's had a number of 6 day work-weeks in a row and needs a break. So as a courtesy (not required) he calls on Friday to inform them he's not available on Sunday. The particularly rude supervisor passes the phone to a colleague because how dare Raf not come in on Sunday when there's work to be done? The colleague is pleading for Raf come in but Raf can hear the other supervisor in the back ground complaining in a very argumentative manner that he MUST come in, he HAS to come in. Threatening, yes? I think so too.

Now, do I need to tell you about Caribbean males? Let me not stereotype widely. Jamaican men are VERY proud, and they don't take being disregarded or disrespected lightly. It would not be a stretch for Raf to put him in his place. Trust me. He can be rough...well, used to be. But he wasn't and I am so proud of him. What he did was drop off the equipment and company vehicle, call the administrator, and respectfully leave the position (she didn't want him to go but he explained the situation completely). Come Monday, he is being called repeatedly by said supervisor. When he finally speaks to him, supervisor apologetically asks him what happened and if there's anything they can do (yeaaa, act like you don't know). When Raf says no because he can't seem to have a decent conversation without being talked down to (even tho Raf's complained of this before). Supervisor's like "you know you can talk to me" and basically begs him to come back in so they can work out any differences amicably and with respect. So, Raf is back on the job. Supervisor is now mindful of his manner when dealing with Raf (if not other employees - can't expect too much now). & as usual Raf has a 100% IVR (ranking/rating system). Go babes!

Sometimes, people make it so hard for us to exhibit character traits that are attractive. They just push us to respond with our baser instincts. But thank God, sometimes, we hold on to our temper and take the higher road.

Be gone bad-man-isms! Be gone probably-you-neva-heard-a-mi!

I say choose the path less taken this week & the rest of your life...sometimes the results may not be desirable but if you walk away with your character intact, then what did you lose? Nada :) You in fact gained a world of dignity, self respect, and the admiration of those around you.

girly fridays: 15 lbs to get rid of

& I'd love to rid myself of them before June....remember that swimsuit?

Well my pal, Vicky and I were supposed to be making plans to lose some weight but "stuff" keeps coming up - yea, we're likely unconsciously avoiding. Well, the time has come. Finals are done next week and come May 3rd, it is ON. Weight is a funny issue. There are people saying I don't need to lose more but ahmmm, yes I do. I don't obsess about my weight and if I seem to, it's not genuine. I just wanna be down to a comfortable weight so I can maintain. I'm tired of trying to lose weight.

So what's my plan?

>>Exercising/gym 3 times per week, every week

>>Drinking water

>>Portion control

>>Healthy snacks in between to prevent starvation eating (a.k.a. overeating) lol

So ladies, what's your summer weight loss plan? I know there are some lucky ladies who don't need a weight loss plan but I'm not one of them.

Who's smokin the strong stuff today? Keri

This is a funny one. Short & sweet. I'm putting my friend (more of a sis) Keri on blast.

Here's the story. Yesterday she had a presentation in one of her rotations (she's in med school). 20 minutes long & graded by her attending. Now tell me why she see's the attending snoozing during her presentation, and says "we can ask Dr. B if he wakes up." LOVE IT. She called out the professor/attending grading her! She now thinks she's gonna fail, of course. I beg to differ. She's crazy, yes (it's def the green stuff she's smoking) but he can't fail her (or even near)...he didn't even hear all she said!

Thank you Keri, though I think you are nuts, THANK YOU for saying exactly what was on your mind. Sometimes, it just needs to be said. LOL!

word love: Dis Poem

dis poem

shall speak of the wretched sea

that washed ships to these shores

of mothers crying for their young

swallowed up by the sea

dis poem shall say nothing new

dis poem shall speak of time

time unlimited time undefined

dis poem shall call names

names like lumumba keyatta nkrumah

hannibal akenaton malcolm garvey

haile selassie

dis poem is vexed about apartheid racism fascism

the klu klux klan riots in brixton atlanta

jim jones

dis poem is revolting against 1st world 2nd world 3rd world division

man made decision

dis poem is like all the rest

dis poem will not be amongst great literary works

will not be recited by poetry enthusiasts

will not be quoted by politicians nor men of religion

dis poem is knives bombs guns blood fire

blazin for freedom

yes dis poem is a drum

ashanti mau mau ibo yoruba nyahbingi warriors

uhuru uhuru

namibia uhuru

uhuru soweto

uhuru afrika

dis poem will not change things

dis poem need to be changed

dis poem is a rebirth of a people

arizin awaking understandin

dis poem speak is speakin have spoken

dis poem shall continue even when poets have stopped writin

dis poem shall survive u me it shall linger in history

in your mind

in time forever

dis poem is time only time will tell

dis poem is still not written

dis poem has no poet

dis poem is just a part of the story

his-story her-story our-story still untold

dis poem is now ringin takin imitatin

makin u want to stop it

but dis poem will not stop

dis poem is long cannot be short

dis poem cannot be tamed cannot be blamed

the story is still not told about dis poem

dis poem is old new

dis poem was copied from the bible your prayer book

playboy magazine the ny times readers digest

the c.i.a. files the k.g.b. files

dis poem is no secret

dis poem shall be called boring stupid senseless

dis poem is watchin u tryin to make sense from dis poem

dis poem is messin up your brains

makin u want to stop listenin to dis poem

u need to know what will be said next in dis poem

dis poem shall disappoint u

beacuse

dis poem is to be continued

in your mind

in your mind

in your mind

by: Mutabaruka (Jamaican, 1952-)

Howard Drive Chronicles Part III

So me and crazy neighbor haven't been getting on any better.

Then Sunday happened and now I "owe" her ::long sigh::

We left Hugh home with our lone set of apt keys (yea, bad idea to have only one set) to go run errands. We were out for a few hours. But I called him about 45 minutes before I got home and spoke to him. All is well. When we finally get home and need him to open the door, would he pick up phone or answer doorbell?????? I called and called and called then buzzed and buzzed and buzzed. Nothing. So Raf heads around back to throw a stone up (yes, desperation set in after about 10 full ring phone calls) and I keep at my calling and buzzing.

Door opens. It's the neighbor. Great. She let's me in and get it, I ask her to bang on the ceiling to rouse my brother ::dies:: Anyway, he finally hears something (stone or banging on door) and opens the door before neighbor can bang. He was in the shower. Clearly having a spa day/moment. So, I graciously thank neighbor (what's a girl to do?).

So I'm telling K the story and I'm all like, great, now I owe my neighbor or something (I vote for something). K gladly reminds me it won't be long until she doesn't something nutty again. Then we can call it even. I'm actually looking forward to the next ceiling bang (not really).

sweet sundays: growing older

This weekend we celebrated Keri's birthday. She's all of 27 (yes, I put her on blast...she doesn't look it so she won't mind). We went to church, then had lunch, and then followed that up with a visit to a club. Yes, a club. Does that make any sense:? None at all, & since I'm a sensible girl, it won't happen again. I mean, it's about time I walk the walk, huh? Well, it wasn't supposed to be a club but it turned out to be one and what was I to do? Just say no :) But it's my LeeLee (soft spot). Anyhoo, we had fun hanging with each other (& can I insert some sop here? I'm glad my hussy's my dance partner for life - nothing makes a woman feel better than a sweet guy and he was oh, so sweet yesterday and last night. K, so back to regularly scheduled program). It was a bunch of her friends from high school, college, and med school. She looked hot, she had fun, and that's what matters at the moment. Oh! & she looked fab doing it!

I wish you could see the shoes but alas, such is life.

What's so good about growing older? Each day we grow older is a blessing...some people stay young (a.k.a. don't age. a.k.a. die). What's even better? Growing older as friends.

Happy Birthday my darling friend & sister