What Reccession?

My answer to that the HELL YEAH!!!!!!




If you’ve purchased gas, food, paid an electric or gas utility bill you would know this. Many people including myself are starting to feel the pinch of inflation. Inflation is felt when your dollar don’t stretch as far as it used to. When you finding yourself paying more for everyday things, but getting less. Don’t be fooled, the poor are not the only people feeling the heat; the “middle class” are feeling the fire too, maybe more than the poor. See we you are poor, or in my case ever been poor you have a whole set of survivor skill set that you can put to use anytime your funds are low. For example, I try to eat at other people’s house as much as possible. Due to high gas prices my car only moves if money is involved and on an emergency basis. You may find me sitting in the dark fully dressed with only the television on…. this is an effort to save on heat and electric. And when I do cook, I cook things that are usually in one pot and take 5 ingredients or less.


See you gotta learn how to revert to living on a budget when the economy is in turmoil. If you are one of the few people that think that America is not in a recession you may want to take notes. Soon and very soon the effects of the credit crunch and the housing market debacle will infect every part of our lives. Job cuts are ever present, in March, construction companies cut 51,000 jobs, factories eliminated 48,000 positions, and retailers cut payrolls by more than 12,000. Professional and businesses services lost 35,000 jobs and temporary help firms cut nearly 22,000 jobs. Financial firms chopped 5,000 jobs.

Here are some tips to save money
1. Increase the deductible on your car insurance, this will lower your monthly payment.
2. Eat more veggies….. their cheaper
3. Give up soda and kool-aid… drink water
4. Cook big meals you can eat for several days
5. If possible give up cable/satellite
6. Rent movies instead of going to the movies… if you decide to keep your cable then don’t rent movies.
7. Instead of going to the bar/club get drunk at home.
8. Leave your heat alone. Keep the heat between 68-70 degrees.
9. Open the windows and let the sun naturally heat your home
10. If you go out to eat…. Drink lots of water and only order from the appetizer side of the menu.
11. If you must shop only shop from the sale/clearance racks.
12. If you have a farmers market in your city shop there it’s usually cheaper than the grocery store
If you believe…. or don’t believe we are in a recession leave me a comment

Are You The One?

Today Show, CNN, MSN, NBC all reminded me this morning that yesterday was the day that MLK was assinated. To be honest prior to this morning I did not know what day MLK died on. I tried to watch most of the programs highlighting the life and untimely death of MLK, however I soon got bored and changed the channel. Nothing new, no new evidence, no new theories, just the same stories they usually tell around Black History Month.

Okay, I did hear a few new tid-bits about Martin. Like he was very depressed when the march in Memphis turned violent. Friends reported that the man did not smile for three days. Basically he was pissed cause he people showed their ass. I also learned that the FBI thought they recorded him engaging in a sexual act with another woman. Now, what I find interesting is that on the CNN piece the “friend” of MLK did not come right out and say, “That wasn’t MLK in the room.” Instead he said that someone may have home in the room and had sexual intercourse.

For me I think it’s time to stop dwelling on the past and look forward to solving the issues NOW, TODAY, IN THE PRESENT. I am grateful for MLK, we still reap the benefits of his efforts today. But I am tired of celebrating victories of the past, we have new issue and some old issues that we have not resolved.

Today we are not being attacked by water hose and blood thirsty dogs. Today we are being attacked by the criminal justice system, a dilapidated school system, AIDS, STD’s and drugs. Suicides among black men are on the rise, and blacks to some degree are still blocked out of the economy. Today racial issues still exist, but in much subtler tones. As a whole, the black community has been facing a serious set of problems for quite awhile.

Recently actress Cicley Tyson was receiving an award. While accepting the award Ms. Tyson slipped into the character of Jane Pittman. She began asking the audience…. Are you the One? She later explained that during slavery times when children were born the family would often look at the child and ask are you the one. The one that will lead us into freedom, the one that will correct the wrong society has done, the one that will stand up on our behalf, the one that will intercede for our community and the one who finally says enough is enough.

I believe we all are the one. We must do what we can to help our community and save our kids. No one is going to come and make everything alright, not Obama not Hilary, not Tavis, not Michael Basdien, not Rev Al or Jessie. This will take the efforts of every person in our community. We all have a small part to play.



My question to you is……. ARE YOU THE ONE?

Looks Like Another Love TKO

Well I finally decided that I'd had enough and broke up with my guy. Man this was the worst and longest break up I've ever endured. Have you ever tried to tell someone that you were not feeling them, but tried not to hurt their feelings at the same time? I tried to end this relationship four times, and each time he would talk me back into giving it another try. This guy is really a nice person, but not the person for me! Every time I would try to walk away he would bring up everything from our great sex life to God. And me being me, I try to stay conscience of every one's feelings so I kept giving it a try. Finally last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. It got down right ugly, he would not accept that I wanted to end the relationship. I started to feel like I was applying for a mortgage application and my job was to convince the bank that I was a worthy candidate. He would not leave my house, he wanted to talk all night, he forced me to stop being nice. The words finally fell from my mouth, " Dude, get the hell out of my house...... this relationship is OVER." Can you believe that he would not leave....... so the boys in blue gave him a personal escort. Normally, I would feel bad, but this time I feel like he finally gets it. Being single is one thing, but being connected to the wrong person is worst than being single. Hell at least you can deal with yourself, but dealing with the wrong man/woman takes all kind of bending, patience, conforming and a whole lot of uncomfortable internal feelings. I wish that brother the best of endeavours, I hope he becomes a success, but our time was up! Tell me why some folks just gotta make it hard? Why does it have to get ugly before some people accept the finality of some situations? All I gotta say is, I am happy to be single again. After this "experience" I am done with dating for awhile. Sometimes a breather is the best thing a person can do, it refreshes the mind, body and spirit. Life is nothing but a big ole lesson, the good teaches and the bad teaches too.

A World On The Brink Of Hell

Today I was listening to the news and heard that a 12 year old girl was allowed to work in a strip club in Dallas, TX. According to court documents, the 12-year-old told club employees that she was 19, but couldn't give them identification and didn't know what year she was born if she were that age. The club still allowed this child to dance in their establishment. I swear this world is going to hell with gasoline draws. I've been to strip clubs and could not imagine being on stage, let alone a 12 year old, with 12 year old thoughts being the object of sexual desires. Hell at 12 years old I still loved my Cabbage Patch Doll, I still jumped double dutch, I still watched cartoons and I was basically still a kid. I know that kids today live in a very different world than I did in the 80's, but who would take advantage of a child like that. Yes, this child probably did not have the parental guidance or family support, but we gotta get back to being the village.

Anyway, it's Friday nite and I am blogging and watching one of my favorite movies, Waiting to Exhale. Man I love this movie, it's still so relateable. I wish I had a good bottle of wine: that way I would be sleep already. I am pissed because I live in this nice ass apartment, but the refrigerate work only half the time. It's a new "ice box", but sometimes it gets hot and stop working, then all the sudden it kicks back on. Luckily I never have food or I would be cussing someone out at the leasing office. Well I'll holla at y'all later.

Learning Me

As strange as it may sound, I am still learning me. Yes, I've been me for the last 32 years, but there are somethings that I've denied myself for years. I've been a conformist for most of my life and it's really tiring. I was reading O magazine one day and a quote damn near knocked me on my feet. The quote said, " Let the world know you as your are, not as you think you should be. Cause sooner or later if you are posing, you will forget that pose, and then where are you?"


People I am so tired of posing. I went to school for business because it was easy and my most influential friend at the time was going to school for business. Instead of admitting that I was almost a junior in college and still did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up was not something I wanted people to know so I conformed.


Dating men that were not my style or not really into the things that I was into was apart of my 20's lifestyle. As long as he was perceived as a great catch then that was all that matter. Forget, that I was going through relationship after relationship. I wanted the perfect relationship like my friend Debra. Debra has a wonderful husband, a great kid and everything seems romatical and divine in her life. So instead of searching for a man that was good to me, I wanted someone exactly like Debra's man.

Insecurity ran through me like blood in my veins. I always carried my insecurities with me, they never left my side. I'd try to hide them and pretend that I had confidence but really I was always comparing myself to others in the room. At some point in my life I convinced myself that I was not pretty enough, smart enough, strong enough, ect...


Finally at the great age of 30, I began to realize this is my life. I want my life to reflect me, not someone else life I've been emulating. I want to live my life on my terms, good and bad, but still my life. So far I've decided to just be me and let people love me or hate me for that. People pleasing is very hard and time consuming. Embracing my fears and faults is all part of getting to know and accept me.

Today I looked in the mirror and saw a curly grey hair along my hair line. I smiled and thought damn I earned that one. I ran my fingers through my locs and felt proud that I decided to go against the grain and go natural. I've also decided to go back to school this summer. Although I like business, business comes natural to me and it is easy. Most of the things I learned in business school I already knew. So I've decided to go to school for something totally different than business. Something that makes money, yet fulfilling and challenging. I've decided to go to school for............................. Civil Engineering. I know that it will be hard, due to all the math and science classes, but I am ready for the challenge. My job will pay a great deal of the tuition, so I will not come out with an extreme amount of debt like I did with the bachelor and master degree I have. I love learning, my mind craves information and my soul craves change.


For the last 3 years I've been living my life like it's golden. That's right MY LIFE. Never let someone define your life. Life is precious and meant to be lived to the fullest. Yes there will be regrets and moments of hurt. But you live and get over it. I encourage you to live YOUR life the way you want to live it and start today. The sooner the better.

Something About Michelle

I’ve avoiding talking about politics. But I must admit I like that Michelle Obama. I feel that she has an understanding and sense of what everyday folks go through on a regular basis. Let’s face it, women are strong influences over their husbands, and if this sistah makes it to the White House change is eminent.

When you look at Michelle she gives you that sistah vibe. Regardless of her economic or social status it seems she can relate to everyone on some level or another. Last week I was listening to her on the Ricky Smiley Morning Show and she revealed that she and Barack are still a few years off from paying off their student loan debt and they currently still live on the south side of Chicago. As a person who still has student loans in forbearance status, I am excited to know that a possible President and First Lady could relate to me in this way. Not to mention, these people could live wherever they wanted in Chicago. Most would prefer the best subdivision their money could buy. Nevertheless, they chose to live close to everyday folks. I likes that. It makes them seem………relatable.

Yesterday Michelle appeared on 360 with Anderson Cooper. Soladad O’Brien interviewed Mrs. Obama and one of the interesting “bait” questions asked by O’Brien was.” You were and are high-powered, highly-compensated female executive, which is a tough thing to get to. And then you're going after somebody else's dream.” First and foremost when you are married, you are a team. It takes a very strong woman to place her husband’s desires ahead of her own. But Michelle answered the question by saying “My view of career is that I can always have whatever career I want. That's why I made these choices and worked hard and got my education. I don't question that I can go back to that job or go back to something else interesting.”

Why must she defend her choice to support her husband? No one has asked these questions to Cindy McCain. I get the feeling that with or without Barack, Michelle would still be a powerful and successful woman. However, she has decided to put her support behind a man that has the potential to be the FIRST black president. I think that is an effort with supporting.

Soladad O’Brien went on to say “But a lot of times, your career helps define who you are.” Unfortunately, for her she had to be checked again. Michelle said “It doesn't for me. I mean, what I do in my life defines me. And a career is one of the many things I do in my life. I mean, how I -- I am a mother first. Where do I get my joy and energy? First and foremost, from my kids. In the midst of this campaign, what I've done is I don't campaign every day. I'm not gone for weeks on end. I will not go on a trip that will have me away for more than two days. And the campaign has understood that. I'm not going to miss a ballet recital. I'm not going to make them move their world around to accommodate me and Barack. We have to do the accommodating.”


See her kids won’t be out copping dope like Busch’s kids. She won’t be so busy trying to get her husband elected that she doesn’t focus on her kids. This woman understands the little people, the people that make America what it is today. I knew Obama would have my vote when Michelle stated

“As a wife and mother and a professional, you know, I'm doing what most women are doing, regardless of their race or their socioeconomic status. I'm juggling and struggling to keep my head above water, because this whole balancing act that is now the life of a woman and a family has become more and more impossible.And that's true for me who has resources. And if we're struggling, just imagine what's going on with folks who are getting up, working shift jobs where they don't have the flexibility to go see their kids' ballet performances, where they don't get sick days off, where they don't have insurance, they don't have access to quality and affordable childcare.I mean, women and families are drowning. And I think that what I'd like to do is bring voice to sort of the direction that we need to be going.”

See what I mean. I real woman of substance, integrity and character. I am ready for change, and I think with the Obama’s in the White House……………. as Sam Cooke would say………… It’s been a long time coming but I know change gone come……. oh yes it is.

Not A Golden Moment!!!!!

Hey Everyone,

I know I have not posted in awhile, but the posting will be more frequent soon. I've just purchased a new lap top. I am waiting for my network provider to hook up the internet in my apartment. My life has changed so drastically since moving to St. Louis. First and foremost, I decided to try a relationship. The relationship thing is very hard for me. I've been single for a long time and sharing my time and space seems to be a hard thing for me. My guy seems to have an issue with me making more money than he does. Which is a big problem for me. I work HARD, and I get paid what I deserve, actually I think I am worth more. However, my pay is fair. My guy wants ALL my time, he calls constantly, when he's not calling he's at my place. Most of the time I feel smothered and wish he would just get him a life. I have feelings for him, and I really want this relationship thing to work, but right now my career is number one in my life. I moved home to be closer to family and friends and honestly since hooking up with homeboy I haven't spent much time with family or friends.


Then it's his occupation (or lack of one). He moved from another state to be closer to me. I knew that finding a job would be tough, but I really feel that he is too relaxed about the situation. Unfortunately, he smokes ( which I hate) and what lil money he has, he spends on cigs. and other stupid things. When he goes job hunting, he goes in a hoodie and baggy jeans. I attempted to tell him that his choice of clothing may prevent him from finding a job. But, he feels that I am being bossy and unrealistic about his job search.


This relationship is on life support and I am ready to pull the plug. I feel obligated because he left Florida to be with me. I knew he would have to find a job, but I did not agree to fully support him. I had no idea he would be so relaxed about finding a job. Funny thing is.... when I was single all I wanted was a relationship. Now I have a relationship I secretly wish I was single again.


Today we got in an argument and I was told him to leave me the hell alone. Now he keeps calling and I am not sure if I am doing the right thing. Ladies and Gentlemen give me your best advise.