Staying Strong For Granny

My grandmother had a stroke recently and it really has left me in a daze. It seems like I am having a hard time accepting that she is getting older, weaker and more dependant on her children and grandchildren. My grandmother never seemed to age….she is 78 and still does not have one wrinkle! Not even crow’s feet under her eyes. In my eyes she has always been strong, sassy, independent and a fierce fighter for her family.



My Granny does not believe in letting grass grow under her feet. She still worked full time until she had her stroke. She said retirement was not for her…old folks retire and activity was good for the body and brain. So as long as she felt up to it her children (as if they had any say) continued to let her work.


Granny is a country woman born in Yazoo, Mississippi did not believe in going to the doctor. Shoot I’ve seen my grandma “cure” ailments a million times. Got a cold, granny can take some lemon, herbs, cognac and other ingredients and make some “cough syrup” we called a hot toddie. Man… that toddie had you feeling better in within a matter of hours. I’ll never forget the time she “cured” my cousin Lil Mike of asthma! Lil Mike kept having asthma attacks and she was tired of seeing those doctors push large does of medicines and steroids on her great- grandbaby. She called down to Yazoo, got the recipe from her Auntie and she was giving Lil Mike her version of a breathing treatment. It has been years since Lil Mike (who is not so little any more)

But now that Granny is sick who can “cure” the effects of her strokes. Could it be the doctors at the hospital, the pharmaceutical companies, the rehabilitation therapist or her magic herbs and potions? I’m not really sure but I am praying that we find a way to get her back to her old self as soon as possible.

Having to watch my Granny try to talk with slurred speech was heart breaking. It was painful to ask her to repeat herself so many time before my brain finally picked up on what she was trying to say. Her speech pattern is very abnormal and it frustrates her that people have to lean in close to her and really concentrate on what she is trying to say. It has gotten to the point that Granny does not like to talk because she hates that her family and friends can’t always understand what she is trying to say.

I was asked by the nurse if I would like to feed my Granny lunch! The nurse had so much enthusiasm in her voice when she asked me that question, but to be it was just another sign that my Granny was losing more of her independency. Part of me wanted to say no….my Granny is capable of feeding herself she is not a damn baby. But then I looked at her in the bed looking frailer and weaker than I’ve ever seen her in my life and gave the nurse a faint smile while nodding yes.


Shortly after her meal Granny feel asleep and I just kept looking at her praying and hoping that this was not the beginning of the end. I know that if my Granny does not get better anytime soon she will stop fighting for her recovery, she detest being an invalid that much. She is used to being the caretaker not the ill person.

But as difficult as it is to watch her deal with her health problems, I consider it an honor to feed her and help her through these trying moments. I am just having a hard time dealing with the fact that she may not ever be as strong as she used to be.

No Rest For The Weary

I just wanted to take a moment and say hey. Whew my life seems like a complete whirlwind right now. So many things to do and so little time. Like tomorrow I am taking a day off of work….but don’t get too excited because I for sure won’t be vacationing.

Lets see…. the grass needs to be cut in the front and back of the house. The weeds need to be pulled up along the fence and all that 4th of July trash need to picked up from in front of the house. Not that I popped any fire works or had a cook out at me house…but magically all the fireworks end up in front of my house.


Then I have to study for a test and a final! I cant tell you the last time I watched television. My day is jammed packed and if I could add a few extra hours to the day I most definitely would.

I few things have been going on in STL that has me scratching my head. There seems to be a war between the thugs and the police. Police have been getting shot and thugs have been getting killed, and the police cant always tell the difference between thugs and regular black men.

Seems like every time I get to hear the news the police have killed somebody or somebody tried to kill the police!


Then there is the VA clinic that could have possible infected over a thousand veterans to HIV and Hepatitis . These fools were hand washing their dental equipment instead of placing them inside the mandated cleaning devices. I am sure that there will be a class action suit regarding this foolery. I hope the person in charge gets fired and they person who thought they were doing their job hand washing the tools, they need to get fired too.


So I will post again really soon, until then stay prayerful and safe

2.54cm=1inch

OMG I’ve started school and I must tell you it’s HARD!! Yeah I knew it would be hard but I thought I would slide into the groove of school my taking Fundamentals of Chemistry (FOC). FOC is a 6 week course and man is there a lot to learn in 6 weeks.

I am determined to pass this class even if it is by the skin of my teeth. I really want this engineering degree and know that it will take every brain cell I have to accomplish this goal. Please keep me in your prayers, cause I am going to need it. I am studying like a fool and it takes me longer to get it than some of my classmates.. but I eventually get it. Man sometimes I feel like I've been smoking ganja all my life, because my memory is crappy. Then again I have not used my brain in this capacity for a few years. I just gotta know th cob webbs off my brain.

Jill Scott and Maxwell Concert Review

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you would know that Jill Scott is one of my closest friends (in my head). Last Saturday Jill and Maxwell graced the city of STL with their great presence. It was a absolutely fabulous show. I enjoyed myself and could not stay in my seat.

The ticket prices were 150.00 for floor seats, 85.00 the next level, 65.00 a little higher up, 45.00 for the slightly elevated seats, and 35.00 for the nose bleed seats.

Guy Torrey opened the show with a lil comedy. He was only on for 15 minutes and I was still looking for my seat and missed him completed. But he got a few laughs from the concert goers so I guess he was acceptable.

After Torrey exited stage right, the stage hands began to set up the stage for Jilly from Philly. Finally her stage was revealed and a REAL band began to play. Jill’s band is called Fat Back Taffy and it is baaaaaaaad! There were horns, guitars, pianos, shadow dancers and background singers. The crowd was on the edge of their seats waiting for Ms. Scott to hit the stage.

Finally Jill came out rocking her fro, oversized glasses, silver sequenced mini dress and silver liquid leggings and wedged heels. Jill took the audience on a journey of emotions; she took us back 10 years ago to her 1st album to her newest stuff. She then showed off the range of her vocal skills by doing a wee bit of opera-ish type sounds. It definitely left me feeling like her voice was an instrument and she was capable tackling the upper ranges.

Babyyyyyy Jill let the STL have it! She had some shadow dancers that left the men (and some women) with their mouths agape and she sang sweet melodies that had people grooving.


Then came Maxwell. First let me start by saying I am not a Maxwell fan. It’s not like I don’t like him, it’s just I never go into his music. But he has awesome showmanship. He elicited audience participation and the ladies were throwing panties at him all night. I soon realized that I did like a few of those Maxwell cuts.

Max had an awesome band too. He had on one of them “skinny” suits and was rocking the stage. Needless to say I was there primarily for Jill, but I thoroughly enjoyed Maxwell as well. He did his thang.


If you get an opportunity to see these two in concert………….GO! I give this event 4 out of 5 stars. Pure showmanship and great quality. If you’re mature enough to remember the Budweiser Superfest then you would love this concert experience.

Sex and the City 2 Review

Last Thursday night my homie Alicia and I went to see Sex and the City 2. It was truly an event and we had a great time. We decided to go to the best theater in STL…..The Moolah. The Moolah has stadium seating and comfy leather love seats and a bar! It also boast the largest screen in the metropolitan area. Needless to say, we had a few cocktails and popcorn and sat back to watch the movie.

In case you’re wondering my fave Sex and the City chick is Miranda. This character reminds me so much of myself. Miranda over thinks everything, very independent and attempts to use logic at all times.

Sex in the City 1 was better than 2, but if you are a cult follower you will absolutely love them both. I wont spoil it for those of you that haven’t seen it yet, but there were some key points that stood out.


1. Miranda and Charlotte coming to the conclusion that being a Mom is not the end all be all of a woman. Both women felt like being a Mom was great….but it was not enough. Miranda quit her job to spend more time with her son and quickly realized that she missed working. Charlotte felt like being a Mom left no time for herself, and she really wanted her me time back. I would probably feel the same way if I were a mother. Being a mother is not the complete sum of every woman. Some of us want our careers, our hobbies, our “me” time and just time to unwind. Mothers should not be made to feel like they are less than a great caregiver because they still want to enjoy their lives and go after their dreams.


2. Carrie and Big decided that they needed time away from each other to keep their marriage healthy. They agreed to spend two days a week away from each other so they can keep the relationship fresh and new. These two days would give Carrie time to hang out with her friends, write her book, shop, stay up late, and do the things she used to do when she was single (outside of cheating). It also have Big time to watch all the television he liked, and all the ESPN and black and white movies he could stand. He could lay on the coach all day in his boxers and smoke as many cigars as he liked. Although this may sound crazy to some, this was what they needed to make it work. Why do we always have to go the conventional traditional way……even when it does not work! What about doing what work for the people in the marriage. Who’s marriage is it anyway and who says that people have to follow tradition?


I give Sex in the City 3.5 stars out of five. This is worth seeing.

I'm Just Saying

Is it me or does Beyonce look a little pale in the photo on the top. This photo was taken yesterday of her at the Obama’s state dinner. I cant tell you when the other photo was taken. Look likes she called Sammy Sosa and borrowed some of the moisturizer. It makes me think of that quote by Audre Lorde’s, “The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house.”



I’m just saying………..

Please Don’t Test….. That Teacher’s Gansta

I know you have probably seen the video of the teacher Sherri Davis whooping the ass of her student Isaiah Regan. When I saw the video I could tell that the teacher had snapped and had enough of this particular student’s bullshit. Davis appeared on Good Morning America and stated that the day had been "utter chaos." Just moments before the incident where she beat student Isaiah Reagan on video, she had to break up a fight in the hallway between a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. She said that people there are not protecting the students or the staff at the school. Ms. Davis said that while her adrenaline was still building from stopping the student fight in the hallway, she heard the door to the classroom slam shut and the door lock. A white girl who was a special needs student who had just enrolled in the school was in the room, surrounded by mostly African-American male students who were "mimicking her." Isaiah Reagins, who she says has assaulted teachers and other students, "was bouncing around in a threatening, bullying position."

Obviously lil Isaiah has been a problem for sometime and still had not learned that school is not a place to act a fool. You may ask yourself how can a teacher go from being teacher of the year (twice) to beating the hell out of one of her students? Well let me answer that for you ….. bad ass kids with poor excuses for parents. If you think your job gets on your nerves try going into the classroom. Oh teaching is not how it use to be when kids respected grown folks and at the threat of calling the parents and/or grandparents was enough to make a child break down into a soggy pile of tears.

I hate to say it…… but we are witnessing what happens when crack babies have children. Yessssss……most of the children causing problems today grandmothers are/were crack heads in the 80’s. Of course this is just my opinion but I really believe that it is true.

I used to be a long term substitute teacher and I had to lay hand on a student too! I remember it like it was yesterday. My student name was Charles and he was very short and little for his age (14). Charles also had sickle cell but he was mad as a muth%$#@!!. One afternoon Charles clowned and talked and gave me the blues so when the end of day bell rang I told Charles he was to stay seated until he could be quiet for a full five minutes. The other children left to catch their buses and Charles was instructed to stay in seat and be quiet. Charles said, “If I miss my bus, it’s gonna be all your fault.” I told Charles every time he spoke his five minutes would start over again, so if he missed the bus it would be his fault. I got up from my desk and stood in front of the door. Needless to say Charles kept talking and I refused to let him leave. At some point he starting cussing and talking about what he was going to do if missed his bus. Then out of no where Charles picked up a desk and threw it at me.


I lost it on his ass! I grabbed that lil muth%$#@!!. by his throat and pushed him against the wall and lifted him off the ground by this throat. I told him, “Let’s get one damn thing clear here….. I ain’t the one to play with and if you ever attempt to hurt me again I will make you wish you ever laid eyes on me. Little did I know the principle saw the entire episode and calmly asked me to release the child. I let him go and he ran out the room. The principle left and went on about his business.


But I tell you what….. Charles was one of my best students after that. I never had a problem out of him again and guess what………he passed my class. We joked, smiled and continued on like what happen that afternoon never took place. Teachers I people too and if tested they make open a can of whoop ass on ya.

Many teachers are put in the position to be security. They have to protect kids from bullies as well as protect themselves. Schools with hundreds of students often have very little security …if any. It gets frustrating constantly trying to deal with behavioral issues and not doing what you were hired and educated to do…..TEACH! The government and states are trying to hold the teachers responsible for the children lack of learning…..but what about all the behavior and external issues that find their way into the classroom and must be dealt with before learning can take place. Now Isaiah mama is filing a law suit against the school and Ms. Davis. My question is…….where the hell was his mama when he was acting a plum damn fool! What was she doing to address her child behavioral issues? Had she ever sought professional help for her child, was there discipline in the home?

Please don’t judge Ms. Davis too hard. I’m sure she regrets ever placing her hand on that child, regardless how bad he was he is still a child. But, if she is to remember he is still a child he needs to remember that she is still an adult. We all make bad judgment calls and decisions in our life. I just hope that Ms. Davis can recover from this professionally and financially. I also hope that Isaiah understands that his behavior was inappropriate and his mother addresses h