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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007
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11:26 pm
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| Monday, January 1st, 2007
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11:31 pm - And So Begins The New Year...
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Don't you find it odd that so many people are now crying foul after Saddam Hussein's execution? Here is a man, who single-handedly oppressed Shiites and killed many innocent; Of whom many wanted dead any damn ways, and now it's "poor guy..."? I'm confused, I thought that he had a death sentence? Personally, I thought it was enough punishment for him to be imprisoned; a shamed and fallen dictator served as example enough. The person that should have died in the gallows was Osama-BL; after jumper cables are attached to his nipples and way-down-there and given a *jump* for a minute. But of course, Bush can't seen to find his ass!
current mood:  contemplative
current music: John Mayer- No Such Thing
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10:11 pm - My New Obsession
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Oh, I know what you're thinking LOL..."Another obsession?"
Yupperz! You should blame Myspace really, they got me into HTML and all that tweaking of the pages stuff. I had to look for something for my LJ, of course. Now I'll be doing some more posting, LOL! And hopefully, you all will have something a little more interesting to look at. LJ certainly is a little more fun now! I can't wait to learn how to add music and videos as well! Happy New yeeeeeaaaar!!!!!
current mood: thoughtful
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| Friday, January 27th, 2006
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12:44 am - "Galapogos"- The Smashing Pumpkins
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ain't it funny how we pretend we're still a child
softly stolen under our blanket skies
and rescue me from me, and all that i believe
i won't deny the pain
i won't deny the change
and should i fall from grace here with you
will you leave me too?
carve out your heart for keeps in an old oak tree
and hold me for goodbyes-and whispered lullabyes
and tell me i am still
the man i'm supposed to be
i won't deny the pain
i won't deny the change
and should i fall from grace here with you
will you leave me too?
too late to turn to turn back now, i'm running out of sound
and i am changing, changing
and if we died right now , this fool you love somehow
is here with you
i won't deny the pain
i won't deny the change
and should i fall from grace here with you
would you leave me too?
current mood:  artistic
current music: "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness"- Smashing Pumpkins
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| Monday, January 23rd, 2006
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1:33 am - Surprise, surprise...
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I was browsing some more blog sites and came across Myspace. A while ago, I signed up. There was no activity on it until just recently. Well, I've managed to find some more Alumni! Yeah! Exciting! Well, I learned alot and am touching bases with some of them. One, in particular, gave me some interesting info. Something I didn't realize when I was younger. It was, at first, startling and then flattering. This info was completely unexpected and surprising. I just never saw myself as desireable towards any of my classmates, Lol. The only one who I thought found me devastatingly gorgeous and practically worshipped me, was my ex/ kids' father. We started out as homies and he took it a step further in the right direction. Anyway, I never realized that I, in all of my tomboyish ways and icy demeanor would ever be remotely attractive to guys in my same age group, as my ex is 3 years older than me.
I thought it was sweet. Let's see what other surprises lay wait around the corner.... 10 yr reunion here we come!!!
current mood:  accomplished
current music: "St. Jimmy"- Green Day
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| Sunday, January 15th, 2006
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7:34 pm - A Tribute To Aaliyah
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Miss You- by Aaliyah
Ho...
Hey...ey...ey...ey...
N-n-n-n-no, no
It’s been too long and I’m lost without you
So what am I gonna do, said I’ve been needin’ you,
wantin’ you
Wonderin’ if you’re the same and who’s been with you
Is your heart still mine, I wanna cry sometimes
I miss you
Off to college, yes, you went away
Straight from high school you up and left me
We were close friends, also lovers
Did everything for one another
Now you’re gone and I’m lost without you here now
But I know I gotta live and make it somehow
Come back to me (To me)
Can you feel me (Callin’)
Hear me callin’ for you (For you)
‘Cause it’s
It’s been too long and I’m lost without you
So what am I gonna do, said I’ve been needin’ you,
wantin’ you (Woo...ooh...ooh...)
Wonderin’ if you’re the same and who’s been with you
Is your heart still mine, I wanna cry sometimes
Now I’m sittin’ here thinkin’ ‘bout you
And the days we used to share
It’s drivin’ me crazy, I don’t know what to do
I’m just wonderin’ if you still care
And I wanna let you know that it’s killin’ me
I know you got another life, you gotta concentrate,
baby
Come back to me (To me)
Can you feel me (Callin’)
Hear me callin’ for you (For you)
‘Cause it’s
It’s been too long and I’m lost without you
So what am I gonna do, said I’ve been needin’ you,
wantin’ you (Baby)
Wonderin’ if you’re the same and who’s been with you
We truly miss you Aaliyah and the joy you brought into the music world and into our hearts. Rest in Peace.
current mood:  melancholy
current music: Miss You- Aaliyah
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| Saturday, January 14th, 2006
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9:34 pm - I Hate Fleas!!!
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Did I mention that I hate fleas? If I didn't, for the record, I hate fleas!!!
My cat, Luey, has been breeding fleas left and right. They've been eating us alive! I don't know what the hell to do about eradicating them permanently. We've been spraying Off! spray on ourselves to keep them from feeding on us. I even sprayed the cat with it, after bathing him in anti-flea dip/shampoo. The kids have bites all over, while I only have them on my ankles. I HATE FLEAS!!! That's it! I'm fumigating the house!
current mood:  aggravated
current music: Metallica- "Unforgiven"
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| Saturday, December 31st, 2005
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7:28 pm - Madonna Does It Again! BTW- Happy New Year!
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She has managed to release, yet, another excellent album. My cuz' Nef' gave me her CD/Journal/Blog, for Xmas; and, I'm telling you, it IS off the hizzzo!!! Definitely an album to dance, excercise or just thumpin' to. I play it as often as I possibly can, especially when I'm online. I've danced most of the day today, which is why I haven't posted in a minute. I have danced my arse off all day, and I've noticed that I'm not so damn uptight as I was. It's definitely a stress reliever! If you haven't already, get yourselves Madonna- "Confessions On A Dance Floor", as it's sooooo goooood!
My favorite songs are "Push" and "Jump". "Push" is works great if you practice the S-Factor excercise, you could suggest it played @ your local S-Factor studio.
current mood:  chipper
current music: Madonna- "Like It or Not"
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| Wednesday, December 28th, 2005
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11:05 pm - St. Jimmy
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St. Jimmy's coming down across the alleyway
upon the Blvd. like a zip gun on parade
light of a silhouette, he's insubordinate
coming at yiou on the count of 1,2,3,4
My name is jimmy and you better not wear it out.
suicide commando that your momma talked about. king
of the 40 thieves and I'm here to represent the
needle in the vein of the establishment. I'm th
patron saint of the denial with an angel face an
a taste for suicidal cigarettes and ramen and
little bag of dope. I am the son of a bitch and Edgar
Allan Poe. Raised in the city under a halo of lights.
The pdroduct of war and fear thatwe've been victimized.
Are you talkiing to me? My name is st. jimmy. I'm a
Son of a gun, I'm the one that's from the way outside.
I'm a teenage assasssin executing some fun in the cult of the life of crime. I'd really hate to say it, But I told you so. So Shut your mouth before I shoot you down old boy.
Welcome to the club and give me some blood.
I'm the resident leader of the lost and found. It's comedy and tragedy. It's St. Jimmy and That's my name and don't wear it out!!!!
current mood: aggravated
current music: "American Idiot"- Green Day
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| Sunday, December 18th, 2005
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7:07 pm - 'Tis The Season!
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Hello all! Here I am with a brain tickler, if you will. In the spirit of Xmas, I have a question. For the sake of Xmas, would you forgive those who've X'd you, just for Xmas' sake?
Or would you have a delightfully gleeful and grinchy Xmas Who-bilating their demise? LOL. Sound off!
current mood: amused
current music: "Whobilation Song"- From "The Grinch", Movie Soundtrack
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| Thursday, December 1st, 2005
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8:25 pm - Kryptonite
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I took a walk around the world to
ease my troubled mind
I left my body laying somewhere
in the sands of time
I watched the world float to the dark
side of the moon
I feel there is nothing I can do, yeah
I watched the world float to the
dark side of the moon
After all I knew it had to be something
to do with you
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end
If I go crazy then will you still
call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with
my superhuman might
Kryptonite
You called me strong, you called me weak,
but still your secrets I will keep
You took for granted all the times I
never let you down
You stumbled in and bumped your head, if
not for me then you would be dead
I picked you up and put you back on solid ground
If I go crazy then will you still
call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my
superhuman might
Kryptonite
If I go crazy then will you still
call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my
superhuman might
Kryptonite
Yeah!
current mood: amused
current music: "Duck and Run"- 3 Doors Down
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| Wednesday, November 30th, 2005
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10:12 pm - SHE'S A REBEL
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SHE'S A REBEL
SHE'S A SAINT
SHE'S THE SALT OF THE EARTH
AND SHE'S DANGEROUS
SHE'S A REBEL
VIGILANTE
MISSING LINK ON THE BRINK
OF DESTRUCTION
FROM CHICAGO
TO TORONTO
SHE'S THE ONE THAT THEY
CALL OLD WHATSERNAME
SHE'S THE SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE
AND SHE'S HOLDING ON MY
HEART LIKE A HANDGRENADE
IS SHE THINKIN
WHAT I'M THINKING?
IS SHE THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS?
GONNA DETONATE
IS SHE TROUBLE
LIKE I'M TROUBLE?
MAKE IT A DOUBLE
TWIST OF FATE
OR A MELODY THAT
SHE SINGS THE REVOLUTION
THE DAWNING OF OUR LIVES
SHE BRINGS THIS LIBERATION
THAT I JUST CAN'T DEFINE
NOTHING COMES TO MIND
current mood:  ditzy
current music: GREEN DAY- AMERICAN IDIOT
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| Saturday, November 26th, 2005
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12:28 pm - I Resurrected My Violin!
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After some hours of poking and prodding at what seemed like a fruitless effort. I accomplished the unimaginable. I finally managed to fix my violin! Yay, Woo hooo! So I practiced a little last night (only so much @ that ungodly hour, lol). It's been years since I last picked up that bow, and boy did I need it. I picked up my beloved instrument and fined tuned it. I can't believe I still have perfect pitch! I tested the tuning against an online tuner using Quicktime. I was right on note! I am hoping to get back to my excellent playing self by Xmas. Maybe I'll play a few songs for the fam! That would be awesome! I'll have to practice and practice and practice. It's something that I always have loved and am glad that I can now take the time to devote towards playing.
I first learned @ the age of 13. I was in 8th grade and was terrible the previous year in Winds class. My first instrument was the clarinet, at which I was dreadful! So you could imagine my music teacher's dismay when she saw me in her Strings class. I remember the look on her face, lol, when she saw me sitting right up front. Mrs. Hall did something different in Strings. She allowed all of the students to pick up all of the different instruments to see what suited us best. I saw the bass, and gawked at it because it was too big. I didn't like the cello because I had to hold it between my legs and sit "spread eagle", I don't think so.... The piano looked too difficult- too many keys. All of the violas were taken, so I picked up a violin. I held it under my chin, and let the neck rest in that groove between my thumb and forefinger. My music teacher looked over and came towards me. I thought she would be angry. But she smiled and boasted,
"You look like a natural, Morales!"
She gave me the bow, I held it, and stroked the strings with a natural feeling sweep. Mrs. Hall began to say,
"The violin is your instrument, You're a natural born violinist!"
I felt a little embarassed, but from then on, the violin is the only instrument I play.
current mood: excited
current music: "Canon in D"- Pachelbel
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| Friday, November 25th, 2005
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3:58 pm - Thanksgiving Day: Through The Eyes of the Indians
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THE PLYMOUTH THANKSGIVING STORY
When the Pilgrims crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1620,
they landed on the rocky shores of a territory that was
inhabited by the Wampanoag (Wam pa NO ag) Indians. The
Wampanoags were part of the Algonkian-speaking peoples, a
large group that was part of the Woodland Culture area.
These Indians lived in villages along the coast of what is
now Massachusetts and Rhode Island. They lived in round-
roofed houses called wigwams. These were made of poles
covered with flat sheets of elm or birch bark. Wigwams
differ in construction from tipis that were used by Indians
of the Great Plains.
The Wampanoags moved several times during each year in
order to get food. In the spring they would fish in the
rivers for salmon and herring. In the planting season they
moved to the forest to hunt deer and other animals. After
the end of the hunting season people moved inland where
there was greater protection from the weather. From
December to April they lived on food that they stored
during the earlier months.
The basic dress for men was the breech clout, a length
of deerskin looped over a belt in back and in front. Women
wore deerskin wrap-around skirts. Deerskin leggings and fur
capes made from deer, beaver, otter, and bear skins gave
protection during the colder seasons, and deerskin
moccasins were worn on the feet. Both men and women usually
braided their hair and a single feather was often worn in
the back of the hair by men. They did not have the large
feathered headdresses worn by people in the Plains Culture
area.
There were two language groups of Indians in New
England at this time. The Iroquois were neighbors to the
Algonkian-speaking people. Leaders of the Algonquin and
Iroquois people were called "sachems" (SAY chems). Each
village had its own sachem and tribal council. Political
power flowed upward from the people. Any individual, man or
woman, could participate, but among the Algonquins more
political power was held by men. Among the Iroquois,
however, women held the deciding vote in the final
selection of who would represent the group. Both men and
women enforced the laws of the village and helped solve
problems. The details of their democratic system were so
impressive that about 150 years later Benjamin Franklin
invited the Iroquois to Albany, New York, to explain their
system to a delegation who then developed the "Albany Plan
of Union." This document later served as a model for the
Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the
United States.
These Indians of the Eastern Woodlands called the
turtle, the deer and the fish their brothers. They
respected the forest and everything in it as equals.
Whenever a hunter made a kill, he was careful to leave
behind some bones or meat as a spiritual offering, to help
other animals survive. Not to do so would be considered
greedy. The Wampanoags also treated each other with
respect. Any visitor to a Wampanoag home was provided with
a share of whatever food the family had, even if the supply
was low. This same courtesy was extended to the Pilgrims
when they met.
We can only guess what the Wampanoags must have
thought when they first saw the strange ships of the
Pilgrims arriving on their shores. But their custom was to
help visitors, and they treated the newcomers with
courtesy. It was mainly because of their kindness that the
Pilgrims survived at all. The wheat the Pilgrims had
brought with them to plant would not grow in the rocky
soil. They needed to learn new ways for a new world, and
the man who came to help them was called "Tisquantum" (Tis
SKWAN tum) or "Squanto" (SKWAN toe).
Squanto was originally from the village of Patuxet (Pa
TUK et) and a member of the Pokanokit Wampanoag nation.
Patuxet once stood on the exact site where the Pilgrims
built Plymouth. In 1605, fifteen years before the Pilgrims
came, Squanto went to England with a friendly English
explorer named John Weymouth. He had many adventures and
learned to speak English. Squanto came back to New England
with Captain Weymouth. Later Squanto was captured by a
British slaver who raided the village and sold Squanto to
the Spanish in the Caribbean Islands. A Spanish Franciscan
priest befriended Squanto and helped him to get to Spain
and later on a ship to England. Squanto then found Captain
Weymouth, who paid his way back to his homeland. In England
Squanto met Samoset of the Wabanake (Wab NAH key) Tribe,
who had also left his native home with an English explorer.
They both returned together to Patuxet in 1620. When they
arrived, the village was deserted and there were skeletons
everywhere. Everyone in the village had died from an
illness the English slavers had left behind. Squanto and
Samoset went to stay with a neighboring village of
Wampanoags.
One year later, in the spring, Squanto and Samoset
were hunting along the beach near Patuxet. They were
startled to see people from England in their deserted
village. For several days, they stayed nearby observing the
newcomers. Finally they decided to approach them. Samoset
walked into the village and said "welcome," Squanto soon
joined him. The Pilgrims were very surprised to meet two
Indians who spoke English.
The Pilgrims were not in good condition. They were
living in dirt-covered shelters, there was a shortage of
food, and nearly half of them had died during the winter.
They obviously needed help and the two men were a welcome
sight. Squanto, who probably knew more English than any
other Indian in North America at that time, decided to stay
with the Pilgrims for the next few months and teach them
how to survive in this new place. He brought them deer meat
and beaver skins. He taught them how to cultivate corn and
other new vegetables and how to build Indian-style houses.
He pointed out poisonous plants and showed how other plants
could be used as medicine. He explained how to dig and cook
clams, how to get sap from the maple trees, use fish for
fertilizer, and dozens of other skills needed for their
survival.
By the time fall arrived things were going much better
for the Pilgrims, thanks to the help they had received. The
corn they planted had grown well. There was enough food to
last the winter. They were living comfortably in their
Indian-style wigwams and had also managed to build one
European-style building out of squared logs. This was their
church. They were now in better health, and they knew more
about surviving in this new land. The Pilgrims decided to
have a thanksgiving feast to celebrate their good fortune.
They had observed thanksgiving feasts in November as
religious obligations in England for many years before
coming to the New World.
The Algonkian tribes held six thanksgiving festivals
during the year. The beginning of the Algonkian year was
marked by the Maple Dance which gave thanks to the Creator
for the maple tree and its syrup. This ceremony occurred
when the weather was warm enough for the sap to run in the
maple trees, sometimes as early as February. Second was the
planting feast, where the seeds were blessed. The
strawberry festival was next, celebrating the first fruits
of the season. Summer brought the green corn festival to
give thanks for the ripening corn. In late fall, the
harvest festival gave thanks for the food they had grown.
Mid-winter was the last ceremony of the old year. When the
Indians sat down to the "first Thanksgiving" with the
Pilgrims, it was really the fifth thanksgiving of the year
for them!
Captain Miles Standish, the leader of the Pilgrims,
invited Squanto, Samoset, Massasoit (the leader of the
Wampanoags), and their immediate families to join them for
a celebration, but they had no idea how big Indian families
could be. As the Thanksgiving feast began, the Pilgrims
were overwhelmed at the large turnout of ninety relatives
that Squanto and Samoset brought with them. The Pilgrims
were not prepared to feed a gathering of people that large
for three days. Seeing this, Massasoit gave orders to his
men within the first hour of his arrival to go home and get
more food. Thus it happened that the Indians supplied the
majority of the food: Five deer, many wild turkeys, fish,
beans, squash, corn soup, corn bread, and berries. Captain
Standish sat at one end of a long table and the Clan Chief
Massasoit sat at the other end. For the first time the
Wampanoag people were sitting at a table to eat instead of
on mats or furs spread on the ground. The Indian women sat
together with the Indian men to eat. The Pilgrim women,
however, stood quietly behind the table and waited until
after their men had eaten, since that was their custom.
For three days the Wampanoags feasted with the
Pilgrims. It was a special time of friendship between two
very different groups of people. A peace and friendship
agreement was made between Massasoit and Miles Standish
giving the Pilgrims the clearing in the forest where the
old Patuxet village once stood to build their new town of
Plymouth.
It would be very good to say that this friendship
lasted a long time; but, unfortunately, that was not to be.
More English people came to America, and they were not in
need of help from the Indians as were the original
Pilgrims. Many of the newcomers forgot the help the Indians
had given them. Mistrust started to grow and the friendship
weakened. The Pilgrims started telling their Indian
neighbors that their Indian religion and Indian customs
were wrong. The Pilgrims displayed an intolerance toward
the Indian religion similar to the intolerance displayed
toward the less popular religions in Europe. The
relationship deteriorated and within a few years the
children of the people who ate together at the first
Thanksgiving were killing one another in what came to be
called King Phillip's War.
It is sad to think that this happened, but it is
important to understand all of the story and not just the
happy part. Today the town of Plymouth Rock has a
Thanksgiving ceremony each year in remembrance of the first
Thanksgiving. There are still Wampanoag people living in
Massachusetts. In 1970, they asked one of them to speak at
the ceremony to mark the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrim's
arrival. Here is part of what was said:
"Today is a time of celebrating for you -- a time of
looking back to the first days of white people in America.
But it is not a time of celebrating for me. It is with a
heavy heart that I look back upon what happened to my
People. When the Pilgrims arrived, we, the Wampanoags,
welcomed them with open arms, little knowing that it was
the beginning of the end. That before 50 years were to
pass, the Wampanoag would no longer be a tribe. That we and
other Indians living near the settlers would be killed by
their guns or dead from diseases that we caught from them.
Let us always remember, the Indian is and was just as human
as the white people.
Although our way of life is almost gone, we, the
Wampanoags, still walk the lands of Massachusetts. What has
happened cannot be changed. But today we work toward a
better America, a more Indian America where people and
nature once again are important."
current mood: contemplative
current music: "If I Was An Oscar Meyer Weiner..."
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| Sunday, November 20th, 2005
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8:17 pm - Thanksgiving Week Is Upon Us! Aaaaaahhh!
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Yay! My feed has been coming through properly for the past few days. That's good because I'd like to put my Cookie Monster feed back on. Thanksgiving week is upon us and tomorrow is Cookie Dough delivery day! Woo- Hoo! It's about damn time too! People are waiting for their orders and I'd like to give them their stuff before Thanksgiving.
I would also like to thank all of the families who were supportive, to my Awesome Cuz, Nef, she had the best order! Enjoy you funnel cake, it's on it's way tomorrow with the other 3 boxes of stuff. I wrote it down, so I don't forget and they get your order right ^_~! Thank you so much, as your orders help with activities and supplies needed for a variety of things for the kids of Highland El. Happy Thanksgiving!
current mood:  anxious
current music: "Night Fever"- Bee Gees
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| Thursday, November 17th, 2005
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5:14 pm - Playin' Catch-Up With Us Constituents... I could've told them this....
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Democrats Call For Immediate Iraq Withdrawal
WASHINGTON - An influential House Democrat who voted for the Iraq war called Thursday for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, another sign of growing unease in Congress about the conflict.
"It is time for a change in direction," said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., one of Congress' most hawkish Democrats. "Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region."
Murtha estimated that all U.S. troops could be pulled out within six months. A decorated Vietnam veteran, he choked back tears during his remarks to reporters.
Murtha's comments came just two days after the Senate voted to approve a statement that 2006 "should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty" to create the conditions for the phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.
In recent days, President Bush and other top administration officials have lashed out at critics of the war and have accused Democrats of advocating a "cut and run" strategy that will only embolden the insurgency.
Vice President Dick Cheney jumped into the fray Wednesday by assailing Democrats who contend the Bush administration manipulated intelligence on Iraq, calling their criticism "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city."
Murtha, a Marine intelligence officer in Vietnam, angrily shot back at Cheney: "I like guys who've never been there that criticize us who've been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done."
The top Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, Murtha has earned bipartisan respect for his grasp of military issues over three decades in Congress. He planned to introduce a resolution Thursday that, if passed by both the House and the Senate, would force the president to withdraw U.S. troops.
Murtha could not say whether his caucus supports his position. And, although he is a close adviser to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., she was absent from his news conference.
For months, Pelosi has pushed for the Bush administration to outline an exit strategy, although she has stopped short of calling for an immediate troop pullout.
Some Senate Democrats have called for immediate or phased withdrawal, which many Republicans and the Bush administration reject, arguing that it would only embolden the insurgency.
Murtha voted to give the president authority to use force against Saddam Hussein in 2002 but in recent months has grown increasingly troubled with the direction of the war and with the Bush administration's handling of it.
"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion," Murtha said.
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said Murtha's call for withdrawal was "reprehensible and irresponsible."
"It shows the Democratic Party has chosen a policy of retreat and defeatism which will only encourage the terrorists and threaten the stability of Iraq," Granger said.
First elected to Congress in 1974, Murtha is known as an ally of uniformed officers in the Pentagon and on the battlefield. The perception on Capitol Hill is that when the congressman makes a statement on military issues, he's talking for those in uniform.
Known to shun publicity, Murtha said he was standing up because he had a constitutional and moral obligation to speak for the troops.
His voice cracked and tears filled his eyes as he related several stories of visiting wounded troops, including one who was blinded and lost both his hands but had been denied a Purple Heart because friendly fire caused his injuries.
"I met with the commandant. I said, 'If you don't give him a Purple Heart, I'll give him one of mine.' And they gave him a Purple Heart," said Murtha, who has two.
current mood: wow!
current music: "Proud Mary"- Ike & Tina Turner
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10:47 am - "What is in the Dark, Must Come Out in the Light", -Maureen James-Waller
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After careful consideration, I finally feel confident in my life path.
It took challenging someone who I've always held up as a perfect example of success. This person is not perfect, no one is. However, she used to always have the answers- up until now, because now I question her sanity. I am a person who learns by example. People who tell me what's good for me, better be walkin' the walk instead of just talkin' the talk. This person prided themself on striving for the best, not settling for anything less than the best. It all turned out to be a grand facade. Covering the true nature of this person; a broken spirit who feels incomplete and powerless against her surroundings. Someone who will compromise themselves to appease the majority, instead of fighting against the stereotypes and labels given by other groups. It was very disturbing to hear, and a little heartbreaking.
And when you lived the kind of life I have, spotting these people becomes very easy. It's just when this person happens to be someone you've always thought of to be 'so put together', it's rocks the ground beneath you for a second... And that's why I respect my cousins because they don't pretend not to have insecurities or vulnerabilities. It empowers them, in a sense, to step out of themselves and face those fears- Pillars of Courage. I am extremely observant and analytical to a fault, and although I don't share the same feelings as they do, I respect and honor their positions in this world. They may not have degrees or are where the world feels they should be, they embrace who they are and take a stand when injustices loom. They are Courageous and I admire that!
What is success, really? It's as individual as the person who experiences it. And no one person's success and method thereof would be right for a different individual. Given the environmental, upbringing and socioeconomic factors; each person's success is their fingerprint in the world. You live by "what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong", so when I hear this peer speak of what is success, I know that it is a narrow scope influenced by what was not intended by her cultural parentage. It is a caucasoid shrowd thrown over our country, a.k.a. "The Modern-American Dream", to make us think that quantity over quality is the meaning of success.
Don't get me wrong, being rich is great, but if you're not prepared to handle that lifestyle; no matter how much you have, you will still feel empty deep inside. This problem comes from not having a meaningful role in society. You can have power, prestige and excess; but what is it worth if you have let others chip away at you and you've dissolved who you really are? What change have people like this affected? The image of fake socialites and shallow friendships, as opposed to deep, meaningful relationships comes to mind. What kind of life is this? No matter how one intellectualizes it, it is living a lie, not one I would ever want or strive towards.
In conclusion, no one is perfect and follow your instincts. No one will know what's best for you, except for you. Wear who you are on your sleeve and stand up for yourself. Stay open to learning and embrace change, because you will someday BE that change. Don't let anyone put you down and don't save face, because what's in the dark will come out in the light.
current mood: Activist Thursday
current music: "For What It's Worth"- Buffalo Springfield
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| Tuesday, November 15th, 2005
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6:11 pm - "The Killing Club" Book
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I'm reading this book, and I must say that it has proved to be an interesting read. I thought that it was cheesy that a soap writer would name a fictional character from his soap as the author of his fictional piece of work. Crazy and confusing, but he did. The story began stagnant, but by chapter 3 it gets interesting. In further reading, because I believe in finishing what you start, I discovered that this story really is worth it. It's suspenseful, creative and funny. Vividly descriptive and narrated well; I will tell you this, if you are a fan of One Life To Live, it's not like the storyline played out in the soap. It's different with a variety of nuances not expressed on daytime. The Killing Club is a suggested read if you like to be mildly scared. It's not an all-out horror, murder book. But it holds it's weight nonetheless. Check out this Murder-Mystery some time! "The Killing Club"- by Marcie Walsh with Michael Malone
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| Monday, November 14th, 2005
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11:01 pm - King/Drew`97 Reunion
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I am so psyched, people! I have managed to find 2 more classmates. Man, I feel so hype and peppy. This is how my week's starting. I love having this much energy. And there will be soccer parties to end the soccer season on Saturday, I'm excited! Woo-hoo!
If you know anyone who graduated from King/Drew Medical Magnet High School in 1997, please send them this way. If they went to this school and they're about 25 or 26 years old, chances are they are our alumni. Let them know to go to http://alumnionline.org and register and join the King/Drew HS 1997 reunion. Chances are, I've been looking for them too.
I'm off to enjoy my week and make myself over. I have lots to do this week and I'm steaming full-speed ahead. See ya soon!
current mood: excited
current music: "Stayin Alive"- The Bee Gees
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| Sunday, November 6th, 2005
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9:15 pm - Weekend Drama!
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I've done most of what I needed to do. But it came with some trials. I'll tell you why... You see, my family wanted me to go over their house and do a bunch of stuff for them over there. But, I just can't do all that stuff and come home and do the big bunch of crap I have to do here. I'll be dead-tired. And no one's going to kill me with work. I have alot to look forward to and I've gotten no support from that way. I mean, I'm doing what no one thought I would do, being that I'm a single parent. You would think that my own mother would be happy for me, but fuck! Nope. She doesn't say anything when I try to share with her my accomplishments. It's like talking to a freggin' wall. But I have to remember that I'm doing it for myself and for my kids and fuck what anyone thinks. That's the way I've survived for so long. That Fuck The World mentality got me my apartment, my job, my kids and my accomplishments. It took severing the closeness in order to get anywhere in life. And I hate to be that way, but she really pushes me to that. I feel like they are pressuring me to be more than one person and abandon mines and my kid's futures. It's like my grandmah wants me to be all 4 of her grandchildren in one, and I'm supposed to pick up all the slack. Well now My' is saying Fuck tha World! again because it's not fuckin' fair. I can only do so much when ain't shit being done for me. Why should I be obligated to do for people what I can't, when nothing's being done for me? That's deep shit right there. I'm doing shit alone, straight up. And I'm sick of trying to bend over backwards when it feels like I'm bending over and taking it in the ass all the time. I can't do it anymore, My kids have to come first now. My girls need me, and they don't have a daddy there to help them. I'm mom and fuckin' pops, grandmah and bloody grandfucken pah! I have to pick up the slack for all those useless people, for my kids. I have lot's of roles inside the damn home, and now I've got to do quadruple-time outside of the home. Hell Noooo!
current mood:  indescribable
current music: "Fortunate Son"-Creedence Clearawater Revival
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