Riveroflifelisajoy’s Weblog
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for November, 2007
HOLIDAY SHOPPING! DO YOU WANT REAL BLING BLING OR THE FAKE DING DING?!!! I CAN TELL YOU WHERE TO GET THE DING! DING!
December 27 2007 update____I was able to purchase housecoats, and silky rayon nigthies for 3.99 a piece!
I got all of this for $67.00!
I even purchased 5 SETS OF Queen Size Sheet sets on Jamaica Avenue in a HouseWares store next to Modells for $3.99 also!
Hurry up and get there. All different styles and colors. My mother loved hers! It was used on the full size bed.
I always buy a size up to make up for any type of shrinage!
The colors are clear and the designs are crisp!
I got my son some great thermal design shirts for $10.00 in Modells too!
I really saved loads of money on Jamacia Avenue for this holiday Shopping.
I really buy things that the family needs…never the pricey jewelry! The house wares also had 3 large bath towels for $10.00.
I brought five sets of sheets and I am going back for more!!!
AT $3.99 how can you go wrong? I am so excited….I love Valley Stream….but you will never get prices that cheap on houseware items….I know….I am a window shopper for life!
Till next up date! RIVEROFLIFELISAJOY!
I was on Jamaica Avenue the other day( I usually go to Green Acres Mall) but I had some business to take care of regarding my utility bill. But as I was walking I noticed alot of things on sale that were very cheep.
Skirts, dresses, jeans, sweaters, pajamas, table clothes, housewares, and suitcases galore! I love the flea market, but suddenly Jamaica Avenue was starting to look quite appealing!
I have various reasons why I did not shop Jamaica Avenue but to be honest, the area has turned over a new leaf! It has government buildings, city buildings, the Long Island Rail Road, the Kennedy Airport Tram and a whole host of stores from furniture, baby needs, and concept stores too.
Of course the well known slightly larger than a boutique stores like the “Avenue” for large women, and a food court for food lovers hides down a quiet side street around the corner for White Castles. My new Hair Dresser is down a quiet street off of Jamaica Avenue also.
But my purpose of this rit–is to discuss the “jewlery stores.” I did see a ZALES Jewlery Store on Jamaica Avenue! I was shocked!
Look, I do not buy jewlery, because I have never had the desire to spend my rent, utility bill, car insurance payment, or grocery money on a tennis braclet, or even a gold plated 14K gold necklace.
I believe that such purchases are for those who have it ALL!! Don’t get me wrong, I know you can put things on “layaway”– but for me….something always comes up that interferes with my making payments on that layaway and then I get the phone call or letter that informs me that I am about to lose that $100.00 that I put down on that item.
Two times that happened to me in Green Acres Mall with jewlery store. All I wanted was a GOOD watch….an adult watch for a lady, for a church going lady, for a mommy who works hard to care for her family, blah, blah, blah,—of course I had to talk myself into this investment—because I always feel guilty if I buy something for myself!
–So, anyway, I purchased this Citizen watch for only $120.00! (It was on sale from $170.00) That was a lot of money for my limited funds.
But I had convinced myself that I deserved it. So I put down my deposit and then I fell behind on the payments because of family and home economic problems.
I finally picked up my watch with the positive inspirational statements from the sales clerk, on how pretty it looked on my rather chubby brown arm! I admired it and stared at it so hard, ( because no one ever purchased any expensive watch or jewlery for me in my entire life!)
I thought that I had finally grown up at my early years of 42! How sad, isn’t it? —I wore my watch with pride at work
I received the usual compliments and then one day, getting into my car I noticed that my little friend was missing from its perch on my chubby brown wrist.
It was fall weather and I had not raked the leaves infront of my house.
I kicked, and kicked until the yard looked worse then ever! I was so very lazy about raking leaves!
My son came out of the house and must have thought I was reliving my childhood! I was swinging my arms and kicking the leaves frantically!
I almost fell on the ground because of this non sense! I grew exhausted from my wasted efforts.
I could not find my watch….my beautiful, gold tone, link watch! I did notice that the clasp had become loose. But it was not that severe to me.
However, after that final day with my friend, my dearly departed grown up lady, church going lady, hard working mommy Citizen Watch, almost seven years ago….I have not laid another deposit on any jewlery!
So I chose to purchase cheap $10.00 funny looking watches that I don’t even take a second glance at once they are on my cubby brown arm! Just tell me that time is all I care about.
No more attempts at Bling Blining it! So if you want to Ding, Dinging it with me….go to Jamaica Avenue….there are plenty of shops that offer such items that are not pricey and will not break your heart if they have an untimely departure from your neck, wrist, finger, or ankle!
And for those who can afford the pricey….go to that Zales!
I also found a great Army color design sweat suit for my son! It only cost $15.00! It was great! My son is tall but skinny!
He is athletic in build so he can wear anything! I found those “mink” blankets for the bed—also those beautiful over the top bed spreads with matching bed skirt, the whole shabang for $25.00 to $30.00.
There were “heavy comforters” for sale for $14.00 in the various stores ( one in particular called ALEXIS) as I walked down Jamaica Avenue!
I thought to myself that if I had atleast two to three hundred dollars I could purchase several good gifts for my family and a few friends!
So I got so excited. I can’t wait to get back to that street. I will park car and stop being so lazy to walk. I will pick up the not so Macy’s, not so JCPenny, not so Marshalls items and give my little family something to unwrap under the Christmas Tree.
I do not have a credit card ….so I cannot afford the big name stores! I only can buy cash! I love Macy’s women’s department!
But do you know that women who wear a size 22 or above cannot buy a coat in Macys for less than $200.00? I saw a FAKE….FAKE….Lamb Skin Coat for $400.00!!!
What did they put in that thing? Did they sew it with Gold thread? It is fake lamb skin! Who is wearing size 22 and can afford a $400.00 coat?
What makes it worse is that the stupid coat will never be at a price I can afford. Even if they lower it to $200.00 —I have a car insurance that is $218.00 every month!
I already told you that I feel guilty to purchase anything pricey for myself. I will spend good money in Marshalls for my son….but for myself, unless I am going out to perform (which I will be singing next week, to start off this holiday season) I do not buy beautiful clothes for myself.
I buy for my son first and myself last! I feel joy when I see the happy look on my child’s face when I give him something that he truly wanted or enjoyed for Christmas!
So if you do not have alot of money, but want to give nice gifts that look good too….try Jamaica Avenue in Queens New York! Oh, and there is a movie theatre there too. The buses, and trains are all central to that location.
Happy Holidays, and Good Bargin Hunting!!! And look, it is the thought that counts! So pick up some Ding, Ding if you cannot afford the expensive stores like Macys and JCPenny!
Just get good boxes, good wrapping paper and pretty bows! —Okay, Okay, for those of you that must have the Bling, Bling, run to T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Fashions for Less in Valley Stream. Also check those stores for the good clearance items.
You might be surpised at what you find! You might like the sales.
Another good gift giving item I like is the fruit baskets! I used to make them myself. I liked do that in my mothers old neighborhood!
Certain elderly neighbors who were not family, just community friends for years—I would make up a basket of brownies, and cupcakes, and fruit! They would love it! I remember an elederly lady named Granny that used to babysit me for years.
I would go to the house with my son when he was six or seven and have him learn the value of “giving to the less fortunate and the lonely during the holidays! Granny looked forward to my little holiday baskets.
I enjoyed the look of happiness on her face, and the look of quiet shock and affection on my sons little face when Granny would reach down and give him a kiss on his forehead and “thank him” for giving her such a lovely gift for Christmas.
She would then invite us inside and we would sit and talk while my son would play with her grandchildren.
The holidays can be beautiful if you keep the real meaning for the season in your gift giving! I will write more if I find more bargins!
riveroflifelisajoy!
What EVER CAN GO WRONG–WHEN YOU LIVE PAY CHECK TO PAY CHECK—WILL GO WRONG! TAKE UP PAINTING AND KEEP COPING THROUGH IT ALL–IT REALLY WORKS!!!
#1 Flower of Hunger**** by Riveroflifelisajoy
#2 Frustration**** by Riverof lifelisajoy
#3 Chinese Ink and Water Color****by Riveroflifelisajoy
#4 Sun Flower ****by Riveroflifelisajoy
#5 Hunger and Doubt ****by Riveroflifelisajoy
#6 Foliage**** by Riveroflifelisajoy
#7 Chinese Ink and Red water color**** by Riverof lifelisajoy
I really thought I would have been going to the Poconos, or atleast SPLISH SPLASH this summer of 2007! But instead I was stuck at home after work everyday, and during my vacation.
It was all based on a series of events that emptied my pocketbook after each pay period from May 23 2007 through September 2007. It all began with my son’s senior trip from his private Lutheran School.
He had attended that school since kindergarten and now was graduating at the age of 14. The school has nine grades. It is called Grace Lutheran of Queens Village. It is an excellent school for academics, and mentoring boys and girls.
I will always love and honor that school for its care and concern for my son. However, my problems began because of my son’s health. He had experienced some episodic conditions that would need emergency care if and when they occurred.
It was because of this problem that I found myself attending a two day trip to Washington D.C.. The trip was great! We went to Beni Hannas Japanese Grill, the Spy Museum, we observed the Washington Monument from a distance (due to terrorism alert as per our tour guide), we went inside the Capital Building where all of the congress meets, Lincoln Memorial, and the Arlington Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
We walked underground from one building in the capital to another. I, of course, got lost during that activity. You know, the cell phone died; I had to ask around and then I and another parent eventually found the bus.
I, a chaprone, had gotten lost because I always, always have to use the restroom at the worse time! So with all of this stated. I had spent my entire 2nd paycheck of May on this trip! I had planned to take my mother with me.
I was going to follow the bus route, but my car had begun a serious oil leak and I had to leave the car behind. My mother cannot climb those steep steps to into the coach bus.
So I had to make accomodations for someone to look in on my mom. The problem was that my son’s school, knowing his medical history and condition was afraid for him to attend that two day trip without me being present. If he were to get sick on the trip they were concerned about his safety and their liability!
All that was well understood by me. The problem was that it was not explained to me until May 2007! My son had already paid for his ticket back in September, for the $300.00 ticket! The hotel was the Marriot! 4 Star accomodations! Great….! But not great for me who only makes $500.00 every two weeks!
So at the last moment I could not pay any bills, I was instead going on a trip! I love trips….but not Trips on a Shoe String! I like to decorate on a shoe string …but not go out of state on a trip/vacation on a shoestring. I literally only had $20.00 between my son and myself for the entire trip!
Thank God for two male parents who brought lunch on the second day for my son and myself! My son, however, did become ill on the second day to my dismay. I was in shock! We were at the Smithsonian Museum (which is a definite place to visit when you get the chance) and my son was throwing up and falling asleep just about everywhere we toured that day.
He had a temperature, and he was having asthma conditions that he was not telling me about at the time. (He hates doctors and hospitals!) He just kept asking when are we going home? I want to go home.
Finally the bus made it home from Washington D.C. and my son and I made a B-line to North Shore Manhasset Hospital. NorthShore Manhasset Hospital has the best pediatric emergency room –especially for asthma, and seziure disorders. They also have a cable t.v. in each little cubicle –and if you stay unfortunately they even bring video games to their pediatric guests!!
My son loves that hospital—once he has to go there for medical emergencies. The doctors are quite thorough too! But my problem was that when I returned from that trip I had zero dollars to my name.
The next problem was that my son was graduating and I had to pay the school $2500.00 to complete his fees for graduation and school price for the year end.
My son needed a tux for his prom, and shoes (size 11 1/2), shirt, pants, tie, cap and gown for graduation and his hair done (he gets his braided–I’ll write about that in another blog).
All of this shot a hole the size of Atlantic Ocean in my pocket book. Remember I am a single parent, caregiver to my mom, and I do not receive childsupport due to the castastrophic disease of my (((missing for nearly 10 years–husband)))—so for me on a $500.00 bi-weekly pay check, and $1600.00 per month rent, ((and I pay gas bill, and the electric bill)) —I actually live pay check to pay check.
It was a very happy, sad, bittersweet time for my son and my mother and I.
I could have enjoyed it more it I had enough money to cover my son’s trip to Washington, pay his school fees, and buy all of the needed items so that he could enjoy his final days before graduation, and graduation itself!
I could not and did not even buy him a “real” graduation present. Matter of fact…I did not even buy him a birthday gift. I could not afford it this year! I felt so bad. I had waited for my taxes to come in so I could bring his school fees up to date.
The next problem after graduation was completed was my car. My car was due for inspection in June 30, 2007. It had a very bad oil leak–I own a 97 Toyota Camry. It leaked so bad that I was putting two quarts of oil each time I went to work, and every night when I returned home from work.
Pep Boys in Hempstead LongIsland refused to inspect it until I paid them $658.00 for the repair of the oil leak. I had to leave my car in Pep Boys for an entire month! I had to pay my utilities, and I had to pay my $1600.00 rent, $500. 00 car insurance also had to be renewed.
I truly do not know how I made it through those months and kept food on the table. The telephone was cut off several times.
It was a hot, hot, mess from June, July, August! I was on pins and needles.
So I decided to start painting! I could not go anywhere because I had no car for the whole month of July until I saved up enough money to pay Pep Boys; who was holding my car hostage!
So I metrocarded it to work everyday! That was rough. I had to walk ten blocks to the closest bus stop every day.
When I began painting I was disgusted. I thought, as I began to paint– that I had brought that paint set for my son.
It had a real artist easel, oil, acrylics, and water color paints. I would come home after my long walk and talk about my day at work; and talk about my car being held hostage; and wondering if Pep Boys would try to sell it or something.
I would feel butterflies in my stomach when I thought about my car. So I put all of that nervous energy to work on a canvas by painting instead.
Soon I began to like to paint. Then I tried to get my son to paint. My son was the real victim of this summer’s no money blues! But he began to write songs on the piano!
So for the summer he discovered his talent in music, and I did like an old chicken….I scratched on the canvas with a brush and some paints. I will attempt to upload some of my pictures so you can see what I did. *******************
I have twenty that I actually did. The first green themed picture is called Foliage. I experimented with the arcrylic. I dabbed, and drew “leaves”, and just imagined some of the parks I have been to in the summer. I love it when it is hot outside and the plants seem to drink in the summer sun, just after 10:00 am and it is a cloudless sky—-thus the title Foliage!
The second picture was one in which I had purchased some Chinese Ink from my son’s Scholastic Book Fair at school and it was supposed to be used for drawing the Chinese letters. So I decided to combine the water color of red and I believe I also used a acrylic red for the dabbled spots on the picture.
I hope this may inspire some of you to take your frustrations out on a canvas. To be honest with you I actually used typing paper, because I only had one actual canvas. On that canvas I drew a mermaid surrounded by sea creatures. That one was my favorite to draw with colored pencils. I love the deep ocean animals, shark, whale, Octopus, Squid, Jelly fish, amemone, coral reefs!
I am a water person by nature. I love swimming and I love the smell of the ocean. It just can’t help it. My mother always took me to Far Rockaway as a child, and Jones Beach. I will write about my love of the sea, and beach in another blog. Just thinking about it makes me feel calm, relaxed and serene!
I’ll write again soon! riveroflifelisajoy!
Who Will Save the Witch Children This Christmas? Where are the Celebrities: “Anjolina and Brad” and “Madonna” to the Rescue?! Please Speak Out on this HORROR!
I read an article in the New York Times early this morning a 4:00 A.M. by journalist, Sharon La Franiere that changed the tone of my holiday post ThanksGiving –Pre Christmas and Chanuka Spirit of joy to —deep sadness, horror and disgust. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/11/14/
world/1114-WITCHES_2.html
The above is the place in which to find this excellent yet terrrible depiction and detail of multiple stories of WITCH HUNTING of children IN AFRICA!!
There are efforts being made to stop this terrible practice, but it seems to me that it needs more people to get involved.
The alleged country in Africa in which this practice of severe child neglect, abuse, and killing is called Angola, according to La Franiere. The following are some excerpts in quotations of the article called African Cruicible, Cast as Witches, Then Cast Out, by Sharon La Franiere ( 11/15/07 published date) that I found the most heart gripping:
According La Franiere a young boy named, “Armando Dos Santos was forced to leave his family after being accused of witchcraft.” (p.1) As stated by La Franiere, “In Angola it is socially unacceptable to push a child out because of poverty, but not if they are possessed.”(p. 1)
As I read this I began to wonder, what will be the fate of this child? Who will save him? There are organizations that are stepping up, but how many children will be lost? According to La Franiere another description is, “Domingos Pedro accused by his family of being a witch and of causing his father’s death. His mother Maria worries about attacks by his relatives, so Domingo lives in a shelter.”(p.1)
I continued to read in disbelief. I kept thinking of Oprah Winfrey and what she is attempting to do in South Africa, and I just felt a sense of overwhelming fear and anxiety for children who could have been my son, or my brother!
I scanned through the pictures of these lost children and I saw a little boy at age 6! He looked like my son at age 6! Although my son did not always behave at that age….(what child does?) I could not conceive of even thinking of him as remotely possessed!
However, La Franiere explains,that “the relatives are tossing the children out due to poverty!”(p.1) How do we as a nation stand by and do nothing? I know our hands are tied into so many world/global efforts from Iraq, to Israel with very important peace keeping missions at stake!
It is important that America, maintain peace keeping efforts in all the world. But what about the children who are truly the victims of hunger, poverty, and now “cast out as witches.” (p.1) What to do? What to do?
I truly felt a tug at my heart, and my throat tightened and my eyes welledup as I read the following caption on the picture of Alfonso Garcia, as explained by La Franiere,” African Crucible, Cast as Witches, Then Cast Out- “Alfonso Garcia, 6, came to the shelter in July after his family paid $20,000 Angolan Kwanzas almost $300.00 to cure him of witch craft. His family still rejected him saying that he was not cured.”(P.1)
I had begun to believe that this issue was purely about poverty. But as I continued to read I was shocked to find out that some of the people really think that these children are POSSESSED!!!!
La Franiere continued to explain that, “a child accused of witch craft was stabbed to death in 2000, provincial officials and Save the Children the global charitable organizations, rounded up 432 street children and reunited 380 of them with relatives.” (p.2)
What makes me feel worse is that I feel powerless to do anything about it except to write about it. I hurts so deeply to think of children not given a chance at education, food, shelter, or love!
What will these children turn into if they are not saved before they become adults? If they survive will there be a place for them to go without education, or training? La Franiere, further explains, “Thirty-two boys occupy bunk beds stacked a foot apart, their few clothes stashed in cardboard boxes underneath . No shelter exists for girls.(p.2)
Where are the girls I wondered. I dared not allow myself to think too deeply into that.
I just wanted to interest people into reading this article. There is so much more to it. La Franiere clarified, ” In Uige Provenice has a shelter run by the St. Josephs Catholic Church.”(p.2)
Please take the time to read this article by Sharon La Franiere called, “African Crucible, Cast as Witches Then Cast Out,” in the New York Times, published 11/15/07.
I hope the United Nations, and Peace Corp., Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and other Child Rights Agencies across the globe come forward and build a massive public awareness effort and help to re-educate the adults that hold the delicate lives and futures of these Angolan children in the palms of their hands.
I hope that celebrities who have seen the pain and suffering and have attempted to do something will again use their public influence in ways that will help save the future of this abused children.
” Angolina and Brad” have given so much of themselves to the efforts of saving children.
“Madonna” has taken a child in an effort to save and recreate a bright future for him. I hope other celebrities make an effort as well. Once again please read that article and then think about the future of children on the global level.
FOND MEMORIES OF MY FATHER DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND!
Too often it has been stated that black men are not there for their children, or men in general are slacking off from their responsibilities. I have a different perspective.
My father was a WWII African American Veteran. He was on the front lines of that war, from the way he described it to me when I was a kid.
I used to love to listen to him tell stories about work, or some about the Army Reserve.
My father had been given a waiver and also given a license to practice as a Practical Nurse when he came out of the service of the United States Army.
He became an Army Reservist. He was a Sgt. in the Army Reserve. When I was a child he would take me to the Army off of Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. I used to love it there during the Christmas Holiday! That place was so gigantic to a small child.
I would run and play amongst the army tanks, and jeeps! I loved the smell of the gasoline, and heavy metal vehicals. That was my second home when my father would take me there for parties, to get my gift from “Santa.”!
Upstairs in the rooms where the party with Santa was held, there were so many rooms. The other children and I would sneak from “secret room to secret room” until our parents would call us to come sit on Santa’s lap! My father would always know everybody there.
When I think back, I did not know what “racism” was until I got into my teens. My father was friendly with every army reservist there! There was laughter, and jokes and smiles, pats on the back and introductions to the other families and their children!
I recently found a letter from him to my mother when he was on Army Reserve upstate at Camp Drum. This letter had been written in 1960’s. He was telling my mother to pick up his check from the hospital where he worked.
He also said that he missed her at the end of his letter. That was touching to me because it seem that when became severely overcome by diabetes his attittude had changed toward my mother.
He eventually passed when I was 21 years old, from an enlarged heart, and kidney failure. He suffered trememdously from diabetes!
I remember watching my father give himself a needle in the stomach. He had been put in the hospital a couple of times.
But one thing I noticed about my father, was that he refused to stay home from work. He went to work everyday.
He had two jobs. He worked in what was then called Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, and Creedmoor Children’s Hospital.
He would leave for work at 10:00 p.m. and not return home until the next day at 5:00p.m. My mother would have dinner prepared, he would take his shower and go straight to bed.
He never got many hours of sleep at home. He worked in the Emergency Room at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital at night. He worked at Creedmoor Children’s Hospital during the day.
He provided a large bungalo house with a big yard for his family. My mother called him a WORKAHOLIC!!!
His major concern was that my mother provide him with clean clothes, and dinner. He could handle the rest.
On the weekend my father would take me to the park after he had had some sleep.
He would make sure I had done my chores and then the rest of the afternoon was my time with him! He loved to play handball with people he had met in the park while I ran around with my friends at the playground.
I never had a bad experience at that park in Cambria Heights Queens NewYork! As I got older the movies with Bruce Lee came out and my father and I truly enjoyed everyone of those on Saturdays.
I remember seeing “Enter the Dragon and a whole host of other movies!” I became so involved that I started buying Karate Magazine and my father enrolled me in the Jerome Mackey Karate School.
I took up judo! The Karate Teacher looked very mean and he yelled alot. So I took judo instead. I loved being tossed about.
Except for one time that my judo partener did a move I did not expect and tossed me so hard that my bottom lip slid across the canvas mat.
My feelings were hurt and I never returned to that judo class again.
You see, I loved the sport….but I was a bit shy, and did not really like the violent part.
But looking back now I realize how I must have had a deep crush on Bruce Lee, because when he died I was heart broken—for a long while.
I read the book on his life and death. I met my husband when I was 28 and don’t you know it —my husband had two black belts?
I was shocked. He had a black belt in IKEJUJITSU and Korean Karate—oh, and he also had a black belt in sword, and weapons fighting too
I was floored, and excited that I was marrying someone who had such skill.
—-Getting back to my father, he purchased an above ground five foot 20 or more round swimming pool which he very rarely used himself.
It was for the family –and he worked so he was more interested in sleeping! My father allowed my mother to express herself in decorating.
He even assisted her in opening up an antique shop on Jamacia Avenue in 1965!
He was a special man and He was a SPECIAL BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN!!!!
In closing I would like to state that we must remember the good in aALL MEN!!
No one is perfect. But try to remember the best in the people you have met. There are always opportunities to build up your husbands and fathers.
Let’s try to decrease some of the negative press against the Black/African American Men, and Men of ALL RACES for that matter.
Show a man in your life that you care, and that you appreciate the kind and good things that they do for you.
It is always easy to find the weaknesses and the errors—But for the sake of your children build up their selfesteem by being role models that they will remember up until they are middle age 47 year old woman like myself.
What you do today will defintely last a life time, and will go to the next generation after you are gone!
Enjoy the Holidays, and keep safe!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OPRAH?
I remember rushing home to watch Oprah at 4:00 every day after work. I had an early shift and I would love to have my afternoon snack and unwind with Oprah and her special “tear jerking” guests!
I enjoyed the eye opening discussions on women who had filty homes, or habits that were destroying their finances and ruining their marriages. Then she started her book club. I really could not get into that too much, but I enjoyed listening to the discussions on the books.
I watched Oprah go from a size twenty-two (my current size) and shrink to a size 10!!! I was happy for her, and even a bit jealous! I thought, I could lose weight too if I had my own personal weight trainer, maids to clean the house when I was too weak, exhausted after all of the exercise, and lack of food.
America On Line Black Voices Blog by Marcus Vanderburg in which there was a pol and a count down of all of Oprah’s mistakes for the year 2007. The worse mistakes had a pol and I will list them according to the Black Voices POl as follows:
Oprah Supports Supremacist — 44% -54,459
South African School– 36%- 45,236
K-Fed on Ophra Winfrey Show– 11%- 13,482
Vernon Winfrey Tell All Book– 5%- 5,656
Total Votes–124,285
*************This Pol was taken from the Every Body Hates Marcus AOL Black Voices —Pol on Oprah’s Biggest Mistakes of the Year 2007******************************
But anyway, I always gloried in Oprahs spunk! She is dark complexioned like me, and she has weight problems like me. I could really relate to her!
When I heard that she is a “BILLION DOLLAR WOMAN—ENTERPRISE MEGGA DIVA” I was shocked, amazed, and filled with hope and envy!
I wished that had been me, but I also knew that such a large powerful cooperation has a megga price to be paid!
I knew that all could not be well in paradise! I knew when I heard that Oprah and Stedman were having fights, and that she tossed him out in the middle of a dinner that there were difficulties ahead for her. First of all she did not appear to have control on what was being “leaked” to the press—even if it was from the National Enquirer.
Her gal pal Gail seemed to illicit some type of negative attitude(from gossip talk shows, like Wendy Williams, at 107.5 WBLS) about Oprah and her alleged intimate relationship.
Oprah seemed to ignore that stuff, but today I was reading the America On Line Black Voices -EVERY BODY HATES MARCUS- BLOG –and I became concerned about the future of Oprah!
The blog asked me to place a vote on what I thought the worse mistake of Oprah was this year.
After placing my vote I was surprised by the tally. I thought that the African School issue would have been more of a concern to people. The supremacist was clearly an error.
That was an issue as explained by the Everybody Hates Marcus Article, that was a children’s book on the Oprah book list of her book club, by an author who had written speaches for well known advocate of segregation, Govenor George Wallace.
Her large staff probably just made an oversight in that area. But I find the incident of child abuse on children who live in South Africa appauling!
I had written a response when that was first listed in the AOL Black Voices blog – that I could not understand how Ophra could run a school on a long distance mentality.
I felt that she needed to have a more hands on approach. Just because you send the money to the school, or hand out directives does not mean it is being followed through.
It is important to have a direct knowledge of any program that has your name heading it! That I believe is the biggest mistake of all.
Remember, the children are helpless, and so are the parents—especially since they live in South Africa! I do not want to place a negative spin on the parents, or the nation of South Africa, but truly you must see the need to be sensitive when addressing any “self-help” issues over there.
Africa as a continent is very complicated. Too many people have underestimated the intelligence, the wisdom, and the strong honorable ancestory of the people of Africa.
South Africa is a country that is forming a new society and new mentality internally. Therefore Ophra, I believe should have had a more “hands on” approach to developing a school for those children.
I also had heard that it appeared that she was too strict on the children. Obviously she did not do her homework on the culture of the children and their parents.
I have personal knowledge from discussions I have had with African people that I have met from Nigeria who have told me about very strong behavior rules, and values that they teach their children.
That is a very sticky situation to get involved in. But as I just stated, she should have done more homework on the issue, and visited at least once a month and had a walk through and been more of a hands on person than just a benefactor across the seas.
No one is perfect. Having a billion dollar cooperation does not make anyone into a saint, or make them a genious either. But I still believe taking a more hands on approach, or stop or quit some of the other projects inorder to give proper attention to the children.
So back to my title, “What will happen to Oprah?” I am growing concerned because it seems to me that people, on the Black Voices pol–who are most likely blacks—do not seem to like the Oprah of 2007. I believe they liked the old Oprah of yesteryear.
You know, back maybe ten years ago before she started loosing weight and having Tom Cruise on the show etc., etc..
Oprah is trying to steer a Megga Airplane all by herself!
Yes, she does have supportive staff, but who can tell what true loyalty is nowadays? I wonder if everybody from the “group” of Oprah from her assistants to her gal pal Gail really has Oprah’s best interest at heart.
Or, is she, Oprah, listening to the suggestions of her staff. Does she have enough “down time” alone to really think out and plan out her next ventures?
Does she really have good accountants counting up the costs of her ventures and giving her all the facts and figures on her ventures. What is her debt to income ratio?
I would hate to see that she suddenly owes the government, or finds that someone is filing sometype of allegations of megga proportions against her for maltreatment of some sort.
It seems like the year she turned fifty was a good year for her. She gave away cars, houses, trips and dreams to people over here in the United States! But when she ventured out she came under fire.
I wish for her all of the best. I hope that her family and friends support her and help her to stay on track.
Oprah for me has been a role model….not perfect….but still a role model nonetheless. She gave me the ability to dream past my small kitchen and my 15inch color T.V. sitting on the counter taking up space because I cannot affort a mounted flat screen like some of my BABY BOOMER COHORTS!
I enjoyed Oprah in that she allowed herself to be available to SUCCESS!
We need heros in this world….and I want Oprah to stay my hero! Stay well, and stay Successful Oprah—we–the world, need you!
Cakes and Cookies My Aunt Ellen Used to Bake! * Holiday Baking!!
My grandparents used to live on Pacific Street in Brooklyn New York when I was born in 1961. My parents had left Brooklyn before I was born and purchased a home in Queens New York.
I remember visiting my grandparents and my Great Aunt Ellen for the holidays. Sometimes my father would drive into Brooklyn and pick up my mother’s parents and Aunt Ellen.
They would then spend ThanksGiving with us in Queens. Aunt Ellen would always have “bags of plaid or green with rolling wheels filled with great smelling cookies, cakes, and ingredients to help my mother out with the Thanks Giving Feast!
It was a wonderful time of togetherness! I was about 5 or 6 when a picture had been taken of everybody at the table from my mother and father to the rest of the family gathered around for the prayer and the meal at the table. I always knew that this was supposed to be a special time.
They were imigrants from Virginia. My Great Aunt Ellen was a spinster. She was a member of a 7th Day Adventist church.
She was well known for her hand made dolls, her cooking and her baking! She would cook for church functions all the time. But she made her living cooking every day for a family of a wealthy Building Designer named Freidman.
My Aunt Ellen lived at the Friedman house on on Argiel Road 6 days a week. She cared for the two daughters, cleaned the house, and cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner.
She was a devote 7th Day Adventist so she attended church every Saturday. She was my favorite person to see when I went to my grandparents home.
I did not realize how special that apartment was until just now. Because so many of the things that I love to do are threaded by the love and quiet personality I had observed of my Aunt Ellen.
She spoke volumes with her actions by constantly being busy. She did not preach at you…she was just a quiet loving presence. She went away every year and baked up state at the Religious Retreats of the 7th Day Adventist.
When she passed it was a difficult time because she represented a era of my life. She lived long enough to meet my son after he was born, and she was talking to him and even recognized him and everyone else up until her dying moment.
Aunt Ellen had passed at the age of 86 years old. She left behind her hand made dolls and her quiet love for God and his word. Her bedroom was filled with Bibles and 7th Day Adventist literature.
The Freidman daugthers were middle aged women and they cried with great emotion at the wake and funeral. They stated that she was their second mother and they were in mourning for the dear Ellen.
Ellen’s Cakes*
Yellow Cake with milk Chocolate Frosting:
I would love to sneak pieces and pieces of cake and eat until my stomach hurt!!! She would make a three layer cake with the frosting between the layers. I loved to eat the chocolate all by itself! The cake was the bonus. My son always asks me why do I love chocolate so much. I think it truly is a comfort food for me. It reminds me of Aunt Ellen’s baking —I guess. She would sometimes put walnuts in the milk chocolate frosting. Every thing Aunt Ellen did was from scratch! No Betty Crocker for Aunt Ellen back in the 60’s and 70’s!
Classic White Cake with Coconut Frosting:
I would enjoy this cake also. It was light and fluffy, and had a pinapple center. Again all of her baking was done from scratch. Sometimes if I arrived on the one day she had off from the Friedman’s home, I would get to see Aunt Ellen in the midst of baking! (I have come to realize now, that is why I like to cook, and bake so much–when I have time!) I also love to knit, and sew by hand. I just do not have the time that I would like to devote to handcrafting!
Lemon Pound Cake:
There was no frosting on this cake….but the lemon was strong and the cake was firm but moist. I remember savoring the tangy lemony taste with a cup of milk! I did not like milk back then, but if Aunt Ellen baked something you would certainly expect to see me with a cup of milk!
Vanilla Drops:
These Vanilla Drop Cookies were hard as a rock! But once you got them in your mouth you kept eating, and eating till they were all gone! Aunt Ellen used baking soda, baking powder, yeast, and all of the traditional ingredients. Sometimes she would have me sift the flour for her baking. That was my favorite task when helping her out. She would chide me, or admonish me to do this or do that, or sit down so I wouldn’t spill anything! She never patted me on the head, or even kissed my cheek. She was very quiet and just plodded along her course until she finished one project of baking or another.
Chocolate/ Walnut, and or Chocolat Chip Cookies:
Yes, I saved the best for last. These cookies were the best for me. I would eat, and eat those cookies until my mother would tell me to stop it! I would sneak back into the kitchen and look inside this special roasting pot that Aunt Ellen would store her completed cookie projects inside of wax paper, foil, and little plastic bags.
I just loved to smell the flour and odor of baked goods as I would walk into that kitchen and take a cookie or two. I would check the kitchen table for evidence of a new baking project —you know ingredients of walnuts already cracked and waiting in little bags or containers.
I would then go across to the window and look out and see the elevated train station with people waiting for their train above Altantic Avenue. I would go back to the living room with my cookies!
Cakes I attempt to make>>>
Now that Aunt Ellen is gone for some years now, I still find myself loving home baked goods. I cannot recreate them from scratch but I go to the supermarket and pick up the boxes of BETTY CROCKER or Duncan Hines Cake mixes! I will list the group I will be making for this ThanksGiving Weekend:
Duncan Hines- Moist Deluxe Classic White Cake
****I have premade White Frosting with rainbow sprinkles for the White Cake.
Duncan Hines- Moist Deluxe **Red Velvet Cake
****I will use the premade Ducan Hines White Frosting for the Red Velvet Cake.
Duncan HInes- Moist Deluxe Butter Recipe Golden Cake
****I will use the premade milk chocolate frosting for the Golden Cake.
****Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies
I do not need any frosting on my brownies!
Two more are not cake but something I have discovered that are tasty:
Concord Foods Apple Crisp- I purchased this mix in King Kullen, but I have also purchased it in Waldbaums, and Pathmark Stores.
All that is needed is simple butter, and Fresh Apples! You can put icecream on this after it is prepared. It is great tasting and easy to make too!
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix- This is the only mix that comes close to the old fashioned taste of Aunt Ellen’s cooking and her bisquits!
I truly enjoyed reminiscing with you about my love of Aunt Ellen, and her special quiet ways.
Enjoy your ThanksGiving Weekend, and the Special People in your lives!
FOOTBALL HAS GONE TO THE DOGGS!!!!!
When I heard the Michael Vick story I got so disgusted, I said oh, no. What is wrong with this guy? He has the American Dream right in the palm of his hand! He has the opportunity others dream about!
He has the chance to change the lives of young white, black, brown, yellow, children by starting foundations with some of that “hard cold Sports Cash!” What is this guy’s problem?!
I have lived in neighborhoods where I had the ability to see young men between the ages of 14 and 25 walking around with thick bodied pit bulls on leash and some off leash. Those young men would stand in a group and talk while the dogs would sit or stand timidly beside the tough looking owner with the brand new unscratch sneakers and fitted caps, and puffy bomber jackets.
These guys would scare me a little. To be honest, these guys scared me alot!!! You know why?!
I am and always have been a lover of God’s creations! I love animals!
When I was a young teenager I used to take the long ride out to Freeport Animals Shelter and volunteer. I grew up seeing my cat give birth.
More recently I rushed my dog about five years ago to the Vet. when she gave a breach birth. The puppy had come out alright, but the mother and run from her own pain and the puppy popped out on to the floor.
I got her and her new pupps to the vet. just to find out that everything was fine except for that little glitch!
I helped a Saint Bernard that was wondering lost up and down my block before I was even twenty. The dog was sick and we did the best we could for it.
My mother used to leave food in deserted car dumps when she would see a pregnant female or one that had appeared to have given birth recently.
After she would gain the animals trust she would then put it in her car and take it home.
My mother would get in touch with her friend Joyce. Joyce was well conected with animal assistance organizations.
She would then get the “saved” dog free medical care, and free spay or neuter. After that my mother and Joyce would place ads in the newspapers to get the saved, healthy animal a home.
So please understand, I never did, and do not currently have any one requesting me to write a blog about this Michael Vick issue, it is something that comes purely from the heart.
Michael Vick is black. I must state the obvious! But Michael Vick’s actions do not equal the actions of all black sports players, or black people in general.
All Michael Vick did was add to the climate of racial hostility!
I have read the AOL blogs on the Michael Vick case and all I see is total anger and racial hostility and it is being wiped across the entire race of black American’s because of this”guy’s” horrible, evil actions.
People talk about being enslaved, and how bad it was for the “black Man, woman, and child.”
But should we who have been freed from that terrible life of slavery, now turn and enslave others….even if it is just a dog?!
I do not understand the enjoyment of watching animals tear into each other. I had two dogs that were brothers. I midwifed them, and raised them.
The two bothers loved to play fight. The two dogs would play and fight so hard I sometimes tried to stop them.
My son would say, Mommy, leave them.
They are just playing! I would watch and then the dogs would stop their rough play when one would yelp or they would just lean on each other, lick each other’s face and then lay down to an exhausted sleep.
They loved each other and would not harm the other. The two dogs would even play rough with my son by jumping on him, licking him, and tugging at his clothes. If one dog jumped the fence the other dog would follow. They were inseparable!
That is why that unnatural goal of dog fighting is evil. To turn two animals against each other, or train an animal to attack another animal on the grounds of “general purpose,” makes no sense at all.
From my readings on the topic, and life experience tells me that dogs, or wolves, are pack animals. Generally dogs may show aggression for many different reasons.
But most times they do not want to “fight to the death.”
I have read that they give those dogs cayanne peppers, and other things that are not healthy for the dogs stomach to make it “mean.”
Such ignorant, and willful abuse! The victim of this is the “pit bull”–
My question for Michael Vick , “Why are you using dogs for violence? What would make you believe that there was nothing else you could do to help your brother make an income for himself?
Why would you hang, torture, and electrocute helpless animals? The dogs only had their teeth, and yet you had a brain. You were the more dangerous of the two living.
This is a tradegy for Football!!! It made me wonder if Football is such a brutal sport that is messes up the mind of the Football player and how he preceives the world around him.
Do Football players in general think or believe that no one cares for them and they have alot of pain from sports injuries so they do not care about the pain that they inflect on countless others in their personal lives? I would like an answer, that I know I will never get from Mr. Vick.
I will share more of my personal feelings about animal rights tomorrow; and why it was unfare to have Michael Vick get an easy way to go on this one.. on this man who did not appreciate the opportunity handed to him.
Why do I feel somehow responsible for his actions?
Is it because I share the same “race” as Michael Vick ? I have read blog, for blog stating negative things about black people that sound like things from the sixties because of what Mr. Michael Vick has done to animals.
Lets face it, how he treated the animals, could be translated into how he would treat another human being!-
I read in the Black Voices blog of AOL that the judge on the case for Mr. Vick is well known for his love and animals and is also known for his dislike of gambling!
Look out Mr. Vick. I pray for the family of Mr. Vick. I pray that people in general take a reality check on how they treat animals.
It scares me that we do not consider animals to have rights! Especially when this country has helped so many people to escape abuse on so many levels of inhumanity!
Gotta go—I have a ThanksGiving Meal to cook!
Gasoline and the Threat from Venezuela!! Here comes that Sudden Fear of $4.00 Gas Price and Above!!! Hold on “its Gonna be a Bumpy Ride!”
(This picture is titled: “FRUSTRATION” this was painted by me during the summer of 2007. )
This picture reminds of the continuous struggle of the gasoline prices in the United States today! Update 12/02/07 – I feel that the recent gasoline prices are some what stable between $3.19 per gallon for regular and $3.45 per gallon for regular. I have seen the cheap prices in Long Island.
I have seen expensive prices closer to the Long Island Expressway. I have a gas station right on Jamacia Avenue in Queens Village that stays between $3.19 and $3.25 so far. But sometimes I wait to the last minute to get gas and then I end up waisting money and paying $3.45 for gasoline per gallon. That is bad because I only have $5.00 on me sometimes! $5.00 per fill up is like putting a 1/2 cup of water into the gas tank! I am being priced out of car driving!
1010 Wins (Radio News Station) said it! On Saturday night, after I drove all the way to BayTerrace Tennis Bubble and dropped my child off for practice….I got that jetters in my gut AGAIN!
The Venezuelian Country, who along with other oil rich countries holds the keys to alot of ‘OIL’–natural resources gave a threat to the United States.
1010 Wins stated that, correct me if I am wrong, Dictator Julio Chavez said, ” If the United States attempts any military action on Venezuela, or Iran that “OPEC” will continue to INCREASE the PRICES OF GASOLINE!!!
“Oh, Lord,” I thought, my stomach is starting that bumble jumble dance. I have a weak stomach when I feel any type of frustration, or fear. Hey look, I have faith and all that….but I cannot fill my gas tank with Faith, Dreams, or Positive Thoughts!
I need hard cold Green Backs or A Line of Credit! I do not have a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Even a Discover Card ( due to previous loss of husband, loss of house, and Banckruptcy!!)
I have been attempting to pick my life up from the ashes—but this GLOBAL ECONOMY just will not slow down or get together long enough for me to gather my own resources….which are skimpy to say the least.
Look, I know the being black and having a Bell Curve IQ nonsense has affected my life I guess. But guess what? The gas station guy does not care what my IQ is!!
All he wants to know is how much Gasoline I want to buy? How much money to I have in my pocket! The Gasoline Prices I saw this weekend were staggering!
I saw the Super price at an EXXON station for $3.55 per gallon. So what is the big deal to raise it another .50 cents? Look, I am not some famous singer like Beyonce who juants around the world looking beautiful and creating designer clothes!
I am a typical 47 year old woman who lives and breathes according to the prices at the supermarket, gasoline station, Walmart, Waldbaums, rent etc.
I have to know how much of the global economy and wars and rumors of wars will affect my everyday life. This is not a reality TV program—THIS IS REALITY!
OPEC is considering raising the gas prices….that is squeezing my already triple pinched penny that is in my nearly empty pocket book!
My church helped me with a “Care Basket for ThanksGiving” but who will donate a “full” tank of gasoline to me? Nobody!
So the fear begins to rise in my throat like bile on an empty sour stomach! My head has begun to get that throbbing sensation right at the temples! UGH!!!!! This is going to be a LONG, LONG, LONG WINTER!!!
Just tell me, what are all of the presidential hopefuls’stating this time? Are they still fighting each other about a five year war that is basically something in the past ( as far as who signed or voted for it?)
They need to stop the nonsense and come up with solutions to bring this global economy under control before the little people like me, you know “the not so beautiful, not so famous, just plain Jane, challenged, single parent, BABY BOOMER, elder care giver go under for the last time.
How am I to make it? I don’t get food stamps cause I ‘MAKE TOO MUCH’ (as compared to people who have more than one child) and I don’t get HEAP ASSISTANCE for the same reason.
I feel like I am on the brink of destruction here. “Brother can you spare a dime.” –Soon to be Brother can you lend me the price of half a tank of gasoline?” I hope that Obama, Clinton, and Ron come up with some solutions and stop the nit picking over each other’s records!!!
What are you going to do to stop this economic assualt on my dollar at the gasoline pump???!!!!
They need a reality check! People like me need help and I need to put my vote behind the person who has the best solution, and the right direction to take this global issue and make a change for the better.
If things do not improve for me financially I do not know where my family will end up.
First stop for me is to pray.
Hope everyone will do the same.—or whatever method you use to increase positive outcomes in your lives!
Remember, Gasoline is the STAPLE of US ALL!
What Kids want for the Holidays? (Christmas in my kids case!) and WE WILL BE AT GAMESTOP ON 11/23/07 FRIDAY AT 07:00
My son starts off telling, and writing, even doing powerpoint presentations for me about the NINTENDO WII AND Legend of Zelda games. ********** Update 12/1/07 ********
My son’s friend Mike told me that He wants $600.00 so that he can buy Xbox 360 and a SideKick!
My son also said that he wants:
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
, A CLASSIC CONTROLLER,
Sonic and the Secret Rings,
Mario and Sonic Olympic Games,
Super Mario Galaxy,
Xbox 360,
Halo 3 Smackdown vs. Raw 2008,
Nintendo ds, Playstation 3,
Ipod, Jordans,
NIkes,
jeans,
designer shirts,
fitted cap,
The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass,
The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess,
Rip Stick,( two wheeled skate board)
Music albums,
speakers for computer,
Samsung flatscreen tv 50 in.,
cable tv/ satillite tv.,
helio cell phone,
vacation in Fernwood Villas,(((Poconos of course!)))
a ski trip (Poconos Again)–OutDoor World in door water park.
But then my son says its hard to ask for things because he knows our financial situation. I will go out tomorrow which a few short hours from now and try to get the WII.
He said he will be happy with that one item! What a great 14 yearold! You know my son got an A in History?!
He is even keeping his grades up in english. He needs a little help with his math…but nothing too bad.
I keep in touch with his teachers through the website “teacherease”…What a great Kid! Another reason to be thankful to the Lord above!
—So getting back to THE Christmas list!—I am also going to Old Navy—they are giving out a free MP3 for $20.00 spent at 5:00 am on BLACK FRIDAY!
Everything he wants is extremely expensive! I feel so bad that I cannot provide gifts for my son in general—forget about Christmas….
My son did not even get a birthday gift this year at all! I have to pay that rent, and utilities—
I wish I could give my son the type of Christmas I had when I was a kid! My Christmas, as a kid was overflowing with so much stuff!!!
My father came loaded with toys before, during, and after the Holidays. People from his job liked him so much they would give him gifts for his family.
Boy, I was a blessed kid. I cannot say the same for my child. One year we did not even have a “real” Christmas tree.
I had a 1 foot tall fiberoptic tree that I always placed on the dining room table—that year I used it in a corner of the livingroom. I stacked up two telephone books and placed an old tree skirt on top of the stacked telephone books.
It looked nice. I wanted a tree, but because it was the last minute there was a shortage of trees that year. I had no money to buy a twenty dollar tree even.
There was a dry branch and I asked the man if I could have it and he was such a Scorge that he said I had to pay $10.00 for it.
I saw in his face that he would not budge.
I said Wow, on Christmas Eve and all—this man see’s that I am trying to get my son some type of Holiday spirit and he flatly said no. We survived….but my heart was broken inside.
I had asked the Lord why? Why? do I have to suffer? Why did my husband have to leave me alone to raise this child and not provide a beautiful Christmas holiday for him?
Why? I cried when my child went to sleep. He had smiled after he saw me make our little one foot tree into a 3foot tree. I set about laying out his little gifts.
He was 10 at the time; but had played video games since 6years old. So his gifts were small–but pricey!
I brought him things that he did not ask for, and two things he did ask for. When he woke the next day he was happy that he received the video games he had asked for.
He hugged me and said thankyou Mommy!
The worse time of year for me is the Holidays! I do not get depressed—I just feel like I am not able to provide for my child like I would want to. I pray all the time to revive my finances.
This year I am looking for another miracle too. He wants that Ninetendo WII. He needs sneakers for gym. He wants a fitted baseball cap, and I want to buy him a decent coat. If you remember I did get a great bargin on a jacket at the flea market for $5.00.
But I found that jacket does not have a good collar–it is more of a baseball jacket. It does not have a hood for the head. I just ask the Lord to help me to find another extremely bargin. You see I just paid my $1600.00 rent. I have to pay my utilities, and my car insurance—so—what to do? what to do?
I do not get child support—never ever! My husband is gone! Missing for nearly 10 years! So I do not get one dime from him. My Mom and I share the bills, but the bills are so high that I am always behind or paying less to a bill than I should.
I do not know what tomorrow may bring….but I will pray and believe that the Lord will guide me, and keep my small family.
Atleast my church gave me a turkey to cook for ThanksGiving! and the trimmings too.
So to God be the Glory for the things he has done. I pray for those who have even less than I. I have got to get ready for work tomorrow. *****Since this is an updated–edit I will not be going to work tomorrow-*****-I am going to OLD NAVY AND ALSO TO GAME STOP TO SEE IF I CAN EVEN AFFORD THAT WII! I do not have credit—after I lost my husband, and my house I lost my credit through bankruptcy. I cannot affort to have any type of card—so everything I buy is HARD COLD GREEN CASH!!! AND IF I DO NOT HAVE GREEN CASH….THEN I DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING.
I am so tired, but I know that the Lord is still there guiding me through all of these trials and tribulations! Good Night!
******************************************************************
11/23/07 UPDATE
Okay, Okay, I went Shopping. I came back and had some more turkey with my family. I am sleepy now. But here is what happened with my son. His wish came ture! The WII was his wish and we got it for him today! His face beamed like a sunny day in August! This is a definite scacrifice. “Lord have mercy! I pray the Lord help me with all my other responisbilities!
What kids want for the HOLIDAYS IS FOR THE DREAMS AND WISHES TO COME TRUE!
***************************************************************
2nd update 11/23/07
My son is resting now! He keeps looking at his WII in the box. He will not open it until Christmas! Atleast that is what he states! On my list of things to get is some pretty heavy duty things…You want to see what I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?!!!
okay here goes: I
want to write a book and finish it completely, and have it published. It will be a book on the LIFE OF A BLACK WIDOW!
I want to get my five songs that I wrote and produced published and song by Christian Professionals.
I want to pay off all of my debts with the earnings from my music, and my published book.
I want to pay for my son’s education “lock- stock- and barrel!”
I want to get my masters degree in Leadership, of Organizational Management from Nyack College and pay that off completely also pay off my B.S. in Organizational Management in full too!
I want to regain private home ownership and buy a house on two acres and regain my life as a pet owner again. (I lost all of that with the loss of my husband).
I want to assist Food Pantries, and aid the poor with educational programs geared to employment. ****That is what I want to do if I made enough money with my music and my writing.
I would like to have someone most of all read my work and critique it so I know or not if I am wasting my time!
I want to be able to perform my vocalizing in jazz, R&B and soul with a great piano player every day or atleast once a week.
I want to have my own music studio in my own home so I can start practicing again like I used to do before my husband got sick.
I would like to pay for my son to start and complete his Alto Sax lessons, and piano lessons. He is much more talented than I am. All he needs is lessons!
I would like to purchase a new computer with HIGHSPEED ETC.
I would like to take my mother on a trip.
Well these are some of the things this MOTHER OF A CHILD would like to have for Christmas.
But for now I will rejoice that I had a turkey for ThanksGiving with sweet potatoes, and all of the trimmings that I had the strength to cook!
I am usually too tired to do it immediately after arriving home but this time I pushed myself to get it done!
son is full and happy and sleeping….so I can blog to my little heart’s content uninterrupted! lolololol!!!! ha ha ha!
I thank the Lord for all of his blessings toward me and mine. And I wish the best for all of you and your families. Keep safe!
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