Friday, April 27, 2007

Miss Celie's Blues...

I was recently reminded how much I love this song and I realized that I love it because it feels so personal. I could identify with Celie's low self-esteem in the film (The Color Purple). I used to cover my mouth when I smiled because I don't like the gap in my teeth, thought I was the ugly duckling of my family, etc. I remember crying the first time I saw this scene because it touched me so much. It's all about coming into your own, right? I feel like I'm slowly doing that in my life and largely through the eyes of others. It's amazing how those around you can see qualities in you that you are completely unaware of (like Shug did for Miss Celie), but once they point them out, you begin to see them as well and gain more strength within yourself.

So I thought I'd post the scene and the lyrics to share with anyone else that could relate like I did!



Sister,
You've been on my mind oh
Sister, we're two of a kind
So sister,
I'm keepin' my eyes on you
I betcha think
I don't know nothin'
But singin' the blues
Oh sister, have I got news for you
I'm somethin'
I hope you think that you're somethin' too

Oh, Scufflin',
I been up that lonesome road
And I seen a lot of suns goin' down
Oh, but trust me
No low life's gonna run me around

So let me tell you somethin' sister
Remember your name
No twister,
Gonna steal your stuff away
My sister
We sho' ain't got a whole lot of time
So shake your shimmy, Sister
'Cause honey this 'shug is feelin' fine

Monday, April 23, 2007

Brunch @ Dukes


I had brunch with my girls Nicole and Wynnel yesterday. It was a gorgeous weekend, our first real spring weather in some time, so we thought we'd take advantage of the beautiful day and hang out. We had a delicious brunch at Dukes in DC and then went shopping at Eastern Market. I bought 2 pairs of gorgeous sterling silver earrings and then we had dessert. Can't get better than that!!!

Nicole and I found out that we'll be in London at the same time next month, so I'm extra excited about the fact that I can spend my birthday with her in London. Wuuuuu-whooooo!!!! We're gonna get SMACKED in another country together. WATCH OUT LONDON!! Giving you fair warning now.. lol.

Love you ladies and I had a WONDERFUL time, as always!!!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Tim... Poor Tim...


When we went to Applebees for dessert, Tim came with us and we always give him a hard time, not JUST because he's a man, but because he normally deserves it.. lol

Well, he kept getting phone calls and there was a suspicious call from some woman and he seemed to be talking in code, so I had to take a pic of him on the phone posted above, looking all guilty like he was up to no good (doesn't he look guilty?) and then the photo below of Liz and I giving our reaction to the phone call.. LMAO!!! You would have made the same face had you been there!

Another comparison shot...


My coworker Liz encouraged me to post these comparison pix. They are photos we took together, the first is from mid-December of last year and the second is from yesterday (when we went to Applebees mid-day to have dessert to destress, but you didn't just read that.. lol). She figured it would be a good weight-loss comparison shot, so I'll post them and you tell me what you think...

Vagina Power strikes again...

Ohhhhhhhhh my.. I didn't think I'd make a series of this, but I saw this next video and couldn't resist posting it as well. Again, I must warn you to brace yourself. All I can say is that I pity the man that has cheated on Alexyss because she's dogging you on TV.

I want this woman to get some therapy and stop using her show as a way to vent and rant about obscure Va-Jay-Jay references. Also, I must point out that the woman that was so silent in the other video definitely has some things to say in this one, and is finally introduced as guess who??? Alexyss' mother (gasp). I'm going to die..

Here are some more gems of wisdom imparted in this video:

"Yall got ta be a pilot over the pussy... Yall got ta be the pussy police."

"These husband and boyfriends that are givin' the dick away that's gonna go up in your vagina, so the vagina is not safe."

"The man is afraid of the wedding band because that bad is also going to be a noose around the nuts; I mean a true nut bracket."
Now this is when her momma chimes in and tries to reign her back in.. Doesn't work though.

"We've got to guard, armor, and protect the sanctity of the vagina since the men have no sanctity over the penis and the testicles."

"The men are rationing out the dick like they do government cheese in the projects."
Now why did she have to go and bring the government cheese into this??? Even her momma agrees.. Then she goes off on a rant about the government cheese (big/hard block of cheese... I think she's sexifying the cheese.. lol) and the government lunches that you get out of the truck that might have an apple in it.. WHAT?????

"They get a tingling in their nuts because they are bored with having sex with the same vagina and skeetin' down the same throat."
Now any man that has a tingling in his nuts needs to go see the doctor. I doubt that has anything to do with boredom... LMAO

It's obvious that she gets a lot of enjoyment in being able to verbalize sexual acts and frankly gets too much happiness out of it. I think she's protected the sanctity of her vagina a bit too much. Someone needs to go get some, but I'm not naming names.. LMAO! Just in case no one else has told you, sexual frustration isn't cute Alexyss. Just a sistah reaching out to another sistah in need (smile).



Bless her heart...

Vagina & Penis POWER... Can we discuss?

Ok, I need you to sit down and brace yourself. I'd never heard of this woman before, but since she has a religious based public access show in Atlanta, I guess I never would have, but once I stumbled upon her, I just HAD to share her with you (felt it was my personal duty).... Her name is Alexyss Tylor and her show is apparantly based on the power of the almighty Va-Jay-Jay! We all know that 'pussy' rules the world, but I've never heard of anyone basing a show on that exact concept, much less a religious show... Have you?

Are you sitting down? Ok, this is a clip from one of her shows where she's talking about a man's penis power and how they can 'screw you into submission' with it and 'reduce you into a cum freak'. It's long (approx 10mins), but oh so worth every moment of video...

Now, as you're watching, don't laugh too loud so you don't miss the gems she is imparting, like:

"The man that's living to ejaculate is in predator mode."
Be afraid ladies... Be VERY afraid...

"A man takes advantage of a woman that's lonely laying in bed at night playing with her toys.... her vagina is cold"
OMG, I guess that means I shouldn't put that vagina ice pack on anymore. I don't want to have a COLD vagina... LMAO.

"Some women may have more than one G-spot, so some women that are hooked on cumming"
I guess this will be discussed on the next HBO addiction documentary special. I know I'll be tuning in... (I know I'm a fool, you don't have to tell me).

"They have taken the same concept of the rabbit jumping from here to there to the design of it (It is the jack rabbit vibrator as they called it) and it jumps all over the clitoris and make the make the woman have an incredible orgasm"
Is the toy called the Rabbit or the Jack Rabbit??? Hmmmmm

"Some men have so much heat and intensity in their penis that you can feel it radiating through their clothes. Just to touch the penis, feels like it's on fire"
Wow, is that right??? On FIRE you say Alexis? Now I just want to go out and buy some heat seeking glasses and find all of these men.. Or should I just look for the ones with smoke coming off their clothes... HAAAAAAAA!!!

"He's offering you a side of penis and has no respect for you..... This man won't even buy you some shrimp from Long John Silvers and that plate aint nothin' but $2.99, but he can give you a mouth full of sperm; a rectum full of sperm and he won't even give you no light bread."
Ok REALLY, TMI... I'm going to need her to stop speaking from personal experience. She actually gave the price of the shrimp meal at Long John Silvers. And what the hell is 'light' bread??? There they go with that gully speak again... BLESS HER HEART!!!!

"Remember, don't let every man hit the bottom of your vagina; the root of your vagina."
Is that in the bible somewhere??? I'm going to need a scripture and verse.. lol

"And now her mind, she insane, her mind ain't good because the penis done and ejaculated in her brain."
That don't even sound attractive - Said in my best Katt Williams voice!

I could go on for days, but I'll let you watch it for yourself. Tell me what you think the funniest part was, ok. Keep an eye out for the end when Alexis ends the show with her maniacle laugh and starts flexing her vaginal power by dancing in her seat while her guest stares into the distance, obviously traumatized and scared.

BTW - Did Alexis ask her guest if she was going out at the end when the mics were being turned down or is it just me that hears that? I bet they went to the male review after this show to do some 'Penis Power' research for church.. HAAAAAAAAAA.. Again, I know I'm a fool!

And now I present, Alexyss Tylor......


PS - Damn penis... I just felt like that had to be said.. lol

Gotta keep ourselves PRAYED up.. HA

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Online exhibit-Imagining Ourselves

I thought I'd post the following call for submissions and information for anyone that might be interested in submitting some of their work. I'm definitely planning on submitting something myself.

Upcoming theme: Image and Identity
Deadline: May 15th


Dear Friends,

I am co-curating an online exhibit for Imagining Ourselves http://imaginingourselves.imow.org/pb/Home.aspx?lang=1 and I was wondering if you or someone you know would be interested in submitting work. Imagining Ourselves is a global, multilingual online exhibit featuring art, photographs, essays, poetry, and film by young women in their twenties and thirties.

For the past ten months, we have been featuring the stories and artwork of young women around the world in an effort to answer the question, "What defines your generation?" and to inspire people to take action on the vital social issues raised through this platform.

From July to September 2007, the focus of the exhibit will be on Image and Identity http://imaginingourselves.imow.org/pb/CallForSubmissions.aspx?lang=1. In this theme, we wish to explore the role that physical appearance plays in our identity. We want to reach out to young women to amplify their voices, talk about issues such as beauty, body image, sexuality, and individuality. Do we identify ourselves with a particular group or culture? Do we categorize people based on their physical appearance? Can fashion be used to make statements about what we believe in? These are just some of the questions we will be exploring.

I was wondering if you would be interested in submitting your work for consideration and could help us spread the word through your blog/website or recommend people that I could get in touch with.

Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,
Jessica Lagunas
http://www.jessicalagunas.com
jessy@rj-studio.com

Me at 4yrs old...

My dad found this photo of me from when I was 4yrs old. He scanned it and sent it to me. So, since he shared it with me, I thought I'd share it with you. I don't think I've posted any childhood photos of myself, so here goes...

I had moments of shyness as a child, but overall I was pretty outgoing. I think I was having a shy moment in this photo though (smile).

Monday, April 16, 2007

Tiffany's 19th Birthday!!

Boy do I feel old. My oldest niece is now 19 years old. She was a tax day baby, so it's never difficult to remember the date of her birthday.. lol.

She is and has always been such a beautiful girl and now she's becoming a woman. Nothing like these 'kids' growing up to remind you of your own age, right?? lol

I love ya Tiff and I'm happy we were able to spend some time together on your special day!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Ngozi is a RockSTAR!!!


This is a photo of my niece Ngozi (pronounced N-go-zee) aka GoziRock with Erykah Badu. She's been writing about her experience living in London which will be published in a youth magazine called 'Say It Loud'. The editor was one of her teachers in Brooklyn. I'm excited for her and looking forward to seeing the article. This will be the second time she's been published and she's only 14. She is and has always been a beautiful girl and I look forward to seeing her grow and mature even further.

Love you Gozi Girl....

Comparison shot..

Ok, to go along with my weight loss update, I thought I'd share this comparison shot that I made of myself. There's nothing like photographic proof of change so I did this comparison to add to my weight loss album.

The first photo is from December of last year and the second photo is from March of this year. I think there's a noticeable change in my face.

What do you think?

The Jeans Challenge..


Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me find some great stretch jeans that are made for a real woman!!!!

Now that I've been losing weight, I've encountered another issue with jeans. I've always had a challenge finding jeans that fit and that were the right length which confuses me since I'm of average height and I've seen bigger women that have jeans that fit them perfectly, so why can't I find some for myself?????

I had found jeans at Ashley Stewart that fit me very well, but now that I've lost weight, they no longer fit me and I was in their smallest size, so the challenge is to find a store that has what I need. I was lucky enough to find some jeans this weekend at Gallo that actually fit very well, but I'm sure that won't be for long and I like to have more than one wash and they only had one that fit well. I know that what works for me is low-rise, stretch jeans and I usually prefer boot cut jeans. Does anyone know of a store (online or otherwise) that has stretch jeans of different lengths and odd sizes (because I'm not really a 14 any longer, but I'm certainly not a 12 either) that are made wide to accomodate women with thick thighs???? If so, please let me know. I need some desperately!!!

Weight loss update...


It's been another 3wks and I've lost another 10lbs. YAY ME!!!!

I'm always pleasantly surprised at my results because although I know that I'm making a conscious effort to lose weight, I don't always see the results. I have noticed, along with everyone else, that apparently I lose weight in my face first. As a result, everyone is aware that I've lost weight or that something about me has changed. I think it's great and I'm ready for other changes.

I must admit that I have been losing weight in other spots that aren't too great. I don't have much of a behind and I've been losing what little I have. None of my jeans that used to fit so well, fit properly any longer. I hope it will all even out in the end because I don't want to have a flat behind (lol). I also don't mind if my breasts shrink a bit (since I'm currently a 40F), but I would like to keep the twins. If only we could pick and choose where we lose weight, huh? Oh well, I'm just happy it's coming off in general.

The Birthday countdown begins...

So the countdown begins....

I will be traveling to London for my birthday this year. My bday always falls on or near Memorial day and I've started to plan trips to celebrate my birthday. I was raised in a religion that didn't celebrate birthdays, so commemorating my birthday is a relatively new thing for me, but I've been doing it more and more.

I will take plenty of photos and tell you all about it when I return. I know I'm going to have a blast.. I just can't WAIT!!! lol