Thursday, November 18, 2010

Travel and Security......

We all want to feel safe when we travel, right? So why is the news that there will be tougher screening at the airport including patting down is met with such reluctance.
The TSA is not out to get everyone who is traveling, just the ones that should no be.

Since 911 I have traveled some and it never takes me more the three to five minutes to go through the gate once I get there. I know what not to bring with me on the plane and so those items get in my check luggage or left at home. I also wear light clothing and am ready to take my shoes off. When I travel in the winter I have my socks on.

All beeping items I put in the bowl then go through the scanner with ID in hand. If a bra hock or a pant/skirt hock goes off, no worries a wave of their wand or a pat here or there and I am done. I pick up my stuff and I am on my way.

When we create excitement at the gate, we also create an opportunity where the wrong person can slip by when too much attention is on us.

We must remember that most of the security personnel are as uncomfortable as we are but when we cooperate with them they are able to do their job more efficiently.
If we do our part by following the rules, be patient and give ourselves enough time everyone will get through the process that much faster.

We should all try to do our part, no matter how small to make our country a safer place for all.

As the holiday season begin, travel safe, and travel smart.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Politics

Mid Term…….Losses/Gains

We are a people of instant gratification.

After a bankrupted housing market, a banking industry in a state of free fall, thousands out of work, a war no one wants and an economy in the state of shock, the American people expected that president Obama would go into the White House and overnight fix all the problems that took years to break.

He is one man fighting a battle that very few want him to win.
How many past presidents promised to fix healthcare and has failed? Not saying it is now perfect, but it is at a place where it can be worked on, fine tuned, if you will.

They all said he put too much into the stimulus package that did not really help much, at lease he is trying to do something.

The quote, “if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem” comes into play. Everybody criticize him but no one have an idea or suggestion of how to make things better.

As far as I see it, our government is not working as a team to bring us out of the pit we are in, all they are doing is making promises, pointing finger, and playing the blame game.

Everyone wants the country out of this economic slump overnight, but no one is willing to work to that end.

Two years ago we were willing to give Mr. Obama a chance, but because he as not pulled out his magic wand and clean thing up we are ready to call for change…It will take any newly elected president more than two years to clean up the mess that started in Washington years ago, from over spending to corruption.

What we need in Washington is a new set of Politician whose agenda is the welfare of our country and not their personal gain.

Loss or gain?......If we can’t wait for the medication to do its job, then it’s our loss and not Mr.
Obama’s.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Local or Limited "stop"...........Bus

On my way to and from work, there are two bus services that I can take;
The local, which stops at about 15 to 16 times or the limited that stops 7 times which is an eight to fifteen minutes different in travel time.

Sometimes when I get my bus stop a local will come by followed by a limited.
Other times the local will come and I will choose to wait for the limited even though I do not see it coming, sometimes it works but sometimes, like this morning it takes five to ten minutes to come.
By the time it comes (and sometimes it doesn’t stop because it is crowded) if I had taken the local that came first I would have gotten to the train that much sooner.

So, local or limited bus……….?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

New York subway experience

Well if you live in the New York metro area, you will at some point travel on the subway.

I have been traveling on these subways for over twenty seven years and everyday is a new experience.
I have been sexually assaulted, attacked by a mentally challenged woman, I have pushed, stepped on entertained by the kids with their “Break dancing” and several other performers, singers, puppeteers, balloons artists, just to mention a few. Let’s not forget, I have been preach to, yes, church on the train.

I have share seats with homeless persons, sometimes after I get off the train I can still smell their funk, people have used my shoulders as pillows, I gave money to the various panhandlers begging for one cause or the other.

I have been stuck in the subway due to flood, sick person on the train, broken switch,
Power outage or someone jump, fallen or was pushed in front of an oncoming train.

New York subways are sometimes like a fashion runway. You will see the latest fashions and also “What not to wear” on these trains.

I also have two experiences of the trains coming to a halt and had to walk across the bridge half way home, the first was September 11, 2001 after the WTC attack and the second was August 14th 2003 massive power outage across the US and Canada.

My partner took me to the train station one morning, and in the evening when he picked me up he said, “Babes, I don’t know how you did this for so long, I watch you go down in the subway and all I could think of is ants. You see them coming out and going in their holes in the ground all day long, just like you do everyday”. (90% of the subway is underground).

I am looking forward to the day when I will no longer have to go down into the subway, and with Gods help, that day will be very soon.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Respect........?

Living on the first floor at a corner house with a very nice low brick fence means no sleep, lots of noise and disturbance until about 11:30 to 12 midnight every night.

Everyday I come home and there are at least 7 to ten kids sitting on the brick wall.
I would talk to them nicely and they would leave, but by the time I am ready for bed they are back with more kids. Mind you, none of them live there, they live anywhere from two to four blocks away.

They come to play in the yard and have no regards for who lives there. However they cannot have all those kids in their yards, their parents won't allow it.

These days children have no respect for adults, it doesn’t matter if they are right or wrong, as one boy told me after his friend is talking back to me and I told him to shut up, “You can’t tell kids to shut up” even if when they are trespassing in your space/property.

I remember being a child and I could not just enter people’s property and carry on, today parents don’t want their kids in the house carrying on so they let them loose to be disrespectful to neighbor.

Nine, ten and eleven year olds should be home at 10, 11pm at night.
When you train your children at a young age to respect others, they too will be respected.
I'm just saying..............

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Who am I.........?

Who am I…?

Since I am thinking seriously about selling my house so that I can purchase my retirement home, I find myself thinking about the things that I have collected over the years.

It is the hardest thing to part with any of those things. Why? I asked myself. Is it because those things, the decorative plates, the dolls and the knickknacks the children gave me are all part of who I am?

I don’t like clutter, but my “things” I cannot part with. Each piece signifies something, a place I’ve been or a turning point in my life, so every time I pick up a piece, I can say I remember when……..even the things that bring back bad memories.

Good and bad they are all parts of who Iam.


My children are now grown with lives of their own and I am still mommy, so I have all the school pictures, report cards, candles and mugs from graduations and proms.


I am a grandmother, and have a few grandma things.


I am African-American from Jamaica, so I have my Jamaican things, my African things and a few American things, so getting rid of any of them is like getting rid of part of me.

Aren’t I the same person, a mother, grandmother, Jamaican, Afro-American with or without those thing?
The truth is, I want my home to reflect at least part of who I am, so by having on display all my knickknacks, pictures and whatknots there will be a little part of me on display too.



So I will keep my knickknacks, and take them where I go, they will be added to yet another turning point in my life.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Fashionable or Trashy?

I want to look as sexy as the next woman but I am not willing to sacrifice my self respect and be a laughing stack to get it.

You can be in with the latest fashion without looking trashy, or as if you are seeking attention, because some of the attention you get might not be what you are looking for.

Ladies, your underthings should not be on public display for all the world to see. Our underthings should be private. I know its summer and we are all hot but we don’t need to go out looking as if we don’t have a mirror at home.

One Sunday while sitting in church there were so many bra straps and cleavages hanging out that I had to wonder if we no longer have reverence to God, can’t we respect the house of the Lord?.

Then this morning while sitting on the train on my way to work, a young sister came on full figure with her EE cleavage self and thought she was so sexy. Well I was embarrassed for her, the lady sitting in front of her covered her face and three brothers could not stop looking at her talking and laughing at her. She did not look in the mirror before she leaves home and if she did well………..

All I am saying is you don’t have to be trashy or everyone’s joke to be sexy.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Roll Back Time

How do you roll back time? You can't

There is no such thing as a time machine, therefore, "do all the good you can, to all the people you can, for as long as you can", and if you think you might have hurt someone try to make amends as soon as possible. Don't wait until years later.

Sometimes trying to go back in time to fix past hurt only revive something that has been put to rest a long time ago.

I had one such experience this week and I was so mad at the person I did not know what to do with myself. Even though she was trying to explain how she felt and why she made the choices she did, all I could see was how she had hurt me.

While it is good that you acknowledge some wrong you have done and wants to make amend, consider what bringing all that stuff back to the surface will do to the offended person.

So if you hurt someone and years later you develop a conscience and have the need to say I'm sorry, just send a card to say "I'm sorry for being a jerk last year, can you forgive me?" or something like that, don't go digging up things from the past because while you are downloading what's in your heart and is clearing your conscience the other person is being hurt all over again.
Don't try to make up for years of hurt, just say you are sorry and move on and if you can, just try to build a new relationship, because time is the best healer.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Missing Dad

My dad past away December of 2006. I cried and mourned, then I thought I would ..get on with my life.
But there are times when it is so hard....to get on with my life and father's day is just one of those time.
He was not only my dad, but my mom also for a long time, When he died I became an orphan ( even though my mom is still alive). He was every thing to me and even as grown as I am I was still his little girl. He was the love of my life and on this father's day, I missed him soooo much.

There is a large hole in my heart that aches for him every now and then makes me a bit melancholy.
I am only sorry that my grown up self did not get to spent as much time with his as I should have.
So if you love someone, tell them, spent each moment as if its your last because when time ends, there is turning back the clock

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Flowers

For as long as I can remember, I love planting flowers and watching them grow.




Growing up in Jamaica, there was a long walk from the road up to the house and I was always planting flowers along the walk. When I got my first apartment I did not have any place to plant but that did not stop me. I had a large pothus plant on my dresser that I kept for years.








Now, there is no difference, I just cannot live without my plants. When I take care of them, they take care of me,........How? you ask...........while I am caring for my plants the calm my nerves and it is so satisfying to watch them grow. So even when I don't have place for a garden, I make room for pots. From my African Violets indoor to petunias, begonias, Joseph coat and others outdoor,

I will always enjoy my plants.

















Saturday, June 5, 2010

It is so hot for June

Monday, May 17, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Scribbling/Doodling/Jounaling

I'm not a loner by any means. I have my Friends and my children who I'm very close to; but there are some things that I don't or can't discuss with anyone so I write them down.

I was in a bad marriage for a long time and I think my children knew. Looking back I can truly say that scribbling has helped me to keep my sanity. There are times when I would just sit and write about how I was feeling, what I would like to see change, and how I wish my life was.

I never kept a journal because I did not want anyone to ever read what I wrote (sometimes I still got in trouble from my doodling) so I would write on whatever scrap of paper I had.

When my dad past away, I was having a really bad time and a friend (a Pastor) encouraged me to keep a journal and whenever I am having a bad moment or feel panic I should just start writing. I was surprise at some of the thing that came out in my writing, things that I was struggling with unconsciously. It has helped me to come to terms with some of the issues I was dealing with.

I still doodle/journal but not on a regular basis, I have a lot of positive people in my life.
But if you have something on your mind that you can't share with someone, doodle, writ it down and see what happens.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Reading: Goal

My goal is 24 book for the year. I am sooooooooooo far behind.

Book #4 Patricia Anne Phillips, Maxine Thompson and Milcheel McGriff -Secret Lovers; Three beautiful stories

Book #5 Cheryl Robinson - In love with a younger man
Book# 6 Growing Friendship By Tracy Klehn is one of the book from my book club at church, It's about connecting more deeply with the people in your life who matters most. This one I will finish by the end of the week.

Even if I don't make my goal, I hope I'm real close to it.

Monday, May 10, 2010

TV - Cutting The Cord


An online survey show that over 800,00 household in the US has cut the cord to cable and the high cost of watching television.


What is the addiction to TV drama? why so many people find it hard to cut the cord?


I grew up where TV watching was limited to Saturday and Sunday, and only for a few hours each day. The rest of the week no one even bother to look at tv, we are outside playing, reading, the girls crocheting, or doing embroidery on pillow cases or table covers(where did those days go).


Back then children learned social skills, they learn how to disagree and make up and how to get along with each other.

Today, if you ask ten people if they could cut the cord, nine would say no. Why are we so dependable on the media to entertain us when there are so many other things we can do that is so rewarding.


Plant a garden, flower, herbs or vegetable. Join a book club, or start one of your own, you can travel the world in books while socializing at club meetings.


Me I have cut the cord (by force) but I find that I have more time to read, to spend with my partner and is one less bill to pay each month.


Friday, May 7, 2010

Mother's Day

Mothers are place on earth to nuture and care for everyone;
Mother Nature - cares for the earth's creatures, big and small, the plants and us human.

Human mothers- cares for the children, sometimes the elderly and anyone who are in need of motherly love.

So on Mother's day let us all be mindfull of how we treat our enviroment and be specially sweet to your mother.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS AND THE FATHERS WHO ARE FULLFILLING THAT ROLE.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Love...Second chance

Sometimes I have to wander why some people go through so much garbage to find the one person who will love them with all their faults.

I never thought that I would ever find love again after my divorce and was basically ready for just a companion or just be a loner (that would be fine for me, I would be able to go and come as I wish). But instead I was blessed with the most loving, giving and understanding man one can ever wish to meet. He is there for me in good times and bad, he makes me laugh almost every minute of the day (when I am with him).

He cooks, do laundry, does the dishes when I cook, and he does window too! Yes, he does all this with a smile. I so appreciate it because it gives us more time for us.

This man will have a PB & J sandwich or two for dinner and be just as happy as if he were having a steak.
He respects me and let me be myself, which is very refreshing for a change.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Hurts..........Not Only When I Laugh

I saw a movie once where the wife found out in the end that he no good husband had left her for another man. In a confrontation with him she hurt herself. When her Friend asked her, does it hurts, she replied "Only when I laugh.

As I look at some of the decisions I have made over the years and the way I respond to family and friends and how I allow myself to be used I can truly say "I hurts... not only when I laugh".

I feel that I am almost always being taken for granted. I was told as a child that "you should seek a Friend before you need a Friend". A lot of people these days just seek a Friend when they need a friend, and is never a friend when someone else is in need. Just plain selfish.

I hurts to see all the people who asked for favors and then totally forget that I existed

Thursday, March 4, 2010

20 Minute Vacation


Do you ever think that you ca take a twenty minute vacation? Well you can.
Here is how:

This kids are off to school (if you have school age kids), so turn off your call phone, let the machine pick up the house phone and prepare to be relaxed for the next twenty minutes.

Put on your favorite lounge wear
Make something that you don't usually make, such as a tropical drink or a mugs of herdal tea (my favorite). Think of where you would like to be and find from your music collection a cd that remind you of that place.
Slip it in the cd player.
Now grab a magazine, your drink and find the most comfortable easy/lounge chair.

For the next twenty minutes do nothing except sip your drink, leaf through you magazine, listen to you music and let transport you to that paradise you are think of.

For twenty minutes do nothing but love you, trust me, you will want to do it again soon.

P.S. If you are at work, Just find a quite place to sit where you can tune out what's going on around you, and enjoy just being.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

We still have snow







It has been 9 days since we had ten inches of snow, the this Monday another three to six in some places, today is February 18th, with temperture in the high 30's and this is what the front of my house looks like. I am so tired of this cold weather.

What happens to global warming. It still too cold for the snow to melt.
























Monday, February 15, 2010

Reading goal for 2010

My goal for this year is to read 24 books, 2 per months which would be very easy if I was not involved in so many thing at church, However, I have started and I am on my third book which means I have 2 weeks to finish the one I am reading and one more.

Mrs Black .......... By Angelia Menchen
"Cininmon Brown made all the sacrifices to keep her family together but when her womanizing husband broke his promise one more time, it send her right into the arms of her Black Knight Malcam Black who has been waiting for her for thirty years".

Women's Writes...... An anthology.........By Angelia Menchen
Pride and Prejudice.....By Jane Austen ( not finish)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

JC WALKER- 1st Black woman millionaire


As February is Black History month and I have to research one black woman to present at church, I have chosen Madam C.J. Walker.

Here is a woman, born into slavery, orphaned by the age of 7, was forced to married at the age of 14 to escape abuse from her brother-in-law.

She had one daughter. And even making $1.50 per day she was still able to save enough so that her daughter could get an education.

In the 1890s, she developed a scalp ailment and experimented with many store bought and homemade remedies. In 1905 she founded her own company selling scalp conditioning and healing formula. She went door-to-door selling and demonstrating her scalp treatment.

She never let her poor beginning stand in her way.
She contributed to the "colored" YMCA and to the NAACP Anti-Lynching legislation, she encouraged women into political activism.

This is a Quote from the National Negro Business League Convention, July 1912.
"I am a woman who came from the cotton field of the south. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations.......I have built my own factory on my own ground"

My Daughter Writes

I cannot remember I realize that my older daughter loves to write. All I remember is that from an earlt age she would write short stories and poems. I 1998 won a poetry contes for a poem title "Why Should I' with her permission I will share it.
Why Should I?
by Jennifer Nicole Coissiere
Why should I sacrifice myself,Just to please you?Why should I cheat on my guyFor a little bit of pleasure?Why should I let you,Charm your way into my life?My friends stand beside meMy man always guides meSo, why should I tell a lie?Why should I disguise myselfAnd, why should I take a chanceOn loosing everything,And getting nothing else?Why should I live a life of fantasyAnd why should I be a painting on the wall?When all I wanted was to be loved by all.

Since then she as written several poems and more short stories and a book I hope she will have publish soon. She calls herself a closet writer.

Her latest is contributing author in the anthology "Women's Writes" (piblished)

She is always sending me her stories to read and they always leave me wanting more. She has met this wonderful woman who has encouraged her and supports her, to her I would say "thank you"




Women's Writes can be found at Barnes and Noble...........It's a good read.

Friday, January 29, 2010

I've come a long way.

I often reflect on my past and it sometimes bring tears to my eyes. My man tells me to let it go, and I think I have, but somehow there are some memories that are so painful even though I think I am at peace with them they makes me cry.

At the age of twelve my dad (the love of my life) brings home his young wife. Too young to be my mother, just nine years older, and too jealous to see that he can love both of us.

The first set of pain. I love my dad so much I let her win for his happiness.

At the age of fifteen, I met my birth mother for the first time and learn that not everyone that gives birth can be a mother. That year I also went away to boarding school.

At seventeen I was introduced to Jesus (our Lord and Saviour), that is where my real struggles begins. I was looking for something to replace the father that I gave up and he had his hands open saying come and rest, but I was too stubborn.

So I started my journey through life with little or no guide, or so I thought. I fell in love, had two babies and got married. (in that order)

In 1979 I migrated to the USA leaving behind my husband and my babies. Second set of pain.

I travelled some dark and lonely roads but the grace of God kept me going. I was reunited with my family in 1982 where instead of being happy my nightmare started.
Third set of pain.


I could do nothing to please my husband, so in 1984 I had my third and last child.

In 1995 I had to asked my husband to leave our home, and in 1997 I bought my first house for me and the girls. (my son had left home two years earlier)

I was still making bad choices. In 2006 I had my wake up call. Someone that I trust went into my home and stole all my jewlery except what I was wearing. In December of that same year my dad died. It broke my heart because no matter how far away I was, he was still my guy and our love connection was as strong as ever. Years after I left I found out that as far away as I was his wife was still jealous of his love for me.

With all my struggles, the Lord was always at my side even when I did not acknowledged him.

Today I am very happy. The Lord has placed this wonderful person in my life, he loves me and adore me and he loves my children. Now I am involved in my church and is taking baby steps toward a better relationship with God.

Thank the Lord for all my many blessings.

p.s. Through all my struggles I never had the desire to drink or to do drugs. The one thing I would want to do is sing, mostly gospel. Now I sings in a choir at church.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Haiti

My daughter's in-laws are from Haiti, they have lost a few close friends and for a moment a aunt was missing. God be praised, she is found.

For all the people of Haiti, you are in my thoughts and prayers

Monday, January 11, 2010

Subway ride

I know that the subway is a public form of transportation, but can we show some courtesy for each other.

Yes, the seats are made to fit three persons. But if you get on the train and your size is a little bit bigger than average, don't sit on the other person just because there is a space there, it might not be big enough for you. Wait until there is enough room for you to sit with sitting on someone.

I don't think the transit systems was considering the size of the average full figure woman when they were building these trains, because sometimes you have to get up and stand to be comfortable.

Especially in the winter when everyone is wearing one or two extra layers of clothing it is a very tight fit for three persons to sit on one seat.

The other thing that really gets to me is that people don't believe in cleaning their coats. My goodness! I don't know how someone can really gets up in the morning, take a shower, dressed in clean clothes and then put on a dirty smelly coat. Can you imagine the funk?