Never Knew Love Like This

I can not remember a time in my life when I have felt so...loved. In approximately three weeks I will celebrate a birthday. Each year is special to me, I treat it like my own personal holiday because my Grandmother instilled it in me to do so. She always told me "this is your day, celebrate it and own it."

This year I am celebrating in very large ways, ironically each one had very little planning on my part. I will start off celebrating on stage with an ensemble of world-class percussionists. My performance group will be putting on the "best of" show...how appropriate for my birthday. (BTW, if you want to purchase an ad for the program, let me know) So even though I will spend the majority of the day in the theater (theater call is at 10 a.m.) I can not think of a better way to celebrate a wonderful year.

If that is not enough, a friend has agreed to turn his wine bar into a Salsa club for the night. Complete with a live band that I absolutely adore. All of this came to be because people were willing to rearrange their schedules to help me celebrate. I am overflowing with joy and excitement!!!

I even have a signature drink for the night on the menu named after me and Purple.Rain!

As I reflect on this past year and the ups and downs of it all, I can not express enough how much those laughs, tears, love and memories have meant to me. As my excitement grows I am reminded that although I never knew love like this, the best is still yet to come!

My Beautiful Surprise...

Beautiful surprises...this past year my life has been full of surprises. Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are because we are busy comparing our lives to what we think it should be. There are few coincidences in life. If you believe that God is in control how can anything be a coincidence? A beautiful surprise but not a coincidence.

I was talking to a girlfriend who I have recently reconnected with. We were bonding over getting into the dating scene after being married when she shared something profound with me. She described a man she recently spent time with like this "I only want him if God wants me to have him."

How often we forget our plans are not our own. We end up frustrated because we are trying to hold on to things that God himself is trying to take away. After my conversation with my girl, I remembered how people seem to cross to my path. How I always end up 'coincidentally' meeting people that I previously saw in passing. Always a coincidence? I don't think so, not anymore.

I am making a conscious effort to stop relying on other people to justify how I feel, what I think about someone and who I should/should not spend time with. I am learning that taking one day at a time and enjoying each moment for as long as I can is doing wonders for my spirit.

I am stopping to enjoy all of my beautiful surprises...

Beautiful Surprise - India.Arie




Beautiful Surprise

It's like yesterday
I didn't even know your name
Now today
You're always on my mind
I never could have predicted that I feel this way
You are beautiful surprise
Intoxicated every time I hear your voice
You've got me on a natural high
It's almost like I didn't even have a choice
You are a beautiful surprise

Whatever it is you came to teach me
I am here to learn it cause
I believe that we are written in the stars
I don't know what the future holds
But I'm living in the moment
And I'm thankful for the man that you are, you are, you are

You are everything I ask for in my prayers
So I know my angels brought you to my life
Your energy is healing to my soul
You are a beautiful surprise
You are an inspiration to my life
You are the reason why I smile
You are a beautiful surprise



Peace & Blessings...

Storm Breaker...Cussing at Work

One of my boys (yes, women have boys as well) sent me this and it made me laugh out loud during a hard day. Hope this Storm Breaker makes you laugh as well...something to help you through the Monday work day.


Cussing at Work

Dear Employees:

It has been brought to management's attention that some individuals throughout the company have been using foul language during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers.

Due to complaints received from some employees who may be easily offended, this type of language will no longer be tolerated. We do, however, realize the critical importance of being able to accurately express your feelings when communicating with co-workers.

Therefore,a list of 18 New and Innovative 'TRY SAYING' phrases have been provided so that proper exchange of ideas and information can continue in an effective manner.


Number 1
TRY SAYING: I think you could use more training.
INSTEAD OF: You don't know what the f___ you're doing.

Number 2
TRY SAYING: She's an aggressive go-getter.
INSTEAD OF: She's a f___ing bit__.

Number 3
TRY SAYING: Perhaps I can work late.
INSTEAD OF: And when the f___ do you expect me to do this?

Number 4
TRY SAYING: I'm certain that isn't feasible.
INSTEAD OF: No f___ing way.

Number 5
TRY SAYING: Really?
INSTEAD OF: You've got to be sh___ing me!

Number 6
TRY SAYING: Perhaps you should check with...
INSTEAD OF: Tell someone who gives a sh__.

Number 7
TRY SAYING: I wasn't involved in the project.
INSTEAD OF: It's not my f___ing problem.

Number 8
TRY SAYING: That's interesting.
INSTEAD OF: What the f___?

Number 9
TRY SAYING: I'm not sure this can be implemented.
INSTEAD OF: This sh__ won't work.

Number 10
TRY SAYING: I'll try to schedule that.
INSTEAD OF: Why the f___ didn't you tell me sooner?

Number 11
TRY SAYING: He's not familiar with the issues...
INSTEAD OF: He's got his head up his a__.

Number 12
TRY SAYING: Excuse me, sir?
INSTEAD OF: Eat sh__ and die.

Number 13
TRY SAYING: So you weren't happy with it?
INSTEAD OF: Kiss my a__.

Number 14
TRY SAYING: I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
INSTEAD OF: F__ it, I'm on salary.

Number 15
TRY SAYING: I don't think you understand.
INSTEAD OF: Shove it up your a__.

Number 16
TRY SAYING: I love a challenge.
INSTEAD OF: This f___ing job sucks.

Number 17
TRY SAYING: You want me to take care of that?
INSTEAD OF: Who the f___ died and made you boss?

Number 18
TRY SAYING: He's somewhat insensitive.
INSTEAD OF: He's a pr_ck.

Thank You,

Human Resources


LOL - If only Human Resources was/could be as innovative and forward thinking as this!

Peace & Blessings...

Growing Roots

I have learned so much about myself in the last 2 years since I started this blog. The most important thing to me right now is I have been in my home for an entire year. I am not waiting on that dreadful letter to be taped to my front door telling me my rent will increase by X amount of dollars. Nor am I dreading the move to another location because I have awful neighbors.

This year I have become part of a community. I can walk the furbaby and talk with my neighbors. I can paint my walls, plant that much anticipated rose garden and try my green thumb at growing Calla Lilies. I can replace the flooring and decorate without worrying about losing my deposit.

What I am trying to say is that I finally have roots. I am stable in this place and time and it is a very different feeling for me. It grounds me in a way that I have never known. I look forward to coming home and have a few favorite spots around the house that makes me kick back and forget the world.

I have reconnected with family and friends as well as found comfort in myself again. I can see it in the pictures I take, my hair is shinier, my skin is brighter and life just seems better. I am attracting people who should be around me and I can sense when I need to politely keep them at bay. I am comfortable with my feelings, my shortcomings and learning that not each day will be sunshine but each day will bring growth.

Can you pick me out in the diva heels?

I know that not every relationship will last forever but that I should enjoy it while it does and try to be as happy as I can for as long as I can. I have learned that each experience shapes you, each relationship makes you grow and if you are lucky love finds you along the way.

I am growing roots and it feels great...


Peace & Blessings...

Storm Breaker...Little Boy on the Bus

Since life gives us enough to stress/worry about I am putting a little more laughter into The Storm. When the feeling hits or when I get a great forward I will post a Storm Breaker. Enjoy the first installment...


Little Boy On A Bus

A little boy got on the bus, sat next to a man reading a book and noticed he had his collar on backwards. The little boy asked why he wore his collar backwards. The man who was a priest said, "I am a Father."

The little boy replied, "My Daddy doesn't wear his collar like that."

The priest looked up from his book and answered, "I am the Father of many."

The boy said, "My Dad has 4 boys, 4 girls and 2 grandchildren and he doesn't wear his collar that way!"

The priest, getting impatient, said "I am the Father of hundreds" and went back to reading his book.

The little boy sat quietly thinking for a while, then leaned over and said, "Maybe you should wear a condom and put your pants on backwards instead of your collar."


Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...(Seriously?)

It has been a minute since I have published a Random Thunderstorm post. I had to get some of these 'seriously' moments down somewhere...


A guy went smooth off on me via text message because I didn't want to hang out with him. Complete with a "I though you were cool, but obviously I WAS WRONG!" text. Seriously? That just reinforced the fact that we should NOT be hanging out and did you REALLY just have a tantrum like a 2 year old via text? SERIOUSLY?!?!

If you are living in someone's house rent-free and you are not working the least you could do is cut the grass and take out the trash. Seriously, they have a brand new riding lawn mower and you're an out-of-work truck driver, I think you can figure it out. Seriously?!?!

If you are living with a woman and only have one bedroom apartment I don't care how 'on the outs' you are...you LIVE WITH SOMEONE!!!! I don't share. Seriously!

Seriously, It rained for almost two weeks here and flash floods took over almost every neighborhood I lived in for the past 20 years. Glad I now live in a different area.

Maybe someone will purchase this for my birthday or Christmas, but I will take this as well, seriously.

Remember that cute drummer from the concert I mentioned here? Well, our paths have crossed a few times and he may join my performance group, seriously! Gotta love fate :-)

It's official, my hair is a man magnet. But at least ask before you attempt to run your fingers through my personal space and experience the kinky, coily, wavy halo growing out my scalp. Seriously!

Remember that cute drummer...oh, said that already *shaking head to clear it* HA! ;-)

I've been in my own place now for one solid year. Seriously, that year flew by!

My baby sister has been keeping in touch via f@ce.book and email since my last visit. Gotta love those networking sites, seriously!

Posted a picture via mobile uploads of myself with one of my fellow Salsa dancers (who happens to be white) and no one said a word. A few weeks later posted another picture via mobile uploads with one of my favorite bartenders (who happens to be black) at one of my Salsa spots. Now everyone is asking about the black guy. Seriously? Y'all just nosy and closed-minded! The really funny part is both pictures were taken in the same location!!!

Nothing like getting a text message out of the blue. My favorite ones are the "Hi, I was just thinking of you. How is your day?" messages. Seriously!

You know you can dance when random Cuban guys argue with you about your nationality on the dance floor ;-) I am NOT a Cubano, but one taught me how to dance. Think I'll put that on a shirt, LOL!

One of my road dogs is about 10 years older than I am. I attract men in her age range and she attracts men in mine. Wonder if that's why we get along so well? Seriously! Love her to pieces...

If one of your friends had 'relations' with a guy in high school or college when does the statue of limitations wear off? I realized my social circle had a lot of in-dating over the years. Wonder how the spouses feel when the group hangs out? Seriously, do they even care? Do they know? Most of them were 'relations' and not relationships ironically.

Have the writers of True.Blood wrote themselves in a corner? This season sucked compared to last season. Still love me some Lafayette...seriously!

Go Big Blue!!!! Seriously LOVE Michigan football!

Go 'Canes! Even if you did get beat like you stole something. That was a SERIOUS @ss-whooping you received last week!

As much as I LOVE Lenny Kravitz we are in a recession and tickets to his concert (a stand up venue) are $55 plus taxes and fees. SERIOUSLY, I'll pass...

Seriously?
Yes. Seriously!