Leaving the Past...NOT Always Easy

Just when you think you have it right...you are...tested. Taken through the flames you once walked through with vigor. You find yourself face to face with the same demons you thought you conquered. The same things you thought you had killed, dismembered and buried deep where there would never surface again.

Sometimes those demons come back to haunt you.

God has shown me that He (or She, whatever you prefer and whomever you worship) is in total control of my life. I showed my hand to God and He (or She) laughed at my ridiculous thoughts and vision of my future. I now know that things are in my future that I had no idea I would be blessed to have but at the same time I also know that the remnants of my previous marriage still haunt me.

It seems like every time I think I am healed, when I truly feel as if I can walk facing forward, something reminds me why I am in this place at this time. Right now it is all financial. My trust in someone that did not deserve a dime had me close to financial ruin and it seems no matter how much I try, those financial demons shape my current situation.

I try so hard not to be bitter but there are times when my humanity gets the best of me and I HATE HIM FOR IT!!! Then I hate that I was so quick to be done with him that I accepted all the debt and let him out free as a bird to enjoy life with his next wife.

While they seem to be doing extremely well (I know things are not always what they seem) I am haunted by his financial irresponsibility and my stupidity in mixing my finances with his. And now, years later I am still struggling with those choices.

It effects me...every...day.

I eagerly await the day when I can fully walk away from those bad choices. The choices that have me in a place that is currently keeping me from things I need to do. The financial issues that are now shaping my views on relationships. I need to get a handle on this before it ruins my current blessing.

Don't get me wrong, I am a stickler for budgets and I do not waste money. But it so hard to dig yourself out of a hole when you don't make much and prices in an unstable economy fluctuate like the wind.

Leaving the past behind you...is not always easy.

I MUST learn how to do it.

Soon.

What I have learned...make your choices carefully.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

From Good to Great

My birthday month was very good to me. I celebrated with friends who have known me since...before life was complicated. When life was about going to school and your job was making decent grades. I swear time speeds up as you get older. It does not seem like I have known those two for 22 years.
Life is good. I still have a job, a roof over my head and doing things I enjoy. With the current US housing situation I will be in my home for a while but having great credit is making me stay put instead of abandoning my home to jump on some of the great housing deals that are out here like other folks. It perplexes me that people think it's a good idea to abandon their home to get another one. There should be some kind of serious consequences to doing this. They're only adding to the already bad situation.
Anyway, there is not much missing from my life. At this point I am re-evaluating what it takes to change my life from good to great.
This life is too short for it to simply be 'good.'


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Birthday Reflections 2011

This year I am hitting my stride. I was hit hard with the mid-life 'where should I be in my life right now' and what I want to do with my life. The past year I had the honor of being involved in a variety of wonderful events and make great memories.

What I know now is that I have healed and learned a lot more than I think. I am not where I want to be but I am surely not where I used to be. My friends are going through some rough times and talking with them about their issues made me realize just how far I have come and how much chaos people are willing to put up with in their lives. It also made me question the amount of chaos I once lived with daily.

I am in a place where life is good. I am thankful for the distance I have traveled. As I continue on this journey it is alright with me to stand in my current place on this journey and thank my Creator for bringing me this far. It is alright for me to share the wisdom from a higher power with my friends (because I know it is not me talking sometimes). It is alright to be cautious and take my time when getting to know people.

It is alright to trust myself and say 'no' to allow time for me. It is alright to stand in my place, stand in my skin...

...and have everything be alright.





Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Be Inspired - Heavy D

Twitter will give you news first. It may not always be accurate or have many details but you will stay up to date on a lot of things if you are on Twitter.

Yesterday Twitter lit up with the news of Heavy D's death. I have always been a fan of Heavy D, going back to when it was Heavy D and the Boyz. Back in the 90s every good party had a few Heavy D hits mixed in the playlist. I remember dancing in the car as I drove to and from college and the parties that were sure to make you tired and late for work the next day. Not only was his music great but the videos always featured great dancers and Heavy could move!!!

I usually do not post tributes to entertainers but with Heavy D it is different. Death is surrounding me this month and it brings me back to my reflection. People had an outpouring for Heavy D that was different than others. The reoccurring theme about him is he was always positive. He always wanted to be the best at what he did. As I jammed in my car on the way home during the tributes I realized every song was uplifting, every song made you want to move and not one disrespected women or himself. Not only did he have that approach as a rapper but also as an actor. Going after acting with the same gusto as he did with music.

That is a unique legacy within itself. As I reflect on that and how difficult it is to successfully execute such a positive light in today's society I remember his last Tweet....

"Be Inspired"


I leave you with some great music from the Overweight Lover. I know it will make you dance and smile. I enjoyed all of his music, even the latest album, so I would be remiss to tell you these are my favorites. They are just a sampling of my favorite Heavy D songs, as that list is HUGE!



From the first Album Living Large, 1987
Mr. Big Stuff





From the second Album Big Tyme, 1989
We Got Our Own Thang





From the third Album Peaceful Journey, 1991
Now That We've Found Love





From the fourth Album Blue Funk, 1993
Blue Funk





From the eighth Album Vibes, 2008
Long Distance Girlfriend





Rest in peace Heav, you did a remarkable job here on earth with the gifts you were given.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Letter to My Younger Self

November is my birth month and each year I take the time to reflect on my life and the past 12 months before I add another year onto my age. A friend asked if I read this book and said she was buying it. My cheapness immediately made me google it and see if it is my local library. I plan to read it during my annual birthday retreat, the time I take off work around my birthday and Thanksgiving to spend with friends and reflect before the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

I do not travel much for Thanksgiving and no matter how much my mother lays on the guilt trip I stick to my reasonings and stay my butt at home. I know my budget and I know what I can/can not do and my family will be here at Christmas. I will see everyone then.

But...

This letter to my younger self thing...it had me thinking. What would I tell my younger self? So with that in mind, I write:

Dear Younger Self,

You are a beautiful woman with a warm spirit. It is okay to be yourself at any cost. You will be tested and at times you will feel as if life is beating you up but you know what? You will survive. Do not allow other people to tell you who you are and what you can and can not do.

Your mother is trying her best but sometimes she will not get it right. She will make mistakes and it is okay for you to have your opinion. Learn from her mistakes. She will repeat them but you do not have to. Oh, and that goes for your father as well.

Oh honey, it is okay to walk away from that relationship even if you think you will be embarrassed. Always trust your gut, it very rarely steers you in the wrong direction. That relationship with him will not get better. He will show you who he is and your only job is to listen. Better yet, when you have that "I don't know" feeling about dating him, follow it. Actually, follow that instinct every time you feel it and you will be just fine.

Enjoy your Granny. Enjoy each day, holiday and talk you have with her. She will be taken away much too soon and you will miss that time with her almost every day. It gets easier but you will miss her. Oh, and write down that biscuit recipe and place it in a safe place because your mother loses it and no one else has it.

Take the leap of faith. There are plenty of FANTASTIC career paths out there that you have no idea about. Look into them, research them, ask around. You are so much more than anyone gives you credit for.

Not everyone will reciprocate the love you give but do not force yourself to ration it. If they can not return it then simply move on. That goes for all types of relationships. You can not fix anyone so do not waste time trying to do so. Also, you can not love someone past their pain. What you can do is love someone after they have dealt with their pain. THAT is the truth. Point. Blank. Period!

When the time comes, embrace your sexuality. Find your comfort level and do not allow anyone to take that from you or alter it in any way. You will find a balance and it does not include dressing provocatively. You are one of the few women who are not "girly" and still exude great sensuality. Trust me, men will see it and it will separate the men from the boys!

Life is so precious and short. Live each day and find something that makes you smile each day. You will grow into a fantastic woman.

Sincerely,

Your Older Self

Random Thunderstorms...(Wooosaaaaaa)

I have a friend who makes me want to shake her. She's beautiful, has a great job and a great home with a cute daughter. Why do I want to shake her? Because she is a dating a man who she allows to treat her poorly even though there are tons of men (of all sizes, shapes and wallet depths) lined up to take her out. Yet she finds faults in all of them to continue on a self-destructive path with a ninja turtle! Woooosaaa!


Waking up with a slight layer of cold sweat all over, overheating and forgetting things?!? This is not fun...I denounce you in the name of the Lord! I am way too young for this...WOOOSAAAA!


I tried to do the Life Class everyone is raving about but that certain ex-talk show host wrecks my nerve with the 'holier than thou' way she talks sometimes. Yeah, I may not finish this....Wooosaaaa!

I walked into a store the other day and saw Halloween Candy next to Thanksgiving decorations right next to the Christmas decorations...all on one aisle. REALLY?!? Are they not worthy of their own space in their own time? Have we really become that lazy of a society that we can not wrap our brains around the changing of time and the respective holidays in their own time? I would not be surprised to see Valentine's day candy in December now...Woooosaaaa!

I paid 3.15 to fill up my tank last week, this week it is 3.39. Not one person has mentioned this is those republican primary election debates. You want to to talk jobs, how about starting with gas and food prices?!?! Woooosaaa!

Everyone wants to talk about giving relief to people who have interest only loans and can't afford to pay their mortgages. How about we do this...those people would be okay if they purchased something they could afford. Bail out someone who is bad with money and make bad choices and 2 years from now do you know what you have? The SAME people making bad choices with their money. How about you give the people who can make their mortgage payments a break? Drop their interest rate first, they obviously are good with their money and can make good choices with the money they have. How is it that you help people who can't manage money before you help those who have proven they can handle it? You want to pump money into the economy? HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO DO SO!!!!!

You don't need a 4 bedroom house when you only have 1 child and make less than 40k a year. You don't NEED a house that costs 250K when you can only AFFORD TO PAY $700 a month. If you bail out these people we will continue to be in a downward spiral. The people who are legitimately handling their business are getting tired of the hearing they can not receive help until they become the less responsible...Wooooo-m-f-in-saaaa!!!!!

Speaking of politicians...since none of them seem to be able to understand they represent PEOPLE and not their own damn agendas and personal gripes, vote against every one that is currently in office. Holding a political office should not be damn career! Why are there senators and congressman who have NEVER held a regular 9 to 5 but have been in DC for over 20 years?!? VOTE OUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM who want to hold up progress in finding a resolution to this economic crises. I bet they would understand THAT GESTURE!!!! Ask Cynthia McKinney. You have a voice, make it count in November!!!!!!!!

No, there is no woosaa after that last statement. Something needs to change and every single one of us has an option to make it so. Bet I ruffled a few feathers on this post. You mad? Speak your peace in the comments section....

*KayC takes a deep bow, drops the mic and exists stage left rubbing her temples and shaking her head*

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

He Is...

For my blog Sis LoveBabz who wanted to know about the 'Man' I mentioned in my last post...something tells me she is not the only one who had the question.


I remember when I met him. I was at one of my weekly Salsa events a few years ago. At the time I was enjoying my Addiction and had no desire or curiosity to start anything with anyone. It was the middle of the week and I was enjoying my new found obsession with Salsa.

I make rounds at Salsa events, meaning I do not stay in one area of an event for long and have avoided (for the most part) being labeled as an On1, On2 or Casino dancer. He grabbed my hand and asked if I would like to dance. Hardly ever turning down a dance unless I am headed out the door or in serious need of a breather I accepted and we talked through our first dance. The usual conversation followed, name, where you learned to dance, do you live here, etc. I wish I could say 'and the rest is history' but this is not that kind of story.

We would see each other on the dance floor at various events and we would always dance at least once, sometimes more. The conversations kept coming over the years (I am a talker on the dance floor, if you can not talk and dance or if that annoys you please don't ask me to dance) and eventually he asked for my number.

Over a year had passed since we first laid eyes on each other. Yes, it was over a year before numbers were exchanged and by this time I was coming out of my Addiction and had started seeing someone else. I was not in the position to start anything and our first phone conversation was light. I remember thinking that I was not sure if this would/could go anywhere.

I thought he was a good guy but I just could not see it at that time. He loves to tell people that I was leaving to go on a cruise and told him I would call when I returned but he did not hear from me for three months. I laugh but it is true. I did not call him when I got back. I took that time to clean up my life and clean out the junk that took residence there. Even after cleaning house we remained friends and would talk from time to time.

Things changed one night about a year ago. I received a phone call from him early one morning saying that I left the event without saying goodbye. Still not knowing if he was showing interest or just small talk I waved it off until one night while waiting to say goodbye he stopped dancing with someone to dance with me before I left.

I am naive to certain things. He would call and talk to me as he drove home from salsa events and our conversations would last for hours. Still, I did ask if he was 'interested or just being nice?' Our journey began slowly when he answered, 'both.' The rest, as they say, is history.

I will not give a name or a description here as I am still very protective of this relationship. He does resemble a celebrity and gets asked for autographs from time to time with the occasional "Oh my GOD...I LOVE your show!"

I only see a resemblance at times and I am often in bewilderment as I see people stare when we are out and about. He handles it well but gets frustrated at times. I just laugh and walk away as people insist that he is being modest.

Now that I look at this photo if you trim down the facial hair and make his hair a little shorter...well, the resemblance is uncanny. Ha! I have missed that all this time.

With that in mind...let's just call him Theo ;-)

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

That's Just the Way It Is

"That's just the way it is"
These last few weeks have been rough. My father is fine. Thank you to everyone who sent me well wishes via blogger, twitter and FB. He returned to work and returned to being the father that I have known for most of my life. The one who is M.I.A. The one who does not return phone calls or text messages.

Deep down I wanted our relationship to be different. At this point in my life I am not sure I could have looked at him as a 'Father' but I needed him to be a friend, to be in my life or at least act like he gives a damn! It is more than astonishing to me how any person can go from confessing how much they care for you, hold endless conversations with you for days then go back to their life without you...without a second thought.

By day three when my messages went unanswered I became worried and afraid. Surely if something was wrong someone would have called me, right? I contacted my oldest sister and she assured me he was fine and that is when I became angry. I was hurt and was heartbroken for days. I did not want to talk about it with anyone but I realized that once again I had allowed this man to crush me.

I gathered myself up, realized he is who he is and put those feelings away. They now live back on the shelf where they took up residence before he got sick.

"That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is"

Work is just...work. I am here, I have a job, it pays the bills. I am looking for my passion. That thing that will make me get up in the morning and allow me to look forward to my day. Often I wonder if it exists or if it is wishful thinking.

My events company is holding its biggest event this weekend. I am nervous and excited about it. Three days and nights of non-stop dancing and I am going to soak up every bit of it! Of course there will be photos and maybe a little video. I am not sure yet.

Well, that is about it for now. Well...there is someone in my life. He has been around for a while but I have kept him 'close to the chest' so to speak. He is a good guy with a good heart and that means so much to me right now. Because this last line is the part I'm having issues with.

"That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
But don't you believe them"

Yeah, I dug into the vault for this one. I was wondering through the mall last week (I loathe shopping) and found myself singing along. How many of you remember this one? I love Phil Collins but his rendition can't touch this version.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Diggin' Raul Midon

I wrote this about a year ago and I am not really sure why I never took it out of draft mode. I still love this song. Enjoy the music while I try to figure out how I want to approach my next post. Although the majority of the music I post lately is of the Latin variety I do still enjoy other genres. Don't worry there are more Latin artists in my drafts :-)


On a lazy Sunday morning I was watching one of the high numbered video channels and they were featuring artists from around the world. I love artists who may not be topping the charts but still have the passion for their craft. It is something that comes across in their music, a certain something you see as they perform.

Raul Midon's video played while I was doing some work on my laptop and it caught me enough to make me stop working and watch the video. His passion in that video is something I very rarely see anymore. He will be added to my Quiet Storm playlist. Hopefully, you will be curious enough to see for yourself and maybe download a few songs for your playlist?

Of course I had to include the video that captivated me. His explanation of the song in the beginning...well, see for yourself ;-)






Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Phone Call that Changed Everything

I'm sure this will be pretty random but here goes...

One phone call changed my life. For the better I guess, but it was an ordeal. My sister called me the middle of last week and said my father had been rushed to the hospital and all she could understand from his wife was "he is not responding to the antibiotics."

Not responding? Antibiotics?

My relationship with my father is strained at best. He has not been in my life on a regular basis since I was a pre-teen and even before then he was always working and I rarely saw him.

Later that night I found out he was in surgical ICU and was unresponsive.

ICU? Surgical ICU? Unresponsive?

Considering my car is 12 years old and it was holiday weekend, I was stuck in another state some five hours away as I waited by the phone for updates. Plane tickets were over $1,000 and try finding a rental car the day before a holiday weekend. Yeah, good luck with that.

To really add stress my cousins were riding down to Florida for the weekend on Friday but told me there was not room in their car. Yeah...I took THAT with a grain of salt. Such is life.

My sister (who is one year younger) kept me updated because my father's wife did not have the decency to call his first-born to give me any updates throughout this entire ordeal. I have no words for her right now and will probably have no words for some quite some time.

Long story short they found the source of his infection and he regained consciousness around day three. Yes, I sat by the phone for THREE DAYS waiting. His fever spiked around 104 but it also came down after day three. He was released from the hospital after a five day stay and made it home for the Holiday.

The good from this situation?

My father and I are talking again.

I spoke to him everyday while he was in the hospital. I think we talked more this past weekend than we have in life. Now that things are getting back to normal for him, maybe that new found relationship will stay that way? Near death experiences have a way of changing people.


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Storm Breaker...Getting an F

It has a been a long time since I posted a Storm Breaker. Think we all may need a good laugh. No?


A mother is driving her little girl to her friend's house for a play date.

'Mommy,’ the little girl asks, 'how old are you?'

'Honey, you are not supposed to ask a lady her age,' the mother replied. 'It's not polite.'

'OK', the little girl says, 'How much do you weigh?'

'Now really,' the mother says, 'those are personal questions and are really none of your business.'

Undaunted, the little girl asks, 'Why did you and Daddy get a divorce?'

'That's enough questions, young lady! Honestly!'

The exasperated mother walks away as the two friends begin to play.


'My Mom won't tell me anything about her,' the little girl says to her friend.

'Well,' says the friend, 'all you need to do is look at her driver's license. It's like a report card, it has everything on it.'


Later that night the little girl says to her mother, 'I know how old you are. You are 32.'

The mother is surprised and asks, 'How did you find that out?

'I also know that you weigh 130 pounds.'

The mother is past surprised and shocked now. 'How in Heaven's name did you find that out?'

'And,' the little girl says triumphantly, 'I know why you and daddy got a divorce.'

'Oh really?' the mother asks. ‘Why?'

'Because you got an F in sex.'



Ha! Gotta love the kids. Have a fantastic day!!



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...(Finding ME Time)

I am still a little M.I.A. in blogland. There are a few things I would like to blog about but whenever I get a few moments I just want to relax. Somehow there are not enough hours in the day. Between my 9 to 5, performance group, events company and trying to have a personal life, my body is rebelling and making me slow down.

When my body screams "No mas!" my guilty pleasure is a good beer or glass of wine while watching reality TV. I do not watch many of them but I caught this episode of So You Think You Can Dance. I am not a huge fan of Sasha. Her technique is not as polished as a few of the others but she truly dances from the heart.

This choreography was great and I am a huge fan of Me'Shell. It definitely deserved to be mentioned here:





Speaking of television and some interesting things that grace the screen, I recently saw this commercial. It took me watching it a few times before I realized what they were referencing. My reaction was REALLY?!? It is a very clever way of putting it out there but who in their right mind thought this was an appropriate commercial?

Now I know why it only runs sporatically. What do you think?





Ending on a happy note, I have a new niece who joined the family in June. She is healthy, happy and growing fast. I am looking forward to meeting her and seeing my oldest niece again. Two girls and a lot of hair to be combed by my Sis!



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

I've Been Tagged

I was tagged by Monique at Unscripted Musings so let's get it done:

RULES:
List 7 random things about yourself, pass the award to bloggers and answer a couple of questions....(okay, you know I don't do chain letters but let me know if you decide to participate)


7 Random things about me...

1. I grew up around one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. One of my Line Sisters is a lifeguard and so was the ex but I can not swim.

2. I always wanted curly hair, never knew I always had it.

3. I am not a fan of the sound of my voice even though I do voice overs at my job. Doing mic checks freak me out!

4. I LOVE home improvement shows. I dream of having Ahmed crash my backyard!

5. The last two men I dated resembled two of my celebrity crushes. Coincidence? Maybe not.

6. I would love to trace my family tree back to immigration. My Grandmother took me to the early 1900's and they were Native American and European decent. Always wondered where the African portion came from. Interesting huh?

7. I miss the niece and nephews I once had with the ex (who quickly remarried). It hurts my heart to see my former niece on social networks referring to her aunt. Because of this I try not to date men with children. Not an easy thing.



Q and A Session

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Song: There are so many...Alright by Ledisi, Cuano El Rio Suena by Havana D'Primera, Vivencias by Havana D'Primera, No Limit by La Tremenda

Favorite Dessert: Oreo Cookie Ice Cream

Biggest Pet Peeve: People who want you to be considerate of them without being considerate of other people

When You are Upset, You: Withdraw from everyone, stop talking until I calm down

Your Favorite Pet: They are like children, I can not just choose one

Black or white: Black

Biggest Fear: Not ever having a family of my own

Best Feature: You tell me, I have no idea

Everyday Attitude: Singing..."Every day I'm hustlin', Everyday, I'm hustlin'"

What Is Perfection: Using all the gifts God gave you

Guilty Pleasure: A few bad reality tv shows



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Blah, Blah, Blah

I'm in kind of a blah mood. Nothing is really wrong except for the usual things in life but I'm just feeling kind of blah.

I'm looking for another gig so if anyone knows of any fabu positions in Communications/Event Planning please send them my way. Maybe I just need a change

Life is chugging along and I really do not have much to talk about. Just checking in I guess. Still dancing, still planning events, still being caregiver to the fur baby.

The dance floor is still good to me. I need to stop wearing sneakers to dance during the week. The floors are not always the best and my knees are mad at me for a few days after. I know the wear and tear is causing damage. Even with compensating my dance style for a sticky floor with rubber soled shoes I still find myself dealing with aching joints.

If you watch this clip you can see me compensating for the lack of 'glide' on the sticky floor. If you listen around the 45 second mark, you can hear my partner declare he's tired and calm down our dance pace! This is after dancing that pace for most of the 5+ minute song. ROFL!

I love that someone is always taping you or taking photos of the dance floor. I also love the fact that I very rarely notice until they show me the footage after ;-)

Dance floor Therapy...it is cheaper than the gym and a psychologist.

Blessed and Highly Favored

"What's meant for you will come your way.
No one will get what's meant for you but you."

That quote may sound redundant but my Grandmother (my family called her Dear, but I called her Granny) used to tell me that all the time. As well as this quote:

"It'll be alright after while."

She left this earth over 10 years ago but sometimes I swear I hear her in my head saying the same things. So much so, that I find myself repeating those words (in her Southern dialect) to the people around me. I said those quotes to my business partner numerous times over the past year. I kept telling her everything happens for a reason and things happen so other things can transpire.

I thought of this business idea and held onto it for over a year. I was terrified to approach anyone about it. The world of dance can be a little fickle to newcomers but she jumped on it and away we went. Talking to people on the low, putting bugs in people's ear, trying to create something that had not been done in our area.

Our first few events met with stereotypes and people trying to purposely sabotage our events. It was extremely hurtful. A deep wound forms when someone attacks your character but we talked each other through it and kept going.

Every time one of us was at our breaking point, someone would come up and tell us how much they enjoyed the last event and ask about the next date. More than a couple of times when we were faced with finding a suitable venue one would mysteriously land in our laps with an irresistible price tag that happened to be free or half off for that month. Coincidence? Not at all...

We learned valuable lessons from the ground up and approached each event as a learning experience. We make sure to greet each attendee by name and if we don't know you when you come, we know your name by the time you walk out of the door. We have been accused of making our dance nights too cozy and comfortable because people will get comfortable and sometimes forget about the dance floor. But you know what? That is fine with us because they leave with a smile on their face.

Of course you can not please everyone all the time but we are working on the select 'hard nuts to crack' and they too will leave this next event happy, sweaty and tired. I am extremely grateful for finding what I think may be my calling. I am extrememly blessed and highly favored for using the gifts God has bestowed upon me.

I am so thankful that I am growing into the person I think I was meant to be. Two years ago I made a contact with someone and kept it going just enough to work out a great deal for my little company that could. My little company that is barely one year old is hosting a room for three nights at a major event in the area.

My little company that could is being put on the map.

My little company that met all that opposition is now being marketing by the very people who tried to shut us down.

My little company that could...is proving that it CAN!

And for that...I am extremely grateful, humbled and have the strength to keep going.



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...(Week at Home)

One of the very few perks I have with my job is the time off. We are closed when people usually request time off so at the end of the physical year I have time to burn. I like to take a week after things have died down and just use it for myself. No traveling, no visiting family or friends, just time for me to do whatever I want to do.

I used the week to stay at home, relax and turn off my damn alarm!

I spent three days with myself. Me and the furry one stayed home, kept each other company and enjoyed being lazy. At least I did, he does that on the regular!

I danced four nights straight. I missed Salsa and my partners. It was so good to be on the dance floor again even if the NBA finals made for some interesting crowds.

I lost half of those pesky pounds that found their way to my waist, hips and thighs. Gotta love that dance floor!

Speaking of losing weight...who goes on vacation and LOSES weight? Once again, I LOVE the dance floor!

I ventured out to a few new dance spots and people did not know me. When you are new, people can be reluctant to dance with you. Thankfully I can lead so I danced with a few women and happily mingled with the crowd. One of the men hugged me and told me he had to bow because I was mean on the dance floor. I could only laugh and say thank you.

I was really flattered when on the way out a lady stopped me and told me she had watched me dance and I was her dance inspiration. ME?!? Someone's dance inspiration? I remember how I felt when I first found my dance inspiration, being someone's dance inspiration is a great honor. I hope I do not disappoint her, LOL!

I happily checked off a few things on my house 'to do' list. My ego got a gut check when I ran across a few old photos from when I first moved in my house. I had just walked away from the marriage and had all the debt with a small income. I left the furniture and all reminders of that life. I had lost sight of how far I had come and only thought of the things I wanted. Those photos reminded me of how I am slowly and surely making my house my home.

I also spent the week making strides to perfect my craft on the event planning side and dance.

That was my week in a nutshell...how was yours?


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Time and Chance Meetings

I wrote in February about my trip to San Francisco and the more downs than ups experienced by my performance group. What I did not mention in that post was the meeting of a legend in the Salsa dance community.

I dragged into the hotel lobby with my performance group Director after our more than four hour flight delay and paying triple the cost of a cab ride because transit was closed. There were no smiles on our faces and everyone could tell we were exhausted. A smile found the way to my Director's face when this thin-framed man walked up to her and spoke softly in Spanish while hugging her with a bear hug of an old friend.

He turned to me and asked my name. She introduced me and he immediately took my hand, looked me in the eyes, said what a pleasure it was to meet me and kissed my hand. (All in Spanish, of course). I returned the kind greeting in English and he asked my friend/Director if I spoke Spanish. She assured him I could understand him and he continued our conversation in Spanish as I returned his answers in English. He said he would talk to us over the weekend as we dragged ourselves to our room.

I had many interactions with him over the weekend. Every time he saw me he kissed my hand and told me what a delight it was to see me (All in Spanish, to this day I never heard him speak English). As I mentioned in my previous post I was sick most of the weekend so I missed his class on Rumba but got a lesson in the roots of Salsa and how most instructors are not teaching it properly in the U.S. over breakfast that Saturday morning.

I am always told I have an old soul and my spirit connects with people. I wondered why he was drawn to me in my group of 6 ladies, many of which he had met years before. I can only say that old spirits connected like they had known each other for years. Maybe they have known each other way beyond anything we can comprehend in this lifetime.

I received the news through the Salsa connection that he recently died. I had no idea he was sick when I met him in San Francisco. I had no idea that chance meeting with him would be my one and only interaction with a man who touched the dance world way beyond the Rumba/Afro-Cuban/Salsa teacher I knew. My description of him in this tiny post in my small blog does not come close to touching the tip of what a gift he was the dance community.

I do believe that everything happens for a reason. Our spirits met again in this world and I am looking forward to being lucky enough to meet him again in the next. The dance world has suffered a great loss but I smile every time I think of him kissing my hand and saying what a pleasure it was to meet me.

It was a great pleasure to meet you as well, Pupy. Rest in Peace my friend.



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

What I Want for You

I have a huge family. My mother has a lot of brothers and sisters and each of them had quite a few children so I was raised around a lot of family until I moved to my current location with my mother a pre-teen. My cousins also live in the metro area. When they started to have children I was the perfect age to babysit for them. The first two babies are in their 20s now. I had a wonderful sense of pride when they graduated but this weekend another one walked across the stage into adulthood. He is truly special to me.

I kept him for his mother a lot more than the others. He has seen way too much for a kid his age. His parents have taken him through way too much as a child. Through all of that he has kept this child-like goofiness that always makes me smile when he is around. Do not get me wrong, he is a smart young man. His neck should have been sore the next day from all the ropes and stashes that adorned him on his day. But the thing I absolute adore about him is his ability to stay true to himself.

As he embarks on his life journey to become a doctor who helps to bring life into the world I pray over his spirit. I pray that he keeps his sense of goofiness. I pray that God keeps him and holds his heart. I pray that he always has a happy spirit even when life gets the best of him. As I watched him walk across the stage and be goofy with his friends at the graduation party, I looked at the man dancing the wobble with his friends but I saw the baby who played with my alarm clock so many years ago. That clock never worked again but my memories continue to grow.

So proud of you Cuz...I can only hope one day that if I am blessed with a son he holds half the sense of self you have.

M.I.A.

I have been M.I.A. from this blog. Mainly because it is the end of the school year and working in education means that I have been extremely busy these past few weeks. That pace will continue for the next two weeks. It has stressed me out and tired me out. Not only have I been M.I.A. from this blog but I have also been M.I.A. on the dance floor. Gasp...yeah, I know.

I no longer like my job. I like what I do and the fact that I still have a place of employment but this place is wearing me down. I'm scared the new stupidity level may be contagious so I don't drink the water. I'm not joking. It amazes me how people's sense of self-entitlement means I need to stop everything I am doing and cater to them. Shaking my head and walking away. Did someone mention vacation time? Yeah, I need some of that...real soon.

On a brighter note that little events company is the little engine that could and it is pushing right along. Four events down and three more scheduled for this year. I am geeked about a three-day party we have the pleasure of co-sponsoring. That should translate into a lot of good dancing and late night partying. I am looking forward to that like a kid looks forward to Christmas. Maybe I can shed the extra few pounds that have found their way to my body. No one is complaining except for my wallet and wardrobe. I plan to re-introduce myself to the dance floor this summer so maybe I can dance them back off?

Other than my work frustration there is not much going on in The Storm. I'm claiming my backyard from the large tree the power company decided to cut sideways and checking off my to do list around the house. I am cured from the Addiction and have not gone back that route and pretty content with my personal life. (not ready to share any of that quite yet) Life is wearing me out right now and I can barely keep my eyes open although it's only around four in the afternoon.

I need a nap but I have to sit through a retirement reception and a boring meeting before that happens :-( I am not sure what lesson I am supposed to learn from this but I really need to figure it out!


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Black in Latin America: Cuba

I did not want to post this until I had the chance to view it for myself. Most of my friends are Cuban. I have more Spanish-speaking friends than African-American friends and ironically most of of my African-American friends are fluent in Spanish.

My friends joke with me that I am adopted into the Cuban family and often they will only speak Spanish around me then give me the eye when they are done meaning "Did you get that?" LOL!

The stories they tell are first-hand knowledge. Fleeing Cuba in the 80s, the family members that are still there desperate to get out and of course, the poor nation that seems to produce some of the best musicians in the world. The documentary did not go into the world of Cuban music known as "Timba" or the great Salsa that comes out of the small nation which was disappointing but it was eye-opening.

It did go into the slave trade, how the Cuban people refer to themselves as "Cuban" before any other color. The fact that Cuba received twice as many slaves as the USA. The race relations that plague their country. Watching this, I thought of my adopted Cubano de familia and how people view them. Most of them have brown skin, some darker than mine and some lighter than mine. Many of them are considered black here in America. But...ask them and they will proudly tell you "I'm Cuban!"

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...(Life in General)

This time of year is usually crazy for me and 2011 is living up to that reputation.

My events company had a wonderful event in April. It is always a good sign when the servers and the owner of the venue have smiles at the end of the night. Even better sign when you call the owner to discuss his thoughts and the second thing after hello is, "Are we still on for...?" Yes, indeed!

I put the final nail in the coffin of the Addiction. He was sending me articles on education. Finally, I questioned his motives and his response of 'nothing, just sending you articles I thought you would be interested in' blew my top. My response? "Thank you for the article. Please do not contact me again." GTFOHWTBS!

I think my first performance group has officially disbanded. That is not a bad thing. Honestly, it was financially draining and time consuming. It introduced me to dance and for that I will be forever grateful but it has run it's course. Everything has a reason or season.

Thinking this may be a transitional period for me. Transition is not a bad thing. I'm learning (as always) and growing as a person while becoming comfortable with my limitations and expectations.

I have a big event on the horizon. I can feel it, touch it and have some great ideas in mind. I should have final partnership approval by the end of the week. God's got this. My events have steadily become better and have literally fallen in my lap. Coincidence? Not at all!!!!

Life, my friends, is good. Enjoy it!

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Black in Latin America: DR and Haiti

I know it has been a while since I have documented anything here but life has taken over. Considering my love of all things south of the border, my Salseras made sure I knew about this documentary series airing on PBS. A good number of my Salseras and Salseros (men and women who dance Salsa) would be considered "Black" until they opened their mouths. A few of them will keep you guessing until they decided to speak Spanish or (in a few cases) French.

There are a LOT of Americans who have no idea Africans were traded in South America and the islands before they made it to the U.S. The conversations I overhear in Salsa class amaze me sometimes. Including the lady who argued with my instructor about being hispanic as she demanded who gave him the authority to teach Salsa since he was obviously black!!

This should help and enlighten a few people. The full episode is embedded below. It is set to re-air so check your local listings. This is the first of the series including one on Cuba and Brazil. You KNOW I will be glued to the one on Cuba since the majority of my friends are now Cuban!

Amazing how race relations plague the world....

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life...

The one place I am totally carefree is the dance floor. I love to perform but freestyle dancing on the Salsa dance floor with a good partner puts me in an indescribably great place of euphoria. Seriously, the smile that finds me on the dance floor is natural, it just happens. It simply finds me and stays there until the song is over. Especially when I have a great partner who I can trust on the floor, someone who protects me and allows me to give him total control.

This year, due to some drama and emotional stress, I took a hiatus from the dance floor. I usually dance at least twice a week but I stayed off the floor for two months. I was off kilter, something just was not right and I could not figure it out until I returned to the hard woods.

And I returned to Salsa with a vengeance...

I returned to the dance floor with my event in March. We brought in the only woman Salsa DJ in the country and she wore us out! The following week I helped to teach a beginner's class on Tuesday, hit up two places that Friday (yeah, you read it correctly) and hit the floor again hard on Saturday. If that was not enough I also had rehearsal with my performance group the next day on Sunday. I'm talking about getting home at four in the morning exhausted and happy every night. And you know what? It felt absolutely wonderful!

It was wonderful to see the friends I had not seen in months. I felt absolutely great to be led across the floor again by men who know how to lead. Fantastic to have great dances with new friends. I have never seen a video of myself dancing socially when I was not on stage. Until now...





Thanks to the outstanding photographer who captures my events in photos, I now know what I look like on the Salsa dance floor...and I must admit, I like it. This short clip features this group's version of Mi Musica. As you know they are one of my favorite groups so the Salsa Hubby (guy I'm dancing with) was jammin' with me :-)

BTW - The album on Amazon is NOT the new one. It says April 2011 as a release date but that is the US release date of that album. It is actually 2 years old, the new songs are available on itunes.


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Want to Know What I Want?

The beginning of 2011 has forced me to deal with a lot of issues I thought were dead and buried. I have had to tackle things I thought I had conquered years ago. So you may find a lot of my new posts are focused on finding me and my balance. I wrote this one a long time ago but ironic how it is relevant today.


Everyone keeps asking me what I want. What I want in a partner, what I'm looking for in a man. What I desire in a companion. If I could manifest the perfect mate....


I want...

...to look in his eyes and have everyone else in the room disappear.

...someone to make me smile and look at me like this on AND off the dance floor




...A man that is sexy and confident, that ignites thoughts at the sight of him



...to lounge on the sofa and fit perfectly in his arms while we watch...something. I really don't care what it is.

...both of us to be secure in what we have. Titles are words, feelings have meaning but intentions can last a lifetime.

...to remember what it's like to be loved when I am having a long stressful day.

...my memories of the night before to carry me through my day.

...to be on the same wave length and communicate without words.

...to inspire him to be the best him he can be.

...PASSION.



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...Crossroads

I have several random crossroads in my life right now. What better place to discuss a few of them...


I have a friend who is very near and dear to me. She has been seeing a guy who is not comfortable showing signs they are dating in public. They can't arrive anywhere together, show any PDA or leave together. But, he constantly tells her she's the one he wants to be with. It has been over a year now and my friend knows of other women he has also been seeing and she confessed to me they are considering moving in together. Merging children, finances and lives. I had to be a good friend and ask "How can you live with someone who will not claim you in public?" I was floored...but no matter what she chooses, I hope she will be happy. It took so much restraint for me to not yell while she told me. I remember when I was in that situation, being held captive to an Addiction that was not good for me. Life is ironic like that.


Speaking of my Addiction...I am doing pretty well in walking away from him. He called in November and I did not answer, simply sent a 'thank you' text days later. He sent a link to a news story in February concerning my job field. It took me weeks before I read it but never responded to him. Most recently he sent me another link to my FB account. Never an apology, never any written words outside of the subject of the emails. I know he is thinking of me but if he truly wanted to reach out? Try it with words and maybe start with an apology. Nice bait...but I am not biting. Yes, I admit to stumbling but I will not stop walking away.


I recently befriended (or so I thought) a fellow blogger. Enjoyed reading their blog and we ended up having good phone conversation and email exchanges. But after I repeatedly turned them down in the 'relationship' department (and I use that term loosely) things hit the fan. I don't know how many times I have stated here that I do NOT play the role of the other woman but I am serious about that. If you live with someone, if you have an 'understanding' with someone or if you are having relations with someone... I WILL NOT become involved with you deeper than a friendship level! Translation: I will not become physical with you. Do not ask me about my bedroom habits or specifics on my bedroom behavior. Since I asked if I would be removed from the twitter account every time we disagreed I was also removed from the blogroll. It's okay though, lesson learned. Always follow your first instincts. I view my blog as an online journal, I am flattered if you care to read it but I don't use it as a place to meet men. I meet plenty in my daily real-world life.


I am thinking of a career change. Not really a career change but trying to figure out my purpose, my passion and how to leave my mark. Have you seen someone who does something they are passionate about? There is nothing like watching them. I need to find my 'thing' and keep it close. I think I am close to figuring all of this out. If the last few days are any indication, I know I am on the right track because there are some people who are really mad at me. But I have some big ideas and plans on how to bring them into fruition.


I am at a crossroads because I think each interaction rather good or bad is having an effect on me. Each event that takes place in my life is molding me into the person I am destined to become. I may not be who I want to be but thank God I am not the woman I used to be! I had a situation last weekend that I felt I handled pretty well and reinforced to myself that I know when to walk away, when to leave well enough alone and not try to fit in. No one is living my life, this life, my daily life except for me and now I at least know when I have had my fill and where I find my joy. That tells me I am making strides and choosing the right direction at my crossroads.



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Strength, Courage and Wisdom

Thank you to everyone who gave me encouragement and commented on the last post. I have recovered or should I say I am starting to recover. I took time for myself, no going out to help other people, not listening to anyone else's issues and I stayed off the dance floor. I took time to get myself together. I took time to have a long, honest look at myself and have a long, honest talk with God. I spoke my issues, my pain and what I thought was my near breaking point.

I woke up the next morning still in the clothes I wore the day before but I felt like a different person. Do not get me wrong, the world was not all rainbows and roses but the tears had stopped and my shoulders no longer carried the tension they had the day before. I spent the day cleaning my house, gave the furbaby a bath and just enjoyed the sunshine. It was a beautiful day and my porch swing offered a little comfort. The most I ventured away from home was to walk the furbaby around the neighborhood. I did have a conversation with the guy. At one point I asked him, "Do you want to be alone forever?" You might think that is cruel, but I did not ask in a cruel way nor a mean or demeaning kind of way. Sometimes, things come to me and I have no idea of what I am saying but they come in a way that makes the person hear me. This conversation needed to be had and I needed him to hear me. All things considered it went very well.

The following day was also a beautiful day. The sun was shining and I enjoyed a slow cup of coffee while watching one of my favorite reverends on television. What was his sermon on? Keeping your peace. Hmmm....I feel another theme. The guy met me for breakfast and I guess our conversation went better than I thought because I had a hard time getting rid of him. He accompanied me on a few errands and we finally parted ways in the early afternoon. Despite the conversation and the time spent together he still has a long way to go in finding himself and I am not sure I am the person who can help him navigate his way to self-discovery.

I returned home to walk the furbaby through a peaceful park and decided to tackle my budget yet again. I came up with a plan on how I'm going to survive with rising gas and food prices as well as a product idea that hit me on my trip to the west coast. I also came up with a marketing plan for the event company and a grass roots way to get more people to attend. Through all of this I slowly found my way back from being broken.

I found my strength, my inner peace that keeps me when nothing else in the world matters. I found the courage to tell people that sometimes I have to take time for me. I can not always take on the problems people bring to me. I know who I am, what I like and what I can/can not tolerate. I have the courage to ask for what I need and I respect the fact that sometimes people can not give me what I need. I have the courage to gracefully walk away from toxic relationships of any kind and I hope to have the courage and wisdom to know when to hold on and when to let go....of anything.

I found the wisdom I forgot I had. The wisdom to know I have come a long way from the woman I was. The wisdom to know I have a pretty good life despite what anyone thinks. I have the wisdom to keep on walking when tempted with a former addiction (yet again) and the knowledge to know good memories should never make you turn around but smile and keep going forward.

I do not have all the answers but I have once again found my strength, courage and wisdom. I forgot about this song until it came on my satellite radio station while I was cleaning the house. She is phenomenal...

Let Me Lay it on the Line

There is so much going on around me.

So much that I finally broke down. Literally, I broke down. Yes, there were tears. At work...which I never, ever allow myself to do. At my desk as well as the break room (thank God I was there alone) and apparently I could no longer hide it because everyone tiptoed around me all day. I was not angry, I was defeated. Broken...

It happens to everyone at some point and for me it was a few days ago. So much drama swirling around me that on top of the tears my body shut down. I passed out in increments of an hour at a time for the past few days. I am sure the jet lag had something to do with it as well.

The last time this happened to me I was going through a divorce. Quietly, I was going through hell trying to keep a straight face and recover from the pitfalls of bad finances, a bad marriage and saving face. This time it was because of opposition from the events company, much needed repairs to the house, something trying to resemble a relationship, a very disappointing trip, dead-end job and the rising cost of living with a decreasing pay check. If you follow this blog you also know my struggles of coming to grips with my slim chances of having children. Which means I am not doing well with my sister who is pregnant with her second child and hating every minute of it. Guess who gets the "When are you next" questions, yet again?

So, as I start to reclaim myself, catch up on rest, give the opposition truly something to envy, tell the guy to consider his path, contemplate a new job in this economy, re-adjust my budget, put on a happy face for my sister as she complains about hating pregnancy and wanting a boy instead of another girl and figure out how to put a band aid on the house repairs until I get them taken care of I try to remind myself that I can only control how I deal with things.

The smile is not back on my face but I am no longer breaking down. As I began to pick up the pieces around me I try to remind myself that God must have a plan for me and there must be some happiness somewhere in this. A lesson to be learned.

Because as the battle lines are drawn, I am not sure how much fight I have left in me.


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Once is Enough...I Think

My 50 Things to Do list consists of a lot of different things. One of those things is to have my photo taken in front of the San Francisco bridge. I have no idea why this was important enough to make it to my list but my Salsa performance group was invited to perform on the west coast and you guessed it, the city was San Francisco.

Sounds simple, right? Go to the west coast, have a day to see the sights, take a few classes, enjoy the parties and after parties at night before returning to the east coast. Ha!

Let me just say I will seriously think twice before I ever venture to the west coast again. Let's start with the plane ride there, shall we?

My plane had a departure time of 7:15 with an arrival time of 9:55. After I checked in and made it through airport security I noticed my flight was delayed. I thought ok, I can grab a bite to eat to burn the extra hour. One hour later and the departure time was still not updated and no gate agent or person at customer service to speak with. As people continued to arrive at the gate, we heard three different departure times and still no gate agent. Around 8 the screen updated our departure time as 8:25, which would have been great if there was a plane at the gate for us to board.

As everyone sat there wondering if this plane would ever arrive and if we would indeed make it to the west coast the time changed on the departure to 9:21. At this point even the pilots and flight attendants seemed irritated. Finally around 8:15 a gate attendant arrived and had no clue the flight was delayed. She made no announcements on why we had an extra 2 hour wait nor did she offer an apology for our wait time. What she did do around 8:45 was announce the flight was extremely overbooked and they were offering round-trip tickets to anyone willing to fly the next night. Uh...you're kidding me, right?

The question then became if the plane was overbooked (it finally arrived at the gate around 9ish) why were they assigning stand-by tickets? To add insult to injury, they practically forced people to check their bags because they ran out of overhead space. As we finally made it to the tarmac we knew it was bad sign when planes were taking off around us, our pilot announced we needed to return to have maintenance check out the flotation device but we had no gate to return to. At this point it was almost comical and everyone was expecting Ashton to poke his head out to say we were being punked. I think we finally left the airport around 10:30 - from a 7:15 departure time. Which put us behind in the arrival time, which meant the rail station system was closed, which translated into a very expensive cab ride to the hotel at 1 in the morning west coast time. Did it get better? I'll let you be the judge...

The next morning it was rainy, cold and nasty outside. Considering our schedule, this was the only day we had to see the sights so my group decided to walk the hills to Fisherman's Wharf. We figured the rain would let up. We were wrong.

This was the bottom of the 'hill' and this photo is very deceiving. We thought it would be okay until we got to the middle:




This is how far we walked up in the rain, cold and nastiness. There was no way I was going into the middle of the street to get a great photo since the cars were trying to tag us like a game of Frogger:





This was the view after we got to the top:




The view was worth it but we decided to get a cab. The rain slacked up a little and I ended up having the best cup of clam chowder in my life at a street vendor. That was after we were given the cold shoulder at a restaurant. I guess she figured we weren't dressed well enough to get a good table. There is a such thing as Southern Hospitality.

We ended up at another restaurant with a view of Alcatraz for a clam chowder bowl, expensive appetizers and dessert. Let me say that everything in San Fran is expensive, even the cab rates triple at night. We took a van cab back to the hotel down the hill (which felt like an amusement park ride) for about $12. We took a cab to the store that night which was a lot closer and it was $20 round trip!

It rained every day we were there and got colder by the day. I caught the west coast crud and tried my best not to get anyone else sick. I was over the rain by day 2 and refused to go out in it again. The sun decided to come out on the last day and we did venture out into the city. Did I get my photo taken in front of the bridge? No. I did not get to go to Chinatown either. It was Chinese New Year and according to the taxi driver it would take hours to get in and impossible to catch a taxi back to the hotel and we were performing that night. The one thing I wanted to do was no bueno. I feel a theme...

By day three I was over the entire experience. The classes were over-crowded and you could not see the instructor. Either the classes were freezing or someone had the bright idea to prop open the door to the freezing rain for a breeze. Needless to say by the end of the festival almost everyone had the sniffles and was coughing. Even the parties at night were packed beyond comfort level.

The savior to this trip was the actual performance. The performance was the best one yet and since we knew the DJ MCing the event he played "Walk it Out" as we exited the floor and yes, we walked it out southern style and left it all on the dance floor.

Of course the flight back was over-booked and once again they forced you to check your carry-on. At least the delay was only one hour back to the east coast. I have never been so happy to be at home. My first stop was the pharmacy for a decongestant and then to pick up the furry one.

Would I ever go back to the west coast? That is a BIG fat no. It will take a LOT for me to go back. I sincerely think once is enough...but judging by the standing ovation we received as we walked it out I think we might get invited to perform next year.


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Random Thunderstorms...Shaking My Head

My metropolitan area is way too small. If you take the square root of the educated African-American population, add in the Latino and bi-racial group that identifies, subtract the amount that are married (who are not cheating on their spouses) and add in the few who are divorced - what do you get? A few hundred people who all know each other and who have slept with more than a 'couple' of other people in the group. I say this because one of the women who played the mistress in my prior situation is now playing the role of the other woman in my friend's situation. Shaking my head and thinking it is time to relocate...


I recently had the best weekend and received some wonderful news concerning my '50 Things to Do' list. I may get the opportunity to cross off a few things I never thought would happen. I am simply beside myself...I'm keeping it close to the chest for a little while longer. Shaking my head in amazement...


My event planning company threw our second event in January and the crowd was a little thicker than the first event. We tried a marketing strategy that proved people can not follow directions! Needless to say we will not run another special until our anniversary celebration. Shaking my head at people's sense of entitlement...


My former Addiction sent me an email out of the blue. I think it's an article on education (I work for a school system) but I have not opened it. I have not heard from him or had any contact with him for months. He called to wish me a Happy Birthday in November and I sent him to voice mail. Funny, he crossed my mind the other day when I saw someone who resembled him. Think he felt the vibes? Shaking my head and telling myself to leave sleeping monsters asleep! Shaking my head at him...


I am learning to follow my gut feeling. That feeling in the pit of my stomach my Grandmother called a "sixth sense" of sorts. My events company venture is kind of requiring me to become a DJ. The father I contemplated letting into my life last year was/is a DJ full-time and I contacted him about lessons. Well...that spawned a series of 'hey beautiful' and 'muah' instant messages. Although I think he's a great DJ and the lessons would be beneficial, I decided to cancel them. Obviously, we each had different views on our approach and my gut feeling was telling me it would not go well. Shaking my head at that...and moving right along.


I am taking my first trip of the year very soon. It is a trip to the west coast. A first for me but I am going with my Salsa group to perform at one of the largest Cuban Salsa festivals in the US. I am looking forward to knocking another thing off my 50 Things to Do list and glad I will do it with my Salsa girls! Shaking my head at some of the foolishness I KNOW will go down during that trip.



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Storm Breaker...Being a Court Reporter

One of my Saleros sent me this on a day when I just needed a laugh. Extremely worthy of passing along. Enjoy!


These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.


ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said , 'Where am I, Cathy?'
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
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ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
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ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No , I just lie there.
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ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget..
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
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ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do..
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes , voodoo.
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ATTORNEY: Now doctor , isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep , he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
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ATTORNEY: The youngest son , the 20-year-old , how old is he?
WITNESS: He's 20 , much like your IQ.
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ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
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ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
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ATTORNEY: She had three children , right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
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ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death..
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
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ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
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ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
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ATTORNEY: Doctor , how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them.. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
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ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral , OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral...
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ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not , he was by the time I finished.
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ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
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And last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No..
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.



Aww man, I was cracking up. Love my Salsa family :)


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...