Today was a good day.

Today was a good day. Nothing exceptional took place, except that I lived to see it. So often we take life for granted, as if we will always have tomorrow. We take it so much for granted until we don't capitalize on and make the most of today. Today is full of promise, potential and possiblity. In fact, today is all that we have. We can't reach back into yesterday, nor can we rush into tomorrow. Today is our only gift, our only option.

I am grateful for today. Today, I have friends who love me. Today, I had a good lunch and outing with my sister. Today, I made time for someone other than myself, and then I made time for me. So, I thank my God for today.
Did you make the most of today?

Blowing off the dust

Whew!!!!
Damn, it has been a while since I’ve blogged. I guess I need a little break from the online world of blogging…

But I’ve missed you… I missed my people. Being able to chat, trip out, talk , connect, escape and just have fun…I’ve missed that. Not to say that I haven’t had a full life, but I know certain people I wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for being online and I am thankful for them everyday.

A lot has happened to me within the time frame of the almost end of the year and now both positive and negative. Well, let me not say negative, because I believe everything happens for a reason. I’ve always tried to remain positive about everything on the outside, even if things on the inside weren’t going so well.

Well, it is almost a new year , and a brotha is going to do things a little different, Since I have been online along with so many of my brothas and sistas I have come across from near and afar… I think that comes with responsibility. So I’m asking how can I be of service to you? Instead of me trying to get something, I’m going to do more giving in 2009 and you know it may just work. Starting in the 09 I’m going to post a motivational thought for the week. So be on the look out.

One luv my brothas and sistas.

It was Sunday Mourning The good old days

It was sunday mourning and I was sitting here trying to think of what I might write about today as I checked my e-mail. I opened this one and as if by magic my mind driffited back to some real happy times in my life. So i decited to share this with you all. It made my heart smile. What a way to start a new week.

feel_it

While I am not one for passing emails along, this one was a mental vacation...Enjoy--

Close your eyes...And go back...

....Before the Internet or PC or the MAC......

....Before semi-automatics and crack....

....Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...

....Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's, voicemail and e-mail....

....way back....

....way.....way.....way back.....

I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk

Red light, Green light

Red Rover....Red Rover.....

Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third

Streetlight came on

Ring around the Rosie

London Bridge

Hot potato

Hop Scotch

Jump rope

Duck....duck....GOOSE!!!

YOU'RE IT!!

Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones

Mother May I?

Hula Hoops

Seeing shapes in the clouds

Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open

The sound of crickets

Running through the sprinkler

Happy Meals

Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom

Cracker jacks with the same thing

Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend

...but wait.....there's more....

Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons

Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man,

Schoolhouse Rock

Watchin' Sunday morning oldies (Abbott & Costello, Three Stooges)

Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos

FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY

Playing Dukes of Hazard

Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar

Christmas morning

Your first day of school

Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses

Climbing trees

Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky

Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck

A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers

Jumpin' down the steps

Jumpin' on the bed

Pillow fights

Sleep-overs

A 13" black and white TV in your room meant you were RICH

Runnin' till you were out of breath

Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt

Being tired from PLAYING

WORK: meant taking out the garbage or doing the dishes

Your first crush

Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN

Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in

The classroom, Remember that?

Oh, I'm not finished yet....

Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer

So was a swig from the hose

Giving your friends a ride on your handlebars

Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school

Class Field Trips with soggy sandwiches

When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there

When a quarter seemed like a fair allowance;

and another quarter a MIRACLE

Phyllis Hyman

June 30th has become somewhat a day of melancholy for me. I'll never forget June 30, 1995. I was driving through downtown Atlanta. I was listening to a jazz station and remember hearing Phyllis Hyman and teh word "dead" in the same sentence. I literally had to pull over in a parking lot on Peachtree. Oh, no, no, no, it can't be true I thought. Not Phyllis! But alas, it was true. I actually did not discover Phyllis and that wonderful voice until the release of her album Living All Alone in 1986. I heard Old Friend on the radio and could not figure out who in the hell was singing such a beautiful song. I had never heard that voice before. It was so rich and smooth. Was it a male or female? I listened intently waiting for the DJ to announce the song and artist. Phyllis Hyman. Who? I had never heard of her. I called my Dad to ask him about her. He is the number one music man and I knew he could provide some info. "Oh yeah", he said. "Phyllis has been around a long time". A long time? Where? He then proceeded to break down a little of her history. From that day on, I have been a true Phyllis Hyman fan. I sought out tapes and albums, CD's were not that big yet. I know all of her music now. I have a copy of Sophisticated Ladies. And only went to see the movie School Daze because of her appearance.

Phyllis decided to kill her self.
On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Phyllis Hyman committed suicide with vodka and an overdose of temazepam. She was found hours before she was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theatre by her close beau Terrance Porter . A suicide note read, "I'm tired. I'm tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you." It is thought that the last part of the message was for her family and fans. Phyllis Hyman was buried on what would have been her 46th birthday, July 6, 1995.
Phyllis was depressed and suffered a long life of being bi-polar. She never could get the right medicine. If only the doctors knew then what they know now. But since we do know, we need to be aware. If you have a friend or relative that is constantly depressed or seems to never be able to get it together, get them some help quick. Phyllis was depressed about her life and the hand she had supposedly been served. She just couldn't see that hand in a positive light. She was tall, thick and loud. Many things that I am myself. LOL! But she couldn't see it in a positive light. She is a constant reminder to me to love myself NO MATTER WHAT. It has to be done. This world will take you down if you allow it to do so. One cannot allow it to do so. Phyllis never got married, nor did she have children. If you are interested, I strongly suggest you read her authorized biography. It can be ordered here:
http://www.phyllishymanstory.com/
It is quite eye opening. And explains much about this wonderful tortured soul.

I also found this piece of interview footage on youtube. Check it out also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYKx28OOdws

And last but not least, check out Phyllis singing one of my favorite tunes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-lrqnEOMcs

So, I just wanted to share this with you all. Many of you may be Phyllis fans too. Light a candle and listen to a CD. That voice was pure magic. No one compares to it.
Phyllis I miss you and love you.
My hope is that many, many women will know your story and benefit from your sadness by loving themselves and getting help if needed. Your death will not be in vain. Rest in peace girl.

Nicole

Untitle

Hey Blog I know it has been a minute since I have done anything with you. The reason for that is because I would like to change you up, so I been thinking about deleting you and just starting over. I have not been true to you or myself because I say I would write something everyday and I have not done so. But untill I decide what I am going to do I will make sure that I post at least twice a week.

Dedicated to 2 natural sisters in my life.

Dedicated to (2) women in my life... Kimani’s and Ms.AngieB and also to the many Beautiful Black Women that I encounter daily who add to my day and re-mind me...

To The One Who Adds To My Day
Its amazing, truly amazing how one person miles away can add to one's day, and I am glad that person is you.

When I told the universe I was in search of a beautiful Black woman, with locks, with an Afro-centric appeal, someone I can talk "artist" talk to and so on and so on, the universe gave me you.

When I told the universe that I was looking for a beautiful Black woman, a lover of books, someone who I enjoy talking to on the phone, and so on and so on, the universe gave me you.

When I told the universe that I was looking for a beautiful Black woman, the universe gave me you.

Each day is a gift as it in these days that I am spending it with you albeit me in Dallas and you in Windsor Mill, Md and Houston.

I found a kindred spirit in you and for me that speaks to all aspects.

It goes beyond the physical with me as that is too simple. At times mediocre and I don't do mediocre.

I'm glad the universe gave me you as each day that I here on this Earth and with you on it, you add to my day.

It been a minute

WOW my new favorite artist, Chrisette Michele - damn this girl is BAD!!!!
I saw her in concert last night with Raheem Devaughn at the House of Blues. Chrisette Michele was awesome she had the house rocking last night I had such a great time and I would see her again. Raheem Devaughn wasn't bad either now he really had the women going through. Here are some of the pictures that I took last night