I’m out celebrating!!! Blessed to see another year. Be back soon.
Life Unplugged
Like most Americans, my family has the cost saving bundle package combining our phone, cable and internet. Most days it hums along in the background allowing you to take for granted the ability to hop online. Then it happens. The dreaded cable outage. If the cable goes out, everything goes out. Curses to the bundle!
Yesterday I had the day off so I had everything planned. Hubby was off to work and the kids were off to school. My day was structured to prepare a few blog posts and work on two stories in progress. But those plans were stopped. No internet access. How could I work without the ability to look up pictures for the blog and research random facts? How could I be distracted by reading emails and searching web pages for the latest celebrity gossip? How would I function without the useful tool of procrastination to both inspire and hinder my writing progress? How could I live a life unplugged?
After some initial anxiety, I settled down. It was just me, my notebook and a pen curled up on the couch. I was free to just let the words flow. Gone was the temptation to check on the proper spelling or immediately verify the name of a local park in Atlanta. I had only my imagination and it was liberating. I got a lot of work done. Maybe I should unplug more often. (Deep cleansing breath.)
Now I really need my internet access back. It’s my turn in Words with Friends.
Happy Mother’s Day
Every day mothers perform sometimes thankless tasks to care for their children. We are the backbone of the family, nurse, chauffeur, maid, counselor, event coordinator and cook. A mother’s job is never done. And for the majority of us, these things are performed without thought or expectation of award. But today is our day and what’s a good way to celebrate? I say Mothers everywhere should have a day WITHOUT their kids. Ladies, just do you today! Enjoy.
Getting Your Hustle On
In today’s economy, a lot of people have to work two jobs to make ends meet. I am thinking about starting a small business on the side to compliment my full-time gig. The only problem is, would I have enough time to devote to the business and continue with my writing at the same time.
Anybody out there working more than one job? How do you make time?
The “Mommy Wars” Don’t Exist
By now everyone has heard about Hillary Rosen and the statement she made to Anderson Cooper on his talk show. As a reminder, here is what she said,
“What you have is Mitt Romney running around the country saying: ‘Well, you know, my wife tells me that what women really care about are economic issues. And when I listen to my wife, that’s what I’m hearing. Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life.”
And everyone lost their minds. It didn’t seem to matter that Hillary was talking about Mitt Romney’s economic policies. No, what people heard was an attack on stay-at-home moms. Please, stop.
By making this non issue a major news worthy debate, Republican politicans are pulling the old divide and conquer routine. I believe there is no such thing as the “mommy wars” and here’s why. Some mothers work outside of the home. Some work at home. Whether that decision is make by choice or circumstance, all mothers want the same thing. We want our families to be safe. We want access to quality health care (including reproductive health care) and good schools. We want safe neighborhoods. And while women are not some monolithic interest group, all mothers make decisions every day that they feel benefit their children. I don’t think our beef is with each other.
There is no such thing as the “mommy wars”. But there is a war on women. It seems as if some men in this country want to roll back the clock. Why are they questioning a woman’s right to affordable health care including contraception, abortion and equal pay for the same job? Why are issues that were decided years ago in some cases up for debate? We, as women, need to stay focused on that.
Mary J Blige Burger King Commerical is Racist?
So, everyone is upset about a Mary J Blige commercial for Burger King? Mary singing about chicken wraps is supposed to be racist? Huh? Have we as a society thrown around the word “racist” so much that we have forgotten the definition?
This isn’t racist. This is just a cheesy commercial by the Queen of R&B drama. I like chicken. A lot of my friends like chicken. Who doesn’t like chicken? Take it easy, people. See for yourself.
Do you think this is racist? Please explain why.
No Apologies: On The Killing of Trayvon Martin And Being “Good” – The Snob Blog – Danielle Beltons The Black Snob
How I Would Fix the US Postal System
I was watching television the other day and saw this commercial from the US Postal Service. Is this the best they could come up with?
This lovely ad describes how everyone needs that piece of paper (i.e. mail) to file away because “a cork board has never been hacked”. They seemed to have overlooked the fact that no one wants paper anymore.
That’s where I come in. Speaking as someone that has no inside knowledge of the postal service, I offer these suggestions to improve the mail system. This is at no cost to my fellow taxpayers. You’re welcome.
1. Raise the price of a stamp to 50 cents and be done with it. Why do they keep inching the price up in increments of a penny? I shouldn’t have to scrape up pennies to buy a stamp. Let’s keep the price divisible by five as a general rule.
2. Update those uniforms. The blue is not really working anymore. They should get with the new spring fashions. Add a sorbet color to the uniform or use some color blocking. I’m sure some fashion designer would job at the chance to design a new look.
3. No one actually wants to go to the post office. Make it an event. Have someone at the door (a la Walmart greeter) to offer assistance. Offer beverages while you wait on line.
4. Have an express lane so if you just need to pick up a registered letter you don’t have to wait behind some guy mailing six packages.
5. Actually have working stamp machines. (I know, too radical.)
6. And finally, stop delivering on Saturdays. It’s the weekend. Take the day off.
Any suggestions for the postal service?
Family Ties
This past weekend the whole family hopped a plane and landed in Houston to celebrate my grandmother’s 80th birthday. We spent four days catching up with family, eating homemade gumbo and watching the Whitney Houston funeral. Everyone left with the intention of staying in touch but it made me wonder. Is it possible to stay in touch with people you don’t see often and don’t know that well?
Now Grandma and I are close. I’ve seen her more often over the course of growing up. We used to write each other letters (remember when that was the preferred method of communication) and we talk on the phone. We are as close as two people who live 1,000 miles apart can be. My grandmother is the coolest 80-year-old I know. She is a wealth of old school wisdom with enough spunk to still drive her new Chrysler 200 and have wireless internet in her house. I just love to sit wherever she is and listen. The woman could have been a comedienne in a former life.
I also have an uncle, two aunts, a large number of cousins, their spouses and all of their children. Being around all of my relatives left me with a feeling of camaraderie but no real connection. We are all bound by blood as evidenced by the pictures that grace my grandmother’s home. I could even remember summers spend in Texas as a kid. But once we all grew up, life had a way of making us virtual strangers.
As we all know, relationships take time and effort to maintain. My question is who has time? Who has the time and energy to establish and maintain a real relationship (beyond Facebook) with relatives that you rarely see? Is it worth it?
Any advice? How do you keep in touch with long-lost relatives?
No New Post for You!
It’s my grandmother’s 80th birthday! Heading out of town to celebrate. New post will be up mid week.
Enjoy your weekend and take care.