Happy Merry Christmahanukwanza!!!!

May you enjoy all the gifts of the season!!

Ashes and Snow

A man sinks through water as an elephant swims above him. A cheetah and a solemn young boy perch on a rock. A girl and an ape balance at the tip of a canoe, both reaching toward the still river. These images and others -- not one of them digitally composed or altered -- are the startling work of photographer Gregory Colbert.

Since its Venice premiere in 2002, "Ashes and Snow" has attracted more than a million visitors as it travels the world. Part of its brilliance comes from its permanent home within an impermanent structure, the Nomadic Museum, a portable gallery space designed to further immerse visitors in the world of Colbert's photos. As the New York Times notes, "The power of the images comes less from their formal beauty than from the way they envelop the viewer in their mood." Colbert considers "Ashes and Snow" a work in progress, and plans to develop his "21st-century bestiary" for years to come.

Beautiful.

Bah Humbug!!!

That about sums up my attitude towards christmas this year. I guess I am in one of my self- righteous "the true meaning of christmas has been lost in corporate greed and in the over commercialization of the holiday season " moods. While I love giving presents all through out the year I will usually go for broke every christmas surprising and delighting my friends and family with well thought out gifts.

This year I will be concentrating on the real meaning of christmas and in lieu of gifts I ask that you will instead accept my immeasurable love and gratitude. That has to be worth more than the Wonder Woman notepad holder/pencil cup I was going to get you. But, for those of you that insist on buying me something fabulous and have absolutely no idea what to get me I thought I would help you with a couple of suggestions:

1. A iPod Touch or Classic- The Touch has more bells and whistles but the Classic has more memory. I wont be mad at either one.

2. Cirque Du Soleil tickets- It's only in NYC till January 6th so you don't have much time.

3. Bath and Body Works products- I love the lotions, candles and even these amazing lip glosses..yum!

4. Amazon.com gift certificates- so I can download books and music on my new iPod.

5. A spa day or massage at my favorite local spa, Beauty, Bliss and Beyond.

6. Starbucks gift certificates- because I can never get enough soy chai.

7. Prescriptives Vibrant-C moisturizer and eye cream- because it's too expensive for me to buy myself.

8. Clinique Happy Perfume- to keep me happy!

9. See's Candies Old Fashion Fudge- to keep me even happier!

10. Target gift cards- self explanatory!


Of course, money is always appreciated. Happy gift giving!!!!

Ike Turner Dead at 76

Let's all bow our heads in a moment of silence.

Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō..

Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō..

Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō..

Monday Blues

I dont know about you but I hate Mondays. I always have. Today is no exception. It really doesnt help that I am sick and germy. I think someone gave me Mono. In any case I havent been 100% since I started my new gig (I'll talk about that soon) and now I'm down to about 58%. I spent the majority of the weekend holed up taking meds and watching netflix movies. So now it's Monday, I'm at work like the trooper that I am wishing I was in bed spooning.
:-(

Blame it on the rain

My friend Malik has been torturing me with crazy videos from Tay Zonday. Apparently he has been a You Tube phenom for months with over 10 million views spawning hilarious copy cat remixes and spoofs and even a spot on best week ever. I literally thought I would pop a blood vessel because he makes me laugh so hard. Please check out his interview with Jimmy Kimmel so you can hear him speak. Amazingly weird...I love it!!!

Crack is not so Whack

So says The United States Sentencing Commission. Crack cocaine offenders will receive shorter prison sentences under more lenient federal sentencing guidelines that went into effect last month.

Critics said it was unfair to apply longer sentences for crack cocaine than for similar substances, including powder cocaine. Under the current federal law, for example, the minimum sentence for possession of 5,000 grams of powder cocaine is 10 years, the same as the minimum sentence for 50 grams of crack cocaine. That wouldnt be such a issue except for the major racial deparity. Blacks make up more than 85 percent of federal crack convictions, according to the Sentencing Commission.

The good news is that the new guidelines are retroactive. So as many as 20k inmates will be able to apply for early release as soon as next year.

Hey Ladies...20k !!!!!!!!

Little Boy Blue

safely home.
from fighting a war that wasn't yours
from fighting people
with skin too closely
related
to our own

atone
atone
atone

we all must do
but sincerely,
i cant judge you
cause
really...
i fight for a
cause
all day long
i don't believe in

wars kill
but they also buy pink bows
and tonka trucks
puppy dogs
and baby dolls
war
is securing
the innocence
of your children
while assuring
the death
of yours

safely home.
i thank god
because the alternative
would be too much to bear
i wear
my heart on my sleeve for you
remembering you
my little boy blue
who loved apples
and kitty cats
and satin blankets
and me.

looking back
you were always a leader
youngest of 3
always mistaken
for the oldest of two
who knew
you would be a green beret at 23
who knew
my heart would swell
with pride
at the accomplishments made
from a war
I don't condone
but alone
you survived
a childhood that would have
devastated a lesser man

trade you bombs and bullets
for alcoholic mothers
and absentee fathers
i lived more than you remember
products of our parents
we could be
can both these apples
fall far from the tree?
i'll give you a medal
of honor
for trying
my little boy blue
safely home.

i love you

Crack is Whack

Who says there arent available single men out there???

Happy Thanxs Giving

This has been a whirlwind year for me seemingly filled with the lowest of lows. But I have also been so very blessed to have turned the proverbial corner and I am thankful and grateful for so many things. Here is a short list:

1. waking up.
2. wanting to wake up.
3. my brother returning home.
4. the support and love of my family (at least the ones I'm still talking to.)
5. my amazing sister-friends (Claudia, Kim, Ginger, Shelly, Angie, Heather, Sheila, Brandy, Cree, Tahisha, Ty, Dawn)
6. my new job (it's a means to a end)
7. the resurgence of creativity
8. closure.
9. the resilience of the human spirit.
10.craigslist.