My Little Gems

Recently, I've noticed that my taste in pleasurable reading has changed. Usually I like to lose myself in a work of human drama. Fiction was the way for me to go. That was until I picked up A New Earth, This I Believe and This I Believe II. A New Earth was an Oprah Book Club selection, but I must have had the channel turned off the month she was featuring the book. Eckhart Tolle asks his ready to take a spiritual journey with him in this book. Now I know that you may be thinking, "Oh no, not another person telling me to let go and let God." Well not to worry, he doesn't do that in this one. He challenges us to let go and just be. Powerful, I know.

This I Believe and its II are short essays by extraordinary everyday people on the various things they believe about life. The essay compels readers to reevaluate how it is that they come to their own beliefs. Both books are provocative and refreshing. They are also a breath of fresh air.

I once heard a saying, that reading is the easiest way to give someone a new perspective. My little gems didn't fail to deliver.

The Old, the sick and the sudden

I am sure that we have all heard that old adage that bad things happen in 3's. Well death, depending on how you look at it, is one of those bad things. The week of June 22, 2009 was an incredible example. Monday began with the death of Ed McMahon. At the time of his death he was 89 years old. Thursday the world woke up to the news that actress Farrah Fawcett had lost her 4 year battle with cancer. The world went to bed in shock at the sudden death of Michael Jackson.

These deaths have sent me into reminiscence mode. I grew up with these 3 souls having a tremendous impact on me. As a kid, I didn't get to watch much television, so it was a treat to be able to sneak late at night and watch the antics of Johnney Carson. I waited with baited breath to see how my ladies from 'Charlie's Angels' were going to crack the next case. I will admit that I wanted to be Sabrina Duncan (played by Kate Jackson). I thought she was brilliant. Who didn't have a favorite Michael Jackson song?

As the weeks have passed on since their deaths, I have had to take stock and examine each of their legacies. What gift has each person left to make this world a better place? I can only speak for me.

Ed McMahon has left me with the importance of laughter. One cant sleep on the fact that laughter is an integral part of life. I wish that more people would do it. Farrah Fawcett helped to teach me that women are more than just a pretty face. She taught me that we are smart, we are talented, we are multi-faceted, we are independent, we are strong, we are brave, and most importantly...we are love.

Michael Jackson taught me that God's gift to the world is music. I don't think that anyone has lived or will ever live that understood that better than he did. He had the ability to unite all people, all races, all religions...simply by sharing God's gift. It was all about the music.

I remember when I was a kid, my cousin Pebbles (Lisa) was beginning to take a deeper walk with God. To demonstrate to us mere mortals that she was serious about her new path, she decided that she was going to give up all of her love of "worldly music" including her almost obsessive love (my opinion) for Michael Jackson. I think most of us were happy for her new life, even if it was just to see her take those humongous Michael Jackson posters down from her wall. Pebble's took a giant step in her faith shortly after PYT began playing in regular rotation on the radio. I remember walking into her bedroom and watching her dance and sing... "I want to love you. PYT...Pretty Young Thing...And I'll take you there." She explained that she heard it and just couldn't help herself. There was just something about the music. She understood that God showed his love in every one of his creatures.

It was always funny when I heard folks that were older than me say, "Ya'll youngins dont know this or that...I ain't now like it was back then." The world lost some great people the week that was June 22, 2009. I'll have a good time telling the "young folks" what they've missed.

Veria

I've spent the last few weeks catching up to the past. I got a new cell phone and a new internet, cable and phone provider. I am sure that I am not saving any money with all of these upgrades that I performed, but I have discovered a little gem. I think my new muse is worth all the money I've spent afterall.

So lady and gentlema...eerr, ladies, let me introduce: Veria.

More information can be found here... http://www.veria.com/

Enjoy.

Other Christmas Traditions

I've already shared that I am not really into the spirit this year. Not sure why, I'm just not feeling it. I think my coworker Amy picked up on it after I shrugged my shoulders when she asked me how I'd be spending my holiday break. After a quick chuckle, Amy said, "Well Jeremy and I planned on doing our Christmas Day Movie Blitz, but with Will we've not figured out how that would work. It looks like we'll be at home." Well my interest was immediately peaked, "movies," I asked. She responded, "Yup, movies. You know, tickets, start times, concessions stand, popcorn? Jeremy and I go every Christmas Day." OK, so where have I been all my life? How come, I've never thought about the movies on Christmas Day? Amy must have read my mind because she continued, "Alisia, most Jews sleep late, order Chinese carryout, and go to the movies on Christmas Day. It isn't our holiday."

I almost gave Amy a bear hug, but I didn't want her to punch me. So instead I called Michael and asked him if he'd like to become Jewish with me for the day. We'd do it up. Waffles and turkey bacon in our pj's in the morning. It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street on TV (commercials included) for the afternoon. Then we'd order greasy spoon Chinese food for dinner. He loved the idea! Yeah for me. I think it was easier for him to agree as his family are all back in Kansas.

Now you may ask, dear faithful reader (lol), what about Christmas with your family? Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'll make the rounds. (Much) later in the day (evening)...for dessert and quick hellos.

It may turn out to be a merry Christmas, afterall.

The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

The person that first said that should've been given some sort of prize, as that is the most authentic saying out there. Thanksgiving 2008 will go down in the history books as a good time.

What changed? The Venue. We were all at Paulette and Sam's house. Another change? We were the adults and we had the kids (well some of us had kids). What else was different is that we had different hairstyles, varying degrees of body sizes, new jobs, new stories & gossip to tell. Complaints flew about the Halftime Show.

Now you may ask, what things were the same? Dinner began at 3. The first guest arrived at 3:25 with the usual "explanations" and the last guest arrived as I was leaving (can you imagine?). I swore that, "this is my last time planning anything for you people." We still laughed our assess off. We ate until we were literally going to bust (I might add that Paulette and I outdid ourselves...smile). Daddy still managed to monopolized the ears of one poor guest (whose name I never got) with his usual: religion and politics. The kids screamed and laughed and tattle-tailed (kinda like we did when we were there ages). We pulled out out Tupperware containers and aluminum foil. Michael got the ham bone. We planned how we were gonna spend Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2008 was a success. Indeed, there is a God.

I Love...

Tina Fey. She is hysterical! More than that she is reallly smart. Hysterical and smart. You cant beat that. She left Saturday Night Live to do 30 Rock and most of us (including me) held our collective breaths. But she has joined the ranks of Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroid, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock. They have been able to go on to do big things outside of SNL. You can see that I could go on.

She is damned funny. Thank you Tina Fey for making the last days of this election cycle bearable.

Here's What I Think....

This is the conclusion I have drawn in the last few days about the campaign. November 5, 2008 can't get here soon enough.

On This Evening...A List

1. Alton Brown's new show Feasting on Waves is now a favorite of mine.
2. I have less than 6 weeks to go until the Marine Corps Marathon.
3. Life, for me, is indeed a cycle. I have lost touch with a second set of my married friends. Unlike the first group, I am not that hurt.
4. I am physically strong. My knew motto is: Better, Stronger, Faster.
5. My new addiction is local wines. I am really digging this Pennsylvania wine called Liberty White. Yummy!
6. I am bored with teaching. I am mortified that I am even able to utter the words.
7. I love learning. It doesn't matter what it is, learning is just plane old fun.
8. I am a closet style & fashion junkie.
9. Laughing is indeed the best medicine.
10. God has given me many blessings and I am grateful.
11. I have come to detest people that are without honor.
12. I am at peace doing quiet and solitary things.

That is all.

I Wanna Be like Dana

Oprah's season premier featured 175 Olympic Athletes fresh from Beijing. Yes, Oprah talked with Micheal Phelps, she interviewed the Redeem (Men's Basketball) Team, the Beach Volleyball chicks, and all the gymnasts. But by far my favorite was 41 year old swimmer (and silver medalist) Dana Torres.

She said one thing during her interview that really stuck with me. When asked about her age and competitive swimming, Dana responded, "the water doesn't know how old you are." When asked if she would continue to swim and perhaps try for the 2012 Olympics, she said, "After an Olympics I usually want nothing to do with water for a while, but now I kinda feel like I want to keep going."

Dana is my hero.

Compelling Television

In my opinion, TV in the summer doesn't really offer much. I mean reruns and the barrage of reality shows just doesn't do it for me. But I have to admit that over the past 2 weeks, I have been glued to the tube.

Christie Brinkley's divorce from Peter Cook has been riveting. I mean it has sex (Peter with the 18 year old and the porn), it had intrigue (you mean you didn't want to know why Christie was walking around with the dinosaur diorama?), and it provided the media outlets with enough sound bites to take them until the A-Rod trial kicks into high gear. On a sad note, Peter got 2 million of Christie's estimated 60 million and visitation rights. On a good note, Christie has reportedly said that she will never marry again.

Jamie Lynn had a baby girl. I am happy for her. I just hope that all the girls out there that think they can do it because Jamie has done it just remembers that Jamie has money, an infamous millionaire sister, and people that want to pay her for baby pictures.

A Red Sox fan and a stripper came on a television "news" magazine to say that they weren't surprised that Alex Rodriquez was getting a divorce. They wanted to know what took his wife so long to file.

They were asked if they felt bad about the role they may have played in the marriage breakup. I am happy to report that the Red Sox fan said she wished A-Rod well.

What a lovely family! I watched the interview on Access Hollywood. What a coup for Maria Manounos! Seeing clips of the interview on FOX, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, Bloomberg News, CNN, The View, Regis & Kelly was a little creepy.

Wisdoms of Our Fathers

Yesterday, the world lost a great, great man. Tim Russert the Washington, DC Bureau Chief and Moderator of Meet the Press died of a sudden and massive heart attack. He died doing what he loved to do. He died preparing for his show Meet the Press.

As a child of the Washington, DC news circuit, Tim Russert's face was one of those faces you expected to see. You expected to see him because he was a local guy. He was a good guy. You expected to see him on your television, asking some politician to explain the various inconsistencies in their words. Whether he was talking to our local mayor or the President, we could always depend on Tim to be stern but kind. We knew he would be direct and at the same time comforting.

What is so overwhelmingly poignant is that he has passed and right before Father's Day. It is so poignant because people who knew Tim knew that he loved his family. He made us all love his dad (Big Russ) and his own son (Luke). He lived for those two men.

With his sudden loss, I can say that Tim Russert has taught me a lesson in the way he lived his life. He has taught me to live my life being accountable to something and to someone. He has taught me to hold others accountable as well. He has also reminded me that life is so very short and that it sometimes takes us down unexpected roads. Mr. Russert has reminded me that we should continue to embrace life...live.

Tim Russert, it has certainly been a pleasure, you were a wise man indeed. A father figure to us all. You will be missed.

Headlines in Sports

I am not really a sport fanatic, but I try to keep up so that I can participate in the conversations at the water cooler. These are the conversations that I will participate in this upcoming week.

Farewell to Jim McKay, the man who made me having to watch sports on television as a kid tolerable. He is the man who made the phrase "the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat," enter pop culture. As an adult, it has amazed me that I have held all other sportscasters to the standard that he has set. GOLD.

The Record that Wasnt to Be. Big Brown came in dead last at the Belmont Stakes. His odds of winning Belmont was 1-4. Maybe we will have a Triple Crown winner next year.

Barry Bonds and his lawyers entered not guilty pleas on all 15 of the various charges stemming from the 2003 Steriod Investigation. He ended the season last year a free agent. The 2008 Season is underway and every team decided to pass.

I'm In Love with Chris Matthews

Everyone who knows me, knows that I am a news junkie. I'm a junkie not because I am interested in the "fine, fair and balanced reporting" that I am probably not getting. I am a junkie because I love the drama, the tag lines, the attention getters and one liners that these reporters use to get the ratings. I love the showmanship. "Hillary lashes out against Obama, Hanna Montana speaks out about the drama of the photos. Star vs. Barbara. " Oh and let's not forget that the coverage is....LIVE (from one place or another).

Chris Matthews is different. He tells it like it is. He says what other folks won't say and he says it to the very people I have absolutely no trust or love for: Politricktians.

Today on the Chris Matthews Show, Chris basically broke it down for the audience (and his panel). He let us know what any politician running for President has to do in order to get elected. Here it is in a nutshell:

1. Tell Teachers that you will pay them more and cut out performance testing.
2. Tell Factory/Blue Collar workers that you will give them jobs and not send them over seas.
3. Tell Jews that you support Israel.
4. Tell women that you support Choice

5. Tell Blacks that you understand Slavery and that you support Civil Rights and equality.

Chris went on to say, "Every person running for political office knows this, how come this seems to be escaping Obama?"

God, I love Chris Matthews.

Elvis has Left the Building

Pope Benedict XVI has left Washington, DC. Traffic has returned to normal (if there is such a thing in DC) and Metro isn't crowded in the middle of the day.

I'm not Catholic and I've never been one to be impressed with celebrity or famous people, but I have been following the media coverage of the Christian faith's equivalent of the Dali Lama. I just want to know why this mortal's visit to America is such a big deal. I've tried to get my Catholic (and non-Catholic) counterparts to explain it to me, but sigh...no such luck...I haven't gotten an answer that rests comfortably in my logic.

And then it hit me. Their explanations aren't supposed to sit well with me logically. The explanations should rest well with me emotionally. I am just supposed to be excited that they are excited. I am supposed to be happy that they have someone that they look up to. I am supposed to be happy that he came to be near them and to make them feel a little closer to God. I guess I can't be that annoyed by someone who is able to spread joy just by being. I wonder what this world would be like if we could all do that?

The Baby Bump

I just Googled it and came up with 1,110,000 hits.

Can someone tell me when the phrase became a part of popular culture? I've sort of gotten my ears accustomed to hearing it on the entertainment news shows, but when I see it in magazines and in newspapers...I just have to wonder.

According to Urban Dictionary.com, baby bump is defined as:

1. baby bump (n.)

The abdomen area of a pregnant woman. As the fetus/baby grows so does a woman's belly. Thus it is referred to as a "baby bump."

I'll guess I will need to join the rest of the members of popular culture and add this one to my lexicon.

The Biggest Loser

So I am going to admit that I am officially on the bandwagon. When the series first started, I was like...what? There isn't much that tv hadn't tried. I thought that tv had reached another low. But here I am watching this season's finale and I am amazed and inspired. As someone who struggles with my weight and body image, watching these people put themselves out there and do it in front of the world is inspiring. They let me know that if they can do...I am not alone. They let me know that I can do it too.

Now of course the naysayers are going to say, "Of course, they lost the weight. They went to a spa, they were at The Biggest Loser Campus, they had trainers." I thought like that at first. But I was missing the point. The trainers, the diet, and the workouts were there to teach us three things:

• Believe. During the promos for the show, they play the song Believe by Suzie McNeil. People who are overweight sometimes don't believe that they can take the weight off and keep it off.
• Sustained weight loss is hard. You have to work at it.
• There is no magic bullet to weight loss. Their is no pill. It all boils down to healthy eating and exercise.

I know I don't have the courage to appear on The Biggest Loser, but I can definitely carry the spirit of all of those contestants with me. I just added Believe to my workout playlist.

Next season to begin in January will feature couples....I'll definately will be watching.

(http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/)

It's A Wonderful Life

I love that movie. I've watched it two times a year every year for the last 15 years and I never get tired of it. I guess I could tape it or buy the DVD, but there is something about watching it on tv (commercials and all). Goerge Bailey had so many lessons to learn and through the power of prayer, he learned them all.

"Buffalo Gal will you come out

will you come out tonight

will you come out tonight

Buffalo Gal will you come out tonight

and dance by the light of the moon."

George had the best plans to travel the globe and to build big things. He was on the first train out of Bedford Falls. George thought he had to travel the globe to do something wonderful with his life. What he didnt know is that God had his life all mapped out for him and that his life was wonderful as God had written it. George had to come close to losing all that he had to realize the beauty and grace of what he had right in front of him.

I can relate though to Georges feelings whenever he heard the toot of a train engine. How it made him fill with longing and regret of dreams never realized. It happens to me more and more these days. I know that is why I have started to write again. I need to see where this takes me. It may not take me anywhere, but I need to follow this path until it ends.

There was something about good old Bedford Falls. Yup, there is something about home.

Just so you know

It's Sunday afternoon and I have just written and addressed all my holiday cards. After licking all of the envelopes (yuk), it occurred to me that I will be throwing $25 out the window. I mean every single year, I go through the process of sending cards to the same group of people that I sent cards to the year before. I don't ever talk to them, not for any particular reason. I don't really know what is going on in their lives, but I send them cheer in an envelope, just to let them know I have "thought about them", and that I will think of them again....next year.

My epiphany about the $25 led me to another epiphany and then another. So on this gray afternoon (with the Green Bay vs. Raiders game playing in the background), I am going to let you in on some of them.

1. I really hate to exercise, but I do it because I am supposed to (you know, good for the heart, weight control, obese Americans, blah, blah). I like the way I feel once I am done though. Cycling and the Treadclimer are my favorites of exercise that I hate.

2. Dark chocolate is the best! I am so glad that I bought that case of 72% Cocoa Chocolate Assortment from Harry & David (http://www.harryanddavid.com/). Nothing else needs to be said about that.

3. Watching Football on TV isn't really that bad. I am not really sure why I used to complain about it in the past.

4. 60 Minutes' Andy Rooney is funny as hell.

5. I may actually be one of those statistics that are out there on black women and marriage. I am 36...not a prospect in sight. I mean I may actualy be alone for the rest of my life. Not sure if I am OK with that. I used to talk about it with one of my chic friends. Then she got married and said to me one day, "Just because you're not married, doesn't mean you are alone." I really could have punched her in her face that day. She came across as preachy and self righteous. I mean she use to understand before she became Mrs. Well I didn't deck her, but I haven't touched the topic with her again either.

6. I really love to travel. How I ever became a teacher (and a good one) is beyond me. I really should have forced the issue with the Foreign Service or mustered the courage to work for a cruise line. Or become that Tour Leader...in Europe. I have researched taking a volunteer vacation this upcoming summer. I will make my decision after the new year.

7. I am relieved that I haven't spoken to my parents this week. I call them The Vortex, as they suck all the energy out of me and I haven't become adult enough to tell them as much. I am sure that my relationship with them is totally dysfunctional and that one day I am going to regret one thing or another as it relates to them, but I just do not possess the mental or physical fortitude to deal with The Vortex right now. Sigh.

8. I am jealous of creative people. Yes, I have finally admitted it. Writers, designers, musicians, painters, actors, photographers, chefs, dancers. I am jealous of how they are able to dedicate themselves to their passion. Dedicate themselves to their craft. To see something when there is nothing and then...create.

9. I need a cleaning person. My house isn't a mess or anything, but keeping the house exactly the way I want it is A LOT of work.

10. I could win the $1,000,000 on The Amazing Race. No, I really could.

11. I really appreciate UPS, FedEx, and the USPS. Most of the trinkets in my house are here because of them. Having them around has made my life so much easier.

With that being said...I guess I should put all my cards in the mailbox. I must do my part in the cycle of mailing, shipping and delivery. I must give (or in this case mail) in order to receive.

What will I do?

What will I do when 30 Rock, Scrubs, & The Office goes off the air? I just needed to ask, as I am going to admit that I am addicted to those shows. The shows are smart and whitty. Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan are my favorites anyway, but they really work well together on the show. This is the last year for Scrubs. The horror! I am going to have to breakdown and actually join the rest of the human race and get a DVD player and buy the series.

People always ask, "what is so funny about 30 Rock?" They complain that The Office has no point. One of my students said, "Scrubs is just random." I guess they don't get it because these shows are what I call "smart" comedies. It isnt slap stick or gutter. They don't curse or beat each other up. These shows don't need to make fart sounds or crass jokes. These shows make me laugh each week at the hiccups in the human condition. They make me laugh, while giving me something to think about.

I re-watched last weeks episode of 30 Rock http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/ tonight and Tracy (Tracy Morgan) had gotten involved with a youth baseball team. He was doing it as it was his way of "giving back". He brought his team to his job to show them around and they happen to run into Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). Let's just say that Alex was moved that these kids didn't have the finest in baseball gear. He was appalled that the kids didn't play on real grass (even though they lived in NYC). Tracy tried to make his boss understand that he couldn't just "rescue" these poor kids, as the kids would see right through his act of "charity". Alex needed to understand that he couldn't discount the kids' personal feelings and values as it was the understanding of the kids that would help to build the bridge. It was in the understanding of the kids' values that would allow his help to be well received and appreciated. This bridge is how they would truly accept his charity. Of course, Jack wanted no part of Tracy's advice. Jack responded, "But of course I can push my values on these kids. And of course I'll be right. This is America for God's sake. We push our value system on other people all the time. It's what we do." He looked directly at the camera when he said it. I swear he was talking directly to me.

I laughed for the rest of the show (which is my official explanation as to why I needed to re-watch it).