New Edition
Working hard today trying to build a VOI*P path between us and a company in Mexico. Thing is I can’t speak a lick of Spanish. Well I sort of can, but it sounds retarded. Wish me luck that it works. Talk amongst yourselves.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Creatures Of Habit
Sunbeam Assembly Line attaching Mixfinder Dials Photograph by Frank Scherschel c. 1946
They say that habit can often times be stifling and death to the creative process. I’m not really sure who “they” are, in fact, I made it up. But it sounds true. I’ve been really thinking about things that I do everyday that lack a certain meaning. I’m even hoping to write better. Writing a blog for long amounts of time can uncover things in yourself and others that you never really knew-even the things we do that lack a certain meaning.
The Things I Do Everyday, Meaningful And Otherwise
1. Coffee Run: This is definitely how I start my morning. And becoming a recent Duncan Donuts convert (for drip coffee NOT espresso), has made me realize I will never be able to live without coffee. I see the world through different eyes with a cup of joe in my hand. (MEANING)
2. Email Check: I must have at least six or seven personal email addresses and I promised myself to check them everyday. This has got to be one of the most time wasting propositions on the planet. There I discovered that classmates.com is still billing me for something facebook does at no charge: reconnects me with people I want to be reconnected with. (NO MEANING)
3. Blog Thinking: I have all these grand plans, in my head. And often times its where they live and die. But that’s ok. The consistency of writing, I think at times has made me a better writer even if I’m no longer apart of the Black Blog Renaissance. (MEANING)
4. My Job: Is starting to suc!k azz. (MEANING)
5. Real Housewives Obsession Compulsion: I don‘t even watch t.v. everyday, but for some reason I have become OBSESSED with the Real Housewives Brand. I missed the NJ reunion episode and I have spent several days trying to find the reunion show clips or full airing. Two nights ago, I found myself researching Atlanta, and marveling about how they all are reportedly broke, with the exception of Kandi, the new housewife from Xscape. She’s a song writer now, and reportedly they cash major publishing checks. I even wanted to know how much each are paid. The New York housewives were given $8,000 for the second season. That should mean the Atlanta women should write their own checks, cause Lord knows Sheree now needs it, with the recent forclosure and all. (NO MEANING)
6. Blog Reading: I think at times this has taken up a large portion of my life that I will never be able to get back. I was probably 29 when I started really reading entertainment and gossip blogs. And at the time they all were black. No one was really doing personal reflection writing. And then there was the shift.
And then there was no growth. The same opinions. The same slant.
I went to a blog a few days ago. (And maybe speaking out against other black blogs is against the black blog code of conduct-but I don’t give a shyt), but this person is still writing about the same stupid shi!t. How many ways to fu!ck. To su!ck or not to su!ck. Friends with Benefits (Fwb) and the like. I slapped myself for the time I wasted reading nonsense like it and other mindless copycats. (NO MEANING)
7. Money Making & Wealth Creation: This is where I’ve spent most of my time recently. Reading and some practical application. Over the next series of weeks, I will discuss in detail. (MEANING)
Treehouse, what are some of your daily mindless and meaningful habits?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Marry Your Baby Daddy Day
Marry Your Baby Daddy Photo
For some reason I really don’t like the term baby daddy/baby momma. Husband or wife is a fine term. But I realize that those choices aren’t always completely viable in 21st century black relationships. When I meet men with children, I always wonder, why the hell did he have to pick me to approach, why couldn’t he have made it work with his child’s mother? The next man I meet with kids, I’ll suggest the below:
On September 24, 2009, 10 unmarried couples w/children will be married during the 3rd Annual Marry Your Baby Daddy Day™. An all
expenses paid wedding extravaganza, celebrity wedding dress designers, vendors and wedding planners are on board to make this a
memorable and important moment in the lives of some very 10 fabulous, loving couples.[September 24th] will be magical as we encourage the participation of couples from all backgrounds. Maryann Reid, author and organizer of Marry
Your Baby Daddy Day™ says, “Most of our couples are Black, because it is our community that has the highest 68% out of wedlock rate of
all groups. However, the crippling family structure in this country is just not a Black issue, but a national one.”Marry Your Baby Daddy Day™ is an effort to strengthen 2-parent homes and promote marriage and family values. It’s an invitation to
couples who already live together and want to jump the broom in the name of love and their community. We always hear about “baby mama drama” but
we rarely, if ever, hear about those who actually love the mother/father of their children.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Gratitude Friday
I’m grateful that I can write about cupcakes, farms and man cleavage and yall still comeback.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I Had A Dream About
Cupcakes. I just thought I’d share that with everyone. I’m sorry for only writing one post this week. I haven’t been really inspired of late.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Back On The Farm
In 1910, collectively blacks owned 15 million acres of land of which 218,000 black farmers were full or part owners. By 1992, the US Census Of Agriculture reported there were 18,000 black farmers left owning 2.3 million acres. Thank the USDA. fotog: John Francis
with nothing to say.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dearest Personal Trainer, A Diva Is Not Female Version Of A Hustler
The Comeback Girl (in Zella-Nordstrom Jacket and Target shorts)
Dearest Personal Trainer,
I’m sorry I had to fire you. Well, in essence we sort of fired each other. I was afraid that if I broke my contract that you would try to sue me. But two days ago, you let me off the hook. Previously, I had been working with you once a week at the gym in Diva’s Bootcamp and eight weeks later you decided to leave to start your own personal training company, Diva’s Inc.(*) I’ve modified the name of your company because I don’t want my disparaging remarks to come up in a prospective client web search mainly because these relationships are like any other and what works for some may not work for others. And mostly because I’m not a “hater”. As a woman, I want you to succeed.
But I just think you missed ALOT and too bad it was at the expense of growing your company. You started with 3 clients and in less than a month and a half you had 20. I applauded you. I wondered though if you went through every client’s refrigerator without asking-when they didn’t complete the food chart. Or if you went up their stairs and adjusted their thermostat because you were too cold. If you bought other trainers into your client’s home, without asking if it was even O.K. Or if you rang the doorbell like you were four over and over and over. I wonder if Shakespeare was wrong about: “”What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Bullshi!t, cause what if that rose’s name was Diva?
In many ways the lack of boundaries that was exhibited by you was my fault. You took a ton of liberties and I let you. And as I told you that Sunday, those were the issues that were apart of my fatter self.
And things just started to click. Like me NEVER wanting to be a “Diva”. That was always your source of motivation if I found parts of the workout hard or if I wanted to take a break. Your reply: “Don’t you want to be a Diva?”, “Don’t you want to be Diva of the month?”. No I Don’t. And I think that bothered you. I’m not sure what’s up with young black women who want to name their company iterations of the word Diva. Women who think the word is the epitome of ideal and sexy are seriously missing a few screws. The word isn’t appealing to me. It’s for Beyonce entertainment purposes ONLY. I always told you that I wanted to be a runner. Not a Diva. I had no problems with you pushing me, that’s what a trainer is supposed to do, but using being a “Diva” as a source of inspiration, wasn’t working for me.
One thing is for sure, you did get me into a routine. I’m at the gym six days a week. And I never knew the kind of high I get after really being in the zone and jogging for 15 minutes straight without stopping, or on the elliptical at 6mph for 40 minutes. It’s a rush that I never knew really existed. And for that I’d like to thank you.
I don’t have any hard feelings against you. I just think that I’m a different person than I was a few months ago. I also realize that that trainers are effective. But there has to be a certain chemistry there. Or maybe trainers are supposed to be a little more tolerant, patient and cognizant of personal boundaries.
Maybe my next trainer will be a man.
Monday, June 15, 2009
So Much To Write About….
Chicago dept. store executive Mrs. Dorothy Englehaupt resting, May 1960 fotog: Michael Rougier
but not today.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Gratitude Friday: Thinking Big(ger)
done
I got this email from Bentley Motors yesterday with the attached video. And I immediately thought: ‘who sent this to me?’ and ‘who would be buying a Bentley in these “trying economic times”?’ Well in effect, I sent it to myself. In perusing the Continental GT a few months back, I got on their email mailing list. I even thought about test driving one too. But I nixed the thought, because who dreams about driving a Bentley with the world the way in which it is right now? Well, I did. And I do.
I don’t want to get into a battle I’ve been fighting here since I started this blog: “thinking makes it so” vs. “people are a victim of circumstance”. Most people know that I believe that you live the life in which you create. That negative thoughts bring about negative circumstances. And that life isn’t about Bentely’s, Beamer’s, Benz’s, and Range Rover’s, they are merely a reflection of what is possible. “Stuff” in good balance is a bi-product of what you believe. What the possibilities are. I am not preaching fiscal irresponsibility. It is never prudent to drive a Bentley and live at home with your momma, daddy, and nem. But what I am preaching about is the bigger thought, not just the Bentley. A bright idea, followed by right action. Calculated risk taking, followed by consistency. And everybody has their something, some are bound by diamond quilted leather.
What I am also preaching is getting rid of the broke naysayers, in belief and pocketbook (as you do make within $10,000 of your immediate friendship circle-THAT SHOULD BE A SCARY PROPOSITION TO SOME.) And also getting YOUR own mind right.
I am grateful, that I still know how to think a bigger and bolder thought. That I’m able to imagine bigger and bolder excecution. And that I can still catch myself with small minded thinking and choose a better thought and ACTION.
gratitude anyone?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Working 9-5…
Amelita Galli-Curci, Italian operatic coloratura soprano, typing on an old Typewriter
Forgive me treehouse, today I am working (like actually doing some work) and writing those hard hitting questions for Pasha Stocking to answer.
