Its Not A Playground

Parents, parents, parents. PLEASE PLEASE control your children while you in a public place. I have been in several stores where kids are running free, chasing each other, yelling loudly, and acting badly. Please remember that these stores are frequented by a lot of people who want to enjoy their shopping experience. If I cannot enjoy my experience because kids are running into me and yelling at each other, then I will choose not to shop there. It is not cute that your kids are running down the aisles, or screaming at each other. The grocery store or the department store is not a babysitter while you can get your shopping done. While I find it sometimes cute that your child wants to pay for their candy or toy with the $2.00 that you give them, it takes them forever to get their monies out and its very frustrating for those there to just shop.

Lesson for the day: WALMART, ALDIS, PRICE CHOPPER are not day care centers...watch your children!!

Back Again

Sorry it has been a while. I am really focused on getting this book out to the masses. I am very excited about the possibilities of this book and what it can do for people. I have a new calling. Writing, writing, writing. I already have ideas and framework for books #2 and #3. DREAM BIG... I am very excited at what is in store for me. It is hard to remember that sometimes when life's stresses and dramas get to you. I am thankful for this gift and am grateful to GOD for blessing me with creative energy when other areas in my life are in disarray. This book has given me joy and hope. I am very grateful for the process. I am thankful to all of those who have lifted me up and supported me through the process.

The Best Is Yet To Come....

Stevie Wonder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DclVLRhlX3g

I have watched this performance over and over and over again. Is there any "wonder' this man dominated the 70s? This is soaring, smokin version of his song You Haven't Done Nothing a "tribute" to Richard Nixon. Stevie had a lock on the Album of the Year Grammy three times in the 70s (1974 for Innervisions, 1975 for Fulligness First Finale, and 1977 for Songs In The Key of Life). The year in between at 1976 Grammy awards Paul Simon even joked and thanked Stevie for NOT releasing an album that year.


As I watch this performance, I am inspired but saddened at the state of music now. I give props to those such as Alicia Keys, John Legend, Erykah Badu, and countless others who keep soul going but its now about the bling bling and the partying. You think of Stevie and you think of his art not his money, not his love life. Lets remember our soul legends without them, there would be none of the ones out there now.

Greatest Soul Albums of All Time

Albums that changed soul music forever. These are the albums that you can listen to from start to finish. See if your favorite album made the cut. These are the albums that made superstars out of Anita Baker and Aretha Franklin. These are the albums that solidified the careers of already superstars Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. These are the albums that brought funk into the mainstream and made people stand up and take notice (Parliament, Earth, Wind & Fire). These albums had a definite impact on my life.

Rapture - Anita Baker (1986 - Elektra)

This is Niecy -Deneice Williams (1976 Columbia)

This Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998 Columbia)

Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder (Motown/Tamla - 1976)

 

Innervisions - Stevie Wonder (1973 Motown/Tamla) 

 

 

 

Mothership Connection -Parliament (1975- Casablanca)

Gratitude - Earth, Wind & Fire - (1975 - Columbia)

Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye (1973 - Motown/Tamla)

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin (1967 - Atlantic)

Off The Wall  - Michael Jackson (1979 - Epic)  Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982 - Epic)

What's The 411 - Mary J. Blige (1992 - Uptown/MCA)

My Life - Mary J. Blige - (1994 - Uptown/MCA)

This is no way the end of the list. This is just the first half. What was my qualifications: 

1. You can play the album from start to finish without having to skip a song. 
2. The album was an artistic breakthrough for the artist/group. 
3. Other artists have tried to emulate the album in their recordings. 
4. You remember the big deal the album made upon its release. 
5. You have played the album so much it is basically on life support. :-)

Give The Man A Break.

As I am sitting out there on summer vacation I am subjected and tortured with the mass quantity of mudslinging commercials. Basically a lot of them are "I hate Obama" commercials or an outlet to diss our President. GIVE OBAMA a break. What has the man done that is so bad but try to help our country. I am sick of these "LOVE AMERICA" commercials like anyone who supports Obama is a "bad American". Please!! Obama has done more than our last president did in his 8 years. Seriously...Sarah Palin would be better? Enough!! The Tea Party is just an outlet to hate Obama. I am sick of it. Give this man a break. The Tea Party says they have a "love of God". Have they ever thought about coming together and praying for him that he leads the country in the right direction. I hate these mudslinging commercials because all they area are smokescreens to avoid talking about the REAL ISSUES. Why not focus on what YOU can do for the country not what others have done. All those commercials do is turn off voters at least it is for me. Its a waste of time and money that you could use to do other things for the people!

Its time we take the "me" and "I" out of politics. Enough about what this person does or not do. Are we so focused on "democrat" and "republican" that we can't see the big picture? Enough! We are all in this together. Nobody does stuff 100% that people agree with. Lets work together. Enough Already!!