Census, School and Anime Issues

Lately, I just haven't had the time to be able to get on here to blog; For one, I am doing work for the Census and I don't want to divulge anything about that due to the sensitive nature of information collected. That I can respect. I will divulge however, that most people I have taken info from have been nothing but forthcoming, polite and friendly; For that, they receive my humblest thanks. I am also grateful that I haven't had to encounter much dogs in my journey other than a couple here and there and they didn't bother me. I pray I have no further problems in the future.


Every so often, I substitute for the school that is under my church's umbrella; My church believes in having schools for the young to grow up in; I was one of them myself going to church school and having to explain why I go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday. Today is one of those days. Sometimes I take the 1st-4th grades or the 5th-8th grades which are run by two dedicated ladies, one being the Pastor's wife, the other being a talented sister who makes some of the nicest shea butters under her daughter's name. One of the things that get to me when I teach there is not that they are unruly; But it is something that bothers me nonetheless.
A lot of the youngsters love anime. that japanese form of cartoons that they covet as opposed to me at their ages running behind Archie, Jughead, love and other Superhero comic books; Seems to me, there are not that many comic books by Marvel or any of the others. I saw one done on the first lady and had to buy it; But for the most part, it seems as though Anime is the thing for kids today. A while back, I was watching South Park, and a Oriental outfit of similar interests were infiltrating the kids in the US and whenever someone protested, they would say that they are sorry and that they don't have anything significant to offer; but basically they were infiltrating the kids to their own personal agenda. I never forgot that episode and wonder if perhaps anime is serving the same purpose. I also remember talking to the kids here and they were like I want to work for the creators of such books. I encouraged them to do their OWN comic books; create their own and make it happen for themselves. My late father always said, if you can give a job more than get a job, you doing well. I believe him.

I say that to say this: I love jazz;being in the environment, singing and performing; but that won't mean nothing but some experience gained if I don't do the same for myself. So do for yourself. It isn't enough to work with the Anime folks; but it's even better when you gain experience and do your own anime people. Besides, we need some creative juices flowing and have some comics for ourselves; something positive, entertaining and have a purpose. To break it down, if you can improve on it, do it; do for self.

Musing on car troubles

Two weeks ago on Tuesday, I was going home from training with the Census; I had a funny feeling within but felt the need to get my car washed. I went to the car wash I am familiar with, got my car washed, didn't bother to clean out my car, and just as I was making the turn to go into major traffic, my car started having a mind of it's own and I ended up on the divider between the folks coming off the highway and the street I was on. To say I was ashamed, mad, upset was a serious understatement. I called my insurance people and they kindly told me I wasn't insured. But just as they told me this, I saw a police car as well as the fire department show up(and to the person who called in my time of need, God bless you) and them gentlemen, they got me out of the car, which I didn't do up until then, changed my tire, talked to me, and got me back into mainstream traffic. When I got home, my mom looked at me and said "We're you in an accident?" now I promise I wasn't gonna tell her nothing. She is 81 and don't need no drama or headaches at this point of life. But she asked, so I said, Yep. I guess her mom radar was on big time. Thankfully, she gave me some peace of mind that I sorely needed. But I wasn't able to do much on it. But the nagging feeling persisted when today going home, I had a feeling again and while on the highway, I started getting another familiar feeling and what do you know? my tire blew out again but this time I handled it and did what I could. But when I think about it, I am like, what can I do? what am I doing wrong? what can I do so this won't happen? and the idea that perhaps a roadside and towing service for women came to mind..seriously. A man considers this a mild inconvenience, but to a woman it can mean the difference of your life in the balance.You could be on the highway and your car breaks down, that ain't pretty. I have used towing and other services so much within the past two years I wish deep down that perhaps there was a way a woman can catch a break. Hmm; a roadside and towing service for women nationwide. Not only do I provide towing and roadside, I'll have classes so women can change their own tires, change their own oil, check for transmission oil and antifreeze. And not only that, talk to a counselor because trust me, going through these things can be a real pain. My employer was at a funeral and her car was stolen; real nice car too and I know that wasn't easy for her,so for that we can have a counselor talk to her and help her get through the hurdles. Hmm. Sounds good to me. A couple of months ago, I was talking to a local towing service and I told him of how one night I couldn't get a tow because of the neighborhood I lived in; some charge more. Mercy. So I told him, I would like to pay in advance for his services so that when I get in them fixes, he can come and I bypass the rest of the stuff on top of that, he gets my business and I'm a happy camper. And you know, I think, I will check on this some more and who knows? life gots to be straight. but perhaps it can get better and more enlightened.

Latest Offerings & Releases

This past week has been nothing but uneventful; I received a copy of Randy Kearse's book, "Changin' Your Game Plan" for my viewing; I am interested in selling his books in the area generating interest. Randy has been in jail and now writes books helping others who have been to jail to stay out of jail. I did my grocery shopping earlier this week and now it's friday and another week is gone. There is one thing that has me interested though. About a month ago, a book came out about a woman who died of cervical cancer yet, somehow, her cells which they took were found to have generated and regenerated so much, a first for the medical research industry at the time because up until then, cells outside the body didn't thrive yet somehow hers did; So, because of them regenerating, the whole medical industry have gone on to do plenty good in the name of medical research. Sadly, the Lack family stayed poor and lacking health coverage. Rebecca Skloot has now written an account of this in the book,The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which sheds some light as to how this came to be and of the woman herself. I cannot even begin to think of how the family can feel much less grasp what was happening. From what I am hearing, the book is a bestseller and I plan to get a copy as soon as able. If you can, get a copy today. Another book that just came out today and surprising a bunch of us is Bernice McFadden's "Glorious" from the little I read, it spans from the early 1910s until the Civil Rights era about a young African American woman who becomes a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Although a grand era, there were not many women who were a part of that time. Zora Neale Hurston, Dorothy West, Nella Larsen,Jessie Redmon Fauset, Georgia Douglas Johnson and Alice Dunbar Nelson. I believe I just named all the female writers. When rap emerged in the late 70s and 80s,how many women emerged as well? we can name a handful and that adage of if you don't learn from the first time, you bound to repeat it rings true here.
However, I applaud all the African American writers, male and female who are out there; Most I applaud, some I don't. E.Lynn Harris, who passed from us last summer, was a great supporter of his peers and his absence is still felt by the AA as well as GLBT communities. We need to support our African American writers, singers, etc. For example, I have heard of Raheem Devaughn, but had no interest in what he put out. But his latest single, "Bulletproof" that I was fortunate enough to witness on the Mo'nique show is nothing short of beautiful and sometimes I feel that he has a hint of Marvin in him; check him out.
Well, I am done, may your day be a peaceful yet happy one.

Kudos to Mo' and other thoughts.

Yeah!! Mo'nique got that Oscar baby. She won it and just like I predicted because she got all them awards and in spite of the grumbling(You can't ignore talent), the girl went out there and pulled it off. She got a flower by the family of the late Hattie McDaniel for the ceremony; To hear tell, it's the same flower worn by Ms McDaniel when she won, she wore it on her dress. Mo' wore it on her hair. She donned a lovely blue gown and God bless her, she remembered this woman all but forgotten from black cinema history; Twitter trended Ms McDaniel all that night; I was so happy to see that. to know that even though a person lived and died, they still live on and Monique did that when she remembered her in her speech.
Now granted, we have had MORE people in THIS decade to win the Oscars than in all the decades before, but perhaps in our own way, with a black President and all, things are changing. I hope so. I truly do. God bless us all.

Discourse on Culture

Tonight, and to be honest, I don't know how
I forgot this, but I was blessed to see The Mo'nique Show on Hulu via Bet.com and watch for myself Ruby Dee, Sonia Sanchez, Jasmine Guy, Jackie Joyner Kersee get on there and talk about the project as well as touch upon Ms Dee's remarkable life; What I liked right off is the positive energy I felt while watching it. I mean I watch shows all day long, but watching Mo'nique's made me glad I took the time to find it since I have no cable and even more glad that I was enriched by it; The only setback to this was the fact that for the majority of the show, it kept buffering so I couldn't get the meaning of Ms Sanchez speech. There was a lady on there named Georgia Me and the sister was slamming it; if I'm not mistaken, my friend Roberta told me about it and I hope I am not wrong on that. The ironic thing behind all this is just an hour previously, I was watching on YouTube an old film directed by her late husband, Ossie Davis, called Black Girl; now personally, the film itself is a bit disjointed,with a couple stories here and there but the main story shines through and make you like it or hate it one.I truly wish Ms Dee would consider putting that and Purlie Victorious on film; those films are HARD to come by; I mean no harm but that's like Flip Wilson putting the lock down on Geraldine; Tyler Perry shutting down Madea, you get the point. that is our history, our heritage. please hear the plea of one young sister and put those bad boys to film!!!
I believe that God saw me trying hard to see this one thing because now, The Color Purple is coming to Mobile in April and baby, no matter what, I WILL BE THERE.no ifs, ands or buts. and going to try to see Tyler's play when it comes to Mobile next month; Gots to get the culture on. Plus Mobile needs some AA talent come through! well I am gone.

P.S. Purlie Victorious IS on DVD but it wasn't directed by Ossie Davis but he stars in the film and also marks Alan Alda's debut. It can be bought at Amazon.com

Not too much this week; my youngest got herself a job at the same place that I was picking up one of their friends; she's gotten all responsible now with her notebook for keeping up with her obligations. I also got to see in it's entirety, "Good Hair" the documentary on black women's hair that Chris Rock narrated and produced. Although lauded by some, there was those who didn't care for it. I felt it was a good show no matter what. Black women have been having a love hate relationship with their hair from day one just about; reinforced with self image and esteem, as well as what society deems us to be and we're a hot mess. Yet I feel that if we insist on weaves, and those things that make us look good, then by all means, get in where you fit in in the beauty business just like Chris did, by going places and meeting people involved in the game. It confirmed what I suspected: the beauty game is constant, growing and even though the Koreans have a corner on the market, we can get in too. well, I am shutting down; work day tommorrow. Peace.

Mardi Gras

Since yesterday was a holiday, as I also mentioned it was the next to last day of Mardi Gras called Skinny Monday. That is the day that my town, Prichard, AL puts on their Mardi Gras parade. Ever since I moved back to the area, I have taken the girls to the parades. It got so, we was going on the regular and they would have a cookout sponsored by one of the barber shops and their families for the revelers; Sadly, they stopped that here, and we just go to the Prichard and Downtown Northside Association parades. Now folks, going from Prichard into Mobile is nothing. But mega cars going from Prichard into the Campground/Downtown Area of Mobile is another. I have raised concerns about this and it has gotten to the point that most folks skip one parade for another, or don't go or divert. Even with I-165 to help with that, things get pretty hectic; But this year, I was able to check out both parades. I have pictures set up on both my Facebook and Twitter pages. The Prichard Parade did a cool parade with their area clubs and associations. They also get the Alabama Black Mayors, who sponsored that morning's little known Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates forum at Prichard City Hall was on hand to get into the festivities as well. They come each year to Prichard and have their own float. now, here in Mobile, when you do Mardi Gras, folks with different organizations pool together to get on a float. that individual person also is responsible to get their own throws that are thrown at the particular parade, and that is when costs get high; For one, a person has to pay to get on the float, then pay for their own throws. Mardi Gras, folks is no cheap thrill. One float at the Downtown parade got a flat tire and they were taken out of the parade. Talk about ticked and heated. They paid about $100 to be there and about a dozen folks were on there and total of all throws there totalled ball park about $20,000 and were there at 8am just to be in the parade. So can't say I blame them for that. At the downtown parade, there was a guy from Colorado there who just got into the spirit. we split the throws but made sure he left with the lion's share. Had to be a good neighbor. this year though, I got a small bottle of vodka; I don't drink but know someone who'd love it; I begged for another but hey, that's not cheap. I also got a vial of gardenia home fragrance oil at the Prichard parade which would be a great addition to my stash at home. Throws given at Mardi Gras are beads(which can be further used to make crafts with or taken to Krispy Kreme on Wednesday to be exchanged for free donuts),food, usually moonpies, not my favorite treat at all; Little Debbies, ramen(hey, a lot of folks take that),cereal,chips,alcohol and teddy bears; now me,I don't mind a bear. not at all and I got four at the Downtown parades. Plus a good time is had by most and some be or on their way to being drunk.
A lot of folks don't know but Mobile IS the birthplace of Mardi Gras and it is celebrated from Pensacola, Florida to Houston,Texas. Mobile has had festivities dating back just about to the time it became a city in 1702. It died down, but after the Civil War, a man named Joe Cain revived it; The Sunday before Fat Tuesday, they do a big Joe Cain celebration complete with his many "widows" dressed in traditional black from head to toe.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Cain. It's worth the look at the widows procession because folks like to guess who is who. They sit and fuss on ole Joe.
Next years Mardi Gras is in March; It coincides with Ash Wednesday and Easter so the dates do change here. So if your ever in the neighborhood, check out Mobile's Mardi Gras. We'll treat you well.