Discovering my own back yard

Okay not literally. I've been in my backyard, I know the garden, the rodents, the way the sun sets behind the trees. What I am discovering are the little gems my city has to offer. I have decided that at least once each week, I'll get in my car at lunchtime and pick up a meal at a place I have never been to before.

Yesterday's pic was Ronin's- a little Italian market down on Winthrop Street in Springfield. I orginally planned to pick up a canolli from La Fiorentina but then I saw a little sign that said "handmade panini's" I LOVE panini's. So I walked to the back of the building and went inside. Ronin's is a little place, but it's packed with lots of stuff you normally wouldn't find in a deli- like handmade pastas, king crab legs and calamari salad. I ordered the Chicken Parm panini with shredded cheese and lemon juice. It was DELICIOUS! And only $8 for the sandwich and the drink. So next time YOU are downtown and you want to meet at Ronin's- call a sista up and I'll meet you there!

So today is Sept. 11 and of course there will be a whole day of memorials on TV, honoring the people we lost in the attacks. I remember Sept. 11, 2001 like it was yesterday...I was working for the Urban League, I was newly married, and I watched the whole morning unfold on TV. I remember the people jumping from the windows to escape the fire, the people wandering aimlessly through the streets of NYC. It was a day I will never forget. And today I will pray for the people who are missing their loved ones today.

And of course it is raining today but guess who is in town? MICHAEL JORDAN! How awesome is that? I'm trying to figure out a way where I can get into the Hall of Fame so I can see him in person! But I don't have $700 for the ticket. Booooooooo.

So anyway, it's my last weekend before school starts again, and I don't have a whole lot going on (which is good!) I do have to officiate a wedding in the Berkshires tomorrow night and I'm checking out a new member info night at the church I've been going to for the past few months. We shall see how that turns out :-)

Hope you all have an awesome weekend :-)

I am a Michelle Obama!

The below text was totally stolen from Iammichelleobama.com

Welcome to I AM a MICHELLE OBAMA.com!!

Michelle Obama has changed the ideal of what it means to be an American woman. She represents a new concept of First Lady; an accomplished career woman, a wife, mother and proud African-American. She is a role model that women of all races can be proud to call their own!

Tell the world YOU embody the same dignity, grace and self-respect as America's First Lady! (Oh. One more thing. This tee shirt gets attention from potential "Barack"'s like you wouldn't believe! We get stopped every time we wear it!)

Made from 100% cotton, this incredibly comfortable black cotton tee proudly displays I AM a MICHELLE OBAMA on the front and YOU ARE a MICHELLE OBAMA on the back.

BUY IT NOW!

The Practice of Patience- also a new location

Most days I am good. I can usually steady a temper that may be swelling up from the floorboards before it becomes full blown. But man, it seems like the days I crave silence are the days my family chooses to be the loudest- the days the children next door decide to spend every waking moment on the swingset and also the days my son decides to record all day long.

But I am thankful for the hustle and bustle and would probably lose it if suddenly my life was quiet. Quiet means lonely, lonely means alone. I never want to be the woman without anyone, I always want to be a wife and Mama, and I am thankful for the tribe God has chosen me to be the chief of.

Now, If I could only get them to pick up their socks.

I am excited to be spending Christmas in Tennessee again this year but I am also trying to plan a birthday getaway for my birthday- where should I go?

Brown girl at lunch

In all, there were seven children- aged 1- 12. The mother looked exhausted, her wrinkled sweatshirt stained from dishing food for all of the children. The children were all blond haired/ blue eyed, except for one- the only brown girl in the bunch. As her siblings gobbled up their food she turned her chair to face me, and watched me as I ate.

This happens to me often- small children, babies even stray dogs (!!!!!) will gravitate toward me. I don’t know why, I mean- I love children (dogs too) but it is always strange when they come to me and they don’t even know me.

We kept making eye contact- she would smile- she was no older than 3 or 4. Her mixed heritage hair (like mine) was a whirlwind of nappy curls, piled atop her head by a mother who obviously didn’t know what to do with it. (I’m sure pink moisturizer is not even in her vocabulary- and Juices and Berries SHOULD BE.) When I looked at the rest of her children I had to wonder what happened with the little brown girl? 3 older children and three younger children were white and the middle child was obviously mixed with black or hispanic. I didn’t want to keep staring so I looked away but every time I looked up, the little brown girl was looking at me.

When it was time for them to go, the mothers gathered the children- and the little brown girl walked away, looking back at me the entire time. Perhaps she was an old soul, who knows? I just know- that being the only brown girl in a family of blonds- she certainly does not have an easy road ahead of her.

Yes, I am praying for Maia

Yes, I watched the video. Twice. At first I was not completely sure it was her- I mean, it looked like her but it sure didn’t SOUND like her. She sounded A LOT like Whitney Houston on her worst day.

I know her history, I’ve read all of her Mama’s books, I watched every episode of In the House. (SO WHAT if I was watching it just to look at LL! LOL!) I think I remember even hearing a song she recorded. So you can imagine how heartbroken I was to see her like that. There are other videos online with her half naked singing for some guy. There are other men in the room too. And when I watched it, all I could do is think about people who are close to me who also struggle with mental illness every single day. It’s not funny, not even a little bit.

So I’ll step down from my soapbox but before i do that, I second the challenge issued by The Black Snob to STOP the nasty rumors and repostig of the video. Let it go. Instead, channel your energy to pray for Maia and her family. Mental illness is NEVER funny, and until it happens to someone you love, you probably won’t even know what I mean.

In other news, I would like to thank my beloved for sharing his cold with me- I have been sneezing all day long, slight fever brewing and zero energy. I really want some Allens Brandy to feel better, but I know I’ll just end up drunk and that probably wouldn’t be the best thing. It’s a long weekend, I hope to go to the beach tomorrow for one last Hoorah! I also got my new phone today and it is cute as a button. I have no idea how to use it though- I’m sure I’ll have it figured out by the end of the night.

Hope all my readers are doing well and feeling good and ready for some sun and fun this weekend!

The ALMOST bible study

So while on FB earlier, I read that one of my friends was going to Bible Study. I think I mentioned on here before that I am really hungry to learn the bible. Like, all of it. So any Bible Study I can attend on a regular basis would be pretty dope. So anyway I rushed around, cooked dinner for my tribe, threw on some flip flops and was on my way out the door when my cell phone rings with another friend saying it actually starts NEXT week.

So here I am, it’s a little before 7, my beloved is not home and I think I may be coming down with a cold. For real? Really? A cold? Anyway, I’m going to do my usual Airborne Pixies treatment and pray it chases it away.

I started a new poem today called “steady.” It’s not what you think it’s about.

Do you believe in Kindred Spirits? Have you ever met anyone you felt you had met before? Or someone you connected with on a different level? I’m not talking sexual here, folks, I’m talking about something even deeper than that. ANYONE can roll around on a rented bed but I think it’s cool to meet someone to “build” with.

So anyway, since it’s quiet in my home tonight, perhaps I’ll just chill out and read for the evening. I have not started TSOBF yet for book club and since I sent out the email on Sunday asking “Have you started reading yet” I better get moving!

Ciao!

43 things

Bear with me and any misspellings that will most certainly flow throughout this blog- as I am now posting from my phone. :-) Today’s Bible study is the book of Ezekial- chapter 1. Hello? What in the love of Ray J are these creatures? Four faces? Lion/Eagle\ Ox and man? And giant wheels with eyes? If someone could let me know what this means, I would owe you big. The eating plan is better today- all fresh veggies for lunch although I am almost positive a bowl of ice cream will make an appearance before day’s end. It’s my son’s first day of 10th grade so I was thinking about taking him out for a celebration dinner. Pray that he is having a good day! As for my book, I finally have the chapters named and now I just have to move the poems into the right area. Yesterday I was inspired to write about stillness- calm- peace. Ever noticed a performer (of any sort) as they prepare to speak/ perform? Often times they will pace (if there is room) or they will kind of fold into themselves and prepare. Imediately following the performance there is a sort of ‘retreat’- most of the time the general public does not have the pleasure of seeing this, because once they have left the mic they go backstage, or someplace else. But if the person ever remains visible, notice how beautiful they are- exhausted, relieved, happy. You will see this in musicians, singers, poets, politicians, preachers, etc. I am performing in the next couple of weeks and also preparing for my Oct. 27 release of my book ‘enormous things’ I have requested quotes from friends for the cover but no one single person has responded- so u know me, my alter ego is KIM+ Keep it Movin! It’s gonna be dope even if I don’t have one single ‘well known’ person to big it up. AllI can control is myself and my own actions, you know? So anyhoo, I’m outta here for now, hope you’re all having am awesome day!