Laughter makes it all better....

Hey Y'all,

I haven't had much to post about (I lie just haven't had the urge) but this made me laugh so hard today I had to share.

Have you ever been to the site www.damnyouautocorrect.com? if not you need to visit whenever you are having a rough day. You'll be cheered up instantly!

Until next time...
MUAH!

Def Poetry - Sonia Sanchez - Poem for Some Women

Hey Y'all,

Sonia Sanchez is an African-American poet most often associated with the Black Arts Movement. She has authored over a dozen books of poetry, as well as plays and children's books. She was a recipient of 1993 Pew Fellowships in the Arts.

Born: September 9, 1934 (age 78), Birmingham

Spouse: Etheridge Knight

Education: Hunter College (1955), Howard University, New York University

Awards: American Book Awards, Frost Medal

Nominations: National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry

http://soniasanchez.net/ 

Until next time...

MUAH!

Poems by My Sister...

Hey Y'all,
I love to showcase the talent of my family so today I will share a couple of poems written by my beautiful sister Vanessa. She wrote these when she was a teenager and gave them all to me. When I found them in a folder this morning I thought they would be perfect for today's poetry post.

I hope you enjoy them.

Questions at Night

Why?
Is the Sky?

What starts the thunder over head?
Who makes the crashing noise?
Are the angles falling out of bed?
Are they breaking all their toys?

Why does the sun go down so soon?
Why do the night clouds crawl hungrily up the
new-laid moon and swallow it shell and all?

If there's a bear among the stars as all the people
say, won't he jump over those pasture - bars
and drink up the mily way?
Does every star that happens to fall
Turn into a fire fly?
Can't it ever get back to heaven at all?

And why
is the Sky?

Dreams
Hold fast to your dreams
For if dreams die
life is a broken winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Until next time...
MUAH

Open Toe Shoe Pledge

Hey Y'all,

It's that time of year again! The time when folks start taking off stocking and socks and start wearing flip flops and sandals.
It's time to make the pledge again because I saw some toes this afternoon that were in need of a little help from our friends who specialize in making ugly feet pretty!

Please take this pledge and adhere to it! By the way this isn't only for women, hey you guys out there that think it's ok to have jacked up feet in those sandals this is for you too!

People get your feet right before you put on those $2.50 Old Navy Flip Flops or $3,000 Louboutin platform sandals!

THE OPEN-TOED SHOE PLEDGE

*please raise your right hand and say the following*

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr.. Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear...

Ladies if you have taken this pledge, please sign your name in the comment section.

By signing this pledge, you are acknowledging that you will abide by all the guidelines set forth above, and will abruptly let a woman know if she is in violation. Let's keep this Summer crusty feet free!! Not only with the fellas appreciate it, but those of us that do take care of our feet will too.

**LADIES SPREAD THE WORD.TELL YOUR GIRLS TO SIGN THE PLEDGE**

**FELLAS PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR LADY FRIENDS TOO**
Until next time...
MUAH!

Poetry: Chants and Street Rhymes

Hey Y'all,

I'm a Brooklyn girl and I remember doing cheers and street rhymes with my friends in front of our house in East NY and with my cousins in Jamaica Queens. We would play hand games and sing them while jumping rope. I think that Chants and Rhymes should also be celebrated this National Poetry Month.  I enjoyed these growing up.

Share yours in the comments section.

Ooo-ah
Ooo-ah, wanna piece of pie,
Pie too sweet, wanna piece of meat,
Meat too tough, wanna ride a bus,
Bus was full, wanna ride a bull,
Bull too fat, want your money back,
Money too green, wanna jelly bean,
Jelly bean not cooked, wanna read a book,
Book not read, wanna go to bed.
So close your eyes and count to ten,
And if you miss, start all over again.

My daughter LOVES this one.


Until next time...
MUAH!

Poem of the Day: And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Hey Y'all,

Happy Birthday to Dr. Angelou.
Today's poem is written and recited by her.


Until next time...
MUAH!

Happy Birthday Mommy

Hey y'all,

Today is a very special day. It is the day of the birth of my mother Marian Bennett!
She is a jewel
a treasure
a friend
an inspiration
an encourage-r
a prayer warrior/partner
a confidant
a cheerleader
My Mommy!

Yup I still call her Mommy.
So what I'm 38 years old.
She'll forever be my Mommy, not Mom, not Mother, not Ma. Mommy!

Marian Bennett is a true Brooklyn Knight! She was born and raised in East NY Brooklyn and although she now reps Raleigh NC she will forever be a street wise Brooklyn Knight. She raised my 4 brothers and 4 sisters and I as a single parent and she did everything within her power to make us God fearing citizens of the world.

My Mommy is the oldest of 19 children (11 survived, 5 of which she raised). She didn't have the best of everything and was unable to finish college because of her responsibilities to her family. She never married but adopted 8 children that she knew was in need. She doesn't own a big fancy house but will open her doors to anyone who needs food and shelter. She doesn't drive a  top of the line vehicle but she'll give you a ride to Walmart any time day or night and not ask for a cent. My Mommy is a true woman of God.
My Mommy is an inspiration to any and everyone she meets.
My Mommy is 67 years young today and  I'm forever grateful for her life. She doesn't move as fast as she used to, she doesn't have that soft plumpness of her 50's either. She seems a little smaller to me now that I'm grown with children of my own but she's my Mommy and I'm so glad that she is. If only I could be half the mother that she is I'll be satisfied with my life.

Happy Birthday Mommy and Many Many More!!!!

Until next time...
MUAH!