METRO Service Announcement – from a fellow METRO Rider

re-post

Here are some suggestions for METRO riders that may make our METRO rides better. Take a look and add a few if you like.

• Impatience gets you no where. Leaning over the tracks, looking into the tunnel and screaming "where's the train" will neither make it magically appear nor make up time when it does. Get over it.
• Parents: If you are going to let your kids act a dam fool then all parents should choose a car (1-6) and label it the DayCareCar, or something similar, so that those of us who wish to ride in peace can avoid you.
• Those of you who stand in front of the doors but are neither entering nor exiting the train, will no longer be eligible to ride METRO until you attend METRO Rider Etiquette Classes. These classes are also for folks who lean over the tracks looking for the train and those who STAND on the WALK side of the escalator.
• Those folks who put their feet in the seats will forfeit their seat. You have paid for one seat on METRO. You cannot take up another seat by sitting sideways or putting your feet up and causing other customers to ask YOU to move over. You can take the etiquette classes too.
• If your belongings don't/won't fit on your lap, don't bring it with you. (This includes strollers unless you are gonna do that DayCareCar thing).
• If you have Wild Hair/Clothing/Otherwise Outrageous Features, we are looking at you, talking about you and laughing at you. Get over it. You wore it, don't expect us to ignore it. Stop saying aloud "why she staring at me?" It only causes us to laugh harder.
• Fat People (yeah I said it, forget that PC crap). If you know you can't fit in a row by yourself, don't torture others by forcing them to ride squeezed up next to the window praying that they don't die of suffocation. Also, your sweat on other people, their clothing or belongings – a no-no.
• Cell Phone Users: Be serious. Even if the call is urgent – what can you do from the subway? And telling your girl about your married boyfriend -- we really don't want to hear that.
• If you haven't washed any portion of your body, do not sit next to us. We are tying to go to work, daycare, grandma's – somewhere where funk is not on the menu. Don't sit next to us and then try to be all friendly. We're smiling to make it easier to breathe thru our mouths. Sit in the end cars, closest to the exits. NEVER sit in the DayCareCar – you'd set a BAD EXAMPLE!

Please report any suspicious activity and thank you for riding METRO.

Disclaimer: The views set forth by this writer are not necessarily the views of the Washington Area METRO (but they should be).

Dinner and Discussions

Barely a week before what's being billed as the most historic Inauguration ceremony ever, Washington is teeming with energy. While enjoying dinner at an Afghan restaurant in the heart of the city, tucked away from the bitter January cold, a group of women discuss Dreams from My Father.

It's the first time that this group - comprised of different ages and ethnicities, backgrounds, geographic and socioeconomic frames of reference - has had the opportunity to chat abou tthe memoirs of a President-Elect. Some feel soothed by the candor and depth the novel allows, while others believe the highest office elicits a personal mystique.

Commenting on the forward-thinking grandparents (their approval of an inter-racial marriage and the probability of their overcompensation for any ill feelings by creating a larger than life image of an absent father), the resulting relationship of all of the siblings, the ladies interacted and voiced their overall enjoyment of the book. With themes similar to Black Boy and The Invisible Man, the author divulged his issues with identity and destiny in a manner tha may have been more guarded had he known he'd become the 44th U.S. President.

I was more absorbed with some of the parallels -- the street corner barber who was awestruck and energized by the new Black politician in Chicago and the pride in the eyes of my peers and elders when we speak of Obama's coming Presidency.

During dinner, the conversation shifted to Inauguration plans as street closings, security check points, visitors, tickets, schedules and parties were shared. While it may be more logical to view television from the warmth and comfort of our respective homes, the general consensus was to be a part of the over-crowded excitement.

In the months to come we'll fade back into the shadows and mull over other novels and authors (their nuances and inspirations, their disappointments and lack of style) and enjoy normal life once again -- as normal as it ever is in Washington, DC.

101 Update

So, I've dropped the ball. I have kept up with some of the items on my checklist but others have fallen by the wayside. I'll be honest, because I'm hoping to get the feedback/encouragement that I need to continue. I know I have to do more than just the parts I enjoy.

I haven't been journaling regularly about the experience though I have been watching the movies on the AFI list. I haven't been writing my weekly letter but I have been keeping up with my weekly beauty treatments. I've managed to complete some of the more elusive items as well including star gazing and finding a charity to envelope (more about this later). Reading the books from the lists is moving slowly because I'm still reading self help materials. I'm becoming more active with my reading groups and making srides regarding my business. This month, I begin reading the dictionary - one letter per month.

I find this an interesting exercise that causes me to expand my beyond my usual capacity and get more things done. No excuses, I've got to do better. I've got to MAKE IT HAPPEN!

In case you'd like to see how others do it, check out this site --> http://onehundredandonethings.wordpress.com. I'm thrilled by the way she categorized her goals. Check it out and think of your own list. Until next time...

FAT Again...

Obviously, Oprah is tired of counting her money and needs something to occupy her time -- and boost ratings. So we are back on the fat wagon -- pun intended. In an effort not to criticize people and their actions this year, I'll keep this one simple. Leave it alone Oprah (as if she listens to me).

Big girls are in! (Or so I heard.) Get healthy and get fit, but most of all resign yourself to the fact that you'll never be a size 2 or 4 and be healthy. I'm not saying to simply let yourself go and gain 200 more pounds. However, this is nothing to beat yourself up about or discuss on different news shows. Oprah is a role model for women everywhere -- an intelligent, Black, wealthy, business-savvy, fat role model. I wish Dr. Phil would chime in on this one.

Giving

It's not what you gather but what you scatter.

Giving is a great feeling; knowing that you've touched someone in a special way, an intangible way. It's very rewarding and I got a wonderful idea from my supervisor. She came up with a list of favorites that she sent to her contacts and let them know that during this year she planned to GIVE and we'd be the receivers (Boy am I glad I was on the list!). So, she's set an example for me and I think I'll try my hand at it. Sorry, I mis-spoke. It's 2009 and I will MAKE IT HAPPEN!

The happiest people don't have the best of everything,
they MAKE the best of everything.

I know that I'm a week away from poverty, homelessness and a life of despair (but for the grace of God), yet I plan to give what I can with a clear conscience and an open heart. All I want in return is abundant happiness. I believe that sadness manifests itself physically and I've had enough of ailments and illnesses. That said, I am in the business of making happiness for myself by sharing happiness with others.

The difference between goals and dreams is
goals have an action plan attached.

My Giving Action Plan
I will send out an email requesting information from person's in my email contact list. These persons will be contacted throughout the year with small surprises. Maybe you'll get one.

Our Children

A friend requested that I post this on my blog site (so here goes):

I just saw the nastiest thing- a little boy hawk-spit on the floor. When I
said "come here" he replies "Naw, I'm from the hood."He and his homeboy crew
laughed. Before I knew it I said that"that was some n**-s** there that you did."
His homie was like"N**? You know he could sue you for saying that?" My response - "go ahead!" How can someone act like a n** yet get offended when called out on it? Everybody is so overjoyed that we have a Black President but after what just happened today, we still have far to go.

She didn't authorize me to expound on it...but this is MY blog, so I think I can take some poetic license here. Besides, I'm sure she won't mind (smiles). Let me give you a bit of background first. We used to teach school together. She still does; situations like the one she described are why I no longer do. We are all aware that teaching is a thankless job that requires you to wear many hats including parent, counselor, therapist, friend, confidante, disciplinarian, and role-model all while trying to impart the necessary information to shape young minds. It's more than a job and it takes a special person to do it.

That said, we are often faced with situations that are termed "teachable moments" when you try to show a child a better way but your personal frustrations surface. What do you do then? I've been meaning to blog about the state of this generation and this is the perfect opportunity. Watch your toes out there -- I've thrown out the cut cards!

Parents are the blame for this generation. We are so busy worrying about our kids liking us, making sure they have everything they want and being friends with them, that we have forgotten that we need to tell them no. Everyone cannot be whatever they want. Tell them early so that we won't have to read about them killing a bunch of classmates when they find out for themselves and can't handle it.

Look at the recent news stories -- 4 year old kills babysitter with a shotgun for stepping on his foot; 4 year old shoots babysitter because she told him NO; 6 year old drives himself to school (in his mom's car) because he missed the school bus. Is this acceptable behavior from our children? I didn't think of driving my parent's car without permission at 16 or 26 or 36 for that matter. I can't imagine thinking that was a good idea AND going through with it at 6!

But let's address the issues my friend brought up. "You know he could sue you for saying that?" Why is it that these children assume they can make others pay for their indiscretions but there is no retribution for their wrongdoing? Nature or nurture - what have they been taught? How can someone act like a n** yet get offended when called out on it? We know this happens too often - think O.J. Simpson, Rodney King, Michael Vick, Plaxico Burris - just to name a few. And there are some non-black n**s too (Blagojevich). If this is what we constantly show our children, why do we expect their behavior to be any different? Everybody is so overjoyed that we have a Black president but after what just happened today, we still have far to go. I've already spoken about Black males and President-elect Obama's supposed influence on them. That is too much weight to place on one man's shoulders; Black fathers - show yourselves!

I'm sure I've said more than a mouthful and some of you probably wish I'd choke on these words. Well, I don't have any children (and I'm not looking for any either) but I do feel that it's my responsibility along with every other able-bodied adult to encourage our young people to lead productive lives. It takes a village.

The stars (**) were placed in the quote so that you sensitive people out there wouldn't be offended. I think it's ridiculous because it only draws attention to the word we aren't supposed to use. I'll blog about that another time.

Happy New Year

After being ill during the Holiday season, I have a slightly different outlook on 2009. My new motto is MAKE IT HAPPEN. No point in trying, intending, scheduling, looking forward to or any other "positive euphemisms that make us feel like we're making progress. I don't plan to make progress this year - I'm gonna make like NIKE and JUST DO IT! I'll update you on the 101 List later this week. Hope you enjoyed your holidays and Make It a Great Year!