Thanksgiving Food Giveaway

I heard about it...now, you're hearing it too.

Please feel free to pass this info to any and all you think may not only need the assistance, but those who may know others who do as well.

Thanksgiving Day

November 26, 2009

12pm-5pm

LePearl Ballroom

7929 Central Avenue

Capitol Heights, MD 20743

(301) 333-8500

Times are tough for many, but don't let that spoil your "Thanksgiving" joy. Bring the entire family and joion us for a "Free" Thanksgiving Dinner. Don't stress over buying food or cooking it! Come and eat some delicious food prepared by professional chefs, while you mix and mingle with others, meet new friends and make some priceless memories. This event is open to all and is free. Only requirement is that you make a reservation by calling
Valencia Davis @ (301) 917-5391 or Barbara (202) 210-6147.

Please pass this information on to churches, senior homes, nursing homes, community organizations and people in the neighborhoods. This event is for all MD, DC & VA.

Hip Hop Education and Sistas United are also Co-Sponsors of this event so if you have nay questions, you can call us as well.
Sabrina Wiggins @ HHE (240) 460-2571 or Wessita McKinley @ SU (240) 423-0958.

It's a Shame

Riding METRO becomes more and more frustrating each time I board. This morning being the latest episode in frustration. Let me spell it out for you -- I'll change some information to protect...um, who exactly am I protecting...oh well, I'll just change some information.

I boarded a RED line train this morning headed towards Grosvenor. I was instantly accosted by Unruly Child. She was in the doorway playing. I tried to go around this wee bit of insurgence to no avail. Finally, I said "excuse me sweetie" and proceeded to brush past her -- trying to bump her head into the pole -- to an empty seat. Mother Ignorant watched this entire episode while yakking loudly into her cell phone (who the heck are you talking to so early in the morning!!!!) and repeatedly screaming at Unruly to have a seat somewhere. Somewhere? Huh?

I proceed to an empty seat only to have my private space infiltrated by the elbow of Home Office Man. He was sprawled across two seats with his legs crossed and several pages of the paper opened as he read (or looked at the pictures) of one full page spread. Really? I didn't know you could be quite so discourteous in public. Whatever happened to "treat others as I'd like to be treated"? Is it Courtesy lying next to Chivalry in the graveyard?

But that's not it. The clincher was Apathetic Driver Boy. He seemed to drone out the name of the line and stops as if he had a million other things on his mind and a wish to be anywhere else. Can't say that I blamed him since, at that moment, I totally agreed. The pinnacle of his apathy was shown when he made an announcement, between chews, regarding the next stop. You have got to be kidding me!!!

All of this to get to work -- where they plot to harass me for 7.50 hours. All I can say is this -- watch out evening commuters. It's definitely ON!

In Memoriam

It has been ten years since I lost my Big Ma. I've learned to live with her in my spirit, to keep her words in my heart and allow her teachings to touch my life. While I miss her deeply, I am sometimes glad she has slept through some of the most tragic events our generation has seen -- such as 9/11 and the demolition of the Twin Towers, pirates, snipers and more -- as well as some of our more celebratory events including the election and Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Of course, there are more personal/private events that she was not a part of including births, deaths, marriages, divorces, illnesses...times when I would have loved to hear her words of comfort and know that she understood and offered support. Those are the times when I miss her most, no matter what I remember her saying to others in similar situations, it's not the same as hearing her say it directly to me in the present. In short, I miss my Big Ma.

I'm sure this sounds selfish and that there are others who miss her too but I needed to remember her in my own way. For those of you who have a Big Mama, cherish her while you can. For those of you who no longer have her with you physically, hold your memories near and dear.

Until next time...

101 Goals – 365 days later

Update: I have not been sticking to my list.

The mission to complete 101 tasks in a period of 1001 has not gone very well in the first 365 days. While some goals have been accomplished, others have fallen through the cracks.

I have journaled consistently about my experience though I have created a calendar to set smaller achievement dates for specific goals. I’ve read some self help material and have saved money tremendously, thanks to cutting back on media purchases. I haven’t, however, exercised or completed craft projects or whitened my teeth.

I’ve cut out sodas, thanks to the “no soda for 60 days” goal and I volunteer regularly but I have neither kept a food diary nor pampered myself properly. I’ve taken road trips, tried new restaurants and donated clothes but I haven’t begun to learn a new language.

The most consistent goal has been my Daily book of Positive Thoughts. This has added to my life’s “down” moments in the past year in ways that can hardly be put into words. I’ve also become quite good at deleting emails and finding new websites. I’ve read 4 books from the Essential Black books list, 2 from the Modern Library’s Top 100 list and watched 43 movies from the AFI top 100 list.

Today, I plan to do better. To start, I will review my list daily (which is goal #80) as I think this will help keep my goals fresh in my mind. I plan to also add an “unofficial” goal of blogging about my progress on a more regular basis. So, how about every…6 weeks? Yeah, I think that will be just fine. Gotta set my calendar before I forget…

29 completed (some goals are on-going)
Entire list (http://thephoenixdj.blogspot.com/2008/09/101-in-1001.html)

The 75¢ Experiment

Has anyone noticed that a variety of people – not all homeless or apparently destitute – approach different riders at varying stops and quietly request 75¢?

This has been happening for approximately three weeks and I’ve been analyzing the activity: older women, younger men, older men, younger women, varying races, times of day and the people they proposition have no set pattern either. They ignore the fact that you have on headphones (the international sign for the purposeful ignoring of any/all persons within close proximity) or the conversation you’re engrossed in with your neighbor. They seem willing to risk public ridicule and verbal thrashing – all for 75¢.

I’m astonished, befuddled, quizzically searching the cobwebs of my mind for anything worth 75¢ in today’s society. Even if that’s how much it would cost to exit the subway, sheer pride would force me to try for $1 at least. Furthermore, there aren’t too many cash-carriers left in our fear-laden society and of those I doubt they’d stop whatever they’re doing to search purses and pockets for loose change. Maybe that’s the hook – while you’re preoccupied, they beat you over the head. Hmmm…you never know nowadays.

But my heart nearly breaks every time I hear the plea – even though my lips are poised to ask several of the questions posed above. But I promise you, the next time I have 75¢…

Brown Feet

I just returned from Montego Bay, Jamaica and it was one of the best vacations I've had so far. Want to know why? BROWN FEET!

I know, I know. You're thinking -- "she's black, of course she has brown feet".
Au contraire. Regardless of how much sun I get during the summer, I've always suffered from "white feet." My feet simply don't tan enough to blend with the color of my summer body.

But not this time. This time I have beautifully sun-ripened feet. I may need to do Jamaica every summer!

Racism Takes the Blame Again

Just because you’re educated, respected and lauded as the country’s pre-eminent black scholar, does not excuse you from poor judgment, bad behavior or ineffectively throwing the race card. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s situation is appalling.

Gates has proven that he lives in a neighborhood where the residents pay attention and care enough to call law enforcement when something is suspicious. Is he purposely looking to destroy that last thread that holds society together? It’s better than receiving a Twitter message about the house that got broken into – only to find that it’s yours that’s being discussed.

Gates has shown that reaching higher levels of education cause you to believe that you’re unlike the rest of us and the rules no longer apply. It is never proper behavior to become irate with the police. There are others ways to rectify a situation.

Gates has shown that the race card is futile. Thanks to the crusaders of the 60’s who fought for our civil rights (Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, etc.), we have shown our multi-cultural peers that when we can’t otherwise handle our affairs, we have a safety net. We can accuse any and every one of racism, bias and profiling.

When will cooler heads prevail?