The Rough Side of the Mountain

When I was younger this was one of my favorite gospel songs. Lord knows we never heard it at my church. Tee hee. But it would come on the radio whilst going to church. And I don’t know. At eight, nine, ten years old, it just resonated with me. It just sounded like chu’ch. Like my great granny’s church we used to go to when we went down South. Somewhere off a lil' country road. One room. No air. People fanning. Hands clapping. Folk shouting. Great granny and her sister getting up and singing hymns that only they knew.

Whenever I heard Rough Side of the Mountain as a child, it just sounded authentic. As if someone was really talking to God. And not just talking, but also keeping it real with Him, like, “yo. For real? This right here is really rough.” Especially when the woman would come in at the chorus with her throaty, strong voice. I would have visions of someone literally struggling up the side of a huge mountain with a big ol bag on their back. Struggling. Sweating. Stumbling. Weary. Worn. Out. Run. Down. But still climbing. And letting it be known the whole way to anyone who was listening (the Lord included) that, “This is hard. But I’m doing my best. And I’m gonna make it.” Cause I always thought the person was gon’ make it.

But what did I know about life’s mountains at 10 years old? Not a thing I tell ya. And even now I feel like I’ve only dealt with some really steep hills. Lol. But the other day I was going through it. Having a crisis of faith. Not in the Lord. But in myself. In my abilities. In my purpose. In my destination. In my right now. There were no quick answers. And truth be told it seemed like there were no answers at all. Just questions. A million questions. A thousand different paths. A hundred steps to take. I just have to start walking. One really huge mountain that seems impossible to climb. And so I had to take it back to my childhood and put this song on repeat. Cry to it. Pray on it. Whine, "oh Lawwddd" all through it. And then let it speak to my spirit. Soothe my soul. Push me up a little higher. Force me to do better. Make me clasp His hand tighter. And remind me that I’m gon’ make it.

That’s my time y’all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!

the more things change...

just before this year's super bowl, new orleans elected a new mayor.  he won 66% of the vote in a field of over 5 other candidates.  his closest competitor received only 14% of the vote.  no doubt he was the people's choice in a crowded field where elections usually drag on for successive rounds of primaries and runoffs.

in contrast, several seasoned politicians and a couple of political newcomers (but not new runners) rushed to the open Louisiana State House District 93 Seat a few months ago.  James Perry and Helena Moreno rose to the top of a wide field of candidates and will duke it out in next week's runoff.  now that the stakes are high, the kid gloves have come off and both candidates are going for the jugular, exposing the relative faults of their opponent. 

the gambit, nola's local weekly paper (the smart and reliable alternative to the time-pic) recently posted it's endorsement in the District 93 race. 

Voters in House District 93 will choose a new state representative on Saturday, May 29. The district contains the economic nerve center of Louisiana — most of the French Quarter, all of the CBD and Warehouse District, the port, the Morial Convention Center, the Louisiana Superdome and New Orleans Arena, the new LSU/VA hospital project, and the mainstays of the city’s tourism and restaurant industries.

The two remaining candidates are housing advocate James Perry and former newscaster Helena Moreno. In their runoff campaigns, the candidates have brought forth disturbing accusations against one another, and recent revelations about both cause us to take no position in this race. That this race has come down to two seriously flawed candidates is a shame, considering the economic importance of this district. 

more of the same.

INAFJ!

So I come to work today and my coworker is ranting and raving about the awesomeness of this...



She's talking about how she is going to contribute to the movement, blah blah blah. I'm like okay girl, get up stand up for your rights! Even though you are gainfully employed and are well past college graduate age.

So like the Tea Party movement, I Need A Freaking Job is catching on like wildfire. And while I understand the frustration that unemployment and even underemployment can exact on a person just trying to make it and not be burden on others, I do wonder what they hope to accomplish with t-shirts and youtube videos. And after reading this, these folks are mad! I will admit that some of their opining had me chuckling a teensy bit...only because its truth. I just wonder who are they mad at? Because I don't recall all of these movements circa 2000-2008. But I guess when people are hurting it really doesn't matter who said or did what in the past, you just want the pain to stop immediately.

Did people observing the campaign of 2008 really think that Obama and em could really do it all in a couple of years? The fact that people thought that Mr. Obama was the second coming that would soon wipe all our tears away truly makes me chuckle. The fact that it hasn't happened yet and folks are wondering what they can hope in also makes me chuckle. Why would the political system be any different, if a multiracial man is "running" it? It's a system that has governed our country for decades...you can't change a system overnight. Right?

So as my coworker strokes out a check to get a INAFJ tee-shirt I eagerly await the next movement. Is it too late for me to ask for my 40 acres and a mule?

See You In Seven

Just Wright... Is Just Right for Me

This past weekend I went to see Just Wright. I L-O-V-E-D it!

Yes, it was cliche and yes, you know how the story ends but I enjoyed watching it unfold the way it did. This movie has all my favorites in it... shall I list them? Listed in no particular order.

Queen Latifah
Common
Phylicia Rashad
Paula Patton
Pam Grier
Mehcad Brooks

... and many more.

I will admit, I love black romantic comedies and this one is long over due. Love Jones and Brown Sugar have been on repeat in my DVD player for the longest and I can't wait for this to be released on DVD so I can add this to the collection. This movie manages to go back and forth between reality and fantasy without annoying me.

I will admit though that Common could have been replaced by someone else but it was refreshing to see a new face and it was a good opportunity for him. And I am okay with that too... he is cute.

QL on the other hand was HILARIOUS to me without turning into a Tyler Perry character. She was funny, sassy, strong, attractive and real but I am not going to lie, she seemed uncomfortable when it was time for her to be a lady. I just couldn't bring myself to believe that she really knew how to be completely 'fem'. Something about the scene in the bed that didn't ring true but I have always had this problem with QL. So who would I cast instead of QL? NO one. She is the best we got out there right now. I thought maybe Jill Scott but I can't image Jill being sporty at all! That would be a stretch. And there is J Hudd but we all know she isn't the best actress so QL it is. Thank god there aren't too many lovey dovey scences in the movie because that would have ruined it. There is just a enough.

Besides the acting this movie touches on a few of my favorite topics of discussion. Paula Patton's character lives up to our expectations about women with sole mission in life is to marry rich athletes. Although it was interesting see Paula dolled-up all the time, I found her character to be pathethic and extremely believable. Especially after I have spent the whole week reading and thinking about this whole idea of male sponsorship. Don't get me wrong, I understand the beauty of the idea but this strategy of obtaining a life-time sponsor is like playing to lotto everyday instead of investing in your 401k for retirement, for me. Could we work on making sure you and the targeted prey of choice run in the same circle as you? Similar to the chick who goes to law school to find the lawyer/future politian. (chuckle) When Paula said that she wanted to become a brand, I was like why don't you focus on that first? I found it more exciting that QL's character's career had the opportunity to blossom based on her hard work not that she was about to get with an athlete. Or maybe that is the Capricorn in me?

I also, thought it was fun how the movie pointed out how one's vision can be so clouded by appearances. Without giving away anymore of the movie (because I would love for you to check it out)... Common's character knew the deal but was just so confused. Why does it have to take loosing or almost loosing someone to get the point? Ordinary just doesn't seem as appealing.(sigh) To be human.

Much luv until next week peace :)

P.S. Rum Punch and Amaretto, I have decided Amir is an art collector and I can't wait to meet him. (chuckle)

Ghetto video track of the week.... no wonder the young girls are confused?!?!

A Vested Interest

Last week when I was hanging out with dude who was talmbout maybe getting back together with his ex. The main reason was because he wanted a chick in his life to do things with. But if he did not get back with his ex, he then said verbatim, “For real I just want a chick I can hang out with. But she pays for her own stuff…” While I did my best to not look at him as if he had two heads, he regaled me with this delightful tale:

His mama’s friend has a niece attending a local university for grad school. The elders gathered and thought he and this girl, let’s call her Poor Thing should meet. They were first introduced at a holiday gathering. The next time they see each other – they’re both just out in the streets. She orders some food for herself and pays. The third time, he specifically suggests they go see Avatar. Poor Thing arrives to the theatre (probably after being boosted by her auntie that he’s a good dude, so nice, who owns his own home honey, and so on) and he says to her, “Yo. So, I just bought my ticket. I’m fina get our 3-d glasses. You go ‘head buy your ticket and then meet me at the popcorn stand.” Poor thing.

Crickets. Then laughter from Rum Punch. I then look around to see if anyone got this on video. For shame. They did not. And then he says,

Cause I knew man. I knew that if I paid, then she would want me to pay every.single.time.we.went.out.

Prolly so. But um errr I don’t know if that was the best way to handle the situation. Cause apprently it got back around to his folk that he is, "a cheap muhfcuka". Heh. And so now he’s on the hunt for a chick who will willingly pay her own way. “Good luck with that,” I said.

Look, I know that it’s hard out here for a pimp. And for a man with a regular job, who knows to be respectful enough to take a chick out to dinner and a show ‘fore asking her to drop 'dem draws. But it’s y’alls job to pay. It just is. And I know it ain't always right. Or fair. And it sucks (I'm guessing). But I have found a man who agrees and pretty much shut downs any naysayers.

In my eyes, any man worth his weight in salt will insist on picking up the tab when he takes a woman out. And I’m not talking just about when dating our courting. I mean if two platonic friends go out, the man picks up the tab. If a man goes out with a female coworker for appetizers and drinks to talk business, the man picks up the tab. If a man takes his sister or female cousin out, he picks up the tab. That’s just what I believe, right or wrong....For men who believe in pseudo-traditionalist roles, like me, it is his job to protect women, period. Not just women you want to sleep with, not just women you love, but every woman who entrusts herself to your company is now under your charge to be cared for.

Cause on the real the best thing about my male cousin coming to town a few months ago (aside being able to kick it with him) was that he paid for every-thang. Everythang? Everythang! Baby! Drinks, dinner, more drinks, and after I drove around for 10 minutes looking for parking, he said, “please find a lot. I’ll pay.” Sweetest words in the English language. Lol. And obviously he’s not trying to woo me, he just has common sense.

“The truth is,” I said to dude, “is that no chick is just gonna hang with you for kicks for a long stretch of time. This ain’t high school. People got goals.” And they usually involve marriage and baby carriages. And as you get older, and dating becomes more tiresome, that next person you meet who seems cool enough to see again, at least once, becomes a potential investment. And time and yes money spent with and on them determines their value.

Return on your investment in dating terms becomes – if you ain’t spending no money on me, then why am I spending my time with you? I mean I can go to the movies with my homegirls. Hit up a happy hour solo and find a nig who'll buy me a drink. Or the tried and true Rum Punch method: flirt with the bartenders. You ain't that great company, my nygga.

This is not to say that women should be gold diggers and stick nigs (especially everyday, regular ones who are just tryna make it) for their paper. Or that they should never offer to pay. Or treat their man. Or shoooot buy the snacks, while he buys the tickets. But this is to say that in this dating/courtship two step, you have to invest to earn interest.

That’s my time y’all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!

Time Keeps on Slipping

So a couple weeks ago I was watching 60 minutes and Andy Rooney aka “Eyebrows” as Rum Punch calls him was opining about the passage of time.

He felt time flied because we are constantly looking forward to what is going to happen next. Months that we don’t have anything planned, some to drag along. When it was February and there is 3 feet of snow on the ground and how many of us wished that it was a lovely spring day in May? *Amaretto raises her hand* And well now May is here and I wonder what happened to March and April. How many parents, while sitting in their cubicles all year long for that nice family summer vacation, only to then wonder when their kids are going back to school? But it’s hard to live in the moment, especially since no one teaches us how to do it. We learn that we have to prepare for tests, and get into college to get a good job, so we can make money. But how many of us are taught to stop and smell the roses. Or at least appreciate the monotomy of life. Eyebrows was stating that it’s these lazy days that make time last longer.

And yet while I sit in my cubicle I am already thinking about the graduations, birthday parties, weekend getaways and cookout that will span the summer months. And once it’s all said and done I’ll be thinking about the holidays and then the new year in which I will turn 30! And in all of this planning I wonder what moments I’ve missed out on? Today was just a regular ole Tuesday. Went to work, surfed the net, goofed off with coworks, ate, watched some random sketch comedy show on TV that made me laugh. And now I’m rushing to come up with something before Tuesday is over.

And I can honestly say that I never looked forward to Tuesday, May 11th, but it’s time in my life that I’ll never get back and I’m going to try to appreciate that.

See You In Seven

Can we get a book about that?

There has been a lot of talk lately about single women and how are standards may be too high.... so I decided to conduct a little experiment. I have nothing to loose. I was raised to believe that man is supposed to be able to provide and protect. Or as my friend would say, "She is looking for a man who is financially and emotionally secure and mature." I hear that! But as of late, I feel as if the response for wanting these quality means that our standards are too high. So let's just say I put those standards aside, which I did for the past few months. Give me a second while I explain what I got.

1. The ex-husband with a younger girlfriend who wants to know if we could take me out. Meets me on the train in the morning and decides he wants to ride the same train with me in the evening. After a 1 hour waiting on me to finish work and a 1.5 hour train ride, he realizes I am not laying with his old behind, he has yet to call me back. Now if I had gone with my gut reaction there wouldn't have been no riding home together. But no harm, no foul... I had a good time chatting and laughing on the way home that Friday night.

2. Young boy stops me on my way into the office, tells me he wants to take me out on the town but can't pick up the phone to call. Instead he text and asks if I live by myself and if he could come over. URGH! I told him that was inappropriate and I was not interested in being his whore. I have enough D1cks to choose from, thank you. And you wonder why I treat you like just another dude!

3. Lastly, a 36 year old who is unsure about almost everything in his life. (sigh) Too exhausted to type the rest but he is the only sign of potential.

Don't get me wrong, the time spent entertaining all three of these men was delightful but nothing I am willing to invest in. So much energy is spent on women bettering themselves to find a good man. When am I going to hear a brother say I am trying to get my ish together so I can attract a certain caliber of woman. Or is there no need to because there are more women than men in the world?

Can we get a book about that? (sigh)

Much luv until next week peace :)