My Thoughts

Last week I asked my youngest sister to make up a Jazzercise (Aerobics) routine for us. Granted she is 19 years old and “fine as wine”, she is ball of energy when it comes to dancing. Well she took to this with a lot of vigor and she came up with a routine that I must say, made me feel all of my 34 ½ years of age. That first night I thought she was going to have to call the paramedics, well actually it seems that every time we’ve worked out I felt that I was going to collapse.

Now let me give you some background. I am going from virtually no activity to a full high impact workout; I have bad knees (from years of walking around with flat feet and no arch supports) and migraines. Now I am not offering these ailments up as excuses but I tried getting my baby sister to take these things into consideration when we are working out. Well she told me that my aching knee was an “excuse” and she let me know that she was aching all over and she was still ready to workout, I had to remind her that she was 19 and I am 34. Despite all this I am still going to workout with her and hope that soon I will be able to endure. We are working out 3 to 4 times a week and so I have two weeks under my belt. So give me strength to keep it up.

Well recently I’ve been told in order to increase some traffic on my blog I have go out a comment on others blogs. So lately instead of “lurking” (lurking- reading a blog or message board and not leaving a comment.), I’ve been leaving comments. Not that I think I am this great writer, I just decided that in order for me to meet new folks I will have to let folks know I’ve been to their spot in the cyberspace.

Lately I’ve been inspired envious of the NY bloggers. The reason being is that they have regular ‘meet and greets’. It seems that there is regular outing that they do weekly or monthly and I can’t even find one blogger here in Houston to even comment on their blog. I know there have got to be some HTOWN bloggers out there. If you happen to come across this here blog leave a comment. Back to the regularly scheduled program…

Ok, so here’s the deal, a few weeks ago the NBA had a draft lottery drawing. The Rockets ,hoping to repeat past luck of moving up a few slots, participated in this drawing (I am not sure if all team participate in the lottery of just the top 10.). Well it is apparent The Rockets luck has run out because they didn’t move any where, they kept the 8th pick.

I must admit, not a lot of hoopla has been made about the upcoming NBA draft that is scheduled to take place on this coming Wednesday, I guess there are no real all-stars that are up for this draft. Well we, here in the Lone Star State, aren’t hearing much about it and in particular Houston, maybe it’s because we are only picking eight i nthe first round. While we should rejoice in the fact that we are still picking in the first round in the high tenth, and be hopeful that at that position we still have some quality talent from which to choose. I don’t think that there is much talent out there at the 8th position. It’s been rather quiet on the local sports shows here, maybe not quiet, but with the draft being this close I would think that that would dominate the conversation and so far it has not. Now the Rockets have a lot of holes to fill and they have an immediate need for a point gaurd, power forward, backup shooting guard and backup for the two positions I’ve named. Let’s hope that Jeff Vangundy and the GM Carroll Dawson will make better choices than Rudy and Carroll did in the past i.e. Matt Malone, Kelvin Cato..etc.

Today is the first day of summer and with the kind of heat we’ve been having here in the coastal part of Texas I aint looking forward to the upcoming months.

In the past summertime was my favorite season, not that we got a very clear separation of the seasons here anyway, it seemed as if there was winter and summer no fall or spring, but I loved the summertime. It’s the time for sandals, pedicures with nice bright colors, summer dresses, sleeveless shirts, capris, shorts and sunglasses. Time is spent in the park on the weekends. Family and friends get together to enjoy BBQs, fish frys, or just sitting on the patio or in the yard, hanging at the beach or swimming in the pool. (more…)

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves of the Southern states that had seceded from the Union. It took awhile for the news to trickle down. It was not until June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, that the slaves of the eastern portion of that state found out dey wus free. http://www.geocities.com/blasquinte/Jntnth.html

History of Juneteenth
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. http://www.elecvillage.com/juneteen.htm

This may seem like a crazy to celebrate and I have often been asked by folks not from here why do we celebrate this Day? I think it’s because it was our, Texas’, emancipation from salvery. It is a significant day in Texas African American History, although Juneteenth celebrations started here in Texas, they have now spread to many US states. It is a significant day in my history. So HAPPY JUNETEENTH.

This post is dedicated to my Dad. My father was born is a small rural town in east Texas. He was the second oldest of 5(1 older brother, 3 younger sisters), but you would think he was the oldest. He is the pillar of the family and his siblings look to him for guidance. Although my mom and dad were never married, he was and is still very active in my life. He was there for my birth, every birthday, my first day of school, all my graduations and Christmas. He took me school shopping at the beginning of the school year and there wasn’t a time that I couldn’t pick of the phone and call him with something I needed. I spent almost every holiday with him and his family, my family.

My dad personifies the saying “you can take the man out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the man.” He’s a mechanic, carpenter, landscaper, COP, husband, father, brother and grandfather. Though he is tough he still has a softer sensitive side that he isn’t afraid to show. He would call me just tell me he loves me or just because he was thinking about me. I love my dad. Now don’t get me wrong my dad isn’t perfect, no one is. He fusses too much, he overextends himself or as my step-mom likes to term it “He has too many irons in the fire.” He is old fashioned so getting him to change his ways is very, every hard. Despite all that I still think I am a better person because he was and is in my life, so like I said before this post is dedicated to my dad, James Williams, I LOVE YOU!!

Ok so I thought I was through with this topic of 25 songs, for me 10 songs, that I can’t live without, well as it turns out I am not. As I stated in the other post I love music and I could find a song in almost all genres of music that I love. With that being said I thought of some more songs that could have made my top 10 list.

1. A Bitch Is a Bitch – NWA
This was a bonus track on Straight Out of Compton Cassette. (yeah I am dating myself). The first time I heard this song I knew it would stay with me. “Now the title Bitch don’t apply to all women/ but all women got a little Bitch in em” not truer words have been spoken.

2. Human Nature – Michael Jackson
This song has special meaning because it was the first record(I am rally dating myself) I ever bought. It was 45 and on the B-side was Heartbreak Hotel. “Looking out/Across the nighttime/The city winks a sleepless eye/Hear her voice /Shake my window /Sweet seducing sighs /Get me out /Into the night time/Four walls won’t hold me tonight /If this town /Is just an apple /Then let me take a bite /If they say /Why, why, tell ‘em that it’s human nature”

3. X-Factor – Lauryn Hill
As I’ve stated many times before I like songs that make me feel something and this song was just that. When Lauryn sang the lyrics to this song I could feel her angst. “Loving you is like a battle/ and we both end up with scars”

4. What’s Going On- Marvin Gaye
I love this song because the lyrics, sadly enough, are still true.
“Mother, mother/There’s too many of you crying /Brother, brother, brother /There’s far too many /f you dying /You know we’ve got to find a way /To bring some lovin’ here today – Ya”

5. Giving You The Best that I Got – Anita Baker
This song to me showed a woman’s dedication and love for her man. “And I made a vow so I tell you now/I’m giving you the best that I got, baby /I bet everything on my wedding ring /I’m giving you the best that I got, givin’ it to you baby” (more…)

Ok so Will blogged about 25 songs he cant live without and why and he asked for the readers to name the songs that they can’t live without. So instead on posting a hella long reply on his blog I decided to stea…err rum borrow his idea and post my list here. First let me caveat this by saying that I am a lover of music so my list of songs would be considerably longer than 25. So in an effort to keep this post from running on and on (that way a certain someone won’t complain about the length. Saniyya) I am choosing 10 songs.

1. Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Night and the Pips
To me this song epitomizes a woman’s love for her man. When she sings the line “He’s leavin’ /on that midnight train to Georgia/ Said he’s goin’ back to find/ the simpler place and time/ I’ll be with him/ on that midnight train to Georgia/ I’d rather live in his world than live without him in mine” This shows that she will follow him where ever he leads her because she loves him.
2. Out on a Limb - Tina Marie
Aside from the lyrics of this song, this song has special meaning to me because it was the song that was play when I had my first Kiss.
I just love the music and lyrics of this song “Tender was the kiss when you held me captive in your sweet embrace/ My lips begin to burn and my heart beats faster then the normal pace/ I try hard to resist that familiar smile that melts me just like wax/ But what’s the use, I’m yours and that means forever, there’s no turning back”
3. I Go Crazy – Will Downing
First and foremost, I love Will’s voice. He has such a melodious sound. I just loved his rendition of this Paul Davies song. “Hello girl it’s been awhile/ Guess you’ll be glad to know/ That I’ve learned how to laugh and smile/Getting over you was slow/They say old lovers can be good friends/ But I never thought I’d really see you, /I’d really see you again/ I go crazy/When I look in your eyes I still go crazy/No my heart just can’t hide that old feelin’ inside/Way deep down inside”
4. Is It A Crime – Sade
This is one of many of Sade’s songs that I love, this just happens to be my favorite. I don’t really have any reason for liking this song except that I can feel her longing when she sings this lyric ” It may come, it may come as some surprise but I miss you/ I could see through, all of your lies/ But I still miss you.” “Is it a crime/That I still want you/And I want you to want me too”
5. I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
This song and Bonnie’s voice just go together like peanut butter and jelly. They just mesh.“Turn down the lights, turn down the bed/Turn down these voices inside my head/Lay down with me, tell me no lies/Just hold me close, don’t patronize - don’t patronize me/cause I cant make you love me if you don’t/You cant make your heart feel something it wont/ Here in the dark, in these lonely hours/I will lay down my heart and Ill feel the power.” (more…)

Well June is Black Music, and I must say Black Music, in my opinion, is at an all time low. Gone are the days of the true singers, the singers that could sing a song live and it sounds just like the record. Gone are the days of rappers coming up with an original beats. Gone are the days of lyrics that invoke more emotions than just lust and sex, lyrics that made you feel love, the pain of lost love, the pleasure of finding love or the joy of family and friends. I must say that I am missing black music or better yet good black music.

Where are the Angie Stones, Jill Scotts, Musiqs, India Aries, and Maxwells? We are stuck with the Chris Browns, Keisha Coles, Cieras, Neyos, Life Jennings, Ray Js and T-Pains of today. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying that these folks aren’t talented but their songs, for me, leave something to be desired. Today we have contend with singers singing about how they are tired of love songs, someone is standing to close and making it hard for them, they aint getting no younger so they might as well do this… yeah you guess it get married. Even some of our older artists that are still making records have given way to the musical stylings of today. Even Hip Hop is at an all time low, with folks rapping about how they are in love with a stripper, or whispering a whole song about how he’s going to show you his D…. Some even rap a demand to for the girl to give him that P…., popping their collahs, or just chirping each other, or just lean with it, rock with it.

I am longing for some good music, a song that when I first hear it I want to buy the whole CD just to hear what else this artist has to sing or rap about. I am longing for a song that will make feel like I am in love or just feel something deep.