Wow, I've not honored my commitment to do my between semester organizing, but hey, I'm not passionate about cleaning. Not that I haven't done any, I just can't seem to finish it all. However, I am passionate about (amongst other things) writing. I can have nothing to say but find plenty to write. Hmmmm, thus this blog. I resolved to start blogging regularly in 2010, and the old saying "why put off until tomorrow..." played in my head. Of course, it does that a lot but I only listen when it's something I want to do so I started posting already. Today I realized I hadn't posted yet and thought, I've got to keep at least this commitment, and here I am: Ta-freaking-da!
I've gone even further today - I even started following other people's blogs including the woman responsible for creating mine, and who shares with me a wealth of information to help me in my writing and entertainment career. We met on myspace, never in person, but I thank God for her, my friend, Sunida of Sunidaez Publishing.
I don't believe in asking for support without first giving it.
Happy New Year, everyone and may all your dreams become your prayers and be answered in God's time!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
I'm getting my house in order!
12/26/09
As it’s been a very uneventful day for me - finishing EJD Sleeping With Strangers - I’ve decided since writing is eventually becoming my full-time profession, I will take weekends off. Talk to you all on Monday!
Love,
Jess…an Angel
12/28/09
So I took Sunday off, went to Church, took my Prince to see “The Princess and the Frog”- I now adore and respect Anika Noni Rose even more and love Keith David and NeYo a little more, too, if possible. We took a ride down Candy Cane Lane with some of our favorite CA (non-blood) family, and now it’s back to business. Need to finish the big cleaning jobs in my house that the semester’s school work doesn’t allow me to fit in often: Cleaned out the frig and freezer, cleaning the oven as I type (lol), doing my bed linens, making my toilets sparkle, then trying to figure out what else will keep me busy until my three Eric Jerome Dickey novels arrive in the mail. “Sleeping With Enemies” was so slow, but still EJD is a good enough writer to keep my-ADD-self interested… …once I finally sat still enough to read. OMG I finished in 3 days which isn’t easy for the single parent of a young child who inherited his mother’s ADD. I did myself wrong by looking at the last page number and not taking into account the fact that his acknowledgments and an excerpt of pages from the sequel were included. I also should have considered it being the 1st of a series that I wouldn’t want to finish it without being able to pick up the 2nd one. Why didn’t I place my order for “Waking With Strangers” earlier? Excuse me for a Charlie Brown moment: AAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGH! Thank you. (sigh) What was I thinking? I’ve read enough EJD that I’d put some pieces together, but by the time I was caught up in the momentum, I couldn’t put the book down and then I find out that there’s a fourth book in this series already in publication. Oh, well at least Arizona was mentioned in “Drive Me Crazy” and I can back and read that before the other books come. But how will I read three more novels once they arrive and play Wii, and do all the purging I need to do in my house before the new semester starts January 11th? (another sigh) Oh, and I already want to snatch EJD (but I’ve been to counseling for that…kidding) so I can find out what happens in the much anticipated sequel to “Chasing Destiny” which I thought I’d see before I began “Sleeping With Stragers”? IT was only supposed to occupy me until isht had caught up w/ “Destiny”. (another Charlie Brown moment) okay…woo-sah, goosfraba, and all that other crap…it’s time to get back to my oven - my two hours is up.
Okay, so I’d underestimated all the matter that I had let splatter on my oven door, but with the help of an S.O.S. pad my oven’s clean. I almost want to bake something that’s not frozen. Okay, that thrill is gone.
Can someone tell me why I tried to sweep my balcony on a windy day? That ADD again…I was on my way to my laundry which is on my balcony -- I love living in a climate where I can have my laundry outside my house and the weather not hinder me from doing it often -- because even though I have more than one set of bed linens, I’m stuck on this chocolate set of 1000 thread count Egyptian Cotton King sheets I found for only $19.99, so I’m washing them, and I noticed some dirt amongst flowers and leaves on my way to put them in the dryer. I’ll have some sweet smelling sheets to settle in and read tonight…and my balcony has been swept for me to sit outside and enjoy tomorrow’s sun. Praise God for bringing his Angel to the City of Angels!
And now I can warm up the baked chicken wings in my clean oven, and oh, just checked my email…two of my three books have already shipped and all will be here by January 4th, Jalen goes back to school on January 5th and I’ll have finished them all by January 11th. I hope there are only four books in this series. I already have a monologue I need to learn for a performance in late February. I can’t be distracted, lol.
Well, time to go bake my ribeye with some sliced portabellas and onions, that I’ll have with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Mmmmm! Oh yeah, the Wolfgang Puck pots and pans I bought myself for Christmas will be here on Wednesday and I can make something great for the church potluck on New Year’s Blessed Eve. I’ll try to tape it!
‘Til tomorrow, God bless you and good night! (hee hee, love you, still, Russell)
As it’s been a very uneventful day for me - finishing EJD Sleeping With Strangers - I’ve decided since writing is eventually becoming my full-time profession, I will take weekends off. Talk to you all on Monday!
Love,
Jess…an Angel
12/28/09
So I took Sunday off, went to Church, took my Prince to see “The Princess and the Frog”- I now adore and respect Anika Noni Rose even more and love Keith David and NeYo a little more, too, if possible. We took a ride down Candy Cane Lane with some of our favorite CA (non-blood) family, and now it’s back to business. Need to finish the big cleaning jobs in my house that the semester’s school work doesn’t allow me to fit in often: Cleaned out the frig and freezer, cleaning the oven as I type (lol), doing my bed linens, making my toilets sparkle, then trying to figure out what else will keep me busy until my three Eric Jerome Dickey novels arrive in the mail. “Sleeping With Enemies” was so slow, but still EJD is a good enough writer to keep my-ADD-self interested… …once I finally sat still enough to read. OMG I finished in 3 days which isn’t easy for the single parent of a young child who inherited his mother’s ADD. I did myself wrong by looking at the last page number and not taking into account the fact that his acknowledgments and an excerpt of pages from the sequel were included. I also should have considered it being the 1st of a series that I wouldn’t want to finish it without being able to pick up the 2nd one. Why didn’t I place my order for “Waking With Strangers” earlier? Excuse me for a Charlie Brown moment: AAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGH! Thank you. (sigh) What was I thinking? I’ve read enough EJD that I’d put some pieces together, but by the time I was caught up in the momentum, I couldn’t put the book down and then I find out that there’s a fourth book in this series already in publication. Oh, well at least Arizona was mentioned in “Drive Me Crazy” and I can back and read that before the other books come. But how will I read three more novels once they arrive and play Wii, and do all the purging I need to do in my house before the new semester starts January 11th? (another sigh) Oh, and I already want to snatch EJD (but I’ve been to counseling for that…kidding) so I can find out what happens in the much anticipated sequel to “Chasing Destiny” which I thought I’d see before I began “Sleeping With Stragers”? IT was only supposed to occupy me until isht had caught up w/ “Destiny”. (another Charlie Brown moment) okay…woo-sah, goosfraba, and all that other crap…it’s time to get back to my oven - my two hours is up.
Okay, so I’d underestimated all the matter that I had let splatter on my oven door, but with the help of an S.O.S. pad my oven’s clean. I almost want to bake something that’s not frozen. Okay, that thrill is gone.
Can someone tell me why I tried to sweep my balcony on a windy day? That ADD again…I was on my way to my laundry which is on my balcony -- I love living in a climate where I can have my laundry outside my house and the weather not hinder me from doing it often -- because even though I have more than one set of bed linens, I’m stuck on this chocolate set of 1000 thread count Egyptian Cotton King sheets I found for only $19.99, so I’m washing them, and I noticed some dirt amongst flowers and leaves on my way to put them in the dryer. I’ll have some sweet smelling sheets to settle in and read tonight…and my balcony has been swept for me to sit outside and enjoy tomorrow’s sun. Praise God for bringing his Angel to the City of Angels!
And now I can warm up the baked chicken wings in my clean oven, and oh, just checked my email…two of my three books have already shipped and all will be here by January 4th, Jalen goes back to school on January 5th and I’ll have finished them all by January 11th. I hope there are only four books in this series. I already have a monologue I need to learn for a performance in late February. I can’t be distracted, lol.
Well, time to go bake my ribeye with some sliced portabellas and onions, that I’ll have with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Mmmmm! Oh yeah, the Wolfgang Puck pots and pans I bought myself for Christmas will be here on Wednesday and I can make something great for the church potluck on New Year’s Blessed Eve. I’ll try to tape it!
‘Til tomorrow, God bless you and good night! (hee hee, love you, still, Russell)
Friday, December 25, 2009
He came so that we might have life!
12/25/09
He came so that we might have life! In celebration of His birth, I’m giving Him my life again today. It is important to renew our faith often being clothed in a robe of sinful flesh.
I’d seen this familiar stranger lurking around my house in the last few weeks of the semester. School finally ended for me and J. Here we were close to Christmas, and this fool was still hanging around my house. I’m sure he knew someone who lived nearby, but he wasn’t a welcome visitor of mine so I paid him very little attention, not even speaking. I was sure I’d done such a good job of ignoring him that he wouldn’t think we had any business associating, but he had an agenda.
Sometimes things go away if you ignore them, and sometimes you just need to fully confront stuff to prevent it from becoming an issue. I was so relieved I’d finally successfully completed a semester of all the classes in which I was enrolled, and so happy to have time off, I mistook my lack of motivation and awareness for exhaustion.
He’d actually been following me. I was tired, J got sick, and then I was trapped in the house. I couldn’t go anywhere far and he caught up to me. My spidey-senses started tingling, I decided not to swim in that Egyptian river, and not wanting my baby to see his mom any more off kilter I went for a short walk on the Eve of Christmas. He got so close I had no choice but to acknowledge him. He firmly grabbed hold of me by my shoulders, not stopping me, but walking briskly with me until he made sure I knew exactly who he was. His name is Depression. Loneliness came screeching and inevitably took me down, I fought a good fight and won. Once I allowed myself to feel the pain of spending another Christmas alone, it was over in a snap. You know that feeling of being taken down by a strong tide that caught you just slightly off guard enough for you to have to actually use your strength to stay planted? Well, it was a little more overwhelming than that for just a moment. I couldn’t breathe and tears stung my eyes worse than saltwater. I almost felt helpless but right then is when I felt the hand of God and was reminded that we have to go through to get to our true blessing. I was thinking about how not only would me and my young son be alone Christmas Eve, but also all day on Christmas because of his sickness. Then I remembered the child whose birth we were celebrating; that He came so that I might have life, and this battle was His, not mine at all. Next Spring we celebrate why we all have Victory: because he overcame death and everything that is a symptom of it.
So after watching everything J has wanted to watch on DVD and VHS TWICE, I’m still focused on the real reason for the season and no matter my circumstances, it is a very Merry Christmas!
He’s in the other room playing the Wii I couldn’t afford for the last two years. I can afford it now because of Matthew 6:33.
Merry Christmas
He came so that we might have life! In celebration of His birth, I’m giving Him my life again today. It is important to renew our faith often being clothed in a robe of sinful flesh.
I’d seen this familiar stranger lurking around my house in the last few weeks of the semester. School finally ended for me and J. Here we were close to Christmas, and this fool was still hanging around my house. I’m sure he knew someone who lived nearby, but he wasn’t a welcome visitor of mine so I paid him very little attention, not even speaking. I was sure I’d done such a good job of ignoring him that he wouldn’t think we had any business associating, but he had an agenda.
Sometimes things go away if you ignore them, and sometimes you just need to fully confront stuff to prevent it from becoming an issue. I was so relieved I’d finally successfully completed a semester of all the classes in which I was enrolled, and so happy to have time off, I mistook my lack of motivation and awareness for exhaustion.
He’d actually been following me. I was tired, J got sick, and then I was trapped in the house. I couldn’t go anywhere far and he caught up to me. My spidey-senses started tingling, I decided not to swim in that Egyptian river, and not wanting my baby to see his mom any more off kilter I went for a short walk on the Eve of Christmas. He got so close I had no choice but to acknowledge him. He firmly grabbed hold of me by my shoulders, not stopping me, but walking briskly with me until he made sure I knew exactly who he was. His name is Depression. Loneliness came screeching and inevitably took me down, I fought a good fight and won. Once I allowed myself to feel the pain of spending another Christmas alone, it was over in a snap. You know that feeling of being taken down by a strong tide that caught you just slightly off guard enough for you to have to actually use your strength to stay planted? Well, it was a little more overwhelming than that for just a moment. I couldn’t breathe and tears stung my eyes worse than saltwater. I almost felt helpless but right then is when I felt the hand of God and was reminded that we have to go through to get to our true blessing. I was thinking about how not only would me and my young son be alone Christmas Eve, but also all day on Christmas because of his sickness. Then I remembered the child whose birth we were celebrating; that He came so that I might have life, and this battle was His, not mine at all. Next Spring we celebrate why we all have Victory: because he overcame death and everything that is a symptom of it.
So after watching everything J has wanted to watch on DVD and VHS TWICE, I’m still focused on the real reason for the season and no matter my circumstances, it is a very Merry Christmas!
He’s in the other room playing the Wii I couldn’t afford for the last two years. I can afford it now because of Matthew 6:33.
Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Soaring With Broken Wings
It’s possible to thrive during adversity when you operate with a Kingdom Agenda.
My son has been running a fever off and on since last night of over 102. I gave him the last of the fever reducing medication this morning when his temp had risen to 102.8, then I ran out on my bike to buy juice, fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken broth and more medicine…then realized that tomorrow is Christmas and with my baby sick, we won’t be going out. So now I needed to get more groceries, not carefully calculating how much I was going to have to carry on my bike. I needed this food so that I could feed myself and my son for the next few days without having to leave him by himself again in case he wasn’t feeling better. (I could be charged with child neglect for this, but this is one of those things single parents sometimes have to do. I have no family in CA, and all my friends were doing their own thing preparing for the holidays, or sleep as it was.) I think I ended up with eleven or twelve bags in addition to the two gallons of water in my backpack. I had no time to complain. Not about the friend who saw me on my way that didn’t offer for me to turn around and take my bike home so he could give me a ride; not about the few neighbors who saw me leave on my bike and didn’t offer me a ride, including the two who I ended up seeing leaving the same store when I was with my cart full of groceries trying to figure out how I was going to get them home, AND that drive large enough SUVs to have carried me, my bike and my groceries; we spoke cheerfully and merrily went on our way to our homes, and ten minutes later I saw their SUVs parked outside on my way to my apt. I don’t have time nor will I muster any energy to complain.
When I got in the house, my son had finished watching the Lion King which he put on as I was leaving, was now watching Lion King 2, and his Bible was next to him. He’d gotten concerned about how long I was gone and also a little sad because if he wasn’t sick he either could have gone with me, or I wouldn’t have had to be gone so long getting so much food because we’d be going to his friend’s Grandma’s for Christmas dinner AND bringing home leftovers. My baby didn’t cry, he didn’t set the house on fire, he didn’t go outside with his friends for company, he pulled out his Bible and began to read it and pray for God’s healing. Right now we don’t have a lot of things that many people take for granted. We already lived for about 3 years using the freezer part of my refrigerator as the refrigerator, but ended up getting one almost brand new with an ice-maker for $200 within two weeks of praying w/the Pastor of the church to which I now belong. I got my first real bed after five years without one: a king sized, leather head/foot-board w/matching floor to ceiling leather-framed mirror, for free. I’m able to afford living without a roommate for the first time in four years. Again, we don’t have a lot of things, but trouble doesn’t last always, and while I’m going through my challenges, I’m soaring with broken wings.
Last year, today I lost my best friend in this world to cancer and other complications. This year I smile for her, her children and surviving family members, Charlie Murphy and his children, Brittany Murphy’s loved ones… This year, I just smile. Merry Christmas to everyone!
My son has been running a fever off and on since last night of over 102. I gave him the last of the fever reducing medication this morning when his temp had risen to 102.8, then I ran out on my bike to buy juice, fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken broth and more medicine…then realized that tomorrow is Christmas and with my baby sick, we won’t be going out. So now I needed to get more groceries, not carefully calculating how much I was going to have to carry on my bike. I needed this food so that I could feed myself and my son for the next few days without having to leave him by himself again in case he wasn’t feeling better. (I could be charged with child neglect for this, but this is one of those things single parents sometimes have to do. I have no family in CA, and all my friends were doing their own thing preparing for the holidays, or sleep as it was.) I think I ended up with eleven or twelve bags in addition to the two gallons of water in my backpack. I had no time to complain. Not about the friend who saw me on my way that didn’t offer for me to turn around and take my bike home so he could give me a ride; not about the few neighbors who saw me leave on my bike and didn’t offer me a ride, including the two who I ended up seeing leaving the same store when I was with my cart full of groceries trying to figure out how I was going to get them home, AND that drive large enough SUVs to have carried me, my bike and my groceries; we spoke cheerfully and merrily went on our way to our homes, and ten minutes later I saw their SUVs parked outside on my way to my apt. I don’t have time nor will I muster any energy to complain.
When I got in the house, my son had finished watching the Lion King which he put on as I was leaving, was now watching Lion King 2, and his Bible was next to him. He’d gotten concerned about how long I was gone and also a little sad because if he wasn’t sick he either could have gone with me, or I wouldn’t have had to be gone so long getting so much food because we’d be going to his friend’s Grandma’s for Christmas dinner AND bringing home leftovers. My baby didn’t cry, he didn’t set the house on fire, he didn’t go outside with his friends for company, he pulled out his Bible and began to read it and pray for God’s healing. Right now we don’t have a lot of things that many people take for granted. We already lived for about 3 years using the freezer part of my refrigerator as the refrigerator, but ended up getting one almost brand new with an ice-maker for $200 within two weeks of praying w/the Pastor of the church to which I now belong. I got my first real bed after five years without one: a king sized, leather head/foot-board w/matching floor to ceiling leather-framed mirror, for free. I’m able to afford living without a roommate for the first time in four years. Again, we don’t have a lot of things, but trouble doesn’t last always, and while I’m going through my challenges, I’m soaring with broken wings.
Last year, today I lost my best friend in this world to cancer and other complications. This year I smile for her, her children and surviving family members, Charlie Murphy and his children, Brittany Murphy’s loved ones… This year, I just smile. Merry Christmas to everyone!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Is it any of your business?
A lot of people who say they hate people in their business, have a lot to hide. And then there are those people who should go hide, but they do something private or shameful in public, and when they get unwanted publicity they say, "respect my privacy" regarding what’s happened publicly.
It’s unfortunate but true; we must learn to graciously deal with the bad that comes with the good. Anyways...aside from the that, I want to share other blogs from the past few days:
12/21/09 So I’ve been sharing real television with my 8 yr old: “Sanford and Son”, Good Times, “The Jeffersons”…and we’re working our way towards “What’s Happening”. As I’ve done some stand-up, he’s obviously a “Martin” fan. Thanks to subscription TV he knows about “The Cosby Show”, “A Different World”, “Living Single”…but back to the old shows. Where are the writers of quality, Black television? We still make our mark in animation for the old and young, but can I get some good, uplifting, live-action, situational-comedic entertainment? Of course as I’m writing this blog I’m simultaneously thinking of episodes for my own…reality-style sitcom because it doesn’t look like anyone any longer, willingly suspends any disbelief. What happened to people wanting to get away from problems altogether, and laugh? Why have we become so excessively voyeuristic? I believe we only want more of what we’re given, so if we were given back more of less reality we’d be pleased with it.
America is so full of trend followers instead of trend setters.
12/22/09 However, there is one trend that I and my son humbly follow. It is Christmas time and I’m proud to be a true believer and servant of God through now also living a life following the example of Christ Jesus: the one, true Messiah according to the Bible, God’s inspired word. Not at all being judgmental…I can’t say it’s the life I’ve always lived, but maturity and the desire for my walk to match my talk, I now match my actions to my beliefs. I don’t just live by faith, but I also live according to my faith.
MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HATE AND USE ME!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY 2010!
...now I'm going to mind my business...or somebody's. Be sure to holler at me on Facebook & Twitter...and one day I'll revisit my MySpace, too.
It’s unfortunate but true; we must learn to graciously deal with the bad that comes with the good. Anyways...aside from the that, I want to share other blogs from the past few days:
12/21/09 So I’ve been sharing real television with my 8 yr old: “Sanford and Son”, Good Times, “The Jeffersons”…and we’re working our way towards “What’s Happening”. As I’ve done some stand-up, he’s obviously a “Martin” fan. Thanks to subscription TV he knows about “The Cosby Show”, “A Different World”, “Living Single”…but back to the old shows. Where are the writers of quality, Black television? We still make our mark in animation for the old and young, but can I get some good, uplifting, live-action, situational-comedic entertainment? Of course as I’m writing this blog I’m simultaneously thinking of episodes for my own…reality-style sitcom because it doesn’t look like anyone any longer, willingly suspends any disbelief. What happened to people wanting to get away from problems altogether, and laugh? Why have we become so excessively voyeuristic? I believe we only want more of what we’re given, so if we were given back more of less reality we’d be pleased with it.
America is so full of trend followers instead of trend setters.
12/22/09 However, there is one trend that I and my son humbly follow. It is Christmas time and I’m proud to be a true believer and servant of God through now also living a life following the example of Christ Jesus: the one, true Messiah according to the Bible, God’s inspired word. Not at all being judgmental…I can’t say it’s the life I’ve always lived, but maturity and the desire for my walk to match my talk, I now match my actions to my beliefs. I don’t just live by faith, but I also live according to my faith.
MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HATE AND USE ME!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY 2010!
...now I'm going to mind my business...or somebody's. Be sure to holler at me on Facebook & Twitter...and one day I'll revisit my MySpace, too.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Believe: It's Christmas!
Dear Santa,
No...Dear God, from whom all blessings flow:
It's Christmas time and more people than I can ever recall have little to no faith in You. Out of the many that do claim to believe in and know You, so many of them refuse (by ignorance) to acknowledge that they should be living differently than they do. Many of them educated or trained in something, diligently study texts and manuals, and follow procedures to become more skilled at something for higher pay or promotion, yet they don't believe in Your inspired Word to be better at and get ahead in life.
I, too, was once of little faith, claiming, no - PROFESSING to believe in You, yet not believing enough to stand on Your promise of abundant life. Now here we are on this day in our Lord and Savior, Christ. So many of little understanding wonder how we can believe the last 2008 years are the only years of creation and fail to realize that's not the case at all. We ALL do, however, keep track of the days using this calendar, simply because these days of Christ are the times that truly matter, whether we believe in Him or not.
Thank You, God, for liberation & choice. I choose to serve YOU!
Amen
No...Dear God, from whom all blessings flow:
It's Christmas time and more people than I can ever recall have little to no faith in You. Out of the many that do claim to believe in and know You, so many of them refuse (by ignorance) to acknowledge that they should be living differently than they do. Many of them educated or trained in something, diligently study texts and manuals, and follow procedures to become more skilled at something for higher pay or promotion, yet they don't believe in Your inspired Word to be better at and get ahead in life.
I, too, was once of little faith, claiming, no - PROFESSING to believe in You, yet not believing enough to stand on Your promise of abundant life. Now here we are on this day in our Lord and Savior, Christ. So many of little understanding wonder how we can believe the last 2008 years are the only years of creation and fail to realize that's not the case at all. We ALL do, however, keep track of the days using this calendar, simply because these days of Christ are the times that truly matter, whether we believe in Him or not.
Thank You, God, for liberation & choice. I choose to serve YOU!
Amen
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