Journeys of the New Decade

It's Been A Long Time...

2009-11-17T22:02:00.002-05:00

...and it might be a little longer. I haven't been interested in blogging, so I'll continue my hiatus for now...

eww wee eww wee eww...wah wah wah...

Old School Friday--Cuddle Time!

2009-09-04T00:55:00.004-04:00

Long time so talk to! I haven't felt like posting lately, so I didn't! Now on to the music....

This song reminds me of my first boyfriend...staying on the phone all night, saying,

"You sleep?"

"zzz....Huh? No, I'm not sleep. I mean, I'm sleepy, but I'm not sleep...zzz"

LOL! Good times!

Happy Old School Friday!

Anyone can join in on the OSF fun. Check out the rules here and peep other participants below.

AJ - BklynQueen’86 - Bria - Chocl8t -Cooper-Shawn-Danielle Vyas - Dee - DP - Fresh and Fab- Hagar’s Daughters -Invisible Woman -John -Keith - Kevin - Kim-Kymberly - LaKeisha -Lisa C- Mahogany - Malcolm -Marcus-Martin-MarvalusOne - Mike - Mrs. Grapevine-MsLadyDeborah - Pjazzypar- Pop Art Diva -PPR_Scribe-Quick - Regina - Revvy Rev-Shae-Shae - Sharon -SJP - Staci-Tami - Tha Connoisseur - Thembi - Vérité Parlant-Villager-Vivrant Thang - Wheneva Whateva -Zenobia -

Old School Friday--My Theme Song

2009-07-24T09:34:00.004-04:00

Man! This has to be older than 1993? Hmm....This one is hard! And I can't come up with one. The song that I'm thinking of is kind of tongue-in-cheek, but I love it!

Happy Old School (not really) Friday!

Anyone can join in on the OSF fun. Check out the rules here and peep other participants below.

AJ - BklynQueen’86 - Bria - Chocl8t - Cooper-Shawn-Danielle Vyas - Dee - DP - Fresh and Fab- Hagar’s Daughters -Invisible Woman - John -Keith - Kevin - Kim-Kymberly - LaKeisha - Lisa C- Mahogany - Malcolm -Marcus- Martin-MarvalusOne - Mike - Mrs. Grapevine-MsLadyDeborah - Pjazzypar- Pop Art Diva -PPR_Scribe-Quick - Regina - Revvy Rev -Shae-Shae - Sharon -SJP - Staci-Tami - Tha Connoisseur - Thembi - Vérité Parlant-Villager-Vivrant Thang - Wheneva Whateva -Zenobia -

16 and Pregnant--Social Commentary or Precautionary Tale?

2009-07-19T18:45:00.005-04:00

I watch a lot of TV (hard to believe, huh?) and I love reality shows. From the Real World in New York to Survivor, this genre exploded into a huge industry that threatens the very fiber of television as we know it. Give a group of people who wouldn't normally interact a topic and an opportunity and watch what happens....makes for pretty good TV in general.

Then producers (mainly MTV, where these pictures come from) thought it would be fun to expose the lives of teenagers.

From Made (I suck as an individual, but I want to be the popular kid/prom queen/cheerleader/football star/skateboarder/ladies' man) to

True Life (I'm the Black SHeep/I Have Tourette's/I'm Broke/I'm Jealous) and

my favorite, Parental Control (My gf/bf is incredibly disrespectful to me and my parents think that I need another woman/man;

[Sidebar: If my boyfriend ever talked to my parents like some of these kids do, he would be a memory, right after my dad kicked his ass. End sidebar.]

these teen-themed shows are an interesting look into how different their lives are compared to mine 10-15 years ago. Then I look up and what do I see?

This show is about several young girls who share something in common (obviously): They're 16 years old and they're pregnant. The show doesn't focus on girls from any particular background or socioeconomic status. There's the small-town girl who didn't have anything else to do; the cheerleader whose boyfriend left after he found out; the girl who dreamed of going to the military; the girl whose mom was also pregnant; and my favorite, the girl whose mom was married to her boyfriend's dad (it was after the boy and girl started dating, but still), among other girls.

I was concerned about what this show was saying to young ladies. Is this telling young women that it's okay to be knocked up and you can make it through, or is it telling them that a baby is not a joke and that they should reconsider getting pregnant when they can't take care of themselves? The other interesting thing was the parents/guardians for these kids. One parent nitpicked at her princess about everything, including dismissing her concerns about the delivery. Another didn't want her child to give the baby up for adoption (she and the father did anyway). This girl was the only one who chose this option, although one other girl thought about it, but decided against it.

All in all, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I admit, it's by the grace of God that I wasn't one of them. I talk to the young people in my life and remind them that it change your life! I will be watching the last show of the season, where the girls come back and discuss their feelings about their episodes and about how motherhood is now that the baby is here. More to come....

What do you think?

Old School Friday--The Divas

2009-07-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

This might seem rushed....and well, it is. My folks are in town and I am doing this one right quick. I should really find a schedule for blogging, but until then....

The Divas!

Miss Say My Name (Patti, Patti!)...she can even sing the A B Cs with soul! Take notes, new "divas"...

And where Diva originates...opera! Our Diva...Jessye Norman.

Have a good OSF!

Anyone can join in on the OSF fun. Check out the rules here and peep other participants below. HAPPY Old School Friday!

AJ - BklynQueen’86 - Bria - Chocl8t - Cooper -Shawn-Danielle Vyas - Dee - DP - Fresh and Fab - Hagar’s Daughters -Invisible Woman - John - Keith - Kevin - Kim-Kymberly - LaKeisha - Lisa C - Mahogany - Malcolm -Marcus- Martin -MarvalusOne - Mike - Mrs. Grapevine-MsLadyDeborah - Pjazzypar- Pop Art Diva -PPR_Scribe-Quick - Regina - Revvy Rev - Shae-Shae - Sharon -SJP - Staci-Tami - Tha Connoisseur - Thembi - Vérité Parlant -Villager-Vivrant Thang - Wheneva Whateva - Zenobia -

Old School Friday--Here Comes the Bride

2009-07-10T21:57:00.003-04:00

I'M BACK! Sorry for the lapse in posts. I really should post more often since this blog is new, and I'm trying to keep up. I have at least two coming up in the next week. Stay tuned! Now, on to OSF!

These aren't necessarily songs I want at my own wedding, but are the first two songs that popped into my head when I saw the OSF subject.

Case's Happily Ever After was one of the first wedding themed songs I can remember someone around my age singing. I love the video, with its elaborate scheme for Case to propose to (a very young) Beyonce'.

Case Feat. Beyonce - Happily Ever After
Uploaded by Innocence-1992. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Jagged Edge sang about how many couples came to the decision to get married. No big romantic proposal, but a comfort and ease with each other that should be made official. I know, I know, some women were "This is a lame way to ask me to marry you!", but I look at it as the couple knows each other so well that they just kind of have a talk and decide to get married. The remix has Rev. Run in it. Love it!

Happy OSF everybody! Check out everybody else......

Anyone can join in on the OSF fun. Check out the rules here and peep other participants below. HAPPY Old School Friday!

AJ - BklynQueen’86 - Bria - Chocl8t - Cooper - Shawn-Danielle Vyas - Dee - DP - Fresh and Fab - Hagar’s Daughters -Invisible Woman - John - Keith - Kevin - Kim -Kymberly - LaKeisha - Lisa C - Mahogany - Malcolm - Marcus- Martin -MarvalusOne - Mike - Mrs. Grapevine -MsLadyDeborah - Pjazzypar- Pop Art Diva -PPR_Scribe -Quick - Regina - Revvy Rev - Shae-Shae - Sharon -SJP - Staci -Tami - Tha Connoisseur - Thembi - Vérité Parlant -Villager -Vivrant Thang - Wheneva Whateva - Zenobia -

Dancing in Heaven---I'll Miss You Michael

2009-06-25T21:29:00.002-04:00

Michael Jackson was the epitome of music....he came from a musical family and he took history by storm. Yeah, he was odd, and yeah he had issues with how he looked and his upbringing, but who doesn't know others like that? His concerts in London were to be a life-changing event. His music was prolific and I will most definitely miss hearing what he had to say.

Rest in Paradise, Michael Joseph Jackson.

Your children and family and friends and fans will remember...

Old School Fridays---Let's Dance!

2009-06-19T15:38:00.002-04:00

Today, I present to you the elements....Earth, Wind, and Fire!

First up...Let's Groove!

Next...Boogie Wonderland!

I love EW&F, I even have a huge box set of their music! You can't help but dance to this!

Happy OSF everybody! Check out everybody else......

Anyone can join in on the OSF fun. Check out the rules here and peep other participants below. HAPPY Old School Friday!

AJ - BklynQueen’86 - Bria - Chocl8t - Cooper - Shawn -Danielle Vyas - Dee - DP - Fresh and Fab - Hagar’s Daughters -Invisible Woman - John - Keith - Kevin - Kim - Kymberly - LaKeisha - Lisa C - Mahogany - Malcolm - Marcus - Martin -MarvalusOne - Mike - Mrs. Grapevine - MsLadyDeborah - Pjazzypar- Pop Art Diva -PPR_Scribe - Quick - Regina - Revvy Rev - Shae-Shae - Sharon -SJP - Staci - Tami - Tha Connoisseur - Thembi - Vérité Parlant -Villager - Vivrant Thang - Wheneva Whateva - Zenobia -

Happy Birthday to the Speaker of a Generation

2009-06-16T20:33:00.003-04:00

I not a huge fan of Tupac Shakur as a celebrity. I liked his movies (even Poetic Justice) and some of his music, but then I am saddened by others.

That said, I think that he was prolific writer and would have been the griot of my generation. His problem, IMHO, was that he felt he had to keep proving that he was a man. He couldn't just make poetry and music that spoke, he had to speak ALL the time!

MTV Shows

His warped image of women could be a post in itself. He spoke of their hardships and how they should Keep Their Heads Up, and he lamented the plight of Brenda (who could be any young girl in America) while writing a letter to his Mama...I loved this Tupac.

Tupac - New Music - More Music Videos

Then there was the 2pac that spoke of sexing Faith just to irk Biggie and the one that showed the machismo during that one interview on the set of California Love (a song that I really like, BTW). He was the one that spoke frankly to women about his desire to Get Around and how he wants to find out How Do You Want It.

There was even the paranoid Tupac that sent up a few Hail Mary's and said the Only God Can Judge Him.

Although he was a huge study in contradiction, I think America misses a voice like his. Rest in Peace, Tupac Amaru Shakur....

OSF--Keep It In the Family

2009-06-12T09:36:00.003-04:00

I'm not completely sure what this topic means, but I'm gonna go with it anyway.

The only family that I know I can find plenty on is.....Kenny Lattimore and Chante' Moore!

(You thought I was gonna say the Jacksons, huh? Well...actually, I was, but I changed my mind)

Kenny Lattimore is a crooning masterpiece!

And Chante' is a songstress that is often overlooked, but has an awesome sound.

And the two of them together....man! You can hear the love in their voices....

Happy OSF Peeps! Go check out everybody else!

Anyone can join in on the OSF fun. Check out the rules here and peep other participants below. HAPPY Old School Friday!

AJ - BklynQueen’86 - Bria - Chocl8t - Cooper - Shawn -Danielle Vyas - Dee - DP - Fresh and Fab - Hagar’s Daughters -Invisible Woman - John - Keith - Kevin - Kim - Kymberly - LaKeisha - Lisa C - Mahogany - Malcolm - Marcus - Martin -MarvalusOne - Mike - Mrs. Grapevine - MsLadyDeborah - Pjazzypar- Pop Art Diva - PPR_Scribe - Quick - Regina - Revvy Rev - Shae-Shae - Sharon -SJP - Staci - Tami - Tha Connoisseur - Thembi - Vérité Parlant -Villager - Vivrant Thang - Wheneva Whateva - Zenobia -

Phone Wars (it's All About Choices)

2009-06-02T22:07:00.007-04:00

Ever since I first got a cell phone my freshman year in college, I have had a fascination with the latest, coolest phone. I actually owned one of these:

I KNOW! I bet no one can even tell me the name of this phone, but it was the first phone with iTunes....yes, the Motorola SLVR!

I have had several phones over the years, but then was faced with a real dilemma once my last phone died. Then, over on the counter, I saw it...it was beautiful and I was without a contract! I looked at it, it looked at me and said "Buy Me! You'll Never Be the Same Without Me!" Even better, the prices on the smartphones had begun to go down....so it was as easy as going around a CURVE...

I had never experienced such freedom...I have a QWERTY keyboard (no more T9 word for me!) I have an innanet! Not the AT&T Media Net (only good for weather and ringtone purchases), the Blackberry Internet Service! I can read the news, and shhh....I can go to MYSPACE!!!!

I know, I would give myself the side-eye too!

Well, after two years, a screen, and a new case...no, not a holster or a cute little bedazzled thing, a case.....don't understand, huh? Well, let's just say that for $20 my phone went from

But alas....my love affair with the Curve had to end...when it died!

*wall slides* ©the ePosse

So after the mourning period, although I did wanna have funeral like Lamont the fish*, I restrained myself long enough to realize that I had a decision to make. No, not pumps or sandals, I had to pick my next phone!

*I'll give a gold star to whoever can tell me who this is

Of course, there were only two options for me:

While the iPhone is sexzy and I could interface with my ~~iPod, I mean my MacBook~~, hell, my everything, I just love the BB! My Bold is substantial, it has apps that iPhone can only dream of (editing Office docs, n-e-one?) and the ability to use mini SD cards (ha! in de face, iPhone, in de Face!) And there was one more thing....it comes highly recommended....

Travel (or the Lack Thereof)

2009-05-23T00:11:00.004-04:00

It's good that no one I know reads this blog, so I can just chat.

I want to travel more this year. I'm single, with no kids, a good job (no, I'm not telling you how much money I make), and three day weekends, so I should be gone every weekend, right? Right?

I see you, I mean me, giving me the side eye, like, so why you ain't gone yet?

I'm glad you asked! I'm indecisive, that's why! Now stop looking at me like that!

I have decided that I'm going to Chicago the first week in July. Fourth of July weekend, the Taste of

Chicago, great shopping, the week after payday...what else do i need to say?

I have family there and I just haven't been in while, especially when it's not a funeral. Chicago is beautiful in the summertime and I can't wait to go!

There are a couple of other places I'm thinking about too. I've never been to Charlotte, NC or Charleston, SC.....

I was born here, Tripler Medical Center in Honolulu:

But my family left six weeks after my birth, so I'd love to go see my birthplace (maybe on my birthday....hmmm, good thought!)

What do you thinks? Any other place would be for a single woman to go alone?

Sabrina

Old School Fridays---This is dedicated to...

2009-05-22T09:30:00.002-04:00

This is a combined OSF/Happy Birthday post. Yesterday was Christopher "Biggie Smalls/Notorious B.I.G." Wallace's birthday. Biggie would have been 36 had he not been murdered in LA on March 9, 1997. I remember Ready to Die (still have the CD that I bought in 1994) and I always thought that he was a confident, brash man with a death wish. I also witnessed the whole Biggie/Pac "battle" that was always a little hard for me to believe. I miss Biggie and wish that he could have had the opportunity to flesh out his musical career.

Without further adeiu..."I'd like to dedicate this one to Voletta Wallace, T'yanna Wallace, and Christopher Wallace, Jr."

People can say what they want about Puff, but he loved Biggie. This one's dedicated to Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace....we miss you!

Old School Fridays---G.O.A.T.

2009-05-15T09:55:00.002-04:00

I figured that I would get involved in this meme. I've seen in on OBW and Vivrant Thang's pages and it looks like fun so...here we go!

Greatest of All Time means that this person has a song on everybody's top 50 list. You can't miss them...

Male Singer: Need I Say More? Although his life was cut short by his daddy, Marvin Gaye is the only man who sing about Ecology and then say Let's Get It On and I not think it's a contradiction.

Female Singer: Tina Turner was the epitome of the woman who has been taken down through there and is still standing. She also has that rough, deep voice that I LUV! And she's a TN girl! Go Anna Mae!

Happy Birthday to Ya!

2009-05-13T20:55:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Steveland "Stevie Wonder" Morris! Stevie's 59 today. Below is one of my favorite songs by him. I know he has some amazing stuff, including all the thought provoking music he made in the 70s. I met him in the electronic age that was the 80s. Happy Birthday to ya Stevie!

India.Aire was talking about me!

2009-05-06T21:03:00.000-04:00

I am involved in a love-hate relationship. I sometimes hate the maintenance that comes with this, and it often means that I am up for long hours, but I don't think I could ever go back to my previous interaction. It's not painful (physically or mentally) and I feel free!

I'm talking about my hair! I let go of the creamy crack almost three years ago, interestingly after letting go of a relationship (that was in my mind) and the day after closing on my house. I've been through color twice, pressing twice, and now my hair is about shoulder-length stretched.

Sounds great, right?

*waits for the cheers, kudos, and pats on the back*

....no? Well, forget you too!

The problem now is that I'm stuck. I don't know what to do with it. I'm trying to decide if I want to cut it some, cut it all (my TWA rocked!) or leave it alone. I'm trying to find the love in the love-hate relationship. My work hours leave me in a weird position about finding time. I often find myself up late twisting it (and I really don't like two-strand twists), but I can't think of anything else to do with it that won't result in damage.

It's amazing, after three years you'd think I know what I was doing...I keep trying to remember that "I am not my hair", but it's hard!

My life, my life, my life, my life!

2009-05-01T23:43:00.000-04:00

I, like many other people out there, am a little concerned about my weight. I'm ~20 pounds overweight, and I don't like how my clothes fit. I've tried to lose weight by changing my eating habits and drinking more water.

Issues with that:

This was a DAMN shame! Even the manager laughed as he put it on the table!

1. Changing my eating habits is easy to say, but hard to do. I can work it for a while (2 months or so), but then I fall off the wagon. I use the "I'm grown, I can do what I want" excuse, but that's not working anymore.

This pic is (c) Randy Son of Robert

2. I think I'm allergic to water...no, really! I have tried over and over again to drink more water. I've kept the bottle with me all the time. I've tried the "drink 4 20 oz bottles" trick. The last time I tried that one, I think I got water poisoning. I used the restroom over and over again, but felt like I was floating. Help!

I also have an aversion to exercise. I don't like it. I find nothing fun about it. It feels like manual labor to me, and I went to college so I wouldn't have to do manual labor.

All of that said, I have to do something. I have to figure out a way to change my thinking on these issues. I know eating less and better and exercising more are the only ways to get back to my fighting weight. I know, I know....just gotta figure out how to convince myself.

Trying this thing out

2009-04-27T21:04:00.000-04:00

I'm new to this blogging thing. I might pull the few entries that I have over in the hood, I mean MySpace, here. Good to meet you all! More later...