Misplaced Fear

James Holmes calls himself "The Joker" from the Batman movies. In the spring of 2010 James graduated with  honors from the University of California with a neuroscience degree. Last year he enrolled but later dropped out before obtaining his Doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Colorado-Denver.

 HE IS THE COLORADO MOVIE THEATER KILLER !!!

Locally, there is a mailman who has a bulletproof vest because he's afraid to walk in certain alleys because of  the "crackheads & drunks."

Locally, there is another  mailman who will not deliver approximately 15 blocks off of his route because he witnessed a shooting, so he switches the territory with someone else.

The residents of Aurora,Colorado lives will never be the same. Family and friends planned on being in the first group of fans to view "The Dark Knight Rises" but because of a demonic act of one person they are dealing with this senseless act of violence and will have to cope with this throughout their lives.

All of this is to say ..... Bullets have no racial preference. Bullets do not discriminate against age/sex/religion. Bullets do not prefer certain zip codes over others. Bullets have no sense of time/day. Bullets do not have a mind of their own. Bullets do not kill people.

On the other hand ..... Regardless of age,sex,religion,color and location; People have a mind of their own and some choose to shoot/kill people regardless of their age,sex,religion,color and location.

THINK ABOUT IT !!!

The Coolest Great-Uncle Ever !!

When I was younger we ( my sisters & I ) didn't see Uncle Robert or his brothers often,as they lived in New Jersey. When we heard one of our Great-Uncles were vising we just remembered them by their personality not names.... Uncle Al was the quiet one, Uncle Marshall was the mean one and Uncle Robert was the funny one !!!

I will never forget once he came home he had on some Timberlands,a white tee and some gray sweatpants, with one pant leg rolled up like LL Cool J,you couldn't tell him nothing!!! Ever since then I remembered his name and  he became the coolest Great-Uncle ever (just don't tell the others). I loved hearing stories about him driving the city bus in Jersey. Also I remember him and my mom going back and forth talking junk because she would call him ugly and he would adamantly disagree, (saying he was confident is an understatement) !!!

Then I figured out he loved shopping (major cool points) later I realized like everyone else he loved bargain hunting and couldn't pass up a good deal, on a few occasions he even called my mom and asked her to purchase items for him if the stores were sold out in Jersey. Whenever he talked about his children and their accomplishments he would sit back in the seat, fold his legs, place his hands on his stomach and hold is head high with pride as he filled us in on their lives.

Reading his obituary and listening to his Eulogy I realize he was the same friendly, loving, funny, smart, down to earth person everywhere he went and whoever he talked too, he was a friend to all near and far, kin or not. As Dr. John H. Brown reminded us; even though he may have been tired in his body and ready to go home he was continually prepared himself to the end and he never gave up, never quit and never stopped and because of this and many more of his attributes I know he is now and will forever be at peace with our Father.

What a great deal, I pray we will all be able to close when it's our time !!!

.... Remember When ....

I remember calling Muh every time I made it home safely....even though I lived across the street!

She remembers eating bread with butter on it....not toasted!

He remembers Muh bringing him to God!

I remember sitting under the piano quietly during a thunder/lightning storm!

She remembers Muh saying, "Be submissive to your husband"!

He remembers Muh was a woman of few words but when she spoke she used wise words & a kind tongue!

I remember Muh mixing leftover bars of soap together when they became too small to use separately!

She remembers Muh playing the piano & requesting old hymns!

He remembers continually reading scriptures until he pronounced everything correctly!

We all remember her fondness for fish & grits, orange slices and pears from her pear tree!

We all remember her love for God, church & family!

We all remember her laugh, smile and facial expressions!

We all remember the line we waited in to receive a hug from her after church!

We all remember she was blessed & grateful!

It Was The God In Her! ........Now It's the Muh In Us!

I'm Grateful "My Muh" Has Departed

Being grateful she's not suffering doesn't make coping easier it just puts the situation in perspective...

A little over 88 years ago He created Mary Louise Ashburn and 1 day ago He decided to abolish the flesh  and bones of Mary Louise Galloway. While Muh (as she was called by everyone that was graced with her presence) is physically gone she remains here through us, her family, friends and loved ones. 

I've never heard anything negative about my grandmother nor have I ever heard her speak unkind of anyone. Although her children and some grandchildren will tell you she showed no mercy when it came to discipline, they appreciated it because they knew it was out of love.We all spoiled Muh because Muh spoiled us all.  We have stories to last a lifetime and memories to match, physical characteristics and mannerisms that scream "Galloway" wherever we choose to roam. This is where the G-way clan  started but definitely not where it ends. 

Her favorite word and inspiration for one of my tattoos "Grateful", that was the answer you heard  when you asked "how she was doing"..... Everybody is thankful through the good times but it takes a special person to be grateful during troubled times....... I'm thankful she was apart of my life & I'm grateful she is now and forever more at peace... with her man ( as Della says)

Random but this has made me want a family of my own :/

Who's Killing Who?

We as African Americans say, "They keep killing our young black men" or "we need to stop black on black violence." Have you ever thought that we are killing ourselves?  ........ Stereotyping always has and will always be wrong but when you portray yourself as certain things, one can't help but to categorize you into a group with similar qualities. Let me explain.......

Face to-face communication is 50 % body language, 40% tone of voice and 10% words.
If you speak with threatening words chances are you will be perceived as a threat. If you use an intimidating tone chances are you will intimidate people. When your body language is aggressive chances are you will be seen as combative.

So if you're claiming you own a block ( like mobsters use to), wear your pants sagging (like inmates), throw gang signs (like gang members), disrespect any and everybody (like delinquents) and brag about your illegal activities (like some criminals) you should expect to get treated as such.

Those (normally false) portrayals that (some) of our young men love to make, kill their chances of survival, advancement and a fair shot at life ~ so again I ask who's killing who?

Divided We Are Falling

How can we as black people come together when we separate ourselves...... by the shades of our skin (red bone/high yellow/sexy chocolate) and we discriminate against the opposite sex (if they are too light/too dark for our preference) not too mention the stereotypes we make up ( light skinned females are stuck-up) & sayings (the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice) we just down each other to make ourselves feel better.

Not to mention: the good/nappy hair, acting white/ghetto, paper bag test just to name a few !!!

Personally I think it all happened during slavery when our ancestors were either inside/outside workers. Obviously working outside they were darker and stronger whereas working on the inside they were lighter and had access to more information. Instead of uniting and using their physical and intellectual strengths to overcome, they let it become a separation barrier.

United we stand~ Divided we fall........United we have never stood so divided we are falling......

Divide & Conquer.........We divide ourselves which makes it easy for anyone to conquer.

Thank You

Thank you for allowing us another day ~ Thanks for the pain and the hugs that take it away ~ Thanks for providing us with senses ~ So we can indulge in Earth and all her inches ~ Thanks for those who enter our existence ~ Even those with a worrisome persistence ~ Thanks for allowing us to be us ~ Even though we argue, cuss and fuss ~ Thanks for your everlasting love ~ One day we'll be above, with our heavenly Father ~ Even though things seem to get harder ~ Thank you daily for helping us through ~ While we struggle but try to be just like you ~ You are great in all that you do ~ Hallelujah, praise God we love you~ .....Forever in your debt.....

Bobby Bobby Bobby..... Brown, that is

Many people were upset when Bobby Brown almost caused a scene at the funeral of Whitney Houston, as he left early. Even more people were outraged when he attempted to sell a "Tell-All" book soon after her death.

A few people don't blame Bobby Brown for his erratic behavior because he was diagnosed with ADHD and being bipolar. So they excuse him from his legal problems, substance abuse, violent attitude, drunken driving issues and parenting problems.

There's no doubt that Bobby Brown is rude, disrespectful and has even been aggressive at times. However, he is real. What you see is what you get. He's never professed to be anything other than what he is.

Personally, I prefer his antics any day over the many people who have to keep reminding us and themselves that; they are allergic to fake people, only deal with real, don't play games, don't deal with lames, are one of the realest you will ever meet, on their grown man/woman status, that real recognizes real, they keep it 100 and the list goes on & on. At least with Bobby Brown there are no surprises & I know what I'm getting into instead of being told one thing but showed another.

~ Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. Abraham Lincoln ~ REAL TALK ~

Haters Everywhere I Go !!!

Lately I've noticed many people boasting & bragging about their haters hating....... But how do you know you have haters anyway? Is it because somebody doesn't like your style? Or you think you saw them roll their eyes at you? Or he said that she said they were talking about you? Have you ever thought that maybe just maybe they don't like you, your attitude, character, morals or the company you keep? Let's keep in mind that you must first have something/someone of value that they are unable to obtain in order for them to hate.

Personally I like to think I don't have haters... just people that don't know me or either don't understand me. If I do have haters, I'm unaware because I'm entirely too busy doing me, which is a full time job so it leaves me no time whatsoever to hate on others. More importantly what God has for me is for me & the same goes for you!!!

So hating on someone implies that you're ungrateful for what God has blessed you with. If after prayer & hard work you can't get what you want, remember everything isn't for everybody; so don't be your own blessing-blocker by "hating". There maybe something better in store for you.
 ~ Patience is a Virtue ~

Changing Faces

How can you vouch for someone else when you can't even vouch for yourself? How can you know someone if you don't even know yourself? It doesn't matter how long you've known someone; people change. It doesn't matter how well you know their character; things change.

You don't get paid for adding your 2¢ so please don't. If your word is your bond you are not only lying but you my friend are a liar when saying phrases like: "I know they didn't do it", "They would never do this", "They couldn't do this"....... How much do you really know if you weren't there?

People show you what they want you to see & tell you what they want you to know. Every time someone commits a crime against another, there is always a group of people proclaiming innocence on behalf of their loved one before the facts even come out. My advice shut your ignorant asses up. ~ That Is All Please & Thank You ~

Fact: She Lost Her Only Child

Fact: she lost her only child, at a time like this the proper thing to do is provide encouraging words, offer condolences, share memories and pray. It's disgusting and offensive when we profess how bad we're hurting, how we are in disbelief, the tears we've cried and how we just seen the child the other day because the fact is she (not us) lost her only child.

We can't even begin to actually understand her pain, even if we've lost our only child, because the fact is she (not us) lost her only child. The emotions, thoughts, and feelings we have pale in comparison with hers because the fact is she lost her only child. So for once let’s take ourselves and our feelings out of the equation and remember some things are better said/done privately (inbox messages, phone calls, text messages, emails, in person, etc.)

No need for speculations we weren’t there and it doesn't matter right now because we do know the fact that she (not us) lost her only child & she (not us) will be dealing with this from this day until her last day on this earth.

Obese Love

My Facebook friend Chris Lc Bryant types:  got a topic for ya....... whose less likely to attract the opposite gender.......an obese man or an obese woman............

Personally I think an obese woman would be more attractive to a male then an obese man to women. Many men are more forgiving when it comes to looks (if she has a nice personality or is level headed and low drama she doesn't have to be cute) and aren't as judgmental (guys say stuff like "she’s cute for a big girl", "She cute in the face" & "I know she can cook")

Lots of females are shallow; a guy can be ugly as long as he has money, he can be chunky if he has style, he can mistreat her if his sex game is up to par But I feel like if he is obese she will use him, not claim him, make fun of him and lead him on with no sex of course.

~ Men look internal first, while women see external~ This reminds of the movie Shallow Hal !!!

It Takes One To Know One

If we constantly complain that our friends are fake hoes ~ Chances are we have fake hoe tendencies. If we always proclaim our friends are two-faced bitches ~ Chances are we are a two-faced bitch as well. If we say our ex is trifling ~ Chances are we were trifling when we were with them....... "Birds of a feather flock together" ........ While the people we choose to hang out with don't define who we are, it still says a lot about us..... Even if we stand out as an individual by not following when they do things we don't agree with, it doesn't matter because we are guilty by association. If you allow your friend to get played essentially you are playing yourself with betrayal  .......Instead of always pointing out everybody else's flaws take the time to self reflect on your shortcomings. Rather than talking about them, help them by suggesting other options or outlooks on issues they may be having.

~ Work it out OR walk away ~

See, look & hear , listen

What you see is what you get until you look deeper. When we see something/someone for the first time we develop a first impression and have a prejudice againt that person (which is usually wrong and based on our previous experiences against other people/objects  we have come in contact with), that is until we take the time to look deeper & get to know them for who they really are or the person they want us to see....... I can't count the number of times people thought I was the polar opposite of what I really was , just because of my skin tone, style, occupation or perceived attitude and vice versa.

What you hear is what you heard until you listen.
When we hear words we take them for what we are taught they mean but when we listen ~ we listen for inflections in speech, different tones, we listen to the context and take into consideration what they are really saying because sometimes we have to read between the lines. Thats why when someone is talking we should listen instead of thinking of what we are going to say next.

After all communication is 10% words, 40% tone of voice and 50% body language.

But actions speak louder than words anyway ~ so do what you say & say what you mean to avoid confusion.

We can make it !!!

So because Mariah Carey married Nick Cannon you think there's hope.... but then Jada Pinkett is separated from Will Smith  so the hope no longer exists !?! Truth is 99% of us will never reach their status of fame & fortune. So why even depend on their life as the status quo? We live in reality not fantasy..... Reality: Our grandparents, parents,aunts and uncles who relationships have weathered the storm of infidelities, gossip, money problems, criminal activities, children issues, jail time, military time and any other losses & gains that mother nature pours down. While they may not be together this day and it may have taken a while many have a cordial relationship, wish each other the best and  may even help each other out from time to time. Not to mention they  and not the court decide the fate of their assets and children.

 Fantasy:  Normally lasts a few years & often ends with dirty habits being revealed, scandalous secrets being told, and bitter words being exchanged, not to mention manipulating the system by not paying bills or hiding property to gain financial control over the other.... Reality like love lasts a lifetime.... Fantasy like money can run out any time.

And we say "I don't know anybody that's happily married". You, yes you are a beautifully unique individualistic made creature. You weren't meant to be like anybody else. You are 1 and in reality you could be the 1 to change the game. However in fantasy you are a follower trying to follow in your idol's footsteps.

 We aren't our parents; yes we have their characteristics and no matter how hard we try, we will always act/think/ look like them. But by no means will we ever be them. Use their mistakes as a lesson you don't have 2 learn the hard way.

Give love ~ Receive love ~ Love love & love will love you back.

Life & Death

The untimely death of Whitney Houston has many people reminiscing about her life as we've known it through her beautiful music,which we've all fell in love with. As I read posts and comments on the Internet or hear conversations in the real world; I feel like we pay more homage to strangers then our loved ones. I mean,when is the last time you've visited a grave site, pulled weeds or taken flowers to the deceased. But here we are googling, you-tubing and anything else in our power to pay homage to our favorite celebrity strangers. While, we should take the time to visit and talk with our loved ones regardless of their age because as we are often reminded death is respectful in a manner because it doesn't discriminate on race, age, gender or education. Let's love our loved ones while we still have love to give. ~ Peace ~