Wow, it's so much going on lately. Death is like sweeping through Hollywood, the music industry; just the world period. This is crazy, but unfortunately something that we were warned about. In this sinful world death is the promise of life. Scary though, but it is what it is.

Last week I found out that one of my favorite authors; E. Lynn Harris died at the age of 54 from a heart attack. Dude was still young! He was extremely talented. He was a homosexual man, and I can remember reading 'Invisible Life' back in high school. Back then I was struggling with my own sexuality, and reading his words and his biography helped me come to grips with myself as a person and what I prefer.

E. Lynn Harris' Bookshelf
I got em' ALL!!!

Invisible Live
Feb. 1994

Just As I Am
Feb. 1995

And This Too Shall Pass
Feb. 1997

If This World Were Mine
June 1998

Abide With Me
May 2000

Not A Day Goes By
May 2001

Any Way The Wind Blows
July 2002

A Love Of My Own
June 2003

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
(A Memoir)
July 2004

I Say A Little Prayer
August 2007

Just Too Good to Be True
July 2008

Basketball Jones
January 2009

He gave so much variety in is publishing's. Although, most surrounded professional athletes on the down low; the plot was always thick and unpredictable. He was one of my idols when it comes to best selling authors. It's no secret that one day I want to have my own works published. Life is getting shorter and shorter. Before I leave this earth, I want my words dancing across the minds of people worldwide.

Rest in peace Mr. Harris

I use this month to mentally prepare myself for my much needed changes in life. I am a creature of routine, and the thought of change alone brings me great adversity. I want to welcome prosperity in my life, but I need to do the work in order to get there. I'm not a lucky kid, things don't just fall in my lap. I'm blessed, but I have to stay on my grind at all times to get what I want. My life is not lavish and full of luxuries brought about by other people. My material enjoyments are purchased with my hard earned money. They don't call me 'Miss. I Got It' for nothing, ya dig? The prosperity seeping through my friends and family are always welcomed with open arms. I'd hate to find out where I'd be without them. However, they can only do so much for me. I have many responsibilities in life that I've put off. I've said "oh, I'll handle them tomorrow." My tomorrow literally never comes.

"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace --but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

- Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

I mentioned Friday that the meeting was held at The Shrine of Black Madonna, and in one of the big meeting rooms there was an African Holocaust Exhibit. We didn't even know that it was there, we just happened to be roaming around, and we heard this music playing. It was soft, sad and sultry. It sort of pulled us into that direction.

**horrible photos, I know. Taken from my Sidekick ;[**

One of the things we spoke about in the meeting was black people and our pride. I mentioned that I feel that black people have pride in the wrong things. We have pride in our rides, our big homes, our flashy jewelry, and all things adding up to great material value, but we seem to have no pride in our history. Part of the reason why we opted to have this meeting and call it The Black Experience, was to get more in touch with our past. Our individual pasts. How did we get to where we are today? Do we truly understand where we came from? Perhaps if we confirmed and understood our past we could develop some real pride to hold on to.

".. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

I wonder what the exact number is of the people who died for freedom. Died for speaking their mind. Died for the safety of their family. Died for the compensation they earned. Died for their last name. Died for the color of their skin. Do you have pride in those who have died for your freedom? I do, because as I strolled through that exhibit I realized just how far we've come, but also how far we still have to go. I couldn't even imagine living back in those times. I couldn't imagine being caged for days on end, because I tried to shield my children from pain. I couldn't imagine being shackled by the feet, neck and hands while red ants were poured at my feet to eat me alive. It was those same men and women who dies these horrible deaths that had pride in something more deep than one could imagine. It were these same men and women who said, "give me liberty, or give me death!"

Needless to say, I'm not the "politics as usual" type of woman due to my religious beliefs, but I am however glad to see history in the making like everyone else it seems like. Although I am a firm believer in God's original plan, I still feel that he was the best candidate for office during this time. He has given the country hope, and this is something that Americans have not had for a long time now. As far as major change and all promises brought forth by Obama, I'm not too sure. If he in fact does not deliver, the hope factor will take people a long way I truly believe. Besides, what's life if you don't have faith in some sort of hope in peace? Pretty dreadful, I must say.

I've came across some butthurt people today, because of the recent election. I have a couple co-workers that were McCain all the way! One guy even went as far as telling one of my co-workers that she only voted for Obama, because her boyfriend was black. Hm, with her being Hispanic, this didn't sit too well with her. She did get very offended, but she wasn't able to defend herself. Of course me being right there in ear shot, advised him that it was ignorant comments like what he stated that got Obama the vote. The hope of change. Unfortunately, he won't be able to change ignorance, but hey one can only HOPE right?

I've had some ignorant things being stated by my own people as well today. People who were acting a fool before the election making this the opprotunity to truly act a fool with "Presidential permission." *Sigh* My people stating that the refuse to work for the rest of the week, because their President is black. So since Obama won, this is how you feel...

Half of the peole weren't doing shit before Obama even thought about running for President. My ex told me one of her friends stated now that Obama was in office she could say anything she wanted to say. If I'm not mistaken, freedom of speech has been around for quite some time. I mean I could be wrong. You tell me. Bottom line, I am happy about the new edition to our black history, but as usual, some people are taking things way too far. I have a strong feeling that it will only get worse. However at this moment, the hope for change is in front of our faces, so now what?

Ya'll check out her blogs. If you want it raw, heartfelt, humorous and downright honest; peep this little lady here. UrbaneKisses (click the link). Tell her I sent you!

"The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes, in seeing the universe with the eyes of another, of hundreds of others, in seeing the hundreds of universes that each of them sees."

- Marcel Proust

I've voiced many times on how much of a people person I am NOT, but how I love the study of people. I find humans to be very interesting, because there are so many different characters, personalities, and cultures out there to explore. Each person has their own perspective on life and things in life. That is intriguing within itself. Take the blog world for instance; I will sit and read so many blogs throughout my day and some of them happen to be on the same topics, but the opinions and perspectives are different. Each person may learn a different lesson with the same situation. That peaks my interest.

When I see art; I sit and I think about how I view it and what that particular piece brings forth out of me, but also what others may be seeing when they look at it. This goes with poetry, and music as well. The human brain is amazing and it is so powerful. Sometimes I look at newborn babies and I wonder what their personality will be like. What will they believe in? I wonder what their first thoughts were when they opened their eyes in this big scary world. Unfortunately my memory does not go back that far, loll.

It would be so dull to just look at things from one perspective. Explore. Looking at things from how other's may look at them has helped me to become more understanding and has helped me to be more patient. This voyage of discovery has been great thus far. There are so many more things in my life that will be introduced to me and so many people whose perception I will borrow to help me understand them. Something I surely look forward to.