<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353</id><updated>2011-09-29T05:39:57.833-04:00</updated><category term='sin'/><category term='Life lessons'/><category term='reading'/><category term='racism'/><category term='Black hair'/><category term='victory'/><category term='Relationships'/><category term='books'/><category term='God'/><category term='Music'/><category term='encouragement'/><category term='community'/><category term='growth'/><category term='government'/><category term='Appreciation'/><category term='fasting'/><category term='Change'/><category term='forgiveness'/><category term='90&apos;s'/><category term='Dark-Skinned Men'/><category term='friendship'/><category term='chains'/><category term='emotions'/><category term='Bertrice Berry'/><category term='Patricia Haley'/><category term='deadbeat dads'/><category term='Sunday'/><category term='redemption'/><category term='internet fighting'/><category term='Ode'/><category term='random thoughts'/><category term='About Me'/><category term='love'/><category term='President Obama'/><category term='R and B'/><title type='text'>From the Mind of Ms. Jones</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>23</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-8285034760641639341</id><published>2011-02-05T13:19:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2011-02-05T13:19:30.207-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fasting'/><title type='text'>My  Daniel Fast Recap</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"&gt;At 12 am this morning I completed my 21 day Daniel Fast *30 second praise break*. For this fast I asked God to endow me with more self-control. For those of you who aren't familiar with it I will explain what it entails. On the fast, which started on the 16th of January, I was not supposed to consume any sweets, carbonized liquid, fried foods, white bread, caffeine, white sugar, junk food, shellfish, or pork. I looked at that list and was confused at what I was supposed to eat instead. Looking back, it really wasn't very hard to find alternate food selections. The first week only consisted of not eating the foods previously listed, the second week however limited our eating to only two meals a day, and the third week limited our eating to only one meal a day (Hay&lt;span style="background-color: white;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Dios&lt;span style="background-color: white;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Mio!).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #8e7cc3; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Fasting Tip&lt;/u&gt;: Go into with a couple of friends so that you can have accountability partners.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"&gt;The first week was interesting to say the least. I love sweets so that is where my struggle came in. We were instructed to read through the entire book of Acts, and I have to say that I fell in love with the book. I turned off my TV and limited my time on facebook, twitter, etc. The extra time spent in The Word and talking to God in the first week set the foundation for the rest of the fast. Adding my own personal touches on the fast I decided that I would spend limited time around my friends so that I could be focused. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #8e7cc3; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Fasting Tip:&lt;/u&gt; Start slow and gradually work up to a more advanced fast. If you're just starting out and set the bar too high, you will only be disappointed.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"&gt;Week two came before I knew it and I definitely felt the absence of&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;the third meal. My self-control was tested and then some! We were allowed to eat snacks but for the most part I tried to stick to just the two meals. In this week we were instructed to read through the books of Ephesians and Galatians. These books were the perfect substitute for TV and the internet Once, again I found myself loving these books. The 13 Letters are AMAZING! Paul is my Hero (umm after Jesus, David, Solomon, Jacob/Isreal, and Bathsheba). &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #8e7cc3; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Fasting Tip:&lt;/u&gt; It's okay to look at how others fast for a reference ONLY. You have to do what is right for you.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #351c75;"&gt;Week three rolled around and I felt that I was prepared to drop my meals down to one. I decided that I would eat at 4:30 every day because it would keep me full for the rest of the night. In this week the substitute for TV, the internet, and two meals were the books Philippians and Colossians. Philippians (2:2-11 to be specific) is my absolute favorite book of the Bible so I was all too happy to read it in its entirety. If my self-control was not tested anywhere else it was during this week. I stayed buried in The Word and in constant conversation with God so I would not always be thinking about food (if you didn't know, I LOVE FOOD so your girl was going through!)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #351c75;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;u&gt;&lt;i&gt;Fasting  Tip:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;i&gt; Give it your all!&amp;nbsp; Even if you're giving up TV or  facebook instead of food&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #8e7cc3;"&gt;, &lt;i&gt;be dedicated&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #351c75;"&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #351c75;"&gt;My main fear during the fast was that I would not be able to control my hunger and cheat. I am proud to say that I did not cheat once during this fast. I realized that I am stronger than I thought I was. "&lt;i&gt;Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord"&lt;/i&gt; -- &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="redheading" style="color: #351c75;"&gt;2 Corinthians 10:17&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #351c75;"&gt;. Shout out to my Heavenly Father for making this journey worthwhile. That's all for now...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #8e7cc3;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;. &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-8285034760641639341?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/8285034760641639341/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-daniel-fast-recap.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/8285034760641639341'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/8285034760641639341'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-daniel-fast-recap.html' title='My  Daniel Fast Recap'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-7039838479778373348</id><published>2010-11-14T23:31:00.005-05:00</published><updated>2010-11-14T23:49:16.860-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='forgiveness'/><title type='text'>Getting This Off of My Chest</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"&gt;One of my Brothers in Christ pissed me off something terrible today and I completely shut him out and told myself that he didn't exist. I ignored him the whole day and avoided being in the same space as him. I thought I was through with being cold and heartless, &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;apparently &lt;/span&gt;I'm not! I don't like when I get the "I don't care attitude" because I cut everyone and everything off and exist in a world by myself. I created this defense mechanism when my parents got divorced and I didn't want to deal with the pain. I'm not that scared little 12 year old girl anymore who is afraid to face her problems. I refuse to revert back to my old ways. This issue will be handled tomorrow. God I thank You for Your redeeming mercy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"&gt;"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just  between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother  over." Matthew 18:15&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-7039838479778373348?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/7039838479778373348/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/11/getting-this-off-of-my-chest.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7039838479778373348'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7039838479778373348'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/11/getting-this-off-of-my-chest.html' title='Getting This Off of My Chest'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-4572243664064613313</id><published>2010-10-09T08:58:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-09T09:10:23.412-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Life lessons'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='encouragement'/><title type='text'>Girlfriends Conference 2010</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"&gt;For this entire weekend I'm attending a Girlfriends Conference at my church and I'm being truly blessed! I love men just as much as the next woman but it's a joy to be surrounded by your sisters and Christ and be having a good time. Our first lady opened up the conference with an amazing sermon. She preached on why women are so unhappy and a few of the points hit home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 1) Give Me  a Break. We as ladies don't take enough time out for ourselves and then get me mad when we don;t get rest. It's okay to sit down and kick you feet up for a little bit. Your husband, children, boss, friends, etc. will be just fine while you're getting some rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2) Stop Your Stinkin' Thinkin'. We think negatively so we are negative. It's so much easier to be negative then to be positive but we have to fight against nature and gain positivity. We must realize the importance of our thoughts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3) Watch Your Mouth. Since our words become reality so quickly we have to watch what we say. Make your words work for you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;S/N: Even though the message  was aimed at women, fellas feel free to apply these lessos to your life too.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Scriptural reference: Luke 10, John 15, Phil 4:8&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-4572243664064613313?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/4572243664064613313/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/10/girlfriends-conference-2010.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/4572243664064613313'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/4572243664064613313'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/10/girlfriends-conference-2010.html' title='Girlfriends Conference 2010'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-7312098183908054632</id><published>2010-10-02T15:54:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-02T16:20:20.536-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Patricia Haley'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='books'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='reading'/><title type='text'>Stephanie's Book Club</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" &gt;"Chosen &amp;amp; Destined" by Patricia Haley.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); "&gt;As I was strolling through the book heaven named Barnes &amp;amp; Nobles I spotted a book named "Chosen" that had this fine man on the front. Like really fine, here take a look &lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Patricia-Haley/dp/1416580506"&gt;http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Patricia-Haley/dp/1416580506&lt;/a&gt;. I must confess that I do judge books by their covers, I have passed on books that have dull or boring covers. Pardon me, I digress. So anyways, the cover caught my eye initially and then when I read the description of what the book was about I was hooked. Patty (yup I've already nicknamed her) decided to write a book using the biblical story of King David &amp;amp; King Solomon as her base. I don't know about you but I love to read modernized Bible stories! When trying to figure out who the different characters were I found myself reading these books and The Bible (The end of 1st Chronicles &amp;amp; 2 Chronicles ) simultaneously. Patty did an amazing job and I recommend these books 100% to anyone who loves intrigue, mystery, suspense. She gives a fresh outlook to the age-old tale of two of the best Kings in the history of the Bible. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-7312098183908054632?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/7312098183908054632/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/10/stephanies-book-club.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7312098183908054632'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7312098183908054632'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/10/stephanies-book-club.html' title='Stephanie&apos;s Book Club'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-4627413807948443542</id><published>2010-10-02T09:31:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-02T15:44:27.212-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Relationships'/><title type='text'>A Season of Waiting</title><content type='html'>Not settling for less than you deserve is a blessing &amp;amp; a curse. I see all these people in relationships and want that for myself. Then I remember that because I waited for the right one, what I have will last. So I'm in a season of patiently waiting for him from Him. I'm taking this time to perfect myself so that when the moment comes I will be ready. #ahardpilltoswallow&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-4627413807948443542?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/4627413807948443542/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/10/12-not-settling-for-less-than-you.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/4627413807948443542'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/4627413807948443542'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/10/12-not-settling-for-less-than-you.html' title='A Season of Waiting'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-1530238282480532864</id><published>2010-08-18T15:52:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2010-08-18T15:52:43.053-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>There&amp;#39;s so much going on that I have to break my blogging ban...stay tuned for more&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-1530238282480532864?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/1530238282480532864/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/08/there-so-much-going-on-that-i-have-to.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1530238282480532864'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1530238282480532864'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2010/08/there-so-much-going-on-that-i-have-to.html' title=''/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-4759710363815829425</id><published>2009-11-07T12:15:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2009-11-07T12:34:29.948-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Bertrice Berry'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><title type='text'>Love Will Set You Free...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;We have picked up the work, and we do what we can to watch and pray. The patterns seen by the first continue. This time, however, no one has forced us to do this, he greatest blow to all of humanity has been to destroy the truth. Men make children from one bed to the next. These children grow up without the love of that man. The men move through life without learning the power of loving through the eyes of their children. Woman have become strong resilient, unbreakable. In many respects this is good, for who will care for the children if they are too weak to do so? But their hearts have hardened to the peace that surpasses understanding. They go from one man to the next looking for the love that they didn't find in the last. Hardened by the cycle of their life, they turn away from their mother's love, who in their later years find the true meaning of this life. Unable to connect, these women, mothers, and daughters, and sisters, are not able to pass what the learned to one another. Passion rules the day, and love must be held at bay. Even the sweetness of our passion is kept secret because we have now learned shame and hatred over humanity and peace. We can no longer merely watch and record. The chosen ones must stand up and be counted. We must be the light for others to see. We must stand in the gaps. It's time to speak truth to power, to walk in love boldly. Fear no one. Tell of the peace that comes in knowing who we are and whose we are. Love your children. They don't have to come from you to belong to you. Love your parents. They have hurt in ways that you won't because they loved you. Love your mate. Spend as much time and energy keeping them as you did trying to get them. Love yourself and your community, your people. They are one in the same. Above all, love God, your creator, your maker. Love God more than you love his world and the things of this world. They will not last. But love never fails. When you get love, are walking in love, have learned to be loved, teach it to others. The time is now.Are you the one, the chosen? Will you walk with us? Will you stand in the power of love?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt; This passage is taken from Bertrice Berry's "Jim &amp;amp; Louella's Homemade Heart-Fix Remedy" and it touched my soul so deeply I had to put the book down and cry for a minute. Love conquerors all...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-4759710363815829425?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/4759710363815829425/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/11/love-will-set-you-free.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/4759710363815829425'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/4759710363815829425'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/11/love-will-set-you-free.html' title='Love Will Set You Free...'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-1641782218045565102</id><published>2009-11-01T09:42:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2009-11-01T09:51:14.446-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='random thoughts'/><title type='text'>Sunday Randomness</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;*singing* Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me...all of my days&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;Trying to supress the feeling of home sickness creeping up&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;Thinking about actually sticking to my weight-loss New Year's Resolution this year&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;Thanking God for providing me with eternal friends&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;About to watch Waiting to Exhale (one of my favorite movies)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;Day-dreaming about waffles, cheese eggs, and turkey bacon (Oooh Glory!!!)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;Putting my feet on the path of my Purpose &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330099;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-1641782218045565102?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/1641782218045565102/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/11/sunday-randomness.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1641782218045565102'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1641782218045565102'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/11/sunday-randomness.html' title='Sunday Randomness'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-1276521522557433090</id><published>2009-10-27T18:30:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-27T22:29:03.192-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='redemption'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='chains'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sin'/><title type='text'>A Glimpse Inside My Mind...(A Calandra Original)</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;Penned a few lines in class of something that was on my heart. This song explains it best:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrrHJYxDyyA"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrrHJYxDyyA&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;Pornography distorting my mind. Clouding my thoughts. Fogging-up my judgement. My forbidden fruit, my kryptonite,my addiction forever. It perverts my thoughts on sex. What was once pure and ordained for marriage is now sick and twisted. Like Paul when I want to do good I end up doing wrong. Fingers typing without my consent. Thoughts being processed without my permission. Imagination bursting in without first knocking or being invited. "Jesus take this burden"I pray multiple times during the day. The enemy trying to steal my purity, trying to reduce the importance of my virginity. Curses being wrapped around my future because of my past actions. Just one drop of that Atonement blood will release me of my bonds and free me to live in the purpose He has for me. I want a long and blessed marriage. So I must walk the narrow path that many take. I want God's Favor. So I must remain near the Cross. What he meant for evil, God meant for good. His grace allows me too "confess my sins so I can be healed". Well let the healing begin! Jesus lifted the 2-ton weight off of my shoulders so now I can stand up straight.*breathes a heavy sigh of relief* Head held high and feet marching on towards the goal...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-1276521522557433090?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/1276521522557433090/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/glimpse-inside-my-minda-calandra.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1276521522557433090'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1276521522557433090'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/glimpse-inside-my-minda-calandra.html' title='A Glimpse Inside My Mind...(A Calandra Original)'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-8772259494829702616</id><published>2009-10-24T22:23:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-24T23:24:59.719-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='community'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Black hair'/><title type='text'>"Good and Bad Hair Whether You're Dark Or You're Fair...</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RE_2EydAFeg/SuO_paONbBI/AAAAAAAAABw/e8ctzj5qcJw/s1600-h/Good+Hair.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396367496654449682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RE_2EydAFeg/SuO_paONbBI/AAAAAAAAABw/e8ctzj5qcJw/s320/Good+Hair.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;Chris Rock was bold enough to make a documentary about a touchy (literally) subject within the black community : A Black Woman's Hair!! In his movie "Good Hair" he touches on an array of topics that Black females face everyday. Topics include : weave, natural-hair, perm, and the image that Black females project within the hair community. Also, the Bronner Brother's Hair Show and all its antics makes an appearance too.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;First let me start by saying that I thought the movie was fantastic! It was funny to see our hair experiences broad-casted to a wider audience. Prior to me viewing the movie I had heard mixed reviews from twitter, facebook, and other blogs about the content of the movie. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little skeptical upon entering the movie theatre. Aside from Chris Rock's hilarious narration and interviews the documentary was extremely enlightening. The good Reverend (Al Sharpton of course) brought up an excellent point in the movie: Black females contribute tremendously to the hair industry, so why aren't there more Black owned hair businesses? Better yet, why aren't we supporting the Black businesses that are in existence? *puts up church finger and excuses myself* Preach Reverend!! Black people have struggled with this "supporting our own" issue for centuries, and at some point it needs to be addressed in depth and handled properly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;Once I was told that I had "good hair". What does that mean? Isn't all hair good? Why isn't natural hair promoted as much as straight hair? (Natural hair is freedom by the way! lol) This movie peers into the way Black females in particular tie our self-esteem/confidence into our hair will do just about anything to make sure our hair is on point! Also how females (or the S.O.'s of said female) will pay astronomical amounts of money just to have their hair done. This movie is a must-see and a guaranteed laugh factory. India.Arie sang it best "I am not my hair!I am not my skin I am the soul that lives within!" If only 85% of the Black female population knew that truth...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-8772259494829702616?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/8772259494829702616/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/good-and-bad-hair-whether-youre-dark-or.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/8772259494829702616'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/8772259494829702616'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/good-and-bad-hair-whether-youre-dark-or.html' title='&quot;Good and Bad Hair Whether You&apos;re Dark Or You&apos;re Fair...'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RE_2EydAFeg/SuO_paONbBI/AAAAAAAAABw/e8ctzj5qcJw/s72-c/Good+Hair.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-7095965105086168005</id><published>2009-10-20T22:46:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-20T22:59:06.738-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='victory'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='God'/><title type='text'>The Risen King!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;Hallelujah You have won the Victory! Hallelujah You have won it all for me! Death could not hold you down, You are the Risen King. Seated in Majesty, You are the Risen King!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkAREE-h2Dc"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkAREE-h2Dc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;Enough said! Waves of emotion crash over my body as I listen to this song over and over again. I am so thankful that I don't have to speak to a dead god. I serve a Living God and will not waste anymore outside of my Purpose. Death could not hold Him down...he defeated the grave just like we will defeat the enemy. The fight is fixed what am I scared of?? I claim the Victory in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Time to shed the cloak of fear the devil has &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;draped&lt;/span&gt; heavily over my body. Time to step into the Light of God's Promise. I'm going on a journey...and I won't stop until I see His face! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-7095965105086168005?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/7095965105086168005/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/risen-king.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7095965105086168005'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7095965105086168005'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/risen-king.html' title='The Risen King!'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-514951996523140596</id><published>2009-10-12T11:23:00.006-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-12T12:18:15.553-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='friendship'/><title type='text'>Friendship Inventory</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;I woke up this morning and decided to write down the way I feel about my friendships. I listened to a minister named John Gray in church yesterday and he spoke about cutting off people who are not adding anything to your life. What is a friendship if there is no honesty present? Why are people so quick to surround themselves with "yes" people who do not have their best interests in mind? Our society breeds sugar-coating, passive people who cannot by any means handle the truth. I only know one other person (you know I'm talking about you) like me who is so real that it hurts. The truth always hurts though, can YOU handle the pain? Authentic friendships are very rare in contemporary times and it's about time they came back! If you ask then I will tell you my honest (operative word is honest) opinion. I'm sick and tired of being called rude or hostile because I voice the truth that everyone is trying to cover up. I will not be silenced (I never have been but you get the point)! I have some friends who are still not used to my honesty,our relationship will be dwindling rapidly. There is no time for mediocre friendships, if our relationship is parasitic then it's done. I'm on a mission to seek and spread the Truth. I you can't take the heat kindly excuse yourself from the kitchen.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;The ultimate Friend (Jesus Christ) said it best: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."(John 15:13). Would you?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-514951996523140596?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/514951996523140596/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/friend-series.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/514951996523140596'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/514951996523140596'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/friend-series.html' title='Friendship Inventory'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-1242703087686641161</id><published>2009-10-11T19:20:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-11T19:27:36.382-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Sunday'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='random thoughts'/><title type='text'>Sunday Randomness</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;I'm really considering getting a tattoo on my wrist!&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;Papa Jones is in town! I am really learning a lot about him...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;I'm not sure where I would be without God!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;Why isn't it Columbus week I'm sure Christopher and 'em celebrated longer than a day when he made his discovery!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;*singing like J-Hud* I aaaaaaam changing...(for the better of course)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#ff99ff;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;That's all for now&lt;/span&gt;...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-1242703087686641161?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/1242703087686641161/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/sunday-randomness.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1242703087686641161'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1242703087686641161'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/sunday-randomness.html' title='Sunday Randomness'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-7731081928538408743</id><published>2009-10-10T20:02:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-10T20:16:09.919-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='emotions'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Change'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><title type='text'>Restoration</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;I just had a nice long talk over Cuban food with my Daddy! I love him so much and I thank God everyday for the major changes He has made in my father. As I was listening to this man pour out his heart and emotions as freely as our waiter poured out water into our glasses, I just felt love. I came to the conclusion that God has the best sense of humor e.v.e.r. He ought to be a&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;stand-up comedian. Just when I thought something was going one way He switches it to the opposite direction. Me: Okay cool this is going that way, God: Hahahahaha that's what she thinks! It is an honor and a privilege to serve such a humorous God and know that even when I am going through He has EVERYTHING in His control. He is truly the God of restoration and healing. I commit to willingly jump out of my comfort zone so I can see the true wonders and miracles of God. That's all for now...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-7731081928538408743?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/7731081928538408743/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/restoration.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7731081928538408743'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7731081928538408743'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/10/restoration.html' title='Restoration'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-6924920026417298664</id><published>2009-09-13T09:15:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-09-13T10:39:32.541-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='About Me'/><title type='text'>10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1...BLAST OFF!!!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;10 Things I Wish I Could Say To 10 Different People &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;**I was 2 seconds from putting the people who I wanted to say this to, but I figured it would defeat the purpose...lol**&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. I'm not nice when I'm annoyed, so please don't annoy me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. I'm just waiting for you to ask because the answer is yes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. Your actions made me lose a lot of respect for you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4. It's not too late for you to change.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;5. The life you are living is taken you down a road that was not meant for you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;6. Stop trying to be someone you are not, your fakeness disgusts me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;7. I don't want your man because if I did he would be mine already. (Forgive me Lord)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;8. Your dependence on everybody but yourself boils my blood.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;9. You don't have to run anymore, we're your family and we love you no matter what.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;10. Just give it up because it is not worth your salvation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;9 Things About Myself&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. I have no filter on my mouth, as soon as I think it out of my mouth it flows.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. I connect with males better than I do females.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. I hate relationships but want to get married.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4. I have the mindset of a 33 year old.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;5. I have visions of things that always come to pass that same day or a couple days later.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;6. I want to record a song in a professional studio.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;7. I learn songs as soon as I hear them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;8. I consider my brother to be my father because he was there when my father wasn't.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;9. If I have children I want all boys.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;8 Ways To Win My Heart&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. Just be yourself (trying to be overly macho will have you seeing the back of my head as I walk away before you remember my face good)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. Be able to sing me to sleep.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. Be able to show some emotion (I have no problem with seeing a guy cry).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4. Treat your Mom and the females in you family like queens (that is a direct representation of how you will treat me).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;5. Be truly rooted in God (nothing attracts me more than seeing a guy who is not afraid to give God some genuine praise).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;6. Don't suffocate my personality with yours.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;7. Be able to kiss so good my socks come off (even if I'm not wearing any).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;8. Be an intellectual and thirst for knowledge constantly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;7 Things That Cross My Mind Often&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. Jesus when are you coming back?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. Why am I such a loner?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. I need to lose some weight.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4. What a much better world it would be if everyone was as real as me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;5. God give me strength.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;6. Hmmm I think I'm a racist, since I can count on one hand the number of white people I like.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;7. Some of these college chillrun need their butts beat!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;6 Things I Do Before You Go To Sleep&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. Oil my hair.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. Brush my teeth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. Listen to music.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4. Go on Facebook.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;5. Talk to my Mom.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;6. Put a bandu on my hair.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;5 People I Couldn't Live Without&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. My Mom!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. My Siblings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. My Aunts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4. My nieces/nephews&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;5. God&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;4 Things I'm Wearing Right Now&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. Multi-colored bandu&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. Obama shirt&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. Sweatpants&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;4.Headphones&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;3 Songs That Fit My Life Perfectly&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. "Woman Like Me" by Beyonce&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. "I Am Ready for Love" by India.Arie&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3. "You Never Let Me Down" by Marvin Winans Jr.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;2 Things I Want To Do Before I Die&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;1. Visit Africa.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;2. Live in a different country for at least two years.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#330033;"&gt;1 Confession&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Before I am 30 I want my whole left are full of tattoos that pertain to music.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-6924920026417298664?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/6924920026417298664/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/09/10987654321blast-off.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/6924920026417298664'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/6924920026417298664'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/09/10987654321blast-off.html' title='10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1...BLAST OFF!!!'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-7986817180936449579</id><published>2009-09-09T13:35:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-18T10:53:20.476-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='emotions'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='deadbeat dads'/><title type='text'>From the depths of my heart</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;The temps say "Papa was a rolling stone, where ever he laid his hat was his home" but what if my Papa never stopped rolling long enough to make a home where we could become one and be one family unit. When Papa divorced Mama he also divorced us kids and now we have chosen to divorce you. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;There is no need for lengthy court proceedings or Johnnie Cochran-esque lawyers because it's all a mutual agreement. You don't call me and I don't call you, now every body's happy (well at least I am). Since I refuse to do things I don't want to do: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No&lt;/strong&gt; I didn't show up to your wedding to a lady who I was never properly introduced to because I didn't like the bride or the &lt;em&gt;groom. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No &lt;/strong&gt;I will not speak to you when you call, Mama taught me not to speak to strangers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No&lt;/strong&gt; I can't see myself respecting what you say because my Mom and Dad are embodied in one person, you're just extra.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;I'm not sure why you don't understand where this is coming from. You brought this on yourself!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Yes&lt;/strong&gt; I am pissed when I didn't get a call on my birthday but instead an annually late card. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Yup&lt;/strong&gt; I am confused at how you and my Mom were married but I still feel like I was raised in a single-parent home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Of course&lt;/strong&gt; I am enraged that you sat back in your weak state and allowed my mother to raise us to the best of her ability and then you want to criticize how we were brought up. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Don't mistake my passion for hate. I would actually have to acknowledge your existence to hate you. I don't so I don't...from the depths of my heart.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;*disclaimer* My father and I recently reconciled, but this was on my heart and can now be released in love*&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-7986817180936449579?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/7986817180936449579/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-depths-of-my-heart.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7986817180936449579'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/7986817180936449579'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-depths-of-my-heart.html' title='From the depths of my heart'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-1274736839224032713</id><published>2009-09-05T15:05:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-27T18:29:57.318-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Appreciation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Dark-Skinned Men'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Ode'/><title type='text'>My Ode to Chocolate Brothers (A Calandra Original)</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;I have seen a surplus of fine chocolate brothas lately so I had to drop a few lines to express my appreciation. India sings it best:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_4ynkfLg5o"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_4ynkfLg5o&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt; (please open in a new tab)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is something about chocolate skinned brothers that attracts me to no end. Whether they have no hair, dreds, or a high top fade, seeing their smooth skin is the highlight of my day. Their skin reminds me of slightly melted Hershey's chocolate smooth with a little bit of gloss. Lawd Jesus don't let them have pearly whites to match. The white color of their teeth contrasted against that skin, constantly sends my whole world in a spin. I can only imagine chocolate colored Kings and Princes in the Motherland, commanding tribes with a spear in hand. I think I have seen the light, but ironically it is dark. If they say light skin is in then I want to be out, because without a doubt dark-skinned brothers are the finest people out. This is my dedicated ode to chocolate brothers all around the globe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-1274736839224032713?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/1274736839224032713/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-ode-to-chocolate-brothers.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1274736839224032713'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/1274736839224032713'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-ode-to-chocolate-brothers.html' title='My Ode to Chocolate Brothers (A Calandra Original)'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-8871195888681285991</id><published>2009-05-15T16:46:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-05-15T18:25:19.152-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Relationships'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Change'/><title type='text'>Evolving</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;As I poured over the happenings of my week I focused on one word : change. Vibe to this as you read my thoughts:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZMv5JN-xq0"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt;http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZMv5JN-xq0&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#663366;"&gt; (open in a new window please)&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you know how to measure a change? It's when you can recognize yourself responding to issues/problems in a completely different way. I have been praying for change for a long time but I personally did not see it. I didn't see it because I was not being tested in it. Recently, I received a text from someone I had a falling out with and hadn't spoken to in months. The text was dripping with immaturity and sarcasm. I could have responded to it in an equally immature way and stooped to their level but something in me just said "let it go". OMG(oodness)!!! I cannot believe that I didn't respond. Insert *change* &lt;change&gt;&lt;change&gt;here.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt; It's such a wonderful feeling to acknowledge and embrace change. No longer am I stuck in the past with my insecurities or hurts holding me back. Change is something that most people run away from. Everyone gets comfortable in their stagnant positions and are annoyed when something comes to rock the boat. If people were more open to the fact of change , then when it comes it wouldn't be such a shocker. Liberation is key and I desire greatly to be liberated from complacent people who are doing nothing with their lives. Like a caterpillar that has just transformed into a butterfly; I am breaking out of my cocoon and allowing God to truly change me. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;3 things that I embrace openly: &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;1) &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Everything happens for a reason. *If it's bad I try and learn from it*. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;2)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; Some relationships are not meant to last forever. *You don't really see how bad a relationship,be it friendship or intimate, is until you remove yourself from it.* (last but definitely not least) &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;3)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; Change is GREAT. *Change has opened up so many new doors and opportunities for me it's unbelievable.* That's all for now...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-8871195888681285991?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/8871195888681285991/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/05/evolving.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/8871195888681285991'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/8871195888681285991'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/05/evolving.html' title='Evolving'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-337068579854322313</id><published>2009-04-04T17:38:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-04-04T18:16:33.424-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='books'/><title type='text'>My Ode To Books...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;I just finished reading Alice Walker's &lt;u&gt;The Color Purple&lt;/u&gt; and a thought popped into my head: books allow me to escape into a world that is all my own.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Natasha &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Bedingfield&lt;/span&gt; embodied what I was thinking:  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2XcqKaXDIY"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2XcqKaXDIY&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt; (open in a new tab)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt; I have to thank my parents for encouraging me to read outside of my mandatory school books. I'm saddened by the lack of reading that I see (or don't see for that matter) in the younger generation.  I love books so much just for the simple fact that they allow me to leave my present situation and go somewhere else (even if only for a short time). Every time I read a book it seems like a movie screen drops in front of my eyes and I can see the book being played out. How well I can see the movie is how I judge how well an author writes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt; Zora Neal &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;Hurston's&lt;/span&gt; &lt;u&gt;Their Eyes Were Watching God&lt;/u&gt; is my favorite book of all time because I felt like I was everywhere the characters were. I cried when they cried, was scared when they were, and shared in their joyous moments like they actually happened to me. J.K. Rowling's &lt;u&gt;Harry Potter&lt;/u&gt; series are some of my favorite books also because she thrusts the reader deeper into the plot with each sentence. J.K allows us (the reader) to experience every spell, potion, and adventurous trip she makes the characters go through.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Now don't get me wrong I'm not one to ever run from a fight or confrontation (my family, friends, and non-friends *enemies is such an ugly word* can attest to that) but sometimes I just want to be somewhere only I know about. Books are like a mental tree house that I can climb into and just chill. Nothing bothers me when I am reading, books blanket the world and bring me peace.  So you could call this my thank you letter to books. Books (if you're listening...&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;lol&lt;/span&gt;) thank you so much for helping me to leave any drama, sorrow, or boring classes (yes I do read in the middle of lectures) temporarily and receiving me into your world with open arms. I know our relationship will be for eternity.That's all for now...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-337068579854322313?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/337068579854322313/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-ode-to-books.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/337068579854322313'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/337068579854322313'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-ode-to-books.html' title='My Ode To Books...'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-2193639241582547450</id><published>2009-03-16T14:18:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-03-16T23:32:02.661-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Music'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='R and B'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='90&apos;s'/><title type='text'>A Forgotten Death...</title><content type='html'>&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;As I was sitting in my room a thought popped into my head, the following is the thought manifsted into a spoken-word piece. Catch this vibe as you meander over my thoughts:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY7UG3BFilA"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY7UG3BFilA&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;(open in a new tab)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;As we mourned for the death of one friend we forgot about the other. We cried for hip-hop when it was becoming to commercial and its authenticity was judged on rims instead of rhymes. We sucked our teeth and shook our head as hip-hop was murdered right in front of our eyes. We "Yuuuled" and "Sholda Leaned" hip-hop right into the grave.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;Nas made a song about it, friends talked about it, and devout fans cried about it. But where was the mourning and weeping for R&amp;amp;B. Why was there no outcry about the death of this much needed pillar in the music world&lt;/span&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Why was it that no good R&amp;amp;B crossed into the new millennium?? I thought the computer systems were supposed to crash in Y2K not R&amp;amp;B! SWV, Blackstreet, 702, Next, Escape, Boyz II Men, En Vogue, Case, Monifah, Donnell Jones, Lauryn Hill , Jodeci, Total, and Shai got swallowed up in the wave of the ending of the 90's. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc66cc;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;Now don't get me wrong there are still some good R&amp;amp;B artists out now but... where is the substance? Why am I not able to feel any emotion from these songs? As I sit in my nostalgic state, I drop into a depression so deep that I just might not make it out&lt;/span&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;I scourer the radio looking for good music but my search is in vain. So now I pay my respects to my fallen friend R&amp;amp;B...I throw roses on its grave and pray that just as Jesus was resurrected it will rise again too. That's all for now...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-2193639241582547450?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/2193639241582547450/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/forgotten-death.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/2193639241582547450'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/2193639241582547450'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/forgotten-death.html' title='A Forgotten Death...'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-5645119372191399249</id><published>2009-03-14T03:10:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-27T18:29:35.030-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='growth'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='God'/><title type='text'>The Life Cycle...(A Calandra Original)</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;This is a piece I wrote for a spoken-word show I was in...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;As you read please enjoy these melodic sounds:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J04B4RH2JFo"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J04B4RH2JFo&lt;/a&gt; (open in a new tab please)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;When I was born I came through a flesh womb but when I went through my second womb it was not of the flesh but it was of the Spirit. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;So let’s switch realms for a minute and focus on the spiritual rather than the physical. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;When I came out of the womb of the Blessed Trinity I had to be nurtured, fed, and cared for. But babies grow up and they begin to crawl and try to fend for themselves. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;They stumble around a little bit, they fall, they cry but they know they have their protectors’ arms to run back to. One has to wonder how a baby tries to walk before they can crawl. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Why was I trying to take steps when the muscles in my legs weren’t even formed properly? Why was I trying to formulate words and full grown sentences when my vocal box wasn’t even developed? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;So I had to go back to the womb, the place where it all began and begin my journey again. Alright I’m a toddler now I‘ve past my baby stage, I’m able to resist the big bully in the sandbox and his many mean friends. When he tries to steal my lunch money, I can now stop him with just one word: JESUS! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Now I’ve met other toddlers on the playground and we are determined to reach our preteen years in Christ. I’m able to read now and comprehend what I am seeing. The Bible makes sense to me, it’s not just a bunch of letters and numbers and red words. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;After many tests and humbling experiences I’ve made it to my preteen years, but why am I still stumbling and crawling on the ground. I know right from wrong, no longer can I be labeled as ignorant because I’ve seen the truth with my own eyes. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;Why am I still eating baby food when I am old enough to cook my own nourishing meals? Why am I allowing my flesh to rapidly turn back the hands of time and decrease my age in the Spirit? When my Spirit reached high school age, I had to remove myself from some people whose Spirits weren’t born and had no desire of being born. They didn’t do their homework or read over the required text. They clutched ever so tightly to that umbilical cord of sin which is removed when you are re-born. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;When a child gets lost it is never the parents who move it is the child venturing off into unknown territory that they have no business going into. Is it possible to stray so far from God and still be alive? Did He know I would come back? Was this the plan all along, to have me leave and then return with a stronger thirst for God and be able to stand up straight. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;With upright positioned shoulders and my head held high I finally realize that I’m grown now and my strength in the spiritual realm reflects in the physical realm. The same physical realm where I must have a funeral for my flesh every day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;I repeat a repentant eulogy daily that if anyone else heard it they would call it a prayer. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#993399;"&gt;As I look back over my life and how far I’ve come in God, I realize the importance and necessity of The Life Cycle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-5645119372191399249?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/5645119372191399249/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/life-cycle.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/5645119372191399249'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/5645119372191399249'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/life-cycle.html' title='The Life Cycle...(A Calandra Original)'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-865172511996513712</id><published>2009-03-14T02:28:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-03-14T02:59:18.649-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='internet fighting'/><title type='text'>E-Drama + E-Thuggin = E-Bullish</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;So while I was in my favorite spots (&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;youtube&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;blogtv&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;facebook&lt;/span&gt;) I noticed that I was surrounded by a lot of e-drama. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;Lawd&lt;/span&gt; I need some calming music to soothe me as I write this bad boy. Come on and jam with me for a second: (shout-out to my &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;bestie&lt;/span&gt;/&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;twinny&lt;/span&gt; Jen who gave me this music idea)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y78Q6eTrOIY"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y78Q6eTrOIY&lt;/a&gt; (please open in a new tab)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#cc33cc;"&gt;Notice that everything has an e- in front of so you know that is the first of many problems that I must address. Why are we so attracted to mess and drama that we create even in the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;cyber&lt;/span&gt;-world. It cracks me up how it is not even a real world yet drama always finds it way there. B.Scott calls them e-&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;ballers&lt;/span&gt;(haters who gain balls when they get behind their computer) but I call them e-idiots! Why can't we just have a good time online without some cornball saying something immature, ignorant, irrelevant or a mixture of all three? People flock to e-drama (I am guilty of flocking my self) and feed the fires that need to be extinguished instead of further ignited. Are people so bored with their lives that they must create insecure mayhem and confusion wherever they go. I hate when an e-idiot is talking all this trash and then they end up being some pimply-faced nerd from somewhere like Minnesota or South Dakota. Like are you serious?!?!? Is this what makes you happy and excited...starting e-drama from behind the comfort zone of your compute screen. Now I'm no fool so I know that sometimes e-drama can not be avoided but must be met head-on. In those circumstances I feel that the problem needs to be resolved in the most mature and adult way possible. So a word to the wise (or &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;un&lt;/span&gt;-wise in the e-idiot's case) is DO NOT (and I repeat do-not) say anything online to someone you know you would never say something crazy to in person. Close your little lap-top or shutdown your desktop and stop starting &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;ish&lt;/span&gt; that you know you would never be involved with in the real world! That's all for now...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-865172511996513712?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/865172511996513712/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/e-drama-e-thuggin-e-bullish.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/865172511996513712'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/865172511996513712'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/e-drama-e-thuggin-e-bullish.html' title='E-Drama + E-Thuggin = E-Bullish'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915320958075673353.post-3468721630291599513</id><published>2009-03-12T17:37:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-03-12T18:08:22.456-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='racism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='President Obama'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='government'/><title type='text'>My POTUS is black...</title><content type='html'>My elation for President Obama's win was through the roof! A black President are you serious?!?! Someone pinch me because I must be dreaming (don't really pinch me because I'll jack you up). Even as young as I am I NEVER thought that I would see a person of color be the President. Unfortunately people believe that he is the Messiah, and he is not. He is a mere human just like us, so ease up on the brother (oooh it feels so good to say brother). Republicans desperately want to see him fail and are constantly throwing monkey  wrenches in his plans. I shake my head at least 50 times a day at the petty, childish, and futile attempts that RR's (racist republicans if you were wondering) do everyday to deter PO from his goal. Why in 2009 is it still like this? Am I missing something?? The very ones who were pushing for country loyalty and promoting respect for the President (in Bush's term of course) are now disrespecting the person who holds the highest position in THEIR country. Come on, that seems like a double standard to me. Now, I'm neither naive or looking through rose-colored glasses so I realize that racism will always exist but it just seems pointless to waste time rejecting every bill that PO puts on the table. Oh please hold on while I calculate the long list of Repubs. who accepted PO's stimulus package. *scanning an empty paper* Yeah so after countless hours of reading the list, it seems that there wasn't a single Repub who accepted the bill. WHAT??? That has never happened in all the years of America having a President. Hmmm what a coincidinky that it just so happens to occur when the President is black. Gosh-golly what a shocker. Smh @ the people who still deny that the Republicans were not being racist. The only thing I dislike more than racism is the blatant denial of racism when it is so present. That's all for now...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8915320958075673353-3468721630291599513?l=scj816.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/feeds/3468721630291599513/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-potus-is-black.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/3468721630291599513'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8915320958075673353/posts/default/3468721630291599513'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://scj816.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-potus-is-black.html' title='My POTUS is black...'/><author><name>Steffi</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00451338229946532364</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYvu6Snr3ic/TascBCCsUlI/AAAAAAAAACo/sVrwVYU4ho4/s220/Photo_000011.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
