Happy Thanksgiving!!!!- Toya

"Whooooa put your eatin' dress on, put your eat-in dress on..." sung like Beyonce's "Freakum Dress" (you know you like food way too much when you compose gluttony carols)

There is so much to be grateful for, I don't care how you look at it. 

1) Your family might drive you crazy but at least you have a family to be with. If you are spending Thanksgiving somewhere else, at least you won't be alone. If you will be eating alone, hey, at least you will be eating.

2) If you are like me and fearing the extra pounds that you know you don't need because you are already on the reserve bench for Team Chunk, hey at least you aren't going hungry. So many people today are.

3) If you are working retail like me and have to work on tomorrow's Black Friday, shout hallelujah that you even have a job.

And so on and so forth...

My mom flies in today for a week long visit. Kind of nervous about that because I wasn't sure if I had a enough for us to do for a week. I did manage to swing us two tickets to Anthony Hamilton sing his face off this Sunday. I think it's going to be a good week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Angel Taylor News

According to her Myspace page, our favorite girlfriend in the head Angel Taylor has a new website up.  Check out www.angeltayloronline.com and sign up for a free MP3 from her new record due out next Spring. Also, she's going on the road with Adele and Brett Dennen. Check her Myspace page for dates.

In Case You Missed It - Tia

Beyonce pretty much had the best performance last night at the AMAs. She shut it all the way down. I mean, she even had the middle aged white women (3:38) dancing along.

She's a bad broad. I'm still not buying her cd though. I've listened to it a couple of times. I'm not really feeling it. But this performance was enough to get my $.99 on iTunes.

One thing though, did the ponytail holding up at the end mean anything? You know I'm not up on what's hip these days. So I didn't know if she was making a statement or just being different or whatever...

One More Thing - Tia

Annie Lennox is THE BUSINESS!!

That is all.

Tia's Take on the AMAs

- Christina Aguilera can sing and she can also OVERSING. Holy crap man, how many riffs does ONE song need? I am loving the medley of her catalog though. I'll admit it, I'm a fan. Not a super fan, but a fan. I've got a couple of her cds and know most of her singles. OOOOH...that Ain't No Other Man is my JOINT. I know that WHOLE song, inflictions, key changes.....everything.
And she is just bound and determined to hold on to that red lipstick, huh? I mean....I guess. If that's what she likes.

- "Christina Aguilera had a baby and Mariah Carey married one." RAHAHAHAHAHAHA

- David Archeleta still annoys me. Sorry Toya.

- Jamie Foxx is apparently about to introduce Ne-Yo. I mean, after he shamelessly plugs his album. Oh....well I guess he's NOT inroducing Ne-Yo.

- Jimmy Kimmel is boring me. And I think I dislike him for the company he keeps.

- OOOHH...New Kids...Let's see how it goes.
Donnie can still get it. They seem a little off tonight. Let's see if this version of DD will make up for the video. Jon is FINE.

Well, the performance was okay. It started off real special, but they recovered at the end with the help of that high note from Jordan. But they were A LOT better when we saw them in concert.

- How high is Scott Weiland? Or maybe drunk? He is intoxicated in some way.

- This Pink song is cute but it's not nearly as catchy as So What. Plus she didn't call anyone a tool. I'm sorry, but that's such a funny insult to me. A tool? That's like saying, "You're such a hammer." RHAHAHAHAHAHA

- I don't understand Taylor Swift's appeal. She's not that great of a singer. And if we're picking blond country singers Carrie Underwood gets my vote. But that Taylor girl just seems like that angst ridden teen who's just angst-y enough to be annoying.

- Lance Bass needs to stop playing. That's all I'm going to say.

- I LOVE Rascal Flatts. I really do. I have a couple of their cds.

- Ne-Yo always renews my ever dwindling hope in R&B. And I love that he is such a performer. A lot of people are artists but not performers or vice versa. He is one of the few who is both.

- I don't hate Nickelback. I actually like some of their songs.

- Let's see what Kanye has to say.
He is so long winded.

- And I didn't know that Jesse McCartney co-wrote Bleeding Love. That child is PAID because that song played everywhere for MONTHS.

- I LOVE this Leona Lewis song. I DON'T love the interpretive dancers. They seem unnecessary.
I really forget how well Leona Lewis can sing until she hits that unexpected high note with amazing control.

- Why am I yawning already?

- Billy Rae has come a long way from his Achy Breaky mullet days.

- I don't hate this Miley Cyrus song.
Did the dancers in white draw the short straws?
"You guys get to dress as the billboard behind Miley." "Ummm...what??"

- I didn't know Garth Brooks put anything out this year. I like Garth Brooks. I need to get his box set from Wal-Mart.

- Holy fake birthday moment, Batman. You shouldn't be able to hear the producer telling the birthday girl to blow out her candles. You also shouldn't be able to hear him telling her friends to hug her. They shouldn't have to be told. Is nothing in Hollywood real?

- I know the clean-up crew wants to beat Chris Martin's a$$ for all of that confetti. It's all fun and games until you have to clean it up. And what about the people that have to perform after you? The janitors should just walk out there and hand them all brooms when they finish singing.

- Umm....who knew Colbie Calliat was that banging...? Good 'head Girl!!

- Alicia Keys is GORGEOUS!!!

- Did you see the janitor almost run out there? I'm telling you, they need to hand those brooms to Chris and the boys.

- I'm basically only still watching because I want to see Bouncy...Beyonce.

- Ooohh....I love Kate Walsh's haircut. If I hadn't spend the last few months growing my hair out I would cut mine like that.

- The Jonas Brothers are cute.

- Why is The Dream hating on the Jonas Brother? Sityoassdown!! We don't even know who you are.

- Oh shoot..Beyonce. Say what you want about the girl, Beyonce is a BAD BROAD.
And I like the United Colors of Benetton dancers she used.

Okay, I'm going to leave the awards on in the background but I've pretty much seen everything I wanted to see. So I'm out.

Film Is Forever: NKOTB's "Dirty Dancing"

I SINCERELY don't understand why they thought the concept of this video was a good idea. I ALSO don't understand how they thought that even though this video was shot for the German market it wouldn't make its way over here to be clowned accordingly. I have no idea what the dialogue in the beginning is saying as I only took one semester of German when I was 11. But I know Grade A government cheese when I see it. And the most baffling thing of all is how they convinced Danny to do this video. I wonder how drunk he was when they shot the video. Or did they threaten to take his tour money away unless he did this...? All I know is that he didn't do this willfully or of his own volition.

I'm so disappointed.

New Kids on the Block- "Dirty Dancing"

My Two Cents- Toya

*Sigh* And we were doing SO well.  

Will someone please minister unto me the explanations for the following...

1) Who authorized this international bullshishery?  Who is their management now (RIP Dick Scott)? Seriously, somebody call Maurice Starr.

2)Why must they T-Pain Donnie's vocals like that?  Everyone is just trying so desperately to stay relevant. You want to impress me? Bring back the vocoder like Roger Troutman and Zapp. Keep it real old school. You know you want to.

3) I couldn't make it through the entire video so if I missed the part where these jokers broke out into The Safety Dance, let me live the rest of  my life in ignorance, I beg of you. (Please see Youtube for this reference if you don't know what I am talking about.)

Keep HOPE Alive in 2008! Vote Willie Mae!- Toya

Everyone, say hello to my mother, Willie Mae. Pretty stinkin' cute, huh?  I have the sarcasm of my father but please believe I am just like my mom in personality.  One thing that I didn't get from my mother is her singing ability.  My mom is the kind of singer that when she would walk to the microphone at church to sing a song, people would already be clapping and pulling tissue out their purses ready to cry.  Well after a year I finally convinced her to try out on BET's Sunday Best show and to my surprise she actually did! I couldn't believe it. She set up a page, had a video made and even posted a few blogs. Blew me away. So imagine my surprise when I found out that the show's judges put her in the Top 10 today.

I know I have been pretty private on this blog. I mean, I am candid as far as life experiences but we have had this blog for 5 years and I didn't even have my picture up until this year, My Myspace and Facebook pages are private and I still get a little weirded out if I meet someone at a show and they ask me if I am Toya from Black Girls Like Us. But this is my mother. I love her and I will do almost anything to help her dreams come true.

Starting tomorrow through December, voting will commence for the top 2.  My mom ended the last round in the top 2 and I believe she can do it again.  I would love it if you would vote for her every day.  Now to my knowledge she does not know about this blog AT ALL and I would like to keep it that way for just a little while longer. In the meantime, let's keep this on the hush...on the WORLD WIDE WEB. Yeah, I know.

So please check out my mom's page at www.sundaybestcasting.com/people/williemae.  If you even like her a little bit, would you please vote for my cute mom so she can go on TV, sing, and meet Kirk Franklin?

http://sundaybestcasting.com/people/williemae

Taken from Blackgirlsrockit.blogspot.com

BGLU's, Can We Talk? I Mean Can We REALLY Talk?- Toya

*I understand that we have quite a few readers who are not Black Girls Like Us so please don't feel as if I am excluding you because I am not. Read, comment, hey, it's all good. This is just specifically addressed to BGLU's like my "When It's Time to Change, It's Time to Rearrange" blog was directed towards Christians.

You know, it's been a long time since we have received any hate mail. *sigh* Whatever...

I sent the above picture to Tia with the subject "Get Ready to Lose Your Damn Mind" because I know that she will (and I so wish I was there to see her) yelp with glee when she opens it.  There is no doubt in my mind. Tia has always been very comfortable in her preferences.  She is completely unapologetic. Over the years we have both received numerous hate emails for even putting white men on our site. I remember one where a man wrote us and said that we were nothing but the white man's whores but then turned around and said that he treats every black woman with respect. Cute. Tia's stance has always been, I like what I like and you like what you like. Mine has been more of a what's the big deal? We love men. Why can't we love John Krasinski AND Mos Def? I don't see the problem.  I don't think I have ever stated what my personal preference was on this blog before and I think it's because it has become somewhat of a sore subject for me.  

Now it's no secret that I love me some boys with floppy hair. Anyone see the scene on The Office on Thursday when Jim saw Pam in the parking lot? Yes and amen! I'd picket outside of NBC if they ever made him cut his hair. I have always been attracted to guys that look very different from me and anyone in my family, including black men.  Meaning if you look like you could be my brother or could play golf with my dad, I am not interested. But anyone that knows me knows that I love Common, Most Def, Donald Faison, and some other brothers who don't remotely look like anyone in my family.  I want to make this clear: I love black men.  I am just not convinced that they love me.

I have always been most likely to date outside of my race but not because I was mad at black men. Just recently I realized that I may be a little angry and just didn't realize it until I was listening to The Michael Baisden Show. I love me some Michael Baisden. I don't always agree with what he has to say but I enjoy hearing his point of view and I think he does a good job. And even though George Wilburn hurt my feelings something terrible recently, I will go on and say I love him too. This is what happened: Michael Baisden was doing a show on interracial relationships when a white man called from Atlanta and said that he is dating a black woman. They were shocked that he was dating a black woman in Atlanta. I don't know why because friends I have there say that you will be hard pressed to find a straight black man in Atlanta nowadays.  Not only was he dating a black woman in Atlanta but he was dating a black woman in the College Park area of Atlanta.  They couldn't believe it. This is what George Wilburn said:

"Is she flat chested? She must be flat chested. She got a flat booty doesn't she?"

Wow.

Feeling like I had been punched in my own flat chest, I looked at the radio in shock and hurt and turned it off.  

Let me go on the record by saying that I am by no means busting out anywhere, top or bottom. I got everything from my mama but her figure.  This has been a sore spot in my self esteem for years (see June 2003's "Back WHAT Thang Up?)as I heard my dad, brother and uncle often comment about how a real black woman is supposed to look like and what they find attractive.  It's a hurtful thing for me as I have been teased about not looking like what black women are supposed to look like. You look at BET and even though a lot of those images are degrading, they still reflect, although poorly, what many consider a real black woman looks like and frankly they don't look like me. And the music? You would be hard pressed nowadays not to hear a rap or R&B song that doesn't mention ass at all. As far as my black male peers go, I am often respectfully looked at like a sister but not anything more.  I remember going to a black First Friday event at a club and feeling so out of place.  Not just because almost every song was by a Yung something or Lil so and so and I listen to none of that, but because I observed how the black men there interacted with the sistas there. The ones I knew think I am a cool chick just not a desirable one. Sometimes I feel completely invisible. I may be wrong but as they say, people see their own perception as reality.

So when I heard George Wiburn say this it made me think: Could it be that the reason the only men that compliment me are white is because I don't look like what I guess black men would consider a real black woman? Before I turned the radio off, Michael Baisden mentioned that sometimes people of other races see the beauty in outside races that the people in that race ignore. For instance, the same person who may be viewed as too dark in their race, a person from another race may find their dark skin to be beautiful.  Who knows? All I know is that I do not want to marry a white man because I feel rejected and am mad at black men.  Ever. I have no problem with the idea of marrying a white man. I just don't want to marry a white man by default.   Last year, I met up with a girlfriend in high school and I shared this with her. She looked at me and said "Oh if you want to be married you will. You might as well accept that. I don't know why you're surprised." That's crazy! 

So back to the picture above.  Tia would look at that picture and smile because that is what she hopes for.  I on the other hand can smile at it but inside feel a little worried that that picture is my only choice of what my future can look like. If that's the case then fine but I have made it quite clear to my opposing family and friends that I do not want to hear it. Don't ask me why I am still single and then have plenty of noise for me if I start dating a white man.  I guess it just is what it is.

P.S. Post...

Thanks everyone for your comments. I hope that no one sees my posts as being self deprecating. That was not my intent. I am just concerned about the state of black men/black women relationships as a whole. It just seems that so many of us are angry and don't trust one another. I don't want to be a part of that so when I realized that I may be just a little bitter, I had to ask myself why that was. Trust, I'ma do me! LOL!

You look at music today, Chris Rock's comments and some of the emails we have gotten from black men saying that they are indeed angry at black women and it just makes you wonder what is really going on in our community. I remember getting my oil changed early one morning and two brothas walked by and said good morning to me. I looked up and smiled and said good morning back to them. I heard one of them say "Wow, she actually spoke back."  We can just be so mean to one another for no reason. The bottom line is that we are all to love one another. If I have any bitterness in my heart towards anyone, I want that worked out immediately. I always want my heart to be in the right place. 

You Should Know: B. Reith- Toya

B. Reith "Awestruck"- Gotee Records

www.myspace.com/breith

One of my friends asked me if I had seen B. Reith's new "Awestruck" video and I told her that I hadn't yet. She said, "I don't know how the girl in the video could stand there while he sang that close to her." I soon started shaking my head and gave her the same response I give every woman when they start talking about B. Reith.

"That's a man of God right there".

This is my automated response whenever any of my female friends goes into how fine they think B. Reith is. It's not in defense of him for he needs no defense but because something in me will not allow me to say anything remotely sideways about this man. For those that have read this blog long enough, you know I always have PLENTY of borderline inappropriate things to say about some good looking guys(I had to repent after American Idol was over because of all those things I said about David Cook) so this may comes as a shock. I respect B. Reith so much and to be honest, I have no idea why. Like, I don't even think I could say he is good looking out loud. I would probably say, umm, he is not hard to look...he is pleasant on the ey...maytheLordGodblesshimrealgood, see, I can't.

The first time I saw B. Reith perform I had already heard about him for about 3 years. He performed after some friends of mine. I went to take my seat front row center. As he went into his first song I looked at my friends who were sitting behind me and took my chair, turned it away from the stage and sat indian style with my back to the stage in protest. "Uh uh. No. Are you kidding me? I really can't receive this man singing about Jesus with him looking like that. This is an outrage. I want my money back (it was free)." But seriously, he got to "Rain Down" and I was ruined. It had nothing to do with him or what he looks like but everything to do with the sincerity and transparency in his music as he tackles such issues as giving up, love, frustration, God and more.  Reminiscent of Jason Mraz, he raps, sings, plays guitar and puts on a really good show. Check him out on Toby Mac's (another one I won't talk sideways about) Winter Wonder Slam Tour this year with some of my favorites Relient K and Family Force 5 (who are BANANAS if you don't already know). 

There is tons of stuff online with B. Reith on Youtube and such. I recommend you check it out because he is hilarious. Super nice, super talented, loves God and fi...see I can't even say it. May God continue to bless him.

Even MORE reason to see Cadillac Records - Tia

Now see, I wanted to see Cadillac Records anyway. I love music and the film looks like it's right up my alley. BUT THEN, I saw the trailer for the movie today and noticed that Columbus Short is in it. Umm...yes please.

I LOVE him. I will watch Stomp the Yard every time it's on just so I can see him. This man needs more work.

And speaking of work, I'm going to get off this computer and go to the gym. I have done nothing for the last hour but surf the web. And sitting on the couch is not going to make my Mayercraft bathing suit fit any better.

One More Week - Tia

I am SO very excited about the new Twilight movie. I would have to say that I'm 90% excited because I LOVED the series. I thought they were well written and creative (well except for the last one. It was a little too long and the ending left me kind of "MEH".) But I also have to say that I'm about 10% excited for Robert Pattinson.

Yes, I am aware that I have a crush on an ultrasound. But he's British and he's hot and I just can't help it. Now, if someone would like to point me in the direction of an older model of Robert I would be more than happy to switch my affections. There's no loyalty here. Pretty much hot and British are all I ask for in most of my celebrity crushes.

YEA for this - TiaI was catching up on some my favorite blogs and came across this at Cocoalounge.com.

I have no idea what this movie is about and I don't care. I will be going to see it. I mean, it's Mos Def and my perpetual girl crush Kerry Washington.

So far there's not a lot of info on the movie. But I will try to keep you posted. And be sure to check out Cocoa Lounge for updates and for brown girl love in general.

Why I will be moving AS SOON as my lease is up - Tia

I'm not sure if you can see the picture clearly so I will describe it. What you're looking at is what I woke up to at 4:27 this morning. Apparently some fool tried to run from the police and he got P.I.T. maneuvered right into the pole beneath my window.

There are no less than NINE cop cars outside my window and I don't think Beyonce is getting out of any of them.

I will start packing after the holidays because this is just too much.

Oh and the cops are high-fiving each other. Men are so...different. I think if I had just been in a chase and a wreck Toya would be rubbing my back as I croutched on the sidewalk. But I guess that's why I'm not a cop.

It's Official: I have an illness.- Toya

I have an illness that has yet to be named but here are the symptoms:

1) Spent a total of two days on the couch watching Seasons 2,3 and some of 1 of The Office. I zoned out so bad that it was 9:30 last night before I realized that yesterday WAS NOT TUESDAY.

2) A few times during my Office binge I secretly prayed that God would turn Jim Halpert into a real boy like Pinocchio.

3) I hate Michael Scott and Karen like they are real people. 

4) The words "pencil cup" and "tuna" make me smile really big.

5) If I meet someone who looks like John Krasinski and loves Jesus I may just propose on the spot and promise to work out the formalities later. 

6) I regret getting caught up on all of the episodes because now that it is in syndication I have no more new Jim Halpert antics to look forward to.

This is terrible.  I have got to get a job soon.

Why You Twitterers Need to Follow Us on Twitter- Toya

You need to follow us on Twitter for the following reasons:

a) We're random. You already knew that.

b) BGLU alerts- Just this week I sent out 2 BGLU alerts because David Cook was on SNL and Gym Class Heroes were on Leno.  This is information BGLU readers need. Did you miss Travis? You need to be on Twitter.

c) Live concert updates. We twittered all through the New Kids on the Block reunion show and it was so fun.

d) I need Tia to see that this is worth it because I have yet to sell her on Twitter.

Click on both boxes on the right to follow Tia and Me to stay in the loop. I am BGLUToya and Tia is Tiabglu.

If You Like It Then You Should Put THIS Ring On It- Toya

One night I was trying to get to sleep and happened to see Justine Simmons (who I am crazy about) on The Home Shopping Network. She was on there selling her new Brown Sugar Jewelry collection. OH SWEET HEAVENLY FATHER. 

This is the thing, I am not a jewelry person. Tia often refers to me as a black hippie. It is my intention to make so much money some day that I can dress like a hobo. In the meantime, I try to keep it together. But trust, if I ever make gobs of money it's broom skirts, scarves, head wraps, tank tops and jewelry from the African Street Festival or Forever 21.

My soon to be husband should be happy to know that the ring above (if he catches it on a good day) is less than $300. No one could ever accuse me of being a golddigger, I will tell you that much. Funny thing is, the idea of even thinking about what I would want my engagement ring to look like used to literally make me nauseous. I remember when Tia and I lived together, she had the website to some place where you could design your own ring and save the picture. "Here" she said, putting her laptop into my lap after showing me hers.  "You should probably tell me which one you'd like". I was so confused! She went through the whole 3 C's thing (cut and something and something. Or are there 5 C's) and my brain almost overheated. As she went upstairs, I figured that it wouldn't hurt to at least look.

"Ok. Umm, one solitaire diamond, 14k gold. Size 8".  I thought that was all the information it needed. But nooooooo. It's sooo much! Cut and color (I'm assuming that's another one of the C's), size, weight, surrounding diamonds, etc.  So then I thought, "I am certain that pink diamonds can't cost that much. I can't think of anyone that would want a pink heart shaped diamond besides me."  So then I started creating this pink, heart shaped diamond monstrosity for about 15 minutes and when I finally finished how about that bad boy STARTED at $25,000? Shoot, for all of that money, how about you give me an engagement house down payment?

So Tia comes back downstairs and I told her that I found a more simpler diamond ring.  She looked at it and said, "Ok. Well now we need to talk about the (whatever C I can't remember). Do you want this or this or..."  I just started shaking my head like crazy. "No! Uh uh. No. This is too much. Seriously, I can't do this anymore." I just gave her back her computer and sat there not thinking anything so my brain could cool off.  I cannot believe how much can go into finding a ring. Thank God I wasn't under any pressure.

Justine Simmons Brown Sugar line looks like it was designed just for me.  I LOVE this one...

For more on the Simmons Family jewelry collection go to www.simmonsjewelryco.com. They also have some really cute Hello Kitty stuff from my second favorite Simmons lady, Kimora Lee. 

Random Chris Brown Picture - TiaSo y'all know that I would adopt Chris Brown in like 2 seconds if he would let me. I love that little boy. But this picture made me cry with laughter. Why does he look like he's 8 years old and just woke up from a nap?

If you didn't know Chris Brown was a fetus before, you know now.

"Did You Ever Know That You're My Hero? You're Everything I Would Like to Be..." BGLU's Hero of 2008, Scarlet of "Scarlet Takes a Tumble"

Dear Scarlet,

You have won the first official BGLU Hero Award for 2008. We have no trophy, no ribbon, or any tangible prize to offer you (*cough*recession*cough*) but please know that you hold a special place in BGLU's Hall of Fame.

Love,
Toya and Tia
Black Girls Like Us


Now I should probably run this by Tia before I start handing out awards but I am almost positive that she would approve of this. I FREAKING LOVE SCARLETT. I remember when I was running down the football field in high school as a pom pom girl to the marching band playing "Rock Around the Clock". Well I rocked my little show off behind all the way down the freshly rained on field pass the 50 yard line almost into the bleachers. Mud all over my uniform and I could not stop laughing. Had we had YouTube back in the day, I too would be an online celebrity.

What pissed me off is that people have been so mean to Scarlet. In her response to the haters, she says that she posted her tumble because in this day and age, we all could use a laugh. I admire that greatly. I mean, who amongst us has not put on our own Janet Jackson/Madonna/Beyonce' show in our room and swore we was KILLIN' IT!?

So Scarlet if you are reading this, I think you are an absolutely beautiful girl. I can't tell you how many times I have stopped whatever I was doing just to sing "Balance..." I love your impromptu song and I love you for giving us a reason to smile and remember to laugh at ourselves at a time when we may be taking things a little too seriously. You are awesome.

Randomness - Tia

Another day, another hotel.

Here's some stuff about stuff.

Two Words

I have two words for Chris Rock: MICHELLE OBAMA

Next...

Bouncy

The people in Toya's old office used to call Beyonce Bouncy. For some reason that always made me giggle.

Anyway, I love Beyonce's new single. Single Ladies is the hotness.

And the fact that she did the video in one take is AMAZING. She is a BEAST and I can see why people Stan for her. And speaking of Stans, this little YT boy KILT this song. I think I have watched his version of Single Ladies more than I've watched Bouncy's. Someone made a video of his version side by side with Beyonce's. He is DEAD ON. There are some other slack jokers who tried to do the steps but most of them look a mess. (FYI, this guy is fully but scantly clad. Just an FYI.)

If I Were A Boy had to grow on me. The first time I heard it, I thought, "Didn't Ciara just do this?" But the more I listened to it the more I liked it. And apparently I'm not the only one. I think I heard on the radio the that the single sold a million copies. But now that I think about it the D.J. may have been talking about the song that played after Beyonce's. Whatever the case, the song is in heavy rotation and the girl who wrote the song is about to get paid. (I mean unless the rumors are true in which case the girl who originally wrote the song is about to be SUPER paid.)

Zac Efron

If I were about a decade younger I would have a crush on Zac. And I would be straight STALKING Chris Brown but that's a whole other story. Anyway, rumor has it that Zac Efron is set to take on the role of Ren McCormick in the remake of Footloose. This makes all the sense in the world if you 've seen Hairspray. But my question is this: Are they going to include I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)? I only ask because it was my FAVORITE song from the movie even though it was only played for about a minute. But I distinctly remember rewinding that part when they were on the motorbikes over and over again just to hear that little snippet of the song. I just hope they don't screw up one of my favorite movies of all time. Oh and is Zac going to run through the barn and do the acrobatics that Kevin Bacon('s stunt double) did?

I love the word egregious and wish I could use it more often.

Keep Your Da*n clothes on

Yet another Disney star has had nekkid pictures leaked to the internet. Maybe I'm a prude or something but I just don't see the need for taking nekkid pictures. If your man has seen you sans clothes before I'm almost POSITIVE he won't forget it. From what I understand guys are visual and don't forget much in the way of nuddypants. So I guess I just don't understand taking pics bucknekkid. And I especially don't get it if you're famous. Somehow the famous folks always end up losing their dirty pics and videos.

Dean and Deluca has the best banana bread in the world and I wish that there was a store in Atlanta.

Twilight is coming out in less than 2 weeks. I will trip a tween to make sure I get tickets. Robert Pattinson is fetus but he's a hot fetus.

Mayercraft....WOO-HOO!!!!!(That reminds me...I need to go to the gym soon.) Are any of you going? Let me know in the comments.

Ooh LORD I hope this is some sort of photoshop joke.

Supposedly this is Whitney's new album cover. I'm not feeling this AT ALL.

Gratuitous Donnie Wahlberg

Okay I really have work to do. Oh, but how is Anthony Edwards going to be on ER? Okay, I'm out for real.

Miss Independent- Toya

To every man that said I am too independent, too headstrong and too intimidating, you have no idea. It's on. I mean, you may catch me at the J. Crew outlet, it's so on.

"MICHELLE!!!!!"

I screamed that at the top of my lungs last night when it was announced that Barack Obama is our next president.  I will shame the devil and tell you all the truth: I am more excited about Michelle Obama being the first black First Lady than I am about Barack Obama being the first minority president (I know people like to call him the first black president but he's got a mama too, I'm just saying). Michelle Obama is the first black First Lady.  I cannot stop smiling. It's like having Claire Huxtable in the White House!

Ever since I was a little girl, my view of my ideal marriage was that I would marry a pastor, politician, or someone that heavily influenced and richly blessed the world.  It has always been my heart that our marriage would be an example and a contributing and changing force to the planet. However, I can't wait for him in order for me to contribute to the world. To quote Ne-Yo again, I am a movement by myself but I'll be a force when we're together. 

Author Shellie R. Warren wrote that her mother told her that God will give you a mate for where you are going.  I remember reading an interview with Jill Scott where she said that she and her ex-husband were on one accord when they were both in the beginning of their careers and on the grind.  However, when she rose to the top, they couldn't make it work.  That was not the Jill Scott that he could be in union with.  Ooooooooh that cannot be my testimony! 

Tia and I were at a bar last night with some friends watching the election results when two black women came up, hugged us, and then we shared our excitement.  As they left I yelled, "Love you! Black women, DATE UP! Michelle in '08!"  Sometimes as single women, we love to see and nurture the potential in men. We are so good at that.   What I have learned the hard way is that it is one thing to believe in a man's potential and to lovingly support him and another to be his mama. See his mama will love him and stand by him no matter what as is.  Where I have gone wrong in the past is to spot potential in a man and want to see him succeed more than he does. This is what happened with Mark (see "Let It Go" from 2005). We would always talk about the calling on his life and I always believed that he was destined for greatness. However we always clashed because he felt that I expected too much from him. I only expected from him what I knew he was capable of. He just wouldn't set those standards for himself. I cannot be with someone and accept them deciding to willingly live their life so far beneath their potential. That holds ME back and I am not having that. 

I love that Michelle and Barack Obama are a team.  He knew what he was doing and where he wanted to go when he chose her. 

I just cannot stop smiling.  Off to buy today's paper...

When It's Time to Change, It's Time to Rearrange- Toya

The following post is a post that I posted on Facebook. It is directed towards some Christians that posted Facebook statuses that were really irking my nerves.

 

Me: "You know what I wish would've happened? Barack Obama should've came out to "Brand New Day" from The Wiz.

Tia: "And McCain should've come out to "You Can't Win" from The Wiz"

I mean, we are Tia and Toya. We're going to have jokes. In the same vein, this is Facebook and a lot of people are going to use their cathartic license to express how they feel in their Facebook status and a lot of people seem to be disheartened by the outcome of the election. Some have stated that they are moved to pray and fast because they feel our country may need it now more than ever. That's nice.

Let's just say Barack is the anti-christ, sides with terrorists, and says what we want to hear with a hidden agenda to destroy America. Let's just say. Now what does that have to do with you? I know that sounds crazy but my point is if there is one thing that this election process has inspired me to do is to take a good look at personal responsibility. Yes, God is in control, but we have been so apathetic and downright lazy in America. We can be so complacent in our social and religious bubbles. It reminds me of the story in the bible when the people were like "We want a king! We want a king! Give us a king!" Ever see a parent who has a child that whines and whines to be picked up and carried and the parent stands there with their arms folded and a look on their face that says "are you done yet?" The parent is waiting for them to shut up so they can instruct them to do what it is that they can do themselves. And this is often how I feel about Christians in America. Case in point: Today someone told me that she and her husband were campaigning for Obama in the south. A lot of people in this white, upper class, neighborhood had catchy Christian posters, stickers and such on their doors and cars but when they were approached by this black couple, they were anything but Christ like. The bible says that the kingdom of God is like yeast in unleavened bread. Instead of placing the weight on one person to change the world (or destroy it) we need to realize the power that is within us to influence our world and even our president. If people are really serious about praying, then I hope they pray for our president out of BOTH sides of their mouths and don't dog him with one side and "God bless him" with the other (this goes for Bush too). 

But back to Obama being the anti-christ. Hey, I don't know this man or his heart. What I do know is that I have never seen the hope that I see in this country, a hope that is so desperately needed. That CAN'T be a bad thing. But just like hope can be contagious, so is negativity. I pray people don't kill this hope with negativity because the election did not go the way that they would've liked. So many kids are excited and will now dream that maybe one day they too can be president. Old people are excited to see a day that they never really dreamed would ever come. And black women? I have not seen black women be this friendly to one another since the week Waiting to Exhale came out! Tia and I were at Flying Saucer with some friends and some black women came over and hugged us and we all talked about how we couldn't wait to see Michelle Obama grace the stage. Regardless of how you may feel about the Obamas, can we at least give the Lord a hand praise that little girls of any race can see an example of a strong,intelligent black woman in the White House amongst the awful stereotypes they are faced with day in and day out?

Whether it's Obama or Billy Graham in office, God gave us all free will. If you are waiting for a president to put laws in place to keep your neighbor from making some choices with dire consequences instead of showing love to your neighbor and lending your hand to show them a better way to live, who are you REALLY saying is in control? God bless America but God please have MERCY on us if we do not really begin to "be the change that we want to see in the world". 

So this is what happened - Tia

I first have to say that Donnie was ALWAYS my favorite. Jordan was cute and all. Jon always seemed a little too soft. Joey got on my nerves. And I just didn't get Danny. Oh but I GET Danny now. And Jon...HOT DAYUM, IT'S A NEW DAY. Gollydawg, he is STUPID fine. Time has been SOOOO good to him.

Anyway, Donnie was always my favorite. I won tickets to see the New Kids when I was in junior high and Donnie came and sang on the platform closest to me. At the tender age of 12 I was all in love. So you know I was excited when I found out we were going to get to go to the meet and greet.

I won't rehash what Toya has already said. I'll skip to the part that matters. I turned the corner and had to fight the urge to scream. I mean, come on. They were standing RIGHT THERE. I hugged Jordan and Danny (shorter than I thought) and then I got to Donnie. I have to be honest, my first impression was to get DIRECTLY in his mouth. I figured I could get in several good seconds of lip action before security took me down. But good sense took over and not knowing my own boundaries, I extended my hand. I didn't want to go in for the hug like I'd done with the other guys because, like I said, I was afraid I would have my tongue in his mouth before EITHER of us knew what happened.

I stuck out my hand and managed a not so feeble , "Hi." Donnie looked at me and smiled like the devil and said, "Nu-uh." He shook his head and said, "Come here" and pulled me in for a hug. My soul says YES.

Apparently we weren't moving fast enough for the handlers and the photographer because I hear, "Ladies..the picture." I honestly have no idea how long I hugged that man but apparently it was too long. So I turned to face the camera and mumbled, "My bad" because I honestly figured I was the sole person holding up the process. As I'm trying, unsuccessfully, to not get weak in the knees and not slouch for the picture, I feel Donnie lean into me and ask DIRECTLY in my ear, "Did you just say 'my bad'?"

Click

Picture taken, I turn to him, look directly into his face and say, "Yes. Is that a problem?" (Side bar: I don't really watch or listen to anything that would be considered relevant. So "my bad" "my fault" "no worries" are still perfectly acceptable slang to me.) I was too busy falling into a trance looking all up in his face to notice that Toya and Anne Marie had walked off. I vaguely remember Toya saying something about me leaving with them....vaguely. But I was KEENLY aware that Donnie damn near had me in a headlock his arm was so tight around my shoulder. HELL YEAH.

I'm not leaving, til you're leaving.

He wouldn't let go. And hey, neither would I. Toya just kept looking at me. I looked at her and looked at him and beseeched her, "I'm just saying." Toya: "We can go." Me: pointing at Donnie with my free hand, "I'M JUST SAYING!!!" Jon is quietly cracking up on the side. Finally, I hear, "Ma'am" from someone who looks important and with the HEAVIEST of hearts I let go.

Apparently, Donnie has a type. Who knew I fell into that category...? But see here's the thing, I have a type too. And Donnie is it. It's ALWAYS been guys like him. The kind of guy who would hold you with one hand while you make out and hold his beer in the other hand. The kind of guy who, if it came to it, would brawl in the street til his knuckles bled but love the hell out of you directly after. He cleans up hella nice in a custom made suit but the minute he walks in the house he's out of his suit and into a wife beater, some fly jeans and a fitted cap. THAT is my type.

Anyway, that's my brief Donnie Walhberg story. I have to be honest, I would take his Grown Man. I'm sorry. I'm just being honest. That man is delicious. But God knows what he's doing and his grace is sufficient. So I'll just wait for my own Donnie Wahlberg to come along.

But...umm...err...ahhh...if the actual Donnie is reading and wants holla...hit up your girl Candice. She's got my number.

Toya's Random Coffeehouse Musings

1. Dreaming is free- I don't have a job yet and well, money is type low right now but that did not stop me from looking at my ideal office space to operate my non-profit. I HATE working from home and this space would be perfect because it's in an area where I am ALL the time. I mean, I practically live in the area. It would be a dream come true. To be able to do what I love full time, all the time would freak me out.  It's actually scary to think about.  Anyway, I am going to see if I can get some investors or something. I mean, it could happen. Why not?

2. I love songs that immediately make me want to break out into the Molly Ringwald "The Breakfast Club" dance.  I just heard that "I've Been Crying in the Dark" song and almost went crazy.  I remember when that used to disturb me. I mean, most BGLU's know how it feels to be called Oreo and to have your blackness questioned.  I'm so glad to be free from that.

3. My mother is coming for Thanksgiving for a week and I have not a clue what I am going to do with her. My dad was here for 3 days and we kicked it at the house, took naps, went to the movies and church, etc. My mom is a little bit more high maintenance. Like, I may need to get cable before she comes here.

4. I just found out that the VP of Def Jam committed suicide yesterday. I hear he was a good guy. You never know what someone is going through.  I have been in some low, low places that I am  certain would shock most people.  We need to take care of each other and we need to take care of ourselves. Sometimes, just when you think you can't take it anymore, there is a breakthrough just on the other side. I hate that he didn't live to know that. So sad.

5. I was listening to New Kids "Face the Music" cd today and realized that they did not perform "Never Let You Go" on the reunion tour. This is what I would like to propose: A club tour of sorts called "This Tour Aint For Everybody, Only the Sexy People".  They can the perform the HITS! Like "Never Let You Go", "Let's Play House", "Girls", "Mrs. Right", etc. Throw some "Grown Man" in there, let Jordan sing "Separate Ways", give the people a little Luther Vandross tribute. You know, real grown and sexy like. I'm just sayin'.  

6. Still mad at Donnie in that picture.

7. Tia is in town on business. I know she is sick of traveling but I can't wait to start. I wish I could visit our friend Taryn in Korea...or Tokyo. Umm, I forget where she is but from the pics I know I want to be there.

8. I heard that new Bobby Valentino/Lil Wayne song and wanted to call that non-emergency number that they give you when you have a "less than 911" type situation. BEAT IT LIKE A COP???!!!! You have GOT to be kidding me.  And he says that repeatedly. I felt so violated when I heard that, I almost wanted to sit on a block of ice.  Thank God for Ne-Yo. I will ignore that he sang the hook on Bust It Baby. I shouldn't, but I will.

9. Am I wrong if I decide to vote for Michelle Obama? I think I want her to be First Lady more than I want Barack Obama to be president. 

10. One final election mention, I am sure Sarah Palin is a nice lady. Lord knows she is cute as a button. I really have nothing against her.  However, if I get one more email about her prophesying in church and how she is a woman of God and for that alone she should get my vote, I fear I may be judged for heresy. Hey I LOVE my pastor's wife. She is a BAD chick. However, pretty sure I don't want  her to be my vice president and definitely not my president. As Fresh says on Crunktastical.net, you need more people... and a burning bush. I'm just sayin'.

Furthermore (see I feel it building up) if you are going to try to push my "Christian" button, I need you to run your campaign in a Christlike manner and I haven't really seen too much of that behavior on the Republican side. I am neither Democrat or Republican just like I am neither Pro-Choice or Pro-Life. I am Pro-Make Wise Choices About Your-Life. One thing that I like about what Obama said was that what we need to be doing is getting to the root of the abortion issue and that is kids having sex in the first place.  He didn't say unsafe sex. I think he described it as being cavalier and taking on the responsibility of sex that they aren't ready for. 

This may shock some but I am not for abstinence only programs. Yes, me, virgin at 33, holding out for the Lord, is not down. People have different belief systems and that should be respected.  What I WISH would happen is that people were given the information to make the right decisions. It is hard to decide not to have sex when our music is over sexed, television is over sexed, and deciding to be abstinent makes you a running joke in front of the whole world on MTV's Video Music Awards. One thing my parents did right was to warn me about emotional consequences even more so than the fear of pregnancy and disease. I was able to look at my friends and the turmoil they went through and then make the decision that it just wasn't worth the headache.  Oh and another thing, my parents are some freaks (eww).  Sex was never ever viewed as a bad or taboo thing in our house.  Anyway, all of that to say I just want people, kids specifically to know all of the good and bad and then make decisions.  I just don't see them getting a fair shot to do so. *climbing off soapbox now*.

See, what had happened was...- Toya

If you haven't already, click on the picture to get the full gist of how Donnie Wahlberg was all up in Tia's grill. I mean, could not have been more obvious.

I am so tired but I know that it is just wrong for me to go this long without some sort of explanation and recap. I will try my best.

Before I got laid off, I said I wasn't going to see New Kids because I just couldn't afford taking the days off in the middle of the week to do so because I had to take  days off the week before.  Also, I didn't think that I could afford it. Well, I still can't afford it but I no longer have to worry about taking the days off so I decided to surprise Tia with my friend Anne Marie (she is the one between Jon and Tia in the picture).  We rolled up to the restaurant where we were to have dinner and Anne Marie dropped me off to meet Tia in the parking lot. My goodness, the swarms of women in homemade bedazzled New Kids t-shirts and hot pink was dizzying. I am constantly amazed at how women can look so much older when they try to make themselves look younger. A-MAZING. Finally, I ran into the parking lot just in time for Tia to turn around and see me. It was awesome! We didn't have time to hug and cry and such (I've really missed her since she's moved to Atlanta) because we had just 5 minutes to get to the arena where my friend told us to meet her for the private meet and greet before the fan meet and greet (if that makes sense).  

When it was our turn to meet them (we were last in line) the photographers tried to get us to take pictures with the 4 other women that were already posing. Umm, no thanks. We've waited how long for this picture?  We then walked up and said our hellos. Now this is the thing, waaaaaaay back in the day Donnie Wahlberg tried to get with my best friend in high school (I am WAY too tired to tell that story). All that to say, I have seen his type before. I already knew that he was going to try Tia. There was no doubt.  I didn't see him talk to her (she will have to tell her side of the story). I did however get to talk to Joey! Up until that point, Joey and Jonathan were the only ones I hadn't met.  Speaking of Jonathan, GOOD GOOGA MOOGA Jonathan Knight is FINE! That pic does him no justice. He is ignorantly good looking. Who knew!? Anyway, I said hi to them all and tried to figure out which camera I was supposed to look into. Jordan then said, "Here stand between me and Danny." I stood there hoping that I wasn't the one to jack up the picture by looking into the wrong camera. Immediately after the camera flashed, I thought to myself, "Now I need to go get Tia from Donnie." Mind you, I didn't even see them meet each other. I just knew.

PAUSE: Did I mention that I am a Danny girl? It doesn't look like it in the picture does it? Why? Because I have no game. Carry on.

I turned to see Donnie with his arm still around Tia, practically in a headlock.  I looked at her and said "Hey, would you care to join us?"  Tia gave me a blank stare and Donnie gave me a similar stare except his said something like "How about you stay out of grown folks business?"  I mean, is the ink even dry on the divorce papers yet? I'm just saying.  Donnie finally let Tia out of the headlock and we were on our way to dinner.

So that's my recap. Oh wait! The show...

The" Somebody Hit the Gym REAL Hard for This Tour" Award Goes to....

Jordan Knight.  I COULD NOT BELIEVE that he recreated his Baby I Believe in You performance with open white shirt and fans blowing circa 1990. I aint mad at him! It was fierce. He also performed Give It to You and I lost my whole mind.

The "What in the World Was That" award goes to...

Joey McIntyre for his solo/interpretive dance thingy he did. I have no idea what song he did during his solo performance but it was very Dancing with the Stars-ish. I mean, ok? I loved how my friend Anne Marie asked if Donnie was going to come out and do his monologue from The Sixth Sense.

The "Oh No Yall DIDN'T" award goes to...

New Kids on the Block for pulling out Valentine Girl. YES INDEED!!!! I straight lost my earring during that song.

The "You are So Predictable" award goes to...

Donnie Wahlberg. Seriously, I need him to get it together.

The "I Didn't Come Here to Have a Tender Moment" award goes to...

Whoever did the audio visual power point thing they played after "If You Go Away" that paid tribute to Aaliyah, Luther Vandross, Tupac, Biggie, Jam Master Jay, Donnie's sister and grandfather, Danny's mom, and Dick Scott. Uh uh. Was NOT happy about that. I needed them to follow that with something happy like "Popsicle" or something. 

The "Song that Made Me Glad that There Was No After Party" award goes to

"Grown Man".  Jesus would have had to have been more than a fence. He would have had to be a barbwired barricade with a pack of pitbulls. The flesh is weak and Danny is single. I'm just sayin'. 

It was absolutely beautiful to see them do so well and practically sell out. It really was. There are artists that came out  years ago that can't give tickets away so it was heartwarming.  It's a great show, definitely better than I have ever seen them do and I have been to 4 from the very beginning until now. If you are a fan you will not be disappointed. 

Oh I forgot one... The "And Then We Would've Gotten Arrested Due to" award goes to...

Me. No I did not try to jump on one of the New Kids but I did almost jump on a drunk girl on the way out.  I cannot stand sloppy drunk girls! We were walking to the parking lot across the street and waiting in traffic was a stretch SUV limo.  The window rolls down and this drunk girl sloppily points to us with drink in hand and says, "You girls should walk faster".  I stopped and quickly replied "And you should drink slower". It was then that I thought that we were walking much faster than her limo was going so I probably wouldn't get caught if I caught her in her mouth through the window and kept it moving. I refrained. You can't get caught up in nostalgia. This is 2008, not 1990 so I would be going to jail, not juvie. 

Private Party- Toya

I need India Arie to come on with a new record so I can add more to my life soundtrack.

"Look who it is! My future ex-wife!"

My favorite coffee shop boy yelled this as he saw me walk through the door. I was surprised to see him because last I heard he had left for a life on the road.  The only time I got to see my eternal school girl type crush was on billboards.  But he's back now after quitting his band for something only he knows about.  "I don't want to screw up the probability wave by talking about it."  he told me when I asked what was going on.  "Hey, if you're happy then I am happy" I told him. I am going to try my best not to look over at him and giggle while I am writing this. 

It is amazing how we can let boys make our day and ruin our day. Just last night I had my annual "Lament My Love Life" party where I mourn my love misfortunes while eating something fattening and watching Halle Berry play me in Boomerang. I promise I am Angela Lewis to a T.  I fell asleep before I got to my favorite part that I recite every time with my hand over my heart like it is the pledge of allegiance.  It goes something like "I might not be all glamourous and have a weave going all down my back but you know something Marcus? I have heart. And you know what's so sad about having heart? It's that it gets broken by selfish men like you. Now stay the f*** out of my life!" Yeah, something like that. Anyway, I have often felt like that. Not the most glamorous and not the most noticeable but the girl next door and everyone's sister. I'm not saying this for sympathy or to be self deprecating because it's really not THAT bad. It just is what it is.  

So my friend Lynn called me last night and I got her up to date with all of the misfortunes of my love life: the boy I met 10 years too late, the guy of my dreams (literally), the gay guy, the guy that I almost let ruin me for all of the other guys, the guy that got away, and on and on and on. How I seem to be the girl that everyone loves but no one really likes and blah blah blah. But then I woke up this morning and decided that I wasn't doing this anymore. Not for one more minute and not for one more year.  Because this is life and it's not easy (Side note- I know they aren't playing "My Hero" by Foo Fighters in here right now. Why do I want to jump on top of this table and act like I am playing Rock Band). Anyway, truth be told, living in the past is wack. "Whoa is me" is wack too.  I'm tired of this. I'm tired of reliving this. So why would I purposely go back to feeling miserable about everything?

Because I let myself get unfocused.  I think as single women, we are not taught how to wait realistically. If you are a Christian woman you can be lied to in a number of ways, sometimes straight from the pulpit. The amount of bullshishery I have heard is mind numbing. If you don't desire to be married, you are selfish and ungodly. If you do desire to be married, you have not entirely given yourself over to Jesus and are even more ungodly. I mean, what are you suppose to do?

I wish I had the perfect answer but I don't. I have, however, always liked this verse:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7)

Be anxious for nothing- Check. I rarely trip about this area of my life anymore.

By prayer and supplication- Double check.

With thanksgiving- Umm...

Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving for what exactly? My guess, is to be thankful for what God has done. 

Psalm 103

¹ Let all that I am praise the Lord;
      with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
    ² Let all that I am praise the Lord;
      may I never forget the good things he does for me.
    ³ He forgives all my sins
      and heals all my diseases.
    ⁴ He redeems me from death
      and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
    ⁵ He fills my life with good things.
      My youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Sometimes remembering His goodness will give you hope for what He can do despite the circumstances. For instance, I can be thankful that God truly has mended my broken heart. Even if I still had a ways to go, I could at least be thankful that He has the ability and the desire to. I can be very thankful that I am no longer emotionally attached to anyone that has broken my heart that is until I CHOOSE to be when I decide to give myself a pity party. I think thanksgiving is what keeps you from having a stank attitude. I mean, the more I think about it, to ask God for something and then complain about why you don't have it has got to be pretty bogus to God. That may be why last night I didn't get to the peace that was to guard my heart and mind. The peace that passes all understanding should guard your heart and mind against your listening to other women complain about how there is no good men and the odds are against you. The same peace should guard your heart and mind from being afraid and depressed about the past and what may seem to be a bleak future according to CNN (I am still mad about that article).  

This reminds me of something we did for my mother when she turned 40. I am sure I have told this story before but it is worth repeating (even if it's just for me).  When my mom turned 40, we gave her a surprise party. We knew she wanted something special and we were more than happy to do it for her.  However she was anything but pleasant.  She moped and complained about the gifts that she got and that no one really cared. It got on my brother's and my nerves so bad that we often wanted to ruin the surprise and tell her that she was getting a really extravagant party that some of her childhood friends were flying in for. She just would not believe that the people that cared for her were going to do anything special for her. Also, she was trippin' about turning 40 (that alone will preach).  Anyway, even with all of the complaining, moping and ungratefulness, we withheld her surprise until it was time and the time just wasn't on her birthday but a few days after on a day where everything would be just right. Take that anyway you want to.

All of this to say, I am not exactly happy that I chose to spend an evening living in the past but I am not going to trip about that right now because well, that is the past.  What I will do however is keep it moving and trust that God has everything under control.  Timing is everything and I don't want anything ruining what He has so carefully planned for me that will not only make me happy but will make Him happy also.  God loves to do good things for us that will make us say that it could have only have been Him that did it.  Hey, who am I to rob Him of His happiness? I think I'll just let Him have at it from now on.