Saved the Best for Last

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:30

It is 5 AM. I'm dripping wet from scrubbing the can of hairspray out of my bobby-pinned hair, slipping into my fleece pjs (it's cold again), and chewing on half an Ambien....here come the trails. We just wrapped day one of the Ugly Betty finale and have been graced with a few hours of day time slumber before we return to the madness...and full makeup. Trust me, even if you blink, it would be impossible to miss me in this one.

Let's just say Wardrobe had a field day with me...

Minding my own business in a simple black slip dress, the designers had another visual in mind and pulled me back into their decadent closet of designer gowns (XXS) ouch and Accessory Heaven.

Pic to follow.

She made the history books twice. One for being the first black woman to be chosen as Miss America and two for losing her crown over racy Penthouse photos, no matter the glory or the gory...that Vanessa Williams is breathtakingly timeless. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Of course they couldn't avoid me...

Vanessa, America, and Judith, (Angela from Who's the Boss) all commented on my outlandish attire. The clincher was getting a  nod by my 2nd favorite Calvin Klein underwear model Antonio Sabato, jr. Still shy of Marky Mark. Thirteen hours of playing dress up in the Waldorf Astoria can be fun!

Standing face to face

Isn't this word a crazy place...zzzzz.

 

Casually Unconcerned

" I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

I'm one day behind him. He's spending his 100th in the Spotlight. I'm spending my 99th in bed.

 I wonder if he begrudgingly resents the fact his publicity is playing 2nd fiddle to the Pig Flu.  I sure am not thrilled at the over zealous interruptions of my mindless TV (sick) day to give me the play by play of outbreaks in Manhattan.

They're kidding right? More strategies to prey on the fears of man. And a interactive national report card for the president. Hey CNN, I got your grades. And F and a U.

Fear is a primitive emotion. I get that. But fear of fear for the most part is self imposed. There is the biological and there is the emotional. One is a automatic response that is crucial to survival and the other is an exaggerated perceived dread, worry, what have you of the what if's and the could be's. Creating Fear? Why have a crippling response to matters that are out of your hands?

Ways to combat:

Alarm. Angst. Worry. Concern. Distress. Panic. Fear.

The following are tried and true....

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1-2

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.Proverbs 18:10

 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

 He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber.Psalm 121:3 

The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life. Psalm 121:7 

 The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.Psalm 121:8

Are you standing firm or falling prey?

 

Ice Cold Baby

 "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Can I just say holy steaming sunburn...took a 40 minute train at 6:45 this morning to Coney Island. Home of the infamous Wonder Wheel, fried clams, burlesque theater, and birthplace of the original Nathan's Frankfurters. There could not have been a better place to spend a 90 degree day in April then on the boardwalk with carnies and a stiff sea breeze in the air.

A stop of for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid, it's a huge helping of Nostalgic America and my privilege to have experienced it. Coaster aficionados, what are you waiting for?

I couldn't be on my boys heels all day long without giving a shout out to him and my freshman year at Druid Hills, whoo whoo. Druid Hills, whoo whoo.  I told Ice most of my 15 year old memories involved OG tracks. He liked that.

Paid for a mean game of skeeball, tilt a whirl extravaganza, toes in the sand, fire breathing stilt walkers, and getting to tell ICE-T I was an early hip-hop girl....

Work is fine . Thanks for asking.

"You can try but you'll never understand this. Try and Try but you'll never understand this.

The lifestyles of the rich and infamous." Ice T

How was your day dear?

Us and Them

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Even fat becomes fiction without adequate ways of seeing "the facts." We do not need theories so much as the experience that is the source of the theory. We can see other people's behavior, but not their experience. The other person's behavior is an experience of mine. I see you. And you see me. I experience you and you experience me. I see your behavior. You see mine, BUT I do not, never have and never will see  your experience of me. I cannot experience you experience. +++

Multiple Choice:

Was this observation:

A) An excerpt from a free paperback I got off a stoop in Brooklyn.

B) The likes of a monologue I gave to a basement full of other 18 year olds on a blotter trip.

C) A looking glass description of my perception of the afternoon. 

If you answered A, B, or C. You would be correct

"Cause all the freaky people make the beauty in the world." M. Franti

God you are so good. This city is so electric. The Hustle. The name of the game. It is so intense to be around so many people who are striving for their dream.

 Making it happen and not leaving room for mediocrity.

I have yet to take a red bus top tour or a central park carriage ride, but I am learning this city through auditions, TV work, interviews, meetings, photo shoots, new jobs and resume drops. Hampton's luncher in Northport, Coney Island Tourist, a Southern Evangelist and now officially the new shop girl at Barney's NY.

I can't decipher between fact or fiction.

Oh Today's photo shoot- One word, hilarious!

2 Looks. Lifestyle Casual and Law and Order serious, made up in Reef flip-flops on the rusty steps of a fire escape overlooking a sun drenched courtyard sanwiched in between four war torn brick walls on 8th avenue. My dual personalities came out with every blink of the shutter. A young doll of a photographer from Rhode Island, a sassy makeup artist from Tampa, and a hungry peach shared a one hit bat and a sun drenched studio space for a couple of hours...all in pursuit of our own personal encounter.

I tell you this does not happen everywhere.

The characters, walks of life, the moments, the experience, the mayhem, the constant hum is enchanting. You gotta want to be here to make it work here.  That is no lie.

Coming down from another balmy day, I found some grass in blooming Central Park . As the breeze blew the fresh green trees, it carried the accordion sound up to where I was sitting, gave cadence to the lush activity passing by, and reminded me to keep my eyes fixed and trust in his plan for me. Because it's all happening."

++The Politics of Experience R. D. Laing

If you modify your behavior,  do you comprise your experience?

Pep Rally Root

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"You gotta Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. 

Latch on to the affirmative. No don't mess with Mister in Between." 

Bing Crosby

Or as my new friend Christian would say..."Uh. Choose Joy. Choose Joy."

That is exactly the message that Evangelical Houston pastor Joel Osteen brought to tens of thousands of Christ believers from 2nd base of Yankee Stadium last night. A packed express train to 161st street was just the foreplay to the giddiness that would unfold on the breezy 80 degree night under the lights in celebration of our Risen King.

Osteen ministers to a rather large (40 thousand) congregation at Lakewood Church in Texas with millions of followers tuning in to his televised sermon which reaches 95% of US households.

Again, there was no lacking in the New York City body of Christians lifting their hearts and hands and turning their eyes up to the saving grace and endless mercy of the Lord.

Oh...

He brought the corny. His voice was country. But his charisma, undeniable.

Preaching prosperity and favor. The resounding theme of the night. HOPE.

And why are we all enduring and trekking through this intense adversity?  It is leading each and every one of us equipped and loaded children of God to our ultimate and divine destiny. He's got plans. And we got to follow through y'all. Better days are coming right along.

The tide of the battle can turn....let's roll.

Here is the premise. If you opened your eyes today. That was the Lord handing you another chance to be victorious or another mountain to climb and any day that you spend discouraged is that gift wasted. You can listen to the fear mongers, you can be talked into the doom and gloom or you can choose to experience a blessed and prosperous day stretched to the brink of unimaginable riches. It's a simple choice really. You are in the palm of his hand and when your attitude of encouragement and inspiration is evident, that's when God is going to show up.

Osteen told us last night if we make a move. God will meet us.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he told the men to move the stone.

Why? He could have moved it himself, but he asked his believers to act on faith.

If we do the natural, he'll do the supernatural.

If we do the ordinary, He will do the extraordinary. 

Catching my face on the hi def  jumbo tron in center field with hands clapping and a smile from ear to ear, I thought this is the only time I'll be rooting for the home team.

Go Jesus! 

If faith is about stretching.

Will you go above and beyond your limits?

Blissful Day, Hopeful Night

"By all this we are encouraged." 2 Corinthians 7:13

Mega Morning

Mega Train

Mega Park Slope

Mega Green Bud

Mega Farmers Market

Mega Reunion

Mega Corona

Mega Heat

Mega Bronx 

Mega Church...Mega Hope

Joel Osteen in NYC. 

Glorifying the Mega name of Jesus.

Probably the only time I will walk over Yankee Stadium's threshold for a cool ten spot, let alone sit behind home plate.  Hands raised praising the Lord on the JUMBOTRON.

Mega Blessings.

How great is our God. Sing with me. How great is our God. He's the name about all names. He is worthy of my praise. My heart will sing how great is our God.

Are you doing all that you can, so that HE will do all that you can't?

Pillow Talk

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else." Galatians 6:4

Are you kidding me? Dirty practices. Nasty behavior that the Bush Administration adopted.  Massive investigation and prosecution of individuals who protect us from people whose heart's desire is to harm us. What the hell is it that you want us to do to terrorists who bring us down. 

Talk to them. Shake their hands. Bow to them?

Why should we condemn the very people that are covering our safety.

America is not a Christian nation?

America is not a nation that doesn't gravely punish our wrongdoers.

Check yourself. We didn't get to be the greatest nation on Earth for being otherwise.

Isn't there something else we could throw our attention and energy towards. Oh I don't know, like moving forward? Ceasing the blame game? 

Maybe flicking on the news this morning wasn't the best wake up call for a sleep deprived, opinionated individual gal like myself. 

Alrighty then. Forward Progression.

Red eyed, I read my emails. Turns out I was just offered an exciting new job to write for Pumpsmag.com. They are "blowing the lid" off the fascinating world of high end Gentleman's Clubs. And not the low brow Rockin in Atlanta at Tattletales motley kind. More so the high rollin Macanudo Club where the girls are hot and refined. As a staff writer traveling between NY and Vegas, I am privy to that under world and ALL the luxuries that come with the territory. Fun and Finance. Do you know what this means? "No more floozies, only high class ho's. I'm going platinum." Kid Rock 

Spring has sprung and the juices ARE flowing...

MMmm. I want to write. Maybe I have to sleep on the offer.

In pursuing a dream..Does the end justify the means?