I have imported my blog posts from the days of Multiply and I also post my writings from my Weight Watchers blog. I hope to inspire someone and I hope to continually inspire myself. I welcome your comments. Excuse the language in the older posts, I have evolved....some, LOL.
I love old movies, especially black movies, but they're so hard to find. Not blaxpoitation movies of the 70's, but movies from the 30's - 60's.
I ran across this on YouTube. It's only 1 out of 6, but very interesting if you have the time to watch.
Portrait - Here We Go Again
I was watching Family Matters last night and they performed at the Junior Prom
I don't know about you, but the last few days haven't been easy for me. Do me a favor. Get up out of your seat. Close your office door. Turn up the volume, press play and take a break with me.
Don't think about anything else but getting your groove on while this is playing.
It's not going to solve anything, but dammit for a few minutes everything's on hold!
Chicago Tribune: Ill. Gov. Blagojevich in federal custody
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been taken into federal custody at his home, the Chicago Tribune reported on Tuesday citing unnamed sources.
The newspaper said on its website that the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago would not confirm the information.
Blagojevich was the subject of a federal corruption probe.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6545958
I am providing a link to the transplant information on the site of the hospital I will have the surgery at when the time comes, but I called and got some additional information today.
For the 1st round of testing, possible donors need to call Barnes Kidney Transplant Division (after I turn in my application) at 1-866-867-3627. They will give the required information over the phone and be sent a packet. If they live out of town (from St. Louis), they will also be sent a kit for their blood to be drawn locally and sent back via prepaid package.
If they prove to be a good possible match, there will be further blood tests done, chest xrays, EKG and for women a pap and mammogram. Which can also be done at a local hospital or if those tests have already been done recently, they will send a packet out which will include a letter for their doctor's office to fax the information they need.
If the possible donor passes those tests and it looks like the match will be a good one, a third series of tests will be done at Barnes. It will be a 1/2 day of tests that will be paid for by Barnes.
(They test 5 donors at a time)
Barnes does NOT pay for travel.
The final eligible donor will go to St. Louis for the surgery and my insurance pays for their hospital stay.
If you're still interested in more information, please go to http://www.barnesjewish.org/transplant/default.asp?NavID=3424
If you're interested, let me know.
Enjoy your holiday weekend, be safe and while you're being thankful for what you have, say a prayer for those who have not.
I've also discovered Facebook. It's very serene over there and I've connected with a few folks from college and reliving some of the best memories.
Anyway, I thought I'd hop over to Classmates.com to check my inbox. I really haven't been over there since just after my 20th class reunion in 2006. I have a couple of messages, one in particular kinda got to me.
Now this chick and I were tight in high school, but plain and simple, she was a ho. Her mom worked nights and after her older sister fell asleep at night, she'd sneak out and spend the night with whoever. It's funny. They say birds of a feather, but I wasn't getting my hump on like that! I mean I thought that's how I shoulda spent my 16th birthday, but shoot, it was so exciting **STRONG SARCASM** that I didn't get hot in the ass for sex like that at all. I was dealing with one person. She dealt with many and at 37 has a 23 year old, a 21 year old and a 16 year old.
I'm getting off track though, but I did have to explain her background a little to explain the title.
She looked through a few photos I posted on Classmates then sent me a note. This is what it says:
Hey Baby Girl!
I am cool. I am living in the Metro East Area ( Saint Louis). It is okay. I really do not deal with too many people but I am straight. So how old are the boys? I seen their pics. They are so sexy and are big. Yea, ***** is 23 years old and act like *****, LOL.
****** is 21 and **** is 16 years old and is cross between me and ********.(my ex-husband)
So are you married yet? I will never marry again. I rather be single than deal with bullshit. How is your love life now? Keep your head up like alkways. Igotta go.
You still my girl!
Now I always enjoy visiting with old friends and acquaintences, but if I see this one, I'mma have to brandish a weapon. Did you catch why? (I know my friends who are mothers definitely will).
Am I overreacting?
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees
the neighbor hang up the wash outside.
'That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how to wash
correctly. Perhaps she needs another laundry soap.
The husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang out the wash, the young woman would
make the same comment.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash
on the line and said to her husband, 'Look! she has learned how to wash
correctly. I wonder who taught her this?
Her husband said, 'I got up early this morning and washed the
windows."
And so it is with life: What we see while watching others, depends on
the purity of the window through which we look through. 
I can't remember who it was and I don't think I'd want to take up all their space anyway ('sides, it's high time I actually wrote another post).
I have deleted probably a dozen folks since I first got on Ply. I have 5 people blocked as we speak.
The number one reason that I'll delete someone is inactivity on their part. I'm not talking about a week or two, I'm talking months. If it's been 2 or more months since you've posted something or logged in, what's the point?
If the stuff you talk about is stupid as hell, you're likely to get deleted.
If you resort to calling people names on my posts, your comment will definitely get deleted and depending on how ignorant things get, you may just get blocked (#1 block).
If you creep me out regularly, you'll likely get deleted.
If I feel that you're connected with me to check up on someone else, you'll get blocked.
If you appear to be a fake page, you'll get blocked.
You don't have to agree with my beliefs, but if you ridicule me because of what I believe in, you can kiss it.
If you ridicule others because they don't believe what you believe, you're useless to me. I try to learn from others, but I don't have to listen to you rant because "folks don't wanna play with the toys" the way you say they should.
If you continuously send out mass pm's and I have to keep hitting the x because I'm not interested, you'll eventually get axed.
If you are negative ALL the damn time and you're robbing me of my positivity each time I visit your spot? See ya!!
It's not complicated. It's mostly common sense. If you were the one who asked the question or if you know who it was, let me know please.
I thought that it was the norm that Ex Offenders were not allowed to vote period, but I was VERY wrong and if you know of any and they're registered, let them know what the deal is.
(O, I bet you thought I forgot, huh? 
Criminal Offenders: Who Can Vote?
Though criminal records can impact citizens' voting eligibility, voting laws vary from state to state. In Maine and Vermont, all prisoners and ex-offenders can vote, while in Kentucky and Virginia, convicted felons permanently lose their eligibility. Currently, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are prohibited from voting because of a felony conviction.
States where prisoners, probationers and parolees can vote-Vermont and Maine
States where probationers and parolees may vote-Oregon, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Massachusetts plus Washington D.C.
States where only probationers may vote-California, Colorado, South Dakota, Connecticut and New York
States where all people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence-Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alaska.
States where only some people with felony convictions can vote-Check state election boards for qualifications-Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Mississippi, Delaware, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.
States where all people with felony convictions are permanently disenfranchised-Kentucky and Virginia.
Information from the October 6, 2008 edition of Jet Magazine www.ebonyJET.com
| As the economy struggles, it may be an opportunity for you to "buy low" on holiday airfare. Here's what's happening: |
Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide A company spokeswoman said the company hasn't revealed which stores will be shuttered. It will let the stores that will close this fiscal year know ove r r the next month
Eddie Bauer to close more stores
Eddie Bauer has already closed 27 shops in the first quarter and plans to close up to two more outlet st ores by the end of the year.
Cache closing stores
Women's retailer Cache announced that it is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide The owner of retailers Lane Bryant , Fashion Bug , Catherines Plus Sizes will close about 150 underperforming stores this year.
The company hasn't provided a list of specific store closures and can't say when it will offer that info, spokeswoman Brooke Perry said today.
Talbots, J. Jill closing stores
About a month ago, Talbots announced that it will be shuttering all 78 of its kids and men's stores. Now the company says it will close another 22 underperforming stores.. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women's and J. Jill , another chain it owns. The closures will occur this fiscal year, according to a company press release.
Gap Inc. closing 85 stores
In addition to its namesake chain, Gap also owns Old Navy and BananaRepublic . The company said the closures - all planned for fiscal 2008 - will be weighted toward the Gap brand.
Foot Locker to close 140 stores
In the company press release and during its conference call with analysts today, it did no t specify where the future store closures - all plan ned in fiscal 2008 - will be. The company could n ot be immediately reached for comment
Wickes is going out of business
Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores, Wickes, a 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
Goodbye Levitz / BOMBAY - closed already
The furniture retailer, which is going out of business. Levitz first announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 o f its stores in December. The retailer dat es back to 1910 when Richard Levitz opened his first furniture store in Lebanon , PA. In the 1960s, the warehouse/showroom concept brought Levitz to the forefront of the furniture industry. The local Levitz closures will follow the shutdown of Bombay .
Zales, Piercing Pagoda closing stores
The owner of Zales and Piercing Pagoda previously said it plans to close 82st ores by July 31. Today, it announced that it is closing another 23underperforming stores. The company said it's n ot pro viding a list of specific store closures. Of the 105 locations planned for closure, 50 are kiosks and 55 are stores.
Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores The Walt Disney Company announced it acquired about 220 Disney Stores from subsidiaries of The Children's Place Retail Stores. The exact number of stores acquired will depend on negotiations with landlords. Those subsidiaries of Children's Place filed for bankruptcy protection in late March. Walt Disney in the news release said it has also obtained the right to close about 98 Disney Stor es in the U.S. The press release didn't list those stores.
Home Depot store closings (E. Brunswick, Rt 18 just put up their closing sign)
ATLANTA - Nearly 7+ months after its chief executive said there were noplans to cut the number of its c ore retail stores, The Home Depot Inc.announced Thursday that it is shuttering 15 of them amid a slumping U.S.economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store for performance reasons. Its shares rose almost 5 percent.The Atlanta-based company said the underperforming U.S.stores being closed r epresent less than 1 percent of its existing sto res. They will be shuttered within the next two months.
CompUSA (CLOSED) clarifies details on store closings Any extended warranties purchased for products through CompUSA will be honored by a third-party provider, Assurant Solutions. Gift cards, rain checks, and rebates purchased prior to December 12 can be rede emed at any time during the final sale. For those wh o have a gadget currently in for service with CompUSA, the repair < FONT face=Arial size=3>will be completed and the gadget will be returned to owners.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9834177-7html
< http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9834177-7.html >
Macy's - 9 stores
Movie Gallery - 160 stores as part of reorganization plan to exit
bankruptcyThe video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery
and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental
chain closed last fall.
Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores
Pep Boys - 33 stores
Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locati ons New Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse appears to have inherited a company bleeding subsc ribers by the thousands, and will now officially be dropping the ax on
4,000 e mployees and 125 retail locations. Amid the loss of 639,000 postpaid customers in the fourth quarter, Sprint will be cutting a total of 6.7% of its work force (following the 5,000 layoffs last year) and 8% of company-owned brick-and-mortar stores, while remaining mute on other rumors that it will consolidate its headquarters in Kansas . Sprint Nextel shares are down $2.89, or nearly 25%, at the time of this writing.
J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are scaling back
Ethan Allen Interiors : The company announced plans to close 12 of 300+
stores in an effort to cut costs.
Wilsons the Leather Experts - 158 stores
Pacific Sunwear will close its 154 Demo stores after a review of strategicalternatives for the urban-apparel brand. Seventy-four underperforming Demo stores closed last May.
Sharper Image : The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and an nounced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing. The retailer will still operat e 94 stores to pay off debts, but 90 of these stores have performed poorly and also may close.
Bombay Company: (Freehold Mall store closed) The company unveiled plans to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores. The company's online storefront has discontinued operations.
KB Toys posted a list of 356 stores that it is closing around the United < /FONT>States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. To see the list of store closings, go to the KB Toys Information web site, and click on Press Information
Dillard's to Close More Stores
Dillard's Inc. said it will continue to focus on closing underperforming stores, reducing expenses and improving its merchandise in 2008. At the company's annual shareholder meeting, CEO William Dillard II said the company will close another six underperforming stores this year.
I know here, in the last few years, we've lost The Disney Store, Footlocker, Wilson's Leather and KB Toys...
I FINALLY found a clip of when Guy made the trip here to Charlie Parkers!! Watch and enjoy!
I was on the Davita web site again over the weekend because I was feigning mashed potatoes (I haven't had potatoes since June).
I can't have collard or mustard greens, but can have turnip and kale, so i bought some kale and used smoked pork shanks and tossed it in the slow cooker before I went to bed, with about a teaspoon of sugar, a couple of shakes of season salt and two capfuls of vinegar. Trust me when I say I got up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break and I was eating greens! They were goood! (Actually better than any collards I've fixed).
I got up Sunday morning and prepared the potatoes (see below) and tossed the frozen turkey breast (NO ONE in my household eats dark meat) in the slow cooker before church (I'd taken the greens out, washed it out and put them up).
When I got home, the turkey wasn't quite done, so I hopped into bed and watched the game (go Skins!).
By the time the Bears played, I was feeling like that fat rat on Ratatouille. Ahhhhhhhh
And I did it all over again today for lunch!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Recipe submitted by the DaVita dietitian team.
| Portions | 4 |
| Serving size | 1/2 cup |
| Ingredients |
|
| Preparation |
|
| Nutrients per serving |
* Potassium content taken from reference values for soaking potatoes in large pot of water for 4 hours. |
| Renal and renal diabetic food choices |
|
| Carbohydrate choices
Helpful hints |
|
Someone just told me I had a brake light out. Either the right or the left, one of the two...
When does it end?
Every time you flip the channel, you see another new reality show.
Cooking, cleaning, modeling, sewing, dancing, working for Diddy, dressing with Bentley, cutting people's hair, grooming dog's hair, dating, money, folks with random misdemeanors. No shit, I even saw a reality show on the Golf Channel last night.
But this right here took the cake.
Total Drama Island is the new cartoon reality show
ARRRRRRRRRGH!! I love TV Land...
I am tying the knot! I am tying the knot! I am tying the know! I am tying the knot!
I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your continued support. Some of you may already know this or had some kind of idea but my apologies for such short notice. I wanted to keep this low key until everything was in place but I hope you all support me on this.
After much prayer and hesitation I am finally tying the knot. It was actually planned for October 2008 however due to some unresolved issues the date is moved to April 2009. So mark your calendars because I would love to see you there..
I know this is out of the blue and a very big surprise but with all due respect please don't flood me with a lot of questions.
You are getting this invite because I want you to be there. I have attached the invitation which contains information you all need to know including pictures. Please consider attending & blessing me with your presence.
Love you all,
Deedles
GOTCHA!!! LOL
Who's had the surgery?
How was the process for you?
Are you glad you had it?
Did you opt for the plastic surgery post Bypass?
Who has considered it?
This time last year I considered gastric bypass, then changed my mind a little later to considering the lap band procedure.
Reason being, in order to even be considered for the kidney transplant list, I needed to lose a total of 100 lbs. That seemed so unrealistic to me that I thought that surgery was my only answer.
Rewind to Thanksgiving 2007. My boss challenged the staff to a Fit Club type contest. Everyone who participated paid a fee of $10 and had to weigh in with the most honest/most secretive employee and whoever lost the most weight at the end of the contest won the money.
I was amped about winning, but I really didn't think I could do it. After all, I'd tried losing weight so many times and never lost more than 10 and before I knew it, that 10 would be right back.
Well this time I didn't "diet", I changed my eating habits. I still hit Mickey D's almost daily, but instead of a value meal, I'd order a grilled chicken Caesar salad or a fish sandwich and a fruit & walnut salad or if I felt the need to have a "complete" meal, I'd order a Happy Meal.
I did eat Smart Ones for lunch, accompanied with some extra vegetables (that stuff don't make you full and you know it!) and lo and behold, I started losing weight!
I was still working at the Y at the time, so I had free access to the women's health center, the nautilus room and water aerobics classes and at the final weigh-in, I'd lost a total of 25 lbs and won the money!
Fast forward to February of this year. The doctor scheduled the surgery to have the fistula put in my arm because my kidneys showed no signs of getting healthier. I found out that in March, our insurance would change, to include surgical weight loss options, with a co-pay of $5000 and again I considered it.
Then I got a real strong case of vanity because I couldn't imagine being happy at say 150 lbs. with all the fatty flab hanging, especially when the removal of that is considered cosmetic and not covered under my policy. So I didn't.
Fast forward yet again, to July 2008. I began dialysis and miraculously lost 25 lbs. in the first month. I had to adhere to an even stricter diet than before and the end result was favorable even without me trying.
I believe I have plateaued because I've been at a steady weight now for about 3 weeks.
Honestly, the first 50 was a snap. I know this second 50 will be some work, especially since the winter months will be here soon.
I'm up for it.
Have you lost a considerable amount of weight (25 or more)?
Hell, have you lost a minimal amount of weight? How did you do it?
Here's your chance to brag!
I like this one better.
Who's Been Paying Attention?
(Red started it, O continued it and since he blamed me I'm doin' it too)
List 5 things off the top of your head that you can say you know about me or something I like or just anything about me.. I wanna know whose been paying attention to me...
Got this one from Toysoldier1913
Used my gubment name and screenname and I'm almost shamed to say how accurate it is!
| What's Sexy About Your Name |
 You are very passionate and intense. You tend to become obsessed with whoever you're interested in. You carry this intensity into the bedroom. You are a highly sexual person. In fact, you can be a bit too much for some people. You demand a lot, physically. You are very possessive of your partner. You definitely don't share. You can get jealous quite easily. You don't like anyone else taking up too much of your partner's time. |
I'm sorry but each new fetish I learn about just floors me.
On the way to work, the morning show hosts were cracking on another host for one of his fetishes.
Check it out. It's a clean link. http://casterz.com/
| Your Brain is 53% Female, 47% Male |
 You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve |
| Your Interpersonal Intelligence Score: 64% |
 You are definitely a "people person." You enjoy spending time with others. You instinctively understand people, and you are both a good counsellor and mediator. However, there are definitely times when you've had enough. And that's when you cherish being alone. |
| You Are 85% Kinky |
 You're open to any and all sexual experiences, as long as they're safe. You see the bedroom as the primary place for all your adventures. But that's not to say that the bedroom is the only place you get kinky! |
Get gas while you can. They're going to be blocking the gas lines because of the hurricanes.
I woke up Sunday morning feeling rather sad. It was the day I had to fly back to Milwaukee, gather my kids and drive home.
I'm always sad when I leave the east coast, no matter where I am (I fell in love with Virginia a looong time ago), but I was really sad because I was going to miss the get together at Q's that evening.
I had yet to see Unka Kardio, so I called him so I could at least talk to him. He was in the vicinity, so he said he'd stop by.
We talked for a bit and as he was about to leave, he said he'd see me that evening. I said no, my flight leaves at 5:50. He said WHAT?!?! You're not staying? Why not?
Well, my sister had my kids and she still wanted Sunday and Monday to herself. So I was going to have to miss meeting the rest of the NY crew that I hadn't met yet.
I was going to miss seeing my best friend Harmony.
I was going to miss another one of Q's get togethers.
Unka K told me I needed to get my ticket changed. I told him I didn't have the money. He asked how much it would cost. I told him I didn't know. Plus I didn't know if my sister would keep the kids another day. He told me to ask. Q chimed in that Sis probably wouldn't want to keep the Bay Bay's another day. I told him to shut up because my kids aren't bad.
I dialed my sister's number and it rang one time and she answered " COME GET THESE KNEEGROWS!!!!
I said I guess you don't want to keep em another day, huh? Evidently she'd allowed them to sit together in church (a definite no-no) and they got into a smackfest (I'd bet money the 16 year old started it) during service.
I again asked if she wanted to keep them another day...as she said no, Q said "There's $XX in it for you!" as I waited for her to say heck no, she actually said "I want my $XX the second the plane touches down!" I told her it still depended on how much it was going to cost to get the tickets switched and I'd let her know.
One hurdle down, one to go. I got Air Tran on the phone and found out how much it would cost to switch the ticket and I told Unka Kardio and he said "No problem." and handed part of it to me on the spot, Unka Q handed me the remainder so I stay I did.
*Moment of Reflection*
That should be a plural, because no matter what some folks might think, the Uncle's took care of me in a way that my family likely wouldn't. They looked out for me from the time my plane landed at BWI, to the second it took off. Thank you:
(and that's ESS TEE OH, not STOW)
Last, but not least
for taking me to the airport at 4 am. (We're good ya'll)
Now...about this party...I got to meet so many people, it was ridiculous. The first thing I noticed is that the men were waaaaay finer than their pics showed and the ladies were much prettier (I still say I have the best looking contacts ever!) I got to meet forever smiling LadyJey, Sugashock, CarribeanBoy, I mean Toy (the bartender), Sugawallz, Blaqluv, Nae, Vera (tha chef, swear she put all 10 of her toes in that mac n cheese!) and ALoveSupreme in addition to the folks I already knew or had met earlier in the day!
When I say we clowned...I don't know what CarribeanToy put in those drinks, but Deedles showed her ass (literally or figuratively you ask? What happens at Q's stays at Q's). At the end of the evening it was all good though.
We bowled some kick ass games on the Wii (I think the result will be at least 3 people will be purchasing one soon).
Nae and Q together? You'd do very well not to eat or drink in their presence, lest you know someone around you knows the Heimlich maneuver.
Before I conclude, I just have 2 more things to say...
A & C and HOUSEKEEPIIIIIIIIING!!!
Don't even try...you had to be there!
