10 books to read this summer

So occurring to my summer list I posted earlier, I am suppose to read 3 books this summer. However since I am adding an additional day to my "NO TV day", I have pushed it up to 10 books. Some books are serious intellectual food for the brain and some are junk food/candy for the brain! Have to have your balance.

1. The African Origin of Civilization by Cheikh Anta Diop. So I am reading this one because I have this thirst for history and where I (my people) actually came from. I had been searching for this book and kind of put it on the back burner, but thanks for Tasha212 I realize I needed to read it now. Thanks girl!!!

2. Boaz Brown by Michelle Stimpson. My co-worker suggested that I read this book because she loved it. I really was not interested in reading fiction and for the last 2 years I read self help, informative, spiritual, and history books. However something reading too much serious stuff can be a drag.

3. Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington
4. Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois
5. Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass by Fredrick Douglass
Well because they should be a requirement for EVERYONE!!!

6. Get Your Own Damn Beer, I'm Watching the Game! by Holly Robinson Peete
Well I love football and need to brush up on the technicalities of the game. Plus it doesn't hurt to have the knowledge of the game when it comes to men!!! Love it when a women can talk sports and ACTUALLY knows what she is talking about!!! Got to brush up before football season starts!

7. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubne

Interesting book with interesting material. Cannot wait to find out why drug dealers buy a Lexus, but still live in the projects with they mama (maybe they hood). Also would like to know why they say that a real estate agent and a KKK Klansman has major similarities.

8. Just Too Good to be True by E. Lynn Harris. Well because I read EVERY book written by this man. My guilty pleasure. Comes out July 15, 2008. 9. Trading Up by Candace Bushnell
It was $2.00 at my fav store (Plato's Closet) and its written by the Sex and the City creator. I am hoping that its great since I am trying to get into "Chick Lit" (white girl books - sorry but true). If its not, well I only paid 2 bucks.

10. Lovers & Players by Jackie Collins. Well you always hear about her and how great her books are, so I was like, "What the hell?" Plus it has black characters in this one and it was $3 at Borders. Question? Why the book with black characters got to be called, "Lovers & Players"?

Honorable Mention: Time lines of World History

I think this is going to be my favorite history book. There are pages that fold out, but the best thing about this book is that it has the history of the whole world, not just Europe, but also Africa, the Americas (before anyone had sailed over here), and Australia to name just the few that I can remember right now. It lists them all side-by-side, so if you want to see what happened in Africa during the time when Elizabeth I was Queen, then it shows you right on the page. Going to use this book to incorporate my study of world history (the real version - not want the GOVERNMENT want us to know! LOL).

The SEVEN Habits of HAPPY PEOPLE

So I was looking through my July 2008 Essence magazine (Pg. 107), and as I was flipping through and reading articles (which seems to be the same thing every other month), I came across something great. Since I have been going through my “woe is me” period, I think that this is a perfect way to start incorporating things in my life that will bring happiness. While writing this blog entry (during commercials of the BET Awards – major disappointment by the way) I realize that I am actually doing these things. So why aren’t I happier? Well I have come to the conclusion that I talk a good game, but never practice what I preach. So here goes…..Last result before going to a head doc.

Actually my #1 will be giving all my problems to God and the entry I wrote about on 6/19/08.

1. Hang out with joyful people.
The article suggests finding five POSITIVE interactions for every ONE NEGATIVE interaction. What? How am I going to do that? LOL. Nah it basically means surround yourself with positive individuals. Those who lift you up not let you down.

2. Move consistently toward your goals.
STAY ON THE PATH!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Meditate on your blessings.
Instead of the “woe is me”, I need to be thankful that I woke this morning because somebody did not!!!

4. Be good to yourself.
Basically eat right (currently going through a 9 day detox – its day 2 and I am needing a piece of meat!!!), exercise (finally started my program so that I can run the 5k for Labor day AND every other Friday I have a YOGA session!!! – I am going to be TOO sexy by my 26th birthday which is September 9th), and mentally (doing this shoot).

5. Connect, connect, and connect.
I think that this is basically number one. It’s just saying surround yourself with people and establish relationships with family and friends.

6. Go to church.
The article states that individuals that go to church (any faith) are happier than people who do not go or go once or twice a month. Now I am not the one to talk about this (I have an opinion on organized religion vs. spirituality – later post), but I say that for the last 2 months I did not attend church and when I stepped into the church last Sunday, I just had this calmness come over me. Now the word was good (mainly directed at the men), but it was just being in the house of the Lord that just made me feel good. Again for a later time.

7. Give—and forgive.
Now this one is a HARD one, I am constantly working on this one. I have a hard time forgiving people who have wrong me. However I was told that if you can not forgive someone, why do you expect God to forgive you of your wrong doing. With that being said, this is a constant battle. Even today at work, I had a bad day and for a minute I considered revenge and I thought about not talking (unless work related) to the individual. However where would that get me? I would be the one miserable, and along with giving power me, she would not even know that I am over at my cube all mad and booted up!!! LOL WOW. The power of the mind.

Made my day!! LOL

So I think this is sooooo FUNNY!!! I think we all know someone who "switch".



Again..... To funny. I literally was crying. I needed a good laugh like this. My people My people.

Greetings Everyone!!!!!

Since my last blog entry, God has truly reminded me that it is in Him I MUST live and move. through. Putting my trust into anything or anyone other than Him proves to be unacceptable. I have also realized that in order to truly have a new reality, I have to have a change in outlook. '

By not seeking revenge last weekend and truly ignoring the situation, I gain power over the situation. That was my “revenge” so to speak. I killed them with kindness. I just let it go and concentrated on me and my happiness.

I feel my biggest challenge is not picturing my future, but becoming comfortable with the “right now” and seeing it the way God does. I am trying to look past my circumstances and know that God’s has the finish plan.

With preparing for the LSAT, trying to start a business, and the UNNECESSARY drama, my life was filled with chaos and anxiety. However as of Monday (right after I finished taking the LSAT) I am choosing to visualize my today and future as calm, stimulating and fulfilling.

Friday Evaluation

If this week wasn't stressful enough, today I hit an all time LOW. Its not even 8am yet!!!! So as I sit at work writing this, trying to hold back tears from the pain that I MYSELF have caused, I feel that I am at my lowest and have nowhere to go but UP.

Nevertheless I am on my way to Louisiana this weekend for Father's Day and to take the LSAT exam. I really hope that my trip will cheer me up, but the root to some of my current pain lives in Louisiana.

How do you guys feel about revenge? I just want someone to feel the pain I am feeling, especially if you cause it. Nevertheless when I go home I am going to try to stay as positive as I can and not resort to any negative behavior. I have to perfect way to get back at this individual, but I am going to try with ALL MY MIGHT not to do it. OHHHHH BUT HOW I WANT TO!!!

If what they say is true.......

Jay Z and others are always saying the following:

Thirties are the new twenties!

If that is so then I want to be 16 FOREVER because my twenties are kicking my a**!!!!!

Hey everybody!!!

I am taking 5 steps back yall............Send a pray up for me. PLEASE!!

Black Love

I notice it as soon as they did it, but Young Black Professional Guide had the picture.

The best day I have had in awhile!!!!

Before talking about my joyous day, let me just say that on Friday night I went and saw "Sex and the City" and loved it!!!!

So Saturday I went to a crawfish boil and had the time of my life!!! A friend of a friend who is also from Louisiana went back home and purchase 200 pounds of crawfish!!!! MAN......I was eating crawfish from 6 something til damn near 10pm. We did not leave the gathering until 2am. It just felt great to be around individuals who were missing the same things. We just talked about how different and special Louisiana is and how much we miss it. However since Louisiana has a horrible job market, everyone agreed that even though we miss it, we cannot go back.

So there you have it, this day could not have came at a better time.