Santa Claus Is A Black Man

He sho' was...at least in Muda's house! LOL

Best & Worst Mother's Day

For all the Mommies, Step-mommies, Grand-mommies, Big Mamas, Madea, Nanas, etc.

Tell us about your best & worst Mother's Day.

The Best - My son (about age 5 at the time) brought home a card he made at school.  I swear to you that card looked as if it had been stepped on, chewed on & cried on, but he gave it to me as if it were the Hope Diamond.  I'm sure the poor card struggled from school on Friday to giving it to me that Sunday.  My Mother's Day breakfast consisted of 2 cold hot dogs & a bowl of Trix...oh & some dandelions he picked from the yard (lol).  I ate my breakfast it like it came from a 4 star establishment & displayed my dandelions on the etagere because my baby did it all by himself.  A day I'll never, ever forget.

The Worst - Mother's Day 1999 - the 1st without my mother.  No one to buy a card & gifts for & no one to call.  The absolute worst.

I *hate* December

I'm not looking for a pity party, just releasing....

Saturday, I attended a home-going service for my BFF's grandmother.  Afterwards, I went to my mother & sister's grave and had a good long cry with my 2 BFF's right by my side.  {Boyfriend wanted to go, but he can't stand to see Superwoman cry so I told him I had who I needed and would be OK....and I was.}

I've lost way too many people I love in this 10 day span of the calendar, including but not limited to:  my daddy, mother, sister, a boyfriend, an aunt, an uncle and grandmother (the last 3 were not my blood-my BFF's-but they were my family all the same).

I did some shopping for gifts today hoping it would lift my spirits, but I guess my spirit just ain't feeling it.

Next December, good Lord willing & the creek don't rise, I'll be on somebody's all-inclusive resort or cruise ship. 

I Luv Halloween!

Yep!  I'm 30+ years young & I Luv Halloween! 

In my book, Halloween is not a celebration of something wicked, but a time for kids to be kids & have a lil fun.....even if the fun includes swords, bedsheets & fangs.

As a child, my mother & grandparents made a huge ordeal out of every holiday, including Halloween.  I really do miss those times, but will always cherish the memories.

On Halloween, we always went trick or treating or to a party.   My mother couldn't bake worth a damn, but Muda could!   We always made all kinds of cakes, cookies & candies, while Muda supervised.  Papa always requested to taste test our creations & we passed every time.  Now that I think of it, some of that stuff was crap, but he never let on that it didn't please his palate.

I can remember being dressed as  Cinderella, Minnie Mouse, a cheerleader, and my all time fav, Witchy B (my mom came up with that one so don't even ask).   My sister, you know the one with 5 kids, was such a tomboy, she was always a ball player, a pirate, monster or something I considered boyish.

I wish I had the photos, but I don't, as they are (as I've been lead to believe) being held hostage in my uncle's ex-wife basement (along with all of my grandmothers photo albums).....I digress.

I can also remember Papa carving out the pumpkins - one for me & one for my sister.   My grandparents didn't do cartoons, so that's where my mom came in.  She'd pop popcorn & we'd make trail-mix like concoctions with the popcorn, red hot riplets, cheetos & whatever else we would find.  We'd curl up in her bed & watch Halloween cartoons. 

All in all my Halloween experiences have left me with nothing but a lifetime of pleasant memories.

Happy Grandparent's Day!

It's Grandparents Day & since my maternal grandparents have long gone to glory, I'll use this media to express my appreciation for them.

If you've ever paid attention to anything I've ever said, you know who Muda & Papa are. My {biological} Grandfather (Muda's 3rd husband) died when my mother was 5. Papa was Muda's 4th husband.

Muda is the person mostly responsible for me being who I am today. My Grandfather is, of course, partly responsible for my mere existence, but Papa was the influential father figure in my life.

Now that I'm grown and have major appreciation for what they did for me, I know they were heaven sent & owe all that I am to them!

On another note, I never knew my paternal grandfather. I think he died before I was born. I only recall seeing my paternal grandmother twice & I never really knew her. Sad to say, she's also dead but there was no loss to me (another blog for another day).

In closing,

HAPPY GRANDPARENT'S DAY

to all the

Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Mudas, Papas,

Big Mamas, Big Daddies, G-Maws & Pawpaws everywhere!

Fireworks PLUS Bad @$$ Kids EQUALS

TROUBLE!!

There's only one thing I hate more than bad ass kids & that's bad ass kids with fireworks!  They get on my last nerve with this mess. 

Tell me why this lil silly ass boychild was running down the street, chasing another lil silly ass boychild with a lit and firing Roman Candle?!?!?!?!  This lil bastard obviously had no idea of the damage he could cause!

I'm trying to figure out how they get fireworks that last for days, but mama can't pay her utility bills, phone is probably disconnected & we (the hardworking taxpayers) have to buy her damn groceries via the almighty foodstamp.  *smdh*  Come next week, her ass will be over at Catholic Charities because of the gas & electric bill pink slips.

She can't pay the Lawnmower Man to cut what is supposed to be grass in that fucked up yard of hers, but Jr. is about to blow the whole damn neighborhood up!

I know we shouldn't wish ill on any one, but I have to be honest & say that for a fleeting moment I wished that damn candle would've exploded in his lil dumb ass hand.

Oh, did I mention, the City of St. Louis outlawed the use of fireworks a few years back after a few very costly & unfortunate accidents?  Yeah.....

I need a drink......

 

Happy Father's Day to all the Real Fathers/Real Men!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy, Grandfather & Papa!

Frankie B. (1943-1973), my daddy, died when I was a less than 2 years old, so I never got the chance to really get to know him & I only have a few vague memories of him. However, my mother, aunt (his sister) and Muda & Papa made sure I knew who was. For that, I'll be eternally grateful. My daddy was a great father who adored his 1st born (me!) & a wonderful husband. I think that's why my mother never remarried. No one could replace my daddy. I have to admit that I still get angry sometimes about things that are out of my control & sometimes ask myself, "Why did my daddy have to die?!"

On a brighter note, I was lucky enough to have this man, Mr. Hugh Luther Jones (1903-1991) aka Papa aka Big Daddy. He was Muda's 4th husband & 13 years her senior. Her 3rd husband, Mr. Crawford Isaiah Saddler (1917-1957), was my biological grandfather & he passed when my mom was 5 years old.

Papa never had any biological children, but you'd never know it from the way he loved and accepted Muda's offspring. He loved his family, baseball, fishing, boxing (he got me into it) & hunting.

When I got pregnant, like Muda, he was heartbroken. So much so, I couldn't stand to look him in the face. I once overheard him tell Muda, "I don't know what she's gonna do, 'cause I'm done taking care of chi'rren". I was devastated. However, once my son was born, I couldn't tear him away from Papa. They were inseparable. I think him being a boy played a huge part, since our family is female dominated.

He was also your typical, grumpy old man. He had all these crazy sayings & most I forgot or never really understood what they meant. His favorite quote was, "Y'all gon' miss me when I'm gone." I'm here to testify, that he ain't never lied! I miss him so very much.

Now that I think of it, my Daddy & Papa are probably one of the reasons why I'm still single. I know what a real man is.

Happy Easter!

That's yours truly on Easter in '76 (I think). 

Long gone are my days of anticipation of the infamous Easter Bunny, my goodie filled baskets & cute dresses for church on Sunday. 

In my old age, I know the true meaning of Easter - The Resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Even though I was raised in a Christian/Baptist household &  remain spiritual, I'm no bible scholar, but am curious about something - Why is Easter never on the same Sunday?

Who's in the Office Today?

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

It's Good Friday & we always close up shop at 3:00 pm.

What about you?

New Year Resolutions.....

I know I can keep!

1. Do not lose weight. Hell, I might even gain a few lbs., staying fat, fine & fabulous!

2. Cuss often. Let these !#%$& know I ain't no joke!

3. Wait until I'm down to my last pair of good panties, before doing the laundry.

4. Eat cookie dough right out of the package.

5. Fry everything! Chicken, pork, beef, fish, potatoes, etc.

6. Drink more! My bottles are too busy collecting dust. Cheeeeeeeeers!

7. Eat more homemade desserts! They're better for you than store bought, right? Right!

8. Entertain countless dead-end 'lationships. A girl can never have too many broken hearts, right?

9. Oversleep daily & arrive to work late 4 out of 5 days of the week. It ain't like the work is gonna leave if I'm not there on time, right?

10. Start to clean my house on Saturday, do 1 or 2 things, sit down, log on, pop in a DVD & completely waste the entire day.

These are the things I know I can do successfully in 2008 & beyond!

 

New Years Eve 2007

What are your plans for NYE? 

Since we are definitely feeling the effects of global warming in the STL metro area,  I'd like to go out for some grown folks fun, but Negros can't seem to let the "shoot out the old and shoot in the new" tradition go, I'd have to sleep wherever I go.  I live in the hood and it'll be like bombs over Baghdad 'round here.  Wherever I am when the sun sets is where I'll be.

This photo was taken NYE 2004....I had a ball!!

A Gift for Monni

A year or so ago, Deedles, a cyber-buddy & fellow group member turned friend, sent everyone she knows in our group cybergifts. It was too cute & she posted for all to see.

Those of us she knows personally, she picked items that were specific to us. For those she doesn't know she gave cybercash. I got some fly ass red maribou slippers & an aromatherapy gift set. Thanks Dee! **gotta get those slippers**

Now, if you could get me one (1) tangible Christmas gift (yeah I'm being selfish), what would it be? ....spare no expense, as money is no object in cyberworld.

Oh and the pic above is very fuzzy but it's very dear to me. It's me {Pumpkin...nickname given the day I was born by my Papa} and The Jones' - Dorothy Mae aka Muda....my granny & {in the background, probably sippin' on a lil something} Hugh Luther aka Papa....my grandpa. I love & miss them both.

Original 360 Post

I Luv Halloween!

 

Yep!  I'm 35 years young & I Luv Halloween! 

The photo above is me, my sister & her kids hanging out during "Boo at the Zoo".  The St. Louis Zoo decorates every year & provides a safe & fun environment for the kids to enjoy.

In my book, Halloween is not a celebration of something wicked, but a time for kids to be kids & have a lil fun.....even if the fun includes swords, bedsheets & fangs.

As a child, my mother & grandparents made a huge ordeal out of every holiday, including Halloween.  I really do miss those times, but will always cherish the memories.

On Halloween, we always went trick or treating or to a party.   My mother couldn't bake worth a damn, but Muda could!   We always made all kinds of cakes, cookies & candies, while Muda supervised.  Papa always requested to taste test our creations & we passed every time.  Now that I think of it, some of that stuff was crap, but he never let on that it didn't please his palate.

I can remember being dressed as  Cinderella, Minnie Mouse, a cheerleader, and my all time fav, Witchy B (my mom came up with that one so don't even ask).   My sister, you know the one with 5 kids, was such a tomboy, she was always a ball player, a pirate, monster or something I considered boyish.

I wish I had the photos, but I don't, as they are (as I've been lead to believe) being held hostage in my uncle's ex-wife basement (along with all of my grandmothers photo albums).....I digress.

I can remember Papa carving out the pumpkins - one for me & one for my sister.   My grandparents didn't do cartoons, so that's where my mom came in.  She pop popcorn & we'd make trail-mix like concoctions with the popcorn, red hot riplets, cheetos & whatever else we would find.  We'd curl up in her bed & watch Halloween cartoons. 

All in all my Halloween experiences have left me with nothing but a lifetime of pleasant memories.

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

 

Fat Albert

Disney's Halloween

Grinch's Halloween