Sepia's Sanctuary

Phoenix Rising!

2011-01-22T05:49:00.002-05:00

It's been 4 LONGGGGGG years since my last post and I made some very critical decisions regarding this blog. It has always been in my internet closet like a soft blanket needed during a cool afternoon. I would refer to it, read it, link it to someone and put it back up on the shelf..... until now.

What sparked my creative rebirth? Wow, where do I start? Since February of 2009, I have been visiting, (and virtually living), on a site called Second Life. It is AMAZING to say the least, and that is where my NEW alter ego was born. Her name is Ambrosia Kamala, (see next post). I adore her and my "Second" Life.

Ironically, the Phoenix pictured here represents my ascent back into blogging, but also the "viewer" or program that I use on Second Life (SL). This program has allowed me to expand my already imaginative expressiveness in a virtual environment. But I will talk about that in the coming posts.

Buckle up, It's gonna be a bumpy ride :)

*Brosia* / Sepia

A New Year - A New You!

2007-01-01T10:23:00.000-05:00

My message for the new year is to take the time to dig introspectively, shed baggage (financial, physical, spiritual and emotional), and give thanks for 2006 blessings and even the trials. Open your hearts to receive the newness of 2007 to receive God's blessings AND lessons that HE will bestow on us.

"YOU do the POSSIBLE and let GOD do the IMPOSSIBLE"

God bless you all into 2007 and foreva more.

Sepialove \0/

Rest in Peace

2006-12-26T18:04:00.000-05:00

(1933 - 2006)

We have lost another legend. But can you imagine the jam session up in Heaven? I hope the pearly gates are soundproofed. Rest in Peace, my brother.

God bless you Mr. Brown.

2006-12-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Hudson - One Night Only (Today Show)

I can't WAIT to see Dreamgirls! Jennifer Hudson is the MAIN reason I want to see this. Sang you SONG chile! Now THIS is a DREAMGIRL!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2006-12-16T08:34:00.000-05:00

It doesn't get better than this! *lol*

Remember This........

2006-12-14T07:10:00.000-05:00

Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

No speeches here. Just a reminder as you go about your day, think about those that may not be as fortunate as you. Reach out to family, friends and even those that may need a kind word or a smile to melt the brokenness in their hearts.

If you are going through a storm, give God the praise and glory for what you DO have. I know that when I'm depressed, the quickest way for me to shake off the gloom and doom is to help someone else.

Visit a nursing home, shelter or Children's hospital, take some small gifts, spend some time talking to those that can't get out.
Donate toys, clothing, or other needed items to the less fortunate.
Go Christmas Caroling!
Make some Christmas cookies
Treat someone to lunch, or have someone over for dinner. Seniors tend to isolate themselves at home, so check on them.
Help out at in a food pantry or volunteer at a soup kitchen serving those that are hungry.

JESUS is the reason for the season.

Music Music Music!

2006-12-05T07:56:00.000-05:00

I love music. I love hearing good music, listening to lyrics that transport me to another place, another time. As an R & B old school purist, finding this group made my ears smile. I have wanted to add music to this blog ever since I started it, but I am so glad I waited until now.

The Chapter is a refreshing blast of Soul nostalgia, yet still captures the best of today's sound. "Can't Nobody" is the JAM. Also "Derty Jazz" keeps my head bopping. Now I'm no musical expert, but I know what I like.

I happened to find them on a site called American Idol Underground and also found their MySpace page. http://www.myspace.com/thechapter .

You can buy The Chapter's CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thechapter.

I feel it is imperative to give exposure to musical purists that rise above and transcend today's cookie cutter studio madness. I will be featuring new artists as often as possible.

Enjoy!

In Memorium - Bebe Moore Campbell

2006-11-28T07:16:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of reading several of her novels and found them to be thought provoking, sincere and poignant. My favorite was "72 Hour Hold" that was an unflinching look at the mental health system. Based on a personal account, she wrote about a mother's struggle to get treatment for her daughter diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder.

(From the New York Times)

(Along with writers like Terry McMillan, Ms. Campbell was part of the first wave of black novelists who made the lives of upwardly mobile black people a routine subject for popular fiction. Straddling the divide between literary and mass-market novels, Ms. Campbell’s work explored not only the turbulent dance between blacks and whites but also the equally fraught relationship between men and women.

Throughout her work, Ms. Campbell sought to counter prevailing stereotypes of black people as socially and economically marginal. Though critics occasionally faulted her characters as two-dimensional, her novels were known for their crossover appeal, read by blacks and whites alike. )

Mrs. Campbell succumbed to a neurological condition last week and I will miss her unique and gifted voice in the publishing world.

God bless her family in their time of grief.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T09:14:00.000-05:00

I am thankful every day, but look forward to a national day of reflection on Thanksgiving. I am thankful for just being able to see yet another year, to marvel at the increased independance and understanding of my special needs angel, and for renewed faith. I am thankful for parents that love me unconditionally and for family, although some what remote, that still warms my heart.

I am thankful I live in a country that allows us the freedoms that exist and for the soldiers that fight to keep those very same freedoms. I am thankful for all of the people who have reached out to me and my child to help her grow healthy and well adjusted. The Teachers, the physical, occupational and speech therapists. All of the service coordinators and agencies.

I am thankful for my church home, my pastor and his leadership. I am thankful for all my sisters and brothers in Christ. Who have listened, counseled, hugged , laughed and cried with me.

I am also thankful to my online friends and "family". Those who have inspired me, encouraged me, made me laugh, challenged me and even taunted me. You keep my spirits high and allow me to shine.

But most of all, I am thankful for my Jesus. One who gives me breath in my body, legs to walk with, hearing and sight. A voice to speak His praises and a mind to discern my world.

Today, I am thankful.

Kramer Kracks

2006-11-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

Michael Richards, the quirky comedian who made his mark in the NBC comedy "Seinfeld", lost his mind on stage and racially attacked two black hecklers at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles last friday. This is unacceptable. Not only did he call these men "niggers", but he also made an off color remark about lynching.

Comedians are heckled all the time, he has been in the business too long to act out in this way. I dont buy his disingenuous apology. As a black woman, I found his tirade disturbing and quite sad. Lynching isnt something that is open for comedic banter. If he was under the influence of drugs or booze, I'm not buying that as an excuse. As my grandmother always said, "A drunk mind speaks SOBER thoughts".

Playstation 3 Mania

2006-11-17T19:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, is it just me or have folks lost their natural minds? Why in the sam hell would folks sit in line for 3 days to get this "TOY"?

People are getting shot IN LINE, robbed while on the way home and all this to MAYBE sell it on eBay for a huge profit.

Isn't your life worth more than just $699?

The Bible Experience

2006-11-14T08:26:00.000-05:00

This is a beautiful expression of God's Love. To bring HIS word to life with this AMAZING cast, is nothing short of a miracle.

Please enjoy this video and think about adding this to your library.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2006-10-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

I cannot think of a better reason to come back to my blog. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women of color have a 32% death rate for this and I'm making sure that I pass my pink ribbon around to get the important messages of monthly self exams and mammograms out. During the next couple of days I will be adding resources such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

http://www.komen.org

I was listening to the Tom Joyner radio show this morning featuring Patti LaBelle as a call in guest. She spoke of her and her family's struggles with Breast Cancer, as well as diabetes.

Ms. LaBelle is kicking off a National Mega church tour, featuring Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary and a host of other artists, to promote her 1st Gospel CD. "The Gospel According to Patti" and the proceeds from its sales will go to breast cancer charities. I don't know about yall, but this will def be on my shopping list.

Do ya thang Ms Labelle. I speak your name.

Easter Clothes

2006-04-08T07:07:00.000-05:00

Easter is always a special time of year. Being able to get my daughter her Easter outfit takes me back to my own memories of shopping as a child. Here is my post from last Easter that sums up those feelings.

The air was filled with a strange bouquet of pressed hair, hair pomade and shampoo. If we behaved, there was ice cream, if we didn't, there was a switch. Now "Dear" was a woman that ruled her house with a velvet glove. Very few times did we have to be reprimanded, she was such a loving woman. She would spend hours standing up to grease, part, pressed and style up to 3 heads. It was as natural to her as breathing for this holiday ritual.

As we dressed the next morning, sometimes in similar garments, or at times matching ones, we would "play fight" for mirror time to twirl and admire her handy work. Topping us off with hats, gloves, matching purses and shoes, my little crew of cousins and I skipped outside on the porch to be transported to the annual Easter church service.

Memories like these are what I cherish most about holidays. I understand the significance of this day and would never diminish it, but to reminisce about family is sweeter than jelly beans.

MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION

2006-02-24T06:56:00.000-05:00

Uh oh! Madea's back! Now she is taking on her family reunion. Tyler Perry's sophomore entry into films, brings back the lovable "Madea", the gun wielding, no nonsense, urban sage of the family.

"Madea's Family Reunion" opens today.

Here is a wonderful article from Beliefnet.com on Tyler Perry's look at the themes of family and forgiveness.

http://www.beliefnet.com/nllp/Inspiration.aspx?WT.mc_id=Inspiration01&date=02-24-2006

Missing YOU! :)

2006-02-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

I have missed you all so much. With the new job comes new schedules, less time and more headaches. But I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee my job!

I really like my new coworkers and it is great feeling competent again. Now that I am flexing into full time, I am pretty much falling asleep earlier and earlier. *lol*

But I will be back to post more often.

Ciao 4 now :)

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

2005-10-30T13:39:00.000-05:00

Okay, Im sick. And so is Lil Sepia. Listening to the arias of sneezing, coughing, and wheezing is in STEREO now. Just great. Anyway, this saga starts with me going back to work and within two weeks, I wind up with a bug. But the trail could lead to my little diva's school. Kids are living, breathing carriers of the most obnoxious and vile bacteria known to man. I have a feeling that if scientists looked into the germination of the cold virus, as it relates to playdoh, barney, or gum under desks, we COULD find a cure.

But back to my new job. Last week several of the gang in my department should have been fitted for biohazard suits. Mind you, I had to sit with these very same contagious individuals to gain some training for my job. If I had known that the Bubonic plaque was part of my job description, I would have held out for more money. So unbeknownst to me and caught up in the ecstasy of being employed again, I failed to take precautions. Like ask my boss to have the training done at the main office of the CDC (Center for Disease Control).

I made it through the week and it figures that the 1st symptoms, (scratchy throat, stuffy nose), hit on the weekend. Not that I had PLANS, but the option not to feel akin to Typhoid Mary would have been nice. So as I self medicate with cold tablets, soup, and orange juice, I prepare my submission to the CSI team to seek the culprit of this malady. I want this weekend assassin to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! If it's my boss, I want another weekend WITH PAY. And if it's Lil Jerome, Lashaunda or that teacher with the chia pets for eyebrows, I want them to get an automatic detention!

Now, let me get back to my herbal tea.

*cough hack wheeze*

Miers Withdraws as Chief Justice Nominee

2005-10-27T14:58:00.000-05:00

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/27/D8DGI9POC.html

Under withering attack from conservatives, President Bush abandoned his push to put loyalist Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court and promised a quick replacement Thursday. Democrats accused him of bowing to the "radical right wing of the Republican Party."

The White House said Miers had withdrawn because of senators' demands to see internal documents related to her role as counsel to the president. But politics played a larger role: Bush's conservative backers had doubts about her ideological purity, and Democrats had little incentive to help the nominee or the embattled GOP president.

"Let's move on," said Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi. "In a month, who will remember the name Harriet Miers?"

Ouch! That has got to hurt. Oh well, putting unqualified friends in powerful positions seems to be a bad trend for this administration.

Next.

Desktop Changes

2005-10-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

I love to change the look of my desktop so much that I fell in love with this site called webshots.com. Their range of photos is outstanding! Today's desktop is called "Fruit Market, Isle of Trinidad, by Marcelio".

http://www.webshots.com/g/58/275-sh/8889.html

Hiatus

2005-10-03T23:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I have good news and bad news! The good news is that I will be going back into the rat race. At least part time for now. But the bad news is while I am interviewing, I need some time to get things together, which means that I may not be blogging for awhile.

My mind hasn’t been as committed to this blog since the big move in June. Don’t count me out though! *lol* I read blogs on a daily basis. My head is so full of comments from Katrina to the new Supreme Court nominees, I just can't post it fast enough.

Oy Vey! Just bear with me. :)

Tyra! Tyra! Tyra!

2005-09-16T09:28:00.000-05:00

Watching the premiere of Tyra Bank's talk show was quite a pleasure. No preconceived notions of her being a brunette airhead or prejudices that she couldn't carry a conversation without a makeup check. I liked her show. ALOT!

Knowing how close she has been to her mother, it was a fitting moment of personal honor that she interviewed her mom as the 1st guest. Sure she was uneasy and scared, but she had so much fun with the experience, I enjoyed it just as well.

My favorite part was India Arie's live performance of the show's theme song, "I AM GONNA SHINE". My new theme song.

I wish her luck. U go gurl! *2 snaps* ;)

Miscarriage of JUSTICE

2005-09-16T09:14:00.000-05:00

Judge Orders Release of Jailed Grandmother

By KEVIN MCGILL and JOHN SOLOMON
The Associated Press Friday, September 16, 2005; 8:21 AM

KENNER, La. -- A 73-year-old diabetic grandmother and church elder who fled Katrina's floodwaters for the safety of a hotel ended up in prison instead for more than two weeks _ all over a bite of food.

Police in this New Orleans suburb arrested Merlene Maten the day after the hurricane on charges she took $63.50 in goods from a looted deli. Though never before in trouble with the law, her bail was set at a stiff $50,000 and she was shipped away to a state penitentiary.

Family and eyewitnesses insist Maten's prison odyssey was unwarranted, claiming she only had gone to her car to get some sausage to eat when officers cuffed her in frustration, unable to catch younger looters at a nearby store.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/16/AR2005091600215.html

This is ridiculous. Sometimes I wonder why common sense isnt common. Why was her bail set at 10 TIMES higher than standard bail for that offense? I pray that this doesn't impact her health.

Judge, SHAME ON YOU!

Nursing Home Owners Charged in Louisiana

2005-09-14T17:53:00.000-05:00

I hope to God that this wasn't deliberate.

Owners of La. Nursing Home Charged With Homicide for Not Evacuating 34 Elderly Patients
NEW ORLEANS Sep 14, 2005 — The husband-and-wife owners of a nursing home were charged with homicide because they did not evacuate 34 elderly patients who died after hurricane Katrina struck, the first major criminal case related to the storm's still rising death toll.

I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE

2005-09-10T08:02:00.000-05:00

I Cannot Do This Alone

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The FACES of Hurricane KATRINA

2005-09-08T06:59:00.000-05:00

Please help.

www.redcross.org

www.secondharvest.com

www.salvationarmy.com

A Childlike Faith

2005-08-14T04:43:00.000-05:00

One of the sweetest memories of my youth was the nightly prayer. My grandmother,” Mother Dear", instilled in me to pray every night before I went to sleep and under my pillow was a small black Bible. Folding my little hands, I would say.

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

I don't know why this didn't scare me. But I realize, even back then, I was convinced that if ANYTHING happened, I would be safe in HIS arms. As an adult, with all of life’s tragedies, crime, wars, weather disturbances, and just dealing with people that let you down, faith can wane. But keeping a childlike FAITH can renew your spirit.

When I used to walk with my dad as a little girl, I knew that he would protect me. Holding his hand, I felt nothing could hurt me. I was safe from harm. Being secure in that fact is the same as my belief Jesus will give me refuge. That HE will guide my steps, heal my body and be my provider, Jehovah Jireh.

As you go through your day, remember that no matter what we face, God's grace and mercy shields us.

I WON~!!!! I WON~!!! I WON~!!

2005-08-12T07:49:00.000-05:00

I am so excited! I have really been praying on whether I should continue to blog. I wanted a new look but was amazed at the costs of redesigning this site.

Well Paula, from http://believengod.com, invited me to enter a blog design contest and ...............................

I WON~!

I can't wait till I start the transformation. I would like to thank Paula, & Heather from http://www.ciaomybella.com/designers.php for picking me. There are 5 winners in all. http://believengod.com/?p=207

Congrats to all of the other blog design winners~!!

Stay tuned, this puppy is officially under construction.

Sepialove

The HEATTTTTT is ON~!!!

2005-07-24T06:25:00.000-05:00

It's gonna be a scorcher today across the country. Tempertures are soaring into the 90's and 100's. I have included some info on heat related illness & heat stroke.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbheat.htm

Please take time to check on those who may be the most vulnerable, children and the elderly, plus those with life threatening ailments. Take a meal, some bottled water or a fan. Spend some time with them, they may need a friend.

They will love you for it and blessings will flow all around.

Have a COOL day!

Sepia :)

A New Beginning

2005-07-21T06:02:00.000-05:00

I have wondered for the last month, just where this blog is going. I have a new lease on life, a new home, new perspective and a new beginning.Taking self inventory of what REALLY matters is cathartic AND painful. I had to release toxic people and toxic thoughts from my life. Some may think I am being petty, two-faced or mean. But I did what I had to do for ME.

I needed to rid myself of as much negativity as possible. I will no longer KNOWINGLY place myself in negative situations. I had prayed for guidance and when I opened my Bible there was Proverbs 4. It spoke to me and helped guide me on a more righteous path.

PROVERBS 4: 1-27

Wisdom Is Supreme

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

² I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.

³ When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

⁴ he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.

⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, ^[a] get understanding.

⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep till they do evil;
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.

²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;

²² for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

²⁴ Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶ Make level ^[b] paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.

²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Thank you Jesus for your vision, clarity, grace and mercy.

Doing Time on Crack Street

2005-06-10T19:46:00.000-05:00

Well, I did it. I finally moved from the hell that was my last apartment. Being chased out by the new tenant below me was the final straw. I actually owe her thanks for her delusions compelling me to find safe harbor. I do feel sorry that she is paranoid schizophrenic, but why did she also have to be on crack / marijuana / bad tap water also? This story isn’t for the faint of heart or those short of laughter. Tread lightly.

Crack and Crazy are a lethal combination, it isn’t cute either. (Enter U-Haul Truck here). After several calls to the property management, I was referred to the police. After calling the police 3 times, I was told to get a restraining order. Gee, why hadn’t I thought of that? (Insert rolling eyes here). All I really needed is a useless piece of paper as kryptonite to ward off the Demon Crackhead that told the police that I was “following and spying” on her INSIDE her apartment. (Cue the theme to the “Twilight Zone”).

Only I would have a stalker that recognized me from high school. After an initial mediation in the hallway with Officer Bored, Miss CH (Crackhead), in a brief moment of supposed lucidity said, “Now I know you, didn’t you go to _______ High School?” Oh. Great. All I want is to peacefully coexist in this landmine of a building and I wind up with The High School Reunion from Hades. Now mind you, I didn’t recognize this woman from a can of paint, but from this difficult negotiation, I THOUGHT that she would stop banging on my door threatening to pulverize me (insert her swearing & foaming of the mouth here). The fact that I didn’t even know that she had moved downstairs in the 1st place didn’t matter. This is what happened when I forgot to read the Crackhead Tenancy Memo that week. (Sarcastic look) She promised to stop terrorizing me and I went back inside my apartment, locking all 17 deadbolt locks. (joke).

The building wasn’t always like that. When I moved in, I thought it was the ideal environment. School across the street and it was close to bus lines and grocery stores. But the brochure failed to mention the eventual laundry room thefts where the machines would be vandalized for spare change. Looks are so deceiving. I would have never guessed in 2 years that the seemingly quiet abode that housed 22 other families would metamorphosis, within 3 months, into the Drop Inn center for every 20 something drug dealer forced to move back in with his mama or young single mothers that moonlight as bootleg call girls at night. The front walk way became a sea of Styrofoam and fast food bags, beer bottles and the occasional over ripened diaper. The back stairwells were littered with used condoms and trash bags that broke down before being carried another 50 feet to the outside dumpster. I didn’t see the condoms, because I seldom went to that side of the building without an armed escort, mace, taser, tear gas or a grenade.

The handwriting on the wall was when the original management company jumped ship and disappeared almost overnight. I felt sorry for the new property managers walking into this abyss of urban dysfunction. For the record, there was a cluster of good law abiding families also living there, but like me, they were either trying to move or wishing that the Band of Merry Crackheads would just leave. Good tenants had to wade through the crowd of broken lawn chairs, baby strollers, and menacing young men and women wearing their urban uniforms of Phat Farm, baggy pants, throwback jerseys, the latest gym shoes or bandanas. It had gotten to the point that trying to gain entrance at the front door was similar to seeing if you were on the “A” list at a trendy new nightclub. All that was missing was a velvet rope.

Crackhead Concierge: “Yes, may I help you?”

Me: “Uhmmm, I live in Apt. # 1”

Crackhead Concierge: “Okay, and who is your sponsoring Crackhead?”

Me: “My WHAT????”

Crackhead Concierge: “I’m sorry, you aren’t on the list. However, if you give me your DVD player, I can see what I can do.”

Why didn’t I move before now? I was obstinately naïve and defiant. Why should I have to leave? Why should people, that don’t take stock in their own homes, force their illegal and trifling lifestyles on others? *sigh* I really wanted to think that my calm demeanor, civility, prayers and tears would change them. Yeah, I had my delusions too.

Calling the police made me a target. Go figure that by asserting my rights as a tenant would cause the “Walking Dead” to glare and snarl at me. Excuse me, but if you are doing so much dirt that you have to run in the house when a siren comes by, maybe it’s time to get out of the “game”.

Drugs are dismantling neighborhoods, home by home. It’s so sad that the grip of addiction has its own set of collateral damage. Children being neglected, incidents of domestic violence, thefts, shootings, financial devastation and ruin, unemployment, incarceration, and sometimes murder are part of the pathology that plagues cities across the country. Listening to the approaching incidents of drug related crimes in my area pressed me to a renewed sense of urgency, but a feared state of inertia.

I understand that addiction is a disease, but it is a CHOICE. I shouldn’t be held hostage by someone’s preference to indulge in smoking or selling drugs. Moving outside my comfort zone was the only solution. I may not be close to downtown and familiar surroundings anymore, but peace of mind is priceless.

And besides, they can’t pawn THAT anyway.

Are you a South Park kid?

2005-06-10T09:01:00.000-05:00

My image as a South Park Gurl

http://www.planearium2.de/flash/spstudio.html

I thought this was the cutest thing! This site allows you to create your own South Park character. Although I have seen the show a handful of times, I still think the cartoons are cute. The show is a lil rough for me.

I'm gonna name her Camille. :)

You can call her Cammy ;)

*thank you to Random Responses for the link*

She's BACK! :)

2005-06-05T06:21:00.000-05:00

Big Hugs to ALL!

I am back and ready to share my odyssey in moving. Thanks to all of the well wishes, emails and calls from friends that care about me.

Headed to church, I will fill you all in later.

Stay Tuned! You don't wanna miss this.

;-)

Sepialove

Personal Sabbatical

2005-05-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

I miss my blog, but right now I have some OFFLINE things that need my immediate attention. Please pray for me that I will get everything handled and I can come back refreshed and ready to post again. I should be back soon.

God bless u all :)

Sepia

Perseverance

2005-05-04T09:49:00.000-05:00

(First-year medical student Tim Cordes listens as second-year student Megan Neuman describes the nerves and tissues of a human shoulder during anatomy class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. In December, Cordes, who is blind, graduated near the top of his class)

Many barriers to overcome

In a world where skeptics always seem to be saying, stop, this isn’t something a blind person should be doing, it was one more barrier overcome. There are only a handful of blind doctors in this country. But Cordes makes it clear he could not have joined this elite club alone....... http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7318398/

What an amazing story! I needed some good news, what about you? ;-)

Reality Checks

2005-05-02T22:30:00.000-05:00

Raising a special needs child is a blessing of mixed emotions. She has taught me that the capacity of patience is almost inexhaustable. After 10 years as Lil Sepia's mom, I now know that my road will be filled with joy, pain, laughter, repressed anger at and endless prayers to the GOD that gifted me with her.

Last night I watched "Riding the Bus with My Sister", a Hallmark tv movie and feel good tear jerker that will send the "normal" world their seasonal dose of "Thank God, that isn't me" or "Poor poor woman, I feel her pain". Spare me. My reality doesn't end with credits and a good cry.

Andie Mc Dowell played a harried career photographer that is forced to reconcile with her developmentally delayed sister, played by Rosie O'Donell, after the death of their father. After watching this, I have a renewed respect for Rosie, she played this role without creating a characture or dramatic theatrical overkill. Andie's performance reminds me of my own struggle to deal with the cruel side of society. The side that still throws the word "RETARDED" around as a joke.

When I chose to have my daughter at 31, I would have never believed at the time I would wind up with a child whose existence would so challenged. People can be so cruel, even family will distance themselves out of ignorance or from being uncomfortable around someone "different". Coming to grips with the isolation and stunted sociability has caused me to seek other forms of reaching out to those that I can commiserate with, as well as "typical" parents dealing with the same daily childhood issues.

The reality checks for me come on a daily, if not on an hourly basis. I have chosen not to write much about her. not out of embarassment, but out of frustration. I spend alot of time defending her diagnoses. Mental retardation and Cerebral Palsy are quite a 1-2 punch and my patience with the uneducated and ignorant comments, stares and atittudes wears thinner on some days more than others. When I see children stare, sometimes I take the opportunity to introduce Lil Sepia and give them age appropriate info on her "differences" as well as what they may have in common. The parents I hope will teach their child about disability and sensitivity.

Here is a previous post on my take on societal perceptions of the handicapped.

http://sepialove.blogspot.com/2005/03/sensitivity.html

Speaking of that, one of the best books I have read on this topic is "Differences in Common", by Marilyn Trainer. She captures the struggle, with an unflinching look, at the truths of parenting her son with Down's syndrome.

Differences in Common

I have read countless books on cerebral palsy, mental retardation, parenting and therapies. Occupational, physical, music, speech are just a few that have helped my daughter be more independant. It is a difficult balance between sheltering her and enabling her. I fight with family, friends, doctors, teachers and well meaning strangers who want to add their 3 cents to my supposed "plight".

As her mom, I can only hope that I will be able to give her the best of what she NEEDS, most of what she WANTS and pray that society will acknowledge we all have "differences in common".

Who knows, maybe GOD's sense of humor is that WE are the ones who are really "special" and THEY are angels living on earth laughing at US.

I just wonder. ;-)

Sepialove

2005-05-02T10:51:00.000-05:00

Art Deco Magnificence

2005-05-02T05:47:00.000-05:00

Carew Tower Lobby

2005-05-01T04:25:00.000-05:00

Carew Tower celing

2005-05-01T03:55:00.000-05:00

Another look at the Fountain

A Tale of Two Cowards

2005-04-30T10:39:00.000-05:00

Changing your mind sometimes means being honest not only with yourself, but to others that may be impacted by your decision. This week, there are two women that not only had a change of heart, but went to great lengths to avoid responsibility.

Alicia Hardin 19, a student at Trinity International University in Chicago, Ill, homesick and wanting to leave school, sent out three threatening letters to some students so she could justify her departure from college. Over 40 students were moved off campus based on racial hysteria for protection.

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/news/042705_AP_r2_student_threats.html

Jennifer Wilbanks 32, was supposed to be a blushing bride today. Her and her fiance had planned a enormous wedding with 14 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen plus sent out 600 invitations. But it was not to be. During a routine jog, Ms Wilbanks disappeared. After 3 frantic days of searching, the worried pleas from family and countless searches that exhausted the budgets of a small police force, Ms Wilbanks called 911.

Apparently she jumped on a bus to Las Vegas, then jumped on a bus winding up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She called her fiance' and said that she had been kidnapped. Not true. Relieved, her family will reuniting with her later today.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050430/D89PNBKO0.html

What disturbs me about these women is the thought pattern that lead them to these decisions. It isn't easy to back out of these COSTLY mistakes, whether it is to wind up forfeiting tuition and room & board fees, sending back wedding presents, relinguishing reception deposits or just telling your fiance', " I'm JUST not that into you."

But the college student is now facing charges of hate crimes, punishable up to 5 years in prison, and the "RUNAWAY bride" isn't facing any charges at all. I have a problem with this. BOTH incited panic, BOTH caused the misuse of police resources and BOTH cause their family , friends and communities heartache and embarrassement.

I'm not saying that putting these women in jail will solve this, they both need psychological treatment and counseling. Perhaps extensive hours in community service dealing with REAL crisis victims and some restitution of monies spent by law enforcement and other agencies will give them a much needed reality check.

Bet they BOTH wished they could roll back time.

Redemption

2005-04-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

Renewed in the Spirit

I recently went back to church after a year and a half's hiatus. For me, it was the right decision. After taking a long hard look at my spirituality, I noticed that one crucial part of my dilemma was how I felt about fellowship and denominations.

As early as I can remember , I believed in God. My grandmother, Mother Dear, taught me "The Lord's Prayer" as soon as I could recite it. Although, I didn't grow up in a specific church, we attended frequently and I always felt secure in knowing that "God" was close by.

In my spiritual quest, as I have gotten older, I have often questioned the WHYS of my belief. I have been a member of various denominations, searching for the answer. I know that denominations are man made, but I was always puzzled by this ONE question.

"WHY do I believe?"

Church of God in Christ, AME, CME, Church of Christ, Baptist, Holiness, Non Denominational, Interdemonitational, Catholic, and Seventh Day Adventists were just a few of the churches that I either attended or joined. I needed something MORE. The yearning within to connect was as greedy as a newborn looking to nourish from its mother's breast.

My disillusionment with SOME black churches began when I saw growing cliquishness and insular behaviors that prevented or some how kept it's own flock/ministers/pastors from the very people that needed them most.

Attending one of the largest churches in Los Angeles was overwhelming, although I did take some pleasure in worshipping at a "popular" church, I felt swallowed up in its celebrity. The hierachy of leadership was so massive that just saying hello to the Pastor after Sunday's morning service was almost like trying to get an autograph from the Pope.

I decided that I needed a smaller congregation, one that allowed me to feel a part of the experience and not just a spectator. Not that I'm criticizing larger churches, I just know what makes me feel more comfortable. Being in a church that I have a connectedness to the WHOLE church, not just by membership, but by the bounty of works, is what I sought.

I am not moved by denominations. I am moved by faith and spirit, and I attend where my spirit is nurtured and lifted. Returning back to the ONE church where I felt at home and was worth my self prescribed exodus, not from GOD, but from the uncertainty of fellowship.

Now I am looking forward to a fellowship that is interested in RENEWED outreach that extends from the pulpit and the pews to minister to the needs of those that have may fallen in between the cracks. Within the hugs of familiar parishoners and the guidance of a learned Man of God, I once again feel the serenity to explore my feelings and gain the knowledge of the one that has blessed me so.

I'm back home Lord. :)

Scientia est potentia - Knowledge is power

2005-04-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

Howard Beats Harvard

The Howard University Law School's moot court team took first place in the American Bar Association Mock Trial Competition, the first team representing a historically black college or university to do so.

"It solidified the fact that although others think we are a third-tier law
school, we are the best trial advocates," said Chris Stewart, a third-year law
student and a team member.

"No mathematical equation can calculate our excellence in trial advocacy."

Congratulations~!

Have we gone INSANE?

2005-04-26T18:09:00.000-05:00

I am emotionally spent and utterly drained by this story. I have been debating this on various message boards and newspaper forums. I have talked about this story till I am almost blue in the face.

As a mom, I am HORRIFIED by some of the postings I have seen in my travels through cyberspace. Some wanted this little girl TAZERED, SHOT, HOG TIED, taken away from her mother, placed in a mental institution and exterminated.

Here is a condensed version of my feelings:

(After my initial viewing of the video)

Looking at this video showed me that the teacher, or whoever the woman was with the child, was ill trained in dealing with an UNRULY child. She was NOT Kicking, NOT screaming. YES, she did tear up some papers and knock somethings over. She did try to punch AT the woman, however, she never raised her voice above saying "NO!" Am I excusing her behavior? Of course not.

But hello? She is FIVE YEARS OLD! Her behavior wasn't out of the normal scope of a child her age! How on earth do u justify cuffing a CHILD? They could have sat with that little girl till her mother arrived. There are ways to redirect children without that prolonged display and if they don't know how to deal with a 5 yr old child's bad behavior, get a NEW JOB!

Remember, Florida has a very bad track record with incidents of children being disciplined in EXTREME ways for MINOR offenses. The Florida police also used a TAZER on a 6 yr old.
Common sense and better protocols/procedures for the police and the school district need to be impleted ASAP. It isnt rocket science. She isnt the 1st unruly child in kindergarten and she wont be the last.

THINK PEOPLE!

(In response to a poster saying the school was right for calling the police)

There are certain procedures, including BASIC COMMON SENSE measures, like redirection that are used with to handle a child who is acting out. What disturbs me is the CHOICE to get the POLICE involved. Has it come to this where the police are brought in to handle basic child issues?

I think not.

(In response to the assertion that THIS child was a bad seed)

It amazes me how people have painted this LITTLE girl as the POSTER CHILD for various SOCIETAL ILLS. It also amazes me when it appears that some of you have NO problem with the police handling SIMPLE COMMON SENSE situations when they could be arresting REAL CRIMINALS?

What on earth is going on?

(After seeing the 1st lawyer on the news)

Now, I watched the Today's Show this morning and listened to the mother's attorney. Evidently, the teacher and the assistant principal had been instructed "NOT to touch her child". With that piece of information, I feel that the MOM placed the school in a NO WIN position. Their hands were tied.

But there is enough blame to go around. We can ALL be textual arm chair quarterbacks AFTER the fact, however, this is still a CHILD. EVERY child is allowed to have a bad day. Or multiple bad days, but to PROJECT the image of MONSTER on her is wrong.

(My breaking point)

Here is how I feel based on all the comments and what I have read or seen in the media:

1.) I still think that the teachers COULD have taken her to a room that didn't have things in there to tear up. She COULD have taken her to the playground, the gym or the cafeteria and let her unwind, instead of a more claustrophobic room.

BUT she didn't.

2.) The mother COULD have gotten to the school earlier. Based on some PSEUDO CSI/ GOOGLE/ NEWS reports the incident happened around 2pm. Her mother was stated as saying she got off WORK at 3 and would be there at 3:15. Depending on the commute and whether or not she had been doing this repeatedly, it may have caused a financial hardship in the family to leave IMMEDIATELY. Heaven forbid she lose her job and wind up on state assistance, because THEN she will be just another mom on welfare.

But SHE didn't.

Now that in itself doesn't make her a bad mom, but IF this child has ongoing emotional problems, she has done herself and the school a disservice for NOT getting her the help she needs.

3.) When the police showed up, the little girl was calm and sitting down. They COULD have just waited with her until MOM showed up. They COULD have talked to her for a while to gain her confidence and reassure her.

But THEY didn't

4.) Assuming that this CHILD is a demon seed 24/7 is unfair. It IS however unfair for the other kids to be denied an education because of other children, but this was KINDERGARTEN! For GOOGLE's SAKE, the only thing that MAY have been missed are the intricacies of Jelly beans vs. Jolly Ranchers!

(In response to the lawsuit)

Finally, I don't believe in frivolous lawsuits. However, based on the news report, the lawyer said that it may take 6 months before a suit is filed. They have to first file an "INTENT TO SUE". There has to be an internal investigation and then legal action will be addressed. If I were on the jury, I would hope the mom would only get enough to adequately get her child the help she needs.
PERIOD.

(In response to racially insensitive comments)

Children of color don't need yet another stigma, especially one that labels them incorrigible or incapable of learning. Plus, this image in the press lends itself to SWEEPING generalizations and stereotypes.

From what I ALSO have read, her FEET were ALSO cuffed and she was placed in the back of the cruiser. That is so OUTRAGEOUS, but I will back up my point with this article dated almost a YEAR ago.
_______________________________________________________________________

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes...ting+c
Deputies told to ask brass before arresting children

Soon after the arrest, [Kevin Doll] defended the deputy, saying that because there was enough evidence and the victim wanted prosecution, he was obliged to arrest the child. "That pretty much ties our hands, and we have to enforce the law," Doll said.

On Tuesday, though, Doll acknowledged that the deputy had other options. And, nine days after the arrest, Col. Richard Worch ordered the new procedure, which is to call a superior before taking a child 12 or younger to a detention center.

"Col. Worch wants the deputies to know that those possibilities are there and to look into them before taking a juvenile (12 or younger) to the juvenile assessment center," Doll said. "But that still may be the right thing to do."

The police FAILED to follow it's OWN rules.
_______________________________________________________________________

(In response to being asked why my comments weren't color blind)

I am an AFRICAN AMERICAN mom raising a 10 yr old disabled daughter. I see the effects of homelessness, poverty, teen pregnancy, crime and apathy in my city every day. It saddens me when I see cases like this because of narrow minded opinions that don't lend themselves to a wider scope of fairness and sensitivity. This child is NOT the devil incarnate. YES she was wrong. YES she needed to be disciplined. YES her mother clearly needs help. But painting a picture of a raving maniac that has ascended the depths of HELL to keep these poor poor children in ultimate DOOM and PERIL is a little overly DRAMATIC.

Placing ANY child in a HOG TIED position and placed in the back of a police car would be traumatic. But I guess until it happens to one of YOUR children we will never know. She isn't an animal.

Please dont treat her like one.

(in response to a poster understanding the child MAY have a learning or mental disability)

THANK YOU! I have been mentioning that to so many people ON and OFFLINE. It is SO important for children to be assessed by their pediatricians for developmental delays or delays in reaching basic developmental milestones as they grow. Early intervention services are KEY to making sure these children receive the appropriate diagnostics, case management, and service coordination.

My daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and delayed myelination at 18 months old. Having her diagnosed early was critical to getting the best therapeutic options to facilitate her mental, physical, and emotional needs.

She has NEVER had a meltdown at school, but she does have problems with transitioning from one enviroment to the next. AFTER school is when the meltdowns occur occassionally. She is sometimes agitated and tired from the day's overstimulation and will just cry. For me, it was imperative to find what works for MY child as it relates to REDIRECTING her outbursts and getting her to "Self-Calm".

Children, similar to my daughter, that are autistic or have sensory integration dysfunction tend to have a difficult time with understanding visual, audio, tone, musical and verbal cues or sounds. Their brains have difficulty deciphering nerve messages to create comprehension and functionality of movements or speech.

So I am very sensitive to the handling of children, ESPECIALLY at this little girl's age when people are so quick to dismiss her as a bad seed. Her inability to express herself and the need to strike out is indicative of children with immature impulse responses or control. It could be from some underlying medical problem.

Inclusion and sensitivity shouldn't be so hard to give someone. but in this society, public spectacle, ridicule and shaming seems to be the Millenium equivalent to throwing the less advantaged to the lions in the Roman Coliseum.

Shame on us.

(In response to finding out the mother had fired her initial lawyer & is now making the talk show circuit)

I hate when situations are exploited for profit. The mother's motives for doing the interview may not be any different than the siege of publicity hounds that drive this sensationalistic media we have today. The WORSE thing this child needs is the idea that BAD BEHAVIOR needs to be rewarded. I agree that this case should be thrown out of an already beleaguered judical system. But if anything comes of this, perhaps an internal investigation of how the police deal with children will be addressed.

Now that I have seen the depths to the opportunistic displays, I am gonna walk away from this until I see the rest of this circus unfold. The "RACE" card is a term that has been applied to almost EVERY situation that involves an African American defendant and is clearly overused.

The quest for justice should be color blind. So should the quest of our teachers whose job is being underminded by parents that won't or haven't equipped their children with the necessary social, emotional and educational preparedness to learn. If this mom doesn't do the right thing by this child, shame on her.

Black History in Fabric

2005-04-21T16:24:00.000-05:00

This is a quilt made by a woman that took her 35 years to complete.

A Mural of Pain

2005-04-21T16:20:00.000-05:00

Slave Mural

Slave Pen

2005-04-21T16:12:00.000-05:00

Slave Pen

The Freedom Center

2005-04-21T15:56:00.000-05:00

Male Slave Poem

Tuesday I went with Lil Sepia's school to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Very moving museum, but this poem struck me.

It was housed in an actual slave pen, the size of a small barn, that held up to 50 men, women & children. The men were shackled on the top floor and the women and children were on the main floor.

I'm sad just thinking about it.

Simplicity

2005-04-16T07:40:00.000-05:00

What's on YOUR Desktop?

I love to use different themes. But sometimes, LESS is MORE. *wink*

Enough Said :)

2005-04-16T07:25:00.000-05:00

Words of Wisdom

I took this photo while dropping off Lil Sepia at school. Hmm, maybe we can get some of humanity a refresher course.

Sepialove ;-)

Excused Absence

2005-04-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

ER Visit from Hell

Okay, I have been away for a few days. But I have a good reason. Lil Sepia spiked a 102.6 fever on Sunday night. So I got her dressed, packed her book bag fulla videos to keep her occupied during the long waits. After waiting 5 HOURS, a rapid strep test, and a chest xray, they sent us home.

Two days later, the ER leaves me this message.

"Uhm.. Miss Sepialove? This is Children's Hospital, Lil Sepia's test is back and she needs to be on meds."

WTH?!!! What other test did they do?

I call back and the charge nurse tells me the lab did a throat culture and she DOES have Strep.

Oh. Great. *sigh*

I got the meds and by Tuesday, I'm sick too. :(

Hence my doctor's note.

I will be back tomorrow.

*cough hack wheeze*

Ain't Love GRAND? SMH

2005-04-05T07:36:00.000-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY Apr 5, 2005 — A convicted killer who escaped from prison almost 11 years ago with the wife of the assistant warden was found Monday following a tip generated by the show "America's Most Wanted," the FBI said. The wife was located nearby.

The inmate, Randolph Dial, was arrested in a mobile home about 6:30 p.m. in Shelby County, Texas, Salvador Hernandez, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oklahoma, said in a news release. The assistant warden's wife, Bobbi Parker, was found a short time later working at a chicken ranch elsewhere in the county, agents said.

Parker was found a short time later at a chicken ranch. She apparently is in no hurry to go back to her old life.

"As far as I know, she has no intention of leaving," Shelby County Sheriff Newton Johnson told The Oklahoman late Monday. "She said she wants to stay on the farm and raise chickens."

http://www.theomahachannel.com/news/4346082/detail.html

Things that make you say hmmmmmmmm.

A Black Pope?

2005-04-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

As someone that is at a spiritual crossroad, the question of whether a Black Pope would be appointed left me cold. Personally, I don't see the conclave of potential popes picking a dark Nigerian, although qualified, to lead the world's Catholics. Here are some interesting articles on the possibilities.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050404/ap_on_re_af/african_pope_2

http://slate.msn.com/id/2089815/nav/ais/

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/134/story_13420_2.html

Deciding who will be Pope is a very old and respected tradition.

The system has been in place, with minor variations, for several centuries: Nine days of mourning and funeral masses follow the pope’s death, and he is interred
generally on the fourth or fifth day. No sooner than 15 days after the pope’s
death and no later than 20 days post-mortem (to allow time for far-flung
cardinals to arrive) all of the cardinals under 80 years old will convene. The
number of cardinal-electors is 117.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16185_1.html

Choosing the Pope's Successor:

1) When the Pope dies, a group within the Vatican called the Sacred College of Cardinals informs all the cardinals of the world -- a total of 184 -- that the Pope has died and that all of them must return to Rome to elect a new pope. According to Catholic law, the meeting to elect a new pope must be held within 20 days of the Pontiff's death.

2) Of the 184 cardinals, only 120 are currently eligible to vote for the next pope.

3) The 120 cardinals pledge to perform their solemn duty.

4) The cardinals then pick a 9 person committee to handle election duties:
3 cardinals will collect the ballots 3 others will count the votes 3 others will review the results and make sure the decision is firm.

5) The cardinals then write down who among them they would like to see become the next pope.
6) If there's no winner on the first election, another election is held. If there still is no winner, an afternoon election is held followed by another if no winner is determined. And so on.

7) After each election where a pope has not been elected, the ballots are burned with a chemical that produces black smoke. This is how the public knows if a pope has been elected or not.

8) If a pope has been elected, the ballots are burned alone producing white smoke.

9) The winner is the cardinal that receives two-thirds plus one of the votes, or 81 votes in the case of 120 cardinal electors.

10) The winner is asked if he is prepared to take on the duties of the pope. If he says yes, then there is a new pope. If not, the process begins again.

11) Once a winner has been determined, the oldest of the assembled cardinals will appear on the balcony in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican and proclaim "Habemus Papam" -- Latin for "We have a Pope."

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2888420&nav=168XYCPy

It will be interesting to see who will be chosen

Fountain of Youth?

2005-04-02T10:07:00.000-05:00

Fountain Boy

Fountain Square

2005-04-01T20:21:00.000-05:00

Tyler Davidson Fountain

"This 43-foot fountain is the oldest downtown sculpture and has become the best known and loved symbol of Cincinnati. Water streams from the out-stretched hands of the 9-foot tall female figure representing the "Genius of Water." Below her, four adult figures dramatize the life-sustaining uses of water, four children illustrate the life-enhancing pleasures of water, and four relief panels depict the industrial uses of water."

Carew Tower - Cincinnati

2005-04-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

Carew Tower

I went outside today! Yeah~!! I had my daughter and my best friend's son, so I took them on an outing downtown. It was a cloudy, somewhat chilly afternoon for a spring day, but we made the best of it. I was determined to take some digital pictures and this was one of the ones I came up with.

This is Carew Tower.

Constructed at the height of Cincinnati's prominence, this is still the city's most identifiable structure, and also its tallest building. The stock market crash that triggered The Great Depression happened just a month after groundbreaking, but construction continued anyway in a slightly modified form. Its original grand details were left off above the third floor. From there up to the top the building is clad in simple brick rather than the architectural motifs, friezes, and decorative metal that so typifies an art deco building.
http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/US/OH/CincinnatiCarewTower.html

We had a ball in their enclosed mall, I took them to the food court, the music store, and the book store. Now, finally back home I can share some of the photos with you. Yes, I took these PHOTOS! I am so excited! Who knows? This may be the beginning of Sepia's Photo blog.

Enjoy! ;-)

Sepialove

Legacies

2005-03-31T12:05:00.000-05:00

Two high profiled people died this week. One Black, One White. One Man, One Woman. Both died from a long illness. Civil Rights and Famed Criminal attorney Johnnie Cochran passed away from a brain tumor and Floridian Terri Schiavo died this morning after 15 years of being in a vegetative state.

Johnnie Cochran was a highly respected attorney and champion for the rights of disenfranchised. His long and distinguished career spanned over 30 years. His reputation surpassed the celebrity/notoriety of the O.J. Simpson case. He wasn't a celebrity, he was celebrated. Big difference.

The celebrity cases were just one part of Cochran's career. "Certainly,
Johnnie's career will be noted as one marked by 'celebrity' cases and
clientele," his family said in a statement. "But he and his family were most
proud of the work he did on behalf of those in the community."

Cochran represented a Haitian immigrant tortured by New York police, a 19-year-old black woman who was shot a dozen times by police as she sat in a locked car and former Black Panther Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. He called the day he helped Pratt win his freedom "the
happiest day of my life practicing law."

http://www.diversityinc.com/public/13177.cfm

Terri Schiavo was a 41 yr old woman that has been at the center of an emotional court case involving her right to die after a Bulimia induced heart attack. Based on her husband's assertion that she didn't want to remain in a brain damaged state, He fought her parents for 15 years in and out of court. The media circus, subsequent legal wranglings, and opportunistic political photo ops cannot diminish what Terri left the world.

Her legacy? Awareness. The importance regarding having a Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney or Medical Directive. Her plight highlighted the NEED to make sure everyone makes provisions in light of a catastrophic illness or accident.

His legacy? Advocacy. Mr. Cochran reached out and helped those that couldn't help themselves. "One of the best legal minds since Thurgood Marshall", said Barry Scheck, (one of his co-counsels during the infamous O.J. Simpson trial.). He wasn't a man that looked down on others. Even in his celebrity, he took on the cases of those whose injustice transcended race, socioeconomics or religion.

When I look at their legacies, I think of just how precious LIFE is and I reflect on WHAT I want to leave BEFORE my time on this earth is done. Two ordinary people that left extraordinary gifts to us all.

What will be YOUR legacy?

Famed Attorney Johnnie Cochran, dead at 67

2005-03-29T20:17:00.000-05:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Johnnie Cochran, the charismatic attorney who
became famous for his successful defense of football star O.J. Simpson on murder
charges, died on Tuesday in Los Angeles of a brain tumor, spokespeople said.

Cochran began his career as a crusader against police abuses, often in
cases involving black clients, but is best known for the trial that won a
controversial acquittal for Simpson on murder charges in 1995.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8029285

!!!Over 1000 Readers Served!!!

2005-03-29T07:47:00.000-05:00

*walks to the podium*

"I'd like to thank the blog academy for this distinguished honor!"

BUZZZZZZZZ !!!

(hits alarm clock)

Okay, so I was dreaming for a minute. *lol*

I am so excited about hitting the 1000th viewer mark, and just only after a month of posting too!

Thanks to all of my online friends, ESPECIALLY FROM PALTALK.COM, buddies, acquaintances, foes and nemeses that have provided much needed feedback on the site. I look forward to keeping this fresh, entertaining, thought provoking and just plain silly at times. Thanks to my sistah support network (Prolific T, CocoCurious, Nommo, MsMellyMel, SassyKarmel, MsEbby, Amaya, Bald Baby, Mso and a host of others).. My Brutha crew of topic contributors and viewers (Prince of Chosen Thought, Stock Tec, Mufasa Red, Popeye, Brey, Dark Delight, Pass Da Blunt, and on and on....)

Life is too short not to have SOME fun. ;-)

Sepialove

Happy Easter~!!

2005-03-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

My best memories of Easter are with my grandmother, "Mother Dear" as we called her, spending all day Easter's eve Saturday pressing hair. Getting our hair done for a holiday was a big event for my cousins and I, despite being tenderheaded. Sitting in her kitchen, one by one, hair wet from a thorough washing, we sat patiently until our turn.

The air was filled with a strange bouquet of pressed hair, hair pomade and shampoo. If we behaved, there was ice cream, If we didn't, there was a switch. Now "Dear" was a woman that ruled her house with a velvet glove. Very few times did we have to be reprimanded, she was such a loving woman. She would spend hours standing up to grease, part, pressed and style up to 3 heads. It was as natural to her as breathing for this holiday ritual.

As we dressed the next morning, sometimes in similar garments, or at times matching ones, we would "play fight" for mirror time to twirl and admire her handy work. Topping us off with hats, gloves, matching purses and shoes, my little crew of cousins and I skipped outside on the porch to be transported to the annual Easter church service.

Memories like these are what I cherish most about holidays. I understand the significance of this day and would never diminish it, but to reminisce about family is sweeter than jelly beans.

My Take on..........

2005-03-25T07:40:00.000-05:00

Terri Schiavo: It's just wrong to be starved to death, I don't care what ANYONE says. We treat the incarcerated, POW's (based on the Geneva Convention), and animals better than this. No, I don't want the government meddling in private family medical decisions, but this is a travesty.

Michael Jackson: I wasn't there, but Michael's behavior has puzzled me ever since he started CARRYING little boys to AWARD SHOWS! Earth to Michael, sleeping with other people's kids ISN'T normal. Especially when your PJ's come with one silver glove. *sicko*

Robert Blake: Didn't follow the trial, if he is really guilty, shame on him.

Scott Peterson: Reservations have been made for 1 in Hell's VIP section just for you. Don't be late.

Martha Stewart: She was crucified on Ken Lay's (of ENRON) cross. But only in America can you go to jail, have 2 major TV deals, ANOTHER movie made about you, your choice of what home to have your house arrest in, THEN come out RICHER than before? Wonder if Martha will create a line of Prison wear for women?

The Pope: If they don't stop propping this poor man up in front of drafty windows and allow him to either recover in peace, or die with some semblance of dignity, I'm gonna fly to the Vatican and transfer him to the nearest hospice myself.

Lil Kim: Okay, what were YOU thinking? Lying under OATH when there were cameras telling on you? Dayum shame, she will do time when there are others, (*ahem MEN ahem*), that will go on to make bad gangsta rap or shoot each other at the nearest club, radio station, barber shop, or chicken shack........ *smh*

Whitney Houston: Whitney, honey. Please find the most exclusive rehab, talk to Betty Ford and SIGN IN! Outpatient rehab isn't working. That's like me going to a drive thru health spa, I'm not gonna lose weight by riding past the windows and reaching for a smoothie. (Note to Bobby: Get your child support in order)

Reality TV: You have run your course. Can we get some quality tv that doesn't include chewing on squid, falling into a vat of scorpions, or picking your cousin for marriage?

Terri Shiavo's parents: It's time to talk to her, hold her and let her know how much you love her. Fighting the good fight also means knowing when to leave the battlefield. My heart goes out to your family.

Construction Woes

2005-03-21T16:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, why didn't someone warn me how addictive blogs are? Reading them, creating them, finding new graphics, blog traffic, blog message boards, blog topics, blog favorites. Blog search engines, web rings, templates.

Banners, Buttons and Bows, Oh My! *lol*

I have been perusing the net for blog info only to get sucked into a whirlpool. I love all the visual tricks and tools. We live in a world of sound bites, news tickers, weather confetti & split screen delivery, so I know that getting and keeping a regular readership will rely not only on the CONTENT of this blog, but the LOOK as well.

Hmm...... Where am I gonna put that marquee? ;-)

Welcome to Sepia's SanctuaryWelcome to Sepia's SanctuaryWelcome to Sepia's SanctuaryWelcome to Sepia's Sanctuary

Thanks to LissaExplains.com for this marquee tip!

Sepia

Upward Bound

2005-03-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

It amazes me how an administration that touts the flawed “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" act can actually JUSTIFY the major cuts proposed in long running and successful programs, such as UPWARD BOUND.

http://www.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html

Upward Bound prides itself on preparing students to become college ready. Created in 1968, it assists those qualified low income students to excel in junior and high school, become eligible for, and graduate from college. Recruiting as early as the 8th grade, the program monitors the progress of their candidates to ensure they achieve their goals.

This was just ONE of over 50 renowned programs that were seen as inefficient.
I am gonna look at some of the programs that were on the chopping block.

Parents need to take notice of where this line of thinking is going. Our kids deserve the best education, despite of what the government thinks.

Stay tuned.

Medicaid .....SAVED, for now

2005-03-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

The smile on President Bush's face may be a little strained today after he lost some ground with his 2006 proposed budget cuts in domestic spending.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate delivered a slap at President Bush and its own Republican leaders Thursday by passing a $2.6 trillion budget erasing his plans for cutting Medicaid, community development and school aid..........

Can You See Me Now? :)

2005-03-17T16:38:00.000-05:00

Some of my online friends have mentioned that my former template made my fonts too small to read. Since I am sensitive to the needs of my soon to be mid-life crises bruthas and pre menopausal sistahs, *insert giggle*, I have changed to this look until I work out the details of my ..............

*cue orchestra*

!!!~UPCOMING CUSTOM MADE LOOK~!!!

This look will also be friendly to those that have vision problems.

Like Me.

I am so near sighted, my paltalk buddies tell me my glasses were issued by NASA. (Okay, u can stop laffing now).

*hee*

~@@@~

Now...... what did I do with those tri-focals?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2005-03-17T13:19:00.000-05:00

.

"When Irish eyes are smiling........~!!"

For my Irish readers, here is a hearty welcome and wishes of a great day.

For those of you that aren't sure about the origin of this holiday, please click the post title link and enjoy the History Channel's look at St. Patrick's Day.

Kiss me, I'm ... Ummm Im NOT Irish, but I could use a kiss. ;-)

Sepia

Kwesi Mfume to run for U.S. Senate in '06

2005-03-14T18:02:00.000-05:00

Former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume announced today that he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

"It is with great pride and deep humility that I announce to you today my
candidacy for the Senate of the United States," Mfume said at a news conference
in Baltimore.

"I can't be bought. I won't be intimidated. I don't know how to quit,"
Mfume said as his supporters applauded.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-mfume0314,1,5346245.story?coll=bal-news-breaking&ctrack=1&cset=true

Welcome Back Tavis

2005-03-14T17:44:00.000-05:00

This is a good thing. I missed Tavis Smiley's insightful interviews and commentary. Big ups to NPR for getting him back.

Which website are you?

2005-03-13T16:11:00.000-05:00

Which Website are You?

I thought this was funny. I know some of my online buddies will get a kick out of this. I don't really suck. :(

I just GOOGLE alot. ;) *lol*

Games People Play

2005-03-13T15:15:00.000-05:00

Games People Play

Happy Sunday! I decided to relax with the heavy topics today and just "play" online. Over the years, I have cultivated quite a few links for online games. Not the crash and burn, shoot em up, tackle, or volley ones, I like trivia, puzzles, word games and mystery whodunit kinda past times.

Literati - (one of Yahoo's many games) http://games.yahoo.com/ : is their version of Scrabble. Still working on my strategy. Hovering around 1400.

Zuma - (MSN's Game Zone) is a fun game with many levels. http://zone.msn.com/en/root/default.htm

Miniclip.com has a bevy of different categories. http://www.miniclip.com/Homepage.htm

So, while I'm cooking sunday dinner, let me go try my hand at a few of these new ones.

Enjoy! ;-)

Love Gone Wrong

2005-03-12T12:47:00.000-05:00

When Love Hurts

I've taken a few days away to think about what really matters to me. As an impassioned woman of color, I tend to wear the worries of the world on my heart. Watching the local, national and international news, plus reading a plethora of online news links, I find myself internalizing a lot of the pain that happens across this globe. I care about people, especially children. When I come across stories about abuse, (sexual, verbal, or physical), I cringe. How can we be so horrible to one another? Why do people do the things they do?

Yesterday, an Atlanta man, being tried a 2nd time on rape charges, killed a judge, court reporter, and a deputy before fleeing from the scene.

Nichols, the man accused of killing three people in a courthouse rampage Friday, was on trial on charges he burst into the woman's home with a loaded shotgun, bound her with duct tape and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/12/MNGSMBOIL21.DTL

The fact that he is a black man saddens me, angers me, and horrifies me. What made this man snap? Why was he so sadistic? Why kill innocent people?

At the core of this is domestic violence. Although the stigma has lessened so that victims are more apt to seek help, the statistics are still staggering. According to the National Center of the Victims of Crime, an estimated 50 women are victimized by an intimate EVERY HOUR.

50 women that are abused by someone they care about. 50 women that are hit or beaten by a loved one. 50 women that are the victims of verbal abuse. One woman, too many.

Verbal abuse can be just as bad as physical violence. Hurtful words leave a voiceprint on the mind and can erode the self esteem of the victim. Allowing someone to disrespect your boundaries is the 1st step into victimization.

We teach people how to treat us. Unless we as women demand respect from our partners, we will lose ground and become vulnerable to those that prey on those whose kindness is taken for weakness.

Laci Peterson and Lori Hacking were just two of the news stories that went national of pregnant women that were killed or beaten by their husbands or boyfriends. Here are some of the names that aren’t so well known.

Liliana Alvarez, 19
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1864&dept_id=152800&newsid=14120469&PAG=461&rfi=9

Xian Quian Cheung, 41:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-murd0311,0,346121.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines

Una Brady, 43
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/08/BAG5DBLQ981.DTL

Lana Holbrook, 40
http://www.irontontribune.com/articles/2005/03/08/news/news216.txt

Those are just a SAMPLE from this week.

The Surgeon General of the United States reports that domestic violence causes more injury to adult women than cancers, heart attacks, or strokes.

There is help out there. Call the Domestic violence hotline @ 1-800-799-7233.

Here is their website http://www.ndvh.org

Please don’t become a statistic. Call the number. Thank God I did.

Sepialove

Quote of the Day

2005-03-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

"Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today's quote will be the beginning of a daily theme. I will try and find a quote that sums up my feelings and set the tone for my main post each day.

SMH (Shaking my Head)

2005-03-08T12:49:00.000-05:00

This is absolutely outrageous!

Home Of Neo-Nazi Can Remain A Child Care Operation
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBJ1HD306E.html

The child care center, in a modest residential neighborhood, is also home to a self- professed white supremacist and neo-Nazi who hosts a well-known Web site and Internet radio show.
Michael Herbert Blevins, who calls himself ``Von Bluvens,'' has been a leader in the white supremacist movement, according to national watchdog groups.
In interviews posted on various Web sites, Blevins, whose wife, Bernadette, operates the day care, has advocated shipping blacks back to Africa, deporting Mexicans and wholesale ``extermination'' of non- whites. He also has called for putting Jews to sleep and produced artwork of an apparent gas chamber with the title ``Haulocost: This time it's for real.''
Sarasota County officials, who regulate child care homes under a state contract, say they have no reason to close the day care. They stress they have found nothing that violates health and safety regulations, and they also must consider Blevins' constitutional right to free speech.
Bernadette Blevins, formerly Bernadette Heikkila, has run the day care for a decade with no serious violations, according to county regulators. She has been married to Michael Blevins for less than a year.
And because the home is following the rules, the county has no reason to inform parents about his racist activity, said Homer Rice, the county Health Department manager who oversees child care regulation under the state Department of Children and Families contract.

I am almost speechless. To think that these children aren't being exposed to negativity and racism in this home is stupid and shortsighted.

Something must be done.

(to be continued....)

*ty Prince of Chosen Thought for the heads up* (smile)

Welcome to Planet Inertia

2005-03-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

in·er·tia
a : a property of matter by which
it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the
same straight line unless acted upon by some external force.

b : indisposition to motion, exertion, or change
*cue Jeopardy theme music*

"Alex, I will take (b) for $500~!"

Hitting a wall. I’ve got a major mental block going on. Creatively, that is. My mind is so full of blog topics and I blew a fuse. Has your mind ever been going into a million different directions but nothing is getting done? Have you ever been so preoccupied that you are almost paralyzed by the fear of the next moment?

I guess my offline life drama has stunted my flow. I need to regroup for a minute and get back up on the horse. Be patient with me, I’m new at this. I should have something later today.

;)

*sigh*

Freedom of the BLOG

2005-03-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

Blogging is a cathartic experience. The ability to vent, explore, state, express, ruminate and pontificate on various topics can be freeing. Being able to share our personal Op-Ed pieces with the world is thrilling, as well as the best in shared egomania.

It can also get you fired.

Several employees have been given the ole heave ho for innocently keeping a blog that may have included information about their experiences on the job. A programmer from Google and a stewardess from Delta Airlines found out the hard way.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Mark Jen landed a dream
job with Google Inc. in January. He was fired less than a month later...…..
A former Delta Air Lines flight attendant claims she was fired in November
over pictures she posted on her personal blog that she says the airline
deemed "inappropriate."……..
http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/14/news/economy/blogging/?cnn=yes

I can understand the blogger’s assertion that what someone writes on their own time SHOULD be considered "Freedom of Speech"; however, most companies have "at-will" termination clauses which allow them to fire whomever they choose, as long as they aren’t a contracted employee.

Yet companies DO have a right to protect information they deem confidential, look at the struggle Apple Computers had with bloggers that divulged critical data.

Apple, in a lawsuit filed in California state court in December, claims the
product leaks violated its trade secrets and wants the site operators to
disclose the source's identity. But Opsahl counters that the site operators,
like news reporters, are protected under the First Amendment as well as
California state law.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/14/news/economy/blogging/?cnn=yes

But does this open the door for us bloggers that just do this for fun? Or what about the blogger that is political? Is this a slippery slope into a form of censorship? Paul K. McMasters of the Daily Herald wrote:

The vast majority of bloggers, of course, prove the value of democratic
freedoms. They produce a prodigious flow of vital information and ideas and
serve as a check on traditional media.

http://www.harktheherald.com/

Journalists are also worried how subsequent court rulings will impact their ability to blog anonymously.

"What's at stake here is whether online and independent journalists will be granted the same rights as ones from traditional media," Ms Newitz said. (Analyst for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4319715.stm

It’s going to be interesting to see how this will play out. I will keep you all posted.

Smile! It's Candid Camera!

2005-03-04T17:19:00.000-05:00

Sepia @ 2 yrs old

Don't tell me you can't teach an old dawg new tricks! I just downloaded http://www.picasa2.com/, it is a photo editing and retrieval program by www.google.com , and I couldn't be happier than a pig in slop.
(Mother Dear saying *lol*) It is really easy to use and adds another dimension to blogging.

*HA!*

*singing "Ain't No Stoppin Me Now" in the key of happy.* ;)

*the datestamp is from my digital camera..... *sigh*.... (adding a scanner to the list)*

A Work in Progress

2005-03-04T14:48:00.000-05:00

I am so in love with blogging, it's sickening. But I am jealous. I've looked around the (blog) neighborhood and see that my lil house/blog enviroment is a fixer upper. I want all the cute do-dads, bells and whistles everyone else has. I want pictures and swirling clouds wif confetti! Where is my counter? My Favorite links? My calender?

*insert your favorite brand of whine*

Let me calm down. *lol*

So, I'm rolling up my sleeves this weekend to do some "home improvements". Now some of you already see that I have thrown on a new can of paint/template on the walls. That may change. Just like some women, (and some men), I get bored easy. I like to change my desktop, wallpaper, icons, fonts, and computer graphics around. But I am a USB, user friendly, plug and play, template, 1-2-3 and voila~! kinda gurl. Until now......

Yes! I'm gonna teach myself HTML in one weekend! I can't say that this blog will be the virtual equivalent of the Taj Mahal, but I'm determined to get some of the add ons that will give my little place a comfy, homey look.

This place may look crazy over the next 2 days, but hey, this ain't EXTREME BLOG MAKEOVER either. I don't have a TY Pennington & his trusty crew of construction elves.

I can do this! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......................

I'm officially UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

"Psst......Can you hand me the link for BLOGS R US?" *hee hee*

;)

Speaking of laughter..........

2005-03-04T12:23:00.000-05:00

Tyler Perry is a force to be reckoned with. His story that led him to success is a testament to perseverance and spirit. Before his 1st play took off, he was a struggling playwright that wound up living out of his car.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_3_59/ai_111850312

One of his plays has been translated to the big screen. "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" may be running in a theater near you. Please give this brutha some love and support his film.

http://www.diaryofamadblackwomanmovie.com

Bootlegging isn't cute and robs the industry. Just think of how hard it is for (US) to get quality films out there. Unless we support our talented playwrights, actors, directors, & producers, we will keep struggling to have our stories portrayed in the cinema and on the stage.

Popcorn anyone? ;)

PS. Catch today's OPRAH, Tyler and the cast of "Diary..." are gonna be on there.

http://www2.oprah.com/

Laughter is the best medicine

2005-03-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

Some of my online friends and buddies have told me to "lighten up" the blog. I didn't realize I had jumped on a soapbox so quickly.

*embarrased look*

I love to laugh, although my personal brand of comedy may seem corny to some, I have a sarcastic wit that can be biting as well as funny.

Like this story on the 50 cent (rapper) shooting. Someone in his entourage was wounded. Now someone getting shot isn't funny, but the shooter tried to get away..........ON A SNOW PLOW!

Police say the gunmen fled the scene, attempted to carjack a snowplow, and then
they fled on foot. http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_030105_hot97.html

*lol*

Someone needs to go to getawaycar.com for a refresher course. *smh*

Stupid criminals crack me up. Like the guy that robbed a bank and then caught a bus. Or the one that caught a cab from his bank heist only to be caught at the local motel counting his ill gotten gains.

Here are some more "challenged" criminals.

http://www.dumbcrooks.com/week.html

Their Dumb crook of the week:

Prison guard may be trading spaces

A Lake Erie
Correctional Institution corrections officer was indicted on
two felonies
last week for allegedly taking money to deliver marijuana to
inmates.

Kenneth M. Blackburn, 23, was arrested by undercover Ohio State Highway Patrol agents after an investigation that included a sting operation in which Blackburn allegedly agreed to deliver drugs for money.

Maybe he had bonded with his job to where he wanted to BE in jail. *lol* Can you say bad career move?

Wanna laugh some more? www.dumbcriminalacts.com/index.php?sid= .

Have a great day. ;)

Save the Children....PLEASE!

2005-03-03T22:17:00.000-05:00

Getting into the habit of doing a daily blogging session is daunting as a newbie, but sometimes the topics just pop out at you. These are some of the stories that greeted me this morning on the news.

CUMBERLAND CITY, Tenn. Mar 2, 2005 — A school bus driver was shot to death
as she drove her route Wednesday morning and a (14 yr old) male student was
taken into custody, authorities said. No students were hurt.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=544989

CHARLESTON, West Virginia. A Braxton County middle school teacher is in police custody after allegedly confessing to sexual misconduct with five of her students.
http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=1300

SOUTHGATE, Ky. -- A northern Kentucky volunteer firefighter-in-training has
been arrested for what one veteran police detective called the worst assault on
a child he has seen in his career. According to court records, the 2-year-old
victim had to be rushed to a hospital with a head swollen to three times its
normal size and two black eyes. http://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/4250716/detail.html

Can someone please save the children? We are losing a generation of kids and the numbers are staggering. Parents killing their kids, kids killing their parents, and sexual assaults on children are at an all time high.

*heavy sigh*

Sensitivity

2005-03-02T02:15:00.000-05:00

The last segment of society to deal with the onslaught of insensitivity has to be the mentally and physically challenged. As the single mom of a child with cerebral palsy, I often struggle with the ambivalency of swirling angst. The mother in me comforts and nurtures her, the advocate in me fights for her medical, scholastic, therapy, social and emotional needs, yet society would rather I just hid her from its incessant illusion of "perfection" or "normalcy".

Being her primary caregiver leaves me with very little social life, but last month I attended a play that was adapted from one of my favorite novelists, Eric J. Dickey. "Friends and Lovers" ironically was the 1st novel that I had read of his. My best friend was adamant about getting me out of the house, so this "treat" was going to whisk me away from my daily life. Or so I thought.

After the play, I felt the need to write this letter to the producers.

Dear Producers:
I attended the Feb
17th performance last night . It was thoroughly enjoyable. The sets were
amazing, the scene changes seamless, the audio was A+, & the writing, music
and performances top notch.
However, my only criticism relates to ONE joke
in the show. There is a reference to a character that dated a "RETARDED" girl
and several "RETARDED" jokes. I am the mother to a child with cerebral palsy and
developmental delays, (the new PC term for retarded). Please be mindful that
this segment of our population still struggles for acceptance and placing them
up for ridicule and tasteless humor makes that transition harder.
I know
that it was just a joke, but the lingering sting of insensitivity is still
there.
Perhaps you might add a character to one of your plays with a
physical disability to help with the societal perceptions. Give them the dignity
that they so richly deserve.
Remember, this is a group that may not be able
to speak for themselves.
God bless you all in your future endeavors. I look
forward to attending more of your productions in the future.
Sincerely,
(Sepialove) <--inserted real name
PS. I thought of a positive spin to the joke. What if the character says: "You know I loved that girl." (HIM) "What happened with her?" (HER) "We broke up ... she said I wasn't BRIGHT enough to be with her!" (HIM)
That changes the context in a way that gives the "RETARDED"
girl the upper hand and creates more folly for the character he is pursuing.
Just a thought.

My friend thought I was being too sensitive at the time, but having a challenged person in her family made her almost immuned to the harshness of society's scrutiny. Maybe I am too close to this subject to see these and other "jokes" about "RETARDED" people. I really don't think so. I also jotted an email to Mr Dickey himself. No reply.

I did finally get a nice email back from the producer. Will he change the joke? I don't know. But my heart feel lighter for my efforts.

I am speaking for thousands of African American parents of children that have disabilities when I say that the messages that we send into the public arena are extremely critical as it relates to inclusion and acceptance of disabled individuals. I think I can rest easy tonight. Another battle will have to wait till later today.

Good night. ;)

Sepialove

Keep the Flame Burning

2005-02-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

It's been a long day. I ran a social issues room over on Paltalk.com about 5 hours this morning. The subject was C-Span's telecast of "The State of the Black Union" that was hosted by Tavis Smiley. Outstanding presentation with the highlights on Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Minister Farrakhan, Julianne Malveaux, Joycelyn Elders & Faye Wattleton.

Please listen to the broadcast and pass the link on. It is a must see. :)

http://www.cspan.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100&Page=2 .

There is a morning and afternoon session.

Enjoy,

Sepialove

Reading is Fundamental

2005-02-27T15:14:00.000-05:00

Yearning to be profound was my biggest concern with starting my 1st real topic. But I realize that just being me and allowing the thoughts to take care of themselves was better.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to read. Dick and Jane, Dr Seuss and Nancy Drew got me started, and then I discover the library. I loved the Dewey Decimal system! Going through the aisles and stacks of different books became a passion. Comic books like Richie Rich, Archie, Little Lulu, & Baby Huey littered my bedroom. With junior high came fashion mags like Seventeen, Tiger Beat, and Right On! Then high school caressed me with the musings of the classics. Shakespeare, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Arthur Miller, and F. Scott Fitzgerald jetted me into period literature and swept my mind into a frenzy of an insatiable thirst for more.

I would read ANYTHING, from the backs of cereal boxes to the latest local newsletter. Sunday mornings were a treat for my grandmother and me to scan the newspaper for sales, comics, opinions and commentaries. Cutting out coupons and sharing our views on current events kept us occupied for hours. Mother Dear, as we called her, couldn't read well, (I think she was an undiagnosed dyslexic, but an extremely wise woman). Yet she always pushed her children, grandchildren, and great-grand’s into furthering our education as far we could go.

Today's technology is a blessing and a curse. I love the instant availability of information and resources; however, I think that the Children of the Millennium don't read nearly as much as my peers and I did. I admit since I joined the legions of internet users, my readership has slowed down as well. I may read more articles and sites online, but whole books have gone months without being touched. I remember during my recuperation for a car accident in 2001, I read 25 novels in one month during my convalescence.

So why do a blog? Well, so I can express myself and give others a glimpse into the person that is Sepialove.

By the way, Sepia is a shade of brown and my pseudonym is to reflect all of the magnificent shades of African American love. Hokey isn't it. *gag* So I'm sentimental.

Don't shoot me. ;)

I blog therefore I am

2005-02-26T13:37:00.000-05:00

I blog therefore I am?

Well, who IS Sepia? I ask myself that question daily. Woman. African American. 40 something. Mom. Social advocate? Music & karaoke lover? Nerd & self proclaimed internet junkie? YEAH! That's IT! :)

I have actually said that I wasn't gonna do this. What could I possibly say that would be of use to the world at large? My internet experience started back in 1997 with AOL 3.0. My best friend had a computer and life wasn't the same again. Black Voices. com became my new cyber home. Being online afforded me a new social existence. Where else can you find a like minded group of people in milliseconds? I was lured and courted by graphics, games, email, chat rooms, and a whole range of online activities.

Starting out on AOL, typing became a necessity, but eventually, my online evolution brought me to the voice chat experience. From the silent sanctum of AOL and BV over 30 and 40 to the new voice chat site of Mplayer, (now defunct, under new management as www.livve.com). Personalities that were restrained and identified through various text and font styles were freed by the sounds of vocal indentation, tone and expression.

I have often said that the black chat experience is nomadic in nature. The core of us veteran chatters often seek new fertile ground to explore, yet will send back for others in the "vocal tribe" for a familiar face and voice. "Water seeks its own level" is so true. Still, ever the internet adventurer, online friends tiring of Mplayer found Paltalk.com, which is my current vocal chat oasis. (www.paltalk.com). I have been on that site since 1999 in the African american lobby. Other lobbies are available and I do visit the social issues, karaoke and music areas, but the AA lobby is my online haven.

I happened upon the world of Blogitry, (is that even a word *lol*), and have been a fan ever since. The first blog I purposely read was related to politics and the Presidential election of 2004, which was the Daily Kos (www.thedailykos.com). After that it became a treasure hunt of links. blogs, personalities and virtual opinions. Reading personal blogs has only become a recent hobby and the wide variety out there means I will always have a new blog to explore.

Some of my favorite blogs / links are:

http://blackinformant.com/ (that also features a wealth of African american sites),
http://www.ugogurl.com/index.php, (a guide to travel for Sisters of Color),

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/ (News).

Now, here I am. *sigh* What have I gotten myself into? ;) I'm gonna try and see how this goes. Say a prayer, this may be a bumpy ride.

Sepialove

Sepia's Sanctuary

Phoenix Rising!

A New Year - A New You!

Rest in Peace

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Remember This........

Music Music Music!

In Memorium - Bebe Moore Campbell

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kramer Kracks

Playstation 3 Mania

The Bible Experience

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Easter Clothes

MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION

Missing YOU! :)

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Miers Withdraws as Chief Justice Nominee

Desktop Changes

Hiatus

Tyra! Tyra! Tyra!

Miscarriage of JUSTICE

Nursing Home Owners Charged in Louisiana

I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE

The FACES of Hurricane KATRINA

A Childlike Faith

I WON~!!!! I WON~!!! I WON~!!

The HEATTTTTT is ON~!!!

A New Beginning

Wisdom Is Supreme

Doing Time on Crack Street

Are you a South Park kid?

She's BACK! :)

Personal Sabbatical

Perseverance

Reality Checks

A Tale of Two Cowards

Redemption

Scientia est potentia - Knowledge is power

Have we gone INSANE?

Black History in Fabric

A Mural of Pain

Slave Pen

The Freedom Center

Simplicity

Enough Said :)

Excused Absence

Ain't Love GRAND? *SMH*

A Black Pope?

Fountain of Youth?

Fountain Square

Carew Tower - Cincinnati

Legacies

Famed Attorney Johnnie Cochran, dead at 67

!!!~~Over 1000 Readers Served~~!!!

Happy Easter~!!

My Take on..........

Construction Woes

Upward Bound

Medicaid .....SAVED, for now

Can You See Me Now? :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Kwesi Mfume to run for U.S. Senate in '06

Welcome Back Tavis

Which website are you?

Games People Play

Love Gone Wrong

Quote of the Day

****SMH**** (Shaking my Head)

Welcome to Planet Inertia

Freedom of the BLOG

Smile! It's Candid Camera!

A Work in Progress

Speaking of laughter..........

Laughter is the best medicine

Save the Children....PLEASE!

Sensitivity

Keep the Flame Burning

Reading is Fundamental

I blog therefore I am

Ain't Love GRAND? SMH

!!!Over 1000 Readers Served!!!

SMH (Shaking my Head)